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NYPL  RESEARCH  LIBRARIES 


3  3433  08044234  0 


i 


I 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE 


Biographical  Encyclopedi/ 


j 


-OF- 


■  DAUPHIN  COUNTY, 

PENNSYLVANIA, 


CONTAINING 


Sketches  of  Prominent  and  Representative  Citizens, 

and  Many  of  the  Early  Scotch-Irish 

and  German  Settlers. 


ILLUSTRATED, 


1S96. 


CHAMBERSBURG,  PA. 

J.  M.  RUNK  &  ^CO^'PANY, 
Publishers. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  vii 

Umholtz  Family, 149 

Weise  Family,  of  Lykeiis  Valley, ...  149 

Wiggins  Family, •    • 151 

Youngs,  of  Hanover,      152 

Some  Industries  of  Harrisburg : 

Pennsylvania  Steel  Works, 153 

Chesapeake  Nail  Works, 155 

Central  Iron  Works, 155 

Harrisburg  Foundr}^  and  Machine  Works, 156 

W.  0.  Hickok  jManufacturing  Company, « 157 

Lalance  &  Grosjean  Manufacturing  Company, 157 

Harrisburg  Manufacturing  Compan}', 158 

Paxton  and  Steelton  Flouring  Mills  Company, .    .    .    .  158 

Woven  Wire  Mattress  Company, |,j;) 

Lykens  Valley  Coal  Trade, 159 

Hummolstown  Brownstone  Company, 159 

American  Tube  and  Iron  Comjiany, 160 

Paxton  Furnaces, 160 

Shoe  Industries,      IGl 

Biographical  Sketches, 165-1196 


PREFATORY   NOTE. 


There"  is  no   more    exalted    feature  in    tlie    history   of   any    locality   than    that 

which   relates   to   the  individual-^whether  he  has  passed  from   off  the   stage  of  action 

a   century   ago,   or    whether    we    cross    his    path    daily   in    the   intercourse    with    our 

fellow-men.        It   is   unfortunately   true  that   while   we  may  delight  the  record  of 

the  lives   of   the  former,   and   regret    that    there   is    not  more  know,,   of    what    they 

wore   and    what  they  accomplished   in   their   day   and  generation,   the    almost    cynica 

sneor    comes    as   we    glance   over  the    meagre    data    which    our    fellow-citizens   hitv 

i  .  ■■■*" 

gathered   up   to    send   down  the   paths  of   futurity   as   their   legacy   to   the   biography 

of    the  present.       We   wish    it    were    otherwise,  that   just    such    a    volume    as     the 

Publisher  has  in  this  instance  essayed  to  give  us  would  be   as   thoroughly  appreciated 

as  the   descendants  of    those  herein  named^  will  in  the  days  to   come.      Sneer,  as  some 

may,   it  is    a   noble  undertaking — this  preservation  of  the  narrative   of  the  life   work 

of,  the    many,   although    humble    and    mfiagre    they    may    perchanci     1  ^'     !v 

persons    reach    the    same    mark,  or    accomplish  identical    work,  and    yi't    every   one 

has    his    mission    to   fill.       To    us   who   are  living    near   the  close   of   the   nineteenth 

century,  and   have   learned  to  revel  in  the   researches  into   the   past,   the   facts  herein 

gathered    should   have    a    charm.       The    present   will   soon   belong   to   the   past,   ami 

thus,   as  the  years   roll   on  apace,  the   very  biographical  sketches   here  contained   will 

be  more   higlily   treasured.       We    believe    the    Publisher    has   proven    faithful    to   the 

trust,    and    the    people    of    Dauphin     County  will   find  a    fair   record    of   its   people. 

If     the    sketches    of    some    who    ought  to  have    a    place     here    are    wanting,   it    i? 

certainly   not  the   fault  of  the   Piiblisher — it  is   that   of   the  individual.      The  forme. 

has    sought   to  give   a   representative   work;    it  is  th^   neglect    of   the    latter  if    thi: 

is   not   t'le   case. 


iv  PREFATORY  NOTE. 

As  introductory  to  this  volume,  a  brief  resume  of  the  history  of  the  county 
is  given,  with  other  data  nowhere  else  to  be  found,  and  that  feature  is  peculiar 
to  this  M'ork.  The  genealogical  information,  meagre  iu  some  respects,  will  be  of 
exceeding  value  to  those  in  search  of  the  records  of  their  ancestry.  And,  although 
some    objections   may   be  .made   to   the  orthography   of  many  surnames,   yet  we  give 

all  as  we    find   them   in   official   documents. 

I 

In  conclusion,  as  most  of  the  biographies  wei'e  submitted  to  those  interested, 
errors  of  fact  or  date  ougiit  not  to  fall  upon  the  Publisher,  whom  we  firmly 
believe  has  used  his  best  endeavors  to  give  his  subscribers  a  perfectly  reliable  as 
well   as  valuable   book. 

W.  H.  E. 


In  presenting  the  Biographical  Encyclopedia  of  Dauphin  County  to  its 
atrons,  the  Publishers  acknowledge,  witli  gratitude,  the  encouragement  and  support 
iijeir  enterprise  has  received,  and  the  willing  assistance  rendered  in  enabling  them 
to  surmount  the  many  unforeseen  obstacles  to  be  met  with  in  tlie  production  of 
a  work  of  such  magnitude.  To  procure  the  material  for  its  compilation,  official 
records  were  carefully  examined,  uewspaper  files  .searche*',  manuscripts,  letters  and 
memoi-anda  were  sought,  and  a  corps  of  competent  solicitors  visited  every  portion 
c»f  the  county  and  secured  information  direct  from  the  parties  concerned.  Great 
care  was  taken  to  have  the  sketches  as  free  from  error  as  possible,  but  we  do  not 
hold  ourselves  responsible  for  mistakes,  as  we  charge  nothing  for  the  insertion  of 
any  printed  matter  contained  in  the  book.  In  the  compilation  of  the  biographies 
we  were  ably  assisted  by  William  II.  Egle,  M.  D.,  State  Librarian  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  who  is  the  author  of  the  introductory  chapter  headed  "  Historical  Review  of 
Dauphin  County;"  Rev.  A.  S.  Dudley,  D.  D.,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Hai-ry  I. 
Huber,  of  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  Miss  R.  11.  Schively,  of  Chambers- 
lurg,  the  latter  being  one  of  tiie  most  accomjilishcd  literary  scholars  of  the 
jumberland   Vallej'. 

J.   U.   RUNK   &   CO. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Historical  Review  of  Dauphin  County.  ...  

The  Scotcli-Irish  Immigration, ]- 

The  Early  German  Settlers, :; 

John  Harris,  Trader  and  Pioneer, 7 

Early  Assessment  List: 

North  End  of  Paxtang,  1750 11 

Narrows  of  Paxtang,  1751,   .  11 

West  Side  of  Paxtang,  1751,  

South  End  of  Paxtang,  1751, 

Return  of  Paxtang,  1756, 

Return  of  Paxtang,  1758, .        . 

Paxtang  Continental  Tax,  1779, 

Return  of  Middletown,  1779, i."> 

Return,  Upper  Paxtang,  1779, l"i 

Return,  Upi^er  District,  Wiconisco,  1770, 1' 

Return,  Located  Tracts,  Wiconisco,  1779, hi 

Return,  West  End  of  Derry,  1750, IG 

Return,  East  Side  Derry,  1758, J  •  i 

Return,  West  Side  Derry,  1758, 19 

Return,  Derry  Township,  1769,   .  .    .  .    .  !" 

Return,  Derry  Township,  1770, 

I       Return,  Frederick  Town,  1770, 20 

Return,  East  End  of  Hanover,  1750, 20 

Return,  East  End  of  Hanover,  1756, ■_[ 

Return,  West  End  of  Hanover,  1756, 21 

Planover  Assessment,  1769, ':'] 

Hanover  Assessment,  1782, ...  22 

Leading  Events  to  War  for  Independence, 21 

The  Paxtang  Boys'  Affair, 2S 

The  Hanover  Resolutions  of  1774, 32 

Historic  Resume,  1785-1896, [,:■ 

The  "  Buckshot  War," :' 

The  County  Centennial, . 

Origin  of  Dauphin  County  Names  of  Places, 


vi  '  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Early  Settlers  in  the  "  Upper  End  :" 

How  the  Early  Settlers  Lived, 45 

Settlement  of  Uniontown, 46 

Settlement  of  Wiconisco, 4(1 

Old  Settlers  of  Lykens, 16 . 

The  Early  History  of  Gratz, 47 

Early  Families  in  the  "  Upper  End," 48 

The  Lykens  Valley  Coal  Development,         52 

Andrew  Lycans, 55 

jieiiealogical  Notes, •  .       53 

Some  Early  Dauphin  County  Families: 

Family  of  the  Founder  of  Harrisburg, 77 

Allisons,  of  Derry,. 85 

Balsbaugh  Family, _ 8G 

Baums,  of  Derry, 87 

Brubaker  and  Meetcli, 88 

Clark,  of  Clark's  Valley, 93 

Cochrans,  of  Paxtang, !)4 

Crawfords,  of  Hanover,      9G 

Enders  Family, 98 

Fahnestock  Family, 99 

Fettcrhoff  Family, 106 

Fox  Family,  of  Derry, 106 

Geddes,  of  Derr.y, 110 

Geiger  Family,       Ill 

Harris  Family,  oi  J-^cn-y 112 

Hayes,  of  Derry, 114 

Hershey  Family, 115 

Hoffman,  af  Lykens  Valley, IK! 

Marcus  Hulings  and  Ills  Family, US 

Hummel  Family, 121 

itelly,  of  Londonderry, 124 

Landis  Family, 12S 

LaRue  Family, 12^ 

Leebrick  Family, 129 

Lehman  Family, 131 

Lingle  Family, 132 

McClures,  of  Paxtang  and  Hanover, 133 

Mitchell  Family, 134 

Nissley  Family, 135 

Renick,  of  Paxtang, 138 

Sawyer  Family, 138 

Shelly,  of  Shelly's  Island, 139 

Simpsons,  of  Paxtang, 142 

Sloans,  of  Hanover, 142 

Stewart,  of  Paxtang,  .    .  145 

Stewarts,  of  Hanover,    .    . 146 


INDEX. 


Abercombks  Wyman  E 1051 

Adams,  KicliOird, 402 

Adams,  Thom.-us 5o8 

AdamiS,  William  J., 487 

Agiiiew,  Samuel,  M.  D., 361 

Aimsworth,  Samuel 184 

Albright,   Mrs.  Frances 213 

Aldimger,  Frederick  B., 617 

Aldinger.  .Tolm,    616 

Aldingei-,  William  C, 616 

Alexander,  Benjamin,  620 

Alexamlra,  Thomas .^.^.  .1100 

AUemajn,  Ileni-y 773,  816 

AUeman,  John  Christian 446 

AUeman,  .Tohn  Sylvaims,.  ..503,  446 

Alleman,  John, 446 

Allemam,  Michael, 81b 

Allemam,  Mic'lrael  R 1018 

Alleman,  Sammc!,    446 

Allen,  George,   523 

Allen.  John  M., . 1143 

Allien,  WtUinm  F 1146 

Allison,   John,    S5 

Alricks.  Hamilton, 42b 

Alricks,  Hermanns 426 

Alricks,  James 1 96 

Althouse.  Reuben  H 6.ib 

Alhvine,  John  H 92« 

AUwiue,  .T<mas 1005 

AUwine,  .Joseph,  100.) 

Altmiaier.  Peter  A oSa 

Alynrrd.  .Taeoh 1180 

Anderson,  Rev.  James 260 

Anderson,  S.imuel  .1., 32.5 

.A.PP,  Fj-ancis 926 

Armoir.  William  Orawf.ml 1193 

Armpriester,  Geoarge  W 538 

Arnold,  Calvin  M.,  M.  D., 399 

Arnts,  Jacob 1130 

Attiok,  DaeJiel  J 294 

Attick,  Dainiel 1015 

Attick,  Jacob  A 1014 

Attick.  Oliver 566 

AuchmutT,  Robert.  M.  D 354 

Anchmuty.  Robert 35-!: 

Auehmuty,  Dr.  Robert 49 

Aranssrt,  .Tohn,    7.8S  ■ 

Awl.  Francis  Asbury. 258 

Awl,  Jacob,    174 

Awl,  .Tacob  Michnol, 214 

Awl,  John  Wesley 259 

Ayreis,  .John 1 85 

Avres.  Sanniel I'^l 

Avres,  William 171 

Ayrcs,  William 17,  212 

Babb,  Charles  R 1033 

Bacastow.  Franklin  V 699 

BacaiStow,  John 699 

Bach,  Henry  A 615 

Bach,  Tillman 615 

Bachmain,  Samuel  S 661 

Baekenstoe,  Clayton  H.,.  .  .665,  458 

Bacon.  Dandel f>43 

Bailey,  Oharlee  L.  Jr 460 


Bailey,  Charles  Lukens o27 

Bailey,   Edward,    420 

Bailey,  Hamilton,   obT 

Bailey,  Joseph,    o2i 

Bailey,  Gen.  Joel, 290 

Baker,  Charles  H..  ■  .820 

Baker,  Charles  P.,.  '       ,ii 

Baker,  Frederick,   470 

Baker,  George  W.,  D.  D.  &«.,...  393 

Baker,  C^-oirge  W., .  . .  • |T0 

Baker  Henry •  •   874 

Baker,   Heniry  J.,  •  .  729 

Baker,  Jacob 730 

Bakei-,  Jacob,  Sr., /■• §78 

Baker,  John  J "• 862 

Baker.  John  M 929 

Baker,  Rev.  lyeroy  Franklin,..   280 

Baker,  Matthias,  G 578 

Balrar,  W.  C,  M.  D., 376 

Baker,  W.  C,  M.  D 671 

Ball.  Joser.h 413,  407 

Ball.  William,   407 

Balsbaugh,  Christian  Beivey, ..1152 

Balsbaugh,  George, 86 

Balsbaugh,  George 1035 

Balsbaugh,  Henry,   821 

Balsbaugh,  Hiram  W 681 

Balsbangh,  .Tohn, 821 

Balsbaugh,  .Tohn  H 681 

Balsbaugh,  Peter, 87 

Balsbaugh.   Solomoai,    .  -■^1 

Balsbaugh.  TJriah ""'l 

Bailsbaugh.  Valentine 86 

Bander.  Augustus 822 

Bannan.  George 577 

B.arber.  Spencer  T'  .  .1004 

B.are,  Diller ■  ■   678 

Barnes,  .Teremjiaih  S 536 

Barnet.  .Tohn  J 1028 

Baruiett,  .Tobm.   186 

Barringer.   .Tacob   P., 577 

Basehore,  Benjamin 699 

Baisehoire.  George,  ■  • .   699 

Baskin.  George  B  •  ■   526 

Baiskin,  Oliver  P  .  ■•    1136 

Raskin.  William,    .  526 

Ba.uw.  Frank  J 1179 

Baum,  rVaniel.    .  .  -  .  ■    __87 

Baum,  Michael.   .  .  ■   770 

Baum.   Michael   S.  T^^ 

B.ay,  J.  G.  Mc "''i^ 

Bavard,  Edward.  ^''l 

Bay.ard.   Henc  :^i  ..   •"^60 

Baiyard.  James  A  ....   860 

Bayai-d,  .Joseph  S  ...   861 

Bealoir.  David.  .  .  . .  .1104 

Bealor,  Max 1104 

Beard.  Auimon  T>" 769 

Beard.   Charles  F 844 

Beanl.  Robert 12^9 

Beard.  Samuel J69 

Beates.  I3dward  K^ 77- 

Beatty.  Gwrge •   2^5 

Beatty,  Ja  mes .   1 83 

Beaver,  John  L., "74 


Beck,  .Tuiius  Aiigit.sUis 254 

Beck,  David,   497 

Beck,  David  M 497 

Beck,  Johm 640 

Becker,  Hcmry,  531 

Bebm,  Jacob,    681 

Beinhiowea-,  Adam,    .1035 

Beiinihf^wei-,  J.  S 10:i6 

Bell,  David  D 1149 

Bell,  George  IT 64a 

Bell,  John,    479 

Bell,  Thornton  A 579 

Bell,  Samuel  M 863.  877 

Bell,  William,   214 

Bell,   William,      852 

Bell.   William   A .849 

Bellman.  SamiwI.   ..  .  1140 

Bender,  Hamilton,  .  .  967 

Bender,  Jacob, 409 

Bender,  Jacob  M., 409 

Bonder.  William, H'*^- 

Bent.   Luther  Stedraa:i -■''•I 

Bent,  Winslow  B I'l'-'"' 

Bentlcy,  George  Rolland, 549 

Benton,  Rev.  Gilbert  Liguori, .  .  998 

Bergner,  George 447 

Bergner,  Charles  Henry 44 1 

Bergstresser,  Alexander  W.,  .  .   484 
Bergstresser,  William  J.,   ....   577 

Bergner,   George 338 

Bemheisel.   Luther,    601 

Bernheisel,  Peter,   408 

Bemheisel,  Peter,   40o 

Berry.  Robert, 9f;2 

Best.  Anslin 380 

Best,    Martin 3<=0 

Bertram,  William,  " 

Bicklev.  .Tohn  H -' 

Bickley,  William  H.,  Sr.,   fiJ  i 

Bicklev.  William  H..  Jr.;   524 

Bigelow,  T^ncius  S 521.  554 

Bishler,  Dr.  H.  C 915 

Bitting,   .Tohn 940 

Bixler,   Cornelius,    . ^H 

Bixler,  .Tohn J-H 

Black,  Alfred  T ^.-"■' 

Black,  Andrew  Krause 249 

Black,   Homer,    47a 

Black,  John 65o 

Black.  Rev.  Samuel.   260 

Blair,  William,  M.  D 3.88 

Bla.niniiig.  AVilliam, 1191 

Blessing,   .\bs,alom .    <i93 

Blessing,  Frank  D.  '•"  ■ 

Blongh,  Bertram  1  - 

Blongh,  Cyrus,    ... 

Blough.  George,    ..  l!  '  ' 

Blough,  Wilson  R.  -    ' 

Blust,  Dr.  Joseph,   313 

Blver,  Robert  E.,  524 

Blvler.  Simon 90.3 

Bon)S,  Daoiiel  D 89,  477 

Boas,  Frederick 207 

Boas,  Col.  Frederick  Krause,.   236 

Boas.  Henry  D., 482 

Boas,  Jacob,   "07 


INDEX. 


Boas,  William  Dick,    227 

Bodmer,    Edward,    818 

:ii>eshore,  Daviil  II 1145 

'  l'»os]io(re,  Tlionuis,   1145 

.  .Slier,  Riley,   885 

:olI  Ohas.  S., .5841^,  5C3 

:  '.oil,   JolMi  W., 504 

liultoii,  Devi, 1 149 

Bumbaugh,    Aai»n,    220 

Bombaiigh,  Abraham,   199 

I'.-ml)Crfrtr,  .John  rauffman, ..   239 

Bombergcr,  .Tacob  M ,  .   597 

Boiiigardner,   Jorom  944 

Bomsrardm^r,   .Tohn,  700 

Bond,  S.  Wcidler, 772 

Bouanitz,  .To'.iathan,    907 

Bouawitz,  .Tonathan,    740 

U^MKiwitz.  W.  E.,  M.  D....755,  740 

took,  David  N 930 

J  looks.  John, 764 

Books,   .lonas 764 

P.ooser,    Bphr;iim 780 

Booser,  Henry 042 

Booser,  Henj-y,  780 

Booser,  Henrv,   1033 

I'.orltmd,  .Tohu  A. 773,  804 

Borland,   William 804 

Rowers,  Abraham 668 

•owore,  Charles  E.,  M.  D., 803 

I  lowers,  Edwin ; 565 

RowcTs.  ricorge  Washington.  .10.59 

Bo\vers,  .Taoob 1 035 

BoA\ers,   Martin   H 3S4 

Bowers,  Moses  K.,  M.  D .^«!4 

Bowman,    r'hristi.nn, .592 

Bowman,  nbristiiin 906 

Bowman,  Frank  S .  .105.5 

Bowman,    -Tohn.    .  .  .  592 

Rowman,  .Tohn  F„   .  199 

B.'.wman,  .Tohn  P., 49 

Bowman,   .Tohn   .T 1(153 

Bowman,  .Tohn  K 595 

Bowman,  1jpv'\  B 1055 

Bowman,    Samnel.  592 

Bowman.  Simon  RnllM.I- 10.52 

■'o\vm<Tii,  Piimner  S 1186,  917 

''.owman.  Willi.im.   906 

T?o\vmnn.  Willi.nm  li  910 

Boyd.  Capt  Adr.m.  1.83 

BoyPT.  D.ivid   A 1155 

Bovor.  .Tosinh '113 

Boyer.  .Tacob 1034 

'V.yor.  Wesley 11.30 

Braekenridgp,    \lfred.    . 464 

^^raek-pnridge.  Dr.  .Tohn 464 

Hr.indt.  Abraham  Ii 661 

'-trandt.  T.evi 495 

Brandt.  B.  P 806 

T'.reckenmnker.    Abnni  K 509 

Broekonm.iker.  P.   i^ilik .569 

Brennom.in,    Adam 532 

Bronneman,  FTenry 532 

Brenneman.    Tneob  D      .^91 

Bri'nnem.Tn.   William  H 53^; 

Bressler.   .Tohn    S 721 

Bretz.   Beniamir 48 

Brice.  Tnni.<!.  M.  D 352 

Bri'rhihiH.  Dnrid  W.. 1147 

Britrbtbill.  Henderson  V 080 

Briebtbill.  .Tnmb   ,* 4.57 

BiiErhtl.ill.  Osear  K.,   457 

HrishtbJll.  Ramnel,   707 

BriL'srs,  .Tohn  Hanna 2.36 

Brnser.  E.  0 771 

Brinser,   .Tonas   0 772 

itrinser.  Rev.  S.  H 762 

Brinser.   Solomon  C 770 

Brir.ser.  Simou 771 

Brinton.   Onleb.    543 

Brinton.  Harry  A 543 

B.rown.Oeorgo  T-..  A.TnI..  M.D..  938 

Brown.   Gone  H .    713 

Brown.  .Tames  Morrison.  M.D.,  .37.3 
Brown,  John,    713 


Brown,   John,    168 

Brown,  Mercer,  M.  D., 361 

Brown,  Rev.  AVilliam  B 373 

Brown,  Samuel  S 11  jO 

Brown,   William 167 

Bnia,   Peter 199 

Brabaker.  Charles  J 329 

Bnibaker,   Daniel 728 

Bnibakcr,  Oeorge  M 1095 

Brubaker,    Henry 329 

Bnibaker,  Jacob,    329 

Brubaker,  Jacob,   91  - 

Brabaker,  John,   88 

Bnibaker,  .Tohn  R 728 

Brubaker,  Jonathan,    728 

Bnibaker,   Joseph 88 

Bnibaker,  Soth, : 002 

Buck,  Elias  B., 703 

Buck,  S.TJomoiii  J 1 144 

Buck,  Solomooj  iC.,...  'l4d 

Budier,  John  Conrad.  .17 

Bucher,  John  Jacob,  191 

Budd,  William 1 189 

BiKld,  Capt.  Ricliaxd 1185,  917 

-Buehler,    George,    202 

-  Buehler,  Henry,   202 

Buehler,   Jacob 570 

-Buehler,  Martin  H., 350 

-  Buehler,    William 231 

Buffington,  Benjamin,   48 

Buffiugton,  Cyrus  P., 9<X> 

Buffington,  Daniel 897 

Buffington,  Henrv  Edwin, .11.5.\  899 

Buffington,  Isaiah  T 1100,   1097 

Buffing-ton,  Solomon, 1106 

Buflington,  William,    900 

Buggy,   Michael,    1186 

Buggy,  John  P., 1186 

Buntz,  Rev.  Sitepben, 916 

Burd,   James,    173 

Burke,   Michael,    218 

Biu'kholder,   Jacob,    632 

Burkholder,  .Tosiaih,    698 

Burkholdor,   Michael  K 693 

Biirkholdor,  William, 631 

Burkhodcr,  William.  Jr 032 

Buser,  H.  Wells, 328 

Bnser,    Ira 822 

Buser,  Jacob,    328 

Bu*er,  John  K 821  , 

Buser,    Milton,   822 

Buser,  Otis  S., 822 

Buser,  Otis  S 497 

Butler.   James 562 

Butler,  William  H., 644 

Buttorff.  Jonaithan,    649 

Buttorff,  Hiirvey  Y 649 

Calder.   A.   Ru.ssell 995 

Calder,  Col.  Howard  D...512%,  459 

Calder,  James,    266 

Calder,  WUUam 125,  245 

■■  "  -    William 208 

William  James 514 

William   E 705 

i:aie.v.  Winfield    S. 705 

Cameron,  Col.  Jamrs 225 

Cameron,  .Tames  Donald, 417 

C:\meron.  .Tohn.   .  . .  : 217 

Camieron,  G<?ii.  Sim  •!,     ..  .611,  219 

Cameron,  Willi.im  Bma, 4.30 

Camiibell.   Harry  ITnse, 995 

Carlile,  Alexander  W., 548 

Oarmany.  Charles  Augustus..  .  823 

Carter.   William  Justin, 461 

Oissel.  August 1155 

Cassel.  Chrstiaji 1153 

Cassel,  David 1151 

C-issel,  Da-rid    B 671 

Cassel,  Elias 1143 

Cassel.  .Tohn  B 1149 

Cassel.  .Tohn  W 9.30 

C.assel,  Joseph,   TS? 

Cassel,  Martin  S.,.  .  '^30 


Cassel,  Michael  H 788 

Cassel,  William 708 

Cassel,  Uriah,   931 

Catrell,   William,    206 

Oaum,  Edward  L., 502 

Caveny,   Reuben,    320 

Oaveuy,  Samuel  Brady, 320 

OhaJlis,  Jones  J., r  . .  .  883 

Oh.indIer,   George  P., 509 

OhambtTlin,  James  1 443 

Chandler.  .Ton.athan .530 

Ch.indlei-.   William   G .536 

Chester.  Thomsis  Morris 256 

Christman,  Chas.  D..  M.  D 1173 

Ouul>b,   Henry,    726 

Chubb,  .Samuel  H 720 

C-lark,  James,   .500 

Claa-k,  J.  Nelson,  M.  D....5.57.  307 

Clark,    William 93 

Clark,  William 93 

Clay,  Da'niel  W 950 

ClemcTis,  Peter  H., 626 

Clemens,    Reuben,   952 

Clemson,  Amos,    .511 

Clemson,   Lloyd  Colder, 511 

Clemson,  L.  W., 806 

Clokey,  Joseph 139 

Clyde,  John  Joseph 337 

Coble,   Abraham  B 080 

Coble,  .4.mos  G., 659 

Coble,- Aaron  C,  M.  !>.,.  ..847,  719 

Coble,  Andrew 775 

Coble,   Tsajic  H., 822 

Coble,    Jacob,    822 

Cochran.  George,   95 

Cochran,  .Tohn,   94 

Cochran,  John, 95 

Cochran,  William ; 205 

Cockliu,  Dr.  C.  C, 389 

Cocklin.   E.   H., 389 

C^cklin,  Jacob 389 

Coder,  .Tohn   G., 411 

Coder.  Simon.   411 

Cofrod,   William   R 878 

Coleman,   Charles,    898 

Coleman.  John  C, 897 

Compton.  Samuel  K., 582 

Connelv.  .Tames 772 

Conrad.  Jacob 870 

.  Cook,  r.  Elmer,  M.  D., 371 

_Cook.  Thomas  B 371 

Cooper,  Adam,    49 

Cooper.  Adam. 1117 

Cooper.  Alford  I. 628 

Cooper,  William,   1117 

Coover.  Eli  H..  M.  D 395.  365 

(^oover.  Frp<lerick  Welty, 379 

Coover.  Dr.  H.  RfKSS 3.86 

Coover,  .Tosephi  Henry,  M.  D.,.   368 

Coover.   .Tacob 365 

Corbett.  Joseph  P 875 

Com  man,  Wilson  S 611,  610 

Cordes,  Hrnry 1078,  737 

Cotterel,   John   W 405 

CottfTcl.  John 405 

CoufEer,  Samuel 827,  978 

Cowden.  Frederick    H 541 

Cowden.  .Tames,    178 

Cowden.  Ool.  James 542 

Cowden.  .Tohn  Wallace, 238 

Cowden.  Matthew 542 

Cowvle-n,  Matthew  B 503,  327 

Cowden,  William    Kerr, 246 

Cox.   Joihn  Bowers, 239 

Cox.  Col.  Cornelius, 185 

Pox.  D.   W., 480 

Cox.  .TohT, ■. 185 

Craig.  I..  P 855 

Crain.  Richard  Moore, 203 

Crane.  Trvin  J 499 

Crawford.   .Tames 97 

Crawford.  Robert 96 

Cratzer.  Frank   B 732 

Orist,  Dr.  Josiah  B., 691 


INDEX. 


Crouch,   Edward,    193 

Crouch,  Jataes,   174 

Cryder,  Mosos  G 766 

Crook,  Gabriel,   317 

Crook,  William 317 

Crook,  Oapt.  WilHaim  H., 317 

Croll,  Abner,   811 

Croll,   Edward 811 

Croll,  George  L :   811 

Croll,  .John 811 

CroU,  William  A., 811 

Crura,  Alfred 967 

Crura,    Araoi?,    781 

Crura,  Daniel,   1146 

Crura,  David,   1144 

Ci-um,  Edward  I. 502 

Crura,   Edward   M 782 

Crura.   Sarah  Ja ne, 798 

Outchall,  Richard 861 

Culp.  John  P..  M.  D., 978 

Cumbler.  J.  H 719,  730 

Ourn\  John  B 675 

Cttmblor,  William,   730 

Dagnell,  John  Riohard, . .  948 

Daniels,  Sanders 627 

l>aiiiel.  Uriah  H., 898 

Dare,  James  M., 1144 

Dasher,  Hiram  D., 81 3 

Dasher.   Peter,    813 

DaiiiK-hertv,   Daniel,    506 

D«u?herty,   Hamlet 506 

Davies,   Ne^-ton   H 417 

Daridson,  .Toihti  H., 471 

Davidson,   William  W 471 

Davi«,  Chas.  C 35,  1192 

Davis.  Charles  S 1024 

Day,  William)  How«r.1 308 

Day.  Charles  W., 10.59 

Douelasjs,   William  .   601 

Dockard,   Henry,  .   80S 

Deokard.  Israel.   .  .  .   812 

Deckard,  Dr.  I.  K 812 

Daokard.  Jacob  B., 813 

Dockard,  Levi  L 809,  SOS 

DeHaven,  Jehu 407 

DeHaven.   Nathan 407 

Deibler,    Daniel   J 916 

Deibler,  George, 904 

Deibler,   George    A 916 

Deibler,  .Tohn  W 904 

Deiss,  William,   ... 399. 

Demraing.  Col.  Henry  C 314 

Demniy.  David 1141 

Demy.  Simon  S., 765 

Demy.  ,Tohn 765 

•  Denison.  George  R., 878 

Derr.  Anthony,   498 

De.Jliong.  .Tames  B., 405 

Deshong.  Rev.  .Tohn  W 405 

Detter.   David   F 919 

Detwriler,  John  Shelly, 250 

DetTveilei-.  Meade  D., 485.  451 

Detwoiler,  Samuel 4.51 

DeVemiev.  J.  C.  M.  D 387 

DeWfllt.   Ferdinand 879 

DeWiitt.Dr.  William  Raddiffe,  358 
DeWitt.  William  RadclifEe,.  .  .   262 

DeYoe.    Rev.    Luther 285 

Dickinson,  Bayard  T., I^no 

Diehn.  Henry 769 

Diffenderfer.  .TonaJh   G 992 

Dill,   Irvin  W 567 

Dill.   Harrv   A 585 

Dimler.   Philip 1004 

Ditty.   Henry 7.32 

Ditty,  .Joseph  Praukliu 10.57 

Ditty.  Joshua 732 

Dock,  George 364 

Dock.  William 422 

Domheim.  Prof.  Henrv  G.,.;.  .1096 

Doimiheim,  Rudolph  H 1096 

Dougherty,  John  W 993 

Dougherty,  Dennis,   229 


Downey.  John 194 

Downs,  John  B 994 

Doughertj',  Philip 229 

Drake,   Henry 510 

Dressel.   Christ  A., 608 

I)ul>eudorf,  Saimuel    D 913 

Duey,    Simon,   311 

Duff,   Edmund 368 

Duff.  William  L.,  M.  D., 368 

Duff,   Jonathan 368 

Duncan.  Dauphin  L 622 

Duncan,  Joseph .1161,  ,S99 

Duncaa,  William 629,  021 

Duukle,   J.   A., 983 

Dunkel,  Samnel  F 559 

Earle,  Thomas 1027 

Early,  Aarou  Daiiiici  Si-ili, .  ..  .   826 

Early,   Chris'tian,    700 

Early,   George,    700 

Early.  John,    285 

Earlv,   Israiel,    700 

Early,  Thomas 285 

Early,    William,   . 286 

Earlv,  Zimmerman 190 

Earnest,  Franklin  C 1037 

E.iTne>t,  Simon  F.,  XI.  D 931 

Bbersole,  .Tolin  P., 775 

Ehcrsole.  Levi 931 

Bberle.  William  P., 554 

Eby,  Christian 689 

Ebv,   Ephraim   C 238 

Eby,  Henrv  B 662 

Ehv,   Michael 6S9 

Eby,  Michael 688 

Eliy,   Hon.   Maurice  C, .321 

EJliy.  Jacob  Ruplev 238 

Edwards,   Oliver,    248 

Egle,    Casper 173 

Egle,  William  Henirv 161.  .3.38 

Esrle.  Valentine.    ...  187 

Einstein,  Edgar  V...  .  595 

EinsteiTi,   .Toseuh   V.. .59,5 

Einstein.  M.  G.,.  . . .595 

Elder,  David  D., 1117 

Elder,  J.ames, 2-19 

Elder,   .Tohn 169 

EMer,  Joshua, 580 

Elder.  Matthew  B .580 

Elder,    Robert,    182 

Elder,   Robert 169 

Elder,   Robert 1 1 1  .S 

Elder.  Thomas 191 

EUenberger.  J.  Wesley  M.  D., .   381 

Ellmaker,  Frank 516 

Enders.    A  mos   E 642  - 

Enders.  Philip  Christian, 98 

Enders.  Cornelius,   759 

Engle,  Daniel 823 

Enders,  Charles  W., 1114 

Enders.  Edward   .^V. 525 

Endetts,   George  AV.   D 737.  7.35 

Enders,   George  W., 742 

Enders,    Henxw 7.51 

Ii>nders.  Isaac  F 748 

Enders,    T.     T.,    .  ,    636 

Enders,   .Tohn.    .  .1131 

Enders,  .John.  74.3 

Enders,  John  Conrad "Ji^ 

Enders.  L.  J..  M.  D.,.  . .  .1182,  in97 

Enders.   Philin 73.5 

End<"rs,  Philip  C 7.34 

Enders.   Samuel 752 

En.nev.  Gforge  W..  Jr 1032 

Ensinger,  F.  W .5,S4 

En.sminger,  .Tohn  T., 480 

Ensminger.     Philip 489 

Bnsineer,  Samuel  D 584 

Enterline,  Solomon  H 019 

Epler,    John 707 

Epler,   Jaeob   R., 767 

Epler.  PetfT. 767 

Epolev.  D.amiel 2aS 

Erb,  Jdhn,     823 


Erb,  Peter,    739 

Erb,  Will    C 090 

Ernest.  Daniel,    :  1 09 

Ei-nest,   George,    i  09 

Eshleman,  Abraham,   :il5 

BshenauT,  H.  G., 985 

Eshenowor,  Jacob  J./ 1037 

Eshleman.  John,    773,  815 

Espen^-liaile,  Christian,   988 

Espy,  William 1002 

Etter,  Abram  Landia,. "  799 

Etter,   Benjamin  P 248 

Etter,  Calvin 633 

Etter,  Rev.  David 713 

Etter,   David   K., 608 

Etter.  Henry  H 033 

Etzweiler,  Daniel 49 

Etzweiler,  Daniel 760 

Etzweiler,   George 1139 

Etzweiler.  Jacob  F 760 

Etzweiler.  .Terome .1069 

Etzwptiler.  John  D 1069 

Etzweiler.  Michajel,   760 

Etzweiler.   Samuel 11.39 

Etzweiler,  Willitim  H. 760 

Evans.  I>ajuel  W 1189 

Ewing,  Rev.  .Tames 332 

Packler,  .\dam,    .  .  .11.50 

Fackler.  Ezra 653 

Fager.Charlw  BumnL'ten.M.D.,  370 
Pager,  Christian  M..  M.  D...  .  .   403 

Eager,  .Tohn,   101 

Pager,  .Tohn  .Tacob, ^'■'\ 

Pager.  .Tohn  Henry IIU 

Pager.  .Tohn  Henry,  M.  D 356 

Pager,  .Tohn  H..  M.  D 379 

Fahnestock.  Adam  TC., .  10,5 

Pahnesteck.  Conrad,   .  102 

Pabnestock,  Dredrick 99 

Pahnestock.  Obert 102 

Pahnestock.  W.  E 600 

Pansier.  Milton  A !>28 

Parver,  Christian, 657 

P,a.rmim,  Henry,   104?,    348 

Faunce,  .Tacob,  .  .  589 

Paumce,  Jacob,   .  050 

Faunce.  Lawrence  .\.,. 589 

Peidt.  Daniel  .«; 1094 

Feidt.  David  E 1094 

Peidt,  GeorL'  1086 

Peidt,  Simon  1086 

Peidt,   George 1066 

Feltv.  .Tohn  S '. :  ...'. .  .  785  - 

PeltT,  John  S 789 

Pelty,  .Tohn  Solomon 7.S5 

Feltv.  Jnhn  Solomon' .Tr...  .701.   785 

Feltv,  T,uther  D 786 

Feltv.  Philin  D 9.39 

Pen^'l.  Xntbaniel  S 10.38 

Perree.  George  Washington,...  8S8 

Ferree.  Prank  P.. 8.S8 

Ferriday.  A.  Reeder '^S^ 

Ferlig.  Elin-s.    . 8.51.  f^^ 

Ferti?.  John  K 8 

Portig.  .Tohn  Q 88 

Petterhoff.   Clairence 75.'-. 

FetterhofH.  Frederick, 106 

Petterhoff.  Philip 753 

Petterhoff.  William 879 

Pindhw.  Gov.  WiMiam 53.  195 

Pink.  Henry 827.  607 

Finney.  Tsaac  S 2.56 

Fish,  Beniamin. 491 

Fisher.  Charles  Prederiok  Wm.  999 

Fisher,  Emory  A 579 

Fisher.   George 1 1 94 

Fisher.  Henrv 579 

Fisher.  John   G 824 

Fisher.  Jr-hn  I; 823 

Pi.Nher.  Wes-b-v 639 

Piisher.   William 823 

Fisher,  William,    789 


INDEX. 


FisliOT,  WiUiam  H., 520 

Fittintc,  Jokn 748 

Fitting,  William  H 748 

Fitzgerald.  Jaxues  R., 587 

Fitzgerald,  Samuel  W 587 

Fitzpatriek,  W.  Righter, 549 

Fleming,  David 107,  428 

Fleming,  David  Jr., 551 

Fleming,  George  R., 448 

Fleming,  James,    232 

Fletcher,   Joseph  A., i)82 

Fleming,  Samuel 188 

Fleming,.  Samuel  W 573 

Fleming,  Rol>ert 187 

Fleming,  Robert  Jackson 227 

Flovrers.  George  L., 685 

Flowers,  Thomas, 1000 

Focht.  John 784 

Foerster,  George, 641 

Foliz,  Christi:in  M 663 

Foltz,  Jolm  B., 402 

Foltz,  .T.  E 663 

Foltz,  .John  E., 766 

Foltz,  J.  H 775 

Foltz,  WUliam,  402 

Forney,  Charles  M., 404 

Forney,  Christian  Harvey 572 

Forney,  Rev.  Chxlstian  Heniy, .   277 

Forney,  Ckiyton  C, 572 

F(n-nei',  Homy  J  1-3.  537 

Forney,  John,   .  .  ...  1118 

Foniey.  Jacob  11 1091 

Forney,  J.  C 2S7.  572 

Forney,  Wien, 341.  343 

Forney,  John  Wilson 572 

ForSter,  John,   203 

Foneter.  John  Montgomery, .  . .   213 

Foo-ster,  Thomas, 189 

rorteubaugh,  Abraham, 731 

FoTtent>augh,  Andrew  731 

Fortenbangh,   Peter,  731 

Fortney,   Sylvester  T., G41 

Fosnaught,  John  R., 501 

Fox.  John 106 

h  ox,  John,   ....   204 

Fox,  John  E., .  .  tG7.  457 

Fox,  John  E., 109 

Fox,  Milton 942 

Fox.  Thomas  G.,  M.  D 674 

Fox,  William  I., 787 

Fox.  William  R., i;92 

Foose,  .T.aoob  A 555 

Foosc,  Ivemnel  Oliver, 471 

Fraim,  Benj;imin, 653 

Fraim,  Henry  S 653 

Fraim,  Jeremiah  S 653 

Fraley,  Henry 586 

Frank.  Andrew  P., 753 

Frank,  Charles 571 

Frank,  David,   749 

Frank,  George  W 749 

Frank,  .Tames,   964 

Prank,  .Tohu 1110 

ank,  Hpnrj' 1063 

•ank,  William  D.,  . 1110 

:antz.  Henry, .   858 

i'l-antz.   Michael   A.,    ims 

Freck.  Mathias 48 

Freck.  Nf weon  C 1054 

.Free.  Jolm  W 939 

Freeland.   George  W.   P 1093 

Pritchey,  John  A.,  M.  D., 382 

Fritchev,  John  F , 382 

Proehlich,  John 603 

Funk.  David  S..  AI.  D.,.  ..377,  379 
FuDok,  Michael,  379 

Gaistwhite.  Joseph 1142 

Gallagher.  Michael 1031 

Gaxilner,  Adam  Herery 991 

Garman,  Cliarles  B '.Hfi 

GflirmaTi,  George  B 946 

Grarman,  Isaac 868 


Garmajn,  John 967 

Garman,  .Tona^*,   1 165 

Ganaan,  Peter,   1105 

Gaiverick,  James  W.. 987 

Gamer,  Abraham 472 

Garner,  John  E 472 

Garver,  Christian, 776 

Garver,  C.  L., 776 

Garver.  .Joseph  L 776 

GasU-ock,  Barnhar  .1154 

Gaslrock,  Barthol  .   597 

Gastrock,  William,   600 

Gastrock,  William  M. 597 

Gause,  Lewis  H.,   246 

Gayman,  Jacob,   849 

Gayman,  John  P 849 

Geary,  Gov.  John  White,.  .  .53,  241 

Geary,  Richard 241 

Geddes,  James,   110 

Geddes,   R<.ibert,    110 

Geddes,   William,   110 

Geiger,  Bernard, Ill 

Geiger,   Christian,    869 

Geisel,   Henry 549 

Geiger,  .Tosoph,   Ill 

Geety,   William  Wallace 254 

Gerberick.  Andrew  T.,   871 

Gerdes,  Henry,   1017 

Gerhard,  Rev.  Isaac, 739 

Gerhard,  Jerome  Z.,    372 

Gerl)erich,   Daniel 707 

Gerlack,   Frank  G.,   654 

Gerlaok,  John  M 688 

German,  Emanuel  S.. 327 

German,   John  W 327 

Gemert,  Henry,   . 706 

Gernert,   .John s..   706 

G(!OTge,  William  J., 971,  348 

Geyer,   Michael 776 

Gilbert.  Rev.  David  MeC,   . .  275 

Gill)ert.  Fredt-riek  R 1090,  755 

Gilljert,   Isaac 732 

Gilbert,   Jacob 733 

Gilbert,  Samuel  R.,   1091 

Gilmore,  James  A.,   531 

Gilmore.   John,    531 

Gincrich.    Cvrus 682 

Gingrirli.  Edwin  G.,   685 

Gingrich,    .Tacob 777 

Gipe,  .Teremiali   B 704 

Gipe,  Jeremiah  E.,    704 

Gipe,    Peter 704 

G;se,  Joseph  D.,   886 

Gist,   .John   I> 681 

Gish.  John  R 681 

Goldsmith,   .Toseph 492 

Gorgas,  George  A- 405 

Gorgas,  Hon.  William  R 375 

Crgas.  William  L 419 

Gorgas.  Solomon  R.,  M.  D.,   .  375 

Good.  Christian,  .Tr 824 

Good,  Christian,  Sr., 824 

(^^oo<l.  Jacob 993 

Good,  George,   642 

Good.    .John 957 

Good.  Martin S24 

Goodman,    Benedict 551 

Goodman,  Simon.  .  .   .5.51 

Gough,  Henrv  W  .493 

Gould,  George  W 643 

Goss,  Jacob,  656 

Goss,  .Tacob,  Jr., 657 

Goss,  Martin,    786 

Gross,   Abraham 206 

Gross,  Daniel  Wiestling,   ....  401 

Gross  Edward  Z 401 

Gross,  .Toshnn  W 571 

Grove,  George  H 411 

Grove.  John 942 

Grove,  John  Z.,   411 

Grove,    Samuel 785 

Glover.  John  W 600 

Graber,  Leon  K.,  M.  D. 385 

Graham,   Robert,    591 


Graupner,  Robert  H 609 

Graydon,  Mrs.  Rachel,   167 

Graydon,  William 188 

Greenawalt,  Charles  F 944 

Greenawalt,   Jacob, 300 

Greenawalt,  Jeremiah  K 312 

Greenawalt,   .Jacob 310 

Greenawalt,  John  Philip 300 

Greenawalt,  Philip  B., 880 

Greenawalt  Philip  Lorentz,   .  .  300 
Greenawalt.Maj.  'I'heo.  I).,  71,  300 

Gregory,  Gen.  Edgar  M., 474 

Gregory,  Frank  H., 474 

Green,  Innis,   201 

Green,  Timothy,   177 

Green,  Robert, 177 

Gross,  Henrv  S 1021 

Grove,  John  W.. 1039 

Gnihl),    Beoijamiii,    6C3 

(Jnibb,  Joseph  G 664 

Gruber,  Peter,  Jr. 658 

Gruber,  Peter,  sr 658 

Grubb,   Henry  .\ 891 

Grunden,  Martin  H., 1039 

Haas,  James  A 39i) 

Ilagc,  Hother,    224 

Haioj,  Geoo-ge  W 1190 

Hain,  George,   459 

Hain,  Joseph,   780 

Hain,  William  M 459 

Hain,  Samuel 729 

Haldenmn,  Donald  0 „.  . .   462 

Haldeman,   Jacob,    172 

Haldeman,  .T.acob  M.,    172 

Haldeman.  John, 172 

Hall.  Louis  William 435 

Hall.  Samuel  S 322 

Hamilton.  Adam  Boyd..  .   935,  335 

Hamlin,  Benjamin  B.,  Jr 402 

Hamlin.  Rev.  Benjamin 402 

Hamilton,  Hugh 17,  207 

Hamilton,  John  S.,  .■ 415 

Hamilton,  .John, 184 

Hamilton.  Thomas  Allen. 239 

Hamilton.  Thomas  H.,   415 

Hammelbaugh,  D.  Daniel,   .  . .   472 

Hammelliauirh,   Philip,    472 

Hammond,  .Tohn  Wesle.v,  M.D.,  362 

Hammond.  AVilliam  B 466 

Hanna,   Edw.ard   C ll.SO 

Hanna,  Gen.  John, 84 

Hanna,  Gen.  .John  Andre 189 

H.anshne,    Elmer   E., 1005 

Hanshue.  David 933 

Hanshue.  .Jeremiah ]00<^> 

Hanshaw,    Charles   E 483 

Hanshaw.  Henry,  .  .   .'"•32 

Hanshue,  John  P.,    .  't.T-' 

Hargest,  .Ti'fferson  S 000 

Hargest  John  James 960 

Hargest,  Thomas  S.. .  .  440i;,.  440 
Harper,  C-omelins,    .  721 

Harris,  David,  ....  .SI 

Harris,  David 82 

Harris,  Esther,   78 

Harris.  Elizabeth. 78 

Harris.  G»orge  Washington,  .  .     8.3 

Harris.  .Tames,  of  Derry 114 

Harris.   .Tohn 24.77 

Harris,  James,  of  Derry, 114 

Harris,  .Tohn,   ...  79 

Harvie.  John  C 560 

Hartnian.   Henry 1119 

Hartman.  Paul  A.,  M.  D., 374 

Harris,  Robert,  of  Derry,  ....   113 

Harris.  Robert 17.  192 

Harris,  Robert   82 

Harris.  Samuel  H.,   6.39 

Harris,   Samuel 81 

Harris,  WiIIi.am  Augustus.  ...  81 
Harris,  William  Ansrustns,.  .  .  8.3 
Harris.  William,  of  Derry,  .  . .  113 
Harris.  George  Washington,  . .  219 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 

— OF— 

DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Early  Settlers— Sootch-Irish  and  German. 

Ill  a  brief  resume  of  the  history  of  tlie 
count}'  of  Dauphin  it  is  out  of  place  to  treat 
of  the  Aborigines  and  even  of  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  save  when 
some  allusion  to  either  may  be  deemed  nec- 
essary. We  proceed,  therefore,  to  give  an 
account  of  the  settlement  of  the  pioneers  on 
the  Susquehanna  within  the  limits  of  our 
own  county  domain.  The  Founder  of  Penn- 
sylvania is  certainly  deserving  of  grateful 
remembrance  for  his  efforts  to  settle  his 
Province,  to  protect  the  pioneers  and  to  fos- 
der  their  industry  and  thrift.  He  was  a  re- 
markable man  in  many  respects,  and  his 
"Frame  of  Government"  is  a  model  un- 
equalled by  the  laws  of  any  of  the  Colonies 
or  Provinces.  The  "  concessions "  agreed 
upon  in  England  for  the  encouragement  of 
emigration  to  his  Province  was  an  import- 
ant factor  in  that  great  movement  which  so 
materially  a.ssisted  in  building  up  this  west- 
ern empire,  and  gave  to  the  world  the  great 
State  founded  in  peace.  The  inducements 
by  Penn  to  settlers  were  not  confined  to  right 
of  soil  or  voice  in  government,  but  religious 
tolerance  was  guaranteed  by  him.  The  law 
of  religious  liberty  as  framed  by  him,  and 
pas,sed  by  the  first  Assembly  at  Cliester  on 
the  Kith  of  December,  1082,  was  the  first  act 
of  toleration  ever  given  to  any  peo[)le  in  the 
history  of  nations. 

Owing  to  this  toleration  on  the  part  of  the 
Proprietar}'  of  Pennsylvania,  that  Province 
became  a  refuge  and  home  to  the  people  of 
all  creeds  and  religious  beliefs.  It  is  true 
that  during  the  life  time  of  the  Founder  lib- 
erty of  conscience  was  not  questioned,  but  at 
a  later  period,  we  regret  to  say,  his  religious 
adherents  would  have  throttled  tolerance 
had  they  not  feared  revolution. 

The  Scotcli-IrisJi  Ivnnigration. 

Following  the  advent  of  the  Founder  with 
his  adherents,  the  Welsh  and  English  Qua- 


kers, came  the  emigration  of  the  German, 
Swiss  and  the  Scotch-Irish,  and  it  is  proper 
in  this  place  to  give  an  account  in  brief  of 
both  these  migrations,  illustrative  of  the 
character  of  the  people  who  first  settled  the 
county  of  Dauphin,  and  to  whom  after  the 
lapse  of  over  a  centurj'  and  a  half  it  has 
risen  to  be  one  of  the  most  thrifty,  [)roduc- 
tive,  enterprising  and  populous  counties  of 
the  Commonwealth. 

Of  the  coming  of  the  Scotch-Irish,  much 
has  been  said  and  written,  and  as  the  ear- 
liest settlers  within  the  limits  of  the  county 
of  Daujihin  belonged  to  these  people,  some 
account  of  tiiis  remarkable  race  is  a|)propri- 
ate  here.  The  question  naturally  arises,  who 
were  the  Scotch-Irish  ?  At  the  first  it  was 
used  as  a  term  of  reproach,  but  to  us  it  has 
become  a  synonym  of  enterprise,  intelligence, 
patriotism  and  religious  fervor. 

It  was  during  the  reign  of  good  Queen 
Bess — the  proud  Elizabetli  of  all  England — 
that  through  treason,  t\'ranny  and  rebellion, 
the  Province  of  Ulster,  especiallj'  the  coun- 
ties of  Down,  Londonderry,  and  Antrim, Ire- 
land was  reduced  to  the  lowest  extreme  of 
poverty  and  wretchedness,  while  its  moral 
and  religious  state  was  scarcely  less  deplor- 
able. 

Soon  after  the  accession  of  James  L, 
O'Neill,  the  Earl  of  Tyrone,  and  O'Donnell, 
the  Earl  of  Tyrconnel,  were  falsely  accused 
of  having  arranged  a  plot  against  the  gov- 
ernment. An  accusation  being  at  tliose 
times  tantamount  to  a  conviction,  compelled 
those  thus  arraigned  to  fly  the  country,  leav- 
ing tlieir  extensive  estates  (about  five  hun- 
dred thousand  acres)  at  the  mercy  of  the 
king,  who  at  once  confiscated  them.  A  suli- 
sequcnt  supposed  threatened  insurrection, 
promptly  suppressed,  gave  occasion  for  an- 
otlier  large  forfeiture,  and  nearly  six  entire 
counties  in  the  Province  of  Ulster  were  se- 
questrated and  subjected  to  the  disposal  of 
the  crown.  Any  country  passing  through 
such  an  ordeal  of  turbulence  could  not  be 
otherwise  than  almost  depopulated,  with  re- 


HIS  TORKL  \L  RE  VIE  W 


sources  wasted  and  tlie  cultivation  of  tlie 
soil  in  a  great  measure  abandoned.  And 
such  was  the  true  condition  of  Ulster.  To 
repeople  the  country  it  was  determined  to  in- 
vite the  settlement  of  Protestants  from  Eng- 
land and  Scotland,  and  hence  liberal  offers 
of  land  were  made  for  colonists  to  occupy 
this  wide  and  vacant  country,  tlie  better  to 
preserve  order,  to  establish  more  firmly  the 
British  rule,  and  to  secure  loyalty.  The 
project  was  easily  embraced,  companies  were 
formed,  and  individuals  withoutorganization 
were  tempted  to  partake  of  tlie  advantageous 
offers  of  tlie  government.  A  London  com- 
pany— among  the  first  to  enter  upon  the 
new  acquisition — establisiied  itself  at  Derry, 
and  gave  such  character  to  the  place  as  to 
cause  it  to  be  known  and  called  the  city  of 
Londonderry. 

The  principal  emigration,  however,  was 
from  Scotland.  Its  coast  is  within  twenty 
miles  from  the  county  of  Antrim,  Ireland, 
and  across  this  strait  flowed  from  the  north- 
east a  large  population,  distinguished  for 
tiirift,  industry  and  endurance,  and  bring- 
ing with  them  their  Presbyterianism  and 
rigid  adherance  to  the  Westminster  stand- 
ards. This  was  the  first  Protestant  popula- 
tion that  was  introduceil  into  Ireland,  and 
the  Presbyterians  of  Scotland  who  thus  fur- 
nished the  largest  element  iiave  maintained 
their  ascendancy  to  the  [present  day  against 
all  the  persevering  efforts  of  the  govern- 
ment church. 

The  Province  of  Ulster,  in  consequence  of 
tills  influx  of  population,  greatly  revived  and 
continued  for  some  years  to  advance  in  pros- 
perit}'.  In  time  the  tlirone  of  England  was 
controlled  by  bigotry  and  despotism.  Per- 
secutions of  an  oppressive  nature  began  in 
Ulster  in  16G1,  and  every  expedient  was 
tried  to  break  down  the  attachment  of  the 
people  to  the  faith  of  their  fathers ;  yet,  as 
is  ever  the  case,  persecution  only  attached 
the  people  the  stronger  to  Presbyterianism. 

From  Ireland  the  tide  of  persecution 
rolled  to  Scotland.  The  latter  Stuarts, — 
Charles  11.  and  James  II. — blind  to  the  dic- 
tates of  justice  and  humanitj',  pursued  a 
system  of  measures  best  calculated  to  wean 
from  their  support  their  Presbyterian  sub- 
jects who  were  bound  to  them  by  national 
prejudice  and  had  been  most  devoted  to 
their  kingly  cause,  and  to  whose  assistance 
Charles  II.  owed  his  restoration  to  the 
throne.  Sir  James  Grahame,  better  known 
as  Claverhouse,  was  sent  to  Scotland    with 


his  dragoons  upon  the  mistaken  mission  of 
C0mj)elling  the  Presbyterians  to  conform  in 
their  religious  worsiiip  to  that  of  the  estab- 
lishment; and  from  1670  until  the  accession 
of  William  and  Mary  the  Covenanters  of 
Scotland  worshiped  in  hidden  places  and  at 
the  peril  of  their  lives. 

Tlie  attempts  of  the  Stuarts  to  destroy  the 
religious  system  so  universally  established 
and  .so  dearly  cherisiied  by  that  devoted 
people  was  steadily  pursued  by  persecution 
as  cruel  and  as  savage  as  any  which  have 
disgraced  the  annals  of  religious  bigotry  and 
crime.  Many  were  treacherously  and  ruth- 
lessly butchered,  and  the  ministers  were  pro- 
hibited, under  severe  penalties,  from  preach- 
ing, baptizing  or  ministering  in  any  way  to 
their  flocks. 

There  are  some  matters  connected  with 
these  persecutions  which  may  not  be  unin- 
teresting. From  1000  to  1088  no  less  than 
eighteen  thou.sand  Scotch  Presbyterians  were 
put  to  death  in  various  ways  in  defense  of 
the  solemn  league  and  covenant  and  Christ's 
headship  over  the  Church.  In  looking  over 
the  list  of  names  one  is  forcibly  struck  with 
the  fact  that  among  them  are  the  very  sur- 
names of  the  Scotch-Irish  emigrants  to  this 
section  of  Pennsylvania — Allison,  Stewart, 
Gray,  Thompson,  Murray,  Robinson,  Ruth- 
erford, McCorniick,  Mitchell,  Kerr,  Todd, 
Beatt}%  Johnston,  Hamilton,  Finley,  Mc- 
Cord,  McEweii,  Hall,  Boyd,  Clark,  Sloan,  El- 
der, Forster,  Montgomery,  Robertson  and 
others.  It  would  thus  seem  that  we  have 
here  the  lineal  descendants  of  those  who 
loved  not  their  lives  unto  the  death,  but 
were  drowned,  hanged,  shot,  beheaded,  and 
their  heads  stuck  upon  poles,  their  bodies 
chopped  in  pieces  and  scattered  about,  in  the 
days  of  that  human  monster,  Claverhouse. 
Through  their  blood  shed  in  defense  of  reli- 
gious liberty  we  enjoy  many  and  great  privi- 
leges. 

Worn  out  with  the  unequal  contest,  these 
persistent  and  enduring  Presbyterians  took 
refuge  from  persecution — abandoned  the 
land  of  their  birth — and  sought  an  asylum 
among  their  countrymen  who  had  preceded 
them  in  the  secure  retreats  of  Ulster,  and 
thither  they  escaped  as  best  the}'  could,  some 
crossing  the  narrow  sea  in  open  boats.  They 
carried  their  household  gods  with  them, 
and  their  religious  peculiarities  became  more 
dear  in  their  land  of  exile  for  the  dangers 
and  sorrows  through  which  they  had  borne 
them. 


DA  UPHIN  GO  UNTY. 


This  is  tlie  race  which  furnished  the  popu- 
lation in  the  north  of  Ireland,  familiarly 
known  as  the  Scotch-Irish.  This  term — 
American  in  its  origin,  and  unknown  in  Ire- 
land— does  not  denote  an  admixture  of  the 
Scotcli  and  Irish  races.  The  one  did  not  in- 
termarry with  the  other.  Tlie  Scotch  were 
principally  Saxon  in  blood  and  Presbyterian 
in  religion ;  the  native  Irish  Celtic  in  blood 
and  Roman  Catholic  in  religion  ;  and  these 
were  elements  which  could  not  very  readily 
coalesce.  Hence  the  races  are  as  distinct  in 
Ireland  at  the  present  day  as  when  the  Scotch 
first  took  up"  their  abode  in  that  island. 
They  were  called  Scotch-Irish  simply  from 
the  circumstances  that  they  were  the  de- 
scendants of  Scots  who  had  taken  up  their 
residence  in  the  north  of  Ireland. 

Taxation  and  oppression,  however,  with 
difficulties  partly  political,  partly  religious, 
no  doubt  were  the  strong  motives  which  one 
hundred  and  eiglity  years  ago  induced  the 
Scotch-Irish  to  leave  Ireland.  It  was  not 
the  home  of  their  ancestors,  it  was  endeared 
to  them  by  no  traditions,  and  they  sought 
and  obtained  in  the  wilds  of  Pennsylvania 
a  better  home  than  they  had  in  the  Old 
World. 

Extensive  emigration  from  the  northern 
counties  of  Ireland  were  principally  made 
at  two  distinct  periods  of  time.  The  first 
from  about  the  year  1717  to  the  middle  of 
the  century,  the  second  from  about  1771  to 
1773.  They  were  Protestants,  generally 
Presbyterians — few  or  none  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Irisli  came  until  after  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  and  few  then  until  after  the 
great  political  upheaval  in  1798,  since  which 
period,  as  we  all  know, 'the  flow  of  the  latter 
class  of  immigrants  has  been  one  continuous 
stream. 

The  Scotch- Irish  emigrants  landed  prin- 
cipally at  New  Castle  and  Pliiladel])iiia, 
save  a  handful  who  had  settled  on  the  Ken- 
nebec m  Maine,  and  of  these  the  greater  por- 
tion eventually  came  into  Pennsylvania. 
Settling  on  the  frontiers  from  Easton  to  the 
Susquehanna  and  tiio  Potomac,  the  stream 
of  immigration  continued  south  to  Virginia 
and  the  C'arolinas. 

The  country  north  of  the  Swatara  had  not 
been  visited  save  by  French  traders  prior 
to  the  coming  of  William  Penn.  After  his 
first  visit  he  seems  to  have  been  well  in- 
formed concerning  this  locality,  and  person- 
ally visited  it,  and  at  or  above  the  moutli 
of  the  Swatara  decided  to  locate  a  city,  and 


proposals  were  consecjuently  issued  therefor 
in  1690.  It  is  easily  understood  why  the 
project  was  never  carried  out.  The  careful 
reader  of  Pennsylvania  history  will  readily 
comprehend  tiie  peculiar  conditions  sur- 
rounding the  founder.  The  government  of 
his  Province  was  giving  liim  serious  concern. 
The  material  composing  his  Assembly  was 
of  that  stubborn,  self-willed  character  that 
little  could  be  done,  and  he  had  as  much  as 
he  could  do  in  the  preservation  and  foster- 
ing of  those  enterprises  he  had  already  be- 
gun. 

The  Early  German  Settlers. 

The  origin  of  the  German-Swiss  popula- 
tion in  Pennsylvania  dates  back  to  the  latter 
part  of  the  .seventeenth   century.      As  early 
as  1GS4,  Francis  Daniel  Pastorius,  of  whom 
the  poet  Whittier  has  sung  so  sweetly,  with 
a  colony  of  Germans  settled  and  laid  out 
Germantown  near  to  the  Metropolis.     These 
came  from  C'resheim,  Germany,  and  were  in 
religious  opinions  and  )n'oelivities  allied  to 
the  Quakers.     (Jther  colonists  followed,  set- 
tling in  different  parts  of  the  Province.     It 
was  not,  however,  until  the  years  1709  and 
1710  that  the  emigration  of  the  Germans 
was  of  any  magnitude.     For  two  or  three 
years   previous   Queen  Anne,  of  England, 
•gave  refuge  to  thousands  of  the  Palatinates, 
who,  oppressed  by  the  exactions  of  the  French, 
were  forced  to  flee  from  their  homes.     It  is 
stated  that  in  the  month  of  July,  1709,  there 
arrived  at  London  six  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  twenty  German  Protestants.    Trans- 
portation   was  gratuitous^'  given   many  to 
America  through  the  aid  of  the  Queen  and 
the  government  of  England.     The  vast  ma- 
jority were  sent  at  first  to  New  York,  from 
whence  many  reached  the  confines  of  Penn- 
sylvania, a  province  the  laws  of  which  were 
more  tolerant  than  tiiose  of  an\'  of  the  new 
colonies.     Among  these  German  emigrants 
were   Mennonites,    Dunkards,  German    Re- 
formed and  Lutherans.     Their  number  was 
so  great  during  the  subsequent  years  that 
James  Logan,  secretary  to  the  Proprietary, 
wrote,  "  We  have  of  late  great  numbers  of 
Palatines  poured  in  upon  us  without  any  re- 
commendation   or  notice  which    gives  the 
country  some  uneasiness,  for  foreigners  do 
not  so  well  among  us  as  our  own  English 
people."      Two  years  afterwards  Jonathan 
Dickinson   remarks,  "We  are  daily  expect- 
ing ships  from    London  whicli  bring  over 
Palatines   in    number   about   six    or  seven 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


thousand.  We  liad  a  parcel  wlio  came  out 
about  five  years  ago,  wlio  purchased  land 
about  sixty  miles  from  Philadelphia  and 
proved  quiet  and  industrious.  Some  few 
came  from  Ireland  lately,  and  moi'e  are  ex- 
pected thence.  This  is  besides  our  common 
supply  from  Wales  and  England.  Our  friends 
do  increase  mightily,  and  a  great  people  there 
is  in  the  wilderness  which  is  fast  becoming  a 
fruitful  field." 

These  emigrants  settled  princi])ally  in 
Montgomery,  Bucks  and  Lancaster  counties, 
the  latter  including  the  present  counties  of 
Dauphin  and  Lebanon.  They  were  well 
educated,  and  brought  witii  tliem  their  min- 
isters and  school-masters;  the  latter  verj' 
frequently,  when  there  was  a  want  of  supply 
of  the  former,  read  sermons  and  prayers. 

Between  the  years  1720  and  1725  a  large 
number  of  (iermans,  who  had  previously 
settled  in  .Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  descended 
the  Susquehanna  river  on  rafts  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Swatara,  ascending  which  stream,  al- 
ready settled  by  the  Scotch-Irish,  they  took 
up  their  abode  near  the  waters  of  the  Tulpe- 
hocken,  partly  in  Berks  county,  some  few 
miles  witiiin  tlu!  present  limits  of  Lebanon 
county.  The  celebrated  (,'onrad  Weiser 
was  of  this  party  of  colonists 

From  1725,  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  there 
was  another  great  influx  of  Germans  of  vari-, 
ous  religious  opinions — Reformed,  Lutiier- 
ans,  Moravians,  Swenkfeklers  and  Roman 
Catholics.  By  a  letter  of  Secretary  James 
Logan,  in  1725,  it  appears  that  many  of 
these  settlers  were  not  over-scrupulous  in 
tiieir  compliance  with  tiie  regulations  of  the 
land  office.  He  says,  and  jierchance  with 
much  truth,  "Tiiey  come  in  in  crowds,  and 
as  bold,  indigent  strangers  from  Germany, 
where  man}'  of  them  have  been  soldiers. 
All  these  go  on  the  best  vacant  tracts  and 
seize  upon  them  as  places  of  common  spoil." 
He  again  says,  "They  rarely  approach  me  on 
their  arrival  to  propose  to  purchase;"  and 
and  adds,  "  when  they  are  sought  out  and 
challenged  for  their  rigiit  of  occupancy  they 
allege  it  was  published  in  Europe  that  we 
wanted  and  solicited  for  colonists,  and  had  a 
superabundance  of  land,  and  therefore  they 
liad  come  without  the  means  to  pay."  In 
fact,  those  who  thus  "  squatted "  without 
titles  acquired  enough  by  their  thrift  in  a 
few  years  to  pay  for  the  laud  which  they  had 
thus  occupied,  and  so,  generally,  tiiey  were 
left  unmolested.  Secretary  Logan  further 
states,  "  Many  of  them  are  Papists — the  men 


well  armed,  and  as  a  body  a  warlike,  morose 
race."  In  1727  he  writes,  "About  six  thou- 
sand Germans  more  are  expected  (and  also 
many  from  Ireland),  and  these  emigrations" 
he  "  hopes  maj'  be  prevented  in  the  future 
by  act  of  Parliament,  else  these  Colonies  ivill 
in  time  be  lost  to  the  Croimi."  The  italics  in 
the  last  sentence  are  our  own.  To  us  it 
seems  like  a  propiiecj'. 

From  1735  to  1752  emigrants  came  into 
the  Province  by  thousands.  In  the  autumn 
of  1749  not  less  than  twenty  vessels  with 
German  passengers  to  the  number  of  twelve 
thousand  arrived  at  Philadelphia.  In  1750, 
1751  and  1752  the  number  wa.s  not  much 
less.  Among  those  who  emigrated  during 
these  years  were  many  who  bitterly  lamented 
having  forsaken  their  native  land  for  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania.  At  that  time 
there  was  a  class  of  (iermans  who  had  resided 
some  time  in  Pennsylvania,  well  known  by 
the  name  of  Neulandcr,  who,  acting  in  the 
capacity  of  agents  for  certain  firms — promi- 
nent (Quakers  of  Philadelphia — went  to  Ger- 
many and  Switzerland,  ijrevailing  on  their 
countrymen  to  sacrifice  their  property  and 
emigrate  to  Pennsylvania.  Many  persons  in 
easy  circumstances  at  home  were  induced  to 
embark  for  America.  False  representations 
were  made,  lands  were  offered  for  the  settling 
thereon,  a  nominal  charge  was  to  be  made 
for  the  passage  on  siiijt-board,  and  every  in- 
centive em])loyed  by  these  nefarious  agents 
to  beguile  the  unsuspecting. 

Of  tlie  horrors  and  privations  of  that  six 
or  eiglit  weeks  on  ship-board  we  shall  not 
refer,  the  bare  recital  of  which  is  terrible  to 
contemplate  even  at  this  late  day.  The 
condition  of  these  emigrants  on  their  arrival 
was  absolutely  wretched.  Tiie  exactions  of 
the  masters  of  the  vessels,  the  plundering  of 
their  baggage  by  these  unscrupulous  pirates, 
placed  them  at  the  tender  mercy  of  tiie 
Quaker  merchants  who  purchased  the  entire 
cargo  of  living  freight  as  a  sjieculation,  such 
being  the  object  in  sending  out  their  agents; 
and  men,  women,  and  children  were  thus 
sold  at  auction  for  a  term  of  years  to  the 
highest  and  best  bidder.  It  was  white  slav- 
ery, and  those  concerned  considered  that  it 
paid  them  better  tlian  ne<iro  slavery.  We 
have  recently  examined  some  records  which 
throw  additional  light  upon  this  subject  of 
German  emigration,  and  prove  conclusively 
that  for  years  this  nefarious  traffic  was  car- 
ried on.  This  statement  is  not  flattering  to 
Pennsylvania  and  her  history,  it  is  true,  but 


I)  AT  I'll  IN  COUNTY. 


the  people  at  large  or  the  government  were 
not  wholh'  responsible  for  the  acts  of  those 
who  insisted  npon  their  "  pound  of  flesh." 
The  persons  thus  disposed  of  were  termed 
redemplioners.  They  were  usually  sold  at 
ten  pounds  for  from  three  to  five  years'  servi- 
tude; and  in  almost  every  instance  the  time 
for  which  they  were  sold  was  honestly  served 
out,  wiiile  many  subsequently,  by  dint  of 
industrj-  and  frugality,  rose  to  positions  of 
wealth  and  importance  in  the  State  and 
Nation. 

In  later  times,  say  from  1753  to  1756,  the 
Germans  having  become  numerous  and 
therefore  powerful  as  "make-weights"  in 
the  political  balance  were  mucii  noticed  in 
tlie  publications  of  tiie  day,  and  were  at  that 
period  in  general  in  very  hearty  co-operation 
with  the  Quakers  then  in  rule  in  the  Assem- 
bly. From  that  time  onward,  although  not 
so  numerous,  almost  all  the  German  emi- 
grants to  America  located  in  Pennsylvania. 

A  manuscript  pamphlet  in  tlie  Franklin 
Library  at  Philadelphia,  said  to  have  been 
written  by  Samuel  Wharton  in  1755,  con- 
tains certain  facts  which  are  worthy  of  repro- 
duction in  this  connection,  showing,  as  it 
does,  their  influence  in  the  Province,  whether 
fancied  or  actual  we  do  not  say.  "The  party 
on  the  side  of  the  Friends,"  says  the  writer, 
"  derived  much  of  their  influence  over  the 
Germans,  through  the  aid  of  Christopher 
Sauer,  who  published  a  German  paper  in 
Germantown  as  early  as  1729,  and  which, 
being  much  read  by  tiiat  people,  infiuoneed 
them  to  the  side  of  the  Friends  and  hostile 
to  the  Governor  and  Council.  Through  this 
means  they  have  persuaded  them  that  there 
was  a  design  to  enslave  them,  to  enforce  their 
young  men,  by  a  contemplated  militia  law, 
to  become  soldiers,  and  to  load  them  down 
with  taxes,  etc.,  from  such  causes,"  he  adds, 
"  have  they  come  down  in  shoals  to  vote, 
and  carrying  all  before  them."  "  To  this  I 
may  add,"  says  Watson,  "that  I  have  heard 
from  the  Norris  family  that  their  ancestors 
in  the  Assembly  were  warmly  patronized  by 
the  Germans  in  union  with  Friends.  His 
alarm  at  this  German  influence  at  the  polls, 
and  his  proposed  remedies  for  the  then 
dreaded  evils,  as  they  show  the  prevalent 
feelings  of  his  associates  in  politics,  may 
serve  to  amuse  the  present  generation.  He 
says  the  best  effects  of  these  successes  of  the 
Germans  will  probably  be  felt  through  many 
generations !  Instead  of  a  peaceable,  indus- 
trious people  as  before,  they  are  grown  now 


insolent,  sullen  and  turbulent,  in  some 
counties  threatening  even  the  lives  of  all 
those  who  oppose  their  views,  because  they 
are  taught  to  regard  government  and  slavery 
as  one  and  the  same  thing.  Ail  who  are 
not  of  their  party  they  call  '  Governor's 
men,'  and  themselves  they  deem  strong- 
enough  to  make  the  country  their  own ! 
Indeed,  they  come  in  such  force,  say  up- 
wards of  Ave  thousand  in  the  last  year,  I  see 
not  but  they  niay  soon  be  able  to  give  us 
law  and  language,  too,  or  else,  by  joining 
the  French,  eject  all  the  English.  That  this 
may  be  the  case  is  too  much  to  be  feared,  for 
almost  to  a  man  they  refused  to  bear  arms 
in  the  time  of  the  late  war.  and  the^'  say  it 
is  all  one  to  them  which  king  gets  the  coun- 
try, as  their  estates  will  be  equally  secure. 
Indeed  it  is  clear  that  the  French  have 
turned  their  hopes  upon  this  great  body  of 
Germans.  They  hope  to  allure  them  by 
grants  of  Ohio  lands.  To  this  end  the^'  send 
tiieir  Jesuitical  emissaries  among  them  to 
jiersuade  them  over  to  the  Popish  religion. 
In  concert  with  this  the  French  for  so  many 
years  have  encroached  on  our  Province, 
and  are  now  so  near  their  scheme  as  to  be 
within  two  days'  march  of  some  of  our  back 
settlements,"  alluding,  of  course,  to  tlie  state 
of  the  western  countrj',  overrun  by  French 
and  Indians  just  before  the  arrival  of  Brad- 
dock's  forces  in  Virginia  in  1755. 

The  writer  imputes  their  wrong  bias  in 
general  to  their  "stubborn  genius  and  ignor- 
ance," which  he  proposes  to  soften  by  educa- 
tion; "a  scheme  still  suggested  as  necessary 
to  give  the  general  mass  of  the  inland  coun- 
try Germans  right  views  of  public  individual 
interests.  To  this  end  he  proposes  that  faith- 
ful Protestant  ministers  and  school-masters 
should  be  supported  among  them;  that  their 
cliildrenshould  betaughttlie  English  tongue; 
the  government  in  the  mean  time  should  sus- 
pend their  right  of  voting  for  members  of 
Assembly,  and  to  incline  them  the  sooner  to 
become  English  in  education  and  feeling,  we 
should  compel  them  to  make  all  bonds  and 
other  legal  writings  in  English,  and  no  news- 
paper or  almanac  be  circulated  among  them 
unless  also  accompanied  by  the  English 
thereof."  "Finally,"  he  concludes,  "  without 
some  such  measure  I  see  nothing  to  prevent 
this  Province  from  falling  into  the  hands  of 
the  French."  A  scheme  to  educate  the  Ger- 
mans as  the  one  alluded  to  was  put  on  foot  in 
1755,  and  carried  on  for  several  years,  but 
really    with    little   good    results.     The   Ger- 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


man  settlers  appreciated  education,  for  they 
brought  their  ministers  and  school-masters 
with  them,  and  there  were  few  who  could  not 
read  or  write.  They  could  write  their  names, 
and  as  great  a  proportion  as  their  English 
neighbors,  the  Quakers.  The  difficulty  was 
not  alone  to  educate  them  in  the  English 
tongue,  but  for  the  Engluh  Church.  That 
they  did  not  taiie  kindly  to,  and  after  the 
lapse  of  a  century  and  a  quarter  in  many 
localities  there  is  the  same  objection  to  the 
"scheme  of  1755."  Tiiis  matter  has  been 
wrongly  construed  to  the  detriment  of  the 
German  settlers,  the}'  fostered  education,  but 
the}'  did  not  approve  being  taught  the  Eng- 
lish vernacular. 

While  uj)on  this  subject  of  the  early  settle- 
ment, it  may  as  well  be  stated  that  the  Penn- 
sylvania Germans  are  not  tiie  descendants  of 
the  Hessians,  who  were  brought  to  America 
by  the  British  government  to  put  down  the 
rebellion  of  1776,  as  has  repeatedly  been 
charged  by  New  England  historians.  This 
statement  is  as  iminident  as  it  is  false.  All 
of  the  German  "  Mercenaries,"  as  they  are 
called,  who  were  prisoners  of  war  and  sta- 
tioned in  Pennsylvania,  according  to  Baron 
Reidesel,  who  was  one  of  the  commanders, 
were  properly  accounted  for,  and  were  re- 
turned to  their  own  country  upon  the  evacu- 
ation of  New  York  by  the  British.  They  did 
not  remain;  as  it  was  a  condition  entered  into 
by  the  English  government  with  the  Land- 
grave of  Brunswick,  the  Duke  of  Hesse- 
Cassel,  and  the  jtetty  princes  of  Hanau  and 
Waldeck,  tiiat  a  certain  price  was  to  be  paid 
for  every  man  killed,  wounded  or  missing. 
Before  the  official  proclamation  of  peace  the 
Hessian  prisoners  were  on  their  way  to  New 
York,  by  direction  of  the  .Supreme  Executive 
Council  of  Pennsylvania.  Some  few  de- 
serted, and  some  eventually  returned  to 
America  after  their  transportation  to  Ger- 
many, but  the  bold  assertion  that  the  origin 
of  the  large  German  population  of  Pennsyl- 
vania is  due  to  the  settlement  of  those  hired 
mercenaries  of  p]ngland  cannot  be  supported, 
and  shows  the  profoundest  liistorical  ignor- 
ance and  audacious  stupidity. 

Pennsylvania  took  the  lead  of  the  Colonies 
in  agriculture  because  of  the  great  number 
of  Germans  settling  in  the  Province;  and 
Governor  Thomas,  as  early  as  1738,  wrote, 
"  This  Province  has  been  for  some  years  the 
asylum  of  the  distressed  Protestants  of  tha 
Palatinate  and  other  parts  of  Germany,  and 
I  believe  it  maj'  with  truth  be  said  that  the 


present  flourishing  condition  of  it  is  in  a  great 
measure  oiving  to  the  industrij  of  those  people — 
it  is  not  altogether  the  goodness  of  the  soil, 
but  tlie  number  and  industry  of  the  people 
that  make  a  flourishing  colony"  {Col.  Bee. 
iv,  p.  SIS).  The  exportation  of  farm  products 
kept  pace  with  the  increase  of  the  popula- 
tion. In  1751  there  were  exported  8G,000 
bushels  of  wheat,  J  29,960  barrels  of  flour, 
90,743  bushels  of  Indian  corn.  The  total 
exports  of  1761  exceeded  $1,000,000  in  value. 
This  was  a  period  when  the  entire  population 
did  not  exceed  180,000,  whereof  nearly  one- 
half  were  Germans. 

That  the  (iermans  of  Pennsylvania  have 
been  so  uniformly  successful  in  actjuiring 
wealth  is  due  to  their  industrj',  to  their  thrift 
and  to  their  knowledge  of  agricultural  pur- 
suits. If  some  portions  of  Pennsylvania  are 
the  garden-spots  of  America  they  have  been 
made  so  by  the  Germans  who  have  tilled 
them — who  have  indeed  "made  the  wilder- 
ness to  blossom  as  the  rose."  Not  anywhere 
in  the  New  England  States,  in  New  York  nor 
in  the  South  are  farms  so  well  tilled,  so 
highly  cultivated  as  in  the  sections  of  Penn- 
sylvania where  the  descendants  of  the  Ger- 
mans predominate;  and  we  assert,  with  out 
fear  of  contradiction,  that  more  works  on  agri- 
culture, more  papers  devoted  to  farming,  are 
taken  and  read  b}'  the  so-called  "  Pennsylva- 
nia Dutch  "  farmers  than  by  the  farmers  of 
any  other  section  of  the  Union.  That  our  Ger- 
man citizens  are  not  "content  to  live  in  liuts" 
is  palpably  certain,  and  whoever  will  go  into 
the  homes  of  our  farmers  will  find  evidence 
of  both  refinement  and  culture,  their  farms 
being  easily  distinguished  from  those  of 
others  by  the  great  fences,  the  extent  of  the 
orchard,  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  the  produc- 
tiveness of  the  fields,  the  luxuriance  of  the 
meadows,  the  superiority  of  his  horse,  which 
seems  to  feel  with  his  owner  the  pleasure 
of  good  living.  And  although  their  barns 
are  capacious,  because  their  dwellings  are  not 
castles,  they  should  not  be  accused  of  indif- 
ference to  their  own  domiciles.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  it  is  rare  to  find  a  farm-house  in  the 
old  German  settlements  that  does  not  con- 
tain a  double  parlor,  sitting-room,  dining- 
room,  kitchen  and  outkitchen,  with  six  or 
eight  bed-rooms.  This  is  more  general  in 
the  counties  of  Berks,  Lancaster,  Lebanon, 
Dauphin  and  Cumberland  than  among  the 
New  England  settled  counties  of  the  North 
and  West — the  Quaker  counties  of  Chester 
and  Bucks  in  Pennsylvania — and  to  go  to 


DAurmx  corNTY. 


New  Englancl,  the  latter  are  not  to  be  men- 
tioned in  comparison. 

Of  the  Pennsylvania  German  language 
or  idiom,  which  is  the  vernacular  of  the 
greater  portion  of  the  people  of  this  section 
of  the  State,  especially  in  the  farming  dis- 
tricts, we  will  not  sjieak,  except  to  state  that, 
at  the  present  time,  there  are  few  persons 
speaking  this  patois  who  are  unable  also  to 
speak  and  read  English.  Those  who  are 
not  conversant  with  English  are  of  recent 
importation  from  the  Fatherland.  Because 
the  Dunkards  and  other  religious  bodies  re- 
tain the  peculiar  views  of  their  ancestors 
they  are  accused  of  being  unprogressive,  of 
preservingthe  customsand  general  character- 
istics of  the  race,  wliich  is  far  from  the  truth. 
Next  to  the  Scotch-Irish  no  race  has  left  such 
a  high  and  lofty  impress  upon  this  Nation  as 
has  the  German.  There  is  less  ignorance 
and  superstition  in  the  German  counties  of 
of  Pennsylvania  than  will  be  found  in 
an}'  agricultural  region  East,  West,  North  or 
South.  Because  some  old  plodding  farmer, 
who  prefers  remaining  on  his  farm  attend- 
ing to  his  cattle  and  grain,  caring  little  of 
going  beyond  the  county  town  in  his  visits, 
his  disinclination  ought  not  to  be  reputed  to 
eitlier  his  ignorance  or  to  his  being  close- 
fisted.  In  the  German  counties  one  rarely 
meets  with  an  individual  who  has  never  been 
"  to  town,"  and  we  venture  an  opinion  that 
both  in  the  New  England  States  and  in 
New  York  are  there  many  persons  who  liave 
never  visited  the  county  seat ;  and  as  for  visit- 
ing Boston  and  New  York  City,  where  one 
farmer  has  visited  either  metropolis,  we  as- 
sert that  two  Pennsylvania  German  farmers 
have  seen  their  own  cit_y  of  Philadelphia. 

German  opposition  to  common  schools 
has  been  a  terrible  bugaboo  to  very  many 
outside  of  Pennsylvania,  who  never  under- 
stood the  occasion  of  it.  Foremost  among 
the  opponents  of  the  free-school  .system 
were  the  Quakers,  the  0()position  arising 
from  the  fact  that,  having  had  schools  estab- 
lished for  many  years,  supported  by  their 
own  contributions,  they  were  opposed  to  be 
ing  taxed  for  the  educational  maintenance 
of  others.  Precisely  similar  were  the  objec- 
tions in  the  German  districts.  As  lias  already 
been  accurately  stated,  the  German  emi- 
grants brought  their  school-masters  with 
them,  and  schools  were  kept  and  supported 
by  them.  More  frequently  the  church  pas- 
tor served  as  teaclier,  and  hence,  when  the 
proposition    came    to   establish    the  system 


of  public  education,  the  people  were  not  pre- 
pared for  it,  for  the  free  schools  severed 
education  from  positive  religion.  But  that 
was  nearly  sixty  years  ago,  and,  to  the  cretlit 
and  honor  of  the  German  element  in  Penn- 
sylvania. Governor  Cieorge  Wolf,  the  fatiier 
of  the  free-school  system,  and  Governor 
Jose[)h  Ritner  and  William  Audenreid,  the 
earnest  advocates  of  the  same,  were  of  Ger- 
man descent.  The  opposition  died  away  in 
a  few  j'ears,  and  a  glance  at  the  school  sta- 
tistics of  Pennsylvania  would  open  the  eyes 
of  our  New  England  friends  and  astonish 
the  descendants  of  Diedrick  Knickerbocker. 
The  present  system  and  management  of 
public  education  in  our  State  is  in  the  lead 
in  the  Union,  and  figures  and  facts  will  bear 
us  out  in  our  assertion. 

As  a  general  thing  the  first  settlers  were 
staid  farmers.  Their  mutual  wants  i)roduced 
mutual  dependence,  hence  they  w'ere  kind 
and  friendly  to  each  other — they  were  ever 
hospitable  to  strangers.  Their  want  of  money 
in  the  early  times  made  it  necessary  for  them 
to  associate  for  the  purpose  of  building  houses, 
cutting  their  grain,  etc.  This  they  did  in  turn 
for  each  other  without  any  other  pay  than 
the  pleasures  which  usually  attended  a  coun- 
try frolic.  Strictly  speaking,  what  is  attributed 
to  them  as  virtues  might  be  called  good  quali- 
ties, arising  from  necessity  and  the  peculiar 
state  of  society  in  which  these  people  lived — 
patience,  industry  and  temperance. 


CFIAPTER  II. 

John   HaiTis,   Trader  and   Pioneer— Early  Assess- 
ment Lists. 

As  stated,  the  settlers  began  to  pour  in,  and 
warrants  for  land  were  taken  up  in  various 
townships,  as  soon  as  the  land  office  was 
opened,  it  having  Vjeen  closed  from  the  time 
of  the  death  of  William  Penn  until  1732. 
For  a  record  of  these  warrantees  our  readers 
are  referred  to  the  author's  History  of  Dau- 
phin County,  published  in  1883.  Most  of 
these  show  who  were  the  first  settlers  in  the 
various  townships  now  forming  Dauphin 
county.  It  was  not  for  twenty  years  after  the 
organization  of  the  county  of  Lancaster  that 
we  have  any  assessment  lists, giving  the  names 
of  the  people  who  inhabited  the  various  town- 
ships. Recently  the  earliest  in  existence,  com- 
mencing in  1751  and  continuing  down  to  the 
time  of  the  Revolution,  came  into  our  pos- 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


session  and  copies  made  therefrom.  For  per- 
manent reference  these  lists  are  of  great  value 
and  we  include  them  in  this  sketch  of  the 
history  of  our  county  as  being  of  very  great 
import  in  locating  the  earliest  settlers. 

The  first  English  trader  we  hear  of  witliin 
the  limits  of  the  county  was  John  Harris. 
The  fears  of  the  French,  who  were  constantly 
gaining  ground  in  tiie  northwestern  part  of 
tiie  Province,  and  especially  of  "  Papists," 
which  all  at  once  seems  to  have  filled  our 
Quaker  friends  with  terror,  it  became  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  license  only  English 
traders,  and  they  of  Protestant  proclivities, 
so  as  to  prevent  communication  with  the 
French  on  the  Ohio.  Among  the  first  was 
John  Harris,  who  perchance  entered  this 
then  lucrative  field,  the  Indian  trade,  at 
the  suggestion  of  his  most  intimate  friend, 
Edward  Shippen,  Provincial  Secretary. 

Of  tlie  Jolm  Harris  who  thus  located  per- 
manently at  Harrisburg,  and  wlio  gave  name 
to  that  city,  it  may  not  be  inapprojiriate  to 
refer.  ''  He  was  as  iionest  a  man  as  ever 
broke  bread  "  was  the  liigh  eulogium  pro- 
nounced by  Parson  Elder,  of  blessed  mem- 
ory, as  he  spoke  of  tlie  pioneer  in  after  years. 
Born  in  tlie  county  of  Yorksiiire,  England, 
although  of  Welsh  descent,  about  tlie  year 
1673,  he  was  brought  up  in  tiie  trade  of  his 
father,  that  of  a  brewer.  Leaving  his  home  on 
reaching  his  majority,  he  worked  at  his  call- 
ing some  time  in  the  city  of  London,  where  he 
joined,  a  few  years  afterwards,  a  company 
from  his  native  district,  who  emigrated  to 
Pennsylvania  two  or  tliree  years  prior  to 
Penn's  second  visit  to  his  Province.  Watson 
states  that  Jolm  Harris'  "entire  capital 
amounted  to  only  sixteen  guineas." 

We  first  hear  of  liim  after  his  arrival  in 
Philadelphia  as  a  contractor  for  clearing 
and  grading  the  streets  of  that  ancient  vil- 
lage. In  169S  his  name  is  appended  to  a 
remonstrance  to  the  Provincial  Assembly 
against  the  passage  of  an  act  disallowing  the 
francliise  to  all  persons  owning  real  estate 
less  in  value  tlian  fifty  pounds.  The  memo- 
rial liad  its  effect,  and  the  olyectionable  law 
was  repealed.  By  letters  of  introduction  to 
Edward  Shippen,  the  first  mayor  of  Phila- 
delphia, that  distinguished  gentleman  be- 
came his  steadfast  friend,  and  through  his 
influence,  no  doubt,  were  secured  those 
favors  which  induced  him  eventually  to 
become  the  first  permanent  settler  in  this 
locality. 

In  January,  1705,  Jolin  Harris  received 


his  license  from  the  commissioners  of  prop- 
erty authorizing  and  allowing  him  to  "seat 
himself  on  the  Sasquahannah,"  and  "  to 
erect  sucii  buildings  as  are  necessary  for  liis 
trade,  and  to  enclose  and  improve  such 
quantities  of  land  as  he  shall  think  fit."  At 
once  he  set  about  building  a  log  house  near 
the  Ganawese  (Conoy)  settlement,  but  the 
Indians  made  complaint  to  the  government 
that  it  made  tliem  "  uneasie,"  desiring  to 
know  if  they  encouraged  it.  As  in  numer- 
ous instances  when  tlie  provincial  author- 
ities were  taken  to  task,  they  disavowed 
their  own  acts.  Nevertheless,  the  "  trader  " 
continued  his  avocation,  making  frequent 
visits  to  tlie  Swawanese  villages  at  tlie  Cone- 
wago  and  Swatara.  It  is  doubtful  if  Jolm 
Harris  came  farther  west  until  after  the  per- 
manent removal  of  all  tiie  French  traders. 

It  was  during  one  of  his  expeditions  tiiat 
Harris  first  beheld  the  beauty  and  advantages 
of  the  location  at  Paxtang.  It  was  the  best 
fording  place  on  the  Susquehanna,  and  then, 
as  now  in  these  later  days,  on  the  great 
liighway  between  the  North  and  South,  the 
East  and  West.  Annually  the  chiefs  of  the 
Five  Nations  went  to  the  Carolinas,  where 
were  located  their  vast  hunting-grounds, 
and  these,  returning  with  peltries,  found 
need  of  a  trading-post.  The  eye  of  that 
hard)'  pioneer,  looking  out  over  the  vast  ex- 
panse of  wood,  and  plain,  and  river,  saw 
and  knew  tliat  it  was  the  place  for  the  reali- 
zation of  tiiat  fond  dream  of  tlie  founder  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  great  and  good  Penn,  "a 
city  on  the  Susquehanna."  At  the  period 
referred  to,  tlie  lands  lying  between  the  Cone- 
wago  or  Lechay  Hills  and  Kittochtinny  or 
Blue  Mountains  had  not  been  purchased 
from  the  Indians.  Of  course,  neither  Jolm 
Harris  nor  the  Scotch-Irish  settlers  could 
locate  except  by  the  right  of  squatter  sover- 
eignty or  as  licensed  traders.  As  a  trader, 
it  could  only  be  with  the  permission  of  the 
Indians. 

Harris'  first  move  was  the  erection  of  a 
store-house,  which  he  surrounded  by  a  stock- 
ade. It  was  located  on  the  lower  bank  of 
the  river,  at  about  what  is  now  the  foot  of 
Paxtang  street.  A  well  dug  by  him  still 
exists,  although  covered  over  about  thirty- 
five  years  ago,  the  old  pump  stock  having 
become  useless  and  the  platform  dangerous. 
A  mound  or  hillock  about  one  hundred  feet 
southeast  of  the  gravej'ard  denotes  the  spot. 
"  For  almost  a  century,"  in  the  language  of 
the  late  David  Harris,  "  this  well  supplied  a 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


large  neighborhood  with  water,  which  was 
exceedingly  cool  and  pleasant  to  the  taste." 
Adjoining  his  cabin  were  sheds  for  the  hous- 
ing of  peltries  obtained  b\'  traftic,  wliich  at 
stated  periods  were  conve3'ed  to  Philadelpliia 
on  pack-horses. 

Some  years  prior  to  1718  an  incident  took 
place  in  the  life  of  John  Harri.s  which  has 
received  all  sorts  of  versions,  and  even 
doubts  of  truthfulness.  We  shall  give  it  as 
we  believe  it,  and  as  traditionary  and  other 
facts  in  our  possession  supply  the  material 
therefor.  All  the  French  traders  having 
"  gone  over  Sasqualiannah,"  John  Harris 
monopolized  the  business  at  Paxtang.  In 
glancing  over  the  records  of  the  Province  of 
Pennsylvania,  frequent  allusions  are  made 
to  the  excursions  of  the  northern  Indians, 
either  to  hunting-grounds  in  the  South  or  to 
a  conflict  with  a  deadly  foe.  At  one  time 
the  Onondagoes,  on  a  predatory  excursion 
against  theTalapoosas,  in  Virginia,  descend- 
ing the  Susquehanna,  left  their  canoes  at 
Harris',  proceeding  thence  to  the  scene  of 
sti'ife.  Situated  as  he  was,  at  the  best  ford 
on  the  river,  he  commanded  an  extensive 
trade.  His  Indian  neighbors  (Shawanese) 
were  very  friendly,  and  of  course  would  not 
allow  au}'  strange  or  predatory  bands  to 
molest  him.  The  deadl}'  foe  of  the  red  race 
is  rum,  and  although  the  selling  of  it  was 
expressl}'  forbidden  by  the  provincial  au- 
thorities, yet  there  was  scarcely  a  treaty  or 
conference  without  this  potion  being  a  part 
of  the  presents  made  by  the  refined  white 
man  to  his  ignorant  red  brother.  Of  a  con- 
sequence liquor  was  sold,  and  we  are  told  by 
Conrad  Weiser  that  on  one  occasion  "  on  the 
Sasqualiannah,"  the  Indians  whom  he  was 
conducting  to  Piiiladelpliia  became  so  drunk 
that  he  was  fearful  of  them  and  left  them.  At 
the  first  period  referred  to,  it  seems  a  preda- 
tory band  of  Indians,  on  returning  from  the 
Carolinas,  or  the  "  Patowmack,"  naturally 
halted  at  John  Harris".  In  exchanging 
part  of  their  goods,  jirobably  rum — for  this 
seems  to  have  been  the  principal  beverage 
drunk  at  that  period — was  one  of  the  articles 
in  barter.  At  least  we  have  it  by  tradition 
that  the  Indians  became  riotous  in  their 
drunken  revelry,  and  demanding  more  rum 
were  refused  by  Mr.  Harris,  who  began  to 
fear  harm  from  his  visitors.  Not  to  be  de- 
nied, they  again  demanded  liquor,  and  seiz- 
ing him,  they  took  him  to  a  tree  near  by, 
binding  him  thereto.  After  helping  them- 
selves to  whatever  they  wanted  of  his  stores. 


they  danced  around  the  unhappy  captive, 
who  no  doubt  tiiouglit  his  death  was  nigii. 

Prior  to  tiiis  the  Indian  village  of  Paxtang 
had  been  deserted,  and  the  inhabitants  re- 
moved to  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna. 
On  the  bluff  opposite  John  Harris',  as  also 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Yellow  Breeches,  there 
were  lodges  of  Shawanese,  and  these  held  our 
Indian  trader  in  high  esteem.  Information 
was  taken  them  by  Mr.  Harris'  negro  servant, 
when  at  once  were  summoned  the  warriors, 
who  crossed  the  river,  where  after  a  slight 
struggle  with  the  drunken  Indians  they 
rescued  from  a  death  of  torture  their  white 
friend. 

Esther,  a  daughter  of  the  first  John  Harris, 
left  tliree  daugliters:  Elizabeth,  married  to 
Samuel  Maclay ;  Isabella,  married  to  Wil- 
liam Bell,  of  New  York,  and  Margaret,  mar- 
ried to  Isaac  Richard.son,  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  then  or  subsequently  living  in  York 
county.  All  of  these  granddaugliters  made 
statements  in  relation  to  the  occurrence  in 
question. 

In  the  year  1840  G.  W.  Harris  had  a  con- 
versation with  Mrs.  Bell  on  this  subject. 
She  stated  that  she  was  born  in  1760.  Tliat 
in  1766  she  was  coming  from  Carlisle,  where 
she  lived,  to  Harrisburg  with  her  father  and 
some  of  her  sisters.  When  they  came  to  the 
river  opposite  to  Harrisburg,  where  William 
Harris  was  then  living,  some  of  the  children 
pointed  to  an  old  man  fishing  in  the  river, 
and  they  mentioned  that  he  had  saved  the 
life  of  his  iliaster,  John  Harris,  from  the  In- 
dians. She  said  that  she  understood  it  to  be 
when  he  was  tied  to  the  mulberry  tree. 

Robert  Maclay,  of  Kishacoquiilas  Valley, 
Mittlin  county,  wrote  some  years  ago  a  state- 
ment as  to  this  matter,  from  information  ob- 
tained from  his  mother  and  her  sisters,  Mrs. 
Bell  and  Mrs.  Richardson.  His  statement  is 
to  the  effect  that  a  party  of  Indians  came  to 
trade,  and  after  obtaining  what  Mr.  Harris 
had  given  to  tiiem,  or  traded  for,  thej'  de- 
manded rum,  which  he  refused.  They  then 
determined  to  burn  him,  and  bound  liim 
with  hickory  withes  to  a  mulberry  tree  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,  and  commenced  gatii- 
ering  and  piling  wood  around  him.  While 
they  were  gathering  wood  his  negro  man, 
Hercules,  slijiped  off  and  informed  friendly 
Indians  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
who  at  once  came  in  sufficient  force  to  rescue 
and  save  his  master.  He  added,  as  the  state- 
ment of  these  ladies,  that  Mr.  Harris  set  Her- 
cules free,  and  that  afterwards  he  directed 


10 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


that  he  sliould  be  buried  under  the  mulberry 
tree.  Hercules  died  a  considerable  time  after 
the  death  of  John  Harris,  and  is  buried 
there. 

Mr.  Maclay  also  furnished  a  statement, 
which  he  had  heard  from  his  mother,  to  the 
effect  that  some  friends  endeavored  to  dis- 
suade the  old  gentleman,  Mr.  Harris,  from 
his  determination  to  be  buried  under  the 
mulberry  tree,  alleging  that  the  river  bank 
was  being  washed  away  and  the  grave  might 
be  exposed  and  perhaps  wasted  away,  and 
that  he  ought  to  be  buried  in  the  Paxtang 
church  graveyard,  but  that  he  silenced  all 
argument  by  saying  that  if  you  bury  me  out 
in  Paxtang  I'll  get  up  and  come  back.  One 
of  his  daughters,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Finley,  is 
also  buried  under  the  mulberry  tree. 

Here,  then,  is  the  statement,  of  Robert 
Harris,  a  grandson  of  John  Harris,  and  of 
three  of  his  granddaughters  to  the  alleged 
occurrence  at  the  mulberry  tree,  and  Mr. 
Harris  adds  that  Mrs.  Bell  and  Mrs.  Richard- 
son were  known  to  him,  and  were  persons  of 
superior  intellect. 

Robert  Maclay  also  mentioned  an  incident, 
as  derived  from  the  same  source,  that  an 
Indian  in  a  distressed  condition,  on  a  cold 
night,  came  to  the  house  of  John  Harris  and 
sought  admission.  He  was  received  and 
lay  by  the  fire  during  the  night.  When  the 
Indians  came  to  the  relief  of  John  Harris  it 
is  said  that  this  Indian  was  with  them. 

As  to  whether  the  alarm  was  given  by 
Hercules,  in  a  conversation  wfth  Robert 
Harris,  about  the  year  1840,  in  which  he 
said  that  tiie  alarm  on  the  occasion  in  ques- 
tion was  not  given  by  Hercules,  but  in  some 
other  way,  how  he  did  not  know ;  but  that 
Hercules  had  saved  tiie  life  of  his  master  on 
another  occasion,  I  think  he  said  when  he 
was  endangered  from  a  steer  in  the  flat  on 
the  river.  But  Mr.  Samuel  Breck,  of  Phila- 
delphia, previous  to  October,  1827,  wrote  an 
account  relative  to  Harrisburg,  in  which, 
in  reference  to  this  alleged  occurrence  at  the 
mulberry  tree,  he  states  tiiat  the  Indians 
who  came  to  the  relief  of  John  Harris  were 
led  by  Hercules,  and  he  adds  that  the  nar- 
rative was  submitted  in  substance  to  the  in- 
spection of  Mr.  Robert  Harris,  and  declared 
by  him  to  be  correct. 

When  the  picture  relative  to  that  scene 
(in  possession  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania) 
was  painted  by  Reeder,  who  was  in  com- 
munication with  Robert  Harris,  the  latter,  it 
would  seem,  was  of  ojfjinion  that  the  alarm 


was  not  given  by  Hercules,  and  Hercules 
did  not  appear  in  it.  His  attention  may  not 
have  been  directed  especially  to  the  state- 
ment relative  to  Hercules  in  the  narrative  of 
Mr.  Breck,  or  his  subsequent  recollection 
may  have  been  at  fault.  The  burden  of 
evidence  seems  to  be  that  the  alarm  was 
given  by  Hercules,  and  if  it  were,  he  is  en- 
titled to  representation  in  the  picture. 

We  have  been  thus  explicit  because  the 
incident  has  been  stated  as  untrue,  and 
hence  have  given  such  traditionar}'  evidence 
as  it  has  been  possible  to  obtain. 

Although  no  mention  of  these  facts  is 
made  in  the  provincial  records,  *-here  may 
possibly  have  been  good  reason  therefor,  and 
it  is  well  known  that  many  incidents,  well 
authenticated  in  later  years,  have  not  been 
noted  in  the  documents  referred  to.  By 
tradition  and  private  sources  alone  are  they 
preserved  from  oblivion.  It  was  no  myth, 
this  attempt  to  burn  John  Harris,  and  al- 
though the  pen  and  pencil  have  joined  in 
making  therefrom  a  romance  and  height- 
ened it  with  many  a  gaudy  coloring,  yet 
accurate  resources  have  furnished  us  with 
the  details  here  given. 

The  remains  of  this  tree,  which  in  the 
memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant  bore 
fruit,  stood  until  1865  within  the  enclosure — 
a  striking  memento  of  that  thrilling  inci- 
dent. The  late  George  W.  Harris  furnished 
tlie  author  with  certain  corrobatory  tradi- 
tional evidence,  which  is  herewith  given. 
That  it  did  occur  was  not  only  traditional  in 
the  Harris  family  but  also  in  others. 
The  writer's  grandmother,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
(Thomas)  Egle,  tarried  when  a  child  of  fif- 
teen at  John  Harris',  her  father  then  being 
on  his  way  from  Philadelphia  to  his  home 
at  his  mill  on  the  Yellow  Breeches.  John 
Harris,  the  founder,  in  the  course  of  conver- 
sation with  her  father  alluded  to  the  mul- 
berry tree  and  the  rude  inclosure  of-  the 
graves  at  its  foot,  and  distinctly  remembers 
then  hearing  the  story  in  detail  which  we 
have  given. 

Robert  Harris,  a  grandson  of  the  Indian 
trader,  stated  it  as  a  fad  in  which  he  be- 
lieved. According  to  a  memorandum,  made 
in  his  lifetime,  he  stated  that  a  band  of  In- 
dians came  to  the  house  of  his  grandfather 
and  demanded  rum.  He  saw  that  they  were 
intoxicated,  and  he  feared  mischief  if  he 
gave  them  more  rum.  They  became  en- 
raged and  tied  him  to  the  tree  for  burning. 
The  alarm  was  given,  and  Indians  from  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


11 


opposite  side  of  the  river  came  and  after  a 
struggle  released  him. 

Eaely  Assessment  Lists. 

North  End  of  Paxtang—1750. 

John  Harris,  200  a.;  James  Mitchell,  50  a.; 
Widow  Forster,  100  a.;  James  McNiglit, 
Moses  Dickev,  100  a.;  Thomas  McCarter 
[McArtiiur].  100  a.;  Samuel  Martin,  100  a.; 
Widow  Kerr,  100  a.;  Thus.  Simpson,  100  a.; 
Robert  Montgomery,  100  a.;  Widow  Farris, 
25  a.;  James  Alcorn,  200  a.;  James  Pollock 
[Polk],  40  a.;  James  Reed,  100  a.;  James 
Armstrong,  200  a.;  Samuel  Brice.  100  a.; 
Robert  Potter,  100  a.;  James  Potter,  100  a.; 
William  Bell,  100  a.:  John  Lee,  100  a.; 
Joseph  Davis,  30  a,;  John  Carson,  300  a.; 
Thomas  Forster,  Esq.,  100  a.;  Widow  Whit- 
lev,  50  a.;  Samuel  Simpson,  100  a.;  Arthur 
Forster,  100  a.;  Thomas  Elder,  100  a.;  An- 
drew Caldwell,  50  a.;  William  Chambers, 
80  a.;  William  Cochran,  "TOO"  a.;  William 
Brown,  100  a.;  Francis  Johnston.  50  a.; 
James  Graham.  100  a.;  Widow  Armstrong, 
100  a.;  William  Barnett,  50  a.;  Robert 
Curry,  40  a.;  Stephen  Gambel,  100  a.;  John 
Barnett,  50  a.;  William  Barnett,  Jr.,  40 
a.;  John  Wiggins,  100  a.;  David  Patton, 
1  00  a.;  William  McMullen,  100  a.;  Francis 
Smith,  10  a.;  Joim  Cavet,  100  a.;  James  Gil- 
christ, 100  a.;  Samuel  Hunter,  100  a.;  Will- 
iam Armstrong,  Matthew  Cowden,  100  a.; 
John  Bell,  100  a.;  Richard  Cavet,  100  a.; 
John  Thompson,  100  a.;  James  Wilson,  50 
a.;  John  Caldwell,  100  a.;  Andrew  Cochran, 
100  a.;  James  Toland,  20  a.;  John  Roop,  30 
a.;  John  Montgomery,  50  a.;  Joseph  Roop, 
100  a.;  Robert  Dougal,  100  a.;  Thomas  Stur- 
geon, 100  a.;  Andrew  Stewart,  100  a.;  George 
Gillespy,50a.;  William  Hines,  100 a.;  Andrew 
Stephen,  200  a.;  Alex.  Johnston,  40  a.;  Rob- 
ert Chambers,  100  a.;  John  Dougherty  (car- 
penter), John  Scott,  100  a.;  John  Cochran, 
100  a.;  Samuel  Cunningham,  30  a.;  Jeremiah 
Sturgeon,  100  a.;  Francis  Loock,  John  Wiley, 
20  a.;  Widow  Wiley,  100  a.;  Robert  Smith, 
100a.;  JohnSmith,GeorgeBell,50a.;  Thos. 
Larrimore,  40  a.;  Noah  Copley  (blacksmith), 
John  Chambers,  50  a.;  Hugh  McCormick, 
2u0  a.;  David  Diney  (taylor),  William  Thorn, 
100  a.;  John  Johnston,  100  a.;  James  Eackin, 
20  a.;  Samuel  Gambel,  100  a.;  Thomas  Arm- 
strong, 50  a.;  John  Snoddy  30  a.;  Alexander 
McHarge,  50  a.  Collectors  for  ye  north  end  of 
Paxtown  1750 — Thomas  Simpson,  William 
Bell.     Freemen — George  Roop,  James  Means, 


Adam  Means,  Robert  Reed,  Joseph  Kelso, 
John  Steel,  William  Bell,  Oliver  Jeens,  James 
Miciieltree,  Robert  Delap. 

Narroivs  of  Paxtang — 1751. 

Widow  Murray,  Robert  Armstrong,  John 
Armstrong,  Thomas  Gaston,  William  Fors- 
ter, Mr.  Robert  Armstrong,  Thomas  Clark, 
John  McKennedy,  Robert  Clark,  Thomas 
Adams,  Albert  Adams,  John  Watt,  William 
Baskins,  Geoge  Wells,  Francis  Glass,  George 
Clark,  John  Mitcheltree,  Francis  Baskins 
(trader),  John  Clark,  James  Reed,  James 
English,  John  Gevens,  James  Baskins, 
Thomas  McKee,  John  Kelton.  Freemen— 
Charles  Williams,  John  Lee  (trader). — John 
Kelton,  Collector. 

West  Side  of  Paxtang — J75L 

William  Thorn,  Hugh  Montgomery,  Rob- 
ert Dugan,  Thomas  Sturgeon,  John  Johnson, 
Widow  Forster,  James  McKnight,  John 
Harris,  James  Reed,  James  Armstrong,  Rob- 
ert Chambers,  John  Davis,  William  Ta, 
James  Harris,  David  Carson,  William  Mc- 
Calley,  James  Toland,  Andrew  Stephen, 
John  Cochran,  Alexander  Johnson,  Thomas 
Forster,  Esq.,  James  Eaken,  James  AUcorn, 
Thomas  Simpson,  Widow  Kerr,  James  Polke, 
James  Potts,  George  Gillespie,  Alex.  McCay, 
.John  Cavet,  Andrew  Caldwell,  Patrick  Gil- 
lespie, John  Scott,  Samuel  Price,  Jeremiah 
Sturgeon,  Robert  Montgomery,  John  Cald- 
well, Robert  Smith,  Joseph  White,  John 
Neal,  John  Dougherty,  George  Gabriel,  John 
Carson,  Samuel  Hunter,  Widow  Armstrong, 
John  Daley,  Samuel  Simpson,  Samuel  Mar- 
tin, Thomas  McArthur,  James  Collier, 
Thomas  Larnard,  Andrew  Stuart,  William 
Barnet,  Samuel  Gamble,  Alexander  Sanders, 
Robert  Currey,  Moses  Wain,  John  Ross,  Jo- 
seph Ross,  John  Smith,  James  Thorn,  Will- 
iam Thorn,  Widow  Wiley,  William  Arm- 
strong, William  Calhoun,  Thomas  McCor- 
mick, John  Wiggins,  John  Wiley,  John 
Schultz,  Andrew  Cochran,  Robert  Potts, 
James  Gilchrist. — William  Thokn,  Col- 
lector. 

SoutJi  End  of  Paxtang — 1751. 

William  Kirkpatrick,  Thomas  King, 
Thomas  Mayes,  William  Steel,  Robert  Tay- 
lor, Hugh  Stuart,  Peter  Fleming,  John 
Shields,  Henry  Renick,  John  Gray,  William 
Harris,  Richard  McClure,  John  Willson, 
William  Willson,  Oliver  Wiley,  Thomas 
King,    Samuel    Galbraith,  Martin    Shults, 


12 


HIS  rORICA  L  RE  VJE  W 


David  Shields,  Moses  Dickey,  Henry  Mc- 
Kinnej',  Hattman  Seller,  Valentine  Stani, 
Jonas  Lerue,  Thomas  Dugan,  Widow  Brown, 
Alex.  Brown,  James  Lusk,  John  Means,  An- 
drew Hanna,  George  Sheets,  Timothy  Mc- 
Knight,  William  Sharp,  Henry  McElroy, 
John  Johnston,  Andrew  Johnson,  Charles 
Gordan,  Joiin  Montgomery',  Timotiiy  Shaw, 
Robert  Wright,  Matthew  Gordan,  Andrew 
Hasten,  Samuel  Woods,  John  Welsh,  Alex- 
ander White,  John  Murray,  James  Mc- 
Knight,  Francis  Johnson,  James  Willson. 
Freemen — William  Dickey,  Patrick  McKin- 
ney. — Jacob  Sheets,  Collector. 


Return  of  Paxtang- 
. William    McCord,  100   a.: 


-1756. 

^vviiiiciui  i.ii;v_A.iu,  x\j\i  a.,  Patrick  Mont- 
gomery, 100  a.;  Thomas  Renick  (smith),  200 
a.;  Samuel  Galbraith  (Hugh  Davis'  land), 
400  a.;  Robert  Morrison,  Andrew  Lykens, 
Robert  Jones,  Aaron  Hine,  ^^alentine  Starn 
(Peter  Gardner's  land),  400  a.;  Michael  Teph 
(John  Potts'  land),  200  a.;  Crisley  Swarts, 
200  a.;  Jonas  Lerue,  200  a.;  Richard  Fulton, 
175  a.;  John  Kerr,  William  Cummens  fye 
Secretary's  land),  200  a.;  Adam  Torrance, 
John  Harris,  400  a.;  Thomas  Cliambers,  70 
a.;  John  Bell,  100  a.;  William  Steel,  100  a.; 
James  Smith,  100  a.;  James  Thorn,  100  a.; 
Hugh  McClay,  IGO  a.;  James  Collard,  2u0  a.; 
George  Alexander,  100  a.;  George  King  (ye 
land  of  Dr.  Reker's),  400  a.;  Frederick  Fogle, 
John  Shield,  200  a.;  John  Moore,  Alexander 
McClure,  200  a.;  Riciiard  McClure,  200  a.; 
James  Lusk,  150  a.;  Robert  Sterret,  100  a.; 
James  Fitzgerald  (ye  land  of  Joseph  Randies), 
200  a.;  James  Boyle,  150  a.;  James  William- 
son, 60  a.;  Thomas  Dugal,  200  a.;  William 
Willson,  200  a.;  Jacob  Sheets  (smitli),  100  a.; 
Stoi)hel  Monts  (ye  land  Wil'ni  Kirkpatrick), 
150  a.;  William  McClintock,  100  a.;  Joseph 
Sherer,  120  a.;  John  Montgomery,  100  a.; 
Michael  Graham,  150  a.;  Timothy  Shaw,  100 
a.;  Edward  Sharp,  100  a.;  Henry  Renick,  150 
a.;  Thomas  McCord,  John  Willson,  Jr.,  200 
a.;  Thomas"  McCarter  [McArthur].  100  a.; 
William  Sliarp,  100  a.;  David  Sheilds,  120  a,; 
Henry  McKiney,  100  a.;  Robert  Gray,  50  a.; 
Timothy  McKnight,  100  a.;  William  Carson, 
50  a.;  Hugh  Stuart,  200  a.;  Joim  Means,  50 
a.;  James  Alexander,  Tliomas  King,  Sr.,  100 
a.;  Andrew  Hannah,  100  a.;  William  Kirk- 
]iatrick,  200  a.;  Edward  King,  50  a.;  Thomas 
King,  Jr.,  100  a.;  Philip  F'sher,  50  a.;  David 
Walker,  50  a.;  Frederick  Foster,  SO  a.;  Will- 
iam Hannah,  100  a.;  Moses  Dickev  (mill- 
wright), 200  a.;  Thomas  Rutherford,  150  a.; 


Michael  Whitley  (shoemaker),  William  Kerr, 
100  a.;  James  Pollock,  50  a.;  Jeremiah  Stur- 
geon, 100  a.;  James  Armstrong  (saddler),  50 
a.;  Jacob  Roop,  199  a.;  Thomas  Armstrong, 
50  a.;  James  Huston,  100  a.;  Samuel  Forgue, 
James  Reed,  60  a.;  Samuel  Simpson  (black- 
smitii),  150  a.;  John  Johnston  (shoemaker), 
100  a.;  Thomas  Simpson  (smith),' 100  a.;  Will- 
iam Kelso,  Stephen  Gamble,  50  a.;  William 
McMullen,  50  a.;  John  Cashon,  50  a.;  John 
Gray,  100  a.;  Walter  Bell,  John  Wilson,  Sr., 
200  a.;  Jacob  Lantz,  100  a.;  George  Sheets, 
200  a.;  Samuel  Martin,  250  a.;  James  Kil- 
creest,  50  a.;  Andrew  Huston,  100  a.;  Alex- 
ander Johnston  (little),  Thos.  Forster,  Esq., 
200  a.;  Robt.  Potts,  KlO  a.;  George  Gillespy, 
100  a.;  John  Carson,  300  a.;  To  Edgel's  Es- 
tate, 300  a.;  Rudy  Herr's  land,  160  a.;  The 
Proprietor's  land,  1000  a.;  Samuel  Hunter, 
100  a.;  Arthur  Simpson,  Robert  Armstrong, 
100  a.;  Denis  Dougiierty,  Neal  McGlauglilin, 
James  Wallace,  200  a.;  Andrew  Stephen,  100 
a.;  William  Callioon,  10  a.;  James  Thorn, 
100  a.;  John  Cochran,  30  a.:  Patrick  Gillespy, 
100  a.;  Archibald  McCollogh  (ye  land  Jas. 
Wilson's),  50  a.;  Philip  Kinder,  Jacob  Sider 
(the  land'Henry  Deyarmond's),  100  a.;  John 
Montgomery  (youngest),  60  a.;  William 
Chambers,  100  a.;  Joseph  White,  50  a.;  John 
Smith,  100  a.;  John  Ross,  100  a.;  James 
MacKniglit,  50  a.;  Andrew  Caldwell,  100  a.; 
William  Wallace,  60  a.;  Jolin  Barnett,  50 
a.;  William  Barnett  (black),  50  a.;  William 
Barnett  (white),  20  a.;  David  Patten,  200  a.; 
Thomas  McCormick,  200  a.;  Robert  Gilchrist, 
222  a.;  William  Bell,  100  a.;  Matthew  Cow- 
den,  200  a.;  Robert  Taylor,  400  a.;  Matthew 
Brown,  100  a.;  Catherine  Harris,  100  a.; 
Thos.  Mays,  100  a.;  Tlio.s.  Alexander  (school- 
master), John  Gilchrist  (smitii),  240  a.;  James 
Calhoun,  100  a.;  William  Woods,  40  a.; 
Robert  Carson,  30  a.;  Henry  Harley  (ye  land 
Peter  Miller's),  150  a.;  Henry  Sharp,  100  a.; 
William  McKnight,  100  a.;  John  McCollom 
(ye  land  John  Nive.s),  150  a.;  David  Englisli, 
100  a.;  Thos.  Sturgeon,  150  a.;  Andrew 
Stuart,  100  a.;  Robert  Stephen,  20  a.;  John 
Wiley,  100  a.;  John  Neil,  50  a.;  Alex.  John- 
ston "(big  Alick),  100  a.;  William  Armstrong, 
John  Cavet,  100  a.;  John  Johnston,  100  a.; 
James  Gayly,  50  a.;  Henry  MacElroy,  100  a.; 
John  Johnston  (whitelocks),  100  a.;  John 
Montgomery  (Patrick's  son),  50  a.;  Robert 
Heslat,  50  a.;  Joim  McKeever,  50  a.;  John 
Jameson,  100  a.;  Robert  Curry,  150  a.;  Alex. 
Meharg,  50  a.;  Robert  Wright,  100  a.;  Will- 
iam McClure,  Joseph  Wilson,  50  a.;  Alex. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


13 


Mahon  (ye  land  Thos.  Forster's).  Land 
Holders — All  these  the  time  was  so  short,  I 
had  not  time  to  go  to  their  houses,  but 
they're  all  land  holders.  Jolni  Wiggins. 
James  Thorn,  Joseph  Ross,  James  Potts, 
Widow  Cavet,  Moses  Swan,  George  Clark, 
John  Ross,  Robt.  Montgomery,  Widow 
Wiley,  John  Scott,  Hugh  McCorniick. 
Widoivs — Wi<low  Cunningham,  50  a.;  Widow 
Calhoun,  100  a.;  Widow  Smith,  100  a.; 
Widow  McKnight,  50  a.  Fled  from  ye  In- 
dians— Anthony  Thompson,  Barney  Tolan, 
Hugh  Gibson,  Michael  Gibson,  John  Cham- 
bers, Alexander  Murray,  John  Young, 
James  Miller,  James  Murray.  Freemen — 
Joseph  McCord,  inmate  to  Patrick  Mont- 
gonrery;  Daniel  Lindley,at  Valentine  Sturn's; 
Alexander  Caldwell,  at  Thomas  Chambers'; 
John  Sterling,  Samuel  Steel,  at  William 
Steel's  ;  Thos.  Mays,  Jr.,  at  Thos.  Mays' ; 
William  Simpson,  Robert  Barkley,  at  John 
Shields';  John  Collier,  at  his  father's ;  Jere- 
miah Brandon,  at  George  Ellis';  Charles 
McKillip,  at  Richard  McClure's ;  Pliillip 
Donnelly,  at  Valentine  Sturn's  ;  James  Black, 
at  Widow  Boal's  ;  Patrick  McGranahan,  at 
Jacob  Awl's ;  Jacob  Awl  (tanner),  Richard 
Carson,  at  John  Carson's;  Patrick  Hodgon, 
John  Patrick, at  Andrew  Stewart's;  Jonathan 
Cummins,  at  John  Harris';  Charles  McGran- 
ahan, John  Forster,  at  Justice  P'orster's ; 
James  Eakins,  Jr.,  William  Cowden,  at 
Matt.  Cowden's;  John  Simpson,  at  Thos. 
Simpson's ;  Moses  Dickey,  Jr.,  John  Mont- 
gomery, at  his  father's ;  Robt.  Montgomery, 
at  John  his  father's;  Robert  Fruit,  at  Andrew 
Huston's  ;  Waiter  Clark,  Geo.  Clark's  son  ; 
William  McCkire,  at  Oliver  Wiley's;  Luke 
McCool,  an  old  man  at  Thos.  Dugan's.  Re- 
fused to  give  their  Return  {^Covenanters) — 
Alexander  Brown,  James  Brown,  Ben. 
Brown,  William  Brown,  John  Caldwell, 
James  Eakin,  Peter  Corbit,  Geo.  Fisher,  one 
nager. — Hugh  Stuart,  Collector. 

Paxtang — 176S. 

James  Armstrong,  Jacob  Awl,  James  Arm- 
strong (tenant),  John  Albright,  Thomas 
Alexander,  William  Armstrong,  Thomas 
Allen,  James  Alexander,  Thomas  Arm- 
strong, George  Alexander,  Robert  Britwell, 
Widow  Boyd,  Benjamin  Brown,  Martin 
Brown,  James  Brown,  Alex.  Brown,  William 
Brown,  John  Bell,  John  Bell  (tenant),  Wal- 
ter Bell,  Samuel  Brice,  William  Bell,  John 
Barnett,  William  Barnett,  Sr.,  William  Bar- 
nett,  Jr.,  Richard    Carson,    James   CoUard, 


James  Calhoun,  John  Carson,  William  Car- 
son, Michael  Cassel  and  Michael  Casel,  Jr., 
John  Cham bers,William  Chambers,  Andrew 
Chaeren  (?),  Peter  Eaby,  William  Chambers, 
John  Caldwell,  Martin  Cowden, Widow  Coch- 
ran, John  Cochran,  George  C/lark,  John  Cavet, 
John_Cliainl3£r.s,  Andrew  Caldwell,  William 
Calhoun,  James  Cilley,  Joiin  Carson,  Moses 
Dickey,  Tliomas  Dockham,  Rev.  John  Elder, 
James  Ekins,  Jr.,  David  English,  Robert 
Fruit,  Thomas  Forster,  Esq.,  Richard  Fulton, 
Frederick  Foster,  George  Fisher,  Samuel 
Galbraith,  George  Gross,  Robert  Gray, 
Michael  Graham,  George  Gray,  John  Gray, 
Patrick  Gillespy,  George  Gillespy,  John 
Harris,  Andrew  Plu.ston,  William  Hannah, 
Widow  Hannaii,  Widow  Harris,  Samuel 
Hunter,  Robert  Haslet,  John  Johnston, 
Robert  Jones,  John  Johnston,  Alexander 
Johnston,  Philip  Kinter,  Edward  King, 
Thomas  King,  Sr.,  Thomas  King,  William 
Killpatrick,  William  Kerr,  Robert  Killcreese, 
James  Killcreese,' John  Killcreese,  John  Kis- 
ler,  (Landlord's  Part),  John  Lukins,  James 
Lisk,  Jonas  Lerue,  Samuel  Laney,  Henry 
McSeney,  Richard  McClure,  William  Mc- 
Clure,  Thomas  Mays,  Widow  McKnight, 
Hugh  McGillap,  Jolm  Means,  Samuel  Mar- 
tin, Tinnle  McKnight,  Stofel  Man,  John 
Montgomery,  William  McMullen,  John  Mc- 
Caver,  John  Montgomery,  Sr.,  John  Mc- 
Chulen,  William  McKnight,  Alexander  Mc- 
Clure, Alexander  Maugham,  Robert  Mont- 
gomery, Jolm  Montgomer}^  Thomas  Mc- 
Artliur,  Hugh  McCormick,  Alex.  Murry, 
Patrick  Montgomery,  Robert  Montgomery, 
Alexander  McHort,  John  Neal,  William 
Nicholson,  Robert  Potts,  David  Patten, 
Thomas  Rutlierford,  James  Reed,  Henry 
Renick,  Jacob  Roop,  Jolm  Ross,  Joseph 
Ross,  Timothy  Siiaw,  Thomas  Simpson, 
Samuel  Simpson,  William  Steel,  James 
Smith,  Robert  Stuart,  Nicholas  Stugh,  Hugh 
Stuart,  John  Shield,  David  Shield,  George 
Sheets,  Henry  Sharp,  Edward  Sharp,  Will- 
iam Sharp,  Joseph  Sherer,  Frederick 
Swicker,  Jeremiah  Sturgeon,  Andrew 
Stuart,  Andrew  Stephen,  James  Sloan,  John 
Smith, Widow  Smith,  Christian  Swartz,  John 
Steel,  Valentine  Starn,  Thomas  Sturgeon, 
John  Scott,  Michael  Tafer,  Thomas  James 
and  William  James,  Adam  Torence,  Will- 
iam Tiiorne,  James  Thornc,  James  Will- 
iamson, William  Willson,  John  Wilison, 
Jr.,  Joseph  Willson,  Joshua  White,  Robert 
Wright,  Robert  Whitley,  Thomas  >V'illey, 
James  Wallace,  John  Wright,  Widow  Wil- 


/ 


14 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


ley,  David  Walker,  James  Woodside.  Free- 
men— William  Boggs,  Isaac  Bell,  James  Bell, 
John  Bell,  Robert  Cochran,  William  Cow- 
den,  John  Cowden,  John  Conrad,  Arthur 
Cuningham,  Alexander  Diver,  William 
Davis,  Andrew  Eakins,  Kobert  Eakins,  Will- 
iam Gibbons,  Jose|ili  Gray,  John  Hannah, 
Daniel  Linwell,  Tliomas  Little,  Thomas 
Mays,  Charles  McCannahan,  W^illiam  Mc- 
Cardney,  Andrew  McCollum,  Thomas  Mc- 
Arthur,  Thomas  McCord,  William  Mont- 
gomery, Nathaniel  Paul,  llobert  Rcnick, 
John  Rutherford,  John  Sterling,  Samuel 
Steel,  George  Sheets,  William  Smith,  David 
Sterrett,  Robert  Fruit,  Thomas  Kennedy. 

Paxt.ang  Continental  Tax — 1779. 

John  Alleman,  Stophel  Alleman,  Conrad 
Alleman,  Chrisley  Alleman,  John  Arm- 
strong, John  Achia,  Jacob  All,  Jacob  B. 
Brand, George  Bennett,  Conroad  Burghough, 
John  Bown:an,  William  Brown,  John  Bar- 
nett,  John  Barnett,  Sr.,  Andrew  Berryiiili, 
Alexander  Berryhill,  \\'illiam  Boyd.  Tiiomas 
Bell,  Peter  Bobb,  William  Bell,  Thomas  Bra- 
man,  Henry  Bolls,  Peter  Brener,  John  Boyer, 
James  Burd,  John  Bowman  (weaver).  Bear- 
foot  Brunson,  Jacob  Barkley,  Cas{)er  Byerley, 
Felty  Jkaker,  Philip  Brown,  Conroad  Bobb, 
John  Barris,  Widow  Boggs,  John  Buck,  John 
Boughman,  Sam  Byers,  John  Brand,  Max'll 
Chambers,  Robert  and  Roland  Chambers, 
Hugh  Crocket,  George  Consort,  Robert  Cald- 
well, John  Cavits,  William  Calhoon,  John 
Chambers,  William  Cochran,  James  Coch- 
ran, Widow  Caldwell,  Hugh  Cunningham, 
John  Clendining,  William  Carson,  Cornals 
Cox,  Samuel  ("lemins,  John  Cline,  James 
Cogley,  John  Cbgley,  James  Crouch,  Land 
sold  by  Carson,  James  Collier,  John  Clark, 
Frederick  Cassel,  Michael  Cassel,  George 
Carson,  Richard  Carson,  Daniel  Cooper, 
John  Cassel,  Matthew  Calhoon,  Samuel 
Cochran  and  James  Sherer,  James  Cow- 
den, John  Cambel,  James  Cavit,  Archi- 
bald Cambel,  Philip  Crinar,  Jame.s  Dun- 
can, Robert  Duglas,  George  Dickson, 
William  Dickey  ife  Porter,  Peter  Duffey, 
Christian  Demmey,  John  Doueley,  John  Din- 
sey7  John  Davis,  Rev.  John  Elder,  Robert 
Elder,  John  Elder,  Joshua  Elder,  John  Elder, 
Jr.,  Adam  Eckert,  Stophel  Earnist,  Abraham 
Eagle,  Joseph  Flora,  Jr.,  George  Facklan, 
John  Foster,  John  Fritz,  Phillip  Fisher, John 
Flackameer,  Joseph  Fultain,  Bernard  Frid- 
ley,  George  Fridley,  Joseph  Flora,  Sr.,  Ven- 
del  Fachlar,  Frederick  Foster,  Tames  Fin- 


ney, John  Garber,  John  Gilcrist,  Esq.,  John 
Gallaher,  George  Gray  &  Joseph,  John  Gau- 
day,  William  CHbhins,  John  Graham,  John 
Gilcrist,  John  Gray,  Joseph  Gregg,  Robert 
Gilcrist,  Joseph  Hutchinson,  Samuel  Hutch- 
inson, Andrew  Huston,  John  Hatfield,  Jo- 
seph Hufman,  William  Hetrick,  Patrick 
Heaney,  Henry  Humbarger,  John  Hilton, 
Jacob  Haldiman,  John  Harsha,  John  Harris, 
James  Harris,  Martin  Houser,  Tice  H  oove 
Patrick  Hogan,  Alexander  Hetherton,  John 
Hersha,  Alexander  Johnson,  John  Jamison, 
Peter  Isonhaver,  James  Johnson,  Joseph 
Ervin,  William  Kerr,  Thomas  King,  Will- 
iam Keays,  John  Kinsley,  William  Kelso, 
Jacob  Kerr,  Joseph  Keller,  John  Kis- 
nor,  Adam  Kitchmiller,  Will'm  Kirkjiat- 
rick,  Edward  King,  John  Little,  John 
Larkey,  Widow  Lider,  Patrick  Lusk,  Adam 
Lampart.  Michael  Lyins,  Francis  and  George 
Lerue,  Jacob  Lymes,  John  Maxwell,  John 
Means,  Alexander  McHargue,  William  Mc- 
Millen,  George  McMilleii,  William  McRob- 
erts,  John  McEllienney,  Thomas  McCormick, 
Robert  Montgomery,  Jacob  Miliar,  Hugh 
Montgomery,  John  ]\Iatthews,  John  Meader, 
David  Montgomery,  James  McKee,  John 
Moor,  Thomas  Millei-,  George  Millar,  James 
McCoard,  Jonathan  McClure,  Rowan  Mc- 
CTure,  Alexander  McClure,  Richard  Mc- 
Clure, John  Muinma,  Thomas  Murray, 
James  Mahan,  William  McClure,  Jacob  Mil- 
lar, John  McKeary,  Rev.  Joseph  Montgom- 
ery, William  Montgomery,  William  McClan- 
ahan,  Jo.seph  Mark,  John  and  James  Mc- 
Kinney,  liobert  McWhorter,  Thomas  McAr- 
thur,  John  Murray,  Andrew  McClure,  Robert 
Neel,  Francis  Nieckel  (col.),  Eliab  Neagley, 
Widow  Nab,  George  Heviland,  John  Noop, 
Abraham  Nidigh,  Christian  Paige,  Michael 
Peasinger,  David  Paton,  Michael  Pitner 
(Bitner),  John  Parthimar,  Stephen  Poor- 
man,  George  Pancake,  John  Postlethvvaite, 
Jacob  Poormau,  Jacob  Peck,  George  Page, 
Peter  Pancake,  George  Pile,  Felty  T  i;- 
cake,  Samuel  Rutherford,  Simeon  Rear- 
don,  Hugh  Robertson,  Paul  Randolph, 
James  liuthertord,  George  Reniear,  John 
Roop.  Jacob  Roop,  Sr.,  Jacob  Roop,  Widow 
Renick,  Capt.  John  Rutherford,  David 
Ritchey,  Michael  Smith,  Jacob  Stricklar, 
Jacob  Springer,  Henry  Stoner,  John  Steel, 
George  Shanklin, William  Simonton, William 
Swan,  Richard  Swan,  Frederick  Switser, 
Matthew  Smith,  Esq.,  George  Shoop,  Lar- 
rence  Smith,  Stophel  Soop,  Jeremiah  Stur- 
geon, George   Sheets,  Andrew  Stewart  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


15 


Charles,  Samuel  Simpson,  Sr.,  Joseph  Simp- 
son,Samuel  Simpson,  Jr.,  William  Smith, Sto- 
phel  Smith,  Feity  Snider,  Andrew  and  Zach. 
Stephen,  Hugh  Stephen,  Feity  Spangler, 
Jacob  Smith,  Jacob  Siders,  Micliael  Sheaver, 
Michael  Smith,  Widow  Shell's  place,  Joseph 
Shaw,  Barnard  Soop,  Fetter  Smith,  Elijah 
Stewart,  Ueorge  Sheets,  Hugh  Stewart, Leon- 
ard Sheets,  John  Siioemaker,  Fetter  Siiearer, 
Andrew  Smith,  Mary  and  Joseph  Smith, 
Jacob  Shafner,  Robert  Smith,  David  Toot, 
George  Tevibaugh,  Christley 'Temey,  John 
Thompson,  George  Williams,'  Hugh  Ray, 
Robert  Wiley,  John  Wiggins,  Josiah  White, 
Leonard  Wallower,  Thomas  Wiley,  Joseph 
Wilson,  Jr.,  Robert  Whitehili,  Mathias  Win- 
agel,  James  Wallas,  John  Winderley,  Samuel 
Wiley,  John  Wilson,  Sr.,  John  Wilson,  Jr., 
Jr.,  John  Wilson,  Jr.,  Alexander  Wilson,  Jo- 
seph Wilson,  Sr.,  Joseph  Wilson,  Jr.,  Abner 
Wickersham,  Hugh  White,  Widow  Whitley, 
Moses  Vance,  Conrad  Yoance. 

Middleiown—1779. 

Mark  Snider,  Christian  King,  Daniel 
Con,  Feter  Shuster,  John  Snider,  George 
Lowman,  Feity  Welker,  Abraham  Tarr, 
Henry  Davis,  Henry  McCan,  John  Len- 
ning,  Peter  Richart,  John  Myers,  Henry 
Shaffner,  Henry  Harris,  Martain  Hemperley, 
Nicolas  Castle,  George  Metsker,  Fhilip  Graft, 
George  Fry,  Christian  Spayd,  Ludwick  Hem- 
perley, Abraham  Gross,  Daniel  Huffman' 
Dr.  Robert  Kenedy,  Jacob  Snider,  Henry 
Millar,  Frederick  Zebernick,  John  Mitciier, 
John  Bacenstose,  John  Holaback,  John  De- 
france,  Michael  Gross,  Conrad  Wolfley,  Will- 
iam Walls,  Jacob  King,  Thomas  and  Will- 
iam Crabb,  Alexander  Jamison,  Fhilip 
Shockey,  Christian  Shertz,  Adam  Means, 
George  Gross,  Fatrick  Scott,  Samuel  Farks, 
Thomas  Minshall,  David  McClure,  Daniel 
Dowdle,  Tiiomas  and  Henry  Moor,  Feter 
Millar,  Adam  JMillar,  George  Aman,  David 
Atley,  Philip  Parthemore,  Christian  Hep- 
peck,  Paul  Hemperley,  Christopher  Sea-" 
Jmigli,  Henry  Myers,  Samuel  Seratzy,  Philip 
Etley,  Frederick  Hubley,  William  Crabb. 
Young  Men — Conrad  Toot,  Joseph  Barnett, 
William  Cowden,  James  Spence,  Robert 
Douglas,  Anthoney  Whikerel,  John  Miller 
(weaver),  William  Wilson,  John  Fleming, 
John  Cochran,  John  Whitehili,  Henry  Bit- 
ner,  Richard  Hughs,  John  Darby,  Johii 
Boyd,  William  Wright,  Robert  Elder, 
Thomas  Strahan,  James  Currey,  John  Baird, 
Barnard      Fridley,     John     Alillar,     George 


Smith,  William  Lochery,  Adam  Ritter, 
Frederick  Overlander,  William  Wilner,  John 
Millar  (stonecutter),  Emanuel  Bollinger,  Mi- 
chael Gross,  David  Shaw,  Matthew  Gilchrist, 
James  Wiggins,  Melhar  Millar,  Charles  Mc- 
Coy, Hugh  McLay,  Lodwick  Dagon,  Henry 
Alieman,  John  Page,  John  Fisher,  Mathias 
Winagel  (saddler),  Stephen  Poorman,  Robert 
Clark,  William  Murray,  Mungo  Linsey, 
Abraham  Brunson,  William  Stewart,  Jacob 
Sider,  David  Toot,  John  Farks,  Robert  Gray, 
Thonuis  Murray,  Feter  Pancake,  John  Mc- 
Knighton,  John  Shearer,  John  Stoner,  Sam- 
uel Smith,  Robert  Marsliall,  Jacob  Fridley, 
John  McCaghan,  Andrew  Berreyhill,  George 
Woods,  Nicholas  Nagle. 

Upper  Paxtang — 1779. 

Robert  Armstrong,  Sr.,  Robt.  Armstrong, 
Jr.,  William  Ayers,  Richard  Allison,  Feter 
Brown,  William  Bell,  John  Bell,  Sr.,  John 
Bell,  Jr.,  Josepli  Brown,  John  Brown,  James 
Birney,  Feity  Brough,  Widow  Baskin,  Will- 
iam Boyce,  James  Buchanan,  James  Bell, 
Thomas  Black,  James  Black,  Dan  Black, 
Robert  ISoyd,  Thos.  Barnett,  Robert    Boyd 

(stiller),    Hugh    Callioon, Campbell, 

George  Clark,  John  Chambers,  Peter  Corbit, 
John  Cochran,  William  Campbell,  Samuel 
Cochran,  Joseph  Colligan,  James  Clark, 
Robert  Crawford,  John  Colligan.  John  Dun- 
can, John  Dice,  David  Davis,  Jacob  Eyman, 
John  Elder,  Adam.  Eckard,  Stephen  Forster, 
William  Forster,  William  Foulks,  James 
Forster,  Conrad  Fry,  John  Garter,  Tiios. 
Gallagher,  Adam  Gartner,  Michael  Garber, 
John  Gilmore,  Thomas  George,  Alexander 
George,  Alexander  Givins,  William  Gonow, 
Larry  Hatton,  Michael  Herman,  Anthony 
Hoone,  George  Holmes,  Marcus  Hulings,  John 
Hatfield,  Isaiah  Jones,  Isaac  Jones,  David 
Ireland,  William  Johnston,  Widow  Kess- 
ler,  John  Kinter,  Thomas  Kearns,  William 
Kennedy,  John  Kays,  William  Linsey,  James 
Leonard,  Patt  Lafferty,  Joseph  Little,  Henry 
Little,  Henry  Leek,  Henry  McCloskey,  Abra- 
ham Monney,  Robert  McGill,  Fatrick  Mc- 
Elhare,  John  Mellan,  Fatt  Martin,  John 
Meetch,  Robert  McCord,  James  McCall,  John 
McFadden,  James  Murray,  John  Mordock, 
Joseph  McElrath,  Arch'd  Murray,  Widow 
Minsker,  Widow  McComb,  John  Murray, 
David  McCracken,  James  McNamara,  Mar- 
tin Newbecker,  Thos.  Oarim,  Sam'l  Plough, 
Malachi  Powell,  Aaron  Pecker,  James  Pea- 
cock, John  Ryan,  Sr.,  John  Richmond,  Alex- 
ander Randels,  John  Ringler,  John  Ryan,  Jr. 


16 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


Conrad  Rhoads,  William  Smith,  Joseph  and 
George  Straw,  Conrad  Smith,  Jacob  Striker, 
Ludwick  Shellman,  Patt  Sufferin,  Thos.  Stur- 
geon, Peter  Snagerty,  Michael  Stiver,  Robert 
Smith,  John  Simpson,  Alexander  Spear, 
James  Sloane, George  Simmons,  John  Ta3dor, 
Samuel  Taylor,  George  Taylor,  Jacob  Tin- 
dorff,  John  Thomas,  William  Tliompson, 
Thos. Thompson,  Henrj'  Vanderbach,  Robert 
Walker,  James  Walker,  Hugh  Watt,  Michael 
Yanelet.  Freemen — John  Snagerty,  John 
Goldenberr}',  George  Simmers,  Herman  Leek, 
Conrad  Leek,  Geo.  Bell,  Geo.  Cochran,  Petor 
Sturgeon,  Philip  Newbecker,  Philip  Tinturff, 
Cristley  Eyman,  Jacob  Eyraan,  John  Ayre.s, 
John  Boyce,  James  Spear,  Henry  Taylor, 
Isaiah  Winn.  Non-Resident  Land-owners — 
Jacob  Rizet,  Peter  Landish,  Ruben  Hains, 
John  Cline,  James  Tillman.  Joiin  Leadick, 
George  Fry,  John  Cline,  Bulls  Land,  Lsaiali 
Jones,  Peter  Pelley,  Alexander  Bartram, 
Timothy  Mattlack,  John  Flora,  John 
Mumma,  Person  Harshaw,  Bertram  Gal- 
braith,  Robert  Neal,  Mich'l  Herman,  Mc- 
Ckire'sland,Dinnis  Dougherty,  John  Meetch, 
Joseph  Little,  Widow  Duncan,  Widow  Scot, 
Frederick  Humble,  Jacob  Waggoner,  Cris- 
tian  llattocks. 

Upper  District,    Wiconisco — 1779. 

Jolui  Boashart,  Benjamin  Buffington,  Lud- 
wick I?retz, Stephen  Bend, Charles Barger, Cut- 
lip  Cnine,  Widow  Cline,  Widow  Cooper,  Piiiiip 
Clinger,  John  Coleman,  Miciiael  Divler,  Mat- 
thias Divler,  John  Didde,  Joel  Free,  Anthony 
Fralick,  George  Fight,  Peter  Grubb,  Peter 
Huffman,  Nicholas  HufFman,  John  Huff- 
man, Jacob  Herman,  David  Herman,  Henry 
Haynes,  Peter  Heekart,  Abraham  Jury,  Sam- 
uel Jury,  William  Ingram,  xVdam  King, 
Sto[>!u'l  Lark,  Daniel  Leman,  Jacob  Mitz, 
John  Miller,John  Motter, John  Myers, George 
Minnich,  Nicliolas  Meek,  Abram  Neighbour, 
Geo.  Nigla,  Henry  Omholtz,  Josej)h  Philips, 
Richard  Peters,  John  Powell,  Jacob  Bickel, 
William  Rider,  John  Rider,  Philip  Ros- 
coulp,  (reorge  Riddle,  George  Supe,  Yost 
Stiver,  Michal  Salady,  Fitter  Stonebreaker, 
Stophel  Sheesly,  John  Sheesly,  Jacob 
Sheesly,  Jacob  Shotts,  Linord  Snider,  Jacob 
Smith,  Lodwick  Shotts,  Michael  Shadel, 
George  Seal,  John  Salady.  Zacheus  Sponing- 
berry,  Abraham  Snider,  Cliristian  Snoak, 
Michael  Titrich,  James  Woodside,  Martin 
Weaver,  Henry  Wolf,  Adam  Wertz,  Jacob 
Weaver,  Henry  Werfel,  Peter  Woobery,  An- 
drew Yeager,  The  Rev.  Mr.  Enderline.    Free- 


men— Ludiwick  Sliotts,  Jonathan  Woodside, 
John  Philips,  John  Herman,  William  Arma- 
gost,  Jacob  Easterly. 

Located  Tracts,  Wiconisco — 1779. 

George  Free,  James  Baeham,  Nicholas 
Miller,  Heniy  Winover,  Abraham  Riggey, 
Andrew  Boggs,  Stophel  Martin,  Crawford's 
land,  Peter  Isk,  Abraham  Reggey,  John 
Shough,  Isaac  Keller,  Frederick  Stone- 
breaker,  Martin  Lowman,  Thos.  Car- 
michael,  Geo.  Eakard,  Simeon  Snider, 
Landis  Winger,  Arthur  Tikert,  Patt 
Work,  Frederick  Sleigh,  Caleb  Day,  Simeon 
Snider  and  Groff,  Aaron  Levi,  Bertram  Gal- 
braith,  Daniel  Williams,  Felty  Overlady, 
Michael  Miller,  Jacob  Whitmore,  William 
Poor,  George  Fry,  John  Cline,  John  Meek- 
land,  Philip  DeHaas,  Martin  Cryder,  Michael 
Groscolp,  Simeon  Brand,  Frederick  Deigh, 
Ileni'y  Wails,  Sam.  Sleight,  Levi  Simeon, 
Doctor  Light.  John  Clendiniu,  (Jeorge  Free, 
John  Didde,  George  Hawk,  Blaehcr's  land, 
Daniel  Wolf,  Simeon  Snider,  Daniel  Mawer, 
Geo.  Shaddle,  Cristlej'  Snider,  Pl)i|)il  Reel, 
Michal  Welker,  Henry  Minsler,  Jacob  Shaver, 
John   Hackard,  Jacob  Covel,  Andrew  Rigla. 


West  End  of  Derry—1756. 

Adam  Baum,  Matthew  Laird,  William 
Spencer,  Hugii  Black,  Thomas  Black,  James 
Ireland,  Jolm  Laird,  Adam  Walker,  Robert 
Taylor,  William  Breden,  David  Campbell, 
James  Russell,  Moses  Patterson,  John  Cook, 
John  Crockett,  John  Penelton,  William 
Thompson,  Lawrence  McCJill,  Isaac  Penel- 
ton, Mose.s  Campbell,  James  Wiliey,  William 
Sterrett,  Samuel  Murray,  Robert  Rauisey, 
Jame.s  Walker,  James  Willson,  William  Mc- 
Cobb,  William  Drennan,  James  Semple, 
Tiiomas  Park,  Robert  Bradshaw,  Matthew 
Willson,  Joseph  Candor,  Moses  Willson, 
Stophel  Shooj),  Alexander  Fleck,  Adam 
Waggoner,  James  Carothers,  Peter  Barsh, 
John  Singer,  Jacob  Couts,  Dewalt  Baker, 
Simon  Singer,  George  Bombaugh,  Henry 
Corber,  Anthony  Weirick,  Peter  Spengler, 
Peter  Grossglas,  David  Etley,  Edward  Mar- 
tin, John  Ticfc,John  Fleming,  George  Beaver, 
Francis  Newcomer,  Henry  Hart,  Jacob  Al- 
bright, Max  Spidle,  Peter  Kinder,  James 
Chambers,  Andrew  Robinson,  James  Clark, 
Thomas  Hall,  Robert  Willson,  John  Carr, 
John  Vanlear,  Jame.s  McCoye,  Samuel  Shaw, 
Robert  Carothers,  Jolm  Weir,  Hugh  Caroth- 
ers, Andrew  Weir,  George  Wedaberger,  Rob- 


.j^'T-i- 

»'''*"'      m'^-W'Ssi 

'          '%■ 

r  _^tehi^:,l^^^  ,"'•;] 

WILLIAM  AY  RES. 


GEN    JOHN  KEAN. 


ROBERT  HARRIS 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


19 


ert  Armstrong,  Andrew  Hershey,  John  Mul- 
len, Martin  Brand,  Ulry  Hipsher,  James 
Russell,  Jacob  Broniek.  Freemen — James 
Svvaty,  James  Harris,  Robert  Brety,  Tiiomas 
Care,  John  Bowman,  John  C'lark,  Robert 
McKee,  James  Vanleer,  James  Henry,  James 
McCormick,  Mr.  Hipsher's  stepson,  one  Ken- 
nedy at  James  Cander's,  William  Fomly. 

East  Side  of  Derry—17S8. 

Robert  Allison,  Jacob  Albright,  Adam 
Burckholder,  John  Bowman,  Joseph  Berry- 
hill  (weaver),  Robert  Boyd,  William  Boyd, 
Wendel  Bow,  John  Campbell  (Duncan's  es- 
tate), John  Campbell  (McCord's  land),  James 
Campbell,  Vincent  ('ooper,  Michael  Cassell, 
John  Chestnut,  Charles  Clark,  John  Camp- 
bell, Anthony  Carman,  John  Duncan,  Leon- 
ard Deininger.  Thomas  Eakin,  Nicholas 
Ebert,  John  Earh^John  Espy,  George  Espy, 
William  Esp}',  Ludwick  Elser,  David  Fos- 
ter, Robert  Foster,  Widow  Foster,  James 
P^oster,  Melchoir  Flenckpow,  Henry  Freek, 
Philip  Fishburn,  John  Gourly,  Jacob  Cirove, 
Frederick  Hummel,  Joiin  Kay,  Anthony 
Hemperly,  George  Henry,  Patrick  Hay, 
Robert  Hay,  Hugh  Hay,  Widow  Hall,  Jolin 
Hall,  David  Jolnison,  Adam  Kettering,  Feltj' 
Kettering,  John  Keesemer,  Patrick  Kelly, 
George  Kelly,  Stophel  Liverton,  Jacob  Long- 
necker,  Jacob  Leman.  John  Logan,  Thomas 
Logan,  Felix  Landis,  Jr.,  Frederick  Morral, 
John  Montgomery,  David  Mitchel,  Wendel 
Minick,  Andrew  Moor,  William  Moor,  John 
Moor,  John  Maybane,  John  Maybane,  Jr., 
Jacob  Martin,  Robert  Mordah,  (Samuel  Moor, 
Widow  McCallen,  Robert  McCallen,  John 
McCullough,  Robert  McCleery,  William  AIc- 
Cordj  Neil  McCallister,  Thos.  McCallen,  John 
McCallister,  John  McC^ueen.  Josiah  Mc- 
Queen, John  McQueen,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  Nes- 
bit,  John  Over,  Widow  Binneogle,  Moses 
Potts,  Jacob  Brunk,  Abraham  Reamer, 
Philip  Reamer,  Abraham  Reigal,  John 
Roan,  David  Rea,  Conrad  Rash,  Andrew 
Roan,  John  Rea,  William  Robinson,  Will- 
iam Sawyer,  Christly  Snyder,  John  Sawyer, 
Jacob  Steely,  Christly  Stickley,  George  Bals- 
bach,  Lumbard  Shellan,  Widow  Sloan, 
Peter  Dollenbougli,  Felty  Dollenbough,  John 
Tanner,  David  Taylor,  William  Willson, 
John  Walker,  Henry  Walker,  James  W^alter, 
John  Walker,  Conrad  Washiion,  Archibald 
Walker,  James  Willson,  James  Walker. 
Freemen — Joseph  Carmony,  Thomas  Mit- 
chel, James  Carson,  James  Morton,  Robert 
Kennedy,  John  Mordah,  Robert  Mordah,  Jr. 


[I  have  been  Eleven  Days  taking  the  re- 
turn of  the  within  Township. 

lioBERT  Mordah. 
December  20th,  1758.] 

West  Side  of  Derry—1758. 

Jacob  Albright,  Robert  Armstrong,Widow 
Blackburn,  Anthony  Blessly,  Michael  Bach- 
man,  Thomas  Bell  (blacksmith),  Will- 
iam Bredan,  Hugh  Black,  ALartin  Brand, 
Adam  Baum,  Peter  Barsh,  George  Bom- 
baugh,  George  Beaver,  Dewalt  Baker, 
Thomas  Black,  Arthur  Chambers  (for 
James  Chambers'  land),  William  &  John 
Carson,  Hugh  Carothers,  James  Clark, 
James  Carothers,  Jacob  Couts,  Joseph 
Candor,  Robert  Cryder,  Arthur  Chambers, 
Robert  Chambers,  Moses  Campbell,  John 
Crocket,  Adam  Dalker,  William  Drennan, 
David  Etley,  George  Frey,  John  Fleming, 
Michael  Gensel,  Michael  Hoover,  Jr.,  Ulry 
Hi[)sher,  Frederick  Hummel,  Adam  Ham- 
aker,  Thomas  Kail,  Andrew  Hershey,  Jr., 
Michael  Hoover,  John  Harris,  Escj.,  James 
Ireland,  John  Carr,  I'eter  Kinder,  John 
Laird,  Matthew  Laird,  Felix  Landis,  Samuel 
Murray,  Lewis  Murray,  John  Newcomer, 
Albert  Nelson,  James  Nelson,  Robert  Nelson, 
Francis  Newcomer,  Thomas  Park,  Moses 
Patterson,  John  Porterfield,  Samuel  Reed, 
James  Russell,  Sr.,  James  Russell,  Robert 
•  Ramsey,  Andrew  Robinson,William  Strieker, 
Stoffel  Shoop,  William  Starrett,  Daniel 
Straw,  Geo.  Stevenson,  Esq.,  William  Spen- 
cer, Mathias  Stahl,  Peter  Spengler,  Simon 
Singer,  John  Singer,  Piiilip  Shuger,  Widow 
Semple,  Max  Spidle,  James  Shaw,  Alexan- 
der Sterrett,  Jacob  Stouffer,  Robert  Taylor, 
John  Tice,  John  Vanlear,  John  Vance,  John 
Willson  (non-resident  land),  George  West- 
berry,  Conrad  Wolflej',  Adam  \\'aggoner, 
Matthew  Willson,  Robert  Walker,  Moses 
Willson,  Samuel  Walker,  Anthony  Weirick, 
Lawrence  McGill,  Edward  McConnal,  Hec- 
tor McClain,  Samuel  McCormick,  William 
McComb,  Robert  McKee,  Widow  McKee. 
Freemen — James  Harris,  George  Shinlin, 
Lawrence  Strieker,  Frederick  Cassler,  John 
McCollough,  James  Vanlear,  James  Henry, 
James  Snoddy,  John  Waugh,  Andrew  Lenny, 
James  Fenton,  James  Walker,  John  Bow- 
man. 

Derry  Toivnship — 1769. 

Adam  Slaymaker,  Alexander  F'leck,  An- 
drew Bayer,  Abraham  Strickler,  Anna  Ire- 
land, Abraham  Derr,  Andrew  Shredly,  An- 


20 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


thony  Blessly,  Abraham  Copa,  Arcby  Mont- 
gomery', Adam  Thomas,  Adam  Baum,  Bedy 
Blackburn,  Bernard  Queen,  Christy  Stouffer, 
Jennie  Chambers,  Cassel  Beyers,  Christly 
Smith,  Christly  Brunner,  Christly  Alleman, 
David  McHorter,  Galloway's  land,  David 
Clinn,  David  From,  Benjamin  Hershe}', 
David  Johnson,  Felix  Landis,  Frederick 
Hess,  Frederick  Zeller,  Frederick  Brands- 
letter,  Frederick  Shott,  George  Balsbaugh, 
George  Pfeil,  Henry  Slaymaker,  Henry  Lan- 
dis, Henry  Fritz,  Handel  Wentz,  Henrj' 
Hoover,  Jolin  Semple,  John  Kauhnan,  John 
Brindel,  John  Hamaker,  John  Laird,  Jacob 
Haldeman,  John  Raysor,  John  Borrish,John 
Singer,  Jacob  Smith,  John  Hershey,  Jacob 
Lime,  Joseph  Brinn,  James  Russel,  Jacob 
Metzger,  John  Abler,  John  Witmer,  James 
Shaw,  Jacob  Ross,  Joseph  Kinder,  John 
Carr,  Jacob  Nissl}',  Isabel  Hall,  Joseph  Reif, 
John  Fleming,  John  Evans,  John  Parthe- 
more,  Moses  Wilson,  Martin  Houser,  Ma- 
thias  Young,  Moses  Campbell,  Mathias 
Bricket,  Max  Spidle  &  Son,  Matthew  Laird, 
Martin  Brand,  Michael  Hoover,  Nicholas 
Bass,  Peter  Berst,  Peter  Bucks,  Peter  Gros- 
glass,  Robert  Crotter,  Robert  McKee.  Robert 
Walker,  Robert  Dollar,  Robert  Brickey, 
Galloway's  land,  Robert  Allison,  Robert 
Ramsey,  David  Ramsey,  Stophel  Alliman, 
Oliver  Ramsey,  Samuel  Rich,  Galloway's 
land,  Sarah  Chambers,  Samuel  Clark,  George  ' 
Bower,  Christopiier  Bogner,  Andrew  Rid- 
-linger,  Martin  Ileaf,  Adam_I)ean,  Michael 
Kramer,  Widow  Wetherholt,  Peter  Spate, 
Jacob  Reigert,  Christian  King.  Freemen — 
Frederick  Stahl,  Daniel  Staper. 

Demi  Township— 1770. 

Robert  Allison,  Stophel  Alliman,  John 
Abler,  Christy  Alliman,  Jacob  Albright, 
George  Balsbaugh,  Elisha  Blackburn,  Peter 
Bucks,  Anthony  Blessly,  Martin  Brand, 
Peter  Berst,  Cassel  Beyers,  Adam  Baum, 
Martin  Brand,  Ludwick  Brand,  John  Boor- 
ish, Nicholas  Bass,  Joseph  Brim,  George 
Bails,  Mathias  Bricker,  Christley  Braneer, 
John  Parthemore,  Abraham  Copa,  Daniel 
Clim,  Moses  Campbell,  Sarah  Chambers, 
Samuel  Clark,  John  Carr,  Robert  Crotter, 
Isaac  Chambers,  Abraham  Derr,  William 
Denn,  Jacob  Dudmilen,  William  Ears,  John 
Evans,  Alexander  Fleck,  Henry  Fretz,  John 
Fleming,  David  From,  Peter  Grosglas,  Jos- 
eph Gallowa}'.  Arch}'  Montgomery,  John 
Gingrich,  Adam  Hamaker,  Frederick  Hess, 
John  Hamaker,  Jacob  Haldeman,  Michael 


Huber,  Henr}'  Hamaker,  Andrew  Hershey, 
David  McHorten,  Isabell  Hall,  Anna  Ireland, 
David  Johnson,  John  Kaufman,  Jacob  Kass, 
Robert  McKee,  Jose[)h  Kinder,  Adam  Lam- 
bert, Henry  Landis,  Peter  Landis,  Mathew 
Laird,  William  Laird,  John  Laird,  Jacob 
Linn,  Wendel  Minek,  Jacob  Max,  Jacob 
Metzger,  Elias  Nagly,  Henry  Nover,  Jacob 
Nissly,  John  Prentill,  William  Brinton,  Bern- 
hard  Queen,  John  Raysor,  James  Russell. 
Samuel  Reith,  Thomas  Ramse}',  Robert 
Ramsey.  Joseph  Reif,  Stophel  Rernsway, 
Max  Spidle,  Andrew  Sherdly,  Max  Spidle 
(inmate),  Christly  Stouffer,  John  Singer, 
Christly  Smith,  Abraham  Strickler,  Fred- 
erick Shott,  Jacob  Smith,  James  Shaw, 
Daniel  Sharrat,  John  Sampel,  Ulry  Sharr, 
William  Shaw,  Stophel  Shoop,  Adam 
Thomas,  Henry  Thoma.s,  Moses  Wilson, 
Wendel  Wentz,  John  Witmer,  Robert 
Walker,  James  Welsh,  Matthew  Young, 
Frederick  Zeller. 

Frederick  Town— 1770. 

Peter  Spare,  Jacob  Reigert,  Sussanah 
Wetherholt,  Bastian  Crawas,  John  Cramer, 
Christian  King,  Frederick  Hummel,  Widow 
Emerick,  Ludwick  Shad,  Jacob  Haman, 
Andrew  Ridlinger,  Adam  Deen,  Bernard 
Fridley,  Jacob  Myer,  Christopher  Bogner, 
John  Philips,  Jacon  Isaac,  Henry  Bessem, 
Andrew  Herauf,  Henry  Sheaffer.  Freemen 
— Henekel  Ebert,  Wm.  Krap,  Bernard  Folk, 
Samuel  Hall,  Jacob  Fridley,  George  Shoop. 

Ea^t  End  of  Hznover  Return — 1750. 

Joseph  Willson's  land,  100  a.;  John  Dixon, 
100  a.;  Hugh  McQown,  100  a.;  John  Ramsev, 
100  a.;  Edward  McMurray,  100  a.;  Jacob 
Stuckey  (upon  a  rented  place),  Mathias 
Plouts,'lOOa.;  William  Stover,  100  a.;  Jacob 
Stover,  100  a.;  Thomas  Strain,  50  a.;  John 
Myers,  100  a.;  William  Woods,  100  a.;  Robert 
Strain,  50  a.;  Jo.seph  Todd,  100  a.;  John 
Todd,  100  a.;  Walter  Bell,  140  a.;  Jos.  Mc- 
Courtney,  50  a.;  James  Dixon,  100  a.;  Will- 
iam Thomson,  50  a.;  John  Strain,  100  a.; 
Robert  Heslet  &  Porterfield  (upon  a  rented 
place),  John  Crawford,  100  a.;  William  Rob- 
inson, 100  a.;  Peter  Stuart's  land,  100  a.; 
Hum{)hrey  Cunningham,  100  a.;  Stophel 
Sees,  100  a.;  Henry  Hover,  100  a.;  Samuel 
Grevy,  50  a.;  Thomas  Shonla,  100  a.;  John 
Young,  200  a.;  Adam  Reed,  200  a.;  John 
Sloan,  100  a.;  John  Sloan,  100  a.;  Samuel 
Sloan,  100  a.;  William  Young,  200  a.;  Joseph 
Clark,  100  a.;  Abraham   Williams,   200  a.; 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


21 


Jack  Williams,  100  a.;  William  Clark,  100  a.; 
George  Titel,  100  a.;  Jonathan  Hide  (free- 
man), Robert  Gibson  (freeman),  Joseph 
Haupt,  100  a.;  Hugh  Gilliland,  150  a.;  John 
Foster,  100  a.;  Widow  Nidig,  100  a.;  John 
Andrew,  100  a.  Durst  Bnglitbill,  200  a.; 
\\'illiam  Watson's  land,  100  a.:  Robert  Ber- 
ger  (a  poor  man),  Brice  Innis,  200  a.;  John 
Morton,  50  a.;  Thomas   Prest,  200  a.;  John 

,  150   a.;   Jos.  Greenlee,  50   a.;  John 

Thomson,  40  a.;  Andrew  McMehon,  40  a.; 
Anthony  McCreight,  50  a.;  George  Sheklej' 
(upon  a  rented  place),  John  Creage,  IGO  a.; 
Patrick  Gillespie,  100  a.;  John  Grevy,  100  a.; 
Alexander  Thomson,  100  a.;  Alexander 
Sloan,     100    a.;     Joseph     Grevy,     100     a.; 

Samuel    ■ — ,  100   a.;   John    Brown,  100 

a.;  Barnet  McNitt,  50  a.;  John  McCloone, 
50  a.;  Jacob  Ricar,  50  a.;  Adam  McNiley,  50 
a.;  John  Henderson,  50  a.;  John  Andrews, 
100  a.;  Patrick  Brown,  50  a.;  Lazarus 
Stuart,  100  a.;  John  Coningham,  100  a.; 
William  Coningham,  100  a.;  Joseph  Stuart, 
200  a.;  Leonard  Longe,  100  a.;  Walter  Mc- 
Farland's  land,  150  a.;  Peter  Walmer,  100  a.; 
Joseph  Smiley,  80  a.;  Jacob  Moser,  50  a.; 
Moses  Vance,  100  a.;  John  Bruner,  100  a.; 
Peter  Hetrick,  100  a.;  John  Kechiler,  50  a.; 
John    Gilliland,    100   a.;  Henry    Bachman, 

100  a.;  Mathias  P ,100  a.;  PliilipMaur, 

100  a.;  Mike  H ,50  a.;  George  Shef)- 

ard,  100   a.;  Paul    Shepard,   50   a.;    Joseph 

Young,  50  a.;  Martin  Light,  50  a.;  

-,    100  a.;    Young   John  Tike,   50  a.; 


John  Toops,  100  a.;  Jacob  Toops,  100  a.; 
Roude}'  Hauk,  100  a.;  Peter  Bucher,  30  a.; 

Philip   Colpe,  50  a.; ,   50  a.; 

Benjamin  Clark,  100  a.;  Joseph  Williams, 
100  a.;  Widow  Tiitle,  100  a.;  Anthony  Rosen- 
borne,  200  a.;  John  Stuart,  100  a.;  Jacob 
Ricar,  30  a.;  Robert  Hinkroad,  loO  a.;  Con- 
rad Ick,  50  a.;  Jonathan  Hume  (freeman), 

Robert  Gibson  (freeman),   Frederick 

(freeman). 

East  End  of  Hanover— 1756. 

Durst  Brightbill,  Andrew  Karsnits,  John 
Foster,  John  Young,  Martin  Light,  William 
Young,  James  Williams,  Joseph  Hoof,  Daniel 
Angony,  Samuel  Sloan,  John  Sloan,  Mathias 
Door,  James  Clark,  Isaac  Williams,  John 
Stuart,  James  Young,  John  Andrew,  Adam 
Reed,  Esq.,  Benjamin  Clark,  George  Tittle, 
John  Forney,  John  Dubbs,  John  Weaver, 
Rudy  Houk,  Jacob  Dubbs,  Anthony  Rosen- 
bom,  John  Tibbin,  Jr.,  John  Tibbin,  Sr., 
George   Sheffer,   Devolt    Angony,   William 


Clark,  Peter  Hedrick,  Nicholas  Winter, 
Adam  Harper,  James  Stuart,  Lazarus  Stuart, 
Patrick  Brown,  John  Cunninghan:,  Henry 
Weaver,  Stophel  Sees,  Adam  McNelly,  Jacob 
Rigard,  Thomas  Price,  John  Crawford,  Will- 
iam Graham,  Alexander  Martin,  William 
Thomson,  John  Mire,  James  Dixon,  Walter 
Bell,  William  Woods,  James  Todd,  James 
McCurry,  Cliristopher  Ploutz,  Brice  Innis, 
George  Miller,  Isaac  Sharp,  Jacob  Stover, 
William  Stover,  John  Jacob  Stover,  John 
Thomson,  John  Dixon,  William  James, 
Widow  Cunningham,  Leonard  Miller,  John 
Anderson,  Antliony  McCreight,  James  Mc 
Crory.  Freemen — William  Wootsen,  John 
Htime,  Thomas  Hume,  John  McClure,  Sam- 
uel Endswortli,  John  Compbler,  John  Egter- 
son,  Anthony  McCreiglit. 

West  End  of  Hanover — 1756. 

Mathew  Snoddy,  Josejjh  Willson,  John 
McCormick,  Henry  McCormick,  Adam  Ham- 
aker.  Widow  Parks,  Lorauce  Ralican,  David 
McClenaghen.Sr.,  David  McClenaghen,  John 
McNeely,  James  Finney,  Thomas  Finne}', 
Robert  Snodgrass,  Robert  Love,  Samuel 
Young,  Daniel  Shaw,  John  Woods,  Charles 
McClure,  John  Taylor,  John  Llutchinson, 
Daniel  Brown,  Widow  Rodgers,  Setli  Rodg- 
ers,  Samuel  Stewart,  Ilugli  Rogers,  Wm.  Rog- 
ers, Joseph  McKnight,  James  Baird,  William 
Thompson,  William  Truesdell,  Matthew 
Thornton,  Francis  McClure,  William  Rogers, 
John  Brown,  Alexander  McElhenny,  Sam- 
uel Robinson,  Thomas  French,  James  Finney, 
James  French,  Thomas  Sliarp,John  Siiarp, 
John  Cooper,  William  Cooper,  .John  Thomp- 
son, David  Furgison,  William  Allen,  John 
McClure,  James  VV'right,  Thonuis  Robinson 
(miller),  Michael  McNeeh',  James  Robinson, 
John  Stuart,  Tiiomas  McMuUin,  John  Mil- 
ler, Robert  Martin,  Samuel  Stuart,  Gyon 
Strain,  James  Rippeth,  Robert  Wallace, 
James  Willson,  Matthew  Taylor,  Hugh  Will- 
son,  Antoney  Ealor,  William  Galbraith,  Ben- 
jamin Wallace,  Samuel  Barnett,  Robert  Por- 
terfield,  Joseph  Hutchinson,  Robert  Mont- 
gomery, Philip  Ambrister. — Francis  Mc- 
Clure, Collector. 

Hanover  Assessment — 1769. 

Samuel  Sterret  150  a.;  John  Shergs,  100 
a.;  Archibald  Sloan,  150  a.;  Samuel  Sloan, 
150  a.;  John  Stuart,  200  a.;  James  Stuart, 
200  a.;  Lazarus  Stuart,  200  a.;  George 
Shever,  l.'O  a.;  James  Ripetii,  100  a.;  Hugh 
Ripeth,  100  a.;  William  Ripeth,50  a.;  James 


22 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


Robinson,  200  a.;  E.  Rosenber}',  100  a; 
Eftey  Robinson,  260  a.;  James  Riddel,  150 
a.;  James  Riddel,  Jr.,  150  a.;  Ketren  Rogers, 
100  a.;  John  Rogers,  100  a.;  Adam  Rogers, 
100  a.;  Adam  Rogers,  80  a.;  Philip  Robin- 
son, 190  a.;  Joseph  Ripeth,  80  a.;  George 
Rogers,  100  a.;  James  Rogers,  200  a.;  Jacob 
Ricl)er,  100  a.:  Thomas  Robinson,  100  a.; 
Adam  Reed,  Esq.,  290  a.;  Christian  Ramberey, 
100  a.;  Robert  Huston,  150  a.;  Joseph 
Hutchison,  120  a.;  Joseph  Hutchison,  150  a.; 
John  Hay,  100  a.;  Robert  Hume,  190  a.; 
Bartholmew  Heans,  100  a.;  John  Hutchison, 
200  a.;  Adam  Harper,  320  a.;  Peter  Hetrick, 
150  a.;  Joseph  Huff,  150  a.;  Ruddy  Hooke, 
100  a.;  John  Henderson,  100  a.;  John  Hill, 
200  a.;  Thomas  Hume,  100  a.;  John  Halo- 
back  ,  James  Beard,  100  a.;  Robert  Bell, 
255  a.;  William  Brown,  150  a.;  William 
Barnet,  150  a.;  Andrew  Brown,  100  a.;  Will- 
iam Brandon,  100  a.;  Daniel  Brown,  100  a.; 
Thomas  Bell,  100  a.;  Thomas  Bell,  180  a.; 
Martha  Barnet,  200  a.;  Samuel  Brown,  100 
a.;  John  Brown,  200  a.;  Joiin  Brown,  100  a.; 
William  Brown,  100  a.;  George  Brightbill, 
218  a.;  Barnet  Besore,  100  a.;  Mathias  Besor, 
100  a.;  Jacob  Besor,  100  a.;  William  Cooper, 
100  a.;  Adam  Clemar,  50  a.;  John  McCol- 
lough,  150  a.;  William  Clark,  150  a.;  Will- 
iam Clark;  Benjamin  Clark,  200  a.; 
James  Clark,  90  a.;  Jolni  Campbell,  200  a.; 
William  McClure  ;  Mary  Conyngham, 
100  a.;  Elizabeth  Conyngham,  200  a.; 
John  Crawford,  100  a.;  Frances  MeClure, 
100  a.;  James  McClure,  100  a.;  John  Craw- 
ford, Jr.,  50  a.;  Henry  Counts,  80  a.;  James 
McClure,  150  a.;  James  Parke,  100  a.;  Thomas 
Price,  05  a.;  Mary  Price,  120  a.;  Robert  Por- 
terfield,  100  a.; 'Matthew  Snodey,  120  a.; 
Robert  Snodgrass,  120  a.;  Joseph  Knodgrass, 
140  a.;  John  Stren,  100  a.;  John  Smiley,  100 
a.;  George  Smiley,  lOO  a.;  Daniel  Shaw,  150 
a.;  Samuel  Stuart,  150  a.;  John  Stuart,  100 
a.;  John  Swan,  100  a.;  John  Tibney,  Sr.,  100 
a.;  John  Tubs,  100  a.;  .Jacob  Tubs,  200  a.; 
George  Tittel,  150  a.;  William  Thompson 
(weaver),  100  a.;  William  Ferguson,  200  a.; 
Thomas  French,  100  a.;  John  Foster,  211  a.; 
Walter  McFarland,  200  a.;  Ruddy  Fray,  200 
a.;  John  Fox,  200  a.;  Thomas  Finey,  50  a.; 
James  Finey,  100  a.;  Jaiues  Finey,  Sr.,  180 
a.;  Thomas  Fine}^  50  a.;  James  French, 
50  a.;  James  Low ;  Samuel  Young,  50 
a.:  William  Young,  230  a.;  John  Young, 
295  a.;  Robert  Martin,  100  a.;  Robert  Mont- 
gomery, 80  a.;  John  Montgomery,  250  a.; 
Thomas  McMullen,  150  a.     Freemen — John 


Parke  (weaver),  James  Petticrew  (weaver), 
George  McMullen  (weaver),  William  Clark, 
John  McClure  (weaver),  George  Shanklen 
(weaver),  David  Stren  (shoemaker),  William 
Dermond  (weaver),  Samuel  Robinson,  Robert 
Hill,  John  Wilken  (schoolmaster),  Hugh 
Willson,  James  Andrew  (blacksmith),  James 
Andrew,  John  McFarland  (carpenter),  Will- 
iam Willson;  William  McElheney  200  a.; 
Samuel  Endsworth,  100  a.;  Doctor  John 
Letes ;  Sebastian  Kinsner,  150  a.;  AVill- 
iam  Allen,  200  a.;  Joseph  McNutt,  100  a.; 
Matthew  Gelor,  100  a.;  Robert  Brown,  100 
a.;  Mary  Dermond,  200  a.;  James  Wright, 
100  a.;  Matthias  Poor,  100  a.;  Patrick  Brown, 
90  a.;  William  Diver  (tailor);  John 
Dixon,  250  a.;  James  Dixon,  200  a.;  John 
Andrew,  150  a.;  John  Andrew,  200  a.;  Tim- 
othy McGuire,  200  a.;  James  McQuown,  265 
a.;  John  McQuown,  299  a.;  Brice  Innis,  229 
a.;  William  James,  190  a.;  John  Gettey; 
William  Graham,  111  a.;  Edward  Mc- 
Glanigen,  100  a.;  William  Graham,  130  a.; 
John  Gililand,  100  a.;  James  Greenlee,  100 
a.;  John  Graham,  100  a.;  Hugh  Glenn,  50  a.; 
James  Todd,  200  a.;  John  Thompson,  200  a  .. 
James  Taggert ;  John  Thomson,  130' 
a.;  William  Tiiornton,  100  a.;  William 
Thomson,  80  a.;  William  Trousdal,  200  a.; 
John  Thomson,  100  a.;  John  Tibens,  lOO  a.; 
John  Tavlor,  150  a.;  James  Willson,  199  a.; 
Hugh  Willson,  199  a.;  Robert  Wallace,  200 
a.;  Joseph  Willson,  100  a.;  Samuel  Walkers, 
150  a.;  John  Woods,  100  a.;  James  Willson, 
100  a.;  Jo.seph  Willson,  103  a.;  Andrew 
Woods,  190  a.;  Thomas  Willson  (weaver); 
Peter  Walmei-,  130  a.;  James  Williams, 
98  a.;  John  Weaver,  100  a.;  James  Willson, 
200  a.;  William  Wattson,  100  a.;  Henry  Mc- 
Cormick,  150  a.;  John  McCord,  100  a.;  David 
McClanochan,  150  a.;  John  McClanochan, 
150  a.;  John  McCormick,  100  a.;  Anten  Mc- 
Creight,  80  a.;  William  McClure,  90  a.; 
Thomas  McClure,  90  a.;  John  McClure,  100 
a.;  Eleanor  McClure,  150  a.;  William  Mc- 
Clintock,  390  a.;  Alexander  McColm,  100  a.; 
John  Cameron  (one  cow),  William  Gargin 
(one  cow),  John  Glenn  (one  cow). 

Hanover  Assessment — 1783. 

Capt.  AVilliam  Allen,  Joseph  Allen,  James 
Andrew,  Widow  Andrew,  Francis  Alberthal, 
Nicholas  Albert hal,  Michael  Bough  man,  John 
Brown,  Sr.,  William  Brown,  Esq.,  Samuel 
Bell,  Widow  Baird,  William  Brown,  Samuel 
Brown,  Jr.,  PhilipBrand,  John  Brown, Joseph 
Barnet,    William   Branden,   Jacob     Bowen, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


23 


Andrew  Brown,  George  Brouse,  Michael 
Brown,  Pliilip  Bomgartner,  Peter  Bridbile, 
John  Bridbile,  (.'apt.  L>aniel  Bradley,  Balzer 
Bomgartner,  John  Bear,  Robert  Bell,  John 
Backer,  John  Bomgartner,  David  Caldwell, 
Jacob  Cook,  Esq.,  Andrew  Cooper,  James  Cal- 
hoon,  Richard  Crawford,  John  Cooper, Widow 
Crawford,  Joseph  Crain,  William  Cathcart, 
George  Crain,  Patrick  Cunningham,  Capt. 
Ambrose  Crain,  Widow  Campbell,  Benjamin 
Clark,  Jr.,  Michael  Cunkle,  Andrew  Carvery, 
Henry  Clover,  John  Craig,  James  Caldwell, 
James  Dixon's  widow,  Richard  Dixon,  Sankey 
Dixon,  Richard  Dearmond,  John  Dollinger, 
Peter  Ebersole,  Robert  Ewing,  Christian 
Earle}',  Josias  Espy,  John  Entsworth,  Eman- 
nel  Tnye,  Samuel  Ferguson,  Michael  Finlaw, 
Adam  Firebough,  Thomas  Finey,  Robert 
Fleoman,  John  FergusDn,  Widow  French, 
Anthony  Fox,  Richard  Finley,  Samuel 
Finey.  Casper  Freeman,  Thomas  Frederick, 
Robert  Folten,  Timothy  Green,  Esq.,  Joseph 
Green,  John  Graham,  Hugh  (xlenn,  James 
Graham,  Capt.  William  Graham,  Henry 
Graham,  Henr^-  Graham  in  trust,  Robert 
Greenlee,  Curtis  Grubb  &  Co.,  Christian  Hu- 
ber,  John  Herring,  Andrew  Horner,  Adam 
Hamaker,  John  Hume,  Leonard  Humbarger, 
Joseph  Hutchison,  Abraham  Host,  James 
Hamble,  John  Harper,  Conrad  Helm,  Henry 
Hess,  William  Hedrick,  Peter  Hedrick, 
George  Hedrick,  Thomas  Hume,  Widow  Hill, 
Isaac  Harrison,  David  Hoy,  John  Huber, 
George  Hayne.s,  Joseph  Hutchison,  Sr.,  Rich- 
ard Jolmson,  James  Johnson,  Israel  Low, 
Andrew  Kerr,  Robert  Kenaday,  Thomas  Ken- 
nedy, Andrew  Killinger,  Samuel  Kearsle}', 
Ludwig  Kleck,  Peter  Kingrey,  Daniel  King, 
Maj.  Abraham  Latcha,  Widow  Leidy,  Jacob 
Lose,  John  Lose,  Henry  Lowmiller,  Widow 
Low,  John  McClintock,  William  Montgom- 
ery, Esq.,  ^^'illiam  Montgomery,  Capt.  Will- 
iam McCullough,  William  Miskimons,  James 
McMullen,  John  McCown,  John  McCown  in 
tru.st,  William  Michael,  Jolm  McCormick's 
widow,  Robert  Moody,  Thomas  McNear, 
AVidow  McCormick,  James  McClure,  Conrad 
Moyer,  George  Minig,  Jacob  Moyer,  Killian 
Mark,  George  Mease,  Jacob  Millen,  John  Mc- 
Cord,  Daniel  Mnsser,  William  McFarland, 
Michael  Moura,  John  McCallen,  John  Mc- 
Callen  in  trust,  Capt.  James  McCreight, 
Thomas  McCord,  David  McGuire,  Martin 
Miley,  Barnard  McNutt,  Daniel  Miller,  James 
Porter,  James  Parks,  Robert  Porterfield,  Mi- 
chael Poise,  Joseph  Pirkey,  Nicholas  Poor, 
Frederick  Peasore,  Mathias  Peasore,  George 


Peasore,  George  Peasore,  John  Bruner,  John 
Pickel,  James  Pet,  Col.  John  Rogers,  Jacob 
Rigliard,  William  Robinson,  Jacob  Ram, 
James  Ripeth,  James  Robinson,  William 
Ripeth,  James  Rogers,  Widow  Ram,  Jere- 
miah Rogers,  William  Riddle,  William  Rog- 
ers, John  Robinson,  John  Rouck,  Samuel 
Robinson,  George  Rumberger,  Peter  Rambol, 
Peter   River,   .John    Raver,  David  Ramsey, 

William  Ramse}',  Philip  Rank, Martin  R , 

George  Ramsey  &  Co.,  John  Romatch,  John 
Righard,  John  Righard  in  trust,  Jacob  Road, 
Adam  Stone,  Balzer  Stone,  John  Snodgrass, 
Samuel  Sturgeon,  Widow  Swan,  Samuel  Stew- 
art, John  Snyder,  Robert  Sturgeon,  Peter 
Spelsbough,  William  Snodgrass,  John  Ster- 
ritt,  Henry  Sharp,  Jacob  Sant,  Jacob 
Sprecher,  John  Sim  merman,  LTlrey  Sach- 
ery,  William  Snody,  Henry  Sigler,  Widow 
Stewart,  John  Shuby,  Michael  Seltzer,  Arch- 
ibald Sloan,  Widow  Stewart,  William  Stew- 
art, Q,.  M.,  Philip  Seidensticker,  Nicholas 
Snyder,  Peter  Smelzers,  William  Sloan, 
Henry  Shue,  xVbraham  Stine,  John  Sy- 
nion,  Alexander  Sloan,  Widow  Strean, 
John  Shue,  Ludwig  Searmg,  Valentine 
Shouffler,  John  Tod,  David  Tod,  Robert 
Templeton,  James  Tagart,  William  Trous, 
John  Thompson,  John  Thompson,  Sr., 
George  Title,  William  Thome,  Jacob  Tups, 
Jolni  Tubbin,  Jacob  Tubbins,  James  Tod, 
Capt.  James  Wilson,  Thomas  Walker,  Widow 
White,  Andrew  Waler,  George  Ward,  James 
Waller,  Andrew  Wilson,  Hugh  Wilson, 
James  Wilson,  Sr.,  George  Wallmore,  John 
Weaver,  Jacob  Wolf,  Deobald  Wentling, 
Christian  Wingard,  Abraham  Wingard,  Peter 
Walmore,  Sr.,  Peter  Wallmore,  John  Winter, 
Bartholmew  Wentle,  AVilliam  Young,  Jr., 
James  Young.  Inmates — Benjamin  Fulton, 
Jacob  Houck,  John  Martin,  Robert  Fulton, 
Neal  Matten,  John  Elder,  Alexander  Foster, 
John  Patterson,  David  Moffett,  Francis  Fer- 
guson, David  Kingrey,  William  Clockey, 
James  W^ilson,  Robert  Lues,  Hugh  Morris, 
Valentine  Spelsbough, George  Bruner,  Fred- 
erick Bickel,  Jolm  Stover,  Michael  Moyer, 
John  Moore,  Patrick  Gallent, -lames  Bradden, 
Robert  McFarland,  William  Fleeman,  John 
Dunlay,   Robert  Strain,  David  Hays,  Alex. 

ander  Mc ,  James  John.son,    Alexander 

Hechet,  William  Cunningham,  Charles  Mc- 
Elroy,  Hugh  Jolly,  Henry  Menig,  George 
Maura,  John  Pitre,  John  McBride,  John 
Young  (smith).  Smith,  Andrew  Young, 
Henry  Bruner,  John  Wallmore,  James  Robin- 
son, Jacob  Creamor,  Peter  Weiry,  John  Arm- 


24 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


strong,  George  Espy,  Adam  Weaver,  Eave 
HufFiiagle.  Freemen — Jolin  Young,  Nicholas 
Bruner,  John  Bruner,  Henr}'  Stone,  Henry 
Peasore,  Duncan  Sinkler,  Martine  Miller, 
William  Hume,  Hugh  Rippelly,  Edward 
Striddle,  John  Morrison.  People  living  over 
the  mountain — Joiin  Smiley,  Jacob  Graff, 
Jacob  Fealer,  George  Unger,  Peter  Bucher, 
Casi)er  Grasson,  Christian  Fox,  Tiiomas 
Smiley,  David  Petticrue,  Conrad  Smith,  John 
Shups,  George  Sider,  Abraham  Alles,  John 
Carverry,  Peter  Kling. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

Summary  of  Kvents  up  to  the  Struggle  for  Inde- 
pendence. 

Proceeding  onward,  witli  our  brief  historj' 
of  Dauphin  county  and  the  lists  of  its  early 
settlers,  we  find  that  al)out  1740  tlic  influx 
of  emigration,  especially  of  the  Scotch-Irish, 
was  so  great  that  family  after  family  re- 
moved down  the  Cumberland  Valley  to  the 
Potomac  and  beyond,  into  Virginia  and  the 
Carolinas.  This  tide  of  settlers  was  one  con- 
tinued stream  until  the  thunders  of  the  Revo- 
lution checked  emigration  to  America.  They 
can  be  traced  from  their  resting  place  among 
their  relations  and  friends  in  tlie  townshijis 
of  Paxtang,  Derry  and  Hanover,  to  their  de- 
scendants of  the  present  day,  who  are  promi- 
nent among  the  representative  people  of  the 
South  and  West.  The  assessment  lists,  of 
whicJi  we  have  given,  contain  probably 
double  the  number  of  names  found  later  on, 
showing  i)ow  those  people,  pioneers  of  the 
wilderness,  like  bees  swarmed  out  from  the 
parent  hive,  and  sought,  perciiance,  more 
congenial  localities.  Limited  as  we  must  be, 
in  this  historical  sketch,  we  find  it  impossi- 
ble to  dwell  fully  upon  the  important  events 
wdiich  transpired  in  the  early  days  of  the 
hardy  jiioneers.  Volumes  could  be  written 
upon  their  trials,  upon  their  endurance,  and 
upon  the  remarkable  events  in  which  they 
were  prominent  actors  in  Pennsylvania  his- 
tory. A  summary  of  the  most  important 
phases  of  that  history  is  all  that  can  be  given 
in  this  connection,  reference  being  had  to 
other  works  which  furnish  not  only  a  fuller, 
but  a  better  insight  into  the  beginnings  of 
Dauphin  county  history. 

Harris'  trade  with  the  Indians  continued 
to  increase, and  Harris'  Ferry  became  known 


far  and  wide,  not  only  to  the  red  men,  but 
to  the  white  race  in  foreign  countries. 

During  John  Harris'  frequent  visits  to 
Philadelpiiia  he  met  at  the  house  of  his 
friend  Shippen,  Miss  Esther  Say,  like  him- 
self not  over  young,  from  his  native  York- 
shire, and  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1720 
married  her.  The  wedding  took  place  either 
at  tlie  Swedes  church,  Wicaco,  or  at  Christ 
church,  both  being  members  of  the  C'hurch 
of  England.  Among  the  earl}'  colonists  who 
settled  in  Philadelphia  were  a  number  of  the 
name  of  Say,  but  to  which  family  Esther 
Harris  was  connected  is  not  to  be  ascertained 
with  certainty.  She  was  kinswomen  to  the 
Shippens,  and  of  course  respectably  con- 
nected. A  remarkable  woman,  she  was  also 
well  calculated  to  share  the  love,  the  trials, 
tlie  hardships  and  the  cabin  of  the  intrepid 
pioneer. 

In  1721-22  their  first  child,  Elizabetli,  was 
born;  in  1725  their  second,  Esther  Harris, 
and  in  October,  1727,  their  first  son,  John 
Harris.  'Jliis  was  the  founder  of  Harris- 
burg.  The  statement  that  he  was  the  first 
white  child  born  west  of  the  Conewago  hills 
is  not  correct.  There  were  settlers  beyond, 
along  the  Swatara,  as  early  as  1718;  and  it 
is  natural  to  suppose  that  in  many  a  log 
cabin  the  sunshine  of  babyhood  gladdened 
the  hearts  of  the  hardy  pioneer,  and  who 
also  attained  mature  age.  The  parents  car- 
ried their  child  when  nearly  a  year  old  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  baptized  on  the 
22d  of  September,  1728,  as  they  had  pre- 
viously done  with  their  other  children.  That 
of  Esther  Harris  took  place  August  31, 1726, 
according  to  the  parish  register  of  Christ 
church,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascer- 
tain the  date  of  the  baptism  of  the  eldest 
child. 

Until  this  period  (1728)  the  country  lying 
between  the  Conewago  hills  and  the  Kittoch- 
tinny  mountains  was  owned,  or  rather 
claimed,  by  the  Five  Nations.  It  is  true, 
the  Scotch-Irish  settlers  had  been  pushed 
within  these  bounds  ten  years  previously  by 
the  very  Provincial  authorities  who  destroyed 
their  cabins  on  land  already  purcha.sed. 
The  treaty  of  1728  opened  up  this  vast  and 
rich  valley  to  the  venturesome.  Filling  up 
rapidly,  on  May  10,  1729,  the  Assembly 
passed  "  An  act  for  the  erecting  the  upper 
part  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  lying 
towards  the  Susquehanna,  Conestogoe,  Don- 
negal,  etc.,  into  a  county,"  to  be  called  Lan- 
caster.    At  the  first  court  in    and   for  said 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY 


25 


count}',  November  3, 1730,  at  Postlilethwaite's, 
a  petition  was  presented  by  Joim  Harris, 
among  others,  "  praying  that  he  may  be 
recommended  to  tlie  governor  as  a  suitable 
person  to  trade  with  tiio  Indians,"  and  was 
allowed  jyer  curiam.  This,  of  course,  was 
necessary  in  the  change  of  counties ;  hereto- 
fore the  application  passed  through  the 
court  of  Chester  count}',  and  in  this  connec- 
tion we  may  remark  tliat  among  the  Chester 
county  records  as  early  as  1722  is  to  be  found 
the  name  of  John  Harris,  '"  on  the  Susqua- 
hannah."  Subsequently  he  made  applica- 
tion to  the  same  authority  to  "sell  rum  by 
the  small,"  which  was  granted. 

In  1732,  with  the  desire  of  establishing  an 
additional  trading  post,  Harris  built  a  store- 
house at  the  mouth  of  the  Juriiata.  The  last 
purchase  (1728)  not  extending  this  far,  the 
Indians  objected  to  it,  especially  Sassonan 
and  Shickalamy,  who  wrote  through  their 
interpreters  to  the  governor,  informing  him 
of  the  fact,  and  also  to  John  Harris,  com- 
manding him  to  desist  from  making  a  plan- 
tation at  the  point  referred  to.  The  author- 
ities made  no  objection. 

By  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  the  Propi'ie- 
taries  of  Pennsylvania,  bearing  date  January 
1,  1725-(j,  five  hundred  acres  of  land  were 
granted  to  John  Harris,  father  of  the  founder 
of  Harrisburg;  and  subsequently, on  the  17th 
of  December,  1733,  b}'  a  patent,  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  allowance  land,  upon  which  he 
had  commenced  a  clearing,  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  city,  about  the  year  1707. 
The  land  included  in  the  latter  patent  ex- 
tended from  what  is  now  the  line  of  Cum- 
berland street  some  distance  south  of  the 
present  north  boundary  of  the  city,  and  in- 
cluding also  a  part  of  the  present  site  of  the 
city,  with  its  several  additions. 

Until  the  year  1735-G  there  was  no  regu- 
larly constructed  road  to  the  Susquehanna, 
but  at  a  session  of  the  Provincial  Council 
held  in  Philadelphia  January  22, 1735-6,  on 
the  petition  of  sundry  inhabitants  of  Chester 
and  Lancaster  counties,  "setting  forth  the 
Want  of  a  High  lioad  in  the  Remote  parts 
of  the  said  Counties  where  the  petitioners  are 
seated,  and  that  a  very  commodious  one  may 
be  laid  out  from  the  Ferry  of  John  Harris, 
on  Susquehannah,  to  fall  in  with  the  High 
Road  leading  from  Lancaster  town  at  or  near 
the  Plantation  of  Edward  Kennison,  in  the 
Great  ^'alley  in  the  County  of  Chester,"  it 
was  ordered  that  viewers  be  appointed  who 
shall  make  a  return   of  the  same,  "together 


with  a  Draught  of  the  said  Road."  Subse- 
quently this  was  done,  and  the  highway 
opened  from  the  Susquehanna  to  the  Dela- 
ware. 

The  most  interesting  of  the  early  or  pio- 
neer roads,  historically  considered,  is  tiiat 
wliicli  was  laid  out  through  the  territory 
lying  west  of  the  Susquehanna  river — from 
"  Harris'  Ferry  towards  Potomac."  It  is  the 
most  interesting,  because  for  a  period  of 
seventy  years  it  was  the  great  highway  up 
and  down  which  passed  the  produce  of  that 
large  and  fertile  region  ;  because  in  the  early 
provincial  wars  to  which  the  Paxtang, 
Derry,  and  Hanover  settlemefits  gave  many 
of  their  fathers  and  sons,  it  was  the  way  by 
which  they  marched  to  meet  the  enemy  and 
b}'  which  they  marched  to  receive  greetings 
from  homes  made  safe  by  their  valor;  and 
because  it  has  the  unique  distinction  of  hav- 
ing been  the  first  effort  of  our  forefathers  to 
connect  the  wilderness  with  tiie  civilization 
which  lay  beyond.  It  swept  by  our  borders 
on  tlie  nortii  and  on  the  west ;  and  b}'  reason 
of  its  location  became  the  pioneer  road  of 
Western  and  Southern  Pennsylvania.  It  was 
laid  out  six  years  before  Cumberland  county 
was  created,  and  while  all  the  territory  west 
of  the  Susquehanna  was  within  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  courts  at  Lancaster.  Hence  in 
the  archives  at  Lancaster  is  the  onl}'  record 
now  attainable  of  the  various  steps  by  which 
this  road  came  into  being.  It  was  in  con- 
troversy for  nine  years.  The  first  trace  of  it 
is  in  1735.  It  was  surveyed  by  courses  and 
distances  and  ordained  as  a  lawful  road  in 
1744.  We  have  said  that  the  first  trace  of 
this  pioneer  road  appears  in  1735.  It  was 
in  November  of  that  year  when  a  petition 
was  presented  to  the  "  Worshipful  the  Jus- 
tices of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Session  "  at  Lan- 
caster, from  inhabitants  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Susquehanna  river,  opposite  to  Paxtang, 
praying  that  a  roadway  be  laid  out  "  from 
John  Harris'  Ferry  towards  Potomac."  The 
petition  was  favorably  regarded,  and  Randle 
Chambers,  James  Peat,  James  Silvers, Thomas 
Eastland,  John  Lawrence  and  Abraham 
Endless  were  appointed  the  viewers,  with 
power  in  four  of  them  to  act.  They  reported 
a  route  for  the  road  at  the  next  sitting  of  the 
court,  but  the  view  had  developed  the  usual 
result  of  great  neighboriiood  agitation.  In 
the  winter  of  1735,  it  is  recorded  that  there 
met  at  the  house  of  Widow  Piper  in  Shiji- 
pensburg  a  number  of  persons  from  along 
the  Conedoguinet  and  Middle  Spring  to  re- 


26 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


moiistrate  against  the  road  passing  through 
"the  barrens"  and  to  ask  that  it  be  made 
through  the  Conedoguinet  settlement  as 
more  populous  and  more  suitable.  When, 
therefore,  the  viewers  made  their  report  in 
February,  1736,  they  were  confronted  with 
the  petitions  of  a  "considerable  number  of 
inhabitants  in  those  parts,"  who  set  forth 
that  the  said  road,  as  it  is  laid,  is  hurtful  to 
many  of  the  ])lantations,  is  "  further  about, 
and  is  more  difhcult  to  clear"  than  if  it  was 
laid  more  to  the  southward.  The)',  there- 
fore, prayed  that  a  review  of  the  same  be 
made  by  "persons  living  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Susquehanna."  This  conveys  a  delicate 
suggestion  that  personal  or  other  interests 
had  influenced  the  previous  viewers,  two  of 
whom  lived  on  the  line  as  laid  out.  The 
court  granted  a  review  and  appointed  Will- 
iam Ren  nick,  Richard  Hough,  James  Arm- 
strong, Thomas  Mays,  Samuel  Montgomery 
and  Benjamin  Chambers,  to  "  make  such 
alterations  in  said  road  as  may  seem  to  them 
necessary  for  the  public  good."  Some  of 
these  lived  west  of  the  Susquehanna — others 
east  of  it.  So  the  court  did  not  fully  share 
the  suspicion  of  the  remonstrants,  but  con- 
ceded something  to  the  excitement  of  the 
moment.  Little  change,  however,  in  the 
route  was  made,  and  to-day  the  turnpike 
from  Harrisburg  to  Chambersburg  passes 
over  this  very  pioneer  highway  which  a 
century  and  a-half  ago  exercised  the  early 
settlers.  This  was  the  opening  of  the  high- 
way to  the  undevelojied  West. 

Well  advanced  in  life,  at  the  age  of  about 
seventy-five,  after  having  for  several  years 
intrusted  his  business  to  his  eldest  son,  still 
in  his  minority,  in  December,  1748,  the  first 
pioneer  quietly  passed  away  from  earth, 
having  previously  made  a  request  that  his 
remains  be  interred  underneath  the  shade 
of  that  tree  so  memorable  to  him.  There 
his  dust  lies  at  rest  on  the  banks  of  our 
beautiful  river — within  the  hearing  of  its 
thundering  at  flood-tide,  and  the  musical 
rippling  of  its  pellucid  waters  in  its  subdued 
majest)'  and  beauty. 

The  oldestson,  John  Harris,  who  succeeded 
to  the  greatest  portion  of  his  father's  estate, 
and  who,  in  1785,  laid  out  the  capital  city  of 
Pennsylvania,  married,  first,  Elizabeth  Mc- 
Clure,  and,  second,  Mary  Read,  daughter  of 
Capt.  Adam  Read,  of  Hanover,  an  officer  of 
the  Provincial  service,  was  a  prominent  per- 
sonage during  the  Indian  wars,  and  the 
principal  military  storekeeperon  the  frontier. 


His  letters  to  the  governors  and  the  officials 
of  the  Province  and  others  are  of  intense 
interest,  and  deserve  to  be  collated  bj'  our 
antiquarians.  Not  models  of  style,  it  is  true, 
but  tliey  give  vivid  descriptions  of  the  peril- 
ous times  in  which  our  ancestors  dwelt  who 
made  the  then  out-bounds  of  civilization 
flourish  and  "  blossom  as  a  rose." 

By  a  grant  from  Thomas  Penn  and  Rich- 
ard Penn,  Esqs.,  proprietaries,  to  John  Har- 
ris, Jr.,  bearing  date  of  record  "  ye  19th  Feb- 
ruary, 1753,"  that  gentlemen  was  allowed 
the  right  of  running  a  ferry  across  the  Sus- 
quehanna, from  which  originated  the  former 
name  of  the  [ilacc,  which  previous  to  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county  was  known  far  and 
near  as  Harris'  Ferr}'. 

It  appears  from  letters,  of  John  Harris, 
written  to  Governor  Morris,  that  an  Indian 
named  Half  King,  also  called  Tanacharisson, 
died  at  his  liouse  on  the  night  of  the  1st  of 
October,  1754.  Rupp  says  that  "  he  had  his 
residence  at  Logstown,on  the  Ohio,  fourteen 
miles  below  Pittsburgh,  on  the  opposite  side. 
George  Washington  visited  him  in  1753,  and 
desired  him  to  relate  some  of  the  particulars 
of  a  journev  he  had  shortly  before  made  to 
the  French  Commandant  at  Fort  Duquesne." 
We  find  this  note  among  the  votes  of  As- 
sembly, 1754:  "Dec.  17,  Post  Meridian, 
1754. — The  Committee  of  Accounts  reported 
a  balance  of  £10  15s.  4d.  due  to  the  said 
John  Harris  for  his  expenses,  and  £5  for  his 
trouble,  &c.,  in  burying  the  Half-King  and 
maintaining  the  sundry  Indians  that  were 
witii  him."  It  may  be  interesting  to  know 
that  the  Half  King  was  buried  near  the 
first  John  Harris  at  the  foot  of  the  mulberry 
tree. 

They  had  considerable  trouble  at  Harris' 
Ferry  during  the  French  and  Indian  war, 
which  extended  over  the  period  from  1754 
to  17G5.  A  petition  from  the  inhabitants  of 
the  townships  of  Paxtang,  Derry  and  Hano- 
ver, Lancaster  county,  bearing  date  July  22, 
1754,  and  setting  forth  their  precarious  con- 
dition, was  pre-sented  ami  read  in  the  Coun- 
cil on  the  6th  of  August  following.  It  bore 
the  signatures  of  Thomas  Forster,  James 
Armstrong,  John  Harris,  Thomas  Simpson, 
Samuel  Simpson,  John  Carson,  David 
Shields,  William  M'Mullin,  John  Cuoit,  Will- 
iam Armstrong,  William  Bell,  John  Dough- 
erty, James  Atkin,  Andrew  Cochran,  James 
•Reed,  Thomas  Rutherford,  T.  McArthur.Will- 
iam  Steel,  Samuel  Hunter,  Thomas  Mayes, 
James  Collier,  Henry  Rennicks,  Richard  Mc- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


27 


Clure.  Thomas  Dugan,  John  Jolinson,  Peter 
Fleming,  Thomas  Sturgeon,  Matthew  Tay- 
lor, Jeremiah  Sturgeon,  Thomas  King,  Rob- 
ert Smith,  Adam  Read,  John  Crawford, 
Thomas  Crawford,  Jonathan  McClure, 
Thomas  Hume,  Thomas  Steene,  John  Hume, 
John  Creige,  Thomas  McClure,  William  Mc- 
Clure, John  Rodgers,  James  Patterson,  John 
Young,  Ez.  Sankey,  John  Forster,  Mitchel 
Graham,  James  Toalen,  James  Galbraith, 
James  Campbell,  Robert  Bo3'd,  James  Cham- 
bers, Robert  Armstrong,  Jno.  Campbell, 
Hugh'Blaek,  Thomas  Black. 

At  this  period  also  we  find  an  extensive 
correspondence  between  John  Harris,  Con- 
rad Weiser  and  others  and  Edward  Shippen, 
complaining  of  the  insecurity  of  life  and 
property  owing  to  the  depredations  of  the 
Indians;  and  their  tenor  is  a  continual  and 
just  complaint  of  the  outrages  committed  by 
the  savages,  and  urgent  requests  to  the  au- 
thorities for  protection  and  arms,  etc. 

On  the  Sth  of  January.  1756,  a  council 
witli  the  Indians  was  held  at  the  house  of 
John  Harris,  at  Paxtang,  composed  of  Hon. 
Robert  Hunter  Morris,  governor;  James 
Hamilton  and  Richard  Peters,  secretaries ; 
Joseph  Fox,  commissioner,  and  Conrad 
Weiser,  interpreter ;  two  Indians  of  the  Six 
Nations,  called  "  The  Belt  of  Wampum,"  a 
Seneca,  and  the  "  Broken  Thigh,"  a  Mohawk. 
The  meeting  was  of  an  amicable  character, 
and  was  only  the  preliminary  step  to  a 
larger  and  more  important  council  held  the 
week  following  at  Carlisle.  One  of  the  rea- 
sons for  holding  the  council  at  the  latter 
place  was,  "  that  there  was  but  few  con 
veniences  '  for  the  proper  entertainment'  of 
the  Governor  and  his  company  at  Harris 
Ferry,  and  Mr.  Weiser  gave  it  as  his  opinion 
that  it  would  be  better  to  adjourn  to  Car- 
lisle." A  second  council  was  held  here  on 
the  1st  of  April,  1757.  Present,  the  Rev. 
John  Elder,  Captain  Thomas  McKee,  Messrs. 
James  Armstrong.  Hugh  Crawford,  John 
Harris,  William  Pentrup,  interpreter,  and 
warriors  from  the  Mohawks,  Oneidas,  Tus- 
caroras,  Onondagoes,  Nanticokes,  Cayugas, 
Delawares,  Senecas  and  Conestogoes,  with 
their  women  and  children.  George  Crogh an, 
Esq.,  deputy  agent  to  the  Hon.  Sir  AV.  John- 
son, Bart.,  his  majesty's  sole  agent  and 
superintendent  of  the  Six  Nations,  etc.,  was 
also  present.  This  council  was  removed  to 
Lancaster,  owing  to  the  number  of  Indians 
then  encamped  at  Conestoga  Manor  where 
the  remainder  of  the  business  was  concluded. 


The  most  interesting  event  of  this  period 
was  the  extermination  of  the  so-called  Cones- 
toga  Indians  by  the  Paxtang  Rangers.  The 
situation  of  the  frontiers  succeeding  the 
Pontiacwar  was  truly  deplorable,  principall}' 
owing  to  the  supineness  of  the  Provincial 
authorities,  for  the  Quakers,  who  controlled 
the  government,  were,  to  use  the  language  of 
Capt.  Lazarus  Stewart,  "  more  solicitous  for 
the  welfare  of  the  blood-thirsty  Indian  than 
for  the  lives  of  the  frontiersman."  In  their 
blind  partiality,  bigotry  and  political  preju- 
dice, they  would  not  readily  accede  to  the 
demands  of  those  of  a  different  religious 
faith.  Especially  was  this  the  case  relative 
to  the  Presbyterians  and  Roman  Catholics, 
both  of  whom  were  tolerated  by  mere  suffer- 
ance. To  them,  therefore,  was  greatly  attri- 
butable the  reign  of  horror  and  devastation 
in  the  border  counties.  The  government 
was  deaf  to  all  entreaties,  and  Gen.  Amherst, 
commander  of  the  British  forces  in  America, 
did  not  hesitate  to  give  his  feelings  an  em- 
phatic expression — "  The  conduct  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Assembly,"  he  wrote,  "  is  altogether  so 
infatuated  and  stupidly  obstinate,  that  I  ivant 
ivords  to  express  my  indignation  thereat." 
Nevertheless,  the  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  and 
Germans  of  this  section  rallied  for  their  own 
defense.  The  inhabitants  of  Paxtang  and 
Hanover  immediately  enrolled  themselves 
into  several  companies,  the  Rev.  John  Elder 
being  their  colonel. 

Lazarus  Stewart,  Matthew  Smith  and  Asher 
Clayton,  men  of  acknowledged  military  abil- 
ity and  prowess,  commanded  distinct  com- 
panies of  Rangers.  These  brave  men  were 
ever  on  the  alert,  watching  with  eagle  eye  the 
Indian  marauders  who  at  this  period  swooped 
down  upon  the  defenseless  frontiers.  High 
mountains,  swollen  rivers,  or  great  distances 
never  deterred  or  appalled  them.  Their 
courage  and  fortitude  were  equal  to  every 
undertaking,  and  woe  betide  the  red  men 
when  their  blood-stained  tracks  once  met 
their  eyes.  The  Paxtang  Rangers  were  the 
terror  of  the  Indians — they  were  swift  on  foot, 
excellent  horsemen,  good  shots,  skillful  in 
pursuit  or  escape,  dexterous  as  scouts  and 
expert  in  manoeuvering. 

The  murders  in  and  around  Paxtang,  not- 
withstanding the  vigilance  of  the  Rangers,  be- 
came numerous,  and  many  a  family  mourned 
for  some  of  their  number  shot  by  the  secret 
foe  or  carried  away  captive.  The  frontiers- 
men took  their  rifles  with  them  to  the  field 
and   to  the  sanctuary.     Their  colonel  and 


28 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


pastor  placed  his  trusty  piece  beside  him  in 
the  pulpit;  and  it  is  authoritatively  stated 
that  on  one  occasion  old  Derry  meeting 
house  was  surrounded  while  he  was  preach- 
ing; hut  their  spies  having  counted  the  rifles 
the  Indians  retired  from  their  ambuscade 
without  making  an  attack. 

Many  were  the  murderous  deeds  perpe- 
trated by  the  savages — but  where  these  came 
from  was  a  mystery.  Indians  had  been  traced 
by  the  scouts  to  the  wigwams  of  the  so-called 
friendly  Indians  at  Conestoga,  and  to  those 
of  the  Moravian  Indians  in  Northampton 
county.  Suspicion  was  awakened,  the  ques- 
tions, "are  these  Ciiristian  Indians  treacher- 
ous? are  their  wigwams  the  harbors  of  our 
deadly  foe?  do  they  conceal  the  nightly 
prowling  assassin  of  the  forest;  the  villain, 
who  with  savage  ferocity  tore  the  innocent 
babe  from  the  bosom  of  its  mother,  where  it 
had  been  quietly  repo.sing,  and  hurled  it  in 
the  fire?  The  mangled  bodies  of  our  friends 
cry  aloud  for  vengeance."  Such  were  the 
questions,  surmises  and  expressions  of  the 
exasperated  people  on  the  frontiers,  and  well 
warranted,  for  on  one  occasion  when  the  As- 
sembly were  deaf  to  all  entreaties  and  peti- 
tion, with  the  hope  of  arousing  their  sym- 
patliy  the  murdered  were  taken  to  Philadel- 
phia on  wagons — when  a  prominent  Quaker, 
with  a  sneer,  remarked  they  were  "only 
Irish."  This  unfeeling  expression  was  re- 
membered by  the  Scotch-Irish  of  the  fron- 
tiers. 

The  Quakers  who  controlled  the  govern- 
ment, as  heretofore  remarked,  "seemed  re- 
solved," says  Parkman,  "that  they  would 
neither  defend  the  people  of  the  frontier  or 
allow  them  to  defend  themselves,  vehemently 
inveighed  against  all  expeditions  to  cut  off 
the  Indian  marauders.  Their  security  was 
owing  to  their  local  situation,  being  confined 
to  the  eastern  part  of  the  Province."  That 
such  was  the  case,  rather  than  to  the  kind 
feelings  of  the  Indian  toward  them,  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  of  the  very  few  living  in  ex- 
posed j)ositions,  several  were  killed. 

The  inhabitants  declared  openly  that  they 
no  longer  confided  in  the  professions  of  the 
governor  or  his  advisers  in  the  Assembly. 
Numbers  of  volunteers  joined  the  Rangers  of 
Northampton,  Berks,  Lancaster,  York  and 
Cumberland,  who  were  engaged  in  tracing 
the  midnight  assassins.  On  the  Manor,  a 
portion  of  land  surveyed  for  the  Proprieta- 
ries, situated  in  Lancaster  countj',  near  where 
the  borough  of  Columbia  is  now  located,  was 


settled  a  band  of  squalid,  miserable  Indians — 
the  refuse  of  sundry  tribes.  Time  and  again 
they  were  suspected  of  murder  and  thievery, 
and  their  movements  at  this  crisis  were  closely' 
watched.  Strange  Indians  were  constantly 
coming  and  going. 

Colonel  Elder  under  the  date  of  September 
13,  1763,  thus  wrote  to  Governor  Hamilton, 
"  I  suggest  to  you  the  propriety  of  an  imme- 
diate removal  of  the  Indians  from  Conestoga 
and  placing  a  garrison  in  their  room.  lit, 
case  tJiis  is  done,  I  pledge  myself  for  the  future 
security  of  the  frontiers." 

Subsequently,  on  taking  charge  of  the 
executive  affairs  of  the  Province  in  October, 
Governor  John  Penn  replied  as  follows: 
"  The  Indians  of  Conestoga  have  been  rep- 
resented as  innocent,  helpless  and  de[)end- 
ent  on  this  government  for  support.  The 
faith  of  this  government  is  pledged  for  their 
protection.  I  cannot  remove  them  without 
adequate  cause.  The  contract  made  witii 
William  Penn  was  a  private  agreement, 
afterwards  confirmed  b}^  several  treaties. 
Care  has  been  taken  by  the  Provincial  com- 
mittee that  no  Indians  but  our  own  visit 
Conestoga.  Whatever  can  be  faithfully  exe- 
cuted under  the  laws  shall  be  as  faithfully 
performed ;"  and  yet  Governor  Penn  in 
writing  to  Thomas  Penn  afterwards  used 
this  language :  "  Many  of  them,"  referring 
to  the  frontier  inhabitants,  "  have  had  wives 
and  children  murdered  and  scalped,  their 
houses  ])urnt  to  the  ground,  tiieir  cattle 
destroyed,  and  from  an  easy,  plentiful  life 
are  now  become  beggars.  In  short,  not  only 
in  this  Province,  but  in  the  neighboring 
governments  is  the  spirit  of  the  people  in- 
veterate against  the  Indians." 

John  Harris  had  previously  made  a  simi- 
lar request :  "  The  Indians  here,  I  hope  your 
honor  will  be  pleased  to  be  removed  to  some 
other  place,  as  I  don't  like  their  company." 

The  Rangers  finding  appeals  to  the  au- 
thorities useless,  resolved  on  taking  the  law 
into  their  own  hands.  Several  Indian  mur- 
derers had  been  traced  to  Conestoga,  and  it 
was  determined  to  take  them  prisoners. 
Captain  Stewart,  whose  men  ascertained  this 
fact,  acquainted  his  colonel  of  the  object, 
who  seemed  rather  to  encourage  his  com- 
mand to  make  the  trial,  as  an  example  was 
necessary  to  be  made  for  the  safety  of  the 
frontier  inhabitants.  The  destruction  of  the 
Conestogas  was  not  then  projected.  That 
was  the  result  of  the  attempted  capture. 
Parkman    and   Webster,    following    Rupp, 


DAUPHIN  COUISfTY. 


29 


state  that  Colonel  Elder,  learning;  of  an  in- 
tent to  destro}'  the  entire  tribe,  as  they  were 
about  to  set  off  rode  after  them  command- 
ing them  to  desist,  and  that  Stewart  threat- 
ened to  shoot  his  horse.  Such  was  not  the 
case.  From  a  letter  dated  Paxtang,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1763,  written  to  Governor  Penn,  he 
sa3'S :  "  On  receiving  intelligence  the  13th 
inst.,  that  a  number  of  persons  were  as- 
sembled on  purpose  to  go  and  cut  off  the 
Conestoga  Indians,  in  concert  with  Mr.  Fors- 
ter,  the  neighboring  magistrate,  I  liurried 
off  an  express  with  written  message  to  that 
part}'  '  entreating  them  to  desist  from  such 
an  undertaking,  representing  to  them  the 
unlawfulness  and  barbarit}'  of  such  an  ac- 
tion ;  that  it's  cruel  and  unchristian  in  its 
nature,  and  would  be  fatal  in  its  conse- 
quences to  themselves  and  families;  that 
private  persons  have  no  right  to  take  the 
lives  of  any  under  the  protection  of  the  Leg- 
islature; that  they  must,  if  they  proceeded 
in  tliat  affair,  laj'  their  accounts  to  meet  with 
a  severe  prosecution,  and  become  liable  even 
to  capital  punishment;  that  they  need  not 
expect  that  tlie  country  would  endeavor  to 
conceal  or  screen  them  from  punishment, 
but  that  they  would  be  detected  and  given 
up  to  the  resentment  of  the  government.' 
These  things  I  urged  in  the  warmest  terms 
in  order  to  prevail  with  them  to  drop  the 
enterprise,  but  to  no  iiurpose." 

Not  to  be  deterred,  the  Rangers  reached 
the  Indian  settlement  before  daylight.  The 
barking  of  some  dogs  discovered  them  and 
a  number  of  strange  Indians  rushed  from 
their  wigwams,  brandishing  their  toma- 
hawks. This  show  of  resistance  was  suffi- 
cient inducement  for  the  Rangers  to  make 
use  of  their  arms.  In  a  few  moments  every 
Indian  present  fell  before  the  unerring  fire 
of  the  brave  frontiersmen.  The  act  accom- 
plished, they  mounted  their  horses  and 
returned  severally  to  their  homes.  Unfortu- 
nately a  number  of  the  Indians  were  absent 
from  Conestoga,  prowling  about  the  neigh- 
boring settlements,  doubtless  on  predatory 
excursions.  The  destruction  at  the  Manor 
becoming  known,  they  were  placed  in  the 
Lancaster  work-house  forprotection.  Among 
these  vagabonds  were  two  well  known  to 
Parson  Elder's  scouts. 

An  ex})ress  being  sent  to  Philadelphia 
with  the  news,  great  excitement  ensued,  and 
Governor  Penn  issued  a  i>roclamation  rela- 
tive thereto.  Notwitlistanding  its  tine  array 
of  words  it  fell  upon  the  Pi'ovince  harmless. 


Outside  of  the  Quaker  settlements  everyone 
heartily  approved  of  the  measures  taken  by 
the  Paxtang  Rangers.  As  the  governor  him- 
self wrote  to  England  :  "  If  we  had  ten 
thousand  of  the  king's  troops  I  don't  believe 
it  would  be  possible  to  secure  one  of  these 
people.  Though  I  took  all  the  pains  I  could 
even  to  get  their  names,  I  could  not  succeed, 
for  indeed  no  one  would  make  the  discovery, 
though  ever  so  well  acquainted  with  them, 
and  there  is  not  a  magistrate  in  the  country 
would  have  touched  one  of  them.  The 
l^eople  of  this  town  are  as  inveterate  against 
the  Indians  as  the  frontier  inhabitants.  For 
it  is  beyond  a  doubt  that  many  of  the  In- 
dians now  in  town  [referring  to  the  Mora- 
vians confined  in  the  barracks]  have  been 
concerned  in  committing  murders  among 
back  settlors. 

The  presence  of  the  remaining  Indians  at 
Lancaster  also  became  a  cause  of  great  un- 
easiness to  the  magistrate.s  and  people,  for  as 
previously  remarked,  two  or  three  were  no- 
torious scoundrels.  It  may  be  here  related 
that  several  of  the  strange  Indians  liarbored 
at  Conestoga,  who  were  also  absent  at  the 
destruction  of  the  village,  made  their  escape 
and  reached  Philadelphia,  where  they  joined 
the  Moravian  Indians  from  Nain  andWecli- 
quetank,  and  there  secreted. 

The  removal  of  the  remaining  Indians 
from  Lancaster  was  requested  by  the  chief 
magistrate,  Edward  Shippen.  Governor 
Penn  proved  very  tardy,  and  we  are  of  the 
opinion  he  cared  little  about  them,  or  he 
would  have  acted  promptly,  as  from  his  own 
confession  he  was  not  ignorant  of  the  exas- 
peration of  the  people  and  the  murderous 
character  of  the  refugees.  Day  after  day 
passed  by,  and  the  excitement  throughout 
the  frontiers  became  greater.  The  Rangers, 
who  found  that  their  work  had  been  only 
half  done,  consulted  as  to  what  measure 
should  be  further  proceeded  with.  Captain 
Stewart  proposed  to  capture  the  principal  In- 
dian outlaw,  who  was  confined  in  the  Lan- 
caster work-house,  and  take  him  to  Carlisle 
jail,  where- he  could  be  held  for  trial.  This 
was  heartily  approved,  and  accordingly  a 
detachment  of  the  Rangers,  variously  esti- 
mated at  from  twenty  to  fifty,  proceeded  to 
Lancaster  on  the  27th  of  December,  broke 
into  the  work-house,  and  but  for  the  show 
of  resistance  would  have  effected  their  pur- 
pose. But  the  younger  portion  of  the  Rang- 
ers, to  whom  was  confided  this  work,  were  so 
enraged  at  the  defiance  of  the  Indians  that 


30 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


before  their  resentment  could  be  repressed 
by  Captain  Stewart,  the  unerring  rifle  was 
employed,  and  the  last  of  the  so-called  Con- 
estogas  had  yielded  up  his  life.  In  a  few 
minutes  thereafter,  mounting  their  horses, 
the  daring  Rangers  were  safe  from  arrest. 
George  Gibson,  who,  from  his  acquaintance 
with  the  principal  frontiersmen  of  his  time, 
in  a  letter  written  some  years  after,  gives  the 
most  plausible  account  of  this  transaction, 
which  bore  such  an  important  part  in  the 
early  history  of  the  Province.  He  says : 
"  No  murder  has  been  committed  since  the 
removal  of  the  friendly  Indians  and  the  de- 
struction of  the  Conestogas — a  strong  proof 
that  the  murders  were  committed  under  the 
cloak  of  the  Moravian  Indians.  A  descrip- 
tion of  an  Indian  who  had,  with  great  bar- 
barity, murdered  a  family  on  tlie  Susque- 
hanna, near  Paxtang,  was  sent  to  Lazarus 
Stewart  at  Lancaster.  This  Indian  had 
been  traced  to  Conestoga.  On  the  day  of  its 
destruction  he  was  on  a  hunting  exjiedition. 
When  he  heard  that  the  Rangers  were  in 
pursuit  of  him  he  fled  to  Philadelphia.  The 
three  or  four  who  entered  the  work-house  at 
Lancaster  were  directed  by  Stewart  to  seize 
on  the  murderer  and  give  him  to  his  charge. 
When  those  outside  heard  the  report  of  the 
guns  within  several  of  the  Rangers  alighted, 
thinking  their  friends  in  danger,  and  iias- 
tened  to  the  door.  The  more  active  of  the 
Indians,  endeavoring  to  make  their  escape, 
were  met  by  them  and  shot.  No  children 
were  killed  by  the  Paxtang  boys.  No  act 
of  savage  butchery  was  committed." 

If  the  excitement  tiiroughout  the  Prov- 
ince was  great  after  the  attair  at  Conestoga, 
this  transaction  set  everj'thing  in  a  ferment. 
"  No  language,"  says  Rev.  Dr.  Wallace, ."  can 
describe  the  outcry  which  arose  from  the 
Quakers  in  Philadelphia,  or  the  excitement 
which  swayed  to  and  fro  on  the  frontiers  and 
in  the  city.  The  Quakers  blamed  the  gover- 
nor, the  governor  the  Assembly,  and  the 
latter  censured  everybody  except  their  own 
inaction."  Two  proclamations  were  issued 
by  the  Provincial  authorities,  offering  re- 
wards for  the  seizure  of  those  concerned  in 
tlie  destruction  of  the  Indians ;  but  this  was 
impossible,  owing  to  the  exasperation  of  the 
frontiersmen,  who  heartily  approved  of  the 
action  of  the  Rangers. 

On  the  27th  of  December  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Elder  hurriedly  wrote  to  Governor  Penn: 
"  The  siorin,  which  had  been  so  long  gather- 
ing, has  at  length  exploded.     Had  govern- 


ment removed  the  Indians  fronr  Conestoga, 
as  was  frequently  urged  witliout  success,  this 
painful  catastrophe  might  have  been  avoided. 
What  could  I  do  witli  men  heated  to  mad- 
ness? All  that  I  could  do  was  done.  I  ex- 
postulated, but  life  and  reason  were  set  at 
defiance,  and  yet  the  men  in  private  life  are 
virtuous    and    respectable — not   cyjel,   but 

mild    and    merciful.  P Tlie   time 

will  arrive  when  each  palliating  circumstance 
will  be  calmly  weighed.  This  deed,  magnified 
into  the  blackest  of  crimes,  shall  be  considered 
one  of  those  youthful  ebullitions  of  wrath 
caused  by  momentary  excitement,  to  which  hu- 
man infirmity  is  subjected." 

To  this  extenuating  and  warm-hearted 
letter  came  a  rejily,  under  date  of  December 
29,  1703,  from  the  governor,  requesting  the 
commanders  of  the  troo[)S — Colonels  Elder 
and  Seely — to  return  the  Provincial  arms, 
etc.,  as  their  services  were  no  longer  i-equired. 
From  this  letter  of  Governor  John  Penn,  it 
is  evident  that  the  commissioners,  or  ratiier 
the  Provincial  Council,  intended  to  punish 
both  Colonel  Elder  and  Esquire  Seely,  or 
that  with  the  destruction  of  the  Conestogas, 
there  was  little  or  no  danger  of  Indian 
atrocities.  The  latter  proved  to  be  the  case, 
but  the  authorities  were  cognizant  of  the 
fact  that  the  Paxtang  boys  were  correct  in 
their  surmisings,  and  that  peace  would  fol- 
low the  removal  of  the  friendly  Indians.  It 
shows,  also,  that  believing  thus,  the  Provin- 
cial government  was  culpable  to  a  great  de- 
gree in  allowing  the  Indians  to  remain  on 
the  Manor,  despite  the  representations  of 
Colonel  Elder,  John  Harris  and  Edward 
Shippen.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Elder  quietly  laid 
by  his  sword,  feeling  confident  that  time 
would  vindicate  his  course,  whatever  that 
may  have  been. 

Of  tiie  marching  of  the  Paxtang  boys  to- 
ward Philadelpiiia,  we  shall  Ijriefly  refer  in 
this  connection,  and  the  reason  therefor  is 
best  given  by  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  Gov- 
ernor Penn :  "  The  14th  of  this  month  we 
suspect  a  Thousand  of  the  Rioters  in  Town 
to  insist  upon  the  Assembly  granting  tiieir 
request  with  regard  to  the  increase  of  Re[)- 
resentatives,  to  put  them  upon  an  equality 
with  the  rest  of  the  Counties.  They  have 
from  time  to  time  presented  several  petitions 
for  the  purpose,  which  have  been  always  dis- 
regarded by  the  House ;  for  which  reason 
they  intend  to  come  in  Person."  Although 
our  Quaker  historians  have  uniformly  stated 
that  the  object  of  the  Paxtang  boys  was  the 


BA  UPHIX  CO  UXTY. 


31 


massacre  of  the  Moravian  Indians  in  Phila- 
deli)hia,  yet  the  foregoing  statement  of  the 
Executivcof  theProvince  proves  conclusively 
that  their  visit  was  not  one  of  slaughter  but 
of  petition  for  redress  of  grievances.  The 
narrative  is  one  of  interest  to  us  in  this  sec- 
tion and  the  true  history  remains  to  be 
written. 

Pamphlets,  says  Webster,  without  number, 
truth  or  decency,  poured  like  a  torrent  from 
the  press.  The  Quakers  took  tlie  pen  to  hold 
up  the  deed  to  execration  ;  and  many  others 
seized  the  opportunit}'  to  defame  the  Irish 
Presbyterians  as  ignorant  bigots  and  lawless 
marauders. 

Violent  and  bitter  as  were  the  attacks  of 
the  Quaker  pamphleteers,  Parson  Elder  was 
only  casually  alluded  to.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  the  following,  written  to  Colonel  Burd, 
he  made  no  attempt  to  reply  to  any  of  these, 
leaving  his  cause  with  God  and  posterity  ; 
"  Lazarus  Stewart  is  still  threatened  by  the 
Philadelphia  party  ;  he  and  iiis  friends  talk 
of  leaving  ;  if  they  do,  the  Province  will  lose 
some  of  its  best  friends,  and  that  by  the 
faults  of  others,  not  their  own  ;  for  if  any 
cruelty  was  practiced  on  the  Indians  at  Con- 
estoga  or  at  Lancaster,  it  was  not  by  his  or 
their  hands.  There  is  great  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  much  injustice  has  been  done  to 
all  concerned.  In  the  contrariness  of  ac- 
counts, we  must  infer  that  mach  rests  for 
support  on  the  imagination  or  interest  of  the 
W'itnesses.  The  character  of  Stewart  and  his 
friends  W'as  well  established.  Iluffians,  nor 
brutal,  they  were  not;  but  humane,  liberal 
and  moral,  nay,  religious.  It  is  evidently 
not  the  wish  of  the  party  to  give  Stewart  a 
fair  iiearing.  All  he  desires  is  to  be  put  on 
trial  at  Lancaster,  near  the  scenes  of  the  hor- 
rible butcheries  comuiitted  by  the  Indians  at 
Tulpehocken,  etc.,  where  he  can  have  the 
testimony  of  the  scouts  and  rangers,  men 
whose  services  can  never  be  sufficiently  re- 
warded. The  pamphlet  has  been  sent  by  ray 
friends  and  enemies ;  it  failed  to  inflict  a 
wound  ;  it  is  at  least  a  garbled  statement ;  it 
carries  with  it  the  seeds  of  its  own  dissolution. 
That  the  hatchet  was  used  is  denied,  and  is 
it  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  men,  accus- 
tomed to  the  use  of  guns,  would  make  use 
of  their  favorite  weapons? 

"The  inference  is  plain  that  the  bodies  of 
the  Indians  were  thus  mangled  after  death  by 
certain  persons  to  excite  a  feeling  against 
the  Paxtang  boys.  This  fact  Stewart  says  he 
can  and  will  establish  in  a  fair  trial  at  Lan- 


caster, York  or  Carlisle.  At  Siny  rate  we  are 
all  suffering  at  present  by  the  secret  influence 
of  a  faction — a  faction  who  have  shown  their 
love  to  the  Indians  by  not  exposing  them- 
selves to  its  influence  in  the  frontier  settle- 
ments." 

The  "  pamphlet "  alluded  to  in  the  forego- 
ing was  the  notorious  article  written  by  Ben- 
jamin Franklin  for  political  effect.  He 
acknowledged,  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Kames, 
that  hi.s  object  was  a  political  one.  As  such, 
its  tissue  of  falsehoods  caused  his  defeat  for 
member  of  the  Assembly,  a  position  he  had 
held  for  fourteen  years.  Fortunately  for  him, 
the  Revolution  brought  him  into  prominence, 
and  the  past  was  forgotten. 

This  transaction  was  subsequently  "inves- 
tigated "  by  the  magistrate  at  Lancaster,  but 
so  condemnatory  of  the  Indians  was  the  evi- 
dence elicited  that  it  ivas  the  Quaker  policy  to 
suppress  and  destroy  it.  Nevertheless  all  ef- 
forts to  carry  into  effect  the  proclamation  of 
the  governor  were  really  suspended,  so  far  as 
his  authority  went,  in  regard  to  which  grave 
complainis  were  made  by  the  A.ssembly,  who 
seemed  to  bend  all  their  energies  to  prose- 
cute the  offenders. 

The  names  of  many  of  those  brave  defend- 
ers of  their  homes  have  been  lost  to  us — but 
the  frequent  statement  in  all  our  histories 
that  the  participants  in  that  transaction  came 
to  an  untimely  end  is  false.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  Lazarus  Stewart,  who  fell  on  that 
unfortunate  day  at  the  massacre  of  Wyom- 
ing, these  heroes  of  the  frontiers  lived  to 
hearty  old  age,  and  several  reached  almost 
the  hundred  years  of  life.  Their  deeds  were 
those  of  desperation,  it  is  true,  but  their  acts 
are  to  be  honored  and  their  names  revered. 

The  discussions  which  ensued  maj'  truly 
be  said  to  have  sown  the  seeds  of  the  Revo- 
lution, and  in  a  letter  of  Governor  John 
Penn  to  his  brother  in  England,  written  at 
this  time,  he  thus  alludes  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Paxtang,  "  their  next  move  will  be  so  sub- 
vert the  government  and  establish  one  of 
their  own." 

No  wonder  then,  when  the  first  mutterings 
of  the  storm  was  heard,  that"  the  people  of 
this  entire  section  were  ripe  for  revolution. 
The  love  of  liberty  was  a  leading  trait  of  the 
people  who  settled  in  this  delightful  valley. 
The  tyranny  and  oppression  of  Europe 
drove  them  to  seek  an  asylum  among  the 
primeval  forests  of  America.  Persecution 
for  conscience  sake  compelled  alike  the 
Scotch-Irish  and  the  German  of  the  Palati- 


32 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


nate  to  come  hither  and  rear  their  altars 
dedicated  to  God  and  Freedom  to  man.  Witli 
tliem  Independence  was  as  much  their 
dream  as  the  realization.  Tiieir  isolated 
position — placed  on  the  frontiers — unpro- 
tected by  the  Pi'ovincial  authorities — early 
instilled  into  their  minds  those  incentives 
to  action,  that  when  the  opportune  moment 
arrived  they  were  in  the  van.  Two  years 
before  the  Declaration  by  Congress,  the 
people  had  assembled  at  their  respective 
places  of  rendezvous,  and  heralded  forth 
their  opinions  in  plain  and  unmistakable 
language,  while  the  citizens  of  the  large 
towns  were  fearful  and  hesitating. 

As  early  as  the  spring  of  1774  meetings 
were  held  in  the  different  townships,  tiie  re- 
solves of  only  iwo  of  which  are  preserved  to 
us.  The  earliest  was  that  of  an  assembly  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Hanover,  Lancaster 
county,  lield  on  Saturday,  June  4,  1774, 
Colonel  Timothy  Green,  cliairman,  "' to  ex- 
press their  sentiments  on  the  present  critical 
state  of  afiairs."  It  was  then  and  there 
"  Unanimously  resolved : 

"1st.  That  the  recent  action  of  the  Par- 
liament of  Great  Britain  is  iniquitous  and 
oppressive. 

"2d.  That  it  is  the  bounden  duty  of  the 
inhabitants  of  America  to  oppose  every 
measure  which  tends  to  deprive  tiicm  of 
tlieir  just  prerogatives. 

"od.  That  in  a  closer  union  of  tlie  Colonies 
lies  the  safeguard  of  the  people. 

"4tii.  That  in  the  event  of  Great  Britain 
attempting  to  force  unjust  laws  upon  us  by 
the  strength  of  arms,  our  cause  we  leave  to 
Heaven  and  our  rifles. 

"5th.  Tiiat  a  committee  of  nine  be  ap- 
pointed who  shall  act  for  u.s  and  in  our  be- 
half as  emergency  may  require. 

"The  committee  consisted  of  Colonel  Tim- 
othy Green,  James  Caruthers,  Josiah  Espy, 
Robert  Dixon,  Thomas  Copenheffer,  William 
Clark,  James  Stewart,  Joseph  Barnett  and 
John  Rogers." 

So  much  for  patriotic  Hanover.  Follow- 
ing in  the  footsteps  of  these  brave  men,  on 
Friday  following,  June  10,  1774,  a  similar 
meeting  was  held  at  Middletown,  Coloyel 
James  Burd,  chairman,  at  wliich  these  stir- 
ring resolves  were  concurred  in,  and  which 
served  as  the  text  of  tliose  passed  at  tiie 
meeting  at  Lancaster  subsequently : 

"1st.  That  the  acts  of  the  Parliament  of 
Great  Britain  in  divesting  us  of  the  right 


to  give  and  grant  our  mono}',  and  assuming 
such  power  to  themselves,  are  unconstitu- 
tional, unjust  and  oppressive. 

"2d.  Tliat  it  is  an  indispensable  duty  we 
owe  to  ourselves  and  posterity  to  oppose  with 
decency  and  firmness  every  measure  tending 
to  deprive  us  of  our  just  rights  and  privi- 
leges. 

"  3d.  That  a  close  union  of  the  Colonies 
and  their  faithful  adhering  to  such  measures 
as  a  general  congress  shall  judge  proper  are 
the  most  likely  means  to  procure  redress  of 
American  grievances  and  settle  the  rights  of 
the  Colonies  on  a  permanent  basis. 

"  4th.  That  we  will  sincerely  and  heartily 
agree  to  and  abide  b}'  the  measures  which 
shall  be  adopted  by  the  members  of  the  gen- 
eral congress  of  the  Colonies. 

"  5th.  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to 
confer  with  similar  committees  relative  to 
the  present  exigency  of  affairs." 

Not  to  be  behind  their  Scotch-Irish 
neighbors,  the  German  inhabitants  located 
in  the  east  of  the  county  met  at  Fredericks- 
town  (now  Ilummelstown),  on  Saturday,  the 
lltli  of  June,at  wiiicli  Ca})t.  Frederick  Hum- 
mel was  cliairman,  resolving  to  stand  by  the 
other  townsiiips  in  all  their  action. 

We  say  they  were  ripe  for  revolution,  and 
when  tlie  stirring  battle-drum  aroused  the 
new-born  nation,  the  inhabitants  of  Dauphin 
valiantly  armed  for  the  strife.  One  of  the 
first  companies  raised  in  the  Colonies  was 
tliat  of  Capt.  Matthew  Smith,  of  Paxtang. 
Within  ten  days  after  the  receipt  of  the 
news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  this  com- 
pany was  armed  and  equipped,  ready  for 
service.  Composing  this  pioneer  bod}'  of 
patriots  was  the  best  blood  of  the  county — 
the  Dixons,  the  Elders,  the  Simpsons,  the 
Boyds,  the  Harrises,  the  Reeds,  the  Tods  and 
others.  Archibald  Steele  and  Michael  Simp- 
son were  tiie  lieutenants.  It  was  the  second 
company  to  arrive  at  Boston,  coming  south 
of  tlie  Hudson  river.  It  was  subsequently 
ordered  to  join  General  Arnold  in  his  unfor- 
tunate campaign  against  Quebec,  and  the 
most  reliable  account  of  that  expedition  was 
written  by  a  member  of  this  very  Paxtang 
company,  John  Joseph  Henry,  afterwards 
president  judge  of  Lancaster  and  Dauphin 
counties.  The\'  were  enlisted  for  one  year. 
The  majority,  however,  were  taken  prisoners 
at  (Quebec,  while  a  large  percentage  died  of 
wounds  and  exposure. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


33 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Historical  Resume'  from  1785  to  1896. 

For  tlie  part  taken  by  Daupliin  county 
(which  was  then  a  part  of  Lancaster  county) 
in  the  struggle  for  Independence,  our  readers 
must  refer  to  those  volumfs  of  tlie  Second 
Series  of  Pennsjdvania  Archives,  which 
comprise  a  history  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Line,  the  Associators  and  the  militia,  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  from  1775  to  1783. 
The  rolls  of  many  of  the  companies  which 
went  out  from  this  section  and  participated 
in  the  sanguinary  conflicts  and  which 
achieved  the  independence  of  their  country, 
are,  we  are  glad  to  say,  nearly  complete. 
At  that  period  the  entire  country  was  so 
bare  of  men  that  the  old  men,  women  and 
the  lads  of  ten  and  twelve  years,  not  only 
did  the  planting  and  harvesting,  but  took 
up  arms  to  defend  their  liomes  in  the 
threatened  invasion  by  Indians  and  Tories 
after  the  massacre  of  Wyoming.  A  great 
majority  of  those  who  served  from  Paxtang, 
Derry,  Hanover,  Upper  Paxtang  and  Lon- 
derry  were  stj'led  Associators,  officered  b}' 
those  of  their  own  choosing,  and  serving 
short  terms  of  duty,  as  called  upon  by  the 
Supreme  Executive  Council.  At  Trenton, 
at  Princeton,  at  Brandywine,  at  German- 
town,  at  the  Crooked  Billet  and  the  Paoli, 
the  militia  of  Dauphin  county  fought  and 
bled  and  died.  A  glance  at  their  names 
even  siiows  a  long  line  of  heroes,  whose 
brilliant  achievements  shed  an  undj-ing 
glory  on  the  patriotism  of  this  section  of 
Lancaster  county  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. 

With  the  dawn  of  peace,  the  people  of  the 
county  returned  to  their  usual  avocations. 
Civil  affairs  were  taken  cognizance  of,  and 
movements  were  at  once  made  to  secure  the 
formation  of  a  new  county,  with  Harrisburg 
as  the  seat  of  justice.  By  the  act  of  Assem- 
bly of  March  4,  1785,  the  county  of  Dauphin 
was  separated  from  Lancaster,  its  name  de- 
rived from  the  eldest  son  of  the  then  king  of 
the  French — France  at  that  period,  in  conse- 
quence of  its  efficient  aid  to  the  Colonies, 
being  uppermost  in  the  affection  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  enthusiasm  was  unbounded,  and, 
as  we  shall  refer  to  hereafter,  carried  to  ex- 
treme lengths.  The  name  was  suggested  by 
the  prime  movers  for  the  formation  of  the 
new  county.  The  seat  of  justice  was  fixed 
at  Harris'  Ferry,  then  a  village  of  about  one 
hundred  houses,  although  the  town  was  not 


actually  laid  out  or  surveyed  until  after  the 
passage  of  the  ordinance  referred  to.  In  the 
commissions  of  the  officers  of  the  new  county, 
the  town  was  named  Louisburgh,  in  honor 
of  Louis  XVI.,  suggested  by  Chief  Justice 
Thomas  MTvean,  not  only  on  account  of  his 
French  leanings,  but  to  show  his  petty  spite 
against  Mr.  Harris,  to  whom,  somehow  or 
other,  he  held  political  opposition. 

This  act  of  injustice  was  subsequently 
remedied,  when,  on  the  13th  of  April,  1791, 
the  town  was  created  a  borough,  by  the 
name  of  Harrisburg.  It  was  undecided  for 
awhile  whether  to  call  the  place  Harris' 
Ferry  or  Harris^itr^r.  The  latter,  fortunately, 
was  adopted. 

On  the  organization  of  the  county,  Mid- 
dletowai  was  the  largest  village  in  the 
county,  and  strenuous  efforts  were  made  by 
its  citizens  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  town- 
ships subsequently  forming  Lebanon  county, 
to  make  it  the  seat  of  justice;  while  similar 
claims  were  made  for  the  town  of  Lebanon, 
on  account  of  its  central  location. 

The  machinery  of  the  new  county  was 
soon  put  into  motion,  the  earliest  record  of 
whose  courts  reads  thus : 

"  At  a  court  of  quarter  sessions,  holden 
near  Harris'  Ferry,  in  and  for  the  county  of 
Dauphin,"  &c.,  on  the  "third  Tuesday  of 
May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1785,  before 
"Timothy  Green,  Samuel  Jones  and  Jona- 
than M'Clure,  Esqrs.,  justices  of  the  same 
court." 

We  may  imagine  the  scene,  in  a  small 
room  in  a  log  Iiouse  near  the  "  lower  ferry," 
at  Front  and  Vine  streets,  with  a  jury  par- 
ticularly intelligent — an  excellent  set  of 
county  officers,  and  such  a  bar  as  Ross,  Kit- 
tera.  Chambers,  Hubley,  James  Biddle, 
Hanna,  Andrew  Dunlop,  Reily,  Collinson 
Reed,  Jasper  Yeates,  John  Joseph  Henry, 
Thomas  Duncan  and  Thomas  Smith,  most 
of  whom  rose  to  occupy  the  highest  positions 
at  the  bar  or  in  the  Senate — quite  a  show  of 
famous  men  to  start  the  judicial  engine  of 
the  new  county,  with  the  net  result  of  con- 
victing William  Courtenay,  a  descendant  of 
one  of  the  proudest  houses  of  England,  and 
sentencing  him  to  eighteen  lashes,  fifteen 
shillings  fine,  and  "  to  stand  in  the  pillory." 
This  instrument  of  judicial  vengeance  stood 
about  sixty  yards  below  the  grave  of  John 
Harris,  the  elder,  or  just  above  the  ferry 
house,  at  the  junction  of  Front  and  Paxtang 
streets.  This,  doubtless,  was  the  exact  posi- 
tion, as  two  or  three  of  the  first  courts  were 


34 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


held  in  a  building  on  what  is  now  the  south- 
ern corner  of  Front  street  and  Washington 
avenue.  There  was  no  citizen  of  Harrisburg 
on  the  first  jury,  except,  perhaps,  Alexander 
Berryhill,  but  that  is  not  certain.  Col. 
James  Cowden,  of  Lower  Paxtang  township, 
was  the  foreman  of  this  grand  jury. 

The  sheriff  of  Lancaster  county  exercised 
the  same  office  in  Dauphin  county.  The 
names  of  the  jurymen  were  James  Cowden 
(foreman),  Robert  Montgomery,  John  Gil- 
christ, Barefoot  Brunson,  John  Clarke,  Roan 
McClure,  John  Carson,  John  Wilson,  ^Villiam 
Crain,  Arcliibald  McAllister,  Richard  Dixon, 
John  Parthemore,  James  Crouch,  Jacob  Awl, 
William  Brown,  Andrew  Stewart,  James 
Rogers,  Samuel  Stewart,  John  Cooper,  Alex- 
ander Berryhill.  Alexander  Graydon  was 
the  first  prothonotary  and  Anthony  Kelker 
the  first  sherifi'. 

The  minutes  of  the  second  court  held  in 
the  town  are  dated  at  "  Harrisburgh,"  and  on 
the  3d  of  August,  178G,  the  following  en- 
dorsement appears  on  the  docket :  "  The 
name  of  the  county  town,  or  seat  of  the 
courts,  is  altered  from  '  Harrisburgh  '  to 
'  Louisburgh,'  in  consequence  of  tiie  Supreme 
Executive  Council  of  the  Commonwealth  so 
styling  it  in  the  commissions  of  the  justices 
of  said  town." 

The  courts  were  held  for  several  successive 
years  in  the  same  locality,  but  subsequently 
in  the  log  house  recently  demolished  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  Market  street  and  Dew- 
berry alley.  From  here  it  was  removed  to 
its  present  location,  except  during  the  ses- 
sions of  the  Legislature  from  1812  to  18'22, 
when  the  court  occupied  the  brick  building 
built  b\'  the  county  commissioners  on  the 
corner  of  Walnut  street  and  Raspberry  alley. 
The  present  edifice  was  erected  in  18(50. 

The  act  of  Assembly  erecting  Harrisburg 
into  a  borough  defined  its  limits  as  follows: 

"  Beginning  at  low-water  mark  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  the  Susquehanna  river ; 
thence  by  the  pine-apple  tree  north  60^  de- 
grees, east  79  |)erches,  to  an  ash  tree  on  the 
west  bank  of  Paxton  creek ;  thence  by  the 
several  corners  thereof  323  perches  to  a  white 
hickory  on  William  Maclay's  line ;  thence 
by  the  same  south  G7J  degrees,  west  212 
perches,  to  a  marked  chestnut-oak  on  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  ;  thence  by 
the  same  course  to  low-water  mark  to  the 
place  of  beginning." 

The  borough  limits  were  extended  by  the 
act  of  the  16th  of  April,  1838,  as  follows: 


"The  northwestern  boundary  line  of  the 
borough  of  Harrisburg  shall  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby'  extended  and  enlarged  as 
follows :  Extending  it  along  the  river  line  to 
the  upper  line  of  the  land  of  the  late  Will- 
iam Maclay,  on  said  river;  thence  to  Pax- 
ton  creek,  and  thence  along  said  creek  to  the 
northwestern  corner  to  the  present  bound- 
ary." Thus  annexing  Maclaysburg,  or  all 
the  territory  included  in  the  borough  then 
lying  northwest  of  South  street. 

During  the  so-called  Whiskey  Insurrec- 
tion, 1794,  Harrisburg  became  quite  promi- 
nent, it  being  on  the  great  thoroughfare  to 
the  western  counties.  The  court  house  was 
then  building,  and  some  of  the  sympathizers 
with  the  anti-excise  men  beyond  the  moun- 
tains hoisted  a  French  flag  on  that  structure. 
Of  course  this  gave  offense  and  it  was  quietly 
removed.  Several  arrests  were  made  of  in- 
dividuals who  ex[)ressed  sympathy  for  the 
western  insurgents — one  of  whom.  Major 
Swiney,  was  confined  in  prison  for  nearly  a 
year,  when  he  was  released  without  trial. 
Governor  ^liftlin,  who  was  an  excellent 
stump  speaker,  made  one  of  his  character- 
istic addresses  here,  and  in  two  days  time  no 
less  than  three  companies  from  the  town 
were  on  their  march  to  Carlisle.  When 
Governor  Howell,  of  New  Jersey,  and  his 
brilliant  staff  remained  over  night,  they 
were  so  hospitably  entertained  by  the  citi- 
zens that  he  returned  his  thanks  in  special 
orders.  On  Friday,  the  3d  of  October,  when 
the  President,  the  great  and  good  Washing- 
ton, approached  the  town,  he  was  met  by  a 
large  concourse  of  the  people  and  the  enthu- 
siasn  was  unbounded.  The  worthy  bur- 
gesses, Conrad  Bombaugh  and  Alexander 
Berryhill,  presented  the  address  of  the  town, 
to  which  the  chief  magistrate  briefly  replied, 
bearing  "  testimony  to  the  zealous  and  ef- 
ficient exertions"  they  had  made.  That 
evening  he  held  a  reception  at  his  head- 
quarters, where  the  principal  citizens  em- 
braced the  opportunity  of  paying  their  re- 
spects to  the  venerated  chieftain.  On  the 
morning  of  the  4th  he  crossed  the  river  at 
the  upper  ferry,  which  was  fifty  yards  above 
the  present  Harrisburg  bridge. 

About  this  period  came  the  fever  of  1703-5 
and  the  mill-dam  troubles.  For  two  years 
previous  a  disease  of  a  malignant  type  pre- 
vailed during  the  summer  season  in  the  bor- 
ough. Its  origin  was  proved  beyond  doubt 
to  be  due  to  a  mill-dam  located  in  wliat  is 
now  the  first  ward  of  the  city,  on  Paxtang 


GEN.  JOSEPH  F.   KNIPE. 


GEN.  E.  C     WILLIAMS. 


^ 

» 

► 

■■-■'W^f-''" 

MAJ.  C.  C.  DAVIS. 


GEN.  T.  J.  JORDAN. 


DA  UFHIN  CO  UN  TY. 


37 


creek.  In  1793,  during  tlie  prevalence  of 
the  yellow  fever  in  Philadelphia,  it  was 
thought  and  even  pronounced  such.  Quite 
a  number  of  Irish  emigrants  died,  and  al- 
thougii  many  of  the  inhabitants  were  at- 
tacked there  were  no  fatal  eases  among 
them.  This  was  proof  positive  that  the 
endemic  was  due  to  the  damming  up  of  the 
Paxtang  creek,  which  was  always  "  dead 
water  "  (its  Indian  significance),  producing 
malarial  poisoning.  The  ancestors,  reason- 
ing rightly,  their  next  move  was  to  get  rid 
of  the  nuisance.  Meetings  were  held,  com- 
mittees were  appointed,  funds  raised  and 
tendered  to  the  owners  of  the  mill,  Peter 
and  Abraham  Landis,  the  amount  demanded 
by  them  the  previous  year  for  their  property. 
The  impecunious  millers  now  required  a 
greater  sum,  but  the  citizens  positively  refused, 
and  at  a  public  meeting  they  resolved  that  a 
further  tender  be  made  the  Landises  and 
in  case  of  refusal  to  "prostrate  the  dam  and 
pay,  if  necessary,  the  "])ori)ortionable  parts 
of  all  legal  expenses  and  damages  that 
might  accrue  on  any  suits  or  indictments 
which  might  be  brought  or  prosecuted  in 
consequence  of  such  acts."  The  forefathers 
were  not  to  be  trifled  with,  and  suiting  the 
action  to  the  word,  met  nt  a  given  hour  and 
opened  the  dam.  Eventuallj'  the  parties 
compromised — the  Landises  accepted  a  cer- 
tain sum  and  the  town  secured  the  mill 
right.  The  valuable  papers  relating  to  this 
interesting  epoch  in  the  history  of  Harris- 
burg  are  in  the  possession  of  tiie  Dauphin  ' 
County  Historical  Society.  The  entire  trans- 
action was  creditable  to  the  ancient  Harris- 
burger,  and  the  decendants  of  the  men  who 
then  stood  up  for  the  rights  of  the  people 
are  among  the  most  prominent  of  our  citi- 
zens to-day. 

In  1798,  when  a  war  with  France  was  im- 
minent and  a  call  made  by  the  General 
Government  on  Pennsylvania  for  troops,  an 
unusual  excitement  was  created,  and  several 
companies  tendered  their  services  to  the 
governor.  The  storm  blew  over,  and  as  in 
1807,  when  a  war  was  threatened  with  Great 
Britain — no  occasion  for  troops  were  re- 
quired until  five  years  later — when  the  sec- 
ond struggle  with  England  took  place. 
Among  the  prominent  military  organiza- 
tions which  armed  for  the  conflict  were  the 
companiesof  CaptainsTliomas  Walker, Rich- 
ard M.  Grain,  .John  Carothers,  Jeremiah 
Rees,  Thomas  MTlhenny,  Peter  Snyder,  John 
B.  Moorhead,  James  Todd,  Richard  Knight, 


John  Elder,  Isaac  Smith,  Pliilip  Fedderhoff 
and  Gawen  Henry,  quite  a  formidable  array. 
Some  of  these  marched  as  far  as  Baltimore 
at  the  time  of  the  British  attack  on  that 
city,  while  others  went  no  fsirther  than 
York.  None  of  these  companies  had  an  op- 
portunity to  meet  the  enemy  on  the  san- 
guinary field — but  Dauphin  county  men 
comjiosed  tiie  major  jiortion  of  two  com- 
panies wiiich  joined  the  Canada  expedition. 
The  heroes  of  this  conflict  are  nearly  all 
passed  from  off  the  stage  of  life.  Following 
in  the  footsteps  of  the  fathers  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, they  emulated  their  heroism  and  de- 
votion to  the  liberties  of  their  country. 

Tlie  removal  of  the  seat  of  government  to 
Harrisburg,  although  suggested  as  early  as 
1787,  and  often  moved  in  the  Assembly,  did 
not  prove  successful  until  by  the  act  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1810,  when  "the  offices  of  the  State 
government  were  directed  to  be  removed  to 
the  borough  of  Harrisburg,  in  the  county  of 
Dauphin,"  "within  the  month  of  October, 
1812,"  and  "  the  sessions  of  the  Legislature 
thereafter  to  be  held."  The  finst  sessions  of 
the  Assembly  were  held  in  the  court  house, 
and  that  body  continued  to  occupy  the  build- 
ing until  the  comj)letion  of  the  ciipitol. 

No  historical  resume  of  Dauphin  county 
can  be  called  complete  without  .some  refer- 
ence to  the  so-called  "Buckshot  War"  of 
1838.  At  the  October  election  of  that  year 
David  R.  Porter,  of  Huntingdon,  was  chosen 
governor,  after  a  hotly  contested  political 
canvass,  over  Governor  Ritner.  The  defeated 
party  issued  an  ill-timed  and  ill-advised  ad- 
dress, advising  their  friends  "to  treat  the 
election  as  if  it  had  not  been  held."  It  was 
determined,  therefore,  to  investigate  the  elec- 
tion, and  to  do  this  the  political  complexion 
of  the  Legislature  would  he  decisive.  The 
majority  of  the  Senate  was  Anti-Masonic,  but 
the  control  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
hinged  u|>on  the  admission  of  certain  mem- 
bers from  Philadelphia  whuse  seats  were  con- 
tested. The  votes  of  one  of  the  districts  in 
that  city  were  thrown  out  by  reason  of  fraud, 
and  the  Democratic  delegation  returned. 
The  Anti-Masonic  return  judges  refused  to 
sign  the  certificates, "  and  both  parties  made 
out  returns  each  for  a  different  delegation, 
and  sent  them  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Com- 
monwealth." The  Democratic  I'eturns  were 
correct,  and  should  have  been  promi)tly  re- 
ceived "without  question." 

When  the  Legislature  met,  the  Senate  or- 
ganized by  the  choice  of  Anti-Masonic  officers. 


38 


TIISTORTVAL  REVIEW 


In  the  House  a  fierce  struggle  ensued,  both 
delegations  claiming  seats.  The  consequence 
was  that  each  party  went  into  an  election  for 
speaker,  each  appointing  tellers.  Two 
speakers  wei'e  elected  and  took  their  seat 
upon  the  platform — William  Hopkins  being 
the  choice  of  the  Democrats  and  Thomas  S. 
Cunningham  of  the  op])osition.  The  Demo- 
crats believing  that  they  were  in  tiie  right, 
left  out  of  view  the  rejection  of  the  votes  of 
the  Philadelphia  district.  However,  when 
the  returns  from  the  Secretary's  office  were 
opened,  the  certificate  of  the  minority  had 
been  sent  in,  thus  giving  the  advantage  to 
the  Anti-Masons.  It  was  then  a  question 
which  of  the  two  Houses  would  be  recognized 
by  the  Senate  and  the  Governor. 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  a  num- 
ber of  men  (from  Philadelphia  especially) 
collected  in  the  lobby  and  when  the  Senate 
after  organization  proceeded  to  business,  in- 
terrupted it  by  their  disgraceful  and  menac- 
ing conduct.  The  other  branch  of  the  Leg- 
islature was  in  like  manner  disturbed,  and 
thus  both  Houses  were  compelled  to  dis- 
perse. The  crowd  having  taken  possession 
of  the  halls  proceeded  to  the  court  house, 
where  impassioned  harangues  were  indulged 
in  and  a  committee  of  .safety  appointed.  For 
several  days  all  business  was  suspended  and 
the  governor,  alarmed  for  his  own  i)ersonal 
safety,  ordered  out  the  militia,  and  fearing 
this  might  prove  insufficient,  calletl  on  the 
United  States  authorities  for  help.  The  latter 
refused,  but  the  militia  under  ^lajor  Generals 
Patterson  and  Alexander  came  promptly  in 
response.  For  two  or  three  days  during  this 
contest,  the  danger  of  a  collision  was  immi- 
nent, but  wiser  counsels  prevailed,  and  the 
Senate  having  voted  to  recognize  the  section 
of  the  House  presided  over  by  Mr.  Hopkins, 
the  so-called  "  Insurrection  at  Harrisburg  " 
was  virtually  ended.  This  was  what  is  com- 
monly known  as  the  "  Buckshot  War." 

In  the  war  with  Mexico,  consequent  upon 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  among  the  troops 
which  went  out  to  that  far-off  land  to  vindi- 
cate the  honor  of  our  country  and  preserve 
its  prestige,  was  the  Cameron  Guards,  under 
coaimandof  Capt.  Edward  0.  Williams.  They 
made  a  good  record,  their  heroic  conduct  at 
Cerro Gordo,  Chapultepec  and  the  Garreta  de 
Belina,  won  for  them  high  renown  and  the 
commendation  of  their  venerated  com- 
mander-in-chief. Scarce  a  corporal's  guard 
remains  of  that  gallant  band. 

Coming  down  to  later    times,  when  the 


perpetuity  of  the  Union  was  threatened  and 
the'great  North  ro.se  up  like  a  giant  in  its 
strength  to  crush  secession  and  rebellion,  the 
events  ai-e  so  fresh  in  the  remembrance  of 
all  that  we  shall  only  refer  to  them  in  brief. 
The  first  public  meeting  held  after  the  firing 
upon  Fort  "Sumter  in  the  State  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  in  fact  the  first  in  any  northern  city, 
was  in  the  court  house  at  Harrisburg,  Gen. 
Simon  Cameron  being  chairman  thereof. 
Dauphin  county,  foremo.st  in  tendering  men 
and  means  to  the  government  for  the  l>itter, 
deadly  strife,  furnished  her  full  quota  of 
volunteers.  Twice  Harrisburg  was  the  ob- 
jective point  of  the  Confederate  troops,  and  at 
one  time  (June,  18(33)  the  enemy's  picket 
was  within  two  miles  of  the  city.  Active 
l)reparations  were  made  for  its  defense  and 
fortifications  erected  on  the  bluff  opposite, 
and  named  •'  Fort  Washington."  This  was 
the  only  fortification  deserving  a  name 
erected  in  any  of  the  Northern  States.  Rifle 
pits  were  dug  along  the  banks  of  the  river, 
in  front  of  Harris  Park,  and  every  prepara- 
tion made  to  give  the  enemy  a  warm  recep 
tion.  Tiie  Union  victory  at  Gettysburg 
checked  the  further  advance  of  the  Confed- 
erates and  with  it  the  last  attempts  to  invade 
the  North.  It  would  take  volumes  to  re- 
hearse not  only  the  heroism  of  the  sons  of 
Dauphin  county  on  the  battlefield,  but  the 
deeds  of  mercy  and  ciiarity  and  love  of  the 
noble-hearted  women.  We  need  not  speak 
of  the  gallantry  of  the  lamented  Simmons 
•and  the  six  hundred  brave  dead — stricken 
down  on  the  field  of  battle,  in  the  hospital  or 
in  the  loathsome  prison,  or  yet  of  the  heroes 
only  a  few  of  whom  are  living — Knipe  and 
Jennings,  the  Awls,  Porter,  Williams  and 
Jordan,  Witman  and  Davis,  Detweiler,  Mc- 
Cormick  and  Alleraan,  Savage,  Geety  and 
Hummel,  and  many  others — a  long  line  of 
illustrious  names — officers  and  privates  of 
that  immense  force  which  Dauphin  county 
sent  out  from  her  midst  for  the  preservation 
of  the  Union.  The  location  of  the  first  and 
greatest  military  camp  in  the  Northern 
States  was  within  the  limits  of  Harrisburg — 
named  by  Generals  Knipe  and  Williams  in 
honor  of  tiie  Chief  Magistrate  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Camp  Curtin,  which  with  being  the 
central  point  of  communication,  especially 
with  theoft-beleagured  Federal  Capital  made 
it  a  prominent  rendezvous.  From  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war,  the  charity  of  the 
citizens  was  unbounded  and  without  stint, 
the  doors  of  hospitality  freely  opened,  and  to 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


39 


our  honor  be  it  said,  two  citizens,  Messrs. 
John  B.  Simon  and  Eby  Byers,  established 
the  Soldiers'  Rest,  where  the  sick  and 
wounded  patriot,  on  his  w'ay  homeward, 
found  rest,  and  refreshment  and  gentle  care. 
Thousands  were  kindly  ministered  to,  and 
until  the  "  boys  came  marching  home  "  the 
good  work  went  on  unabated.  In  every 
cemetery  and  graveyard  within  the  borders 
of  Daupliin  county  lie  the  remains  of  her 
brave  and  true  sons,  while  in  the  cemetery 
at  Harrisburg  the  grass  grows  green  over  the 
graves  of  Union  and  Confederate  soldiers 
from  far-off  States.  In  all  the  struggles  for 
life,  for  liberty,  for  right  and  for  the  Union, 
Dauphin  count}'  has  been  in  the  van.  But 
these  dark  days  of  our  country  have  passed 
like  "  a  dream  that  has  been  told."  May 
the  lesson  taught  be  heeded  by  those  who 
come  after  us — that  tlie  Union  of  States  is 
not  a  rope  of  sand  which  may  be  broken  at 
the  will  of  any  section. 

Tiie  subject  of  international  improvements 
was  one  which  early  commanded  the  atten- 
tion of  th.e  citizens  of  Penn.sylvania,  and  one 
hundred  years  ago,  as  now,  communication 
with  the  western  country'  was  the  great  aim 
of  the  business  men  of  Philadelphia.  The 
first  effort  was  tlie  i-emoval  of  obstructions  in 
the  various  streams,  and  especially  that  of 
the  Susquehanna  river;  and  although  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  money  was  eventualh'^ 
spent  in  improving  the  navigation  thereof, 
the  result  was  far  from  satisfactory'.  Previ- 
ous to  tlie  Revolution  (1774),  the  attention  of 
the  Provincial  Assembly  was  called  to  this 
matter,  and  as  a  preliminary  it  was  proposed 
to  lay  out  a  town  or  city  on  that  stream. 
Joiin  Harris,  the  founder  of  our  cit\',  imme- 
diately gave  notice  of  his  intention  of  laying 
out  a  town,  wiiich  seemed  to  rpiiet  tlie  move- 
ment of  undoubted  land  speculators.  The 
Revolution  coming  on,  such  enterprises,  if 
ever  seriously  considered,  were  abandoned. 
No  sooner,  however,  came  peace,  than  the 
business  activity  of  the  people  sought  out  new 
channels — roads  were  made,  attempts  at 
slackwater  navigation  ventured  on — ^until 
finally  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  from  Colum- 
bia to  Pittsburgh,  opened  uji  an  avenue  to 
trade,  and  brought  prosperity  to  all  the  towns 
on  its  route.  On  none  had  it  better  effect 
than  j\Iiddletown  and  Harrisburg,  and  the 
former  place  at  one  period  was  destined  to 
retain  a  supremacy  in  population,  enterprise, 
wealth  and  influence.  It  was  a  great  lum- 
ber mart;  the  Union  canal  and  its  admira- 


ble location  always  made  it  a  rival  to  the 
capital  city. 

Previous  to  the  opening  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nia canal  the  transportation  facilities  of  the 
town  were  confined  to  Troy  coaches  or  stages 
for  passengers  and  Conestoga  wagons,  great 
lumbering  vehicles  with  semi-circular  tops 
of  sail-cloth,  drawn  by  six  stalwart  horses, 
for  goods  of  various  descriptions.  This  was 
expensive — and  the  completion  of  the  public 
improvements  was  an  eventful  era  in  tlie 
progress  and  development  of  this  locality. 
Real  estate  advanced,  commission  and  other 
merchants  established  themselves  on  the  line 
of  the  canal,  rope  and  boat  manufactories 
were  erected  and  various  enterprises  inaugu- 
rated, giving  new  life  to  the  town  and  thrift 
and  prosperity  to  the  jieople.  Several  lines 
of  passenger  packets  were  established,  and  it 
was  considered  a  wonderful  thing  when  four 
packet  boats  arrived  and  departed  in  a  single 
day.  The  consuming  of  three  days  and  a 
half  to  go  to  Pittsburgh  began  to  be  deemed 
slow,  and  the  building  of  railroads  opened 
up  another  era  in  the  development  of  the 
country.  In  September,  1836,  the  first  train 
of  cars  entered  the  limits  of  Harrisburg  over 
the  Harrisburg,  Portsmouth,  Mount  .Joy  and 
Lancaster  railroad.  Following  this  effort, 
other  rapid  transit  enterprises  were  carried 
forward  to  completion  until  at  the  present 
time — when  no  less  than  one  hundred  trains 
of  passenger  cars  arrive  and  leave  Harris- 
burg daily  for  different  points.  We  give 
these  facts  to  show  not  only  how  great  the 
travel,  but  the  wonderful  progress  made  in 
transit. 

In  the  year  1860  Harrisburg  received  its 
highest  corporate  honors — that  of  a  city. 
Although  at  the  time  arousing  much  oppo- 
sition, yet  its  subsequent  growth  and  pros- 
perity have  fully  realized  the  fondest  expec- 
tations of  its  earnest  advocates.  In  popula- 
tion it  ranks  the  sixth  in  the  State,  and  in 
manufacturing  interests  it  is  the  third — Pitts- 
burgh and  Philadelphia  alone  exceeding  it — 
while  in  the  Union  it  ranks  high  among  the 
inland  cities.  Its  citizens  are  proud  of  its 
prosperit}',  of  its  importance  and  its  high 
social  position,  and  look  forward  to  the  time 
when  the  "  Greater  Plarrisburg  "  will  take 
]irominent  place  among  the  cities  of  the 
American  Union. 

On  the  I'Jth  of  July,  1877,  while  the  gov- 
ernor and  commander-in-chief  of  the  forces 
of  Pennsylvania  was  on  his  way  to  visit  the 
Pacific  Coast,  a  general  strike  was  inaugu- 


40 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


rated  bj^  the  employes  of  nearly  all  the  rail- 
roads ill  the  United  States.  In  inain^  por- 
tions of  the  Commonwealth  the  municipal 
and  county  authorities  failed  to  restore  tralfic, 
and  for  several  days  the  rioters,  for  such 
many  proved  to  be,  had  control  of  affairs.  The 
burning  of  the  round-house  depot,  and  cars 
at  Pittsburgh,  and  the  attack  of  a  reckless 
and  infuriated  mob  upon  the  soldiery  at 
that  place,  gave  cause  for  great  uneasiness 
and  alarm.  Travel  was  suspended  on  all 
the  railroads  centering  at  Harrisburg. 

Sunday,  the  'I'M,  was  one  of  great  suspense. 
The  authorities,  however,  were  quietly  pre- 
paring for  the  emergency.  That  evening, 
one  by  one,  the  City  Grays  found  their  way 
to  the  arsenal,  which  had  been  defenseless. 
On  Monday  the  Mexican  trophy  cannon 
were  duly  spiked,  but  the  mob,  increased  by 
tramps,  showed  signs  of  disquiet,  and  atlkirs 
were  assuming  such  a  situation  that  became 
suddenly  alarming.  The  sheriff.  Colonel 
Jennings,  returned  to  Harrisburg  on  Mon- 
day afternoon  and  found  the  city  in  the 
power  of  the  mob ;  the  proclamation  of  the 
mayor  of  tlie  day  previous  availing  little. 
The  sheriff  met  the  committee  of  citizens, 
and  when  Mayor  Patterson  informed  him 
that  his  power  to  quiet  affairs  had  been  ex- 
hausted, at  once  took  measures  to  preserve 
peace  and  quiet  and  restore  order.  A  pro- 
clamation was  issued  calling  upon  the  law- 
abiding  citizens  to  aid  I'.im  in  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  duty.  The  city  was  placed 
under  military  rule,  and  the  sheriff  sum- 
moned all  reputable  citizens  for  the  support 
of  "law  and  order." 

In  the  afternoon  quite  a  number  of  Phila- 
delphia soldiers,  who  had  reached  Fairview 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna,  sur- 
rendered their  arms  to  a  handful  of  the 
rioters,  who,  with  increasing  numbers, 
brought  the  former  to  the  city,  marching 
them  through  Market  street  to  the  depot. 
It  was  a  pitiable  sight,  and  only  proved 
what  was  in  store  had  not  the  prompt  meas- 
ures of  Colonel  Jennings  checked  this  ebulli- 
tion of  outlawry. 

On  Monday  night  the  rioters,  several  hun- 
dred in  number,  began  breaking  into  the 
stores,  ostensibly  for  guns,  but  in  reality  for 
pillage.  At  this  juncture  the  sheriff  gath- 
ered the  citizens,  and  placing  himself  at  their 
head  came  upon  the  mob,  who  soon  dis- 
persed, while  upwards  of  tiiirty  were  arrested 
and  placed  in  prison.  On  Tuesday  twelve 
hundred  of  the  citizens  organized  into"   law 


and  order  "  companies,  paraded  through  the 
city,  and  from  that  time,  during  the  emer- 
gency, the  citizens  patrolled  the  city,  pre- 
serving order,  without  calling  to  their  assist- 
ance the  military.  Governor  Hartranft,  in 
the  subsequent  message  to  the  Assembly, 
highl}-  complimented  the  example  of  theofii- 
cers  and  the  citizens  of  the  Capital  City. 

In  the  meantime  the  military  gathered  for 
the  defense  of  the  different  railroads  so  as  to 
insure  peace  and  restore  traffic,  and  when 
tiiis  was  accomplished  the  citizen-soldiery 
returned  to  their  homes. 

One   of  the   most   important  events  con- 
nected  with   the  erection  of  the  county  of 
Dauphin,  and  the  founding  of  the  city  of 
Harrisburg,  was  the  celebration  of  tiieir  one 
hundredth    anniversary.       As   tlie    act   for 
erecting  part  of  the  county  of  Lancaster  into 
a  sepai-ate  county,  to  be  called  the  county  of 
Dauphin,  was  passed  March  4, 1785,  at  noon 
Wednesday,   March  4,  1885,  the  bells  and 
whistles  throughout  the  county  announced 
the  completion  of  the  first  centennial  of  its 
existence.     On  the  14th  of  April,  1885,  the 
founding  of  the  city  was  celebrated  by  the 
Dauphin    County    Historical   Society.     But 
owing   to   circumstances,    which    it   is    not 
necessary  here  to  jiarticularize,  the  time  for 
the  general    celebration  was   fixed    for  the 
second  week  in  September,  1885.      On  Sun- 
day,  September  13,    1885,   commemorative 
discourses   were  delivered   in  nearly  all  of 
the  churches  of  the  city  and  county,  while 
interesting  services  suitable  to  the  occasion 
were   held  in    the   various   Sunday-schools. 
Tlie  first  day's  celebration  on  Monday,  Sep- 
tember  14,    was  called    "  Children's    Day," 
when  over  five  thousand  pupils  of  the  various 
schools   marched    in    procession    to   Harris 
Park,  where  open   exercises  were  held.     At 
noon  of  that  day  in  the  court  house  commem- 
orative addresses  were  delivered  by  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Commonwealth,  Robert  E.  Pat- 
tison,  the  Hon.  John  W.  Simonton,  judge  of 
the  District,  Simon  Cameron  Wilson,  ma3-or 
of  the   city  of  Harrisburg,  Judge  Hiester, 
Major  Mumma  and  others.     In  the  evening 
at  the  same  place,  the  historical  address  was 
made  by  Judge  McPherson,  followed  by  the 
centennial   poem  by  Dr.   Charles  C.    Bom- 
baugh,  a  native  of  Harrisburg,  with  remarks 
by  General  Cameron  and  Governor  Ramsey, 
of  Minnesota.     The   second    day,    Tuesday, 
was  "  Militaiy  and  Civic  Day."     In  display 
and  the  number  of  men  in  line,  in  connection 
with  the  magnificent  weather  and  the  large 


DA  Ul'HIN  CO  UXTY 


41 


attendance,  the  enthusiasm  was  exceedingly 
great.  Tlie  third  da_y,  Wednesday,  was 
"  Industrial  Day,"  and  tlie  count}'  and  city 
covered  themselves  with  glory  ;  proud,  in- 
deed, of  their  achievements,  and  grateful 
that  their  people  gave  such  evidence  of  the 
respect  of  the  world.  The  fourth  day,  Thurs- 
day, was  given  to  the  firemen,  who  wound 
up  the  celebration  with  real  centennial 
splendor.  Over  and  above  all,  however, 
wastlie  antiquarian  displa}',  which  had  been 
inaugurated  by  the  Dauphin  County  Histor- 
ical Society  and  which  has  been  conceded  to 
have  been  the  most  unique,  as  it  was  the 
most  successful  exhibition  of  the  kind  ever 
held  in  this  or  any  other  country.  The  ex- 
tent of  the  exhibition  was  of  a  marvelous 
character  and  the  wonder  and  surprise  of 
the  citizens,  as  well  as  of  the  strangers  within 
the  city's  gates.  The  entire  centennial 
anniversary  proved  one  of  the  greatest  suc- 
cesses in  the  history  of  modern  times.  Per- 
chance no  public  manifestation  or  display  of 
any  character  did  so  much  to  benefit  a  city 
as  the  celebration  of  1885.  Through  its 
industrial  parade  it  showed  to  the  world  the 
resources  of  tlie  city  and  county,  and  the 
grand  successes  of  its  varied  industries. 
Shortl}'  after  aboard  of  trade  was  organized, 
and  through  it  much  has  been  done  to  make 
Harrisburgoneof  the  greatest  manufacturing 
cities  in  the  Union. 

The  "  Greater  "  Harrisburg  is  approaching. 
The  first  clamor  for  admission  to  the  mu- 
nicipality was  from  the  township  on  the 
north — the  site  of  that  historic  spot,  "Gamp 
Gurtin."  Other  sections  will  no  doubt  soon 
follow.  The  ordinance  of  Noveml)er  28, 1895, 
extending  the  boundaries  reads: 

"That  all  that  })iece  or  parcel  of  land  be- 
ginning at  a  point  in  the  center  of  Gameron 
street,  thirty-five  feet  (35)  north  of  the  south 
side  of  Maclay  street ;  thence  westwardly 
along  Maclay  street  and  thirty-five  (35)  feet, 
north  of  the  south  side  of  Maclay  street,  and 
by  this  line  continued  across  Susquehanna 
river,  to  low  water  mark  on  the  west  shore 
of  the  Susquehanna  river,  about  nine  thou- 
sand, six  hundred  and  seventy  feet  (9,670); 
thence  nortinvardly  along  the  west  shore  of 
the  Susquelianna  river,  and  the  low  water 
line  of  the  same,  about  six  thousand,  one 
hundred  and  ten  (6,110)  feet  to  the  center  of 
Park  lane  extended  ;  thence  eastwardly  by 
the  center  of  Park  lane  extended  and  the 
center  of  Park  lane  about  nine  thousand,  six 
hundred  and  fii'ty  (9,650)  feet  to  the  center  of 


Gameron  street,  as  laid  out  on  tlie  Gity  Offi- 
cial Plat ;  thence  southwardly  through  the 
center  of  Gameron  street,  about  tliree  thou- 
sand, four  hundred  and  forty  (3,440)  feet,  to 
the  place  of  beginning,  containing  one  thou- 
sand and  sixty  acres,  more  or  less,  and  being 
a  part  of  the  township  of  Susquehanna." 

Before  concluding  this  historical  lesume 
of  Dauphin  county  it  is  eminentl}^  proper 
that  some  allusion  be  made  to  the  intellect- 
ual and  religious  culture  of  our  people.  The 
pioneer  settlers  who  opened  up  this  region 
of  country  to  civilization  were  not  adven- 
turers, but  they  came  to  America  for  reli- 
gious liberty,  and  they  planted  a  new  gov- 
ernment in  this  western  world,  resting  upon 
the  immutable  foundations  of  education  and 
Ghristianity.  Wliether  Scotch-Irish  or  Ger- 
man, they  brought  with  them  their  Bible, 
their  minister  and  their  school  teacher,  and 
to-day,  in  referring  to  tlie  educational  historj' 
of  Dauphin  county,  the  results  must  speak 
for  themselves.  Altliough  within  the  limits 
of  the  county  there  are  no  extensive  educa- 
tional institutions,  yet,  from  border  to  bor- 
der, the  public  school  system  gives  to  ever}' 
one  the  advantages  of  a  high  education. 
Over  half  a  million  of  dollars  is  annually 
expended  for  tuition  and  the  erection  of 
school  buildings.  One-sixth  of  the  popula- 
tion is  in  attendance  upon  the  schools,  and 
the  facilities  in  the  larger  cities  for  educa- 
tional advancement  are  such  as  to  fit  the 
puyiils  either  for  the  ordinary  business  walks 
of  life  or  for  the  advanced  curriculum  of  the 
leading  colleges  and  universities  of  America. 

As  to  the  religious  training  of  the  early 
settlers,  one  need  only  refer  to  the  churches 
as  almost  coeval  witii  tlie  coming  of  the  first 
pioneer.  Prior  to  17'25  the  Presbyterian 
churches  of  Derry,  Paxtang  and  Hanover 
were  in  a  state  of  organization.  These  have 
had  a  remarkable  history,  but  the  limits  of 
this  brief  sketcli  will  not  allow  more  than 
this  allusion.  Following  tliese  early  land- 
marks of  the  Scotch-Irisli  settlement  came 
the  organization  of  the  Reformed  and  Lu- 
theran churches.  With  them  in  order  came 
others,  until  now  within  the  limits  of  tiie 
county,  on  every  hillside  and  in  every  nook 
and  corner  of  its  towns  and  townships,  can 
be  recognized  the  achievements  of  the  fath- 
ers, who  have  bequeathed  to  us  the  blessings 
of  literary  culture  and  religious  freedom. 
Keeping  pace  with  these  Ghristian  move- 
ments, benevolent  institutions  have  sprung 
up  in  all  parts  of  the  city  and  county.     Few 


42 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


districts  in  any  State  of  the  Union  are  better 
provided  than  our  own  county  with  the  ad- 
vantages tlie  people  of  to-day  possess  and 
enjoy. 

Origin   of    Dauphin    County    Names    of 
Places. 

Dauphin  county  was  formed  of  part  of 
Lancaster,  part  of  Berks,  comprised  all  of 
the  present  Lebanon  county  from  1785  to 
1813.  It  was  named  after  the  oldest  son  of 
Louis  XVL,  whose  oflficial  title  was  "  The 
Dauphin."  Its  official  population  1890,  96,- 
977. 

Harrisburg,  from  the  owner  of  the  site  of 
the  town,  the  second  .lohn  Harris.  For 
several  years  after  1785  the  name  in  all  of- 
ficial documents  is  "  Loui-sburg,"  in  honor 
of  the  King  of  France.  The  French  Revo- 
lution came  to  aid  public  opinion  and  its 
proper  name  was  restored.  It  was  incorpo- 
rated as  a  borough  in  1791,  and  as  a  citv 
in  18G0.  Its  population  in  1890,  39,385; 
1896,  nearl}'  55,000.  It  has  been  tlie  seat  of 
government  of  Pennsjdvania  since  1812, 
and  the  seat  of  justice  since  the  formation  of 
the  county. 

Paxtang  was  one  of  the  original  town- 
ships, formed  August  17,  1729.  The  name 
is  derived  from  tiie  Indian  stream  {)assing 
through  it.  The  township  covered  part  of 
the  present  county  of  Lebanon  as  far  as  Rac- 
coon creek.  Derry  also  trespassed  on  its  ad- 
joining neighbor,  Lebanon  townsliip,  but  was 
limited  in  1813  to  the  pi'esent  Derry,  Lon- 
donderry and  Conewago.  In  the  ancient 
surveys  it  appears  to  have  comprised  a  greater 
area,  as  far  east  as  the  Quitopahilla  creek, 
now  in  Lebanon  county. 

Derry. — One  of  the  original  townships 
formed  August  17,  1729,  from  the  town  of 
that  name,  in  the  Province  of  Ulster,  Ire- 
land. Popuktion,  2,288.  It  has  several 
post-offices,  Swatara,  Vain,  "Waltonville,  and 
Derry  Church,  the  latter  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  most  ancient  church  in  Dau- 
phin county. 

Hanover. — The  three  townships  of  this 
name  preserve  the  memory  of  the  house  of 
Hanover,  in  the  days  when  those  who  named 
them  were  loyal  subjects  of  the  English 
kings  of  that  insignificant  German  Electo- 
rate. The  original  Hanover  was  formed  in 
1737.     Then  as  follows: 

East  Hanover  was  formed  1785 — popula- 
tion, 1890,  1,428. 


West  Hanover  formed  1785 — population, 
1890,  1,013. 

South  Hanover  formed  1842 — population, 
1890,  1,062. 

Union  Deposit,  in  South  Hanover,  was 
originally  Unionvilleor  Uniontown.  Its  pro- 
prietors, Isaac  Hershey  and  Philip  Wolfers- 
berger,  when  they  laid  it  out  in  1845,  were 
at  a  loss  for  a  name.  The  post-office  depart- 
ment stepped  in,  deciding  that  it  should  be 
"  Union  D'eposit  P.  0." 

Hoernerstown,  from  the  family  of  that 
name,  in  South  Hanover. 

Manadaville,  from  Manada  creek,  wiiere 
it  joins  the  Swatara  in  Soutii  Hanover. 

Sandbeach  is  a  post-office  in  South  Han- 
over. 

Grantville,  from  U.  S.  Grant,  President  of 
the  United  States.     It  is  in  East  Hanover. 

Earleysville.  formerly  Schell's  "  West  Plan- 
over  post-office,"  although  tlie  village  is  in 
East  Hanover  townsliip. 

Manada  Hill,  in  West  Hanover,  from 
Manada  creek.     It  is  a  post-office. 

Hummelstown. — Laid  out  by  Frederick 
Hummel  in  1762.  He  called  it  "  Fredericks- 
town,"  but  the  present  name  soon  superseded 
that.  It  was  incorporated  in  1874.  The 
po])ulalion  is  1,486. 

Londonderry  township,  from  the  county 
of  that  name  in  the  north  of  Ireland  ;  formed 
in  February,  1768,  originally  bounded  on 
the  west  by  Derry  and  soutli  by  Conewago 
creek.  This  was  changed  in  1826,  when 
its  |)resent  boundaries  were  fixed. 

Geinburg  in  this  township,  from  a  Ger- 
man family  who  came  to  Londonderry  about 
1762,  and  whose  family  burial  ground  is 
north  of  Middletown  and  Lancaster  turn- 
pike. The  site  of  the  graveyard  is  in  culti- 
vation of  crops  by  the  present  owners;  some 
tombstones  are  j'et  scattered  over  its  site. 

Port  Royal,  in  the  same  township,  near 
the  confluence  of  the  Susquehanna  river 
and  the  Swatara  creek,  was  laid  out  in  the 
expectation  of  becoming  a  considerable 
town.     Hence  the  high-sounding  name. 

Conewago  township,  formed  April  2, 1850, 
from  Londonderry,  and  named  from  the 
creek  which  divides  Dauphin  from  Lancas- 
ter.    Population,  872. 

Bachmanville,  named  after  a  family  of 
that  name,  is  the  site  of  a  post-office. 

Deodate  is  also  a  post-office  in  this  town- 
ship. 

Swatara  township,  named  from  the  creek 
on  its  southern  border  in  1799,  when  it  was 


DAUFIIIN  COUNTY. 


43 


formed.  In  1840,  upon  the  formation  of 
Lower  Swatara,  its  boundaries  were  fixed 
as  the)'  are  now.  Its  total  pojiuhition  in 
1890  was  3,329,  including  Oberlin,  formerly 
Churchville,  and  Highland,  now  Enhaute 
post-office. 

Steelton,  from  the  great  iron  establish- 
ment there.  It  was  incorporated  in  1878 
and  had  a  population  of  9,250  in  1890 ;  now, 
1896,  well  nigh  14,000,  including  Ewington. 

Lower  Swatara  was  formed  in  1840  from 
Swatara  proper.  Middletown  was  a  borough 
long  before  its  formation.  Population  of  the 
township,  not  including  Highspire,  in  1890, 
was  793. 

Highspire. — One  tradition  goes  tliat  this 
striking  name  was  given  by  Dautermann  or 
Barnes,  who  laid  out  the  lots  in  1813,  from 
Spires  in  Germany,  the  birthplace  of  Dau- 
termann. A  borough  with  .a  population  in 
1890  of  971,  now,  1896,  claiming  nearly 
1,500. 

Middletown  received  its  name  on  account 
of  its  being  nearly  equi-distant  from  Lan- 
caster and  Carlisle,  the  great  interior  towns 
of  tlie  Province,  when  John  Fisher  began  to 
survey  lots  in  1759.  In  1701  he  had  sold 
thirty  lots  to  actual  settlers.  This  is  the 
oldest  town  and  second  in  poiwlation  in  the 
countv  ;  was  formed  into  a  borough  in  1828. 
Its  population,  1890,  5,080. 

The  Paxtang  of  1729  has  now  dwindled  to 
Lower  Paxtang,  which  it  became  in  17G7, 
when  Upper  Paxtang  was  formed.  Popula- 
tion, including  Linglestown,  1,517. 

Linglestown  was  "St.  Thomas  post-office" 
for  a  number  of  years.  The  land  upon 
which  it  is  built  was  owned  by  Thomas 
Lingle,  who  set  off  a  village  plot  as  earlv  as 
1765. 

Susquehanna,  a  township  named  for  the 
river,  its  western  boundary.  It  was  formed 
January  30,  1815.  The  population  was  in 
1890,  3,653,  reduced  in  1896  by  extending 
the  northern  boundaries  of  the  city  of  Har- 
risburg. 

Rockville,  "  Fort  Hunter  post-office,"  is  a 
village  of  perhaps  300  persons.  It  was  laid 
out  in  1838. 

Estherton  [Coxestown],  from  one  of  the 
wives  of  Col.  Cornelius  Cox,  owner  of  the 
land.  It  was  laid  out  about  1765,  and  prior 
to  the  Revolution  was  a  more  important 
place  than  it  has  been  since. 

Progress,  upon  the  supposition  that  it  was 
to  be  a  progressive  town,  in  a  very  rural  lo- 
cality.    It  is  a  post-office. 


Upper  Paxtang  township  was  formed  in 
1765  and  covered  all  of  the  county  above, 
north  of  theKittatinny  mountain.  It  is  now 
of  moderate  area,  with  a  population  of  1,494 
in  1890. 

Killinger,  a  post-office  named  after  Hon. 
John  W.  Killinger,  is  in  this  township.  Pax- 
ton  is  also  another  post-office  named  after 
an  English  family  of  that  name  in  Bucks 
county. 

Millersburg,  in  U])per  Paxtang,  laid  out 
by  Daniel  Miller  in  1807  and  called  for  iiim. 
It  is  a  borough  with  a  population  of  1,527. 

Halifax  township,  formed  in  3  803,  and 
named  for  the  old  Provincial  fort  of  1756  of 
that  name.     Its  population  is  1,208. 

Matamoras,  from  the  Mexican  town  of 
that  name  on  the  Rio  Grande.  When  the 
town  was  laid  out.  General  Taylor  and  Mata- 
moras occupied  the  attention  of  the  whole 
country.     Hence  the  name. 

Powell's  Valley  is  a  post-office  in  Halifax 
township. 

Halifax  borough  contains  a  population  of 
515.  It  was  laid  out  in  1794  on  land  of 
George  Winter  by  George  Scheffer  and  Peter 
Rice,  but  seems  to  have  fallen  into  other 
hands  before  its  plot  was  recorded.  It  occu- 
pies the  site  of  tlie  fort  of  1756,  named  for 
Lord  Halifax  by  Colonels Clapham  and  Burd, 
who  superintended  its  erection. 

Middle  Paxtang  township  was  formed  in 
1787.     Its  population  is  1,327. 

Ellendale  is  a  post-office  in  this  township. 

Daupliin  was  first  Port  Lyon,  afterwards 
Greensburg,  after  Judge  Innis  Green,  who 
owned  the  land  and  laid  it  into  lots  in  1824. 
It  was  erected  into  a  borough  in  1854. 
Population,  740. 

Jackson  township  was  formed  August  23, 
1828,  and  named  for  the  then  President, 
Andrew  Jackson.     Its   population   is   1,137. 

Jacksonville  in  this  township,  officially 
"Enders'"  post-office,  was  laid  out  about 
1825  on  land  formerly  of  George  Enders. 

Fisherville,  laid  out  in  1854,  named  for 
the  late  Major  George  Fisher.  A  joke  about 
this  locality  long  time  ago  was,  that  in  time 
of  war  it  would  be  a  safe  place  "  for  the  loca- 
tion of  the  Federal  Government."  At  a 
more  modern  date  a  distinguislied  member 
of  Congress  from  this  district  gravely  pro- 
posed that  if  Washington  was  a  dangerous 
locality,  Fisherville,  in  Dauijhin  county,  was 
a  safe  one.  As  no  one  had  ever  heard  of 
the  town,  the  suggestion  was  not  seriously 
considered    by    the    alarmed    strategists   of 


44 


HISTORICAL  REVTKW 


1863.     It  is  in  Jackson  township,  and  is  a 
post  town. 

Wasliington  township,  named  for  the 
illustrious  first  President  of  the  United 
States,  was  formed  September  3,  1845. 
Its  population  is  1,G98,  includino;  Elizabeth- 
ville  (named  for  the  wife  of  the  owner  of  the 
land)  village,  a  post-office. 

Washington  Square  is  its  near  neighbor 
on  the  Lykens  Valle}'  railroad. 

Short  Mountain  is  another  village  at  which 
there  is  a  post-office  named  from  the  coal 
mines  in  its  immediate  vicinitv. 

Reed  township,  the  smallest  township  in 
Dauphin  county,  named  for  William  Reed, 
who  lived  about  midway  between  Clark's 
Ferry  and  Halifax.  His  son,  William  Reed, 
resides  in  the  old  homestead.  Previous  to 
being  called  Reed  township  it  was  Penn 
election  district,  formed  of  portions  of  Mid- 
dle Paxtang  and  Halifax  April  6,  1840. 
When  the  township  was  erected  the  portion 
of  Middle  Paxtang  reverted  to  the  original 
township.     Poiuilation  in  1890,  267. 

Benvenue,  a  post-office  with  a  fancy  name, 
probably  from  the  Scotch  for  mountain,  and 
good  entertainment  therewith.  "Choniata" 
would  be  a  better  Americanism. 

Wiconisco  township,  named  for  the  stream 
of  that  name,  was  formed  in  July  2,  1830. 
Its  population  is  2,280. 

Wiconisco  village  (laid  out  in  1848)  and 
post-office,  named  for  the  township. 

Lvkens  is  a  borough  with  a  population  of 
2,450.  It  was  laid  out  in  1848  by  Edward 
Gratz,  and  is  the  principal  town  of  the  Lv- 
kens Valley  coal  district. 

Lykens  township  was  so  named  for  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  the  locality,  and  was 
formed  in  1810.  Erdman  post-office  is  in  this 
township. 

Williams  townshi[),  formed  February  7, 
1860,  named  for  an  early  settler.  Its  popu- 
lation is  1,485. 

Williamstown,  a  post-office  and  thriving 
borough.     Population,  2,324. 

Rush  township,  formed  October  23,  1810. 
The  least  ])opulous  of  the  townships,  con- 
taining only  151  inhabitants,  named  for 
Benjamin  Rush,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence. 

Miffiin  township,  named  for  Governor 
Thomas  Miffiin, and  formed  October22, 1818. 
Population,  546.  Rife  and  Speeceville  are 
post-offices  in  this  township. 

Berrysburg,  originally  called  Hellerstown, 
a  borough  of  1871  in  this  township,  named 


for   a  family    of  that   name.     This   village 
has  426  inhabitants. 

Uniontown,  at  first  called  Snydertown,  of- 
ficially Pillow  P.  0.,  after  Gen.  Gideon  J. 
Pillow,  a  soldier  of  the  Mexican  war,  formed 
in  1864.     Population,  333. 

Curtin,  for  Governor  Andrew  G.  Gurtin,  is 
a  [lost-office.  Miffiin  township  has  therefore 
five  post-offices. 

Jefferson  township,  named  for  Thomas 
Jefferson  and  formed  April  23, 1842.  Popu- 
lation, 317.  Carsonville  is  a  post-office  in  this 
township. 

Gratz  borough  was  laid  out  in  1805  by 
Simon  Gratz,  incorporated  in  1852.  Popu- 
lation in  1890,  490. 

Wayne  township,  named  for  the  gallant 
Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  is  the  youngest  of  the 
townships,  formed  from  the  east  and  most 
populous  ])ortion  of  Jefferson  in  Ma}'',  1878. 
Population,  512. 

Enterline,  named  for  a  family  of  that 
name;  also  in  this  township.  Waynesville 
P.  0.  is  in  Wayne. 

Penbrook,  the  latest  incori)orated  borough 
in  the  county.  It  adjoins  Harrisburg  on  the 
east. 

Having  reviewed  the  various  civil  sub-di- 
visions of  the  count}',  we  turn  to  an  expla- 
nation and  descrifttion  of  its  valleys  and 
streams. 

On  the  south  are  Conewago  creek  and  val- 
ley. The  stream  is  found  on  all  early  charts, 
spelled  as  at  present. 

Then  we  have  the  superb  Swatara  and  its 
fertile  valley.  It  enters  the  county  in  East 
Hanover  and  finishes  its  course  at  Middle- 
town.  The  old  Union  canal  was  laid  out  on 
its  northern  bank.  Its  tributaries  are  Bow, 
Manada  and  Beaver  creeks.  All  early  sur- 
veys give  the  same  names. 

The  Paxtang  has  its  source  near  Lingles- 
town  and  discharges  itself  into  the  Susque- 
hanna at  Harrisburg.  It  is  so  spelled  in  the 
early  surve}'s  and  should  be  so  now,  although 
it  is  frequently  written  Paxton. 

Fishing  creek  has  its  source  in  West  Han- 
over and  discharges  itself  at  Fort  Hunter. 
It  is  almo.st  entirely  ni  Middle  Paxtang. 

Stony  creek,  the  origin  of  the  name  is 
verv  patent.  Its  whole  course  is  turbulent, 
over  a  rocky  bed,  crowded  into  the  narrow 
valley  between  the  Kittatinny  and  Sharp 
mountains.     It  discharges  itself  at  Daui>hin. 

t'lark's  creek  and  valley,  named  for  the 
Clark  family  who  settled  there  about  1728. 
Its  source  is  in  Schuylkill  county,  through 


DAi-j'inx  col  X TV 


45 


Rush  and  Middle  Paxtang,  to  the  Susque- 
hanna above  Dauphin.  The  vallej^  is  very 
narrow. 

Powell's  creek  and  valley,  named  for  a 
family  of  that  name  who  settled  near  its 
mouth  about  1760,  perhaps  at  an  earlier 
date.  Parts  of  the  valley  are  quite  fertile. 
Its  source  is  in  Jefferson  township. 

Armstrong  creek,  named  for  the  first  settler 
in  that  locality,  takes  source  in  .Jackson 
township  and  discharges  north  of  Halifax. 
The  valley  is  a  very  fine  one. 

Wiconisco  creek  takes  its  rise  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  passing  Williams,  Washington 
and  Wiconisco  townships,  disciiarging  at 
Millersburg.  The  Ijykens  \'^alle3'  railroad 
is  along  its  southern  bank.  It  is  an  Indian 
name,  and  is  found  spelled  on  earlier  surveys 
as  at  present,  except  occasional!}'  with  the 
French  Ouikonisko. 

Lykens  is  a  beautiful  and  fertile  valle}', 
named  for  Andrew  Lycans,  who  was  the  first 
to  make  a  settlement  in  it. 

Maiiantango  creek  is  the  north  boundary 
of  the  county.  It  is  also  an  Indian  name. 
On  the  early  maps  it  is  .called  "  Kind  creek." 
There  is  a  finely  cultivated  valley  on  either 
side  of  it. 

This  account  would  be  incomplete  without 
mention  of  the  mountainous  region  of  the 
nortiiern  portion  of  the  county.  Below 
Ilarrisburg,  depressed  spurs  of  the  South 
mountain  cross  from  east  to  west,  none  of 
them  of  great  elevation.  Above  that  city 
the  Kittatinny  range,  known  as  First,  Second, 
Third  and  Peter's  dividing  ridges,  covers  a 
great  portion  of  Middle  Paxtang,  Rush,  Hal- 
ifax, Jefferson  and  Wayne  townships  ;  then 
the  Broad,  Thick,  Sliarp,  Big  Lick  ridges; 
then  Berry's  and  Mahantango,  occupying  a 
large  jiroportion  of  the  area  of  that  section 
of  tlie  county.  Coal  is  found  in  the  range 
along  the  Wiconisco  creek,  principally  in 
the  Thick  or  Big  Lick  mountain.  The  local 
nomenclature  diff'ers  very  much  from  the 
geographical. 

Peter's  mountain  has  borne  the  same 
designation  since  1729.  Peter  Allen  came 
into  the  neighborhood  from  Conestoga, 
Chester,  now  Lancaster  county.  He  was 
upon  the  first  tax  rate  of  that  part  of  Chester 
county  in  1717-18.  His  name  is  found  after 
that  in  West  Conestoga,  then  in  Donegal, 
then  in  Paxtang,  then  in  the  present  Middle 
Paxtang;  his  house  is  yet  standing.  That 
was  the  northeast  boundary  of  Lancaster 
county    as   formed  in   1729.     He   probably 


came  up  the  river  in  1724,  and  made  prepa- 
ration for  permanent  location  about  the 
time  Chambers  made  his  choice  in  1725. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Early    Settlers    and    Settlements   In   the    "Upper 
End." 

Perchance  no  more  interesting  data  can 
be  furnished  by  the  gleaner  in  historic  fields 
than  those  of  a  reminiscential  character;  and 
owing  to  this  fact  we  have  concluded  to 
give  within  the  limits  of  this  brief  chapter 
various  facts  relating  to  tlie  settlement  and 
the  early  settlers  of  the  "  Upper  End"  of 
Dauphin  county.  The  infonnation  was 
gathered  twenty  years  ago  [1876],  which 
may  account  for  references  to  individuals 
then  living,  birt  who  have  since  passed  off' 
the  stage  of  life.  This  should  be  borne  in 
mind  b}'  the  reader. 

How  the  Early  Settlers  Lived. 

Little  we  know,  in  this  day  of  comfort  and 
luxury,  how  our  ancestors  fared.  Although 
tlie  elder  settlers  had  some  siieep,  yet  their 
increase  was  slow,  owing  to  the  depredations 
of  wolves  and  otiier  animals.  It  was,  there- 
fore, a  work  of  time  to  secure  a  crop  of  wool. 
Deerskin  was  a  substitute  for  men  and  boys, 
and  all  generally  wore  leather  brceciies;  and 
occasionally  women  and  girls  were  compelled 
to  resort  to  the  use  of  tlie  same  materials. 
The  women  did  the  spinning  and  generally 
wove  all  the  clotii  for  the  family,  the  men 
being  engaged  in  clearing  and  cultivating 
the  soil,  or  with  their  trusty  rifle  went  in 
search  of  deer  or  other  game  for  food.  Our 
early  settlers,  Scotch-Irish  as  well  as  Ger- 
man, had  large  families,  and  it  required 
the  continued  labor  of  the  wife  and  mother 
to  provide  them  with  anything  like  com- 
fortable clothing.  The  men  were  not  in- 
sensible to  this  devotedness  on  the  part  of 
their  wives,  but  assisted  in  whatever  was 
necessary,  even  in  the  cookery  and  the  cases 
were  few  where  they  could  not  do  all  the 
work  of  the  house.  The  patient  endurance, 
however,  of  the  women  we  commend  to  the 
ladies  of  the  present.  That  endurance  did 
not  arise  from  a  slavish  servility  or  insensi- 
bility to  their  rights  and  comforts,  but  justly 
appreciating  their  situation,  they  nobly  en- 
countered the  difficulties  which  could  not  be 
avoided.     Possessing  all  the  affections  of  the 


46 


HISTORIC  A  L  RE  VIE  W 


wife,  the  tendei'ness  of  the  mother,  and  the 
synipatliies  of  the  women,  their  tears  flowed 
freely  for  other's  griefs,  whilst  they  bore  their 
own  with  a  fortitude  which  none  but  a  woman 
could  exercise.  The  entire  education  of  her 
children  devolved  on  the  mother,  and  not- 
withstanding the  difficulties  to  be  encoun- 
tered, she  did  notallow  them  togrowup  with- 
out instruction,  but  amidst  all  her  numerous 
cares taughtthem to readand  instructed  them 
in  the  principles  of  Christianity.  Noble  ma- 
trons! Your  achievements  have  come  down 
to  us  through  a  hundred  j^ears  for  our  ad- 
miration and  example. 

Settlement  of  Uniontown. 

David  Snyder,  Esq.,  of  Lykens,  gave  us 
this  statement  of  tiie  early  settlement  of  Sny- 
dertown,  now  known  as  Uniontown  : 

The  land  upon  which  Uniontown  is  located 
was  bought  from  the  Hepner  heirs  b_y  John 
Snyder,  in  1818.  The  heirs  were  George, 
Cliristian,  Peter  and  Henry.  The  land  was 
sold  by  George  Hepner  and  John  Baltiiaser, 
executors,  tlie  whole  tract  being  360  acres. 
The  principal  street  was  laid  out  in  1818, 
simultaneously  with  the  laying  out  of  the 
town.  The  only  road  prior  was  a  wagon- 
road  leading  from  the  stone  mill,  now  owned 
by  Isaac  Boyer,  to  tiie  left,  and  continuing 
eastward,  north  of  Main  street,  to  the  old 
mill  now  standing  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
town.  Philii)  Derger  built  the  first  house, 
which  stands  in  a  street  leading  from  the  old 
cemetery  northward  to  Main  street.  This 
was  in  1819.  The  first  church  was  a  Union 
Reformed  and  Lutheran,  built  about  1834, 
now  used  for  a  dwelling  and  stands  on  the 
hill  back  of  Boyer's  hotel.  The  first  school 
house  stood  on  the  same  street,  built  in  the 
year  1828.  One  hundred  lots  were  first  laid 
out  by  John  Snyder,  and  seventy-five  of  these 
were  sold  by  him  for  §30  each — the  balance 
for  one-half  price.  No  efections  were  held  in 
the  town  until  it  became  a  borough,  the 
peo)ile  iK^ing  coiujielled  to  go  to  Berrysburg 
for  the  purpose  of  voting.  The  first  physi- 
cian was  Dr.  Ensweiler,  who  came  there  about 
1838  and  remained  about  four  years.  John 
Snyder,  the  founder  of  Uniontown,  died 
about  1555,  in  Mercer  county,  at  the  age  of 
72  years.  Philip  Derger  came  from  Berks 
county  and  subsequently  moved  to  the  West. 
Mr.  Snyder  paid  §8,000  for  the  wliole  tract. 
It  was  owned  before  Hepner  by  Peter  Hain. 


Settlement  of  Wiconisco. 

The  late  Christian  Seip,  of  Wiconisco,  to 
whom  we  were  indebted  for  much  informa- 
tion relating  to  the  history  of  Lykens  Valley, 
furnished  this  data: 

The  number  of  houses  in  and  about  Wico- 
nisco in  1846  was  probably  not  twenty.  A 
man  bj'  the  name  of  Lance  built  tiie  first 
house  in  Wiconisco,  where  the  Methodist 
church  now  stands.  He  now  lives  in  Potts- 
viile.  Another  house  stood  in  the  swamp, 
below  the  railroad,  then  occupied  by  a  man 
named  Wagner.  Michael  Shaeff'er  built  the 
tavern  now  occupied  by  Neifter.  He  never 
lived  to  take  possession  of  it — died  before  it 
was  completed  and  was  buried  in  the  old 
graveyard  near  the  company's  stables.  He 
first  kept  tavern  in  an  old  frame  house  near 
the  dirt  bank.  Many  of  the  first  miners 
boarded  with  him.  Behind  the  old  breaker 
tliere  were  two  houses — one  occupied  by  Mr. 
Couch,  tiie  company's  superintendent.  Mi- 
chael Shaeffer.  with  iiis  brother  Henry,  came 
from  Germany  witli  their  fatlier  when  mere 
boys.  It  is  thought  from  Hesse  Darmstadt. 
An  old  block  house  near  the  company's 
stables  was  the  meeting  house — Methodist. 
Mr.  Shaeffer  took  the  coal  trucks  down  to 
Millersburg  with  horses.  The  track  began 
behind  the  old  breaker.  At  tiiat  time  "  shin- 
plasters"  were  in  vogue.  The  miners  re- 
ceived no  more  than  four  dollars  a  week.  Six 
dollars  was  considered  very  high  wages.  A 
man  by  tlie  name  of  Frederick  Alvord  then 
received  tlie  iiighest  wages,  eight  dollars  per 
week,  for  blacksmithing  for  the  company.  In 
the  beginning  the  trucks  were  only  driven 
once  a  week  to  Millersburg,  in  trains  of  eight 
or  ten.  Drove  onl\'  gangways  then — no 
breasts.  Mr.  Bordner  drove  tiie  first  gang- 
way of  the  Short  Mountian  mines.  During 
the  earlier  mining  period  tiie  men  were  paid 
only  every  three  or  four  months. 

Old  Settlers  of  Lykens. 

Joshua  Bowman,  Esq.,  of  Lykens,  whose 
memory  of  tiie  early  days  of  Lykens  and 
vicinity  were  quite  vivid,  gave  us  the  follow- 
ing : 

Passed  through  what  is  now  Lykens  in 
1840.  Was  then  living  with  my  parents  on 
the  property  adjoining  the  Forge.  The  first 
house  then  in  Lykens  was  Ferree's  house, 
now  occupied  by  the  brick  buildings  of 
Charles  Martz.     The  second,  Zerbe's,  oppo- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


47 


site  'Squire  Ferree's.  Next  tlie  Conner 
house,  but  lately  demolished  for  the  erection 
of  the  brick  house  of  William  A.  Wallace. 
Stehley's  stood  in  the  woods  near  the  creek. 
Next  Kissley's,  owned  by  Jacob  Bordner. 
Next  an  old  log  house,  built  by  the  Fegley's, 
now  occupied  by  Isaac  Derger.  Next  Pat- 
rick Martin's,  now  Leah  Martin's,  his  wife. 
Next  John  Sheean's,  now  occupied  by  Gor- 
man &  Ilensel's  foundry.  There  was  a  two- 
story  and  a-half  frame  house  near  the  creek, 
back  of  the  Valley  House,  on  what  is  now 
Water  street.  This  was  built  by  Edward 
Myers  for  a  man  b\'  name  of  Fisher.  No 
store  in  Lykens  at  that  time.  Merchandise 
of  every  sort  was  chiefl}'  brought  from  the 
store  of  Josiah  Bowman,  at  the  Forge.  The 
other  store  in  all  this  part  of  the  country 
was  that  of  Henry  Shaetfer's,  at  the  Lykens 
Valley  colliery.  Some  few  of  the  people 
worked  in  the  mines,  others  employed  them- 
selves in  the  manufactui'c  of  shingles, spokes, 
posts  and  stays,  which  they  traded  for  the 
necessities  of  life.  No  church  at  that  time; 
but  a  place  of  worsliip  in  an  old  school 
house  near  the  company's  stable.  The  com- 
pany' then  mined  coal  without  preparation. 
It  was  taken  by  horse  railway  to  Millersburg, 
then  flatted  across  the  Susquehanna  to  Mt. 
Patrick,  on  the  opposite  side,  and  placed  on 
the  canal  boats  of  the  North  Branch  for  ship- 
ment to  Harrisburg.  There  was  no  public 
house  at  that  time.  The  company  would 
not  tolerate  any  upon  its  own  grounds,  and 
would  not  sell  ground  for  hotel  purposes. 
Jacob  Stehley,  a  gentleman  at  large,  who 
died  at  Harrisburg  a  few  years  ago,  rather 
eccentric,  yet  very  entertaining  and  full  of 
wit  and  humor — in  his  latter  days  fond  of 
hunting  and  fishing — "botched"  in  the 
woods  at  that  time,  supported  by  his  son 
John,  at  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Stehley  was  about 
sixty  years  of  age,  and  quite  intelligent,  full 
of  information  and  lively  when  in  company, 
which  ho  tried  to  avoid,  preferring  the  life 
of  a  hermit.  The  mail  was  gotten  at  Thomas 
Harper's,  at  the  Forge.  Isaac  Ferree  was 
quite  an  old  man  then.  Had  sons  running 
a  saw  mill  in  "  (ireenland  " — the  only  saw 
mill  then  about.  The  mill  in  "Greenland" 
was  erected  in  1840,  by  the  Ferree's — Joel, 
Jefferson,  Washington,  Uriah  and  Jacob. 
Shortly  afterwards  the  mill  at  Round  Top 
was  erected  by  the  same  parties,  and  the  one 
at  Greenland  abandoned.  The  elections 
were  held  at  the  tavern  of  Michael  Shaeffer. 
Deer  were  plenty — bear  also — fish  in  abund- 


ance— wild  turkeys.  The  men  employed  in 
the  mines  about  twenty.  The  old  Lykens 
Valley  breaker  was  erected  in  1845-7.  No 
breaker  in  1840.  The  mines  were  then  a 
mere  drift.  In  1853  there  were  about  fifty 
houses  in  Lykens.  About  the  same  number 
in  Wiconisco.  The  orders  in  1853  were  the 
American  Mechanics  and  Sons  of  Temper- 
ance. No  Odd  Fellows  at  that  time.  They 
organized  shortly  after.  The  orders  men- 
tioned met  in  John  Hensel's  building  on 
Main  street,  second  story,  steps  on  the  out- 
side leading  up.  No  minister  then  resident 
in  Lykens.  Preaching  in  the  stone  church, 
Lykens,  the  only  church  then,  by  Watson, 
it  is  thought.  The  first  railroad  consisted 
of  wrought-iron  tacked  on  wooden  rails — 
called  by  the  natives  the  "Slabtrack"  road. 

The  Early  History  of  Gratz. 

To  George  Hoffman,  Esq.,  of  Gratz,  are  the 
citizens  of  that  locality  indebted  for  the  in- 
formation which  follows: 

Ludwig  Shoffstall,  who  came  from  Lancas- 
ter county,  built  the  first  house  in  Gratz — a 
two-story  log,  yet  standing.  Ed.  Umholtz 
(tavern)  lives  in  it.  Frey  kept  his  store  in  it 
for  a  long  time — he  then  attached  the  tavern. 
Conrad  Frey  built  the  tavern  about  1820. 
These  buildings  were  followed  in  the  succes- 
sion named  by  the  log  dwellings  of  Matthias 
Bellow,  Faust,  Rev.  Handel,  Daniel  Fegley, 
Anthonj'  Matthias,  Squire  Reedy  and  John 
Reichard.  The  first  church  was  the  brick, 
built  in  1832 — German  Reformed  and  Lu- 
theran. The  first  pastors.  Revs.  Isaac  Ger- 
hardt  and  John  Peter  Shindel.  Before  the 
brick  church  was  erected  meetings  were  held 
by  the  said  pastors  in  an  old  log  structure, 
built  for  that  purpose  b\'  Simon  Gratz.  The 
first  school  house  was  built  in  1822  by  Eli 
Buffipgton,  the  carpenter  of  the  old  Hoffman 
church,  which  he  erected  about  1771.  The 
original  Simon  Gratz  donated  the  ground. 
Rev.  Anthony  Hautz  was  the  first  pastor  of 
the  old  Hoffman  church.  He  came  back 
when  he  was  seventy-five  years  of  age — a 
very  small,  gray-headed  man,  about  five  feet 
in  height.  A  grist  mill  was  built  quite  early, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  town,  by  one 
John  Salladay,  and  ran  by  a  stream  of  water 
from  a  spring — wheel  over  twenty  feet  high. 
Mr.  Salladay  was  one  of  the  first  settlers. 
Jacob  Loudenslager  was  also  one  of  the  old 
settlers — lived  about  the  present  town,  and 
had  patented  400  acres  in  one  tract.  Old 
John  Hoffman  lived  about  a  quarter  of  a 


48 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


mile  south  of  the  Hoffman  church.  Andrew 
Hoffman  lived  east  of  Jacob  Loudenslager  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  and  had  patented  about 
100  acres.  Peter  Stein,  adjoining,  liad  300 
acres.  Peter  Hoffman  lived  down  the  Wico- 
nisco  creek,  a  mile  this  side  of  the  Forge,  and 
had  400  acres.  The  Pottsville  road  was  made 
about  twenty  years  ago.  The  old  Reading 
road  about  1800.  Peter  Hain  owned  tiie 
Gap  west  of  town.  The  Gap  was  named  for 
him.  He  originally  owned  the  lands  upon 
which  Uniontown  is  now  situated,  before 
Hepner.  Adam  Heller  laid  outBerrysburg. 
He  lived  where  Daniel  Romberger  now  lives, 
which  was  formerly  called  Hellerstown.  He 
was  a  very  lazy,  indifferent  man.  The  j)lace 
where  the  brick  church  is  now  located,  near 
Gratz,  was  formerly  called  Wild  Cat  Ridge, 
on  account  of  the  great  number  of  wild  cats 
congregating  there.  Conrad  Frey  came  from 
Reading,  Pa.  The  Methodist  church  was 
built  in  184(j. 

Early  Families  in  the  "  Upj^er  End." 

Benjamin  Buffington,  the  first  of  the 
name  who  located  in  Lykens  Valley,  was  an 
early  settler  there.  He  came  from  Berks 
county,  died  in  1814,  and  was  buried  in  the 
graveyard  at  Short  mountain  by  request. 
His  sons  were  Eli,  George,  Levi,  and  Jolm. 
Eli  settled  near  Gratz,  where  his  grandson 
Jeremiah  now  resides.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Kissinger  and  their  sons  were  Abra- 
ham and  Jolm  E.  The  latter,  b.  1799;  d. 
1807  ;  m.  Susanna  Artz.  and  had  sons  Elias, 
Jeremiah,  and  Daniel.  The  other  sons  of 
the  elder  Benjamin  Buffington  intermarried 
into  the  Hoffman  family,  lived  to  be  old 
men  and  had  large  families.  Jacob  Buffing- 
ton, Sr.,  b.  1800;  d.  1878  ;  was  by  occupa- 
tion a  mechanic,  and  one  of  the  most  expert 
hunters  in  his  da}'.  He  married  Mary  Gun- 
tryman  ;  and  his  sons  were  Isaac,  Jonas, 
Jacob,  Emanuel,  and  Levi.  Solomon  Buf- 
fington, b.  1819;  d.  Jan.  1,  1878;  was  a 
mechanic  and  farmer.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  tiie  V.  B.  Church  for  many  years 
and  took  an  active  i)art  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion.  Two  of  his  sons  were  in  the 
Union  army.  His  wife  was  Margaret  Mat- 
ter, and  their  sons  were  Moses  C,  Edward, 
and  Uriah. 


1770  Catharine  Hoffman.  Their  oldest  son, 
John  Reigle,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  manj' 
years  and  followed  farming.  He  married 
Susan  Sheetz,  and  of  their  children  Simon 
resided  at  Harrisburg,  and  Obed  J.  in  Will- 
iamstown.  Daniel,  son  of  Andrew  Reigle, 
married  Catharine  Harman.  Their  son 
Daniel  was  a  county  commissioner  in  1852, 
serving  three  years.  Jacob,  son  of  Andrew, 
married  Nancy  Hartman.  Andrew,  Jr.,  was 
a  farmer  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812-14. 
He  married  a  Miss  Stine.  Elizabeth  Reigle, 
a  daughter  of  Andrew,  Sr.,  married  Daniel 
Sheesly,  and  they  were  the  grandparents  of 
Sheriff  Sheesly,  of  Harrisburg. 


Mathias  Freck  was  a  native  of  Baden, 
Germany,  from  whence  he  emigrated  in 
1815.  In  1821  he  married  Eliza  Penrose, 
daughter  of  Col.  Joseph  Penrose,  of  tiie  Rev- 
olutionary army,  and  the  year  after  settled 
in  I^ykens  A^illey,  locating  first  at  Gratz- 
town.  Of  their  children  Joseph  M.  Freck 
was  a  large  coal  operator,  and  resides  at 
Pottsville,  this  State.  Roland  I<'reck  was  re- 
cently po.stmaster  at  Millersburg.  John  L. 
and  Newton  C.  Freck  are  heavily  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  in  Millersburg. 


John  B.  Hoffman,  b.  in  1792  ;  d.  1875. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  by  occupation  ;  had 
been  a  military  captain  and  promoted  to  a 
lieutenant  colonelcy,  and  served  in  the  war 
of  1812-14.  He  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  holding 
the  offices  of  deacon,  elder  and  trustee. 
Politically  he  was  a  staunch  Democrat.  Col- 
onel Hofiinan  married  Margaret  Bowman, 
and  his  sons  were  George,  John,  Christian, 
Josiali,  James,  and  Peter  A. 


Andrew  Reigle  resided  on  and  owned  the 
farm  near  the  end  of  Short  mountain,  after- 
wards owned  by  his  son  Jacob.  He  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution.     He  married  in 


Benjamin  Bretz  was  born  in  I^ykens  Val- 
le}'  in  1796  and  died  in  1878.  He  was 
a  grandson  of  Ludwig  Bretz,  who  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  that  region,  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Revolution,  and  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  I^ong  Island  in  177().  Benjamin 
carried  on  farming  ;  filled  the  office  of  super- 
visor several  terms  and  was  prominently 
identified  with  the  military.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Reformed  Church  and 
much  honored  and  respected.  He  married 
Margaret  Paul,  and  they  had  .sons,  John  and 
Anthony. 


Philip    Runk    was  born  in  Lykens  Val- 
ley, September  16,  1805,  and  died  in  Janu- 


DAUl'lUN  COUNTY. 


49 


ary,  1873.  His  father  came  to  the  valley 
after  the  He  volution,  and  was  one  of  tlie  first 
settlers  in  Jeti'erson  township.  The  son  was 
a  farmer,  served  in  the  military  in  early 
life,  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  U.  B. 
Cijurch.  He  married  Elizabeth  Smith,  and 
tlieir  sons  were  Jacob,  Michael,  and  Adam. 
Jacob  was  at  one  time  a  presiding  elder  in 
the  U.  B.  Church. 


Adam  Cooper  came  to  Lykens  Valley 
during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  a 
[irivate  in  Capt.  Martin  Weaver's  com- 
jiany  of  Upper  Paxtang,  whicli  marched  to 
the  relief  of  tlie  setUers  on  the  West  Brancli 
in  the  spring  of  1781.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
a  great  deer  hunter.  He  married  a  daughter 
of  Ludwig  Shott,  an  early  settler,  and  they 
hat!  a  large  family.  The  late  John  Cooper, 
who  rei)resented  Dauphin  county  in  the 
Legislature  in  1850,  and  who  recently  de- 
ceased, was  a  son.  Connected  by  marriage 
to  the  Cooper  family  are  the  descendants  of 
Jacob  Schwab,  or  Swab,  as  now  written.  He 
was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  and  died  in 
l^Wi,  at  the  age  of  .seventy-five  years.  He 
married  Catharine  Metz,  and  of' their  chil- 
dren, Eli  Swab  filled  the  office  of  county 
commissioner  two  terms. 


Daniel  Etzweiler,  Sr.,  was  born  April  12, 
ISOU,  and  died  Seiitember  15, 1878.  He  was 
a  farmer,  filled  the  office  of  supervisor  two 
terms,  served  five  years  in  a  volunteer  mili- 
tia compan}',  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
St.  James'  Lutheran  and  Reformed  churcli 
near  Carsonville.  He  was  a  great  hunter, 
and  excelled  in  deer  shooting  and  the  trap- 
ping of  bear  on  the  mountains.  Mr.  Etz- 
weiler married  Christiana  Smith,  of  North- 
uniljerland  county,  and  their  sons  were  Jona- 
than, Daniel,  Michael,  Elias,  Peter,  Adam, 
and  Henry. 


Dr.  Robert  Auchmuty,  the  son  of  Samuel 
Auchmuty,  was  born  near  Sunbur}',  North- 
umberland county.  Pa.,  in  the  year  1785. 
He  was  descended  from  an  old  Celtic  family 
of  Scotland.  Robert  Auchmuty,  the  first  of 
the  American  family  of  that  name,  an  emi- 
nent lawyer,  was  in  practice  at  Boston, 
Mass.,  as  early  as  1719.  He  died  in  1750, 
leaving  several  children.  Among  these, 
Robert,  who  in  1767  became  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Admirality  at  Boston  ;  Samuel,  who 
was  rector  of  Trinity  church.  New  York 
city,  and  Arthur  Gates.     The  latter  came  to 


Pennsylvania  as  early  as  1765,  and  located 
in  then  Lancaster  county.  In  that  year  we 
find  him  commissioned  as  an  Indian  trader, 
with  permission  to  trade  with  the  natives  at 
Penn's  creek,  Shamokin  and  such  other  forts 
as  may  by  his  majesty  or  the  Provincial  au- 
thorities be  established.  He  first  settled  at 
the  month  of  Penn's  creek,  on  the  Isle  of 
(^,ue,  and  from  thence  removed  to  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  Susquehanna,  a  few  miles 
below  Fort  Augusta,  in  what  is  now  Lower 
Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county. 
During  the  war  of  the  Revolution  Samuel 
Auchmuty,  one  of  his  sons,  and  father  of  the 
doctor,  entered  tlie  patriot  army,  and  was  in 
service  from  the  winter  at  Valley  Forge 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  veteran's  re- 
mains rest  in  the  old  burial  ground  at  Mil- 
lersburg,  unmarked  and  the  spot  unknown. 
Dr.  Robert  Auchmuty  received  a  good  edu- 
cation, studied  medicine  and  began  tlie 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Millersburg 
about  1830-31.  Apart  from  the  duties  oi 
his  profession  he  served  many  years  as  a  jus 
tice  of  the  peace,  being  first  commissione  - 
by  Governor  Ritner.  He  was  an  enterprid 
ing,  active  citizen,  and  a  warm  advocate  s- 
the  common  school  system  when  that  nobof 
measure  was  adopted,  and  was  a  gentleraale 
beloved  and  respected  by  his  fellow  citizenn 
He  died  at  Millersburg  in  1849,  at  the  ags. 
of  64,  and  is  buried  in  the  new  cemetery  ae 
that  place.  He  was  the  father  of  S.  P.  Aucht 
muty,  Esq.,  of  Millersburg. 


Hartman  Rickert,  an  emigrant  from  Ger- 
many, settled  near  Short  mountain  at  an 
early  date;  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years,  leaving  one  son  Hartman  Rickert,  Jr., 
who  married  Catharine  Seebold.  They  were 
upwards  of  eighty  at  their  death.  Tliey  had 
children:  Henry,  m.  Miss  Romberger 
Martin,  m.  Elizabeth  Verges;  Peter,  m 
Miss  Klinger;  Jacob,  m.  Elizabeth  Hoover 
All  left  descendants. 


John  F.JBowman  was  born  in  Lancaster, 
county  Pa.,  May  10,  1771.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  residing  on  Pequea  creek,  not  far 
from  Strasburg.  John  F.  was  brought  up 
as  a  millwright,  but  subsequently  entered 
mercantile  pursuits.  In  1809  be  removed 
to  Halifax,  where  he  was  a  merchant  from 
that  period  to  1830,  when,  believing  a  larger 
sphere  of  trade  was  opened  for  him,  lie  went 
to  Millersburg,  where  he  successfully  con- 
tinued in  business  until  his  death,  which  oc- 


50 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


curred  on  the  6th  of  November,  1835.  Mr. 
Bowman  first  married  in  1794  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  Ferree,  whose  farm  adjoined  that  of 
his  father.  By  this  marriage  they  had  the 
following  children :  Eliza,  Maria,  George, 
Josiah,  m.  Elizaheth  Rutter.  Mr.  Bowman 
married,  .secondly,  in,  1805,  Frances  Crossen, 
daughter  of  John  Crossen.  They  had  issue 
as  follows :  John  J.,  m.  Margaret  Sallade ; 
Levi,  Louisa,  Isaac,  Mary  E.,  m.  Rev.  C.  W. 
Jackson  ;  Lucinda,m.  Dr.  Hiram  Rutherford  ; 
Jacob,  Emeline,  Benjamin.  John  F.  Bow- 
man was  one  of  the  representative  men  of 
the  "  Upper  End,"  enjoyed  a  reputation  for 
uprightness  and  honesty,  and  highly  es- 
teemed by  those  who  knew  him.  Genial, 
yet  quiet  and  unobtrusive,  lie  never  sought 
or  would  accept  any  local  or  public  office. 
His  second  wife,  Frances  Crossen,  b.  August 
13, 1786  ;  d.  September  30, 1846,  and  lies  in- 
terred be-side  her  husband  in  the  old  Metho- 
dist grave3'ard  at  Millersburg. 


Jacob  Hoover  settled  in  the  "  Upi^er  End  " 
in  1800,  and  built  the  mi'l  now  owned  by 
Daniel  Buffington.  Of  his  children  :  Jacob, 
d.  young;  ra  Mi.ss  Bellas;  Christian,  m. 
Miss  Feagley ;  and  their  son  Samuel  was  the 
first  superintendent  of  the  Short  Mountain 
mines  ;  he  removed  to  Minnesota  many  years 
ago;  John,  m.  Margaret  Lebo;  he  owned 
the  mill  erected  by  his  father;  Mary,  m.  John 
Shoffstall ;  Katharine,  m.  George  Kissinger; 
Mary,  m.  Jacob  Bordner;  Susanna,  m.  Henr}' 
Umholtz. 


Abraham  Jury. — Among  the  earliest  settlers 
on  the  Wiconisco  was  Abraham  Jury,  or,  as 
it  is  sometimes  written,  Shora.  He  was  of 
French  Huguenot  descent,  and  emigrated 
from  Switzerland  about  1755.  He  located 
within  the  valley  not  far  from  the  town  of 
Millersburg.  He  was  a  farmer  and  took  up 
a  large  tract  of  land.  In  the  Revolution  he 
served  during  the  campaign  in  the  Jerseys, 
and  subsequently  on  the  frontiers,  as  did  also 
his  eldest  son,  Samuel.  He  died  in  August, 
1785,  leaving  a  wife  Catharine,  and  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Samuel,  Abraham,  Mary,  Mag- 
dalena,  Margaret,  Catharine,  Susanna,  and 
Salome.  Samuel,  we  presume,  either  removed 
from  the  valley  or  died  early,for  Abraham,  Jr., 
seems  to  have  come  into  possession  of  the  old 
homestead.  The  latter  died  in  November, 
1805,  leaving  John,  who  was  of  age,  and 
Jacob,  Hannah  and  Sallie,  minors. 


Rev.  Charles  Edward  ]\Iuench. — Any  his- 
toric record  of  the  Upper  End  would  fail  of 
completeness  without  some  mention  of  the  dis- 
tinguished "Dominie"  of  Hoffman  church. 
We  refer  to  the  Rev.  Charles  Edward  Muench, 
a  native  of  Mettenheim,  Wartenburg,  in  the 
Palatinate  of  Chur  Pfaltz  on  the  Rhine,  Ger- 
many, born  January  7,  1769.  He  was  of 
Huguenot-French  descent,  his  grandfather, 
Charles  Frederick  Beauvoir,  fleeing  France 
during  the  religious  persecutions,  and  })ur- 
chasing  the  "  Muench  Hoff,"  took  his  sur- 
name therefrom.  Charles  Frederick,  the 
younger,  was  early  sent  to  Heidelberg,  where 
he  completed  his  theological  studies.  It  was 
just  at  the  commencement  of  the  general 
war  in  Europe,  when  on  the  occasion  of  his 
home  being  invaded  by  the  French  army  he 
received  and  accepted  a  commission  as  cap- 
tain of  a  company  of  huzzars  in  the  Allied 
armies,  in  which  service  he  was  severely 
wounded  by  a  pistol  ball  in  the  leg,  and  a 
sabre  cut  on  the  left  hand.  He  commanded 
the  guard  that  conducted  Lafayette  to  the 
prison  at  Olmutz.  On  the  8th  of  July,  1794, 
lie  was  promoted  quartermaster  under  Sir 
Francis  of 'Wiedlungen.  On  the  very  day 
of  his  promotion  he  married  Margaretha 
Bieser.  In  1798  he  came  to  America,  where 
he  taught  a  German  school  successively  at 
Shaefferstown,  Lebanon  county,  and  Rehrers- 
burg,  Berks  county.  In  1804  he  removed  to 
Lykens  Valley,  at  the  Hoffman  church 
school  property  ;  but  discouraged  somewhat 
at  the  wild  apj)earance  of  the  land,  he  went 
to  Union  county.  Subsequently,  in  1806, 
the  congregation  at  Hoffman  church  re- 
quested his  return,  when  yielding  thereto, 
he  once  more  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his 
station.  For  a  period  of  twent3'-eight  years 
he  was  a  faithful  teacher,  and  although  not 
the  ordained  minister,  yet  very  frequently 
conducted  the  religious  services  in  Hoffman 
church,  and  officiated  on  funeral  occasions. 
He  was  greatly  beloved  by  the  people,  and 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  8th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1833,  occasioned  sorrow  in  many  a 
household.  His  beloved  wife,  Margaretha, 
died  in  the  following  year,  1834,  and  their 
remains  lie  interred  side  bj'  side  in  the 
graveyard  of  old  Hoffman  church.  The  Rev. 
Muench  was  exceedingly  expert  with  the 
pen — had  a  refined  artistic  taste  as  to  draw- 
ing and  designing — and  in  the  ornamenta- 
tion of  books  and  inlaying  of  furniture.  He 
was  a  musician  of  no  ordinary  ability,  and 
was  an  adept  in  all  those  essentials  charac- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


51 


teristic  of  the  home  culture  of  the  Germans 
of  the  better  chiss.  Mr.  Muencli's  chihlren 
were:  Juliana,  m.  Jacob  Wolf;  William 
Henry,  m.  Eliz.  Reed,  of  Northumberland 
county;  Susanna  Louisa,  m.  Jacob  Riegel; 
Charles  Frederick,  m.  Grace  Leyburn,  of 
Carlisle;  Daniel  Augustus,  of  Plalifax,  m. 
Lydia  Smith  ;  Jacob  Dewalt,  m.  Salome 
Moyer ;  Margaret,  m.  Peter  Miller  of  Halifax. 

Simon  Sal  lade. — There  are  few  citizens  pf 
tlie  county  of  Dauphin  who  are  not  familiar 
with  tlie  name  and  valuable  services  of 
Simon  Sallade,  one  of  the  representative  men 
of  this  district  forty  years  ago,  and  concern- 
ing whom  we  have  been  able  to  glean  the 
biographical  data  which  herewith  follows : 

Simon  Sallade  was  born  near  Gratz,  Dau- 
phin co.unt\',  Pa.,  on  the  7th  of  March,  1785. 
His  father,  John  Sallade,  of  French  Hugue- 
not descent,  was  a  native  of  Bosel  on  the 
Khine,  born  in  March,  1739,  emigrated,  with 
other  members  of  his  famil}',  to  America  at 
an  early  period,  and  was  among  tiie  first 
settlers  on  the  Wiconisco.  He  died  at  theags 
of  88  years,  in  November,  1827,  being  blind 
about  ten  j-ears  before  liis  death.  He  mar- 
ried on  the  8th  of  February,  1771,  Margaret 
Everhart,  daughter  of  George  Everhart,  born 
in  Berks  county  in  1747,  and  concerning 
whom  we  have  thefollowingincident.  Upon 
the  Indian  incursions  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Susquelianna,  subsequent  to  the  defeat  of 
Braddock,  in  the  fall  of  1755,  she  was  taken 
captive  by  the  savage  marauders,  near  what 
is  now  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  count}'.  She 
was  an  unwilling  witness  to  the  scenes  of 
murder  and  atrocity,  when  the  merciless  In- 
dians tomahawked  and  scalped  her  parents, 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  beheld  the  home  of 
her  birth  illuminating  by  its  red  glare  the  mid- 
night sky,  while  onl}'  slie  of  all  her  friends 
was  left — and  she  a  prisoner  with  the  cruel 
and  blood-thirsty  savage.  Doubtless  there 
was  some  attractiveness  of  person  or  piteous- 
ness  of  appeal  which  saved  her  life.  Of  the 
wearisome  years  of  her  captivity  among  the 
Indians,  west  of  the  Ohio,  we  have  little 
knowledge.  It  is  not,  however,  until  the 
power  of  the  French  on  the  beautiful  river 
was  broken  by  the  courage  and  skill  of  Gen- 
eral Forbes,  that  the  little  prisoner  was  rescued 
and  returned  to  her  friends  in  Berks  county. 
Siie  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age.  John  Sallade 
had  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  Simon  be- 
ing next  to  the  youngest.  Simon  Sallade, 
owing  to  the  want  of  schools  in  those  early 


days  in  the  valley,  was  obliged  to  depend 
upon  the  educational  instruction  given  by 
his  parents,  but  being  an  apt  scholar,  it 
was  not  long  before  he  mastered  the  main 
brandies  in  a  good  education.  He  was  a 
great  reader,  and,  although  books  were  few 
in  those  days,  he  read  and  re-read  those  fall- 
ing into  his  hands.  Later  in  life,  toward 
manhood's  years,  he  acquired  considerable 
knowledge  by  the  aid  of  a  teacher,  whom  he 
and  some  of  the  young  men  of  his  neighbor- 
hood employed  for  that  purpose.  He  was 
quite  a  performer  on  the  violin  and  being  of 
a  social  nature,  he  was  often  the  center  and 
life  of  many  winter  evening  gatherings  of 
that  time. 

Mr.  Sallade  was  a  mill-wright  by  trade, 
acquiring  much  of  his  ])roticiency  in  that 
vocation  from  an  apprenticeship  to  Jacob 
Berkstresser,  of  Bellefonte.  Many  of  the  old 
mills  within  30  or  40  miles  of  his  home,  were 
of  his  designing,  and  in  fact  the  workman- 
ship of  his  hand.  A  self-made  man,  ener- 
getic, social  and  industrious,  he  became  in 
time  one  of  the  most  popular  men  of  the 
Upper  End. 

His  constant  contact  witii  the  people  of  all 
classes  in  social  life  or  business  relations  re- 
sulted in  his  taking  warm  interest  in  politi- 
cal affairs.  Although  a  politician,  he  was 
such  for  the  advancement  of  the  ]iublic  good. 
He  was  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school,  and 
when  named  for  office,  he  appealed  to  the 
people  instead  of  the  party  for  support.  He 
was  four  times  elected  to  the  Pennsylvania 
House  of  Representatives.  First,  in  the 
years  1819  and  1820,  at  the  age  of  34 ;  next 
in  1836-7,  at  the  age  of  51  years;  and  again 
in  1853,  when  he  was  in  his  69th  year. 
Each  time  the  Whigs  were  largely  in  the 
majority  in  Dauphin  county,  yet  always 
when  put  in  nomination  by  the  Democratic 
party,  Mr.  Sallade,  save  in  one  instance,  was 
elected.  This  defeat  was  due  in  part  to  a 
letter  written  at  the  time  to  Charles  C.  Rawn, 
Esq.,  chairman  of  the  temperance  committee, 
in  which  he  announced  his  opposition  to  the 
passage  of  the  Maine  liquor  law.  His  letter 
was  bold  and  outspoken.  He  did  not  con- 
ceal his  opinions  for  tlie  purpose  of  sailing 
into  office  under  false  colors.  He  might 
have  done  as  latter-da}'  politicians  do,  as  did 
his  opponents  at  that  time — evaded  the 
question  and  deceived  the  voter.  Simon 
Sallade  preferred  defeat  to  deception — that 
the  honorable  career  that  he  had  made  and 
sustained  for  political  integrity  and  honesty 


52 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


should  lose  nothing  of  its  lustre  in  his  de- 
clining years. 

During  his  term  in  the  Legislature  he  was 
the  author  of  what  was  generally  known  as  the 
"  Wiconisco  Feeder  Bill."  To  his  zeal  and 
tact,  that  important  legislation  for  the  Upper 
End  of  Dauphin  county,  owes  its  passage. 
Through  this  outlet  the  Lykens  Valley  coal 
fields  were  first  developed.  He  was  the 
superintendent  for  the  construction  of  the 
Wiconisco  canal,  and  held  the  appointment 
through  the  canal  commis.sioners. 

Simon  Sallade  died  at  the  old  iiomestead, 
near  Elizabethville,  on  the  Sth  of  November, 
1854,  and  is  interred  in  the  village  grave- 
yard at  that  place.  His  wife  was  Jane  Wood- 
side,  daughter  of  John  Woodside,  of  Lykens 
Valley.  She  died  September  3,  1854,  and 
is  buried  in  the  same  graveyard.  They  luul 
issue  as  follows:  Margaret,  m.  John  J.  Bow- 
man, of  Millersburg;  Ann,  m.  Edward 
Bickel;  Jane,  m.  Daniel  K.  Smith;  Simon, 
Jacob,  John,  George,  and  Josepii. 

There  are  many  hearthstones,  writes  one 
who  knew  Simon  Sallade  well,  and  to  whom 
we  are  greatly  indebted  for  much  of  the  in- 
formation herewith  given,  in  Lykens  Valley, 
where  the  story  of  his  sociability,  hospitality, 
humor,  honesty,  and  his  many  deeds  of 
charitv,are  rehearsed  by  tiiose  of  tlie  fathers 
of  the" present  generation  wlio  never  saw  or 
knew  him,  except  from  tlie  traditionary  his- 
tory whicli  is  part  and  parcel  of  every  family 
and  community. 

John  Peter  Willard,  of  Huguenot  descent, 
was  a  native  of  Switzerland,  born  in  1745. 
He  came  to  America  as  a  soldier  in  the  Brit- 
ish service,  but  shortly  after  landing  effected 
his  escape.  He  then  volunteered  in  the 
cause  of  the  Colonies,  and  was  with  other  de- 
serters stationed  on  the  Indian  frontier  or  as 
guard  of  prisoners  of  war.  At  the  close  of 
the  Revolution  he  took  up  a  tract  of  land  in 
Lykens  township.called  "Amsterdam,"  where 
he  settled,  began  farming  and  subsequently 
married.  He  died  in  1821,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-six. His  wife  died  the  following  year 
(1822)  aged  seventy-seven.  They  left  the 
following  familv  :  Adam,  who  came  into  pos- 
session of  the  homestead ;  his  children,  Jo- 
seph, John  A.,  Henrv  B.  and  Adam,  Jr.,  then 
divided  the  farm  ;  part  of  it  yet  remains  in 
possession  of  the  descendants;  Samuel  re- 
mained in  the  valley,  a  farmer,  and  had  a 
large  family;  Anna  Maria  mariied  John 
Philip  Umholtz. 


The  Lykens  Valley  Coal  Development. 

The  Wiconisco  Coal  Company,  named  for 
Wiconisco  creek  in  the  northeastern  poi-tion 
of  the  county,  was  organized  in  1831,  com- 
posed of  six  niembers — Simon  Gratz,  Samuel 
Richards,  George  H.  Thompson,  Charles 
Rockland  Thompson,  all  of  Philadelphia, 
and  Henry  Schriner  and  Henry  Siieafer, 
both  of  Dauphin  county.  They  began  work 
at  ojiening  their  mines  by  drifts  in  the  gap 
at  Bear  Creek,  and  sold  coal  in  the  vicinity 
in  1832.  The  first  miners  were  three  Eng- 
lis'h men— James  Todofi",  John  Brown  and 
William  Hall,  who  came  from  Schuylkill 
county. 

The  Lykens  Valley  railroad  was  located 
by  Mr.  Ashwin,  an  English  civil  engineer, 
and  extended  from  the  mines  in  Bear  Gap, 
sixteen  miles,  to  the  Susquehanna  river, 
along  the  north  foot  of  Berry's  mountain. 
This  road  was  constructed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  John  Paul,  civil  engineer,  Henry 
Sheafer,  superintendent,  and  Simon  Sallade, 
director.  The  road  was  completed  and  began 
transi)orting  coal  in  1834  by  horse  power,  on 
a  flat  strip  rail.  A  number  of  ark  loads  of 
coal  wereshiiiped  from  Millersburg  in  March 
and  April,  1834.  Then  the  coal  cars  were 
boated  across  the  Susquehanna,  from  the 
terminus  of  the  railroad  at  Millersburg  to 
Mt.  Patrick,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
canal,  in  Perry  county.  This  site  was  for- 
merly owned  by  Peter  Ritner,  brother  of 
Governor  Ritner.  Here  the  Lykens  Valley 
company  had  a  set  of  schutes  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania canal,  where  they  shipped  their 
coal  to  market.  The  first  boat  load  of  Lykens 
\'allev  cbal  was  sent  on  Saturday,  April  19, 
1834,  V  boat  "  76,"  forty-three  tons,  Capt.  C. 
France"  consigned  to  Thomas  Baldridge, 
Columbia,  Pa. 

Shipments  continued  in  this  manner  until 
1845,  when  the  railroad  was  worn  out,  and 
abandoned  until  1848.  Then  a  portion  of  the 
railroad  was  regraded,  and  all  laid  with  new 
"  T  "  rail.  The  Wiconisco  canal  was  built 
and  shipments  resumed  in  1848,  and  have 
continued  ever  since.  Up  to  and  including 
1858,  the  total  shipment  of  coal  from  the 
Lykens  Vallev  mines,  from  the  beginning, 
amounted  to  eight  hundred  and  forty-eight 
thousand,  seven  hundred  and  eighty-one 
tons,  and  the  grand  total  shipments  on  the 
Susquehanna  were  three  millions,  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-four  thousand,  seven  hun- 
dred and  eishty-one  tons,  which  included 


Governor  Geary. 


Governor  Wolfe. 


Governor  shunk. 


Governor  Porter. 


Governor  Findlay. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


55 


sliipments  of  coal  by  the  Union  canal  and 
otlier  avenues  as  follows : 

The  Shamokin  railroad  was  opened  in 
1839. 

The  Dauphin  and  Susqueiianna  in  1854. 

The  Treverton  railroad  in  1855. 

At  this  early  day  of  the  coal  trade,  tiiis 
portion  of  the  country  was  wild  and  seemed 
far  removed  in  the  woods.  Lykens  Valley  is 
the  broad  expanse,  three  to  five  miles  in 
widtli,  of  fertile  red  shale  soil  between  the 
Mahantango  mountain  on  the  north  and 
Berry's  mountain  on  the  south,  with  the  Sus- 
quehanna river  as  its  boundary  line  on  the 
west.  Its  eastern  portion  is  a  distance  of 
twelve  miles  from  tlie  river,  and  is  sub-di- 
vided into  two  smaller  vallej's,  the  main  or 
northern  one  extending  some  ten  miles  east 
to  the  valley  of  the  Mahanoy  creek.  The 
south  portion  is  named  after  its  early  settler, 
Williams,  who  built  a  grist  mill  near  Will- 
ianastown,  also  named  after  him. 

Andrew  Lycans,  the  Pioneer  of  the  Wiconisco 
Valley. 

In  1723  Andrew  Lycans  (not  Lycan) 
settled  on  the  Svvatara  creek,  wliere  lie  took 
u]i  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining lands  of  Robert  Young  and  Lazarus 
Stewart,  and  which  was  surveyed  to  him  on 
the  4th  of  April,  1737.  About  1740  he  seems 
to  have  sold  out,  and  removed  with  a  num- 
ber of  others  to  tlie  west  side  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, wliere  lie  settled  and  made  some  im- 
provement.s  on  a  tract  of  land  between  Siiear- 
man's  creek  and  the  Juniata,  in  then 
Cumberland  county.  This  not  being  in- 
cluded in  the  then  last  Indian  purchase,  the 
Shawanese,  who  iiad  a  few  scattered  villages 
on  the  Juniata,  complained  of  the  encroach- 
ments of  tiiese  settlers  and  demanded  their 
removal.  To  pacify  the  Indians,  the  Pro- 
vincial authorities  sent,  in  1748,  the  sheriff 
of  Lancaster  count}',  with  three  magistrates, 
accompanied  by  Conrad  Weiser,  to  warn  the 
people  to  leave  at  once.  But,  notwithstand- 
ing all  this,  the  settlers  remained,  determined 
not  to  be  driven  awav  at  least  bv  threats. 

On  the  22d  of  May,  1740,"'  after  more 
decisive  measures  had  been  decided  upon  by 
the  Provincial  government,  a  number  of 
high  dignitaries  wlio  had  been  appointed 
by  tlie  lieutenant  governor,  held  a  conference 
at  the  house  of  George  Croghan  in  Penns- 
boro'  township,  Cumberland  county.  Sub- 
sequently, accompanied  by  the  under-sheriff 
of  tiiat  county,  they  went  to  the  place  where 


Lycans  and  others  lived,  and  after  taking 
the  settlers  into  custody  burned  their  cabins 
to  the  number  of  five  or  six.* 

Tliey  were  subsequently  released  by  order 
of  the  governor  of  the  Province,  when  An- 
drew Lycans  removed  with  his  family  to  the 
east  side  of  the  Susquehanna  beyond  the 
Kittatinny  mountains,  and  by  permission 
of  tlie  authorities,  settled  on  a  tract  of  about 
two  iiundred  acres,  situated  on  tiie  nortlierl}' 
side  of  Whiconescong  creek."  Here  he 
made  "considerable  im[)rovements,"  wiiicli 
we  learn  from  a  document  in  our  possession. 

Until  the  spring  of  1750  tiiese  pioneers  on 
the  Wiconisco  were  not  disturbed  in  tiieir 
homes,  but  following  tlie  defeat  of  Braddock, 
everywhere  along  the  frontier  the  savages 
began  their  work  of  devastation  and  deatii. 
Their  implacable  cruelty  was  stimulated  by 
the  promise  of  reward  for  scalps  on  the  part 
of  the  French,  beside  tlie  furtiier  one  of  be- 
ing put  into  possession  of  tiieir  lands.  On 
the  morning  of  tlie  7tli  of  Marcli,  1750,  An- 
drew Lycans  and  John  Rewalt  went  out 
early  to  fodder  their  cattle,  when  two  guns 
were  fired  at  them.  Neither  being  harmed, 
they  ran  into  the  iiouse,  and  prepared  tliem- 
selves  for  defense  in  case  of  an  attack.  The 
Indians  then  got  under  cover  of  a  liog  iiouse 
near  the  dwelling  house,  when  John  Lycans, 
a  son  of  Andrew,  John  Rewalt  and  Ludwig 
Shott,  a  neighbor,  crept  out  of  the  house  in 
order  to  get  a  shot  at  them,  but  were  fired 
upon  by  the  savages,  and  all  wounded,  the 
latter  (Shott)  in  the  abdomen.  At  this 
moment  Andrew  Lycans  saw  one  of  the  In- 
dians over  the  hog  house,  and  also  two 
white  men  running  out  of  the  same,  and  get 
a  little  distance  therefrom.  LTpon  this,  Ly- 
cans and  his  party  attempted  to  escajie,  but 
were  pursued  by  tlie  Indians  to  the  number 
of  sixteen  or  upwards.  John  Lycans 'and 
Rewalt,  being  badly  wounded  and  not  able 

*NOTE. — We  have  before  us  the  account  of  An- 
drew Work,  sheriff  of  Lancaster,  for  removal  of 
trespassers  at  Juniata."  which  is  as  follows  : 

'•  Dr.  Province  of  Pennsylvania  to  Andrew  Work, 
Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Lancaster  and  Cumberland. 
"  To  ten  days  attendance  on  the  Secretary  Mag- 
istrates of  Cumberland,  by  his  Hon'r,  the  Gover- 
nor's command  to  remove  sundry  persons  .settled  to 
the  northward  of  the  Kichitania  mountains  : 
"  To  paid  the  Messenger  sent  from  Lancaster 

at  my  own  expenses 3:7:0 

"To  the  Under-sheriff's  Attendance  on  the 

like  service,  eight  days, 

"  To  his   E.xpenses  in   taking   down    Andrew 
Lycans  to  Prison  to  Lancaster  other  Ex- 
penses on  the  .Journey,   ...  ...   2:10:0 

"Augt.,  1750.  And  Work,  Sher. 


56 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


to  do  anything,  with  a  negro,  who  was  with 
them,  inade  off,  leaving  Andrew  Lycans, 
Shott  and  a  boy  engaged  with  the  Indians. 
The  savages  pursued  them  so  closely  that 
one  of  them  coming  up  to  the  boy  was  going 
to  strike  his  tomahawk  into  him,  when  Lud- 
wig  Shott  turned  and  shot  him  dead,  while 
Lycans  killed  two  more  and  wounded  sev- 
eral in  addition.  At  hist,  being  exhausted 
and  vvounded,  they  sat  down  on  a  log  to 
rest  themselves  ;  but  the  Indians  were  some- 
what cautious  and  stood  some  distance  from 
them,  and  subsequently  returned  to  look 
after  their  own  wounded.  Lycans  and  all 
his  party  managed  to  get  over  the  moun- 
tain into  Hanover  township,  where  they 
were  properly  cared  for.  Here  Andrew  Ly- 
cans died,  leaving  a  wife,  Jane  Lycans, 
and  children,  John,  Susanna,  Rebecca, 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  and  Margaret.  It  is 
not  known  when  Lycans'  family,  with 
the  other  settlers,  returned  to  their  homes 
in  the  Wiconisco  Valley — but  not  until 
all  danger  was  over;  and  although  on 
a  subsequent  occasion  they  were  obliged  to 
leave  all  and  flee  before  the  marauding  sav- 
ages, yet  the  one  alluded  to  was  the  only  in- 
stance where  they  so  narrowly  escaped  with 
tlieir  lives.  Besides,  the  erection  of  the  forts 
at  Siiamokin  (Sunbury)  and  at  Armstrong's 
(Halifax)  and  at  McKee's,  at  tlie  foot  of 
Berry's  mountain,  was  percliance  ample  pro- 
tection from  the  annual  marauds  of  tiie  In- 
dians, wliicli  up  to  tiie  year  1764  kept  the 
frontier  inhabitants  in  a  terrible  state  of  ap- 
prehension and  fear. 

John  Lycans,  son  of  Andrew,  became  an 
officer  of  the  Provincial  service,  commis- 
sioned July  12,  17G2.  In  June,  1764,  he 
was  stationed  at  Manada  Gap.  It  is  prob- 
able he  removed  from  the  valley  prior  to 
the  Revolution.  His  mother,  Jane  Lycans, 
in  February,  1765,  had  a  {)atent  issued  to 
her  for  the  land  on  which  her  husband  had 
located.  The  Lycans  cabin  stood  until 
about  twenty  years  ago  on  McClure's  farin, 
owned  at  present  by  H.  L.  Lark.  Ludwig 
Shott  died  about  1790, and  left  a  large  family ; 
some  of  his  descendants  remain  in  the  val- 
ley. Rewalt  subsequently  removed  to  the 
now  thickly  settled  portion  of  the  Province. 

Andrew  Lycans  has  given  his  name  to 
this  beautiful  valley  of  the  Wiconisco,  owing 
perchance  to  the  terrible  encounter  with  the 
Indians  as  narrated.  The  orthography  has 
been  changed  within  the  last  fifty  years,  but 
we  have  not  learned   the  reason  therefore. 


Whether  Lykens,  or  Lycans,  we  trust  that 
no  attempt  may  ever  be  made  to  deprive  the 
first  pioneer  of  the  name  which  has  been 
apjiropriately  given  to  it. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Genealogical  Notes. 

In  the  absence  of  town  records,  much  diffi- 
culty is  daily  experienced  by  tiiose  in  search 
of  the  records  of  their  ancestry.  In  Penn- 
sylvania, .save  among  the  early  Quakers,  the 
abstracts  of  wills,  the  assessment  lists,  the  ad- 
ministration accounts,  with  an  occasional 
deed,  are  the  only  fields  for  genealogical  re- 
search prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
Owing  to  this  fact,  and  to  preserve  to  tlie 
people  of  Dauphin  county,  and  to  the  de- 
scendants of  those  who  have  gone  out  from 
it  and  are  scattered  over  many  States  of  the 
Federal  Union,  we  have  compiled  the  follow- 
ing al)stracts  of  wills  pertaining  to  that  sec- 
tion of  Lancaster  county  whicii,  after  1785, 
became  tlie  county  of  Daupiiin.  The  history 
of  the  family  is  becoming  of  far  greater  im- 
portance than  the  general  history  of  public 
affairs  or  tliat  of  the  individual.  We  feel 
confident,  that  in  the  preservation  in  tiiis 
volume  of  tiiese  beginnings  of  the  early 
family  history  of  the  pioneers  and  other  set- 
tlers, we  do  excellent  service ;  and,  therefore, 
tender  them  to  those  into  whose  hands  this 
Encyclo{)edia  of  Biography  may  fall,  believ- 
ing that  no  other  chapter  contained  within 
the  covers  of  the  volume  will  be  more  highly 
appreciated.  At  the  present  time,  when  on 
all  sides  efforts  are  being  made  to  preserve 
the  history  of  the  family,  no  better  lexicon 
of  genealogy  can  be  found  in  any  local  his- 
torical volume. 

Ashton,  Alexander,  of  Hanover,  d.  De- 
cember, 1743,  leaving  a  wife  Isabella,  and 
children  ■  James,  John,  and  Henry.  The  ex- 
ecutors were  Walter  Carruth  and  John  Mc- 
Queen. 

Allison,  William,  of  Derry,  d.  in  August, 
1739.  leaving  a  wife,  and  several  children. 

Allison,  James,  Sr ,  of  Cormack  Plains,  d. 
in  September,  1739,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and 
children  :  Isabella,  James,  and  John. 

Allison,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  in  May,  1747, 
leaving  a  wife  Jeanet,  and  child  ren  :  Robert, 
Jean,  Isabel,  Margaret,  Jeanet,  and  James. 

Allison,  James,  d.  in  September,  1762, 
leaving  a  wife  Rebecca^  and  children  :  James, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY 


57 


Anna  m. Defrance,  Janet  m.  William 

Watt,  Margaret  m.  Bowman,  Sarah, 

and  Rebecca.  Mrs.  Rebecca  Allison  d.  Sep- 
tember, 1764. 

Allison,  Robert,  of  Derry,  d.  in  February, 
1765,  leaving  brothers  William  and  John, 
who  were  his  executors.  The  legatees  of  his 
estate  were  the  trustees  of  the  Philadelphia 
Hospital,  the  Grammar  School  of  Newark, 
Del.,  Anabella  McDowell  and  Mary  Clark. 

Allison,  John,  d.  May,  1767,  leaving  a  wife 

Ann,  and  children  :  Patrick,  Jane,  m. 

Clark,  Margaret,  John,  James,  Ann,  William, 
Robert,  and  Rose. 

Allison,  James,  d.  April,  1776,  leaving  his 
estate  to  his  sisters  Sarah  Allison,  Reliecca, 

m. Killwell,  and  Janet,  m.  William 

Watt ;  also  to  his  nephews,  James  and  John 
Defrance. 

Allen,  AVilliam,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1744,  leaving  a  wife  Sarah,  and  chil- 
dren :  William,  John,  Benjamin,  and  James. 

Allen,  William,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  March, 

1782,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  children  : 
John,  Sarah,  m.  James  Dixon,  Jean,  m.  John 
Sawyer,  Elizabeth,  m.  Samuel  Mann,  Mary, 
m.  John  Snodgrass,  Samuel,  and  William. 
He  mentions  grandchildren  Sarah  and  Allen 
Dixon,  Mary  and  William  Allen. 

Armstrong,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Decem- 
ber, 1758,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  brothers  Will- 
iam and  John,  sisters  Margaret,  Mary,  Eliza- 
beth, m. Thompson,  and  Frances. 

Andrews,  John,   of  Hanover,  d.    March, 

1783,  leaving  a  wife  Rachel,  and  among 
others,  daughter  Elizabeth. 

Barnett,  John,  d. September,  1734,  leaving 
a  wife  Jennet, and  children  :  Thomas,  Joseph, 
Robert,  James,  John,  Rebecca,  Marj',  and 
Jean. 

Barnett,  Samuel,  of  Hanover,  d.  July, 
1758,  leaving  a  wife  Martha,  and  children  : 
Samuel,  John,  Elizabeth,  Sarah, and  Rebecca. 

Barnett,  William,  of  Hanover,  d.  Febru- 
ary, 1762,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  chil- 
dren: Joseph  and  Sarali.  John  and  Will- 
iam Barnett  were  the  executors. 

Barnett,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Septem- 
ber, 1764,  leaving  a  wife  Rebecca,  and  chil- 
dren :  John,  William,  Mary,  Rebecca,  Isabel, 
and  Jean. 

Barnett,  John  E.,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Januar^y, 
1785,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children : 
Andrew,  John,  and  Janet. 

Bartlett,  Jolin,  d.  prior  to  August,  1761, 
leaving  sisters  as  follows:  Rachel,  m.  Will- 
iam   Mills,   Mary,   m.   Matthew    Chambers, 


Bathsheba,  m.  John  Bailey,  Rebecca,  Martha. 

Barclay,  William,  d.  prior  to  1761,  at  that 
time  his  widow  Esther  being  the  wife  of 
Mclntire.  William  Barclay's  chil- 
dren were:  John,  Hugh,  Stephen,  Joseph, 
Mary,  Margaret,  Martha,  Esther. 

Brandon,  William,  of  Hanover,  d.  April, 
1753,  leaving  a  wife  Isabella,  and  children  : 
James,  Catharine,  Ann,  and  William. 

Black,  David,  of  L»erry,  d.  November,  1753, 
leaving  a  wife  Jane,  and  his  estate  to  his 
nephews,  William  and  Thomas  Spencer,  and 
William  Laird,  and  nieces,  Eliza  Laird  and 
Mary  Maxwell. 

Black,  Hugh,  of  Derry,  d.  September,  1759, 
leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children : 
Thomas,  David,  decea.sed,  Jean,  Agnes,  m. 
John  Laird,  and  Mary,  m. Maxwell. 

Bowman,  Thomas,  of  Derry,  d.  in  1763, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children  :  Hugh, 
Jean,  Elizabeth,  John,  and  Thomas. 

Bow'man,  Stephen,  of  Paxtang,  d.  May, 
1782,  leaving  a  wife  Anna,  and  children  : 
Chrisly,  John,  Stephen,  Barbara,  m.  Elias 
Neglee,Mary,  m.  JohnRoo]>,  Addy,  m.  Jacob 
R-oop,  Freney,  m.  Chrisly  Stopher,  Ann,  m. 
Henry  Landis,  and  Elizabeth,  m.  Melchoir 
Poorman. 

Brown,  William,  of  Hanover,  d.  January, 
1771,  leaving  children:  Mary,  Ann,  Molly, 
William,  John,  and  James.  John  and  An- 
drew Brown,  presumably  brothers,  were  the 
executors. 

Brown,  Daniel,  d.  April,  1782,  leaving  a 
wife  Agnes,  and  children  :  Philip,  Margaret, 
Elizabeth,  Agnes,  and  John.  ■ 

Boyd,  Jane,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  December, 
1772;  she  left  children:  Mary,  .Jane,  and 
Martha ;  sons-in-law  James  Miller,  James 
Means,  James  Anderson,  William  Mc\\'hor- 
ter,  and  Robert  McWhorter  ;  also  a  grand- 
child, Jane  Means. 

Boyd,  Robert,  of  Paxtang,  d.  September, 
1785,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth, and  children  : 
Sarah,  Elizabeth,  ^Margaret,  and  Catharine 
— the  first  three  then  residing  in  Ireland. 

Boyd,  William,  of  Derry,  d.  May,  1800, 
leaving  a  wife  Jennett, and  children  :  James, 
John,  who  had   a  son  William,  Jennett,  m. 

Moore,  Mary,  m. Strawbridge, 

Margaret,  m.'^'"''--  Williams,  and  William, 
who  had  a  son  Williaui. 

Brightbill,  J.  Dorst,  of  Hanover,  d.  in 
December,  1773,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and 
children  ;  Elizabeth,  Mary,  John,  and  Peter. 

Balsbach,  George,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  Sep- 
tember, 1773,  leaving  a  wife  Maria  Eva,  and 


58 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


children:  Peter,  Valentine,  Margaret,  Cath- 
arine, Eva,  and  George;  son-in-law  George 
Henry. 

Boeshore,  Jacob,  of  Hanover,  d.  December, 
1778,  leaving  children:  Henry,  Catharine, 
John,  Jacob,  Ann,  Christina,  and  Margaret; 
son-in-law  Adam  Baumgardner. 

Boggs,    William,   of  Paxtang,  d.    Marcli, 

1782,  leaving  a  wife  Lydia,  and  children  : 
James,  Catharine,  Ann,  Margaret,  Elizabeth, 
William,  Lydia,  and  John. 

Bishop,  William,  d.  March,  1783,  leaving 
a  wife  Anna,  and  oliildren :  Christopher, 
Peter,  John,  Philip,  Godleib,  and  Susanna, 
m.  Bretz. 

Bell,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Octolier, 

1783,  leaving  children  :  John,  George,  Will- 
iam, Thomas,  Arthur,  Andrew,  Jean,  Sarah, 
Marv,  Dorcas,  and  Margaret. 

Bell,  Thomas,  b.  1737  ;  d.  June  23,1815. 
His  wife  Ann,  b.  September  18,  1740.  They 
had  among  other  children  :  Rev.  Samuel, 
m.    Marv    Snodgrass;    James,    b.    1772,   d. 

March  (3,"l841,  m.' Catharine ,  b.  1782, 

d.  October  4,  1826;  Eliza,  m.  James  Dale,  of 
Union  county,  Pa. 

Brand,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  November, 
1783,  leaving  his  estate  to  brothers  Chris- 
topher, Jacob,  and  Peter ;  to  sisters  Eliza- 
beth, m. Alhnan,  Nancy,  and  Mary, 

m. Hemperly. 

Bradley,  Samuel,  of  Hanover,  d.  April, 
1785,  leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  brother  John, 
whose  children  were  Samuel, \\'illiani,  Mary, 
and  John,  brother  James  and  son  Samuel, 
brother  Matthew;  besides  Mary  and  Will- 
iam Shav,  children  of  William  Shay. 

Boal,  "Peter,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April,  1791, 
leaving  his  estate  to  his  brothers  John, 
Michael,  Henry,  and  sisters  not  named. 

Bordner,  John,  of  Lykens,  d.  June,  1812, 
leaving  a  wife  Susanna,  and  children  as  fol- 
lows: Peter,  Anna,  m.  Adam  Heller,Susanna, 
Elizabeth. 

Bucher,  Casper,  of  Paxtang,  d.  September, 
1800,  leaving  a  wife  Catharine,  and  children : 
George,  John,  Casper,  Catharine,  m.  Henry 
Goetz,  Elizabeth,  m.  Jacob  Engel,  Anna 
Maria,  m.  Samuel  Wiestling,  Dorothea,  m. 
Godfrey  Fritchey,  Magdalena,  m.  Henry 
Slnley,  and  Jacob. 

Clark,  William,  d.  in  September,  1732, 
leaving  wife  Esther,  and  children  :  William, 
Sarah,  Esther,  and  Priscilla.  The  executors 
were  Thomas  Clark  and  Rev.  Adam  Boyd. 

Clark,  Sarah,  d.  October,  1752,  leaving  sis- 
ters: Esther,  m.  Jonathan  Jones,  and  Pris- 


cilla, m.  Joseph  Cookson,  and  a  brother  Will- 
iam Clark. 

Clark,  John,  d.  in  January,  1753,  leaving 
a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  children:  Thomas, 
Robert,  and  James. 

Clark,  Thomas,  d.  in  1759,  leaving  a  wife 
and  children  named:  James, .John,  Abraham, 
William,  Thomas,  Eleanor,  Mary,  and  Mar- 
garet. 

Clark,  William,  d.  in  May,  1763,  leaving 
wife  Margaret,  and  children  :  Peter,  John, 
Thomas,  Joseph,  and  Ann.  He  mentions 
his  son-in-law  John  Baldridge. 

Clark,  Robert,  of  Upr>er  Paxtang,  d.  in 
March,  1771,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  chil- 
dren: William,  Jean,  m.  Thomas  Renick, 
Elizabeth,  m.  John  Means,  and  Mary,  m. 
William  Wallis. 

Clark,  Robert,  of  Paxtang,  d.  March,  1788, 
leaving  his  estate  to  his  nephew  William 
Duncan. 

Clark,  Benj.,  of  Hanover,  d.  March,  1801, 
leaving  cbildren:  Thomas,  Margaret,  de- 
ceased, m.  John  Gilichen,  Mary,  m.  Richard 
McClay,  grandson  Benjamin  Clark,  and 
granddaughter  Elizabetli  Clark,  m.  Balzer 
Stein,  children  of  his  daughter  Jane. 

Cathey,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  February, 
1742,  leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  children: 
Alexander  and  Eleanor. 

Campbell,  Samuel,  of  Derry,  d.  October, 
1747,  leaving  a  wife  and  children:  William, 
James,  John,  Hugh,  and  Thomas;  also  grand- 
children Elizabeth  and  Samuel,  children 
of  Hugh  Campbell. 

Campbell,  William,  d.  in  April,  1748, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children :  John, 
William,  Mary,  Jane,  Margaret,  and  Ann. 
The  executors  were  Samuel  Reed  and  Samuel 
Graham. 

Campbell,  Andrew,  d.  in  June,  1752, 
leaving  children  :  John,  Archibald,  Andrew, 
Sarah,  and  Margaret;  besides  grandchild 
Jane,  m.  Robert  McNeal. 

Campbell,  James,  of  Londonderry,  d.  in 
May,  1771,  leaving  a  wife  Rosanna,  and 
children  :  John  and  Patrick ;  grandchild 
James,  son  of  John  ;  sister  Martha  Car\'. 

Campbell,  Patrick,  d.  July,  1772,  leaving 
a  wife  Mary,  son-in-law  William  Smith,  and 
grandchild  Campbell  Smith. 

Campbell,  Andrew,  d.  in  July,  1797,  leav- 
ing his  estate  to  his  nephews  Daniel,  Archi- 
bald, and  John  McNeal. 

Campbell,  John,  of  East  Hanover,  died  in 
1787,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  : 


DAUPHTN  COUNTY. 


59 


William,  James,  John,  Mary,  Jane,  Isaac, 
and  Margery. 

Craig,  John,  d.  prior  to  September,  1760, 
and  left  issue :  Sarah,  m.  David  Allen,  Mary, 
Isabel,  and  John. 

Caldwell,  Andrew,  d.  in  December,  1752, 
leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  children  :  Andrew, 
Rachael,  m.  James  Croswell,  and  Robert; 
granddaughter  Hannah,  child    of  Rachael. 

Caldwell,  Robert,  d.  March,  1755,  leaving 
his  estate  to  his  mother  Ann  Caldwell,  and 
brother  Andrew  Caldwell,  and  sister  Rachael, 
m.  James  Croswell. 

Caldwell,  Andrew,  d.  in  January,  1759, 
leaving  a  wife  Martha,  and  children  :  Alex- 
ander, Andrew,  John,  and  David. 

Caldwell,  Andrew,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  April, 
1771,  leaving  children  :  Sarah,  m.  James 
Carson,  Rebecca,  David,  Ann,  Andrew,  and 
James.  The  executors  were  James  Carson, 
Matthew  Smith,  and  Andrew  Caldwell. 

Caldwell,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  March, 

1782,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children : 
David,  James,  John,  Sarah,  and  Ann. 

Caldwell,  David,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in   May, 

1783,  leaving  mother,  Mary  Caldwell, 
brothers  James  and  John,  and  sisters 
Sarah  and  Ann. 

Caldwell,  James,  d.  in  March,  1785,  leaving 
a  wife  Mary,  and  children  :  John,  William, 
Andrew,  Oliver,  James,  Mary,  m.  William 
Mooney,  and  Agnes,  m.  John  Atchinson. 

Caldwell,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April,  178G, 
leaving  a  father  John;  brothers  James- and 
David,  and  sister  Ann. 

Crawford,  John,  or  Christopher,  a  native 
of  Londonderry,  Ireland,  came  to  America 
about  1803.  He  married,  about  1805,  Bar- 
bara Radebaugh  Berryhill,  daughter  of  Peter 
Radebaugh,  of  Hummelstown,and  widow  of 

Berryhill.     By  her  first  marriage  Mrs. 

Crawford   had :  Mary,  b.  February  9,  1794, 

m.   Wise;    Justina,    b.    March    21, 

1796,  m.  Deary;  William,  b.  179S, 

d.  December  11,  1867,  m.  Cathai'ine  Bran- 
don, d.  August 28, 1863,  at  Harrisburg.  The 
cliildren  of  Christopher  or  John  Crawford 
and  Barbara  Radebaugh  Berryhill  were : 
John,  b.  November  6,  1808;  Eli'za,  b.  1808; 
m.  Robert  Wright,  and  removed  to  Miami 
county,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Wright  resided  near 
Potsdam,  that  county ;  Jane,  b.  June  9, 
ISIO,  m.  John  Daly,  of  Lewistown,  Pa.;  then 
removed  to  Piedmont,  W.  Va.,  where  their 
descendants  now  reside  ;  Mrs.  Daly  died  in 
1880;  Susan,  b.  1812,  m.  Andrew  Murray, 
of  Hanover  ;  removed  to  Harrisburg,  Mont- 


gomery county,  Ohio,  and  subsequently  to 
Blue  Ball,  Butler  county,  that  State  ;  Bar- 
bara, b.  January  18,  1814,  m.  John  Delaney, 
of  Derr}',  Dauphin  countv,  removed  to  Red 
Lion,  Lycoming  county,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crawford  diedinSpringdale,  and  were  buried 
in  the  old  church  graveyard  atHummelstown. 
Cochran,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  July, 

1749,  leaving  a  large  family  of  children,  only 
two  of  whom  are  named  in  the  will,  Janet 
and  Martha. 

Cochran,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  July, 

1750,  leaving  a  wife  Jean  and  son  William. 
Cochran,  Andrew,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  No- 
vember, ]  775,  leaving  children  :  James,  Jean, 
Mary,  Martha,  Sarah,  John,  Andrew,  and 
William.  The  executors  were  Andrew  and 
William  Cochran. 

Calhoun,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  October, 
1754,  leaving  a  wife  Janet  and  son  George. 

Calhoun,  James,  d.  November,  1772,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  children  :  William, 
James,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  and  Jane. 

Calhoun,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Septem- 
ber. 1786,  leaving  a  wife  Agnes  and  daugh- 
ter Elizabeth,  m.  Henry  McCormick,  and 
other  children  :  Isabel  and  William,  and 
also  a  grandson  William. 

Cunningham,   William,  d.  in   December, 

1751,  leaving  a  w'ife  Isabella,  and  children  : 
John,  Thomas,  James,  Margai'et,  and  Mary. 
The  executors  were  Anna  Kyle  and  Samuel 
Ramsey. 

Cunningham.  Samuel,  d.  in  July,  1777, 
leaving  a  wife  Janet,  and  children  ;  Robert, 
Samuel,  Sarah,  Martha,  and  James,  and 
grandchild  Hannah  Campbell. 

Chambers,  James,  of  Derry,  d.  in  Febru- 
ary, 1758,  leaving  a  wife  Sarah,  and  chil- 
dren :  Ann,  Sarah,  James.  Elizabeth,  Benja- 
min, and  Joseph.  The  executors  were  Rob- 
ert Boyd  and  Arthur  Chambers. 

Chambers,  Arthur,  of  Derry,  d.  in  176L 
leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children  :  Max- 
well, Robert,  Rowland,  Arthur,  and  John. 
Jean  Chambers  and  James  Shaw  were  the 
executors. 

Chambers,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1768,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and 
daughter  Catharine.  James  Patterson  and 
Samuel  Hunter  and  Thomas  Forster  were 
the  executors. 

Chambers,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Oc- 
tober, 1765,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  chil- 
dren :  Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah,  James, and 
Samuel.  The  executors  were  Mary  and  Sam- 
uel Chambers. 


60 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


Chambers,  Samuel,  of  Paxtang,  died  in 
July,  1766,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  mother 
Mar}',  brothers  William,  John,  and  James, 
and  sister  Sarah.  James  Chambers  and 
Joshua  White  were  the  executors. 

Chambers,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  March, 
1770,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  : 
Samuel,  Robert,  Elizabeth,  Isabel,  Estlier, 
and  Mary. 

Chambers,  Maxwell,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in 
June,  1785,  leaving  children  :  Elizabeth,  b. 
April  14, 1792  ;  Arthur,  b.  Decembers,  1793  ; 
Jeremiah,  b.  November  16,  1794;  and  Max- 
well, b.  September  7,  1799. 

Crawford,  William,  d.  in  April,  1761, 
leaving  a  wife  Violet,  and  children  :  Isabella, 
m.  William  Moore,  Elizabeth,  m.  John 
Crawford,  Robert,  and  William. 

Crawford,  David,  d.  in  April,  1779.  leav- 
ing a  wife  Mary,  and  children  :  Ann,  Martha, 
Betsy,  and  James;  grandchildren  Eillie 
Hamilton,  David  and  John  Maybin,  Mary 
and  Sarah  Clark,  David  and  AVilliam  Craw- 
ford. 

Carson,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Sep- 
tember, 1761,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and 
children  :  Sarah,  Agnes,  John,  Jean,  and 
Eliza. 

Carson,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  February, 
1765,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  children  : 
William,  Jolm,  and  Elizabeth ;  and  step- 
children Sarah  Willis  and  Tillie  (iillespie. 
The  executors  weie  Jeremiah  Warder,  John 
Ord,  and  John  Pywell,  all  of  Philadelphia. 

Carson,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Jul}', 
1773,  leaving  children:  Jean  and  Andrew, 
brother  Alexander,  and  sister  Mar}'  Sloan 
alias  Thompson. 

Carson,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  January,  1778, 
leaving  children ;  Richard,  John,  George, 
and  Jean,  and  son-in-law  James  Wil.son. 
Sons  Richard  and  George  were  the  execu- 
tors. 

Curry,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1746,  leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  child 
Mary,  and  brothers  Robert  Curry  and  An- 
drew Caldwell. 

Curry,  Robert,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  May, 
1768,  leaving  a  wife  Mary  Ann,  and  chil- 
dren :  William,  Margaret,  Jean,  Agnes,  John, 
Daniel,  and  James. 

Crocket,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  in  March,  1768, 
leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children  :  Thomas, 
Robert,  John,  and  James.  There  were  others, 
but  not  mentioned  by  name.  Jean  Cham- 
bers and  Robert  Bradshaw  were  thi^  execu- 
tors. 


Caruthers,  Robert,  of  Derry,  d.  November, 
1770,  leaving  a  wife  Eleanor,  and  a  brother 
James.  Robert  Chambers  and  Jacob  Cook 
were  the  executors. 

Caruthers,  Robert,  of  Derry,  d.  April,  1772, 
leaving  children :  Mary,  Eleanor,  Dorcas, 
Jane,  and  Sarah,  son-in-law  Henry  Taylor, 
and  grandchild  Robert  McCartney.  Jacob 
Cook  and  David  Montgomery  were  the  ex- 
ecutors. 

Carr,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  February,  1789, 
leaving  sisters  Rosannah  Campbell,  Mary 
McMichael,  and  her  children  :  John,  James, 
Jean,  and  Mary  ;  Susannah,  m. Coul- 
ter ;  and  br.  ther  Joshua  ;  also  a  sister's  son, 
Robert  Edmiston  ;  Susannah  Caldwell,  Mary 
Caldwell,  and  Rosannah  Green. 

Cooper,  William,  of  Hanover,  d.  April, 
1785,  leaving  a  wife  Sarah,  and  children  : 
John,  Robert,  who  had  a  son  Robert,  Mar- 
garet, m.  Alexander  Mitchell  and  had  a  son 
William,  and  Isabella,  m.  David  Ramsey. 

Corbett,  Peter,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d.  1785, 
leaving  his  estate  to  his  daughter  Klargaret, 

m.   Sturgeon,   and   other   children  : 

Jean,  Peter,  Samuel,  John,  and  Thomas. 

Duncan,  John,  d.  in  1746,  leaving  a  wife 
Ann. 

Duncan,  James,  of  Derry,  d.  in  March, 
1758,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children: 
Mary,  Elizaljeth,  Jean,  Margaret,  Anthony, 
Jame.s,  Andrew,  and  Joseph.  The  execu- 
tors were  Thomas  Logan  and  Robert  Boyd. 

Duncan,  James,  of  Martick,  d.  in  Septem- 
ber, 1765,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  chil- 
dren :  John,  Robert,  James,  Andrew,  Sarah, 
m.  Robert  Martin.  The  executors  were  wife 
Elizabeth  and  son  John. 

Duncan,  Jean,  of  Derry,  d.  October,  1765, 
leaving  children:  Joseph,  Andrew,  John, 
James,  Elizabeth,  Jean,  and  Margaret.  John 
Steel  and  Patrick  Hays  were  the  execu- 
tors. 

Duncan,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  October, 
1788,  leaving  wife  Ann,  brothers  James, 
Robert,  Andrew,  sister  m.  John  Hilton,  and 
their  daughter  Jean,  grandson  David 
Ritchey,  great-grandchildren  John  and  Ann 
Ritchey. 

Dickey,  George,  d.  in  October,  1748,  leav- 
ing a  wife  and  children:  James,  William, 
•lohn,  Sarah,  Susanna,  Esther,  Elizabeth, 
and  Moses.     Moses  Dickey  was  executor. 

Dickey,  Moses,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  May, 
1766,  leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  children: 
William,  John,  Catharine,  m.John  Forster, 
Sarah,  m.   John    Carson,  Agnes,  m.  Robert 


DA  UPHIN  CO  UN  TV. 


61 


Dickey,    and    Moses.     The   executors    were 
John  and  Moses  Dickey. 

Deininger,  Leonard,  d.  Sej)tember,  1770, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary  Margaret,  and  children  : 

Adam,  Barbara,  and  Catharine,   m. 

Leitzer. 

Dearrnond,  Mary,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  March, 
1780,  leaving  children:  John,  Sarah,  Mar- 
garet, and  Richard;  grandchildren  James 
Robertson  and  Mary  Johnston.  Richard 
Johnston  and  Richard  Dearrnond  were  the 
executors. 

Ettelin,  David,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  May,  1 781, 
leaving  a  wife  Anna  Margaret,  and  children: 
Christina,  John,  Philip,  Catharine,  Conrad, 
David,  and  Anna.  The  executors  were 
Christopher  Heppich  and  Conrad  Wolfley. 

Ellis,  Ann,  of  Hummelstown,  d.  1788, 
leaving   children :    Christiana,    m.    Samuel 

Miller;  Ann,  m. Wolfkill ;  and  sister 

m.    Mathias    Hoover,    and    tlieir    son    Ma- 
thias. 

Enterline,  John  Michael,  of  Upper  Pax- 
tang, aged  74  years,  d.  March,  1800,  leaving 
a  wife  Anna  Barbara,  and  children:  John 
Michael,  John  Paul,"  Daniel,  Anna  Mary, 
m.  Adam  Lenker,  and  Elizabeth,  m.  Henry 
Wirth. 

Foster,  David,  of  Derry,  d.  in  November, 
1745,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children : 
David,  William,  James,  and  Robert.  The 
executors  were  Andrew  Moore  and  John  Mc- 
Queen. 

P^oster,  William,  of  Derry,  d.  March,  1704, 
leaving  brothers  James,  John,  Robert,  and 
David. 

Foster,  David,  of  Londonderry,  d.  in  April, 
1778,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  daugliter 
Elizabeth.  Mary  and  James  Foster  were  the 
executors. 

French,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  Septem- 
ber, 1764,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and 
children:  Mary,  Thomas,  Isabel,  James, 
Agnes,  Elizabetii,  .John,  Sarah,  Ruth,  and 
Margaret. 

Fleming,  George,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  June, 
1708,  leaving  a  wife  Martha,  and  children: 
Elizabeth  and  Margaret. 

Fleming,  John,  of  Derr}',  d.  in  April,  1777, 
leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children  :  John, 
Margaret,  Eleanor,  and  Ann.  Jean  Flem- 
ing and  Jacob  Cook  were  the  executors. 

Finney,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  April, 
1774,  leaving  a  wife  Jane,  and  children  : 
Thomas,  Mary,  Jane,  and  Rebecca. 

Finney,  Thomas,  of  Hanover,  d.  March, 
178G,  leaving  a  wife  Isabella,  and  children  : 


Martha,    Mary,   Jane,    Isabella,    Margaret, 
Effie,  John,  and  Henry. 

Flora,  Joseph,  Sr.,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Septem- 
ber, 1785,  leaving  a  wife  Katliarine.  and 
children:  David,  deceased;  Abraham,  de- 
ceased ;  John,  deceased ;  Katharine,  m.  John 
Bomberger;  Mary,  m.  Michael  Bomberger  ; 
Josejih,  and  Peter.  Executors  Katharine 
Flora  and  Conrad  Wolfley. 

Fertig,  Michael,  ofMiddle  Paxtang, d.  prior 
to  1800,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children 
as  follows:  Michael,  John,  Zachariah,  Peter, 
Adam,  and  Elizabeth,  m.  Jacob  Bogner. 

Flack,  Alexander,  of  Derry,  d.  March, 
1788,  leaving  by  first  wife  Elizabeth,  chil- 
dren :  Martha,  Ciiristina,  Margaret,  William, 
Thomas,  and  Elizabeth ;  by  second  wife 
Dorothy,  children  :  Dorothy  and  Sabina. 

Fox,  Peter,  of  Lower  Paxtang,  d.  in  May, 
1814,  leaving  a  wife  Anna,  and  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Henry,  Peter,  and  Anna. 

Forster,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  July, 
1772,  leaving  brothers  John  and  William; 
sisters  Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Isabella,  and 
Agnes. 

Fisher,  (Jeorge,  of  Paxtang,  d.  October, 
1781,  leaving  children:  John,  George,  and 
Hannah.  The  executors  were  Joshua  and 
Jonas  Chamberlin. 

Graham,  John,  d.  .January,  1743,  leaving 
a  wife  and  children :  William  and  John. 
Richard  Sankey  and  Brice  Sankey  were  ex- 
ecutors. 

Graham,  James,  d.  in  October,  1745,  leav- 
ing a  wife  and  children:  James,  John,  and 
Mary.  Richard  Sankey  and  Patrick  Wat- 
son were  the  executors. 

Graham,  John,  d.  in  December,  1763,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Margaret,  and  brothers  George 
and  Robert. 

Graham,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  May,  1786, 
leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  his  estate  to  his 
brother  John,  deceased,  and  liis  children  : 
William,  James,  and  John;  to  sister  Eliza- 
beth   Innis,   and    her  children  :    Elizabeth, 

Ann,  m.  Irwin,  Rachael,  m.   David 

Sterrett,  Mar}',  m.  Timothy  Green  ;  to  sister 
Martha  Graham  and  her  children  :  Mary, 
m. Young,  Jennie,  m. Irwin, 


William,  Martha,  m. 


Black,    John, 


Ann,  and  Samuel ,    to  sister  Ann  Hender- 
son   and    her   children  :    Mary,    m.    

Smith,  Samuel,  and  John  ;  brother  Alexan- 
der  Graham,   and    his   daughter   Ann,    m. 
Thomas  Bell;  sister  Margaret  and  her  chil- 
dren :  Jennie  Bell  and  Ann  Crawford. 
Gilchrist,   John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Feb- 


62 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


ruary,  1746,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  chil- 
dren :  James,  John,  Elizabeth,  and  Kobert. 

Gilchrist,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April, 
1777,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children  : 
Eleanor,  Mary,  Margaret,  Jean,  Elizabeth, 
Martha,  and  John.  Robert  Gilchrist  execu- 
tor. 

Gilchrist,  James,  d.  May,  1782,  leaving  a 
wife  Sarah,  and  children :  Margaret,  m. 
Charles  Harrow,  fiarah,  m.  James  Robert- 
son, and  Robert;  grandchildren  James  and 
Alexander  Harrow. 

Gilchrist,  Robert,  of  Paxtang,  d.  July, 
1783,  leaving  a  wife  Sarali,  and  children  : 
Thomas,  John,  Robert,  Elizabeth,  Eleanor, 
Agnes,  and  Sarah. 

Gilchrist,  William,  d.  in  March,  1795, 
leaving  chihlren:  Sarah,  Samuel,  and  a  son- 
in-law  James  Cummings. 

Gilliland,  Hugh,  d.  in  November,  1750, 
leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  children  :  Mary, 
Eleanor,  Ann,  Eliza betii,  Agnes,  Robert,  and 
Hugh.  Executors  wife  Ann  and  brother 
John. 

Gillespie,  Patrick,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in 
March,  1771,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  chil- 
dren: John,  William,  Catiiarine,  and  Mary. 

Gallagher,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  April, 
1781,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  children  : 
Sarah,  Mary,  Thomas,  and  William.  The 
wife,  with  David  Montgomery  and  Andrew 
Stewart,  were  the  executors. 

Greenlee,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  March, 
1785,  leaving  wife  and  children  :  William 
and  son  James,  James,  Alexander,  and 
Robert. 

Harper,  Moses,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April,  1740, 
leaving  his  estate  to  his  brother  Samuel,  sis- 
ter Jean,  and  nephew  Moses  Harper. 

Harris,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  1748,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Estlier,  and  children  :  William, 
Samuel,  David,  Elizabeth,  John,  and  Esther. 
John  Harris  and  George  Gibson  were  the 
executors. 

Hall,  James,  d.  August,  1745,  leaving  a 
wife  Catharine,  and  children :  John,  Will- 
iam, Jane,  Mary,  and  Catharine. 

Hall,  Hugh,  of  Derry,  d.  in.  February, 
1758,  leaving  a  wife  Sarah,  and  children : 
John,  George,  Thomas,  James,  Hugh,  Sam- 
uel, Rose,  and  William.  Sarah  Hall  and 
Joseph  Candour  were  the  executors. 

Hall,  Thomas,  d.  in  March,  1759,  leaving 
a  wife  Isabella,  and  children  :  Mary,  Sarah, 
Hugh,  Elizabeth,  and  John.  The  executor 
Isabella,  his  wife. 

Hall,  Sarah,  of  Londonderr}',   d.   April, 


1783,  leaving  children  :  Rose,  m.  Jacob  Cook, 
Samuel,  and  William  ;  grandchildren  Sarah 
Hall  and  Sarah  Cook. 

Hendricks,  Tobias,  of  Pennsboro,  d.  No- 
vember, 1739,  leaving  children  :  Henry,  John, 
Rebecca, Tobias,  David,  Peter,  Abraham,  and 
Isaac.  Executors  were  his  wife  and  son 
Tobias. 

Hamilton,  James,  d.  in  December,  1748, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  son  James.  He 
mentions  his  cousins  Thomas  and  James 
Hamilton,  and  brother  Hance  Hamilton. 

Hamilton,  Jean,  of  Londonderry,  d.  May, 
1801,  leaving  children:  Elizabeth,  William, 
and  James. 

Hamilton,  William,  d.  in  1782,  liaving 
made  his  will  September  17,  1778.  In  this 
he  mentions  his  wife  Jean,  and  the  following 
children :  Hugh,  William,  John,  Robert, 
Ann,  m.  James  Wallace,  James,  now  in  the 
army,  Nancy,  m.  Thomas  Wade.  The  ex- 
ecutor of  the  estate  was  his  son  Hugh. 

Hays,  John,  of  Derry.  d.  May,  17GG,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  :  Jean  and 
William.  Tlie  wife  and  Patrick  Hays  were 
executors.  „ 

Hays,  John,  of  Londonderr}'.  d.  in  April, 
1774,  leaving  a  wife  Mar}',  and  children  : 
James,  Jean,  Mary,  John,  and  Sybil.  The 
executors  were  wife  Mary,  and  trusty  friend 
William  Hays. 

Hays,  Hugh,  of  Londonderry,  d.  in  April, 
1779,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  child  :  Mar- 
garet. He  speaks  of  his  brother,  Patrick 
Hays,  and  sisters  Buchanan  and  Morrison. 

Hays,  David,  of  Raplio,  d.  May,  1780, 
leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children  :  Robert, 
John,  Patrick  ;  son-in-law  Alexander  Scott, 

Hays,  Robert,  of  Derry,  d.  April,  1807, 
leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  :  Mar- 
garet, John,  Patrick,  Robert,  William,  Sam- 
uel, and  Joseph. 

Hough,  Joseph,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  July, 
1768,  leaving  children  :  Ann,  Elizabeth,  and 
Joseph.  Executors  were  Joseph  Stout  and 
Samuel  Jones. 

Haney,  Margaret,  of  Paxtang,  d.  February, 
1771,  leaving  children  :  Jean,  Margaret,  m. 
Patrick  Ileaney,  and  Mary,  and  grandchild 
Howard  Heaney,  and  brother  John  Scott. 

Hill,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  June,  1770, 
leaving  a  wife  Abigail,  and  children  :  Will- 
iau],  Jenny,  Ann,  and  x4.bigail. 

Hill,  Robert,  of  Hanover,  d.  1783,  leaving 
ciiildren :  William,  Abigail,  and  Robert, 
and  step-daughter  Ann  Morton. 

Heart,  Henr}',  of  Derry,  d.  in  June,  1771, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


63 


leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  a  number  of  cliil- 
dren.     Names  not  given. 

Huston,  Andrew,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  May, 
1782,  leaving  a  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Park.  The  legatees  were :  Brotlier 
James  and  his  sons  Andrew,  James, William, 
and  John,  sister  Margaret,  wife  of  Thomas 
Mayes,  niece  Jean  Hilton,  niece  Mary  Smitli, 
brotlier  John  and  his  son  Jolm,  niece  Mar- 
garet Stewart,  nephew  Robert  Thome,  the 
children  of  John  Rutherford,  Thomas, 
Samuel,  John,  William,  Jean,  Martha,  and 
Mary,  sister-in-law  Margaret  Rutherford. 
The  executors  were  John  Rutherford,  Will- 
iam Thome,  and  Samuel  Hutchinson. 

Hubler,  Abraham,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1777,  leaving  cliildren:  Barbara,  m. 
Francis  Alberdal,  Jacob,  Catharine,  Salome, 
and  Joiin. 

Hutchison,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  March, 
1784,  leaving  a  brother  Robert  and  a  sister 
Lydia  Scott. 

Hutchison,  Joseph,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1785,  leaving  ciiildren:  Mary,  m. 
Robert  Moody,  Lydia,  m.  James  Wilson, 
step-daughter  Margaret  Robinson,  and  grand- 
children Joseph  Willson,  Elizabeth  Jami- 
son, and  Nancy  Scott. 

Henderson,  John,  of  Swatara,  d.  Septem- 
ber, 1801,  leaving  children:  William,  John, 
James,  Alexander,  Francis,  and  Mary,  m. 
James  Graham. 

Harrison,  Sarah,  widow,  of  East  Hanover, 
d.  August,  IsOG,  leaving  children :  Elizabetii, 

m. Martin,   Mary,  m.  Ward, 

Jane,  Sarah,  James,  and  Stephen. 

Hume,  INIary,  of  Hanover,  d.  April,  1791, 
leaving  brothers:  Jolm,  W^illiam,  and 
Thomas,  and  sister  Martha. 

Hume,  William,  of  Hanover,  d.  February, 
1702,  leaving  a  mother  Ann  Hume,  brothers 
James,  Tliomas,  and  John;  sisters  Isabel, 
Eleanor,  and  Martha. 

Irvine,  William,  of  Pennsboro,  d.  in  May, 
1748,  leaving  a  wife  Eleanor,  and  children: 
Mary,  Francis,  John, William,  Robert,  James, 
Samuel,  and  Alexander. 

Ireland,  James,  of  Derry,  d.  September, 
17G7,  leaving  a  wife  Anna,  and  child:  Mary. 
The  executors  were  Robert  Wallace  and 
Matthew  Laird. 

Innis,  Elizabeth,  of  Hanover,  d.  May.  1788, 
leaving  daughters:  Ann  Irwin,  Rachael,  wife 
of  David  Sterrett,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John 
Gilchrist,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Timothy  Green, 
son  James  Innis  and  grandson  Brice  Innis. 

Isenhower,  Peter, of  Paxtang,  d.  May,  1801, 


leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  children:  Peter, 
Frederick  and  son  Jolm,  Samuel,  Micliael, 
Elizabeth,  Nicholas,  Magdalena,  Barbara, 
John,  Catharine,  Christina,  Ann,  Margaret, 
and  Jacob. 

Joluiston,  Francis,  d.  September,  1752, 
leaving  a  wife  Isabella  and  children:  Mary, 
George,  and  John. 

Johnston,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Septem- 
ber, 1783,  leaving  ciiildren:  James,  Jean,  m. 
John  Foster;  step-daughters  Eleanor  and 
Mary  McClain;  and  grandchildren  Martha 
Willson  and  Janet  Means;  son-in-law 
Tliomas  Means. 

Johnson,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  .January, 
17G3,  leaving  children :  Robert,  William,  and 
Marj\ 

Jones,  Darick,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  July,  1777, 
leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children  :  William, 
Benjamin,  Miriam,  and  Jean.  Executors 
were  wife  Jean  and  brother  Benjamin,  resid- 
ing at  Kirkwood,  Hunterdon  county,  N.  J. 

Jones,  Isaac,  of  Halifax,  d.  January,  1816, 
leaving  children  as  follows  :  Jacob,  John, 
and  George. 

Jury  (Shora),  Abraham,  of  Upper  Paxtang 
d.  September,  1785,  leaving  a  wife  Catharine, 
and  children:  Samuel,  Abraham,  Mary, 
Magdalena,  Margaret  and  her  son  Andrew, 
Catharine,  and  Susannah.  , 

Kerr,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  July,  1734, 
leaving  a  brother  William,  and  nei)liew 
George,  son  of  William. 

Kerr,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  June,  1748, 
leaving  a  wife  and  children:  John,  Joseph, 
William,  Mary,  James,  and  Nathaniel.  The 
executors  were  James  Morris  and  Thomas 
Elder. 

Kerr,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  October,  1754,  leav- 
ing children:  Sarah,  m. Carul  hers,  and 

James;  grandchildren  John,  Robert,  and 
Esther  (Jaruthers.  The  executors  were  James 
Kerr  and  Seth  Rogers. 

Kerr,  John,  d.  in  1778,  leaving  brothers 
Michael  and  Thomas,  and  sisters  Janet  and 
Sarah. 

Kirkpatrick,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Sep- 
tember, 1760,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and 
children:  John,  William,  Margaret,  Anna, 
and  Sarah. 

Kapp,  Michael,  d.  in  May,  1764,  leaving  a 
wife  Margaret,  and  children:  Christopher, 
Barbara,  George,  Valentine,  John,  Andrew, 
Michael,  Anthony,  Jacob,  Peter,  Susanna, 
Catharine,  and  Christina. 

Kapp,  Margaret,  widow,  d.  in  December, 
1785,  leaving  children:  Christopher,  George, 


64 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


John,  Andrew,  Michael,  Anthoii}',  Peter,  Bar- 
bara, Susanna,  Catliarine,  and  Christina.  The 
executors  were  George  Kapp  and  son-in-law 
Martin  Frey. 

Kelly,  George,  of  Derry,  d.  in  September, 
1768,  leaving  wife  Rosanna,  and  children  : 
Andrew,  Thomas,  and  Rachel.  The  wife  and 
brother  Patrick  Kelly  were  executors. 

Kelly,  Patrick,  of  Londonderry,  d.  in  Jul}^ 
1770,  leaving  a  wife  Rachael,  and  children : 
Patrick,  Thomas,  .James,  Rachael,  Mary, 
George,  Anna,  and  John;  grandchild  An- 
drew, son  of  George. 

Kirkwood,  Robert,  of  Hanover,  d.  Septem- 
ber, 1771,  leaving  a  son  William  and  a 
brother  William.  Robert  Wallace  and  James 
McCreight  were  the  executors. 

Kittering,  Adam,  of  Londonderry,  d.  in 
N(  vember,  1775,  leaving  a  wife  Magdalena, 
and  children :  Valentine,  Jacob,  Michael, 
Lawrence,  and  Margaret,  m.  Mathew  Stehle}' ; 
grandchildren  Abraham  and  Barbara  Steh- 
ley. 

Kennedy,  David,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April, 
1775,  leaving  a  wife  Sarah. 

Kennedy,  James  R.,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Sep- 
tember, 1777,  leaving  a  wife  Mary ;  his  widow 
d.  in  September,  1777,  leaving  a  brother 
John  Kerleton. 

Kennedy,  Thomas,  of  West  Hanover,  d. 
January,  1803,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  chil- 
dren: Robert,  Joseph,  Mary,  and  Jean. 

Kerper,  Frederick,  of  Londonderry,  d. 
March,  1790,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and 
children :  John,  Nicholas,  Jacob,  Philip, 
Adam,  Samuel,  Catharine,  m.  Peter  Becker, 
and  Magdalena. 

Keiter,  Peter,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d.  April, 
1801,  leaving  a  wife  Gertrude,  and  children: 
John,  Peter,  Gerhard,  Benjamin,  Margaret, 
m.  Jacob  Frack,  Elizabeth,  m.  John  Frey, 
Gertrude,  m.  Daniel  Miller,  Mary,  Catha- 
rine, and  A'eronica. 

Koch,  David,  of  Lower  Paxtang,  d.  in  No- 
vember, 1813.  He  left  his  estate  to  his 
mother,  Eva  Koch,  and  his  sisters,  as  fol- 
lows: Magdalena,  Jane,  Catharine,  and  Eva. 

Kupper,  John  George,  of  Upper  Paxtang, 
d.  in  April,  1780,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth, 
and  children:  Jacob,  Elizabeth,  Catharine, 
Anna  Maria,  Magdalena,  and  Adam.  Ex- 
ecutors were  Martin  Weaver  and  John  Mat- 
ter. 

Laird,  James,  of  Derry,  d.  in  November, 
1731,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children : 
David  and  Mary. 

Laird,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  in  August,  1777, 


leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  children  :  James, 
Hugh,  John,  Samuel,  William,  Elizabeth,  m. 
Mathew  McKinney,  Mary,  m.  Andrew  Rei- 
gart,  and  Jane.  The  executors  were  Hugh 
and  James  Laird. 

Laird,  Agnes,  dau.  of  Hugh  Black  and 
widow  of  .John  Laird,  of  Derry,  d.  March 
1779,  leaving  children  :  Hugh,  Elizabeth,  m. 
Matthew  Mclvinnej',  Mary,  m.  Andrew  Big- 
gar,  James,  John,  Jean,m. Parkhill, 

Samuel,  and  William.  Executors  were  James 
and  John  Laird. 

Lusk,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  May,  17G8, 
leaving  a  wife  and  children  :  James,  Patrick, 
William,  Margaret,  Martha,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
Sarah,  and  Ann. 

Lusk,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  May,  1778, 
leaving  sisters  Mary,  m.  John  Bowman, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Ann,  and  Maigaret,  and 
brother  Patrick  Lusk. 

LeRue,  George,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in.  Decem- 
ber, 1769,  leaving  brothers  Isaac  and  Jonas 
LeRue. 

LeRew,  Peter,  d.  December,  1744,  leaving 
a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  cliildren :  John, 
George,  Esther,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Catharine, 
and  Peter.  Nathaniel  Lightner  and  Joseph 
Ferree  were  the  executors. 

Landis,  John,  d.  July,  1756,  leaving  a  wife 
Margaret,  and  son  John.  There  were  other 
children  whose  names  are  not  given. 

Landis,  Henry,  d.  September,  1760,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Mary,  and  son  Henry.  Other 
children  not  named. 

Ijandis,  Felix,  of  Derry,  d.  in  April,  1770, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary,  naming  sons  Peter  and 
Jacob.  The  writer  of  the  will  was  twice 
married,  and  there  were  minor  children 
whose  names  are  not  mentioned. 

Landis,  John,  d.  in  November,  1771,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Anna,  and  children  :  Mary,  m. 
Christian  Graybill,  Rebecca,  m.  Martin  Bear, 
and  Sarah,  m.  Michael  Wenger  ;  grandchild 
Jacob  Grider. 

Landis,  Barbara,  d.  in  March,  1776,  leav- 
ing a  brother  Henry.  Executors  were  Rudy 
and  Daniel  Bollinger. 

Loss,  Jacob,  of  Hanover,  d.  December, 
1781,  leaving  a  wife  Anna  Dorothea,  and 
children  :  John,  Jacob,  and  George. 

Low,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  Jul}',  1782, 
leaving  a  wife  Isabella,  and  children :  James, 
George,  John,  Margaret,  m.  John  Willson, 
Mary,  and  Isabella.  Executors  were  Jolm 
French  and  David  Ramsey. 

Lecron,  Daniel,  d.  prior  to  1770,  leaving  a 
wife  Maria  Margaret,  and  issue:  John,  Mat- 


DAUFIllN  COUNTY. 


65 


tliias,  Andrew,  Maria  Susanna,  Susanna,  and 
Dorothea. 

Luther,  Dr.  John,  of  Harrisburg,  d.  Jan- 
uary, 1811,  leaving  children :  Catharine,  Cor- 
nelius. Martin,  and  John. 

Logan,  John,  of  Londonderry,  d.  February, 
1788,  leaving  a  wife  Hannah,  and  children  : 

Tiiomas.  William,  John,  Margaret,  ni. 

Willson,  Mary,  ni.  Samuel  McCleary.  Ex- 
ecutors were  William  Duncan  and  William 
Logan. 

Middleton,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Jan- 
uary, 17o2,  leaving  a  wife  and  children  : 
John,  William,  Thomas,  and  George. 

Middleton,  George,  d.  1747,  leaving  a  wife 
Mary,  and  children  :  Thomas,  Robert,  and 
William. 

McCallen,  James,  d.  September,  1744,  leav- 
ing a  wife  and  cliildren  :  John,  James,  Dolly, 
and  Esther. 

McCallen,  James,  of  Pennsboro,  d.  July, 
1747,  leaving  a  wife  Anna,  and  children  : 
Alexander,  William,  James,  and  John. 

Mordah,  John,  d.  in  December,  1744,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Agnes,  and  children :  James, 
Henry,  and  Eleanor. 

Murray,  Joiin,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  June, 
1745,  leaving  his  estate  to  James  Armstrong 
and  Thomas  Gallagher. 

Mays,  James,  d.  August,  1745,  leaving  a 
wife  Margaret,  and  children  :  Rebecca,  Mar- 
garet, James,  and  Andrew.  Executors  were 
wife  and  brother  Andrew. 

Means,  Samuel,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Febru- 
ary, 1746,  leaving  a  wife  Griselda,  and  chil- 
dren :  Nellie,  Margaret,  Andrew,  Jean,  Isa- 
bella, John,  Mary,  and  Samuel. 

McMeen,  William,  of  Pennsboro,  d.  in 
September,  1746,  leaving  a  wife  Jennie,  and 
children:  John,  William,  James,  Thomas, 
and  Rachael.  Executors  were  James  Woods, 
George  Wright,  and  John  McCormick. 

Mitchell,  James,  d.  October,  1746,  leaving 
children  :  James,  Alexander,  Thomas,  Will- 
iam, Jean,  Rachel,  Mary,  and  Margaret. 

Mitchell,  David,  d.  November,  1757,  leav- 
ing children:  Samuel,  Jean,  Margaret,  Sarah, 
Alaraham,  George,  and  David. 

*^Iitciiell,  David,  of  Londondferry,  d.  April, 
1786,  leaving  children  :  Thomas,  who  Jiad 
Jean,  Elizabeth,  and  David  ;  Jean,  who  had 
a  son  David;  a  daugiiter  m.  James  Mc- 
Cord,  David,  Elizabeth,  Eleanor,  a~cfaughter 
m. Thome,  who  had  a  son  David. 

McDowell,  James,  d.  August,  1746,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Mary,  and  children  :  John,  Mar- 
garet, Mary,  Jean,  Elizabeth,  Abigail,  and 


Sarah.  Executors  were  Andrew  Morrison 
and  John  McDowell. 

Montgomery,  Robert,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in 
October,  1748,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and 
children  :  John,  Jean,  m.  James  Tolan;  son- 
in-law  George  Clark,  and  grandchild  Robert, 
son  of  John. 

McGee,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  in  1748,  leav- 
ing brothers  and  sisters:  James,  Elizabeth, 
Margaret,  Jane,  and  Mary. 

McCleary,  Andrew,  d.  in  May,  1748,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Isabella,  and  children:  Samuel, 
Robert,  and  Hannah.  Executors  were  Will- 
iam Maxwell  and  David  Houston. 

McQuown,  John,  d.  in  July,  1748,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  :  Hugh, 
Thomas,  John,  Richard,  Elizabeth,  and  Mar- 
garet. 

McKinney,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  No- 
vember, 1749,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and 
among  other  children,  a  son  John;  mother, 
Martha  McKinney;  brother  Henry,  and 
brother-in-law  Thomas  Harris — the  latter 
three  being  executors. 

McFarland,  James,  d.  January,  1752,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Margaret,  and  brothers  John 
and  Joseph.  Executors  were  wife  Margaret 
and  brother-in-law  William  Greer. 

McFarland,  Daniel,  d.  July,  1752,  leaving 
a  wife  and  children :  William  and  Marga- 
ret ;  grandson  James  Chestnut. 

McFarland,  Walter,  of  Hanover,  d.  July, 
1790,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  : 
.John,  dec'd,  who  left  children,  Margaret,  m. 
McBride,  Catharine  m. John- 
ston, and  had  Walter.  Mary  m. Rid- 
dle, Walter,  Rachel,  m. Gibson,  Ann, 

«n. McCullough,  and  William  ;  grand- 
son James  McFarland. 

McFarland,  Mary,  of  Derry,  widow  of  John, 
d.  August,  1780,  leaving  children:  Walter, 
John,  Mary,  m.  James  Laird. 

McCosh,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  in  November, 
1754,  leaving  a  wife  Jannet,  Executors  were 
wife  and  Robert  and  William  Boyd, 

McCosh,  Jannet,  of  Derry,  d.  in  October, 
1757,  leaving  brotiiers  William  and  John  and 
Alexander  Boyd. 

McAllister,  Neal,  of  Derry,  d.  November, 

1757,  leaving  children  :  John,  James,  and 
Neal;  grandchild  Neal. 

McKnight,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  No- 
vember, 1753,  leaving  a  wife  Martha,  and 
children:  Francis,  Samuel,  and  John.  Ex- 
ecutors were  wife  Martha  and  brother  William. 

McNeely,  Jolm,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  October, 

1758,  leaving  a   wife    Martha,  and    child  : 


66 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


Racliael,    m. 


Gamble ;    grandchil- 


dren John  and  Janet  Gamble  and  Chrissa 
Cooper. 

McKibben,  Josepli,  d.  October,  1761,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Elizabetli,  and  children:  John, 
Josepli,  James,  and  Elizabeth. 

McCord,  William,  d.  March,  17G1,  leaving 
a  child  Martha,  and  sons-in-law  George  Alex- 
ander, Thomas  McCord,  John  Means,  and 
Jolni  Montgomery.  Executors  were  Patrick 
Montgomer\-  and  George  Alexander. 

Mcllhenny,  Alexander,  of  Hanover,  d. 
April,  1761,  leaving  children:  Agnes,  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  and  Ann. 

McKee,  James,  of  Derry,  d.  October,  1762, 
leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children: 
Robert,  James,  and  Samuel.  Executors 
were  Margaret  and  Robert  McKee. 

Menelly,  Martlia,  of  Hanover,  d.  Novem- 
ber, 1762,  leaving  her  estate  to  Robert  and 
John  Bell. 

Mays,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  July,  1764, 
leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  cliildren: 
Thomas,  Margaret,  Rebecca,  Andrew,  Will- 
iam, John,  Mary,  Dorcas,  Samuel,  and 
Matthew.  Executors  were  wife  Margaret  and 
son  Tliomas. 

Maybane,  John,  Jr.,  of  Derry,  d.  January, 
1765,  leaving  children:  David  and  Jolin, 
father  Joim  Maybane,  father-in-law  David 
Crawford,  and  brother  William  Maybane. 
The  executors  were  Joiin  Maybane,  Sr.,  and 
Andrew  Roan. 

Maybane,  John,  of   Derry,  d.  November, 

1769,  leaving  a  wife  Anna,  and  children  : 
Robert,  William,  Elizabeth,  ni. Lind- 
say, Isabella,  m.  William   Cusich,  Jean,  m. 

Leister,  Mary,  ni. Wiley,  Janet, 

m.  Joseph  White,  and  Anna,  m.  James  Pat- 
terson ;  grandchildren  Margaret  and  Anna 
Patterson,  and  Joim  and  David  Maybane, 
cliildren  of  son  John. 

■    Martin,  Samuel,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in   ^hly, 

1770,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  children  : 
John,  James,  Jean,  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  and 
Joseph.  Executors  were  John  Gilchrist  and 
Matthew  Smith. 

Martin,  Robert,  of  Hanover,  d.  October, 
1773,  leaving  a  wife  Jane,  and  children:  Ann, 
Robert,  Jean,  and  Margaret.  Executors 
were  wife  and  son  Robert. 

Moore,  Andrew,  of  Derry,  d.  October,  1767, 
leaving  children  :  Elizabeth, Mary,  m.  Joseph 
Crain,  John,  and  William  ;  grandsons  An- 
drew, son  of  William,  and  William,  son  of 
John. 

Montgomery,  Archibald,  of  Derry,  d.   De- 


cember, 1773,  leaving  children  :  Archibald 
and  Mary  ;  sons-in-law  Samuel  Hanna  and 
Robert  Walker.    Executor  was  Adam  Woods. 

Montgomery,  Robert,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Feb- 
ruary, 1776,  leaving  a  wife  Saraii,  and  chil- 
dren :  Mary,  John,  Hugh,  David,  and  Eliza- 
beth. Executors  were  wife  Saraii,  Hugh 
Montgomery,  and  John  Gallagher. 

Mintzker,  Ludwig,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d. 
February,  1777,  leaving  a  wife  and  chil- 
dren: John,  George,  (Jasper,  Mary,  and 
Ludwig;  sons-in-law  Peter  Hashouer  and 
Henry  Albright. 

Maurer,  Philip,  of  Hanover,  d.  May,  1779, 
leavinga  wife  Anna  Catharine,  and  children  : 
Simon,  Margaret,  Catharine,  Anna,  ni. 
Cliristopher  Brown,  and  George. 

Myer,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April,  1782, 
leaving  a  wife  Christina,  and  children : 
John,  Elizabeth,  Abraham,  Solomon, Michael, 
and  Samuel.  Executors  were  wife  and  son 
John. 

Minicii,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April, 
1784,  leaving  wife  Gertraut,  and  children  : 
George  and  William. 

Minich,  George,  of  PLanover,  d.  April, 
1784,  leaving  wife  Catharine,  and  children  : 
Simon,  Catharine,  m.  Jacob  Kreamer,  Mar- 
garet, m.  John  Zimmerman,  Susannah,  m. 
Jacob  Sechily,  Elizal.ieth,  m.  Adam  Weaver, 
Ciiristiiia,  Rosanna,  and  George. 

Mills,  William,  of  Derry,  d.  November, 
1784,  leaving  a  wife  Susanna,  and  children: 
Mar}',  Rebecca,  Phoebe,  and  Susanna.  Ex- 
ecutors were  Susanna  Mills,  Francis  Wilkin- 
son, and  John  Mills. 

Minshall,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Decem- 
ber, 1784,  leaving  wife  Mary,  and  children: 
Hannah,  Joshua,  John,  Robert,  Thomas, 
Jean,  and  Elizabeth ;  son-in-law  William 
Crabb. 

Maxwell,  Robert,  d.  prior  to  March,  1761, 
for  at  that  date  his  widow  Catharine  was  the 
wife  of  James  Porterfield.  He  left  issue : 
James,  Samuel,  Robert,  Margaret,  Joseph, 
Thomas,  Francis. 

McNeeley,  Michael,  of  Hanover,  d.  Decem- 
ber, 1762,  leaving  wife  Eleanor,  and  chil- 
dren :  Margal-et,  Agnes,  Margery,  Eleanor, 
James,  and  Jean.  Executors  were  wife  and 
William  Trousdale. 

McClure,  David,  d.  in  November,  1749, 
leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children: 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  Jane,  William,  Alexander, 
James,  John,  David,  and  Randal.  Execu- 
tors were  wife  Margaret  and  son  William. 

McClure,  Thomas,  of  Hanover,  d.  April, 


DA  FPU  IN  COUNTY. 


67 


1765,  leaving  a  wife,  and  children:  John, 
Martha,  Willi.ara,  and  Thomas.  There  were 
two  other  daughters. 

McClure,  Mary,  of  Hanover,  d.  April,  1773, 
leaving  children :  John,  William,  Mary, 
Martlia,  Jean,  and  Thomas.  Executors  were 
sons  John  and  Thomas. 

McClure,  Richard,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Novem- 
ber, 1774,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  ciiildren  ; 
Alexander,  John,  Jonathan,  William,  An- 
drew, Roan,  Margaret,  m.  John  Steel,  Mary, 
m.  Joseph  Shearer,  Catharine,  m.  Robert 
Fruit,  Jean,  m.  Joshua  Ru.ssell,  Susannah, 
m.  Hamilton  Sliaw,  and  David.  Executors 
were  sons  Jonathan  and  Andrew. 

McClure,  Thomas,  of  Hanover,  d.  January, 
1778,  leaving  a  wife  Mar}',  and  children  : 
William,  Thomas,  and  four  daughters. 
Executors  were  William  McClure  and 
Thomas  Finney. 

Mcf!lure,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April, 
1785,  leaving  a  wife  and  children  :  Robert, 
Rebecca,  Mary,  Sarah,  Margaret,  and  Jean. 
The  executors  were  brother  Jonathan  Mc- 
Clure, son  Robert,  and  son-in-law  Samuel 
Russell. 

Montgomery,  Sarah,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Novem- 
ber, 1784,  leaving  children  ;  William,  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  David,  and  Hugh ;  grandchild 
Mary  CTallagher.  Executors  were  Hugh  and 
David  Montgomery. 

McKnight,  Joseph,  d.  March,  1707,  leaving 
children  :  Bernard,  Joseph,  William,  Mar- 
tha, Jean,  and  Mary.  Executors  were  Hugh 
Ray  and  John  Rogers. 

McAllister,  Rose,  late  of  North  Carolina, 
d.  in  February,  1770,  leaving  children  : 
Jean,  Gri,sel,  Elizabeth,  and  Joseph ;  and 
step-daughter  Mary  McAllister.  Executors 
were  James  McAllister  and  John  Walker. 

McQueen,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  prior  to  1750. 
His  children  were :  David,  d.  prior  and  left 
issue;  Jane,  m.  John  Bayley,  of  Donegal  ; 
Mary,  m.  James  Anderson,  of  Donegal ;  Jo- 
siah,  and  Robert. 

McQueen,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  November, 
1770,  leaving  children :  John,  Josias,  Abra- 
ham, Rachael,  Margaret,  and  Sarah. 

McQuown,  Richard,  d.  November,  1778> 
leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children,  not 
named.  Executors  were  Jean  and  John  Mc- 
Quown. 

McFadden,  James,  d.  March,  1775,  leaving 
a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  child  Mary.  Execu- 
tors were  Thomas  Rutherford  and  Thomas 
McArthur. 

McMuUen,    William,   of    Paxtang,   d.   in 


March,  1782,  leaving  children  :  Jean,  Sarah, 
Margaret,  Eleanor,  Mary,  William,  and 
James.  Executors  were  sons  William  and 
James. 

McCormick,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  Decem- 
ber, 1784,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children: 
Margaret,  Sarah,  Henry,  Jane,  and  John. 
Executors  were  Robert  Moody  and  James 
Wilson. 

McCormick.William,  of  Hanover,  d.  March, 
1809,  leaving  estate  to  his  brothers  Henry 
and  David,  and  sisters  Isabella  and  Mary, 
m.  Diivid  Ritchey,  and  sister-in-law  Jean 
McCormick. 

McArthur,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Jan- 
uary,   1785,    leaving    children :    Catharine, 

Barbara,    Mary,   m.   Peacock,   and 

Thomas;  grandchildren  Thomas  Peacock, 
Margaret  and  Rebecca  Kyle. 

Moorei  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  June,  1776, 
leaving  a  wife  Agnes.  The  legatees  were 
William  Gray  and  others. 

Martin,  Robert,  of  Hanover,  d.  April,  1777, 
leaving  mother  Jean,  and  sisters  Jean  and 
Margaret.  Executors  were  James  Wilson 
and  Isaac  Hanna. 

Moore,   Agnes,   of    Paxtang,   d.    October, 

1784,  leaving  her  estate  to  her  brother  John 
Forster. 

McEwen,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  April,  1791, 
leaving  a  wife  Eleanor,  and  children  :  Mar- 
garet, m.  Samuel  Aiusworth,  Mary,  Eliza- 
beth, .Jean,  m.  William  Sturgeon,  Eleanor, 
m.  Joseph  Allen,  John,  James,  Richard,  and 
Thomas. 

Metzgar,  Jacob,  of  Derry,  d.  July,  1786, 
leaving  children  :  Jacob,  Jr.,  Margaret,  Eve, 
Barbara,  and  Susannah. 

McCullough,  Archibald,  of  West  Hanover, 
d.  prior  to  1792,  leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and 
issue  :  Archibald,  John,  and  William. 

Miller,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  November, 

1785,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children': 
George,  Mary,  John,  Thomas,  and  Margaret. 
Executors  were  wife,  son  George,  and  Will- 
iam Crain. 

Miller,  Daniel,  of  Londonderry,  d.  No- 
vember, 1801,  leaving  a  wife  Susannah,  d. 
January,  1811,  and  children:  Peter,  Daniel, 
Susannah,  m.  Frederick  Hoover,  Mary,  and 
Abraham. 

Miller,  William,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d. 
January,  1802,  leaving  a  wife  Catharine,  and 
ciiildren:  William,  Barbara,  and  Catharine. 

Miller,  Jacob,  of  Middle  Paxtang,  d.  prior 
to  1801,  leaving  a  wife  Susanna,  and  issue: 
Jacob,  m.  Margaret ,  Daniel,  m.  Gert- 


68 


HItSTORICAL  REVIEW 


root   [Gertrude]  ,   John,   Adam,    m. 

Mary ,  resided  in  Harrisburg,  Susanna, 

m.  Harvey  Creek,  Margaret,  m.  Josepli  Cog- 
ley,  Elizabeth,  m.  Philip  Ettinger. 

Miller,  Jacob,  of  Derry,  d.  January,  1802, 
leaving  a  wife  Ciiristian,  and  children  :  Sam- 
uel, John,  Elizabeth,  and  Ann.  Executors 
were  Christian  Kaufman  and  Capt.  William 
Louer. 

Matter,  John,  Jr.,  son  of  Michael  Matter, 
of  Upper  Paxtang  township,  d.  in  February, 
1816,  leaving  a  wife  Anna  Mary,  and  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Simon,  Anna  Mary,. and 
Elizabeth. 

Moorhead,  William,  d.  1817,  leaving  a 
wife  Elizabeth,  and  children  ;  Eliza,  Adaline, 
James  Kennedy,  William  G.,  Joel  B.,  and 
Henry  C. 

McCall,  James,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d.  Jan- 
uary, 1788,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  chil- 
dren:  Robert,  James  Plunket,  Lydia,  Ann 
Jane,  and  Margaret. 

McCallen,  Robert,  of  Londonderry,  d.  Sep- 
tember, 18U0,  leaving  his  estate  to  his 
nephews  and  nieces,  as  follows  •  William, 
Margaret,  John,  Andrew,  and  Jean  Huston; 
James,  Margaret,  John,  Robert,  and  Paul 
Geddis ;  John,  Sarali,  Jean,  Thomas,  and 
Mary  McCallen;  Robert,  Isabella,  John,  and 
Thomas  Donaldson. 

Motter,  John,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d.  May, 

1802,  leaving  a  wife  Salome,  and  children  : 
John,  Michael,  Jacob,  George,  Adam,  Anna. 
Maria,  and  Christian. 

Meek,  Nicholas,  of  Harrisburg,  d.  April, 

1803,  leaving  a  wife  Catharine,  and  ctiildren  : 
Philip,  who  had  sons  George,  John,  and 
Jacob  ;  John,  Jacob,  Henry,  Mary,  m.  Henr^' 
Amend. 

Meyrick,  Samuel,  "  Doctor  of  Physick," 
of  Middletown,  d.  June,  1811.  He  directed 
his  wife  and  son  to  continue  "  the  apothe- 
cary shop."  The  children  were:  Samuel, 
Ruth,  and  Esther. 

Neffer,  Henry,  of  Derry,  d.  March,  1787, 
leaving  a  wife  Catharine,  and  children : 
Christian,  who  had  sons  Henry,  Christian, 
and  Peter;  Ann,  Elizabeth,  Catharine,  Juli- 
ana, and  Christine.  Executors  were  sons-in- 
law  Martin  Stahl,  of  Derry,  and  Peter 
Blosser,  of  Donegal. 

Neal,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  October,  1791, 
leaving    a    wife    Margaret,  and    children : 


Margaret,  m. 
Jean,  m.  


Cochran,  James,  John, 


Clark,  Eleanor,  m. 


Simpson,  William  had  son  John,  Agnes,  m. 


Fleming  and  had  son  James,  Robert 

had  son  John. 

Null,  George,  of  Derry,  d.  October,  1771, 
leaving  a  wife  Catharine,  and  children : 
George,  Mary,  Christian,  Catharine,  John, 
and  Elizabeth.  Executors  were  wife  and 
son  George. 

Ney,  Adam,  of  Deri'y,  d.  in  February, 
1783,  leaving  a  wife  Veronica  and  children  : 
Peter,  John,  William,  Nicholas,  Elizabeth, 
and  Michael.  Executors  were  sons  William 
and  Peter. 

Nafziger,  Jacob,  of  Londonderry,  d.  Sep- 
tember, 17S2,  leaving  a  wife  Anna,  and  chil- 
dren :  Christian,  Barbara,  Jacob,  and  Joseph. 

O'Neill,  Charles,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  Sep- 
tember, 1770,  leaving  children :  William, 
Elizabeth,  and  Prudence.  The  executors 
were  Alexander  Johnson,  William  McClure, 
and  John  Barnet. 

Ober,  Peter,  of  Londonderry,  d.  March, 
1801,  leaving  wife  Frany,  who  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Forney,  and  children:  John, 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  Catharine,  Barbara,  and 
Peter. 

Portertield,  Robert,  of  Hanover,  d.  April, 
1785,  leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  children : 
Robert,  and  a  daughter  m.  David  Work, 
who  had  children  :  John  and  Ruth.  He 
mentions  granddaughter  Grizzle  Porter- 
field. 

Porter,  James,  Sr.,  of  West  Hanover,  d. 
May,  1788,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  chil- 
dren:  Grizel,  m.  McCormick,  Isabel, 

David,  James,  Robert,  and  Joshua.  Execu- 
tors were  Robert  Moody  and  James  Will- 
son. 

Patterson,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Octo- 
ber, 1745,  leaving  children :  Samuel,  Francis, 
Anna,  Catrine,  Jean,  and  Mary.  Executors 
were  Robert  Taylor  and  Robert  Baker. 

Patterson,  Samuel,  d.  November,  1772, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children  :  James, 
Martha,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  and  Isabella.  Ex- 
ecutors were  wife  Mary  and  William  Patter- 
son. 

Powell,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  November, 
1748,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  besides 
other  children,  a  daughter  Nancy.  Execu- 
tors were  wife  Margaret  and  Thomas  McKee 
and  John  Allison. 

Preece,  Thomas,  of  Derry,  d.  1759,  leaving 
a  wife  Mary,  and  children:  Johanna,  Thomas, 
Joseph,  David,  Richard,  Hannah,  Mary,  and 
Elizabeth.  Executors  were  wife  and  son 
Thomas. 

Preece,  David,  of  Hanover,  d.  November, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


69 


1774,  leaving  a  wife  Dorothea,  and  cliildren: 
Elizabetii  and  Anna. 

Poll,  Wendel,  d.  February,  1768,  leaving  a 

daughter,  m. Haldeman,  and  a  daugli- 

ter,  m.  Christian  Shaub ;  grandchildren 
Jacob,  Christian,  and  Adam  Haldeman.  Ex- 
ecutors were  wife  Mary  and  Christian  Shaub. 

Potts,  Robert,  of  Paxtang,  d.  October,  17G9, 
leaving  a  wife  Sarah,  and  children :  Rachael, 
Peggy,  Jean,  and  Ann  ;  and  sister  Jean.  Ex- 
ecutor was  wife  Sarah. 

Poorman,  Stephen,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April, 
1782,  leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  children  : 
Chrisly,  John,  Stephen,  Barbara,  in.  Elias 
Neglee,  Mary,  m.  Joiin  Roop,  Addy,  m.  Jacob 
Roop,  Freny,  m.  Cliristly  Stouffer,  Ann,  m. 
Henry  Landis,  and  Elizabeth,  m.  Michael 
Poorman.  Executors  were  Conrad  Wolfly 
and  Jacob  Roop. 

Poorman,  Jacob,  of  Paxtang,  d.  January, 
1784,  leaving  a  wife  Mar}',  and  children,  not 
named. 

Pettigrew,  David,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  July, 
1784,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth, and  children: 
John,  James,  Rosa,  Margaret,  Catharine,  and 
Elizabeth. 

Patton,  David,  Sr.,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Septem- 
ber, 1784,  leaving  a  wife  Rebecca,  and  chil- 
dren :  David,  John,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  Jane, 
Joseph,  and  Sarah,  m.  John  Hatfield.  Ex- 
ecutor was  son  David. 

Reid,  Thomas,  d.  July,  1734,  leaving  a  wife 
Mary,  and  children  :  John,  Nathan,  Eleanor. 
Alexander,  Thomas,  Mar}',  and  James.  Ex- 
ecutors were  wife  and  son  John. 

Read,  Adam, of  Hanover,  d.  January,  1769, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary  and  children  :  Eleanor, 
m.  Robert  Whitehill,  and  Mary,  m.  John 
Harris. 

Reed,  John,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d.  April, 
1777,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children, 
names  not  mentioned. 

Rodgers,  Robert,  of  Hanover,  died  Novem- 
ber, 1745,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and 
brothers  George,  Hugh,  and  Joseph  Rodgers. 
Executors  were  John  Harris  and  Robert 
Wallace. 

Rodgers,  Setli,  of  Hanover,  d.  May,  1758, 
leaving  a  wife  Katharine,  and  brothers 
Hugh  and  George.  Executors  were  wife 
Katharine  and  brother  Hugh. 

Riddel,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  1747, 
leaving  a  wife  Sarah,  father  James,  brother 
James,  and  sister  Katharine.  Executors  were 
father  and  brother  James. 

Robinson,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  August, 
1758,  leaving  a  wife  and  a  number  of  chil- 


dren, names  not  mentioned.  Executors  were 
James  McKnight  and  Mathew  Saylor. 

Robinson,  Richard,  d.  February,  1768,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Isabella,  and  children :  Richard, 
James,  John,  Tliomas,  and  Eleanor.  Execu- 
tor was  James  Robinson. 

Robinson,  Philip,  d.  May,  1770,  leaving 
children:  Samuel,  Thomas,  George,  Agn&s, 
and  Sarah.  Executors  were  Thomas  and 
Samuel  Robinson. 

Robinson,  Thomas,  of  Hanover,  d.  Decem- 
ber, 1780,  leaving  wife  Jean,  and  brothers 
Samuel  and  George  Robinson.  Executors 
were  William  Thome  and  James  McCreight. 

Riddle,  Tristram,  of  Hanover,  d.  1759,  leav- 
ing his  estate  to  his  father  James  Riddle,  and 
brother  James  Riddle,  Jr.  Executors  were 
William  Young  and  Walter  McFarlin. 

Riddle,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  August, 
1763,  leaving  a  wife  Janet,  and  children  : 
James  and  Catharine,  son-in-law  Joseph 
Allen,  grandson  William  Young.  lixecu- 
tors  were  Robert  Wallace  and  Plugh  Wilson. 

Russell,  James,  of  Derrj',  d.  June,  1761, 
leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  daughter  Mary, 
brother  James  and  sister  Mary  Ann  Russell. 

Russell,  Jean,  of  Derr}',  d.  May,  1766,  leav- 
ing a  child  :  Mary,  m.  Oliver  Ramsey. 

Ruinberger,  Christian,  of  Hanover,  d.  Jan., 
1776,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  chil- 
dren :  George  and  Mary,  m.  Christopher  Ryn- 
wine.  Executors  were  Michael  Brown  and 
Adam  Weiss. 

Roan,  John,  of  Londonderry,  d.  February, 

1776,  leaving  wife  Annie,  and  children : 
Flavel,  Jean,  Elizabeth,  and  Mary.  Execu- 
tors were  wife  Anne,  Robert  Robinson,  and 
Joseph  Boyd. 

Rennick,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April, 

1777,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children : 
Mary,  Jean,  John,  Margaret,  and  Ann. 

Rennick,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  May,  1782, 
leaving  children:  Mary,  Jean,  John,  Mar- 
garet, and  Ann.  Executor  was  John  Will- 
son. 

Rutherford,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  May, 
1777,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children : 
John,  James,  Samuel,  Nell,  Jean,  Agnes, 
Mary,  and  Elizabeth  ;  son-in-law  Andrew 
Mays.  Executors  were  John  and  Samuel 
Rutherford. 

Robertson,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  in 
March,  1792,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and 
children :  Robert,  James,  daughter,  m.  Alex- 
ander McGee  and  had  a  son  James,  Hugh, 
William,  Jean,  Rebecca,  m.  William  Mofhtt, 
John,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth.    Executors  were 


70 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


wife   and    son    Robert,  and  brother-in-law 
Robert  Moody. 

Reel,  Philip,  of-Paxtang,  d.  July,  1812, 
leaving  a  wife  Catharine,  and  children  as 
follows:  Peter,  Mary,  Jacob,  Sarah,  Catha- 
rine, and  Benjamin. 

Stewart,  George,  of  Donegal,  d.  January, 
1732,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children  : 
Francis,  Elizabeth,  m.  Samuel  Fulton,  John, 
and  Mary.  Executors  were  wife  and  son 
John. 

Stewart,  William,  d.  May,  1748,  leaving  a 
wife  Mary,  daughter  Isabel,  and  son  Thomas. 
Executors  were  wife  Mary  and  Thomas 
Wilson. 
V  Stewart,  John,  of  Donegal,  d.  1749,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Ann.  and  children  :  George,  Suit, 
and  Jean.  Executoi's  were  wife  and  James 
Anderson. 

Stewart,  Rebeccii,  of  Donegal,  d.  January, 
1749,  leaving  children  :  Ciiarles,  Robert, 
William,  and  Frances.  Executors  were  John 
Galbraith  and  James  Kerr. 
■  Stewart,  Andrew,  of  Paxtang,  d.  July, 
1774,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children  : 
James,  John,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Charles,  and 
Andrew.  Executors  were  James  and  An- 
drew Stewart  and  Dr.  Thomas  Wiggins. 

Stewart,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  April,  1777, 
leaving  a  wife  Jennet,  and  children  :  Anna, 

m. Smiley,  Sarah,  Jean,  m.  John  Mc- 

Callen,  Margaret,  Mary,  m. Johnson, 

James,  John,  and  Samuel. 

Stewart,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  November, 
1783,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  : 
Charles,  Lazarus,  and  James;  grandchil- 
dren Lazarus  Stewart,  son  of  Lazarus,  and 
William  Campbeli. 

Stewart,  Frances,  widow,  of  Hanover,  d. 
November,  1790,  leaving  cliildren :  William, 
who  had  a  daughter  Frances,  Lazarus,  wiio 
had   a  daughter  Frances,   John,  Mary,    m. 

George  Espy  and  had  Mary,  Jean,  m. 

Armstrong,  George,  and  James. 

Snoddy,  William,  of  Derry,  d.  May,  1735, 
leaving  a  wife,  and  a  number  of  children. 
Executors  were  John  McQuown  and  James 
Laird. 

Snoddy,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  May,  173G, 
leavinganumberof  children.  Executor  was 
John  McQuown. 

Snoddy,  Jane,  of  Hanover,  d.  November, 
1746,  leaving  daughter  Isabella,  and  step- 
daughter Margaret  Snoddy.  Executor  was 
John  McQuown. 

Snoddy,  Matthew,  d.  August,  1780,le:i  ving 
a  wife  Mabel,  and  children :  John,  Mary,  Isa- 


bella,   Matthew,    William,   Elizabeth,    and 
Mabel.     Executors  were  wife  and  son  John. 

Simpson,  John,  of  Fishing  Creek,  d.  Sep- 
tember, 1738,  leaving  his  estate  to  Thomas 
Armstrong. 

Simpson,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  May 
176J,  leaving  a  wife  and  children:  John, 
Thomas,  Michael,  Rebecca,  William, Samuel, 
Joseph,  and  Edward.  Executors  were  wife 
and  son  John. 

Simpson,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Novem- 
ber, 1772,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  children  : 
Samuel,  Thomas,  Nathaniel,  and  Sarah,  m. 

Forster,    and    son-in-law    William 

Plarper,  living  in  Ireland. 

Simpson,  Thomas,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Febru- 
ary, 1777,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children  : 
Michael  and  Thomas.  Executors  were  Mar- 
garet and  Michael  Simpson  and  John  Elder. 

Simons,  Miciiael,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  May, 
1775,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children: 
Peter,  John,  Mary,  m.  Thomas  Hears,  Eliza- 
beth, m.  William  Weirick,  a  daughter  m. 
Henry  Fensler,  and  Catharine,  m.  Peter 
Weirick. 

Sawyer,  William,  of  Londonderry,  d.  in 
October,  1784,  leaving  his  estate  to  his"  dear 
auld  woman  Sophia,"  and  children  :  William, 
Benjamin,  John,  and  Hannah. 

Steckley,  Christian,  of  Derry,  d.  in  Octo- 
ber, 1707,  leaving  a  wife  Catharine  and 
children:  John,  Barbara,  Chrisly,  Abraham, 
Mary,  and  Catharine.  The  executors  were 
Jacob  and  John  Lehman,  of  Derry. 

Sloan,  John,  d.  in  September,  1741,  leaving 
a  wife  Jean,  and  children:  James,  Robert, 
William,  Jolin,  Sarah,  and  Agnes.  Execu- 
tors were  James  Walker  and  George  Espy. 

Sloan,  Samuel,  d.  September,  1777,  leaving 
brothers  John,  James,  Archibald  and  Will- 
iam ;  sisters  Mary,  m.  James  Michaels,  and 
Elizabeth  ;  nephew  Archibald  Sloan,  son  of 
John,  and  niece  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
William.  Executors  were  Archibald  Sloan, 
David  Allen  and  John  Campbell. 

Sloan,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  December, 
1775,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children  : 
William,  James,  and  Mary;  son-in-law  Peter 
Hastings.  Executors  were  William  and 
James  Sloan. 

Swan,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  December, 
174L,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children: 
James,  Alexander,  Margaret,  and  Jane.  Ex- 
ecutors were  Alexander  and  Marj'. 

Swan,  Alexander,  of  Hanover,  d.  Febru- 
ary, 1778,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  be- 
sides other  children :    Samuel,  Alexander, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


73 


and  Jean.  Executors  were  Josepli  Barnet 
and  John  Gilchrist. 

Swan,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  October, 
1782,  leaving  a  wife  Martha,  and  children  : 
Margaret,  Sarah,  and  Moses,  and  brother 
Richard.  Executors  were  Richard  Swan 
and  John  Wilson. 

Steele,  Thomas,  of  Hanover,  d.  March, 
1746,  leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  son  David. 
Executors  were  Richard  McClure,  John 
Steeass,  and  Agnes  Steele. 

Sterrett,  John,  d.  April,  1748,  leaving  a 
wife  Martha,  and  children:  James,  Joseph, 
Mary,  Ann,  Rebecca,  Elizabeth,  m.  Edward 
Oawford,  Martha,  m.  Joseph  Wilson,  and 
Sarah,  m.  Abraham  Lowrey. 

Sterrett,  Martha,  d.  April,  1754,  leaving 
children :  Anne,  Rebecca,  James, and  Joseph ; 
grandchild  John,  son  of  James.  Executors 
were  Andrew  Work  and  Andrew  Sterrett. 

Sterrett.  Samuel,   of  Hanover,  d.  March, 

1776,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  : 
Alexander,  Benjamin,  Samuel,  Elizabeth, 
John,  and  William  :  sonsin-law  Moses  Shaw 
and  William  Hall;  granddaughter  Sarah 
Shaw,  child  of  Moses.  Executors  were  John 
and  William  Sterrett. 

Sterrett,    Robert,   of  Paxtang,    d.    March, 

1777,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and   children  : 

Agnes,   m.  Hanna,  Mary,  m.  John 

Bowman,  William,  James,  David,  and  Rob- 
ert;  grandchildren  James  and  Robert  Ster- 
rett and  Mary  Bowman,  daughter  of  Mary. 

Semple,  Hugh,  d.  May,  1749,  leaving  a 
wife,  and  brother-in-law  James  Graham. 
Executors  were  William  Cunningham  and 
John  McClure. 

Semple,  James,  of  Derry,  d.  October,  1758, 
leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  children  :  John, 
Isabella,  Sarah,  and  Ann  ;  son-in-law  James 
Henry.  Executors  were  wife  Ann  and 
brother  Robert. 

Semple,  John,  d.  January,  1758,  leaving  a 
wife  Hannah,  and  children:  Robert  Mc- 
Coses,  William,  and  James. 

Smith,  Robert,  of  Paxtang,  d.  March,  1757, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children  :  Matthew, 

m.  Agnes ,  Rebecca,  Robert,  b.  1747, 

and  David,  b.  1749. 

Smith,  James,  of  Paxtang;  d.  September, 
1775,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and   children  : 

John,  James,  Williams,  m.  Mary and 

had  Thomas,  who  was  a  surveyor,  Robert, 
Samuel,  Agnes,  Joseph,  and  Mary.  In  the 
will  he  speaks  of  his  "  brother  John  Cate,  of 
Neelytown,  in  the  county  of  Ulster,  New 
York." 


Strain,  John,  d.  August,  1752,  leaving  a 
wife  Mary,  and  children:  David,  William, 
Gilbert,  John,  Mary,  and  Robert.  Executors 
were  James  Dixon  and  William  Watson. 
Grandilaughter  Elizabeth  Strain. 

Strain,  Robert,  of  Hanover,  d.  September, 
1753,  leaving  brothers  John,  David,  William, 
and  Gilbert;  sister  Mary  Thompson.  Ex- 
ecutors were  James  Dixon  and  William 
Watson. 

Strain,  Thomas,  of  Hanover,  d.  February, 
1780,  leaving  a  wife  Hannah,  and  children : 

Sarah,    m.    Edwards,     John,    and 

Thomas ;  sons-in-law  James  Miliken  and 
William  Thompson  ;  granddaughter  Mar- 
garet Miliken.  Executors  were  sons  John 
and  Thomas. 

Strain,  David,  of  Hanover,  d.  September, 
1783,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  chil- 
dren :  John,  Alexander,  and  William  ;  sons- 
in-law  James  McCreight  and  John  Wilson. 

Snodgrass,  James,  d.  May,  175U,  leaving  a 
wife,  and  children:  William,  James,  Ann, 
Sarah,  Elizabeth,  and  Mary.  Executors 
were  Andrew  Caldwell  and  John  Snodgrass. 

Snodgrass,  Alexandei^,  d.  May,  1750,  leav- 
ing a  wife,  and  children  :  William,  James, 
and  Robert.  Executors  were  John  Caldwell 
and  Patrick  Joimson. 

Snodgrass,  Robert,  of  Hanover,  d.  March, 
1777,  leaving  children:  Joseph,  James, 
Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Mary,  Susannah,  and 
Isabella.  Executors  were  George  Sanderson 
and  Joini  Snodgrass. 

Smith,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  May,  1777, 
leaving  children :  Robert,  Andrew,  Marga- 
ret, and  Rebecca.  Executors  were  Matthew 
and  Andrew  Smith. 

Smith,  Jacob,  of  West  Hanover,  d.  July, 
1815,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  : 

Elizabetii,  m.   Ziegler,    Hannah,  ni. 

Henry  Balsbaugh.  Abraham,  JJavid,  Daniel, 
Jacob,  deceased,  and  John,  deceased,  leaving 
a  son  Samuel. 

Sharp,  Thomas,  d.  .January,  1758,  leaving 
a  wife  Ketrine,  and  children:  John,  Ann, 
Sarah,  Thomas,  and  Mary.  Executors  were 
Philip  Robinson  and  John  Sharp. 

Sharp,  Edward,  of  Paxtang,  d.  October, 
1765,  leaving  a  wife  Sarah,  and  children : 
Henry,  Edward,  and  Eleanor.  Executors 
were  William  Sharp  and   Michael  Graham. 

Sharp,  Dietrick,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April, 
1765, leaving  a  wife  Margaret, and  children: 
Sophia  and  Eva.  Executors  were  Jacob 
Loeser  and  John  Backenstoes. 

Stehley,  Christian,  of  Derry,  d.  October, 


74 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


1767,  leaving  a  wife  Catharine,  and  children  : 
John,  Barbara,  Chrisley,  Mary,  Abraham, 
and  Catharine. 

Stehley,  John,  d.  October,  177G,  leaving  a 
wife  Elizabeth,  and  children :  John,  Eliza- 
beth, Martin,  Christian,  Mary,  and  Jacob. 
Executor  was  wife  Elizabeth. 

Stouffer,   Jacob,   of    Derry,   d.    February, 

1768,  leaving  a  wife  Magdalena,  and  chil- 
dren :  Christian,  Anna,  Mtyy,  and  Eva.  Ex- 
ecutors were  Ulrich  Burkholder  and  Yost 
Brand. 

Steele,  William,  of  Paxtang,  d.  July,  1769, 
leaving  children :  Jolni,  Samuel,  Agnes,  m. 
John  Boggs,  Elizabeth,  m.  Thomas  McNutt, 
David,  Mary,  Jean,  and  William  ;  grand- 
children William  McNutt  and  William 
Boggs. 

Stephen,  Andrew,  of  Paxtang,  d.  Febru- 
ary, 1770,  leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  children: 
Hugh,  Ann,  Andrew,  and  Hezekiah.  Ex- 
ecutors were  wife,  John  Gilchrist,  and  John 
Forster. 

Symons,    Nicholas,   of  Hanover,   d.    May, 

1775,  leaving  wife  Margaret,  and  children  : 
Peter,  John,  and  Elizabeth,  m.  William 
Warick ;  son-in-law  Henr}'  Fensler.  Ex- 
ecutors were  Peter  Hedrick  and  Abraham 
Hubley. 

Schweigert,  Peter,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d. 
August,  1775,  leaving  a  wife  Christina,  and 
children :  Peter, John, Adam, Andrew,  Jonas, 
Elizabeth,  and  Ann.  Executors  were  Peter 
Schweigert  and  Valentine  Branch. 

Sherer,  Joseph,  of  Paxtang,  d.  November, 

1776,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children: 
Samuel,  John,  William,  Catharine,  Mary,  m. 
Samuel  Cochran,  Jean,  Richard,  and  Joseph. 

Sturgeon,  Samuel,  d.Marcii,  1750,  leaving 
children  :  Thomas,  Jean,  and  Sarah.  Ex- 
ecutors were  James  Armstrong  and  Thomas 
Sturgeon. 

Sturgeon,  Samuel,  Sr.,  of  West  Hanover, 
d.  October,  1801,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret, 
and  children :  William,  Jeremiah,  James, 
Samuel,  Andrew,  Martha,  John,  and  Allen. 

Sturgeon,  Jean,  widow  of  Robert,  d.  Febru- 
ary, 1809,  leaving  ciiildren  :  Jean,  Effie,  Jere- 
miaii,  who  had  Jean,  Thomas,  who  had  Jean, 
Timothy,  who  had  Jean  and  Samuel. 

Snyder,  Leonard,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d. 
October,  1801,  leaving  children  :  Leonard, 
Nicholas,  Catharine,  Jacob,  Christopher,  and 
Samuel. 

Snyder,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  July,  1791, 
leaving  a  wife  "\'eronica,  and  children :  John, 
Christian,  Abraham,  Barbara,  and  Peter. 


Snug,  Christian,  of  Upper  Paxtang,  d. 
February,  1786,  leaving  a  wife  Catharine, 
and  children:  Catharine,  m.  John  Nicholas 
Baer,  Elizabeth,  Eva,  Catharine,  m.  Christo- 
pher Yeager,  Margaret,  Ann,  Mary,  Char- 
lotta,  Susannah,  Margaret,  ra.  John  Yeager, 
Christine,  Christian,  Philip,  Magdalena,  and 
John.  Executors  were  John  Motter,  Sr.,  and 
Leonard  Snyder. 

Sawyer.  Sophia,  widow  of  William  Sawyer, 
d.  September,  1788,  leaving  ciiildren:  John, 
Sophia,  Hannah,  m.  John  Logan,  Benjamin, 
a  daughter  m.  William  Duncan  and  had 
William,  William  and  daughter  Mary, 
Thomas  and  son  William. 

Sawyer,  William,  of  Derry,  d.  in  October, 
1784,  leaving  a  wife  Sophia,  and  children : 
John,  Hannah,  William,  and  Benjamin. 
Executors  were  William  and  Benjamin  Saw- 

Sawyer,  Benjamin,  of  Londonderry,  d. 
Januar}',  1792,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and 
children:  Thomas,  William,  James,  and 
Hannah. 

Singer,  Simon,  d.  in  1763,  leaving  a  wife 
Elizabeth,  who  afterwards  married  Henry 
Eby,  and  children:  John,  Simon,  Barbara, 
Elizabeth,  Jacob,  Catharine,  Henry,  Anna, 
and  Mary. 

Singer,  John,  of  Derry,  d.  May,  1790,  leav- 
ing a  wife  Barbara,  and  among  otiier  chil- 
dren :  Conrad  and  David. 

Singer,  Jacob,  of  Derry,  d.  November,  1800, 
leaving  a  wife  Franey,  and  children  :  Jacob, 
Daniel,  Anna,  and  Ephraim. 

Shope,  Bernard,  of  Paxtang  township,  d. 
August,  ISlo,  leaving  children:  Barbara, 
m.  Henry  Michael,  Julianna,  m.  George  Sil- 
sel,  Jacob,  Margaret,  Mary,  Christiana,  Mag- 
dalena, Adam,  Bernhart,  and  Eve,  deceased. 

Shearer,  Michael,  of  Paxtang,  d.  January, 

1777,  leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  son  Daniel. 
Shaw,  Daniel,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  March, 

1778,  leaving  a  wife  Phebe,  and  children  : 
Samuel,  Jean,  m.  William  PLaggerty,  and 
Robert.  Executors  were  Joseph  Brown  and 
William  Hutchison. 

Shaw,  Samuel,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  Novem- 
ber, 1778,  leaving  a  brother  Robert  and  sis- 
ter Jean,  m.  William  Haggerty. 

Shaw,  Alexander,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  De- 
cember, 1785,  leaving  his  estate  to  James 
Monteith.     Executor  was  Samuel  Lyon. 

Scott,  Patrick,  of  Paxtang,  d.  in  June, 
1782,  leaving  a  wife  Ann,  and  children ; 
Robert,  Jane,  m.  Flannigan ;   and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


ia 


grandchildren      Alexander,     Samuel,     and 
Violet  Jackson. 

Stoner,  Catharine,  of   Paxtang,   d.  June, 

1785,  leaving  cliiklren  :  Susanna,  m.  — 

Covven,  and    John  ;    grandcliild    Catharine 
Cowen. 

Tait,  William,  of  Derry,  d.  1749,  leaving 
a  wife  Rebecca,  and  children:  Mary,  m. 
Robert  Stratford, and  Robert ;  grandchildren 
Marv  and  Margaret  Tait,  cliiidren  of  Robert. 
Executors  were  wife  Rebecca  and  Alexander 
McCane. 

Teas,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  May,  1752, 
leaving  a  wife  Martlia,  and  children  :  Mary 
and  Thomas.  Executors  were  wife  Martha 
and  James  Karris. 

Taylor,  Robert,  owned  tlie  farm  at  Pine 
Ford,  in  Derry  township.  In  17G2  his  widow 
was  the  wife  of  Charles  McCormick.  The 
farm,  of  150  acres  was  purchased  by  the 
eldest  son  for  £270.  Tlie  children  of  Robert 
Taylor  then  living  were:  Henry,  Catharine, 
m.  John  Sterling,  William,  Robert,  Mattliew, 
Jane,  John,  Ehzabeth  and  Ann.  The  son 
of  John  was  then  a  minor,  and  John  Laird 
was  appointed  guardian  of  liis  estate. 

Taylor,  David,  of  Derry,  d.  November, 
1761,  leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  children : 
John,  Mary,  Esther,  Agnes,  and  Janet.  Ex- 
ecutors were  wife  Agues,  and  John  and  Pat- 
rick Hays. 

Todd,  Hug]),  of  Hanover,  d.  1772.  Records 
of  will  missing. 

Todd,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  November, 
1783,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children  : 
Jolin,  James,  David,  and  Isabella,  m.  John 
Johnson. 

Thompson,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  Septem- 
ber, 177S,  leaving  cliiidren  :  William,  -Jean, 
m.  John  Robinson,  Jolm,  and  Andrew. 

Trousdale,  William,  of  Hanover,  d.  April, 
1785, leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth, and  children: 
Jean  and  Henry;  also  brothers  Thomas 
and  John  Trousdale. 

Thornton,  Mattliew,  of  Hanover,  d.  April, 
1780,  leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  children: 

Mary,  Nancy,  m. Jamison,  and  had 

Matthew,  William,  Martha,  m. Thomp- 
son  and    had  Agnes,  Margaret  m.    

Butler. 

Tifebaugh  [DifFenbaugh],  George,  of  Pax- 
tang, d.  November,  1788,  leaving  a  wife, 
Mary,  and    children :    Elizabeth,    m.    John 

Shoop,  Catharine,  m. Moore,  George, 

Mary,  Adam,  John,  Jennie,  and  Daniel. 
Executors  were  wife,  son  George,  and  brother 
Michael. 


Templeton,  Robert,  of  Hanover,  d.  Octo- 
ber, 1789,  leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  who  d.  Feb- 
ruary, 1790.  Their  children  were:  Jean,  m. 
Robert  Henry,  Mary,  m.  Charles  McCoy, 
Ruth,  m.  John  Johnson,  John,  Agnes,  m. 
Samuel  Stewart  and  had  Agnes  and  Mary, 
Sarah,  m.  William  Clark,  Barbara,  m.  Henry 
McCormick,  Susannah,  m.  James  Hathorn, 
Hannah,  m.  Duncan  Sinclair,  and  Robert, 
who  had  William  and  Richard. 

Vance,  Moses,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April,  1786, 
leaving  a  wife  Anna,  and  children  :  William, 
Adam,  Jane,  m.  Edward  Ashcraft,  Elizabeth, 
and  Sarali.  Executors  were  wife  and  son 
William. 

Vance,  Joh.n,  of  Hanover,  d.  July,  1734, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children:  Hugh, 
George,  and  Jean.  Executor  was  Jared 
Graham. 

Van  Lear,  Christopher,  of  Derry,  d.  Au- 
gust, 1750,  leaving  children  :  John,  W'illiam, 
James,  Maiy,  iMichael,  and  Christopher. 

Van  Lear,  Michael,  of  West  Hanover,  d. 
April,  1801,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  chil- 
dren :  John,  Agnes,  m.  John  Thompson,  and 
Sarah. 

Wilson,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  September, 

1738,  leaving  his  estate  to  his  father  Alex- 
ander and  brother  Josepli  Wilson. 

Wilson,   David,  of   Hanover,   d.   August, 

1739,  leaving  a  wife  Rebecca. 

Wilson,  George,  of  Paxtang,  d.  1750,  leav- 
ing a  brother  John  Wilson  and  sister  Eliza- 
beth W'ilson,  m.  Thonuis  Lennox. 

Wilson,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  May,  1762, 
leaving  a  wife  Martha,  and  children:  John, 
Sarah,  William,  Martha,  and  Jean.  His 
wife  and  brother  Joseph  Wilson  were  execu- 
tors. 

Wilson,  David,  d.  in  March,  1766,  leaving 
a  wife  Margaret,  and  cliiidren:  Samuel, 
Robert,  and  Elizabeth,  m.  Samuel  W^oods 
and  liad  Nathan. 

Wilson,  Moses,  of  Derry,  d.  February,  1781, 
leaving  children :  John,  Catharine,  Mary, 
Martha,  Susannah,  and  James;  grandchil- 
dren Moses  and  William  Wilson,  Jane  Kear, 
and  Elizabeth  Wilson. 

White,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  March,  1740, 
leaving  a  wife  Barbara,  and  children :  Alex- 
ander, Thomas,  and  Anna.  Executors  were 
John  Branilon  and  James  Sturgeon. 

White,  Josiah,  of  Hanover,  d.  July,  1753, 
leaving  a  wife  Agnes,  and  cliiidren:  Josiah, 
Benjamin,  Samuel,  John,  James,  Daniel, 
and  Isabella.  Executors  were  John  Bar- 
nett  and  Josiah  White. 


76 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


White,  William,  of  Derry,  d.  July,  1783, 
leaving  a  sister  Mary,  m.  Thomas  Mont- 
gomeiT,  and  nephew  Thomas  White.  Ex- 
ecutors were  James  Scott  and  Joiin  White. 

Watson,  William,  of  Hanover,  d.  in  Octo- 
ber, 1770,  leaving  a  wife  Sarah,  and  chil- 
dren :  Samuel,  William,  Hugh,  David,  Pat- 
rick, a  daughter  m.  Alexander  Kennedy, 
Sarah,  Eleanor,  Mary,  Martha,  Ann,  and 
Jean. 

Welsh,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  April,  1754, 
leaving  a  wife  Mary  and  children  :  John, 
Thomas,  James,  Robert,  Joseph,  Jean,  Isa- 
belle,  and  Mary.  Executors  were  wife  and 
son  John. 

Welsh,  James,  of  Derry,  d.  September, 
1769,  leaving  a  wife  Jane,  and    children  : 

Elizabeth,  m.  McConnell,  Mary,  m. 

,  Anna,  Margaret,  Martha,  and 

Samuel. 

Woods,  Adam,  of  Hanover,  d.  August, 
1756,  leaving  a  wife  Sarah,  and  children  : 

Andrew,  John,  Margaret,  m. Patton, 

Janet,  m. Calhoun,  Jiles,  m. 

Cochran,  and 


McAllister,  Sarah,  m. 

Martha,  m.  James  McClenaghan. 

Woods,  Andrew,  of  Hanover,  d.  April. 
1769,  leaving  a  wife  Jean,  and  brother  John. 
Executors  were  wife  and  brother  John. 

Woods,  John,  of  Hanover,  d.  December, 
1769,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children  : 
George,  Andrew,  Samuel,  Sarah,  Anna, 
Margaret,  Janet,  Mary,  Elizabetli,  and  Mar- 
tha. Executors  were  wife,  Josiah  Esp}',  and 
James  McClenaghan. 

AVoods,  Rev.  Matthew,  of  Hanover,  d.  Jan- 
uary, 1785,  leaving  wife,  and  several  chil- 
dren, not  named.  Executors  were  Samuel 
Kearsley  and  John  Ainsworth. 

Wylie,  Oliver,  of  Paxtang,  d.  October, 
1757,  leaving  a  wife  and  children  :  Margaret, 
Oliver,  and  William.  Executors  were  John 
Harris  and  Tiiomas. 

Wiggins,  John,  of  Paxtang,  d.  February 
1762,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children  : 
John,  Agnes,  James,  Jean,  Martha  and  Mar- 
garet.    Executor  was  John  Wiggins. 

Wright,  James,  of  Hanover,  d.  March, 
1764,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children: 
William,  Margaret,  Ann,  Agnes,  Jean,  and 
p]leanor. 

Wriglit,  William,  of  Hanover,  d.  October, 
1782,  leaving  a  wife  Margaret,  and  children  : 
Margaret  and  Mary,  m.  John  Elder.  Ex- 
ecutors were  Margaret  Wright  and  James 
]\IcMillan. 

Walker,  James,  of  Derrj',  d.  April,  1753, 


leaving    a    wife    Margaret,    and    children: 

James,  Agnes,  Archibald,  Sarah,  m. 

Caruthers,  and  Mary,  m.  Andrew  Roan ; 
grandcliild  James  Caruthers. 

Walker,  James,  of  Paxtang,  d.  October, 
1784,  leaving  a  wife  Barbara,  and  children  : 
William,  Isabella,  James,  David,  Robert, 
Thomas,  and  John  ;  grandchildren  Catharine 
and  Rachael  Galbraith.  Executors  were 
wife  Barbara  and  John  Forster. 

Walker,  James,  of  Londonderry',  d.  prior 
to  1785.  His  widow  Martha  in  1787  was 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Weir.  The  children 
were:  Archibald,  William,  Margaret,  Mary, 
and  Lettice. 

Whitley,  Michael,  who  died  in  1777  from 
wounds  received  at  Chestnut  Hill,  left  a  wife 
Martha,  and  children ;  Michael,  William, 
Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Jane,  and  Martha. 

Walter,  Jacob,  of  Paxtang,  d.  March,  1782, 
leaving  wife  Juliana  and  son  Michael. 

Wallace,   Robert,   of    Hanover,    d.    April, 

1783,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  children : 
Moses,  James,  Isabella,  and  Mary  ;  sons-in- 
law  Thomas  McNair  and  Joseph  Boyd ; 
grandchildren  Mary  Boyd,  Robert  Wallace, 
son  of  Moses,  and  Martha  McNair. 

Wallace,   James,   of   Paxtang,   d.   March, 

1784,  leaving  a  wife  Elizabeth,  and  step- 
children :  Robert  and  Rachael  Elder ;  and 
grandchild  Thomas  Elder. 

Wetherhold,  Susanna,  widow,  of  Harris- 
burg,  d.  July,  1812,  leaving  children  as  fol- 
lows: Margaret,  m. Barnett ;  Eliza- 
beth, m.  Wingert,  and  had  Charles 

and  John  ;  John,  of  Hummelstown,  m.,  and 
had  Elizabeth,  m.  Peter  Snyder,  and  had 
Charles,  and  Susanna  ;  and  George. 

Willson,  Jolin,  of  Londonderr}-,  d.  July, 
1812,  leaving  his  estate  to  his  brother  Will- 
iam Willson  and  wife  Mary,  and  sister 
Syble,  nephews  Moses,  Hugh,  and  John  Will- 
son,  and  nieces  Ann  and  Mar}'  Willson. 

Willson,  John,  Sr.,  d.  October,  1801,  leav- 
ing his  estate  to  his  nieces  Jean  Robinson, 
Martlia  Young,  Sarah  Willson,  Martha 
Smith,  Jean  Willson,  wife  of  John  ;  Sarah 
Galey,  and  Martha  Caddow ;  to  nephews 
Samuel,  John,  Abraham,  William,  John, 
and  James  Willson  ;  sister  Jean  Willson. 

Willson,  James,  of  West  Hanover,  d.  Oc- 
tober, 1806,  leaving  children  :  James,  Eliza- 
betli, m.  Rubert  Sturgeon,  Ann,  m.  James 
Moorehead,  Mar\',  Jolin,  Sanmel,  Rachel, 
Thomas,  Lucy,  m.  Thomas  Bell,  and  Mar- 
tha. Executors  were  Samuel  Willson  and 
William  Allen. 


DAUPllIX  COUNTY. 


77 


Young,  Alexander,  of  Paxtang,  d.  March, 
1751,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  a  number  of 
children.  Mentions  father-in-law  James 
Willson. 

Ziegler,  Jacob,  d.  October,  1750,  leaving  a 
wife  Barbara,  and  children  :  Margaret,  Mary, 
Piiiiip,  and  Ann. 

Ziegler,  George,  d.  September,  17G9,  leav- 
ing children  by  first  wife  Mary  :  Jacob  and 
Mary;  by  second  wife  Catharine:  Ann,  Bar- 
bara, George,  and  Frederick. 

Zent,  Jacob,  of  West  Hanover,  d.  in  1809, 
leaving  children  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  m. 
Valentine  King  and  had  a  daughter  Su- 
sanna, John,  Phrcbe  (Pevey),  m.  Christian 
I^ish,  Mary,  m.  Abraham  Houser,  Catharine, 
m.  John  Snyder,  Susanna,  m.  Jacob  Moyer, 
and  Jacob. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Some  Early  Dauphin  County  Families. 

[It  is  not  intended  to  give  a  complete 
genealogical  record  of  Dauphin  county  fami- 
lies. Records  of  other  families  have  ap- 
peared in  print  or  it  has  been  proposed  to 
])ublish  them  in  distinct  iniblications.  Taken 
in  connection  with  the  Cliapter  of  Genealogi- 
cal Records,  this  information,  limited  as  it 
may  be,  is  of  great  value.  There  may  be 
errors  here  and  there,  but  these  will  prob- 
abl}'  prove  unimportant.  The  editor  can- 
not verify  every  statement  given  him.  The 
hope  is  that  from  this  meager  data  many 
may  see  the  value  thereof,  and  at  once  pro- 
ceed to  gather  up  the  valuable  records  of 
their  own  family,  and  preserve  it  for  those 
coming  after.] 

The  Family  of  the  Founder  of  Harris- 
burg. 

John  Harris,  the  first,  was  a  native  of 
Yorkshire,  England,  where  he  was  born 
about  the  year  1G73.  He  w'as  a  brewer  by 
occupation,  and  at  his  majority  came  to 
America  with  several  of  his  brothers.  Wat- 
son, the  annalist,  states  that  John  Harris' 
"entire  capital  amounted  to  only  sixteen 
guineas."  Althougii  spending  a  few  years 
in  the  new  city  of  Philadelphia,  at  a  time 
when  it  was  decided  to  license  but  Englisii 
born  persons  as  Indian  traders,  he  with  one 
or  two  of  his  brothers  entered  that  lucrative 
business.     In    January,  1705,  the  commis- 


sioners of  propertj'  authorized  and  allowed 
him  "to  seat  himself  on  the  Sasquahannali 
at  Pextang,  to  erect  such  buildings  as  are 
necessary  for  his  trade,  and   to  enclose  and 
improve  such  quantity  of  land  as  he  shall 
think  fit."     Mention  is  made  of  him  in  the 
Colonial  Records,  and  among  the  fac-similes 
of  Indian  autograpiis  is  that  of  John  Hans. 
An  examination  of  tlie  original  show  this  to 
be  a  misprint  for  John  Harris.     The  auto- 
graph I.  H.  is  especially  amusing,  placing 
him   among  the  Indian  chiefs  of  the  time. 
By  comparing  this  signature  with  one  in  our 
possession  we  are  perfectly  satisfied  that  tiie 
"  big  Indian  "  John  Hans  was  our  pioneer 
John  Harris.     Of  the  incidents  in  the  bor- 
der life  of  this  early  settler  it  is  not  our  in- 
tention  to  say  much    at   the  present  time. 
Thai  he  was  an  adventurous  spirit,  hardy  and 
daring,  his  seating  iiimself  in  the  midst  of 
the  perfidious  and  treacherous  Shawanese  is 
sufficient  evidence.     "  He  was  as  honest  a 
man   as   ever  broke  bread,"  was  the  high 
eulogium  of  the  Rev.  John  Elder,  who  knew 
him  well  in  the  early  days  of  his  ministry. 
Jolm   Harris  died   at  Harris'  Ferry,  in  De- 
cember, 1748,  his    will    being   probated    at 
Lancaster  the  latter  part  of  that  month.    At 
times  we  are  inclined  to  the  belief  that  John 
Harris  had  been  twice  married.     If  not,  his 
first  and  only  wife  was  Esther  Say,  whom 
he    married  late    in    life.     She  was    many 
years  his  junior,  and  concerning  whom  we 
have  much  traditionary  liistory.     It  is  said 
that  Harris,  on  his  frequent  visits  to  Phila- 
delphia, met  her   at   the  house   of  Edward 
Shippen,  the  first  mayor  of  Philadelphia,  an 
intimate  friend  of  Harris.     She  was  also  a 
relative  of  the  family  with  whom  she  was 
residing.     They  were  married  in  old  Christ 
Church,  but   the  exact  year  we   have   no 
record.     Esther    Say    Harris    survived   her 
husband,  and  four  or  five  years  thereafter 
married   William   McChesney,  who  resided 
on  the  west  side  of  tiie  Susquehanna,  in  what 
is  now   Newberry  townsiiip,   York  county. 
She  died  there   in    1757,  and  was  probably 
buried  in  Silvers  Spring  churcli  graveyard. 
Tlie    names   of  John  Harris'  children  who 
reached    maturity,   and    j)robable    dates   of 
birth,  are  as  follows : 

i.  Elizabeth,  b.  1720;  m.  John   Findley. 

a.  Esther,  b.  1722;  m.  William  Plunket. 
Hi.  John,  b.  1726;  m.,  1st,  Elizabeth  Mc- 
Clure;  2d,  Mary  Reed. 

iv.  William- Augustus,  b.  1730;  m.  Mar- 
garet_Simpson. 


78 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


V.  Samuel,  b.  May  4, 1733 ;  m.  Elizabeth 

Bonner. 
vi.  David,  b.  1737 ;  m.  Miss  Mahon. 
At  his  death,  it  may  be  noted,  the  pioneer, 
John  Harris,  was  buried  at  the  foot  of  a 
large  mulberry  tree  on  the  river  bank,  as 
was  also  his  first  wife,  and  several  of  his 
children  who  died  in  early  life.  The  in- 
closure  in  Harris  Park  and  the  fast  decaying 
stump  of  the  old  tree  mark  the  site  of  the 
last  resting  place  of  the  first  -lohn  Harris. 

Elizabeth   Harris,  the   eldest   child   of 
John  Harris,  married  John  Findley  or  Fin- 
ley.     She  died  in  17G9  at  the  age  of  forty- 
nine  years;  her  husband  in  1771  at  the  age 
of  almost  fifty.     Little  is  known  of  him,  save 
that  he  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Findleys  or 
Finleys    of    Western    Pennsylvania.     The 
children  of  Elizabeth  and  John  Findley  were; 
i.  Esther,  who  married  "  William  Pat- 
terson, Esq.,  of  Fermanagh."     Pat- 
terson had  been  previously  married 
to  Isabella  Galbraith,  of  Derry,  and 
their  only  son,  Galbraith  Patterson, 
was   a   noted   lawyer  in   the  early 
days  of  the  Dauphin  county  courts. 
Tlie  children  of  Esther  and  Will- 
iam Patterson  were:  John,  Isabella, 
Willi  am- Augustus,     Margaret,     and 
James,  all  of  whom    married   and 
left  issue. 

n.  John,  m.  Hannah :  in  179G  he 

resided  in  Washington  county.  Pa. 
Hi.  Isabella, 
iv.  William- Augustus. 
V.  Margaret,  she  married  William  Wirtz, 
of   Lancaster;   and   their  children 
were:    Margaret,   Elizabeth,   Esther, 
Christian,    Hannah,   and     William. 
Otherwise  concerning  them  we  have 
little  knowledge. 
vi.  James. 
As    previously    remarked,    the    Findleys 
went  to   Western    Pennsylvania,  and    from 
thence  their  descendants  have  scattered  over 
the  States  of  the  Union  beyond  the  Ohio, 
where  they  are  to-day  a  representative  people. 

Esther  Harris,  the  second  daughter  of 
the  elder  John  Harris,  born  about  1724,  died 
in  1768.  She  married  Dr.  William  Plunket, 
a  native  of  Ireland.  At  that  time  he  was 
practicing  medicine  in  Carlisle.  He  was  an 
officer  in  the  Provincial  service;  subse- 
quently located  atSunbury,  where  he  became 
the  leader  in  the  so-called  Pennaraite  War — 
efforts  made  bv  the  government  of  Pennsyl- 


vania to  drive  off  the  Connecticut  intruders 
upon  the  Wyoming  lands.  During  the  war 
of  the  Revolution  he  was  suspected  of  dis- 
loyalty, and  was  once  placed  under  arrest. 
Sabine,  in  his  loyalists  of  America,  tells  some 
fabulous  stories  of  Colonel  Plunket.  We 
doubt  if  he  was  ever  a  loyalist.  As  in  the 
recent  civil  conflict,  however,  it  may  be  that 
as  he  was  not  for,  he  certainly  must  be 
against.  All  of  his  friends  and  family  con- 
nections were  ardent  for  independence — and 
he  would  have  entered  heartily  into  the 
struggle,  but  with  the  other  officers  of  the 
French  and  Indian  war,  they  found  them- 
selves supplanted  by  inexperienced  men  as 
officers,  and  this  rankled  in  tlieir  bo.soms 
and  they  stood  aloof.  At  this  distance  from 
that  era  it  is  difficult  to  iiujuire  into  the 
causes  why  old  and  well-tried  officers  were 
totally  ignored  in  the  organization  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Line,  and  the  chief  places 
given  to  men  who  knew  not  the  "  art  of  war." 
Plunket  and  his  fellow  officers  of  the  Pro- 
vincial war,  at  the  outset  of  the  Revolution, 
hurriedly  organized  the  militia  of  the 
counties,  but  when  the  Continental  Line  was 
formed  they  were  left  out  in  the  organization. 
And  so  the  old  hero  quietly  retired  to  do- 
mestic life,  onlj'  annoyed  by  repeated  charges 
of  di.sloyalty  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  He  died 
at  Sunbury  in  the  month  of  April,  17!)l,and 
is  there  buried.  The  children  of  Esther 
Harris  and  William  Plunket  were  : 

i.  Elizabeth,  who  married  Samuel  Ma- 
clay,  brother  of  William  Maclay,  a 
member  of  the  Senate  of  Penn.syl- 
vania,  speaker  of  that  body,  and 
afterwards  United  States  senator;  an 
influential  man  in  public  affairs, 
and  whose  descendants  have  oc- 
cupied and  do  occupy  honorable 
and  prominent  positions  in  Penn- 
sylvania. 
a.  Isabella,  who  married  William  Bell, 
of  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.  She  was  a 
remarkable  woman,  was  principal 
of  a  young  ladies'  seminary  many 
years,  and  died  on  the  lOtli  of 
March,  1843,  at  the  good  old  age  of 
eighty-three  years. 
Hi.  Margaret,  married  Isaac  Richardson. 
A  descendant  was  recently  a  repre- 
sentative in  the  United  States  Con- 
gress from  one  of  the  New  York  dis- 
tricts. 
iv.  Esther- Harris,  married  her  cousin, 
Col.  Richard  Baxter,  of  the  British 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


79 


service.    She  died  yonng,  leaving  a 

daughter,   Margaret,    who    became 

the  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel  Maclay,  of 

Miflflin  county,  Pa. 

Dr.  Plunket  had  besides  the  foregoing,  five 

other  children,  all  sons,  who  died  in  earlv 

life. 

John  Harris,  the  eldest  son  of  the  first 
John  Harris,  and  the  founder  of  Harrisburg, 
was  b(  rn  in  1726  at  Harris'  Ferry.  He  was 
but  twenty-three  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  At  that  period  Harris'  Ferry  was  an 
imjiortant  place  on  the  frontiers  of  Pennsj'l- 
vania;  and  that  with  the  management  of 
his  father's  estate  and  tlie  guardianship  of 
his  younger  brothers  required  care  and  good 
judgment.  Soon  thereafter  the  French  and 
Indian  war  broke  out.  The  ferry  was  the 
entrc-potiovi\\e  Provincial  forces  stationed  on 
tlie  frontiers.  The  stor}'  of  .John  Harris' 
life  through  tliese  exciting  times,  down  to 
its  close,  remains  to  be  written,  and  we  pro- 
pose at  some  future  day  to  venture  upon  the 
subject.  Much  of  it  reads  like  a  romance. 
He  lived  in  perilous  times — and  he  was 
equal  to  the  emergenc3\  He  was  an  officer 
in  the  Provincial  service,  and  during  all  that 
struggle  for  white  supremacy  against  the 
treacherous  Delawaresand  perfidious  Shavva- 
nese  he  was  active  and  energetic.  The  Rec- 
ords of  Pennsylvania  contain  a  great  deal  of 
correspondence  between  John  Harris  and 
tiie  Provincial  authorities,  principally  relat- 
ing to  the  condition  of  the  frontiers  and  ac- 
counts of  Indian  forays.  During  the  Pax- 
tang  Boys'  affair  of  1763  and  1764  he  was 
among  those  censured  by  the  government, 
but  had  that  government  taken  his  advice 
and  removed  that  viperous  and  blood- 
stained band  of  Indians  on  the  Conestoga, 
there  would  never  have  resulted  the  neces- 
sity in  the  Paxtang  Boys  taking  summary 
justice  in  their  own  hands.  When  the  revo- 
lutionary struggle  came  John  Harris  was 
not  behind  his  friends  and  neighbors  in 
taking  sides  with  the  Colonies.  Not  only 
his  influence,  but  his  money  was  given  to 
the  authorities  to  assist  in  the  contest  with 
the  mother  country.  One  of  his  sons,  his 
eldest  born,  fell  in  front  of  Quebec  in  De- 
cember, 1775;  another,  David,  became  an 
officer  in  the  war,  and  served  with  distinc- 
tion. Prior  to  the  Revolution,  with  a  far- 
seeing  eye,  John  Harris  proposed  the  laying 
out  of  a  town  at  the  ferr}' — but  that  contest 
put  an  end  for  the  time  to  all  projects.  No 
sooner  had  peace  been   declared    than   the 


proposals  for  the  new  town  were  set  forth. 
In  the  newspapers  of  1784  an  advertisement 
to  that  effect  was  published.  The  new 
county  project,  however,  changed  the  origi- 
nal plans,  and  provided  Harris'  Ferry  was 
chosen  as  the  county  seat  the  proprietor  of- 
fered lands  for  the  public  use — town,  county 
and  State — and  agreed  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners who  should  value  the  lots  of  the 
town  of  Plarrisburg,  and  which  were  to  be 
sold  at  the  sum  fixed  therefor.  On  the  4th 
of  March,  1785,  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  passed  the  act  for  the  erection  of  the 
county  of  Dauphin,  designating  Harris' 
Ferry  as  the  county  seat.  Agreeable  to  John 
Harris'  plans  the  lots  of  tiie  town  were  ap- 
proved and  valued,  and  report  thereof  made 
on  the  14th  day  of  April,  1785.  The  town 
grew  rapidly,  and  the  founder  lived  to  see  it 
prosperous.  He  died  on  the  30th  of  July, 
1791,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the 
graveyard  of  old  Paxtang  church.  A  marble 
slab  bearing  the  following  inscription  marks 
the  spot: 

In  vicmory  of  |  John  Harris  \  Who  died  on 
the  30th  Day  of  July  \  1791  \  In  the  65th  year 
of  his  age  \  and  gave  name  |  To  the  Toivn  of 
llarrisburgh.  \  The  remains  of  \  Elizabeth  his 
first  I  and  Mary  his  second  wife  \  Lie  in- 
terred, with  hvm  \   Under  this  Stone. 

John  Harris  was  in  reality  one  of  the 
"  men  of  mark  "  in  the  early  history  of  Penn- 
sylvania. During  the  French  and  Indian 
war 'his  services  were  invaluable,  and  so 
down  to  the  close  of  his  active  life  he  was 
the  same  unflinching  patriot — a  generous 
hearted  and  enterprising  citizen.  He  had 
strong  faith  in  the  advantageous  position  of 
the  town  whicli  he  had  laid  out,  and  some 
years  before  his  death,  in  his  efforts  to  dis- 
suade Matthias  Hollenbach,  of  Hanover 
township,  who  was  then  removing  to  Wilkes- 
Barre,  and  who  became  quite  prominent  in 
the  history  of  that  locality,  said  this  place 
[Harrisburg]  would  eventually  become  the 
center  of  business  in  interior  Pennsj'vania 
and  in  time  be  selected  as  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment of  the  State.  He  was  far-seeing.  At 
his  death  he  owned  about  900  acres  of  land, 
including  most  of  what  is  now  embraced  in 
the  city  of  Harrisburg.  Also  200  acres  on 
the  Cumberland  side  of  the  river,  including 
the  Ferry,  as  also  a  large  tract  of  land  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Yellow  Breeches,  in  Newberry 
township,  York  county,  with  600  acres  at 
the  mouth  of  Conedoguinet  creek,  where  an 
old  Shawanese  town  once  had  been. 


80 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


John  Harris,  the  founder,  was  twice  mar- 
ried. In  the  year  1749,  by  the  Rev.  John 
Elder,  to  Elizabeth  McClure,  born  1729  in 
Paxtang,  and  died  January  20,  1764,  at 
Harris'  Ferry.  Tiie  following  incidents, 
ci-edited  to  the  wife  of  the  first  Jolm  Harris, 
refer  to  this  noted  woman.  "The  log  house 
of  Mr.  Harris,  situated  on  the  river  bank, 
was  surrounded  by  a  stockade  for  security 
against  the  Indians.  An  English  officer  was 
one  night  at  the  house,  when  by  accident  the 
gate  of  the  stockade  was  left  unfastened. 
Tlie  officer,  clothed  in  his  regimentals,  was 
seated  with  Mr.  Harris  and  his  wife  at  the 
table.  An  Indian  entered  the  gate  of  the 
stockade  and  thrust  his  rifle  through  one  of 
the  port-holes  of  the  house,  and  it  is  sup- 
posed pointed  it  at  the  officer.  The  night 
being  damp,  the  gun  simply  flashed.  In- 
stantly Mrs.  Harris  blew  out  the  candle  to 
prevent  the  Indian  aiming  a  second  time, 
and  he  retreated."  On  another  occasion  a 
servant  girl  was  sent  upstairs  for  some  pur- 
pose, and  she  took  with  her  a  piece  of  lighted 
candle,  without  a  candlestick.  The  girl 
soon  came  down  without  the  candle,  and  on 
Mrs.  H.  asking  what  she  had  done  with  it, 
slie  said  she  had  stuck  it  into  a  barrel  of 
flaxseed.  This,  however,  happened  to  be  a 
barrel  of  powder.  Mrs.  Harris  instantly 
rose,  and  without  saying  a  word,  for  fear  of 
alarming  the  girl,  went  upstairs,  and  advanc- 
ing to  the  barrel,  cauMously  placed  her 
hands  under  the  candle  and  lifted  it  out,and 
then  coolly  reproved  the  girl  for  her  careless- 
ness. These  occurrences  prove  her  to  have 
been  well  fitted  for  the  life  of  a  pioneer. 

The  children  of  John  Harris  and  his  wife 
Elizabeth  McClure  were : 

i.  Mary,  b.  April  13,  1750  ;  m.  William 

Maclay. 
a.  John,  b.  August  20,  1751.  He  is  the 
son  of  whom  his  father  wrote  on 
the  4th  of  Jul}',  1775,  after  speaking 
of  his  son  David,  who  was  an  ap- 
plicant for  a  commission  in  the 
patriot  army :  "  I  shall  let  my 
other  son  Johnny  go  cheerfully  in 
the  service,  anywhere  in  America." 
He  joined  at  this  time  Capt.  Mat- 
thew Smith's  company,  and  fell 
mortalh'  wounded  in  front  of  Que- 
bec, on  the  31st  of  December,  1775. 
Hi.  David,  h.  Februar}'  24,  1754,  at 
Harris'  Ferr}'.  He  received  a  good 
English  and  classical  education 
under   the   care  of  the  celebrated 


Dr.  Alison.  At  the  time  of  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  for  Inde- 
pendence he  was  in  Baltimore. 
He  accepted  a  commission  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Line  and  was  ap- 
pointed paymaster  of  Col.  William 
Thompson's  battalion  of  riflemen. 
He  served  in  various  positions 
until  the  close  of  the  Revolution, 
when  he  returned  to  Baltimore 
where  he  married.  After  the  death 
of  his  father,  being  one  of  the  ex- 
ecutors of  the  estate,  he  came  to 
Harrisburg,  and  was  appointed  by 
his  old  friend  and  companion  in 
arms.  Governor  Mifflin,  one  of  the 
associate  judges  of  Dauphin  county, 
August  17,  1791.  This  position  he 
resigned  on  the  20th  of  February, 
1792,  to  accept  an  appointment  in 
the  Bank  of  the  United  States. 
Upon  the  establishment  of  the  off"ice 
of  discount  and  deposit,. in  Balti- 
more, he  accepted  the  cashiership 
thereof.  Major  Harris  died  in  that 
city  on  the  IGth  of  November,  1809, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  His 
wife  was  Sarah  Crocket,of  Baltimore, 
and  their  children  were  :  John,  who 
(lied  in  Europe,  and  3Iary  Crochet, 
who  married  Joseph  Sterritt. 
iv.  William,  b.  January  23, 1756  ;  d.  July 

3,  1764. 
V.  Elizabeth,    b.    November    22,    1759 ; 
d.  s.  p. 
John  Harris  married,  secondly,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1764,  by  Rev.  John  Roan,  Mary  Read, 
daughter  of  Adam  and  Mary  Read,  of  Han- 
over, b.  1730;  d.  November  1,  1787,  at  Har- 
risburg, and  buried  in  old  Paxtang  church 
graveyard.     Their  children  were: 

vi.  Adam,  b.  November  7,  1765 ;  d.  s.  p. 
vii.  James   (1st),  b.    February    15,   1767; 

d.  s.  p. 
via.  Robert,   b.    September    5,    1768 ;    m. 
Elizabeth   Ewing. 
ix-  Mary,  b.  October   1,  1770;  m.  John 

Andre  Hanna. 
X.  Jean,  b.  March  18,  1772;  d.  s.  p. 
xi.  Joseph,  b.  October  23,  1774;  d.  s.  p. 
xii.   William,  b.   September  1,   1776;    d. 

August  17,  1777. 
xiii.  Read,  b.  October  5,  1778 ;  d.  s.  p. 
xiv.  Elizabeth,  b.  October,  1780;  d.  s.  p. 
XV.  James  (2d),  b.  1782  ;  d.  May  17, 1806; 
unm.;  buried    in    Paxtang  church 
graveyard. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


81 


William  Augustus  Harris,  son  of  Jolin 
Harris,  tlie  elder,  born  about  the  year  1730, 
at  Harris'  Ferrj' ;  d.  in  1760,  near  Elizabeth- 
town,  now  Lancaster  county.  He  married, 
October  4, 1752,  Margaret  Simpson,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Simpson,  of  Paxtang.  She  sur- 
vived her  husband  only  a  year  or  two.  They 
left  children : 

i.  John,  d.  s.  p. 

ii.  Sivipson,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  died  in  the  service  at 
Ashley  Hill. 

Samuel  Harris,  sou  of  the  first  John 
Harris,  b.  May  4, 1733,  at  Harris'  Ferry.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,  he  was  a 
settler  in  Northumberland  county,  and  took 
an  active  part  in  affairs  there,  as  also  in  tiie 
so-called  "  Peunamite  War."  He  afterwards 
removed  to  near  Cayuga  Lake,  New  York, 
where  he  died  on  the  19th  of  October,  1.825. 
At  West  Cayuga,  or  Bridgeport,  on  the  shore 
of  the  Cayuga  Lake,  in  the  town  of  Seneca 
Falls,  is  a  monument  erected  to  Samuel 
Harris.  From  it  we  take  the  following  in- 
scription, although  the  date  of  his  birth  is 
seven  years  out  of  the  way  : 

Savmcl  Harris  \  Born  at  Harrisburg,  Pcnn., 

I  May  4-!  174-0  \  An  active  poMicipant  in  the 

I  Stirring  scenes  of  the  old  French  War  \  was 
present  at  surprise  and  defeat  |  of  Braddock 
near  Fort  Du  Quesne  \  He  ivas  the  decided 
friend  of  his  |  Country  and  her  Cause,  in  the 
War  I  of  the  Revolution,  during  which  he  icas 

j  appointed  Captain  of  Cavalry  \  Emigrated 
to  and  settled  on  the  |  bank  of  the  Cayuga  Lake 
in  the  year  1795  \   Where  he  died  Aug.  19, 1835 

I  Aged  85  yrs  3  months  15  days. 

On  the  same  juonument  is  this  inscrip- 
tion : 

Elizabeth.  Harris  ivife  of  Samuel  Harris  | 
born  at   Philadelphia  March  17,  nifi  \  Died 
Dec.  25,  1828  \  Aged  88  yrs  9  mo.  8  da.  \ 
Blessed  are  the  merciful  for  they  shall  ob-  |  tain 
mercy. 

Samuel  Harris  married,  in  1758,  Eliza- 
beth Bonuer,  of  Philadelphia.  Their  chil- 
dren, all  born  at  Harris'  Ferry,  were: 

i.  John,  b.  September  26, 1760 ;  m.  Mary 

Richardson. 
ii.  William,  b.  October  3,  1762;  m.  Miss 

Mead,  and  left  issue. 
Hi.  Ann,  b.  1764  ;  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  David,  b.  'April   22,  1771 ;  m.   Ann 

1;    and'theiri'children    were 

A  If  red,  [  Samuel,  an  d'^Elizabeth. 


David  Harris,  the  youngest  son  of  the 
first  John  Harris,  born  about  1737,  received 
a  good  education,  settled  at  Sunbury,  and 
was  prothonotar}'  of  Northumberland  county 
in  1777  and  1778.  He  died  while  on  a  voy- 
age to  Europe.  He  married  a  Miss  Mahon, 
of  Baltimore,  and  they  had  one  child,  Esther, 
concerning  whom  we  have  not  been  able  to 
secure  information. 

Mary  Harris,  the  daughter  of  the  second 
John  Harris,  and  his  wife, Elizabeth  McClure, 
was  born  April  13,  1750,  at  Harris'  Ferry; 
d.  April  20,  1809,  at  Harrisburg,  and  is 
buried  in  Paxtang  church  graveyard.  She 
married,  April  16,  1769,  William  Maclay. 
He  was  the  son  of  Charles  Maclay  and  Elea- 
nor Query,  and  was  born  July  20,  1737,  in 
New  Garden  township,  Chester  county,  Pa. 
In  1742  his  parents  removed  to  Hopewell 
township,  Lancaster  county,  now  Lurgan 
township,  Franklin  county,  where  he  grew 
up  to  man's  estate.  He  was  at  Rev.  John 
Blair's  classical  school,  in  Chester  county, 
when  the  French  and  Indian  war  broke  out, 
and  desiring  to  enter  the  Provincial  service, 
Mr.  Blair  recommended  him  as  a  "judicious 
j'oung  man  and  a  scholar."  He  was  ap- 
pointed an  ensign  in  the  Pennsylvania  bat- 
talion, subsequently  y)romoted  to  lieutenant, 
and  served  under  Forbes  and  Bouquet.  He 
afterwards  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to 
the  York  county  bar,  April  28,  1760.  He 
was  appointed  one  of  the  deputy  surveyors 
of  the  Province,  and  until  the  Revolution 
was  busily  engaged  as  the  assistant  of  Sur- 
veyor General  Lukens  on  the  frontiers.  By 
direction  of  the  Proprietaries  he  laid  out  the 
town  of  Sunbury,  where  he  erected  a  stone 
house  and  resided  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
During  that  struggle  he  marched  with  the 
Nortiiumberland  county  associators,  partici- 
pating in  the  battles  of  Trenton  and  Prince- 
ton. He  was  afterwards  appointed  assistant 
commissar}'  of  purchases.  In  1781  he  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly,  and  filled  many 
offices  in  the  county  and  State,  while  in  1789 
was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate,  tak- 
ing his  .seat  there  as  the  first  senator  from 
Pennsylvania.  A  diary  of  the  proceedings 
of  these  two  years  was  kept  by  Mr.  Maclay, 
the  original  of  which  was  in  the  possession  of 
his  grandson,  AVilliam  Maclay  Lyon.  Upon 
leaving  the  Senate  he  took  up  his  permanent 
residence  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  built  the 
stone  house  yet  standing  at  the  corner  of 
Front  and  South  streets.     He  represented  the 


82 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


county  of  Dauphin  in  the  Pennsylvania 
House  of  Representatives  in  1795  and  1803, 
and  was  a  Presidential  elector  in  1796,  and 
from  1801  to  1803  one  of  the  associatejudges 
of  the  county.  He  died  at  Harrisburg  on 
the  15th  of  April,  1804.  In  the  old  Paxtang 
churchyard  is  a  flat  marble  stone  with  this 
inscription  : 

Sacred  \  to  the  memory  of  \  Williom  Maclayj 
Esq.,  I  late  of  Harrisburgh,  \  ivho  dej^arted  this 
life  April  16,  180^,  \  Aged  68  years.  \  In  the 
death  of  this  valaahle  member  of  |  Society  his 
Country  has  lost  an  enligldened  |  citizen  and 
his  family  their  only  support.  \  He  held  some  of 
the  most  honourable  offices  \  in  Pennsylvania 
and  the  United  States  \  and  discharged  their 
duties  with  firmness  \  and  integrity.  \  To  an  en- 
larged and  superior  mind  he  added  |  the  strictest 
morality  and  served  his  God  \  by  improving 
himself  in  virtue  and  knmvlcdge.  \  He  has  gone 
to  receive  a  glorious  reward  \  for  a  life  spent  in 
honour  and  unsullied  by  crime.  \  His  afflicted 
wife  and  children  raise  this  stone  \  over  his 
grave  and  have  no  consolation  but  \  in  the  re- 
membrance of  his  virtues. 

O'er  thy  loved,  tomb  shall  angels  bend.  \  And 
true  affectiontributepay,  \  To  mourn  tlie  Father, 
Husband,  Friend,  \  Untimely  torn  by  Death 
away.  \  Tho'  poivcr  and  honour  couldnot  save  \ 
Thy  mortal  part  from  Death's  abode,  \  Th' 
ethereal  spirit  bursts  the  grave  \  and  seeks  the 
bosom  of  its  God. 

"  Words  of  truth  for  once  told  on  a  tomb- 
stone," said  William  Darby,  the  geographer, 
who  knew  Mr.  Maclay  well.  For  further 
notes  concerning  him  see  "  History  of  Dau- 
phin County."  The  children  of  Mary  (Mc- 
Clure)  Harris  and  William  Maclay  were 
(surname  Maclay): 

i.  John-Harris,  b.  Feb.  5,  1770  ;  d.  s.  p. 
a.  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb.   16,   1772  ;  d.  April 
19, 1794.  In  Paxtang  church  burial 
ground  is  a  large  marble  slab  with 
this  inscription : 
Sacred  \  to  \  the  Memory  of  \  Eliza  Maclay. 
A  lingering  distemper  \  borne  with  resignation 
put  a  period  to   her  life  \  on  the  19th  of  April, 
179i  I  in  the -BSd  year  of  her  age.  \  The  duties  \ 
annexed  to  her  station  \  were  dischargad  with- 
out a  I  blot.  I  Her  weeping  Parents  \  have  placed 
over  her  this  stone  \  The  monument]  Of  her  vir- 
tues and  of  I  their  affection. 

Hi.  Eleanor,  b.  January  17, 1774 ;  m.  Will- 
iam Wallace. 
iv.  Mary,  b.  March  19,  1776;  m.  Samuel 
Awl. 


V.  Esther,  b.  September  19,  1778  ;  m.  Dr. 

Henrv  Hall. 
vi.  Sarah,  b.  January  5,  1781;  m.  John 

Irwin. 
vii.  Jean,   b.    March    19,   1783 ;   m.   John 

Lvon. 
via.  AViiliam,  b.  1784;  d.  1785. 
ix.  William  (2d),  b.  May  5, 1787  ;  d.  Mon- 
day, Marcli  22, 1812,  at  Harrisburg, 
unm. 
Robert  Harris,  son  of  the  second  John 
Harris,  and  liis  wife  Mary  Read,  was  born 
SeptemV)er  5,  1768,  at  Harris'  Ferry.     He  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  and  was  brouglit  up 
as  a  farmer,  residing  during  tlie  early  por- 
tion of  his  life  in  the  old  log  house  which 
stood  where  the  Harris  Parlv  school  building 
is  erected.     He    filled   various    positions  of 
honor,  and  during  the  war  of  1812-14  served 
as  paymaster  of  tlie  Penn'a  troops.     He  was 
elected  to  Congress  two  terms,  1823  to  1827. 
Mr.  Harris  was  one  of  tlie  most  active  and 
energetic  men  of  his  day.     Possessed  of  great 
public  spirit,  he  aided  in  the  establishment 
of  various  enterprises,  including  the  bridge 
over  the  Susqneiianna,  Harrisburg  Bank  and 
Harrisburg  and  Middletown  turnpike.  Wlien 
the  Assembly  of  the  State  decided  to  remove 
the  seat  of  government  to  Harrisburg  he  was 
selected  as  one  of  the  commissioners  for  fix- 
ing the  location  of  the  Capitol  buildings  be- 
fore removal.     Many  of  our  old  citizens  re- 
member well  the  last  prominent  act  in  his 
long  life,  the  address  of  welcome  made  by 
liim  to  President  Taylor.     Mr.  Harris  died 
at  Harrisburg  on  the  3d  of  September,  1851, 
at  almost  tlie  age  of  eighty -three  years.     He 
married  in  Philadelphia,  May  12,1791,  Eliza- 
beth Ewing,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Ewing, 
D.  D.,  provost  of  the  University  of  Penn.syl- 
vania.     She  died  at  Harrisburg  on  the  27th 
of  April,  1835,  in  the  63d  year  of  her  age. 
Tlie  children  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Ewing 
Harris  were: 

i.  John,  b.  March  9, 1792  ;  died  June  22, 

1846;  unmarried. 
a.  Hannah,h.  December  21, 1793  ;  d.s.p. 
Hi.  David,  b.  March  27,  1796,  at  Harris- 
burg. He  received  liis  education  in 
the  schools  of  the  town  and  at  the 
academy  there.  At  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits several  years,  when  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  town  and  es- 
tablished   himself    in   the   general 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


83 


trans])ortation  business  in  connec- 
tion witli  the  canal,  and  subse- 
quently in  merchandizing.  For 
many  years  he  was  clerk  of  the 
borough  and  city  councils,  was  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  under  the  borough 
charter,  and  one  of  tlie  first  alder- 
men elected  under  the  city  charter. 
In  ]  814  Mr.  Harris  marched  to  Bal- 
timore— one  of  the  youngest  in  tliat 
band  of  brave  defenders — with  the 
"  Harrisburg  volunteers,"  and  was 
among  the  last  of  its  survivors. 
Upon  his  retirement  from  councils 
he  lived  in  quiet  retirement,  his  age 
rendering  it  impossible  for  him  to 
participate  in  any  active  business. 
He  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity, 
and  lived  an  honorable  and  correct 
life,  doing  what  he  had  to  do  faith- 
fully, beloved  and  respected  by  his 
friends  and  neighbors.  He  died  at 
Harrisburg  on  the  14th  of  March, 
1880.  Mr.  Harris  married  Eliza- 
beth Latimer,  who  survived  to  a 
ripe  old  age.  Their  children  were 
Mary,  Philip -Small,  Henry -Lativxer, 
Louisa,  m.  Charles  H.  Wilson,  and 
Sallie- Latimer.  Of  these  Mary  is  de- 
ceased ;  Philip-S.  resides  at  St.  Paul, 
Minn.;  Mrs.  Wilson,  a  widow,  at 
Philadelphia,  and  the  others  at  Har- 
risburg. 
iv.  George-Washington,  h.  June  23,  1798, 
at  Harrisburg,  where  he  died  on 
the  13th  of  August,  1882.  He  re- 
ceived a  preliminarj'  education  at 
the  old  Harrisburg  academy  and 
select  scliools  of  the  town.  Subse- 
quently he  went  to  Dickinson,  Jeff- 
erson and  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania", graduating  at  the  latter 
institution.  He  studied  law  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  at  the  December  term, 
1820.  He  remained  at  Harrisburg 
several  years,  during  a  portion  of 
which  period  he  served  as  deputy 
attorney  general  for  the  county  of 
Dauphin.  He  afterwards  removed 
to  Philadelphia  and  entered  into 
law  partnership  with  Calvin  Blythe, 
at  one  time  judge  of  this  district. 
He  returned,  however,  in  a  short 
time  to  Harrisburg,  and  resumed 
liis  place  at  the  Dauphin  county 
bar,  and  was  appointed  reporter  of 


the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, publishing  a  series  of  volumes 
of  reports.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  filled  the  position  of  secretary  to 
the  Library  Committee  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  Senate.  Until  the  last 
day  of  his  long  life  he  was  very  ac- 
tive— physically  and  mentally.  In 
his  address,  appearance  and  man- 
ners, he  belonged  to  the  old  school. 
He  was  a  great  reader,  a  man  of 
good  information  and  of  fine  con- 
versational powers.  He  was  ex- 
emplary and  upright  in  his  inter- 
course with  his  fellow-citizens,  and 
was  highly  respected  by  all.  Mr. 
Harris  married  Elizabeth  Mary 
Hall,  daughter  of  Dr.  Henry  Hall, 
whose  wife  was  Hester  Maclay, 
daughter  of  Senator  William  Ma- 
clay. She  died  during  the  year 
1884.  Their  children  were  Eliza- 
beth- E..,  m.  J.  Wallace  Kerr  ;  Catha- 
rine-Hall, m.  William  Morris; 
Robert,  Willkan-H.,  and  Julia-Todd. 
Mrs.  Kerr,  a  widow,  resides  at  Har- 
risburg, as  does  Julia  T.  Robert 
and  William  H.  were  both  physi- 
cians, and  died  in  the  prime  of  life. 
Mrs.  Morris  resides  in  Delaware. 
V.  Til omas- Jefferson,  b.  October  17,  1800. 
He  received  a  good  education,  and 
was  appointed  a  midshipman  in 
the  U.  S.  Navy.  He  passed  a  few 
years  in  the  service,  but  having  lit- 
tle inclination  for  a  man-of-war  life, 
he  resigned  and  returned  to  Har- 
risburg, where  he  lived  in  quiet  re- 
tirement until  the  close  of  his  life, 
which  terminated  on  the  10th  of 
August,  1878.  He  was  genial  and 
generous,  affable  and  entertaining, 
and  a  student  his  whole  life  long. 
Mr.  Harris  married,  in  1859,  Eliza 
Stine,  of  Harrisburg,  but  she  died 
within  a  year  thereafter. 
vi.  Robert  (1st)*  b.  Januarv  29,  1804 ;  d. 
March  8,  1804. 

vii.  Robert  (2d),  b.  March  21, 1808.  He  was 
a  physician  and  practiced  his  pro- 
fession at  Harrisburg  a  number  of 
years.  He  died  there  on  the  19th 
of  December,  1863,  unmarried. 

viii.  William-Augustus,  b.  August  21, 1810. 
He  was  an  Episcopalian  minister, 
resided  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
the  last  survivor  of  the  children  of 


84 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


Robert  Harris.  He  married  Cath- 
arine Butcher,  and  their  children 
were  James-Otey,  Catharine,  Will- 
iam, and  Robert. 

Mary  Harris,  daughter  of  John  Harris 
and  his  wife  Mary  Read,  was  born  October  1, 
1770,  at  Harris'  Ferry.     She  was  an   active 
and  energetic  woman,  and   closed  a  life  of 
four  score  years  on  the  20th  of  August,  1851. 
She  married  John  Andre  Hanna,  a  native 
of  Flemington,  N.  J.,  where  lie  was  born 
about  1760.     He  was  the  son   of  Rev.  John 
Hanna  and  his  wife  Mary  McOrea.     He  re- 
ceived a  good  education  under  the  direction 
of  his  father,  and  was  partly  educated  at  tlie 
College  of  New  Jersey.     It  is  probable  that 
he  came  to  Pennsylvania  as  a  tutor,  after- 
wards studying  law  with  Stephen  Ciiambers, 
of  Lancaster,  a  noted  lawyer  of  his  day,  and 
was  admitted   to  the  bar  of  that  county  in 
1784.     Upon  the  formation  of  the  county  of 
Dauphin  he  located  at  Harrisburg,  where  his 
marriage  to  a  daughter  of  the  founder  of  the 
new  town  gave   him  a  prestige  and    promi- 
nence he   would    perchance    not   otlierwise 
have  had.     Witli   this  influence  of  family, 
and   his  great  natural  abilities,  he  soon  be- 
came the  leader  at  the  bar.     Probably  an  ac- 
tive participant  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, he  had   a  decided  taste  for  military  af- 
fairs.    He  commanded  one  of  the  first  com- 
panies  raised    in    Harrisburg,   and    during 
the  so-called  Whiskey  Insurrection  of  1794 
was  in  command   of  the  Second  brigade  of 
the  Pennsylvania  forces.     The  same  year  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  and  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death  served  in  tliat  illustrious  body, 
He  died,  somewhat  suddenly,  on  the  18th  of 
July,  1805,  and  his  remains  repose  in  the 
cemetery   at   Harrisburg.     General    Hanna 
was  a  man  of  rich  promise,  was  a  leader  of 
the  anti-federal  party,  and   the  colleague  of 
Gallatin,  Smilie  and  other  Pennsylvanians, 
then  quite  prominent  in  tlie  political  affairs 
of  the  Nation.    He  was  a  gentleman  in  plan- 
ners and  deportment  and  eminent  in  his  life 
work.     The  children  of  General  Hanna  and 
his  wife  Mary  Harris  were  : 
i.  Esther-Harris,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  Eleanor,  d.  s.  p. 

Hi.  Sarah-Eaton ;  she  married  in  1820 
Richard  Templin  Jacobs,  who  died 
November  25,  1842.  He  was  a 
prominent  merchant  of  Harrisburg. 
Their  children  were  Samuel,  Hen- 
rietta, James,  George-  W.,  and   Eliza. 


The  latter  was  twice  married,  first 
to  A.  K.  Cornyn,  a  lawyer,  and  sec- 
ondly John   J.  Clyde,  of  Harrris- 
burg. 
iv.  Henrietta,  d.  1840;  unm. 
V.  Caroline-Elizabeth,  h.  1795  ;  d.  1880  at 
Harrisburg.     She  married,  in  1813, 
Joseph    Briggs,  of  Silvers  Spring, 
and  they  had  John-Hanna,  m.  Julia 
Ann  Todd,  and  Mary,  m.  Hon.  John 
J.  Pearson. 
vi.  Frances-Harris,  m.  John   Carson  Mc- 
Allister, and  left  issue. 
vii.  Juliana-C,  m.  John  Fisher. 
viii.  Mary-Read,  m.  Hon.  John  Tod.     He 
wasthe  son  of  DavidTod  and  Rachel 
Kent,  and  born  in   Suffield,  Hart- 
ford county.  Conn,  in  November, 
1779.     His  father  was  a  Scotchman 
by  birth  and  a  man  of  an  original 
turn    of   mind,    possessing    much 
shrewdness,  and  a  dry  kind  of  wit, 
many  of  his  sayings  being  familiarly 
repeated  years^  after  his  decease.  His 
mother  was  a  native  of  the  town  of 
SufReld.     Young  Tod  received  his 
preliminary  education  at  the  public 
schools  of  the  village,  but  his  class- 
ical education  was  pursued  under 
the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gray, 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian   church 
of  that  town.     His  rapid   progress 
in  his  studies  enabled   him  on  ex- 
amination to  enter  the  junior  class 
at  Yale  College,  where  he  graduated 
two   years   afterwards    with    great 
credit  and  honor  to  himself.     After 
graduating  he  entered  the  office  of 
his   brother,   George   Tod,   then   a 
practicing  lawyer  in  New  Haven, 
and  it  is  said  was  also  a  short  time 
in    the   office  of  Gideon    Granger, 
Postmaster  General  under  President 
Adams.     He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  Hartford  in    1800.     Shortly 
after  he  went  to  Virginia,  where  he 
filled    the   position    of   tutor    in    a 
family  in  one  of  the  southern  coun- 
ties of  that  State.     In   1802  he  lo- 
cated at  Bedford,  Pa.,  where  he  did 
some  clerical  labor  in  the  prothono- 
tary's  office,  and  the  same  year  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  there.     His  prac- 
tice rapidly  increased,  and  such  was 
his  standing  and  popularity  in  the 
county  that  he  was  elected  to  the 
House   of    Representatives   of  the 


DAUFHIN  COUNTY. 


85 


Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1808,  sei'ving  in  that  branch  until 
1813 — the  last  two  sessions  being 
speaker  of  that  body.  In  1813  he 
was  elected  member  of  the  State 
Senate,  of  which  he  served  as  pre- 
siding officer  from  1814  to  1810. 
He  was  re-elected  in  1816,  but  re- 
signed the  office  December  20, 1816. 
In  1820  Mr.  Tod  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress,  and  again  in  1822. 
The  tariff  question  was  the  leading 
measure  of  Congress  during  the 
session  of  1823-4.  His  speeches  on 
the  subject — particularly  his  open- 
ing speech,  delivei-ed  on  the  10th  of 
February,  1824,  and  that  with 
which  he  closed  the  debate  on  the 
8th  of  April — are  remarkaljle  ;  the 
first  for  the  data,  facts,  statistics  and 
other  important  information  it  con- 
veys— the  second  for  its  powerful 
and  persuasive  reasoning,  fervid 
eloquence,  wit  and  satire,  all  ex- 
pressed in  chaste  and  elegant  lan- 
guage. Few  subjects  have  elicited 
more  masterly  and  brilliant  dis- 
plays from  American  statesmen. 
On  the  8th  of  June,  1824,  he  was 
appointed  president  judge  of  the 
Fifteenth  judicial  district,  and 
thereupon  resigned  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. In  May,  1827,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Siiulze  a  jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  had  been  engaged 
with  two  other  judges  in  holding  a 
court  at  Lancaster,  and  becoming 
ill,  hastened  to  his  home  at  Bed- 
ford, where,  after  a  brief  illness,  on 
the  27th  of  March,  1830,  in  the 
fifty-first  year  of  his  age,  he  breathed 
his  last.  The  character  of  Judge 
Tod  was  that  of  a  plain,  practical 
Republican — a  downright  honest 
man.  Without  the  least  ostenta- 
tion or  disguise  he  remarkably  ex- 
emplified, in  a  Spartan  simplicity 
of  manners,  the  truth  of  his  own 
sentiments — that  there  may  be  a 
social  equality  in  the  intercourse  of 
men  on  all  proper  occasions  without 
at  all  interfering  with  the  difference 
conferred  by  intellect  and  educa- 
tion. He  was  too  humble  to  think 
himself  wiser  than  others,  and  too 
honest   to   account   himself  better. 


The  children  of  Mary  Read  Hanna 
and  John  Tod  were  Julia-Ann,  m. 
John  H.  Briggs;  Rachel,m.  Samuel 
A.  Gilmore,  of  Butler;  Isabella,  m. 
William  M.  Kerr,  and  Henrietta. 
Mrs.  Briggs  and  Mrs.  Kerr,  both 
widows,  reside  at  Harrisburg. 


The  Allisons  of  Derry. 

I.  John  Allison,  a  native  of  Londonderry, 
Ireland,  emigrated  with  his  family  to  Amer- 
ica as  early  as  1725,  and  located  on  what 
were  termed  the  "  Barrens  of  Derry,  then 
Chester,  afterwards  Lancaster,  now  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  He  took  up  two  hundred  acres 
of  land,  which  were  warranted  to  him  loth 
of  April,  1734.  He  died  in  1747,  leaving  a 
wife  Janet,  and  among  other  children,  the 
following : 

i.  Robert,  d.  March,  1766,  unm.;  by  his 
will  he  bequeathed  "  £100  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia  Hos- 
pital,"   "£100    to    the    C4rammar 
School  at  Newark,  ten  miles  from 
New  Castle,"  and   the   balance  of 
his  estate  to  his  brothers  and  sisters. 
ii.  William,  d.  August,  1739;  m.  Grizzle 
Wray,  and   had   Margaret,  Patrick, 
and  Robert. 
Hi.  Henry,  who  had  James. 
2.     iv.  John,  m.  Ann 


3.      V.  James,  m.  Rebecca 

vi.  Jean,  m. Smith. 


-  White. 


vii.  Margaret,  m.  — 

II.  John  Allison  (John),  d.  May,  1767, 
in  Donegal,  leaving  a  wife  Ann  (who  subse- 
quently married  John  Stewart),  and  had 
children  as  follows  : 

i.  Patrick. 

ii.  Jeav,m.  George  Clark,  and  had  Mary. 
Hi.  Rose,  m.  James  Crawford,  and    had 

John, 
iv.  Margaret. 
V.  Johyi. 

vi.  James,  b.  1750. 
vii.  Ann,  b.  1753. 
via.  William,  h.  1755. 
ix.  Robert,  b.  1757. 

III.  James  Allison  (John),  d.  November, 
1762,  in  Donegal,  leaving  a  wife  Rebecca, 
who  died  in  September,  1764,  and  the  fol- 
lowing issue : 

i.  James,   m.   a    daughter    of    Gordon 
Howard,  of  Donegal. 


86 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


a.  Anna,  m. 


Defrance,  and  had 


James  and  John,  who  were,  in  177G, 
over  fourteen  years  of  age. 
Hi.  Jean,  m.  William  Watt,  and  removed 
to  North  Carolina. 

iv.  Margaret,   m.  Bowman,    and 

removed  to  North  ("arolina. 
V.  Sarah. 

vi.  Rebecca,  m.  Hugh  Caldwell,  and  had 
Ja7ic. 


The  B.\lsbaugh  Family. 

Among  the  earliest  of  the  German  settlers 
on  Spring  creek,  in  what  is  now  Derry  town- 
shij),  Dauphin  county,  was  George  Bals- 
baugh.  a  native  of  Fahrenbach.in  the  Pfaltz, 
Germany,  where  he  was  born  in  1706.  He 
married  Eva  Minich,  born  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  in  1716.  With  their  little 
family  they  came  to  America  in  the  year 
1743,  and  located  among  their  old  neighbors 
in  the  Fatherland,  near  Derry  church,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  the  late  venerable  Wen- 
del  Henry.  Mr.  ^Balsbaugh  subsequently 
removed  to  Hanover  township,  six  miles 
further  north,  and  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
of  two  hundred  acres — most  of  it  hilly  and 
sterile— which  has  ever  since  been  known 
as  the  "  Balsbaugh  Place."  Mr.  Balsbaugh 
died  there  in  1775,  his  wife  ten  years  later. 
They  had  a  large  family,  and  their  descend- 
ants were  quite  numerous  in  Dauphin  and 
Lebanon  counties  sixty  years  ago,  but 
like  their  Scotch-Irish  neighbors,  they  have 
gone  out  from  the  old  homestead  and  sought 
new  locations  south  and  west.  The  record 
we  have  been  able  to  make  of  them  is  mea- 
ger, it  is  true,  and  that  mainly  of  one  branch 
of  the  familv.  George  Balsbaugh  and  Eva 
his  wife  had  among  others  the  following 
children  : 

i.  George,  b.  1736  ;  d.  March  10,  1802. 
ii.  Peter,  h.  June   27,  1738  ;  d.  June  26, 
1796  ;  m.   Mary ,  b.  Decem- 
ber 12,  1742  ;  d.  June  19,  1798. 
Hi.  John,h.  1740;  d.  March  24,  1802. 
iv.  Catharine,  b.  1743  ;  d.  at  sea. 
V.  Elizabeth,  b.  1745. 
vi.  Eva,  h.  1749.  ^_ 
vii.  Geiirude,  b.  1752. 

viii.  Valenline,  b.  February  14,   1755  ;  m. 
Elizabeth  Miller. 

Valentine    Balsbaugh     (George)     was 
born   near  old   Derry  church,  February  15, 


1755.  He  was,  however,  brought  up  on  the 
old  Balsbaugh  Place  in  Hanover,  to  which 
his  parents  removed  about  1760.  Although 
a  practical  farmer,  he  was  a  minister  of  the 
German  Baptist  Church,  and  emphatically 
a  self-educated  man.  His  knowledge  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  was  wonderful,  and  his 
grasp  of  revealed  truths  deep,  spiritual  and 
far-reaching.  He  was  what  is  termed  a 
"  weeping  "  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  was 
never  known  to  preach  without  shedding 
tears  and  causing  others  to  weep.  To  the 
close  of  his  long  and  influential  life,  he  never 
used  glasses.  He  died  suddenly  of  apoplexy 
at  the  homestead  on  the  26th  of  November, 
1851,  in  the  97th  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Bals- 
baugh married  August  3,  1777,  Elizabeth 
Miller,  daughter  of  the  saintly  George  Mil- 
ler, the  first  bishop  of  the  German  Baptist 
Church  in  Dauphin  county.  She  was  born 
May  2,  1753,  and  died  in  September,  1821. 
They  had  issue  as  follows  : 

i.  George,  b.  May  5,  1778;   was  a  black- 
smith   by    trade,   and    was    noted 
among    his   Scotch-Irish   Presbyte- 
rian   neighbors   as    much    for   his 
mental  strength  as  for  his  leonine 
physique ;  he  was  well   read,  and 
with  his  strong  reasoning    powers 
was  the  leader  in  debate — a  verita- 
ble   Elihu    Burritt   in    knowledge. 
He  married  late  in  life  and  died  at 
three  score. 
a.  Christian,  b.  1779 ;  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  Daniel,  b.  1781 ;  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  Henry,  b.  February  8,  1783  ;  was  a 
farmer ;    represented    the     county 
of  Dauphin   in  the   Legislature  of 
1843  ;  died  September  1,  1848.    He 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Smith  who  died  at  Forreston,  111., 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five.    Dr.  George 
Balsbaugh,  of  Forreston,   111.,  is  a 
son. 
V.  Catharine,  b.  May  26,  1785 ;  a  woman 
of   fine   personal    appearance   and 
noble,   self-sacrificing    disposition  ; 
she  accomplished  great  good  in  her 
long  life.     She  married   Rev.  Dan- 
iel  Reichard,  of  Ringgold  Manor, 
Md.,  a  bishop  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist  Church.     They    had    a    large 
family  most  of  whom  were  promi- 
nent   in    the   church.     The    Rev. 
Reichard  was  a   profound    theolo- 
gian,   and    the    profes.sors    of    St. 
James  College  said  of  him,  "  he  is 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


87 


as  tough  as  a  fiddle  string  and 
genial  as  tough."  He  was  born 
May  1,  1760;  died  January  28, 
1856.  Mrs.  Reichard  died  Decem- 
ber 22,  1870.  They  had  twelve 
children. 
vi.  ElizabHh,  b.  February  14,  1787 ;  m. 
the  Rev.  Lawrence  Etter,  "  an  elo- 
quent man  and  might}^  in  the 
scriptures,"  many  years  a  minister 
in  the  German  Baptist  Church. 
He  died  November  9,  1853,  in  his 
sixty-seventh  year.  Their  son  Joli  n 
is  now  a  bishop  in  that  church. 
Mrs.  Etter  died  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-four. 
vii.  John,  b.  November  4,  1788  ;  d.  in  his 
ninety-first  year,  near  Highspire; 
married  a  Miss  Ziegler,  sister  of  a 
prominent  minister  of  the  church 
in  Lancaster  county.  Their  son, 
John,  Jr.,  who  died  recently,  repre- 
sented Juniata  county  in  the  Leg- 
islature. 
via.  Mary,  b.  October  7,  1790;  d.  February 
27,  1882 ;  married  William  Gibson, 
of  York  county,  near  Dallastown, 
Pa.,  where  they  resided  all  their 
married  life. 
iz.  Peter,  h.  June  4,  1793 ;  d.  November 
21, 1871,  at  the  old  homestead  ;  was 
for  years  a  director  of  the  poor ;  in 
the  early  days  of  common  schools 
he  was  one  of  the  most  strenuous 
advocates  of  that  nobl-e  plan  of  ed- 
ucation, and  all  through  his  long 
life  he  took  the  deepest  interest 
therein.  A  plain,  practical  farmer, 
he  was  as  influential  as  generous. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Longenecker, 
who  deceased  on  New  Year's  Day, 
1874.  Their  children  were  Valen- 
tine, b.  March  19,  1827  ;  m.  Mary, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Hol- 
linger ;  Abraham,  b.  October  12, 
1819;  m.  Susan  Seltzer ;  Benjamin, 
b.  November  14,  1821  ;  m.  Mary, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Miskey,  of  Berks 
county ;  Daniel,  b.  February  15, 
1825,  founder  and  first  principal  of 
Lebanon  Valley  College,  d.  in  1860  ; 
m.  Laura,  daughter  of  Andrew 
Henry,  of  Palmyra;  ilf aria,  b.  Sep- 
tember 18,  1828;  m.  John  M.  Zort- 
man,  a  farmer  near  Palmyra ; 
Christian- Hervey,  b.  April  16, 1831, 
now  of    Union    Deposit,    Dauphin 


county;  Lizzie,  h.  iu\y  3,1834;  d. 
at  the  age  of  twenty-eight;  David, 
b.  November  23,  1836,  died  at  six- 
teen, and  Samuel,  b.  July  30, 1839  ; 
m.  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Keefer,  of  Dauphin  county. 
X.  Christina,  b.  December  10,  1795;  d. 
May  23,  1863  ;  married  Michael 
Friese.  Their  son  Michael  was  a 
leading  homeopathic  physician  who 
died  in  Harrisburg  in  "l8S0.  An- 
other son,  Valentine,  a  graduate  of 
Dickinson  College,  died  in  1875  at 
Fort  Wingate,  New  Mexico. 
xi.  Anna,  b.  July  26,  1798  ;  d.  December 
23,  1868;  married  Peter  Gingrich, 
a  substantial  farmer.  Their  son 
Aaron  is  a  prominent  physician  in 
Virginia. 


The  Baums  of  Derry. 

L  Adam  Baum,  a  native  of  the  Palatinatd 
emigrated  to  America  about  1760,  and  set- 
tled in  Derry  township,  Lancaster  now  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  where  he  died  in  Decem- 
ber,  1785;    m.   Veronica ;    both   are 

buried  in  the  family  graveyard,  on  the  Horse- 
shoe turnpike,  two  miles  east  of  Hummels- 
town.     They  had  issue,  among  others : 

2.  i.  Michael,  b.  1757 ;  m.  Margaret  Eber- 

sole. 

3.  a.  Daniel,  b.  January  30, 1759 ;  m.  Catha- 

rine Fishburn. 
Hi.  John,  b.  1761 ;  d.  and  left  a  son  John. 

II.  Michael  Baum  (Adam),  b.  1757,  in 
Derry  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.;  d.  in 
1796 ;  m.  Margaret  Ebersole  ;  his  widow  sub- 
sequently married  John  Miller.  They  had 
issue : 

4.  i.  Daniel,  b.   April  9,  1783;    m.   Mary 

Hummel. 

5.  ii.  Abraham,  b.  1785  ;  m.  Elizabeth  Esh- 

leman. 
m.  John,  b.   1787 ;    d.   April,   1839 ;    m. 

Nancy . 

iv.  Ann,  b.  1789. 

V.  Freny,  b.  1791 ;  m.  Isaac  Snavely. 
vi.  Mary,  b.  1793;  m.  P'elix  Burkholder; 

removed  to  Ohio. 

III.  Daniel  Baum  (Adam),  b.  January  30, 
1759;  d.  December  30,  1839 ;  was  an  ingen- 
ious mechanic,  learned  gunsmithing  with  his 
father,  and  during  the  war  of  tlie  Revolution 
was  noted  for  the  rifles  which  he  manufac- 


88 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


tured  for  the  patriot  army.     He  m.  Catharine 
Fishburn.     They  had  issue  : 
6.    i.  Michael,  m.  Nancy  Sheller. 
ii.  Barbara,  m.  Thomas  Fox. 
l.iii.  John,  b.   March  9,1794;  m.  Rebecca 
Zimmerman. 

IV.  Daniel  Baum  (Michael,  Adam),  b- 
April  7, 1783 ;  d.  December  4, 1857  ;  m.  Mary 
Hummel,  b.  March  13,  1<89;  d.  November 
23,  1862 ;  dau.  of  David  Hummel  and  Mary 
Toot.     They  had  issue  : 

■)'.  Mary-Ann,  m.  Samuel  Murray. 
ii.  Lena. 

Hi.  Sarah,  d.  unm. 
iv.  Susan,  m.  Levi  Jones. 
V.  Catharine,  m.  Edward  Magee,  of  New- 
ark, N.  J. 
vi.  Adam-Hummel. 

vii.  Caroline,  m.  John  Yordy,  of  Lebanon. 
via.  David-Hummel, 
ix.  Amanda,  d.  s.  p. 

V.  Abraham  Baum  (Michael,  Adam),  m. 
Elizabeth  Eshleman.     Tiiey  had  issue: 

i.  Ifaj')/,  m.,  first,  Abraham  Fackler;  sec- 
ondly, John  Geriiart. 
ii.  John,  m.  Elizabeth  Metz. 
Hi.  Michael,  m.  a  dau.  of  Philip  Michael, 

of  Dauphin  county. 
iv.  Catharine,  m.  Benjamin  Miller. 
V.  Susan. 

vi.  Isaac,  m.  Barbara  Bear. 
vii.  Elizabeth,  m.  John  Baum. 
viii.  Abraham. 

VL  Michael  Baum  (Daniel,  Adam),  d. 
March,  1831  ;  m.  Nancy  Sheller.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  John,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  Daniel,  m.  and  removed  to  the  West. 

Vn.  John  Baum  (Daniel,  Adam),  b.  March 
9, 1794  ;  d.  (3ctober  8, 182G  ;  m.  Rebecca  Zim- 
merman.    They  had  issue : 
i.  Catharine,  m.  John  Abel. 
ii.  Maria,  m.  Jacob  Ha  maker. 
Hi.  Eliza,  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  Margaret,  d.  s.  p. 

V.  Mary,   m.   Gill,   of    Lebanon 

county. 
vi.  Louisa,  m.  Franklin  Scott. 


Brubaker  and  Meetch. 

I.  John  Brubaker,  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land, emigrated  to  America  about  the  year 
1712,  or  perchance  earlier,  as  it  is  stated  he 


built  the  first  grist  mill  in  what  was  after- 
wards Lancaster  county.  Pa.  He  settled 
near  tiie  present  town  of  Lancaster.  He  had 
a  family  of  nine  sons,  of  whom  we  have  the 
following : 

i.  John,  m.,  1st,  Maria  Newcomer ;  2d, 
a  daughter  of  Michael  Tanner,  and 
had  issue. 

2.  ii.  Daniel,  m.  and  left  issue. 
Hi.  Peter. 

iv.  Abrahatn,  m.  and  left  issue. 

3.  V.  David, 
vi.  Christian. 

vii.  Henry, 
viii.  Jacob. 

II.  Daniel  Brubaker  (John),  b.  about 
1715,  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  m.  a  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  Tanner.  They  had  issue, 
among  others  (surname  Brubaker) : 

i.  Josepli,  b.  1741 ;  m.  Elizabeth  Dow- 
ner. 

III.  Abraham  Brubaker  (John),  resided 
ir.  what  is  now  Clay  township,  formerly  a 
portion  of  Elizabetli  township,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.  He  married  and  left  issue, 
among  others  (surname  Briibaker): 

i.  Abraham.,   m.  and    had  David,  John, 

Abraham,  Jacob,  and  Peter. 
ii.  John,  m.  and   had  John,  Jacob,  and 

Abraham. 
Hi.  Daniel,  m.  and  had  Daniel  and  John. 
iv.  Christian,  m.  and  had  Abraham  and 

John. 
V.  Jacob,  m.  and  had  Jacob  and  John. 

IV.  Joseph  Brubaker  (Daniel,  John),  b. 
about  1741,  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  d. 
about  the  year  1808,  in  Halifax  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.  In  1785  lie  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land  in  then  Upper  Paxtang 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  in  1790 
with  his  family  settled  thereon.  At  that 
early  period  the  comforts  of  civilization  were 
few,  schools,  homes  and  churches  being  widely 
scattered ;  nevertheless  he  erected  the  altar 
of  his  simple  faith  (Dunkard)  and  in  that, 
after  the  manner  of  his  fathers,  instructed  his 
sons  and  daughters.  Mr.  Brubaker  m.,  1764, 
Elizabeth  Downer.  They  had  issue  (sur- 
name Brubaker) : 

5.  i.  Daniel,  b.  June  6, 1765;  m.,  1st,  Catha- 

rine Singer;  2d,  Barbara  Brubaker. 

6.  ii.  Elizabeth,  b.  1770;  m.   John  Meetch, 

Jr. 

7.  Hi.  Jacob,  b.  1775 ;  m.  Barbara  Bartle. 
iv.  Joseph,  h.  1779. 

8.  v.  Ann,  b.  May  1,  1781 ;  m.  John  Boyer. 


^Ui^^ 


J^^J/6eVZ^:r^ 


^^^c..-..e^  jt^T^o^' 


r 


DA  UFIllN  CO  UN TY. 


91 


9.  vi.  Catharine,   b.    1790;  m.    Jacob    Bru- 
baker. 

10.  vii.  John   (twin),  b.  1800;  m.   Julia   Me- 

liaffe}'. 

V.  Daniel  Brubaker  (Josepb,  Daniel, 
John),  b.  June  fi,  1765,  in  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.;  d.  February  19,  1843,  in  Halifax,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.;  was  twice  married;  1st, 
Catherine  Singer.  They  bad  issue  (sur- 
name Brubaker) : 
i.  Joseph. 

ii.  Jonathan,  m.  Eliza    Rutter,  and    bad 
Jolin-Rutter,  m.  Louisa  Potfenber- 
ger. 
Daniel    Brubaker  m.,  secondly,    Barbara 
Brubaker.     They  bad  issue: 

iii.  Ann,  m.  8.  W.  Straw,  and  had  Josepli. 
iv.  Maria,   m.  A.  W.  Loomis,   and    had 
Albert,  Daniel,  Barbara,  and  Will- 
iam. 
VL  Er>iZABETH       Brubaker,       (Joseph, 
Daniel,  John),  b.  about   1770;  d.  April   28, 
1822;  m.    John    Meetch,   Jr.,*    b.    1701;  d. 
1828,  son    of  John  Meetch,  Sr.     They    had 
issue  (surname  Meetch) : 

11.  i.  Joseph- B.,  b.  September  3,  1792;  m. 

Alice  A.  Buchanan. 
ii.  Rebecca,  b.  1795  ;  d.  July  16, 1829  ;  m. 

Thomas   Trump,  and    had  Alfred- 

Heaton,  d.  s.  p.,  and  Cyrus, 
iii.  Benjamin,   m.    Sarah    Hoffman,  and 

had    Fragile   and  Lizzie,  m.  Daniel 

Chubb. 
iv.  Daniel. 
V.  John,  b.  1803. 
vi.  Elizabeth,  b.l805;  d.l847;  m.  Michael 

*John  Meetch,  Sr.,  the  son  of  an  Irish  magistrate, 
was  born  in  Enniskillen,  county  Fermanagh.  Ire- 
land, in  1724.  He  received  a  good  education. 
Marrying  in  opposition  to  his  father,  he  came  with 
his  wife  to  America  about  1752,  landing  at  New 
Yoi'k.  From  thence  they  went  to  the  headwaters 
of  the  Su.squehanna,  finally  passing  down  that  river, 
locating  on  the  northern  side  of  Peter's  mountain, 
thus  being  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  that  locality. 
In  1756  his  family  was  driven  olT  by  the  Indians  — 
but  returned  when  the  settlers  had  organized  for 
their  own  defence.  In  the  French  and  Indian  war, 
Mr.  Meetch  took  up  arms  in  aid  of  the  frontiers, 
and  when  the  storm  of  the  Revolution  burst  upon 
the  country  he  was  an  active  participant,  being  in 
Capt.  .Tohn  Reed's  company  during  the  Jersey  cam- 
paign of  1776-7.  Mr.  Meetch  died  at  his  residence 
in  17'.)4,  his  wife  surviving  him  only  a  few  years. 
They  had  five  children  who  reached  maturity: 
Nnncy,  m.  John  Cavet,  went  to  Knoxville.  Tenn.. 
where   she   died   at   the   age   of   ninety  :  Mary.  m. 

Brown,  removed  to  Westmoreland   county, 

Pa.:  Bebccca,    m.    Dunlap,   settled    in    Erie 

county.  Pa.;  Elizabeth,  m.  Robert  Lyon,  removed  to 
Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  and  John,  who  mar- 
ried and  remained  on  the  homestead,  as  above. 


Freeburn,    and    had    John-M.,   m. 
Susan  Wickersham. 
12.  vii.  Ann,  b.  1807;  ra.  Benjamin  Hoon. 
lo. viii.  Mary,    b.    September   "25,  1809;    m. 

George  Carpenter. 
14.  ix.  Catharine,  b.  June  7,  1811;  m.  John 
Frederick. 
X.  Robert, 
.vi.  Sarah,  b.  1817  ;  m.  Joseph   Brubaker. 

VIL  Jacob  Brubaker  (Joseph,  Daniel, 
John),  b.  1775;  d.  prior  to  1808;  m.  Bar- 
bara Bartle,  b.  1706;  died  October  11,  1853, 
in  Middletown,  Pa.,  and  is  buried  in  the  M. 
E.  graveyard  there.  Concerning  the  wife 
of  Jacob  Brubaker,  we  have  the  following: 
She  was  of  German  parentage  and  born 
in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.  Her  mother, 
Christiana  Bartle,  was  a  woman  of  strong, 
practicable  turn  of  mind,  of  good  education, 
and  possessed  of  a  firm  reliance  upon  divine 
Providence.  Her  father,  Andrew  Bartle,  re- 
moved to  Har[)er'.s  Ferry,  where  he  remained 
until  the  outset  of  the  Revolution,  when  he 
went  to  near  Fort  Licking,  on  the  Holstein 
river.  A  year  after  tiieir  settlement  the}' 
were  taken  captive  by  the  Indians,  and  with 
other  prisoners  marched  toward  Detroit. 
On  the  journey  the  prisoners  were  separated, 
eacii  jiarty  consisting  of  eight  whites  and 
nine  Indians.  Barbara,  with  her  mother 
and  sister  Wilhelmina,  continued  togetiier 
until  the  latter,  a  delicate  girl  of  fourteen, 
fell  by  the  way  exhausted,  when  one  of  the 
savages  struck  her  with  a  tomahawk,  and 
scalping  her  proceeded  onward.  The  an- 
guisii  of  the  mother  and  sister  cannot  be  de- 
scribed. The  march  was  rapid  and  provi- 
sions scarce,  the  entire  party  subsisting  for 
three  days  on  a  [)air  of  pigeons  caught  by 
one  of  their  number.  Barbara  received  from 
her  Indian  captor  kind  treattnent,  and  wlien 
her  little  feet  gave  out  he  carried  her  ujion 
his  back  until  she  was  rested.  When  tiiey 
gathered  around  the  campfire  after  the  day's 
march,  her  mother  would  take  her  Bible, 
which  slie  carried  with  her,  and  read  aloud 
by  the  light  of  the  blazing  logs.  Her  heroic 
endurance  of  the  hardshii)s  of  her  situation 
had  won  the  admiration  of  the  savages. 
Her  reading  from  "  the  book  "  had  to  them 
an  appearance  of  mystery  that  to  their 
ttntutored  minds  savored  of  the  super- 
natural, and  when  tlie  time  came  for  her  to 
read,  they  were  her  earnest  and  reverential 
listeners,  while  as  they  expressed  it,  she 
"  made  the  book  talk."    When  grown  to  wo- 


92 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


manhood  Barbara  was  often  heard  to  say 
that  the  Indians  treated  her  infinitely  better 
than  did  the  British,  into  whose  hands  she 
afterwards  fell.  Arriving  at  Detroit,  they 
were  delivered  to  the  British,  starved  and  ill- 
treated,  and  every  indignity  and  abuse 
heaped  upon  them  by  their  white  captors. 
At  the  end  of  six  weeks'  captivity  among 
the  Indians,  and  two  years  and  a  half  among 
the  British,  she  and  her  mother  were  ex- 
changed as  prisoners  of  war.  Barbara  Bar- 
tie  had  become  a  perfect  mistress  of  the  arts  of 
swimming,  diving  and  skating,  and  wassub- 
sequentl}'  instrumental  in  saving  more  than 
one  person  from  a  watery  grave.  She  grew 
to  be  a  lovely  woman,  and  afterwards  mar- 
ried Jacob  Brubaker.  They  left  issue  (sur- 
name Brubaker): 
15.    i.  Josepli,  b.  August   12,  1797 ;  m.,  first, 

Rachel  Frederick  ;  secondly,  Sarah 

Meetch. 
n.  Jacob,  b.  1800 ;  d.  1859. 

VIII.  Ann  Brubaker  (Joseph,  Daniel, 
John),  b.  Mav  1,  1781  ;  d.  Januarv  1,  1857  ; 
m.  John  Boyer,  b.  1792;  d.  18lJ0.  'Tiiey  had 
issue  (surname  Boyer): 

i.  Josepli,  b.  1817;  d.  1875;  m.  Mary 
Syler,  and  had  David,  Joseph,  Mary- 
Jane,  and  Sarah, 
a.  Elizabeth,  b.  1819;  d.  1844;  m.  Fred- 
erick Fronk,  and  had  Henry  and 
Rebecca. 
Hi.  John,  b.  1822 ;  m.  Jane  E.  Keagle,  and 
had  Rebecca,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Kate, 
Margaret,  John-Downer,  and  Philip. 

IX.  Catharine  Brubaker  (Joseph,  Dan- 
iel, John),  b.  about  1790;  m.  Jacob  Bru- 
i)aker,  b.  December  22,  1787;  d.  December 
22,  1851.  They  liad  issue  (surname  Bru- 
baker) : 

i.  John,  m.  Maria    Clemson,  and    had 

William  and  Lydia. 
ii.  Hiram,  m.  Sarah  Umberger,  and  had 

Rebecca,  Benjamin,  and  Millard. 
Hi.  Henry,  m.  Rebecca  Shammo,  and  had 

Jacob  and  Samuel. 
iv.  Benjamin,  m.  Barbara  Loomis,  and 

had  Mary-J.,  Earnest,  and  Myrtle. 
V.  Susanna, 
vi.  Mary. 
vii.  Isaac,  m.  Mary  Geist,  and   had  John- 

H.  and  Margaret, 
via.  Jacob. 

X.  John  Brubaker  (.Joseph,  Daniel, 
John),  b.  about  1800  ;  d.  1826  ;  m.  Julia  Me- 


haffey,  and   there  was  issue  (surname  Bru- 
baker) : 

i.  Elizabeth,  m.  John  Full  wood,  and  had 
Sarah,  Julia,  Emma,  Charles,  John, 
and  William. 

ii.  Sarah,    m.    Ebron,    and    had 

issue. 
Hi.  Henry- Mehaffey,   m.  Kate    Guernsey, 
and   iiad  Mary,  John,  and  Stephen. 

XI.  Joseph    B.    Meetch  (Elizabeth,  Jos- 
eph, Daniel,  John),   b.  September  3,  1792; 
d.  December  25,  1875;  ra.  Alice  Ann  Bu- 
ciianan.     They  had  issue  (surname  Meetch): 
i.  Mary-R. 

ii.  Alice-Ann,  m.   Herman    Chubb,  and 
had    Ellen,   Joseph,    Myra,   Myrtle, 
Mary,  and  Harry. 
Hi.  William- Buchanan,  m.  Mary  Sheaff'er, 

and  had  issue  Annie  and  Sarah, 
iv.  Jolm. 

XII:  Ann  Meetch  (Elizabeth,  Joseph, 
Daniel,  John),  b.  1807;  d.  1854;  m.  Benja- 
min Hoon  ;  and  had  issue  (surname  Hoon): 

i.  John,  m. Livingston,  and  had 

John  and  Justina. 
ii.  Jo-ieplt-E.,  m.  and  had   Clarence,  John, 

and  Joseph. 
Hi.  Harrieti-E.,  m.  George  English,  and 
had    Emma,    George,     Clara,    and 
Lucy, 
iv.  Sarah. 

V.  Annie-Clara,  m.  John  Metzger. 
vi.  Mary. 
vii.  Benjamin. 

XIII.  Mary  Meetch  (Elizabeth,  Joseph, 
Daniel,  John),  b.  September  25, 1809 ;  d.  Jan- 
uary 2G,  1879;  m.  George  Carpenter.  They 
had  issue  (surname  Carpenter): 

i.  James-B.,  b.  August  11,  1830;  m. 
Mary  Garman,  and  had  James, 
America,  and  Allen. 

ii.  Lizzie- 3L,  h.  November  3,  1832;  d. 
September  25, 1857  ;  m.  Stiles  Dun- 
can, and  had  3Iary  and  Harry. 

ii.  Charles-D. 

iv.  TIiomas-B.,  b.  April  16,  1838;  m. 
Emma  F.  Brubaker,  and  had  Sarah, 
Benton  and  Duncan. 

V.  John-H. 

vi.  George- W.,  b.  July  4,  1842;  m.  Sallie 
Fyson,  and  had  Bruce  and  Walter. 

XIV.  Catharine  Meetch  (Elizabeth, 
Joseph,  Daniel,  John),  b.  June  7,  1811  ;  m., 
April  8,  1830,  John  Frederick;  b.  May  6, 
ISOG.     They  had  issue  (surname  Frederick) : 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


93 


i.  Emma,  m.  William  Wilson. 
a.  Marion. 
Hi.  Kate. 

iv.  Clara,  m.  Isaac  Shivers. 
V.  John-W.,  m.   Mary   Powell,  and   liad 

Warford. 
vi.  Ella, 
vii.  Annie. 

via.  Walton,  m. Ziegler. 

ix.  Charles,  m.  Annie  (Powellj  Frederick. 

XV.  Joseph  Brubaker  (Jacob,  Joseph, 
Daniel,  John),  b.  August  12, 1797  ;  d.  March 
31,  1871 ;  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  fifteen 
_years,  and  for  a  long  period  postmaster  at 
Halifax ;  he  was  a  gentlemen  of  integrity, 
uprightness,  and  was  liberal  and  humane  to 
the  poor  and  unfortunate.  He  was  twice 
married;  first  to  Rachel  Frederick,  who 
died  in  1828,  leaving  no  issue;  secondly 
August  16,  1835,  Sarah  Meetch,  b.  1817;  d. 
November  27,  1880.  They  had  issue  (sur- 
name Brubaker) : 

i.  Sarah-L.,  m.  C.   E.   McFarland,   and 
had    Virginia,  Bruce,  Mabel,  Laura, 
and  Walter, 
ii.  Jolm-Meetch. 

Hi.  Emma-F.,  m.  Thomas  B.  Carpenter, 

and  had  Sarah,  Benton,  and  Duncan. 

iv.  LilUe-K.,   m.  J.   Wesley    Straw,  and 

had  John. 
V.  Joseph-  W. 
vi.  Jamcs-H. 
vii.  Charles-E. 


Clark,  of  Clark's  Valley. 

William  Clark,  the  first  of  the  name  to 
settle  in  this  country,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  de- 
scent, and  came  to  America  in  1728.  He 
settled  in  then  Chester  county,  Province  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  there.  His  sou, 
William,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
after  reaching  manhood,  with  his  family 
settled  in  what  was  at  first  called  the  "  Nar- 
rows of  Paxtang,"  then  Upper  Paxtang 
township,  Daujihin  county,  m  a  valley  about 
two  miles  from  the  Susquehanna  river,  giv- 
ing to  the  valley  and  the  creek  the  name  of 
Clark,  which  they  still  retain.  The  farm  on 
which  they  settled  is  yet  known  as  the  Clark 
farm,  although  it  has  passed  into  other 
hands.  After  residing  there  a  numl)er  of 
years  he  rented  his  farm  and  migrated  to 
Northumberland  county,  in  this  State,  where 
he  bought  a  farm,  and  lived  there  until  com 


pelled  to  leave  on  account  of  the  hostile  at- 
titude of  the  Indians,  which  caused  the 
"  Great  Runaway  "  of  1778-79.  They  buried 
all  tlieir  farming  implements,  lashed  two 
canoes  together  and  taking  some  few  clothes 
with  them,  sailed  down  the  Susquehanna 
river,  and  thus  escaped  the  savages.  They 
then  returned  to  Middle  Paxtang,  where  the 
second  William  died.  His  children  were  as 
follows: 

i.  Robert. 
ii.  John. 
Hi.  James, 
iv.  William. 
V.  Jane, 
vi.  Love, 
vii.  Sarah, 
via.  Elizabeth. 

Robert,  the  eldest  of  the  children,  was 
never  married.  He  lived  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  Dauphin  county,  and  finally 
died  in  Perry  county. 

John,  the  second  son,  and  Jane,  the  eldest 
of  tiie  girls,  lived  on  a  farm  about  one  mile 
up  Clark's  Valley.  Neither  of  them  were 
married  ;  the}'  lived  to  a  good  age  and  died 
on  the  farm  where  they  had  lived. 

James,  the  third  son,  was  never  married, 
and  died  when  a  young  man. 

Love,  the  second  daughter,  married  James 
Hines.  They  at  one  time  resided  at  Erie, 
Pa.,  and  from  there  removed  to  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  or  in  that  neighborhood. 

Sarah,  the  third  daughter,  married  Moses 
Cladding  and  lived  most  of  her  life  in 
Clark's  Valley. 

Elizabeth,  the  \'oungest  of  the  sisters,  mar- 
ried Richard  Green,  a  son  of  Col.  Timoth}' 
Green.  They  had  two  children,  Timothy 
and  Jane. 

William  Clark,  the  youngest  son,  was 
born  February  18, 1774.  He  left  home  after 
he  became  of  age  and  went  to  the  western 
j)art  of  the  State,  and  settled  in  Crawford 
county,  near  what  is  now  Meadville,  Pa. 
He  there  married  Miss  Sarah  Patterson  in 
1802.  He  was  elected  associate  judge  of 
Crawford  county,  and  was  in  the  war  of  1812 
and  '14,  when  he  was  appointed  brigade  in- 
spector of  the  Western  district  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  rendered  service  in  forwarding 
men  and  supplies  to  Erie  ;  was  on  board  the 
flagship  St.  Lawrence  in  her  first  engage- 
ment with  the  British  fleet  on  Lake  Erie. 
He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Findlay 
secretary  of  the  Land  Office,  which  position 


94 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


he  held  from  May  11, 1818,  to  May  11, 1821. 
He  was   chosen    by  the  Legislature    to    the 
office   of  State  treasurer   and   served    from 
1821  to  1827.     He  was  elected   to  Congress 
from  the  district  composed  of  Dauphin  and 
Lebanon   counties.     Was  appointed  by  the 
President,  Treasurer  of  the   United   States, 
his    commission    signed    by    John  Quincy 
Adams,  President,  and   Henry  Clay,  Secre- 
tary of  State,  is  dated  June  4,1828;  and 
lield  the  office  until  the  election  of  Andrew 
Jackson  as  President.     He  spent  the  most  of 
his  time  in  Daui)hin  county  and  died  March 
28, 1851,  aged  77  years.     His  children  were: 
i.  Pataline. 
ii.  Williavi. 
Hi.  John. 
iv.  James. 
V.  Sarali. 
vi.  Margaret. 

vii.  Elizahdli,  b.  January  G,  1817. 
via.  Anna,  b.  April  29,1819;  d.  December 
4, 1888. 
ix.  Jane,  b.  October  7,  1821 ;  d.  young. 
X.  Ellen,  b.  November  15,  1823. 
xi.  Jefferson. 
Pataline   married  David   Steel,  who  lived 
near  New    Buffalo,  in    Perry   county.     Mr. 
Steel  died  shortly  after  they  were  married, 
and   left  one  daughter,  Sarah-F.,  who   mar- 
ried  Philip  B.  Greenawalt,  with  whom  Mrs. 
Steel  lived  until  her  death,  which  occurred 
June    15,    1882.     Her    grandchildren    were 
(surname  Greenawalt) : 
i.  William-Clark, 
ii.  Bertha-May,  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  Philii)- Herbert, 
iv.  Alice,  d.  s.  p. 
V.  Mary-Ehrman. 

William,  Jr.,  was  born  March  3,  1805;  he 
never  married;  represented  Dauphin  count}' 
in  the  State  Legislature,  and  filled  many 
positions  of  trnst;  died  at  his  home  in  Dau- 
phin May  19,  1870. 

John,  born  February  20,  1807,  lived  most 
of  his  life  in  Crawford  county  ;  was  a  major 
in  the  State  militia,  and  engaged  in  the  tan- 
ning business.  He  d.  April  29,  1876.  He 
married  Sophia  Atkinson,  and  their  children 
were: 

i.  Sarah,  m.  F.  PL  Bemis. 
ii.  Anna,  m.  H.  Sheppardson. 
Hi.  William,  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  Thomas,  killed   in  the  battle  of  the 

Wilderness. 
V.  James,  d.  s.  p. 
vi.  Henry- Clay,  living  in  the  West. 


James,  born  October  21,  1809,  graduated 
from  West  Point  and  was  a  captain  in  the 
regular  army,  which  position  he  resigned  to 
study  theology ;  he  died  in  1886  at  George- 
town, D.  C,  at  the  university  of  that  name. 
Sarah  was  born  December  18,  1811,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  19  years. 

Margaret,  born  May  3,  1814,  married  Will- 
iam   J.   Robinson,    of  Danpiiin.     She   died 
February  21,  1874.     Their  children  were: 
■/..  Charles,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  Elizabeth,  m.  Preston  Miller. 
Hi.  Sarah. 

iv.  Anna-Clarlc,  m.  Capt.  J.  F.  Wilson. 
V.  William,  d.  s.  p. 
vi.  Margaret, 
vii.  Rev.  Edwin-P. 
via.  Ellen,  d.  s.  p. 
ix.  Harry-Jmiice,  d.  s.  p. 
X.  James-  Weir. 
Jefferson,  the  youngest  of  tiie  family,  was 
born  August  15,  1826 ;  was  engaged  in  the 
mercantile   business   for  years;    was    post- 
master for  a  long  time  and  one  of  the  first 
elders  in  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Dau- 
phin.    He  married,  in  1855,  Miss  Margaret 
Kimmel,    of     Shippensburg,    daughter     of 
George  Kimmel,  Esq.     Their  children  were: 
i.  Dr.  Charles-JIenry,  m.  May  Zacharias. 
ii.  Dr.     William-Patterson,    m.    Kate    S. 

Bell. 
Hi.  George- Kimmel,  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  Edwin-Robinson,  d.  s.  p. 
V.  Horace-Moore, 
vi.  Thomas- Cummin. 
vH.  Mabel. 


The  Cochrans  of  Paxtang. 

I.  John  Cochran,'  of  the  house  of  Dun- 
donald,  crossed  over  from  Paisley  in  Scotland 
to  the  Province  of  Ulster,  Ireland,  about 
1570 — perhaps  a  little  earlier.  From  him 
descended  James  Cochran^,  whose  second 
son  was  Robert  and  fourth  son  Johnl 
Robert  Cochran  had  a  son  Robert,  called 
"  Deaf  Robert."  From  John'  we  have 
Janles^  and  in.  the  subsequent  generation 
Robert^  called  "  Honest  Robert."  He  had 
James,  Stephen,  and  David  of  the  sixth  gen- 
eration, who  came  to  Pennsylvania  and 
settled  on  the  Octoraro,  in  Chester  county. 
Concerning  Stephen  and  David  we  have 
meager  information.  James  Cociiran^  mar- 
ried his  kinswoman,  Isabella,  daughter 
of  "Deaf  Robert."    James  Cochran  died  in 


DAUFllIN  COUNTY 


95 


17G6 — his  wife  some  years  later.     Tiiey  liad 
issue : 

i.  Ann,\).  1724;   m.,  1st,  Alex.  Leckey  ; 

2fl,  Rev.  John  Roan. 
a.  Robert,  b.  1726;  left  a  daughter,  Isa- 
bella, 
in.  James,  b.  1728  ;  d.  in  April,  1768. 
iv.  John,  b.  September  1,  1730;   was  Dr. 
Joim  Cochran,  surgeon  general  of 
the   Revolution,  and    an    intimate 
friend  of  Washington;  d.  April   6, 
1807;  m.,  December  4,  1760,    Ger- 
trude Schuyler,  sister  to  Gen.  Philip 
Schuyler,  of  the  Revolution. 
V.  Stephen,  b.  1732. 

vi.  Jane,   b.    1784;    m.    Rev.    Alexander 
Mitchell. 
2.   vii.  George,  h.  1736. 

II.  George  Cochran  (J^nes,  Robert, 
James,  John,  James,  John),  the  youngest  son 
of  James  and  Isabella  Cochran,  was  born 
about  1736,  on  the  Octoraro,  Chester  county, 
Pa.  He  settled  on  the  Swatara,  where  he 
died  about  1770.  He  married  Annie  Henry, 
daughter  of  Rev.  James  Henry,  a  Presbyte- 
rian minister,  wlio  came  from  the  north  of 
Ireland  and  settled  at  Poraoco,  Md.,  about 
1739.  She  died  on  the  Swatara.  They 
had  issue : 

i.  Israel,  m.  Isabel  Hammel,  and  left  one 

daughter,  Jean ;  she  married 

Reaznor,  of  Erie  county,  in  1808, 
and  died  a  few  years  after  her  mar- 
riage.   Mr.  Hammel,  after  his  wife's 
•  death,  removed  to  Ohio,  leaving  his 

daughter  Jean  with  her  uncle, 
John  Cochran. 
ii.  Sarah,  m.  William  Robertson ;  re- 
moved to  Danville,  Montour  county, 
Pa.,  where  they  died,  leaving  i.ssue: 
John,  Isabella,  James,  William, 
Samu(^,  Jane,  and  Mary. 
Hi.  Jean,  m.  William  Thompson,  and  re- 
moved to  Buffalo  Valley,  where 
they  lived  until  their  death.  They 
had  Nancy,  James,  and  Rath. 
James  became  a  Presbyterian  clergy- 
man, and  was  connected  witii  the 
Huntingdon  Presbytery. 
iv.  John,  b.  1761 ;  spent  his  earliest  years 
in  Chester  county,  among  his  fa- 
ther's friends,  where  he  received  a 
good  education  and  studied  survey- 
ing. In  1792  he  removed  to  Nortli- 
umberland  county,  now  Union 
count}';  from  thence  to  Erie  county 


in  1796  as  deputy  surveyor  under 
Thomas  Rees,  who  was  the  first 
State  surveyor  appointed  by  the 
Land  Department  of  the  Common- 
wealth for  that  county.  Mr.  Coch- 
ran surveyed  and  laid  ovit  the 
Erie  and  Waterford  Reservations 
with  tracts  and  farms  in  1796-7. 
He  purchased  tracts  30  and  70  of 
the  Erie  reserve,  and  removed  his 
family  there  in  1799.  In  1800  he 
built  a  rude  saw  and  grist  mill  on 
Mill  creek,  where  is  Dinsmore's 
mill,  now  Stewart's.  Gov.  McKean 
appointed  Mr.  Cochran  deputy  sur- 
veyor of  Erie  county,  July  9,  1801, 
and  subsequently,  July  5, 1803,  one 
of  the  associates  judges  of  the 
county.  He  was  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Snyder  secretary  of  the  Land 
Office  in  1809 ;  removed  to  Lancas- 
ter with  his  family,  and  afterwards 
to  Harrisburg.  He  held  the  office 
nine  years,  when  he  returned  to  his 
home  in  Mill  Creek,  near  Erie.  He 
lived  on  this  farm  until  his  death. 
May  1, 1836.  Judge  Cochran's  wife 
was  Sarah  Lattimore;  shediedabout 
1840.  They  had  two  sons:  George, 
who  died  in  December,  1827,  un- 
married, and  Robert,  who  married, 
about  1820,  Eliza  Justice,  by  whom 
he  had  nine  children.  Robert  Coch- 
ran was  appointed  by  President 
Jackson,  postmaster  of  Erie,  Feb- 
ruary 26, 1833,  filled  it  seven  years ; 
and  was  again  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Polk,  July  23,  1845.  holding 
the  office  four  years.  He  died  on 
the  old  Cochran  farm,  in  Soutii  Erie, 
December  9,  1869,  aged  seventy 
years. 
V.  Annie,  h.  August  16,  1763,  in  now 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  d.  April  12, 
1857.  at  Winchester,  Tenn.;  mar- 
ried in  1787,  Sankey  Dixon,  son  of 
.John  and  Arabella  Dixon,  born  in 
1762  in  Londonderry  townsliip, 
Dauphin  county, Pa.;  died  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  November  11,  1812,  at 
the  age  of  fifty. 
In  the  Paxtang  assessment,  north  end,  for 
1749,  the  earliest  we  have,  appear  the  names 
of  William,  Andrew,  George,  and  Joim  Coch- 
ran. Of  George  and  his  descendants  we  have 
spoken.  The  others  were  probably  children 
of  David  or  Stephen,  previously  referred  to. 


96 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


Later  we  find  the  names  of  Samuel,  James, 
and  William. 

Andkew  Cochran,  of  Paxtang,  died  at  an 
advanced  age  in  November,  1775  ;  his  estate 
was  bequeathed  to  his  cliildren,  his  wife 
having  previously  deceased : 

i.  Margaret,  m.,  August  17, 175G,Thomas 
Wiley. 

ii.  Jean,  m. Campbell. 

iii.  Mary,    m.,  November,    1774,    Robert 
Whitehill. 

iv.  Sarali,  m. Ciiambers. 

V.  John. 
TO.  Andrctv. 
vii.  William. 

Samuel  Cochran,  b.  in  1732 ;  d.  April  8, 
181G,  in  Middle  Paxtang.  He  was  a  private 
in  Captain  Rutherford's  company  of  asso- 
ciators  in  1776  and  1777.  He  left  a  wife 
Margaret,  and  had  issue  as  follows: 

i.  l_A  clan.],  m.  John  Hatfield,  and  iiad 

Margaret  and  John, 
ii.  Margaret. 
Hi.  Jane, 
iv.  Martha,  m.  William  Forster,  and  liad 

Samuel. 
V.  Isabella,  m.  Philip  Reichart. 
vi.  Rachel, 
vii.  William. 

James  Cochran  was  probably  a  son  of 
Andrew  Cocliran,  b.  in  1742;  d.  July  16, 
1822,  and  is  buried  in  Paxtang.  He  was  a 
private  in  Captain  Rutherford's  company  of 
associators  in  1776.  He  married,  November 
22,  1770,  Mary  Montgomery,  of  Paxtang,  b. 
in  1744;  d.  August  6,  1803,  and  is  also  in- 
terred in  Paxtang.  They  had  issue,  among 
others: 

i.  John,  h.  1773  ;  d.  November  16, 1845; 
m.  Hannah  Cowden,  b.   1778;    d. 
May  81,  1850. 
ii.  Andrew. 
Hi.  Jane,  m.  Henry  Peffer. 

John  Cochran,  a  soldier  of  Captain  Mur- 
ray's company  of  the  Revolution,  died  in 
November,  1789;  his  wife  Caroline  died 
in  April,  1804.  They  had  John,  who  had 
issue:  Lydia,  Caroline,  Ann,  m.  Jeremiah 
Grain,  and  Jamison. 

We  have  the  following  disconnected  data: 

William  Cochran,  b.  1780;  d.  April  26, 
1840;  m., January  11, 1810,Rachel, daughter 
of  Christian  Gross. 

Samuel  Cochran,  Jr.,  was  a  private  in 
Cai)t.  John  Rutherford's  company   of  asso- 


ciators in  1776.  He  married,  December  11, 
1770,  Mary  Sherer.of  Paxtang.  His  daugh- 
ter Margaret  married,  October  20,  1803, 
David  Mitchell,  of  Cumberland  county. 

Jacob  Cochran,  of  Chester  county,  died 
prior  to  1785.  His  children,  minors,  Jacob, 
David,  John,  and  Mary,  were  then  residing  in 
Dauphin  county.  David  died  January  21, 
1809.  John  married,  March  3,  1804,  Mary 
Hart,  of  Middle  Paxtang. 

Samuel  Cochran,  of  Chester  county, 
was  surveyor  general  of  Pennsylvania  from 
1800  to  1809.  He  died  at  Cochranville, 
Chester  county.  Pa.,  May  3,  1829.  His  son 
Samuel,  b.  1797;  d.  September  5,  1821,  at 
Harrisburg. 

Among  the  Rev.  John  Roan's  marriages 
are  the  following : 

Margaret  Cochran  and  Thomas  Wiley, 
August  17,  1756. 

Janet  Cochran  and  Robert  Whitely,  April 
24,  1759. 

Martha  Cochran  and  Andrew  Caldwell, 
October  1,  1771. 

Martha  Cochran  and  James  Robinson, 
September  12,  1769. 

Mary  Cochran  and  Robert  Wiiitehill, 
November  1,  1774. 


The  Crawfords,  of  Hanover. 

I.  Robert  Crawford,  of  Scotch  parent- 
age, born  in  county  Donegal,  Ireland,  emi- 
grated to  America  prior  to  1728,  with  sev- 
eral of  his  sons : 

i.  James,  who  settled  in  Paxtang  town- 
ship, and  had  surveyed  to  him  in 
March,  1738,  258  acres  of  land  on 
the  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  river, 
adjoining  Robert  and  William 
Renick's  land.  Tins  location  was 
subsequently  secured  by  Joseph 
Chambers,  James  locating  in  Hano- 
ver township. 

ii.  Robert,  settled  in  Hanover. 

Hi.  Hugh,  settled  in  Hanover. 

2.  iv.  William,  settled   in    Drumore    town- 

ship, Lancaster  count}'. 

3.  V.  John,  settled  in  Hanover. 

II.  William  Crawford  (Robert),  d.  in 
June,  1767,  in  Drumore  townsliip,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  leaving  a  wife  \'iolet,  and  chil- 
dren as  follows  : 

i.  John, 
ii.  Agnes,  m.  Robert  Mcllhenny. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


97 


Hi.  Isabel,  m.  William  Moore. 
iv.  Elizabeth,  m.  John  Crawford. 
V.  Robert, 
vi.  Margaret. 

III.  John  Crawford  (Robert),  emigrated 
to  Penns^'ivania  with  his  family  and  friends 
prior  to  1728  ;  he  married,  and  iiad  issue 
among  others : 

4.  i.  James,  b.  1730  ;  m.,  1st,  Rosanna  Alli- 

son ;  2d,  Agnes  McDonald. 

5.  ii.  Jolm,  b.  1736;  m.  Elizabeth  Crawford. 

6.  Hi.  Richard,  b.  1740;  m.  Elizabeth . 

IV.  James  Crawford  (John,  Robert),  b- 
1730,  in  Hanover,  seems  to  have  removed  to 
tiie  West  Branch  in  Northumberland  county 
about  1770.  He  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention of  July,  1770,  which  framed  the  first 
Constitution  of  the  State,  and  on  the  8th  of 
October  following  commissioned  major  of 
Col.  Wm.  Cooke's  regiment  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Line.  He  resigned  October  12,  1777, 
on  account  of  being  deprived  of  his  rank, 
but  i)roposed  to  serve  through  the  contest  at 
his  own  expense.  He  afterwards  filled  the 
offices  of  sheriff,  commissioner  and  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  died  about  1812  or  1813  and 
was  buried  in  the  old  Pine  Creek  burying 
ground,  near  Jei'sey  Shore. 

Major  Crawford  was  twice  married,  first, to 
Rosanna  Allison,  daughter  of  John  and 
Ann  Allison,  of  Lancaster  county.  She 
was  a  superior  woman.  Her  sister,  Marga- 
ret Allison,  a  notable  woman  in  her  day, 
married  Col.  Hug/i  White,  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution,  who  lived  near  Chatham's  Run, 
Lycoming  county,  and  from  whom  are  de- 
scended the  Whites  of  Williamsport  and 
Wellsboro'.  Through  the  first  marriage  of 
Major  Crawford  comes  the  connection  with 
the  Allisons  of  the  Juniata  Valley,  one  of 
whom,  Robert,  was  a  distinguished  lawyer,  a 
captain  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1812,  and 
subsequently  a  member  of  Congress.  The 
children  of  James  Crawford  and  Rosanna 
Allison,  all  born  in  Hanover,  were: 

i.  John.,  who  served  in  tfie  war  of  the 
Revolution ;  went  to  the  lower 
Mississippi,  where  he  died,  unmar- 
ried. 
ii.  Robert,  who  married  Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of  Michael  Quigley.  Through 
lier  comes  the  relationship  with  the 
Quigleys,    Cranes,   Custards,    Deis 


and  others.  Robert  was  palsied 
late  in  life,  and  died  about  1836 
aged  seventy-six.  He  was  buried 
in  the  Pine  Creek  burying  ground. 
His  children  were:  Ann,  m.  Levi 
Packer ;  George,  m.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Weitzel  White;  Nancy,  m.  Hugh 
Wiiite;  Frances,  ra.  Robert  Shaw; 
James- Allison ;  and  Eliza,  m. 
Thomas  Condon. 

Hi.  Thomas,  removed  to  North  East,  Erie 
county.  Pa.,  where  his  descendants 
reside. 

iv.  Ann,  m.  Benjamin  Walker,  whose  de- 
scendants live  at  Laporte,  Lid. 

Major  Crawford  married,  secondly,  Agnes 
McDonald,  daughter  of  Caj)tain  McDonald, 
of  Cumberland  county.  She  survived  her 
husband  several  years  and  is  buried  in  Pine 
Creek  graveyard.  They  had  one  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  who  removed  after  tiie  death  of 
her  mother  to  Erie  county,  where  she  died 
many  years  ago,  unmarried. 

V.  John  Crawford  (John,  Robert),  b. 
1736,  in  Hanover  township;  d.  April  8, 1789, 
in  Hanover,  and  buried  in  the  old  Hanover 
church  gravej'ard  ;  m.  his  cousin,  Elizabeth 
Crawford,  b.  in  Drumore  township,  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pa.;  d.  June,  1824,  in  Hanover, 
and  there  buried.     They  had  issue: 

i.    U'7^/iam,d.  November,  1829;  m.  Patt}' 

Crain. 
ii.  Ann,  m.  Samuel  Finney ;  d.  Decem- 
ber, 1823. 
Hi.  Violet,  d.  April,  1844. 
iv.  Mattie  (Martha),  a  character  in  her 

day;  d.  1842. 
V.  John,  d.  February  18,  1811. 

VI.  Richard  Crawford  (John,  Robert), 
b.  about  1740  in  Hanover;  il.  in  1813  at  the 
residence  of  his  daughter,  Ann  Wilson,  in 
Anthony  township,  Columbia,  now  Montour 
county.  Pa.,  whither  he  removed  upon  the 
death  of  his  wife :  was  buried  in  Warrior 
Run  graveyard.  He  m.,  in  1765,  Elizabeth 
,  b.  in  1745  ;  d.  June  12, 1810,  in  Han- 
over, and  there  buried.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Paul,  b.  170G. 

ii.  James,  b.  1768 ;  m.  Mary  Finney. 
Hi.  An7i,  b.  1772;  m.  Hugh  Wilson. 
iv.  Elizabeth,   b.    1770;     m.    Rev.    John 
Moody,  who  died  at  Shippensburg. 

V.  Mary,  m.  Robert  Moody. 


98 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


The  Enders  Family. 

I.  Philip  Christian  Enders,  b.  July  22, 
1740,  in  Braunsigweiler,  District  of  Zugen- 
heim,  Nassau,  Germany  ;  d.  February'  26, 
1SU9,  in  Halifax  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.  After  completing  his  education  he  en- 
tered the  military  service  of  his  sovereign, 
William  Heinrich,  Prince  of  Nassau,  partici- 
pating in  numerous  battles  of  the  "Seven 
Years'  War."  For  gallantry  and  other  sol- 
dierly qualities  he  was  promoted  to  a  cap- 
taincy in  the  Royal  cavaliy.  He  subse- 
quently resigned  his  commission,  and  on 
May  13,  1764,  married  Anna  Degen,  daugh- 
ter of  Conrad  Degen,  of  Sippertsfield,  Nassau. 
A  few  months  later  he  came  to  America,  ac- 
companied by  his  bride.  His  first  settle- 
ment was  in  Philadeli)hia,  and  later  in  this 
part  of  then  Lancaster  county.  In  1788  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  over  1,800  acres  of  land 
in  Upper  Paxtang  township.  On  this  he 
permanently  located,  and  here  his  last  years 
peacefully  passed  awav.  He  was  one  of  tiie 
founders  of  Fetterhoff  church,  erected  the 
first  saw  mill  in  the  valley,  taught  the  first 
school,  and  bore  a  leading  part  in  many 
other  enterprises.  In  1706  his  wife  and  eld- 
est son,  .John  Philij),  died  and  were  buried  a 
few  rods  from  the  cabin  of  the  old  settler. 
Thirteen  years  later  the  husband  and  father 
was  laid  by  their  side.  He  lived  a  long,  use- 
ful and  honored  life,  and  his  descendants 
have  cause  to  thank  God  that  their  ancestor 
deserves  their  reverence,  respect  and  grati- 
tude.    His  children  were : 

i.  Jolm-Ileiiry,  b.  1765  ;  d.  s.  \>. 

2.  ii.  John-Philip,   b.    April    26,    1766;  m. 

Elizabeth . 

Hi.  Margaret,  b.  Ajiril  21,  1768  ;  d.  s.  p. 

3.  iv.  Ann- Elizabeth,  b.  December  15,  1769  ; 

m.,  first,  Adam  Kreeger;  secondly, 
John  Shoener. 
I'.  \_A  .son],  b.  July,  1771 ;  d.  s.  p. 

4.  vi.  George-Michael,  b.  July   12,1772;  m. 

Elizabeth  Crum. 
vii.  John- George,  b.   March   11,   1774:    d. 
1825  in  Dauphin  count}' ;  m.  Cath- 
arine   Bowman,  and    left   a    large 
family. 
via.  [yl  son'],  b.  April,  1776 ;  d.  s.  p. 

5.  ix.  Margaret- Martha  (called  Eva  Margaret 

in  her  father's  will),  b.  January'  24, 
1778;  m.  Isaac  Baughman. 
X.  Christiana,  b.  July  24, 1779  ;  m.  John 
Miller,  and  their  numerous  descend- 
ants are  scattered  over  many  States. 
xi.  Susannah,  b.  February  12, 1781 ;  d.  s.  p. 


xii.  Catharine,  b.  March  25,  1783  ;  d.  in. 
1844;  m.  Peter  Phillips;  a  num- 
ber of  their  children  live  in  Bell- 
ville,  0.;  he  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812-14 ;  removed  to  Ohio 
in  1839,  but  after  the  dfeth  of  his 
wife  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  died  October  2,  1860. 
xiii.  [A  so«],  b.  January  11,  1785 ;  d.  s.  p. 
xiv.  John-Conrad  (twin),  b.  January  11, 
1785;  d.  December  5,  1874;  he  in- 
herited the  old  homestead  which  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  his  young- 
est son,  Daniel. 

II.  .John  Philip  Enders  (Philip-Chris- 
tian), b.  April  26,  1766,  in  Philadelphia;  d. 
October,  1794,  in  Daui)hin  county;  m.  Eliz- 
abeth   ;  and  had  children  : 

6.  i.  Philip,  b.  August  15,  1790  ;  m.  Anna 
Hummel. 
il.  Susanna,  b.  June  25, 1791 ;  m.  Leonard 
Peters  ;  of  their  descendants,  nearly 
all  reside  in  Pennsylvania. 
Hi.  Jolin,  b.  August  25,  1792  ;  went  West 
when  young,  and  all  trace  of  him 
lost. 

III.  Anna  Elizabeth  Enders  (Philip- 
Christian),  b.  December  15,  1769,  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.;  d.  in  Crawford  county, 
Ohio,  many  years  ago;  m.,  first,  Adam 
Kreeger  a  tailor  by  trade,  who  died  in 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.;  and  there  was 
issue  (surname  Kreeger): 

i.  John,  d.  in  1878,  s.  p.;  was  .a  minister 

in  the  Church  of  God. 
ii.  Jacob,   d.    April    7,    1850,  in  Gabon, 
Ohio  ;  m.  Anna  Campbell,  and  had 
issue,  besides  four  children  d.  in  in- 
fanc}'  (surname  Kreeger): 

1.  Sarah-Jane,     b.     January    22, 

1828;  m.  John  Hindman. 

2.  EJizabelh-F.,   b.    September   7, 

1829;    m.    Milton    Panders; 
reside  in  Indiana. 

3.  Jacob-C,  b.  May  21,  1833;  re- 

sides in  New  Orleans. 

4.  /e?-mia/(- IF.,  b.  April  11,  1838; 

m.  Prudence  Love ;  reside  in 
Indiana. 

5.  Mary-A.,  b.  April  7,  1842 ;   m. 

William  Angle. 

6.  Benjamin-F.,  b.  April  22,  1843; 

m.  Sarah  A.  Scott;  reside  in 
Gallon,  Ohio. 

7.  Joseph-Pi.,  b.  Januaiy  15,1845; 

married. 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


99 


8.  Amanda-J.,     b.     January     11, 
1847  ;  m.  John  Warden. 
Hi.  Margaret,  m.  Michael  Watson. 
iv.  Elizabeth,  m.  John  Rose. 
Mrs.  Kreeger  afterwards  m.  John  Shoener, 
a   clock    maker ;    they    emigrated    to   Ohio, 
where  they  both  deceased  ;  no  children. 

IV.  George  Michael  Enbers  (Pliilip- 
Chri,stian),  b.  July  12,  1772  ;  d.  October,  1831, 
in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.;  m.  Elizabeth  Crum, 
and  had  issue : 

i.  Jacob,  d.  March  IG,  1857,  s.  p. 

ii.  Elizabeth,  b.    October   25,    1799 ;    m. 
Christian    Zimmerman,   and    had 
eleven  children. 
Hi.  Catharine,  m.  Michael  Hummel ;  had 
one  son. 

iv.  Sarah,  h.  February  18,  1810;  m.  Fred- 
erick Ebervveen  ;  resided  in  Winter- 
set,  Iowa. 

V.  William,  b.  April  28,  1812 ;  m.  and 
resided  in  Harrisburg. 

V.  Margaret  Martha  Enders  (Philip- 
Christian),  b.  January  24,  1778;  d.  March 
29,  1864,  in  Ohio  ;  m.  Isaac  Banghman,  d. 
July  25,1869,  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  whence 
he  emigrated  with  his  family  in  1848;  was 
a  miller  by  trade.  They  had  issue  (surname 
Baughman): 

i.  John,  b.  June  3,  1802  ;  d.  near  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pa.;  m.  and  had  a  large 
family. 

ii.  Samuel,  b.  January  80,  1804 ;  a  son, 
Jeremiah,  resides  at  Fort  Wayne, 
Ind. 

Hi.  Elizabeth;  b.  January  28,  1807 ;  m. 
John  Veutling,  and  had  seven  chil- 
dren. 

iv.  Margaret,  b.  March  4,  1809  ;  m. 

Reed  ;  resided  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio. 
V.  Sarah,  b.  February  5,  1811 ;  m.  Peter 
Ploke. 

vi.  Mary,  b.  June  21,  1812;  m.  Rev.  Sol- 
omon McHenry ;  had  seven  chil- 
dren. 

vii.  Catharine,   b.    March    29,    1814 ;    m. 
Wingert,  and   had   six  chil- 
dren. 
viil.  Isaac,  h.  July  5,  1817  ;  d.  January  15, 
1883;  m.,  and  left  three  children. 

ix.  Rosanna,  b.  March  14,  1818 ;  resided 

at  Chambersburg,  Pa. 
X.  William-C,  h.  March  15,  1822  ;  was  a 
miller  ;  m.   Frances  Wingert,  and 
had  twelve  children. 

VI.  Philip  Enders  (John-Philip,  Philip- 


Christian),  b.  Augu.st  15,1790;  d.  1874,  in 
Genesee  county,  Mich.;  removed  to  Erie 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  1827,  and  shortly  after  to 
Genesee  county,  Mich.;  m.  Anna  Hummel, 
and  there  was  issue: 

i.  Sarali,  m.  William  Myers. 
ii.  Lucy,  m.  Benjamin  Ineasly. 
Hi.  Samuel,  m.  Nancy  Rhodes. 
iv.  Jeremiah,  m.,  and  resides  in  Australia. 
V.  George-  W.,  m.,  and  resides  in  Genesee 

count}',  Mich. 
vi.  Elizabeth,  m.  B.  Brosius. 
vii.  Norman,  a  farmer  living  in  Genesee 

county,  Mich. 
vHi.  Mary-A.,  m.  Abraham  Mastin. 
ix.  Harry-H.,  m.,  and  resides  in  Michigan. 
X.  Martha,  d.  in  infancy. 
xi.  Almeda,  d.  in  infancy. 
xii.  Franklin,  d.  s.  p. 


Fahnestock  Family. 

I.  Diedrick  Fahnestock,  son  of  Laborius 
Fahnestock  was  born  February  2,  1696,  in 
Halten  in  the  district  of  Hagen,  Province  of 
Westphalia,  Prussia,  emigrated  to  America 
in  1726,  first  settled  on  the  Raritan,  New 
Jersey,  but  a  few  years  later  we  find  him 
at  Ephrata,  now  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 
He  subsequently  took  up  a  tract  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  acres  of  land 
which  was  surveyed  to  him  October  12, 
1735.  He  died  in  Cocalico  township  on  the 
10th  of  October,  1775,  his  will  being  proved 
January  22,  1776.  Diedrick  Fahnestock 
married  prior  to  his  emigration  to  America, 
Anna  Margaretta  Hertz,  b.  July  23,  1702;  d. 
September  29,  1783.  Of  their  children  the 
two  eldest  were  born  on  the  old  homestead 
at  Halten  on  tlie  Rhine.  One  sister  accom- 
panied the  family,  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Henry  Dierdorf  at  Amwell,  N.  J.;  subse- 
quently another  sister,  Armella,  came  to 
America — she  united  with  tlie  Seventii  Day 
Baptist  society  at  Ephrata.  "  It  was  not  for 
the  comforts  of  this  life,"  wrote  Diedrick 
Fahnestock,  "  but  in  the  hope  of  finding 
people  of  more  congenial  religious  faith," 
that  induced  hira  to  emigrate  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  he  found  them  at  Ephrata.  His 
family  were: 

2.       i.  Casper,  b.   April  11,  1724,  m.  Maria 
Catharine  Gleini. 
H.  Andrew,  b.  1726,  d.  on  ship- 
board,  near   the   American    coast, 
and  buried  in  New  York. 


100 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


3.  in.  Peter,  b.  March  3,  1730,  m.  Elizabeth 

Bolthouser. 

4.  iv.  Diedrick,  b.  December   25,  1733 ;    m. 

Esther  Bauman. 

5.  V.  John,    b.    1735 ;    m.,    first,    Rebecca 

Groff;  secondly,  Catharine  Studa- 
baker. 

6.  vi.  Daniel,  b.  1793  ;  m.,  first,  Ellen  Lustin ; 

secoudlj',  Catharine  Rider. 
vii.  Joseba,  b.   1742;   d.  June   20,   1816; 
m.  John  Urie. 

7.  iriii.  Benjamin,  b.  May  2,  1747  ;  m.,  first, 

Catharine  Garber ;  secondly,  Chris- 
tiana Underwood. 

8.  ix.  Borius,  b.  May  9,  1744 ;  m.  Elizabeth 

Enders. 

II.  Casper  Fahnestock  (Diedrick),  b- 
April  11,  1724,  in  Halten-on-the-Rhine ;  d. 
August  17,  ls08,  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.; 
m.,  about  1760,  Maria  Catharine  Gleim,  b. 
1739;  d.  August  5,  1805,  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.;  daughter  of  Jolin  Godfreid 
Gleim,  of  Wiesbaden,  Germany.  They  had 
issue : 

9.  i.  Charles,  b.  February  1, 1761 ;  m.  Susan 

Smith. 
ii.  Daniel,  h.  January  11,  1763;  d.  Maj- 

30,  1830;  unm. 
Hi.  Esther,  b.  1766;  d.   1844;  m.  Casper 

Smith. 
iv.  Diedrick,  b.  March  14,  1771 ;  d.  Janu- 
ary 18,  1821 ;  unm.    • 
V.  Catharine,  h.  March   3,- 1774;  d.  Au- 
gust 9,  1853;  m.  Solomon  Gorgas. 

III.  Peter  Fahnestock  (Diedrick),  b. 
March  3,  1730,  in  Cocalico  township,  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.;  d.  September  15,1805; 
m.  Elizabeth  Bolthouser.     They  had  issue  ; 

/.  Sarah,  b.  April  30,  1758 ;  d.  January 
30,  1792;  unm. 

10.  ii.  Samuel,  h.  March  27,  1761  ;  m.,  first, 

Hannah      Studebaker ;      secondly, 
Eleanor  Sweigart. 
11.///.  Conrad,  b.  July  19,  1763;  m.  Mary 
Hallacker. 
iv.  Hannah,  h.  October  8,  1767 ;  d.  Janu- 
ary 16,  1844;  m.  John  Landis. 
12.    V.  Obed,  b.   July   25,   1770;    m.   Anna 
Maria  Gessell. 
vi.  Margaretta,  b.  March  5,  1772;  d.  June 
12,  1847  ;  m.  Benj.   Konigmacher. 
vii.  Peter,  b.  1776. 

via.  Elizabeth,  b.  March  24,  1779 ;  d.  May 
20,   1837;  m.  Dr.    Daniel    Fahne- 
stock. 
ix.  Andrew,   b.   November   29,   1781;  d. 


February  5,  1863 ;  was  a  Seventh 
Day  Bai^tist  preacher ;  m.  Marga- 
ret Graver,  and  had  issue : 

IV.  Diedrick  Fahnestock  (Diedrick  ),  b. 
December  25,  1733,  in  Cocalico  township, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa. ;  d.  December  20, 1805 ; 
m.  Esther  Bauman,  b.  May  27,  1740,  at 
Ephrata  ;  d.  December  6,  1792.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  Mary,  b.  October  2,  1762 ;  m.,   first, 

Rudisell ;  secondly,  George 

Buehler. 

13.  ii.  Samuel,   b.   March   ]6,  1764;  m.  Re- 

becca Baker. 
Hi.  Anna,  h.  July  31,  1765. 
iv.  Esther,  h.  April  26,  1767;  d.  Decem- 
ber 6,  1792;  m.  Jacob  Kimmel. 
V.  Margaret,  h.   December   8,    1768 ;  m. 

John  Bauman. 
vi.  Joseba,  h.   December  2,   1770;  d.  s.  p. 
vii.  Peter,   b.    April    4,    1772 ;  m.   Susan 

Bauman,  and  had  issue. 
via.  Daniel,  b.  December  18, 1773  ;  d.  July 

29,  1829;  m.  Elizabeth  Fahnestock, 

b.  1779  ;  d.  May  31,  1837,  and  had 

issue. 
ix.  Joseba,  b.  July  18, 1775 ;  ra.  John  Hay. 
X.  Susanna,  b.   March  8,  1777  ;  m.,  first, 

Michael  Pfoutz;    secondly,  

Brubaker. 
xi.  CJiristiana,  h.  September  11,  1780. 
xii.  John,  h.  September  21,  1781 ;  d.  1827; 

m.  Mary  Bush,  b.  1799;  d.  March 

10,  1840,  and  had  issue. 
xiii.  Salome,  b.  December  30, 1784 ;  d.  1803. 

V.  John  Fahnestock  (Diedrick),  b.  1735, 
in  Cocalico  township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.; 
d.  May  22,  1812,  at  Pittsburgh;  m.,  first,  in 
1766,  Rebecca  Groff,  d.  January  12,  1773. 
They  had  issue : 

i.  Molly,  b.  1767 :    m.  C.  Studebaker. 

14.  //.  Jacob,   b.   December  5,   1769 ;  m.  Sa- 

lome Fahnestock. 

15.  Hi.  Henry,  b.  March  6, 1772  ;  m.  Elizabeth 

Brindle. 
John  Fahnestock  (Diedrick)  m.,  secondly, 
Catharine  Studebaker,  b.  1745  ;  d.  May  13, 
1822,  at  Pittsburgh.     They  had  issue  : 

iv.  Rebecca,  b.  July  7,  1775 ;  d.  Decem- 
ber   3,    1832 ;    m.    Joseph    Konig- 
macher. 
V.  Hanna,  b.  1780;  d.   1866;  m.  Jacob 
Bollinger. 

VI.  Daniel  Fahnestock  (Diedrick),  b. 
1739  in  Cocalico  township,  Lancaster  county. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


101 


Pa.;  m.,  first,  in  1773,  Ellen  Lustin,  and  they 
had  issue: 

16.  i.  Daniel,    b.    Februai-y    23,    1774;   m. 

Elizabeth  Rider. 

17.  ii.  William,  h.   177G;  m.  Esther  Rider. 
Hi.  Mary,  b.  1777;  m.  Joseph  Hallopter. 
iv.  Sarah,  h.  1778;  m.  Andrew  Trummus. 

V.  Esther,  b.  April  13, 1779  ;  d.  April  18, 
1855  ;  m.  Frederick  Rider. 
Daniel  Fahnestock  m.,  secondly,  Catharine 
Rider,  and  had  issue : 

vi.  Margaret,  m.  Daniel  Bollinger. 
vii.  Barbara, 
via.  Frederick. 
ix.  Eleanor,  d.  August  2.2,  1840;  ra.   M. 

Boyer. 
X.  Joseph,  d.  s.  p. 

VII.  Bex.iamin  Fahnestock  (Diedrick), 
b.  May  2,  1747,  in  Cocalica  township,  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.;  d.  February  27,  1820,  in 
Adams  county,  Pa.;  m.,  1st,  October  9, 1770, 
Catharine  Garber,  b.  February  26,  1750 ;  d. 
July  17,  1793.     They  had  issue : 

18.  i.  George,  b.  September  7, 1772  :  m.,  1st, 

Mary   Auglienbaugh ;  2d,  Barbara 
Fisher. 

19.  ii.  Jolin,  b.  July  3,  1774;  m.  Catharine 

Wallich. 
Hi.  Margaret,  b.  May  19,  1776. 

20.  iv.  Henry,  b.  April  22,  1778 ;  m.  Catha- 

rine Latshaw. 

V.  Esther,  b.  March  22, 1780. 

vi.  Christiana,  b.  June  7,  1782 ;  m.,  De- 
cember 19,  1802,  Peter  Auglien- 
baugh, of  Adams  county,  Pa. 

21.  lii.  Peter,    b.   April    15,   1784;    m.  Mary 

Fahnestock. 

22.  via.  Benjamin,  h.   August   18,   1787;    m. 

Elizabeth  L.  Smith. 
ix.  Emanuel,  b.    May    4,   1790 ;    d.  July 
14,  1791. 
Benjamin  Fahnestock  m.,  secondlj',  Chris- 
tiana Underwood  ;  and  had  issue : 

X.  Joseba,  b.  July  10,  1796;  d.  May  11, 
1872 ;  m.  Dr.  Bauman. 

VIII.  BoRius  Fahnestock  (Diedrick),  b. 
May  9, 1749,  in  Cocalico  township,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.;  d.  January  9,  1820 ;  m.,  Octo- 
ber 17,  1772,  Elizabeth  Enders,  b.  December, 
1752.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Salome,  b.  November  4,  1773;  m. 
Jacob  Fahnestock. 

23.  ii.  Diedrick,   b.    October    20,    1775;    m. 

Sarah  Deardorf. 
Hi.  Samuel,  b.  August  22,  1777. 


iv.  Joseba,  b.  January  14, 1780  ;  m.  Jacob 

Gardner. 
V.  Elizabeth,  h.  April  3, 1782  ;  m.  Thomas 

Reed. 
vi.  Mary,h.  May  24,  1784;  d.  July   22, 

1866;  m.  Peter  Fahnestock. 
vii.  Diana,  b.  January  16,  1787;  m.  Jacob 

Housel. 
via.  Benjamin,  b.  May  13,  1790;   m.  Ann 
C.  Clemens,  and   had   Alexena-M., 
McAtee, and  Elizahct]t,m.G.±\.ughm- 
baugh. 
ix.  Jacob,  b.  January  7,  1792. 
X.  John,  b.  December  4,  1794. 
24.  xi.  Daniel- Enders,  b.  January  6, 1800;   m. 
Mary  Fahnestock. 

IX.  Charles  Fahnestock  (Casper,  Died- 
rick), b.  February  1,  1761,  in  Cocalico  town- 
ship, Lancaster  county.  Pa. ;  d.  January  16, 
1837,  in  Chester  county,  Pa. ;  m.  Susan 
Smith,  b.  September  24,  1768;  d.  September 
14,  1814,  in  Chester  county.  Pa.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  Catharine,   b.    January    29,    1787 ;  d. 
April  23,  1867  ;  m.  Joseph  Phillips. 
ii.  John,  b.  August  23,  1788;  d.  Septem- 
ber, 1849,  unm. 
Hi.  C'aspei',b. November  12, 1789;  d.  March 
4,    1871 ;    m.   Jemima  P.    Morgan, 
and  had  issue:   Charles-S.,  m.  Jane 
E.    Bowman;    Edwin-F.,   Josepldne, 
Casper-C,  m.  Mary  Jean  Dean,  John, 
Henry,    Susan,    Catharine,   Jemima, 
and    George-Mayer,   m.   Philena  S. 
Thompson. 
iv.  Mary,  b.  April  13, 1791;  m.  J.  F.  Stein- 
man. 
V.  Charles,  h.  December  23, 1793  ;  d.  July, 

1820,  unm. 
vi.  Susanna,  b.  October  13, 1795  ;  d.  July, 

1832,  unm. 
vii.  Rebecca,   b.    November    4,    1797 ;    d. 

March  14,  1827,  unm. 
via.  Henry,  b.  October  18, 1798  ;  d.  Novem- 
ber 19,  1822,  unm. 
ix.  Esther,  b.  1800  ;  d.  January  12,  1866  ; 

m.  Ernmer  Elton. 
X.  Elizabeth,  h.  March  16,  1804  ;  d.  Au- 
gust 14,  1807. 
xi.  Hannah,  h.  March  6,  1806 ;  d.  August 

27,  1826,  unm. 
xii.  William,  h.  March  21,1808;  m.  Ann 
Elizabeth   Earnest,  and  had  issue. 
xiii.  Edivin,  b.  1810,  d.  s.  p. 
xiv.  Washington,  b.  1812,  d.  s.  p. 

X.  Samuel  FAHNESTOCK(Peter,  Diedrick) 


102 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


b.   March    27,  1761,  in    Cocalico   township, 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.;  d.  June  29, 1830;  m., 
first,   Hannah    Studebaker,   b.    October   15, 
1755;  d.  October  13,  1825.     They  had  issue: 
i.  Elizabeth,  b.  July  6,  1785;  d.  Septem- 
ber 18,  1812. 
ii.  Rebecca,   b.    January    12,    1787  ;    m. 

Daniel  Fundenberg. 
Hi.  Peter,  b.  October  9, 1788  ;  m.,  first,  No- 
vember  19,   1819,    Mary    Kunkel ; 
secondly,    Eliza    C.    Poe;    tliirdly, 
Caroline  C.  GJeakle. 
it'.  Samuel,  h.  March  11,  1791 ;  d.  s.  p. 
V.  Catharine,  b.  December  11,  1792 ;  d. 
February     15,    1868 ;    m.    George 
Reeser. 
vi.  George,  b.  November  26,  1795;  d.  Oc- 
tober 27,  1804. 
vii.  Samuel,  h.  November  4, 1797  ;  d.  May 
13,  1869 ;    m.,  first,   Eliza  Hei.ser ; 
secondly,  Mary   Murray;  and   left 
issue  by  both. 

XL  Conrad  Fahnestock  (Peter,  Died- 
rick),  b.  July  19,  1763,  near  Ephrata,  Pa.;  d. 
September  20, 1803,  at  Middletown,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.;  received  a  fair  education  at  tiie 
German  School,  Ephrata,  and  learned  the 
art  of  printing  with  the  Brethren  ;  came  to 
Harrisburg  in  1791  and  engaged  with  his 
brother  Obed  in  merchandising ;  subse- 
quently he  entered  into  partnership  with 
Benjamin  Mayer  in  the  publication  of  the 
Morgenrolhe  or  "  Dutch  Aurora,"  as  it  was 
commonly  called  ;  under  the  infamous  alien 
and  sedition  act  of  the  administration  of  the 
elder  Adams,  Messrs.  Mayer  &  Fahnestock 
were  arrested  by  United  States  officers  and 
thrown  into  prison,  but  promptly  released  on 
bail;  they  were  never  tried.  Shortly  after- 
wards Mr.  Fahnestock  retired  from  the  print- 
ing business  and  entered  the  mercantile  trade 
at  Middletown,  where  he  died.  The  Oracle 
speaks  of  him  as  "  an  industrious,  honest  and 
valuable  member  of  society."  Mr.  Fahne- 
stock m.  Mary  Hallacker.  They  had  issue : 
i.  Josejjh.  b.  April  9,  1792  ;  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  Peter,  h.  June  9,  1793  ;  d.  February  6, 

1872,  at  Ephrata  ;  m.  Salome  Lan- 

dis,   and    had    Susan,    Samuel,  m. 

Mary   Bollinger,   Conrad,  John,  m. 

Maria  Bollinger,  Mary,   m.  Adam 

Ream,  and  Reuben,  m.   Catharine 

Keller. 
Hi.  Samuel,  b.  February  12,  1795  ;  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  Anna,  h.  May  31,  1800;  m.  Christian 

Bomberger. 


XXL  Obed  Fahnestock  (Peter,  Diedrick). 
b.  February  25,  1770,  near  Ephrata,  Pa.;  d- 
March  2,  1840,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  was 
brought  up  to  mercantile  pursuits,  and  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg  about  1795,  where  he 
entered  into  business  ;  he  seems  to  have 
been  a  man  of  considerable  intelligence  and 
prominence,  as  almost  thirty  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  in  office  ;  was  coroner  from 
November  3,  1802,  to  November  3,  1805; 
director  of  the  poor  from  1811  to  1813;  one  of 
the  associate  judges  of  the  countv  from  No- 
vember 12, 1813,  to  July  30, 1818^  appointed 
by  Governor  Snyder,  when,  owing  to  his  dis- 
like of  Samuel  D.  Franks,  who  had  been 
appointed  president  judge  of  the  courts,  he 
resigned  ;  was  burgess  of  the  borough  1820 
and  1821,  frequently  a  member  of  the  coun- 
cil, and  served  as  prothonotary  from  Janu- 
ary 17,  1824,  to  January  29,  1830.  Judge 
Fahnestock  m.,  April  19,  1796,  Anna  Maria 
Gessell,  b.  January  9,  1777,  at  Brickersville, 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.;  d.  December  3,  1847, 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.     They  had  issue  : 

i.  Harris- Charles,  b.  April   2G,  1797;  d. 

May  24,  1845. 
ii.  Hannah,  b.   December  21,   1799;  d. 
February  12,  1872  ;  m.,  in  1824, 1st, 
James   A.   Mahany ;  2d,   in   1845, 
James  Wallace  Weir. 
Hi.  William- Morr ell,  b.  April  10, 1802  ;  d. 
December  15,  1854;  m.  Sarah  Ann 
Magee,  b.  July  18,  1805  ;  d.  Decem- 
ber 2,  1868;  and  had  issue. 
iv.  Dorothy,  b.  July  12,  1806;  d.  s.  p. 

25.  V.  Adam-Konigmacher,  h.  July  12, 1806; 

m.,  1st,  Sybil  T.  Holbrook;  m.,  2d, 

Mrs.    Mary    Jacobs;  3d,    Elizabeth 

C.  Aff'ner. 
vi.  Maria-3Iaiilda,h.  December  15,1808; 

m.  John  Andrew  Weir. 
vii.  Amelia-Snyder,h.X[iTill5,lSl3;  d.s.p. 

26.  via.  Walter-Franklin,    b.    September    13, 

1815;  m.  Louisa  C.  Heisely. 
ix.  Simon-Snyder,  b.  September  11,  1819; 
d.  June  19,  1876;  m.  Caroline  Jen- 
nings, b.   May   31,1826;  and   had 
Fanny.  , 

XHL  Samuel     Fahnestock     (Diedrick, 
Diedrick),  b.  March  16,  1764,  near  Ephrata, 
Pa.;  d.  December  8,  1836,  at  Lancaster,  Pa.; 
m.  Rebecca   Baker,  b.  September  28,  1770 ; 
d.  October  25,  1862.     They  had  issue: 
i.  Sarah,  b.  June  29,  1789. 
ii.  Diedrick,  b.  August  28,  1790;  d.  June 
9,  1860. 


DA  UriilN  CO  LTNTY. 


103 


Hi.  Mary,  b.  December  20, 1791;  d.  Marcli 
17,  1876;  m.  D.  E.  Falinestock. 

iv.  Esther,  b.  July   3,  1793;  d.   February 

20,  1877;  m.  James  Hueston. 
V.  George,  b.  December  2,  1795;  d.  Feb- 
ruary 21, 1870,  at  Philadelphia;  m. 
Catharine  S.  Cox,  and  hail  Arnold- 
Baker ;  Eliza,  m.  Joseph  Stoddard 
Mary-Ann,    m.    Henry    Stoddard 
Return- E.,   Susan,    m.    F.    Lasher 
Emma,  m.,  first,  Isaac    Ellmaker 
secondl}'.   Dr.  H.    A.  Fahnestock 
Catharine,    George,    Elizabeth-Bates, 
Louisa,  m.  Joseph  Juel,  and  Marga- 
ret, m.  Clarence  Nouse. 

vi.  William-B.,  b.  October  13,  1801 ;  m. 
Maria  Reigard,  and  had  issue. 

XIV.  Jacob  Fahnestock  (John,  Diedrick), 
b.  December  5,  17.09,  in  Cocalico  township, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  d.  May  31,  1812,  at 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. ;  m.  Salome  Fahnestock,  b. 
November  4,  1772.     They  had  issue: 

(.Elizabeth,  b.  July  29,1793;  m.,  first, 
Thomas  Tucker ;  secondly,  Sebas- 
tian Hofer. 

ii.  Samuel,  b.  March  11,  1796  ;  m.  Susan 
Baugher,  b.  December  10,  1795 ; 
d.  November,  1877,  and  had  issue. 

Hi.  Borius,  h.  August  21, 1798  ;  d.  August 
20,  1876;  m.  Sarah  Wampler,  b. 
November  17,  1797  ;  d.  August  15, 
1869,  and  had  issue. 

iv.  Jacob,  b.  January  26,  1801 ;  d.  Sep- 
tember 9,  1841,  at  Glasford,  111.  ; 
m.,  November  11, 1824,  Maria  Har- 
mon, b.  May  16,  1806,  and  had 
issue. 
V.  William,  b.  December  21,  1803. 

vi.  John,  b.  August  21,  1806. 
vii.  Rebecca,    b.  July  8,   1809  ;  m.    Rev. 

Frederick  Vandersloot. 
via.  Salome,    h.    January    31,    1813 ;    ui. 
James  S.  Fink. 

XV.  Harvey  Fahnestock  (John,  Died- 
rick), b.  March  6, 1772,  in  Cocalico  township, 
Lancaster  count}^.  Pa.;  d.  November  22, 1831, 
at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.;  m.  Elizabeth  Brindle. 
They  had  issue : 

/.  Abncr-K,  h.  October  17, 1798  ;  d.  May 
4,  1866,  at  Alton,  111.;  m.,  first,  La- 
vinia  McCarthy,  b.  February  6, 
1802  ;  d.  March  1,  1834 ;  m.,  sec- 
ondly, Matilda  Brewer,  and  had 
issue  by  both. 
ii.  Elizabeth,  b.  March  29,1803;  m.  Solo- 
mon Brand. 


Hi.  Franklin-B.,  b.  November  6, 1805;  m. 
Elizabeth  Repore;  resided  atMuncv, 
Pa. 

iv.  Henry-W.,  b.  March  8,  1813;  m., first, 
Maiy  Delluft';  secondlv,  Marie  J. 
Hall  ;  thirdly,  Mary  P.  Bigley ; 
fourthly,  Margaret  J.Matthew,  and 
had  issue  by  first  and  second  wives  ; 
resided  at  Salem,  0. 
V.  Rebecca-K.,  b.  April  8,  1814  ;  m.  Jus- 
tice A.  Ward. 

XVI.  Daniel  Fahnestock  (Daniel,  Died- 
rick), b.  February  23,  1774;  m.  Elizabeth 
Rider,  b.  1780  ;  d'.  October  25,  1829.  They 
had  issue: 

i.  Margaret,  h.  December  16,1800;  m. 
Abraham  Garrell. 

ii.  William,  b.  November  24,  1802  ;  d. 
November  22,  1877;  m.  Barbara 
Hollopter,  b.  August  11,  1810,  and 
had  issue. 

Mi.  Daniel,  h.  June  30,  1805;  d.  June  26, 
1855  ;  m.  Mary  McKaughton,  and 
left  issue. 

iv.  Samuel,   b.  September    15,    1807 ;    d. 

September  10,  1843. 
V.  John,  b.  September  15,  1807. 

vi.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  15,  1810;  m.  Luke 
McDowell. 
vii.  Ephraim,  b.  October  6,1812;  m.  Eliza 
Billingsley,  b.  1816  ;  d.  1872  ;  and 
had  issue. 
via.  Christiana,  h.  March  18, 1815  ;  m.  Sam- 
uel Hollopter. 

ix.  Ellen,  b.  July  6,  1817  ;  d.  August  20, 
1869  ;  m.  John  Gram. 

X.Joseph,  b.  June  26,  1820;  m.  Mary 
Hollopter,  b.  1822  ;  d.  1851,  at  Cov- 
ington, Ky.;  m.,  secondly,  Lydia 
Bigler. 

xi.  Benjamin,  b.  August  22, 1822  ;  d.  Jan- 
uary 14,  1854. 

XVII.  William  Fahnestock  (Daniel, 
Diedrick),  b.  1776  ;  d.  1840  ;  m.  Esther  Rider, 
b.  1770  ;  d.  1848.     They  had  issue : 

i.  Mary,  b.  1794 ;  m.  George  Tyne. 

ii.  Barbara,  b.  1796 ;  m.  Joseph  Latshaw. 

Hi.  Daniel,  b.  1798. 

iv.  William,  h.  1800  ;  d.  1877,  at  Win- 
chester, Va.;  m.  Mary  A.  Sydle,  b. 
1801 ;  and  had  issue. 

V.  Eleanor,  b.  1802 ;  m.  D.  Mumper. 

vi.  John,  b.  1804;  d.  1875;  m.  Christiana 

Kunkle,  b.  1809;  d.  1873. 
vii.  Peter,  b.  August  20,  1807  ;    d.  Novem- 


104 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


ber  7,  1866 ;  m.  Rebecca  Bender,  b. 
July  1,  1814 ,  and  had  issue. 
via.  Sanih,  h.  1810 ;  d.  s.  p. 

XVIII.  George  Fahxestock  (Benjamin, 
Died  rick),  b.  September  7,  1772,  in  Cocalico 
township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  d.  Novem- 
ber 17,  1851;  ra.,  first,  Mary  Aughenbangh. 
They  had  issue : 

i.  Elizabeth,  b.  April  20,  1797  ;  d.  July 

26,  1862;  m.  A.  Dewing. 
u.  Benjamin,  b.  July  8, 1799  ;  d.  July  11, 
1862,  at  Philadelphia ;  m.,  August 
9,  1822,  Anna  Mary  Wolf,  b.  1803, 
and  had  issue. 
iii.  John,  b.  August  1,  1801  ;  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  Burnett,  b.  January  19,  1804 ;  d.  s.  p. 
V.  Ephmim,h.  December  2,  1805;  d.  s.  p. 
George  Fahnestock  m.,  secondly,  April  19, 
19,  1808,  Mrs.   Barbara    Fisher,    of  Harris- 
burg;  no  issue. 

XIX.  John  Fahnestock  (Benjamin,  Died- 
rick),  b.  July  3,  1774 ;  d.  December  2,  1842  ; 
m.  Catharine  Wallich,  b.  February  28, 1774; 
d.  December  28,  1869.     They  had  issue : 

i.  Samuel,   b.    December   20,    1804;    d. 

April  13,  1864;  m.  Elizabeth  Hart- 

zel,  b.  December  7, 1807. 
ii.  Benjamin-  W.,  b.  September  25,  1807  ; 

m.  Annetta  S.  Haynes,  of  Newton, 

0.;  and  had  issue. 
iii.  Margaret,  b.  September  25,  1809 ;  m. 

J.  Weidner. 
iv.  William-Linn,  b.  September  30,  1813; 

m.  Isabella  Worley  ;  and  had  issue, 
■u.  James,  b.  April  30,  1816;   m.  Rachel 

A.  Worley  ;  resided  at  Versailles,  0. 

XX.  Henry  Fahnestock  (Benjamin, 
Diedrick),  b.  April  22,  1778,  in  Cocalico 
township,  Lancaster  county,  Pa. ;  d.  in 
Indiana  ;  m.  Catharine  Latshaw.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  Christiana,  b.  June   17,  1802;  m.  Dr. 

0.  Holmes. 
ii.  Juliana,  h.  January  7,  1804 ;  d.  No- 
vember 15,  1871 ;  unm. 
iii.  Jeremiah,  b.  May  11,1806;  m.,  first, 
Mary  Smith,   b.   July   7,   1805;  d. 
March  13, 1844  ;  m.,  secondly,  Eliza 
Hamilton,  b.   March   3,   1813;  re- 
sided at  Herrman,  111. 
iv.  Mary-Ann,  b.  September  6,  1808;  m. 

D.  McArthur. 
V.  Be^xjamin- Latshaw,   b.    December   16, 
1810;  ra.,  first,  Elizabeth   Houpt;_ 
secondly.  Mar}'  F.  Fahnestock  ;  re- 
sided at  Pittsburgh. 


vi.  Catharine-M.,  h.  February  29,  1813. 
vii.  Henry-G.,  b.  June  22,  1815. 
via.  Avarilla,  b.  September  5,  1818 ;  m.  S. 
Wickersham. 

XXI.  Peter  Fahnestock  (Benjamin, Died- 
rick), b.  April  15,  1784,  near  Ephrata,  Pa. ; 
d.  November  17,  1864,  at  Baltimore,  Md. ; 
m.  Mary  Fahnestock,  b.  Mav  14,  1784 ;  d. 
July  23,  1866,  at  Baltimore,  Md.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  Levi,  h.  September  3,  1807 ;  d.  July 

20,  1854  ;  m.  Sarah  Fahnestock. 
ii.  Elizabeth,   b.    December   4,  1809 ;  d. 

December  3,  1869;  unm. 
iii.  Benjamin,   h.   December  5,  ISll ;    d. 

s.  p. 
iv.  Mary-R,  b.  May  25,  1813. 
V.  Catharine,  b.  February  14,  1816. 
vi.  Joseba,  h.  December  7,  1817;  d.  Au- 
gust 5,  1849;  m.  Frederick  Haut. 
vii.  Derick,  h.  .Ju])'  25,1821;  m.  Lucinda 

Fahnestock. 
via.  Joseph-D.,  b.  November  25,  1824  ;  d. 
June  19,  1863. 

XXII.  Benjamin  Fahnestock  (Benjamin, 
Diedrick),  b.  August  18,  1787  ;  d.  Sei)tember 
4,  1842,  at  Chambersburg,  Pa.;  m.,  January 
11,  1815,  Elizabeth  L.  Smith,  b.  June  19, 
1792  ;  d.  August  8,  1868.     They  had  issue : 

i.  Anna-Mary,  b.  October  25,  1815;  m. 

November  20,  1846. 
ii.  Ale.mnder,  b.  May  26, 1817. 
Hi.  Daniel-Smith,  b.  October  22,  1818 ;  d. 
November  10,  1877,  at  Chambers- 
burg, Pa. ;  m.  Rebecca  M.  Koons. 
iv.  Catharine-H.,  b.  July  11,  1820;  m.  G. 

W.  Heagy. 
v.  Elizabeth,  b.  September  4,  1821. 
vi.  Augustus-B.,  b.  July  3,  1823;  m.  Eliza 

Nicholas,  and  had  issue. 
vii.  Matilda-K,  b.  July  22,  1825 ;  m.  John 

Stoner. 
viii.  William-Henry,  b.  October  4,  1828. 
ix.  Sarah- Ann,  b.  October  13, 1831 ;  d.s.  p. 

XXIII.  Diedrick  Fahnestock  (Borius, 
Diedrick),  b.  October  20,  1775,  in  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.;  d.  February  3,  1824  ;  m.  Sarah 
Deardorf,  b.  Februarv  1, 1777  ;  d.  September 
9,  1864.     They  had  issue : 

i.  Elizabeth,  b.  December  15,1799;  m. 
Lot  Ensey. 

ii.  Jessie,  h.  November  2,  1801 ;  d.  April 
16,  1862. 

iii.  Lewis,  b.  January  8,  1803 ;  d.  s.  p. 

iv.  Matilda,  h.  February  7, 1805  ;  m.  Dan- 
iel Kemp. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


105 


V.  Alfred,  b.  February  7, 1807;  m.,  first, 
Eleanor  A.  Strider,  b.  April  5, 1813; 
d.  September  20, 1869 ;  m.,  secondly, 
Margaret  D.  Snyder,  and  had  issue. 
Resided  at  Toledo,  0. 
iv.  Christian-D.,  b.  January  9,  1809 ;  d. 
December  6,  1834;  m.  Priscilla  A. 
Aj'res. 
vii.  Sarah-Ann,  b.  December  29,  1810;  d. 

August  IG,  1866;  unm. 
via.  Joseph,,  b.  October,  1812;  d.  s.  p. 
ix.  Franklin,  b.  October  13,  1813;  d.  Au- 
gust 20, 1869 ;  m.  Mary  Ann  Jacobs, 
and  had  issue. 

XXIV.  Daniel  Enders  Fahnestock  (Bo- 
nus, Diedrick),  b.  January  6,1800;  d.  Sep- 
tember 29,  1851 ;  m.  Mary  Fahnestock,  b. 
December  20, 1791 ;  d.  March  17, 1876.  They 
had  issue. 

i.  Adam-Haughton,  b.  January  15, 1821 ; 

d.  s.  p. 
a.  Edward,  b.  January  1,  1822;  m.  Mar- 
tha W.  Davis. 
Hi.  Lucinda,  b.  December  31,   1823;    m. 

Derick  Fahnestock. 
iv.  Elizabeth- Mary,  b.  January  28,  1826 ; 

d.  s.  p. 

V.  Charles-Barber,  h.  April  28,  1828  ;  m., 

July  29,  1851,  Josephine  Berkhart. 

vi.  Arthur- Aug uslus,  b.  January  30, 1830; 

d.    November  28,  1860  ;    m.  Susan 

Davis,  and  had  issue. 

vii.  George-Washington,  b.  September   27, 

1832 ;  m.,  December  14, 1858,  Phoebe 

A.  Pierce ;  resides  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

XXV.  Adam  Konigmacher  Fahnestock 
(Obed,  Peter,  Diedrick),  b.  July  12,  1806,  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where  he  d.  in  1890 ; 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  borough 
and  at  the  academy  at  Lititz ;  was  brought 
up  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  for  many 
3'ears  carried  on  brick-making  extensively  ; 
was  also  engaged  in  the  hardware  business 
about  fifteen  years,  and  in  1833  established  a 
glue  manufactory  at  Harrisburg,  which  he 
successfully  carried  on  for  several  years. 
Mr.  Fahnestock  was  thrice  married  ;  m.,  first, 
in  1834,  Sybil  T.  Holbrook,  b.  December  11, 
1811 ;  d.  January  18, 1851.     They  had  issue : 

i.  Harris- C,  h.  February  27, 1835  ;  a  dis- 
tinguished banker,  residing  in  the 
city  of  New  York;  m.,  October  16, 
185G,  Margaret  McKinlej',  daughter 
of  Isaac  Gibson  McKinlej',  and 
they  had  issue: 

1.  William,  b.  September  2,  1857. 


2.  Gibson,  b.  February  21,  1859. 

3.  Margaret,  b.  April  13,  1867;  d. 

S.p. 

4.  Harris,  b.  September  21,  1869. 

5.  Helen,  b.  April  24,  1872. 

6.  Clarence,  h.  December  4,  1873. 

7.  Earnest,  b.  January  27,  1876. 
ii.  Holbrook,  b.  September  6,  1836 ;  d. 

December  31,  1838. 
Hi.  A. -Morris,  b.  January  28,  1838;  m., 
first,     February    18,    1866,    Sallie 
Webb,  b.  March  21,  1846;  d.  Oc- 
tober 2,  1871,  and  had  issue  : 

1.  Harris-  Webb,  b.  March  6, 1867. 

2.  Richie-Thomas,h.  Apr.  15, 1868. 

3.  Edivard- Morris,   h.    September 

6,  1871. 
He  m.,  secondly,  Rebecca  B.  Thomp- 
son, b.  January  19,  1848,  and  they 
had  issue: 

4.  Maria-Bland,  h.  November  28, 

1873. 
iv.  James,  b.  October  3,  1839 ;  d.  March 

17,  1858. 
V.  Sybil-Amelia,  h.  January  1,  1842  ;  m. 
T.  H.  Hubbard,  of  New  York  city, 
and  had  issue. 
vi.  Charles-A.,  b.  April  17,  1844. 
vii.  Wallace- Weir,   b.  January  18,  1846; 
m.,  October  12,  1871,  Mary  K.  Nut- 
ting, and  had   Edith,    Wallace,  and 
Arthur -Knight, 
via.  Louis-F.,  b.  August  26,  1848  ;  m.,  Oc- 
tober  21,   1873,    Grace    Zeigler,  b. 
November  1,  1850,  and   had   Louis 
and  Adam-Bruce. 
Mr.  Fahnestock    m.,   secondly,  1855,  Mrs. 
Mary  Jacobs,  b.  July  6, 1805  ;  d.  February  7 
1857  ;  m.,  thirdly,  1869,  Elizabeth  C.  Affner, 
b.  June  6,  1821. 

XXVI.  Walter  Franklin  Fahnestock 
(Obed,  Peter,  Diedrick),  b.  September  13, 
1815  ;  d.  1893  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  m.,  March 
19,  1839,  Louisa  C.  Heisely,  b.  December  24, 
1817,  daughter  of  George  J.  Heisely,  and 
they  had  issue : 

i.  Hannah- Mahany,\).  Maj'  19,1840  ;  m. 
John    C.    Harvey,   and    they    had 
issue. 
ii.  Louisa-C,  b.  August  3,  1842. 
Hi.  Walter-Franklin,  b.  October  8,  1844 ; 

d.  May  19,  1879. 
iv.  George,  b.  October  3,  1846  ;  d.  July 

19,  1869. 
V.  Harry-C,  h.  April  12,  1849;  d.  Janu- 
ary 10,  1851. 


106 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


vi.  William-M.,  b.  February  3,  1851  ;  m., 

June  19,  1819,  Carrie  Achenbach, 

and  bad  John-Harvey, 
vii.  Alice-E.,  b.   November   18,  1852;    d. 

November  26,  1856. 
viii.  Anna-M.,  b.  November  19,  1855 ;   d. 

June  26,  1862. 
ix.  Frank-G.,  b.  September  29,  1857^ 
X.  James-Weir,  b.  September  29,  1859. 
xi.  Edward-E.,  b.  May  5,  1862 ;  d.  May 

23,  1862. 


The  Fettekhoff  Family. 

I.  Frederick  Fetterhopf,  b.  August  6, 
1765,  in  now  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  where 
his  parents  were  early  settlers;  d.  July  16, 
1837,  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.  He  removed  with  his  family  to  then 
Halifax  township  in  1803;  m.  Susanna 
Heckerd,  b.  June  25, 1768;  d.  June  28, 1831, 
in  Jackson  township,  and  with  most  of  his 
familv  buried  in  the  Fetterhoff  church  grave- 
yard.' They  had  issue,  besides  three  chil- 
dren died  voung : 

2.  i.  Philip,  b.  September  2,  1788  ;   ra.  Eve 

Boyer. 

3.  a.  John,  b.  October  12,  1790 ;  m.,  first, 

Elizabeth  Snyder;  secondly,  Katha- 
rine Harris. 

4.  Hi.  Gcorge,h.  May  3, 1795  ;  m.  Mary  Zim- 

merman. 
n.  Philip  Fetterhoff  (Frederick),  b. 
September  2,  1788,  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.; 
d.  September  4,  1833,  in  Jackson  townshi[), 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.;  m.  Eve  Boyer,  b.  June 
27,  1792;  d.  January  11,  1839.  They  had 
issue : 

i.John,   b.  July    19,   1812;    resided   at 

Fisherville. 
a.  Susanna,  h.  July  20,  1813;  m.  Henry 

Will  vert. 
Hi.  Elizabeth,  b.   November  19,  1815 ;  d. 

June  7,  1860;  m.  John  Faber. 
iv.  Polly,  b.  1817 ;  m.  Henry  Hoover. 
III.  John  Fetterhoff  (Frederick),  b. 
October  12,  1790,  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.; 
d.  June  27,  1829,  in  Jackson  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.;  m.,  first,  Elizabeth  Snyder, 
and  there  was  issue : 

i.  Susanna,    h.    March    23,    1814 ;     m. 
George  Enders. 
He  m..  secondly ,  Katharine  Haines,  b.  June 
18,  1791 ;  d.  December   6,  1862 ;  and    there 
was  issue : 


ii.  H Elmira,  b.  January  15,  1817  ; 

d.  March  30,  1875 ;    m.,  December 
10,  1835,  John  Shepley. 

IV.  George  Fetterhoff  (Frederick),  b. 
May,  3,  1795,  in   Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  d. 
March  IG,  1862,  in  Jackson  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.;   m.  Mary  Zimmerman,  b. 
March  5,  1798  ;  d.  August  1,  18G3;  daughter 
of  Christian  Zimmerman.     They  had  issue: 
i.  Joseph,  b.  April,  1816. 
ii.  Catharine,  h.  October,  1819. 
Hi.  Samuel,  b.  February  26,  1821 ;  d.  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1866. 
iv.  Mary,  b.  April  7,  1828 ;  d.  October  14, 

1877. 
V.  Philip,  b.  November  3,  1825. 
vi.  Susatma,  b.  1827. 
vii.  Margaret,  b.  1830. 
vvvi.  Abhy,  b.  April  28, 1833. 


Fox  Family  of  Derry. 

I.  John  Fox,  a  native  of  the  county  Dev- 
onshire, England,  where  he  was  born  in  the 
year  1751,  came  to  America  when  a  young 
man,  and  settled  first  at  Germantown  in  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania.  There  he  mar- 
ried Anna  Margaret  Rupert,  b.  December 
14,  1756,  in  Holland.  Shortly  after,  in 
1799,  they  settled  in  what  was  then  London- 
derry township,  Lancaster  county,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Hummelstown.  Mr.  Fox 
died  April  25,  1816,  and  his  wife  on  the  21st 
of  October,  1838.  Both  were  interred  in  the 
Lutheran  churchyard  at  Hummelstown. 
Tliey  had  issue : 

2.  i.  John,   b.   June    10,    1780 ;  m.   Sarah 

Shonberger. 

3.  ii.  Margaret,  h.  11^2;  m.  John   Phillips. 

4.  ni.  Thomas,  h.  November    4,   1786;    ra. 

Barbara  Baum. 

5.  iv.  George,   h.    December   17,    1788 ;    m. 

Elizabeth  Eshenauer. 

6.  V.  James,  h.  1794  ;  ra.  Sophia  Bayle. 
vi.  Richard,  h.  February  9,  1799,  in  Lon- 
donderry township,  Dauphin 
county, 'Pa.;  d.  July  1,  1827;  m. 
Rachel  Hummel,  b.  November  24, 
1799;  d.  September  27,  1867; 
daughter  of  Frederick  Hummel 
and  Rachel  Eckert ;  no  issue. 

II.  John  Fox  (John),  b.  June  10,  1780,  in 
then  Londonderry  township,  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.;  d.  Jufy  19,  1853.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  country  schools  of  the  neigh- 


c/j  <•  C/'2^^^?^K-/'^»1_  <>/ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


109 


borhood,  and  i,i  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
became  quite  ))rominent  and  influential  in 
the  political  affairs  of  the  county,  and  served 
as  a  member  of  tlie  House  of  Representatives 
of  Pennsylvania  from  1831  to  1833.  He 
filled  the  office  of  sheriff  from  October  14, 
1833,  to  October  21,  1836,  and  again  from 
October  19, 1839,  to  October  24, 1S42.  Apart 
from  these  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  he 
served  his  neighbors  in  the  various  town- 
ship offices  with  fidelity.  He  was  a  repre- 
sentative man,  not  only  of  his  familj*  but  of 
the  count}',  a  faithful  officer,  of  strict  integ- 
rity, upright  and  conscientious  in  all  his 
relations  with  his  fellow  citizens.  Mr.  Fox 
m.,  November  29,  1804,  Sarah  Shonberger, 
b.  November  4,  1785;  d.  October  8,  186G. 
They  had  issue : 

i.  John,  b.  1805. 

ii.  Liberty,  b.  1807  ;    m.  Mary  Ann  Hag- 
gertv,  of  Philadelphia,   b.  Novem- 
ber 29,  1817  ;  d.  May  26,  1857,  and 
had  one  son. 
Hi.  Margaret,  b.  1809;  m.  Henry  Orth. 

in.  M.\RGARET     Fox     (John),    b.    1782, 
in  then    Londonderr}'  township,  Lancaster 
county.   Pa.;  d.  at  Hummelstown,  Pa.     She 
m.,  August  20,   1807,  John  Phillips,  b.  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1786  ;  d.  July  11,  1855,  at  Hum- 
melstown,   Pa.,   and    with    his    wife    there 
buried.     He  was  a  gentleman  of  erudition, 
an   eminent  school  teacher,  and  of  consid- 
erable prominence.     They   had    issue  (sur- 
name Phillips): 
i.  Horace, 
ii.  Mary. 
Hi.  John, 
iv.  Harriet. 
V.  Margaret. 

IV.  Thomas   Fox  (.John),  b.  November  4, 
1786,  near  Hummelstown,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa. ;  d.  there  October  25, 1824.     He  m.,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1808,  Barbara  Baura,  b.  January  8, 
1780,  in   then  Londonderry   township,  Lan- 
caster   county.    Pa.;    d.    January  3,   1833; 
daughter   of    Daniel    Baum    and  his    wife 
Catharine  Fishburu.     The}'  had  issue : 
i.  Catharine,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  Alfred,  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  Louisa,  d.  s.  p. 

iv.  Margaret,  b.  1814  ;  m.  Dr.  Adam  Shel- 
lar,  b.  Januar}',  1808 ;  d.  November, 
1882 ;  son  of  Christian  and  Margaret 
Shellar,  of  Rapho  township,  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa. ;  studied  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Henderson,  of  Hum- 


melstown, and  graduated  from  the 
Reform  Medical  College  at  New 
York  in  1830  ;  located  in  Mt.  Joy  ; 
was  higlily  esteemed  by  the  i)rofes- 
sion  and  secured  an  extensive  prac- 
tice. 
V.  Thomas-Evans,  h.  July  2,  1816 ;  d. 
March  3,  1851 ;  m.  Mary  L.  Ricker, 
adopted  daughter  of  Frederick 
Ricker,  b.  1821  ;  d.  February  9, 
1868,  and  had  issue. 
vi.  John-AIichael,  b.  1818 ;  m.  Harriet 
Carson,  and  had  issue. 

V.  George  Fox  (John),  b.  December  17, 
1788,  in  then  Londonderry  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.;  d.  August  25, 1855.  He  m. 
Elizabeth  Eshenauer,  b.  December  3,  1794; 
d.  April  8,1862;  daughter  of  Caspar  and 
Mary  Eshenauer.     They  had  issue : 

7.  i.  Richard,    m.,    first,    Anna     Patten ; 

secondly,  Adelaide  Hynicka. 

8.  ii.  John-E.,  m.,  first,  Mary  Boggs;   sec- 

ondly, Caroline  Boggs. 
Hi.  George,  d.  s.  p. 

iv.  James,  b.  1820 ;  d.  February  28, 1858. 
V.  Abner,  m.  Louisa  Shepherd. 

9.  vi.  Thomas- George,  m.  Diana  Hershey. 

VI.  James  Fox  (John),  b.  1794,  in 
then  Londonderry  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.;  d.  September  25, 1843,  in  Hum- 
melstown, Pa.  He  m.  Sophia  Bayle,  b. 
1804;  d.  March  6,  1844,  in  Hummelstown, 
l*a.     They  had  issue : 

i.  William. 

ii.  Margaret,  m.  Michael  Longenecker. 
Hi.  Jolin-Thomas. 
iv.  A7in,  m.  John  H.  Hummel. 

VII.  Richard  Fox  (George,  John).  Mr. 
Fox  was  twice  married ;  m.,  first.  Anna 
Patton.     They  had  issue : 

i.  William, 
ii.  George. 
He     m.,    secondly,     Adelaide    Hynicka, 
daughter  of  Christoj^iier  Coal  Hynicka  and 
Mary  Ann  Rohm.     They  had  issue: 
i.  Anna. 
ii.  May. 
Hi.  Richard- V. 
iv.  Elizabeth. 

VIII.  John  E.  Fox  (George,  John),  b. 
in  Hummelstown,  Pa.;  d.  February  17, 1880, 
in  Philadelphia.  He  was  a  native  of  Hum- 
melstown, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Gettysburg  College.  He 
went   to  Philadelphia  when  a  young  man. 


110 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


and  was  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Eagle 
Transportation  and  Railroad  Line,  at  Eighth 
and  Market  streets.  In  1843  he  commenced 
business  as  a  stock  broker  on  Third  street, 
below  Market,  and  remained  in  the  same 
neighborhood  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
A  daughter  became  the  wife  of  John  H. 
Weiss,  of  Harrisburg. 

IX.  Thomas  George  Fox  (George,  John), 
m.  and  had  issue : 

i.  Dr.  L.-  Webster,  who  graduated  at  Jef- 
ferson Medical  College,  Philadel- 
phia, and  completed  his  medical 
studies  in  Berlin,  Vienna,  and  Lon- 
don. 
a.  Elizabeth. 

Hi.  James-G.,  married  Emma  Strickler. 
iv.  John-E. 
V.  Ada. 
vi.  Mary. 
vii.  Caroline, 
via.  George-H. 


Geddes,  of  Derry. 

I.  James  Geddes,  born  the  year  1704, 
near  Randallstown,  county  Antrim,  Ireland, 
emigrated  to  America,  landing  in  August, 
1752,  with  his  wife  Margaret  and  three  sons. 
He  died  in  1764 ;  and  his  wi^e,  born  in  1699, 
died  1783 ;  and  with  her  husband  lies  buried 
in  old  Derry  church  graveyard.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  Paul,  b.  17o'2,  in  Ireland ;  d.  May  25, 
1814,  in  Northumberland  Pa. ;  he 
removed  to  what  was  subsequently 
Turbut  township,  now  Chillisqua- 
que  township,  that  county,  about 
1765  ;  was  quite  active  during  the 
Revolution,  and  a  member  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  for  Northum- 
berland. 
2.  ii.  William,  b.  1735;  m.  Sarah  McCallen. 
Hi.  Samuel,  b.  1739,  in  Ireland;  d.  in  1788. 

II.  William  Geddes  (James),  b.  1735  in 
Ireland  ;  came  to  America  with  his  father's 
family  in  1752  ;  his  farm  was  located  six 
miles  west  of  Harrisburg  in  Cumberland 
county,  on  which  he  died  in  1789.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  McCallen,  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  McCallen,  b.  in  1733;  d.  1773,  in  Lon- 
donderry township ;  both  buried  in  Derry 
churchyard.     Thej-  had  issue : 

i.  James,  b.  July  22, 1763  ;  d.  August  19, 


1838,  in  Onondago  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  resided  and  left  a  family. 

ii.  Margaret,  b.  December  31,  1764;  d. 
in  1818,  near  Fannettsburg,  Frank- 
lin county.  Pa. 

Hi.  John,  b.  August  16,  1766  ;  d.  Decem- 
ber 5, 1840,  near  Newville,  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa. 

iv.  Paul,  b.  June  9,  1768 ;  d.  October  22, 
1832,  in  Path  Valley,  Franklin 
count}',  Pa.,  where  he  resided  and 
left  a  family. 

3.  V.Robert,  b.   September   30,   1771;   m., 

first,  Jane  Sawyer;  secondly,  Mrs. 
Martha  McClure. 

III.  Robert  Geddes  (William,  James),  b. 
September  30,  1771,  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, then  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  He  inher- 
ited the  farm  of  his  mother's  brother,  Robert 
McCallen,  situated  near  Campbellstown, 
Lebanon  county.  Pa.  He  died  July  14, 
1832,  and  is  buried  in  the  grave  of  his  grand- 
mother, Sarah  McCallen,  in  Derry  church- 
yard. He  m.,  first,  March  2,  1797,  by  Rev. 
James  R.  Sharon,  Jane  Sawyer,  daughter  of 
John  Sawver,  b.  Mav  25, 1770;  d.  November 
29,   1803.^  They    had  issue: 

i.  Robert,    b.    December    11,    1797;    d. 

March  11,  1866. 
ii.  Sarah,  b.  July  10,  1799 ;  d.  August 
25,  1819. 

4.  Hi.  John,  h.  March  19,  1801  ;  resided  in 

Ypsilanti,  Mich. 
iv.  William,  b.    December   28,    1802 ;  d. 
May  21,  1877;   removed   in   1844 
from   Pennsylvania   to    Michigan, 
where  he  died. 
V.  Jane,  b.  August,  1804  ;  d.  February  8, 

1882. 
vi.  Isabella,   b.  September  17,    1806 ;  d. 
November  21,  1834. 
Robert  Geddes  m.,   secondly,  March    22, 
1810,  Mrs.  Martha  McClure,  and  they  had 
issue : 

vii.  James,  b.  December  12,  1810 ;  m.  and 

resided  near  Decatur,  Macon  county, 

111. 

via.  TJiomas,  h.   September   10,    1812;    d. 

May  6, 1837. 

ix.  Agrippa,   h.  September   31,   1814;  d. 

December  25,  1849. 
X.  An7ia,  b.  July,  1818. 

IV.  JoHX  Geddes  (Robert,  William, 
James),  b.  March  19,  1801,  in  now  London- 
derry township,  Lebanon  county,  Pa.  In 
company  with  his  brother  Robert,   he  left 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


Ill 


Pennsylvania  April  19,  1825,  arriving  in 
Ann  Harbor,  Mich.,  May  11,  1825.  John 
resided  at  Ypsilanti,  Mich.  He  m.,  first, 
April  6,  1837,  Fanny  Savage;  b.  February 
19,1806,  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.;  d.  Decem- 
ber 6, 1855,  and  there  was  issue  : 
i.  John,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  Sarah,  m.  and  had  two  sons  and  three 

daughters. 
Hi.  Rachel,  m.,  but  had  no  children. 
John   Geddes   m.,   secondly,   Julia    Ettie 
Savage,  a  sister  to  his  first  wife,  b.  July  22, 
1800  ;  d.  August  18,  1883. 


The  Geigee  Family. 

1.  Barnhart  (or  Bernard)  Geiger,  Sr., 
was  born  in  1748.  His  ancestors  were 
Brandenburgers  and  lived  at  Frankford  on 
Oder.  His  father  and  brothers  were  in  the 
military  service,  several  of  whom  fell  at 
Zorndorf.  Bernard  was  a  conscript  in  King 
Frederick's  army  and  served  seven  years, 
but  ran  away  to  escape  the  barbarity  of  the 
discipline  of  the  Prussian  service,  and 
reached  America  in  1773.  He  entered  the 
American  army  in  1776,  and  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Monmouth,  Brandywine,  Ger- 
mantown,  and  several  minor  skirmishes,  be- 
ing mustered  out  of  service  in  1779.  At  the 
close  of  the  Revolution  he  removed  to  Reams- 
town,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  from  whence 
he  came  to  Harrisburg  in  April,  1788.  There 
he  engaged  in  blacksmithing.  He  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at 
that  place,  and  an  enterprising  citizen.  He 
died  July  16,  1811.  Mr.  Geiger  married,  in 
1779,  Mary  Sraitli,  a  native  of  Darmstadt,  in 
Hesse.  She  died  at  Harrisburg,  July  19, 
1840.  They  had  issue,  all  save  the  youngest 
born  at  Reamstown  : 

2.  i.  John,  b.  February  18,  1780 ;  m.  Mary 

Shoch. 
ii.  George,  b.  April  21,  1782;  d.  Septem- 
ber 6,  1853,  at  Harrisburg;  learned 
the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  with  his 
father,   and    afterwards    opened   a 
store    in    Market   Square,    second 
door  from   the   Harrisburg    Bank, 
which  he  continued  in  partnership 
with  his  brothers  Joseph  and  Ber- 
nard for  many  years.     He  died  un- 
married. 
3.    Hi.  Joseph,  b.   December  27,   1784 ;    m. 
Sarah  Rupley. 
iv.Mary,h.  1786;  m.  Michael  Walters, 


of  Limestone,  Clarion  county,  Pa., 
nothing  further  is  known  of  tliem. 
V.Susanna,  b.  December  3,  1787;  d. 
March  30,  1820,  at  Orangeville, 
Columbia  county.  Pa.;  m.  Andrew 
Crouse. 

4.  vi.  Bernard,   h.    October    27,    1795 ;    m. 

Charlotte   Lewis. 

n.  John  Geiger  (Bernard),  b.  Februaiy 
18,  1780,  at  Reamstown,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.;  d.  July  11, 1864,  at  Harrisburg;  he  was 
a  prominent  merchant  there  many  years;  m., 
in  1807,  Mary  Shoch,  b.  April  1,'  1788;  d. 
August  4,  1855 ;  daughter  of  John  Shoch 
and  Salome  Gilbert.     They  had  issue : 

5.  i.  Sarah,  b.  October  31, 1808;  m.  James 

Wilson. 

6.  ii.  George,  b.  January  27,  1811 ;  m.  Re- 

becca McGrath. 
Hi.  John-Bernard,  b.  November  30,  1812; 
d.  July  24,  1825. 
7     iv.  Mary-R,  b.  October  21, 1814 ;  m.  Israel 
Steel. 
V.  Amanda- E.,   h.   August   1,   1816;    d. 
November  17,  1845,  unm. 

8.  vi.  Joseph-H.,  b.  November  11,  1817  ;  m., 

first,  Eliza  Ingram ;   m.,  secondly, 
Mary  Stewart ;  thirdly,  Sarah  But- 
terfield. 
vii.  Samuel-Shoch,  b.  June  7, 1819  ;  d.  Octo- 
ber 30,  1839. 

9.  via.  Malvina-L.,  h.   November   16,   1821 ; 

m.  Samuel  D.  Ingram. 

III.  Joseph  Geiger  (Bernard),  b.  Decem- 
ber 27,  1784,  at  Reamstown,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa. ;  d.  January  4,  1872,  at  Halifax, 
Pa. ;  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  with 
his  father,  and  subsequently  became  a  mer- 
chant at  Harrisburg.  In  1821  removed  to 
his  farm  on  the  site  of  old  Fort  Halifax,  and 
in  1828  to  the  borough  of  Halifax,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death.  He  married,  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1819,  Sarah  Rupley,  b.  February 
16, 1801,  in  East  Pennsboro' township,  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa. ;  d.  October  25, 1859,  at 
Halifax,  Pa. ;  daughter  of  Jacob  Rupley  and 
Anna  Maria  Rupp.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Bernard,  b.  March   21,  1820;  d.  Sep- 
tember 3,  1820. 

10.  ii.  Hiram- Rupley,  b.   January  24,  1822, 

m.  Elizabeth  K.  Blattenberger. 

11.  Hi.  Sarah-Louisa,  b.  September  5,  1826; 

m.  Rev.  William  L.  Gray. 
iv.  Mary-Ellen,  b.  August  25,  1831 ;    d. 
January  3,  1833. 
V.  Rebecca- Emily,  b.  April  16,  1834;  re- 


112 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


sided  in  the  old  homestead  at  Hali- 
fax. 

IV.  Bern.^rd  Geiger  (Bernard),  b.  Octo- 
ber 27,  1795,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. ;  d.  May  30, 
1841;  was  a  merchant  at  Harrisburg ;  m. 
Charlotte  Lewis,  of  Harrisburg,  b.  March  6, 
1805;   d.    November  19,   1832.     They    had 

ISSIIG  '. 

i.  Louim,  b.  1828  ;  d.  March  2, 1849 ;  m. 
Daniel  Eppley,  of  Harrisburg,  and 
had  Minnie,  b.  August,  1847 ;  d. 
1867,  at  East  Liberty,  Pa. ;  m.  Wal- 
ter Fahnestock,  of  Pittsburgh. 

12.  ii.  Annie- Maria,   b.    1830;  m.  David  J. 

Linger. 

13.  lu.  CIiarlotie-Elizabeth,  h.l8S3;  m.  Alex- 

ander Roberts. 

V.  Sarah  Geiger  (John,  Bernard),  b. 
October  31,  1808,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  d.  Jan- 
uary 27,  1842  ;  m.,  December  22, 1831,  James 
Wil.son,  Jr.,  of  Philadelphia.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  John-Geiger,  resides  in  Philadelphia. 
ii.  James. 
Hi.  Sarah-E.,  resides  in  Harrisburg. 

VI.  George  Geiger  (John,  Bernard),  b. 
January  27,  1811,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  was  a 
merchant  of  Topeka,  Kan.;  m.  Rebecca 
McGrath,  of  Martin's  Ferry,  Ohio.  They 
had  issue : 

i.  John,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  George,  d.  s.  p. 

Hi.  Mary,  m. Lee,  of  Kansas  City, 

Mo. 
iv.  Fannie,  m.  Thomson,  of  To- 
peka. 
V.  Malvina,m. Rodgers,  of  Topeka. 

VII.  Mary  R.  Geiger  (John,  Bernard),  b. 
October  21,  1814,  at  Harrisburg  ;  d.  January 
17,  1848;  m.,  1833,  Israel  Steel.     They  had 

ISSUG  '. 

i.  Annie-C,  b.  July  26,  1834;  m.  Elias 
J.  Unger ;  reside  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

VIII.  Joseph  H.  Geiger  (John,  Bernard), 
b.  November  11,  1817,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.; 
removed  to  Columbus,  0.;  was  attorney  gen- 
eral of  that  State,  and  then  State  librarian  ; 
was  thrice  married;  first,  Eliza  Ingram,  of 
West  Chester,  Pa.,  and  there  was  is.sue: 

i.  Eliza-Ingrain,  resides  in  Washington, 
D.  C. 
He  m.,  secondly,  Mary  Stewart,  of  Colum- 
bus, 0.,  and  had : 

ii.  Lydia-L,  m.  Milne,  of   West 

Virginia. 


Hi.  Ruth. 

He  m.,  thirdly,  Sarah  Butterfield,  a  native 
of  New  England. 

IX.  Malvina  L.  Geiger  (John,  Bernard), 
b.  November  16,  1821,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  re- 
sides at  Harrisburg ;  m.,  January  1,  1843, 
Samuel  D.  Ingram,  and  had  issue : 

i.  John-Geiger,  b.  October  21,  1843,  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.;  d.  October  8,  1877  ; 
was  for  several  years  attached  to 
the  reportorial  staff  at  the  capital  of 
the  State,  and  local  editor  of  the 
Telegraph.  "Affable  in  his  manners, 
gentlemanly  in  his  bearing,  scrupu- 
lously truthful  in  his  official  ca- 
pacity, he  won  during  his  brief  ca- 
reer as  a  journalist  the  warm  ad- 
miration of  a  host  of  friends."  Mr. 
Ingram  m.  Clara  V.  Kosure,  and  left 
one  son. 

X.  Hiram  Rupley  Geiger  (Joseph,  Ber- 
nard), b.  January  24, 1822,  near  Hahfax,Pa.; 
drowned  in  the  Juniata,  near  Lewistown,  Pa., 
June  29, 1849;  m.,  January  20,  1846,  Eliza- 
beth K.  Blattenberger,  b.  September  4,  1826, 
at  Mt.  Patrick,  Perry  county.  Pa.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  George,  b.  December  16, 1846,  at  Liver- 
pool, Perry  county.  Pa.;  entered  the 
United  States  army  (regulars)  dur- 
ing the  rebellion,  and  rose  to  the 
rank  of  captain  of  infantry;  was 
killed  in  the  charge  on  the  fort  at 
Blakely  Landing  near  Mobile,  Ala., 
April  9,  1865. 

XI.  Sarah  Louisa  Geiger  (Joseph,  Ber- 
nard), b.  September  5,  1826,  near  Halifax- 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.;  m.  Rev.  William  L 
Gray,  b.  Noveniber  8,  1821,  in  Cumberland 
county,  N.  J.;  son  of  George  Frederick  Gray 
and  Martha  Smith ;  a  member  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  now  (1883)  stationed  at  First 
M.  E.  church,  Norristown,  Pa.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  Hiram- Geiger,  b.  June  16,  1845,  at 
Fort  Hunter,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.; 
d.  December  16,  1865,  at  Philadel- 
phia. 

ii.  WiUiam-Bowen,  b.  November  11. 1847, 
at  Georgetown  X  Roads  (now  Ga- 
lena), Kent  county,  Md.;  resides  at 
Halifax,  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
Hi.  Joseph- Downing,  b.  March  22, 1849,  at 
Galena,  Kent  county,  Md. 

iv.  Charles- Brindle,  b.  February  15,  1851, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


113 


at  Fulton  House,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa. 
V.  Sarah-Martha,  b.  December  1,  1852,  at 
Pbiladelpbia ;  d.  March  IS,  1878,  at 
Easton,  Pa. 
vi.  Harriet- Rebecca,  b.  April  13,  1855,  at 

Milford,  Pa. 
vii.  John-Milne,   b.    October   3,    1857,   at 
Pottsville,  Pa. 
via.  Robert- Chctmber lain,    b.    October    18, 
1859,  at  Manayunk,  Pa. 
ix.  George- Edward,  b.  April  28,  1863,  at 
Manayunk,  Pa.;  d.  March  3,  18G5, 
at  Heading. 

XII.  Annie  Maria  Geiger  (Bernard, 
Bernard),  b.  1830,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  d. 
December  12,1862;  m.,  in  1848,  David  J. 
Unger ;  was  a  merchant  at  Harrisburg;  was 
lieutenant  of  the  Cameron  Guards  and 
served  in  the  war  with  Mexico.  Tliej'  had 
issue : 

i.  Charlotte,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  George,  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  John-Kunkel,  d.  s.  p. 

XIII.  Charlotte  Elizabeth  Geiger 
(Bernard,  Bernard),  b.  November  19,  1832, 
at  Harrisburg;  d.  May  2,  1863;  ra.  Alexan- 
der Roberts,  a  civil  engineer  of  Harrisburg; 
and  they  liad  issue  : 

i.  John-Bernard, 
ii.  Alexander. 
Hi.  James. 
iv.  George. 


The  Harris  Family  of  Derry. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  this  locality 
was  William  Harri.s,  a  native  of  England, 
and  no  doubt  related  to  John  Harris,  the 
pioneer  of  Harris'  Ferry.  He  settled  on  the 
Swatara  one  and  one-half  miles  above  Mid- 
dletown.  He  was  born  in  1701  and  died  on 
the  4th  of  April,  1754.  His  wife  was  Catha- 
rine Douglass,  of  the  family  of  Sir  Robert 
Douglass,  of  Scotland,  born  in  1709,  dying 
August  7,  1780,  aged  71  years.  William 
Harris  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  old  Derry 
graveyard.  The  record  of  the  children  of 
these  pioneers,  as  copied  from  an  old  Bible, 
marked  "  .James  Harris,  his  Book,"  reads  as 
follows : 

2.  "  James  Harris  wass  born  the  16th  of 
January,  being  Friday,  1739. 

"  Sarah  Harris  wass  born  the  20th  day  of 
March,  it  being  Saturday,  1741. 


"John  Harris  wass  born  November  the 
20th,  it  being  Friday,  1746. 

"  William  Harris  wass  born  November  the 
20th,  it  being  Wednesday,  1749. 

"  Mary  Harris  wass  born  July  the  22d,  it 
being  Thursday,  1752." 

There  appears  to  have  been  another  entry 
in  1753,  but  it  is  illegible.  As  the  youngest 
son,  Robert,  was  born  that  year  it  was  evi- 
dently his  birth  record. 

William  Harris  died  the  year  after  (1754). 
A  distribution  of  his  estate  was  not  made, 
however,  until  1763,  wiien,  on  the  6th  of 
September,  the  Orphans'  Court,  held  at  Lan- 
caster, directed  the  following : 

"  To  Catharine  Harris,  widow  of  the  de- 
ceased, the  interest  of  one-third,  in  lieu  of 
her  dower  ;  James,  the  eldest  son,  one-third 
as  tiie  remainder,  or  two  shares  ;  while  the 
other  children — Sarah,  John,  Mar}',  and 
Robert — were  to  receive  one  share ;  the 
dower  to  be  divided  among  the  same  upon 
the  decease  of  the  widow.  The  personal 
property  was  also  distributed  in  the  same 
proportion,  and  their  uncle  James  Harris, 
was  appointed  guardian  of  Robert,  Mary, 
and  John. 

Robert  Harris,  the  youngest  child,  studied 
medicine  and  served  as  a  surgeon  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Line  during  the  Revolution. 
He  was  a  valuable  officer  and  highly  es- 
teemed by  his  confreres  in  that  glorious 
struggle.  Dr.  Harris  died  of  cpiinsy  at  the 
house  of  John  Piiillips,  inn-keeper,  the  sign 
of  the  Blue  Ball,  almost  twenty  miles  west 
of  Philadelphia,  in  Tredyffrin  township, 
Chester  county,  on  the  night  of  the  4th  of 
March,  1785.  His  will  was  written  by  An- 
drew Gordon,  at  his  request,  and  is  dated 
March  3,  1785,  "recorded  Ma^'  3,  1785,  and 
remains  in  the  register's  office  in  Paxtang, 
Dauphin  county."  Letters  of  administra- 
tion with  the  will  annexed  were  granted  to 
Mary  Harris,  the  wife  of  liis  brother  .James. 
Dr.  Harris  willed  the  interest  of  a  part  of 
his  personal  estate  to  his  brother  John  Har- 
ris during  his  lifetime,  and  then  the  princi- 
ple to  fall  to  Robert,  son  of  James.  His 
land  (donation  land),  when  surveyed,  he 
allowed  to  Laird  Harris,  son  of  James. 
From  a  receipt  still  in  existence,  tombstones 
were  purchased  in  Philadelphia,  and  as 
there  are  no  records  in  the  graveyard  at 
Derr}'  or  Paxtang,  the  presumption  is  that 
he  was  interred  at  Tredyffrin.  The  papers 
of  Dr.  Harris,  which  would  be  of  undoubted 
historic  value,  were  burned  by  a  member  of 


114 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


the  family  some  forty  years  ago,  to  prevent 
their  falling  into  the  hands  of  strangers.  His 
medicine  chest  is  in  the  possession  of  his 
grand-nephew,  William  L.  Harris,  of  East 
Buffalo  township.  Union  county. 

Of  Sarah  and  Mary  Harris,  daughters  of 
William,  we  have  no  record. 

II.  James  Harris,  the  eldest  child,  mar- 
ried, June  2, 1768,  Mary  Laird,  daughter  of 
William  Laird  and  Catharine  Spencer.  She 
was  born  April  28, 1750  (0.  S.),  and  died  De- 
cember 13,  1842,  and  interred  in  the  ceme- 
tery at  Lewisburg.  James  Harris  died  April 
30,  1787,  and  is  buried  at  Derry.  The  cliil- 
dren  of  James  Harris  and  Mary  Laird  were 
as  follows : 

i.  William,  b.  Wednesday,  April  28, 
1769;  d.  February  2,  1785,  and 
buried  at  Derry. 

ii.  Elizabeth,  b.  Thursday,  July  18, 1770; 
d.  May  20,  1842;  m.  Thomas 
Howard,  d.  January  15,  1842. 
Hi.  Catharine,  b.  Thursday,  April  2, 1772 ; 
d.  December  28,  1784,  and  buried 
at  Derr^^ 

iv.  Jean,  b.  January  6,  1774 ;  d.  Decem- 
ber 5,  1839. 
V.  Laird,  h.  Tuesday,  February  22, 1776 ; 
d.  June  30,  1804. 

vi.  Robert,   h.    Sunday,    November    22, 

1777  ;  d.  at  Lewisburg. 
mi.  Sarah,  b.  Saturday,  September  4, 1779 ; 
d.  December  30,  1827,  unm. 
S.viii.  James,  h.  Wednesday,  June  13,  1781; 
m.  Sarah  Bell. 

ix.  Matthew,  b.  Friday,  August  13,  1784; 
d.  February  13,"  1873. 

X.  William- Laird,  b.  Tiiursday,  May  17, 
1786;  d.  November  ll,'l845 ;'  was 
a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  As- 
semby  in  1833,  and  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  1837-8. 

James  Harris  took  and  subscribed  the 
oath  of  allegiance  and  fidelity  to  the  State 
and  Colonies  on  the  14th  day  of  July,  1777, 
before  Joshua  Elder,  magistrate  at  Paxtang. 
He  served  in  the  army  and  was  at  the  battles 
of  Trenton,  Princeton,  Brandywine  and 
Germantown.  During  the  year  1778  he  was 
in  service  with  his  wagon  and  team  in  the 
Jerseys.  After  his  death  his  widow  removed 
about  1792,  to  Buffalo  Valley,  then  North- 
umberland and  now  Union  county. 

III.  James-  Harris  (James,  William),  b. 
June  13,  1781,  in  Derry  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.;  d.  July  1,  1868,  in  Buffalo  Val- 


ley, Union   county.  Pa.;  m.,  October,  1819; 
Sarah  Bell.     They  had  issue  : 
i.  William-Laird,  b.  1821. 
ii.  James-Spencer,  h.  1823. 
m.  Samuel-Bell,  h.  1825. 
iv.  Mary-Laird,  b.  1827. 
V.  Robert-Douglass,  b.  1829. 
vi.  Ann-Berryhill,  b.  1831. 
vii.  Sarah- Clementina,  b.  1833. 
via.  Caroline-Douglass,  b.  1835;  d.  1864. 

ix.  Berryhill-Bell,  b.  1837. 
Of  this  family  of  Harris'  none  remain  in 
this  locality.  Like  their  neighbors  of  a 
century  and  more  ago,  their  descendants 
have  sought  new  homes,  while  only  the  brief 
tombstone  inscriptions  in  deserted  grave- 
j'ards,  and  the  mere  mention  of  a  name  here 
and  there  on  the  old  records,  tell  of  the  brave 
and  hard^'  ancestry. 


The  Hayes  of  Derrv. 

Patrick  Hayes,  born  in  county  Donegal, 
Ireland,  in  1705,  came  to  Pennsylvania  in 
company  with  his  brothers,  Hugh,  William, 
and  James,  about  1728,  all  of  wliom  took  up 
land  in  what  is  now  Derry  township.  On 
the  assessment  list  for  1751  the  name  of 
James  is  wanting.  He  probably  died  prior 
to  that  period,  while  Hugh  and  William 
followed  the  Virginia  and  Carolina  migra- 
tion of  the  few  years  subsequent.  Patrick 
remained  and  died   in  Derry  on  the  31st  of 

Januar}',    1790.      His    wife,   Jean    , 

whom  he  married  in  1729,  died  (Jctober  15, 
1792.  Both  are  buried  in  old  Derry  church- 
yard.    They  had  children  as  follows: 

i.  David,  b.  1731;  m.  Martha  Wilson, 
daughter  of  James  Wilson  ;  he  in- 
herited what  is  now  the  Felty 
farm. 
ii.  Rohert,h.  February  2, 1733  ;  m.,  March 
25,  1762,  Margaret  Wray,of  Derry; 
was  an  officer  of  the  Revolution ; 
he  inherited  what  is  now  the  Long- 
necker  farm  ;  he  built  his  house  in 
1762,  and  his  stone  barn  in  1772; 
the  latter  was  torn  down  in  1850. 
Robert  and  Margaret  Ha3'es  had — 
Jea7i,  h.  1763,  d.  1817 ;  John,  b. 
1765,  m.  Margaret  Gray  :  Patrick, 
h.  1767,  m. Mickey,  of  Cum- 
berland county;  Margaret,  h.  17H9, 
m.  William  Thome,  of  Hanover; 
Robert,  h.  1771,  ra.,  first,  Jean 
Hayes,  daughter  of  Capt.  Patrick 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


115 


Hayes,  and  secondly, 


Hen- 


derson, of  Shippensburg;  David,  b. 
1773,  d.  October  8, 1796  ;  Samuel,  b. 
1775,  d.  unm.;  James,  b.  1777,  d. 
1798;  William,  h.  1779,  removed 
to  Virginia;  Solomon,  h.  1781,  d. 
s.  p.;  Joseph,  b.  1783,  m.  and  went 
to  Equality,  111.  Robert  Hayes  d. 
June  6,  1809 ;  his  wife  Margaret, 
January  6,   1820 ;   aged   77  years. 

Hi.  Eleanor,  b.  1735 ;  m.,  February  6, 
1755,  Patrick  Campbell,  son  of  John 
Campbell,  of  Derry  ;  their  daughter 
married  the  Rev.  Joshua  Williams. 

iv.  William,  b.  1737  ;  m.,  October  6,  17(37, 
Jean  Taylor,  and  removed  to  Vir- 
ginia. 
V.Jean,  h.  1739;  m.,  October  31,  17G5, 

William  Scott. 
vi.  Samuel,  b.  1741 ;  m.  and  removed  to 
Virginia. 

vii.  Patrick,  b.  1743;  m. McAl- 
lister, sister  of  Capt.  Archibald  Mc- 
Allister; was  Capt.  Patrick  Hayes 
of  the  Revolution  ;  removed  to  Ly- 
coming county  and  died  there  about 
1812;  he  inherited  the  farm  in 
Derry,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Hershey. 


The  Hershey  Family. 

I.  Andrew  Hershey,  b.  1702,  in  Switzer- 
land ;  removed  early  in  life  with  his  parents 
to  the  Palatinate.  In  the  year  1719  he  and 
his  brother  Benjamin  sailed  for  America  and 
settled  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  His  brother 
Christian  followed  in  1739 ;  and  all  three  were 
chosen  ministers  in  the  Mennonite  Chui'ch. 
Andrew  Hershey  died  in  1792,  aged  ninet}' 
years.     There  was  issue  : 

i.  Christian,  h.  1734  ;  d.  January,  1783  ; 
m.  Elizabeth  Hiestand,  daughter  of 
Abraham  Hiestand,  of  Hempfield, 
Lancaster  county,  Pa. 
2.  ii.  Andrew,  b.  1736  ;  m.,  first,  Magdalena 
Baughman ;  secondly,  Maria  Acker. 
Hi.  Jolm. 

iv.  Benjamin,  d.  prior  to   1780,  and  had 
Elizabeth,  m.  Henry  Landis,  Benja- 
min, and  Mary. 
V.  Jacob,  resided  in  Hempfield  township ; 
d.  prior  to  1767,  at  which  time  his 
children,    Maria    and    Ann,    were 
above  fourteen  years  but  not  of  age. 
vi.  Abraham, 
vii.  Isaac. 


via.  Henry. 
ix.  Catharine. 
X.  Maria, 
xi.  Odti. 

II.  Andrew  Hershey  (Andrew),  b.  1736, 
in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  d.  July  16,  1806  ; 
was  twice  married  ;  m.  Magdalena  Baugh- 
man ;  d.  prior  to  1763;  daughter  of  Michael 
Baughman,  and  had  issue  : 

i.  Catharine,  b.  1760. 
He  m.,  secondly,  Maria  Acker,  b.  Septem- 
ber 26,  1743;  d.  September  13,  1831.     They 
had  issue : 

ii.  Anna,  b.  February  28,  1762. 
Hi.  Jacob,  h.  October  2,  1765. 
iv.  Maria,  b.  May  23,  1768. 
3.      V.  Andreiv,  b.  September   14,   1770;   m. 
Esther  Kauffman. 
vi.  Henry,  h.  December  19,  1772. 
vii.  Elizabeth,  b.  December  5,  1775. 
via.  John,  b.  March  31,  1783. 

III.  Andrew  Hershey  (Andrew,  An- 
drew), b.  September  14,  1770;  d.  August  1, 
1835  ;  m.  Esther  Kauffman,  b.  May  31, 1770 ; 
d.  March  3,  1829.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Christian,  b.   December  22,  1796;  d- 

September  5,  1834. 
ii.  Anna,  b.  July  15,  1799. 
Hi.  Andrew,  b.  January  15,  1802. 
iv.  Maria,  b.  December  9,  1804. 
V.  Catharine,  b.  January  15, 1809. 
vi.  Esther,  b.  September  11,  1811. 
vii.  Barbara,  b.  December  9,  1814. 
via.  Elizabeth  (twin),  b.  December  9,  1814. 
ix.  John,  b.  March  14,  1815. 
X.  Magdalena,  b.  March  20,  1821. 
In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  which   evi- 
dently refers  to  one  branch  of  the  family,  we 
have  the  following : 

Benedict  Hershey  died    prior  to  1763, 
leaving  a  wife  Judith,  and  children  : 
i.  Jacob. 
ii.  Barbara. 
Hi.  Andreiv. 
iv.  Peter. 
V.  John. 
vi.  Esther. 

Andrew  Hershey,  of  Londonderry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  died  in  1792,  leaving 
a  wife,  and  children  : 
i.  Benjamin, 
ii.  Henry. 

Hi.  Christian,  of  Manor  township. 

iv.  Andrew,  of  Donegal  township. 

V.  John,  m.  Magdalena . 


116 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


Hoffman  Family  of  Lykens  Valley. 

I.  Among  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  Wico- 
nisco  Valley  was  John  Peter  Hoffman,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  born  in  1709.  With  others 
of  his  fi\mily  and  friends  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1739,  in  the  ship  Robert  and  Alice, 
Capt.  Walter  Goodman,  arriving  at  Phila- 
delphia in  September  of  that  year.  He  first 
located  in  Berks  county,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade,  that  of  a  carpenter.  During  the 
early  Indian  troubles  on  the  frontiers  he 
served  some  time  as  a  soldier  in  the  Provin- 
cial forces.  About  the  year  1750  he  came  to 
the  end  of  Short  mountain  in  Lyken's  Val- 
lev,  where  he  built  a  small  log  iiouse,  just 
across  the  road  from  the  present  residence 
of  Daniel  Romberger.  Sixty  years  ago  this 
was  used  as  a  blacksmith  shop.  John  Peter 
Hofl'man  was  the  contemporary  of  Andrew 
and  John  Lycans  or  Lykens,  Ludwig  Shott, 
John  Rewalt,  and  others,  and  with  them 
driven  off  by  the  Indians  in  their  marauds 
of  1756.  It  "was  subsequent  to  this  period 
that  he  brougiit  his  family  to  the  valley. 
Here  he  followed  farming,  and  died  in  1798 
at  tlie  age  of  eiglity-nine  years.  His  remains 
with  those  of  his  wife  wlio  had  deceased  pre- 
viously were  interred  in  the  field  near  the 
present  liouse  on  the  old  farm  now  owned  by 
Mr.  Romberger,  before  named.  He  left  issue, 
among  others : 

i.  Catherine,  m.  Andrew  Reigie,  the  head 
of  a  large  family  of  that  name  in 
the  "  Upper  End."  They  both 
reached  the  age  of  four  score  years. 
a.  Barbara,  m.  George  Buffington,  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Revolution,  and  tiie 
head  of  the  family  of  that  name. 
Hi.  Elizabeth,  m.  Ludwig  Sheetz,  the  head 
of  tiie  large  family  of  that  name. 

2.  iv.  John,  b.  1746  ;  m.  Miss  Kauffman. 

3.  V.  John-Nicholas,  b.  1749  ;  m.  Margaret 

Harman. 

4.  vi.  Christian,  h.  1752  ;  m.  Miss  Deibler. 

II.  John  Hoffman*  (John-Peter),  eldest 
son  of  John  Peter  Hoffman,  was  a  native  of 
Berks  county,  born  in  1746.  He  served  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  commanded 
the  Upper  Paxtang  company  in  its  expe- 
dition up  the  West  Branch  in  1778,  and 
participated  in  the  battle  at  Muncy  Hill. 
He  resided  near  Hoffman's  church,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  George  Williard.  He 
was  a  farmer,  and  served  as  a  justice  of  the 
peace  from  1771  until  1831,  the  year  of  his 
death.     He  and  his  wife,  a  Miss  Kauffman, 


are  buried   in  Hoffman's  church  graveyard. 
They  had  issue : 

i.  Elizabeth,  m.  John  Hoffman,  a  farmer. 
Tliey  resided  near  Hoffman's 
church,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
George  Row. 
a.  Maria,  m.  Joseph  Neagley,  a  farmer, 
who  resided  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
valley.  They  had  a  large  family, 
and  lived  to  advanced  ages. 
Hi.  Magdalena,  m.  Thomas  Koppenheffer. 
He  was  a  captain  in  Col.  Timothy 
Green's  battalion,  and  was  at  the 
battle  of  Long  Island.  Mrs.  Kop- 
penheffer lived  to  be  over  four 
score  years  of  age. 
iv.  Catharine,  m.  John  Buffington,  a 
farmer,  who  resided  on  the  farm 
adjoining  Robert  Elder's,  now 
owned  by  Jacob  Hartraan.  Mr. 
Buffington  was  county  commis- 
sioner from  1822  to  1824. 
V.  Barbara,  b.  ISOu  ;  m.  John  N.  Specht. 
She  d.  in  1879. 

5.  vi.  John,  m.  Miss  Deibler. 

vii.  Jacob,  married  and  removed  to 
Schuylkill  county,  where  some  of 
his  descendants  yet  reside. 

6.  via.  Daniel,  m.  Miss  Snyder. 

III.    John    Nicholas    Hoffman    (John- 
Peter),  was  born  in  Tulpehocken   township, 
Berks  county,  in  the  year  1749.     He  settled 
on  tiie  farm  now  owned  by  Benjamin  Rick- 
ert,   near    Short    mountain.     He    was    the 
owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  at  present 
divided  into  a  number  of  farms.     He  deeded 
land    to    the    congregation    of    Hoffman's 
church,  for  church,  school   and  burial  pur- 
poses.    He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution, 
and   participated   in  the  battles  of  Brandy- 
wine   and  Germantown.     His   life   was   an 
active,  busy  and   useful  one.     He  was  mar- 
ried, April  22,  1772,  by  Pastor  Kurtz,  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  to  Margaret  Harman,  also 
a  native  of  Berks  county.     They  had  issue : 
i.  Catharine,   b.    1775;  m.   Peter  Shoff- 
stall.      They    resided    near   Gratz- 
town,  and  died  at   advanced    ages, 
leaving  a  large  family. 
ii.  Susanna,  m.  Levi  Buffington,  a  car- 
penter.       He   built   the   Hoffman 
church. 
Hi.  Sarah,  m.  Jonathan   Snyder.     They 
moved     to    Wayne    county,   Ohio, 
near   Wooster,    where    they     both 
lived  to  upwards  of  ninety  years  of 
age ;  their  son  Daniel  resides  there. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


117 


iv.  Margaret,  m.  Alexander  Klinger,  and 
removed  to  Crawford  county,  Pa. 
She  died  a  few  years  ago  at  the  age 
of  98. 

7.  V.  Peter,  b.  September  22, 1778  ;  m.  Miss 

Lubold. 
vi.  Elizabeth,  b.  1780 ;  d.  in  Sugar  Valley, 
over   91    years  of  age;    m.    Jacob 
Hawk. 

8.  vii.  Jacob,  b.  1782  ;  m.  Catharine  Ferree. 

9.  via.  Daniel,  b.  1784;  m.  Hannaii  Ferree. 

10.  ix.  Nicholas,  b.  1790;  m. 

11.  X.  Jolin,  b.  1794;  m. 

xi.  George,h.  1798;  resided  in  Gratztown; 
was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace 
in  1834. 

IV.  Christian  Hoffman  (John-Peter),  b. 

1752;  resided  on  the  old  homestead   at  the 

end  of  Short  mountain.    He  died  in  Powell's 

Valley.     He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution 

and  an   active  citizen  in  the  "  Upper  End." 

He  married  Susannah  Deibler,  daughter  of 

Albright  Deibler,  and   died   in   Armstrong 

Valley  at  the  age  of  87.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Anna-Mary,  m.  John  Pies,  and  left  a 

large  family.    They  resided  at  Sand 

Spring,  in  the  upper  end  of  Powell's 

Valley. 

ii.  Susannah,  m.  Philip  Shott,  and  had  a 

large  family. 
iii.  Catharine,  m.  Jonathan  Novinger;  re- 
moved to  Indiana.    Cyrus  Novinger, 
of  Millersburg,  is  their  son. 

12.  iv.  John-B.,h.lT.)b';  m.   Margaret  Bow- 

man. 
1).  Jonas,  was  a  farmer,  and   resided  at 

tiie  foot  of  Peter's  mountain,  where 

he  died. 
vi.  Peter,  was  a  farmer ;  m.  and  resided 

near    Fislierville,    where    he   died, 

leaving  a  large  family. 
vii.  Christian,  was  a  farmer;  resided  near 

Snyder's  mill,  Lykens  Valley. 
via.  Daniel-G.,  b.  1795,  was  a  farmer  and 

resided     near     Fisherville ;     sixty 

years   ago  m.  Susannah   Harman, 

now  85  years  of  age  ;  was  a  justice 

of  the  peace  a  long  time,  and  held 

other  offices. 
ix.  Philip,  b.  about  1800;  was  justice  of 

tlie  peace  for  Jefferson  township. 

V.  John  Hoffman  (.John,  .John-Peter),  re- 
sided near  his  father;  was  a  farmer,  and 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  until  he 
received  the  appointment  of  steward  of  the 
county  almsliouse  in  1824,  a  position  he  held 


until  1838  when  he  was  elected  register, 
serving  until  1841;  was  the  first  local 
preacher  in  the  valley,  built  tiie  first  fulling 
and  carding  mill  in  tiie  Upper  End,  where 
Samuel  Wolf  now  resides  in  Lykens  town- 
ship. He  was  married  four  times,  his  first 
wife  being  a  Miss  Deibler,  sister  to  Daniel 
Deibler,  Sr.,  and  left  a  large  famil}'. 

VI.  Daniel  Hoffman  (John,  John-Peter), 
m.  Miss  Snyder,  and  had  one  son,  Daniel,  Jr., 
a  distinguished  civil  engineer,  residing  in 
Philadelphia.  John  R.,  a  son  of  the  latter, 
also  a  civil  engineer  in  the  employ  of  the 
Summit  Brancli  Railroad  and  Coal  Com- 
pany, resides  at  Pottsville.  Daniel  Hoff- 
man, Sr.,  died  young,  in  Lykens  Valley,  and 
his  widow  subsequently  married  John  Hoke. 

VII.  Peter  Hoffman  (John -Nicholas, 
John-Peter),  was  born  on  tlie  22d  of  Septem- 
ber, 1778.  He  was  a  farmer  and  owned  the 
farm  now  in  the  occupancy  of  "William 
Haw'k.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812 
and  died  in  1864,  aged  86  years.  He  mar- 
ried MoUie  Lubold,  sister  of  Frederick  Lu- 
bold. They  are  both  buried  in  the  Hoffman 
church  graveyard.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Daniel,  m.  Miss  Rissinger  and  re- 
moved to  Crawford  county.  Pa., 
where  his  son  Joshua  now  resides. 
Another  son,  Jonas,  a  carpenter,  re- 
sides at  Lykens.  Daniel  died  a  few 
years  ago  aged  73  years. 

ii.  Jacob-Peter,  was  quite  a  politician  and 
•died  a  few  years  ago  in  Lykens, 
wdiere  his  widow  and  ciiildren  now 
reside. 
iii.  John-Peter,  h.  in  1806  ;  m.  Elizabeth 
Umholtz,  daughter  of  J.  Philip 
Umholtz ;  was  a  farmer  residing 
near  Short  mountain.  Their  son, 
Henry-B.,  resided  at  Millersburg, 
and  John-P.,  in  Powell's  Valley. 

iv.  Catharine,  m.  Daniel  Reigle.  Mr. 
Reigel  was  county  commissioner, 
1852-4. 
V.  Elizabeth,  m.  Philip  Keiser.  Their 
son  Daniel  was  a  member  of  the 
Legislature,  1863-4. 

vi.  Hannah,  m.  Samuel  Thomas. 

VIII.  Jacob  Hoffman  (John-Nicholas, 
Joiin-Peter),  b.  in  1782,  purchased  his  fatlier's 
farm.  He  was  a  well-informed  farmer,  and 
was  exceedingly  popular.  He  filled  .several 
local  offices,  and  in  1833  and  1834  served  in 
the  Legislature.     He  was  quite  prominent  in 


118 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


the  church,  and   a  zealous   Christian.     He 
married  Catharine  Ferree.     They  had  issue : 
i.  Amos,  b.  1809;  m.  Amanda,  daughter 
of  the  late  Gen.  Thomas  Harper; 
was  for  a  number  of  years  steward 
of  the  almshouse,  and   resided  at 
Berrysburg.     At  one  time  he  had 
five  sons  in  the  Union  army.  Col. 
Thomas-W.,    Capt.    Jacob-F.,   John- 
H.,  Ediuin-A.,  and  Heiiry. 
ii.  Jacob-B.,  resided  near  Williamstown. 
in.  Hannah,  m.  John  Romberger. 
iv.  Sarah,  m.  Michael  Forney. 
V.  Catharine,  m.  Abram  Hess. 
IX.  Daniel     Hoffman     (.John-Nicholas, 
John-Peter),  was  born  in  1784  ;  was  a  farmer, 
and  served  in   the  war  of  1812.     He  died  in 
1830  at  the  age  of  46  years.     He  married 
Hannah  Ferree,  and  had'  issue  : 

i.  David,  was  a  merchant  and  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  died  and  is  buried 
at  Berrysburg.  His  son,  Danel-C, 
became"  superintendent  of  a  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee  railroad,  and 
died  of  yellow  fever  in  1878  at 
Louisville,  Ky. 
a.  Jacob-D.,  was  a  county  commissioner 
and  twice  sheriff;  resided  at  Har- 
risburg ;  of  his  family  Isaac-  W.  is 
agent  of  the  Nortiiern  Central  rail- 
way at  Millersburg  ;  Adam,  United 
States  postal  route  agent;  George- 
E.,  d.  1888;  Ada,  m.  M.  Wilson 
McAlarney,  an  attorney-at-law, 
postmaster  at  Harrisburg  1874- 
1886,  now  editor  Daily  Telegraph  ; 
Elmira,  m.  Joseph  C.  McAlarney,  a 
lawyer, of  Harrisburg;  Rebecca,  and 
Sarah. 
Hi.  Daniel,  is  a  miner  and  resides  at  Ly- 

kens. 
iv.  Joseph,  resided  at  Hummelstown. 
V.  Hannah,  m.  Isaac  Uhler,  a  miller. 
vi.  Elmira,  m.  John  S.  Musser,  who  was 
county  commissioner  18G0-62;  re- 
sided at  Millersburg. 
X.  Nicholas    Hoffman    (John-Nicholas, 
John-Peter),  was   born  in  1790— a  farmer, 
and  served  in  the  war  of  1812.     He  died  ni 
1874   at   the   age  of  eighty-four.     He   had 
issue: 

i.  John- Nicholas,   was   director   of     the 
poor;  resided  in  Washington  town- 
ship. 
ii.  Isaac,     was     county     commissioner 
1867-70. 


Hi.  Sarah,    m. 


Sheaffer ;     their 


daughter  Mary  married  William  B. 
Meetch,    former     register     of    the 
county. 
iv.  James,  resided  on  the  old  homestead. 

XI.  John  Hoffman  (John-Nicholas,  John- 
Peter),  b.  in  1794,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812  ;  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  resided  near 
Berry.sburg,  where  he  died.  He  left  a  large 
family.  George,  Daniel  and  Henry  Katter- 
man, 'severally,  married  daughters  of  John 
Hoffman. 

XII.  John  B.  Hoffman  (Christian,  John- 
Peter),  b.  in  1790 ;  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade;  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  in  which 
he  was  promoted  a  lieutenant  colonel.  He 
filled  a  number  of  responsible  official  posi- 
tions, and  died  in  1875,  aged  eighty-five 
years.  He  married  Margaret  Bowman  and 
left  a  large  family,  most  of  whom  reside  in 
Powell's  Valley. 


Marcus  Hulings  and  His  Family. 

From  data  in  our  possession  we  are  able  to 
give  the  year  of  tiie  location  of  an  early 
settler  at  tiie  mouth  of  the  Juniata,  tliat  of 
Marcus  Hulings  in  1753.  Day  and  Rupp, 
relying  upon  tradition,  give  the  time  "  possi- 
bly as  early  as  1735."  It  is  a  matter  of  his- 
tory tliat  "all  the  settlers  on  Shearman's 
creek  and  the  Juniata  had  been  removed  by 
the  sheriff,  Andrew  Work's  posse  in  1750, 
and  the  houses  of  the  settlers  burned  ;  so 
that  it  was  not  for  two  or  three  years  at  least 
afterwards  that  the  hardy  frontiersman  ven- 
tured to  build  his  rude  cabin  on  the  forbid- 
den land.  It  is  stated  by  Watson  tiiat 
Marcus  Hulings  came  from  Marcus  Hook  on 
the  Delaware.  Nevertheless,  the  Hulings 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  on  that 
river,  locating  there  long  before  the  founder 
came  over  and  constituted  the  grand  old 
Commonwealth  called  for  him.  Tiie  name 
is  spelled  Uhling,  Hewlings  and  Hulings, 
and  is  Swedish. 

A  few  years  after  locating  on  the  Juniata 
came  Braddock's  defeat,  and  all  the  horrors 
of  an  Indian  war  followed.  In  tlie  spring 
after  (1756)  the  savages  had  reached  the  Sus- 
quehanna; but  the  few  scattered  frontiers- 
men were  unequal  for  the  conflict,  and  were 
obliged  to  flee.  Some  lingered  too  long,  for 
the  wily  red  man  came  down  suddenly  and 
the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife  were  reek- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY 


1]9 


ing  with  the  life-blood  of  the  hardy,  but 
unfortunate  pioneers.  Mr.  Hulings,  on  be- 
ing apprised  of  the  near  approach  of  the 
savages,  hurriedl}' packed  up  a  few  valuables 
and,  placing  his  wife  and  youngest  child 
upon  a  large  black  horse  (the  other  children 
having  previously  been  removed  to  a  place 
of  safety)  fled  to  tiie  point  of  the  island,  ready 
to  cross  over  at  the  first  alarm.  Forgetting 
something  in  the  haste,  and  thinking  the 
Indians  might  not  have  arrived,  Mr.  Hulings 
ventured  to  return  alone  to  the  house. 
After  carefully  reconnoitering,  he  entered, 
and  found,  to  iiis  surprise,  an  Indian  upstairs 
"  cooly  picking  iiis  flint."  Stopping  some 
time  to  parley  with  the  savage,  so  that  he 
miglit  retreat  without  being  shot  at;  the  de- 
lay, to  his  wife,  seemed  unaccountable  and, 
fearing  he  had  been  murdered,  she  whipped 
up  her  horse  and  swam  the  Suscjuehanna. 
The  water  was  quite  high,  but,  nowise 
daunted,  she  succeeded  in  reaching  the  op- 
posite shore  in  safety.  Mr.  Hulings  soon 
appeared,  and  finding  the  animal  with  his 
wife  and  child  had  disappeared,  in  turn  he 
became  alarmed,  but  a  signal  from  the  east- 
ern shore  of  tiie  stream  relieved  his  anxiety, 
and  he  himself,  by  means  of  a  light  canoe, 
was  safe  from  pursuit.  The  fugitives  suc- 
ceeded in  reaching  Fort  Hunter,  where  the 
Baskins  and  others  of  their  neighbors  had 
congregated  and  the  inhabitants  of  Paxtang 
had  rallied  for  a  defense. 

It  was  not  until  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne, 
and  the  erection  of  Fort  Pitt,  that  Marcus 
Hulings  returned  to  his  farm  with  his  family. 
A  year  after,  however,  we  find  him  at  the 
Forks  of  the  Ohio,  where  he  took  up  a  quan- 
tity of  land.  In  the  meantime,  encroach- 
ments were  being  made  upon  his  lands  on 
the  Juniata,  and  in  1762  we  have  the  follow- 
lowing  letter,  protesting  against  the  same  : 

"  Fort  Pitt,  May  the  7th,  1762. 
"  To    William  Peters,  Esq.,  Secretorey  to  the 

Propriatorries  in  land  office  in  Philadelphia, 

&c.: 

"  The  Petitioner  hereof  humbly  showeth 
his  grievance  in  a  piece  of  uncultivated 
land,  laying  in  Cumberland  County,  on  the 
Northwest  side  of  Juneadey,  laying  in  the 
verry  Forks  and  point  between  the  two 
rivers,  Susquehanna  and  .Juneadey,  a  place 
that  I  Emprovedand  lived  on  one  Year  and 
a  half  on  the  said  place  till  the  enemeyes  in 
the  beginning  of  the  last  Warrs  drove  me 
away  from  it,  and  I  have  had  no  opertunity 


yet  to  take  out  a  Warrant  for  it;  my  next 
neighbour  wass  one  Joseph  Greenwood,  who 
sold  his  emprovement  to  Mr.  Neaves,  a 
merchant  in  Philadelphia,  who  took  out  a 
warrant  for  the  s'd  place,  and  gave  it  into 
the  hands  of  Collonel  John  Armstrong,  who 
is  Surveyor  for  Cumberland  County;  and 
while  I  was  absent  from  them  parts  last 
Summer,  Mr.  Armstrong  runed  out  that 
place  Joyning  me,  for  iVIr.  Neaves ;  and  as 
my  place  layes  in  the  verry  point,  have  en- 
croached too  much  on  me  and  Take  away 
part  of  Improvements  ;  the  line  Desided  be- 
tween me  and  Joseph  Greenwood  was  up  to 
the  first  small  short  brook  that  empved  into 
Susquehannah  above  the  point,  and  if  I 
should  have  a  strait  line  run'd  from  the  one 
river  to  the  other  with  equal  front  on  each 
River  from  that  brook,  I  shall  not  have  300 
acres  in  that  survej- ;  the  land  al)ove  my 
house  upon  Juneadey  is  much  broken  and 
stoney.  I  have  made  a  rough  draft  of  tiie 
place  and  lines,  and  if  Your  Honour  will  be 
pleased  to  see  me  righted,  the  Petitioner 
hereof  is  in  Duty  bound  ever  for  you  to 
pray  ;  from  verrj'  humble  serv't, 

"  Marcus  Hulings." 

With  the  foregoing  he  sent  the  following 
note  to  Mr.  Peters  : 

"  May  ye  17th,  1762. 

"  Sir  :  I  have  lelt  orders  for  Mr.  Mathias 
Holston  living  in  Upper  Merrion  of  Phila- 
delphia county,  to  take  out  two  warrants  for 
me,  one  for  the  Point  between  the  two  Riv- 
ers, and  one  for  the  Improvements!  have  in 
the  place  called  the  Onion  bottom  on  the 
south  side  of  Juneadey  right  aposite  to  the 
other,  where  I  lived  six  months  before  I 
moved  to  the  other  place;  from  your  hum- 
ble servant,  Marcus  Hulings." 

Directed  to  "  William  Peters,  Esq.,  Secretorey 
to  the  Propriatories  land  office  In  Philadel- 
phia." 

With  these  letters  is  the  "  rough  draught" 
of  the  land  at  the  mouth  of  the  Juniata, 
which  would  be  worth  reproducing,  as  ii'i 
description  we  can  give  will  convey  an  accu- 
rate idea  of  it.  Three  islands  are  noted. 
One  now  known  as  Duncan's  Island  is 
marked  "  Island  "  and  house  as  "  Widdow 
Baskins."  The  large  island  in  the  Susque- 
hanna known  as  Haldeman's  Island  con- 
taining three  houses — the  one  to  the  south- 
ern point  "Francis  Baskins"  one-third 
further  up,  on  the  Susquehanna  side, 
"  George  Clark,"  while  about  the  center  that 


120 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


of  "  Francis  Ellis."  On  the  north  point  is 
the  word  "  Island."  Almost  opposite,  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Susquehanna,  is  "  James 
Reed's  "  liouse  ;  while  between  the  center  of 
the  island  and  the  western  shore  is  a  small 
triangular  "  Island,"  so  marked.  On  "  the 
point"  between  the  "  Susquehannah  River" 
and  the  "  Juneadey  River,"  near  the  bank  of 
the  latter  stream,  is  "Huling.s'  house." 
Some  distance  from  "the  point  "  is  a  straight 
line  running  frona  river  to  river  on  which  is 
written  "  this  is  the  way  I  want  my  line ;" 
while  beyond  on  the  West  Branch  of  the 
Susquehannah  nearly  opposite  "  James 
Reed's "  house  is  "  Mr.  Neave's  house." 
Farther  up  the  river,  opposite  a  small 
island  is  "  Francis  Ellis'  "  house.  A  circuit- 
ous line  denominated  "  Mr.  Neave's  line," 
crosses  the  straight  line  referred  to  which  in- 
cluded "  Part  of  Hulings'  Improvement." 
On  the  south  side  of  the  Juniata  below  the 
mouth  thereof  is  "William  Kerl's"  house; 
opposite  the  point  of  Duncan's  Island, 
"James  Raskins'"  house,  while  "Hulings' 
house"  (another  improvement)  is  farther  up 
— in  what  is  named  the  "  Onion  bottom." 
Beyond  this  on  the  same  side  of  the  Juniata 
is  a  house  marked  "Cornelius  Acheson,  who 
has  encroached  upon  Hulings'  Improvement 
in  the  Onion  bottom — settled  there  last 
S[)ring."  Opposite  the  islands  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Susquehanna  are  "  Peter's  moun- 
tain "  and  "  narroughs."  We  suppose  Mr. 
Hulings  was  "  righted,"  as  he  desired. 

Becoming  discontented  with  the  situation 
at  Pittsburgh,  Hulings  sold  his  claim  for 
-C200  and  returned  to  his  home  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Juniata,  where  he  made  considerable 
improvements.  He  established  a  ferry,  and 
built,  says  Watson,  a  causeway  at  the  upper 
end  of  Duncan's  Island  for  pack  horses  to 
pass. 

Marcus  Hulings'  home  was  lately  in  the 
possession  of  Dr.  George  N.  Reutter.  He 
originally  owned  all  the  land  between  the 
Susquehanna  and  Juniata  below  New  Buf- 
falo, and  had  also  a  tract  of  land  at  the 
mouth  of  Shearman's  creek,  then  in  Rye 
township,  Cumberland  county,  but  now 
Penn  township.  Perry  county. 

Mr.  Hulings  died  in  September,  1788,  and 
is  buried  in  a  graveyard  near  Losh's  Run. 
Mrs.  Hulings,  whose  maiden  name  has  not 
come  down  to  us,  was  a  remarkable  woman, 
and  on  more  than  one  occasion  forded  the 
Susquehanna  and  wended  her  way  to  the 
mill  at  Fort  Hunter  with  a  small  bag  of 


grain — when  waiting  till  it  was  ground,  she 
hastened  homeward.  This,  however,  was 
only  in  the  first  years  of  their  pioneer  life, 
for  shortly  after  a  grist  mill  was  erected  on 
Shearman's  creek.  She  was  a  brave  and  in- 
trepid pioneer  woman,  and  a  noble  wife  for 
the  hardy  frontiersman.  She  died  prior  to 
the  Revolution  and  is  buried  in  the  same 
graveyard  with  her  husband,  but  their 
graves  are  unmarked.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren who  survived  their  parents : 

I.  Marcus,  the  eldest,  born  in  1747,  pos- 
sibly never  returned  with  his  father  from 
Fort  Pitt.  He  erected  a  large  stone  tavern 
and  established  a  ferry  on  the  south  side  of 
tlie  Monongahela  river,  opposite  the  foot  of 
Liberty  street,  Pittsburgh.  It  was  afterwards, 
says  Mr.  Isaac  Craig,  for  half  a  century 
known  as  Jones'  ferry  house,  and  as  fre- 
quently noted  in  the  journals  of  travelers 
about  the  commencement  of  the  presei\t  cen- 
tury. He  seems  to  have  been  quite  promi- 
nent on  the  western  frontiers  and  is  fre- 
quently made  mention  of.  Gen.  Richard 
Butler,  one  of  the  commissioners  appointed 
to  hold  treaties  with  the  Northern  and 
Western  Indians,  in  his  journal  of  October 
1,1785,  says:  "I  fortunately  recommended 
the  employment  of  one  Mr.  Huling,  who  I 
find  to  be  a  very  useful,  active  and  ingenious 
man,  he  goes  ahead  witii  a  small  canoe  to 
search  out  the  channel,  which  we  find  to  be 
very  crooked."  This  was  no  doubt  Marcus 
Hulings.  In  the  journal  of  Gen.  Joseph 
Buell,  the  arrival  at  Fort  Harmar  of 
"  rilling,  a  trader  on  the  river,"  is  mentioned 
three  times,  November  5  and  December  3, 
1786,  and  on  the  4th  of  January,  1787.  For 
more  than  ten  years  subsequent  to  1790, 
Marcus  Hulings  was  employed  by  Major 
Isaac  Craig,  quartermaster  at  Pittsburgh,  in 
transporting  military  stores  up  the  Alle- 
gheny to  Fort  Franklin  and  to  Presqu'  Isle, 
and  "down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  the 
military  posts  on  those  streams.  Major 
Craig's"  letter-books  and  papers  contain 
ample  evidence  that  Marcus  Hulings  was  a 
faithful  and  reliable  man  in  all  his  under- 
takings. We  have  no  knowledge  as  to  his 
subsequent  career,  although  we  are  informed 
that  he  died  in  Tennessee.  He  left  descend- 
ants. 

II.  Mary,  b.  in  1749;  m.,  1st,  Thomas 
Simpson  ;  2d,  on  January  18,  1780,  William 
Stewart.  They  had  four  children.  She  d. 
February  22,  1790.  Mr.  Stewart  afterwards 
m.  Mrs.  Martha  Espy,  widow  of  James  Espy. 


DAUPIlJiS   COUNTY. 


121 


III.  Samuel,  b.  in  1751,  also  located  on 
the  Ohio.  He  owned  an  island  in  the  Alle- 
gheny called  Hulings',  and  we  presume  is 
yet  known  by  that  name.  Samuel  Hulings 
married  and  left  issue. 

IV.  James,  b.  in  1/53;  we  have  no  knowl- 
edge whatever. 

V.  Thomas  Hulings,  youngest  son  of 
Marcus  Hulings,  who  succeeded  to  the  pater- 
nal estate,  b.  March  3,1755;  d.  in  Buffalo 
township.  Perry  county,  March,  1808.  He 
was  a  prominent  man  in  the  locality,  and 
served  on  several  inijjortant  State  commis- 
sions. He  was  twice  married  ;  1st,  to  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Gen.  Frederick  Watts,  of 
the  Revolution,  and  Jane  Murrav,  his  wife, 
b.  July  7,  1749 ;  d.  July  15,  1801.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  Rebecca,  b.  March  25,  1789;  m..  May 
21, 1811,  Robert  Callender  Duncan, 
son  of  Judge  Duncan,  of  Carlisle, 
from  whom  Duncan's  Island  de- 
rives the  name.  She  died  in  April, 
1850,  leaving  two  children:  Dr. 
Thomas  Duncan,  who  d.  in  1879, 
without  issue;  and  Benjamin  Styles 
Duncan,  who  d.  in  1870,  leaving 
four  children  now  residing  on  Dun- 
can's Island.  It  may  be  here  re- 
marked that  Mrs.  Duncan,  in  her 
will,  says,  "of  Isle  Ben  venue." 

a.  Marcus,  b.  February  11,  1791 ;  re- 
moved to  the  South ;  m.  and  left 
issue. 

Hi.  Frederick-  Watts,  b.  March  9,  1792 ;  m. 
and  settled  in  Tennessee,  where  he 
became  quite  prominent,  being  at 
one  time  speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  that  State.  He 
was  a  captain  in  the  Confederate 
army,  and  while  attempting  to  get 
on  a  train  of  cars  during  the  Rebel- 
lion was  severely  injured,  from  the 
effefts  of  which  he  died  at  his  then 
residence.  New  Orleans.  He  left 
issue. 

TO.  David-  Watts,  b.  1793 ;  m.  Maria  Pat- 
ton,  of  Lewistown.  He  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  April  21, 1823.  He  be- 
came the  possessor  of  the  old  home- 
stead, but  afterwards  disposed  of  it 
and  purchased  largely  near  Lewis- 
town.  He  bought  Hope  Furnace, 
wliich  he  greatly  improved.  He 
represented  Mifflin   county  in   the 


Legislature.  Subsequent!}'  he  re- 
moved to  Baltimore,  where  he  died 
leaving  children,  Thomas,  Maria, 
Ellen,  Mary  and  Lizzie.  Thomas 
married  a  daughter  of  General 
Thomas,  of  Washington,  D.  C; 
was  a  colonel  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  killed  in  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness.  Maria  married  Lloyd 
Williams,  a  lawyer,  of  Baltimore. 
Ellen  married  Charles  Denison,  of 
Wilkes-Barre.  Mary  married  Good- 
win Williams,  of  Baltimore,  and 
Elizabeth  married'Chauncey  Rey- 
nolds, of  Wilkes-Barre.  The  latter 
are  both  widows,  residing  at  Balti- 
more. 
V.  Mary,  b.  May  8,  1798 ;  m.  James  S. 
Espy,  of  Harrisburg,  and  had  two 
chiWren,  both  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. 
Thomas  Hulings  married,  secondly,  Re- 
becca, daughter  of  Andrew  and  Rebecca 
Berryhill,  of  Harrisburg,  and  had  issue : 
m.  Eleanor,  b.  1803;  m.  John  Keagy,  of 
Harrisburg,  and  had  issue :  Thomas 
and  Rebecca,  both  residing  at  Balti- 
more. After  Mr.  Keagy 's  death, 
she  married  Dr.  Joseph  Ard,  of 
Lewistown,  whom  she  survived. 
She  died  at  Baltimore  in  June, 
1880. 
vii.  Elizabeth,  b.  1805  ;  m.  James  Dickson, 
of  Lewistown,  and  had  i.ssue  :  Annie 
and  William.  The  latter  died  in 
Philadelphia  in  1875,  leaving 
Annie,  who  resides  at  New  Bloom- 
field.  Mrs. Dickson, the  last  surviv- 
ing child  of  Thon:as  Hulings,  died 
at  New  Bloomfield  on  the  25th  of 
'  July,  1881. 
via.  Julia,  m.  William  Bringhurst,  of 
Clarkesville,  Tenn.,  and  had  issue, 
three  boys  and  three  girls  ;  two  of 
the  former  are  dead,  the  remaining 
children  married  and  are  residing 
in  Tennessee. 


The  Hummel  Family. 

I.  Frederick  Hummel,  the  founder  of 
Hummelstown,  was  born  April  14,  1726,  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany  ;  d.  June  24, 1775,  in 
Derry  township,  Lancaster,  now  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  He  was  twice  married;  first, 
Rosina ,  b.  December  20,  1732,  in  the 


122 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


Pfalz,  Germany;  d.  December  26,  1768.  They 
had  issue: 

2.  i.  Valentine,  b.  February   17,   1753;  m. 

Anna  Eve . 

3.  a.  Frederick,   b.    October    4,    1758;    m. 

Rachel  Rickert. 

4.  Hi.  David,  b.  January  9,  1761  ;  m.  Mary 

Toot. 
iv.  Roslna,  b.  August  9,  1763 ;  d.  s.  p. 
V.  Eve,  b.  1765;  m.  Peter  Fridley. 
Mr.  Hummel  m.,  secondly,  in  1769,  Bar- 
bara Blessing,  who  d.  December,  1797.    They 
had  issue : 

5.  vi.  Christian,  b.  March  24,  177U ;  ni.  Sus- 

anna Reist. 
vii.  Catharine  (twin),  b.  March  24,  1770; 
m.  Jolin  Wetherholt. 

6.  via.  Barbara,  b.  1772 ;  m.  Nicholas  Singer. 

7.  rx.  Jo/(/(,  b.  September  11,1774;  m.  Estlier 

Minsker. 
X.  Ludwig,  b.  1775;  d.  inf. 

II.  Valentine  Hummel  (Frederick),  b. 
February  17, 1753 ;  d.  October  20, 1802.    His 

wife,  Anna  Eve ,  b.  December  20, 1 750 ; 

d.  September  16, 1880;  both  buried  in  the  Lu- 
theran church  graveyard  at  Hummelstown. 
They  had  issue : 

'-i.  John,  b.  March,  1796;  d.  s.  p. 

III.  Fkederick  Hummel  (Frederick),  b. 
October  4,  1758;  d.  December  7,  1802;  m. 
Rachel  Rickert,  daughter  of  .Jacob  Rickei't,b. 
March  14,  1757;  d.  November  24,  1835. 
They  had  issue : 

8.  i.  Jacob,   b.    1780;    m.    Susanna    Bine- 

bower. 

9.  ii.  F)-edericJc,h.iu\\  (\,\1%2;  m.  Susanna 

Hamaker. 
Hi.  John,  b.  1785;  d.  March  10,  1793. 
10.  iv.  Valentine,  b.   February   7,   1787 ;    m. 
Elizabeth  Walborn. 
V.Hannah,  b.  Septemlier  18,   1789;    d. 

June  21,  1860;  unm. 
vi.  David,  b.  October  29,  1792 ;  d.  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1805. 
vii.  Rosina,  b.  May  4,  1795 ;  d.  March  24, 

1876;  unm. 
via.  ChriHtina,  h.  1797  ;  m.  David  Earnest. 
ix.  Rachel,   b.    November    24,    1799;    d. 
September  27,  1867:    m.   Richard 
Fox. 
X.  Elizabeth,  b.  September  23,  1807 ;  d. 
March  24,  1830;  unm. 

IV.  David  Hummel  (Frederick),  b.  Janu- 
ary 9,1761;  d.  October  3,  1793;  m.  Mary 
Toot,  b.  January  11,  1764;  d.  December  29, 
1858,  daughter  of  David   Toot,  of  Middle- 


town.  In  the  Lutheran  church  graveyard 
at  Hummelstown  is  a  tombstone  with  the 
following  inscription  :  "  Hier  Ruhet  \  David 
Hummel,  \  Er  ivar  Gebohren  \  den  9ten  Januar 
I  1761  und  Starb  den  |  Sten  October  1793 ; 
ist  ottworden  in  \  32  Jahr  8  mo  |  und  24-  Tug 
ich  hube  uber  wunden,  \  zu  guter  nact  0  welt 
Und  zog  durch  Christi  wunden  \  ins  reehti  Sie- 
geszelt."     They  had  issue  : 

11.  i.  Frederick,  h.  December  24,  1782;  m. 

Barbara  Metzgar. 

12.  //.  David,  b.  September  8,  1784;  m.  Su- 

sanna Kunkel. 

Hi.  Leah,  b.  1787;  d.  January  20,  1817; 
m.,  December  10,  1811,  Henry  Lan- 
dis. 

iv.  Mary,  b.  March  13,  1789;  d.  Novem- 
ber 23,  1863;  m.  Daniel  Baum,  b. 
April  19,  1783;  d.  December  21, 
1857. 

13.  V.  Anna,  b.  May  29,  1791 ;  d.  October  3, 

1763  ;  m.  George  Stoner. 

14.  iv.  Joseph,  h.  August  11,  1793;  m.  Eliza- 

beth Leebrick. 

V.  Christian  Hummel  (Frederick),  b. 
March  24,1770:  d.  March  7,1837;  m.  Su- 
sanna Reist,  b.  February  28,  1772  ;  d.  Sep- 
tember 28, 18c4.  They  had  issue  ten  sons 
and  four  daughters,  of  whom  we  have  the 
following : 

15.  i.  Jacob,  h.  March   24,  1791 ;  m.  Justina 

Bower. 
ii.  David,  b.   1792;    accidently  drowned 

February  28,  1808. 
Hi.  Samuel,  b.  1794;   m. Kunkel- 

man,  and  had  issue. 
iv.  Joseph,  b.  1796 ;  d.  June  19,  1844. 
V.  Marxj,  b.  1798;  d.  February  19,  1829; 

m.  William    Barnett,   b.   1793;    d. 

September  6,  1828. 
vi.  Christian,  b.  1803 ;  m.  and  left  issue. 

16.  wi.  David,  b.  May  16,  1800  ;  m.  Barbara 

Shira. 
17. I'm.  Join),  m.  Catharine  Weidle. 
ix.  Reist,  d.  s.  p. 

X.  Michael,  d.  February,  1829  ;  m.  Catha- 
rine   . 

VI.  Barbara  Hummel  (Frederick),  b. 
1774 ;  d.  March  25, 1834  ;  m.  Nicholas  Singer, 
b.  1769 ;  accidentally  drowned  March  4, 
1815;  had  issue  as  follows  (surname  Singer): 

i.  Jacob,  m.  Elizabeth  Andrew. 
a.  Elizabeth.,  d.  s.  p. 

Hi.  John,  ni. Binehower. 

iv.  David,  d.  s.  p. 
V.  Frederick,  d.  s.  p. 


DAUPniN  COUNTY 


123 


^ri.  George,  b.  July  19,  1808 ;  in.  Nancy 
Christley,  b.  October  31,1811;  d. 
June  23,  18G9,  and  had  issue: 

1.  Elizabeth-Barbara,  m.  Plerman 

Garberich. 

2.  Sarah- Rebecca. 

3.  David-  William,  m.  Jennie  Sel- 

lers. 

4.  Caroline- Margaret,  m.  Joim  H. 

Fisher. 

5.  Juliaim,  m.  Ann  Sellers. 
vii.  Samiiel,  ra.  and  left  issue. 

VII.  John  Hummel  (Frederick),  b.  Sep- 
tember 11,  1774,  d.  September  11,1832;  m. 
Esther  Minsker,  b.  March  12,  1778  ;  d.  May 
23,  1832,  and  buried  at  Campbellstown. 
They  had  issue : 

i.  Rebecca,  b.  March  10, 1805  ;  d.  August 
13,    1868 ;    m.    John    Blessing,    b. 
September  30,  1800 ;  d.  March   19, 
1856. 
a.  Frederick. 

Hi.  David,  m.  Catharine  Herr,  of  Lancas- 
ter county.  Pa. 
iv.  Jesse-B.,  b.  November  4,  1807  ;  d.  Au- 
gust 11, 1867  ;  m.  Mary  Ann  Stoner, 
b.  April  22, 1815  ;  d.  June  14,  1849. 
V.  Sabina. 

vi,  Michael- Minsker,  d.  s.  p. 
vii.  James, 
viii.  John,  d.  s.  p. 

VIII.  Jacob  Hummel  (Frederick,  Freder- 
ick), b.  1780;  d.  Novemi)er5, 1850  ;  m.,June 
11,  1805,  Susanna  Binehower,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Christina  Binehower,  b.  1783; 
d.  December  10,  1845,  and  left  issue  : 

i.  Peter,  b.  June  7,  1807 ;    d.  Mav  18, 

1868  ;  ra.  Sarah  B.  Stoner. 
it.  Frederick- A.,  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  Jacob- Binehower,  m.  and  had  issue. 
iv.  Catharine,  m.  George  Balsbaugh,  and 

had  issue. 
V.  John-H.,  b.  July  18, 1817 ;  m.  Ann  Fox. 
vi.  Solomon,  d.  s.  p. 

vii.  Valentine-B.,  b.  April  28,  1825;  d.  Oc- 
tober 10,   1879 ;  m.  Lydia  , 

b.  November  27,  1827 ;  d.  April  20, 
1876,  and  left  issue. 

IX.  Frederick  Hummel  (Frederick,  Fred- 
erick), b.  July  6,  1782 ;  d.  March  28,  1831 ; 
m.  Susanna  Hamaker,  b.  March  6,  1783;  d. 
April  6,  1855,  and  had  issue: 

i.  Savilla,  b.  December  11,  1803  ;  d.  De- 
cember 19, 1836. 
ii.  Cyrus,  h.  1805;  m. 


Hi.  Elizabeth,  b.  September  23,  1807  ;  d. 

March  24,  1836. 
iv.  Valentine,  b.  March  12,  1812;  d.  Au- 
gust 26,  1880;  m.  Jane  Nelson,  and 
left  issue. 
v.  Anna,  d.  April,  1855 ;  ra.  John  Hum- 
mel, of  Ohio,  and  left  issue. 
vi.  John- Frederick,  d.  May,  1890. 

vii.  George- Washington,  ra.   Kill- 

inger. 
viii.  Richard-Jackson,  b.  July  25,  1823  ;  d. 

August  7, 1845. 
X.  Valentine  Hummel  (Frederick,  Fred- 
erick), b.  February  7, 1787,  at  Huramelstown ; 
d.  September  4, 1870;  m.,  March  18,1813,  by 
Rev.  F.  C.  Scliaeffer,  Elizabeth  Walborn,  b. 
1797  ;  d.  October  25, 1867 ;  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian Walborn.     They  had  issue: 

('.  Mary-  Walborn,   m.  Charles  L.  Berg- 

haus,  and  had  issue. 
ii.  Elizabeth,  ra.  William   M.  Kerr,  and 
had    Elizabeth,  m.    Dr.   George  W. 
Reily. 
Hi.  Franklin,  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  Caroline,  in.  Jacob  S.  Halderaan,  and 

had  issue. 
V.  Richard,  b.  1826;  d.  October  6,   1880; 
m.  Eliza  Bucher,  and  had  issue. 

XL  Frederick  Hummel  (David,  Freder- 
ick), b.  December  24,  1782  ;  d.  October  31, 
1847  ;  m.,  March  25, 1806,  Barbara  Metzgar, 
b.  September  1, 1779  ;  d.  November  22, 1861, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Metzgar,  of  Derry.  They 
had  issue : 

i.  Martin,  h.  June   8,1808;  d.  January 
23,  1875 ;  ra.  Barbara   Keller,  and 
left  issue. 
ii.  David,  d.  s.  p. 

Hi.  Adam,  b.  June  16,  1810;  ra.  Mary 
Berger,  of  State  of  New  York,  and 
had  issue. 
iv.  George-Toot,  h.  Sejjteraber  2,  1812  ;  d. 
April  15,  1875 ;  m.  Margaret  Earn- 
est ;  no  issue. 
V.  Jacob- Metzgar,  b.  March   16,  1818 ;  m. 

Elizabeth  Hertzler. 
vi.  Joseph-Frederick,  b.  Jaimary  31,1820; 
ra.  Ellen  Baum,  and  had  issue. 

XII.  David  Hummel  (David,  Frederick), 
b.  September  8,  1784,  at  Huramelstown  ;  d. 
June  30,  1860,  at  Harrisburg  ;  m.,  October 
13,  1807,  Su.sanna  Kunkel,  b.  May  31,  1790; 
d.  January  1,  1851,  at  Harrisburg,  daughter 
of  Christian  Kunkel,  and  had  issue: 

*'.  Catharine,  m.   Philip  W.  Seibert,  and 
left  issue. 


124 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


ii.  David,  m.  Sarah  Bombaugh,  and  left 
issue. 
Hi.  Christian,  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  Mary,  m.   Alexander  Watson,  sou  of 

Jackson  Watson. 
V.  Elizabeth,  m.  William  R.  Gorgas. 
vi.  Susanna,  d.  s.  p. 
vii.  George. 

via.  Albert,  m.  Anna  Plitt. 
ix.  Susan,  m.  James  L.  Reily. 
z.  Annie,  m.  Dr.  Eli  H.  Coover. 
xi.  Emma. 

XIII.  Anna  Hummel  (David,  Frederick), 
b.  May  29,  1791;  d.  October  3,  18G3  ;  m. 
George  Stoner.  They  had  issue  (surname 
Stoner) : 

/..  Alary-Ann,  m.  Jesse  B.  Hunrmel. 
ii.  Sarah-B.,  m.  Peter  Hummel. 

Hi.  Augustus,  m. Hetrick. 

iv.  David. 

V.  Henrietta,    m.    Major    Beinteman,   of 

Hamburg,  Berks  county,  Pa. 
vi.  Rebecca,  m.  Dr.  Witmer,  of  Philadel- 
phia. 
vii.  Leah,  m.  Rev.  Jeremiah  Smith. 

XIV.  Joseph  Hummel  (David,  Frederick), 
b.  August  11,  1793  ;  d.  April  18,  1852  ;  m. 
Elizabeth  Lcebrick,  b.  1799  ;  d.  September 
12,  189(J,  at  Hummelstown  ;  dau.  ot  Philip 
and  Mary  G.  Leebrick.  She  was  a  woman 
of  great  force  of  character,  dignified,  yet 
tender,  truthful  and  consistent  in  all  her 
walks  tlirougli  life.     They  iiad  issue: 

/.  llenry-Lcebrick,    b.  1817  ;  m.  Adeline 

Steelier. 
ii.  Elizabeth,  m.  Frederick  Lauman. 
Hi.  Richard-Toot,  b.  March  23,  1821  ;  ni. 

Mary  Coover. 
iv.  Mary,m.  Benjamin  Givler;  resided  in 

Mechanicsburg,  Pa. 
V.  Sarah,  m.   Martin   Early  ;  resiiled  in 

Palmyra,  Pa. 
vi.  David-S.,  m.  Catharine  Zinn. 
vii.  Susan. 

mii.  Caroline,  in   1882  was  postmistress  of 
Hummelstown. 
ix.  Anna. 
X.  Charles,  resided  in  New  York  City. 
xi.  Joseph- Augustus,  d.  s.  p. 
xii.  Edwin,  d.  s.  p. 
xiii.  Silas,  d.  s.  p. 

XV.  Jacob  Hummel  (Christian,  Freder- 
ick), b.  March  24,  1791 ;  d.  March  13,  1847  ; 
m.,  in  1815,  Justina  Bower,  b.  September  15, 
1793;  d.  April  15,  1845;  and  left  issue: 

i.  Louisa- Anna,  b.  June  6,  181();  d.  s.  p. 


ii.  Caroline,  h.  December  17,   1817;    d. 

1852 ;    m.  David   Dipner  and   left 

issue. 
Hi.  Levi,  b.  July  19,  1820. 
iv.  Justina,  b.   December   28,  1822  ;    m. 

Benjamin  F.  Feaster. 
V.  Sarah- Elizabeth,  b.  October  4,  1825 ; 

d.  s.  p. 
vi.  Abner,  b.  October  2,  1827 ;  m.  Eliza- 
beth Alexander,  b.  March  4,  1852, 

and  had  issue:   Sarah- Elizabeth,  m. 

H.  Wells  Buser;   Charles-H;  d.s.  p.; 

Mary-C,  Frederick-E.,  Carrie-E.,  and 

Jacob- A. 
vii.  Harriet,    h.    February    3,    1831 ;    m. 

Christian  Laley,  both  deceased  and 

left  issue. 
via.  Theodore,  h.  October  IG,  1833  ;  m.  and 

resides  in  Portsmouth,  O. 
ix.  Mary,  b.  July  20,  1830. 

XVI.  David  Hummel  (Cliristian,  Freder- 
ick), b.  May  16,  1809;  d.  July  27,  1870;  m. 
Marcii  3,  1833,  Barbara  Siiira  (Shearer),  and 
had  issue : 

i.  Alfred, 
ii.  George. 
Hi.  David. 
iv.  Henry. 
V.  Samuel- A. 
vi.  Christian, 
vii.  Joseph, 
viii.  John-M.,  d.  s.  p. 
ix.  Annie,  m.  Thomas  Jack. 

XVII.  John  Hummel  (Christian,  Freder- 
ick), m.  Catharine  Weidle,  of  Jonestown. 
They  had  issue : 

i.  Sarah,  m.  John  Steckley. 
ii.  Matilda,  m.  Jacob  Reigel. 
Hi.  Daniel,  m.  Anna,  dau.  of  David  Earn- 
est. 
iv.  Alexander,  m.  Mary  Moore. 

V.  John,  d.  s.  p. 


The  Kellys  of  Londonderry. 

I.  Patrick  Kelly,  b.  1709,  in  the  north 
of  Ireland  ;  d.  June  27,  1769,  in  London- 
derry township,  then  Lancaster  county.  Pa.; 
came  to  America  in  1734,  and  took  up  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  the  Swatara  region, 
where  he  lived  and  died  ;  his  wife  Rachel,  b. 
in  1708,  in  Province  of  Ulster,  Ireland  ;  d. 
August  5,  1782,  in  Londonderry,  and  with 
her  husband  buried  in  old  Derry  church 
graveyard.     They  had  issue : 


/^^^^g^^    ^:^g^^^::^?=^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


127 


i.  Rachel,  b.  1735 ;  m.  William  Forster. 

2.  ii.  George,  b.  1737;  m.  and  had  issue, 
t/i.  .-ivt?;e,  b.  1739 ;  d.  prior  to   1806;  m. 

Patrick  ;  and  left  ifary,  m. 

Thomas  Nicholson. 

3.  iv.  John,   b.   February,  1741 ;    m.   Sarah 

Polk. 
V.  Patrick,  b.  April  28,  1843;  d.  October 

28,  1826,  in  Londonderry;  unm. 
vi.  Thomas,  h.  1747  ;  of  whom   we  have 
no  further  record. 

4.  vii.  James,  b.  1749;  m.  Elizabeth  Forster. 

5.  viii.  Mary,  b.  1751  ;  m.  John  Duncan. 

II.  George  Kelly  (Patrick),  b.  1737,  in 
Londonderry  township;  d.  prior  to  1806, 
and  left  issue : 

i.  Audreiv. 
ii.  Tliomas. 

Hi.  Rachel,  d.  prior  to  1806;  m.  James 
Snodgrass ;  and  left  Sarali,  Mary, 
Margaret,  Rosina,  Rachel,  Elizabeth, 
William,  George,  James,  and  Th.omas. 

III.  John  Kelly  (Patrick),  b.  February, 
1741,  in  Londonderry  township,  Lancaster, 
now  Dauphin  countv.  Pa.;  d.  February  8, 
1832,  in  Buft'alo  Valley.  After  tiie  Indian 
purchase  of  1768,  he  settled  in  the  Buffalo 
Valley,  enduring  all  tiie  hardships  of  pioneer 
life.  At  the  age  of  twenty-seven  he  was  a 
captain  and  major  on  the  frontiers,  and  at 
the  outset  of  the  Revolution  was  ready  for 
the  conflict;  he  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention of  July  15,  1776,  and  subsequently 
entered  the  army,  having  previously  assisted 
inorganizingthe  associators, being  appointed 
major  in  Col.  James  Potter's  battalion.  After 
the  battle  of  Princeton,  when  Cornwallis  by 
a  forced  march  arrived  at  Stony  Brook, 
General  Washington  sent  an  order  to  Colonel 
Potter  to  destroy  the  bridge  at  Worth's 
Mills  in  sight  of  the  advancing  British. 
Colonel  Potter  ordered  Major  Kelly  to  make 
a  detail  for  that  pur[)Ose,  but  tiie  latter  said 
he  would  not  order  another  to  do  what  some 
might  say  he  was  afraid  to  do  iiimself;  he 
took  a  detachment  and  went  to  work.  The 
enemy  opened  upon  him  a  heavy  fire  of 
round  shot ;  before  all  the  logs  were  cut  off, 
several  balls  struck  the  log  on  which  he 
stood,  and  it  breaking  down  sooner  than  he 
expected,  he  was  precipitated  into  the  stream  ; 
his  party  moved  off,  not  expecting  him  to 
escape.  By  great  exertions  he  reached  the 
shore,  through  the  high  water  and  floating 
timbers,  rnd  followed  the  troops.  Encum- 
bered   as  he  was    with  his    wet  and  frozen 


clothes,  he  succeeded  in  making  prisoner  an 
armed  British  scout,  and  took  him  into 
camp.  During  the  summer  of  1777,  Colonel 
Kelly  commanded  on  the  frontier,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  service  almost  to  the  close  of 
the  Revolution.  The  record  of  his  adven- 
tures during  those  troublesome  times  reads 
like  a  romance.  Colonel  Kelly  was  ap- 
pointed agent  for  confiscated  estates  May  6, 
1778,  and  in  1780  was  chosen  to  the 
Assembly.  He  was  one  of  the  magistrates 
of  Nortliumberland  county  from  August  2, 
1783,  for  upwards  of  twenty  years.  He 
married  Sarah  Polt ,  daughter  of  James 
Polk,  of  the  valley,  d.  January  2,  1831. 
They  had  issue : 

i.  James,  removed  to  Penn's  Valley,  and 
died  there  ;  was  father  of  James  K. 
Kelly,  U.  S.  senator  from  Oregon, 
1872-1878. 
ii.  John,  removed  to  Penn's  Valley. 
Hi.  William,  m.  a  daughter  of  Archibald 
Allison,  of  Centre  county,  and  died 
there  January  27,  1830. 
iv.  Andrew,   b.    1783;  d.  September   24, 

1786;  unm. 
V.  Samuel,  removed  to  Armstrong  county. 

Pa. 
vi.  Elizabeth,  m.  Simeon  Howe. 
vii.  Maria,  d.   January,    1861  ;    ni.    John 

Campbell,  of  Lewisburg. 
viii.  Robert,  b.  1798  ;  d.  April  12,  1865. 
ix.  Joseph,  b.  1793  ;  d.  Marcii  2,  1860. 
:c.  Da.vid-H.,   b.    1803 ;   d.   February   11, 
1875;  was  county  commissioner  of 
Union  county. 

IV.  James  KELLY(Patrick),b.  1781, in  Lon- 
donderry townsliip,  Lancaster,  now  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.;  d.  February  10,  1813;  m. 
Elizabeth  Forster,  daughter  of  James  Forster 
and  Elizabeth  Moore;  b.  1759,  in  London- 
derry township;  d.  September  7,  1822,  in 
Londonderry,  and  with  her  husband  buried 
in  old  Derry  church  graveyard.  They  had 
issue,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to  secure 
their  names. 

V.  Mary  Kelly  (Patrick),  b.  1751  ;  d. 
prior  to  1816  ;  m.  John  Duncan.  They  had 
issue  (surname  Duncan): 

i.  Samuel, 
ii.  William. 
Hi.  Battana. 
iv.  Mary. 

V.  Rachel,  dec'd;  m.  William  Smith,  and 

left  Mary  and  Rachel, 
vi.  Margaret,  m.  Hugh  Dempsey. 


123 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


vii.  James,  m.,  and  \e^t  James,  John,Andrew, 

and  Elizabeth, 
via.  Thomas. 
ix.  David. 
X.  Rebecca,  m.  William  Elliott. 


V.  Abraham,  b.  1780;  d.  1861;  m.,  and 
had  Henry-N.,  Abraham,  Jacob, 
John,  and  Benjamin. 


The  Landis  Family. 

I.  Benjamin  Landis,  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land, and  a  Mennonite  preacher,  came  to 
America  in  1718,  and  took  up  a  tract  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in  now  East 
Lampeter  township,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
where  he  lived  and  died.  Of  his  children, 
we  have  record  of  only  one: 

2.  i.  Benjamin,  b.  1700. 

IL  Benjamin  Landis  (Benjamin),  b.  in 
1700,  in  Switzerland;  came  with  his  father 
to  America  in  1718;  m.,  and  left  issue  : 

3.  i.  Benjamin,  b.  1728. 

4.  ii.  Abraham,  b.  1730. 

5.  Hi.  Jacob,  b.  1732. 

6.  iv.  Henry,  b.  1734. 

in.  BENJ.A.MIN  Landis  (Benjamin,  Benja- 
min), b.  1728  ;  removed  to  a  farm  near  Lan- 
caster in  1753  ;  m.,  and  had  issue : 

i.  Benjamin,  m.,  and   had  John,  Benja- 
min, and  Jacob, 
ii.  Henry,  m.,  and  had  Benjamin,  Henry, 

John,  Isaac,  and  Jacob. 
Hi.  John,  m.,  and   had  John,  Benjamin, 
and  Henry. 

IV.  Abraham  Landis  (Benjamin,  Benja- 
min), m.,  and  had  issue : 

i.  Benjamin,  m.,  antl   had   John,  Abra- 
ham, Benjamin,  and  David, 
ii.  John,  m.,  and    had    John,   Abraham, 
and  Emanuel. 

V.  Jacob  Landis  (Benjamin,  Benjamin), 
m.,  and  had  issue: 

i.  John,  m.,  and  had  Jacob,  Jo)m,  Abra- 
ham,  Benjamin,   Christian,  Martin, 
David,  and  Daniel, 
ii.  Abraham,  m.,and  had  Jacob,  Abraham, 
Benjamin,  John,  and  Adam. 

VI.  Henry  Landis  (Benjamin,  Benjamin), 
m.,  and  had  issue  : 

i.  Benjamin,  m.,  and  had  Daniel,  Henry, 

Benjamin,  and  John, 
ii.  Jolin,Tn.,and  had  Benjamin  and  John. 
Hi.  Henry,    m.,  and    had    Daniel,    Jacob, 

Henry,  and  Isaac. 
iv.  Peter,  m.,  and  had  David. 


The  Larue  Family-. 

I.  JoHAN    George    Larue,   a   native   of 
Switzerland,   emigrated   to   America   about 
1740,  and  located  in   Lancaster  county,  Pa. 
He  left,  among  other  children  : 
2.      i.  Jonas,  b.  August  4,  1709 ;  m.  Barbara 


ii.   George,  d.  January,   1770,  and    left 
Isaac,  Barbara,  Elizabeth,  and  Mar- 
garet. 
Hi.  Isaac,  d.  prior  to  1770,  leaving  a  son 

Henry, 
iv.  Henry. 

V.  Peter,  d.  prior  to  1762  ;  his  wife  Eliza- 
beth subsequently  married  John 
Shertz.  They  had  Joim,  George, 
and  CatJiarine,  who  were  under 
fourteen  in  17G8. 

II.  Jonas  Larue  (Johan-George),  b.  Au- 
gust 4,  1709,  in  Switzerland  ;  d.  -Januar}'  1, 
1760,  in  Paxtang  townsiiip,  Lancaster,  now 

Dauphin  county  ;  his  wife  Barbara  , 

d.  November  4,  1785.     Tiiey  had  issue: 

i.  Henry,  b.  September  24, 1739 ;  d.  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1778. 

ii.  Catharina,  h.  December  31,  1740;  m. 
John  Busart ;  removed  to  Hamil- 
ton township,  Franklin  count}'.  Pa. 

Hi.  Francis,  h.  March  2,  1744;  d.  Febru- 
ary 18,  1795;  unm. 

3.  iv.  Anna-Maria  (Mai'v),  b.  January    10, 

1747;  m.  Joini  Metzgar. 

4.  V.  George,   b.    December    15,    1748 ;    m. 

Anna  Maria  Forshner. 
vi.  Elizabeth,  b.  February    19,  1754;   m. 
Rev.  Frederick  Illing,  of  Caernar- 
von  township,   Lancaster    county. 
Pa. 

5.  vii.  Margarctta,  b.  October  13,  1757;  m. 

Henry    Boal,    of   Northumberland 
county,  Pa. 

III.  Anna  Maria  (Mary)  Larue  (Jonas, 
Johan-George),  b.  January  10,  1747;  d.  No- 
vember 20,  1826,  at  Middletown,  Pa.;  m. 
John  Metzgar,  b.  June  24, 1740 ;  d.  April  24, 
1826,  at  Sliddletown,  and  with  his  wife 
buried  in  the  Lutheran  graveyard.  They 
had  issue  (surname  Metzgar): 

i.  John,  b.  September  13,  1766;  d.  May 
10,  1820. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


129 


ii.  Elizabeth,  h.  October  14,  17G7. 
Hi.  ^■;»)a-i)far("rt,b.  September  20, 1768;  d. 

June  11,  1769. 
iv.  John-George,  b.  October  8,  1769. 
V.  Daniel,  b.  October  30,  1770;  d.  Au- 
gust 28,  1807. 
vl.  Ludivig,  b.  March   21,  1772;  d.    Au- 
gust 3,  1773. 
vii.  Anna-Maria,  b.   November   19,  1773 ; 
d.  April  19,  1850;  m.   Dr.  Charles 
Fisher,   b.   September   8,   1766;  d. 
May  S,  1808. 
via.  Jonas,  b.  September  29,  1775. 
ix.  Catharine,  h.  May  22, 1777  ;  d.  Decem- 
ber  4,  1849  ;'m.  Jacob   Shertz,   b. 
February  20, 1772  ;  d.  May  27, 1 S31. 
X.  Jacob,  b.  March  20,  1779  ;  d.  October 

31,  1817. 
xi.  Rebecca,  b.  December  25,  1781. 
xii.  Charlotte,  b.  June  18,  1784. 
xiii.  Lydia,  b.  June  16,  1786. 
xiv.  Joseph,  b.   December  23,  1789  ;  d.  in 
flarrisburg  in  1S54;  the  fatiier  of 
Larue  Metzgar,  Escp,  of  this  city. 

IV.  George  Larue  (Jonas,  Johan-George), 
b.  December  15,1748;  d.  April  11,1806;  m., 
March  27,  1778,  Anna  Maria  Forshner,  b. 
May  16,  1757,  in  Switzerland  ;  arrived  at 
Phiiadelpliia  October  17, 1772  ;  d.  September 
5,  1789.     They  had  issue : 

i.  yl/ma,  b.  September  11,1779  ;  ra.,  first, 
George  F.  Varnick  ;  secondly,  John 
Lemer. 
ii.  Barbara- Elizabeth,  b.  April  23,   1782  ; 

m.  Robert  M.  Dickey. 
Hi.  Anna-Maria,  b.  June  29,  1784. 
iv.  Anna- Catharine,   b.  July  5,    1789  ;  d. 
October  27,  1806,  near  Harrisburg. 

V.  M.VRGARETTA  Larue  (Jouas,  Joliau- 
George),  b.  October  13,  1757;  m.  Henry 
Boal,  d.  1792,  in  Lower  Paxtang  township. 
Tliey  had  issue : 

i.  Michael,  m.  Anna  . 

ii.  Ccdharine,  m.  Daniel  Warrior. 
Hi.  Margaret,   m.   Michael  Wolf,  b.  1765  ; 
d.  November  25,  1847. 

iv.  Jolin,  d.  1819;  m.  Elizabeth  ; 

removed  to  Chillisquaque,  North- 
umberland county.  Pa.,  where  they 
died.  They  had  "Efea6f//(,m.  Mat- 
thew Laird  ;  Mary,  m.  John  Resnor ; 
Sophia,  m.  Samuel  Woods;  Marga- 
ret, and  Nancy,  m.  J.  Foster  Wilson, 
of  Hartleton. 
V.  Henry,  m.  Rebecca  ;  removed 


to  West  Buffalo,  Northumberland 
county.  Pa. 

vi.  Medaline  (Mary),  m.  Michael  Gross,  of 

Middletown. 
vii.  Amia,  m.  Daniel  Snyder;  removed  to 

Botetourt  county,  Va. 
via.  Elizabeth,  m.  Peter  Snyder,  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Tenn. 

ix.  Veronica   (Frany),   m.    Michael    Kis- 
singer. 

x.  John. 

xi.  Christiana. 


The  Leebrick  Family. 

I.  John. Philip  Leebrick,  b.  in  1896  in 
Manheim,  Germany  ;  d.  1778,  in  Manheim, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.  He  emigrated  to 
America  in  the  year  1750,  locating  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.     His  children  were  : 

2.  i.  John-Philip-Nicliolax,  b.  in    1748  ;  m. 

Catharine  Franks. 
ii.  [j4  dan.'],  m.  Daniel  Bridigam. 
Hi.  Hannah,  m.  Charles  Wilsbach. 
iv.  \_A  dfl?(.],  m.  John  Newman. 

n.  John  Philip  Nicholas  Leebrick 
(John-Philip),  b.  1748,  in  Manheim,  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.;  d.  February,  1788,  in 
Manheim.  He  m.  Catharine  Franks.  They 
had  issue : 

i.  John,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  Catharine,  d.  s.  j). 

3.  Hi.  Philip,  b.  February  7,  1775  ;  m.  Mary 

Gertrude  Cassel. 
iv.  Elizabeth,  m.  Jacob  Swentzell. 

4.  ('.  George,    b.    Februar\'    17,    1779 :    m. 

Mary  Mohr. 

5.  vi.  Mary,  m.  Jacob  Urben. 

vii.  Daniel,  m.  Elizabeth  Peters. 

6.  via.  Salome,  b.  December  14,  1787 ;  m.  Dr. 

John  Eberle. 

HI.  Philip  Leebrick  (John-Philip-Nich- 
olas, John-Philip),  b.  February  7,  1775,  in 
Manheim,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  d.  Novem- 
ber 30,  1827,  at  Hummelstown,  Pa.  He  m. 
Mary  Gertrude  Cassel,  b.  September  24, 1776, 
in  Hanover  township,  Daupliin  county.  Pa.; 
d.  March  23,  1860,  at  Hummelstown ;  and 
with  her  husband  buried  in  the  old  Lutheran 
church  graveyard.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Elizabeth,  h.   1799 ;  m.  Joseph   Hum- 
mel. 
ii.  Rebecca,  m.,  first,   Daniel  Byers ;  sec- 
ondly, Gen.   A.   C.   Harding ;  had 
issue  by  both. 


130 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


Hi.  Mary,   unm.;    resided    at   Hummels- 
towii. 

iv.  Jolni,  m.  Matilda   Fritchey  ;  removed 

to  Indiana. 
V.  George,   m.,  first,   Emily  Goldsmith  ; 
secondly,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Woorall ; 
resided  at  Quincy,  111. 

VI.  Catliarine,  m.,  first,  Enoch  ^V^ade ;  sec- 
ondly, Benjamin  Woorall ;  removed 
to  Burlington,  Iowa. 
vii.  Samuel,  m.,  first,  Rachel  Pierson  ;  sec- 
ondly, Mrs.  Elizabeth  Johnson. 
via.  Sarah,  m.  Elliott  Scott;  removed  to 
DeSoto,  111.  -      . 

ix.  Lucy-Ann,  d.  s.  p. 

IV.  George LEEBRiCK(John-Philip-Nich- 
olas,  John-Phili[)),  b.  February  17,  1779,  at 
Manheim,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.;  d.  March 
12,  1847,  at  Halifax,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.; 
removed  to  Union  county,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  tanning.  In  1812  returned  to  Hal- 
ifax, where  he  erected  a  tannery  and  built  a 
residence.  He  was  engaged  in  this  business 
many  years  in  connection  witli  keeping  a 
general  store.  He  was  strictly  upright  and 
conscientious  in  all  his  transactions  and  en- 
joyed the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  neigh- 
bors. Mr.  Leebrick  married,  March  17,1801, 
by  Rev.  William  Slyer,  Mary  Molir,  of 
Youngwomanstown,  now  Mifilinburg, Union 
county,  Pa.,  b.  December  17,  1777  ;  d.  March 
12,  1849,  at  Halifax,  and  there  buried.  They 
had  issue: 

7.  i.  Catharine,   h.   January    1,    1802;    m. 

William  Parsons. 

8.  a.  John-Philip,  b.    February    10,    1804  ; 

m.  Hannah  Mary  Parke. 
in.  Elizabeth,  h.   February   10,  1806;  m. 

Benjamin  Parke. 
iv.  Sarah,  h.  April  26,  1808. 
V.  Mary,  b.  March  25,  1810. 
vi.  John,  b.  1812;  d.  s.  p. 
mi.  Hannah- Wilsbach,  b.  March  10,  1814. 
via.  George,  h.  March  24,1816;  m.  Henri- 
etta Aston. 
ix.  William-Mohr,  b.  September  12,1819  ; 
d.  at  Davenport,  Iowa. 

V.  Mary  Leebrick  (.John-Philip-Nich- 
olas, John-Philip),  m.  Jacob  Urben.  They 
had  issue  (surname  LTrben) : 

i.  Catharine,  d.  February,  1879;  ra.  John 

Bowes. 
a.  Ambrose,  d.  unm. 

Hi.  George-  W.,  m.  Mary  Green  ;  resided  at 
Dauphin. 


iv.  Fanny,    m.    Colonel    McFadden,    of 

Lewisburg,  Pa. 
V.  Mary,  m.  Jacob  Steel,  of  New  Buff'alo, 

Perry  county.  Pa. 
vi.  John,  m.  Miss  Wade. 

VI.  Salome  Leebrick  (John-Philip-Nich- 
olas, John-Philip),  b.  December  14,  1787,  at 
Manheim,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  m.,  Julyl, 
1810,  Dr.  .John  Eberle.  They  had  issue(sur- 
name  Eberle) : 

i.  Richard,  m.  Miss  Higbee. 
ii.  John,(i.  s.  p. 

Hi.  Catharine,  m.  Mr.  Bacon,  of  Dayton,  0. 
iv.  Augustus,  m.  Miss  Taylor,  of  Kentucky. 
V.  Margaret,  m.  0.  F.  Mayonne. 
vi.  Lucretia,    d.    at     Halifax,     Dauphin 

county.  Pa.;  unm. 
vii.  Edward, 
via.  Charles. 

VII.  Catharine  Leebrick  (George,  John- 
Piiilip-Nicholas,  John-Philip),  b.  January  1, 
1802,  at  Mifilinburg,  Union  countv,  Pa.;  d. 
June  24, 1871  ;  m.,  October  26, 182b\  William 
Parsons,  who  d.  March  23,  1842,  at  Halifax. 
They  had  issue  (surname  Parsons) : 

i.  George- Leebrick. 
ii.  William-H.,  m.  Ellen  Singer. 
Hi.  John-Emery,  m.  Georgiana  Parke,  dau. 
of  Benjamin  Parke  and   Elizabeth 
Leebrick. 
iv.  Jarnes-Mohr,  m.  Mary  Meek. 

VIII.  John  Philip  Leebrick  (George, 
John-Philip-Nicholas,  John-Philip),  b.  Feb" 
ruary  10, 1804,  at  Mifilinburg,  Union  countv 
Pa. ;  d.  April  24,  1862,  at  Halifax.  Mr'' 
Leebrick  was  an  enterprising  and  leading 
citizen  of  his  adopted  home.  He  built  the 
section  of  the  Wiconisco  canal  at  Halifax ; 
was  for  many  years  director  of  the  Harris- 
burg  Bank,  and  succeeded  his  father  in  the 
mercantile  trade.  He  m.,  February  17, 1831, 
Hannah  Mary  Parke,  b.  July  25,  1804,  in 
Susquehanna  county.  Pa.;  d.  May  2, 1852,  at 
Halifax,  Pa.;  dau.  of  Thomas  Parke  and  Eu- 
nice Champlin.     They  had  issue  : 

i.  Ellen,  d .  s.  ]). 
ii.  John-Eberle,  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  Loxuisa- Parke. 
iv.  Anna-Mary,  d.  s.  p. 
V.  Henry- Clay,  d.  s.  p. 
vi.  George- Thomas,  m.  Sarah  Noblet,  dau. 
of   Samuel   Noblet  and  Susannah 
Ettin. 


DAUrHIN  COUNTY. 


131 


The  Lehman  Family. 

I.  Martin  Lehman  was  born  January  1, 
1744,  in  Wiesbaden,  Germany,  coming  to 
America  with  liis  parents  in  174G.  Tiie 
latter  located  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  on  a 
tract  of  land  north  of  Reading.  Martin 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  after 
his  marriage  purchased  some  fifty  acres  near 
where  the  town  of  Pinegrove,  Schuylkill 
county,  is  located.  Here  he  built  a  log 
cabin,  cut  out  doors  and  windows  and  re- 
moved there  with  his  wife.  The  place  was 
surrounded  by  wild  beasts,  and  during  the 
absence  of  Mr.  Lehman,  his  wife  would  fre- 
quently rise  from  her  bed  and  shoot  from  a 
rifle  at  the  wolves  to  drive  them  away. 
Deer  and  other  game  were  plentiful  and 
supplied  their  table.  Much  of  the  time  Mr. 
Lehman  was  employed  building  cabins  in 
Lykens  Valley. 

The  soil,  however,  not  being  very  produc- 
tive, in  the  year  1796  he  removed  to  Lancas- 
ter county  on  a  farm  belonging  to  .James 
Patterson  who  was  then  in  his  minority  and 
under  the  guardianship  of  his  brother 
Arthur.  This  farm  lies  on  Little  Chickies 
creek  one  half  a  mile  east  of  the  town  of 
Mount  Jo3^  Here  he  resided  for  a  number 
of  years.  Martin  Lehman  d.  September  13, 
1801.  Frederica  C,  his  wife,  b.  March  4, 
1751 ;  d.  September  8,  1822;  both  buried  in 
Manheim,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  Their  chil- 
dren were : 

i.  Catharine,  h.  November  23,  1773;  d. 
June  17,  1844;  m.  Jacob  Hiestand, 
b.  November  12,  1707 ;  d.  June  27, 
1834;  both  buried  in  Mount  Joy. 
They  had  one  daughter  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Christian  Heist- 
and,  whose  farm  lies  adjoining 
the  village  of  Landisville,  seven 
miles  west  of  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
on  the  pike  to  Harrisburg.  Here 
they  resided  long  enough  to  raise  a 
family  of  ten  children  to  mature 
age.  These  children  all  remained 
in  that  and  the  adjoining  counties, 
except  John,  the  eldest,  who  went 
to  California  and  died  there.  Four 
are  dead,  and  six  survive  of  the  de- 
scendants of  Catharine. 
a.  Henry,  b.  December  19, 1775  ;  d.  June 
13,  1847 ;  m.  Margaret  Oberlin  ; 
both  buried  at  Salem  church,  Salem 
township,  Wayne  county,  0.  They 
had   six   children,   to   wit:    Mary, 


David,  Catharine,  Sarah,  John,  and 
Elizabeth.  Mary  married  George 
Johns,  and  had  two  children,  when 
he  died.  Her  second  husband  was 
William  Beck  and  they  had  four 
children.  She  is  now  a  widow. 
Two  of  her  sons  are  preachers  of 
the  Gospel,  and  one  lives  in  Ne- 
vada. The  second  of  Henry's  chil- 
dred,  David,  married  Susan  Bit- 
ner,  and  tlieir  children  were  Sarah 
Jacob,  Christian,  Elizabeth,  Harriet, 
Mary,  David,  Henry,  Daniel,  and 
Simon.  Henry's  daughter  Catha- 
rine married  Benjamin  Brubaker, 
and  tiiey  had  six  sons  and  six 
daughters,  of  whom  only  David 
and  Peter  survive  of  the  sons,  and 
of  the  daughters,  Leah,  Sarah,  and 
Fanny.  Henry's  daughter  Sarah 
married  S.  Zimmerman  and  they 
had  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  of 
whom  only  Jacob,  David,  Fanny, 
Sarah,  and  Martha  are  living.  The 
fifth  member  of  Henry's  family 
was  John,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Storet.  They  had  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  John,  Daniel, 
and  Catiiarine  are  dead — Joseph, 
Henry,  David,  and  Margaret  surviv- 
ing their  parents.  Henry'sdaughter 
Elizabeth  married  David  Switzer. 
They  raised  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren: Henry-R.,  Annie,  John,  Sarah, 
Harriet,  Mary-Ann,  Elizabeth,  Da- 
vid, and  Philena,  all  now  living  ex- 
cept Mary-Ann. 
Hi.  Christian,  h.  May  28, 1778  ;  d.  August 

9,  1847;  m.  Nancy ;  buried 

in  Middletown,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.  They  had  a  large  family,  but 
they  nearly  all  died  young,  Henry- 
R.  and  Martin  only  surviving  their 
parents. 
iv.  George,  b.  June  11,  1781  ;  d.  Septem- 
ber 10,  1819;  buried  in  Manheim, 
Pa.;  m.  M.  Stohler,  b.  August  19, 
1787  ;  d.  December  19, 1881 ;  buried 
at  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Henry,  m.  Miss  Han- 
nah ;  removed  to  Philadelphia  ;  left 
children :  Louis,  George,  Alfred, 
Caroline,  Amanda,  and  Emma ; 
Catharine,  and  Christianna. 
V.  Mary,  b.  March  25,  1784;  d.  Decem- 
ber 16,  1860;  buried  at  Salem 
church  ;  m!  Adam  Leister,  d.  April, 


132 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


1823 ;  buried  in  old  Lutheran  grave- 
yard, Middletown,  Pa.  Tiiey  liad 
issue  (surname  Leister) :  Nancy,  m. 
Benjamin  Leib,  and  they  liad  issue 
(surname  Leib):  Daniel,  Adam, 
William,  Samuel,  Sarah,  Eliza,  and 
Mary ;  Christian,  Martin,  Henry, 
and  Fanny,  m.  Levi  Strayer,  and 
they  had  (surname  Strayer):  Fanny, 
Mary,  Catharine,  John,  and  Sam- 
uel ;  Abraham,  and  Catharine. 

vi.  Martin,  b.  August  8,   1787  ;  d.  April 

14,    1803;     m.  Martin,    b. 

January  24,1789;  d.  October  25, 
18G1 ;  buried  in  Napiersville,  Du- 
page county,  111.;  they  had  issue : 
John,  Henry,  d.  s.  p.,  Daniel,  Fanny, 
resided  in  Clarion  county,  Pa., 
Catharine,  Martha,  resided  in  Lan- 
caster county,  Catharine,  resided  in 
Progress,  Daupliin  county,  and 
Eliza,  d.  s.  p. 

vii.  John,  b.  August  14,  1790;  d.  July  14, 
1886;  m.,  first,  Christina  Smitii,  b. 
January  24,  1790 ;  d.  July  13, 1823; 
buried  at  Wooster,  0.;  m.,  secondlv, 

Nancy ,  b.  May  25,  1802;  d. 

Augn.st  28,  1867  ;  buried  at  Salem 
church,  Wayne  county,  0.  By  his 
first  wife  John  Lehman  had  one 
son  and  tliree  daughters.  By  his 
second  marriage  there  were  twelve 
children.  Of  all  this  number  the 
following  survived  their  father: 
Benjamin,  the  eldest,  in  1886  resid- 
ing in  Vendura  county,  Cal.,  aged 
71  ;  Cyrus-E.,  tlie  youngest,  residing 
in  San  Bernardino,  Cal.,  aged  40  ; 
John-H,  residing  in  St.  Clair 
county.  111.;  Martin-B.,  residing  in 
St.  Clair  county.  111. ;  Ephraim, 
George,  Maria,  m.  Albert  Miller — 
these  reside  in  Wayne  county,  0. ; 
Sarah,  m.  Mr.  Trome,  lives  in 
Wooster,  0.;  Caroline,  m.  Dr.  Folfz, 
resides  in  Akron,  0. 


a.  Frederick,  b.  1734. 
Hi.  Jacob,  b.  1736. 

iv.  Martin,  b.  1738  ;  m.  Elizabeth ; 

resided  in  Paxtang  in  1789. 
V.  Nicholas,  h.  1740. 
2.     vi.  Thomas,   b.    1742 ;     m.    Anna   Mary 


The  Lixgle  Family. 

I.  Paul  Lingle,  a  native  of  Switzerland, 
of  Huguenot  ancestry,  was  born  about  1709  ; 
emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  in  Tulpe- 
hocken  township,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  where 
he  died  about  tlie  first  of  June,  1786,  leaving 
a  wife  Catharine,  and  qhildren  as  follows: 
i.  John,\h.  1732. 


vii.  Mary,  b.  1744  ;  m.  Jacob  Siioll. 
via.  Conrad,  b.  1746. 
ix.  Stephen,  b.  1748. 

3.  X.  Simon,  h.  1750  ;  m.,  and  left  issue. 
xi.  Casper,  h.  1753. 

II.  Thomas  Lingle  (Paul),  b.  1750,  in 
Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county,  Pa.; 
d.  in  November,  1811,  at  Linglestown  ;  m. 
Anna  Mary ,  b.  about  1753,  in  Tulpe- 
hocken townsiiip,  Berks  county.  Pa.;  d.  at 
Linglestown.     They  had  issue: 

4.  i.  Paul,  b.  January  24,  1775  ;  m.   Mary 

Spohn. 

5.  ii.  John,  b.  1778  ;  m.  Barbara  . 

6.  Hi.  David,    h.   December    29,    1781  ;    m. 

Sarah  Light. 
iv.  Leonard,  b.  1783. 
v.  Anna-Mary  (Maria),  b.  1785  ;  m.,  No- 
vember 29, 1813,  Thomas  Wenrick. 
vi.  Christina,  b.  1787. 
vii.  Simon,  b.   1789 ;  m.,  March   7,    1811, 

Susanna  Steener. 
via.  Joseph,  h.  1791. 

7.  ix.  Thomas,  b.  1793  ;  m.  Susanna  Hinkel. 

X.  Elizabeth,  b.  1795 ;  m.  John  Smith. 

III.  Simon  Lingle  (Paul),  b.  about  1750 
in  Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county,  Pa.; 
d.  in  1805;  m.,and  had  issue: 

8.  i.  Jacob,  b.  1788 ;  m.,  and  left  issue. 
ii.  Thomas,  b.  1790. 

Hi.  John,  b.  1792. 
iv.  Samuel,  b.  1794. 
v.  Daniel,  b.  1796. 
vi.  Mary,  b.  1798. 
vii.  Betsy,  b.  1800. 
via.  Catharine,  b.  1802. 
ix.  David,  b.  1804. 

IV.  Paul  Lingle  (Thomas,  Paul),  b.  Jan- 
uary 24,  1775,  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.;  d. 
Februarv  1,  1856,  in  Centre  county.  Pa.;  m., 
January  8,  1800,  Mary  Spohn,  b.  March  31, 
1781,  in  Dauphin  count}'.  Pa.;  d.  October  14, 
1863,  in  Centre  county,  Pa.;  daughter  of  Got- 
leib  Spohn.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Mary.h.   November  26,1800;  m.,  in 
1823,  Samuel    McNitt,  of    Mifilin 
count}',  Pa. 
ii.  John,  h.  May  16, 1802  ;  m.  Sarah  Mil- 
ler ;  removed  to  Ohio. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


133 


Hi.  Catharine,  b.  March  28,  1804 ;  d.  No- 
vember 16,  1804. 

iv.  Simon,  b.  December  22,  1<S05 ;  m. 
Susannah  Kuhnes  ;  resided  in  Cen- 
tre count}'.  Pa. 
V.  Thomas,  b.  October  21, 1807  ;  m.,  and 
in  1832  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he 
now  resides. 

vi.  Jane,  h.  Jul}'  8, 1809  ;  m.  John  Baker; 

removed  to  Oliio. 
vii.  Josejih-J.,  h.  March  2,  1811;  m.,  and 
removed  to  Centre  county,  Pa., 
where  he  was  sherif['  from  1851  to 
1854;  resided  at  Bellefonte. 
viii.  David,  b.  December  18,  1812  ;  m.,  and 
removed  to  Iowa. 

V.  JiiHN  LiNGLE  (Thomas,  Paul),  d.  in 
November,  1823 ;  leaving  a  wife  Barbara, 
and  issue  as  follows : 

i.  Sarah.  ^ 

ii.  Daniel. 
Hi.  Levi, 
iv.  John. 

VI.  David  Lingle  (Thomas,  Paul),  b. 
December  29,  1781,  in  Paxtang  township; 
d.  March  13,  1849,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. ;  m. 
Sarah  Light,  b.  May  13,  1792,  in  Paxtang 
township;  d.  March  1,  1869,  at  Rock  Island, 
111. ;  daughter  of  John  Light.  They  had 
issue,  all  born  at  Harrisburg : 

i.  Sarah,  m.  Samuel  Berry  and  left 
issue. 

ii.  Joseph,   ra.,   first,    Ellen    Horner,   of 

Philadelphia ;     secondly, 

Garverich  ;  thirdly,  Sarah  Steel. 

Hi.  Mary,  d.  unm. 

iv.  John-Light,  m.,  first,  Sarah  Forney, 
of  Lancaster ;  secondly,  Rebecca 
Prowell. 

V.  Rebecca,  d.  s.  p. 

vi.  David,  d.  1878,  at  Chicago,  111.;  m. 
Regina  Bowman,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Bowman,  of  Cumberland. 

VII.  Thomas  Lingle  (Thomas,  Paul),  d. 
November,  1821 ;  m..  May  24,  1814,  Susanna 
Hinkel  (who  in  1831  was  the  wife  of  Peter 
Hollies).     They  had  issue : 

i.  John,  residing  in  Philadelphia. 
ii.  Thomas. 

Hi.  Mary,  m.  Joseph  Light,  of  Swatara. 
iv.  Joscpli,  b.  1810,  of  Philadelphia. 

V.  Willimn,  b.  1812. 
vi.  Simon,  b.  1814. 
vii.  Isaac,  b.  1820;  d.  s.  p. 

VIII.  Jacob     Lingle    (Simon,    Thomas, 


Paul),   b.   in    1788 ;  d.  July  20,  1847  ;   m., 
and  had  is.sue : 
i.  Benjamin. 

ii.  Barbara,  m.  William  Ewiug. 
Hi.  Catharine, 
iv.  Eve. 
V.  Anna, 
vi.  David. 

ix.  Elizabeth,  b.    .January   25,   1815 ;    m. 
Amos  V.  Patten  ;  settled  iu  Mich- 
igan. 
X.  William,  b.  March   8,   1817 ;  m.  and 
removed    to  Ohio,  where  he  died 
some  twenty  vears  ago. 
xi.Ann-M.,  b.  March  4,1819;  m.  Will- 
iam  Williams,  of  Clinton   county. 
Pa. 
xii.  Alexander,  b.  February  29,  1821 ;  m., 

and  resided  at  Halifax. 
xHi.  George-W.,  b.  April  6,  1823  ;  m.,  and 
resided  near  Beech  Creek,  Clinton 
county.  Pa. 
xiv.  James,  h.  November  9,  1825  ;  m.,  and 
resided  near  Milesburg,  Centre 
county,  Pa. 


McClures  of  Paxtang  and  Hanover. 

I.  Richard  McClure,  an  emigrant  from 
the  north  of  Ireland,  settled  prior  to  1730  in 
Paxtang  township,  then  Lancaster  county. 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,  where  betook  up 
a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres  of  land.  Of  his 
children,  all  born  in  Ireland,  we  have  the 
following : 

2.  i.  Thomas. 

3.  ii.  Charles. 

4.  Hi.  John. 

5.  iv.  Pdchard. 

II.  ThOxMas  McClure,  son  of  Richard 
McClure,  b.  in  north  of  Ireland  ;  d.  in  17G5, 
in  Paxtang,  whence  he  emigrated  ;  m.  Mary 

-,  who  d.  April,  1773,    in   Hanover. 


-,in  1773.  They 


They  had  is.sue : 

i.  John,  m.  Mary 

resided   in   Mt.  Pleasant  township, 

York  county.  Pa. 
ii.  William. 
Hi.  Mary,  m.,  February   6,   1759,  Joseph 

Sherer. 
iv.  Martha,  m.  Andrew  Wilson. 
V.  Jean,  m.  James  Burney. 
vi.  Thomas,  m.  Mary  Harve}'. 

III.  Charles  McCLURE(Richard),b.  prior 
to  1761,  leaving  a  wife  Eleanor,  and  chil- 
dren as  follows : 


134 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


i.  Arthur. 
it.  Rebecca, 
hi.  Jennett. 
iv.  William. 
V.  John, 
vi.  Martha. 
vii.  Eleanor, 
via.  Charles, 
ix.  Margaret. 

IV.  John  McClure  (Richard),  b.  in  1762, 

in    Hanover ;    m.    Margery .     They 

had  issue : 

i.  James,  b.  1738  ;  d.  November  14, 1805, 

in  Hanover;  m.  Mary  Espy. 
a.  William. 

Hi.  Jane,  m.  William  Waugh. 
iv.  Ann. 

V.  Richard  McClure  (Richard),  m.,and 
left  issue : 

i.  Alexander,  m.  Martha . 

7.  ii.  William,  m.  Margaret  Wright. 

8.  Hi.  Jonathan,  m.  Sarah  Hays. 

iv  Andrew,  m.  Margaret . 

V.  Roan,  removed  to  White  Deer  Valley, 
Northumberland  county ;  d.  Octo- 
ber 8,   1833  ;  m.  Hannah   , 

d.  August  20,  1828. 
vi.  Margaret,  m.,  September  7, 1757,  John 

Steel. 
vii.  David,  m.  Margaret  Lecky. 
via.  Katharine,  m.  Robert  Fruit. 

VI.  Thomas  McClure  (Thomas,  Richard), 
d.  January,  1778,  in  Hanover;  m.,  in  1761, 
Mary  Harvey.     They  had  issue  : 

i.  William,  m.  Agues  Lewis. 
a.  Thomas. 
Hi.  Martha,  m.  Andrew  Wilson,  and   had 

Martha, 
iv.  Marg,  m.  James  George. 

V.  Sarah,  m.  Daniel  McGuire. 

VI.  Jean,  m.  Samuel  Moor. 

VII.  William  McClure  (Richard,  Rich- 
ard), d.  April,  1785,  in  Paxtang  ;  m.  Marga- 
ret Wright,  daughter  of  Robert  Wright. 
They  had  issue  : 

i.  Robert,  b.   December    18,    1763 ;    m- 

Priscilla . 

ii.  Rebecca,  in.  Peter  Sturgeon. 
Hi.  Mary,  in.  Samuel  Russell. 
iv.  Sarah,    m.    David    Riddle,  of    York 

county.  Pa. 
V.  Margaret,  m.  James  Crain. 
vi:  Jean,  b.  1788  ;  d.  December  21,  1876, 
in  Buffalo  Valley. 


VIII.  Jonathan  McClure  (Richard, 
Richard),  b.  1745,  in  Paxtang  ;  d.  December 
11,  1799;  m.,  November  10,  1768,  Sarah 
Hays,  of  Derry.     They  had  issue  : 

i.  Roan,  removed  to  Buffalo  Valley. 
ii.  Mary. 
Hi.  Matthew, 
iv.  Jonathan. 
V.  Sarah. 


A  Mitchell  Family. 

I.  Joseph  Mitchell,  b.  October  22,  1783  ; 
d.  February  12, 1832 ;  m..  May  5, 1808,  Eliza- 
beth Zearing,*  b.  December  13, 1789,  at  Leba- 
non ;  d.  June  4,  1859,  at  Harrisburg,  and 
with  her  husband  there  buried.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  Joseph,  b.  April  10, 1809  ;  d.  s.  p. 

2.  ii.  Susan,  h.  September  5, 1810;  ra.  Moses 

Sullivan. 

3.  Hi.  John,  b.  July  31, 1813 ;  m.  Julia  Light- 

ner. 

4.  iv.  William,  h.  September  17,  1814;  m. 

Angelica  Ehrman. 

5.  V.  Henry- Zearing,  b.  November  30, 1816; 

m.  Elizabeth  Cannon. 

6.  vi.  Mary- Elizabeth,  h.  December  15, 1818  ; 

m.  Andrew  Cams. 

7.  vii.  Rev.  James,  h.  February  18,  1822;  m. 

Mary  A.  Allen. 

8.  via.  Lewis- Zearing,  b.  December  12,  1824 ; 

m.  Anna  McBride. 

II.  Susan  Mitchell  (Joseph),  b.  Septem- 

*  Elizabeth  Zearing  was  the  daughter  of  Henry 
Zearing  (1760-1798)  and  Maria  Elizabeth  Kupp 
(I762-IS36).  They  resided  near  Jonestown.  They 
had  children  : 

i.  Henry,  b.    September  26,  1783;  d.  February 
21.  1830:  m.  Margaret  Ely,  b.   March  1, 
1781  ;  d.  .July  28,  1866. 
ii.  Jonas,  b.  May  4,  1785  :  d.  December  20,  1831  ; 
m.  Anna  Barbara  Evers,  b.   in  1795;  d. 
September  26,  1860. 
Hi.  Lewis,  b.  January  15,  1787;  d.  May  8.  1845; 
m.  Elizabeth   Bobb,  b.  January   10,   1792  ; 
d.  March  24,  1809. 
iv.  Elizabeth,  b.  December  13,  1789  ;  d.  June  4, 
1859;  m.  Joseph  Mitchell,  b.  October  22, 
1783;  d.  February  12,  1832. 
V.  Jacob,  b.  November  6,  1790  ;  m.  Susan  Peter- 
man,  b.  March  27,  1789;  d.  March  7, 1836. 
vi.  John,  b.  September  20.  1792  ;  d.  October   5, 
1846  ;  m.  Margaret  Herman,  b.  August  28, 
1793;  d.  October  17,  1859. 
vii.  Martin,  b.  July  4,  1794;  d.  July  24,  1855  ;  m. 
Sarah  Shafer,  b.  May  9,  1797  ;  d.  Febru- 
ary 4,  1869. 
via.  David,  b.  May  7,  1796  ;  d.  s.  p. 
ix.  Anna-Maria    (posthumous),   b.    March    17, 
1798;  d.  s.  p. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY 


135 


ber  5,  1810,  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.;  m. 
Moses  Sullivan,  b.  October  9,  1786 ;  d.  May 
29,  1839,  at  Butler;  son  of  Charles  Sullivan, 
of  Butler,  Pa.  Mr.  Sullivan  edited  a  news- 
paper at  Butler,  was  a  member  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Plouse  of  Representatives  three 
years  a,nd  of  tlie  Senate  eight  years;  and 
from  1835  to  1838  canal  commissioner  under 
the  administration  of  Governor  Ritner.  They 
had  issue  (surname  Sullivan); 

i.  Aaron,  lieutenant  of  Ninth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania    cavalry,    and    died 
from  wounds  received  in  battle. 
ii.  Mavj/. 
Hi.  Moses,  d.  s.  p. 

III.  John  Mitchell  (Joseph),  b.  July  31, 
1813,  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.;  m.  Julia 
Lightner,  b.  September  3,  1826,  daughter  of 
Isaac  Lightner.     They    had  issue  : 

i.  William, 
ii.  Louisa,  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  Manj-A. 

iv.  Melvina,  m.  Carl  L.  Shulten. 
V.  Morrison. 

IV.  William  Mitch kll  (Joseph),  b.  Sep- 
tember 17,  1814,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  d.  De- 
cember 16,  1884,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and 
there  buried ;  m.  Angelica  Elirman,  daughter 
of  Christian  Ehrman  and  Mary  F.  Etzler. 
They  had  issue  : 

i.  Maru-Augusla,  m.  Rev.  Solomon  Hub- 
bard Hoover. 

ii.  William-Sullivan,  d.  s.  p. 

Hi.  Ehrman- Buckman,  b.  April  11,  1854; 
graduated  from  Dickinson  College 
in  1874;  adnntted  to  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  in  j.875 ;  was  elected 
prothonotary  of  Daupliin  countv 
in  1879  and  re-elected  in  1882  ;  is 
now  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession. 

iv.  Samuel-Morton,  d.  s.  p. 

V.  Henry  Zearing  Mitchell  (Jo.sepli) 
b.  November  30,  1816  ;  in.  Elizabetii  Cannon 
ol  Pittsburgh,  Pa.     They  had  issue: 

i.    William-Bell, 
ii.  Mary- Cannon. 
Hi.  James-Swisshelm. 
iv.  Jenny- Gray. 
V.  Charles-Sumner. 

VI.  Mary  Elizabeth  Mitchell  (Joseidi), 
b.  December  15,  1818;  m.  Andrew  Cams,' 
b.  February  21,1814;  d.  December  27,1865, 
m  Mercer  county.  111.  They  had  issue  (sur- 
name Cams): 


i.  Henry- Mitchell,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  John-Craivford,  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  Andrew,  m.  Harriet  Walker. 

VII.  James  Mitchell  (Joseph),  b.  Febru- 
ary   18,    1822;    a    minister    in    tlie    M.   E 
Church;    m.   Mary   A.   Allen,  daugliter  of 
Seth  Harding  Allen  and  Eiizabetii  Vaniiorn. 
They  had  issue: 

i.  G.-  W.-Lybrand. 
ii.  Edivin-  Waterman. 
Hi.  Ida- Allen, 
iv.  Laura-Reamy. 

V.  Sarah-Geiger. 

VIII.  Lewis  Zearing  Mitchell  (Joseph), 
b.  September  12,1824;  an  attorney-at-law; 
meinber  of  tlie  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1873.  from  Butler  county;  m.  Anna  Mc- 
Bride,  of  Butler.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Mary- Elizabeth, 
ii.  Sarah-Jane. 
Hi.  Joseph, 
iv.  Lewis- Heiner. 
V.  George,  d.  s.  p. 
vi.  Frank,  d.  s.  p. 
vH.  Henry- Zearing,  d.  s.  p. 
viii.  Paul. 
ix.  William,  d.  s.  p. 
X.  Aaron,  d.  s.  p. 


The  Nissley  Family. 

I.Jacob  Nissley,  the  original  settler  of 
the  family,  emigrated  to  America  from  the 
Palatinate,  Germany,  at  an  eariv  date,  locat- 
ing in  now  Mt.  Joy  townsiiip,  J>ancaster 
county.  Pa.     He  had  issue  : 

2.  i.  John,  m.  a  Seegrist. 

3.  ii.  Martin,  m.,  first,  a  Snyder;  secondlv, 

a  Stauffer. 


Vll. 

iv. 

V. 


A  dau. 
A  dau. 
A  dau. 


,  m.  a  Buhrman. 

,  m.  a  Ebersole. 

m.  a  Stewart. 

11.  John    Nissley  (.Jacob),    m.,   and  had 
issue : 

i.  Michael,  b.  1742. 
ii.  Abraham,  b.  1744. 
Hi.  Rev.  John,  b.  1746 ;  ra.  a  Hertzler. 

5.  iv.  Jacob,  b.  1748. 

V.  Fanny,  b.  1759  ;  m.,  first,  a  Frantz  ; 
secondly,  a  Lang  ;  thirdly,  a  Hiest- 
and  ;  d.  1813. 

6.  vi.  Rev.  Samuel,  b.   1761 ;    m.,  first,  Bar- 

bara Kreider;  secondlv,  Anna 
(Muinma)  Kreider;  third'ly,  Maria 
(Long)  Holin. 


136 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


vii.  Martin,  b.  1763 ;  m.  a  Lehman. 

III.  Martin  Nissley  (Jacob),  of  Mt.  Joy, 
wa.s  twice  married ;  first,  to  a  Snyder ; 
secondly,  to  a  Stautfer.     There  was  issue: 

7.  i.  Martin,  b.  1747  ;  d.  1799  ;  m.  Barbara 

Reist. 
a.  John,  b.   1750;  d.  1819;  m.,  first,  Ger- 
trude Shearer ;  secondly,  Eliza  Neff". 
in.  Anna,  b.  1752  ;  d.  1817  ;    m.  Abraham 

Stauff'er,  of  Fayette  county.  Pa. 
iv.  Fanny,  h.  175G;  d.  1840;  m.  J.  Shal- 

lenberger,  of  Ohio. 
V.  Christian,  b.  1759 ;  d.  1822 ;  m.,  first, 

a    Stauffer;     secondly,    Catharine 

Bossier. 
vi.  Barbara,  m.  a  Shelly. 
vii.  Maria,  b.  1763  ;  d.  1811 ;  m.  Christian 

Musser. 

IV.  Rev.  John  Nissley  (John,  Jacob),  b. 
1746  in  Mt.  Joy  township,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.;  d.  in  1825,  in  Paxtang,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.  He  m.  Barbara  Hertzler;  and  they  had 
issue : 

i.  John,  m.  an  Ober. 

8.  ii.  Martin,  b.  1786;  d.  1868;  ra.  Veronica 

Landis. 
Hi.  Maria,  m.,  first,  a   Frantz;  secondly, 
Rudolph  Martin. 

9.  iv.  Jacob,  m.,  first,  a  Nissley ;  secondly, 

Catharine  Eagly. 

V.  Jacob  Nisslfa"  (.John,  Jacob),  b.  1748 
in  Mt.  Joy  township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 
d.  February,  1804,  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
m.  Elizabeth  .     They  had  i-ssue : 

10.  /.  Martin,  m.  a  Kreider. 

ii.  Maria,  b.  1784 ;  m.  a  Bear. 
Hi.  Fanny,  h.   1789;  m.,  April    11,  1809, 

Christian  Mumma. 
iv.  Elizabeth,  b.   1794 ;  m.,  first,  a  Long ; 

secondly,  a  Hershey. 

VI.  Rev.  Samuel  Nissley  (John,  Jacob), 
b.  1761  ;  d.  August,  1838 ;  m.,  first,  Barbara 
Kreider.     They  had  issue  : 

11.  i.  John,  b." December  9,  1786,  in  Rapho 

township,    Lancaster    county,   Pa.; 
m.  Anna  Hershey. 

12.  ii.  Martin,  h.  November  6, 1788;  m.  Anna 

Bomberger. 

13.  Hi.  Samuel,  b.  June  24,  1792 ;  ra.  Anna 

Eby. 

14.  iv.  Rev.  ^Christian,  b.  October  20,   1794; 

m.  Magdalena  Boraberger. 
Rev.  Samuel  Nissley  m.,  secondly,  Anna 
(Mumraa)  Kreider.     They  had  issue: 

V.  Fanny   (Veronica),    b.   in    1798 ;    m. 
Jonas  Eb}'. 


vi.  Jacob,  h.  December  11, 1800,  of  Sport- 
ing Hill,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  ni. 
Barbara  Witmer. 
vii.  Henry,  b.  in  1805;  d.  May,  1841 ;  m. 

Mary  Nissley. 
Rev.  Samuel    Nissley   m.,  thirdly,  Maria 
(Long)  Hohn  ;  no  issue. 

VII.  Martin  Nissley,  Jr.  (Martin,  Ja- 
cob), of  Mount  Joy  township,  Lancaster 
couuty.  Pa.;  b.  1747;  d.  1799;  m.  Barbara 
Reist.     They  had  issue : 

i.  Anna,   h.    1774;   d.    1856;  m.    Jacob 
Stauffer. 

15.  ii.  Rev.    Christian,  b.  1777  ;  d.  1831 ;  m. 

Maria  Kreybill. 
Hi.  Barbara,  h.  1780;  d.  1799. 
m  Rev.    Martin,   b.    1784;  d.  1834;    m. 

Anna  Witmer. 
V.  Peter,  b.  1787  ;  d.  1799. 
vi.  Veronica,  b.  1792  ;  d.  1799. 

VIII.  Martin  Nissley  (.John,  John,  Ja- 
cob), of  Middletown,  b.  1786;  d.  1868;  m. 
Veronica  Landis.     They  had  issue  : 

i.  Nancy,  h.  1808 ;  d.  1841. 
ii.  John,  b.  1810  ;  m.  a  Heiges. 
Hi.  Martin,  b.  1812. 
iv.  Felix,  b.  1814 ;  d.  January,  1864  ;  m. 

Mary . 

V.  Mary,h.  1816;  d.  1847. 
vi.  Fanny,  h.  1820. 
vii.  Isaac,  b.  1822. 
via.  Solomon,  b.  1825. 
ix.  Jacob,  b.  1828. 
X.  Joseph- Herman,  b.  1831. 

IX.  Jacob  Nissley  (John,  John,  Jacob), 
d.  December,  1829,  in  Swatara  township  ; 
w-as  twice  married  ;  m.,  .secondly,  Catharine 
Eagly,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Susanna 
Eagly.     They  had  issue  : 

16.  i.  Jacob,  m.  Barbara  Hoffman. 
ii.  Barbara,  m.  a  Suavely  ;  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  Martin,  m.  Mary  Hoffman. 

iv.  Susanna,  m.  Michael  Barnhard. 
v.  Abraham,  m.,  and  removed  to  Indiana. 

X.  Martin  Nissley  (Jacob,  .John,  .lacob), 
of  Paxtang;  m.  a  Kreider.    Tliey  had  issue: 

i.  John,  d.  May,  1832  ;  m.  a  Roop. 
ii.  Sam,v.el,  m.  Nancy  Wissler. 
Hi.  Maria,  m.  a  Heiges. 
iv.  Catharine,  m.  an  Overholt. 

XL  John  Nissley  (Samuel,  John,  Jacob), 
of  Rapho  township,  Lancaster  county,  b.  De- 
cember 9,  1786 ;  m.  Anna  Hershey.  Tiiey 
had  issue : 

i.  Elizabeth,  b.  1808;  m.  C.  Newcomer. 


DAUFHIN  COUNTY. 


137 


a.  Nancy,  b.  1810  ;  d.  1866;  m.  Levi  Eby. 
Hi.  Fanny,  b.  1812  ;  m.  C.  Nolt. 
iv.  John,  b.  1819 ;  m.  Barbara  Gerber. 
■  V.  Catharine,  b.  1827;  m.  John  Musser. 
vi.  Sarah,  b.  1829  ;  d.  1843. 

XII.  Martin  Nissley  (Samuel,  John, 
Jacob),  of  Rapho,  b.  November  6,  1788;  m., 
in  1810,  Aima  I5omberger,  b.  February  28, 
1791.     They  had  issue : 

i.  Magdalena,  b.  June  25, 1814  ;  m.  Lem. 

Brubaker. 
ii.  Barbara,   b.    February    11,    1818;    d. 
May  13,  1868 ;  m.  Joseph  Witmer 
Nissley. 
Hi.  Nancy  (Anna),  b.  August  22, 1819  ;  d. 

1845;  m.  Emanuel  Cassel. 
iv.  Fanny,  b.  December  3, 1821  ;  m.  Jacob 

Witmer  Snyder. 
V.  Maria,  b.  June  17, 1824;  m.  Benjamin 
Musser. 

XIII.  Samuel  Nissley  (Samuel,  John, 
Jacob),  of  Rapho,  b.  January  24,  1792;  m. 
Anna  Eby.     They  had  issue  : 

i.  Henry,  b.  1814;  d.  1851 ;  m.  Ann  Hos- 

tetter. 
ii.  Fanny,  b.  1816;  m.  Samuel  Snyder. 
Hi.  Christian,  h.  1818  ;  m.  Fanny  Brenne- 

man. 
iv.  Samuel,  b.  1818 ;  m.,  first,  Anna  Long ; 

secondly,  Maria  Hershey. 
V.  Jonas,  b.  1821 ;  d.  1848. 
vi.  Benjamin,  b.  1823  ;  m.  Susan  Stauffer. 
vii.  Catharine, 
via.  David,  m.  a  Rutt. 

XIV.  Rev.  Christian  Nissley  (Samuel, 
John,  Jacob),  of  Chiques,  b.  October  20,  1794; 
m.  Magdalena  Bomberger.    They  had  issue: 

i.  Samuel,  b.  1817 ;  d.  1824. 

ii.  Joseph,  b.  1821 ;  ra.  Martha  Sherch. 
Hi.  Christian,  b.  1825;  d.  1844. 
iv.  Martin-B.,  b.  1829. 

V.  Martha,  m.  Andrew  Gerber. 

XV.  Rev.  Christian  Nissley  (Martin, 
Jacob),  b.  1777,  in  Mount  Joy  township,  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.;  d.  1831;  m.  Maria  Krey- 
bill.     They  had  issue : 

17.  i.  John,  b.  1800;  m.  Barbara  Snyder. 

18.  ii.  Rev.  Peter,  b.  1802;  m.,  first,   a  Wit- 

mer; secondly,  a  Kreider ;  thirdly, 
a  Sherch. 

19.  Hi.  Jacob,  h.  1808  ;  d.  1862 ;  m.  Elizabeth 

Kreybill. 
iv.  Barbara,  b.  1812;  d.  s.  p. 

XVI.  Jacob  Nissley  (Jacob,  John,  John, 


Jacob),  m.  Barbara  Hoffman,  and   removed 
to  Crawford  county.  Pa.     They  had  issue  : 
i.  Mary-Ann,   m.    William    Stough,   of 

Erie. 
ii.  Christian-Joseph. 
Hi.  Jacob-Hoffman,  d.  s.  p. 
iv.  John-K.,  m.  and  removed  to  Iowa. 
V.  Frances,  m.  George  Spitler. 
vi.  Amanda- Elizabeth,       m.       Abraiiam 

Henry. 
vii.  Clara,  m.  David  Espy. 
via.  William-  0. 

XVII.  John  Nissley  (Christian,  Martin, 
Jacob),  b.  1800 ;  m.  Barbara  Snyder.  They 
had  issue : 

i.  Heury-S.,  m.  Anna  B.  Reist. 
ii.  Mary-S.,  m.  Martin  W.  Nissley. 
Hi.  Fanny-S.,  m.  C.  K.  Hostetter. 
iv.  Christian-S.,  m.  Mary  N.  Eby. 
V.  Sarah-S. 

vi.  John-E.,  m.  Sarah  N.  Eby. 
vii.  Barbara-S.,  m.  Samuel  S.  Garver. 

XVIII.  Rev.  Peter  Nissley  (Christian, 
Martin,  Jacob),  1>.  1802  ;  was  thrice  married, 
first,  to  a  Witmer;  secondly,  to  a  Kreider; 
thirdly,  to  a  Shercli ;  and  there  was  issue  : 

i.  Mary-K.,  m.  Solomon  L.  Swartz. 
ii.  Esther-K.,  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  John-K.,  m.  Maria  B.  Reist. 
iv.  Leah-K.,  m.  David  L.  Miller. 
V.  Christian-K.,  d.  s.  p. 
vi.  Barbara-K.,  m.  C.  F.  Hostetter. 
vii.  Catharine-K.,  d.  s.  p. 
via.  Anna-K.,  d.  s.  p. 

XIX.  Jacob  Nissley  (Christian,  Martin, 
Jacob),  b.  1808;  d.  1862,  in  Mount  Joy  town- 
ship, Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  m.  Elizabeth 
Kreybill.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Christian,  d.  s.  p. 
ii.  Jacob-K.,  m.  Anna  Rissor. 
Hi.  Martha,  m.  Elias  Eby. 
iv.  Amos,  d.  s.  p. 

V.  Barbara,  m.  Jonas  E.  Hostetter. 
vi.  Mary,  d.  s.  p. 

vii.  Catharine,  m.  Michael  H.  Engle. 
via.  Elizabeth,  m.  David  Rutt. 
ix.  Anna,  m.  Jacob  Good. 
X.  Samuel,  d.  s.  p. 
xi.  Rebecca,  m.  Jacob  Mumma. 
xii.  Simm-K. 

Owing  to  the  constant  repetition  of  tiie 
baptismal  or  chri.stian  names  in  this,  as  well 
as  other  families,  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to 
dovetail  them.      For  instance,  the  following 


138 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


wliich  is  difficult  to   connect    with  the  pre- 
ceding : 

Abraham  Nissley,  d.  1823  ;  removed  from 
Conoy  to  Franklin  county,  Pa.,  in  1800;  m., 
and  had  issue : 

i.  Elizabeth,  m.  Samuel  Ott. 
a.  Jacob,  m.  Susan  Rutt. 
in.  Mary,  m.  Jacob  Leidig. 
iv.  Herman,  m.  Eliza  Witmer. 
V.  Joseph,  m.  Sarali  Schwartz. 
vi.  Fanny,  h.  1800 ;  d.  1838  ;  m.  Abraham 
Me'tz. 


Kenick  of  Paxtang. 

I.  Thomas  Renick,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
came  with  his  family  to  America  in  1733. 
On  the  27tli  of  March,  1738,  he  took  out  a 
warrant  for  326  acres  in  Paxtang  townsiiip, 
where  he  had  first  settled.  This  land  ad- 
joined lands  of  William  Ritchey  and  Thomas 
Mayes.  Of  his  family  we  have  the  record 
only  of  one  son. 

II.  Wii.i.iAM  Renick  (Thomas),  b.  about 
1740  in  Ireland  ;  d.  prior  to  1763,  in  Pax- 
tang, for  on  the  5th  of  January  that  year  his 
estate  was  divided  ;  and  the  children  sever- 
ally released  tiieir  claims  against  the  estate 
of  their  father  to  their  brother  Henry.  The 
family  at  that  date  were : 

3.  i.  Henry,  b.  1725 ;  m.  Martha  Wilson. 

4.  a.  Thomas,  b.  1730 ;  m.  Jean  . 

Hi.  Margaret,  b.  1733;  resided  in  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa. 

iv.  Alexander,  b.  1736;  resided  in  Cum- 
berland county,  Pa. 
V.  Samuel,  h.  1738 ;  resided  in  Cumber- 
land   county,  Pa.;  m.,  and    had    a 
son   William. 

vi.  William,  b.  1740 ;  resided  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.;  m.,  and  had  a  son 
William. 

vii.  James,  b.  1742 ;  resided  in  Trenton, 
West  Jersey. 

III.  Henky  Renick  (William,  Thomas), 
b.  December  2, 1725,  in  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
m.,  in  1750,  Martha  Wilson.  They  had 
issue : 

i.  William,  b.  Monday,  October  6, 1749; 

d.  March,  1776. 
ii.  Sarah,  b.  Tuesdav,  October  15,  1751 ; 
d.  .March   12,  iS23 ;  m.  John  Wil- 
son, b.  1750 ;  d.  November  11, 1800. 
Hi.  Mary,  h.  Saturday,  August  24,  1754. 
iv.  Martha,  b.   Saturday,   November  30, 
1755 ;  m.  William  Swan. 


V.Esther,  b.  .\ugust  31,  1758;  m.,  De- 
cember 14,  1784,  Robert  Foster,  b. 
1758;  d.  January  20,  1834,  in  Buf- 
falo Valley,  and  left  issue. 

vi.  Margaret,  b. September  12, 1760 ;  d.  s.  p. 

IV.  Thomas  Renick  (William,  Thomas), 
b.  about  1730  in  the  north  of  Ireland ;  d.  in 
April,  1777,  in    Paxtang ;  m.    .Jean    Clark, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Jean  Clark,  of  Upper 
Paxtang;  d.  in  May,  1782.    They  had  issue: 
i.  Mary.  m.  Hugh  Miller. 
ii.  Jean,  m.  Thomas  Brunson. 
Hi.  John,  d.  May,  1784 ;  unm.;  directing 
his  estate  to  be  divided  between  his 
four  sisters  and  his  cousin,  Esther 
Renick. 
iv.  Margaret, 
v.  Ann,  m.  Robert  Boyd. 


The  Sawyer  Family. 

I.  William  Sawyer,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
settled  on  the  Kennebec,  in  Maine,  in  the 
fall  of  1717.  Whether  his  father  ever  came 
to  Pennsylvania  is  doubtful,  but  Will- 
iam located  in  Lancaster  county,  Derry  town- 
ship, prior  to  1735.  He  was  born  in  1703 
and  died  October  18,  1784.  In  old  Derry 
church  graveyard  is  tliis  inscription  : 

In  memory  of  |  William  Saxv-  |  yer,  who 
de-  I  parted  this  Life  |  Oclo'r  the  IS  178J^  \  in 
the  81st  year  |  of  his  age. 

His  wife  Sophia  (maiden  name  not 
known),  b.  in  1705  ;  d.  September  9,  1788, 
and  is  buried  by  his  side.  They  had  issue, 
all  b.  in  Derry  township,  among  others ; 

2.  i.  John,  b.  1729;  m.  Jean  Allen. 

ii.  Hannah,  b.  April  21, 1731  ;  d.  October 
26,  1806 ;  m.  John  Logan,  b. 1729; 
d.  February  21,  1788;  and  there 
was  issue  (surname  Logan) : 

1.  Thomas. 

2.  William. 

3.  John. 

4.  Margaret,  m.  a  Willson. 

5.  Mary,  m.  Samuel  McCleery. 
Hi.  James,  h.  1733. 

3.  iv.  Benjamin,    b.     1735 ;     m.    Margaret 


V.  Thomas,  b.  1737 ;  m.,  March  30,  1762, 

Margaret  McCallen. 
vi.  [A   dau.],   m.   William    Duncan   and 
had  William. 
4.  vii.  William,  h.  1741 ;  m.  Jean  Willson. 

IL  John  Sawyer  (William),  b.  1729;  d. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


139 


i 


1812;  m.,  October  27,  1757,  Jean  Allen,  b. 
1736  ;  dau.  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Allen, 
of  Hanover.     They  had  issue : 

i.  Joseph,  b.  1758  ;  ni.  Elizabeth ; 

removed    to  Pi'eble   count}',  Ohio, 
and  died  there. 
ii.  John,  m.  Mary  Bell,  of  Hanover. 
Hi.   William, 
iv.  Jane,  b.  1764;  d.  November  29,1803; 

m.  Robert  Geddes. 
V.  Elizabeth,  m.  John  Boal. 
vi.  Soplda. 

There  were  other  daughters.  One  mar- 
ried James  Johnston,  removed  in  1727  to 
Fountain  count}',  Ind.,and  died  there.  One 
m.  John  McCord,  and  removed  in  1827  to 
Preble  county,  Oliio.  One  m.  John  Allen, 
and  another  \\'illiam  Sawyer,  a  cousin. 
Concerning  the  latter,  we  have  the  follow- 
ing information : 

Some  years  after  their  marriage  William 
Sawyer  and  his  wife  became  thoroughly  con- 
vinced that  their  marriage  was  wrong  and 
agreed  finally  to  sejiarate.  Accordingly  their 
farm  was  sold  and  the  proceeds  divided. 
Both  loved  each  other  dearly,  and  when  the 
time  came  for  separation  the  ordeal  was  a  se- 
vere one.  After  embracing  his  wife  he  would 
go  a  short  distance,  then  return,  and  so  con- 
tinued for  some  time,  when  at  last,  amid 
tears,  he  passed  out  of  view,  ^^^illiam  Saw- 
yer went  to  the  then  far  West,  engaged  in 
boating  on  the  Ohio,  and  was  subsequently 
drowned  in  the  Kanawha  river  while  taking 
down  a  boat  load  of  salt.  The  widow  of 
William  Sawyer  married  Joseph  Clokey,  who 
left  Ireland  at  the  time  of  the  Rebellion  of 
'98,  immediately  after  the  battle  of  Belany- 
Hinch.  "  I  was  quite  a  boy,"  wrote  the  lale 
Samuel  Barnett,  of  Springfield,  in  1867,  "  at 
the  time,  but  remember  hearing  all  about 
the  case.  He  escaped  almost  by  miracle  to 
this  country."  Mr.  Clokey's  daughter  Eliza 
came  subsequently  to  this  country.  She  mar-, 
ried  a  Mr.  Hughes,  near  Canonsburg,  Pa., 
and  deceased  there,  leaving  two  or  three  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Clokey  was  a  cousin  of  my 
mother's.  She  had  by  tiiis  second  marriage 
two  sons  and  one  daughter.  The  daughter 
married  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  of  Canonsburg, 
and  died  aboui  1866.  Mr.  Clokey  removed 
from  where  he  lived,  near  Hanover  church, 
to  Canonsburg,  about  1813  or  1814.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clokey  deceased  there  a  number 
of  years  ago.  Their  son,  John  Clokey,  mar- 
ried  and  had  a  family.     His  widow  resides 


in  Springfield,  Ohio.  Joseph  Clokey,  the 
other  son,  took  a  college  course  at  Canons- 
burg, studied  theology,  joined  the  Associate 
Reformed  Church  at  the  time  the  union  was 
consummated  between  the  Associate  and  the 
Associate  Reformed  Church,  now  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  afterwards  became 
professor  of  pastoral  theology  in  the  United 
Tlieological  Seminary  at  Xenia,  Ohio.  He 
has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  a 
Patterson,  by  whom  he  liad  a  son  and  daugh- 
ter. The  former  died  at  Springfield,  Ohio  ; 
the  daughter  married  a  Mr.  Henry,  and  re- 
moved to  Illinois.  Dr.  Clokey  married,  sec- 
ondly, a  Mrs.  Waddell,  from  near  Wheeling, 
by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. One  son  is  jireaching  at  Steubenville, 
Ohio  ;  another  at  Indianapolis,  and  the  third 
is  a  lawyer."  The  Rev.  Dr.  Clokey  was  the 
oldest  minister  in  Springfield  at  the  time  this 
letter  of  Mr.  Barnett's  was  written  and  con- 
sidered an  able  divine. 

III.  Benjamin  Sawyer  (William),  b- 
about  1735  in  Derry  township,  then  Lancas" 
ter,  now  Londonderry  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.;  d.  February  5,  1792.  He  mar- 
ried Margaret ,  b.  1737;  d.  1796  ;  and 

they  had  issue : 

i.  Thomas,  m.,  and  had  William,  Jr.,  ra. 

Mary . 

ii.  William. 
Hi.  James, 
iv.  Hannah. 

IV.  William  Sawyer  (William),  b.  about 
1741,  in  Derry  township,  Lancaster  county, 
now  Londonderry  township,  Dauphin 
county;  d.  August  20,  1785.  He  m.,  Octo- 
ber 1,  1761,  by  Rev.  John  Roan,  Jean  Will- 
son.  After  Mr.  Sawyer's  death  she  married 
David  Miskimmins.     They  had  issue: 

i.  Mary,  m.  William  Grain. 
ii.  Margaret,  m.  Archibald  Bovd. 
Hi.  Joseph,  h.  1773  ;  d.  February-  28, 1789; 

bui'ied  in  Derry  churchyard. 
iv.  William,  m.  Esther  Rogers. 
V.  Elizabeth,  m.  Alexander  Weir. 


Shellys  of  Shelly's  Island. 

I.  Daniel  Shelly,  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land, emigrated  to  America  prior  to  1740, 
and  settled  in  Rapiio  township,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.  We  have  the  names  of  only 
tliree  of  his  children — of  one  of  whom,  the 
principal  jjroprietor  of  "  Rich  Island," known 


140 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


afterwards  as  Shelly's  Island,  only  have  we 
data  beyond  the  first  generation.  These 
children  were : 

2.  i.  Christian,  m.,  and  left  issue. 

3.  ii.  Daniel,  m.,  and  left  issue. 

4.  iii.  Jacob,  m.,  and  left  issue. 

II.  Christian  Shelly  (Daniel),  b.  about 
1730,  in  Switzerland  ;  d.  prior  to  1785,  in 
Rapho  township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  left 
a  wife  Maodalena,  who  d.  in  1796,  and  the 
following  issue : 

i.  Peter,  d.  about  1790,  uniu. 

a.  Jacob,  m.  Barbara ,  of  Mt.  Joy 

township,  Lancaster  county. 
Hi.  Abraham,   in.    Catharine 


of 
Rapho  township,  Lancaster  county. 

iv.  Cknstian,  m.  Elizabeth ,  of  Mt. 

Joy  township,  Lancaster  county. 
V.  Magdalena,  m.  Christian    Martin,  of 

Earl  township,  Lancaster  county. 
vi.  Barbara,  m.  Peter  Snevely,  of  Lebanon 

township. 
vii.  Mary,  m.  Christian  Wisler. 
viii.  Ann,  m.  Mark  Martin. 
ix.  Elizabeth,  m.  Samuel    Myer,   Jr.,   of 
Rapho  township. 

III.  Daniel  Shelly  (Daniel),  b.  about 
1737;  d.  in  June,  1802,  on  Shelly's  Island, 
in  the  Susquehanna  ;  was  married  tiiree  or 
four  times — in  177G,  wife  Elizabeth — in  1774, 
wife  Catharine — in  1794,  wife  Barbara.  He 
left  the  following  children  : 

5.  i.  Jacob,  b.  1762  ;  m.  Anne . 

6.  it.  Abraham,     b.     1764;     m.     Rebecca 

7.  iii.  Daniel,  b.  1766. 
■ii;.  Catharine,  h.  1769 ;  m.  Joseph  Rife. 

8.  V.  John,  h.  1774  ;  m.,  and  had  issue. 
vi.  Nancy,  b.  1776  ;  m.  Henry  Etter,  son 

of  Henry  and  Eve  Etter,  of  Derry. 
vii.  Elizabeth,  b.  1779;  m.  Jacob  Bear. 

9.  viii.  Wendle,  b.  1781  ;  m.  Ann  Rife. 

10.  ix.  Susannah,  b.  1783 ;  m.  Henry  Rife. 

X.Mary    (Polly),   b.    1785;    m.    Henry 

Sharrer,  of  Paxtang. 
xi.  Rachel,  h.  1787  ;.m.  Mr.  Brenneman, 

of  Lebanon,  Ohio. 

lY.  Jacob  Shelly  (Daniel),  b.  about 
1740;  d.  prior  to  1790;  his  widow  Mary  in 
1790  was  the  wife  of  Peter  Bowman,  of 
Hempfield  township,  Lancaster  county,  Pa. 
The  issue  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Shelly  were : 

i.  Jacob,  m.  Margaretta . 

ii.  Mary,  m.  John  Grouss. 
iii.  Barbara. 


V.  Jacob  Shelly  (Daniel,  Daniel),  b. 
about  1762,  in  York  county.  Pa.;  d.  in  De- 
cember,   1801,   in    Londonderry    township, 

Dauphin  county   Pa.;   m.   Anne  ,  b. 

1766  ;  d.  January,  1828.  They  had  issue : 
i.  Isaac,  b.  1786  ;  d.  July,  1839 ;  m.,  and 
had  Jacob,  d.  at  York,  Pa.,  Samuel,  of 
Adams  county,  Isaac,  unm.,  Eliza- 
beth, d.  s.  p.,  and  Nancy  (Ann),  m. 
S.  H.  Milligan. 
ii.  Elizabeth,  b.  1788. 

11.  Hi.  Daniel,h.  1790  ;  m.,and  had  Ephraim 

and  Daniel, 
iv.  Nancy,  h.  1792;  d.  prior  to  1811. 
V.  Polly,  b.  1794. 
YI.  Abraham  Shelly  (Daniel,  Daniel), 
b.  about  1764;  d.   prior  to  June,  1815,  in 
Londonderry  township ;  m.,  about  1790,  Re- 
becca   .     They  had  issue : 

12.  i.  Elizabeth,    b.     1790;      m.     William 

13.  ii.  Catharine,  h.  1792 ;  m.  Martin  Crall. 

14.  iii.  Nancy,  h.  1794  ;  m.  George  Etter. 

15.  iv.  Polly    (Mary),  b.    1796;    m.    Henry 

Smith. 
VII.  Daniel  Shelly  (Daniel,  Daniel),  b. 
about  1766;  m.  Elizabeth  Shuman.     They 
had  issue : 

i.  John,  m.,  and  had  Samuel,  Elizabeth, 

m.  Mr.  Bear,  John,  and  Christian. 
ii.  Daniel,  m.,  and  had  Ann,  m.  Mr.  Mil- 
ler, Henry,  and  Mary,  d.  s.  p. 
iii.  Elizabeth,  m.,  John  Sheaffer,  of  Lan- 
caster,   Pa.,   and    had    Bartram-A., 
Ella,  and  Susan, 
iv.  Jacob,  m.,  and  had  Christian,  Mary, 

and  Nancy. 
V.  Weiidle,  va.,  and  had  Daniel  and  Leah, 

m.  George  Souders. 
vi.  Abraham,  d.  s.  p. 
vii.  Mary,  d.  s.  p. 

viii.  Christian,  m.,  and  had  Lydia,  Adeline, 
m.  Mr.  Hoke,  of  Harrisburg,  Oliver, 
Christian- W.,   Henrietta,  m.  George 
R.  Winger,   Catharine,  d.  s.  p.,  and 
Daniel. 
ix.  Abraham,  m.,  and  had  Elizabeth,  ni. 
Mr.  Kass,  Catharine,  m.  Mr.  Bear, 
Bartram,  Henry,  A  Ibert,  Walter,  Ed- 
ward, Swiler,  Latimer,  Lewis,   Mary, 
ra.  Mr.  Croft,  Jane,  m.  Mr.    Pray, 
and  Anna. 
X.  Lydia,  m.  John  Croll,  of  York  county, 
Pa.,  and  had  Martin,  Abraham,  d.  s. 
p.,  and  Arabella,  m.  Mr.  Miller. 

VIII.  John    Shelly    (Daniel),  b.   about 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


141 


1774,  in  Londonderry  township,  Lancaster, 
now  Dauphin  county,  Pa.;  d.  August,  1827  ; 

m.  Lydia .     Tliey  had  issue: 

i.  JoJm-M.,  d.  May,  1835  ;  m.  Lydia  Her- 
man,and  had  Levi-Herraan,  d.  1846, 
John,  Moses,  Benjamin,  d.  s.  p.,  and 
Anna,  in.  Jacob  Miller. 
ii.  Susanna,  m.,  June  4, 1823,  David  Det- 
weiler,  and  had  (surname  Det- 
weiler):  Lydia,  m.  David  Mumma, 
Esq.,  of  Harrisburg,  Ephraim,  resid- 
ing in  Missouri,  and  John-Shelly. 
Hi.  Rachel,  m.,  first,  Abner  CroU,  of  Mid- 
dletown,  and  had  John-Shelly,  Will- 
iam-A.,  Luther-H.,  and  Lydia,  m. 
Jacob  L.  Nissley ;  secondly,  Martin 
Kendig. 

IX.  Wendle  Shelly  (Daniel,  Daniel),  b. 
about  1781,  on  Shelly's  Island;  d.  January 
17, 1831,  in  Londonderry'  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.;  m.  Ann  Rife,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Barbara  Rife;  d.  May,  1845.  They  had 
issue: 

'i.  David-R.,  b.  1806. 

ii.  Elizabeth,  b.  1808  ;  ni.  Abraham  Gish, 
of  Lancaster  county. 
Hi.  Susan,  b.  1810 ;  m.  Daniel  Kendig. 

16.  iv.  Michael,  b.  1812;  m.  Elizabeth  Croll. 

17.  V.  Lydia,  b.  1814;  m.  John  Wolfley. 

vi.  Leah,   b.    1816;    m.    Mr.    Bossier,   of 
Lancaster  county.  Pa. 

X.  Sus.ixXA  Shelly  (Daniel,  Daniel),  b. 
about  1783,  on  Shelly's  Island  ;  m.  Henry 
Rife,  of  Donegal  township,  Lancaster  county; 
d.  1824.     They  had  issue  (surname  Rife): 

i.  Jacob,  b.  1813. 
ii.  Daniel,  b.  1815. 
Hi.  Mary,  b.  1817  ;  m.  John  H.  Achej^,  of 

Dayton,   0.,   and    had    John    and 

Joanna,  m.  Dr.  Neil. 
iv.  Abraham,  b.  1819;  m.  Sarah   Ache}', 

of  Ohio. 
V.  John,   b.    1821  ;    m.,  and    had    John- 

Ellingcr,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and 

George,  of  Baltimore,  Md. 

XL  Daniel  Shelly  (Daniel,  Daniel),  b. 

1790 ;  m.  Magdalena  ,  who  in  1839 

was  the  wife  of  Abraham  Smith.     There  was 
issue : 

i.  Anna,  m.  John  Glatfelter. 
ii.  Susanna,  m.  Joseph  Shickel. 
iii.  Benjamin,  b.  1820. 
iv.  Ephraim,  b.  1822. 
V.  Daniel,  b.  1824. 

XII.  Elizabeth  Shelly  (Abraham,  Dan- 


iel,   Daniel),    b.   about    1794;    m.    William 
Reeser,  of  York  county.  Pa.;  and  they  had 
issue  (surname  Reeser) : 
i.  John, 
ii.  William. 

Hi.  Eliza,    m.    Henry  Beard,  of  Spring- 
field, 0. 
iv.  Sarah,  m.  Samuel  Prowell. 
V.  Susan,  m.  Hiram  Prowell. 
vi.  Alexander. 
vH.  Abraham,  d.  s.  p. 
via.  Henry, 
ix.  George. 

XIII.  Catharine  Shelly  (Abraham, Dan- 
iel, Daniel),  b.  about  1792  ;  m.  Martin  Crall, 
of  York  county.  Pa.;  and  they  had  issue 
(surname  Crall) : 

i.  John. 

H.  Elizabeth,  m.  Michael  Shelly. 
Hi.  Henrietta,  m.  Christian  Shelly. 
iv.  Rachel,  m.  Henry  Still. 
V.  Susan,  d.  s.  p. 

XIV.  Nancy  Shelly'  (Abraham,  Daniel, 
Daniel),  b.  1796,  in  Londonderry  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.;  d.  1826,  at  Middle- 
town  ;  m.,  March  5,  1818,  George  Etter,  of 
Middletown,  b.  1783;  d.  1850;  and  they  had 
issue  (surname  Etter) : 

i.  George-W.,h.  1814;  d.   February  13, 

1882. 
ii.  Maria,  m.  John  Josephus  Walborn. 
Hi.  Ann-Eliza,  m.  Philip  Irwin. 
iv.  Harriet,   h.    1822;  d.    November    18, 

1889;  m.  John  Monaghan. 
V.  Benjamin- Franklin,  b.  September  29, 
1824;  m.  Catharine  A.  Snyder. 

XV.  Mary  Shelly*  (Abraham,  Daniel, 
Daniel),  b.  about  1798,  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, Lancaster  count}',  Pa.;  m.  Henry 
Smith,  of  Middletown ;  and  they  had  issue 
(surname  Smith): 

i.  Sarah,,  m.  Samuel  Jenkins. 
ii.  Elizabeth,  d.  s.  p. 
iii.  Anna-Mary,  m.  A.  H.  Shott. 
iv.  Catharine,  m.  Robert  R.  Church. 

V.  Henry,  d.  s.  p. 

vi.  Margaret-E.,  m.  John  Ringland. 
vii.  Lonisa-J.,  m.  Christian  W.  Kunkel. 

XVI.  Michael  Shelly  (Wendle,. Daniel, 
Daniel),  b.  1812  ;  d.  .January,  1865  ;  m.  Eliza- 
beth Croll.     They  had  issue  : 

i.  David,  m.,  and  had  issue. 
ii.  Wendle. 

Hi.  Anna- Catharine,  m.  0.  T.  Everhart,  of 
Hanover,  Pa. 


142 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


iv.  John-W. 
V.  Jacob. 

vi.  Clara-M.,  m.,  and  had  issue. 
vii.  Elizabeth- Elmira. 
via.  Mary-Louisa, 
ix.  Henry-  Wingert. 

XVII.  Lydia   Shelly   (Wendle,    Daniel, 
Daniel),  b.  1814;  d.  December  24,  1839;  m. 
John  Wolfley,  b.  August  9, 1795  ;  d.  February 
18,  1872,  at'  Middletown.     They    had    issue 
(surname  Wolfley) : 
i.  John, 
ii.  Jacob. 
Hi.  Annice,  m.  Dr.  James  A.  Lowe. 


The  Simpsons  op  Paxtang. 

I.  .John  Simpson,  of  Scotland,  settled  in 
the  north  of  Ireland  after  tiie  battle  of  the 
Boyne,  where  he  died  and  was  buried.  Of  his 
family,  we  have  the  names  of  two  of  his 
sons,  who  were  early  settlers  in  Paxtang, 
coming  to  America  in  1720.     They  were  : 

2.  i.  Thomas,  b.  1683  ;  m.,  and  had  issue. 
ii.  John,  m.,  and  had  issue ;  d.  in  Octo- 
ber, 1738,  in   Paxtang;  in  his  will 
is  designated   "of  Fishing  Creek." 

II.  Thomas  Simpson  (John),  a  native  of 
the  north  of, Ireland,  where  lie  was  born  in 
1683,  emigrated  to  America  in  1720,  and 
settled  in  Paxtang,  then  Conestoga  town- 
ship, Chester  county,  Pa.;  he  died  in  Pax- 
tang in  June,  1761 ;  was  twice  married  ;  by 
first  wife  there  was  issue  : 

3.  i.  Samuel,  h.  1706  ;  m.,  and  left  issue. 
ii.  Joseph,  b.  1708  ;  ni.,  and  left  issue. 

Hi.  William,  b.  1710. 
iv.  Rebecca,  b.  1712. 
V.  John,  b.  1714. 
Bj'  second  wife,  Sarah,  there  was  issue  : 
vi.  Mary,   b.  1732  ;  d.  October  3,  1786  ; 

m.  Rev.  John  Elder. 
vii.  Jean,  b.  1734  ;  d.   February  20,  1777  ; 
m.  William   Kelso,  b.  1737;  d.  No- 
vember 26,   1788;  both   buried  in 
Paxtang  church  graveyard. 

4.  iriii.  Thomas,  h.  1736 ;  m.,  and   had  issue. 

X.  Michael,  b.  1740 ;  became  quite  promi- 
nent in  the  Revolution. 

III.  Samuel  Simpson  (Thomas,  John),  b. 
1708,  in  Paxtang;  d.  in  December,  1791,  in 
Paxtang,  leaving  a  wife,  and  the  following 
issue: 

i.  Jean,  b.  1730. 
ii.  Margaret,  h.  Iv32;  m.,  October  4, 1752, 


William  Augustus  Harris,  b.  1730; 

d.  about  1760 ;  leaving  issue,  John 

and  Simpson,  both  d.  s.  p. 
Hi.  Sai-ah,  b.  1734;  m.  Col.  William  Cooke, 

of  the  Revolution. 
iv.  Samuel,  b.  1730. 
V.  Rebecca,  b.  1738 ;  m.  Thomas  Cavet. 

vi.  Nathaniel,  b.  1740 ;  ra.  Sarah  . 

vii.  Mary,  h.  1741 ;  m.  Robert  Taggart,  of 

Northumberland  county. 

IV.  Thomas  Simpson  (Thomas,  Jolni),  b. 
1736,  in  Paxtang;  d.  February,  1777 ;  m. 
Mary .     They  had  issue : 


i.  Michael. 
ii.  Thomas,  m.   Marj^ 


who   after 


being   left    a    widow    m.    William 
Stewart. 
Hi.  Rebecca. 


The  Sloans  of  Hanover. 

Several  members  of  the  Sloan  family  set- 
tled in  Hanover  as  early  as  1730,  but  in  the 
absence  of  the  assessment  list  it  is  difficult 
to  fix  the  exact  date.  John  Sloan,  who  died 
in  September,  1741,  left  a  wife  Jean,  and 
children,  James,  Robert,  William,  John, 
George,  Sarah,  and  Cinquas.  It  was  John 
Sloan,  the  first,  who  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
Sloans  of  Hanover,  but  the  connecting  link 
we  have  no  knowledge  of.  Several  of  the 
family  followed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sankey  to 
Virginia,  and  iience  the  prominence  of  the 
name  in  the  South. 

On  tlie  tax  and  other  lists  for  1751, 1756 
and  1759  we  have  only  the  names  of  John 
and  Samuel  Sloan.  In  1769,  the  next  list, 
John  disappears,  and  Samuel,  James,  Archi- 
bald, and  Alexander  come  upon  the  stage. 
Samuel  died  during  tlie  Revolutionary  era, 
in  October,  1777,  leaving  brothers  John, 
James,  Archibald,  and  William.  Archibald 
Sloan,  who  married  first  in  1759,  Margaret 
Sloan,  and  secondly  in  1766,  Mary  Craig,  of 
Hanover,  died  in  1793.  Concerning  Alex- 
ander Sloan  we  have  the  following  record : 

Alexander  Sloan,  b.  in  1744 ;  d.  in  Jan- 
uary, 1812;  m.  Jean  Moor.     They  had  issue: 
i.  John,  h.  1767  ;  m.  Elizabeth   French, 
sister  of  Capt.  James  French  ;  re- 
moved to  Ohio  in   1832,  and  died 
there  at  an  advanced  age,  leaving 
a  large  family. 
ii.  Robert,  h.  1769  ;  m.  Sarah  McCormick. 
Hi.  Alexander,  b.  1771  ;  m.  Jane  French, 


/ 


-^ 


^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


145 


sister  of  John's  wife;  d.  at  Williams- 
port,  Pa.,  at  an  advanced  age. 
iv.  Isabella,  b.  1773;  d.  in  18 — ,  unm. 
V.  James,  b.  1775 ;  ni.  Nancy  McCreigiit ; 

d.  December  1,  1820,  in  Hanover. 
vi.  William,  b.  1777;  unm.;  d.  in   1818, 

in  Hanover. 
vii.  Jean.  b.  1781 ;  m.  Alexander   Bell,  of 
Hanover;  d.  in  1832,  in  Ohio. 

Robert  Sloan,  a  native  of  Hanover  town- 
ship, born  in  1709,  was  brought  up  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  subsequent!}'  apjdied 
himself  to  mechanical  pursuits,  and  carried 
on  the  business  of  cabinet-making.  On  the 
30th  of  March,  1799,  he  was  married  by  the 
Rev.  James  Snodgrass  to  Miss  Sarah  Mc- 
Cormick,  of  Hanover,  daughter  of  James 
McCormick  and  Isabella  Dixon.  Siiortly 
after  he  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
but  about  1812  permanently  located  at  Har- 
risburg,  where  he  pursued  his  avocation. 
He  became  one  of  the  old  borough's  promi- 
nent citizens — esteemed  by  all  for  his  in- 
dustry, energy  and  uprightness  of  character. 
He  was  an  elder  in  tlie  First  Presbyterian 
church  thirteen  years,  "  possessing,"  says 
Rev.  Dr.  Robinson,  "  the  confidence  of  the 
church  as  a  man  of  God,  noble  and  blame- 
less in  his  uprightness."  He  died  at  Harris- 
burg,  December  4,  1833,  aged  64  years.  His 
wife,  Sarah  McCormick,  was  one  of  the  most 
amiable  of  women,  whose  life  was  character- 
ized by  a  faithful  devotion  to  all  the  high- 
born virtues  of  Christian  womanhood,  only 
ending  with  iier  days  on  eartli,  which  closed 
on  the  5th  of  April,  1843.  The  children  of 
Robert  and  Sarah  Sloan,  who  reached  matu- 
rity, were  as  follows : 

i.  Eliza,  m.,  first,  Thomas  Baird ;  sec- 
ondly, James  Rutherford  Boyd. 
Mrs.  Boyd  survives  and  resides  in 
Harrisburg. 
a.  Alexander,  m.  Mary  Todd,  of  Hanover, 
daughter  of  Capt.  James  Todd  and 
Sally  Ainsworth.  Mr.  Alexander 
Sloan  survives  and  resides  in  Har- 
risliurg. 
Hi.  Isabella,  m.  Matthew  P.  Kennedy  ;  d. 

in  1877,  at  New  Brighton,  Pa. 
iv.  John,d.  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  in  1874. 
V.  William,  h.  1815;  studied  medicine 
witii  Dr.  Luther  Reily,  graduated 
at  tlie  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  1837  was  appointed  assistant 
surgeon  in  the  U.  S.  army.  He  served 
through   the  Florida  and  Mexican 


wars.  During  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion he  was  medical  director  of 
the  Department  of  the  East,  with 
iieadquarters  in  New  York  city. 
After  the  war  lie  was  transferred  to 
the  Department  of  the  Nortliwest 
and  stationed  at  St.  Paul,  Minn., 
where  he  died  on  the  17tli  of  March, 
1880,  aged  65,  tlie  oldest  surgeon  in 
continued  service  in  the  army. 
-))('.  Mary,  m.  D.  Craighead  ;  d.  in  1866, 
at  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


Stewart  of  Paxtang. 

In  the  graveyard  at  Paxtang  cimrch  are 
the  following  tombstone  inscriptions ; 

In  I  memory  of  \  Andrew  Stewart  \  who  de- 
parted I  this  life  March  \  the  31st  177 J^  \  Aged 
75  years. 

In  I  memory  of  \  Mary  Stewart  |  who  de- 
parted I  this  life  'April  \  30th  1772  \  aged  65 
years. 

Andrew  Stewart  and  Mary  his  wife  came 
from  Scotland  prior  to  1740.  Owing  to  the 
destruction  of  the  assessment  lists  immedi- 
ately subsequent  to  the  formation  of  Lancas- 
ter county,  of  which  the  townsliips  of  Pax- 
tang, Derry  and  Hanover  were  an  integral 
part  upon  its  organization,  it  is  very  difficult 
to  ascertain  the  precise  year  when  the  early 
settlers  located  here.  Of  the  fanrily  of  Stew- 
art there  were  at  least  three  distinct  heads. 
The  name  is  inditierently  spelled  Stuart  and 
Stewart,  but  rarely  Stewart  in  the  oUl  records. 
The  origin  of  the  patronymic — Stewart — is 
from  ward,  to  guard,  to  care  for.  The  first 
syllable  ste  is  of  doubtful  origin,  but  is  sup- 
posed to  mean  a  place,  a  corner,  a  quarter. 
Stuart,  Stewart  and  Steward  have  all  the 
same  origin,  altliough  those  who  use  the 
Stuart  claim  to  have  bluer  blood  in  their 
veins,  which,  of  course,  is  a  fallacy.  Tlie  u 
was  substituted  for  the  w  because  of  their  be- 
ing no  w  in  tlie  French  alphabet,  the  Stew- 
arts having  retired  to  France,  or  perhaps 
during  tlie  reign  of  Queen  Mary  Stuart,  the 
French  courtiers  having  introduced  or  per- 
sisted in  the  French  mode  of  spelling  tlie 
name  Stuart. 

Andrew  Stewart  was  a  Covenanter  of  the 
most  rigid  faith,  and  the  earliest  Presbyte- 
rian minister  in  America,  the  Rev.  John 
Cutlibertson,  frequently  tarried  at  his  house 
while  on  his  missionary  tours.  In  his  diary, 
under  date  of  20tii  of  August,  1751,  he  notes 


146 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


the  baptism  of  Eliza  (Elizabeth),  daughter 
of  Andrew  Stewart.  On  the  organization  of 
the  Covenanter  church  at  Paxtang,  Mr. 
Stewart  and  his  wife  became  members.  But 
little  is  known  of  tiiis  hardy  pioneer,  save 
that  in  his  day  and  generation  he  was  ever 
loyal  to  the  "Solemn  League  and  Covenant." 
Of  the  family  of  Andrew  Stewart,  his 
eldest  son  John,  born  in  Paxtang,  on  the 
24th  of  February,  1740,  was  educated  for  the 
ministry.  While  in  England  he  was  or- 
dained in  the  Established  Church,  returned 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  received  with 
aught  but  favor  by  his  strict  old  Covenanter 
father.  He  went  as  a  missionary  among  the 
Indians  in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  and  made  a 
translation  of  the  New  Testament  in  the  Mo- 
hawk language.  Refusing  allegiance  to  the 
Colonies,  in  1781  he  went  to  Canada,  where 
he  became  chaplain  to  a  provincial  regiment, 
and  subsequently  as  a  missionary  traveled 
through  the  upper  province  of  Canada, 
where  he  labored  with  energy  and  success. 
In  1786  he  settled  at  Kingston,  and  for  some 
time  previous  to  his  death  was  chaplain  to 
the  Legislative  Council,  lledied  on  thelSth 
of  August,  1811. 

Of  the  children  of  the  Rev.  John  Stewart, 
or  Stuart,  as  our  Canadian  friends  prefer  to 
write  it,  we  have  been  able  to  glean  the  fol- 
lowing data,  hoping,  however,  that  some 
member  of  the  Literary  and  Historical  So- 
ciety of  Quebec  will  furnish  us  with  fuller, 
if  not  more  accurate  information.  James 
Stewart,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  at  Fort 
Hunter,  N.  Y.,  March  2,  1780;  became  an 
eminent  Canadian  jurist  and  chief  justice  of 
Lower  Canada.  He  was  called  to  the  bar  in 
1801;  appointed  solicitor  general,  1805-9; 
attorney  general,  1822-32;  chief  justice, 
1838-53.  He  was  created  a  baronet  in  1840, 
and  died  at  Quebec  July  14,  1853.  His  son, 
Sir  Charles  Stuart,  now  resides  in  England 
during  the  summer  season,  and  in  Italy 
during  the  winter. 

The  second  son,  Andrew,  was  also  a  distin- 
guished jurist  and  solicitor  general  of  Lower 
Canada — decidedly  one  of  the  most  talented 
men  of  Canada — many  years  ])resident  of  the 
Literary  and  Historical  Society  of  Quebec; 
was  born  at  Kingston,  U.  C,  in  1786,  and 
died  at  Quebec,  February  21,  1840.  He  was 
the  author  of  a  number  of  valuable  historical 
works.  A  son  of  Andrew  Stuart  is  at  present 
a  judge — a  gentleman  of  ability  and  ardent 
mind. 

George  O'Kill  Stuart,  another  son,  became 


an  arch  deacon.  He  married  a  daughter  of 
Gen.  John  Brooks,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution 
and  governor  of  Massachusetts  from  1816  to 
1823.  His  son,  of  the  same  name,  is  judge 
of  the  Vice  Admirality  Court  at  Quebec. 

John  Stewart,  sheriff  of  Leeds  and  Green- 
ville, who  resided  at  Brockville,  on  the 
British  side  of  tiie  St.  Lawrence,  was  also  a 
son  of  the  Rev.  John  first  named. 

We  have  given  the  foregoing  to  show  the 
connection  between  the  Stewarts  of  Paxtang 
and  those  of  Canada. 

The  other  children  of  Andrew  Stewart, 
the  pioneer,  were  James,  Mary,  Elizabeth, 
previously  named,  who  died  May  1,  1773, 
aged  twenty-three  years;  Charles,  Andrew 
and  Eleanor.  Of  none  of  these  do  we  know 
the  history  save  that  of  Eleanor,  the  others 
probably  removingfrom  this  locality  after  the 
death  of  their  father  and  motiier.  Eleanor 
married  Richard  DeYarmond,  second  son 
of  James  and  Mary  DeYarmond.  She  was 
born  May  4,  1753,  and  died  February  19, 
1830.  Her  husband,  born  in  Hanover,  Sep- 
tember 1,  1743,  died  November  17,  1802. 
They  are  both  interred  in  the  old  Hanover 
church  graveyard.  Their  children  were : 
James,  born  October  2, 1782,  died  January  7, 
1812 ;  Mary,  born  in  1784,  who  married 
James McCreight,  Jr.;  Eleanor.born  in  1788; 
Andrew  Stewart,  born  in  1791,  and  Marga- 
ret, born  March  1,  1793;  died  May  0,  1824. 


The  Stewarts  of  Hanover. 

I.  Lazarus  Stewart,  a  native  of  the  north, 
of  Ireland,  came  to  America  in  1729,  the 
same  year  locating  on  a  tract  of  land  "  situ- 
ate on  Swahatawro  creek,"  in  then  Lancas- 
ter county.  This  tract  of  three  hundred 
acres  was  directed  to  be  surveyed  for  him  by 
the  Proprietaries  on  the  6th  of  Marcii,  1739. 
With  the  aid  of  two  Redemptioners,  whose 
passages  were  paid  by  him,  he  built  within 
that  and  tiie  two  years  following  a  house  and 
barn,  cleared  tw-enty  odd  acres  of  arable  land 
and  planted  an  orchard.  He  died  about 
1744.  His  farm  was  a  long  time  in  dispute, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  warrant  never 
having  been  issued  his  son  Lazarus  took  out 
a  warrant  for  the  same  land.  After  the 
death  of  the  first  Lazarus'  wife  a  suit  was 
brought  by  William  Stewart,  eldest  son  of 
John  Stewart,  for  the  recovery  of  his  share 
in  his  grandfather's  estate.  A  distribution 
was  made  in  1785,  from  the  record  of  which 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


147 


in  the  Orplians'  Court  proceedings  we  have 
tiie  foundation  of  the'  genealogy  herewith 
given.  Tiiere  is  no  information  as  to  the 
name  or  the  date  of  death  of  the  first  Laza- 
rus Stewart's  wife.  They  may  have  had 
other  children,  but  the  following  are  the 
names  of  all  wholreached  mature  years: 

2.  i.  John,  b.  1712 ;  m.  Frances . 

3.  a.  Margaret,  b.  1714  ;  m.  James  Stewart. 

4.  Hi.  Margery,  b.  1716  ;  m.  John  Young. 

iv.  Lazarus,  b.  1718. 

V.  Peter,  b.  in  1720  ;  took  up  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  adjoining  An- 
drew Lykens  and  William  Camp- 
bell, in  Hanover  township,  sur- 
veyed to  him  on  the  17th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1743.  Prior  to  1760  he  re- 
moved to  North  Carolina ;  m.,  and 
left  issue. 
vi.  James,  b.  1722  ;  took  up  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  land  "  adjoining 
Lazarus  Stewart  and  James  Murray 
on  Swahawtawro  creek,  in  Hano- 
ver township,"  surveyed  to  him  on 
the  2d  of  December,  1738.  He 
married  and  removed  to  North 
Carolina  with  his  brother. 
vii  David,  b.  1724;  m.,  and  removed  with 
his  brothers  to  North  Carolina. 

IL  John  Stewart  (Lazarus),  b.  about 
1712,  in  Ireland  ;  d.  April  S,  1777,  in  Han- 
over township,  Lancaster,  now  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  and  is  buried  in  the  "New-Side" 
graveyard  in  Lower  Paxtang  township.  On 
the  2(jth  of  May,  1744,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  "'adjoining  James  and  Lazarus 
Stewart  in  Hanover  township"  were  surveyed 

to  him.     Married,   in  1736,    Frances , 

of  Donegal,  b.  in  1716;  d.  November  16, 
1790,  and  is  buried  in  old  Hanover  church- 
yard.    Tliey  had  issue: 

i.  William,  b.  1738;  d.  July   14,  1803; 

m.,  first,   Mary  ,  b.  1736 ;  d. 

February    22,   1780 ;  m.,   secondly, 

Marv  Stewart,  b.  1743 ;  d.  August 

9,  1796. 

ii.  Lazarus,  b.  1740  ;  m.  Dorcas  Hopkins. 

Hi.  George,  b.  1743;  m.  Rebecca  Fleming. 

iv.  James,  b.  1745;  m.  Margaret . 

V.  John,  h.  1747 ;  m.  Margaret  Stewart. 
vi.  Mary,  b.  1749  ;  m.  George  Espy. 
vii.  Jane,  b.  1751 ;  m. Armstrong. 

III.  Margaret  Stewart  (Lazarus),  b.  in 
1714, in  the  north  of  Ireland  ;  d.  in  Hanover 
township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  She  m. 
James  Stewart,  b.  1708,  in  the  north  of  Ire- 


land, and  d.  in  Hanover,  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.  He  had  survej^ed  unto  him,  December 
2,  1738,  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land 
"  adjoining  Lazarus  Stewart  and  James  Mur- 
ray, on  Swaiiatawro  creek,  in  Hanover  town- 
ship."    They  had  issue : 

i.  Charles,  b.   1731  ;  ra.,  and  had  issue, 
James,     Lazarus,     John,     Margaret, 
Charles,  and  George. 
5.  a.  Lazarus,  b.  May  16,  1733;  m.  Martha 
Espy. 
Hi.  James,  b.  1737  ;  m.  Priscilla  Espy,  and 
had   Lazarus.     Subsequently,  when 
a    widow,   she   married  Capt.    An- 
drew Lee,  of  the  Revolution. 
6.     iv.  Jean,  h.  1739  ;  m.  John  Campbell. 

IV.  Margery  Stewart  (Lazarus),  b.  1716, 
in  Ireland;  d.  in   Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.;  m.  John  Young,  b.  in  Ire- 
land ;  d.   in  June,  1775,  in  Hanover  town- 
ship.    They  had  issue  (surname  Young) : 
i.  David, 
ii.  Mary. 
Hi.  Margaret,  m.  Samuel  Ainsworth,  and 

left  issue. 
iv.  John, 
v.  Margery. 
vi.  George, 
vii.  James. 

6.  via.  William. 

Y.  Lazarus  Stewart  (Margaret,  Lazarus), 
b.  May  16,  1733,  in  Hanover  township,  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.;  fell  in  the  massacre  of 
Wyoming,  July  3,  1778.  He  was  the  noted 
Capt.  Lazarus  Stewart,  an  officer  in  the 
Provincial  service,  and  the  captain  of  the 
Paxtang  Boys,  who  so  completely  settled  the 
question  of  the  rights  of  Indian  tramp  ma- 
rauders south  of  the  Blue  mountains.  Cajv 
tain  Stewart  m.  Martha  Espy,  b.  about  1740, 
in  Hanover;  d.  in  the  Wyoming  Valley. 
They  had  i.ssue : 

7.  i.  James,  h.  1757;  m.  Hannah  Jameson. 

8.  H.  Elizabeth,    h.    1759;    m.    Alexander 

Jameson. 
Hi.  Josiah,  b.  1761 ;  m.  Nancy  Chapman; 
removed  to  the  State  of  New  York 
at  an  early  day. 

9.  iv.  Mary,  h.  1763  ;  m.  Rev.  Andrew  Gray. 
v.  Priscilla,  b.  1766 ;  m.  Joseph   Avery 

Rathburn,  who  settled  in  Western 
New  York.  Their  children  were 
John,  Lazarus,  and  Joseph,  all  mar- 
ried and  left  descendants. 

10.  vi.  Margaret,  b.   1767;    m.  James  Camp- 

bell. 


148 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


vii.  Martha,  b.  1769;  d.  unm. 

VI.  Jane  Stewart  (Margaret,  Lazarus), 
b.  1739,  in  Hanover  township,  Lancaster 
county,  where  she  died  shortly  after  tlie  war 
of  the  Revolution.  She  m.  John  Campbell, 
b.  1732;  d.  June  1,  1781.  They  had  issue 
(surname  Campbell): 

i.  William,  d.  July  3,  1804;  left  a  wife 
Margaret  and  a  son  James,  b.  Sep- 
tember 14,  1789,  and  Martha,  bap. 
November  9,  1791. 

VII.  James  Stewart  (Lazarus,  Margaret, 
Lazarus),  b.  in  1757,  in  Hanover,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.;  d.  in  1823,  in  Hanover,  Luzerne 
county,  Pa.  He  m.  Hannah  Jameson  ;  and 
they  had  i.ssue : 

i.  Martha,  m.  Abraham  Tolles;  and 
they  had  issue  (surname  Tolles): 
James,  who  m.  and  had  Linda. 
a.  Frances,  m.  Benjamin  A.  Bidlack  ;  and 
tiiey  had  issue  (surname  Bidlack): 
Frances- Stewart. 
11.  m.  Abigail,  m.  Abraham  Thomas. 

iv.  Caroline,  m.  Rev.  Morgan  Sherman ; 
and  they  iiad  issue  (surname  Sher- 
man): Mary,  m.  and  left  i.'^sue,  and 
Caroline,  m.  James   Morrison,  who 
had  Stewart  and  Irene. 
V.  Lazarus,  d.  unm. 
vi.  Mary,  d.  unm. 
James  Stewart's  widow,  Hannah  Jameson, 
subsequently     married     Rev.     Marmaduke 
Pearce    and    had    three   children,  Stewart, 
Cromwell,  and  John  Pearce.    Stewart  Pearce 
was  the  author  of  the  "Annals  of  Luzerne 
County,"  a  prominent  man  in  his  day.   Crom- 
well Pearce  was  distinguished  as  a  military 
officer. 

VIII.  Elizabeth  Stewart  (Lazarus,  Mar- 
garet, Lazarus),  lived  and  died  in  Luzerne 
county,  Pa.  She  m.  Alexander  Jameson. 
The}'  had  issue  (surname  Jameson): 

i.  William,  m.  Margaret  Henr}-;  and 
they  had  issue :  John,  d.  inf.,  and 
Mary,  who  m.  and  left  descendants. 

it.  Robert,  d.  unm. 

Hi.  Minerva,  m.  Dr.  A.  B.  Wilson  ;  and 
they  had  issue  (surname  WiLson): 
Edivard,  Mary,  m.  Frank  Stewart, 
and  Minerva,  m.  F.  A.  Macartney, 
and  they  had  Frank  Macartney. 

iv.  Elizabeth,  m.  Rev.  Francis  Macartney; 
and  they  had  issue  (surname  Ma- 
cartney): Francis-A.,  m.  his  cousin 
Minerva  Wilson,  Mary,  d.  unm.,  and 
Elizabeth,  m.  Dr.  James  Wilson. 


V.  Martha,  d.  in  1880,  unm. 

IX.  Mary  Stewart  (Lazarus,  Margaret, 
Lazarus),  m.  Rev.  Andrew  Gray.  Mr.  Gray 
was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  January 
1,  1757  ;  d.  August  13,  1837.  He  resided  in 
Paxtang,  but  went  to  Wyoming,  settling  in 
Hanover,  where  he  j)reached.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian,  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Western  New  York,  where  he  missionated 
several  years  among  the  Seneca  Indians, 
finally  locating  at  Dansville,  Livingston 
county,  in  that  State.  They  had  issue  (sur- 
name Gray) : 

i.  James,  m.  Rebecca  Roberts. 
ii.  Margaret,  ra.  Richard  Gillespie. 
Hi.  Jane,  m.  Daniel  Gallatin. 
iv.  William,  d.  unm. 
V.  Andrew,  left  home  early  in  life,  and 

was  never  heard  from. 
vi.  Maria,  m.  James  Jack. 
vii.  Martha,  d.  unm. 
viii.  Elizabeth,  m.  Robert  Perine. 

X.  Margaret  Stewart  (Lazarus,  Marga- 
ret, Lazarus),  d.  in  Hanover  tovvnsliip,  Lu- 
zerne county.  Pa.;  m.  James  Campbell,  who 
lived  and  died  in  the  same  township.  They 
had  issue  (surname  Campbell) : 

i.  James-Stewart,  d.  unm. 

ii.  Martlia,  m.  James  S.  Lee,  and  they 
had  issue  (surname  Lee) :  Andreiu, 
m.  Sarah  Buchhout,  Priscilla,  m. 
Hon.  Siba  Bennett,  Washington,  m. 
Emily  Thomas,  Margaret,  m.  Dr. 
James  Dooliltle,  Mary,  m.  Lewis 
C.  Payne,  and  William,  d.  unm. 

Hi.  Mary,  m.  Jameson  Harvey,  and  they 
had  issue  (surname  Harvey) :  Mar- 
garet, m.  Robert  C.  Pieman,  Mary, 
William-J.,  m.  Jessie  Wright,  and 
Harrison,  m.  Amanda  Merritt. 

iv.  Margaret,  m.  James  Dilley,  and  they 
had  issue,  among  others  (surname 
Dilley) :  Mary,  Margaret,  and  Har- 
riet. 

XL  Abigail  Stewart  (James,  Lazarus, 
Margaret,  Lazarus),  b.  in  Hanover,  Luzerne 
county,  Pa. ;  d.  tiiere  about  1830.  She  m. 
Abraham  Thomas,  and  they  had  issue  (sur- 
name Thomas): 

i.  Emily,  m.  Col.  Washington  Lee,  and 
they  had  issue  (surname  Lee): 
Bessie- Campbell,  m.  Dr.  William 
Morton,  James- Francis,  m.  Madge 
Swetland,  Mary-Josephine,  m.  Bruce 
Price,  Ella-Headley,  d.  inf.,  Emma- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


149 


Thomas,  m.  Benjamin  Barroll,  and 
Charles-William,  m.  Lilly  Doolittle. 

n.  Martha,  m.  Joseph   C.  Rhodes,  and 
they  had  issue  (surname  Rhodes) : 
Clubine-Lee,  Clementine-Thomas,  and 
Helen- Headley,  m.  Walter  Meek. 
Hi.  Clementine,  d.  unm. 

iv.  Frances,  d.  unm. 

V.  Helen,  m.  John  Boyd  Headley,  and 
they  had  issue  (surname  Headley) : 
Annie-Latona,  d.  in  inf.,  William- 
Thomas,  m.  Kate  P.  Freese,  John- 
Boyd,  and  Nellie-Boyd. 

vi.  Latona,  d.  unm. 


The  Umholtz  Family. 

We  are  not  entirely  satisfied  as  to  the 
orthography  of  this  surname.  Many  of  the 
old  records  have  it  Imholtz,  some  Omholtz, 
and  others  Umholtz.  We  are  of  the  opinion 
that  the  former  is  the  correct  orthography. 
As  the  present  members  of  the  family  adhere 
to  the  latter  it  is  this  nomenclature  we  shall 
also  employ. 

Henry  Umholtz,  with  a  younger  brother, 
came  to  this  coutitry  from  Switzerland  prior 
to  the  Revolution  and  located  in  what  is  now 
Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county,  along 
the  base  of  Short  mountain,  about  two  miles 
from  Gratztown,  where  John  Umholtz 
now  resides.  Here  they  took  up  quite  a 
large  tract  of  land  and  commenced  farming. 
The  brother  entered  the  army  at  the  outset 
of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  in  Capt.  Will- 
iam Hendrick's  company,  and  fell  in  the  as- 
sault on  Quebec.  Henry  was  also  in  service 
during  the  war,  as  appears  by  the  rolls  of 
Captains  Hoffman's  and  Weaver's  com- 
panies. 

Henry  Umholtz  married  about  17G9  his 
first  wife,  who  was  a  Miss  Rouch.  Sometime 
after  her  death  he  married  Magdalena  Sei- 
densticker,  daughter  of  Philip  Seidensticker, 
of  Bethel  township,  now  Lebanon  county. 
Mr.  Umholtz  died  at  an  advanced  age,  and 
with  his  two  wives  are  buried  at  Hoffman's 
church.     His  children  were  as  follows  : 

i.  John,  b.  August  11, 1770;  was  a  farmer 
and  resided  near  Berrysburg.  He 
married  Catharine  Harman  and 
had  a  large  family.  Of  these  John- 
Jacob  was  a  major  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania militia,  and  father  of  Joseph 
and  Jacob  now  living  near  Gratz. 


The  latter  served  as  director  of  the 
poor  a  few  years  ago. 
a.  Barnhart,  b.  October  22,  1772 ;  d.  Au- 
gust, 1829;  was  a  farmer  and  resided 
above  Gi'atztown.  He  married 
Catharine  Rissinger,  and  had  Mi- 
chael, Solomon,  who  resides  on  or 
near  his  father's  place,  Philip, 
Susan,  m.  Jacob  Walborn,  Anna- 
Margaret,  m.  George  HoUoback, 
Catharine,  m.  Michael  Fisher,  and 
Esther,  m.  Daniel  Emanuel. 
Hi.  Michael,  b.  August  31,  1776;  removed 
to  what  is  now  Perry  county,  where 
he  married  and  raised  a  family. 
iv.  John-Philip,  b.  September  14,  1779. 
He  purchased  his  father's  farm,  fol- 
lowed farming  and  died  April,  1838. 
He  married  Anna  Maria  Willard, 
daughter  of  Peter  Willard,  and  had 
Matthias,  who  settled  in  Stark 
county,  0.;  John,  m.  MoUie  Slioff- 
stall,  resided  on  the  old  homestead  ; 
Samuel,  resided  near  Gratz ;  Chris- 
tian, removed  to  Mercer  county.  Pa.; 
Susan,  m.  Daniel  Loudenslager ; 
Catharine,  m.  Isaac  Henninger,  of 
Stark  county,  0.,  and  Elizabeth,  m. 
John  P.  Hoffman. 
V.  Henry,  b.  September  17,  1783  ;  d.  De- 
cember, 1829  ;  was  a  soldier  of  the 
war  of  1812,  followed  farming  and 
owned  a  farm  near  Isaac  Zitlinger's. 
He  married  Susan  Hoover,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Hoover,  of  Hoover's 
Mill.  They  had  Rebecca,  m.  Benja- 
min Gise,  father  of  Capt.  Joseph  D., 
Leah,  m.  George  W.  Ferree,  Polly, 
m.  John  Henninger,  and  Henry,  Jr., 
who  for  many  years  was  a  distin- 
guished teacher  in  the  "  Upper 
End." 
vi.  Anna-Maria,  b.  July  12,  1781;  m. 
Peter  Yartz. 
The  family  of  Umholtz  have  all  been  sub- 
stantial and"  representative  farmers  of  the 
vallev. 


The  Weise  Family  of  Lykens  Valley- 
Adam  Weise  was  born  in  New  Goshen- 
hoppen,  Philadelphia  county,  Pa.,  Decem- 
ber 23, 1751.  His  parents  were  John  George 
and  Eve  Weise.  They  moved  from  New 
Goshenhoppen  to  Heidelberg  township, 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  where  Adam  was  brought 


150 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


up  in  a  Christian-like  manner  in  the  faith 
and  doctrine  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church. 

The  suhject  of  this  sketch  was  married  on 
the  2d  of  February,  A.  D.  1772,  to  Margaret 
Elizabeth  Wingard,  who  was  born  in  Heidel- 
berg township,  Berks  county,  on  the  loth  of 
March  A.  D.  1749.  Her  parents  were  Lazarus 
and  Catharine  Elizabeth  Wingard.  She  be- 
longed to  the  Evangelical  Presbyterian  (Ger- 
man Reformed)  Church.  By  this  marriage 
there  were  the  following  children  : 

i.  Catharine-Elizaheth,  b.  November  21, 
1772,     in      Heidelberg     township, 
Berks    county ;    m.    George    Gun- 
drum,  April  7,  1795,  by  Rev.  Will- 
iam Hendel. 
a.  Ann- Elizabeth,  b.  April  28,    1774,  in 
Hagerstown,  Md.  (the  family  hav- 
ing removed   to  that  place  the  pre- 
vious   year);    m.    Philip    Shaffer, 
April  5,  1795.     He  died  March  23, 
1814,  in   Upper  Paxtang  township, 
Dauphin  county. 
Hi.  John,  b.  August  13,  1776,  in  Hagers- 
town;     m.      Elizabeth      Bordner, 
daughter  of   Michael    Bordner,   of 
Upper  Paxtang  township,  Dauphin 
county,  on  June  7,  1801. 
iv.  Anna-Mary,    b.    June    28,   1778,    in 
Hagerstown;    m.    Michael    Shadel 
November  7,  1797,  in    Upper  Pax- 
tang township,  Dauphin  county. 
V.John-Adam,   b.  January  24,  3  780,  in 
Hagerstown  ;     m.     Eve     Bordner, 
of      Upper      Paxtang      township, 
Dauphin  county,  in  the  year  1801. 
His  wife  died  the  first  year  of  their 
marriage,  and  lie  was  married  the 
second  time,  to  Elizabeth  Lebo. 
Adam  Weise  served   as  a  sergeant  in  the 
Maryland  cavalry  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
enlisting  at  Hagerstown.     He  moved  with 
liis  family  from  Hagerstown  to  LTpper  Pax- 
tang township,  in  Lykens  Valley,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  in   the  year  1782.     [He  settled 
at  this  time  on   the  north  or  south  side  of 
Wiconisco  creek,  on  the  road  (as  now  known) 
leading   from    Cross-Roads    to    Berrysburg, 
formerly    Hellerstown.      According    to    the 
best  information   obtainable,  he   settled    on 
the  north  of  said  creek,  on  what  is  generally 
known  as  the   Elder  farm,  and  very  likely 
he  owned  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  creek, 
for  he  owned    three  hundred  acres  or  over. 
When  I  (his  youngest  son)  was  ten  or  twelve 
years  old,  in   passing  along  on  that  road  in 


company  with  old  men  of  the  vallc}',  I  was 
shown  the  place  where  they  said  my  father's 
blacksmith  shop  had  stood,  which  was  a 
little  back  in  the  field  from  the  road,  south- 
west from  the  old  residence,  which  is  still 
standing,  but  has  been  remodeled  and  re- 
paired at  different  times.  I  was  also  shown 
where  he  had  his  coal-pit  or  hearth,  which 
was  about  a  hundred  yards  slightly  north- 
west from  where  the  shop  stood,  in  the  woods. 
Blacksmiths  used  nothing  but  charcoal  in 
those  days,  and  mostof  them  burnt  or  charred 
their  own  coal.  It  should  be  remembered, 
also,  that  nearly  all  of  wliat  is  now  Wash- 
ington and  Miftiiu  townships  to  the  Susque- 
hanna river  was  included  in  Upper  Paxtang 
township.] 

vi.  John-George,  b.  January'  7,    178G,  in 
Upper  Paxtang  township,  Dauphin 
county  ;  m.  Charlotte  Moore,  1808. 
The  Indians  were  very  troublesome,  and 
from  this   and    other  causes   the  family  re- 
moved   to   Bethel   township,  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  1788. 

vii.  Anna-Margaret,  b.  February  14,  1789, 
in  Bethel  township,  Berks  county  ; 
m.    Michael    Shoop,    November   6, 
1808,  in  Upper  Paxtang  township, 
Dauphin  county. 
via.  Anna-Maria,    b.   July    21,    1791,    in 
Bethel    township,    Berks    county ; 
m.  Abraham  Jury,  1811,  in  Upper 
Paxtang  township,  Dauj)hin  county. 
Mr.  Weise  moved  back  to  Lykens  Valley 
to  the  old    place  in  the  year   1796,  and    in 
1802  took  up  his  residence  in  Millersburg, 
erecting  the  third  house  in  the  town  and  a 
blacksmitii  shop,  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Union  and  Race  streets  (now  owned  by  Levi 
Bowman,  Sr.).    His  anvil  was  the  town  clock 
in  the  morning  for  a  number  of  years,  so  the 
old   people  of  Millersburg  used  to  say.     He 
was  commissioned  a  justice  of  the  peace  by 
(xovernor   Mifflin    February    1,    1799.     Re- 
mained  in   office  over  thirty-four  years,  or 
until  his  death  in  1833. 

His  wife  died  on  Sunday,  March  29,  1818, 
and  was  buried  on  the  following  Tuesday, 
in  the  David's  (German  Reformed)  grave- 
yard, about  three  miles  northeast  of  Millers- 
burg. The  funeral  attendance  was  exceed- 
ingly large,  and  Revs.  J.  R.  Reily  and  Nich- 
olas Hem  ping  were  present.  A  ver}'  appro- 
priate sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  J.  R. 
Reily,  from  Psalms  iv.  8.  She  reached  the 
age  of  69  years  and   14  days      They  lived 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


151 


together  in   matrimony  40  j'ears,  1  month 
and  2G  days. 

Adam  Weise  entered  into  matrimony  the 
second  time  August  23,  1818,  with  Mary 
Kuelily  (Keely),  widow  of  George  Kueidy, 
of  Swinefordstown,  Union  county,  Pa.  (now 
Middleburg,  Snyder  county).  Her  parents 
were  Jacob  and  Mary  Bitterman,from  Mont- 
gomery county,  Pa.  She  was  born  Marcli 
20,  1765,  in  Montgomery'  count}'. 

On  Sunday  evening,  September  10,  1820, 
his  second  wife  died,  and  was  buried  the  fol- 
lowing Tuesday  in  the  German  Reformed . 
burial  ground,  alongside  his  former  partner. 
Her  age  was  55  years,  5  months  and  15  days. 
Pev.  Isaac  Gearheart  preached  on  the  occa- 
sion, from  the  words  recorded  in  Isaiah 
xxxviii.  1. 

Mr.  Weise  entered  into  matrimony  the 
third  time  December  10,  1820,  with  Catha- 
rine Patton,  widow  of  James  Patton,  of 
Swinefordstown,  Union  county,  Pa.  (now 
Middleburg,  Snyder  county).  Her  maiden 
name  was  Catharine  Neiman.  She  was  born 
November  10, 1785,  in  Montgomerry  county. 
Pa.  Her  parents  were  Conrad  and  Catharine 
Neiman.  This  union  was  blessed  witli  the 
following  issue: 

ix.  Abel,  b.  October  3,  1821,  in   Millers- 
burg,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.    He  is  still 
living,  a  resident  of  Lykens. 
X.  Hannah,  b.  February  13, 1823. 
xi.  Frederick-Neiman,  b.  August  25,  1825, 
in  Millersburg. 

Adam  Weise  died  October  5,  1833,  in 
Millersburg,  after  a  long  and  useful  life, 
and  was  buried  by  the  side  of  his  two  de- 
ceased wives  in  the  graveyard  of  David's  Re- 
formed church.  Upper  Paxtang  township. 
Rev.  Isaac  Gearheart  officiated  at  the  funeral. 
His  age  was  81  years,  9  months  and  12  days. 

Catharine  Weise,  surviving  relict  of  Adam 
Weise,  died  in  Berrysburg,  Dauphin  county, 
April  30,  1863,  aged  77  years,  5  months 
and  20  daj's.  She  was  buried  in  the  ceme- 
tery of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  and  Ger- 
man Reformed  churcli  at  Berrysburg.  Fu- 
neral services  were  held  by  Revs.  Bosler  and 
I.  Gearheart. 

At  tlie  death  of  Adam  Weise  there  were  11 
children,  63  grandchildren  and  133  great- 
grandchildren. Tiie  descendants  of  the  above 
record  (which  is  made  from  a  correct  trans- 
lation of  the  original  German  by  Rev.  Mi- 
chael Lenker)  are  now  scattered  in  nearly 
every  State  of  the  Union,  especially  in  the 
West.  F.  N.  w. 


The  Family  of  Wiggins. 

I.  John  Wiggins,  son  of  James  and  Jean 
Wiggins,  was  born  about  1680  in  the  north 
of  Ireland.  He  came  to  America  about 
1738,  locating  in  Paxtang.  His  name  ap- 
pears on  the  first  assessment  list  of  the  North 
End  of  Paxtang  for  1749.  He  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1762.  liis  will  being  probated  the 
moutii  following.  He  left  a  wife  Mary 
(probably  a  Barnett)  and  children  as  fol- 
lows : 

i.  James,  b.  1706. 
ii.  Jean,  h.  1708. 
iii.  Martha,  h:  1710. 
iv  Margaret,  b.  1712. 

2.      V.  John,  b.  1714;  ra.  Elizabeth . 

vi.  Agnes,  h.  1716;  m.  Thomas  Maguire 
and  had  a  daughter  Sarah. 
At  this  time  it  seems  as  if  his  youngest 
children,  John  and  Agnes,  with  his  wife,  were 
the  only  members  of  his  family  in  America, 
for  in  tile  disposition  of  his  estate  he  directs 
that  the  other  children  were  to  have  their 
sliare  "  if  they  come  to  this  country."  It  is 
probable  they  came,  and  afterwards  went 
with  the  tide  of  Scotch-Irish  immigration 
southward,  as  the  name  appears  in  Virginia 
and  the  Carolinas. 

II.  John  Wiggins  (John,  James),  born  in 
Ireland,  in  1714 ;  came  to  America  with  his 
parents,  and  remained  on  the  parental  farm. 
He    d.   June   12,    1794.     He    m.    Elizabeth 

,  b.  in  1716  ;  d.  June  5,  1784.     Tiiey 

are   botii    interred    in    Paxtang   graveyard. 
Their  children  were  : 

i.  Thomas,  b.  1746 ;  d.  August,  1798. 
He  studied  medicine,  and  served 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Was 
surgeon  of  tiie  New  Eleventh,  Penn- 
sylvania Line,  Col.  Thomas  Hart- 
ley, commissioned  July  1,  1778. 
Owing  to  ill  health,  due  to  the  pre- 
vious exposure  in  the  service,  he 
resigned  January  23,  1780. 

a.  John,  b.  1748  ;  d.  October  21,  1830,  in 
Northumberland  county.  It  is 
said  that  when  a  young  man  he 
was  attacked  by  a  panther  on  his 
way  liome  from  Paxtang  church, 
and  killed  the  animal  with  his 
fists,  although  he  bore  the  marks 
of  its  claws  all  his  life. 

iii.  Elizabeth,  b.  1750. 

iv.  James,  b.  1782  ;  d.  June,  1805,  unm., 
bequeathing  Ins  estate  to  his  sur- 
viving brother  and  sisters. 


152 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


V.  Jean,  b.  1754  ;  m.,  in  1777,  Dr.  Will- 
iam Simonton. 
m.  Margaret,  b.  175G  ;  m.,  March  20, 1787, 
James  Henderson. 

vii.  Mary,  b.  1758 ;  m.  John,  brother  of 
Dr.  William  Simonton,  who  had 
deceased  prior  to  1805,  leaving  a 
son  Thomas. 

via.  Agnes,  b.  1760;  m.  William,  son  of 
William  and  Isabella  Brandon,  of 
Hanover,  who  had  deceased  prior 
to  1805,  leaving  sons,  Thomas  and 
James,  and  daughter  Ann,  m.  James, 
son  of  David  Pettigrew,  who  left 
Hanover  about  1792. 


The  Youngs  of  Hanover. 

I.  Robert  Young,  an  early  settler  in 
Hanover  township,  then  Lancaster  county, 
d.  about  1749,  leaving  a  wife  Kerstine,  and 
children  : 

2.  i.  James. 

3.  ii.  John,  m.  Margery  Stewart. 

II.  James  Young  (Robert),  of  Hanover,  d. 
in  1772,  leaving  children  : 

4.  i.  William,  m.  Catharine . 

5.  ii.  James. 

Hi.  John,    m.    Agnes   ,   and     had 

among  others  Jolin. 
iv.  Andrew,  m.  Sarah  ,  and  had 

among  others  Andrew  and  Josiah. 
V.  Alexander,  d.  s.  p. 

III.  John  Young  (Robert),  of  Hanover,  d. 
in  May,  1775,  leaving  a  wife  Margery 
(Stewart),  and  ciiildren  : 

i.  David. 

ii.  Mary,  m.  James  Dixon. 
Hi.  Margaret,  m.  Samuel  Ainsworth. 
iv.  John. 
V.  Margery. 
vi.  George, 
vii.  James. 

6.  via.  William,  m.  Martha . 

IV.  William  Young  (James,  Robert),  of 
Hanover,  d.  in  January,  1785,  leaving  a  wife 
Catliarine,  and  children  : 

i.  Robert. 
ii.  John. 
Hi.  James. 

iv.  Andrew,  m.  Marger\' ,  and  iiad 

Margaret. 
V.  Esther: 


vi.  Martha, 
vii.  William. 

V.  James  Young  (James,  Robert),  of  Han- 
over, d.  in  May,  1787,  leaving  children  : 

i.  \_A  dau.],  m.  Samuel  Johnson. 
ii.  Elizabeth. 
Hi.  Jane. 

IV.  \_A  daw.],  m.  William  McCauley. 

V.  Margaret,  m.  James  Robinson. 
vi.  Andrew. 

vii.  Sarah,  m.  John  Watt. 
via.  John, 
ix.  James. 
X.  Ale.cander. 

VI.  William  Young  (John,  Robert),  of 
East  Hanover,  d.  March  15,  1796,  leaving  a 
wife  Martha,  and  children: 

i.   Catharine,  h.  1779;  m.  James  Bell,  b. 

1772 ;  d.  March  6,  1814. 
ii.  Eleanor,  b.  1781. 
Hi.  William,  b.  1783. 
iv.  John,  h.  1785. 
V.  Jane,  b.  June  1,  1788. 
vi.  James,  b.  September  14,  1789. 
vii.  Esther,  b.  April  16,  1791. 
viii.  Robert,  b.  1798. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Some  of  the  Industries  of  the  City  and  County. 

Apart  from  Harrisburg  being  the  Capital 
City  of  Pennsylvania,  there  is  that  wiiicli 
exists  within  it,  and  the  surrounding  towns, 
to  make  it  of  far  greater  importance — a  city 
of  industry.  From  its  earliest  existence  its 
location  has  been  such  as  to  invite  capital, 
and  it  embraces  within  its  industrial  estab- 
lishments, manufactories  which  in  their 
great  success  show  the  financial  and  com- 
mercial progress  of  the  city  and  county  more 
tlian  anything  else.  The  local  situation  has 
always  been  favorable  for  healthfulness  and 
a  desirable  place  for  residence,  while  the 
abundant  water  supply,  the  railroad  facili- 
ties, and  whatever  else  is  necessary  for  build- 
ing up  a  large  manufacturing  metropolis  is 
found  within  the  counts'  of  Dauphin.  The 
markets  are  unexcelled  ;  the  fertile  islands, 
and  plateau  along  the  river,  with  the  beau- 
tiful and  productive  valley  lying  between 
the  North  and  South  mountains,  furnish  sup- 
plies more  than  would  be  needed  for  a  popu- 


DA  UPHIN  CO  imrr. 


153 


lation  ten  times  greater  than  now  witliin  the 
limits  of  tlie  county.  Of  the  character  of 
tlie  manufacturing  enterprises  it  is  needless 
to  speak,  and  yet,  at  the  same  time  it  is 
necessary  to  show  what  lias  been  accom- 
plished within  a  few  brief  decades. 

Beginning  with  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Company,  which  was  organized  in  June, 
1SG5,  the  plant  of  whicii  now  covers  IGO 
acres,  one  stands  in  wonderment  at  the  mar- 
velous strides  made  in  the  mechanical  world. 
The  construction  of  the  steel  plant  at  what 
is  now  the  city  of  Steelton  (for  city  it  ought 
to  be  termed),  was  commenced  in  December, 
1865,  and  was  ready  fur  operation  in  May, 
1867.  On  the  '25th  da}'  of  the  same  month, 
the  first  steel  ingots  ever  produced  in 
Pennsylvania  by  the  Bessemer  process 
were  made.  The  rail  mill  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Steel  Company  went  into  operation 
May  15,  1868.  Tlie  importance  to  the  rail- 
road interests  of  the  country,  and  to  all  con- 
sumers, of  the  successful  commencement,  at 
these  works,  of  the  manufacture  of  steel  rails 
has  been  very  great,  and  probably  no  one 
can  appreciate  the  value  to  the  country  of 
the  business  which  began  at  these  works  at 
that  date.  During  the  first  years  of  opera- 
tion the  steel  ingots  were  hammered  before 
rolling  in  the  Forge  Department,  where  they 
had  what  was  at  that  time  the  largest  steam 
hammer  in  the  country.  The  practice  of 
hammering  was  continued  until  December, 
1876,  when  tlie  present  Blooming  Mill  No. 
1  went  into  operation.  Since  that  time  the 
steam  hammei's  have  been  employed  in  the 
production  of  forgings  and  other  shapes  of 
special  steel.  In  1875  tlie  company  increased 
its  capacity  for  the  production  of  steel  b}' 
erecting  an  open  hearth  furnace  jilant.  The 
original  open  heartli  jilant  was  later  replaced 
by  one  of  greatly  increased  capacity,  and  the 
capacity  has  been  increased  several  times  by 
the  addition  of  new  furnaces.  The  original 
Bessemer  plant,  known  now  as  Bessemer  No. 
1,  had  two  converters,  the  nominal  capacity 
of  five  tons  each.  In  1881  an  additional 
Bessemer  plant,  known  as  Bessemer  No.  2, 
was  completed  and  put  in  operation.  This 
plant  has  three  converters  of  ten  tons  ca- 
pacity each,  and  was  arranged  and  con- 
structed on  plans  which  secured  great  facili- 
ties for  handling  material  and  jiroducts,  and 
enabled  it  to  develop  great  capacity  of  pro- 
duction. The  compan}'  commenced  the 
erection  of  blast  furnaces  in  1872  to  produce 
pig  iron  for  their  own  purposes,  and  com- 
14 


pleted  No.  1  furnace  in  1873,  No.  2  fur- 
nace in  1875,  No.  3  furnace  in  1883,  and 
No.  4  furnace  in  1884.  These  furnaces  are 
of  highly  ajjproved  designs,  with  the  Whit- 
well  patent  hot  blast  stoves,  and  have  pro- 
duced outputs  of  iron  comparing  favorably 
with  any  blast  furnaces  in  the  country. 
Rolling  mills  for  making  steel  bars  of  the 
various  sizes  and  shapes,  known  as  "  mer- 
chant bars,"  were  erected  in  1882,  the  plant 
taking  the  name  of  "  merchant  mill,"  the 
product  of  the  same  consisting  of  merchant 
bars,  billets,  rail  splices,  angles,  and  various 
other  shapes.  This  plant  has  been  enlarged 
by  the  billet  mill  building,  with  a  large 
amount  of  machinery  used  in  finishing  the 
product.  In  1885  there  was  added  to  the 
Forge  Department  a  train  of  rolls  of  the  type 
known  as  "universal,"  driven  by  a  powerful 
reversing  engine,  for  rolling  special  qualities 
of  steel  into  slabs  and  blooms  of  dimensions 
required  by  manufacturers  of  plates,  etc.,  and 
this  branch  of  manufacture  has  been  fully 
employed.  In  1886  an  additional  mill, 
called  Blooming  Mill  No.  2,  was  erected  for 
the  preparation  of  special  steel  required  by 
manufacturers  of  nails,  etc.,  and  has  also  pro- 
duced a  great  product.  The  manufacture 
of  switches,  steel  rail  frogs,  crossings,  etc., 
commenced  in  1872,  and  this  branch  having 
met  with  great  encouragement  from  railway 
managers  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
has  been  enlaiged  from  time  to  time. 

A  substantial  and  handsome  brick  build- 
ing 478  feet  long  and  78  feet  wide  was 
erected  in  1882,  replacing  the  building  pre- 
viously used  for  this  business,  and  still 
greater  enlargement  having  become  expedi- 
ent there  was  erected  a  very  large  addition, 
consisting  principally  of  one  building  210 
feet  long,  125  wide;  another  building  144 
feet  long  and  35  feet  wide.  These  buildings 
have  been  fitted  with  the  most  approved  ap- 
])liances  for  the  production  of  frogs,  switches, 
&c.,  and  the  business  has  grown  to  very  large 
proportions,  conducted  under  the  title  of 
Frog,  Switch  and  Signal  Department.  In 
1893  a  slabbing  mill  for  rolling  slabs,  plates 
and  other  structural  material  was  erected, 
still  further  adding  to  the  immensity  of  the 
plant.  The  company  next  organized  a  de- 
partment for  the  manufacture  of  bridges, 
viaducts,  roofs,  buildings  and  other  construc- 
tions, under  the  title  of  Bridge  and  Construc- 
tion Department.  Several  large  buildings 
have  been  erected  for  the  purposes  of  this  de- 
partment, and   it   has  entered   upon  a  very 


154 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


busy  career.  Departments  for  tlie  manufac- 
ture and  removal  of  various  appliances  were 
found  necessary  at  an  early  day  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  company,  and  a  foundry,  ma- 
ciiine  shop  and  smith  shop  went  into  opera- 
tion in  1867.  The.se  were  enlarged  from 
time  to  time  with  substantial  buildings, 
which  at  the  present  day  rank  among  the 
largest  plants  of  this  description  in  the  State, 
with  building  appliances  in  all  manner  of 
machine  tools  and  other  appliances  for  the 
reproduction  and  repairs  of  the  lieaviest  class 
of  maciiinery  used  in  the  works.  In  1867 
the  company's  yearlv  product  of  steel  ingots 
was  1,005  tons;  in  1890  it  was  304,488  tons. 
This  gives someidea  of  thecompany'sgrowth. 
In  1890  the  product  of  one  day  was  nearly 
equal  to  the  whole  year's  product  of  1867. 
The  total  product  of  steel  ingots  from  1867 
to  1895  was  four  millions,  twentj'-six  thou- 
sand, eight  hundred  and  four  tons!!  Think 
of  this,  if  you  can,  and  pause  while  you 
think.  There  was  a  decrease  in  the  output 
of  the  years  1891,  1892,  1893  and  1894, 
owing  in  part  to  the  general  business  de- 
pression and  also  to  a  change  in  the  charac- 
ter of  the  product.  A  great  proportion  of 
the  rails  now  manufactured  are  for  electric 
roads,  and  are  much  more  difficult  to  make 
than  for  steam  roads.  The  immense  acreage 
of  the  com[)an3'  lies  between  the  Pennsylva- 
nia railroad  and  the  Pennsylvania  canal. 
The  length  of  the  plot  is  over  a  mile  and  a 
quarter,  and  the  view  presented  to  those  pass- 
ing in  the  trains  of  the  Pennsylvania  road  is 
one  of  decided  and  unusual  interest.  The 
tremendous  quantities  of  metal  to  be  seen 
from  the  train  invariably  attract  attention, 
and  persons  frequently  imagine  the  metal  to 
be  held  for  speculation,  until  they  learn  that 
the  monthly  requirements  are  twenty-five  to 
thirty  thousand  tons.  The  movement  of  the 
vast  amount  of  material  daily  required  in 
the  works  is  a  matter  requiring  extensive 
facilities,  and  the  company  has  over  twenty 
locomotives  of  various  sizes  pljnng  upon 
tracks  equal  in  extent  to  upwards  of  thirty 
miles  of  single  track  railroad.  The  freight 
cars  received  and  dispatched  in  some  weeks 
exceed  2,500,  or  400  per  day.  The  pay  roll 
of  the  company  embraces  five  thousand 
names,  and  the  annual  disbursements  for 
labor  is  nearly  two  million  dollars.  There 
are  over  20,000  persons  who  have  their  sup- 
port directly  from  this  company's  disburse- 
ments for  labor  alone,  and  wiien  we  consider 
the   disbursements   for   materials,  supplies, 


&c.,  and  for  the  freight  paid  to  the  railroad 
companies  carrying  the  materials,  &c.,  and 
endeavor  to  estimate  the  extent  to  which  the 
material  interests  of  those  in  various  ways 
related  to  or  in  some  manner  dependent  on 
the  successful  prosecution  of  this  imnjen.se 
enterprise,  we  may  safely  estimate  the  im- 
portance of  this  conjpany's  affairs  affects  a 
population  equal  to  that  of  many  congres- 
sional districts.  It  was  computed  by  a  re- 
cognized statistician  that  the  railroad  ton- 
nage due  to  the  transportation  of  the  mate- 
rials and  products  of  a  similar  and  less  im- 
portant establishment  for  a  year  represented 
more  ton  miles  than  the  business  of  the  great 
State  of  Texas  for  a  corresponding  period. 

The  works  are  reached  by  the  tracks  of 
the  Pennsj'lvania  railroad,  also  by  the 
tracks  of  the  Pliiladelphia  &  Reading  rail- 
road. This  industry  has  given  birth  to  a 
city.  Steelton  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Companj'.  Twenty-one  j'ears 
ago  the  site  of  the  town  was  nothing  but  farm 
lands,  to-day  it  is  a  bustling  community 
that  holds  within  her  corfiorate  limits 
several  other  large  industries  that  would 
reflect  credit  upon  any  metropolis  in  the 
country,  and  which  are  known  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  on  account  of  their 
various  products.  Steelton  is  a  well  built 
city,  mostly  of  brick,  it  is  also  well  paved 
and  is  equipped  with  gas,  water,  electric 
light  and  electric  railway  accommodations. 
The  Steelton  high  school  is  one  of  the  best 
structures  in  the  State ;  there  are  palatial 
residences  and  comforts,  and  all  the  stores 
and  commercial  interests  are  thriving. 
Samuel  Morse  Felton  founded  the  enter- 
prise and  organized  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Company.  He  was  born  July  17, 1809.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  employed  as  a 
clerk  in  a  grocery  store  in  Boston,  and  while 
there  fitted  himself  for  Harvard  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1834,  begin- 
ning the  study  of  law.  For  the  benefit  of 
his  health  he  soon  adopted  the  profession  of 
civil  engineering,  and  in  1838  engaged  in 
railroad  construction  in  New  England.  In 
1845  he  became  superintendent,  and  in  1871 
he  became  president  of  the  Philadelphia, 
Wilmington  &  Baltimore  railroad,  and  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia.  Paralysis  com- 
pelled him  to  retire  in  1865  for  a  short 
time.  After  several  months  of  rest,  in  con- 
nection with  J.  Edgar  Thomson,  president 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
and  others,  he  took  up  the  manufacture  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


155 


steel  rails,  and  the  result  was  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company. 
Mr.  Felton  was  elected  pi'esident,  and  lield 
that  position  during  his  life.  He  died  Jan- 
uary' 24,  lS8i),  aged  nearly  80  years.  He 
was  a  man  of  marvelous  executive  ability, 
and  was  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
the  company.  His  genial  presence  and 
wise  counsel  have  been  greatly  missed  by 
former  associates,  and  his  memory  is  higiily 
honored  by  all  who  knew  him  in  public 
and  private  life.  The  Penn.sylvania  Steel 
Company  was  fortunate  in  securing,  in  1874, 
the  services  of  Maj.  Luther  S.  Bent  as  super- 
intendent. From  the  date  of  his  engage- 
ment by  the  company  the  history  of  tiie 
same  has  been  one  of  continual  progress 
and  great  prosperity.  The  devotion  with 
which  he  managed  tlie  multidinous  affairs  of 
the  company  lias  never  been  exceeded  in 
any  similar  enterprise.  By  his  grasp  of  its 
affairs,  and  his  foresight,  he  has  been  en- 
abled to  conduct  it  with  a  success,  the  fame 
of  which  is  world-wide.  During  the  latter 
years  of  Mr.  Felton's  life,  Major  Bent  as- 
sumed the  position  of  general  manager  and 
vice-president,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr. 
Felton  was  chosen  president  and  continued 
sucii  until  1896  when  Mr.  Edgar  V.  Felton, 
son  of  tlie  first  jiresident,  was  elected.  The 
general  superintendent  of  the  companj'  is  Mr. 
Harry  H.  Campbell,  who  has  charge  of  the 
practical  affairs  of  the  manufacturing  depart- 
ments, and  upon  his  shoulders  rests  agreat  re- 
sponsibility, which  he  assumes  witji  the 
confidence  born  of  success.  The  president 
and  general  manager  of  tlie  company,  Mr. 
Edgar  C.  Felton,  is  the  guiding  spirit 
of  the  company's  affairs,  a  born  executive, 
a  master  of  intricate  detail  and  is  possessed 
of  that  spirit  of  public  progress  so  essential 
to  the  commercial  success  of  all  communi- 
ties. 

The  Cliesapeake  Nail  Works,  Central  Iron 
Works,  and  the  Universal  Mill,  under  prac- 
tically one  management,  come  next  in  indus- 
trial productiveness.  The  plant  of  the 
Chesapeake  Nail  Works  was  erected  on  the 
present  site  in  the  year  1866,  by  Mr.  Charles 
L.  Bailey.  Twice  since  the  building  was 
erected  misfortune  has  fallen  upon  it.  In 
1878  a  terrible  explosion  occurred,  partially 
demolishing  the  machiner\'  and  buildings. 
It  was  subsequently  rebuilt,  only  to  undergo 
the  same  misfortune  by  fire  in  September, 
1882.  Mr.  Bailey,  not  disheartened,  deter- 
mined to  carry  on  the  business,  rebuilt  the 


})lant  on  a  larger  scale.  Under  one  immense 
roof  are  now  to  be  found  a  puddle  mill,  plate 
mill,  nail  factory,  blacksmith  department, 
etc.  The  various  buildings  of  this  plant 
cover  a  space  of  about  four  acres.  The  com- 
pany employs  400  men,  skilled  and  experi- 
enced in  the  manufacture  of  iron  and  steel 
nails  and  tack  plates.  Ther#  are  103  nail 
machines  in  operation,  and  an  immense 
warehouse,  capable  of  storing  16,000  kegs  of 
nails. 

The  Central  Iron  Works  has  long  enjoyed 
a  reputation  for  superior  quality  of  iron  and 
steel  boiler  plates.  Both  are  used  all  over 
the  country  in  the  largest  boiler  shops, 
bridge  building  and  locomotive  works,  and 
by  consumers  generally.  Their  plant  is  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  comjjlete  in  tlie 
United  States.  It  consists  af  two  three-high 
plate  mills,  with  all  the  necessary  adjuncts, 
of  the  most  modern  construction,  of  large 
capacity  (25,000  tons  annually)  and  capable 
of  rolling  almost  any  sized  j)lates  required. 
They  have  also  added  a  new  universal  mill, 
the  largest  and  most  com})lete  of  its  kind, 
capable  of  making  plates  42  inches  wide 
and  of  any  lengths  and  thickness  required. 
Capacit}',  about  50,000  tons  annually.  Their 
business  extends  to  all  parts  of  the  United 
States,  from  Maine  to  California.  The  mills 
cover  several  acres,  the  universal  mill  being 
200  feet  wide  by  400  feet  long,  the  entire 
building  being  made  of  steel.  The  plant  is 
equipped  throughout  with  machinery  of  the 
latest  modern  construction,  having  its  own 
electric  light  and  power  plant  for  lighting 
and  running  its  large  electric  cranes.  The 
mill  is  second  to  none,  and  has  the  reputa- 
tion of  manufacturing  the  best  of  all  kinds 
of  iron  and  steel  used  in  the  construction  of 
bridges,  buildings,  &c. 

The  Universal  Mill  was  built  in  the  year 
1892,  it  being  the  largest  and  best  equipped 
mill  of  its  kind  in  the  country.  The  Uni- 
versal Mill  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
all  kinds  of  bridge  construction  iron  and 
steel,  which  is  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the 
United  States  from  Maine  to  San  Francisco. 
Large  shipments  are  made  to  the  New  Eng- 
land States,  where  the  demand  for  the  pro- 
duct of  the  mill  is  steadily  increasing.  This 
concern  has  just  completed  an  immense  con- 
tract for  a  firm  in  San  Francisco,  which  will 
go  down  in  the  annals  of  commercial  history 
as  an  example  of  progress  in  mechanical 
skill  seldom,  if  ever,  equalled.  The  L"ni- 
versal  Mill  occupies  a  building  150  feet  wide 


156 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


and  500  feet  long,  the  roof  of  the  same  being 
entirely  of  iron.  The  capacity  of  tlie  mill 
is  200  tons  of  finished  steel  per  day.  The 
plant  is  equipped  throughout  with  machiner\- 
of  the  latest  improved  kind,  capable  of  roll- 
ing out  plates  100  feet  long,  42  inches  wide, 
in  gauge  from  three-eighths  of  an  inch  to 
one  incii  in  thickness.  The  Universal  Mill 
lias  turned  out  250  tons  of  finished  steel  in 
twenty-four  liours.  This  is  wonderfully  quick 
work,  considering  the  immense  weight.  The 
plant  lias  its  own  electric  motors  and  dyna- 
mos, whicli  furnish  power  for  running  large 
electric  cranes  and  manufacturing  electric 
liglit  ibr  themselves,  the  Central  Iron  ^^'orks 
and  tiie  Chesapeake  Nail  Works.  The  mill 
is  also  equipped  witii  two  immense  cranes 
having  a  capacity  of  lifting  twenty  tons  and 
carrying  the  same  to  any  place  in  the  mill — 
to  the  distance  of  500  feet  if  necessary.  Be- 
sides electric  and  hydraulic  cianes  used  for 
lifting  and  unloading  steel  slabs,  ingots,  cars, 
etc.,  there  are  a  number  of  overhead  travel 
cranes  with  36  and  65  feet  spans.  In  this 
department  are  two  large  Todd  reversing  en- 
gines 30x00,  also  pumps  used  for  hydraulic 
pressure,  which  can  give  900  pounds  pressure 
to  the  square  inch.  In  the  electrical  de})art- 
ment,  besides  test  motors,  there  is  a  battery 
of  ten  boilers  of  100-horse  power  each.  The 
mill  is  second  to  none,  and  has  the  reputa- 
tion of  manufacturing  the  best  and  all  kinds 
of  iron  and  steel  used  in  the  construction  of 
bridges,  etc. 

The  Harrisburg  Foundry  and  Machine 
Works  was  incorporated  in  1891,  previous  to 
which  time  it  was  the  Harrisburg  Car  Manu- 
facturing Company.  The  main  building, 
the  machine  shop,  pattern  shop,  yards,  of- 
fices, etc.,  cover  between  three  and  four 
acres.  The  annual  output  of  the  concern 
is  large,  and  the  pay  roll  presents  a  formid- 
able array  of  figures.  The  number  of  the 
employed  varies  from  three  hundred  to 
four  hundred,  all  of  whom  are  skilled  me- 
chanics, drawing  salaries  that  are  in  keeping 
with  their  skill.  A  large  portion  of  the  trade 
of  the  company  is  handled  by  New  York, 
Philadelphia  and  Boston  concerns.  Among 
the  many  large  contracts  on  hand  may  be 
mentioned  one  for  two  eight-hundred  liorse- 
power  engines  at  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.  Tliey 
have  just  completed  a  large  contract  for  the 
Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  at  Scotland,  Pa., and 
are  also  engaged  upon  a  large  contract  for 
the  Philadelphia,  Castle  Rock  &  West  Ches- 
ter Electric  Railway.     The  company  manu- 


factures the  Weitmeyer  Patent  Furnace, 
which  saves  from  15  to  20  per  cent,  in  fuel. 
This  furnace  is  to  be  seen  under  hun- 
dreds of  boilers.  The  scope  of  the  work  of 
this  concern  is  so  great  that  a  detailed  list  of 
its  many  products  would  be  too  long  for  a 
single  perusal,  and  a  few  will  be  mentioned. 
The  company  is  prepared,  with  endless  beau- 
tifully executed  cuts  and  engravings,  to  sup- 
pi}'  all  information  of  whatsoever  kind  re- 
garding their  goods  and  correspondence  is 
solicited.  A  superb  set  of  cuts,  executed 
upon  the  finest  calendered  card  paper  will  be 
sent  upon  application  to  consulting  engineers, 
architects,  electricians  and  jiurchasers.  They 
are  pleased  to  submit  them  as  a  suggestion 
of  the  most  advanced  work  in  the  line  of  au- 
tomatic engines,  simple  and  compound,  and 
especially  their  happy  adaptation  to  direct- 
connected  electric  generators.  A  large  num- 
ber of  the  IIarrisl)urg  Ide  and  Ideal  engines, 
direct-connected,  are  now  in  operation — a 
method  that  will  probably  prevail  in  the 
near  future  for  all  first-class  installations. 
Owing  to  the  large  variety  of  sizes  of  Ide  and 
Ideal,  or  side  and  center-crank  engines,  the 
Harrisburg  Foundry  and  Machine  Works  is 
prepared  to  meet  all  requirements  for  elec- 
tric light  and  railway  work,  direct-connected 
or  otherwise.  In  all  the  conventional  and 
essential  characteristics  of  automatic  regu- 
lation, stability,  good  workmanship  ,and 
economy,  these  engines  are  not  excelled.  In 
addition  to  the  positive  and  constant  lubrica- 
tion of  the  Ideal  engine,  it  enjoys  the  unique 
distinction  of  being  the  only  self-oiling  hori- 
zontal steam  engine  in  the  world — self-oiling 
with.out  the  parts  being  submerged  in  oil, 
without  waste  or  throwing  oil  either  upon 
the  floor  or  belts,  or  if  direct-connected,  into 
the  generator,  and  its  ability  to  do  uninter- 
mitted  work,  absolutely  noiseless  in  opera- 
tion and  econom\'  in  oil  are  all  features  not 
obtained  in  any  other  engine.  In  this  respect 
the  Ideal  has  no  peer  and  recognizes  no  com- 
petitor. Over  1,500  Ide  and  Ideal  engines 
are  in  use,  aggregating  over  200,000  horse- 
power! Catalogues  will  be  furnished  upon 
application  for  simple  and  compound  engines, 
boilers,  etc.  The  Harrisburg  Foundry  and 
Machine  Works  has  an  endless  variety  of 
beautifully  jirinted,  engraved  and  half-tone 
matter,  all  of  which  is  to  enlighten  the  trade. 
This  concern  has  a  printed  list  over  twenty 
feet  long,  in  nonpareil  type  and  unleaded, 
which  contains  the  names  of  the  firms  that 
have  jjurchased  Ide  and  Ideal  engines,  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


157 


includes  the  West  Indies,  Brazil,  France, 
Sweden,  Canada,  British  Columbia,  Africa, 
etc.  It  is  a  splendid  enterprise,  and  we 
are  pleased  to  announce  the  fact  to  the 
commercial  world.  The  company  does  steam 
engineering  in  all  its  branches  and  contracts 
for  complete  steam  power  plants,  boilers, 
tanks,  stacks,  etc.,  and  is  the  sole  manufac- 
turer of  the  Harrisburg  Double  Engine  Steam 
Road  Roller.  Harrisburg  may  well  be  proud 
of  sucli  an  industry. 

The  oldest  of  the  large  industrial  estab- 
lishments is  that  of  the  W.  0.  Hickok  Man- 
ufacturing Company.  This  company  was 
established  in  the  year  1848  by  the  late  W. 
0.  Hickok,  and  no  other  concern  in  Penn- 
sylvania has  given  such  a  unique  representa- 
tion as  this  comi)any,  whose  manufactures 
are  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  civilized  world. 
The  plant  of  this  industry  covers  nearly  two 
acres  of  ground,  requiring  over  40,000  square 
feet  of  floor  space  in  order  to  meet  all  the  re- 
quirements of  their  increasing  trade.  The 
company  is  engaged  in  the  wholesale  manu- 
facture of  paper  ruling  machines,  Jones' sig- 
nature presses,  Hickok  roller  backers,  Hickok 
knife  grinding  machine,  Hickok  book  saw- 
ing machine,  Hickok  gilding  presses,  Hickok 
standing  presses,  Hickok  table  shears,  Hickok 
paging  maciiine,  Hickok  numbering  ma- 
chine, Hickok  round  cover  cutter,  Hickok 
rotary  board  cutter,  etc.,  bookbinders'  ma- 
chinery, full  bindery  outfits  and  so  on  until 
the  list  of  the  vastly  useful  and  particularly 
well-made  products  of  the  company  seems 
interminable.  Durnig  the  past  three  years 
the  company  had  a  large  number  of  orders 
from  the  Old  World.  The  trade  in  this  coun- 
try embraces  every  town  and  city  of  promi- 
nence from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and 
from  Maine  to  the  Gulf.  The  machine  de- 
partment l)ailding,  foundry,  offices,  etc.,  pre- 
sent an  impressive  view  of  commercial  sta- 
bility and  progress  and,  as  was  noted  before, 
cover  one  and  a  half  acres  of  ground.  The 
machine  department,  on  North  street,  is 
50x150  feet  in  dimensions.  The  basement  is 
half  used  for  roughing  out  the  lumber  used, 
and  half  for  the  storage  of  iron  |)ipe  and  bar 
irons ;  the  first  floor  as  the  machine  depart- 
ment; second  floor  wood  working  depart- 
ment; third  floor  painting,  varnishing  and 
storage.  The  first  floor  is  used  as  a  machine 
works,  and  the  second  is  a  store  room,  etc. 
The  company  employs  over  a  hundred  peo- 
ple, all  experienced  in  their  various  depart- 
ments, who  are  engaged  the  year  through. 


The  capital  stock  of  the  company  is  $250,000 
and  the  office  is  a  scene  of  busy  people  trans- 
acting the  business  of  a  large  and  particu- 
larly successful  company.  W.  0.  Hickok, 
the  founder  of  the  concern,  and  later  its  pres- 
ident after  its  incorporation,  was  for  a  long 
time  an  invalid,  died  in  1891,  at  quite  an  ad- 
vanced age,  deeply  mourned  by  the  many 
who  had  become  acquainted  with  his  sym- 
pathetic personality  and  his  broad  views  of 
humanity.  Before  he  passed  away  he  made 
a  stipulation  in  his  will  to  the  eftect  that  he 
wanted  the  W.  0.  Hickok  Manufacturing 
Company  to  maintain  its  present  firm  title 
so  long  as  the  bu.siness  shall  exist.  In  the 
machinery  building  all  the  works  and  ma- 
chines are  operated  by  electric  power,  which 
gives  better  results  than  steam.  The  plant 
is  also  lighted  throughout  by  means  of  elec- 
tricit}'. 

The  Lalance  and  Grosjean  Manufacturing 
Company  erected  the  rolling  mill  depart- 
ment of  their  giant  enterprise  in  Harrisburg, 
in  1892.  With  imposing  ceremonies  the 
establishment  was  opened  in  February,  1893. 
The  Harrisburg  plant  covers  over  four  acres 
of  ground.  The  first  structure  erected  was 
220  by  280  feet,  but  so  grand  was  the  success 
of  the  undertaking  that  an  annex  80  by  100 
feet  was  soon  added,  thus  making  the  entire 
plant  288  by  380  feet.  All  work  is  now  ex- 
ecuted under  one  roof,  but  in  different  de- 
partments and  under  a  splendidly  systematic 
method.  A  bar  mill,  sheet  mill,  tin  mill 
and  appointments,  a  5,000  pound  steam 
hammer,  two  run-out  fires,  four  charcoal 
fires,  immense  pair  of  bar  shears,  three 
double  shears,  three  large  engines  and  a  bat- 
tery of  ten  boilers  of  125,000  horse  power 
and  which  consumes  175  tons  of  coal  per 
week,  are  a  few  of  the  expensive  equipments 
of  the  plant.  The  concern  gives  employ- 
ment to  over  225  hands,  which,  using  the 
accepted  average,  makes  1,125  people  who 
derive  their  subsistence  from  the  products 
of  the  enterprise.  Concerns  of  this  cliaracter 
are  of  great  moment  to  the  local  retail  trade 
and  are  of  paramount  importance  to  the 
local  property  owners.  The  company  man- 
ufactures tin  plate  and  "black  plate,"  which 
is  shipped  to  their  immense  plant  at  Wood- 
haven,  L.  I.,  where  they  employ  from  1,400 
to  1,800  people,  and  where  tin  plate  and 
black  steel  iron  sheets  are  converted  into  all 
kinds  of  cooking  utensils,  and  wlucli  are 
sold  all  over  the  civilized  world.  The  out- 
put of  the  company  is  tremendous  and  the 


158 


HI JS  TO  RICA  L  RE  VIE  W 


names  of  Lalance  and  Grosjean  are  syno- 
nyms of  progress  in  every  household  where 
order  and  neatness  reign. 

The  Harrisburg  Manufacturing  Company 
was  organized  in  1889  and  incorporated 
June  10, 1895,  the  capital  stock  being  $100,- 
000.  The  manufacture  of  boilers  for  steam 
and  hot  water,  heating  and  for  power  is  the 
business  of  the  concern,  the  specialties  being 
star  water  tube,  volcano  water  tube,  star  gas 
burner,  horizontal  tubular  and  vertical 
boilers.  The  company's  boilers  are  applied 
to  all  manner  and  styles  of  engines,  and 
have  many  points  of  vantage  that  can  best 
be  understood  by  perusing  its  catalogue, 
which  gives  in  detail  what  must  necessarily 
be  omitted  in  a  comparatively  brief  article. 
The  Harrisburg  Manufacturing  and  Boiler 
Company  has  acquired  a  plant  equipped 
tlu'oughout  with  the  most  modern  tools 
and  appliances  of  such  general  perfection 
that  they  are  unsurpassed  either  as  to 
facilities  or  the  character  of  their  pro- 
duct. Tlie  company  is  specially  equipped 
for  the  manufacture  of  complete  and  perfect 
boilers  of  the  styles  mentioned  before.  The 
boilers  of  this  company  have  been  brought 
up  to  the  very  highest  standard,  botli  as  to 
workmanship  and  eificiency,  and  the  com- 
pany resjjectfull}'  invites  careful  considera- 
tion of  all  claims  in  tliis  direction.  Know- 
ing that  their  efforts  liave  been  recognized 
and  apjjreciated  in  the  past,  it  is  the  aim  of  the 
com[)any  to  maintain  the  higliest  standard, 
and  to  excel,  if  possible,  the  well-established 
character  of  their  product,  keeping,  in  all 
respects,  alive  to  the  spirit  and  requirements 
of  the  times.  The  trade  of  the  comi»any 
extends  throughout  tiie  length  and  breadth 
of  the  land,  and  their  boilers  are  in  great 
favor  with  all  who  have  used  them — the 
rapidity  with  which  they  gather  steam,  their 
safety  and  their  tremendous  powers  of  re- 
sistance in  the  matter  of  pressure  and  their 
almost  indestructible  qualities  have  made 
them  prime  favorites  in  the  manufactories  of 
America.  The  quality  of  boiler  iron  used 
is  tested  by  the  latest  recognized  and  ap- 
proved methods,  and  when  in  the  shape  of 
the  finished  product  is  as  near  perfection 
as  human  skill,  ingenuity  and  money  can 
bring  it.  The  company  employs  sixty  peo- 
ple in  the  conduct  of  their  business,  and  oc- 
cupies a  very  large  three-story  brick  struc- 
ture, which  contains  the  office,  foundry  and 
general  work  rooms.  The  firm  also  makes 
a  specialty  of  general  repairs,  and  in  this 


line  probably  do  more  than  any  similar  con- 
cern in  this  entire  section  of  tlie  State. 

The  Paxton  and  Steelton  Flouring  Mill 
Company  was  incorporated  in  February, 
1891,  for  the  manufacture  of  high  grade 
flour,  assuming  control  at  once,  through  a 
lease  for  a  term  of  years,  of  the  Paxton  Flour 
Mills,  of  Harrisburg,  and  the  Steelton  Flour- 
ing Mills,  of  Steelton.  The  Paxton  Mills, 
owned  by  the  estate  of  James  McCormick, 
dee'd,  in'  1862  succeeded  the  Eagle  Mills, 
and  increased  its  daily  capacity  from  fifteen 
barrels  to  one  hundred  barrels.  In  1879  the 
old  frame  building  was  torn  down,  and  tiie 
present  large  stone  mill  erected  and  fitted 
out  for  the  burr  process,  with  a  daih'  capacity 
of  350  barrels,  but  in  1880  the  mill  was 
changed  from  the  old  burr  process  to  the 
new  roller  process — being  the  first  mill  in 
Pennsylvania  to  adopt  the  roller  process — 
with  a  daily  capacity  of  500  barrels ;  since 
then  the  capacity  has  been  gradually  in- 
creased to  meet  the  demands  of  its  trade, 
until  it  is  now  750  barrels.  The  leading 
brands  of  this  mill  are  "Paxton"  and 
"  Hoffer's  Best,"  which  have  been  on  the 
local  markets  since  1862  and  1880  respec- 
tively, and  "  Castilla,"  which  has  been  on 
foreign  markets  since  1868.  The  entire 
plant  at  the  Paxton  Mills  consists  of  engine 
and  boiler  liouse,  40x40,  and  mill  proper, 
64x85,  five  stories  high,  warehouse,  64x85, 
one  story  high,  all  built  of  heavy  limestone; 
elevator,  six  stories  high,  built  of  stone  and 
slated  frame,  with  capacity  of  80,000  bushels. 
Also  a  cooper  plant,  consisting  of  a  stock 
house,  50x120,  two  stories  high  ;  two  barrel 
houses  with  a  storage  capacity  of  15,000 
barrels ;  a  factory  30x120,  fitted  up  with  the 
most  imin-oved  machinery,  with  a  daily 
capacity  of  1,500  barrels.  The  Steelton  Mill 
was  built  in  1882,  by  The  Steelton  Flouring 
Mills  Company,  fitted  up  with  a  full  roller 
process,  with  a  daily  capacity  of  500  barrels, 
but  has  since  been  increased  to  750  barrels. 
The  leading  brands  of  this  mill  for  local 
trade  are  "  Hercules,"  "Pearl,"  and  "Stella," 
and  for  export,  "Crystal,"  which  have  been 
on  the  market  since  1883.  The  entire  plant 
of  the  Steelton  Mill  consists  of  a  brick  engine 
and  boiler  house,  54x62,  brick  mill  building, 
62x74,  five  stories  high,  one  brick  warehouse, 
50x78,  three  stories  high,  and  one  warehouse 
built  of  frame  and  corrugated  iron,  34x120, 
one-story  high,  one  slated-frame  elevator, 
40x62,  five  stories  high,  and  cooper  building, 
now  used  for  barrel  storage,  with  a  capacity 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY.                                                         159 

for   10,000   barrels.     In    its  various  depart-  goods.     The   company    manufactures    only 

ments  this  company  employs  150  men.  for  the  wholesale  trade. 

In  1885  the  Boll  Brothers  Manufacturing  Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the 
Company  established  its  enterprise,  and  a  early  development  of  the  Lykens  Valley 
company  incorporated  in  1893.  For  eight  coal  regions,  and  in  this  connection  it  is  im- 
years  it  had  been  known  as  the  Harrisburg  portant  to  refer  again  to  these  celebrated 
Woven  Wire  Mattress  Company.  Its  author-  mines  in  the  upper  end  of  Dauphin  county, 
ized  capital  was  $100,000.  The  company  The  Lykens  Valley  coal  is  mined  by  tw'o 
occupies  a  splendid  five-story  brick  building  coal  companies,  the  Short  Mountain  of  Wic- 
vvith  dimensions  40x180  f?et,  which  is  onisco,  and  the  Summit  Branch  of  Williams- 
equipped  throughout  with  all  the  latest  im-  town,  both  collieries  now  being  controlled 
proved  machinery  for  the  special  manufac-  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
ture  of  their  several  grades  of  intricate  and  The  two  collieries  employ  over  2,000  men 
beautiful  workmanship.  There  are  some  and  boys,  who  are  paid  on  the  third  Satur- 
seventy  people  em[)loyed,  and  the  represent-  day  of  each  month  for  all  work  done  during 
atives  on  the  road  cover  the  New  England  the  previous  month.  Thomas  M.  Williams 
and  Middle  and  Southern  States.  There  are  is  suj^erintendent  of  both  collieries.  Tlie 
few  thoroughly  first-class,  completely  stocked  following  table  shows  the  output  for  the 
furniture  concerns  in  the  country  that  do  present  year,  1896,  up  to  August  15,  together 
not  handle  the  splendid  goods  of  Boll  Broth-  with  the  amount  sliipped  in  1895  to  the 
ers  Manufacturing  Company.  Tlie  goods  same  day,  giving  increase  and  decrease  of 
sell  themselves  ;  their  beauty,  solidity  and  each  colliery  : 
intricate    workmanship    being   silently  elo-  week.                       year. 

quent  of  the  merits  of  the  same.     Losses  by      Short  Mountain,    .    4,794  17 155,332  19 

fire  in   no  way  impeded   the  progress  of  the     Last  year,     .  .  .  .^9^ m,3^i_09 

company,  whose  able  president,  Mr.  Charles         increase,    ....       297  09 39,011  10 

Boll,  seems    fitted    by  nature   to   surmount     williamstown,    .  .    4,925  11 177.603  17 

difficulties  that  would  discourage  most  men      Last  year 6,242  06 214,21209 

of  his  years-^he  is  not  yet  thirty — and  to  

gather  strength  from  his  misfortunes.     The         Decrease,  ....    1, 316  15 36,60812 

building  and  equii)ment  are  models  in  every     Total  amount.     .  .    9,720  08 332,936  16 

,.      P       ,,      ^      '         ii     .   1         1  1        1       Last  year,      ....   10,739  14 330,533  18 

particular,  the  system  that  has  been  evolved  •'                                                            -         « 

is  perfection   itself.     The  fifth  floor  of  the  The  Hummelstown  Brownstone  Company 

factory  is  devoted  to  a  feather  purifying  de-  was  establislied  in  1807,  and  the  quarries,  lo- 

partment,    which    is    unique   and   original,  catedabout  three  miles  from  that  enterprising 

being  one  of  the  latest  and  improved  pro-  town,  have  been  worked  for  thirty  years  past, 

cesses.      The  model   picking   room,  on  the  For  the  last  eighteen  j'ears,  however,  they 

fourth   floor,  has  a  gi-anolithic  floor,  and   is  have  been  more  extensively  operated,  owing 

lined  with  asbestos,  thus  avoiding  any  possi-  to  the  change  of  ownership  and  the  business 

bility  of  fire.     Here  the  material  is  carefully  facilities  and  enterprise  of  the  new  manage- 

sorted    and    picked.     The    latest   improved  ment.     The  plant  consists  of  a  railroad  of 

machinery  is  employed,  notably  Boll's  cotton  some  three  and  a-half  miles,  with  extensive 

curler,  which  gives  the  companj'  the  exclu-  sidings,  four  locomotives  and  a  number  of 

sive  franchise  to  manufacture  curled  cotton  freiglit  and  passenger  cars.     There  is  a  large 

mattresses.     The  first  floor  is  devoted  to  the  stone  saw  mill  of  thirteen  gangs,  with  a  large 

elegant  offices  and   immense  sample  room,  stonecutter  shop,  thoroughly  equipped  with 

where  a  sample  of  every  jn-oduct  of  the  com-  rub  wheels  and  ten  stone  planers,  together 

pany  is  kept  to  show  customers.     Tlie  man-  with  all  necessary'  appliances  for  doing  first- 

agers   are   all    practical    men,    educated    in  class  cut  stone  work.     There  are  four  quarry 

every  detail  of  the  business    and  all  work  openings,  with  .some  thirty  steam  hoist  der- 

and  material  are  subjected  to  their  personal  ricks,  and  in  prosjierous  times  the  number 

inspection  and  direction.     Every  brass  and  of  men  employed  has  amounted   to  about 

iron  bedstead,  .spring  mattress,  etc.,  made  by  600.     The  capacity  of  the  quarries  is  prac- 

the  company  meets  ever}'  requirement  of  the  tically  unlimited,  and  in  the  summer  season 

trade,  whicli  explains  t  he  high  appreciation  as  many  as  forty  cars  of  stone  have  been 

in  which  dealers  and    the  public  hold  their  shipped  in  one  day.     Perchance  no  similar 


3  60 


HISTORICAL  REVIEW 


quarriesin  the  United  States  are  so  thoroughl\' 
equipped  in  every  respect  witli  macliinerj^ 
and  proper  appliances,  and  tiiese  quarries 
are  recognized  as  amongst  the  largest  in  the 
United  States.  The  building  stone  taken 
therefrom  is  of  the  most  durable  character, 
and  the  climate  does  not  seem  to  have  any 
effect  ujton  it.  It  may  be  proper  to  state 
that  Professor  Pond,  who  made  an  analysis 
of  the  brownstone,  says  that  in  comparison 
it  is  placed  among  the  best,  as  far  as  the 
cliemical  determination  of  the  constituents 
is  capable  of  indicating,  while  Professor 
Keber,  in  testing  the  stone  for  compression 
states,  that  the  crushing  strain  averaged 
over  seven  hundred  tons  to  the  square  foot, 
showing  that  the  stone  is  of  excellent  quality 
for  building  purposes.  It  may  be  well  said 
tliat  the  Brownstone  Company  lias  lieen  one 
of  the  most  successful  in  tlie  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, due  to  the  fact  of  its  high  grade 
and  excelience  as  building  material. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1880,  there  was  es- 
tablished at  Middletown  an  industry  which 
advanced  with  such  marvelous  strides  tiiatit 
has  developed  intotiie  largest  manufacturing 
pipe  and  tube  works  in  the  United  States,  if 
not  in  the  world.  The  new  plant  started 
with  about  seventy-five  men,  which  rapidly 
increased  until  with  the  supplemental  plant 
at  Youngstown,  Oliio,  two  thousand  persons 
are  employed.  Tlie  magnitude  of  the  Ameri- 
can Tube  and  Iron  Company,  at  Middle- 
town,  must  be  seen  to  be  properly  estimated. 
The  mills  are  equipped  to  make  all  dimen- 
sions of  pipe.  The  sizes  of  pipe  made  in  the 
butt  mills  run  from  1-lG  inch  diameter  to 
1\  inches  diameter,  whilst  the  sizes  made  in 
the  lap  mill  range  from  li  inches  diameter 
to  20  inciies  diameter.  A  large  galvanizing 
works  filled  with  three  immense  baths  is  in 
constant  operation  galvanizing  pipes.  Three 
car  loads  of  spelter  are  used  per  week  for  this 
purpose.  This  de])artment  is  kept  so  bus}' 
that  it  was  found  absolutely  necessary  to  en- 
large it,  and  it  was  only  recently  that  changes 
were  made  which  increased  its  output  fifty 
per  cent.,  thus  giving  employment  to  addi- 
tional workmen.  As  it  is  not  proposed  to 
bring  within  tlie  scope  of  this  notice  tiie 
methods  of  manufacturing  pipe,  no  mention 
can  be  made  of  the  many  departments'and 
buildings  wherein  pipes,  tubes  and  fittings 
pass  througli  the  various  stages  of  manufac- 
ture before  being  ready  for  market.  It  is  the 
admirable  equipment  of  these  mills  and  their 
mechanical  departments  that  has  ever  distin- 


guished the  American  Tube  and  Iron  Com- 
pany from  other  pipe  concerns,  and  enables 
it  to  undertake  successfully  special  lines  of 
work  requiring  the  highest  engineering 
knowledge  and  skill  to  develop  and  apply 
tlie  same  with  the  greatest  accuracy  of  de- 
tail. This  is  one  of  the  reasons  why,  during 
the  dullest  business  seasons  when  all  trade 
seems  to  flag,  the  mills  are  able  to  keep  their 
large  army  of" workmen  full}'  employed:  a 
body  of  men  keenly  alive  to  the  value  of 
steady  employment,  and  for  whose  welfare 
they  liave  made  ample  assurance. 

For  the  character  of  work  the  American 
Tube  &  Iron  Company  could  easily  claim 
supremacy.  Several  years  ago,  by  way  of 
illustration,  tlie  mill  was  running  day  and 
night  for  about  one  hundred  miles  of  eight- 
inch  pipe  to  convey  natural  gas  from  the 
Indiana  fields  to  Chicago.  Six  of  the  largest 
pipe  concerns  of  the  United  States  endeav- 
ored to  meet  tiie  rigorous  requirements  of 
this  company,  but  unsuccessfully.  Every 
gas  and  oil  field  iias  the  pipe  manufactured 
by  this  company  in  use.  Among  its  largest 
customers  is  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  for 
whom  it  has  furnished  huiKh'edsof  miles  of 
pipe.  The  Sandwich  Islands  and  other 
prominent  countries  have  afforded  promis- 
ing fields  for  the  production  of  this  great  in- 
dustiy.  For  the  great  success  of  these  works 
much  is  due  to  the  enterprise  and  energ}'  of 
the  Mathesons. 

Apart  from  this  mammoth  industry  there 
are  other  enterprises  at  Middletown,  which  in 
prosperous  times  have  added  very  much  to 
tlie  progress  of  that  thriving  town.  It  has 
always  been  an  important  manufacturing 
center,  and  contains  witiiin  and  around  it  all 
the  elements  to  make  it  a  great  industrial 
point. 

For  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years  the  Mc- 
Cormiek  estate  has  had  control  and  manage- 
ment of  the  Paxton  furnaces,  wliich  in  the 
flush  times  of  the  iron  trade  have  been  suc- 
cessfully carried  on,  and  the  production  of 
iron  profitable  demonstrated.  The  capacity 
of  these  furnaces  is  about  twelve  hundred 
tons  of  pig  iron  per  month.  In  connection 
witli  these  furnaces  there  is  a  rolling  mill 
which  has  been  one  of  the  most  successful 
enterprises  in  this  locality.  The  main  build- 
ings cover  an  area  of  ground,  250  by  IGO 
feet,  while  the  puddle  mill  has  a  large  num- 
ber of  double  puddling  fornaces  and  a  ca- 
pacity of  about  150  tons  per  week. 

The    Jackson    Manufacturing    Company 


ff 


bi-l''>' 


■    AT  ' 


s  s  ^  n 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1(53 


was  established  in  1880  with  a  paid  up  capi- 
tal of  150,000,  but  owing  to  the  vast  increase 
of  business,  in  1889  the  stock  was  increased 
to  $100,000.  The  company  has  a  large  and 
substantial  building  which  extends  a  whole 
block,  from  New  Fourth  street  to  Fulton 
street  along  Boyd  avenue.  The  plant 
throughout  is  equipped  with  all  the  latest  ap- 
pliances and  improved  machinery,  including 
heating  furnaces, hydraulic  presses, drills, etc. 
The  reputation  of  the  Jackson  Manufactur- 
ing Company  is  not  only  confined  to  the 
United  States,  but  extends  throughout  North 
and  South  America,  and  across  the  waters. 
They  construct  the  highest  grade,  scientifi- 
cally, steel  wheelbarrows  for  all  purposes, 
used  by  mills,  large  industries,  miners,  rail- 
roads, public  works,  etc.  At  present  twenty- 
five  experienced  iiands  are  employed  at  these 
works.  During  the  busy  season  this  num- 
ber is  doubled.  A  few  years  ago  this  com- 
pany received  a  medal  and  diploma  from 
the  Exposition  University  at  Barcelona, 
Spain. 

To  show  how  the  varied  manufacturing 
industries  thrive  and  succeed  at  Harrisburg, 
we  need  only  refer,  in  conclusion,  to  the 
manufacturing  of  shoes.  The  establishments 
of  Forney  Brothers  &  Company,  Bay  Shoe 
Company,  and  the  Harrisburg  Boot  and 
Shoe  Manufacturing  Company,  with  two 
others,  incorporated,  whose  combined  pro- 
ducts are  valued  at  nearly  a  half  million  of 


dollars,  go  to  sliow  how  successful  these  en- 
terprises have  proven  to  be  in  the  (!apital 
City. 

Althougii  tiie  foregoing  industrial  estal)- 
lishments  are  more  prominent  owing  to  tiieir 
extensive  works  and  the  large  sum  of  mone}' 
invested  therein,  still  there  are  other  indus- 
trial concerns  intimately  connected  with  tlie 
prosperity  of  Harrisburg  whose  total  value 
of  stock  and  machinery  with  the  other  pro- 
ductiveness amounts  in  value  to  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars.  Limited  as  we  must 
necessarily  be,  only  an  epitome  of  the  indus- 
tries of  a  large  manufacturing  city,  like  Har- 
risburg, can  be  given.  Its  unequalled  ad- 
vantages, its  facilities  for  transportation,  in 
the  midst  of  one  of  most  productive  regions 
in  America,  give  to  Harrisburg  a  supremacy 
offered  by  no  other  city  or  town  in  the 
American  Union.  Capital  has  been  invited, 
capital  lias  located  its  establishments,  and 
capital  has  received  its  rich  reward.  Closely 
allied  to  the  various  industries  are  the  bank- 
ing institutions  of  the  city.  The  variou.-; 
■financial  institutions  havj  always  been  of 
conservative  management.  And  the  new 
Harrisburg,  and  newer  Steelton,  with  ten 
millions  of  dollars  in  tlieir  banks,  siiow  alike 
to  capitalists,  manufacturers,  and  skilled 
labor  that  no  better  financial  institutions 
and  greater  manufacturing  enterprises  exist 
anywliere. 


15 


J 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 

— OF— 

DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


Hills,  Stephen,  the  architect  of  the  State 
Capitol  of  Pennsylvania,  was  the  fifth  chikl 
of  John  and  Sarah  (Lewis)  Hills,  who  were 
married  in  December,  1755,  and  had  a  fami]\' 
of  seven  sons  and  a  daughter.  Stephen,  the 
fourth  son,  was  born  at  Ashford,Kent  county, 
England,  August  10,1771.  According  to  the 
custom  of  the  times,  he  was  "  bound  out  for 
seven  years  "and  apprenticed  to  a  local  house- 
wright,  living  in  his  "master's"  family  until 
his  twenty-first  birthday.  In  1794  he  mar- 
ried Margaret  Ashby,  of  Pluckley,  a  parish 
village  about  five  miles  from  Ashford.  He 
was  the  first  of  five  brothers  who  came  to 
America,  arriving  at  Boston  in  either  179G 
or  1797.  His  brothers  Kichard  and  William 
joined  him  in  1801,  and  subsequent  to  his 
departure  for  this  city,  about  1802,  his  broth- 
ers George  and  Joseph,  and  their  widowed 
mother,  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
in  the  capitol  of  New  England. 

While  a  resident  of  Boston  he  was  actively 
engaged  in  business  and  built  several  houses. 
The  building  erected  for  his  own  home  in 
1799,  in  what  was  then  the  outskirts  of  the 
town, still  stands  in  what  is  now  a  very  thickly 
settled  part  of  Boston.  The  city's  geographi- 
cal center  lias  passed  it,  and  is  now  nearly  a 
mile  beyond  its  location.  At  how  early  a 
date  he  became  a  resident  of  Harrisburg  is 
not  known  to  his  New  England  relatives,  but 
it  is  believed  that  he  built  many  of  the  houses 
of  that  city  which  were  erected  in  the  earlier 
part  of  the  present  century.  His  plans  for 
the  capitol  of  Pennsylvania  were  adopted, 
and  he  was  the  builder  as  well  as  the  archi- 
tect of  that  edifice,  the  cornerstone  of  which 
was  laid  May  31,  1819. 

While  on  a  visit  to  England  his  wife,  Mar- 
garet Hills,  died  at  Harrisburg,  on  Sunday, 
Augu.st,4,  1822,  in  the  51st  year  of  her  age, 
leaving  four  children.  Sarah,  who  married 
November  26,  1821,  Samuel  Wiiite,  and  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Indianapolis,  where  she 
was  living  in  1845,  and  three  sons,  John, 
Stephen,  and  Thomas.  Before  returning  to 
America  Mr.  Hills  again  married,  and  was 


for  a  short  time  once  more  a  resident  of  Har- 
risburg. About  1825  he  went  to  England 
for  the  last  time  and  remained  there  about 
eleven  years,  and  in  the  winter  of  18oG-7  re- 
turned to  the  United  States.  He  is  described 
b}'  those  who  knew  him  at  this  time  as  a 
man  of  large  frame,  weighing  about  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds.  In  the  spring  of  1837 
lie  went  to  Jefferson  city  to  build  the  capitol 
for  the  State  of  Missouri.  The  plans  made 
for  the  Pennsylvania  structure  were  accepted 
lor  tins  edifice,  and  so  closely  followed  that 
the  building  was  practically  a  duplicate  of 
his  earlier  work.  Immediately  following 
the  completion  of  the  capitol,  he  commenced 
the  erection  of  the  university  at  Columbia, 
in  that  State,  and  finished  his  contract  in  the 
spring  of  1843.  He  then  retired  from  his 
profession  and  wont  to  his  farm  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  IIIinois.(about  twelve  miles  from 
St.  Louis).  Here  he  died,  October  17,  1844, 
leaving  a  widow  and  her  children,  two  (laugh- 
ters and  a  son  ;  and  a  son,  daughter,  and  six 
grandchildren  as  descendants  of  himself  and 
Margaret  Ashby,  his  first  wife. 


Stewart,  S.^muel,  son  of  Samuel  Stewart, 
born  in  the  county  Down,  Ireland,  was 
brought  to  Pennsylvania  in  the  emigration 
'of  his  father's  family  in  1735,  and  on  com- 
ing of  age  settled  as  a  farmer  in  Hanover 
township,  Lancaster  county,  now  West  Han- 
over, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  about  1750.  His 
warrant  for  one  hundred  acres  of  land  was 
dated  May  17,1754,  and  in  an  "assessment 
for  the  King's  use,  1759,  Samuel  Stuart "  is 
taxed  five  shillings.  This  township,  estab- 
lished in  1737  and  named  in  honor  of  the 
reigning  family  of  Great  Britain,  almost  ex- 
clusively settled  by  Scotch-Irish  Presbyte- 
rians, was  on  the  then  frontier  and  contigu- 
ous to  theKittatinny  mountains.  From  the 
date  of  his  settlement  therein,  in  1754,  until 
1764,  on  account  of  its  proximity  to  the  wil- 
derness, it  was  subject  to  Indian  raids  and 
depredations  from  which  the  inhabitants  suf- 
fered fearfully  in  their  persons  and  property, 


166 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


often    being   compelled    to   abandon    their 
homes  and  fly  for  safety.     This  state  of  af- 
fairs continued  until  the  massacre  in  Lan- 
caster of  the  Conestoga  Indians,  who  were 
the  aiders  and  abettors  of  these  outrages.     A 
public  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Hanover 
township,  June  4,  1774,  has  gone  into  his- 
tory, showing  the  earliest  recorded  movement 
toward  independence,  and,  when  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  began,  the  liberty-loving  and 
patriotic  Scotch-Irish  of  Hanover  were  found 
faithful    and    active    participants.     Samuel 
Stewart  entered  as  a  private,  serving  in  Col. 
Timoth}'  Green's  battalion  for  the  defense  of 
the  frontier,  and,  in  June  G,  1776,  in  Capt. 
James  Rodgers'  company  of  Lancaster  county 
associators,  "destined  for  the  camp  in  the 
Jerseys."     On  the  erection  and  organization 
of  the  county  of  Dauphin,  in   1785,  we  find 
him  upon  the  first  grand  jur^',  composed  of 
prominent  citizens.     A  Presbyterian  by  birth 
and  a  supporter  of  the  old  Hanover  church, 
founded  in  1735,  and  situated   eleven  miles 
east  of  Harrisburg,  the  records  show  that  on 
"  November  2,   1788,   Samuel   Stewart   and 
Nancj-  Stewart,  liiswife,  were  admitted  to  the 
Lord's  table."     Samuel  Stewart  died  Septem- 
ber 16,  1803,  and   was  buried  in   Hanover 
church    graveyard.     He    was  a  large   man, 
weighing  two  hundred  and  thirty  pounds, 
six  feet  in  height,  eyes  blue  and  complexion 
fair.     His  surviving  wife,  Agnes   Calhoun, 
and  his  son,  Samuel  Elder  Stewart,  were  the 
executors  named   in  his  will.     He  married, 
first,  Nancy  Templeton,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Agnes  Templeton,   of    Hanover;    died 
1788,  and   buried  in   old   Hanover  church 
graveyard.      Samuel    Stewart    married,  sec- 
ondly, in  1789,  Agnes  (Nancy)  Calhoun,  born 
1763  ;  died  August  29,  1823 ;  buried  in  the 
cemetery  at  Gi'aysville,  Huntingdon  county, 
Pa.;  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (kl- 
houn,of  Paxiang  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.     On  the  death  of  her  husband  in  1803, 
siie  ))urchased  a  farm  in  AVest  Hanover  town- 
ship,   Dauphin   county,   Pa.,  adjoining   the 
farm  of  Robert  Stewart,  ten  miles  east  of  Har- 
risburg, on   the  Jonestown  road,  whei'e  she 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1813,  when  she 
removed  to  Spruce  Creek,  Centre  county,  Pa. 


watciimaker  in  London.  He  came  to  Penn- 
sylvania about  1785,  and  sliortly  afterwards 
established  himself  in  business  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa.  He  was  a  skilled  and  ingenious 
workman.  He  was  Cjuite  prominent  in  the 
early  affairs  of  the  new  town,  and  was  among 
the  first  to  jump  into  the  water  to  tear  down 
the  obnoxious  mill-dam  in  the  Paxtang 
creek,  in  1795.  He  was  a  volunteer  in 
Captain  Reitzell's  company  on  the  expedi- 
tion westward  in  1794 ;  and  twice  visited 
England  on  matters  connected  with  his 
father's  estate,  then  considered  quite  an 
undertaking;  and  what  particularly  dis- 
tinguished his  last  visit  was  his  reception 
by  his  fellow-citizens  of  Harrisburg  on  his 
return,  which  was  an  ovation  showing  what 
a  strong  hold  he  had  upon  his  friends  in 
America.  He  died  very  suddenly,  while 
sitting  in  his  chair  on  Monday  evening, 
November  6,  1809,  aged  44  years,  and  the 
Oracle  of  Dauphin  speaks  of  his  loss  to  the 
community  as  "  irreparable."  Mr.  Hill  mar- 
ried at  Harrisburg,  February  3,  1790,  Nancy 
Beatty,  daugiiter  of  James  Beatty  and  his 
wife  Alice  Ann  Irwin.  Siie  was  born  May 
2,  1771,  at  Bally  Red-Ednagound,  county 
Down,  Ireland,  and  died  May  7,  1839,  at 
Steubenville,  0. 


Hill,  Samuel,  son  of  Arundel  and  Char- 
lotte Hill,  was  born  in  1765  in  England. 
His  ancestors  belonged  to  one  of  the  repre- 
seijtative  families  of  that  country.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  English  and  classical  educa- 
tion, and  learned   the  trade  of   clock    and 


Wokrall,  James,  is  a  native  of  Limerick, 
Ireland,  the  .son  of  John  Worrall,of  that  city, 
merchant,  who  failed  in  business  in  conse- 
quence of  some  decree  of  the  first  Napoleon. 
He  had  cargoes  of  provisions  on  the  ocean, 
and  when  the  continental  ports  were  closed 
against  them  they  had  to  be  sacrificed  or  rot 
in  the  ships,  a  fate  which  bankrupted  their 
owner.  He  then  emigrated  to  this  country, 
and  being  a  man  of  education  he  began 
teaching,  in  which  occupation  he  successfully 
continued  until  his  death,  at  Philadelphia, 
in  1845.  He  left  a  large  family,  of  whom 
James  was  the  eldest.  The  latter  entered 
the  establishment  of  Carey,  Lea  &  Co.,  book- 
sellers, where  he  remained  several  years, 
when  he  .secured  a  position  on  an  engineer 
corps  under  Judge  F.  W.  Rawle.  The  first 
rod  Mr.  Worrall  ever  held  was  on  a  railroad 
in  Northumberland  county  in  1831,  and 
strange  to  say,  the  road  was  only  comtnenced 
to  be  built  in  1882,  more  than  half  a  century 
later  than  its  preliminar}'  survey.  He  con- 
tinued with  Judge  Rawle  into  1832.  In 
1833,  under  Judge  Benjamin  Wright,  one  of 
the  engineers  of  the  Erie  canal,  he  assisted 
in  making  the  surveys  and  maps  of  the  great 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


167 


St.  Lawrence  canal,  between  Prescott  and 
Cornwall.  He  then  joined  the  engineer 
corps  on  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  canal, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1835  he  lielped  Colonel  Schlatter  on  a 
survey  across  New  Jerse}' for  a  railroad  from 
Trenton  to  New  Brunswick,  which,  through 
the  opposition  of  the  Camden  and  Amboy 
railroad,  was  never  built.  Mr.  Worrall  then 
took  service  on  the  James  river  and  Kanawha 
canal,  under  Judge  Wright,  consulting  engi- 
neer, and  Charles  EUet,  Jr.,  constructing 
engineer.  He  was  subsequently  called  back 
to  Pennsylvania  by  Hother  Hage  to  make  a 
survey  over  the  Alleghany  mountains  on  a 
line  from  the  Cumberland  Valley  to  Pitts- 
burgli.  He  was  given  the  division  from 
Bedford  across  tlie  mountains  as  far  as  the 
Laurel  Hill,  a  reconnoissance  from  thence  to 
Greensburg,  and  again  a  survey  from  the 
latter  point  to  the  Youghiougheny  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Sewickly.  This  was  in  1838, 
and  here  Mr.  Worrall  first  showed  his  skill 
and  judgment,  but  the  fact  of  their  existence 
was  not  to  be  discovered  until  some  forty- 
five  years  afterwards,  when  the  highest  en- 
gineering ability  of  the  year  1882  was  called 
upon  for  an  opinion  on  the  location  then 
made;  they  unanimously  pronounced  it  the 
true  location  for  the  road,  tlie  South  Penn- 
sylvania, and  adopted  it  without  hesitation. 
Tliere  was  some  difficult  engineering  sug- 
gested by  Colonel  Worrall  east  of  Bedford 
upon  which  the  syndicate  of  engineers  was 
called  upon  to  pronounce,  which  also  they 
unanimously  appi'oved.  It  is  questionable 
wdiether  it  would  not  have  been  hard  to  find, 
in  the  early  history  of  engineering,  an  engi- 
neer, wdio,  locating  a  road  upon  a  single  ex- 
amination, so  marked  it  as  that  the  improved 
science  of  forty  years  later  adopted  it  as  the 
best  without  hesitation.  He  was  afterwards 
engaged  with  Milnor  Roberts  as  principal 
assistant  engineer  in  the  Erie  extension  of 
the  Pennsylvania  canal ;  in  1844  he  became 
interested  with  otliers  in  canal  and  railroad 
contracts  in  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
In  1850  he  was  chief  engineer  of  the  Union 
canal,  where  he  continued  until  the  comple- 
tion of  its  enlargement,  when  he  became 
principal  engineer  on  tlie  western  division 
of  the  Philadelphia  and  Erie  railroad.  Upon 
tlie  completion  of  tiiis  work  he  returned  to 
Harrisburg.  After  the  year  18G1  he  acted 
as  clerk  in  the  quartermaster's  department 
during  the  war.  At  the  close  of  the  Rebellion 
he  was  again  engineering  across  the  State  for 


projected  routes  to  the  West;  afterwards  on  a 
canal  survey  in  Illinois,  returning  to  Penn- 
sylvania in  1869,  since  which  period  he  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  fisliery 
commission  of  tiie  State,  and  to  him  much 
that  has  been  accompiisiied  in  that  direction 
is  due. 


Graydon,  Mrs.  Rachel  (Marks),  was  a 
native  of  the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  and  the 
eldest  of  four  daugiiters.  Her  father,  Mr. 
Marks — engaged  in  the  West  India  trade — 
was  of  German  birth  ;  her  mother  a  native  of 
Glasgow,  Scotland.  At  the  age  of  seven  years 
iier  parents  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where 
Raehel  was  educated.  She  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance and  married,  about  1750,  Alex- 
ander Graydon,  a  native  of  Longford,  Ire- 
land, doing  business  at  that  time  in  the  old 
town  of  Bristol,  Bucks  county,  Pa.  At  this 
period  the  celebrated  Dr.  Baird  wrote  of  her 
thatshe  was  "tiie  finest  girl  in  Philladelphia, 
having  the  manners  of  a  lady  bred  at  court." 
At  the  opening  of  the  war  of  tlie  Revolu- 
tion her  oldest  sons  enlisted  in  the  patriot 
army — one  of  whom,  Alexander,  has  re- 
corded in  the  "  Memoirs  of  a  Life  Passed  in 
Pennsylvania"  much  concerning  the  ma- 
ternal affection,  the  fortitude  and  patriotic 
spirit  of  an  American  matron.  Taken  pris- 
oner at  the  capture  of  Fort  Washington,  the 
devoted  mother,  accomplished,  b}'  personal 
appeals,  the  parole  of  Captain  Graydon. 

During  tlie  major  part  of  the  Revolution, 
Mrs.  Graydon  resided  at  Reading,  and  while 
there  her  house  was  "  the  seat  of  hospitality, 
and  the  resort  of  numerous  guests  of  dis- 
tinction, including  officers  of  the  British 
army  who  were  there  stationed  as  prisoners 
of  war."  The  Baron  de  Kalb  was  often 
there;  and  between  her  own  and  General 
Miffiin's  family  there  was  a  strong  intimacy 
existing.  When  the  county  of  Daui)liin  was 
organized,  the  appointment  of  her  son, 
Alexander,  as  prothonotary,  occasioned  her 
removal  to  Harrisburg.  She  was  a  ladj' 
much  devoted  to  her  family,  and  yet,  in  the 
early  days  of  tliis  city,  siie  was  prominent  in 
deeds  of  love  and  ciiarity.  She  died  at  Har- 
risburg at  the  residence  of  her  son  on  the 
23d  of  January,  1807,  aged  78  years,  and  is 
interred  in  the  Harrisburg  cemetery. 


Brown,  William,  of  Paxtang,  thus  desig- 
nated in  the  act  for  the  erection  of  the 
county  of  Dauphin  to  distinguish  him  from 
Capt.  William  Brown,  of  Hanover,  a  cousin. 


168 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Of  the  ancestrj'  of  this  prominent  man  and 
citizen  we  have  the  following;  John  Brown, 
"the  pious  carrier"  of  Muirkirk  parish,  Ayr- 
shire, Scotland,  was  captured  by  Graham, 
of  Claverhouse,  and  his  troops  the  first  of 
May,  1685,  and  ordered  to  take  the  oath  of 
conformity,  which  he  refused  to  do.  Claver- 
house bid  him  go  to  his  prayers,  because  he 
had  but  a  few  minutes  to  live.  He  did  pray 
with  such  power  that  when  Claverhouse 
ordered  his  men  to  fire  upon  him  they  re- 
fused, and  with  a  pistol  and  an  oath  he  blew 
his  brains  out,  and  then  turned  to  the  widow 
and  said,  "  Wliat  thinke.st  thou  of  thy  lius- 
band  now?"  Shs  answered,  "I  ever  thought 
nieikle  of  iiim,  but  never  so  meikle  as  I  do 
this  day."  He  said,  "It  were  but  justice  to  lay 
thee  beside  him."  She  answered,  "If  you 
were  permitted,  I  doubt  not  but  your  cruelty 
would  go  that  lengtii ;  but  how  will  you 
answer  for  tiiis  morning's  work?"  "To  man 
I  can  be  answerable,  and  as  for  God  I  will 
take  him  into  my  own  hand,"  he  replied 
and  rode  away.  She  laid  down  her  cliild, 
tied  up  her  husband's  head  with  her  apron, 
stretched  out  his  limbs,  covered  him  witli 
her  j)laid,  and  sat  down  and  wept  long  and 
bitterly.  Without  means,  witiiout  a  friend 
to  help,  and  liable  to  be  persecuted,  she  was 
at  her  wit's  end.  But  God  cared  for  her  and 
removed  her  to  Ireland,  where  she  found 
friends,  and  where  siie  married  again.  From 
this  second  marriage  sprung  the  Weir  family 
of  our  county.  .John  Brown's  sons  wore 
James  and  Jolin,  both  of  whom  came  to 
America  about  1720,  the  former  settling  on 
the  Swatara,  the  latter  in  Paxtang.  A  son 
of  John,  born  SOth  of  June,  1720,  was  Will- 
iam Brown,  of  Paxtang.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent actor  in  Provincial  and  Revolutionary 
times,  a  representative  man  on  the  frontier, 
and  as  might  be  supposed  a  zealous  Cove- 
nanter. At  his  own  expense  he  visited  Ire- 
land and  Scotland  on  behalf  of  his  religious 
brethren  to  jirocure  a  supply  of  ministers, 
and  brouglit  over  the  celebrated  divines 
Lind  and  Dobbins.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Assembly  in  1776,  and 
during  its  sessions  proposed  the  gradual 
emancipation  of  slaves  within  the  Common- 
wealth, a  measure  not  very  favorablj'  re- 
ceived at  the  time,  but  which  four  years 
afterwards  was  enacted  into  a  law.  He 
served  again  in  the  Assembly  in  1784,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Property  De- 
cember 5,  1785.  He  was  afterwards,  Octo- 
ber 2,  1786,  appointed  one  of  the  commis- 


sioners to  superintend  the  drawing  of  the 
donation  land  lottery.  Mr.  Brown  died  on 
the  10th  of  October,  1787,  and  is  buried  in 
Paxtang  church  graveyard.  He  was  not 
only  an  active,  earnest  and  public-spirited 
(Jhristian,  of  unquestioned  piety  of  heart, 
but  as  a  neighbor  and  citizen  generous  and 
kind-hearted,  whicli  insured  respect  and  won 
friendship.  He  had  no  children,  but  to  his 
paternal  and  loving  care  are  we  indebted 
for  the  education  of  liis  distinguished 
nephew,  Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  LL.  D.,  presi- 
dent of  Washington  and  Jefferson  College. 
These  were  the  men  who  a  century  ago 
fulfilled  the  trust  confided  to  them.  They 
were  all  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians-— all  save 
one  born  in  the  Paxtang  of  old — and  all 
save  one  rest  beneath  the  hallowed  God's 
acre  which  lies  within  the  shadow  of  that 
historic  landmark,  Paxtang  church.  The 
founder  and  his  friends  (for  they  were  his 
warm  personal  friends)  lie  within  the  same 
enclosure.  They  were  but  human,  it  is  true, 
yet  they  were  men  who  never  .shrunk  from 
the  fulfillment  of  duty,  and  we  of  to-day  in 
calling  up  their  names  and  honoring  their 
memories  will  do  well  to  follow  their  ex- 
ample. 

Bertram,  William,  was  born  February 
2,  1674,  in  the  city  of  Edinburg,  Scotland. 
lie  received  his  education  in  the  university 
of  his  native  place,  studied  for  the  ministry, 
and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ban- 
gor, Ireland,  who  gave  him  "ample  testi- 
monials of  his  ordination,  ministerial  quali- 
fications, and  regular  Christian  conversa- 
tion." He  married,  about  1706,  Jane  Gilles- 
pie, the  widow  of  Angus  McClain,  and  their 
children  were,  John,  first,  second  and  third, 
who  died  in  infancy ;  Phebe,  died  at  age  of 
seventeen,  and  Elizabeth,  married  James 
Galbraith.  During  one  of  those  periodical 
political  excitements  in  the  British  Isles,  the 
.son  disappeared,  and  his  parents,  under  the 
impression  he  had  come  to  America,  deter- 
mined, if  possible,  to  ascertain  his  where- 
abouts, and  came  to  Pennsylvania  about  the 
year  1730.  Failing  in  their  search,  they  de- 
cided to  remain  in  this  country,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  we  find  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bertram 
unanimously  received  by  Donegal  Presby- 
tery, which  he  joined.  At  the  same  time 
George  Renick  presented  him  an  invitation 
to  settle  at  Paxtang  and  Derry,  which  he 
accepted.  He  was  installed  November  17, 
1732,  at  the  meeting-house  on  Swatara.   The 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


169 


congregations  then  appointed  representa- 
tives, who  executed  to  Bertram  tlie  riglit  and 
title  to  the  "Indian  town  tract,"  situated  in 
Hanover  township,  on  tlie  nortli  side  of  the 
Svvatara,  containing  tiiree  hundred  and  fifty 
acres.  On  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Bertram 
the  congregation  in  Swatara  took  the  name 
of  Derry,  and  the  upper  congregation,  on 
S|)ring  creek,  was  styled  Paxtang.  In  1735, 
Mr.  Bertram  complained  of  the  "intolerable 
burden  "  he  was  under  with  the  two  congre- 
gations, and  September  13,  1736,  he  was  re- 
leased from  the  care  of  Paxtang.  The  Rev. 
William  Bertram  died  on  the  2d  of  May, 
1740,  aged  seventy-two,  and  his  remains  are 
interred  in  Derry  church  graveyard,  his  wife 
dying  prior  thert-to.  He  was  a  faithful  min- 
ister of  the  gospel.  It  may  be  stated  that, 
through  his  marriage  with  Miss  Gillespie, 
his  descendants  became  heirs  to  a  handsome 
estate  in  Edinburg.  Efforts  were  made  to 
secure  this,  but  the  difiiculties  inherent  upon 
proving  descent,  we  presume,  have  been  the 
means  of  keeping  the  rightful  parties  from 
enjoying  this  patrimony. 

Murray,  John,  son  of  John  Murray,  was 
born  about  1691,  in  Scotland ;  emigrated  to 
the    Province   of   Pennsylvania  in  1732  in 
company  with  his  brother  and  other  friends. 
On  the  iOth  of  January,  1737,  he  obtained  a 
land  warrant  from  the  proprietaries  of  Penn- 
sylvania,and  on  the  "  14tli  of  ye  9tii  montii," 
1739,  had  the  same  located  upon  two  hun- 
dred acres  and  twelve  perches  of  land  adjoin- 
ing  the    nortliwest   side   of  "Swahatawro" 
(Swatara)  creek,  then  in  Hanover  township, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.     Adam  Read,  an  early 
settler  and  prominent  in  frontier  times,  helil 
an  adjoining  tract  on  the  north  by  improve- 
ment.     On   tlie  1st  of  March,  1744,  John 
Murray    obtained    another  warrant,  which 
was  located,  about  a  year  afterwards,  east  of 
the  other  tract,  and  between  it  and  land  of 
James  Stewart.      This   latter  tract  is   now 
within    the   limits   of  Lebanon  county,  the 
former,   the   homestead,   being    within    the 
present  bounds  of  Dauphin  county,  a  short 
distance  from  Dixon's  Ford  on  the  Swatara. 
The  date  of  death  or  name  of  John  Murray's 
wife  we  have  been  unable  to  gather. 

Robinson,  Philip,  son  of  Thomas  Robin- 
son, was  born  about  the  year  1698,  in  the 
north  of  Ireland,  came  to  the  Province  of 
Pennsylvania  with  his  father's  family,  prior 
to  1730.     His  name  appears  on  the  first  tax 


list  of  Hanover  township,  Lancaster  county. 
He  settled  with  his  family  on  Manada  creek, 
near  the  Gap.  During  the  Indian  war,  1755- 
1763,  there  was  a  fort  on  ins  farm  for  defense 
against  the  Indians  and  tlie  safety  of  the 
settlers.  His  sons  were  already  grown  men, 
for  in  1755  Governor  Morris  addressed  a 
letter  to  Samuel  Robinson,  sending  with  it 
one  hundred  pounds  of  gunpowder  to  be 
used  by  the  inhabitants  of  Hanover  in  "  de- 
fense of  themselves  and  their  country."  Be- 
side their  farm,  the  Robinsons  were  millers, 
owning  a  mill  on  tlie  Manada  at  the  Gap,  and 
furnishing  supplies  to  the  Government  dur- 
ing that  war.  Philip  Robinson  died  in  May, 
1770;  his  wife's  name  is  unknown,  and  her 
death  preceded  her  husband's. 


Read,  Capt.  Adam,  was  a  native  of  the 
Province  of  Ulster,  Ireland,  wdiere  he  was 
born  in  1703.  He  located  in  Hanover  on 
the  Swatara  about  1725,  and  secured  the 
possession  of  large  tracts  of  land.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  education  and  became  quite 
prominent  in  Provincial  days.  He  was  for 
many  years  one  of  His  Majesty's  justices,  and 
during  the  French  and  Indian  wars  held  the 
commission  of  captain,  doing  gallant  service 
on  the  frontiers.  Considerable  of  his  corres- 
pondence is  found  among  the  archives  of  the 
State,  mostly  relating  to  Indian  forays  and 
earnest  appeals  for  protection.  Captain  Read 
was  an  elder  in  Hanover  church,  and  in  the 
old  graveyard  on  Bow  creek  rest  his  remains. 
He  died  February  2,  1769;  and  his  wife 
Mary,  born  in  1712,  on  the  11th  of  June,  1783. 
Their  two  daughters  married  respectively — 
Mary,  John  Harris,  the  founder  of  Harris- 
burg,  and  Eleanor,  Robert  Whitehill,  of 
Cumberland  county. 


Elder,  John,  son  of  Robert  Elder,  who 
came  from  Lough  Neagh,  county  Antrim, 
Ireland,  to  Pennsylvania  in  1730,  was  born 
January  26,  1706,"  in  the  city  of  Edinburg, 
Scotland;  died  July  17,  1792,  in  Paxtang 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  He  received 
a  classical  education. and  graduated  from  the 
University  at  Edinburgh.  He  subsequently 
studied  divinity,  and  in  1732  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel.  Four  or  five  years 
later,  the  son  followed  the  footsteps  of  his 
parents  and  friends,  and  came  to  America. 
Coming  as  a  regularly  licensed  minister,  he 
was  received  by  New  Castle  Presbytery,  hav- 
ing brought  credentials  to  that  body,  after- 
wards to  Donegal  Presbytery,  on  the  5th  of 


170 


BIO  GRAPHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


October,  1737.  Paxtaug  congregation  having 
separated  from  that  of  Derry  in  1735,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Bertram  adhering  to  the  latter,  left 
that  of  Paxtang  vacant,  and  they  were 
unanimous  in  giving  Rev.  John  Elder  a  call. 
This  he  accepted  on  the  12th  day  of  April, 
1738,  and  on  the  22d  of  November  following 
he  was  ordained  and  installed,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Black  presiding.  The  early  years  of 
Mr.  Elder's  ministry  were  not  those  of  ease; 
for  in  the  second  year  the  Whitfield  excite- 
ment took  a  wide  spread  over  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  He  preached  against  this  re- 
ligious furore,  or  the  "great  revival,"  as  it 
was  termed,  and  for  this  he  was  accused  to 
the  Presbytery  of  propagating  "false  doc- 
trine." That  body  cleared  him,  however,  in 
December,  1740;  "but  a  separation  was 
made,"  says  Webster,  "and  the  conjunct 
Presbyters  answered  the  supplications  sent 
to  them  the  next  summer  by  sending  Camp- 
bell and  Rowland  to  those  who  forsook  him. 
He  signed  the  jirotest.  His  support  being 
reduced,  he  took  charge  of  the  '  Old  Side' 
portion  of  the  Derry  congregation."  Follow- 
ing closely  upon  these  ecclesiastical  troubles 
came  the  French  and  Indian  war.  Associa- 
tions were  formed  throughout  the  Province 
of  Pennsylvania  for  the  defense  of  the  fron- 
tiers, and  the  congregations  of  Mr.  Elder  were 
prompt  to  embody  themselves.  Their  min- 
ister became  their  leader — their  captain — 
and  they  were  trained  as  scouts.  He  super- 
intended the  discipline  of  his  men,  and  his 
mounted  rangers  became  widely  known  as 
the  "  Paxtang  Boys."  During  two  summers, 
at  least,  ever}'  man  who  attended  Paxtang 
church  carried  his  rifle  with  him,  and  their 
minister  took  his.  Subsequently,  he  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  dignity  of  colonel  by  the  Pro- 
vincial autiiorities,  the  date  of  his  commis- 
sion being  .July  11, 1763.  He  had  command 
of  the  block-houses  and  stockades  from 
Easton  to  the  Susquehanna.  The  governor, 
in  tendering  this  appointment,  expressly 
stated  that  nothing  more  would  be  expected 
of  him  than  the  general  oversight.  "His 
justification,"  says  Webster,  "lies  in  the 
crisis  of  affairs  .  .  .  Bay  at  York,  Steele  at 
Couecocheague,  and  Griffith  at  New  Castle. 
with  Burton  and  Thompson,  the  church 
missionaries  at  Carlisle  headed  companies, 
and  were  actively  engaged."  During  the 
latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1763,  many 
murders  were  committed  in  Paxtang,  cul- 
minating in  the  destruction  of  the  Indians 
on  Conestoga  Manor  and  at  Lancaster.     Al- 


though the  men  composing  the  company  of 
Paxtang  men  who  exterminated  the  murder- 
ous savages  referred  to  belonged  to  his 
obedient  and  faithful  rangers,  it  has  never 
been  proven  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Elder  had 
previous  knowledge  of  the  plot  formed,  al- 
though the  Quaker  pamphleteers  of  the  day 
charged  him  with  aiding  'and  abetting  the 
destruction  of  the  Indians.  When  the  deed 
was  done,  and  the  Quaker  authorities  were 
determined  to  proceed  to  extreme  lengths 
with  the  participants,  and  denounced  the 
frontiersmen  as  "  riotous  and  murderous  I  risli 
Presbyterians,"  he  took  sides  with  the  border 
inhabitants,and  sought  to  condone  the  deed. 
His  letters  published  in  connection  with  the 
history  of  that  transaction  prove  him  to  have 
been  a  man  judicious,  firm  and  decided. 
During  the  controversy  which  ensued,  he 
was  the  author  of  one  of  the  pamphlets : 
"  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  one  of  the 
Back  Counties  to  a  Friend  in  Philadelphia." 
He  was  relieved  from  his  command  by  the 
governor  of  the  Province,  who  directed  that 
Major  Asher  Clayton  take  charge  of  the  mil- 
itary establishment.  Peace,  however,  was 
restored — not  only  in  civil  affairs,  but  in  the 
church.  The  union  of  the  Synods  brought 
the  Rev.  John  Elder  into  the  same  Presbytery 
with  Messrs.  John  Roan,  Robert  Smith  and 
George  Duffield,  they  being  at  first  in  a  mi- 
nority, but  rapidly  settling  the  vacancies  with 
New  Side  men.  By  the  leave  of  Synod,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Elder  joined  the  Second  Philadel- 
phia Presbytery' May  19,  1768,  and  on  the 
formation  of  the  General  Assembly,  became  a 
member  of  Carlisle  Presbytery.  At  the  time 
the  British  army  overran  New  Jersey,  driv- 
ing before  them  the  fragrants  of  our  discour- 
aged, naked,  and  half-starved  troops,  and 
without  any  previous  arrangement,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Elder  went  on  Sunday  as  usual  to  Pax- 
tang church.  The  hour  arrived  for  church- 
service,  when,  instead  of  a  sermon,  he  began 
a  short  and  hasty  prayer  to  the  Throne  of 
Grace;  then  called  upon  the  patriotism  of 
all  effective  men  present,  and  exhorted  them 
to  aid  in  support  of  libert}''s  cause  and  the 
defense  of  the  countr}'.  In  less  than  thirty 
minutes  a  company  of  volunteers  was  formed. 
Col.  Robert  Elder,  the  parson's  eldest  son, 
was  chosen  captain.  They  marched  next 
day,  though  in  winter.  Ilis  son  John,  at 
sixteen  years,  was  among  the  first.  His  son 
Joshua,  sub-lieutenant  of  Lancaster  county, 
could  not  quit  the  service  he  was  employed 
in,  but  sent  a  substitute.     Until  his  death. 


DAUPUIN  COUNTY. 


171 


for  a  period  of  fifty-six  years,  lie  continued 
the  faitiiful  minister   of  the   congregations 
over  which  lie  had  been  placed  in  the  prime 
of  his  youthful   vigor,  passing  the  age   not 
generally  allotted  to  man — that  of  fourscore 
and  six  years.  Plis  death  was  deopl}'  lamented 
far  and  wide.     Not  one  of  all  those  who  had 
welcomed  him  to  his  early  field  of  labor  sur- 
vived him.     Charles  Miner,  the  historian  of 
Wyoming,  gives  this  opinion   of  Rev.  John 
Elder:  "I  am  greatly  struck  with  the  evi- 
dences of  learning,  talent  and  spirit  disjilayed 
by  him.     He  was,  beyond  doubt,  the  most 
extraordinarj'  man  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania. 
I  hope  some-one  may  draw  up  a  full  memoir 
of  his  life,  and  a  narrative,  well  digested,  of 
his  times  .  .  .  He  was  a  very  extraordinary 
man,   of  most  extensive   influence,  full    of 
activity  and  enterprise,  learned,  pious,  and  a 
ready  writer.     I  take  him  to  have  been  of 
the  old  Cameronian  blood.     Had  his  lot  been 
cast  in  New  England  he  would  have  been  a 
leader  of  the  Puritans."     He  had,  with  one 
who  well  remembered  the  old  minister,  "a 
good  and  very  handsome  face.    His  features 
were  regular — 'Uo  one  prominent — good  com- 
plexion, with  blue  eyes  .  .  .  He  was  a  portly, 
long,  straight  man,  over  six  feet  in  height, 
large  frame  and  body,  with  rather  heavy  legs 
.  .  .  He  did  not  talk  broad  Scotch,  but  spoke 
much    as   we   do  now,  yet  grammatically." 
His  remains  quietly  repose  amid  the  scenes 
of  his  earthly  labors,  in  the  burying-ground 
of  old   Paxtang  church,  by  the  side  of  those 
who  loved  and  revered  him.     Over  his  dust 
a  marble  slab  bears  the  inscription  dictated 
by  his  friend  and  neighbor,  William  Maclay, 
first   United  States  senator   from    Pennsyl- 
vania.    The  Rev.  Mr.  Elder  was  twice  mar- 
ried ;    married,  first,  in   1740,  Mary  Baker, 
born  1715,  in  county  Antrim,  Ireland  ;  died 
June  12,    1749,    in    Paxtang;    daughter  of 
Joshua  Baker,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.   He  married, 
secondly,  Mary  Simpson,  born  1732,  in  Pax- 
tang;   died    October  3,   1786;    daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  Simpson. 


MuLLER,  John  George,  son  of  Rudolph 
MuUer  (more  frequently  written  Miller),  was 
born  September  21,  1715,  in  the  Canton  of 
Zurich,  Switzerland;  emigrated  with  his 
family  to  America  in  1752,  and  settled  in 
Lebanon  township,  Lancaster  county.  Prov- 
ince of  Pennsylvania.  He  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance  October  23,  1752.  He  had  been 
an  officer  in  the  Swiss  service,  and  when  the 
French  and  Indian  war  broke  out  he  was 


commissioned  a  lieutenant  in  Col.  James 
Burd's  regiment  of  Provincial  forces.  May  8, 
1700  {sec  Penn'a  Arch.,  2d  ser.,vol.  ii.,  p.  605), 
promoted  to  a  captaincy  on  the  northern 
frontiers,  October  2,1704  {ib.  p.  615).  Cap- 
tain Muller  died  April  19,  1705,  in  Lebanon 
township,  leaving  a  wife  Barbara  Gloninger, 
who  survived  her  husband  several  years, 
dying  in  1783. 


Stewart,  Hugh,  son  of  Robert  Stewart, 
was  born  near  Gla.sgow,  Scotland,  June  11, 
1719  ;  died  October  8,  1798 ;  buried  in  the 
graveyard  of  the  old  Covenanter  church, 
three  miles  east  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  of  which 
church  he  was  the  main  supporter.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  he  accompanied  his 
elder  brother,  Samuel,  and  family,  in  their 
migration  to  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania 
in  1735.  He  landed  with  a  capital  in  coin 
equivalent  to  one  dollar  and  twenty-five 
cents,  and  having  learned  the  trade  of  weav- 
ing followed  it  for  many  years ;  settled 
finall}'  in  Paxtang  township,  about  six  miles 
from  Harris'  Ferry,  where  he  acquired  a 
large  estate,  for  the  times.  His  name  first 
appears  on  the  tax  list  of  1750.  In  1780  he 
was  assessed  for  four  hundred  and  five  acres. 
He  was  considered  a  ver^'  handsome  man, 
of  more  than  ordinary  height,  and  retained 
through  life  his  Scotch  accent.  Hugh  Stew- 
art was  twice  married ;  married,  first,  in 
1750-1,  Hannah  Dallas,  born  1727,  in  Ire- 
land ;  died  1760,  and  buried  with  her  hus- 
band. He  married,  secondly,  in  1764,  Nancv 
Moore,  born  1735  ;  died  March  22,  1790. 


Ayres,  William,  .son  of  Samuel  Ayres 
and  his  wife  Margaret  Richmond,  who  came 
to  Philadelphia  with  his  family  in  1745,  was 
born  in  1720  in  the  county  of  Antrim,  Ire- 
land, came  to  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania 
previous  to  1745,  in  advance  of  his  father's 
family,  and  settled  in  the  country  contiguous 
to  the  Pennepack,  then  Philadelpliia  county, 
Pa.  In  the  year  1773  William  Ayres  with 
all  his  family,  exceptingSamuel  and  Charles, 
who  remained  in  the  old  locality,  moved  to 
the  west,  then  in  Paxtang  township,  Lancas- 
ter county,  now  Middle  Paxtang,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  and  purchased  land  on  the  east 
side  of  Peter's  mountain,  whore  the  turnpike 
crosses,  three  miles  above  Daui)hin.  The 
common  road  terminated  at  that  point,  and 
when  supervisor  of  roads,  in  1781,  he  con- 
structed the  first  road  across  the  mountain. 
In  the  map  of  purchase  from  the  Indians, 


172 


BIO  GRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


only  twentj'-four  years  previously  (1749),  the 
country  west  of  the  mountain  is  entitled 
"  Saint  Anthony's  wilderness."  He  was  sev- 
eral times  elected  to  township  offices.  Al- 
though nearly  sixty  years  old,  we  find  liim 
doing  Revolutionary  service  in  Capt.  Richard 
Jhinning's  company  of  the  Fourth  battalion 
of  Lanca.ster  county,  Col.  James  Burd,  March 
13, 1776.  In  the  winter  of  1784-5  be  was  acci- 
dentally drowned  in  Fishing  creek,  near  old 
Fort  Hunter,  his  wife  having  died  previ- 
ousl}%  and  both  were  buried  in  the  old  grave- 
yard above  Dauphin,  where  sleep  all  the 
oldest  residents  of  that  section  of  the  county. 
William  Ayres  married  Mary  Kean,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  Kean,  of  the  same  locality. 

Haldeman,  Jacob  M. — Honeste  Gaspard 
Haldimand  (Caspar  Haldeman),  of  Thun, 
Switzerhmd,  became  a  citizen  of  Yverdun, 
Canton  de  Vaud,  in  1671.  His  grandson, 
Jacob,  born  October  7,  1722,in  the  Canton  of 
Neufchatel,died  December  31,1784,in  Rapho 
townsliip,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
settled  on  first  coming  to  this  countr}',  and 
purchased  a  considerable  tract  of  land.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety 
for  his  adopted  shire  on  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

Jacob  Haldeman's  near  relative  was  the 
noted  British  general.  Sir  Frederick  Haldi- 
mand, K.  B.,  who  served  with  distinction  in 
the  armies  of  Sardinia  and  Prussia,  entered 
the  military  service  of  King  George  II.  in 
1754,  was  appointed  lieutenant  colonel  of  the 
Sixtieth  regiment.  Royal  Americans,  1756. 
In  1776  he  was  commissioned  a  general  in 
America,  and  subsequently  commander-in- 
chief  of  His  Majesty's  forces  as  governor  of 
the  Province  of  Quebec,  where  he  received 
tiie  honor  of  knighthood,  May  19, 1778.  A 
tablet  has  been  erected  to  the  memory  of 
General  Haldimand  in  Westminster  Abbe}', 
in  the  ciiapel  of  Henry  VII.  A  niece  of  Sir 
Frederick  was  Jane  Haldimand,  Mr.s.  Dr. 
Alexander  Marcet,  a  distinguished  woman, 
and  the  first  writer  to  attempt  to  popularize 
science  by  the  publication  of  her"  Conversa- 
tion on  Chemistry,  Natural  Philosophy,  Bot- 
any, Mineralogy,  Language,  and  Political 
Economy."  Of  this  last  work  Macaulaj'  said, 
"  Every  girl  who  has  read  Mrs.  Marcet's  little 
dialogues  on  political  economy  could  teach 
Montague  or  Walpole  many  lessons  in 
finance,"  and  Faraday  gleaned  his  first 
knowledge  of  science  from  the  book  which 
heads  the  list. 


Jacob  Haldeman's  son  John  (1753-1832) 
settled  at  Locust  Grove,  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.  John's  fourth  son,  Henry  Haldeman, 
was  the  father  of  the  distinguished  Samuel 
Stehman  Haldeman,  LL.  D.,  professor  of 
comparative  philology  in  tlie  LTniversity  of 
Pennsylvania. 

John  Haldeman  was  an  enterprising  and 
influential  citizen.  He  was  a  large  land- 
owner and  engaged  largely  in  business  pur- 
suits, in  partnership  with  Robert  Ralston,  of 
Philadelphia,  in  the  China  trade,  and  lie  was 
a  member  of  the  Bingham  Court  and  first 
General  Assemldy  of  Pennsylvania.  He  re- 
sided at  Locust  Grove  until  late  in  life,  when 
he  removed  to  Columbia,  in  the  same  county, 
where  both  himself  and  wife  died. 

Jacob  M.  Haldeman,  second  son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Breneman)  Haldeman,  obtained 
a  good  English  and  German  education  un- 
der the  private  instruction  of  an  English 
officer,  and  seemingly  inherited  practical 
ideas  from  his  father.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  was  sent  on  horseback  by  his  father 
to  Pittsburgh,  making  his  journey  through 
many  Indian  settlements,  to  purchase  flour 
to  send  down  the  river  in  flat-boats  to  New 
Orleans. 

About  1806,  assisted  by  his  father,  he  pur- 
chased the  waterpower  and  forge  at  the 
mouth  of  Yellow  Breeches  creek  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  iron  business.  He 
added  a  rolling  and  slitting  mill,  and  by  his 
energy  and  inclustry  soon  became  one  of  the 
foremost  iron  manufacturers  in  the  State. 
His  superior  iron  found  steady  market,  and 
upon  the  establishment  of  the  arsenal  at 
Harper's  Ferry  he  sup|>lied  the  Government 
with  iron,  especially  during  the  war  of 
1812-14,  which  he  forwarded  across  the  South 
mountain  on  muleback  to  the  Ferry,  where 
it  was  manufactured  into  guns,  many  of 
which  may  be  seen  to-day,  stampjed  1812. 
At  that  time  he  founded  Haldemanstown, 
now  called  New  Cumberland,  at  the  junction 
of  the  creek  and  river,  and  it  may  be  here 
remarked  that  it  had  been  one  of  the  points 
in  question  in  the  Congress  at  New  York  as 
the  proposed  site  of  the  national  capital,  and 
he  also  built  a  saw  mill  and  gristmill  at  the 
same  place. 

Following  the  war  of  1812,  during  the  de- 
pression, he  invested  largely  in  farms  and 
real  estate,  and  engaged  in  the  management 
of  the  same,  a  business  so  varied  and  so 
large  as  to  require  his  constant  attention, 
and  he  managed  it  all  without  the  aid  of  an 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


173 


assistant  or  clerk.  In  1830  lie  removed  to 
Harrisburg  and  purchased  a  residence  built 
by  Stephen  A.  Hills,  architect  of  the  capitol 
building,  on  Front  street,  on  the  bank  of 
the  Susquehanna,  where  he  continued  to  I'e- 
side  until  his  death.  His  connection  with 
the  Harrisburg  Bank  and  the  Harrisburg 
Bi'idge  Company  as  jiresident,  with  the  Har- 
risburg Car  Company  as  one  of  its  founders, 
and  a  director  with  the  Dauphin  Deposit 
Bank,  as  one  of  its  founders,  made  his 
name  familiar  in  business  and  financial 
circles  during  his  residence  here,  and  made 
him  known  to  the  community  as  a  man  of 
sterling  integrity',  discretion  and  superior 
business  ability.  He  was  never  solicitous 
of  public  place  or  the  emoluments  of  office, 
and  led  a  strictly  business  life.  As  a  citi- 
zen, he  was  independent  in  his  political 
views,  was  an  attendant  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  a  contributor  to  all  worthy  local 
enterprises. 

His  wife,  Eliza  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Jacobs  and  Sarah  Templin,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Richard  .Jacobs,  of  Wales,  was 
born  June  13,  1789,  at  Mount  Hope  Fur- 
nace, Lancaster  county.  Pa.  Mrs.  Haldeman 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Their  children  are  Sara  Jacobs,  widow  of 
the  late  William  W.  Haly,  of  Cork,  Ireland, 
a  distinguished  lawyer  of  Philadelphia,  and 
author  of  "  Troubat  &  Haly's  Practice,"  re- 
sided at  the  homestead  in  Harrisburg.  Mary 
Ewing  was  the  wife  of  Robert  J.  Ross,  a 
banker  of  Harrisburg,  and  died  in  1873. 
Caroline  Jacobs,  Elizabeth  Templin  and 
Anne  died  young.  John,  born  September 
19,  1821,  died  in  Denver,  Col.,  July  13, 1865. 
Jacob  S.,  born  October  13,  1823,  for  many 
years  president  of  the  State  x\.gricultural  So- 
ciety, ex-member  of  the  State  Legislature, 
and  ex-Mini.ster  to  Sweden,  resided  in  Har- 
risburg. Susan  Frances,  wife  of  Dr.  Morti- 
mer O'Connor,  a  graduate  of  the  Dublin 
schools  of  medicine,  and  formerh^  a  surgeon 
in  the  British  service,  and  Richard  Jacobs 
Haldeman,  born  May  19,  1831,  educated  at 
Yale,  Heidelberg,  Germany,  and  Berlin,  was* 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Harrisburg  Pa- 
triot for  several  j'ears,  and  the  founder  of 
the  Harrisburg  Daily  Patriot,  and  member  of 
Congress  for  two  terms. 


grated  to  Pennsylvania  prior  to  1740.  His 
father  was  the  twelfth  in  descent  from  Ulric 
Egle,  or  Egli,  who  was  a  citizen  of  Zurich 
in  1386,  coming  down  in  direct  line  to  Mar- 
cus Egle,  the  emigrant.  Casper  Egle  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  a  wine- 
grower; received  a  good  education,  and  with 
tiie  other  members  of  Iiis  family,  came  to 
America  prior  to  1740.  His  father,  as  before 
stated,  located  in  Cocalico  township,  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  but  the  son  settled  in  Al- 
sace township,  Berks  county.  He  was  nat- 
uralized in  October,  1762,  as  appears  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Arcliives.  In  1770,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  merchandizing  at  Reading,  wiiile 
in  1774  he  established  a  brewery  at  Lancas- 
ter. He  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  August 
24,  1777,  served  as  a  private  in  Capt.  John 
Hubley's  Qompany,  and  performed  several 
tours  in  the  militia  during  the  struggle  for 
independence.  He  remained  at  Lancaster 
until  1794,  when  he  and  his  wife  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where  thej^  both  died  at 
the  residence  of  his  son  Valentine.  Casper 
Egle  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Mentges,  born  about  1730;  died 
January  3,  1/60  ;  the  daughter  of  Francis 
Mentges,  Sr.,  a  Swiss-Huguenot.  His  second 
wife  was  Catharine  Bintling,  b.  1738;  d. 
1811,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  There  were  chil- 
dren by  both  marriages. 


Egle,  Casper,  born  October  16,  1725,  in 
the  city  of  Zurich,  Switzerland  ;  died  Septem- 
ber 3,  1804,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  was  the 
son  of  Marcus  and  Elizabeth  Egle,  who  emi- 


BuRD,  James,  a  Scot,  was  born  at  Ormis- 
ton,  near  Edinburgh,  in  1726,  son  of  Edward. 
He  came  to  Philadelphia  in  1747  ;  married, 
1748,  Sarah,  daugliter  of  Edward  Shippen, 
born  1730.  Both  died  at  Tinian,  near  Mid- 
dletown,  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  (Colonel 
Burd  in  1793,  Mrs.  Burd  in  1784),  and  are 
buried  in  the  graveyard  at  Middletown. 
Colonel  Burd  resided  from  1750  to  1753  at 
Shippensburg,  as  manager  of  the  affairs  of 
Mr.  Shippen.  About  1755  he  came  to  Tin- 
ian, where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He 
entered  the  Provincial  service  (1755)  as  a 
commissioner  with  George  Croghan,  Will- 
iam Buchanan  and  Adam  Hoopes  to  lay 
out  a  road  from  "  Harris'  Ferry  to  the 
Ohio."  He  was  then  a  captain;  he  is 
soon  heard  of  as  major,  then  lieutenant 
colonel,  and  colonel  in  1760.  As  there  were 
but  two  regiments  in  service,  his  rank  was  a 
ver}'  prominent  one.  He  fulfilled  with  great 
uprigljtness  and  punctuality  all  the  public 
duties  with  which  he  was  intrusted  for  quite 
twenty  years.  Then  the  stirring  da3's  of  the 
Revolution  came,  and  with  it    disaster  to 


174 


BIO  GRAPHICAL  ENCYCL  OFEDIA 


Burd  as  a  public  man.  He  seemed  to  have 
entered  heartily  into  the  contest,  but  just 
when  such  experience  as  he  had  acquired 
would  have  been  of  the  highest  benefit,  an 
unfortunate  dispute  about  rank  occurred ; 
that,  with  insubordination  in  his  command, 
and  some  criticism  in  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  caused  him  to  resign  his  civil  and 
military  employments.  His  sons  and  son- 
in-law  were  good  patriots,  and  a  pretty  thor- 
ough examination  of  the  hasty  conduct  of 
Burd  convinces  us  that  he  was,  notwith- 
standing this  affair,  in  accord  with  the  lead- 
ing patriots  with  whom  he  was  surrounded. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  form,  hardy  and 
healthy,  an  advanced  and  prosperous  farmer, 
hospitable  in  his  intercourse  with  his  neigh- 
bors, and  respected  for  his  integrity  as  a 
civil  officer  from  1785,  wlienDiiuj)hin  county 
was  formed,  until  his  deatli,  in  1793.  He 
died  liolding  position  as  one  of  the  county 
judges. 


AwL,  Jacob,  was  born  August  6,  1727,  in 
the  north  of  Ireland ;  and  died  September 
26,  1793,  ill)  Paxtang  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.  The  name  should  properly  be 
spelled  Auld,  and  the  first  settler  wrote  it 
Aul,  which  tlie  descendants  have  changed 
into  Awl.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner; 
was  a  man  of  means  when  he  came  to 
America,  and  settled,  at  an  earl}^  date,  in 
Paxtang,  near  his  relative,  John  Harris,  of 
Harris'  Ferry,  where  he  took  up  a  large  tract 
of  land,  which  he  improved,  erected  a  tan- 
nery, and  on  which  he  lived  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  became  a  prominent  person- 
age in  Paxtang,  was  an  ensign  and  lieuten- 
ant in  Col.  John  Elder's  battalion  of 
rangers  in  the  frontier  wars  from  1756  to 
1764,  and  at  the  outset  of  the  war  for  inde- 
pendence, aided,  bj'  his  counsel  and  his 
purse,  in  organizing  the  associated  bat- 
talions of  Lancaster  county,  which  did 
such  effective  service  in  the  Revolution. 
When  the  new  county  of  Dauphin  was 
erected,  Mr.  Awl  was  appointed  one  of  the 
commissioners  in  the  act  relating  thereto, 
and  John  Harris  afterwards  appointed  him 
one  of  the  trustees  or  commissioners  for  the 
public  grounds  ceded  by  him,  at  the  laying 
out  of  the  town  of  Harrisburg,  for  public 
uses.  He  was  a  representative  man,  influ- 
ential and  potential  in  the  county,  yet  pre- 
ferred domestic  retirement  to  the  struggle 
for  office,  and  when  he  was  offered  the  nom- 
ination   for   representative   in   the  General 


Assembly,  he  positively  declined.  Jacob 
Awl  married,  July  26,  1759,  by  Rev.  John 
Elder,  Sarah  Sturgeon,  born  September  1, 
1739  ;  died  June,  1809,  in  Paxtang,  and  with 
her  husband  there  buried.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Sturgeon,  one  of  the 
fir-st  settlers. 


Ckouch,  James,  was  born  about  1728,  in 
Virginia.  The  Crouches  were  an  old  family, 
who  emigrated  at  an  early  day  from  Eng- 
land and  settled  in  King  and  Queen  county, 
near  the  court  house.  James  Crouch  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  came  to  Pennsyl- 
vania prior  to  1757,  purchasing  about  three 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  York  county, 
where  the  town  of  Wrightsville  now  stands, 
on  which  he  settled  for  a  few  years,  but 
which  he  subsequently  sold  and  removed  to 
then  Paxtang  township,  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  where  he  bought  one  thousand  acres  of 
land.  He  was  a  soldier  of  Quebec,  being  a 
sergeant  of  Capt.  Matthew  Smith's  company 
of  Paxtang  volunteers.  On  his  release  from 
captivity  he  became  an  officer  of  theassocia- 
tors,  and  subsequently  paymaster  of  the  bat- 
talion. He  served  during  the  whole  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  with  honor  and  distinc- 
tion. He  died  at  his  residence.  Walnut  Hill, 
near  Highspire,  Pa.,  on  the  24th  of  May, 
1794,  aged  66  years.  Colonel  Crouch  mar- 
ried, September  22,  1757,  Hannah  Brown, 
born  1727;  died  May  24,  1787.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Edward,  Mary,  married  Col. 
James  Cowden,  Elizabeth,  married  Matthew 
Gilchrist,  removed  to  Washington  county. 
Pa.,  and  Hannah,  married  Roan  McClure. 


MuRKAY,  James,  son  of  William  Murray, 
was  born  about  1729,  in  Scotland;  died  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1804,  on  his  farm  adjoining  the 
borough  of  Dauphin,  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
For  this  farm  he  entered  an  application  in 
the  Land  Office  in  1768  In  1775  he  was 
chosen  to  represent  Upper  Paxtang  township 
in  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Lancaster 
county  and  attended  the  meetings  of  the 
committee  in  Lancaster  on  the  8th,  9th  and 
10th  of  November.  At  this  time  he  was  a 
captain  of  a  "company  of  foot  in  the  Fourth 
battalion  of  associators  in  the  county  of  Lan- 
caster." On  the  fourth  of  July,  1776,  at  a 
military  convention  representing  the  fifty- 
three  battalions  of  associators  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, he  was  present  as  captain.  With  John 
Rogers  and  John  Harris,  on  the  8th  of  July, 
1776,  by  appointment  of  the  Provincial  Con- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


175 


ference,  be  superintended  the  election  at  Gar- 
ber's  Mill  for  the  Sixth  district  of  Lancaster 
county,  to  choose  delegates  to  the  convention 
that  assembled  on  the  15th  of  the  month, 
and  which  framed  the  first  Constitution  of 
the  Commonwealth.  During  the  remainder 
of  that  and  the  following  year  he  was  almost 
in  constant  active  military  service  with  his 
compnay.  His  company,  a  roll  of  which  ap- 
pears in  Dr.  Egle's  Notes  and  Queries,  First 
Series,  p.  7,  and  in  Pennsylvania  Archives, 
Second  Series,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  310,  went  into  the 
Continental  service  in  July  or  early  in  Au- 
gust, 1776.  In  a  return  of  the  troops  quar- 
tered in  and  near  Philadelphia,  made  Au- 
gust 27,  of  that  year,  it  is  reported  sixty  strong. 
It  participated  in  the  battles  of  Trenton  and 
Princeton.  He  commanded  one  of  the  com- 
panies of  the  Tenth  battalion,  Lancaster 
county  militia  and  was  with  the  expedition 
up  the  West  Branch  in  1779.  The  exposures 
to  which  Captain  Murray  was  subjected  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  struggle  brought  on  an 
attack  of  rheumatism,  from  which  for  many 
years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  a  constant 
sufferer.  He  married  Rebecca  McLean,  a 
native  of  Scotland,  who  died  August  7, 1795. 
The  remains  of  both  rest,  side  by  side,  in  the 
old  Dauphin  cemetery. 


Whitley,  Capt.  Michael,  was  born  in 
1730,  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  He  came  to 
America  when  a  young  man,  and  settled  in 
what  was  then  Paxtang  township,  Lancaster 
county.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  was  in  good  circumstances  when  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  aroused  the  war- 
eagles  on  the  Susquehanna.  He  raised  a 
company  of  associatois  for  Col.  Robert  El- 
der's battalion,  and  was  in  active  service  in 
the  Jersey  campaign  of  1776,  and  the  battles 
of  Brandywine  and  Germantowu.  On  the 
6th  of  December,  1777,  he  was  severely 
wounded  in  a  skirmish  at  Chestnut  Hill, 
taken  prisoner,  and  died  a  few  days  there- 
after at  Philadelphia.  Captain  Whitley  was 
a  brave  and  gallant  officer,  and  the  com- 
mendations of  his  superior  officers  show  how 
highly  he  was  esteemed.  He  left  a  wife 
Martha,  who  died  in  Paxtang,  November 
11,  1813,  aged  about  ninety  years. 


tumn  of  1734,  and  located  in  Paxtang  town- 
ship, Lancaster,  now  Dauphin  county.  He 
was  a  man  of  mean.s,  was  well  educated,  -nd 
became  quite  prominent  in  the  Scotch-Irisli 
settlement.  The  son  was  about  4  years  old 
wiien  his  parents  came  to  America!  He  se- 
cured a  fair  English  education  and  was 
brought  up  to  the  life  of  a  frontiersman,  that 
of  a  farmer.  During  the  French  and  Indian 
war  he  served  as  a  non-commissioned  officer, 
and  was  in  active  service  as  a  scout  or  ranger 
on  tiie  frontiers.  When  the  thunders  of  the 
Revolution  reverberated  along  the  valley  of 
the  Susquehanna,  with  all  his  Scotch-Irish 
and  German  neighbors,  he  entered  into  the 
contest  for  liberty.  In  1775  and  1776  he 
was  in  command  of  one  of  the  companies  of 
Col.  James  Burd's  battalion  of  associators,  a 
roll  of  which  is  to  be  found  in  the  recent 
liistory  of  Dauphin  county.  Colonel  Burd's 
farm  at  Tinian  joined  the  Sherer  homestead, 
and  the  two  patriots  were  intimate  friends. 
Captain  Sherer  was  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Observation  for  tlie  county  of  Lan- 
caster, and  was  chosen  by  the  vote  of  the 
people  a  member  of  the  first  Constitutional 
Convention  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  15th  of 
July,  1776.  While  in  attendance  on  this 
representative  body  of  tlie  Revolutionary 
era  he  took  ill,  returned  home,  and  died  on 
the  1st  or  2d  of  December  following.  His 
r'emains  were  interred  in  the  burial  ground 
of  old  Paxtang  church,  of  whicii  he  was  a 
consistent  member.  Captain  Sherer  mar- 
ried, first,  February  6,  1759,  MaryMcClure; 
subsequently  married  Mary  McCracken,  of 
Northumberland  county,  Pa. 


Sherer,  Joseph,  was  born  in  1730  in  Ire- 
laud.  His  father,  Samuel  Sherer,  was  among 
the  earliest  of  the  Scotch-Irish  emigrants. 
He  came  from  near  Londonderry,  Ireland, 
to  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  au- 


MuRRAY,  John,  son  of  William  Murray, 
was  born  about  1731,  in  Scotland  ;  died  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1798,  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  In 
1766  he  took  up  a  tract  of  land  called  the 
"  Indian  Burying  Ground,"  lying  on  the 
Susquehanna,  imraediatel}' above  his  brother 
James'  farm,  which  adjoined  the  present  town 
of  Dauphin.  He  commanded  a  rifle  com- 
])any,  which  in  March,  1776,  was  attached  to 
Col.  Samuel  Miles'  battalion,  and  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Long  Island,  White  Plains, 
Trenton  and  Princeton.  He  was  promoted 
to  major  April  18,  1777,  and  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  Second  Pennsylvania  regiment 
in  1780,  serving  until  the  disbanding  of  the 
army  in  1783.  He  then  returned  to  his 
family  and  farm.  Governor  Mifflin  ap- 
pointed him  a  justice  of  the  peace  August 


176 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


29,  1791,  the  only  political  office  he  ever 
held.  He  was  an  ardent  Whig  of  the  Revo- 
lution, and  a  brave  officer.  Colonel  Murra_y 
married,  December  29,  1762,  by  Rev.  .John 
Elder,  Margaret  Mayes,  born  1733,  in  the 
north  of  Ireland  ;  died  June  22,  1807,  in 
Upper  Paxtang  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.;  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband  in 
the  old  cemetery  near  I3auphin  borough  ; 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Rebecca  Mayes. 

Montgomery,  Joseph,  son  of  John   and 
Martha    Montgomery,  emigrants   from    Ii-e- 
land,  was  born  September  23,  1733  (0.  S.), 
in  Paxtang  township,  then   Lancaster,  now 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.     Pie  was  educated  at 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  from  whicii   he 
graduated  in  1755,  and  was  afterwards  ap- 
pointed master  of  the  grammar  school  con- 
nected with  the  college.     In   1760  the  Col- 
lege of  Philadelphia  and  Yale  College  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  Master's  degree.    About 
this  time  he  was  licensed  to  preach   b}'  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  soon  after, 
by  request,  entered  the  bounds  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Lewes,  from   whicii  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  that  of  New  Castle,  accepting  a  call 
from  the  congregations  at  Georgetown,  over 
which   he  was  settled   from   1767  to    1769. 
He  was  installed  pastor  of  the  congregations 
at  Christiana  Bridge  and  New   Castle,  Del., 
on    the    16th    of  August,    1769,   remaining 
there  until  the  autumn  of  1777.  when  he  re- 
signed, having  been  commissioned  chaplain 
of  Colonel  Smallwood's  (Maryland)  regiment 
of  the  Continental   Line.     During  the  war 
his  home  was  with  his  relatives  in  Paxtang. 
On    the    23d    of    November,   1780,   he  was 
chosen  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Penn- 
sylvania one  of  its  delegates  in  Congress,  and 
re-elected  the  following  year.     He  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  the  State  in 
1782,  serving  during  that  session.     He  was 
chosen  by  that  body,  February  25,  1783, one 
of  the  commissioners  to  settle  the  difficulty 
between  the  State  and  the  Connecticut  set- 
tlers at  Wj'oming.     When   the  new  county 
of  Dauphin  was  erected  the  Supreme  Execu- 
tive Council  appointed  him  recorder  of  deeds 
and  register  of  wills  for  the  county-,  which 
office  he  held  from   March    11,  1785,  to  Oc- 
tober 14,  1794,  the  date  of  his  death.     "  Mr. 
Montgomery  filled  conspicuous  and  honora- 
ble positions  in  church  and  State  in  the  most 
trying    period  of   the  early   history   of   the 
country.     In  the  church  he  was  tlie   friend 


and  associate  of  men  like  Witherspoon,  Rog- 
ers and  Spencer,  and  his  bold  utterances  in 
the  cause  of  independence  stamp  him  as  a 
man  of  no  ordinary  courage  and  decision. 
...  He  enjoyed  to  an  unusual  degree  the 
I'espect  and  confidence  of  the  men  of  his 
generation."  The  Rev.  Mr.  Montgomery 
was  twice  married  ;  married,  first,  in  1765, 
Ehzabeth  Reed,  died  March,  1769,  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Sarah  Reed,  of  Trenton,  N. 
J.  Mr.  Montgomery  married,  secondly,  July 
11, 1770,  Rachel  (Rush)  Boyce,  born  1741,  iii 
BybeiTy  ;  d.  July  28,  1798,  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.;  widow  of  Angus  Boyce,  and  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Rachel  Rush. 


Kelker,  Anthony,  son  of  Henry  Kelker 
and  Regula  Braetscher,  was  a  native  of 
Herrleberg,  near  Zurich,  Switzerland,  born 
on  December  30,  1733.  At  the  age  of  ten 
years,  in  1743,  his  parents  emigrated  to 
America  and  located  in  Lebanon  township, 
Lancaster  county,  now  Lebanon  county.  Pa., 
four  miles  north  of  the  town  of  Lebanon. 
Anthony  was  brought  up  on  his  father's 
farm,  receiving  the  meager  advantages  of  the 
schools  of  that  period.  He  was  commis- 
sioned August  28,  1775,  lieutenant  in  the 
Second  battalion  of  Lancaster  county  as- 
sociators,  and  was  in  active  service  during 
the  campaign  of  1776.  In  1777  he  was  an 
officer  in  the  militia  at  Brandywine  and 
Germantown.  He  was  appointed  January 
19,  1778,  wagon-master  of  Colonel  Greena- 
walt's  battalion,  and  the  same  year  was  sent 
on  a  secret  expedition  to  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land. Until  the  close  of  the  war  Captain 
Kelker  was  an  active  participant.  lie  was 
deputy  sherifi'of  Lancaster  county  in  1781- 
82,  and  upon  the  formation  of  the  county  of 
Dauphin  was  commissioned  the  first  sheriff 
in  1785,  and  subsequently  elected,  serving 
until  1788.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania House  of  Representatives  1793-94. 
He  was  a  very  active  member  and  vestryman 
of  the  German  Reformed  church,  and  treas- 
urer of  the  same  during  the  erection  of  the 
old  (First)  Reformed  church  in  1794.  Mr. 
Kelker  died  at  Lebanon  March  10,  1812. 
He  married  Mary  Magdalene,  daughter  of 
George  Meister,  a  Moravian.  She  died  at 
Lebanon,  December  30,  1818.  Mr.  Kelker 
was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  an  unflinch- 
ing patriot,  and  highly  esteemed  by  his  fel- 
low-citizens. 


DAUFEIN  COUNTY. 


Ill 


Green,  Timothy,  son  of  Robert  Green, 
was  born  about  1733,  on  the  "  Monoday," 
Hanover  townshij),  Lancaster,  now  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.;  died  February  27, 1812,  at  Dau- 
phin, Pa.,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  graveyard 
thei'e.  His  father,  of  kScotch  ancestry,  came 
from  the  nortli  of  Ireland  about  1725,  locat- 
ing near  the  Kittochtinny  mountains  on 
Manada  creek.  The  first  record  we  have  of 
the  son  is  subsequent  to  Braddock's  defeat, 
when  the  frontier  settlers  were  threatened 
with  extermination  by  the  marauding  sav- 
ages. Timothy  Green  assisted  in  organizing 
a  compan}',  and  for  at  least  seven  years  was 
chiefly  in  active  service  in  protecting  the 
settlers  from  the  fury  of  the  blood-thirsty 
Indians.  In  the  Bouquet  expedition  he 
commanded  a  company  of  Provincial  troops. 
For  his  services  at  tliis  time,  the  Proprieta- 
ries granted  him  large  tracts  of  land  in  Buf- 
falo Valley  and  on  Bald  Eagle  creek.  At 
the  outset  of  the  Revolution,  Captain  Green 
became  an  earnest  advocate  for  independ- 
ence, and  the  Hanover  resolutions  of  June 
4,  1774,  jiassed  unaniraousl}'  by  the  meeting 
of  which  he  was  chairman,  show  that  he  was 
intensely  patriotic.  He  was  one  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  of  tlie  Province,  which  met 
November  22,  1774,  in  Lancaster,  and  issued 
hand-bills  to  the  import  that  "agreeable  to 
the  resolves  and  recommendations  of  the 
American  Continental  Congress,  that  the 
freeholders  and  others  qualified  to  vote  for 
reju-esentatives  in  Assembly  choose,  by  bal- 
lot, sixt}^  persons  for  a  Committee  of  Obser- 
vation, to  observe  the  conduct  of  all  persons 
toward  the  actions  of  the  General  Congress; 
the  committee,  when  elected,  to  divide  the 
country  into  districts  and  appoint  members 
of  the  committee  to  superintend  each  dis- 
trict, and  any  six  so  appointed  to  be  a  quo- 
rum, etc."  Election  was  held  on  Thursday, 
15th  December,  1774,  and,  among  others, 
Timothy  Green  was  elected  from  Hanover. 
This  body  of  men  were  in  correspondence 
with  Joseph  Reed,  Charles  Thompson,  George 
Clymer,  John  Benezet,  Samuel  Meredith, 
Thomas  Mifflin,  etc.,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
others.  They  met  at  Lancaster  again,  April 
27,  1775,  when  notice  was  taken  of  General 
Gage's  attack  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay,  and  a  general  meeting  called 
for  the  1st  of  May,  at  Lancaster.  Upon  the 
erection  of  the  county  of  Dauphin,  Colonel 
Green  was  the  oldest  justice  of  tlie  peace  in 
commission,  and,  under  the  Constitution  of 
1776,  he  was  presiding  justice  of  the  courts. 


He  continued  therein  until,  under  the  Consti- 
tution of  1790,  which  required  the  presiding 
judge  "  to  be  learned  in  the  law,"  Judge  Atlee 
was  appointed.  After  his  retirement,  Judge 
Green  returned  to  his  quiet  farm  at  the 
mouth  of  Stony  creek,  where  he  had  erected 
a  mill  and  other  improvements.  He  was 
thrice  married ;  married,  first,  in  1760,  Effy 
Finney  Robinson,  daughter  of  James  and 
Jean  Finney,  and  widow  of  Thomas  Robin- 
son. She  died  December  28,  1765,  and  is 
buried  in  old  Hanover  church  graveyard. 

Rutherford,  Capt.  John,  son  of  Thomas 
Rutherford,  the  pioneer,  was  born  February 
16,  1737,  in  Donegal,  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 
Lie  accompanied  his  father  to  Paxtang  in 
1755.  In  the  year  1760,  in  connection  with 
the  latter,  he  purchased  the  plantation,  con- 
taining nearly  four  hundred  acres,  on  which 
Rutlierford  station,  on  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  railroad,  is  now  (1895)  located.  This 
property,  although  divided  into  three  tracts, 
is  still  owned  by  the  descendants;  and  his 
mansion  house,  built  before  the  Revolution, 
is  used  as  a  dwelling  by  his  great-grandchil- 
dren. When  the  troubles  with  England 
arose,  which  led  to  the  struggle  for  indepei;d- 
ence,  he  was  active  in  his  opposition  to  British 
tyranny.  He  was  a  member  and  oflicer, 
throughout  the  war,  of  the  "  Liberty  Associa- 
tion of  Pennsylvania,"  and  served  as  captain 
of  a  company  in  the  campaigns  of  1776  and 
1777  in  tlie  Jerseys  and  Eastern  Pennsylva- 
nia. He  afterwards  commanded  a  detach- 
ment from  several  companies  against  the  In- 
dians. Tliroughout  ills  life  we  find  Mr. 
Rutlierford's  name  connected  with  many  en- 
terprises, both  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  which 
show  him  to  have  been  a  representative  man 
and  trusted  citizen.  He  died  at  his  home  in 
Paxtang  October  2,  1804.  Captain  Ruther- 
ford married,  February  4,  1762,  Margaret 
Parke,  born  1737  ;  died  January  18,  1810. 


Thomas,  Martin,  son  of  Martin  Thomas 
and  grandson  of  Durst  Thomas,  an  early 
emigrant  to  Pennsylvania,  was  born  March 
15,  1737,  in  Heidelberg  township,  then  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.,  and  died  July  15,  1802, 
in  East  Pennsboro'  township,  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.  He  served,  as  a  private,  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war  in  his  father's  com- 
pany, and  prior  to  the  Revolution  established 
a  furnace  in  the  neigliborhood  of  Shaniukin, 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.  He  served  in 
the  struggle  for  independence  as  sergeant  of 


178 


BIOGRArniCAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Oapt.  John  Simpson's  company,  First  bat- 
talion, Northumberland  county  associators, 
March  25,  1776,  and  subsequently  sergeant 
in  Tliird  regiment,  Pennsylvania  Line. 
During  the  "  Great  Runaway  "  of  1778,  his 
family  fled  from  the  locality,  and  settled  on 
the  Yellow  Breeches,  in  Cumberland  county, 
where  he  built  a  stone  mill,  yet  standing, 
and  where  he  remained  until  his  death.  He 
disposed  of  his  Northumberland  county 
property,  receiving  a  large  sum  in  Conti- 
nental currency  therefor,  which,  before  he 
had  the  opportunity  to  re-invest,  became 
worthless.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
Friedens  Kirche,  near  tiie  present  Shire- 
manstown.  He  married,  in  1767,  Ursula 
Muller,  born  1740,  in  Lebanon  township, 
now  Lebanon  county,  Pa. ;  died  1807,  in 
East  Pennsboro'  township,  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.;  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara 
Muller. 


CowDEN,  James,  son  of  Matthew  Cowdcn, 
was  born  June  16,  1737,  in  Paxtang  town- 
ship, Lancaster,  now  Dauphin,  county.  Pa. ; 
died  October  10,  1810,  in  Paxtang.  He  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  enjoying, 
however,  the  advantages  of  that  early  educa- 
tion of  those  pioneer  times,  which,  among 
the  Scotch-Irish  settlers,  was  remarkably 
comprehensive  and  ample.  Apart  from  this, 
he  was  well-grounded  in  the  tenets  of  the 
Westminster  Confession,  which  among  our 
pious  ancestry  formed  a  part  of  the  instruc- 
tion given  to  all.  Until  the  thunders  of  the 
Revolution  rolled  toward  the  Susquehanna, 
Mr.  Cowden  remained  on  the  paternal  acres, 
busily  engaged  in  farming.  At  the  outset, 
he  was  a  strong  advocate  for  active  defensive 
measures,  and  in  favor  of  independence.  Ke 
was  one  of  the  leading  spirits  at  the  meeting 
at  Middletown,  June  9,  1774.  of  which  Col. 
James  Burd  was  chairman,  and  whose  action, 
in  conjunction  with  those  of  Hanover,  nerved 
the  people  of  Lancaster  in  iheir  patriotic  re- 
solves. Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  Mr. 
Cowden  and  the  young  men  of  his  neighbor- 
hood took  measures  toward  raising  a  battalion 
(  f  associators,  of  which  Col.  James  Burd  was 
in  command,  and  a  company  of  which  was 
intrusted  to  Captain  Cowden.  His  company, 
although  not  belonging  to  the  Pennsylvania 
Line,  was,  nevertheless,  in  several  cam- 
paigns, and  did  faithful  service  at  Fort 
Washington,  in  the  Jerseys,  at  Brandywine, 
and  Germantown,  and  in  the  war  on  the 
northern  and  western    frontiers,  defending 


them  from  the  attack  of  the  savage  Indian 
and  treacherous  Tory.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  Captain  Cowden  returned  to  his  farm. 
Lender  the  Constitution  of  1700,  he  was  ap- 
pointed the  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  dis- 
trict of  Lower  Paxtang,  April  10, 1793,  which 
he  held  up  to  the  time  he  was  commissioned 
by  Governpr  Thomas  Mifflin  one  of  the 
associate  judges  of  the  county  of  Dauj^hin, 
October  2,  1795,  an  office  he  filled  acceptably 
and  creditably.  In  1809  he  was  chosen 
presidential  elector,  and  was  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  Madison.  Judge  Cowden  married, 
March  20,  1777,  by  Rev.  John  Elder,  Mary 
Crouch,  b.  1757,  in  Virginia ;  died  October 
14,  1848,  in  Paxtang  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  and  buried  in  Paxtang  chui'ch 
graveyard  ;  daughter  of  James  and  Hannah 
Crouch. 


M.\cLAY,  William,  son  of  ('harles  Maclay, 
was  born  July  20, 1737,  in  New  Garden  town- 
ship, Chester  county.  Pa.;  died  Monday, 
April  16,  1804,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  buried  in 
Paxtang  church  graveyard.  In  1742  his 
father  removed  to  now  Lurgan  township, 
Franklin  county,  where  his  boj'hood  days 
were  spent  upon  the  paternal  farm.  When 
the  French  and  Indian  war  broke  out  he 
was  at  Rev.  John  Blair's  classical  school,  in 
Chester  county,  and,  desiring  to  enter  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Province,  his  tutor  gave  him  a 
recommendation  "as  a  judicious  young  man 
and  a  scholar,"  which  secured  him  the  ap- 
pointment of  ensign  in  the  Pennsylvania 
battalion  ;  he  was  promoted  lieutenant  in  the 
Third  battalion,  Lieut.  Col.  Hugh  Mercer, 
Ma  J'  7, 1758.  Accompanied  General  Forbes' 
expedition  that  year,  and  especially  distin- 
guished himself  at  the  battle  of  Loyalhanna. 
In  Bouquet's  expedition  of  1763,  he  was  in 
the  fight  of  Bushy  Run  ;  while  in  the  sub- 
sequent campaign  of  that  gallant  officer,  he 
was  stationed,  with  the  great  portion  of  the 
Second  Pennsylvania,  on  the  line  of  the 
stockade  forts  on  the  route  to  Fort  Pitt  as 
lieutenant  commanding  the  company.  For 
these  services  he  participated  in  the  Provin- 
cial grant  of  land  to  the  officers  connected 
therewith,  located  on  the  West  Branch  of  the 
Susquehanna,  and  most  of  which  he  assisted 
in  surveying.  He  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  York  county  bar,  April  28, 
1760,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  he  ever  pi'acticed 
his  profession  at  that  court,  the  continued 
Indian  war,  and  his  subsequent  duties  as 
surveyor,  engrossing  his  entire  time,  although. 


A-^cZ. 


^-<^^^ -^^^J^^^^  .-^^^^^^is^?*^^^^--- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


181 


from  a  letter  of  John  Penn's,  it  wouLl  seem 
that  he  was  afterwards  admitted  to  the  Cum- 
herlaud  coutit}^  bar,  and  had  acted  for  tiie 
protlionotary  of  that  count3^  At  the  close  of 
the  French  and  Indian  war  he  visited  Eng- 
land and  had  an  interview  with  Thomas 
Penn,  one  of  the  Proprietaries,  relative  to  the 
surveys  in  the  middle  and  northern  parts  of 
the  Province,  and  was  the  assistant  of  Sur- 
veyor Lukens  on  the  frontiers.  In  1772  he 
laid  out  the  town  of  Sunbury  and  erected  for 
himself  a  stone  house,  which,  was  standing 
a  'iew  years  since.  Upon  the  organization  of 
the  county  of  Northumberland  he  was  ap- 
pointed prothonotary  and  clerk  of  the  courts. 
He  also  acted  as  the  representative  of  the 
Penn  family,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in 
the  so-called  Pennamite  war.  In  writing  to 
the  secretary  of  the  Province,  in  April,  1773, 
he  says,  "If  hell  is  justly  considered  as  the 
rendezvous  of  rascals,  we  cannot  entertain  a 
doubt  of  Wioming  being  the  place;"  but, 
much  as  he  was  prejudiced  against  the  Con- 
necticut settlers,  he  foresaw  the  future  value 
of  the  land  in  tiiat  valley,  and  advised  Penn 
not  to  sell  his  reservation  there.  At  the  out- 
set of  the  Revolution,  although  an  officer  of 
the  Proprietar}'  government,  William  Ma- 
clay  took  a  prominent  and  active  part  in  favor 
of  independence,  not  only  assisting  in  equip- 
ping and  forwarding  toops  to  the  Continen- 
tal army,  but  marched  with  the  associators, 
participating  in  the  battles  of  Trenton  and 
Princeton.  During  the  Revolution  he  held 
the  position  of  assistant  commissary  of  pur- 
chases. In  1781  he  was  elected  to  the  Assem- 
bly, and  from  that  time  forward  he  filled  the 
various  oflices  of  the  Su{)reme  Executive 
Council,  judge  of  tiie  Courts  of  Common 
Pleas,  deputy  surveyor,  and  one  of  the  com- 
missioners for  carrying  into  effect  the  act  re- 
specting the  navigation  of  tlie  Susquehanna 
river.  About  this  period  he  visited  England 
in  the  interest  of  the  Penn  family.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1789,  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  taking  his  seat  there  as  the  first  sena- 
tor from  Pennsylvania.  He  drew  the  short 
term,  and  his  position  terminated  March  3, 
1791,  his  colleague,  Robert  Morris,  securing 
the  long  term.  His  election  to  this  body 
raised  him  upon  a  higher  plane  of  political 
activity,  but  contact  with  the  Federal  chiefs 
of  the  Senate  only  strengthened  his  political 
convictions,  which,  formed  b}'-  long  inter- 
course with  the  people  of  Middle  Pennsylva- 
nia, were  intensely  democratic.  He  began 
to  differ  with  the  opinions  of  President 
i6 


Washington  very  early  in  the  session;  he 
did  not  approve  of  the  state  and  ceremony 
attendant  upon  the  intercourse  of  the  Presi- 
dent with  Congress — he  flatly  objected  to  the 
presence  of  the  President  in  the  Senate  while 
business  was  being  transacted,  and  in  the 
Senate  boldly  spoke  against  his  policy  in  the 
immediate  presence  of  President  Washing- 
ton. The  New  England  historians,  Hildreth 
and  Goodrich,  repute  Thomas  Jefferson  as 
the  "efficient  promoter  at  the  beginning  and 
founderof  tlie  Democratic  party."  Contempo- 
rary records, however, show  beyond  theshadow 
of  a  doubt  that  this  responsibility  or  honor,  in 
whatever  light  it  may  be  regarded,  cannot 
be  shifted  from  the  shoulders  or  taken  from 
the  laurels  of  Pennsylvania  statesmanship. 
Before  Mr.  Jefferson's  return  from  Euroi)e, 
William  Maclay  assumed  an  independent 
position,  and  in  his  short  career  of  two  years 
in  the  Senate  propounded  ideas  and  gath- 
ered about  him  elements  to  form  the  op[)o- 
sition  which  developed  with  the  meeting  of 
Congress  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  21th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1791,  in  a  division  of  the  people  into 
two  great  parties,  the  P^ederalists  and  Demo- 
crats, when,  for  the  first  time,  appeared  an 
open  and  organized  opposition  to  the  admin- 
istration. The  funding  of  the  public  debt, 
charteiing  the  United  States  Bank,  and 
other  measures  cham)>ioned  necessarily  by 
the  administration,  whose  duty  it  was  to  ])Ut 
the  wheels  of  government  in  motion,  engen- 
dered opj  osition.  Mr.  Maclay,  to  use  his 
own  language,  "  no  one  else  presenting  him- 
self," fearlessly  took  the  initiative,  and  with 
his  blunt  common  sense  (for  he  was  not 
niuch  of  a  speaker)  and  Democratic  ideas, 
took  issue  with  the  ablest  advocate  of  the 
administration.  Notwithstanding  the  pres- 
tige of  General  Washington,  and  the  ability 
of  the  defenders  of  the  administration 
on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  such  was  the 
tact  and  resolution  of  Mr.  Maclay,  that 
when,  after  his  short  service,  he  was  retired 
from  the  Senate  and  succeeded  by  James 
Ross,  a  pronounced  Federalist,  their  impress 
was  left  in  the  distinctive  lines  of  an  oppo- 
sition part}',  a  l>arty  which,  taking  advantage 
of  the  warm  feeling  of  our  people  toward 
the  French  upon  the  occasion  of  Jay's  treaty 
with  Great  Britain,  in  1794,  and  of  the  un- 
popularity of  the  alien  and  sedition  laws, 
})assed  under  the  administration  of  President 
John  Adams,  in  1798,  compassed  the  final 
overthrow  of  the  Federal  party  in  1800. 
While  in  the  Senate,  Mr.  Maclay  preserved 


182 


BIO GRA PHIUA L  EISfCYCL 0 PEDIA 


notes  of  its  discussions,  both  in  open  and 
secret  sessions,  with  observations  ujjou  tlie 
social  customs  of  the  first  statesmen  of  the 
Republic,  which  liave  been  published  and 
edited  by  George  Washington  Harris.  Upon 
his  retirement,  he  resided  permanently  on 
his  farm  adjoining  Harrisburg,  where  he 
erected  the  stone  mansion  for  many  years 
occupied  by  the  Harrisburg  Academy.  In 
the  year  1795  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Pennsj'lvania  House  of  Representatives, 
and  again  elected  in  1803.  He  was  a  presi- 
dential elector  in  1796,  and,  from  1801  to 
1803,  one  of  the  associate  judges  of  the 
county  of  Dauphin.  Mr.  Harris,  who  edited 
his  journal,  gives  us  this  summary  of  Mr. 
Maclay's  character:  "He  was  a  man  of  strict 
integrity,  of  positive  opinions,  having  im- 
plicit confidence  in  his  own  honesty  and 
judgment ;  he  was  inclined  to  be  suspicious 
of  the  integrity  of  others  whose  sentiments 
or  action  in  matters  of  importance  differed 
from  his  own,  and  the  journal,  to  which  ref- 
erence has  been  made,  is  evidence  of  the 
strength  of  his  intellect."  "  In  piersonal  ap- 
pearance Mr.  Maclay  is  said  to  have  been 
six  feet  three  inches  in  height,  and  stout  and 
musclar;  his  complexion  was  light,  and  his 
hair,  in  middle  age,  appears  to  have  been 
brown,  and  was  worn  tied  beliind  or 
clubbed."  Mr.  Maclay  married,  April  11, 
1769,  Mary  McClure  Harris,  daughter  of 
John  Harris,  the  founder  of  Harrisburg,  and 
Elizabeth  McClure,  liis  wife;  born  April  13, 
1750,  at  Harris'  Ferry  ;  died  April  20,  1809, 
at  Harrisburg, and  buried  in  Paxtangcliurch 
graveyard. 


he  died,  in  1794,  leaving  his  wife  with  three 
children,  one  by  his  former  marriage.  Mrs. 
Montgomery  died  on  Saturday,  July  28, 1798, 
at  Harrisburg. 


MoxTGOMERY,  Miirf.  R.\cHEL,  tho  eldest 
daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  Rush,  was 
born  at  Byberry,  in  Philadel[ihia  county.  Pa., 
in  1741.  Slie  was  full  sister  of  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Benjamin  Rusii,  a  signer  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence.  Rachel  received  an 
excellent  education  and  was  a  woman  of  re- 
fined taste  and  manners..  Slie  married,  about 
1761,  Angus  Boyce,  a  merchant  of  Philadel- 
phia. He  died  a  few  years  later,  leaving  one 
child,  Malcolm.  Mrs.  Boyce  married,  about 
1769,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Mongomery,  then  pas- 
tor of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  of  New 
Castle  and  Christiana  Bridge,  Del.,  and  sub- 
sequentlv  member  from  Pennsylvania  in 
Congress,  1781  to  1783.  In  1785^  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, having  been  appointed  recorder  and 
register  of  the  new  county  of  Dauphin,  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Harrisburg.     Here 


Elder,  Robert,  son  of  Rev.  John  Elder, 
was  born  June  11,  1742,  in  Paxtang ;  died 
September  29,  1818.  He  was  educated  at 
the  academy  in  Chester  county,  and  was 
destined  by  his  father  for  the  ministry.  His 
inclinations,  and  the  breaking  out  of  the 
French  and  Indian  war,  when  the  bo}'  en- 
listed with  his  father  as  a  ranger  on  the 
frontiers,  determined  otherwise.  With  his 
Scotch-Irish  neighbors,  he  entered  heartily 
into  the  contest  for  independence,  and 
throughout  the  war  of  the  Revolution  was 
in  the  field  or  engaged  in  organizing  the 
associators,  of  which  he  was  colonel,  suc- 
ceeding Colonel  Burd  in  the  command  of 
the  companies  raised  in  Paxtang.  At  the 
close  of  the  conflict  he  continued  his  occu- 
pation of  farming,  avoiding  public  office, 
preferring  the  quiet  of  domestic  life.  Col- 
onel Elder  married  Mary  J.  Thompson,  of 
Derrv,  born  October  19,  1750  ;  died  August 
IS,  1813. 


Simpson,  Murray,  was  born  about  1744, 
in  Buckingham  township,  Bucks  county, 
Pa.;  died. February  3,1807,  in  Huntingdon, 
Pa.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary  Simpson, 
went  South  and  were  residing  in  North  Caro- 
lina in  1783  and  in  Georgia  in  1791.  The 
son  learned  blacksmithing,  and,  in  1763, 
settled  on  the  Susquehanna,  in  what  was 
then  Upper  Paxtang  township,  Lancaster, 
now  Dauphin  county.  On  the  15th  of  Au- 
gust, 1775,  he  was  commissioned  second 
lieutenant  of  Capt.  James  Murray's  company 
in  the  Fourth  battalion  of  associators,  of 
Lancaster  county.  On  the  28th  of  January, 
1777,  Lieut.  Col.  Cornelius  Cox,  of  the  bat- 
talion, ordered  him  to  remain  in  the  "  Conti- 
nental smith-shop  "  at  Bristol.  He  served 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  Revolution, 
toward  its  close  in  command  of  a  companj' 
of  militia,  when  he  returned  to  his  farm.  In 
the  spring  of  1793  he  removed  to  Hunting- 
don, where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  He  married  Margaret  Murray,daughter 
of  Capt.  James  Murray,  of  the  Revolution. 
She  was  born  in  1756  in  Paxtang  townsliip, 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  died  April  27, 
1826,  at  Huntingdon,  Pa.  They  were  the 
grandparents  of  Hon.  J.  Simpson  Africa. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


183 


Beatty,  James,  the  fourtli  in  descent  from 
John  Beatty,  who  settled  in  tiie  Province  of 
Ulster,  Ireland,  in  1G90,  was  born  174G,  in  the 
townland  of  Ballykeel-Ednagonnel,  parish  of 
Hillsborough,  county  Down,  Ireland;  died 
December  1, 1794,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  From 
the  family  record,  in  the  possession  of  his 
descendants,  we  have  this  entry:  "That  my 
children  may  know  the  place  of  their  nativity, 
I,  James  Beatty,  was  born  in  the  Kingdom 
of  Ireland,  and  county  of  Down,  parish  of 
Hillsborough,  and  townland  of  Ballykeel- 
Ednagonnel,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1746, 
and  came  to  America  in  the  year  1784.  My 
wife.  Ally  Ann  Irwin,  was  born  in  said  king- 
dom, county  and  parisii,  and  townland  of 
Tillync^re,  within  two  miles  of  Hillsborough, 
three  of  Li.>^burn,  and  three  miles  of  Dromore, 
and  six  miles  of  Bally-nahinch,  and  ten  of 
Belfast,  which  last  place  we  sailed  from  the 
27th  of  June,  1784."  In  the  fall  of  this  year, 
he  settled  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  thus  be- 
came one  of  its  first  inhabitants.  He  subse- 
quently was  the  purchaser  of  a  number  of 
lots  in  the  town,  some  of  which  remain  in 
possession  of  his  descendants.  He  was  quite 
prominent  in  his  adopted  liome,  and  held 
several  official  positions  under  the  borough 
charter.  He  was  buried  in  the  Presbyterian 
graveyard,  of  which  church  he  held  member- 
ship. In  personal  appearance.  Captain  Beatty 
was  about  five  feet  eight  inches,  thickset, 
florid  complexion,  dark  hair  and  blue  eyes. 
He  was  an  active  and  energetic  business  man, 
and  his  death  was  a  great  loss  to  the  young 
town.  James  Beatty  married,  in  1768,  at 
Tullynore,  Alice  Ann  Irwin,  born  1750,  in 
the  townland  of  Tullynore,  parish  of  Hills- 
borough, county  Down,  Ireland,  daughter  of 
Gawin  Irwin  and  Mary  Brereton  ;  died  June, 
1805,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  there  buried. 
They  had  issue,  all  born  in  Ireland. 


WiLLAKD,  John  Peter,  was  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  born  in  1745.  He  came  to 
America  as  a  .soldier  in  the  British  service, 
but  shortly  after  landing  effected  his  escape. 
He  then  volunteered  in  the  cause  of  the 
Colonies,  and  was  with  other  deserters  sta- 
tioned on  the  Indian  frontier  or  as  guard  of 
prisoners  of  war.  At  the  close  of  the  Revo- 
lution he  took  up  a  tract  of  land  in  Lykens 
township,  called  "  Amsterdam,"  where  he 
settled,  began  farming,  and  subsequently 
married.  He  died  in  1821,  at  the  age  of  76. 
His  wife  died  the  following  year  (1822), aged 


77.  They  left  the  following  family  :  Adam, 
who  came  into  possession  of  the  homestead. 
His  children,  Joseph,  John  A.,  Henry  B., 
and  Adam,  Jr.,  then  divided  the  farm.  Part 
of  it  yet  remains  in  possession  of  the  descend- 
ants. Samuel  remained  in  the  valley,  a 
farmer,  and  had  a  large  family.  Anna  Maria 
married  John  Philip  Umholtz. 


Boyd,  Capt.  Adam,  the  son  of  John  Boyd 
and  Elizabeth  Young,  was  a  native  of  North- 
ampton county,  Pa.,  born  in  1746.  Pie 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  was 
following  that  avocation  when  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  called  to  arms.  He  was  an 
early  associator,  and  when  the  State  of  Penn- 
.sylvania  had  formed  its  little  navy  for  the 
protection  of  the  ports  on  the  Delaware, 
Lieutenant  Boyd  received  a  commission 
therein.  During  the  year  1776,  and  the 
early  part  of  1777,  he  was  most  of  the  time 
in  command  of  the  armed  sloop  "  Burke," 
and  rendered  efficient  service  in  the  conflict 
between  the  Pennsylvania  navy  and  the 
British  ships  "  Roebuck  "  and  "  Liverpool  " 
in  May,  1776.  Growing  tired  of  that  branch 
of  the  service.  Lieutenant  Boyd  requested  to 
be  discharged,  that  he  might  volunteer  in 
the  land  forces.  Being  honorably  dismissed 
from  the  nav}',  he  at  once  entered  the  army 
proper,  holding  the  same  rank  therein.  He 
was  at  the  battles  of  Brandywine  and  Ger- 
mantown,  with  two  of  his  brothers,  one  of 
whom  was  killed  in  the  latter  engagement. 
Sub.sequently,  Lieutenant  Boyd  acted  as 
"  master  of  wagons,"  aud  as  such  remained 
with  the  army  until  after  the  surrender  at 
Yorktown.  Returning  to  the  home  of  his 
mother,  near  Newville,  he  married  and  set- 
tled in  Harrisburg.  Upon  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  borough  of  Harrisburg,  in  1791, 
he  was  chosen  a  burgess.  Dr.  Jolm  Luther  be- 
ing the  other.  In  1792  he  was  elected  treas- 
urer of  the  county,  and  held  the  office  until 
1806,  when  he  declined  a  re-election.  In 
1809  Mr.  Boyd  was  elected  a  director  of  the 
poor,  and  during  his  term  of  office  the  county 
poorhouse  and  mill  were  erected. 

Mr.  Boyd  died  on  May  14,  1814;  was  in- 
terred in  the  Presbyterian  graveyard,  but 
subsequently  his  remains  were  removed  to 
the  Harrisburg  cemetery.  Mr.  Boyd  mar- 
ried, in  1784,  Jeannette  Macfarlane,  of  Big 
Spring,  Cumberland  county,  daughter  of 
Patrick  and  granddaughter  of  James  Mac- 
farlane, who  came  from  Ireland  to  Pennsyl- 


184 


BIO  GRA  PIIICA  L  ENOYCL  OPEDIA 


vania  in  1717.  Mrs.  Boyd  died  in  early 
life  at  Harrisburg,  leaving  one  child,  a 
daughter  Rosanna.  who  married  Hugh  Ham- 
ilton in  1807.  This  estimable  lad}'  lived 
until  1872,  when  she  died,  the  oldest  in- 
habitant of  Harrisburg,  having  been  born 
here  in  178G. 


Stewart,  Andrew,  was  the  son  of  Andrew 
Stewart  and  Mary  Dinwiddle,  whose  remains 
lie  in  old  Paxtang  churchyard.     The  first 
Andrew  Stewart  with  his  brother  Archibald 
Stewart  came  to  America  j)rior  to  1733  and 
settled  in  Paxtang  township,  then  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.     The    former  remained   there, 
while  Archibald  drifted  down  the  Kittoch- 
tinnj'   Valley   into  the  Valley  of  Virginia, 
and  settled   in  Augusta  county,  that  State. 
He  wa.s  the  head  of  a  large  family  and  whose 
descendants  have  been   represented   in   the 
recent  history  of  our  country  by  the  rebel 
chieftain.  Gen.  James   E.    B.   Stuart,    "  the 
Murat  of  the  Confederacy."  and  by  the  Hon. 
A.  H.  H.  Stuart,  a  prominent  Virginia  states- 
man of  the  old  regime.     The  youngest  son 
of  Andrew  Stewart,  Sr.,  was  the  subject  of 
our  sketch,  also  named   Andrew.     He  was 
born  in  Paxtang  in  1748,  and  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation.     He  was  one  of  the  leaders 
in  the  movement  for  the  erection  of  the  new 
county  of  Dauphin,  and  hence   was   named 
as  one  of  the  commissioners.     In   1792  Mr. 
Stewart  sold  his  plantation  in  Paxtang,  and 
removed  to  Western  Pennsylvania.    He  died 
in  Allegheny  county  about  the  year   1827, 
the  date  of  his  will  being  the  14th   day  of 
.June  that  year.     Capt.  Jolin  Rutherford  and 
Tliomas  Brown,  of  the  county  of  Dauphin, 
were  the  executors  named  in   his  v/ill,  but 
the  former  passed  away  before  the  settlement 
of  the  estate.     We  have  no  information   as 
to  any  descendants. 


Hamilton,  John,  son  of  John  Hamilton, 
was  born  June  17,  1749,  in  New  London, 
Chester  county.  Pa.;  died  August  28, 1793,  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  Under  the  will  of  his  father 
he  inherited  a  "  plantation  and  fulling-mill, 
bought  of  James  Long,  on  Shearman  creek, 
in  Cumberland  county  "  (Perry  county).  He 
was  educated  principall}'  in  the  celebrated 
academy  of  Rev.  Mr.  Alison,  Chester  county. 
When  upon  a  visit  to  his  patrimonj'  in  the 
Juniata  region,  he  was  attracted  to  the  su- 
pei'ior  excellence  of  a  tract  of  land  called 
"Fermanagh,"  now  in  Juniata  county.     He 


|)urchased  it.    On  the  Shearman's  creek  farm 
Hugh   Alexander  was  his  adjoining  neigh- 
bor; he  became  attached  to  his  daughter, 
and  at  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  married 
her;  established    himself  at   "Fermanagh," 
and    erected  a  large  stone    mansion.     This 
house  is  standing.     It  has  been  occupied  by 
himself,  his  .son  John  and  a  grandson,  Hugh 
Hamilton.     Pie  became,  by  successful  indus- 
try and  in  right  of  his   mother,  Jane  Allen 
Hamilton,  of  great  fortune  for  his  day.     The 
inventory  of  personal  property  at  his  death, 
in  1793,  makes  his  effects  in  money  £7,500. 
At  that  moment  he  had  active  enterprises  of 
various    kinds    in    full    operation — at   Lost 
creek,  at  Fermanagh,  in  Shearman's  Valle}- 
and  at  Harrisburg.     He  was  one  of  the  ori- 
ginal lot  holders  at  Harrisburg.     One  of  his 
largest  houses  was  that  at  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  Market  square ;  another   on  his  lot. 
Front  street  and   Raspberrj'  alley.     In  1792 
he  employed  at  liis  warehouse  and  stores,  on 
what  is  now  Mulberry  street,  between  Second 
and  Third  streets,  "  as  many  as  fifteen  mules 
and  a  far  greater  number  of  horses,   upon 
which  he  sent  nails  and  salt  and  other  mer- 
chandise to   Pittsburgh."     Sending  nails  to 
Pittsburgh  at  this  date  would  be  reversing  the 
usual   course  of  trade.     He  was  one  of  the 
la.st  of  those  in  the  interior  who  held  slaves, 
a  half  dozen  in  all.     All  but  one  continued 
in  the  family  until  the  death  of  his  widow, 
not   as   slaves,  but  as  free  laborers  on  the 
farms.     Mr.    Hamilton    was   a    sergeant   in 
Capt.  Gibson's  company,  Col.  Wilson's  bat- 
talion of  Cumberland  county  associators,  in 
177G;  captain  of  a  company  in  Col.  Samuel 
Lyon's  battalion  in  August,  1777  ;  and  also 
cai)tain    in    Col.    Buchanan's    battalion    in 
1778,  and   was  out  in  two  campaigns,  1776 
and  1781.     In  the  family  records  of  tlie  Mc- 
Alisters,  of  Lost  Creek,  Juniata,  one  of  whom 
married  a  granddaughter   of  Capt.  Hamil- 
ton, we  have  the  following  narrative  :  "  The 
American  army,  December,  1776,  shattered, 
disheartened  and  decreasing  daih',  were  mak- 
ing  precipitate    retreat   across    Jersey    into 
Pennsylvania,  before  the  victorious  army  of 
Howe  and  Cornwallis.     In  this  gloomy  hour 
a  meeting  of  the  people  was  called  at  the 
farm  of  Mr.  William  Sharon  within  a  couple 
of  miles  of  Mr.  Hugh    McAlister,  near  the 
present  town  of  Mexico,  to  consult  and  de- 
vise measures  to  reinforce  Washington   and 
the  army.     All  the  neighbors  below  the  Nar- 
rows met.     John   Hamilton,  of  Fermanagh, 
was   made  chairman.     It  was  unanimously 


D  A  UFHIN   CO  UNTY. 


185 


agreed  to  raise  a  company  of  mounted  men. 
All  were  young  men,  witli  younger  families, 
but  they  did  not  hesitate.  They  agreed  to 
march.  Hamilton  pledged  himself  to  start 
immediateh',  then  McAlister  and  Sharon. 
The  former  was  chosen  captain,  the  latter 
lieutenants,  and  in  two  days  they  were  off, 
more  than  eighty  strong,  riding  the  first  day 
to  tiie  mouth  of  the  Swatara,  over  snow  many 
inches  in  depth.  They  reached  camp,  on 
the  Penn.sylvania  .side,  below  Trenton,  the 
day  after  the  He.ssians  were  captured."  None 
but  men  witii  their  whole  hearts  in  the  cause 
would  have  made  such  a  dreary  marcli  in  a 
most  inclement  winter,  unless  tiioroughly  in 
earnest.  This  was  the  sentiment  that  actu- 
ated all  the  frontier  settlers.  In  1793  Har- 
risburg  was  scourged  by  a  pestilence  resem- 
bling yellow  fever,  an  epidemic  that  then 
prevailed  at  Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and 
New  York.  One  of  its  victims  was  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton. He  married,  in  December,  1772,  Mar- 
garet Alexander,  born  March  17,  1754,  in 
Shearman's  Valley,  Cumberland,  now  Perry 
county.  Pa.;  died'Augu.st  22,  1835,  at  "Fer- 
managh," Juniata  county,  Pa.;  daughter  of 
Hugh  Alexander  and  Martha  Edmeston. 


Lewis,  Eli,  was  a  native  of  York  county. 
Pa.,  born  about  1750,  and  the  first  settler  of 
the  town  of  Lewisberr}'.  He  was  a  printer 
by  [)rofessiou,  and  had  the  honor  of  estab- 
lishing the  first  newspaper  in  Harrisburg — 
the  Harrisburg  Advertiser — in  1789.  This 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  Wyeth  in  1792  and 
changed  to  Tlie  Oracle  of  Dauphin  and  Har- 
risburg Advertiser.  Major  Lewis  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution,  and  a  gentleman  of  con- 
siderable literary  acquirements.  He  was 
the  author  of  a  poem  entitled  "  St.  Clair's 
Defeat,"  printed  in  a  small  o2mo.  at  his 
office,  copies  of  which  are  exceedingl}'  rare. 
He  died  at  his  residence  at  Lewisberry  on 
Sunday,  February  2,  1807,  aged  57  years. 
He  was  the  father  of  Chief  Justice  Ellis 
Lewis  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 


Cox,  Col.  Cornelius,  son  of  John  Cox  and 

Esther ,  was   born  about  1750  in  the 

city  of  Philadelphia.  His  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Englaml,  a  [liiysician  of  prominence 
in  Philadelphia,  in  which  city  he  died. 
He  laid  out  Estherton,  on  the  Susque- 
hanna, in  1761,  supposing  at  the  time  it 
would  become  an  important  place.     Dr.  Cox 


was  twice  married— first  to  Sarah,  widow  of 
William  Edgell,  of  Philadel[)hia  ;  second  to 

Esther ,  of  the  same  place.     We  know 

nothing  further,  save  fhat  their  son  was  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Cornelius  Cox  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  his  native  city. 
Some  time  prior  to  the  Revolution  we  find 
liim  at  Estherton  in  management  of  the 
estate  left  him  b}-  his  father.  He  early 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  Colonies,  was  pres- 
ent at  the  meeting  at  Middletown  which 
passed  the  patriotic  resolutions  of  June,  1774, 
and  when  the  people  were  called  to  arms  was 
commissioned  major  of  Col.  James  Burd's 
battalion  of  Lancaster  county  associators. 
Was  appointed  assistant  commissary  of  pur- 
chases, and  also  issuing  commissary  July  7, 
1780.  Until  the  close  of  the  Revolution  he 
was  actively  engaged,  whether  it  was  in  the 
collecting  of  flour  for  the  French  fleet,  the 
gathering  of  blankets  for  the  half-clad  army 
at  \^alley  Forge,  or  the  superintending  of  the 
erection  of  bateaux  for  the  use  of  General 
Sullivan  in  his  expedition  against  the  Six 
Nations.  In  1792  he  was  chosen  one  of  the 
State  electors  for  president  in  favor  of  Gen- 
eral Washington.  Governor  Mifflin  ap- 
pointed him  one  of  the  associate  justices  of 
the  courts  of  Dauphin  county,  but  preferring 
quiet,  he  declined  the  honor.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1803,  at  Estherton,  aged  about  53 
years.  Colonel  Cox  married  Mary  Foster, 
born  1767;  died  August 2, 1810;  daughterof 
John  Foster  and  Catherine  Dickey. 


Ayres,  John,  son  of  William  Ayres  and 
his  wife,  Mary  Kean,  was  born  February  9, 
1754.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  ac- 
com[)anied  his  father  and  family  in  their 
movement  to  Paxtang  townsliip,  Lancaster, 
now  Dauphin  county.  Pa. ;  subsequently  be- 
came the  owner  of  the  homestead  there 
established,  and  added  thereto  a  certain  tract 
of  land  called  "  Ayresburg."  In  1775,  on 
the  first  call  for  volunteers  for  the  Revolu- 
tionary arm}',  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Matthew 
Smith's  company  of  riflemen,  formed  in 
Lancaster  county,  and  detailed  on  the  expedi- 
tion against  Quebec  under  Arnold,  but  whilst 
the  army  lay  before  Boston,  he  took  sick  and 
was  invalided.  On  March  13, 1776,  he  again 
enlisted  in  Captain  Manning's  company 
Fourth  battalion  of  Lancaster  county,  com- 
manded by  Col.  James  Burd.  His  father 
and  several  of  his  connections  belonged  to 
the  same  company.  The  Oracle  of  Dauphin, 
in  announcing  his  death,  August  17,  1825, 


186 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


remarks tliat  "he  was  tlie  last  of  the  Revolu- 
tionar}'  patriots  in  his  neighborliood."  John 
Ayres  was  twice  married;  married,  first,  in 
1781,  Mary  Montgomerj',  daughter  of  Gen. 
William  Montgomer}',  of  Mahoning,  now 
Danville,  Pa.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years,  without  issue.  He  married, 
secondly,  in  1786,  Jane  Lytle,eldestdaughter 
of  Joseph  Lytle,  of  Lytle's  Ferry,  in  Upper 
Paxtang  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
Jane  Lytle  was  born  near  Anderson's  Ferry, 
March  1, 1767  ;  died  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  May 
7,  1831.  The  old  burying-ground,  one  mile 
above  Dauphin,  contains  the  remains  of  this 
branch  of  the  Aj'res  family. 

Reily,  John,  was  born  at  Leeds,  England, 
on  the  12th  of  April,  1752.  His  fatlier, 
Benjamin  Reily,  emigrated  soon  after,  and 
was  a  gentleman  of  some  note  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Pennsylvania.  Receiving  a  classical 
education,  the  former  began  the  study  of 
law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  the  eve 
of  the  Revolution.  Accepting  a  commission 
as  captain  in  the  Twelfth  regiment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Line,  subsequently  (1778) 
transferred  to  the  Third  regiment,  he  served 
with  valor  and  distinction,  and  was  severely 
wounded  at  Bonhamton,  N.  J.,  being  shot 
through  the  body.  Returning  home  he 
slowly  recovered,  when  he  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  was  present  and 
took  part  in  the  first  term  of  the  Dauphin 
county  court,  in  May,  1785.  In  1795  he 
published  at  Harri.sburg  "A  Compendium 
for  Pennsylvania  Justices  of  the  Peace,"  the 
first  work  of  that  character  printed  in  Amer- 
ica. Captain  Reily  died  at  Myerstown,  May 
2,  1810.  He  married,  at  Lancaster,  on  May 
20,  1773,  by  Rev.  Thomas  Barton,  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  Elizabeth  Myer,  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  Myer,  the  founder  of 
Mverstown,  Lebanon  countv,  born  April  2, 
1755;  died  April  2, 1800.  They  had  a  large 
family.  Captain  Reily  was  not  a  brilliant 
orator,  but  was  perfectly  reliable  as  a  lawyer, 
and  had  an  extensive  practice  at  the  Lancas- 
ter, Berks  and  Dauphin  courts.  He  was  a 
tall,  courtly  gentleman,  and  an  ardent  Whig 
of  the  Revolutionary  era;  was  a  polished 
writer,  and  a  manuscript  book  of  literary 
excerpts  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants 
shows  a  refined  and  cultivated  taste. 


settled  near  the  North  mountain,  then  Han- 
over township,  Lancaster  county,  was  born 
August  18,  1752,  in  Hanover  township.  He 
was  a  fanner  by  occupation.  At  the  outset 
of  the  Revolution  he  was  appointed  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Hanover  battalion  of  associa- 
tors,  commanded  by  Col.  Timothy  Green. 
He  served  with  distinction  at  Long  Island, 
August  27,  1776,  and  through  the  campaign 
of  1777  was  in  constant  active  service.  Dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  the  war  he  was  in 
command  of  a  volunteer  company,  which 
was  formed  for  the  protection  of  tlie  frontiers 
from  the  encroachments  of  the  Tories  and 
their  allies,  the  savage  Indians  of  New  York. 
The  sword  wiiich  he  carried  through  the 
war  is  now  in  possession  of  William  Barnett, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio.  Major  Barnett  died  May 
12, 1823.  He  married,  April  29, 1784,  Mary 
McEwen,  of  Hanover,  a  very  estimable  lady. 
She  was  born  September  9, 1762 ;  died  March 
10,  1806,  and  is  interred  by  the  side  of  her 
husband. 


Barnett,  John,  the  fourth  in  descent  from 
John  Barnett,  who  came  from  Londonderr}', 
Ireland,  to  Pennsylvania,  prior  to  1730,  and 


Murray,  Patrick,  was  born  March  17, 
1755,  in  county  Donegal,  Ireland;  died  July 
23,  1854,  in  Orange  township,  Ashland 
county,  O.  He  came  to  America  at  the  out- 
set of  the  struggle  for  independence,  and  we 
find  that  on  the  3d  of  June,  1776,  he  enlisted 
in  Capt.  James  Parr's  company,  of  the 
First  regiment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Line, 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  He  was 
discharged  in  1782,  and  shortly  after  settled 
at  Harris'  Ferry,  on  the  Susquehanna,  and 
when,  two  years  after,  tlie  town  of  Harrisburg 
was  laid  out,  established  himself  in  business 
as  a  "  clothier  and  fashioner."  In  the  year 
1800  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Greens- 
burg,  Westmoreland  county.  Pa.,  remaining 
there  until  1809,  when  he  located  in  Stark 
county,  Ohio.  In  1812  he  and  his  son  James 
volunteered  in  the  brigade  of  Gen.  Reasin 
Beall,  organized  for  the  defense  of  the  border 
settlers  in  the  Northwest.  While  quartered 
at  Fort  Meigs  the  army  became  much  dis- 
tressed for  want  of  provisions ;  the  roads  to 
the  settlements  were  long,  rough,  and  in  poor 
condition,  passing  mostly  through  dense 
forests,  and  across  marshes  and  bogs.  The 
quantit}^  of  forage  consumed  by  the  cavalry 
as  well  as  the  supply  of  the  quartermaster's 
department  for  the  troops  made  it  difficult  to 
furnish  the  necessary  rations  at  the  proper 
time.  On  more  than  one  occasion  the  troops 
were  on  the  point  of  starvation,  and  this,  with 
tiie  inclemency  of  the  weather,  made  their 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY 


187 


sufferings  almost  unbearable.  Several  remi- 
niscences of  this  period,  in  Mr.  Murray's  his- 
tory, have  been  preserved  to  us  whicii  show 
that  under  tlie  most  adverse  circumstances 
his  motlier  wit  and  his  indomitable  energy 
never  forsook  him,  while  his  patriotism  was 
none  the  less  enthusiastic  by  his  many  depri- 
vations. After  General  Beall  returned,  the 
father  and  son  served  a  second  enlistment, 
and  were  at  tlie  battle  of  Fort  Meigs.  In 
tliat  contest  the  elder  Murray  was  separated 
from  his  company,  and  the  grass  being  very 
tali  it  was  presumed  by  his  comrades  tliat  lie 
liad  been  killed  and  scalped  by  the  Indians. 
After  a  few  liours  lie  appeared  in  tlie  camp 
amid  tlie  cheers  of  liis  companions  at  his 
safe  return.  Upon  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  service  lie  returned  to  his  home  in  Stark 
county,  where  he  remained  to  1812,  when  he 
removed  to  what  is  now  Orange  township, 
then  Richland  county,  Ohio.  It  is  said  of  him 
that,  although  his  education  was  defective, 
he  had  a  very  retentive  memor}',  and  enjoyed 
at  the  close  of  his  long  life  the  relation  of 
the  exploits  and  border  achievements  of  him- 
self and  other  early  pioneers  in  that  section 
of  Ohio.  In  many  respects  he  was  a  remark- 
able man,  and  was  all  his  life-time  active, 
energetic  and  industrious.  On  the  4th  of 
July  the  year  he  was  ninetj^-nine  years  of  age 
he  rode  to  Ashland  in  a  buggy,  waked  about 
one  mile  during  the  day  and  returned  home 
some  three  miles,  in  the  evening.  He  voted 
for  ten  different  Presidents  of  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Murray  married,  September  2, 
1786,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  by  Rev.  John  Elder, 
of  Paxtang,  Mary  Brereton  Beatty,  born  1769, 
in  county  Down,  Ireland ;  died  March  2,1853, 
in  Ashland  county,  Ohio ;  with  her  hus- 
band buried  in  Orange  graveyard  ;  daughter 
of  James  Beatty  and  Alice  Ann  Irwin. 


MiTCHEL,  Andrew,  a  native  of  Dublin, 
Ireland,  born  November  1,  1754,  emigrated 
to  America  in  1774,  on  the  eve  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Espousing  the  cause  of  the  Colonies, 
lie  took  position  as  an  officer  among  the  de- 
fenders of  his  adopted  country.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  finisiied  education  and  excel- 
lent moral  training,  having  been  destined 
for  a  clerical  life,  adopted  teaching  as  an 
avocation,  and  in  the  dearth  of  preceptors 
after  the  peace  of  1783  had  gi'atiiying  suc- 
cess as  an  educator.  He  came  to  Harrisburg 
in  1791,  and  in  June,  1795,  married  Mar- 
garet, the  widow  of  Cajit.  John  Hamilton. 
He  was  one  of  the  burgesses  of  the  borough 


in  1799,  and  served  a  number  of  years  in 
the  town  council.  Mr.  Mitchel  was  an  of- 
ficer and  early  member  of  tlie  Presbyterian 
churcli,  and  greatly  assisted  in  its  first  or- 
ganization. He  died  December  21,  1825,  at 
his  residence  on  Front  street,  now  Mrs.  Dr. 
Rutherford's.  His  daughter,  Jane  Alexan- 
der, wife  of  Dr.  Thomas  Whiteside,  was  the 
only  child  who  survived  him. 


Fleming,  Robert,  the  fourth  son  of  Robert 
Fleming  and  Jane  Jackson,  was  born  in 
Chester  county.  Pa.,  June  6,  1756.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  Argyleshire,  Scot- 
land, who  subsequently  removed  to  Ireland, 
and  from  thence  emigrated  to  America, 
about  1746,  settling  near  Flemington,  Ches- 
ter county.  Prior  to  the  Revolution  they 
located  within  tiie  limits  of  the  "  New  Pur- 
chase," on  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, but  during  the  ''Great  Runaway" 
in  1778,  they  sought  refuge  among  some 
friends  in  now  Dauphin  county.  About 
1784  they  removed  to  Hanover  township, 
Washington  county.  Pa.,  locating  on  Har- 
mon's creek,  where  they  resided  at  the  time 
of  their  death,  Robert  Fleming  at  ninety-six 
and  his  wife  at  ninety-four.  Robert  Flem- 
ing, the  subject  of  this  notice,  remained  in 
Dauphin  county;  purchased  land  in  Han- 
over township,  on  which  he  resided  during 
his  lifetime.  On  the  6th  of  February,  1783, 
he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jolm 
Wright.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Harrisburg  Bank,  and  in.stru mental  in  the 
erection  of  the  Harrisburg  bridge.  He  was 
an  officer  in  the  volunteer  force  of  1812,  and 
filled  acceptably  various  local  offices.  He 
was  an  elder  in  the  Hanover  church  during 
the  ministrations  of  Rev.  James  Snodgrass. 
He  died  February  4,  1817,  and  his  wife  De- 
cember 12,  1813,  aged  fifty-nine  years. 


Egle,  Valentine,  was  born  October  27, 
1736,  in  Bern  township,  Berks  county,  Pa.; 
died  November  23,  1820,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  enlisted  in  Cai^tain 
Ross'  company.  Col.  William  Thompson's 
battalion  of  riflemen,  subsequently  enlisting 
for  one  year  in  the  First  regiment  of  the 
Pennsjdvania  Line  of  the  Revolution,  and 
subsequently  was  lieutenant  in  Eightli  bat- 
talion, Lancaster  county'  militia.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a  hatter,  and  settled  in  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  where  he  established  himself  in 
business  and  was  a  gentleman  universally 
respected  and  esteemed.     He  died  suddenly 


188 


BIO GRA PHIVAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


from  nervous  shock  and  over-exertion, 
caused  by  the  complete  destruction  of  his 
property  by  fire  a  few  montlis  prior.  He 
married,  in  1796,  by  Rev.  Anthony  Hautz, 
pastor  of  Frieden's  Kirche,  in  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.,  Elizabeth  Thomas,  born  May  2, 
1772,  in  Londonderry  township,  Lancaster, 
now  Lebanon  county.  Pa. ;  died  August  5, 
1867,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Martin  Thomas  and  Ursula  Muller. 
Her  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution, 
and  her  mother's  father,  John  George  Muller, 
was  a  lieutenant,  subsequently  captain,  in  the 
Provincial  army,  serving  in  the  Forbes  and 
Bouquet  expeditions  to  the  westward.  Said 
a  contemporary  at  the  time  of  her  decease: 
"  During  her  long  and  eventful  life  she  was 
highly  esteemed  l)y  all  who  knew  her.  She 
was  an  eye-witness  of  many  interesting 
scenes,  not  only  in  frontier  times,  at  a  period 
when  the  red  man  was  occasionally  to  be 
seen  revisiting  his  old  hunting  grounds,  but 
during  the  struggle  for  liberty — the  war  of 
the  Revolution."  She  was  indeed  a  remark- 
able woman,  and  the  incidents  of  her  life 
were  such  as  few  persons  have  experienced. 
She  was  a  devoted  Christian,  and  her  good 
deeds  are  the  heritage  of  her  descendants. 


ried,  first,  on  May  4,  1779,  at  York,  Pa., 
Catharine  Hoyer,  born  October  31,  1758,  in 
the  Palatinate,  Germany ;  died  August  27, 
1796,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. 


KuNKEL,  Christian,  son  of  John  Christian 
Kunkel,  wa.s  born  July  10,  1757,  in  the  Palat- 
inate, Germany;  died  September  8,  1823,  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  His  father  arrived  in  Penn- 
sylvania September  23,  1766,  sub.sequently 
locating  at  or  near  York.  Christian  was 
brought  u])  to  mercantile  pursuits.  In  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  he  was  commissioned 
an  ensign  in  Colonel  Slagle's  battalion  of 
associators,  and  was  in  active  service  during 
the  campaign  around  Philadelphia  in  1777 
and  1778.  In  1786,  in  company  with  his 
brother-in-law,  George  Hoyer.  he  located  at 
Harrisburg.  There  he  at  once  entered  into 
business,  which,  with  his  indomitable  energy 
and  industry,  proved  highly  successful.  He 
was  one  of  the  prime  movers  and  contributed 
toward  the  organization  of  the  first  German 
church  in  Harrisburg.  He  was  burgess  of 
tlie  borough  in  1796.  and  frequently  a  mem- 
ber of  the  council.  He  was  elected,  in  1809, 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  branch  bank  of 
Philadelphia  at  Harrisburg,  and  the  same 
year  appointed  by  Governor  Snyder  one  of 
the  commissioners  for  erecting  a  bridge  over 
the  Susquehanna,  and  was  interested  in  other 
enterprises.  His  life  was  an  active  and  busy 
one.     Mr.  Kunkel  was  twice  married;  mar- 


Graydon,  William,  the  son  of  Alexander 
Graydon  and  Rachel  Marks,  was  born  near 
Bristol,  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  September  4, 
1759.  He  was  educated  in  Philadelphia, 
and  studied  law  under  Edward  Biddle,  of 
that  city.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  upon  the 
organization  of  the  county  of  Dauphin,  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  being 
admitted  at  the  May  term,  1786.  He  was 
the  first  notary  public,  commissioned  Sep- 
tember 2,  1791,  and  a  leading  man  in  the 
borough  during  the  "  mill-dam  troubles " 
of  1794-95.  He  was  many  years  a  member 
of  the  town  council  and  president  thereof, 
and  subsequently  one  of  the  burgesses.  He 
was  the  author  of  "  Forms  of  Conveyancing" 
(in  two  volumes),  "  The  Justice's  Assistant," 
and  edited  "An  Abridgement  of  the  Laws  of 
the  United  States"  in  1802.  Mr.  Graydon 
was  prominent  in  the  organization  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  and  for  many 
years  an  elder  thereof.  He  died  at  Har- 
risburg, October  13,  1840,  in  the  eighty- 
second  year  of  his  age.  "Mr.  Graydon," 
says  Rev.  Dr.  Robinson,  "  was  a  man  of  fine 
literary  tastes,  was  highly  esteemed  as  a 
gentleman  of  the  old  school,  in  his  manners 
refined,  courteous,  of  unblemished  integrity 
in  tiie  many  trusts  committed  to  him,  of 
high  and  honorable  principles,  and  in  the 
church  and  walks  of  Christian  life  a  man  of 
true  piety  and  deeji  devotion."  H.  Murray 
Graydon  and  Dr.  William  Graydon  are  his 
sons. 


Flemixg,  Samuel,  was  born  October  30, 
1761,  in  Cecil  county,  Md.,  died  August  3, 
1851,  in  Harrisburg,  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
Removed  with  his  father's  family  to  West- 
ern Pennsylvania,  where  he  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  and  surveyor  for  AVashington 
county  ;  was  captain  of  a  ranging  company 
on  the  frontiers  to  protect  them  from  the 
Indian  marauders  from  the  Ohio ;  was  one 
of  the  local  committee  to  treat  with  the  in- 
surgents during  the  Whiskey  Insurrection. 
In  1812  he  removed  to  West  Hanover  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  where  he  resided 
until  a  few  j^ears  before  his  death.  Mr. 
Fleming  married,  September  24,  1789,  Sarah 
Becket,  born  1771;  d.  January  21,  1831,  in 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


189 


Hanna,  Gen.  John  Andre,  son  of  Rev. 
Jolin   Hanna  and  Mary  McCrea,  was  born 
about  17G1,  at  Flemington,   N.  J.     He  re- 
ceived a  good  classical  education  under  his 
father,  wiio  was  a  most  excellent  tutor.     He 
served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.     To- 
ward   its  close  came  to   Pennsylvania  and 
studied  law  with  Stephen  Chambers,  of  Lan- 
caster, whose  acquaintance  he  made  in  the 
arm}',  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Lan- 
caster   county  at    November  session,   1783. 
He  located  at  Harri.sburg  upon   the  forma- 
tion of  the  county  of  Dauphin  and  wasamong 
the  first  lawyers  admitted  there.     He  took  a 
deep  interest  in  early  municipal  affairs,  and 
there  was  little  transpiring  looking  to   the 
welfare  and   development  of  tiie  new  town 
in  which  Mr.  Hanna  did  not  take  part.    His 
marriage  with  a   daughter  of  .John    Harris, 
the    founder,    brought    him    into    unusual 
prominence.     He  represented  the  county  in 
the  Legislature,  and   in  1795  elected  to  the 
United  States  Congress,  a  position  he  filled 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death  by  successive  re- 
election.    During  the  Whiskey  Insurrection 
he  was  a  brigadier  general  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania force  in  command  of  the  Second  brig- 
ade.  Second    division.     1\\    1800   Governor 
McKean  commissioned  him  a  major  general 
of  the  Third  division  of  the  militia  forces  of 
the  State.     He  died  at  Harrisburg  on   the 
13th  of  July,  1805,  aged  forty-four  years,  and 
is    buried    in  the  cemetery   there.     General 
Hanna  married  Marj'   Harris,  daughter  of 
John  Harris  and  Mary  Read,  who  died  Au- 
gust 20,  1851,  in  the  eighty-first  year  of  her 
age.     They  had  nine  children  :  Esther  Har- 
ris, d.  s.  p.;    Eleanor  (first),  d.  s.  p.;    Sarah 
Eaton,  married  Richard  T.  Jacobs  ;  Henri- 
etta, died  unmarried;    Caroline    Elizabeth, 
married    Joseph    Briggs;    Frances     Harris, 
married  John  Carson  McAllister ;  Julian  C, 
married  John  Fisher;  Mary  Read,  married 
Hon.  John  Tod  ;  and  Eleanor  (second),  d.  s.  p. 

FoRSTER,  Thomas,  .son  of  John  Forster, 
was  born  May  16,  1762,  in  Paxtang  town- 
ship, Lancaster,  now  Dauphin  county,  Pa.; 
died  June  29, 1836,  at  Erie,  Pa.  He  received 
a  good  education,  and  was  brought  up  as  a 
surveyor.  In  the  Revolutionary  struggle  he 
was  a  private  in  Capt.  John  Reed's  company 
in  the  summer  of  1776,  in  active  service  dur- 
ing the  Jersey  campaign  of  that  year.  In 
1794,  during  the  so-called  Whiskey  Insur- 
rection, he  served  as  colonel  of  one  of  the 
volunteer  regiments  on  that  expedition.    He 


was  one  of  the  associate  judges  of  Dauphin 
county,  appointed  (J»ctober  26, 1793,  by  Gov- 
ernor   Mifflin,  resigning  December  3,  1798, 
having  been  elected  one  of  the  representa- 
tives of  the  State  Legislature  that  year.     At 
the  close   of   1799  or  early  in   1800,  as  the 
agent  of  the  HarrLsburg  and    Presqu'  Isle 
Land  Company,  he  permanently  removed  to 
Erie.     In   the  affairs  incident  to  the  early 
settlement  of  that  town  and  the  organization 
of  that  county,  he  took  a  prominent  part. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  street  commissioners 
of  the  town,  president  of  the  Erie  and  Water- 
ford  Turnpike  Company,  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  first  library  company  and  its  librarian, 
and  captain  of  the  first  military  company 
formed  at  Erie,  and   which  in  1812  was  in 
service   at    Butfiilo,  Captain    P'orster   being 
promoted  brigade  inspector.     In  1823  he  was 
appointed  b\'  Governor  Shulze  one  of  the 
commissioners  to  explore  the  route  for  the 
Erie  extension  of  the  Pennsylvania  canal, 
and  in  1827  was  chairman  of  the  meeting 
organizing  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  church.    In 
1799  he  was  appointed  by  President  Adams 
collector  of  the  port  at  Erie,  and  successively 
commissioned  by  Presidents  Jefferson,  Madi- 
son, J.  Q.  Adams  and  Jackson,  filling  the 
office  until  his  death.     Colonel  Forster  mar- 
ried, October   5,    1786,  Sarah    Pettit   Mont- 
gomery, born    July,    1766,   at   Georgetown, 
Kent  county,  Md.';  died  July   27,   1808,  at 
Erie,   Pa.;  daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph   Mont- 
gomery and  Elizabeth  Reed. 

Kean,  John,  was  born  October  3,  1762,  in 
Philadelphia  and  died  December  9,  1818,  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
Kean  [1728-1801J  and  Mary  Dunlop  [1728- 
1819].  His  father  removed  to  what  is  now 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  in  1775.  In  1780  he 
entered  the  Revolutionary  service,  and  was 
with  the  army  until  after  the  capitulation  of 
Yorktown.  Upon  his  discharge  he  was 
placed  with  James  Clunie,  a  merchant  at 
Hummelstown,  second  sheriff  of  Dauphin 
county,  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred  dollars  a 
year  and  boarding.  In  this  period  he  taught 
himself  conveyancing  and  surveying.  In 
1785  he  located  at  Harrisburg,  in  partnership 
with  Mr.  Clunie.  In  1788  he  was  one  of  the 
members  of  the  famous  "  Harrisburg  Confer- 
ence." He  was  one  of  the  managers  of  the 
first  library  company,  established  in  1787, 
and  the  same  year  elected  a  commissioner  of 
the  county  ;  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Harris- 
burg Academy,  1788;  treasurer  of  the  Pres- 


190 


BIO  GRA  FHl  CAL  ENGYCL  Ol'EDlA 


byterian  congregation  in  1790;  chosen  cap- 
tain of  the  first  volunteer  companj'upon  the 
resignation  of  General  Hanna,  and  president 
of  the  first  fire  company,  and  in  1792  ap- 
pointed an  associatejudge.  In  1796  Mr.  Kean 
purchased,  with  John  Elder,  Jr.,  New  Mar- 
ket forge,  about  three  miles  from  Palmyra, 
and  removed  thence.  Was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate,  and  re-elected  in  1798,  serving 
until  1802.  In  1805  he  was  appointed  b}' 
Governor  McKeau  register  general,  serving 
for  three  years.  He  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia in  1810,  was  a  merchant  there,  returned 
to  Harrisburg  in  1813,  was  again  appointed 
justice  of  the  peace  by  Governor  Snj'der, 
which  office  he  filled  until  his  death.  Judge 
Kean  married,  first,  in  178G,  Mary  Whitel)ill, 
daughter  of  Robert  Whitehill,  of  Cumber- 
land county.  By  her  he  had  one  daughter, 
Eleanor,  who  married,  first,  March  24,  1808, 
William  Patton,  M.  D.,  son  of  Thomas  Pat- 
ton  and  Eleanor  Fleming,  born  in  1775,  in 
Derry  townsliip,  Lancaster,  now  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.;  died  Marcli  30,  181G.  Mrs. 
Patton  married,  secondly.  Christian  Spaj'd, 
and  left  descendants.  By  his  second  wife, 
Jean  Hamilton,  born  June  1,  1774;  died 
March  20,  1847,  at  Harrisburg  ;  daughter  of 
John  Hamilton,  there  were  four  children, all 
deceased. 


Early  Zimmerm.'VN.s. — The  early  history 
of  the  advent  of  the  Zimmerman  ancestors 
in  Dauphin  county,  which  at  tliat  time  com- 
prised what  is  now  known  as  Dauphin  and 
Lebanon  counties,  is  very  obscure.  There 
seem  to  be  no  records  extant  to  give  any  in- 
formation on  this  subject.  About  the  onl}' 
knowledge  that  has  so  far  come  to  light  is 
the  fact  that  three  brothers,  John  Michael, 
Gottfried  and  Peter,  and  one  sister,  Isabella, 
who  was  married  to  one  Rodearmel,  and  wiio 
died  on  tlie  voyage  without  leaving  any 
issue,  originally  came  over  from  Holland ; 
and  that  some  of  them  settled  in  Dauphin 
county,  near  Jonestown,  which  has  since  be- 
come a  part  of  Lebanon  county.  One  of 
these  brothers,  named  Peter  Zimmerman, 
passed  the  humble  life  of  the  hardy  pioneer 
in  what  was  then  the  frontier  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. All  records  as  to  the  dates  of  his 
birth  and  marriage  and  death,  and  even  the 
place  of  his  burial,  seemed  to  have  vanished 
with  the  dim  past.  A  son  of  this  Peter  Zim- 
merman, also  named  Peter  Zimmerman,  was 
born  March  4,  1763.  in  Hanover  township, 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  as  given  on  bis  bap- 


tismal certificate,  now  in  the  possession  of 
Jacob  Shaeffer,  Cumberland  county,  Pa. 
These  earlj'  Zimraermans,  to  be  sure,  are 
only  slightly  connected  with  the  history  of 
Daupliin  county,  but  the}'  are  given  for  the 
purpose  of  more  clearly  showing  the  origin 
of  the  subsequent  generations  bearing  that 
name,  who  have  played  an  important  part 
in  the  realistic  drama  of  Dauphin  county's 
history. 

The  last  named  Peter  Zimmerman  married 
Miss  Mar}'  Magdelene  Beane,  of  near  Jones- 
town, now  Lebancm  county.  Pa.,  and  moved 
to  a  small  unfertile  farm  in  Cumberland 
county,  a  few  miles  southwest  of  Fairview, 
close  to  the  mountains  ;  there  were  born  to 
them  eight  children,  of  whom  we  have  any 
record,  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  to-wit: 
Henry  was  born  December  30,  1786,  died 
March  12,  1839.  Mary  was  born  August  2, 
1788,  died  August  10,  1873,  and  was  the 
second  wife  of  Jacob  Shaeffer,  of  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.  Elizabeth  Zimmerman,  of  whom 
there  is  no  record  except  that  she  married  a 
certain  Peter  Blawser,  and  moved  to  the 
southern  tier  of  counties  of  New  York  State. 
John  Zimmerman,  of  whom  there  is  no 
record,  moved  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  where  he 
died.  Catherine  Zimmerman  was  born 
November  9,  1795,  married  to  Andrew  Mona 
Smith  and  died  June  7,  1862.  Peter  Zim- 
merman was  born  in  1796,  the  exact  date  is 
not  known  ;  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Mona  Smith,  and  died  at  his  home  in 
Wooster,  Ohio,  in  1880.  Samuel  Zimmer- 
man was  born  March  11,  1798,  in  East 
Hanover  township,  Daupliin  county,  Pa., 
married  Sarah  Lehman, and  moved  to  Wayne 
township,  Wayne  county,  Oiiio,  where  he 
died  March  24,  1888,  and  lies  buried  near 
Madisonburg, Ohio.  Jacob  Zimmerman,  the 
youngest  of  whom  we  have  any  record,  was 
born  January  26,  1805,  and  moved  to  Bed- 
ford county.  Pa.,  where  he  died  August  26, 
1867.  The  father  of  these  children  is  said 
to  have  died  in  1810,  and  lies  buried  in  the 
old  graveyard  now  almost  obliterated  by  the 
rougli  hand  of  time,  along  the  river  road,  a 
few  miles  southwest  of  West  Fairview.  It  is 
from  this  family,  as  well  as  from  the  line 
of  early  ancestors  above,  that  the  Dauphin 
county  Zimmermaus  trace  their  origin. 

Snodgrass,  James,  the  son  of  Benjamin 
Snodgrass,  was  born  near  Doylestown,  Bucks 
county,  Pa.,  July  23,1763.  His  grandfather 
came  from   the  north  of  Ireland  about  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


191 


3'ear   1700,   locating   in  Bucks   county,  Pa. 
He  graduated  at  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1783;  and    was  for  a   brief  time  a 
tutor  therein.     He  studied  tiieology  under 
direction  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel   Irwin,  then 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Neshamin}',  and  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  b}'  the  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia  in  December,  1785.    Af- 
ter preaching  about  a  year  and  a  half  in  desti- 
tute places  in  the  central  and  northern  part 
of  New  York,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1787, 
he  accepted  the  call  of  the  Hanover  congre- 
gation of  May  previous,  and  until  his  ordina- 
tion on  the  loth  of  May,  1788,  he  gave   his 
attention  to  that  church.     A*,  his  installation 
there  were  present  of  the  Presbytery  of  Car- 
lisle   the    revered    and    honored  ministers 
Revs.  John   Elder,  John   Hoge,  John   Linn, 
John  Craighead,  Robert  Cooper  and  Samuel 
AVaugh.     His   pastorate    extended    over    a 
period  of  fifty-eight  years,  and   he  was   tlie 
last  who  ministered  at  Hanover.     His  death 
occurred  July  2,  184(3,  and   he  lies  interred 
in    old    Hanover   ciiurch    grave3'ard.     The 
Rev.   Snodgrass    was    twice    married.     His 
first  wife,  Martha,  born   November  12, 17fi0; 
died  December  20,   1828  ;  his  second    wife, 
Nancy,    born    in    1770 ;    died    January    24, 
1839,  and  are  both    interred  in  the   same 
graveyard. 


Steelk,  Gen.  James,  the  son  of  William 
Steele,  Jr.,  and  Abigail,  daughter  of  Francis 
Baily,  was  born  in  Sadsbury  townsliip,  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  in  1763.  He  received  a 
good  classical  education.  He  represented 
Chester  county  in  the  Pennsylvania  legisla- 
tive sessions  of  1809  and  1810,  served  in  the 
war  of  1812-14  in  the  capacity  of  colonel, 
and  for  meritorious  conduct  promoted  to  in- 
spector general  of  the  State  troops  with  the 
rank  of  brigadier.  He  was  an  enterprising 
business  man,  and  prior  to  the  war  erected 
a  paper  mill  on  the  east  side  of  the  Octoraro, 
and  in  1818  a  cotton  mill  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood. General  Steele  removed  to  Harris- 
burg  in  1839,  dying  there  September  29, 
1845,  and  was  the  first  person  interred  in  the 
Harrisburg  cemetery.  His  integrity  and 
zeal,  whether  as  officer  or  private  individual, 
made  him  universally  beloved  and  respected. 
He  was  a  Presbyterian,  but  his  wife  and 
some  of  his  family  were  Methodists.  His 
son,  Franklin  B.  Steele,  was  appointed 
military  storekeeper  at  the  Falls  of  St.  An- 
thony in  1837,  and  from  that  period  was 
closely  identified  with  the  hi.storyand  inter- 


ests of  the  Upper  Mississippi.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 10,  1880.  General  Steele's  wife  was 
Miss  Humes,  of  Lancaster  county.  After  her 
husband's  death  she  removed  to  St.  Paul, 
where  she  died  and  is  buried.  Their  chil- 
dren were  :  Frank,  who  married  a  Miss  Bar- 
ney, of  Baltimore,  a  granddaughter  of  Com- 
modore Barney;  Sarah,  married  Governor 
Sibley,  of  Minnesota;  Rachel,  married  Gen- 
eral Johnson,  of  St.  Paul  ;  John,  a  physician 
of  prominence,  married  Miss  McClung,  of 
Lancaster  count\',  Pa. ;  Mary,  unmarried,  and 
Abb}',  married  Dr.  Potts. 


BucHER,  John  Jacob,  son  of  the  Rev.  John 
Conrad  Bucher,  a  noted  early  divine  as  well 
as  an  officer  during  the  French  and  Lidian 
war,  was  born  January  1,  1764,  in  Carlisle, 
Pa.  In  1790,  located  in  Harrisburg  as  a 
hatter  and  furrier  ;  in  1796,  elected  coroner 
of  Dauphin  county  ;  in  1798,  appointed  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  by  Governor  Mifflin,  and 
represented  Daupiiin  county  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Legislature,  sitting  at  Lancaster,  nine 
successive  terms  from  1803.  In  1810  he  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Snyder  one  of  the 
commissioners  for  the  erection  of  the  public 
buildings  at  Harrisburg.  In  1818,  appointed 
by  Governor  Findlay  an  associate  .judge  for 
the  county  of  Dauphin,  filling  the  office, 
honorably,  until  his  death,  October  16, 1827. 
Endowed  with  great  wisdom  and  sagacity, 
and  of  unimpeachable  integrity  and  honesty, 
he  was  called  upon  to  fill  many  public  and 
private  trusts  of  honor  and  responsibility. 
His  remains  now  lie  in  the  Harrisburg  ceme- 
tery. Judge  Bucher  married,  March  27, 
1792,  Susanna  Margaret  Hortter,  one  of  the 
five  daughters  of  John  Valentine  Hortter,  of 
Spires,  Bavaria,  who  settled  in  Harrisburg 
in  1785.  She  was  born  in  Germantown  Sep- 
tember 24,  1774;  died  in  Harrisburg,  De- 
cember 30,  1838.  She  was  three  years  old 
when  the  battle  of  Germantown  was  fought, 
October  4,  1777,  and  remembered  the  ex- 
j)erience  of  the  family  who  were  confined  in 
the  cellar  of  their  residence,  which  was  on 
tiie  route  of  the  battle. 


Elder,  Thomas,  grandson  of  the  Rev. 
John  Elder,  born  Januarv  30,  1767 ;  d. 
April  29,  1853,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He 
received  a  good  English  and  classical  educa- 
tion, especially  under  Joseph  Hutchison,  a 
celebrated  teacher  in  his  day.  He  subse- 
quently attended  the  academy  at  Philadel- 
phia,   where    he   graduated.      Studied    law 


19:^ 


BIO  GRA Pill  CA L  ENCYVL  Ul'EDlA 


with  General  John  A.  Hanna,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Dauphin  count}'  bar  at  the 
August  term,  1791.  He  at  once  began  the 
practice  of  a  profession  in  which  he  became 
distinguished,  and  which  lie  followed  witli 
great  success  for  upwards  of  forty  years,  and 
"  was  eminent  as  a  safe  and  sagacious  coun- 
selor, a  laborious  and  indefatigable  lawyer." 
During  the  Whiskey  Insurrection,  he  volun- 
teered as  a  private  in  Captain  Dentzel's 
company,  which  marched  westward,  prefer- 
ring the  ranks  to  that  of  a  commissioned  of- 
fice, which  his  company  offered  him.  He 
subsequently  held  the  office  of  lieuten- 
ant colonel  of  the  militia,  and  was  fre- 
quently designated  by  the  title  of  colonel. 
As  a  citizen  in  the  early  years  of  the  borough 
of  Harrisburg,  Mr.  Eider  possessed  public 
spirit  and  enterprise  in  advance  of  his  con- 
temporaries generally.  He  was  the  promi- 
nent and  leading  spirit  in  organizing  a  com- 
pany to  erect  the  Harrisburg  bridge,  the 
first  constructed  over  the  Susquehanna,  and 
for  many  3'ears  the  longest  in  the  Union. 
Upon  the  permanent  organization,  he  was 
unanimously  elected  the  president,  which 
office  he  held  by  annual  re-election  of  the 
directors  until  his  resignation  in  June,  1846. 
He  was  chosen  president  of  the  Harrisburg 
Bank  in  June,  181G,  whicii  office  lie  hehl 
until  his  death.  Governor  Hiester  appointed 
him  attorne\'  general  of  the  Commonwealtii, 
a  position  he  filled  with  marked  abilitv  from 
December  20,  1820,  to  December  18,'  1823, 
but  he  ever  after  positively  refused  to  accept 
office,  although  lie  took  deep  and  active  in- 
terest for  many  years  in  the  political  affairs 
of  the  State  and  Nation.  He  was  blessed 
with  a  physical  constitution  which  enabled 
him  to  accomplish  an  extraordinary  amount 
of  labor  without  diminishing  the  elasticit}' 
of  his  spirits  or  the  vigor  of  his  mind.  He 
lived  to  tiie  advanced  age  of  over  86  vears. 
Mr.  Elder  was  twice  married  ;  married,  first, 
March  23,  1799,  Catharine  Cox,  d.  June  12, 
1810 ;  daughter  of  Col.  Cornelius  Cox,  of 
Estherton,  Pa.  Thomas  Elder  married, 
secondly.  May  30,  1813,  Elizabeth  Shippen 
Jones,  born  December  13,  1787,  in  Burling- 
ton, N.  J.;  died  October  31,  1871,  in  Harris- 
burg, Pa.;  daughter  of  Robert  Strettell  Jones 
and  Ann  Shippen. 


Harris,  Robert,  son  of  the  founder,  John 
Harris,  and  of  Mary  Read,  daugliter  of  Adam 
Read,  Esq.,  of  Hanover,  was  born  in  Harris' 
Ferry  on  the  5th  of  September,  1768.     He 


was  brought  up  as  a  farmer,  and  resided  in 
the  earl}'  part  of  his  life  in  the  log  and  frame 
building  on  Paxtang  street,  now  used  as  a 
public  school.  His  farm  extended  from  the 
dwelling-house  down  the  river  to  about  the 
jiresent  location  of  Hanna  street,  and  thence 
out  over  the  bluff,  including  the  ground  oc- 
cupied by  the  Catliolic  cemetery,  containing 
about  one  hundred  acres. 

By  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1791,  niuch 
of  the  business  affairs  of  the  family  was  early 
intrusted  to  him.  He  was  possessed  of  con- 
siderablepublic  spirit,  aiding  in  the  establish- 
ment of  various  enterprises,  including  the 
bridge  over  the  Susquehanna,  the  Harris- 
burg Bank,  and  the  Harrisburg  and  Middle- 
town  turnpike  road,  in  the  first  two  of  which 
he  was  a  director  and  perhaps  also  in  the 
last.  Mr.  Harris  was  appointed  to  various 
public  trusts.  He  was  one  of  the  State  com- 
missioners to  survey  and  lay  off  a  route  for 
the  turnpike  from  Chambersburg  to  Pitts- 
burgh, also  for  improving  the  Susquehanna, 
in  the  course  of  which  the  commissioners 
descended  the  river  below  McCall's  ferry. 
When  tlie  Assembly  of  the  State  decided  to 
remove  the  seat  of  government  to  Harris- 
burg, Mr.  Harris  was  selected  as  one  of  the 
commissioners  for  fixing  the  location  of  the 
Capitol  buildings  preparatory  to  the  removal. 

During  the  mill-dam  troubles,  in  1795, 
Mr.  Harris  was  one  of  the  party  of  prominent 
citizens  who  finally  tore  down  the  Landis 
dam,  the  site  of  which  was  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  city,  and  to  which  was  attributed  much 
of  the  sickness  then  prevailing  here.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  to  rush  into  the  water, 
and  it  was  said  that  he  was  then  laboring 
under  an  ague  chill,  but  never  afterwards 
had  a  return  of  it. 

During  the  war  of  1812-14,  Mr.  Harris  was 
appointed  ))aymaster  of  the  troops  which 
marched  to  Baltimore,  and  acted  as  such  at 
York,  where  the  soldiers  were  discharged. 

He  was  elected  to  Congress  and  took  his 
seat  in  1823,  and  bv  a  re-election  served 
therein  until  the  4th  of  March,  1827.  On 
one  of  the  occasions  he  brought  home  with 
him  a  picture,  made  before  the  days  of 
daguerreotyping,  of  the  celebrated  John 
Randolph,  of  Virginia,  representing  him  on 
the  floor  of  the  House  of  Representatives  en- 
velo))ed  in  a  large  coat,  extending  his  long, 
lank  arms  and  his  bony  finger  as  he  pointed 
it  at  Henry  Clay  and  others  in  the  course  ot 
his  impassioned  and  sarcastic  harangue. 

Mr.  Harris  served  in  Congress  during  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


193 


Presidency  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  and  of 
course  knew  him.  When  General  Taylor, 
as  President,  was  in  Harrisburg,  Mr.  Harris 
was  appointed  to  deliver  the  address  of  wel- 
come on  tlie  part  of  the  citizens.  During  the 
subsequent  intercourse  with  General  Taylor 
he  observed  to  him  that  he  had  dined  with 
all  of  the  preceding  Presidents.  He  was 
married  in  Philadelphia  in  the  spring  of 
1791,  during  the  Presidency  of  General 
Washington,  and  dined  at  his  table,  and 
there  or  elsewhere  with  Adams,  Jefferson, 
Madison,  and  probably  Mr.  Monroe.  He 
was  intimately  acquainted  witl;  General 
Harrison  when  a  lieutenant  in  the  army,  iiad 
entertained  him  at  his  house  in  Harrisburg, 
and  was  invited  to  dine  with  iiim  during 
his  brief  term  as  President.  He  was  on 
friendly  terms  with  John  ('.  Calhoun,  and 
was  well  acquainted  with  General  Jackson. 

After  the  State  capital  was  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  the  residence  of  Mr.  Harris,  wiio 
had  in  1805  purchased  the  Harris  mansion 
from  his  brother  David,  and  from  that  period 
occupied  it,  was  the  center  of  attraction  at 
the  seat  of  government.  He  entertained 
many  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  State  and 
of  the  Legislature.  At  his  house  might  have 
been  seen  Governor  Findlay,  Samuel  D.  In- 
gram, Thomas  Sergeant,  William  J.  Duane, 
Governor  Wolf,  and  various  other  persons  of 
distinction,  including  Isaac  Weaver,  of 
Greene  county,  speaker  of  the  Senate  from 
1817  to  1821,  a  gentleman  of  marked  pres- 
ence, and  who,  Mr.  Harris  said,  more  resem- 
bled General  Washington  than  an}^  other 
man  he  had  ever  seen.  During  the  Presi- 
dency of  General  Wasiiington,  Mr.  Harris, 
then  a  young  man,  accompanied  tlie  party 
on  board  the  Clermont,  tlie  steamboat  of 
John  Fitch,  when  that  vessel  made  its  trial 
trip  on  the  Delaware. 

The  first  prothonotary  of  Dauphin  county 
was  Alexander  Graydon,  and  the  first  reg- 
ister Andrew  Forrest,  both  sent  from  Phila- 
delphia by  Governor  Mifflin,  with  whom 
the}'  had  served  as  fellow-officers  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  Governor  McKean  for 
some  reason  refused  to  reappoint  Mr.  Forrest, 
and  tendered  the  appointment  to  Mr.  Harris. 
He,  liowever,  recommended  the  retention  of 
Mr.  Forrest,  but  Governor  McKean  informed 
him  that  if  he  did  not  accept  the  office  he 
would  appoint  some  one  else.  He  accord- 
ingly accepted  it,  but,  it  is  said,  divided  the 
fees  witii  Mr.  Forrest  for  some  time,  and 
perhaps  until  his  deatli. 


Until  the  close  of  iiis  long  life  Mr.  Harris 
was  quite  active  in  bodj'  and  mind.  He  died 
at  Harrisburg  September  3,  1851,  being 
within  two  days  of  fourscore  and  three  years 
of  age.  His  remains  repose  in  the  beautiful 
cemetery  now  within  the  bounds  of  our  city 
by  the  Susqueiianna.  His  warm  and  life- 
long friend,  Rev.  William  R.  DeWitt,  D.  D., 
delivered  the  funeral  discourse,  which  we 
recollect  well  of  hearing,  in  wliich  he  paid 
a  most  glowing  tribute  to  the  memory  of 
Robert  Harris.  He  died  not  unwillingly  in 
the  faith  and  hope  of  a  Christian,  and  in  the 
respect  and  kind  regard  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

Mr.  Harris  married  in  Philadelphia,  May 
12,  1701,  Elizabeth  Ewing,  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  John  Ewing,  D.  D.,  provost  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Harris  was 
born  in  Philadelphia  December  2,  1772 ; 
died  at  Harrisburg  April  27,  1835,  and  is 
there  buried. 


Wallace,  William,  was  born  October, 
1768,  in  Hanover  township, Dauphin  county. 
Pa.;  died  Tuesday,  May  28,  ISIG,  and  with  his 
wife  buried  in  Paxtang  church  graveyard. 
He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Benjamin  Wallace 
and  Elizabeth  Culbertson  ;  received  a  class- 
ical education  ;  graduated  at  Dickinson  Col- 
lege ;  studied  law  at  Harrisburg  under  Gal- 
braith  Patterson,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  the  June  term,  1792.  He  became  in- 
terested in  tlie  Harrisburg  and  Presqu'  Isle 
Land  Company,  and  about  1800  removed  to 
Erie,  in  the  affairs  of  which  place  and  in  the 
organization  of  the  county  he  took  an  active 
and  leading  part.  About  1810  he  returned 
to  Harrisburg  and  partly  resumed  his  pro- 
fession. Besides  being  a  member  of  the  bar 
he  was  a  partner  of  his  brotlier-in-law,  John 
Lyon,  at  Pennsylvania  Furnace.  He  was 
nominated  bj'  the  Federalists  for  Congress 
in  1813,  but  defeated.  He  was  elected  the 
first  president  of  tlie  old  Harrisburg  Bank 
and  was  burgess  of  the  borougli  at  his  death. 
He  was  a  polite,  urbane  man,  of  slight  frame 
and  precise  address.  Mr.  Wallace  had  pre- 
viously married,  in  1803,  Rachel  Forrest, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Andrew  Forrest,  of  Harris- 
burg, who  died  at  Erie  in  1801.  Mr.  Wallace 
married,  180G,  Eleanor  Maclay,  daughter  of 
Hon.  William  Maclay.  Slie  was  born  Janu- 
ary 17,  1771,  at  Harris'  Ferry,  and  died  Jan- 
uary 2,  1823,  at  Harrisburg. 


Crouch,  Edward,  son  of  Col.  James  Crouch, 
was  born  at  Walnut  Hill,  in  Paxtang,  Novem- 


194 


BIOGRA  PHI  GAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


ber  9, 1764.  He  was  a  merchant  by  occupa- 
tion. At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  enlisted  in 
the  army  of  the  Revolution,  and  commanded 
a  company  in  the  Whiskey  Insurrection  in 
1794.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Kepi'esentatives  from  1804  to  1806,  and 
was  a  presidential  elector  in  1813.  Gover- 
nor Snyder  appointed  him  one  of  the  associ- 
ate judges  of  the  county  of  Dauphin  April 
16,  1813,  but  he  resigned  upon  his  election 
to  the  Thirteenth  United  States  Congress. 
He  died  on  the  2d  day  of  February,  1827, 
and  is  buried  in  Paxtang  graveyard.  "  In 
private  life  he  was  an  able  and  an  lionest 
man,"  wrote  one  of  his  contemporaries,  and 
the  record  of  his  life  shows  him  to  have  been 
a  gentleman  of  uprightness  of  character,  and 
as  honorableas  he  was  influential.  Mr.  Crouch 
married,  first,  Margaret  Potter,  born  1775; 
died  Febiuary  7,  1797;  daughter  of  Gen. 
James  Potter,  of  the  Revolution.  Their  only 
daughter  Mary,  born  October  23,  1791 ;  died 
October  27, 1846 ;  married  Benjamin  Jordan, 
who  succeeded  to  the  estate  of  Walnut  Hill. 
He  married,  secondlv,  Rachel  Bailey,  born 
April  16,  1782;  died  March  2,  1857. 


AiNswoRTH,  Samuel,  son  of  John  Ains- 
worth  and  his  wife  Margaret  Mayes,  who  was 
born  November  11,  1765,  in  Hanover  town- 
ship. His  grandfather,  of  the  same  name, 
with  his  wife  Margaret  Young,  were  settlers 
in  Hanover  in  1736.  In  1756  the  famil}' 
were  driven  out  by  the  Indians  and  one  of 
the  children  captured.  The  latter  was  never 
retaken.  Samuel  was  brought  up  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Hanover,  receiving  a  year's 
education  in  Philadelphia  in  addition  to  that 
acquired  in  the  schools  of  tiie  neighborhood. 
After  the  organization  of  the  county  he  be- 
came quite  prominent,  and  twice  elected  to 
the  Legislature.  He  died  while  in  attend- 
ance on  this  body,  in  Philadelpliia,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1798.  Mr.  Ainsworth  married,  May  10, 
1792,  by  Rev.  James  Snodgrass,  Margaret 
McEwen,  daughter  of  Richard  McEwen;  born 
1770,  in  Hanover;  died  October  29,  1867, 
near  Lancaster,  Ohio. 


DowxEY,  JoHX,  the  son  of  .John  and  Sarah 
Downey,  was  born  at  Germantown,  Pa.,  in 
the  year  1765.  The  elder  Downey  was  an 
officer  of  the  Revolution  under  Gen.  John 
Tracey  and  was  inhumanly  massacred  at  the 
battle  of  Crooked  Billet.  The  son  received  a 
classical  education  in  the  old  academy  there, 
and  in  1795  located  at  Harrisburg,  where  he 


opened  a  Latin  and  grammar  school.  At 
this  period,  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Thomas 
Mifflin,  he  proposed  a  "  plan  of  education," 
remarkably  foreshadowing  the  present  com- 
mon-school system,  and  which  has  placed 
him  in  the  front  rank  of  early  American 
educators.  He  was  for  manj'  years  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  served  as  town  clerk  for  a 
long  time.  He  was  the  first  cashier  of  the 
Ilarrisburg  Bank,  largely  instrumental  in 
securing  the  erection  of  a  bridge  over  the 
Susquehanna,  and  one  of  the  coiporators  of 
the  Harrisburg  and  Middletown  Turnjiike 
Company  ;  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
in  1817-18,  and  filled  other  positions  of 
honor  and  profit.  He  died  at  Harrisburg  on 
the  21st  of  July,  1827,  and  the  Oracle  speaks  of 
him  as  "  a  useful  magistrate  and  pious  man." 
He  wrote  much  for  the  press,  and  a  series  of 
articles  published  in  the  Dauphin  Guardian, 
entitled  "Simon  Easy  Papers,"  were  from 
his  pen — sparkling  with  wit;  they  are  worth 
a  permanent  setting,  as  a  valuable  contribu- 
tion to  literature.  Mr.  Downey  married,  June 
5, 1798,  Alice  Ann  Beatty,  daughter  of  James 
Beatty,  Esq.,  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Harris- 
burg. Siie  died  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio, 
May  14,  1841.  Their  daughter,  Eleanor 
Downey,  born  1811,  at  Harrisburg;  died 
1869,  at  Springfield,  Ohio;  married  April  5, 
1851,  Hon.  Daniel  Kilgore,  of  Ohio. 


Eager,  John,  son  of  John  .Jacob  Eager 
and  Rosanna  Lutz,  was  born  June  10,  1768, 
in  Oley  township,  Berks  county,  Pa.  His 
grandfather,  John  Henry  Eager,  born  in 
1714,  in  Germany,  married  Susanna  M.  Leu- 
ter  and  emigrated  to  America,  settling  in 
Oley  township,  Berks  count}',  where  he  ilied 
in  1778.  His  son,  John  Jacob,  born  1738,  in 
the  Palatinate;  died  in  1815,  at  Harrisburg; 
married  Rosanna  Lutz, born  1739;  died  1802. 
Their  son  John  learned  the  trade  of  a  hatter 
in  Reading  and  came  to  Harrisburg  about 
1790,  where  for  a  number  of  years  he  carried 
on  the  business.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  at  Har- 
risburg in  1795  ;  served  as  commissioner  of 
the  county  of  Dauphin,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  a  member  of  the  town  council. 
After  retiring  from  active  business,  late  in 
life,  he  was  the  collector  of  tolls  at  tlie  east 
end.  of  the  Harrisburg  bridge.  He  died  at 
Harrisburg  on  May  10,  1848,  lacking  one 
month  of  being  eighty  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Fager  married  Sarah  Cleckner,  born  1772; 
died  1844,  at  Harrisburg  ;  daughter  of  Fred. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


195 


erick  Cleckner,  Sr.,  one  of  the  first  settlers  at 
Harrisburg.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
those  reaching  mature  years  were  Sarah,  mar- 
ried George  Adams,  of  Harrisburg  ;  Catha- 
rine, married  Frederick  Kelker,  of  Harris- 
burg ;  Samuel,  George  C,  and  Dr.  John  H. 

FiNDLAY,  Gov.  William,  the  second  son 
of  Samuel  Findlay  and  Jane  Smith,  was 
born  near  Mercersburg,  Franklin  county. 
Pa.,  June  20,  1768.  His  progenitor,  beyond 
whom  he  never  traced  his  lineage,  was  Adju- 
tant Brown,  as  he  was  called,  who  took  part 
in  the  famous  siege  of  Derry,  and  afterwards 
emigrated  to  America  with  his  daughter 
Elizabeth.  The  daughter  married  Samuel 
Findlay,  of  Philadelphia.  A  son  by  this 
marriage  settled,  about  175G,  in  Cumberland 
(now  Franklin)  county,  Pa.  In  the  year 
J  765  he  married  Jane  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
William  Smith.  She  died  in  her  thirty-fifth 
year,  the  mother  of  eight  boys,  six  of  whom 
survived  her.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
the  second  of  this  family  of  sons.  The 
Scotch-Irish  settlers  appreciated  the  import- 
ance of  a  good  education.  A  knowledge'  of 
the  common  English  branches  they  deemed 
indispensable  for  all  their  children,  while 
one  son  in  a  family  at  least,  if  it  could  be 
accomplished  by  any  reasonable  sacrifice, 
received  a  classical  education.  William,  in 
his  boyhood,  displayed  that  activity  of  mind 
and  thirst  for  knowledge  which  were  the 
characteristics  of  his  manhood.  His  leisure 
hours  were  devoted  to  reading  such  books  as 
were  accessible.  His  instruction  was,  how- 
ever, such  as  could  be  obtained  in  the  schools 
of  the  neighborhood.  The  meager  advan- 
tages afforded  him  were  studiously  improved, 
and  tlie  natural  activit}^  of  his  mind  and  his 
ambition  to  excel  enabled  him  to  make  sub- 
stantial acquirements. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  1791,  he  was 
married  to  Nancy  Irwin,  daughter  of  Archi- 
bald Irwin,  of  Franklin  county,  and  com- 
menced life  as  a  farmer  on  a  portion  of  his 
father's  estate  which,  at  the  death  of  his 
father  in  1799,  he  inlierited. 

ne  was  a  political  disciple  and  a  great  ad- 
mirer of  Mr.  Jefferson.  The  first  office 
which  he  ever  held  was  a  military  one,  that 
of  brigade  inspector  of  militia,  requiring 
more  of  business  capacity  than  knowledge  of 
tactics.  To  the  veterans  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war  it  was  given  to  become  generals  and 
colonels.  In  the  autumn  of  1797,  that  im- 
mediately  succeeding   the   inauguration  of 


John  Adams  as  President  of  the  United 
States,  at  a  time  when  the  only  newspaper 
published  in  Franklin  county  was  the  organ 
of  the  Federalists,  with  its  column  strictly 
closed  against  the  Republicans,  Mr.  Find- 
lay was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  State  Legislature, 
which  then  sat  in  Philadelphia.  He  was 
again  elected  to  the  House  in  1803.  Mr. 
Jefferson  had  succeeded  Mr.  Adams  in  the 
Presidency,  and  the  Republicans  were  in  the 
ascendant  in  both  National  and  State  gov- 
ernments. The  capital  had,  by  the  act  of 
April  3,  1799,  been  temporarily  established 
at  Lancaster.  Mr.  Findlay,  at  this  session, 
proposed  that  it  should  be  permanently  es- 
tablished at  Harrisburg.  The  proposition 
tiien  failed  ;  but  it  was  eventually  carried,  and 
in  1812  the  removal  was  effected.  He  proved 
himself  a  leading  member,  and  one  of  the 
most  useful  in  the  House,  being  placed  in 
the  most  res{)onsible  positions.  When  the 
act  to  revise  tlie  judiciary'  system  was  before 
the  House,  Mr.  Findlay  offered  additional 
sections,  providing  that  a  plaintiff  might 
file  a  statement  of  his  cause  of  action,  instead 
of  a  declaration  ;  for  reference  of  matters  in 
dispute  to  arbitration ;  that  proceedings 
should  not  be  set  aside  for  informalit}' ;  tliat 
pleadings  might  be  amended,  and  amicable 
actions  and  judgments  entered  without  the 
agency  of  an  attorne}'. 

These  provisions  were  not  then  adopted, 
but  they  afterwards  became  and  still  are  a 
part  of  the  statute  law.  The  object  aimed 
at  by  their  mover  was  doubtless  to  enable 
parties  to  conduct  their  own  case  in  court 
without  professional  assistance.  This  the 
enactments  have  failed  to  accomplish  ;  but 
they  have  been  of  great  advantage  to  attor- 
neys themselves,  enabling  them  to  cure 
their  own  errors  and  omissions,  to  which 
thev  as  well  as  the  unlearned  are  liable. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1807,  Mr.  Findlay 
was  elected  State  treasurer,  whereupon  he  re- 
signed his  seat  in  the  House.  From  tiiat 
date  until  the  2d  of  December,  1817,  wiien 
he  resigned  to  assume  the  duties  of  chief 
magistrate,  a  period  of  nearly  eleven  years, 
he  was  annually  re-elected  by  the  Legislature 
to  that  office,  in  several  instances  unani- 
mously, and  always  by  a  strong  majority,  not 
uncommonly  being  supported  by  members 
politically  opposed  to  him.  During  nearly 
four  years  of  this  time  the  United  States 
were  at  war  with  England,  and  the  resources 
of  the  country  were  severely  taxed. 


196 


BIO  GRA  PHI  UAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


In  1817,  Mr.  Findlay  was  nominated  by 
the  Republicans  as  their  candidate  for  gover- 
nor. Gen.  Joseph  Hiester  was  selected  by 
a  disaffected  branch  of  the  Republican  party, 
styled  Old  School  men,  to  oppose  him,  who 
was  supported  also  by  the  Federalists.  The 
result  was  a  triumph  for  Findlay,  who  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  over  seven  thousand 
votes. 

In  1820,  Governor  Findlay  again  received 
the  unanimous  nomination  of  the  Republi- 
cans for  re-election,  and  Joseph  Hiester  was 
nominated,  as  before,  by  the  Repuhlicans  of 
the  Old  School,  and  was  supjtorted  by  the 
Federalists  en  masse.  Under  the  f!onstitution 
of  1790  the  patronage  of  tlie  Executive  was 
immense.  To  him  was  given  the  power  of 
appointing,  with  few  exceptions,  every  State 
and  county  officer.  This  power,  considered 
so  dangerous  that  by  the  Constitution  of 
1838  and  subsequent  amendments  the  I'^x- 
ecutive  has  been  stripped  of  it  almost  entirely, 
was,  in  fact,  dangerous  only  to  the  governor 
himself.  For  while  he  might  attach  one  per- 
son to  him  by  making  an  appointment,  the 
score  or  two  who  were  disappointed  became, 
if  not  active  political  op[)onents,  at  least 
lukewarm  friends.  Many  trained  and  skill- 
ful politicians  had  been  alienated  from  the 
support  of  Governor  Findlay  by  their  in- 
ability to  share  or  control  patronage.  The 
result  was  the  election  of  his  opponant. 

At  the  general  election  of  1821  the  Repub- 
licans regained  ascendancy  in  the  Legisla- 
ture. At  the  session  of  1821-22,  while  Gov- 
ernor Findlay  was  quietly  spending  the  winter 
with  a  friend  and  relative  in  Franklin  county, 
he  received  notice  that  he  had  been  elected 
to  the  Senate  of  tiie  United  States  for  the  full 
term  of  six  years  from  the  jn-eceding  4th  of 
March.  He  immediately  set  out  for  the  caj»i- 
tal,  where  he  took  his  seat  and  served  the  en- 
tire term  with  distinguished  ability.  While 
he  was  in  the  Senate  two  of  his  brothers.  Col. 
John  Findlay,  of  Chambersburg,  and  Gen. 
James  Findlay , of  Cincinnati,Ohio, were  mem- 
bers of  the  national  House  of  Representatives. 
After  the  expiration  of  his  senatorial  term  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Jackson  treasurer 
of  the  United  States  Mint  at  Philadelphia. 
This  office  he  held  until  the  accession  of  Cien. 
Harrison  to  the  Presidency,  when,  unwilling, 
at  his  advanced  age,  to  be  longer  burdened 
with  its  cai'es  and  I'esponsibilities,  he  resigned. 
The  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  in  retire- 
ment with  the  family  of  his  son-in-law,  Gov- 
ernor Shunk,  at  whose  residence,  in  Harris- 


burg,  he  died  on  the  12th  of  November,  1846' 
in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

In  person  Governor  Findlay  was  tall,  with 
fair  complexion  and  dark-brown  hair.  He 
had  a  vigorous  constitution  and  a  cheerful 
disposition.  He  was  affable  and  courteous  in 
his  address,  fond  of  conversation,  but  did  not 
monopolize  it.  He  understood  and  practiced 
the  habits  of  a  good  listener.  He  exhibited 
great  tact  in  drawing  out  the  reserved  and 
taciturn,  and  enabling  them  to  figure  well 
in  conversation  by  giving  rein  to  their  hob- 
bies. He  possessed  a  remarkabl}'  tenacious 
memory  of  names  and  faces.  After  a  long 
separation  he  could  recognize  and  call  by 
name  a  person  with  whom  he  had  had  but  a 
short  and  casual  interview.  His  acquaintance 
was  probably  more  extensive  and  his  perso- 
nal friends  more  numerous  than  those  of 
almost  any  other  public  man  of  his  day. 


ZiEGLER,  Col.  George,  the  son  of  George 
Ziegler,  a  native  of  the  Palatinate,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  July  3,  1768.  He 
was  brought  up  to  mercantile  pursuits,  came 
to  Harrisburg  in  1795,  and  began  merchan- 
dising, in  which  he  was  quite  successful.  In 
his  early  life  he  took  an  important  part  in 
public  att'airs.  He  was  frequently  a  member 
of  the  borough  council,  was  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  Sixty-sixth  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania militia,  in  1807,  and  coroner  from 
January  12,  1809,  to  December  18,  1811. 
Colonel  Ziegler  died  at  Harrisburg,  August 
28,  1845,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth,  born  December  6,  1777,  died 
January  2, 1853.  They  left  three  daughters, 
Catharine,  married  George  Kunkel ;  Mary, 
married  Rev.  John  P.  liecht;  and  Elizabeth, 
married  Rev.  Frederick  Rothrock.  Colonel 
Ziegler  was  an  estimable  citizen,  a  gentleman 
of  sterling  integritj'  and  worth. 


Alricks,  James,  was  fourth  in  descent 
from  Pieter  Alricks,  who  became  very  prom- 
inent in  the  early  settlement  of  the  Dutch 
on  the  Delaware,  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Assembly  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  from  1685  to  1689  served  as  one  of 
William  Penn's  counselors.  James  Alricks 
was  born  December  2,  1769,  at  Carlisle,  Pa., 
and  died  October  28,  1833,  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the 
schools  of  the  day,  and  was  brought  up  to  a 
mercantile  life.  In  1791-92,  he  was  engaged 
in  business  in  May  Town,  Lancaster  county, 
and  in   1814   he  removed   with   his  family 


Engraved  byJ.R.Rrce  R  Sons.Phiiao' 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


199 


from  Lost  Creek  Valley  to  Harrisburg.  He 
was  a  mail  of  extensive  readino;,  passionately 
fond  of  books,  and  he  regarded  an  honest 
man,  of  tine  education  and  refined  manners, 
as  the  most  remarkable  object  on  the  face  of 
tiie  earth.  After  his  father's  deatii,  he  was 
raised  on  a  farm  in  Donegal,  Lancaster 
county,  and  used  to  say  at  that  period  no 
one  could  get  an  education  for  want  of 
teachers.  While  lamenting  liis  own  lack  of 
education,  he  was  remarkably  well  ac- 
quainted with  history,  ancient  and  modern, 
and  with  geograpliy.  He  was  likewise  quite 
faniihar  witii  tiie  writings  of  Shakespeare, 
Goldsmith,  Burns,  Campbell,  etc.  While 
living  in  tiie  prime  of  life  on  the  Juniata,  he 
was  deliglited  to  meet  and  converse  with 
such  men  as  tlie  Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  the 
first  Dr.  Watson, of  Bedford,. Judge  Jonatlian 
Walker  (tlie  father  of  Robert  ^J.  Walker), 
William  R.  Smitii,  etc.  On  Marcli  10, 1821, 
he  was  appointed  clerk  of  tlie  orphans'  court 
and  quarter  sessions,  serving  until  January 
17,  1824  He  subsequently  served  as  one  of 
the  magistrates  of  the  borough.  Mr.  Alricks, 
married,  July  21,  1790,  at  Harrisburg,  by 
Rev.  N.  R.  Snowden,  Martlia  Hamilton,  born 
August  5,  177G;  died  Marcli  16,  1830; 
daughter  of  Jolm  Hamilton  and  Margaret 
Alexander. 


BoMBAUGH,  Abraham,  son  of  Conrad  Bom- 
baugh  and  Estlier  Zell,  was  born  in  1770  in 
Paxtang  townsiiip,  Lancaster  (now  Daupiiin) 
count}',  Pa.  He  received  a  fair  German  edu- 
cation and  entered  mercantile  life,  subse- 
quently, however,  turning  his  attention  to 
farming.  His  fatlier,  being  a  man  of  con- 
siderable influence  in  the  young  town,  gave 
Abraham  prominence,  and  being  a  gentle- 
man of  energ}'  and  activity,  apart  from  his 
business  tact,  lie  was  not  long  in  winning  his 
way  to  popular  favor.  As  early  as  1808  he 
was  a  member  of  the  town  council,  and  for  a 
period  of  twenty-five  years  thereafter  held  a 
position  therein.  In  1809  he  was  chief  bur- 
gess of  the  borough,  and  later  on  in  life, 
from  1828  to  1831,  elected  to  the  same  office. 
He  was  one  of  the  county  commissioners 
from  1832  to  1835,  and  for  one  or  two  terms 
was  a  director  of  the  poor.  Mr.  Bombaugh 
died  April  23, 1844,  at  Harrisburg.  He  mar- 
ried, March  18, 1802,  Catharine  Reehm,  born 
July  14,1770;  died  March  22,1855.  They 
had  Aaron,  married  Mira  Lloyd,  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  Catharine,  d.  s.  p.,  and  Sarah,  mar- 
ried David  Hummel. 
1/ 


Bowman,  John  F.,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  May  10,  1771.  His  father  was 
a  farmer,  residing  on  Pequea  creek,  not  far 
from  Strasburg.  John  F.  was  brought  up 
as  a  millwright,  but  subsequently  entered 
mercantile  pursuits.  In  1809  he  removed  to 
Halifax,  where  he  was  a  merchant  from  that 
period  to  1830,- wdien,  believing  a  larger 
sphere  of  trade  was  opened  for  him,  he  went 
to  Millersburg,  where  he  successfully  con- 
tinued in  business  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  6th  of  November,  1835.  Mr. 
Bowman  first  married,  in  1794,  a  daughter 
of  Isaac  Ferree,  whose  farm  adjoined  that  of 
his  father.  By  tliis  marriage  they  had  the 
following  children  :  Eliza,  Maria,  George,  and 
Josiah,  married  Elizabeth  Rutter.  Mr.  Bow- 
man married,  secondly,  in  1805,  Frances 
Crossen,  daughter  of  John  Crossen.  They 
had  issue  as  follows:  John  J.,  married  Mar- 
garet Sallade,  Levi,  Louisa,  Isaac,  Mary  E., 
married  Rev.  C.  W.  Jackson,  Lucinda,  mar- 
ried Dr.  Hiram  Rutherford,  Jacob,  Emeline, 
and  Benjamin. 

John  F.  Bowman  was  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  the  "  Upper  End,"  enjoyed 
a  reputation  for  uprightness  and  honesty, 
and  highly  esteemed  by  those  who  knew 
him.  Genial,  yet  quiet  and  unobtrusive,  he 
never  sought  or  would  accept  any  local  or 
public  office.  His  second  wife,  Frances 
Crossen,  was  born  August  13,  1786;  died 
Sei)tember  30,  1846,  and  lies  interred  beside 
her  husband  in  the  old  Methodist  grave- 
vard  at  Millersburg. 


Brua,  Peter,  the  son  of  John  Peter  Brua, 
was  a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
was  born  in  1771.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter,  and  came  to  Harrisburg  about 
1792.  He  served  as  director  of  the  poor  from 
1818  to  1821;  was  a  member  of  the  borough 
council  in  1824,  1826  and  1829;  commis- 
sioned county  treasurer  January  7, 1824,  and 
was  one  of  the  county  commissioners  from 
1827  to  1829.  While  in  the  latter  office  he 
was  a  prime  mover  in  establishing  the  Lan- 
casterian  system  of  education,  which  pre- 
ceded that  of  the  common  schools.  Mr. 
Brua  was  a  gentleman  of  sound  practical 
sense,  honest  and  upright,  and  highly 
honored  ill  the  community.  He  died  at 
Harrisburg  on  the  1st  of  January,  1842,  in 
his  seventy-first  year.  He  married  Catharine 
Rupley,  of  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  who 
died  on  the  19th  of  January,  1833,  aged  sixty 
years.      They  liad  six  children:    Margaret, 


200 


BIO GRA PHICA L  ENCYCL  OPED] A 


married  Hon.  Simon  Cameron ;  Lucetta, 
married  Jacob  Ho\'er  ;  Mary,  married  Isaac 
McCord;  Catharine,  married  Andrew  Keefer; 
Jacob,  who  went  as  a  private  in  the  Cameron 
Guards  to  Mexico,  and  died  at  Tampico,  a 
few  hours  after  receiving  his  commission  as 
a  Heutenant  in  the  United  States  army  ;  and 
Jolni  Peter,  wlio  was  a  paymaster  during 
the  late  Civil  war  and  now  on  the  retired  list 
of  the  United  States  army. 


Wenrick,  Peter,  son  of  Francis  and  Eliza- 
beth (Greiger)  Wenrick,  was  born  in  1773, 
near  Linglestown,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  His 
father's  family  came  from  Germany  and 
.settled  in  what  is  now  Lebanon  county, 
Francis  Wenrick  subsequently  removing  to 
near  Linglestown,  where  most  of  his  family 
were  born.  Francis  Wenrick  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution,  had  been  at  Brandywine 
and  Germantown,  and  on  the  frontiers  against 
the  Indians  subsequent  to  the  massacre  of 
Wyoming.  He  died  about  1785,  and  with 
his  wife  was  buried  in  Wenrich's  church 
graveyard.  He  iiad,  besides  his  sons  Peter 
and  Phillip,  several  daughters.  Peter  Wen- 
rick received  a  comjjaratively  limited  educa- 
tion, brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  which 
he  continued  to  occupy  until  his  election  to 
the  sheriffalty,  when  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg.  He  served  in  that  office  from  October 
19, 1818,  to  October  1(3, 1821,  and  was  always 
considered  a  faithful  and  efficient  officer. 
He  died  at  Harrisburg,  February  27,  1825, 
in  the  fifty-second  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Wen- 
rick married,  February  2,  1796,  Susannah, 
daughter  of  John  l^mberger,  and  their 
children  were:  John,  Peter,  Samuel,  Francis, 
David,  Joseph,  Mary,  who  married  a  Mr. 
Siieafer;  Elizabeth,  who  married  a  Mr.  Min- 
shall ;  Susannah,  who  married  a  Mr.  Sloan; 
Sarah,  who  married  a  Mr.  Scott;  and  Re- 
becca, who  married  a  Mr.  Umberger. 


Orth,  CnRisTi.\N  Henry,  son  of  Adam 
Orth,  was  born  March  24,  1773,  in  Lebanon 
township,  Lancaster,  now  Lebanon  county, 
Pa. ;  died  1816  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Md. ; 
in  life  went  by  the  name  of  Henr\',  dropping 
Christian.  He  received  a  good  English  edu- 
cation, and  was  brought  up  in  the  iron  busi- 
ness. Upon  the  death  of  his  father  he  be- 
came the  owner  of  New  Market  forge,  but 
being  elected  sheriff  of  the  county  of 
Dauphin,  commissioned  October  17,  1797, 
like  the  vast  majority  who  have  followed 


him  in  that  office,  he  became  financially 
shipwrecked.  In  1801  he  was  elected  State 
senator,  serving  until  1804,  when  he  posi- 
tively declined  further  continuance  in  office. 
Governor  Snyder  apjiointed  him  flour  in- 
spector of  the  port  of  Philadelphia  in  Janu- 
ary, 1809,  but  he  resigned  this  office  in 
April  following,  when  he  entered  mercantile 
pursuits  in  Philadelphia.  He  remained  in 
that  city  until  about  the  commencement  of 
the  last  war  with  England,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Baltimore,  and  had  there  estab- 
lished a  successful  business  as  a  merchant, 
when  he  suddenly  died,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
three.  Mr.  Orth  married,  in  1794,  Rebecca 
Rahm,born  November  22, 1773;  died  Decem- 
ber 3L  1843,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  daughter 
of  Conrad  Ralm  and  Catharine  Weiser. 


Stewart,  Robert  Templeton,  was  born 
June  15,  1773,  in  Hanover,  and  died  Octo- 
ber, 1835,  at  Iloilidaysburg,  Pa.,  while  en 
roxde  to  Pittsburgh  ;  buried  at  Saltsburg, 
Indiana  county.  Pa.  He  settled  in  Belle- 
fontc  in  the  year  1800,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Centre  county  at  the  November 
term.  He  was  retained  in  the  famous  slander 
suit  of  McKee  vs.  Gallagher,  August  term, 
1801,  in  which  there  were  fourteen  lawyers 
for  tlie  plaintiff  and  twenty-two  for  defend- 
ant. In  1810  he  was  appointed  postmaster, 
and  continued  in  office  until  1819.  In  1810 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  with  his 
brother,  William  C,  and  in  1819  entered 
into  partnership  with  .John  Lyon  in  the 
manufacture  of  iron  ;  residence  at  Coleraine 
Forges,  Huntingdon  county.  In  1828  Lyon 
and  Stewart  sold  Coleraine  Forges  to  Joseph 
and  James  Barnett  and  Anthony  Shorb. 
He  moved  to  Pittsburgh  in  IS23,  and  built 
Sligo  Rolling  Mill.  Represented  Allegheny 
county  in  Pennsylvania  Legislature  in  1831- 
32.  Disposing  of  his  interests  in  the  iron 
business,  Mr.  Stewart  went  to  manufactur- 
ing salt  on  the  Kiskiminetas.  He  was 
a  man  of  genial  disposition  and  social 
habits,  and  of  great  practical  humor.  In 
person,  above  the  ordinary  size,  and  of 
very  dark  complexion,  which  he  inherited 
from  his  grandmother  Stewart.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1809,  by  Rev.  Henry  Wilson,  Mary 
Dunlop,  daughter  of  James  Dunlop,  and 
Jean,  daughter  of  Andrew  Boggs,  of  Done- 
gal township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  who,  in 
connection  with  James  Harris,  in  1795,  laid 
out  the  town  of  Bellefonte.  Mary  Dunh  p 
Stewart  died  in  1827,  aged  forty-five  years. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


201 


and  was  buried  in  tlie  First  Presbyterian 
ciiurchyard,  Pittsburgii.  Robert  T.  Stewart 
married,  secondly,  in  1831,  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Hamilton,  of'Midiilesex,  Cumberland  county, 
Pa.,  who  died  in  Pittsburgh  in  1842. 


Port  Lyon  and  Greensburg)  about  the  year 
1826.  He  married,  in  1804,  Rebecca  Mur- 
ray, daughter  of  Col.  John  Murray,  of  the 
Revolution. 


McCammon,  John,  of  Middletown,  was  born 
in  the  county  of  Down,  Ireland,  about  the 
year  1774,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  about  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  re- 
sided a  short  time  in  Chester  county,  from 
whence  he  came  to  Middletown,  wiiero  he 
followed  his  trade  of  stone-mason.  He  mar- 
ried there  and  afterwards  kept  the  principal 
hotel  and  stage  office  on  Main  street,  near 
Center  square.  When  General  Lafayette,  on 
his  visit  to  America,  in  1824-25,  passed 
through  Middletown  on  his  way  to  Harris- 
burg,  he  and  his  escort  dined  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  McCammon.  Mr.  McCammon  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  early  in  1803,  and  con- 
tinued to  hold  the  office  until  December  24, 
182!(,  a  period  of  nearly  twenty-seven  years. 
He  died  July  24,  1838,  aged  sixty-four  years, 
and  was  buried  in  the  old  Presbyterian  grave- 
yard in  Middletown.  Two  of  Mr.  McCam- 
mon's  daughters  served  lengthened  terms  as 
postmistresses,  Mrs.  Catharine  A.  Stouchand 
Mrs.  Rachel  C.  McKibbin,  making  in  all  a 
period  of  about  forty-seven  years  for  the 
family  as  postmasters.  Mr.  McCammon  was 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Paxtang  Presby- 
terian   church. 


Green,  Innis,  the  eldest  son  of  Col.  Tim- 
othy Green  and  Mary  Innis,  was  born  in 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
March  25,  1770.  His  early  years  were  spent 
on  his  father's  farm,  but  he  received  a  toler- 
ably fair  English  education,  an  essential  in 
tlie  Scotch-Irish  settlements.  His  father, 
who  built  a  mill  at  the  mouth  of  Ston}'  creek 
about  1790,  dying  in  1812,  Innis  took  charge 
of  it.  He  was  appointed  one  of  the  associate 
judges  of  Dauphin  county  by  Governor 
Findlay,  August  10,  1818,  resigning  October 
23, 1827,  having  been  elected  to  the  National 
House  of  Representatives.  He  served  dur- 
ing the  Twentieth  and  Twenty-first  Con- 
gresses. Governor  Wolf,  January  26,  1832, 
re-appointed  him  associate  judge,  a  jiosition 
he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  4th  of  August,  1839.  His 
remains  lie  interred  in  the  cemetery  at 
Daupliin.  Judge  Green  laid  out  the  town 
(which  for  many  years  went  by  the  nan:es  of 


Kelker,  John,  fourth  son  of  Anthony 
Kelker  and  Mary  Magdalena  Meister,  was 
born  at  Annville,  Pa.,  June  12, 1776.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  or  rather  such  as 
the  country  afforded  during  the  Revolution- 
ary era,  and  was  brought  up  to  mercantile 
pursuits,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  hatter. 
In  1812  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  permanently  removed  to  Harris- 
burg  April  29,  1813.  He  was  appointed 
deputy  marshal  for  the  county,  and  took  the 
census  thereof  in  1830,  and  served  as  county 
treasurer  from  1829  to  1832.  Mr.  Kelker  was 
an  officer  of  the  Reformed  church,  Harris- 
burg,  and  one  of  the  building  committee 
when  the  present  church  was  erected.  He 
died  at  Harrisburg  Ajiril  29,  1859,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three.  "  In  social  life,"  wrote 
a  contemporar}',  "  he  was  an  example  of  ur- 
bane manners,  of  warm  and  genial  friendship, 
of  generous  hospitality,  and  was  everywhere 
welcomed  as  a  man  of  courteous  and  kind 
disposition."  Mr.  Kelker  married,  in  1798, 
Sabina,daughterofIIeQry  Shan tz  and  Sabina 
Meily,  of  Lebanon,  who  died  at  Harrisburg, 
December  26,  1853,  and  had  issue. 


Jefferson,  Joseph,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
bmd,  born  in  1776.  He  was  the  son  of  a 
distinguished  actor,  who  was  the  contem- 
porary of  Garrick.  It  is  well  authenticated 
that  the  English  Jetfersons,  from  whom 
Thomas  Jeti'erson,  the  third  President, 
claimed  descent,  and  the  ancestry  of  Jo.seph 
Jefferson  the  elder,  were  of  the  same  county 
of  England.  It  is  a  fact,  also,  that  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson, when  President,  sent  for  tlie  come- 
dian, then  in  Washington,  and  the  interview 
satisfied  both  parties  that  they  were  of  the 
same  stock,  and  that  conclusion  was  strength- 
ened by  a  strong  family  resemblance.  The 
latter  was  asked  to  dine  at  the  executive 
mansion.  He  very  courteously  but  firmly 
declined,  saying  that  his  gratification  and 
pride  in  their  iiossit)le  connection  was  so 
great  that  it  would  be  marred  if  the  matter 
were  known  to  the  world,  as  any  avowal  of 
it  would  be  misconstrued.  He  was  educated 
for  the  stage,  and  in  1795  came  to  Bos- 
ton, where  and  in  New  York  he  performed 
until  about  1803,  when  he  located  in  I'hila- 


202 


Bl  0  G  RA  PHICA  L  EN  (J  YCL  0  PE  DIA 


delphia.  Here  he  was  quite  a  favorite, 
especially  at  the  Chestnut  street  theater. 
From  1825  to  1832  he  made  Harrisburg  his 
home,  having  a  suite  of  apartments  in  the 
old  Shakspeare  building.  He  died  here  on 
the  4th  of  August,  1832,  greatly  lamented. 
His  remains  were  interred  in  the  burying 
ground  attached  to  St.  Stephen's  Episcopal 
church,  and  from  thence  removed  to  the 
Harrisburg  cemetery.  The  inscription  on 
his  tomb  was  written  by  Chief  Justice  Gib- 
son, and  has  often  been  quoted  and  admired 
for  its  diction. 

Of  him  the  late  John  P.  Kennedy  wrote: 
"He  played  everything  that  was  comic,  and 
always  made  people  laugh  until  the  tears 
came  in  their  eyes.  Laugh!  Why  I  don't 
believe  he  ever  saw  the  world  doing  any- 
thing else.  Whomsoever  he  looked  at 
laughed.  Before  he  came  through  tiie  side 
scenes,  when  he  was  about  to  enter  he  would 
produce  the  first  words  of  his  part  to  herald 
his  appearance,  and  instantly  the  whole 
audience  set  up  a  shout.  It  was  only  the 
sound  of  iiis  voice.  He  had  a  patent  right 
to  shake  the  world's  diaphragm  which 
seemed  to  be  infallible.  When  he  acted, 
families  all  went  together,  young  and  old. 
Smiles  were  on  every  face;  the  town  was 
happ3\  The  chief  actors  were  invited  into 
the  best  company,  and  I  believe  tlieir  per- 
sonal merits  entitled  them  to  all  the  esteem 
that  was  felt  for  them." 

Mr.  Jefferson  possessed  great  taste  and 
skill  in  the  construction  of  intricate  stage 
machinery,  and  was  unrivalled  in  his  pecu- 
liar personations.  His  favorite  characters 
were  Kit  Cosey,  Old  D'Oiley  and  Admiral 
Cop.  He  is  known  as  the  elder  Jefferson. 
His  son  and  grandson  were  alike  great  actors 
— the  father  of  tlie  second  Joseph  bequeath- 
ing to  him  his  genius  and  his  aspirations, 
witli  all  tiiat  polish  which  rendered  each  so 
popular  in  his  daj'.  And  now  comes  a  third 
Joseph  Jefferson,  wdio,  since  the  days  of 
Hackett,  has  made  the  character  of  Rij)  ^^an 
Winkle  his  own. 


BuEHLER,  George,  the  son  of  Henry 
Buehler,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and 
Jane  Trotter,  was  born  near  tlie  town  of 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  July,  1776.  His  parents 
were  Moravians ;  they  lie  buried  in  Mount 
Hebron  burying  ground,  and  were  life-long 
members  of  the  old  Hebron  cliurch.  George 
received  a  good  English  and  German  educa- 
tion at  the  celebrated   Moravian  school  at 


Lititz,  and  was  subsequently  brought  up  to 
mercantile  pursuits.  He  was  commissioned 
by  Governor  Mifflin  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Lebanon  township  December  3,  1799.  The 
year  following,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Harrisburg  and  Presqu'  Isle  Land  Com- 
pany, lie  removed  to  Erie,  and  was  appointed 
in  August,  1801,  by  President  Jefferson,  col- 
lector of  the  Eighteenth  Collection  District 
of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Buehler  took  a  prom- 
inent part  in  the  affairs  connected  witli  the 
early  organization  of  Erie  county.  At  his 
residence,  on  tlie  2d  of  April,  1803,  that 
county  was  organized  for  judicial  purposes. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  first  council  of  the 
town  of  Erie  in  1806,  and  in  1808  and  1809 
was  borough  burgess.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
to  aid  in  developing  the  Lake  Erie  trade, 
foreseeing  at  that  early  da}'  tlie  advantages 
of  that  magnificent  port  of  the  lakes.  In 
1811-12  he  was  a  member  of  the  Erie  Light 
Infantry,  Captain  Forster,  which  was  in  active 
service  during  a  portion  of  tiiat  period.  In 
1812,  owing  probably  to  the  war  troubles  on 
tiie  frontiers,  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and 
took  charge  of  the  "  Golden  Eagle."  He  died 
at  Harrisburg  on  the  5th  of  August,  181G, 
aged  forty  years.  Mr.  Buehler  married 
previous  to  removing  to  Erie,  Maria,  daughter 
of  Peter  Nagle,  of  Reading.  She  was  born 
December  25,  1779,  and  died  at  Harrisburg 
July  27,  1843;  a  lady  of  great  amiability  of 
character.  Mr.  Buehler  was  a  man  of  sterling 
integrity,  and  his  brief  life  was  one  of  activity, 
enter[)rise  and  industry.  At  Erie  he  stood 
high  in  the  esteem  of  its  citizens,  and  at 
Harrisburg  his  appreciation  was  none  the 
less. 


Keller,  John  Peter,  sou  of  Charles  An- 
drew Keller  and  Judith  Barbara  Bigler,  was 
born  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  September  28,  1776. 
His  ancestor  belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest 
families  in  Switzerland,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1735.  John  Peter  learned  the 
trade  of  a  brass  founder,  coming  to  Harris- 
burg in  1796.  In  1801  he  established  him- 
self in  business  as  "  brass  founder  and  rope- 
maker,"  which  proved  successful,  and  after- 
wards in  general  merchandising.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  borough  council  almost  con- 
tinuously from  1810  to  1824,  and  was  quite 
prominent  and  influential  in  the  public 
affairs  of  his  day.  He  was  identified  with 
nearly  all  the  early  enterprises  of  the  town, 
such  as  the  Harrisburg  Bridge  Company, 
Harrisburg  and  Middletown  Turnpike  Com- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


203 


pany,  and  at  liis  death  was  the  last  survivor 
of  the  original  board  of  directors  of  the  ITar- 
risburg  Bank.  He  was  a  gentleman  of 
tlirift,  industry  and  indomitable  energy,  up- 
right, lionored  and  respected  by  his  fellow- 
citizens.  He  was  no  less  decided  and  influ- 
ential as  a  Christian,  being  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Lutheran  churcli  in  Harrisburg. 
He  died  at  Harrisburg  October  1, 1850,  in  the 
eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Kel- 
ler was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Catharine  Schaeffer,  daughter  of  Rev.  Fred- 
erick Schaeffer,  D.  D.,  of  Lancaster,  born 
November  6,  1774,  died  December  10,  1842, 
and  by  whom  he  had  the  following  children  : 
Frederick,  George,  Rev.  Emanuel,  Eliza,  m. 
James  R.  Boj'd,  Maria,  m.  Lewis  L.  I'litt, 
Catharine,  m.  James  Gilliard,  John  Peter, 
Sophia,  m.  Thomas  Montgomery,  William, 
Frederick,  George,  Benjamin,  Peter,  Charles 
and  Charles  Andrew.  His  second  wife  was 
Mrs.  Rachel  Cochran,  widow  of  William 
Cochran,  formerly  sheriff  of  the  county,  who 
survived  him  thirteen  vears. 


Alricks,  of  Harrisburg  ;  William  M.,  J.  Wal- 
lace, James  Wilson,  and  Martha,  married 
Dr.  Edward  L.  Orth,  of  Harrisburg.  As  a 
minister  there  were  few  who  stood  higher  in 
tiie  estimation  of  his  bretiiren  in  the  Presby- 
terv  tlian  the  Rev.  William  Kerr. 


Kerr,  William,  was  born  in  Bart  town- 
ship, Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  October  13, 177G. 
His  father  dying  early,  he  was  left  to  the 
tender  care  of  a  pious  mother.  After  some 
years  spent  in  the  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, he  was  sent  to  Jefferson  College,  Cau- 
nonsburg,  where  he  was  graduated.  For 
some  years  thereafter  he  was  principal  of  an 
academy  at  Wilmington,  Del.  He  subse- 
cjuently  placed  himself  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  and  was  shortly 
after  ordained  by  that  body.  He  preached 
in  Harrisburg  about  the  years  1805-6,  and 
upon  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  McFar- 
quhar  was  sent  to  supply  the  pul])it  of  the 
old  Donegal  church.  In  the  fall  of  1808  the 
congregation  at  Columbia  made  application 
to  Mr.  Kerr  for  part  of  his  time.  It  was  not, 
however,  until  the  year  following  that  he 
assented  to  give  them  a  portion  of  his  min- 
isterial labors.  He  continued  to  be  the 
stated  sup[ily  there  until  the  first  Sunday  in 
January,  1814,  when  he  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon.  Mr.  Kerr  also  preached  at 
Marietta  in  addition  to  his  charge  at  Donegal. 
He  died  September  22,  LS21,  aged  forty- 
five  years,  and  is  interred  in  old  Donegal 
church  graveyard.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Kerr  mar- 
ried Mary  Elder,  daughter  of  James  Wilson 
and  Mary  Elder,  of  Derry,  born  1788  ;  died 
February  22,  1850,  at  Harrisburg;  and  their 
children  were:  Mary  E.,  married  Hermanus 


FoRSTER,  John,  son  of  John  Forster,  was 
born  September  17,  1777,  in  Paxtang,  Lan- 
caster, now  Dauphin  county,  Pa.;  died  May 
28,  1863,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  ;  he  received  a 
good  education  and  was  at  Princeton  when 
a  call  was  made  by  President  Washington  for 
volunteei'S  to  march  to  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania to  put  down  the  so-called  "Whiskey 
Insurrection  "  of  1704,  and  was  on  that  ex- 
l)edition  as  an  aid  to  (Jeneral  Murray.  He 
subsequently  read  law  with  General  Hanna, 
but  never  applied  for  admission,  turning  his 
attention  to  mercantile  pursuits,  in  which  he 
was  very  successful.  During  the  military 
era  of  the  Government  prior  to  the  war  of 
1812  he  was  colonel  of  the  State  militia,  and 
in  1814,  when  the  troops  from  Penn.sylvania 
marched  to  the  defense  of  the  beleaguered 
city  of  Baltimore,  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  a  brigade  of  volunteers.  For  his  gallant 
services  in  that  campaign  the  thanks  of  the 
general  commanding  were  tendered  in  special 
orders.  He  served  in  the  State  Senate  from 
1814  to  1818.  General  Forster  was  cashier 
of  the  Harrisburg  Bank  for  a  period  of  at 
least  sixteen  years,  established  the  Bank  of 
Lewistown,  and  in  1837  was  casliier  of  the 
p]xchange  Bank  of  Pittsburgh.  He  suljse- 
quently  became  president  of  the  Branch 
Bank  at  Hollidaysburg,  but  in  a  few  years  re- 
tired from  all  business  pursuits  and  returned 
to  his  home  at  Harrisburg.  General  Forster 
was  faithful,  honest  and  upright  in  all  his 
business  connections,  and  a  good  financier. 
He  was  twice  married  ;  fii'st,  Se]itember  25, 
1708,  Mary  Elder,  born  1770  ;  died  Decem- 
ber 18,  1831,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. ;  daughter 
of  John  Elder  and  p]lizabeth  Awl.  Genei'al 
Forster  married,  secondly,  July  0,  1833, 
Margaret  Snodgrass- Law,  born  March  6, 
ISoT;  died  December  0,  1801;  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Law,  of  MifHin  county.  Pa.,  and 
widow  of  Rev.  James  H.  Stuart,  a  Presby- 
terian minister  of  the  Kishacoquillas  Valley. 
There  was  issue  by  both  marriages. 


Cr.4IN,  Richard  Moore,  was  born  in  No- 
vember, 1777,  in  Hanover  town.sliip,  Lancas- 
er  county,  Pa.;  died  Friday,  September  17, 
1852,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.     He  received  a  fair 


204 


BIO  GRAPHICAL  ENVYCL  OFEDIA 


education  and  was  brought  up  on  his  father's 
farm.  He  became  quite  prominent  in  pub- 
lic affairs  tlie  first  decade  of  this  centur}',  and 
during  the  incumbency  of  Gen.  Andrew  Por- 
ter as  surveyor  general  of  Pennsylvania,  Mr. 
Grain  received  the  appointment  of  deputy 
secretary  of  tlie  Land  Office,  a  position  he  ac- 
ce[)tably  filled  through  all  the  changes  of  ad- 
ministration for  forty  years,  until  the  advent 
of  Governor  Ritner,  when  he  was  displaced. 
He  then  retired  to  his  farm  in  Cumberland 
county,  from  which  district  he  was  sent  a 
delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1837,  in  wliich  he  was  a  leading  spirit.  Dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812-14  he  commanded  a  com- 
pany of  volunteers  from  Harrisburg,  and  was 
subsequently  commissioned  colonel  of  the 
Penn.sylvania  militia.  Colonel  Grain  mar- 
ried, in  1802,  Elizabeth  Whitehill,  born  1771; 
died  October  2,  1848 ;  daughter  of  Robert 
Whitehill  and  Eleanor  Read. 


Jordan,  Benjamin,  son  of  Thomas  Jordan 
and  Rachel  Steele,  was  born  July  10,  1779, 
on  the  ground  where  the  town  of  Milton, 
Nortiiumberland  county.  Pa.,  is  located. 
Thomas  Jordan,  the  first  of  his  family,  was 
an  emigrant  from  Scotland,  coming  to  Amer- 
ica prior  to  1700,  and  .settled  in  Cecil  county, 
Md.  He  and  his  family  were  rigid  Presby- 
terians, and  attached  themselves  to  Christi- 
anna  church,  located  just  over  the  line  in 
the  State  of  Delaware,  in  the  yard  of  that 
church  the  remains  of  four  generations  of 
the  Jordan  family  rest.  Thomas  Jordan, 
father  of  Benjamin,  was  born  near  this  old 
church  prior  to  1752,  from  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Northumberland  county,  prior  to 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  When  the  son 
was  only  a  few  weeks  old  the  family  were 
driven  from  their  home  by  the  marauding 
Indians,  when  they  located  in  York  county 
where  Thomas  Jordan  died.  He  married 
Rachel  Steele,  the  eldest  sister  of  Gen.  Archi- 
bald and  Gen.  Joim  Steele,  of  Revolution- 
ary memory.  In  1805  Benjamin  Jordan 
removed  to  Lancaster,  where  he  engaged 
himself  in  the  business  of  bookseller  with 
William  Dickson,  at  the  same  time  assisted 
in  editing  the  Lancaster  Intelligencer  until 
1808,  when  he  was  appointed  weighmaster 
of  the  port  of  Philadelphia.  In  1816  he  re- 
signed and  came  to  Dauphin  county,  taking 
up  his  residence  at  Walnut  Hill.  Mr.  Jor- 
dan represented  the  Dau(>hin  District  in  the 
State  Senate  1846  to  1850.  He  died  at  his 
residence  May  24,  1861,  in  the  eighty-second 


year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Jordan  married,  Octo- 
ber 29,  1811,  Mary  Crouch,  born  October  23, 
1791,  at  Walnut  Hill,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.; 
died  October  27,  1846,  at  the  same  place; 
daughter  of  Edwai'd  Crouch  and  Margaret 
Potter.  They  are  both  interred  in  old  Pax- 
tang  church  graveyard. 


HiESTER,  Gen.  GABRiEr.,  Jr.,  son  of  Gabriel 
Hiesterand  Elizabeth  Bausman,  was  born  in 
Bern  township,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  January 
5,  1779.  He  received  a  good  English  and 
German  education,  and  his  early  years  were 
spent  on  his  father's  farm.  His  father  being 
an  active  politician,  the  son  was  early  imbued 
with  the  same  spirit.  In  1809  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Snyder  clerk  of  the 
courts  of  Berks  county,  and  in  1811  pro- 
thonotary,  holding  these  offices  until  1817. 
During  the  war  of  1812-14  he  was  brigade 
major  and  served  under  General  Adams,  of 
Berks  county,  during  the  campaign  at  Wash- 
ington and  BaHimore.  Under  appointment 
by  Governor  Findlay,  he  held  the  office  of 
associate  judge  from  1819  to  1823.  Gov- 
ernor Shulze  appointed  Judge  Hiester  sur- 
veyor general,  when  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg. He  held  that  position  from  May  11, 
1824,  to  May  11,  1830.  He  was  a  presiden- 
tial elector  in  1817,  and  again  in  1821,  ca.st- 
ing  iiis  vote  for  James  Monroe.  About  1833 
he  erected  the  first  rolling-mill  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, at  Fairview,  on  the  Conedoguinet. 
He  died  there  suddenly,  September  14, 1831, 
in  his  fifty-sixth  year,  and  is  buried  in  the 
Harrisburg  cemeterv.  General  Hiester  mar- 
ried. May  12,  1803",  Mary,  daughter  of  Dr. 
John  Otto,  of  Reading,  who  died  at  Esther- 
ton,  January  9,  1853.  They  had  children  : 
Louisa  Harriet,  married  C.  B.  Bioren  ;  Au- 
gustus 0.,  Gabriel,  and  Catharine. 


Fox,  John,  son  of  John  Fox  and  Ann 
Margaret  Rupert,  was  born  June  10,  1780, 
near  Hummelstown,  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
He  was  educated  in  the  country  schools  of 
the  neighborhood,  and  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. He  became  quite  prominent  and  in- 
fluential in  the  jjolitical  affairs  of  the  county, 
and  served  as  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  Pennsylvania  from  1831 
to  1833.  He  filled  the  office  of  sheriff  from 
October  14,  1833,  to  October  21,  1836,  and 
again  from  October  19,  1839,  to  October  24, 
1842.  Apart  from  these  positions  of  trust 
and  honor,  he  served  his  neighbors  in  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


205 


various  township  offices  with  fidelity.  He 
died  at  his  residence  in  Hummelstown,  July 
19,  1853,  aged  seventy-three  years.  He  was 
a  representative  man,  not  only  of  his  family 
but  of  tlie  county,  a  faithful  officer,  of  strict 
integrity,  upriglit  and  conscientious  in  all 
his  relations  with  his  fellow-men. 


Kelker,    Frederick,    .sou    of   Anthony 
Kelker  and   Mary  Magdalena  Meister,  was 
born  October  29,  1780.     His  early  education 
was  extremely  limited,  and   consisted  of  a 
few    months'   attendance   at   the    parociiial 
school  in  the  churchyard  of  the  Reformed 
church  at  Lebanon.     In  May,  1801,  he  en- 
tered  tlie  store  of    Oves  &    Moore,  and   in 
March,  1805,  removed  to  Harrisburg,  where, 
in  partnershiji  with  ins  former  employers,  iie 
established  in  that  town  the  first  exclusively 
hardware  store.     In  1811  he  purchased  the 
interest  of  his  partners  and  became  the  sole 
owner.     In  1823,  his  healtii  failing,  he  relin- 
quished business  and  disposed  of  it  to  two  of 
the  young  men  who  had  been  in  his  emplo}'. 
He  continued,  however,  to  reside  in  the  house 
in  whicii  he  first  settled  until   his  decease. 
Through  all  that  period  he  manifested  great 
interest  in   the  welfare  of  his  successors  in 
business,  and  there  was  perhaps  no  year  in 
whicli  a  portion  of  his  capital  was   not  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  used  by  them  whenever 
they   desired    it.      He   was    remarkable  for 
punctuality  and  integrity.    A  close  observer 
of  human  nature  and  a  safe  counselor,  being 
often  appealed  to  b}'  liis  fellow-citizens,  calm 
and  modest  in   his  demeanor,  he  was  not  to 
be  swerved  from  his  purposes  when   he  felt 
that  he  was  in  tlie  line  of  duty.     His  habits 
of  industry  and  economy  led  to  the  acquisi- 
tion of  a  competency,  and  the  latter  half  es- 
pecially of  his  long  life  was  devoted  in  his 
own    quiet    and    unobtrusive    way    to    the 
amelioration  of  the  condition   of  the  poor, 
sick  and  friendless.     In  the  vigor  of  man- 
hood   he   filled    many  minor   positions    in 
the  community  in   which  he  lived,  always 
rejecting  political  preferment.     For  several 
terms  he  was  a  member  and  president  of  the 
borough    council ;    was   a   director   of    the 
branch    establisiied    by    the    Philadelphia 
Bank  in  Harrisburg,  a  director  of  the  Har- 
risburg   Bank,  a   director   of  the   common 
schools  when  they  were  first  established  in 
Penn.sylvania,  and  was  readv  at  all  times  to 
co-operate  with  iiis  fellow-citizens  in  all  the 
Vjenevolent  enterprises  of  the  daj'.     In  the 
church  of  which  he  was  a  member  (the  Re- 


formed), he  was  prominent;  presided  at  the 
meeting  on  November  17,  1820,  to  establish 
the  first  Sunday-school  in  connection  with  tlae 
churcii,  and  active  in  the  measures  adopted 
for  erecting  tlie  church  building  yet  standing. 
He  died  at  Harrisburg  on  July  12, 1857,  in  tlie 
seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Kelker 
was  twice  married  ;  first  to  Lydia  Chamber- 
lain, daughter  of  Charles  Chamberlain,  of 
Philadelpliia  ;  secondly  to  Catharine  Fager, 
daugliter  of  John  and  iSarah  Fager,  of  Har- 
risburg. 


Cochran,  William,  was  born  in  what  is 
now  Middle  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  in  1780.  He  received  a  good 
English  education,  and  was  brought  up  on 
his  fatiier's  farm.  In  1814  he  served  as  a 
volunteer  and  marched  to  tlie  defense  of 
Baltimore.  He  served  as  coroner  of  the 
county  from  1818  to  1821  ;  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  from  1820  to  1824; 
countv  commissioner  from  1830  to  1833,  and 
sheriff'  from  1837  to  1839.  He  died  at  Har- 
risburg on  Sunday,  2Gth  of  April,  1840,  aged 
sixty  years,  and  was  interred  in  the  family 
burying  ground  in  Middle  Paxtaug.  The 
Intelligencer  pays  this  tribute  to  his  memory: 
"  Mr.  Cochran  was  a  highly  respected  citi- 
zen, a  popular  officer,  and  a  kind  and  hos- 
pitable neighbor." 


Beatty,  George,  youngest  sou  of  Capt. 
James  Beatty,  was  born  January  4,  1781,  at 
Ballykeel-Ednagonnel,  county  of  Down,  Ire- 
land.    He  received  a  good  early  education 
in   the  Latin  school  of  John   Downey,  and 
learned  watch  and  clock-making  with   his 
brother-in-law,  Samuel  Hill,  whose  clocks  are 
more  or  less  celebrated  to  this  day.     In  1808 
Mr.  Beatty  established  himself  in  business, 
whicli  he  continued   uninterruptedly  for  up- 
wards of  forty  years.     He  was  an  ingenious 
mechanician  and  constructed  several  clocks 
of  peculiar  and  rare  invention.     In  1814  lie 
wasorderlysergeantof  Capt.  Thomas  Walker's 
company,  the  Harrisburg  Volunteers,  which 
marclied   to  the  defense  of  the  city  of  Balti- 
more.    Mr.  Beatty  in  early  life  took  a  promi- 
nent  part  in   local  affairs,  and,  as  a  conse- 
quence, was  frequently  solicited  to  become  a 
candidate  for  office,  but  he  almost  invariably 
declined.     He,  nevertheless,  served  a  term  as 
director  of  the  poor,  and  also  as  county  audi- 
tor.    He  was  elected  burgess  of  the  borough 
on  three  several  occasions  and  was  a  member 
of  the  town  council  several  years,  and,  while 


206 


BIO  (Hi A  I'lIICAL  ENCYVLOrEDIA 


serving  in  the  lutter  capacity  was  one  of  the 
prime  movers  in  tlie  effort  to  supply  the 
borougli  with  water.  Had  his  suggestions, 
liowever,  been  carried  out,  the  water-works 
and  reservoir  would  have  been  located  above 
the  present  city  limits.  Mr.  Beatty  retired 
from  a  successful  business  life  about  1850. 
He  died  at  Harrisburg  on  the  10th  of  March, 
1862,  aged  eighty-one  years,  and  is  interred 
in  tiie  Harrisburg  cemetery.  He  was  an 
active,  enterprising  and  upright  Christian 
gentleman.  Mr.  Beatty  was  thrice  married; 
married,  first,  May  18,  1815,  by  Rev.  George 
Lochman,  D.  D.,  Eliza  White,  daughter  of 
William  White,  born  January  20, 1797  ;  died 
September  10, 1817. 

Mr.  Beatty,  married,  secondly,  November 
22,  1820,  by  Rev.  George  Lochman,  D.  D., 
Sarah  Smith  Shrom,  daughter  of  Casper 
Shroni  and  Catharine  Van  Gundy, born  Janu- 
ary 15,  1796,  at  York,  Pa;  died  August  25, 
1828. 

Mr.  Beatty  manied,  thirdly,  September  21, 
1830,  by  Rev.  Eliphalet  Reed,  Catharine 
Shrom,  born  December  26,  1807,  at  York, 
Pa.;  died  August  11, 1891,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Gross,  Abr.\ham,  was  born  December  24, 
1781,  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  and  died 
August  25, 1834,  in  Middle  Paxton  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.  He  was  a  son  of  John 
Gross  and  Racliel  Sahler.  His  father,  John 
Gross,  was  born  in  November,  1749,  in  Wes- 
tern Massachusetts,  not  far  from  the  Hudson 
river,  where  his  parents  were  earl}'  settlers 
from  the  Palatinate,  being  of  Huguenot  de- 
scent. On  the  eve  of  the  Revolution  John 
Gross  removed  to  now  Montgomery  county. 
Pa.  He  entered  into  the  spirit  of  that  con- 
test at  tiie  outset,  and  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant  January  5,  1776,  in  Col.  Ar- 
thur St.  Clair's  (Second  Pennsylvania)  bat- 
talion ;  subsequent!}'  promoted  a  captain  in 
the  Third  Pennsylvania  at  its  organization, 
which  was  formed  on  tlie  basis  of  the  former, 
but  with  several  of  his  colleagues  in  St. 
Clair's  battalion  seems  never  to  have  ac- 
cepted the  position,  or,  if  they  did,  declined 
it  shortly  after,  especially  upon  the  resigna- 
tion of  Col.  Joseph  Wood  in  July,  1777. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  now  Middle  Paxton  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  where  he  lived  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  dying  January  2,  1823. 
Mr.  Gross  married,  about  1778,  Rachel  Sah- 
ler, born  in  1756.  in  Ulster  county.  New 
York;    daughter   of  Abraham    Sahler  and 


Elizabeth  Du  Bois,  of  Huguenot  extraction. 
She  died  August  16, 1828,  and  with  her  hus- 
band buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Daujihin. 


Ramsey,  Thomas,  was  born  near  York, 
Pa.,  on  the  15th  of  June,  1784.  With  a 
limited  education  acquired  during  his  early 
years,  he  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmithing, 
at  that  period  an  important  occupation. 
About  1800  he  located  at  Hummelstown, 
Dauphin  county,  and  there  carried  on  busi- 
ness. In  1814  he  was  a  corporal  of  Captain 
Moorhead's  company  of  the  First  regiment, 
Colonel  Kennedy,  which  marched  to  the 
defense  of  Baltimore.  Mr.  Ramsey  died  at 
Hummelstown  on  the  4th  of  May,  1826,  at 
the  age  of  forty-two  years.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Kelker,  daughter  of  Henry  Kelker 
and  Elizabeth  Greenawalt,  of  Lebanon,  born 
September  8,  1791,  and  died  at  Harrisburg 
5th  of  Februar}',  1858.  Hon.  Alexander 
Ramsey,  former  Secretary  of  War,  is  their 
son.  Mr.  Ramsey  was  an  industrious,  enter- 
prising citizen,  patriotic,  generous,  and  held 
in  great  esteem  by  his  fellow-citizens. 


Catrell  (Ketterell),  William,  was  a 
native  of  the  State  of  Maryland,  where  he 
was  born  in  1784.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
shoemaker,  and  established  himself  in  Har- 
risburg about  1805.  During  the  war  of 
1812-14  he  served  under  General  Pike  in 
the  Western  Department.  Subsequentl}'  he 
began  merchandising,  and  successfully  car- 
ried on  business  until  the  close  of  his  life. 
March  23,  1835,  he  was  appointed  bj'  Gov- 
ernor Ritner  inspector  of  flour  at  Harris- 
burg, an  office  shortly  after  abolished.  He 
served  several  years  as  a  member  of  the  bor- 
ough council  of  Harrisburg.  He  died  at 
Harrisburg,  April  7,  1848.  He  married, 
November  G,  1808,  Letitia  Wilson,  sister  of 
McNair  Wilson,  of  Harrisburg,  who  sur- 
vived her  husband  only  a  few  years. 
They  left  no  issue.  By  his  will  Mr.  Ca- 
trell left  several  bequests  to  the  Zion 
Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  was  long  an 
elder,  one  resulting  in  the  founding  ot  the 
Catrell  librar}'.  His  pastor,  the  Rev.  Charles 
W.  Schaeffer,  D.  D.,  late  of  Germantown, 
bears  this  noble  testimony  :  "  He  was  a  man 
of  very  kindly,  cheerful  spirit,  of  pleasant 
manners,  of  good  sound  sense,  and  gener- 
ally well  informed.  As  a  business  man  he 
had  been  distinguished  for  his  habits  of 
order  and  diligence,  and  his  sterling  integ- 
rity of  principle.     His  confession  and  main- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


207 


tenance  of  his  religious  faitli  was  modest, 
tliougli  positive  and  earnest,  and  in  the 
iiigliest  degree  sincere.  He  stood  very  higii 
in  the  regard  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  was 
deepl\'  lamented  in  his  death." 


H.VMiLTON,  Hugh,  the  son  of  .John  Hamil- 
ton and  Margaret  Alexander,  was  born  at 
"  Fermanagh,"  now  in  Juniata  county,  Pa., 
on  the  30th  of  June,  1785.  He  received  a 
careful  preparatory  education,  and  with  his 
brother  John  was  sent  to  Dickinson  College, 
where  he  graduated.  He  studied  law  under 
Thomas  Elder,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Dauphin  county  bar  in  1805.  At  the  time 
of  his  admission  to  the  bar  Judge  Henry  had 
ordered  the  prothonotary  to  issue  commis- 
sions on  parchment.  Accordingly  the  de- 
scendants of  the  young  lawyer  have  his  com- 
mission "  on  parchment,"  issued  21st  of  June, 
1805,  signed  by  "  Joshua  Elder,  Pro'thy,  by 
order  of  the  court,"  with  the  seal  of  the 
county  attached.  In  1808  Mr.  Hamilton 
edited  and  published  The  TrH/e.s  at  Lancaster, 
and  upon  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment to  Harrisburg,  witii  William  Gillmor, 
The  Harrisburg  Chronicle,  the  leading  and 
influential  newspa[)er  at  the  State  capital  for 
twenty  years.  Tiie  Chronicle  was  the  first 
paper  in  Pennsylvania  which  gave  full  and 
sj'stematic  legislative  re])orts.  He  died  at 
Harrisburg,  on  the  3d  of  September,  1836, 
aged  fifty -one  years.  Mr.  Hamilton  married, 
Januarj'  6, 1807,  Rosanna,  daughter  of  Adam 
Bovd  and  Jeannette  MacFarlane,  born  De- 
cember 1,  1789,  died  April  17,  1872.  They 
are  both  buried  in  the  Harrisburg  cemeterv. 
Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  vigorous  and  polished 
writer,  and  his  editorials  were  models  of 
elegant  composition.  For  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  wielded  considerable  political  in- 
fluence througli  his  newspa]ier.  He  was  an 
active  and  enterprising  citizen,  twice  chief 
burgess  of  the  corporation  of  Harrisburg, 
frequently  a  member  of  council,  and  highly 
esteemed  in  social  intercour.se. 


Boas,  Frederick,  son  of  Rev.  William 
Boas,  was  born  at  Reading,  Pa.,  .July  3, 1785. 
His  parents  were  emigrants  from  Germany, 
and  came  over  witli  the  Muhlenbergs. 
Frederick  learned  the  trade  of  a  coppersmith 
and  tin-plate  worker  at  Reading,  but  com- 
menced business  for  himself  at  Kutztown. 
He  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1811,  where  he 
carried  on  his  trade  successfully.  He  was 
an  enterprising  citizen,  and  although  quiet 


and  unobtrusive,  a  representative  man  in 
the  community.  He  died  at  Harrisburg, 
June  17,  1817,  aged  thirty-one  years.  Mr. 
Boas  married.  May  17,'  1811,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  David  and  Regina  (Orth) 
Krause,  who  survived  her  husband  many 
years,  leaving  two  children;  Frederick 
Krause  and  Elmina,  who  married  William 
Jennings. 


Bo.\s,  Jacob,  son  of  the  Rev. William  Boas, 
was  born  at  Reading,  Pa.,  in  1786.  He  was 
brought  up  to  mercantile  pursuits  and  came 
to  Harrisburg  in  1805,  where  he  established 
himself  in  business.  He  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  borough  council,  and  was  com- 
missioned by  Governor  Snyder,  February  6, 
1809,  prothonotary  and  clerk  of  the  Court  of 
(Quarter  Sessions,  and  died  while  in  office,  on 
the  8th  of  October,  1815.  Mr.  Boas  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Jacob  Dick,  of  Reading. 
They  had  five  sons:  William  D.,  Jacob  D., 
John,  Augustus  F.,  and  Daniel  D. 


Zimmerman,  Henry,  son  of  Peter  and 
Mary  (Beane)  Zimmerman,  was  born  Decem- 
ber '30,  1786,  in  Cumberland  county.  Pa. 
His  boyhood  days  were  passed  among  the 
scenes  of  farm  life,  familiar  to  the  majority 
of  farmer  sons  during  that  early  period. 
Schools  were  then  very  little  known  of  and 
less  attended.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
said  to  have  spent  only  three  months  in  all 
in  what  was  then  known  as  "  pay  school  "  or 
"  select  school."  Upon  reaching  manhood 
he  married  Miss  Barbara  Griner,  daughter  of 
Philip  and  Barbara  (F'ishburn)  Griner,  who 
then  resided  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Newton  Gray  farm,  in  Lower  Swatara  towm- 
ship,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  Shortly  after  the 
marriage  he  moved  near  the  home  of  his 
Wolfe's  parents,  in  Dauphin  county,  and  set- 
tled upon  a  forty  acre  tract,  adjoining  that 
of  her  parents,  which  was  given  to  her  as 
her  patrimony.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
wagon  making  and  pursued  this  business 
together  with  the  farming  of  this  small  tract, 
and  while  living  here  there  were  born  to 
them  the  following  children  ;  Rebecca,  July 
8. 1810  ;  Catherine,  October  13, 1811 ;  Philip, 
November  22,  1812;  Elizabeth,  September 
14,  1814;  Henrv,  Mav  16,  1816;  George, 
February  11, 1819  ;  Simon,  January  8, 1821 ; 
Isaac,  March  20,  1823;  Marv,  September  7, 
1824.  On  June  10,  1824,  he  purchased  the 
farm  known  as  the  Kerr  estate,  adjoining 
this  forty  acre  tract,  and  moved  thereon  with 


208 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


his  family  in  the  spring  of  1825,  and  lived 
iu  the  historic  Old  Spring  House,  still  stand- 
ing at  the  "  fork  "  of  two  creeks.  While  liv- 
ing here  there  were  born  to  them  the  follow- 
ing children:  Solomon,  October  7,  1827; 
Valentine,  May  19,  1829;  and  Maria,  Janu- 
arj'  19,  1831.  Here  he  established  himself 
permanently  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
estate  that  has  remained  in  the  Zimmerman 
line  of  descent  for  nearly  a  century.  He 
was  one  of  the  sturdy  Jacksonian  Democrats 
of  that  day,  and  was  a  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zen in  the  community.  He  died  March  12, 
1839,  and  lies  buried  beside  the  remains  of 
his  wife  in  the  old  graveyard  on  what  is  now 
called  the  Newton  Grav  farm. 


Calder,  William,  eldest   child   of  John 
Calder  and  Naomi  Norris,was  born  in  Belair, 
Harford  county,  Md.,  July  24,  1788.     The 
father  was  a  native  of  Scotland.     William 
remained  on  the  farm  of  liis  parents  in  Har- 
ford county  until  he  was  of  age,  when  he 
removed  to  Baltimore,  and  soon  thereafter  to 
Lancaster,  Pa.     When   the  seat  of  govern- 
ment was  removed  from  Lancaster  to  Harris- 
burg  he  came  to  the  latter  place,  and  resided 
there  up  to  tiie  time  of  his  death.     In  1817 
he  married   Mary  Kirkwood,  who  was  born 
in  Armagh,  L-eland,  of  Scotch-Irish  parents, 
and   emigrated  to  this  country  when  seven 
years   of  age.     Their  children    were   John, 
Mary,     wife    of    Wells     Coverly,    William, 
Matilda,    wife    of    Charles   A.    Keller,   and 
James.     His  wife  died  in  1858,  and  in  1860 
he  married  Margaret  C.  Walmer,  of  Dauphin 
county,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue.     He  died 
March  5, 18G1,  and  of  his  children  none  now 
survive.    Immediately  ujion  leaving  Harford 
county,  Mr.  Calder  became  interested  in  lines 
of  stage-coaches  and  the  United  States  mail 
service,  and  for  fifty  years  this  was  his  chief 
business.     Up  to  the  time  of  the  sale  of  the 
public  works  of  Pennsylvania  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  Alexander  Wilson,  of  Lewistown, 
Jacob  Peters,  of  Philadelphia,  Silas  Moore,  of 
Hollidaysburg,  and  other  gentlemen  in  the 
"  Pioneer,"  ''  Good   Intent,"  and  "  Express  " 
companies  for  the  transportation  of  passen- 
gers and   mails  by  cars  and  canal  packet- 
boats.     He  never  lost  his  fondness  for  farm- 
ing and  live-stock,  and  maintained  several 
of  the  most  fertile  farms  in  Dauphin  count}'. 
Enterprises   for  the  development  of  the  re- 
sources of  the  country  and  particularly  the 
business  of  Harrisburg  received  his  support. 
He  built  many  houses,  favored  the  introduc- 


tion of  manufactures,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  possessed  an  ample  fortune. 

Wallace,  Joseph,  son  of  James  Wallace 
and  his  wife  Rachel  Elder,  was  born  in  Pax- 
tang,  March  29,  1786,  and  died  February  22, 
1867,  at  Harrisburg.     H  is  mother  was  a  niece 
of  Rev.  John  Elder.     Mr.  A\'allace  received  a 
good   English  education,  and  about  the  year 
1809  or   1810,  we  find   him  the  manager  of 
New  Market  Forge,  Lebanon  county,  for  John 
Elder,  subsequently  employed  at  Ho[)e  Fur- 
nace, in  Lancaster  county.     He  removed  to 
Harrisburg  prior  to  1812,  and  with  Joshua 
Elder  entered  into  mercantile  life;  afterwards 
in  business  alone   for  many  years.     In  the 
war  of  1812-14  he  volunteered  with  the  Har- 
risburg artillerists  and    marched    as  far  as 
York.     He  served  in  the  Harrisburg  borough 
council   and  was  treasurer  a  long  term    of 
years.     He  was  quite  prominent  as  an  Anti- 
Mason,  having  been  chairman  of  the  State 
committee  during  the  Ritner  campaign,  and 
afterwards  appointed  deputy  secretary  of  the 
Commonwealtii  under  that   administration. 
For  maii}^  years  he  was  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Harrisburg  Bridge  Company,  of 
the    Middletown    Turnpike    Company    and 
Peter's  Mountain  Turnpike  Company.     He 
was  a  gentleman  of  high  moral  character  and 
worth,  greatly  esteemed  in  the  community, 
and   ever  enjoyed   their  confidence  and   re- 
spect.    Mr.  Wallace  married.  May  28,  1816, 
Sarah   Evans  Cummins,  born   January   16, 
1787,  in  Chester  county.  Pa.;-  died  August  21, 
1858,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  with  her  hus- 
band there  buried. 


Shunk,  Gov.  Francis  Rawn,  the  son  of 
John  Shunk  and  Elizabeth  Rawn,  was  born 
August  7,  1788,  at  the  Trappe,  Montgomery 
county,  Pa.  His  father  was  the  son  of  Fran- 
cis Shunk,  who  emigrated  to  America  from 
the  Palatinate,  on  the  Rhine,  in  Germany, 
about  the  year  1715.  His  motiier  was  the 
daughter  of  Casper  and  Barbara  Rawn,  also 
emigrants  from  the  Palatinate.  The  mother 
of  Francis  Rawn  Shunk  was  a  woman  dis- 
tinguished for  her  kindness  and  attection, 
and  the  son  ever  spoke  of  her  in  terms  of  the 
most  devoted  attachment,  and  cherished  her 
memory  with  filial  piety.  Her  influence  no 
doubt  was  greatly  felt  in  the  formation  of 
his  early  character  and  its  subsequent  de- 
velopment His  father  was  a  man  of  strong 
and  stern  mind,  yet  naturally  facetious,  and 
fond  of  indulging  in  this  propensity. 


BA  UriIIN  CO  UNTY. 


209 


The  parents  of  Francis  R.  were  not  able 
to  furnish  the  means  or  spare  his  time  to  se- 
cure in  the  ordinary  way  even  the  rudi- 
ments of  an  education.  Much  of  his  chikl- 
liood  and  youth  was  devoted  to  manual 
labor.  At  the  early  age  of  fifteen  he  became 
a  teacher,  and  soon  after  the  instructor  of 
the  school  at  the  village  where  he  was  born. 
From  that  time  until  1812  he  seems  to  have 
been  employed  as  a  teacher  during  the  few 
months  of  the  year  the  school  continued, 
and  the  rest  of  the  time  as  a  laborer  in  the 
pursuits  of  agriculture.  The  intervals  of 
toil  were  devoted  to  the  improvement  of  his 
mind  in  every  useful  branch  of  study.  In 
1812  he  was  selected  by  Andrew  Porter,  then 
surveyor  general  under  the  administration 
of  Governor  Snyder,  to  fill  a  clerkship  in  his 
department.  While  thus  employed  he  com- 
menced and  prosecuted  the  study  of  the  law 
with  Thomas  Elder,  of  Harrisburg.  In  1814 
he  marched  as  a  private,  with  many  of  his 
fellow-townsmen,  to  the  defense  of  Baltimore. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  first  assistant,  and 
then  the  principal  clerk  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  for  many  years  per- 
formed with  great  fidelitj'  the  arduous  duties 
of  that  ofiice.  He  was  subsequently  elected 
secretary  of  the  board  of  canal  commis- 
sioners, and  served  in  that  capacity  during 
a  period  when  the  condition  of  our  public 
improvements  called  for  the  most  constant 
and  strenuous  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  com- 
missioners, and  rendered  the  situation  of 
their  secretary  anything  but  a  sinecure.  In 
1838  he  was  chosen  by  Governor  Porter  sec- 
retary of  State.  On  retiring  from  that  office 
he  removed  to  Pittsburg,  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  the  law.  In  1841  he  was  called 
from  his  retirement  by  the  voice  of  the 
people  of  the  Commonwealth  to  fill  the 
highest  office  in  their  gift.  He  so  conducted 
his  administration  as  their  chief  executive 
that  he  received  from  them  the  highest  ex- 
pression of  their  confidence  and  regard  by 
being  re-elected  witii  an  increased  majority, 
and  that,  too,  against  an  opposing  candidate 
uf  the  most  estimable  character,  whose  ex- 
alted virtues  and  worth  were  acknowledged 
by  all. 

But  he  had  scarcely  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  his  second  term  before  he  became 
the  victim  of  a  disease  which  in  its  earl}'  pro- 
gress excited  apprehensions  in  the  minds  of 
his  friends  that  it  might  prove  fatal.  The 
Governor  himself,  though  conscious  that  his 
disease  was  deep-seated,  yet  seemed  to  cherish 


with  confidence  the  hope  that  the  vigor  of 
his  constitution  and  the  skill  of  his  physician 
would  eventually  restore  him  to  health.  It 
was  not  until  the  morning  of  the  9th  of 
Jul}',  1848,  when  a  severe  and  copious  hemor- 
rhage from  the  lungs  took  place,  that  he  gave 
up  entirely  the  hope  of  life  and  felt  that  his 
days  were  indeed  numbered.  Upon  that 
day,  being  Sunday,  he  wrote  a  letter  of 
resignation — the  last  public  act  of  his  life. 

His  professional  attainments,  especially  in 
tlie  more  abstract  principles  of  law,  were 
large,  and  as  a  counselor  he  had  few  superiors. 
But  he  shrunk  from  the  personal  collision 
its  practice  in  the  courts  involved,  and  re- 
tired from  the  bar  to  engage  in  employments 
and  studies  more  congenial  with  his  taste. 

His  administration  as  the  chief  magistrate 
of  this  Commonwealth  shows  that  he  was  no 
novice  in  the  great  and  fundamental  princi- 
ples of  government.  His  state  papers  indi- 
cate that  he  had  deeply  stuiiied  the  ques- 
tions of  policy  involving  the  great  interests 
of  this  Commonwealth  and  the  country  at 
large,  that  he  had  looked  at  their  remote  as 
well  as  immediate  consequences,  and  con- 
templated their  influence  on  the  progress 
and  advancement  of  the  entire  community 
under  the  fostering  care  of  our  free  institu- 
tions as  well  as  their  adajitation  to  the  mere 
accumulation  of  gain.  The  opinions  which 
these  papers  contain  commend  themselves  to 
our  attention,  not  only  for  the  candor  with 
which  they  are  expressed,  but  for  the  reasons 
by  which  they  are  sustained. 

Our  common  school  system  had  a  deep 
hold  on  the  affections  of  his  heart.  He 
knew  it  had  many  imperfections,  particu- 
larly as  it  was  carried  into  operation  in  some 
of  the  rural  districts  ;  he  knew  it  was  not 
accomplishing  all  that  was  desirable,  but  he 
believed  it  would  yet  work  its  way  into  the 
confidence  of  the  people,  and  be  itself  tlie 
most  efficient  means  of  curing  many  of  its 
defects.  He  rejoiced  in  the  good  it  had 
effected,  and  with  a  generous  enthusiasm 
exulted  in  the  good  it  would  effect. 

We  should  do  signal  injustice  to  the  char- 
acter of  Governor  Slnuik  and  omit  one  of 
the  most  important  elements  of  his  success 
in  life  if  we  did  not  refer  to  his  moral  as 
well  as  intellectual  culture.  He  was  a  sin- 
cere, honest,  upright  man,  pure  in  his  pri- 
vate morals,  and  no  less  so  in  his  public 
character.  The  political  principles  and  i)ol 
icy  avowed  in  his  state  papers  were  sincerely 
entertained.     They   were    not  set  forth,  as 


210 


BIOaRAPlIWAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


some  who  knew  hiin  not  and  did  not  agree 
with  him  may  erroneous!}'  suppose,  to  please 
the  popular  taste.  He  never  courted  popu- 
lar favor  at  the  expense  of  sincerity  and 
truth.  The  proverbial  honesty  of  Governor 
Shunk  was  one  principal  cause  of  his  popu- 
larity, both  in  public  and  private  life.  There 
were  multitudes  who  did  not  properly  esti- 
mate his  intellectual  worth,  who  did  not 
adopt  many  of  his  political  views,  or  did  not 
belong  to  his  political  party,  who  yet  be- 
lieved him  to  be  an  honest,  upriglit  man  in 
whom  they  could  confide,  and  on  that  ac- 
count gave  liim  their  support. 


SiMONTON,  William,  son  of  Dr.  William 
Simonton  and  his  wife  Jean  Wiggins,  was 
born  in  1788,  in  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  and  died  May  17,  1846,  in  Han- 
over. At  the  death  of  his  father  lie  was 
only  twelve  years  of  age.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  received  under  the  direction  of  his 
mother,  and  consisted  of  the  branches  usu- 
ally taught  in  the  country  schools  of  that 
period.  As  he  was  inclined  to  the  medical 
profession,  he  studied  Latin  under  the  tui- 
tion of  the  Rev.  James  R.  Sharon,  pastor  of 
Derry  and  Paxtang  churches.  After  the 
usual  preliminary  instruction  uiuler  a  pri- 
vate preceptor,  he  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Samuel  Meyrick,  of  Middletown,  afterwards 
attending  lectures  of  tiie  Medical  Depart- 
ment, University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Phila- 
delphia, from  which  lie  received  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  In  the  distribution  of  property  re- 
sulting from  his  father's  death,  the  farm 
"Antigua  "  was  equally  divided  between  iiim 
and  his  brother,  Joiin  W.  Simonton.  The 
latter  occupied  tiie  homestead  until  his  death 
in  1824,  which  occurred  a  few  days  previous 
to  the  death  of  his  mother.  After  the  erec- 
tion of  the  necessary  buildings  in  1818,  he 
took  possession  of  his  new  home,  wliere  the 
remainder  of  his  life  was  spent.  While  his 
time  was  devoted  to  the  practice  of  medicine, 
the  farming  operations  were  carried  on  under 
his  superintendence.  He  always  took  an 
interest  in  political  affairs,  and  was  accus- 
tomed to  act  with  the  Whigs  in  opposition 
to  the  Democrats,  who  had  retained  posses- 
sion of  the  National  Government  from  the 
election  of  Andrew  Jackson  in  1824.  He  was 
elected  county  auditor  in  1823,  serving  three 
years,  and  in  1838  he  was  nominated  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress  from  the  district 
then  composed  of  the  counties  of  Dauphin 
and  Lebanon,  and  was  elected  by  a  large  ma- 


jority. He  was  re-elected  in  1840.  During 
the  extra  session  of  Congress,  held  in  the 
summer  of  1841,  Dr.  Simonton's  health 
gave  way.  Having  been  accustomed  to  an 
active  life  and  to  exercise  on  horseback, 
strict  attention  to  public  business,  with  con- 
finement to  the  atmosphere  of  Washington 
during  the  heated  term,  so  prostrated  him 
physically  that  he  was  unable  to  attend  re- 
gularly upon  the  sessions  of  1842  and  1843. 
He  never  fully  recovered  his  health,  thougii 
he  resumed  his  medical  practice,  which  was 
continued  nearly  three  years  after  the  close 
of  his  congressional  career.  In  person  Dr. 
Simonton  was  five  feet  eleven  inches  in 
height,  of  good  presence  and  proportions, 
with  regular  features  and  ver}'  black  hair, 
which  retained  its  color  to  tlie  last.  He  was 
a  modest,  diffident  man,  but  of  a  genial  and 
friendl}'  disposition.  For  some  years  pre- 
vious to  h's  death  he  was  an  elder  of  old 
Derry  church,  and  while  in  Washington  a 
member  of  the  Congressional  prayer-meet- 
ing. He  was  a  decided  Presbyterian  in  his 
faith,  and  ever  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  denomination  to  whicii  he  be- 
longed. He  was  a  strict  observer  of  the 
Sabbath  and  of  the  services  of  the  sanctuary. 
He  maintained  family  worship,  and  was 
careful  to  give  his  children  a  religious  train- 
ing. He  acquired  a  good  reputation  as  a 
physician,  and  for  many  years  had  an  ex- 
tensive country  practice.  Dr.  Simonton  mar- 
ried Martha  Davis  Snodgrass,  born  17U0 ; 
died  April,  1862;  daughter  of  Rev.  James 
Snodgrass,  of  Hanover. 


Porter,  Gov.  David  Rittexhouse,  the 
son  of  Andrew  Porter,  was  born  October  31, 
1788,  near  Norristown,  Montgomery  county, 
Pa.  He  received  his  early  education  at  an 
academy  in  Norristown,  where  the  branches 
of  a  good  English  education,  mathematics 
and  the  elementary  classical  studies,  were 
successfulh'  taught.  With  his  brothers 
George  and  James,  he  was  here  pursuing  a 
course  preparatory  to  entering  Princeton 
College,  when  the  buildings  of  that  institu- 
tion were  destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  purpose 
of  a  collegiate  course  was  abandoned.  When 
the  father  was  appointed  surveyor  general 
he  took  his  son  David  with  him  to  the  seat 
of  government  as  his  assistant.  While  thus 
employed  the  son  also  studied  law,  with  the 
intention  of  entering  upon  its  practice  at 
Harrisburg,  but  the  labor  and  confinement 
of  these  double  duties  were  too  severe,  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY 


211 


liis  health  was  so  much  impaired,  as  was 
thought,  to  preclude  tlie  possibility  of  his 
jairsuing  any  sedentary  employment,  lie 
decided,  therefore,  to  seek  more  active  occu- 
pation, and  removed  to  the  county  of  Hunt- 
ingdon, where  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  iron. 

The  Messrs.  Dorsey  then  owned  that  mag- 
nificent estate  known  as  the  Barree  Forges. 
Mr.  Porter  was  first  employed  by  them  for  a 
year  as  a  clerk,  and  during  the  following 
year  was  made  manager  of  their  works. 
Having  thus  acquired  an  acquaintance  with 
the  business,  he  embarked  in  it  on  his  own 
account,  in  partnership  with  Edward  Patlon, 
on  Spruce  creek,  but  so  great  was  the  depres- 
sion into  which  all  branches  of  manufactures 
fell  for  some  years  succeeding  the  war  of 
1812  that  their  enterprise  was  not  successful. 
He  continued,  however,  through  life  to  take 
a  deep  interest  in  all  that  related  to  the 
business. 

He  was  in  1819  elected  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  from  Huntingdon  county,  and  was 
returned  for  the  following  year,  having  as  a 
colleague  John  Scott,  father  of  the  present 
senator  of  the  United  States. 

On  retiring  from  the  Legislature  he  was 
appointed  by  the  governor  prothonotary  and 
clerk  of  the  several  courts  of  Huntingdon 
county,  and  to  these  were  afterwards  added 
the  offices  of  recorder  of  deeds  and  register  of 
wills.  There  was  then  little  business  in  these 
offices,  and  the  pecuniary  returns  were  mea- 
ger. He  had  in  1820  married  Josephine, 
daughter  of  William  McDermott,  who  had 
emigrated  from  Scotland  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  steel  bj'  a  new  process  and 
who  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  that  art. 

In  1836  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  Senate  from  the  district  then  composed 
of  the  counties  of  Huntingdon,  Mifflin,  Juni- 
ata, Perry  and  Union.  The  soundness  of  his 
judgment  and  the  readiness  of  his  under- 
standing made  him  an  acknowledged  leader. 

In  1838  Mr.  Porter  was  elected  governor 
of  I'ennsylvania,  and  in  1841  was  re-elected 
by  a  majority  almost  four  times  as  great  as 
that  given  at  his  first  election.  His  inaugu- 
ration as  governor  occurred  on  the  ISth  of 
January,  1839. 

Governor  Porter  took  much  interest  in  the 
success  of  the  system  of  common  schools  then 
in  its  infancy,  and  having  appointed  Francis 
R.  Shunk  superintendent,  devoted  with  him 
much  time  in  resolving  the  numerous  and 


difficult  questions  which  then  came  up  from 
the  county  officers  for  decision. 

His  efforts  to  sustain  the  credit  of  the  State 
and  to  secure  the  payment  of  interest  on  the 
public  debt  drew  upon  him  national  atten- 
tion, and  were  frequently  noticed  in  Europe, 
where  many  of  the  obligations  of  the  State 
were  held.  By  his  recommendation  the  act 
of  1840  was  passed,  requiring  the  interest  on 
tlie  State  debt  to  be  paid  in  specie  or  its 
equivalent.  One  of  his  last  acts  as  governor 
was  the  suppression  of  the  riots  which  occur- 
red in  Philadelphia  in  1844,  and  the  courage 
and  decision  displayed  on  his  taking  com- 
mand of  the  military  in  person  were  generally 
commended  and  long  remembered  by  men  of 
ail  parties.  Both  branches  of  the  city  coun- 
cil, then  opposed  to  his  administration,  hon- 
ored him  with  an  expression  of  their  thanks, 
and  a  resolution  unanimously  passed  by 
those  bodies  was  presented  to  hina  in  person, 
accomijanied  with  an  address  by  the  mayor 
of  the  city. 

Having  completed,  in  1845,  the  longest 
term  as  governor  allowed  by  the  new  Consti- 
tution, he  retired  from  public  life  and  re- 
turned to  his  favorite  pursuit  of  making  iron. 
Tlie  adaptation  of  anthracite  coal  to  the 
manufacture  of  this  metal  was  then  almost 
unknown,  and  having  given  much  reflection 
to  the  subject  and  made  many  practical 
experiments,  he  erected  at  Harrisburg,  at  a 
large  cost,  the  first  anthracite  furnace  built 
in  that  portion  of  the  State. 

He  was  for  many  years  the  friend  of  the 
late  President  Buchanan,  and  the  correspon- 
dence which  they  maintained  for  a  long 
period  shows  how  frequently  that  statesman 
consulted  him  on  questions  of  national  in- 
terest and  how  greatly  he  relied  upon  his 
judgment. 

There  was  another  public  man  with  whom 
his  intimacy  was  even  closer,  Gen.  Sam. 
Houston,  of  Texas,  whose  career  as  a  military 
commander,  an  executive  officer,  and  effective 
orator  is  yet  fresh  in  the  public  recollection. 

Mr.  Porter  returned  to  his  home  in  Harri.s- 
burg  and  contributed  his  influence  to  sustain 
the  government  in  the  fierce  conflict  which 
had  commenced.  He  scouted  the  doctrine 
of  secession.  To  encourage  others  he  should- 
ered his  musket  at  the  age  of  more  than 
seventy  years,  and  with  the  3'oung  men  of 
the  town  joined  in  military  drill.  He  re- 
joiced greatly  over  the  success  of  the  Union 
arms. 

During  the  winter  of  1867,  while  attend- 


212 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ElSfCYCLOPEDIA 


ing  at  niglit  a  meeting  of  Ins  cliurcli.  lie  con- 
tracted a  severe  cold.  Wliile  others  regarded 
the  attack  as  light,  he  believed  that  it  would 
prove  fatal  and  began  to  prepare  for  the 
approaching  change.  During  the  succeeding 
summer  he  was  able  to  walk  out,  but  in  tiie 
beginning  of  August  his  strength  declined. 
With  great  composure  and  even  cheerfulness 
he  arranged  several  matters  of  business  and 
conversed  calmly  of  his  approaching  end. 
On  the  6th  of  August, surrounded  by  several 
children  and  a  devoted  wife,  his  hands  hav- 
ing been  folded  on  his  breast,  he  thanked 
those  about  him  for  their  kindness  and  duti- 
fulness  and  composed  himself  as  if  to  fall 
asleep.  As  one  and  another  passage  of 
Scripture  was  repeated  he  expressed  his  as- 
sent, until  the  pulse  became  still  and  the 
aged  heart  ceased  to  beat.  He  had  passed 
away  as  gently  as  a  child  falls  to  sleep  in  its 
mother's  arms.  The  ))ublic  business  was,  at 
the  request  of  the  governor  of  the  Common- 
wealth, generally  suspended.  Large  num- 
bers of  citizens  came  from  every  section  of 
the  State  to  pay  to  his  memory  the  last  sad 
tribute  of  their  respect. 

Ayrks,  William,  son  of  John  Ayres  and 
Jane  Lytle,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  was 
born  December  14,  1788,  at  the  eastern  base 
of  Peter's  mountain,  Dauphin  county,  where 
his  grandfather  (whose  name  he  bore)  had 
settled  in  October,  1773.  The  locality  is 
noted  as  the  commencement  of  the  old  road 
over  the  mountain.  William  was  endowed 
with  rare  native  energy  and  unfailing  j)cr- 
severance,  but  his  opportunities  for  educa- 
tional improvement  were  meager  indeed  ;  he 
was  indeed  self-educated.  His  first  venture, 
apart  from  the  business  of  his  father's  farm, 
was  an  engagement  with  James  S.  Espy, 
merchant  at  Harrisburg,  in  1816.  During 
his  two  3'ears'  residence  there  he  married 
Mary  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  of  Hon. 
Jacob  Bucher,  May  6,  1817. 

The  next  year  he  was  induced  to  return 
to  Peter's  mountain,  where  he  kept  the  hotel 
at  the  crossing,  assisted  in  conducting  the 
farm,  and  became  justice  of  the  peace  Decem- 
ber 13,  1819.  He  was  elected  major  Second 
battalion  of  the  Sixteenth  regiment,  and  com- 
missioned February  22,  1822. 

Looking  forward,  however,  to  making  the 
law  his  profession, he  removed  to  Harrisbui'g 
in  1824,  and  resided  along  the  river,  just 
above  the  town.  Here  he  acted  as  a  justice 
both  for  the  borough  of  Harrisburg  and  for 


Lower  Paxtang  and  Susquehanna  townships ; 
while  at  the  same  time  he  pursued  his  legal 
studies  under  Samuel  Douglas,  Esq.,  an 
eminent  member  of  the  Dauphin  bar. 

He  was  admitted  to  practice  May  3,  1826, 
and  his  private  docket  shows  him  to  have 
been  successful  from  the  start.  He  had  a 
very  large  acquaintance  in  the  "  Upper  End," 
was  able  to  speak  German,  and  otherwise 
possessed  many  qualifications  then  valued 
and  essential  to  practice  with  profit.  The 
celebrated  McElhenny  murder  case,  in  which 
he  saved  his  client  from  the  gallows,  gave 
him  a  marked  prominence. 

He  was  also  attorney  for  various  officers 
of  the  county,  turni)ike  companies,  etc. 

He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1833- 
34,  and  again  for  the  session  of  1834-35. 
During  tliis  time  he  was  the  coadjutor  of 
Tliaddeus  Stevens  in  his  great  conflict  against 
the  powers  of  darkness  and  ignorance  for 
the  establishment  of  the  common  school 
system  of  1834.  The  friendship  of  Ayres 
and  Stevens  here  begun  lasted  through  life. 

In  1S39  William  Ayres  was  elected  to  the 
town  council,  and  the  circumstance  proved 
a  fortunate  one  for  Harrisburg.  He  at  once 
brought  his  great  energies  to  bear  on  a  pro- 
ject for  the  introduction  of  Susquehanna 
water  into  the  borough.  The  idea  seemed 
so  premature  that  it  was  deemed  fanciful  and 
impracticable.  Nevertheless,  he  alone  was 
the  means  of  its  accomplishment,  which  he 
did  by  borrowing  funds  from  the  United 
States  Bank,  of  which  he  was  then  a 
director.  Harrisburg  received  water  in 
seven  months'  time  from  breaking  ground, 
and  this  despite  of  nmch  opposition  from  the 
old  fogies. 

His  directorship  in  the  United  States  Bank 
(at  Philadelphia)  was  at  the  invitation  of 
the  famous  Nicholas  Biddle,  who  presented 
him  with  stock  and  had  him  elected  ;  hav- 
ing selected  him  as  "  a  country  gentleman 
to  complete  the  board  of  directors." 

Having  thus  embarked  in  pubic  enter- 
prise, even  to  the  great  sacrifice  of  his  legal 
practice,  he  next  sought  to  obtain  a  free 
bridge  over  the  river,  but  he  could  not  ob- 
tain sufficient  aid  in  subscriptions  to  buy 
out  the  old  company.  He  was  mainly  in- 
strumental in  getting  up  the  new  prison  to 
replace  the  old  jail. 

He  was  an  active  supporter  of  General 
Harrison  for  President,  and  the  Harrison 
letters,  still  preserved,  show  that  William 
Ayres  was  his  confidential  friend  at  the  cap- 


DAUrniN  COUNTY. 


213 


ital  of  Pennsylvania.  He  bad  been  also  tbe 
advocate  of  Governor  Ritner,  wbose  confi- 
dential correspondence  is  also  preserved. 

The  successful  introduction  of  water  en- 
couraged him  to  attempt  tbe  formation  of  a 
gas  company  at  Harrisburg,  and  baving  ob- 
tained an  act  of  incorporation  he  went  vig- 
orously to  work,  as  was  ahvi. ys  his  way,  and 
Harrisburg  was  lighted  with  gas. 

The  incorporation  of  tbe  Pennsjdvania 
railroad,  about  1846,  was  a  project  in  which 
he  was  much  interested,  and  he  gave  his 
time  and  services  on  the  "  Hill  "  gratuitously. 

By  this  time  there  was  not  a  man  in  Cen- 
tral Pennsylvania  more  widely  known  for 
his  spirit,  energy  and  capacit}'  in  matters  of 
public  improvement.  As  a  result  be  was  en- 
gaged by  the  citizens  of  Huntingdon  to  lead 
a  project  in  their  coal  region — the  Hunting- 
don and  Broad  Top  railroad.  After  securing 
the  necessary  legislation  lie  was  elected  pres- 
ident January  10,  1853.  He  was  obliged  to 
spend  so  much  of  his  time  at  Huntingdon 
that  he  could  only  give  the  road  a  good  start, 
but  he  left  bis  completion  to  others.  He  re- 
linguisbed  his  position  with  honor,  the  com- 
pany voluntarily  presenting  him  two  tliou- 
sand  dollars  in  cash  and  stock. 

He  immediately  took  up  a  more  convenient 
enterprise,  the  Harrisburg  and  Hamburg- 
railroad,  a  rival  line  to  the  Lebanon  Valley 
railroad.  He  became  president  of  the  com- 
pany, obtained  subscriptions  and  had  tbe 
route  surveyed,  with  the  intention  of  begin- 
ning active  operations  in  the  spring  of  185G. 
Tbe  winter  of  1855-56  was  devoted  to  office 
work  by  the  engineers  at  Jonestown. 

But  William  Ayres'  iron  constitution  was 
crumbling  by  tbe  insidious  action  of  heart 
disease.  He  was  unable  to  give  bis  own  ac- 
tive dutj'or  instill  his  own  energy  into  others, 
and  tbe  railroad  languished  just  when  it 
should  have  progressed. 

Mr.  Ayres  died,  after  some  mouths'  illness, 
May  26,  1856.  His  fellow-citizens  united 
with  his  associates  of  tiie  bar  in  attesting  the 
loss  of  one  in  whom  tlie  capital  of  Pennsyl- 
vania found  her  most  enterprising  citizen, 
ever  ready  to  sacrifice  for  the  public  good, 
and  one  who,  having  many  opportunities  to 
have  made  himself  rich,  could  never  l)e 
tempted  or  In-ibed,  proved  unflincliingly 
honest  and  died  poor. 


Paxtang  ;  d.  September  21,  1858,  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa.  He  passed  liis  youth  partly  at 
Harrisburg  and  partly  at  Erie,  where  bis 
fatlier  removed  about  1799.  He  studied  law 
witli  bis  uncle,  Samuel  Laird,  at  Harrisburg, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Dauphin 
county,  at  May  term,  1814.  He  marched 
witii  the  volunteers  from  this  section  of  the 
State  to  Baltimore,  in  1814,  and  was  elected 
or  appointed  brigade  major  of  the  brigade 
commanded  by  his  uncle.  Gen.  John  Forster. 
After  bis  return,  he  practiced  law  at  Harris- 
burg, and  was  deput}'  attorne,y  general  for 
tbe  counties  of  Dauphin  and  Lebanon,  un- 
der tiie  administration  of  Governor  Hiester, 
Thomas  Elder  being  attorney  general.  Upon 
tiie  occasion  of  General  Lafayette's  visit  to 
Harrisburg,  be  commanded  tlie  military.  He 
was  president  of  tiie  Branch  Bank  of  Penn- 
sylvania at  Harrisburg,  until  it  was  discon- 
tinued. He  represented  tliis  judicial  district 
in  the  first  Board  of  Revenue  Commissioners, 
convened  in  1844,  to  equalize  taxation  be- 
tween the  several  counties  of  the  State,  and 
was  elected  secretary  of  the  board  at  tiie 
session  of  1847  and  1850.  In  1846  he  was 
commissioned  hy  Governor  Sbuiik  as  presi- 
dent judge  of  the  counties  of  Chester  and 
Delaware,  and  served  for  several  months  in 
this  capacity.  Major  Forster  married  Jen- 
nette  Wright,  born  1790,  in  Paterson,  N.  J.; 
died  July  30,  1880,  at  HarrLsburg,  Pa., 
daughter  of  John  Wright  and  Rose  Cham- 
bers. 


Forster,  John  Montgomery,  son  of  Col. 
Thomas  Forster  and  bis  wife  Sarah  Pettit 
Montgomery,  was  born    June  21,  1789,  in 


Albright,  Mrs.  Frances,  daughter  of 
Charles  Gemberling,  was  born  about  1789. 
Her  father  came  to  Harrisburg  about  1793 
and  establislied  iiimself  in  business.  Frances 
received  an  excellent  education  and  on  July 
20,  1809,  married  Lieut.  Jacob  W.  Albright, 
of  the  U.  S.  army,  who  was  then  in  the  re- 
cruiting service  at  Harrisburg.  Lieutenant 
Albrigiit  was  appointed  from  Pennsylvania 
ensign  of  the  First  Infantry  March  6,  1806; 
promoted  second  lieutenant  November,  1807; 
first  lieutenant  August  26,  1812;  district 
paymaster  September  4,  1813;  disbanded 
June  15, 1815  ;  appointed  paymaster  Second 
Infantry  July  9,  1816;  resigned  May  13, 
1823.  He  died  at  Erie  about  1830.  After 
tlie  death  of  her  busljand,  Mrs.  Albright 
began  teaciiing  school,  and  until  tbe  estab- 
lishment of  the  common  school  system  was 
quite  successful.  Subsequently  she  received 
the  appointment  of  teacher  in  one  of  tbe 
[)ublic  schools,  where  she  remained  until  her 


214 


BIO GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL OPEDIA 


advanced  3'ears  compelled  her  to  resign. 
Mrs.  Albright  was  a  conscientious  and  faith- 
ful teacher,  and  the  writer  of  this  brief 
sketch  holds  her  memor}'  in  reverence  as 
being  his  first  tutor.  Besides  this,  she  was 
a  strict  Presbyterian  of  the  old  school,  ex- 
emplary in  her  faith  and  belief.  She  died 
at  Harrisburg,  October  13,  1802,  aged  about 
seventy -three  years. 

Hays,  Samuel  Wallace,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 30,  1790,  at  Newville,  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.;  died  May  18,  1855,  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa.  He  received  the  education  so 
freely  given  by  the  Scotch-Irish  to  their 
children.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1821, 
where  he  resided  until  1825,  when  he  went 
to  Pliiladelphia,  returning  to  the  former 
place  in  1828,  which  from  that  period  be- 
came his  permanent  liome.  Mr.  Hays  then 
began  business,  which  he  successfully  carried 
on  until  a  few  years  prior  to  his  death.  He 
was  an  earnest,  laborious  worker  in  his 
church  (Presbyterian),  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  ruling  elders  from  1840  to  his  decease. 
For  a  period  of  twenty -seven  years  he  was 
superintendent  of  the  first  infant  Sunday- 
school,  which  he  organized  in  1828,  in  Plar- 
risburg,  and  only  relinquished  its  care  when 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  give  up  his 
charge.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Robinson  bears  tliis 
testimony  of  him  :  "  I  remember  him  as  a 
quiet,  modest  man  and  patient  sufferer.  The 
little  I  knew  of  him  endeared  him  to  me. 
.  .  .  He  was  a  warm  friend  and  lover  of 
the  young,  kind  and  genial  in  his  intercourse 
with  them,  and  an  admirable  teacher."  Mr. 
Hays  married,  September  2,  1834,  Margaret 
Rebecca  Moore,  born  August  7,  1800 ;  died 
February  8, 1851,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  daugh- 
ter of  Arcliibald  Moore  and  Rebecca  Junkin, 
of  Locust  Grove,  Mifflin  county,  Pa. 


fifty-seven  years.  Mr.  Bell  married,  in  1819, 
Elizabeth  Hutman,daughter  of  Matthias  and 
Catharine  Hutmau  ;  born  in  1792 ;  died  Feb- 
ruary 28, 1808,  at  Harrisburg.  Their  children 
were  Catliarine,  George,  William,  Maria, 
married  Edward  Curzon,Ann,and  Elizabeth. 


Bell,  Wilt.iam,  was  born  at  Jaysburg, 
Pti.,  in  1790.  His  education  was  limited,  and 
was  in  early  life,  owing  to  the  accidental 
death  of  his  father  by  drowning,  apprenticed 
to  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  came  to 
Harrisburg  during  the  erection  of  the  capitol, 
and  was  employed  by  Mr.  Hills  until  its  com- 
pletion. He  carried  on  the  business  until 
1829,  when  he  established  a  grocery,  which 
he  conducted  until  his  death.  He  served 
frequently  as  a  member  of  the  borough 
council,  and  took  a  deep  interest  in  tiie 
prosperity  of  his  adopted  home.  He  died  at 
Harrisburg,  on  the  20th  of  May,  1847,  aged 


Awl,  Jacob  Michael,  son  of  Jacob  Awl 
and  Sarah  Stroh,  was  born  February  24, 
1792,  in  Paxtang.  He  was  a  grandson  of 
tlie  preceding  early  settler.  His  father  dying 
in  his  infancy,  he  was  raised  on  the  farm  of 
his  maternal  grandfather,  Michael  Stroh.  In 
early  life  he  settled  in  Harrisburg,  where  lie 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying 
there  on  the  5th  of  September  1849 ;  was 
long  a  leading  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  ;  atthe  time  of  his  death  the  Demo- 
cratic Union  said  he  was  "a  gentleman  of 
the  purest  piety  and  strictest  integrity  in  all 
his  intercourse  with  his  fellow  men;"  while 
the  Keystone  stated  that  "no  man  enjoyed  in 
a  higher  degree  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  the  community" — that  "  his  life  had  been 
a  continual  exemplification  of  what  the  walk 
and  conversation  of  a  Cliristian  should  be." 
Mr.  Awl  served  as  a  solder  in  the  war  of 
1812-14.  He  married,  April  27, 1824,  Fanny 
Horning,  born  Februarv  17, 1803;  died  July 
12,  1809,  at  Harrisburg" 


Stewart,  David,  born  October  30, 1792,  in 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  and 
died  May  29, 1809,  at  Coleraine  Forges,  Hunt- 
ingdon county.  Pa.;  buried  in  the  Spruce 
(-'reek  cemetery  at  Graysville.  He  was  twent}'- 
one  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  exodus  of 
the  family  from  Hanover  to  Centre  count}'  in 
1813.  He  became  the  general  manager  at 
Pennsylvania  Furnace,  and  subsequentlj' 
entered  the  firm  under  the  title  of  Shorb, 
Stewart  &  Co.,  which,  was  synonymous  with 
that  of  Lyon,  Shorb  &  Co.,  Pittsburgh,  manu- 
facturers of  the  famed  Juniata  iron.  Mr. 
Stewart  was,  undoubtedly,  the  most  ptromi- 
nent  and  wealthy  member  of  this  large  family ; 
resided  at  Coleraine  Forges,  Huntingdon 
county,  from  1831  until  his  death.  His 
house  was  noted  for  its  elegant  and  liberal 
hospitality.  In  person  he  was  large  and  im- 
posing, showing  traits  of  his  Scotch  ancestry', 
and  was  the  last  of  his  father's  family,  a  long 
lived  race,  and  it  may  be  noted  that  from  the 
birth  of  his  eldest  brother,  Robert,  to  the  date 
of  his  own  death,  embraced  a  jieriod  of  nearly 
one  hundred  vears.  He  married,  May  22, 
1822,Sarah  Walker,daughterof  John  Walker 


DA  UPH IN  C 0  UNTY. 


217 


and  Ann,  his  wife,  of  Alexandria,  Hunting- 
don count}-,  Pa.,  originally  from  county  Stra- 
bane  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  She  was  born 
September  23,  1790,  and  died  at  Coleraine 
Forges,  April  24,  1874,  having  survived  her 
husband,  b}'  whose  side  she  now  lies  buried. 


BucHER,  John  Conrad,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 28,  1792;  died  October  26,  1851.  In 
early  life  was  engaged  in  merchandising ; 
in  1830  elected  to  represent  Dauphin  and 
Lebanon  counties  in  the  Twenty-second 
Congress  of  tiie  United  States ;  appointed 
by  Governor  Porter,  in  1839,  an  associate 
judge  of  the  courts  of  Dauphin  county, 
which  office  he  lield  for  twelve  years. 
He  was  a  man  of  enlarged  views  and  of 
public  spirit,  unsullied  reputation  and  un- 
impeachable integrity,  engaged  in  all  the 
public  enterprises  of  his  day,  and  held 
various  positions  of  honor  and  responsi- 
bility. Many  years  a  school  director  and 
president  of  the  board  of  education  of  his 
native  city,  Harrisburg.  A  member  and  an 
officer  of  the  German  Reformed  congregation 
at  home,  he  was  one  of  the  leading  laymen 
in  the  ecclesiastical  councils  of  the  churcli ; 
treasurer  of  one  of  its  boards  and  of  its  theo- 
logical seminary.  Judge  Bucher  married, 
January  17,  1S20,  Ellen  Isett,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Isett,  of  Huntingdon  county.  Pa.  ; 
born  September  10,  1797 ;  died  March  C, 
1881 ;  both  buried  in  Harrisburg  cemetery, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders. 


He  was  a  man  of  mucli  energy  of  char- 
acter in  whatever  business  he  engaged.  Dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812-14  he  went  as  fifer  in 
Captain  Walker's  company,  which  marched 
to  tlie  defense  of  Baltimore,  and  in  his  old 
age  served  as  a  volunteer  for  the  defense  of 
Harrisburg  wiien,  in  1803,  it  was  threatened 
by  General  Lee,  He  frequently  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  borough  council,  and  took  a  deep 
interest  in  the  prosperity  of  his  adopted 
town.  He  died  at  Harrisburg  September  28, 
1863.  Mr.  Holman  married,  in  1822,  Saraii, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Hertz  and  Elizabeth  Kis- 
ner;  born  at  Harrisburg,  Decembers,  1800, 
and  there  died  October  22,  1868.  They  had 
tivechildren  living  at  the  time  of  their  death  : 
Ann  Elizabeth,  married  Samuel  Alleman, 
Rev. Samuel  Augustus,  William  Simon,  Mary 
Ellen,  married  Dr.  A.  L.  Alstead,  and  Sarah 
Frances,  married  George  A.  Klugh. 


HoLMAN,  Samuel,  son  of  Conrad  Holman, 
Jr.,  and  Rachel  Guss,  was  born  in  Chester 
county.  Pa.,  January  11, 1793.  Conrad  Hol- 
man, Sr.,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  New 
Castle  county,  Del.,  in  1738,  and  died  at  tiie 
residence  of  his  son  in  Perry  county.  Pa.,  in 
1822.  Conrad,  Jr.,  born  in  ( Chester  county  in 
1768,  died  in  Perry  county  in  1841 ;  he  mar- 
ried Rachel,  daughter  of  Charles  Guss  and 
Mary  Shunk.  Samuel  learned  the  trade  of 
house  carpenter,  and  came  to  Harrisburg 
after  his  majority,  wiiere  he  successfullj'  pur- 
sued his  business  and  was  widely  known  as 
a  builder  and  architect.  Among  the  public 
works  constructed  under  bis  supervision  and 
according  to  plans  were  bridges  over  the  Sus- 
quehanna at  Clark's  Ferry  and  Harrisburg, 
and  over  the  Sciiuylkill  river  at  Schuylkill 
Falls.  He  was  tlie  architect  for  the  court 
houses  at  Lewistown  and  Harrisburg.  For 
several  years  he  was  supervisor  of  the  public 
works  between  Columbia  and  Millerstown. 
i8 


Cameron,  John,  son  of  Charles  Cameron 
and  Martha  Pfoutz,  was  born  February  S, 
1797,  in  the  village  of  Maytown,  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  He  received  tlie  ordinary  edu- 
cation of  the  public  schools  of  tiie  towii,  and 
at  an  early  age  apprenticed  to  tlie  trade  of  a 
tailor.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1816, 
where  he  started  in  business.  Governor 
Sliulze  appointed  him  register  and  recorder 
of  the  county  of  Dauphin,  January  17, 1824. 
He  was  frequently  chosen  member  of  the 
borongli  council  of  Harrisburg.  He  subse- 
([uently  engaged  in  merciiandizing,  dealt 
largely  in  cattle,  and  became  interested  in 
the  through  stage  lines.  In  1837  he  re- 
moved to  Lancaster,  retired  from  business, 
and  died  there  May  7,  1841;  buried  at  Har- 
risburg. Mr.  Cameron  was  twice  married — 
first,  to  Catharine  Hutman,  daughter  of 
Mattliias  Hutman,  of  tiarrisburg,  born  Sep- 
tember 1,  1796,  died  November  1,  1821 ;  sec- 
ondly, to  Mary  Sliulze,  of  Myerstown,  Leb- 
anon county,  a  sister  of  Gov.  Jolm  Andrew 
Sliulze.  He  left  a  son  and  a  daugiiter  ;  the 
former  died  early,  the  latter  became  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  of  Lancaster.  Mr.  Cam- 
eron was  quiet  and  unobtrusive,  an  intelli- 
gent and  enter[)rising  liusiness  man. 


Herr,  Col.  Daniel,  was  born  on  the  14th 
of  December,  1795,  at  Hagersiown,  Md.  His 
ancestors  were  among  the  first  settlers  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  from  whence  the 
family  name  has  become  wide-spread. 
Daniel  learned  the  trade  of  a  liouse  carpenter, 


218 


Bl  0  GRA  PHICA  L  ENUYCL  OFEDIA 


an  -occupation  he  pursued  several  j'ears. 
During  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain  he 
was  lieutenant  colonel  of  a  volunteer  regi- 
ment in  active  service.  In  later  life  he  fol- 
lowed hotelkeeping.  He  kept  the  Tremont 
House  at  Philadelphia,  the  Mansion  House 
at  Reading,  and  that  famous  hostelry,  Herr's 
Hotel,  now  the  Locliiel,  at  Harrisburg.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  during  the  Anti-Masonic 
crusade  never  swerved  from  his  allegiance 
to  the  fraternity,  being  master  of  his  lodge 
from  1835  to  1838,  inclusive.  He  was  a  man 
pure  in  purpose,  amiable,  kind,  and  generous 
hearted,  yet  firm  and  decided  as  to  opinions 
and  duty.  He  died  at  Harrisburg,  sincerely 
regretted,  on  the  lltli  of  July,  1857,  in  his 
sixty-second  year.  Colonel  Herr  married, 
February  15,  1820,  in  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  Sarah 
Gilbert,  daughter  of  Boise  Gilbert  and 
Susanna  Fox,  born  Februai'y  14,  1801,  and 
died  April  13,  1880,  at  HarrLsburg.  Their 
children  were  George  Isaiah,  d.  s.  p. ;  John 
Davenport,  married  Jane  Nancs^  Sutton ; 
Margaret  Ann,  married,  first,  Peter  Nagle 
Coleman,  second,  George  Leonard;  Amelia 
Matilda,  married  John  Peter  Ha.ssler ;  An- 
drew Jackson  ;  Jacob  Gilbert,  married  Mary 
Taylor;  Susanna,  married  Dr.  Jacob  G. 
Witstling;  Sarah  Isabella,  married  George 
Z.  Kunkel;  Daniel  B.;  William  Henry  Har- 
rison, d.  s.  p.;  Mary  Elizabeth,  married 
Charles  Lipps ;  Louisa  Irene,  married  Charles 
A.  Bannvart. 


BuRivE,  MiCHAKL,  was  bom  on  the  29th  of 
September,  1797,  in  Templetrathen,  county 
Tipperary,  Ireland.  Having  received  a  lib- 
eral education,  he  left  his  native  land  in  his 
eightcentii  year  for  Newfoundland,  where  an 
uncle  was  extensively  engaged  in  the  fish- 
eries off  that  coast.  There  he  remained 
only  a  brief  period,  being  eager  to  reach  the 
United  States.  His  first  destination  was  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  where  he  secured  a  position  as 
bookkeeper  for  a  prominent  contractor.  He 
here  gained  his  first  idea  of  a  business  which 
he  subsequently  successfullj'  followed.  In 
1824  he  secured  a  contract  on  the  Erie  canal, 
and  upon  its  completion  went  to  Akron,  0., 
to  construct  a  section  of  the  canal  at  that 
place.  From  thence  he  came  to  Pennsylva- 
nia, that  State  being  largely  engaged  in  per- 
fecting her  system  of  internal  improvements, 
and  a  wide  field  for  Mr.  Burke's  business 
energies  was  open  before  him.     Securing  the 


contract  for  that  portion  of  the  Juniata  di- 
vision of  the  Pennsylvania  canal  between 
Mexico  and  Lewistown  in  1829,  he  fixed  his 
])ermanent  home  at  Harrisburg.  Identify- 
ing himself  with  the  business  and  welfare  of 
the  town  of  his  adoption,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  borough  council,  and  in  the  estaV)lish- 
ment  of  the  first  system  of  water  works  took 
an  active  and  warm  interest.  During  a  por- 
tion of  this  period  he  was  president  of  the 
legislative  body  of  the  town,  and  on  several 
occasions  became  personally  responsible  for 
the  payment  of  loans  secured  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  water  works.  Upon  the 
comj)letion  of  the  through  transportation  to 
Pittsburgh  by  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  Mr. 
•Burke,  with  several  others,  commenced  a 
packet  line  from  Philadelphia  to  the  former 
place,  he  having  his  office  at  Harrisburg. 
He  also  became  interested  in  the  Portable 
line,  in  which  enterprise,  however,  he  sus- 
tained a  loss  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars; 
but  not  discouraged,  he  continued  in  other 
business  ventures.  The  first  or  pioneer  blast 
furnace  erected  at  Harrisburg  was  by  Mr. 
Burke  and  Governor  Porter.  It  was  erected 
along  the  line  of  the  Pennsylvania  canal 
above  State  street.  While  in  successful 
operation  several  years,  Mr.  Burke  withdrew 
from  the  firm,  owing  to  his  connection  with 
some  contracts  on  the  various  railroads  then 
building  in  the  State.  He  constructed  por- 
tions of  the  Pennsylvania  road  between  Har- 
ri.sburgand  Pittsburgh,  and  on  tlic  Northern 
Central,  between  Harrisburg  and  York.  He 
had  heavy  contracts  in  Massachusetts  and 
New  Hampshire,  and  was  also  engaged  in 
the  construction  of  reservoirs,  building  one 
at  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  18G0,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  erection  of  one  in  the  city  of  Wash- 
ington at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  died  at 
Harrisburg  on  the  15th  of  August,  1864,  in 
his  sixty-seventh  year.  Few  men  have  ex- 
hibited more  public  spirit  than  Mr.  Burke, 
and  during  his  entire  residence  at  Harris- 
burg he  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by 
his  fellow  citizens,  wiio  admired  his  energy 
and  remarkable  business  capacity.  To  those 
who  knew  him  best  he  was  kind,  obliging, 
genial,  and  noble-hearted.  Mr.  Burke  mar- 
ried, on  April  G,  1824,  Mary  A.  Fiuley,  of 
Lockport,  N.  Y.  Their  children  among 
others  have  been:  William  (deceased),  John 
Michael  (deceased),  George  Washington,  Jose- 
phine, married  James  Brady,  and  Martina, 
married  Edward  P.  Kearns. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


219 


Rehrer,  Thomas  Jefferson,  only  son  of 
Godfried  Rehrer  and  Eva  Leiss,  was  born 
November  8,  1797,  near  Rehrersburg,  Berks 
county, Pa.  Hisgrandi'ather, Godfried Relirer 
or  Roher,  settled  tliero  at  an  early  day.  Dur- 
ing the  French  and  Indian  wiU'his  residence 
was  on  the  direct  road  to  the  frontier  settle- 
ments. He  married  Magdalena  Etchberger, 
and  their  son,  Godfried  Rehrer,  born  17G9, 
represented  Berks  county  in  the  Legislature 
in  1817, 1820  and  1823.  Thomas  J.  received 
a  good  education,  was  brought  up  to  a  mer- 
cantile life,  but  subsequently  retired  to  his 
farm.  While  engaged  in  farming  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  in  which 
he  served  two  terms.  At  the  close  of  the 
last  session  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  hav- 
ing accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  Land  Office  of 
the  Commonwealth.  He  remained  in  that 
department,  with  the  exception  of  two  inter- 
vals of  three  years  each,  until  1866,  filling 
the  position  of  deputy  or  chief  clerk  under 
the  several  organizations  of  the  office.  His 
long  service  there  made  him  unusuall}' 
familiar  with  the  business,  and  its  bearing 
on  the  land  interests  of  the  State,  together 
with  his  faithful  attention  to  the  duties,  was 
appreciated  and  recognized  by  ail  who  had 
business  to  transact  in  the  survevor  general's 
oftice.  He  died  February  28, 1872,  at  Phila- 
delphia. Mr.  Rehrer  married  Salome  Weiser, 
daughter  of  John  Weiser  and  Elizabeth  An- 
spach,  born  January  3,  1799,  on  the  Conrad 
Weiser  farm,  about  twelve  miles  west  of 
Reading.  She  died  October  30, 1842,  at  Har- 
risburg, and  is  there  buried.  The  children 
were:  Clementine  M.,  Clara  S.,  married  Dr. 
George  Dock,  of  Harrisburg,  Miranda  E., 
married  Lewis  G.  Osbourn,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  Erasmus  Godfrev. 


Kendig,  Martin,  son  of  John  Kendig, 
was  born  December  31,  1797,  in  Sunbury, 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  died  August 
28, 1850,  near  Middletovvn,  Pa.  After  receiv- 
ing a  fair  education,  he  learned  the  trade  of 
saddle  and  harne.ss  making  at  Harrisburg, 
and,  upon  attaining  his  majority,  established 
the  business  at  Middletown,  carrying  on, 
with  his  brother  Daniel,  the  lumber  trade. 
Subsequently, in  company  with  the  latter  and 
Judge  Murray,  erected  a  large  saw  mill  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Swatara,  and  established  an 
extensive  business.  He  served  as  one  of  the 
auditors  of  the  county  from  1826  to  1828, 
and  represented  Dauphin  county  in  the 
Legislature  from  1837  to  1839.     Mr.  Kendig 


was  an  enterprising  citizen,  and  a  gentleman 
of  probity  and  worth,  highly  esteemed  in 
the  community,  and  influential  in  public  af- 
fairs. He  was  thrice  married ;  married, 
first,  June  15,  1820,  Rebecca  McFarland,  of 
Lower  Paxtang  townshi]),  Daujihin  count}', 
Pa.;  b.  June  28,  1800 ;  died  April  1,  1831. 

Harris,  George  Washington,  was  born 
June  23,  1798,  in  the  old  ferry  house,  now 
tlie  location  of  Harris  Park  school  hou.se. 
He  was  a  son  of  Robert  Harris,  who  was  a 
son  of  Joini  Harris,  the  founder  of  the  city 
of  Harrisburg,  and  grandson  of  John  Harris, 
the  first  settler.  His  mother  was  Elizabeth 
Ewing,  daughter  of  the  celebrated  Rev.  John 
Ewing,  D.  D.,  provost  of  the  Univei'sity  of 
Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Harris'  early  education 
was  received  at  the  old  Harrisburg  Academy 
and  the  select  schools  of  the  day.  Subse- 
quently he  went  to  Dickinson,  Jefferson  and 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  graduating 
at  tiie  latter  institution.  He  studied  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin  count}' 
bar  in  1820.  He  remained  at  Harrisburg 
several  j'ears,  during  a  portion  of  which 
period  he  served  as  deputy  attorney  general 
for  the  county  of  Dauphin.  He  afterwards 
removed  to  Philadelphia  and  entered  into 
law  partnership  with  Calvin  Blythe.  He 
returned  to  Harrisburg  and  resumed  his 
place  at  the  Dauphin  county  bar,  and  was 
appointed  reporter  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Pennsylvania,  publishing  a  series  of  volumes 
of  report.  For  a  number  of  years  he  filled 
the  position  of  secretary  to  the  library'  com- 
mittee of  the  United  States  Senate.  Mr. 
Harris  recently  edited  tiie  journal  of  Mr. 
Maclay,  one  of  the  first  United  States  sen- 
ators from  Pennsylvania.  He  died  at  Har- 
risburg Sunday  morning,  August  13,  18.82. 
Mr.  Harris  married  P]lizabeth  Mary, daughter 
of  Dr.  Henry  Hall  and  Hester  Maclay,  daugh- 
terof  Senator  Maclay  ;  his  wife  surviving  him 
at  near  fourscore. 


Cameron,  Gen.  Simon,  son  of  Charles 
Cameron  and  Martha  Pfoutz,  was  born 
March  8,  1799,  at  Maytown,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.  On  the  paternal  side  he  is  de- 
scended from  the  clan  Cameron,  of  Scotland, 
who  shared  their  fortunes  with  the  unfortu- 
nate Charles  Edward,  whose  star  of  hope 
sunk  on  the  field  of  Culloden.  Donald  Cam- 
eron, his  great-grandfather,  was  a  partici- 
pant in  that  memorable  battle,  and  having 
escaped  the  carnage  made  his  way  to  Amer- 


220 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


ica,  arriving  about  1745-46.  He  afterwards 
fought  under  tlie  gallant  Wolfe  upon  the 
Heights  of  Abraham,  and  during  the  war 
with  France  was  in  continuous  service.  His 
grandfather,  Simon  Cameron,  was  an  early 
associator  in  the  Revolution,  and  took  the 
oath  of  allegiance  .Jane  1,1778;  a  brother 
John  signed  the  same  day.  Of  the  latter 
General  Bingham,  of  Philadelphia,  is  a 
grandson.  On  the  maternal  side  he  is  de- 
scended from  Conrad  Pfoutz,  an  emigrant 
from  the  Palatinate,  German3^  He  settled 
in  Lancaster  county,  and  Pfoutz's  Valley,  in 
now  Perry  county,  perpetuates  the  name  of 
a  hero  of  the  border  warfare  of  Pennsylvania 
in  the  days  when  the  treacherous  Delawares 
and  perfidious  Sliawanese  sought  to  desolate 
tiie  homes  of  the  earl3'  pioneers  of  our  State 
— John  Pfoutz.  Charles  Cameron  and  Mar- 
tha Pfoutz  had  a  large  family,  yet  a  remark- 
able one,  and  the  history  of  our  country 
gives  but  few  instances  of  the  successful 
career  of  an  entire  family,  among  whom  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  most  prominent. 

When  young  Cameron  was  about  the  age 
of  nine  years  his  parents  removfed  to  North- 
umberland county,  where  his  father  shortly 
afterwards  dying,  he  was  early  cast  upon 
his  own  exertions.  There  were  then  few  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  public  schools,  and 
his  educational  facilities  were  exceedingly 
limited.  Having  an  unquenchable  fondness 
for  books,  young  Cameron  was  able  to  per- 
ceive no  other  means  so  likely  to  satiate  his 
appetite  as  a  printing  office,  it  seeming  to 
him  the  chief  center  of  thought  in  tlie  com- 
munity in  which  destiny  had  fixed  his  lot. 
He  therefore  entered,  in  1816,  as  an  appren- 
tice to  the  printing  business  with  Andrew 
Kennedy,  editor  of  the  Northumberland 
County  Gazette,  at  Northumberland,  where 
he  continued  one  year,  when  his  employer, 
owing  to  financial  reverses,  was  obliged  to 
close  his  establishment.  Being  thus  thrown 
out  of  employment,  he  made  his  wa\'  by 
river  boat  and  on  foot  to  Harrisburg,  where 
he  secured  a  situation  in  the  printing  office 
of  James  Peacock,  editor  of  the  RepubUcan, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majorit}'. 

In  January,  1821,  he  went  to  Doylestown, 
Pa.,  at  the  solicitation  of  Samuel  D.  Ingham, 
where  he  published  the  Bucks  County  Mes- 
senger. As  editor  of  this  paper  he  evinced  a 
breadth  of  information  which,  in  view  of  his 
limited  advantages,  seemed  astonishing.  In 
March  of  the  same  year  he  entered  into  part- 


nership with  the  publisher  of  the  Doylestown 
Democrat,  and  the  firm  merged  their  papers 
into  the  Bucks  County  Democrat,  which  pub- 
lication was  continued  until  the  close  of  the 
year  1821,  when  the  establishment  passed 
into  tiie  hands  by  purchase  of  Gen.  W.  T. 
Rodgers.  The  succeeding  winter  Mr.  Cam- 
eron spent  in  the  office  of  Messrs.  Gales  & 
Seaton,  publishers  of  the  National  Intelli- 
gencer, at  Washington,  as  a  journeyman 
printer.  He  returned  to  Harrisburg  in  1822, 
and  entered  into  partnership  with  Charles 
Mowry  in  the  management  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Intelligencer,  then  the  organ  of  the 
Democratic  party  at  the  State  capital,  and 
enjoyed  the  official  patronage  of  the  State 
administration,  and  was  elected  one  of  the 
printers  to  the  State,  a  position  he  held  seven 
3'ears.  Having  been  the  early  friend  and 
supporter  of  Governor  Shulze,  upon  his  ceas- 
ing to  be  State  printer,  he  was  honored  by 
that  executive  with  the  appointment  of  ad- 
jutant general  of  Penn.sylvania,  the  duties 
of  which  office  he  discharged  with  ability 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public. 

General  Cameron  at  an  early  period  took 
a  deep  interest  in  the  development  of  inter- 
nal improvements,  and  took  extensive  con- 
tracts upon  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  then  in 
process  of  construction.  In  1826  he  began 
building  the  section  between  Harrisburg  and 
Sunbur\-,  and  after  tiiis  was  well  under  way 
he  took  one  or  two  sections  on  the  western 
division  of  the  canal.  When  Louisiana  granted 
a  charter  to  the  State  Bank  of  that  Common- 
wealtiijit  provided  that  the  bank  should  build 
a  canal  from  Lake  Pontchartrain  to  New  Or- 
leans. General  Cameron  took  the  contract 
for  that  great  work,  which  was  then  regarded 
by  engineers  as  the  greatest  undertaking  of 
the  time.  In  1831  he  started  for  New  Or- 
leans. He  employed  twelve  hundred  men  in 
Philadeli>hia,  and  sent  tliem  by  sea  to  that 
city.  He,  with  his  engineers  and  tools,  went 
down  the  Mississippi  river,  embarking  at 
Pittsburgh.  He  spent  nearly  half  a  year 
upon  the  work,  and  demonstrated  beyond  a 
doubt  its  entire  feasibility.  He  was  recalled 
from  his  work  on  the  Lake  Pontchartrain 
canal  by  a  summons  from  Major  Eaton,  Sec- 
retary of  War  under  General  Jackson,  who 
requested  him  to  return  to  Pennsylvania  and 
organize  a  delegation  to  the  National  Con- 
vention, which  had  been  called  to  meet  in 
Baltimore.  This  was  in  the  interest  of  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren  for  the  Vice-Presidencj'.  Cal- 
houn had  served  eight  years,  had  quarreled 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


221 


witli  UeneralJackson  during  his  second  term, 
and  had  otherwise  put  liimself  in  antagonism 
to  tlie  prevailing  popularit_y  of  Jaclvson.  Gen- 
eral Cameron  respected  the  summons,  came 
home  and  organized  a  delegation  that  went 
to  Baltimore  in  the  interest  of  Mr.  Van  Buren 
for  the  Vice-Presidency.  This  was  the  first 
National  Convention  ever  held  in  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Cameron  was  requested  to  accept 
the  permanent  chairmanship  of  that  conven- 
tion, but  declined,  and  a  gentleman  from 
North  Carolina  was  selected. 

After  the  National  Convention  in  Balti 
more  he  was  appointed  a  visitor  to  West 
Point  by  General  Jackson,  and  upon  per- 
forming liis  duties  on  the  Hudson  he  made 
his  first  trip  to  New  England.  He  went  with 
a  brother  of  Bishop  Potter,  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  thoroughly  inspected  the  paper  mills 
and  other  manufactures  of  tliat  section. 

In  the  winter  of  1832  the  Legislature  char- 
tered the  bank  at  Middlelown,  and  he  be- 
came its  cashier.  From  the  first  the  bank 
was  successful,  but  the  duties  of  cashier  were 
so  limited  that  General  Cameron  sought 
otlier  fields  of  labor  and  usefulness,  although 
he  remained  there  twenty-five  years.  He 
projected  and  created  the  railroads  from  Mid- 
dletown  to  Lancaster,  from  Harrisburg  to 
Sunbury,  from  Harrisburg  to  Lebanon,  and 
at  the  same  time  gave  large  encouragement 
to  tlie  Cumberland  Valley  railroad.  And 
in  this  connection  it  may  be  stated  that  the 
Northern  Central  railroad  from  Harrisburg 
to  Baltimore  was  ca}ttured  by  him  from  Bal- 
timore interests  and  made  a  Pennsylvania 
institution ;  and  he  was  at  one  time  president 
of  not  less  than  four  corporations,  all  operat- 
ing lines  within  a  few  miles  of  the  spot  where 
he  was  born. 

In  1838  President  Van  Buren  tendered  to 
General  Cameron  the  appointment  of  a  com- 
missioner with  James  Murray,  one  of  the 
most  respected  citizens  of  Maryland,  under  a 
treaty  with  the  Winnebago  Indians  to  settle 
and  adjust  the  claims  made  against  the  In- 
dians by  the  traders.  The.'ie  claims  were  for 
goods  furnished  the  Indians  during  a  long 
period  of  years,  and  the  sum  approi>riated 
by  the  treaty  was  three  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  In  many  cases  the  commissioners 
found  the  claims  of  the  traders  unjust,  and 
every  account  allowed  by  them  met  with  the 
approbation  of  the  commissioner  appointed 
by  the  Indians.  In  the  settlement  of  some 
of  the  claims,  the  aggregate  amount  having 
been  reduced   from  over  a  million  to  about 


two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  the 
traders  refused  to  accept  the  award  and  went 
to  Washington  with  charges  against  the  com- 
missioners. It  had  been  the  usual  custom 
to  give  the  entire  appropriation  to  tlie  claim- 
ants, but  this  course  did  not  allow  of  any  di- 
vision. The  charges  were  met  by  a  demand 
from  the  commissioners  for  re-examination, 
which  resulted  in  the  appointment  of  a  new 
commission  the  next  year,  under  whose  di- 
rection the  Indians  were  assembled  in  coun- 
cil, who  approved  by  a  united  vote  of  their 
council  the  entire  acts  of  Messrs.  Cameron 
and  Murray,  and  the  account  thus  adjudged 
was  paid  b}'  the  Government. 

In  1845,  when  James  K.  Polk  tendered  the 
State  Department  to  James  Buchanan,  and 
that  gentleman  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Sen- 
ate of  the  United  States,  an  election  to  sup- 
ply the  vacanc}'  became  necessary.  General 
Cameron  was  at  this  time  in  recognized  sym- 
pathy with  the  Democratic  party, and  selected 
as  the  representative  of  the  wing  of  the  party 
which  favored  the  policj'  of  a  protective 
tariff.  The  regular  caucus  nominee  of  the 
Democracy,  however,  was  George  W.  Wood- 
ward, which  was  regarded  as  a  free  trade  tri- 
umph, rendering  it  i)0ssible  for  some  other 
Democrat  known  to  be  honestly  devoted  to 
the  ever-cherished  policy  of  the  State  to  be 
elected  by  a  union  of  the  Whigs,  Americans, 
and  those  Democrats  in  favor  of  the  protec- 
tive policy.  The  result  was  the  election  of 
Simon  Cameron  to  the  United  States  Senate. 
From  March,  1845,  to  March  4,  1849,  he 
served  his  State  faithfully  in  that  body,  and 
proved  himself  true  to  the  greatest  interests 
committed  to  his  charge, and  he  never  wearied 
in  the  support  of  the  principles  on  which  he 
was  elected.  It  may  be  here  stated  that  Pres- 
ident Polk  at  the  first  .seemed  inclined  to  ig- 
nore Mr.  Cameron,  declaring  his  election  to 
the  Senate  as  having  been  outside  the  party 
organization,  but  this  treatment  he  found  to 
his  cost  was  not  conducive  to  his  own  peace 
of  mind,  sent  for  General  Cameron,  made  a 
truce  with  him,  and  there  was  never  any 
more  trouble. 

In  the  winter  of  1857  the  entire  opposition 
members  of  the  Legislature,  consisting  of 
Whigs,  Native  Americans,  and  Tariff-Men, 
selected  General  Cameron  as  their  candidate 
to  fill  the  place  of  Senator  Brodiiead,  whose 
term  of  service  expired  on  the  4th  of  March 
that  year.  The  Democratic  caucus  nomi- 
nated Col.  John  W.  Forney,  then  the  inti- 
mate friend  of  President  Buchanan,  who  had 


222 


BIO  GRAPHICAL  ENGYVLOFEDIA 


written  a  letter  to  the  Legislature  naming 
him  as  his  choice  for  the  senatorship,  al- 
though a  large  portion  of  the  party  were  in 
favor  of  Henry  D.  Foster,  who  was  an  out- 
spoken tariff  man.  The  united  votes  of  the 
opposition,  with  three  Democratic  votes,  two 
from  Schuylkill  and  one  from  York,  in  which 
counties  General  Cameron  possessed  great 
strength  and  popularity  on  account  of  his 
firm  devotion  to  their  industrial  interests, 
were  cast  in  his  favor,  and  he  was  elected  for 
the  full  term.  He  took  his  seat  in  the  Senate 
on  the  4th  of  March,  notwithstanding  the 
futile  assault  made  by  his  colleague  from 
Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Bigler,  upon  his  title  to 
the  place,  and  which  that  body  refused  to 
consider.  General  Cameron's  return  to  the 
United  States  Senate  brought  him  again 
prominently  before  the  public,  and  in  the 
political  movements  which  preceded  the 
campaign  of  1860  he  was  named  as  the  choice 
of  Pennsylvania  for  the  Presiclency;  and  his 
name  early  associated  with  that  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln in  connection  with  the  Republican  na- 
tional ticket. 

General  Cameron's  national  career  began 
at  the  Chicago  convention  in  ISfiO,  when  the 
Republican  jiarty, crystallized  into  a  national 
organization,  made  its  open,  clear,  and  stern 
antagonism  to  slavery.  With  intuitive  sa- 
gacit}'  the  advocates  of  slavery  recognized 
in  the  Republican  party  the  force  which 
would  ultimately  overthrow  it,  and  men  like 
General  Cameron  were  recognized  as  the 
leaders  of  that  force.  There  was  no  mistak- 
ing the  measure  on  which  it  entered  on  the 
canvas  in  1<SG0.  Wlien  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
nominated  General  Camerom  made  himself 
felt  in  such  a  manner  as  to  win  the  confi- 
dence of  that  illustrious  statesman.  After 
the  great  political  battle  of  that  year,  General 
Cameron  was  the  first  of  those  to  whom  Mr. 
Lincoln  turned  for  coun.sel,  and  the  offer  of 
a  cabinet  office  by  the  latter  to  the  former 
was  a  voluntary  act,  and  that  appointment 
would  have  been  made  the  first  in  the  selec- 
tion of  his  cabinet  had  not  intrigues  inter- 
fered to  defer  it  at  the  time.  Mr.  Lincoln 
looked  on  General  Cameron  from  first  to 
last  not  only  as  his  political,  but  his  warm 
personal  friend,  and  there  were  no  such  rela- 
tions existing  between  the  President  and  his 
other  constitutional  advisers.  This  fact  was 
well  known  when  the  cabinet  was  organized. 
While  he  was  in  the  War  Department  his 
counsel  was  not  only  potential  in  cabinet 
meetings,  but  was  sought  by  the  President 


in  private,  and  heeded  in  such  a  marked 
manner  as  to  create  a  feeling  of  hostility, 
which  caused  the  Pi'esident  much  unpleas- 
antness. Then,  too,  believing  that  the  Civil 
war  would  require  all  the  available  resources 
of  the  Nation  to  preserve  the  Union,  doubt- 
ing the  speedy  settlement  of  the  trouble,  he 
began  as  Secretary  of  War  a  scale  of  prepa- 
rations to  combat  it  which  puzzled  the  oldest 
officers  in  the  army  and  chagrined  the  leaders 
of  the  Rebellion,  wlio  had  calculated  much 
on  the  supineness  and  lethargy  of  the  North- 
ern people.  General  Cameron  frustrated 
this  hope  by  his  energy,  but  he  had  the  cabi- 
net to  a  man  against  him.  When  he  sought 
to  furnish  the  necessary  supplies  for  the 
army  he  was  met  by  sickly  sentimentality 
about  settling  the  war  in  diplomacy.  The 
Confederates  resorted  to  the  ruse  of  diplo- 
macy by  means  of  commissioners  for  the 
purpose  of  retarding  this  activity,  but  at 
the  .same  time  General  Cameron  was  filling 
up  the  arsenals  which  had  been  dispoiled  by 
the  former  Secretary  of  War,  thus  supplying 
the  army  with  huge  quantities  of  ordinance 
and  commissary  and  quartermasters'  stores, 
etc.  Such  work  natural!)'  attracted  ihe  at- 
tention of  the  sordid,  excited  the  timid, 
aroused  the  jealous,  and  confounded  tlie  sus- 
picious. The  minister  who  thus  labored  to 
equip  his  country  for  a  struggle  with  trea- 
son, the  proportions  of  which  he  alone 
seemed  fully  to  appreciate,  was  assailed  for 
each  and  all  of  these  acts.  Mr.  Lincoln  had 
the  fullest  confidence  in  his  Secretarj'  of 
War;  he  believed  in  his  sagacity  and  relied 
on  his  courage,  but  he  could  not  wholly 
withstand  the  clamor,  the  outgrowth  of 
cowardice  on  the  one  side  and  the  cunning 
greed  of  adventurers  on  the  other,  so  that 
General  Cameron,  to  relieve  Mr.  Lincoln 
from  embarrassment,  resolved  to  resign,  and 
on  January  11,  1862,  returned  the  portfolio 
of  the  War  Department  to  the  President; 
but  in  that  act  he  commanded  the  renewed 
confidence  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  the  day  he 
accepted  his  resignation  nominated  the  re- 
tiring minister  for  the  most  important  diplo- 
matic mission  in  his  gift.  Nor  was  this  all; 
Mr.  Lincoln  insisted  that  General  Cameron 
should  name  his  own  successor,  an  act  which 
no  retiring  cabinet  officer  ever  did  before  or 
since.  The  mission  to  Russia  involved  the 
safe  and  sagacious  handling  of  our  relations 
with  the  Czar's  government  at  a  moment 
when  it  demanded  the  most  prudent  direc- 
tion.    The  kindly  relations  which  existed 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


223 


between  the  colossal  power  of  the  North 
and  the  orreat  republic  of  the  West  dated 
back  in  their  amity  when  Catharine  declined 
to  take  part  with  England  in  the  suppression 
of  American  Colonial  Revolution  for  inde- 
pendence. General  Cameron  restored  this  feel- 
ing, and  thus  frustrated  English  and  French 
intrigue  to  organize  an  alliance  with  Na- 
poleon III.  at  its  head  in  the  interest  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy.  The  country  never 
full}'  appreciated  this  fact,  because  it  was  a 
part  of  its  diplomacy  which  admitted  of  no 
correspondence.  This  object  accomplished, 
concluded  General  Cameron's  mission  to 
Russia.  There  was  in  fact  nothing  more  to 
do  in  St.  Petersburg  but  to  maintain  what 
had  been  established,  and  he  could  with 
safety  ask  for  his  credentials  and  retire. 

The  relations  between    Mr.  Lincoln  and 
Mr.  Cameron  were  always  most  cordial,  and 
immediately  upon  his  reaching  the  United 
States   the  latter  was  the  accepted  citizen- 
counselor  at  the  White  Hou.se.     At  this  time 
efforts  were  being  made  looking  to  defeating 
the  renomination  of  Mr.  Lincoln  for  a  second 
term.     It  was  a  period   of  great  solicitude 
to    the    President,    who  with  characteristic 
modesty  declined  to  make  any  movement  in 
his  own  behalf.     In  the  winter  of  18G4  the 
intrigue  referred  to  was  talked  of  in  political 
circles  at  Washington  as  a  success.     General 
Cameron    visited    the  national   capital    re- 
peatedly at  that  time,  and  on  reaching  his 
farm  after  a  return  from  one  of  these  visits 
had  a  paper  prepared,  embodying  the  merits 
of  Mr.  Lincoln  as  President,  acknowledging 
the  fidelity  and  integrity  of  his  first  admin- 
istration, and  declaring  that  his  renomina- 
tion and  re-election  involved  a  necessity  es- 
sential  to    the   success   of  the  war   for  the 
Union.      That  paper  was  submitted  to  the 
Republican  members   of  both  branches   of 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
every  one  of  whom  signed  it,  and  in  this 
shape  was  presented   to    Mr.   Lincoln,   and 
telegraphed    to    the   country    at   large.     Its 
publication  accomplished   all  that  the  fore- 
thought  of  its   originator   anticipated.     In 
three  weeks  after  the  issuing  of  this  letter,  it 
was  a  curious  spectacle  to  watch  the  precipita- 
tion with  which  the  Republicans  in  all   the 
States  hastened   to  declare  in   favor  of  Mr. 
Lincoln's  renomination  ;   so  that  when  the 
National  Convention   assembled  to   do  that 
act  there  was  no  opposition  to  him. 

From  1864  to  1866  General  Cameron  took 


a  very  active  part  in  the  politics  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, giving  to  the  organization  of  the  Re" 
publican  part}'  a  prestige  which  enabled  it 
to  bear  down  all  opposition.  He  was  the 
one  leader  of  that  [)arty  who  could  rally  it 
in  despondency  and  hold  it  in  fidelity  to  its 
pledges. 

In   1866  he  was  re-elected   to  the  United 
States  Senate,  a   position   he  held  a  longer 
term  of  j-ears  than  any  man  sent  to  the  same 
body   from  the  State  of  Pensylvania.     His 
influence  on  national  legislation  was  as  great 
as  that  of  any  man  that  ever  served  in  the 
Senate.     The  singularity  of  this  influence  is 
revealed  in  greater  force  when  it  is  remem- 
bered that  he  seldom  participated  in  debate. 
He  made  no  pretention   to  oratory,  but  his 
talk  was  sound,  his  argument  lucid,  and  his 
statement  of  fact  impregnable.      What    he 
lacked  in  fervid,  flashing  .speech  he  made  up 
in  terse,  solid   common   sense.      From    the 
time  he  entered  the  Senate  until  he  resigned 
his  seat  in   l377 — a   continuous   service  of 
eleven  years — he  was  recognized  as  one  of 
its  most  useful  and  reliable  members,  and  at 
the  date  of  his  resignation  was  chairman  of 
the  committee  on   foreign  relations,  a  posi- 
tion only  accorded  to  a  senator  of  admitted 
statesmanship.     He  was  foremost  always  in 
practical  legislation.     His  opinions  on  ques- 
tions of  commerce,  manufacturing,  finance, 
internal    improvements,   fortifications,    and 
the  public  domain  were  always  accepted  as 
guiding  counsel.     He  encouraged  the  build- 
ing of  the  first  Pacific  railroad,  was  a  warm 
supporter   of  opening   the   public  lands  to 
actual  settlers,  and  no  man  in  Congress  be- 
fore or  after  he  left  it  did  more,  and  few  as 
much  as  he,  for  the  fostering,  iiromotion  and 
protection  of  American  industry.     He  lost 
no  opportunity  to  advocate  and  further  the 
organization  of  new  States,  and  regarded  the 
expansion  of  the  boundaries  of  the  Union 
as  the  only  true  course  to  preserve  the  equi- 
librium of  power  between  the  sections.     He 
made  history  as  few  other  statesmen  in  this 
country   created   it,  by  producing  results  in 
the  practical  walks  of  life,  such    as   make 
men  prosperous  and   happy,  that  stimulate 
the   growth    of  communities,    whereby    the 
country  has  been  constantly  rendered  power- 
ful  abroad   and   a  blessing  to  its  people  at 
home.     History  in   its  broadest  scope   will 
ever  keep  such  individuals  before  the  gen- 
erations of  men   which   are  to  live  in  this 
country,  for  their  models  in  public  affairs. 


224 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


General  Cameron  died  June,  1889,  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  ninety  years,  his  faculties  per- 
fect until  the  last. 

General  Cameron  married  Margaret  Brua, 
daughter  of  Peter  Brua,  of  Harrisburg,  and 
their  children  were  Raciiel,  married  Judge 
Burnside,  of  Bellefonte,  Brua,  Margaret, 
married  Richard  J.  Haldeman,  James  Don- 
ald, and  Virginia,  married  Wayne  MacVeagl). 

Snyder,  Charles  Albright,  son  of  Simon 
Snyder  and  Catharine  IMichael,  was  born 
May  29, 1799,  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.  His  grand- 
father, Simon  Snyder,  was  an  emigrant  from 
Moravia,  while  iiis  mother's  fatiier  wasEber- 
hart  Michael,  a  prominent  personage  in  the 
early  history  of  Lancaster  county.     Charles 

A.  was  educated  by  private  tutors,  and  early 
in  life  began  contracting.  In  1837  he  was 
one  of  a  partnership  in  the  building  of  the 
West  Feliciana  railroad  in  Mississippi  and 
Louisiana.  For  several  years  he  was  a  clerk 
in  the  prothonotary's  office  at'  Sunbury  and 
afterwards  at  Harrisburg.  In  the  latter  part 
of  his  life  he  was  a  justice  of  tlie  peace,  alder- 
man, LTiiited  States  commissioner,  and  a 
notary  public.  He  died  at  Harrisburg  on 
the  8th  of  November,  1868,  aged  sixty-nine 
years.  Mr.  Snyder  was  a  good  land  lawyer 
and  had  a  very  extensive  knowledge  of  land 
titles  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  often  sought 
by  prominent  members  of  the  bar  in  consul- 
tation on  such  subjects.  He  owned  consid- 
erable bodies  of  coal  land,  which  have  now 
become  valuable,  but  which  he  was  com- 
j)elled  to  part  with  because  of  the  slowness 
of  internal  improvements;  was  interested  in 
the  copper  and  nickel  mines  of  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  and  Connecticut;  developed  the  first 
cannel  coal  mines  in  Missouri ;  was  pioneer 
in  such  early  enterprises,  which  always 
turned  out  disastrous  at  the  time,  but  as  the 
country  improved  and  modern  appliances 
and  new  inventions  came  in  vogue  turned 
out  well.  In  fact,  he  was  too  far  in  advance 
of  the  times.  Mr.  Snyder  married,  in  1828, 
Barbara  Keller,  daughter  of  John  Keller, 
and  their  ciiildren  were:  Catharine,  married 

B.  F.  Etter,  Edward.  Eugene,  Mary,  Emma, 
married  Dr.  George  H.  Markley,  Charles, 
Simon,  and  John  Keller,  the  two  latter  de- 
ceased. 


the  Royal  University  of  Copenhagen.  In 
1819  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  set- 
tled upon  a  tract  of  land  known  as  "Galla- 
gher's Improvement,"  on  Clearfield  creek, 
Clearfield  count)',  Pa.,  presented  him  by  his 
father.  He  built  a  log  hut  and  remained 
there  about  nine  years,  passing  that  time  in 
studying,  clearing  the  land  and  hunting. 
In  1832  he  found  employment  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  State  canals  in  his  chosen 
profession,  that  of  civil  engineer.  In  1835 
he  was  employed  as  chief  engineer  on  the 
construction  of  tlie  We.st  Feliciana  railroad, 
of  Louisiana,  a  siiort  line  of  road  running 
from  Bayou  Sara  to  Woodville.  During  the 
years  1836-38  he  was  chief  engineer  of  the 
Franklin  railroad  in  Pennsylvania.  May 
30,  1838,  he  was  ap[)ointed  by  the  canal 
commissioners  of  the  State  principal  engi- 
neer upon  the  survey  of  a  route  from  the 
town  of  Chambersburg  to  Pittsburgh,  also  on 
the  Raystown  Branch  of  the  Juniata,  as  con- 
templated in  the  act  of  the  Pennsylvania 
State  Legislature  passed  April  14,  1838. 
April  19,  1847,  he  was  appointed  principal 
assistant  engineer  of  the  eastern  division  of 
the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  under  William 
B.  Forster,  Jr.  In  1852  he  was  employed  in 
tlie  construction  of  the  Dauphin  and  Susque- 
hanna Coal  Company  railroad.  From 
September  1,  1850,  to  July  19,  1859,  he  was 
principal  engineer  on  the  enlargement  of  the 
Union  canal.  July  10,  1859,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Gov.  William  F.  Packer  a  com- 
missioner to  examine  that  portion  of  the 
line  of  the  Sunbury  and  Erie  railroad  lying 
between  tiie  harbor  of  Erie  and  the  borough 
of  Warren.  On  April  24,  1860,  he  was 
elected  civil  engineer  to  make  survey  and 
plan  of  the  city  of  Harrisburg.  In  1806  he 
was  employed  in  the  office  of  the  assessor  of 
the  United  States  internal  revenue,  continu- 
ing in  the  employ  of  the  Government  until 
1872,  in  which  year,  on  the  27th  day  of  June, 
he  departed  this  life.  Mr.  Hage  was  married, 
December  18,  1849,  by  the  Rev.  J.  Baker,  of 
Lancaster,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Salome  Kendig,  of  Lancaster  county. 


Hage,  Hother,  son  of  Jens  Fredrich  and 
Gertrude  (Heitmann)  Hage,  was  born  April 
9, 18U0,  in  the  city  of  Copenhagen,  Denmark. 
He  was  a  graduate  at  the  age  of  fourteen  of 


McCormick,  James,  son  of  William  Mc- 
Cormick,  was  born  February  24,  1801,  near 
Silvers  Spring,  Cumberland  count}',  Pa.; 
died  January  19,  1870,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
When  less  than  five  years  of  age  he  lost  his 
father  by  a  fatal  accident.  Paternal  care 
thus  devolved  upon  his  mother,  a  bright, 
determined  woman,  and  by  her  his  prepara- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


tory  studies  were  carefully  made,  fitting  him 
at  an  early  age  for  Princeton  College,  where 
he  graduated  with  reputation,  and  began  the 
study  of  law  with  Andrew  Carothers,  Esq., 
of  Carlisle.     He  was  admitted   to  the  bar  of 
Cumberland  county  in  1823,  and  to  that  of 
Dauphin  county  at  the  August  term,  1825. 
His  mo.st  successful  career  never  faltered  as 
long  as  he  was  able  to  give  his  professional 
duties  any  attention,  and,  indeed,  followed 
him  after  his  retirement  from  all  active  pur- 
suits.    He  served  in  the  l)orough  council  a 
long  time,  and  was  president  of  that  body, 
also  of  the  Dauphin   Deposit  Bank,  of  tiie 
Harrisburg    cemetery,   of    the    Harrisburg 
Bridge  Company,  and  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  church.     In  all 
these  positions  he  was  a  cautious  and  able 
adviser.    He  uniformly  declined  candidature 
for  office,  as  also  offers  of  the  highest  honors 
of  his  profession.     Upon  the  retirement  he 
gave  the  powers  of  his  active  mind  to  the 
management  of  a  large  estate,  consisting  of 
furnaces,  rolling  mills,grist  mills  and  farms. 
All  these  interests  were  successful,  and  not- 
withstanding his   physical    disability,   con- 
ducted in  a  masterlj'  and  systematic  manner. 
Mr.   McCormick    married,    in    1830,    Eliza 
Buehler,  born    November  11,  1806,  at  Erie, 
Pa.;  died  December  25,  1877,  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.;  only  daughter  of  George  Buehler  and 
Maria  Nagle.     She  was,  indeed,  a  most  esti- 
mable   woman.      To   each    noble    charity, 
benevolent  enterprise,  philanthropic  move- 
ment, Christian  endeavor,  hospital  or  home 
in  the  city  of  Harrisburg  she  was  a  friend, 
promoter  and  benefactor.      From   no  good 
cause  or  charitable  work  or  need\'  poor  did 
she     withhold     her     hand     or    deny     her 
bounty. 


Cameron,  Col.  James,  youngest  son  of 
Charles  Cameron  and  Martha  Pfoutz,  was 
born  at  Maytown.  Lancaster  county.  Pa., 
March  1,  1801.  He  received  his  early  edu- 
cation at  the  village  school,  and  at  nineteen 
entered  the  printing  office  of  his  brother. 
General  Cameron,  at  Harrisburg,  where  he 
served  a  faithful  a])prenticesliip.  In  1827 
he  went  to  Lancaster,  where  he  assumed  the 
editorship  of  the  Political  Sentinel,  stud}  ing 
law  in  the  meantime  in  the  office  of  James 
Buchanan,  afterwards  President  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  duly  admitted  to  the  Lan- 
caster bar,  and  in  1838  established  himself 
at  Harrisburg.  During  the  Mexican  war  he 
served   under  General   Scott,  and   upon   its 


close  settled  upon  a  farm  near  Milton,  Pa., 
where  he  was  living  in  retirement  when  the 
war  for  the  Union  was  inaugurated.  At  the 
solicitation  of  the  soldiers  of  the  so-called 
Highlander  regiment  (the  Seventy-ninth 
New  York),  he  accepted  the  commission  of 
colonel  of  that  organization.  At  the  battle 
of  the  first  Bull  Run,  June  21,  1861,  he  was 
of  Sherman's  brigade,  Tyler's  division,  and 
at  the  crisis  of  the  struggle  bore  himself  with 
the  greatest  gallantry.  Again  and  again  he 
led  his  men  with  the  cry,  "Scots,  follow 
me!"  in  the  face  of  a  withering  fire  of  mus- 
ketry and  artillery,  until  stricken  down  mor- 
tally wounded,  expiring  on  the  field  of  his 
heroic  exploits.  "  No  mortal  man,"  says  an 
eye  witness,  "  could  stand  the  fearful  storm 
that  swept  them."  After  repeated  efforts  the 
bod}'  of  the  gallant  Cameron  was  recovered, 
brought  to  his  home,  and  interred  amid 
many  demonstrations  of  respect  and  affec- 
tion. 


Weir,  John  Andrew,  son  of  Samuel  Weir 
and  his  wife  Mary  AVallace,  born  January  19, 
1802,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  died  October  10, 
1881.  He  was  educated  in  the  private  scliools 
of  the  town  and  at  the  Harrisburg  Academy. 
He  learned  coach-making,  and,  subsequently, 
went  into  the  hardware  business,  which  he 
continued  a  number  of  years,  afterwards  con- 
necting with  it  the  drug  trade,  taking  into 
partnership  his  nephew,  D.  W.  Gross.  Dur- 
ing the  administration  of  Governor  Ritner 
he  served  as  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  sec- 
retary of  the  Commonwealth.  In  1840  he 
was  elected  prothonotary  of  Dauphin  count}', 
a  position  he  filled  two  terms  (six  yearsj. 
While  serving  in  this  office  he  was  chosen  a 
director  of  the  Harrisburg  Bank,  and  after- 
wards became  teller  in  that  institution,  in 
which  capacit}'  he  continued  until  1880. 
While  })erforming  these  duties  he  was  treas- 
urer of  the  State  Lunatic  Hospital,  at  Harris- 
burg, from  its  first  establishment  in  1850  to 
1880.  For  nearl}'  fiftj'  years  he  was  an  elder  in 
the  first  Presbyterian  church  of  Harrisburg, 
and  took  a  warm  interest  in  the  proiiiotion  of 
the  Sunday-school  .system.  He  was  one  of  tiie 
first,  firmest  and  influential  friends  of  the 
anti-slavery  cause  in  Dauphin  county.  Mr. 
Weir  married  twice;  first,  Catharine  E.  Wiest- 
ling,  born  February  21,  1810,  died  May  18, 
1845,  daughter  of  John  S.  Wiestling;  and 
secondl}',  Maria  Matilda  Fahnestock,  born 
December  15,  1808,  died  Augu.st  28, 1883,  in 
Harrisburg,  daughter  of  Abed  Fahnestock. 


226 


BI 0  GRA  I'll  I CA  L  ENCYCL  0  PEDIA 


Rutherford,  John  Parke,  son  of  "Will- 
iam Rutherford  and  his  wife  Sarah  Swan, 
was  born  February  14,  1802,  in  Swatara 
township,  Dauphin  count}'.  Pa.;  died  May 
12, 1871.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  brought  up 
in  that  pursuit.  He  held  many  places  of 
public  trust  in  his  life ;  was  superintendent 
of  the  Wiconisco  canal  as  early  as  1837,  an 
auditor  of  the  count}-,  a  jury  commissioner, 
and  was  vice-president  and  treasurer  of  the 
Pennsylvania  State  Agricultural  Society. 
He  was  a  strong  anti-slavery  advocate,  as  all 
his  family  were,  and  many  a  weary  pilgrim, 
in  the  days  of  the  fugitive  slave  act,  sore  of 
foot  and  heart,  found  in  Captain  Rutherford 
hospitable  assistance,  material  aid  and  manlj' 
encouragement.  He  hated  slavery  because 
he  considered  it  a  moral  sin  and  a  political 
blight  upon  the  free  institutions  of  America. 
During  the  late  Rebellion  he  served  as  quar- 
termaster in  the  United  States  army,  rank- 
ing fourth  on  the  list'  While  stationed  at 
Harper's  Ferry  he  was  captured  in  one  of 
the  raids  on  that  stronghold,  but  released  on 
parole.  He  was  then  ordered  to  Camp  Doug- 
las, and  subsequently  to  Cliarleston,  S.  C. 
In  the  latter  city,  about  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  contracted  a  disease  from  the  effects  of 
which  he  never  fulh'  recovered.  Captain 
Rutlierford  married  Eliza  Rutlierford,  born 
October  30,  1801;  died  January  30,1860; 
daughter  of  Samuel  Rutherford. 


Sloan,  Alexander,  son  of  Robert  and 
Sarah  (McCorniick)  Sloan,  was  born  October 
9,  1802,  at  Harrisburg,  Daujiliin  county,  Pa. 
He  was  educated  in  the  private  and  select 
schools  of  Harrisburg,  especially  under  that 
eminent  mathematician,  James  Maginnes. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet-maker  with 
his  father,  and  after  the  latter's  death  con- 
tinued the  business  alone  up  to  1864,  after 
that  period  for  several  years  in  connection 
with  Mr.  Boyd.  Mr.  Sloan  married,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1833,  Mary,  daughter  of  James  and 
Sarah  Todd,  of  Hanover.  She  died  at  Har- 
risburg December  2,  1871,  in  her  sixty-third 
year,  and  their  children  were:  Robert,  Sarah, 
who  married  H.  Murray  Graydon,  Margaret 
A.,  who  married  Henry  Shantz,  and  Isa- 
bella D. 


BoMBAUGH,  Aarox,  SOU  of  Abraham  Bom- 
baugh  and  Catharine  Reehm,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1803,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  was 
educated  at  the  private  schools  of  the  town, 
and  at  the  old    academy.     He   was   placed 


early  in  youth  to  the  trade  of  a  hatter  with 
Jacob  Shoemaker,  of  Harrisburg,  and  at  his 
majority  went  to  Philadelphia  for  instruc- 
tions as  a  finisher,  and  while  there  became  a 
member  of  the  "Association  of  Journeymen 
Hatters,"  being  entered  March  2,  1824.     He 
returned  to  his  native  town  and  established 
himself  in  business,  which  he  followed  several 
years,  until  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  it, 
owing  to  impaired  health,  which  had  been 
affected  by  the  dyes  used  in  coloring  the  felt. 
He  then  assumed  charge  of  his  father's  ex- 
tensive limestone  quarry,  conducting    that 
business   with    marked    success.      Like   his 
father  and  grandfather  before  him,  Mr.  Bom- 
baugh  took  a  prominent  part  in  municipal 
affairs,  and  frequently  served  in  the  borough 
council.     From  1838  to  1844   he  served  as 
treasurer  of  the  county  of  Dauphin,  a  posi- 
tion he  filled  efficiently  and  acceptabl}'.     He 
was  one  of  the  first  advocates  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  lunatic  hospital  by  the  State 
for  the  insane  poor  of  the  Commonwealth, 
and  greath'  aided  Miss  Dix  in  her  efforts  to 
secure  State  assistance  for  the  inauguration 
of  those  noble  charities  which   have  so   dis- 
tinguished our  Commonwealth.     He  was  one 
of  the  first  trustees  of  the  institution  located 
at  Harrisburg.     Having  several  farms  near 
the  city,  the  latter  years  of   his  life  were 
passed   in  their  management.     He  died  at 
Harrisburg  on  the   13th  of  December,  1877, 
in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age.     He  was 
an  early  Abolitionist,  as  the  anti-slavery  men 
were  denominated,  a  decided  Anti-Mason  in 
the  days  of  that  cru.sade,  and   with  well-de- 
fined and   positive  convictions  was   ready  to 
encounter  any  amount  of  obloquy  in   their 
defense.     During  the  Rebellion  he  devoted 
his  time  and  means  to  the  care  and  comfort 
of  the  Pennsylvania  soldiers  in  camp  and 
hospital.     He  was  the  last  survivor  of  the 
Unitarian  Society  established   by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kay,  and  which,  from  succes.sive  deaths 
and  lack  of  fresh   accessions,  melted   away 
man}'  years  since. 

Mr.  Bombaugh  was  twice  married — first, 
on  May  3,  1827,  to  Maria  Lloyd,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Lloyd,  an  attorney-at-law,  of  Phila- 
delphia, born  there  in  1809,  and  died  Janu- 
ary 1,  1853,  at  Harrisburg,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  Dr.  Charles  Carroll,  a  noted  phy- 
sician and  author,  now  of  Baltimore,  Md.; 
Lavinia,  married  Gillard  Dock,  of  Harris- 
burg; Alexander,  d.  s.  p.;  Catharine,  married 
Junius  B.  Kaufman,  a  lawyer,  of  Lancaster, 
Pa.;  and  Julia,  married  Dr.  Grafton,  of  Bal- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


227 


tiinore.  Of  these  only  Dr.  C.  C.  Borabaugh 
and  Mrs.  Kaufman  aie  living.  Mr.  Bora- 
baugh married,  secondly,  .Julia  Duncan,  of 
Duncan's  Island,  who  survived  him. 


ried,  in  1828,  Martha  Ingram,  born  Novem- 
ber 30,  1808;  died  August  23,  1850,  and 
their  children  were  Margaret  Ingram  and 
Emma  Elizabeth. 


Jones,  Andrew  J.,  son  of  Robert  Thomas 
Jones  and  Margaret  Williamson,  was  born, 
1803,  in  county  Donegal,  Ireland.  He  re- 
ceived a  fine  English  education,  and  early 
in  life  came  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  learned 
merchandizing  with  John  Cameron.  Sub- 
sequently, in  partnership  with  his  brother 
Samuel  T.,  he  entered  into  tiie  mercantile 
business,  which  they  successfully  carried  on 
for  many  years.  Mr.  Jones  became  quite 
prominent  In  political  affairs,  and  in  1848, 
upon  the  election  of  Clen.  Zachary  Taylor  to 
the  Presidency,  was  appointed  postmaster  at 
Harrisburg,  a  position  he  acceptably  filled 
four  years.  He  died  at  Harrisburg,  January 
13,  1867,  aged  sixty-four  years.  Mr.  Jones 
was  thrice  married;  first,  to  Mary  Ann  Jones, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Jones  and  Margery 
Donnelly,  of  Perry  county.  Pa.  She  died  in 
March,  1843,  and  there  was  issue:  Robert 
Thomas,  d.  s.  p.,  John  Cameron  (1833-56), 
and  Samuel  T.  He  married,  secondly,  Susan 
B.  Ayres,  daughter  of  William  Ayres  and 
iiis  wife  Mary  Elizabeth  Bucher,  of  Harris- 
burg; tiieir  children  all  died  in  infancy.  He 
married,  thirdly,  Sarah  A.  Buckman,  of  Bur- 
lington, N.  J.,  and  there  was  issue  :  Virginia 
R.  and  Andrew  J. 


Boas,  Willi.am  Dick,  son  of  Jacob  Boas 
and  Sarah  Dick,  was  born  September  6, 1803, 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  died  there  May  20, 
1889.  He  learned  the  art  of  printing  with 
George  Getz,  of  Reading,  on  the  Berks  and 
Schuylkill  Herald,  and  afterwards  worked  at 
his  profession  in  Philadelphia,  Allentown 
and  Harrisburg.  In  1837  he  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  Reporter  office  at  Harrisburg, 
in  partnership,  first,  with  Samuel  D.  Patter- 
son, and  then  with  William  F.  Copeland,  re- 
tiring in  1842.  During  this  period  he  was 
printer  of  the  journals  and  bills  of  the  House 
and  Senate.  He  was  cashier  and  clerk  in 
the  State  treasurer's  department  during  the 
administrations  of  Bickel,  Bailey,  Magraw 
and  McGrath,  about  nine  years  in  all  :  was 
a  clerk  in  the  surveyor  general's  office,  and 
four  years  prothonotary  of  the  county  of 
Dauphin.  From  1866  to  1868  he  was  one  of 
the  publishers  of  the  Patriot.     Mr.  Boas  mar- 


Fleming,  Robert  Jackson,  son  of  Samuel 
Fleming  and  grandson  of  Robert  Fleming, 
was  born  November  16,  1803,  in  Hanover 
township,  Washington  county.  Pa.;  died 
December  2,  1874,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He 
received  an  academical  education,  and  while 
yet  a  young  man  became  a  teacher  and  lec- 
turer on  English  grammar  and  on  music, 
and  took  a  trip  to  the  then  West,  lecturing 
on  his  favorite  topic.  In  1834  he  established 
the  coach-making  business  on  an  extensive 
scale  at  Harrisburg  Pa.,  and  continued  it 
with  success  until  his  entire  establishment 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  June  15,  1865.  He 
did  not  resume  it.  He  built  at  his  shop  the 
first  eight-wheel  passenger  car  which  ran  on 
the  Pennsylvania  railroad  between  Columbia 
and  Philadelphia,  also  the  first  on  the  Will- 
iamsport  and  Elmira  railroad,  taking  it  up 
the  canal  on  a  flat  boat.  He  was  appointed 
notary  public  in  1861,  and  held  the  office 
until  his  death,  for  years  doing  the  business 
of  the  Harrisburg  "National  Bank  in  this 
official  capacity.  He  was  deservedly  honored 
in  his  adopted  city  as  an  upright  and  enter- 
prising citizen,  a  man  of  intelligence  and 
high  moral  character,  and  in  the  Presby- 
terian church,  of  which  he  was  a  life-long 
member,  he  was  one  of  its  elders  for  twenty 
years.  Mr.  Fleming  married,  June  5,  1845, 
at  McConnellsville,  Morgan  county,  Ohio, 
Sarah  Ann  Poor,  born  January  30,  1814,  at 
York  Haven,  Pa.;  daughter  of'Charles  Mer- 
rill Poor  and  Elizabeth  (Karg)  Roberts  ;  died 
in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  at  the  residence  of  her 
son,  Samuel  W.  Fleming,  January  7,  1892. 


Sheafer,  Michael,  son  of  George  Sheafer, 
was  born  December  1, 1803,  at  Halifax,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.  For  some  years  he  re- 
sided in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  when  quite  a 
young  man  he  married  Sushu  Cloud,  of  Lan- 
caster county,  and  made  his  liome  in  that 
county  a  few  years.  They  had  issue:  Ada- 
line,  married  Rev.  C.  A.  Wyeth;  Henry  J.; 
John  M.,  a  civil  engineer,  who  died  at  Selma, 
Alabama,  August  11,1871;  Mary  L.,  mar- 
ried Theodore  D.  Irish  ;  Harriet  Matilda, 
married  Joseph  Davidson ;  Lucetta,  died 
June  9,  1837;  Anne  Eliza,  married  John 
Thompson;  George  T.,  died    November  4, 


228 


BIOGRA PHI CA L  ENUYVL  OPEDIA 


1867,  at  Ashland;  and  Benjamin  Ingersoll. 
In  1831-32  the  Lykens  Valley  Coal  Com- 
pany was  organized,  and  commenced  opera- 
tions at  what  was  then  called  "Bear  Gap" 
(now  Wiconisco).  The  company  built  a 
large  log  frame  house,  and  Michael  Sh eater 
moved  into  it  for  the  jjurpose  of  boarding 
the  workmen  and  entertaining  the  members 
of  the  company.  At  that  time  the  Upper 
End  (now  Lykens,  Wiconisco  and  Williams- 
town)  was  one  vast  wilderness,  with  a  few 
log  huts  scattered  around.  He  resided  in 
this  place  up  to  the  date  of  his  deatli,  No- 
vember 30,  1849,  taking  an  active  part  in 
the  development  of  the  coal  region.  He  was 
one  of  the  contractors  in  the  building  of  the 
Lykens  Vallej'  railroad,  also  in  the  building 
of  the  aqueduct  and  other  im])rovements  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Wiconisco  canal  feeder. 
After  the  first  railroad  was  built  from  the 
Gap  to  Millersburg,  he  had  the  contract  for 
the  delivery  of  the  coal,  floating  it  across  the 
river  at  Mount  Patrick  on  the  Pennsylvania 
canal.  His  wife,  Susan  Sheafer,  who  was  a 
most  estimable  Christian  woman,  died  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  on  tiie  17th  of  February, 
1876.  The  remains  of  botli  rest  in  Kalmia 
cemetery,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 


Till,  John,  son  of  Joiin  and  Catherine 
(Miller)  Till,  was  born  April  13,  1804,  in  tlie 
district  of  Kensington,  Philadelpiiia.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  Pljiladelphia,  and  he 
was  the  fourth  child  of  ten  sons  and  one 
daughter.  Like  his  father,  grandfather  and 
most  of  his  relatives,  John  was  brought  up 
a  ship  builder,  learning  that  trade  with  the 
Messrs.  Vaughan,  of  Kensington.  In  the 
winter  of  1834  he  came  to  Harrisburg  to 
build  a  boat  for  W.  P.  Orrick,  of  Reading, 
who  was  extensively  engaged  in  transporta- 
tion on  the  Pennsylvania  and  Union  canals. 
Returning  to  Pliiladeiphia  after  finishing 
his  contract  with  Mr.  Orrick,  lie  entered  into 
partnership  with  James  Main,  a  sliij)  builder 
of  that  city,  and  removed  to  Harrisburg  in 
August,  1835,  establishing  a  boatyard  at  the 
foot  of  North  street  on  the  canal.  At  that 
period  boat  building  was  the  leading  busi- 
ness at  Harrisburg.  About  1840,  owing  to 
want  of  j)roper  facilities,  the  firm  purchased 
a  location  on  the  west  side  of  the  canal,  be- 
low Mulberry  street,  where  they  constructed 
a  large  basin  connected  with  the  canal  on 
tlie  towpath,  over  which  they  built  a  draw- 
bridge.    At  this  place  they  carried  on  the 


building  of  boats  for  many  years.  A  large 
number  of  tlie  packet  boats  were  built  by 
them.  During  the  winter  the  packet  and 
other  boats  of  Leech  &  Co.'s  extensive  trans- 
portation line  were  repaired,  the  number 
filling  the  basin  and  the  canal  from  Paxtang 
street  to  now  Herr  street,  from  one  winding 
bridge  to  the  other.  It  may  be  here  stated 
that  Messrs.  Till  &  Main  constructed  on  the 
river  bank  below  Mulberry  street,  two  boats 
and  one  schooner  for  parties  in  New  York 
City,  which  were  launched  in  the  Susque- 
hanna during  the  rise,  and  floated  in  the 
bay.  In  1852  the  firm  erected  a  saw  mill 
adjoining  their  boat  yard,  where  they  car- 
ried on  a  large  lumber  business.  In  1853 
Mr.  Main  died,  and  for  several  years  Mr. 
Till  conducted  the  enterprise  alone,  subse- 
quently engaging  in  the  coal  trade  a  brief 
period,  when  he  retired  from  all  business 
pursuits.  He  served  one  term  in  the  old 
borough  council,  for  sixteen  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board,  and  was  elected 
county  treasurer  for  one  term.  Mr.  Till 
married,  November  6, 1825,  Reljecca  Rutter, 
of  Philadelpiiia,  who  died  May  16,  1871,  at 
the  age  of  sixt\'-five  years.  Tlieir  surviving 
children  are:  William  B.,  Rebecca,  who 
married  G.  L.  Suttie,  of  New  York,  and 
Mary  E.,  who  married  David  C.  Burnite,  of 
Harrisburg. 


Weir,  Jame.s  Wallace,  youngest  son  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  (Wallace)  Weir,  was  born 
August  9,  1805,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  excelled  as  a  scholar 
and  his  taste  for  study  and  reading  drew 
him  toward  the  printing  office.  He  learned 
the  art  with  John  S.  Wiestling,and  after  his 
apprenticeship  spent  some  time  in  the 
)irintiiig-Iiou.se  of  the  Messrs.  Johnson,  of 
Philadelphia.  On  November  26,  1833,  hav- 
ing been  chosen  teller  of  the  Harri.sburg 
Bank,  he  accepted  that  position,  holding  it 
until  October  30,  1844,  when  he  was  cho.sen 
casiiier  of  the  bank.  When  the  institution 
became  a  national  bank  in  1874,  he  was 
unanimously  elected  its  cashier,  which  office 
he  held  until  his  deatl),  which  occurred  at 
Harrisburg,  March  14,  1878,  having  been 
connected  with  the  bank  for  over  forty-four 
years.  As  a  bank  oflicer  and  financier  he 
gained  an  enviable  distinction  for  his  uni- 
form courtesy  and  for  ability  of  the  highest 
order.  Few  bankers  in  tlie  Commonwealth 
can  present  a  record  equal  to  his  in  years  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


229 


service,  in  successful  administration  of  affairs 
through  financial  trouble,  and  for  such  rigid 
honesty.  He  was  gifted  with  rare  social 
qualities  and  a  graceful  wit,  which  made 
him  one  of  the  most  companionable  of  men. 
To  the  poor  and  lowly  he  was  always  a  kind 
and  true  friend  and  his  charities,  though 
not  ostentatious,  were  made  with  a  free  and 
open  hand.  His  literary  taste  and  ability 
were  of  a  high  order,  and  he  frequently 
wrote  for  the  press.  He  was  the  author  of 
several  religious  tracts,  publislied  by  tlie 
American  Sunday-school  Union.  In  1838 
appeared  a  small  volume,  "  Manual  of 
Prayer,"  which  was  published  with  an  in- 
troduction by  Rev.  Albert  Barnes,  of  Phila- 
delphia. In  1854,  "  The  Closet  Companion  " 
appeared,  and  passed  through  several  edi- 
tions. In  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
he  was  many  years  an  elder,  as  in  every 
walk  and  pursuit  in  life,  he  was  active,  en- 
ergetic, consistent,  pure  in  character,  and 
lofty  in  purpo.se. 


Smuller,  George,  son  of  Joim  Smuller 
(1780-1840)  and  Susanna  Shirtz  (1782-1864), 
was  born  October  7, 1805,  at  Jonestown,  Leb- 
anon county.  Pa.  He  acquired  a  fair  Eng- 
lish education  in  the  schools  of  his  day,  and 
in  early  life  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
tailor.  He  subsequently  became  extensively 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  the 
Union  Canal  Company  and  a  contractor  in 
the  public  works  of  the  State.  He  was  after- 
wards appointed  collector  of  tolls  in  a 
Union  canal  at  Middletown,  a  position  he 
filled  many  years,  resigning  in  1857,  when  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  Middletown 
Bank.  As  first  officer  of  that  institution  Mr. 
Smuller  won  for  himself  the  highest  confi- 
dence in  the  community,  which  he  retained 
down  to  the  close  of  his  busy  and  active  life. 
He  died  at  Middletown  on  August  19,  1882, 
aged  almost  seventy-seven  years.  Few  men 
stood  higher  in  the  community  than  he.  His 
life  was  characterized  by  great  goodness  of 
heart  and  true  nobleness  of  soul,  which  won 
for  him  the  love  and  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
men  and  neighbors.  Mr.  Smuller  married 
Caroline  Fisher,  daughter  of  Dr.  Karl  and 
Mary  Fisher,  of  Middletown,  born  1805  at 
Middletown  ;  died  January  5,  1870.  Tlieir 
children  were  :  Lehman,  d.  s.  p.,  Mary,  Eliz- 
abeth, married  C4eorge  F.  Mish,  M.  D.,  Annie 
G.,  married  Henry  J.  Meily,  Ellen,  married 
David  G.  Swartz,  of  Chicago,  and  Caroline. 


Rutherford,  John  Brisban,  son  of  Sam- 
uel Rutherford,  was  born  on  the  28th  of  Nov- 
ember, 1805,  in  Swatara  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.;  died  on  the  10th  of  October, 
1892,  on  tlie  farm  wiiere  he  was  born. 
Being  the  only  surviving  son,  he  succeeded 
to  the  farm  property  of  his  father  upon  his 
death,  November  26,  1833,  and  made  farm- 
ing his  main  business  through  life.  In 
early  manhood,  Mr.  Rutherford  was  elected 
captain  of  the  Daupiiin  cavalry,  lience  his 
military  title.  He  was  active  in  politics, 
and  was  elected  member  of  the  Legislature 
on  the  Whig  ticket  in  1848,  and  re-elected 
in  1849.  In  1857  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate  for  three  years,  on  the  Republi- 
can ticket.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  Agricultural  Society  for  a  long 
time — elected  in  1864  and  served  twenty- 
five  years.  Mr.  Rutherford  was  identified 
with  the  various  offices  in  his  township,  and 
in  old  Paxtang  church  was  a  ruling  elder. 
He  married,  March  19,  1833,  Keziah  Parke, 
died  July  2,  1885;  daughter  of  Col.  James 
Parke,  of  Parkesburg,  Ciiester  county.  Pa. 


Dougherty,  Philip,  son  of  Dennis  and 

Catherine   (Maginty)    Dougherty,  was  born 
March  24,  1806,  near  Middletown,  Daupiiin 
county.  Pa.     His   father   came  to   America 
irom    Ireland    about   1805,  and    settled    in 
Derry  township,  not  far  from  Middletown, 
where  he  died  about  1824.     His  wife,  whom 
he  married  in  Ireland,  died  about  1845,  in 
Harrisburg.    Their  children  were  Mary,  who 
married  Hugh  Dougiierty,  and  John,  both 
born  in  Ireland  ;  Philij),  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,     James,     Catherine,    who    married 
Edward    Sweeny,    Dennis,   Charles,    Hugh, 
and  Daniel.     From  the  age  of  eighteen  Philip 
Dougherty  was  busily  engaged  as  a  contrac- 
tor on  canals  and  railroads,  and  was  largely 
engaged   in   the  construction  of  important 
public   works,   such    as    the    Pennsylvania 
canal,  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  canal,  Del- 
aware   and    Raritan    canal.   Union    canal, 
Leiiigh    canal.    Northern    Central    railroad. 
New  York  and  Erie  railroad,  Camden  and 
Amboy  railroad,  and  the  Dau])iiin  and  Sus- 
quehaima  railroad.      He  continued    in  the 
business  until  February,  1853,  when  he  was 
chosen  president  of  tiie  Mechanics'  Bank  of 
Harrisburg,  organized  at  that  time,  a  position 
which    he    filled    until    his    death,    which 
occurred  at  Harrisburg,  February  3,  1865,  in 
his  fifty-ninth  year.     He  was  also  a  director 
of  the  Northern  Central  railroad,  the  Mid- 


230 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


dletown  Bank  and  the  Harrisburg  Gas  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders. 
Mr.  Dougherty  was  very  successful  in  Ijusi- 
ness,  combining  great  energy  and  force  of 
character  with  quick  perception,  sound  judg- 
ment and  strict  integrity.  He  dispensed  a 
liberal  hospitality  to  his  many  friends,  and 
eujoj^ed  the  respect  and  conhdence  of  his  fel- 
low-citizens. Of  a  warm  and  generous  nature, 
his  feelings,  impulses  and  actions  were  of  an 
elevated  character,  and  his  friendship  per- 
manent, strong  and  useful.  He  was  ever 
ready  to  aid  the  deserving  and  relieve  the 
unfortunate,  and  in  all  respects  was  a  valued 
member  of  the  community.  Mr.  Dougherty 
married,  June  10,  1833,  at  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  Mary  W.,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rebecca  (Whiteside)  Clark.  Mrs.  Dougherty 
was  born  1813.  Their  children  who  reached 
maturity  were  James  Dennis,  who  graduated 
at  Georgetown  College,  class  of  1857,  was  a 
lawj'er  by  profession,  and  a  captain  of  artil- 
lery during  the  Rebellion,  and  colonel  on 
the  staif  of  Governor  Packer,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  died  April  2,  1878 ;  William  E., 
for  many  years  engaged  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness in  Harrisburg,  and  later  resident  clerk 
of  the  United  States  Senate,  at  Wasiiington, 
D.  C,  and  Mary  F.,  who  married  Bernard  J. 
McGrann,  contractor  and  banker,  of  Lancas- 
ter, Pa. 


MooRKHEAD,  Gen.  James  K.,  of  Pittsburgh, 
died  March  0,  1884.  He  was  born  in  Hali- 
fax, Dauphin  county,  seventj^-eight  years 
ago,  and  after  obtaining  a  good  business 
education  began  a  connection  with  the  pub- 
lic improvement  of  the  State,  which  was 
only  severed  by  his  deatli.  When  only 
twenty -two  years  old  he  was  appointed  super- 
intendent of  the  Juniata  branch  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania canal.  Heafterwards  established  the 
Pioneer  Passenger  Packet  Line,  running  be- 
tween Pittsburgh  and  Philadelphia.  In  1839 
he  was  appointed  adjutant  general  of  the 
State, butdeclined  theoffice.  Inl858General 
Moorehead  was  elected  to  Congress  by  the 
Republicans  of  the  Twenty-first  Congres- 
sional district,  and  retained  that  {position 
until  1869,  when  he  refused  to  be  again  a 
candidate.  During  the  last  three  terms  of 
his  service  in  Congress  he  was  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  manufactures,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  ways  and  means  and  on  naval 
affairs.  The  Moorehead  tariff  bill  was  for- 
mulated and  reported  by  a  sub-committee  of 
whicli  General  Moorehead  was  chairman,  and 


in  its  main  features  remained  the  tariff  law 
until  the  last  revision.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  General  Moorehead  was  president  of 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  also  of  the 
Monongahela  Navigation  Company. 

LooMis,  Anthony   Wayne,  eldest  son  of 
Ashbel  Loomis  and   Mary  Scott,  was   born 
April   11,   1806,    at    Alstead,   N.    H.     The 
Loomis   family   in    America    is    descended 
from  Joseph  Loomis,  who  emigrated    from 
Braintree,  county  Essex,  England,  in   1638, 
and  settled  at   Windsor,  Conn.     One  of  his 
descendants  was  Eleazer  Loomis,  who  mar- 
ried   Jemima  Crandall  and  removed   from 
Tolland,  Conn.,  to  Alstead,  N.  H.,  in  1783. 
He  died   March   17,  1822,  and    his  wife  in 
April,  1838,  at  Alstead.     Their  son,  Ashbel 
Loomis,  born   September  16,  1779,  married 
Sarah    Scott,    daughter    of    Capt.    William 
Scott,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Petersbor- 
ough,   N.  H.     (Japtain    Scott   was    born    in 
May,  1733,  in   Townsend,  Mass.;  served  in 
the  French  and   Indian   war  from   1756  to 
1758  in  Canada  ;  was  in  tiie  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution, an<l  after  tiie  peace  of  1783  was  a 
government  surveyor  on  the  Western  lakes. 
He  died   in   Litchfield,  September   19,  1796, 
from  sickness  caused  by  exposure  in  his  sur- 
veying expeditions.     Ashbel    Loomis  died 
August  31,  1824,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Scott, 
September  10,  1841.     They   had   four  chil- 
dren :    Anthony   Wayne,    William,   Nancy, 
married    Horace   Ilamblit,  and   Mary,  mar- 
ried   Lewis    Slader.     Anthony    W.    Loomis 
came  to  Pennsylvania  in   1827,  and   began 
teaching.     He  first  taught  a  writing  school 
at  Liver])Ool,  and  next  year  at  Harrisburg. 
He   subsequently  engaged    in    the   lumber 
trade  near  the  foot  of  Berry's  mountain  (now 
the    Wiconisco   canal   site),  and    afterwards 
turned   his  attention   to  farming.     In   1844 
he  established  the  Halifax  Herald,  which  he 
edited  and  published  about  two  years,  when 
lie  began    merchandising,   lumbering    and 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred   at 
Halifax,  August  4,  1864.     He  was  an  expert 
penman,  having  learned  the  art  under  the 
best  masters  in  Boston,  and   for  a  third  of  a 
century  was  one  of  the  leading  business  men 
in  the  region  of   Halifax.     Mr.  Loomis  was 
twice  married  ;  first,  June  3,  1835,  to  Maria 
Brubaker,  of  Halifax,  born   March  5,  1814, 
died  May  28,  1843,  daughter  of  Joseph   and 
Barbara    Brubaker,  and    there    was   issue : 
Albert  Scott,  Daniel  Brubaker,  Barbara  Ann, 
and   William  Anthony ;  secondly,  April   2, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


231 


1844,  to  Mary  Murray,  of  Middletown,  born 
March  14,  1818,  daughter  of  Francis  Murray 
and  Margaret  Snyder,  and  there  was  issue  : 
Francis  Murray,  Charles  Cass,  George  Otis, 
Walter  Jetlerson,  Sarah  Margaret,  and  Mary 
Agnes. 

Ross,  Robert  James,  son  of  Andrew  Ross, 
a  native  of  Londonderry,  Ireland,  who  came 
to  AmericaaboutlSOO,  and  his  wife,  Hannah 
Templin,  of  Ches*.er  county  Pa.,  was  born  at 
Georgetown,  D.  C,  in  1807.  He  received  a 
good  English  and  classical  education  and 
was  appointed  by  President  John  Quincy 
Adams  midshipman  in  the  United  States 
navy  August,  182G,  and  subsequently  pro- 
moted for  meritorious  conduct  and  services. 
Shortly  after  his  marriage  he  resigned  and 
was  appointed  teller  in  the  Branch  Bank  of 
Pennsylvania,  at  Harrisburg,  then  under  the 
cashiership  of  James  Lesley.  In  1839  he 
was  tendered  the  position  of  cashier  in  the 
Harrisburg  Savings  Institution,  which  he  ac- 
cepted, and  when  this  corporation  became 
the  Dauphin  Deposit  Bank  he  remained  its 
cashier  until  his  death.  Mr.  Ross  died  at 
Harrisburg  October  6,  1861.  He  was  enter- 
prising and  successful  in  business  and  stood 
high  in  financial  circles.  He  married,  in 
1833,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Jacob  M.  Halde- 
man  and  Eliza  Ewing  Jacobs,  who  died  at 
Harrisburg  in  1873,  aged  fifty-nine  years. 
They  had  children :  Jacob  H.,  d.  s.  p.,  An- 
drew, Jacob  Haldemaii,  Eliza,  Hannah,  mar- 
ried Colonel  Reno,  United  States  army, 
Roberta,  married  J.  Wilson  Orth,and  Robert. 


Johnson,  Ovid  Fr.\zer,  was  born  in  the 
year  1807,  in  the  Valley  of  Wyoming,  near 
the  town  of  Wilkes-Barre ;  died  February, 
1854,  in  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  de- 
scended from  some  of  the  early  settlers  of 
that  historical  locality.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, the  Rev.  Jacob  Johnson,  was  a  su- 
perior linguist  and  man  of  rich  education 
and  culture ;  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  he 
took  his  degree  as  early  as  1740,  with  dis- 
tinguished honor.  In  1778  he  was  called 
from  his  home  in  Connecticut  to  reside  in 
Wilkes-Barre.  After  that  terrible  event,  the 
massacre  of  Wyoming,  he  assisted  Colonel 
Dennison  with  his  advice  and  influence,  in 
protecting  the  inhabitants  that  remained, 
and  the  original  articles  of  capitulation 
were  in  the  pro]ier  handwriting  of  Mr. 
Johnson.  In  quite  a  lengthy  biography, 
written  of   him  in   the  year    1836   by   the 


historian   of  Wyoming,  Charles  Miner,  ap- 
|)ears  this :  "  When  the  Revolutionary  war 
broke  out,  Mr.  Johnson  took  his  stand  early 
and    firmly    in    behalf    of  freedom.      And 
through  the  whole  contest  he  rendered  the 
utmost  service   in   his  power,   which,  from 
his   learning,   talents,  and    the    respect    he 
commanded,  was  very  considerable.     A  son, 
born  while  the  animated  discussions  preced- 
ing the  Revolution  were  going  on  and  the 
elder   Pitt   was  thundering  his  anathemas 
against  ministers  for  their  tyrannous  con- 
duct to  the  Colonies,  Mr.  Johnson  named  Je- 
hoiada   Pitt.    .    .    .    Jehoiada   is   sometime 
since  deceased,  but  a  son  of  liis  with  heredi- 
tary genius  is  winning  his  way  to  enviable 
distinction."     The   latter  is  the  subject   of 
this  sketch.    At  the  close  of  his  early  educa- 
tion, in  which  he  had   as  school  and  class- 
mates many   who  afterwards  rose  to  posi- 
tions of  eminence  and  distinction,  he  com- 
menced  the   study   of  law  with   John    N. 
Conyngham,    of    Wilkes-Barre,    afterwards 
Judge  Conyngham.     He  was  <luly  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  entered  into  the  practice  of 
the  law  at  that  place.     In  1833  he  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  and  there  married.     In  1839, 
at   the   early  age   of  thirty-two  years,   his 
talent  secured  for  him  the  appointment  as 
attorney  general  of  Pennsylvania.     In  1842, 
his  term  of  office  having  expired,  he  was  re- 
appointed   and    served    through    a    second 
terra  until  1845.     As  an  orator,  Mr.  Joiin- 
son  was  brilliant;  as  a  lawyer,  he  had  su- 
perior abilities,  and   somewhat  of  a   wide- 
known    reputation,    being   frequently    em- 
))loyed  to  try  cases  in  different  States  of  the 
Union.     It  may  be  here   remarked  that,  in 
addition  to  Mr.  Johnson's  legal  ability,  he 
had  a  high  reputation  as  a  political  writer. 
He  was  the  author  of  the  celebrated  "  Gov- 
ernor's Letters,"  published  during  the  admin- 
istration   of    Governor   Ritner,   and    which 
purported  to  give  the  ludicrous  side  to  the 
l)olitical    characters   then    figuring    in    the 
politics  of  the  State.     Mr.  Johnson  married 
Jane   Alricks,  daughter   of  James  Alricks. 
She  was  born  in  1808  at  Oakland  Mills,  in 
Lost  Creek  Valley,  now  Juniata  county.  Pa., 
and  died  December  21,  1891,  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.     Of  their  children,  Ovid  Frazer  Johnson 
is  a  pfominent  lawyer  at  the  Philadelphia 
bar. 


Buehler,  William,  son  of  George  Buehler 
and  Maria  Nagle,  was  Iwrn  in  the  year  1808, 
at  Erie,  Pa.     His  father  removed  from  Erie 


232 


BIO GRA PUIUA L  ENCYCL  0 PEDIA 


to    Hurrisburg   in    1813,    and    died  at  that 
place  in  1816.     Wlien  a  young  man,  tiie  son 
went  to  Chambersburg,  where  he  learned  tiie 
mercantile  trade.    He  subsequently  removed 
to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a 
merchant  in  the  hardware  business.     He  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg  about  December,  1848, 
and  took  charge  of  the  Buehler  House  which 
had    been    conducted   by    the  familj'   since 
1818.  .  Here  he  remained  several  years  when 
he  embarked  in  the  insurance  business,  then 
comparatively  in   its   infancy,  and   became 
State  agent  for   the  insurance  company  of 
North  America.    The  result  wasthe  establish- 
ment of  one  of  the  largest  insurance  depart- 
ments in  the  State,  successfully  and  reliabh' 
carried  on  until  his  death.     It  was  not  alone 
in  the  business  walks  of  life  that  Mr.  Buehler 
was  widely  known  and  esteemed.     For  many 
years  he  was  a  prominent  and  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  ;  was 
warden    of  St.  Stepiien's   church,    and    the 
superintendent  of    its  Sunday-school   for  a 
long  period.     He  represented  his  church  in 
different  clioceses  to  which  he  belonged,  and 
took  an  earnest  part  in  all  questions  that 
arose  therein  relating  to   the  extension  and 
prosperity  of  the  church.    From  theorganiza- 
tiou  of  tlie  diocese  of  Central  Pennsylvania 
until  his  decease,  he  had  been  the  treasurer 
thereof,  a  most  responsible  position,  and  by 
"his  good  judgment,  liberality  and  kindness, 
did  much  to  advance  the  financial  interests 
of  the  new  diocese.     He  was  identified  with 
the  successful  establishment  of  the  Home  of 
the  Friendless,   the    City   Hospital,    and    a 
member  and  officer  of  the  Harrisburg  Benev- 
olent Society   which    has  done  so  much   to 
relieve  the  poor  and  needy  of  the  city.     In 
ever}'  organized  effort  for  [)ublic  charity  he 
took  an  active  part,  contributing  and  counsel- 
ing, and  working  with    his   own  hands    to 
promote  good  works  in  others.     But  his  in- 
dividual charities  were  the  most  character- 
istic of  the  man,  for  it  was  by  these  that  "  he 
established   for  himself  a  brotherhood  with 
men  which  made  his  name  blessed  among 
them."     He  died  suddenly  at  Harrisburg  on 
Sunday  morning,  June  12, 1881, aged  seventy- 
three  years.     Mr.  Buehler  married,  Ma}'   17, 
1831,  at  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  Henrietta    R. 
Snyder.     Their  children  were:    Anna,  mar- 
ried Robert  A.  Lamberton,LL.  D.;  Elizabeth, 
married,  first,  Charles  Hammond,  secondly, 
H.  Stanly  Goodwin ;  Catharine,  married  Capt. 
George  Ramsey,   U.  S.  A. ;    Dr.    Henry  B., 
William,  and  Edward. 


Kepner,   William   H.,   son    of   Samuel 

Kepner  and  Sarah —,  was  born  in  1810, 

in  Bern  township,  Berks  county.  Pa.  His 
father  was  a  millwright,  came  to  Harrisburg 
in  1823,  and  erected  the  first  steam  flour 
mill  in  the  neighborhood  of  Harrisburg. 
William  H.  adopted  the  business  and  trade 
of  his  father,  and  at  the  death  of  the  latter 
continued  the  business,  acquiring  an  exten- 
sive reputation  in  this  and  adjoining  States 
for  the  superior  quality  of  his  millstones. 
For  a  period  of  twenty  years  Mr.  Kepner 
filled  various  prominent  positions  in  the 
municipal  affairs  of  the  borough  and  the 
city.  He  served  several  terms  in  the  old 
town  council,  and  upon  the  amendment  of 
the  borough  charter  was  elected  the  council- 
man-at-large.  He  was  elected  the  first  mayor 
of  the  city  of  Harrisburg,  an  office  lie  filled 
with  becoming  dignity.  He  was  at  one  time 
the  Democratic  candidate  for  associate  judge 
of  the  county,  and  although  his  party  were 
greatly  in  the  minority,  came  within  a  small 
vote  of  an  election.  He  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers and  president  of  the  Harrisburg 
Fire  Association.  In  all  public  jwsitions  he 
was  faithful  to  his  trust,  and  conscientiously 
exercised  the  authority  reposed  in  his  hands. 
In  the  cit}'  of  his  adoption  he  took  a  large 
and  liberal  interest  in  its  growth  and  general 
prosperity.  He  died  January  18,  1871,  at 
Harrisburg,  aged  sixty  years.  Mr.  Kepner 
married,  in  1842, Cassandra  Loucks, daugiiter 
of  George  Loucks  (178G-1849)  and  Susan 
Weltzhotter  (1795-1842),  of  York  county, 
Pa.,  and  their  surviving  children  are  George 
L.  and  Ida  J.,  married  0.  P.  Good,  of  Har- 
risburg. 

Fle.mixg,  J.A.MES,  son  of  Samuel  Fleming 
and  grandson  of  Robert  Fleming,  was  born 
June  25,  1810,  in  Hanover  township,  Wash- 
ington county,  Pa.;  died  January  30,  1857, 
in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  In  1812  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  where  his  early  life  was  passed. 
His  boyhood  was  marked  by  a  laudable  am- 
bition to  excel  in  his  studies,  and  the  influ- 
ence of  his  mother  in  this  direction  had  its 
good  effect,  not  only  during  his  youth,  but 
throughout  his  life.  Thrown  upon  his  own 
resources  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  resolved 
to  educate  himself  by  alternately  acting  as 
teacher  and  pupil,  and  pursued  this  course 
for  seven  years,  thereby  becoming  convers- 
ant with  the  higher  mathematics,  tlie  ancient 
languages  and   French.     Much  of  his  time 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


235 


was  passed  in  the  States  of  Kentucky  and 
Ohio.  About  1835  he  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine,  and  graduated  at  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in  March, 
1838.  For  four  years  he  j)racticed  his  pro- 
fession, but  finding  the  duties  too  arduous  for 
his  slender  constitution,  his  attention  was 
drawn  to  the  science  of  dental  surgery,  then 
comparatively  in  its  infancy.  Observing  the 
necessity  for  good  operators  in  this  field,  he 
went  to  Philadelphia  and  acquired  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  that  specialty.  Returning  to 
Harrisburg,  he  met  with  deserved  and  well- 
marked  success.  During  the  remainder  of 
his  life  he  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  both 
medical  and  dental  journals,  and  occasionally 
to  the  newspaper  press.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Association  of  Dental 
Surgeons  and  of  the  American  Society,  and 
one  of  the  original  advocates  of  the  establish- 
ment of  a  dental  college  at  Philadelphia,  in 
which  he  was  subsequently  tendered  a  pro- 
fessorship, but  declined.  He  was  twice  the 
recipient  of  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Dental  Surgery.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
Harrisburg  National  Bank,  president  of  the 
board  of  school  directors  and  an  elder  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  there.  Dr.  Flem- 
ing married,  .June,  1852,  Jennette  Street, 
daughter  of  Col.  Thaddeus  Street  and  Martha 
Davenport  Reynolds,  of  Cheshire,  Conn.,  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Rev.  John  Davenport, 
the  founder  of  New  Haven.  Her  maternal 
grandmother,  Martha  Davenport,  was  a  de- 
scendant of  Oliver  Wolcott,  a  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  She  resided  in 
Gei'mantown,  Pa. 


Zimmerman,  Philip,  son  of  Henry  and 
Barbara  (Greiner)  Zimmerman,  was  born  No- 
vember 22,  1812.  He  spent  his  early  boy- 
hood days  amid  the  rural  scenes  of  a  quiet 
farm  life.  His  early  school  days  were  spent 
both  at  Churchville  and  Highspire.  He 
early  evinced  an  active  disposition  for  busi- 
ness. He  resided  for  several  years  on  the 
farm  near  Middletown,  now  owned  by  Will- 
iam H.  lllrich.  He  exchanged  this  farm 
with  David  Brenneman,  of  Middletown,  and 
moved  to  that  place  into  the  house  that  is 
now  occupied  by  L.  F.  Hemperly.  He  first 
ran  the  old  saw  mill  on  Race  street,  and  soon 
after  sold  this  house  to  L.  F.  Hemperly  and 
built  for  himself  the  house  which  Mrs.  Sey- 
mour Raymond  occupies.  He  engaged  in 
business  with  Dr.  Mercer  Brown  as  Brown 
&  Zimmerman,  having  a  lumber  yard  and  a 
19 


saw  mill  at  the  "Point."  Dr.  Brown  having 
retired,  he  associated  himself  with  Joseph 
Lescure  in  the  same  business  as  Zimmerman 
&  Lescure.  The  firm,  after  doing  a  large 
trade  for  several  years,  was,  owing  to  losses 
and  misfortune,  compelled  to  make  an  as- 
signment and  relinquish  business.  He  was 
always  active  and  energetic,  and  after  this 
failure  he  was  engaged  in  a  number  of  en- 
terprises, but  none  ot  them  proved  to  be  very 
successful.  He  was  married  to  Mary  Vogle, 
daughter  of  the  late  Henry  Vogle ;  she  died 
November  26,  1881 ;  by  whom  he  had  three 
daughters  :  Mrs.  Kate  Stofer,  renowned  as 
being  the  first  editress  of  Pennsylvania, 
resided  in  Middletown  ;  Mrs.  Ada  Camp- 
bell, of  Reading,  Pa.,  ami  Mary,  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  three  sons,  Joseph  and  William, 
who  died  in  infancy, and  Simon,  who  was  un- 
fortunately drowned  in  the  Swatara  creek, 
by  the  upsetting  of  a  sail  boat,  \vhen  he  was 
about  twenty  years  of  age.  At  the  lime  of 
his  death  Mr.  Zimmerman  was  living  with 
his  daughter,  Ada  Campbell,  in  Reading,  and 
was  interred  by  the  side  of  his  wife  in  the 
Middletown  cemetery.  He  was  a  man  of 
most  amiable  disposition,  possessed  a  rather 
philosophical  mind  and  seemed  to  take  little 
interest  in  the  political  events  that  were  tran- 
spiring about  him.  He  died  July  0,  1889, 
from  the  effects  of  a  stroke  of  paralysis.  His 
death  caused  many  a  deep  regret  and  sincere 
sorrow  on  the  part  of  all  who  ever  had  the 
good  fortune  to  live  in  the  atmosphere  of  his 
generous  disposition  and  chivalric  kindness. 


Landis,  Samuel,  the  son  of  Abraham 
Landis  and  Susannah  Reinoehl,  w'as  born  at 
Halifax,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  June  22, 
1813.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  and  came  to  Dauphin  county  shortly 
after  his  marriage.  His  father  dying  while 
the  son  was  only  eleven  years  old,  he  was 
taken  from  school  and  put  to  merchandising, 
first  at  Halifax  and  afterwards  at  Harris- 
burg. With  a  limited  education  he  applied 
himself  to  study,  and  when  about  twenty  he 
taught  school  during  the  winter.  About 
1835  he  purchased  a  store  at  Halifax,  and 
was  in  continued  mercantile  business  thirty 
years.  In  1851  he  removed  to  his  farm  near 
Halifax,  but  commissioned  justice  of  the 
peace  April  10, 1855, he  returned  to  the  town. 
In  18G1  he  was  elected  associate  judge  of  the 
county.  From  February,  1874,  until  his 
death^  March  8,  187(5,  he  was  cashier  of  the 
Real    Estate   Bank    at    Harrisburg.     Judge 


236 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCL OFEDIA 


Landis  married,  June  22,  1836,  Margaret 
Kinter,  daughter  of  Isaac  Kinter  and  Eliza- 
betli  Henry,  of  Rockville,  wlio  survived  liira. 
In  cliurcli  matters  he  took  a  prominent  part, 
held  tiie  position  of  recording  steward  of  tlie 
Methodist  Ejiiscopal  church  tliirty  years,  was 
a  member  of  the  first  Sunday-sciiool  organ- 
ized at  HaHfax,  of  wliich  for  many  years  lie 
was  tiie  superintendent.  By  his  will  he 
donated  $5U0  for  the  benefit  of  the  library. 
Judge  Landis  was  a  faithful  and  zealous 
Christian  gentleman.  He  was  a  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Dauphin  County  Historical  So- 
ciety at  the  time  of  his  death. 


Simmons,  George  Washington,  son  of 
Robert  and  Sarah  (Ward)  Simmons,  was 
born  February  17,  1814,  in  Lower  Paxtang 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Paxtang,  of  English  ancestry, 
and  died  about  1859, aged  seventy-five  3'ears. 
He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Whitley)  Ward.  She  died  at 
Dauphin  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  The 
children  of  Robert  Simmons  and  his  iwife 
Sarali  Ward  were,  George  Washington,  John, 
Jane,  wlio  married  Samuel  Fertig,  Matilda, 
who  married  a  Mr.  McCollough,  Robert,  and 
Mary,  wiio  married  Revere  Hetzel.  George 
W.  passed  his  early  years  on  his  father's 
farm,  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1831,  and 
learned  chair-making  with  George  W.  Boyd. 
After  serving  his  apprenticeship,  he  began 
business  for  himself,  which  he  carried  on 
about  ten  years.  He  was  for  tliree  years  in 
charge  of  a  packet-boat  on  the  Pennsylvania 
canal,  and  from  1849  to  1862,  a  baggage- 
master  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad.  He 
was  subsec^uently  elected  warden  of  the 
Dauphin  county  prison,  a  position  he  filled 
fourteen  years,  when  he  retired  from  active 
life.  Mr.  Simmons  married,  in  1836,  El  za- 
beth  Bates,  of  Middle  Paxtang,  and  their 
children  were:  John,  who  died  at  Pliiladel- 
phia  in  1881,  William  Henry,  Major  Oliver, 
Annie,  Martha,  who  married  Nelson  Kilgore, 
and  Frank. 


Rutherford,  Abner,  son  of  William 
Rutherford,  was  born  March  31,  1814,  in 
Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.; 
died  September  2,  1891,  and  was  buried 
at  Paxtang.  He  received  the  education 
afforded  by  the  select  schools  of  Paxtang 
Valle}',  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  The 
last  fifteen  j'ears  of  his  life  he  was  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Humraelstown ; 


was  identified  with  other  corporations,  and 
active  in  various  local  enterprises  of  his  day. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the 
Penn.sylvania  Anti-Slavery  Society,  and  in 
1835  was  captaui  of  the  Tenth  company, 
Ninety-eighth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  mili- 
tia. For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  vice- 
presidents  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Agri- 
cultural Society,  in  the  founding  of  which  he 
took  a  prominent  part.  His  energj'  and 
ability,  combined  with  his  business  habits, 
produced  that  success  which  generally  fol- 
lows. Mr.  Rutherford  married,  February 
28,  1839,  Ann  Espy,  youngest  claughter  of 
William  Espy,  of  Swatara. 


Boas,  Col.  Frederick  Krause,  son  of 
Frederick  Boas  (1785-1817)  and  Elizabeth 
Krause  (1797-1847),  was  born  April  5,  1815, 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  died  there  February 
15,  1891.  He  attended  the  schools  of  the 
borough  until  his  sixteenth  year.  From  Au- 
gust, 1832,  to  April,  1838,  he  was  a  clerk  in 
the  Harrisburg  postoffice,  then  assistant  post- 
master, as  superintendent  (not  regularh')  un- 
til July,  1843.  He  studied  law  with  the  late 
Judge  Krause,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Dau- 
phin county  bar  August  22,  1837,  in  which 
profession  he  has  been  since  engaged.  He 
was  api)ointed  by  Governor  Porter  aid  on  his 
start",  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  which  beheld 
from  1839  to  1845  ;  was  school  director  from 
1839  to  1848,  being  treasurer  of  the  board 
from  1840  to  1842,  and  also  served  in  the 
borough  council  six  years,  from  1843  to  1849. 
Colonel  Boas  married,  in  1871,  Sarah  C. 
Nolen, daughter  of  William  and  Maria  Nolen, 
of  Harrisburg. 


Briggs,  John  Hanna,  son  of  Joseph  Briggs 
and  Caroline  E.  Hanna,  was  born  in  1815,  at 
Silvers  Spring,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.  His 
ancestors  were  of  English  descent  and  early 
settlers  in  Pennsylvania.  He  received  a 
classical  education  and  was  a  graduate  of 
Rutger's  College,  New  Jersej-.  Returning  to 
Harrisburg,  where  his  parents  had  made 
their  home,  he  began  the  study  of  law  with 
James  I\IcCormick,  then  one  of  the  leading 
lawyers  at  the  capital,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  Dauphin  county  bar  April  18,  1837,  and 
at  once  entered  upon  a  successful  practice  of 
his  profession.  Mr.  Briggs  took  a  prominent 
interest  in  municipal  affairs,  was  nine  3'ears 
a  member  of  borough  council,  of  which  body 
he  was  eight  years  president.  He  was  a  di- 
rector of  the  old   Harrisburg   Bank,  of  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


237 


Harrisburg  Bridge  Company,  and  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Harrisburg  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  took  pUice  March 
29,  1872,  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 
"He  had  gained,"  says  Rev.  Dr.  Robinson, 
"  the  reputation  of  a  wise  and  able  counselor, 
and  an  untarnished  name.  He  was  a  most 
upright  citizen,  useful,  patriotic  and  public- 
spirited.  He  was  a  true  friend,  generous  and 
forbearing.  His  social  qualities  and  gentle- 
manly bearingsurroundinghim  with  friends." 
Mr.  Briggs  married  Juliaft-~Tod,  daughter  of 
Judge  John  Tod  and  Mary  R.  Hanna. 


the  county  of  Dauphin,  Mary,  married  Peter 
Reel,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  married  Joiin  H. 
Tattnall,  Daniel,  Louisa,  married  Joseph  E. 
Rhoads,  Samuel,  John,  George,  Lewis,  Cath- 
arine L.,  and  Margaret  J. 


Ikwin,  Philip,  son  of  Henry  Irwin  (died 
1815)  and  ]\Largaret  Fisher  (1777-1859),  was 
born  August  30,  1815,  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.  His  educational  advantages  were  com- 
prised in  one  or  two  winters  at  a  country 
school.  By  self-application  and  industry, 
however,  he  became  well  informed,  and  with 
great  activity  and  energy  was  generally  suc- 
cessful in  his  enterprises.  For  many  years 
he  was  engaged  in  building  railroads,  the 
scene  of  his  operations  being  the  Northern 
Central,  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  Erie,  Lebanon 
Valley,  Lake  Shore,  Michigan  Southern,  and 
other  railroads.  Although  an  active  politi- 
cian he  never  sought  or  held  office,  his  busi- 
ness interests  requiring  all  his  time  and  at- 
tention. He  died  at  Middletown  on  tiie  lltii 
of  December,  1878,  aged  sixty-three  years. 
Mr.  Irwin  married,  November  24,  1840, 
Anna  Eliza  Etter,  daughter  of  George  Etter 
and  Nancy  Shelly,  who  survived  him.  Their 
children  were  ]\Iargaret,  Ann,  Mary  Ellen, 
George  Henry,  Franklin  Etter,  Jenny  Lind, 
Philip  Etter,  and  Lillian. 


Sheesley,  Daniel,  son  of  Daniel  Sheesley 
and  Mary  Elizabeth  Reigle,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 16,  1815,  in  Lykens  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.  His  education  was 
quite  limited.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  at 
the  age  of  twelve,  and  in  its  vicinity  his  life 
was  passed.  For  many  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business,  was  an  auc- 
tioneer and  trucker.  He  served  one  term 
as  director  of  the  poor,  and  was  one  of  the 
directors  of  schools  for  Swatara  township  for 
a  long  period.  He  died  at  Harrisburg  on 
the  21st  of  June,  1880,  in  his  sixty-fifth  year. 
He  was  a  very  pleasant  and  agreeable  com- 
panion, extremely  sociable  and  kind.  Mr. 
Sheesley  married,  in  1837,  Sarah  Rissing, 
daughter  of  Lewis  and  Mary  Rissing,  and 
their  children  are  William,  former  sheriff  of 


KuNKEL,  John  Christian,  son  of  George 
Kunkel,  was  born  September  18,  181(i,  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.;  died  October  14,  1870,  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  received  a  liberal  scien- 
tific and  classical  education  in  the  schools  at 
Gettysburg  and  at  Jefferson  College.  Cannons- 
burg,  at  which  latter  institution  he  gradu- 
ated. After  leaving  college  he  entered  the 
Carlisle  law  school  under  Judge  Read,  subse- 
quently reading  law  with  James  McCor- 
mick,  and  admitted  to  the  Dauphin  county 
bar.  After  his  admission  to  tiie  bar  he  re- 
mained several  years  in  tlie  office  with  Mr. 
McCormick.  He  raj)idly  gained  a  large 
practice  and  a  reputation  which  few  mem- 
bers of  the  bar  enjoy.  He  also  became  ac- 
tive in  politics,  and,  in  the  earnest  and  ex- 
citing campaign  of  1844,  when  the  young 
men  of  tiie  Nation  iiad  made  Henry  Clay, 
then  in  the  zenith  of  his  career,  tlieir  stand- 
ard-bearer, the  best  talent  and  most  brilliant 
eloquence  that  ever  graced  the  American 
rostrum  was  called  into  requisition.  Amid 
all  the  magnificent  display  and  power  of  logic, 
that  of  the  orator  of  Pennsylvania,  as  Mr.  Kun- 
kel was  recognized,  was  conspicuous  as  well 
for  force  of  argument  as  for  grace  of  delivery. 
The  same  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature, re-elected  in  1845,  and  again  in  1850. 
In  1851  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate, 
and  was  chosen  speaker  of  that  body  at  the 
close  of  the  first  session  of  his  term.  As  a 
legislator  Mr.  Kunkel  was  prominent  for  the 
wisdom  of  his  counsel  as  well  as  for  the 
power  of  his  eloquence.  His  services  at  the 
capital  added  greatly  to  his  already  wide 
reputation  as  a  pure  statesman  and  accom- 
plished scholar.  In  1854  and  again  in  1850 
he  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Congress. 
During  the  four  years  he  spent  in  Washington 
city,  he  was  regarded  throughout  the  country 
as  one  of  the  ablest  statesmen  at  the  na- 
tional capital.  In  1858  he  retired  from  public 
life,  and  gave  liis  exciu.sive  attention  to  tlie 
practice  of  his  profession,  varying  the  course 
of  his  life  by  occasionally  helping  a  friend 
in  apolitical  canvass, and, wherever  he  went 
lie  was  always  the  favorite  of  the  people.  In 
18G8  he  was  stricken  down  with  paralysis, 
and  never  fully  regained  his  health,  dying 
as  previously  stated.     Perchance  the  lo.ss  of 


238 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


no  member  of  the  Daupliiu  county  bar  was 
so  severely  felt  as  that  of  Mr.  Kunkel,  if  we 
are  to  judge  of  the  glowing,  sincere  and  fra- 
ternal tributes  paid  to  his  memory  by  his 
brethren  in  the  profession  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Mr.  Kunkel  married,  October  20, 
1857,  Elizabeth  Cram  Rutherford,  daugiiter 
of  Dr.  William  Wilson  Rutherford  and  Elea- 
nor Grain  ;  she  resided  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Eby,  Jacob  Rupley,  the  son  of  Ephraim  C. 
Eby  (1783-1838)  and  Susanna  Rupley  (1784- 
1844),  was  born  November  18,  1816,  at 
Columbia.  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  His  father, 
born  near  Lancaster,  was  a  miller  b}'  occupa- 
tion, and  belonged  to  the  Mennonites — 
"never  went  to  law  and  never  voted."*  He 
had  seven  children.  Ephraim  C.  Eby  died  at 
Middletown,  owning  at  tlie  time  the  mill 
at  Highspu'e.  Jacob  R.  was  brought  up  to 
the  business  of  his  father  until  the  age  of 
fifteen,  in  the  meantime  enjoying  the  advan- 
tages of  the  education  afforded  by  the  pay- 
schools  of  that  day.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter.  After  serving  his  apprentice- 
ship he  took  a  trip  South,  working  at  his 
trade,  returning,  however,  at  the  end  of  ten 
months,  when  he  entered  mercantile  life. 
While  thus  engaged,  Messrs.  Cameron,  Lau- 
man  &  Clark,  who  were  building  the  im- 
provements at  Wrightsville,  known  as  the 
Tide-water  canal  and  Cclumbia  dam,  offered 
him  a  position  which  he  accepted.  This 
gave  him  an  insight  into  the  building  of 
public  works,  when  his  industry,  integrity 
and  capacity  attracted  the  favorable  notice 
of  a  prominent  lumber  merchant  of  Middle- 
town,  who  gave  him  an  interest  in  his  busi- 
ness simply  on  account  of  his  superior  quali- 
fications and  without  requiring  the  invest- 
ment of  capital.  He  retained  this  valuable 
position  for  six  years,  when  he  disposed  of 
his  interest  to  advantage,  and  with  his 
brother  E.  C.  Eby  purchased  the  stock  and 
good-will  of  the  grocerv  and  forwarding  busi- 
ness of  John  H.  Brant,  on  one  of  the  best 
sites  in  that  city.  The  business  subsequently 
was  conducted  by  himself  and  sons.  A  fixed, 
indestructible  purpose,  a  determination  to 
excel,  were  the  active  agencies  which  led  to 
his  prosperous  career.  He  was  eminently 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortune — a  self-made 
man.  Mr.  Eby  was  largely  interested  in 
many  of  the  industrial  establishments  of  the 
city,  being  a  stockholder  and  director  of  the 
Harrisburg  car  and  machine  ami  foundry 
works.     He  was  president  for  several  years 


of  the  First  National  Bank  and  likewise  of  the 
State  Agricultural  Society.  He  was  warmly 
devoted  to  the  interest  of  the  young,  and 
among  them  was  a  particular  favorite  for  his 
pleasing  manners  and  kindness  of  heart. 
For  thirty  years  he  had  been  connected  with 
the  First  Lutheran  Sunday-school,  either  as 
teacher  or  superintendent,  at  the  time  of  his 
death  being  in  charge  of  the  third  depart- 
ment. During  all  those  years  his  walk  in 
life  was  eminently  consistent.  He  was  at  the 
time  of  his  death  a  prison  inspector,  which 
jiosition  he  held  for  many  years.  He  died 
February  11,  1883,  at  Harrisburg,  in  his 
sixtj'-seventh  year.  Mr.  Eby  was  married  in 
1843  to  Elizabeth  Gross,  who  survived  him. 
They  had  three  children,  Maurice,  AVilliam 
Howard,  and  Fannie. 


Eppley,  Daniel,  son  of  George  and  Susan 
(Brookharf)  Eppley,  was  born  July  26,  1817, 
in  Fishing  Creek  Valley, Fairview  township, 
York  county.  Pa.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborliood  and 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm.  On  October 
6,  1834,  Ije  came  to  Harrisburg  and  entered 
the  dry  goods  store  of  George  and  Bernard 
Geiger,  where  he  remained  six  years,  when 
he.  made  an  engagement  with  Messrs.  Elder 
&  Piper,  in  the  same  business.  Li  April, 
1847,  he  established  himself  in  the  mercan- 
tile trade,  which  he  successfully  conducted 
until  in  1870  he  retired  from  all  business 
pursuits.  On  the  organization  of  the  Far- 
mers' Bank,  of  Harrisburg,  in  May,  1872, 
Mr.  Epple}'  was  chosen  a  director  of  that  in- 
stitution. He  served  in  the  various  munici- 
pal offices  of  school  director,  city  and  county 
auditor,  and  also  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
State  Lunatic  Hospital  at  Harrisburg.  Mr. 
Eppley  married,  June  2, 1845,  Louisa,  daugh- 
ter of  Bernard  and  Charlotte  Geiger,  of  Har- 
risburg. She  died  March  2,  1849,  leaving  a 
daughter,  Mary  Lavina,  who  married  Walter 
B.  Fahnestock,  of  Pittsburgh,  both  dead, 
leaving  two  children.  His  second  wife  was 
Anna  Maria, daughter  of  George  J.  and  Anna 
Maria  (Kurtz)  Heislej',  of  Harrisburg,  and 
their  children  were:  Edward  Kurtz,  Helen 
Elizabeth,  who  married  William  H.  Lyter, 
and  Annie  Maria. 


CowDEN,  John  Wallace,  son  of  Matthew 
Benjamin  and  Mary  (Wallace)  Cowden,  was 
born  on  the  29th  of  August,  1817,  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa. 
His  father  was  long  in  public  life,  and  for 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


239 


years  was  an  associate  judge  of  the  county. 
John  WuUace  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer, 
but  as  he  grew  to  maturer  years  his  atten- 
tion was  turned  to  surveying,  and  he  came 
to  Harrisburg,  wliere  his  kxtter  days  were 
passed  as  a  practical  surveyor,  and  where  he 
died  July  22,  1872.  "  He  was,"  writes  a 
contemporary,  "an  unobtrusive,  modest 
and  estimable  citizen,  successful  in  his  bu.si- 
ness,  trustworthy  in  all  the  relations  of  life, 
and  a  sincere  and  earnest  Christian."  Mr. 
Cowden  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Mary  (Barnett)  llatton,  of 
Lower  Paxton.     They  left  a  large  family. 


Cox,  John  Bowes,  son  of  .John  Bowes  Cox 
(1780-1831)  and  Matilda  Willis  McAllister 
(1787-1858),  was  born  November  19,  1817, 
at  Estherton,  Pa.  He  was  descended  from 
Dr.  John  Cox,  who  laid  out  Estherton,  whose 
son  was  Col.  Cornelius  Cox,  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, father  of  John  B.  Cox,  Sr.  The  chil- 
dren of  the  latter  were  Catharine  Mary,  mar- 
ried A.  0.  Hiester,  Elizabeth,  married  Adam 
H.  Orth,  Matilda  Willis,  John  B.,  George 
Washington,  d.  s.  p.,  Rachel,  Esther  Amelia, 
married  Joseph  E.  Piolett,  Cornelius,  and 
George  W.,  deceased. 

(3f  the  foregoing,  John  B.  was  educated 
at  the  academies  at  Lititz,  Burlington,  N.  J., 
West  Chester,  and  York,  Pa.  He  learned 
the  profession  of  civil  engineer,  which  occu- 
pation he  pursued  several  years,  subse- 
quently engaging  for  a  long  period  in  flour 
and  saw-milling  enterprises,  when  he  retired 
from  active  pursuits.  Mr.  Cox  married,  in 
1844,  Rebecca  E.  Lightner,  daughter  of  John 
and  Rebecca  Lightner,  of  Pequea,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  and  their  children  were :  Ma- 
tilda Willis,  deceased,  Mary  Ricfiiardson, 
married  Edward  H.  Buehler,  John  Bowes, 
Rebecca  Hopkins,  Edward  Buchanan,  and 
Catharine  Hiester. 


BoMBERGER,  Jacob  Cauffman,  was  bom 
December  16,  1817,  at  Middletown,  Pa.  He 
was  the  fifth  in  descent  from  Christian  Bom- 
berger  and  Maria,  his  wife,  who  emigrated  to 
America  from  Eshelbrun,  Baden,  Germany, 
arriving  in  Pennsylvania  in  May,  1722. 
Christian  Bomberger  took  up  and  settled 
upon  a  tract  of  land  in  Warwick  townshi[), 
Lancaster  county,  Province  of  Pennsylvania, 
a  portion  of  which  remains  in  possession  of 
his  descendants  to  the  present  day.  Jacob 
Cauff'man  Bomberger  was  the  youngest  son 
of  John  Bomberger  and   his  wife  Elizabeth 


Cauitman.  His  education  was  received  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  town,  which  at  that 
period  was  quite  limited.  When  fourteen 
years  of  age  lie  learned  merchandising  at 
Elizabethtown  and  at  Shippensburg.  In 
1845  he  was  appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the 
bank  at  Middletown,  which  position  he  held 
until  1851  when,  having  been  elected  assist- 
ant clerk  to  the  Senate  of  Pennsylvania,  he 
entered  U[)on  the  duties  of  that  ofhce,  which 
were  faithfully'  and  acceptably  performed  by 
him.  During  that  session  being  instrumen- 
tal in  procuring  a  charter  for  the  Mechanics' 
Bank  at  Harrisburg,  which  was  organized  in 
May  of  that  year;  he  was  elected  its  cashier, 
serving  in  that  capacity  until  the  expiration 
of  its  charter  in  1867  The  success  of  the 
bank,  of  which  he  was  the  leading  spirit,  was 
unprecedented ;  and  at  tlie  close  of  its  affairs 
Mr.  Bomberger  became  its  sole  owner,  in 
which  he  has  continued  until  the  present 
time.  It  has  been  through  his  energy  and 
financial  tact  and  ability  that  it  has  become 
one  of  the  most  successful  banking  houses  in 
Pennsylvania.  During  the  first  year  of  the 
Rebellion  it  was  chiefly  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  Mr.  Bomberger  that  the  Penn- 
sylvania loan  was  at  once  taken  up  by  the 
banking  institutions  of  the  Commonwealth. 
This  subject  has  been  specially  treated  of  in 
recent  histories  of  the  Rebellion.  Mr.  Bom- 
berger was  appointed  by  Governor  Curtin 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the  State  Lunatic  Hos- 
pital, was  reappointed  by  Governor  Geary 
and  served  about  ten  years  in  that  honorable 
capacity.  He  was  a  delegate  to  tlie  National 
Convention  at  Chicago  which  nominated 
Genei'al  Grant  for  the  Presidency,  and  sup- 
ported him  at  his  first  election.  Mr.  Bom- 
berger has  acquired  by  liis  great  business 
capacity  and  industry  an  ample  competency. 
His  character  for  integrity  is  unimpeachable, 
and  he  occupies  in  the  community  where  lie 
is  best  known,  a  position  that  commands  the 
best  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

Hamilton,  Thomas  Allen,  son  of  Hugh 
Hamilton  and  his  wife  Rosanna  Bo3'd,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg  on  the  14th  of  February, 
1818;  died  on  the  14th  of  December,  1874. 
He  received  a  good  education  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  printer  in  his  father's  office,  at 
which  he  worked  until  he  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  an  assistant  engineer  of  the 
State  canals,  under  Col.  James  Worrall,  but 
soon  abandoned  both  avocations,  in  order  to 
join  a  brother  in  a  business  which  they  sue- 


240 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


cessfully  prosecuted  until  his  death.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  the  city  councils  of 
Harrisburg  a  longer  continuous  period  than 
any  other  citizen  has  ever  done,  being  elected 
for  about  twenty  years  in  succession,  gener- 
ally without  serious  opposition,  although 
many  epochs  of  great  public  excitement  in- 
tervened to  produce  fierce  and  close  political 
contests.  His  neighbors  never  failed  to 
ascertain  his  political  opinions,  yet,  whether 
voting  for  or  against  him,  they  rejoiced  to 
know  that  he  was  their  representative  and 
leader  of  tiie  municipal  legislature.  In  the 
language  of  a  contemporary,  "Mr.  Hamilton, 
in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-citizens, 
was  courteous  to  all,  liberal  to  the  poor,  pos- 
itive in  opinion,  methodical  in  business,  reti- 
cent, deliberate,  but  prompt  in  judgment." 
His  integrity  was  never  impeached  in  public 
or  private  transactions.  He  died,  unmarried, 
at  Harrisburg,  in  the  same  house  in  which 
he  was  born. 


Jones,  Uriah  James,  was  born  at  New 
Berlin,  Union  county,  Pa.,  in  1818.  He 
learned  the  art  of  printing  at  New  Berlin, 
Lewisburg  and  Harrisburg.  While  a  jour- 
neyman at  the  latter  place  he  wrote  and  set 
up  the  novel  of  '"  Simon  (iirty,  the  Outlaw,"  a 
book  which  is  now  very  rare.  In  1845  Mr. 
Jones  went  to  HoUidaysburg,  where  he  was 
engaged  with  0.  A.  Traugh  in  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Democratic  Standard,  and  tlirougli 
its  columns  secured  a  national  reputation 
for  his  witticisms.  In  1850  he  published 
the  Keystone  at  Pittslnirgh,  but  the  paper 
proving  unsuccessful  he  resumed  his  place 
on  the  Standard  the  year  following.  During 
1855-56  he  wrote  and  j'jublished  a  ''History 
of  the  Juniata  Valley,"  the  first  historical 
work  which  gave  a  full  record  of  tlie  pioneer 
life  of  that  locality,  much  of  which  was 
gathered  from  the  lips  of  early  settlers  or 
their  chddren.  In  1859  Mr.  Jones  went  to 
Lancaster  as  editor  of  the  Express,  and  in 
1860  removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  took 
a  position  on  the  Patriot  and  Union.  At  the 
same  time  he  was  a  regular  correspondent 
for  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburgh 
newspapers,  and  also  a  contributor  of  liter- 
ary articles  and  sketches  to  the  magazines. 
It  may  be  mentioned  that  in  1859  he  pub- 
lished a  pamphlet,  "Advice  to  Travelers," 
which  has  furnished  the  material  for  several 
American  guide-books.  Mr.  Jones  was  acci- 
dentall}'  killed  by  the  cars  at  the  railroad 


depot,  Harrisburg,  November  19, 1864.  He 
married,  in  1845,  Margaret  L.  Traugh,  of 
HoUidaysburg,  who  survived  him. 

Zimmerman,  George,  son  of  Henry  and 
Barbara  (Greiner)  Zimmerman,  born  Febru- 
ary 11,  1819,  on  the  forty  acre  tract  set  apart 
from  the  original  Greiner  estate  in  Lower 
Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county.  He  at- 
tended the  old  Neidich  meeting-house  school 
in  Churciiville  as  well  as  otiier  schools  in 
Highspire,  where  the  distillery  now  is,  then 
taught  by  Conrad  Alleman.  When  he  was 
five  years  old,  his  fatiier  purchased  the  Kerr 
estate,  to  wliicli  he  removed  with  his  family 
in  the  spring  of  1825.  His  father  died  when 
lie  was  but  twenty  j'ears  of  age,  and  in 
1842  he  and  his  brother  Henry  farmed  the 
home  place  as  partners ;  but  in  December, 
1843,  he  married  Barbara  Stoner,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Martha  (Alleman)  Stoner,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1844  they  dissolved  partner- 
ship, when  he  entered  the  lumber  business  in 
Highspire  with  Jacob  Nissley. 

After  the  death  of  his  father-in-law  in 
1847  he  purchased  the  properties  of  the 
Stoner  estate  in  Highspire.  In  1848  he  sold 
his  interest  to  his  partner  and  entered  a 
partnership  with  his  brother  Philip  in 
Middletown  at  the  "point."  His  wife  died 
August  16,  1850,  with  whom  he  had  four 
children  :  Henry,  born  December  29,  1844  ; 
Augustus  and  Joseph,  twins,  born  July  29, 
1846,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  infancy ; 
and  Mary,  born  August  14,  1848. 

In  1852  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Meek, 
of  Perry  county,  with  whom  he  had  four 
children,  born  in  Dauphin  county,  as  fol- 
lows: Milton,  March  18,  1853,  Simon,  Octo- 
ber 18,  1853,  Araminta,  April  29,  1856,  and 
Alice,  February  IS,  1858.  He  continued 
with  his  brother  in  the  lumber  business, 
until  the  mill  burned  down,  when  in  1854 
he  began  the  brick  business  along  the  river 
above  Highspire.  In  this  business  he  suf- 
fei'ed  many  reverses  through  the  panic  of 
1857,  but  finally  survived  that  great  com- 
mercial depression.  In  the  spring  of  1859, 
attracted  by  the  brilliant  prospects  of  the 
then  unsettled  West,  and  also  by  tlie  fact 
that  his  brothers  Isaac  and  Simon,  and  his 
sisters  Elizabeth  and  Mary,  had  migrated 
to  Ohio,  caused  him  to  remove  to  that  new 
country  to  tr}^  his  fortune  there.  We  here 
take  leave  of  his  various  aciiievements  by 
the  simple  statement  that  he  has  collected 
about  him  a  beautiful  tract  of  320  acres  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


241 


very  fertile  land,  near  Springfield,  Ohio,  and 
has  erected  thereon  a  fine  brick  mansion, 
large  eastern  style  barns,  and  commodious 
out-buildings.  Having  gotten  his  experience 
bj'  battling  with  the  stern  realities  of  life, 
liis  nature  partook  of  his  surroundings,  and 
he  was  very  naturally  a  matter-of-fact  man  ; 
life  to  him  was  a  stern  reality ;  he  viewed  it 
in  the  light  of  his  real  experience  and  was 
devoid  of  anything  that  partook  of  the 
nature  of  sliams  or  conventionalism.  He 
was  very  generous,  but  when  a  kindness  was 
bestowed,  he  was  the  first  to  forget  it.  He 
is  a  sincere  Republican  in  politics,  and  a 
consistent  member  of  the  U.  B.  Church. 


Shammo,  William,  son  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Reiuoehl),  Shammo  was  born  March  13, 
1819,  at  Halifax,  Pa.  He  received  the 
limited  education  afforded  by  the  village 
school  during  the  winter  months,  and  from 
his  early  years  assisted  by  his  father,  who  was 
a  merchant,  thereby  making  himself  familiar 
with  mercantile  transactions.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  business  many  years  at  Halifax  and 
was  successful  in  a  marked  degree.  He  was 
accepted  as  a  safe  counselor  and  sure  finan- 
cial guide,  and  from  the  time  of  its  organi- 
zation, in  1870,  was  cashier  of  the  Halifax 
Bank.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the  bor- 
ough council  and  other  positions  of  trust. 
He  died  at  Halifax,  February  14,  1883,  aged 
almost  sixty-four  years.  He  was  a  valuable 
citizen  and  highl}'  esteemed  in  the  commu- 
nity in  which  he  lived.  Mr.  Shammo  mar- 
ried, December  29, 185G,  Catherine  R.,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Mary  Beam,  of  Halifax,  and 
their  children  were  :  Estelle,  Byron  A.,  Min- 
nie L.,  Carrie  M.,  Rosal)elle,  Myra  A.,  and 
Bertha  A. 


Geary,  Gov.  John  White,  the  son  of 
Richard  Geary  and  Margaret  White,  was 
born  December  30,  1819,  near  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, Westmoreland  county.  Pa.  The  father 
was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  a  native  of 
Franklin  count}',  and  a  man  of  education, 
refined  tastes  and  sujieiior  moral  excellence. 
His  mother  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Md.  They,  removed  to  Westmoreland 
count}'  soon  after  their  marriage,  where 
Richard  Geary  engaged  at  first  in  tlie  man- 
ufacture of  iron,  wiiicli,  proving  unsuccessful, 
he  resorted  to  teacliing,  a  profession  he  pur- 
sued the  remainder  of  his  life. 

For  a  time  his  tiiougiits  turned  to  com- 
mercial pursuits,  but  convinced   by  a  short 


experience  in  a  wholesale  house  in  Pitts- 
burgh tiiat  this  would  not  prove  to  him  a 
satisfactory  sphere  of  life,  he  yielded  to  his 
natural  predilections  for  mathematics,  and 
applied  himself  to  the  study  of  civil  engi- 
neering. Having  mastered  the  {)rinciples  of 
that  profession,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law,  in  the  belief  that  it  would  increase  the 
chances  of  a  successful  career,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  though  intending  to  adopt 
engineering  as  his  fixed  vocation.  With 
this  end  in  view  he  went  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  was  engaged,  partly  in  the  emploj'  of  the 
Commonwealth  and  partly  in  that  of  the 
Green  River  Railroad  Company,  to  make  a 
survey  of  several  important  lines  of  public 
works. 

His  success  in  the  Southwest  opened  the 
way  to  advancement  in  his  native  State,  and 
"  he  soon  after  became  assistant  superintendent 
and  engineer  of  the  Allegheny  Portage  rail- 
road.    While  occupied    with   the  duties  of 
this  position,  in   the  month  of  May,  1846, 
President  Polk  sent  a  message  to  Congress, 
informing  that  body  that  "  war  existed  with 
this  country  by  the  act  of  Mexico,"  and  ask- 
ing for  men  and   money  to  enable  him   to 
maintain  the  rights  and  vindicate  the  honor 
of  the  Government.     The  burst  of  enthusi- 
asm   was    instantaneous   and   general,  and 
Gear}'  was  among  the   first  who  responded 
to  the  call  for  volunteers,  in  a  short  time 
raising  a  company  in   Cambria  county,  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  of  American  High- 
landers.    At  Pittsburgli  his  command  was 
incorporated  with  the  Second  Pennsylvania 
regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Roberts, 
of  which  he  was  immediately  elected  lieuten- 
ant colonel.     The  regiment  joined  the  army 
of  General  Scott  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  served 
with    conspicuous    gallantry  in    Quitman's 
division    during    the    memorable    advance 
u]:)on  the  Mexican  capital.     Lieutenant  Col- 
onel Geary's  first  experience  of  actual   war 
was  in  tlie  partial  though  spirited  action  of 
the  Pass  of  La  Hoya.     In   the  storming  of 
Chapultepec   he  was  wounded,  and  in   the 
assault  upon   the  immediate  defenses  of  the 
city,  at  tlie  Garita  de  Belen,  he  again  led  iiis 
regiment  with  so  much  judgment,  coolness, 
and   intrepidity  that  upon   the  capture  he 
was  assigned   to  the  command  of  the  great 
citadel,  as  a  mark  of  Quitman's  appreciation 
of  ills  services.     From   the  time   wiien   the 
army  entered  the  valley  of  Mexico  Colonel 
Roberts   was  disqualified  for  duty  by  sick- 
ness and  the  command  of  the  regiment  de- 


242 


BIO  GRA PHICAL  ENCYCL  OFEDIA 


vol  ved  upon  tlie  lieutenant  coloDel.  Shortly 
after  the  surrender  of  the  capital  Colonel 
Roherts  died  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Geary 
was  elected  to  succeed  him. 

On  January  22,  1849,  President  Polk,  in 
grateful  recognition  of  his  services  in  the 
Mexican  war,  appointed  Colonel  Geary  i>ost- 
master  of  San  Francisco  and  mail  agent  for 
tlie  Pacific  Coast,  with  authority  to  create 
post-offices,  appoint  postmasters,  establish 
mail  routes,  and  make  contracts  for  carrying 
the  mails  throughout  California.  Having 
received  his  commission  on  February  1,  in 
company  with  his  wife  and  child,  sailed  from 
New  York  for  the  Pacific  Coast.  On  April 
1  he  landed  safely  at  San  Francisco,  and 
entered  at  once  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
duties.  For  a  time  he  was  obliged  to  content 
himself  with  the  rudest  accommodations,  and 
to  perform  his  work  under  man}'  disadvan- 
tages. But  here,  as  in  all  previous  situations, 
his  methodical  turn  and  practical  tact  soon 
enabled  him  to  improvise  all  needful  facili- 
ties, and  brought  the  labors  of  the  office 
under  an  easy  and  expeditious  manage- 
ment. 

The  intelligent  and  obliging  dispatch  with 
which  Colonel  Geary  had  discharged  his 
duties  as  postmaster  and  mail  agent  so  won 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  people  of 
San  Francisco,  that  when  the  time  arrived 
for  the  election  of  town  officers  he  was  unan- 
imously chosen  first  alcalde,  though  there 
were  ten  different  tickets  submitted  to  the 
choice  of  the  voters.  Shortly  afterwards 
this  mark  of  appreciation  on  the  part  of  the 
citizens  was  followed  by  another  equally 
flattering  on  the  part  of  the  military  gover- 
nor of  the  Territory,  Brigadier  General 
Riley,  who  appointed  him  judge  of  first  in- 
stance. These  offices  were  of  Mexican  ori- 
gin, and  they  imposed  onerous  and  import- 
ant duties.  The  alcalde  was  sheritf,  probate 
judge,  recorder,  notarv  public  and  coroner. 
The  court  of  first  instance  exercised  both 
civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction  throughout 
the  city,  and  besides  this  adjudicated  all 
those  cases  arising  under  the  port  regula- 
tions which  usually  fall  within  the  cogni- 
zance of  courts  of  admiralty.  At  the  close 
of  his  first  term  he  was  re-elected,  receiving 
all  but  four  votes  of  the  whole  number 
cast,  and  continued  in  office  until  the  Mexi- 
can institutions  were  superseded  bj'  the 
American  forms  of  municipal  government. 

In  a  vote  upon  the  first  city  charter  and 
for  officers  to  serve  thereunder,  May  1,  1850, 


Judge  Geary  was  elected  first  mayor  of  San 
Francisco  by  a  large  majority.  As  mayor 
he  rendered  valuable  service  in  perfecting 
the  municipal  organization,  in  restraining 
the  tendency  to  extravagant  expenditure  of 
the  [lublic  funds,  sustaining  the  city's  credit 
by  judicious  management  of  its  finances,  and 
by  an  honest  disposal  of  the  public  property 
saved  to  the  corporation  many  millions  of 
dollars. 

Owing  to  the  failing  iiealth  of  his  wife. 
Colonel  Geary,  on  February  1,  1852,  sailed 
from  San  Francisco,  intending  to  go  back 
and  remain  permanently  in  California,  but 
the  death  of  the  former  and  other  circum- 
stances unforeseen  caused  him  to  change  his 
purpose,  and  gave  a  new  direction  to  his 
whole  course  of  life.  After  having  spent 
about  three  years  in  retirement,  and  had  in 
a  measure  brought  the  condition  of  his  farm 
into  conformity  with  his  own  ideal  of  what 
such  an  estate  should  be,  President  Pierce 
invited  him  to  Washington  for  the  purpose 
of  tendering  to  him  the  governorship  of 
Utah,  which,  after  due  acknowledgement  of 
the  compliment,  he  respectfully  declined. 

Not  the  government  of  ITtah  but  of  Kan- 
sas was  the  great  problem  of  Mr.  Pierce's  ad- 
ministration. A  bloody  civil  strife  was  being 
waged  in  that  Territory,  and  the  political 
state  of  the  whole  country  was  convulsed  on 
the  subject  of  its  affairs.  One  governor  had 
been  removed  for  refusing  to  conform  strictly 
to  the  Federal  policy  in  regard  to  slavery, 
and  another  was  preparing  to  flee  from  the 
Territory  through  fear  of  assassination.  In 
view  of  the  pressing  exigenc)',  the  thoughts 
of  the  President  reverted  to  Colonel  Geary, 
and  after  consultation  in  July  he  was  ap- 
pointed governor  of  Kansas,  and  proceeded 
immediately  to  his  new  field  of  labor,  ar- 
riving at  Fort  Leavenworth  on  September  9, 
1856.  His  administration  extended  only 
from  that  date  to  March,  1857. 

Governor  Geary  was  at  his  farm  in  West- 
moreland when  the  sound  of  the  Rebellion's 
first  gun  broke  upon  the  ear  of  the  Nation. 
Early  on  the  morning  following  the  event- 
ful day  he  drove  his  farm  wagon  to  the 
neighboring  village,  and  there  first  heard 
the  news  of  the  assault  upon  Fort  Sumter.  In 
less  than  an  hour  after  reading  the  telegram 
he  had  opened  an  office  for  the  enlistment 
of  volunteers.  As  soon  as  he  could  com- 
municate with  the  President  he  tendered 
his  services,  and  was  immediately  commis- 
sioned colonel,  with  authority  to  raise  a  regi- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


243 


ment  for  the  defense  of  tlie  Union.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  weeks  he  received  applica- 
tions from  sixty-six  companies,  soliciting 
permission  to  join  his  command.  On  ac- 
count of  tiie  numerous  and  urgent  appeals 
he  was  permitted  to  increa.se  his  regiment 
to  sixteen  companies,  with  one  battery  of  six 
guns,  making  the  full  complement  to  con- 
sist of  fifteen  liundred  and  fifty-one  officers 
and  men.  The  artillery  company  was  that 
which  subsequently  became  so  celebrated  as 
Knapp's  battery. 

Colonel  Gear}',  on  the  Sth  of  March,  18G2, 
captured  Leesburg,  and  led  the  van  of  the 
column  which  subsequently  obliged  the  Con- 
federate forces  to  evacuate  all  the  towns 
north  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  abandon 
their  strongholds  at  Snicker's,  Ashby's.  Man- 
assas and  Chester  Gaps,  in  the  Blue  moun- 
tains. These  operations  were  effected  while 
"Stonewall"  Jackson  was  within  striking 
distance  near  Winchester;  and  for  his  share 
in  them  Colonel  Geary  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  biigadier  general,  his  commission 
bearing  date  of  April  25,  1862.  On  the  9th 
of  August,  Banks'  troops  had  a  severe  en- 
gagement with  Stonewall  Jackson's  at  Cedar 
mountain.  The  day  was  o])pressively  hot, 
and  the  Union  troops  suffered  much  from 
exhaustion,  but  still  more  from  the  fierce 
and  well-directed  assaults  of  that  great  com- 
mander. General  Geary  was  wounded 
slightly  in  the  left  foot,  and  severely  in  the 
right  arm.  Tlie  battle  was  gallantlj'  con- 
tested, but  the  results  were  adverse  to  the 
Union  arms.  The  wound  in  the  arm  proved 
so  serious  that,  to  save  the  limb  from  ampu- 
tation, he  was  ordered  home  for  treatment. 
Subsequently  General  Geary  was  promoted 
to  the  command  of  the  Second  division 
of  the  Twelfth  corps.  At  Chancellorsville 
General  Geary  was  wounded  in  the  breast 
by  a  fragment  of  shell.  At  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg  the  troops  of  Geary's  division 
were  among  the  first  of  the  corps  to  arrive  at 
the  scene  of  action.  On  the  1st,  General 
Geary  suggesting  the  importance  of  possess- 
ing Round  Top,  was  directed  to  occupy  it 
with  a  portion  of  his  command.  Early  on 
the  morning  of  the  2d  he  was  ordered  to 
Culp's  Hill,  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union 
line,  with  instructions  to  hold  his  position 
at  every  hazard.  During  the  afternoon  of 
that  day  he  was  remanded  in  the  direction 
of  Round  Top,  with  a  part  of  his  division,  to 
strengthen  the  left  center  of  Meade's  line, 
which,  being  hard  pi'essed,  was  in  danger  of 


giving  way.    As  soon  as  the  relief  he  brought 
could  be  spared,  he  hastened  back  to  Culp's 
Hill,  and  on  his  arrival,  at  about  nine  o'clock 
at  night,  he  found  that  in  his  absence  the 
enemy  had  carried  a  part  of  his  line,  and 
flanked  the  position  which  he  had  received 
orders  to  hold.     Suitable  dispositions  were 
made  during  the  night  to  meet  the  emer- 
gency, and  at  three  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  the  3d,  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  his 
division,  he  charged  the  enemy,  recovered 
the    ground    that    had    been    lost,  hastily 
strengthened   his  line   of  breastworks,  and 
waited  the  return  of  Ewell's  veterans.     The 
maintenance  of  the  position  was  of  the  ut- 
most moment,  for  it  commanded  the  Balti- 
more turnpike,  on   which   the  supply  and 
ammunition  trains  of  the  army  vvere  parked, 
and  had  it  been  lost,  these  would  have  been 
captured,  the  rear  of  Meade's  center  would 
have  been  gained,  and  general  defeat  must 
have  inevitably  followed.    Hence  the  furious 
a.ssaults  that  were  made  upon   it  with  the 
hope  of  seizing  the  last  chance  of  victory. 
During    seven    hours    the    enemy    shelled 
Geary's  lines  almost  incessantly,  and  under 
cover  of  his  batteries  made  repeated  attempts 
to  carry  the  hill  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 
After  Gettysburg  came  Chickamauga.  The 
defeat  of  Rosecranz  in   that  battle   made  it 
necessary  to  reinforce  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  for  that  purpose  the  Eleventh 
and  Twelfth   Corps,  under  General  Hooker, 
were  detached  from  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac.   Geary's  division  went  with  the  Twelfth 
Corps.     Besides  these  troops  others  were  hur- 
ried forward  to  tiie  scene  of  the  late  disaster, 
and  Grant,  having  laid   Vicksburg  in   the 
dust  and  reopened  the  Mis,sissippi,  now,  by 
order  of  the  President,  hastened  to  the  moun- 
tains of  the  Tennes.see   and    assumed    com- 
mand.    He  immediately  initiated  a  series  of 
movements  designed  to  dislodge  Bragg  from 
the  formidable  position  which  he  had  gained. 
In  pui'suance  of  his  masterly  plan  a  battle 
was  fought  at  Wauhatchie  on  October  28, 
1863  ;  another  at  Lookout  mountain  on  No- 
vember 24  ;  one  at  Mission  Ridge  on  Novem- 
ber 25,  and  a  fourth  on  Noveniber  27  at  Ring- 
gold, in  the  State  of  Georgia.     These  battles, 
fought  and"won  in  rapid  succession,  were  the 
principal    achievements   of  Grant's   Chatta- 
nooga campaign,  in  the  course  of  which  the 
disasters  of  Chickamauga  were  gloriously  re- 
trieved,  and    Bragg,    hurled    from    heights 
which  he  had  deemed  inaccessible,  was  driven 
across  the  Tennessee  line. 


244 


BIO  GRA  Fine  A  L  ENCYCL  UFEDIA 


In  the  s[)ring  of  1864  the  Army  of  the 
Soutliwest  wiis  reorganized,  and  Grant  hav- 
ing been  invested  with  the  rank  of  lieuten- 
ant general  and  appointed  commander-in- 
chief,  Sherman  assumed  command  of  all  the 
forces  designed  to  operate  in  the  Southwest- 
ern and  Southern  States.  Among  other 
changes  which  he  ordered,  the  Eleventh 
Corps  (Howard's)  and  the  Twelfth  (Slocum'sj 
were  consolidated,  becoming  in  this  form  tlie 
Twentieth  Corps,  witli  General  Hooker  in 
command.  General  Geary  was  continued  at 
tlie  liead  of  liis  old  division,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  a  brigade  from  the  Eleventh  Corps. 
The  two  great  campaigns  of  tliis  memorable 
year  were  opened  on  the  same  day.  On  May 
4  Grant  moved  from  the  Rapidan  to  encoun- 
ter Lee,  and  Sherman  from  Chattanooga  to 
encounter  Johnston.  Sherman's  army  was 
complete  in  all  its  appointments,  and  about 
seventy  thousand  strong.  Tlie  events  that 
followed  can  but  briefly  be  referred  to  here. 
At  the  head  of  the  division  to  which  he  was 
endeared  and  wiiich  was  endeared  to  him  by 
so  long  a  companionship  in  perils,  hardships, 
sacrifices  and  sufferings,  Geary  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Mill  (Jreek,  May  8  ;  Resaca, 
May  15;  New  Hope  Church,  commencing  May 
26  and  continuing  with  but  little  intermis- 
sion eight  consecutive  days;  Pine  Hill,  June 
15;  Muddy  Creek,  June  17;  Noses  Creek, 
June  19 ;  Kolb's  Farm,  June  22;  Kenesaw, 
June  27 ;  Marietta,  July  3 ;  Peach-Tree 
Creek,  July  20,  and  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  last- 
ing twenty-eight  days  and  ending  in  the  cap- 
ture of  the  city  on  September  2.  To  use 
General  Geary's  own  language,  "  Tlie  cam- 
paign from  the  oi>ening  till  the  fall  of  Atlanta 
was  really  a  hundred  days'  fight,  and  maybe 
termed  a  continuous  battle,  crowned  with 
constant  victory." 

When,  in  tlie  spring  of  1866,  the  Repub- 
lican leaders  began  to  consider  the  important 
question  of  selecting  a  candidate  for  the  chief 
magistracy  of  the  State,  it  soon  became  ap- 
parent that  the  name  of  General  Geary  was 
everywhere  received  with  favor.  His  ripe 
experience  in  the  conduct  of  civil  affairs  and 
his  distinguished  services  in  the  field  coin- 
msnded  him  alike  to  the  gratitude  of  the 
popular  heart  and  the  sanction  of  the  popular 
judgment.  After  a  very  spirited  canvass  he 
was  elected  over  his  competitor,  Hiester  Cly- 
nier,  by  a  majority  of  over  seventeen  thou- 
sand votes,  and  was  inaugurated  on  Januarv 
15,  1867. 

Governor  Geary  was  elected   to  a  second 


term,  which  he  filled  with  acknowledged 
ability.  A  few  weeks  after  his  successor  in 
office  was  inaugurated  he  died  suddenly 
while  sitting  at  the  breakfast  table.  The 
entire  city  and  State  were  shocked  by  the 
unexpected  event.  The  Legislature,  then  in 
session,  at  once  adopted  measures  for  tlie 
funeral  obsequies  at  tlie  State's  expense.  To 
no  former  executive  had  ever  such  a  distinc- 
tion been  accorded,  and  every  respect  that 
could  be  showu  was  paid  to  his  memory. 
He  was  buried  at  Harrisburg,  and  over  his 
grave  the  State  he  loved  so  well  and  served 
so  faithfully  erected  a  monument  of  bronze 
creditable  to  the  great  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Governor  Geary  married,  on  the  12tli  of 
February,  1843,  Margaret  Ann  Logan, 
daughter  of  James  R.  Logan,  of  Westmore- 
land county.  Three  sons  were  the  issue  of 
this  marriage,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
another,  Edward  R.,  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Wauhatchie,  and  the  other,  William,  a 
graduate  of  West  Point  and  lieutenant  in 
the  United  States  army.  Mrs.  Geary  died 
on  the  28tli  of  February,  1853,  and  in 
November,  1858,  Governor  Geary  was  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Mary  C.Henderson,  daughter  of 
Robert  R.  Church,  of  Cumberland  county. 
After  Governor  Geary's  deatii  his  widow 
married  Dr.  H.  Earnest  Goodman,  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

Williams,  Edward  Charles,  son  of 
Charles  and  Rebecca  (Adams)  Williams,  was 
born  February  10, 1820,  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia. His  father  was  a  native  of  Philadel- 
phia; his  mother,  of  Mount  Holly,  N.  J.,  of 
Scotch  parentage.  The  son  was  educated  in 
the  public  scliools  of  his  native  city,  then  or- 
ganized under  the  old  Lancasterian  system. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  a  bookbinder  with 
Jacob  Snyder,  completing  it  with  Robert  P. 
Desilver.  He^  shortly  after  came  to  Harris- 
burg, where  he  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness, firm  of  Clyde  &  Williams,  bookbinders 
and  stationers.  For  several  years  they  did  the 
State  binding  and  also  published  several  im- 
portant works.  Ill  December,  1846,  upon 
the  call  for  volunteers  for  the  war  with  Mex- 
ico, Mr.  Williams  raised  a  company  called 
the  Cameron  Guards,  which  were  accepted 
and  formed  a  part  of  the  Second  Pennsyl- 
vania regiment.  Previous  to  going  to  Mex- 
ico he  had  been  connected  several  years  with 
the  old  Dauphin  Guards,  one  of  the  finest 
military  organizations  in  the  State,  and  was 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


245 


in  service  during  tlie  Philadelphia  riots  of 
1844.  Upon  Captain  Williams'  return  from 
Mexico  he  was  elected  as  an  Independent,  in 
1850,  totheoffice  of  sheriff  of  Dauphin  county, 
serving  the  full  term.  When  the  Rebellion 
broke  out  and  a  demand  was  made  for  more 
troops.  Governor  Curtin  sent  for  General 
Williams,  who  had  been  commissioned  sev- 
eral years  prior  brigadier  general  of  the 
Dauphin  county  militia,  and  at  once  di- 
rectecl  the  organization  of  Camp  Curtin,  full 
particulars  of  which  will  be  found  in 
"  Dauphin  County  in  the  War  for  the  Union." 
General  Williams  had  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  volunteer  mustered  into  the  service  for 
the  defense  of  the  Union.  After  organizing 
Camp  Curtin,  he  organized  Camp  Slifer,  at 
Chambersburg.  He  commanded  a  brigade 
during  the  three  months'  service,  was  with 
Patterson  in  the  Shenandoah,  and  subse- 
quently mustered  out  at  Washington  city. 
He  was  then  appointed  by  President  Lin- 
coln, through  Secretary  of  War  Cameron, 
colonel  of  the  Lochiel  cavalry,  directed  to 
raise  twenty-four  companies  of  that  branch 
of  the  service,  which  he  accomplished  in  a 
very  short  time.  It  was  difficult  to  handle 
three  battalions  of  raw  cavalry,  but  by  hard 
work  General  Williams  got  his  command 
into  splendid  discipline  and  drill.  He  went 
into  camp  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  where  he 
exchanged  his  Pennsylvania  horses  for  good 
Kentucky  stock.  After  inspection  by  Gen- 
eral Buford,  he  was  ordered  to  the  front  un- 
der General  Buell.  On  reaching  Green  river, 
and  when  ready  to  cross  the  stream,  General 
Williams  was  directed  to  take  the  advance, 
but  the  same  evening  the  news  of  the  capture 
of  Fort  Donelson  obviating  that  movement, 
he  was  ordered  back,  and  his  command  cut 
up  and  distributed  over  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee. His  own  regiment,  the  Ninth  cavalry. 
became  very  popular  in  that  section  with  all 
classes  of  people,  owing  to  their  good  disci- 
pline and  behavior. 

General  Williams  was  at  Henderson  with 
his  regiment  when  Buell  and  Bragg  made 
their  march  into  Kentucky,  was  ordered  to 
Louisville  without  delay,  and  from  thence  to 
Crab  Orchard,  where  he  prevented  Kirby 
Smith's  cavalry  from  entering  Kentucky  at 
that  point.  His  services  in  that  campaign 
were  indeed  arduous.  Owing,  however,  to  a 
question  of  rank,  in  which  not  only  he  but 
the  other  officers  in  the  volunteer  service 
were  concerned,  he  pre-emptorily  resigned 
and  returned   to   Pennsylvania.      He   was 


twice  married ;  first,  .January  16,  1843,  to 
Selina,  daughter  of  John  Heltzel,  of  Harris- 
burg;  second,  June  5,  1873,  at  Chapman, 
Pa.,  to  Mrs.  A.  E.  Hetzel. 


Young,  Josiah  Carothers,  son  of  Daniel 
H.  Young  and  Sarah  Duncan,  was  born 
April  17,  1821,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  bor- 
ough and  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter, 
which  occupation  he  followed  several  years. 
He  subsequently  taught  school,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Harrisburg.  For  a  long  period  he 
was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Dau- 
phin and  Harrisburg.  From  1860  to  1868 
he  was  prothonotary  and  clerk  of  the  courts 
of  Dauphin  county,  a  position  he  filled  with 
great  acceptability.  He  died  at  Harrisburg, 
April  1,  1881,  aged  almost  sixty  years.  He 
wasa  faithful  and  conscientious  publicofficer, 
an  honored  and  respected  citizen,  while  in 
the  Methodi.st  Churcli,  of  which  body  he  was 
an  ordained  local  preacher,  highly  esteemed 
as  a  sincere  and  devout  laborer.  Mr.  Young 
married,  September  21, 1843,  Catharine  Mary 
Kinter,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
Kinter,  who  survived  him, and  their  children 
were  William  N.,  John  W.,  George  C,  Charles 
W.,  Albert  H.,  Charles  C,  and  William  L. 


Calder  William,  son  of  William  and 
Mary  (Kirkwood)  Calder,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg July  31,  1821,  and  died  July  19, 
1880.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Harford 
county,  Md.,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
that  county.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  and 
became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Calder, 
Wilson  &  Co.,  which  conducted  a  stage  line 
business.  After  this  enterprise  was  destroyed 
by  the  opening  of  the  canal,  he  established  a 
livery  trade.  Our  subject  had  limited  edu- 
cation from  books,  being  inducted  into  the 
stage  line  business  at  the  age  of  twelve  years 
as  paymaster  of  the  firm  of  Calder,  Wilson 
&  Co.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  his  father  put 
him  in  charge  of  the  Philadelphia  packet 
line  from  Columbia  to  Pittsburgh,  and  at 
the  same  time  was  interested  in  his  father's 
livery.  In  1851  he  assumed  the  manage- 
ment of  his  father's  business,  and  in  1857 
undertook  the  completion  of  the  Lebanon 
Valley  railroad.  In  1858  he  became  a 
member  of  the  well-known  banking  firm  of 
Cameron,  Calder,  Eby  &  Co.,  wdiich  after- 
wards became  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Harrisburg,  of  which  Mr.  Calder  was  chosen 


246 


BIO  GRA  FHl  CAL  ENCYCL  Ul'EDJA 


president.  The  same  year  he  was  elected  a 
director  of  the  Northern  Central  railway, 
and  was  active  in  preserving  Pennsylvania's 
interests  in  that  corporation.  At  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Rebellion  lie  rendered  tlie 
Government  important  service  through  liis 
large  knowledge  in  the  purchase  of  horses, 
and  supplied  the  Government  with  no  less 
than  42,000  mules,  establishing  the  price  so 
low  as  to  effect  a  vei-y  great  saving  to  the 
Government  in  this  department.  Mr.  Calder 
was  always  foremost  in  tlie  promotion  of 
Harrisburg's  industrial  enterprises.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Harrisburg  Car 
Works,  tlie  Lochiel  Rolling  Mills,  the  Har- 
risburg Cotton  Mills,  Foundry  and  Machine 
Works,  tlie  Fire  Brick  Works  and  the  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Works. 

In  1873  lie  was  commissioned  by  Governor 
Hartraiift  a  trustee  of  the  Pennsylvania 
State  Lunatic  Hospital,  and  reappointed  in 
1876.  In  1876  lie  was  appointed  by  the 
same  governor  a  member  of  the  commission 
to  devise  a  plan  for  the  government  of  cities, 
and  in  1880,  just  prior  to  his  death,  he  was 
elected  director  of  the  Pennsylvania  Institute 
for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb.  For  many  years 
he  ably  officiated  iia  the  management  of  city 
affairs  through  its  councils.  He  was  among 
tlie  founders  of  tlie  Harrisburg  Hospital  and 
the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of 
which  he  was  an  attendant.  He  was  for- 
merly a  Whig,  latterly  a  Republican,  and 
influential  in  local  and  State  politics,  and 
one  of  the  Presidental  electors  from  this  State 
in  1876. 

Upon  the  occasion  of  President  Lincoln's 
visit  to  Harrisburg,  when  a  plot  was  laid  to 
assassinate  him  on  his  return  to  Baltimore, 
Mr.  Calder  was  selected  to  escort  him  safely 
to  take  another  train  from  the  one  intended 
at  first,  and  thus  his  enemy's  designs  were 
thwarted.  Plis  widow  is  Regina  Camilla, 
daughter  '  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Krause) 
Greenawalt.  Their  children  were:  Edmund 
Kirkwood,  who  died  December  31,  1862, 
aged  thirteen  years;  William  Jacob,  Cathe- 
rine Krause,  Theodore  Greenawalt,  Regina, 
and  Mary  Kirkwood. 


After  having  taught  school  a  good  many 
years,  he  graduated  in  1861  from  the  State 
Normal  School  of  New  Jersey,  located  at 
Trenton.  In  early  life  he  commenced  teach- 
ing; came  to  Harrisburg  in  1843  as  teacher 
in  the  boys'  high  school  of  tlie  South  wai'd, 
where  he  continued  until  1851,  when  he  be- 
came teacher  of  the  sciences  in  the  agricul- 
tural school  at  Mount  Airy,  conducted  by 
Prof  John  Wilkinson,  for  one  year.  From 
December,  1852,  to  the  spring  of  1855  he 
taught  at  Treemount  Seminary,  Norristown, 
when  he  took  charge  of  tlie  Olive  Braiicli, 
which  he  edited  two  years.  In  1857  he  went 
to  Springfield,  Ohio,  to  engage  in  a  news- 
paper venture,  but  purchasing  a  farm,  fol- 
lowed farming  two  years,  teacliing  during 
the  winter.  In  1859  lie  returned  East,  took 
charge  of  one  of  the  public  schools  at  Plain- 
field,  N.  J.,  subsequently  entering  the  State 
Normal  School  as  stated.  During  the  Rebel- 
lion he  entered  the  United  States  service, 
serving  until  the  close  of  tlie  war,  and  was 
made  clerk  to  Maj.  E.  L.  Moore,  paymaster 
in  the  United  States  army.  In  October, 
1865,  he  resigned,  and  established  a  select 
school  at  Harrisburg,  which  he  successfully 
conducted  ten  years.  In  1875  was  elected 
by  the  school  board  of  the  city  of  Harrisburg 
supervisory  principal  of  the  Reily  street 
schools.  Mr.  Gause  studied  law  while  con- 
ducting the  Harrisburg  Institute,  under  John 
C.  Kunkle,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  December,  1868.  He  married, 
October  28, 1847,  Sarah  Fish  Moore,  daughter 
of  Levi  Moore  and  Sarah  Fish,  of  Amherst, 
Mass.,  and  their  children  were  Leander  M., 
Charles  S.,  Helen,  Frank  L.,  Lucy  G.,  and 
Laura  B. 


Gause,  Lewis  H.,  son  of  Samuel  Gause 
(1781-1865)  and  Mary  Bailey  (1784-1868), 
was  born  October  28,  1821,  at  Union ville, 
Chester  county.  Pa.  He  was  educated  in 
the  country  scliools  of  Delaware  and  Chester 
county,  and  at  West  Town  boarding-school. 


CowDEN,  William  Kerr,  son  of  Matthew 
B.  and  Mary  (Wallace)  Cowden,  was  born 
January  5,  1822,  in  Lower  Paxtang  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.  He  was  brought 
up  a  farmer,  receiving  such  facilities  of  edu- 
cation as  the  schools  of  the  township  afforded 
prior  to  the  adoption  of  the  common  scliool 
system.  He  continued  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer  until  1868,  when  he  removed  to  Har- 
risburg and  engaged  in  the  coal  and  lumber 
business,  subsequently  establishing  a  plan- 
ing mill.  For  a  decade  of  years  he  was  one 
of  the  inspectors  of  the  Dauphin  county 
prison.  Mr.  Cowden  married  Elizabeth  M., 
daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary  C.  (Gillmor) 
Elder. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


247 


KuNKEL,  George,  son  of  Jacob  Kunkel 
and  his  wife  Rebecca  Stine,  was  born  on 
January  21,  1823,  in  Greencastle,  Franiclin 
county,  Pa.;  died  January  25,  1885.  He  be- 
came a  printer  in  Pliiladelphia,  and  while 
earning  fifteen  dollars  a  week  at  the  case,  in 
1844  he  left  it  to  get  twenty-five  dollars  to 
sing  and  play  with  the  Virginia  sorona- 
ders.  When  they  disbanded  he  organized 
Kunkel's  Nightingale  Minstrels,  Mr.  John 
T.  Ford  becoming  the  manager  of  the  troupe, 
which  was  very  successful.  Mr.  Kunkel 
was  a  noted  bass  singer.  Kunkel's  Minstrels 
were  on  the  road  eleven  years,  and  dis- 
banded in  Washington  in  1855.  Mr.  Kun- 
kel was  tlie  original  manager  of  the  Jenny 
Lind  theater.  Washington,  which  stood  on 
the  site  of  the  National  theater.  It  was  de- 
stroj'ed  by  fire,  b}'  which  Mr.  Kunkel  lost 
eight  thousand  dollars. 

After  the  disbanding  of  his  troupe,  with 
Mr.  Moxley  he  managed  a  theater  in  Rich- 
mond up  to  the  time  of  the  beginning  of  the 
war.  In  his  company  were  J.  Wilkes  Booth 
and  Edwin  Adams,  and  his  stage  manager 
was  Joseph  Jefferson.  Some  time  during 
the  first  year  of  the  war  Mr.  Kunkel  returned 
to  Baltimore  and  became  manager  of  the 
museum  at  Baltimore  and  Calvert  streets. 
Afterwards  he  undertook  the  role  of  Uncle 
Tom,  in  which  character  he  first  appeared 
in  Charleston,  S.  C,  in  1861.  The  city 
council  of  Charleston,  on  the  occasion  of  his 
first  appearance,  iield  a  meeting  and  passed 
a  resolution  forbidding  any  colored  person 
from  entering  the  theater  under  pain  of 
punishment.  Parson  Brownlow  published 
an  editorial  in  his  paper  advising  the  driv- 
ing out  of  the  trou}ie  from  the  city. 

In  1864,  when  manager  of  the  Front  street 
theater,  he  married  Mrs.  Ada  Proctor,  who 
was  leading  lady  at  that  place.  Two  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  a  daughter,  survived  him. 

In  the  character  of  Uncle  Tom  Mr.  Kun- 
kel ])erhaps  pleased  more  children  than  anj^ 
other  living  actor.  In  1883  Mr.  Kunkel 
starred  through  England  in  the  character  of 
Uncle  Tom  under  the  management  of  Jar- 
rett  &  Palmer.  It  was  a  most  successful 
.tour.  The  last  time  he  played  Uncle  Tom 
was  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  during  New 
Year's  week,  1885.  He  died  suddenly  at 
Baltimore,  Md.,  January  25,  1885. 


was  superintending  a  mine  for  his  brother, 
Col.  E.G.  Savage.  He  emigrated  to  America 
with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Miuersville, 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  machinist. 
In  1849  he  came  to  Wiconisco  to  put  up  the 
engine  for  the  Lykens  A^alley  breaker,  which 
he  ran  a  year,  and  then  went  to  California. 
There  he  stayed  two  years,  and  returned  in 
1852  and  accepted  a  position  under  the  Short 
Mountain  Coal  Company.  He  hoisted  the 
first  car  of  coal  ever  taken  out  of  the  Wico- 
nisco mines.  In  1855  or  1856  he  became  su- 
perintendent of  the  Lykens  Coal  Company 
under  George  E.  Hoffman.  In  1861  he  went 
to  California  again,  where  he  remained  until 
1865,  when  he  returned  and  located  at  Gil- 
berton,  Schuylkill  county,  in  charge  of  the 
Gilberton  Coal  Company.  In  1867,  with  Col. 
E.  G.  Savage  and  Benjamin  Kaufman,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Savage,  Brother  &  Kauf- 
man, lie  leased  a  tract  of  coal  land  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad,  developed 
what  is  now  known  :  s  "  Brookside  Colliery," 
and  established  the  operation  as  a  successful 
one.  Then  they  sold  it  to  George  S.  Rep- 
plier  &  Co.  He  was  subsequently  its  super- 
intendent, and  afterwards  in  various  enter- 
prises in  Tremont  for  ten  years.  He  may 
justly  be  regarded  as  the  pioneer  of  the  Wi- 
conisco coal  mines. 


S.WAGE,  James,  was  born  in  North  Wales, 
February  25,  1823,  and  died  in  Cimmaron, 
New  Mexico,  November  10,  1881,  where  he 


McIlhen'ny,  Samuel,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Carson)  McUhenny,  was  born  June  4, 
1823,  in  West  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.  He  was  educated  in  tlie  public 
schools  of  Lower  Paxtang  township,  and 
was  brought  up  a  farmer.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  apprenticed  himself  to  William 
J.  Kaul  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  which 
he  followed  many  years.  In  1849  he  com- 
menced business  for  himself  at  Linglestown, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  the  political  af- 
fairs of  the  country.  Mr.  Mcllhenny  was 
elected  count}'  auditor  in  1869,  serving  three 
years,  and  in  1873  elected  one  of  tlie  county 
commissioners,  and  re-elected,  filling  that 
responsible  station  six  years.  During  his 
term  of  office  various  needed  reforms  were 
made  in  the  administration  of  the  public  af- 
fairs of  the  count}',  and  mucii  credit  is  due 
Mr.  Mclllienny  for  his  efforts  in  this  direc- 
tion. He  has  filled  the  various  township 
offices,  and  in  1879  was  appointed  one  of 
the  inspectors  of  the  Dauphin  county  pri- 
son. Mr.  Mcllhenny  married,  January  9, 
1847,  Catherine,  daughter  of  Louisa  and 
Sarah  Maria  (Albert)  Culp.     Their  children 


248 


BJO  (ill A PHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


were:  Sarah  R.,  Jolui  H.,  Mary  Ann,  Kate 
Ann,  Lydia  J.,  Elizabeth  E.,  who  married 
Jacob  Balthaser,  Samuel  C,  Susan  S.,  George 
W.,  Emma  E.,  William  A.,  Anna  Maria  and 
Minnie  C. 


Waugh,  Beverly  Roberts,  the  son  of  Rt. 
Rev.  Beverl}'  Waugh,  bisliop  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  and  his  wife  Catharine 
Bushby,  was  born  July  28,  1824,  at  Liberty, 
Md.  His  grandfather,  James  Waugh,  was  an 
officer  in  the  Pennsylvania  Line  of  the  Revo- 
lution, who  settled  in  Virginia  at  the  close  of 
the  struggle  for  indet)endence.  Beverly  re- 
ceived a  thorough  English  and  classical  edu- 
cation and  entered  Dickinson  College,  where 
he  graduated.  His  alma  mater  subsequent!}' 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  A.  M.  ^h•. 
Waugh  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Balti- 
more Conference,  but  accepted  the  position 
of  professor  of  mathematics  and  English 
literature  in  the  Baltimore  Female  College, 
an  institution  then  in  the  full  tide  of  success. 
In  1853  the  trustees  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Female  College  at  Harrisburg  secured  him 
as  principal  of  that  institution,  in  which  po- 
sition he  labored  faithfully  and  successfully 
to  the  day  of  his  death.  It  was  not  alone  in 
the  capacity  of  teacher  that  Mr.  Waugh  do- 
voted  his  energies  and  talents,  but  his  labors 
were  varied,  incessant,  faithful,  in  season  and 
out  of  season,  for  the  good  of  humanit}-. 
His  devoted  Christian  life-work  ended  on 
March  24,  ISGl,  in  his  thirty-seventh  year. 
Mr.  Waugh  married  Sarah  Shrom  Beatty, 
eldest  daughter  of  George  Beatty  and  his 
wife  Catharine  Shrom,  who  with  one  child, 
Eliza  B.,  married  to  Charles  A.  Kunkel,  of 
Harrisburg,  survive. 


Etter,  Ben.iamin  F.,  lawyer  of  Harris- 
burg, and  ex-deputy  attorney  general  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  born  at  Middletown, 
Dauphin  county,  September  29,  1824.  He 
obtained  his  early  education  at  the  Middle- 
town  Academy.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two 
began  reading  law  with  James  Fox,  a  lawyer 
of  Harrisburg,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
on  November  24,  1851.  He  opened  a  law 
office  in  Harrisburg  the  same  3'ear,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  general  practice  in  the  civil 
courts  of  the  county  and  State  since,  a  period 
of  thirty-one  years.  Mr.  Etter  was  appointed 
and  served  for  six  years  as  deputy  attorne}- 
general  under  Attorney  General  William  M. 
Meredith,  and  for  a  short  time  under  At- 
torney General  Benjamin  H.  Brewster.     His 


safe  and  judicious  opinions  as  a  counselor, 
his  integrity  and  fidelity  to  his  clients,  and 
his  uncompromising  desire  to  defend  the 
wrong  and  encourage  the  right  have  given 
him  a  high  reputation  in  the  profession.  He 
married,  in  1857,  Catharine  A.,  daughter  of 
Charles  A.  and  Barbara  A.  (Keller)  Snyder, 
of  Lancaster,  Pa.  Her  father  was  a  relative 
of  Governor  Snyder.  Their  surviving  chil- 
dren were  Charles  F.,  clerk  in  tlie  First 
National  Bank  of  Harrisburg ;  Nannie  E., 
and  George  E.  Etter.  His  parents,  George 
and  Nancy  (Shelly)  Etter,  died*  at  Middletown, 
the  former  in  1850,  aged  sixty-seven ;  the 
latter  in  1826,  aged  thirty.  His  grandfather, 
Abraham  Etter,  settled  in  Dauphin  county, 
from  Lancaster,  about  1800,  where  he  died, 
and  was  of  German  origin.  His  maternal 
grandfather  was  Abraham  Shelly,  of  York 
county,  Pa. 


Edwards,  Oliver,  third  son  of  Abraham 
Edwards  and  Martha  Cireenfield,  was  born 
October  24,  1824.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  Baltimore,  where  they  married,  removed 
to  Pittsburgh,  and  subsequently  to  Harris- 
burg about  1819.  Oliver's  education  in  the 
schools  was  limited,  but  his  mind  being  ac- 
tive and  inquiring,  he  read  much  and  stud- 
ied at  night  after  the  work  of  the  day  was 
over,  thus  becoming  very  well  self-educated, 
and  developed  into  a  man  of  considerable 
attainments.  When  young  he  learned  the 
trade  of  bootmaking  with  his  father ;  later 
in  life  he  was  selected  as  a  school  teacher 
under  the  common  school  system,  and 
proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  successful  ever 
employed  in  the  Harrisburg  schools,  as 
numbers  of  young  men  of  the  present  day 
can  testify. 

Mr.  Edwards  was  much  afflicted  with 
asthma  and  unable  to  do  military  duty,  but 
in  order  to  render  some  service  during  the 
war  he  became  the  agent  for  the  reception 
and  distribution  of  the  Dauphin  Count}'  Re- 
lief Fund  for  the  support  of  those  whose 
husbands,  fathers  and  sons  were  in  the 
army.  It  was  a  very  onerous  duty,  and  he 
performed  it  faithfully  and  well,  declining 
any  remuneration  whatever  for  his  services. 
In  1860  he  was  elected  one  of  the  first  alder- 
men of  the  city  of  Harrisburg.  LTpon  the 
election  of  Gen.  A.  S.  Raumfort  as  mayor  of 
the  city  he  appointed  Mr.  Edwards  as  com- 
mitting magistrate  and  chief  clerk  in  the 
mayor's  office.  He  was  elected  to  succeed 
Gen.  Raumfort,  and  was  inaugurated  mayor 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


249 


of  the  city  in  March,  1866.  He  was  subse- 
quently elected  an  alderman  of  the  Fourth 
ward  in  1872,  which  position  lie  occupied  up 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  Harrisburg  on  the  IStii  day  of  October, 
1874.  Mr.  Ethvards  was  an  active  man,  of 
quick  perception,  fine  social  qualities,  and 
possessed  of  mucli  useful  information.  The 
Rev.  George  F.  Stelling,  of  the  Fourth  Street 
Lutheran  church,  preached  a  very  able 
funeral  sermon  shortly  after  his  death  in  re- 
lation to  Mr.  Edwards'  religious  experience. 
On  the  7th  of  August,  1851,  he  married  Ra- 
chel Ann  Chandler,  daughter  of  .Jonathan 
Chandler  and  Mary  Griffith.  The  marriage 
took  place  in  Harrisburg,  where  his  wife  was 
born,  on  the  loth  of  August,  1830,  and  died 
therein  on  the  5th  of  July,  1865.  Two 
daughters  survived  the  parents,  Mary  Griffith 
and  Rachel  Louisa,  married  Daniel  A.  Mus- 


ser. 


Black,  Andrew  Krause,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Krause)  'Black,  was  born 
January  16,  1825,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
borough,  and  learned  the  trade  of  bricklayer 
and  builder,  in  which  occupation  he  engaged 
until  1892.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the 
select  and  common  councils  of  the  city  of 
Harrisburg,  and  for  several  years  was  one  of 
the  inspectors  of  tlie  Daupliin  county  prison. 
He  represented  the  county  in  the  Legislature 
in  1871  and  1872,  and  under  the  Constitution 
of  1874  represented  the  city  of  Harrisburg 
in  that  body  in  1877  and  1878.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1891,  was  appointed  by  President  Har- 
rison })ostmaster  of  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Black 
married,  in  1S49,  Ptebecca  Irwin  Clark, 
daughter  of  William  and  Maria  Clark,  of 
Clark's  Ferry,  and  their  children  were: 
Emma,  Harriet,  George  Murray,  Alfred  T., 
Irene  Elizabeth,  who  married  J.  C.  Harlicker, 
Maria  Clark,  and  Amy  Chaplin. 


Sheafer,  Maj.  Henry  Jackson,  son  of 
Michael  Sheafer  and  Susan  Cloud,  was  born 
May  21, 1826,  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  When 
about  six  years  of  age  his  father  removed  to 
what  was  then  called  "  Bear  Gap,"  now  Wi- 
conisco,  in  the  upper  end  of  Dauphin  county. 
Here  he  resided  with  his  parents,  getting  a 
few  months'  schooling  during  the  winter  sea- 
son, until  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  went  to 
learn  the  drug  business  at  Harrisburg.  He 
continued  in  this  employment  for  four  years, 
when  he  went  to  South  Carolina  and  resided 


for  some  time  in  Columbia,  tlie  capital.  Com- 
ing North,  he  settled  in  the  town  of  Milton, 
Northumberland  county,  and  engaged  in  the 
drug  trade.  In  1848  lie  was  married  to 
America  0.  Wood,  daughter  of  Nicholas  B. 
Wood.  At  the  death  of  his  father  he  re- 
moved to  the  old  home  at  Wiconisco,  for  the 
purpose  of  settling  his  father's  estate. 

In  1856  he  removed  to  Mendota,  Dakota 
county,  Minn.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  lum- 
ber business  in  connection  with  Eli  Pettijohn 
and  Franklin  Steele,  of  Fort  Snelling.  Tliey 
built  a  large  mill  at  the  mouth  of  the  Min- 
nesota river,  and  had  extensive  yards  on  the 
Minnesota  river.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Minnesota  Legisla- 
ture from  Dakota  count}',  and  for  some  time 
took  an  active  part  in  the  politics  of  the  young 
State.  After  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  all 
business  was  completely  paralyzed,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1861  he  returned  to  Plarrisburg. 
During  the  winter  of  1861-62  he  recruited  a 
company  for  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  was 
mustered  into  service  as  captain  of  Company 
I.  At  the  battle  of  Antietam  his  brigade 
fought  in  the  noted  cornfield  almost  fronting 
the  Dunker  church,  and  suffered  terribly  in 
killed  and  wounded.  At  one  time  the  line 
being  driven  back,  both  color-bearers  were 
shot  dead  and  left  on  the  field.  Captain 
Sheafer,  ascertaining  the  fact,  returned  alone 
and  rescued  the  colors  and  rejoined  his  com- 
mand without  injury.  On  December  21, 
1862,  he  was  commissioned  major  of  the  regi- 
ment. In  the  Gettysburg  campaign,  on  the 
first  day  of  the  fight,  shortly  after  Reynolds 
was  killed.  Major  Sheafer  was  severely 
wounded,  but  did  not  leave  the  field  until 
the  afternoon  of  the  third  day's  fight.  Early 
in  the  fall  he  rejoined  his  command  and  par- 
ticipated with  his  regiment  in  the  many  bat- 
tles they  were  engaged  in  up  to  March  8, 
1865  (the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service), 
and  was  mustered  out.  After  the  war  he 
made  Harrisburg  his  permanent  home  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  In  1873  he 
was  elected  sherifi'  of  Dauphin  county,  serv- 
ing his  term  of  tliree  vears. 


Elder,  James,  son  of  Robert  R.  and  Sarah 
(Sherer)  Elder,  was  born  August  18,  1826,  in 
Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
His  early  years  were  spent  on  his  father's 
farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  removed 
to  New  Castle,  Pa.,  where  he  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business  until  the  death  of  his  father 


250 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


ill  1858,  wlien  he  returned,  aiirl  witli  his 
brother  Robert,  purchased  tiie  homestead 
farm.  During  the  war  for  tiie  Union  Mr. 
Elder  raised  a  company  for  tlie  emergency. 
In  1867  he  embarked  in  the  coal  trade  with 
a  younger  brother,  withdrawing  in  ISCiO,  and 
entered  into  partnership  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  continued  until  failing 
liealth  compelled  him  to  relinquish  all  active 
jHirsuits.  He  left  the  farm  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  the  city  of  Ilarrisburg,  where  he 
died  January  12,  1877,  in  his  fifty-first  year. 
Mr.  Elder  married,  March  2,  1854,  Rebecca 
0.,  daughter  of  John  Whitehill,  and  their 
children  were:  Catherine  0.,  Robert  R.,  Mar- 
tha K.,  and  Ida. 


Neagley,  John,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mar- 
garet (Gable)  Neagley,  was  born  October  10, 
1827,  in  Lykens  Valley.  His  ancestor,  Jacob 
Neagley,  an  emigrant  from  Wurtemljerg, 
Germany,  settled  first  in  Berks  county,  sub- 
sequently removing  to  Lykens  \^alley,  where 
he  permanently  located.  He  had  two  sons, 
Joseph  and  George.  Joseph,  born  Septem- 
ber 15,  17CG  ;  died  July  12,  1828;  married 
Maria  Iloffman,  born  January  8,  1773  ;  died 
February  IS,  1840.  Their  children  were: 
Daniel,  George,  Elizabeth,  Magdalena,  Cath- 
erine, and  Sarah.  Daniel,  the  eldest,  born 
November  12,  1797  ;  died  February  2, 1873; 
married  Margaret  Gable,  and  their  children 
were :  George,  John,  .Joseph,  William,  Daniel , 
Isaac,  Mary,  Catherine,  Sarah,  Margaret,  and 
Hannah.  Of  these,  John  Neagley  received 
a  limited  education,  and  learned  the  trade 
of  a  cabinet  maker  at  Liverpool,  Perry 
county.  Upon  his  return  home  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  business,  but  at  the  expira- 
tion of  two  years  removed  to  Freeport,  111., 
subsequently  coming  back  to  Pennsylvania, 
where,  for  a  [)eriod  of  seventeen  years,  lie 
conducted  cabinet  making  and  undertaking 
at  Liverpool.  In  1869  he  establislied  a 
a  planing  mill  at  Millersburg,  which  he 
now  carries  on.  Mr.  Neagley  married,  De- 
cember 28, 1853,  E.  R.,  daughter  of  John  and 
Anna  Murray. 

Detweiler,  John  Shelly,  was  born  on 
the  18th  of  October,  1829,  in  Londonderry 
township,  Dauphin  county,  on  a  farm  occu- 
pied by  his  father,  David  Detweiler,  near 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Buck  Lock,  Penn- 
sylvania canal.  His  mother,  Susan  Det- 
weiler, was  a  daughter  of  William  Shelly, 
of  Shelly's  Island.     When  ten  years  old  he 


attended  the  school  in  the  neighborhood  of 
his  birthplace,  and  continued  there  until  he 
was  sixteen  j'ears  old,  when  he  came  to  Har- 
risburg  and  entered  the  printing  office  of 
Theophilus  Fenn,  where  he  remained  but  a 
short  time,  and  then  went  to  Lancaster, 
entering  the  oflice  of  the  Lancaster  Exam- 
iner and  Herald. 

Leaving  the  Examiner  office,  Mr.  Detweiler 
entered  Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  at 
whicii  institution  he  pursued  a  course  of 
regular  studies  and  graduated  with  high 
honor,  after  which  he  began  the  study  of 
the  law  with  Gen.  George  B.  Ford,  of  Lan- 
caster city,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
that  county  in  1850.  He  remained  in  Lan- 
caster only  a  few  months  after  his  admission, 
and  came  to  Harrisburg  in  the  winter  of 
that  3'ear,  entering  at  once  in  the  practice  of 
the  law  here,  in  whicli  jirofession  he  con- 
tinued until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil 
war. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Ninth  cavalry-, 
Mr.  Detweiler  took  an  active  part  in  secur- 
ing tiie  necessary  companies  to  makeup  the 
regiment,  and  as  captain  of  Company  E  was 
very  prominent  in  securing  a  completed  or- 
ganization. He  was  commissioned  captain 
October  17,  1861.  Wliile  on  duty  in  Ten- 
nessee he  was  appointed  on  the  staff  of 
Genera!  DuMont.  On  the  19th  of  March, 
1863,  Captain  Detweiler  was  appointed 
major  of  the  regiment,  and  on  the  2d  of 
April  of  the  same  year  he  resigned  his  com- 
mission and  returned  to  Harrisburg,  when 
he  was  appointed  United  States  recruiting 
officer  at  this  point,  which  post  he  held  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  In  1864  Mr.  Detweiler 
was  appointed  deimty  United  States  assessor 
of  internal  revenue  under  Ciiarles  J.  Bruner, 
whicli  office  he  held  until  it  was  aijolished 
in  1871.  In  1872  he  was  appointed  by 
Judge  Cadwalader  register  in  bankruptcy, 
which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
In  1874  Mr.  Detweiler  was  nominated  and 
elected  by  the  Republicans  county  solicitor 
for  the  term  of  three  years.  Major  Detweiler 
married  Eunice  Parke,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Parke,  of  Harrisburg,  and  they  had  three 
children  who  survived  their  father.  He 
died  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  August  16,  1878. 


Sergeant,  William,  son  of  Hon.  Joiin 
Sergeant,  a  distinguished  jurist  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  born  1829,  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
deipiiia.  He  graduated  from  Princeton  Col- 
lege in  1847 ;  studied  law  under  Benjamin 


^^^ 


<So^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


253 


Gerhard,  and  admitted  to  the  Philadelphia 
bar  in  1850 ;  he  held  a  prominent  position 
at  the  bar,  and  was  for  a  time  a  representa- 
tive in  the  State  Legislature.  On  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  commis- 
sioned captain  of  tlie  Twelfth  infantr}',  U.  S. 
A.;  afterwards  colonel  of  the  Two  Hundred 
and  Tenth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers; on  March  31,  1865,  he  was  wounded 
in  his  thigh  by  a  ball  while  resisting  an  at- 
tack of  the  enemy  on  the  Wliite  Oak  road, 
near  the  Boynton  plank-road,  in  front  of 
Petersburg,  Va.,  from  whicli  he  died  on 
board  of  the  hos[>ital  boat,  while  on  his  way 
home,  April  11,  1805;  he  was  a  gentleman 
of  marked  abilit)^  and  a  gallant  officer. 
Colonel  Sergeant  married,  November  8, 18."3, 
Eliza  Lawrence  Espy,  who  survives,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Snodgra.ss  Espy  and  his  wife 
Mary  H.  Pollard.  Tiieir  children  were  Mary, 
Margai'etta,  married  Alexander  James  Dallas 
Dixon,  Louisa,  married  John  C.  Kunkel,  Jr., 
John,  died  in  infanc}',  Sarah  Haly.and  Eliza, 
married  A\'illiam  Heyward  Me3ers. 


Bent,  Luther  Stedman,  son  of  Ebenezer 
and  Nanc}'  (Stedman)  Bent,  was  born  De- 
cember 6,  1829,  at  Quincy,  Norfolk  county, 
Mass.  His  ancestors  were  early  settlers  at 
Milton,  that  State.  Luther  S.  attended  the 
public  schools  until  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
afterwards  working  on  the  farm  until  his  fif- 
teenth year,  when  he  went  to  Boston,  where 
he  served  five  years  with  the  New  England 
Glass  Company,  situate  in  East  Cambridge, 
then  one  of  the  largest  establishments  of  the 
country.  From  tliat  period  until  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Rebellion  he  was  engaged 
in  the  glassware  and  crockery  business  in 
Boston.  In  May,  18G1,  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  company  H,  Fourth  regiment,  Massa- 
chusetts volunteei's,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Big  Bethel.  Being  mustered  out 
at  the  end  of  his  term  of  service  at  Boston, 
he  re-enlisted  as  a  private  in  compan}'  K  of 
the  Eighteenth  regiment,  Massachusetts  vol- 
unteers, for  three  years,  and  served  in  all  the 
grades  of  non-commissioned  and  commis- 
sioned officers  to  that  of  captain.  He  served 
through  the  various  campaigns  in  which  his 
regiment  was  engaged  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  was  wounded  in  the  right  hand 
in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  re- 
mained with  his  command  until  their  muster 
out,  when  he  was  detailed  to  take  charge  of 
a  battalion  of  veterans  and  recruits.  For 
meritorious  services  at  Peebles'  Farm  he  was 


jiromoted  brevet  major,  was  afterwards,  on 
the  recommendation  of  General  GriflSn,  com- 
missioned by  President  Lincoln  as  major  in 
the  United  States  army,  at  the  same  time  by 
tlie  State  of  Massachusetts  a  lieutenant  colo- 
nel, on  which  commission  he  was  never  mus- 
tered. His  battalion  having  become  deci- 
mated in  numbers  it  was  consolidated  with 
the  Twenty-second  Massachusetts,  when  at 
his  request  he  was  mustered  out  as  a  snper- 
numerai'v  officer.  He  returned  home,  and 
siiortly  after  made  engagements  with  the 
officers  of  the  Union  Pacific  railroad,  and  re- 
mained in  their  employ  from  the  commence- 
ment to  the  completion  of  that  great  enter- 
prise, filling  various  positions.  During  the 
last  two  years  he  was  one  of  the  largest  con- 
tractors for  grading  that  road,  comprising 
two  hundred  miles  through  Salt  Lake  Valley 
and  the  Promontor}'.  He  subsequently  be- 
came engaged  in  cattle  raising  on  the  plains 
and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  business, 
being  among  the  first  to  establish  cattle 
ranches  along  the  line  of  the  railroad  in  Ne- 
braska. Here  he  remained  three  years.  Re- 
turning to  the  East  he  married  a  daughter 
of  S.  M.  Felton,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  which 
relations  brought  him  into  connection  with 
the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company.  In  1874 
he  took  thesuperintendenc}'  of  that  immense 
establishment. 


Herr,  Andrew  Jackson,  son  of  Daniel 
Herr  (1795-1857)  and  Sarah  Gilbert  (1801- 
1880),  was  born  December  31,  1829,  in 
Greencastle,  Franklin  county.  Pa.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Zane  street  grammar  school 
and  the  high  school  at  Philadelphia,  from 
which  latter  institution  he  graduated  in 
1845.  He  shortly  after  commenced  the 
study  of  law  with  James  McCormick,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin  county  bar 
August  20,  1750,  locating  at  Harrisburg  in 
the  practice  of  liis  profession.  He  served, 
by  election,  as  district  attorney  nine  years ; 
was  counsel  for  county  commissioners  one 
year,  and  represented  the  county  of  Dauphin 
in  the  Legislature  in  1868  and  1869  ;  was 
member  of  the  State  Senate  in  1875  and 
1876,  and  in  the  latter  year  re-elected  for 
full  term  of  four  years;  elected  president 
pro  tem.  of  the  Senate  at  the  close  of  the  ses- 
sion of  1878,  and  re-elected  to  that  office  in 
the  session  of  1879.  In  -November,  1880,  he 
was  re-elected  again  for  full  term  of  four 
years.  He  served  in  that  body  with  distinc- 
tive ability.     After  the  close  of  his  official 


254 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


term  he  returned  to  the  duties  of  his  profes- 
sional Ufe.  He  died  at  Harrisburg  March 
16,  1894,  and  was  there  buried.  (Jolonel 
Herr  married,  first,  Martha  Linn  Co^de, 
daughter  of  Scott  Coyle  and  Martha  Linn  ; 
secondly,  Nannie  M.  Coyle,  and  their  chil- 
dren were:  Daniel  Coyle,  a  member  of  the 
Dauphin  county  bar,  and  Martha  Coyle,  d.s.p.; 
married,  thirdly,  Nannie  Gillmor,  daughter 
of  James  Gillmor  and  Eleanor  McKinney, 
and  they  had  Eleanor  Gillmor.  It  may  be 
here  stated  that  in  his  early  j'ears  he  was  a 
frequent  contributor  to  ihe  Saturday  Evening 
Post  and  Neal's  Gazette,  -  of  Philadelphia. 
When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  published  three 
novels,  entitled  "  Maid  of  the  Valley," 
"  Stor}'  founded  on  the  Revolution,"  and 
"  The  Corsair,"  founded  on  the  revolt  of  St. 
Domingo.  These  books  were  published  in 
England.  A  novel  called  "  The  Chain  of 
Destinj',"  also  appeared  from  his  pen.  As  a 
criminal  lawyer,  however,  Colonel  Herr  was 
the  most  brilliant  and  his  career  successful. 
He  was  highly  respected  by  his  professional 
brethren  and  his  opinions  had  great  weight, 
especially  in  tliat  class  of  legal  practice  in 
wiiich  he  was  unexceptionably  the  leader  at 
the  Dauphin  county  bar. 


McCoRMiCK,  Henry,  son  of  .James  McCor- 
mick  and  his  wife  Eliza  Buehler,  was  born 
March  10,  1831,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  Harrisburg 
Academy,  Partridge's  military  institute,  and 
graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1852.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  law  with  his  father, 
but  his  taste  being  for  a  more  stirring  pur- 
suit, he  gave  it  up  and  learned  the  iron  busi- 
ness at  Reading  furnace,  now  Robesonia,  at 
the  first  opportunity  purchasing  an  interest 
in  the  Henry  Clay  and  Eagle  furnaces,  near 
Marietta,  Lancaster  county.  In  1857  Paxtang 
furnace  came  under  his  management,  and, 
in  1866,  the  nail-works  at  Fairview,  Cumber- 
land county,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Conedo- 
guinet  creek,  which  he  conducted  for  twenty- 
five  years.  In  1865,  before  a  railway  spanned 
the  continent,  he  crossed  the  great  plain  and 
mountain  range  to  the  Pacific  coast,  return- 
ing by  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  In  1877  he 
visited  Europe.  Long  before  these  journeys 
he  had  shown  his  devotion  to  his  country. 
At  the  opening  of  the  Rebellion  he  offered 
his  life  and  services- to  the  cause  of  patriot- 
ism, gathering  a  company  of  volunteers, 
company  F,  Lochiel  Grays,  of  the  Twenty- 
fifth  regiment,  Penns^dvania  volunteers,  in 


the  three  months'  service.  In  1862  he  was 
chosen  colonel  of  the  First  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania militia,  under  Maj.  Gen.  John  F. 
Reynolds  and  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  First  brigade.  The  object  of  forming 
this  division  being  accomplished  by  the  con- 
test at  Antietam,  it  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice. Under  the  act  relative  to  a  new  geo- 
logical survey  of  Pennsylvania,  he  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Hartranft  a  commis- 
sioner, and  by  his  colleagues  its  treasurer, 
filling  these  positions  until  the  work  was 
done.  As  a  co-trustee  of  his  father's  estate, 
he  has  shown  tact  and  judgment,  and,  in  the 
pursuit  of  all  the  business  in  which  he  is 
engaged,  great  energy  and  success.  To  all 
benevolent  objects  he  is  a  most  generous 
giver,  without  ostentation  or  publicity.  As 
an  evidence  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held, it  may  be  stated  that  when  a  candidate 
for  Congress  in  1882,  his  majority  in  his 
native  county  was  one  hundred  and  fiftj'- 
nine,  while  his  party  was  in  a  minority  of 
nearly  fifteen  hundred  on  the  vote  for  otiier 
offices.  Colonel  McCormick  married,  June 
29,  1867,  Annie  Criswell,  daughter  of  John 
\'ance  Criswell  and  Hannah  Dull. 


Beck,  Julius  Augustus,  son  of  John  and 
Joanna  Beck,  was  born  April  2,  1831,  in 
Lititz,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Lititz  acadeni}',  of  which  his 
father,  John  Beck,  was  principal.  In  early 
life  he  devoted  himself  to  the  art  of  sculp- 
ture, and  in  1855  visited  Italy  for  the  pur- 
pose of  perfecting  himself  in  that  branch  of 
the  fine  arts.  In  1861  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  portrait  and  landscape  painting.  He 
married  Miss  Susan  Maria  Kepple,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Catherine  Kepple,  of  Lancas- 
ter, Pa.,  and  their  children  are:  Abraham 
Raphael,  Catherine  Augusta,  Henry  Kepple, 
John,  Martin  Augustus,  Marion,  Edith,  Isa- 
bella, and  Mary  Alice. 


Geety,  William  Wallace,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  December  4,  1831,  and  died  at 
Dauphin,  .January  19,  1887.  When  he  was 
quite  young  the  family  moved  to  Middle- 
town,  but  returned  a  few  years  later.  Then 
Wallace,  a  lad  eight  years  of  age,  was  sent  to 
the  school  of  Jacob  Eyster,  who  kept  the 
boys  understrict  military  drill  and  discipline. 
At  twelve  years  of  age  he  was  put  to  Francis 
Wyeth  to  learn  the  book  business,  and  at 
sixteen  to  Martin  Lutz  to  acquire  a  knowledge 
of  pharmacy.     He  had  also  learned  some- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


255 


thing  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  Stough,  practicing 
his  profession  and  teaching  school  at  inter- 
vals until  1858,  when  he  removed  to  Coxes- 
town  and  taught  school  until  the  war  broke 
out.  He  first  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
"  Cameron  Guaixls "  for  a  term  of  three 
months.  This  ended,  he  returned  and 
helped  raise  a  company  of  forty  men,  which 
was  assigned  to  Colonel  Good's  regiment 
(later  Colonel  Gobin's),  with  James  Casey, 
of  Perry  count}',  as  captain  and  himself  as 
first  lieutenant.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Gainsville,  St.  John's  Bluff  and 
Pocotaligo,  where  he  was  severely  wounded. 
A  grape  shot  struck  him  between  the  eyes 
and  passing  to  the  left  destroyed  the  &ye, 
shattered  the  bones  of  the  face,  injuring  the 
nerves  and  lodged  near  the  carotic  arterj'. 
While  lying  upon  tiie  field  he  was  for  a 
while  given  up  for  dead.  When  able  to 
leave  the  hospital  he  returned  to  Harrisburg, 
received  the  rank  of  captain  and  was  ap- 
pointed quartermaster,  which  position  he 
held  until  tlie  expiration  of  iiis  term  of 
service.  After  that  lie  removed  to  Clark's 
Valley,  but  failing  health  compelled  him  to 
relinguish  a  small  farm  he  had  purchased, 
and  in  1879  he  settled  in  Dauphin  until  his 
death.  Captain  Geety  was  a  member  of  the 
Veteran  Association  of  Dauphin,  and  of  Post 
58,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Harrisburg,  a  staunch  Re- 
publican, and  for  some  years  a  member  of 
the  county  committee.  Captain  Geety  mar- 
ried, in  1858,  Henrietta  Thompson,  who 
with  four  children  survive. 


Sees,  William  Edwards,  eldest  son  of 
David  and  Ann  Fell  (Edwards)  Sees,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg,  February  3,  1832.  His 
education  was  received  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  ])lace,  and  early  in  life 
commenced  to  learn  the  business  of  coach 
trimming  with  his  father,  who  was  a  skilled 
workman,  and  became  in  time  a  good  me- 
chanic. He  was  a  member  and  an  officer  of 
the  old  Friendship  Fire  Company,  of  Har- 
risburg, noted  for  his  efficiency  and  daring, 
and  twice  came  veiy  near  losing  his  life  in 
endeavoring  to  save  the  propert}'  of  others, 
once  at  afire  in  the  United  States  Hotel, and 
again  at  the  cotton  factory.  When  tiie  war 
for  the  Union  broke  out,  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  three  months'  service.  In 
1S(>2  he  was  commissioned  captain  in  the 
new  Eleventh  Pennsylvania,  tiiree  years' 
service,  but  his  health  failing  him,  he  was 
discharged   on   surgeon's  certificate  of  dis- 


ability. On  April  ]  9, 1855,  he  married  Mary 
Catherine  Kunkel,  of  Baltimore,  Md.  She 
died  on  February  27,  185G,  leaving  one  son, 
David.  On  September  13,  1857,  he  married 
Mary  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Julia  Ann  (Mowrer)  Cliandler.  Captain  Sees 
died  October  5,  18G5,  of  consumption  con- 
tracted in  the  army,  and  left  one  daughter 
by  the  second  marriage,  Catherine.  The 
Rev.  Charles  A.  Hay,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  Zion's 
Lutheran  church,  published  a  memoir  of 
Captain  Sees,  detailing  his  religious  life  and 
experience,  which  is  quite  interesting. 


Keeper,  John  Brua,  son  of  Andrew  and 
Catherine  (Brua)  Keefer,  was  bora  April  10, 
1832,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  received  his 
education  at  tlie  public  schools  of  the  bor- 
ough and  at  the  Harrisburg  Military  Insti- 
tute, established  by  Capt.  Alden  Partridge 
in  1845.  Subsequently  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  machinist  in  the  shops  of  the  Philadel- 
phia &  Reading  Railroad  Company,  at 
Reading.  From  1853  to  18G4  he  carried  on 
a  foundry  and  machine  shop  at  Cressona, 
Scluiylkill  county,  Pa.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  oil  trade  in  Venango  county,  and 
afterwards  carried  on  the  rolling-mill  busi- 
ness at  Allentown.  From  1870  to  1877  he 
was  engaged  in  tiie  manufacture  of  fire- 
bricks at  Harrisburg.  On  the  13th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1877,  he  was  commissioned  by  Presi- 
dent Grant,  major  and  paymaster  in  tiie 
United  States  army,  and  at  present  in  ac- 
tive service.  Major  Keefer  married,  Novem- 
ber 27,  1854,  Catherine  R.  Bo3'er,  of  Read- 
ing. Their  children  were  Horace  A.,  Cath- 
erine A.,  who  married  Lieut.  J.  W.  Duncan, 
U.  S.  A.,  Edith  M.,  who  married  H.  M. 
Paxton,  Mary  F.,  Frank  R.,  and  Caroline  R. 


McCoRMicK,  James,  second  son  of  James 
McCorraick  and  his  wife,  Eliza  Buehler,  was 
born  October  31,  1832,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
Captain  Partridge's  military  institute,  the 
Harrisburg  Academy,  graduating  from  Yale 
College  in  1853 ;  studied  law  under  his 
father ;  was  admitted  to  the  bars  of  Dauphin 
and  Cumberland  counties,  and  practiced  for 
several  years.  Upon  the  death  of  his  father, 
he  became  one  of  the  trustees  of  his  estate, 
a  charge  that  absorbed  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  such  a  degree  that  he  abandoned  his 
profession.  The  magnitude  of  this  estate 
and  the  enterprises  conducted  under  it  re- 
quire caution,  prudence  and  judgment  in  its 


256 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OF  EDI  A 


management.  Mr.  McCormick  has  shown 
all  these  qualities  in  the  successful  perform- 
ance of  his  duties.  He  has  never  held  polit- 
ical office,  but  in  the  religious  and  charitable 
work  of  the  day  occupies  a  conspicuous  posi- 
tion. He  had  been  an  elder  in  the  Pine 
Street  Presbyterian  church  from  1858  to 
1894,  a  successful  Sunday-school  tutor,  presi- 
dent and  trustee  of  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  ;  in  all  the  active  work  of 
his  denomination  a  most  efficient  and  liberal 
agent;  a  large  contributor  to  the  Home  for 
the  Friendless,  Harrisburg ;  to  all  charitable 
objects,  and,  from  its  opening,  president  of 
the  Harrisburg  Hospital — one  of  its  most 
active,  attentive  and  competent  advisers. 
He  married,  May  26,  1859,  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  Mary  Wilson  Alricks,  born  November 
24,  1833;  died  August  5,  1881,  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa.;  daughter  of  Herman  Alricks  and 
Marv  Wilson  Kerr. 


Johnson,  John  Bucher,  son  of  David  M. 
Johnson  and  Susan  Dorothy  Bucher,  daughter 
of  Judge  Jacob  Bucher,  was  born  January  26, 
1833,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  .schools  of  the  town  and  in  Cap- 
tain Pai fridge's  military  school,  but  com- 
pleted his  education  at  Washington  College, 
Pa.,  where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1S52. 
He  adopted  civil  engineering  as  his  profes- 
sion, and  until  1861  was  engaged  in  several 
of  the  public  improvements  in  this  State.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  he  entered 
the  Eleventh  Pennsylvania  regiment.  Colo- 
nel Jarrett,  and  was  appointed  captain  of  a 
company  from  Pittston.  On  May  14,  1861, 
he  was  appointed  by  the  Secretary  of  War, 
General  Cameron,  first  lieutenant  in  the 
Sixth  cavalry  of  the  regular  army,  and  was 
subsequently  made  brevet  major  and  lieu- 
tenant colonel  for  meritorious  service.  He 
became  captain  by  regular  promotion  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1875.  He  served  on  the  staff  of 
General  Hancock  at  Baltimore  and  at  New 
Orleans,  and  was  afterwards  assigned  to  sev- 
eral stations  in  Texas.  In  April,  1870,  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  Texas  on  account  of 
failing  health,  and  returned  to  his  home  at 
Harrisburg,  where  he  died  June  24,  1871. 

Chester,  Thomas  Morris,  son  of  George 
and  Jane  Maria  (Russell)  Chester,  was  born 
March  11, 1834,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1851,  he  entered  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment of  the  Avery  College,  Allegheny  City, 
where  he  remained  until  January,  1853,when 


he  sailed  for  Liberia,  West  Africa,  in  the  ship 
"  Banshee,"  arriving  at  Monrovia  on  the  od 
of  June,  of  the  same  year.  At  Monrovia  he 
attended  the  Alexandria  high  school  for  one 
year,  then  returned  to  America,  and  in  De- 
cember, 1854,  entered  tiiejunior  class  of  Thet- 
ford  Academy,  Vermont.  He  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  1856.  In  January,  1857, 
he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  superintendent 
of  recaptured  Africans  from  American  slave 
vessels  at  Cape  Mount,  Liberia,  to  instruct 
them  in  civilized  customs.  He  published 
and  edited  tlie  Star  of  Liberia,  at  Monrovia, 
and  was  the  correspondent  of  the  Nnv  York 
Herald  at  that  point.  In  January,  1862,  he 
returned  to  America  on  account  of  tlie  civil 
strife,  and  assisted  in  recruiting  the  Fifty- 
fourth  and  Fifty-tifth  Massachusetts  regi- 
ments, the  first  colored  troops  raised  for  the 
war.  In  1867  he  went  to  England,  entered 
Middle  Temple,  one  of  the  Inns  of  Court  at 
London,  for  tiie  study  of  law,  and  was 
called  to  the  Englisii  bar  in  1870.  Wiiile 
in  England  he  was  appointed  aide-de-camp 
to  President  Payne, of  Liberia,  with  the  rank 
of  major,  and  was  intrusted  with  important 
missions  to  the  courts  of  Russia  and  Belgium. 
In  Jul}',  1870,  Avery  College  conferred  upon 
iiim  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  On  his 
return  to  the  United  States  in  1871,  he  went 
to  New  Orleans,  and  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  storekeeper  in  the  custom  service. 
In  March,  1S73,  he  was  admitted  to  the  prac- 
tice of  law  in  the  courts  of  Louisiana,  by 
being  admitted  to  the  Supreme  (Jourt  of  the 
State.  Governor  Kellogg  the  same  year 
appointed  him  brigadier  general  of  tiie  First 
brigade  of  Louisiana  militia.  In  1875  he 
was  appointed  district  superintendent  of 
public  education  of  the  first  division,  com- 
prising seven  parishes,  including  the  white 
and  colored  schools,  and  in  1876  superin- 
tendent of  the  fifth  division,  comprising 
tiiirteen  parishes.  In  1878  he  was  appointed 
United  States  commisioner  for  the  district  of 
Louisiana.  On  the  22d  of  June,  1881,  he  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  at  the  November  term, 
1882,  made  his  first  appearance  at  the  bar  of 
his  native  city  and  county. 

FixxEY,  Isaac  S.,  son  of  George  Washing- 
ton and  Elspey  (Smith)  Finney,  was  born 
September  6,  1835,  at  Halifax,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.  He  entered  the  navy  as  third 
assistant  engineer  in  1859,  and  joined  the 
"  Mystic,"  which  was  detailed  for  duty  on  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


257 


coast  of  Africa.  On  November  25,  1861,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  second  assistant 
engineer.  He  afterwards  joined  the  "  Tus- 
carora,"  and  was  present  during  the  engage- 
ment at  Fort  Fisher  and  while  engaged  in 
the  pursuit  of  the  ''.-Uabama,"  and  remained 
on  iier  until  1804,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  first  assistant  engineer  and  or- 
dered to  shore  duty,  but  this  lasted  only  for 
a  few  days,  for  on  June  23  he  was  ordered  to 
join  the  frigate  "Susquehanna," belonging  to 
the  North  Atlantic  squadron,  and  remained 
on  her  until  June  25,  1866,  when  he  went  on 
shore  duty  at  the  Piiiladelphia  and  Ports- 
mouth navy  yards  for  a  brief  period  of  time. 
On  May  25, 1867,  lie  joined  the  "  Minnesota" 
and  remained  on  her  until  January  31, 1868. 
On  January  26,  1870,  he  joined  the  frigate 
"  Colorado,"  fitting  out  for  the  Asiatic  squad- 
ron, and  remained  on  her  until  she  went  out 
of  commission  March  25,  1873.  Upon  his 
turn  he  received  his  promotion  to  chief  en- 
gineer. During  the  "  Virginius"  excitement, 
and  when  a  war  with  Spain  appeared  prob- 
able, he  voluntarily  relinguished  the  agree- 
able position  he  held  of  superintendent  of 
construction  of  government  machiner}'  at 
Newburgh-on-the-Hudson,  to  join  his  old 
ship,  the  "  Colorado."  From  the  evil  effects 
of  his  six  months'  sojourn  on  board  that 
vessel  off  the  coast  of  Cuba  and  Key  West 
he  never  recovered,  and  died  at  BrooklN'n, 
New  York,  November  10,  1874.  He  was  in- 
terred in  the  family  burial  lot  in  the  Harris- 
burg  cemetery. 


Sees,  Ma.t.  Oliver  W.\shington,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  27th  of 
(Jctober,  1835.  He  was  the  second  son  of 
David  Sees  and  Ann  Fell  Edwards.  His 
])arents  had  removed  from  Harrisburg  to 
Philadelphia  in  1832,  but  returned  to  their 
old  homo  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  1830. 
Oliver  Sees  did  not  have  the  advantages  of 
a  liberal  education.  When  quite  young, 
about  twelve  years  of  age,  he  became  a 
messenger  boy  in  the  first  magnetic  telegraph 
office  that  was  opened  in  Harrisburg  after 
the  wonderful  discovery  by  Professor  Morse, 
the  office  being  under  tiie  management  of 
David  Brooks.  The  latter  became  very 
much  interested  in  the  bright-eyed,  youth- 
ful messenger,  and  under  his  special  care 
and  teaching  Oliver  rapidly  developed  into 
an  operator,  and  finally  became  one  of  the 
most  expert  and  accomplished  in  the  busi- 
ness.   He  was  one  of  the  first  to  learn  to  read 


messages  by  sound.  His  interest  was  so 
great  in  the  success  of  the  laying-  of  the  At- 
lantic cable  that  when  the  news  reached 
Harrisburg  of  its  final  accomplishment,  he 
was  chiefly  instrumental  in  getting  up  a 
very  enthusiastic  demonstration  to  celebrate 
that  event.  Mr.  Sees'  knowledge  and  special 
fitness  in  his  business  were  so  marked  that 
on  the  23d  day  of  December,  1861,  Governor 
Curtin  appointed  him  chief  of  telegraph,  with 
the  rank  of  major,  and  shortly  afterwards 
added  that  of  chief  of  transportation,  two 
very  important  positions  during  the  war. 
The  duties  of  these  combined  offices  he  dis- 
charged with  signal  ability  and  entire  satis- 
faction. In  connection  with  this  arduous 
work  the  General  Government  intrusted 
Major  Sees  with  the  key  to  the  secret  service 
cipher,  used  in  the  transmission  of  the  most 
vital  and  imj>ortant  messages  by  the  General 
Government  in  relation  to  matters  at  that 
critical  period,  and  which  could  only  be  de- 
ciphered through  a  knowledge  of  this  key. 
About  this  period  he  was  appointed  by  Maj. 
Gen.  D.N.  Coucli,  who  was  directing  military 
operations  at  this  point,  on  his  staff,  and 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service.  Im- 
mediately after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
Governor  Curtin  ordered  Major  Sees  to  the 
battlefield  to  assist  in  caring  for  the  dead 
and  wounded  Pennsylvania  soldiers  who 
fell  on  that  memorable  occasion,  a  duty  he 
performed  well.  On  his  way  back  to  Har- 
risburg he  was  taken  very  sick  at  Carlisle, 
and  died  in  this  city  on  the  30th  day  of 
September,  1863,  before  he  was  twenty-eight. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  re- 
port of  Col.  M.  S.  Quay  to  Gov.  Andrew  (i. 
Curtin.  Colonel  Quay  was  the  successor  of 
Major  Sees  as  chief  of  transportation. 

"  The  invasion  of  the  State,  in  June,  1863, 
by  the  arm}'  of  General  Lee,  and  your  call 
for  the  militia  forces  which  immediatel}'  fol- 
lowed, occasioned  a  large  influx  of  business 
of  pressing  importance,  which  occupied  the 
chief  of  the  department,  Major  Sees,  and  his 
clerical  force  for  weeks. 

"  The  United  States  having  assumed  the 
])ayment  of  the  expenses  of  the  transporta- 
tion of  the  militia,  Major  Sees  was  placed 
temporarily  in  their  service,  and  assigned  a 
position  on  the  staff'  of  Major  General  Couch, 
commanding  the  Department  of  the  Susque- 
hanna. He  was  relieved  by  General  Couch, 
at  his  own  request,  and  was  immediately 
afterwards  ordered  to  Gettysburg  by  you  to 
look  after  our  dead  and  wounded. 


258 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


"  The  extraordinary  labors  he  found  neces- 
sary during  this  period,  extending  at  times 
througli  successive  days  and  nights,  with  the 
exposure  and  fatigue  sustained  at  Gettys- 
burg, undoubtedly  produced  illness  through 
which  your  administration  lost  a  faithful 
and  competent  ofScer,  and  his  family  a  hus- 
band and  father  who  was  their  only  sup- 
port." 

Major  Sees  was  married  to  Caroline, 
daughter  of  Charles  Buehler  and  Sarah 
Hoover,  at  Harrisburg,  on  the  22d  day  of 
September,  1857;  the  widow  and  one  daugh- 
ter, Caroline,  survived  him. 

Lawrence,  Samuel  M.,  son  of  Joseph  and 
Maria (Bueher)  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county.  Pa.,  December  14, 1835.  His 
father's  death  occurring  when  he  was  six 
years  old  his  mother  removed  two  years 
later  to  Harrisburg,  her  former  home,  where 
she  continued  to  reside  during  the  remainder 
of  her  life,  and  here  Samuel  received  his 
principal  education,  althougli  attending  Jef- 
ferson College  for  a  time.  From  boyliood 
he  was  a  remarkable  student,  and  had  a 
perfect  hunger  for  knowledge.  At  an  early 
age  he  adopted  the  profession  of  civil  en- 
gineering, and  was  engaged  in  the  survey  of 
the  Sunburv  &  Erie  (now  Philadelphia  & 
Erie)  railroad,  and  continued  on  it  until 
its  completion  in  18G4.  He  was  perfectly 
familiar  with  every  part  of  the  road,  and 
had  traveled  it  all  on  foot  from  Sunbury  to 
Erie.  He  was  one  of  tlie  four  original  con- 
tractors who  built  the  Oil  Creek  railroad, 
and  also  chief  engineer  of  it.  He  was  also 
engaged  in  the  survey  of  the  Warren  and 
Franklin  road  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
was  nominated  by  the  Pepublican  party  in 
the  counties  of  Clearfield,  Mclvean,  Jefferson 
and  Elk  for  the  Legislature,  and  represented 
tliem  in  the  session  of  1860-61,  thus  spend- 
ing the  winter  in  Harrisburg,  his  old  home. 
He  married,  April  4,  1864,  Hannah,  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  John  Green.  He  resided  in 
Warren  the  last  three  or  four  years  of  his 
life  and  died  there  October  17,  1864.  in  his 
twenty-ninth  3'ear.  He  is  buried  in  Harris- 
burg. 


Hays,  William  Wallace,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 23,  1836  ;  died  March  31,  1870,  at  Har- 
risburg, Pa.  He  received  his  prepara  ory 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  Harris- 
burg Academy;  entered  the  sophomore 
class  of  Jefferson  College,  Canonsburg,  in 


1853,  graduating  in  1856.  He  then  went  to 
Texas,  where  he  remained  two  years,  teach- 
ing in  Victoria  and  Goliad.  After  returning 
Nortli,  he  began  the  study  of  law  with 
Robert  A.  Lamberton,  Esq.,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Dauphin  county  bar  December 
6,  1859.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Harrisburg,  continuing  Until  his 
appointment  hy  Governor  Curtin,  in  1861, 
as  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of 
the  Commonwealth.  On  May  1,  1866,  he 
was  appointed  deput}'  secretary  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, discharging  the  duties  of  that 
office  until  the  close  of  Governor  Curtin's 
administration.  He  then  resumed  his  pro- 
fession of  the  law,  and  in  connection  with  it 
served  as  clerk  to  the  Board  of  Claims  from 
Januarj'  to  June  1,  1868.  In  October  fol- 
lowing, having  been  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans of  the  city  of  Harrisburg,  lie  was 
elected  mayor  thereof,  the  duties  of  which 
office  he  entered  upon  January  11,  1869. 
His  health,  however,  soon  began  to  fail  him, 
and  he  died  while  in  office,  in  his  thirty- 
fourth  year.  "Mr.  Hays  was  a  truly  Chris- 
tian gentleman,  he  thougiit  more  of  right 
tiian  he  did  of  life.  His  nature  was  of  that 
intensity  whicli  inspires  men  to  die  for  the 
trutii,  while  iiis  convictions  on  all  subjects 
relating  to  the  ordinary  and  extraordinary 
att'airs  of  life,  here  and  hereafter,  were  gov- 
erned by  the  strongest  principles  of  religion 
and  justice."  Mr.  Hays  married,  March  5, 
1861,  ALary  Straughan  Day,  born  September 
13,  1837 ;  daughter  of  Dr.  Stephen  F.  Day 
and  Eliza  Floyd  Straughan,  of  Wooster,  0. 

Awl,  Francis  Asbury,  son  of  John  Mi- 
chael Awl,  was  born  at  Harrisburg,  April  8, 
1837,  where  he  resides.  At  the  Ijeginning  of 
the  Civil  war  in  1861  served  in  the  three 
months'  .service  as  adjutant  of  the  Eleventh 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers.  In  1862 
raised  for  the  nine  months'  service  company 
A  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  Fredericksburg  campaign. 
In  1864  he  assisted  in  organizing  tlje  Two 
Hundred  and  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  of  which  he  was  commissioned 
colonel  and  served  in  that  capacity  until 
mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  a  clerk  in  the  Harrisburg  National  Bank 
prior  to  the  war;  subsequently  cashier  of  the 
banking  hou.?e  of  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.,  in  New 
York,  for  a  period  of  seven  years ;  was  a  trus- 
tee for  twelve  years  of  the  Pennsylvania  State 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


259 


Lunatic  Hospital  and  secretary  of  the  board ; 
and  from  1891  to  1.896  deputy  superintend- 
ent of  banking.  Colonel  Awl  married,  June 
5,  1872,  Mary  Elizabeth  Thompson,  born 
August  9,  1847,  in  New  York  City.  They 
have  two  sons.  Jay  Weslej'  and  Francis  As- 
burv. 


Maloney,  Thomas  Francis,  son  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  (Ilouran)  Maloney,  was  born 
August  19,  1843,  in  county  Tipperai'y,  Ire- 
land. His  parents  emigrated  to  America  in 
1847,  and  settled  at   Harrisburg.     Thomas 

F.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Harrisburg,  afterwards  at  St.  Michael's  Sem- 
inary, near  Pittsburgh,  at  St.  Vincent's  Col- 
lege, at  Latrobe,  Fa.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  a  machinist  with  W.  0.  Hickok,  at  tiie 
Eagle  Works,  Harrisburg.  During  the  Re- 
bellion he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  company 
A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Seventli  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  Juh'  22, 18G2 ; 
appointed  corporal  of  the  company  July  20, 
1862  ;  promoted  sergeant  August  1,  1862  ; 
promoted  first  sergeant  August  6,  1862,  and 
to  adjutant  of  the  independent  battalion 
November  4,  1802,  and  mustered  out  witii 
tiie  regiment  May  8,  1863.  He  was  ap- 
pointed conditionally  by  Governor  Curtin 
second  lieutenant  and  mustering  officer 
United  States  volunteers  August  4, 1861, and 
upon  the  organization  of  the  Two  Hundred 
and  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
was  commissioned  cajitain  of  company  F, 
August  27,  1864,  serving  with  the  command 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  until  his  muster 
out  b}'  reason  of  General  Order  No.  94,  A. 

G.  0.  War  Department  series,  June  21, 1865. 
Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  First  City 
Zouaves  of  Harrisburg,  Captain  Maloney, 
in  1869,  was  elected  first  lieutenant,  and  De- 
cember 16,  1870,  commissioned  captain  of 
comj)any  A  of  the  Zouave  battalion.  When 
the  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania  was 
established  the  company  became  known  as 
the  City  Grays  of  Harrisburg,  an'd  on  the 
organization  of  the  Eiglitli  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania National  Guard,  was  attached  to 
that  command  and  mustered  in  as  company 
D.  He  was  re-commissioned  December  14, 
1875, and  December  10,1880;  was  one  of  the 
senior  members  in  tlie  service,  and  re- 
peatedly refused  a  field  office,  preferring  to 
remain  with  his  company,  which  has  no 
superior  in  the  National  Guard.  On  the 
first  of  February,  1883,  he   was  appointed 


arsenal  keeper  of  the  State  arsenal  at  Harris- 
burg. Ca})tain  Maloney  married,  in  1863, 
Ellen,  daughterof  John  Case}', of  Harrisbui'g. 
It  may  be  stated  in  this  connection  that  Cap- 
tain Maloney  was  the  author  of  a  military 
manual  on  "  Guard  Duty  "  which  is  consid- 
ered an  authority  on  the  subject. 


McCreath,  Andrew  S.,  son  of  William 
McCreath  (died  1878,  aged  seventy-five)  and 
Margaret  Chricliton  (died  1870,  aged  sixty- 
three),  was  born  March  8,  1849,  in  Aj^r, 
Scotland.  He  was  educated  at  Ayr  Acad- 
emy and  Glasgow  University  for  classical 
course.  He  took  special  chemical  courses 
at  Andersonian  University,  Glasgow,  under 
Professors  Penny  and  Dr.  Clark,  and  subse- 
quently at  Gottingen,  under  Professors 
Wochler  and  Fiitig.  He  came  to  America 
in  1870,  and  assumed  charge  of  the  chemi- 
cal laboratory  at  the  Pennsylvania  steel 
works,  where  he  remained  till  August,  1874, 
when  he  was  appointed  by  the  State  geolo- 
gist, chemist  to  the  Second  CJeological  Sur- 
vey of  Pennsylvania,  which  position  he  still 
holds.  He  has  prepared  three  reports  for 
the  State  geologist,  and  special  reports  on 
the  mineral  resources  along  the  lines  of  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  Norfolk  and  Western, 
and  New  River  railroads.  He  is  activelj' 
engaged  in  his  profession.  He  was  married 
February  4,  1875,  to  Eliza,  daughter  of 
Charles  L.  and  Marv  W.  Hummel  Berghaus. 


Awl,  John  Wesley,  was  born  at  Harris- 
burg, on  the  21st  of  November,  1852, 
and  died  there  on  the  2d  of  March,  1894; 
was  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  read  law 
with  F.  K.  Boas,  Esq.,  and  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1856.  During  the  war  for  the  Union 
he  entered  the  service  in  1862  as  captain  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers.  Upon  the 
organization  of  the  Two  Hundred  and 
First,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  he  was  com- 
missioned lieutenant  colonel ;  in  May,  1865, 
was  appointed  commandant  of  the  "Soldier's 
Rest"  at  Alexandria,  Va.;  mustered  out  with 
his  regiment  June  21,  1865.  Upon  the  or- 
ganization of  the  National  Guard  of  Penn- 
sylvania he  was  adjutant  of  the  Fifth  di- 
vision, and  subsequently  adjutant  of  the 
Third  brigade;  as  an  attorney  he  was  care- 
ful, methodical  and  trustworthy;  as  a  mili- 
tary oflicer  he  was  highly  regarded  by  his 


260 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  0  PEDIA 


fellow-officers  and  greatly  loved  by  his  men; 
a  life-long  member  of  the  church  of  his 
father,  lie  was  a  faithful  official.  He  was 
unmarried. 


Anderson,  Rev.  James,  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  born  November  17,  1678,  was  edu- 
cated under  Principal  Stirling,  of  Glasgow, 
and  ordained  by  Irvine  Presbytery,  Novem- 
ber 17, 1708,  with  a  view  to  his  settlement  in 
Virginia.  He  sailed  March  6, 1709,  and  ar- 
rived in  the  Rappahannock  on  the  22d  of 
April  following,  but  the  state  of  things  there 
not  warranting  his  stay,  he  came  northward, 
and  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  September 
20.  He  settled  at  New  Castle.  In  1714,  out 
of  regard  to  the  desolate  condition  of  the 
people  in  Kent  county,  he  was  directed  to 
supply  them  monthly  on  a  Sabbath,  and 
also  to  spend  a  Sabbath  at  Cedar  creek,  in 
Sussex.  He  subsequently  ministered  in  New 
York,  but  owing  to  some  difficulties  in  the 
congregation  tiiere  he  desired  a  removal. 
He  was  called  September  24,  1726,  to  Done- 
gal, on  the  Susquelianna,  and  accepted  it. 
He  was  installed  the  last  Wednesday  in 
August,  1727.  In  September,  1720,  lie  gave 
every  fifth  Sabbath  to  the  people  on  Svvatara, 
and  joined  the  congregation  of  Derry,  thus 
becoming  the  first  settled  pastor  over  that 
church,  until  the  call  of  Rev.  William  Ber- 
tram, 1732.  He  died  July  16, 1740.  In  the 
language  of  the  Presbytery,  "he  was  liigh  in 
esteem  for  circumspection,  diligence  and 
faithfulness  as  a  Ciiristian  minister."  Tiie 
Rev.  Mr.  Anderson  married,  February,  ]712- 
13,  Suit  Garland,  daugliter  of  Sylvester  Gar- 
land, of  the  Head  of  Apoquinimy.  She 
died  December  24,  1736.  He  then  married 
Rachel  Wilson,  December  27, 1737.  His  son 
Garland  Anderson,  married  Jane,  daughter 
of  Peter  Chevalier,  of  Pliiladeiphia,  but  died 
early.  His  daughter  Elizabeth  married  Sam- 
uel Breeze,  resided  in  New  York,  and  was  a 
woman  of  great  excellence.  A  brotiier  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Anderson  was  John  Anderson,  of 
Perth  Amboy,  wlio  in  1712  was  made  one  of 
tiie  council  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey. 
He  died  in  March,  1736,  aged  seventy -three, 
being  then  president  of  the  council. 

Black,  Rev.  Samuel,  was  a  native  of  the 
nortli  of  Ireland,  born  about  1700.  He 
studied  theology  prior  to  his  emigrating  to 
America,  and  was  subse(juently  licensed  by 
New  Castle  Presb^'tery.  The  forks  of  Brandy- 
wine  in  Chester  county  was  formed  into  a 


separate  congregation  in  1735,  and  in  Sep- 
tember same  3'ear,  Donegal  Presbytery  gave 
them  leave  to  invite  Black  to  j)reach  as  a 
candidate  for  settlement.  He  was  called 
October  7,  and  ordained  November  IS,  1735. 
A  portion  of  his  people  preferred  complaints 
against  him  September  2,  1740.  This  was 
just  at  the  time  of  the  extraordinary  effects 
produced  by  the  preaching  of  Whitfield. 
Most  of  tlie  allegations  were  sustained,  but 
after  a  rebuke  and  susj^ension  for  a  season, 
he  was  restored,  and  afterwards  released 
from  the  pastoral  relation.  The  new  con- 
gregation of  Conewago  between  Middletown 
and  Mount  Joy  called  him  in  October,  1741, 
and  he  was  installed  the  second  Wednesday 
in  Maj'  following.  He  made  occasional 
visits  to  Virginia  as  a  missionar^^  and  was 
sent  to  Potomac  in  1743.  Difficulties  arose 
in  his  flock  at  Conewago  and  they  asked  to 
have  the  Rev.  John  Steel,  who  was  supply- 
ing Conestoga,  sent  to  them.  North  and 
South  Mountain  in  Virginia  (the  former  six 
miles  west  of  Staunton)  asked  for  him, 
March  6,  1745.  He  was  dismissed  from 
Conewago  in  April,  but  in  the  fall  they 
sought  to  regain  him.  A  division  took 
place.  Those  who  left  hin^  obtained  one- 
tifth  of  the  time  of  the  ReV.  John  Roan, 
pastor  of  the  New  Side  churches  of  Paxtang 
and  Derry.  In  1747,  he,  with  Revs.  Thom- 
son and  Craig,  was  directed  to  take  the  over- 
sight of  the  vacancies  in  A'irginia.  In  1751 
he  was  directed  to  supply  Buffalo  settlement 
and  the  adjacent  places  four  Sal)baths.  He 
took  charge  of  the  congregations  of  Rock- 
port  and  Mountain  Plain  before  1752.  He 
died  August  9,  1770. 


Roan,  Rev.  John,  was  born  April  30, 
1717  (0.  S.),  in  Grenshaw,  Ireland  ,  died 
October  3,  1775,  in  Derry  township,  Lancas- 
ter, now  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  Ke  received 
a  good  education,  and  emigrated  to  Penn- 
sylvania ijbout  1740.  He  entered  the  "  Log 
College,"  and  taught  school  on  tlie  Nesha- 
miny  and  in  Chester  count}'  while  pursuing 
his  theological  studies.  He  was  licensed  by 
the  "New  Side"  Presbytery  of  New  Castle, 
and,  in  the  winter  of  1744,  sent  to  Hanover, 
Va.  The  following  year  (1745),  he  was  set- 
tled over  the  united  congregations  of  Derry, 
Paxtang  and  Conewago,  the  latter  having 
one-fifth  of  his  time.  The  minutes  of  the 
Synod  placed  Roan  in  Donegal  Presbytery, 
and  "  points  of  difficult}',"  says  Webster, 
"  continually   arose."      Toward    the    latter 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


261 


days  of  his  ministry  Mr.  Roan  missionated 
frequently  on  the  south  branch  of  the  Poto- 
mac. He  lies  interred  in  Derrj'  church 
graveyard.  On  his  tombstone  is  this  in- 
scription : 

Beneath  this  stone  are  deposited  the  Remains 
of  an  able,  faithful  courageous  &  successful 
■minister  of  Jesus  Christ  The  Rev'd  John  Roan 
Pastor  of  Paxton,  Berry  &  Mount  Joy  Congreya- 
tionsjrom  the  year  174-5  till  Oct.  3, 1775  ivhen 
he  exchanged  a  Militant  for  a  triumphant  Life 
in  the  59  year  of  his  Age. 

The  Rev.  John  Roan  married,  August  21, 
1750,  Mrs.  Anne  (Cochran)  Leckey,  born 
March  25,  1724;  died  April  22,  1788,  in 
Chester  county,  Pa.;  daughter  of  James 
Cochran  and  Anne  Rowan. 


Sanckey,  Rev.  Richard,  a  native  of  the 
north  of  Ireland,  was  born  about  1712.  He 
studied  tiieology  at  Glasgow  under  Principal 
Stirling,  and  came  to  America  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1735.  He  was  taken  on  trial  by 
Donegal  Presbytery  the  7th  of  October  same 
year,  licensed  October  13,  173(!,  and  sent  to 
the  church  on  Manada  creek.  Tiiis  congre- 
gation is  first  mentioned  in  October,  1735, 
Lazarus  Stewart  appearing  to  .sui)plicate  in 
its  behalf  the  next  year.  The  Rev.  William 
l)ertram,of  Derry,  moderated  the  call  which 
was  brought  to  the  Presbytery  for  Mr. 
Sanckey  by  Jolin  Cunningham  and  Robert 
Green,  June  22,  1737.  From  that  time  on- 
ward the  congregation  is  styled  Hanover. 
Mr.  Sanckey  accepted  August  31,  1737,  but 
it  appearing  that  his  trial  sermon  was  tran- 
.scribed  out  of  books  to  give  a  false  idea  of 
his  ministerial  powers,  and  contained  most 
dangerous  errors,  the  Presbytery  rebuked 
him  and  delayed  his  ordination.  The  Rev. 
George  Gillespie  remonstrated  with  the 
Synod  not  to  countenance  such  levity  es- 
pecially as  Mr.  Sanckey  had  sent  the  notes 
to  Henry  Hunter,  '■  wlio  had  preached  them 
to  liis  own  overtl)row.''  Hunter  had  passed 
him,self  off  as  an  ordained  minister  of  the 
New  Light  Presbytery  of  Antrim  in  the 
bounds  of  Lewes  Presbytery,  and  the  Synod 
finding  his  credentials  of  license  genuine, 
but  that  he  had  not  been  ordained,  that  lie 
had  been  guilty  of  prevarication,  and  also 
that  money  had  been  given  him  to  go  to  the 
Bishop  of  London  for  orders,  resolved,  nem. 
con.,  not  to  countenance  him,  especially  as 
there  was  "  ground  to  suspect  his  principles," 


until  he  had  gone  through  the  ordinary 
course  of  trials  in  some  of  their  Presbyteries. 
He  acquiesed  ;  and  coming  before  Newcastle 
Presbytery  with  notes  stolen  from  heretical 
divines,  he  was  rejected.  The  Synod  blamed 
the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  for  not  taking 
notice  in  their  minutes  of  Rev.  Sanckey's 
plagiarism,  or  censuring  him  on  that  ac- 
count, but  as  he  had  been  sharply  rebuked, 
and  his  ordination  delayed  a  considerable 
time,  they  declined  to  lay  any  other  burden 
on  him.  He  was  ordained  August  31,  1738. 
For  a  period  of  twenty-one  years  Mr.  Sanckey 
continued  in  the  jiastoral  care  of  Hanover 
church.  On  June  6,  1758,  having  received 
a  call  to  the  congregation  of  Buffalo,  in 
Virginia,  and  designing  to  remove  there,  he 
applied  for  and  received  his  credentials  from 
the  Presbytery.  Accompanied  by  many  of 
the  Hanover  people,  he  removed  in  1760, 
where  he  joined  the  Hanover  Presbytery, 
and  served  his  congregation  faithfully  and 
well.  He  presided  at  the  opening  of  tlie 
Synod  of  Virginia  in  1785;  lived  to  a  good 
old  age,  respected  by  his  people  and  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry-.  We  have  en- 
deavored to  secure  additional  information  in 
regard  to  him,  date  of  his  death,  etc.,  but 
have  failed. 


LocHMAN,  Rev.  John  George,  D.  D.,  son 
of  Nicholas  and  Maria  (Schneider)  Lochman, 
was  born  at  Philadelpiiia,  Pa.,  December  2, 
1773.  After  proper  preparation  he  entered 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  which 
he  graduated,  and  from  which  institution  he 
subsequently  received  the  doctorate.  He 
studied  theology  under  the  direction  of  tiie 
celebrated  Dr.  Helmuth,  a  graduate  of  the 
University  of  Halle,  and  for  many  years 
professor  of  German  and  Oriental  languages 
in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1704,  and  soon  after  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Lebanon,  where  he  remained 
twenty-one  )'ears.  In  1815  he  was  elected 
pastor  of  the  United  Evangelical  Luthei-an 
churches  at  Harrisburg,  Middletown  and 
Shupp's,  where  he  labored  with  great  fidelily 
and  the  most  satisfactory  results.  In  1817 
he  was  president  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Synod  of  the  United  States.  Dr.  Lochman's 
useful  life  terminated  at  Harrisburg,  July 
10, 1825.  The  congregations  in  their  appre- 
ciation of  his  services  erected  a  handson:e 
monument  over  his  remains,  which  are  in- 
terred on  the  southeast  side  of  the  church. 


262 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


His  wife,  Susan  Hoffman,  died  June  27, 
1830,  and  is  buried  by  his  side.  Their  son, 
the  Rev.  Augustus  Lochraan,  D.  D.,  who 
succeeded  his  father  at  Harrisburg,  is  now 
a  venerable  minister  at  York.  Dr.  Lochman 
was  an  able  and  popular  preacher,  was  held 
in  high  estimation  by  the  church,  and  exer- 
cised an  unbounded  influence.  He  was  the 
author  of  "'The  History,  Doctrine  and  Disci- 
pline of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church," 
published  in  1817,  and  several  other  works. 
Their  children  were:  Rev.  Dr.  Augustus  H., 
William  H.,  Louisa,  who  married  Rev.  Roth- 
rauff,  Susan,  Camilla  B.,  who  married  Will- 
iam Keller,  Emma,  who  married  John  Heis, 
of  Illinois,  and  Annie,  who  married  Fred- 
erick V.  Beisel. 


the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Mitchell  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin  J.  Wiest- 
ling,  of  Middletown,  Pa. 


Mitchell,  Andrew  Din.smore,  was  born  in 
York  county.  Pa.,  February  2,  1824.  He 
graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1841,  and 
afterwards  spent  some  time  in  teaching.  In 
1844  he  matriculated  at  Princeton  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  where  he  prepared  for  the 
ministry.  He  came  under  tiie  care  of  the 
Carlisle  Presbytery  in  1849  as  a  licentiate 
from  the  Donegal  Presbytery,  and  at  the 
same  time  calls  were  placed  at  his  hands 
from  the  united  charges  of  Paxtang  and 
Derry.  These  he  accepted,  and  in  1850  was 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  that  people, 
whom  he  acceptably  served  until  1874,  when 
at  his  own  request  the  pastoral  relation  was 
dissolved.  Subsequently  he  declined  certain 
positions  that  were  offered  him,  but  in  1876 
he  accepted  the  appointment  of  chaplain  in 
the  United  States  ami}'  by  his  friend,  Hon. 
J.  D.  Cameron,  then  Secretary  of  War.  He 
spent  five  years  at  the  military  prison  of 
Fort  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  and  was  transferred 
in  the  fall  of  1881  to  Fort  Grant,  Ari.,  where 
he  died  on  the  2Gth  of  March,  1882,  aged 
fifty-eight  j'ears.  Mr.  Mitchell  had  also 
been  the  very  acceptable  stated  clerk  of  the 
Carlisle  Presbytery  from  1857  to  the  year  of 
his  appointment  as  chaplain,  1876,  when  lie 
resigned  and  received  the  special  commenda- 
tion of  the  Presbytery  for  his  faithful  ser- 
vices. He  had  been  repeatedly  sent  as  a 
commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly,  and 
in  1868  he  was  elected  moderator  of  the  Bal- 
timore Synod,  when  the  Carlisle  Presbytery 
formed  a  part  of  that  body.  He  was  very 
decided  in  his  convictions,  yet  tolerant  of 
the  opinions  of  others  and  was  a  warm  friend 
of  the  union  between  the  two  branches  of 


DeWitt,  AVilliam  Radcliff,  the  son  of 
John  DeWitt  and  Katharine  Van  Vliet,  was 
born  at  Paulding's  Manor,  Dutchess  countv, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  25th  of  February,  1792.     H'is 
ancestors  were  among  the  first  immigrants 
from  Holland  to  New  Nethelands,  in  1623. 
His  early  years  were  spent  in   commercial 
pursuits,  but  about  1810  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  tiie  sacred  ministry.     He  studied  with 
Dr.  Alexander  Proudfit,  of  Salem,  N.Y.,and 
entered  Washington  Academy.     The  war  of 
1812  interrupting  his  studies,  lie  volunteered 
in  the  regiment  of  Colonel  Rice,  and  was  in 
service  at  Lake  Champlain  at  the  time  of 
McDonough's    victory,  September   11,  1814. 
After  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1815,  he  entered 
Nassau  Hall,  Princeton,  as  a  sophomore,  but 
subsequently   entered    the    senior   class    of 
Union  College,  Schenectady,  where  he  grad- 
uated with  distinction,  completing  his  theolog- 
ical studies  under  Rev.  Dr.  John  M.  Mason, 
of  New  York.     He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York  April  23,  1818. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  came  to  Harris- 
burg by  invitation,  and   was  called   to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian  church  October 
5,  1818.     Pie  was  received  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Carlisle   April  13,  1819,  but  not  ordained 
until  the  26th  of  October,  that  year.     Dr.  De- 
Witt  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  course 
from  Union  College,  and  in  1838  the   Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  conferred  on    him 
the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.     From  1854 
to  1860  he  held  the  office  of  State  librarian, 
appointed  bj'  Governors  Bigler  and  Pollock. 
In  1854  felt  the  necessity  of  taking  a  colleague, 
Rev.  T.  H.  Robinson,  D.  D..    He  died  at  Har- 
risburg, December  23,  1867,  in  his  seventy- 
sixth  year.     Dr.  DeWitt  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  Julia  Woodliull,  dauhgter 
of  Rev.  Nathan   Woodhull,  of  Newton,  L.  I. 
His  second    wife  was  Mary  Elizabeth  Wal- 
lace, daughter  of  William  Wallace,  of  Har- 
risburg, who  survived  her  husband.     During 
a  ministry  of  nearly'  fifty  years  in   Harris- 
burg, Dr.  DeWitt  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
all  his  ministerial   brethren.     In   the  com- 
munity he  was  greatly  a]»preciated  and  re- 
spected  by  all  classes.     As  a  theologian  he 
had  few  equals  in  the  ministr}',  and  although 
firm  and  decided  in  his  views,  he  was  liberal 
and  catholic  in  spirit.     His  published  writ- 
ings were  limited  to  twelve  or  thirteen  pam- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


263 


phlets,  the  most  popular  of  which  was  a 
small  volume  entitled  "  Her  Price  above 
Rubies."  He  preached  many  powerful  dis- 
courses, a  volume  of  which  should  certainly 
be  preserved  in  permanent  form. 


three.  Over  his  remains,  in  the  Harrisburg 
cemetery,  the  denomination  have  erected  a 
handsome  monument. 


WiNEBRENNKK,  Rev.  John,  was  bom  in 
Frederick  county,  Md.,  March  24,  1797.  He 
was  partly  educated  at  the  Glades  school  in 
Frederick,  and  partly  at  Dickinson  College, 
Carlisle.  He  stuilied  for  tlie  ministr}^  under 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Plelfenstein,  in  Philadelphia, 
and  was  ordained  by  the  Potomac  Synod  of 
the  Reformed  Ciiurch  in  September,  1820, 
at  Hagerstown.  Tiiat  year  he  was  called  to 
the  Salem  church  at  Harrisburg,  at  the  same 
time  ministering  to  Shoop's,  Wenrick's  and 
tlie  Freiden's  churches  in  tlie  neigliljor- 
hood.  It  was  during  his  pastorate  that  the 
present  church  edifice,  Third  and  Chestnut 
streets,  was  erected.  Mr.  Winebrenner  min- 
istered here  from  October  22, 1820,  to  March 
23,  1823,  when,  owing  to  his  religious  views 
on  revivals,  Sunday-schools,  anti-slavery  and 
the  temperance  movement,  with  the  allow- 
ing of  non-ordained  persons  to  preach  in  his 
l)ulpit,  becoming  obnoxious  to  his  congrega- 
tion, a  separation  took  place.  In  a  number 
of  pamphlets  he  issued  Mr.  Winebrenner 
vigorously  defended  his  principles  from  tlie 
attacks  made  right  and  left  by  his  opjio- 
nents;  and  he  did  not  cease  therefore  "to 
preach  the  word."  Subsequently  his  ener- 
gies were  devoted  to  the  establishment  of  a 
new  denomination,  called  by  him  the 
Church  of  God,  but  known  in  early  years  as 
Winebrennarians.  He  met  with  remarkable 
success,  and  altliough  but  fifty  years  have 
passed  since  the  Rev.  John  Winebrenner 
promulgated  the  doctrines  of  baptism  by 
immersion  and  the  washing  of  feet,  tlie  min- 
isters of  tliat  eliurch  number  probably  five 
hundred,  and  the  membership  well  on  to 
sixty  thousand.  Mr.  Winebrenner  was  the 
author  of  a  number  of  religious  and  contro- 
versial works,  those  on  "Regeneration," 
"Brief  Views  of  the  Churcli  of  God,"  and  a 
volume  of  "Practical  and  Doctrinal  Ser- 
mons" being  the  more  important.  He 
edited  for  several  years  the  Gospel  Publisher, 
now  the  Church  Advocate.  In  the  early  years 
of  his  ministry  he  was  an  uncompromising 
opponent  of  human  slavery.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Winebrenner  died  at  Harrisburg,  on  the 
12th  of  September,  18G0,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 


Ross,  Joseph,  was  born  July  14,  1798,  at 
Elizabethtowu,  Pa.;  died  January  26,  1868, 
at  Middletown,  Pa.  At  a  proper  age  he 
went  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  to  learn  the  mer- 
cantile business.  Afterwards  he  engaged  in 
said  occupation  in  that  place,  and  then 
moved  to  Middletown,  where  he  continued 
keeping  store  till  near  the  close  of  his  life. 
In  the  year  1824  he  became  acquainted  with 
Rev.  John  Winebrenner,  who  visited  Mid- 
dletown to  preach  the  gospel,  and  under 
him  became  converted.  At  the  first  oppor- 
tunity he  identified  himself  with  the  Church 
of  God,  being  one  of  the  original  members 
of  that  denomination  in  Middletown,  where 
he  continued  to  be  among  its  most  active 
workers  until  his  death.  His  name  appears 
as  a  ruling  elder  in  the  journal  of  the  Fourth 
Annual  Eldership,  held  at  Middletown,  De- 
cember 25,  1833.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
at  the  Seventh  Annual  Eldership  which 
convened  at  Churchtown,  Cumberland 
county,  November  5,  1836.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
publication  and  treasurer  of  the  General 
Eldership  as  well  as  treasurer  of  the  East 
Pennsylvania  Eldership.  He  traveled  and 
labored  in  the  ministrv,  at  protracted  and 
otlier  meetings,  "  without  money  and  with- 
out price,"  and  was  an  eminently  successful 
revival  preacher.  His  liberality  and  benev- 
olence were  all  well  known  at  home,  and  in 
all  the  churclies.  His  warmtii  of  heart  and 
affection  made  him  beloved  by  all  iiis  ac- 
quaintances. He  was  a  strict  disciplinarian, 
and  a  great  lover  of  order.  Besides,  he  car- 
ried his  religion  into  his  business,  being 
scrupulously  truthful  and  honest  in  all  his 
dealings,  loving  justice  and  hating  sin  in 
every  form.  He  was  devotedly  attached  to 
the  doctrines  of  the  Churcli  of  God,  fearlessl_y 
defended  them,  and  worked  actively  to  estab- 
lisli  them.  Mr.  Ross  married,  in  1822,  Cath- 
arine Kunkel,  daughter  of  Christian  Kun- 
kel,  of  Harrisburg.  She  was  born  December 
22,  1803,  and  died  in  1896  in  the  ninety- 
third  year  of  her  age. 


Keller,  Rev.  Emanuel,  son  of  Peter  and 
Catherine  (Schaeffer)  Keller,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 30, 1801,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  was 
educated  in  thecommon  schoolsaiid  academy 


264 


BIO  OR  A  FHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


of  the  borough,  and  pursued  his  classical 
studies  under  the  direction  of  his  uncle,  the 
Rev.  Benjamin  Keller.  He  subsequent!}'' 
entered  Dickinson'  College,  wiiere  he  re- 
mained two  years,  when  he  began  the  study 
of  theology  witli  the  Rev.  Dr.  Loclitnan,  of 
Harrisburg.  In  1826  he  was  licensed  by 
the  Lutheran  Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  same  year  began  his  ministerial  labors 
at  Manchester,  Md.  Tiience  he  removed  to 
Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  continued  in 
the  pastorate  until  a  short  period  before  liis 
death,  his  enfeebled  health  obliging  him  to 
resign  his  charge.  He  died  at  Mechanics- 
burg, April  11,  1837,  in  the  sixty-sixth  j'ear 
of  his  age.  and  is  buried  in  Trindle  Spring 
graveyard.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Keller  married, 
April  14,  1825,  Sabine  Seltzer,  of  Harrisburg, 
and  tiiey  have  five  children. 


Hay,  Charles  A. — 'The  following  sketch 
of  Charles  A.  Hay,  D.  D.,  father  of  John  W., 
was  prepared  by  Prof  E.  S.  Breidenbaugh, 
Sc.  D.,  and  is  taken  from  the  Lutheran  Ob- 
server of  Jul}'  14,  1893  : 

"  Charles  Augustus  Hay  was  born  at  York, 
Pa.,  February  11,  1821.  He  died  suddenly 
from  heart  disease,  at  his  home,  Seminarv 
Ridge,  Gettysburg,  June  20,  1893.  He  at- 
tended the  schools  of  his  native  town,  and 
was  also  directed  in  his  studies  bj'  iiis  uncle, 
Dr.  J.  G.  Morris,  so  tiiat  he  entered  the 
sophomore  class  of  Pennsylvania  College, 
graduating  in  1839.  He  pursued  his  theo- 
logical studies  at  Gettysburg,  and  at  Berlin 
and  Halle  in  Germany.  These  years  spent 
in  Germany  were  peculiarly  rich  in  benefits 
and  in  memories  to  Dr.  Hay.  He  enjoyed 
close  intimacy  with  Prof:  Tiioluck  and  with 
his  fellow-pupil,  afterwards  Prof  Lincoln  of 
Brown  University,  wlio  has  spoken  to  me  of 
the  manner  in  which  his  fellow-students 
were  attracted  to  Mr.  Hay  by  reason  of  his 
scholarship,  his  modest  bearing,  and  amiable 
disposition. 

Dr.  Hay  was  licensed  in  1843,  and  was  for 
the  greater  portion  of  the  following  fiftv 
years  connected  with  the  East  Pennsylvania 
Synod,  thus  covering  almost  its  whole  liistory, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  influential  members 
of  the  Synod. 

The  first  pastorate  of  Dr.  Hay  was  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  in  1844,  whence,  the  same  year, 
he  "was  called  to  the  combined  professorships 
of  German  in  Pennsylvania  College  and  in 
the  Theological  Seminary,  continuing  till 
1848,  when  he  served   the  congregation  at 


Hanover,  Pa.,  for  one  year,  being  now  called 
to  the  charge  of  Zion  church,  Harrisburg, 
continuing  to  serve  these  people  till  1805, 
when  he  was  again  called  to  tiie  institutions 
at  Gettysburg,  to  the  Theological  Seminar}' 
as  professor  of  Hebrew  and  Old  Testament 
theology,  pastoral  theology,  and  German 
language  and  literature.  During  the  re- 
cent commencement  he  had  tendered  his 
resignation,  to  take  effect  at  the  end  of  the 
current  year.  During  that  period  (1800- 
1892)  he  served  as  pastor  of  Christ  (College) 
ciiurch,  Gettysburg,  in  connection  with  his 
professional  duties. 

We  knew  Dr.  Hay  thus  as  pastor,  teacher 
and  also  as  autiior,  curator  of  Historical  So- 
ciety, laborer  in  general  church  work,  and 
as  citizen,  but  above  all  else  as  a  man.  In 
a  few  words  I  will  imperfectly  but  truthfully 
refer  to  each. 

As  pastor,  lie  rounded  the  half  century  of 
labor;  for  while  over  half  the  time  from 
licensure  in  1843  he  was  in  professional 
positions,  during  the  much  larger  portion  of 
this  period  he  was  at  the  same  time  pastor 
of  a  congregation.  If  one  requires  any  testi- 
mony to  the  character  of  the  service  of  Dr. 
Hay  as  pastor,  let  inquiries  be  made  of  the 
people  of  Harrisburg  or  of  Gettysburg — not 
of  Lutherans  alone  but  of  the  whole  commu- 
nity, of  tlie  church  attendance  and  of  the 
members  of  the  Sunday-school.  He  fulfilled 
tlie  injunctions  of  Paul,  he  was  "'  gentle  to 
all  men,  apt  to  teach,  patient,  in  meekness 
instructing  tiiem  that  oppose,"  "a  workman 
tliat  needetli  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  di- 
vining tlie  word  of  truth  ;"  and  he  obeyed 
the  word  of  the  Lord  to  Paul,  "  Be  not  afraid, 
but  speak,  and  hold  not  thy  peace."  The 
result  in  the  congregations  was  souls  saved, 
growth  in  Christian  graces,  and  vigorous 
religious  life,  and  on  the  death  of  the  ])astor 
tears  that  expressed  but  faintly  the  sense  of 
a  friend,  a  counselor,  a  helper,  a  messenger 
from  God. 

As  professor,  he  possessed  three  great 
qualifications:  he  knew  his  subjects,  he  was 
deeply  interested  in  iiis  work,  he  was  ready 
at  all  times  to  give  assistance  to  the  in- 
quirer. Speaking  from  personal  knowledge, 
he  quickened  the  interest  of  the  student  and 
led  him  to  furtiier  research.  Many  genera- 
tions of  students  will  bear  testimony  to  the 
value  of  his  service  in  the  theological  sem- 
inary, and  the  fruit  of  his  teachings  will 
never  be  lost  in  the  church. 

As  author,  Dr.  Hay  has  made  contribu- 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


265 


tions  to  reviews  on  Old  Testament  exegesis, 
on  codices  of  tiie  Scriptures,  and  on  histori- 
cal and  biographical  topics,  besides  reviews. 
He  has  also  prepared  several  biographical 
volumes,  and  has  translated  from,  German 
several  important  volumes  and  review  arti- 
cles. As  an  author  his  style  was  clear  and 
definite  and  his  discussion  thorough.  His 
translations  are  highly  commended  for  clear 
and  accurate  expression  of  the  thoughts  of 
the  original.  His  last  translation  is  Luther's 
('omnientary  on  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount. 
With  Dr.  H.  E.  .Jacobs  he  translated  and 
edited  Schmid's  Dogmatik. 

In  general  church  work  Dr.  Hay  was 
always  active  and  influential.  In  his  dis- 
trict Synod,  and  in  the  General  Synod,  of 
which  he  was  frequently  a  member,  secre- 
tary in  1853,  and  president  in  1881,  he  was 
a  prominent  figure,  and  helped  quietly  but 
decidedly  to  place  the  General  Synod  in  its 
very  excellent  doctrinal  position.  He  was 
for  a  number  of  years  the  chairman  of  the 
beneficiary  education  committee  of  the  East 
Pennsylvania  Synod,  and  a  member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Parent  Educa- 
tion Society.  The  young  men  receiving  aid 
know  how  he  was  interested  in  their  welfare 
and  sought  the  prompt  payment  of  their 
money,  while  at  the  same  time  guarding  the 
church  against  unworthy  recipients  of  aid. 
Dr.  Hay  was  an  efficient  trustee  of  Pennsyl- 
vania College  from  1852,  and  served  as  sec- 
retary of  the  board  1867-80.  In  many 
other  connections  he  was  actively  employed 
in  the  benefit  of  his  greatly  beloved  Lu- 
theran Church. 

In  work  outside  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
he  was  always  ready  to  co-operate  with  other 
Christian  people  in  an}'  good  cause.  In 
local  church  and  benevolent  work,  his  assist- 
ance was  eagerly  sought  and  promptly  given. 
He  was  from  1870  the  president  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Bible  Society,  and  for  many  years 
president,  first,  of  the  Harrisburg  Bible  So- 
ciety and  subsequently  of  the  Bible  Society 
of  the  Theological  Seminary  and  Pennsyl- 
vania College. 

Special  attention  is  called  to  his  very  valu- 
able, his  inestimably  valuable  service  to  the 
Lutheran  Church  as  curator  of  the  library  of 
the  Historical  Society  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  In  1869  he  was  elected  to  this 
position,  and  with  his  co-laborer.  Dr.  J.  G. 
Morris,  president  of  the  society,  he  has  col- 
lected and  arranged  in  an  accessible  shape 
a   great   mass   of  manuscript   and    printed 


documents  concerning  general  and  local 
church  history.  This  collection  has  excited 
the  admiration  and  surprise  of  many  who 
had,  before  consulting  this  collection, 
searched  Jn  vain  for  important  historical 
data.  If  valuable  now,  time  will  only  in  a 
rapid  ratio  increase  the  value  of  this  work. 

As  a  citizen.  Dr.  Hay  was  known  as  a  con- 
scientious, earnest  supporter  of  all  measures 
which  were  calculated  to  advance  the  wel- 
fare of  the  individual  and  of  the  community. 
He  w'as  interested  in  the  work  of  our  public 
school  system,  and  served  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board  of  the  city  of  Harrisburg. 
This  known  interest  led  Governor  Hoyt  to 
offer  him  the  position  of  State  superintendent 
of  public  schools. 

Dr.  Hay  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
cause  of  the  poor,  and  of  all  who  were  op- 
pressed or  needy;  his  was  a  broad  and  wise 
philanthropy,  which  while  seeking  large 
results,  labored  for  the  individual  and  re- 
membered that  units  make  up  the  aggregate. 

The  Civil  war  called  out  all  the  Christian 
patriotism  of  Dr.  Hay.  By  voice  and  pen 
and  example  he  showed  himself  theadvocate 
of  the  Union  and  the  friend  of  the  soldier. 
Many  examples  occur  to  the  writer,  but 
space  forbid  their  recital — how  he  had  his 
congregation  to  help  fortif)-  Harrisburg  in 
I860,  at  Fort  Washington;  how  he  was  im- 
prisoned by  General  Wool  for  criticising  the 
General's  leniency  to  rebel  sympathizers; 
hoW'  he  cared  for  the  soldiers  at  Camp  Curtin, 
and  carried  relief  and  comfort  to  the  hospitals. 

Thus  Dr.  Haj'  has  left  behind  him  many 
memorials,  as  pastor,  reformer,  author,  la- 
borer in  the  church,  curator,  citizen,  friend  ; 
but  the  greatest  meliiorial  is  that  of  his  per- 
sonal life,  a  legacj'  begond  all  others  to  his 
children  and  to  those  privileged  to  call  him 
friend.  He  was  pure  in  thought,  guileless  in 
conduct,  affectionate  in  manner,  constant  in 
advocacy  of  truth,  wise  in  counsel,  helpful  to 
the  stricken,  by  his  ver}'  presence  a  dis- 
courager of'vice,  earnest  and  faithful  in  labor 
— a  preacher  who  came  with  God's  message 
to  man,  a  pastor  who  was  careful  of  the  fold, 
a  friend  who  sought  the  Christian  advance- 
ment of  his  friends.  We  will  miss  him 
from  the  pulpit,  from  the  altar,  from  the 
Sunda3'-school,from  the  sick  room,  from  the 
social  gathering,  from  the  personal  inter- 
course. Multitudes  will  rise  up  now  and  in 
the  hereafter  and  call  him  blessed.  We  will 
say  for  him  what  his  modesty  would  have 
forbidden   him  to  appropriate   for  himself: 


266 


BIO  GRAPHICAL  ENVYCL  OPEDIA 


He  has  fought  a  good  fight,  he  has  finished 
his  coui'se,  he  has  kept  the  faith  ;  henceforth 
there  is  laid  u})  for  him  a  crown  of  righteous- 
ness, which  the  Lord,  tlie  rigliteous  judge, 
shall  give  him. 

Dr.  Hay  has  left  behind  him  a  wife,  three 
sons — Dr.  John  W.,  of  HarrLsburg;  Rev. 
Charles  E.,  of  Allentown,  Pa.;  Rev.  E.G.,  of 
Red  Hook,  N.  Y. — and  two  daughters,  the 
wives  respectively  of  Rev.  M.  L.  Heisler,  of 
Harrisburg,  and  Prof.  J.  A.  Himes,  of  Gettys- 
burg." 


Melick,  Rev.  Justus  A.,  was  born,  of 
pious  Methodist  parents,  in  Light  Street, 
Columbia  county.  Pa.,  March  7,  1823,  and 
thus  at  his  death  had  completed  by  a  few 
weeks  sixty-three  years  of  earthly  pilgrim- 
age. From  early  childhood  he  gave  evi- 
dence of  a  devoutness  of  spirit  in  the  daily 
reading  of  tlie  scriptures  and  in  a  fixed  pur- 
pose to  lead  a  pure  and  upright  life.  It 
was  not,  however,  until  he  was  student  in 
the  academy  at  Harford,  Pa.,  possibly  in 
his  twentieth  year,  that  he  received  the  assur- 
ance of  his  acceptance  as  a  child  of  God. 
This  so  changed  the  current  of  his  thought 
that  he  cheerfully  surrendered  his  cherished 
plan — to  adopt  the  profession  of  law — and 
gave  himself  to  the  ministry,  to  which  he 
felt  called  of  God.  After  graduation,  with 
honor  as  valedictorian  of  his  class,  he  at- 
tended, for  a  term  of  years,  the  Genessee 
Wesleyan  Seminary,  at  Lima,  N.  Y.,  as  pre- 
parative to  his  life  work. 

\\\  1848,  with  twenty-four  other  young 
men  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Balti- 
more conference.  In  1850,  at  Alexandria, 
^'a.,  he  was  received  int6  full  connection  in 
the  conference  and  ordained  a  deacon  by 
Bishop  jNIorris,  and  in  1852  was  ordained 
elder,  at  Cumberland,  Md.,  by  Bishop  James. 
His  first  appointment  was  Bellefonte  circuit, 
as  junior  preacher,  being  a  colleague  of  Rev. 
Thompson  Mitchell.  His  subsequent  fields 
of  labor  were  as  follows:  1849,  Clearfield  ; 
185U,  Lycoming;  1851,  Berwick;  1852-3, 
Luzerne;  1854-5,  Lock  Haven;  1856-7, 
Great  Island;  1858,  Manor  Hill;  1859-60, 
Birmingham;  1861-2,  Woodberry ;  1863-4, 
Williamsburg:  1865-7,  Newberry;  1868-9, 
Bloomsburg:  1870-1,  Jersey  Shore;  1872-4, 
Hollidaysburg;  1875-6,  St.  Paul's,  Harris- 
burg. Here  in  the  second  year  of  his  pastor- 
ate his  health  began  to  fail,  and  at  the  Wil- 
liamsport  conference  in  1877  he  became 
superuumerar}',   and    a    j'ear    later    settled 


down  into  the  most  sorrowful  conviction  of  a 
Methodist  preacher — work  done,  supernum- 
erated.  The  next  eight  j'ears  were  spent  in 
Harrisburg,  cheered  by  the  loving  associa- 
tions of  a  bright  and  happy  home,  the  esteem 
of  the  church,  the  love  of  his  brethren  and 
the  confidence  of  the  whole  community,  do- 
ing such  work  as  his  strength  would  jiermit. 

Rev.  Jesse  B.  Young,  his  pastor  during  the 
last  year  of  liis  life,  in  a  memoir  read  at  the 
memorial  service  held  in  the. Grace  church, 
Harrisburg,  reviewed  the  character  and 
achievements  of  Rev.  Melick,  paying  an 
elocjuent  tribute  to  his  unselfish  devotion 
and  loj-alty  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 

Rev.  Melick  was  twice  married.  The  wife 
of  his  early  manhood  was  Miss  Emeline  E. 
Patchin,  of  Clearfield  county.  Pa.,  to  whom 
he  was  united,  October  28,  1851,  and  who 
shared  for  eleven  years  the  toils  and  depri- 
vations of  his  early  itinerancy.  She  died  in 
18()2,  leaving  him  with  three  little  children. 
He  was  married,  secondl}',  in  1867,  to  Miss 
Emily  Dunmire,  who  by  her  devotion  to 
him  in  the  years  of  their  wedded  life,  and 
by  her  faithful  and  motherly  care  of  the 
children,  now  grown  to  a  beautiful,  active 
Christian  manhood  and  womanhood,  has 
shown  her  eminent  fitness  for  the  delicate 
and  responsible  trust. 

His  end  was  calm  and  peaceful,  and  his 
funeral  was  held  in  Grace  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  Harrisburg,  March  25,  1886.  A 
deeply  affected  and  sympathetic  congrega- 
tion filled  the  spacious  edifice,  and  a  large 
number  of  ministers  of  his  own  and  other 
denominations  by  their  presence  expressed 
their  appreciation  of  his  worth  and  work. 


Calder,  James,  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Kirkwood)  Calder,  was  born  Februar}'  16, 
182(),  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  Was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  borough,  the 
Harrisburg  Academy,  Partridge's  military 
institute,  and  entered  Wesleyan  University, 
Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1845,  from  which  he 
graduated  August  1,  1849.  In  September 
following,  he  joined  the  Philadelphia  con- 
ference of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  was  stationed  in  Lancaster  county,  where 
he  remained  until  1851,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed missionary  to  China,  sailing  from 
New  York  in  the  spring  of  that  year.  He 
reached  Foo-Chow,  his  missionary  station, 
in  July  following.  He  remained  at  this 
point  until  the  year  1854,  when  having 
changed   his   views   on    church   politj',   he 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


267 


withdrew  from  the  denomination,  and  re- 
turned to  the  United  States.  Soon  after  he 
became  pastor  of  the  Bethel  church,  Harris- 
burg,  until  the  year  1859,  and  in  the  mean- 
time editor  of  the  CJiurch  Advocate,  the  organ 
of  the  Church  of  God.  In  1857,  while  serv- 
ing in  tliis  pastorate,  he  took  charge  of  the 
Sliippensburg  Collegiate  Institute,  contin- 
uing there  one  year,  until  owing  to  the 
death  of  his  wife,  he  returned  to  Harrisburg. 
In  18G2  the  larger  part  of  the  congregation 
here,  with  their  pastor,  connected  them- 
selves with  the  Free  Will  Baptists  denom- 
ination, and  erected  a  new  church  building 
on  State  and  Fourth  streets.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Calder  ministered  to  that  congregation  until 
1869,  when  he  was  elected  president  of 
Hillsdale  College,  Michigan,  a  Free  Will 
Baptist  institution.  He  cor.tinued  at  the 
head  of  that  institution  two  years;  when,  in 
1871,  the  presidenc}'  of  the  Pennsylvania 
State  College  having  become  vacant  by  the 
death  of  Dr.  Burrowes,  Mr.  Calder  was  in- 
vited to  succeed  him.  He  accepted  the  po- 
sition, returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  until 
June,  1880,  remained  in  charge  of  that  in- 
stitution. He  then  resigned  and  came  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  November  22,  1893. 
From  1890  to  1893  he  filled  the  position  of 
lecturer  of  the  State  Grange  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  at  the  same  time  assistant  editor 
of  the  Farmers'  Friend,  published  in  the 
interest  of  the  State  Grange.  Hillsdale  Col- 
lege, m  18()6,  conferred  upon  Mr.  Calder  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Dr. 
Calder  married  first,  in  1850,  Ellen  C, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Winebrenner, 
who  died  in  1858.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs. 
Eliza  D.  Murphy,  daughter  of  the  late  Nich- 
olas Reamshart,  of  Harrisburg,  who  still 
survives. 

To  the  first  union  were  born  four  children  : 
Frank  R.,  Harrisburg;  James  K.,  Hagers- 
town,  Md.;  Charles  M.,  died  August  18, 
1880;  A.  Russell,  Steelton,  Pa. 

To  the  second  union  were  born  four  chil- 
dren :  William  Carey,  missionary  in  Burma  ; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Prof  John  W.  Heston; 
Everett,  Washington:  Howard  L.,  Harris- 
burg; Wallace  R.,  Harrisburg. 


Ohio,  in  184G,  having  prepared  in  the  pre- 
paratory department  of  the  same  institulion, 
and  graduated  in  1850,  pursuing  the  full 
course.  During  his  college  vacations  he 
taught  in  public  and  select  schools,  and,  for 
a  year  or  more  after  his  graduation,  he  was 
principal  of  the  academy  at  Ashtabula,  Ohio, 
and,  for  six  months,  principal  of  the  Normal 
School  at  Farmington,  in  that  State.  He 
entered  the  Western  Theological  Seminary, 
Allegheny,  Pa.,  in  1851,  graduating  in 
April,  1854.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  June  13,  1854,  and, 
in  July  following,  was  called  to  the  colleague 
pastorate  of  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Market  Square  Presbyterian  church,  at  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  as  an  associate  with  the  Rev. 
William  R.  DeWitt,  D.  D.  He  began  his 
ministration  in  October,  1854,  and  was 
ordained  and  installed  on  the  21st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1855,  by  the  Presbystery  of  Harris- 
burg. After  the  withdrawal  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
DeWitt,  in  1864,  and  his  decease,  in  1867, 
he  continued  in  sole  charge  of  the  church 
until  his  resignation,  in  1884.  He  was 
moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania 
(N.  S.),  in  1861  ;  stated  clerk  of  the  Synod 
of  Harrisburg,1870-S2,and  stated  clerk  ofthe 
Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  1882-1883,  when  he 
resigned,  and  also  his  thirty  years'  pastorate  of 
the  Mai'ket  Square  church,  Harrisburg,  to 
accept  the  professorship  of  sacred  rhetoric, 
church  government,  and  pastoral  theology, 
in  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  at 
Allegheny,  into  which  office  he  was  inducted 
April  16,  1884.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
seminar}'  from  1874  to  1884,  and  was  a 
trustee  of  Princeton  College  from  1875  to 
1885.  Resides  in  Allegheny  City.  Rev. 
Dr.  Robinson  married,  in  1856,  Mary  Wolf 
Buehler,  daughter  of  Henry  Buehler  and 
Anna  Margaretta,  only  daughter  of  Governor 
Wolf,  of  Pennsvlvania. 


Robinson,  Thom.\s  Hastings,  son  of  Will- 
iam Andrew  Robinson  and  his  wife  Nancy 
Cochran,  was  born  January  30,  1828,  in 
North-East  township,  Erie  county.  Pa.  He 
entered    Oberlin    College,    Lorain    county, 


WoRLEY,  Rev.  D.\niel,  A.  M.,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  February  28,  1829,  and 
died  Sunday,  April  29,  1888,  at  Canton, 
Stark  county,  Oliio.  He  was  descended 
from  Francis  Worley,  an  intelligent  English 
land  surveyor,  who  in  1722  was  one  of  the 
three  persons  sent  across  the  Susquehanna 
by  Sir  William  Keith,  dejjuty  governor  of 
the  province,  to  survey  Springettsbury 
Manor.  He  first  settled  in  Lancaster  county, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Conesloga,  subsequently 
disposing  of  this  land,  and  purchased  750 
acres  one  mile  northwest  of  York.    His  wife 


2G8 


BIO  GRAPHICAL  ENCYCL  OFEDIA 


was  Ruth  Collins,  a  Quakeress  of  Chester 
county,  and  although  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  he  adopted  her 
faitli.  His  sons  were  Nathan,  James,  Jacob, 
Francis,  Daniel  and  George.  Daniel's  son, 
Thomas,  resided  many  years  in  Harrisburg, 
where  he  died.  Of  his  children,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  the  eldest.  Daniel  Worley 
received  his  early  education  in  tiie  public 
schools  and  academy  in  Harrisburg.  En- 
tering Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettysburg, 
he  comi)leted  a  classical  course,  graduating 
in  1850.  Having  the  ministry  in  view,  he 
repaired  to  Capitol  University,  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  he  began  the  study  of  theology. 
While  doing  so  he  accepted  and  filled  the 
position  of  auditor  two  years,  wdien  he  was 
prevailed  upon  to  accept  the  position  of  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics  and  natural  sciences, 
which  chair  he  occupied  eleven  years.  In 
1852,  having  completed  his  theological 
studies,  he  was  licensed, and  in  1855  ordained 
a  minister  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  1863 
Mr.  Worley  resigned  his  professorship  and 
took  charge  of  an  academy  in  Greensburg, 
Pa.  Tiie  I'ollowing  j-ear  he  was  elected 
superintendent  of  the  Canton,  Oiiio,  i)ui)lic 
schools,  and  since  that  period  lias  resided  in 
Canton.  In  June,  187(J,  he  retired  from  the 
superintendency  and  opened  a  private  acad- 
emy in  that  city.  In  1877  he  represented 
Stark  county  in  the  Oiiio  Legislature,  dur- 
ing which  term  he  was  chairman  of  tiie  com- 
mittee of  })ublic  schools  and  on  the  codifica- 
tion of  school  laws.  He  was  recognized  in 
that  legislative  body  as  a  strong  advocate  of 
measures  for  the  education  of  the  masses  and 
for  the  development  of  the  resources  of  his 
adopted  State.  He  filled  quite  a  number  of 
local  offices,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  mem- 
ber of  council,  school  board  and  board  of 
water  works  trustees.  At  the  time  of  iiis 
death  he  held  the  office  of  deputy  auditor 
for  Stark  county  and  president  of  tiie  Canton 
council.  During  j\Ir.  Worley's  residence  in 
Columbus  of  nineyearshe  edited  the  Lutheran 
Standard,  the  organ  of  the  Synod  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  In  his  early  life  he  fre- 
quently filled  pulpits  in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  but  several  years  since  retired  from 
all  active  ministerial  work.  Mr.  Worley 
married,  in  1852,  Henrietta  Smith,  daughter 
of  Professor  William  Smith,  president  of 
Capitol  University  and  clergyman  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  His  widow  and  one  son 
survive  him. 

It  is  proper  that  in  giving  the  preceding 


record  of  one  who  has  ceased  from  his  life- 
work,  that  some  reference  be  made  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  very  excellent  Ciiristian 
gentleman,  wlio  was  a  native  of  our  city, 
and  wliose  entire  life  reflected  honor  upon 
it.  The  writer  recollects  him  well  as  a 
scholar  in  the  old  log  church  on  Third  street, 
below  Chestnut,  and  of  his  prominence  in  all 
liranches  then  taught  in  tiie  tlien  boys' 
higii  school  of  the  Soutii  ward.  Two  of  the 
teachers,  who  recognized  the  intellectual 
acquirements  of  Daniel  Worley,  yet  live — 
one.  Prof.  L.  H.  Gause,  of  this  city  ;  the  otlier, 
Dr.  Samuel  Nicliols,  of  Bellows  Falls,  Ver- 
mont. He  was  at  tiie  head  of  all  iiis  classes, 
and  so  it  was  at  the  Pennsylvania  College. 
lie  was  not  only  a  marvel  in  matiiematics, 
but  in  other  branches  of  study.  Although 
a  fluent  speaker,  an  able  debater,  an  ex- 
cellent sermonizer,  Mr.  Worley's  forte  was  in 
teacliing.  He  was  a  profound  sclioiar,  and 
slied  light  upon  eveiy  subject  lie  undertook 
to  expound.  In  iiis  adopted  State  lie  was 
greatly  esteemed,  and  few  men  were  more 
potent  for  good.  As  an  educator  he  had 
few  equals,  and  his  influence  in  tliis  field 
will  be  felt  in  tlie  years  to  come.  His  life 
was  a  strong  and  useful  one. 


McGovERN,  The  Right  Reverend 
Thomas,  D.  D.,  second  bishop  of  Harris- 
burg, was  born  in  tlie  parish  of  Svvanlibar, 
county  Cavan,  Ireland,  A.  D.  1832.  His 
parents  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania  in  1833, 
and  his  father  became  a  partner  witli  liis 
brother,  Joiiii  McGovern,  of  Lancaster,  Pa., 
who  came  to  America  in  1813,  served  in  the 
war  against  Great  Britain,  and  after  its  con- 
clusion was  engaged  in  contracting  on  canals 
and  railroads.  After  the  suspension  of  sucii 
iin]irovements,  consequent  upon  tiie- collapse 
of  the  LInited  Stales  Bank,  Edward  McGov- 
ern purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Albany 
township,  Bradford  county.  Pa.,  and  moved 
his  family  there  in  the  fall  of  1842.  Cease- 
less toil,  constant  privations,  and  the  hospi- 
tality of  a  howling  wilderness  were  tlien 
some  of  the  attractions  of  a  jiioneer  life. 
He  had  some  money  saved  from  his  ventures 
in  contracting,  but  money  is  not  bread, 
where  there  is  no  supply,  and  in  the  first 
stage  of  existence  in  tiie  forest  is  of  as  little 
use  as  it  would  have  been  to  Adam  and 
Eve  when  they  left  the  garden  of  Eden. 
A  house  of  round  logs  and  four  acres  of 
cleared  land  were  the  home  and  the  hope  of 
the  new  settlers.     The  balance  of  the  land 


-^",,  't, 


JoJaini!:  ftralisimij  tEn^ravm^  C^WX 


^^^ 


cAf^^"^^"^^^^^-^^^''^^' 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


271 


was  the  domain  of  deer,  bears,  panthers  and 
wolves.  The  maternal  genius  of  the  native 
forest  extends  witii  royal  magnificence  un- 
stinted iiospitality  to  its  sovereign ,  but,  if  he 
wishes  to  levy  contributions  on  his  subject, 
he  must  subdue  the  turbulent  members  of 
his  empire.  Ever}'  member  of  the  family  was 
from  necessity  a  toiler.  Little  do  the  young  of 
this  generation  realize  the  hardships  of  pio- 
neer life,  even  in  their  native  county ;  and 
the  prosperous  of  this  day  hardly  ever  ac- 
knowledge the  deep  debt  of  gratitude  they 
owe  to  such  heroic  and  unheralded  man- 
hood. 

The  family  consisted  of  John,  Patrick, 
Bridget,  Thomas,  Bernard,  Francis  and 
Annie,  hve  of  whom  still  survive,  Bridget 
and  Francis  having  passed  away,  the  latter 
in  childhood.  John  and  Patrick  received  a 
primary  education  in  an  academy  in  Leb- 
anon, Pa.,  Patrick  subsequently  spending  a 
few  terms  in  an  acadeni}-  at  Catawissa, Colum- 
bia county.  Pa.  Bridget  was  educated  in  a 
convent  school,  at  Pottsville,  Pa.  These 
facts  are  given  in  order  to  explain  how  the 
younger  members  of  the  family  had  anv 
means  of  learning  the  most  rudimentary 
princijiles  of  education  in  the  wild  woods. 
In  the  long  winter  evenings,  when  the  mon- 
arch pines  were  bending  and  moaning  in 
the  storm,  and  the  wood-chopper's  day  of  toil 
was  over,  the  little  school  gathered  around 
the  open  hearth,  as  large  as  a  lime-kiln,  and 
in  the  light  of  the  big  log  fire,  peered  into 
learning's  shallow  fountains,  spelling,  read- 
ing, reciting,  writing  and  figuring,  till  droop- 
ing.eyelids  told  that  school  was  out.  Then 
followed  night  prayers,  and  the  beads  were 
told,  the  fatlier  leading  and  the  whole  faniil}' 
responding,  then  all  went  to  rest,  to  renew 
their  strength  for  the  toils  of  the  coming  day. 
The  education  thus  acquired  was  necessarily 
limited.  Yet  the  love  they  bore  to  learning 
was  not  diminished.  The  system  was  prim- 
itive, and  made  the  work  the  more  laborious. 
Books  were  few  and  in  consequence  more 
thoroughly  mastered.  The  parents  did  not 
occupy  professor's  chairs  but  the}'  were  the 
perfects  of  discipline,  and  the  motive  powers 
of  the  little  university.  As  time  rolled  on, 
the  professional  schoolmaster  appeared  upon 
the  stage.  His  confidence  in  himself  and 
assurance  in  his  qualifications  where  none 
were  able  to  cpiestion  his  claim  to  superiority, 
were  usually  of  no  mean  proportions.  Look- 
ing back  from  this  day,  there  was  nothing 
small  about  him  except  his  salary  and  learn- 

21 


ing.  His  descriptions  of  the  large  towns  he 
had  seen,  the  great  academies  in  which  he 
had  studied,  and  the  wonders  of  science  that 
were  taught  therein  were  listened  to  with 
astonishment.  He  was  paid  by  subscription, 
and  boarded  around  among  the  subscribers. 
This  arrangement  was  regarded  as  an  honor 
by  the  parents,  and  a  pleasure  by  the  scholars. 
It  secured  for  the  latter  special  favors  during 
that  week  from  the  teacher,  and  the  love 
their  parents  bore  the  learned  one  secured 
for  them  during  that  time  a  more  elaborate 
bill  of  fare  than  usual. 

The  school  term  rarely  lasted  more  than 
three  months  in  the  year.  In  this  primitive 
state  of  society,  there  were  no  amusements 
or  distractions  imported  ready  made  from 
without.  Other  diversions  of  a  more  useful 
character,  such  as  s'nging  schools,  debating 
societies,  spelling  schools,  etc.,  took  their 
place. 

Thomas  McGovern  was  not  as  quick  and 
bright  in  his  studies  as  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  He  developed  very  slowly.  This 
may  have  been  owing  to  the  defective  sys- 
tem, which  then  consisted  too  much  in  dry 
rules  and  formularies.  He  looked  upon  tliese 
as  exceedingly  arbitrary,  and  would  not  sub- 
mit to  them  without  restraint  till  lie  saw  the 
reasons  why  they  claimed  his  submission. 
He  was  not,  however,  skeptical  in  the  com- 
mon sense  of  the  term  ;  on  the  contrary,  he 
had  a  great  veneration  and  confidence  in 
men  who  were  able  to  write  books.  He  was 
particularly  fond  of  physics,  j^opularly  called 
natural  philosophy ;  and  the  problems  in 
the  department  thereof  denominated  me- 
chanics afforded  an  extensive  field  for  the 
exercise  of  a  mind  like  his,  which  was 
naturally  rigid  and  logical  rather  than  dis- 
cursive and  imaginative  in  its  conclusions. 
He  was  passionately  fond  of  machinery,  and 
any  hours  he  could  steal  from  other  em- 
ployments were  devoted  to  this  ])leasant 
and  favorite  study.  He  was  never  regarded 
as  a  speedy  messenger  to  go  to  the  mill  for 
gi'ist,  for  the  pleasure  he  enjoyed  in  examin- 
ing the  machinery  was  sure  to  extend  his 
stay  long  beyond  the  appointed  time  for  his 
return. 

Theoretical  knowledge  will  not  long  re- 
main at  rest  within  the  lines  of  its  own  pro- 
vince, but  frets  and  chafes  for  freedom  of 
action  in  the  domain  of  practical  life.  This 
was  particularly  true  in  his  case.  He  quickly 
learned  to  use  the  tools  of  the  artisan,  and 
his  success  in  repairing,  making  and  invent- 


272 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


ing  such  iustruiuents  as  were  needed  in  that 
primitive  state  of  society  soon  acquired  for 
him  tlie  title  of  a  genius.  When  enough  of 
the  forest  was  cleared  away  to  make  a  farm, 
and  a  house  and  other  huildings  erected  to 
constitute  a  home,  he  was  sent  to  St.  Joseph's 
College,  Susquehanna  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
pursued  his  studies  for  two  years.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1855,  he  went  to  Mt.  St.  Mary's 
College,  Emmitsburg,  Md.,  and  after  con- 
tinuing his  studies  tliere  for  four  years,  grad- 
uated at  the  commencement  of  1859  with 
the  degree  of  B.  A.  Among  his  classmates 
were  young  men  of  a  high  order  of  talent, 
particularly  M.  A.  Corrigan,  the  present 
Most  Rev.  Archbishop  of  New  York. 

In  1801,  Thomas  McGovern  received  the 
degree  of  A.  M.  He  made  a  portion  of  his 
theological  studies  at  Mt.  St.  Mary's  Semi- 
nary, after  he  had  graduated  from  the  col- 
lege. His  first  rector  then  in  tlie  seminary 
is  now  the  Most  Rev.  William  Henry  Elder, 
D.  D.,  Archbishop  of  Cincinnati,  a  man  of 
holy  life,  and  a  model  of  sainth'  virtues. 
Bishop  McGovern  always  regarded  Mt.  St. 
Mary's  as  his  alma  mater,  not  only  because 
she  honored  him  with  her  collegiate  dii)lomas, 
but  because  she  also  called  liim  to  import- 
ant offices  of  trust  during  his  sojourn  in  the 
college.  "The  Old  Mountain,"  as  tlie  col- 
lege is  familiarly  called  by  the  students,  re- 
sides in  the  sanctuarj'  of  his  dearest  recol- 
lections. He  concluded  his  theological 
course  in  the  seminary  of  St.  Charles  Bor- 
romeo,  Eighteenth  and  Race  streets,  Phila- 
delphia, since  removed  to  the  large  and  im- 
posing buildings  at  Overbrook  Station. 

He  was  ordained  priest  December  27, 1861, 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  James  F.  Wood,  D.  D., 
afterwards  Archbishop  of  Philadelphia.  He 
was  assigned  to  the  charge  of  Pottstown  and 
Douglasville  after  his  ordination,  and  was 
subsequently  called  as  assistant  in  St. 
Michael's  church.  Second  and  Master  streets, 
Philadelphia,  and  later  to  St.  Philip's  church, 
Second  and  Queen  streets,  in  the  same  city. 

In  June,  1864,  Father  McGovern  was  sent 
to  Bellefonte,  Centre  county,  Pa.,  to  at- 
tend the  station  attached  to  it.  His  mission 
embraced  Centre,  Juniata  and  Mifflin  coun- 
ties. He  labored  in  this  mission  for  six 
years;  built  a  new  church  in  Bellefonte,  or- 
ganized sodalities,  beneficial  and  temperance 
societies  to  arouse  the  zeal  and  fervor  of 
Catholic  piet}'.  In  1868  the  Diocese  of 
Harrisburg  was  organized  by  the  Holy  See, 
and  on  July  12,   the  Rt.    Rev.  F.   Shana- 


han,  D.  D.,  was  consecrated  its  first  bishop. 
The  Rev.  Thomas  McGovern's  spiritual  al- 
legiance was  made  to  him.  He  remained  in 
Bellefonte  until  December,  1870,  when  he 
was  appointed  to  St.  Patrick's  church,  at 
York,  York  countj^  Pa.  Here  his  energy 
and  zeal  again  found  a  large  field  of  labor. 
In  July,  1873,  he  was  transferred  to  Dan- 
ville, Montour  county.  Pa.  This  had  been 
a  large  and  flourishing  parish  while  iron 
rails  carried  the  commerce  of  the  country. 
He  at  once  set  to  work  to  make  improve- 
ments such  as  the  growing  demands  of  re- 
ligion required,  but  the  financial  crisis  of 
that  year  frustrated  many  of  his  fondest 
hopes.  Yet  he  struggled  faithfully  during 
the  long  years  of  depression  in  that  town, 
and  if  he  did  not  accomplish  all  his  soul 
craved,  he  left  after  him  monuments  that 
will  make  his  memory  enduring.  To  recre- 
ate his  body  and  mind,  he  made  a  very  ex- 
tensive tour  through  Europe,  Africa  and 
Asia,  in  1881-2.  He  traveled  over  twenty- 
three  thousand  miles,  made  the  tour  of  Pal- 
estine and  Syria  on  horseback,  and  lodged 
under  tents  for  thirty-eight  nights. 

Rt.  Rev.  J.  F.  Shanahan,  D.  D.,  passed 
away  September  24,  1886.  Rev.  Thomas 
McGovern  was  appointed  his  successor  b)' 
Pope  Leo  XIII.,  January  15,  1888,  and  he 
was  consecrated  in  the  pro-cathedral,  in 
Harrisburg,  March  11,  1888,  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
William  O'Hara,  D.  D.,  of  Scranton,  Pa.,  as- 
sisted by  Rt.  Rev.  Richard  Gilmour,  D.  D., 
of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  Rt.  Rev.  John  A. 
Watterson,  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  Other  emi- 
nent prelates  and  clergymen  also  honored 
the  occasion  by  their  presence.  Bishop  Mc- 
Govern is  a  gentleman  of  wide  and  generous 
im])ulses.  In  religion  he  aims  to  be  chari- 
table, like  his  Divine  Master.  He  is  a  Cath- 
olic from  deep  convictions,  and  holds  him- 
self in  honor  bound  to  defend  them.  The 
following  character  is  given  him  by  D.  H. 
Brower,  Esq.,  in  his  histor}'  of  Danville  : 

"Rev.  Thomas  McGovern  is  a  man  of 
marked  ability,  energy  and  executive  power. 
As  a  controversialist  he  is  a  dangerous  op- 
ponent, and  seems  to  be  armed  at  every 
point  to  battle  for  the  church  and  defend 
the  faith  he  professes.  Yet  he  is  liberal  and 
generous,  courteous  and  pleasant  to  all,  and 
holds  an  honorable  place  in  the  community 
at  large." 

During  the  year  1895  he  made  a  visit  to 
the  Holy  See,  at  Rome,  and  on  his  return  to 
Harrisburg,  was  accorded  a  hearty  reception 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


273 


by  his  parishioners,  which  showed  their  love 
and  respect  for  their  bishop  and  the  liigh 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  them. 


Sangree,  Rev.  Milton  H.,  pastor  of 
Fourth  Reformed  church,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
parsonage  1508  Market  street,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Md.,  November  7, 1832, 
son  of  Abraham  B.  and  Margaret  (Tritle) 
Sangree.  Hisgrandparentson  bothsidescame 
from  Switzerland,  and  are  supposed  to  have 
been  descendants  of  Fi-encli  Protestant  refu- 
gees. His  grandfather,  Michael  Sangree,  was 
married  about  ITHO,  in  York  county,  Pa.,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Burkholder;  they  had  nine 
children  :  .Jacob,  -John,  Christian,  Abraham 
B.,  .Joseph,  Benjamin,  Esther,  Jane  and 
Elizabeth.  Abrahain  B.  Sangree,  father  of 
Rev.  M.  H.  Sangree,  was  born  in  York 
county,  Pa.,  February  15,  1799.  He  was  a 
miller,  and  continued  in  this  occupation 
during  the  greater  part  of  his  life;  but  a  few 
years  before  his  death  he  bought  a  farm  in 
Huntingdon  county.  Pa., which  is  still  called 
the  "  Sangree  Farm,"  and  which  he  culti- 
vated until  his  death,  March  16,  1868.  He 
was  married  in  1830,  at  Smitiiburg,  Md.,  to 
Maria  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Huyett)  Tritle,  who  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Md.,  November  15, 1808. 
Theirchildren  were :  Rev.  Milton  H.,  Arietta, 
wife  of  William  Smith,  a  veteran  soldier, 
deceased,  Amanda  J.,  Melinda,  wife  of  Dr. 
William  H.  Aller,  of  New  York,  deceased, 
Luther,  enlisted  in  company  C,  Fifty-third 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  De- 
cember 13,  1862.  The  life  of  the  father  was 
shortened  by  grief  for  the  death  of  this  son. 
He  died  March  16, 1868,  aged  seventy  years. 
He  was  an  elder  in  the  Reformed  church  at 
McConnellstown,  Pa. 

Milton  H.  Sangree  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Huntingdon  county,  from  which 
he  entered  Tuscarora  Academ}'  for  a  short 
time.  He  then  became  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  Huntingdon  county,  and 
continued  in  this  service  through  eleven 
years,  during  which  time  he  also  traveled 
as  far  west  as  Topeka,  Kan.,  and  resided  in 
Missouri  for  a  short  time.  After  his  return 
from  the  West,  Mr.  Sangree  enlisted,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1865,  in  company  K,  Seventy-eighth 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  was 
promoted  to  be  second  lieutenant  and  served 
in  Tennessee,  and  was  discharged  in  Sep- 
tember, 1865.      He   did    not   take   part   in 


any  battle,  but  was  detailed  for  post  duty 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.  He  was  afterwards 
superintendent  of  oil  interests  in  Venango 
county.  Pa.,  for  two  years.  Esteeming  it  a 
duty  and  a  privilege  to  become  a  min- 
ister of  the  gospel,  Mr.  Sangree  pursued  a 
thorough  course  of  study  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Mercersburg  for  three  years. 
This  course  was  completed  in  1871,  when  he 
was  ordained  to  the  office  of  the  holy  min- 
istry. He  was  financial  agent  of  Mercer 
College  one  year  and  was  then  called  to  be 
pastor  of  the  Reformed  church  at  Bloody 
Run,  now  Everett,  Pa.,  whicii  was  a  mis- 
sionary field  of  large  extent;  here  he  re- 
mained for  seven  years,  and  accomplished 
valuable  results  in  gathering  the  people  and 
organizing  the  work.  His  next  charge  was 
the  Water  Street  church,  Huntingdon,  Pa. 
It  was  undertaken  in  1879,  held  successfully 
for  almost  five  years,  and  relinquished  for 
that  of  Arendtville,  Adams  county.  Pa.,  in 
1884.  In  1889  Rev.  Mr.  Sangree"  came  to 
Steel  ton,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  found  a 
wide  and  important  field  for  mission  work, 
and  where  he  was  successful  in  building  up 
a  large  and  flourishing  congregation  and 
erecting  a  beautiful  church.  After  four  and 
a-half  years  of  service  there  he  was  sent  by 
the  board  of  home  missions  of  the  Reformed 
Church  to  East  Harrisburg,  to  establish  the 
Fourth  Reformed  church,  of  Harrisburg, 
which  is  his  present  charge.  In  all  places 
where  he  has  labored  Mr.  Sangree  has  been 
devoted,  painstaking  and  successful.  Mr. 
Sangree  was  married,  October  6,  1856,  at 
Three  Springs,  Huntingdon  county.  Pa.,  to 
Miss  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  George  and  Re- 
becca (Hubbell)  Hudson.  Their  children 
are:  Rev.  Henry  H.,  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
church  at  Steelton,  married  Miss  Helen 
Hoke,  of  Hanover,  Pa.;  Francis  N.,  wife  of 
Dr.  Elmer  C.  Fahrney  ;  Ernest  B.,  M.  D., 
late  of  Philadelphia,  well  known  as  a  phy- 
sician and  scientist,  having  been  pathologist 
in  the  Philadelphia  hospital,  assistant  pro- 
fessor of  pathology  in  the  Medico-Chirurgical 
College,  adjunct  professor  of  pathology  in  the 
Philadelphia  Polyclinic,  and  member  of  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences ;  was  elected 
in  the  spring  of  1896  to  the  chair  of  pa- 
thology and  bacteriology  in  the  Vanderbilt 
University,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  by  unanimous 
vote  of  the  board  of  trustees ;  Margaret  T. 
resides  at  home,  is  a  teacher  of  music ; 
Thomas  C,  also  a  physician,  now  in  practice 
in  New  York,  and,  until  recently,  surgeon  in 


274 


BIO  GRA  PIIICAL  ENCYGL  OPEDIA 


the  emplo}'  of  the  Red  Star  line,  between 
New  York  and  Antwerp;  Ho[)e  M.,  wife  of 
Walter  Kauftman,  Steelton,  Pa.;  Allen  L., 
graduate  of  Franklin  and  Marshall  College, 
resides  in  New  York,  is  on  the  staff  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  and  George,  living  at  home. 
Mrs.  Sangree,  wife  of  Rev.  M.  H.  Sangree, 
was  born  at  Three  Springs,  Huntingdon 
county,  Pa.,  in  1833.  Her  father's  ancestors 
were  from  England  on  his  father's  side,  and 
Ireland  on  his  mother's  side.  He  was  a 
farmer,  as  well  as  the  owner  of  a  large  mill. 
He  was  married,  in  1823,  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Hubbell.  of  the  same  nativity  as  himself. 
He  had  eight  children,  of  whom  five  are 
living.  Mr.  Hudson  died  in  1856,  aged 
sixty  years ;  Mrs.  Hudson  died  in  1881,  aged 
eighty  years. 


SiMONTON,  Rev.  Ashbel  Green,  youngest 
son  of  Dr.  William  and  Martha  (Snodgrass) 
Simonton,  was  born  January  20,  1833.  His 
classical  education  began  in  the  Harrisburg 
Academy,  under  the  tuition  of  Rev.  Mahlon 
Long.  After  two  years'  prepai-atory  study 
he  entered  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1852,  his  scholarship 
and  acquirements  being  of  the  first  rank. 
In  tlie  autumn  of  the  same  year  he  went  to  the 
Soutli  witli  his  brotiier  James  and  took 
charge  of  an  academy  for  boys  at  Starkville, 
Miss.,  w'here  he  taught  with  nruch  success 
for  eighteen  months.  In  July,  1854,  he  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg  and  entered  upon  the 
study  of  law.  In  the  spring  ot  1855  he 
decided  upon  a  theological  course,  and  for 
this  purpose  prepared  himself  for  entering 
the  theological  seminary  at  Princeton,  which 
he  did  in  September  of  that  year.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Carlisle  Presbytery, 
which  met  at  Greencastle  on  the  14th  of 
April,  1858.  He  had  decided  upon  a  mis- 
sionary life,  and  after  consultation  and  appli- 
cation to  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  was  ordered  to  Brazil.  He  was 
ordained  by  tiie  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  at 
Harrisburg,  April  14, 1859,  and  on  June  19, 
following,  he  sailed  from  Baltimore  in  the 
merchant  ship  "  Banshee  "  for  Rio  Janeiro. 
He  arrived  at  the  latter  place  August  12, 
and  at  once  entered  upon  his  field  of  labor. 
In  November,  1864,  he  took  the  lead  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Impresna  Evangelica,  a 
semi-monthly  newspaper  for  the  dissemi- 
nation of  religious  information  among  the 
people  of  Brazil.  Educated  Brazilians 
acknowledged  their  surprise  at  the  elegance 


and  force  with  which  he  wrote  in  their 
native  language  and  his  leading  articles  in 
the  Impresna  were  characterized  by  great 
ability,  clearness  and  comprehension  of  the 
subjects  treated.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he 
returned  to  the  United  States  and  married 
Helen  Murdock,  daughter  of  William  Mur- 
dock,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  March  19,  1863,  and 
sailed  for  Brazil  May  23,  1863,  reaching  the 
harbor  of  Rio,  Jul}'  16.  His  wife  died 
after  a  short  illness,  July  28,  1864,  which  to 
a  missionary  in  a  foreign  land  was  an  incal- 
culable loss.  But  there  was  a  duty  to  per- 
form and  he  labored  zealously  for  the  Master. 
Toward  the  close  of  March,  1865,  he  made 
a  missionary  tour  into  the  Province  of  Sao 
Paulo,  returning  to  his  post  in  Rio  early  in 
May.  The  news  of  Lee's  surrender,  the 
suppression  of  the  great  Rebellion  and  the 
assassination  of  President  Lincoln  readied 
that  city  in  quick  succession.  When  there 
was  no  longer  any  doubt  that  the  last-men- 
tioned event  had  occurred,  he  was  requested 
to  preach  a  sermon  to  the  American  residents 
on  the  occasion,  which  was  delivered  at  a 
special  service,  May  21,  1865,  to  the  largest 
assemblj'  of  his  countrymen  ever  convened 
at  Rio.  Near  the  close  of  1865  the  Presby- 
tery of  Rio  Janeiro  was  organized  at  Sao 
Paulo,  that  being  tiie  mission  station  of  his 
brotlier-in-law,  A.  L.  Blackford.  It  was  soon 
perceived  that  his  overtaxed  energies  had 
begun  to  give  way  under  the  gradual  ap- 
proaches of  the  disease  which  forever  ended 
his  earthly  activities.  Unable  to  continue 
his  labors,  he  left  Rio  for  the  home  of  his 
sister,  at  Sao  Paulo,  the  last  week  of  Novem- 
ber, 1867,  where  after  a  brief  illness,  he  died 
December  9,  following.  He  was  buried  on  the 
same  day  from  the  little  church  of  Sao  Paulo, 
two  Englislnnen  and  two  Americans  officiat- 
ing as  pall-bearers,  addresses  being  made  in 
Portugese  by  Rev.  Mr.  Blackford  and  Rev. 
Emanuel  Pires,  singing  the  hymn,  "We 
Speak  of  the  Land  ever  Blest."  The  Rev. 
^Ir.  Simonton  possessed  a  clear,  penetrating 
intellect,  a  sound  and  discriminating  judg- 
ment. His  manner  in  public  was  quiet,  un- 
atfected,  dignified  and  self-possessed.  In 
relations  of  private  life  he  was  frank,  genial, 
social,  aflectionate  and  noble-hearted. 


ShAXAHAN,     jEREMI.iH     FrANCIS,     D.     D., 

first  bishop  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  at 
Silver  Lake,  Susquehanna  county.  Pa.,  July 
1  3,  1834,  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Dono 
V  an)  Shanahan,  both  natives  of  Cork  county 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


275 


Ireland.  His  early  Catholic  education  and 
training  were  scrupulously  attended  to  by 
his  pious  parents,  who  also  provided  for  him 
a  liberal  course  in  the  best  schools.  For 
three  years  he  attended  an  ordinary  school  at 
Silver  Lake,  from  which  he  went  to  St.  Jo.s- 
eph's  Academy,  near  Bingluimpton,  N.  Y., 
and  was  graduated  therefrom  with  honor  at 
eighteen  years  of  age.  His  classical,  philo- 
sophical and  theological  courses  were  com- 
pleted at  the  Theological  Seminary  of  St. 
Charles  Borromeo,  at  Philadelphia.  His  or- 
dination to  the  priestliood,  b}'  Bishop  Neu- 
mann, took  place  .July  3,  1859,  after  which 
he  was  appointed  by  the  bishop,  rector  of 
the  new  Preparatory  Seminary  at  Glen  Rid- 
dle, Deleware  county,  Pa.,  and  for  nine  years 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  place  with  rare 
ability  and  gratifying  success. 

Wlien  the  new  diocese  of  Harrisburg  was 
constituted  in  1868,  Father  Siianahan  was 
appointed  its  bishop.  His  consecration  took 
place  July  12,  1868,  at  the  catliedral  in 
Pliiladelphia.  His  installation  took  place 
on  September  20,  of  the  same  year,  at  St. 
Patrick's,  in  Harrisburg,  whicii  then  became 
the  pro-cathedral.  Here  abundant  and  dif- 
ficult labors  awaited  the  young  bishop.  His 
flock  was  sparsely  scattered  tli rough  eigh- 
teen counties,  and  were  only  partly  supplied 
witli  under  shex)herds,  eacli  priest  having  a 
triple  charge.  All  church  activities  were  to 
be  organized  and  set  in  motion.  The  good 
bishop  was  equal  to  tlie  demands  of  the  sit- 
uation, and  the  wonderful  enlargement  and 
prosperity  of  the  diocese  demonstrated  his 
ability,  faitlifiilness  and  consecration. 

But  the  physical  strength  of  Bisliop  Siian- 
ahan pi'oved  inadequate  to  the  strain  of 
labor  so  constant  and  consuming,  and  his 
health  gave  way.  He  lived  and  labored 
long  enough  to  organize  the  diocese,to  plant 
schools  and  build  churches,  to  win  the  ad- 
miration and  affection  of  his  people,  and  to 
gain  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  entire 
community.  He  was  called  to  his  rest  and 
reward  September  24,  1886;  and  a  hand- 
some and  enduring  monument,  erected  by 
liis  grateful  and  loving  parishioners,  marks 
his  resting  place  in  the  beautiful  grounds  of 
St.  Patrick  s  pro-cathedral. 

This  eminent  servant  of  God  has  a  worthy 
successor  in  the  bishoprick  in  the  person  of 
Archbishop  Thomas  McGovern,  who  found 
a  happy  and  [prosperous  charge,  and  who  is 
successfully  continuing  and  extending  the 
work  so  auspiciously  begun  by  the  first  bishop. 


Gilbert,  Rev.  David  McConaghy,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  the  Zion  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church,  Harri.sburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.,  February  4,  1836.  He  is  a  son  of 
the  late  Dr.  David  and  Jane  E.  (Brown) 
Gilbert.  His  father,  David  Gilbert,  M.  D., 
was  born  near  Gettysburg,  July  27,  1803 ; 
was  an  eminent  physician  and  surgeon ; 
practiced  in  Gettysburg  until  1852 ;  after- 
wards resided  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  for 
some  years  a  professor  in  tlie  medical  de- 
j)artment  of  Pennsylvania  College  in  that 
city;  he  died  July  28,  1868.  Mrs.  Dr. 
Gilbert  died  February  22,  1893,  aged  eighty- 
six.  Four  of  their  family  of  eight  children 
are  still  living  :  Harriet  B.,  wife  of  John  M. 
Adler,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia ;  Boyd  Anna, 
widow  of  the  late  Andrew  Ro.ss  Potts,  of 
Washington,  D.  C. ;  David  McC,  and  Mi.ss 
Julia  K.  Their  onl}-  other  sou  was  Dr. 
William  Kent  Gilbert,  eldest  of  the  family, 
at  (he  time  of  his  death  coroner  of  Phila- 
delphia. Two  of  the  children  died  in  in- 
fancy;  the  remaining  one  was  Hannah  M., 
wife  of  .Jackson  McAbee,  of  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  David  McC.  Gilbert  pursued  his 
early  studies  in  the  preparatory  department 
of  Pennsylvania  College,  at  Gettysburg;  he 
was  graduated  from  the  college  in  1857,  and 
from  tiie  theological  seminary,  of  the  same 
place,  in  1859.  In  October,  1859,  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  and  administer 
the  sacraments  by  the  West  Pennsylvania 
Synod.  In  the  fall  of  1860  he  was  ordained 
by  the  Synod  of  Virginia  as  a  minister  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  In  De- 
cember, 1859,  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  Central  Evangelical  Lutheran  church 
of  Staunton,  Va.,  where  he  labored  with 
fidelity  and  success  until  May,  1863.  June 
1,  1863,  to  July  1,  1871,  he  was  pastor  of 
what  is  now  known  as  tlie  Church  of  Ascen- 
sion, at  Savannah,  Ga.  He  then  returned 
to  his  former  pastorate  at  Staunton,  and  re- 
mained until  April  1,  1873.  He  then  took 
charge  of  a  parish  at  Winchester,  Va.,  and 
labored  there  until  December,  1887,  when  he 
was  called  to  his  present  pastorate  ;  he  began 
his  labors  here  on  the  first  Sunday  in  De- 
cember, 18S7. 

Rev.  Dr.  Gilbert  was  married,  in  New  Or- 
leans, October  29,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary 
Rutledge,  daughter  of  the  late  John  G.  and 
Catlierine  Fallingatt,  of  Savannah,  Ga. 
Their  children  are:  John  G.,  attorney-at- 
law,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  ^\'illiam  Kent,  Fred- 
erick M.,  Catherine,  David  McC,  Jr.,  Marion 


276 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL OPEDIA 


Rutledge,  Henr}'  D.,  and  Jaue.  Dr.  Gilbert 
is  at  present  president  of  tiie  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Synod  of  East  Pennsylvania. 

Steckley,  Rev.  Matthew,  was  born  in 
Germany,  September  15,  1836,  son  of  the 
late  Ansulmes  and  Juliama  (Fresse)  Steckley. 
Tiie  parents  were  both  natives  of  ( iermany 
and  died  in  their  native  land.  The  father 
was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade,  and  was  three 
times  married.  Matthew  had  but  one  brother. 
He  received  his  education  in  Germany,  hav- 
ing attended  school  until  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age.  He  came  with  some  of  his 
friends  to  this  country,  when  he  was  eigh- 
teen years  of  age,  and  when  nineteen  years 
old.  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of 
shoemaker  with  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Bickel,  on  Walnut  street  in  Harrisburg. 
After  completing  his  apprenticeship  he 
worked  at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman  for  Jlr. 
Desh  on  Market  street,  for  many  years.  He 
subsequently  bought  the  property  of  Will- 
iam Verbeke,  No.  404  Broad  street,  now 
^^erbeke  street,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
business  for  himself  until  the  war  broke 
out.  He  enlisted  in  August,  1SG4,  for  ten 
months,  in  the  Two  Hundred  and  First  reg- 
iment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  in  com- 
pany A,  and  having  served  his  full  time 
was  discharged  June  21, 1S65.  After  his  re- 
turn from  the  army  he  resumed  the  shoe 
business,  in  which  he  continued  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  July  14,  1892,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-five  years.  His  death  was  caused  bv 
swallowing  a  fragment  of  bone,  which  caused 
him  four  years  of  suffering — and  which  was 
finally  removed  after  treatment  at  the  hos- 
pital but  not  in  time  to  save  his  life.  Mr. 
Steckley  was  a  regularly  ordained  minister 
of  the  United  Evangelical  Church,  and 
served  in  the  sacred  office  in  Harrisburg 
for  thirt^'-six  years,  where  he  was  highl}- 
honored  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  Ciod's 
people.  He  had  also  been  chaplain  at  the 
Almshouse  for  about  twenty  years.  He 
served  as  school  director  in  the  city  of  Har- 
risburg for  one  term  of  three  years.  In  his 
political  veins  he  was  an  ardent  Republican. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Golden  Eagles  for 
four  3'ears,  and  w-as  chaplain  of  his  lodge. 
Mr.  Steckley  was  married,  February  20, 
1858,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Baker,  daughter  of 
George  and  Elizabeth  (Sheets)  Baker,  to 
whom  were  born  nine  children  :  Emma,  wife 
of  Edwin  Zeagler;  Edwin;  Maggie,  wife  of 
John    Lappley ;    Minnie,    wife    of   William 


Brummel ;  Annie,  wife  of  Charles  Storer ;  Ber- 
tha, wife  of  Erwin  Hershe}' ;  AVilliam, Warren 
and  Paul.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Steckley  were 
both  natives ofDauphin  county,  and  both  died 
in  the  county.  They  had  one  child,  Eliza- 
beth, Mrs.  Steckley.  The  grandparents  were 
also  natives  of  Dauphin  county.  Her  grand- 
father was  for  manj^  years  engaged  in  the 
hat  business.  Both  grandparents  died  in 
Dauphin  county.  William  Steckley,  son  of 
Rev.  Matthew  Steckley,  was  born  September 
3,  1870,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  is  at  present  managing  his 
father's  business  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leading  young  business  men  of  the  city. 

Pfuhl,  Rev.  John  George,  pastor  of  St. 
Michael's  German  Lutheran  church,  of  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Treft'urt,  Province 
of  Saxony,  Kingdom  of  Prussia,  March  30, 
1838.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Christian 
Pfuhl  and  his  wife  Charlotte  Von  Keudel. 
The  parents  of  Pastor  Pfuhl  were  both  na- 
tives of  Prussia.  They  w'ere  born  in  Tref- 
furt,  and  lived  there  until  186G,  when  the}' 
removed  to  the  Province  of  West  Prussia, 
settling  near  the  town  of  Culmsee,  where 
the  father  died  October  18,  1881,  and  the 
mother  October  28,  1880.  They  had  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Chris- 
tiana, widow  of  the  late  Wilhelm  Boden- 
stein ;  Dorothea,  wife  of  Julius  P^iedler; 
Caroline,  wife  of  Hilmer  Achilles;  Augusta, 
widow  of  the  late  Theodore  Rausch ;  and 
John  fJeorge.  The  last-named  and  his 
nephew.  Charles  Bodenstein,  of  Philadel- 
phia, are  the  only  members  of  the  family 
residing  in  America. 

John  George  Pfuhl  lived  with  his  parents 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen,  receiv- 
ing his  primary  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town.  He  also  had 
instruction  in  Latin,  Greek  and  French 
under  a  private  tutor.  In  1852  he  was  sent 
to  a  neighboring  village  pastor,  who  fully 
in.structed  him  in  the  classics.  With  this 
preparation,  he  was  sent  to  the  college  at 
Muehlhausen,  where  he  spent  three  years. 
He  afterwards  entered  the  college  at  Halle, 
and  was  graduated  from  this  institution  in 
1859.  In  1800  he  left  his  native  land  for 
America.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in  this 
countr}',  he  entered  the  Theological  Semi- 
nar}' of  Gettysburg,  where  he  studied  for 
two  years.  In  1862  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  and  administer  the  sacra- 
ments in  the  pastorate  of  Steuben vilie,  Ohio . 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


277 


In  May,  1864,  he  was  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Cliurch,and  installed 
as  pastor  at  Steubenville  by  the  Pittsburg 
Synod  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 
He  was  pastor  of  Zion  Lutheran  church  in 
that  city  for  fourteen  years.  In  1870  lie 
was  elected  to  the  pastorate  of  St.  Michael's 
Lutheran  church  in  Harrisburg.  For  twenty 
years  he  has  held  this  important  pastorate, 
and  has  faithfully  discharged  its  sacred  and 
arduous  duties. 

His  first  wife  was  Miss  Miranda,  daughter 
of  John  and  Regina  (Bauer)  Miller,  of 
Bridgewater,  Beaver  county.  Pa.  Their 
marriage  took  place  May  10,  1864.  They 
had  one  son,  Charles  Augustus,  now  residing 
in  Pittsburgh.  Mrs.  Pfuhl  died  at  Steuben- 
ville, Ohio,  January  22,  1806.  In  his  second 
marriage,  whicli  occurred  at  Baden,  Beaver 
county,  September  22,  1868,  he  was  united 
to  Sophia  Marchand,  a  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick and  Caroline  (Ehrman)  Marchand, 
born  in  Offenbach,  near  Frankfort-on-the- 
Main.  They  have  had  seven  children;  four 
died  in  infancy.  Otto,  George,  Johanna  and 
Louisa.  Their  liiving  children  are  Sophie 
Augusta,  born  August  8,  1875;  Marie  Dor- 
othy, July  7,  1878;  and  Paul  Wilhelm, 
July  27,  1882. 

Pastor  Pfuhl  is  a  member  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania, 
the  oldest  Lutheran  Synod  in  the  United 
States. 


Forney,  Rev.  Christian  Henry,  D.  D., 
son  of  Christian  T.  Forney  (1806-1860)  and 
Barbara  Strohm,  was  born  October  17,  1839, 
in  West  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  St.  Thomas  Institute,  Miles- 
burg  Normal  School  and  Oberlin  College, 
where  he  completed  the  course  preparatory 
to  the  study  of  theology  in  1860,  and  entered 
upon  the  ministry  at  Mount  Ivy,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  in  November  of  that  year,  where 
he  remained  until  April,  1863.  He  also 
preached  at  Chambersburg,  Franklin  count}'. 
Pa.,  from  April,  1863,  to  April,  1866;  at 
Harrisburg,  Fourth  street,  from  April,  1866, 
to  April,  1868;  Lancaster  city,  from  April, 
1868,  to  April,  1870,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  in  charge  of  the  editorial  depart- 
ment of  the  church  paper  of  his  denomina- 
tion, preaching  only  on  special  occasions. 
He  was  chaplain  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives of  Pennsylvania  in  1868,  and  has 
been   twice    speaker   of  the    East   Pennsyl- 


vania Eldership  of  the  Church  of  God  ;  once 
speaker  of  the  General  Eldersliip;  almost  a 
continuous  member  of  the  standing  commit- 
tee of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Eldership  since 
1869 ;  member  of  Board  of  Missions  and 
Board  of  Incorporation  of  the  East  Pennsyl- 
vania Eldership  ;  member  of  the  Executive 
Board  of  the  General  Eldership;  continuous 
member  of  Board  of  Education  of  the  Gen- 
eral Eldership  until  elected  on  the  Execu- 
tive Board  ;  a  continuous  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  of  East  Pennsylvania 
Eldership.  In  1866  he  was  elected  assistant 
editor  of  the  Clmrch  Advocate,  and  upon  the 
death  of  the  editor,  in  1869,  became  editor- 
ni-chief,  which  position  he  still  occupies. 
In  June,  1881,  Hillsdale  College,  Michigan, 
conferi'ed  upon  him  the  degree  of  D.  D. 

Stanford,  Bishop  W.  M.,  was  born  in 
Rockland  township,  A'^enango  county.  Pa., 
March  15,  1846.  Being  a  farmer's  son  he 
was  raised  to  hard  work  on  the  farm  till  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age,  and  got  but  from  three 
to  four  months  schooling  in  a  year.  When 
he  waseighteen  years  of  age  he  began  teaching 
in  the  win  ter  season  for  but  $23  a  month ,  teach- 
ing every  winter  thereafter  till  his  twenty- 
fifth  year.  He  made  his  money  in  the  winter 
by  teaching,  and  spent  it  in  the  summer  at- 
tending school,  first  at  Greensburg  Seminary, 
Summit  county,  Ohio,  from  the  spring  of 
1865  to  the  fall  of  1866,  and  tlien  at  Mount 
Union  College,  Stark  county,  Ohio,  until  the 
spring  of  1871,  when  he  graduated  in  the 
scientific  and  commercial  courses.  The 
wages  of  his  first  winter's  teaching  not  being 
sufficient  to  venture  away  from  home  to 
school,  he  worked  for  about  three  months  on 
a  railroad,  digging  and  shoveling,  to  secure 
further  funds.  Having  to  furnish  all  his 
own  money,  it  took  great  frugality  to  get 
through  tlie  summer's  schooling  on  the 
funds  made  by  his  winter's  teaching.  He 
did  his  own  cooking  and  house  work  in 
order  to  make  ends  meet.  Being  ambitious 
in  his  studies,  he  nearly  always  stood  at  the 
head  of  his  classes,  and  was  a  most  formid- 
able antagonist  to  meet  in  debate. 

Nearly  one  year  before  his  graduation,  on 
August  2,  1870,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Rosa  A.  Weimer,  of  the  southern 
part  of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  then,  with 
his  wife,  taught  a  graded  school  of  two  de- 
partments the  following  winter  in  Osnaburg, 
Ohio,  and  with  the  money  thus  made  fin- 
ished his  collegiate  course  the  next  summer, 


278 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  came  out  free  of  all  debt.  In  the  spring 
of  1872  he  entered  the  Pittsburg  Conference 
of  the  Evangelical  Association,  and  was  sent 
for  his  first  year  in  the  ministrj'  as  a  mis- 
sionary to  Franklin,  \^enango  county,  Pa. 
Here  he  remained  three  years,  having  about 
sixty  conversions  a  year  as  the  fruits  of  his 
labors.  His  next  two  years  were  spent  at 
Homeworth,  Ohio,  where,  in  connection  with 
his  pastorate,  he  pursued  the  study  of  Greek 
and  German  again  in  his  alma  mater.  He 
next  s])ent  a  most  successful  three  years' 
pastorate  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.;  thence  for  two 
years  in  Johnstown,  Pa.,  and  was  then  called 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as  associate  editor  of  the 
official  English  church  organ,  the  Evangelical 
Messenger,  his  chief  being  Dr.  H.  B.  Hartzler, 
afterwards  one  of  Mr.  D.  L.  Moody's  co- 
workers in  the  great  training  schools  at 
Northfield,  Mass.  He  remained  on  this 
paper  for  over  six  yeai's,  during  which  time 
said  paper  attained  the  iiighest  circulation 
it  ever  had,  either  before  or  since.  In  tiie 
memorable  General  Conference  of  1887,  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  which  marked  the  beginning 
of  a  schism  in  said  church,  he,  with  his 
chief,  being  allied  with  the  American  spirited 
element  of  the  church,  as  opposed  to  an 
ecclesiastical  autocracy  on  tiie  otiier  side, 
and  being  at  that  time  a  little  in  the  minor- 
ity, were  of  necessity  defeated.  Tiie  next 
spring  he  again  took  a  pastorate  in  Canton, 
Ohio,  under  the  direction  of  his  old  confer- 
ence. In  about  eighteen  months  he  liad 
gatiiered  a  harvest  of  over  one  hundred 
souls,  when  he  was  elected  as  editor  and 
publisiier  of  an  independent  church  paper, 
known  as  the  Evangelical,  printed  at  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  which  paper  he  conducted  most 
successfully  during  the  stormy  years  of  1890 
and  1801,  when,  at  the  General  Conference  in 
Philadelphia,  in  tlie  fall  of  181)1,  he  was 
elected  to  the  Episcopacy,  continuing  until 
the  special  General  Conference  in  the  fall  of 
1894,  held  in  Naperville,  111.,  when  he  was 
re-elected  to  said  office  for  a  term  of  four 
years.  This  was  the  first  General  Conference 
of  the  American  wing  of  the  church,  con- 
stituting about  one-half  of  tlie  whole  of  this 
country,  and  at  which  conference  a  new 
discipline  was  made  and  adopted,  and  a  new 
name  assumed,  viz. :  The  United  Evangel- 
ical Church. 

During  the  course  of  his  pastoral  and 
editorial  life.  Bishop  Stanford  served  six 
years  as  the  secretary  of  his  conference,  and 
was  sent  for  seven  years  as  a  delegate  to  the 


General  Board  of  Missions.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  General  Conference  of  1883, 
1887, 1891  and  1894.  When  he  once  became 
convinced  that  a  certain  course  was  right, 
he  never  stopped  to  think  of  policj',  but  set 
his  course  without  hesitation,  leaving  all 
results  with  God.  And  when  he  started  out 
to  do  a  thing  he  knew  no  such  word  as  fail, 
and  this  is  largely  the  secret  of  whatever 
success  lie  has  attained  in  life. 

Bishop  Stanford  was  one  of  four  chil- 
dren, two  boys  and  two  girls,  the  other  three 
all  being  married  and  following  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Northwestern  Pennsylvania.  His 
father,  Abraham  Stanford,  was  born  in  1817, 
was  an  industrious  farmer  of  Scotch  descent, 
and  died  in  1882.  His  mother  was  born  of 
German  parentage  in  1826,  and  died  in 
1893.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Domer,  being  one  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, three  girls  and  six  boys.  Four  of  the 
boys  were  preachers;  one,  named  Jacob,  a 
member  of  the  Ciiurch  of  God,  attained  to 
the  assistant  editorsiiii)  of  the  official  paper 
of  his  denomination,  overworked  himself, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  forty ,one  years.  Two, 
named  respectively  George  and  John,  were 
botli  leading  men  in  the  same  church  with 
Bisiiop  Stanford,  having  botii  of  them  served 
for  four  consecutive  terms  of  four  years  each 
as  presiding  elders,  and  having  been  mem- 
bers of  every  successive  General  Conference 
from  1875  to  1891.  Abraham  Domer,  D.  D., 
after  graduating  at  Allegheny  ('ollege,  Mead- 
vilie,  early  in  his  life,  started  out  as  a  min- 
ister in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Cinirch,  and 
attained  also  to  the  presiding  eldership  in 
his  church,  and  thus  forged  to  tiie  front  rank 
among  his  brethren.  A  little  further  out  in 
relationship  on  his  mother's  side  were  many 
more  preachers  and  men  of  prominence,  one 
of  whom,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Domer,  D.  D., 
having  been  for  many  years  pastor  of  tlie 
leading  Lutheran  congregation  of  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.  Bishop  Stanford  comes  of  a  long- 
lived  race  of  people  on  both  his  father's  and 
his  mother's  side,  some  of  them  back  in  the 
tliird  generation  living  to  the  ripe  ages  of 
from  ninety  to  one  hundred  years. 

Mrs.  Rosa  A.  Stanford,  wife  of  the  bishop, 
maiden  name  Weimer,  was  born  in  the 
southern  part  of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  March 
3,  1845,  of  German  parentage.  Being  a 
farmer's  daughter,  she,  too,  got  but  from  three 
to  four  months'  schooling  in  a  year,  when, 
in  1863,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  she  attended 
a  term  of  school  at  Greensburg  Seminary, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


279 


Summit  county,  Ohio,  and  in  the  following 
winter  taught  lier  first  term.  In  1864  she 
attended  the  spring  and  fall  terms  of  Roanuke 
Academy,  Huntington  county,  Ind.,  and 
in  the  winter  of  the  same  year  taught  the 
intermediate  department  of  the  same  scliool. 
In  the  fall  of  18G5  she  again  attended  at 
Greensburg,  Ohio,  and  thereafter  followed 
teaching  until  lier  marriage  in  the  summer 
of  1870.  She  was  one  of  a  large  family 
of  children,  several  of  whom  attained  to 
prominence  in  their  specific  vocations. 
Oliver  Weimer,  a  brother,  was  a  musician 
and  vocalist,  whose  energy  was  greater  than 
his  body  could  bear,  and  so  died  at  an  early 
age,  and  Miss  Katie  Wein:er,  a  younger 
sister,  struggled  with  both  health  and  otlier 
difficulties  until  she  became  a  leading  artist, 
and  then  died  before  siie  had  time  to  reap 
tiie  returns  of  her  sacrifice  and  toil.  Prof. 
Solomon  Weimer,  a  younger  brotlier,  after  a 
common  school  training,  began  his  collegiate 
training  at  j\Iount  Union  College,  Ohio,  and 
finished  it  at  Otterbein  University,  Wester- 
ville,  Ohio.  Afterwards,  for  some  years,  he 
taught  in  Navarre,  Ohio,  and  then  stepped 
up  to  one  of  tiie  highest  positions  in  the 
Central  high  schools  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  he  is  still  a  much  esteemed  and  suc- 
cessful educator. 

To  Bishop  and  Mrs.  Stanford  tliere  were 
born  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. The  eldest,  Orpha  Blanche  Stanford, 
was  born  near  Beach  City,  Ohio,  x-Vpril  2(), 
1871.  x\fter  receiving  a  good  common  sciiool 
education,  she  afterwards  made  a  specialty  of 
art  and  music,  until  she  became  a  teacher  of 
both,  and  on  the  22d  of  May,  1895,  was 
united  in  n:arriage  with  Mr.  Frank  S. 
Becker,  teller  of  the  leadingbank  in  Lebanon, 
Pa.  Mr.  Becker  has  also  been  president  of 
the  school  board  of  Lebanon  for  a  number 
of  years.  The  next  is  Vincent  W.,  of  wiiom 
a  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
The  next  in  age  is  Abraham  Lelloy 
Stanford,  who  was  born  in  Homeworth, 
Ohio,  November  27,  187G.  Aside  from  a 
common  school  education,  he  attended  sev- 
eral terms  at  Schuylkill  Seminary,  at  Fred- 
ericksburg, Pa.,  wliere  he  showed  marked 
proficienc}'  in  tlie  line  of  mathematics.  He 
afterwards  went  into  training  in  Catasaqua, 
Pa.,  to  become  a  machinist,  in  which  work 
he  shows  marked  adaptabilit}'.  Being  yet 
young  in  years,  his  life  work  is  not  clearl3- 
chosen,  but  he  bids  fair  to  be  able  to  hoe  his 
own  row.      Next  comes  Zella  Corine  Stan- 


ford, born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  June  20, 1878 ; 
then  Laura  Eva  Stanford,  born  in  Johns- 
town, Pa.,  October  2,  1881,  and  lastly  Mina 
Grace  Stanford,  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
September  8,  1887.  Zella  and  Laura  have 
already  finished  the  ward  schools,  and  are 
both  now  attending  the  higii  school  of  Har- 
risburg,  and  stand  among  the  best  in  their 
classes.  Little  Grace  is  fast  on  the  same 
track  in  her  studies,  has  an  ambition  to  be 
at  the  head  of  her  classes,  and  bids  fair  to 
ovcj'take  her  older  sisters  by  and  by. 

This  family  is  also  quite  a  musical  family. 
Blanch  uses  the  piano,  Vincent  the  banjo, 
Roy  the  guitar  and  the  mandolin,  Zella  the 
mandolin,  Laura  the  piano,  and  Grace  is  an 
admirer  of  all.  But  of  all  the  others,  LeRoy 
seems  to  show  the  most  natural  adaptability 
for  instrumental  music. 


Krkmer,  Rev.  Ellis  N.,  was  born  in 
Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  October  27,  1816, 
son  of  Rev.  A.  H.  and  Rebecca  (Keiffer) 
Kremer.  Frederick  Kremer,  the  paternal 
grandfather,  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and 
later  in  life  was  engaged  in  farming.  The 
maternal  grandfather  was  also  a  farmer,  and 
was  an  elder  in  the  Reformed  church  for 
some  years,  which  office  he  lield  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  Rev.  A.  H.  Kremer,  the  father, 
was  born  in  November,  1814,  and  the  mother 
was  born  at  Little  Washington,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  in  March,  1815.  The  father  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  York  county, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  high 
school  at  York  and  in  Mercersburg  College, 
and  he  was  graduated  from  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Mercersburg  in  1839.  His  first 
pastorate  was  at  Shipjiensburg,  in  which  he 
served  seven  years.  He  was  called  to  Car- 
lisle in  1846,  and  remained  there  until  the 
spring  of  1861.  He  was  then  called  to  the 
First  church  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he 
served  until  the  fall  of  1877,  when  he  was 
recalled  to  his  old  church  at  Carlisle,  where 
he  remained  until  his  deatli  in  1894.  Mr. 
Kremer  was  also  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Theological  Seminary  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Rebecca 'iveift'er,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children,  one  of  whom,  Stephen  K.,  died  in 
the  active  ministry  at  Greencastle,  Pa.,  in 
1876.  The  father  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years;  the  mother  is  still  living  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years,  and  resides  at  Green- 
castle, Pa. 

Ellis  N.  attended  the  schools  of  Cumber- 


280 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


land  county  until  he  was  thirteen  years  of 
age,  and  then  took  the  preparatory  and  col- 
legiate course  at  Franklin  and  Marshall  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1865. 
After  his  graduation  he  was  cl*k  in  the 
bookstore  of  John  Shaeffer,  at  Lancaster  citj-, 
for  three  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1868  en- 
tered the  Theological  Seminary  at  Mercers- 
burg,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1871. 
The  same  year  he  settled  as  pastor  at  Bed- 
ford, Pa.,  being  licensed  to  i)reach  in  the 
spring,  and  ordained  to  the  ministry  No- 
vember 11  following.  This  charge  was  com- 
posed of  three  congregations:  Bedford,  St. 
Paul's  and  Pleasant  Hill.  In  1881  the 
charge  was  divided  and  Rev.  Kremer  re- 
mained pastor  of  the  Bedford  congregation, 
in  whicli  relation  he  continued  for  sixteen 
years.  During  his  pastorate  there  was  great 
growth  and  improvement,  the  parsonage 
and  the  new  church  edifice  having  been 
erected  in  that  time.  Rev.  Kremer  resigned 
this  pastorate  to  enter  the  wider  field  of  use- 
fulness in  Harrishurg,  which  he  has  since 
occupied  with  the  same  success  that  has  at- 
tended his  labors  in  other  fields.  In  recog- 
nition of  his  scholarly  attainments  and 
devoted  labors,  he  was  honored  with  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  by  his  alma 
mater  in  1895.  Dr.  Kremer  was  married, 
November  23,  1871,  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  to 
Miss  Sallie  E.  Swan,  daugliter  of  H.  B.  and 
Frances  (Toby)  Swan,  to  whom  have  been 
born  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living. 
Dr.  Kremer  is  now  secretary  of  the  board  of 
home  missions  of  the  Reformed  (Jhurch. 


Baker,  Rev.  Leroy  Franklin,  rector  of 
St.  Paul's  Protestant  Episcopal  cliurch,  Har- 
rishurg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Mount  Pleasant, 
Wayne  county.  Pa.,  November  20, 1848.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Orange  county,  N.  Y., 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  earh'  settlers 
of  Rhode  Island.  His  mother  was  the 
daughter  of  C\)].  Harr\'  Mumford,  an 
officer  in  the  militia,  and  a  descendant 
of  Thomas  Mumford,  who  settled  in 
Rhode  Island,  and  married  Sarah  Sher- 
man, about  the  year  1650.  From  this 
famil}'  sprang  Hannaii  Mumford,  who  be- 
came the  mother  of  Bishop  Seabury,  tiie 
first  bishop  of  the  Anglican  communion  in 
America;  Paul  Mumford,  successively  chief 
justice  and  lieutenant  governor  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  Augustus  Mumford,  adjutant, 
who  was  killed  during  the  siege  of  Boston, 


Mass.,  by  a  cannon  shot,  August  29,  1775, 
being  the  first  Rhode  Island  officer  who  fell 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  ;  also  many 
prominent  citizens  of  Rliode  Island  and 
Connecticut.  Tiiere  is  evidence  that  the 
Mumford  family  descended  from  Hugh  de 
Montfort ;  the  line  can  be  traced  to  Arnulph, 
bishop  of  Metz,  who  died  A.  D.  631. 

Mr.  Baker  was  graduated  from  the  Ithaca 
Academy,  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  .June  25,  1869,  and 
spent  two  years  in  Cornell  University,  being 
president  of  his  class  during  the  sopliomore 
year.  He  spent  two  3'ears  in  teaching  in  his 
native  place,  and  three  j'ears  in  study  in  the 
Divinity  School,  Piji]adelj)iiia,  Pa.,  gradu- 
ating therefrom  June  21,  1876.  He  was  or- 
dained to  the  diaconate,  in  Reading,  Pa., 
June  11,  1875,  by  tiie  Rt.  Rev.  M.  A.  De 
Wolfe  Howe,  bishop  of  Central  Pennsyl- 
vania; and  to  ti)e  priesthood  in  Scranton, 
Pa.,  December  20,  1876,  by  the  same  bishop. 
Immediately'  after  graduation  from  tlie  Di- 
vinity Sci)ool,  Mr.  Baker  was  sent  to  Great 
Bend,  Susquehanna  county.  Pa.,  to  take 
ciiarge  of  Grace  churcii  in  that  place.  He 
remained  there  three  years,  serving  also  St. 
Mark's  church.  New  Milford,  during  the 
same  time.  He  was  called  to  St.  Paul's 
clmrch,  Harrishurg,  and  took  charge  of  that 
parish  on  July  13,  1879.  From  tliat  time 
to  the  present  writing  (1896),  he  lias  re- 
mained in  cliarge  of  St.  Paul's  parish.  With 
a  single  exception  he  is  the  oldest  resident 
minister  in  the  city  of  Harrishurg,  and  with 
the  same  exception  he  is  the  oldest  resident 
in  the  Archdeaconry  of  Harrishurg.  He 
has  been  for  several  years  examining  chap- 
lain in  the  Diocese  of  Central  Pennsylvania, 
and  a  member  of  the  committee  on  canons. 
He  was  a  deput\'  to  the  General  Convention  in 
Baltimore  in  1892,  the  convention  that  com- 
pleted the  revision  of  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer;  he  was  also  deputy  to  the  General 
Convention  in  Minneapolis  in  1895,  the  con- 
vention tliat  inaugurated  the  revision  of  the 
constitution  and  canons  of  tlie  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church. 

On  June  4,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Sarah 
E.  Wortman,  of  Ithaca,  N.  Y.  On  her 
father's  side  Mrs.  Baker  is  descended  from 
German  stock,  having  Hesse  Cassel  as  its 
ancestral  home.  Some  of  lier  nearer  paternal 
ancestors  in  tiiis  country  are  named  among 
tlie  Jerseymen  in  the  Revolution ;  some 
were  among  the  survivors  of  the  Wyoming 
massacre.  On  her  mother's  side  Mrs.  Baker 
is  a  descendant  of  Dr.  Comfort  Starr,  who 


DAUPHIN  iJOUNTY. 


281 


was  born  in  Ashford,  England,  and  died  in 
Boston,  in  1659.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have 
one  child,  Anna  May,  born    February    12, 

1882. 


Stine,  Rev.  Miltox  H.,  Ph.  D.,  pastor  of 
Christ's  Lutiieran  chnrcli,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
was  born  in  York  county,  Pa.,  September  4, 
1853,  son  of  Adam  and  Barbara  (Schoen- 
berger)  Stine. 

Charles  Stine,  paternal  grandfather  of 
Rev.  M.  H.  Stine,  was  a  native  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country 
early  in  the  present  century.  He  was  a 
musician  and  a  teacher  of  music.  He  had 
a  family  of  six  children.  Adam  Stine, 
father  of  Rev.  Milton  H.,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, near  Wittenberg,  and  came  to  this 
country  when  quite  young.  He  learned  the 
business  of  tailoring  in  New  York  C'ity,  and 
was  engaged  in  that  occupation  until  within 
a  few  years  of  his  death,  when  he  retired 
from  active  business.  He  was  married  Decem- 
ber 5,  1841 ;  his  wife  Barbara,  daughter  of 
Henry  Schoenberger,  was  also  a  native  of 
Germanj'.  Their  children  are:  Rebecca,  not 
married,  resides  at  York,  Pa.;  Rev.  M.  H.; 
Henrietta,  died  October  23,  1851,  aged  nine 
years;  Annie  D.,  died  October  24, 1857,  aged 
two  years.  Mr.  Stine  and  his  family  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  died 
in  York  county,  January  18,  1896,  aged 
seventA'-nine ;  his  wife  died  at  the  same 
place,  June  13,  1890,  aged  seventy-seven. 

Milton  H.  Stine  attended  the  public  schools 
of  York  county  until  he  was  thirteen  years 
of  age,  after  which  he  was  for  three  years  a 
pupil  in  tiie  York  County  Academy.  He 
strongly  desired  a  liberal  education,  in 
order  to  enter  one  of  the  learned  professions, 
but  having  few  resources  to  depend  upon  be- 
sides his  own  efforts,  was  obliged  to  ]ilan 
and  woi'k  to  obtain  it.  He  took  a  winter 
school  when  he  was  sixteen,  employing  the 
summer  months  in  helping  with  the  farm 
work,  and  studying  during  his  leisure  liours. 
After  three  terms  of  teaching,  with  inter- 
vening periods  of  study,  he  was  prepared  to 
enter  college.  In  1873  he  began  a  classical 
course  at  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg, 
Pa.,  which  he  pursued  for  a  short  time, 
when,  an  opportunity  to  become  a  teacher 
in  the  academy  being  offered,  he  accepted, 
and  became  professor  where  he  had  formerly 
been  a  pupil,  and  for  one  year  performed  the 
duties  of  the  position  very  creditably  ;  after 


which  he  re-entered  college,  and  was  gradu- 
eted  in  1877.  He  subsequently  took  the 
regular  course  at  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Gettysburg,  which  he  completed  in  1880, 
and  in  the  same  year  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry. 

Mr.  Stine's  first  charge  was  the  church  at 
Maytown,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
continued  with  good  success  for  two  and  a 
half  years,  during  which  time  he  received  a 
call  to  the  pastorate  of  a  large  Methodist 
congregation  in  New  England,  which  he  de- 
clined. On  May  1,  1883,  he  began  his  work 
as  pastor  of  the  Seventh  Street  church, 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  which  his  marked  ability 
as  preacher  and  pastor  was  manifest  in  the 
enlargement  and  general  prosperity  of  the 
church.  During  the  nine  years  of  his  con- 
nection with  this  congregation,  the  mem- 
bership was  greatly  increased,  a  new  church 
edifice  with  a  seating  capacity  of  seven  hun- 
dred was  erected,  and  a  commodious  and 
beautiful  parsonage  was  built.  While  in 
this  pastorate.  Rev.  Mr.  Stine  made  two  trips 
to  foreign  countries;  during  the  first  of 
which  he  spent  three  months  in  visiting 
Europe,  Egypt  and  Palestine,  and  seeing 
during  the  second  the  princij^al  places  of 
interest  in  England.  He  is  the  author  of 
two  interesting  books,  one  published  in  1888, 
entitled  "  Studies  on  the  Religious  Problems 
of  Our  Country,"  and  the  second,  publisiied 
in  1890,  entitled  "A  Winter  Jaunt  Through 
Historic  Lands;"  botli  of  which  disclose  a 
high  degree  of  literary  talent.  He  is  also 
a  correspondent  of  several  periodicals,  for 
which  his  articles  find  ready  acceptance. 

\\\  1892  Rev.  Mr.  Stine  took  charge  of  the 
First  English  Lutheran  church,  at  Los  An- 
geles, Cal.,  but  at  the  end  of  three  years,  his 
pastorate  in  that  beautiful  city  was  termin- 
ated by  the  declining  health  of  his  father, 
which  necessitated  his  return  to  the  East.  In 
1895  he  was  called  to  his  present  i)astorate, 
that  of  Clirist  Lutheran  church,  Harrisburg, 
at  Thirteentli  street  and  Thompson  avenue, 
with  parsonage  at  1311  Derrj'  street.  Here 
he  finds  a  promising  field  for  the  exercise  of 
his  best  powers,  and  here  abundant  fruits 
begin  to  appear.  In  1896  formal  recognition 
of  the  sciiolarship  and  literary  attainments 
of  Mr.  Stine  was  made  by  the  bestowment 
upon  him  of  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Piiilosophy. 

Rev.  Dr.  Stine  was  married,  at  Mechanics- 
burg,  Pa.,  June  26, 1880, to  Miss  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Shaefler)  Altland 


282 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


They  have  two  sons ;  Charles,  born  October 
18,  1882,  and  Walter,  born  March  18,  1888. 

Dr.  Stine  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order 
of  United  American  Mechanics  and  of  the 
Knigiits  of  Malta. 

Mrs.  Stine,  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Stine,  was 
born  December  15, 1860.  Her  father,  Daniel 
Altland,  was  born  August  19,  1834.  In  his 
younger  days  he  taught  school,  but  the 
greater  part  of  his  business  life  was  spent  in 
mercantile  pursuits.  He  was  married,  in 
July,  1856,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George 
and  Elizabeth  Shaeffer.  Besides  Mary  (Mrs. 
Stine)  they  had  two  sons,  Alfred  D.  and  F. 
M.,  both  in  mercantile  pursuits,  in  Dillsburg, 
York  county,  Pa. 

Rev.  Daniel  Altland,  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Stine,  was  a  native  of  York  county,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  lived 
where  his  ancestors  had  lived  for  165  years. 
Some  of  the  Altlands  were  soldiers  in  the 
Revolutionary  war. 


Stewart,  Rev.  George  B.,  D.  D.,  pastor 
of  the  Market  Square  Presbyterian  church, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  February  28, 1854.  His  ancestois  have 
been  in  America  since  1637.  On  his  father's 
side,  they  were  Scotch-Irish;  and  on  his 
mother's  side,  this  same  strain  was  mingled 
with  that  of  the  Holland-Dutch.  Hence  by 
the  law  of  heredity.  Dr.  Stewart  is  justly 
entitled  to  the  sterling  and  sturdy  qualities 
he  has  exhibited  in  his  youth  and  maturity. 

His  primai-y  education  was  received  in 
the  public  and  private  schools  of  his  native 
city,  which  also  aflbrded  him  his  prepara- 
tion for  college.  Other  influences  besides 
those  of  careful  domestic  training  and 
thorough  scholastic  tuition  and  discipline 
exerted  a  power  over  him.  The  most 
active  and  receptive  years  of  his  youth  were 
those  of  the  Civil  war,  and  the  capital  of 
Ohio  at  that  time  was  the  seat  and  scene  of 
the  most  intense  and  continuous  activities 
in  the  preparation  for  and  the  consecjuences 
of  the  internecine  struggle.  Tiie  glorious 
flag  of  tlie  country,  either  in  the  fresh  folds 
of  the  colors  of  the  regiments  departing  for 
the  seat  of  war,  or  on  the  tattered  and 
stained  standards  of  returning  troops,  were 
constantly  before  his  youthful  eyes,  while 
his  ears  were  ever  assaulted  by  the  stirring 
notes  of  the  fife  and  drum,  and  the  statn'ly 
tramp  of  the  marching  soldiers.  Press, 
platform  and  pulpit  were  giving  utterance 
to   patriotic   sentiments,   and    sacrifices  for 


country  and  free  institutions  was  the  per- 
sonal and  public  virtue  he  heard  most  fre- 
quently and  eloquently  commended.  His 
ancestors  had  been  in  this  country  for  over 
two  hundred  years,  and  hence  by  blood, 
birth  and  training,  be  became  an  American 
of  Americans,  his  heart  thrilling  with  senti- 
ments of  regard  and  reverence  for  the  free 
and  full  life  which  his  native  country  begot 
and  fostered. 

When  in  maturing  growth  and  approach- 
ing manhood,  he  was  confronted  by  the  need 
of  making  choice  of  an  occupation  or  profes- 
sion he  could  see  no  calling  which  offered 
employment  to  his  gifts  and  satisfaction  for 
his  longings  so  fully  as  the  sacred  office. 
For  this  he  proceeded  to  prepare  himself  by 
the  course  of  classical  and  theological  study 
which  the  Presbyterian  Church  require  of  all 
who  enter  the  ministry.  With  the  class  of 
1876  he  completed  the  curriculum  of  Prince- 
ton College,  afterwhich  he  spentsome  time  in 
the  study  of  theology  at  the  young  but  con- 
servative McCormick  Seminary  at  Cliicago, 
111.  For  the  completion  of  his  theological 
studies  he  resorted  to  the  older  and  more  lib- 
eral seminary  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.  The  Calvary 
church  of  the  city  of  Auburn  noted  the 
promise  of  the  young  student  and  offered 
him  the  pastorate  the  year  jirevious  to  the 
completion  of  his  course.  He  accepted  the 
charge  and  remained  in  the  field  for  seven 
years,  in  which  his  success  was  so  marked 
that  he  attracted  the  attention  of  the  church 
at  large. 

The  Market  Square  Presbyterian  churcli,  of 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  gave  him  a  unanimous  call 
without  knowing  him  and  on  the  strength 
solely  of  the  representations  of  persons 
whom  they  deemed  competent  to  judge  of 
his  fitness  for  the  pulpit  and  pastoral  work. 
After  a  visit  of  some  days  to  the  city,  he 
accepted  the  call  and  was  installed  as  pastor, 
January  2, 1885.  The  Market  Square  church 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  impor- 
tant charges  in  the  central  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. It  had  in  its  membership  many  of 
the  descendants  of  the  Scotch-Irish  pioneers 
who  settled  this  part  of  the  State,  it  had 
been  remarkably  favored  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  services  of  men  of  great  talent  and 
marked  devotion  in  the  pastoral  office,  the 
one  preceding  Dr.  Stewart  being  Dr.  Thos. 
H.  Robinson,  whose  scholarly  tastes  and 
attainments,  as  well  as  his  excellent  character 
had  led  to  his  transfer  to  a  chair  in  the 
Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


283 


Dr.  Stewart's  labors  in  this  important  field 
have  been  crowned  with  abundant  and  most 
gratifying  success.  People  and  pastor  are 
most  happily  in  accord  as  to  the  metliods 
and  means  of  church  activities,  and  their 
harmonious  work  and  worship  are  delight- 
fully complete  and  satisfactory.  The  officers 
and  members,  while  intensely  Presbyterian 
and  most  cordially  loyal  to  denominational 
doctrine  and  order,  ai'e  at  the  same  time  de- 
cidedly of  the  liberal  branch  and  type,  and 
in  this  feature  are  highh'  gratified  with  the 
pastor  who  shares  with  them  in  their  de- 
nomination preference. 

The  dominant  traits  and  characteristics  of 
Dr.  Stewart  are  his  naturalness,  simplicit}', 
earnestness,  and  devotion  in  connection  with 
eminent  talents  as  a  preacher  and  as  organ- 
izer and  leader.  Even  his  scholarship  par- 
takes of  a  practical  turn,  for  while  his  eager 
search  for  truth  takes  him  into  all  fields  of 
investigation,  he  gathers  therefrom  only  tlie 
fruits  which  nurture  spirituality  and  practi- 
cal evangelism. 

The  church  under  his  leadership  is  tlior- 
oughl}'  organized,  and  is  as  much  a  working 
company  as  a  factory,  store  or  bank,  in 
which  every  employee  has  liis  place  and 
work,  and  all  are  united  and  co-operate  to 
reach  a  single  result.  But  the  organization 
is  not  a  creed,  it  is  only  a  means  by  whicii 
the  good  of  humanity  and  the  glory  of  God 
are  effectually  promoted. 

Dr.  Stewart  finds  time  for  work  outside  of 
the  fiastorate.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  College 
at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  of  the  Wilson  Col- 
lege at  Chambersburg,  Pa.  He  has  also 
been  the  president  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Chatauqua.  at  Mt.  Gretna,  for  the  five  j'ears 
of  its  existence.  He  is  much  interested  in 
the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  and  is  the  chairman  of  the 
General  Assembly's  special  committee  on  this 
organization. 

By  his  activity,  fidelity  and  good  will  in 
his  relationsiiips  of  man,  neighbor  and  citi- 
zen, Dr.  Stewart  enjoys  a  popularity  and  in- 
fluence equal  to  the  regard  and  affection 
rendered  to  him  in  his  ministerial  office. 


Kohl,  Rev.  Gekm.\nus,  was  born  March 
17,  1855,  in  Berks  county,  Pa.  His  father, 
Samuel  Kolil,  was  born  at  Haycock,  Bucks 
county,  Pa.,  and  iiis  mother  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.  The  forefathers  of  the  parents  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  Bucks  county  and  ■ 
came  to  this  country  in  the  year  1774.  Nine 
children    were    born    to  Samuel   and    Mary 


Kohl,  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  One 
daughter,  Sarah,  was  married  to  George 
Geible;  she  died  fifteen  years  ago.  Two 
daughters,  Agnes  and  Mary,  joined  the  sis- 
ters of  St.  Joseph's  at  Cliestnut  Hill,  Pa. 
Their  names  in  religion  are  Sisters  Gene- 
vieve and  Loretta. 

Rev.  Germanus  Kohl  taught  in  tlie  pub- 
lic schools  for  three  years,  and  in  1877  he 
entered  Mt.  St.  Mary's  College,  Emmitsburg, 
Md.,  from  which  he  graduated  June  23, 
1883;  received  his  degree  of  A.  M.  two  3'ears 
after,  and  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  in 
August  22, 1887,  by  Bishop  O'Hara,  of  Scran- 
ton,  Pa.  His  first  mission  was  Chambers- 
burg, Pa.,  where  he  was  assistant  to  Rev. 
John  J.  Reilly  for  fourteen  months.  In 
1889  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  St.  Mary's 
church.  Snow  Shoe,  Centre  county.  Pa., 
where  he  remained  for  twenty-seven  months, 
wlien  he  was  transfered  back  to  Chambers- 
burg, where  his  pastorate  was  a  most  suc- 
cessful one.  On  May  6,  18i>3,  Bishop  Mc- 
Govern  appointed  him  rector  of  the  pro- 
cathedral,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  also  one  of 
his  consultors,  which  positions  he  still  holds. 


Howell,  Rev.  Charles  J.,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  August  15,  1855,  in  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  Charles  J. 
and  Mary  M.  (DuBois)  Howell.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  was  born  in  Dutchess 
county  and  came  of  a  Huguenot  famih'.  He 
served  as  a  trustee  of  Vassar  College,  was 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  also  manager  of 
the  Hudson  River  State  Hospital.  His  wife 
was  born  January  80,  1859,  at  Fleming,  N. 
Y.  The  father,  Charles  J.,  was  in  busi- 
ness at  home  until  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
wiien  he  began  work  on  Wappinger's  creek, 
about  tiiree  miles  from  New  York  City.  He 
married  Miss  Mary  M.  DuBois,  daughter  of 
Cornelias  and  Julia  A.  (More)  DuBois. 
Their  ciiildren  are  Charles  J.,  Cornelias  and 
L3^dia  H.  Tlie  father  was  an  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
His  wife  survives  him.  Charles  J.,  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  removed  with-  his  parents  to 
Lebanon,  where  he  served  as  clerk  with 
Lobenstein  &  Co.  for  two  years.  His  educa- 
tion began  in  the  private  schools,  and  then 
he  attended  the  River  View  Militar}'  Acad- 
emy for  two  years.  In  1880  he  entered  An- 
nistor's  College,  New  Jersey,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  1884.  One  year  later  he  took  a 
course  in  the  Princeton  Theological  Semi- 


284 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


nary  and  later  a  three  years'  course  in  a 
similar  seminary  in  New  York,  where  he 
graduated  in  1888.  Entering  the  ministry 
in  1888,  he  took  charge  of  a  Presbyte- 
rian church  for  three  years,  and  in  1891 
received  a  call  from  La  Grange,  a  suburb  of 
Chicago,  which  he  accepted  and  remained 
several  years.  In  December,  1891,  having 
a  call  from  a  congregation  in  Harrisburg, 
he  returned  East,  and  now  serves  the  Pine 
Street  Presbyterian  church  as  its  assistant 
pastor  and  is  meeting  with  much  success. 

Kev.  Howell  was  married  at  Albany,  N. 
Y.,  to  Miss  Cornelia  N.  Griggs.  Before  en- 
tering the  ministry  he  tauglit  a  district 
school  one  term,  and  two  years  in  the  River 
View  Academy,  N.  Y. 

Wendel,  Rev.  Jacob  Hugo  Rudolf,  pas- 
tor of  Zion's  (German)  Lutheran  church, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Wildberg,  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  April  13, 
1857.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Christian  and 
Emilie  (Martz)  Wendel.  His  father  was 
born  in  EUingen,  Wurtemberg,  July  30, 
1820,  and  was  a  teacher ;  he  was  principal 
of  a  private  institute  for  girls  in  Stuttgart. 
Later,  he  was  appointed  state  teacher  in 
various  towns.  His  last  position  was  that  of 
head  teacher  of  the  town  school  at  Dettin- 
gen,  Wurtemberg,  where  he  died  Septem- 
ber 8,  1885,  after  a  useful  life.  He  was 
married,July  l(),1848,at  Waiblingen,  to  Emi- 
lie, born  Martz,  a  native  of  Murrhardt,  Wur- 
temberg, born  February  24,  1825,  daughter 
of  Carl  Ludwig  Martz,  a  master  of  forests, 
and  Marie  Sybilla  (Sulzen)  Martz.  They 
had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  six  are  liv- 
ing: Herman  Ludwig,  professor  in  Real 
Gymnasium  (College),  Stuttgart,  Germany: 
Gustav  Theodor,  wholesale  wine  and  liquor 
dealer,  Hamburg ;  Rev.  Jacob  Hugo  Rudolf; 
Albert  Ludwig,  an  Umgeld-Commissarius  in 
Freudenstadt,  Germany;  Christian  Fried- 
rich,  sheriff  of  Urach  county,  Germany ; 
Ainelie  Marie,  a  teacher  in  Stuttgart.  The 
mother  is  still  living,  and  resides  at  Urach. 

Rev.  J.  11.  R.  Wendel  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  Latin  school  of 
his  native  cit}-.  His  academic  course  was 
taken  at  the  Lyceum  of  Nagold,  from  which 
institution  he  received  his  literary  degrees. 
He  then  read  law  in  Stuttgart,  for  two  terms, 
in  the  department  of  State  Law  Instruction ; 
he  passed  the  state  examination  in  law  in 
1881.  He  had  previously  filled  some  court 
ofiBces    in     Freudenstadt,    Nurtingen    and 


Reutlingen.  In  1880  he  began  the  practice 
of  law  in  Munsiugen,and  continued  it  until 
1882. 

In  Februarj^  1882,  in  response  to  a  call 
from  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  General 
Council,  he  came  to  America  to  study  the- 
ology, and  to  serve  in  the  ministry  of  that 
churcii  in  America.  He  was  ordained  at 
Norristown,  Pa.,  in  May,  1883,  by  the  Synod 
of  Pennsylvania.  His  first  pastorate  was 
St.  Thomas'  churcli,  Germantown,  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  faithfull}-  and  acceptably 
ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  con- 
gregation until  March  30,  1886.  His  next 
charge  was  at  Port  Jervis,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
served  two  yeai'S  as  pastor  of  St.  Peter's 
German  Lutheran  church.  Since  March, 
1888,  he  has  been  the  faithful,  devoted  and 
beloved  pastor  of  Ziou  Lutheran  church 
(German)  of  Harrisburg. 

He  was  married  in  Reading,  Pa.,  May  29, 
1883,  to  Miss  Louisa,  daughter  of  Martin 
and  Anna  Maria  (Etzel)  Freudenl)erger,  of 
Schillingstadt,  I5aden,  (termany.  They  have 
five  children:  Christian  Hugo  Martin,  Emi- 
lie Louisa  Amalie,  Paulus  Herman  Albert, 
Gustav  Adolphus  John  Frederick,  Esther 
Barbara  Ruth.  Mr.  W^endel  is  a  member  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutlieran  Ministerium  of 
Pennsylvania  and  adjacent  States,  and  of 
the  General  Council  of  the  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran Church  of  North  America. 


Seubert,  Rev.  F.\ther  F.  C,  rector  of  St. 
Lawrence  German  Catholic  churcli,  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  was  born  at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  August 
2,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of  F.  Anton  and  Mar- 
garet (Ganster)  Seubert,  both  natives  of 
Aschaffenberg,  Bavaria.  They  came  to 
America  in  1857.  They  were  united  in 
matrimony  Octo'oer  14,  1858,  at  St.  Peter's 
church,  Reading,  Pa.  In  the  spring  of  1859 
they  located  at  Lebanon,  where  they  still 
reside,  honored  and  respected  by  their  neigh- 
bors. Fourteen  children  were  born  to  them, 
of  wiiom  eleven  are  living:  Catherine,  wife 
of  Jerome  H.  Youtz,  residing  at  Lebanon; 
Miss  Emma, .  residing  in  Philadelphia; 
Joseph  A.,  residing  at  Lebanon,  Pa.;  John 
J.,  residing  at  Sayre,  Pa. ;  Mary,  wife  of 
George  S.  Pence,  residing  at  Lebanon  ;  Miss 
Anna  H.,  residing  in  Philadelphia;  George 
P.,  a  student  for  the  pi'iesthood  in  St.  \m- 
cent's,  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.;  C.  Aloy- 
sius,  a  student  in  the  Philadeliihia  College 
of  Pharmacy,  Philadelphia;  Margaret  and 
William  H.,  attending  St.  Mncent's  College, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


285 


and  the  subject  of  this  biography,  who  was 
tlie  eldest  of  the  children. 

Father  Seubert  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  tlie  parochial  schools  of  his  native 
town.  In  the  fall  of  1876  he  went  to  Mon- 
treal, Canada,  where  he  spent  seven  years  in 
college.  Five  years  of  this  time  were  spent 
in  classical  studies,  and  two  years  in  the 
pliilosophical  course.  He  was  then  called 
to  Sylvan  Heights  Seminary  by  Rt.  Rev. 
BisliopShanahan,  where  he  studied  theology. 
On  June  2G,  1S8G,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
priesthood  by  Rt.  Rev.  Archbishop  Ryan,  of 
Pliiladelphia,  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Shanahan 
being  too  ill  at  the  time  to  hold  the  ordina- 
tion. His  first  appointment  was  at  Cham- 
bersburg,  where  he  was  assistant  to  Rev. 
Father  C.  A.  Schlueter  until  January,  1887. 
On  January  14,  1887,  he  took  charge  of  St. 
Agnes'  church.  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  where  he 
remained  for  five  years,  during  which  time 
he  won  the  love  and  esteem  of  all  classes  by 
his  earnest  and  successful  work.  Under  liis 
care  the  charge  grew  and  prospered  as  it 
had  never  done  before.  The  church  and 
convent  buildings  were  remodeled,  a  new 
paroeliial  residence  erected,  and  many  otlier 
important  improvements  made.  On  Janu- 
ary 11,  1892,  he  took  charge  of  St.  Lawrence 
parish,  and  since  that  date  has  also  been  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  the  diocese.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  pleasing  address,  with  a  genial 
countenance  and  charming  manners,  and  is 
esteemed  by  all  as  a  kindly,  godly  man. 


De  Yoe,  Ricv.  Luther,  pastor  oi  Messiah 
Lutheran  churcli,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Bergen  county,  N.  J.  He  is  tlie  sou 
of  Rev.  E.  and  Anna  (Crounse)  De  Yoe. 
He  received  ins  academic  education  at  Tren- 
ton, N.  J.  Tiiere  lie  completed  his  prepara- 
tion for  college.  He  spent  seven  years  at 
Gettysburg,  Pa.,  pursuing  for  four  years  the 
regular  classical  course  at  Pennsylvania  Col- 
lege, and  taking  the  prescribed  curriculum 
of  the  Tiioological  Seminary  during  tlic 
next  three  years,  graduating  from  the  latter 
in  1889.  In  tlie  following  year  lie  received, 
at  Philadelphia,  his  license  to  preach,  and  in 
1889  he  was  regularly  ordained  to  the  sacred 
office  at  Martinsburg,  Va. 

The  first  jiastorate  of  Mr.  De  Yoe  was  at 
Emmitsburg,  Md.,  where  he  had  preached 
one  year  wliile  he  was  a  student  at  the  sem- 
inary. He  remained  in  the  charge  two  and 
a-half  years,  and  was  eminentlj'  successful 
in  his  work,  which  he  only  relinquished  in 


order  to  occupy  a  wider  field  that  opened  to 
him.  In  1891  he  accepted  a  call  which  was 
extended  to  him  from  Messiah  Lutiieran 
church,  at  Harrisburg.  Messiah  was  a 
prominent  congregation  and  one  that  had 
been  ministered  to  by  men  of  the  highest 
order  of  talent.  Rev.  De  Yoe  lias  devoted 
his  attention  solely  to  this  work,  and  his 
labors  of  the  last  five  years  have  demon- 
strated his  abilit}'  and  his  jiersonal  worth. 
They  have  been  years  crowned  with  success. 
Rev.  De  Yoe  was  married  in  Gettysburg, 
•  November  19,  1889,  to  Margaret  J.,  daughter 
of  Dr.  H.  W.  and  Mary  (  Welty)  McKnight. 
He  is  a  member  of  Capital  Citv  Lodge,  No. 
327,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.  Mrs.  De'Yoe,  wife  of 
Rev.  Luther  De  Yoe,  was  born  at  Newville, 
Cumberland  county.  Pa., September  8,  1868. 
Her  father.  Rev.  RAN.  McKnight,  D.  D.,  has 
been  for  many  years  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful minister  of  the  Lutheran  Ciiurch. 
He  is  at  present  president  of  Pennsylvania 
(College,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 


Early  (Oehrle),  Thomas,  was  an  active 
memberof  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church 
at  Ensengen,  in  the  Kingdom  of  Wurtem- 
berg.  His  son,  John  Early,  born  January  9, 
1724,  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  years.  After  he  had  received  his  di- 
ploma as  a  carpenter,  he  traveled  through 
difterent  parts  of  Germany  to  perfect  his 
trade.  He  was  also  a  Master  Free  Mason. 
He  came  to  America  in  1750.  landing  first 
at  Philadelphia,  and  subsequently  walking  to 
Reading.  He  was  here  elected  trustee  and 
building  master  for  erecting  the  First  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  church  there.  This  edifice 
lias  been  rebuilt  a,nd  is  one  of  the  largest 
churciies  in  the  place.  He  married  Susan 
Brombach  and  moved  to  Manada  Gap,  now 
in  Daujiliin  county,  Pa.  He  built  a  grist 
mill  on  the  foundation  of  the  present  mill 
which  is  still  there.  He  also  built  the  mill 
at  Bow  creek,  now  owned  by  Israel  Early. 
Both  of  these  mills  have  always  been  and 
are  now  in  tlie  possession  of  the  Earlys.  He 
had  one  son,  Cliristian  Earl3%  when  his  first 
wife  died  in  1753.  From  her  spring  all  of 
the  mountain  Earlys  and  those  near  or  along 
the  Jonestown  road.  He  married,  secondly, 
Regina  Sieciile,  in  1755,  daughter  of  John 
Albrecht  Siechle,  and  moved  to  Swatara 
creek,  near  the  moutli  of  the  Quittapohilla 
creek,  where  lie  joined  Hans  B.  Bendnaugle, 
George  Berger  and  others  in  the  building 
of    the    First    Evangelical     Lutheran    log 


286 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


church,  when  the  region  was  ahiiost  an  un- 
broken wiMerness.  The  cliurch  is  called 
the  Bendnaugle's  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church  to  this  day.  By  his  second  wife  he 
had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely  : 
John,  from  whom  all  the  valley  Earlys 
spring,  from  near  Palmyra,  now  Lebanon 
county;  William,  Thomas,  (Catharine  and 
Anna  Margaretta.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
principal  and  original  subscribers,  together 
with  his  sons  John,  William  and  Thomas, 
in  1803,  to  build  the  present  beautiful  sub- 
stantial Bendnaugle's  church,  the  pride  of' 
the  region.  His  son,  William  Early,  moved 
to  Centre  county,  Pa.,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  present  centurj',  where  he  and  his  father 
took  up  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  laid  out  a 
town  in  1797,  called  Earlysburg,  also  Will- 
iamsburg. He  built  a  saw  mill  there  and 
donated  a  tract  of  land  to  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  church  and  the  Reformed,  called 
Emanuel  church,  and  aided  in  building  a 
log  church.  He  was  one  of  the  first  officers 
of  the  cliurch,  which  was  rebuilt  in  1837. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  esquires  and  his 
brother  was  the  first  constable  of  Centre 
county.  William  Early,  Esq.,  was  also 
on  the  first  grand  jury  in  Centre  county. 
From  him  spring  the  Southern  and  Western 
Earlys.  The  second  son  of  the  first  John 
Earl}'  was  esquire  of  Londonderr\'  town- 
ship, as  was  his  brother  William  in  Centre 
county,  and  the  second  son  William  of  the 
second  son  John,  father  of  D.  S.  Earl}',  was 
also  esquire  of  Londonderrj'  township  for 
forty  years.  None  of  his  suits  were  ever 
settled  in  court.  This  William  Earh',  the 
father  of  Aaron  Daniel  Seth  Early,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county,  and  married  in  Dau- 
phin county,  and  died  in  Lebanon  county, 
and  was  never  out  of  the  county  or  London- 
derry township.  All  of  the  Earlys  were 
Whigs  until  the  Repul)lican  party  was  organ- 
ized. The  second  John  Earl}*,  son  of  Chris- 
tian Early,  the  only  son  of  the  first  John 
Early,  by  his  first  wife,  was  also  esquire  in 
West  Hanover  township,  Manada  Gap,  Dau- 
phin count}',  until  he  died. 

The  family  of  William,  the  second  son  of 
John  Early,  were  all  born  on  the  farm  called 
Beetime,  in  the  present  hou.se  which  he  built, 
and  consisted  of  fourteen  children,  eight 
sons  and  six  daughters.  Jacob,  the  oldest 
son  of  the  second  John  and  brother  of  Will- 
iam, was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Camp- 
bellstown  Lutheran  and  Reformed  church, 
and  his  descendants  are  buried  there.    Will- 


iam, the  second  son,  was  one  of  the  main 
pillars  and  supporters  of  the  Bendnaugle's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  and  deeded 
a  plat  of  ground  to  said  church,  and  he  and 
his  family  are  buried  there.  His  son, 
Joshua  Heaster,  stood  in  his  place  after  his 
death,  and  his  son  John  supported  the  same 
church.  A.  D.  S.  Early,  the  son  of  William 
Early,  assisted  liberally  with  his  means  and 
deeded  a  half  acre  of  land  to  the  same 
church,  for  the  sake  of  Christ,  and  for  his 
ancestors.  He  desired  to  beautify  the  church 
and  have  a  dwelling  on  the  premises,  and  to 
preserve  them  as  memorials  of  the  virtues  of 
his  ancestors,  and  to  have  some  one  to  dwell 
there  to  keep  the  church  and  burial  place 
always  in  order.  William  Early  ami  Mar- 
tin G.  Early,  sons  of  William  Early,  were 
among  the  founders  and  principal  donators 
of  the  first  Evangelical  Lutheran  and  Re- 
formed church  in  Palmyra,  Pa.,  and  Martin 
G.  Early  was  also  one  of  the  movers  and 
supjjorters  of  the  Second  Lutlieran  church 
in  Palmyra.  Rev.  John  William  Early, 
the  son  of  William  Early  and  brother  of  D. 
S.  Early,  is  a  minister  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 


Eakly,  Aaron  Daniel  Seth,  is  of  the 
fourth  generation  in  the  line  of  descent 
from  Thomas  Early.  He  was  born  May  14, 
1828,  in  Lebanon  county, on  the  farm  known 
as  the  Beetime  farm,  half  way  between  Pal- 
myra and  ('ampbellstown.  He  is  a  son  of 
the  late  William  Enrly,  Esq.,  and  Christiana 
(Kreider)  Early,  daughter  of  Rev.  Martin 
Kreider.  When  seven  years  of  age  his  father 
moved  to  Bendnaugles  in  1S35.  He  worked 
on  the  farm  and  went  to  the  Bendnaugle's 
parochial  school  until  1845,  when  he  entered 
the  store  of  his  brother,  M.  G.  Early,  and 
went  to  Alexander  Dasher's  school  at  Pal- 
myra, Pa.,  until  1847.  He  then  studied  at 
the  Lebanon  Academy  under  John  Gluge, 
principal,  until  1848,  when  he  went  to  Ann- 
ville  Mills,  now  Shiner  P.  0.,  one  mile  be- 
low New  Market  Forge,  to  represent  his 
brother  Martin's  half  interest  in  a  store.  In 
1849  he  bought  the  store  and  began  business 
for  himself  He  erected  a  new  building,  the 
largest  and  finest  country  store  in  Lebanon 
county,  and  also  bought  a  farm,  built  two 
houses  and  two  barns,  and  carried  on  his 
business  and  improved  his  property  until 
1857,  when  he  sold  out  the  store,  moved  to 
Annville,  bought  another  store,  Sertyer's  old 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


289 


stand,  and  carried  on  a  large  general  mer- 
cantile business,  and  also  dealt  in  real  estate. 
He  is  a  Repul)lican  in  politics  and  was 
elected  judge  of  elections  of  Nortii  Annville 
townsliip  in  1851,  when  he  was  twenty-tliree 
years  of  age.  He  was  elected  one  of  the  cor- 
porators of  the  Annville  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany in  1858  or  1859,  and  one  of  the  street 
commissioners  to  grade  the  town  in  1860. 
On  account  of  impaired  health  he  freed  him- 
self from  business  for  one  year.  In  1861,  in 
connection  with  John  H.  Balsbaugh,  he 
bought  the  half  interest  in  a  large  warehouse 
and  entered  the  grain,  milling  and  coal 
business  at  Swatara  Station.  In  ISGl  he  was 
ai)pointed  postmaster  by  President  Lincoln, 
and  ticket  agent  by  the  Reading  Railroad 
Com[)any.  He  also  built  a  large  Ijrick  dwell- 
ing hou.se  at  Swatara  Station.  In  1864  he 
sold  his  large  business  interests  to  Abraham 
Brechbill,  and  moved  to  Hummelstown,and 
opened  a  large  grain,  coal  and  lime  business. 
By  his  ability  and  influence  lie  was  instru- 
mental in  locating  tlie  Denoniinational  Col- 
lege of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  at 
Annville,  and  was  elected  the  first  president 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  this  college. 
He  was  elected  president  of  the  board  of 
commissioiier.s  to  grade  the  town  of  Ilum- 
melstown.  lie  was  the  discoverer  of  the 
Brown  Hermetite  ore  mines  near  Swatara 
Station,  and  the  organizer  of  the  Swatara 
Iron  Company,  and  was  elected  the  general 
superintendent  of  the  same.  He  was  elected 
a  director  of  the  United  Brethren  Mutual 
Aid  Society  of  Pennsylvania  in  1869,  and 
filled  the  jilace  for  twenty-seven  years.  In 
187U  he  was  elected  general  superintendent 
for  ten  and  filled  it  for  eleven  years,  when 
he  resigned  on  account  of  fiiiling  health. 
While  in  the  office  he  traveled  over  twenty 
States  and  part  of  Canada.  In  1872  he 
moved  to  Ilarrisburg  in  order  to  afford  his 
children  the  advantages  of  education,  im- 
provement, culture  and  the  enjoyment  which 
the  city  attbrds.  His  residence  is  on  the 
corner  of  Sixth  and  Kelker  streets.  He  or- 
ganized a  Greenback  Club  in  1877  and  was 
made  candidate  for  Congress  by  that  party, 
and  ran  far  ahead  even  of  the  candidate  for 
governor  on  the  same  ticket.  He  wa»  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Reily  Hose  Fire 
Company  No.  10,  in  Harrisburg,  and  was 
the  first  treasurer  of  the  company.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  subscribers  and  a  stock- 
holder and  organizer  of  the  Kelker  Street 
Market    Company    of    Harrisburg.      Is    a 


stockholder  in  the  first  Harrisburg  Street 
Railway  Company.  He  is  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  German-American  Union.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  supi)orters  and  organizers 
of  the  Committee  of  One  Hundred  of  the  city 
of  Ilarrisburg,  and  served  as  its  chairman. 
Mr.  Early  was  a  subscriber  of  funds  to 
build  and  aid  four  colleges,  two  Lutheran 
churches,  one  Church  of  God,  thirty-two 
United  Brethren  in  Christ  churches,  six  par- 
sonages, one  printing  house,  four  missionary 
societies,  two  churcli  erection  societies,  and 
owner  of  forty-eight  properties  that  were 
deeded  to  him.  He  was  farmer,  merchant, 
grain  and  coal  dealer,  mineralogist,  inventor, 
insurance  manager,  or  general  agent  of 
insurance,  builder,  lecturer  and  minister  of 
the  gospel. 

Mr.  Early,  January  1,  1859,  received  a 
quarterly  conference  license  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  without  his  knowledge,  by 
a  unanimous  vote  of  said  Quarterl}',  to 
preach  the  gospel  at  Annville,  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  signed  hj  the  i)residing  elder, 
Rev.  A.  Steigerwalt.  On  January  12,  1861, 
at  the  annual  confei'ence  of  the  same  church 
held  at  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  Pa., 
after  the  examination  on  his  character  and 
regular  reading  course,  he  also  received  a 
conference  license,  of  the  East  Pennsyl- 
vania Conference,  to  preach  the  gospel, 
signed  by  Bishop  J.  J.  Glossbrenner.  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1864,  at  the  annual  conference 
held  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Mr.  Earl}'  was  or- 
dained an  elder  of  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ  and  received  authority 
to  administer  the  ordinances,  signed  by 
Bishop  J.  Markwood. 

Mr.  Early  was  married  January  23, 1851, 
to  Miss  Amanda  A.  Mark,  daughter  of  Rev. 
George  A.  and  Christiana  Runkel  Mark.  To 
them  have  been  born  six  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  namely  :  Clara  S.,  wife  of 
E.  W.  S.  Parthemore;  Minerva  J.,  single; 
Ida  E.,  wife  of  Albert  Deitrich ;  Nora  J., 
wife  of  William  Deitrich ;  two  sisters  hav- 
ing married  two  brothers  on  the  same  day. 

William  Early,  the  father  of  A.  D.  S. 
Early,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Gett\'sburg,  an  active 
politician,  a  Whig  until  after  Gen.  William 
Henry  Harrison's  presidential  election,  when 
he  turned  Democrat,  and  all  his  sons  Re- 
publicans, excejit  his  son  Joshua  Heaster, 
who  was  an  independent  voter.  After  1865, 
his  oldest  son,  John,  also  became  a  Demo- 
ci'at,  and  his  son  Daniel  Seth  turned  to  the 


290 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Greenbacks,  and  was  a  leader  of  that  part}', 
and  ever  since,  he  says  he  is  "an  Independ- 
ent of  the  Independents."  All  the  rest  of 
the  Earlj's  are  still  Republicans. 

HiLnEUP,  Thomas,  a  native  of  England, 
came  to  America  and  settled  at  Hartford, 
Conn.,  in  17G6,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  jeweler,  and  carried  on  that  business 
there  during  the  remainder  of  his  active 
life.  He  was  an  influential  citizen  of  the 
place,  and  was  appointed  and  served  as  post- 
master of  Hartford  for  several  j'ears.  He 
had  five  sons:  Jolin,  Joslin, Thomas,  William 
and  Jesse,  and  two  daughters.  Jesse  Hil- 
drup  spent  his  life  as  a  tanner  and  shoe- 
maker in  Middletown,  and  a  farmer  in  Dan- 
bury,  Conn.,  and  died  in  Belvidere,  111. 
His  wife  was  Sopliia  Tumor,  of  Middlefield, 
and  their  children  were:  William  T.,  a 
sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume;  Mary,  who  married  Rev.  S.  C. 
Howe,  a  Methodist  clergyman;  Jesse,  a 
lawyer  of  Chicago,  111.;  Martha  and  John,  a 
machinist  in  the  car  works  at  Harrisburg. 


Kelker,  Frederick,  son  of  Anthony  and 
Mary  Magdalene  Kelker,  was  born  in  Leb- 
anon, Pa.,  October  29, 1780  ;  was  baptized  No- 
vember 2G,  1780,  in  the  German  Reformed 
church  and  confirmed  and  united  with  the 
same  in  1799.  He  entered  the  store  of  Oves 
&  Moore,  at  Lebanon,  in  1801  for  the  pur- 
pose of  learning  the  hardware  business. 
After  becoming  a  member  of  this  firm,  he 
removed  to  Harrisburg  in  180.5  and  e  m- 
barked  in  the  first  exclusiveh'  hardware 
business  in  this  citj',  under  the  firm  name  of 
F.  Kelker  &  Co.,  at  No.  5,  now  No.  9  South 
Front  street.  This  partnership  continued 
until  1811,  when  Mr.  Kelker  became  sole 
proprietor  and  conducted  the  business  until 
1823,  when  in  July  of  that  year  he  sold  out 
to  George  Oglesby  and  Jacob  Poole.  Mr. 
Kelker  died  July  12, 1857.  He  was  remark- 
able for  punctualit}'  and  integrity.  His 
habits  for  industry  and  economy  led  to  the 
acquisition  of  a  competency,  and  the  latter 
half  especially  of  his  life  was  devoted  to  the 
amelioration  of  tlie  condition  of  the  poor, 
sick  and  friendless.  He  filled  man}-  minor 
positions  in  the  community  in  which  he 
lived,  always  rejecting  political  preferment. 
For  several  terms  he  was  member  and  pres- 
ident of  the  borough  council.  He  was  a  di- 
rector of  the  branch  established  bj'  the  Phil- 
adelphia Bank,  in  Harrisburg,  and  a  direc- 


tor of  the  Harrisburg  Bank.  When  the 
public  schools  were  first  established  in  Penn- 
sylvania, he  became  a  director  and  was 
ready  at  all  times  to  co-operate  with  his  fel- 
low-citizens in  all  of  the  benevolent  enter- 
prises of  the  day.  Mr.  Kelker  was  prom- 
inent in  the  Reformed  church  and  presided 
at  the  meeting  on  November  17,  1820,  to 
establish  the  first  Sunday-school  in  connec- 
tion with  tlie  cliurch,  and  was  also  active  in 
the  measures  adopted  for  erecting  the  churcli 
building  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Chest- 
nut streets.  His  wife,  Lydia  Genberhing 
Chamberlin,  born  in  Philadelphia,  April  9, 
1786,  united  with  the  German  Reformed 
church  of  Harrisburg,  April  22,  1809,  and 
died  May  2,  1812.  Mr.  Kelker  was  married 
secondly  to  Catharine  Fager,  born  in  Har- 
risburg, October  24,  1798,  daughter  of  John 
Fager ;  baptized  December  2,  1798,  in  tlie 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Zion  church  and  first 
partook  of  communion  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
March  26,  1815.  After  her  marriage  she 
withdrew  from  the  Lutheran  and  united 
with  the  Reformed  church. 


B.AiLEY,  Gen.  Joel,  was  born  in  Penn's 
Manor,  Bucks  county.  Fa.,  on  September  26, 
1789.  His  parents,  Josepli  and  Lydia  Bailey, 
were  Quakers.  His  ancestors  were  among 
the  original  settlers  of  Pennsylvania,  coming 
from  England  in  1682. 

He  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmitii  in 
his  native  county,  and  in  1810  removed  to 
and  settled  in  the  then  little  village  of  Har- 
risburg. He  was  an  active,  intelligent,  en- 
terprising young  man,  who  started  in  the 
world  "on  his  own  hook"  and  to  make  his 
fortune.  He  established  a  blacksmith  shop 
on  the  site  of  the  Hotel  Columbus,  opposite 
the  present  postoflSce  building,  at  the  corner 
of  Third  and  Walnut  streets,  Harrisburg, 
more  than  eighty  years  ago,  and  for  many 
years  did  all  the  important  work  in  his  line 
of  business  in  this  section.  Much  of  the 
iron  work  of  the  old  State  capitol  was  manu- 
factured or  done  under  his  supervision. 
Subsequently  he  was  largely  engaged  in 
contract  work.  He  was  one  of  the  principal 
men  in  the  construction  of  the  Chesapeake 
and  J)elaware  canal,  the  Wiconisco  Feeder, 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad,  the  Cum- 
berland Valley  railroad,  and  the  Gettysburg 
or  so-called  "  Tape  Worm  "  railroad,  build- 
ing many  of  its  sections  and  culverts,  the 
latter  of  which  stand  to-day  as  monuments 
of  engineering  skill  and  construction.  These 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


291 


are  yet  to  be  seen  in  the  present  Gettysburg 
and  Harrisburg  railroad. 

From  his  earliest  youth  Mr.  Bailey  was 
much  interested  in  military  affairs.  He  was 
first  lieutenant  in  Capt.  Richard  M.  Grain's 
company,  which  served  in  the  war  of  1812-14, 
and  which  marched  to  the  defense  of  Balti- 
more under  the  command  of  Gen.  John 
Forster,  of  Harrisburg,  who  had  charge  of 
the  Pennsylvania  troops.  In  1829  and  1830 
he  was  keeper  of  the  State  arsenal  under  the 
administration  of  Governor  Wolf,  and  there 
are,  in  the  possession  of  his  son,  letters  re- 
ferring to  orders  for  guns,  ammunition,  etc., 
from  George  B.  Porter,  adjutant  general  and 
subsequently  governor  of  Michigan  Terri- 
tory under  General  Jackson's  administration, 
and  subsequently  from  Simon  Cameron, 
who  also  served  as  adjutant  general  under 
Governor  Wolf.  For  several  years  General 
Bailey  served  as  brigade  inspector  of  the 
militia  of  Dauphin  county,  and  was  after- 
wards brigadier  general  of  the  troops  com- 
prised in  Dauphin,  Lebanon  and  North- 
umberland counties. 

For  many  years  General  Bailey  was  prom- 
inent in  political  affairs,  having  all  his  life 
adhered  to  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  was  the  warm,  personal  and 
political  friend  of  William  Findlay,  George 
Wolf,  James  Buchanan,  David  R.  Porter, 
Francis  R.  Shunk,  Daniel  Sturgeon,  Judge 
Samuel  D.  Franks,  James  R.Snowden,  Will- 
iam Hopkins,  Arnold  Plumer.  George 
Sanderson  and  other  worthies  of  the  past. 
In  1821  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  to 
fix  the  seat  of  justice  of  Juniata  county, 
Lewistown  being  chosen.  He  was  chief 
burgess  of  the  borough  of  Harrisburg  in 
1832,  and  served  several  times  as  a  member 
of  the  borough  council.  While  chief  bur- 
gess he  approved  an  ordinance  enacted  June 
25,  1832,  which  was  also  signed  by  N.  B. 
Wood,  president  of  the  council,  "authoriz- 
ing a  loan  to  be  applied  in  improving  the 
streets,  lanes  and  alleys  of  the  borough  of 
Harrisburg."  The  loan  was  to  be  for 
$20,000,  but  whether  it  was  ever  accom- 
plished there  is  no  record.  In  1833  he  an- 
nounced himself  as  a  candidate  for  the  Legis- 
lature for  Dauphin  county,  but  was  not 
elected  owing  to  the  then  condition  of  af- 
fairs regarding  the  Anti-Masonic  movement. 
He  was  also  prominent  in  Masonic  circles, 
having  been  for  many  years  a  member  of 
Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  A.  Y.  M.,  of 
Harrisburg. 


General  Bailey  was  a  remarkably  fine- 
looking  man.  He  stood  about  five  feet  ten 
inches  in  height,  was  straight  as  an  arrow, 
his  shoulders  were  broad  and  square,  and 
these  were  surrounded  by  a  splendid  head  of 
brown  hair.  He  wore  side  whiskers,  which 
gave  a  pleasant  effect  to  his  handsome,  in- 
telligent face.  He  was  a  superb  horseman, 
and  when  mounted  looked  the  born  soldier. 
In  his  manner  he  was  extremely  pleasant, 
and  he  was  the  life  of  every  social  circle  in 
which  he  moved.  In  his  actions,  public  and 
private,  he  was  generous  and  benevolent, 
and  his  fellow-citizens  of  all  classes  were 
warmly  attached  to  him. 

His  domestic  life  was  a  very  happy  one. 
He  was  married  March  10, 1814,  to  Elizabeth 
Seidle,  of  Berks  county.  He  was  the  father 
of  eight  children,  six  boys  and  two  girls,  the 
only  survivor  being  the  youngest,  Mr. 
George  Bailey,  who  still  resides  at  the  old 
homestead,  No.  222  Locust  street.  General 
Bailey  died  on  the  16th  of  October,  1845,  at 
the  comparatively  early  age  of  fifty -six  years. 
His  wife  survived  him  thirty  years,  dying, 
on  the  14th  of  August,  1875,  aged  eighty- 
three  years. 

In  all  the  relations  of  life,  whether  as 
husband,  father,  citizen  or  soldier,  he  bore 
himself  as  a  man  and  Christian.  His  death 
was  a  cause  for  sincere  sorrow  and  mourning, 
not  only  in  Harrisburg,  but  throughout  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  buried  with 
Ma.sonic  and  civil  sei'vices,  and  with  the 
honors  of  war  by  the  military  of  Dauphin, 
county.  His  remains  are  interred  in  the 
Harrisburg  cemetery. 

Simmons,  Col.  Seneca  G.,  was  born  on 
December  27,  1808,  in  Windsor  county,  Vt. 
the  son  of  Alfred  Simmons  and  his  wife 
Deborah  Perkins.  He  was  brought  up  on 
his  father's  farm,  receiving  the  limited  edu- 
cation obtained  at  the  country  school.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  he  entered  the  military 
school  of  Capt.  Alden  Partridge,  then  lo- 
cated at  Middletown,  Conn.,  subsequently 
accompanying  the  school  on  its  removal  to 
Georgetown,  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 
In  July,  1829,  he  entered  West  Point,  by  the 
appointment  of  President  Jackson,  from 
which  institution  he  graduated  with  dis- 
tinction, in  1834,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
Seventh  U.  S.  infantiy,  as  brevet  second 
lieutenant,  July  1,  1834;  promoted  to  sec- 
ond lieutenant  on  th«  31st  of  December  fol- 
lowing. 


292 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Previous  to  joining  his  regiment  he  was 
assigned  to  topographical  duty  under  Major 
Wm.  G.  McNeil,  and  assisted  in  the  surve}' 
of  the  harbor  of  Apalachicola,  Fla.  During 
the  summers  of  1835  and  1836  lie  was  en- 
gaged, under  Col.  Stephen  H.  Long,  upon 
surveys  in  the  State  of  Maine;  first  on  the 
coast  and  then  on  a  contemplated  line  of 
railway  between  Belfast  and  Quebec,  Canada. 
He  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  Janu- 
ary ]9,  1837,  wlien  he  joined  his  regiment, 
shortly  after  receiving  Jiis  appointment  as 
aid  to  Gen.  Matthew  Arbuckle,  then  in  com- 
mand of  the  department  of  the  Southwest. 
He  was  also  made  assistant  adjutant  gen- 
eral, which  position  he  held  for  several  years, 
retaining  it  after  General  Taylor  resumed 
command,  and  until  relieved  by  Colonel 
Bliss,  tlie  General's  son-in-law.  His  regi- 
ment was  then,  the  spring  of  1842,  serving 
in  Florida,  and  thither  he  immediately  re- 
paired. At  the  conclusion  of  the  Florida 
war  liis  regiment  was  detailed  for  duty  in 
garrisoning  posts  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
he  was  stationed  at  Fort  Pike,  La.,  where  he 
remained  during  the  years  1842  and  1843, 
transacting,  in  addition  to  the  duties  of  his 
position  in  his  companj',  those  of  commis- 
sary and  quartermaster  to  the  post.  Wiien 
his  turn  came  for  being  detailed  on  recruit- 
ing service,  lie  was  ordered  to  Sj'racuse,  N. 
Y.,  and  was  engaged  in  that  dut}'  until  tiie 
breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Mexico.  On 
his  arrival  in  the  field,  he  was  immediately 
assigned  as  assistant  commissary  and  quar- 
termaster at  Matamoras.  During  the  year 
1847  he  remained  at  that  point,  but  on  receiv- 
ing his  commission  as  captain,  to  date  from 
February  16,  1847,  he  rejoined  his  regiment, 
then  under  Scott,  on  the  way  to  the  Mexican 
capital,  and  distinguished  himself  at  the 
battle  of  Haumantla,  on  October  9,  that 
year. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  stationed 
at  Jefferson  Barracks, Mo.,  a  portion  of  his 
regiment,  including  his  own  company, 
having  been  ordered  to  Fort  Leavenworth, 
Kan.,  on  special  duty.  In  1849  and  1850 
he  was  sent  to  Florida,  owing  to  the  hostile 
attitude  of  the  Seminole  Lidians.  In  1850 
he  was  stationed  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  and 
while  there  received  a  severe  injury,  which 
for  a  time  placed  his  life  in  a  critical  con- 
dition, and  from  the  effects  of  which  lie 
never  full}'  recovered.  Lame,  and  on 
crutches,  he  was,  in  the  year  1851,  ordered 
io   Pottsville,    Pa.,    on    recruiting    service. 


While  stationed  there  he  so  far  recovered  as 
to  attend  to  the  duties  of  active  service,  and 
was  sent  to  the  command  of  Fort  Arbuckle 
upon  the  frontier.  His  regiment  was  soon 
afterwards  ordered  to  Utah.  Here  he  re- 
mained four  years.  During  the  years  1858 
and  1859  he  was  stationed  at  Jefferson  Bar- 
racks, Mo.,  and  at  Newport  Barracks,  Ky., 
but  unable,  through  the  disability  referred 
to,  to  perform  the  active  duties  required  of 
him.  Captain  Simmons  souglit  and  obtained 
a  furlougii,  and  joined  liis  family  at  Harris- 
burg. 

He  was  here  when  the  slaveholders'  rebel- 
lion commenced ;  and  when  tlie  first  call 
was  made  for  troops,  Captain  Simmons  was 
made  mustering  officer  for  the  Pennsylvania 
volunteers.  To  iiim  more  is  due  tiian  he 
lias  generally  been  given  credit  for — t!ie 
organization,  the  discipline  and  tiie  efficiency 
of  that  notable  body  of  volunteers,  the  Penn- 
sylvania reserves.  From  April  to  June, 
1861,  notwithstanding  tlie  pliysical  infirmity 
from  wiiicii  he  suffered,  he  labored  most 
assiduously,  and  such  was  the  high  apprecia- 
tion in  which  he  was  held  by  the  men  of 
that  brave  organization,  that  he  could  have 
had  the  command  of  any  one  regiment. 
TJiat  of  the  Fifth  was  unanimousl}'  tendered 
him,  although  personally  unknown  to  any  of 
the  officers  of  that  body.  His  commission 
as  colonel  bears  date  June  21,  1861. 

Colonel  Simmons'  first  service  was  to 
marcii,  in  connection  with  the  celebrated 
"  Bucktail  "  regiment  and  some  artillery,  to 
tlie  support  of  General  Wallace  in  West 
Virginia,  and  thence  to  Washington  City, 
where  he  drilled  his  command  and  prepared 
it  for  service  in  the  division  (General  Mc- 
Call's.)  During  the  remainder  of  1861  he 
continued  at  tiie  National  Capital,  engaged 
in  covering  its  approaciies. 

On  the  9th  of  September  lie  was  promoted 
major  of  the  Fourth  infantry,  but  preferred 
to  remain  with  the  volunteer  troops.  He 
participated  in  the  action  at  Drainesville, 
December  20,  1861,  and  until  May  of  the 
year  following  his  command  was  performing 
guard  duty  on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria 
railroad,  the  subsequent  months  on  picket 
near  Fredericksburg,  Va.  In  the  Seven 
Days'  fight  before  Richmond  he  took  a 
decisive  part,  especially  in  the  action  at 
Mechanicsville  and  Gaines'  Mill.  At  Cliarles 
City  X  Roads,  or  as  frequentiv  termed,  White 
Oak  Swamp,  on  tlie  30tir  of  June,  1862, 
wliile  leading  the  First  brigade  with  true 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


293 


Spartan  valor,  he  fell  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight.  General  McCall,  who  was  captnred  on 
the  evening  of  the  hattlejustspoken  of,  while 
reconnoitering,  sent  to  Mrs.  Simmons  the 
following  aeconnt  of  her  brave  husband's 
death: 

Richmond,  Virginia, 
Tobacco  Warehouse  Prison, 

July  15,  1862. 

My  Dear  Madam  :■  It  is  not  to  say  that  I 
mourn  the  loss  of  a  friend  that  I  write  to 
you,  although  twenty  years'  knowledge  of  his 
worth  and  very  many  most  estimable  qual- 
ities, had  truly  endeared  your  husband  to 
me;  nor  is  it  to  attempt  to  offer  consolation 
in  your  bereavement,  which  One  above  alone 
can  give  you.  I  write  to  inform  you  that 
after  Colonel  Simmons,  who,  on  the  30th  of 
.June,  commanded  the  First  brigade  of  my 
division,  was  wounded,  he  was  captured  by 
tlie  enemy,  carried  to  their  hospital,  and 
laid  by  the  side  of  Captain  Biddle,  of  Phila- 
delphia, my  assistant  adjutant  general,  who 
was  also  severely  wounded  and  a  prisoner. 
During  the  night  of  the  1st  of  July,  as  I  am 
informed,  the  colonel  sank  under  tlie  eti'ects 
of  his  wound,  and  calmly  exj)ired  at  Biddle's 
side.  This  I  have  from  Biddle  himself,  who 
is  here  in  the  hospital. 

I  have  only  to  add  that  the  Coloners  body 
has  been  brought  to  this  city  and  is  interred 
here,  wiiere  it  may  be  conveyed  to  his  friends 
at  liie  proper  time. 

Believe  me,  dear  madam,  very  truly  and 
sincerely,  your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 
Geo.  a.  McCall, 
Brigadier  General,  U.  S.  A. 

To  Mrs.  Seneca  G.  Simmons,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Twenty  years  after,  in  October,  1882,  an 
officer  in  the  Confederate  service,  Capt.  R.  L. 
Lewis,  of  Pickens  county,  S.  C,  wrote  Mrs. 
Simmons,  giving  her  the  following  reminis- 
cence : 

"  It  was  on  the  30th  of  .June,  1862,  in  one 
of  the  fights  around  Richmond,  that  our 
brigade  was  called  on  to  make  a  charge  on  a 
battery  of  twelve  pieces,  supported  by  a  bri- 
gade from  Pennsylvania, commanded  by  Col- 
onel Simmons,  acting  as  brigadier  general. 
M.  Jenkins  was  our  colonel,  of  a  South  Caro- 
lina regiment,  and  was  also  acting  as  briga- 
dier general.  Colonel  Simmons'  brigade  was 
stationed  in  a  field  to  the  right  of  the  battery. 


his  right  resting  on  or  near  a  house.  The 
place  was  called  Frazier's  Farm,  or  Glendale. 
Our  brigade  marched  right  across  the  field, 
witii  fixed  bayonets,  against  his.  We  did 
not  fire  a  gun  until  we  were  witiiin  twenty  or 
thirty  paces.  When  Colonel  Simmons'  bri- 
gade gave  away  or  broke  ranks,  he  sat  on  his 
horse  trying  to  rally  them  until  he  received  . 
a  fatal  wound  and  fell  from  his  horse.  We 
gained  the  field  and  took  the  battery,  but 
suffered  severely.  Our  loss  was  heavy ;  I  had 
twenty-five  men  wounded,  six  killed  and  one 
lieutenant  wounded.  Some  companies  lost 
more.  After  the  fight  I  went  to  the  battle- 
field to  look  after  my  men.  I  found  your 
husband  lying  where  he  had  fallen  from 
his  horse.  He  told  me  who  he  was,  that  he 
was  badly  wounded,  and  then  asked  me  to 
hel[)  him.  I  called  some  of  our  ambulance 
corps,  and  had  iiim  carried  to  a  vacant  house 
near  by.  I  took  off  his  spurs  and  sword, 
which  he  gave  to  me,  placed  him  upon  a  bed, 
and  gave  him  all  the  help  I  could.  He  asked 
me  who  was  commanding  the  fight.  I  told 
him  Gen.  Q.  U.  Anderson.  He  said,  "  I 
know  him.  I  was  with  him  in  the  Mexican 
war."  He  then  asked  me  to  tell  the  General 
that  he  would  like  to  see  him.  I  conveyed 
the  message  to  General  Anderson, but  he  said 
he  could  not  see  him.  The  next  day  I  called 
to  see  how  Mr.  Simmons  was  doing,  but  found 
him  in  a  comatose  state.  He  could  not  com- 
municate anytiiing.  When  I  placed  him 
u)ion  the  bed,  I  noticed  he  had  on  a  watch, 
I  think  a  guard  or  chain  made  of  hair,  but 
it  was  gone.  Some  one  had  taken  it.  As  I 
had  to  go  out  to  the  Malvern  Hill  fight,  I 
saw  no  more  of  him, but  made  inquiries  con- 
cerning him,  and  was  told  that  he  was 
carried  to  the  field  hospital,  where  he  died. 
Dr.  Gaston,  our  brigade  surgeon,  took  from 
liis  person  three  medals,  one  for  services  in 
the  Mexican  war, one  from  tlie  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  one  from  the  United  States  for 
gallant  services.  Colonel  Sims,  our  adjutant 
general,  said  he  took  a  pin  from  his  shirt, 
marked  with  the  letter  "  G."  I  presume  it 
was  a  Masonic  emblem.  I  gave  the  Colonel's 
sword  to  Gen.M.  Jenkins.  He  was  killed  in 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  on  the  0th  of 
May,  1864,  with  it  on.  I  presume  his  family 
have  it." 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1882,  Dr.  0.  M.  Doyle, 

of  Toccoa,  Ga.,  in  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Simmons, 

gives  the  following  interesting  information  : 

...      "At  the  time  of  the  battle  referred 


294 


Bl  0  GRA  PHICAL  ENCTCL  OPEDIA 


to,  I  was  regimental  surgeon,  and  with  others 
of  the  brigade,  in  charge  of  the  field  hospital. 
I  was  told  that  Colonel  Simmons  fell  in  front 
of  our  part  of  the  line,  and  as  our  line  ad- 
vanced he  was  taken  up  and  brought  to  the 
field  hospital  by  my  ambulance  corps.  He 
was  wounded  by  a  minie  ball,  through  the 
liver  and  lung,  and  died,  I  think,  the  second 
day.  I  treated  him  in  the  best  manner  pos- 
sible under  the  circumstances,  and  had  him 
buried  as  decently  as  could  be  done  there  at 
such  a  time.  He  was  reported  by  our  officers 
as  acting  conspicuously  brave  on  that  san- 
guinary field,  as  being  the  cause,  in  their 
opinion,  of  that  part  of  the  Federal  line 
standing  as  long  as  it  did.  That  report  did 
much  toward  stimulating  a  greater  desire 
on  our  part  to  do  all  that  was  possible  for  a 
brave  but  fallen  foe.  Before  death  he  thanked 
us  sincerely  for  our  attentions.  He  gave  to 
some  one  of  our  party  (I  do  not  recollect 
in  whose  hand  he  placed  them)  a  gold 
watch,  a  picture  of  his  wife,  and  I  think  $60 
in  gold  coin,witii  the  request  that  the  watch 
and  picture  (I  do  not  think  he  included  the 
coin)  be  sent  to  his  wife.  I  have  one  knowl- 
edge or  recollection  of  a  Masonic  pin  or 
badge.  If  I  had  seen  one,  I  am  sure  I  would 
recollect  it  from  my  association  with  the 
order.  These  articles  were  placed  in  j)0sses- 
sion  of  Dr.  Gaston,  our  brigade  surgeon  (now 
dead),  with  the  lequest  made  by  Colonel 
Simmons  (coin  and  all).  A  few  days  after 
this  occurrence  there  was  a  Federal  surgeon 
at  our  quarters,  temporarily  in  our  lines. 
We  were  all  together,  this  surgeon,  Dr.  Gas- 
ton and  myself.  Dr.  Gaston  told  me  that  he 
had  turned  those  articles  of  Colonel  Simmons 
over  to  this  surgeon,  to  be  sent  to  his  widow. 
I  suppose  I  heard  the  name  of  the  Federal 
surgeon  when  I  met  him,  but  I  have  no 
recollection  of  what  it  was.  Such  is  a  hasty 
account  of  what  I  know  of  vour  husband's 
death."  ... 

The  foregoing  is  all  the  information  gained 
concerning  that  intrepid  officer.  No  braver 
man  drew  a  sword  in  defense  of  the  Union. 
No  nobler  life  was  sacrificed  in  that  fratricidal 
strife.  Strict  in  discipline,  amounting  to 
sternness,  he  had  a  generous  spirit.  His  face 
presented  ordinaril}'  a  calm  and  benevolent 
expression,  but  when  excited  every  feature 
seemed  to  flash  fire.  He  had  a  big  heart, 
and  was  as  grand)}-  lenient  as  he  was  severely 
rigid.  In  person  he  was  nearly  six  feet  in 
height,  of  strong    and   robust   fi'ame,  florid 


complexion,  brown   hair,  heavy  beard   and 
light  blue  eyes. 

Colonel  Simmons  was  married  at  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  in  1834,  to  Elmira  A.,  daughter 
of  Caleb  and  Content  (Le  Barron)  Simmons, 
early  residents  of  Harrisburg,  whose  earthly 
remains  are  interred  in  tlie  Harrisburg 
cemetery.  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Simmons  had 
four  children  :  Charles  F.,  born  in  Augusta, 
Me.,  December  21,  1835,  he  was  a  civil  en- 
gineer in  the  service  of  the  Reading  Rail- 
road Company,  and  died  at  Pottsville,  Pa., 
March  16,1856;  Frederick  Douglass,  born 
at  Fort  Gibson,  Indian  Territory, also  a  civil 
engineer  in  the  service  of  the  Reading  Rail- 
road Company,  and  died  at  Harrisburg, 
Edward  Courtney,  born  in  Indian  Territory, 
and  died  at  Governor's  Island,  Fort  Colum- 
bus, New  York  Harbor;  Elmira  Adelaide, 
wife  of  Daniel  J.  Attick,  born  at  Fort  Pike, 
La.,  December  27,  1842. 

Mrs.  Simmons  was  born  January  2,  1808, 
and  died  February  6,  1886.  As  wife  and 
mother,  she  had  few  superiors.  Those  who 
know  her  best,  appreciated  her  goodness  and 
nobleness  of  heart.  She  was  a  member  of 
St.  Stephen's  Protestant  Episcopal  ciiurch. 
Her  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  her 
rector,  Rev.  R.  J.  Keeling,  D.  D.,  who  paid  a 
loving  tribute  to  her  life  and  services.  Her 
remains  were  taken  to  Pottsville,  Pa.,  for  in- 
terment, Post  No.  116,  G.  A.  R.,  acting  as  a 
military  escort,  and  many  distinguished 
citizens  of  Harrisburg  attending  as  pall- 
bearers and  as  mourners.  At  the  grave  the 
impressive  burial  service  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  was  followed  by  that  of  the  Grand 
Arm}'  of  the  Republic ;  and  floral  tributes 
of  affection  and  respect  were  laid  upon  iier 
casket  by  the  comrades,  they  delighting  to 
honor  one  who,  among  her  many  endearing 
benevolent  traits,  had  always  shown  lierself 
the  constant  and  devoted  friend  of  tlie  sol- 
dier. 

Daniel  J.  Attick,  of  the  firm  of  Attick  & 
Bros.,  manufacturers  and  dealers  in  lime 
and  stone,  was  born  in  Swatara  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  in  Ma3%  1856.  He  is 
a  son  of  Daniel  and  the  late  Mar}'  A.  (Mep- 
ford)  Attick.  He  grew  up  on  his  father's 
farm,  receiving  a  public  school  education  in 
his  native  township.  He  was  a  farmer,  and 
flour  miller  ;  in  April,  1895,  he  engaged  in 
his  present  business.  Mr.  Attick  was  mar- 
ried in  Harrisburg,  December  23,  1886,  to 
Elmira  A.,  daughter  of  Col.  Seneca  G.  Sim- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


295 


mons  and  his  wife,  Elmira  A.  (Simmons) 
Simmons.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
Mrs.  Attick  is  a  member  of  St.  Stephen's  P. 
E.  church. 


WiERMAN,  Thomas  Thornburg,  son  of 
Isaac  Wierman  and  Susannah  (Coraly)  Wier- 
man,  was  born  in  1813,  in  Menallen  town- 
ship, Adams  county.  Pa.,  and  died  at  Harris- 
burg  August  2,  1887.  He  was  educated  at 
private  schools,  that  of  Judge  McLean,  at 
Gettysburg,  and  Amos  Gilbert,  at  Strasburg, 
Lancaster  count)',  and  was  employed  subse- 
quently on  his  father's  farm  at  the  home 
place  until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  teach- 
ing school  in  the  neighborhood  during  the 
winter  months.  In  1836,  through  favor  of 
Hon.  Thaddeus  Stevens,  canal  commissioner, 
Tiiomas  T.  Wierman  received  an  appoint- 
ment and  began  his  professional  career  as 
rodman  on  the  survey  for  tiie  North  Branch 
canal  from  Wilkes-Barre  to  State  line,  under 
James  D.  Harris,  chief  engineer,  remaining 
there  two  years.  In  1838  he  was  employed 
under  Mr.  Harris  on  surveys  to  avoid  the 
incline  plane  on  the  State  railroad  near 
Philadelphia.  In  1840  was  assistant  under 
A.  B.  Warford,  chief  engineer  on  the  repairs 
and  improvements  of  the  State  canals  from 
Harrisburg  to  Wilkes-Barre  and  stationed  at 
Northumberland,  remaining  there  two  years, 
when  the  Legislature  refused  any  appropri- 
ation for  the  continued  employment  of  en- 
gineers. Mr.  Wierman  then  repaired  to  his 
father's  farm  in  Adams  county  and  engaged 
in  the  business  of  raising  and  selling  fruit 
trees. 

In  1846  he  was  employed  as  agent  for  the 
State  to  stake  out  and  superintend  the  con- 
struction of  the  eastern  reservoir  of  the 
canal  near  Hollidaysburg.  In  1847  he  was 
engaged  on  the  construction  of  a  section  of 
the  Pennsylvania  railroad  passing  Duncan- 
non,  and  completed  it  in  1849,  when  he 
moved  to  Lewistown,  remaining  for  a  period 
in  ciuirge  of  the  track  laying  of  the  section 
extending  to  Huntingdon.  In  1850  he  re- 
turned to  employment  under  the  State  as 
principal  assistant  engineer  to  complete  the 
construction  of  the  North  Branch  canal, 
under  Wni.  B.  Foster,  chief  engineer,  and 
tiiereafter  was  employed  on  a  topographical 
survey  of  Long  Island  for  the  water  supply 
of  the  city  of  Brooklyn.  Thence  to  the 
Huntingdon  and  Broad  Top  railroad  as 
superintendent. 

The  following  notice  appeared  in  a  Har- 


risburg newspaper,  Augu,st  7,  1887:  "Mr- 
Thomas  T.  Wierman,  chief  engineer  of  the 
Pennsj'lvania  Canal  Company,  died  on  Tues- 
day, in  his  seventy-fourth  year,  at  his  resi- 
dence, 116  Pine  street,  this  city.  Deceased 
had  been  suffering  for  several  weeks  from 
an  affection  of  the  kidneys  and  his  death 
was  not  unexpected. 

"  Mr.  Wierman  was  born  near  Gettysburg, 
in  Adams  count}',  and  learned  the  profession 
of  civil  engineering.  In  that  capacity  he 
became  interested  in  many  important  public 
improvements  in  this  State  and  did  much 
toward  their  successful  advancement.  His 
iirst  service  as  civil  engineer  was  on  the 
original  construction  of  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  and  subsequently  on  the  construc- 
tion of  the  North  Branch  canal  from  Pitts- 
ton  to  the  State  line  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  He  afterwards  constructed,  as  chief 
engineer,  the  Chemung  canal,  which  con- 
nected the  water  improvements  of  Pennsyl- 
vania with  the  New  York  State  canals. 
After  that  he  built  the  Barclay  railroad, 
running  from  Towanda,  Bradford  county,  to 
the  vast  bituminous  coal  fields  in  that 
county.  He  also  made  the  original  survey 
for  the  Brooklyn  water  works.  Mr.  Wier- 
man took  charge  of  the  Pennsylvania  canal 
about  the  year  1857,  being  stationed  at 
Huntingdon.  While  engaged  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  North  Branch  canal  he  met 
the  esteemed  lady  who  afterwards  became 
his  wife,  and  who  still  survives  him.  She 
is  Emily,  the  sister  of  Hon.  Victor  E.  Piollet 
and  Joseph  Piollet,  of  Wysox,  Bradford 
county.  In  1859  the  headquarters  of  the 
canal  company  was  removed  to  this  city, 
and  Mr.  Wierman  from  that  time  until  his 
death  continued  in  charge  of  the  extensive 
business.  These  children,  five  in  number, 
survive  him:  Thos.  T.  Wierman,  Jr.,  Victor 
P.  Wierman,  Mrs.  S.  S.  Mitchell,  of  Buff'alo, 
Mrs.  T.  N.  Ely,  of  Altoona,  and  Miss  Sarah 
Wierman.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Society 
of  Friends,  and  adhered  to  that  religious 
belief  throughout  his  life. 

"The  death  of  Thomas  T.  Wierman  re- 
moves from  the  field  of  action  one  who  was 
interested  almost  from  their  infancy  in  the 
public  improvements  in  this  State,  and  by 
his  industry  and  efficiency  as  civil  engineer, 
together  with  his  great  executive  ability, 
had  added  largely  to  the  development  and 
prosperity  of  his  native  State.  He  was  a 
man  of  the  strictest  probity,  cultured  and 
companionable    when    among   friends    and 


296 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


never  harsh,  and  attached  to  the  enjoyment 
of  his  happy  home  life.  He  was  affable  to 
his  employes,  though  demanding  of  them 
that  honest  attention  to  duty  which  so 
markedly  characterized  him.  By  reason- 
able frugality  he  amassed  a  considerable  for- 
tune, and  was  fond  of  recounting  how,  hav- 
ing at  an  early  age  saved  $100,  it  was  stolen 
from  him  by  a  thief  while'  passing  through 
a  crowd  near  the  Jones  House,  in  this  city. 
He  had  a  kindly  manner  and  a  strong,  yet 
pleasing  countenance,  which  is  well  repre- 
sented in  the  accurate  portrait  presented  in 
this  issue,  and  engraved  for  the  Telegram." 


Shoemaker,  George  J.,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg.  Pa.,  March  20,  1813,  son  of  Jacob 
and  Anna  (Rhoads)  Shoemaker.  Samuel 
Rhoads,  his  maternal  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Dauphin  county,  February  25, 1738.  He 
kept  a  hotel  in  Harrisburg  for  a  number  of 
years;  was  sheriff  of  Dauphin  county,  and 
was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature. His  wife,  Mrs.  Rosanna  Rhoads, 
was  born  January  30,  1754.  They  resided 
after  marriage  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State  for  a  number  of  years  and  removed  to 
Harrisburg  near  1800.  Mr.  Rhoads  died 
September  25,  1786,  aged  forty-eight  years 
and  seven  months.  His  wife  died  May  19, 
1838,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  three 
months  and  twent}'  days.  Their  children 
were  John  and  Anna,  the  former  born  De- 
cember 30,  1775,  and  the  latter  March  15, 
1779.  John  Rhoads  never  married.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  manager  of  a  fur- 
nace in  Huntingdon  county.  Some  time 
after  1800  he  settled  permanently  in  Harris- 
burg, and  in  partnership  with  John  Candor 
conducted  a  dry  goods  and  grocer}'  store,  in 
which  business  he  continued  until  his  death, 
April  12,  1859;  his  age  at  that  time  was 
eighty-three  j'ears,  three  months  and  eigh- 
teen days.  His  sister,  Anna  Rhoads,  was 
married  to  Jacob  Shoemaker  about  the  year 
1807. 

Jacob  Shoemaker  was  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey and  came  to  Dauphin  county  in  1800. 
Jacob  and  Anna  (Rhoads)  Shoemaker  had 
three  sons;  Samuel  R.,  born  June  29,  1810, 
George  J.  and  John  J.,  born  April  19,  1816. 
Samuel  R.  Shoemaker  died  in  1831,  aged 
nineteen,  and  John  J.  in  1888,  at  the  age  of 
sevent3'-two  years.  Mr.  Jacob  Shoemaker's 
trade  was  that  of  a  hatter,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  many  years  after  his  marriage. 
He    purchased   a  vacant  lot  of  ground  in 


1808  and  built  a  frame  house  at  what  is 
now  No.  30  North  Second  street.  Mr.  Shoe- 
maker filled  various  city  offices,  and  died  in 
June,  1847,  his  wife  liaving  departed  before 
him,  on  March  1,  1841. 

George  J.  Shoemaker,  only  surviving  son 
of  Jacob  Shoemaker,  attended  tiie  city 
schools,  and  completed  his  education  in  the 
Harrisburg  Academy.  At  twelve  years  of 
age  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  store 
of  Mr.  John  Rhoads,  and  remained  with 
him  five  years;  after  which  he  was  clerk  for 
Mr.  John  Candor  for  a  short  time.  In  1832 
he  was  employed  as  clerk  for  Mr.  Moore,  of 
Hollidaysburg,  Pa.,  for  a  few  months;  from 
that  place  he  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg  in  the  same  3'ear. 

In  1834  Mr.  Slioeraaker  went  to  Phila- 
delj)hia  to  buy  goods,  and  on  the  return 
trip,  met  with  an  accident  on  this  side  of 
the  Schuylkill  river  whicii  seriously  disabled 
him.  He  was  in  the  hospital  for  four  days, 
after  which  he  was  removed  to  the  Red  Lion 
Hotel,  where  he  was  confined  ten  weeks. 
His  recovery  was  so  slow  that  it  was  about 
a  year  before  he  was  able  to  resume  busi- 
ness. In  1836  he  was  for  one  j'ear  clerk  in 
the  works  at  Schuylkill  Forge,  and  then 
again  returned  to  Harrisburg.  During  the 
remainder  of  Mr.  Shoemaker's  business  life, 
thus  far,  he  has  been  much  of  the  time  em- 
ployed in  clerical  positions.  In  1840  he 
was  elected  town  clerk,  and  served  five  suc- 
cessive years.  He  served  one  year  as  clerk 
of  the  county  commissioners,  and  was  at 
one  time  connected  in  this  capacity  with  the 
Supreme  Court.  He  was  for  a  short  time  a 
member  of  the  city  councils,  and  filled  the 
position  of  deputy  sheriff  for  three  years. 
Mr.  Shoemaker  is  one  of  the  oldest  members 
of  the  Harrisburg  Beneficial  Society.  In 
the  year  1860  Mr.  Shoemaker  became  the 
owner  of  all  the  lots  of  ground  from  his 
father's  original  purchase  up  to  Walnut 
street,  and  built  thereon  four  three-story 
brick  houses,  in  one  of  which  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Shoemaker  was  first  married, in  1837, 
to  Elizabeth  D.  Allen,  of  Strasburg,  Lancaster 
count}',  Pa.  They  had  five  children.  Anna 
R.,  their  first-born,  was  married  to  George 
Evans,  of  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa., 
and  is  now  the  only  survivor,  in  her  fifty- 
ninth  year.  The  deceased  children  are 
Matilda,  George,  Ellen,  and  John;  the  last- 
named  died  in  1860,  aged  thirteen,  while  at- 
tending college.  Mr.  Shoemaker's  second 
marriage  took  place  in  December,  1850 ;  his 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


297 


wife  was  Catharine,  daugliter  of  George  and 
Catharine  (Ralim)  Eiclilioltz.  Tiiey  liad 
four  children :  Maria,  wife  of  D.  A.  Weid- 
raann,  of  New  Yorii ;  Rose,  wife  of  L.  K. 
Scheffer,  of  Harrisburg ;  Louis  C,  book- 
binder, Harrisburg;  George  E.,  a  prominent 
physician  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  wlio  traveled 
tiirough  Panama,  and  returned  by  way  of 
New  York;  lie  died  July  20,  1S89,  aged 
tliirty-four.  Mr.  Shoemaker  is  a  sound  con- 
servative Democrat,  and  stands  by  President 
Cleveland  with  loyal  support.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Mrs.  Catharine  Shoemaker  was  born  De- 
cember 1,  182L  Her  father,  George  Eich- 
holtz,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  and 
was  a  cabinetmaker.  He  came  to  Harris- 
burg, and  became  clerk  in  the  secretary's 
office,  spending  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
this  city.  His  wife,  Catliarine,  was  the 
daughterof  Mel chior and  Mary  (King)  Rah m. 
Melchior  Raiim  kept  the  Franklin  House, 
on  Walnut  street,  for  a  number  of  years;  he 
was  elected  sheriff,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Legislature  for  the  county  of  Dauphin.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Eiciiholtz 
are:  Catharine  (Mrs.  Shoemaker);  Cecilia, 
died  in  April,  1896,  aged  thirty  years,  wife 
of  Sobieski  Keen  ;  Edwin,  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years;  George,  died  in  1853.  The 
mother  died  in  1822,  aged  twenty-six.  Mr. 
Eichholtz  married  a  second  time  in  18oU, 
Mi.'^s  Maria  Ivcbaron.  Their  children  are: 
Annie,  wife  of  Augustus  Moltz  ;  Maria,  wife 
of  James  McClintock;  Lebaron,  died  in 
childhood.  Both  parents  are  now  deceased  ; 
Mr.  Eichholtz  died  in  1858,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five. 


Ott,  Le.^ndkr  N.,  was  born  February  11, 
1814,  in  PLirrisburg.  His  grandfather,  .John 
Nicholas  Ott,  came  to  Pennsylvania  prior  to 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  During  the 
struggle  for  independence  he  was  in  active 
service.  After  the  town  of  Harrisburg  was 
laid  out  he  removed  there  and  entered  into 
business.  He  at  one  time  kept  the  ferry. 
His  son  John  Nicholas  married,  August  13, 
1805,  Margaret  Kissecker,  of  Cumberland 
county.  Nicholas  Ott,  the  younger,  died 
suddenly  November  5,  1832,  near  Womels- 
dorf  where  he  was  buried,  but  subsequently 
was  disinterred  and  brought  to  Harrisburg. 
His  age  was  fifty  years.  His  wife  Margaret 
died  April,  1823,  aged  thirty-six  years. 
Leander  N.  Ott  was  the  third  child  of  his 
parents,  and  was  left  an  orphan   at  a  very 


early  age.     He  received  an  ordinary  school 
education    up    to   the   time   of  his   father's 
death,  when  he  learned  the  trade  of  saddlery. 
He,  however,  took  a  partial  course   at  Jef- 
ferson  College,   beginning  in  the  spring  of 
1834,  where  he  remained  two  years,  devoting 
his   time   chiefly    to    mathematical    studies. 
In  1837  Mr.  Ott  entered    the  service  of  the 
State,  in  the  engineer  corps  under  General 
DeHaas,  and   was  employed  in  the  survey 
from    Lewistown    to    Pittsbuigh,    over   the 
Allegheny  mountains,  made  with  a  view  of 
avoiding  the  inclined   planes  at  Hollidays- 
burg,  the  then  terminus  to  the  eastern  di- 
vision of  the  Pennsylvania  canal,   and  con- 
necting with  the  internal  improvements  on 
the  western  side  of  the  mountain.     He  was 
also  emplo^^ed  upon   a  similar  survey  from 
Philaiielphia  to  Downingtown  and  along  the 
Brandywine    under  John    T.    Bailey,   chief 
engineer.     Under  him   he   was  engiigetl  on 
the  Wiconisco  canal,  and  other  public  works, 
until    the   beginning   of  Governor  Porter's 
administration,  when  he  resigned.     Mr.  Ott 
completed  the  study  of  the  law  which  he  had 
been  pursuing  forsometime  under  William 
McClure,  Esq.,  of  Harrisburg,  and   was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  Dauphin   count}'  April 
27,    1840.     In    1846    he    was   compelled    to 
leave  the  practice  of  the  law  for  an  occupa- 
tion  which    would    give    him    more  out-of- 
door  exercise.     He  then  entered  the  saw-mill 
business  at  Harrisburg  with   his  brother-in- 
law,  Ca|)t.  Jacob  Dock.     They  were  chiefly 
engaged    in    manufacturing    ship    building 
lumber  for  the  Philadelphia  and  New  York 
markets;  and    when  in    1850  it   was  found 
advisable  to   confine  their   business  to  the 
Delaware,   he   removed  to  Camdem,  N.  J., 
where  it  was  carried  on  until  the  latter  part 
of  1859.     In  I860  Mr.  Ott  returned  to  Har- 
risburg, in  1861  purchasing  his  present  resi- 
dence, situated  in    Susquehanna  townshif). 
For  sometime  during  the  earl}'   portion  of 
the  war  he  was  connected  with  the  military 
department,   and   did  good   service  for  his 
country.     From  that  [leriod  until  the  pres- 
ent time  Colonel  Ott  has  devoted  most  of  his 
attention    to     farming.     Country    life    has 
proved  of  great  benefit  tohim,  and,  although 
in  his  eighty-thii'cl  year,  he  frequently  enjoys 
horseback  exercise.     Mr.  Ott  married  Caro- 
line Heisely,  daughter  of  the  late  George  J. 
Heisely,  of  Harrisburg.     Of  their  children, 
the  representative  member  of  the   family  is 
Capt.  Frederick  M.  Ott,  a  prominent  lawyer 
of  the  Dauphin  county  bar. 


298 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Rudy,  Joseph,  retired,  residence  at  Derry 
and  Nineteenth  streets,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Susquehanna  townsliip,  Daupliin 
county,  Pa.,  May  5,  1818.  He  is  a  son  of 
Fredericis;  and  Elizabeth  (Layman)  Rudy. 
The  Rudy  family  are  of  German  extraction  ; 
the  grandfatlier  Rudy  settled  in  Lebanon 
county,  near  the  site  of  the  borough  of 
Jonestown,  at  a  very  early  date  in  the  his- 
tory of  that  county. 

Frederick  Rudy,  the  father  of  Joseph 
Rudy,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county.  He 
removed  to  Susquehanna  township-,  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
and  distilling.  Here  he  spent  the  greater 
part  of  iiis  life ;  here  he  passed  away,  in 
1855,  and  ids  body  lies  interred  in  theShoop 
church  cemetery.  Both  Mr.  Rudy  and  his 
faithful  partner  through  life  attained  to  a 
good  old  age;  Frederick  having  reached  the 
age  of  eighty-two,  and  his  wife,  who  died  in 
1857,  that  of  eighty-four  years.  Of  the  ten 
children  who  constituted  their  family,  two 
died  in  childhood;  seven  lived  to  mature 
j'ears,  but  Joseph  Rudy  is  now  the  only  sur- 
vivor. 

Mr.  Joseph  Rudy  was  married  in  Lebanon, 
Fa.,  September  25,  1843,  to  Hettie,  daughter 
of  Abram  and  Frances  Landis,  of  Si)ring 
Creek,  Lebanon  county.  They  bad  ten 
children,  two  are  deceased,  one  that  died  in 
infancy,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Benjamin 
Strickler.  Those  who  survive  are:  John,  a 
farmer,  residing  in  Lower  Paxton  township; 
Frances,  wife  of  Reuben  Althouse,  of  Harris- 
burg; Joseph,  residing  in  Harrisburg; 
Sarah,  wife  of  S.  W.  Trullinger,  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  Susquehanna  township; 
Hettie,  widow  of  David  Hooker;  C.  Landis; 
Marj',  wife  of  George  Hain,  of  Harrisburg, 
and  Abraham,  residing  in  Philadelphia. 
Mrs.  Hettie  Rudy  died  September  7,  1871. 
On  February  4,  1872,  Mr.  Rudy  was  again 
united  in  marriage,  at  Plarrisburg,  to  Bar- 
bara Mnmma,  widow  of  Jolni  Mumma,  and 
daugiiterofJohn  and  Susan  (Nissley)Mumma. 
They  had  one  son,  Jonas  M.,  born  May  21, 
1875  ;  lie  is  now  a  stenographer  and  tj-pe- 
wiiter.  Mr.  Rudy  is  a  good,  staunch  Re- 
publican. The  family  attend  the  Reformed 
cliurch. 


Kelker,  Rudolph  Frederick,  son  of 
Frederick  and  Catharine  (Fager)  Kelker, 
was  born  February  17,  1820,  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  In  March,  1835,  he  entered  the 
hardware   store   of    Oglesby    &    Hinckley, 


successors  of  Oglesby  &  Pool,  who  were  suc- 
cessors to  his  father,  to  learn   the   business 
and  continued  witli  them  until  May,  1838, 
when,  owing  to  delicate  health,  he  left  the 
establishment  and  gave  attention  to  the  im- 
provement of  his  father's  lands  in  the  vicin- 
it}'  of  Harrisburg.     On  November  18,  1842, 
he  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Hinckley 
and  carried  on  the  hardware  business  with 
his  partner,  Mr.  Oglesby,  until  the  death  of 
the  latter,  March    21,  1846.     He  continued 
the    business    alone   until  May    following, 
when  he  associated  with  him  his  two  broth- 
ers, and  conducted  the  same  under  the  firm 
name  of  Kelker  &  Brothers,  remaining  in 
business  until  May  14, 1851,  when  on  account 
of  failing  health  he  retired  from  mercantile 
pursuits.     In  1852  he  was  elected  a  director 
of  the  Harrisburg  Bank,  in  which  institution 
he  has  served   for   a    number   of  triennial 
terms.     For  several  years  he  was  a  director 
of  the  First  National  Bank,  and  a  manager 
of  the  Harrisl)urg  cemetery.     In  the  corpo- 
ration of  Harrisburg  as  a  city,  he  was  ap- 
pointed   with  seven  other  citizens,  by    the 
Legislature,  on  the  commission  to  lay   out 
the    streets  and  avenues  necessary  in     the 
new   territory   included    within    its    limits. 
From  1854  until  1891  he  served  as  a  trustee 
of  the  Harrisburg  Academy,  and  was  for  a 
long  time  its  secretary  and  treasurer.    From 
18G6  to  1872  Mr.  Kelker  was  one  of  the  di- 
rectors of  the  poor  for  the  county  of  Dau- 
phin, and  through  his  instrumentality  proper 
legislation    was    secured,    new      additional 
buildings  erected  and  such   improvements 
made   in   the  general  management   of  the 
almshouse  as  greatly  alleviated  the  condi- 
tion  of  the    unfortunate  inmates.     He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  City  Hospital,  a 
manager  from  its  organization  in  1873  until 
1889;  from  March,  1878,  until  his  resigna- 
tion, its  treasurer,  and  was  on  the  committee 
to  superintend  the  construction  of  the  new 
building   erected  in  1883-4.     In  1873    and 
1874  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania   Lunatic    Hospital  at   Harrisburg, 
and  at  the  organization  of  the  Harrisburg 
C'ity  Passenger  Railway  Company,  in  1874, 
was  made  a  director,  and  was  treasurer  from 
November  2,   1874,  to  May,  1891,  when   he 
resigned  because  tlie  company  began  to  run 
their  cars  on  the  Lord's  Day.     Apart  from 
these  active  duties  of  citizen  life,  Mr.  Kel- 
ker's  labors  in  the  Reformed  church,  of  which 
he  is  a  prominent  member,  it  is  here  deemed 
proper   to    summarize.     His    parents   were 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


299 


also  members  of  the  Reformed  church,  and 
on  April  27,  1823,  lie  was  enrolled  as  a 
scholar  in  the  Sunday  school.  December  27, 
1835,  he  was  confirmed  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Berg, 
D.  D.,  as  a  member  of  the  church  ;  a  deacon 
of  the  church  from  1841  to  1849,  an  elder  in 
the  same  from  1849  to  1875,  excepting  the 
year  1867,  and  since  May,  1883,  lias  filled 
the  same  position.  From  October,  1836,  un- 
til April  29,  185U,  he  served  as  a  teacher, 
and  from  the  latter  date  until  Januarj'^,  1870, 
as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school, 
when  at  the  request  of  tlie  consistory  of  tiie 
church,  he  took  charge  of  an  adult  Bible 
class,  whicli,  during  the  first  year  increased 
from  twelve  to  ninety  members  and  at  the 
close  of  December,  1874,  it  numbered  one 
hundred  and  sixty-one,  when  the  class  was 
assigned  by  tlie  consistory  to  the  pastor  of 
the  church  on  account  of  Mr.  Kelker's  anti- 
ritualistic  views.  Being  tlius  relieved  of  his 
work  in  tiie  Sabbath-school  he  accepted  an 
invitation  to  organize  and  take  charge  of  an 
adult  Bible  class  of  both  sexes,  to  be  com- 
posed of  persons  of  all  denominations  as 
well  as  those  wl)o  had  no  church  relation, 
which  organization  was  effected  under  tiie 
name  of  the  "Salem  Bible  Class  of  Harris- 
burg,"  wiiich  now  has  a  large  membership 
and  has  had  connected  with  it  during  its 
existence  more  tlian  nine  hundred  persons. 
The  class  is  incorporated,  has  a  valuable 
library  and  for  tlie  last  twenty-three  years 
has  been  one  of  the  established  religious  in- 
stitutions of  the  city.  For  many  years  Mr. 
Kelker  was  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the 
Pennsylvania  State  Sabbath-school  Asso- 
ciation and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years 
one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the  board  of 
managers  of  the  American  Sunday-school 
Union,  and  of  the  American  Tract  Society. 
In  1845  Mr.  Kelker  was  elected  a  trustee 
of  Marshall  College,  Mercersburg,  and  sub- 
se(]uently,  until  1869,  a  corporate  trustee 
after  its  union  with  Franklin  College  of 
Lancaster,  as  Franklin  and  Marshall  Col- 
lege. The  Eastern  Synod  of  the  Reformed 
Church  was  incorporated  in  1859,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  five  trustees  named  in  tlie 
charter  and  the  first  president  of  the  board, 
and  subsequently  for  a  number  of  years 
treasurer  of  the  .same.  Since  1863,  witli  the 
exception  of  three  years,  up  to  October,  1890, 
he  served  as  treasurer  of  the  board  of  for- 
eign missions  of  the  General  Synod  of  the 
Reformed  Church.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
synodical  committee  to  prepare  the  "  Trig- 


lott  Tercentenary  Heidelberg  Catechism," 
published  in  1863,  but  dissented  from  the 
final  action  of  that  body,  believing  that 
many  changes  made  in  the  new  English 
translation  were  wholly  unwarranted  and 
uncalled  for.  He  repeatedly  represented  his 
congregation  in  Classis,  and  the  Classis  as 
delegate  to  the  Synod.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Synod  of  York  in  1866,  and  made 
powerful  opposition  to  the  adoption  and 
reference  of  the  "  New  Order  of  Worship  " 
to  the  General  Synod.  In  1867,  with  others, 
he  united  in  a  call  for  a  convention  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  ministers  and  eld- 
ers of  the  Eastern  Synod,  which  assembled 
at  Myerstown,  Pa.,  to  protest  against  the 
"  Order  of  Worship,"  as  being  contrary  to 
the  doctrines  and  cultus  of  the  Reformed 
Ciiurch.  One  of  the  results  of  this  move- 
ment was  the  establishment,  in  1869,  of 
Ursinus  College,  at  Freeland,  Montgomery 
count}^.  Pa.,  under  the  presidency  of  Rev.  J. 
H.  A.  Bomberger,  D.  D.,  with  a  university 
charter,  thus  enabling  the  institution  to 
teach  theology  as  well  as  the  classics.  In 
1879  Mr.  Kelker  served  as  a  member  of  the 
"  Peace  Commission,"  a  body  consisting  of 
twelve  ministers  and  twelve  elders,  chosen 
by  direction  of  the  General  Synod  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  of  the  United  States  by  the 
several  District  Synods  to  a.ssemble  at  Har- 
risburg.  Pa.,  and  adjust  the  differences  ex- 
isting in  tlie  church  in  doctrine,  cultus  and 
government.  After  eight  ilays'  discussion  a 
basis  of  union  was  unanimously  adopted, 
and  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the  church 
was  opened  up,  wliicii  brought  peace  and 
harmony.  The  work  of  the  commission 
was  unanimously  ajtprovcd  by  the  General 
Synod  and  the  same  persons  were  at  once 
appointed  by  it  to  pre[)aro  an  "  Order  of 
Worship  "  for  the  denominatinn  suited  to 
its  wants  and  evangelical  in  its  character, 
which  work  was  accomplished  in  1884,  and 
was  constitutionally  adopted  as  tiie  Direc- 
tory of  Worship  of  the  Reformed  Church  in 
the  United  States. 

In  June,  1839,  at  his  suggestion,  the  Sun- 
day-school teachers  of  Harrisburg  founded 
the  Harrisburg  Sunday-school  Union,  of 
which  he  was  the  first  secretary,  and  upon 
its  reoi'ganization,  in  1854,  was  chosen  presi- 
dent thereof.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  in 
December,  1854,  and  })i-esident  of  the  same 
in  1856.  Mr.  Kelker  has  likewise  been  deeply- 
interested  in  the  temperance  work.     In  1837 


300 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


at  the  suggestion  of,  and  in  connection  witli 
an  intimate  friend,  James  Cowden,  tliey 
started  the  first  total  ahstinence  society  in 
Harrisburg,  as  previous  to  this  date  the  "tem- 
perance organizations  allowed  the  use  of  malt 
and  vinous  liquors.  In  1840  he  took  a  prom- 
inent part  in  the  Washington  temperance 
movement,  and  has  often  represented  the 
cause  in  State  conventions.  Since  their  or- 
ganization he  has  been  the  chairman  of  the 
executive  committee  appointed  by  the  Chris- 
tian citizens  of  Harrisburg  a  number  of  years 
ago,  to  watch  the  applications  for  license,  so 
as  to  prevent  improper  persons  from  ol)tain- 
ing  the  same,  and  to  require  all  engaged  in 
the  liquor  traffic  to  conform  to  the  provisions 
of  tile  license  laws.  As  foreman  of  the  grand 
jury  of  tiie  county  in  1871,  1873  and  1879, 
he  made  })resentment  of  the  license  law  as  a 
public  nuisance,  and  gave  valuable  statistics 
on  the  subject  which  attracted  great  atten- 
tion. The  report  of  1873  was  widely  circu- 
lated, more  than  fifty  thousand  copies  being 
printed  by  the  friends  of  tlie  temperance 
cause.  In  accordance  with  the  suggestions 
of  this  report  almost  one-half  of  the  applica- 
tions for  that  year  for  hotel  and  saloon  liquor 
license  were  refused  by  the  court.  Mr.  Kel- 
ker  married,  June  17,  1844,  Mary  Anne, 
daughter  of  Gen.  \A'illinm  Reily,  and  their 
children  were  Frederick,  Lutlier  Reily,  Ru- 
dolph Frederick,  and  William  Anthony,  of 
whom  the  second  and  fourth  are  living. 
Mrs.  Kelker  entered  into  rest  August  27, 1890. 


Gkeexawalt,  Maj.  Theodork  D.,  was 
born  ill  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  December  11,  IS'JO. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (^Krause) 
Greenawalt.  His  great-grandfather,  Philip 
Lorentz  Greenawalt,  was  born  in  Germany 
in  1725,  came  to  America  in  1749,  settled  at 
Ephrata,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  engaged 
in  farming  and  hotel  keeping.  He  partici- 
pated in  tlie  Revolutionary  war,  held  tiie 
commission  of  colonel,  and  was  witli  Wasii- 
ington  at  Brandy  wine,  Germantown,  Trenton, 
Princeton,  and  in  other  engagements.  He 
was  commissioned  by  Tiiomas  Wharton,  Jr., 
as  colonel  of  the  First  battalion  of  Lancaster 
county,  of  wiiicli  lie  was  placed  in  command. 
He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Miffiin,  in 
connection  with  Colonels  Green,  Burd  and 
Grubb,  as  a  commission  to  devise  ways  and 
means  to  bring  the  war  to  a  successful 
termination. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  he  settled  at 
Lancaster,  and  kept  a  hotel.     He  was  identi- 


fied with  many  successful  business  enterprises 
and  accumulated  a  large  amount  of  property. 
He  died  in  Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  1802.  He  was 
a  prominent  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church.  He  first  married  a  Miss 
Uhland.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Margaret 
Foesser,  of  Lebanon,  by  whom  he  had  eleven 
children:  John  Pliilip,  Christian,  married 
Elizabeth  Kelker,  John,  Elizabeth,  married 
Henry  Kelker,  Margaret,  married  Phili]) 
Stoelir,  Matthias,  married  Annie  Barbara 
Hetrick,  Jacob,  of  Hummelstown,  C'atherine, 
married  John  Jacob  Ziiin,  Leonard,  a  tan- 
ner, of  Lebanon  county,  married  Catiieriue 
Pool,  and  two,  Michael  and  Maria  M.,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

John  Pliilip  Greenawalt,  grandfather  of 
Major  Greenawalt,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  tlie  Revolution,  and  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant.  After  the  war  he  became  a 
hotel  keeper  at  Lebanon.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Reformed  church.  His 
children  were:  John  Philip,  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years;  Jacob;  John  Philip  (2),  de- 
ceased, a  carpenter,  worked  on  the  State 
capitol ;  Matthias,  deceased  ;  John,  married 
Ann  Brown  ;  Charles,  who  conducted  a  hard- 
ware business  in  Lebanon  for  several  years, 
married  Mary  Ann  Shaffner ;  Elizabeth,  de- 
ceased, married  Daniel  Frantz,  of  Lebanon  ; 
Catharine,  deceased,  married  Rev.  Henry 
Shaffer,  of  Marietta,  Pa.,  and  Lydia,  married 
Benjamin  Stees  and  located  in  St.  Paul, 
Minn. 

Jacob  Greenawalt,  father  of  Maj.  Theodore 
D.,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county  in  1784. 
He  was  educated,  as  usual,  in  tlie  schools  of 
that  period,  both  in  German  and  in  English. 
He  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1811,  and  estab- 
lished a  tanner}',  which  he  conducted  until 
his  death  in  1854.  He  learned  his  trade 
from  ills  uncle,  Mr.  Shaffner,  in  Hagerstown, 
Md.  He  carried  on  a  large  business,  and 
had  tlie  reputation  of  making  the  best 
leather  shi[)ped  to  the  Philadelphia  market. 
He  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Harrisburg 
Bank.  He  was  drafted  for  service  in  the 
war  of  1812,  but  on  account  of  sickness  was 
unable  to  serve,  and  sent  a  substitute.  Mr. 
Greenawalt  took  a  pew  in  the  Chestnut 
street  German  Reformed  church  in  1821, 
and  retained  it  until  his  death.  lie  took  an 
active  interest  in  all  church  work.  His  wife, 
Catherine  Krause,  was  a  daughter  of  David 
Krause,  associate  judge  of  Lebanon  county, 
and  a  sister  of  Judge  Krause,  of  Norristown, 
who,  with   his  brother  John,  were  members 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


301 


of  tlie  Pennsylvania  Legislature  at  tiie  same 
time.  They  had  eight  ciiildren  :  Louisa,  de- 
ceased, married  Philip  Fisher,  of  Jonestown, 
Lebanon  county,  a  tanner  and  ex-sheriff  of 
the  county;  Elizabeth,  a  maiden  lady,  of 
Harrisburg;  Theophilus,  died  in  1860,  a 
tanner  and  currier;  Camilla,  died  at  three 
years  of  age;  Theodore  D.;  Regina  C,  mai-- 
ried  William  Calder,  of  Harrisburg;  Jacob 
and  Jeremiah  K.,  both  of  Harrisburg. 

Theodore  D.  Greenawalt  was  educated  in 
the  subscription  schools,  and  remained  with 
his  father  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of 
age.  At  this  time  he  was  employed  as  clerk 
by  Piiilip  Wolfe rsberger.  He  was  to  receive 
a  salary  of  one  hundred  dollars  per  annum, 
and  pay  all  his  own  expenses.  He  worked 
under  this  contract  for  fifteen  montlis,  and 
then  found  employment  with  Dock  &  Hum- 
mel, with  whom  he  i-emained  one  year.  He 
was  clerk  also  for  Van  Horn  &  Meredith. 
In  1844  he  embarked  in  the  dry  goods  and 
grocer}'  business  for  himself,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  three  years.  He  then  acted  as 
clerk  at  the  Coverly  Hotel  until  1849,  when 
he  entered  the  office  of  William  Calder,  in 
the  stage  line  and  packet  boat  business,  and 
remained  with  him  thirteen  years.  When 
the  Prince  of  Wales,  on  his  tour  through 
America,  visited  Harrisburg,  Mr.  Greena- 
walt, as  manager  of  tlie  transfer  business, 
had  the  honor  of  escorting  Lord  Lyons  and 
the  Prince  over  the  capital  city.  And  when 
Abraham  Lincoln  sto{)ped  in  Harrisburg  on 
his  way  to  Washington  City  to  be  inaugu- 
rated President  of  the  LTnited  States,  Mr. 
Greenawalt  assisted  Mr.  Calder  in  conveying 
the  President-elect  secretly  from  his  hotel  to 
a  train  of  cars  which  Hon.  Thomas  Scott 
had  on  the  track  a  mile  south  of  the  city. 
During  the  day  Mr.  Calder  received  a  tele- 
gram from  John  S.  Giddings,  the  banker,  of 
Baltimore,  containing  the  words,  "In  no 
wise  permit  President  Lincoln  to  go  to 
Washington  by  way  of  York  or  Baltimore." 
Acting  on  this  advice  Mr.  Calder  ordered 
Mr.  Greenawalt  to  bring  out  a  trusty  team, 
which  Mr.  Calder  himself  drove  with  the 
President  to  the  train,  so  quietly  that  not 
even  Mr.  Lincoln's  family,  left  by  him  at 
the  supper  table,  knew  of  his  departure 
under  fear  of  danger. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  or  in  May, 
1861,  Mr.  Greenawalt  turned  the  key  in  the 
office  door,  and  enlisted  as  private  for  three 
months  under  Capt.  Henry  McCormick. 
(He  already  held  tlie  commission  of  brigade 


major,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  for  the 
counties  of  Dauphin,  Lebanon  and  Berks,  in 
the  State  militia.)  At  the  end  of  the  three 
months'  service,  he  was  appointed  by  Gen. 
Simon  Cameron  as  assistant  to  Major  Alli- 
son, in  the  paymaster's  office;  and  on  No- 
vember 26,  1S62,  he  was  aj)pointed  pay- 
master. His  first  duties  in  this  position 
were  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  and 
around  Washington.  He  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  the  department  of  the  Mississippi, 
with  headquarters  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and 
with  payments  at  ^'icksburg,  Miss.  In  this 
assignment  he  served  fifteen  months.  The 
boat  in  which  he  made  iiis  first  trip  down 
tlie  river  was  loaded  at  St.  Louis  with  Gov- 
ernment supplies,  including  $3,000,000, 
which  Major  Greenawalt  was  to  distribute 
among  the  soldiers.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
boat  at  Cairo,  111.,  the  Caj)tain  announced 
that  it  would  lie  over  for  six  hours.  Major 
Greenawalt  concluded  fo  take  a  walk  through 
the  town.  Passing  along  the  street,  he  met 
his  next  door  neighbor,  Theodore  Adams, 
who  was  waiting  for  a  boat  en  route  for  St. 
Louis.  He  and  Mr.  Adams  enjoyed  a  long 
chat.  At  last  tlie  M;ijor,  finding  that  it  was 
about  time  for  his  boat  to  leave,  went  to  tiie 
wharf,  and  was  surprised  to  learn  that  it  was 
already  gone,  anotiier  boat  having  arrived. 
Mr.  Greenawalt  took  the  next  boat  down  the 
river,  and  while  on  the  way,  passed  the  boat 
which  had  left  him  behind,  and  which  was 
on  fire.  He  did  not  know  at  the  time  that 
it  was  the  boat  containing  his  effects,  the 
Government  money,  and  his  ne])hew  and  as- 
sistant, Theodore  Fisher,  wiio,  with  fifty-two 
otlier  persons,  lost  his  life  by  this  fire,  the 
work  of  an  incendiary.  Major  Greenawalt 
was  next  assigned  to  the  department  of  tiie 
Gulf,  with  headquarters  at  New  Orleans, 
and  payments  at  Brownsville,  Natchez, 
Baton  Rouge  and  other  points.  In  May, 
1863,  at  Camp  Gray,  D.  C,  he  was  presented 
with  a  silver  cup  by  the  officers  of  the  Sixth 
Micliigan  cavalrj'.  He  was  mustered  out  of 
service  November  15,  1865.  During  Major 
Greenawalt's  service  as  paymaster  he  had 
disbursed,  with  the  assistance  of  his  clerk 
only,  the  sum  of  $3,564,289.42.  He  holds  a 
receipt  from  the  paymaster  general  and  the 
Secretar}'  of  War,  stating  that  the  United 
States  had  no  claim  against  him.  He  re- 
ceived the  appointment  after  the  war  of 
deputy  U.  S.  marshal  for  the  counties  of 
Dauphin,  LTnion,  Snyder,  Juniata,  North- 
umberland, and  part  of  Lancaster  county. 


302 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


The  war  being  ended,  Major  Greenawalt 
returned  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  since 
been  connected  with  mun3'  important  enter- 
prises. He  is  president  of  the  Harrisburg 
Car  Manufacturing  Company  and  of  the 
Chestnut  Street  Market  Compan_v.  Of  the 
former  lie  is  one  of  tlie  iieaviest  stockholders, 
and  has  been  connected  with  the  companj' 
since  1866;  of  the  latter  company  he  was 
among  the  organizers.  He  is  vice-president 
of  the  Harrisburg  Foundry  and  Machine 
Works,  and  of  tiieEastHarrisbure  Passenger 
Railway  Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
boards  of  directors  of  the  following  organiza- 
tions: Lebanon  Gas  Company,  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Harrisburg,  Commonwealth 
Guarantee  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Compaii}', 
People's  Gas  and  Gaseous  Fuel  Company 
of  Harrisburg,  Harrisburg  Traction  Com- 
pany, Harrisburg  Steam  Heat  and  Power 
Company,  Harrisburg  Burial  Case  Company, 
and  Harrisburg  Furniture  Manufacturing 
Company.  In  1848  he  became  a  stockholder 
in  the  tirst  telegraph  company,  called  the 
Atlantic  and  Ohio  Telegrapli  Company. 
For  thirteen  years  he  was  a  member,  with 
Jacob  and  Jeremiah  K.  Greenawalt,  of  the 
firm  of  Greenawalt  Bros.,  in  the  tannery 
business.  He  has  dealt  largel}'  in  real  estate, 
and  has  been  running  two  fine  farms  in 
Dauphin  county  since  1870. 

Major  Greenawalt  is  a  Republican,  but  is 
not  an  active  politician,  and  never  aspires  to 
office.  He  is  a  member  of  Post  No.  58,  G. 
A.  R.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  Soldiers' 
Monument  subscrij)tion  fund,  and  took  an 
active  interest  in  that  worthy  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  his  comrades.  He  was  also  treas- 
urer of  the  Dauphin  County  Centennial  Cele- 
bration fund,  in  1885.  ]\Iajor  Greenawalt 
attends  the  Reformed  church,  retaining  the 
})ew  so  long  occu])ied  by  his  father.  He  is  a 
genial  gentlemen,  and  is  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  by  his  neighbors  and  acquaintances. 


Kelker,  Immanuel  Meister,  deceased, 
was  born  May  21,  1822,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
son  of  Frederick  and  Catharine  (Fager)  Kel- 
ker. He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Harrisburg  and  spent  one  year  in  the  pre- 
paratory department  of  Marshall  College, 
after  which  he  entered  the  dry  goods  store  of 
John  C.  Bucher  &  Co.,  of  Harrisburg,  to 
learn  the  mercantile  business.  In  May, 
1846,  he  embarked  in  the  hardware  business 
with  his  two  brothers,  Rudolph  F.  and 
Henry   A.  Kelker,  under  the  firm  name  of 


Kelker  &  Bros.,  and  remained  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  business  until  his  death,  March 
30,  1880.  The  business  w-as  done  from  May, 
1846,  to  May,  1851,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Kelker  &  Bros.,  and  from  May,  1851,  to 
April,  1878,  as  Immanuel  M.  &  Henry  A. 
Kelker,  under  the  firm  name  of  Kelker  & 
Bro.  At  the  latter  date  George  B.  and  Fred- 
erick, sons  of  Immanuel  Kelker,  were  asso- 
ciated in  the  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Kelker  &  Sons. 

Mr.  Kelker  was  a  conSrmed  member  of 
the  Reformed  Salem  church,  of  Harrisburg. 
He  entered  the  Sunday-school  in  early 
childhood  and  continued  through  life  a  very 
active  and  liberal  supporter  in  the  cause. 
He  taught  for  manj'  years  in  the  Sunday- 
school  of  the  Salem  church  and  assisted  by 
personal  labor  and  most  liberal  donations  in 
the  establishment  of  the  Mission  Sunday- 
school,  from  which  sprang  the  Second  Re- 
formed church,  of  Harrisburg.  In  his  own 
church  he  served  as  deacon  for  many  years, 
and  from  the  time  of  the  organization  of 
the  Second  church,  to  wdiich  he  subscribed 
liberally,  his  efforts  were  mainly  for  its  wel- 
fare, having  acted  as  superintendent  of  one 
department  of  the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  Kel- 
ker was  a  firm  and  consistent  advocate  of 
temperance  reform.  He  was  a  director  of 
the  Harrisburg  National  Bank  for  many 
years.  His  marriage  occurred  September 
21,  1847,  with  Mary  Ann  Jefferson,  daughter 
of  George  Beatty  and  Sarah  Smith  (Shroni) 
Beatty,  of  Harrisburg.  Their  children  are: 
Catharine,  born  October  24,  1849  ;  George 
B.,  born  January  9,  1852,  married  October  3, 
1878,  to  Louisa,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Catharine  Dicker;  Frederick,  born  July  28, 
1858,  married  May  11,  1882,  to  Annie  "Ma- 
tilda, daughter  of  Thomas  D.  and  Sarah 
(Zimmerman)  Mahan,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren :   Sarah  V.  and  Thomas  M. 


HoYER,  B.  Fr.^kklin,  was  born  in  Hoges- 
town,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  September 
14,  1823.  He  was  educated  in  subscription 
schools  ;  he  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1834, 
and  attended  the  private  schools  of  William 
Mitchell  and  Samuel  Cross.  In  1839  he 
went  to  Clearspring,  Washington  county, 
Md.,  and  learned  tiie  tinning  business. 

In  1841  he  married  i\Iiss  Margaret  Ann 
Kershner,  of  Clearspring,  Md.,  daughter  of 
Elias  Kershner.  He  worked  at  his  trade  in 
Clearspring  and  in  Hagerstown  for  seven 
years.      In  1847   he  returned   to   Dauphin 


dauphijN  county. 


303 


county,  and  located  at  Lock  No.  9,  where  he 
resided  for  sixteen  years,  attending  lock  in 
the  summer,  and  working  at  his  trade  in  tlie 
winter.  He  then  removed  his  family  to 
Newmarket,  York  county,  Pa.,  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  in  New  Cumber- 
land, Cumberland  county,  Pa.;  in  1860  he 
removed  his  family  to  that  {)lace. 

In  1S()2  he  enlisted  in  company  11,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, as  private,  and  was  promoted  to 
corporal  of  his  company.  Mr.  Hoyer  served 
nine  months,  and  was  disabled  at  the  battle 
of  Antietam ;  he  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Salem  and 
Chancellorsville.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  army,  and  afterwards  em- 
ployed for  eighteen  years  by  the  Northern 
Central  Railroad  Company  as  watchman  at 
the  Yellow  Breeches  Creek  bridge.  In  1887 
he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  lias 
since  lived  retired  from  active  business. 

His  first  wife  died  April  23,  1882.  They 
had  four  sons  and  two  daughters  :  George, 
of  the  firm  of  Hoyer  &  Milnor,  of  Harris- 
burg, John,  of  Steelton,  Charles,  of  Bridge- 
port, Pa.,  Frank,  Jr.,  of  New  Cumberland, 
Mary  E.  (Mrs.  David  R.  Hoffman),  of  Steel- 
ton,  Kate  A.  (Mrs.  H.  D.  Eisenberger),  of 
New  Cumberland. 

In  1883  he  married  his  second  wife,  Mrs. 
Salome  Snyder,  daughter  of  John  Shock,  of 
Harrisburg. 

Mr.  Hoyer  is  a  Republican.  He  served  as 
chief  burgess  and  in  the  borough  council 
and  school  board  of  New  Cumberland.  He 
belongs  to  Post  462,  G.  A.  R.,  New  Cumber- 
land. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 


Thompson,  James  Baxter,  was  born  in 
Carlisle,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 21,  1823.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Letitia  (Brown)  Thompson,  the  grandfather 
Thompson  and  both  parents  having  been 
born  in  Carlisle.  The  father  of  Mr.  Thomp- 
son was  a  carpenter  and  spent  the  whole  of 
his  life  in  Cumberland  county,  where  he 
died  August  12,  1851,  his  wife  surviving 
him  until  1863.  Their  family  consisted  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  four  surviv'e: 
Tliomas  B.,  born  April  3,  1812,  residing  at 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  the  oldest  living  settler 
of  that  town ;  Amelia,  widow  of  the  late 
Adam  Crouse,  born  December  15,  1818,  re- 
siding at  Carli-sle;  Joseph  C,  born  August 
18, 1820,  residing   at   Carlisle,    and    James 


Baxter.  The  four  other  members  of  the 
family  who  have  died  are:  Samuel,  died 
aged  nineteen  ;  William,  aged  seventy-six  ; 
Nancy,  aged  sixty-eight,  and  John,  aged 
seventy-six. 

James  Baxter  was  reared  to  manhood  and 
received  a  limited  education  in  his  native 
town.  He  was  apjirenticed  to  the  black- 
smith trade  for  three  years,  six  months  and 
eight  days.  Completing  his  apprenticeship, 
he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  continued  to 
work  at  his  trade  until  1868,  since  which 
date  he  has  been  only  occasionally  employed 
at  the  business,  of  late  years  living  a  retired 
life.  He  was  twice  married ;  first  at  Harris- 
burg, in  1852,  to  Emily  J.  Black,  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Black,  a  native  of 
Harrisburg.  Two  children  were  born  of 
this  marriage,  both  of  whom  died  in  child- 
hood. Mrs.  (Reily)  Thompson,  the  present 
wife,  was  born  in  Myerstown,  Lebanon 
county.  Pa.,  March  7,  1829  (and  first  wife 
died  in  Julv,  1855).  Mrs.  Thompson's  father, 
William  Reily,  died  July  28,  1843;  her 
mother,  May  23,  1866.  They  had  a  family 
of  sixteen  children,  tiiree  only  of  whom  sur- 
vive, namely:  John  A.,  born  September  20, 
1826;  Mrs.  Thompson,  and  Edward  F.,  born 
January  8,  1835.  Mr.  Thompson  was  mar- 
ried the  second  lime  at  Harri.sburg,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1857,  to  Martha  M.  Reily,  daughter 
of  William  and  Salome  Reily.  The  Reily 
family  settled  in  Lebanon  county  at  a  very 
early  date,  and  removed  to  Harrisburg  in 
1836,  where  they  lived  the  rest  of  their  lives. 
The  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but 
spent  his  latter  years  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. To  this  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
Thompson  there  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren, fourof  whom  are  living,  namely:  Edwin 
C,  Harrisburg,  Emily  R.,  Harrisburg,  James 
C,  Harrisburg,  William  F.,  Philadelphia. 
In  political  views  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  an  old-time  abolitionist.  The 
familv  attend  the  Reformed  church. 


Reily,  John  A.,  retired,  was  born  in 
Myerstown,  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 20,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Saloma  (^\alentine)  Reily.  Mr.  Reily  may 
trace  back  his  ancestral  line  with  no  appre- 
hension of  finding  anytliing  but  tiiat  which 
would  be  pleasant  to  discover,  for  in  all  his 
preceding  genei'ations  here  appeared  men 
of  character  and  mark.  The  fourth  genera- 
tion preceding  his  own  was  headed  by  Peter 
Reily,  of  English  ancestry,  while  next  comes 


304 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Capt.  John  Reily,  son  of  Peter,  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolution  and  a  prominent  lawyer,  who 
jiracticed  at  the  first  court  held  in  Dauphin 
county,  followed  in  the  next  generation  by 
William  Reily,  his  fiither.  On  his  mother's 
side  Mr.  Reily  finds  the  record  just  as  favor- 
able and  enviable,  his  great-grandfather, 
Michael  V^ilentine,  having  for  many  years 
been  a  successful  merchant  and  a  prominent 
and  honored  citizen  of  Myerstown,  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.  William  Reily,  the  father  of 
John  A.  Reily,  having  lost  his  father  in  his 
early  childliood,  found  a  good  home  with 
ills  uncle,  Governor  Heister,  who  cared  for 
him  and  carefully  looked  after  his  training 
and  instruction.  His  uncle  wisely  judged 
that,  for  a  boy  who  had  iiis  own  way  to 
make  in  the  world,  a  good  trade  is  one  of 
tlie  best  kind  of  preparations,  hence  he  was 
put  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  ac- 
complished his  apprenticeship  in  the  usual 
time,  subsequently  following  the  occupation 
for  some  years.  In  the  spring  of  1836  Mr. 
Reil}'  removed  to  Harrisburg,  and  became 
largely  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
to  which  lie  gave  most  of  his  time  until  a 
short  period  before  his  death.  Mr.  Reily 
was  advanced  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  many 
prominent  places  of  service  and  trust.  He 
rejiresented  Lebanon  county  in  the  State 
Legislature  and  served  with  ability  and 
honor  in  several  county  offices.  His  [irom- 
inence  in  military  circles  was  no  less  marked. 
He  served  in  the  United  States  militia  at 
Baltimore  in  1814.  Later  in  life  he  was 
made  a  brigade  major,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  was  holding  the  rank  of  brigadier 
general.  His  career  was  an  honorabk'  and 
useful  one,  beginning  in  humble  obscurity, 
advancing  by  easy  and  certain  steps  of  pre- 
ferment and  ending  in  prominence  and  dis- 
tinction by  death,  July  28,  1843,  iiis  worthy 
wife  long  surviving  him,  and  dying  May 
23,  ISGti.  They  had  sixteen  children,  and 
of  this  large  family  there  are  but  three  now 
living,  John  A.,  Martiia,  wife  of  James  B. 
Tliompson,  and  Frank,  all  of  whom  are  re- 
siding in  Harrisburg. 

John  A.,  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age, 
came  with  his  parents  1o  Harrisburg,  and 
was  here  given  all  the  educational  advan- 
tages afforded  by  the  city  schools,  of  which 
he  availed  himself  with  industrious  applica- 
tion. Although  abundantly  qualified  for 
any  of  the  learned  professions  or  active 
branches  of  business,  his  inclinations  and 
surroundings  led  in  the  direction  of  agricul- 


tural pursuits  to  which  he  has  given  his  at- 
tention for  the  greater  part  of  his  active  life. 
This  city  has  been  his  residence  for  the  whole 
of  his  life,  with  the  exception  of  five  years, 
spent  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  and  one  year  of 
service  in  the  U.  S.  army  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion.  For  a  .score  or  more  of  years 
Mr.  Reily  has  been  retired  from  the  engage- 
ments and  exacting  requirements  of  active 
business,  and  has  enjoyed  the  full  quiet  and 
comfort  of  home  life.  He  was  married  in  Har- 
risburg September  25,  1852,  to  Miss  Catha- 
rine Olewine,  daughter  of  George  and  Maria 
(Pifer)  Olewine,  her  father  being  of  French 
ancestry,  and  both  parents  natives  of  Berks 
county.  Pa.  Mrs.  Reily  was  born  in  Cumber- 
land county.  Pa.,  near  Fairview,  November 
7,  1827,  and  when  about  seven  years  of  age 
came  with  her  jmrents  to  Dauphin  county, 
where  she  spent  her  entire  life.  Thechililren 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reily  are:  William 
P.,  a  printer  now  in  Cincinnati,  George  E., 
now  holding  a  position  in  the  Pension  De- 
l)artnu"iit,  Washington,  Martha  L.,  and  John 
Franklin,  who  both  died  in  childhood.  Mr. 
Reily  is  a  member  of  Corn  planter  Tribe,  I. 
O.  R.  M.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  Christ  Lu- 
theran church,  of  Harrisburg. 


L.\M1!K1!T()X,    RuBKKT    AlICXANDEK,    SOU  of 

Robert  Lamberton,  and  Mary  Harkness 
Lamberton,  his  wife,  was  born  December  6, 
1824,  at  Carlisle,  Pa.  He  graduated  from 
Dickinson  College  June,  1848,  being  vale- 
dictorian of  the  class.  After  teaching  scliool 
two  years  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  James  McCormick  of  Harrisburg 
and  was  admitted  to  tiie  Dauphin  county 
bar  in  August,  1848.  He  soon  acquired  a 
wide  reputation  as  an  able  and  conscientious 
jurist.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil 
war  Mr.  Lamberton  enlisted  in  the  First 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  militia,  of  which  he 
was  commissioned  lieutenant  colonel.  He 
served  on  Governor  Curtin's  staff  at  the  time 
of  Lee's  invasion  of  the  Cumberland  Valley 
and  Gettysburg,  in  1863.  In  1873  he  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention as  a  delegate  at  large.  In  that  dis- 
tinguished body  his  abilities  had  marked  at- 
tention in  the  various  discussions  therein. 
He  served  on  the  committees  on  executive 
department,  counties,  townships,  and  bor- 
ouglis.  Mr.  Lamberton  took  high  rank  in 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  was  Grand 
Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylva- 


J 


i-nqraveo  D^  J  R.Rice  1  Sons  Phdada 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


307 


nia  from  1870  to  1871.  He  also  served  in 
the  highest  offices  in  the  Odd  Fellows,  of 
which  lie  was  a  very  prominent  member. 
From  1S71  for  a  period  of  tvvent}'  years,  he 
served  as  secretar\-  of  tlie  Diocesan  Conven- 
tion of  Central  Pennsylvania.  In  1880  the 
board  of  trustees  of  Lehigh  University  recog- 
nizing the  executive  abilit}-  and  brilliant 
attainments  of  Mr.  Lamberton  offered  him 
the  presidency  of  that  institution,  which  he 
accepted.  The  same  ^-ear  tlie  I'niversity  of 
Pennsylvania  conferred  upon  him  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  I^aws.  Dr.  Lamberton's  labors 
as  president  of  Lehigh  University  for  the 
j)eriod  of  thirteen  years  were  crowned  with 
marked  success — an  everlasting  monument 
to  his  fidelit}'  and  abilit}'  as  an  educator. 

Apart  from  iiis  duties  as  president  of  the 
University,  Dr.  Lamberton  was  a  director  of 
the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company 
and  trustee  of  estate  of  the  late  Asa  Packer. 
He  was  also  a  trustee  of  the  State  Lunatic 
Hospital  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  St.  Jjuke's  Hos- 
pital at  South  Bethlehem,  and  the  Bishop 
Thorpe  School  for  Young  Ladies,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Society  Sons 
of  the  Revolution.  Dr.  Lamberton  died 
suddenly  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  at 
South  Bethlehem,  on  the  evening  of  the  1st 
of  September,  1893.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred at  Harrisburg.  He  married,  September 
14,  1852,  Annie,  daughter  of  the  late  Will- 
iam Buehler,  of  Harrisburg.  Their  cliildren 
who  survived  him  were  William  E.,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Daupiiin  countj-  bar;  .James  ftL, 
master  at  St.  Paul's  School,  Concord,  N.  H., 
and  Nannie,  wife  of  Rollin  H.  Wilbur,  of 
the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company. 


Roberts,  Alexander,  Sr.,  son  of  Col. 
.John  and  Mary  H.  (Chambers)  Roberts,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

The  lioberts  family  were  among  the  very 
earliest  settlers  of  this  State.  They  were 
Welsh  Quakers,  and  came  to  America  with 
William  Penn.  The  grandfather  of  Alex- 
ander Roberts  settled  in  Dauphin  county, 
where  now  stands  the  village  of  Rockville, 
before  the  Revolution,  and  when  he  was 
about  thirty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  worker 
in  steel  and  iron,  and  a  manufacturer  of 
sickles;  a  most  reputable  man  and  a  skillful 
mechanic.  Here  was  born  and  here  grew 
up  his  son  John,  father  of  Alexander.  This 
son,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  removed 
to  Lancaster,  Pa. ;  after  a  residence  of  a  few 
years  in    that  place  he   again   removed    to 

24 


Harrisburg,    and    practiced    law   there   for 
many  years. 

Col.  John  Roberts  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  on  February 
5,  1812,  and  on  November  14,  1812,  was 
commissioned  by  the  secretary  of  the  Com- 
monwealth to  notify  the  electors  for  Pres- 
ident, in  the  different  counties  of  the  State, 
at  the  re-election  of  President  Madison.  On 
October  19,  1813,  he  became  a  private  in 
Capt.  Thomas  Walker's  company,  Harris^- 
burg  volunteers,  which  was  composed  of 
forty  men.  On  August  1,  1814,  he  was 
elected  and  commissioned  by  Gov.  Simon 
Snj'der  to  be  second  lieutenant  in  the  First 
brigade,  Sixth  division,  Pennsylvania  militia, 
from  Dauphin,  J^ebanon,  Berks  and  Schuyl- 
kill counties,  for  .seven  j-ears.  Also,  on  the 
same  date,  he  was  commissioned  as  first 
lieutenant  of  company  Ten,  First  battalion. 
Ninety-eighth  regiment.  First  brigade.  Sixth 
division,  Pennsylvania  militia;  and  on  Au- 
gust 1,  1814,  was  commissioned  as  lirst 
lieutenant  of  the  Ninety-eighth  regiment, 
Harrisburg  volunteers,  referred  to  nbove. 
The  foregoing  commissions  were  under  the 
State  organization.  After  the  burning  of 
Washington  by  the  British,  August  23,1814, 
the  President  issued  a  recjuisition  on  Gov- 
ernor Snyder  for  10,000  militia.  A  number 
of  uniformed  volunteer  companies,  among 
which  were  the  Harrisburg  volunteers, 
tendered  their  services  to  the  governor,  and 
were  accepted  by  him.  The  necessity  of  in- 
crensing  the  number  of  men  in  each  com- 
pany, the  dropping  out  of  old  members  and 
the  addition  of  new,  caused  a  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  old  volunteer  companies,  and  in 
the  new  company,  now  increased  to  ninety- 
four  men,  Jolm  Roberts  volunteered  and  was 
enrolled  as  private,  and  was,  with  tlie  com- 
pany, mustered  into  the  service  of  the  LInited 
States  at  York,  Pa.,  August  29,  1814.  A 
few  days  after,  John  M.  Forster.  orderly 
sergeant  of  the  company,  was  appointed 
brigade  major  by  his  uncle.  Gen.  John  For- 
ster, and  John  Roberts  was  appointed  and 
took  his  place  as  orderly,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  until  the  volunteers  returned  home, 
after  their  honorable  discharge  at  Baltimore, 
December  3,  1814. 

John  Roberts  was  first  sergeant  of  First 
company,  Ca[)tain  Walker,  of  First  battalion, 
Maj.  G.  B.  Porter,  of  First  regiment.  Col.  M. 
Kennedy,  of  First  brigade.  Gen.  John  For- 
ster, and  of  First  division.  Major  General 
Watson,    of  Pennsylvania    volunteers    and 


308 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


militia.  His  regiment  was  comjjosed  of 
uniformed  volunteers,  except  two  companies 
of  militia,  one  commanded  by  Captain  Rose 
and  the  other  by  Capt.  John  Elder,  brother- 
in-law  to  General  Forster.  At  one  time,  the 
adjutant  being  absent,  John  Roberts  was  ap- 
pointed and  acted  temj^orarily  as  adjutant. 

"  After  the  war  was  over,"  and  he  returned 
to  the  State,  his  services  in  a  military  ca- 
pacity were  as  follows:  On  Augusts,  1821, 
he  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Joseph  Hies- 
ter  as  major  of  First  battalion,  Ninet}'- 
eighth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  militia,  until 
August  3,  1828.  But,  on  November  26, 
1825,  there  was  probably  a  vacancy,  and 
being  duly  elected  and  returned.  Major 
Roberts  was  commissioned,  by  Gov.  John  A. 
Shulze,  to  be  colonel  of  the  Ninety-eighth 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  militia,  to  continue 
until  August  3,  1828.  That  was  probably 
the  end  of  his  military  career. 

Among  the  men  who  went  from  Harris- 
burg  as  volunteers  in  the  company  were 
two  brothers,  by  the  names  of  Ferdinand 
and  Charles  Durang,  who  belonged  to  a  the- 
atrical company  then  here.  They  were 
gentlemen,  and  were  very  popular.  One  of 
tiiem  had  a  fine  voice,  and  was  a  good 
musician.  While  the  regiment  lay  at  Balti- 
more, the  Star  Spangled  Banner  was  written 
by  Key,but  it  was  without  music.  Durang's 
friends  urged  him  to  set  it  to  music  and  sing 
it.  After  looking  over  all  the  music  he  had 
or  knew,  to  find  something  suitable,  he 
adopted  the  tune  now  always  used  as  most 
appropriate.  Having  tried  it,  to  the  de- 
light of  his  friends  in  the  regiment,  he  in- 
troduced it  one  evening  unexpectedly  on 
the  boards  of  the  theatre,  and  the  audience 
fairly  raised  the  roof  with  their  ajjplause. 
Its  popularity  has  never  since  been  lost.  In 
a  selection  of  the  old  tunes  published  in 
"  Blake's  Evening  Companion,"  by  Blake, 
of  Philadelphia,  many  years  ago,  it  is  called 
"  Anacreon  in  Heaven,  or  the  Battle  of  the 
Wabash." 

Col.  John  Roberts  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  the  oldest  member  of  the  Dauphin 
county  bar.  He  was  a  quiet,  unassuming 
man,  and  very  popular  with  all  classes.  He 
was  a  generous  and  earnest  supporter  of  all 
schemes  for  the  elevation  of  his  fellow-men. 
His  wife  was  Mary  H.  Chambers,  a  native 
of  Trenton,  N.  J.  They  had  eight  children, 
of  whom  four  are  living :  Alexander,  Eliza, 
widow  of  Dr.  James  Given,  Annie,  wife  of 
James  Parvin,  of  Holton,  Kan.,  and  Cath- 


erine, wife  of  James  H.  Lowell,  also  of  Hol- 
ton, Kan. 

Alexander  Roberts  received  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Harrisburg,  and  began  the 
stud}' of  law  in  his  fatlier's  office.  During 
■  the  pi'osecution  of  his  studies,  he  acted  for  a 
part  of  the  time  as  chief  clerk  in  the  regis- 
ter's and  recorder's  office.  He  learned  civil 
engineering  and  occupied  himself  in  this 
business.  He  assisted  in  the  survey  of  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  and  was  connected 
with  the  construction  of  the  Middle  divis- 
ion and  the  Pittsburgh  end  of  the  Pittsburgh 
division.  A  large  portion  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  the  active  work  of  this  business, 
but  of  late  years  he  has  comparatively  re- 
tired from  it.  He  was  married  in  Harris- 
burg to  Charlotte  Geiger,  a  daughter  of 
Bernard  Geiger,  who  was  also  among  the 
pioneers  of  Dauphin  county.  To  them 
were  born  four  sons:  John,  Alexander.  Jr., 
James  and  George.  Mrs.  Roberts  died  in 
1862.  Mr.  Roberts  was  an  active  promoter 
of  the  Harrisburg  street  railway  and  still 
holds  the  position  of  secretary  of  the  com- 
pan}\  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Harris- 
burg Burial  Case  Company  and  Harrisburg 
Furniture  Company.  He  is  identified 
closely  with  other  industries  and  enterprises. 
He  is  a  man  of  broad  intelligence,  sound 
judgment,  marked  ability  and  genial  tem- 
perament. He  is  a  connecting  link  between 
the  active  present  and  the  historic  past. 
With  pleasant  memories  of  primitive  strug- 
gles he  mingles  the  still  more  pleasing  re- 
alizations of  resulting  success,  as  displayed 
in  the  growth  of  the  community  and  the 
building  of  a  great  city. 

Day,  William  Howard,  son  of  John  Day 
(1783-1828)  and  Eliza  Dixon  (1793-1869), 
was  born  October  16,  1825,  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  cit}',  in  the  private 
school  of  Rev.  Frederick  Jones,  and  prepared 
for  college  in  the  high  school,  Northampton, 
Mass.,  then  in  charge  of  Rev.  Rudolphus  B. 
Hubbard  and  Tutor  Dwight,  subsequently 
of  Yale  College.  In  1843  he  entered  Oberlin 
College,  graduating  in  1847.  He  learned 
the  art  of  printing  in  the  Hampshire  Gazette 
office  at  Northampton,  and  afterwards  turned 
his  attention  to  teaching  and  lecturing.  In 
1850  lie  was  elected  by  the  colored  citizens 
of  Ohio,  at  a  State  conference,  to  plead  their 
cause  before  the  Ohio  Constitutional  Con- 
vention.    From  1852  to  1855  he  edited   The 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


309 


Aliened  American,  at  Cleveland,  having  jne- 
viouslybeen  local  editor  of  the  Clevelmid  True 
Democrat,  now  the  Leader.  In  1861  he  was 
invited  to  take  the  lecture  platform  in  Great 
Britain,  and  remained  there  particularly  at 
the  request  of  the  American  residents  from 
the  North  to  explain  to  the  peoj)le  of  Eng- 
land the  issues  at  stake  in  the  great  civil  con- 
flict then  transpiring  in  the  United  States. 
Returning  to  his  native  country  he  resumed 
his  profession  of  teacher.  In  1867  and  1868 
he  was  superintendent  of  schools  in  the  dis- 
trict of  Maryland  and  Delaware  under  the 
United  States  Government.  During  the 
incumbency  of  Gen.  Harrison  Allen  as  aud- 
itor general  of  Pennsylvania,  1872-75,  he 
held  a  clerkship  in  the  corporation  depart- 
ment of  that  office.  In  1868  Mr.  Day  was 
ordained  an  elder  in  the  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Zion  connection,  and  in  1875  and 
1878  was  secretary  of  the  General  Conference 
of  that  body.  He  was  the  first  person  of 
color  elected  to  the  board  of  school  control 
of  the  city  of  Harrisburg,  serving  from  1878 
almost  continuously  to  the  pi'esent. 


Kelker,  Henry  Anthony,  youngest  son 
of  Frederick  and  Catharine  Kelker,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  December  16, 1825.  He 
was  carefully  trained  and  instructed  at  home, 
and  was  aflbrded  all  the  advantages  of  the 
best  primary  schools  in  the  borough.  Later 
he  was  for  several  years  in  the  Harrisburg 
Academy,  then  under  the  superintendence 
of  Prof.  Alfred  Armstrong,  and  in  Novem- 
ber, 1842,  entered  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment of  Marshall  College  at  Mercersburg, 
Pa.  His  careful  instruction  in  the  home 
schools  and  his  diligent  application  enabled 
him  to  enter  college  in  a  short  time,  when 
he  took  the  regular  course  of  study  until 
May,  1846.  He  then  returned  to  Harris- 
burg to  arrange  for  a  partnership  with  his 
brothers  in  the  hardware  business  at  the  old 
stand  established  by  his  father  in  1805. 

After  having  consummated  this  object,  he 
returned  to  college  with  the  view  of  com- 
pleting the  course  and  obtaining  his  degree, 
but  was  unexpech^dly  summoned  home  by 
the  severe  illness  of  his  mother,  which  term- 
inated fatally,  August  15,  1846.  He  then 
decided  to  abandon  his  college  studies  and 
to  remain  in  Ilarrisburg,  wTiere  he  could 
give  personal  attention  to  his  business. 

The  firm,  composed  of  the  three  brothers, 
Rudolph  F.,  Immanuel  M.  and  Henry  A., 
under   the  name  of  Kelker  &  Bros.,  con- 


tinued in  business  until  May,  1851,  when 
Rudolph  F.  retired,  and  Henry  A.  continued 
with  his  brother  Immanuel  under  the  firm 
name  of  Kelker  &  Bro.,  at  the  old  stand 
No.  5,  now  No.  9,  South  Front  street,  until 
September,  1857,  when  they  removed  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  Market  square.  During 
this  partnership,  which  continued  until 
April  1,  1878,  a  large  and  profitable  trade 
wa.s  secured  and  the  enviable  reputation  of 
the  house  fully  sustained.  At  this  date 
Henry  A.  withdrew  and  retired  from  busi- 
ness, disposing  of  his  stock  partly  to  his 
nephews,  Luther  R.  and  William  A.,  and 
partly  to  his  brother,  Immanuel  M. 

Mr.  Kelker  has  always  held  the  opinion 
that  it  was  better  for  the  citizens  to  invest 
their  surplus  capital  in  home  enterprises, 
since  they  can  in  this  way  more  certainly 
benefit  their  own  private  interest  and  more 
effectually  promote  the  growtii  and  pros- 
perity of  the  community.  That  he  has 
made  this  principle  the  foundation  of  his 
own  course,  his  prominent  and  wide  con- 
nection with  important  commercial  and  in- 
dustrial local  organizations  will  show.  He 
has  served  for  many  j'ears  as  a  director  of 
the  Ilarrisburg  National  Bank,  as  well  as  of 
the  Chestnut  Street  Market  Company,  of  the 
Harrisburg  Gas  Company,  of  the  Harris- 
burg Steam  Heat  and  Power  Company,  is 
also  a  director  of  the  Pennsylvania  Tele- 
phone Company  and  the  Harrisburg  Trac- 
tion Company,  president  of  the  Harrisburg 
City  Passenger  Railway  Company  since  its 
reorganization  in  1874,  and  of  the  Harris- 
burg Burial  Case  Company,  and  Harrisburg 
J^'urniture  Manufacturing  Company.  He 
was  one  of  the  proprietors  and  founders  of 
the  town  of  Baldwin,  which  subsequently 
took  the  name  of  Steelton,  and  became,  the 
seat  of  the  magnificent  plant  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Company.  He  has  erected 
some  of  the  most  substantial  buildings  in 
Steelton,  among  which  are  the  bank  and 
postoffice  blocks. 

In  matters  of  a  political  nature,  Mr. 
Kelker  has  clear  and  decided  views  and 
finds  himself  more  nearly  in  harmony  with 
the  Republican  party,  but  is  not  in  any 
sense  an  active  partisan.  He  has  served  as 
a  member  of  the  common  council  of  the  city 
of  Harrisburg,  not  however  as  a  politician, 
but  in  the  fulfilment  of  duty  as  a  conscien- 
tious and  patriotic  citizen.  Mr.  Kelker  is 
now  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  a 
trustee  of  the    Reformed   Salem   church   of 


310 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Harrlsburg,  with  wliich  church  he  united 
April  6,  1845,  by  certificate  from  the  Re- 
formed churcli  at  Mercersburg,  Pa.,  which 
he  had  joined  while  at  college. 

On  the  11th  of  October,  1855,  he  married 
Ellen,  daughter  of  Col.  John  Roberts  and 
sister  of  Alexander  Roberts,  of  both  of  whom 
biographical  sketclies  appear  in  this  volume. 
The  children  of  this  union  were;  Frederick 
A.,  John  Roberts,  Mary  Anna,  Anne  Roberts, 
Henry  A.,  Rudolph  F.,  Ellen,  Edith  V.,and 
Katherine  M.  Of  these,  Frederick  A.,  John 
R.  and  Rudolph  F.  died  in  infancy ;  the 
otiiers  are  residing  in  the  homestead  with 
their  father.  Mrs.  Kelker  departed  this  life 
on  the  8th  of  February',  1893.  She  was  a 
most  affectionate  mother,  faithful  wife  and 
a  worthy  member  of  the  Reformed  Salem 
cliurch,  and  adorned  her  profession  by  a 
godly  life. 


Greenawalt,  Jacob,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  August  10,  1826.  He  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Krause)  Greenawalt ; 
a  sketch  of  his  parents  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  He  w-as  educated  in  the  sub- 
scri[)tion  schools,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
tanner  and  currier  in  his  father's  tanner3% 
where  he  worked  for  twelve  years. 

In  1852  he  and  his  brother  Jeremiah  K. 
engaged  in  the  leather  and  shoe  finding 
business  at  the  present  site  of  King's  hard- 
ware store,  on  Market  street.  In  1854,  at 
tiie  death  of  their  father,  these  brothers  took 
his  business  at  the  appraisement,  and  con- 
ducted it  for  some  years.  They  finally  sold 
this  interest  to  William  Calder,  and  pur- 
chased a  site  from  General  Cameron  and  Dr.. 
Robert  Harris,  on  the  corner  of  Eleventh  and 
Paxton  streets.  Here  they  erected  buildings, 
and  equipped  a  tanner}'  which  they  con- 
ducted for  about  twenty  years.  They  re- 
moved to  Seventeenth  and  Derry  streets, 
and  started  a  tan  yard.  They  were  joined 
b}'  their  brother.  Major  T.  D.  Greenawalt, 
and  under  the  firm  name  of  Greenawalt 
Bros,  continued  this  business  until  1888. 

In  1863  they  purchased  a  three-story 
property  on  Market  street,  below  Second 
street,  of  Kelker  Bros.,  added  two  stories  to 
the  building,  and  removed  to  that  location 
their  salesrooms  and  their  finishing  shops. 
They  continued  their  leather  store  until 
1892.  They  manufactured  harness,  sole, 
kip,  upper  and  calfskin  leathers,  and  found 
market  at  home  and  in  foreign  countries. 
The  excellence    of  their  manufactures  was 


such  as  to  enable  them  to  win  medals  in 
various  expositions,  at  home  and  abroad. 
The  increased  cost  of  transportation  of  bark 
from  a  distance  reduced  the  profits  of  their 
productions,  and  caused  them  to  retire  from 
business. 

Mr.  Greenawalt  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Harrisburg  Gas  (Jompan^',  the  Harrisburg 
Electric  Light  Company,  and  the  Harrisburg 
Traction  Company.  He  is  a  member  of 
Perseverance  Lodge,  A.  Y.  M.,  and  Royal 
Arch  Chapter.     His  politics  are  Republican. 

He  was  married  in  1879  to  Miss  Julia, 
daughter  of  John  Pifer,  a  native  of  Prussia, 
who  served  in  the  German  army,  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Wormleysburg,  and 
from  there  moved  to  Harrisburg.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greenawalt  are 
Catherine,  Theodore  David,  Julia  Louisa, 
deceased.  Bertha  May,  Mary  Elizabeth,  and 
Charles  David.  Mi's.  Greenawalt  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Catholic  church. 


LaRoss,  David  Henry  Earnest,  the  son 
of  Rev.  Joseph  LaRoss  and  Elizabeth  Earn- 
est, was  born  January  9, 1827,  at  Bloomsburg, 
Columbia  county.  Pa.  His  father  died  when 
his  son  was  an  infant,  and  his  mother,  an 
exemplary  woman,  when  he  was  eleven  years 
of  age.  Thus  early  loft  an  orphan  he  was 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  for  a  liveli- 
hood. After  varied  employments  he  returned 
to  Hummeistown  with  his  maternal  uncle, 
and  shortl\'  after  apprenticed  iiimself  to  the 
trade  of  cabinet-maker.  After  serving  his 
time  he  began  clerking  at  Harrisburg,  where 
he  remained  several  j'ears,  at  the  same  time 
closely  applying  himself  to  study.  He  sub- 
sequently entered  Lafayette  College,  Easton, 
where  he  remained  two  years,  his  limited 
means  not  permitting  him  to  remain  for 
graduation.  He  then  began  teaching  as  a 
profession.  In  1860  he  was  first  elected 
county  superintendent  of  public  schools,  in 
which  position  he  served  until  his  death, 
except  in  1872,  when  he  was  elected  to  a  term 
of  office  by  a  vote  of  sixty-five  out  of  ninet)' 
polled,  yet,  owing  to  some  defect  and  objec- 
tion by  several  boards  of  directors,  the  per- 
son who  received  the  next  highest  number 
of  votes  was  commissioned  superintendent. 
He  was,  however,  re-elected  in  1875  and  in 
1878,  and  again  in  1881,  when  his  vote  was 
almost  unanimous.  Professor  LaRoss  died 
at  Hummeistown,  Sunday,  October  22, 1882, 
in  the  fifty -sixth  year  of  his  age.  Professor 
LaRoss   married,  in    1853,  Sarah   A.  Coil,  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


311 


Sliaefferstown,  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  who 
died  in  January,  1867,  and  tliere  was  issue: 
Josepii,  John,  Mary,  Gertrude,  married  Eli 
Kline,  of  Allentown,  Carroll,  Robert,  Sarah, 
and  Eva.  He  next  married  Annie  W.  Bren- 
neman,  of  Elizabethtown,  Pa.,  who  died  two 
years  afterwards  without  issue.  In  1872  he 
married  Fannie  Hummel,  of  Hummelstown, 
and  there  was  issue:  Fannie,  Claude  and 
Edna. 


HoYicK,  George,  retired,  was  born  in 
Hogestown,  (Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  August 
3,  1828.  tie  is  a  son  of  .Jacob  and  Lucetta 
(Brua)  Hoyer.  George,  the  father  of  Jacob 
Hoyer,  a  native  of  York  county,  came  to 
Harrisburg  aboutl780.  Repurchased  land 
from  the  Harris'  in  what  is  now  Market 
square.  He  traded  in  general  merchandise, 
and  built  the  "Popular  Tavern,"  of  which  he 
was  proprietor  for  many  years.  After  the 
organization  of  the  borough  of  Harrisburg, 
he  was  elected  its  first  chief  burgess.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Harrisburg 
Bank.  In  politics  he  was  Democratic.  He 
was  a  member  of.  the  German  Reformed 
church,  and  helped  to  organize  the  church 
on  Chestnut  street.  He  married  Miss  Cath- 
erine Schultz,  of  York  county.  He  died  in 
Harri.sburg  in  1841 ;  his  wife  died  in  1835. 
They  had  one  son  and  three  daughters: 
Jacob,  Susan  (Mrs.  Philip  Smyser,  of  York 
county),  Sarah  and  Eliza,  maiden  ladies; 
all  are  deceased. 

Jacob  Hoyer,  father  of  George  second,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg  in  1793.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  subscription  schools. 
He  dealt  in  general  merchandise,  first  in 
Hogestown,  and  afterwards  in  Harrisburg ; 
he  also  kept  a  hotel  on  Front  street,  between 
Chestnut  and  Market  streets.  He  was  a 
private  in  the  army  in  tlie  war  of  1812.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Harris- 
burg, and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
He  died  May  21,  1831;  his  wife,  in  1800. 
Their  eight  children  were:  George  P.,  de- 
ceased; B.  Franklin,  of  Harrisburg;  Sarah 
Ann,  Catherine  (Mrs.  Ambrose  Taylor), 
Charles,  teacher  in  a  private  school;  George; 
Jacob,  a  dentist,  was  lieutenant  in  the 
Twelfth  U.  S.  infantry  during  the  Rebellion; 
Joseph,  a  tinner,  was  first  lieutenant  of  the 
First  U.  S.  cavalry,  and  was  killed  in  the 
Shenandoali  Valley;  all  are  dead  except 
George  and  B.  Franklin. 

George  Hoyer  was  educated   in  the  com- 


mon schools.  He  learned  tin  and  iron 
working,  and  followed  that  trade  for  thirty 
years,  after  which  he  retired  from  active 
business. 

In  1850  he  married  Miss  Justina,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Hippey,  of  Columbia,  Lan- 
caster county.  He  has  six  children  living 
and  two  dead :  Louisa,  (Mrs.  Frank  With- 
erau),  of  Harrfsburg;  Charles,  died  young; 
Justina,  died  young;  William,  of  Harris- 
burg, printer;  J.  Brua,  of  Chambersburg, 
private  secretary  to  the  president  of  the 
Cumberland  Valley  railroad  ;  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Benjamin  Boggs),  of  Harrisbui-g;  Josephine 
and  George  R. 

Mr.  Hoyer  is  a  Republican.  He  and  his 
family  are  prominent  members  of  Zion 
Lutheran  church.  Fourth  street,  Harrisburg. 


DuEY,  Simon,  was  born  in  Susquehanna 
township,  Dauphin  count}',  Pa.,  December  1, 
1829.  He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Barbara 
(Peiffer)  Duey.  His  father  was  born  in  East 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  March 
24, 1796,  and  died  in  Susquehanna  township, 
December  4,  1855.  His  mother  was  born  in 
Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  June  14,  1804,  and 
died  November  15, 1857.  His  grandparents, 
Emanuel  Duey,  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  and  wife,  had  nine  children  :  John, 
born  February  15,  1783 ;  Simon,  born  De- 
cember 11,  1784 ;  Susanna,  born  November 
29,1786;  John,  born  August  18, 1789;  Cath- 
erine, born  November  11,  1791 ;  Mary,  born 
December  14,  1793;  Frederick,  born  March 
24, 1/96 ,  Eva,  born  October  22, 1798 ;.  Eliza- 
beth, born  April  3,  1805;  all  long  since  de- 
ceased. His  father  and  mother,  P'rederick 
and  Barbara  Duej',  were  married  March  21, 
1822.  They  had  twelve  children  :  Caroline, 
born  November  8,  1823,  widow  of  the  late 
Paul  Barnhardt,  of  Harrisburg;  Elizabeth, 
born  October  1,  1825,  wife  of  Samuel  Stober, 
of  Harrisburg;  Mary  Ann,  born  October  26, 
1827,  deceased;  Simon;  Susannah,  born 
February  19,  1832,  deceased;  Jacob,  born 
December  5,  1834,  killed  while  serving  in 
the  defense  of  his  country  in  tiie  late  war; 
Ann  Catherine,  born  April  11,  1837,  wife  of 
Jesse  Long,  of  Northumberland  county ; 
Fanny,  born  February  15,  1839,  deceased; 
Harriet,  born  March  12,  1842,  wife  of  David 
W.  Miller,  of  Harrisburg;  Leah,  born  Novem- 
ber 15,  1843,  died  April  1,1851;  Frederick, 
born  December  11, 1844,  killed  while  serving 
in  defense  of  his  country  in  the  late  war ;  and 


312 


BIO  OR  A  Fine  A  L  EN  CYCL  OPEDIA 


Rebba,  born  Mav  4,  1844,  died  March  29, 
1851. 

Simon  Duey  was  reared  to  manliood  in 
Susquehanna  township,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  worked  on 
the  farm  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age, 
and  then  learned  carpentry  wiiich  he  fol- 
lowed for  ten  years.  The  following  twenty 
years  he  spent  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Susquehanna  and  Lower  Paxtou  townships. 
In  1870  he  was  elected  register  of  wills, 
which  office  he  held  for  six  years, meanwhile 
remaining  on  the  farm  and  superintending 
its  operation.  In  1879  he  was  appointed 
warden  of  the  Dauphin  county  prison,  and 
filled  the  office  for  four  and  a-half  years. 
He  also  served  as  auditor  of  Dauphin  county 
from  1867  to  1870.  Since  1884  he  has  not 
been  engaged  in  active  business. 

Mr.  Duey  was  married  in  Lower  Paxton 
township,  December  25,  1853,  to  Susan  Zar- 
ker,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Catherine 
(Faler)  Zarker,  both  natives  of  Dauphin 
county.  Mrs.  Duey  was  born  in  Susque- 
hanna township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  May 
9, 1832.  They  have  two  daughters,  Mary  A', 
born  August  5,  1854,  wife  of  Jolui  H.Smith, 
of  Harrisburg;  and  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Andrew 
R.  Unger,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Lower  Pax- 
ton  township. 

Mr.  Duey  is  a  member  of  Perseverance 
Lodge,  No."  21,  F.  &  A.  M.  In  jiolitical  views 
he  is  a  staunch  Republican.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Duey  has 
well  discharged  the  public  trusts  committed 
to  his  hands,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  neighbors. 


GreenawaIjT,  Jeremiah  K.,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  July  30,  1830.  He  is  a  son 
of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Krause)  Greena- 
walt,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  book.  He  was  educated  in  the  sub- 
scription schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
tanner  and  currier  with  his  father. 

He  engaged  in  the  leather  business  with 
his  brothers,  taking  charge  of  the  finishing 
department.  During  the  late  war  his  firm 
filled  extensive  orders  from  Lacy  &  Phillips, 
of  Philadelphia,  who  had  large  contracts 
with  the  Government  for  supplying  the  army 
with  leather  goods.  He  is  a  practical  judge 
of  leather,  and  known  as  an  expert.  He 
was  importuned  by  many  large  leather 
dealers  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  to  apply  for  the 
position  of  leather  inspector  and  the  posi- 
tion was  promised  him  by  Governor  Curtin, 


but  he  failed  to  secure  it  on  account  of  ad- 
verse political  influence. 

Mr.  Greenawalt  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Harrisburg  Traction  ('ompany  and  the 
Chestnut  Street  Market  Company. 

He  was  married,  November  IS,  1858,  to 
Miss  Annie  Loui.sa,  daughter  of  George 
Wolfe rsberger,  of  Harrisburg,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children:  Augustus  William,  died 
in  infancy,  Edwin  J.,  postal  money  order 
clerk,  Harrisburg  P.  ().,  Regina  C,  and  Jer- 
emiah K.,  Jr.,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Harrisburg  Steam  Heat  and  Power  Com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Greenawalt  is  a  Republican.  He  is 
a  member  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


WiNGERT,  Jesse,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  March  4,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Heckendorn)  Wingert.  The 
Wingert  family  are  of  German  ancestry. 
John  Wingert  was  born  in  Georgetown,  D. 
C,  came  to  Harrisburg  with  his  parents 
when  a  boy,  and  resided  here  continuously 
until  his  death.  He  served  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  was  a  weaver,  and  followed  that 
occupation.     He  died  in  1837. 

The  Heckendorn  family  are  of  Swiss  ex- 
traction. They  settled  at  Jonestown,  Pa.,  at 
an  early  date.  On  account  of  troubles  with 
the  Indians,  they  abandoned  their  home 
there,  and  located  in  York,  Pa.  Mary 
Heckendorn,  mother  of  Jesse  Wingert,  came 
with  her  parents  to  Harrisburg  in  1804,  and 
resided  here  until  her  death.  John  and 
Mary  Wingert  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren ;  a  daughter,  Mary,  widow  of  Michael 
Goodwin,  residing  in  Philadelphia,  and 
their  son  Jesse  are  the  only  living  mem- 
bers of  the  family.  Joseph,  a  son,  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Vicksburg;  Charles 
died  in  Harrisburg  in  September,  1889 ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jacob  Martin,  died  in 
Harrisburg  in  1850.  Three  other  children 
died  young. 

Jesse  Wingert  has  spent  his  whole  life  in 
Harrisburg.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  city  schools.  He  learned  bricklaying, 
but  followed  that  occupation  for  only  one 
year  after  his  apprenticeship.  For  the  next 
seven  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
building  sand.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
in  the  real  estate  business.  In  August,  1864, 
he  enlisted  in  company  L,  Ninety-ninth 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  as  a  private.  In 
the  same  year   his  company  was  attached 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


313 


to  tlie  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-ninth  regi- 
ment, becoming  compan.y  E  of  that  regi- 
ment, and  Mr.  Wingert  was  promoted  to 
be  its  second  lieutenant.  He  served  in  this 
regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war,  taking 
part  in  the  engagements  around  Peters- 
burg, Va. 

Jesse  Wingert  was  married  in  East  Penns- 
boro'  township,  Cumberland  county,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1865,  to  Barbara,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Joseph  and  Mary  (Renninger)  Blast.  They 
liave  no  children. 

Mr.  Wingert  has  been  assessor  for  one 
year.  He  has  represented  the  Sixtli  ward 
for  one  term  in  common  council.  He  is  a 
director  in  the  Merchants'  National  Bank, 
and  in  the  Central  Safe  Deposit  and  Guar- 
antee Company  ;  also  in  the  Safe  Deposit 
Building  and  Loan  Association.  In  politics 
Mr.  Wingert  is  an  independent  voter,  aim- 
ing always  to  support  the  most  worthy  men, 
irrespective  of  party.  Mr.  Wingert  is  ex- 
ecutor of  the  Downey  estate,  and  is  com- 
mittee for  George  W.  McKee,  in  the  McKee 
estate.  He  has  also  settled  other  estates  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  every  one  con- 
cerned. He  is  a  member  of  Grace  M.  E. 
church.  Mrs.  Wingert  is  a  member  of  St. 
Lawrence's  Roman  Catholic  church. 

Dr.  Joseph  Blust,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Win- 
gert, is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Harris- 
burg,  and  the  oldest  physician.  He  was 
born  in  Baden,  Germany,  October  28,  1804, 
received  his  education  in  his  native  land, 
came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1817, 
and  lived  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.  There  he 
read  medicine  under  Dr.  Mish  and  other 
eminent  physicians.  He  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  when  he  was  twenty-nine 
years  old,  in  Cumberland  county,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1865.  In  this  year  he 
removed  to  Harrisburg,  and  practiced  until 
a  few  years  ago.  He  was  married,  January 
4,  1838,  to  Mary  Renninger,  who  died  in 
Harrisburg,  July  8,  1889.  They  had  three 
children:  Margaret,  born  January  15,  1839, 
died  March  18,  1869 ;  Barbara,  wife  of  Jesse 
Wingert,  born  June  4,  1840;  Joseph,  born 
May  15,  1846,  married  Mary  Webber,  May 
14,  1870,  and  resides  in  Hampton  township, 
Cumberland  county. 

Mary  Renninger,  mother  of  Mrs.  Wingert, 
was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  March  18, 
1808.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Martin  and 
Margaretta  (Ru[)p)  Renninger.  Martin 
Renninger  was  born  in  Lancaster  county  in 
1764.     He  served  in  the  State  Legislature. 


For  many  j^ears  he  was  an  officer  in  the  Lu- 
theran church.  He  died  October  29,  1841, 
and  is  buried  in  Zion  Lutheran  church, 
near  West  Fairview. 


Simmons,  Col.  0.  B.,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  April  28,  1842.  He  is  the  third 
son  of  George  W.  Simmons,  who  was  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  honored  citizens  of  Har- 
risburg. He  died  April  5,  1889.  He  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Colonel  Whitley  and 
Capt.  Mike  Ward  of  Paxtang  Valley,  who 
were  of  Scotch-Irish  origin,  and  were  noted 
officers  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Colonel  Simmons  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Harrisburg.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen,  he  was  one  of  the  first 
to  respond  to  the  call  for  troops  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  war.  He  enlisted  April 
18,  1861,  as  a  pirivate  soldier,  in  the  Lochiel 
Grays.  During  his  service  in  the  ami}'  he 
was  promoted,  at  different  times,  for  the  only 
qualities  that  entitle  a  soldier  to  promotion, 
discipline  and  gallantry  on  the  field  of  bat- 
tle. His  last  promotion  was  to  the  rank  of 
brevet  colonel.  He  served  in  the  Eastern 
and  Western  armies,  until  January  18, 1866, 
when  he  received  an  honorable  discharge, 
having  given  to  his  country  five  of  the  best 
years  of  his  life. 

After  his  return  to  Harrisburg  he  became 
deputy  warden  of  the  county  prison,  which 
]3osition  he  held  for  ten  years.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  various  busi- 
ness ventures.  He  finally  located  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  city,  and  engaged  in 
plumbing  and  gas-fitting,  being  senior 
partner  of  the  firm  of  0.  B.  Simmons  &  Son. 

Colonel  Simmons  represented  the  Ninth 
ward  of  the  city  in  common  council,  and  is 
also  president  of  the  board  of  health,  and 
chairman  of  the  joint  sanitary  committee. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
city  and  State  politics,  and  is  a  strong  ad- 
herent to  Republican  principles.  He  is  a 
charter  member  of  Post  58,  G.  A.  R.  _  He 
withdrew  from  the  charter  membership  of 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

He  was  first  married  in  Baton  Rouge,  La., 
in  1865,  and  had  three  children,  George  VV., 
in  business  with  his  father;  Charles  K.,  and 
Gertrude,  a  trained  nurse  of  Philadelphia. 
He  was  again  married  in  1895,  to  Miss  Har- 
riet Mahaney,  a  prominent  teacher  in  the 
city  schools.  Mrs.  Simmons  is  a  member  of 
Bethel  church,  and  Colonel  Simmons  at- 
tends the  same  church. 


314 


BIOGRA FHICAL  ENCYCL OPEDIA 


Demming,  Col.  Henry  C,  was  born  in 
Geneva,  N.  Y.,  September  28,  1842.  He 
is  a  direct  descendant,  on  his  father's  side,  of 
John  Demming,  whose  name  appears  in  the 
Liberal  charter  of  1602,  granted  by  Cliarles 
II.  to  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  and  after- 
wards concealed  in  tlie  famous  Charter  Oak, 
and  who  is  mentioned  in  Savage's  "  Genea- 
logical Dictionary  of  New  England  "  as  one 
of  the  principal  settlers  of  Wethersfield, 
Conn.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Sarah  Vierna  Carpenter,  was  a  native 
of  Bennington,  Vt.,  and  the  surnames  most 
familiar  on  tlie  maternal  side  are  Carpenter 
and  Hildreth.  They  seem  to  have  been 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Vermont. 

Before  he  was  three  years  of  age  young 
Demming  had  been  taught  his  letters  by  his 
mother,  and  when  about  thirteen  years  old 
he  entered  upon  a  cla.ssical  course.  During 
his  vacations  he  spent  considerable  time  in 
the  printing  office  of  his  native  village, 
sometimes  working  as  roller  boy  at  tiie  hand 
press,  and  this  led  to  his  giving  up  his  class 
studies  and  becoming  an  apprentice  in  tlie 
Genera  Gazette  office.  This  apprenticeship, 
however,  was  summarily  cut  short,  and  he 
went  to  work  on  ins  uncle's  fruit  and  horti- 
culture farm,  and  helped  to  bring  into  pro- 
fitable bearing  the  first  vinej'ard  of  the  many 
now  dotting  the  hill-ascending  slopes  sur- 
I'ounding  the  cliarming  Seneca  Lake. 

His  advent  into  Pennsylvania  occurred  in 
the  summer  of  18.")9,  and,  after  many  vicis- 
situdes in  search  of  employment,  he  entered 
Harrisburg  on  a  bleak  November  day  as  a 
mule  driver  on   the  canal   en  route  for  the 
Paxton   furnace    with   a  boat  load   of  coal. 
The  canal  suddenly  freezing  u)),  navigation 
was    declared    closed    for   the   season,   and 
young  Demming  sought  employment  in  the 
printing  office  of  the  Harrisburg  Patriot  aitd 
Union,  and   contracted   to  complete  his  ap- 
prenticeship in  that  establishment.     Before 
the  apprenticeship  agreement   expired   the 
Rebellion  broke  out,  and  it  was  with  great 
reluctance  that  he  was  obliged  to  forego  the 
opportunity  to  enlist  when  the  first  call  for 
volunteers   appeared.      On    September    10, 
1861,  however,  he  tendered  his  services  as 
private  to  Capt.  (afterwards  Maj.)  Charles  C. 
Davis,  of  company  I,  Seventh  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  which  regiment  was  then  in  Camp 
Cameron,    near    Harrisburg,    drilling   and 
awaiting   orders   to   proceed    to    the   front. 
LTnfortunately,  in  a  short  time,  he  became 


involved  in  a  hand-to-hand  struggle  with 
some  drunken  Welshmen  who  had  deserted 
the  regiment,  and  he  was  advised  to  retire, 
as  they  threatened  to  take  his  life  if  he  re- 
mained. 

A  second  call  having  been  made  for  three 
months'  men,  Mr.  Demming  immediately 
enlisted  as  a  private,  and  without  personal 
solicitation  came  within  a  few  votes  of  being 
elected  second  lieutenant  of  the  compan)'. 

On  the  call  for  nine  months'  volunteers 
the  records  show  that  young  Demming  was 
the  first  man  to  enlist  as  a  private,  connect- 
ing himself  witli  company'  A,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-seventh  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers. He  was  subsequently  detailed  to  as- 
sist the  medical  officers  by  keeping  the  rec- 
ords of  their  examinations  of  volunteers, 
and  was  subsequently  detached  for  duty  in 
the  mustering  office  of  Capt.  Richard  I. 
Dodge,  of  the  regular  army.  During  and 
following  his  detached  duty  service  he  was 
sent  on  important  missions  South,  once  in 
charge  of  a  large  body  of  convalescent  sol- 
diers, being  appointed  a  sergeant  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  subsequently  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  near  Fredericksburg,  about  the 
time  of  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville. 

After  nearly  a  year's  service  as  a  private 
soldier  young  Demming  appears  on  the  mil- 
itary roll  as  a  corporal  of  an  independent 
company,  formed  for  the  purpose  of  assisting 
in  the  protection  of  Pennsylvania  from  in- 
vasion in  I860.  In  this  capacity  he  did 
special  service  in  the  darkness  of  the  early 
morning  of  the  memoraV)le  Jul}'  2,  when 
portions  of  the  invading  hosts  weresweeping 
down  the  Cumberland  Valley  to  destro}' 
Pennsylvania's  capital  and  devastate  the 
neighboring  country.  Corporal  Den:ming 
was  tlie  principal  in  capturing  in  the  Sus- 
quehanna, opposite  the  late  residence  of 
Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  in  Harrisburg,  a  Con- 
federate captain  and  scout  who  had  nearly 
accomplished  his  mission,  and  with  a  map 
of  the  fords  of  tiie  Susquehanna  from  Marys- 
ville  to  just  below  Harrisburg,  was  quite 
prepared  to  return  to  the  Confederate  cav- 
alry advance,  under  General  Stuart,  less 
than  five  miles  away,  to  report  favorably 
upon  a  plan  to  burn  the  public  buildings, 
destroy  the  railroad  and  levy  heavy  tribute 
upon  the  citizens  of  the  State  capital.  A 
day  or  two  afterwards  he  volunteered  to  help 
convey  four  hundred  thousand  rounds  of 
ammunition  to  the  LTnion  army  near  Gettys- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


315 


burg.  A  few  months  aUerwards  Corporal 
Deiniiiing  re-enlisted  as  a  private,  and  was 
unanimousl}'  elected  first  lieutenant  of  the 
comj)any,  and  subsequently  promoted  to 
quartermaster  of  his  regiment,  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Ninety-fourth  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, and  afterwards  acted  as  quarter- 
master, commissary  and  ordnance  officer, 
under  Gen.  James  Nagle  in  Maryland,  Third 
separate  brigade.  Eighth  army  corps.  He 
then  recruited  a  sufficient  number  of  men 
to  be  entitled  to  a  captaincy,  but  the  emer- 
gency of  the  Government  induced  him  to  ac- 
cept the  first  lieutenancy  of  the  company, 
which  was  subsequently  assigned  as  com- 
pany I,  to  tlie  Seventy-seventh  Pennsyl- 
vania veteran  volunteers.  First  brigade. 
First  division.  Fourth  army  corps,  in  the 
Arm)' of  the  Cumberland,  under  Maj.  Gen. 
George  H.  Thomas.  Here  Jjieutenant  Dem- 
ming  participated  in  the  last  campaign  of 
Tennessee,  and  then  in  the  memorable  cam- 
paign of  Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan,  in  Texas,  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  In  one  of  these  cam- 
paigns Lieutenant  Demming  was  assigned 
to  duty  on  the  staff  of  tlie  corps  commander, 
Maj.  Gen.  D.  S.  Stanley,  and  then  as  muster- 
ing officer  on  the  staff  of  the  lamented  Gen. 
George  A.  Custer.  While  acting  in  this  lat- 
ter capacity  he  aided  in  mustering  out  Gen- 
eral Grant's  original  regiment,  the  Twenty- 
first  Illinois  volunteers,  and  in  January, 
186(J,  lie  mustered  in  tiie  last  two  volunteers 
of  tiie  war  of  the  Rebellion,  it  having  been 
ascertained  that  while  they  had  served  faith- 
fully as  soldiers  they  had  never  been  duly 
mustered  into  service.  Declining  to  accept 
a  commissioned  office  in  the  Freedman's 
Bureau,  he  was  lionorably  discharged  and 
returned  to  Harrisburg  about  April  1,  1866. 
Lieutenant  Demming  was  subsequently 
elected  to  the  captaincy  ot  a  company  of  the 
"Boys  in  Blue,"  and  was  then  promoted  to 
major  and  judge  advocate  bj'  Gov.  John  W. 
Geary,  serving  in  that  capacity  on  the  staff 
of  Maj.  Gen.  Thomas  J.  Jordan,  command- 
ing tlieFiftli  division  of  the  National  Guard  of 
Pennsjdvania  from  October  12,  1870,  until 
honorably  discharged,  June  30,  1874.  On 
January  30,  1884,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov. 
Pattison  an  aide-de-camp  on  his  staff,  with 
the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel,  and  served 
as  such  throughout  that  official's  term.  He 
was  recommissioned  in  January,  1887,  as 
lieutenant  colonel  by  Governor  Beaver,  and 
appointed  on  iiis  staff,  being  the  senior  of 
his  rank  thereon  and  served  until  June  11, 


1887,  when  he  resigned,  and  was  honorably 
discharged. 

On  September  11,  1S87,  Governor  Scales, 
of  North  Carolina,  tendered  him  a  place  on 
his  staff  as  special  aide,  with  the  rank  of 
colonel,  which  he  accepted  in  time  to  ap- 
pear with  the  governor  at  the  centennial 
celebration  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  held  in  Philadelphia  the  same 
month.  This  position  he  held  until  Gov- 
ernor Scales'  term  expired,  about  three  years 
afterwards.  Several  times  during  the  war 
he  received  injuries  which  required  treat- 
ment at  the  hosj.iitals,  but  the  most  serious 
ailment  from  which  he  suffered  was  a  vio- 
lent attack  of  typhoid  fever  contracted  near 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  from  which  he  would  in 
all  probability  have  died  had  not  the  devo- 
tion of  his  wife,  a  native  of  Middletown,  Pa., 
impelled  her  to  leave  her  home  in  Harris- 
burg and  go  to  him  in  the  field,  traveling  a 
part  of  the  way  through  a  country  infested 
with  guerillas,  and  care  for  her  husband 
until  he  was  sufficiently  recovered  to  bear 
removal  home.  During  his  terms  of  service 
Colonel  Demming  received  less  than  $100 
in  bounties  of  eveiy  description. 

In  civil  life,  since  the  war,  he  has  usually 
followed  the  occupations  of  journalist  or 
stenographer,  although  as  far  back  as  1860 
he  excelled  as  a  printer,  his  composition  bill 
for  one  week,  while  employed  on  the  Har- 
risburg Telegraplt,  exceeding  ninety  thou- 
sand ems,  much  of  the  work  being  "solid 
matter,"  a  record  that  had  not  been  equalled 
in  Harrisburg  at  that  time.  He  was  the 
city  editor  of  the  Harrisburg  Daily  Telegraph 
while  still  a  minor.  He  has  from  time  to 
time  been  a  contributor  to  a  number  of  the 
leading  periodicals  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  and  until  recently  was  a  corres- 
pondent of  several  of  the  great  dailies.  The 
Farmer's  Friend,  printed  at  Mechanicsburg, 
Fa.,  and  enjoying  perliajis  the  largest  farmer 
patronage  of  anj'  agricultural  paper  in 
Pennsylvania,  was  started  jointh'  b\'  its 
present  proprietor  and  Colonel  Demming. 

He  read  law  with  Hon.  A.  J.  Herr,  ex- 
State  senator  from  the  Dau])hin  district,  and 
devoted  considerable  attention  to  the  study 
of  medicine  and  the  physical  sciences.  As- 
tronomy, geology  and  mineralogy  have  been 
special  studies,  together  with  the  acquire- 
ment of  some  knowledge  of  modern  languages. 
Having  devoted  considerable  time  for  many 
years  past  to  practical  mining  he  has  ac- 
cjuired    quite  an   amount  of  knowledge  in 


316 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENVYCLOFEBIA 


that  direction,  and  has  had  numerous  no- 
tices in  tlie  public  press  relative  to  his  work 
and  success  in  discovering  and  developing 
valuable  deposits  of  iron  ore  and  other 
minerals  in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and 
the  South. 

During  the  past  ten  or  twelve  years  he 
has  given  a  great  deal  of  time  and  attention 
to  the  development  of  several  mines  in 
Western  North  Carolina,  and  has  brought  to 
public  notice  at  home  and  abroad  a  number 
of  valuable  gem  minerals  found  in  the 
South.  His  collection  of  gems  and  gem 
materials,  made  principally  through  the 
Marion  Bullion  Company  and  the  Marion 
Improvement  Company,  of  North  Carolina, 
is  now  perhaps  as  large,  varied  and  unique 
as  any  other  collection  of  American  precious 
and  semi-precious  stones.  One  selection  of 
live  hundred  gems  was  awarded  the  highest 
prize  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition, 
Chicago,  in  1893. 

His  activity  in  farming  matters  led  to  his 
joining  the  Farmers'  Alliance  in  the  spring 
of  1890,  and  forming  the  first  organization 
in  Pennsylvania,  Patriarch  Farmers'  Alli- 
ance No.  1,  of  wiiich  he  was  made  the  first 
president.  He  was  made  the  first  president 
of  the  State  organization,  afterwards  State 
secretary,  and  subsequently  member  and 
secretary  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
National  Farmers'  Alliance  and  Industrial 
Union. 

Colonel  Demming's  specialty,  however, 
for  a  number  of  years  was  phonograpliic  re- 
porting. Beginning  with  a  "  Pitman's  Man- 
ual of  Phonography "  on  a  farm  in  1802, 
which  ho  still  had  with  him  on  his  final  dis- 
charge from  the  army  in  18H6,  he  continued 
studying  the  art  until  the  "  Reporter's  Man- 
ual "  was  mastered.  In  the  winter  of  1866- 
67  a  position  as  amanuensis  was  secured  on 
the  Pennsylvania  Legislative  Record.  Dur- 
ing eight  sessions  of  the  Legislature  he  was 
employed,  two  years  as  an  amanuensis,  and 
then  as  a  verbatim  reporter.  Throughout 
two  of  the  annual  sessions  he  did  the  entire 
verbatim  reporting  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives. His  professional  engagements  stead- 
ily increased  until  he  became  the  "  official  " 
of  five  of  the  judicial  districts  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  regularly  did  the  reporting  of  all 
civil  cases  in  which  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania  was  a  party,  besides  having 
been  special  oflficial  stenographer  of  the  de- 
partment of  justice  of  the  United  States,  and 
holding  other  equally  important   positions. 


In  addition  to  these  official  appointments  he 
was  the  stenographer  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Board  of  Agriculture  from  its  oi'ganization 
in  1877  until  1892. 

After  the  organization  of  the  International 
Stenographers'  Association  Colonel  Dem- 
ming  became  an  active  member,  being 
honored  wtth  the  first  vice-presidency  for 
the  United  States  in  1882,  and  elected  presi- 
dent at  its  session  in  Toronto,  Canada,  in 
August,  1883.  In  1887  Colonel  Demming  was 
made  a  delegate  to  the  International  Con- 
gress in  London. 

In  political  matters  he  has  served  the  city 
of  Harrisburg  in  her  council  chambers,  and 
had  the  distinction  of  being  named  as  a 
candidate  for  delegate  to  the  convention 
which  remodelled  the  constitution  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  was  once  nominated  by  a 
minority  party  for  member  of  Congress,  but 
without  hope  of  election,  although  he  re- 
ceived three  times  the  vote  of  the  regular 
ticket. 

At  an  early  age  he  sought  out  and  became 
a  member  of  the  most  reputable  and  promi- 
nent organizations  and  societies  of  his  com- 
munity, and  is  a  life-member  of  a  number, 
including  the  Masonic  fraternity.  The  list 
embraces  forty-two,  of  which  fifteen  are 
secret  and  twent3'-seven  non-secret,  includ- 
ing seven  of  a  religious  character.  In  a 
number  of  them  he  has  held  otficial  po- 
sitions. He  was  president  of  the  Association 
of  Survivors  of  the  Seventy-seventh  Penn- 
S3'lvania  veteran  volunteers,  and  is  a  member 
of  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  a  number  of 
other  military  associations,  especially  the 
Grand  Army  of  Republic,  the  Loj^al  Legion, 
the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  the 
Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
the  National  Guard.  Colonel  Demming  has 
been  very  active  in  church  and  Sabbath- 
school  work,  having  been  an  officer  in  his 
church  for  more  than  twenty-one  years,  and 
a  superintendent  of  one  Sunday-school  from 
the  time  of  its  foundation  until  it  was  seven- 
teen j'ears  old,  besides  holding  other  im- 
portant official  relations  in  the  church  of  his 
selection  at  home  and  elsewhere.  He  has 
been  secretary  of  the  General  Eldership  of 
the  Church  of  God  in  North  America,  serv- 
ing as  president  of  the  Sabbath-school  Con- 
vention of  his  church  for  that  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania east  of  the  Allegheny  mountains, 
and  vice-president  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Sabbath-sciiool  Association. 

On   October   20,   1863,   he  married  Miss 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


317 


Kate  E.  ^\'hitulall,  of  Middletown,  Dauphin 
count}',  and  the  union  has  been  blessed  with 
a  family  of  five  children. 


Crook,  Capt.  William  H.,  was  born  at 
Clark's  Ferry,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Febru- 
ary' 29,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of  Gabriel  and 
Catherine  (Dale)  Crook.  His  grandfather, 
William  Crook,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  that  county.  He  was  the  son  of 
James  Crook,  a  native  of  England,  who  was 
the  first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  this  country. 

Gabriel  Crook,  Captain  Crook's  father,  was 
born  in  Mechanicsburg,  Cumberland  county, 
and  came  to  Daupliin  county  in  1S42.  He 
located  on  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  in  Reed 
township,  and  was  lock  tender  at  Clark's 
Ferry  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  He 
enlisted  in  company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
Tliirty-sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, for  nine  months;  at  the  expiration 
of  that  term  he  re-enlisted  in  the  Fourth 
regiment.  United  States  regulars.  He  lost 
an  arm  at  North  Ann  river,  immediately 
after  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  ;  this  was 
the  ground  of  his  honorable  discharge  from 
the  service.  He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the 
Florida  war  and  the  Mexican  war  also,  and 
died  at  Steelton,  Pa.,  December  29,  1802. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  His  wife  died  in 
1876.  They  had  six  children  :  William  H., 
Samuel  A.,  of  Rockaway,  N.  J.,  served  one 
year  in  company  H,  Thirty-third  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers;  David  R.,  de- 
ceased, enlisted  in  the  Forty-seventh  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Twenty-seventh  regiment,  and 
was  ordered  on  the  staff  of  General  Miles; 
Wesley,  of  Harrisburg  ;  Hannah  (Mrs.  Will- 
iam Leplev),  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  and  Margaret 
Ethel. 

Capt.  William  H.  Crook  was  brought  up 
in  Reed  township,  and  educated  in  the  town- 
ship schools,  and  was  also  at  sciiool  six 
months  at  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.  On  August 
27,  1801,  he  enlisted  in  company'  C,  Seventy- 
seventh  regiment,  Penn.sylvania  volunteers, 
as  a  private,  and  served  three  years.  He 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Camp  Nevin, 
Ky.  He  re-enlisted  in  company  K,  Two 
Hundred  and  Third  regiment,  Penn.sylvania 
volunteers,  and  was  commissioned  captain 
of  his  company.  He  was  finally  discharged, 
August  29,  1865.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  at  Mill  Springs,  Ky.,  Shiloh,  Chicka- 


mauga.  Deep  Bottom,  Va.,  Bentonville,  N. 
C,  and  many  other  important  engagements. 
He  was  wounded  while  on  picket  duty  at 
the  New  Market  Road,  Va.,  and  again  at 
Folsom's  Station,  Va.  He  was  confined  in 
the  David  Island  Hospital.  After  the  war 
closed  he  engaged  in  contract  work  in  Har- 
risburg. He  helped  to  build  the  Phoenix- 
ville  and  West  Chester  railroad,  the  Schuyl- 
kill Valley  railroad,  and  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  railroad  through  Delaware.  He  has 
also  been  engaged  in  the  sand  business  for  a 
number  of  years. 

He  is  a  Republican,  and  was  elected 
supervisorof  the  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sixth, Seventh 
and  Eighth  wards  in  1889,  and  has  filled 
that  position  ever  since,  with  tiie  exception 
of  one  year.  He  was  re-elected  in  1896.  He 
is  a  member  of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
was  appointed  on  the  staff  of  General  Adams, 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  in  1894,  which  gave  him 
the  rank  of  post  commander.  In  1895  he 
was  delegate  to  tlie  State  convention  of  the 
G.  A.  R.,  in  Williamsport,  Pa.,  and  was 
elected  by  the  State  convention  a  delegate 
to  the  National  convention,  held  in  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  September,  1895.  Captain  Crook 
is  a  member  of  the  Mt.  Vernon  Hook  and 
Ladder  Companj',  and  the  Firemen's  Bene- 
ficial Association  of  Harrisburg.  He  was 
married,  in  1890,  to  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter 
of  Levi  Whippo,  of  Huntingdon  county.  Pa. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Bethel 
Lutheran  church. 


Verbeke,  William  K.,  city  controller,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg  over  three  score  and  ten 
years  ago,  and  has  seen  Penns\'lvania's  capi- 
tal grow  from  a  village  to  a  most  important 
municipality.  His  parents  came  from  Hol- 
land and  lived  for  some  years  in  Philadel- 
pliia,  subsequently  moving  to  Harrisburg  in 
1817,  when  it  was  but  a  borough  of  about 
2,000  inhabitants.  Mr.  Verbeke  received  a 
liberal  education,  is  a  fine  scholar  and  a 
writer  of  much  strength  and  elegance.  His 
people  excelled  in  mathematics,  an  aptness 
which  he  seems  to  have  inherited.  It  is 
doubtful  if  there  is  a  single  individual  in 
Harrisburg  who  can  calculate  with  the 
rapidity  and  accuracy  he  does.  This  faculty 
which  he  possesses  makes  him  a  valuable 
oflficer  to  the  financial  department  of  the 
city.  In  addition  to  this  he  is  a  thorough 
financier,  surveying  with  an  eagle  eye  the 
financial  situation,  and  drawing  conclusions 


318 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


therefrom  wliicli  seldom  fail  to  be  verifiecl 
and  sustained.  His  efficiency  in  the  office 
of  controller  and  the  esteem  in  which  lie  is 
held  b}'  the  citizens  generally  are  clearlj' 
shown  in  his  having  been  elected  to  the 
position  of  controller  consecutively  since 
1883,  though  he  was  pitted  against  the 
strongest  candidates  that  could  he  found. 

Almost  from  the  time  Harrisburg  was 
created  a  borough  down  to  tlie  present  time, 
he  has  represented  the  citizens  of  Harris- 
burg either  in  council  or  on  the  school  board, 
and  they  regarded  him  with  such  favor  as  to 
make  liim  mayor  of  the  city  previous  to  his 
election  as  controller.  He  is  modest  and  un- 
assuming in  manner,  and  his  personal  worth 
and  ability  to  discharge  his  official  duties, 
the  spirit  in  which  he  beautified  the  city  in 
various  ways  with  his  means,  his  charity 
manifest  in  giving  homes  to  many  homeless, 
his  generous  contribution  to  the  cause  of 
humanity  in  the  late  war,  have  endeared 
him  to  the  people  and  they  consider  that 
there  is  nothing  too  good  to  bestow  upon 
him.  He  is  their  beau  ideal  of  a  man,  a 
careful,  prudent  and  efficient  officer,  loved 
and  esteemed  by  all,  and  it  is  predicted  that 
as  long  as  Mr.  Verbeke  will  consent  he  will 
continue  to  fill  the  office  of  controller. 

As  a  representative  fireman,  being  tlie 
oldest  but  one  in  point  of  continuous  service, 
he  is  just  as  highly  esteemed  for  the  valuable 
service  he  has  rendered  the  city  in  that  way. 
He  helped  to  organize  the  Good  Will  Fire 
Company  and  has  been  its  worthy  president 
ever  since,  except  during  the  years  he  was 
filing  the  office  of  mayor  and  was  compelled 
to  devote  his  entire  attention  to  that  office. 
Nothing  pleases  him  more  than  to  relate 
incidents  of  bj'-gone  days  or  to  participate  in 
public  occasions  with  his  brother  firemen. 


Maurer,  Daniel  C,  alderman  of  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  was  born  at  Mount  Joy,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  December  19,  1823.  He  is  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Dyer)  Maurer, 
the  former  a  native  of  Berks  county,  and 
the  latter  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  His 
father  was  a  cabinet-maker,  and  settled  at 
an  early  day  at  Mount  Joy,  where  he  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  life,  and  where  he 
died  in  1871 ;  his  wife  died  there  forty  years 
before.  He  was  three  times  married.  Of 
the  five  children  of  the  first  marriage, 
Daniel  C.  Maurer  is  the  only  one  living.  To 
the  second   marriage  there   were  born  two 


childi'en,  onl}^  one  of  whom  is  living,  Anna 
B.,  wife  of  Henry  Arndt,  of  RLinheim,  Pa. 

Daniel  C.  Maurer  was  reared  in  his  native 
.county,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
Richmond  Academy  of  that  county.  He 
learned  the  cabinet-maker's  trade,  and  fol- 
lowed this  occupation  until  1860.  In  that 
year  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  and  became 
a  clerk  in  the  auditor  general's  office.  He 
occupied  this  position  for  fifteen  years,  and 
during  six  years  of  this  time  he  was  chief 
clerk.  In  1875  he  was  elected  alderman 
from  the  Fourth  ward,  which  office  he  has 
filled  for  twenty  years  with  the  utmost  ac- 
ceptance to  his  constituents.  He  is  one  of 
the  oldest  living  aldermen  of  the  city.  In 
addition  to  this  office,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  common  council  for  three  years,  and  for 
one  year  was  the  president  of  that  body. 
He  was  also  for  many  years  a  school  director 
at  Mount  Joy,  Pa. 

Mr.  Maurer  was  married  at  Lititz,  Lancas- 
ter county,  March  25,  1845,  to  Sarah  E. 
Ranch,  daughter  of  Christian  H.  Ranch, 
who  was  born  at  Lititz,  October  17,  182G. 
Their  children  are:  Charles  W.,  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  Annie  E.,  wife  of  Gabriel  Hiester, 
of  Esterton  Farm,  Coxestown,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa. 

Mr.  Maurer  is  a  charter  member  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.;  of  Har- 
risburg Consistory,  Scottish  Rite  Masons, 
and  of  Pilgrim  Commandery,  No.  11, 
Knights  Templars.  In  political  views  he  is 
a  staunch  Republican,  and  was  formerly  a 
Whig.  The  family  attend  tiie  Pine  Street 
Presbyterian  church. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1895,  occurred  the 
golden  anniversary  of  his  marriage,  on 
which  occasion  his  numerous  friends  at- 
tested their  appreciation  of  his  personal 
worth  and  public  services  by  valuable  gifts 
and  hearty  congratulations  to  him  and  his 
estimable  wife.  Time  has  touclied  him 
lightly,  leaving  him  still  active  and  able  to 
enjoy  life. 

LoNGEXKCKER,  JoHN  S.,  warden  of  prison, 
was  born  in  Londonderry  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  January  28,  1839;  son 
of  Christian  and  Mary  (Shank)  Longenecker, 
the  former  a  native  of  Lebanon  and  the 
latter  of  Dauphin  county.  His  parents  have 
spent  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  in  Dau- 
phin county.  They  had  ten  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living:  Fannie,  wife  of  George 
Hoffer,    residing    in    Conewago    township, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


319 


Daupliin  county;  Benjamin,  residing  in 
Derry  townsliiii,  Dauphin  county;  Mary, 
wife  of  Josiali  Fultz,  residing  in  Middletown, 
Pa.;  John  S.,  and  Rebecca,  wife  of  Samuel 
Moyer,  residing  in  Londonderry  townsliip, 
Dauphin  county. 

John  S.  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  re- 
ceived iiis  education  in  tlie  public  schools 
of  liis  native  township.  He  became  a  farmer 
and  followed  that  occupation  for  about 
twenty-five  years.  He  has  served  as  treas- 
urer of  the  county,  and  as  school  director 
and  in  other  minor  township  offices.  In 
January,  1894,  he  was  ap})ninted  warden  of 
the  county  prison.  In  his  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum.  Mr.  Longenecker  was  mar- 
ried, in  Londonderry  township,  November 
G,  1859,  to  Margaret  Peck,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  and  Esther  (Engle)  Peck,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  six  children  :  Simon, 
residing  in  Middletown  ;  Christian  P.,  re- 
siding in  Londonderry  township ;  Albert, 
residing  in  Huramelstown  ;  Plarvey,  resid- 
ing at  the  homestead  farm  in  Londonderry 
townshii) ;  Mary,  residing  with  parents ; 
Fannie,  with  parents.  The  family  attend 
the  church  of  the  River  Brethren. 


Hayward,  Richard  W.,  Jr.,  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  arsenal,  was  born  at  Philadel- 
phia, July  1,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of  Richard 
W.,  Sr.,  and  Frances  (Fisher)  Hayward,  the 
former  a  native  England,  the  latter  a  native 
of  Philadelphia.  His  ancestors  on  his  father's 
side  were  English.  His  father  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  his  early  life,  and  resided  at  Philadel- 
phia for  manv  years.  In  the  early  part  of 
1840  he  went  to  Texas  and  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  with  the  intention  of  removing  his 
family  to  that  countrj',  but  was  accidentally 
drowned  while  bathing,  about  two  weeks 
previous  to  the  birth  of  Richard  W.  His 
mother  died  at  Camden,  N.  J.,  in  1888. 
Their  family  consisted  of  five  children,  three 
of  whom  are  living:  Alice,  widow  of  the  late 
William  Weston  ;  Deborah,  widow  of  the  late 
Thomas  Murtha,  both  of  whom  reside  in 
Philadelphia;  and  Ricluird  W. 

The  latter  spent  his  youth  in  his  native 
city  and  received  his  education  in  Girard 
College.  He  learned  the  trade  of  fancy  wood 
turning,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  six 
years  at  the  business.  He  responded  to  the 
call  of  his  country  for  volunteers  and  enlisted 
in  theTwenty-eigiith  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  which  was  commanded    by  the 


late  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  John  W. 
Geary,  and  was  assigned  to  company  D. 
After  serving  three  months  in  this  regiment 
he  was  transferred  to  Independent  Battery  B, 
Capt.  Joseph  M.  Knapp,  Penns3'lvania  artil- 
ler3',and  served  in  this  battery  until  October 
29,  18G3,  when  he  was  seriousl3'  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Wauhatchie  Valley.  He  was 
taken  to  the  hospital  and,  on  May  18,  1864, 
he  was  discharged  from  the  service  on  ac- 
count of  disability,  and  returned  to  Phila- 
delphia. On  August  4,  1866,  he  was  ai)- 
pointed  to  the  State  arsenal  by  the  late  Gov- 
ernor Gear3%  and  shice  that  date  lias  filled 
this  office.  He  was  married  in  Philadelphia, 
July  3,  1864,  to  Susan  Funston.  Ten  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  five  of  whom  died 
in  infancy ;  those  surviving  are:  Catherine, 
wife  of  John  Jones,  Richard  M.,  Margaret, 
Albert  S.,  and  Mary  A.,  all  residing  in  Har- 
risburg.  Mr.  Hayward  is  a  member  of  the 
Union  Veteran  Legion,  No.  61,  and  Post  No. 
58,  G.  A.  R.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. The  family  attend  the  M.  E. 
chui'ch. 


Pattkrson,  John  D.,  mayor  of  Harris- 
burg,  was  born  at  Williamsburg,  Blair 
county,  Pa.,  November  1, 1842.  His  parents 
were  of  that  sturdy  stock,  Scotch-Irish,  the 
representatives  of  which  are  so  numerous 
and  prominent  in  the  leadership  of  Ameri- 
can societ3^  The  education  and  training  of 
children  are  regarded  by  this  worthy  class 
of  citizens  as  ships  of  priority  and  promi- 
nence in  promoting  the  public  intelligence 
and  virtue.  The  parents  of  Mayor  Patter- 
son gave  their  son  the  advantages  which 
the  public  schools  aflbrd,  and  supplemented 
these  by  a  course  of  study  at  the  academ3^ 
At  the  same  time  they  were  careful  that 
some  systematic  and  continuous  industrial 
occupation  should  fill  up  tiie  vacations  and 
intervals  between  school  terms.  The  result 
was  a  studious  and  industrious  \'outh,  with 
some  knowledge  and  training  and  a  desire 
for  more.  His  first  employment  on  his  own 
account  was  farm  work,  in  the  summer 
months,  and  teaching  school  in  the  winter 
months.  Busied  at  these  occupations,  he 
constantly  grew  and  strengthened  in  body 
and  mind.  The  war  came  on  and  opened 
to  him  a  new  field  of  action.  He  enlisted 
in  the  army  in  August,  18G2,  and  thus  be- 
came a  soldier  before  he  became  a  voter. 
Before  he  had  been  a  month  in  the  service, 
on  September  17,  1862,  he  was  baptized  in 


320 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


the  blood  of  battle,  on  the  battlefield  of  Au- 
tietam,  where  he  received  serious  injury. 
For  meritorious  action,  and  conduct  which 
displayed  the  tactics  and  heroism  of  the  true 
soldier,  he  was  promoted  on  the  field,  and 
made  orderly  to  General  Kane,  and  also  to 
General  Knipe.  At  the  end  of  his  term  of 
service  he  re-enlisted  and  served  to  the  end 
of  the  war.  Upon  his  final  discharge  from 
the  army,  July  1,  1865,  he  came  immediately 
to  Harrisburg,  and  entered  the  service  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Companj^.  He 
remained  with  that  company  until  Decem- 
ber 1,  1874,  when  he  resigned  his  position 
for  the  very  best  of  reasons,  namely ;  His 
elevation  to  the  highest  office  witiiiu  the  gift 
of  his  fellow-citizens  of  Harrisburg,  the 
mayoralty  of  the  city.  The  acknowledg- 
ment by  the  jiublic  of  the  success  of  his  ad- 
ministration as  the  chief  executive  of  the 
city  was  his  re-election  to  the  office  in  1876, 
and  the  repetition  of  this  endorsement  by 
his  election  to  a  third  term  of  the  office,  in 
1878.  In  these  'elections  Mr.  Patterson  was 
the  candidate  of  the  Repul)lican  party. 

In  1881  he  was  elected  resident  clerk  of  the 
House  of  Representatives.  The  compliment 
in  this  election  was  the  greater  because  the 
majority  in  the  House  was  Democratic,  and 
his  successor  in  this  office  was  a  member  of 
tliat  party,  showing  that  he  was  chosen  on 
the  grounds  of  personal  worth  and  ability, 
and  not  on  party  preference.  He  was 
elected  sergeant-at-arms  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  1885,  1887  and  1889.  In 
December,  1S80,  he  was  appointed  auditing 
clerk  of  the  commissioners  of  the  Soldiers' 
Orphans'  Schools.  Tiiis  position  he  was 
called  to  give  up  because  of  the  rare  honor 
conferred  upon  him  of  election  in  February, 
1896,  to  a  fourth  term  of  the  office  of  mayor. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Patterson  has  been  a 
member  of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Zion 
Lutheran  church,  on  Fourth  street,  Harris- 
burg. Mr.  Patterson  was  married  in  1866, 
to  Clara  Morris,  daughter  of  Israel  Morris, 
of  Reading,  Pa.  They  had  three  children  : 
Marj'  Emily,  Jennie  E.,  and  Alice  D.  Mrs. 
Patterson  died  in  1889. 


where  the  former  still  lives;  the  latter  died 
July  4,  1864.  Reuben  Caveny,  the  father,  is 
of  Scotch-Irish  extraction,  and  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits  at  McAllisterville, 
Pa.,  for  many  years ;  there  he  now  lives,  re- 
tired from  business,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
seventj'-five  years.  The  parents  had  six 
children,  four  of  wiiom  are  living:  Samuel 
B. ;  Flora,  wife  of  Winfield  H.  Knaus,  re- 
siding in  Germantown,  Philadelphia;  Han- 
nah L.,  wife  of  Isaac  Tustin,  of  Phrenixville, 
Chester  county.  Pa. ;  Mary  R.,  wife  of 
Charles  H.  Halford,  Germantown,  Philadel- 
phia. 

Samuel  B.  Caveny  grew  to  manliood  and 
was  educated  in  his  native  township.  He 
was  employed  in  his  father's  store  for  a  time. 
Later,  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits at  McAllisterville,  Pa.  In  1872  he 
began  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  Bur- 
lin,  at  Port  Royal.  He  practiced  this  pro- 
fession until  1883,  when  he  was  elected  re- 
corder of  Juniata  county,  and  served  three 
years.  In  1887  he  removed  to  Harrisburg 
and  engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  In 
1895  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the  Sec- 
ond ward,  city  of  Harrisburg,  for  a  term  of 
five  years. 

Mr.  Caveny  was  married,  at  McAllister- 
ville, October  28,  1865,  to  Mary  M.  Cassell, 
of  Philadelphia,  daughter  of  Franklin  and 
Eliza  Cassell.  Of  tiieir  thirteen  cliildren 
eight  are  living :  Franklin  R.,  Mar}^  Eliza- 
beth, Myrtle  C,  Annie,  Laura  S.,  Samuel 
Brady,  Jr.,  Nellie  0.  and  Marguerite.  Five 
children  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Caven}'  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
of  Patterson,  Juniata  county,  for  ten  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  Union  Lodge,  No.  324,  F. 
&  A.  M. ;  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men, 
Cornplanter  Tribe,  No.  61 ;  David  H.  Wilson 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  No.  134,  Mittlintown,  Pa. 
He  is  company  clerk  of  the  Governor's 
Troop.  He  enlisted  at  McAllisterville.  Sep- 
tember 8,  1862,  in  company  D,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-first  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  was  present  at  the  battles  of  Chancel- 
lorsville  and  Gettysburg.  He  was  mustered 
out  of  service  and  discharged  Jul\'  27, 1863. 
In  political  views  Mr.  Caveny  is  Republican. 
The  family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Caveny,  Samuel  Brady,  alderman  Sec- 
ond ward,  was  born  in  Fayette  township, 
Juniata  county.  Pa.,  September  29,  1843. 
He  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Mary  R.  (Crozier) 
Caveu}',   both    natives   of  Juniata   count}'. 


Hoy,  Francis  H.,  was  born  in  Manayunk, 
Philadelphia  county,  Pa.,  June  30,  1845, 
son  of  Robert  M.  and  Mahola  (Thomas) 
Hoy.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Belfast, 
Ireland,  and  the  mother,  of  Yorkshire,  Eng- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


321 


land.  The  father  was  superintendent  of  a 
large  cotton  factory  in  Pliiladelphia  county 
for  many  years.  Robert  W.  Hoy,  the  grand- 
father, was  an  instructor  in  one  of  the  col- 
leges in  Ireland,  and  master  of  six  languages. 
W.  H.  Thomas,  the  maternal  grandfather, 
was  professor  of  music  and  languages  in  his 
native  city.  The  fatiier  died  in  Pliila- 
delphia, .January  6,  1854.  His  wife  is  still 
living  and  resides  at  Portsmouth,  Oliio. 
Francis  H.  was  the  only  child  and  was 
reared  in  Philadelphia  up  to  his  thirteenth 
year,  when  he  removed  toSchujdkill  county, 
and  in  1860  came  to  Harrisburg.  His  edu- 
cation was  obtained  iu  the  public  schools  of 
Philadelphia,  and  the  Boys'  grammar  school 
of  Manayunk,  from  whicli  he  was  transferred 
to  the  high  school  after  his  removal  to 
Schuylkill  county,  after  which  he  learned 
the  barber's  trade.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
First  City  Zouaves  of  Harrisburg,  and  served 
nine  months;  and  re-enlisted  in  company 
C,  Two  Hundred  and  First  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers.  He  was  promoted  to 
corporal,  then  to  sergeant,  and  then  to  color 
sergeant  of  the  regiment,  and  then  to  a  field 
position  on  -January  21,  1865,  and  assigned 
to  detached  duty.  After  the  war  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  one  year,  and  was  then  em- 
ployed by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany for  several  years,  in  various  capacities 
from  brakeman  to  locomotive  engineer. 
After  this  he  was  with  the  Penns^'lvania 
Steel  Works  for  a  time,  and  then  resumed 
his  trade  at  which  he  worked  until  1891, 
wheu  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  coroner 
of  Daupiiin  county,  in  the  administration  of 
vvhicli  office  he  proved  to  be  one  of  tlie  most 
popular  officers  in  the  State.  After  the 
death  of  Sheriff  S.  F.  Keller,  he  served  as 
sheriff,  until  the  assistant  was  named  by  the 
governor.  In  his  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 
Mr.  Hoy  has  been  the  commander  of  Post 
No.  58,  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  now  aide-de-camp  on 
the  staff  of  the  chief  commander  of  the 
State.  On  July  5,  1866,  Mr.  Hoy  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  M.  Kammerer,  daughter  of 
George  Kammerer,  native  of  Germany, 
resident  of  Harrisburg.  His  children  are: 
George  K.,  Robert  W.,  Francis  H.,  .Jr.,  and 
Sarah  F.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbj^terian  Church.  The  eldest  son  served 
as  president  of  the  Society  of  Christian  En- 
deavor. The  second  son  is  foreman  of  the 
Harrisburg  Electric  Light  Works. 


Eby,  Hon.  Maurice  C,  ex-mayor  of  Har- 
risburg, was  born  upon  the  banks  of  the 
picturesque  and  beautiful  Susquehanna 
river,  in  Middletown,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
in  May,  1846.  His  parents,  Jacob  Rupley 
Eby  and  Elizabeth  Gross  Eby,  introduced 
their  first-born  into  the  city  of  his  adoption, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in  1847.  His  career  is  now 
only  to  date  from  the  age  of  maturity,  hav- 
ing passed  through  the  trials,  temptations 
and  vicissitudes  of  youth  the  same  as  any 
other  city  individual  in  this  memorial  epoch. 
Lafayette  College  claims  him  as  one  of  its 
alumni.  The  first  to  enter  that  institution 
as  a  pupil  of  the  scientific  course,  he  parted 
from  the  college  to  take  a  tour  of  three  years 
upon  the  continent.  The  greater  part  of  the 
time  was  spent  at  Geneva,  Switzerland,  and 
Carlsruhe,  Baden,  acquiring  the  language, 
with  plenty  of  leisure  to  visit  the  principle 
countries  and  cities  of  the  Old  World.  His 
knowledge  gleaned  from  roving  and  strict 
attention  to  objects  and  places  of  interest, 
and  associations  with  the  people,  have 
furnished  him  with  a  storehouse  of  personal 
reminiscences,  places  and  old  landmarks  of 
invaluable  profit  and  immense  benefit,  as 
well  as  a  gem  to  his  methods  of  intercourse 
and  business  career,  enabling  him  to  make 
a  comparison  between  his  own  beloved 
country  and  that  of  foreign  dynasties.  A 
bachelor  with  fixed  and  determined  routine 
of  daily  life,  merchant  by  profession,  dating 
from  the  year  1871,  of  a  domestic  and  club 
disposition,  an  admirer  and  patron  of  manly- 
sports,  upon  water  and  land — ^in  fact  to  such 
a  degree  that  the  Society  for  the  Prevention 
of  Cruelty  to  Animals,  together  with  the 
the  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to 
Cliildren,  appointed  him  their  agent  in  this 
district,  and  many  are  the  complimentary 
notices  accorded  him  for  his  valuable  inter- 
ference and  rescue  of  the  injured  and  dis- 
tressed. He  holds  the  honor  gratuitously, 
and  prizes  it  more  than  the  gift  of  the  ancient 
star  and  garter  conferred  by  kings  and 
princesses.  Mr.  Eby  is  a  charter  member  of 
the  City  Board  of  Trade,  likewise  the  Penn- 
sylvania German  Society,  and  an  active 
member  of  Dauphin  County  Historical 
Society.  In  1893  he  permitted  his  name  to 
go  before  the  public  as  a  candidate  for  the 
position  of  chief  magistrate  of  the  citj',  and 
the  result  of  the  count  proclaimed  him 
mayor,  which  office  he  held  for  a  period  of 
three  years,  and  we  quote  from  his  closing 
address  to  tlie  councils :  "My  purpose  in  the 


322 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


future  will  be  to  live  in  our  comniunity  as  a 
citizen,  obeying  all  the  laws  of  the  Common- 
wealth and  ordinances  of  the  city,  deter- 
mined to  accomplish  a  good  deed  daily,  and 
make  a  blade  of  grass  to  grow  where  none 
grew  before." 


Jackson,  George  W.,  alderman,  was  born 
in  Baltimore  county,  Md  ,  July  18,  184G,son 
of  John  and  Rachel  (Barton)  Jackson.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  and  died  at  Greenup,  111. 
His  mother  died  in  Baltimore  city  about  1885. 
They  had  five  children  :  George  W. ;  Mary. 
wife  of  Joseph  Willoughby,  residing  in  Bal- 
timore ;  Sarah,  wife  of  AV'illiam  Arthur,  of 
Baltimore;  Alexander,  of  Ellwood,  Ind.; 
Eliza,  wife  of  Robert  Mummert,  Baltimore. 
George  W.,  when  seven  years  old,  removed 
with  his  })arents  to  Greenup,  Cumberland 
county.  111.,  when  he  attended  sciiool  lor  five 
years.  When  twelve  years  old  his  father 
died,  and  he  returned  with  his  mother  to 
Baltimore  count3',  and  completed  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  machinist  and  in  1867  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  and  followed  his  occupation  for 
five  years.  In  1872  he  was  elected  aldernum 
for  the  Ninth  ward,  and  was  the  youngest 
man  ever  elected  to  the  office.  Mr.  Jackson 
was  married  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1868,  to 
Elmira  Bond, daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
Bond,  natives  of  Baltimore.  Tliey  have  one 
daughter,  Elma  L.  Mr.  Jackson  is  secretary 
of  Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and 
of  Dauphin  Encampment,  No.  10.  His  poli- 
tical views  are  Republican.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Pine  Street  Presbyteiian  church. 


Landis,  Aaron  M.,  alderman.  Sixth  ward, 
Harrisljurg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Newville, 
Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  July  19,  1848. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  Ann 
(Ilouer)  Landis,  both  natives  of  Cumber- 
land county.  These  parents  had  a  family 
of  six  children  :  Catherine,  wife  of  Washing- 
ton Parthemore ;  Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Snow ;  George  A.,  Aaron  M.,  John  E., 
and  Maggie  E.,  wife  of  Samuel  Heberlig. 

Aaron  M.  Landis  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Green  Springs,  New- 
ton township,  Cumberland  county.  March 
4,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eighty-seventh  Pennsjdvania  vol- 
unteers, and  served  until  August5,1865,  when 
he  was  mustered  out  at  Harrisburg,  and  re- 
turned to  his  home.  He  learned  carpentry 
and  worked  at  this  business  until  1875.     In 


that  year  he  was  appointed  to  a  place  on 
the  Harrisburg  police  force,  and  served 
twelve  years  and  three  months;  two  years 
as  patrolman,  six  years  as  sergeant,  six 
months  as  lieutenant,  and  three  years  and 
nine  months  as  chief  In  1887  he  was  ap- 
pointed as  special  officer  of  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad.  In  May,  1894,  he  was  elected 
alderman  for  the  Sixth  ward. 

He  was  married  at  Newville,  January  6, 
1868,  to  Margaret  E.  Diehi,  daughter  of 
Elias  and  Eliza  (Killian)  Diehl,  of  Cumber- 
land county.  Four  of  their  seven  children 
died  in  infancy;  three  are  living,  namely: 
Charles  E.,  reporter  for  the  Evening  Telegraph; 
Carrie  I.,  and  Annie  M.,  residing  at  liome. 
Mr.  Landis  is  a  member  of  Post  No.  116,  G. 
A.  R.,  also  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  He  is 
a  Republican.  Tlie  famih-  attend  tlie  Lu- 
tlieran  church. 


Hall,  Samuel  S.,  alderman  of  the  Seventh 
ward,  Harrisburg,  was  born  in  Middlesex 
township,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  March 
27,  1849.  He  is  a  son  of  Moses  and  Cath- 
erine (Orris)  Hall.  He  suffered  the  loss  of 
both  his  parents  by  death,  when  he  was  a 
child,  and  was  thrown  among  relatives  and 
strangers.  His  education  in  these  conditions 
was  of  necessity  limited.  He  was  obliged  to 
rely  upon  his  own  efforts  for  getting  knowl- 
edge and  information  to  qualify  him  for  the 
duties  of  life.  He  became  an  apprentice  to 
the  carpenter  trade,  and  followed  this  occu- 
pation for  thirteen  years,  eleven  of  which 
were  spent  in  the  Harrisburg  car  shops. 
During  the  years  1880-1  he  represented 
the  Seventh  ward  in  the  common  council. 
Duringthe  years  1885-6-7  he  was  school  tax 
collector  for  the  Second, Seventh,  Eighth  and 
Nintii  wards.  In  April,  1887,  he  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  Harrisburg  police  force,  and 
served  continuously  on  the  force  until  May 

I,  1895,  wiien  he  was  elected  alderman  for 
the  Seventh  ward,  the  office  he  now  holds. 

He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  January 

II,  1875,  to  Amanda  Feass,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Doi'othy  Feass,  natives  of  Ger- 
man)', hut  for  many  years  residents  of  Har- 
risburg. Of  their  eight  children  three  died 
in  infancy.  The  living  children  are  :  Harr\', 
born  December  19,  1876  ;  Blanche  E.,  born 
April  18,  1879;  Bertha  M.,  born  July  3, 
1881  :  John  A.  F.,  born  July  8,  1890,  and 
Samuel  Z.,  born  December  ol,  1893.  Those 
dead  are :  Lillie  D.,  died  September  26, 1875 ; 


i\p 


A/VV"*-*^ 


■^^t-wv*^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


825 


Lulu  W.,  died  May  5,  1887;  and  Beulah  J., 
died  September  20,  1888. 

Mr.  Hall  is  a  member  of  State  Capitol 
Lodge  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  Dauphin 
(Castle  No.  250,  K.  G.  E.  In  politics  he 
affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party.  The 
familj^  attend  the  M.  E.  church  ;  Mr.  Hall 
attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


Z.\RKER,  Andrew  U.,  was  born  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
January  13,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Catherine  (Fohler)  Zarker.  His  father 
was  born  in  Derry  township,  Dauphin 
county,  and  was  a  son  of  John  Zarker,  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Derry  township.  Benjamin 
Zarker  was  a  lieutenant  of  cavalry  in  the  war 
of  1812.  He  was  a  farmer  of  Lower  Paxton 
township,  and  served  as  supervisor  of  his 
township.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  had  twelve  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living  :  David,  of  Harris- 
burg;  Henry,  ofTopeka,  Kan.;  Andrew  U., 
Susan  (Mrs.  Simon  Duey),  of  Harrisburg; 
Lucy  (Mrs.  David  Mumma),  of  Harrisburg. 

Andrew  U.  Zarker  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  educated  in  the  township  schools.  He 
learned  carpentry  in  Harrisburg,  became 
foreman  for  Henry  Shoop,  and  filled  the 
same  position  for  Mr.  Cowden  in  the  planing 
mill  for  five  years.  He  then  engaged  for 
himself  in  arcliitecture,  contracting  and 
building,  which  he  continued  for  thirteen 
yeai's;  lie  erected  many  of  the  best  business 
blocks  in  the  city.  He  was,  after  this,  en- 
gaged for  four  years  in  the  grocery  business. 

In  1891  Mr.  Zarker  was  appointed  high- 
way commissioner  of  Harrisburg,  and  served 
three  years.  In  1887  he  organized  the  East 
Harrisburg  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
and  is  now  its  president.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  the  reorganization  of  the  Farmers' 
Market  Company,  and  has  been  its  president 
since  its  organization.  He  has  served  two 
terms  as  representative  of  the  Ninth  ward  in 
common  council,  and  two  terms  as  ward  as- 
sessor. He  is  vice-president  of  the  Mt. 
Pleasant  Fire  Company.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  K.  of  G.  E.,  the"  Knights  of  Brother- 
hood, the  Junior  0.  U.  A.  M.,  and  of  Lodge 
No.  708,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

Andrew  U.  Zarker  was  married,  in  1871, to 
Miss  Hannah,  daughter  of  David  Miller,  of 
Juniata  county.  Pa.,  by  whom  he  has  one 
child,  Tillie  M.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
Christ  Lutheran  church  ;    is  superintendent 

25 


of  the  Sunday-school,  and  teaches  a  male 
Sunday-school  class  of  one  liundred  and 
twenty-five  members;  has  served  as  deacon, 
and  as  president  of  the  Young  People's 
Society  of  Christian  Endeavor.  He  is  a  great 
lover  of  music,  and  has  an  organized  orches- 
tra in  the  church. 

Mr.  Zarker  is  interested  and  prominent  in 
athletic  sports,  and  is  a  good  "wing  shot." 
He  is  a  member  of  the  West  End  Gun  Club. 
Zarker  street  in  Harrisburg  received  its  name 
from  him.  He  laid  out  the  street,  and  has 
built  many  houses  on  it.  He  has  also 
erected  many  houses  in  other  parts  of  the 
cit3'.  Mr.  Zarker  is  a  staunch  Democrat ; 
he  organized  the  A.  U.  Zarker  Democratic 
Club  in  1888,  and  carried  it  on  successfully 
through  the  campaigns  of  1888  and  1892. 


Ander.son,  S.\muel  J.,  ex-chief  of  the  Har- 
risburg jjolice  force,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.,  April  16,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  E.  and  Sarah  W.  (Malone)  Anderson, 
both  natives  of  this  State,  the  former  of 
Scotch  and  the  latter  of  Irish  ancestry. 
His  parents  had  born  to  them  twelve  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  living:  William  K., 
a  general  agent  at  Mechanicsburg,  Pa. ;  Bella 
H.,  wife  of  Willis  G.  Kauff'man,  of  Harris- 
burg; Annie  E.,  wife  of  Ilev.  Adam  A.  Wolfe, 
residing  at  Keithburg,  111.;  Samuel  J.;  Par- 
ker D.,  residing  at  HarrLsburg;  and  Ida  M., 
wife  of  Joseph  Gephart,  residing  at  Philips- 
burg,  Kan. 

Samuel  J.  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  town.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  millwright,  and  followed  this  occu- 
pation until  1870.  In  this  year  he  came  to 
Harrisburg  and  became  chief  lumber  in- 
spector for  the  Harrisburg  Car  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  holding  the  position  for  th'ree 
years.  For  the  next  two  years  he  was  not 
engaged  in  any  special  vocation.  In  1875 
he  was  appointed  special  police  officer  for 
the  city  of  Harrisburg,  and  occupied  the 
position  for  four  years.  In  1879  he  was  ap- 
pointed county  detective,  under  Eli  Hul- 
linger,  who  was  at  that  time  district 
attorne3^  He  served  in  this  capacity  until 
January  1,  1881,  when  he  resigned  this 
position.  For  the  following  thirteen  years 
he  conducted  a  private  detective  bureau. 
On  January  1,1894,  he  'was  appointed  to  the 
position  of  chief  of  police. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Zell,  to  whom  he  was 
united  in  marriage  at  Holly,  Pa.     She  died 


32(5 


BIOGRAPHIVAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


at  Harrisburg,  April  11,  1872.  The  only 
child  of  this  marriage  is  Charles  E.,  born 
August  13,  1871.  He  was  married  again  in 
August,  1875,  to  Catherine  Lutz.  There  are 
no  children  by  this  marriage. 

Mr.  Anderson  has  also  served  as  marshal 
of  the  Eastern  district  of  Pennsylvania,  with 
headquarters  at  Philadelphia.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  City  Lodge,  No.  301,  I.  0.  0.  F.,and 
Encampment  No.  301.  In  political  views  he 
affiliates  with  the  Democrats.  The  family 
attend  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  careful,  faithful  and  just 
in  his  duties  as  an  officer  and  popular 
with  the  men  on  the  force,  as  well  as  with 
the  citizens,  who  regarded  him  as  a  courage- 
ous and  courteous  officer  and  a  worthy  man. 


NoBLET,  Newton  E.,  clerk  of  county  com- 
missioners, was  born  in  Halifax,  tiien  town- 
sliip,  now  borough.  May  28,  1850,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Susan  (Ettien)  Noblet.  The 
father  was  born  in  Halifax  township.  Four 
brothers  emigrated  from  the  north  of  Ire- 
laud  and  settled  in  Delaware.  One  of  them, 
Joseph,  separated  from  the  others  and  came 
to  Dauphin  county  and  entered  a  tract  of 
land  in  Halifax  township,  and  reared  a 
family  of  seven  sons,  of  whom  the  father  of 
Newton  E.  was  the  youngest,  having  been 
born  in  1813.  He  was  a  cabinet  maker  by 
trade,  and  also  an  undertaker.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  first  council  of  the  borough, 
voting  with  the  Democratic  party  until  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  when 
he  united  witii  that  political  body.  His 
wife  died  Februarj-  22,  1894,  and  both  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Their  children  were:  Sarah,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Leibrick,  of  Halifax;  Newton  E. ;  John,  of 
NeW  Buffalo.  Perry  county,  Pa.;  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Roust,  of  Halifax;  Samuel  R.,  a 
painter,  of  Halifax.  Newton  E.  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Halifax  and  was  a 
teacher  in  the  borough  and  township  for 
seventeen  years.  In  1889  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Halifax,  and  served  in  the 
office  four  years  and  four  months.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Halifax  Shoe 
and  Manufacturing  Company,  in  which  he 
has  been  the  treasurer  since  Mr.  Lodge  va- 
cated the  office.  He  served  six  years  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  and  for  four 
years  as  the  secretary  of  the  board.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in 
1895  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  board  of 
county   commissioners.      Mr.   Noblet    is    a 


stockholder  in  the  Halifax  Bank,  of  which 
his  father  was  one  of  the  organizers.  He  is 
a  member  and  trustee  of  the  Halifax  Lodge, 
P.  0.  S.  of  A.  Mr.  Noblet  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Spiese,  of  Halifax,  by  whom 
he  has  one  child,  Harry  S.  The  family 
attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of 
Halifax. 


Miller,  Charles  A.,  city  clerk  of  Harris- 
burg, and  clerk  of  the  common  council,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg,  June  28,  1850.  He  is  a 
son  of  Francis  Xavier  (more  generally  known 
as  X.)  Miller  and  Elizabeth  (McMillan) 
Miller.  His  grandfather  Miller  was  a  na- 
tive of  Switzerland,  and  spent  his  life  in  his 
native  land.  His  father,  Francis  X.,  was 
born  in  Tagerfelden,  Canton  Aargau,  Switz- 
erland. He  came  to  America  in  1842,  and 
located  in  New  York  City,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  of  shoemakiug  for  three  years. 
In  1845  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  and  en- 
gaged in  business  on  his  own  account.  He 
was  well  known  as  "X.  Miller,  the  French 
boot  and  shoe  maker."  He  was  an  expert 
at  his  business,  having  learned  the  trade  in 
Paris,  and  did  an  extensive  business  for 
those  days.  Elizabeth  A.  (McMillan)  Miller, 
mother  of  Charles  A.,  was  born  at  Round 
Top,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  January  22, 1825. 
His  [larents  were  married  at  Harrisburg,  in 
1847,  and  had  fourteen  children,  four  only  of 
whom  lived  to  maturity:  Charles  A.,  Mar- 
cellus  I.,  Francis  X.  and  Clotilda  Regina, 
wife  of  Capt.  H.  A.  Perkins,  late  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's Troop,  and  now  residing  in  New  York 
City.  She  was  born  March  28,  1852,  and 
died  September  17,  1892. 

Charles  A.  Miller  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  academy  of  Har- 
isburg,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  latter.  His 
whole  life  has  been  spent  in  this  city.  He 
learned  printing  with  the  late  George  Berg- 
ner,  and  continued  in  this  business  for 
twenty  years.  In  1881  he  was  appointed 
foreman  of  the  Harrisburg  Telegraph,  and 
efficiently  filled  this  position  until  1885.  In 
that  year  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, and  resigned  his  business  position,  that 
he  might  be  free  to  devote  his  time  and 
strength  to  the  duties  of  his  office.  In 
March,  1887,  Mr.  Miller  introduced  the  Star 
carpet  cleaning  business  in  Harrisburg, 
which  was  a  new  process  for  cleaning  carpets. 
He  continued  in  that  business  for  four  \-ears. 
In  1891  he  was  ajipointed  clerk  of  the  com- 
mon  council,   and    shortly  afterwards    was 


DAtTPBlN  GOVNTt. 


327 


elected  city  clerk,  in  joint  convention  ;  he  is 
the  first  and  only  person  who  has  ever  filled 
that  office.  In  addition  to  these  offices  Mr. 
Miller  was  also  a  member  of  the  common 
council  from  1880  to  1883,  and  in  1882  was 
chosen  president  of  that  body.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  select  council  from  April, 
1883,  to  December,  1884,  resignino;  this 
office  when  elected  to  the  Legislature.  He 
was  the  first  chairman  of  tiie  joint  commit- 
tee of  councils  for  arranging  for  tlie  centen- 
nial celebration  in  1885.  He  again  served 
in  the  common  council  during  1888-89. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married  at  Harrisburg, 
October  IG,  1879,  to  Rebecca  Mauger,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Mary  (Hummel)  Mauger, 
born  at  Harrisburg,  November  28,  185G. 
They  have  two  daughters :  Anna  M.,  born 
December  28,  1880,  and  Mary  Regina,  born 
March  7,  1885.  In  political  views  Mr. 
Miller  is  a  good  staunch  Republican.  The 
faniilv  attend  the  Messiah  Lutheran  church. 


German,  John  W.,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, October  27,  1851.  He  is  the  son  of 
Emanuel  >S.  German,  who  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg in  1821,  whose  fatlier,  Philip  Ger- 
man, a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  Harris- 
burg in  18U0,  and  established  a  brewery, 
celebrated  for  its  "  Cream  Beer,"  and  con- 
ducted it  for  many  years. 

Emanuel  German,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  established  the  first  exclusively 
religious  bookstore  in  the  United  States,  at 
Harrisburg,  in  1841  or  1842,  and  conducted 
it  till  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his 
sous.  He  carried  a  stock  of  strictly  church 
and  Sabbath-school  literature  and  his  store 
was  the  headquarters  of  theological  students. 
He  lives  retired  from  active  life.  He  was 
first  a  Democrat,  but  upon  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party  he  joined  that  i)0- 
litical  organization,  and  iias remained  with  it 
until  the  present  time.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  He  married  Sarah 
Jane  Westfall,  whose  father  came  from  Alle- 
gheny, and  who  was  the  proprietor  for  many 
years  of  the  celebrated  Black  Tavern  of 
Harrisburg,  and  who  died  in  tins  city. 
They  had  seven  children:  Philip,  of  the 
Harrisburg  bookstore ;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of 
Rev.  J.  S.  Detweiler;  John  W.:  Luther  W., 
dentist,  of  Louisville;  -James  W.,  auditor  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Compan\',  at 
Pittsburgh  ;  Grace  H.,  wife  of  Orville  Cham- 
berlin,  of  New  Orleans,  La. ;  Cliarles  H.  H., 


of  Louisville,  Ky.,  book-keeper ;  one  daugh- 
ter, Mary  E.,  died  in  1863. 

John  VV.  was  reared  in  this  city,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  scliools.  He  learned 
tiie  trade  of  printer  and  subsequently  en- 
tered his  father's  store,  and  became  book- 
keeper. In  1878  he  and  his  brother  suc- 
ceeded to  their  father's  business,  and  con- 
tinued it  to  1882,  when  he  went  to  Dakota. 
Returning  to  Philadelphia  in  seven  months, 
he  became  agent  for  the  Travellers'  Insur- 
ance Company,  of  Hartford,  Conn.  In  1884 
he  was  appointed  special  agent  of  the  Mu- 
tual Life  Insurance  Company,  of  New  York. 
Januar\'  12, 1886,  he  became  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  Harrisburg  Board  of  Trade, 
was  elected  the  tliird  secretary  of  the  same, 
and  has  served  in  that  office  uninterruptedly 
since  1889.  He  was  prominent  in  locating 
the  Lalance  &  Grosjean  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany and  other  industries  in  this  city.  Mr. 
German  is  prominentlj'  identified  with  the 
P.  0.  S.  of  A.  He  is  active  in  the  Republi- 
can party.  He  was  married  in  1877  to  Miss 
Ida  M.Wright,  daughter  of  Theodore  Wright, 
editor-in-chief  of  the  Philadelphia  Record. 
Tiiey  had  two  children  :  Helen  I.,  deceased, 
December  7,  1895,  and  John  W.,  Jr.  They 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


CowDEN,  Matthew  B.,  city  engineer,  was 
born  in  Susquehanna  township,  December 
1,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  .John  W.  and  Mary 
E.  (Hattoni  Cowden,both  natives  of  Dauphin 
county,  where  the}'  spent  their  lives,  and 
where  they  died  in  1872.  The  father  was  a 
civil  engineer,  and  served  as  city  surveyor 
of  Harrisburg  for  a  number  of  j'ears.  He 
and  his  wife  had  nine  children,  eight  of 
whom  are  still  living:  Margaret,  wife  of 
Samuel  N.  Hamilton,  of  Beaver  county.  Pa. ; 
Frederick  H.,  of  Harrisburg ;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Homer  H.  Cummins,  of  Harrisburg ;  Eliza- 
beth B.,  wife  of  Matthew  Beck,  of  New  Jersey  ; 
Matthew  B.;  Ellen  J.,  wife  of  Stephen 
Hubertis,  of  Harrisburg ;  Josephine  W.,  of 
Harrisburg.  and  W.  K. 

Mattliew  B.  Cowden  came  to  Harrisburg 
when  he  was  five  years  old.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  citj'  schools,  and  also  attended 
the  Polytechnic  College  of  Pennsylvania, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1872.  He 
engaged  in  the  work  of  civil  engineering, 
serving  for  one  year  with  the  Texas  Pacific 
railroad,  in  Texas,  since  which  he  has  been 
employed  in  this  occupation  in  Harrisburg. 
He  was  elected  city   engineer  in  1874,  and 


328 


BIO  GRA  PHI  (J A  L  ENCYCLO  PEDIA 


for  twenty-oue  j^ears  he  has  performed  the 
work  of  this  office  with  skill  and  fidelity. 
Mr.  Covvden  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  in 
1875,  to  Mary  H.  Buehler.daughter  of  Charles 
and  Sarah  Buehler,  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county.  Two  children  have  been  born  to 
them:  Nellie  E.,  deceased,  and  Edward  C, 
born  in  1879.  Mr.  Cowden  is  a  member  of 
State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F.  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  Zion  Lutheran  church. 


BusER,  H.  Wells,  ex-sheritf,  was  born  in 
Hummelstown,  November  12,  1853.  He  is  a 
son  of  .Jacob  and  Eliza  (Gish)  Buser.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Londonderry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  the  mother  of 
Hummelstown.  The  father  was  a  butcher, 
and  carried  on  his  business  at  Hummels- 
town for  forty-five  years.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent man,  an  active  politician  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows, 
and  belonged  to  the  Reformed  church.  He 
died  in  September,  1891.  His  wife  survives 
him.  They  had  twelve  children  :  George, 
of  Harrisburg,  butcher;  Annie,  wife  of  Harry 
Crist,  of  Steelton;  Ellen,  wife  of  David  Tet- 
ter, of  Steelton;  Martha,  wife  of  .Joseph 
Fletcher,  of  Steelton;  John,  of  Steelton; 
Adeline,  wife  of  James  Geiger,  of  ILarris- 
burg ;  H.  Wells ;  Ida,  wife  of  H.  W.  Solo- 
mon, of  Harrisburg;  Jennie,  wife  of  .Jacob 
Hummel;  Alice,  wife  of  Chris.  Coalmer,  of 
Philadelphia;  Curtiss,  of  Hummelstown,  and 
Margaret. 

H.  Wells  Buser  received  his  education  in 
his  native  town.  He  learned  the  moulder's 
trade,  but  did  not  follow  this  occupation. 
He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  constable  for 
a  term  of  six  years.  He  served  as  post- 
master for  four  years  and  two  months  dur- 
ing Cleveland's  administration.  He  was 
clerk  of  the  Democratic  State  Committee  in 
the  Pattison  campaign.  He  was  clerk  in 
the  adjutant  general's  office,  and  served 
until  September  1,  1802.  He  was  appointed 
by  the  governor  to  fill  the  office  of  sheriff, 
made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Sheriff  Keller. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers,  and  is  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Water  Company  of  Hummels- 
town ;  one  of  the  organizers  and  a  stock- 
holder of  the  American  Publishing  Associa- 
tion, of  Pittsburgh.  Mr.  Buser  is  a  member 
of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F. ; 
past  national  representative  in  Junior  Order 
American  Mechanics  five  years,  and  past 
State  officer  for  three  years.     In  politics   he 


is   a    Democrat,  and    was   secretary  of  the 
countj'  committee  for  thirteen  years. 

H.  Wells  Buser  was  married,  in  1876,  to 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Hummel,  of  Hummelstown. 
They  have  six  children :  Frank  D.,  Harry 
W.,  Edith,  Lulu,  Grover  C.  and  William 
McC.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church  of  Hummelstown. 


RuDY,C.  Landts, ice  dealerand ex-president 
of  select  council,  was  born  near  Harrisburg, 
July  7,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  aiid 
Esther  (Landis)  Rudy.  His  grandfather 
Rudy  was  a  native  of  Zurich,  Switzerland. 
He  was  driven  from  his  native  land  with 
otiiers  by  religious  persecution.  He  settled 
in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  at  a  very  early  date 
in  the  history  of  the  count\'.  The  parents  of 
C.  Landis  were  both  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.  The  mother  died  September  14,  1870 ; 
the  father  is  still  living,  retired  and  resides 
at  East  Mere.  He  was  twice  married.  To 
the  first  marriage  there  were  born  nine 
children,  namely  :  John,  a  prominent  farmer 
of  Lower  Paxton  township;  Frances,  wife  of 
Reuben  H.  Althouse,  residing  in  Harrisburg; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Benjamin  Strickler,  of  Pen- 
brook,  Pa.,  deceased ;  Jo.seph  Rudy,  Jr.,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Susquehanna  township; 
Sarah  A.,  wife  of  Walter  Trullinger,  residing 
in  Susquehanna  township  ;  Nettie  E.,  widow 
of  the  late  Dr.  D.  R.  Hocker,  residing  at  East 
Mere ;  C.  Landis ;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  George 
Hain,  residing  in  Harrisburg;  and  Abraham 
F.,  residing  in  Philadelphia.  His  second 
wife,  who  still  survives,  was  Barbara  xVIumma, 
and  to  this  second  marriage  there  was 
born  one  child,  Jonas  M.,  stenographer,  of 
Harrisburg. 

C.  Landis  Rudy  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  Professor  Seller's  academy,  of 
Harrisburg.  He  also  attended  the  Dickinson 
Business  College,  of  which  he  is  a  graduate. 
In  1874  he  engaged  in  the  ice  business, 
which  he  has  conducted  for  over  twenty 
years.  He  is  also  extensively  engaged  in 
buying  and  selling  land,  and  ranks  among 
the  most  prosperous  and  progressive  business 
men  of  the  city.  He  was  married  in  Harris- 
burg, October  22,  1879,  to  Miss  Belle  M. 
Brittain,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Melinda 
(Brittain)  Brittain,  of  English  and  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry,  the  former  deceased,  the  latter 
living  and  residing  with  Mr.  Rud3\  To 
them  have  been  born  five  children,  onlj'  one 
of  whom  is  living,  namely.  Marguerite  B., 
born   May,   1887.     In   political   views    Mr. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


329 


Jludj^  is  11  Republican,  and  lias  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  party  for 
the  past  eighteen  years.  Tlie  family  attend 
the  Salem  Reformed  church. 


Black,  Alfred  T.,  ex-treasurer  of  the  city 
of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
October  20,  1856r  He  is  a  son  of  Abraham 
K.  and  Rebecca  (Clark)  Black.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  the 
Harrisburg  Academy.  He  learned  brick- 
laying of  his  father  and  uncle,  and  followed 
this  business  from  1872  to  1885,  when  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  treasurer. 
He  was  re-elected  for  four  successive  terms, 
and  performed  the  duties  of  the  office  with 
great  credit  to  himself  and  with  the  utmost 
satisfaction  to  the  public. 

In  1877  Mr.  Black  joined  the  Hope  Fire 
Engine  Companj',  and  has  since  taken  an 
active  interest  in  the  fire  department  of  the 
city.  In  1886  he  was  elected  president  of 
the  company.  In  1890  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  tiie  State  Firemen's  Association  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  represented  the  State  as- 
sociation in  the  National  convention  of  fire- 
men, at  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  1892.  In  politics 
he  is  an  active  Republican,  and  takes  a  great 
interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the 
party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. Chapter,  Commandery,  and  Consis- 
tory, and  Lulu  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  ;  of  the  Indejjendent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics,  the  Knights  of  Honor, 
Red  Men,  etc. 

Alfred  T.  Black  was  married  in  January, 
1877,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Eager,  daughter  of 
Albert  J.  Eager,  of  Harrisburg,  by  whom  he 
has  three  children  :  Andrew  K.,  Alexander 
Ramsey  Speel,  and  Robert  Eager. 

Mr.  Black  is  a  member  and  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  "The  Club,"  and  is  on  the  gov- 
erning committee  of  the  same.  He  and  his 
wife  attend  the  M.  E.  church. 


Brubaker,  Charles  J.,  chief  clerk  to  tiie 
county  commissioners,  was  born  in  the  bor- 
ough of  Halifax,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
October  10,  1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Mary  R.  (Shammo)  Brubaker.  Jacob  Bru- 
baker, the  grandfather  of  Charles  J.,  was  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  He  settled 
in  Halifax  township,  Dauphin  county,  and 
engaged  in  farming.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  church.  He  had  nine  children: 
Joseph,  John,  Jacob,  Isaac,   Henry,  Hiram, 


Benjamin,  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom 
are  deceased,  except  Henry.  Henry  Bru- 
baker, father  of  Charles  J.,  was  born  in  Hali- 
fax township.  He  has  been  engaged 
in  farming  and  in  boating  on  the  Wi- 
conisco  canal.  He  and  his  six  brothers 
owned  and  conducted  boats  on  that  canal 
for  many  years.  He  has  served  two  terms 
as  supervi-sor  of  Halifax  township,  and  is 
now  serving  his  third  term  in  that  office,  in 
the  borough.  He  belongs  to  Charity  Lodge, 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  to  Camp  No.  576,  Patriotic 
Sons  of  America.  He  is  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  in  the  Halifax  Shoe  Company. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church. 
They  had  five  children :  Samuel  L.,  travel- 
ing for  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works; 
Amaza  S.,  Ella  F.,  Annie  L.  and  Charles  J. 
Charles  J.  Brubaker  is  the  eldest  of  his 
father's  children.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
H.  R.  Casslon,  of  Halifax,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1882,  but  never  practiced 
medicine.  He  became  paymaster  and  time- 
keeper for  the  Phoenix  Bridge  Company, 
Phoenixville,  Pa.,  and  remained  with  that 
company  four  years.  January  1,  1891,  he 
became  assistant  clerk  to  the  county  com- 
missioners, and  in  1892  was  appointed  chief 
clerk  to  that  body,  which  position  he  has 
since  filled  with  credit.  He  is  a  member  of 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M., 
the  Harrisburg  Consistory,  and  the  Rajah 
Temple  of  Reading,  Pa.  ;  City  Lodge,  No. 
301,  I.  0.  O.  F.;  A.  0.  U.  W.,  and  Camp  No. 
576,  P.  0.  S.  A.,  of  Halifax.  He  is  an  active 
Republican.  In  early  life  he  served  as  page 
in  the  United  States  House  of  Representatives. 


Melick,  John  P.,  prothonotary,  was  born 
in  Petersburg,  Huntingdon  county,  August 
18,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of  Rev.  J.  A.  and 
Emeline  (Patchin)  Melick,  the  former  born 
in  Light  Street,  C'olumbia  county.  Pa.,  the 
latter  in  New  York  State.  Rev.  Melick  had 
three  children  by  his  first  wife:  Mary  M., 
wife  of  G.  Benson  Dunmire,  of  Pliiladelj>hia; 
John  B.,  and  Miss  Emma,  residing  in  Har- 
risburg. He  married,  secondly.  Miss  Emily 
Dunmire,  wlio  survives,  and  resides  in  Har- 
risburg. Rev.  Melick,  who  was  a  minister 
in  tiie  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  died 
March  22,  1886.  A  sketch  of  him  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

John  P.  received  his  primar}^  education 
in  public  and  private  schools,  and  from  1871 


330 


Bl  0  GRA  Fill CAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


to  1874  attended  Dickinson  Seminary,  of 
Williainsport,  Pa.,  and  during  1875  and  part 
of  1876  he  was  a  student  at  Dickinson  Col- 
lege, Carlisle,  Pa.  In  1881  he  entered  the 
office  of  the  prothonotary  at  Harrisburg, 
under  Ehrman  B.  Mitchell,  and  remained  in 
the  office  also  during  the  term  of  office  of 
William  H.  Ulrich,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Mit- 
chell. In  November,  1891,  he  was  nominated 
and  elected  prothonotary  on  the  Republican 
ticket  by  a  majority  of  4,483,  and  in  1893 
was  re-elected  by  a  majority  of  6,067. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg.  October 
20,  1887,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  K.  Black,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  M.  and  Charlotte  Black,  of 
Harrisburg,  and  to  their  union  has  been 
born  one  ciiild,  Joseph  B.,  who  was  born 
December  15, 1888.  Mr.  Melick  is  a  director 
of  the  Harrisburg  Preserving  Company,  and 
he  and  Mrs.  Melick  are  consistent  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Holler,  Henry  F.,  deputy  prothonotary 
of  Dauphin  county,  was  born  at  New  Mar- 
ket, York  county,  Pa.,  September  ]0,  18<jO, 
son  of  Charles  and  Rebecca  (Mathias)  Holler. 
His  parents  settled  in  Ilummelstown  in  1876, 
and  the  father  engaged  in  the  coal,  wood 
and  feed  business,which  he  is  still  conducting. 
Their  children  are :  Sarah,  Henry  F.,  Charles 
I.,  William  H.,  and  LeRoy  0.  The  father  is 
a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been  a 
school  director  for  three  terms.  The  family 
attend  the  U.  B.  church.  Henry  F.  removed 
with  his  parents,  when  he  was  ten  years  old, 
to  Dauphin  county,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Hnmmelstown.  He  was 
engaged  with  his  father  in  business  until 
the  spring  of  1888,  at  which  time  he  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  pirothonotary  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  took  up  his  duties  at  Harrisburg. 
Mr.  Holler  is  a  member  of  Hummelstown 
Lodge,  No.  40,  United  American  Mechanics. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  attends 
the  U.  B.  Church. 


MiDDLETON,  William  H.,  city  solicitor  of 
Harrisburg,  was  born  in  Newville,  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  January  25,  1861,  son  of 
William  and  Mary  E.  Middleton,  the  former 
a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  the  lat- 
ter of  Hagerstown,  Md.  The  father  was 
born  near  Newville,  in  1830,  and  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  writing  fluids. 
For  the  past  five  years  he  has  also  conducted 
the  mineral  springs  and  summer  hotel  at 


Newville,  Pa.  His  children  are :  William 
H.;  Margaret,  wife  of  Charles  P.  Lusk,  coal, 
wood  and  ice  dealer,  of  Harrisburg:  Mollie, 
died  in  1881,  after  reaching  maturity,  and 
two  children  who  died  in  infancy.  The 
Tlie  family  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 
William  H.  when  two  years  old  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Harrtsburg,  where  he 
has  since  been  a  continuous  re,sident.  He 
was  educated  in  the  city  schools,  read  law 
with  Ex-Judge  Thomas  S.  Hargest,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Daup>hin  county  bar,  and  was 
later  admitted  to  practice  in  the  United 
States  Circuit  Court,  United  States  Court  of 
Appeals  and  United  States  Supreme  Court, 
and  since  his  admission  has  been  engaged 
in  a  general  practice  at  Harrisburg.  In 
1889  Mr.  Middleton  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  school  board,  in  which  he  served  as 
chairman  of  the  finance  committee,  and  was 
re-elected  to  the  board  in  1892  and  resigned. 
In  1892  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city 
solicitor  and  was  re-elected  in  1894.  He 
also  was  a  notary  public  from  1886  to  1894. 
Mr.  Middleton  was  married,  November  22, 
1888,  to  Laura  L.  Siierk,  a  native  of  Dau- 
piiin  countv,bv  whom  lie  has  one  son,  Will- 
iam S.,  born  'February  4,  1892.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Middleton  attend  the  Presbyterian 
churcli. 


Walter,  Charles  P.,  alderman  Eighth 
ward,  Harrisburg,  was  born  near  Milltown, 
York  county.  Pa.,  May  8,  1863.  He  is  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Angeline  (Mosher)  Walter. 
His  mother  died  in  1872 ;  his  father  still 
lives,  and  resides  in  Harrisburg.  Their 
family  consists  of  five  children,  namely : 
Henry  G.,  Charles  P.,  Jacob,  Edgar,  and 
Elmer. 

Charles  P.  came  to  Harrisburg  with  his 
jiarents  when  he  was  three  years  of  age,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Harrisburg.  After  leaving  school  he  en- 
gaged in  the  butchering  bu.siness  and  live 
stock  dealing.  He  is  still  conducting  the 
most  extensive  business  of  this  kind  in 
Central  Pennsylvania,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Walter  Bros.  In  1889  Mr.  Walter  was  elected 
alderman  by  a  majority  of  one  hundred  and 
five  votes,  and  was  the  first  alderman  ever 
elected  from  the  Eighth  ward  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  In  1894  he  was  re-elected  by 
a  majority  of  four  hundred  and  eighty-six 
votes.  In  1898  he  was  a  candidate  for 
nomination  for  mayor  of  Harrisburg,  but 
was  defeated  by  M.  C.  Eby  by  one  hundred 


DAUFHIN  COUNTY. 


and  seventy-eiglit  votes.  He  is  a  careful  and 
faithful  officer,  and  has  all  the  qualifica- 
tions for  a  skillful  and  successful  jiolitician. 
He  owes  much  of  iiis  popularity  to  his  genial 
manners.  He  was  married  at  Harrisburg,  Oc- 
tober 7,  lS91,toElizabetii  Foley,  the  daughter 
of  Edmund  and  Ellen  Foley.  To  them  have 
been  born  tliree  cliildren  :  A^ictor  Ignatius, 
Charles  Patrichia,  Jr.,  and  Elenora  Esther. 
Mr.  Walter  is  a  member  of  Baj'ard  Lodge,  No. 
150,  K.  of  P. ;  Peace  and  Ple"nty  Lodge,  No. 
68,  I.  O.  0.  F.;  St.  John's  Castle,  No.  25, 
K.  M.  C;  Camp  No.  25,  P.  0.  S.  A.;  Fulton 
Council,  0.  U.  A.  M.  He  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Harrisburg  Volunteer  Fire  Depart- 
ment, and  for  ten  years  a  member  of  the 
State  Firemen's  Association  and  Firemen's 
Union  of  Harrisburg.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trade.  He  is  also  one  of  the  uni- 
formed rank,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is 
an  active  and  zealous  worker  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  was  nominated  for  the 
office  of  mayor  by  his  party  in  1896,  after 
one  of  the  hardest  political  battles  ever 
waged  in  the  city.  He  was  defeated  for 
election,  being  betrayed  by  those  who  owe 
their  political  existence  to  his  efforts. 


Kennedy,  George  G.,  secretary  of  the 
board  of  water  commissioners,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  November  12,  1864.  He  is 
a  son  of  James  L.  and  Martha  (Barnard) 
Kennedy.  The  ancestors  were  natives  of 
Juniata  county,  where  the  parents  of  George 
G.  were  born,  and  resided  in  Mifflintown 
until  1859,  at  which  date  they  removed  to 
Harrisburg.  James  L.  was  educated  in  the 
jiublic  schools  of  Juniata  county  and  learned 
the  trade  of  a  tailor  in  Mifflintown.  When 
about  twent^'-one  years  of  age  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  with  which  he  has  since  been 
continuously  connected,  being  at  present  a 
pa.ssenger  engineer.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
select  council  from  tiie  Sixth  ward.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  jNIartha  Barnard,  of  Juniata  county. 
Pa.,  by  whom  he  had  three  children. 

George  G.Kennedy,  the  eldest  son  of  James 
L.,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  November  12, 
1864.  After  completing  hiseducation,  which 
he  acquired  in  the  public  schools,  he  became 
an  a[)prentice  to  the  jewelry  business  with 
George  A.  Hutman,  and  continued  in  this 
business  until  he  was  twenty-seven  years  of 
age,  when  he  engaged  in  business  several 
years  for  himself  in  this  city. 

On  May  2,  1892,  he  was  appointed  secre- 


tary of  the  board  of  commissioners,  water 
and  light  department,  which  position  he 
still  efiiciently  and  faitlifully  fills.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  B.  P.  0.  E.,  tlie  L  0.  R.  M., 
and  the  Knights  of  Malta. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  June  6, 
1894,  to  Miss  Flora,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  ^'an  Ormer,  natives  of  Juniata 
county,  but  at  present  honored  residents  of 
Harrisburg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  attend 
Messiah  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Kennedy  is  possessed  of  sound  judg- 
ment and  unimpeachable  integrity,  has  a 
clear  record  and  has  given  the  taxpayers 
conscientious  service.  Though  the  rapid 
increase  of  the  population  of  the  city  has 
imposed  additional  labor  upon  him  he 
never  complains.  Since  he  was  old  enough 
to  know  the  difference  between  the  various 
political  parties  Mr.  Kennedy  has  always 
been  with  the  Republicans.  Long  before  he 
was  of  age  he  was  a  worker  for  the  older 
members  of  the  ward  and  precinct  commit- 
tees, and  so  valuable  were  his  services  that 
he  has  been  connected  with  the  precinct 
committee  since  he  cast  his  first  vote.  He 
has  also  served  faithfully  as  secretary  of  tlie 
city  committee,  and  never  held  an  office  in 
the  gift  of  the  people  until  elected  to  his 
present  position.  Mr.  Kennedy  is  com- 
manding in  appearance,  popular  in  every 
walk  of  life  and  he  has  a  prosperous  future 
before  him. 


Painter,  Ebenezer  Greenough,  was  born 
in  Sunbury,  Pa.,  September  26, 1826.  He  is 
a  son  of  Thomas  and  Susan  (Israel)  Painter, 
and  grandson  of  John  Painter,  pioneer  of 
Northumberland  count}'.  His  great-grand- 
father, with  two  brothers,  immigrated  to 
America  from  Germany  before  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  the  grandfather,  John  Painter, 
served  as  a  captain  in  that  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence. The  grandfather,  John  Painter, 
married  Catherine  Taggart,  daughter  of 
David  Taggart,  of  Nortlmmljcrland,  Pa., and 
after  living  sometime  in  Philadelphia  settled 
in  Chillisquaque  township,  Northumberland 
county.  Their  children  were:  Thomas, 
Mary,  John,  Elizabeth,  William,  Catherine, 
Jacob,  and  Rebecca,  all  deceased.  Thomas 
was  born  in  1785  and  after  reaching  his  ma- 
jority was  for  several  years  clerk  in  a  store 
in  the  town  of  Northumberland.  In  1812- 
15  he  was  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  served  in 
the  Legislature  in  1822-23.  "in  1827, remov- 
ing to  JBloomsburg,  he  purchased  the  Colum- 


332 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


bia  county  Flegister,  and  conducted  that 
paper  until  1843.  He  was  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Bloomsburg  for  about  forty  years. 
His  deatli  occurred  in  February,  1862.  In 
1812  Mr.  Thomas  Painter  married  Susan, 
daughter  of  Gen.  Josepli  Israel,  of  Newcastle, 
Del.,  a  veteran  of  the  Revolution.  The 
mother  died  in  Bloomsburg,  Columbia 
county,  in  Julj',  1845;  her  husband  survived 
until  February,  18G2,  and  died  in  Muncy, 
Lycoming  count}',  whither  he  had  removed. 
They  had  .sixteen  cliildren,  eight  of  whom 
grew  to  maturit}'.  They  are  Joseph  Israel, 
born  in  September,  1813,  and  died  Februarv 
8,  1830:  John,  born  in  1814,  and  died  in 
1890 ;  William  P.  I.,  born  in  1818,  and  died 
in  1805;  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  in  1820; 
George  Latimer  Israel,  born  September  11, 
1822,  and  died  in  June,  1893 ;  Abigail  Green- 
ough,  born  in  1825,  and  died  August  10, 
1869;  Ebenezer  Greenough,  born  September 
26,1826;  and  Susan  Catharine,  born  Octo- 
ber 26,  1831,  wife  of  Rev.  William  Weaver, 
No.  1605  South  Broad  street,  Philadelphia. 

Ebenezer  G.  Painter  was  educated  in  the 
private  schools  of  Bloomsburg.  After  leav- 
ing school  helearned  chairmakingand  paint- 
ing, subsequently  lie  worked  for  some  time 
as  a  carpenter.  He  left  Bloom.sburg,  and 
lived  eleven  years  at  Mauch  Chunk  ;  in  No- 
vember, 1862,  he  removed  to  Harrisburg, 
where  he  has  resided  for  thirty-four  years. 
He  was  for  several  years  a  photographer. 
In  1870  he  was  appointed  to  the  Harrisburg 
police  force,  and  served  two  years  as  patrol- 
man, and  two  years  as  lieutenant.  At  this 
writing  he  is  not  in  any  active  business. 
He  was  married  in  Muncy,  Lycoming 
county.  Pa.,  September  28, 1847,  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  James  and  Justina 
(Grove)  Ewing.  They  had  five  children, 
three  of  whom  died  in  infancy :  a  son  George, 
born  July,  1848,  died  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1889,  at  the  age  of  forty-one, 
and  their  only  living  child  is  William 
H.,  a  prominent  dentist,  a  sketch  of  whom 
follows. 

]\Ir.  Painter  is  a  past  noble  grand  of  Har- 
risburg Lodge,  No.  68,  Harrisburg  Encamp- 
ment, and  of  Daughters  of  Rebecca,  I.  0.  O. 
F.;  P.  C.  of  K.  of  P. ;  Ex-C.  of  0.  U.  A.  M. ; 
past  officer  of  Good  Templars,  Sons  of  F. 
T.  of  IL,  and  Druids.  He  has  always  shown 
the  deepest  interest  in  the  welfare  and  ad- 
vancement of  his  adopted  city.  On  the 
police  force  he  was  a  model  officer,  and  was 
popular,  because  he  was  faithful  and  impar- 


tial, performing  his  duties  without  fear  or 
favor. 

Dr.  William  H.  Painter,  only  surviving 
son  of  Ebenezer  G.  Painter,  was  born  in 
Mauch  Chunk,  Pa.,  July  4,  1853.  When 
seven  years  old,  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Harrisburg,  and  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  city  schools.  He  took  up  the 
study  of  dentistry,  and  attended  the  Penn- 
sylvania Dental  College  in  Philadelphia,  re- 
ceiving his  degree  of  D.  D.  S.  in  the  class  of 
1881.  Including  five  years  of  practice  pre- 
vious to  his  college  course,  he  has  success- 
fully practiced  his  profession  for  twenty-one 
years.  He  has  practiced  at  Steelton  and  at 
New  Cumberland,  and  since  1881  continu- 
ou.sly  at  Harrisburg.  He  was  married  in 
Reading,  December  23,  1882,  to  Miss  Hattie 
B.,  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Sarah  (Copp) 
Anthony,  of  Easton  Pa.  They  have  three 
children  :  Marion  E.,  Sarah  Anthony,  and 
Ebeu  G.,  who  died  December  22,  1894. 

Dr.  Painter  is  past  noble  grand  of  Peace 
and  Plenty  Lodge,  No.  69,  I.  0.  0.  F. ;  past 
commander  of  CincinnatusCommandery,  No. 
96,  K.  of  M. ;  past  national  representative 
and  past  national  conductor  of  Junior  0.  U. 
A.  M.  He  is  an  active  member  and  a  trustee 
of  Lady  Alpha  Lodge,  No.  15,  Daughters  of 
America ;  and  State  representative  of  Junior 
0.  U.  A.  M.,  Capital  City  Council,  No.  327, 
since  the  council  was  organized,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years,  when  he  was  not  a 
candidate.  He  was  elected  State  inside  sen- 
tinel at  tiie  Wilkes-Barre  session,  nineteen 
candidates  being  in  the  field.  He  made  the 
final  argument  in  behalf  of  the  Garb  Bill  be- 
fore the  governor  and  his  cabinet.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican.  The  family  attend 
the  Lutheran  church. 

Mrs.  E.  G.  Painter's  father.  Rev.  James 
Ewing,  was  born  in  York  county,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 15,  1786.  He  was  married  three 
times  and  was  the  father  of  fifteen  children. 
For  fifty  years  he  was  in  the  ministry  in  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  died  in  Juniata 
county,  September  22,  1861.  His  father, 
Alexander  Ewing,  was  also  a  Methodist  min, 
ister  and  died  in  York  county,  December  21- 
1831.  James  married,  first,  Miss  Prudence 
Manifold,  March  9, 1812,  and  they  had  these 
children :  Lydia,  born  December  11,  and 
died  in  January,  1813  ;  Jane  Willson,  born 
December  11,  1814,  and  died  January,  1888, 
was  married  to  Anthony  Witman  ;  Alice, 
born  November  26,  1816,  and  died  January, 
1817;  Estlier,  born   January   G,   1818,   and 


DAUFUIN  COUNTY. 


333 


miirried  in  1848.  He  married,  secondly, 
Miss  Justina  Grove,  daughter  of  Jacob  Grove, 
of  York  count}',  Pa.,  in  April,  1819,  who  died 
October'12, 1850.  Their  children  were:  John 
Weslev,  a  Methodist  minister,  born  March 
25,  1820,  and  died  August  26,  1886,  leaving 
two  children:  F.  Byron  and  Elizabeth; 
Prudence,  wife  of  A.  C.  Smith,  born  August 
16,  1821,  and  died  August  26,  1886,  leaving 
two  children:  Nerrey  and  Alice,  both  mar- 
ried; Elizabeth  Redman,  born  November  5, 
1822,  and  died  November  2,  1877,  wife  of  E. 
G.  Painter,  whose  children  were :  George  Wil- 
ber,  born  in  July,  1848,  and  died  Seiitember 
30,  1889  ;  Mary  A.,  born  in  September,  1849, 
and  died  in  July,  1850;  W.  N.,born  in  July, 
1853;  John  B.,  born  in  September,  1854,  and 
died  in  September,  1858;  James  Ewing,l)orn 
in  June,  1856,  and  died  in  August,  1857 ; 
Agnes  A.,  born  August  22,  1824,  and  died 
September  14,  1851;  Alexander  Tidings, 
minister  in  Methodist  church,  born  April  25, 
1820,  and  died  October  8,  1850 ;  James  N., 
Methodist  minister,  born  August  19,  1828, 
and  died  in  1895,  leaving  three  children : 
Charles,  Edwai'd  and  Emily,  all  married; 
Henry  Whitfield,  a  Methodist  minister,  born 
October  26,  1831,  and  died  June  24,  1854; 
Joseph  Benson,  lawyer,  born  August,  1834, 
and  died  in  February,  1891,  married  Mar\' 
J.  K.  Speese  and  had  tliree  children:  Helen 
M.,  Joseph  G.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy ; 
Mary  A.  Holmes,  Port  Royal,  Juniata  county. 
Pa.,  born  April  3,  1836,  wife  of  George  E. 
Hench,  deceased  ;  William  McKindra,  born 
March  14, 1838,  and  died  December  14, 1838  : 
and  Wilber  Fisk,  born  October  22, 1840,  and 
served  in  the  Rebellion.  Rev.  Ewing  mar- 
ried, thirdly,  in  1851,  Miss  Elizabeth  Jen- 
nings, who  died  May  20,  1873. 


Wilson,  Thomas,  of  Scotch-Irish  parent- 
age, was  born  in  Pliiladelphia  about  1768. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  a  printer,  was  a 
gentleman  of  considerable  literary  attain- 
ments, and  wrote  freely  on  the  subjects  of 
his  time  for  the  leading  newspapers  of  his 
native  city.  In  1811  he  removed  to  Balti- 
more, where  he  conducted  a  newspaper.  In 
defense  of  that  city,  when  attacked  by  the 
British  in  1814,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Capt.  James  McConkey's  company  of  the 
Twenty-seventh  regiment  of  Maryland  vol- 
unteers, commanded  by  Lieut.  Col.  Ken- 
nedy Long.  In  1816  Mr.  Wilson  returned 
to  Philadelphia,  where  he  became  foreman 
ou  Mr.  Duane's  newspaper.  The  Aurora,  con- 


tributing also  to  its  columns.  He  died  at 
Philadelphia  about  1828.  He  married 
Lydia  Oakford,  of  English  parentage,  who 
survived  her  husband  several  years.  Mr. 
Wilson  was  the  author  of  a  number  of 
works,  the  names  of  only  two,  however, 
coming  to  our  knowledge,  "  The  Biography 
of  the  Principal  Military  and  Naval  Heroes, 
comprehending  details  of  their  achieve- 
ments during  the  Revolutionary  and  late 
wars,"  two  volumes,  published  by  John 
Low,  130  Cherry  street.  New  York,  1821, 
and  "The  Picture  of  Philadelphia  for  1824," 
published  by  Thomas  Town,  38  Chestnut 
street,  Philadelphia. 


Wyeth,  John,  son  of  Ebenezer  Wyeth, 
was  born  March  31,  1770,  at  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  and  died  January  23,  1858,  at  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.  He  was,  at  an  early  age,  ap- 
prenticed to  the  printing  busine.ss,  and,  on 
reaching  his  majority,  was  induced  to  go  to 
San  Domingo,  to  superintend  a  large  print- 
ing establishment.  While  there  the  insur- 
rection of  the  blacks  occurred,  and  all  that 
he  had  acquired  was  lost.  It  was  with  great 
difficulty  that  he  even  succeeded  in  escaping 
from  the  island,  and  then  only  by  the  con- 
nivance of  a  friend,  one  of  the  officers  who 
assisted  in  searching  the  vessels  about  leav- 
ing the  port.  Dressed  as  a  common  sailor 
and  working  among  them,  he  eluded  their 
vigilance,  and  subsequently  reached  Phila- 
delphia. Arriving  at  Philadelphia,  he 
worked  some  time  in  the  different  printing 
establishments  there,  and,  in  1792,  went  to 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where,  in  connection  with 
John  Allen,  he  purchased  the  paper  started 
the  previous  year  by  Maj.  Eli  Lewis,  and 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  Oracle  of 
Danpliin,  a  newspaper  he  successfully  car- 
ried on  until  November,  1827.  Mr.  Wyeth's 
paper  supported  the  Federal  views  of  that 
great  party  during  the  whole  course  of  its 
existence.  Its  columns  were  open,  never- 
theless, to  the  communications  of  all.  In 
those  days,  before  the  principles  of  Republi- 
can rule  were  fully  digested,  many  a  ner- 
vous essay  was  put  forth  on  either  side  of 
the  question  by  able  men  of  both  parties. 
He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Harrisburg 
in  October,  1793,  under  the  administration 
of  President  Washington,  of  which  he  was  a 
strenuous  advocate  and  admirer.  He  was 
removed  in  July,  1798,  by  Mr.  Adams'  Post- 
master General,  on  account  of  "  the  incom- 
patability  of  the  office  of  postmaster  and  the 


334 


BIOGKAPUICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


editor  of  a  newspaper."  In  connection  with 
his  newspaper,  Mr.  Wj'eth  established  a 
bookstore  and  a  publishing  house,  from 
which  lie  issued  a  large  number  of  books, 
the  most  notable  of  which  were:  Judge 
Henry's  "  Narrative  of  the  Quebec  Expedi- 
tion," Graydon's  "Memoirs,"  and  a  music 
book  compiled  by  himself.  The  circulation 
of  the  latter,  for  that  earl}'  day,  was  wonder- 
ful, its  several  editions  aggregating  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  thousand  copies.  To  this 
he  supplemented  a  second  part,  intended 
especially  for  the  Methodist  Church,  of 
whicli  there  were  published  about  twenty- 
live  thousand.  He  was  one  of  H  arrisburg's 
most  energetic  citizens,  and  was  deejtly  in- 
terested in  its  prosperity  and  welfare.  He 
caused  the  construction  of  several  valuable 
improvements,  which  remain  as  evidence  of 
his  enterprising  spirit  and  good  judgment. 
He  was  one  of  the  earliest  friends  of  the 
Harrisburg  Academy,  and  served  as  a 
trustee,  of  which  body  he  was  also  president. 
Upon  his  retirement  from  publisher,  he  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia,  where  he  died  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  His 
life,  thus  prolonged,  was  marked  by  affa- 
bilit}'  and  cheerfulness,  and  his  philosophy 
was  of  practical  character.  He  was  exceed- 
ingly industrious,  and,  whilst  in  business, 
could  always  find  something  for  his  hands 
to  do,  and  in  later  life,  when  the  concerns 
of  his  printing  office  were  transferred  to 
younger  hands,  he  knew  how  to  divide  his 
time  between  iiis  I'eading  and  his  social 
pleasures.  Mr.  Wyeth  was  twice  married ; 
married,  first,  June  6,  1793,  Louisa  Weiss, 
born  April  29,  1775;  died  June  1,  1822,  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.;  daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Mary  Weiss,  of  Philadelphia. 


MowRY,  Charles,  was  born  in  Litchfield, 
Providence  county,  R.  L,  in  1777.  He  re- 
ceived a  classical  education,  and  came  to 
Pennsylvania  about  ISOO,  and  engaged  in 
teaching.  In  1808  he  began  the  publication 
of  the  Temperate  Zone,  at  Downingtown, 
Chester  county.  This  was  subsequently 
changed  to  the  American  Republican,  and 
Mr.  Mowry  continued  its  publication  until 
1821,  when  he  came  to  Harrisburg  in  the  in- 
terest of  William  Findlay,  who  was  a  candi- 
date for  governor  of  Penn.sylvania  for  a 
second  term,  and  became  editor  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Intelligences;  previously  the  Harris- 
burg Republican.  This  paper  he  eventually 
disposed  of  to  Gen.  Simon   Cameron,  who 


had  been  associated  with  him  as  co-partner 
in  its  management,  in  order  that  he  might 
assume  the  duties  of  canal  commissioner,  to 
which  he  had  been  appointed  by  Governor 
Shulze.  During  his  career  as  editor  he  ac- 
quired considerable  celebrity  as  a  political 
writer,  and  exercised  a  marked  influence 
upon  the  policy  of  his  party.  He  died  at 
Harrisburg,  July  29,  1838.  He  married, 
March  31,  1812,  Mary  Richmond,  daughter 
of  George  Richmond,  of  Sadsbury  township, 
Chester  county.  She  died  March  28,  1862, 
aged  seventy-six  years. 


Peacock,  James,  the  eldest  son  of  Will- 
iam Peacock  and  Mary  McArthur,  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry,  was  born  in  Paxtang  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Apiil  8,  1788. 
His  education  was  in  a  great  measure  due  to 
his  mother's  care  and  tuition,  with  self-ap- 
plication in  after  years.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  began  to  learn  the  printing  busi- 
ness with  Mr.  Edward  Cole,  of  Lewistowu, 
where  he  remained  until  1807,  when  he 
went  to  Lancaster  to  work  on  the  Intelli- 
gencer. In  1809  he  was  employed  by  the 
celebrated  John  Binns,  of  Philadelphia,  on 
book  work,  and  subsequently  by  Mr.  Dinnie 
on  the  Port  Folio.  While  in  the  latter  es- 
tablishment he  became  intimate  with  quite 
a  number  of  the  lite^-ati  of  that  period,  and 
concerning  whom  he  has  left  some  interest- 
ing "Reminiscences."  In  1811  Mr.  Peacock 
returned  to  Lancaster,  and  from  thence 
came  to  Harrisburg,  where,  in  December  of 
that  year,  he  started  the  Pennsylvania  Repub- 
lican, which  he  continued  to  publish  for 
about  eight  or  nine  years,  in  the  meantime 
being  one  of  the  printers  to  the  Senate  and 
House.  In  December,  1821,  he  was  em- 
ploj'ed  as  an  assistant  clerk  of  the  Senate, 
and  in  March,  1822,  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postmaster  at  Harrisburg  in  place 
of  Mrs.  Wright,  who  had  recently  deceased, 
an  office  he  held  under  different  national 
administrations  until  the  15th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1846.  In  December,  1847,  he  removed 
to  Philadelphia,  where  he  became  identified 
with  the  publication  of  the  Evening  Bulle- 
tin, The  Sun  and  Neal's  Saturday  Gazette, 
which  he  managed  with  all  the  tact  and 
skill  of  his  early  years,  relinquishing  his 
labors  only  a  brief  time  prior  to  his  death. 
He  died  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  on  the 
23d  of  August,  1863,  and  is  interred  in  the 
Harrisburg  cemeter}'.  Mr.  Peacock  was 
twice  married — first  to  Frances  C,  daughter 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


335 


of  Matthias  Slough  and  Mary  Gibson,  of 
Lancaster,  who  died  October  27,  1837  ;  and, 
secondly,  to  Mrs.  Louisa  V.  Sims,  of  Mount 
Holly,  N.  J.,  who  died  in  1869.  Mr.  Pea- 
cock was  ever  held  in  high  esteem  by  the 
citizens  of  Plarrisburg,  whether  as  journalist, 
or  his  occupancy  of  the  postoffice  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  He  always  took  an 
active  part  in  public  affairs,  and  was  largely 
instrumental  in  organizing  St.  Stephen's 
Episcopal  church,  in  which  there  has  been 
erected  a  tablet  to  his  memory.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  dignified  manners,  of  refined 
culture,  and  a  sincere  Christian. 


Wilson,  Thomas  Low,  the  son  of  Thomas 
Wilson  and  Lydia  Oakford,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March  26,  1800.  He 
learned  the  art  of  printing  witli  his  father, 
who  was  a  prominent  craftsman  in  his  day. 
In  1811  his  parents  removed  to  Baltimore, 
where  in  the  defense  of  that  city  both  father 
and  son  enlisted  as  privates  in  Capt.  James 
McConkey'scompan}',  Twenty-seventh  Mary- 
land regiment.  In  1816  the  family  returned 
to  Philadelpiiia,  where  both  Wilsons  worked 
on  Mr.  Duane's  Aurora.  Subsequently  the 
son  went  to  Washington  City  to  work  on  the 
'National  Intelligencer.  In  1828  he  published 
the  Intelligencer,  Petersburg,  Va.,  where  in 
connection  he  printed  the  Lynchburg  Demo- 
crat in  1837.  In  1838,  on  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  veteran  editor,  Ritchie,  he  came 
to  Harrisburg  as  editor  of  the  Reporter,  to 
combat  tlie  errors  of  the  Anti-Masonic  party. 
Upon  the  return  of  the  Democracy  to  power 
Mr.  Wilson  was  chosen  secretary  to  the 
board  of  canal  commissioners,  a  position  he 
occuj)ied  almost  uninterruptedly  until  the 
abolishment  of  the  canal  department  in 
1859.  He  served  during  this  period  one  year 
as  collector  of  tolls  at  Middletown  and  one 
year  as  deputy  secretary  of  the  Common- 
wealth at  the  close  of  Governor  Porter's  ad- 
ministration. He  died  at  Harrisburg,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1861.  Mr.  Wilson  married.  May 
6,  1824,  Juliana  Margaretta  Bender,  of 
Washington  City.  A  gentleman  prominent 
in  public  affairs  thus  summarizes  the  char- 
acter of  Mr.  Wilson :  "  He  was  an  honest 
man,  one  of  that  stern,  inflexible,  and  un- 
bending old  school  integrity,  which  made 
him  die  a  poor  man  rather  than  become  a 
party  to  unholy  plunder  from  the  cotters  of 
the  Commonwealth." 


Krause,  D.wid,  son  of  David  Krause  and 
Regina  Orth,  was  born  November  2, 1800,  in 
Lebanon,  Pa.;  died  June  13,1871,  in  Norris- 
town.  Pa.  He  was  educated  under  Rev.  Mr. 
Ernst,  of  tlie  Lutheran  church  of  Lebanon, 
and  subsequently  studied  law  with  Hon. 
Jonathan  Walker,  of  Pittsburgh,  and  tliere 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  returned  to  Leb- 
anon and  began  practice.  He  went  to  Har- 
risburg as  the  private  secretary  of  Governor 
Shulze,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin 
courts,  August  15,  1825.  He  was  appointed 
deputy  attorney  general  in  August,  1826, 
and  reappointed  in  1829.  From  1825  to 
1826,  with  Gen.  Simon  Cameron,  he  pub- 
lished and  edited  the  Pennsylvania  Intelli- 
gencer. He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  in  1835  and  1836. 
On  the  election  of  Governor  Porter,  in  1839, 
he  took  editorial  charge  of  the  State  Journal, 
which  he  conducted  with  much  ability.  In 
January,  1845,  a  vacanc)^  occurring  in  the 
Montgomery  and  Bucks  county  judicial  dis- 
trict, Rlr.  Krause  was  appointed  to  the  bench. 
He  filled  the  position  acceptably  and  honor- 
abh^  but  in  1851,  when  the  judiciary  became 
elective,  he  positivel}'  declined  the  office. 
He  then  retired  to  private  life.  In  1862,  and 
again  in  1863,  upon  the  invasion  of  Pennsyl- 
vania by  the  Confederates,  he  volunteered  as 
a  private  soldier  in  the  Penns3dvania  militia, 
although  then  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his 
age.  Judge  Krause  married,  in  September, 
1826,  Catharine  Orr,  of  Philadelphia,  born 
September,  1800  ;  died  December,  1875,  at 
Norristown,  Pa. 


Hamilton,  Adam  Boyd,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, September  18,  1808,  son  of  Hugh 
Hamilton,  who  was  a  son  of  Capt.  John 
Hamilton  and  of  Rosanna  Boyd,  onl}^  child 
of  Adam  Boyd.  Both  these  ancestors  were 
purchasers  of  property  in  1785,  both  erected 
substantial  brick  mansions,  and  both  died 
and  are  buried  at  Harrisburg.  The  subject 
of  this  notice  received  his  first  school  train- 
ing under  Misses  Graham  and  Smith,  at 
Second- and  Mulberry  streets,  Charles  Still, 
Maginnes,  Birkman,  Hamilton,  Tod,  Davies. 
Most  of  his  time  was  devoted  to  picking  up 
the  trade  of  printer  in  his  father's  establish- 
ment, the  Harrisburg  Chronicle.  At  this 
early  period  two  late  chief  justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Penn.sylvania,  Messrs. 
Lewis  and  Thompson,  were  employed  there, 
as  well  as  many  other  gentlemen  who   rose 


336 


BI 0  GRA  Fill  GAL  EN  GYGL  OPEDIA 


to  social  and  political  positions.  Having 
been  carefully  trained  as  a  printer,  after 
leaving  the  Harrisburg  Academy  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  a  position  in  the  engineer  corps 
of  the  Juniata  division  of  the  State  works, 
under  DeWitt  Clinton,  Jr.,  as  chief.  The 
partner  of  his  father  having  died,  he  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg  and  became  partner  in 
the  Chronicle,  where  lie  continued  until  that 
paper  was  disposed  of  to  other  parties.  He 
was  chosen,  when  scarcely  of  voting  age, 
one  of  the  printers  to  the  Legislature.  After 
spending  a  couple  of  years  in  an  unsuccess- 
ful business  venture  in  the  South,  he  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg,  and  shortly  after  ap- 
pointed to  a  position  at  Washington  City  ; 
resigned,  taking  control  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Reporter,  at  Harrisburg;  after  a  year  or  two 
was  unanimously  chosen  assistant  clerk  of 
the  Senate,  resigning  that,  and  becoming 
joint  partner  in  the  Pennsylvanian  at  Phila- 
delphia with  Mifflin,  Parry,  Joseph  Neal,  J. 
W.  Forney  and  S.  D.  Patterson.  When  that 
venture  closed,  became,  under  the  contract 
law,  printer  to  both  houses  of  Congress,  and 
at  the  repeal  of  that  law,  which  carried  his 
contract  with  it,  came  to  Pennsylvania. 
Again  became  })rinter  to  the  State  until 
1861,  when  he  retired  from  that  business  and 
became  an  agriculturist.  He  has  held  many 
municipal  offices — a  school  director  for 
twelve  years  ;  president  of  the  select  council, 
and  one  of  the  commissioners  of  1860,  and 
of  a  subsequent  one  in  1870,  to  make  a  plot 
of  the  city  of  Harrisburg ;  president  of  the 
Pennsylvania  State  Agricultural  Society,  the 
Dauphin  County  Society ;  at  present  a  trustee 
of  the  Harrisburg  Academy,  secretary  of 
the  board  of  managers  of  tlie  Harrisburg 
Hospital  from  the  first  meeting  on  the  sub- 
ject in  1872,  president  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  Derry  Presbyterian  church,  and  the  only 
president  the  Dauphin  County  Historical 
Societ)'  has  had  since  its  formation. 


Weir,  James  Wallace,  son  of  Samuel 
Weir,  who  served  as  an  officer  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  was  born  August  9,  1805,  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.;  died  March  14,  1878.  He 
received  a  good  education,  excelled  as  a 
scholar,  and  liis  taste  for  study  and  reading 
drew  him  toward  the  printing  office.  He 
learned  the  art  witli  John  S.  Wrestling,  and, 
after  his  apprenticeship,  spent  some  time  in 
the  printing  house  of  the  Messrs.  Johnson, 
of  Philadelphia.  On  November  26,  1833, 
having  been  chosen  teller  of  the  Harrisburg 


Bank,  he  accepted  the  position,  holding  it 
until  October  30,  1844,  when  he  was  chosen 
casliier  of  the  bank.  When  the  institution 
became  a  national  bank  in  1874,  lie  was 
unanimously  elected  its  cashier,  which  office 
he  held  until  his  death,  a  period  of  over  forty- 
four  years.  As  a  bank  officer  and  a  financier 
he  gained  an  enviable  distinction  for  his 
uniform  courtesy,  for  unimpeachable  integ- 
rity, and  for  ability  of  the  highest  order. 
Few  bankers  in  the  Commonwealth  can  pre- 
sent a  record  equal  to  his  in  years  of  service, 
in  successful  administration  of  affairs  through 
financial  trouble,  and  for  such  rigid  honesty. 
But  not  alone  as  a  banker  was  he  distin- 
guished. He  was  gifted  with  rare  social 
qualities  and  a  graceful  wit,  which  made  him 
one  of  the  most  companionable  of  men.  In 
movements  for  the  reformation  of  society  he 
was  always  foremost,  not  only  giving  his 
time  and  labor,  but  contributing  freely  of  his 
means  to  the  accomplishment  of  wiiat  he 
thought  a  philanthropic  purpose.  To  tiie 
poor  and  lowly  lie  was  always  a  kind  and 
true  friend,  and  his  charities,  though  not  os- 
tentatious, were  made  with  a  free  and  open 
hand.  His  literary  taste  and  ability  were  of 
higii  order,  and  he  frequently  wrote  for  the 
press ;  was  the  author  of  several  religious^ 
tracts  published  by  the  American  Sunday-" 
school  Union.  In  1888  appeared  a  small 
volume, "  Manual  of  Prayer,"  which  was  pub- 
lished with  an  introduction  by  Rev.  Albert 
Barnes,  of  Philadelphia.  In  1854  "The 
Closet  Companion  "  appeared  and  passed 
through  several  editions.  After  his  death 
"  Home  Worship,"  a  book  of  prayer  for  the 
family  circle,  was  published.  In  the  Presby- 
terian church,  of  whicii  lie  was  nearly  fort}'- 
four  years  an  elder,  as  superintendent  of  the 
Sabbath-school  for  a  similar  period,  and  in 
every  walk  and  pursuit  in  life  he  was  active, 
energetic,  consistent,  pure  in  character  and 
lofty  in  purpose.  Mr.  Weir  married  Mrs. 
Hanna  A.  (Fahnestock)  Mahany,  who  died 
February,  1872. 


Wyeth,  Francis,  was  born  April  5,  1806, 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  died  there  July  2, 
1893.  He  was  educated  at  the  Harrisburg 
Academy,  ajid  learned  the  art  of  printing  in 
his  father's  office,  subsequentl}'  entering 
Jefferson  College,  Canonsburg,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  in  November,  1827. 
On  his  return  home  his  father,  who  had  con- 
ducted the  Oracle  of  Dauphin  thirty-five 
years,  transferred  that  paper  to  his  son,  which 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


337 


he  edited  and  published  several  years.  He 
also  entered  into  tiie  business  of  bookseller 
and  publisher.  At  the  time  Mr.  Wyeth  took 
charge  of  the  Oracle  the  Whig  party  had  just 
come  into  existence,  of  whose  principles  and 
policy  he  was  an  enthusiastic  su]i])orter. 
Becoming,  however,  tired  of  an  editor's  life, 
he  sold  out  the  newspaper  establishment 
about  1831,  continuing  his  other  business 
until  1859,  when  he  disposed  of  that.  In 
April,  18G1,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion, 
he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  quarter- 
master's department  at  Camp  Curtin,  wiiere 
he  continued  until  the  General  tTOvernment 
assumed  control  over  all  the  military  organ- 
izations of  the  State.  On  the  '20th  of  July, 
1802,  Governor  Curtin  appointed  iiini  one  of 
the  commissioners  from  Pennsylvania  to 
visit  all  the  hospitals  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  in  the  interest  of  the  volunteer 
soldiers  of  the  State,  who  were  sick  or 
wounded,  and,  as  the  commission  reads,  "  to 
supply  the  wants  of  the  suffering  and  needy 
as  far  as  lies  in  your  power,  without  infring- 
ing on  an}^  of  the  regulations  or  rights 
of  the  army,  and  assure  each  and  all  that 
their  condition  awakens  the  liveliest  interest 
and  sympathy  of  the  people  and  Governor 
of  Pennsylvania."  Ileturning  home,  he  re- 
ported the  condition  of  tiie  wounded  soldiers 
witii  this  recommendation,  that  where  it  is 
possible  "  those  from  Pennsylvania  be  trans- 
ferred to  hospitals  in  their  own  State,  that 
they  might  be  near  to  their  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances." This  was,  subsequently,  car- 
ried out  during  the  continuance  of  the  war. 
On  November  28, 18G3,  he  was  again  directed 
to  visit  the  various  hospitals.  For  a  long 
term  of  years  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Harrisburg  Academy,  and  president  of 
the  same.  Mr.  Wyeth  was  twice  married  ; 
married,  first.  May  29,  1829,  Susan  Huston 
Maxwell,  died  December  24,  1841,  daughter 
of  William  and  Ann  Maxwell,  of  Franklin 
county.  Pa.,  and  left  three  sons.  Mr.  Wyeth 
married,  secondly,  Sarah  C.  Carson,  who  sur- 
vives, daughter  of  Charles  Carson,  of  Harris- 
burg, Pa.;  and  left  one  son. 


WiESTLiNG,  George  P.,  son  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Christopher,  was  born  May  4,  1808,  in  Pax- 
tang,  now  Susquehanna  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  and  died  May  31,  1883,  at  Plar- 
risburg,  Pa.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  the  borough  and  the  Harrisburg  Academy. 
He  learned  tiie  art  of  printing  with  his 
brother,  John  S.  Wiestling,  who  edited  and 


published  the  Pennsylvania  Intelligencer.  He 
afterwards  worked  as  a  compositor  in  the 
different  newspaper  offices  at  the  State  capi- 
tal. About  the  year  1842  he  establisiied 
himself  in  the  wood  and  coal  trade,  in  which 
he  continued  down  through  life,  being  one 
of  the  first  to  engage  in  it.  For  a  period  of 
fifty  years  he  was  leader  of  the  Reformed 
church  choir.  Having  a  love  for  music, 
and  being  endowed  with  fine  talents  in  that 
direction,  he  took  special  delight  in  their 
cultivation.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  church  with  wiiich  he  so  long  identified 
himself  as  its  musical  leader,  and  for  forty- 
four  years  an  elder.  He  was  faithful  to 
every  trust,  honest  and  upright  in  all  his 
dealings  with  the  world,  earnest  and  sincere 
in  every  good  work,  and  his  memory  will 
remain  green  in  tlie  iiearts  of  those  who 
honor  him.  Mr.  Wiestling  married  Mar- 
garet Berryhill,  daughter  of  Samuel  Berry- 
hill. 


Clyde,  John  Joseph,  son  of  Thomas 
Clyde  (1788-1821)  and  Mary  Dentzel  (1789- 
1845),  was  born  December  14,  1813,  in  Me- 
chanicsburg,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.  He 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Harrisburg, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  bookbinder.  In 
1834  he  established  himself  in  business  in 
Brow'nsville,  Fayette  county.  Pa.,  and  two 
j'ears  after  started  the  Fayette  Journal,  which 
he  continued  for  three  years.  In  1840  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg  and  purchased  the 
bindery  of  Samuel  H.  Clark,  connecting  a 
bookstore  therewith.  In  1849  he  was  elected 
treasurer  of  the  county  of  Dauphin,  and  in 
1851  started  the  Whig  State  Journal.  The 
year  following  purchased  the  Pennsylvania 
Intelligencer,  uniting  it  w'ith  the  Journal.  In 
1853  sold  the  establishment  to  John  J.  Pat- 
terson, and  commenced  the  publication  of 
the  Chrystal  Fountain.  The  same  year 
bouglit  one-tiiird  interest  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Telegraph,  which  in  1855  he  sold  to 
Mr.  Bergner.  During  the  Presidential  cam- 
paign of  1856  he  published  the  American. 
The  same  year  started  the  Daily  Herald, 
which  was  continued  until  1858,  wdien  he 
sold  to  0.  Barrett  and  entered  the  service  of 
the  Lebanon  Valley  railroad  as  its  agent. 
Mr.  Clyde  married  first,  in  1834,  Emeline 
Harvey,  born  1811,  in  Perry  county,  Pa., 
died  April,  1870,  at  Harrisburg,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Harvey,  and  their  children 
were:  Virginia  D.,  Joanna  H.,  Mary  A., 
Tiiomas  H.,  Olive  L.,  John   Joseph,  Edward 


338 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


W.,  Harvey  E.,  and  Annie  C.  He  married,' 
secondly,  Mrs.  Eliza  (Jacobs)  Cornyn,  of 
Harrisburg,  now  deceased. 


Bergxer,  George,  was  a  native  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Neunkirchen,  a  few  miles  distant 
from  the  free  city  of  Bremen,  in  the  kingdom 
of  Hanover,  where  he  was  born  on  .June  6, 
1818.  He  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years,  and  reaching  Reading,  Pa.,  he 
apprenticed  Inmself  to  Engelman,  a  printer 
and  a  well-known  almanac-maker,  with 
whom  he  served  his  time.  In  1834  he  came 
to  Harrisburg  and  worked  as  a  compositor 
on  the  different  German  newspapers  and 
journals.  In  1838  he  was  sent  by  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Anti-Masonic  party  to 
Somerset,  Pa.,  to  publish  a  German  campaign 
paper,  and  during  the  Harrison  campaign 
was  sent  on  a  similar  service  to  New  Bloom- 
field,  Perry  county.  In  1841  he  purchased 
the  Vaterland  Waecliter  of  his  former  em- 
ployer, Mr.  Ehrenfried.  During  the  Know- 
Nothing  campaign  of  1854  he  published  the 
American,  in  ojiposition  to  the  tenets  of  that 
then  dominant  party.  The  following  year 
he  purchased  the  Telegrapli,  which  he  soon 
established  on  a  successful  and  permanent 
basis.  From  1857  to  his  death  he  was  the 
publisher  of  the  Legislative  Record.  In  1861 
ftlr.  Bergner  was  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln  postmaster  at  Hari'isburg.  He  was 
removed  by  President  Johnson  in  18GG,  but 
upon  the  election  of  President  Grant  he  was 
reappointed  to  the  position,  an  office  ii?  held 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  During  the  Re- 
bellion his  pen  and  his  purse  were  at  the 
service  of  the  Union,  while  he  himself  went 
out  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  First  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  militia,  during  the  invasion  of 
the  State  in  18(J2.  Mr.  Bergner's  life  was  an 
active  one,  and  yet  apart  from  liis  own  busi- 
ness affairs  and  official  position,  much  of  his 
time  was  given  to  the  public.  For  many 
years  he  was  one  of  the  inspectors  of  the 
Dauphin  county  prison,  was  a  trustee  of  the 
State  Lunatic  Asylum,  vice-president  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Agricultural  Society,  bank  di- 
rector, etc.  His  business  career  was  a  very 
successful  one.  He  died  at  Harrisburg,  after 
a  very  brief  illness,  August  5, 1874,  aged  fifty- 
six  years. 


he  entered  the  Examiner  and  Herald  office  at 
Lancaster  to  learn  the  art  of  printing,  with 
R.  White  Middleton,  who  afterwards  sold 
the  office  and  removed  to  Carlisle,  where  he 
purchased  the  Carlisle  Herald,  John  accom- 
pauj'ing  him,  as  also  back  again  to  Lan- 
caster, when  he  sold  out  the  Herald,  and 
purchased  the  Lancaster  Union.  Here  he 
remained  until  1845.  In  1846  Mr.  Ring- 
land  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  Benjamin  J.  Wiestling,  of  Middletown, 
and  graduated  from  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1850. 
He  located  at  Portsmouth,  now  Middletown, 
where  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine; but  was  subsequently  compelled  to  re- 
linquish it,  owing  to  impaired  hearing.  In 
the  fall  of  1852  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  at  New  Cumberland,  in  which  he 
continued  until  the  spring  of  1855,  wiien  he 
returned  to  Middletown,  and  established 
himself  in  the  drug  business.  In  1860  he 
was  elected  recorder  of  deeds  and  clerk  of 
the  orphans'  court  of  Dauj)hin  county,  and 
re-elected  in  1863.  While  in  Portsmouth, 
in  1850,  a  postoffice  was  established  there, 
and  Dr.  Ringland  aj)pointed  postmaster. 
He  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  was 
census  enumerator  in  1870,  and  tilled  vari- 
ous borough  offices.  Dr.  Ringland  married, 
iu  1850,  Margaret  E.  Smith,  daughter  of 
Henry  Smith,  of  Middletown. 


Ringland,  John,  was  born  Januar}'  9, 
1825,  in  Middletown,  Pa.,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Middletown.     At  tiie  age  of  fifteen 


Egle,  William  Henry,  was  horn  Sep- 
tember 17,  1830,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  the 
fifth  in  the  line  of  descent  from  the  original 
emigrant,  Marcus  Egle.  His  ancestors  set- 
tled in  Pennsylvania  prior  to  1740,  coming 
on  the  one  side  from  the  Canton  of  Zurich, 
Switzerland,  and  on  the  other  from  Palati- 
nate, Germany.  A  great-great-grandfather 
served  as  an  officer  in  the  French  and  Indian 
wars;  his  paternal  grand  and  great-grand- 
fathers served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
while  his  materal  grandfather  served  in  the 
war  of  1812-14.  His  parents  were  John 
Egle  and  Elizabeth  von  Treu])el,  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  dying  when 
the  son  was  four  years  of  age,  the  latter  made 
his  home  with  his  paternal  grandmother. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  and  private 
schools  of  Harrisburg,  and  at  the  Harrisburg 
Military  Institute,  under  the  famed  Capt. 
Aldeu  Partridge.  In  184S  he  was  tendered 
the  appointment  of  midshij)man  in  the 
United  States  navy,  but  declined  the  honor. 
At  the  close  of  his  school  life  he  spent  three 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


339 


3'ears  in  the  office  of  the  Pennsylvania  Tele- 
grapli,  during  most  of  which  time  he  was 
foreman  of  the  establishment,  subsequently 
having  charge  of  the  State  printing,  which 
was  done  in  the  office.  In  1853  he  under- 
took the  editorship  of  the  Literary  Companion 
as  well  as  the  Daily  Times ;  the  latter  after- 
wards merged  into  oi'.e  of  the  newspaper 
ventures  of  Harrisburg.  In  1854  and  the 
following  year  he  was  an  assistant  teacher 
in  the  boys'  school,  and  part  of  the  time 
mailing  clerk  in  the  postoffice,  which  latter 
|)osition  he  held  until  tlie  fall  of  1857,  when 
he  resigned  to  enter  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
March,  1859.  The  same  year  he  established 
himself  at  Harrisburg,  and  was  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  tliere,  when,  in  1862, 
after  the  battles  of  Chantilly  and  the  second 
Bull  Run,  he  went  to  Washington  in  response 
to  a  telegram  from  Adjutant  General  Russell, 
of  Pennsylvania,  to  assist  in  the  care  of  the 
wounded.  In  September  of  that  year  he 
was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
Ninety-sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, and  arrived  at  his  post  on  the  eve  of  tlio 
battle  of  Antietam.  During  the  progress  of 
that  battle  he  was  ordered  to  the  field  hos- 
pital for  duty,  where  he  remained  several 
days.  In  the  summer  of  1863,  during  the 
Gettysburg  campaign,  he  was  appointed 
surgeon  of  the  Forty-seventli  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteer  militia.  At  the 
close  of  service  with  the  latter  command,  he 
resumed  his  profession,  but,  in  August,  1864, 
accepted  the  appointment  by  President  Lin- 
coln of  surgeon  of  volunteers,  and  was 
ordered  to  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  to  examine 
the  colored  regiments  then  being  raised  in 
tliat  State.  He  was  subsequently  detailed 
with  the  battalion  under  Col.  James  S. 
Brisbin  and  Col.  .James  F.  Wade  in  the 
famous  attempt  b)'  Gen.  Burbridge  to  destroy 
the  salt  works  in  Southwestern  Virginia. 
Upon  his  return  from  that  ill-fated  expedi- 
tion, he  was  ordered  to  the  department  of 
the  James,  under  General  Butler,  as  surgeon 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  United 
States  colored  infantry.  Subsequently  as- 
signed to  the  Twenty-fourth  army  corps  as 
executive  medical  officer.  Gen.  Wm.Birney's 
division ;  he  accompanied  that  division  during 
the  Petersburg  and  Appomattox  cami)aigns. 
Upon  the  return  from  that  duty  he  was  or- 
dered to  Texas,  with  General  Jackson's  divis- 
ion, as  chief  medical  officer  and  stationed  at 


Roma,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  until  December, 
1865,  when  he  resigned  the  service  and  re- 
turned home,  partly  resuming  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  In  1867  Dr.  Egle  was 
appointed  an  examiner  for  pensions,  a  posi- 
tion he  retained  four  years.  For  twenty 
years  he  was  annually  elected  physician  to 
the  Dauphin  county  prison,  which  he  re- 
signed in  March,  1887,  when  Governor 
Beaver  appointed  him  State  librarian,  the 
Senate  promptly  confirming  the  nomination. 
Governor  Pattison  re-appointed  him  in  ISiH 
and  again  in  March,  1894,  and  he  was  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate  and  commissioned  by 
Governor  Hastings.  The  present  effective- 
ness of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Library,  in 
the  front  rank  of  the  best  libraries  in  Amer- 
ica, is  largel}'  due  to  Dr.  Egle's  management 
and  lias  been  greatly  appreciated  by  students 
at  large. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  National 
Guard  in  1870  Dr.  Egle  was  appointed  sur- 
geon-in-chief of  the  Fifth  division,  with  rank 
of  lieutenant  colonel,  and  subsequently,  in 
the  consolidation  of  the  commands,  was 
transferred  to  the  Eighth  regiment.  As  a 
medical  officer  he  was  on  duty  during  the 
so-called  "  Sawdust  War  "  of  1871  and  the 
railroad  riots  of  1877,  as  well  as  the  Home- 
stead fiasco  of  1892.  In  1885  Dr.  Egle  was 
commissioned  surgeon-in-chief  of  the  Third 
brigade,  which  military  position  he  now 
holds.  He  is  the  senior  medical  officer  of 
the  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania,  hav- 
ing passed  his  twenty-sixth  year  of  service 
with  the  Guard. 

Acquiring  an  early  taste  for  historical  re- 
search, during  the  relaxation  from  profes- 
sional duties,  when  he  retured  from  the  army 
in  December,  1865,  he  commenced  the  prep- 
aration of  his  History  of  Pennsylvania,  pub- 
lished in  1876,  a  bi-centennial  edition  in 
1883,  and  of  which  fifteen  thousand  copies 
were  sold.  Principally  among  liis  historical 
publications  are  the  Historical  Register,  two 
volumes  (1883-1884);  History  of  the  County 
of  Dauphin  (1883);  History  of  the  County 
of  Lebanon  (1883);  Centennial  County  of 
Dauphin  and  City  of  Harrisburg  (1886); 
Pennsylvania  Genealogies,  chiefiy  Scotch- 
Irish  and  German  (1886, reprint  1896);  Har- 
risburg-on-the-Susquehanna  (1892);  Notes 
and  Queries,  historical,  biographical  and 
genealogical ;  relating  to  tlie  interior  of  Penn- 
sylvania; first  and  second  series,  two  vol- 
umes (1878-1882,  reprint  two  volumes 
1894-1895);  third  series,  two  volumes  (1887- 


340 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


1891,  reprint  1895-1896,  three  volumes); 
fourth  series,  two  volumes  (1891-1895).  He 
has  also  written  a  large  number  of  biographi- 
cal sketches  of  prominent  Pennsj'lvanians, 
at  least  two  hundred  of  which  w'ere  furnished 
Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of  Biographj^  and 
also  biographical  sketches  of  the  members 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1776, 
and  of  the  delegates  to  the  Pennsylvania 
convention  to  ratify  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  published  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Magazine  of  History.  Dr.  Egle  was 
co-editor  of  the  Pennsylvania  Arcliives, 
second  series,  volumes  I.  to  XII.;  editor  of 
the  same  series,  volumes  XIII.  to  XIX.,  and 
also  of  the  third  series,  now  passing  through 
the  press.  The  most  valuable  of  these  are 
those  relating  to  the  services  of  tiie  Pennsyl- 
vania Line  of  the  Revolution. 

Lafayette  College  in  1878  conferred  upon 
Dr.  Egle  the  honorarj'  degree  of  A.  M.,  ap- 
preciative of  his  services  in  American  his- 
tory. He  has  also  been  honored  by  election 
a  corresponding  member  of  a  number  of  his- 
torical societies  of  the  United  States  as  well 
as  of  several  learned  societies  in  France  and 
England.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  and 
the  first  presiding  officer  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania-German Societ} ,  and  by  virtue  of  his 
services  in  the  Rebellion  is  a  member  of  the 
military  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  the  So- 
ciety of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  of 
the  Crand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Through 
his  eligibility  from  an  original  member  of 
the  Cincinnati,  he  is  a  member  of  the  State 
Society  of  Penns3'lvania,'is  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  a  member  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Society  Sons  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, Society  of  the  War  of  1812-14,  and  of 
the  Society  of  Foreign  Wars.  In  addition 
Dr.  Egle  preserves  his  membership  with  tiie 
Dauphin  County  Medical  Society,  State 
Medical  Society,  is  a  member  of  the  Academy 
of  Medicine  at  Harrisburg,  and  an  active 
member  of  the  Association  of  Military  Sur- 
geons of  the  United  States. 

Smull,  John  Augustus,  the  second  son  of 
John  Smull  and  Harriet  Pauli,  was  born  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  September  1,  1832.  Mr. 
Smull's  parents  came  to  Harrisburg  shortly 
after  their  marriage,  and  there  all  their  chil- 
dren were  born.  Tiie  death  of  John's  father, 
in  1841,  left  his  widowed  mother  dependent 
upon  her  own  exertions  and  those  of  the 
eldest  son,  Le  Van,  who  was  then  in  his 
fourteenth  year.     An   acquaintance  witii   a 


number  of  members  of  the  Legislature  em- 
boldened her  to  secure  a  position  for  him 
which  would,  in  some  measure,  aid  in  iier 
maintenance.  Le  Yaw  was  appointed  page 
to  the  speaker,  the  first  one  known  to  the 
legislative  body.  In  the  spring  of  1848  John 
was  tendered  the  appointment  of  a  midship- 
man in  the  United  States  navy,  and  would 
have  accepted  the  position  but  for  the  op- 
position of  his  mother.  Shortly  after  he 
concluded  to  learn  the  art  of  printing,  and 
apprenticed  himself  at  the  Telegraph,  then 
under  the  editorial  supervision  of  Theo. 
.  Fenn,  Esq.,  a  noted  journalist  at  that  day. 
On  the  14th  of  April,  1849,  Le  Van  Smull 
died,  and  the  vacant  position  of  page  was 
secured  for  his  brother  John,  then  in  his 
seventeenth  year.  In  1861  the  office  of  res- 
ident clerk  was  created.  The  duties  of  this 
position  were  multiform,  not  onlj'  during  the 
session  of  the  Legislature,  but  in  the  recess. 
With  an  energy  and  industry  most  remark- 
able, affairs  in  this  department  were  so 
s\'stematically  arranged  that  everything  went 
as  clock  work.  He  could  tell  everything 
relating  to  legislation,  the  progress  of  each 
bill,  and  to  all  inquiries  would  give  the  most 
satisfactory  replies,  his  memory  being  un- 
usually retentive.  During  the  closing  days 
of  the  session  he  was  ready  for  all  queries  as 
to  the  status  of  every  species  of  legislation 
before  the  House,  so  familiar  did  lie  make 
himself  with  whatever  apjiertained  to  the 
business  of  the  Assembly.  For  a  number  of 
years  Matthias'  and  Ziegler's  Manuals  were 
the  guide  books  of  legislative  practice.  In 
1867  Mr.  Smull  enlarged  the  ordinary  Direc- 
tory and  Rules  of  the  General  Assembly  by 
tlie  compilation  of  the  "Legislative  Hand- 
Book,"  which  has  been  published  annually 
since  1873  as  a  State  document.  A  vade 
mecuni  of  information  relative  to  the  official 
life  of  the  Commonwealth,  it  is  the  book  of 
reference  for  all  knowledge  thereof.  The 
work  has  been  imitated  in  other  States,  and 
even  by  the  National  Government,  but  none 
of  them  can  be  compared  to  "Smull's  Hand- 
Book"  in  usefulness.  The  necessities  of 
legislation  required  the  compilation  of  the 
work,  and  it  is  this  necessity  which  perpetu- 
ates the  labors  of  the  lamented  editor. 

The  duties  of  Mr.  Smull's  official  position 
did  by  no  means  prevent  him  from  taking 
an  active  interest  in  ever}'  public  enterprise, 
and  the  citizens  of  his  native  town  hold  him 
in  grateful  remembrance  for  the  energy  he 
displayed  in  contributing  to  the  advancement 


WIEN  FORNEY. 


CLARENCE  E.-SPAYD. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


343 


of  its  industrial  and  business  enterprises. 
He  was  largeh^  instrumental  in  the  erection 
of  the  city  T:)assenoer  railwaj',  of  which  he 
was  a  director  and  secretar}'  from  tiie  date  of 
its  organization.  He  was  secretary  of  the 
Harrisburg  Cemetery  Association,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Harrisburg  Brick  and  Tile  Cora- 
panj'.  He  was  largely  interested  in  several 
land  and  building  associations,  the  Harris- 
burg car  works,  Farmers'  Bank,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Fort  Hunter  road  commission. 
He  served  many  years  as  one  of  the  inspec- 
tors of  tlie  Dauphin  county  prison  and  was 
the  efficient  secretary  of  tiie  board ;  was  vice- 
l)resident  of  the  Pennsylvania  Agricultural 
Society,  in  the  management  of  which  he  took 
an  active  part,  being  a  working  member  of 
committees  at  all  annual  exhibitions  the  past 
fifteen  years.  The  foregoing  are  only  a  few 
of  the  enterprises  and  institutions  in  whicli 
Mr.  SmuU  was  prominent.  Others  equally 
as  important  found  in  him  an  able  advocate 
and  friend. 

On  Wednesday,  Juh'  9,  1879,  he  left  iiome 
for  Asbury  Park,  in  the  liope  of  recuperating 
his  lost  energies,  with  tlie  intention  of  stop- 
ping over  at  Philadelphia  until  Thursday 
noon.  Tiie  day  and  night  were  exceedingly 
warm,  and  whatever  may  have  been  the 
cause,  the  next  morning  he  was  found  dead 
in  his  bed.  The  announcement  of  the  death 
of  .John  A.  Smull  was  received  with  sorrow 
at  Harrisburg  and  elsewhere,  for,  as  Colonel 
McClure  fitly  said  in  his  editorial,  "many  a 
good  and  prominent  citizen  of  Pennsjdvania 
could  have  been  better  spared  than  .Jolin  A. 
Smull,  and  iiis  sudden  death  will  carry  grief 
to  every  i)art  of  the  State."  So  widely  known 
was  he  that  not  a  newspaper  in  the  Common- 
wealth but  had  some  tender  expression  of  re- 
gret over  his  death.  At  the  following  session 
of  the  Legislature  memorial  services  were 
held,  and  several  eulogistic  addresses  were 
delivered  concerning  the  deceased  parlia- 
mentarian, and  the  House  of  Representatives 
unanimously  ordered  a  memorial  volume  to 
be  publislied  comprising  a  biograpliy  of  Mr. 
Smull  and  the  proceedings  h act  in  that  body 
relating  thereto.  Mr.  Smull  never  married, 
and  at  his  death  his  estate  went  to  a  cousin, 
who  died  shortly  after,  and  to  his  brother, 
AVilliam  Pauli  Smull. 


succeeding  the  late  "William  B.  Underwood 
in  1836,  and  continuing  with  it  until  1845. 
In  1849  he  removed  to  Lancaster,  having 
purchased  the  Intelligencer,  of  which  journal 
he  was  the  owner  and  editor  for  fifteen  years, 
and  for  over  ten  years  was  mayor  of  Lan- 
caster. His  son  Alfred  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Carlisle  and  Lancaster  and 
then  learned  the  trade  of  a  printer  in  the 
office  of  his  father.  In  the  month  of  August, 
1864,  he  assisted  in  the  establishment  of  the 
Daily  Intelligencer,  his  as.sociates  being  John 
M.  Cooper,  Henry  G.  Smith  and  William  A. 
Morton.  Subsequently  lie  became  associated 
witii  the  late  Hon.  J.  Lawrence  Getz  in  the 
publication  of  the  Reading  Gazette  and  was 
for  a  time  editor  of  the  Potts ville  Standard. 
In  1879  he  assumed  editorial  control  of  the 
Sinppensburg  Chronicle,  with  which  he  re- 
mained for  nearly  three  years.  He  was  also 
cf»nnected  with  the  Harrisburg  Star  and  Star- 
Independent  for  over  seven  years.  He  has 
also  written  much  for  the  Harrisburg  Tele- 
graph and  other  papers,  and  his  nom  de plume 
of  "  The  Old  Fellow  "  is  a  familiar  one  to 
the  people  of  the  Capital  city.  For  some 
time  past  he  has  been  associated  with  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Swallow  in  the  editorial  conduct  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Methodist,  and  his  Rambler 
sketches  are  very  popular  witli  the  readers  of 
that  paper.  He  is  a  strong,  fluent  and  versa- 
tile writer,  and  there  are  few  men  better 
known  in  the  editorial  profession  of  Penn- 
sylvania than  Alfred  Sanderson. 


Sanderson,  Alfred,  is  a  native  of  the 
Cumberland  Valley.  His  fatlier,  the  late 
George  Sanderson,  was  the  second  owner  and 
editor  of  the  Carlisle   American    Volunteer, 

26 


Forney,  Wien,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Lancaster,  June  30, 1826,  and  began  to  learn 
the  trade  of  a  printer  in  the  office  of  the  Lan- 
caster Intelligencer  when  his  cousin,  the  late 
Col.  John  W.  Forney,  was  its  editor  and  pro- 
prietor, and  finished  his  apprenticeship  on 
the  Lancaster  Examiner,  under  the  late  Ed- 
ward C.  Darlington,  a  noted  editor  of  the 
past.  Subsequently  he  worked  at  case  in 
Philadelphia,  New  York  and  other  large 
cities.  Among  his  fellow-compositors  were 
Bayard  Taylor  and  the  famous  "Mike" 
AValsh,  who  was  a  member  of  Congress  from 
New  York  City  more  than  fort}^  years  ago. 

In  1845  Mr.  Forney  was  employed  on  the 
Washington  Union,  i\\Q  organ  of  President 
Polk's  administration,  and  of  wdiich  the  late 
Thomas  Ritchie  was  the  editor.  "Father" 
Ritchie  was  the  founder  of  the  Richmond  En- 
quirer and  was  the  contemporar}'  and  per- 
sonal friend  of  many  of  the  eminent  states- 
men of  a  half  and  three-quarters  of  a  century 


344 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


ago.  Mr.  Forney  was  the  first  to  collate 
news  of  a  local  nature  for  the  Washington 
papers.  In  those  days  the  Union  and  the 
old  National  Intelligencer  were  filled  with 
editorials  frequently  columns  in  length,  and 
with  congressional  proceedings  and  foreign 
news.  Mr.  Forney  subsequently  went  to 
Philadelphia  and  became  connected  with  the 
PennsylvoAiian  when  it  was  published  by 
Forney  &  Hamilton.  In  1850  he  went  to 
Towanda,  Bradford  county,  where  he  estab- 
lished and  edited  the  North  Pennsylvanian, 
which  he  started  in  opposition  to  the  views 
of  the  late  David  Wilmot,  who  up  to  that 
time  had  been  a  pronounced  and  leading 
Democrat.  This  enterprise  did  not  succeed 
and  in  about  a  j'ear  he  returned  to  Phila- 
delphia. 

For  a  short  time  he  was  associated  with 
William  V.  McKean  in  the  editorship  of  the 
Pennsylvanian,  Colonel  Forney  having  retired 
when  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  at  Washington.  Then  for 
two  or  three  years  he  was  a  clerk  in  the  Phil- 
adelphia postoffice  under  the  late  John  Mil- 
ler, but  still  wrote  for  the  press.  In  1855,  in 
connection  with  Henry  Hayes,  he  established 
the  AicWeioViiQ Democratic  Watchman,oi  which 
P.  Gray  Meek,  the  surveyor  of  the  port  of 
Philadelphia,  is  the  present  editor  and  pro- 
prietor. With  this  paper  he  remained  until 
1857,  and  the  next  year  started  the  Central 
Press  in  the  same  town.  In  1859  he  went  to 
Washington  to  accept  a  position  in  tiie 
House  Library,  and  at  the  same  time  did 
considerable  work  for  the  New  York  Herald 
and  other  papers.  In  1860  he  went  to  Har- 
risburg  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  General 
Cameron  to  take  cliarge  of  the  editorial 
columns  of  the  Telegraph,  and  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  elected  President  he  went  back 
to  Washington  and  remained  there  during 
the  exciting  winter  of  1860-61  as  a  corres- 
pondent for  several  papers,  and  was  also 
connected  with  the  House  Library.  He  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg  after  tiie  inauguration 
of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  resumed  the  editorship 
of  the  Telegraph,  in  which  position  he  re- 
mained for  six  years.  Then  he  became  one 
of  the  editors  and  publishers  of  the  State 
Guard,  the  firm  being  Levi  KaufFman,  Wien 
Forney  and  Isaac  B.  Gara. 

When  this  paper  suspended  he  became 
editor  of  the  State  Guard,  which  was  owned 
by  the  late  Benjamin  Singerly,  wlio  was  the 
uncle  of  William  M.  Singerly,  of  the  Record. 
Under   both   administrations    of    Governor 


Curtin  he  was  State  librarian, as  well  as  dur- 
ing the  first  term  of  Governor  Geary.  When 
the  Harrisburg  Independent  was  founded  by 
E.  Z.  Wallower  in  1876  he  was  its  first  editor. 
On  this  paper  he  remained  for  a  year  or  two 
and  then  again  resumed  the  editorship  of  the 
Telegra])h,  with  which  he  remained  until  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Thomas  F.  Wilson. 
Then  for  a  short  time  he  edited  a  daily 
paper  at  Steelton,  but  since  1883  has  been 
the  editor  of  the  Independent  until  its  con- 
solidation in  1891  with  the  Star  by  the  Hon. 
B.  F.  Meyers,  and  held  the  same  position  on 
the  Star- Independent  until  the  spring  of  1896 
when  he  retired  from  newspaper  work. 

Mr.  Forney  was  an  indefatigable  worker 
and  versatile  writer.  His  style  was  bold  and 
fearless,  he  was  always  abreast  the  times,  and 
his  editorials  were  read  with  avidit}'.  Socially 
he  is  a  most  delightful  conversationalist,  and 
his  reminiscences  of  the  men  and  times  of  the 
past  are  interesting,  instructive  and  valuable. 
At  tlie  age  of  three  score  and  ten  he  retains 
much  of  the  vivacity  and  sprightliness  of 
youth,  his  eye  is  still  bright,  his  step  elastic 
and  his  general  health  continues  good. 
Few  of  the  Pennsylvania  editors  of  the  past 
or  present  generation  have  had  so  varied,  in- 
teresting and  eventful  an  experience  as  Wien 
Forney. 

Meyers,  Hon.  Bk.nmamix  F.,  lawyer  and 
journalist,  was  born  July  6,  1833,  in  Somerset 
county.  Pa.  He  was  educated  at  the  Somerset 
Academy  and  Jefferson  College,  Canonsburg, 
Pa.  In  1853  he  was  made  principal  of  a  select 
school  at  Somerset.  In  1854  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Susan  C.Koontz,  of  Somerset,  and  soon 
after  removed  to  Bloomington,  111.,  where  he 
engaged  in  journalism,  one  of  his  first  ex- 
periences tliere  being  the  reporting  of  a 
speech  delivered  at  Bloomington  by  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  on  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill. 
The  climate  did  not  agree  with  him,  and  in 
one  year  he  returned  to  his  native  county, 
where  he  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  He  at  once  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  which  he  diligently  pursued  for  a 
number  of  years. 

When  the  presidential  canvass  of  1856 
opened  Mr.  Meyers  determined  to  oppose 
General  Fremont  and  espoused  the  cause  of 
James  Buchanan,  taking  the  stump  for  that 
candidate  and  casting  his  first  vote  for  the 
Democratic  electors. 

In  1857  he  was  unanimously  elected  chair 
man  of  the  Anti-Know-Nothing  committe- 


DAUPBIN  COUNTY. 


of  Somerset  county  and  did  effective  work. 
In  August  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Meyers  be- 
came one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Bedford, 
Pa.,G'(/2dfcand  later  removed  witli  his  family 
to  the  town  of  Bedford.  Here  he  remained 
as  editor  of  that  journal  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  June,  18G8,  he  purchased  an  in- 
terest in  the  Harrisburg  Patriot  and  was 
made  its  editor-in-chief. 

In  18G3  Mr.  Meyers  was  elected  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  Legislature  as  a  representative 
of  Bedford  county.  While  a  member  of  that 
body  he  made  a  reputation  as  a  debater  and 
speaker  and  his  services  were  so  satisfactory 
to  his  constituents  that  while  absent  from 
home  he  was  unanimously  renominated. 

In  1870  he  was  the  Democratic  candidate 
for  Congress  in  the  district  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Adams,  Bedford,  Fulton,  Frank- 
lin and  Somerset,  and  was  elected  by  a  ma- 
jority of  fifteen  votes,  overcoming  a  Republi- 
can majority  of  several  hundred. 

Mr.  Meyers  has  always  been  a  consistent 
tariff  reformer,  and  while  in  Congress  voted 
for  the  repeal  of  duties  on  coal  and  salt.  He 
.  was  district  delegate  to  the  Democratic  Na- 
tional conventions  of  18(34  and  1880,  and 
was  elected  delegate-at-large  to  the  conven- 
tion which  nominated  Grover  Cleveland  in 
1884.  In  1875  he  was  elected  president  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Editorial  As.sociation  and 
was  re-elected  in  187G.  During  the  Cleve- 
land-Harrison campaign  of  1888  he  was 
designated  by  his  party  to  represent  it  in 
several  joint  discussions,  and  always  emerged 
from  such  contests  with  the  respect  of  his 
adversaries  and  the  plaudits  of  his  auditors. 
Mr.  Meyers  was  appointed  postmaster  at 
Harrisburg  March  9,  1887.  and  served  one 
term  with  much  credit  to  himself  and  satis- 
faction to  all  concerned. 

In  religion  Mr.  Meyers  is  an  Episcopalian 
and  has  been  for  years  a  vestryman  of  St. 
Stephen's  church,  Harrisburg.  "He  has  five 
children  living:  Mrs.  Ellis  L.  Mumma,  Ed- 
win K.,  Harry  S.,  Mrs.  B.  F.  Africa,  and  W. 
K.  Mr.  Meyers  is  now  the  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Harrisburg  Star-Independent. 

Heller,  John  E.,  was  born  in  1834,  in 
Rush  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  His 
early  education  was  more  or  less  limited,  for 
at  the  age  of  thirteen  we  find  him  an  ap- 
prentice to  the  art  of  printing  in  the  office  of 
the  American,  at  Sunbury,  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 
Afterwards,  for  several  years,  he  was  foreman 


345 

in  the  office  of  the  Miners'  Journal,  Potts- 
ville.  He  then  began  the  study  of  law,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin  county  bar 
August  30, 1865,  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Harrisburg.  His  life  of  labor 
was  comparatively  brief,  however,  for  he  died 
rather  suddenly  at  the  residence  of  his  father, 
m  Rush  township,  January  30,  1866,  aged 
thirty-two  years.  His  remains  were  interred 
m  the  Rush  church  graveyard.  "  Mr.  Heller," 
wrote  the  editor  of  the  Sunbury  American, 
who  knew  him  well,  "was  a  voung  man  of 
exemplary  conduct  and  good  character,  and 
with  industry  and  good  business  habits  he 
had  a  bright  future  before  him." 


Shunk,  James  Findlay,  the  youngest  son 
o(t''0^';  Francis  R.  Shunk,  was  born  April 
18,  1836.  He  was  educated  at  Harrisburg 
Academy,  and  at  the  University  of  Virginia, 
at  which  latter  institution  he  attended  a 
course  of  lectures  on  the  science  of  law.  Per- 
chance the  best  education  he  received,  and 
that  which  fitted  him  jieculiarly  for  the  pro- 
fession of  journalism,  which  he  adopted,  was 
the  literary  training  he  received  by  extensive 
reading  and  close  study  of  the  best  English 
authors,  and  by  a  careful  and  rigid  observ-  ^ 
ance  of  language  and  style.  Ho  wrote  the 
raciest  English  that  flowed  from  the  pen  of 
any  writer  for  the  press  in  Pennsylvania. 
His  power  of  sarcasm  was  immense,'  though 
he  lacked  that  of  invective.  Many  of  his 
articles  which  appeared  in  print  were  at- 
tributed to  some  of  the  most  eminent  men 
of  the  country,  and  others  often  obtained  the 
credit  which  of  right  belonged  to  him,  so 
modest,  unobtrusive,  and  even  sensitive 
was  he  in  regard  to  any  publicity  of  his 
name  as  that  of  the  autlior  of  the  articles 
alluded  to.  He  died  quite  j'oung,  being  not 
yet  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  as  brilliant  a 
journalist  as  ever  held  a  pen,  with  intellect 
fully  ripened  and  a  wide  field  before  him  for 
the  exerci.se  of  his  peculiar  talents.  He  died 
at  Harrisburg,  January  20, 1874.  Mr.  Shunk 
married  a  daughter  of  Judge  Jeremiah  S. 
Black,  of  York. 


Swallow,  S.  C,  was  born  March  5,  1839, 
near  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  in  the  historic  and 
classic  valley  of  Wyoming.  He  was  of 
English-Irish  ancestry.  Receiving  his  pre- 
liminary education  in  the  common  schools 
in  the  vicinity  of  his  home,  he  afterwards 
attended    Wyoming   Seminary,    and    com- 


346 


BIO  GRA  PEICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


pleted  his  education  at  Susquehanua  Uni- 
versity. After  his  graduation,  he  at  first 
entered  upon  the  business  of  teaching,  in 
which  he  continued  engaged  for  five  3'ears, 
of  which  one  year  was  passed  at  the  seminary 
above  named. 

Having  decided  on  adopting  the  law  as  a 
profession,  Mr.  Swallow  entered  as  a  student 
theofficeof  that  matchless  counselor,  Voiney 
L.  Maxwell.  Under  such  skilled  direction 
he  would  doubtless  have  obtained  an  exact 
and  extended  acquaintance  with  legal  lore 
and  practice,  and  been  fitted  to  shine  in  this 
profession,  had  not  circumstances  and  native 
inclination  led  him  to  give  up  the  law  and 
adopt  tlie  niinistrj'  as  his  future  calling. 
Having  passed  through  the  essential  course 
of  instruction  in  divinity,  lie  entered  the 
pulpit  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  thus  at  length  began  what  has  since 
continued  the  active  and  useful  work  of  his 
life.  In  recognition  of  his  high  standing  in 
the  ministry,  Taylor  University,  of  Fort 
Wayne,  Ind.,  conferred  on  him  in  1888  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

Dr.  Swallow  long  continued  active  in  the 
pulpit,  filling  a  number  of  important  posts 
in  Central  and  Southern  Pennsylvania.  His 
high  standing  in  the  cliurcli  subsequently 
brought  him  an  elevation  to  the  jiosition  of 
presiding  elder,  and  for  four  years  he  acted 
in  this  capacity  in  the  district  of  Altoona, 
Pa.,  a  field  of  labor  that  embraces  five  or  six 
counties.  He  has  been  twice  elected  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  his 
church,  the  last  time  being  during  the  meet- 
ing of  this  bod}'  for  tlie  year  1896. 

Within  recent  3'ears  Dr.  Swallow  has  ex- 
changed the  active  labors  of  the  puljiit  and 
the  supervising  duties  of  presiding  elder  for 
literary  labor  in  connection  with  the  interests 
of  the  churcli.  Four  years  ago  he  accepted 
the  editorship  of  the  Pennsylvania  Methodist, 
an  important  organ  of  the  denomination 
published  at  Harrisburg,  which  he  edits  with 
a  judgment  and  literary  skill  that  give  its 
columns  much  weight  in  the  counsels  of  the 
chui'ch.  He  also  occupies  the  important 
post  of  superintendent  of  the  Methodist  pub- 
lishing interests  for  Central    Pennsylvania. 

Aside  from  the  more  immediate  duties  of 
the  ministr}'  and  the  editor's  sanctum.  Dr. 
Swallow  has  taken  a  vital  interest  in  the 
great  reform  movements  of  recent  times.  In 
his  younger  daj's,  when  human  slaver}'  was 
the  leading  evil  in  this  country,  he  ardently 
entered  the  ranks  of  the  Abolitionists,  speak- 


ing his  sentiments  with  no  uncertain  voice. 
Later,  when  slavery  had  plunged  the  country 
into  war,  he  ranked  as  an  earnest  patriot, 
and  a  fearless  supporter  of  the  Government 
against  the  rebellion.  He  subsequently  be- 
came equally  active  and  earnest  in  another 
labor  of  abolition,  that  of  the  legalized  liquor 
traffic,  of  which  he  has  long  been  and  con- 
tinues an  uncompromising  advocate.  Re- 
cognizing that  intemperance  is  the  most 
active  and  dangerous  vice  in  this  land,  and 
the  one  that  leads  to  an  endless  array  of 
crimes,  diseases,  and  family  and  local  evils, 
Dr.  Swallow  is  an  outsj^oken  champion  of 
the  cause  of  prohibition  of  the  sale  of  ardent 
spirits.  His  standing  in  this  direction  is  so 
pronounced,  and  his  services  have  been  so 
useful,  that  a  few  years  ago  the  Prohibition 
party  tendered  him  the  nomination  for  gov- 
ernor of  the  State. 

Dr.  Swallow  is  an  able  and  fluent  orator, 
and  wields  the  editorial  pen  with  a  trenchant 
power  wiiich  has  given  him  a  widespread 
influence,  not  only  in  Harrisburg,  where  he 
has  resided  during  the  past  ten  years,  but 
throughout  the  State.  He  is  indeed  favor-- 
ably  known  throughout  the  Nation  as  a 
leading  divine  in  this  church,  and  an  active 
advocate  of  the  various  reforms  wiiicii  now 
agitate  tlie  public  mind. 

Orr,  D.  a.,  editor  and  the  principal  owner 
of  the  Patriot,  daily  and  weekly,  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  was  born  at  Orrstown,  Franklin 
county,  a  town  founded  by  iiis  father  and 
brothers,  whose  name  it  bears,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  the  schools  of  that  borough.  He 
attended  a  higher  school  at  Upper  Stras- 
burg,  and  later  underwent  private  instruc- 
tion. Having  an  early  taste  for  newspaper 
writing,  before  he  was  eighteen  years  old  he 
became  the  associate  editor  of  the  Sentinel,  a 
Democratic  newspaper  then  published  at 
Shippensburg,  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Carlisle.  From  Shippensburg  he  went,  alter 
a  somewhat  protracted  trip  through  the 
western  States  and  Territories,  to  Pittsburgh, 
where  he  resided  and  was  engaged  in  active 
business  until  January,  1879;  at  that  time 
he  purchased  the  Democratic  Chronicle  at 
Shippensburg,  which  paper  he  sold  six 
months  later,  and,  in  October  of  the  same 
year,  together  with  his  brothei-,  John  G.,  pur- 
chased and  took  charge  of  the  daily  and 
weekly  Valley  Sjnrit  at  Chamliersburg.  He 
continues  as  president  of  the  ^'alley  Spirit 
Publishing   Company,  in   which   he  is  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


347 


principal  shareholder.  Although  he  has  al- 
ways taken  an  active  interest  in  poli- 
tics, Mr.  Orr  has  never  been  a  candidate 
for  any  public  office  of  profit,  and  says  he 
"  never  will  be."  He  is  engaged  in  a  num- 
ber of  private  enterprises.  In  1884  he  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Pattison  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Lunatic 
Asylum  at  Harrisburg,  which  position  he 
resigned  before  his  term  expired.  He  was  a 
delegate  from  the  Eighteenth  Congressional 
district  to  the  National  Convention  in  1884, 
which  nominated  Grover  Cleveland  for  the 
presidency  the  first  tinie,  and  was  again  a 
delegate  to  the  NationalDemocratic  Conven- 
tion in  1888  which  renominated  Mr.  Cleve- 
land. In  1891  he  formed  a  company,  of 
which  he  was  made  president,  and  purchased 
the  Harrisburg  Patriot,  and  has  since  been 
connected  with  that  influential  journal,  of 
which  he  is  editor  and  also  the  president  of 
the  Patriot  Company.  Mr.  Orr  was  mar- 
ried in  1885  to  Miss  Lillian  J.  Black,  of 
Pittsburgh. 

Ork,  John  G.,  was  born  at  Willow  CTrove 
Mills,  Southampton  township,  Franklin 
county,  Pa.  The  year  in  which  he  was  born 
his  parents  made  their  home  in  Orrstown,  a 
town  founded  by  his  father,  William  Orr,and 
and  by  his  brother,  John  Orr,  where  he  re- 
sided until  18(35.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  that  place,  and  his 
business  iiabits  and  training  from  his  father 
on  the  farm  where  his  earlier  years  were 
passed.  He  was  a  general  clerk  in  one  of 
the  stores  of  the  village,  and  in  that  occupa- 
tion he  continued  until  he  removed  to  Car- 
lisle, Cumberland  county,  to  accept  a  posi- 
tion in  the  First  National  Bank  of  that  place. 
In  1874  he  returned  to  his  early  home,  and 
in  April  of  the  following  year  he  engaged  in 
merchandising  until  1879,  when,  under  the 
firm  name  of  John  G.  &  D.  A.  Orr,  he  be- 
came one  of  the  editors  and  proprietors  of  the 
Valley  Spirit  and  removed  to  Chambersburg. 
He  is  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Ciiildren's 
Aid  Societ}'  of  Franklin  county,  and  by  his 
active  and  earnest  support  lias  added  greatly 
to  its  success.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was 
the  secretary,  and  is  now  the  president  of  the 
society.  The  founding  of  a  hospital  by  the 
society  in  Chambersburg,  which  is  doing 
good  work  for  the  suffering,  is  the  result  of 
his  efforts  to  that  end.  For  several  years 
Mr.  Orr  was  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  at  Middle  Springs,  and  has  twice 


represented  the  Presbj'tery  of  Carlisle  in 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  September,  1885,  he  was  chosen 
a  ruling  elder  in  the  Falling  Spring  Presby- 
terian church,  of  Chambersburg.  In  1891 
lie  became  interested  in  The  Patriot,  of  Har- 
risburg, and  gives  his  personal  attention  to 
the  business  of  that  influential  paper.  Mr. 
Orr  was  married,  in  1871,  to  Miss  Martha  M. 
Hays,  of  Middle  Spring,  Franklin  county,  Pa. 


McAl.vkney,  M.\THi.\s  Wilson,  son  of 
John  (1802-1876)  and  Catharine  Wilson 
(181 2-1892)  Mc Alarney,was  born  June  7, 1840, 
in  Mifflinburg,  Union  county.  Pa.  He  was 
educated  at  Bucknell  University^  He  learned 
the  art  of  printing  in  the  Chronicle  office  at 
Lewisburg,  and  for  a  period  of  six  years  pub- 
lished the  Potter  Journal,  a  weekly  news- 
paper at  Coudersport.  During  the  war  he 
was  provost  marshal  of  the  Eighteenth 
Pennsylvania  district.  He  studied  law  with 
Hon.  Isaac  Benson,  of  Potter  county,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  February  27,  1867. 
In  May  of  the  same  year  he  removed  to  Har- 
risburg and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the 
law.  From  1874  until  the  close  of  1882  he 
was  more  or  less  actively  engaged  in  edi- 
torial work  on  the  Harrisburg  Telegraph,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1883  he  purchased  a  majority 
of  the  stock  of  the  Harrisburg  Publishing 
Company,  publishers  of  the  Daily  and  Semi- 
Weekly  Telegraph,  and  has  continued  from 
that  date  as  editor  of  the  Telegraph  and  man- 
ager of  the  publishing  compan3^  In  1868 
he  was  appointed  clerk  to  the  commission 
to  settle  the  damages  done  by  the  border 
raids  during  the  Rebellion,  and  in  1871,  by 
appointment  of  Governor  Gear}',  he  was  the 
attorney  for  the  Commonwealth  in  connec- 
tion with  the  same  work  in  the  county  of 
Cumberland.  In  the  fall  of  1874  he  was  a 
candidate  for  the  Republican  nomination 
for  district  attorney,  with  every  prospect  of 
success,  when  on  the  23d  of  September  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  Harrisburg,  and 
continued  in  office  under  subsequent  reap 
nointments  until  April,  1887.  He  purchased 
for  the  Government  the  land  upon  which 
the  LInited  States  post-office  was  erected.  He 
was  appointed  disbursing  agent  during  the 
construction  of  the  building,  and  upon  its 
completion  in  1882  was  appointed  custodian 
of  the  building.  He  married,  in  1867,  Ada, 
daughter  of  Jacob  D.  Hoffman,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Martha  Worden  and  John 
Hart.     Three  children  died  in  infancv. 


348 


BIO  GRA PHICA L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


LiESMANN,  Frederick  W.,  editor  of  the 
Pennsylvanische  Staats  ]_Zcitung  und  Dauphin 
County  Journal,  of  Harrisburg,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Coehi  (Cologne)  on  the  Rhine, 
Germany,  October  28, 1845.  He  received  an 
education  in  the  State  schools,  and  attended 
college  in  his  native  city.  Having  a  desire 
to  see  America,  he  left  his  native  land  in 
1864,  and  has  since  made  his  home  in  this 
country.  After  a  few  years  of  hard  labor 
he  was  chosen  by  the  German  people  of  this 
city  to  succeed  his  brother.  Rev.  Herman 
Liesmann,  as  teacher  of  the  German  school 
then  held  in  the  basement  of  St.  Michael's 
German  Lutheran  church.  After  instruct- 
ing the  German  children  for  a  number  of 
years,  he  was  elected  by  the  board  of  control 
to  take  charge  of  a  German  and  English 
branch  school.  He  accepted  that  position 
and  was  teacher  of  that  school  for  fourteen 
years. 

He  was  married,  May  24,  1868,  to  Miss 
Annie  Mary  Ripper,  eldest  daughter  of  the 
late  J.  G.  Ripper,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  They  have  seven 
children  :  George  W.,  Anna  C,  Ella  M.,  wife 
of  Edward  Shissler,  Jennie  McVeagh,  Will- 
iam F.  G,  Mary  H.,  and  Clara  W.  T. 

Besides  publishing  the  leading  German 
newspaper  of  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Liesmann  is 
president  of  the  Washington  and  the  Teu- 
tonia  Building  and  Saving  Associations.  He 
is  secretary  of  the  Germania  and  the  Will- 
iam Penn  Building  and  Saving  Associations. 
He  is  also  president  of  the  German-American 
Union.  He  has  been  a  notary  public  for 
twent3'-one  years.  His  political  views  are 
Democratic.  He  attends  St.  Michael's  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church. 

George  W.  Liesmann,  eldest  son  of  Fred- 
erick W.  Liesmann,  fire  insurance  agent  and 
county  auditor,  was  born  in  Harrisburg  De- 
cember 8,  1868.  He  was  educated  in  the 
Harrisburg  public  schools,  graduating  froTn 
the  high  school  in  1888.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  connected  with  his  father's  busi- 
ness. He  is  serving  his  third  year  as  county 
auditor,  two  years  of  that  time  as  secretary 
and  one  year  as  president.  He  is  the  young- 
est auditor  ever  elected. 


country  and  abroad.  He  passed  several  years 
of  his  life  on  a  farm  in  New  York  State 
and  also  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  He  was 
a  bookkeeper  at  Mount  Hope  furnace, 
Lancaster  county,  for  five  years,  and  then 
went  to  Philadelphia  as  clerk  in  the  Phila- 
delphia Bank.  Later  he  was  employed  as 
assistant  to  the  manager  of  the  Philadelphia 
Bank  Clearing  House.  In  186!)  ho  drifted 
to  Kansas  for  his  healtli  and  remained  there 
seven  years.  He  was  employed  in  the  rail- 
road business,  during  which  time  he  was 
eastern  passenger  agent  of  the  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Texas  railway  in  New  York 
City.  He  was  also  connected  with  the  Mis- 
souri Pacific  railway  and  latterly  with  the 
Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  railway, 
with  headquarters  in  Philadelphia.  Three 
years  ago  he  took  charge  of  the  office  of  the 
Harrisburg  Real  Estate  Title  Company 
while  they  were  completing  their  work  in 
this  city.  Last  fall  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  W.  J.  George  in  purchasing  7'he  News 
and  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  the 
management  of  that  paper  with  his  partner. 
Mr.  Farnum's  excellent  business  qualities 
have  added  largclv  to  place  The  News  where 
it  is  to-day.  Mr.  Farnum  is  a  cordial  and 
genial  gentleman  and  well  known  all  over 
the  United  States,  particularly  in  railroad 
circles.  In  Masonic  circles'  he  is  a  veteran. 
He  is  a  member  of  Union  Lodge,  No.  121, 
of  Philadelphia,  and  of  Weidle  Chapter,  ot 
Lebanon,  Pa. 


Faenum,  Henry,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  in  theyear  1845.  He  is  the  son 
of  Henry  and  Caroline  Farnum,  formerly  of 
P rovidence, R.I.  His  father  was  a  prominent 
wholesale  dry  goods  merchant  in  that  city. 
Mr.  Farnum  received  his  education  in  this 


George,  William  J.,  of  the  firm  of  George 
&  Farnum,  sole  proprietors  and  publishers 
of  The  Netvs,  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y., 
August  6,  1847.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  private  academies  of  that 
city.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered 
the  Union  army  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  Civil  war,  being  finally  mustered  out 
in  Jul\',  1865. 

During  the  war  Captain  George  was  cor- 
respondent in  the  field  for  several  news- 
papers, among  them  being  the  well-known 
Albany  Journal.  He  took  an  active  part  in 
the  campaign  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
although  not  a  voter,  in  the  memorable  Lin- 
coln-McClelland  presidential  contest  in  1864. 
He  distributed  thousands  of  pamphlets  and 
circulat's  on  which  were  printed  the  plat- 
forms of  the  parties.  These  circulars  had  as 
much  as  any  one  other  agency  to  do  with 
the  large  Lincoln  vote,  owing  to  the  stand, 
taken  by  the  Republicans  on  the  war,  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


349 


the  neglect  of  the  Democrats  to  uphold  the 
Union,  and  their  declaration  that  "the  war 
was  a  failure." 

At  the  close  of  liostilities  the  Captain  set- 
tled in  the  South  and  for  many  years  was 
located  in  Virginia,  where  he  took  an  active 
part  in  politics,  being  chairman  of  tlie  Re- 
publican city  committee  of  Richmond  when 
he  left  there  in  1877  for  Harrisburg.  In 
Richmond  he  was  connected  with  various 
newspapers,  aiid  also  acted  as  special  corres- 
pondent for  a  number  of  northern  papers 
during  the  reconstruction  days.  His  letters 
at  that  period  were  very  interesting,  owing  to 
the  great  effoi'ts  made  to  make  the  South 
solid  for  Democracy — no  matter  what  the 
means  used. 

Since  Captain  George  resided  in  this  city — 
up  to  Jul}'  1  of  tliis  year — he  was  connected 
with  the  BrainertI  &  Armstrong  Company, 
the  celebrated  silk  manufacturers  of  New 
London,  Conn.  His  son,  Thomas  G.  George, 
took  his  place  with  the  above  company  on 
that  date  in  order  to  allow  Captain  George 
to  give  his  undivided  time  and  attention  to 
The  Newif. 

The  Captain  served  the  city  as  council- 
man in  both  branches  and  is  one  of  its  most 
active  and  progressive  citizens.  He  has  been 
and  is  connected  with  a  number  of  leading 
enterprises  and  is  an  up-to-date  business  man. 
He  is  a  member  of  anumber  of  organizations 
and  a  leader  in  the  Republican  politics  of  the 
State  capital. 

He  was  married  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Janu- 
ary 20,  1SG7,  to  Miss  Annie  Henley,  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Jennie  Henley,  of  Albany, 
where  Mrs.  George  was  born.  To  their  union 
have  been  born  two  children,  Thomas  G.  and 
Jennie  B.,  both  residing  in  Harrisburg.  He 
also  has  two  grandchildren  residing  with  him, 
Annie  M.  and  Gertrude  Goodwin.  The 
father  of  Mr.  George  is  deceased;  his  mother 
still  survives  and  resides  in  Bingham[)ton. 


Spayd,  J.  W.,  born  December  10,  1847,  be- 
longs to  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known 
families  in  Dauphin  county,  and  is  the  only 
son  of  Jonathan  Spayd,  a  well-known  busi- 
ness man  and  retired  farmer.  He  attended 
an  academy  at  Berrysburg  and  a  college  at 
Selins  Grove,  Pa.  After  devoting  more  than 
twenty  years  of  his  life  to  the  teacli^r's  pro- 
fession, he  entered  the  publishing  business 
with  E.  L.  Kellogg  &  Co.,  New  York  and 
Chicago,  as  manager  of  the  firm's  extensive 
business  in  Pennsylvania.     This  firm  pub- 


lishes the  Teacher's  Institute,  New  York 
School  Journal,  and  Primary  Education,  as 
well  as  a  large  list  of  teacher's  educational 
works.  He  is  also  connected  with  the  S.  M. 
Hess  &  Bro.  Fertilizer  Company  of  Reading 
and  Philadelphia.  He  has  two  sons,  Clarence 
E.,  editor  of  the  Harrisburg  Sta.r- Independent, 
and  Charles  H.,  a  student  at  Penns^dvania 
College  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.  He  lives  tit  No. 
45  North  Thirteenth  street,  Harrisburg. 
Before  removing  to  the  Capital  city  he  was 
for  many  years  postmaster  at  Carsonville, 
Dauphin  county.  His  father  succeeded  him 
as  postmaster  when  he  left  that  locality.  Mr. 
Spayd  has  always  been  a  Rej)ublican,  as  has 
also  been  his  father,  who  for  forty  years  or 
more  figured  prominently  in  the  county 
politics.  Father  and  son  are  Lutherans,  the 
latter  being  a  member  of  Memorial  Lutheran 
church.  Fifteenth  and  Shoop  streets,  Harris- 
burg. Jonathan  Spayd  was  born  July  25, 
1825,  and  spent  fifty-seven  years  of  his  life 
in  this  county,  all  but  a  few  years  having 
been  a  resident  on  his  fine  farm  in  Powell's 
Valley,  near  Carsonville.  Recently  he  and 
wife  removed  to  Harrisburg,  making  their 
home  with  their  son  John  W.,  his  health 
having  begun  to  fail.  For  more  tlian  forty 
years  he  was  an  officer  of  the  Lutheran 
church  near  his  home,  and  both  gentlemen 
are  highly  respected  citizens. 


Jones,  Thomas  MacDowell,  associate  edi- 
tor of  the  Harrisburg  Daily  Telegraph,  was 
born  in  Hollidaysburg,  Blair  county,  August 
31, 1850.  His  father  was  Uriah  James  Jones, 
the  historian,  author  and  journalist,  who 
in  1860  removed  to  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Jones 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Har- 
risburg, and  in  1867  started  to  learn  the 
trade  of  printer.  After  finishing  his  trade 
he  secured  a  situation  in  the  composing  room 
of  the  Telegraph  under  the  late  George  Berg- 
ner  in  1872,  and  at  various  times  from  1875 
to  1877  acted  as  city  editor.  In  July,  1877, 
he  succeeded  John  G.  Ingram  as  the  city 
editor,  and  has  been  on  the  staff  of  the  paper 
ever  since.  Mr.  Jones  is  a  correspondent 
for  Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh,  Chicago  and 
New  York  newspapers,  and  during  the  ses- 
sion of  the  Legislature  he  is  engaged  as  re- 
porter in  that  bod}'.  His  acquaintance  with 
public  men  is  very  large.  When  twelve 
years  old  Mr.  Jones  enlisted  in  the  army, 
joining  the  unattached  company  of  Capt. 
DeAVitt  C.  James,  of  Warren,  which  was 
camped  in  Harrisburg  at  the  time,  serving 


350 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


eighteen  mouths.  Unfortunately,  while  he 
was  enlisted  he  was  not  mustered,  and  as  a 
consequence  his  name  does  not  appear  on 
the  rolls.  He  married,  in  June,  1S9U,  Miss 
Mabel  Cronise,  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Dorothea. 


MuMMA,  Ellis  Lewis,  is  the  youngest 
child 'of  the  late  Hon.  David  Mumma  and 
was  born  in  Harrisburg  in  1854.  During 
his  early  boyhood  he  attended  the  Harris- 
burg Academy,  then,  as  now,  conducted  by 
Prof.  Jacob  Seller.  At  sixteen  he  was  sent 
to  Bryant  and  Stratton's  Business  College,  in 
Philadelphia  ;  completing  the  course  he  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg,  where,  at  tlie  age  of 
seventeen,  he  was  given  a  clerkship  in  the 
State  Bank.  One  year  later  he  entered  the 
Real  Estate  Savings  Bank.  So  thoroughly 
conversant  did  the  young  man  become  with 
the  business  that  at  the  death  of  the  cashier, 
Mr.  Landis,  he  was,  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-two  years,  made  cashier  of  the  bank. 
There  was  thrilling  experience  ahead  for  the 
young  man  on  account  of  tlie  financial  panic 
of  1877,  which  was  then  impending.  As  it 
was  impossible,  with  banks  failing  all  around, 
to  make  money,  the  directors  concluded  to 
close  out  the  concern,  the  young  cashier 
running  affairs  so  smoothly  that  each  de- 
positor was  paid  to  the  last  cent,  in  spite  of 
the  stringency  of  the  times.  Until  May, 
1883,  Mr.  Mumma  was  manager  of  the  Har- 
burg  Daily  Patriot,  when  he  was  appointed 
draughtsman  in  the  department  of  Internal 
Affairs,  by  Secretaiy  J.  Simpson  Africa. 
At  the  expiration  of  Mr.  Africa's  term  Mr. 
Mumn:a  was  again  connected  witli  the  Pa- 
triot, at  the  same  time  dealing  in  the  real 
estate  business.  During  October,  1893,  he 
became  publisher  of  the  Morning  Call,  which 
built  up  a  wide  circulation  through  the  pub- 
lisher's philanthropic  spirit.  During  the 
business  depression  of  1893  and  1894  Mr. 
Mumma  appealed  through  the  columns  of 
his  journal  to  the  public-spirited  and  chari- 
tably inclined,  and  through  these  means  fed 
hundreds  of  starving  people  through  that 
disastrous  time.  Mr.  Mumma  is  married  to 
a  daughter  of  Hon.  B.  F.  Meyers  and  has 
two  interesting  children,  Winifred  and  Ben- 
jamin Meyers  Mumma. 

WiTMAN,  R.  E.,  publisher,  No.  103  North 
Second  street,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  February  3,  1858, 
and  is  the  son  of  D.  S.  and  Margaret  (Brewer) 


Witman.  The  grandfather,  Christopher,  was 
a  tanner  by  trade  and  had  a  family  of  three 
sons.  The  parents  were  both  natives  of  New 
Yoi'k,  the  father  being  born  there  in  1823. 
He  was  engaged  in  farming  and  in  the  lum- 
ber business  during  his  entire  life.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Margaret  Putman,  by  whom 
he  had  six  children,  of  whom  but  two  sur- 
vive: Smith, in  the  lumber  business,  Gundan, 
Pa.,  and  R.  E.  He  died  April  13, 1895.  R. 
E.  attended  the  public  schools  until  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  New 
York  and  taught  school  at  Caneville  for  two 
years.  In  1881  he  began  selling  books,  and 
soon  received  a  good  position  with  the  Fenn 
Publishing  Company.  He  was  afterwards 
taken  in  as  a  partner  and  continued  in  the 
firm  four  years,  when  he  withdrew  and  es- 
tablished the  firm  of  R.  E.  Witman  and 
Company  in  1891,  at  Harrisburg,  in  which 
he  is  interested  at  tiie  jiresent  time.  He  was 
married,  February  14,  1884,  to  Miss  Mutam 
Beecher,  daughter  of  Lyman  and  Susan 
(Kimble)  Beeclier,  and  a  distant  relative  of 
Henry  Ward  Beecher,  of  New  York.  Their 
children  are:  Grace  M.,  Fanny  M.,  and 
Harry  E.  Mrs.  Witman's  parents  were 
botii  natives  of  New  York  and  liad  a  family 
of  tlirce  children:  Bertha,  Mutam,  and 
Mabel.  The  mother  still  survives  and  re- 
sides in  New  York.  In  politics  Mr.  Witman 
is  a  Republican  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Grace  Methadist  church.  The  parents  of 
both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Witman  were  members 
of  the  Baptist  church. 

Stackpole,  E.  J.,  city  editor  of  the  Daily 
Telegraph,  was  born  in  McVeytown,  Miftlin 
county.  Pa.,  January  18, 18G1,  son  of  the  late 
E.  H.  H.  and  Margaret  (Glasgow)  Stackpole. 
His  father  successfully  conducted  a  wagon 
manufacturing  establishment  and  black- 
smith shop  for  several  years.  He  served  one 
term  in  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature,  and 
died  in  1890,  in  office,  iiolding  at  that  time 
the  position  of  superintendent  of  tlie  public 
buildings  and  grounds.  E.  J.  Stackpole  is 
one  of  eigiit  living  children  of  a  family  of 
eleven.  He  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation, and  learned  the  trade  of  a  printer  in 
the  office  of  tlie  McVeytown  Journal.  He 
subsequently  spent  three  years  as  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Orbisonia  Dispatch,  being 
associated  with  B.  F.  Ripple.  In  1883  Mr. 
Stackpole  became  assistant  foreman  of  the 
Harrisburg  Telegraph.  Later  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  reporter  for   this  journal  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


351 


eventually  was  promoted  to  the  important 
position  of  city  editor.  He  has  been  for 
several  years,  and  is  now  a  correspondent 
for  a  number  of  newspapers  in  New  York, 
Philadelphiaand  Pittsburgh.  Heisaii  active 
Republican  and  has  been  commander  of 
several  leading  clubs,  among  which  were  the 
Harrisburg  Invincibles.  He  is  also  a  veteran 
of  the  famous  "  City  Grays,"  National  Guards 
of  Pennsylvania.  He  belongs  to  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  F.&  A.M.  Mr.  Stack  pole  was 
married  to  Miss  Kate  Hummel,  a  daughter 
of  the  late  Albert  Hummel,  for  many  years 
a  prominent  shoe  merchant  of  Harrisburg. 
Thej^  have  three  children:  Catherine  H., 
Margaret  and  Edward  J.,  Jr.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stackpole  are  members  of  tlie  Covenant 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  is  a 
deacon. 


Spayd,  Clarence  E.,  editor  of  the  Harris- 
burg Star-Lidependent,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  December  9,  1869,  and  is  a  son 
of  Jolni  W.  Spayd  and  a  grandson  of  Jona- 
than Spayd.  Like  so  many  young  men  of 
ambition  lie  has  had  a  remarkably  success- 
ful experience  in  all  his  undeitakings.  At 
five  years  of  age  he  was  sent  to  the  district 
school  at  Carsonvilie,  in  tlie  upper  end  of 
this  countv.  Li  1880  lie  entered  the  Millers- 
ville  (Pennsylvania)  State  Normal  Scliool, 
and  it  was  while  at  that  institution  that  lie 
became  interested  in  penmanship,  which  re- 
sulted in  his  being  the  recognized  expert  in 
writing  in  the  school.  After  spending  several 
years  at  that  institution,  during  which  time 
he  pursued  a  number  of  scientific  studies, 
and  a  special  course  marked  out  by  his  own 
inclinations,  iie  followed  a  line  of  reading 
embracing  all  branches  of  science  and  liteia- 
ture.  It  was  during  his  school  days  tliat  he 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Editii  A. 
Mooney,  a  talented  and  ambitious  young- 
lady,  who  eventually  became  his  wife. 

Mr.  Spayd  spent  three  years  in  teaching, 
devoting  the  last  year  to  the  schools  of  Man- 
heim,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  as  assistant 
principal.  Having  gained  considerable 
prominence  as  a  penman,  he  was  tendered 
several  positions  by  leading  schools  of  the 
country  to  teach  the  art,  but  preferring 
another  field  of  work  he  accepted  the  posi- 
tion as  city  editor  of  the  Harrisburg  Inde- 
pendent. When  tlie  Star  was  consolidated 
with  that  paper  he  continued  to  till  that 
position.  It  was  during  the  first  years  of 
his  newspaper  career  that  the  series  of  arti- 


cles on  penmanship  which  he  had  been  con- 
tributing for  several  years  to  the  Popular 
Educator,  an  educational  magazine  published 
in  Boston  and  Chicago,  gained  so  mucli 
popularity  with  teachers  of  the  United  States 
that  the  publishers  prevailed  upon  him  to 
write  a  book  on  the  subject.  Shortly  after- 
wards, by  working  during  his  leisure  hours, 
a  book  of  several  hundred  pages,  entitled 
"  Complete  Manual  of  Commercial  Penman- 
ship," made  its  ajipearance.  It  sprung  into 
popularity  at  once,  and  Mr.  Spayd  became 
well  known  as  an  author  of  pronounced 
ability  agaong  the  leading  educators  of  the 
country. 

He  has  been  a  life-long  Lutheran  and  is  a 
prominent  member  of  Memorial  Lutiieran 
church  at  Fifteenth  and  Shoop  streets,  Har- 
risburg, where  he  is  closely  identified  with 
Sunday-school  work,  having  a  class  of  young 
women.  He  is  also  business  manager  of  the 
Memorial  Lutheran,  a  monthly  journal  pub- 
lished in  the  interests  of  the  above  church. 
Mr.  Wien  Forne}',  the  venerable  editor  and 
famous  war  correspondent,  retiring  from  the 
editorial  chair  of  the  daily  and  weekly  Star- 
Independent,  which  he  filled  for  so  many 
years,  Mr.  Spayd  succeeded  him  and  now 
holds  that  responsible  position.  This  paper 
lias  a  very  large  circulation  in  Central  Penn- 
sylvania and  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condi- 
tion. As  the  editor  of  this  well-known  news- 
paper he  has  shown  his  capabilities  as  a 
writer  and  made  friends  for  the  paper  by  his 
fair  manner  in  treating  all  classes,  and  hon- 
estly advocating  the  best  interests  of  the 
people.  Although  -but  twenty-six  years  of 
age  he  was  elected  to  common  council  from 
the  Second  ward  in  the  spring  of  1896.  He 
has  always  been  a  staunch  Republican  and 
is  identified  with  several  local  interests,  one 
of  which  is  the  Commonwealth  Building  and 
Loan  Association,  of  which  he  is  a  director. 
He  is  known  for  his  kind,  generous  disposi- 
tion, and  his  lively  nature,  pleasing  conver- 
sation, and  courteous  and  affable  manner 
make  him  a  favorite  with  all  who  are  brought 
in  contact  with  him.  His  residence  at  1611 
Swatara  street  is  one  of  the  cosiest  in  East 
Harrisburg,  being  surrounded  bj' a  beautiful 
lawn  and  attractively  built.  In  his  library, 
surrounded  by  his  books  and  with  his  wife 
and  daughter,  he  spends  most  of  his  time 
after  leaving  the  Star- Independent  office.  He 
is  a  liberal  contributor  to  many  magazines  as 
well  as  some  of  the  leading  metroi)olitan 
newspapers  of    the   country.     The  Chicago 


352 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Times-Herald  is  one  of  his  leading  western 
papers.  His  acquaintance  with  well-known 
educational  as  well  as  business  and  profes- 
sional men  has  been  of  inestimable  value  to 
him  in  his  successful  career. 


McCre.\dy,  Duncan,  editor  of  the  Tele- 
gram, was  born  at  Rajahmundry,  India,  De- 
cember 24,  1870.  His  father  was  inspector 
of  ordnance  in  the  British  army,  having 
gone  to  India  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Sepoy 
Mutiny  of  1857.  Mr.  McCready  came  to 
this  country  in  1883,  and  receive'd  his  edu- 
cation at  Thiel  College,  Greenville,.  Pa.  He 
commenced  newspaper  work  on  the  Warren 
Mirror,  then  he  served  for  a  year  as  night 
editor  of  the  Johnstown  Democrat.  In  1894 
he  became  a  member  of  the  local  stafT  of  the 
Pittsburgh  Leader.  He  assumed  editorial 
charge  of  the  Sunday  Telegram  under  the 
new  management. 


Plunket,  William,  M.  D.,  frequently 
called  Lord  Plunket,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
born  about  1720.  Little  is  accurately  known 
of  his  early  life,  save  that  he  studied  medi- 
cine, graduating  from  the  university  at  Dub- 
lin, and  emigrated  to  America.  He  first 
settled  at  Carlisle,  where  he  practiced  his 
profession  until  probably  the  breaking  out 
of  the  French  and  Indian  war,  into  which 
service  he  entered.  He  was  commissioned 
lieutenant  in  Capt.  Joim  Hambright's  com- 
pany in  Col.  William  Claphani's  battalion, 
June  12,  175G.  In  the  Bouquet  campaign 
of  1764  he  was  surgeon  of  the  Second  bat- 
talion, commanded  by  Col.  Arthur  Clayton, 
his  commission  bearing  date  September  7, 
1763.  For  this  service  he  participated  in  the 
Provincial  land  grants  on  tlie  West  Branch, 
receiving  from  the  Projirietaries  six  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Buttalo  Valley.  About  1770 
he  removed  to  what  was  subsequently  ISforth- 
umberland  county,  locating  a  little  above 
Chillisquaque  creek,  which  he  termed  "The 
Soldier's  Iletreat,"  and  became  possessed  of 
a  large  estate.  He  was  one  of  the  leaders  in 
the  so-called  Pennamite  war  at  the  outset  of 
the  Revolution.  A  brief  account  of  his  ex- 
pedition to  Wyoming  is  found  in  "  Annals 
of  Buffalo  Valley,"  by  Hon.  John  Blair  Linn, 
pp.  87-8.  At  the  beginning  of  the  war  for 
independence  he  entered  heartily  into  the 
contest,  and  was  commissioned  colonel  of 
the  Second  battalion  of  Northumberland 
county  associators  in  March,  1776,  but  for 
some  cause  or  another,  possibly  at  the  insti- 


gation of  his  Wyoming  enemies,  he  was  ar- 
rested as  being  inimical  to  the  principles  of 
the  Revolution.  He  was  afterwards  released 
as  nothing  treasonable  could  be  proved 
against  him.  Sabine,  in  his  "  American 
Loyalists,"  imputes  crimes  to  Colonel  Plun- 
ket which  he  had  neither  fact  or  foundation 
for.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to 
Sunbury,  where  he  died  in  the  earlv  part  of 
May,  1?J1. 

Dr.  Plunket  married  Esther  Harris,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Harris,  of  Harris'  Ferry,  and  sis- 
ter of  the  founder  of  Harrisburg.  Of  a  large 
family  of  children  only  four  daughters 
reached  maturity.  Of  these,  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried Samuel  Maclay,  afterwards  a  senator  in 
Congress  and  a  brotlier  of  William  Maclay, 
who  married  his  cousin,  Mary  Harris.  Isa- 
bella Plunket  married  William  Bell,  of 
Elizabeth,  N.  J.  Margaret  Plunket  married 
Isaac  Richardson,  of  New  York  State,  and 
Esther  Plunket  married  her  cousin.  Col. 
Robert  Baxter,  of  the  British  army.  De- 
scendants of  the  first  named  have  been  very 
prominent  in  public  affairs  in  Pennsylvania 
for  at  least  a  century. 


Brice,  Innis,  M.  D.,  the  son  of  Brice  and 
Elizabeth  Innis,  was  a  native  of  Hanover, 
born  in  1751.  He  received  a  good  education, 
studied  medicine  at  Philadelphia,  and  was 
in  the  beginning  of  a  successful  practice 
when  the  war  of  the  Revolution  broke  out. 
He  was  commissioned  a  ho.spital  surgeon 
in  the  Continental  service,  took  ill  dur- 
ing the  cantonment  at  Valley  Forge  in  De- 
cember, 1777,  returned  home  and  died  on 
the  2d  of  Januar}',  1778,  aged  twenty-six 
years.  He  is  buried  in  Hanover  graveyard. 
His  father,  Brice  Innis,  Sr.,  born  in  1711, 
an  early  settler  in  Hanover,  was  so  shocked 
by  the  .sudden  death  of  his  son  that  he  died 
a  few  weeks  afterwards,  on  Februarj^  18, 1778. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Innis,  born  1715,  died  Janu- 
ary 3,  1788.  Besides  Dr.  Brice  Innis  they 
had:  Ann,  married Irwin;  Rachel,  mar- 
ried David  Sterrat ;  Dr.  James,  who  was  a 
surgeon  of  the  Pennsylvania  Line  ;  Elizabeth, 
married  John  Cilchrist;  and  Mary,  married 
Col.  Timothy  Green. 


SiMONTON,  William,  M.  D.,  was  born  1755, 
in  county  Antrim,  Ireland  ;  died  April  24, 
1800, in  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.  He  was  brought  to  this  country  at  the 
age  of  ten  by  iiis  uncle,  the  Rev.  John  Simon- 
ton,  pastor  of  the  Great  Valley  Presbyterian 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


353 


church,  ill  Chester  county,  Pa.  Under  the 
direction  of  this  uncle  he  received  his  aca- 
demic and  professional  education.  Soon 
after  completing  his  medical  course  he  en- 
tered upon  the  practice  of  his  profession,  but 
at  what  place  is  unknown.  In  1784  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  called  "  Antigua,"  con- 
taining one  hundred  and  eighty-two  acres, 
situated  in  West  Hanover  townshij),  from 
Josej)h  Hutchison.  Upon  this  farm  ho  re- 
sided all  his  life.  All  the  traditions  which 
have  reached  us  concerning  his  standard  as 
a  physician,  a  man.  and  a  Christian,  are 
higiil}'  favorable.  A  fitting  tesfimonial  to 
his  life,  labors  and  character  was  prepared 
by  the  Rev.  James  Snodgrass,  pastor  of  Han- 
over church,  and  delivered  on  the  occasion 
of  his  funeral.  Plis  remains  are  interred  in 
old  Hanover  graveyard.  Mr.  Simonton 
married,  November  17,  1777,  .Jean  Wiggins, 
daughter  of  Dr.  John  Wiggins,  an  officer  of 
the  Revolution.  She  was  born  in  175(5  in 
Paxtang,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  died 
October,  1824,  and  buried  %  the  side  of  her 
husband. 


Luther,  John,  was  a  native  of  Freuhlin- 
gen,  German}',  born  on  the  1st  of  April, 
1756.  In  his  youth  he  came  to  America, 
and  with  either  his  parents  or  friends  located 
in  Virginia,  me  studied  medicine,  and 
married  in  that  State,  coming  to  Harrisburg 
in  1785,  the  year  it  was  laid  out,  purchasing 
the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  Harrisburg  Na- 
tional Bank  and  the  house  adjoining,  the 
latter  of  which  he  erected.  Here  he  at  once 
began  his  jjrofession,  which  proved  a  suc- 
cessful one.  He  was  chosen  at  the  first  elec- 
tion held  under  the  charter  given  the  bor- 
ough, one  of  the  burge.sses,  and  subsequently 
served  as  a  member  of  the  town  council,  of 
which  body  he  was  at  one  time  president. 

From  the  "  Reminiscences  of  an  Octoge- 
narian," we  have  this  description  of  Dr. 
Luther:  "He  was  a  man  somewhat  resem- 
bling the  great  reformer,  Martin  Luther,  if  I 
dare  judge  from  the  printed  re))resentation 
I  have  seen  of  the  latter.  He  was  of  medium 
height  and  proporlionately  stout.  He  was  a 
very  pleasant  man  and  agreeably  received 
whenever  he  entered  compan}'.  He  carried 
a  snutf  box  and  made  frequent  use  of  its 
contents.  He  wore  black  cloth  coat,  vest 
and  breeches,  with  buckles  on  his  shoes. 
He  was  popular  as  a  jihysician  and  esteemed 
highly  for  his  skill.  He  wore  his  hair  in  a 
cue,  as  was  common   in  the  early  times  of 


Harrisburg,  but  wherever  he  went  there  was 
healing  in  the  creak  of  his  shoes.  When  he 
feltyonr  pulse,  told  you  to  i)utoutyour  tongue, 
and  smelled  the  ivory  on  the  top  of  his  cane, 
you  might  be  sure  he  was  hunting  for  a  fever, 
or  something  direful,  that  might  require  a 
dose  of  calomel  and  jalap  .  .  .  Dr.  Luther 
was  of  a  jovial  disposition,  and  it  was 
said,  as  was  the  custom  of  those  days 
when  anti-fogmaties  was  necessary'  to  keep 
off  fever  and  ague,  that  he  '  didn't  object  to 
his  patients  taking  a  little  tansy  bitters  in 
the  morning.'     His  practice  was  extensive." 

Dr.  Luther  died  at  Harrisburg  on  Monday, 
•January  28,  1811,  in  his  fifty-fourth  year. 

Dr.  Luther  married.  May  21,  1779,  Bar- 
bara Weaver,  of  Philadelphia.  She  was 
probably  the  mother  of  all  his  children. 
The  doctor  subsequently  married  Eva  His- 
ser,  born  in  176(3,  died  at  Harrisburg,  Wed- 
nesday, August  15, 1804.  Dr.  Luther  had  four 
children  ;  Catharine,  Cornelius,  Martin,  and 
John.  All  of  his  sons  became  physicians. 
Drs.  Cornelius  and  Martin  remained  at  Har- 
risburg, and  succeeded,  in  a  great  measure, 
to  their  father's  practice.  Cornelius  died 
quite  young  and  Martin  April  29,  1829, 
aged  forty-five  years.  Dr.  John  Luther  set- 
tled in  New  Holland,  Lancaster  county;  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Peter  Diller,and 
raised  a  large  family.  Catharine  Luther 
married  Dr.  King,  of  Hummelstown,  and  on 
becoming  a  widow  married  Judge  William 
Lyon,  of  Cumberland  county.  The  remains 
of  Dr.  Luther,  his  wife  and  two  sons  are  in- 
terred in  the  Harrisburg  cemetery. 


McCammon,  James,  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
was  a  native  of  the  county  Down,  Ireland, 
born  about  1778.  He  was  educated  at  Edin- 
burgh, and  received  his  degree  of  doctor  of 
medicine  at  the  university  of  that  city.  He 
subsequently  served  two  years  in  the  London 
Hospital,  under  that  celebrated  physician. 
Dr.  Fordyce.  He  came  to  the  L^nited  States 
about  1804,  and  located  at  Newville,  in 
Cumberland  county,  where  he  had  a  very 
general  and  extensive  practice.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1811,  he  removed  to  Middletown,  where 
his  brother  John  resided  and  was  postmaster 
— at  that  period  a  preferable  field  to  the 
Cumberland  A^alley — and  was  very  success- 
ful. He  died  at  Middletown  on  the  7th  of 
November,  1815,  and  was  buried  in  the  old 
Presi)yterian  graveyard  on  High  street,  in 
that  borough.  He  left  a  wife  and  three  chil- 
dren, who  afterwards  removed  to  Zanesville, 


354 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Ohio.  Dr.  McCamraon  was  a  skillful  sur- 
geon, and  ranked  high  in  his  profession. 
Socially  lie  was  agreeable  in  conversation 
and  of  refined  manners. 


Verbeke,  James  C,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Holland,  in  the  year  1785.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  that  country,  and  his  mother 
was  born  ui  Yorkshire,  England.  The  son 
was  educated  for  the  ministr3',  but  afterwards 
studied  medicine  at  the  university  at  Leyden, 
where  the  two  degrees  of  doctor  of  medicine 
and  of  pharmacy  were  conferred  upon  him. 
After  finishing  his  course  he  entered  tlie 
French  army  as  physician,  and  througli  the 
efforts  of  his  father  was  assigned  to  the 
regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Leh- 
manowsky,  a  friend  and  acquaintance,  with 
the  request  that  he  should  have  a  watchful 
care  over  liim.  The  doctor  remained  with 
the  regiment  in  all  its  memorable  campaigns, 
being  alwaj-s  employed  in  the  provisional 
military  hospitals,  performing  the  duties  of 
the  two  branches  of  the  profession  only,  as 
persons  were  not  allowed  to  practice  more 
than  sucli  as  were  inseparable  from  the 
other,  so  tliat  each  might  thoroughly  under- 
stand his  calling,  and  be  enabled  to  gain  a 
livelihood.  In  consequence  of  this  condi- 
tion of  tilings  he  never  was  on  the  field  of 
battle,  but  was  always  engaged  in  administer- 
ing to  the  sick.  Even  at  the  battle  of 
Waterloo,  when  the  hospital  was  taken  and 
retaken  six  times  in  one  day  by  the  English 
and  French,  he  saw  nothing  of  the  fight. 
After  that  sanguinary  and  decisive  conflict, 
when  the  star  of  Napoleon  had  set,  he  en- 
tered the  Dutch  navy  as  a  pliysician,  on 
board  a  man-of-war,  where  he  remained  two 
j^ears  and  then  resigned.  Afterwards,  being 
detected  in  a  plot,  in  which  Colonel  Leh- 
manowsky  was  also  engaged,  to  carry  oft' 
Napoleon  to  St.  Helena,  the)'  had  to  flee  the 
country,  wlien  he  was  helped  by  friends  to 
reach  England,  and  was  engaged  by  the 
celebrated  Scotch  navigator,  John  Arrow- 
smith,  as  physician  on  board  of  his  vessel, 
then  about  making  a  trip  to  America,  which 
landed  at  Philadelphia  in  1817.  The  port 
physician.  Dr.  Perkins,  after  examining  his 
letters  of  reference  and  his  diploma,  immedi- 
ately gave  him  a  situation  as  clerk  in  his 
drugstore.  Miss  Gertrude  Kemmelar,  hav- 
ing come  to  America  to  visit  a  brother,  and 
landing  at  Philadelphia,  chanced  to  call  at 
the  drugstore  on  Second  sti'eet,  near  Callow- 
hill,  with  a  prescription,  when  both  coming 


from  the  same  country,  and  the  doctor  being 
addressed  in  his  own  language,  an  acquaint- 
ance was  formed,  and  in  1818  they  were 
married  at  the  house  of  John  Dillinger,  a 
friend,  with  whose  family  Miss  Kemmelar 
stopped.  In  the  year  1819  they  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  where  the  doctor  opened  a  drug- 
store on  Market  square  in  the  house  of  John 
Norton,  and  practiced  medicine  in  the  coun- 
try and  all  the  surrounding  towns,  traveling 
as  far  as  Halifax,  Middletown,  and  other 
places,  on  horseback,  through  which  he  be- 
came universally  known,  some  of  the  oldest 
inhabitants  still  remembering  him.  After 
a  few  years  of  practice  he  relinquished  it,  to 
enter  into  other  business,  and  was  successful 
in  gaining  a  considerable  estate.  Mrs.  Ver- 
beke died  in  1855,  and  Dr.  Verbeke  in  1856, 
leaving  two  children,  William  K.  and 
Margaretta  Dillinger,  who  married  The- 
ophilus  Fenn. 

AucHMUTY,  Robert,  M.  D.,  the  son  of  Sam- 
uel Auchmuty,  was  born  nearSunbury,  North- 
umberland county,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1785. 
He  was  descended  from  an  old  Celtic  famil}' 
of  Scotland.  Robert  Auchmuty,  the  first  of 
the  American  family  of  that  name,  an  emi- 
nent lawyer,  was  in  practice  at  Boston,  Mass., 
as  early  as  1719.  He  died  in  1/50,  leaving 
several  children.  Among  these,  Robert,  who 
in  1767  became  judge  of  the  Court  of  Admi- 
ralty at  Boston;  Samuel,  who  was  rector  of 
Trinity  church.  New  York  City;  and  Artiiur 
Gates.  The  latter  came  to  Pennsylvania  as 
early  as  1765,  and  located  in  then  Lancaster 
county.  In  that  year  we  find  him  commis- 
sioned as  an  Indian  trader,  "with  permission 
to  trade  with  the  natives  at  Penn's  creek, 
Shamokin,  and  such  other  forts  as  may  by 
his  Majesty  or  the  Provincial  authorities  be 
established."  He  first  settled  at  the  mouth 
of  Penn's  creek,  on  the  Isle  of  Que,  and  from 
thence  removed  to  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Susquehanna,  a  few  miles  below  Fort  Augusta, 
in  what  is  now  Lower  Augusta  township, 
Northumberland  county.  During  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  Samuel  Auchmuty,  one  of 
his  sons  and  father  of  the  doctor,  entered  the 
patriot  army  and  was  in  service  from  the 
winter  at  \'alley  Forge  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  The  veteran's  remains  rest  in  the  old 
burial  ground  at  Millersburg  unmarked,  and 
the  spot  unknown.  Dr.  Robert  Auchmuty  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  studied  medicine, 
and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Millersburg  about  1830-31.     Apart  from  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


355 


duties  of  his  profession  he  served  many  years 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  being  first  commis- 
sioned by  Governor  liitner.  He  was  an  en- 
terprising, active  citizen,  and  a  warm  advo- 
cate of  the  common  school  system,  when  that 
noble  measure  was  adopted,  and  was  a  gen- 
tleman beloved  and  respected  by  his  fellow- 
citizens.  He  died  at  Millersburg  in  1840,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-four,  and  is  buried  in  the 
new  cemetery  at  that  place.  He  was  the 
father  of  the  late  S.  P.  Anchmuty,  of  Millers- 
burg. 


Reily,  Luther,  M.  D.,  the  seventh  son  of 
Capt.  John  Reily,  of  the  Revolution,  and 
Elizabeth  Myers,  was  born  October  7,  1794, 
at  Meyerstown,  Dauphin,  now  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.  On  the  death  of  his  father  he 
came  to  H;irrisl)urg,  and  shortly  after  began 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Martin  Lu- 
ther. In  the  war  of  1812-14  he  marched  as 
a  private  in  Capt.  Richard  M.  Grain's  com- 
pany of  volunteers  to  Baltimore,  subse- 
quently being  detailed  as  assistant  surgeon. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  at  Harrisburg,  and  subse- 
quently was  at  the  head  of  the  profession 
there.  Although  not  taking  an  active  part 
in  politics,  he  was  more  or  less  prominent 
in  public  afiairs.  He  was  elected  to  and 
served  as  member  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Con- 
gress. Dr.  Reily  died  at  Harrisburg  on 
February  20,  1854,  deeply  lamented  by  the 
community,  who  appreciated  him  as  "the 
good  doctor."  His  wife  Rebecca,  daiighter 
of  Henry  Orth,  survived  her  husband  only 
a  few  months.  Their  children  were  Eliza- 
beth, died  unmarried,  Emilv,  married  Dr. 
George  W.  Porter,  John  W.,  Dr.  George  W., 
and  Caroline. 


Keagy,  John  M.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Mar- 
tic  township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  about 
the  year  1705.  He  was  of  German  descent 
on  the  maternal  side,  the  name  of  his 
mother's  family  being  Litzenberg.  He  re- 
ceived a  classical  education,  studied  medi- 
cine and  graduated  in  1817.  In  1819  he 
published  a  series  of  educational  articles  in 
\he  Baltimore  Chronicle,  which  were  reprinted 
at  Harrisburg  in  1824,  in  an  octavo  pamph- 
let of  thirty-eight  pages.  In  1827  Dr.  Keagy 
became  principal  of  the  Harrisburg  Academy, 
and  during  the  same  year  published  his 
"Pestallozian  Primer,"  a  work  made  up 
largely  of  the  more  modern  object-lessons, 
but  under  the  name  of  "Thinking  Lessons, 


and  Lessons  in  Generalization."  By  this 
method,  as  soon  as  the  child  knows  a  vowel 
and  a  consonant,  he  is  taught  to  spell  and 
read  the  syllables  which  they  form.  In  the 
introduction  the  author  advocated  the  teach- 
ing of  a  child  to  read  words,  "as  if  they 
were  Chinese  syllables,"  and  without  a  pre- 
vious knowledge  of  the  letters,  a  practicable 
mode  which  avoids  the  absurdity  of  telling 
a  child  that  see  a  tea  (which  should  spell 
seat)  spells  cat.  He  remained  at  Harrisburg 
about  two  years,  when  he  went  to  Philadel- 
phia to  take  charge  of  the  Friends'  High 
School.  .Shortly  before  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  Philadelphia  in  the  winter  of  1836- 
37,  and  is  buried  in  Laurel  Hill  cemetery. 
Dr.  Keagy  was  elected  professor  of  the  lan- 
guages in  Dickinson  ("ollege,  but  did  not 
live  to  act.  Besides  being  a  classical  scholar, 
the  Doctor  knew  Hebrew,  German  and 
French ;  he  knew  the  principles  of  me- 
chanics, and  insisted  that  steam  boilers 
should  have  more  fire  surface.  Had  he  been 
brought  up  as  a  machinist,  he  would  have 
invented  tubular  boilers,  having  constructed 
a  copper  model  composed  partly  of  tubes. 


WiESTLiNG,  Joshua  Martin,  M.  D.,  son  of 
Dr.  Samuel  Christopher  Wiestling,  was  born 
February  28,  1797,  in  now  Susquehanna 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.;  baptized  at 
Shoop's  church  by  Rev.  Christian  H.  Kurtz, 
and  died  January'  15,  1854,  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  In  the  year  1811,  being  then  of  the  age 
of  fourteen  years,  he  moved  with  his  parents 
into  the  town  of  Harrisburg,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  his  death.  Although 
afforded  but  limited  facilities  of  acquiring  an 
education  by  attending  the  schools  of  that 
period,  yet,  having  the  advantage  of  the  in- 
structions of  his  father,  who  was  a  man  of 
tliorough  education  and  culture,  i.nd  being 
himself  an  indefatigable  student,  reading 
and  studying  whenever  and  however  the  op- 
portunity' presented,  hegrew  to  manhood  witli 
his  naturally  fine  mental  endowments  ad- 
mirably cultivated  and  liberally  developed. 
Of  studious  habits  and  love  of  knowledge, 
these  characteristics  adhered  to  him  through- 
out his  life.  A  man  of  original  thinking 
powers,  and  possessed  of  mental  capacity  of 
a  high  order,  he  gave,  notwithstanding  an 
extensive  and  laborious  medical  practice, 
diligent  investigation  to  all  the  leading  ques- 
tions of  the  day,  and  careful  study  in  the 
wide  and  diversified  field  of  general  knowl- 
edge.    He  was,  consequently,  upon  all  the 


356 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  EWCYCL  OPEDIA 


leading  subjects  of  information,  a  natural 
scholar,  and,  throughout  his  whole  life,  was 
recognized  by  his  fellow-townsmen  as  in  the 
front  rank  of  generous  knowledge,  and  a  man 
of  very  general  powers.  His  special  field  of 
usefulness,  however,  was  that  of  medicine. 
Inliis  preparation  for  his  profession  his  \)ve- 
ceptors  were  his  father.  Dr.  Samuel  C.  Wiest- 
ling,  Sr.,  and  an  elder  brother.  Dr.  Samuel  C. 
"Wiestling,  Jr.,  both  thoroughly  educated 
physicians  of  skill  and  wide  experience.  He 
attended  the  course  of  medical  lectures  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  His  fatlier 
becoming  disabled  to  continue  in  active 
practice  by  reason  of  a  paralytic  stroke  in 
the  year  1817,  he  succeeded  him  in  his  j)ro- 
fession,  first  in  partnersliip  witii  his  brotiier, 
Dr.  Samuel  C.  Wiestling,  Jr.,  whicl)  con- 
tinued for  a  few  years,  and  subsequently 
alone.  This  was  about  the  year  1821  or 
1822.  Acquiring  a  large  and  extensive 
practice,  both  in  town  and  country,  he  prose- 
cuted tiie  duties  of  his  j)rofession  witli  a  de- 
gree of  faithful  devotion  and  judicious  skill, 
which  won  for  him  the  admiration  and  high 
regard  of  the  medical  fraternity  and  the  un- 
limited confidence  of  the  whole  community 
until  his  death.  In  stature  he  was  about  six 
feet  in  height,  broad  shouldered,  of  large 
liead,  ei'ect  in  carriage,  full  chested,  rather 
stout  in  figure  and  person,  and  dignified  in 
appearance.  He  was  of  a  clieerful  disposi- 
tion, affable  in  his  manners,  generous  in  his 
impulses,  of  sympathetic  and  benevolent 
habits,  unselfish  and  forbearing,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  he  was  popular  throughout  his 
life.  Dr.  Wiestling  married,  January  22, 
1824,  Catharine  Youse,  born  March  24,  iSOO  ; 
d.  March  4,  1854,  atHarrisburg, Pa. ;  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Mar}'  Youse. 


WiTM.^N,  John  Otto,  was  born  January 
11.  1802,  in  Reading,  Pa.;  died  April  12, 
1884,  in  Halifax,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.;  son 
of  Benjamin  Witman  and  Margaret  Otto. 
He  was  educated  at  private  schools  and  the 
Reading  Academy.  He  was  a  clerk  in  the 
surveyor  general's  office  under  Gabriel  Hies- 
ter,  during  Governor  Shulze's  administra- 
tion; studied  medicine  under  Dr.  Luther 
Reil}',  attended  lectures  at  University  of 
Pennsylvania  in  1826-27;  was  physician  to 
the  Dauphin  county  almshouse  in  1827-28; 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  M.  D.  from 
the  University  of  Maryland  in  1843;  com- 
menced the  practice  of  medicine  in  Harris- 
burg  in  1827,  and  continued  till  1832,  when 


he  removed  to  Gratz,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
where  he'  practiced  till  1837,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg  and  associated  himself 
with  Doctors  Luther  Reily  and  E.  L.  Orth, 
which  continued  until  1840;  then  removed 
to  Halifax,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
continued  in  an  active  and  extensive  prac- 
tice till  the  fall  of  1870,  when  bodily  in- 
firmity compelled  him  to  relinquish  all  ex- 
cept office  work.  Dr.Witman  married,  April 
17,  1828,  Caroline  Orth,  daughter  of  Henry 
Orth,  born  1810,  in  Harrisburg,  and  died 
there  Januar}'  10,  1848.  They  left  several 
children. 


Fager,  John  Henry,  M.  D.,  was  born 
March  31,  1806,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  died  Au- 
gust 18,  1872,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  there 
buried.  He  received  careful  training  and  a 
good  education ;  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
Martin  Luthei',  one  of  the  more  prominent 
of  the  early  physicians  at  Harrisburg,  and 
attended  medical  lectures  at  tlie  University 
of  Pennsylvania.  In  1829  he  began  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  at  Harrisburg,  which 
he  continued  until  his  death,  a  period  of 
forty-three 3' ears.  In  1840  his  attention  being 
called  to  homoeopathy,  the  Doctor  commenced 
the  study  of  that  theory  and  afterwards 
adopted  it  in  his  practice.  He  was  quite  a 
successful  (ihysician,  and  enjoj'ed  the  confis 
dence  of  the  community.  Apart  from  hi- 
professional  life  Dr.  Fager  was  a  valued  citi- 
zen. For  thirty-three  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the-  school  board,  during  most  of  wiiich 
period  he  was  secretary  or  treasurer ;  for 
several  terms  a  member  of  the  borough  coun- 
cil and  for  fifty  years  an  active  worker  in  the 
Sunday-school  of  the  First  Lutheran  church. 
Dr.  Fager  was  twice  married.  He  married 
Eliza  Jones,  born  1810 ;  died  October  17, 
1834 ;  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Jones, 
and  had  Albert  J.,  who  served  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  company  B,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, and  now  an  alderman  of  the  city  of 
Harrisburg.  He  married,  secondly,  March 
29,  1836,  Mary  Hayes  Buffington,  born  No- 
vember 3, 1816,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  died 
there  December  4,  1893.  They  had  a  large 
familv. 


Roberts,  Edmund  Wilson,  M.  D.,  young- 
est son  of  John  Roberts,  was  born  about  1806, 
at  Washington,  Pa.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Yale  College.  His  brother.  Dr.  James 
Roberts,  born  in  1780,  at  Washington,  first 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


357 


located  at  Harrisburg,  subsequently  remov- 
ing to  Peoria,  111.,  where  he  died  about  1834. 
While  at  Harrisburg,  his  younger  brother, 
Edmund  W.,  came  there  and  studied  medi- 
cine under  his  care,  subsequently  graduating 
from  the  medical  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania.  He  afterwards  located 
at  Harrisburg,  and  entered  upon  a  succesful 
career  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
died  at  Harrisburg,  November  10,  1865,  at 
tlie  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  Dr.  Roberts  mar- 
ried Caroline  l\o.ss,  daughter  of  Andrew  Ross 
and  Hannah  Templin,  of  Washington  City, 
and  a  sister  of  Robert  J.  Ross,  of  Harrisburg; 
she  died  January  23,  1877,  at  Newburg,  N. 
Y.;  buried  at  Harrisburg.  The}'  had  two 
children:  Mary,  died  in  1867, at  Harrisburg, 
married  Rev.  B.  B.  Leacock,  D.  D.,  of  the 
Episcopal  Church;  Dr.  Robert  Ross,  died 
April  4,  1875,  at  Harrisburg,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-seven,  who  rose  to  eminence  in  iiis  jiro- 
fession,  married  Miss  Foote,  daughter  of  Judge 
Foote,  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  they 
left  two  children. 


Shofe,  David,  M.  D.,  son  of  Jacob  Shope 

and Hart,  was  born  July  25,  1808,  in 

Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.  His  grandfather,  Andrew  Schopp  (or 
Shope),  emigrated  from  the  Palatinate,  Ger- 
many, to  America,  arriving  at  Philadelphia 
October  22,  1754,  on  the  ship  "  Halifax " 
from  Rotterdam.  He  settled  in  then  Lan- 
caster county,  married,  and  was  in  service 
during  the  French  and  Indian  war,  after- 
wai'ds  permanently  locating  in  what  is  now 
Lower  Paxton  township,  Daui)hiii  county. 
Pa.,  on  a  tract  of  land  in  possession  of  his 
great-grandson.  He  had  sons  Bern  hard, 
Jacob,  and  Adam.  The  first  married,  re- 
moved to  Centre  county.  Pa.,  where  his  de- 
scendants now  reside.  Jacob  and  Adam 
divided  the  farm,  the  former  of  whom  sub- 
sequently disposed  of  his.  the  latter  dying  on 
the  old  homestead  at  the  age  of  ninety-one 
years.  Jacob  Shope,  who  lived  to  the  age  of 
eighty-seven,  married  a  Miss  Hart,  and  they 
had  issue:  Abraham,  Jacob, Bernhard, David, 
Barbara,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  and  Catliarine. 
David,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  until  the  age  of  sixteen,  re- 
ceiving such  educational  advantages  as  the 
the  country  schools  then  afibrded.  He  was 
afterwards  sent  to  a  select  school  in  Cumber- 
land county,  and  also  that  taught  by  Mr. 
Cummings  at  Brown's  school  house  on  the 
Jonestown  road.     He  taught  school  several 


times,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Markley,  of  Man- 
heim,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  after  the 
latter's  death  with  his  successor,  Dr.  Veasy. 
In  October,  1832,  he  located  in  Hummels- 
town,  where  he  continued  in  the  successful 
practice  of  his  profession  until  his  decease, 
which  occurred  December  2, 1842,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-four  years,  and  is  buried  in  the 
Hummelstown  cemeterj'.  Few  practitioners 
stood  higher  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
the  community  in  whicli  he  lived  tiian  Dr. 
David  Shope.     He  never  married. 


Kemble,  Dr.  George  S.,  died  at  Miftlin- 
burg.  Union  county,  Pa.,  March  9, 1884.  He 
was  the  eldest  son  of  George  S.  and  Catha- 
rine Kemble,  born  in  this  city  about  the 
year  1825.  His  father  was  quite  prominent 
in  public  affairs  during  the  period  of  the  in- 
troduction of  the  water  supply,  and  was  a 
successful  merchant  tailor.  He  died  during 
tlie  Rebellion,  his  widow  surviving  him  un- 
til a  few  years  since.  Their  children  were 
Dr.  George  S.,  Capt.  James  R.,  of  the  United 
States  army,  who  died  while  in  the  service, 
Henry  B.,  also  deceased,  and  Charles  C,  who 
resides  near  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  Dr.  Kemble 
was  educated  in  tlie  public  schools  and  at 
the  old  Harrisburg  Academy.  He  studied 
medicine  and  graduated  at  Jefferson  College. 
He  practiced  medicine  at  Philadelphia  and 
Harrisburg,  and  at  one  time  had  charge  of 
the  Jewish  Hospital  in  the  former  city.  Dur- 
ing the  war  for  the  Union  Dr.  Kemble  served 
in  the  medical  department  of  the  United 
States  army  with  distinguished  credit.  He 
served  as  brigade  surgeon  on  the  staff'  of 
Gen.  Isaac  I.  Stevens  and  at  the  battle  of 
Chan  till}'  the  General  fell  mortally  wounded 
and  died  in  the  Doctor's  arms.  After  the 
battle  of  Antietam  he  was  in  charge  of  Pleas- 
ant ^'allej'  Hospital,  near  Frederick,  Md., 
and  subsequently  was  on  duty  in  the  south- 
ern department.  At  the  close  of  the  Rebel- 
lion he  returned  to  the  active  duties  of  his 
profession,  chiefly  at  Mifflinburg,  where  he 
was  highly  esteemed  and  appreciated.  He 
was  a  genial,  generous  and  noble-hearted 
man,  and  few  there  be  in  the  home  of  his 
adoption  who  had  more  friends  and  who  will 
be  so  severely  missed.  In  his  boyhood,  early 
manhood  and  mature  years  he  was  the  same 
delightful  companion,  and  those  of  his  con- 
freres in  early  years  will  deeply  regret  his 
passing  away.  Dr.  Kemble  left  a  wife  and 
several  children. 


358 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


DeWitt,  Dr.  William  Radcliffe,  son  of 
the  Rev.  William  R.  DeWitt  D.  D.,  and  his 
wife  Mary  Elizabeth  Wallace,  was  laorn  De- 
cember 5,  1827.  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  died 
May  31,  1891,'  at  St.  Augustine,  Fk.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Harrisburg  Academy, 
and  graduated  in  medicine  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania.  After  graduating 
he  was  immediately  appointed  assistant  phy- 
sician of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Lunatic 
Asylum,  which  position  he  held  for  about 
seven  years.  He  then  traveled  in  Europe 
studying  his  profession.  He  returned  to 
Harrisburg  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
medicine,  when  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Buchanan  to  the  charge  of  the  marine 
hosj)ital  in  the  Sandwich  Islands  at  Hono- 
lulu, the  capital,  and  here  he  remained  a 
number  of  years,  when,  upon  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  war,  he  tendered  his  services. 
He  held  the  rank  of  major,  and  was  surgeon- 
in-chief  of  the  First  division,  Fifth  army 
corps,  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Here 
he  became  the  intimate  friend  of  many  of 
the  most  noted  officers  in  the  Northern 
army.  General  Warren  was  one  of  his  best 
and  most  intimate  friends.  He  was  breveted 
lieutenant  colonel  for  meritorious  services 
and  bravery  on  the  field  of  battle.  After  the 
war  he  was  chief  medical  otficer  of  Georgia, 
Florida,  and  South  Carolina,  stationed  at 
Charleston.  He  afterwards  held  a  similar 
position  at  Louisville,  Ky.  In  1869  he  re- 
signed his  commission  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Harrisburg,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  successful  practice  of  medicine,  when  in 
1874  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  pro- 
fession and  go  to  Florida  on  account  of  his 
ill  health,  caused  by  exposure  in  the  arm}-. 
That  year  he  traveled  through  the  State  and 
returned  in  1875,  taking  up  his  residence  at 
San  Mateo.  In  his  new  home  he  became 
quite  pron:inent,  was  at  one  time  chairman 
of  the  board  of  public  instruction  for  Put- 
nam county,  and  a  Florida  newspaper  stated 
at  the  time  of  his  death  that  it  was  largely  due 
to  his  exertions  that  the  school  system  was 
what  it  then  was.  Dr.  DeWitt  was  in  poli- 
tics a  Democrat  and  alwa^'s  a  strong  sup- 
porter of  his  party.  In  religious  faith  he 
was  an  Episcopalian,  and  in  later  j^ears  was 
a  hard  student  of  theology, in  which  he  took 
great  pleasure.  In  1889  he  was  a  delegate 
to  the  General  Episcopal  Convention.  An 
active  member  of  l)is  church,  his  views  and 
opinions  in  religious  matters  were  always 
held  in  great  esteem  and  of  weight  by  all. 


He  was  a  man  of  high  intellectuality,  of 
strong  but  just  opinions,  a  strong  and 
faithful  friend,  a  pure  and  devoted  Chris- 
tian, and  having  all  those  attributes  to 
make  him  honored,  loved  and  respected. 
Dr.  DeWitt  married,  in  1865,  Susan  E. 
Spangler,  of  York,  who  with  one  son  sur- 
vived him. 


WiTMAN,  Henry  Orth,  M.  D.,  was  born 
January  22,  1830,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He 
was  the  oldest  son  of  John  Otto  Witman  and 
his  wife  Caroline  Orth.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Reading,  and  came  to  Harrisburg 
as  a  clerk,  under  Surveyor  General  Hiester, 
subsecjuently  studying  medicine  under  Dr. 
Luther  Reily,  whose  wife's  sister  he  married. 
And  he  was  for  upwards  of  forty  years  a 
successful  practitioner,  thirty  years  of  which 
were  in  Halifax,  Dauphin  county.  The  son 
Henry  Orth  was  educated  in  Harrisburg  at 
Partridge's  military  academy,  studying  med- 
icine with  his  father  and  attending  medical 
lectures  at  Castleton,  Vt.,  graduating  after- 
wards from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
of  Philadelphia.  Until  the  war  for  the 
Union  he  practiced  his  profession  at  Halifax, 
in  connection  with  his  father.  During  the 
Rebellion  he  served  as  lieutenant  of  com- 
pany E,  Sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteer militia,  and  captain  of  company  E, 
Thirty-sixth  volunteer  militia.  In  1866  he 
removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  continued 
in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  until 
his  appointment  in  1890  as  medical  examiner 
in  the  pension  office  at  Washington.  He 
died  in  that  city  on  the  I3th  of  February, 
1892.  Dr.  Witman  was  a  learned  and  con- 
scientious physician,  was  perfectly  reliable — 
could  always  be  depended  upon  in  any 
emergency.  liis  natural  modesty  and  re- 
serve operated  somewhat  against  him  as  a 
physician,  but  it  can  be  said  of  him  that  he 
was  perfectly  free  from  charlatanism  in  what- 
ever form  it  may  appear.  He  married,  Oc- 
tober 11,  1866,  Frederica  Krause,  daughter 
of  Judge  David  Krause,  of  Norristown,  Pa. 
They  had  four  children. 


PiTCAiRN,  Hugh,  M.  D.,  son  of  John  and 
Agnes  (McEwing)Pitcairn,was  born  in  John- 
ston, Scotland,  in  August,  1845.  While  in 
his  infancy  his  parents  came  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Allegheny  City,  Pa. 
His  early  education  was  acquired  in  the 
common  and  high  schools  of  that  c\ly.  In 
1859  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Pennsylva- 


A 


DA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY. 


?61 


niarailroad  in  Pittsburgh  to  learn  telegraph}-. 
In  less  than  six  months  he  was  directed  to 
take  charge  of  the  telegraph  otfice  situated  at 
the  end  of  the  double  track,  Mill  Creek, 
Huntingdon  county,  where  he  continued  one 
year,  when  he  was  appointed  operator  in  the 
general  office  at  Altoona.  In  this  place  he 
fulfilled  the  duties  of  clerk  and  operator  until 
1865,  when  he  was  called  to  Harrisburg  as 
assistant  trainmaster,  and  two  months  later 
received  the  appointment  of  acting  assistant 
superintendent  and  superintendent  of  the 
Susquehanna  division,  while  the  directors  at 
their  ensuing  meeting  confirmed  him  as  as- 
sistant general  superintendent,  and  in  this 
capacity  he  served  two  years.  He  was  offered 
the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Lehigh 
Coal  and  Navigation  Company,  with  the 
office  at  Mauch  Chunk,  Carbon  county,  Pa., 
but  later  was  sent  by  the  president  of  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad  to  Kentucky  for  the 
]iur]iose  of  completing  and  taking  charge  of 
the  Evansville,  Henderson  and  Nashville 
road.  After  the  completion  of  this  road  he 
was  appointed  general  superintendent  and 
assisted  in  the  purchase  of  the  Edgefield  and 
Kentucky'  railroad,  thus  making  a  through 
line  from  Nashville,  Tenn.,  to  Evansville, 
Ind.  He  continued  in  charge  of  this  road 
until  its  sale  to  the  St.  Louis  and  Southeast- 
ern railroad,  when  he  accepted  the  i)Osition  as 
superintendent  of  the  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati 
and  St.  Louis  railroad  (Pan-Handle  route) 
at  Pittsburgh,  where  he  continued  until  the 
early  part  of  1875,  when  failing  health  com- 
pelled him  to  resign.  He  then  went  to  Eu- 
rope, attending  clinical  lectures  in  the  hos- 
pitals of  London,  subsequently  graduating 
from  Hahnemann  Medical  College,  Piiiladel- 
phia.  In  1880  he  located  at  Harrisburg  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  Prior  to  leav- 
ing for  Europe  he  associated  with  H.  C.  Dean, 
of  Altoona,  as  proprietor  and  editor  of  the 
Daily  and  Weekly  Tribune,  one  of  the  largest 
and  best  inland  papers  in  the  State,  and  has 
continued  to  hold  the  same  until  the  present 
time,  though  taking  very  little  part  in  its  ac- 
tive management  since  he  entered  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine. 


Agnew,  S.\MUEiL,  M.  D.,  the  son  of  James 
Agnew  and  Mary  Ramsey,  was  born  in  1777, 
near  Millerstown,  Adams  county,  Pa.  His 
parents  were  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians.  He 
received  a  classical  education  and  was  des- 
stined  for  the  ministry,  but  on  his  gradua- 
tion at  Dickinson  College  in  1798,  he  chose 

27 


medicine  for  his  life  mission.  He  studied 
with  Dr.  McClellan,  of  Greencastle,  and 
graduated  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
in  1801.  He  first  commenced  the  practice  at 
Gettysburg,  but  in  1804  came  to  Harrisburg, 
where  he  remained  until  1835.  While  at 
Harrisburg  he  became  quite  distinguished 
in  his  profession  by  his  "  Treatise  on  the  Effi- 
cacy of  Kine  Pock  Innoculation  as  a  Preventa- 
tive of  the  Contagion  of  the  Small-Pox."  He 
originated  a  plan  for  the  general  distribution 
of  Kine  Pox  by  the  establishment  of  a  lottery, 
and  which  proved  successful.  In  the  war  of 
1812  he  was  one  of  the  first,  perhaps  the  first 
officer  who  offered  his  services  and  that  of  a 
cf)mpany  comprising  the  very  best  men  of 
Harrisburg,one  hundred  and  twelvestrong,to 
GovernorSnyder.  Astherewasnocall  formen 
this  company  dissolved  in  1813.  In  1835  Dr. 
Agnew  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  remained 
a  year.  From  thence  to  Pittsburgh,  Phila- 
delphia, and  finally  Butler,  where  he  resided 
witii  a  daughter.  In  1849,  while  on  his  way 
to  Temperanceville,  near  Pittsburgh,  he  was 
violently  thrown  from  a  packet-boat  into  the 
canal,  from  which  injury  or  shock  he  did  not 
recover,  dying  November  25,  1849.  Dr.  Ag- 
new was  a  ruling  elder  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  Harrisburg,  fifteen  years,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Robinson,  thus  summarizes  his  charac- 
ter: "He  was  a  man  of  notable  qualities  .  . 
both  in  social  and  professional  life,  as  well  as 
in  the  church,  he  was  promptly  accorded  a 
place  as  a  leader.  Pos.sessed  of  a  sound,  clear 
and  vigorous  mind,  well  disciplined  and  pol- 
ished by  a  thorough  course  of  collegiate  and 
professional  studies,  a  man  of  great  activity, 
of  fine  bearing  and  a  cultivated  gentleman, 
who  by  his  courtesy  made  his  presence  always 
welcome,  it  was  but  natural  that  he  should 
stand  at  the  head  of  his  profession  and  exert 
in  every  sphere  where  he  moved  a  controll- 
ing influence." 

Brown,  Mercer,  M.  D.,  was  born  near  West- 
chester, Chester  county.  Pa.,  April  22,  1795. 
After  receiving  a  thorough  academic  educa- 
tion, lie  began  the  study  of  medicine  under 
Dr.  King,  of  Columbia.  He  graduated  in 
181(),  and  located  at  McCall's  Ferry,  at  wliich 
point  many  persons  at  that  time  were  being 
employed  in  the  erection  of  the  bridge  over 
the  Susquehanna,  numbers  of  whom  had 
been  attacked  b}^  severe  sickness.  He  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Wrightsville,  where 
he  remained  several  years,  when  he  located 
in  Middletown,  and   until   his  death,  which 


362 


Bl  0  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OFEDIA 


took  place  February  19,  1871,  he  was  re- 
garded as  the  head  of  tlie  medical  profession 
there.  Dr.  Brown  was  long  a  prominent 
actor  in  local  and  State  politics.  He  was  a 
candidate  for  Congress  at  one  time,  but  his 
j^art}'  being  in  the  minority  in  the  district, 
he  was  defeated.  As  a  citizen  he  was  higlily 
respected  and  beloved.  Dr.  Brown  married 
Rebecca  Wolf!}',  daughter  of  .Jacob  Wolfl}', 
an  early  settler  at  Middletown.  She  died 
April  2,  18G1. 


Hammond,  John  W'esley,  M.  D.,  son  of 
Rezin  Hammond  and  Nancy  Lee,  was  born 
in  Anne  Arundel  county,  Md.,  in  1804.  His 
grandfather,  Maj.  Gen.  John  Hammond,  of 
tiie  British  array,  came  to  Maryland  in  17G4 
and  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Anne 
Arundel,  and  there  the  father,  Col.  Rezin 
Hammond,  was  born.  Young  Hammond 
.  received  his  education  mainly  from  private 
tutors  up  to  the  time  of  studying  medicine. 
He  graduated  in  medicine  at  the  Universitv 
of  Maryland  in  1825.  In  1832  Dr.  Ham"- 
mond  located  in  Somerset  county.  Pa.,  but  in 
1834  removed  to  Williams]iort(no\v  Mononga- 
hela  ('ity)  Washington  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
continued  the  practice  of  his  profession.  On 
the  election  of  Governor  Ritner  he  was  ap- 
I)ointed,  in  1836,  chief  clerk  in  the  auditor 
general's  office,  and  removed  to  Harrisbui-g. 
He  held  the  position  thr.  ugh  several  admin- 
istrations, and  was  afterwards  for  a  numlier 
of  years  cashier  of  the  State  treasury.  In 
1853  he  removed  to  Piiiladelphia,  where  he 
died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  Dr. 
Hammond  married,  in  1826,  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  Pinkney,  Esq.,  of  Annapolis, 
Md.,  and  a  niece  of  William  Pinkney,  the 
distinguished  lawyer,  senator  and  diplo- 
matist. They  iiad  children:  Rev.  J.  Pink- 
ney, Dr.  William  A.,  formerly  surgeon  gen- 
eral. United  States  army,  now  of  New  York 
City  ;  Elizabeth  Pinkney,  Charles  Elliot,  and 
Nathaniel  Hobart ;  of  tiiese,  the  first  two  and 
last  named  are  living.  Dr.  Hammond  is  lield 
in  the  highest  esteem  by  his  fellow-citizens 
for  his  urbanity,  integrity  and  intellectual 
abilitv. 


WiESTLiSG,  Benjamin  Joseph,  M.  D.,  son 
of  Samuel  Christopher  and  Anna  Maria 
(Bucher)  Wiestling,  was  born  Se])tember  16, 
1805,  in  Middle  Paxtang,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Harrisburg,  whither  his  father  removed 
in  1811,  and  also  the  old  Harrisburg  Aca- 


dem}^  He  began  the  stud}'  of  medicine 
with  his  father,  and  subsequently  continued 
under  the  instruction  of  his  elder  brothers, 
Drs.  Samuel  C.  and  Joshua  M.  He  attended 
lectures  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
graduating  from  tlie  medical  department  of 
tliat  institution  in  March,  1.S27.  He  located 
at  Middletown,  Pa.,  where  for  a  period  of 
over  fift}'  years  he  practiced  his  profession. 
Dr.  Wiestling  married,  June  23, 1831 ,  Matilda 
Eveline,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Hannah 
(Templin)  Ross,  of  Georgetown,  D.  C. 


Seiler,  Christian,  M.  D.,  the  second 
son  of  Christian  Seiler  and  Elizabeth  Wol- 
farth,  was  born  November  24,  1804,  in  South 
Hanover  township,  witiiin  a  few  miles  of 
Humnielstown,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  He 
received  the  rudiments  of  education,  priuci- 
{lally  German,  at  the  village  school  in  Hum- 
melstown.  tiie  English  language  at  tiiat  date 
being  spoken  by  few  families  of  the  neigli- 
borhood.  His  father  removing  to  Harris- 
burg in  1821 ,  the  son  was  sent  to  the  Harris- 
burg Academy,  while  that  institution  was 
under  the  care  of  Mr.  Hamilton  and  Mr. 
Todd.  He  was  of  an  inquiringturn  of  mind, 
an  attentive  student,  and  received  not  only 
a  good  English  education,  but  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  Latin  and  Greek.  At  an  early 
dav  he  iiad  a  predilection  for  military  life, 
and  in  tiie  year  1823  was  elected  captain  of 
of  a  juvenile  infantry  company  in  Harris- 
burg. He  commenced  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Cornelius  Luther,  a  young 
physician  of  great  prominence,  who  died  at 
Harrisburg  in  1827,  afterwards  completing 
iiis  studies  witli  Dr.  Samuel  Agnew.  He 
then  attended  the  lectures  at  Jeiferson  Medi- 
cal College,  Philadelphia,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  March,  1828.  Shortly  after  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Hali- 
fax and  vicinity,  where  his  knowledge  of  the 
German  language  gave  him  great  advantage. 
His  practice  extended  through  Upper  Pax- 
tang and  Mifflin  townships,  in  fact  through 
all  that  section  of  country'  lying  west  of 
Peter's  mountain.  He  was  succeeding  well, 
but  having  married  about  this  time,  he  con- 
cluded to  remove  to  Williamsport,  and  for  a 
while  abandoned  his  profession  for  the  mer- 
cantile business.  The  former  had  more 
charms  for  him,  and  after  practicing  a  year 
or  two  at  Williamsport  he  returned  to  Har- 
risburg, where  he  soon  secured  an  extensive 
practice,  which  he  retained  until  his  deatii. 
In  1844   he  was  elected   brigadier  general  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


363 


the  militia,  after  wliicli  lie  was  more  famil- 
iarly addressed.  At  the  outset  of  the  war 
with  Mexico  he  offered  his  services,  and  was 
witliin  afew  votes  of  obtaining  the  command 
of  a  regiment  of  volunteers. 

In  politics  Dr.  Seller  was  a  Democrat,  and 
was  several  times  nominated  for  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  thrice  for  Congre.ss,  but  although 
his  party  was  in  a  hopeless  minority,  it  was 
only  througli  strenuous  exertions  that  he  was 
defeated.  For  nearl}'  a  quarter  of  a  century 
he  served  as  a  director  of  the  })ublic  schools 
of  the  borough  of  Ilarrisburg,  and  took  a 
warm  interest  in  educational  matters.  Up 
to  about  1859  Dr.  Seiler  enjoyed  excellent 
healtli,  but  at  that  time  symptoms  of  disease 
of  the  heart  manifested  themselves,  and  he 
was  obliged  to  forego  mucii  of  the  fatigue  in- 
cident to  his  large  country  practice,  in  whicii 
he  was  greatly  relieved  by  his  son,  Robert 
H.,  who  had  studied  medicine  under  his 
father,  and  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in 
1860.  He  was  a  man  of  uncommon  endur- 
ance, and  too  frequently  he  yielded  to  tlie 
recpiests  of  his  patients.  In  February,  1873, 
after  a  long  ride  in  the  country,  wiiere  he 
was  detained  longer  than  perliaps  prudent, 
he  was  seized  with  a  chill,  and  pneumonia 
developed  itself.  From  this  attack  ho  never 
recovered,  dying  on  the  11th  of  February, 
]S73,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  Dr.  Seiler 
mtirried,  on  tlie  '2t)th  of  March,  183o,  Mary 
Hayes,  daughter  of  William  Hayes,  Esq.,  of 
Lewisburg,  Pa.  She  survived  her  husband 
only  five  years,  dying  at  Harrisburg  in  1878. 
Tiie}^  had  two  children  who  reached  ma- 
turity— Dr.  Robert  H.,  who  died  in  187G, 
and  Frank  S.,  died  December  20,  1879. 


RUTHEKFOKD,    WlLI-I.^M     WiLSON,    M.    D., 

son  of  William  Rutherford  and  his  wife 
Sarah  Swan,  was  born  November  23,  1805, 
in  Faxtang,  now  Swatara  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Fa.;  died  March  13,  1873,  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  Whiteside,  of  Harris- 
burg, then  a  prominent  physician,  in  1830; 
and  after  the  removal  of  Dr.  Whiteside,  con- 
tinued under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Dean. 
He  attended  the  lectures  of  .Jefferson  Medical 
College,  1830-32,  graduating  from  that  insti- 
tution on  March  7  the  latter  j'ear.  He  located 
first  at  Mechanicsburg  where  he  remained 
nearly  a  year,  when,  entering  into  partner- 
shi}>  witii  his  preceptor.  Dr.  Dean, he  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  where  for  forty  years  he  prac- 
ticed ills  profession,  winning  for  himself  an 


honorable  name  not  only  at  home  but  abroad. 
Dr.  Rutherford  had  what  few  physicians  pos- 
sessed— a  most  perfect  knowledge  of  diseases 
in  general;  and  it  mattered  little  what  case, 
his  diagnosis,  when  called  in  consultation, 
was  final  as  it  was  accurate.  An  extensive 
practice  of  over  forty  years  in  every  depart- 
ment of  medicine  and  surgery  gave  him  such 
a  perfect  knowledge  of  his  profession  that  the 
loss  of  his  advice  and  assistance  in  difficult 
cases  was  severely  felt  by  his  surviving 
Ijrethren.  For  eight  years  prior  to  his  death 
lie  had  been  the  regular  appointed  surgeon 
to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  al- 
though he  served  it  some  ten  years  previous 
when  called  upon.  From  the  organization 
of  the  old  Flarrisburg  Gas  Company  lie  was 
one  of  its  directors,  and,  at  his  death,  i)resi- 
dent  of  the  company.  In  numerous  other 
enterprises  he  took  an  active  part,  and  was 
always  one  of  Harrisburg's  public-spii'ited 
citizens.  His  life  was  an  eventful  one,  and 
one  fraught  with  many  incidents  of  interest. 
In  season  and  out  of  season,  in  life  and  in 
death,  his  good-natured  face  apjieared  upon 
the  stage,  gladly,  even  tearfully,  welcome. 
Dr.  Rutherford  married  Eleanor  Crain, 
daughter  of  Col.  Richard  M.  Grain. 


Ortii,  Edward  Lawrence,  M.  D.,  son  of 
Henry  Orth  and  his  wife  Rebecca  Rohm, 
was  born  January  4,  1814,  in  the  city  of 
]5altimore,  Md.,  and  died  April  15,  1801,  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  His  father  dying  while  the 
son  was  in  early  life,  the  mother  removed  to 
lier  former  home,  Harrisburg,  where  the  boy 
was  carefully  brought  up.  He  received  the 
education  of  the  borough  schools  and  entered 
the  Harrisburg  Acadeuiy  where  he  pursued 
the  higher  branches.  He  subsequently  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  Dr.  Luther  Reily,  afterwards  attend- 
ing tlie  lectures  of  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
of  Philadelphia,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated  March  12,  1834.  Locating  at 
Harrisburg,  he  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Reil}', 
which  continued  until  the  death  of  the 
latter.  Few  practitioners  became  as  suc- 
cessful as  these  noted  physicians  were,  and 
none  at  the  capital  were  ever  so  deservedl\' 
popular.  For  seven  years  after  the  death  of 
liis  life-long  friend.  Dr.  Orth  continued  his 
professional  life,  enjoying  not  only  a  large 
practice,  but  the  confidence  and  love  of  his 
numerous  patients.  As  a  physician  he  was 
learned,  skillful,  self-sacrificing,  sympathetic 


364 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  faithful.  In  the  communit}'  he  was 
greatly  beloved  for  his  unassuming,  gentle, 
and  gentlemanly  demeanor.  In  the  lan- 
guage of  a  contemporary,  "  he  was  a  man  of 
fine  culture,  an  attentive  and  conscientious 
physician,  quiet  and  unobtrusive  in  man- 
ner." For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  was  a 
director  of  the  Harrisburg  Bank,  and  served 
in  the  borough  council.  Dr.  Ortli  married 
Martha  Cummins  Kerr,  daugliter  of  Rev. 
William  Kerr,  of  Donegal,  and  Mary  Wilson, 
his  wife. 


age  of  sixty  years.  Dr.  Seller  married, 
March  19,  1842,' Anna  Elizabeth  Stigleman, 
daughter  of  .John  and  Rachel  Stigleman,  of 
Cumberland  county,  and  their  children  were 
Rev.  Galen  W.,  at  one  time  missionary  in 
India;  Dr.  John  P.,  a  bright  young  physi- 
cian, now  deceased,  and  Clara  A. 


Seiler,  Jeremiah,  M.  D.,  son  of  Jacob 
Seller  and  Christiana  Fireabend,  was  born 
June  27,  1818,  in  Middlesex  township,  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa.  His  early  education 
was  that  received  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
country,  but  he  applied  him.self  closely  to 
study  and  soon  fitted  himself  for  entering 
upon  his  life  work.  He  entered  the  office  of 
Dr.  \ai\  Huff,  of  Mechanicsburg,  and  sub- 
sequently that  of  Dr.  W.  W.  Dale,  under 
whose  instructions  he  pursued  the  course  of 
study  outlined  as  preparatory  to  his  attend- 
ing medical  lectures,  which  he  did  at  the 
University  of  Maryland,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  graduated  in  March,  1843.  He  im- 
mediately began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, locating  in  West  Hanover  township, 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  continued  until 
the  year  18G6,  when  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg. He  was  the  first  in  his  i^rofession  to 
administer  cliloroform  in  the  i)ractice  of  sur- 
gery west  of  Philadeljihia.  He  was  also  one 
of  tiie  first  of  the  interior  physicians  who  in 
1850,  when  typhoid  fever  made  its  appear- 
ance in  the  rural  sections,  to  comprehend  its 
nature  and  successfully  control  its  fatal  ef- 
fects. He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  as  a 
member  of  the  House  from  Dauphin  county 
in  1866,  serving  for  two  years.  The  charac- 
teristics which  were  peculiar  to  the  man  as  a 
physician  marked  his  action  as  a  legislator. 
He  was  studious  and  deliberate  in  all  that 
he  did  and  said,  with  a  natural  frankness 
and  unaffected  modesty  which  never  fail  as 
manifestations  in  tiie  character  of  a  truly 
honest  man.  While  a  member  he  served  on 
the  committees  of  divorce,  accounts,  pas- 
senger railways  and  chairman  of  that  of  the 
State  Library.  With  the  close  of  the  last 
session  of  his  official  position  he  resumed  his 
professional  duties,  and  was  actively  engaged 
therein  at  Harrisburg,  where  he  died  after  a 
brief  illness  on  November  16,  1878,  at  the 


Dock,  George,  second  child  of  William 
Dock  and  Margaret  Gilliard,  was  born  23d 
of  May,  1823,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Though 
of  very  delicate  constitution,  he  was  sent  to 
school  at  an  early  age,  and  received  a  liberal 
education.  In  September,  1840.  he  entered 
the  office  of  Prof.  William  E.  Horner,  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  as  a  private 
student.  Lie  matriculated  at  the  medical 
department  of  the  university  in  the  summer 
of  1841,  attended  the  course  of  lecturesat  the 
medical  institute,  and  having  pursued  the 
full  course  at  the  university,  session  of  1842, 
he  was  elected  resident  student  in  Blockley 
Hospital,  entering  up.on  ids  duties  the  1st  of 
May,  where  he  faithfully  served  one  year, 
gaining  no  little  reputation  as  a  thorough 
anatomist.  In  the  spring  of  1844  he  gradu- 
ated from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
Returning  to  his  home  at  Harrisburg,  he 
assumed  the  duties  of  his  profession.  In  the 
autumn  of  1845,  at  the  solicitation  of  Prof. 
Horner,  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and 
the  winter  following  was  engaged  by  the 
former  as  his  private  dissector  at  the  uni- 
versity. During  tlie  war  with  Mexico  he 
was  tendered  tlie  position  of  assistant  surgeon, 
Second  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
but  his  health  prevented  its  acceptance.  In 
January,  1847,  he  was  elected  physician  to 
the  Dauphin  county  almshouse,  where  he 
served  one  year.  Advised  to  take  a  sea 
voyage  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1849,  he  sailed  for  Europe,  and  while 
there  visited  the  different  hospitals  of  Paris 
and  London.  On  his  return  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  For  a  period  of 
thirteen  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  State  Lunatic  Hospital  at 
Harrisburg,  in  1854  elected  a  member  of  the 
Academyof  Natural  Sciencesof  Philadelphia, 
while  in  July  following  Pennsjdvania  Col- 
lege conferred  on  him  the  honorary  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts.  On  the  17th  of  March, 
1856,  he  was  appointed  professor  of  surgery 
in  Philadelphia  College  of  Medicine,  wdiich 
he  at  first  declined,  but  subsequently,  by 
great  persuasion,  he  accepted  the  position. 
During  the  winter  following,  his  healtii  be- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


365 


coining  seriously  impaired,  lie  was  coin])elled 
to  withdraw  from  all  professional  duties. 
In  1860  he  made  a  second  visit  to  Europe, 
and  upon  his  return  quietly  settled  down  in 
his  office,  regaining  a  handsome  practice  in 
his  specialty — diseases  of  the  eye.  In  1861 
he  was  commissioned  surgeon  of  the  Six- 
teenth regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
subsequent!}' placed  on  the  board  of  medical 
examiners  to  pass  on  the  qualifications  of 
candidates  for  appointment  on  the  medical 
staff  of  the  Pennsylvania  forces  in  thearmj'. 
From  this  time  forward  until  1868  his 
health  was  fair,  but  subsequently  became 
seriousl}'  impaired,  until  at  last  he  was 
obliged  to  relinquisii  entirely  the  duties  of 
his  profession.  On  tlielOth  of  August,  1874, 
he  was  suddenly  taken  with  a  hemorrhage 
of  the  lungs,  but  not  until  the  17th  of  Au- 
gust, 1875,  did  the  Messenger  come,  and  the 
spirit  of  George  Dock  pass  from  his  frail 
tenement."  Had  he  possessed  the  physical 
strength,  most  of  the  brilliant  suggestions  of 
his  gifted  and  active  mind  would  have  been 
carried  out  to  a  successful  result.  He  had 
by  nature  a  strongly  marked,  bold,  original, 
positive  and  incisive  mind.  As  it  was,  he 
was  never  idle.  He  made  his  mark  in  the 
profession  he  so  dearly  loved  and  highly 
honored.  Few  men  were  more  greatly 
esteemed,  for  he  was  to  all  genial  and  kind 
and  courteous.  Dr.  Dock  married,  July  30, 
1844,  Clara  S.  Rehrer,  daughter  of  Col. 
Tliomas  J.  Rehrer,  of  Harrisburg,  who,  with 
one  daughter,  survived  him. 


RuTHEHFoRD,  IjEvi,  M.  I).,  eldest  son  of 
John  and  Jane  (Meader)  Rutherford,  was 
born  in  Paxtang  in  the  year  1826.  After 
tiie  death  of  his  fatlier,  in  1832,  he  was 
taken  by  his  uncle,  William  Rutherford,  in 
whose  family  he  remained  until  he  attained 
his  majority.  He  received  his  education  and 
read  medicine  under  Dr.  W.  W.  Rutherford, 
of  Harrisburg,  graduating  at  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  in  March,  1849.  He  at 
once  began  tiie  practice  of  medicine  at  New 
Cumberland,  which  promised  bright,  but  his 
health  failing  lie  was  compelled  to  relinquisii 
the  duties  of  his  jirofession.  He  returned 
home  and  undertook  the  superintendence  of 
the  farm,  hoping  thereby  to  re-establish  his 
health.  This  proved  futile,  for  he  gradually 
failed  and  died  at  Harrisburg  on  the  8tli  of 
February,  1851.  Intelligent,  amiable  and 
upright.  Dr.  Levi  Rutherford's  young  life  left 
a  rose-tinted  memory  in  many  households. 


CoovER,  Eli  H.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Lower 
Allen  townshi[),  Cumberland  county.  Pa., 
October  21,  1827.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Anna  (Houser)  Coover,  natives  of  Cumber- 
land county.  The  fatiier  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  and  prominent  in  his  region. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  prominently  identified 
with  every  branch  of  church  work.  The 
parents  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children. 
Eli  H.  was  the  seventh  son  and  the  ninth 
child  of  the  family.  He  was  reared  in  Cum  ■ 
berland  count}',  and  received  his  education 
in  Mecbanicsburg  high  school.  He  took  up 
the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Augustus 
Vanhoff  and  later  under  Dr.  Andrew  Miller, 
of  Harrisburg.  He  attended  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  of  Philadelphia,  and  was 
graduated  therefrom  in  1850.  He  first  be- 
gan practice  in  New  Cumberland,  Cumber- 
land county,  and  continued  it  tiiere  from 
1850  to  1869.  He  then  removed  to  Harris- 
burg and  continued  the  practice.  In  earlier 
days  he  combined  the  practice  of  dentistry 
with  that  of  bis  profession,  and  is  now  one 
of  the  oldest  physicians  in  practice  in  the 
city.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Cumberland  County  Medical  Society.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Dauphin  County 
Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical  Society 
and  the  National  Medical  Association. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Har- 
risburg Academy  of  Medicine,  being  one 
of  a  committee  of  five  chosen  from  the 
county  medical  society  to  select  a  suitable 
place  to  hold  its  meetings.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  present  building  and 
was  chosen  the  first  president  of  the  academy, 
which  position  he  still  retains.  He  was  rail- 
road surgeon  of  the  Northern  Central  rail- 
way for  seventeen  years,  from  Bridgeport  to 
Gold.sboro.  He  served  as  United  States  pen- 
sion examiner  for  twelve  years,  from  1872  to 
1883,  inclusive.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Harrisburg  Bank,  Harrisburg  Trust  Com- 
pany, Central  Guarantee  Trust  and  Safe  De- 
posit Company,  Chestnut  street  and  Broad 
street  market  houses.  He  has  large  real 
estate  interests  in  Harrisljurg.  In  politics 
lie  is  a  Republican  and  was  formerly  an 
active  partisan.  He  was  married,  first,  in 
1851,  to  Miss  Annie  Hummell,  daughter  of 
David  Hummell,  Esq.,  of  Harrisburg,  who 
died  in  1889.  She  had  two  ciiildren, namely : 
David  H.,of  Denver,  Col., occulist, and  Harry 
R.,  M.  D.,  of  tliis  city.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried, October  1,  1890,  to  Miss  Elsie  Coover, 


366 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


of  Johnstown,  Pa.  He  is  not  a  member  of 
any  fraternal  society  or  club.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Lutheran  church  of  Harris- 
burg.  He  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  chari- 
table institutions. 


Portp:r,  George  W.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Huntingdon,  Pa.,  March  9,  1825,  son  of 
David  K  and  Josephine  (McUermott)  Por- 
ter. He  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  na- 
tive place  up  to  his  fourteenth  j'ear,  and 
subsequently  took  a  regular  college  course, 
graduating  from  Lafayette  College  in  tiie 
class  of  1846.  His  preceptor  in  the  study  of 
medicine  was  Dr.  Robb,  then  resident  phy- 
sician of  the  Eastern  Penitentiary,  and  sub- 
sequently he  attended  lectures  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  was  graduated  in  185U.  He  at 
once  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Har- 
risburg,  in  which  he  continued  over  twenty 
years  and  then  retired.  James  Buchanan 
appointed  him  postmaster  in  1857,  and 
Governor  I'olloek  made  him  trustee  of  the 
Hospital  for  the  Insane,  in  which  oflice  he 
served  thirteen  years.  He  was  designated  as 
prison  inspector  in  1883,  and  in  January, 
1893,  was  made  secretary  of  tiie  board.  Dr. 
Porter  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  up  to 
the  time  of  the  war  had  been  a  Democrat. 
He  was  a  warm  personal  friend  of  General 
Grant,  and  was  active  in  promoting  his  elec- 
tion to  the  Presidency.  Dr.  Porter  was 
drafted  for  service  in  Ihe  army,  but  was  re- 
jected on  account  of  impaired  liealth.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  freeing  of  the 
slaves.  Since  1877  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  Society  for  the  Prevention  of 
Cruelty  to  Animals,  being  a  prominent  and 
active  representative  of  the  Pennsylvania 
branch  of  that  society.  The  Doctor  is  largley 
interested  in  farming.  Before  the  incorpora- 
tion of  this  city  he  served  as  school  director. 
He  has  been  in  the  city  since  1839  but  has 
held  no  city  office.  The  Grant  and  Har- 
tranft  Club  made  iiim  president  of  the  organ- 
ization and  in  this  and  other  ways  he  was 
active  in  tiie  work  of  tlie  Reiiublican  party. 

Dr.  Porter  was  married  in  1854  to  Miss 
Emily  Reil} ,  daughter  of  Dr.  Luther  Reily, 
of  Harrisburg.  Sue  died  September  1, 1889. 
They  reared  six  children  :  George  W.,  pay- 
master of  New  York  Central  railroad,  re- 
sides at  New  York  ;  Rebecca  R.,  wife  of  Dr. 
W.  Trout,  of  Spring  Lake  Beach,  N.  J.;  Car- 
oline Reily,  wife  of  Melancthon  S.  Holwell, 
Harrisburg;  Josephine,  wife  of  William  B. 


Hammond,  of  Harrisburg;  Emma,  wife  of 
Lieut.  John  M.  Payer,  of  Navy  Yard,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  and  Elizabeth  Reily,  unmar- 
ried. Dr.  Porter  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  was  formerly  a  trustee,  and  has 
has  retired  from  active  church  work. 


O'CoNNER,  Mortimer,  M.  D.,  is  a  native  of 
county  Kerry,  Ireland.  He  received  a  classi- 
cal education.  He  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  at  Dublin,  in  October,  1846,  and 
graduated  there  May  6,  1851.  For  a  period 
of  ten  years  he  was  connected  with  the  Eng- 
lish service  as  medical  officer.  He  came  to 
America  permanently'  in  1863,  and  on  Feb- 
ruary 13, 1864,  married  Susan  Frances,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  M.  and  Elizabeth  E.  (Jacobs) 
Haldenian,  of  Harrisburg.  He  resides  in 
this  city  partially  in  the  practice  of  his  i)ro- 
fession. 


H.iiYES,  Joshua  Roberts,  M.  D.,  son  of 
Nathaniel  and  Matilda  (Barwick)  Hayes, 
was  born  in  1832,  in  New  Castle  county, 
Del.  He  received  his  primary  and  aca- 
demic education  at  New  Castle  Academy, 
and  entered  the  full  course  at  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  in  October,  1852,  graduat- 
ing from  the  medical  department  of  that  in- 
stitution in  1855,  having  pursued  previously 
the  study  of  medicine  under  the  late  Dr. 
John  B.  Briuton,  of  West  Chester,  and  the 
late  Dr.  George  W.  Norris,  of  PMuladelphia. 
After  graduating,  in  1855,  he  settled  in  the 
practice  of  bis  profession  at  Rock  Island,  111., 
and  while  there  for  a  period  of  five  years,  at- 
tended professionally  Abraham  Lincoln,  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas,  and  other  celebrities  in  the 
State  when  they  attended  the  courts  of  that 
county  and  district.  When  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  broke  out  Dr.  Hayes  returned  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  1861  was  commissioned 
surgeon  of  theSeventy -second  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  and  in  this  and  other 
commands  served  during  four  years.  For  a 
period  of  nine  months  he  was  in  medical 
charge  of  Camp  Cuitin,at  Harrisburg,  and 
while  there  examined  over  ten  thousand  re- 
cruits. He  was  in  seventeen  battles  of  the 
late  war,  and  performed  or  assisted  in  nearly 
eight  tliousand  capitiil  oj)erations.  In  1879 
he  established  at  Harrisburg  a  weekly  news- 
paper. The  Satnrdaii  Night,  of  which  he  was 
editor  and  proprietor.  He  was  the  [jatentee 
for  several  inventions  for  [)aving  and  devoted 
much  time  to  ihe  ]>roduction  of  artificial 
stone,  etc.,  and  also  for  the  utilizing  of  coal, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


367 


and  iiiacliinery  to  compress  the  dust  of  coal. 
In  addition  to  all  these  enterprises  tlie  Doctor 
found  time  to  practice  his  profession.  He 
married,  in  1858,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jolin 
and  Maria  Rutter,  of  West  Chester,  and  tlieir 
children  are:  Areta  \.  and  Jolin  Lawrence. 


Henderson,  James,  M.  D.,  son  of  Dr.  Will- 
iam Henderson,  was  born  in  the  year  1827, 
in  Daupiiin  count}'.  Pa.  He  received  a  good 
academical  education,  studied  medicine  witli 
his  fatlier  at  Hummelstown  and  graduated 
at  tlie  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1856. 
He  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Pliila- 
delphia,  subsequently  went  to  Pl3anouth, 
Ohio,  but  iiis  father  dying  in  1859  he  re- 
turned to  Hummelstown.  During  the  war 
for  the  Union  he  was  captain  of  com])any 
C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  was  at 
the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancel- 
lorsville,  being  wounded  at  the  latter.  He 
was  a  brave  officer  and  lield  in  high  esteem 
by  his  fellow-ofHcers  and  the  men  of  his 
company.  He  afterwards  went  into  service 
as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Two  Hundred 
and  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, and  after  the  war  resumed  his  profes- 
sion at  Hummelstown.  His  practice  became 
quite  extensive,  Ijut  his  healtli  subsequently 
failed  him  and  he  died  of  consumption  on 
Thursday,  April  12, 1880,  at  Hummelstown. 


Reily,  Geor(;e  Wolf,  M.  D.,  the  second 
son  of  Dr.  Luther  Reily,  and  bis  wife  Re- 
becca Orth,  was  born  in  1834,  in  Harrisburg. 
His  grandfatlier,  John  Reil}',  was  a  ca]jtain 
in  the  Pennsylvania  Line  of  the  Revolution, 
in  which  service  he  was  severely  wounded, 
and  afterwards  a  lawyer  of  considerable 
prominence  at  the  Daupiiin  county  bar.  His 
fatiier.  Dr.  Luther  Reily,  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  physicians  in  Central  Pennsyl- 
vania and  was  a  member  of  the  Twenty-fifth 
Congress.  The  son,  George  Wolf,  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Harrisljurg  Academy  and  at 
Yale  College,  from  wiiicli  latter  place  lie 
graduated  in  1854.  He  studied  medicine 
under  iiis  maternal  uncle.  Dr.  Edward  L. 
Orth,  and  in  1857  graduated  from  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  was  in  the  active  practice  of 
medicine  for  a  number  of  j'ears,  but  in  1870 
upon  l)eing  elected  president  of  the  Harris- 
burg National  Bank  he  relinquished  liis  pro- 
fession, holding  tills  position  until  liis  deatii, 
which  occurred  on  the  8th  of  February,  1892. 


He  was  a  director  in  many  of  tlie  leading 
corporations  of  Harrisburg  and  of  the  Union 
Tru,st  Company  of  Philadelphia.  He  was 
decidedly  philanthropic  in  charitable  work. 
In  politics  Dr.  Reily  was  a  Democrat,  and 
in  religious  belief  a  Pi'esbyterian,  being  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  Market  Square 
Presbyterian  church.  Dr.  Reilv  married,  in 
February,  1861,  Miss  Elizabeth  H.  Kerr, 
daughter  of  William  M.  Kerr,  who  with 
tiiree  daughters  and  one  son  survived  tlie 
lionored  husband  and  father. 


HuKSH,  George  R.,  M.  D.,  third  son  of 
Christian  and  Eliza  Hursh,  was  born  Febru- 
ary 6,  1835,  in  Fairview  townsiiip,  York 
county.  Pa.  He  was  brought  up  on  his 
fatlier's  farm.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was 
.sent  to  the  Cumberland  Valley  Institute, 
where  he  remained  about  eighteen  montiis. 
He  then  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  A.  J.  Her- 
man, of  Carlisle,  and  began  the  study  of 
medicine  and  in  due  time  attended  lectures 
in  Jefferson  Medical  College,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  March,  1857.  He  first  located  in 
New  Cumberland,  where  he  practiced  two 
years,  then  removed  to  New  Market,  York 
county.  In  September,  1864,  he  was  ap- 
l)ointed  assistant  surgeon  in  the  army,  and 
was  stationed  in  the  United  States  hospital, 
at  York,  Pa.  Toward  the  close  of  the  Re- 
bellion he  resigned  his  position,  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  medicine  at  New  Market.  In 
1868  lie  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania House  of  Representatives,  and  the 
following  year  re-elected.  In  1871  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg,  and  in  1876  he  was 
appointed  on  the  medical  staff  of  the  City 
Hospital,  Harrisburg.  Dr.  Hursh  married, 
in  1859,  Sarah  A.  Reiff. 


M.vkki.ey,  George  H.,  jNI.  D.,  pliarmacist 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pa., 
March  28,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  George  B. 
and  Elizabeth  (Hufnagle)  Marklej'.  George 
B.  Markley  was  born  in  Strasburg,  Lancas- 
ter county,  and  was  of  Hollandish  extrac- 
tion. He  spent  his  life  in  that  county.  For 
many  years  lie  carried  on. an  extensive  busi- 
ness in  merchandise.  He  was  a  prominent 
man  in  his  community.  He  died  August 
10,  1859.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Hufnagle,  was 
a  native  of  Lancaster,  whose  ancestors  also 
came  from  Holland.  She  was  the  last  sur- 
viving member  of  her  family,  and  died  Jan- 
uary 27,  1864.  They  liad  six  children  : 
Amos  H.,  died   in   childhood,  Elizabeth  M., 


368 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


wife  of  J.  M.  W.  Geist.  died  November  8, 
1893,  Henry  H.,  died  September  21,  ]8()8, 
John  B.,  living  in  Lancaster,  Dr.  George  H. 
and  Samuel  B.,  died  September  17,  1868. 

George  H.  Markley  passed  his  youtl}  in 
his  native  city  and  received  his  elementary 
education  in  her  public  schools.  He  took  a 
classical  course  at  Franklin  College,  Lancas- 
ter. In  1851,  at  tiie  close  of  his  collegiate 
course,  he  went  Philadelphia  and  became  a 
student  in  pharmacy.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  College  of  Pharmacy  with  the  class 
of  1854.  While  acquiring  a  theoretical 
knowledge  of  his  profession,  from  1851  to 
1855,  he  was  applying  his  knowledge  and 
attaining  to  skill  through  practice  by  en- 
gagement in  the  drug  store  of  Peter  Will- 
iamson &  Son.  In  1855  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine  and  graduated  from  the  Penn- 
sylvania Medical  College  in  1858.  He  prac 
ticed  medicine  in  Lancaster  for  a  few  years. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  drug  business  for 
himself  in  that  city  until  18G(J,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg  and  has  since  been  in 
business  here. 

In  1864  Dr.  Markley  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  the  Tenth  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
After  a  short  term  of  service  he  was  honor- 
ably discliarged.  Snice  the  erection  of  the 
opera  house  in  1873  he  has  been  connected 
in  various  ways  with  that  enterprise.  He  is 
now  senior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Markley 
&  Co.,  managers  of  the  o|)era  house. 
George  H.  Markley  was  married  in  Harris- 
burg, December  2,  1862,  to  Emma,  daughter 
of  Charles  A.  and  Barbara  (Keller)  Snyder, 
early  settlers  of  Harrisburg.  They  have 
three  daughters  living :  Helen  L.,  wife  of 
Simon  B.  Cameron,  residing  in  Lancaster 
county  ;  Elva  G.,  wife  of  Ralph  Shaw,  Esq., 
residing  at  Little  Falls,  N.  J.;  Katheriue  E., 
residing  with  her  parents. 

Dr.  Alarkley  is  a  staunch  Republican,  of 
the  old  Whig  stock.  He  has  represented 
the  Third  ward  of  Harrisburg  as  school  di- 
rector for  one  term,  and  the  Fourth  ward  as 
councilman  one  term.  He  is  a  member  of 
Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R. 


Duff,  William  L.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  county.  Pa.,  October  10,  1844. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Barbara  (Randolph) 
Duff,  of  that  county.  They  were  farmers  by 
occupation,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
William  L.  was  the  youngest  of  their  seven 
children.     Jonathan,  the  eldest,  was  an  at- 


torney-at-law,  located  in  Illinois,  and  was 
judge  of  the  Livingston  county  court  for 
eigiit  years;  died  in  1881,  a  prominent  man. 
Edmund,  another  brother,  graduated  from 
the  Jefferson  Medical  College  in  1861,  lo- 
cated in  Huntingdon  county,  and  died  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year.  There  were  three 
sisters :  Mary  A.,  who  married  Armstrong 
Campbell,  both  died  in  Illinois,  where  they 
resided  for  more  than  thirty  years;  Mrs.  Dr. 
Stewart,  of  Iowa,  and  Mrs.  Black,  of  Hunting- 
don county  ;  and  Mordecai,  farmer,  of  Stone 
Valley,  Huntingdon  county.  Pa.  The  father 
died  in  1894,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years, 
and  the  mother  died  in  1884,  aged  seventy- 
eight  years.  William  L.  was  reared  in  his 
native  county.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  Pine  Grove  Seminary,  Centre  county. 
Pa.,  and  the  Stone  Valley  Academy.  He 
clerked  in  a  store  for  one  year.  He  read 
medicine  under  Dr.  Mattliew  Miller,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania In  1868.  He  began  the  practice  of 
medicine  at  Stone  Valley.  In  1874  he 
graduated  from  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  In  1880  he  came  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  has  since  practiced. 
He  conducts  a  general  j)ractice,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Dauphin  County  Medical 
Society.  He  has  served  as  examining 
physician  for  insurance  companies.  He  is 
Democratic  in  his  political  views  and  is  a 
member  of  the  ]\Iasonic  order.  The  doctoi 
was  married  in  February,  1868,  to  Miss 
Tillie  Miller,  daughter  of  lir.  Matthew  Miller, 
of  his  native  county.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, namely:  Mabel  E.,  wife  of  John  P. 
McPherran,  son  of  Dr.  McPherran,  of  Spruce 
Creek,  Huntingdon  county.  Pa,;  Edmund 
L.,  graduate  from  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  of  Baltimore ;  and  Grace  B., 
who  lives  with  her  father.  Dr.  Duff  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  church.  He  is  district 
steward  in  this  church,  and  also  financial 
steward. 


CoovER,  Joseph  Henry,  M.  D.,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Sarah  (Stay man)  Coover,  was 
born  June  15,  1838,  in  Mechanicsburg, 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.  He  was  educated 
at  the  Cumberland  Valley  Institute, Meclian- 
icsburg,  where  he  was  [)repared  for  entering 
the  junior  class  of  a  college  course,  but  de- 
termining to  lead  a  professional  life,  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Eli 
H.  Coover,  in  the  fall  of  1860,  and  later  with 
Prof.  D.  Hayes  Agnew,  of  Philadelphia,  at 


i 


DAUFHIN  COUNTY. 


369 


tending   Jefferson    College    lecture    course, 
1S(j1-()2.     In  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  he 
was  api)ointed   by  Governor  Curtin   one  of 
the  commissioners  to  investigate  the  sanitary 
condition  of  the  Pennsylvania  soldiers  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.     Upon  his  return  he 
went  before  the  United  States  Medical  Board, 
at  Philadelphia,  for  examination,  and  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  reserve  of  the  Fifth 
United  States  artillery.  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
In  the  fall  of  1862  he  returned   to  college 
where  he  graduated  in  March,  1863.    He  was 
afterwards  sent  as  assistant  surgeon   to  the 
general    hospital,    Nashville,   Tenn.;     from 
thence  to  the  officers'  liospital,  at  Annai)o]is, 
Md.,  where  he  remained  until  the  winter  of 
1864,  performing,  as  Surgeon  Baers,  U.  S.  A., 
says,  "  some  of  the  most  difficult  operations 
in  surgery,  and  discharging  his  professional 
duties  at  all  times  in  a  highly  scientific  man- 
ner, reflecting  both  credit  to  himself  and  honor 
to  tlie  medical    fraternity."     The  winter  of 
1864-65    was   spent  in   college  and  in   the 
wards  of  the  different  hospitals  of  the  cit}'  of 
Philadelphia.      The  following    spring    Dr. 
Coover  located  at   Harrisburg,  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.     Desiring  to  lessen  the 
burden  of  liis  })ractice,  he  was  led  to  devote 
special  attention  to  diseases  of  the  ej'e,  ear 
and  throat,  and  with  this  object  in  view  he 
went  to  Europe,  where,  during  the  years  of 
1878-79,  he    pursued    his  studies  in    these 
specialties   referred    to    in    the    hospitals   of 
Vienna  and  London,  under  the  most  emi- 
nent and  skillful  surgeons  and  physicians  in 
the  world. 

Dr.  Coover  married,  in  1865,  Flora  L., 
daughter  of  Col.  John  Wolford,  of  York 
Springs,  Adams  county.  Pa. 


Rahter,  Charles  A.,  M.  D.,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  born  August  8,  1839,  near  Minden,  on 
the  Weser,  Westphalia,  Prussia,  is  the  son 
of  Cliristian  and  Charlotte  (Wehmeir)  Rali- 
ter.  His  father.  Christian  Rahter,  tlie  .son 
of  a  farmer,  was  born  in  Prussia,  in  the  year 
1805,  and  having  an  elder  brother  who  in- 
herited tiie  paternal  esta  e,  he.  Christian, 
learned  the  trade  of  coacii-making,  immi- 
grated to  Pennsylvania  in  1842,  and  settled 
at  Conestogii  Centre,  and  emoved  to  Littles- 
town,  Adams  county,  in  the  spring  of  1847. 
Here  Charles  A.  attended  the  public  schools  ; 
in  1858  he  entered  the  classical  institute  at 
Hanover,  Pa.,  and  afterwards  took  a  partial 
course  at  the  Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettys- 
burg.    In  1859  he  taughtschool    at   Littles- 


town,  Pa.,  during  one  session,  and  then  at- 
tended the  Littlestown  Classical  Institute 
for  one  year.  During  the  winter  of  1860-Gl 
he  was  engaged  as  princij>al  of  Carroll  Acad- 
emy, Union  Mills,  Md. 

In  the  meantime  his  father  had  removed 
to  Woodsborough,  Md.,  and  Dr.  Rahter  com- 
menced the  stud}^  of  medicine  there  in  1862, 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  (-.  W.  Benson ; 
matriculated  at  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Maryland,  1803,  and  tiie 
following  year  attended  lectures  at  the  Long 
Island   College   Hospital,   Brooklyn,   N.  Y., 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1864.    Soon  after 
graduating.  Dr.  Rahter  entei-ed  the  Union 
service  as  acting  assistant  surgeon,  anil  for  a 
time    was   stationed    at   Fairfax   Seminary, 
United  States  General  Hospital,  near  Alex- 
andria, Va.    Early  in  1865  he  was  transferred 
to  Campbell   United   States  Army  General 
Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C,  where   he  re- 
mained until  June  1  of  tiie  same  year,  when 
he  resigned   and   went  to   Harrisburg,  Pa., 
and  opened  an  office  July  1,  1865.     In  Au- 
gust, 1865,  Dr.  Rahter  was  appointed  exam- 
ining  surgeon  for   pensions   at   Harrisburg, 
and  continued  to  discharge  tlie  duties  of  this 
office  until  August  20,  1870,  when   he  re- 
signed to  accept  an  appointment  as  acting 
surgeon  in  the  German  army.     Dr.  Raiiter 
sailed  for  Liverpool  on  the  steamshiji  City 
of  Washington,  Inman  line,  from  New  York, 
in  tlie  latter  ]5art  of  August,  1870,  with  orders 
to  report  to  the  German  consul  at  Antwerp. 
Upon  arriving  at  that  place  he  was  ordered 
to  report  to  Surgeon  General  SchoUer,  Eightii 
army  corps,  at  Coblentz  on  the  Rhine,  and 
was  there  assigned   to  <'uty  as  assistant  sur- 
geon in  the  Garrison  Hospital  of  that  city. 
Alter  serving  for  a  period  of  four  weeks.  Dr. 
Rahter  was  promoted  to  be  staff'  surgeon,  and 
was  ordered  to  St.  Johann,  Saarbincken,  and 
placed  in  charge  of  the  Barracken  Lazarett 
of  tliat  city.     In  January,  1871,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  be  surgeon-in-cliief  to  the  Garrison 
Lazaretto  in  addition  to  tiie  Barracken  Laza- 
rett, continuing   to   serve   in    this   capacity 
until  July  15,  1871.  when  he  resigned  from 
tlie  service.    After  leaving  the  German  army 
Dr.  Rahter  made  a  tour  of  Germany,  France, 
Switzerland,    Italy.    Austria,    England    and 
Belgium,  returning  to  Harrisburg,   Pa.,-;in 
1872,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  medicine. 
He   was   one   of  the  founders,  in  January, 
1866,  ofthe  Dauphin  County  (Pa.)  iMedical 
Society,  president  in   1876;  is  a  member  of 
the  American   Medical    Association  ;  of  the 


370 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Medical  Society  of  the  State  of  Peiius3'lvania 
since  1868  ;  of  the  Philadeljihia  Pathological 
Society;  of  the  Harrisburg  Pathological  So- 
ciety; charter  member  of  the  Harrisburg 
Academy  of  Medicine;  was  president  of  the 
Harrisburg  Board  of  Pension  Examiners 
1885-89;  a  member  of  the  Harrisburg  school 
board  for  three  years,  and  a  member  of  Per- 
severance Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.  Tlie 
Doctor  married,  November  11,  1875,  Miss 
Mary  R.  Keffer,  of  Harrisburg,  an  accom- 
plished vocalist.     They  have  one  child  liv- 


ing, John  Howard  Rahter. 


Fager,  Ch.\rles  Buffington,  M.  D.,  son 
of  Dr.  John  Henry  and  Mary  (Buffington) 
Fager,  was  born  in  the  year  1841,  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa.  He  was  educated  at  tiie  public 
schools  of  Harrisburg,  read  medicine  with 
his  father,  and  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  medical  department,  in 
1864,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Harrisburg.  He  was  a  medical 
cadet  in  tlie  United  States  army  in  1862,  and 
contract  assistant  surgeon  in  1864,  vaccine 
physician  of  Harrisburg,  1860-67,  and  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Homeopathic  Medical 
Society,  Dauphin  county,  in  1866.  Dr.  Fager 
married  Susan,  daughter  of  Valentine  Hum- 
mel, of  Harrisburg.  He  was  a  member  of 
tlie  board  of  control  of  the  city  scliools  in 
18S4,  and  was  president  of  same  in  1887, 
1888  and  1889. 


Oktii,  Hexky  L.,M.  D.,  superintendent  of 
tlie  Pennsylvania  State  Lunatic  Hospital  at 
Harrisburg,  was  born  in  Llarrisburg,  Pa., 
August  17,  1842,  son  of  Edward  Lawrence 
and  Martha  Oummings  (Kerr)  Orth.  His 
grandfatlier,  Henry  Ortli,  settled  in  Balti- 
more, where  he  died  in  1816.  Here  Ed- 
ward Lawrence  Orth,  father  of  Henry  L., 
was  born  January  4,  1814.  After  the  death 
of  his  father  Edward  Lawrence  removed  with 
his  mother's  family>to  Harrisburg,  where  tlie 
son  was  educated  in  tlie  borough  schools  and 
the  Harrisburg  Academy.  He  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  his  brother-ii'.-law, 
Dr.  Luther  Reily,  and  subsec^uently  pursued 
his  studies  under  the  tuition  of  Dr.  George 
McClelland.  He  was  graduated  from  Jeffer- 
son Medical  College  March  12,  1834,  and 
began  practice  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  had 
eminent  success.  He  died  April  15,  1861. 
He  married  Martha  Cummings  Kerr,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  James  Kerr,  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, who  married  Mary,  only  daughter  of 


James  Wilson  and  his  wife  Mary  Elder, 
(laughter  of  Rev.  John  Elder.  They  had 
four  children  :  Mary,  who  married  Jacob  F. 
Seller,  superintendent  of  the  Harrisburg 
Academy,  Henry  L.,  James  Wilson,  who 
married  Miss  Bertha  E.  Ross,  and  Rebecca 
Reily. 

Henr}'  L.  Orth  entered  Harrisburg  Acad- 
emy and  from  there  went  to  Yale  College 
in  1859,  remaining  until  1861,  when  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  api)ointed 
acting  medical  cadet  in  the  service,  and  in 
1863  commissioned  medical  cadet  in  the  regu- 
lar army,  in  which  he  remained  until  1865. 
In  May,  1866,  he  was  graduated  from  the 
medical  departn:ent  of  the  LTniversity  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  soon  after  located  in  his 
native  city.  He  was  apjiointed  in  1866  sur- 
geon of  the  Northern  Central  Railway  Com- 
pany and  in  1873  surgeon  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company.  In  August  of  the 
latter  year  he  was  elected  visiting  surgeon  of 
the  Harrisburg  IIosi)ital,  and  from  1873  to 
1884  was  president  of  the  board  of  United 
States  pension  surgeons  at  Harrisburg.  In 
1884,  at  the  organization  of  the  Harrisburg 
Club,  Dr.  Orth  was  elected  one  of  the  gov- 
erning committee.  In  1889  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  trustee  of  the  Pennsylvania  State 
Lunatic  Hospital  at  Harrisburg,  and  on 
August  28,  1891,  was  elected  superintendent 
and  physician  of  the  same. 

Dr.  Orth  was  married,  June  30,  1868,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Bridgeman  Dixon,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Shipley  and  Sarah  Edwards 
(Bridgeman)  Dixon,  of  Wilmington,  Del., 
and  of  English-Quaker  origin.  Dr.  Orth 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Market 
Square  Presbyterian  church,  of  Harrisburg. 
Dr.  Orth  was  a  member  of  the  International 
congre.sses  held  in  1876  and  1886  and  a  dele- 
gate from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  president  of  the  Medical  Society  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  in  1893. 

Points  in  the  genealogy  of  the  Orth  fauiily 
are  interesting  as  part  of  the  local  history  of 
the  Commonwealth.  Balzer,  or  Balthaser, 
Orth  was  born  May  5,  17U3,  and  emigrated 
from  his  home  in  the  Palatinate,  Germany, 
to  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  about  1730.  He 
came  from  a  ver}' old  family,  from  whom  was 
derived  the  name  of  the  village  of  Orth,  sit- 
uated on  the  right  bank  of  the  Danube,  about 
fifteen  miles  east  of  \'ienna,  and  which  was 
settled  about  1170  by  Hartneid  von  Orthe, 
who  purchased  the  village  and  estates  sur- 
rounding it,  founded  a  church  and  erected  a 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


371 


castle.  Tlic  whole  property  remained  in 
possession  of  the  family  for  several  genera- 
tions, when  the  proprietor,  about  the  end  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  sold  out  and  re- 
moved to  Moravia  and  later  to  the  Rhino. 
Balzer  Orth  had  warranted  to  him  on  No- 
vember 25,  1735,  three  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  Lebanon  township.  He  died  October  20, 
1788  ;  his  wife  died  March  29,  1773.  Their 
children  were:  Adam,  John,  and  Balzer. 
Adam,  the  eldest,  was  born  March  10,  1733, 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  brouglit  up  amid 
the  dangers  and  struggles  of  pioneer  .life. 
During  tlie  French  and  Indian  war  he  com- 
manded a  company,  and  in  1769  was  one  of 
the  commissioners  of  the  county  of  Lancas- 
ter. During  the  Revolution,  although  ad- 
vanced in  years,  he  was  identified  witii  tlie 
struggle  and  appointed  sub-lieutenant  of 
Lancaster  county  March  12, 1777.  Upon  the 
formation  of  Dauphin  county  he  served  as  a 
representative  in  the  General  Assembly  in 
1779  and  in  1780.  He  was  opposed  to  tlie 
adoption  of  tlie  Federal  Constitution  and 
was  active  in  the  Harrisburg  conference  in 
1788.  For  a  long  time  he  owned  and  operated 
New  Market  forge,  which  at  his  death  he  be- 
queathed to  his  son  Henry.  He  was  one  of 
tlie  pioneers  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  in 
Lebanon  county.  Oolonel  Orth  married, 
May  24,  1757,  Catharine  Kuctier,  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Barbara  Kuciier,  of  Lebanon. 
Their  children  were :  Elizabeth,  John,  Ro- 
siui,  Joseph,  Maria  Elizabeth,  Catharine,  Rc- 
gina.  Christian  Henry,  and  Joanna.  Of 
these  Christian  Henry  Orth  died  in  Baltimore 
in  1810.  He  received  a  good  English  educa- 
tion and  was  brought  up  in  the  iron  business. 
At  the  death  of  his  father  he  became  the 
owner  of  the  New  Market  forge.  In  1801  he 
was  elected  State  senator  and  served  tliree 
years.  He  was  afterwards  appointed  flour 
inspector  of  the  port  of  Philadelphia,  settled 
in  that  city  and  engaged  in  business,  remain- 
ing there  until  the  war  of  1812,  when  bo 
removed  to  Baltimore.  He  was  married  in 
1794  to  Rebecca  Rahm,  daughter  of  Conrad 
and  Catiiarine  (Weiser)  Rahm.  She  died  in 
Harrisburg,  December  31,  1843.  Adam 
Henry,  a  son  born  to  them  in  1798,  was  edu- 
cated as  a  lawyer,  and  was  district  attorney 
for  Dauphin  county  in  1827-28,  and  was 
clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Cox. 


Hutton,  a  native  of  Cumberland  county.  Pa. 
Joseph  Hutton  came  to  Dauphin  county 
when  a  young  man,  was  a  contractor,  and 
was  afterwards  appointed  State  commissioner 
of  canals.  He  died  while  holding  tiuit  office, 
in  December,  1847.     He  was  a  public  spirited 


citizen,  and  belonged  to  the 


Guards, 


of  Harrisburg. 

Dr.  John  C.  Hutton  was  educated  at  Penn- 
sylvania College,  Getty.sburg.  His  preceptor 
in  medicine  was  Dr.  R.  A.  Martin,  of  Har- 
risburg. He  was  graduated  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  medical  depart- 
ment, in  1867,  and  began  practice  at  Port 
Royal,  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  where  he  con- 
tinued for  four  years.  He  returned  to  Har- 
risburg, and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  and 
best  known  practitioners  in  the  city.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Dauphin  County  Medical 
Society;  is  one  of  its  board  of  managers, 
and  has  served  as  president.  Dr.  Hutton  is 
also  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Society, 
and  was  elected  delegate  to  the  Americin 
Medical  Association,  but  did  not  attend  the 
meeting.  For  a  few  years  lie  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Harrisburg  board  of  healtli, 
and  has  done  a  grand  work  for  the  city. 
He  was  on  the  first  staff  of  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  the  City  Hospital,  and  has  for 
years  been  physician  to  the  hospital. 

Dr.  Hutton  has  served  on  the  Harrisburg 
school  board — for  the  unexpired  ternr  of 
Mayor  John  Detweiler,  and  during  one  full 
term.  In  1882-83-84  he  was  president  of 
common  council.  He  is  a  Rej)ublican,  and 
active  in  politics.  He  belongs  to  several 
secret  fraternal  orders.  The  Doctor  was 
married,  in  1868,  to  Miss  Carrie  Mooney,  of 
Port  Royal,  Juniata  county.  Pa.  She  died 
in  1S82,  leaving  three  children:  James,  of 
Harrisburg,  Carrie,  and  Grace.  Dr.  Hutton 
was  married  again,  in  1886,  to  Miss  Jennie 
C.  Officer,  of  New  Mexico.  They  liave  two 
ciiildren  :  Margaret  and  Dorotiiy.  The 
Doctor  isa  member  of  Zion  Lutheran  cliureh. 


Hutton,  John  C,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, I'a.,  December  5, 1845,  son  of  Joseph 


Cook,  I.  Elmer,  M.  D.,  was  born  at  Fiori- 
dale,  Adams  county,  Pa.,  January  27,  1843. 
He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  E.  and  Mary  (Elden) 
Cook,  the  former  a  native  of  York  county, 
the  latter  born  in  county  Armagh,  Ireland. 
His  father  was  an  honored  resident  of  Flori- 
dale  all  his  life,  and  died  there  in  1879,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
His  motlier  died  at  Floridale  at  tlie  age  of 
eigiity-nine  years.  Tliey  liad  five  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living,  namely  :   Frank,  of 


372 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Cambrirlgeport,  Mass.,  Charles,  residing  in 
the  homestead,  Benjamin,  residing  in  Ciim- 
herland  county.  Pa.,  and  I.  Elmer.  A  sister 
Martha  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 
The  fatlier  was  engaged  principallj'  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  I.  Elmer  received  a  jiri- 
mary  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany G,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-eighth  re- 
giment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered 
out  at  Harrisburg  in  June,  1865.  He  par- 
ticipated in  all  the  principal  battles  fought 
by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  was 
severelv  wounded  in  the  right  leg  in  the 
battle  of  Fisher's  Hill,  Va.,  October  10, 18G4, 
and  was  taken  to  the  hospital  till  convales- 
cent. After  his  discharge  from  the  army  he 
returned  home  and  resumed  his  studies 
under  private  tutorship  in  Philadelphia, 
and  completed  a  collegiate  course.  He  be- 
gan the  reading  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  H. 
Marsden,  of  York  Sulphur  Springs,  Adams 
count}^  and  at  the  same  time  attended  lec- 
tures at  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of 
Philadelphia.  He  matriculated  with  the 
class  of  1866,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
same  institution  with  the  class  of  1868. 
He  practiced  medicine  for  three  years  in 
Hanover,  York  county.  At  the  expiration  of 
this  time  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  and  has 
been  continuously  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession there  for  twenty-three  years.  He  was 
married  at  Harrisburg,  September,  24,  1885, 
to  Sarah  T.  Matliews,  widow  of  the  late  Gen. 
A.  Mathews,  of  Lewistown,  Pa.,  and  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Margaretta  Shimp.  They 
have  no  ciiildren. 


McGowAN,  Hiram,  M.  D..  was  born  on  the 
"Octorora,"  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  No- 
vember 6,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Knott)  McGowan.  He  received 
his  education  at  Unionville,  Chester  county, 
and  at  Lewisburg,  Union  county,  Pa.  He 
then  went  to  Philadelphia  and  began  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  C.  P.  Tutt,  at- 
tended the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
graduated  from  the  medical  department  of 
that  institution  in  1868.  On  May  21  of  that 
year  he  located  in  Harrisburg  and  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  for  many 
3'ears  has  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
learned,  skillful  and  successful  practitioners 
of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of  the  county 
and  State  medical  societies,  and  of  the 
American  Medical  Association.     In  the  or- 


ganization of  the  Harrisburg  Academ}^  of 
Aledicine,  he  took  an  active  part,  being 
chairman  of  the  committee  to  formulate 
plans,  and  one  of  the  instigators  of  the  same. 
He  is  the  first  vice-president  of  that  institu- 
tion. During  the  Rebellion  he  served  in  the 
Sficond  Pennsylvania  militia  under  Colonel 
Wright,  and  in  Captain  Lambert's  Indepen- 
dent Cavalry  company,  of  Harrisburg.  He 
is  a  staunch  member  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  same. 


Gerhard,  Jerome  Z.,  son  of  William  T. 
and  Elizabeth  (Seibert)  Gerhard,  was  born 
November  6,  1842,  in  Cherryville,  North- 
amptoii  county,  Pa.  He  was  prepared  for 
college  in  the  high  school  at  Lancaster,  Pa  , 
and  the  preparatory  department  of  Franklin 
and  Marshall  College,  and  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  1864.  He  entered  the 
office  of  Dr.  John  L.  Atlee,  of  Lancaster,  in 
September  of  that  year,  and  graduated  from 
the  LTniversity  of  Penn.sylvania  in  1868,  and 
at  once  opened  an  office  in  Lancaster,  where 
he  remained  nearly  two  years  in  active  prac- 
tice. During  this  time  he  was  visiting  phy- 
sician to  the  Children's  Home,  and  one  of 
the  physicians  to  the  Lancaster  Count}'  Hos- 
pital. February  1,  1870,  he  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  first  assistant  physician  of  the 
Harrisburg  Hospital,  and  February  12, 1881 
succeeded  Dr.  Curvven  as  superintendent, 
which  position  he  held  until  November  1, 
1801.  During  the  year  1877  he  spent  five 
months  on  the  continent,  and  thoroughly 
inspected  the  methods  of  treatment  practiced 
in  hospitals  there. 

Dr.  Gerhard  is  a  member  of  the  Dauphin 
County  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical 
Society  and  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion ;  also  the  Neurological  Society  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  the  American  Academy  of 
Medicine.  He  was  married  in  1881  to  Miss 
Mary  Hill,  daughter  of  George  Hill,  a  promi- 
nent attorney  of  Sunbury,  Pa.,  and  the\' 
have  two  children,  Elizabeth  Hill  and  Alice 
Hill.  The  Doctor  is  an  active  member  and 
an  elder  in  the  German  Reformed  church. 
He  is  independent  in  his  political  views. 


Sensenig,  Isaac  B.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Earl  townshiii,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 0,  1847.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Eliza  (Bowman)  Sensenig. 

The  Sensenig  family  is  of  German  an- 
cestry, two  brothers  having  come  to  America 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


373 


late  in  the  eighteenth  century,  and  landed 
at  the  ]>ort  of  Philadelphia.  Here  they 
separated,  one  locating  in  the  upper  end  of 
Cumlxn-land  Valley,  near  Hagerstovvn,  Md., 
the  other,  who  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  bianch  of  the  family, 
settled  in  the  Conestoga  Valley,  in  Earl 
townsliip.  Prior  to  the  last  three  genera- 
tions tlie  members  of  this  latter  branch  of 
the  family  have  all  engaged  exclusively  in 
quietagricultural  ]iursuits.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Meunonite  Church,  where  adher- 
ents must  agree  not  to  participate  in  politics, 
trade  or  commerce;  not  to  vote  at  any  po- 
litical election  ;  not  to  fill  an  office  of  trust  or 
public  honor;  not  to  go  to  law  on  the 
offensive;  not  to  take  up  arms  to  defend 
life  or  property;  a  peaceable,  law-abiding 
people,  promptl}'  paying  tax  assessments,  a 
peo[>le  peculiar  to  themselves,  b)' themselves, 
and  for  themselves;  sober,  industrious  and 
progressive,  none  ever  being  found  in  jail, 
in  the  almshouse  or  on  public  charity.  But 
in  the  last  three  generations  the  children 
are  breaking  away  from  those  peculiar 
domestic,  economic  and  church  tenets,  and 
are  taking  an  active  j)art  in  the  affairs  of  the 
world  ;  joining  different  church  denomina- 
tions, and  engaging  in  politics,  commerce, 
trade,  science  and  art.  The  father  was  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Earl  township.  He  is 
now  retired.  The  mother  was  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Bowman,  pioneer 
settlers  of  Breakneck  township,  Lancaster 
county,  from  wliom  the  town  of  Bowmans- 
ville  in  that  county  derives  its  name.  The 
mother  is  not  living.  They  had  four  .sons, 
namely :  Isaac  B.,  Israel,  residing  on  the 
homestead,  Peter,  who  died  in  infanc}%  and 
Samuel,  wdio  died  in  1892. 

Isaac  B.  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his 
native  township,  receiving  his  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  When  a  little 
over  fifteen  years  old,  in  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
the  three  months'  militia.  In  the  spring  of 
1864  he  re-enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, joining  the  One  Hundred  and 
Ninety-fifth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers. He  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Washington,  D. 
C.  He  returned  home,  and  began  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  Isaac  Winters,  of 
Hingletown,  Earl  township.  He  attended 
Belleview  Hospital  Medical  College,  of  New 
York,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1869.  He 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Denver, 
Lancaster   county,   at  once,  and  continued 


there  for  six  years.  In  1875  he  removed  to 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  practiced  there  six 
years.  In  1881  he  returned  to  Lancaster 
county,  and  took  up  the  practice  of  medicine 
at  Whitmore,  and  continued  there  till  1886. 
During  the  two  subsequent  years,  from  April, 
1886,  to  September,  1888,  he  w^as  resident 
physician  and  superintendent  of  Lancaster 
County  In.sane  Asylum.  In  September,  1888, 
he  located  in  Harrisburg.  He  was  married 
in  Earl  township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  in 
July,  1868,  to  Mary  Eby,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Mary  (Resii)  Eby,  Mr.  Eby  being  a 
prominent  farmer  and  stock  dealer  of  U])per 
Leacock  township,  Lancaster  county.  To 
them  have  been  born  four  ciiildren,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Their  living  chil- 
dren are:  Naomi,  Elizabeth  and  Oliver  W. 
Dr.  Sensenig  is  a  member  of  the  Lancaster 
County  Medical  Society.  In  politics  he  is  a 
staunch  Republican.  He  attends  the  Re- 
formed church.  The  Doctor  was  the  first  of 
the  family  to  enter  the  medical  profession, 
and  well  remembers  the  admonition  of  his 
older  relatives:  "Do  not  engage  in  that 
profession,  it  is  not  the  proper  calling  for  our 
people;"  and  telling  of  the  danger  of  being 
enticed  away  from  the  good,  pious  church 
and  social  relations. 


Brown,  James  Morkison,  M.  D.,  medical 
examiner  of  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Relief 
Department,  was  born  in  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
January  16, 1849.  He  is  a  son  of  Rev.  Will- 
iam Beard  and  Mar^'  Elizabeth  (Bickuell) 
Brown.  Rev.  William  B.  Brown  was  born 
in  Rockbridge  county,  Va.  He  was  a  gradu; 
ate  of  Maryville  College,  Maryville,  Tenn.- 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Tennessee,  and  spent  his 
life  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  He  was 
stated  clerk  of  Kingston  (Tenn.)  Presbytery 
for  forty  consecutive  years.  He  died  at  Mary- 
ville, Tenn.,  in  March,  1879.  He  married 
Mary  Elizabeth  Bicknell,  who  is  still  living 
and  resides  at  Maryville.  They  had  nine 
children,  of  wdiom  eight  are  living :  Dr. 
James  M.;  Rev.  W.  B.  Brown,  a  Presbyterian 
minister  at  Hays  City,  Kaus.;  Mary  Ella,  de- 
ceased, wife  of  Rev.  R.  H.  Coulter;  Emma 
Edwina,  wife  of  Rev.  T.  T.  Alexander,  mis- 
sionary of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Tokio, 
Japan  ;  Hon.  Thomas  N.,  of  Maryville,  Tenn., 
a  lawyer,  and  for  many  years  member  of  the 
Legislature;  John  Fielding,  a  prominent 
farmer,  Maryville,  Tenn.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
H.  H.  Hewitt,  Williamsburg,  Pa.;  Erie, wife 


874 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDTA 


of  Rev.  M.  N.  Rankin,  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian churcli,  Mason,  Warren  count}',  0!iio; 
Etiiel,  residinp;  with  her  mother  in  Maryville. 

James  M.  Brown,  when  he  was  a  child,  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Spring  Place,  Mur- 
ra}'  county,  Ga..  where  he  spent  his  early 
life,  and  where,  under  the  tutelage  and  in- 
struction of  his  fatiier,  he  received  his  pri- 
mary education.  He  was  prepared  for  col- 
lege at  Cleveland  Academy, Cleveland,  Tenn.; 
was  graduated  from  Maryville  College  in 
1869,  and  tlien  began  reading  medicine  with 
Dr.  J.  N.  Lyle,  of  Danbridge,  Tenn.  In  1872 
he  was  graduated  from  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  tiie  University  of  Louisville,  Ky., 
and  returned  at  once  to  Maryville,  wliere  he 
practiced  medicine  from  that  time  until  the 
fall  of  1870.  In  18/7  he  removed  to  Mines, 
Blair  county.  Fa.,  where  he  practiced  nine 
years.  Since  February  8,  1886,  he  has  been 
in  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad. 
He  was  first  employed  by  this  company  at 
Derry,  Westmoreland  county;  Pa.,  and  in 
March,  1890,  was  transferred  to  Harrisburg. 

Dr.  Brown  was  married  at  Maryville, Tenn., 
June  22,  1875,  to  Margaret,  daugliter  of 
George  antl  Margaret  Bell,  of  Rock  Springs, 
Centre  county.  Pa.  Thej'  have  no  children. 
During  his  residence  in  Blair  county  from 
1877  to  1886,  tiie  Doctor  was  surgeon  of  the 
Cambria  Iron  Company.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  La  Monte  Lodge,  No.  568,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Derry  ;  of  Portage  Chapter,  No.  238, 
of  Johnstown,  Pa.;  of  Pilgrim  Comraandery, 
No.  11,  Harrisburg;  Harrisburg  Consistorv, 
32°  ;  and  of  Orphans'  Home  Lodge,  No.  315, 
of  Williamsport,  Pa.  He  is  an  ex-president 
of  Blair  County  Medical  Society,  and  ex- 
member  of  the  State  Metlical  Sociptyand  the 
American  Medical  Association.  His  political 
views  are  Republican.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Brown 
attend  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  church. 


HAKTM.ix,  Paul  Augustus,  M.  D.,  was 
born  at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  December  24,  1850. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  Joseph  and  Wilhelmina 
(Stoever)  Hartman,  who  removed  from  Ly- 
coming count}',  Pa.,  to  Harrisburg,  in  1864. 
He  obtained  his  literary  education  in  the 
public  schools,  at  the  State  Normal  School, 
Kutztown,  Berks  county,  and  at  Dickinson 
College,  Carlisle,  Pa.  Having  decided  to  study 
medicine  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Robert  H. 
Seller,  of  Harrisburg,  and  pursued  the  study 
of  this  science  under  his  instruction.  He 
attended  Jefferson  Medical  College  and  re- 
ceived his  diploma  from  that  institution  in 


1874.  The  same  year  he  began  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  still 
continues  and  enjoys  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  business.  The  Doctor  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Dauphin  County  Medical  Society, 
the  State  Medical  Society,  the  American  Med- 
ical Association,  and  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers and  charter  members  of  the  Harris- 
burg Academy  of  Medicine.  He  served  as 
secretary  of  the  County  Society  for  several 
years,  and  in  1885  he  was  its  president.  He 
was  once  a  delegate  to  the  American  Medical 
Association.  He  succeeded  Dr.  Egle  in  the 
office  of  prison  physician,  and  still  holds 
that  position.  He  is  medical  inspector  for 
the  State  Board  of  Health  and  also  one  of 
the  physicians  to  the  City  Hospital.  Dr. 
Hartman  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  is 
active  in  local  matters.  He  served  two 
terms  in  the  common  council  of  the  city, 
representing  the  Fourth  ward,  being  elected 
in  1876.  He  was  a  member  of  the  police 
and  ordinance  committee  in  this  body.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  board 
from  the  Fourth  ward  in  1888  and  is  now 
serving  a  third  term  in  that  board,  being 
president  of  the  same.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Trust  Company.  He  is  not  a  mem- 
ber of  any  club  and  is  unmarried. 


Meals,  Ezra  S.,  M.  D.,  was  born  at  Ben- 
dersville,  Adams  county.  Pa.,  July  28,  1851. 
He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  ^Rice) 
Meals.  Samuel  j\Ieals  was  born  in  Menallen 
township,  Adams  county,  and  was  of  Scotch 
and  Welsh  ancestry.  He  spent  his  entire 
life  in  bis  native  township,  where  he  worked 
at  liis  trade  of  blacksmithing.  From  the 
date  of  his  marriage  he  resided  at  Benders- 
ville,  where  he  still  lives,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-one  years.  He  was  for  twenty- 
five  years  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  also  filled 
acceptably  many  other  offices  in  his  native 
county.  He  raised  company  G,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-eighth  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, but  did  not  go  out  with  the  men  on 
account  of  his  age.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  chui'ch.  In  politics  he 
is  a  staunch  Republican. 

His  wife,  the  mother  of  Dr.  E.  S.  Meals, 
was  also  born  in  Menallen  townshij).  She 
was  of  German  descent.  They  were  married 
in  1839..  Mrs.  Meals  died  in  1877,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-five  years.  They  had  seven  children, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy:  Isaiah  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-eight,  and  Mary  Catherine, 
wife  of  Elias  Peters,  died   Februarv,  1895. 


DA  UPB  IN   CO  UXTY. 


375 


Tlie  children  living  at  the  date  of  this  writ- 
ing are:  Lucy  A.,  wife  of  Hiram  Yates,  re- 
siding at  Bendersville;  Dr.  Ezra  S.,  William 
W.,  a  prominent  merchant  of  Menallen,  and 
Ira  J.,  a  merchant  of  Roanoke,  Va. 

Dr.  Ezra  S.  Meals  received  his  primary  ' 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town.  Later  he  attended  the  Normal  School 
at  Gettysburg,  and  the  Tyson  Academy, 
Flora  Dale,  Pa.  He  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  E.  W.  Mauma,  of  Bendersville, 
reading  with  liim  for  a  year ;  he  subsequently 
studied  for  a  j'ear  with  his  brother,  L  J.  Meals, 
at  Mill  Creek,  Huntingdon  county,  Pa.  He 
next  spent  one  term  in  the  study  of  medicine 
and  jiharmacy  in  the  University  of  Michigan. 
Another  year  was  passed  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  Dr.  R.  B.  Elderdice,  of  McKnights- 
town,  Adams  county.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  with  the  class  of  1874,  and 
immediately  afterwards  began  the  practice  of 
his  chosen  profession  at  McKnightstown,  pur- 
chasing the  practice  of  his  preceptor.  After 
practicing  successfully  in  this  town  for  a  year 
and  a  half  he  removed  to  Biglersville,  Adams 
county,  where  he  continued  practice  for  the 
same  length  of  time.  August  10,  1877,  he 
located  in  Harrisburg,  since  which  date  lie 
has  been  in  continuous  practice  in  this  city. 
He  ranks  among  the  most  skillful  and  suc- 
cessful of  his  profession. 

He  was  married  in  Biglersville,  September 
14,  1875,  to  Mary  L.,  daughter  of  Henry  G. 
and  Margaret  Kosser.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Ira  Dale  and  Harry  S. 

Dr.  Meals  is  now  serving  on  the  board  of 
school  directors.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Adams  County  Medical  Society,  and  now  be- 
longs to  the  Dauphin  County  Medical  Insti- 
tute. He  is  a  warm  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of 
Malta,  and  was  formerly  connected  with  other 
societies. 


GoRGAS,  Solomon  R.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  September  11,1853. 
He  was  the  son  of  Hon.  William  R.  Gorgas 
a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  another  place 
in  this  volume,  and  Elizabeth  (Hummel) 
Gorgas.  He  resided  in  his  native  county 
until  fifteen  years  of  age.  He  received  his 
education  at  Columbia  Vallej'  Institute,  at 
Mechanicsburg,  and  Muhlenburg  College,  of 
Meyerstown.  He  took  up  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  E.  H.  Coover,  and  attended  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  of  Philadelphia, 


from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1874.  He  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
the  Philadelphia  almshouse,  and  continued, 
it  until  January,  187G.  He  practiced  in 
Philadelphia  for  one  year.  In  1877  he  came 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  conducted  a  gen- 
eral jjractice,  and  also  gave  special  attention 
to  surgery  until  his  death,  June  30,  1894. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Dauphin  County 
Medical  Societ}',  and  served  as  its  president, 
vice-president,  secretary,  treasurer,  etc.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Society 
and  served  on  some  of  its  most  important 
committees.  In  1887  he  was  appointed  by 
the  board  of  governors  to  the  position  of 
physician  to  the  City  Hospital,  and  for  three 
years  served  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  same. 
He  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Plarrisburg 
Burial  Case  Company,  in  the  Harrisburg 
Furniture  Factory  and  in  the  City  Passenger 
Railway  Company,  and  director  of  the  same. 
As  one  of  the  administrators  of  his  father's 
estate  he  was  interested  in  various  business 
enterprises  of  the  city.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Democratic  party,  but  held  no  political 
ofKce.  He  was  one  of  the  ))hysicians  to  the 
Children's  Industrial  Home,  and  was  resi- 
dent surgeon  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  from  January  1,  1894,  until  the 
time  of  his  death.     He  was  not  married. 


Gorgas,  Hon.  William  R.,  was  l>orn  at 
the  Gorgas  homestead  in  Lower  Allen  town- 
ship, Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  May  8,  1800. 
He  was  a  son  of  Solomon  Gorgas,  who  came 
to  Cumberland  county  from  Ephrata,  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  in  1804.  He  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  form  on  which  he  was  born, 
and  succeeded  to  his  father's  business,  the 
management  of  the  farm  and  a  general 
country  store.  He  did  not  have  a  regular 
school  education,  but  attended  Mt.  St.  Mary's 
College,  Emmitsburg,  Md.,  and  then  suc- 
ceeded by  experience  in  obtaining  a  prac- 
tical and  thorough  business  training.  Earlv 
in  life  he  turned  his  attention  to  politics. 
He  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  183G  was  elected 
to  the  lower  house  of  the  State  Legislature, 
and  was  twice  re-elected,  serving  through 
the  critical  period  known  as  the  "  Buck-sliot 
War."  In  1841  he  was  nominated  for  State 
senator  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  in  the 
district  comjirising  the  counties  of  Cumber- 
land, Franklin  and  Adams,  and  was  elected' 
Mr.  Gorgas  was  not  a  debater,  but  a  man  of 
good  judgment  and  of  strong  common  sense, 
which,  with  his  tireless  industry,  made  him 


376 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


an  influential  and  valuable  legislator.  After 
serving  one  term  in  the  State  Senate,  he  laid 
aside  politics  and  devoted  himself  to  busi- 
ness pursuits,  in  which  he  continued  active 
until  ver^'  late  in  life.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  and  first  directors  of  the  banking 
firm  of  Merkle,  Mumma  &  Co.,  of  Mechan- 
icsburg.  Tills  firm  subsequently  became  a 
State  bank,  which  was  afterwards  made  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Mechanicsburg,  of 
which  Mr.  Gorgas  was  a  director  at  the  time 
of  ills  death.  He  was  also  a  director  of  tiie 
Harrisburg  National  Bank  from  1845  till  his 
death.  He  was  a  director  of  the  Harrisburg 
Bridge  Company,  of  the  Harrisburg  Market 
Company,  and  of  the  Harrisburg  City  Pas- 
senger Railwaj'  Company.  He  was  ])resi- 
dent  of  the  ]-[arrisburg  Burial  Case  Com- 
pany', and  of  the  Allen  and  East  Pennsboro' 
Fire  Insurance  Company.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Reservoir  Park  Commission,  and  of 
the  advisory  board  of  the  Children's  Indus- 
trial Home.  In  1S77  he  removed  from  the 
Gorgas  homstead  to  Harrisburg,  where  in 
1882  he  was  the  Democratic  nominee  for  the 
Legislature.  The  city  was  then  Republican 
by  a  majority  of  five  hundred,  but  he  came 
within  eighty-eight  votes  of  being  elected. 
On  March  5, 1840,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hummel,  of  Harrisburg,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children.  His  widow  and  four  children 
survive  him.  His  children  are:  William  L, 
cashier  of  the  Harrisburg  National  Bank; 
George  A.,  druggist;  Kate  F.  and  Mary  E. 
He  was  a  member  of  tiie  Seventh  Day  Bap- 
tist cliurcli,  and  was  in  every  respect  a  most 
conscientious  and  exemplary  citizen.  He 
died  December  7, 1892,  and  his  remains  were 
interred  in  the  family  lot  in  the  cemetery  of 
Camp  Hill,  Cumberland  county.  Pa. 


Baker,  W.  C,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Chester 
county.  Pa.,  Januar}'  10, 1850;  son  of  Samuel 
and  Mary  (Rakestraw)  Baker.  He  was  reared 
in  his  native  county  and  received  his  literary 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  in  Mil- 
lersville  Normal  School.  Dr.  Henry  Car- 
penter was  his  private  preceptor  in  the  study 
of  medicine.  He  took  a  course  of  lectures 
in  the  University  of  Maryland  and  later 
attended  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1874.  He 
began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Marietta. 
Lancaster  county,  and  in  the  fall  of  1874 
came  to  Hummelstown,  where  he  has  since 
been  in  practice  and  enjoys  tlie  leading  pa- 
tronage of  the  place.    Dr.  Baker  was  formerly 


a  member  of  the  Lancaster  County  Medical 
Society.  In  fraternity  relations  he  is  asso- 
ciated with  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  at  Harrisburg,  and  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Eagle  at  Hummelstown.  He 
is  a  director  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  and  a 
charter  member  and  director  of  the  Hum- 
melstown Electric  Light  Company.  The 
Doctor  is  the  physician  and  surgeon  of  the 
Hummelstown  Brown  Stone  Companj'  and 
of  the  railroad  attached  to  tlie  same.  In 
politics  he  is  Republican  and  has  served  as 
school  director  and  also  as  member  of  the 
council.  Dr.  Baker  was  married,  in  1875,  to 
Miss  A.  E.  Bare,  daughter  of  Diller  Bare,  of 
Lancaster  count}^  and  granddaughter  of 
Adam  Bare,  one  of  the  early  sheritt's  of  that 
count}'.  They  have  tliree  children  :  Mary 
Maud,  Gertrude  Clair,  and  Zelma  May.  In 
church  matters  the  Doctor  was  reared  in  the 
Societ}'  of  the  Friends  and  his  wife  in  the 
Lutheran  Church. 


Ritchie,  Melanctmox  M.,  M.  D.,  was 
born  in  Bedford  county.  Pa.,  June  5,  1849; 
son  of  Josiah  and  Jennie  Ritchie,  the  former 
a  native  of  Bedford,  the  latter  of  Cumber- 
land county.  Pa.  The  father  w^as  one  of  the 
]irominent  and  successful  business  men  of 
that  county  for  many  years,  and  later  in  life 
engaged  in  farming  and  is  still  residing 
there.  Melancthon  M.  was  the  oldest  of  ten 
children,  was  reared  in  Bedford  county,  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  school 
and  in  the  normal  school,  completing  it  by 
a  s))ecial  course  in  Dickinson  Seminary  at 
Williamsport,  Pa.  Pie  read  medicine  under 
Dr.  Joseph  D.  Streble,  of  Bedford,  and  con- 
tinued his  reading  and  practice  under  Dr. 
G.  W.  Smith,  of  Hollidaysburg.  In  1874  he 
w'as  graduated  from  the  Jefferson  Medical 
College  at  Philadelphia,  after  which  he  prac- 
ticed two  years  at  Saxton,  Bedford  county, 
and  then  took  a  special  cour.se  at  Jefferson 
College.  After  practicing  at  Carlisle.  Pa., 
six  years,  in  1883  he  came  to  Harrisburg, 
locating  on  Market  street,  where  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  a  general  practice.  Dr. 
Ritchie  is  a  member  of  tlie  Dauphin  County 
Medical  Society.  While  at  Saxton  he  was 
physician  of  the  Huntingdon  Railroad 
Company.  In  1865  he  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  company  A,  Fiftieth  regiment.  Ninth 
army  corps,  and  served  until  close  of  the 
war,  August,  1865.  He  was  present  at  the 
evacuation  of  Petersburg.  In  jiolitics,  Dr. 
Ritchie  is  with  the  Democratic  party  and  is 


--^^^^^^^^  A,,  ^ 


<&^^,:2,_^^^ 


/^--/r^o^-^c^  ;^.<r 


(^j^vi.02ytip^.  nts^^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


379 


active  in  party  measures.  He  was  elected 
member  of  the  select  council  from  the  Ninth 
ward  and  served  two  j^ears,  during  whicii 
he  was  chairman  of  the  sanitary  committee 
and  of  the  highway  committee  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  finance  committee.  He  was  also 
elected  assessor  of  the  Ninth  ward  and  served 
one  year.  Grand  Army  Post  No.  58  carries 
his  name  on  its  roll  of  members,  and  he  has 
served  as  surgeon  of  the  Post.  Dr.  Ritchie 
was  married,  in  1871,  to  Miss  Maggie  Gil- 
brougli,  daughter  of  Jacob  Gilbrough,  of 
Huntingdon,  Pa.  Their  children  are  Mar- 
ion Delmar  and  Elsie  N.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  church,  corner 
Third  and  Chestnut  streets. 


CoovER,  Frederick  Welty,  son  of  Jacob 
and  Lydia  (Welty)  Coover,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1852,  at  Coover's  Mill,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Yellow  Breeches  creek,  in  Upper  Al- 
len township,  Cumberland  count}'.  Pa.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  township  in  winter  and  in  select  pay 
schools  in  summer.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine  in  1870  with  Dr.  W.  W.  Ruther- 
ford, of  Harrisburg,  with  whom  he  continued 
six  months,  when  being  taken  seriously  ill 
he  removed  to  his  home  in  Dillsburg.  Upon 
his  recovery  he  continued  his  studies  with 
Drs.  G.  L.  and  J.  M.  Shearer  of  that  place. 
In  October,  1872,  he  matriculated  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  medical  depart- 
ment, where  he  attended  three  full  courses 
of  lectures  and  in  addition  the  special  spring- 
course  of  1873.  He  graduated  in  March, 
1875,  and  on  the  12th  of  April  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  resident  physician  of  the 
City  Hospital,  Hariisburg,  being  the  first 
to  fill  that  position.  The  year  succeeding 
he  began  the  general  practice  of  medicine 
in  Harrisburg,  was  elected  one  of  the  visit- 
ing physicians  to  the  hosjtital,  in  which  posi- 
tion he  continues  connected  with  that  insti- 
tution. In  1878  he  was  elected  physician 
to  the  county  almshouse  and  filled  that  posi- 
tion until  188G.  In  1889  he  succeeded  Dr. 
Seller  as  visiting  surgeon  to  the  City  Hos- 
pital. He  is  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
"  Maternit}' ;"  is  a  member  of  the  Dauphin 
County  and  State  Medical  Societies,  and 
American  Medical  Association.  He  has 
been  for  several  years  senior  surgeon  of  the 
Harrisburg  Hospital,  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Academy  of  Medicine  and  treas- 
urer of  the  same.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics   and   past   master   of^  Perseverance 

28 


Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  Dr.  Coover  married 
April  19,  1881,  Elizabeth  Faerster,  only 
daughter  of  George  and  Catherine  Faerster, 
of  Harrisburg.  The}'  have  two  children  : 
Corson  and  Catherine  Lydia.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  Pine  Street  Presby- 
terian church. 


Fager,  John  H.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  September  7,  1854,  son  of  John 
H.  and  Mary  (BufBngton)  Fager.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  took  the 
regular  course  of  the  Harrisburg  high  school. 
He  had  Dr.  C.  B.  Fager  for  his  private  pre- 
ceptor in  the  study  of  medicine,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Universitj'  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  187(>.  He  immediately  entered 
upon  a  general  practice  in  Harrisbui'g,  in 
which  he  has  continued  with  marked  suc- 
cess until  the  present  time.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Dauphin  County  Homeopathic  Society. 
In  his  political  views  Dr.  Fager  is  an  Inde- 
pendent, with  Democratic  proclivities.  He 
was  married,  in  1879,  to  Miss  Olive  West- 
brook,  of  Harrisburg,  by  whom  he  has  two 
children,  Lucy  and  Paul.  Dr.  Fager  is  an 
active  and  prominent  member  of  the  Mes- 
.siah  Lutheran  church,  being  a  member  of 
the  church  council  and  superintendent  of 
the  second  department  of  the  Sunday-school. 
He  is  also  identified  with  other  relegious 
activities,  being  the  district  secretary  of  the 
Christian  Endeavor  Society,  and  formerly 
prominent  in  the  work  of  tlie  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association. 


Funk,  David  Sieber,  M.  D.,  was  born  and 
reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Juniata  county, 
Pa.,  two  miles  east  of  Mexico.  He  is  the 
second  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Sieber 
Funk,  who  had  tlu-ee  children  ;  the  eldest, 
John  Hudson,  died  of  tyjdioid  fever  in  the 
autumn  of  1872,  and  the  youngest,  Mary 
Emma,  is  the  wife  of  McClune}'  Radcliffe, 
M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia. 

The  Funks  were  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
as  early  as  1718.  Michael  Funk,  the  great- 
grandfather of  David  S.,  kept  a  noted  hos- 
telry on  the  old  Paxtang  road,  in  East  Earl 
township,  and  removed  to  Walker  township, 
Juniata  county,  Pa.,  in  1805,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  One  of  his 
sons,  John  Funk,  grandfather  of  Dr.  Funk, 
chose  the  avocation  of  his  father.  He  took 
an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  adopted 
countv,and  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of 
1841-42. 


380 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


David  S.  was  born  July  17, 1852,  and  after 
attending  the  common  schools  was  prepared 
for  Princeton  College  at  Airy  view  Academy, 
Port  Royal,  Pa.,  under  the  professorship  of 
David  Wilson,  Ph.  D.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  sophomore  class  of  Princeton  in  the  au- 
tumn of  1874,  graduating  in  June,  1877.  He 
immediately  began  the  study  of  medicine, 
and  entered  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  autumn 
of  1878,  and  took  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  the 
spring  of  1881.  He  located  in  Harrisburg 
in  June  of  the  same  3'ear,  where  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession ever  since. 

Dr.  Funk  has  been  a  member  of  tlie  Har- 
risburg Hospital  staff  for  twelve  years;  was 
a  member  of  the  United  States  Board  of 
Pension  Examining  Surgeons  under  Har- 
rison's administration.  He  is  vice-jiresident 
of  the  I)auj)hin  Countv  Medical  Society,  sec- 
retary of  the  Harrisburg  Academy  of  Medi- 
cine; is  a  permanent  member  of  the  Medical 
Society  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of 
the  American  Medical  Association ;  was  a 
member  of  the  Harrisburg  Board  of  Control 
in  1886-87.  He  is  serving  his  second  term 
as  president  of  the  Harrisburg  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
and  is  an  ex-officio  member  of  the  board  of 
directors. 

In  December,  1881,  he  married  Matilda, 
youngest  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret 
Tyson  Motzer,  Mr.  Motzer  at  the  time  being 
a  retired  farmer  of  Juniata  county.  The 
Motzers  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Perry  county.  The  fatlier  of  Mrs.  Funk  had 
two  brothers  ;  the  elder,  Martin,  was  for  a 
number  of  years  associate  judge  of  the  courts 
of  Perry  county;  the  j'ounger,  Daniel,  was 
a  Presbyterian  minister  in  Georgetown,  D. 
C,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion.  His 
widow,  who  was  a  grand-niece  of  Gen. 
George  Washington,  survives  him,  and  is  a 
resident  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Funk  have  one  child,  John  Clarence,  now 
twelve  years  of  age. 

Best,  Austin,  physician  and  pharmacist, 
was  born  in  Lower  Allen  townsliip,  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  December  6,  1850.  He  is 
a  son  of  Martin  and  Catherine  (Eberly)  Best, 
natives  of  Cumberland  county.  Both  parents 
still  survive,  and  reside  in  Shiremanstown, 
Cumberland  county.  The  father  has  spent 
his  whole  life  in  Cumberland  county,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  agriculturalists  of 
the  region,  and  a  promoter  of  the  growth  and 


welfare  of  the  county.  He  has  lived  to  be 
seventy-five  years  of  age,  and  is  still  actively 
engaged  in  the  superintendence  of  his  farm. 
His  wife  has  also  been  spared  to  an  ad- 
vanced age.  They  had  twelve  children,  of 
whom  nine  are  living :  Sarah  Jane,  wife  of 
William  H.  Suavely,  residing  near  Mechan- 
icsburg,  Cumberland  county,  a  farmer ;  Jo- 
seph H.,  residing  at  Eberly's  Mills,  Cumber- 
land county  ;  Elizabeth  C.,  wife  of  Joseph 
Stoner,  a  prominent  farmer  of  York  county; 
Dr.  Austin  ;  Alice,  wife  of  John  Bowman, 
residing  near  Lisbon,  York  county,  Pa. ; 
Newton,  a  prominent  farmer  of  York  county  ; 
Martin,  residing  at  home ;  Catherine,  resid- 
ing with  the  parents,  and  Emma,  wife  of 
Maurice  Miller,  grain  merchant,  residing  at 
Shiremanstown. 

Austin  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive township.  He  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  schools.  He  took  a 
collegiate  course  at  Lebanon  Valley  College, 
Annville,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.  He  subse- 
quentl}'  taught  school  for  three  terms,  one 
term  each  in  Cumberland,  Dauphin  and 
York  counties.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time  he  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr. 
Eli  H.  Coover,  of  Harrisburg.  In  1876  he 
entered  Jefferson  Medical  College,  and 
graduated  from  that  institution  March  8, 
1878.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  New  Cumberland,  Cumberland 
county,  and  was  engaged  there  about  one 
year.  He  practiced  two  years  in  Dover, 
York  county,  and  one  j^ear  in  Shiremans- 
town, Cumberland  county.  In  1883  he  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  in  Steelton,  in 
connection  with  an  office  practice,  and  con- 
tinued to  be  thus  employed  until  1889.  He 
then  removed  to  Harrisburg,  and  lias  since 
been  continuou.sly  in  business  in  this  city 
at  his  present  location.  During  the  last  five 
years  he  has  resumed  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. 

He  was  married  in  New  Cumberland,  De- 
cember 25,  1880,  to  Miss  Emma  Thompson, 
daughter  of  James  and  Malinda  Thompson. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Edna  May,  born 
August  27,  1887.  In  political  views  Dr. 
Best  is  a  Democrat.  He  attends  the  M.  E. 
church. 


Park,  J.  Walter,  M.  D.,  specialist  in 
diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat,  was 
born  in  what  is  now  Carsonville,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  October  22,  1855.  He  is  a  son 
of  George  and   Lucetta  Park.     His  father 


J 


DAUPHIN     COUNTY. 


381 


was  born  in  Jeflferson  township,  and  is  a  son 
of  Robert  Park,  a  native  of  England,  who 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that  township, 
took  up  a  tract  of  land,  cleared  a  farm,  and 
lived  and  died  there.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  church.  He  reared  a  family  of 
five  children,  of  whom  George  was  the  next 
to  the  oldest,  and  was  reared  on  the  home- 
stead, with  the  ordinary  educational  ad- 
vantages of  the  situation.  He  started  in  on 
farm  work,  and  afterwards  engaged  in  buy- 
ing and  shi|)ping  stock  from  the  west  to  the 
eastern  markets.  He  afterwards  had  a  store 
at  Carsonville  for  a  few  years.  He  subse- 
quently engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in 
Clark's  Valley,  shij)ping  lumber  to  the  Har- 
risburg  Car  Works  and  the  Lykens  Valley 
Coal  Company,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  the  Fifth  Wheel  Works  of  Millers- 
burg,  Pa.  He  was  also  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness in  Centre  county,  furnishing  props  and 
mining  timber  for  the  coal  companies  at 
Shamokin  and  Lykens,  Pa.  Mr.  Park  be- 
longed to  the  Democratic  party,  but  for  the 
last  few  years  of  his  life  was  identified  with 
the  Prohibitionist  party.  He  was  an  ac- 
tive member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  and  promi- 
nent in  Trinity  church,  Powell's  Valley,  Pa., 
filling  all  of  the  important  church  offices; 
he  was  a  licensed  exhorter.  He  was  once 
nominated  for  poor  director,  and  served  in 
numerous  township  offices.  He  died  August 
17,  lSy2,  and  his  wife  died  January  12, 1895. 
They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  namely: 
Sarah  J.,  wife  of  John  Sheetz.  of  Carson- 
ville ;  Arthur,  of  Harrisburg,  with  the 
Reading  Railroad  Company;  Dr.  J.  W.; 
Thomas  R.,  of  Millersburg;  Alice  and  Har- 
riet, who  both  died  in  infancy. 

J.  Walter  was  reared  in  his  native  town- 
ship to  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  went  to 
Chester,  Pa.,  to  study  the  drug  business,  but 
finding  it  too  confining,  he  did  not  long  re- 
main tliere.  He  returned  home  and  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  H.  R.  Caslow,  of  Halifax. 
He  attended  the  Jefferson  Medical  College 
of  Philadelphia,  and  was  graduated  in  1878. 
In  May,  1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  L. 
Haverstick,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Susan  Haver- 
stick,  of  Millei'sburg,  Pa.  He  practiced  medi- 
cine m  Williarastown, Dauphin  county, up  to 
1889.  In  this  year  he  went  to  Europe.  He 
was  clinical  assistant  at  the  Royal  London 
Ophthalmic  Hospital  for  six  months.  He 
studied  three  months  in  Berlin,  Germany, 
and  three  months  in   Paris,  in  the  various 


eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  hospitals.  He 
returned  the  last  of  the  year  to  New  York 
City,  and  was  with  Dr.  Herman  Knapp 
in  his  institute  up  to  March  1,  1890.  Dur- 
ing this  course  he  perfected  his  studies  of 
the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat.  On  March  1, 
1890,  he  came  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has 
since  practiced,  and  is  the  leading  specialist 
in  the  city.  In  the  fall  of  1890  he  was 
elected  a  surgeon  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and 
throat  department  of  the  City  Hospital,  and 
to  the  same  place  in  the  Children's  Indus- 
trial Home.  He  is  also  special  examiner  for 
the  Pension  Department  of  the  Government. 
He  is  a  member  and  ex-president  of  the 
Dauphin  County  Medical  Society,  a  member 
of  the  State  Medical  Societj'  of  Penns3dva- 
nia,  fellow  of  Harrisburg  Academy  of  Medi- 
cine, Pan-American  Medical  Congress,  and 
the  American  Medical  Association.  He  is  a 
charter  member  and  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  Harrisburg  Real  Estate  and  Improvement 
Company,  a  stockholder  in  the  Harrisburg 
Trust  Company,  Harrisburg  Electric  Com- 
pany and  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company, 
Steelton,  Pa.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  was  formerly  active  in  party 
matters. 


Ellenberger.  J.  Wesley,  M.  D.,  was  boi'n 
in  Harrisburg,  February  3,  1858.  He  is  a 
son  of  Samuel  B.  and  Margaret  (Sheridan) 
Ellenberger.  He  received  his  literary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1875. 
While  a  student  in  the  high  school  he  was 
a  carrier  of  the  Daihi  Telegraph.  He  read 
medicine  under  Dr.  George  R.  Hursh,  of 
Harrisburg,  and  entered  Jefferson  Medical 
College  of  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1879.  He  at  once  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Harrisburg,  and  has 
been  eminently  successful.  From  the  time 
of  his  graduation  until  the  present,  he  has 
been  connected  with  the  Harrisburg  Hos- 
pital, first  as  resident  physician  and  subse- 
quently as  visiting  physician ;  he  is  now  the 
senior  visiting  physician  of  the  medical  staff. 
He  served  as  county  ])hysician  in  1886.  The 
Doctor  has  been  honored  by  his  professional 
brethren,  who  have  elected  him  president  of 
the  Dauphin  County  Medical  Society  and  of 
the  Harrisburg  Pathological  Society.  He  is 
now  a  trustee  of  the  Harrisburg  Academy  of 
Medicine.     He  is   a   member  of  the  State 


382 


BIOGRA PHICAL  ENGYCL OPEDIA 


Medical  Society  and  of  the  American  Medi- 
cal Association. 

Dr.  Ellenberger  served  on  the  city  school 
board  for  two  terms,  during  a  portion  of 
which  time  he  was  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  teachers,  and  did  much  to  secure  the 
observance  of  civil  service  rules  in  the  selec- 
tion and  promotion  of  teachers,  the  opera- 
tion of  which  has  abated  the  evils  of  influ- 
ence and  favoritism  on  the  part  of  the  board. 
The  Doctor  is  not  politically  ambitious,  and 
has  not  sought  official  preferment  and  promi- 
nence. His  preferences  are  decidedly  with 
the  Eeiiublican  party,  but  he  has  strong 
Prohibition  proclivities.  In  the  independ- 
ent citizens'  movement  for  the  reform  of 
municipal  government,  he  was  universally 
recognized  as  the  best  exponent  of  the  prin- 
ciples upheld  by  those  who  sustained  that 
movement.  Without  his  knowledge  or  con- 
sent, and  contrary  to  his  desire,  he  was 
nominated  for  maj'or  of  Harrisburg.  Con- 
strained and  animated  solely  by  convictions 
of  duty,  he  accepted  the  nomination.  His 
letter  of  acceptance  is  the  best  possible  reve- 
lation of  his  character  and  conduct  as  a  man 
and  a  citizen,  and  is  here  partially  quoted 
for  this  purpo.se. 

"  AVhen  informed  that  I  had  been  nom- 
inated for  the  important  office  of  mayor  of 
this  city,  I  experienced  a  sensation  such  as 
is  occasioned  by  the  traditional  clap  of 
thunder  from  a  clear  sky.  My  first  imi)ulse 
was  to  decline  the  honor,  gratefully  acknowl- 
edging the  distinction  which  had  been  con- 
ferred upon  me.  However,  since  hundreds 
of  voters  of  all  parties  have  urged  me  to  ac- 
cept in  the  interest  of  good  government,  I 
have  concluded  that  it  is  my  duty  to  ac- 
quiesce in  their  desires. 

"  I,  therefore,  accept  the  nomination  which 
has  been  tendered  to  me,  and  make  the  fol- 
lowing pledges : 

"Should  the  people  elect  me  mayor  of  this 
city,  I  agree  that  I  will  faithfully  perform 
my  duties,  realizing  m^'  responsibility  to 
God,  as  well  as  to  my  fellow-citizens  for  the 
manner  in  which  I  shall  acquit  myself. 

"I  will  enforce  the  ordinances  without 
fear  or  favor. 

"  I  will  nominate  as  my  subordinates  the 
cleanest  and  most  efficient  men  that  I  can 
secure,  without  regard  to  party  affiliation. 

"  I  will  conduct  the  office  as  a  non- 
partisan, acknowledging  that  my  election 
must  be  by  the  people. 


"  I  will  permit  no  black-mailing  or  bribery 
on  the  part  of  those  under  my  authority." 

The  Doctor  is  also  identified  with  a  num- 
ber of  tlie  business  interests  of  the  city,  and 
has  always  been  ready  to  promote  move- 
ments for  tiie  material  welfare  of  the  city. 
He  is  a  stockholder,  and  has  been  one  of  the 
managers  of  the  Harrisburg  Boot  and  Shoe 
Manufacturing  Company  since  its  organiza- 
tion. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Harris  Building  and  Loan  Association,  in 
which  he  is  deeply  interested,  and  is  one  of 
the  managers. 

From  boyhood  the  Doctor  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  is  actively  identified  with  all  its  in- 
terests. He  holds  the  office  of  steward  in 
the  church,  and  is  the  general  superin- 
tendent of  the  large  Sabbath-school  con- 
nected with  the  church.  He  served  for  a 
number  of  years  as  one  of  the  managers  and 
for  two  years  as  the  president  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association.  In  all  these 
positions  of  responsibilit}^  and  trust  the 
Doctor  has  proved  himself  faithful  and 
efficient. 

He  was  married,  in  1891,  to  Miss  Annie 
E.  Baskin,  daughter  of  Kobert  Baskin,  of 
Harrisburg,  by  whom  he  has  one  child, 
Robert  Baskin. 


Fritchey,  John  A.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  September  28,  1857.  He  is 
a  son  of  Jolm  F.  Fritchey,  a  native  of  Cham- 
ber.sburg,  Franklin  county.  Pa.,  who  came  to 
Dauphin  county  when  a  young  man.  He 
married  Miss  Annie  M.  Hoon,  of  Coxestown, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.  He  engaged  in  con- 
tracting, and  afterwards  was  employed  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  He  was 
the  engineer  of  the  first  locomotive  on  the 
Northern  Central  railroad,  and  was  then 
transferred  to  the  Pennsj^vania  Railroad 
Company,  where  he  was  employed  for  some 
years.  He  is  now  retired  from  business,  and 
resides  in  Harrisburg. 

John  A.  Fritchey  is  the  eldest  of  six 
children.  He  was  educated  in  the  Harris- 
burg high  school  and  Harrisburg  Academy. 
He  read  medicine  under  Dr.  C.  B.  Eager, 
graduated  from  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1879, and 
has  since  practiced  in  Harrisburg.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Dauphin  County  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  has  served  as  president  of  the 
same.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  State 


I 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


383 


Medical  Society  and  of  the  National  Medical 
Association. 

Dr.  Fritchey  belongs  to  the  Senior  and 
Junior  Orders  of  American  Mechanics,  K.  of 
G.  E.,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  B.  P.  0.  E.,  etc. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  one  of  the 
active  leaders  in  the  jiarty.  He  has  repre- 
sented the  Second  ward  of  Harrisburg  in  tlie 
common  council  for  one  term,  and  for  two 
terms  in  the  select  council.  In  1887  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  mayor,  and  re-elected 
ui  1890.  During  his  term  of  office  as  mayor, 
Dr.  Fritchey  established  the  police  patrol 
system  and  tlie  ambulance  service,  whicli 
had  been  attempted  by  his  predecessor  He 
also  kept  alive  the  "  Mayor's  quick  charity 
fund,"  which  was  established  by  Mayor  Wil- 
son. He  is  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Gover- 
nor's Troop,  and  was  formerly  assistant  sur- 
geon of  the  Pennsylvania  and  Northern  Cen- 
tral Railroad  companies,  before  his  election 
to  the  office  of  mayor.  He  has  real  estate 
interests  in  Harrisburg. 

Dr.  Fritchey  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Har- 
risburg Electric  Light  Company,  the  Harris- 
burg (basket  Works,  and  theMonaghan  &Bay 
Shoe  Factory,  a  stockholder  and  director  in 
the  Harrisburg  Implement  Company,  and  a 
stockholder  in  the  Walnut  Street  Bridge 
Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  is  unmarried. 


SwAKTZ,  J.  Ross,  M.  D. — The  best  repre- 
sentatives of  all  the  learned  professions  are 
naturally  and  strongly  drawn  toward  the 
centers  of  dense  pojiulation.  This  is  not  only 
because  life  in  large  cities  is  more  attractive, 
but  more  for  the  reason  that  the  intimate  and 
intricate  relationships  and  associations  created 
b}'  the  close  assemblage  of  large  numbers  of 
human  beings  are  the  source  and  origin  of 
those  iiumail  wants  and  needs  whicli  tlie 
learned  professions  are  designed  to  supj^ly. 
Hence  there  is  a  continuous  contribution  of 
bright  and  aspiring  young  men  from  the 
country  and  smaller  towns  to  the  cit}',  b}' 
which  the  professional  ranks  of  the  city  are 
kept  full.  In  this  way  Harrisburg  received 
a  valuable  addition  to  its  corps  of  physicians 
and  surgeons  in  the  person  of  Dr.  Swartz. 

He  was  born  in  McVey town,  Mifflin  county, 
Pa.,  January  26,  1857.  His  father  is  Dr. 
J.  S.  Swartz,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
his  mother  is  Matilda  (Lewis)  Swartz,  a  niece 
of  the  distinguislied  statesman  and  diplomat, 


Hon.  John  M.  Chiyton,  of  Maryland.  He 
pursued  the  usual  course  of  studies  in  the 
public  schools,  and  afterwards  was  for  some 
time  a  pupil  at  the  Airyville  Academy  in 
Central  Pennsylvania.  By  an  extended  course 
of  reading  and  study  under  his  father  he  pre- 
pared himself  for  tlie  course  of  lectures  at  the 
medical  college.  He  entered  the  Hahnemann 
College  of  Medicine  at  Philadelphia,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1879.  He 
began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  as  the  assistant  to  Dr.  T.  D.  Verdie. 
Here  were  many  advantages  for  beginning 
his  professional  work  in  connection  with 
an  eminent  and  successful  physician  who  had 
a  large  city  practice.  Dr.  Swartz  fully  appre- 
ciated the  opportunities  thus  offered  him  for 
perfecting  his  knowledge  of  medicine,  and 
gaining  an  acquaintance  with  the  chemical 
and  ethical  demands  of  his  profession  by 
actual  experience  and  his  close  observation 
of  a  successful  physician.  But  these  oppor- 
tunities in  their  fullest  privilege  were  speedily 
rea[)ed  by  Dr.  Swartz.  The  desire  for  a  foot- 
ing of  his  own  and  a  practice  in  which  he 
would  be  sole  and  supreme  was  formed  and 
strengthened  and  was  finally  gratified  by  his 
removal  to  Harrisburg  in  1880.  Here  he  has 
found  an  inviting  field  for  the  exercise  of  his 
professional  skill  and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of 
a  large  and  agreeable  practice.  Under  the 
administration  of  President  Cleveland  he  was 
appointed  and  commissioned  a  member  of  the 
county  board  of  Pension  Examiners,  and  in 
the  organization  of  the  board  he  was  elected 
the  secretary  and  held  the  position  for  three 
years.  His  appointment  to  this  res[)onsible 
office  was  due  not  only  to  the  fact  that  he  is 
identified  with  the  political  party  in  power 
at  the  time  of  his  appointment,  but  was  more 
owing  to  the  recognition  of  his  personal  and 
professional  fitness  for  the  place.  Dr.  Swartz 
recognizes  the  benefit  of  close  association  with 
the  members  of  his  profession  and  the  ad- 
herents of  his  school  of  medicine,  and  has 
enrolled  himself  in  the  membership  of  the 
count}',  State  and  National  Medical  Associa- 
tions, and  takes  an  interest  in  all  the  pro- 
ceedings of  these  societies.  He  is  also  a  par- 
ticipant in  social  activities  outside  of  his  pro- 
fession, being  a  member  of  the  Harrisburg 
Club  and  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Dr. 
Swartz  was  married, in  1883,  toMissMargarie 
Zinn,  daughter  of  George  and  Annie  Zinn, 
of  Harri.sburg.  To  this  marriage  there  is  no 
issue. 


384 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Walter,  Harry  B.,  M.  D.,  was  boru 
about  four  miles  southeast  of  Greencastle, 
Franklin  count}^  July  5,  1854,  and  is  a  sou 
of  William  and  Susan  (Bushey)  Walter. 

The  paternal  ancestors  were  of  Welsh  and 
the  maternal  of  German  origin.  William, 
the  father  of  Harry  B.,  was  a  son  of  Bernard 
and  Catherine  Walter,  both  natives  of 
Franklin  county.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Susan,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret 
Bushey,  hy  whom  he  h.ad  these  children  : 
Catherine  Virginia,  died  in  December,  1893, 
aged  forty-two  years,  Edgar  C,  residing  near 
Greencastle,  where  he  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  Harry  J.,  Ida  B.,  who  resides 
with  her  father,  and  William  A.,  a  drug 
manufacturer  residing  in  Baltimore.  Mrs. 
Walter  is  deceased  and  her  liusband  sur- 
vives at  an  advanced  age.  In  his  earlier 
years  he  was  a  prominent  farmer  and  an  ac- 
tive worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
party,  an  ardent  and  enthusiastic  admirer  of 
the  Camerons. 

Harrj^  B.  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the 
farm,  where  he  was  early  taught  the  duties 
pertaining  to  this  mode  of  livelihood.  His 
primary  education  was  acquired  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  supplemented  later  in  life  by  his 
own  efforts  on  wet  days  spent  in  the  hay  loft 
of  his  father's  barn,  with  an  old  aritiimetic 
and  grammar  for  companions.  In  1874  he 
began  teaching  school  at  Pine  Field,  Antrim 
township,  Franklin  county,  and  continued 
there  two  years.  During  this  period,  by 
frugality  he  saved  enough  money  from  his 
salary  to  enter  the  Millersville  State  Normal 
School,  and  one  term  during  1876  was  spent 
in  that  institution.  This  was  followed  by 
two  successive  winter  terms  of  .teaching  in 
Lancaster  county.  In  the  spring  of  1878  he 
entered  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg, 
where  he  spent  one  year.  In  1879  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine,  and  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  entered  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  of  Philadelphia,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  graduated  in  March,  1881.  He  at 
once  took  up  Ins  residence  in  Harrisburg 
and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
which  he  has  continued  here  ever  since. 

Dr.  Walter  is  an  ardent  Republican  and 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  political 
matters  and  the  legislation  of  municipal 
affairs.  For  three  years  he  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  in  which  posi- 
tion he  has  given  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituents.    In  1893  he  was  a  candidate  for 


the  office  of  mayor  but  was  defeated  by  M. 
C.  Eby. 

He  is  prominent  in  fraternal  circles,  being 
a  past  master  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No. 
464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  member  of  Perseverance 
Chapter,  No.  21,  R.  A.  M.,  member  of  Pil- 
grim Commandery,  No.  11,  K.  T.,  and  Har- 
risburg Consistory, 32°.  He  is  also  a  past 
noble  grand  of  Peace  and  Plenty  Lodge,  No. 
69,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  a  past  noble  grand  of 
Susannah  Lodge,  Daughters  of  Rebecca,  a 
member  and  past  councillor  of  American 
Council,  No.  3,  0.  U.  A.  M.,  and  has  repre- 
sented this  body  in  the  State  Council. 

The  Doctor  is  at  present  the  president  of 
the  Dauphin  County  Medical  Society,  a 
member  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical 
Society,  a  member  of  the  American  Medical 
Association,  ex-president  of  Harrisburg 
Pathological  Society,  a  member  of  the  Acad- 
emy of  Medicine,  of  Harrisburg,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  surgical  staff  of  the  Harrisburg 
City  Hospital.  He  is  also  vice-jiresident  of 
the  Harris  Building  and  Loan  Association. 

He  was  married,  in  Philadelphia,  on  the 
eve  of  December  24,  1884,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Cliamberlin,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Buelah  Chamberlin,  of  Atlantic  City,  N.  J., 
and  to  their  union  have  been  born  three 
sons :  Harr}'  Morris,  Alfred  Roscoe,  and 
Ralph  Somers.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Walter 
are  both  deceased,  and  she  is  their  only  sur- 
viving child.  He  and  his  family  attend  tlie 
Lutheran  church,  of  which  body  both  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Walter  are  consistent  members. 


Bowers,  Moses  K.,  M.  D.,  of  Harrisburg, 
was  born  at  Oakland  Mills,  Juniata  county. 
Pa.,  December  8, 1856.  He  is  a  son  of  Martin 
H.  and  Christina  (Kieffer)  Bowers.  Martin 
H.  Bowers  was  born  ator  near  Martinsburgh, 
Blair  county.  Pa.,  April  4,  1820.  His  life 
was  spent  parti}'  in  Blair  and  partly  in  Ju- 
niata count}',  but  he  passed  his  declining 
years  in  Mechanicsburg, Cumberland  county. 
His  occupation  was  farming.  He  was  a 
prominent  citizen  and  a  conscientious  Chris- 
tian, a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
churcl).  He  died  June  15,  1893,  aged  sev- 
enty-three. His  memory  will  long  be  cher- 
ished by  those  who  knew  him  best.  He  was 
married  near  Millersburg,  Pa.,  to  Christina 
Kieffer,  of  Millersburg,  Dauphin  county. 
They  had  four  children  :  Joseph,  deceased  ; 
Susan,  wife  of  Jacob  Pyle,  of  Abilene,  Kan.; 
Mary,  of  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  and  Moses  K. 


DAUPHIN  COLTNTY. 


385 


Moses  K.  Bowers  was  a  resident  of  Oakland 
Mills  until  he  was  fifteen.  He  enjoyed  such 
educational  advantages  as  were  afforded  hy 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  and 
also  attended  the  Normal  School  of  Patterson, 
Juniata  county.  About  1870  he  removed  to 
Cumberland  county  with  his  parents  and 
located  near  New  Kingston,  where  he  worked 
upon  his  father's  farm  until  1877.  At  this 
date  he  went  to  Mechanicsburg  and  began 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  George  Ful- 
mer.  In  the  fall  of  1878  iie  entered  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  and  attended 
a  course  of  lectures  for  one  year.  Going 
back  to  Mechanicsburg  he  continued  his 
medical  studies  there  for  two  years.  He  re- 
turned to  Jefferson  College  in  1881  and  re- 
ceived his  diploma  from  that  institution  in 
March.  1882.  He  immediately  begaA  the 
practice  of  medicine  at  Boiling  Springs,  Cum- 
berland county,  Pa.,  and  continued  there  for 
three  years.  In  1884:  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg  and  has  since  that  time  practiced  with 
success  in  that  city. 

He  was  married  in  Mechanicsburg,  Pa., 
November  27, 1879, to  Miss  Emma  M., daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Susan  (Long)  Fulmer,  a 
native  of  Mechanicsburg,  of  German-Amer- 
ican ancestry.  They  have  had  five  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  surviv- 
ing children  are:  Robert  Ellerslie,  born  Au- 
gust 24,  1880;  George  Fulmer,  born  Decem- 
ber 25,  1881,  and  Susan  G,  born  March  15, 
1884.  Dr.  Bowers  is  a  Democrat.  He  has 
filled  the  office  of  school  director  and  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  control  for  the  city 
of  Harrisburg.  He  has  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Cumberland  County  Iledical  So- 
ciety. He  belongs  to  Pilgrim  Encampment, 
No.  13,  Knights  of  St.  .John  and  Malta,  and 
of  Harrisburg  Union,  No.  683,  E.  A.  U.  of 
America.  Dr.  Bowers  and  his  family  attend 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Graber,  Leon  K.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  November  17, 
1857,  son  of  William  K.  and  Pauline 
(Martz)  Graber,  both  natives  of  that  county. 
His  fatlier  was  a  professor  of  music  in  Mora- 
via Seminary,  Northumberland  county.  Pa. 
Leon  K.  received  his  academic  education  at 
Bethlehem  Academy,  and  read  medicine 
under  Dr.  D.  D.  Richardson,  of  Philadelphia, 
after  which  he  took  the  regular  course  of 
study  and  lectures  at  the  LTniversity  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  graduated  from  the  medi- 
cal department  of  that  institution  in  1882. 


After  serving  as  resident  physician  of  the 
hospital  for  one  year  and  a  half,  lie  spent 
the  same  length  of  time  in  the  dispensary 
department  of  the  Belleview  Hospital  at  New 
York.  He  then  went  into  a  general  practice 
at  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  in  which  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful, continuing  until  1888, when  became 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  since  enjoyed 
a  large  practice.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of 
both  county  and  State  medical  societies.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  w^as  married, 
in  1891,  to  Miss  Frances  C.  .Jauss,  daughter 
of  D.  L.  Jauss,  of  Harrisburg,  to  whom  has 
been  born  one  child,  Mary.  Dr.  Graber  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church  and  his  wife 
of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Seitz,  J.  Landis,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Safe 
Harbor,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  August  11, 
1856.  He  is  a  son  of  Noah  H.  and  Elizabeth 
(daughter  of  .John  Landis)  Seitz,  natives  of 
that  county.  His  father  was  a  practical 
iron  man ;  he  learned  the  business  when 
young,  and  was  associated  with  C.  L.  Bailej' 
&  Co.  in  the  iron  business  for  manj^  years, 
and  came  here  with  those  men.  He  was 
also  largely  interested  in  farming,  and  died 
October  14,  1889.  He  was  a  Republican  in 
politics,  but  held  no  office.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  no  church.  His  wife  survives  him. 
They  reared  three  children,  namely :  J. 
Landis,  David  H.,  machinist, of  Philadelphia, 
and  Daniel  S.,  attorney,  of  this  city.  J. 
Landis  was  reared  in  Cumberland  county, 
and  was  educated  at  Millersburg  Normal 
School,  special  course.  He  taught  school  in 
Lancaster  and  Cumberland  counties,  and  in 
the  city  schools.  In  1877  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine,  and  in  1882  was  asso- 
ciated with  Dr.  George  R.  Hursh.  He  at- 
tended the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  and 
graduated  in  1882,  and  ;^has  since  been 
practicing  in  this  city.  He  conducts  a  gen- 
eral practice,  and  is  a  specialist  in  the  treat- 
ment of  catarrhal  diseases  of  the  throat,  ear 
and  chest.  He  is  a  member  of  tlie  County 
Medical  Society,  and  was  vice-president  of  it. 
He  IS  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Associa- 
tion, and  was  a  delegate  to  that  body.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Harrisburg  Academy  of 
Medicine.  He  was  elected  county  physician 
in  1893,  and  was  formerly  resident  physician 
of  the  City  Hospital.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics.  He  is  a  member,  and  one  of  the 
organizers,  and  present  president  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Building  and  Loan  Association. 
He  was  married,  in  1885,  to  Miss  Nettie  L. 


386 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Barnitz,  daughter  of  George  C.  Baniitz,  of 
Harrisbiirg.  They  have  one  child,  George 
Howard.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Messiah 
Lutheran  church,  and  was  formerly  a  Sab- 
bath-school teacher. 


Rambler,  Robert  A.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
East  Hanover  township,  Daujihin  county. 
Pa.,  April  15, 1858.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
Henry  B.  and  Mary  A.  (Vvallower)  Rambler. 
Leonard  Rambler,  Dr.  Rambler's  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  and 
a  farmer.  He  married  Miss  Priscilla  Bacas- 
toe,  of  Dauphin  county.  They  had  these 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living;  Mary, 
wife  of  Moses  Early;  Elias;  Priscilla,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Gingerede.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren were:  .John,  Leonard,  Michael  B.,  and 
their  si.ster  Jane,  first  wife  of  Benjamin  Gin- 
grich. The  grandfather  died  August  17, 
1870,  aged  seventy-six;  the  grandmother 
died  March  4,  1885,  aged  eighty,  just  fifteen 
years  later  than  her  husband. 

Henry  B.  Rambler  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  and  was  for  many  years  a  farmer. 
His  wife,  Mary  A.  Waliower,  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  Waliower,  was  born 
October  7,  1835,  and  was  married  in  the 
year  1855  to  Mr.  Rambler.  Thev  had  two 
sons,  Dr.  Robert  A.,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and 
Galen  M.,  of  Middletown,  Pa.  Late  in  life 
Mr.  Rambler  engaged  in  the  hotel  business 
at  Palmyra,  Pa. ;  he  died  one  year  after,  aged 
fifty-two.  His  wife  still  lives,  and  resides 
with  her  son.  Dr.  Rambler.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  cliurch,  at  Shells- 
ville,  Dauphin  county  ;  in  his  political  views 
was  a  Democrat. 

Robert  A.  Rambler  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  county.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  in  1880 
he  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  received  his  degree  of  M.  D.  three 
years  later.  He  at  once  opened  an  office  in 
Harrisburg,  on  the  same  street  where  he  now 
resides,  and  where  he  has  ever  since  been 
engaged  in  the  duties  of  his  profession.  By 
his  genial  and  affable  manner,  his  superior 
skill  and  devotion  to  his  patients,  he  has 
built  up  a  large  practice.  His  professional 
services  are  much  sought  after.  On  May  4, 
1889,  he  was  appointed  medical  examiner 
for  the  Baltimore  Mutual  Aid  Society ;  in 
1895  he  received  a  similar  appointment  from 
the  Bay  State  Beneficiary  Society,  Boston, 
Mass.     In  the  same  year  he  was  appointed 


medical  examiner  for  the  Mutual  Life  Insur- 
ance Company  of  Philadelphia. 

Dr.  Rambler  was  njarried,  in  December, 
1882,  to  Miss  Lizzie,  daughter  of  Herman 
and  Mary  (Reiger)  Turby.  They  have  no 
children.  He  is  a  member  of  K.  of  P.,  No. 
59.  The  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Rambler  are 
members  of  Messiah  Lutheran  church,  Har- 
risburg.    His  jiolitics  are  Democratic. 

The  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Rambler  were 
farmers  of  Dauphin  county.  Six  of  their 
family  of  seven  children  are  living:  William  ; 
Mary,  Mrs.  Herman  Turby;  Rebecca,  wife  of 
Aaron  Shertzer;  Eliza,  wife  of  Jacob  Rank; 
Philip,  and  Louisa,  wife  of  John  ]\Iiller,  of 
Kansas.  Samuel  died,  1894,  aged  sixty-five 
years.  Both  grandparents  were  members  of 
the  Reformed  cliurch,  at  Palmyra.  The 
grandfather  was  a  Republican.  He  died, 
December  22,  1879.  aged  sevent^^-eight,  and 
his  widow  died  September  27,  1887,  aged 
eighty -four  years. 

Herman  Turby,  Mrs.  Rambler's  father,  was 
a  native  of  Germany.  He  came  to  this 
country.  May  29,  1808,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years,  and  after  working  for  some  years 
among  the  farmers  became  a  foreman  in  the 
lime  business.  His  wife,  Miss  Mary  Reiger, 
was  the  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
Reiger.  They  had  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living:  Lizzie  A.,  Mrs.  Dr.  Ram- 
bler; Emma,  wife  of  Abraham  Demuth  ; 
William,  and  Charles.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are  Harry  and  Edy.  The  mother  of 
Mrs.  Rambler  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
and  now  resides  in  Lebanon  county. 


CoovEu,  Dr.  H.  Ross,  was  born  in  New 
Cumberland,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  No- 
vember 30,  1860,  son  of  Dr.  E.  H.  and 
Anne  (Hummel)  Coover.  He  was  reared  in 
Harrisburg  and  received  his  education  at 
Seller's  Academy  and  the  Pennsylvania 
State  College  of  Centre  county.  Pa.  He  read 
medicine  with  his  father  and  took  a  two 
years  course  in  the  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege at  Philadelphia.  In  September,  1881, 
he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  C.  K. 
Essington,  Jr.,  &  Co.,  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  axes  and  edge  tools  at  Miles- 
burg,  Centre  county.  Pa.,  at  which  he  con- 
tinued about  two  years,  when  he  abandoned 
the  enterprise  and  resumed  his  studies  at 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  and  after  a  two 
years  additional  course  was  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  1885.  He  at  once  began 
the    practice    of    medicine    at  Harrisburg, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


387 


where  he  has  been  professionally  engaged 
since  that  time.  He  is  a  member  ot  the 
Dauphin  County  Medical  Society,  and  lias 
served  as  the  vice-president  of  the  same. 
He  is  a  member  and  past  commander  of  the 
Knights  of  Malta.  In  his  politics  Dr.  Coover 
is  a  Republican,  and  is  active  in  party  in- 
terests. He  served  as  j)hysieian  to  the  city 
poor  from  1890  to  1893.  Dr.  Coover  was 
married  in  1881  to  Miss  Sarali  R.  Weekiey, 
daugliter  of  Tiiompson  Weekiey,  of  Carlisle, 
to  whom  has  been  born  two  children,  E. 
11.,  Jr.,  and  Sarah.  Mrs.  Coover  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Presbyterian  ciuirch;  tlio  Doctor 
was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  cluircii. 


McAlister  is  not  married.  He  is  a  meml)er 
of  Market  Square  Presbyterian  churcii  and 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  iVssociation. 


McAlister,  John  B.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Carroll  county,  Md.,  January  31,  1864.  He 
is  a  son  of  James  and  .Jane  (Barr)  McAlister, 
natives  of  Carroll  and  Adams  counties  re- 
spectivel}'.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and 
business  man;  lie  died  in  Carroll  county, 
Md.  He  was  an  active  member  of  tlie  Pinej' 
Creek  Presbyterian  churcli,  and  an  elder  in 
the  same.  The  mother  is  a  resident  of  Get- 
tysburg, Pa. 

Joim  B.  McAlister  is  the  only  child  of  his 
parents.  He  removed  to  Ciettysburg,  Pa.,  in 
1808  and  received  his  education  in  Pennsyl- 
vania College,  Gettysburg,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1884.  He  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  Bion  Scott,  of 
Gettysburg.  He  attended  tlie  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  Philadelphia,  and  gradu- 
ated in  1887.  Dr.  McAlister  came  directly 
to  Harrisburg  and  from  May,  1887,  to  May, 
1888,  served  as  resident  physician  in  the  City 
Hospital,  after  which  he  engaged  in  general 
practice.  He  has  since  been  visiting  phy- 
sician of  the  medical  department  of  tlie  lios- 
pital.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Daupliin 
County  Medical  Society,  and  has  been  its 
vice-president.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State 
Medical  Society  and  was  delegate  to  the  same 
ill  1893;  he  was  elected  to  represent  tlie 
Dauphin  County  Medical  Society  in  the 
National  Medical  Association  in  1893. 

Dr.  McAlister  is  a  member  of  Perseverance 
Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Chapter  No.  21  ; 
Pilgrim  Commandery ;  and  of  Harrisburg 
Consistory,  32°.  He  belongs  also  to  the 
Knights  of  Malta,  and  the  Junior  Order  of 
American  Mechanics.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Republican  party.  In  1889  and  1890 
he  was  city  physician.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Harrisburg  Trust  Company  and  in 
Harrisburg   Electric   Light  Company.     Dr. 


Jones,  William  H.,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  was  born  in  Snow  Hill,  Worcester 
county,  Md.,  August  10,  ISGO.  He  is  a  son 
of  William  H.  and  Esther  A.  (Smith)  .Jones, 
both  of  Worcester  county,  where  the  father 
still  resides  and  is  engaged  in  contracting. 
The  mother  died  September,  1892.  They 
had  five  children:  Mary  Virginia,  wife  of 
Henry  Bailey,  died  in  1890;  Georgiana,wife 
of  Charles  H.  Wil.son,  William  IL,  Milcah 
S.,  wife  of  John  H.  Bailey,  John  David.  Of 
a  subsequent  marriage  of  the  father  there 
has  been  born  one  son,  an  infant. 

William  H.  Jones  passed  his  boyhood  in 
his  native  township.  He  received  his  pri- 
mary education  in  the  public  schools  and  was 
prepared  for  college  under  a  private  tutor. 
He  took  the  regular  collegiate  course  at 
Howard  University,  Washington,  D.  C.  He 
afterwards  took  a  three  years  course  in  the 
medical  department  of  that  institution,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1887.  He  then 
took  a  post-graduate  course  at  the  New  York 
Polyclinic  Institute.  He  began  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  but  soon 
returned  to  the  North,  and  since  September, 
1887,  has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  Har- 
risburg, engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. 

The  Doctor  is  unmarried.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Brotiierl}'  Love  Lodge,  No.  896,  Grand 
United  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Harrisburg. 
He  belongs  to  the  American  Medical  So- 
ciety, the  Pennsylvania  State  Medical  So- 
ciety, the  Dauphin  County  Medical  Society 
and  the  Harrisburg  Academy  of  Medicine. 
He  is  president  of  the  Baker  Building  and 
Loan  Association.  The  Doctor  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  attends  the  Protestant  Epi.?copal 
church. 


De  Venney,  J.  C,  M.  D.,  a  prominent 
physician  of  Harrisburg,  was  born  near  Car- 
lisle, Cumberland  county,  February  5,  1857. 
His  parents,  William  and  Harriet  (Wolfe) 
De  Venney,  are  both  natives  of  Cumberland 
county,  and  are  now  residing  in  Monroe 
township.  The  Doctor,  when  quite  young, 
removed  with  his  ]iarents  to  Monroe  town- 
ship where  he  spent  his  boyhood,  receiving 
his  primary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  township.  In  1874-75  he  entered 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Shippensburg. 


388 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


He  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
1882.  During  the  next  two  j'ears  he  taught 
school,  and  read  medicine  in  his  spare  time. 
In  1885  and  part  of  1886  lie  was  a  student 
of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Kieffer,  of 
Carlisle.  In  the  latter  part  of  1886  he  en- 
tered Jefferson  Medical  College  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  took  his  diploma  from  that  insti- 
tution with  tiie  class  of  1888.  He  at  once 
hegan  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Mt.  Holly 
Springs,  Cumberland  county,  and  continued 
there  until  June  1,  1893.  At  this  date  he 
removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  been 
engaged  in  his  profession  for  over  two  years. 
Dr.  De  Venu'ey  is  a  member  of  the  Dauphin 
County  Medical  Society.  He  is  rapidly 
building  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 
In  both  professional  and  .social  circles  lie 
stands  liigh  in  the  estimation  of  the  com- 
munity, being  esteemed  as  a  gentleman  of 
the  higiiest  ability,  culture  and  probity. 

Dr.  De  Venney  was  married,  at  Mechanics- 
burg,  Pa.,  September  23,  1883,  to  L3'dia  A. 
Baker,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Mary 
Baker.  They  have  no  children  living.  In 
political  views  the  Doctor  is  a  Democrat. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 


of  the  Dauphin  County  Medical  Society  and 
of  the  State  Medical  Society.  His  fraternal 
membership  is  with  the  Nazareth  Cora- 
mandery,  K.  of  M. "  In  political  views  he  is  a 
Republican.  He  is  not  married,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  and  was  a  di- 
rector of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  in  1892  and  1893. 


Stevens,  John  C,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
White  Haven,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 17,  1864,  son^of  Rev.  B.  F.  and  Han- 
nah G.  (Rhoads)  Stevens.  The  father  is  a 
native  of  Frankhn  county,  Pa.  The  mother 
was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Rhoads,  a  de- 
voted minister  of  the  M.  E.  church,  and  a 
native  of  "S'irginia.  The  father  had  charges 
at  White  Haven,  Ashland,  Jersey  Shore, 
Nortliumberland.  Wiiliams]>ort,  Clearfield, 
Danville,  Miftiinburg,  Stevenstown,Mechan- 
icsburg,  Duncannon  and  Harrisburg,  and  is 
now  retired  from  the  active  work  of  the  min- 
istry. John  C.  was  reared  in  the  different 
places  of  his  father's  pastorates,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Dickinson  Seminar}'  at  Wi!i- 
iamsport,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1885.  He  read  medicine  under  Dr.  T.  L. 
Johnson,  of  Duncannon,  and  attended  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia, 
from  wiiicli  he  graduated  in  1888,  after  which 
he  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  at  the 
State  Lunatic  Asvlum,  and  remained  there 
from  May,  1888,  to  March,  1891,  when  he 
went  to  the  Philadelphia  Polyclinical  Hos- 
pital, and  took  a  full  course.  In  1892  he 
located  in  Harrisburg,  and  entered  upon  a 
general  practice.     Dr.  Stevens  is  a  member 


M.\NNiNG,  Charles  J.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Little  Washington,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
January  9,  1860,  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Kendig)  Manning,  both  natives  of  Lancas- 
ter county.  The  father  is  still  living  and 
resides  at  Newjiort,  Perrj^  county,  and  the 
mother  died  at  that  place  August  22,  1866. 
Charles  J.  when  a  youth  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Newport,  where  he  received  his 
education  in  tiie  public  schools,  after  whicii 
he  taught  public  sciiool  in  Perry  county  five 
years,  reailing  medicine  also  during  this 
time.  In  1881  he  devoted  himself  solely  to 
preparation  for  the  medical  profession,  hav- 
ing for  his  preceptor  Dr.  J.  D.  Shaw,  of  Mar- 
klesville.  Perry  county.  Pa.  He  attended 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at 
Baltimore  one  year,  and  in  1887  entered  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1889.  He  returned  to  Marklesville  and  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  there 
until  1893,  after  which  lie  removed  to  Har- 
risburg. 


Blair,  William,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Car- 
lisle, Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  November 
13,  1869,  son  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Stewart) 
Blair,  the  former  a  native  of  Perry  county, 
the  latter  of  Sewickley,  Pa.,  both  living  an<l 
residing  in  Chambersburg,  Pa.  William  re- 
ceived his  literary  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Chambersburg,  and  in  the  high 
school  of  that  city.  He  then  took  a  practi- 
cal course  in  the  Ann  Arbor  high  school, 
one  year  in  the  academic  department  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  and  three  years  in 
the  medical  department  of  the  same  univer- 
sity, graduating  therefrom   in    the  class  of 

1893.  During  his  last  year  at  college,  and 
a  year  following  his  graduation,  he  was  a 
teacher  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
university.  In  June,  1893,  he  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  at  Ann  Arbor,  which 
he  pursued  for  one  3^ear  and  then  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  iiis  profession  since  June, 

1894.  Dr.  Blair  was  married  at  Ann  Arbor, 
June  30,  1892,  to  Viola  M.Williams,  a  grad- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


389 


luite  of  the  literary  departmeut  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  daugliter  of  Jeremiah 
D.  and  Jane  L.  Williams,  the  former  a  verj' 
prominent  citizen  and  one  of  the  oldest  liv- 
ing settlers  of  Washtenaw  county,  Mich.,  and 
an  ex-member  of  the  State  Legislature.  To 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Blair  has  been  born  one 
daughter,  Viola  Helen,  born  September  ID, 
1894.  Dr.  Blair  is  a  member  of  the  Dauphin 
County  Medical  Society.  In  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  and  liis  wife  attend 
the  Presbyterian  church. 


CocKLiN,  Dr.  C.  C,  oculist,  was  born  in 
York  county.  Pa.,  June  29,  1862.  He  is  a 
son  of  E.  H.  and  Sarah  Elizabeth  (Caley) 
Cocklin.  Jacob  Cocklin,  grandfather  of  Dr. 
C  C.  Cocklin,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.,  January  30, 1797,  and  was  for 
many  years  a  nurseryman.  He  was  married 
January  29,  1828,  to  Miss  Catharine  Hoover, 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  The}'  had 
six  children,  two  of  whom  are  living,  Sai'ah, 
wife  of  Joseph  Miller,  of  Frederick,  JNId.,  and 
E.  H.,  father  of  Dr.  C.  C.  Their  deceased 
children  were;  Elizabeth,  died  November 
14,  1835;  Michael,  March  12,  1851  ;  Benja- 
min, died  April  16,  1859,  and  Jacob,  died 
January  24,  1871.  Jacob  Cocklin  died  De- 
cember 18,  1890,  aged  ninety-three  years; 
his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years. 
The  grandparents  of  Dr.  Cocklin  on  his 
mother's  side  were  natives  of  England ;  their 
occupation  was  farming.  They  came  to 
this  country  about  the  year  1840.  They  had 
nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  living : 
Docey,wife  of  James  Herd,  residing  in  Union 
county,  Ohio ;  George,  Robert,  Elizabeth 
Sarah,  wife  of  E.  H.  Cocklin,  and  Clark. 
Their  deceased  children  are:  Ellen,  wife  of 
John  David,  also  deceased,  and  Peter,  Anne 
and  John. 

E.  H.  Cocklin,  father  of  Dr.  C.  C.  Cocklin, 
was  born  in  York  county  March  8,  1835. 
He  was  a  nurseryman,  having  learned  the 
business  in  bo3'hood  from  his  father ;  he 
still  carries  it  on  in  York  count}%  where  the 
family  reside.  Miss  Sarah  Elizabeth  Caley, 
to  whom  lie  was  married  August  9,  1859, 
was  a  native  of  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  Chambers  and  Docey  (Dunn) 
Caley.  Thev  have  seven  children,  all  living: 
Ida  M.,  Dr.  C.  C,  R.  T.,  B.  F.,  justice  of  the 
peace  atMonaghan,  York  county.  Pa.,  Alice 
D.,  John  A.,  Arthur  B.  Mr.  E^  H.  Cocklin 
is  a  Republican.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Reformed  church. 


Dr.  C.  C.  Cocklin  received  a  part  of  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  He  was 
brought  up  in  his  native  {tlace.  At  the  age 
of  twenty  he  engaged  in  the  jewelry  busi- 
ness at  Philipsburg,  N.  J.,  where  he  re- 
mained four  years.  In  1888  he  entered  the 
optical  school,  and  pursued  his  studies  in  the 
science  of  optics  for  four  months.  He  then 
opened  an  office  at  Harrisburg  in  connec- 
tion with  the  firm  then  known  as  Cocklin 
Bros.,  oculists.  Desirous  of  making  more 
thorough  preparation  for  his  specialty  he 
went  to  Philadelphia  in  1891,  and  after  a 
three  years  course  of  study  was  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Pennssj-lvania,  and 
afterwards  took  a  special  course  of  three 
months  in  the  Philadelphia  Polyclinic,  at 
the  Wills  Eye  and  Ear  Hospital.  "  In  1894 
he  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  opened  an 
office  at  No.  28  North  Tliird  street.  He  is 
known  as  one  of  the  most  eminent,  skillful 
and  successful  opticians  in  this  region.  Dr. 
Cocklin  is  an  active  member  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &.  A.  M.  He  is 
a  Republican.  He  belongs  to  the  Reformed 
church. 


Hassler,  Samuel  F.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  September  28,  1868.  He  is  a 
son  of  Edward  0.  and  Mary  (Felty)  Hassler. 
When  a  child  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  public  schools.  To  fit  himself  for  teach- 
ing he  took  a  course  in  Lebanon  Valley  Col- 
lege and  the  State  Normal  School  at  Blooms- 
burg,  Pa.  He  taught  school  for  five  years 
in  Dauphin  county,  and  during  the  latter 
years  of  this  period  he  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  Eli  Coover,  of  Harrisburg.  In  1891  he 
entered  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of 
Philadelphia,  and  was  graduated  therefrom 
in  1894.  He  spent  fourteen  months  in  the 
Harrisburg  City  Hospital  as  resident  physi- 
cian. In  July,  1895,  he  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Harrisburg.  In  May, 
1896,  was  elected  member  of  the  staff  at 
Harrisburg  Hospital,  medical  department. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of 
American  Mechanics.  In  political  views  he 
is  Republican.  He  is  well  equipped  in 
native  talent  and  attainment  for  his  work, 
is  popular,  and  his  prospects  for  a  brilliant 
career  ai'e  very  flattering.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Dauphin  county.  His  mother 
died  in  1873.  His  father  still  lives  and  re- 
sides in  Susquehanna  township  engaged  in 


390 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


dairy  farming.  His  parents  had  born  to 
them  three  sons:  Samuel  F.,  J.  Elmer,  and 
Edwin,  who  died  in  infancy.  By  a  subse- 
quent marriage  of  his  father  to  Rebecca 
Stober  there  has  been  born  a  family  of  seven 
children :  Gertrude  M.,  Collin,  Lottie,  Emery, 
Blaine,  Elizabeth,  and  Stanley. 

Wilson,  Henry,  M.  D.,  resident  physician 
of  Harrisburg  Hospital,  was  born  in  Warrens- 
ville,  Lycoming  county.  Pa.,  December  23, 
ISOO,  son  of  Andrew   F.  and   Ann  (Casner) 
WiLson.     He  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Elder  township,  and 
was  graduated   from  the  Lycoming  County 
Normal  School  at  Muncy,in  the  class  of  1888, 
after  which  he  studied  one  year  at  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Millersville.     For  the  next 
four  years  he  taught  in  the  public  schools  of 
Lycoming  county,  and  then  took  a  course  in 
the  Business  College  at   Williamsport,  and 
for  one  year  served  as  accountant  and  clerk 
in  a  general  store  at  Ambler,  Pa.     October 
1,  1892,  he  entered  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Phila- 
delpiiia,  from    which    he    was  graduated  in 
•June, 1895.     During  his  first  vacation  he  was 
a  teacher  in  the  Spencerian  Business  College 
of  Philadelphia.     On  June  10,  1895,  he  was 
appointed  resident  physician  of  the  hospital 
and  took  charge  on  June  24.     In  his  political 
views  Dr.  Wilson  is  a  Republican.     He  is  a 
member   of   Lodge   No.  1045,  L  0.  0.  F.,  at 
Ambler,  and  was  a  member   of  the   Good 
Templars  at  Muncy  up  to  the  date  of  their 
disbanding.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  at  Ambler. 


Zelleks,  Isa.\c  W.,  D.  V.  S.,  was  born  in 
Swatara  township,  Lebanon  county,  Pa., 
August  23,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of  Adam  and 
Hatty  (Woods)  Zellers,  both  natives  of  Leb- 
anon county,  and  who  both  died  when  Isaac 
was  but  a  youtii.  His  boyhood  days  were 
spent  in  his  native  township,  the  advantages 
of  but  a  limited  education  being  afforded 
him  in  tiie  schools  of  Lebanon  and  adjoining 
counties.  Whatever  of  success  has  attended 
him  through  life  must  be  accredited  to  his 
personal  exertions.  \Vhen  about  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  learned  the  trade  of  cigar 
maker.  While  learning  his  trade  he  at  the 
same  time  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Cooper  of 
Jonestown,  Swatara  township,  Lebanon 
county.  In  1860  he  abandoned  the  study  of 
medicine  for  the  human  system,  and  also 
cigar  making,  and  engaged  in  the  study  and 


practice  of  veterinary  science.  Since  1879 
he  has  been  exclusively  and  continuously 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Harrisburg.  By  his  ability  and  skill,  and 
his  faithful  devotion  to  the  duties  of  his 
calling,  he  has  placed  himself  at  the  head  of 
his  profession.  During  the  late  Rebellion 
he  served  three  years  as  veterinary  surgeon 
in  Maryland,  but  was  never  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  army. 

He  was  married  in  Lebanon  City,  October 
9,  1878,  to  Elizabeth  Berkheiser,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Nancy  Berkheiser,  of  Lebanon, 
and  widow  of  the  late  L.  C.  Fernsler,  of  Leb- 
anon. One  daughter  has  been  born  to  them, 
Susan.  By  Mrs.  Zellers'  first  marriage  there 
were  born  two  children:  George  and  Sallie, 
who  still  survive.  Dr.  Zellers  is  a  past  noble 
grand  of  Peace  and  Plenty  Lodge,  No.  69,  I. 
0.  0.  F.  He  is  past  chief  patriarch  of  Plar- 
risburg  Encampment,  No.  301. 

Oyler,  J.  H.,  doctor  of  veterinary  science, 
was    born    near    Chambersburg,   Franklin 
county.  Pa.,  December   16,  1852.     He   is   a 
son  of  Elias  and  Susanna  (Harmony)  Oyler. 
He  received   his  primary  education  in  the 
public  .schools  of  Chambersburg.     He  was 
engaged   as   a   traveling    salesman  for  the 
East    Liverpool     Granite     Company,    East 
Liveri)ool,  Ohio.     In  1885  he  attended  tlie 
Ontario  Veterinary  College  of  Toronto,  Can- 
ada, and  was  graduated  from  that  institution 
in  the  class  of  1887.     Since  that  date  he  has 
been  continuously  engaged    in  the  practice 
of  his    profe.ssion   in   Harrisburg,  where  by 
the  skillful  treatment  of  all  cases  entrusted 
ti)   his  care  he   has  built   up   a   large   and 
rapidly  increasing   practice.     His   personal 
integrity   and   his    professional   ability  are 
universally  recognized.     He  was  married  at 
Ciiambersburg,  September  29,  1887,  to  Miss 
Mary  Jane  Forbes,  daughter  of  GJeorge  and 
Mary  Ann  Forbes,  of  Chambersburg.    They 
have  no   children.     In    political  views  the 
Doctor  is  a  stauncii  Republican.     He  and 
his   wife    attend    the   Methodist   Episcopal 
church. 


IIa.\s,  James  A.,  veterinary  surgeon,  was 
born  in  Lowhill  township,  Lehigh  county. 
Pa.,  October  5,  1869 ;  son  of  Solomon  and 
Sarah  (Moore)  Haas.  His  parents  were 
both  born  in  Lehigh  county.  The  mother 
<lied  September  10,  1884,  the  father  is  still 
living  and  resides  near  AUentown,  Pa.,  where 
he  superintends  the  management  of  his  farm 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


391 


in  connection  witli  his  practice  as  a  veterin- 
ar3'  surgeon.  They  liad  a  family  of  six  boys 
and  six  girls,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Chester, 
Orville,  Sarah,  Amanda,  George,  M.  D.,  of 
Allentown,  Mar}',  wife  of  George  Worley, 
Dr.  James  A.,  Rosa,  wife  of  Owen  Weiss, 
Ida,  wife  of  Chester  Wallert,  Ewin,  Wilson, 
J^lsie.  James  A.  spent  his  earl}'  life  on  the 
home  farm  and  received  his  primaiy  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship, and  iu  the  public  schools  of  Allentown, 
Pa.  In  preparation  for  his  profession  he 
began  the  study  of  veterinary  science  with 
his  father,  and  in  1889  entered  the  American 
^"eterinary  College  of  New  York  C'ity,  from 
which  he  wns  graduated  with  honors  in  1891. 
He  at  once  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion near  Allentown,  in  which  he  was  very 
successful,  and  which  he  continued  until 
November  27, 1895,  when  he  removed  to  Har- 
risburg,  wiiere  his  j)rofessional  ability  and 
skill  have  been  readily  recognized  and  his 
practice  is  extensive  and  profitable.  Dr. 
Haas  was  married,  in  Foglesville,  Lehigh 
county,  Pa.,  April  16,  1892,  to  Miss  Emma 
Hollenhach,  daughter  of  Moses  and  Ellen 
(Seirer)  Hollenhach.  Their  children  are: 
Paul  S.,  Frederick  iM.,  and  Howard  P.  Dr. 
Haas  is  a  member  of  Macungie  Lodge,  No. 
231,  L  0.  0.  F.,  of  Lehigh  county,  and  of  the 
Trexlertown  Mutual  Aid  Association  of  the 
same  county.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  is  an  attendant  of  the  Re- 
formed church. 


Newhard,  Irvin  C,  doctor  of  veterinary 
science,  was  born  at  Allentown,  Lehigh 
county.  Pa.,  March  14,  1872.  He  is  a  son  of 
James D.  and  Eliza (Bachman)  Newhard,  both 
natives  of  Allentown,  wheie  they  still  reside. 
His  father,  James  D.,  was  a  carriage  maker 
by  trade,  but  is  at  present  in  the  liver}'  busi- 
ness. In  his  father's  family  there  were  four 
children,  of  whom  three  survive:  Irvin  C, 
Annie  and  Lillian.  His  grandparents  were 
also  natives  of  Lehigh  county,  and  were  of 
German  ancestry. 

Irvin  C.  Newhard  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  town,  where  he  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  in  Muhlenberg 
College  and  in  a  business  college  of  Allen- 
town. He  then  took  a  thorough  course  of 
studies  in  preparation  for  his  profession  in 
the  New  York  A'eterinary  College,  from 
which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1893. 
He  entered  at  once  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession   in  Harrisburg.     His  knowledge 


and  skill  in  his  profession  and  his  faithful 
devotion  to  his  practice  are  clearly  demon- 
strated, and  his  success  is  securing  him  a 
rapidly  growing  business.  His  many  good 
qualities  are  recognized,  and  he  is  popular 
in  social  circles.  He  is  a  loyal  and  active 
member  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the 
New  York  'S^eterinary  College.  In  his  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  attends 
Salem  Reformed  church. 


Stine,  George  W.,  dentist,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  October 
30,  1829,  son  of  Frederick  A.  and  Susan 
(Montgomery)  Stine.  George  Stine,  the 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Lebanon 
county  and  his  wife  was  also  born  iu  the 
same  county.  Frederick  A.  Stine,  the 
father,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county  in 
1807.  He  married  Susan  Montgomery, 
born  in  1805,  also  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  a  shoemaker,  and  was 
also  engaged  in  boating  on  the  canal.  The 
parents  had  nine  children,  three  of  whom 
■are  living:  Anna  Caroline,  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery ;  George  W.  and  Frederick  Adol- 
phus.  Their  deceased  children  are:  Oscar, 
William,  Joseph,  James  and  David.  The 
father  died  September  20,  1842,  in  Harris- 
burg, and  was  the  first  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  buried  in  Harrisburg.  In  his  po- 
litical views  Mr.  Stine  was  a  JJemocrat,  and 
in  his  religious  faith  and  worship  he  was  a 
Methodist,  in  which  denomination  he 
served  as  a  class  leader  for  many  years,  and 
was  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  His 
wife  was  a  member  of  the  same  church,  and 
her  death  occurred  in  1852,  at  the  age  of 
forty-two  years. 

George  W.  attended  the  schools  of  Harris- 
burg until  he  was  thirteen  years  old,  at 
which  time  his  father  died,  and  he  lived 
with  his  uncle,  John  Stine,  at  Lebanon,  Pa., 
for  two  years,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Harrisburg  and  attended  the  high  school 
for  six  months.  He  then  was  employed  for 
a  year  in  a  general  supply  store  with  his 
cousin,  at  Havre  de  Grace,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  returned  to  Harrisburg  and 
learned  the  trade  of  carpentry,  which  he 
followed  about  seven  years.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  years  he  entered  the  Dental 
College  at  Baltimore,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1861.  He  began  the  practice 
of  dentistry  in  Harrisburg,  in  which  he  has 
continued  up  to  tiie  present  time.     Dr.  Stine 


392 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


was  married  first  in  December,  1850,  to  Miss 
Anua  Stauffer,  daugliter  of  John  Stauffer, 
to  whom  have  been  born  two  daughters, 
Ellen,  wife  of  Gilbert  Waigle,  and  Matilda, 
deceased.  Mrs.  Stine  died  in  November, 
1854.  Dr.  Stine  was  married,  secondly, 
July  11,1861,  to  Miss  Annie  Neff,  daughter 
of  Dr.  John  C.  and  Margaret  (Stahl)  Neff, 
to  whom  were  born  three  children,  one  of 
whom  is  living :  Henry  M.,  who  is  also  a 
dentist;  George  W.,  died  April  30,  1875, 
aged  eleven  years  ;  and  Margaret,  died  in 
1871,  aged  two  years.  Dr.  Stine  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
with  which  he  united  in  1855,  and  of  Dau- 
pliin  Encampment,  No.  11,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  United  Workmen.  In 
his  political  views  Dr.  Stine  is  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church. 


Sf'HLAYER,  Andrew,  Harrisburg,|was  born 
at  Baden,  Germany,  February  21, 1830.  His 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Germany  and 
came  early  to  this  country.  They  had  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Barbara, 
wife  of  Leonard  Ortii,  deceased  ;  William, 
Caroline,  wife  of  Henrj-  Longenecker,  Beverly, 

0.;  Margaret,  wife  of Vasler,  and  Jacob  L. 

Their  deceased  children  are  Andrew,  Mary, 
Mrs.  Meyer,  and  Bernard.  The  parents  were 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  clmrch, 
and  both  died  at  Harrisburg,  the  mother 
passing  away  May  3,  1876,  aged  eighty-one 
years.  Andrew  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  when  he  was  two  years  old.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools  until  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age,  and  then  learned  the  trade  of 
baker,  which  he  followed  some  years.  He 
was  eu:ployed  in  the  planing  mill  for  about 
thirty-five  years,  and  was  for  a  number  of 
years  in  the  place  of  foreman  in  the  mill.  In 
March,  1881,  he  opened  a  grocery  at  No. 
1002  North  Third  street,  which  he  conducted 
until  his  death,  February  29,  1892.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Schlayer  was  a  Democrat. 
He  served  as  member  of  the  common  coun- 
cil, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  a  mem- 
ber of  select  council.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Bethlehem  Lutheran  church,  and  was 
formerly  a  member  of  the  Zion  church.  He 
was  prominent  in  fraternity  circles,  being  a 
member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  Persever- 
ance Chapter,  and  Knights  Templars,  F.&  A. 
M.,  of  Dauphin  Lodge  and  Encampment.  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  and  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  Friendship  Fire  Company 


No.  1.  After  his  death  his  business  was  con- 
d  ucted  by  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Schlayer.  Mrs. 
Schlayer  was  born  September  19, 1836.  Her 
father  was  born  in  1800,  and  was  a  printer. 
He  mai'ried  Miss  Julia  Ring,  born  in  1814, 
by  whom  he  had  five  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living.  He  died  January  9,  1876,  aged 
seventy-four  years,  and  his  wife  died  Septem- 
ber 2,  1877,  aged  sixty-three  years.  He  was 
an  old  line  Whig.  His  wife  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Schlayer  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade. 
He  came  in  his  youth  to  this  country,  and 
died  at  Harrisburg.  His  wife  died  at  Phila- 
delphia, aged  ninety-three  years. 

Keller,  John  P. — Among  the  profes- 
sional men  in  Harrisburg  who  have  passed 
the  period  of  activity  and  success  in  the 
business  life,  and  are  quietly  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  their  labors  in  earlier  years.  Dr. 
John  P.  Keller  holds  a  prominent  place.  He 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  February  20,  1831, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  Peter  and  Lydia 
(Kunkle)  Keller,  natives  of  Harrisburg,  born 
February  25,  1808,  and  November  9,  1811, 
respectively.  The  father  was  educated  and 
reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  city,  and 
here  also  were  sj)ent  the  brief  and  busy  j'ears 
of  his  business  career.  He  was  a  hardware 
merchant,  and  his  j)lace  of  business  was  at 
the  corner  of  Second  and  Walnut  streets, 
where  he  carefully  laid  the  foundations  of 
a  large  and  secure  business,  and  where  the 
prospects  of  an  increasing  and  profitable 
trade  appeared  most  flattering,  but  were  all 
blasted  by  ins  early  death,  which  occurred 
December  13,  1837,  in  the  twenty-ninth  year 
of  his  age.  His  wife  survived  him  many 
years,  not  having  been  called  away  from  life 
until  February  10,  1860.  There  were  born 
to  the.se  worthy  parents  four  children,  of 
wdiom  John  P.  and  Christian  Kunkle  are 
the  only  survivors,  two  having  died  in  child- 
hood. 

John  Peter  was  a  bright  and  diligent 
pupil  in  the  public  schools  and  academy  of 
the  city,  and  reached  the  end  of  their  course 
of  studies  with  a  very  fair  degree  of  intel- 
lectual training,  which  abundantly  qualified 
him  to  take  up  professional  preparation. 
He  made  choice  of  dentistry  as  the  profes- 
sion most  in  accord  with  his  tastes  and 
talents,  and  most  promising  as  a  field  for 
employment.  He  took  up  the  stud}'  with 
Dr.  J.  C.  Stock,  where  he  received  the  fullest 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


393 


and  most  accurate  instruction  and  training 
in  the  science  and  art  he  had  decided  to 
master.  Dr.  Stock  was,  at  this  time,  in  tlie 
enjoyment  of  a  hxrge  and  kicrative  practice, 
from  which  he  was  called  away  by  early 
death,  and  to  which  his  promising  pupil 
succeeded.  Dr.  Keller  was  devoted  to  his 
ciiosen  occupation,  and  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful in  professional  work.  He  continued 
in  practice  until  1875,  at  wiiich  time  he  re- 
tired to  the  enjoyment  of  relief  and  rest  from 
the  exacting  engagements  of  professional 
life.  The  marriage  of  Dr.  Keller  to  Miss 
Emeline  H.  CroU,  daughter  of  John  and 
Eliza  (Lanman)  Croll,  of  Middletown,  Pa., 
occurred  at  that  place,  June  20,1861.  There 
have  been  born  to  them  six  children,  of 
whom  one  died  in  infancy,  and  the  surviv- 
ing are:  John  Peter,  Croll,  Helen  Lydia, 
Christian  Kunkel  and  William  Lanman. 
Dr.  Keller  is  a  director  of  the  Verbeke  Street 
market  house.  In  political  principles  he  is 
in  agreement  with  the  Republican  party. 
The  preferences  of  his  family  in  matters  of 
religious  doctrine  and  worship  are  expressed 
in  connection  with  their  membership  in  the 
Lutheran  church. 


Smith,  Edwin  B.,  D.  D.  S.,  was  born  at 
Linglestown,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Marcli 
28,  1855,  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Thomp- 
son) Smith.  His  father  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster count}',  June  2,  1819,  and  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Thompson,  born  in  Berks  countv. 
Pa.,  April  23,  1832,  daughter  of  Dr.  Thomp- 
son. They  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living  :  John  H.,  Dr.  E.  B.,  Amanda, 
Charles,  and  Preston.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are  :  Fannie,  died  in  February,  1873, 
aged  eighteen  years,  and  Louisa,  wife  of  J.  F. 
Brightbill.  The  father  filled  various  town- 
ship offices.  He  died  in  August,  1893,  aged 
seventj'-three  years.  The  mother  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years  and  re- 
sides in  Canton,  0.  Edwin  B.  received  his 
early  education  in  the  public  schools  at  Lin- 
glestown, which  he  attended  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  old,  after  which  he  attended  the 
St.  Thomas  Academy,  at  Linglestown,  for 
two  terms.  He  began  teaciiing  when  he 
was  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  this  occupation  for  seven  succes- 
sive terms.  During  the  intervals  and  vaca- 
tion between   terms  he  attended  a  private 


school  at  Allentown,  Pa.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  College  of  Dental  Surgery,  at  Bal- 
timore, in  1881,  and  came  to  Linglestown 
and  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of 
dentistry.  During  the  last  seven  years  the 
Doctor  has  had  an  office  at  Harrisburg,  and 
in  1895  removed  his  residence  to  this  city,, 
locating  at  No. 931  North  Third  street.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  church. 
Dr.  Smith  was  married  at  Linglestown,  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1878,  to  Miss  Christina  Hicks, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Hicks.  They  have  no 
children.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  Lin- 
glestown Lodge,  No.  G29,  L  0.  0.  F.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Smith  is  a  native  of  Dauphin  county, 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  married 
Miss  Christina  Marberger,  a  native  of 
Schuylkill  county, to  whom  were  born  seven 
children.  He  filled  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  in  West  Hanover  township  and 
also  that  of  school  director.  He  died  in  1875 
aged  sixt3'-three  years.  His  wife  died  in 
April,  1890,  at  the  same  age.  They  were 
members  of  the  Reformed  church. 


Baker,  Gkorge  W.,  D.  D.  S.,  was  born  in 
Linglestown,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  February 
27,  1859,  son  of  George  W.  and  Rebecca 
(Hicks)  Baker.  The  parents  were  both  natives 
of  Lower  Paxton  township,  where  the  father 
carried  on  the  business  of  coach  making  for 
thirty-five  years,  and  died  in  1892.  His  wife 
survives  and  resides  in  Linglestown.  They 
had  eight  children,  of  whom  five  are  living: 
George  W.,  Minnie  C,  John  M.,  dentist  of 
Lykens,  Pa.,  William,  a  student  of  dentistry, 
Ella  C,  teacher  in  the  public  schools.  George 
W.  received  his  primary  educatiou  in  tlie 
public  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
after  completing  his  course  was  engaged  for 
five  terms  in  teaching  school  in  Dauphin 
county.  In  1883  he  began  the  study  of  den- 
tistry with  Dr.  E.  B.  Smith  in  Linglestown, 
and  prosecuted  it  during  1883  and  1884  and 
also  a  part  of  1884  and  1885.  He  took  the 
course  of  study  and  lectures  in  the  College  of 
Dental  Surgeons  at  Baltimore,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  that  institution  in  1880,  after  which 
he  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  den- 
tistry in  Harrisburg.  Dr.  Baker  was  married 
in  Linglestown,  October  9, 1881,  to  Emma  E. 
Harper,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Sallie 
Harper,  of  Linglestown,  to  whom  has  been 
born  one  child,  Harr}'  H.     The  Doctor  is  a 


394 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F. 
&  A.  M.;  Linglestown  Lodge,  No.  621,  L  0. 
0.  F.,  and  of  Phcenix  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  of 
Harrisburg.  He  attends  the  Reformed 
church. 


POFFENBERGER,    ThOMAS    M.    L.,  D.    D.    S., 

was  born  in  Linglestown,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  September  2,  1864,  son  of  William  and 
Henrietta   (McConnell)    Poffenbei'ger,   botli 
deceased.     The  parents  were  born  in   Dau- 
pliin  county,  tlie  father  in  Middle  Paxton 
and  the  mother  in  Plalifax  township.     Tliey 
spent  their  entire  life  in  the  county,  and 
both  died  in  Middle  Paxton  township.    They 
had  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living: 
Emma,  widow   of    Mr.    Sheatfer,  who    was 
killed    by    the    falling   of   the    Harrisburg 
l)ridge ;    Ella,    widow    of    the    late    Josepli 
Lingle,   residing  in   Linglestown,  Pa.;   An- 
drew,  a    prominent   farmer    in    Lancaster 
county;    William,   residing    in    Columbus, 
Oliio.^and   Dr.  Tiiomas  M.  L.     Tliomas  M. 
L.  was  reared   in  his  native  townsliip   and 
attended  the  public  schools  and   later  was 
a  pupil  at  the  State  Normal  Sciiool  at  Mil- 
lersville  for   two   3'ears.     He   then   studied 
dentistry  four  years  with  Dr.  Christ,  of  Hum- 
meistown,  ]'a.     In  ls7()he  studied  one  term 
in  tiie  Pennsylvania  Dental  College,  of  Phila- 
delphia, after  which  he  returned  to  Dauphin 
county,  and  practiced  his  profession  in  Mid- 
dle Paxton  township  for  eleven  years,  one 
year  of  which  lie  spent  in  Syracuse  attend- 
ing to  the  practice  of  Dr.  George  Curtiss  of 
that  city,  wlio  was  for  the  time  disabled  Ijy 
ill  healtli.     In  1886  he  resumed  his  studies 
in  the  Baltimore  College  of  Dental  Surgery, 
from  whicii  he  was  graduated  in  tiie  class  of 
1887,  after  which   he  re-opened  his  office  in 
Dauphin    county.      He   also    established    a 
branch  office  at  Steelton,  Pa.,  which  he  sub- 
sequently abandoned  and  opened  a  branch 
office  in  Harrisburg,  to  which,  for  the  past 
four  years,  he  has  devoted  his  whole  time 
and  attention.     Dr.  Poffenberger  was  mar- 
ried at  Dauphin,  Dauphin  county,  to  Miss 
Julia    Steese,   daugiiter  of    Alfred    F.   and 
Mary   Steese,   of   Dauphin    count}'.      They 
have  one  daughter,  Mary  S.,  born   in  1885. 
The  Doctor  has  efficiently  filled  the  office  of 
burgess  of  Dauphin  one  j'ear.    He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Star  of  America   Commanderv,  No. 
113,   Knights  of    Malta.      In    his  jiolitical 
views  he  is  a  Republican.     Mrs.  Poffenber- 
ger attends  the  Presbyterian  church. 


Storey,  J.  Wilbekt,  dentist,  was  born  in 
Butler  county.  Pa.,  September  24,  1872.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  James  B.  and  Ada  E. 
(Adams)  Storey.  James  B.  Storey  was  born 
in  Petrolia,  Butler  county.  Pa.,  March  4, 
1842.  He  was  an  active  politician ;  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Butler  county  and  filled 
various  other  offices.  He  enlisted,  in  1861, 
in  company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Second 
regiment,  Penn.sylvania  volunteers,  and 
served  three  months.  He  re-enlisted  Decem- 
ber 19,  1862,  and  was  wounded  in  the  head 
at  Cold  Harbor  January  3,  1863  ;  at  Peters- 
burg he  was  wounded  in  the  left  side  and  the 
left  hand  at  the  same  time.  He  was  dis- 
cliarged  December  16,  1864,  on  account  of 
disability.  He  was  afterwards  captain  of 
company'  A,  Thirteenth  regiment,  National 
Guards,  and  was  commissioned  major  of  the 
Sixteenth  regiment,  National  Guards,  De- 
cember 3,  1878,  and  promoted  to  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  same  regiment  Jul}'  11,  1882. 
Colonel  Storey  participated  in  tiie  battles  of 
Williamsliurg,  siege  of  Yorktown,  Fair  Oaks, 
siege  of  Richmond,  battle  of  \\'hite  Oak 
Swamp,  Malvern  Hill,  Bull  Run,  Antietam, 
and  many  other  important  engagements. 

When  Colonel  Storey  came  to  Harrisburg 
he  entered  the  auditor  general's  office  as 
bank  clerk,  which  position  he  held  with 
credit  until  iiis  death.  He  was  also  proprie- 
tor of  the  Harrisburg  Slate  Mantle  Works. 
He  belonged  to  the  order  of  A.  0.  U.  W.  and, 
attended  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
church. 

('olonel  Storey  was  married,  November  29, 
1866,  to  Miss  Ada  V.,  daughter  of  W.  C.  and 
Annie  L.  (David)  Adams.  Five  children 
were  born  to  them,  of  whom  three  are  liv- 
ing: Cliarles  A.,  Ada  M.,  and  J.  AVilbert. 
Colonel  Storey  died  October  28,  1889,  aged 
forty-seven.  His  wife  still  survives  and  re- 
sides witii  iier  son.  Dr.  Storey. 

J.  Wilbert  Storey  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Butler  county  until  he  was  nine 
years  old,  when  his  parents  removed  to  Har- 
risburg, Pa.  He  attended  tiie  public  schools 
of  that  city  for  four  years,  and  then  was  for 
one  year  clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  B.  B. 
Hamlin,  Jr.  In  1890  he  began  a  three  years 
course  of  study  in  the  Penn.sylvania  Dental 
College  of  Piiiiadelphia,  graduating  in  1894. 
Soon  after  he  began  the  })ractice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Harrisburg,  his  present  location 
being  No.  118  South  Thirteenth  street.  Dr. 
Storey  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  301,  I.  O.  O. 


£<^^^. 


,-^^.^. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


39  7 


V.  He  belongs  to  the  Psi-Onega  Dental  fra- 
ternit}'  of  Philadelphia  and  is  a  Republican 
in  political  views. 

Keller,  Christian  Kunkle,  pharmacist, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  October  1, 1833,  son 
of  John  Peter  and  Lydia  (Kunkle)  Keller. 
He  was  reared  in  this  city  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  Later  he 
entered  upon  a  course  of  study  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania College  at  Gettysburg,  which  he 
was  compelled  by  failing  health  to  relinquish. 
He  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  store,  while 
he  was  still  a  boy,  and  was  engaged  in  va- 
rious occupations,  finally  learning  the  drug 
business,  and  since  1846  he  has  been  contin- 
ually engaged  in  this  branch  of  trade  for 
himself,  being  now  one  of  the  oldest  business 
men  of  the  city.  He  is  associated  with  the 
Knights  of  Honor,  and  holds  membership 
in  the  Zion  Lutheran  clmrch,  of  which  or- 
ganization he  is  also  a  trustee. 


Winger,  Henry  C,  M.  D.,  pliarmacist, 
was  born  at  Hammer's  Creek,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  March  8,  1837.  His  parents, 
Moses  and  Henrietta  (Yundt)  Winger,  were 
both  natives  of  Lancaster  county,  and  were 
of  Swiss  ancestry.  In  his  earl}'  life  the 
father  was  engaged  in  agricultui'al  pursuits, 
but  in  later  life  was  in  the  hotel  business, 
mercantile  j)ursuits  and  distilling.  For 
twenty  3'ears  previous  to  his  death  he  lived 
a  retired  life.  He  died  in  Philadelphia, 
April  13,  1892,  aged  eighty-two  years,  his 
wife  having  preceded  him  in  death  in  1869. 
They  had  two  children :  Catherine  A.  and 
Henry  G. 

When  Henry  C.  Winger  was  seven  years 
old  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Lancas- 
ter City,  which  was  his  home  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  thirty  years.  His  pri- 
mary education  was  received  in  the  public 
schools  of  Lancaster,  and  was  completed  at 
White  Hall  Academy,  Cumberland  county, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1853.  After  completing  his  literary  course 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
John  L.  Atlee,  Sr.,  of  Lancaster,  and  re- 
mained under  his  instruction  for  five  j'cars. 
In  1858  he  enlisted  as  private  in  the  regular 
United  States  army,  and  was  assigned  to 
company  B,  First  regiment.  He  was  sent  to 
the  frontier  of  Texas,  and  was  stationed  at 
tiie  different  forts  there,  until  all  the  In- 
dians were  removed  from  Texas  to  Fort 
Cobb  in  the  Indian  Territory,  his  company, 
29 


together  with  a  company  of  United  States 
cavalry,  acting  as  escorts  in  this  removal. 
He,  with  his  company,  also  assisted  in  the 
erection  of  this  fort.  While  working  on 
the  fort  he  had  his  foot  so  badly  injured 
that  he  was  discharged  from  further  duty 
in  1860,  on  account  of  disability,  with  a 
pension  of  $2  per  month.  In  1862  he 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  navy,  and 
served  in  this  branch  of  the  service  until 
1866,  when  he  was  discharged  at  Gosport 
Navy  Yard,  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  returned  to 
Lancaster.  In  1868  he  removed  to  Dela- 
ware, and  there  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  for  three  years.  In  1871  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg,  where,  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years,  he  has  been  continuously 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  bis  profession ; 
and  for  the  past  fourteen  years  he  has,  in 
connection  with  his  practice,  been  engaged 
in  the  drug  business. 

Dr.  Henry  C.  Winger  was  married  in 
Harrisburg,  June  16,  1872,  to  Matilda  Har- 
per, a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Clark)  Harper,  of  Adams  county.  Pa.  Mrs. 
Harper,  when  a  little  girl,  lived  near  Gettj's- 
burg,  and  well  remembers  the  battle  fought 
there.  During  the  three  days'  fighting,  she 
carried  water  to  the  famished  soldiers  of  the 
Union  army,  and  had  manj-  narrow  escapes 
from  death  by  the  explosion  of  shells. 
Her  father  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  rebels 
during  this  battle,  and  although  an  old 
man  and  a  cripple,  they  marched  him  to 
Salisbury  prison,  where  he  died  from  the 
effects  of  ill  treatment,  in  the  following 
February.  The  brother  of  Mrs.  Winger 
was  also  taken  prisoner  by  the  rebels,  and 
was  confined  in  Salisbury  prison  for  two 
years. 

Nine  children  have  been  born  to  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Winger,  namely:  Harrj'  C,  Harriet 
A.,  Russell  C.,  .George  H.,  Ruth,  Edgar, 
Naomi,  Charles  W.  and  Bessie,  who  died  in 
infancy.  In  political  views  the  Doctor  is  a 
Democrat.  The  family  attend  the  Pine 
Street  Presbyterian  church. 

Clark,  Joseph  Nelson,  M.  D.,  physician 
and  pharmacist  was  born  in  ]\Ionaghan 
township,  near  Dillsburg,  York  county,  Pa., 
November  12,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Margaret  (Nelson)  Clark,  the  former  of 
Cumberland,  the  latter  of  York  county ;  both 
deceased.  The  grandfather  Clark  was  one 
of  the  original  settlers  of  Cumberland  county, 
and  the  grandfather  Nelson  one  of  the  orig- 


398 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


inal  settlers  of  York  county,  liaving  come 
witli  their  parents  to  these  counties  when  the 
country  was  a  wilderness  inhabited  by  In- 
dians. They  received  their  lands  from  Will- 
iam Penn.  The  Clark  family  were  of  Scotch, 
and  the  Nelsons  of  English  ancestry.  The 
father  of  Dr.  Clark  was  a  miller  l}y  trade, 
and  lived  in  Cumberland  county  all  his  life. 
His  later  years  were  spent  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  had  a  family  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren ;  ten  lived  to  maturity,  four  died  in 
infancy.  Seven  survive,  namely:  Francis 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  C.  Chambei'lin,  of 
Manly,  Worth  county,  Iowa ;  Mary  A., 
widow  of  the  late  Col.  Henry  I.  Zinn,  of 
Mechanicsburg,  Pa. ;  Joseph  Nelson,  subject 
of  this  sketch ;  Hannah  H.  (Mrs.  Wilson),  of 
New  Orleans,  La.;  Elizabeth  E.,  wife  of  John 
J.  Palmer,  of  Medical  Lake,  Wash.;  Calvin 
M.,  Woonsocket,  S.  D. ;  and  Emma,  wife  of 
John  Moul,  of  Carlisle,  Pa. 

When  but  one  year  old,  Joseph  Nelson 
Clark  removed  with  his  parents  to  Cumber- 
land count}',  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Churchtown  and  the  Normal 
School  of  Newville,  Pa.,  now  the  State  Nor- 
mal School  of  Shippensburg,  receiving  a 
diploma  from  this  institution  with  the  class 
of  1860.  He  studied  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Georgetown,  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  was  graduated  from 
the  institution  with  the  class  of  1867  ;  he  took 
a  post-graduate  course  in  1868.  He  practiced 
medicine  for  one  year  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  then 
returned  to  Mechanicsburg  and  practiced 
there.  During  1870  and  1871  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Female  Collegiate  Institute,  at 
York,  Pa.  In  1872  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg,  where  he  has  resided  continuously  for 
twenty-three  years.  Until  1887  he  devoted 
his  attention  solely  to  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. For  the  past  eight  years  he  has 
given  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to  the  drug 
business  He  is  proprietor  of  McNeil's  Pain 
Exterminator,  a  popular  remedy  of  wide 
sale.  In  1861  Dr.  Clark  volunteered  for 
service  in  the  arm}%  under  the  call  for  three 
months'  men,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
Seventh  Pennsylvania  Reserves.  He  en- 
listed for  three  years  but  served  four  years, 
on  account  of  one  year's  imprisonment,  par- 
ticipating in  the  most  important  battles  of 
the  war.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Gaines'  Mill,  and  spent  eight  weeks  in 
Libb}'  prison.  Two  years  later  he  was  again 
captured  with  his  entire  regiment  at  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness,  and  was  confined 


in  Andersonville  prison  from  May  until  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  and  in  Florence  prison  from  Sep- 
tember until  December,  1864.  On  February 
22,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
Philadelphia  as  sergeant  major.  After  receiv- 
ing his  discharge,  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Cumberland  county,  and  from  there  went  to 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  was  connected  with 
the  war  department  until  1868. 

Dr.  Clark  was  married  at  Mechanicsburg, 
Pa.,  February  28, 1871,  to  Miss  Kate  E.  Gor- 
gas,  daughter  of  Soloman  P.  and  Elizabeth 
Gorgas,  of  Mechanicsburg.  They  have  five 
children :  William  Gorgas,  residing  in  Phila- 
delphia, Mary  E.,  Joseph  Nelson,  Jr.,  Ray- 
mond Perry,  and  Edgar  George.  Dr.  Clark 
is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No. 
464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R. 
In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  ten 
years  and  secretary  of  this  body  for  one  year. 
Dr.  Clark  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Westminster  Presbyterian  church.  He  enjoys 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  communit}'. 
On  account  of  his  recognized  business  ability 
and  personal  worth,  he  is  regarded  as  justly 
entitled  to  his  phenomenal  success. 


NuNEMACHER,  AMBROSE  W.,  pharmacist, 
was  born  in  Germantown,  Pa.,  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  Nunemacher,  both  natives  of 
Philadelphia  county,  and  both  of  German 
ancestry.  The  father  was  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  of  Harrisburg,  engaged  in  the  re- 
tail shoe  trade  for  many  years.  His  wife 
died  in  December,  1893,  aged  eighty-four 
years.  They  reared  seven  children.  One 
son,  William,  was  accidentally  killed  by  a 
horse  falling  on  him;  a  daughter,  Mary, 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  Their 
living  children  are :  Caroline,  wife  of  Rev. 
G.  J.  Martz;  Amanda,  Samuel,  and  Ambrose, 
all  living  in  Harrisburg;  Harry,  residing  at 
Columbus,  Ohio.  Ambrose  W.  received  a  part 
of  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Germantown,  removing  with  his  parents  to 
Morris,  Montgomery  count}'.  Pa.,  and  in 
1859  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  completed 
his  education.  In  1860  he  began  in  the 
drug  business  with  Charles  A.  Vanworls,  a 
prominent  druggist  and  chemist  of  Harris- 
burg, with  whom  he  contiimed  for  over  five 
years.  In  the  early  part  of  1865  he  enlisted 
in  company  I,  Seventy-seventh  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  served  until 
1866,  being  a  part  of  this  time  with  General 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


399 


Stanley's  Fourth  corps,  in  Texas,  and  a  part 
of  the  time  brigade  hospital  steward.  He 
was  mustered  out  at  Pliiladelphia,  January 
24,  1866,  and  returned  to  Harrisburg,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  drug  business  with  Dr. 
Markley  for  two  years,  after  which  he  formed 
a  partnersliip  in  tlie  same  line  of  trade  with 
Rev.  Charles  A.  Wyeth,  with  whom  he  con- 
tinued in  business  at  the  corner  of  Second 
and  State  streets  until  1871,  when  he  pur- 
chased Mr.  Wyeth's  interest,  and  has  con- 
ducted the  business  on  his  own  account 
since  that  date.  Mr.  Nunemacher  was  mar- 
ried, at  Harrisburg  in  1873,  to  America 
Kamerer,  daughter  of  Henry  Kamerer,  to 
whom  has  been  born  one  daughter,  Viola 
A.  Mr.  Nunemacher  represented  the  Fourth 
ward  in  common  council  one  terra.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  State  and  Dauphin  County 
Pharmaceutical  Societies,  of  which  he  is  one 
of  the  organizers.  The  family  attend  the 
Lutheran  church. 


Arnold,  Calvin  M.,  M.  D.,  pharmacist, 
was  born  in  Dillsburg,  York  county,  Pa., 
October  11,  1813,  son  of  Micah  and  Mary 
(Miller)  Arnold,  both  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. He  was  reared  in  his  native  town  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  Millers- 
ville  Normal  School.  He  was  then  for  four 
years  a  teacher  in  the  public  schoolsof  York 
and  Lancaster  counties,  and  in  1864  began 
reading  medicine  with  his  brother.  Dr. 
George  B.  Arnold.  After  attending  the 
Hahnemann  Medical  Collegeat  Philadelphia 
one  term  he  entered  the  Homeopathic  Medi- 
cal College  of  New  York  in  the  fall  of  1866, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  the  ensuing 
spring,  and  at  once  began  the  practice  of 
medicine  at  Gettysburg,  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged one  year,  and  then  removed  to  Leb- 
anon, where  he  practiced  eighteen  months. 
In  1879  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  entered 
upon  a  general  practice,  in  connection  with 
which,  since  1882,  he  has  conduc'ed  a  drug 
business.  Dr.  Arnold  was  married  at  Lan- 
caster citj'.  Pa.,  December  25,  1874,  to  Miss 
Annie  B.  Nophsker,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Ellen  No])hsker,  of  Bainbridge,  Lancaster 
county,  to  whom  has  been  born  one  daugh- 
ter, Gertrude  G.  The  Doctor  is  a  member 
of  Pilgrim  Commandery,  No.  83,  Knights  of 
St.  John  and  Malta  ;  is  a  Prohibitionist  in 
polities  and  attends  the  Fffth  Street  M.  E. 
church. 


Deiss,  William,  pharmacist,  was  born  in 
the  province  of  Waldeck,  Germany,  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and 
Elizabeth  (Knipple)  Deiss,  both  natives  of 
Germany  and  both  now  deceased.  He  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  land.  He 
received  the  advantages  of  both  a  j)ub- 
lic  school  and  a  collegiate  education. 
After  leaving  the  schools  he  traveled  ex- 
tensively throughout  Germany,  Switzerland 
and  France.  In  1870,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  Franco-Prussian  war,  he  became  attached 
to  the  German  army  in  the  capacity  of  a 
member  of  the  Red  Cross  corps,  and  served 
therein  until  the  close  of  the  war  in  March, 
1871.  He  then  returned  to  his  home,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years.  In  1872  he  left 
Germany  and  came  to  America,  taking  up 
his  residence  with  his  brother,  Daniel  Deiss, 
at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  with  him  learned 
the  drug  business.  After  the  death  of  his 
brother  in  1876  he  became  manager  of  this 
business  until  the  business  was  sold  out.  In 
February,  1877,  he  removed  to  Harrisburg 
and  engaged  in  the  drug  business  with  Will- 
iam Keller,  under  the  firm  name  of  Keller 
&  Deiss.  This  partnership  was  dissolved  in 
October  of  the  same  year.  In  the  following 
December  Mr.  Deiss  took  charge  of  the  hos- 
pital dis[)ensary,  in  the  i)erformance  of  the 
duties  of  which  position  he  rendered  supreme 
satisfaction  until  the  close  of  his  term  of 
office  in  1890.  On  June  1,  1891,  he  pur- 
chased his  present  business  from  Ira  Lott. 
He  was  married  at  Harrisburg,  October  2, 
1881,  to  Mary  Bonacker,  a  native  of  Harris- 
burg and  of  German  ancestry.  Two  chil- 
dren have  beeir  born  to  them ;  Anna  E.  and 
Mina  J.  In  political  views  Mr.  Deiss  is  an 
independent  Democrat.  The  family  attend 
the  Lutheran  church. 


Hay,  John  W.,  physician  and  pharmacist, 
Harrisburg,  was  born  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
April  15, 1847.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Rev. 
Charles  A.  Hay,  D.  D.,  and  Sarah  R.  (Bar- 
nitz)  Hay.  He  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Harrisburg  in  1849,  and  received  his  primaiy 
education  in  the  schools  of  this  city.  He 
attended  Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettys- 
burg, and  was  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion with  the  class  of  1868.  He  then  en- 
tered the  medical  department  of  the  LTni- 
versity  of  Pennsylvania  at  Philadelphia, 
graduating  therefrom  in  1871.  He  at  once 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine  in 


400 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Hairisburg,  and  eoiitiuued  it  for  five  years. 
In  1876  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business, 
and  has  since  given  it  his  entire  attention. 
He  was  married  at  Gettysburg,  August  7, 
1871,  to  Sarah  Jane  Welty,  daughter  of  Solo- 
mon and  Jane  (Livingston)  Welty.  To 
them  have  been  born  nine  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living.  Their  names  are:  Bessie 
Barnitz,  Charles  Livingston,  Martin  Luther, 
Nellie  McKnight,  and  Mary.  Those  dead 
were  named:  Rebecca  Jane,  William  Welty, 
Ruth  Stevenson,  and  John  Deyoe.  Dr.  Hay 
is  a  member  of  Council  No.  3,  United  Ameri- 
can Mechanics.  He  served  as  United  States 
pension  examiner  for  eighteen  years.  In 
politics  the  Doctor  is  a  staunch  Republican. 
The  family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Nicholas,  John  B.,  druggist,  and  alder- 
man of  the  First  ward,  Harrisburg,  was 
born  at  Annville,  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 25,  1849.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  M. 
and  Harriet  (Berry)  N'cholas.  His  parents 
were  very  early  settlers  of  Lebanon  county, 
but  removed  to  Harrisburg  in  1851,  where 
the  father  still  resides,  at  the  advanced  age 
ot  seventj'-three  years.  The  mother  died  in 
1858.  They  had  a  family  of  four  children, 
of  whom  John  B.  and  Benjamin  are  the 
only  surviving  members.  When  two  years 
of  age,  John  B.  was  brought  by  his  parents 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  resided  continu- 
ously for  forty-five  years,  taking  an  active 
part  in  all  measures  tending  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  the  city.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  and  parochial  schools  of  the  city. 
He  learned  the  drug  business  and  has  been 
engaged  in  this  business  during  his  whole 
career  as  a  business  man ;  fur  the  past 
twenty-five  years  he  has  done  business  for 
himself  and  now  con:mands  a  large  trade. 
Mr.  Nicholas  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Mary  R.  Dennison, 
daughter  of  Horatio  and  Jane  C.  Dennison. 
of  Harrisburg.  To  this  marriage  no  chil- 
dren were  born.  Mrs.  Nicholas  died  in 
1884.  His  present  wife  was  Miss  Mary  R. 
Ross,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Sarah  (West) 
Ross,  early  settlers  of  Franklin  county.  Pa. 
To  them  have  been  born  three  children : 
one  died  in  infancy ;  Ruth  died  July  16, 
1896,  and  John  B.,  Jr.,  alone  survives.  Mr. 
Nicholas  has  taken  a  very  active  part  in 
political  matters.  He  has  represented  the 
First  ward  as  alderman  for  twenty-two  years. 
He  and  his  family  attend  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


Pfouts,  William  C,  pharmacist,  was  born 
at  Black  Creek,  Clinton  county.  Pa.,  March 
29,  1850,  son  of  the  late  Dr.  George  I.  and 
Mary  V.  (Gouter)  Pfouts,  the  former  born  at 
Jersey  Shore,  Lycoming  county,  in  1822,  and 
the  latter  in  Columbia,  Lancaster  countj', 
Pa.  The  father  was  a  well-known  physi- 
cian, and  was  active  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  for  thirty-eight  years.  He  began 
practice  in  the  Nittany  Valley,  Lycoming 
county,  afterwards  was  for  many  years  at 
Jersey  Shore,  then  a  short  time  at  McClures- 
ville,  in  Lycoming  county,  and  later  returned 
to  Jersey  Shore,  where  he  died  November  2, 

1883.  ilis  wife  died  April],  1864.  Will- 
iam C.  was  the  only  child.  He  w-as  but  an 
infant  when  taken  by  his  parents  to  Jersey 
Shore,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  place  and  the  West  Branch  high 
school.  After  leaving  school  he  read  medi- 
cine with  his  father  for  two  years,  and  after- 
wards learned  the  drug  business.  After 
serving  as  manager  for  a  few  years  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  M.  P.  Hepburn,  with 
whom  he  continued   in  business  until  July, 

1884,  when  he  withdrew  from  the  firm.  On 
January  25,  1885,  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg, where  he  has  been  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness since  that  date,  having  been  in  the  trade 
for  twent^'-three  years.  Mr.  Pfouts  was  mar- 
ried in  Harrisburg,  October  3,  1883,  to  Miss 
Amy  Sheafer,  daughter  of  Maj.  H.  I.  and 
America  Sheafer,  to  whom  two  children  have 
been  born  :  Katrina  Westbrook  and  Ruth 
Wood.  He  is  a  member  of  La  Belle  Valer, 
No.  232,  of  Jersey  Shore ;  Perseverance  Chap- 
ter, No.  21,  of  Harrisburg:  Hospitaller  Com- 
mandery,  No.  146,  of  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  and 
F.  &  A.  M.  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
Pfouts  is  a  Democrat.  The  family  attend 
the  Market  Square  Presbyterian  church. 

Thorley,  Thomas  A.,  pharmacist,  was 
born  in  Fairview  township,  York  county. 
Pa.,  August  16,  1850,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Susan  (Hurst)  Thorley.  The  parents  were 
both  natives  of  York  county  and  residents 
of  the  county  until  the  death  of  the  father, 
who  was  a  farmer.  His  children  by  his  first 
marriage  are:  John  D.,  Thomas  A.,  Joseph 
E.,  and  Susan,  wife  of  Jacob  Neidig,  all  liv- 
ing. By  his  second  wife  he  had  four  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living:  Adam  M.  and 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Frank  E.  Taylor,  of  New 
Cumberland,  Pa.  Thomas  A.  was  reared  in 
his  native  township  and  received  his  primary 


I 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


401 


education  in  the  public  sciiools,  and  after- 
wards attended  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Millersville.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  and 
studied  pharmacy  with  J.  A.  Miller  until 
1877,  since  which  date  he  has  been  in  busi- 
ness for  himself.  He  was  married  in  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  March  4, 1880,  to  Miss  E.E.Early, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Early,  of  Jackson  county, 
Kan.,  to  whom  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and 
Samuel  J.  He  and  his  family  attend  the 
Pine  Street  Presbyterian  church.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Thorley  is  a  Democrat. 


Steevek,  Aaron  M.,  pharmacist,  was  born 
at  Millersburg,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 17,  1850.  Pie  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Catherine  (Swineford)  Steever.  His  father 
was  born  at  the  old  Murray  farm,  about  two 
and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  Millersburg, 
July  28,  1806,  and  died  January  11,  1868. 
His  mother  died  February  27,  1832.  They 
had  a  famil}'  of  nine  children,  namely: 
Wesle}',  born  August  4,  1834,  residing  in 
Ohio;  John  Jefferson,  born  June  30,  1837, 
who  was  killed  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  while  nobly  serving  in  defense  of 
his  country,  August  30,  1862 ;  AVilliam 
Leonard,  born  August  22, 1839,  died  January 
4,  1885;  Henry  Mitchell,  born  December  21, 
1841,  residing  in  Avoca,  Luzerne  county,  Pa.; 
Mary  Jane,  born  February  25,  1844,  wife  of 
Henry  Morne,  residing  at  Patter's  PostofRce, 
York  county,  Pa.;  Edward  Washington,  born 
March  10,  1846,  residing  in  Millersburg,  Pa.; 
Charles  C,  born  June  27,  1848,  also  residing 
at  Millersburg,  Pa.;  Aaron  M.,  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  Emma  Catherine,  wife  of  Henry 
Wagner,  residing  in  Snyder  county,  Pa. 

Aaron  M.  Steever  spent  liis  boyhood  in  his 
native  town  and  received  the  advantages  of 
a  common  scliool  education.  He  began 
business  as  a  stationary  engineer,  and  fol- 
lowed this  occupation  for  about  four  years. 
On  March  3,  1868,  he  entered  the  store  of 
his  uncle,  Benjamin  G.  Steever,  and  was  em- 
ployed there  six  years.  September  1,  1874, 
he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  been 
continuousl}'  employed  in  the  drug  business 
for  twenty-one  years. 

He  was  married,  at  Millersburg,  January 
1,  1874,  to  Miss  Annie  M.  Shriber,  daughter 
of  Seth  and  Mary  A.  Sliriber.  One  daughter 
has  been  born  to  them,  named  Jessie  Lee. 
Mr.  Steever  is  a  member  of  Perseverance 
Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Dauphin  Lodge, 
No.  160,  and  Dauphin  Encampment  No.  10, 


I.  0.  0.  F.;  Nazareth  Commandery,  No.l25, 
Knights  of  Malta,  and  Royal  Arcanum, 
Council  No.  110.  In  political  views  he  is  a 
Republican.  The  family  attend  the  Ridge 
Avenue  M.  E.  church.  Mr.  Steever  has  suc- 
ceeded in  business,  and  is  a  reliable  man  and 
an  honored  citizen. 


Gross,  Edward  Z.,  pharmacist,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg,  November  6,  1851.  He  is  a 
son  of  Daniel  W.  and  Elizabeth  Kunkel 
Gross.  He  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  private  schools  of  Harrisburg,  and 
later  attended  the  academies  taught  by 
Gause  and  Seller.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
years,  his  academic  course  being  completed, 
he  entered  the  drug  store  of  his  father.  In 
the  winter  of  1871  he  matriculated  at  the 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  and 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  the 
spring  of  1873.  He  at  once  returned  to 
Harrisburg  and  continued  in  the  employ  of 
his  father  and  his  brother,  George  A.,  until 
1883.  On  January  1,  of  that  year,  he  be- 
came a  partner  in  the  business.  His  brother 
retiring  from  the  firm,  the  business  was  con- 
ducted by  the  father  and  Edward  Z.  until 
January  1,  1894.  Since  that  date  the  store 
has  been  under  the  management  of  Edward 
Z.  alone. 

Edward  Z.  Gross  was  married  in  Harris 
burg.   May   18,  1876,  to  Nancy  J.,  daughter 
of   J.  Vance  and  Hannah  (Dull)  Criswell. 
They  have  two  children :    Hannah  C.  and 
Henry  McC. 

Mr.  Gross  has  served  as  school  director 
for  one  term.  He  is  one  of  the  managers 
of  the  City  Hospital,  and  a  member  of  the 
advisory  board  of  the  Children's  Industrial 
Home.  He  is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Dauphin 
Lodge,  No.  160,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  Star  of 
America  Comraander}'^,  No.  113,  K.  of  M. 
In  political  views  Mr.  Gross  is  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  wife  and  daughter  are  members 
of  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  church,  in 
which  he  is  an  elder,  the  leader  of  the  choir, 
and  the  superintendent  of  the  infant  de- 
partment of  the  Sabbath-school. 


Gross,  Daniel  Wiestling,  son  of  Abra- 
ham and  Maria  (Wiestling)  Gross,  was  born 
in  Middle  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  on  March  11,  1810.  He  was 
educated  in  the  borough  schools  of  Harris- 
burg and  the  Harrisburg  Academy.  He 
also  prepared  himself  thoroughly  as  a  phar- 


402 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


inacist,  and  commenced  business  in  this  city 
in  1830,  and  continued  therein  until  a  short 
time  before  his  death. 

Mr.  Gross  was  active  and  prominent  in 
public  affairs.  He  was  the  first  president  of 
the  borough  council  in  1860-62,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board  for  many  years. 
He  was  a  trustee  of  the  State  Lunatic 
Asylum  at  Harrisburg  for  a  long  period, 
and  was  afterwards  the  treasurer  of  that  in- 
stitution. He  was  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  tlie 
Reformed  Church  ;  vice-president  of  tlie 
board  of  trustees  of  Franklin  and  Marsliall 
College,  and  was  for  many  years  president  of 
the  board  of  publication  of  the  Reformed 
Ciiurch  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Gross  was  an  elder  of  Salem  Reformed 
church  and  was  prominent  in  all  the  affairs 
of  the  denomination.  He  served  on  the 
famous  "Peace  Commission,"  appointed  to 
allay  the  excitement  over  the  liturgy.  He 
was  tlie  oldest  member  of  the  Salem  church, 
and  was  for  a  long  time  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school  and  also  of  the  infant  de- 
partment of  the  school.  Daniel  W.  Gross 
was  married,  in  1841,  to  Elizabetli,  eldest 
daughter  of  George  Kunkel,  of  Harrisburg, 
who  died  in  1882.  Their  children  were: 
George  A.,  John  K.,  Joshua  W.,  Daniel 
W.,  deceased,  Edward  Z.,  Henry  S.,  Robert, 
deceased,  and  Mary  Elizabeth,  deceased. 
At  the  home  of  his  son,  Joshua  W.,  sur- 
rounded by  his  friends,  having  just  reached 
his  eighty-sixth  year,  he  quietly  passed 
away,  after  a  lingering  illness,  March  11, 
1896.  His  retrospect  was  an  active  and  use- 
ful life  crowned  with  humble  and  honored 
age,  while  before  him  lay  the  joy  and  glory 
of  eternal  life. 


FoLTZ,  John  B.,  pharmacist,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  August  26,  18.53.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Frances  (Sproat)  Foltz, 
the  former  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  the 
latter  of  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster  county. 
Both  are  living  and  reside  in  Harrisburg. 
They  had  twelve  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living:  William,  residing  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
Joseph,  residing  at  Manorville,  Pa.,  Charles, 
residing  at  Harrisburg,  John  B.  and  Frank, 
residing  at  Seattle,  Wash. 

John  B.  Foltz  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Harrisburg.  His  first  \'ear  after 
leaving  school  was  spent  in  the  employ  of 
tiie  Grover  &  Baker  Sewing  Machine  Com- 
pany.    On  April  15,  1871,  he  became  clerk 


in  the  drug  store  of  D.  W.  Gross  &  Son,  and 
continued  for  fifteen  years  in  their  employ- 
ment. Since  1886  he  has  been  engaged  suc- 
cessfully in  the  drug  business  on  his  own 
account.  He  was  married  in  Harrisburg 
November  1,  1883,  to  Sarah,  daugiiter  of 
John  and  Louisa  Emerich,  of  Harrisburg. 
They  have  one  child,  named  Mary  Frances. 
Mr.  Foltz  is  an  active  member  of  Central 
Lodge,  No.  19,  A.  0.  U.  W.,  and  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Liberal,  casting  liis  vote  for  the  men  of  his 
choice  rather  than  of  his  party.  He  attends 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Hamlin,  Benjamin  B.,  Jr.,  pharmacist, 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  Marcli  25, 1858. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Hamlin, 
D.  D.,  and  Rebecca  B.  (Manley)  Hamlin. 
His  father  was  chaplain  of  the  Senate  of 
Pennsylvania  during  the  session  of  1894. 
Benjamin  H.,  Jr.,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Cham- 
bersburg  high  school,  and  also  attended  the 
Chambersburg  Academy  for  two  years.  Dur- 
ing 1876-77  he  was  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  at  Canal  Fulton,  Stark  county,  Ohio. 
In  1878  he  engaged  in  the  same  business 
in  Harrisburg,  and  has  since  been  con- 
tinuously in  the  business  here.  During  1880 
and  1881  lie  attended  tlie  Philadelpiiia  Col- 
lege of  Piiarmacy,  and  was  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  1881.  He  was  married 
in  Philadelphia,  May  11,  1881,  to  Miss  Celia 
D.  Whiteman,  daughter  of  William  K.  and 
Victoria  Whiteman,  of  Philadelphia.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hamlin  attend  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  In  his  business  Mr.  Hamlin 
is  abreast  of  the  times.  His  pharmacy  is  a 
credit  to  the  city.  The  prescription  depart- 
ment receives  the  personal  and  special  at- 
tention of  Mr.  Hamlin,  and  the  results  are 
as  accurate  and  reliable  as  skill  and  care  can 
produce. 


Kramer,  Charles  F.,  druggist,  was  born 
in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  May  14,  1859,  son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Scblegel milch)  Kramer,  both  na- 
tives of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany.  The 
parents  came  to  America  on  the  same  vessel 
in  1827,  located  in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  wliere  two 
years  later  they  were  married.  The  father 
is  a  stone  mason  bj'  trade,  and  is  still  en- 
gaged in  that  occupation.  He  has  lived  in 
the  same  house  for  thirty'  years.  The  mother 
died  in  1865.  They  had  eight  children,  six 
of  whom  are  living:  Mary  A.,  George,  Mar 
garet,  Adam,  Annie  and  Charles  F.,  twins 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


403 


Charles  F.  spent  his  boyhood  in  Carlisle, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  place.  He  began  his  business 
career  by  a  clerkship  of  three  years  with  W. 
F.  Home.  In  1880  he  entered  the  Phila- 
delphia College  of  Pharmacy,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1882,  after  which  he  en- 
tered the  large  drug  store  of  H.  C.  Blair's 
Sons,  serving  three  years  as  prescription 
clerk  and  seven  3'ears  as  manager.  In  1891 
he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  embarked  in  the 
drug  business  for  himself,  in  which  he  has 
continued  successfully  since  that  date.  Mr. 
Kramer  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  Decem- 
ber 29,  1884,  to  Henrietta  Klucker,  daugh- 
ter of  Bartholomew  and  Mary  (Siiaumbuch) 
Klucker,  the  former  a  native  of  Germany, 
the  latter  of  Cumberland  county,  at  that 
time  residents  of  Carlisle,  and  later  of  Har- 
risburg. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kramer  have 
been  born  three  children:  Hugh  Reynolds, 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years,  Charles  F.,  Jr., 
and  Mildred.  Mr.  Kramer  is  a  member  of 
America  Lodge,  No.  25,  I.  0.  0.  F.,of  Phila- 
delphia, and  of  Egyptian  Commandery,  No. 
114,  K.  of  M.,  of  Harrisburg.  In  his  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican.  He  attends  Bethle- 
hem Lutheran  church. 


the  fraternities,  being  a  member  of  Cincin- 
natus  Commandery,  No.  96,  K.  of  M. ;  Har- 
risburg Council,  No.  328,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.; 
Harrisburg  Conclave,  No.  92,  I.  0.  H.,  and 
Warrior  Eagle  Tribe,  No.  340,  I.  O.  R.  M. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  The  family 
attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Eager,  Christian  M.,  M.  D.,  pharmacist, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  May  6,  1860,  son  of 
George  C.  and  Frederica  (Maeyer)  Eager. 
He  received  his  primary  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  also  attended  the  Har- 
lisburg  Academy.  He  began  tiie  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  C.  B.  Eager,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1877  entered  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Phila- 
delphia, from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
the  class  of  1881,  after  which  he  served  for 
one  year  in  the  Harrisburg  Hospital.  He 
engaged  in  a  general  practice  in  Harrisburg 
for  a  short  time,  and  in  1882  removed  to 
West  Fairview,  Cumberland  county,  and 
practiced  there  until  July,  1887.  He  then 
returned  to  Harrisburg  and  again  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  medicine,  in  which  he 
has  continued  to  the  present  time.  In  Jul}' 
of  the  same  year  he  opened  a  drug  store,  and 
has  conducted  a  general  business  in  that 
line  since  that  date.  Dr.  Eager  was  married, 
in  Harrisburg,  to  Miss  Sabina  B.  Marshall, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  E.  Marshall,  of  West 
Eairview,  Cumberland  county,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  five  children :  Frederica, 
Helen,  Bessie,  Margaret  and  Mary. 

Dr.  Eager  is  prominently  connected  with 


Knouse,  Jacob  H.,  of  the  firm  of  Forney  & 
Knouse,  druggists,  Harrisburg,  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Rebecca  (Krone)  Knouse.  He  was  born  at 
Goldsboro,  York  county.  Pa.,  February  26, 
1861.  His  grandfather,  Jacob  Knouse,  was 
born  near  Jonestown,  Lebanon  county.  Pa., 
July  19, 1795,  and  was  a  resident  of  Lebanon 
count}'  all  his  life.  He  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eight}'-four  years,  November  14,  1879. 
The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Jacob  Knouse  was 
Catherine  Boyle.  She  was  born  in  Ireland 
in  1793,  and  came  to  America  in  1800.  She 
was  a  resident  of  both  Franklin  and  Lebanon 
counties.  She  died  in  1875,  aged  eighty-two 
years.  John  Knouse,  father  of  Jacob  H., 
was  born  near  Lebanon,  Pa.,  August  15, 
1816,  and  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1870.  He 
was  a  shoemaker,  but  during  his  declining 
years  has  lived  a  retired  life.  He  was  twice 
married.  Of  the  first  union  there  is  one  sur- 
viving child,  Catherine,  wife  of  D.M.  Shelley, 
of  Harrisburg.  In  the  second  marriage,  he 
was  united,  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  in 
1858,  to  Rebecca  Krone,  who  was  born  in 
York  county,  Pa.,  near  Lewisberry,  in  1828. 
To  this  marriage  there  were  born  four  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living;  Ira  P., 
Jacob  H.,  and  Edward  S.  A  daughter,  Mary, 
wife  of  Lewis  Klucker,  died  in  1888,  leaving 
her  husband  and  one  son,  Albert. 

Jacob  H.  Knouse  came  with  his  parents  to 
Harrisburg  when  he  was  nine  years  old,  and 
has  resided  here  ever  since.  His  education 
was  received  in  the  public  schools  of  York 
county  and  in  the  public  schools  of  Harris- 
burg. He  was  graduated  from  the  Harris- 
burg high  school  in  1877.  He  entered  the 
drug  store  of  A.  W.  Nuneraacher  as  an  ap- 
prentice to  the  drug  business,  and  remained 
in  this  employment  three  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  this  time  he  entered  the  College 
of  Pharmacy  at  Philadelphia,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1882.  During  his  course 
at  the  college  he  spent  the  intervals  between 
terms  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store  in  Atlantic 
City,  N.  J.  After  graduating  he  spent  one 
year  as  a  clerk  in  the  drug  business  at  Wil- 
mington, N.  C.  In  1883  he  returned  to  Har- 
risburg and  was  employed  in  the  drug  store 


404 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENGYCL  OPEDIA 


of  Dr.  Raysor  for  nearly  five  years.  In  1889 
he  engaged  in  business  in  connection  with 
Mr.  C.  M.  Forney. 

Mr.  Kuouse  was  married  in  Harrisburg, 
April  24,  1883,  to  Miss  Ella  B.  Mosey, 
daughter  of  Daniel  M.  and  Sarah  Mose}',  of 
Harrisburg.  They  have  two  daughters, 
Violet  Claire  and  Evelyn  May.  Mr.  Knouse 
is  a  member  of  America  Council,  No.  3, 
0.  U.  A.  M.,  and  of  Capital  City  Council,  No. 
327,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.  He  is  a  member  of 
Nazareth  Commandery,  No.  125,  K.  of  M.; 
of  Fraternal  Mystic  Circle,  and  of  Dauphin 
County  Pharmaceutical  Association,  and  of 
the  Pennsylvania  State  Pharmaceutical  As- 
sociation. Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  family  attend  the  Fourth  Street 
Church  of  God.  Mr.  Knouse  is  a  man  of 
high  standing  in  business  and  in  society. 

Roe,  Edward  J.,  proprietor  of  the  Brook- 
wood  pharmacy,  was  born  at  Rohrsburg, 
Columbia  county.  Pa.,  June  28,  1861.  He 
is  a  son  of  Dr.  Francis  M.  and  Sarah  A.  Roe. 
His  parents  settled  in  Harrisburg  in  April, 
1880.  His  father  and  grandfather  were 
medical  practitioners.  Dr.  Francis  M.  Roe 
practiced  his  profession  at  Rohrsburg,  Pa., 
and  also  in  Michigan  and  Indiana,  during 
his  residence  in  those  States.  Upon  taking 
up  his  residence  in  Harrisburg  he  aban- 
doned the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  on 
June  10,  1880,  embarked  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness, to  which  he  devoted  his  entire  atten- 
tion until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  6, 
1892.  His  wife  and  four  of  their  children 
are  living:  Edward  J.,  Ada  S.,  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg,  William, 
a  pharmacist  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and  Car- 
rie A. 

Edward  J.  Roe,  when  very  young,  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Michigan ;  a  year 
later  they  removed  to  Indiana,  locating  in 
Elkhart  county.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Bristol,  and  also  took  a 
course  in  the  Business  College  of  Harrisburg. 
In  the  fall  of  1880  the  family  removed  to 
Harrisburg.  Edward  J.  then  became  phar- 
maceutical clerk  in  his  father's  store.  For 
the  past  twelve  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm,  and  since  the  death  of  his  father 
has  conducted  the  business  in  his  own  and 
his  mother's  interest.  Mr.  Roe  was  married 
at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  November  20,  1891,  to 
Carrie  De  Frehn,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Abigail  De  Frehn,  both  old  and  honored 
residents   of  Schu3'lkill   county.     To  them 


were  born,  August,  1894,  twin  boys,  who 
died  when  but  a  few  weeks  old.  Mr.  Roe  is 
a  charter  member  of  Steelton  Lodge,  No.  184, 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  the  Fraternal  Mystic  Cir- 
cle, Ruling  No.  440,  of  Harrisburg.  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  at- 
tends the  Episcopal  church,  of  which  Mrs. 
Roe  is  a  member. 


Forney,  Charles  M.,  of  the  firm  of  For- 
ney &  Knouse,  wholesale  and  retail  drug- 
gists, was  born  in  Harrisburg,  December  12, 
1861.  He  IS  a  son  of  Henry  Jacob  and 
Lydia  (Walmer)  Forney.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg,  in- 
cluding the  high  school.  He  next  became 
a  student  in  the  pharmaceutical  department 
of  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  M.  F.  Raysor,  and 
studied  with  him  for  three  years.  The  next 
two  years  were  spent  in  the  Philadelphia 
College  of  Pharmacy,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  March,  1882.  He  went  to  Trenton, 
N.  J.,  where  for  the  following  four  years  he 
was  manager  of  the  drug  stores  of  W.  S. 
Taylor  and  C.  H.  Young.  In  June,  1886, 
he  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  purchased 
the  drug  business  of  John  B.  Foltz,  which 
he  conducted  until  July,  1887,  at  which  date 
he  sold  the  business  to  Dr.  C.  M.  Fager.  In 
October  of  the  same  year,  he  formed  his 
present  co-partnership  with  Mr.  J.  H. 
Knouse,  under  the  firm  name  of  Forney  & 
Knouse. 

Charles  M.  Forney  was  married  in  Har- 
risburg, September  22, 1885,  to  Miss  Anna 
L.  Millard,  daughter  of  Andrew  B.  and 
Mary  Millard,  natives  of  York  county.  Pa., 
who  were  at  that  date  residents  of  Steelton, 
and  who  now  reside  in  Lisburn,  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa.  One  son,  Henry  A.,  was 
born  to  them  January  31,  1887.  •  Mr.  For- 
ney is  a  member  of  Star  of  America  Com- 
mandery, No.  113,  K.  of  M.,  and  Capital 
City  Council,  No.  327,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  at- 
tends the  Presbyterian  church  at  Paxtang, 
where  he  resides.  He  is  well  and  favorably 
known  as  a  reliable  business  man,  and  a  citi- 
zen of  personal  worth. 


Hess,  Edwin  H.,  pharmacist,  was  born  in 
Middletown,  Dauphin  countv,  Pa.,  March 
19,  1862,  son  of  Hiram  W'  and  Ella  T. 
(Famstermaciier)  Hess,  both  natives  of  Leb- 
anon county  and  of  German  ancestry,  the 
former  still  living  and  residing  in  Harris- 
burg, the  latter  died  at  Harrisburg,  April  10, 


DAUPHIN     COUNTY. 


405 


1890.  The  father  is  a  locomotive  engineer, 
and  lias  been  in  the  employment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  since  1868, 
and  has  been  a  resident  of  Harrisburg  for 
twenty-eight  years.  Edwin  H.  is  the  only 
child  of  his  parents  and  came  with  tiiem  to 
Harrisbnrg  wlien  he  was  six  years  old.  He 
received  his  primar}'  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Harrisburg  and  subsequently  at- 
tended the  College  of  Pharmacy,  at  Phila- 
delphia, from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1885.  He  was  tlien  engaged  as  pharmaceuti- 
cal clerk  at  Trenton  and  Burlington,  N.  J., 
for  one  year,  and  for  the  same  length  of 
time  at  McVeytown,  Mifflin  county.  Jn  the 
latter  part  of  1887  he  embarked  in  the  drug 
business  in  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Hess  was  mar- 
ried, at  Harrisburg,  November  22,  1885,  to 
Rebecca  F.  DePuy,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Julia  A.  (Baker)  DePuy,  to  whom  tiiere 
has  been  born  one  son,  Jay  Baker.  Mr.  Hess 
holds  membership  in  Robert  Burns  Lodge, 
No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  in  the  Society  of 
Alumni  ofPhiladelphia  College  of  Piiarmacy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hess  are  consistent  members 
of  Messiah  Lutheran  church. 


CoTTKREL,  John  W.,  pharmacist,  was  born 
in  Harri-shurg,  Pa.,  August  26,  1862.  He  is 
a  son  of  Jolm  and  Emma  (Wi.se)  Cotterel. 
John  Cotterel  was  a  native  of  England,  and 
came  to  America  at  the  age  of  eleven.  For 
several  years  he  was  with  his  father  at  Read- 
ing, Pa.,  in  the  green  grocery  business  ;  lie 
was  afterwards  in  tiie  same  business  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.  In  1860  he  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  was  in  tiie  grocer}' 
business  until  his  death.  He  died,  Septem- 
ber 27,  1865,  from  injuries  and  exposure  in- 
curred while  serving  in  the  army  in  defense 
of  his  country  during  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. His  wife,  Emma  Wise,  was  born  in 
Reading;  she  survives  him  and  resides  in 
Harrisburg.  Their  children  are  :  James  K., 
David  W.,  Joiin  W.  and  Margaret  M. 

John  W.  Cotterel  acquired  iiis  education 
in  the  Soldiers'  Orphan.s'  Home  at  Mount 
J03',  Pa.  After  leaving  this  institution  he 
was  employed  as  salesman  in  various 
branches  of  business,  and  was  also  for  some 
time  apprentice  to  the  printing  business.  In 
1885  he  entered  the  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy,  and  graduated  from  it  in  1887. 
He  then  returned  to  Harrisburg,  and  since 
April,  1.S87,  has  been  successfully  engaged 
in  the  drug  business  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Cotterel  was  married  at  Newport,  Perry 


county,  Pa.,  July  18,  1888,  to  Margaret  A., 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Amelia  lungerich, 
of  Newport.  They  have  no  children.  Both 
are  consistent  members  of  the  Fifth  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Cotterel 
is  an  active  member  of  Harrisburg  Council, 
No.  328,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.,of  Peace  and  Plenty 
Lodge,  No.  59,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  of  Egyptian 
Commandery,  No.  114,  A.  and  1. 0.  K.  of  M. 
His  political  creed  is  Republican. 


Deshong,  James  B.,  pharmacist,  was  born 
in  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
May  3,  1867.  He  is  the  son  of  Rev.  John 
W.  and  Rebecca  M.  (Anderson)  Deshong. 
His  father  has  been  connected  with  the  min- 
istry for  thirty-two  years,  and  for  six  years 
has  been  the  pastor  of  the  Bethel  church  in 
Harrisburg.  The  parents  had  a  family  of 
nine  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Their  living  children  are:  ArvillaS.,  wife 
of  McClellan  Ebright,  Philadelphia;  Mar- 
garet A.,  wife  of  John  B.  Fislier,  Harrisburg ; 
Harry  E.,  Altoona ;  James  B. ;  William, 
Philadelphia;  ('arrie  B.,  John  C.  and  Ed- 
ward A.,  Harrisburg.  Rev.  Mr.  Deshong 
was  of  French  and  his  wife  of  Scotch  an- 
cestry. 

James  B.  Deshong  received  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Lancaster  and  Blair  coun- 
ties, and  in  the  Mountain  Cit_y  Business 
College,  of  Altoona.  He  engaged  as  phar- 
maceutical clerk  witii  Mr.  George  Schim- 
minger,  of  Altoona,  and  continued  with  him 
for  five  years;  then  with  Hamlin  &  Hunter, 
of  Erie,  and  subsequently  with  D.  C.  Hur- 
ley &  Co.,  of  Altoona.  with  a  Mr.  Hern,  of 
Du  Bois,  Clearfield  county,  Pa.,  and  with 
Dr.  .John  W.  Hay.  On  December  23,  1894, 
he  commenced  business  for  himself.  He 
attends  the  Church  of  God. 


GoRGAS,  George  A.,  jiiiarmacist,  was  born 
in  Lower  Allen  townshij),  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.  He  is  a  son  of  William  R.  and 
Elizabeth  (Hummel)  Gorgas.  William  R. 
Gorgas  was  born  in  Lower  Allen  township. 
May  8,  1806,  and  was  an  honored  resident 
of  that  township  for  seventy-one  years.  He 
held  many  important  public  positions.  He 
served  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature, 
and  was  for  many  years  on  the  school  board. 
He  removed  to  Harrisburg  in  the  fall  of 
1877,  where  he  lived  a  retired  life  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  December  7,  1892. 
The  ancestors  were  natives  of  Holland.  The}' 
settled  in  Germantown,  Pa.,  prior  to  1730. 


406 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


From  that  place  they  went  to  Ephrata,  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.  About  1800  the  grand- 
father settled  in  Cumberland  county.  The 
mother  of  George  A.  Gorgas  was  a  daughter 
of  David  Hummel,  an  early  settler  in  Dau- 
phin count}'.  Eight  children  were  born  to 
them;  two  died  in  infancy  and  David  died 
at  the  age  of  sixteen.  Dr.  S.  R.,a  prominent 
physician,  died  June  30, 1893.  Their  living 
children  are:  William  L.,  cashier  of  the 
Harrisburg  Bank,  Catherine  F.,  Mary  E., 
and  George  A. 

George  A.  (iorgas  passed  his  boyliood  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  received  liis  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  liis  native  township. 
He  afterwards  attended  Cumberland  Valley 
State  Normal  School  at  Shippensburg,  also 
Cumberland  Valley  Institute  at  Mechanics- 
burg.  After  completing  his  education  he 
became  a  student  of  pharmacy  with  Daniel 
H.  Hamaker,  of  Harrisburg,  for  three  years. 
He  then  attended  the  College  of  Pliarmacy 
of  Philadelphia  for  two  years,  graduating 
from  that  institution  in  1881.  He  afterwards 
resided  in  Washington  for  two  years.  In 
1883  he  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  pur- 
cliased  the  drug  business  of  I.  D.  Lutz.  He 
conducted  this  business  until  1894,  at  which 
date  he  removed  to  his  present  commodious 
premises. 

George  A.  Gorgas  was  married  at  Leb- 
anon, Pa.,  April  23,1891,  to  Miss  Rachel 
Grittinger,  daughter  of  Henry  C.  and  Agnes 
C.  Grittinger.  Tiieir  children  are:  Elizabeth 
Hummel,  who  died  in  infanc\',  and  Cathe- 
rine, who  still  survives.  Mr.  Gorgas  is  a 
member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464; 
Perseverance  Cliapter,  No.  21;  Harrisburg 
Council,  No.  7,  and  Pilgrim  Commandery, 
No.  11,  F.  &  A.  M.;  also  of  Lulu  Temple,  A. 
A.  0.  N.  M.  S.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Pharmaceutical  Society  and  of  the 
Dauphin  County  Pharmaceutical  Society. 
In  political  views  he  is  Democratic.  He  at- 
tends the  German  Reformed  church. 


KiTZMiLLER,  Fk.\nk  K.,  pharmacist,  is  the 
3'oungest  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  A.  (Gor- 
gas) Kitzmiller,  and  was  born  at  Pine  Grove, 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.  He  came  to  Harris- 
burg with  his  parents  when  he  was  three 
years  old.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  the  high  school  of  this  city.  Mr. 
Kitzmiller  studied  pharmac}'  for  seven  years 
in  the  store  of  E.  Z.  Gross,  of  Harrisburg; 
lie  subsequently  attended  the  College  of 
Pharmacy  at  Philadelphia,  and  was  gradu- 


ated from  that  institution  in  1890.  He  then 
returned  to  the  employment  of  Mr.  Gross, 
and  has  spent  twelve  years  in  his  service. 
He  is  a  member  of  Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160, 
and  of  Dauphin  Encampment,  No.  10,  I.  0. 
0.  F.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Pharmacists' Society,  and  of  the  Alumni 
of  the  College  of  Pharmacy. 

Snyder,  William  H.,  pharmacist,  was 
born  in  East  Hanover  township,  September 
24,  1871.  He  is  the  son  of  the  late  Peter 
C.  and  Mary  A.  (Kaufman)  Snyder.  His 
parents  were  Ijoth  natives  of  Berks  county, 
Pa.  The  father  was  a  prominent  physician 
and  practiced  his  profession  for  manj*  years 
near  Reading,  Pa.  He  was  also  assistant 
surgeon  of  the  Two  Hundredth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  during  the  late 
war.  In  1870  he  removed  to  Dauphin 
county,  and  for  several  years  was  foreman 
of  the  Manada  Furnaces,  in  East  Hanover 
township.  About  1873  he  removed  to  Rock- 
ville,  Susquehanna  townsiiip,  and  there 
practiced  his  profession  until  1877,  when  he 
removed  to  Ellendale  Forge,  Middle  Paxton 
township,  where  he  took  charge  of  the  char- 
coal forges  until  1884,  at  which  date  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg.  From  that  time  to 
the  date  of  his  death,  he  was  engaged  in  the 
drug  business.  He  died  October  4,  1893. 
His  wife  died  March  6,  1893.  To  them 
were  born  three  children  :  Walter,  residing 
at  Reading,  Pa. ;  William  H.  and  Marj'  K. 
By  a  previous  marriage  of  the  father  there 
was  one  daughter,  Carrie  M.,  wife  of  Charles 
Bartz,  residing  at  Reading,  Pa.  B3'  a  former 
marriage  of  the  mother  there  was  one  son, 
John  K.  Genger,  who  resides  at  Sheridan 
Furnace,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.  William  H., 
when  but  an  infant,  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Rockville,  and  in  1877  again  re- 
moved to  Ellendale  Forge,  where  he  re- 
mained till  1884,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  district  schools.  In  1884  he  came  with 
the  family  to  Harrisburg.  In  1886  he  en- 
tered his  father's  drug  store  as  a  clerk. 
Since  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1893,  he 
has  conducted  the  business  in  the  interest  of 
the  estate. 


Bernheisel,  Peter,  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Loy)  Berniieisel,  was  born  August 
18, 1806,  in  Cumberland  (now  Perry)  county, 
Pa.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  born  May  12, 176.5,  settled 
in  Perry  county  about  the  year  1800,  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


407 


where  he  died  on  the  21st  of  September, 
1825.  His  mother  was  also  a  native  of 
Berks  county,  born  May  1, 1768,  and  died  in 
Perry  county  on  the  31st  of  August,  1833. 
Peter's  early  education  was  limited  to  tlie 
schools  of  the  county  until  1822,  when  he 
went  to  Carlisle,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  carpenter  and  builder.  He  came  to  Har- 
aisburg  from  Carlisle  in  1827,  was  married  to 
Margaret  Uhler  in  1828,  went  to  Perry  county 
and  returned  and  settled  in  Harrisburg  in 
1830,  where  he  became  a  contract  builder 
until  1859.  He  was  the  builder  of  the  county 
jail  and  the  Presbyterian  church  on  Second 
street.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the  old 
borough  council  during  the  shin-plaster  era, 
and  filled  other  municipal  offices.  In  1850 
he  relinquished  the  housebuilding  and  went 
into  the  lime  business.  Mr.  Bernheisel  mar- 
ried, first,  on  the  28th  of  August,  1828,  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Uhler, 
and  their  children  were:  John  Frederick, 
Jeremiah,  Peter,  Augustus,  George,  William 
Henry,  and  Jacob  Houser,  all  deceased  ex- 
cept Peter  and  William  H.  His  second 
wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and 
Barbara  Shott,  and  their  children  were : 
Barbara  Catherine,deceased,  Valentine  Hum- 
mel, of  Harrisburg,  and  Rebecca  Shott,  wife 
of  William  Painter,  of  Harrisburg.  His 
third  wife  was  Frances,  daughter  of  Bernard 
and  Elizabeth  Sigman. 


DeHaven  Jehu,  retired  builder  of  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county. 
Pa.,  April  15,  1814.  He  is  a  son  of  Nathan 
and  Diana  (Waltz)  DeHaven,  both  of  French 
descent.  Mr.  Nathan  DeHaven  was  for  many ' 
years  a  stone  ma.son.  He  had  six  children, 
of  whom  John  is  the  only  survivor;  the  de- 
ceased children  are  :  William,  Henry,  Ulrich, 
Henrietta,  and  Eliza.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  DeHaven 
both  died  in  Montgomer}^  county. 

Jehu  DeHaven  enjoj'ed  only  the  educa- 
tional advantages  of  the  private  schools  of 
his  native  county.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  began  to  learn  the  stone  mason's  trade, 
serving  an  apprenticeship  of  two  years.  He 
worked  for  some  time  as  a  journeyman,  and 
was  in  this  business  altogether  about  thirty 
years.  After  this,  he  came  to  Harrisburg, 
and  began  taking  large  contracts.  His  work 
in  this  line  was  done  for  the  most  part  in 
Pennsylvania.  He  built  four  miles  of  the 
Union  canal,  and  two  miles  of  the  Reading 
railroad.  He  was  also  a  contractor  for  bridge 
work.     He  built  the  large  Soldier's  monu- 


ment which  stands  at  the  foot  of  State  street, 
Harrisburg,  and  the  postoffice  in  that  citv, 
which  he  finished  in  1873.  In  1870  he 
built  the  Presbyterian  church  on  Third 
street.  About  the  same  year,  Mr.  DeHaven 
built  his  large  and  fine  residence,  which  he 
has  occupied  twenty-two  years.  After  com- 
pleting the  postoffice  building,  he  retired 
from  active  business. 

Jehu  DeHaven  was  married,  in  Dauphin 
county,  October  3,  1837,  to  Esther,  daughter 
of  John  and  Catherine  (Conrad)  Kline.  Of 
their  ten  children, seven  are  living:  William, 
Eliza,  wife  of  Jacob  Fackler,  of  New  York 
City,  Jehu,  Jr.,  Emily,  widow  of  Edward 
Jones,  Esther,  widow  of  Albert  Bricker,  Isa- 
bella, Frederick,  a  prominent  hardware  mer- 
chant, Harrisburg,  Pa.;  and  the  deceased 
children  are:  Matilda,  died  at  the  age  of 
nine  months,;and  George.  Mrs.  DeHaven 
died  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
Mr.  DeHaven  has  been  an  active  member  of 
Lodge  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  for  forty  years. 
He  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  congregational 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
his  wife  was  a  consistent  member. 

Mrs.  DeHaven  was  born  in  1815.  Her 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Montgomery 
county.  Mr.  Kline  was  engaged  in  the  shoe 
business.  They  had  six  children:  Esther, 
Leah,  Catherine,  Frederick,  and  William. 
The  family  belonged  to  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Both  parents  died  at  their  home  in 
Montgomer}'  county. 


B.iLL,  Joseph,  contractor,  127  Pine  street, 
Harrisburg,  was  born  in  Delaware,  January 
28,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Lydia 
(McCoombs)  Ball.  He  has  an  honorable  an- 
cestr}'  from  whom  he  has  doubtless  inherited 
the  spirit  which  has  animated  him  in  his 
business  career  in  this  city  as  well  as  the 
qualities  which  have  enabled  him  to  achieve 
his  honorable  success.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, William  Ball,  married  Miss  Springer, 
and  together  they  came  from  England  in 
1803,  and  were  a  part  of  that  large  number 
of  intelligent  and  virtuous  j>eople  who  felt 
the  limitations  of  old  customs  and  dense 
populations,  and  appreciated  the  fuller  free- 
dom and  ampler  opportunities  which  this 
country,  at  the  estalilishment  of  its  inde- 
pendence, offered  to  all  who  desired  to  enjoy 
its  rich  resources.  They  landed  at  New  Cas- 
tle, and  settled  on  the  Christina  river.  His 
maternal  ancestors,  the  McCoombs,  possessed 
similar   characteristics,   only  they    were   of 


408 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


that  still  more  sturdy  and  stirring  stock  of 
the  north  of  Ireland,  from  which  so  many 
men  of  worth  and  eminence  have  sprung. 
They  also  came  hither  at  an  early  date  in 
the  century  and  settled  in  the  State  of  Dela- 
ware, on  the  Christina  river.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Coomhs'  maiden  name  was  Walker.  In 
earl}^  boyhood  Mr.  Ball  appears  to  have  de- 
veloped somewhat  of  a  restless  and  adven- 
turous spirit,  and  proposed  to  himself  to  look 
about  in  the  world  and  see  something  of  its 
countries  and  customs  before  settling  down 
to  the  regular  routine  of  life's  duties.  In 
gratification  of  this  spirit  he  shipped  before 
tlie  mast  as  common  sailor  in  the  whaling 
and  naval  service,  and  results  and  subse- 
quent events  show  that  the  lessons  and  ex- 
periences of  this  voyage  were  not  lost,  for  on 
his  return  he  settled  at  once  into  the  com- 
monplace and  unromantic  position  of  an  ap- 
prenticeship to  the  carpenter  trade.  That 
he  was  apt  and  in  earnest  in  his  trade  learn- 
ing is  proved  by  the  proficiency  and  skill  he 
acquired  in  his  chosen  occupation.  He  came 
to  Harrisburg  in  1860  and  found  here,  in 
this  prosperous  and  growing  city,  an  ample 
field  for  the  business  he  desired  to  establish. 
He  diligently  followed  his  occupation,  and 
finally  became  well  established  and  promi- 
nent as  a  builder  and  contractor.  The 
marks  and  monuments  of  his  successful 
works  are  to  be  seen  in  the  prominent  struc- 
tures which  have  been  erected  under  his 
able  and  faithful  superintendence.  Among 
those  may  be  named  the  first  Paxton  mills 
and  the  additions  thereto,  the  Paxton  flour- 
ing mills,  the  Reily  street,  Maclay  street  and 
high  school  buildings,  and  the  Trust  Com- 
pany building.  He  also  remodeled  the 
Commonwealth  Hotel,  and  has  constructed 
many  of  the  fine  residences  of  the  city.  He 
is  acceptable  to  both  owners  and  architects, 
because  he  is  equally  faithful  to  both,  and 
has  the  skill  to  construct  the  material  reali- 
zation of  tiie  wants  of  the  one  and  the  plans 
of  the  otiier.  Mr.  Ball  is  further  interested 
in  other  substantial  business  enterprises  of 
the  city,  being  a  stockholder  in  the  Cliestnut 
Street  market  house  and  in  the  Harrisburg 
Trust  Company.  In  political  views  he  is  in 
harmony  with  the  Republican  party.  His 
only  military  service  is  iiis  forn:er  connec- 
tion with  the  State  militia.  He  was  married, 
in  1861,  to  Miss  Lucretia  J.  Lutz.  Their 
children  are:  William  G.,  contractor  of  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  and  Sarah  J.,  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Weaver,  of  Harrisburg.     Mrs.  Ball  has  from 


earl}'  youth  been  a  member  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist church.  The  wife  of  George  Washing- 
ton was  a  member  of  the  Ball  family. 

Bernheisel,  Peter,  architect,  was  born 
at  Harrisburg,  J'a.,  April  25,1833.  He  is  a 
son  of  Peter  and  Margaret  (Uhler)  Bern- 
heisel. His  father  was  a  native  of  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  and  was  born  near  what  is  now 
called  Green  Park,  in  1806,  and  died  in  this 
city,  September  22,  1887,  aged  eighty-one 
years.  His  mother  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
and  died  in  1848.  Their  family  consisted 
of  seven  children,  of  whom  two  survive: 
Peter  and  William  H.,  of  Harrisburg,  who 
was  injured  i)y  a  fall  while  engaged  at  tiie 
erection  of  the  Friendship  engine  house, 
and  for  thirty-seven  years  has  not  left  his 
bed.  The  father  was  married  three  times. 
By  the  second  marriage  three  children  were 
born  ;  and  by  the  third  marriage  none  were 
born. 

Peter  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  city.  He  learned  the  carpen- 
ter trade,  and  at  the  same  time  studied 
architecture.  In  1856  he  became  manager 
of  Trullinger  &  Co.'s  planing  mill,  and 
filled  the  position  for  seven  years.  In  1863 
he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  as  a  con- 
tractor and  builder,  and  continued  in  this 
business  for  twenty-two  years.  In  1885  he 
abandoned  this  occupation,  and  since  that 
date  he  has  devoted  his  time  to  the  business 
of  architect.  Hebuilt  the  residences  of  Dr. 
Reily  and  Dr.  Porter,  the  addition  to  In- 
ternal Affairs  and  House  of  Representatives, 
Telegraph  building,  and  others. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 9,  1856,  to  Hannah  R.  Webner, 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Harriett  (Salada) 
Webner,  a  native  of  Lebanon.  Six  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  five  of  whom  are 
living,  namely :  Margaret,  wife  of  H.  H. 
Lingle,  Harrisburg;  Amanda,  deceased; 
George,  Harrisburg  ;  William,  Harrisburg; 
Charles  H.,  a  partner  with  his  father;  and 
M.  Frances.  In  politics  Mr.  Bernheisel  is  a 
Republican.  The  family  attend  the  Lu- 
theran church. 


ScHL.WER  (Schlehr),  Jacob  F.,  contractor, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  January  17, 
1837.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Jacob  Freder- 
ick and  Elizabeth  Maria  (Beckley)  Schlehr. 
Jacob  Frederick  Schlehr  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Ringlinge,  Baden,  Germany.  For 
many  years  he  was  engaged  in  fanning.     In 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


409 


1832  he  emigrated  witli  his  family  to  Amer- 
ica. The  passage  across  the  ocean  in  a  sail- 
ing vessel  occupied  sixty-eight  days.  They 
reached  Baltimore,  Md.,  September  4,  1832. 
A  few  days  later  he  procured  a  team  and 
wagon  to  transport  liis  family  and  household 
goods  to  Harrisburg.  In  two  days  they 
reached  York,  Pa.,  where  they  rested  one 
day  and  procured  another  team.  Harrisburg 
was  reached  a  day  or  two  later,  with  no  mis- 
hap save  the  occasional  upsetting  of  the 
wagon.  The  remainder  of  their  lives  was 
passed  in  Harrisburg.  They  were  well- 
known  and  honored  residents.  The  father 
died  April  27,  1837.  He  was  married  in 
Baden,  Germany,  to  Elizabeth  Maria  Bick- 
ley  ;  she  died  May  2,  1876.  They  had  nine 
children  •  Barbara, born  in  Ringlinge, Baden, 
widow  of  tlie  late  Leonard  Orth,  residing  in 
Harrisburg ;  William,  born  in  Ringlinge 
October  12,  1823,  a  continuous  resident  of 
Harrisburg  for  sixtj'-two  years,  still  actively 
engaged,  in  his  seventy-second  year,  at  his 
trade  of  shoemaking ;  he  was  married  at 
Linglestown,  Dauphin  county,  February  5, 
1855,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  the  late 
Frederick  Lenhart,  has  five  living  children, 
Mary,  wife  of  John  Murphy,  Louisa,  wife  of 
Robert  Wallace,  William  H.,  Edward,  and 
Emma  ;  Caroline,  deceased,  born  in  Ring- 
linge, Germany  ;  Bernhardt,  whose  present 
•  residence  is  unknown ;  Caroline,  born  in 
Ringlinge,  wife  of  Henry  Langenberg,  of 
Beverley,  Washington  county,  Ohio ;  An- 
drew, born  in  Ringlinge,  died  in  1893 ;  Mary, 
born  at  sea,  deceased ;  Margaret,  born  in 
Harrisburg,  wife  of  Rev.  Henry  Fossler,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  and  .Jacob  Frederick. 

Jacob  Frederick  Schlehr  received  only  a 
limited  education  in  the  schools  of  Harris- 
burg. At  th  e  age  of  twelve  he  began  the  battle 
of  life  for  himself.  For  two  years  he  was  a 
driver  on  the  canal.  The  next  year  he  was 
clerk  in  the  grocery  stoi'e  of  Christ.  Henry, 
on  Market  street.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
was  apprenticed  to  the  house  carpenter  trade 
with  Colestock  &  Garverich.  This  firm 
failed  in  business  after  two  years  and  a  half, 
and  he  was  compelled  to  seek  other  employ- 
ers. He  then  served  an  apprenticeship  of 
two  and  a  half  years  with  Holman  &  Sim- 
onds,  making  a  completed  appi'enticeship  of 
four  years.  His  pay  during  the  entire  period 
was  fifty  cents  a  day,  out  of  which  he  had  to 
pay  all  his  living  expenses,  including  board 
and  clothing.  He  now  removed  to  Beverly, 
Ohio,  and    worked    at   caipentry   for   four 


months,  returning  after  that  to  Harrisburg. 
Here  he  followed  his  trade  and  also  con- 
ducted a  dairy  business.  In  the  spring  of 
1863  he  abandoned  the  trade  to  devote  his 
entire  attention  to  tlie  dair\'.  In  the  spring 
of  1865  h6  engaged  in  the  sand  business  and 
in  1866  sold  the  dairy  and  has  since  been 
interested  in  sand.  Since  1886  he  has  also 
been  engaged  in  contracting.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Harrisburg,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Hay,  Janu- 
ary 16,  1859,  to  Anna  Mary,  daughter  of 
William  and  Hannah  (Worral!)  Willis,  both 
deceased.  Their  children  are :  William 
Henry,  in  the  plumbing  business,  Harris- 
burg, and  Hannah  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry 
Boyer.  Mr.  Schlayer  has  been  for  twenty- 
five  years  an  active  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  and  of  Perseverance  Chapter, 
No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  also  belongs  to 
Phcenix  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  and  of  the  Ignited 
Workmen.  Since  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
he  has  been  a  Republican  ;  he  was  previously 
a  Democrat.  He  and  his  family  attend  Zion 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  of  which  Mrs. 
Schlaver  is  a  consistent  member. 


Bender,  Jacob  M.,  retired  carpenter  and 
contractor,  was  born  near  Mt.  Joy,  Lancas- 
ter county.  Pa.,  January'  20,  1838,  son  of 
Jacob  and  Maria  (Moyer)  Bender,  natives  of 
Lancaster  county.  The  father  came  to 
Dauphin  county  and  settled  in  Swatara 
township,  where  he  farmed  for  sixteen  years 
and  then  moved  to  Highland,  between  Ober- 
lin  and  Steelton,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
raising  fine  horses.  He  was  a  Republican 
in  politics,  having  formerly  been  a  Whig, 
and  served  in  township  offices.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
His  death  occurred  in  1880,  at  the  age  of 
eight}'  years,  and  his  wife's  death  occurred 
in  1863.  They  had  eleven  children,  all  of 
whom  reached  maturity,  and  six  of  whom 
are  still  living  :  Tobias,  farmer,  of  Kansas  ; 
Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Samuel  Rigbet,  of  Middle 
Paxton;  Jacob  M.;  Susan, Mrs.  Adam  Swartz, 
of  Texas;  Mary,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Wright; 
Daniel,  of  Parsons,  Kan.,  deputy  sherifi' 
and  member  of  State  Legislature  and  farmer 
by  occupation  ;  Henrj',  of  ('herokee  county, 
Kan.,  postmaster  of  Galena,  under  Harri- 
son. Jacob  M.  was  reared  in  Dauphin 
county  and  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  for  nineteen  years.  On 
August  8,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company  B, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  regiment, 


410 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Pennsylvania  volunteers,  as  private  and 
served  ten  months,  participating  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville  and 
other  noted  engagements.  He  settled  at 
Harrisburg  permanentl}'  in  186G.  He  is 
prominently  connected  with  the  fraternities, 
being  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  Kniglits 
of  Pythias,  of  the  Mystic  Cliain  and  of  Post 
No.  58,  G.  A.  R.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for 
the  People's  party  and  he  has  since  been  a 
Piepublican.  From  1877  to  1879  he  served 
as  a  member  of  the  common  council  and 
was  on  the  committee  of  ordinance  and  leg- 
islation. Mr.  Bender  was  married  in  186G 
to  Susan  Felty,  daughter  of  John  B.  Felty, 
of  Susquehanna  township.  His  children 
are:  Irving  F.,  at  the  poor  farm,  Jacob  Os- 
car, bookkeeper,  Elizabeth,  Josiah,  at  home, 
Daniel,  drowned  wiiile  skating,  January  11, 
1896.  Mr.  Bender  is  a  member  of  the 
Fourth  Street  Church  of  God. 


MiLLKR,  David  R.,  architect,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  in  an  old  log  house  in 
Swatara  township,  situated  where  the  steel 
works  now  stand,  September  21,  1838.  He 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Rebecca  (.Page)  Miller. 
His  parents  were  also  botli  natives  of  Dau- 
jihin  county.  Thegrandfatiier  Millerfought 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  that  year  the 
father  of  David  R.  Miller  was  born.  He 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
died  when  his  son  David  was  thirteen  years 
of  age.  His  wife  lived  to  a  good  old  age, 
and  died  in  1878.  Their  family  consisteil  of 
six  children,  of  whom  four  are  still  living  : 
Henry,  residing  in  Keisley,  Edwards  county, 
Kan.,  David  R.,  John,  a  retired  blacksmith, 
residing  at  Rockville,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
and  Mary,  wife  of  William  Rivers, residingat 
Goshen,  Tulare  county,  Cal.  Those  dead 
are  Jacob,  who  was  killed  by  an  accident  at 
Joliet,  111.,  in  1872,  and  George,  who  served 
with  distinction  through  the  late  war  and 
was  a  prisoner  for  eleven  months.  He  died 
at  Goshen,  Cal.,  in  1891. 

The  whole  life  of  David  R.  Miller  has 
been  spent  in  Dauphin  county.  He  received 
buta  limited  education  in  tlie  public  schools, 
but  compensated  for  this  by  industrious,  en- 
ergetic and  persevering  efforts  at  self-im- 
provement. He  was  a  clerk  in  a  grocery 
store  on  Market  street  for  two  years,  during 
which  time  he  eagerly  improved  every  op- 
portunity to  gain  knowledge  and  to  prepare 
himself  for  business.  He  undertook  to  learn 
car  building,  but  subsequently  concluded  to 


learn  carpentr}^,  and  with  this  end  in  view 
became  an  apprentice  to  Henry  Shoop. 
After  his  trade  was  learned  he  worked  in 
different  cities  in  mills  and  factories,  endeav- 
oring to  make  himself  familiar  with  the 
use  of  newly  introduced  machinery.  In 
1860  he  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  worked 
at  his  trade  for  four  years.  During  1864 
and  1865  he  was  foreman  for  George  Trul- 
linger  et  Co.,  who  speak  of  his  services  in 
the  highest  terms.  In  1865  he  engaged 
with  Daniel  D.  Boas,  of  the  Harrisburg 
planing  mill,  and  had  the  management  of 
that  mill  for  ten  years.  During  this  time 
he  did  much  work  as  an  architect.  From 
1875  to  1880  he  was  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building  on  his  own  account.  He 
erected  the  Ridge  Avenue  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  remodeled  the  Forster  Street 
Lutheran  church,  remodeled  the  Vine  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  erected 
many  other  prominent  buildings  in  the  city. 
In  1888  he  abandoned  other  business,  and 
has  since  devoted  his  entire  time  to  the  pro- 
fessional occupation  of  architect.  He  has 
been  employed  in  this  capacity  upon  many 
of  the  most  prominent  private  and  public 
buildings  whicli  adorn  the  city.  He  has 
also  done  much  in  the  line  of  his  profession 
outside  of  Harrisburg.  He  was  the  architect 
of  a  number  of  cold  storage  houses  through- 
out the  South,  the  most  noticeable  among 
these  being  the  large  building  at  Waldo, 
Fla.  He  is  also  the  architect  of  a  number 
of  public  school  buildings  in  this  city  and 
State,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
public  school  buildings  at  Lykens,  Daujihin 
county,  and  at  Curwensville,  Clearfield 
county,  Pa.  Mr.  Miller's  work  has  also  ex- 
tended beyond  the  United  States,  even  as 
far  as  Japan.  He  prepared  the  plans  for  a 
boj's'  and  girls'  school  and  chapel  atSendai, 
Miyagi  Ken. 

He  was  married  in  Dauphin  September 
26,  1861,  to  Christiana  L.  Garvich,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Baker)  Garvich, 
who  was  born  in  Susquehanna  township, 
January  20,  1842.  They  have  had  four 
daughters,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Those  living  are  Catherine,  wife  of  H.  C. 
McMichael,  residing  in.  Harrisburg,  and 
Alice,  who  resides  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  Perseverance 
Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  trustee 
and  was  the  first  president  of  the  Harris- 
burg Beneficial  Society.  He  represented  the 
First  ward  for  seven  and  a  half  j'ears  in  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


411 


school  board.  He  is  a  Democrat.  The 
family  attend  the  Vine  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Smith,  Daniel  M.,  lumber  dealer,  con- 
tractor and  builder,  was  born  in  Fairview  , 
York  count)',  Pa.,  June  24,  1S43,  son  of 
Micliael  and  Catherine  (Miller)  Smith.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Perry  and  the  mother  of 
Cumberland  county.  They  became  residents 
of  York  county,  where  they  died,  the  former 
in  August,  1863,  the  latter  in  March,  1865. 
The  father  was  twice  married,  and  by  his 
first  wife  had  four  children,  the  only  survivor 
of  whom  is  Michael,  residing  in  Perr}'  county. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  his  second  mar- 
riage, of  whom  the  youngest  is  Daniel  M., 
and  the  others  living  are  Nancy,  wife  of 
Henry  Mosey,  of  New  Cumberland,  Pa.; 
George,  of  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.;  Mary  Ann, 
wife  of  William  Sheely,  of  Plymouth,  Ohio, 
and  David,  residing  in  Fairview  township, 
York  county.  Daniel  M.  was  reared  on  the 
farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.  He  learned  tlie  carpenter  trade 
and  in  1864  came  to  Harrisburg,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  for  two  years,  and 
in  1866  engaged  in  business  for  himself. 
For  thirty  years  he  has  conducted  a  suc- 
cessful trade  in  lumber  and  in  contract- 
ing and  building,  which  has  placed  him 
among  the  prominent  and  substantial  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city.  He  was  married  in 
Harrisburg,  October,  1865,  to  Catherine  S. 
Kane,  of  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  to  whom  have 
been  born  two  children  :  Bertha  F.,  died  Au- 
gust 31,  1882,  and  Henry  M.  Mr.  Smith  is 
a  member  of  Fulton  Council,  No.  35,  O.  U. 
A.  M.,  and  Harmony  Castle,  No.  53,  K.  G.  E. 
In  his  politics  he  is  with  the  Democrats.  He 
attends  the  Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Smith 
died  October  23,  1893. 


Coder,  John  G.,  builder,  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  county,  Pa.,  July  6,  1843,  son 
of  Simon  and  Nancy  (Couch)  Coder,  the 
former  a  native  of  Mifflin  county,  and  the 
latter  of  Huntingdon  county.  The  father 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  one  of  the 
workmen  employed  on  the  construction  of 
the  State  capital,  in  the  carpenter  work. 
John  G.  was  reared  in  Huntingdon  count}' 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  afterwards  learned  the  carpenter 
trade  with  Henry  Snare.  In  July,  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  company  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth    regiment,    Pennsylvania    vol- 


unteers, was  made  corporal  and  served 
nine  months.  He  re-enlisted  in  May, 
1864,  as  a  sharpshooter,  and  served  until 
March  25, 1865,  when  he  joined  the  Twenty- 
first  cavalry.  During  a  part  of  the  time  of 
service  he  was  acting  orderly,  was  wounded 
March  25,  and  discharged  July  1,  1865. 
After  his  discharge  he  completed  his  apjiren- 
ticeship  at  tlie  carpenter  trade.  He  was  mar- 
ried, February  22,  1866,  to  Mary  J.  Smith, 
daughter  of  Elijah  Smith  of  Huntingdon,  for- 
merly of  Lancaster  count}'.  In  1870  he 
moved  to  Watsonville,  Northumberland 
county,  and  from  there  to  Milton,  where 
he  engaged  in  contracting.  In  1880  his 
accumulations  of  previous  years  of  hard 
work  were  destroyed  by  fire,  and  he  was  left 
$500  in  debt.  He  aided  in  rebuilding  Mil- 
ton after  the  fire,  and  in  1883  came  to  Har- 
risburg and  took  large  contracts.  Among 
tlie  many  important  pieces  of  work  done  by 
him  may  be  named  the  Steelton  Flouring 
Mill,  two  new  wings  of  the  State  Lunatic 
Asylum,  the  entire  plant  of  the  Sparrow's 
Point  Steel  Works,  in  Maryland,  the  State 
building  of  Pennsylvania  at  the  Columbian 
Exposition,  Ciiicago,  in  which  he  also  put  up 
their  exhibit;  the  Iowa  and  Idaho  State 
buildings  at  the  same  exhibition  ;  the  fitting 
up  of  the  New  York  State  building,  the  Ex- 
ecutive building  at  State  Lunatic  .Asylum,  tlie 
Pennsylvania  State  building  at  the  Atlanta 
Exposition,  and  the  residence  of  Mr.  McCor- 
mick,  at  Harrisburg.  He  was  also  the  designer 
and  builder  of  the  Workingmen's  Model 
House,!  which  was  exhibited  at  the  Columbian 
Exposition,  and  4,000  copies  of  the  plans  of 
whicii  were  sold  in  Europe.  Mr.  Coder  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Sparrows  Point,  Md.,  Steel 
Company,  and  a  member  of  Henry  Wilson 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Milton,  Pa.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Grove,  George  H.,  architect  and  builder, 
was  born  in  Hummelstown,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  May  24,  1848.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Z. 
and  Rebecca  (Bowman)  Grove,  the  former  a 
native  of  Dauphin  and  the  latter  of  Lan- 
caster county.  John  Z.  Grove  died  April  10, 
1891.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  builder,  and 
spent  his  life  in  Hummelstown.  The  par- 
ents had  twelve  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living  :  George  H.;  John  0.,  a  carpenter  of 
Hummelstown;  Wells  C,  residing  in  Har- 
risburg in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania 


412 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Railroad  Company ;  James  H.,  of  Harris- 
burg,  also  an  employe  on  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  and  Rebecca,  wife  of  Alfred  Sut- 
cliffe,  of  Hummelstown. 

George  H.  Grove  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  town.  He  learned  car- 
pentery  and  was  a  builder  and  contractor 
in  his  native  town  for  twenty-five  years.  In 
1887  he  was  elected  county  treasurer,  and 
filled  this  responsible  oflice  for  three  j'ears. 
In  1890  he  organized  the  Harrisburg  Casket 
and  Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  he 
was  superintendent  for  two  years.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1892,  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with 
Mr.  G.  W.  Strite,  in  the  architectural  busi- 
ness. He  is  now  in  business  for  himself, 
having  di.ssolved  partnership  August  3, 
1895.  Mr.  Grove  was  married  in  Hummels- 
town, September  14,  1871,  to  Caroline  L. 
Balsbaugh,  daughter  of  John  and  Katherine 
Balsbaugh,  natives  of  Dauphin  county  and 
of  German  ancestr}' ;  the  former  died  May 
10,  1882 ;  the  latter  June  9,  1895,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-five  \'ea7'S.  Mrs.  Grove 
was  born  in  Derry  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa..  August  11,  1854.  They  have 
no  children.  In  political  views  Mr.  Grove 
is  a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


McKELVY,J.\cor.  J., contractor  and  builder 
No.  1311  North  Front  street,  Harrisburg,  was 
born  in  New  Buffalo,  Perry  county.  Pa.,  Oc- 
tober 26,  1849.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Rebecca  (McEhvee)  McKelv\'.  When  he  was 
about  three  years  of  age  his  father  died  and 
his  mother  removed  to  Harrisburg.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  cit}'. 
He  learned  carpentry,  which  he  has  since 
followed,  of  J.  A.  Slentz.  He  afterwards  be- 
came foreman  for  Mr.  Slentz  and  about  1885 
engaged  in  business  for  himself.  He  makes 
a  s[)ecialty  of  stair  work.  He  built  the  ad- 
dition to  St.  Genevieve's  Academy,  on  Maclay 
street,  the  Mercy  Home  and  many  i-esiilences 
in  the  city.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  company 
I,  Seventy-seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of 
S.  G.  Simmons'uPost,  No.  116,  G.  A.  R.  He 
was  married,  in  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Mc- 
Elwee,  daughter  of  David  McElwee,  of  Perry 
county.  Pa.  They  have  two  children  :  Jen- 
nie S.  and  James  Alfred.  He  attends  Mes- 
siah Lutheran  church. 


Smith,  John  C,  architect,  was  born  in  the 
the  city  of  Manchester,  England,  December 
11,  1855.  Here  he  was  educated  and  reared 
to  man's  estate.  Here  he  also  studied  archi- 
tecture. He  resided  here  till  1885,  when  he 
left  his  native  land  and  came  to  America. 
After  several  years'  residence  in  New  York 
City,  Chicago,  and  other  large  cities  of  the 
United  States,  he  located  at  Harrisburg  in 
1885,  where  for  the  past  ten  years  he  has 
successfully  followed  his  profession.  He  was 
married  at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  in  1885,  to  H. 
Laura  Jenkins.  To  them  has  been  born  one 
son,  named  Edward.  Mr.  Smith  stands  at 
the  head  of  his  profession  in  Harrisburg. 
This  position  he  has  won  b}'  the  exertion  of 
his  native  ability,  and  by  the  exercise  of  his 
skill  attained  by  years  of  close  study  and 
practical  application  of  the  principles  of  his 
art.  He  has  displa\'ed  marked  originalit}' 
in  dealing  with  the  ever-varying  j^roblems 
and  requirements  of  architecture.  He  has 
not  only  kept  up  with  the  advancement  of 
his  art  in  this  country,  but  has  also  contrib- 
uted his  full  share  to  its  development  and 
progress,  as  he  has  labored  to  emphasize  and 
harmonize  its  three  cardinal  elements  of 
beauty,  utility  and  stability.  He  is  not  only 
an  artist,  he  is  also  a  business  man,  and  is  a 
good  exponent  of  his  art,  which  is  the  most 
important  of  all  the  arts,  since  it  seeks  to 
combine  the  beautiful  and  the  useful  in  the 
most  practical  way  for  the  highest  ends.  His 
style  is  pure,  chaste  and  symmetrical,  and 
his  methods  of  materializing  his  plans  are 
direct,  accurate  and  practical.  His  aim  is 
always  to  secure  the  best  results  within  the 
limits  of  estimates;  to  this  end  his  compu- 
tations are  accurate,  his  specifications  are  spe- 
cific and  complete,  and  his  supervision  of 
contractors  and  builders  is  business-like  and 
close  in  all  details.  He  is  devoted  to  his  pro- 
fession and  has  been  successful.  He  has  de- 
signed the  plans  and  superintended  the  erec- 
tion of  some  of  the  handsomest  and  most 
substantial  public  and  private  edifices  of  the 
city.  His  work  as  to  both  exterior  appear- 
ance and  interior  finish  is  found  to  meet  the 
demands  of  popular  taste,  and  compel  the 
favorable  judgment  of  experts  and  critics. 
Hence  as  man  and  as  architect  he  enjoys  the 
highest  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


Macqueen,  James  M.,  architect,  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland, 
September  5,  1859.     He  is  a  .son  of  James 


^^/^  ^^ 


DA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY. 


415 


and  Eustacia  Agnes  (Ballantine)  Macqueen, 
the  former  born  at  East  Linton,  Hadding- 
tonshire, and  the  latter  at  East  Calder,  Scot- 
land. Mr.  James  Macqueen  still  survives 
and  resides  in  Edinburgh.  Mrs.  Macqueen 
died  at  Edinburgh  in  18S3. 

He  received  his  primar}'  education  in  the 
Stockbridge  free  church  scliool.  He  attended 
the  Edinburgh  School  of  Designs  and  the 
James  Watt  Institute  (now  tlie  Watt  Heriot 
College  of  Edinburgh).  He  then  became  a 
pupil  of  Alexander  Kiiind,  a  renowned  sculp- 
tor, and  witii  him  learned  that  art,  in  which 
he  was  engaged  for  six  years.  He  then  be- 
gan a  course  of  study  in  architecture  with 
James  G.  Fairweather,  architect,  which  he 
prosecuted  diligently  and  successfully.  Later 
he  was  engaged  in  the  engineering  depart- 
ment of  the  city  of  Edinburgh.  In  1883 
he  left  his  native'land,  went  to  the  city  of  St. 
John's,  Newfoundland,  and  was  employed  at 
the  English  Cathedral  during  the  erection  of 
that  edifice.  In  the  latter  part  of  1884  he 
returned  to  Edinburgh, spendings  six  months 
in  study  and  travel.  In  1885  he  went  to  the 
Bermudas  to  assist  in  the  building  of  a  large 
church  edifice.  In  April,  188G,  he  came  to 
New  York  and  after  a  short  stay  there  to 
Hummelstown,  Pa.,  where  he  was  employed 
by  the  Hummelstown  Brown  Stone  Company 
as  draughtsman  and  superintendent  of  their 
stone-cutting  department  for  two  and  a  half 
years.  He  was  afterwards  manager  for  the 
Aldersoi:  Brown  Stone  Company,  Alderson, 
W.  Va.,  and  for  a  time  held  a  similar  posi- 
tion at  Rondout,  N.  Y.  In  May,  1892,  he 
removed  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  since  that 
date  has  been  one  of  the  most  prominent 
architects  in  the  city.  Among  some  of  the 
important  buildings  of  which  he  is  the  archi- 
tect may  be  mentioned  the  Hummelstown 
Reformed  church  ;  St.  Andrew's  church,  St. 
John's,  Newfoundland  ;  the  Berean  Baptist 
church,  Reading,  Pa.;  the  Fourth  Reformed 
church,  corner  Sixteenth  and  Market  streets, 
Harrisburg ;  a  large  factory  at  Bedford,  Pa., 
and  others. 

James  M.  Macqueen  was  married  in  New 
York  City,  December  6,  1SS6,  to  Emma  Ra- 
chel Martin,  of  St.  John's,  Newfoundland, 
daughter  of  the  late  J.  P.  and  Elizabeth 
Holmes  (Hudson)  Martin.  They  have  had 
four  children :  Emma  Elizabeth  Eustatia, 
born  August  7,  1889;  James  Ronald,  born 
April  9,  1892  ;  Mary  Virginia,  born  August 
2,  1893 :  Margaret  Elmira.  born  September 
1,  1895. 
3° 


Mr.  Macqueen  is  a  member  of  the  Lodge 
of  Journeymen  Masons,  No.  8,  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  of  which  he  is  a  mark  master,  also 
of  Brownstone  Castle,  No.  456,  K.  G.  E.,  of 
Hummelstown.  He  is  secretary  of  Chapter 
57,  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Andrew  and 
Philip.  He  is  a  total  abstainer.  He  was, 
while  in  Scotland,  a  member  of  tiie  Queen's 
Edinburgh  rifle  volunteer  brigade  and  took 
a  keen  interest  in  rifle  shooting,  winning 
many  valuable  prizes.  He  was  selected  for 
tlie  team  representing  his  native  city,  for  the 
last  three  years  lie  was  in  Scotland,  against 
teams  representing  the  cities  of  Perth,  Dun- 
dee and  Glasgow,  assisting  to  capture  tlie 
valuable  challenge  trophy  permanently  for 
Edinburgh  by  winning  it  three  times  in  suc- 
cession. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macqueen  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  church. 


Hamilton,  Thomas  H.,  architect,  was  born 
in  Fairview  township,  York  county,  Pa., 
January  8,  I860,  son  of  John  S.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Feisinger)  Hamilton,  both  natives  of 
York  county,  still  living  and  residents  of 
Lower  Allen  township,  Cumberland  county, 
Pa.  The  father  is  a  carpenter,  but  of  late 
years  has  retired  from  active  business.  He 
lias  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living: 
Tiiomas  H.,  Nulissa,  wife  of  John  Noel,  re- 
siding in  New  Cumberland,  Pa.;  Cordelia, 
wife  of  Eli  Thorley,  of  Steelton,  Pa.;  Daniel 
C,  residing  at  Riverton,  Pa.,  proprietor  of 
lumber  yard  and  planing  mill.  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  has  served  as  store- 
keeper and  gauger  in  the  Internal  Revenue 
Department.  Thomas  H.  received  his  pi'i- 
mar}'  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Fair- 
view  township,  and  subsequently  pursued 
the  study  of  architect  at  Philadelphia.  After 
fully  preparing  himself  for  the  profession  he 
returned  to  Harrisburg  and  began  business 
for  himself.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  married,  at 
Steelton,  May  5,  1884,  to  Mary  A.  Fiese, 
daughter  of  Josiali  K.  and  Sarah  Fiese,  to 
whom  have  been  born  five  children:  Luther 
J.,  Frances  C,  .John  F.,  and  two  who  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  member  of  the 
Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.,  of  Harrisburg.  In  his  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Democrat.  The  family 
attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Strite,  George  W.,  architect,  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Low'er  Swatara  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  December  8, 
1862.     He  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Eliza- 


416 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


beth  (Seibert)  Strite,  botb  born  in  Daupliiii 
county,  Pa.  Abraham  Strite  is  a  cooper, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  old  and  respected 
residents  of  Dauphin  county  ;  they  now  re- 
side in  Lower  Swatara  township.  Four  of 
their  seven  children  are  living:  Jacob,  re- 
siding in  Lower  Swatara  townsliip  ;  George 
W.,  of  Hai'risburg;  Mary,  wife  of  George 
Schriner,  residing  near  Linglestown,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  and  Elizabeth,  at  home. 
Mr.  Abraham  Strife's  father  is  a  prominent 
Odd  Fellow,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
State  Capital  Lodge  for  tliirty  years.  He  is 
a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  attend  the 
Lutheran  church. 

George  W.  Strite  was  reared  to  manhood 
and  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive township.  He  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  for  about  ten  years.  In  1880 
he  abandoned  farming,  learned  carpentry, 
and  made  this  his  occupation  for  seven 
years.  In  1887  he  began  the  study  of  archi- 
tecture in  Harrisburg,  and  has  worked  in 
this  profession  ever  since.  In  February, 
1892,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  George 
H.  Grove,  under  the  firm  name  of  Grove  & 
Strite.  On  the  third  day  of  August,  1895, 
he  dissolved  partnership  and  went,  into 
business  for  himself;  lie  is  still  occupied 
with  architecture.  George  W.  Strite  was 
married  in  Harrisburg,  December  27,  1888, 
to  Catiierine  D.  Springer,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Delilah  Springer,  born  in  York  county. 
The}'  have  one  son,  named  Eugene  P.,  born 
January  19,  1891.  Mr.  Strite  is  a  member 
of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  attends 
the  First  Baptist  church. 

Stucker,  George  B.,  of  the  firm  of  Ward 
&  Stucker,  general  contractors  in  street  pav- 
ing, sewers,  grading,  etc.,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, December  5,  18(34,  son  of  Peter  and 
Elizabeth  (Koppenhofter)  Stucker,  the  former 
born  in  Swatara,  the  latter  in  Washington 
township,  Dauphin  county.  The  father  was 
born  in  1821,  son  of  Joseph  Stucker,  a  native 
of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  and  set- 
tled on  the  present  site  of  Steelton,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  The  father  was  reared 
on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  schools  of 
that  time.  In  1863  he  came  to  Harrisburg 
and  was  elected  alderman  of  the  Second 
ward,  in  wliich  office  he  served  for  twenty 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  donators  of  the 
ground  on  which  Steelton  was  located  and 
laid  out.     In   his  political  views  he   was  a 


Democrat.  He  died  in  1884.  His  wife  sur- 
vives him.  Their  children  are:  George  B., 
Charles  D.,  suj^ply  agent  Harrisburg  Chair 
Works;  John  A.,  city  inspector;  Robert, 
stenographer.  George  B.  was  reared  in  the 
city,  and  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  In  1889  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  James  F.  Ward,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Ward  &  Stucker,  and  engaged  in 
contracting  on  city  work,  on  pavements, 
sewers,  and  street  grading,  in  wiiich  they 
have  continued  since  that  time.  This  firm 
were  the  leading  contractors  in  the  Muench 
street  sewer  in  Harrisburg,  and  in  the  pav- 
ing and  building  the  street.  At  the  present 
time  they  are  contractors  for  a  large  amount 
of  similar  work  at  Williamsport,  Pa.  In 
his  political  views  Mr.  Stucker  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 


Lloyd,  Charles  Howard,  of  the  firm  of 
Foose  &  Lloj'd,  architects,  was  born  at  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  October  12,  1873.  He  is  a  son 
of  Isaac  and  Anna  (Mosser)  Lloyd.  Isaac 
Lloyd,  his  father,  has  been  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  city  for  forty  years, 
and  to-day  ranks  among  the  oldest  and 
most  efficient  teachers  in  the  city.  To  him 
and  his  wife  have  been  born  four  children, 
tliree  of  whom  are  living:  Ella,  wife  of 
George  A.  Ilutman,  Fannie  E.  and  Ciiarles 
Howard.  The  parents  attend  the  Fourth 
Street  Church  of  God. 

Charles  Howard  Lloyd  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city  since  his  birth.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  Harrisburg  schools,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  high  school  with  the 
class  of  1891.  He  then  went  to  Boston  and 
entered  Cowles'  Art  School  for  the  purpose  of 
{)rosecuting  his  studies  in  architecture.  He 
received  also  a  great  part  of  his  instruction 
from  private  teachers.  He  studied  with 
Ball  &  Dabney,  well-known  architects  of 
Boston.  In  1894  he  formed  a  partnership 
at  Harrisburg  with  Mr.  Foose,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Foose  &  Lloyd.  By  skill,  in- 
dustry and  honorable  dealing  in  their  busi- 
ness they  have  met  with  substantial  suc- 
cess. Foose  &  Lloyd  have  been  the  archi- 
tects of  some  very  prominent  public  and  pri- 
vate buildings,  among  which  are  tiie  Web- 
ster school  building.  Thirteenth  and  Kitta- 
tinny  streets,  public  librarj',  annex  to  Tres- 
ler  Orphans'  Home,  Loysville,  Pa.,  a  large 
laundry,  bath  house  and  store  house,  Loys- 
ville, Pa.,  the  large  "Simon  Cameron" 
school    building,   Harrisburg,    the  Wicker- 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


417 


sham  school  huildiiig,  Harrisburg,  now  in 
course  of  erection,  and  many  others.  Mr. 
Lloyd  is  unmarried.  He  attends  the  Epis- 
copal church. 

Cameron,  .James  Donald,  eldest  son  of 
Simon  Cameron  and  his  wife  Margaret  Brua, 
was  born  May  14, 1833,  in  Middletown,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.  He  received  the  best  edu- 
cational advantages  in  early  life,  was  pre- 
pared for  college,  entering  Princeton,  from 
whicli  institution  he  graduated  in  1852. 
Soon  after  this  lie  engaged  as  clerk  in  the 
Middletown  Bank,  now  the  National  Bank 
of  Middletown,  of  which  he  subsequently  be- 
came cashier  and  afterwards  president,  which 
latter  position  he  still  retains.  Mr.  Cameron 
was  president  of  the  Nortliern  Central  Rail- 
way Company  from  18G3  to  18G4,  wlien  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  obtained 
the  controlling  interest  in  it,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Col.  Thomas  A.  Scott.  As 
president  of  the  Northern  Central  during  cer- 
tain periods  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Cameron 
rendered  great  service  to  the  national  cause. 
The  road,  although  several  times  cut  by  the 
Confederates,  was  a  valuable  means  of  com- 
munication between  Pennsylvania  and  Wash- 
ington. Under  Mr.  Cameron's  administra- 
tion after  the  war  the  Northern  Central  was 
extended  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  so  as  to  reach  from 
the  great  lakes  to  tide-water.  Although  tak- 
ing a  prominent  part  in  Pennsylvania  poli- 
tics Mr.  Cameron  held  no  public  office  until 
1876.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  1868, 
and  was  also  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Republican  State  Convention  which  met  in 
Harrisburg  in  1876,  and  by  it  was  chosen 
chairman  of  the  Pennsylvania  delegation  to 
the  National  Republican  Convention  at  Cin- 
cinnati in  June  of  that  year.  On  the  22d  of 
Ma\',  1876,  President  Grant  nominated  him 
as  Secretary  of  War,  the  Senate  i)romptly 
confirming  him.  He  remained  in  the  Cabi- 
net during  the  balance  of  President  Grant's 
term.  The  Legislature  of  1877  elected  him 
United  States  senator  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  bj'  his  fatlier's  resignation.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1879  for  the  term  ending  in 
1885,  he  was  again  re-elected  in  1885,  and 
also  in  1891;  his  term  ends  March  3,  1897. 
Mr.  Cameron  was  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Republican  Convention  in  1880,  and  was 
that  year  chairman  of  tlie  National  Republi- 
can Committee,  succeeding  the  late  Senator 
Chandler.     In  the  Fifty-second  Congress  Mr. 


Cameron  was  chairman  of  the  Senate  com- 
mittee on  naval  affairs,  serving  also  on  the 
committee  on  military  affairs,  committee  on 
revolutionary  claims  and  the  select  com- 
mittee of  quadro-centennial  and  five  civil- 
ized tribes  of  Indians.  Mr.  Cameron  has 
been  actively  identified  with  various  coal, 
iron,  and  manufacturing  industries  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  is  widely  known  and  esteemed 
as  a  public  spirited  citizen,  of  large  and  com- 
manding influence  as  well  as  conspicuous 
executive  abilitv  and  usefulness. 


Davies,  Newton  IL,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  January  22,  1835,  son  of  Jolni 
and  Mary  B.  (Hetzel)  Davies,  natives  of 
Harrisburg.  His  paternal  grandparents 
were  natives  of  Wales.  Newton  II.  Davies 
first  attended  the  public  schools  of  Harris- 
burg and  his  education  was  completed  at 
Annapolis,  Md.,  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  He  at 
once  sought  employment  and  was  first  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  in  the  stationery  store  of  a 
Mr.  Pollock,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
three  years.  He  then  entered  the  Daupliin 
Deposit  Bank,  of  Harrisburg,  as  first  clerk, 
afterwards  he  was  promoted  to  the  position 
of  chief  teller,  wliich  he  held  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  May 
5,  1895,  aged  sixty  years.  Mr.  Davies  was 
a  Democrat. 

On  October  27,  1862,  Newton  H.  Davies 
was  married  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  to  Annie 
E.,  daughter  of  William  and  Jane  Van 
Horn.  Their  children  were  :  Mary,  Emma, 
wife  of  Harry  C.  Elston,  of  Norristown,  Pa., 
Frank  H.,  wlio  married  Miss  Martha  Mil- 
lard, resides  at  Steelton,  Pa.,  Annie  V.,  Rahn 
v.,  Loreua  S.  and  William  V.  H. 

William  Van  Horn,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Davies,  came  from  New  Jersey.  He  was  a 
blacksmith  and  was  afterwards  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  in  the  hardware  business,  with 
a  Mr.  Fisher.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
had  been  for  fifteen  years  in  the  employ  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Jane,  daughter  of  James 
Hutton  ;  they  had  four  children  :  Annie  V., 
Mrs.  Davies,  Emma,  wife  of  Colonel  Jen- 
nings, deceased,  William,  married  Miss  Rosa 
Reightmyer,  John  S.,  died  aged  six  years. 
Mrs.  Van  Horn  died  April  15,  1849,  aged 
thirty-five  years. 

Mr.  Van  Horn  was  married  a  second  time, 
in  1852,  to  Mrs.  Caroline  Gibbs,  of  Lancas- 
ter county.  They  had  three  children  :  Sally, 
Henry   and   Alfred,  who  died    in    infanc}'. 


418 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Mr.  Van  Honi  died  October  1,  1859,  aged 
fort3'-nine,  and  tlie  second  Mrs.  Van  Horn 
died  on  Februar}'  21,  1891,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist church,  and  Mrs.  Caroline  Van  Horn 
of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Hemler,  Hamilton  D.,  president  of  the 
Merchant's  National  Bank  and  of  the  Cen- 
tral Guarantee  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Com- 
pany, was  born  in  Adams  county.  Pa,  in  1837, 
and  was  reared  there,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  was  reared 
on  the  farm  and  engaged  in  the  butciiering 
business.  After  retiring  from  the  farm  he 
removed  to  Oxford,  Adams  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  same  business.  He  removed 
to  Harrisburg  in  1866,  where  he  conducted 
the  butchery  business  for  four  years,  and 
then  formed  a  partnership  in  1871  with 
Louis  Dellone,  and  embarked  in  the  cattle 
trade,  shipping  cattle  from  the  West  to  the 
Harrisburg  market,  and  in  the  spring  of  the 
year  shipping  to  Philadelphia.  In  1887  he 
became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  bank, 
and  has  since  served  as  the  president  of 
the  same.  In  January,  1894,  he  organized 
the  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company,  of 
which  he  lias  served  as  president  from  its 
inception.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Democrat.  Mr.  Hemler  was  married  in  1862 
to  Miss  Mary  J.  Dellone,  daughter  of  John 
Dellone,  of  East  Berlin,  Adams  countv,  Pa. 
She  died  July  24, 1892.  Their  children  are  : 
Catherine,  Alice.  Jennie,  in  Ogden,  Utah,  in 
convent :  Gertrude,  married  David  E.  Tracy, 
of  Harrisburg,  native  of  Philadelphia;  Lo- 
retta,  and  Edith.  The  family  are  members 
of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church,  of  Harris- 
burg, and  take  an  active  interest  in  church 
work. 


Jennings,  William  Wesley,  late  presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Harris- 
burg, was  born  July  22, 1838,  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  He  was  a  sou  of  William  and  Elmina 
Elizabeth  (Boas)  Jennings.  His  grand- 
father, Capt.  William  Jennings,  commanded 
a  company  raised  by  himself  for  the  war  of 
1812,  in  the  Juniata  Valley;  but  his  sudden 
death  prevented  any  extended  service  with 
the  company.  His  father  came  to  Harris- 
burg about  i824,  established  a  foundry,  and 
was  successful  in  business.  Previous  to  his 
marriage  to  Miss  Elmina  E.  Boas  he  had 
learned  the  carriage-maker's  trade. 

William    Weslev    was    educated    in    the 


public  schools  of  Harrisburg.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  years  he  went  to  work  in  his 
father's  foundry  and  learned  the  trade  of 
moulder,  and  was  engaged  in  this  occupa- 
tion for  a  number  of  years.  In  1860  he  en- 
gaged in  the  iron  business,  and  conducted 
it  successfully  for  fifteen  years.  During  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  he  responded  to  the 
call  of  the  country  for  defenders.  He  raised 
and  commanded  the  One  Hundred  and 
TwAity-seventli  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, a  nine  montlis'  regiment,  and  was 
in  several  important  battles,  among  which 
were  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville. 
In  the  Gettysburg  campaign  Colonel  Jen- 
nings commanded  the  Twenty -sixth  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  militia.  After  he  was 
mustered  out  of  service  he  was  made  lieuten- 
ant of  the  Lochiel  Grays.  He  served  two 
terms  as  sheriff  of  Dauphin  county,  from  1864 
to  1866  and  from  1876  to  1879.  He  was  ac- 
tive in  the  organization  of  the  first  Board  of 
Trade,  and  was  its  first  president.  He  was 
the  president  of  tlie  Commonwealth  Ctuar- 
antee  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company.  In 
1880  he  was  elected  president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Harrisburg,  and  filled  the 
position  with  credit  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  suddenlj'  February  28,  1894.  He 
was  also  president  of  the  Harrisburg  Steam 
Heating  Company,  a  director  of  tlie  Cum- 
berland Valley  railroad  and  several  other 
corporations.  He  was  a  member  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge  of  Masons,  of  Pilgrim  Com- 
mandery,  Kniglits  Templars,  and  of  the 
Citizen  Fire  Company. 

A  man  like  William  W.  Jennings,  from 
his  strong  capabilities  and  force  of  character, 
naturally  occupies  a  foremost  place  among 
men.  Scarcely  of  age  when  he  wore  the 
colonel's  eagles  as  commander  of  the  famous 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  withstood  the 
shock  of  the  rebel  forces  at  the  disastrous 
battle  of  Fredericksburg,  an  occasion  on 
which  his  bravery  was  marked  and  his  valor 
the  subject  of  special  commendation  on  the 
part  of  the  general  in  command,  he  early 
showed  the  characteristics  of  a  leader,  and 
such  he  was  to  the  day  of  his  death.  He 
was  a  man  among  men — and  men  loved 
him  because  he  was  broad-minded,  liberal  in 
ills  views,  a  careful  methodical  man,  a  deep 
thinker,  and  a  friend  at  all  times  when  a 
friend  was  needed.  Summed  up  in  the 
words  of  those  who  knew  him,  "A\'e  found 
him  a  large-hearted,  generous  man,  and  a 


DAUPEIN   COUNTY. 


419 


stauncli  friend  of  his  frieuds."  He  had  no 
petty  traits  of  character  that  come  from  a 
narrow  mind — he  was  open-hearted  and 
open-handed,  and  man}'  mourn  the  sudden 
takino-  off  of  one  whose  entire  life  had  been 
parallel  with  that  of  the  city's  progress  and 
the  prosperity  of  her  citizens.  In  all  that 
went  to  make  up  the  useful  citizen  he  was 
largely  endowed.  He  assisted  in  the  city's 
development  and  worked  to  foster  new  en- 
terprises and  to  push  to  completion  his  ideal 
of  the  prosperous  community.  He  never 
lagged  behind  in  the  furtherance  of  that 
which  would  benefit  his  fellow-man  and  his 
city.  His  hand  was  ever  open,  and  the 
genial,  cheery,  loving  and  lovable  man  is 
sadly  missed  in  the  various  interests  bene- 
ficial to  all  in  which  he  was  concerned.  A 
hater  of  wrong  and  oppression,  he  was  quick 
to  voice  his  sentiments,  and  he  was  brave  to 
back  them  up.  On  the  memorable  night  of 
July  23,  1877,  when  an  armed  mob  had 
taken  possession  of  Harrisburg  and  the  city 
was  demoralized,  Colonel  Jennings  sum- 
moned a  posse  and  by  his  own  personal  dar- 
ing and  fearlessness  set  an  example  that 
simply  inspired  naen  and  led  to  a  repression 
of  the  riotous  element  and  tlie  restoration  of 
order.  So  was  he  brave  in  all  things.  He 
was  quick  to  resent  a  wrong  on  the  weak, 
and  courageous  in  battling  for  the  o[)pressed. 
Colonel  Jennings  was  foremost  in  giving 
wlien  a  cry  went  up  from  the  needy,  and 
while  his  public  acts  of  charity  were  equal 
to  those  of  any  of  his  fellow-citizens,  no 
man  knows,  nor  will  ever  know,  how  fre- 
quently his  broad  private  charity  was  exer- 
cised, nor  how  often  he  aided  the  distressed 
— not  only  those  who  were  poor,  but  those 
who  were  threatened  with  ruin  at  critical 
periods  of  business  depression.  As  a  finan- 
cier he  stood  without  a  superior  in  the  State; 
as  a  soldier,  he  was  brave  and  gallant;  as  a 
public  official,  he  did  his  duty  with  credit 
and  honor;  as  a  citizen,  he  was  for  his  city 
in  all  that  was  good;  as  a  man,  he  was  one 
to  love  and  one  whose  acquaintance  was  a 
pleasure  and  a  joy;  as  a  husband  and  father, 
he  was  kind,  loving  and  gentle;  as  a  Chris- 
tian and  a  believer  in  the  faith,  he  went  to 
that  reward  oft  promised  to  him  who  doeth 
his  Master's  work. 

His  kindly,  generous  nature  had  a  great 
attraction  for  young  njen,  and  scarcely  a 
youtli  of  the  city  but  enjoyed  his  acquaint- 
ance. He  took  an  interest  in  them,  furthered 
their  plans,  gave  them  wise  advice,  and  as- 


sisted them  when  business  opportunity  pre- 
sented. Naturally  the  young  men  of  the 
cit}'  were  his  friends,  and  they  looked  upon 
him  as  a  benefactor.  Many  a  man  now 
prosperous  owes  his  start  in  life  and  his  suc- 
cess to  Colonel  Jennings.  In  his  youth  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Grace  Methodist  choir 
and  took  a  great  interest  in  musical  affairs, 
assisting  in  organizing  the  Harmonic  So- 
ciety, of  which  he  was  a  member  until  its 
dissolution.  A  widow  (who  was  Miss  Emma 
Vanllorn)  and  four  children,  Mary, William, 
Fanny,  and  Harry,  mourn  the  death  of  one 
who  was  a  fond  husband  and  a  loving,  in- 
dulgent father. 


GoRGAs,  William  L.,  cashier  of  the  Har- 
risburg National  Bank  and  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Harrisburg  Trust  Company, 
is  worthy  of  mention  and  an  extended  notice 
along  with  the  solid  and  able  business  men 
of  the  city.  The  position  he  holds  and  the 
aptitude  he  has  displayed  for  its  require- 
ments no  less  than  his  personal  worth  en- 
titles him  to  be  classified  with  the  leaders  in 
business.  He  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.,  June  23, 1848.  That  there  were 
men  of  character  preceding  him  in  his  an- 
cestral line  appears  from  a  record  made  by 
his  father,  William  R.  Gorgas,  who  was  born 
in  Lower  Allen  township,  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  was  both  prominent  and  popular, 
taking  an  active  part  in  public  matters  and 
especially  those  of  a  j)olitical  character. 
That  he  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinar}' 
intelligence  and  ability  is  shown  b}'  the  fact 
of  his  repeated  elevations  to  important 
offices.  As  the  candidate  of  the  Democratic 
party  of  Cumberland  county  he  was  elected 
to  both  branches  of  the  State  Legislature,  in 
which  he  served  several  terms  with  honor 
and  distinction.  He  removed  to  Harrisburg 
in  1877  and  there  made  his  residence  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  December  3, 1892. 
Mr.  Gorgas  was  a  member  of  the  Seventh 
Day  Baptist  church,  of  Ephrata,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa. 

William  L.  Gorgas  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  in  the  Cumberland 
Valley  Institute,  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  and  as 
the  result  of  his  educational  course,  was 
qualified  for  teaching,  which  occupation  he 
followed  for  several  years.  Having  some 
decided  tastes  for  mechanical  pursuits  he 
became  an  apprentice  to  the  machinist's 
trade  in   the  works  at  Mullen,  Cumberland 


420 


BIO GRA PHIVAL  ENCYCL OPEDIA 


county.  But  after  a  time  he  decided  upon 
another  and  different  career,  in  1869  accept- 
ino;  the  position  of  teller  in  the  Second  Na- 
tional Bank,  of  Mechanicsburg,  which  place 
he  filled  until  1873,  when  he  was  appointed 
clerk  in  the  Harrisburg  National  Bank.  In 
1892  he  was  elected  cashier  of  the  bank  in 
which  he  had  so  efficiently  served  as  clerk 
and  he  is  still  performing  the  duties  of  this 
responsible  position.  Wlien  the  Harrisburg 
Trust  Company  was  organized  in  1893  he 
participated  in  its  organization  and  was 
elected  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany. He  is  also  director  of  the  Harrisburg 
Bridge  Company  and  of  the  Harrisburg 
and  Mechanicsburg  Electric  Railway  Com- 
pany, as  well  as  one  of  the  organizers  and 
the  president  of  the  Capital  City  Shoe  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  and  is  treasurer  of  the 
Harrisburg  City  Railway  Company,  treas- 
urer of  the  (Jity  Hospital  and  president  of 
the  Camp  Hill  Cemetery  Company.  Mr. 
Gorgas  has  been  somewhat  active  and  prom- 
inent in  political  matters  in  connection  with 
the  Democratic  party.  In  1890  he  was  the 
candidate  of  iiis  party  for  Congress  and  al- 
though his  opponent,  John  W.  Rife,  was  a 
popular  man,  he  ran  ahead  of  his  ticket 
over  two  thousand  votes,  though  not  quite 
enough  to  secure  his  election.  Mr.  Gorgas 
served  five  years  as  a  member  of  select  coun- 
cil and  for  three  years  was  tiie  president  of 
that  bod}'.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Blue 
Lodge,  Chapter  and  Commandery  of  the 
Masonic  fraternit}'  and  for  the  past  eight 
years  has  been  district  deputy  grand  master 
for  Dauphin  and  a  part  of  Northumberland 
counties,  comprising  eight  lodges.  He  is 
also  a  charter  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Honor.  Mr.  Gorgas  is  interested  in  histor- 
ical matters  and  holds  membership  in  the 
Dauphin  Count}'  Historical  Society  and  the 
Pennsylvania  German  Society. 

SoHN,  Daniel  W.,  cashier  of  Merchants' 
National  Bank  and  treasurer  of  the  Central 
Guarantee  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Com- 
pany, was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa., 
September  7,  1852;  son  of  Francis  S.  and 
Mary  (Snyder)  Sohn.  He  was  reared  in 
Lancaster  county,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  After  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years  and  eight  months  at 
the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Mt. 
Joy  Herald,  he  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1871, 
and  was  employed  in  the  State  printing 
office  for  about  twelve  years.     On    August 


12, 1883,  he  entered  the  Farmers'  Bank  as 
messenger,  where  he  remained  until  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Merchants'  National  Bank, 
of  which  he  became  the  teller,  and  served 
until  July,  1892,  when  he  was  elected 
cashier  of  the  bank,  and  has  held  the  po- 
sition since  that  date.  When  the  Trust 
Companv  was  organized  he  became  one  of 
the  stockholders,  and  has  been  the  treasurer 
of  the  company  since  its  inception.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Sohn  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  member  of  Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160, 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  Dauphin  Encampment, 
No.  10.  Mr.  Sohn  was  married,  January 
18,  1890,  to  Miss  Kate  J.  Robi-son,  daughter 
of  John  J.  Robison,  of  LevvLstown,  Pa.,  to 
whom  has  been  born  one  son,  Walter  R. 
Mr.  Sohn  is  a  member  of  the  Westminster 
Presbvterian  church. 


B.\iLEY,  Edward,  the  son  of  Charles  L. 
and  Elmma  H.  Bailey,  was  born  in  Harri.s- 
burg,  October  19, 1861.  He  was  educated  at 
the  Hill  school,  Pottstown,  Pa.,  Phillips 
Academy,  Andover,  Mass.,  and  the  Sheffield 
Scientific  School  of  Yale  College.  He  grad- 
uated in  1881,  returning  to  take  a  post-grad- 
uate course  in  chemistry.  In  January,  1882, 
he  entered  business  as  a  clerk  in  the  firm  of 
Charles  L.  Bailey  &  Co.,  owners  of  the  Chesa- 
peake Nail  Works.  In  1886  he  was  admitted 
as  a  partner,  and  in  1889.  when  the  business 
was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  Ciiarles 
L.  Bailey  &  Son,  he  became  the  vice-presi- 
dent. In  the  same  year  he  was  elected  vice- 
president  of  the  Central  Iron  Works.  He 
continued  actively  engaged  in  the  business 
of  both  companies  until  1892,  when  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  Harrisburg  National 
Bank.  Mr.  Bailey,  as  president  of  this  in- 
stitution, was  largely  instrumental  in  organ- 
izing the  Harrisburg  Trust  Company  and 
became  its  president.  Mr.  Bailey  has  been 
energetic  in  building  up  the  industries  of 
Harrisburg  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
everything  which  would  tend  to  improve  his 
native  place. 

Besides  the  positions  of  president  of  the 
Harrisburg  National  Bank  and  Harrisburg 
Trust  Company  he  still  retains  his  old  con- 
nection with  Charles  L.  Bailey  &  Son  and 
the  Central  Iron  Works,  acting  as  vice-presi- 
dent of  both.  He  is  president  of  the  Har- 
risburg Preserving  Company,  a  partner  in  the 
insurance  firm  of  Hammond  &  Bailey,  a 
director  in  the  Harrisburg  Traction  Com- 
pany, East  Harrisburg  Passenger  Railway 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


■421 


Company,  Harrisburg  City  Passenger  Rail- 
way Company,  Harrisburg  Boot  and  Shoe 
Company, limited,  Harrisburg  Grocery  &  Pi'o- 
duce  Company,  IJnion  Trust  Company  of 
Pliiladelpliia  and  the  Cumberland  Steel 
Plate  Company  of  Cumberland,  Md.  Mr. 
Bailey  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the 
Harrisburg  Club,  became  its  second  treasurer 
and  for  a  number  of  years  served  on  its  board 
of  governors.  He  is  an  original  member  of 
the  Inglenook  Club  of  Harrisburg,  the  Man- 
ufacturers' Club  of  Philadelphia  and  the 
American  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers. 
In  politics  Mr.  Bailey,  while  not  taking  any 
active  part,  is  an  enthusiastic  Republican. 

In  1889  he  married  Elizabeth,  eldest 
daughter  of  Dr.  George  W.  Reily .  They  have 
one  daughter.  Mr.  Bailey  and  his  wife  are 
both  Presbyterians  and  members  of  the  Mar- 
ket Square  Presbyterian  church. 

McClure,  Jonathan, was  one  of  the  firstjus- 
tices  of  tlie  county  of  Dauphin.  He  was  the 
son  of  Richard  I\IcClure,  born  about  1745  in 
Paxtang  township,  Lancaster,  now  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  one  of  Joseph  Hutchinson's 
pupils,  received  a  good  English  education, 
and  was  brought  up  to  mercantile  pursuits. 
When  the  war  of  the  Revolution  needed  his 
support  he  became  a  lieutenant  in  Capt.  John 
Rutiierford's  company  and  did  valiant  ser- 
vice during  the  New  Jersey  campaign  of 
1776,  and  that  around  Philadelphia  the  year 
following.  Toward  the  close  of  the  war  he 
commanded  a  company  of  militia  raised  in 
Paxtang  for  the  defense  of  the  frontiers.  He 
was  commissioned  by  the  Supreme  Execu- 
tive Council  a  justice  of  the  peace  Septem- 
ber 8,  1784,  and  on  the  17th  of  November 
following  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas.  \\'hen  the  county  of  Dau- 
phin was  organized  the  sjjring  following  lie 
came  to  l^e  one  of  the  first  judges  of  the 
courts.  He  died  at  Middletown  on  Wednes- 
day, December  11,  1799,  aged  about  fifty- 
four  years.  Of  the  th.ree  persons  who  illu- 
mined the  judicial  bench  one  hundred  years 
ago,  Judge  jNlcClure  was  the  most  intelli- 
gent. He  was  one  of  the  men  of  mark 
of  this  locality,  and  it  is  proper  that 
his  memory,  with  those  of  the  other  two 
worthies,  his  colleagues,  be  preserved. 


Murray,  Lindley,  son  of  Robert  Murray 
and  his  wife  Mary  Lindley,  was  born  in  1745 
on  the  banks  of  the  Swatara,  in  Lancaster, 
now   Dauphin    county,  Pa.;  died  February 


16,  1826,  at  his  residence  near  York,  Eng- 
land. He  received  a  good  education,  but 
having  a  dislike  to  mercantile  pursuits, 
studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
i\\p  age  of  twenty-one.  The  year  after  he 
married.  His  limited  practice  was  tempo- 
rariU'  interrupted  by  a  visit  to  England, 
whither  his  father  had  preceded  him  in  hope 
of  benefitting  his  health.  He  returned  to 
New  York  in  1771,  and  renewed  the  practice 
of  law  with  marked  success ;  tiring  of  it,  how- 
ever, when  the  Revolution  broke  out  and  New 
York  was  occupied  by  the  British  arm^sor  hav- 
ing no  sympath}'  with  the  cause  of  independ- 
ence, he  removed  to  Islip.on  Long  Island,  and 
entered  a  mercantile  life.  We  have  always 
given  Lindley  Murray  credit  for  his  religious 
principles  as  having  precluded  him  from 
taking  part  in  the  struggle  between  the  Col- 
onies and  the  mother  country,  but  in  a  letter 
in  our  possession,  written  by  William  Darby 
to  his  friend,  Mrs.  Anna  Dixon,  the  true  in- 
centive is,  perhaps,  given.  Mr.  Darby  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  men  of  his  time — 
he  was  intimate  with  the  patriots  of  the  Rev 
olution,  and  learned  much  of  the  inward  his- 
tory of  the  people,  concerning  whom,  it  is  to 
be  regretted,  he  did  not  give  his  reminis- 
cences. William  Darby  was  born  in  the  same 
neighborhood  and  was  intimate  with  the 
Dixons  and  Roans,  to  the  former  of  whom 
Murray  was  related,  and  through  them 
learned  more  of  him  than  biographers  choose 
to  tell.  In  the  success  and  greatness  of  a 
man,  we  too  often  lose  sight  of  the  grave 
errors  into  which  he  may  have  fallen.  But 
we  are  loath  to  dispel  the  bright  halo  which 
glimmers  around  the  life  of  the  celebrated 
grammarian.  Sabine  classes  him  among  the 
Loyalists  of  the  Revolution,  and  Darby,  in 
contrasting  him  with  his  cousin,  Robert 
Dixon,  whose  blood  was  the  first  Pennsylva- 
nia offering  to  the  cause  of  independence, 
speaks  of  Murray's  taking  sides  with  the 
enemies  of  his  country.  This  we  can  easily 
understand.  Surrounded  by  his  religious 
friends  whose  peace  principles  would  not 
allow  them  to  take  up  arms — although  many 
hundreds  did,  who  were  subsequently  dis- 
owned for  it — and  in  a  city  occupied  by  tiie 
king's  troops,  he  himself  says  he  had  little 
faith  in  the  successful  resistance  of  the  Colo- 
nies. It  was  thus'hebeceam  a  Loyalist.  His 
father's  business  and  his  own  thrived,  and 
the  rule  of  England  was  sufficient  for  him. 
We  venture  the  opinion  that  there  were  really 
few  instances  where  religious  principles  made 


422 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


men  Tories.  Mercenary  motives  were  gen- 
erally at  the  bottom  of  it.  It  is  to  be  regretted 
that  Lindley  Murray's  silent  influence  should 
have  been  on  the  side  of  British  oppression 
and  tyranny.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
had  amassed  a  fortune,  and,  when  peace  had 
dawned,  he  sailed  away  from  the  land  of  his 
nativity  and  the  home  of  liberty.  His  at- 
tachment to  the  home  of  his  fathers,  he  said, 
"  was  founded  on  many  pleasing  associations. 
In  particular,  I  had  strong  prepossessions  in 
favor  of  a  residence  in  England,  because  I 
was  ever  partial  to  its  political  constitution 
and  the  mildne.ss  and  wisdom  of  its  general 
laws.  .  .  .  On  leaving  my  native  country, 
there  was  not,  therefore,  any  land  in  which 
I  could  cast  my  eyes  with  so  much  pleasure, 
nor  is  there  any  which  could  have  attbrded 
me  so  much  real  satisfaction  as  I  have  found 
in  Great  Britain.  May  its  political  fabric, 
which  has  stood  the  test  of  ages  and  long 
attracted  the  admiration  of  the  world,  be  sup- 
ported and  perpetuated  by  Divine  Provi- 
dence." In  1784  he  went  to  England,  and, 
after  visiting  several  localities,  purchased  a 
small  estate  at  Iloldgate,  about  a  mile  from 
York,  upon  which  lie  resided  until  his  death. 
Living  in  ease  and  retirement,  he  entered 
upon  a  literary  life  which  proved  a  success- 
ful one,  and  has  inscribed  his  name  high 
upon  fame's  portals.  In  1787  he  published 
a  small  work  entitled  "  The  Power  of  Relig- 
ion on  the  Mind,"  which  passed  through 
seventeen  editions.  His  next  work,  and  that 
by  which  he  is  })rincipaily  known,  was  his 
"English  Grammar," hrst published  in  1795, 
and  such  was  the  unexpected  demand  for  it 
that  several  editions  were  published  during 
the  same  year.  Following  this  appeared 
"  English  Exercises,"  and  a  "  Key,"  an 
abridgementof  which  treatises  were  publislied 
in  one  volume  in  1797.  His  other  writings 
are  "  The  English  Reader,"  with  an  "  Intro- 
duction and  Sequel,"  "  The  English  Spelling 
Book,"  a  new  edition  of  his  Grammar,  "  Ex- 
ercises and  Key,"  in  two  octavo  volumes,  a 
selection  from  Home's  "  Commentar}-  on  the 
Psalms,"  and  "Tlie  Duty  and  Benefit  of 
Reading  the  Scriptures."  Lindley  Murray's 
educational  publications  were  not  alone  con- 
fined to  his  mother  tongue.  He  prepared 
two  French  works,  "Introduction  au  Lecteur 
Francois"  and  "Lecteur  Francois,"  which 
soon  came  into  general  use,  were  highly  com- 
mended, and  passed  through  a  large  number 
of  editions.  His  life  in  England  was  a  busj' 
one,  as  it  was  au  eventful  one.     No  Ameri- 


can who  made  an  European  tour  failed  to  visit 
Holdgate.  His  personal  appearance,  his  un- 
assuming demeanor  and  his  conversational 
powers  excited  in  the  minds  of  all  visitors 
great  admiration.  Lindley  Murray  married, 
June  22, 1767,  Hannah  Dobson,died  in  Eng- 
land and  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband 
at  Holdgate. 


Jones,  Samuel,  one  of  the  first  associate 
justices  of  Dauphin  county,  was  from  Bethel 
township,  now  in  Lebanon  county,  where 
he  was  born  about  the  year  1750.  His 
father,  William  Jones,  laid  out  Jonestown, 
dying  in  November,  1771,  theson  coming  into 
possession  of  the  greater  portion  of  the  estate. 
He  was  in  active  service  during  the  struggle 
for  independence,  and  November  S,  1777,  was 
appointed  by  the  Supreme  Executive  Council 
one  of  the  commissioners  to  collect  clothing, 
blankets,  etc.,  for  the  half-clad  army  at 
Valley  Forge.  This  service  was  well  per- 
formed. On  August  15,  1784,  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  for 
Lancaster  count}',  and  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  January  3,  1785.  He  was 
the  next  oldest  in  commission  when  the 
new  county  of  Dauphin  was  formed.  Of 
Judge  Jones'  subsequent  life  we  have  little 
knowledge.  It  has  been  stated  that  he  re- 
moved to  Pittsburgh  toward  the  close  of 
the  century,  but  even  that  is  not  certain. 


Dock,  William,  son  of  Philip  and  Eliza- 
beth (Killain)  Dock,  was  born  in  East  Earl 
township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  February 
3,  1793.  In  1800  his  parents  removed  to 
Newviile,  Cumberland  county,  where  the}' 
resided  until  their  death.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  limited.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  went  to  Carlisle,  where  he  was  brought 
up  to  merchandising.  In  1813  he  removed 
to  the  Susquehanna  opposite  Harrisburg, 
where  he  kept  the  public  ferry  one  year. 
The  next  spring  lie  came  to  Harrisburg. 
In  1814  he  took  charge  of  the  Harrisburg 
ferry,  then  controlled  by  the  county  of 
Dauphin.  In  I816he  wasapjiointed  collector 
of  tolls,  eastern  end  of  Harrisburg  bridge, 
which  position  he  filled  five  3'ears.  He  en- 
tered the  mercantile  chandlery  trade  in  1822, 
which  he  successfully  continued  until  1845 
when  he  entirel)-  relinquished  the  business. 
In  March,  1842,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
associatejudgesof  Dauphin  county.  In  1849 
he  received  the  nomination  by  the  Democ- 
racy for  Congress  in  the  Fourteenth  district, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


423 


then  composed  of  Dauphin,  Lebanon  and 
Schuylkill  counties.  The  Judge  made  a  good 
canvass,  but  his  party  was  in  the  minority. 
In  1851  he  was  chairman  of  the  State  con- 
vention which  nominated  William  Bigler 
for  governor.  He  had  repeatedly  been  a 
delegate  to  the  Lutiieran  Synod,  and  in  1856 
appointed  a  trustee  of  the  Pennsylvania 
College.  He  served  as  trustee  of  the  Harris- 
burg  Academy  twenty  years,  and  was  actively 
connected  with  several  business  enterprises. 
Judge  Dock  died  at  Harrisburg,  August  4, 
1868.  He  married,  in  1818,  Margaret  Gil- 
Hard,  of  Middletown,  who  died  May  30, 
1862,  in  her  sixty-eighth  year.  They  had 
children:  William  Gilliard,  Dr.  George, 
Gilliard,  and  William,  of  whom  Gilliard 
alone  survives. 


McKixNEY,  MoRDECAi,  soo  of  Mordecal 
McKinney  and  Mary  Chambers,  daughter  of 
Col.  William  Chambers,  was  born  near  Car- 
lisle, Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  in  1796.  He 
was  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  where  he 
graduated  quite  young.  He  studied  law 
under  Judge  Duncan,  of  Carlisle,  complet- 
ing ills  instruction  at  Harrisburg,  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  Dauphin  county  bar  at  the 
May  term,  1817.  In  1821  lie  was  appointed 
district  attorney  of  Union  county,  serving 
three  3'ears.  In  1824  he  was  chosen  clerk 
to  the  county  commissioners  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  October  23,  1827,  Governor 
Shulze  appointed  him  one  of  the  a.ssociate 
judges  of  the  same  county.  Subsequently 
Judge  JleKinney  turned  his  attention  to 
the  compilation  of  law  books,  and  [uiblished 
"  McKinney's  Digest,"  "  Our  Government," 
"Pennsylvania  Tax  Laws,"  and  other  works 
of  professional  value.  He  died  at  Harris- 
burg on  the  17th  day  of  December,  1867, 
the  result  of  injuries  received  from  a  street 
car  tiiree  days  previous.  Mr.  McKinney 
married  Rachel  Graydon,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Graydon,  who  died  at  Harrisburg, 
April  12,^1856.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Robinson  so 
accurately  summarizes  the  characteristics  of 
Judge  McKinney's  noble  life  that  we  cannot 
refrain  from  cpioting  him  largely:  "  His  life 
as  a  man  and  a  citizen  was  completeh' 
transfused  by  his  religion,  sanctified  and 
elevated  by  it.  He  was  modest  and  unob- 
trusive in  manners,  free  from  all  guile,  a 
man  of  sterling  honesty  and  conscientious- 
ness. He  was  remarkably  free  froni  all  faint 
of  selfishness  and  all  pride.  Spending  all 
his  years  in  comparative  poverty,  no  more 


contented,  happy,  and  trusting  man  walked 
the  streets  of  this  city.  As  a  citizen  he  was 
faithful  to  all  obligations,  a  friend  of  all  that 
was  venerable  and  good,  a  defender  of  law, 
and  a  supporter  of  all  that  tended  to  the 
welfare  of  society.  He  was  distinguished 
as  a  philanthropist.  There  was  a  nobleness 
about  his  loyalty  to  principle,  to  the  cause 
of  the  poor,  the  oppressed,  and  the  despised 
that  might  well  command  universal  admira- 
tion." 


Maginnis,  James,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
born  about  1780.  He  was  educated  at 
Dublin,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  came  to 
America,  locating  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
began  the  profession  of  teaching.  In  1807 
or  1808  he  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the 
Harrisburg  Academy,  but  in  1810  relin- 
quished his  position  there  and  entered  into 
mercantile  business  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Fred.  W.  Leopold.  Subsequently',  about 
1814,  he  resumed  school  teaching,  and  all 
his  energies  for  a  number  of  years  were  de- 
voted to  that  calling.  It  was  during  this 
period  that  he  compiled  his  '"System  of 
Bookkeeping"  and  the  "  New  Arithmetic," 
both  published  at  Harrisburg,  which  for 
many  years  was  extensively  used  as  text 
books  in  Central  Pennsylvania.  In  1821 
Mr.  Maginnis  was  api)ointed  deputy  sur- 
veyor for  Dauphin  county.  He  had  pre- 
viously been  surveyor  for  several  State  com- 
missions authorized  to  lay  out  certain  roads, 
as  also  county  boundaries.  He  studied  law 
at  Harrisburg  and  was  admitted  at  tiie 
March  term,  1820.  His  wife,  Ann  Brandon, 
a  woman  of  rare  accomplishments  and 
lovely  disposition,  to  whom  he  was  fondh'  de- 
voted, dying  March  18, 1828,  so  preyed  upon 
his  mind  that  he  sank  under  the  affliction, 
and  died  May  21,  1829.  Mr.  Maginnis  was 
a  gentleman  of  undoubted  integrit}',  an  able 
teacher  and  a  eood  citizen. 


Shoch,  Michael,  the  grandfather  of  Col. 
Samuel,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  on 
his  emigration  to  America  settled  near  Phila- 
delphia. He  had  .several  children,  among 
whom  was  John,  whose  birth  occurred  at  the 
paternal  home  near  Philadelphia.  He  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg  in  1792  and  remained 
there  until  his  death  in  1842.  He  married 
Miss  Salome  Gilbert,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
their  children  were:  Mary,  Sarah,  Rebecca, 
Eliza,  Cassandra,  Samuel,  John,  Jacob,  and 
one  died  in  childliood.     Samuel  was  born  in 


424 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Harrisburg  May  28,  1797.  His  career  covers 
some  of  the  most  eventful  periods  in  our 
national  iiistorv,  and  has  been  so  closely 
identified  with  local  events  that  it  forms  an 
inseparable  part  of  them.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  commenced  at  preparatorN'  scliools 
before  the  establishment  of  the  present  school 
system,  and  continued  at  the  Nottingliani 
Academy,  Cecil  county,  Md.  His  further 
education  and  preparation  for  professional 
life  w-ere  tiie  result  of  personal  application 
directed  only  by  himself.  As  earh'  as  1812 
he  was  recorder  of  patents  under  John  Coch- 
ran, secretary  of  the  land  office  and  recorder 
of  surveys  in  the  office  of  Andrew  Porter, 
then  surveyor  general.  In  September,  1814, 
he  joined  the  Harrisburg  artillerists,  a  com- 
pany formed  within  twenty-four  hours  after 
the  British  had  burned  the  capitol  at  Vfash- 
ington,  and  was  the  youngest  man  in  the 
four  companies  that  volunteered  from  Har- 
risburg on  that  occasion.  The  company 
marched  to  York  and  thence  to  Baltimore, 
and  remained  on  duty  there  until  the  British 
withdrew  and  abandoned  their  contemplated 
attack  on  that  city. 

In  May,  1817,  he  began  the  studv  of  law 
under  Hon.  Amos  Ellmaker,  attorne}'  gen- 
eral, and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  in  1820.  He  was  always  aggres- 
sive, and  as  a  young  lawyer  displayed  great 
energy  and  fearlessness  in  prosecuting  wiiat 
he  believed  to  be  wrong.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  impeach 
Judge  Frank,  of  the  Lebanon  and  Dauphin 
district,  for  alleged  offenses.  In  1835  he  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
by  a  union  of  the  Whig  and  Anti-Masonic 
members,  defeating  Francis  R.  Shunk,  the 
Democratic  candidate.  In  1837  he  was  sec- 
retary to  the  convention  which  gave  us  the 
Constitution  under  which  Pennsylvania 
lived  from  1838  to  1873,  and  at  the  adjourn- 
ment of  tiiat  body  was  unanimously  thanked. 
The  Colonel  finds  special  pleasure  in  recount- 
ing his  services  with  that  body. 

In  1839  he  cast  his  fortunes  with  Colum- 
bia and  went  there  to  live,  having  been 
elected  cashier  of  the  Columbia  Bank  and 
Bridge  Company.  The  company  had  a 
nominal  capital  of  §150,000,  but  actually 
not  more  than  $80,000  to  §100,000,  as  a 
bridge  costing  more  than  §175,000  had  been 
swept  away  by  an  ice  freshet  in  1832  and 
the  loss  had  not  been  wholly  made  up.  The 
capital  was  afterwards  increased  first  to 
$250,000  and    in   1837  to  $322,500  with  a 


change  of  title  to  Columbia  Bank.  In  1865 
the  bank  accepted  the  national  bank  law 
and  became  the  Columbia  National  Bank, 
with  a  capital  of  $500, OOO,  at  which  it  still 
remains,  with  a  surplus  fund  of  $150,000.  He 
has  thus  maintained  official  relations  with 
the  corporation  as  its  cashier  and  president 
for  forty-four  years,  during  a  period  the 
events  of  which  are  matters  of  local  liistory. 
Colonel  Shoch  was  married,  in  1832,  to  Mrs. 
Hannah  Evans,  daughter  of  Amos  Slay- 
maker,  of  Lancaster  count}',  who  was  the 
leading  manager  of  tiieline  of  stages  between 
Philadel[>hia  and  Pittsburgii.  Her  death 
having  occurred  in  March,  1860,  he  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time,  August,  1865,  to  Miss 
Anna  E.,  daughter  of  Robert  Barber,  of  Co- 
lumbia, Pa. 

In  1848  Colonel  Shoch  was  appointed  aide 
to  Gov.  William  Johnson,  which  by  courtesy 
conferred  upon  him  the  title  of  a  colonel,  a 
title  by  which  he  is  better  known  tlian  by 
his  Christian  name.  In  1860  he  was  made 
a  member  of  the  State  committee  of  the  Re- 
publican party  and  a  delegate  to  tlie  Na- 
tional Convention  at  Chicago  which  nomi- 
nated Abraham  Lincoln,  the  martyr  Presi- 
dent. During  the  war  he  was  foremost  in 
deeds  of  charity  and  patriotism,  and  pre- 
sented to  the  first  company  formed  in  Colum- 
bia a  beautiful  and  costly  silk  flag.  He  al- 
ways took  a  warm  interest  in  our  public 
schools,  and  through  his  active  exertions 
and  liberal  donations  the  Shocii  library,  in 
honor  of  its  patron,  was  established. 

Colonel  Shoch  also  took  an  active  interest 
in  local  enterprises,  and  was  at  one  and  the 
same  time  president  of  the  Columbia  Gas 
and  Water  companies,  the  Old  Pulilic 
Ground  Company,  and  the  Marietta,  Ciiest- 
nut  Hill  and  Washington  Turnpike  Road 
companies.  He  was  also  treasurer  of  the 
Reading  and  Columbia  Railroad  Company, 
but  resigned  in  1862,  before  going  abroad  on 
a  continental  tour.  He  was  for  ten  years 
president  of  the  school  board  of  the  borough 
of  Columbia,  during  whicii  period  a  spacious 
edifice  devoted  to  the  use  of  the  public 
schools  was  erected.  He  served  a  term  as 
director  of  the  poor  of  Lancaster  county, 
two  terms  as  county  auditor,  was  a  trustee  of 
the  Millersville  Normal  School,  and  a  direc- 
tor of  the  Wrightsville,  York  and  Gettys- 
burg railroad.  If  res|>onsible  official  posi- 
tions are  a  measure  of  public  confidence, 
then  Colonel  Shoch  was  surely  favored  by 
his  fellow-citizens. 


i 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


425 


He  was  always  an  active  worker  in  the 
Sunday-school  cause.  In  the  early  part  of 
his  professional  career  he  was  both  a  teacher 
and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  of 
the  Lutheran  churcli  in  Harrisburg.  His 
zeal  for  tiie  cause  has  been  re-awakened, and 
his  active  services  as  a  teacher  of  a  Bible 
class  in  the  Columbia  Fifth  Street  Presby- 
terian Sunday-school,  together  with  the  erec- 
tion, furnisliing  and  endowment  of  their 
beautiful  cha})el,  named  "  Salome,"  in  honor 
of  his  mother,  attests  the  sincerity  of  his  mo- 
tives. In  1854,  and  for  several  years  there- 
after, he  maintained  at  Iiis  own  expense  a 
public  niglit  school,  employed  teachers  and 
furnislied  books,  etc.,  for  the  benefit  of  ap- 
prentices and  other  young  persons  who 
could  not  attend  school  during  the  day,  and 
was  happily  rewarded  by  finding  the  school 
well  attended.  Many  of  the  pupils,  since 
grown  up,  have  become  prominent  and  well- 
to-do  citizens,  who  gratefully  acknowledge 
the  advantages  they  derived  from  the  enter- 
prise. In  politics  he  has  been  uniformly  and 
radically  anti-Democratic,  agreat  admirer  of 
Thaddeus  Stevens,  and  is  in  full  accord  with 
the  Republican  administration.  His  life 
has  been  an  eventful  and  busy  one,  and  he 
has  the  consciousness  of  knowing  that  he 
lias  neglected  no  duty  or  shirked  no  respon- 
sibility. Having  faithfully  performed  the 
duties  of  cashier  of  the  Columbia  National 
Bank  for  a  period  of  thirty-nine  years  he 
was,  in  December,  1878,  elected  its  president. 


Pearson,  Judge  John  James,  was  born 
in  Delaware  county,  Pa.,  October  25,  1800. 
He  was  the  son  of  Bevan  Pearson  and  his 
wife  Anne  Warner,  the  former  of  English  and 
\\'elsh  decent,  the  latter  of  English  descent 
exclusively,  tiieir  ancestors  having  come 
from  the  counties  of  Derbyshire  and  York- 
shire and  from  Glamorganshire  in  Wales. 
They  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends  and 
were  prominent  in  ear]}'  colonial  iiistor}-. 
Tlie  first  members  of  the  family  who  came 
to  tliis  country  were  John  Blunston,  chosen 
by  William  Penn  as  one  of  his  council  of 
State,  and  William  Warner,  who  was  ap- 
pointed judge  by  King  Charles  II.  and  pre- 
sided over  tlie  first  court  ever  held  in  Penn- 
sylvania, at  Upland  (Chester),  September  13, 
1681. 

In  ills  fiftii  year  John  J.  Pearson  was 
taken  with  liis  father's  family  to  Mercer 
county,  this  State,  where  he  enjoyed  the  edu- 
cational advantages  of  the  best  schools  of  the 


county,  and  prosecuted  his  studies  in  the 
classics  and  certain  branches  of  science,  but 
not  getting  a  regular  college  course  and 
graduation.  His  native  tastes  and  talents 
led  him  to  choose  tiie  legal  profession  for  his 
occupation,  and  he  was  probably  influenced 
also  by  the  example  of  his  grandfather,  John 
Pearson,  a  prominent  judge.  He  began  his 
preparation  for  liis  life  work  by  a  course  of 
reading  and  study  under  Hon.  John  Banks, 
a  lawyer  of  higli  standing  in  Mercer  county 
at  that  tinje,  and  subsequently  a  menil)er  of 
Congress  and  a  judge. 

Mr.  Pearson  was  admitted  to  the  Mercer 
county  bar  in  August,  1822,  and  immediately 
took  up  his  residence  at  Franklin,  Venango 
county,  where  lie  began  iiis  practice.  It  was 
the  practice  of  attorne3's  of  that  day  to  travel 
long  circuits,  and  following  this  custom,  Mr. 
Pearson  sought  and  obtained  much  business 
in  the  counties  of  \"enango,  Mercer,  ( 'rawford, 
Warren,  Erie,  Beaver  and  Butler.  Althougli 
fully  qualified  and  equipped  for  a  general 
practice  and  equally  able  in  all  departments 
of  professional  service,  he  became  most  emi- 
nent in  the  trial  of  land  titles,  in  which  he 
was  recognized  as  the  highest  authority. 

In  the  spring  of  1830  he  removed  his 
residence  to  his  former  honie  in  Mercer 
county,  and  continued  to  travel  iiis  large 
curcuit  until  1849.  During  this  period 
his  time  was  given  almost  entirely  to  his 
profession,  the  only  interruption  he  permitted 
being  his  acceptance  of  the  office  of  congress- 
man from  the  Beaver-Mercer  district,  in 
1835-36,  and  that  of  State  senator  for  four 
years,  beginning  in  1837.  While  in  the 
State  Senate  he  served  three  years  as  chair- 
man of  the  judiciary  committee,  one  of  the 
most  important  and  laborious  positions  in 
that  body. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1849,  Governor  Will- 
iam F.  Johnson  appointed  Mr.  Pearson  to  the 
office  of  president  judge  of  Twelfth  judicial 
district,  comprising  the  counties  of  Dauphin 
and  Lebanon.  His  appointment  was  im- 
mediately confirmed  hy  the  Senate,  and  in 
the  following  summer  he  changed  his  resi- 
dence to  Harrisburg,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Owing  to  growing  popu- 
lation and  consequent  increase  of  State  busi- 
ness, the  docket  of  this  court  had  become 
crowded,  and  business  w;is  much  in  arrears, 
but  Judge  Pearson's  industrious  and  metliod- 
ical  metliods  and  tireless  and  patient  dili- 
gence soon  brought  all  cases  to  proper  trial. 

The  office  filled  by  Judge  Pearson  became 


426 


Bl  0  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


elective  under  the  changed  Constitution  of 
tlie  State,  and  its  term  was  made  of  ten 
years  duration.  In  the  autumn  of  1851 
Judge  Pearson  was  elected  and  commissioned 
judge  of  the  same  district,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1861;  and  for  a  third 
term  in  187 L^  and  completed  these  three 
terms  of  service  with  his  characteristic  fidelity 
and  ability.  His  election  in  every  instance 
was  b}'  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  district. 

He  decided  many  questions  of  great  mag- 
nitude and  tried  many  noted  criminal  cases. 
He  evolved  the  principles  upon  which  the 
taxation  of  corporations  by  this  State  are 
now  decided,  both  by  the  courts  of  this  State 
and  of  the  United  States.  As  a  lawyer  and 
judge  he  attained  prominence.  Two  volumes 
of  Ills  decisions  are  published  and  are  univer- 
sally accepted  as  standard  authority  on  the 
points  involved. 

Judge  Pearson  having  reached  the  age  of 
four  score,  declined  to  stand  for  re-election 
in  1881.  His  letter  of  declination  is  a  classic 
in  its  language  and  sentiment,  and  showed 
that  he  was  a  man  as  great  in  his  views  and 
feelings  in  tlie  ripeness  of  age  as  he  had  been 
in  tlie  prime  of  his  powers.  Judge  Pearson 
was  married,  first,  on  the  12th  of  October, 
1828,  to  Ellen,  only  daughter  of  Gen.  Samuel 
Hayes,  of  Venango  county.  She  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1840.  On  July  12,  1842,  he  married, 
secondly,  Mary  Harris  Briggs,  only  daugiiter 
of  Jose[)li  and  Caroline  Briggs,  grand-daugh- 
ter of  Gen.  John  Andre  Hanna,  and  great- 
granddaugiiter  of  Joim  Harris,  the  founder 
of  Harrisburg.  In  his  personality  Judge 
Pearson  was  attractive  and  inspiring.  Dig- 
nity was  never  wantmg,  nor  was  it  ever 
prominent  and  oppressive.  He  was  genial 
and  cordial  in  social  life,  always  careful  and 
considerate  to  others,  and  genuine  in  his 
sympathy  with  all  classes.  He  could  safely 
be  named  as  worthy  of  the  closest  imitation 
in  ciiaracter  and  conduct.  His  death  oc- 
curred May  30,  1S8S,  and  was  mourned  as  a 
public  bereavement.  Tiie  memory'  of  his 
greatness  and  goodness  remains  and  is  im- 
perishable. 


Alricks,  Hermanus,  son  of  James  and 
Martha  (Hamilton)  Alricks,  was  born  at 
Lost  Creek  Mill,  in  Juniata  county,  in  1804. 
His  descent  in  the  paternal  line  was  from 
Jacob  Alricks,  of  Amsterdam,  who  was  a  di- 
rector for  the  Dutch  West  India  Company 
on  tho  Delaware  in  1657,  and  in  the  mater- 
nal line  granddaughter  of  Jolin  Hamilton 


and  Jane  Allen,  who  came  to  Pennsylvania 
in  1745.  In  1814  the  family  of  Mr.  Alricks 
removed  to  Harrisburg  and  there  the  son 
grew  to  man's  estate,  thereafter  one  of  the 
most  respected  citizens,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Harrisburg  Academy,  reading 
law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Elder,  Esq.,  mar- 
rying a  daughter  of  Rev.  William  Kerr,  who 
was  a  great-granddaughter  of  Rev.  John 
Elder,  of  Paxtang.  He  quickly  obtained 
a  lucrative  business  before  the  courts,  be- 
came one  of  the  prominent  men  at  the  bar, 
and  at  his  death  the  senior  pi-actitioner  in 
Dauphin  county.  He  was  averse  to  hold- 
ing office.  The  only  one  of  prominence 
held  by  him  was  that  of  deputy  attor- 
ney general  in  1829,  by  appointment  of 
Hon.  Amos  Eilmaker,  an  appointment 
which  made  a  great  jjolitical  uproar  at  the 
moment  and  it  is  said  caused  the  resignation 
of  Mr.  Eilmaker  and  of  his  deputy.  He 
frequently  served  his  fellow-citizens  in  mu- 
nicipal office,  was  a  popular  man  with  them 
and  his  counsel  sougiitu[)on  all  questions  of 
importance.  In  addressing  a  jury  his  man- 
ner was  quiet,  his  statement  clearly  pre- 
sented and  his  argument  logical.  His  rule 
was  to  undertake  no  cause  unless  his  client 
was  able  to  demonstrate  the  justice  of  his 
case.  His  early  training  in  the  practice  of 
the  orphans'  and  registers'  courts  soon  gave 
him  a  lucrative  business  in  that  brancii  of 
his  profession,  where  clear,  concise  exposi- 
tions are  of  far  more  weight  than  the  stirring 
elements  of  the  quarter  sessions.  His  per- 
sonal acquaintance  was  extensive,  and  his 
taste  ran  in  acquiring  the  family  traditions 
of  our  earliest  settlers.  He  died  at  Harris- 
burg, February,  1874.  His  surviving  family 
are  :  Mary  Wilson,  wlio  married  James  Mc- 
Corinick,  William  Kerr,  Hamilton,  Clara  B. 
and  Martha  0. 


Alkicks,  Hamilton,  was  born  on  the 
1st  of  June,  180G,  at  Oakland  Mills,  in 
Lost  Creek  Valley,  now  Juniata  county.  Pa., 
and  died  July  Iti,  1893,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
He  was  educated  at  the  Harrisburg  Academy 
at  such  a  period  as  those  who  passed 
tiirough  it,  from  1816  until  1826,  know  that 
tiie  whole  land  was  .stricken  with  povert}', 
and  collegiate  education  out  of  the  question. 
Indeed,  out  of  the  tiiirty  students  of  the 
classics  at  the  academy,  and  among  them 
the  son  of  Governor  Findlay.  but  one  is  re- 
membered who  went,  or  could  afford  to  go, 
to  college.     W^ith  such  an  education  as  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


427 


school  could  afford,  and  the  studs'  of  history 
on  top  of  it,  Hamilton  Alriciis  commenced 
reading  law  with  Samuel  Douglas,  Esq., 
afterwards  attorney  general,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  1828.  During  his  pro- 
fessional career  of  half  a  century  Mr.  Alricks 
has  been  engaged  at  every  term  of  the  court 
in  the  trial  of  many  of  the  most  important 
civil  and  criminal  cases,  and  in  numerous 
casesin  the  SupremeCourt,asti5e  reports  will 
sliow  from  2d  Watts  to  the  last  volume  of 
Outerbridge.  In  the  outset  of  his  practice 
he  was  engaged  as  counsel  by  Mr.  Gest,  in 
the  case  of  Gest  vs.  Espy,  2d  Watts,  266, 
after  Thomas  Elder,  Esq.,  a  senior  member 
of  the  bar,  had  abandoned  the  case,  upon  a 
verdict  being  found  for  defendant.  Mr. 
Alricks  removed  the  case  to  the  Supreme 
Court,  where  he  succeeded  in  reversing  the 
judgment.  On  one  occasion,  in  arguing  a 
case  in  the  Supreme  Court,  and  while  read- 
ing an  authority,  he  was  abruptly  inter- 
rupted by  Judge  Huston,  saying,  "  That  is 
not  tlie  law."  "  But,"  said  Mr.  Alricks,  "  I 
am  citing  from  the  opinion  of  tiie  court." 
Judge  Huston  sharply  responded  :  "  I  don't 
care  ;  no  Judge  ever  declared  such  to  be  the 
law."  To  whicii  Mr.  Alricks  further  re- 
plied: "I  have  been  reading  the  opinion  of 
tlie  court  delivered  by  your  Honor." 
■'  Then,"  .said  the  Judge,  "  tlie  reporter  took 
me  down  wrong ;  let  me  see  tlie  book." 
After  examining  it  for  some  time,  the  Judge 
closed  it  with  the  remark,  "  After  all,  I  don't 
think  this  authority  has  an)'  application  to 
tlie  case  in  hearing."  Proceedings  were 
commenced  before  the  Legislature  of" Penn- 
sylvania, about  the  year  1845,  and  testimonj' 
taken  for  the  purpose  of  framing  articles  of 
impeachment  against  the  Hon.  William  N. 
Irvine,  judge  of  the  York  and  Adams  ju- 
dicial district,  and  the  only  counsel  of  the 
respondent  was  Mr.  Alricks,  wlio  conducted 
the  defense  with  such  skill  and  ability  that 
the  committee  refused  to  report  articles. 
The  then  State  treasurer  and  auditor  general 
on  several  occasions  selected  Mr.  Alricks  to 
argue  cases  on  the  part  of  the  Common- 
wealth involving  questions  of  constitutional 
law.  His  argument  before  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States  in  Butler  et  ai, 
late  canal  commissioners  of  Pennsylvania, 
vs.  the  Commonwealtii  of  Pennsylvania, 
10th  Howard,  United  States  Supreme  Court 
Reports,  402,  was  not  only  well  received  by 
the  profession  as  a  sound  exposition  of  the 


law  as  to  what  constitutes  a  contract  witliin 
the  meaning  of  the  Tentii  section  of  the 
First  article  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  prohibiting  a  State  from  pass- 
ing any  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  con- 
tracts, but  also  an  able  definition  of  the 
power  of  tlie  Legislature  to  create  and 
abolish  offices,  to  impose  taxes,  &c. ;  and 
will  remain  a  lasting  memorial  of  his  re- 
search, industry,  and  ability  as  a  lawyer. 
He  was  one  year  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture ;  was  a  member  of  tlie  Chicago  Con- 
vention in  1SG4,  wliich  nominated  General 
McClelland  for  President,  and  the  series  of 
resolutions  drawn  up  and  offered  in  the 
convention  by  him  abounded  in  patriotic 
sentiments,  evincing  marked  abilit}'.  He 
was  a  member  of  tiie  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion for  the  revision  of  tlie  Constitution  of 
tlie  State,  in  1872-73,  tliat  iield  its  sessions 
first  in  Harrisburg  and  subsequently  in 
Philadelphia,  and  acted  on  the  committees 
on  cities  and  charters,  £fnd  on  religious 
and  cliaritable  corporations  and  societies. 
Mr.  Alricks  married.  December  28,  1837. 
Caroline  Bull,  daughter  of  Rev.  Levi  Bull, 
D.  D.,  of  Chester  county,  Pa.,  a  son  of  Col. 
Thomas  Bull,  of  Revolutionary  fame.  She 
was  born  Augusts,  1811, and  died  February 
28,  1885,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa. 


Rawn,  Chakles  Coatesworth,  the  son  of 
David  Rawn  and  Elizabeth  Cheney,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  AVashington  in  1801.  His 
grandparents,  Caspar  and  Barbara  Rahn  (as 
the  name  was  originally  sjielled),  were  na- 
tives of  Germany,  one  of  whose  daughters, 
Elizabeth,  was  mother  of  Gov.  Francis  R. 
Shunk.  Mr.  Rawn's  father  dying  when 
Charles  was  seven  years  of  age,  at  Stanton, 
Va.,  his  mother  removed  her  familj'  to  her 
farm  in  Thornbury,  Delaware  county,  Pa. 
He  was  educated  at  the  West  Chester  Acad- 
emy, then  in  charge  of  that  distinguished 
principal,  Mr.  Gause.  In  1826  he  came  to 
Harrisburg  and  began  the  study  of  law  with 
Francis  R.  Shunk,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Dauphin  county  bar  January  18,  1831.  He 
at  once  commenced  his  career  as  a  success- 
ful pleader,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death 
was  considered  one  of  the  leading  criminal 
lawyers  at  the  Dauphin  county  bar.  He 
was  an  earnest  antagonist  of  human  slavery, 
and  during  the  days  of  the  Fugitive  Slave 
Law  was  the  eloquent  pleader  in  behalf  of 
the  poor  black.     He  died  at  Harrisburg  on 


428 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


December  18,  1805.  Mr.  Rawii  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  Joseph  Clendenuin 
and  Elizabeth  Slough,  of  Harrisburg. 


''  Fleming,  David,  deceased,  lawyer,  of  Har- 
risburg,Pa.,was  born  in  AVashington  county. 
Pa.,  July  17,  1812;  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eleven  children  and  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(Beckett)  Fleming.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  of  Scotch  ancestry  and  a  native 
of  Ireland.  He  settled  in  Cecil  county,  Md., 
from  Ireland,  afterwards  in  Chester  countv. 
Pa.,  and  subsequently  at  Bald  Eagle,  from 
which  place,  with  his  familj^,  he  was  driven 
away  by  the  Indians.  In  the  attack  one  son, 
Samuel,  father  of  our  subject,  was  shot 
through  the  arm.  He  afterwards  settled  in 
Washington  county  and  in  1812  removed  to 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  spent  tiie  re- 
mainder of  his  active  life,  a  farmer,  in  West 
Hanover  township.  The  family  attended 
and  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  there  under  the  well-known  clergv- 
man.  Rev.  James  Snodgrass. 

David  Fleming  spent  his  boyhood  on  the 
farm,  obtained   his   early  education  at  tlie 
common  schools  and  Harrisburg  Academy, 
and   for  several  years,  alternating  witli  at- 
tending school,  he  was  a  successful   teacher 
here  and  in    Baltimore  county,  Md.,  in  the 
latter  place  teaching  classics  and  the  higher 
mathematics.     On  account  of  ill   healtli  he 
turned  his  attention  to  business  pursuits  and 
became  a  clerk   for   Dr.  D.  N.  L.  Reutter,  a 
contractor  on  the  Baltimore  and  Port  Dej^osit 
railroad,  and   after  a  time  took  charge  for 
iiim  of  the  sliipment  of  pine  timber  for  the 
Navy  yard  at  Washington,  D.  C,  from  North 
Carolina,  making  several  trips  by  sea  and 
greatly  improving  his  health.     In  1838  he 
returned  to  Harrisburg  and  for  several  years 
edited  a  local   paper  and   reported   the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Legislature  for  four  Philadel- 
phia journals,  including  the  United  States  Ga- 
zette.    In  1839  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
William  McClure  as  a  student,  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Harrisburg  in  November,  1841, 
and    was    uninterruptedly   engaged   in    the 
practice  of  his  profession    until   his   death, 
January   12,  1890.     Mr.  Fleming  practiced 
in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Commonwealth 
since  1843,  and  the  reported  decisions  of  that 
ti'ibunal  will  show  tliat  he  was  concerned  in 
a  large  proportion  of  the  cases  removed  from 
Dauphin  and  other  counties,  many  of  them 
involving  principles   of  great   importance. 


During  his  late  years  he  attended  to  bank- 
ruptcy practice  in  the  two  Federal  courts. 

He  closed  his  labors  as  newspaper  corre- 
spondent in  1847  and  was  elected  chief  clerk 
of  the  lb  use  of  Representatives  and  served 
during  that  session.     He  was  renominated 
by  the  Whigs  in  1848,  but  a  tie  in  that  body 
and  the  absence  of  one  of  his  friends  gave 
the  place  to  the  Democratic  candidate   by 
one  vote.     In  1854  he  was  elected   district 
attorney,  served  three  years  and  declined  a 
re-election.     In  1863  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate  and  served   for  three  years  in 
that  body,  being  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  the  judiciarj'  during  his  second  year  and 
speaker  in   the  closing  session   of  his  term. 
Outside    his    profession    Mr.   Fleming    was 
identified  in  various  ways  with   most  of  the 
leading   interests  of  Harrisburg.      He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Harrisburg  Car 
Works   in   1853,  subsequently  obtained   its 
charter  and  succeeded  William  Calder  upon 
his  death,  in  1880,  as  president  and   also  a 
member  of  the  board  and  stockholder  of  tlie 
Foundry   and    Machine    Company,    which 
originated  from  the  same  enterprise ;  mem- 
ber of  the  board  and  counsel  for  the  Lochiel 
Iron  Company  and  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  its  successor,  the  Lochiel  Rolling  Mill 
(yompany.     He  was  counsel  and  one  of  tiie 
directors  of  the  Harrisburg  National   Bank 
for  many  years  and  was  one  of  the  incorpor- 
ators in  organizing  the  First  National  Bank, 
of  Harrisburg,  for  which   he  was  a  director 
and  counsel.     He   was  a  director  of  the  In- 
land Telegraph  Company  and  afterwards  of 
the  United  States  Telegraph  Company  until 
its  consolidation   with  tlie  Western  Union 
lines  and  has  been  counsel   for  the  latter,  as 
well  as  for  the  Atlantic  and   Ohio  and   the 
Pacific  and  Atlantic  Telegraph  Companies, 
the   Columbian    Oil    Company    and    many 
other  large  corporations  in  .several  important 
suits,  involving  the  taxation  of  these  cor- 
porations by  the  State.     He  was  one  of  the 
originators  of  the  first  Harrisburg  Gas  Com- 
pany and  was  i)resident  of  the  People's  Gas 
and  Gaseous  Fuel  Company,  of  Harrisburg. 
Mr.  P'leming  was  one  of  the  founders  and 
secretarj'^  and   treasurer  of  the  Harrisburg 
Cit}'  Street  railway  and  was  a  director.     He 
was  a  trustee  for  tlie  Home  of  the  Friendless, 
of  Harrisburg,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Market  Square  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  he  was  jiresident  for  many 
3'ears.     He  was  one  of  the  oldest  Sunday- 
school  teachers  in  the  citv  at  the  time  of  his 


I 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


429 


death  and  always  aided  in  any  enterprise 
tending  to  better  educate  the  rising  genera- 
■  tion.  He  was  patriotic  and  rendered  sup- 
port to  the  Union  cause  by  his  influence  and 
means  in  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  Fleming's  law 
partner  with  whom  he  was  associated  since 
1870  is  Mr.  S.  J.  M.  McCarrell,  who  read  law 
with  him  and  was  adniiUetl  to  practice  in 
1867. 

He  married,  in  1852,  Susan,  daughter  of 
Ciiarles  and  Mary  (Richmond)  Mo  wry,  of 
Harrisburg,  who  died  October  19,  1895. 
Her  father  published  the  first  newspaper  at 
Downingtown,  Pa.,  and  after  his  removal  to 
Harrisburg  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
first  canal  commissioners  in  the  State,  and 
conducted  a  newspaper  in  company  with 
Gen.  Simon  Cameron.  Their  children  were 
Charles  M.,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College 
and  a  member  of  the  Dauphin  county  bar, 
recenth'  deceased  ;  Sarah,  graduate  of  Vassar 
College,  married  Joshua  W.  Sharpe,  of  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pa.,  June  3,  1889;  David,  a  grad- 
uate of  Princeton  College,  treasurer  of  the 
Foundry  and  Machine  Works;  George  R.. 
attornev-at-law,  and  Marv,  born  18G9,  died 
in  1871. 


Jordan,  Fran'cis,  son  of  John  and  Jane 
Jordan,  was  born  in  Bedford  county.  Pa., 
February  5,  1820.  His  father  was  of  Eng- 
lish and  his  mother  of  Irish  parentage,  both 
highly  esteemed  for  their  intelligence  and 
Christian  virtues.  He  was  educated  by  the 
maternal  uncle,  a  Mississippi  planter,  at 
Augusta  College,  Kentucky,  and  at  Franklin 
and  Marshall  College,  Pennsylvania.  He 
studied  law,  was  admitted  to  practice,  and 
.soon  after  was  appointed  district  attorney  of 
Bedford  county,  and  subsequently  elected  to 
the  same  position.  At  the  outset  his  official 
conduct  was  able,  his  indictments  being  so 
accurately  drawn  that  not  one  of  them  was 
quashed  for  informality.  In  1850  he  became 
the  law  partner  of  Alexander  King,  of  Bed- 
ford, subsequently  president  judge,  which  re- 
lations continued  until  1861.  In  1855  Mr. 
Jordan  commenced  his  public  career,  and 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  for  a  term  of 
three  years.  There  he  was  made  chairman 
of  the  committee  charged  with  drawing  a 
bill  for  the  re-adjustment  of  legislative  dis- 
tricts under  new  apportionment,  chairman 
of  the  judiciary  committee,  composed  of  some 
of  the  best  legal  talent  of  the  State,  and  a 
prominent  advocate  of  the  bill  authorizing  the 
sale  of  the  public  works.     He  declined  re- 


election,, and  was  soon  after  appointed  one 
of  a  commission  of  three  to  revise  the  civil 
code,  which  duty  was  postponed  on  account 
of  hostilities  and  finally  passed  into  other 
hands.  He  was  also  tendered  the  appoint- 
ment of  attorney  general  of  the  State,  by  the 
governor,  which  he  reluctantly  declined  by 
reason  of  the  complications  attending  it.  A 
pressing  exigency  called  for  a  sudden  con- 
centration of  troops  upon  the  central  border 
and  at  Cumberland,  Md.,  in  the  fall  of  1861. 
Upon  the  request  of  Governor  Curtin,  Mr. 
Jordan  accompanied  the  noted  Reserve  corps 
as  assistant  quartermaster,  and  while  thus 
employed, witliout  solicitation  or  even  knowl- 
edge, he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln 
paymaster  in  the  army,  and  proni[)tly  con- 
firmed, and  served  for  two  and  a-half  years 
in  ^^irginia,  Maryland,  Kentucky,  Tennessee. 
Mississippi  and  Louisiana,  during  the  last 
four  months  of  which  time  being  chief  pa}'- 
master  of  the  army  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
disbursing  during  his  entire  term  four  mil- 
lion dollars  under  a  bond  of  only  twenty 
thousand  dollars, rendering  a  satisfactorj'  ac- 
count. Urged  by  Governor  Curtin  he  re- 
signed hisposition,and  wasappointed  by  him 
military  agent  of  the  State  at  Washington, 
where  the  manifold  interests  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  were  ably  represented,  and 
under  his  management  the  claims  of  our 
soldiers  were  promptly  examined  and  paid. 
The  Legislature,  recognizing  his  efficient 
services,  passed  an  act  conferring  upon  him 
the  rank  of  colonel  of  infantry.  In  1886 
Colonel  Jordan  was  chosen  chairman  of  the 
Republican  State  Central  Committee,  and 
conducted  the  canvass  with  great  ability  and 
discretion,  resulting  in  the  election  of  General 
Geary,  who  appointed  Colonel  Jordan  secre- 
tary of  the  Commonwealth,  in  which  capacity 
he  served  with  ability  for  six  years.  In  1871, 
|)endingthe  agitation  for  the  revision  of  the 
State  Constitution,  he  wrote  and  published  a 
paper  advocating  a  revision  and  detailing  his 
reasons,  whicli  was  well  received,  and  on  the 
19th  of  February,  1872,  upon  invitation,  he 
delivered  an  address  before  the  Social  Science 
Association,  of  Philadelphia,  and  afterwards 
in  Pittsburgh,  advocating  thirteen  amend- 
ments, covering  the  most  vital  defects  of  the 
old  instrument,  twelve  of  which  were  adopted 
by  the  State  Convention.  These  papers 
served  to  establish  the  reputation  of  Colonel 
Jordan  as  a  sound  lawyer,  and  elicited  strong 
commendation  from  intelligent  men  both 
within    and    without    the  Commonwealth. 


430 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


Colonel  Jordan  was  prominently  presented 
in  the  nominating  convention  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  Governor  Geary,  but  withdrawn  to 
harmonize  conflicting  interests,  and  in  the 
same  convention  his  vote  was  next  to  the 
successful  candidate  forjudge  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  although  he  was  not  before  the  con- 
vention for  tiie  office.  Colonel  Jordan  took 
up  his  residence  in  Harrisburg  upon  his  ap- 
pointment as  secretary  of  the  Commonwealth, 
and  in  1872  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
partnership  with  Hon.  Louis  W.  liall,  since 
which  time  he  has  acted  as  counsel  for  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad  and  various  other 
corporations.  On  November  4, 1882,  follow- 
ing the  resignation  of  Secretary  Quay,  he 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Hoyt  secretary 
of  the  Commonwealth.  Colonel  Jordan  is  an 
esteemed  citizen,  recognized  as  an  able  ad- 
vocate and  judicious  and  safe  counselor,  and 
possessed  of  sterling  integritj'in  all  business 
relations.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Beaver  as  member  of  the  State  board  of 
charities,  but  after  serving  thereon,  and  ac- 
complishing certain  distinct  results,  he  re- 
signed. He  has  been  prevailed  upon  to  ac- 
cept the  presidency  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Telephone  Company.  This  is  a  new  corpor- 
ation, having  half  a  million  dollars  paid  up 
capital,  and  its  operations  extending  from 
Easton,  on  the  Delaware,  to  Chambersburg, 
including  Harrisburg,  York,  Columbia, 
Reading,  Pottsville,  Mauch  Chunk,  and 
other  important  points.  His  first  wife, 
Louisa  Farquhar,  was  the  adopted  daughter 
of  Hon.  Job  Mann,  ex-State  treasurer  and 
ex-member  of  Congress,  and  their  children 
are  William  F.  Jordan,  publisher  of  the  Era, 
a  daily  newspaper  of  Bradford,  Pa.,  and 
Alice,  who  married  Walter  F.Moore, of  Bed- 
ford. His  present  wife,  Mary,  is  a  daughter 
of  Rev.  William  M.  Hall,  \a  Presbyterian 
clergyman,  and  sister  of  Judge  Hall,  of  Bed- 
ford, and  of  Hon.  Louis  W.  Hall,  his  law 
partner. 


MiLLKR,  William  Hkxry,  lawyer,  was 
born  in  Landisburg,  Perry  county,  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1829,  and  died  in  Harrisburg  Sep- 
tember 12,  1870.  His  father,  Hon.  Jesse 
Miller,  was  oneof  the  purestand  wisest  public 
men  who  has  ever  iielped  to  make  for  Penn- 
sylvania an  lionest  history.  He  held  many 
stations  of  trust,  filled  them  with  diligence 
and  ability,  and  came  out  of  them  all  with 


.spotless  hands.  He  was  a  member  of  Con- 
gress during  General  Jackson's  administra- 
tion, first  auditor  of  the  United  States  treas- 
ury under  President  Y&n  Buren,  and  he 
was  ajypointed  secretary  of  tlie  Common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania  under  Governor 
Francis  R.  Shunk,  at  which  time  he  removed 
from  Washington,  D.  C,  to  Harrisburg, 
where  he  died  in  August,  1850.  William 
Henry  was  graduated  from  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College,  and  read  law  with  Her- 
manns Alricks,  an  eminent  member  of  the 
profession  in  Harrisburg,  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  November  18,  1846.  LTpon  his 
appointment  as  prothonotary  of  the  Sujireme 
Court  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1854,  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  Harrisburg  and  served  with 
abilit}'  in  that  capacity  until  1863.  He  was 
for  one  term  clerk  of  the  State  Senate,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  connected  with  the 
Harrisburg  Pntriot.  In  1862  he  was  elected 
to  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress  of  the  United 
States  by  the  people  of  his  district,  in  the 
face  of  a  heavy  party  majority,  where  he 
.served  with  high  rej)utation.  He  died  in 
his  forty -second  year,  in  the  prime  of  a  busy 
and  useful  life.  He  married  Ellen,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  the  late  (Christopher  L.  Ward,  of 
Towanda,  Pa.,  who,  with  one  son,  Jesse,  sur- 
vives him.  His  father  was  born  in  Susque- 
hanna county.  Pa.,  in  1807.  He  resided 
most  of  his  life  at  Towanda.  He  possessed 
the  largest  and  most  valuable  private  library 
in  the  State,  comprising  some  fifteen  thousand 
volumes,  which  has  been,  since  his  death, 
donated  by  Mrs.  Miller  to  Lafayette  College. 

Cameron,  William  Brua,  sou  of  Simon 
Cameron  and  Margaret  Brua,  was  born 
August  1,  1826,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  re- 
ceived a  classical  education,  and  graduated 
at  Princeton  (yollege  in  1847,  studied  law 
with  James  McCormick,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Dauphin  county  bar  January  23,1849. 
He  located  at  Middletown,  managing  cer- 
tain business  enterprises  of  his  father.  He 
was  appointed  major  and  paymaster  in  the 
United  States  army  May  1, 1861 ;  retired  the 
4th  of  November,  1863,  on  account  of  im- 
paired health.  Major  Cameron  died  at 
Middletown,  January  13,  1864,  and  is  buried 
in  the  cemetery  at  that  place.  He  married, 
October  18,  18o2,  Elizabeth  Bastedo,  daugh- 
ter of  Gilbert  and  Marian  Bastedo,  of  Nel- 
son, Province  of  Ontario,  Canada.  Mrs. 
Cameron,  while  on  a  visit  to  her  old   home 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


433 


in  Canada,  took  ill,  and  died  there  in  1870. 
They  had  issue:  Marian  Bastedo,  married 
David  Watts,  Simon  Brna,  and  Janet,  mar- 
ried Tryon  Hughes  Edwards,  a  lawyer. 

SiMONTON,  Hon.  .John  Wiggins,  was  born 
in  West  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county, 
in  1830  (the  exact  register  of  his  birth  is 
missing  from  the  record),  son  of  Hon.  Will- 
iam Simonton,  son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth W.,  daughter  of  Rev.  James  Snodgrass. 
His  preparatory  education  was  received  at 
tiie  country  school  near  Hanover  Church, 
continued  at  the  Strasburg  Academy,  Lan- 
caster county,  and  then  at  Lafayette  Col- 
lege, Easton,  graduating  at  the  College  of 
New  Jersey  in  1850.  His  choice  of  profes- 
sion was  the  law,  and  he  was  entered  as  a  stu- 
dent with  Hon.  Hamilton  Alricks,  at  Har- 
risburg,  admitted  to  practice  at  the  April 
term,  1853.  With  a  very  brief  interval  his 
residence  has  since  been  at  Harrisburg. 
When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  resjjond  and  served  as  a  private  in 
company  K,  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
militia,  until  discharged  after  the  battle  of 
Antietam.  He  married,  Jul}-  8,  1850,  Sarah 
H.,  daughter  of  George  Kunkel,  merchant, 
and  Catharine  Ziegler.  It  may  be  safely 
said  of  Judge  Simonton  that  he  never 
sought  an  office,  his  ambition  was  to  be  a 
thorough  lawyer,  and  as  such  win  success, 
and  before  office  sought  him  he  was  con- 
sidered a  safe  counselor  as  well  as  a  capable 
one.  He  was  chosen  district  attorney  in 
1866.  As  soon  as  another  opportunity  pre- 
sented itself  to  honor  him  with  a  higher  sta- 
tion, his  fellow-citizens  chose  him  witiiout 
serious  opposition,  in  1881,  president  judge 
of  the  Twelfth  Judicial  District  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  succeed  Judge  Pearson,  and  again 
re-elected  in  1891  for  the  term  of  ten  years. 
Every  opinion  handed  down  since  he  has 
held  this  impoitant  position  has  shown  an 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  laws  of  his  native 
State,  of  his  literary  abilit}',  acute  percep- 
tion of  such  facts  as  are  necessary  in  consid- 
ering cases,  and  in  nearly  every  instance 
have  been  sustained  bv  the  higher  court. 


MuMMA,  Hon.  David,  son  of  David  and 
Esther  Mumma,  was  born  on  the  old  Mumma 
homestead  in  Susquehanna  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  July  28,  1816.  He  was 
brought  up  as  other  farmers'  sons,  knowing 
hard  work,  long  hours  and  the  drudgery 
that  every  farmer  boy  experiences.  Adjoin- 
31 


ing  the  Mumma  farm  was  the  home  of  the 
famous  Revolutionary  soldier.  Col.  Edward 
Crouch,  now  owned  by  Col.  John  Hotter, 
and  known  as  "  Walnut  Hill."  Across  the 
hills  toward  Middletown,  one  mile  south,  was 
another  historic  land  mark,  "Tinian,"  the 
home  of  Col.  James  Burd,  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished soldiers  and  pioneers  of  Central 
Pennsylvania.  Young  Mumma  early  em- 
bibed  the  love  for  the  memory  for  those 
brave  men,  and  being  surrounded  by  evi- 
dences of  what  they  had  accomplished  un- 
der most  trying  difficulties,  he  resolved  to 
make  his  mark  in  the  future.  He  attended 
the  private  schools  until  the  adoption  of  the 
free  school  system,  when  he  studied  under 
such  teachers  as  the  conditions  of  the  neigh- 
borhood could  aftbrd.  Compared  with  the 
advantages  now  enjoyed,  the  boy  or  girl  of 
that  day  desirous  of  getting  an  education 
encountered  difficulties  that  few  of  the  pres- 
ent age  would  dare  contend  with.  His 
father  opposed  his  desire  for  learning,  deny- 
ing him  means  of  stud}-,  but  young  Mumma 
was  not  to  be  denied  his  thirst  for  knowl- 
edge. He  hoarded  every  penny  with  which 
he  purchased  his  much  cherished  treasures, 
the  contents  of  which  he  devoured  most 
eagerly,  and  the  influence  of  which  largeh' 
determined  his  after  life.  He  engaged  in 
business  pursuits  which  he  followed  for  a 
livelihood,  ever  keeping  in  view  the  star  of 
his  young  heart's  ainbition.  Having  re- 
solved to  study  law,  he  entered  himself  as  a 
student  with  the  elder  James  McCormick,  at 
that  time  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  bar  of 
Dauphin  county.  He  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice April  26,  1853.  He  soon  acquired  a 
standing  among  the  manj'  able  attorneys, 
whose  abilit}',  eloquence  and  personal  mag- 
netism have  made  the  bar  of  Dauphin  world 
famous.  Mr.  Mumma  at  once  took  more 
than  ordinar\'  interest  in  the  building  up  of 
Harrisburg.  He  had  confidence  in  its  future 
and  willingly  and  readily  embarked  in 
every  enterprise  that  was  legitimate  or 
worthy  the  interest  required  to  make  it  a 
success.  In  1870  when  Dauphin  and  Leba- 
non counties  composed  one  Senatorial  dis- 
trict, Mr.  Mumma  was  elected  senator  on  the 
Republican  ticket  by  an  overwhelming  ma- 
jority, serving  his  full  time  with  distin- 
guished honor  and  for  the  welfare  of  his 
constituents.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Convention  that  nominated  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  and  was  national  delegate  on 
several    other  occasions.      Major  Mumma's 


434 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


iutiuence-  with  u  jury  was  somethiug  re- 
markable, being  plain  in  speecii  and  man- 
ner, and  possessing  a  fund  of  humor  that 
was  always  ajjplied  at  the  rigiit  lime  and 
place,  he  was  enabled  to  sway,  move  and 
mold  a  verdict  almost  ad  libitum.  His 
knowledge  of  both  client  and  opponents, 
their  standing  socially,  morally  and  finan- 
cially, made  him  a  power  when  arrayed  for 
or  against.  No  man  knew  his  fellow-citizens 
better  nor  understood  their  weakness  for 
flattery.  He  could  judge  in  a  moment  the 
tenderest  spot  in  the  heart  of  eacli  man ; 
could  place  his  finger  on  the  juror  who  may 
have  suffered  the  same  imposition  which  his 
client  was  then  undergoing,  and  gathering 
and  concentrating  these  mighty  influences 
together  would  make  one  grand  charge, 
down  upon  the  consciences  of  the  men  in  the 
box,  and  carry  off  the  wreath  of  victory. 
The  effect  of  Major  Murama's  speeches  upon 
the  minds  and  feelings  was  always  com- 
mensurate with  the  object  to  be  obtained; 
when  desiring  to  convince,  he  talked  plain 
words  that  any  ordinary  man  could  easily 
understand,  was  calm  and  logical,  no  man 
more  so;  but  when  he  set  his  head  to  enlist 
the  symjmthy  of  the  jury  he  gave  vent  to 
his  imagination  and  was  wonderfully  elo- 
quent. He  seemed  to  comprehend  the 
character  of  every  man  and  was  an  adept  at 
selecting  a  jury. 

The  mind  is  said  to  be  composed  of  three 
great  attributes:  imagination,  memory' and 
judgment.  This  combination  is  rarely 
found  in  any  man,  but  when  it  is  that  man 
is  great  intellectually.  In  his  long  legal 
career  Major  Mumma  was  full  of  courtesy 
toward  his  opponent  or  rival  at  the  bar.  He 
was  also  brave,  kind  and  generous,  affable 
and  aflectionate,  devoted  to  his  family  and 
his  friends.  Easy  of  approach,  every  boy 
and  girl  of  Daupliin  county  knew  him  and 
honored  him.  He  had  a  smile  and  cheery 
greeting  that  was  never  mistaken  for  other 
than  what  it  was  meant,  viz'  a  plain,  manly 
and  honorable  cordiality  that  indicated  the 
man.  In  his  later  life  he  relapsed  his  grip 
on  the  plodding  labor  of  a  lawyer's  life, 
dropped  many  or  all  of  the  cares  that 
weighed  upon  him  in  his  younger  daj's,  and 
in  the  companionsiiip  of  his  beloved  wife, 
determined  to  go  cjuietly  down  the  twilight 
pathwa}'  to  the  gates  of  the  unknown  be- 
yond. When  speaking  of  his  physical  de- 
cline, and  the  discouraging  prospects  for  the 
future,  he  said  to  his  family:  "I  am  satisfied 


witli  what  is  being  done.  I  am  not  afraid 
to  face  death,  but  hope  I  shall  retain  my 
faculties  and  know  you  all  until  it  is  over." 
Few  men  looked  upon  the  transition  from 
this  life  into  tiiat  unknown  l)orne  with  the 
same  logical  reasoning  and  fixed  assurance 
and  belief  Brought  up  under  the  influence 
of  Christian  parents,  his  earl}'  life  was  im- 
pressed with  the  beauties,  the  goodness  and 
moral  advantages  of  Protestant  teachings. 
He  died  June  20,  1893,  and  his  widow  sur- 
vives. He  married  Lydia  Detwiler,  daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Susan  Detwiler,  of  Mid- 
dletown,  Pa.,  February  22, 1843.  His  family 
consists  of  three  children:  Susan,  wife  of 
J.  M.  Major,  of  Harrisburg;  Ellis  L.,  pro- 
jn-ietor  of  the  Morning  Call,  Harrisburg,  and 
David  D. 


Lawrence,  William  Caldwell  Ander- 
son, lawyer,  son  of  Joseph  and  Maria 
(Bucher)  Lawrence,  was  born  May  18,  1832, 
in  A\'asiiington  count}',  Pa.  His  grand- 
father, John  I^awrence,  of  English  birth, 
emigrated  to  America  at  an  early  day,  and 
settled  near  Hunterstown,  Adams  county. 
Pa.  There  he  married  Sarah  Moffet,  by 
whom  he  had  ten  children.  John  Lawrence 
died  about  1780,  and  three  years  afterwards 
his  widow  removed  with  her  family  to 
Washington  county,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
lying  on  the  headwaters  of  Pigeon  creek. 
One  of  the  sons  of  John  Lawrence,  John, 
settled  at  Beaver,  Pa.;  twice  represented  the 
county  in  the  Ivegislature,  subsequently  re- 
moving to  Delaware  county,  wliere  he  died. 
Samuel  followed  his  brother  to  Beaver 
county,  and  located  upon  a  farm.  He  was 
nine  years  prothonotary  of  the  county,  and 
twice  elected  to  the  State  Assembly.  He 
died  about  1828.  Joseph  Lawrence,  tlie 
youngest  of  the  family,  remained  in  Wash- 
ington county.  \n  1818  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Legislature,  and  served  continuously 
until  1826,  being  speaker  of  the  House  dur- 
ing the  sessions  of  1820  and  1822.  In  182G 
he  was  elected  to    Congress;  in   1834   and 

1835  returned    to   the    Legislature,  and  in 

1836  elected  State  treasurer.  In  1838  he 
was  a  candidate  for  Congress,  defeated  by 
seventeen  votes,  but  elected  in  1840.  He 
died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  April  7,  1842. 
He  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife, 
Rebecca  Van  Eman,  he  had  four  children: 
Joseph,  George  Y.,  Sarah  and  Samuel.  By 
his  second  wife,  Sarah  Bucher,  who  died  in 
1861,  he  had  five  children  :  John  J.,  James 


DAUPEIN   COUNTY. 


435 


K.,  William  C.  A.,  Samuel  and  Susan. 
William  Caldwell  Anderson  Lawrence  was 
educated  at  Washington  College,  where  he 
graduated  in  1850.  He  came  to  Harrisburg 
and  began  the  study  of  law  with  -John  C. 
Kunkel.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  August  31,  1853,  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Har- 
risburg as  law  partner  with  Mr.  Kunkel. 
He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1857, 
1858  and  1859,  and  was  speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  sessions  of  1859 
and  1860.  He  died  at  Harrisburg,  April  21, 
1860. 


Hall,  Louis  Williams,  son  of  AVilliam 
Maclay  Hall,  whose  mother  was  a  daugiiter 
of  Hon.  William  Maclay,  first  United  States 
senator  from  Pennsylvania,  was  born  July 
4,  1833,  at  Allegheny,  Pa.  He  received  a 
good  education  ;  studied  law,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1854.  He  was  soon 
after  appointed  solicitor  forthe  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company  at  Altoona.  That  road 
was  just  opened  over  the  Allegheny  moun- 
tains, and  Altoona  was  the  location  of  tlie 
chief  ofHces  of  the  transportation  of  tlie  com- 
pany. Herman  J.  Lombaert  was  general 
superintendent  with  all  the  powers  of  the 
now  general  manager.  The  office  of  the 
chief  engineer  was  also  at  that  point,  and 
the  location  was  being  made  there  for  the 
principal  shops  of  the  company.  It  being 
the  headquarters  of  these  offices,  the  position 
of  solicitor  there  was  an  important  and  deli- 
cate one,  and  tlie  attorne}'  had  many  c^ues- 
tions  before  him  of  immense  importance  to 
the  company  and  its  interests.  Mr.  Hall's 
practice  soon  became  large  and  lucrative, 
not  only  in  Blair,  but  the  contiguous  coun- 
ties. In  1859,  when  little  more  than 
eligible,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate 
as  the  Republican  candidate  from  tlie  strong 
Democratic  district  of  Cambria,  P>lair  and 
Clearfield  counties.  He  was  appointed 
chairman  of  tiie  judiciary  committee  on  his 
first  advent  in  the  Senate,  of  a  body  com- 
posed of  such  legal  minds  as  Penny,  of  Alle- 
gheny ;  Clymer,  of  Berks  ;  Ketchum,  of  Lu- 
zerne ;  Welsii,  of  York  ;  Palmer,  of  Schuyl- 
kill;  Finney,  of  Crawford;  McClure,  of 
Franklin,  and  others  prominent  in  the  pro- 
fession of  the  State.  The  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion breaking  out.  Governor  Curtin  called  an 
extra  session  of  the  Assembl}',  in  April, 
1861,  when  Mr.  Hall  was  chosen  speaker  of 
the  Senate.     It  was  at  that  extra  session  that 


the  famous  three-million-dollar-loan  bill  to 
arm  the  State,  and  other  important  war 
measures  were  passed.  Mr.  Hall  was  again 
chosen  speaker  at  the  beginning  of  the  regu- 
lar session  in  January,  1862.  He  was  elected 
for  a  new  term,  and  for  another  district,  in 
whicli  Blair  county  was  placed  in  October, 
1864,  running  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket. 
He  was  again  chosen  speaker  of  the  Senate 
at  the  end  of  the  session  of  1866,  and  also  at 
the  commencement  of  the  regular  session  of 
1867,  having  been  chosen  three  times  pre- 
siding officer  of  that  bod}',  an  honor  never 
before  accorded  to  any  one.  At  the  close  of 
his  term  he  declined  a  re-nomination,  and 
since  then  has  devoted  himself  exclusively 
to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Having 
been  appointed  solicitor  and  counsel  of  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  at  Llarrisburg,  on 
the  1st  of  October,  1868,  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  that  city.  To-day  he  occupies  the 
same  position,  being  connected  with  them 
for  over  thirty  years.  He  is  yet  in  the 
mental  vigor  and  prime  of  life,  although 
sixty  years  of  age,  and  has  probably  been 
connected  with  as  many  matters  of  im[)or- 
tance  in  his  profession  as  any  man  of  his 
age.  Among  the  numerous  leading  cases  in 
the  courts  he  has  argued  within  the  last  few 
years  may  be  mentioned  those  of  the  "Com- 
monwealth vs.  Credit  Mobilier  of  America," 
twice  tried  before  Judge  Pearson,  and  twice 
in  the  Supreme  Court;  "  Commonwealth  vs. 
George  0.  Evans,"  the  claim  of  the  State  for 
a  very  large  amount ;  Mr.  Evans  being  de- 
fended by  Mr.  Hall  and  the  late  Judge 
Black;  ''The  Commonwealth  vs.  Pennsyl- 
vania Canal  Company,"  being  an  attempt  of 
the  State  by  statute  to  compel  the  canal 
company  to  alter  their  dams,  feeders  and 
works,  without  compensation,  so  as  to  allow 
the  passage  of  fish,  the  case  involved  prob- 
ably half  a  million  of  dollars,  and  was  de- 
cided by  the  Supreme  Court  in  favor  of  the 
canal  company  ;  "  James  Freeland  vs.  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company,"  an  attempt  to 
hold  the  company  responsible  for  consequen- 
tial damages  caused  by  raising  the  great 
Clark's  Ferry  dam  ;  decided  by  the  Supreme 
Court  in  favor  of  the  railroad  company.  Mr. 
Hall  married,  November  26, 1867,  Eliza  War- 
ford.   They  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

MuENCH,  Robert  L.,  was  a  son  of  the  late 
Charles  F.  Muench.  He  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, February  9,  1831.  His  education 
was   begun    in    the   schools  of   Harrisburg, 


436 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


which  he  left  to  enter  the  printing  office  and 
bindery  of  his  father,  where  lie  remained  for 
a  short  time  and  then  went  to  Tennant 
School,  Hartsville,  Bucks  county,  to  prepare 
for  Yale  College,  which  he  entered  in  1852  in 
the  class  of  1856.  He  was  a  thorough  Ger- 
man, Latin  and  French  scholar,  having  a 
taste  for  the  latter  language,  in  wliich  he  be- 
came proficient  in  reading  and  graceful  in 
speech . 

He  began  tlie  study  of  law  witli  R.  A. 
Lamberton  and  was  on  his  motion  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Dauphin  county  Januar}'  22, 
1856.  His  progress  at  the  bar  illustrated  tlie 
energ}'  of  the  man.  Ardent  and  zealous  in 
his  profession  and  honestly  devoted  to  his 
clients  he  rose  gradually  but  surely  until  he 
secured  a  large  practice  and  attained  position 
ranking  him  among  the  ablest  of  the  at- 
torneys with  whom  he  practiced. 

He  was  a  prominent  Mason  of  high  stand- 
ing, past  master  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No. 
21,  and  man}-  yeai's  district  deputy  grand 
master  for  this  district. 

He  was  the  first  president  of  select  council 
when  tlie  old  council  was  divided  into  two 
branches — select  and  common.  His  ability 
as  a  presiding  officer  was  disiilayed  to  great 
advantage,  and  to  his  sagacity  may  be  attri- 
buted legislation  which  proved  highly  bene- 
ficial to  the  city,  with  the  defeat,  too,  of 
measures  full  of  mischief.  But  he  was  not 
an  office  seeker,  though  an  ardent  politician 
of  the  Jacksonian  school  of  Democrats. 
Forced  into  tlie  field  as  a  Democratic  candi- 
date for  district  attorney  against  J.  M.  Wiest- 
ling,  one  of  the  strongest  men  in  the  Repub- 
lican party,  Mr.  Muench  ran  ahead  of  his 
ticket  and  reduced  the  Republican  majority 
lower  than  it  had  been  since  the  organization 
of  the  i^arty  up  to  that  time. 

Robert  Leyburn  Muench  was  from  early 
boyhood,  in  h's  youth,  his  J'oung  manhood 
and  the  prime  of  life  one  of  the  best  known 
citizens  of  Harrisburg  and  Dauphin  county. 
By  organization  fitted  for  active  pursuits, 
whatever  he  did  in  the  printing  office,  the 
bookbindery,  at  school,  as  a  teacher,  a  colle- 
giate, a  student  of  law  and  a  practitioner, 
was  with  a  spirit  of  resistless  force.  His  men- 
tal endowments  were  of  a  high  order,  and 
personally  he  had  qualities  which  com- 
manded both  admiration  and  respect.  Where 
he  placed  his  friendship,  it  was  held  with 
hooks  of  steel,  and  where  his  enmity  was 
provoked  it  remained  until  satisfied.  Open- 
hearted    and    frank    of  speech,  courageous, 


generous  and  faithful,  the  man  had  no  con- 
cealments to  make  in  any  direction  and  was 
of  the  nature  that  delights  in  the  daylight  of 
life,  wherein  what  he  said  and  did  he  could 
be  seen  and  heard  of  all  men.  Such  a  man 
never  lost  a  friend  once  made,  and  had  the 
fixcult}'^  of  unmaking  enemies  who  were  cap- 
able of  listening  to  reason.  He  was  of  use 
in  his  day  and  generation,  a  good  citizen,  a 
faithful  husband,  affectionate  father,  gener- 
ous brother  and  a  dutiful  son.  He  leaves  a 
widow  and  three  daughters,  the  eldest  of 
whom  is  the  wife  of  Martin  E.  Hershey.  He 
was  the  last  male  descendant  of  Capt.  Charles  % 
F.  Muench,  a  sister,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Snyder,  be- 
ing the  only  survivor. 

The  Dauphin  County  Bar  Association  met 
in  the  court  room  at  four  o'clock  on  Satur- 
day afternoon,  April  4,  1885.  H.  Murray 
Graydon,  Esq.,  was  called  to  the  chair  and 
J.  ^l.  Lamberton  chosen  secretarj'.  A  com- 
mittee of  five,  consisting  of  Messrs.  J.  M. 
Wiestling,  Francis  .Jordan,  W.  B.  Lamber- 
ton, F.  M.  Ott  and  George  Kunkel,  was  ap- 
pointed to  draft  resolutions  expressive  of  the 
sentiments  of  the  meeting  relative  to  the 
death  of  Robert  L.  Muench,  late  a  member 
of  the  association.  The  following  is  their 
report,  which  was  unanimously  adopted  : 

The  members  of  the  Dauphin  County  Bar, 
convened  to  testify  to  the  affectionate  regard 
which  they  ever  cherished  for  their  departed 
friend  and  brother,  Robert  L.  Muench,  Esq.. 
to  give  fitting  expression  to  their  sincere 
sorrow  for  his  death,  and  to  pay  a  just  and 
friendly  tribute  to  his  memory,  do  resolve: 

First.  That  by  his  death  the  Bar  has  lost 
a  member  whose  devotion  to  his  profession 
and  long  experience  in  its  active  practice 
had  won  for  him  a  prominence  and  reputa- 
tion as  a  lawyer,  distinguished  for  his  in- 
dustrious and  painstaking  preparation  of 
his  cases,  fidelity  to  his  clients  in  counsel 
and  in  trial,  and  conscientious  regard  for 
the  responsibilities  involved. 

Second.  That  in  all  our  intercourse  with 
him,  both  in  the  practice  of  our  profession 
and  in  social  life,  we  always  found  him  to 
be  true  to  his  honor,  faithful  to  his  friend- 
shi})S,  and  mindful  of  all  the  obligations  and 
courtesies  of  both  relations.  His  genial  na- 
ture and  cheerful  disposition,  exhibited  in 
genuine  humor  and  witty  repartee,  made 
his  companionship  and  conversation  ever 
agreeable  and  attractive. 

Third.  That  in  the  world  of  literature  Mr. 
Muench  was  proficient,  and  for  his  general 


DA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY. 


437 


knowledge   of  choice   standard  authors  we 
justly  render  our  tribute  to  his  memory. 

Fourth.  As  a  native  and  life-long  citizen 
of  this  community  he  was  esteemed  for  his 
integrity,  generosity,  honesty  of  purpose  and 
general  good  qualities. 

FiJtJi.  While  lamenting  his  death  we  yet 
recognize  it  as  tlie  dispensation  of  an  AU- 
wise  Providence,  who  cannot  err,  and  is  too 
beneficent  to  inflict  but  for  good;  and  to  his 
wise  decree  we  submissively  and  reveren- 
tiall}'  bow,  accepting  the  death  of  our  late 
associate  as  another  evidence  of  man's  mor- 
talit}'  and  life's  uncertainty.  It  is  to  all  of 
us  a  solemn  admonition  to  be  always  ready 
for  that  supreme  summons,  which,  witli 
awful  certainty,  will  call  us  all  from  time 
into  eternity. 

Sixlh.  That  to  the  sorrowing  household 
of  our  deceased  brother — bereft  by  this  their 
great  atttiction  of  a  loving  husband  and 
father — to  his  distressed  widow  and  chil- 
dren, we  extend  our  most  profound  and  sin- 
cere sympathy  and  regard.  With  unques- 
tioning confidence  we  commend  them  to 
him  who  is  the  husband  to  the  widow,  the 
father  to  the  fiitherless. 

Seventh.  That  this  Bar  will  attend  the 
funeral  in  a  body,  and  that  a  copy  of  these 
resolutions  be  presented  to  his  family,  and 
that  the  court  be  requested  to  order  that 
these  proceedings  be  entered  at  length  upon 
the  proceedings  of  the  court. 

lion.  A.  J.  Herr  addressed  the  meeting  as 
follows: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Bar: 
Robert  L.  Muench  was  my  friend  and  as 
such  I  mourn  his  death.  I  come  to  bury 
iiim,  not  to  praise  him.  For  the  garland 
of  friendship  which  we  lay  on  bis  grave 
sliould  have  no  artificial  flower  in  it.  Time 
shall  not  wither  its  freslmess  nor  steal  away 
its  perfume  .so  long  as  memory  shall  hold 
within  its  golden  cells  the  impress  of  his  de- 
votion and  attachment  to  his  friends.  As  a 
friend  rather  than  as  a  lawyer  let  him  be 
remenabered  ;  for  the  friend  wlio.se  adoption 
has  been  tried  should  be  grappled  to  your 
soul  with  hooks  of  steel.  And  if  there  was 
one  trait  in  his  character  more  pronounced 
than  another,  it  was  his  steady,  sturdy,  ro- 
bust friendship.  When  he  professed  it  you 
might  be  sure  that  its  roots  entwined  them- 
selves about  the  verj'  fibres  of  his  heart  and, 
like  the  oak  fixed  in  its  native  soil,  no  storm 
of  detraction  could  overthrow  it.  Let  that 
be  his  epitaph,  for  it  outsounds  the   clarion 


voice  of  fame!  With  him  the  laws  of  friend- 
ship wej'e  great,  austere,  eternal,  of  one  web 
with  the  laws  of  nature  and  of  morals.  His 
friendship  was  a  solemn  league  and  cove- 
nant against  time  and  want  and  slander  and 
persecution.  It  was  a  bond  which  death 
could  not  destroy,  only  sanctify,  while  his 
instincts  taught  him  that  the  man  who  was 
worth}'  of  that  title  was  crowned  above  his 
fellows  and  bore  the  signet  seal  of  uncom- 
mon royalty.  This  nature  was  intense, 
not  being  but  strong,  liking  and  dis- 
liking with  no  negative  force,  but  with 
the  energy  of  his  own  positive  char- 
acter. Bold,  blunt  and  brave  when  he 
thought  he  was  right,  he  was  so  open 
and  straightforward  that  from  the  neces- 
sity of  his  moral  constitution  he  hated 
hypocrisy  and  scorned  sham,  never  fawning 
upon  power  or  cringing  before  wealth,  be- 
cause the  hinges  of  his  knees  were  not  oily 
enough  to  bend  in  sycophancy.  There  was 
no  ditiiculty  in  discovering  on  wliich  side 
of  the  question  he  was,  for  he  would  pro- 
claim him.self  without  stopping  to  count  the 
cost  or  waiting  to  see  whether  his  views  were 
popular.  What  he  felt  was  the  right  of  the 
matter  tliat  he  would  maintain  and  contend 
for,  and  his  word,  when  given,  was  as  sacred 
as  his  oath.  He  wore  his  heart  upon  his 
sleeve  and  with  the  simplicity  of  a  child  he 
would  let  you  read  his  inmost  thoughts  with 
no  wish  even  to  disguise  them.  These  rare 
and  sterling  traits  of  character  won  for  him 
and  retained  for  him  through  life  many 
true  friends,  and  now,  as  we  pay  the  last 
tribute  of  respect  and  esteem  to  hira,  is  there 
one  here  who  cannot  bear  testimony,  tender 
and  affectionate  testimony,  that  lie  was 
greatly  loved  as  a  staunch  friend,  a  good 
citizen  and  an  honest  man?  In  his  pro- 
fessional career  he  never  aspired  to  be  a 
leader.  He  was  modest  in  the  judgment  he 
passed  upon  himself  and  never  overrated 
his  own  acquirements.  No  unseemly  vanity 
prevented  him  from  seeking  advice  or  so- 
liciting counsel,  and  when  doubt  and  per- 
plexity encumbered  his  way  he  would  not 
hesitate  to  dismiss  the  natural  pride  of  in- 
tellect and  lay  under  contribution  the 
larger  knowledge  of  some  of  his  fellow-mem- 
bers, for  he  was  always  sensitively  anxious 
to  leave  nothing  undone  to  protect,  defend 
and  secure  the  rights  of  his  clients.  He  was 
a  laborious  worker  in  gathering  his  facts 
and  always  came  to  the  trial  of  the  cause 
with  a  thorough  mastery  of  its  history.     In 


438 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


the  presentation  of  his  views  he  was  plain, 
logical,  exact,  with  no  rhetorical  embellish- 
ment or  ornamentation  of  language,  aiming 
to  convince  the  reason  of  the  jury  rather 
than  to  excite  their  imagination.  If  he  was 
not  a  brilliant  orator,  he  was  an  earnest  ad- 
vocate at  least,  and  kept  faithful  watcii  and 
word  of  his  client's  interests.  He  possessed 
a  fine  literary  taste  and  a  discriminating 
appreciation  of  art.  While  he  was  more  or 
less  familiar  with  the  ancient  classics,  Eng- 
lish literature  had  special  charms  for  him 
and  lie  took  peculiar  delight  in  wandering 
through  its  rich  and  varied  domain,  gather- 
ing here  and  there  apt  quotations  and  beau- 
tiful thoughts  from  Shakespeare,  Dryden, 
Milton  and  other  worthies  with  which  he 
would  adorn  his  conversation  in  the  inti- 
mate intei course  of  his  friends  and  com- 
panions. But  the  finger  of  God  touched 
him  and  he  sleeps  in  that  quiet  haven  to 
which  we  are  all  drifting — drifting  like 
autumn  leaves  on  the  bosom  of  a  flood. 
Before  inan  his  days  are  as  grass.  As  a 
flower  of  tiie  field,  as  he  flourisheth  ;  the 
wind  passeth  over  it  and  it  is  gone,  and  tiie 
place  thereof  shall  know  it  no  more!  Never 
again  will  his  voice  resound  within  these 
walls.  Never  again  will  his  well-known 
form  pass  in  and  out  among  us,  tall,  stately 
and  dignified.  He  is  gone!  and  silence 
comes  to  give  us  praise!  What  does  it  all 
mean?  What  do  our  eager  struggles,  our 
petty  rivalries,  our  little  jealousies,  our  hon- 
orable ambition  or  our  lawful  contests  for 
fame  or  wealth  or  distinction — what  do  all 
"these  end  in?  Silence— darkness — six  feet 
of  mother  earth  and  tiiat  is  all.  Yes!  that 
is  all,  unless  one  be  wise  and  learn  tlie 
lesson,  each  for  himself,  that  this  earth  is 
but  a  nursery  from  which  we  may  be  trans- 
planted to  a  garden  where  immorality  shall 
fill  up  and  round  out  every  faculty  of  the 
soul  so  as  to  be  in  perfect  and  everlasting 
harmony  with  the  Divine  will. 

At  the  same  meeting  Mr.  F.  K.  Boas 
spoke  as  follows:  "I  have  known  our 
friend  and  brother,  Robert  L.  Muench,  from 
his  childhood  until  his  death  yesterday.  I  was 
his  near  neighbor  for  upwards  of  twenty 
years.  We  were  close  friends.  I  rejoice  in 
the  permission  given  me  in  saying  that  he 
was  an  aftectionate  son,  husband  and  fatlier, 
and  in  all  the  elements  that  make  a  gentle- 
man the  peer  of  either  of  us.  In  the  pro- 
fession I  found  him  courteous  and  kind. 
While  true  as  steel  to  the  interests  of  his 


client,  he  ever  regarded  the  rights  of  others. 
He  has  gone  with  the  great  majority  to  the 
untried  realities  of  another  and  I  trust  a 
better  world,  leaving  the  priceless  legacy  of 
a  blameless  life  and  untarnished  reputation 
to  those  who  were  near  and  dear  to  him." 

H.  Murray  Graydon,  Esq.,  followed  Mr. 
Boas  with  an  impressive  and  touching  ad- 
dress, after  which  the  meeting  adjourned. 


SxoDGiiAss,  Robert,  attorney-at-law,  Har- 
risburg,  was  born  in  East  Hanover  townshi|), 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  October  12,  183(5.  He 
is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Ann  Snodgrass. 
His  grandfather  was  Rev.  James  Snodgrass, 
who  was  pastor  of  the  old  Hanover  church 
for  many  years.  In  1843  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Benjamin  Snodgrass  removed  to  Shippens- 
burg,  Cumberland  count}'.  Pa.  Robert  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  there,  and  was 
prepared  for  college  at  Mi  In  wood  Academy, 
Sliade  Gap,  Huntingdon  county.  Pa.  He 
entered  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  Pa.,  in 
September,  1854,  was  admitted  to  the  sopho- 
more class,  and  was  graduated  with  honor 
in  the  class  of  1857. 

Mr.  Snodgrass  taught  in  private  families 
in  Maryland  and  Virginia  for  two  years.  In 
the  spring  of  1859  he  removed  to  Moorefield, 
\'a.,  now  West  Virginia.  In  the  fall  of  ISGO 
he  was  appointed  deputy  clerk  of  tiie  county 
court  of  Hardy  county,  which  position  he 
filled  until  the  spring  of  1862.  In  the  mean- 
time he  read  law  under  the  direction  of  J. 
W.  F.  Allen,  then  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court 
of  Hardy  count}'.  In  consequence  of  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  he  found  it  impossible 
for  him  to  remain  in  the  South.  He  came 
to  Harrisburg  in  April,  1862,  and  immedi- 
ately entered  as  student  at  law  with  J.  W. 
Simonton,  now  judge.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Dauphin  county.  May  5,  1863, 
and  has  .since  been  continuously  in  active 
practice. 

Robert  Snodgrass  was  United  States  com- 
missioner from  January,  1867,  to  November, 
1870;  prothonotary  of  the  Sui)reme  Court  of 
Pennsylvania,  for  the  Middle  district,  from 
November,  1870,  to  January,  1882;  and 
deputv  attorney  general  from  that  date  to 
May,  i887.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged exclusively  in  the  ]iractice  of  law. 

Mr.  Snodgrass  was  made  president  of  the 
Board  of  Trade  of  Harrisburg  in  February, 
1893.  He  is  one  of  the  organizers,  and  the 
president  of  tlie  Hickok  Manufacturmg  Com- 
pany, and  has  served  as  attorney  of  the  cor- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


439 


poration.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  Me 
is  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  tiie 
Pine  Street  Presbyterian  church. 


Stranahan,  Jamks  a.,  attorney-at-law, 
was  bora  in  Philadelpiiia,  March  7,  1839. 
He  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Eliza  (Holliday) 
Stranahan,  both  natives  of  county  Down, 
Ireland,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestr3^  They 
came  to  America  about  1820  and  remained 
in  Philadelphia  until  1851,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Mercer  county,  where  they  made 
their  home.  They  were  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  were  honored  residents 
of  the  county.  The  father  died  in  1869, 
aged  eighty  years;  the  mother  still  lives,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six  3'ears,  resid- 
ing in  Mercer  county.  They  were  married 
in  Philadelphia,  and  to  them  were  born 
four  children,  tiiree  sons  and  a  daughter 
The  daughter  died  in  infancy.  The  sons 
are:  Andrew,  James  A.  and  Robert.  An- 
drew and  Robert  still  live  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Mercer  count}'.  .lames  A.  received 
his  primary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Philadelphia.  When  twelve  years  old  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Mercer  county, 
wliei'e  he  completed  his  education  in  the 
township  common  schools,  Mercer  Union 
School  and  Westminster  College,  at  New 
Wilmington,  Pa.,  and  was  graduated  at  the 
latter  institution.  He  began  the  study  of 
law  with  Hon.  John  Trunkey,  late  justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Mercer  county  bar  in 
1864,  where  he  practiced  until  1891,  when 
he  was  appointed  deputy  attorney  general 
by  Governor  Pattison,  and  filled  this  office 
for  four  years  with  much  credit  to  himself 
and  the  entire  State.  While  acting  as  dep- 
uty attorney  general  that  department,  from 
1891  to  1895,  was  engaged  in  the  settlement 
of  complicated  legal  questions  arising  under 
the  revenue  laws  of  the  Commonwealth,  and 
he  had  to  contend  with  the  leading  lawyers 
of  the  State,  who  were  counsel  for  the  cor- 
porations. Since  his  retirement  from  active 
practice  at  the  Dauphin  county  bar  he  has 
been  consulted  in  many  prominent  cases. 
The  most  noted  was  the  mandamus  proceed- 
ings against  the  secretary  of  the  Common- 
wealth to  test  the  constitutionality  of  the  act 
of  Assembly  of  1895,  as  applied  to  the  ques- 
tion of  limited  voting — whether  a  voter 
could  be  restricted  to  voting  for  six  judges 
when  seven  were  to  be  elected   to  the  Supe- 


rior Court.  Althougli  the  decision  was  ad- 
verse to  'him  in  the  court  below  he  carried 
the  case  to  the  Supreme  Court  and  had  the 
decision  of  the  lower  court  reversed,  and 
thus  established  the  principal  of  limited 
voting  under  the  Constitution  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. From  1851  to  1864  he  was  engaged 
in  work  on  his  father's  farm,  attending 
school  in  the  winter  months.  In  1864  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  company  H,  Second 
battalion,  six  months'  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, and  was  mustered  in  as  second  lieu- 
tenant, and  occupied  the  position  of  post  ad- 
jutant at  Cumberland,  Md.,  during  his  term 
of  service  under  Maj.  Herman  Kretz,  now 
superintendent  of  the  mint  at  Philadelphia, 
who  was  provost  marshal  at  Cumberland  at 
that  time.  He  was  mustered  out  at  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  service,  and  finally 
discharged  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  He  returned 
to  Mercer  and  resumed  tlie  study  of  law. 
He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1873, 
and  represented  Mercer  county  one  term. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  State 
Central  Committee  in  1894.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  an  active  and 
influential  worker  in  the  party.  Mr.  Strana- 
han has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Miss  Mary  E.  Robinson,  to  whom  he 
was  married  in  Mercer  count}'  May  14,  1865. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  William  M. 
Robinson,  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
church  of  Mercer,  and  Eliza  (Robinson")  Rob- 
inson. To  them  was  born  one  child,  Charles, 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Stranalian  died 
March  31,  1868.  In  his  second  marriage, 
wiiich  took  place  at  Hartstown,  Crawford 
county.  Pa.,  February  25, 1874,  he  was  united 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ewing,  daughter  of  Benoni 
and  Mary  Ewing,  a  native  of  Crawford 
county,  Pa.  They  have  one  child,  Mary  E., 
born  May  6, 1876.  Mr.  Stranahan,  wife  and 
daughter  are  members  of  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Mercer.  Mr.  Stranahan 
conducts  a  general  law  practice  in  Harris- 
burg  and  enjoys  a  large,  growing  and  lucra- 
tive business. 


McCarrell,  Samukl  J.  M.,  attorney-at- 
law,  was  born  in  Buffalo  township,  Wash- 
ington county,  Pa.  When  a  lad  he  attended 
the  common  schools  during  the  winter 
months,  and  worked  on  a  farm  in  summer 
time.  When  old  enough  he  went  to  the 
neighboring  town  of  Claysville,  to  clerk  in 
his  uncle's  store.  While  thus  engaged,  he 
prepared  himself  for  a  course  in  college,  and 


440 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


in  18G0  entered  Washington  College,  from 
whicli  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1864 
as  first  honor  man  of  his  class.  The  follow- 
ing nine  months  he  taught  school  as  as- 
sistant principal  of  Linsley  Institute,  at 
Wheeling,  W.  Va.  Being  an  ambitious 
young  man,  he  spent  his  si)are  hours  read- 
ing law  with  a  Mr.  McKennan,  of  Wheeling. 
In  August,  of  18()5,  Mr.  McCarrell  moved  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  completed  liis  study 
of  law  with  Hon.  David  Fleming.  He  was 
admitted  to  practice  at  the  Dauphin  county 
bar  in  November,  1866,  and  shortly  there- 
after entered  into  partnership  with  his  pre- 
ceptor under  the  firm  name  of  Fleming  & 
McCarrell.  At  the  death  of  Mr.  Fleming, 
the  vast  practice  was  continued  by  Mr.  Mc- 
Carrell, who  to-day  enjoys  the  lucrative  re- 
sults of  his  earnest  labors.  As  a  politician 
he  ranks  higli,  having  served  the  Republi- 
can i)arty  in  various  ways.  For  two  terms, 
between  the  years  1881-1887,  he  ably  dis- 
charged the  onerous  duties  of  district  attor- 
ney for  Dauphin  county.  In  1888  he  was 
elected  and  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  Re- 
publican National  Convention  which  nomi- 
nated Benjamin  Harrison  for  President  of 
the  United  States.  Mr.  McCari'ell  was  nomi- 
nated by  acclamation  for  State  senator  in 
1892,  and  was  elected  by  an  unusually  large 
majority.  During  liis  entire  term  he  has 
figured  on  most  of  the  important  com- 
mittees, and  all  of  his  speeches  have  been 
accorded  the  deference  due  to  the  utterances 
of  a  gentleman  of  highest  attainments  and 
renown. 


burg.  Their  cliildren  were:  Clara  P.  and  B- 
Frank.  In  politics  Mr.  Young  was  a  Repub" 
lican,  and  attended  the  Zion  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  he  was  formerly  a  deacon. 


Young,  John  Wesley,  lawyer,  son  of 
Josiah  Carothers  and  Mary  (Kinter)  Y^oung, 
was  born  October  11,  1846,  at  Rockville, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  sciiools  of  Harrisburg,  read  law 
in  the  office  of  David  Fleming,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Dauphin  countv  bar  January 
21,  1868.  From  1871  to  1874  lie  was  clerk 
to  the  county  commissioners,  and  from  1877 
to  1883  solicitor  of  the j^oiiJitJK-©f Dauphin. 
He  was  chosen  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
school  control  in  1876;  was  president  of  that 
body  from  1877  to  1882  continuously,  and 
in  1886  was  elected  secretary  of  the  same. 
He  was  a  member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No. 
64,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Harrisburg,  in  which  he 
was  past  master,  and  also  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  68,  I.  0.  0.  F.  He  was  married,  No- 
vember 1,  1871,  to  Miss  Carrie  M.  Peters, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  S.  Peters,  of  Harris- 


Hargest,  Thomas  S.,  attorney-at-law,  was 
born  in  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  November 
24,  1846,  son  of  William'  E.  and  Rachel 
(Taylor)  Hargest,  both  natives  of  Maryland, 
and  of  English  ancestry.  His  boyhood 
days  were  spent  in  Baltimore  city  and  Bal- 
timore county,  where  he  received  but  an 
ordinary  common  school  education.  His 
attendance  at  school  stopped  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years,  when  he  was  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Wilmington,  Del.  From 
thence  forward  he  was  put  to  work  in  the 
market  gardens  of  his  father,  raising  and 
preparing  vegetables  for  the  market.  In  tiie 
winter  of  1861-62  he  was  brought  with  his 
parents  to  Harrisburg,  and  continued  at 
work  in  the  truck  patches  on  one  of  the 
farms  now  embraced  in  the  eastern  portion 
of  the  city,  and  on  part  of  which  his  resi- 
dence now  .stands.  In  the  autumn  of  1863, 
after  the  retreat  of  General  Milroy  from 
Winchester,  ^^a.,  and  the  raid  of  the  rebel 
army  into  Pennsylvania,  when  but  seven- 
teen years  old,  having  obtained  military 
transportation  for  thirty-two  men,  which  he 
mustered  for  the  purpose,  he  took  them  to 
Washington,  and  entered  the  army  as  a 
wagon  master.  At  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  he 
was  transportation  clerk  in  the  depot  quar- 
termaster's office.  •  Tiie  fall  and  winter  of 
1864  found  him  at  Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,  as 
an  assistant  brigade  wagon  master,  furnish- 
ing su|)plies  to  Sheridan's  arm}',  then  occu- 
pj'ing  the  Shenandoah  A'alle}',  as  far  up  as 
Strasbui'g,  from  the  militar}'  depot  at  Mar- 
tinsburg. After  the  end  of  open  hostilities, 
he  was  discharged  from  the  service  at  Ste- 
phenson's Station,  Frederick  county, ^■  a.  He 
then  went  to  Winchester,  Va.,  and  tiiere  be- 
gan the  study  of  tiie  law,  the  rudiments  of 
classics  and  general  literature,  investing  all 
his  savings  and  earnings  in  books.  He  had 
no  preceptor.  On  August  6,  1867,  after 
a  personal  examination  before  two  of  the 
circuit  court  judges,  the  venerable  Riciiard 
Parker,  who  presided  at  the  trial  of  John 
Brown  and  his  compatriots  and  sentenced 
them  to  be  hung  for  their  misguided  treason 
against  tlie  State  in  attempting  the  forcible 
emancipation  of  the  slaves,  and  Judge  John 
T.  Harris,  who  afterwards,  for  several  terms, 
represented  the  Virginia  Valley  of  the  Shen- 


,::Ph^  ^y^a. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


441 


andoah  in  Congress,  he  began  tlie    i)ractice 
of  his  profession  at  Winchester,  Va. 

In  1868  he  was  appointed  Common- 
wealth's attorney  for  the  county  of  Shen- 
andoah, in  place  of  Hon.  Mark  Bird,  who, 
though  elected  by  the  people  of  his  county, 
was  incapacitated  by  the  fourteenth  amend- 
ment to  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Ilargest  made  him  his  deputy, 
and  gave  him  the  fees  and  emoluments  of 
the  office.  After  the  I'etirenient  of  .Judge 
Joim  T.  Harris,  under  the  provisions  of  the 
fourteenth  amendment,  he  was  appointed, 
early  in  1869,  his  successor  as  judge  of  the 
Twelfth  judicial  circuit  of  Virginia,  by  the 
then  military  governor  of  the  State,  the  la- 
mented Gen.  E.  R.  S.  Canby,  who  was  lured 
to  a  peace  conference  with  tlie  Indians,  and 
treacherously  murdered  by  the  notorious 
Indian  chief,  Captain  -Jack.  He  served  as 
judge  of  the  Twelftii  judicial  circuit  of 
Virginia,  and  on  the  District  Court  of  Ap- 
peals, until  tiie  admission  of  the  Stale  to 
representation  in  Congress,  when  he,  with 
all  the  other  judges  of  the  State,  was  legis- 
lated off  the  bench  by  the  adoption  of  the 
new  Constitution.  He  resumed  practice  at 
Winchester,  remaining  there  until  the  death 
of  his  father,  which  occurred  in  the  fall  of 
1872,  when  he  removed  to  Harrisburg.  In 
1876  he  was  elected  city  solicitor  of  tlie  city 
of  Harrisburg,  and  continued  in  office  by 
re-election  until  1890,  when  he  retired  from 
office  and  returned  to  general  practice. 
After  leaving  office  he  was  engaged  as 
special  counsel  for  the  city  in  the  important 
litigation  with  the  passenger  railway  com- 
panies, which  embraced  a  number  of  suits  in 
equity,  involving  the  rights  of  the  city  over 
its  streets  as  against  the  companies.  These 
he  mainly  conducted  to  a  successful  termina- 
tion, when  the  city's  sovereignty  over  the 
streets  was  yielded.  Judge  Hargest  was 
married,  at  Winchester,  Va.,  April  3,  1867, 
to  Virginia  Dieffenderfer,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, daughter  of  William  and  Harriet 
Dieffenderfer,  both  natives  of  that  State, 
and  of  German  ancestry.  To  this  union 
were  born  two  children  :  William  M.  and 
lone  Leila,  wife  of  E.  L.  King,  attorney-at- 
law,  of  Harrisburg.  Mrs.  Hargest  died  at 
Harrisburg,  August  lo,  1886.  In  politics 
Judge  Hargest  has  alwa^'S  been  a  consistent 
Republican.  The  parents  of  Judge  Hargest 
had  born  to  them  seven  children,  but  three 
of  wiiom  are  now  living:  Thomas  S.,  John 
J.,  residing  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city, 


and  Jefferson  S.,  of  Susquehanna  township, 
a  short  distance  above  the  city,  both  of  whom 
are  ao;riculturalists. 


McPhekson,  John  Bayard,  was  born  No- 
vember 5,  1846,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  at  the  Harrisburg 
Academy  and  in  the  schools  of  Sidney,  Ohio, 
where  he  resided  from  1858  to  1862;  he  en- 
tered Princeton  College  in  August,  1862, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1866. 
He  studied  law  with  John  Hanna  Briggs, 
in  Harrisburg,  and  with  Scammon,  McCagg 
&  Fuller,  in  Chicago,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  Dauphin  county  bar  in  January,  1870  ; 
he  was  elected  district  attorney  in  1874  and 
served  during  the  3'ears  1875,  1876,  1877. 
A  portion  of  the  time  he  was  in  law  partner- 
ship with  Hon.  Wayne  MacVeagh,  and  af- 
terwards with  Lyman  D.  Gilbert.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1882,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Hoyt  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  addi- 
tional law  judge  of  tlie  Twelfth  judicial  dis- 
trict, caused  by  the  resignation  of  Judge 
Henderson,  and  the  consequent  promotion 
of  Judge  Sinionton  to  the  president  judge- 
ship, and,  in  November,  1882,  he  was  elected 
without  opposition  to  the  same  place.  Judge 
McPiierson  married,  December  30,  1879, 
Annie  Cochran  Patterson,  daughter  of  Judge 
David  W.  Patterson  and  Mary  Slaymaker, 
of  Lancaster,  Pa. 


Nead.  Bex.tamin  Matthias,  comes  of 
good  old  Peiiiis3'lvania  German  stock.  He 
is  the  eldest  son  of  Benjamin  Franklin  Nead 
and  Ellen  Wunderlich  Nead,  and  the  grand- 
son of  Matthias  Nead,  who  over  half  a  cen- 
tuiy  ago  was  prominently  identified  with 
the  political  and  business  history  of  Frank- 
lin county.  The  father,  Benjamin  Franklin 
Nead,  was  for  upwards  of  forty  years  actively 
engaged  in  business  in  the  borough  of  Cham- 
bersburg,  for  the  major  portion  of  the  time 
being  one  of  the  firm  of  Wunderlich  &  Nead, 
which  was  among  the  pioneers  in  the  old 
time  forwarding  and  commission  business. 
Franklin  Nead,  as  he  was  commonly  called, 
and  Daniel  K.  Wunderlich,  the  other  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  and  an  uncle  of  Benjamin 
M.,  were  prominent  among  that  little  coterie 
of  enterprising  and  active  business  men,  to 
whom  belong  the  credit  of  having  built  p 
the  little  village  of  Chambersburg  from  an 
ordinary  country  town  into  tiie  enterprising 
and  thriving  borough  which  it  was  when 
the  blight  of  the  Civil  war  fell  upon  it. 


442 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Benjamin  Matthias  Nead  was  born  in  An- 
trim township,  Franklin  county,  not  far  from 
the  town  of  Greencastle,  on  the  14th  of  July, 
1847,  and  the  following  j'ear  was  removed 
to  Chambersburg,  where  his  father  and 
mother  then  took  up  their  abode.  His  pre- 
liminary education  began  in  the  Chambers- 
burg Academy,  continued  during  the  last 
year  of  the  war  under  the  private  tutelage 
of  the  Rev.  James  F.  Kennedy,  of  Chambers- 
burg. Pie  then  took  a  year  at  the  New 
Haven  Hopkins'  grammar  school,  followed 
by  a  four  years'  course  in  Yale  University, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1870. 

After  his  graduation  Mr.  Nead  returned 
to  Chambersburg  and  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  the  Hon.  Francis  M.  Kimmel,  ex- 
judge  of  that  judicial  district,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  the  several  courts  of 
Franklin  county  on  June  4,  1872.  He  con- 
tinued the  practice  of  his  profession  at  the 
bar  of  his  native  county  until  the  year  1875, 
wiien  ho  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
State  tax  desk  in  the  office  of  the  auditor 
general  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania at  Harrisburg.  This  position  held 
until  1881,  when  in  May  of  that  year  he  re- 
tired to  resume  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  the  city  of  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  con- 
tinued in  active  practice  ever  since. 

The  practical  knowledge  of  State  tax  law 
acquired  by  Mr.  Nead,  through  his  service 
in  the  auditor  general's  department,  led  him, 
upon  his  retirement  from  that  service,  to 
make  a  specialty  of  practice  in  State  tax  and 
corporation  cases,  before  the  departments  of 
government  and  in  the  State  courts  at  Har- 
risburg. In  this  practice  he  has  been  largely 
successful  and  has  made  for  himself  a  repu- 
tation tiirougiiout  the  State  in  this  line  of 
business.  He  is  a  local  counsel  at  Harris- 
burg for  a  number  of  corporations,  and  has 
been  employed  in  a  number  of  important 
cases,  notably  the  cases  in  which  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Pennsylvania  enjoined  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  from  the 
purchase  of  the  South  Pennsylvania  and 
Beech  Creek  railroads,  and  the  suits  insti- 
tuted by  the  Commonwealth  against  the 
counties  of  Philadelphia  and  Allegheny  to  re- 
cover large  amounts  of  fees  claimed  by  the 
State.  In  the  former  cases  he  was  associated 
with  Attornej^  General  Cassidy,  and  in  the 
other  suits  with  Attorney  Generals  Hensel 
and  McCormick,  on  behalf  of  the  Common- 
wealth. 

In  addition  to  his  services  in  the  account- 


ing departments,  Mr.  Nead  has  represented 
the  State  in  a  number  of  other  capacities. 
Onthecommission  of  whicJi  the  Hon. Thomas 
V.Cooper  was  chairman, appointed  to  revise 
the  revenue  laws  of  the  Commonwealth, and 
report  a  new  system  of  taxation  to  the  Leg- 
islature of  1883,  Mr.  Nead  served  by  special 
appointment  and  gave  the  commission  the 
benefit  of  his  knowledge  of  the  tax  laws  of 
the  State,  and  the  experience  acquired  by 
him  in  the  practical  work  of  their  execution. 
He  was  also  a  member  and  secretary  of  the 
commission  of  six  expert  accountants  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Pattison,  under  the  act 
of  1883,  to  devise  a  new  system  of  keeping 
the  accounts  of  the  State. 

During  the  two  terms  of  Governor  Patti- 
son's  incumbency  in  office,  Mr.  Nead  also 
filled  by  his  appointment  the  position  of 
State  financial  agent  for  Pennsylvania  at 
Washington. 

In  September,  1894,  Mr.  Nead  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  comptroller  of  currency,  at 
Washington,  to  take  charge  as  receiver  of  the 
defunct  National  Bank  of  Middletown,  Pa., 
and  to  settle  up  its  att'airs.  In  tlie  adminis- 
tration of  this  trust  and  the  allied  trusts 
which  accompanied  it,  and  in  the  practice 
of  his  increasing  legal  profession  he  is  now 
actively  engaged. 

Mr.  Nead  was  twice  married,  1875,  to  Lib- 
bie  J.  Haves,  youngest  daughter  of  David 
Haj'es,  of  Siiippensburg,  who  died  in  1888, 
leaving  to  survive  her,  two  sons:  Benjamin 
Frank  Nead,  born  1877,  and  Robert  Hayes 
Nead.  born  1880.  In  1892  Mr.  Nead  mar- 
ried Annie  E.  Zollinger,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Nicholas  Zollinger,  of  Harris- 
burg. 

In  the  field  of  literature  Mr.  Nead  has  at- 
tained no  inconsiderable  reputation.  In 
the  earlier  years  of  his  residence  in  Harris- 
burg he  was  the  trusted  political  correspond- 
ent of  a  number  of  leading  Democratic 
newspapers  in  the  country.  During  the  year 
1887  he  was  the  editor-in-chief  of  the  Har- 
risburg Daily  Patriot,  and  subsequently, 
1888-89,  in  connection  with  his  brother.  Dr. 
Daniel  W.  Nead,  owned  and  edited  the  Har- 
risburg il/o?-)it//(/  Call.  Endowed  with  a  love 
of  historical  research,  his  leisure  time  has 
been  much  devoted  to  the  preparation  and 
|)ublicatioTiof  a  numberof  historical  sketches, 
monographs  and  compilations,  the  principal 
of  which  are:  "  Historical  Sketches  of  Frank- 
lin County,  Pennsylvania;"  "Historical 
Notes  on  the  Early  Government  and  Legisla- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


443 


tive  Councils  of  Pennsylvania  (1G28-1722)," 
and  "A  Brief  Review  of  the  Financial  History 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  the  Methods  of  Au- 
diting Public  Accounts  (1082-1881 )."  In  ad- 
dition to  these  he  has  written  quite  a  number 
of  newspaper  and  magazine  sketches  of  an 
historical  character,  and  has  delivered  inter- 
esting addresses  before  the  "  Pennsylvania 
German  Society"  and  the  "Scotch-Irish 
Congress  of  America."  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Pennsylvania  State  Historical  Society, 
and  of  the  Dauphin  County  Historical  So- 
ciety. Also,  of  the  Pennsylvania  German 
Society  and  of  the  Pennsylvania  Sons  of  the 
Revolution. 

To  the  literature  of  his  profession  Mr. 
Nead  has  also  been  a  painstaking  contribu- 
tor. One  of  a  commission  of  three,  he  as- 
sisted in  the  compilation  of  the  "  Colonial 
and  Provincial  Laws  of  Pennsylvania,"  prior 
to  that  time  unpublished,  covering  the  yeais 
1076  to  1700.  This  work  was  publislie'd  by 
the  State.  He  is  also  the  author  and  pub- 
lisher of  "  Nead's  Guide  to  County  Officers," 
a  compendium  of  general  and  special  laws, 
governing  the  assessment  and  collection  of 
State  taxes. 

In  politics  Mr.  Nead  has  always  been  an 
ardent  Democrat,  being  descended  from  old 
Democratic  stock,  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  iu  political  work  during  the  past  twenty- 
five  years,  either  through  his  connection 
with  the  organization  of  the  party  or  u[)on 
the  stump.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Demo- 
cratic committee  of  Franklin  county  during 
the  exciting  Greely  and  Buckalew  campaigns 
iu  1872.  He  was  secretary, by  appointment, 
of  the  Democratic  State  Committee,  under 
chairman  John  Miller,  in  1874,  and  when 
the  new  rules  for  the  party  were  adopted  in 
1887,  and  the  office  of  ])ermanent  secretary 
was  created,  Mr.  Nead  was  elected  to  fill  the 
office  which  he  did  so  acceptably,  that  he 
held  the  office  by  re-election  for  seven  suc- 
cessive years,  when  under  the  rules  of  the 
party  lately  adopte<l  the  office  was  made  an 
appointive  one  under  the  State  chairman. 
In  1894  Mr.  Nead  was  tendered  the  unani- 
mous nomination  for  Congress  by  the  con- 
ference representing  the  Democracy  of  the 
Fourteenth  Congressional  district  of  Penn- 
sylvania, consisting  of  the  counties  of  Dau- 
phin, Lebanon  and  Perry.  Having  just  been 
appointed  a  bank  receiver,  with  exacting 
duties,  he  was  compelled  to  decline  the 
honor  conferred  upon  him. 


CHAjrr!p:KLiN,  James  I.,  attorney-at-law, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Milton,  North- 
uyiberland  county.  Pa.,  November  13,  1847. 
He  is  a  son  of  Moses  and  Jane  H.  (Watson) 
Charaberlin.  He  was  reared  in  Milton  and 
educated  in  the  Milton  Academy  and  at  Dick- 
inson Seminary,  Williamsport,  Pa.  He  took 
a  preparatory  course  at  Tuscarora  Academy, 
Juniata  county.  Pa.,  and  was  graduated  from 
the  academical  department  of  Yale  College 
in  the  class  of  1873.  He  read  law  with  Hon. 
Wayne  Mac^^eagh,  of  Harrisburg,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Dauphin  county  bar  April 
29,  1875.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  law  in  Harrisburg,  and  has  se- 
cured an  extensive  business. 

Mr.  Chamberlin's  ]iolitical  views  are  Re- 
publican. He  served  for  five  years  in  the 
board  of  city  schools  and  as  president  one 
year.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Steel  ton 
Flouring  Mill  Company,  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Harrisburg  and  the  Common- 
wealth Guarantee  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit 
Company.  He  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  Jackson  Manufacturing  Company, 
of  which  he  was  the  president  for  twelve 
years.  He  is  also  interested  in  many  other 
industries  of  the  cit}'. 

Mr.  Cliamberlin  was  first  married  to  Miss 
Eliza  J.,  daughter  of  John  and  Maria  Halde- 
man,  of  Harrisburg.  She  died  June  22, 
1881,  leaving  one  child,  Maria  Haldeman 
Cliamberlin.  His  second  marriage,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1895,  was  to  Miss  Jean  Bosler,  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Herman  Bosler,  of 
Carlisle,  Pa. 


Mitchell,  William,  lawyer,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Zearing)  Mitchell,  was  born 
September  17, 1814,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He 
was  educated  in  Dickinson  College  prepara- 
tory school  and  took  a  partial  course  in 
Dickinson  College,  where  he  studied  civil 
engineering.  He  was  jirothonotary  of  the 
Courtof  Common  Pleasand  clerk  of  the  Quar- 
ter Sessions  of  Daujihin  county  two  terms, 
1855-01.  He  married,  March  15,  1849,  An- 
gelica, daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  F. 
Ehiman,  and  their  children  are:  Mary 
Augusta,  who  married  Rev.  S.  Hubbard 
Hoover,  William  Sullivan,  Ehrman  Burk- 
man  and  Samuel  Morton.  Ehrman  B. 
Mitchell,  son  of  the  foregoing,  was  born 
April  11,  1854,  in  Ilarri.sburg,  Pa.  Pie  was 
graduated  from  Dickinson  College  in  1874, 
and  admitted  to  the  Dauphin  county  bar  in 


444 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYVL  OPEDIA 


1875.  He  was  elected  prothonotary  and 
clerk  of  the  Quarter  Sessions  of  Dauphin 
county  in  1879,  and  re-elected  in  1882. 


Mitchell,  Ehrman  B.,  attorney-at-law, 
was  born  April  11,  1854,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
son  of  William  and  Angelica  (Ehrman) 
Mitchell.  Hereceived  his  literary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  and 
at  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  having 
been  graduated  from  the  latter  institution  in 

1874.  After  completing  his  law  studies  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin  county  bar  in 

1875,  and  bus  since  practiced  his  profession 
in  this  city.  Mr.  Mitchell  very  successfully 
and  efficiently  performed  the  duties  of  pro- 
thonotary of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
from  1879  to  1886,  and  also  served  as  clerk 
of  the  Quarter  Sessions  Court.  Mr.  Mitchell 
was  attorney  for  and  one  of  the  directors  in 
the  organization  of  the  Harrisburg  Electric 
Light  Company,  and  is  at  present  a  director 
in  the  Guarantee  Safe  Deposit  Company,  of 
Harri.sburg,  and  the  Harrisburg  Steam  Heat 
and  Power  (company.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
party  matters.  He  is  identified  with  the 
]\Iasonic  order.  His  marriage  occurred  in 
1892  with  Regina  Calder,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Calder.  He  and  his  family  Ijelong  to 
Grace  Methodist  E|)iscopal  ciuirch. 


Pearson,  William,  attorney-at-law  and 
prothonotary  of  Middle  district  of  Supreme 
Court  of  Pennsylvania,  and  protlionotary  of 
the  Harrisburg  district  of  the  Sujierior  Court 
of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
August  9,  1854,  son  of  John  J.  Pearson,  late 
judge  of  this  judicial  district,  and  of  Mar}' 
H.  (Briggs)  Pearson,  the  latter  still  living 
and  residing  in  Harrisburg.  Pie  received 
his  primai'y  education  and  was  i)repared  for 
college  in  the  cit}'  schools  and  the  Harris- 
burg Academy,  and  was  afterwards  grad- 
uated from  the  college  at  Princeton,  N.  .J.,  in 
the  class  of  1870.  His  professional  studies 
were  jiursued  under  the  direction  of  his  dis- 
tinguished father,  and  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Dauphin  county  in  1876,  and  to 
practice  in  the  Sui)erior  Court  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  17,  1880.  His  appointment  to 
the  office  of  prothonotaiy  was  made  January 
1, 1882.  Mr.  Pearson  is  unmarried.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican. 


Herman,  John  Armstrong,  attorney-at- 
law,  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa., 
November  28,  1853.     He  is  a  son  of  Chris- 
tian B.  and  Mary  (Armstrong)  Herman, both 
natives  of  Cumberland  county,  the  former  of 
whom   died   in   April,  1863  ;  the  latter  still 
survives  and  makes  her  home  with  her  son 
in    Harrisburg.      His   great-grandfatiier  on 
his  mother's  side,  Gen.  John  Armstrong,  was 
a  major  general  in   the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  the  great-grandfather,  Martin  Herman, 
was  also  a  Revolutionary  soldier.     The  par- 
ents were  earl}'  settlers  in  Cumberland  county. 
The   father   in   early    life   was  engaged    in 
agricultural   pursuits,  but  during  his  latter 
days  led  a  retired  life  on   the  old  Herman 
homestead  near  New  Kingston,  Cumberland 
county.     The   parents   had    born    to    them 
three  children,  of  whom  John  A.  is  the  only 
one  living,  a  brotlier  and  sister  having  died 
in  infancy.     The  father  was  a  very  popular 
man   in   his  region.     John   A.  received  iiis 
primary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
liis   native   county.     He   also  attended  the 
Edgehill  School  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  was 
graduated  from   Princeton   University   witii 
the  class  of  1874.     He  entered   the  office  of 
Hon.  Wayne  MacVeagh,  Hon.  John  D.  Mc- 
Pherson   and   Hon.   Lyman   D.  Gilbert,  of 
Harrisburg,  and  read  law  for  over  two  years. 
In  the  spring  of  1877  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  Dauphin  county  and    has  practiced 
hei'e  since  that  time.     Mr.  Herman   is  un- 
married.    In  politics  he  is  Republican.     He 
is  a  member  of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70, 
I.  0.  O.  F.,  the  Society  of  Colonial  AVars  of 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  Sons  of  the 
Revolution  of  Pennsylvania,  and    of  Dau- 
phin County  Historical  Society.     He  attends 
the  Market  Square  Presbyterian  church.    He 
is   a    popular    and  successful  attorney  and 
is    secretary    and    treasurer  of   the  McKee 
Water  Company,  secretary  of  the  Cumber- 
land Wnter  Company,  and  also  secretary  of 
the  Ilagerstown  Railway  Company. 


KuNKEL,  George,  attornej'-at-law,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  March  11,  1855. 
He  was  educated  at  tiie  academies  conducted 
respectively  by  Professors  Gauze  and  Seller, 
of  Harrisburg,  and  at  Franklin  and  Mar- 
shall College,  Lancaster,  from  which  latter 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  1876  as  sec- 
ond honor  man  of  his  class,  having  been 
designated  to  deliver  tlie  Franklin  oration. 
Choosing  the  law  for  his  profession  he  pur- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


445 


sued  liis  studies  in  tliat  science  under  the 
tutorsliip  of  Hon.  J.  W.  .Simonton.  In  1878, 
two  years  after  his  graduation  from  college, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  fortliwiUi  entered  upon  the  ac- 
tive practice  of  his  profession,  and  with  suc- 
cessful results  that  at  once  demonstrated  his 
fitness  for  his  chosen  calling.  Engaging  in 
important  cases  his  practice  soon  led  him 
from  the  lower  courts  into  the  Supreme 
Court,  where  his  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  the  law  and  his  extraordinary'  faculty  for 
concise  and  forcible  reasoning  brought  him 
exceptional  success. 

Some  years  after  his  admission  to  the  bar 
Mr.  Kunkel  paid   a   visit  to  England  and 
availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  to  study 
the  conduct   and   methods   of  the  English 
courts.     lie  attended  the  session    of  every 
court  from  the  Nisi  Prius  to  the  court  of  the 
House  of  Lords.     He  familiarized   himself 
with  the  practice  in   all  of  them  and  gath- 
ered knowledged  that  has  stood  him  in  good 
stead  in  his  home  practice.     In  1885,  after 
one    of    the    most    exciting    contests  ever 
had   in   the  county,  he  was  made  the  can- 
didate   for    district    attorney    by    the    Re- 
publican   party,   and     was    elected    by    a 
handsome  majority.     His  administration  of 
the  otHce  exceeded  the  expectation   of  his 
friends  and  won  for  him  high  commenda- 
tions from  his  fellow-membeis  of  the  bar.    In 
1888  he  was  unanimously  renominated  and 
was  re-elected  by  the  unprecedented  majority 
of  3,700,  receiving  1,000  majority  in  Harris- 
burg,  his  home.     He  brought  to  the  admiu- 
tration  of  his  second  term  the  experience 
gathered  in  the  first,  conducting  the  business 
with  marketl   ability  and  retk'ing  from  the 
office  with  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  which  was  shortly  afterwards, 
in  1892,  manifested  by  his  choice  as  the  can- 
didate of  the  Republican  party  to  represent 
the  citj'  of  Ilarrisburg  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture.    Although  opposed  b}'  a  most  popular 
Democrat  for  this  office,  and  in  the  face  of 
the  fact  that  he  had  been  placed  upon  the 
ticket  to  till  a  vacancy  caused  by  death  only 
a  few  days  prior  to  the  election,  Mr.  Kunkel 
was  elected  by  a  majority  of  over  seven  hun- 
dred. 

In  the  House  he  at  once  attracted  atten- 
tion by  his  courtes}',  ability  and  attention  to 
business,  and  soon  won  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence of  his  associates.  His  connnittee 
work  has  been  of  great  service  and  his  judg- 
ment upon  legislation  generallj'  accepted  by 


members  with  entire  satisfaction.  In  1894 
he  eclipsed  all  previous  records  by  securing 
a  plurality  of  over  2,400  for  re-election.  This 
more  than  anything  else  attested  his  high 
standing  both  as  a  legislator  and  a  man. 
Mr.  Kunkel  was  a  formidable  candidate  for 
speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  at 
the  last  session.  He  gave  way,  however,  to 
his  opponent  for  the  sake  of  harmony.  His 
popularity  was  evidenced  by  his  appointment 
as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  insurance 
and  a  member  of  the  judiciary  general,  city 
passenger  railways,  wa3's  and  means,  and 
railroad  committees.  At  present  writing 
(1896)  Mr.  Kunkei's  friends  are  rejoicing 
over  another  political  victory  won  by  him 
which  gives  him  the  Republican  nomination 
for  a  third  term  as  representative  for  the  citj' 
of  Harrisburg  in  the  lower  house  of  the  Leg- 
islature. 

If  Mr.  Kunkei's  success  has  been  phe- 
nomenal it  is  none  the  less  permanent  and 
deserved.  His  sense  of  honor,  his  perse- 
verance, his  honesty,  his  tenacity,  all  that 
render  him  effective  and  reliable,  he  has 
made  the  principal  points  of  his  life's  work. 
He  is  a  steady  and  uniform  friend  of  hu- 
manity. Much  of  his  success  in  public  is 
due  to  his  cjuick  and  ready  percejition  of 
facts  and  a  memory  unusually  tenacious 
and  retentive,  and  his  remarkable  power  to 
rajiidly  draw  logical  conclusions,  which  is 
one  of  the  strongest  points  of  the  lawyer. 
With  his  strong  voice  and  splendid  phy- 
sique, Mr.  Kunkel  is  deservedly  popular  as 
a  public  speaker.  Naturally  intelligent  and 
widely  read,  he  is  rich  in  illustration  and 
both  professionally  and  political!}'  he  is 
classed  among  the  first  orators  in  the  State. 
In  his  conduct  of  criminal  cases,  and  he  has 
been  connected  with  those  of  the  greatest 
importance  at  this  and  neighboring  bars, 
his  arguments  show  him  to  be  a  master  in 
marshalling  facts,  while  powerful  and  con- 
vincing in  the  presentation  of  the  salient 
points  to  a  jury. 

The  law  firm  of  Kunkel  &  Millar,  of 
which  Mr.  Kunkel  is  the  senior  and  leading 
member,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  foremost 
at  the  Dauphin  county  bar.  Politically, 
Mr.  Kunkel  is  a  Republican  and  has  always 
advocated  the  principles  of  that  party.  He 
has  considered  it  a  duty  to  study  the  leading 
questions  of  the  day,  so  as  to  be  able  to  dis- 
cuss them  intelligently;  thus,  and  through 
his  active  participation  in  the  contests  of 
his  party,  he  has  come  to  be  recognized  as 


446 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


a  leader  both  in  local  and  State  politics  at 
the  present  time. 

In  his  home  life  Mr.  Kunkel  is  most 
happy.  In  the  fall  of  1891  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mae  Minster,  of  West  Philadelphia, 
and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children,  three  bi'iglit  little  boj's:  George,  Jr., 
William  Minster,  and  Daniel  Herr. 


Alleman,  John  Sylvanus,  attorney-at- 
law,  son  of  Samuel  and  Ann  Elizabeth 
(Holman)  Alleman,  was  born  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  May  22,  1855.  lie  is  a  descendant  of 
distinguished  paternal,  as  well  as  maternal, 
German  ancestry. 

His  great-great-grandfather,  John  Chris- 
tian Alleman,  came  to  America  with  two 
brothers,  Iliram  (or  Plermon)  and  John 
Friederich  Christian,  from  Hamburg,  on  the 
ship  Leathle}',  Captain  John  Lickley,  and 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  then  gov- 
ernment, on  September  19, 1753.  He  settled 
in  what  was  then  Swatara  township,  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  and  died,  July  4,  1790. 
His  tombstone  is  still  to  be  seen  in  the  Lu- 
theran churchyard  at  Middletown,  Pa. 

His  son,  John  Alleman,  great-grandfather 
of  John  S.,  was  a  distinguished  Revolution- 
ary soldier,  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Joseph 
Sherer,  Fourth  battalion,  of  Lancaster 
county,  commanded  by  Col.  James  Burd, 
and  in  the  New  Jersey  campaign  of  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1776  frequeutlj'  met 
the  British,  particularly  in  a  severe  cavalr\' 
charge  at  An) boy.  After  the  independence 
of  the  LTnited  States  had  been  secured,  he 
settled  down  to  the  peace  and  quiet  of  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  on  a  farm  located  about 
three  miles  east  of  Middletown,  having  for 
his  neighbors  the  Crouches,  Eshenours  and 
Jordans.  He  acquired  prominence  and  in- 
fluence among  those  sturd\-  earl}-  settlers, 
and  at  his  decease  left  an  estate  valued  at 
nearly  $20,000,  which,  in  those  times,  was 
no  insignificant  sum.  He  was  also  pos- 
sessed of  lands  in  Ohio,  receiving  a  patent 
for  the  same  from  President  James  Madison. 
He  was  married  to  Barbara  Eshenour,  and 
died,  October  IG,  1811,  leaving  a  numerous 
family,  among  whom  was  his  sou,  John  Al- 
leman, a  farmer,  born  October  22, 1793,  and 
who  died  in  18G5.  The  latter  was  married, 
July  16,  1816,  to  Elizabeth  Mockert. 

From  this  marriage  sprang  Samuel  Alle- 
man, father  of  John  S.,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 2, 1818,  and  who,  b}*  close  application 
and  assiduous  industry,  earned  for  himself  a 


liberal  education  at  Pennsylvania  College, 
Gettysburg.  He  was  admitted  to  the  prac- 
tice of  law  at  the  bar  of  Dauphin  county, 
August  19,  1845 ;  to  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Pennsylvania,  June  22,  1848  ;  was  deputy 
secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  under  Gov. 
Francis  Shunk ;  moved  in  1856  with  his 
family  to  Snyder  county,  then  newly  organ- 
ized; was  superintendent  of  public  schools 
there  in  1862;  elected  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature in  1864-65  ;  was  collector  of  internal 
revenue  of  the  Fourteenth  district;  and, 
after  enjoying  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow-citizens  for  many  long  years,  his 
life-work  ended  by  liis  death,  February  28, 
1881. 

On  May,  18,  1846,  he  married  Ann  Eliza- 
beth Holmiin,  whose  ancestry  in  America 
dates  back  lo  the  very  dawn  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century,  when  we  find  them  embark- 
ing for  the  New  World  from  Amsterdam. 
She  was  the  oldest  child  of  Samuel  Holman, 
architect  and  builder,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
and  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  in 
Capt.  Tiiomas  Walker's  company,  First  regi- 
ment. First  brigade,  Pennsylvania  militia, 
under  command  of  Col.  Maxwell  Kennedy, 
and  who,  when  Harrisburg  was  threatened 
in  the  perilous  times  of  1863,  marched  out 
with  the  "  Old  Defenders  "  for  the  protection 
of  his  home  and  family.  His  son,  William 
S.  Holman,  was  in  the  service  of  the  Federal 
Government  on  board  the  "Monitor,"  when 
she  foundered  off  Cape  Hatteras,  but  es- 
caped with  the  rest  of  the  crew  to  the  "  Iron- 
sides." 

John  S.  Alleman,  when  but  an  infant, 
was  taken  to  Middleburg,  the  county  seat  of 
Snyder  counir^-,  spending  his  t)oyhood  days 
there,  until  February,  1865,  when  his  father 
removed  to  Selin's  Grove,  and  purchased 
the  old  Governor  Snyder  stone  mansion, 
built  about  1S17.  There  he  received  his 
primary  education  at  the  Missionarv  Insti- 
tute, preparing  himself  for  Penns^'lvania 
College,  at  Gettysburg,  which  he  entered  in 
the  fall  of  1872,  and  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated with  honor  in  the  class  of  '76,  of  which 
he  was  the  class  historian,  and  received  the 
degree  of  B.  A.  Three  years  later  the  same 
institution  conferred  upon  him  the  degree 
of  M.  A. 

In  tlie  autumn  of  1876  he  began  reading 
law  in  the  offices  of  his  father,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1877  entered  tiie  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Phila- 
delphia, having   as  his    preceptor  the  late 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


447 


E.  Spencer  Miller.  He  was  graduated  from 
the  University  with  the  class  of  1879,  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  LL.  B. ;  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Philadelphia,  June  14,  1870 ; 
to  the  bar  of  Dauphin  counts',  August  27, 
1879 ;  and  to  practice  before  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Pennsylvania,  June  2,  1890. 

By  strict  integrity,  and  manly  indepen- 
dence, he  has  built  up  an  extensive  practice, 
frequently  filling  positions  of  great  trust. 
He  began  practice  without  financial  assist- 
ance, but  by  frugality  and  industr}'  has 
risen  to  a  prominent  position  in  his  chosen 
profession  and  in  the  community.  He  has 
avoided  politics. 

October  11, 1882,  he  was  married  to  Cor- 
delia I.  Domer,  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Domer,  D.  D.,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Mrs. 
Alleman  was  born  at  Selin's  Grove,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  two  sons:  Coleridge 
Domer,  born  October  9,  1883,  died  February 
5,1894;  and  Roscoe  Harold,  born  Mav  3, 
1888. 

Mr.  Alleman  is  a  staunch  Republican  in 
politics,  casting  his  first  vote  for  President 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes.  The  fdmilj' are  mem- 
bers of  the  Fourth  Street  Lutheran  church, 
to  which  his  paternal  ancestors  belonged  at 
its  foundation,  in  1785;  and  has  represented 
his  church  at  various  synodical  conventions, 
and  being  sent  as  a  lay  delegate  from  the 
East  Pennsylvania  Synod  to  the  General 
Synod  of  the  Lutiieran  Church,  held  at  Ha- 
gerstown,  Md.,  June  5,  1895. 


NissLEY,  Harmon  L.,  attorney -at-law,  was 
born  at  Landisville,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
August  1,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  E. 
and  Annie  (Long)  Nissley,  the  former  of 
Swiss  origin,  the  latter  of  German.  The 
former  died  June  25,  1887,  the  latter  No- 
vember 15,  1863.  The  father  was  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  Lancaster  county,  where  he 
spent  his  life.  The  parents  had  ten  chil- 
dren. Those  living  are :  Jonas  L.,  Abra- 
ham, Samuel,  Harmon,  Benjamin  Franklin 
and  Lincoln,  all  of  whom  reside  in  Lancas- 
ter excepting  Harmon,  who  lives  in  Harris- 
burg,  and  Lincoln,  who  lives  in  Los  Angeles, 
Cal.  Harmon  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  Lancaster 
county,  and  also  attended  select  schools  at 
Manheim  and  Lancaster  and  the  Normal 
School  at  Millersburg.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
the  latter.  He  received  his  pi'ofessional 
training  at  the  Columbia  Law  School,  New 
York    City,   graduating   with    the   class   of 


1882.  He  read  law  with  George  H.  Ervin. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin  county 
bar  December  2G,  1882,  and  to  Supreme 
Court  of  Pennsylvania  in  1885.  He  was 
married  at  Hagerstown,  Md.,  February  10, 
1892,  to  Clara  J.  Scliindei,  daughter  of  Louis 
and  Susan  Schindel.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  namely,  Dorothy  S., 
born  September  14,  1893,  and  Edwin  S., 
boVn  May  16,  1895.  In  political  views  Mr. 
Nissley  is  a  Republican.  The  family  attend 
the  Lutheran  church. 


Wolfe,  Leroy  J.,  attorney-at-law,  was 
born  in  Newberry  township;  York  county. 
Pa.,  September  18,  1858,  and  is  a  .son  of 
.Jacob  B.  and  Anna  E.  (Landis)  Wolfe,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania;  the  former  de- 
ceased, and  the  latter  still  surviving  and  re- 
siding in  Middletown,  Pa.  Tiiis  family 
consisted  of  four  children,  who  lived  to  ma- 
turity. Silas,  who  graduated  from  West 
Point  Military  Academy  in  1878,  and  is 
now  a  captain  in  the  regular  army  of  the 
United  States,  and  Leroy  J.,  are  the  onl}' 
surviving  members.  Those  deceased  are : 
Addison  L.  and  Catherine.  Leroy  J.  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  York 
county,  the  Academy,  and  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1881. 
He  read  law  with  John  A.  Burtin,  Esq.,  of 
Piiiladelphia,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
at  Dauphin  county  bar  in  1882,  to  practice 
in  Suj)reme  Court  of  Pennsylvania  in  1885, 
and  to  Supreme  Court  of  United  States  in 
1891. 

He  was  married  in  New  Cumberland,  Pa., 
December  27,  1881,  to  Miss  Tyrza  B.  Shoop, 
daughter  of  Samuel  J.  and  Sarah  Shoop, 
and  to  their  union  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren, Isabella  S.  and  LeRoy  S.  In  politi- 
cal views  Mr.  Wolfe  is  a  Republican,  and 
both  he  and  Mrs.  Wolfe  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

Bergner,  Charles  Henry,  attornej^-at- 
law,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  October  20, 
1853,  son  of  George  and  Catherine  (Uhler) 
Bergner.  The  father  was  born  in  Prussia 
and  came  to  Reading,  Pa.,  where  he  learned 
the  trade  of  printing.  He  published  a  Ger- 
man paper  in  Harrisburg,  and  was  later  con- 
nected with  the  Telf graph,  and  was  post- 
master of  Harrisburg  for  fifteen  years.  He 
died  August  5,  1874,  and  his  wife  died  Jan- 
uary 29, 1865.  They  had  four  children,  two 
of  whom  are  living:  Charles  H.  and  Fred- 


448 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


erick,  both  residing  in  Harrisburg.  Charles 
Henry  received  his  education  in  public  and 
private  schools,  Harrisburg  Academy,  Edge- 
hill  Collegiate  School  and  in  Princeton  Col- 
lege. Having  read  law  with  Col.  A.  J.  Herr, 
at  Harrisburg,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Dau- 
phin county  bar  March  3,  1883,  and  to 
practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  the  following 
June,  since  which  date  he  has  conducted  a 
general  practice  in  Harrisburg.  He  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  management  of  tlie 
Harriabiirg  Telegraph  in  August,  1874,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1881.  Mr.  Berg- 
ner  was  married  in  New  Bloomfield,  Pa., 
April  26,  1877,  to  Annie  V.Sponsler,  daugh- 
ter of  William  A.  and  Elizabeth  Sponsler, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children:  William  S., 
Katherine,  Elvina,  and  George.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics.  Tlie  family  attend 
the  Market  Square  Presbyterian  church. 


Fleming,  George  R.,  attorne^'-at-law,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  September  13,  ISHO. 
He  is  a  son  of  David  and  Susan  (Mowry) 
Fleming.  His  early  education  was  aiforded 
by  the  local  schools,  and  he  was  prepared  for 
college  at  the  Phillips  Academy,  Andover, 
Mass.  He  was  graduated  from  Princeton 
College  in  the  class  of  1883.  He  read  law 
with  his  father  and  with  Hon.  S.  J.  M.  McCar- 
rell,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Dau- 
phin county  in  1885.  At  the  death  of  his 
father  he  was  made  executor  of  the  estate. 
Mr.  Fleming  is  connected  with  important 
business  interests  of  the  city.  He  has  served 
as  a  director  of  the  Harrisburg  Foundry  and 
Machine  Company,  the  Coramonwealtii  Trust 
and  Safe  Deposit  Company,  the  Brelsford 
Packing  Company,  the  Steel  ton  Electric 
Light  Company,  and  the  Susquehanna  Mu- 
tual Fire  Insurance  Company ;  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Harrisburg  City  Passenger  Rail- 
way Company,  and  treasurer  of  the  Harris- 
burg Grocery  and  Produce  Company.  Mr. 
Fleming  and'  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Market  Square  Presbyterian  church  ;  he  was 
leader  of  the  choir  in  that  church  for  thir- 
teen years.  He  is  a  Republican.  Mr.  Flem- 
ing was  married,  October  10,  189.0,  to  Miss 
Eliza  McCormick,  daughter  of  Rev.  T.  H. 
Robinson,  D.  D.  They  have  two  children  : 
Anna  Margaretta  and  Susan  Mowry.  Dr. 
Robinson,  father  of  Mrs.  Fleming,  was  the 
former  able  and  honored  pastor  of  the  Mar- 
ket Square  Presbyterian  church,  Harrisburg. 


For  many  years  he  filled  the  chair  of  sacred 
rhetoric,  church  government  and  pastoral 
theolog3r  in  the  Western  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

NissLEY,  JoHX  C,  lawyer,  was  born  near 
Hummelstown,  Pa.,  February  8,  1856.  His 
lineage  is  traced  in  the  following  history  of 
one  branch  of  the  Nissley  family  now  re- 
siding in  Daupliin  county: 

Jacob  Nissley  was  the  pioneer  of  the  Niss- 
ley family  who  came  to  Lancaster  county  in 
1719,  when  Lancaster  county  was  composed 
of  Dauphin  and  Lebanon  counties  as  one, 
and  was  naturalized  in  1729.  His  offspring 
are  as  follows  :  Jacol),  John  (known  as  Hans) 
and  Henr}'.  John,  or  Hans,  had  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Michael,  Abraham,  Rev.  John, 
who  was  married  to  "Miss  Herzler,  and  was 
born  in  1746  and  died  in  1825;  Jacob,  Rev. 
Samuel,  Martin,  Fannie.  The  Rev.  John 
Nissley.  who  resided  in  Paxtang,  Daupliin 
county,  iiad  the  following  children  :  Jacob, 
whose  wife  was  a  Miss  Nisslej' ;  John,  whose 
wife  was  a  MissOber;  Martin,  whose  wife 
was  a  Miss  Landis,  and  who  was  born  in 
1786  and  died  in  1868;  Maria,  her  husbands 
being  Frantz  and  Rudj'.  John,  whose  wife, 
as  noted  above,  was  a  Miss  Ober,  bad  two 
children:  Christian,  who  was  married  to 
Nancy  Funk,  of  Lebanon,  and  who  lived 
and  died  in  Derry  township  on  the  home- 
stead now  occupied  by  Edward  Stover,  which 
is  known  as  Stoverdale;  Frances  Nissley,  who 
was  married  to  Samuel  Neidig,  whom  she 
survived  with  one  child,  Mary,  who  is  now 
the  widow  of  Samuel  Bowman,  of  Lebanon 
county,  and  resides  witli  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
William  H.  Ulrich,  of  Hnmmelstown,  Dau- 
jihin  county.  Pa.,  her  second  husband  being 
Abraham  Landis,  of  Deny  township,  with 
whom  she  had  four  children :  Mrs.  John 
Carmauy,  Mrs.  W.  Etter  and  Mrs.  Joseph 
Rudy,  of  Harrisburg,  Dauphin  county,  and 
one  son.  Christian  Landis,  who  was  drowned 
in  the  Swatara  creek,  nearMiddletown,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.  C'hristian  Nissley,  who 
married  Nanc}'  Funk,  had  the  following 
children  :  Mary,  widow  of  Isaac  Mauma,  of 
Highspire,  Joseph,  residing  near  Hummels- 
town, Dauphin  count}-,  John  J.,  Christian, 
now  deceased,  Martin,  Samuel,  a  doctor,  re- 
siding in  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster  county, 
Levi  and  Annie,  both  residing  in  the  bor- 
ough of  Middletown,  and  not  married. 

Josejih    Nissley    was   married    to    Annie 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


451 


Ober,  of  near  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster 
county.  They  have  the  following  children  : 
Agnes,  wife  of  Joseph  L.  Brandt,  Esq.,  cash- 
ier of  the  Exchange  Bank  of  Marietta,  Pa.; 
Isaac  0.  Nissley,  editor  of  the  Middletown 
Weekly  Press,  married  to  Emma  Brunner, 
daughter  of  William  E.  Brunner,  of  Camp- 
bellstown,  Lebanon  count}'.  Pa.;  John  C. 
Nissley,  an  attornej^-at-law  of  the  bar  of 
Dauphin  county ;  Annie  0.,  wife  of  Abraham 
L.  Etter,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  daily 
Journal,  of  Middletown,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.;  Christian  G.  NLssley,  ex-editor  of  tiie 
Tyrone  Weekly  Times  in  Blair  county.  Pa., 
now  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  who  is  married  to 
Caroline  Kunkel,  daughter  of  George  Z.  and 
Isabella  Kunkel,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

John  C.  Nissley  was  engaged  in  such  oc- 
cupations as  usuall}'  fall  to  a  boy's  lot  on 
the  farm  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
sixteen  years.  His  primary  education  was 
such  as  he  could  get  in  the  public  schools, 
and  prepared  him  to  teach  school.  He 
taught  in  the  schools  of  Dauphin  county  for 
four  years.  He  then  entered  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Shlppensburg,  where  he 
spent  several  terms,  then  entered  Indiana 
State  Normal  School,  Indiana  county,  Pa., 
where  he  prepared  himself  for  college.  In 
1879  lie  entered  Bucknell  University,  and 
was  graduated  in  1883.  He  also  received 
from  this  institution  the  honorary  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Philo.soi)hy  in  1891.  In  the  law 
office  of  Mumma  &  Shoop,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
where  he  was  a  student,  he  laid  the  founda- 
tion for  the  success  which  has  marked  his 
career  at  the  bar.  lie  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1886,  and  began  iiis  practice  of  law 
with  the  late  Elias  Hollinger.  During  the 
first  years  of  his  practice  Mr.  Nissley  found 
time  to  prepare  a  series  of  pojnilar  lectures. 
Of  his  lecture  on  ''Great  Men  "  Dr.  Edward 
Brooks,  of  Pliiladelphia,  has  said:  "It  is  a 
worthy  effort,  spicy,  practical,  interesting, 
and  executed  in  a  pleasing  manner,  with  un- 
usual vigor  and  earnestness."  Thoroughly 
familiar  with  the  intricacies  of  his  profession 
Mr.  Nissley  is  well  qualified  to  give  advice 
on  matters  of  law.  He  is  a  clear  thinker 
and  a  forcible  and  graceful  speaker.  As  a 
criminal  lawyer  he  has  won  many  laurels. 
He  was  associated  with  Mr.  Baclienstoe  as 
counsel  for  Undergus,  the  Powell's  Valley 
criminal,  who  was  tried  for  murder,  but 
escajied  the  penalty  of  that  crime,  and  was 
found  guilty,  instead,  of  assault  and  battery. 
He  is  widely  known  and  deservedly  popular. 

32 


With   his  father's  political  faith  he  has  in- 
herited also  his  father's  independence. 

Detweiler,  Meade  D.,  was  born  in  Mid- 
dletown, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  October  15, 
1863,  and  is  descended  from  a  Pennsylva- 
nia German  family.  His  paternal  ancestors 
are  among  the  pioneers  of  Dauphin  county, 
his  grandfather  having  settled  here  some 
time  in  1700.  His  father,  Samuel  Det- 
weiler, is  a  native  of  Dauphin  count\\  He 
was  a  popular  hotelkeeper  at  Middletown, 
and  subsequently  came  to  Harrisburg,  where 
he  was  for  many  years  in  the  same  business, 
from  which  he  retired  in  1880,  and  since 
that  date  has  had  his  residence  in  this  city. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Matter,  a  native  of 
Lebanon  county,  by  whom  he  had  five  chil- 
dren, Meade  D.  being  the  fourth  in  the  order 
of  their  birth.  Meade  D.  was  scarcely  ten 
years  of  age  when  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  been 
living  for  the  past  twenty-two  years.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  the  city  and 
advai'.ced  to  the  junior  yeax  of  tiie  liigh 
school,  after  which  he  entered  Pennsylvania 
College  at  Gettysburg  and  was  graduated 
with  the  first  honors  of  his  class  in  1884. 
Having  received  his  diploma,  conferring 
upon  him  the  degree  of  B.  A.,  he  returned 
to  Harrisburg  and  began  the  study  of  law 
with  Hall  &  Jordan,  and  within  two  years 
was  admitted  to  practice.  Immediately  upon 
his  admission  to  the  bar  in  1886,  he  began 
his  professional  work  with  ardor  and  in- 
dustry, and  was  soon  busily  occupied  with 
the  duties  of  an  active  and  successful  prac- 
tice in  both  the  criminal  and  civil  courts. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  bar  of  the  Supreme 
Court  and  of  the  United  States  Court. 

The  phenomenal  success  of  Mr.  Detweiler 
as  an  attorney  is  due  to  the  high  order  of  in- 
tellectual powers  with  which  he  is  endowed, 
the  thorough  and  generous  culture  he  has 
given  to  his  native  gifts,  by  liberal  educa- 
tion and  deep  research,  the  candor  and  im- 
partiality of  his  disposition,  his  studious 
and  business-like  habits,  his  pleasing  per- 
sonality, and  iiis  force  and  fluenc}'  and  grace 
of  speech.  While  busily  engaged  in  per- 
sonal and  professional  work,  he  has  found 
time  to  enter  the  broader  fields  of  social  and 
public  activities,  where  his  ability  and  devo- 
tion have  been  widely  bestowed  and  warmly 
appreciated.  In  political  views  he  found 
himself  in  sympathy  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  loyally  given  to  this  great 


452 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


organization  his  time  and  talents  in  un- 
stinted measure.  The  value  of  his  service 
in  this  connection  has  been  recognized  and 
rewarded.  The  Republican  State  Committee 
have  enjoyed  his  services  in  every  campaign 
for  several  years,  and  have  requested  him  to 
speak  as  often  as  possible.  He  was  for  five 
years  chairman  of  the  city  committee,  and 
is  the  youngest  man  ever  placed  in  that  re- 
sponsible position.  The  3'oung  Republicans 
honored  him  in  18S8  by  adopting  his  name  for 
the  strong  and  influential  organization  still  in 
exister.ce.  In  1892  he  was  elected  district  at- 
torney, defeating  George  Kunkel,  and  is  one 
of  the  youngest  men  elected  to  this  office  for 
thirty  years.  His  extensive  criminal  prac- 
tice prepared  him  for  an  able  and  success- 
ful administration  of  this  office.  During  liis 
first  term  of  office  he  prosecuted  six  murder 
cases,  and  was  successful  in  all  of  them.  He 
also  tried  a  very  important  case  in  York 
county.  Pa. — the  Painton  murder  case — in 
which  he  made  one  of  the  most  effective  ad- 
dresses ever  delivered  in  a  court  room.  In 
recognition  of  his  fidelity  and  ability  he  was 
re-elected  to  the  office  in  1895  by  one  of  the 
largest  majorities  ever  given  in  Dauphin 
county,  having  more  majority  than  liis  op- 
ponent had  votes.  Mr.  Detweiler  is  a  large 
stockholder  in  the  Chestnut  Street  Market 
Company  and  various  other  corporations. 
He  has  also  large  real  estate  interests  in  the 
city.  In  social  circles  his  popularity  is  wide 
and  his  standing  high.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Harrisburg  Club,  "  The  Club,"  Social 
Club,  and  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Harrisburg  Fishing  Club.  He  also  belongs 
to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle,  Knights  of  Malta,  Red  Men,  .lunior  Or- 
der United  American  Mechanics,and  haslield 
the  highest  office  in  the  Order  of  the  Elks. 
He  was  elected  at  Cincinnati,  July  10,  1896, 
Grand  Exalted  Ruler  of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks. 
Mr.  Detweiler  was  married  in  1891  to  Miss 
Bertha,  daughter  of  John  Hoffer,  of  Harris- 
burg. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Market  Square  Presbyterian  church.  Few 
men  and  attorneys  of  his  age  have  won  the 
success  or  enjoyed  the  honors  attained  by 
Mr.  Detweiler.  So  bright  a  morning  be- 
tokens a  brilliant  noontide. 


Olmsted,  Marlin  E. — Among  the  con- 
spicuously prominent  lawyers  of  the  United 
States,  who  have  won  both  wealth  and  fame 
at  the  bar,  there  is  not  one  whose  career  is 


more  of  an  inspiration  to  the  youth  of  to- 
day than  that  of  Marlin  E.  Olmsted,  of  Har- 
risburg. There  is  no  member  of  the  legal 
profession  in  Pennsylvania  whose  opinion 
commands  more  respect  in  the  several 
courts  of  the  Commonwealth,  nor  any  whose 
profound  attainments  are  more  universally 
acknowledged  by  his  professional  brethren. 
As  a  consummate  master  of  corporation  law 
in  all  its  intricate  details,  as  an  expert  on  all 
questions  of  corporate  taxation  and  as  an 
erudite  constitutional  lawyer,  Marlin  E. 
Olmsted  has  no  superior  in  this  or  any  other 
State.  He  has  raised  and  victoriously  sus- 
tained in  the  highest  court  of  the  land  more 
novel  legal  propt)sitions  than  any  other  mem- 
ber of  the  Pennsylvania  bar,  and  this  high 
degree  of  success  has  come  to  him  solely  as 
a  result  of  his  own  efforts,  unaided  by  any 
fortuitous  conditions  or  any  other  influence 
than  his  own  pre-eminent  ability.  The 
story  of  his  life  is  valuable  not  only  as  illus- 
trating what  can  be  accomplished  under  our 
American  institutions,  but  as  well  for  the 
stimulating  effect  it  will  have  upon  many 
young  men  struggling  amid  discouraging 
surroundings.  It  conclusively  disproves  the 
theory  that  hick  plays  an  important  part  in 
shaping  the  destiny  of  man,  and  demon- 
strates beyond  a  question  of  doubt  that  in 
the  race  of  life  only  those  win  who  make  the 
fullest  use  of  the  faculties  with  which  they 
are  endowed.  High  purpose,  lofty  ambi- 
tion, unswerving  integrity,  unyielding  per- 
severance and  complete  devotion  to  duty  are 
the  only  elements  that  enter  into  the  mould- 
ing of  a  notable  career,  and  to  these  qualities 
alone  can  be  attributed  the  striking  profes- 
sional success  of  the  subject  of  tiiis  sketch. 

M.  E.  Olmsted  was  born  in  Ulysses  town- 
ship. Potter  county',  Pa.  He  is  the  descen- 
dant of  a  long  line  of  distinguished  ances- 
tors, from  whom  he  has  inherited  manj'  of 
the  traits  of  character  which  have  contrib- 
uted to  his  success  in  life.  Daniel  Olmsted, 
his  grandfather,  married  Lucy  Schofield, 
daughter  of  Lewis  Schofield,  whose  wife  was 
the  daughter  of  Deacon  Young,  and  sister 
of  Colonel  Young,  of  Saratoga,  who  filled 
many  important  positions  in  his  native 
State — senator,  judge,  canal  commissioner, 
secretary  of  State  and  lieutenant  governor. 
Henry  J.  Olmsted,  father  of  Marlin  E.,  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  respected 
citizens  of  Potter  county,  who  has  served 
for  twenty-two  years  as  prothonotary  and 
clerk  of  the  courts  of  that  county,  having 


I)  A  UPHIN     CO  UNTY . 


453 


•been  once  appointed  by  the  governor,  and 
seven  times  elected  by  the  people.  In  1876 
he  was  nominated  for  State  senator,  but  de- 
clined to  avoid  complications  arising  out  of 
the  fact  that  his  friend,  Hon.  Sobieski  Ross, 
of  the  same  county,  was  desirous  of  a  re- 
election to  Congress.  He  married  Evalena 
Tlieresa  Gushing,  daughter  of  Lucas  Gush- 
ing, a  descendant  in  direct  line  from 
Matthew  Gushing,  of  Hingham,  England, 
who  came  to  America  in  1G38. 

Botli  father  and  mother  of  Marlin  E. 
Olmsted  were  born  in  New  York  State,  the 
former  at  Masonville,  and  the  latter  at  Ithaca. 
Their  pai'ents  moved  to  Potter  county.  Pa., 
where  they  formed  the  acquaintance  tiiat 
resulted  in  their  marriage. 

Arthur  G.  Olmsted,  president  judge  of  the 
Forty-eighth  judicial  district  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, is  an  uncle  of  Marlin  E.  He  served 
with  honor  in  both  branches  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, was  speaker  of  the  House  in  1865,  and 
was  nominated  by  the  Republican  State 
Convention  for  lieutenant  governor  in  1874. 

The  subject  of  tliis  sketch  attended  the 
public  schools  and  the  academy  at  Couders 
port,  Potter  county.  This  was  the  extent  of 
his  early  educational  advantages.  When 
Mr.  Olmsted  was  a  boy  his  uncle,  Authur  G. 
Olmsted,  was  a  leading  lawyer  in  his  section 
of  the  State.  The  parents  of  the  young  man 
desired  that  he  should  go  to  the  bar  and  ar- 
ranged with  his  uncle  for  his  instruction. 
But  the  boy  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  propo- 
sition and  began  to  look  in  otiier  directions 
for  his  life  work.  Through  the  influence  of 
his  uncle,  as  well  as  in  recognition  of  his 
fitness,  he  was  aj^pointed  to  a  clerkship  in 
the  treasur_y  department  of  Pennsylvania 
bj'  Robert  W.  Mackey,  then  State  treasurer. 
At  the  same  time  the  late  Gapt.  William  B. 
Hart,  afterwards  State  treasurer,  was  ap- 
pointed to  a  clerkship  in  the  auditor  gen- 
eral's office  by  the  late  Governor  John  F. 
Hartranft,  then  auditor  general.  Before  the 
two  young  men  entered  upon  their  duties  an 
arrangement  was  made  whereby  they  ex- 
changed positions  and  Mr.  Olmsted  was  made 
assistant  corporation  clerk  in  the  auditor 
general's  office,  J.Montgomery  Forster  being 
the  head  of  the  bureau.  At  the  expiration 
of  one  year  the  office  of  insurance  commis- 
sioner was  created  and  Mr.  Forster  appointed 
to  fill  it.  Olmsted  was  then  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  corporation  clerk  in  the  auditor 
general's  office,  with  the  entire  charge  of  the 
assessment  and  collection  of  the  millions  of 


dollars  of  tax  raised  annually  by  direct  tax- 
ation of  corporations,  though  at  the  time  he 
was  the  youngest  employee  in  j'ears  and  ser- 
vice in  the  department.  When  Gen.  Har- 
rison Allen  was  elected  to  succeed  General 
Hartranft,  Mr.  Olmsted  was  reappointed  and 
continued  to  serve  until  May,  1875,  when 
the  succession  of  Justus  F.  Temple,  a  Demo- 
crat, resulted  in  the  removal  of  all  the  Re- 
publican subordinates  and  the  appointment 
of  Democrats  in  their  places.  Mr.  Olmsted's 
conduct  of  the  office  was  at  once  an  evidence 
of  the  character  of  his  early  training  and  a 
promise  of  what  his  after  life  would  be.  State 
Treasurer  Mackey,  who  from  his  long  public 
service  was  very  familiar  with  the  duties  of 
the  corporation  clerk,  and  who  was  very 
anxious  that  Mr.  Olmsted  should  be  retained 
by  General  Temple  in  the  interest  of  the  pub- 
lic service,  said  on  one  occasion  that  he  con- 
sidered him,  young  as  he  was,  an  expert  in 
all  matters  of  State  taxation,  whose  retention 
would  have  been  worth  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  dollars  a  year  in  taxes  to  the  Com- 
monwealth, and  tliat  the  State  could  better 
afford  to  pay  him  fifteen  thousand  dollars 
per  year  than  to  lose  his  services.  The  news- 
papers of  the  State  spoke  of  his  removal  as  a 
positive  detriment  to  the  public  service  and 
to  the  business  interests  of  the  State,  but  the 
clamor  of  the  politicians  prevailed  and  Mr. 
Olmsted  gave  way  to  a  Democrat. 

At  the  time  of  his  retirement  from  office 
Mr.  Olmsted  was  offered  three  different  polit- 
ical positions  and  tlie  cashiership  of  one 
of  the  largest  national  banks  in  the  interior 
of  the  State,  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Honesdale,  of  which  the  late  Samuel  E. 
Dimmick,  then  attorney  general,  was  presi- 
dent. Subsequently  his  uncle  and  father 
proposed  to  start  a  private  bank  at  Couders- 
port  and  tendered  him  the  management  of 
it.  But  he  had  changed  his  ideas  regarding 
the  law  and  determining  to  enter  that  pro- 
fession began  the  study  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
John  W.  Simonton,  of  Harrisburg,  now 
president  judge  of  the  Twelfth  judicial 
district.  Pie  was  admitted  to  the  bar  No- 
vember 25,  1878. 

His  six  years  experience  in  the  auditor 
general's  office  had  made  him  thoroughly 
familiar  with  the  complicated  system  of  cor- 
poration taxationwhereby  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania raises  nearly  all  its  revenues  and  it 
was  perfectly  natural  that  he  should  drift 
into  that  line  of  practice.  During  his  in- 
cumbency of  the  office  of  corporation  clerk 


454 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


he  was  brought  into  personal  contact  with 
the  officers  of  nearly  all  the  corporations 
doing  business  in  the  State  and  was  recog- 
nized by  them  as  being  more  familiar  with 
the  various  tax  laws  than  any  other  man  in 
or  out  of  the  legal  profession.  According!}', 
as  soon  as  he  was  released  from  the  office,  he 
was  regularh^  retained  by  them  to  adjust 
their  tax  accounts  with  the  Commonwealth 
and  at  once  upon  his  admission  to  the  bar 
found  himself  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice.  He  became  and  has 
since  remained  the  resident  attorney  at  tlie 
State  Capital  for  many  of  the  leading  cor- 
porations of  the  countrj'.  He  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  May,  1881,  and  in  the  Supreme 
(Jourt  of  the  United  States  November  12, 
1884. 

The  first  case  which  he  argued  in  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Dauphin  county 
was  that  of  tlie  Corning,  Cowanesque  and 
Antrim  Railway  Company,  a  case  of  very 
considerable  difficulty,  in  which  he  won  a 
complete  victory.  The  result  was  so  grati- 
fying to  Gen.  George  J.  Magee,  president  of 
the  company,  that  he  caused  Mr.  Olmsted 
to  be  regularl}'  retained,  and  he  has  ever 
since  been  the  legal  representative  at  Har- 
risburg  of  all  tlie  numerous  corporations 
with  which  General  Magee  is  connected. 

His  first  case  in  the  State  Supreme  Court 
was  that  of  the  Commonwealth  vs.  National 
Mutual  Aid  Association,  reported  in  94  Pa., 
481,  in  which  the  claim  of  the  State  was  en- 
tirely defeated.  His  participation  in  the 
argument  of  this  case  before  the  Supreme 
Court  was  only  through  the  courtesy  of  the 
court,  as  he  had  not  at  tiiat  time  been  a 
raembei  of  tiie  bar  for  two  years  as  was  re- 
quired by  the  rules  of  admission  to  the  bar 
of  the  Supreme  Court. 

One  of  the  most  important  among  his 
earlier  cases  was  that  of  the  Commonwealth 
vs.  Texas  and  Pacific  Railroad  Company, 
reported  in  98  Pa.,  90.  In  this  case  the 
State  endeavored  to  collect  from  the  com- 
pany a  license  tax  of  twelve  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars  a  year  for  having  an  office 
in  Pennsylvania,  upon  the  ground  that  it 
was  a  foreign  and  not  a  domestic  corpora- 
tion. Mr.  Olmsted  raised  the  novel  defense 
that  a  corporation  created  by  Congress  could 
not  be  regarded  as  a  foreign  corporation  but 
must  be  treated  as  a  domestic  corporation  in 
each  State.  This  pcsition  was  sustained  by 
the  Dauphin  county  court  and  affirmed  by 


the  Supreme  Court.     The  ca.se  was  widely* 
reported  and  is  cited  in  all  text  books  as  a 
leading  one  on  the  subject. 

Another  of  his  early  and  important  cases 
was  that  of  the  Commonwealth  vs.  Standard 
Oil  Company,  reported  in  101  Pa.,  119,  in 
which  the  Commonwealth  sought  to  collect 
from  the  company  over  three  million  dol- 
lars. Tlie  case  was  bitterly  contested  on 
both  sides,  and  the  Dauphin  county  court, 
sustaining  nearly  all  of  Mr.  Olmsted's  posi- 
tions, gave  a  judgment  against  the  company 
for  only  thirty-three  thousand  dollars,  from 
which  both  sides  appealed  to  the  Supreme 
Court.  The  company  succeeded  in  defeating 
the  Commonwealth's  appeal,  and  on  the 
company's  appeal,  which  was  taken  by  Mr. 
Olmsted  on  his  own  motion  and  argued 
by  him  alone,  the  Supreme  Court  struck  off 
the  penalty  and  the  interest  on  the  ground 
that  the  several  laws  under  which  tlie  tax 
was  claimed  having  been  repealed,  Aviih  the 
reservation  only  of  the  right  to  collect  ac- 
crued taxes,  the  penalties  fell  with  the  re- 
peal of  the  laws,  so  tiiat  tiie  Commonwealth 
finally  recovered  onlj'  twenty-two  thousand 
dollars.  This  was  considered  tiie  most  im- 
portant tax  case  ever  tried  in  tiie  State,  in- 
volving a  larger  amount  than  any  other,  and 
is  a  leading  case  upon  a  number  of  points. 

A  still  more  important  case,  however,  was 
that  of  Commonwealth  vs.  Lehigh  Valley 
Railroad  Company,  reported  in  104  Pa.,  89, 
wliich  involved  tlie  right  of  the  State  to  hold 
corporations  liable  for  a  tax  imposed  upon 
their  bondholders  by  the  revenue  acts  of 
1879  and  1881.  The  litigation  began  in 
1879  and  lasted  until  1883,  resulting  in  a 
complete  victory  for  the  company,  the  Su- 
preme Court  declaring  both  acts  inoperative 
and  void,  so  far  as  they  attempted  to  hold 
corporations  responsible  for  the  collection  of 
the  tax;  it  being  tlie  first  time  in  the  hi.story 
of  the  Commonwealth  in  wiiich  the  Supreme 
Court  had  rendered  a  decision  nullifying  a 
general  tax  law.  The  amount  involved  to 
the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  Company  in 
that  case  was  ninety-eight  thousand  dollars 
per  annum,  and  the  amount  involved  for 
the  various  clients  for  which  Mr.  Olmsted 
was  concerned  and  which  the  decision  af- 
fected was  about  one  million  dollars  per  year. 

This  case  furnishes  a  striking  illustration 
of  Mr.  Olmsted's  keen  legal  acumen.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  litigation  there  was 
not  a  lawyer  in  the  State  who  agreed  as  to 
the  wisdom  of  testing  the  law.     The  Penn- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


455 


sylvania  Railroad  Company  had  paid  into 
the  treasury  over  two  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars without  question,  and  numerous  other 
corporations  had  submitted  to  the  law  with- 
out an  effort  to  contest  its  validity.  Two 
successive  attorneys  general  and  their  depu- 
ties, all  men  of  profound  learning,  had  con- 
tended with  great  skill  against  Mr.  Olmsted's 
position,  which  was,  however,  finally  sus- 
tained by  the  Supreme  Court. 

Among  the  many  important  cases  in 
which  Mr.  Olmsted  was  concerned  was  the 
suit  brought  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Penn- 
sylvania against  the  city  of  Philadelphia 
to  recover  a  tax  of  eight  hundred  thousand 
dollars  on  account  of  two  hundred  million 
dollars  of  mortgages  alleged  to  be  held  in 
that  city  which  had  not  been  returned  for 
taxation.  Mr.  Olmsted  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  argument  of  this  case,  and  the 
claim  of  the  State  was  entirely  defeated. 

In  the  case  of  the  Commonwealth  vs.  "West- 
inghouse  Electric  and  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, reported  in  151  Pa.,  265,  Mr.  Olmsted 
established  a  principle  of  constitutional  law 
of  the  widest  reach  and  utmost  importance, 
namely,  immunity  from  State  taxation  or 
control  of  patents  or  patent  rights  granted 
by  the  United  States  to  inventors.  This 
question  had  never  before  been  raised  and 
its  determination  has  resulted  in  the  saving 
of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  to  Mr. 
Olmsted's  clients. 

The  first  opinion  delivered  by  the  present 
chief  justice  of  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court,  reported  in  128  U.  S.,  39,  was  in  the 
case  of  the  Commonwealth  against  the  West- 
ern Union  Telegraph  Company  for  taxes 
upon  receipts  for  messages  crossing  the  State 
lines.  In  this  case  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Pennsylvania  decided  against  the  company, 
but  Mr.  Olmsted  succeeded  in  reversing  that 
decision  on  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States,  and  established  the  prin- 
ciple that  such  business  was  inter-State  com- 
merce, the  right  to  regulate  which  was  ex- 
clusively vested  in  Congress. 

Mr.  Olmsted's  earlier  practice  was  confined 
almost  exclusively  to  corporation  tax  busi- 
ness, but  his  reputation  as  a  profound  law- 
yer of  infinite  resources  became  so  general 
throughout  the  State  that  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  resist  the  importunities  of  clients 
in  other  branches  of  the  law,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  widen  its  scope  until  it  em- 
braced corporation  business  of  all  kinds. 

Among  the  first  of-  his  successes  in  this 


broader  field  was  in  the  case  of  the  Com- 
monwealth vs.  The  Beech  Creek  Railroail 
Company,  where  the  State  interfered  by  in- 
junction to  prevent  the  sale  of  the  defendant 
company's  stock  to  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company.  The  injunction  was  dis- 
solved as  to  Mr.  Olmsted's  clients,  but  con- 
tinued as  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  thus  preventing  the  deal. 

In  the  several  suits  brought  b}'  the  attor- 
ney general  in  1886  to  dissolve  the  Anthra- 
cite Coal  Combination  and  Trunk  Line 
Pool,  in  relation  to  which  it  was  said  at  the 
time  that  the  attorney  general  was  attempt- 
ing to  regulate  two  thousand  million  dollars 
of  capital,  Mr.  Olmsted  appeared  alone  as 
counsel  for  the  New  York  Central  Railroad 
Company,  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and 
Western  Railroad  Company,  Lake  Shore 
and  Michigan  Southern  Railway  Company, 
Buffalo,  New  York  and  Philadelphia  Rail- 
road Company,  New  York,  Lake  Erie  and 
Western  Railroad  Company,  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Coal  (bmpany,  Delaware  and  Hudson 
Canal  Company,  tiie  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad 
Company,  and  as  associate  counsel  for  most 
of  the  other  companies  concerned  in  the 
suit.  These  suits  were  without  a  doubt  the 
most  important  ever  brought  in  the  State. 
The  suit  against  the  Trunk  Line  Pool  was 
abandoned  because  of  the  passage  by  Con- 
gress of  the  inter-State  commerce  law.  The 
case  against  the  Anthracite  Coal  Combina- 
tion was  decided  in  favor  of  Mr.  Olmsted's 
clients,  the  court  refusing  to  grant  the  in- 
junction asked  for  by  the  attorney  general. 

Mr.  Olmsted  was  attorney  for  tlie  several 
defendants  in  the  equity  suit  brought  by  the 
attorney  general  in  1891  to  compel  the  disso- 
lution of  what  was  known  as  the  "  Reading 
Combine."  He  conducted  the  examination 
of  the  witnesses  with  consummate  skill,  but 
the  case  never  reached  the  point  of  argument, 
owing  to  the  voluntary  abrogation  of  the 
leases  by  the  parties  themselves. 

The  length  of  this  sketch  forbids  mention 
of  but  a  very  few  of  the  many  highly  im- 
portant cases  in  which  Mr.  Olmsted  has  been 
concerned  since  his  admission  to  the  bar. 
Among  his  more  recent  victories  was  that 
achieved  in  establishing  the  constitutionality 
of  the  act  of  1893,  providing  for  controllers 
in  place  of  auditors  in  counties  having 
150,000  population. 

The  county  of  Schuylkill  had  met  with 
great  losses  through  the  dishonesty  of  her 
commissioners  in  the  construction  of  a  court 


456 


BIO  GRA  PHIGA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


house,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  auditors  did 
not  audit  their  accounts  until  the  end  of  the 
year,  when  it  was  too  late  to  make  adequate 
recover}'  from  the  commissioners. 

Luzerne  countj'  was  about  building  a  court 
house.  These  were  the  only  two  counties 
having  150,000  population  which  did  not 
already  have  controllers.  The  constitution- 
ality of  the  act  of  1893  was  contested  by  the 
auditors  and  commissioners  of  the  two 
counties  and  was  declared  unconstitutional 
by  the  Supreme  Court.  In  1895  the  Legis- 
lature passed  another  act  in  almost  the  same 
language.  The  county  commissioners  and 
the  county  auditors  refused  to  obey  its  pro- 
visions. An  action  was  again  brought  to 
test  its  constitutionality,  and  Judge  Lynch, 
of  Luzerne  county,  again  declared  it  to  be 
unconstitutional.  An  appeal  was  taken  to 
the  Supreme  Court,  and  the  two  counties  se- 
cured the  services  of  Mr.  Olmsted,  who  had 
not  been  concerned  in  either  of  the  other 
cases.  On  argument  the  Supreme  Court 
sustained  the  constitutionality  of  the  act  and 
ousted  the  county  auditors  from  office. 
While  not  involving  as  large  an  amount  of 
money  as  many  of  his  other  cases,  this  vic- 
tory was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  notable 
in  Mr.  Olmsted's  remarkable  career. 

Among  his  services  to  the  State  may  be 
mentioned  the  fact  that  Mr.  Olmsted  framed 
the  revenue  act  of  1874  and  also  the  revenue 
act  of  1877.  Both  of  these  acts  passed  in  the 
exact  form  in  which  they  were  prepared  and 
both  withstood  all  attacks  that  were  made 
upon  them,  being  sustained  b\'  the  courts  in 
ever}'  particular.  He  devised  the  tax  on  the 
franchises  of  coal  mining  companies  in  sec- 
tion 7  of  the  act  of  1874.  Previous  to  that 
time  the  State  had  taxed  the  anthracite  coal 
mined  by  the  carrying  companies,  which  tax 
was  believed  to  be  rendered  invalid  by  the 
new  Constitution.  To  avoid  that  the  tax 
upon  the  franchises  of  coal  companies  was 
devised  and  its  constitutionality  was  sus- 
tained by  tire  Supreme  Court  in  the  case  of 
the  Commonwealth  vs.  Kittanning  Coal 
Compan}'.  The  State  derived  an  immense 
revenue  from  this  tax  until  so  much  being 
found  unnecessary  it  was  repealed  in  1879. 
He  also  devised  the  tax  on  gross  premiums 
of  insurance  companies,  found  in  the  act  of 
1877,  and  which  was  sustained  by  the  courts 
after  combined  assaults  by  the  insurance 
companies,  and  under  which  the  Common- 
wealth has  collected  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  dollars. 


Mr.  Olmsted  is  president  and  general 
counsel  of  the  Beech  Creek  Railroad  Com- 
pany, of  the  Buffalo  and  Susquehanna 
Railroad  Company,  and  of  the  Coudersport 
and  \A'ellsboro'  Railroad  Company.  He  is  a 
director  in  the  Pine  Creek  Railroad  Com- 
pany, the  Coudersport  and  Pine  Creek  Rail- 
road Compan}',  the  Clearfield  Bituminous 
Coal  Corporation,  and  the  Commonwealth 
Guarantee  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company, 
of  Harrisburg,  as  well  as  being  largel}'  in- 
terested in  the  various  industrial  enterprises 
of  the  city  of  Harrisburg. 

As  a  lawyer  his  fame  extends  bej'ond  the 
limits  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  as  an  expert  on  all  questions  of 
constitutional  corporate  taxation  he  has, 
perhaps,  no  equal  in  the  United  States. 
His  practice  is  as  extensive  as  that  of  any 
lawyer  in  the  Commonwealth,  and  none  are 
consulted  by  as  large  a  clientage  among  the 
corporations  of  the  Nation.  His  legal  argu- 
ments are  marvels  of  clearness  and  erudi- 
tion. It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he 
never  goes  into  court  without  being  fully 
prepared  to  meet  every  possible  point  that 
may  be  raised  by  his  adversary.  He  is, 
therefore,  never  surprised  by  any  of  the  de- 
velopments of  a  case,  and  it  is  to  this  fact, 
as  much  as  to  any  other,  that  he  owes  his 
remarkable  success.  While  a  master  of  lan- 
guage, he  uses  none  of  the  arts  of  rhetoric 
in  his  arguments.  He  relies  upon  none  of 
the  tricks  of  the  elocutionist,  but  depends 
for  his  victories  upon  a  plain,  energetic  ex- 
position of  the  law  and  a  skillful  marshalling 
of  the  facts. 

Mr.  Olmsted  is  unmarried,  is  fond  of  so- 
ciet}',  and  is  a  devotee  of  field  and  aquatic 
sports.  He  is  both  a  judge  and  lover  of 
good  horses,  rides  and  drives  well,  and  his 
stable  contains  some  of  the  finest  animals  in 
the  country.  He  is  a  frequent  visitor  to 
Europe,  and  has  travelled  extensively 
throughout  the  United  States. 

He  has  never  filled  any  political  position 
since  his  admission  to  the  bar,  except  in 
1879,  when  his  party  nominated  him  with- 
out his  consent  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  select 
council  caused  by  the  election  of  C.  L. 
Bailej'  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and 
three  successive  Democratic  nominees  have 
declined  to  run  against  him  ;  he  was  elected 
without  opposition. 

Mr.  Olmsted  has  always  been  a  Republi 
can  in   politics,   an   earnest   worker   and  a 
liberal  contributor  in  the  campaigns  of  his 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


457 


party.  On  September  4,  1896,  the  Republi- 
can County  Convention,  of  Dauphin  county, 
nominated  him  by  acclamation  as  its  candi- 
date for  Congress  in  the  district  composed 
of  the  counties  of  Dauphin,  Lebanon  and 
Perry  and  upon  August  11,  1896,  he  was 
nominated  by  the  district  conference.  He 
will  undoubtedly  be  elected,  and  probably 
by  the  largest  majority  ever  given  to  a  can- 
didate in  the  district.  His  qualifications  for 
the  position  are  ideal,  and  he  will  at  once 
take  rank  among  the  foremost  men  in  pub- 
lic life. 

Such  in  brief  is  the  career  of  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  members  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania bar.  If  his  success  has  been  extra- 
ordinary, it  is  because  he  brought  to  his 
profession  the  ambition,  energy,  stability, 
integrity  and  perseverance  which  character- 
ize the  highest  type  of  the  American  citi- 
zen.—W.  C.  F. 


Fox,  John  E.,  attorney,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
was  born  at  Hunimelstown,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  November  27,  1861.  His  paternal  an- 
cestors were  English  Quakers,  born  in  Devon- 
shire, near  Plymouth,  who  came  to  America 
in  1700  and  settled  near  Germantown,  Pa., 
until  1800.  His  maternal  ancestors  were 
German,  and  were  from  near  Zurich,  Switzer- 
land. John  Fox,  great-grandfather  of  John 
E.  Fox,  came  to  Dauphin  county  and  settled 
near  Hummelstown.  His  children  were : 
John,  afterwards  sheriff  of  the  county, 
George,  grandfather  of  John  E.  Fox,  James, 
Richard,  Thomas,  and  one  daughter,  who 
married  John  Phillips,  who  about  1829 
represented  his  district  in  Congress.  George 
Fox  had  five  sons:  Richard,  who  lived  and 
died  at  Hummelstown,  John  E.,  who  lived 
and  died  at  Philadelphia,  James,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Dauphin  county  bar  and 
died  in  1858,  Abner,  of  Missouri,  and 
Thomas  G.,  of  Hummelstown,  who  married 
Diana  Hershey.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  G. 
Fox  are  the  parents  of  John  E. 

John  E.  Fox  was  reared  at  Hummelstown 
and  received  his  primary  education  there. 
He  studied  at  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  Pa., 
and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1885. 
He  also  received  from  this  institution  the 
degree  of  A.  M.  After  graduation  he  taught 
the  grammar  school  at  Hummelstown  for 
two  years.  He  read  law  under  Weiss  &  Gil- 
bert. He  completed  his  education  by  a  tour 
of  foreign  travel,  and  returned  to  Harrisburg. 
July  23,  1888,  he  was  admitted   to  the  Dau- 


phin count)'^  bar,  and  he  has  since  that  time 
practiced  law  in  the  city,  mainly  in  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  in  the  Orphans' 
Court.  He  enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice. In  the  spring  of  1889  he  traveled  over 
the  United  States  and  made  a  personal  obser- 
vation of  his  own  country,  in  order  that' he 
might  be  able  to  intelligently  compare  and 
contrast  it  with  foreign  countries.  In  1891 
he  made  a  complete  circuit  of  the  globe,  solely 
for  personal  pleasure  and  improvement.  He 
visited  Italy,  Egypt,  Arabia,  India,  Siam, 
China  and  Japan,  not  overlooking  other  im- 
portant regions.  Mr.  Fox  has  gratified  his 
literary  and  professional  tastes  by  the  collec- 
tion of  a  library  hardly  excelled  in  its  tech- 
nical and  literary  treasures  by  any  library  in 
the  city. 

He  is  active  in  politics  in  connection  with 
the  Republican  party.  He  served  as  delegate 
from  his  congressional  district  to  the  Repub- 
lican National  Convention  at  Minneapolis 
in  1892.  He  is  president  of  his  college  class 
organization  and  prominent  in  the  alumni 
society  of  his  college.  He  is  interested  as  a 
stockholder  in  the  Harrisburg  Trust  Com- 
pan}',  the  Wilkes- Barre  and  Wyoming  Val- 
ley Traction  Company,  Southwestern  Mis- 
souri Electric  Company,  Citizens  Passenger 
Railway  Company  of  Harrisburg,  People's 
Bridge  Company,  Harrisburg  and  Cornwall 
Turnpike  Company,  Mechanicsburg  Electric 
Railway  Company,  Brook  wood  Traction  Com- 
pany, Farmers  Bank  of  Hummelstown,  and 
the  Chestnut  Street  Market  Company.  He 
has  also  large  real  estate  interests  in  the  city. 
Mr.  Fox  is  a  member  of  the  Harrisburg  Club 
and  of  the  Benevolence  Club.  He  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  city  library  and  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.     He  is  not  married. 


Brightbill,  Oscar  K.,  attorney-at-law,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg,  December  9,  1865.  He 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  A.  and  Catherine  (Bender) 
Brightbill.  His  father  was  born  in  Susque- 
hanna township,  and  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  Harrisburg,  where  for  fifteen 
years  he  held  the  position  of  register  clerk 
in  the  postoffice.  During  the  latter  years 
of  his  life  he  was  engaged  as  tester  of  steel 
in  the  Bailey  iron  and  steel  works.  He  died 
December  31, 1892,  highly  honored  by  those 
who  knew  him  best,  and  universally  re- 
garded as  a  man  faithful  and  kind  in  all  the 
relations  of  life.  His  widow  still  resides  in 
Harrisburg. 

Oscar  K.  Brightbill  took  the  regular  course 


458 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


of  studies  pursued  in  the  city  schools  of  Har- 
risburg,  and  was  graduated  from  tlie  high 
school  in  1885.  He  was  engaged  for  one 
year  in  the  capacity  of  accountant  in  the 
office  of  H.  B.  Mitchell.  In  1886  he  began 
the.  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  C.  H.  Berg- 
ner,  Esq.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Dauphin  county,  October  9,  1888,  and  to 
practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  in  May,  1892. 
He  was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  county 
solicitor  in  1894,  but  was  defeated  by  Albert 
Millar,  Esq.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Junior 
Order  of  United  American  Mechanics.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  attends  the 
Lutheran  church. 


KiSTER,  William  H.,  attorney-at-law,  was 
born  at  Loganton,  Clinton  county.  Pa.,  July 
15,  1855,  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  O.  (Zellers) 
Kister,  both  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  of 
German  ancestry.  The  father  was  born  in 
Lehigh  county,  July  4,  1880;  removed  with 
his  ])ai'ents,  when  about  five  years  old,  to 
Clinton  county,  and  resided  near  Jersey 
Shore  about  one  year.  He  was  a  shoemaker 
and  had  contracts  for  supplying  the  army 
with  shoes.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business,  but  has  lived  a  retired  life 
for  some  years.  The  mother  was  born  Sep- 
tember, 1834.  Of  their  five  children,  four 
are  living:  William  H. ;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Charles  A.  Weaver,  residing  at  Osceola  Mills, 
Clearfield  county,  Pa. ;  Emma  F.,  wife  of 
Jacob  0.  Berm,  Osceola  Mills ;  James  T., 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Tlie  father  is  a  prominent 
man  in  Clinton  county,  and  lias  filled  im- 
portant offices  and  places  of  trust  with  effi- 
ciency and  credit. 

William  H.  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Clinton  county,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  that  county,  complet- 
ing it  by  a  collegiate  course  in  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College,  at  Lancaster,  from  which 
^le  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1875.  He 
/opened  a  private  school  at  Milton,  Northum- 
berland county,  and  was  later  professor  of 
Latin  and  rhetoric  in  the  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute at  Henry,  111.,  and  while  holding  this 
position  was  appointed  to  the  superinten- 
dency  of  the  city  and  county  schools,  occupy- 
ing both  positions  at  the  same  time.  In  1887 
he  was  elected  to  represent  a  district  com- 
posed of  Marshall  and  three  other  adjoining 
counties  in  the  Illinois  Legislature  for  two 
years.  In  1889  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania 
and  located  at  Harrisburg,  where  he  was 
shortly  after  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  has 


since  that  time  been  engaged  in  a  general 
practice.  Mr.  Kister  was  married,  January 
25, 1876,  to  Miriam  Kling,  daugliter  of  Adam 
S.  and  Lucinda  Kling.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Kister  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  F.  &  A.  M.  of  Illinois,  of  Marshall 
Lodge,  No.  63,  of  Henry,  111.,  and  of  a  com- 
mandery.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Kister 
is  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Reformed  church. 


Backenstoe,  Clayton  H.,  attorney-at-law, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  West  Hanover 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  He  is  the 
eldest  son  of  ex-county  commissioner  John  H. 
Backenstoe  and  Mary  E.  Backenstoe.  He 
attended  the  district  schools  of  West  Han- 
over township  until  he  was  nine  years  of 
age,  when  his  parents  removed  to  Derry 
township,  near  the  village  of  Union  Deposit, 
where  the\'  now  reside.  Hewasapujiil  in 
the  district  school  of  this  township  until  he 
was  fifteen,  when  he  entered  Lebanon  Val- 
ley College,  where  he  studied  for  one  year. 
For  the  three  years  ensuing  he  taught  in  the 
common  schools,  after  which  he  re-entered 
Lebanon  Valley  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1887.  He  was  the 
orator  of  his  class  and  the  chief  editor  of  the 
class  journal. 

After  his  graduation  he  at  once  registered 
as  a  student  of  law  with  the  distinguished 
firm  of  Fleming  &  McCarrell,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  The  senior  member  of  the  firm,  Hon. 
David  Fleming,  dying  soon  after  this  regis- 
tration, Mr.  Backenstoe  continued  his 
studies  under  the  direction  of  the  junior 
partner,  Hon.  Samuel  J.  M.  McCarrell,  whose 
great  ability  and  commanding  position  at 
the  bar  assured  him  of  thorough  instruction 
and  skillful  guidance.  In  October,  1889,  Mr. 
Backenstoe  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
several  courts  of  Dauphin  county,  and  was 
soon  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  extensive  and 
increasing  legal  business,  an  important  part 
of  which  is  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
and  Orphans'  Court,  in  the  settlement  of 
decendents'  estates.  He  has  also  been  con- 
nected, as  counsel  for  the  accused,  with  a 
number  of  important  crimiual  cases ;  a  noted 
instance  is  the  case  of  Andrew  Undergast, 
charged  with  the  murder  of  his  wife;  in 
this  case  Mr.  Backenstoe  was  associated  with 
J.  C.  Nissley,  Esq.,  as  counsel  for  the  accused, 
for  whom  they  obtained  a  verdict  of  acquit- 
tal on  the  capital  charge,  the  Commonwealth 
being  forced   to  accept  a  plea  of  felonious 


SS^^^^- 


(1^ 


e^^Oi.r:.  f»c 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


459 


assault  and  battery.  Mr.  Backenstoe  was 
admitted  in  1891  to  fjractice  before  tiie 
Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Backenstoe  is  among  the  most  active 
young  members  of  tiie  Republican  party,  his 
voice  being  heard  from  the  stump  in  every 
campaign,  not  only  in  tlie  county,  but  also 
throughout  the  State.  He  has  frequently 
served  his  party  ably  as  a  delegate  to  county 
and  State  conventions,  and  has  been  chosen 
as  a  confrere  in  the  various  congressional 
conferences  of  his  district.  He  is  financially 
identified  with  various  interests  of  the 
county  and  State,  being  a  stockholder  in  a 
number  of  financial  institutions  of  Harris- 
burg.  Plis  growing  practice  is  indubitably 
the  achievement  of  his  exceptional  energy 
and  untiring  application  to  his  work,  dis- 
plaj'ed  in  the  painstaking  and  skillful 
preparation  of  his  cases,  and  his  watcliful 
fidelity  to  the  interests  confided  to  his  hands. 


Calder,  Col.  Ho\v.\rd  L.,  attorney-at-law, 
was  born  June  10,  1864,  in  the  old  Calder 
homestead,  413  Market  street,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  He  is  a  descendant  of  William  Calder, 
who  settled  in  this  city  in  the  early  days  of 
tiie  century  and  was  extensively  engaged  as 
a  stage  line  proj)rietor  and  contractor.  His 
father,  the  Rev.  .James  Calder,  D.  D.,  was  well 
known  in  the  aft'airs  of  our  cit\'  and  was 
prominent  in  educational  circles,  having 
served  as  president  of  Hillsdale  College, 
Michigan,  and  the  Pennsylvania  State  Col- 
lege, I'espectively.  Howard  L.  received  his 
early  education  in  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment of  the  State  College  and  the  Harrisburg 
high  school,  graduating  from  the  latter  as 
valedictorian  in  the  class  of  1883.  He  at 
once  entered  Bucknell  College  and  graduated 
as  third  iionor  man  of  a  large  class  in  1887, 
being  awarded  the  prize  for  the  senior  ora- 
tion. The  Master's  oration  was  assigned  to 
him  by  his  alma  mater  as  a  recognition  of 
his  ability  and  standing  and  was  acceptably 
delivered  in  1890,  the  subject  being  "Ele- 
mentary Law  in  the  College  Curriculum." 
After  completing  his  college  course  in  1887, 
Mr.  Calder  registered  as  a  student  at  law  with 
Hon.  Robert  Snodgrass  and  was  admitted  to 
the  Dauphin  county  bar  in  the  fall  of  1889. 
Since  his  admission  he  hasjnadei'apid  strides 
in  his  profession.  His  ability  as  a  public 
speaker  has  given  him  great  popularity 
among  all  classes  and  his  careful  application 
to  matters  entrusted  to  his  care  has  estab- 
lished for  him  a  substantial   and   growing 


clientage.  At  tlie  present  time,  in  connection 
with  A.  Wil.son  Norris,  Esq.,  his  law  partner, 
lie  represents  some  of  the  largest  estates 
in  the  city,  having  made  a  marked  success 
in  the  Orphans'  Court.  Pie  has  served  in  the 
Pennsylvania  National  Guard  for  twelve 
years.  Enlisting  as  a  private  he  is  now  aide- 
de-camp  with  the  rank  of  captain  on  the  staff 
of  Brig.  Gen.  J.  P.  S.  Gobin.  He  is  the  pres- 
ent (1890)  Worslii[>ful  Master  of  Perseverance 
Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  connected 
with  other  [)rominent  civic  and  social  organi 
zations. 


Hain,  William  M.,  attorney-at-law,  was 
born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  September  9, 1803.  He  is  a  son 
of  George  and  Sarah  (Uhrich)  Hain,  the 
former  a  native  of  Daui)hin  county  and  still 
residing  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  tiie  latter 
a  native  of  Lebanon  county,  died  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  February  20,  1895.  The 
Hain  family  were  among  the  very  earlies) 
settlers  of  Dauphin  county  and  Lower  Pax- 
ton township,  where  the  great-grandparents 
located  in  the  early  history  of  the  county. 
The  parents  of  William  M.  had  born  to  them 
twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  George,  of  Harrisburg;  Jacob,  Jolin 
and  David,  iirominent  farmers  of  Lower  Pax- 
ton township;  William  M.,  Edwin  S.,  and 
Henry  F.,  of  Harrisburg,  and  Galen,  for- 
merly attendingand  teaching  school  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  and  now  studying  den- 
tistry. The  grandfatiier.  George  Main,  was 
county  commissioner  of  Dauphin  county  for 
many  years.  William  M.  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  township,  and  received 
his  primary  education  in  the  public  schools 
there.  He  attended  Muhlenberg  College  of 
AUentown,  Pa.,  and  also  Lebanon  Valley 
College  at  Annville,  Pa.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  latter  institution  with  the  class  of 
1888.  He  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  read 
law  with  Weiss  &  Gilbert  and  John  A.  Her- 
man. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Dau- 
])liin  county  in  1890,  and  entered  at  once 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  this 
bar.  He  has  been  a  notary  public  since 
1890.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order 
of  American  Mechanics.  Li  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church.  He  is  a  popular  young  man  with 
a  large  clientage  in  both  civil  and  criminal 
causes,  and  his  prospects  for  a  prosperous 
career  are  flattering. 


460 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Meyeks,  William  K.,  attorney-at-law,  was 
born  in  Bedford,  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1867,  and  is  the  youngest  son  of 
Benjamin  F.  and  Susan  C.  (Koontz)  Meyers. 
In  the  spring  of  1873  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg  with  his  parents.  His  primary  educa- 
tion was  received  in  the  public  schools  of 
Harrisburg,  supplemented  by  a  thorough 
course  in  the  high  school,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1886,  with  the 
honor  of  valedictorian  of  the  class.  Imme- 
diately after  completing  his  education  in  the 
high  school  he  became  connected  with  the 
editorial  department  of. the  Harrisburg  Pa- 
triot. He  subsequently  studied  law  with  the 
firm  of  Mumma  &  Shoop  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Daupliin  county  bar  in  the  spring  of 

1890.  During  the  term  of  1890  and  1891  he 
attended  the  law  department  of  Yale  Col- 
lege, New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  was  graduated 
from  that  institution  with  the  class  of  June, 

1891,  receiving  tlie  degree  of  LL.  B.,  and  in 
July,  1891,  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen 
profession  in  Harrisburg. 

Mr.  Meyers  was  married  in  Harrisburg, 
November  14,  1893,  to  Miss  Mary  Hunter, 
daughter  of  George  W.  and  Mary  Hunter, 
botli  deceased,  and  to  their  union  has  been 
born  one  child,  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  April 
23,  1895. 

Mr.  Meyers  has  held  the  office  of  chairman 
of  the  Democratic  committee  for  five  years, 
and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  Con- 
vention in  Chicago  in  1896.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopalian  church  and  Mrs. 
Meyers  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church. 


McCoNKEY,  Charles  B.,  attorney-at-law, 
was  born  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  December  29, 
1869.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Eldridge  and 
Fannie  M.  McConkey.  His  father,  a  native 
of  Chester  county.  Pa.,  studied  at  Yale  Col- 
lege for  three  years  and  was  a  graduate  of 
the  Havard  law  school.  He  was  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Harrisburg  Gas  Company  for  four- 
teen years.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  served  in  tiie  city  council.  He  was  twice 
married,  being  in  the  first  united  with  Cath- 
arine Jones,  who  was  the  mother  of  Charles 
B.  He  died  in  1887,  and  his  second  wife 
survives  him. 

Charles  B.  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  Harrisburg  schools,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  Yale  College  with  the  class  of  1888. 
He  also  studied  one  year  in  the  Yale  law 
school.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Weiss 
&  Gilbert,  at  Harrisburg,  and  was  admitted 


to  the  Dauphin  county  bar  in  1891,  since 
which  time  he  has  conducted  a  successful 
practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Harrisburg 
Club.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  John 
McConkey,  highway  commissioner  of  Har- 
risburg, is  his  brother,  and  his  sisters  are 
Mary,  wife  of  R.  C.  Mercer,  residing  in  Hun- 
tingdon, Pa.,  and  Sarah  B.,  who  resides  at 
Harrisburg. 


Lemer,  Milton  M.,  attorney-at-law,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg,  Januarj'  21,  1865.  He 
is  a  son  of  La  Rue  and  Rebecca  (Marshall) 
Lemer.  His  father  is  a  native  of  Lisburu, 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  and  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  photographing  business  since 
1860.  His  mother  is  a  native  of  Philadel- 
phia. Four  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  of  whom  Milton  M.  is  the  eldest.  The 
other  children  are  Mary  A.,  May  and  La  Rue, 
Jr.  Milton  M.  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Harrisburg.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  liigh  school  in  1882,  and 
from  the  Harrisburg  Academy  in  1884. 
Later  he  attended  Yale  University  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1889.  He 
read  law  with  James  I.  Chamberlin,  of  Har- 
risburg, and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  in  March,  1892,  and  to  practice 
in  the  Supreme  Court  in  1894.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Harrisburg,  October  18,  1894,  to  Lu- 
cinda  B.  Black,  daughter  of  the  late  Thomas 
J.  and  Mary  F.  Black,  of  Harrisburg.  His 
son,  Milton  M.  Lemer,  Jr.,  was  born  August 
22, 1895. 


Bailey,  Charles  L.,  Jr.,  Harrisburg,  at- 
torney-at-law, a  successful  practitioner  at  the 
Dauphin  county  bar,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, June  26,  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles 
L.  and  Emma  Harriet  (Doll)  Bailey. 

His  primary  education  was  acquired  under 
private  tutors,  his  preparator}'  course  for 
college  at  St.  Paul's  School,  Concord,  N.  H., 
and  the  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  Mass., 
and  his  collegiate  course  in  Yale  College, 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  from  which  institution 
he  graduated  in  1886. 

During  this  year  he  commenced  reading 
law  with  Messrs.  Hall  &  Jordan,  of  Harris- 
burg. In  October,  1888,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  Dauphin  county  bar,  and  in  1892  to  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  March  10, 
1892,  to  Miss  Mary  Frances  Seller,  daughter 
of  Daniel  W.  and  Eliza  (Clark)  Seller,  and 
their  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  chil- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


461 


dren  :  Mary  Emily  and  Frances.  In  politi- 
cal views  Mr.  Bailey  is  a  Republican  and  in 
religious  views  an  Episcopalian  and  attends 
St.  Stephen's  church. 


Shoemaker,  Homer,  attorney-at-law,  9 
North  Tiiird  street,  Harrisburg,  Pa. ;  born 
in  Tioga  county,  Pa.;  son  of  Rev.  Elisha 
Shoemaker;  educated  at  Dickinson  Semi- 
nary, Williamsport,  Pa.,  and  Dickinson  (Jol- 
lege,  Carlisle,  Pa. ;  read  law  with  the  late  A. 
B.  Sharpe,  Esq.,  Carlisle,  Pa.;  graduated 
from  the  Dickinson  School  of  Law,  Carlisle, 
Pa.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Cumber- 
land county  in  1892  ;  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Dauphin  county  in  1893. 


Carter,  William  Justin,  attorne3'-at-law, 
Harrisburg,  was  born  at  Richmond,  Va., 
May  28,  1800.  He  is  a  son  of  Edmund  and 
Elizal)eth  Carter,  botii  natives  of  Virginia, 
and  both  residing  in  Caroline  county,  Va. 
He  received  his  primary  education  in  Rich- 
mond, and  in  1878,  with  his  parents,  re- 
moved to  Caroline  count}',  and  there  at- 
tended the  district  public  school.  In  1883 
he  entered  the  ^^irginia  Normal  and  Colle- 
giate Institute,  at  Petersburg,  attending  the 
session  of  1883-84.  He  then  returned  to 
Caroline  county,  and  was  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  for  two  sessions.  While  en- 
gaged in  teaching  lie  studied  privately,  and 
in  1880  he  entered  Howard  [Jniversity,  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  remained  there  four 
sessions,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1890. 
In  October,  1890,  he  entered  the  law  de- 
partment of  this  university,  and  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws  on  the 
30tli  of  May,  1892,  standing  tliird  in  a  cla.ss 
of  thirty.  He  was  licensed  as  an  attorney 
and  counselor-at-law  bj^  Chief  .Justice  Lewis 
and  Justice  Fauntelroy,  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Virginia,  in  the  fall  of  1892. 
Afterwards  he  removed  to  Anne  Arundel 
county,  Md.,  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
before  the  Circuit  Court  of  that  county,  and 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Baltiniore  city,  in 
1892.  For  the  two  following  years  he 
practiced  his  profession  at  Annapolis,  Md. 
On  March  21,  1894,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Dauphin  county  bar,  and  began  a  general 
practice  in  the  city  of  Harrisburg,  in  June 
of  that  year. 

Mr.  Carter  was  married  at  Annapolis, 
Md.,  February  17,   1894,   to    Elizabeth   M. 


Allen,  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Allen,  pastor 
of  the  First  Baptist  church,  of  Baltimore, 
Md.,  and  Mary  P.  Allen.  One  child  has 
been  born  to  them,  Harlan  A.,  born  Novem- 
ber 25,  1894. 

In  political  views  Mr.  Carter  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  is  a  member  of  Lincoln  Memorial 
Congregational  church,  of  Washington,  D. 
C,  and  Mrs.  Carter  is  a  member  of  the  Capi- 
tol Street  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Carter 
is  a  member  of  the  Golden  Rule  Lodge,  No. 
1415,  G.  U.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Annapolis,  Md.  He 
is  the  first  and  only  colored  lawyer  admitted 
to  the  Dauphin  county  bar. 


SwARTZ,  Joshua  W.,  attorney  and  coun- 
selor-at-law, was  born  in  Lower  Swatara 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  June  9, 1807. 
He  is  a  son  of  Martin  N.  and  Harriet  (Wal- 
lower)  Swartz,  the  former  a  native  of  Lower 
Swatara,  the  latter  of  Susquehanna  town- 
ship. Martin  M.  Swartz  died  September  5, 
1878;  his  wife  is  still  living  and  residing  in 
Lower  Swatara  township  aforesaid.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  and  a  respected  citizen 
of  Lower  Swatara,  where  he  spent  his  life. 
They  had  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are 
still  living:  Cliristian  L., residing  onthehome 
farm;  Oliver  W.,  a  merchant  of  Middletown, 
Pa.;  Joshua  W.;  I.  B.,  and  E.  G.,  lawyers, 
and  partners  in  the  business  of  their  brother, 
Joshua  W. 

The  primary  education  of  Joshua  W. 
Swartz  was  received  in  the  schools  at  home. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  stair- 
builder,  at  which  he  worked  in  Middletown 
four  years.  In  1887  he  entered  the  Lebanon 
Valley  College,  and  in  the  meantime  took  a 
commercial  course  in  the  Williamsport  Busi- 
ness College.  In  1888  he  again  entered 
Lebanon  Valley  College.  He  read  law  with 
John  A.  Herman,  of  Harrisburg.  He  en- 
tered the  Dickinson  law  school,  and  gradu- 
ated June  0,  1892.  On  the  7th  of  June, 
1892,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Cumberland 
county  bar,  and  July  12,  1892,  to  Dauphin 
county  bar.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  Supreme  Court  June  1,  1896.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1892,  he  began  practice  in  Harrisburg. 

He  was  married  in  Indiana  county.  Pa., 
April  13,  1893.  to  Idella  M.  Goheen,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Margaret  (Gahagan)  Goheen, 
of  Indiana  county.  Pa.  They  have  one  son, 
Joshua  G.,  born  April  24, 1894.  Mr.  Swartz 
is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  attends  the 
Lutheran  church. 


462 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Zimmerman,  Samuel  H.,  attorney-at-law, 
notary  public,  was  born  in  Lower  Swatara 
township,  near  Higbspire,  November  23, 
18G9.  He  is  a  son  of  Valentine  and  Sabina 
B.  (Felty)  Zimmerman,  both  natives  of  Dau- 
phin county,  and  both  residing  in  Lower 
Swatara  township.  His  father  is  a  promi- 
nent farmer  in  this  township,  and  has  spent 
his  life  there.  He  and  his  wife  had  born  to 
them  a  family  of  twelve  children,  nine  of 
whom  are  living:  Philip  A.;  Mary  A.;  El- 
len Cwifeof  John  Bausman,  of  Middletown, 
Pa.;  Clara  L,  wife  of  Joseph  M.  Sander,  Mid- 
dletown, Pa. ;  Martha  M.,  wife  of  George  A. 
Wolffe,  Higbspire,  Pa.;  Samuel  H.;  John  D.; 
Lydia  D.,  and  Solomon  A. 

Samuel  H.  was  reared  to  manhood  and 
received  his  primary  education  in  the  f)ublic 
schools  of  his  township.  He  completed  his 
education  in  the  Steelton  high  school,  grad- 
uating from  this  institution  iu  1887.  He 
also  spent  two  years  at  Bucknell  University, 
Lewisburg,  Pa.  He  was  graduated  from  the 
classical  course  of  Ohio  Normal  University, 
Ada,  Ohio,  with  the  class  of  1891.  He  at- 
tended the  law  de|)artment  of  this  same  uni- 
versity, and  by  taking  the  studies  of  two 
years  in  one  year,  he  received  bis  di[>loma 
in  1892,  instead  of  1893.  He  registered  with 
John  C.  Nissley,  Januarj'  23,  1893,  as  a 
student  of  law,  and  read  with  him  for  two 
years.  During  this  time  he  was  elected  and 
served  as  {)rincipal  of  the  Higlispire  public 
schools,  filling  Ibis  position  for  the  full  term 
of  1893.  In  tiie  fall  of  1894  he  was  elected 
and  served  as  principal  of  the  Ebenezer  high 
school  of  Lower  Swatara  township.  On  March 
4, 1895,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  law  in  the 
Dauphin  county  courts,  and  has  practiced  in 
these  courts  since  that  date.  Mr.  Zimmer- 
man is  a  member  of  Star  of  Auierica  Com- 
mandery,  No.  113,  Knights  of  Malta,  of  Har- 
risburg.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of 
God.  He  seems  to  inherit  his  father's  inde- 
pendent spirit  in  politics,  and  in  the  cam- 
paign of  1895  he  stood  as  the  candidate  of 
the  Peo[)le's  party  for  the  office  of  district 
attorney  of  bis  county. 


NoRRis,  Alexander  Wilson,  son 
C.  Norris,  M.  D.,  and  Susan  Matilda 
Norris,  was  born  June  6,  1872,  at 
Clinton  county,  Pa.  On  his  father's 
is  descended  from  an  old  Virginia 
His  great-grandfather,  John  Norris, 
native  State  shortly  after  the  war 
Revolution,  and  settled    in  Mifflin 


of  John 
(Stine) 
Salona, 
side  he 
family, 
left  his 
of  the 
county. 


Pa.  On  the  maternal  side  his  ancestors 
were  of  German  descent.  His  great-great- 
grandfather, Abraham  Stein,  emigrated  to 
this  country  from  Germany  in  1748,  and 
settled  in  what  is  now  Jonestown,  Lebanon 
county.  Mr.  Norris'  father,  Dr.  John  C. 
Norris,  a  prominent  physician  of  Clinton 
county  and  an  officer  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  late  war,  died  when  his  son  was 
less  than  a  year  old.  Being  thus  deprived 
of  his  father's  care  the  boy  was  adopted  and 
raised  by  bis  uncle,  the  late  Col.  A.  Wilson 
Norris,  for  years  a  prominent  figure  in 
Pennsylvania  politics  and  auditor  general 
of  the  State  at  the  time  of  bis  death  in  1888. 
Mr.  Norris  was  educated  in  the  private 
schools  of  Philadelphia  and  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania.  He  came  to  Harris- 
burg  in  1890  and  began  the  study  of  law 
with  Weiss  &  Gilbert.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  June,  1893,  immediately  ujion 
bis  coming  of  age.  He  is  associated  in  the 
practice  of  law  with  Col.  Howard  L.  Calder 
under  the  firm  name  of  Calder  &  Norris. 
He  has  been  an  active  figure  in  politics  ever 
since  settling  in  Dauphin  county  and  is 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the  younger  leaders 
in  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Norris  has 
an  enviable  reputation  as  a  speaker,  both  on 
the  hustings  and  in  court.  He  has  been 
twice  elected  vice-president  of  the  Republi- 
can League  of  Clubs  iu  Pennsylvania.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  National  Guard 
of  Pennsylvania  for  six  or  seven  years  and 
at  present  an  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of 
Gen.  J.  P.  S.  Gobin,  with  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain. He  has  served  as  president  of  the 
Friendship  Fire  Conzpany,  No.  1,  the  oldest 
fire  company  in  Harrisburg;  is  a  member 
of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  and  of  a  number  of  other  organizations. 
Captain  Norris  is  a  member  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Historical  Society,  the  Dauphin 
County  Historical  Society,  and  of  several 
other  historical  and  genealogical  societies. 
He  also  holds  membership  in  a  number  of 
clubs  in  this  city  and  in  Philadelphia. 


Haldeman,  Donald  C,  attorney-at-law, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pa  ,  July  29,  1871,  son  of  Richard  J. 
and  Margaretta (Cameron)  Haldeman.  Rich- 
ard J.  Haldeman  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  May  19,  1831  ;  Mrs.  Haldeman 
also  was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county  and  a 
daughter  of  Simon  and  Margaretta  (Brua) 
Cameron.     Their  children  are :  Donald  C, 


DAUPHIM  COUNTY. 


463 


Eliza  E.,  and  Richard  0.  Mr.  Haldeinan 
was  a  member  of  a  Harrisburg  lodge,  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  was  a  Democrat.  He  died  Octo- 
ber 1,  1886,  aged  fifty-five  years.  Mrs.  Hal- 
deman  survives  him,  is  in  good  health  and 
resides  in  Harrisburg.  She  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Presbyteriun  church. 

Donald  C.  Haldeman  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  private  schools  at  Har- 
risburg, which  he  attended  until  he  was  si.K- 
teen  years  old.  He  then  went  to  Andover, 
Mass.,  for  a  two  j-ears'  course  in  Philli[)s 
Academy,  which  prepared  him  for  college. 
In  1889  he  was  admitted  to  Yale  University, 
pursued  the  regular  classical  course  and  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1893.  In  the 
same  year  he  entered  the  office  of  John  H. 
Weiss,  Esq.,  where  he  read  law  for  two  years, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin  county 
bar  in  June,  1895.  He  at  once  opened  an 
office  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Harrisburg.  Mr.  Haldeman  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


KuNKEL,  Paul  A.,  attorney-at-law  and 
notary  public,  son  of  George  Z.  and  Isabella 
(Herr)  Kunkel,  of  Harrisburg.  In  March, 
1895,  he  was  elected  borough  solicitor  of 
Middletown,  Pa.  He  was  married  in  Mid- 
dletown,  November,  1893,  to  Mary  Isabella 
King,  daughter  of  Arthur  and  Annie  King, 
of  York,  now  residing  in  Middletown.  To 
them  has  been  born  one  child,  Arthur. 


Wolf,  William,  real  estate  and  insurance 
agent  and  notaiy  public,  was  born  in  Ilech- 
ingen.  Province  of  Ilohenzollern,  Prussia, 
August  13,  1833.  lie  is  a  son  of  Elias  and 
Clara  (Einstein)  Wolf,  both  natives  of  Prus- 
sia. Elias  Wolf  was  a  merchant.  He  spent 
his  life  in  his  native  country,  and  died  No- 
vember 4,  1865.  His  widow  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1866,  and  made  her  home  with  her 
son,  William  Wolf.  She  died  Decemljer  19, 
1873.  Their  family  consisted  of  six  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living:  William,  Caroline, 
wife  of  Isaac  Meyer,  residing  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.;  Eliza,  wife  of  Abraham  Allgaier,  re- 
siding at  Mount  Carmel,  Northumberland 
county,  Pa. 

William  Wolf  spent  his  youth  in  his  native 
land.  He  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and  subsequently  en- 
joyed the  advantages  of  a  collegiate  course. 
He  then  became  clerk  in  a  mercantile  and 
banking  house,  and  was  so  engaged  until 


1854,  when  he  came  to  America.  Two  weeks 
after  reaching  Philadelphia  he  proceeded  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  has  resided  for  the 
past  forty-two  years.  Here  he  was  first  en- 
gaged as  salesman  in  a  mercantile  house 
until  1864.  In  this  year  he  opened  a  retail 
dry  goods  store,  which  he  continued  to  con- 
duct for  twelve  years.  In  1876  he  was 
obliged  to  abandon  this  business  on  account 
of  failing  health.  He  took  up  first  the  real 
estate,  afterwards  the  insurance  business. 
He  was  appointed  notary  public  in  1881. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  July  15, 
1859,  to  Miss  Matilda,  daughter  of  Solomon 
and  Amelia  Wolf,  born  in  the  same  province 
as  himself,  and  then  residents  of  Gratz,  Dau- 
phin county.  They  have  had  five  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living:  Emma,  widow  of 
Theodore  H.  Speier,  of  Harrisburg,  and 
Helen,  wife  of  Leon  Simon,  a  prominent 
cloak  manufacturer  of  Baltimore,  Md.  The 
deceased  children  are:  Simon,  died  May  26, 
1882,  aged  twenty,  a  bright,  promising  young 
man,  who  had  graduated  at  the  Philadelphia 
College  of  Pharmacy  on  March  10,1882; 
Elias,  died  December'  30,  1879,  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years,  and  Frederick,  who  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Wolf  is  a  member  of  Perse- 
verance Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Dauphin 
Lodge,  No.  160,  and  Dauphin  Encampment, 
No.  10,  I.  0.  O.  F.;  Council  No.  499,  Royal 
Arcanum;  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  2,030, 
Knigiits  of  Honor;  Harris  Lodge,  No.  983, 
Knights  of  Ladies  of  Honor;  Salem  Lodge, 
No.  26,  Independent  Order  of  Sons  of  Cove- 
nant; Harrisburg  Lodge,  No.  103,  Kesher 
Shel  Barsel.  Mr.  AVolf  is  independent  in 
liis  political  views.  He  attends  the  Jewish 
Tabernacle  Ohev  Sholem.  Mr.  Wolf  was 
president  of  the  congregation  for  about 
twenty-three  years.  He  served  with  distin- 
guished ability  and  success.  Through  his 
zeal,  energy,  tact  and  devotion  the  congrega- 
tion was  enabled  to  purchase  a  building  for 
a  house  of  worship,  school  and  meeting 
rooms.  He  was  tendered  a  resolution  of 
thanks  on  his  declining  further  election. 


Uhler,  Henry,  real  estate  and  insurance, 
was  born  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  August  3, 1838. 
He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth 
(Yeager)  Uhler.  His  father  was  also  a  native 
of  Harrisburg  and  was  born  November  18, 
1801.  He  was  a  merchant  tailor.  He  spent 
his  life  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  died  No- 
vember 14,  1869.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Yeager, 
was  born  in  this  city  January  21, 1806.     She 


46  4 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


died  here  March  19, 1885,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  four  are  living:  Elizabeth,  widow 
of  the  late  George  Bergner,  of  Harrisburg, 
Jeremiah,  of  Harrisburg,  Margaret,  and 
Henry,  all  residing  in  Harrisburg. 

Henr}'  Uhler  was  reared  iu  this  city  and 
has  spent  his  life  here,  being  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  became  a  clerk  in  the 
book  and  stationery  store  of  George  Bergner 
and  remained  in  this  position  until  1861. 
On  April  8,  18(11,  he  was  appointed  assistant 
postmaster  and  held  this  office  for  twenty- 
two  years.  He  was  also  treasurer  of  the 
Harrisburg  Gas  Company  from  18G8  to  1874. 
He  was  subsef|uently  engaged  in  the  broker- 
age business  for  several  years.  Since  1880 
he  has  been  continuously  engaged  in  his 
present  business. 

Mr.  Uhler  was  married  in  Harrisburg, 
April  11,  1895,  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Sherk, 
daughter  of  Micliael  and  Elizalseth  Sherk, 
who  wasborn  atGrantville,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  July  4,  1849.  In  political  views  Mr. 
Uhler  is  a  staunch  Republican. 

Brackenridoe,  Alfred,  real  estate  and 
insurance  and  notary  public,  was  born  in 
Lisburn  township,  Cumberland  county.  Pa., 
March  19,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  John 
and  Rebecca  (Pague)  Brackenridge.  His 
father  was  an  eminent  physician  and  prac- 
ticed in  Cumberland  county  the  greater  part 
of  his  life.  He  died  at  Danville,  Lycoming 
county.  Pa.,  in  1851,  while  comparatively  a 
young  man.  The  mother  of  Alfred  still  sur- 
vives, and  lives  at  Joliet,  111.,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  seventy-four  years.  His  parents  had 
a  family'  of  four  children  :  Theodore,  resid- 
ing at  Salem,  Ky. ;  Alfred  ;  John  E.,  who 
died  at  Harrisburg,  February,  1895,  at  the 
age  of  fort^'-seven  years;  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Thomas  Newbold,  residing  at  Joliet,  111. 
When  Alfred  was  about  four  years  old  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Shippensburg,and 
a  short  time  afterwards  to  Lycoming  county, 
then  back  to  Shippensburg,  and  after  that  to 
Newville.  While  the  family  were  in  Lycom- 
ing count}'  the  father  died.  At  Shippensburg 
Alfred  was  reared  to  manhood  and  educated 
by  Mr.  John  Givler.  He  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  learned  the  saddler's 
trade.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  company  F, 
First  battalion,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and 
served  six  months.  When  discharged,  he  re- 
turned to  Newville  and  worked  at  his  trade 
until   another  call  was  made  for  volunteers, 


when  he  re-enlisted  in  companj'  K,  Twentieth 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  ser- 
ved until  the  clo.se  of  the  war.  After  being  dis- 
charged at  Harrisburg,  he  took  a  position  as 
grocery  clerk  in  this  city,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued three  years,  during  which  time  he 
took  a  course  in  the  Business  College.  In 
1868  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for 
himself,  and  conducted  this  business  until 
1890.  In  1885  he  was  elected  alderman  for 
the  Second  ward.  Finding  that  the  duties 
of  this  office  demanded  his  whole  time  and 
attention,  he  closed  out  his  grocerj'  business 
and  devoted  his  entire  time  to  his  alder- 
manic  duties.  In  1890  he  was  re-elected  al- 
derman. At  the  expiration  of  his  second 
term,  in  Ma}  ,  1895,  he  engaged  in  his  present 
business.  He  was  married  at  Harrisburg, 
April  17,  1870,  to  Carrie  A.  Hummel,  who 
was  born  at  Wormleysburg,  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.,  December  10,  1843,  daughter  of 
John  P.  Hummel,  of  Clark  county,  Ohio, 
and  Ann  Hummel,  of  Hummelstown,  Pa., and 
a  granddaughter  of  the  founder  of  Hummels- 
town. To  them  have  been  born  four  children, 
namely:  John  Frederick,  born  February  8, 
1871,  died  Julv  11,  1871 ;  Alfred,  born  June 
3,  1872,  died  July  3,  1872;  Valentine  Hum- 
mel, born  March  7,  1876,  now  a  compositor 
in  Harrisburg  Telegraph  office,  and  John 
Givler,  born  December  24, 1880.  Mr.  Brack- 
enridge is  a  member  of  Nazareth  Com- 
mandery.  No.  125,  K.  of  M.,  of  A.  0.  U.  W., 
of  Dauphin  Conclave,  No.  96,  I.  0.  of  H.,  of 
Robert  Tippett  Lodge,  No.  730,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M., 
and  of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  and  Mrs.  Bracken- 
ridge are  members  and  active  workers  of 
Fourth  Street  Zion  Lutheran  church. 
Mr.  Brackenridge  has  been  connected  with 
the  Sunday-school  for  thirty  years,  and  sup- 
erintendent of  the  school  for  eight  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brackenridge  were  also  founders 
of  a  branch  church  at  Springdale. 

The  family  from  which  Mrs.  Brackenridge 
comes  is  one  of  note.  Her  great-grandfather 
was  oneofthefoundersof  Hummelstown.  Her 
father  was  a  bridge  builder  and  a  prominent 
man  in  the  county.  He  had  a  family  of 
eight  children  :  Frederick,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Calvin,  who  was  drowned  in  the 
Susquehanna  river  in  1846;  Valentine  B., 
residing  in  Wisconsin  ;  George  Washington, 
died  in  1880  at  the  age  of  forty  years  ;  Will- 
iam Henry  Harrison,  residing  at  Auburn, 
111.;  Mrs.  Brackenridge ;  John,  who  died  in 
infancy ;    Savilla  Elizabeth,   wife   of   Fred- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


465 


erick  Garmhausen,  residing  at  Harrisburg. 
Tiietwo  living  brothersof  Mrs.  Bracken  ridge, 
and  George  W.,  deceased,  enlisted  in  the 
army  as  privates  at  the  beginning,  and 
served  witli  distinction  to  the  close  of  the 
war.  Wiien  thej^  were  discharged,  the  three 
brothers  had  tlie  rank  of  captain  in  three 
different  brandies  of  the  service,  infantry, 
cavalry  and  artillery.  Tlie  brothers  of  Mr. 
Brackenridge  also  served  in  the  war.  John 
E.  served  six  months  in  company  F,  First 
regiment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  after- 
wards in  company  G,  Fifty-fifth  regiment, 
Pennsylvanina  volunteers;  Theodore  en- 
listed in  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  reg- 
iment and  served  with  distinction  during  the 
wiiole  war,  having  enlisted  twice  in  the  same 
regiment.  He  was  in  manj^  engagements, 
was  twice  taken  prisoner,  and  suffered  severe 
hardships. 


Kelker,  Luther  Reily,  second  son  of 
Rudolph  Frederick  Kelker  and  Mary  Anne 
Reily,  liis  wife,  was  born  February  29,  1848, 
in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  was  educated  in  tlie 
public  schools  and  at  Prof.  J.  F.  Seiler's 
academy,  graduating  from  the  latter  insti- 
tution in  18G6.  The  following  year  he  en- 
tered the  hardware  store  of  Kelker  &  Bro., 
remaining  with  them  until  April  1,  1878; 
one  month  later,  in  connection  with  his 
brother,  William  A.  Kelker,  he  opened  a 
hardware  store  under  the  firm  name  of  Kel- 
ker Bros.  In  1883  his  brother  retired  from 
active  business,  and  Mr.  Kelker  continued 
in  his  own  name  until  March,  1892,  when 
owing  to  long  continued  ill-healtli  lie  was 
compelled  to  retire.  A  year  after  he  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  business,  and  is  now 
prosecuting  the  same  successfully.  He  mar- 
ried, October  7,  1874,  Miss  Agnes  Keys 
Pearsol,  second  daughter  of  John  H.  Pear- 
sol  and  Cecelia  Ober,  his  wife,  of  Lancaster, 
Pa.  They  have  three  children:  Rudolph 
Frederick,  Jr.,  John  Pearsol  and  Mary  Reily. 
Mr.  Kelker  is  a  member  and  officer  of  Mar- 
ket Square  Presbyterian  church;  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolu- 
tion ;  in  politics  a  Republican ;  takes  an 
active  interest  in  the  institution  of  Free 
Masonry,  and  is  a  past  officer  in  all  the 
bodies  from  the  Blue  Lodge  to  the  Consis- 
tory, inclusive. 


Parthemore„  E.  Winfield  Scott,  was 
born  in  Highspire  July  25,  1852.  He  was 
the  fifth   in   descent  from  John   Frederick 


Parthemore,  who  came  to  Pennsylvania 
from  Hessen-Darmstadt,  Germany,  landing 
in  Philadelphia  October  20,  1744.  He  set- 
tled in  Derry  township,  then  Lancaster,  now 
Daupliin  county,  where  he  died  in  1752. 
His  wife  was  Anna  Maria  Weinmann, 
daughter  of  Philip  Weinmann,  also  from 
Sprendlingen,  Germany.  They  had  a  large 
family  of  children,  the  descendants  of  whom 
are  scattered  in  many  States  of  the  Union. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  E.  W.  S.  Parthemore 
were  Daniel  Parthemore  and  his  wife, 
Nancy  Ebersole.  The  latter  was  the  grand- 
daughter of  Ludwig  Bretz,  who  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution.  His  father's  grandfather 
also  served  in  the  struggle  for  independence. 
Tlirougli  the  Ebersoles  and  Bretzes  Mr.  Par- 
themore is  connected  with  many  of  the  rep- 
resentative families  of  Dauphin  county.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
entered  upon  mercantile  pursuits  at  High- 
spire  and  subsequently  in  Harrisburg.  In 
the  spring  of  1873  he  attended  one  session 
of  the  Millersville  State  Normal  School,  and 
in  1874  a  select  school  at  Middletown.  Dur- 
ing this  period  he  also  taught  school,  in  the 
winter  in  Powell's  Valley  and  Lower  Swatara 
township,  and  afterwards  the  secondary 
school  in  Highspire.  In  the  winter  of  1875 
he  was  employed  in  the  frog  and  switch  de- 
partment of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works 
as  a  machinist,  which  he  followed  until 
January  of  the  year  following.  In  July, 
1878,  Mr.  Parthemore  took  up  his  residence 
in  Harrisburg,  where  he  now  resides.  Be- 
ing a  prominent  Republican  he  has  always 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  various  local 
campaigns.  He  has  represented  his  ward 
in  select  council  for  several  years  and  is 
now  a  member  of  the  board  of  school  con- 
trol. He  is  an  active  member  in  the 
United  Brethren  church  and  has  represented 
that  denomination  as  a  lay  delegate  in  their 
annual  conference.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
active  business  men  in  Harrisburg,  and  is 
conspicuous  in  insurance  and  real  estate 
circles.  Mr.  Parthemore  is  one  of  the  direc- 
tors of  the  Harrisburg  Traction  Company, 
the  Manufacturing  and  Boiler  Company  and 
on  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Harrisburg 
Boot  and  Shoe  Manufacturing  Company, 
and  secretary  of  the  Kelker  Street  Market 
Company.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  several 
building  and  loan  associations.  For  a  period 
of  twelve  years  he  has  been  an  officer  of  the 


466 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENGYGL  OPEDIA 


Dauphin  County  Historical  Society  and  has 
taken  much  interest  in  historic  research. 
He  lias  prepared  and  published  a  genealogy 
of  the  Parthemore  family  (1885),  the  Bretz 
family  (1890),  the  records  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
lUing  (1891),"  Records  of  BindnagleChuFch  " 
and  "Hill  Church  in  Derry  Township,"  be- 
sides various  valuable  contributions  to  the 
history,  biography  and  genealogy  of  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Pennsylvania-German  Society  and  is  on  the 
board  of  management  of  that  organization. 
Through  his  great-grandparents  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Society  Sons 
of  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Parthemore  was 
married  June  20,  lS78,by  Bishop  J.  J.  GIoss- 
brenner  to  Clara  Sarah  Early,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Seth  Early  and  his  wife  Amanda 
A.  Mark.     They  have  seven  children  living. 

KoHLER,  William  H.,  real  estate  and  in- 
surance agent,  was  born  at  Harrisburg, 
April  20,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of  Stejdien  S. 
and  Mary  E.  Kohler,  both  natives  of  Con 
solodome,  Switzerland.  They  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1833  and  located  in  Harrisburg,  where 
they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  Tliefather 
died  January  30,1891;  tiie  mother  March 
10,  1886.  The  father  was  a  wheelwright, 
and  followed  that  business  for  some  years 
after  his  settlement  in  this  city,  but  during 
the  greater  part  of  his  residence  here  he  was 
a  contractor  and  builder.  He  served  in  the 
United  States  army  during  the  late  rebellion 
for  one  year  as  jirivate  in  com[)any  C,  Two 
Hundred  and  Eigiitii  Penn.sylvania  volun- 
teers. The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ste- 
phen S.  Kohler  are:  Jacob  C,  ex -chief  of 
Harrisburg  fire  department,  Annie,  wife  of 
John  W.  Smitii,  a  passenger  engineer  of  the 
Middle  division.  Pennsylvania  railroad, 
William  H.,  Charles  A.,  a  track  foreman  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  Ed- 
ward S.,  Laura  A.,  wife  of  Edward  J. 
O'Leary,  Emma,  wife  of  John  G.  Marks,  and 
Rosa,  wife  of  Frank  S.  Nutt. 

William  H.  Kohler  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Harrisburg,  and  after  leav- 
ing school  learned  the  trade  of  house  car- 
penter, and  followed  this  occupation  until 
1887.  From  1887  until  1891  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Harrisburg  postofRce  as 
letter  carrier.  In  1891  he  engaged  in  the 
planing  mill  business  in  connection  with 
Henry  Geizell,  under  the  firm  name  of  Gei- 
zell  &  Kohler.  This  partnership  continued 
until  December,  1894,  at  which   date  Mr. 


Kohler  retired  from  the  firm  and  embarke'^ 
in  his  present  business.  He  is  a  member 
of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  Olive  En- 
campment, No.  56,  Susquehanna  Lodge,  No. 
69,  IJaughters  of  Rebecca,  L  0.  0.  F.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  attends  the 
German  Reformed  church. 


Hammond,  William  B.,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delpiiia,  Pa.,  November  25,  1857.  He  is  a 
son  of  Charles  E.,  paymaster  of  the  United 
States  navy,  and  Elizabeth  F.  (Buehler) 
Hammond,  of  Philadelphia.  He  was  reared 
in  Bethlehem  and  Harrisburg,  and  received 
his  education  at  St.  Paul's  School  at  Concord, 
N.  H.,  and  Lehigh  University,  class  of  1879. 
After  leaving  college  he  engaged  with  the 
general  car  record  department  of  the  Lehigh 
Valley  railroad,  and  afterwards  with  the  firm 
of  Albert,  Lewis  &  Co.,  near  White  Haven, 
Pa.,  in  the  lumber  business.  He  was  a  clerk 
for  William  Buehler  &  Si  n  in  the  insurance 
business.  In  September,  1884,  he  became 
partner  with  Dr.  H.  B.  Buehler,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Buehler  &  Hammond,  and  con- 
tinued until  February  1,  1886,  when  he 
withdrew  from  the  firm  and  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Edward  Bailey,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Hammond  &  Bailey.  This  firm  has 
been  successful,  and  now  has  the  best  class 
of  business  in  the  city.  They  represent  the 
Pennsylvania  Fire,  Reliance,  Delaware  and 
Spring  Garden  of  Philadel[)hia,  Connecti- 
cut of  Hartford,  Merchants'  of  Newark, 
American  Central  of  St.  Louis,  British 
America  and  Western  of  Toronto,  Imperial, 
Norwich,  Union,  Northern,  Royal,  Manches- 
ter and  Phcenix  of  England,  Queen  and 
Pacific  of  New  York,  Mutual  Benefit  Life 
of  Newark,  Hartford  Steam  Boiler  Insurance 
of  Hartford,  Conn.,  Employers'  Liability  of 
England,  Lloyd's  Plate  Glass  Insurance 
Company  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Hammond  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Foundry  and  Machine  Works  and  the  Har- 
risburg Bridge  ("ompany.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Harrisburg  Club  and  a  member  and 
one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Inglenook 
Club. 

He  is  a  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge, 
No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Art  Club  of  Philadelphia.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican.  He  is  a  subscriber  to  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

He  was  married,  June  7,  1883,  to  Miss  Jo- 
sephine Porter,  daughter  of  Dr.  George  \V. 
Porter,  of  Harrisburg,  and  granddaughter  of 


rj  SnAi/tcr.  £tia^Avfir^nric-tOi 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


469 


Gov.  David  R.  Porter.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren :  George  Porter,  Emily  Elizaheth  and 
Helen  Goodwin.  He  attends  St.  Stephen's 
Protestant  Epi.scopal  church  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  vestry  of  the  church. 


Peters,  Thomas  Sawyer,  real  estate  and 
insurance  agent,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg,  November  26, 1857.  He  is  a 
son  of  Benjamin  George  and  Ann  Berst 
Peters.  Benjamin  G.  Peters  was  born  in 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  in 
December,  1819.  He  was  for  thirty  years  in 
the  hotel  business  in  Harrisburg,  and  was 
also  proprietor  of  the  Highspire  distiller^'. 
He  served  the  city  as  a  member  of  council, 
and  the  county  as  its  treasurer.  His  wife,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Barbara  Hoerner 
Berst,  was  born  October  (3,  1819.  Tiieir 
children  are :  William  Henry,  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Anna  Marj-,  widow  of  John  W. 
Young,  Esq.,  of  the  Dauphin  county  bar, 
and  for  twenty  years  member  and  secretar\' 
of  tiie  Harrisburg  School  Board  ;  Thomas 
Sawyer,  Charles  Hay,  and  John  David,  who 
died  in  his  infancy.  Mr.  Peters'  death, 
which  occurred  November  10,  1876,  was 
caused  by  an  accident  at  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad  crossing,  at  Highspire,  Pa.  Mrs. 
Peters  is  still  living. 

Thomas  Sawyer  Peters  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg, 
and  then  engaged  on  his  own  account  in  the 
real  estate  and  insurance  business.  He  is 
connected  with  the  following  societies: 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.; 
State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F. ;  Cin- 
cinnatus  Commandery,  No.  96,  K.  of  M. ; 
the  Ro\'al  Arcanum,  and  B.  P.  0.  Elks.  He 
is  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Harrisburg 
lodges  of  Elks  and  Ancient  Order  United 
Workmen.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  county  assessor  and  in  the  ;com- 
mon  council  of  Harrisburg.  On  November 
23,  1893,  in  Zion  Lutheran  cluirch,  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  Tliomas  Sawyer  Peters  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Agnes,  daughter  of  George  and 
Katherine  (Koenig)  Doehne,  born  May  28, 
1870.  Mr.  Doehne  was  born  in  Germany 
in  1830,  and  has  been  in  tiie  brewing  busi- 
ne.ss  in  Harrisburg  for  forty  years.  Mrs. 
Doehne  was  born  in  Harrisburg  in  1848. 
The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peters  are: 
George  Doehne,  born  September  12,  1894, 
and  Anna  Katherine,  born  May  3,  189G. 
Mr.  Peters  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church. 
33 


Sheafer,  Wood  K.,  fire  insurance  agent, 
was  born  in  Mendota,  Minn.,  November  7, 
1858.  He  is  a  sou  of  Maj.  H.  J.  and  America 
(Wood)  Sheafer,  natives  of  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.  He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Har- 
risburg when  two  j^ears  of  age.  L[e  resided 
in  this  city  and  received  ins  education  in  the 
jiublic  schools  and  high  school  and  Seller's 
Academj^,  of  Harrisburg. 

When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  for  one  year.  After 
that  lie  was  in  the  State  Capital  Flouring 
Mill  as  bookkeeper.  He  took  up  the  study 
of  dentistry  with  Dr.  Westbrook,and  attended 
the  Pennsylvania  Dental  College,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1879-80.  He  practiced 
his  profession  for  three  years  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  successfully ;  but  on  account  of  poor 
health  was  obliged  to  retire  from  the  profes- 
sion. He  returned  to  Harrisburg  in  1883, 
and  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance  business. 

He  is  a  Republican,  and  active  in  the  work 
of  his  party.  In  April,  1890,  he  was  elected 
to  the  select  council  for  a  term  of  four  years; 
was  made  president  in  1892,  and  has  since 
that  time  held  the  office. 

He  is  a  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge, 
Chapter  and  Pilgrim  Commandery,  Harris- 
burg Consistory',  and  past  master  of  Blue 
Lodge.     He  is  unmarried. 


Howard,  James  H.  W..  real  estate  agent, 
notary  public  and  secretary  of  the  Inter-State 
Fair,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  is  a  native  of  Hamil- 
ton, Canada,  and  was  born  March  9,  1859. 
He  is  a  son  of  Hamilton  and  Virginia  (Mun- 
roe)  Howard,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia, 
now  residing  in  Harrisburg,  the  latter  a 
nativeof  Hamilton.  Canada,  who  died  in  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y.,  in  1876. 

He  received  his  primary  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  when 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  removed  to  Buffalo, 
N.Y.,and  completed  his  education  in  the  high 
school.  He  was  employed  with  Dr.  Thomas 
F.  Rochester  of  that  city  for  about  five  years. 
For  the  two  following  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  produce  business  in  Ciiicago,  and  in 
1878  he  removed  to  Harrisburg.  Here  he 
also  engaged  in  the  produce  business  until 
1884,  when  he  embarked  in  llie  newspaper 
business  as  publisher  of  the  State  Journal. 
In  1886  he  published  a  work  entitled  "  Bond 
and  Free,"  the  story  being  based  on  an  in- 
cident in  his  fatlier's  life.  In  1889  he  began 
the  publication  of  Iloimrd's  Negro  Atiierican 
Monthly.     In  1890  he  published  a  Ijook  en- 


470 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


titled  "  Color  Struggles."  In  1892  he  entered 
the  State  department  as  messenger  for  an 
unexpired  term,  and  in  1894  engaged  in  the 
real  e'state  business.  In  1882  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Harrisburg  city  council, 
representing  the  Eighth  ward,  and  filled 
this  office  for  three  3'ears.  He  has  been  sec- 
retary of  the  Inter-State  Fair  since  its  organ- 
ization, in  1892. 

Mr.  Howard  was  married  in  Washington, 
D.C.,  March  29,  1883,  to  Ella  Dorem,  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  and  Mary  Dorem,  of  Westmin- 
ster, Md.  They  have  one  child,  Layton  Le- 
roy,  born  January  20,  188G.  In  political 
views  Mr.  Howard  is  a  Democrat.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Capitol  Street 
Presbyterian  church. 

Mr.  Howard  is  a  publisher  of  some  note. 
He  contemplates  the  publication  of  a  history 
of  colored  soldiers  during  the  late  Rebellion, 
in  the  preparation  of  which  he  was  ably 
assisted  by  Gen.  Simon  Cameron  during  his 
life.  Mr.  Howard  is  a  director  of  the  only 
colored  building  and  loan  association  in 
Harrisburg.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chosen 
Friehds  Lodge,  No.  43,  A.  Y.  M.,  and  of 
Susquehanna  Lodge,  No.  27,  G.  U.  0.  0.  E., 
both  meeting  in  Harrisburg. 

RocKAFELLAR,  Thomas  B.,  real  estate  and 
collection  agent,  was  born  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  October  2,  1802.  He  is  a  son  of  Jolin 
M.  and  Sarah  (Hoffman)  Rockafellar,  the 
former  a  native  of  Cumberland  county, 
the  latter  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  Tiie 
father  .settled  in  Harrisburg  about  18G0, 
where  he  had  before  resided  for  a  time  pre- 
vious to  his  marriage.  He  had  taught  school 
for  some  time  in  Hummelstown.  After 
coming  to  Harrisburg  he  worked  for  a  few 
years  at  his  trade  of  printing,  but  in  his  later 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness. His  wife  survives  him  and  resides 
in  Harrisburg.  They  had  eleven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living  :  Edward,  residing 
in  Erie,  Pa.;  Thomas  B.;  Nellie,  wife  of  John 
M.  Holmes,  residhig  in  Philadelphia;  Sarah, 
residing  in  Philadelphia,  and  Daisy.  The 
father  was  a  worthy  citizen  and  an  active 
and  prominent  church  member. 

Thomas  B.  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Harrisburg.  After  leaving  school 
he  entered  at  once  upon  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness, and  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years  has 
been  continuously  occupied  in  this  business. 
For  two  years  he  was  connected  in  business 
with   his  father,  and  for  fifteen   years  has 


conducted  the  business  solely  in  his  own  in- 
terest. He  was  married  in  Harrisburg  to 
Miss  Catherine  Bowers,  daughter  of  George 
and  Mary  Bowers,  residents  of  Harrisburg. 
No  children  have  been  born  to  them.  In 
political  views  Mr.  Rockafellar  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


Taylor.  William  H.,  was  born  in  Shrews- 
bury, York  county.  Pa.,  April  25,  1864.  He 
is  a  son  of  Henry  F.  and  Annie  (Keevy) 
Taylor,  natives  of  York  county.  His  father 
was  for  manj'  years  in  the  United  States  de- 
tective service.  He  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  in  York  county  for  several  terms. 

William  H.  Taylor  was  educated  in  York 
count3^  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  left 
home  and  learned  the  trade  of  miller,  at 
which  he  worked  four  years.  He  afterwards 
worked  as  a  moulder  in  York,  Pa.,  for  three 
years.  He  then  opened  a  bakery  in  York, 
and  for  three  years  did  an  extensive  busi- 
ness. In  1889  he  came  to  Harrisburg,  and 
engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  In  1894 
he  became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Capi- 
tal City  Flint  Company.  He  was  elected 
the  first  secretary,  treasurer  and  general 
manager  of  the  company,  and  was  continued 
in  these  offices  until  November  30,  1895, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  secretary  of 
tlie  company.  He  is  also  district  agent  for 
"The  Manufacturers'  Industrial  League,"  of 
Carlisle,  Pa.  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  United 
American  Mechanics.  He  was  married,  in 
1887,  to  Miss  Laura  E.,  daughter  of  Henry 
Slusser.  They  have  two  children  :  Paul  S. 
and  Eve  Adna. 


Baker,  George  W.,  real  estate  and  in- 
surance agent,  was  born  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  September  22,  1868.  He  is  a  son  of 
the  late  Frederick  and  Sarah  E.  (Goodman) 
Baker.  Frederick  Baker  was  born  in  Dan- 
ville, Pa.,  in  November,  1837.  He  was  a 
carpenter  and  pursued  this  calling  through- 
out his  life.  Sarah  Goodman  was  born  in 
Williamsport,  Pa.,  in  1845.  She  was  mar- 
ried to  Mr.  Baker  in  1866;  they  had  five 
children,  of  whom  the  only  surviving  one  is 
George  W.  The  father  is  deceased  and  the 
mother  is  still  living,  aged  fifty-one;  she  re- 
sides in  Harrisburg  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  George  W. 
Baker  came  to  Harrisburg  when  a  boy.    He 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


471 


attended  the  high  school  for  about  four 
years.  At  twenty  years  of  age  he  went  to 
Cliicago,  111.,  and  was  for  three  years  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Armour  Institute.  At  the'  age 
of  twenty-three  he  went  to  California  and 
was  employed  for  one  year  by  Mr.  J.  C. 
Blout  as  private  messenger.  He  was  next 
engaged  for  a  year  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  in 
tlie  collecting,  real  estate  and  insurance 
business.  He  tiien  came  to  Harrisburg  and 
was  for  six  months  traveling  salesman  for 
barber's  supplies.  In  1895  he  opened  a 
coal,  real  estate  and  insurance  office  at  1742 
North  Fourth  street.  His  residence  is  on 
Cowden  street.  He  was  appointed  secretary 
of  the  Quay  Union  Central  Club,  which 
office  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Baker  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church. 


Davidson,  John  H.,  real  estate  and  in.sur- 
ance  agent,  Harrisburg,  is  a  native  of  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.  He  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Harrisburg  .July  5,  1870.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  W.  and  Susan  E.  (Zimmerman) 
Davidson,  tiie  former  a  native  of  Schu3'lkill 
county,  the  latter  of  Halifax  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  His  father  was  a  tanner  b}^ 
trade,  and  during  his  residence  in  Schuyl- 
kill county  followed  this  occupation,  together 
with  farming.  The  parents  removed  to 
Harrisburg  about  18G0.  The  father  was  en- 
gaged in  various  occupations  for  a  few  years. 
For  the  past. thirty  years  he  has  been  in  the 
employment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company.  The  parents  had  born  to  them 
three  children,  all  of  whom  are  living, 
namely :  Frank  E.,  residing  at  White 
Bear  Lake,  Minn.,  Clara  May,  wife  of 
Charles  E.  Shaffer,  residing  one  mile  north- 
east of  Dauphin,  Daupiiin  county,  along 
Stony  creek,  and  John  H. 

John  PI.  Davidson  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  city.  For  a 
period  of  about  seven  years  after  leaving 
school  he  was  employed  by  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Railroad  Company  as  messenger  and 
clerk.  On  April  1,  1895,  lie  engaged  in  his 
present  business,  and  has  met  with  an  en- 
couraging degree  of  success.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Cincinnatus  Comraanderv,  No.  96, 
K.  of  M.;  Paxtang  Conclave,  No.  131,  I.  0. 
of  H.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  consistent  member  of  Augsburg  Lu- 
theran church. 


FoosB,  Lemuel  Oliver,  superintendent 
of  city  schools,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Juniata  county.  Pa.,  January  16,  1838.  He 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Catlierine  (Boyer) 
Foose.  His  primary  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  Markleville  Academy,  Perry 
county.  Pa.  He  also  took  tlie'greater  part 
of  tlie  course  at  the  Pennsylvania  College, 
Gettysburg.  Pa.  He  left  college  at  the  close 
of  tlie  junior  year.  He  was  subsequently 
honored  by  this  institution  with  the  degree 
of  M.  A.  While  obtaining  his  education  he 
was  more  or  less  engaged  in  teaching  school. 

He  had  charge  of  the  academj'  at  Aarons- 
burg,  Centre  county.  Pa.,  from  18G4  to  1866, 
and  in  1866-67  he  was  superintendent  of 
schools  at  Lima,  Ohio  ;  in  1868-69,  superin- 
tendent of  schools  at  Miamisburg,  Ohio, 
and  from  1869  to  1879,  principal  of  the  boys' 
high  school,  Harrisburg,  Pa.  In  1879  he 
was  elected  superintendent  of  the  schools  of 
the  cit}^  of  Harrisburg.  In  this  position 
his  services  have  accomplished  much  for  the 
improvement  of  the  schools.  The  course  of 
study  has  been  extended  and  reconstructed, 
with  closeh'  graded  scholarships  for  admis- 
sion to  successive  grades;  changes  have  been 
made  in  the  method  of  promotion,  so  that 
classes  complete  tlie  3'ear's  work  earlier  than 
before,  and  new  classes  take  up  their  work 
at  the  time  of  3'ear  when  there  is  less  dispo- 
sition to  dro])  out.  A  change  has  been 
etfected  bj'  which  pupils  are  promoted  with- 
out examination  when  their  work  is  satis- 
factory to  the  teachers.  Competitive  exam- 
inations are  now  held  for  the  appointment 
of  teaciiers.  As  applicants  come  to  take  the 
examination,  the  one  highest  in  grade  is 
appointed  to  the  first  vacancy,  and  the  next 
vacancy  is  filled  by  the  next  highest  in 
grade.  This  does  away  with  favoritism  or 
influence  on  the  part  of  the  school  board  in 
appointing  teachers.  As  a  result  of  Professor 
Foose's  able  administration  the  standard  of 
scholarshiji  and  discipline  has  been  raised, 
and  the  general  scope  and  mission  of  the 
schools  so  extended  and  enlarged  that  the}' 
hold  a  high  grade  among  the  schools  of  the 
State. 

Professor  Foose  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  public  library,  and  has  since  been  secre- 
tary and  trustee  of  the  same.  He  has  been 
at  the  head  of  the  University  Extension 
work  since  its  incejition.  He  is  chairman  of 
the  city  Bible  Society,  and  is  closely  identi- 
fied   with    the    Dauphin    County  Sundaj'- 


472 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


School  Association,  being  its  president  and 
secretary.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Messiah 
Lutheran  church.  He  has  been  one  of  the 
official  board  and  the  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school  for  twentj'  years. 

Lemuel  0.^  Foose  was  married,  in  1868,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Eleanor  Kuhn,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Samuel  and  Eleanor  M.  Kuhn.  Their 
children  are:  Albert  Elliott,  Charles  James, 
the  architect  of  the  public  library  building, 
of  Harrisburg,  Ella  Irene,  Frank  Charles 
and  Jessie  Florence. 


Garner,  John  E.,  principal  of  the  Harris- 
burg Business  College,  was  born  in  Carroll 
county,  Md.,  May  28,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of 
Abraham  and  Mary  A.  (Appier)  Garner. 
His  father  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  died 
in  his  native  State,  August  2,  1879.  His 
mother  is  still  living  and  resides  in  Mary- 
land. Their  family  consists  of  three  children, 
namely:  Elias  Oliver,  Rebecca  C,  wife  of 
Samuel  Gait,  who  resides  in  Carroll  county, 
Md.,  and  John  E.  John  E.  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  his  native  county,  receiving  his 
primary  education  in  the  public  schools. 
Until  the  fall  of  1868  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching  scliool  and  working  on  the  farm. 
In  the  fall  of  1868  he  entered  the  Normal 
School  of  Millersville,  Pa.  Here  he  spent 
five  years  and  was  graduated  in  1873.  He 
then  again  engaged  in  teaching  scIiool  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  for  about  three  years, 
attending  college  also  during  the  summer 
for  the  pur()ose  of  perfecting  himself  in  the 
higher  brandies  of  education.  In  1876  he 
removed  to  Harrisburg  and  was  engaged  in 
the  city  schools  for  eight  years.  In  1885  lie 
opened  the  Business  College,  now  so  well 
known  to  the  people  of  this  and  adjoining 
counties.  He  was  married  in  Harrisburg, 
July  5,  1881,  to  Ettie  S.  White,  daughter  of 
Rudolph  and  Elizabeth  A.  White.  To  them 
have  been  born  tliree  children,  namelv: 
John  E.,  born  October  28,1886;  Elizabetli 
May,  born  March  24,  1890;  and  Gilbert  D., 
born  June  17, 1893.  Mr.  Garner  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Order  of  American  Mechanics. 
In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
he  attends  the  Church  of  God.  Mrs.  Garner 
is  a  member  of  Pine  Street  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  Garner  has  acquired  distinction 
in  his  profession.  His  college  eujo3'S  a  large 
and  growing  popularity,  and  has  sent  many 
bright  and  promising  young  men  to  recruit 
the  ranks  of  business  men.  The  institution 
was  organized  in   1873,  by   Prof   John   N. 


Currey,  as  a  night  school  and  in  1880  day 
sessions  were  added.  In  1885  Prof.  Garner, 
then  one  of  the  popular  teachers  of  the 
school,  assumed  entire  control.  He  reorgan- 
ized and  systematized  the  course  of  instruc- 
tion. This  same  is  eminently  practical  and 
is  under  the  direct  personal  charge  of  the 
principal,  who  is  assisted  by  a  large  corps  of 
able  instructors.  Tiie  course  embraces  prac- 
tical arithmetic,  bookkeeping,  grammar, 
spelling,  commercial  correspondence,  rapid 
calculations,  shorthand,  typewriting,  com- 
mercial law  and  business  ethics.  To  all  per- 
sons who  have  been  denied  a  thorough  course 
of  common  school  education,  and  to  tliose 
who  are  deficient  in  any  particular  branch,  a 
great  opportunity  is  here  afforded.  Special  de- 
partments are  open  to  young  men  and  ladies 
who  wish  to  better  fit  themselves  for  a  tlior- 
ough  course  of  collegiate  or  commercial 
studies.  The  college  is  handsomely  ap- 
pointed and  is  centrally  located  at  No.  330 
Market  street. 


Hammelbaugh,  D.  Daniel,  secretary  of 
the  Harrisburg  School  District,  was  born  at 
Harrisburg  October  18,  1861.  He  is  a  son 
of  Pliilip  and  Elizabeth  (Stabler)  Hammel- 
baugh, and  has  been  a  continuous  resident 
of  this  city  since  his  birth.  His  father  is  a 
native  of  Maryland,  and  settled  in  Harris- 
burg about  1844  and  since  tliat  time  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  city.  He  is  seventy- 
two  years  of  age  and  is  highly  esteemed. 
His  wife,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  a  native  of  Marysville,  Pa.  She 
died  when  D.  Daniel  was  in  infanc}'.  Both 
she  and  her  husband  are  of  German  ances- 
tr)'.  They  had  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living:  Elizabeth,  widow  of  the  late 
William  Miller;  Julia,  wife  of  George  E. 
Arnold;  Margaret,  wife  of  Jolin  W.  White; 
Josephine,  wife  of  William  B.  Grissinger, 
and  D.  Daniel.  B\'  a  second  union  Philip 
had  a  family  of  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living  and  are  as  follows:  George  B., 
Mary  F.,  wife  of  James  H.  Collins,  Cath- 
erine G.  and  Charles  F.  All  members  of 
both  families  reside  in  Harrisburg. 

D.  Daniel  received  his  education  in  the 
public  and  high  schools  of  this  city,  having 
been  graduated  from  the  high  school  in 
1882.  For  a  short  time  he  was  assistant 
ticket  agent  in  the  office  of  the  Northern 
Central  railroad.  In  September,  1883,  he 
engaged  as  messenger  to  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, and  in  June,  1895,  after  the  death  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


473 


the  late  Jolui  W.  Young,  was  ajipointed  to 
the  office  he  now  so  acceptably  fills.  lie  is 
a  member  of  Council  No.  3,  Order  United 
American  Mechanics,  and  of  Gen.  John  F. 
Hartranft  Camp,  No.  15,  Sons  of  Veterans. 
In  political  views  he  is  liberal.  He  attends 
the  Westminster  Presbj'terian  church.  He 
is  widely  known  and  highlj'  esteemed. 


Shumberger,  J.  C. — A  community  gains 
character  and  distinction  from  the  leaders  in 
various  branches  of  business  who  make  it 
the  seat  of  their  labors.  Every  original  and 
successful  business  venture  is  an  advertise- 
ment and  an  additional  attraction  to  the 
place.  Certainly  to  Mr.  Shumberger  must 
be  accorded  the  praise  of  success  in  the 
founding  and  conduct  of  his  School  of  Com- 
merce. 

Mr.  Shumberger  was  born  in  Good  Hope, 
Cumberland  county,  Pa.  His  father,  Simon 
Shumberger,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
county,  and  was  a  prominent  man  there. 
He  was  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  also 
conducted  an  undertaking  establishment. 
He  served  for  nine  months  during  the  late 
Rebellion  in  company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
He  resided  in  Cumberland  county  until 
1890,  when  he  came  to  Harrisburg.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  contract- 
ing. He  married  Sarah  Eckert,  and  they 
have  two  children :  M.  Ella,  wife  of  Jacob 
Souder,  residing  in  Harrisburg,  and  J.  C. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simon  Shumberger  are  worthy 
peeple,  modest  and  unassuming,  and  quietly 
taking  part  in  all  movements  promising 
social  good.  Mr.  Shumberger  is  one  of  the 
incorporators  of  the  Messiah  Rescue  and  Be- 
nevolent Home  of  Harrisburg,  which  was 
ciiartered  April  15,  189G. 

J.  C.  Shumberger  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
county  and  of  Harrisburg.  This  course  was 
supplemented  by  subsequent  attendance  at 
the  Keystone  Business  College  of  Harrisburg 
and  the  head  school  of  Acme  Phonography 
at  Washington,  D.  C. 

In  the  organization  of  the  Lebanon  Busi- 
ness College  in  1890  Mr.  Shumberger  dis- 
played marked  ability.  When  the  failure  of 
others  had  left  the  ground  cumbered  with 
difficulties  he  achieved  success,  placed  the 
institution  on  a  good  foundation  and  started 
it  upon  a  career  of  prosperity.  He  after- 
wards disposed  of  the  Lebanon  Business 
College  to  a  company  composed  of  the  prin- 


cipals of  the  different  departments  of  the 
school,  and  the  institution  is  still  success- 
fully conducted  by  them.  A  remarkable 
record  of  usefulness  and  success  is  that 
which  has  been  made  by  the  institution 
known  as  the  School  of  Commerce,  which  is 
located  at  16  North  Market  Square. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Shumberger,  who  founded  the 
school  in  Harrisburg  in  April,  1894,  is  one 
of  the  ablest,  most  courteous  and  most  dis- 
tinguished representatives  of  the  scholastic 
profession,  and  by  his  indefatigable  efforts, 
seconded  by  a  staff' of  competent  assistants, 
he  has  made  it  one  of  the  most  jji-osperous 
schools  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  studies  pursued 
at  this  school :  Double  entry  bookkeeping, 
single  entry  bookkeeping,  commercial  law, 
commercial  arithmetic,  rapid  calculations, 
civil  government,  correspondence,  grammar 
(Maxwell's  Intro,  and  Swinton's  advanced), 
negotiable  papers,  penmanship,  office  prac- 
tice, spelling,  banking,  practice  of  keeping 
books  for  the  different  trades,  shorthand, 
letter  copying,  manifolding  and  typewriting. 
In  no  school  in  the  L^nited  States  is  better 
work  done  than  in  this  one.  The  proof  is 
found  in  the  ease  with  which  pupils  secure 
good  paying  positions  in  great  business 
houses. 

There  are  accommodations  for  about  150 
scholars  at  this  school,  and  about  146  are  at 
present  enrolled. 

Mr.  Shumberger  gives  to  every  depart- 
ment his  close  personal  supervision — and  we 
all  know  what  a  powerful  thing  the  eye  of 
the  master  is.  The  school  has  the  finest 
business  college  rooms  in  the  State,  fitted 
with  all  the  modern  conveniences.  The 
rooms  are  elegantly  lighted  with  nat- 
ural and  electric  light  and  heated  with 
steam.  The  latest  improved  typewriters  are 
in  use.  Those  desiring  to  prepare  them- 
selves for  teaching  penmanship  in  any  or 
all  of  the  departments  of  the  beautiful  art 
find  superior  facilities  in  this  institution. 
Students  liolding  scholarsiiips  have  the 
privilege  of  attending  both  day  and  even- 
ing sessions  until  the}'  have  the  course  com- 
pleted, regardless  of  time.  They  also  have 
the  privilege  of  reviewing  their  course  in 
the  college  years  after,  if  they  wish,  without 
extra  charge. 

In  short,  this  is  a  thoroughly  up-to-date 
institution,  having  at  its  head  one  of  the  ac- 
knowledged master  minds  of  the  profession. 

On  May  1,1896,  Mr.  Shumberger  organized 


474 


BIO  GRA  PHIGA  L  ENCYGL  OPE  1)1  A 


a  Commercial  College  at  Carlisle,  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  wiiich  he  is  conducting 
successfully  at  this  date.  In  connection 
with  the  School  of  Commerce  Mr.  Shum- 
berger  edits  and  publishes  a  newspaper 
called  the  School  of  Commerce  Neivs,  which  is 
issued  monthly. 

During  the  years  1892,  '93  and  '94  Prof. 
Shumberger  was  principal  of  the  commer- 
cial department  of  the  Pennsylvania  Chau- 
tauqua, and  performed  the  duties  incum- 
bent upon  him  with  zeal  and  efficiency.  In 
1S93  he  was  elected  a  director  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Mutual  Loan  Association.  In  his 
earlier  life  Mr.  Shumberger  was  engaged  in 
mechanical  pursuits.  He  learned  both  car- 
pentry and  undertaking,  and  when  only 
sixteen  years  of  age  was  the  overseer  of 
twelve  men  engaged  in  erecting  important 
structures,  such  as  barns,  dwelling  houses 
and  churches. 

Mr.  Shumberger  was  married  in  Lebanon, 
Pa.,  June  1,  1893,  to  Alberta  K.,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Borden)  lie])kins. 
They  have  one  child,  named  Sarah  Eliza- 
beth. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shumberger  are  con- 
sistent and  active  members  of  Messiali  Lu- 
theran church,  and  are  teachers  in  the  Sun- 
day-school connected  with  that  church. 
During  the  last  eight  months  of  Mr.  Slium- 
berger's  residence  in  Lebanon  he  was  the 
faithful  su])erintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  of  the  Seventh  Street  Lutheran 
church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  and  takes  a 
lively  interest  in  all  activities  tending  to 
benefit  and  improve  his  fellow-men.  Mr. 
Shumberger  is  an  active  member  of  the  Pa- 
triotic Order  Sons  of  America,  also  of  the 
commandery  of  the  same  organization,  and 
a  member  and  trustee  of  Dauphin  Conclave, 
No.  96,  I.  0.  of  H. 


Landon,  Samuel  G.,  principal  of  the  Har- 
risburg  high  school,  was  born  in  Herrick, 
Bradford  county.  Pa.,  February  12,  1865, 
son  of  George  and  Catherine  (Smith)  Lan- 
don, both  natives  of  Wyoming  county,  where 
they  now  have  tiieir  residence.  The  father, 
a  prominent  and  well-known  citizen  of  Brad- 
ford county,  was  a  college  graduate  and  in 
earlier  life  was  active  in  the  ministry,  which 
he  was  compelled  by  failing  health  to  relin- 
quish ;  subsequently  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  later  became  prominent  in  politics,  serv- 
ing two  terms  as  the  representative  of  his 
district  in  the  United  States  Congress.     He 


is  now  living  retired  from  business  in  his 
native  town,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years.  He  has  been  twice  married, 
having  six  children  by  his  first  marriage, 
three  of  whom  are  living:  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
E.  Fuller,  residing  at  Cami)tovvn,  Pa.;  George 
K.,  residing  at  Avoca,  N.  Y.;  and  Annie, 
wife  of  R.  J.  Fuller,  residing  at  Cam[)town, 
Pa.;  and  by  his  second  marriage,  eight  chil- 
dren, seven  living:  Benson,  at  Chicago;  Mrs. 
Rev.  W.  P.  Buck,  Provincetown,  Mass.;  Sam- 
uel G. ;  Herbert,  residing  on  the  homestead  ; 
Carrie,  wife  of  T.  J.  Reinhart,  residing  at 
Black  Walnut,  Wyoming  county,  Pa.;  Jen- 
nie, at  home;  and  Robert,  Avoca,  Pa.  Sam- 
uel G.  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  was  graduated  from 
Wyoming  Seminary,  at  Kingston,  Pa.,  iu 
June,  1885.  He  completed  his  college  course 
at  Wesleyan  University,  jNIiddletown,  Conn., 
in  the  class  of  1889.  For  two  years  he  was 
superintendent  of  schools  at  California,  Mo., 
and  for  one  year  professor  of  Latin  and 
Greek  in  Puget  Sound  University,  Tacoma, 
Wash.,  after  which  he  was  for  two  years  sup- 
erintendent of  schools  at  Puyallup,  Wash., 
and  then  came  East  to  accept  the  position  of 
principal  of  the  Harrisburg  high  school, 
taking  charge  of  the  work  in  September, 
1894.  Professor  Landon  was  married  in 
California,  Mo.,  June  3, 1891,  to  Miss  Minnie 
E.  Biggs,  daughter  of  Thomas  M.  and  Jose- 
phine Y.  (McGowan)  Biggs,  and  to  their 
marriage  there  is  no  issue.  Professor  and 
Mrs.  Landon  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


Gregory,  Frank  H.,  general  secretary 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Branch, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  October  9,  1861. 
His  grandfather.  Gen.  Edgar  M.  Gregor}-, 
served  with  distinction  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion.  He  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville  May  3,  1863.  He 
was  promoted  to  brevet  brigadier  general 
September  1,  1864,  and  to  brevet  major 
general  August  9,  1865.  He  was  honorably 
discliarged  by  general  orders  November  3, 
1867.  He  served  as  United  States  marshal 
at  Philadelphia  from  tlie  date  of  his  dis- 
charge from  the  armj'  until  his  death.  Capt. 
Frank  H.  Gregory,  son  of  the  above-men- 
tioned General  Gregory  and  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  prominent  con- 
tractor and  bridge  builder  in  Philadelphia, 
but  during  the  latter  years  of  liis  life  he 
was  with  the  Globe  Gas  Light  Company,  of 


BA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY. 


475 


Philadelphia.  In  the  late  war  between  the 
States  he  commanded  company  A,  Ninety- 
first  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteer 
infantr}',  and  with  his  company'  took  part 
in  many  prominent  engagements.  He  died 
at  Philadelphia  March,  1877,  after  an  active 
and  successful  career,  leaving  a  good  name 
as  an  inheritance  to  his  descendants.  His 
faithful  and  devoted  wife,  Mary  A.  (Fletcher) 
Gregory,  still  survives  and  resides  at  Derry, 
Pa.  Thej^  had  four  children,  three  of  wliom 
are  living:  C.  Augusta,  Fi'ank  H.  and  W. 
Elbert,  the  eldest  and  youngest  both  resid- 
ing at  Derr\',  Pa. 

Frank  H.  was  educated  in  the  jiublic 
schools  of  Philadelphia  and  of  Danville,  Pa. 
For  a  short  time  he  was  salesman  in  a  gen- 
eral store  in  Philadelphia.  Afterwards  he 
learned  -the  wire-manufacturing  business 
and  for  about  four  months  he  was  engaged 
in  this  business  in  his  own  interest  in  Phila- 
delphia. In  188G  he  was  appointed  assist- 
ant secretarv  of  the  P.  R.  R.  depai'traent  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  at  Philadelphia.  He  effi- 
ciently filled  this  position  for  nine  months, 
when  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the 
same  institution  at  Derry,  Pa.;  there  he  re- 
mained until  1803,  when  he  was  transferred 
to  his  present  position  at  Harrisburg.  His 
judicious,  faithful  and  courteous  manage- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  the  society  have  given 
him  a  large  place  in  the  esteem  and  affec- 
tion of  the  members. 

Mr.  Gregory  was  married  at  West  Chester 
September  17,  1895,  to  Miss  Lula  May  Free- 
man, daughter  of  W.  H.  M.  and  Mary  Free- 
man, of  that  city.  Mr.  Gregory  is  an  active 
member  of  Derry  Lodge,  No.  942,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
of  Derry,  Pa.;  also  of  Nazareth  Commandery, 
No.  125,  K.  of  M.,  of  Harrisburg.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Prohibitionist.  He  and 
his  wife  attend  the  Presbyterian  church. 


Black,  Homer,  general  secretarj'  Y.  M. 
C.  A.,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.,  September  22,  1866.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Mary  E.  (Shepard) 
Black,  natives  of  Portsmouth,  who  both 
died  at  Boston,  Mass.,  the  former  June  8, 
1879,  the  latter  July  25,  1891.  These 
parents  had  born  to  them  three  sons,  namely: 
William,  born  August  10,  1850,  and  died 
June  10,  1894;  James  A.,  at  present  resid- 
ing in  New  York  City,  and  Homer. 

When  one  year  old.  Homer  Black  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Boston,  Mass.,  where 
they    made   their   home.     He   received   his 


education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
He  became  accountant  in  a  large  furniture 
store,  which  position  he  occupied  for  a  long 
period.  During  the  years  1888-89,  and  part 
of  1890,  he  was  engaged  as  associate  secre- 
tary of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
In  April,  1890,  he  removed  to  Bay  City, 
Mich.,  where  he  filled  the  position  of  general 
secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  until  1891,  when 
he  removed  to  Harrisburg.  Since  that  date, 
he  has,  with  ability  and  acceptance,  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  his  present  engage- 
ment. 

He  was  married  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1889,  to  Eugenie  Dagmar  Peterson, 
daughter  of  Theodore  and  Anne  Peterson, 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  but  at  present  residing  at 
Akron,  Ohio.  They  have  two  children, 
namely :  Theodore  Wesley,  born  June  7, 
1891,  and  Dorothy  Stearns,  born  April  19, 
1894.  Mr.  Black  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  No.  499,  of  Harrisburg.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  liberal.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Black  are  members  of  Grace  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Black  has  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  active  and  practical  evan- 
gelistic work ;  a  wise  head,  warm  heart  and 
genial  manner  are  an  attractive  and  force- 
ful commendation  of  his  religion. 


KuRZENKNABE,  J.  H.,  music  tcachcr  and 
author,  was  born  in  Moenchehof,  near  Cassel, 
Kurhessen,  Germany,  June  18, 1840.  He  is 
a  son  of  John  George  and  Anna  Kurzen- 
knabe.  He  was  left  an  orphan  in  childhood. 
He  attended  the  Industrial  School  at  Cassel. 
When  he  was  fourteen  years  old  he  bade 
farewell  to  friends  and  home,  September  15, 
1854,  and  set  out  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
New  World,  sailing  from  Bremerhaven  for 
America  on  the  following  day.  By  mistake 
he  was  transferred  to  a  ship  on  which  all 
were  strangers  to  him,  but  he  was  buoyant 
with  hope  and  free  as  a  bird.  During  the 
voyage  of  forty-nine  days,  being  a  very  clever 
violinist,  he  made  friends  among  tiie  officers 
and  crew  and  became  also  a  general  favorite 
with  the  passengers,  so  that  he  was  the  pet 
of  the  ship.  His  especial  attention  was  at- 
tracted to  an  old  lady  who  was  sick  during 
the  whole  voyage.  Her  children  in  America 
had  sent  money  to  bring  over  their  old 
mother.  To  this  helpless  woman  he  minis- 
tered in  his  boyish  way  as  best  he  could. 
The  forty-nine  days'  voyage  was  tempestu- 
ous, and  minus  mast,  and  storm-beaten,  the 
ship  hove  in  sight  of  the  eagerly  looked-for 


476 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


land.  On  her  arrival  at  New  York,  the 
children  of  the  old  lady  were  tiiere  to  meet 
her,  to  wlioni  she  told  the  stor}'  of  the  boy's 
kindness.  In  this  family  he  found  a  tem- 
porary liome,  and  in  years  to  come  he  was 
not  forgotten  by  them.  Arrangements  were 
made  for  him  to  go  to  a  seminary  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  under  Christian  training  he 
found  a  safe  shelter  and  valuable  instruction. 
Having  a  talent  for  music  he  followed  this 
bent,  and  in  that  institution  of  learning  he 
prosecuted  his  musical  studies  and  made  for 
hiniself  a  name  as  a  teacher  of  the  violin 
and  vocal  music.  He  was  afterwards  placed 
under  the  care  and  instruction  of  William 
B.  Bradbury,  then  the  most  prominent 
teacher  of  music  in  the  country.  After  a 
thorough  course  under  this  master,  Mr.  Kur- 
zenknabe  started  on  his  own  responsibility. 
His  first  and  only  attemi)t  to  teach  singing 
and  a  day-school  together  in  a  Maryland 
town  was  a  total  failure,  but  the  very  next 
engagement,  which  was  at  Sag  Harbor,  L.I., 
proved  a  complete  success.  After  teacliing 
successfully  in  Baltimore  and  other  Mary- 
land towns,  he  visited  the  New  England 
States  and  taught  conventions  in  a  number 
of  important  cities.  He  then  returned  to 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  where  his  lot  fell  in  pleas- 
ant places,  and  here,  too,  he  found  the  wife 
to  cheer  him  througii  his  busy  life.  He 
taught  successfully  in  Baltimore,  York,  Pa., 
Harrisburg,  Philadeljihia  and  New  York, 
and  last  in  Camden,  N.  J.,  where  the  first 
child,  a  boy,  greeted  the  parents  and  cheered 
their  hearts.  His  next  place  of  residence 
and  teaciiing  was  Moorestown,  N.  J.,  and  the 
next  Philadelphia,  wiiere  a  daugliter  was 
born.  The  war  coming  on,  the  New  Eng- 
land States  seemed  safer  than  Pennsylvania, 
hence  Dedham,  Mass., became  tiie  next  home. 
Fine  classes  in  Yankee  land,  war  songs  and 
teaching  in  most  of  the  prominent  towns 
brought  money  to  the  purse,  but  sickness 
claimed  the  boy  for  a  victim.  Repeated  and 
urgent  invitations  from  Maryland  friends  to 
make  a  change,  for  the  boy's  sake,  induced 
the  Kurzenknabes  to  disregard  the  threaten- 
ing perils  of  war  and  journey  southward.  An- 
tietaraand  Gettysburg  brought  the  armies  of 
both  sides,  and  the  great  invasion  left  tiie 
family  destitute  and  helpless,  with  but  five 
dollars  in  money  and  a  railroad  ticket  toSun- 
bury.  Pa.,  whence  the  floods  drove  them  back. 
Mercersburg  and  study  for  the  ministry  were 
quickly  decided  upon.  But  exciting  debates 
of  the  church  involved  theological  gladia- 


tors and  their  followers,  and  too  free  a  tongue 
was  not  the  wisest  thing  to  have  in  those 
days  of  trial.  Fairy  visions  vanished.  The 
advent  of  twin  boys  made  an  increase  of  in- 
come imperative  and  teaching  was  the  only 
resource.  A  house  was  purciiased  at  Mc- 
Connellsburg,  but  sold  after  an  occupancy  of 
two  years.  Median icsburg  was  home  for  a 
short  time,and  finally  Harrisburg  became  tlie 
permanent  residence,  and  a  house  was  pur- 
chased which  is  still  home.  Teaching  for 
twenty -seven  j'ears  in  many  different  States, 
sometimes  hundreds  of  miles  from  home, 
always  joyous,  looking  at  the  bright  side  of 
life,  active,  with  plenty  of  grit,  yet  with  his 
heart  centered  where  the  loved  ones  stay, 
earnest,  enthusiastic,  this  is  J.  H.  Kurzen- 
knabe  as  his  friends  and  scholars  know  him. 
Professor  KurzenVnabe  is  the  auUior  and 
compiler  of  the  following  books:  "Sweet 
Silver  Echoes,"  "Music  at  Sight,"  "Gospel 
Trio,"  "  Songs  and  Glees,"  "  Wreath  of  Gems," 
"Song  Treasury,"  "Peerless  Praise,"  "  Gates 
Ajar,"  "Sowing  and  Reaping,"  "Theory  of 
Music,"  "  Fair  as  the  Morning,"  and  "Kindly 
Light."  The  sale  of  "  Sowing  and  Reaping  " 
has  reached  over  280,000  copies,  and  over 
190,000  copies  of  "Fair  as  the  Morning" 
have  been  sold.  "Kindly  Light"  starts  in 
with  20,000  copies  engaged  in  advance  of 
publication.  All  of  these  books  are  pub- 
lished by  his  well-known  house  of  J.  H. 
Kurzenknabe  &  Sons,  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Mr. 
Kurzenknabe  was  married  in  Greencastle, 
Pa.,  November  13,  1859,  to  Susan  Shafer, 
daughter  of  George  and  Frederica  Shafer, 
residents  of  Hagerstown,  Md.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Harry  J.,  born  in  Camden,  N.  J., 
jirinter  and  stationer  of  Harrisburg;  Anna 
Rosina,born  in  Philadelj^hia  and  died  June 
24,  1877,  in  Harrisburg;  Flora  Fernandina, 
born  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  a  student  at  Mc- 
Dowell's school.  New  York;  .John  Erasmus 
and  George  Jacob,  twins,  born  in  Mercers- 
burg, Pa.;  John  E.,  manager  of  his  father's 
music  house  ;  George  J.,  in  the  music  busi- 
ness in  Chicago;  James  William,  born  in 
McConnellsburg,  Pa.,  died  October  29,  18G9, 
in  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.;  Richard  Louis,  born 
in  Harrisburg,  and  connected  with  his 
father's  business ;  Gertrude  Viola,  born  in 
Harrisburg,  wife  of  (ieorge  Elias  Shaffer,  re- 
siding in  Harrisburg;  Lily  Esther,  born  in 
Harrisburg,  bookkeeper  in  her  father's  music 
store ;  Norman  Bruce,  born  in  Harrisburg, 
now  in  the  music  business  in  New  York; 
Ellen  Miriam,  a  student  of  elocution  at  Em- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


477 


erson's  College,  Boston,  Mass. ;  Susan  May, 
born  in  Harrisburg;  Paul  Edgar,  born  in 
Harrisburg;  Francis  Earl  Harter,  born  in 
Harrisburg;  Myra  Simmons,  born  in  Har- 
risburg, died  in  Harrisburg,  August  17,  IcSSG. 
Professor  Kurzenknabe  is  at  present  a  mem- 
ber of  Salem  Reformed  cliurch  of  Harrisburg. 
He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Second 
church,  which,  as  elder,  he  represented  for 
many  years  at  Classis  and  in  the  Synod. 
He  belongs  to  Peace  and  Plentj'  Lodge,  No. 
69, 1.  0.  ().  F.,  Harrisburg  Encampment,  No. 
301,  the  I.  ().  of  H.,  and  several  other  or- 
ganizations. He  is  often  for  weeks  from 
home,  attending  conventions,  gospel  services 
and  cliildren's  gatherings.  He  eats  and 
sleeps  well,  is  in  perfect  health,  is  five  feet 
nine  inches  in  height,  turning  the  scale  at 
two  hundred  pounds,  and  knowing  nothing 
by  experience  of  sickness.  You  will  find 
him  a  hale-fellow-well-met.  May  his  daj-s  of 
usefulness  be  many  and  his  talent  ever  be 
active  in  the  Master's  cause,  till  the  welcome 
summons,  "Well  done,  thou  good  and  faith- 
ful servant,"  calls  him  to  the  rest  that 
awaits  the  people  of  God.  This  sketch  is 
prepared  by  one  of  his  loyal  friends  and 
ardent  admirers. 


Orth,  Hexry  C,  music  dealer  and  insur- 
ance agent,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  April 
8,  1843. 

On  the  right  bank  of  the  river  Danube, 
about  fifteen  miles  east  of  Vienna,  is  the 
village  of  Orth.  In  the  year  1170,  Hartneid 
Von  Ortii  purchased  the  village  and  estate 
surrounding  it,  founded  a  church  and 
erected  a  castle.  The  estate  remained  in 
the  family  until  the  close  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  when  the  proprietor  sold  the  estate 
and  moved  to  Moravia,  one  of  the  northern 
provinces  of  Austria.  A  portion  of  the  Orth 
family  removed  to  the  Palatinate,  along  the 
river  Rhine.  In  1709  Karl  Orth  was  born 
in  tlie  town  of  Ramholtz,  in  the  Palatinate, 
died  in  1789,  was  married,  and  had  issue. 
Karl  Orth,  2d,  was  born  in  1770,  in  Ram- 
iioltz,  married  in  1795,  to  Margaret  Roth, 
and  died  in  Ramholtz  in  1854.  He  held 
the  position  of  superintendent  of  forestry. 
George  Orth,  second  son  of  Karl  Orth  and 
Margaret  (Roth)  Orth,  was  born  December 
5, 1808,  in  Ramholtz,  Germany.  He  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  and  a  musician  of  no 
mean  ability.  He  is  living  a  retired  life  in 
Harrisburg,  where  he  settled  on  coming  to 
America  in  1842.     His  wife,  Elizabeth    M. 


(Rufer)  Ortii,  was  born  near  Frankfort, 
Germany,  and  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  They  have  had  three 
children,  of  whom  Henry  C.  and  Louisa, 
wife  of  Charles  A.  Aughinbaugli,  still  sur- 
vive. Henry  C.  has  spent  his  life  in  Har- 
risburg. He  passed  through  the  public 
schools,  and  subsequently  obtained  a 
thorough  musical  education  and  became  a 
teacher  of  tlie  pianoforte.  He  embarked  in 
his  present  business  in  1865,  and  has  con- 
ducted it  with  great  success.  He  was  mar- 
ried at  Grantville,  Dau})hin  county,  in  April, 
1875,  to  Miss  Katherine  Ci.  Sherk,  daughter 
of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  Sherk,  who  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Lebanon  count\'. 
One  child  was  born  to  them,  namely, 
Florence.  Mr.  Orth  is  a  school  director, 
and  chairman  of  the  board  of  teachers.  He 
is  an  active  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge, 
No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  has  been  treasurer 
of  the  lodge  for  the  past  fourteen  years.  In 
his  political  affiliation  he  is  a  staunch  Repub- 
lican. He  attends  the  Market  Square  Pres- 
byterian church. 


Boas,  Daniel  D.,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  February  19,  1819,  a  few 
weeks  after  the  death  of  his  father,  -Jacob  Boas, 
who  had  four  sons  older  than  Daniel  D.:  John 
P.,  William  D.,  Jacob  B.  and  Augustus  F. 
Jacob  Boas,  the  father  of  Daniel  D.,  was  the 
son  of  Rev.  William  Boas  and  was  born  at 
Reading,  Pa.,  in  1786.  He  was  brought  up 
to  mercantile  pursuits  and  came  to  Harris- 
burg in  1805,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  business.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
borough  council  and  was  commissioned  by 
Governor  Snyder  February  6,  1809,  pro- 
thonotary  and  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Quarter 
Sessions  and  died  while  in  office,  October 
8,  1815.  He  married  Sarah,  daugiiter  of 
Jacob  Dick,  of  Reading,  Pa.  The  widowed 
mother  of  Daniel  D.  removed  with  her  sons 
to  Reading,  Pa.,  the  residence  of  her  rela- 
tives and  friends,  where  the  sons  were  all 
put  to  trades,  it  being  the  custom  of  that 
day  to  teach  every  boy  a  trade  whetiier  his 
family  was  wealthy  or  poor.  Daniel  D. 
patiently  passed  his  apprenticeshij)  but  was 
ver}'  anxious  to  begin  bu.siness  for  himself. 
He  accepted  a  position  for  a  short  time  in 
the  Harrisburg  postofiiee,  but  soon  relin- 
quished it  to  accept  an  interest  offered  iiim 
by  0.  P.  Bellman  in  his  extensive  shoe  trade. 
Finding  the  shoe  business  too  slow  for  him 
he  persuaded  Mr.  Bellman  to  abandon  it  and 


478 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


they  formed  a  partnership  in  the  lumber 
business.  Mr.  Boas  found  in  this  business 
ample  scope  for  his  ability  and  congenial 
occupation  for  life.  He  was  a  man  of 
marked  characteristics  and  would  have  been 
prominent  in  any  branch  of  business.  His 
career  was  successful  and  carried  him  from 
insignificaut  beginnings  to  the  plane  of 
prosperity  and  competency.  His  business 
methods  were  comprehensive  and  complete, 
beginning  with  a  carefully  laid  plan  and 
progressing  by  the  most  studious  attention 
to  all  details  in  operation  and  conducting 
with  the  utmost  attainment  of  the  end 
sought.  He  was  a  popular  man  in  his  busi- 
ness associations  because  of  his.  considera- 
tion of  the  rights  and  comfort  and  conveni- 
ence of  others.  So  well  was  he  versed  in 
human  nature  that  he  was  able  to  transact 
business  without  friction  and  seldom  had 
to  resort  to  legal  process  to  get  his  due.  His 
sympathy  with  all  classes  was  genuine  and 
broad,  while  his  aid  to  the  needy  was  un- 
stinted. 

Mr.  Boas  was  prominent  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  was  sometimes  honored 
with  office,  but  his  strong  and  universal 
preference  was  to  be  a  workex  in  the  ranks 
of  his  party,  and  never  lead.  He  served  in 
the  school  board  of  Harrisburg  for  many 
years  and  was  the  president  of  that  body. 
He  was  much  interested  in  the  organization 
and  adoption  of  the  free  school  system  and 
was  very  active  in  securing  that  end.  He 
counseled  a  liberal  policy  in  providing 
school  accommodations  and  many  of  the 
best  improvements  are  due  to  his  wisdom 
and  sagacity.  Mr.  Boas  was  the  candidate 
of  his  party  in  1865  for  senator  from  his 
district  and  polled  manj'  votes  above  the 
strength  of  the  party.  In  1876  he  was  the 
Democratic  presidential  elector.  He  made 
no  enemies  either  in  politics  or  religion,  but 
was  broad  and  charitable,  and  honored  the 
motives  of  all  who  differed  from  him  in 
views.  He  died  May  9,  1878,  his  life  being 
suddenly  terminated  by  an  accident  by 
which  he  was  thrown  from  his  carriage. 
The  announcement  of  his  death  was  mourn- 
ful news  in  the  city,  where  all  recognized 
the  value  of  his  public  service  and  the 
worthiness  of  his  character.  Few  men  were 
so  prominent  in  promoting  the  welfare  of 
the  community  and  few  events  have  sad- 
dened the  hearts  as  his  untimely  taking  off. 
Mr.  Boas   left   a  wife,  two   sons   and   three 


daughters,  the  eldest  daughter  being  Mrs. 
John  Wister,  of  Duncannon. 

His  son,  Henry  D.  Boas,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg October  11,  1857.  He  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
the  Harrisburg  Academy  and  subsequently 
attended  St.  Paul's  School  at  Concord,  N.  H. 
In  1871  he  entered  the  office  of  his  father 
and  remained  there  until  the  death  of  the 
latter  in  1878,  when  in  connection  with  his 
brother,  William  S.,  they  took  charge  of  the 
business  of  which,  since  the  death  of  his 
brother,  he  has  had  entire  control.  Mr. 
Boas  was  married  October  26,  1876,  to  Miss 
Susan  Espey,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
Espey.  Two  children  have  been  born  to 
them :  Mary  Espey  and  Sarah  Wister.  Mr. 
Boas  is  a  worthy  successor  of  his  distin- 
guished father.  The  immense  business  in- 
terests which  came  early  into  his  hands 
have  been  abl}'  managed  and  the  son  has 
displayed  much  of  the  business  ability 
shown  in  the  successful  career  of  his  hon- 
ored parent.  In  social  life  also  Mr.  Boas  is 
an  important  factor.  He  is  a  member  of 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Harrisburg  Club. 
He  and  his  familj'  attend  St.  Stephen's 
Episcopal  church. 


Sheesley,  William,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  October  25,  1838.  His  father, 
the  late  Daniel  Sheesley,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county,  in  the  Lykens  Valley  ;  he  died 
in  1869.  His  mother,  Sarah  (Ressinger) 
Sheesley,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  and  is 
still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty 
years.  They  had  eleven  children,  eight  of 
whom  survive  :  William,  Mary,  wife  of  Peter 
Reel,  Sarah,  Daniel,  Louisa,  wife  of  Joseph 
E.  Rhodes,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  Zat- 
nall,  Samuel  and  George. 

William  Sheesley  received  only  a  limited 
education  ;  he  may  with  truth  be  called  a 
self-made  man.  With  industry,  energy  and 
perseverance,  he  made  up  for  his  lack  of 
early  advantages,  and  won  deserved  pros- 
perity and  success.  His  youth  and  early 
manhood  were  spent  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. When  twenty-seven  years  of  age  he 
went  to  work  upon  the  river,  and  continued 
at  this  occupation  two  years.  In  1866,  after 
the  destruction  of  the  bridge  by  fire,  he 
operated  a  ferry  between  Harrisburg  and 
Bridge  Island.  When  the  new  bridge  was 
completed,  he  returned  to  his  former  occupa- 


BAUFHm   COUNTY. 


479 


tion  on  tlie  river.  From  1869  to  1875  lie 
was  engaged  in  the  milling  business,  and  in 
1876  he  erected  the  premises  he  now  occu- 
pies, and  engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  busi- 
ness; later  he  added  the  coal  business,  in 
which  he  has  since  continued. 

In  1874  Mr.  Sheesley  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  select  council  of  Harrisburg,  and 
served  in  that  body  two  years.  In  1876  he 
was  elected  city  treasurer,  and  so  well  did  he 
execute  this  important  trust  that  he  was  re- 
elected for  a  second  term.  In  1881  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Dauphin  county,  and  was 
also  awarded  a  second  term,  for  which  he 
was  elected  in  1887,  in  recognition  of  his 
ca])acity  and  fidelity. 

Williain  Sheesley  was  married  at  Harris- 
burg, January  21,  1861,  to  Miss  Anna  E. 
Young,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Young.  They  had  eight  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living:  Catherine,  wife  of  James 
Lehr;  Mary,  wife  of  Edwin  Miller;  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Thomas  Carpenter;  Amelia, 
John  H.  and  Lillie.  Mr.  Sheesley  is  an  ac- 
tive member  of  Lamberton  Lodge,  No.  708, 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  a  staunch  Republican. 

Sheesley,  John  H.,  son  of  William,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg,  December  8,  1860.  He 
was  educated  in  the  publjc  schools,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  machinist.  He  followed 
this  trade  until  1894,  working  two  yeai'S  of 
the  time  in  the  United  States  navy  yard  at 
Washington,  D.  C.  In  February,  1805,  he 
purchased  the  flour  and  feed  branch  of  his 
father's  business. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  February 
28,  1803,  to  Miss  Mary  Peebles,  daughter  of 
William  F.and  Retta  Peebles,  of  Harrisburg. 
They  have  had  one  son,  William  LeRoy, 
who  died  November  30,  1895.  Mr.  Sheesley 
is  on  the  threshold  of  his  business  career, 
which  promises  the  largest  success.  He  is 
universally  esteemed  in  all  the  walks  of  life. 


Bell,  John,  lumber  merchant,  was  born 
on  the  shore  of  the  Susquehanna  river  about 
two  miles  from  Harrisburg,  December  8, 
1838.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Margaret 
(FuUerton)  Bell,  the  former  a  native  of  Stony 
Creek  Valley,  Pa.,  the  latter  born  at  Colum- 
bia, Lancaster  county,  Pa.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  public  sciiools.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  and  builder,  and  fol- 
lowed   this   occupation    in    Harrisburg   for 


twenty-three  years.  In  1870  he  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business,  and  has  continued  in 
it  to  the  present  time. 

John  Bell  has  been  twice  married.  He 
was  married  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  December 
22,  1864,  to  Jennie  Albert.  Of  five  children 
born  to  this  marriage  only  one  is  living, 
Lilly  M.,  wife  of  Frederic  Smith,  of  Llarris- 
burg.  Mrs.  Bell  died  in  Harrisburg  May 
26,  1874.  Mr.  Bell  was  married  the  second 
time  at  Harrisburg,  December  14,  1879,  to 
Mary  A.  Riegle.  daughter  of  Simon  and  Bar- 
bara (Stoner)  Riegle.  To  them  have  been 
born  a  family  of  five  boys:  Warren  R., 
Wayne  S.,  Roger  F.,  Arthur  and  John  E. 

In  1861  Mr.  Bell  enlisted  in  company  G, 
Twentieth  Pennsylvania  infantry,  and  served 
three  months.  In  1862  he  re-enlisted  in 
company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sev- 
enth Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  served 
nine  months.  He  also  served  six  months  in 
company  I,  Twentieth  Pennsylvania  cav- 
alry, one  hundred  days  in  company  G,  One 
Hundred  and  Ninety-fourth  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  and  ten  months  in  company  I, 
Seventy-seventh  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
He  was  finally  mustered  out  of  service  at 
Victoria,  Tex.,  and  returned  to  Harrisburg. 
He  is  a  member  of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R. 
Mr.  Bell  acts  with  the  Republican  party. 
The  family  attend  Grace  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Mr.  Bell  is  a  thorough  busi- 
ness man,  and  gives  hearty  support  to  all 
measures  calculated  to  build  up  the  city  and 
to  better  society. 

Kelley,  Henry  M.,  wholesale  coal  dealer, 
and  manager  of  the  Bay  Shoe  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  June  22,  1840.  He  is  the 
youngest  son  and  only  survivor  of  three 
children  of  Andrew  and  Ruth  (Grayson) 
Kelley,  both  natives  of  England,  but  resi- 
dents of  the  United  States  from  their  in- 
fancy. He  received  the  advantages  of  the 
public  schools  in  his  native  city,  and  after 
leaving  school  learned  the  trade  of  ma- 
chinist, which  vocation  he  pursued  till  1876. 
His  last  work  in  this  line  of  business  was 
the  setting  up  of  the  engines  in  the  pump- 
ing station  of  the  city  water  works,  at  the 
foot  of  North  street,  which  he  afterwards 
operated  for  two  years.  In  1876  Mr.  Kelley 
engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  coal 
trade.  On  his  premises,  situated  near  the 
canal,  on  State  street,  he  operates  the  largest 
business  of  this  kind  in  the  city.    Mr.  Kelley 


480 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  Harris- 
burg  for  tliirty  years,  and  besides  his  con- 
nection witli  the  brandies  of  business  al- 
ready named,  he  is  a  director  in  the  boards 
of  the  Brelsford  Packing  Company,  the 
Pennsylvania  Ammonia  and  Fertilizing 
Company  and  the  Harrisburg  Traction  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Kelley  has  shown  himself  to  be 
thoroughly  alive  to  the  business  activities  of 
the  times,  is  universally  respected  for  his 
honorable  business  methods  and  intelligent 
enterprise,  and  highly  esteemed  in  financial 
circles  for  his  integrity.  He  lias  won  suc- 
cess by  honorably  deserving  it.  He  is  a 
member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F. 
&  A.  M.;  Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21, 
R.  A.  M.;  Pilgrim  Commandeiy,  No.  11,  and 
Lulu  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  In 
politics  lie  is  a  staunch  Republican. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  married  in  Philadelphia, 
October  31,  1870,  to  Miss  Caroline  Elder. 
They  have  had  but  one  child  and  it  died  in 
infancy. 


wife  of  James  McCann,  and  William  S. 
Mr.  Hautzraan  is  a  member  of  Cincinnatus 
Commandery,  No.  96,  K.  of  M.,  and  also  an 
active  member  of  Millersburg  Conclave,  No. 
208,  I.  0.  H.  He  is  a  Republican.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
church. 


Hautzm.vn,  Frederick  H.,  dealer  in  lum- 
ber and  mill  work,  Harrisburg,  was  born  in 
Germany.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Kath- 
arine (Flager)  Hautzman,  both  native  Ger- 
mans. The  family  came  to  America  when 
Frederick  was  six  years  old,  and  located  in 
Harrisburg.  Here  he  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  car-building,  and  followed  this 
occupation  until  1866,  when  he  began  the 
operation  of  a  planing  mill.  In  1870  he 
removed  to  Millersburg,  Pa.,  and  operated  a 
planing  mill  there  for  seventeen  years.  In 
1S87  he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  became 
foreman  of  the  John  Langletz  Co.,  and 
held  this  position  until  1893,  when  he  be- 
came connected  with  the  Millersburg  Plan- 
ing Mill  Company,  and  opened  up  the 
present  branch  of  that  business  in  this  city. 

He  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Adeline  B.  Wietzel,  to  whom  he  was 
married  in  Harrisburg  in  1865.  To  this 
marriage  there  were  born  eleven  children, 
six  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Sarah 
Alice,  Ella  May,  Charles  F.,  Arthur  S., 
Grace  C.  and  Maud  R.  Mrs.  Hautzman  died 
in  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Hautzman  was  united 
in  matrimony  the  second  time,  December 
31,  1890,  to  Mary  Alice  Siebert,  widow  of 
the  late  Aram  Hammaker.  There  are  no 
children  born  to  this  marriage.  By  her 
union  with  her  first  husband,  Mrs.  Hautz- 
man has  two  living  children  :  Nellie  May, 


Cox,  D.  W.,  wholesale  coal  dealer,  was  born 
in  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  March  22,  1841. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Selmon  and  Mary 
(Cooper)  Cox,  the  former  of  whom  died  in 
1860,  and  the  latter  in  1849.  When  about 
eleven  years  of  age  he  removed  to  York 
county,  Pa.,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Baltimore  county,  Md., 
and  of  York  county,  Pa.,  up  to  the  age  of  fif- 
teen. He  began  iausiness  for  himself  as  a 
boy  of  sixteen  in  a  general  country  store,  and 
after  being  occupied  with  this  vocation  for 
about  two  years  he  became  a  track  laborer 
on  the  Northern  Central  railroad,  after  which 
he  studied  telegraphy  and  was  later  given  a 
place  as  operator  on  this  road.  In  1862  he 
came  to  Harrisburg  as  secretary  to  Gen.  A. 
B.  Warford,  at  that  date  j^resident  of  the 
Northern  Central  railroad.  Upon  the  retire- 
ment of  General  Warford,  Mr.  Cox  was  given 
a  position  as  clerk  in  the  general  superin- 
tendent's office.  In  February,  1865,  he  en- 
listed in  company  I,  Seventy-seventh  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers  as  a  private.  Within 
a  short  time  he  was  appointed  regimental 
clerk,  and  a  little  later  on  clerk  in  the  in- 
spector general's  department  at  General 
Thomas'  headquarters,  Nashville,  Tenn.  He 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service  on  special 
orders  in  October,  1865,  returned  to  Harris- 
burg and  again  entered  the  service  of  the 
Northern  Central  railroad,  this  time  as  pay- 
master. In  1871  he  resigned  his  position 
with  the  Northern  Central  railroad  and  was 
employed  by  the  Harrisburg  Furnace  Com- 
pany. In  1872  he  embarked  in  the  retail 
coal  business,  in  which  he  continued  for 
about  ten  years,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
iron  ore  mining,  and  in  1887  in  his  present 
business  of  wholesale  coal  dealer. 

Mr.  Cox  served  as  a  comptroller  of  the  city 
of  Harrisburg  from  1876  to  1880.  He  is  a 
charter  member  and  past  master  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A  M.;  a  member 
of  Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21;  past  com- 
mander of  Pilgrim  Commandery,  No.  11; 
and  past  commander  of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A. 
R.  In  politics  Mr.  Cox  is  active  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Republican  party.     Mr.  Cox  and  his 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


481 


estimable  wife  are  members  of  the  Pine  Street 
Presbyterian  church,  Mr.  Cox  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  session  of  tiiis  church. 

He  was  married  in  Saltsburg,  Pa.,  June 
20,  1871,  to  M.  Eleanor  Galbraith,  who  was 
born  at  Saltsburg,  Pa.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren: Earl  W..  born  July  4,  1872;  Roy  Gal- 
braith, born  June  5, 1875,  and  Martha  Sterl- 
ing, born  September  25,  1877. 

Mr.  Cox  is  the  author  and  publisher  of 
Cox's  Calculated  Tonnage  Rate  Book,  a  work 
of  the  greatest  practical  value  in  the  count- 
ing house  and  in  railroad  and  mining  of- 
fices. It  exhibits  computations  by  hundred 
weights  from  one  hundred-weight  to  one  hun- 
dred tons,  and  by  hundred  tons  to  one  thou- 
sand tons  at  from  one  cent  to  six  dollars  per 
ton.  Mr.  Cox  is  a  thorough  practical  busi- 
ness man  of  broad  views  and  genial  tem- 
perament. 


SiBLE,  John  S.,  coal,  wood  and  ice  dealer, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  near  (Jrcut  Creek, 
now  called  Willawana  P.O.,  Bradford  county, 
Pa.,  September  11, 1843.  He  is  a  son  of  the 
late  Peter  and  Abbie  (Mercy)  Sible.  Peter 
Sible  was  a  farmer  and  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  Bradford  county.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  eleven  children,  of  whom  four  are 
living:  William,  residing  in  Harrisburg; 
Nancy,  widow  of  the  late  Nathaniel  Seeley, 
of  Bradford  county  ;  Andrew  J.,  of  Hawk- 
eye,  Iowa;  and  John  S.  The  father  died  at 
the  residence  of  his  son  John  S.,  in  1879; 
the  mother  died  in  1889, in  Bradford  county. 

John  S.  Sible  resided  in  his  native  town- 
ship up  to  the  age  of  nineteen  and  attended 
the  public  scliools.  In  tlie  fall  of  1861  he 
removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  He  was  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness here  until  1866,  when  he  opened  a  coal 
and  wood  yard.  In  1876  he  added  the  ice 
business  to  his  undertakings,  purchasing  the 
old  Crook  ice  house  on  the  Susquehanna 
river,  and  making  to  it  large  and  substan- 
tial additions.  In  1881  Mr.  Sible  erected 
his  large  and  commodious  ice  houses  at 
Dauphin,  Middle  Paxton  township.  About 
1890  he  demolished  the  buildings  on  the 
Susquehanna  river  and  built  large  and  con- 
venient structures  at  Cove  Station,  Perry 
county.  The  capacities  of  his  ice  houses  at 
Cove  Station  are  as  follows:  they  consist  of 
nine  rooms,  each  forty  by  eighty  feet,  with 
thirty-eight  feet  between  floors,  and  storage 
capacity   of  twenty-eight  thousand   tons  of 


ice.  These  houses  are  built  according  to  the 
best  known  methods  of  construction  in  the 
United  States.  They  are  equipped  with  three 
double  elevators,  with  a  planing  maclune  on 
each  elevator  for  planing  the  ice-blocks  as 
they  go  to  the  place  of  storage.  There  is 
also  a  cross  elevator  running  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five  feet  in  length  and  fift\'-five 
feet  in  height,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  off 
the  refuse  ice. 

Mr.  Sible  has  also  erected  at  these  points 
six  tenement  houses  for  the  use  of  the  men 
and  their  families  employed  by  him  in  cut- 
ting, storing  and  sliipping  the  ice.  This 
plant  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $50,000,  and  is 
the  most  extensive  and  the  best  arranged 
and  equipped  establishment  of  the  kind  in 
the  country.  It  gives  employment  in  the 
season  to  from  one  hundred  to  three  hundred 
men,  and  is  capable  of  housing  5,000  tons  of 
ice  per  day.  The  Dauphin  houses  have  a 
capacity  of  7,500,  witli  appliances  for  hand- 
ling and  storing  1,000  tons  per  day,  both 
houses  having  a  storage  capacity  of  35,000 
tons  of  ice.  The  lakes  which  furnish 
the  ice  at  Cove  Station  cover  an  area  of 
thirty-two  acres,  and  are  fed  by  five 
mountain  streams,  ranging  from  two  hun- 
dred to  fifteen  thousand  feet  in  length,  com- 
ing direct  from  the  mountain  woods,  and 
perfectly  free  from  impurities.  Mr.  Sible 
has  erected  a  handsome  and  commodious 
three-story  residence,  overlooking  the  lakes, 
which  he  has  stocked  with  fine  fish ;  and 
here  he  and  his  family  pass  the  summer 
months.  In  1895  Mr.  Siljle  purchased  an 
extensive  coal  yard  on  the  Reading  railroad, 
which  gives  him  the  privilege  of  purchasing 
and  handling  all  or  any  of  the  best  kinds  of 
coal. 

He  was  one  of  the  committee  appointed  to 
solicit  stock  subscriptions  to  build  the  Peo- 
]>le's  Bridge,  and  is  now  a  director  of  the 
enterprise.  He  has  efficiently  and  faithfully 
served  as  president  of  the  City  Rescue  Mis- 
sion since  its  organization.  He  has  been  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  contracting  for  exca- 
vating work  ;  prominent  among  these  con- 
tracts is  the  grading  of  the  old  reservoir 
grounds. 

Mr.  Sible  was  married  in  Bradford  county 
May  1, 1869,  to  Emma,  daughter  of  Mills  and 
Sarah  Carr,  old  and  honored  residents  of  that 
county.  They  have  had  four  children : 
Edith  C,  Helen,  who  died  when  eight  years 
old.  Alma,  and  John  Sidney.  Mr.  Sible  and 
his  family  are  all  members  of  Grace  Meth- 


482 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


odist  Episcopal  church.     His  political  views 
are  Republican. 

If  success  is  a  just  measure  of  ability,  Mr. 
Sible  must  be  adjudged  to  be  a  mao  of  great 
business  talent  and  skill.  By  wisely  directed 
efforts  lie  has  risen  to  prominence,  occupying 
an  envial)le  jiosition  as  a  citizen  and  man  of 
affairs. 


1876,  to  Miss  Susan,  daughter  of  Josiah  and 
Mar3'Espey;  they  have  two  children:  Mary 
Espey  and  Sarah  Wister.  Mr.  Boas  attends 
St.  Stephen's  Episcopal  church. 


Phillips,  Louis  0.,  coal  and  wood  dealer, 
was  born  at  Fall  River,  Mass.,  January  6, 
1847.  He  is  a  son  of  La  Roche  and  Sarah 
B.  (Wood)  Piiillips,  both  natives  of  Massa- 
chussetts.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  Mas- 
sacliussetts  and  Maine,  his  education  being 
received  in  tiie  public  schools  of  these  States. 
He  learned  tlie  trade  of  nail  maker  with  the 
Pembroke  Iron  Company,  of  Pembroke, 
Me.,  and  followed  tiiis  occupation  till  March, 
1894.  Since  that  date  he  has  been  engaged 
in  his  present  business.  lie  came  to  Har- 
risburg  in  tlie  fall  of  1870,  and  from  that 
date  to  March,  1894,  was  engaged  with 
Charles  L.  Bailey  &  Co.,  and  for  twenty-six 
years  has  been  an  honored  and  respected 
citizen  of  this  city.  He  was  married  in 
Pembroke,  Me.,  in  1SG5,  to  Miss  Caroline  M. 
Reynolds,  a  daughter  of  Lemuel  T.  and  Abi- 
gail Reynolds,  prominent  residents  of  Pem- 
broke, to  whom  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living:  Clarence  R. 
and  Louis  0.  Mr.  Phillips  has  represented 
the  First  ward  in  the  common  council  for 
tiiree  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Honor  and  the  Heptasophs.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  attends  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  is  classed  with  the 
steady,  conservative  and  thorough  business 
men  of  the  city. 


Boas,  Henry  D.,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  is  a  son 
of  the  late  Daniel  D.  and  Margaret  Boas, 
and  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  October  11, 
1851.  He  acquired  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  at  Harrisburg 
Academy;  he  subsequentlv  attended  St. 
Paul's  School,  Concord,  N.  H.  In  1870  he 
entered  the  office  of  his  father,  and  at  the 
latter's  deatii,  in  1878,  in  connection  with 
his  brother,  William  S.  Boas,  he  took  charge 
of  the  business.  Since  the  death  of  his 
brother  Mr.  H.  D.  Boas  has  assumed  entire 
control  of  the  business.  He  is  a  member  of 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
of  the  Harrisburg  Club.  His  political  opin- 
ions are  those  of  the  Democratic  party. 

Henry  D.  Boas  was  married,  October  26, 


OvES,  Henry  F.,  wholesale  and  retail 
coal  dealer,  was  born  in  Snyder  county.  Pa., 
November  22,  1858.  His  parents  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Dauphin  county, 
coming  here  near  the  beginning  of  the 
century.  His  father  was  Abraham  Oves, 
liis  mother  Sarah  (Fortney)  Oves.  His 
father  died  September  26,  1889;  his  mother 
August  26,  1890.  They  were  most  worthy 
people.  Their  famil}'  consisted  of  four  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  still  living:  Henry 
F.,  Mary,  wife  of  John  Jacob  Franck,  resid- 
ing in  Harrisburg,  and  George  W.,  residing 
at  McKeesport,  Pa. 

Henry  F.  came  in  infancy  to  Harrisburg, 
where  he  was  reared,  receiving  instruction 
in  the  public  schools.  He  first  entered  the 
office  of  H.  B.  Mitchell  as  clerk,  and  subse- 
quently engaged  with  Hamilton  Bailey  in 
the  same  capacity.  He  spent  eighteen  years 
in  the  employ  of  Charles  L.  Bailey  &  Co., 
proftrietors  of  the  Central  Iron  Works,  as 
clerk  and  foreman.  He  embarked  for  him- 
self in  the  coal  business  in  1894. 

He  was  married  at  Harrisburg,  January 
30, 1881,  to  Miss  Minnie  F.  Reisinger,  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Margaret  (Ward)  Reis- 
inger, of  Harrisburg.  Of  five  children  born 
to  them,  four  are  living:  Gilbert  McCaule}', 
Horace  George,  John  Ward  and  Darrah 
Costley.  Mr.  Oves  filled  the  office  of  tax 
collector  for  two  3'ears,  and  ward  assessor  for 
five  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Capital  City 
Castle,  K.  of  G.  E.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trade  and  of  the  German  American 
Society.  In  political  views  he  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  The  family  attend  the  Presby- 
terian church.  Mr.  Oves  is  a  man  of  large 
views  and  of  laudable  public  spirit.  He  is 
possessed  of  unusual  business  ability,  and 
his  character  is  stainless. 


MiLLEiSEN,  G.  Frank,  dealer  in  coal  and 
wood,  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  February  2, 1861.  He 
is  a  son  of  George  A.  and  Julia  A.  (Bitzer) 
Milleisen.  George  A.  Milleisen  was  a  native 
of  Dauphin  county,  born  in  Lower  Paxton 
township.  His  wife,  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county,  is  still  living,  and  resides  in  Harris- 
burg.    They  had  five  children,  two  of  whom 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


483 


are  living,  Jacob  M.,  of  Harrisburg,  and  G. 
Frank. 

G.  Frank  Milleisen  lived  in  his  native 
township  until  he  was  seven  years  of  age. 
At  tliis  time,  18G8,  the  death  of  his  father  oc- 
curred. He  came  with  liis  mother  to  Har- 
risburg in  that  year,  and  has  resided  here 
continuously  ever  since.  Mr.  Milleisen  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Harrisburg,  and  after  its  completion  en- 
gaged as  a  salesman  in  the  clothing  busi- 
ness. In  1880  he  entered  the  service  of  J. 
S.  Sible,  in  which  he  remained  fourteen 
years,  in  the  capacity  of  manager.  On  April 
1, 1895,  he  engaged  in  his  present  business. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg  February 
25,  1883,  to  Clara  L.,  daughter  of  the  late 
Benjamin  and  Susan  Musser,  of  Harrisburg. 
They  have  no  children.  Mr.  Milleisen  is  a 
member  of  Warrior  Eagle  Lodge,  No.  340, 
I.  0.  R.  M.;  of  Herculean  Castle,  K.  of  G.  E., 
and  of  Royal  Arcanum,  No.  1101.  His  po- 
litical views  are  Republican.  He  attends 
Zion  Lutheran  church. 


Stroh,  Winfield  Scott,  coal  and  wood 
dealer,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  December 
1,  18G1,  son  of  Isaac  F.  and  Sarah  A.  (Care), 
both  natives  of  Dauphin  county,  and  both 
decea.sed.  The  father  was  born  in  Fishing 
Creek  Valley,  West  Hanover  township,  was 
connected  with  the  Manada  Furnaces  for 
many  years,  and  was  subsequently  engaged 
in  the  coal  and  wood  business  at  Harrisburg. 
The  parents  had  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living:  Lillie  A.,  wife  of  Asher  Crutch- 
ley,  of  Harrisburg ;  John  C,  residing  in 
Driften,  Luzerne  county  ;  Winfield  S.  and 
Alice  C,  wife  of  Henry  Christ,  of  Harris- 
burg. Winfield  S.  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and  found  employment  in 
the  puddling  furnaces,  where  he  worked  for 
some  yeai's.  Subsequently  he  becanje  man- 
ager of  the  coal  and  wood  business  for  his 
father,  in  which  position  he  continued  until 
his  fatlier's  death  in  1883,  when  he  engaged 
in  the  business  for  himself.  He  was  married 
in  Harrisburg,  August  14, 1881,  to  Catherine 
Warewich,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Eliza- 
beth Warewich.  Their  children  are:  Harry, 
James,  Roy  and  Frank,  who  died  in  child- 
hood. The  family  attend  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Hanshaw,  Charles  E.,  coal  dealer,  Har- 
risburg, was  born  April  21,  1867.  He  is  the 
only  son  of  Daniel  M.  Hanshaw.     His  father 


died  January  11,  1896,  aged  fiftj^  years,  nine 
months  and  seventeen  days.  A  sketch  of  his 
life  appears  in  another  place  in  this  volume. 
Charles  E.  Hanshaw  attended  the  Harris- 
burg schools,  securing  a  good  common  school 
education.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  iron  works  in  South  Harris- 
burg and  continued  there  four  years.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  he  decided  to  learn  the 
trade  of  plasterer,  in  wliicli  he  was  engaged 
for  about  eight  years.  After  this  he  went  in 
with  his  father  and  has  been  in  tlio  coal  busi- 
ness ever  since  that  time,  with  the  exception 
of  one  year,  during  which  he  dealt  in  ice  on 
his  own  account.  On  October  3,  1895,  he 
began  a  course  of  study  in  the  Harrisburg 
Business  College,  wliicli  he  is  still  pursuing. 
Upon  the  death  of  ins  father  the  business 
came  into  his  hands  and  he  is  now  conduct- 
ing it  on  his  own  account.  He  is  abundantly 
qualified  to  do  so  and  is  making  it  success- 
ful. He  enjoys  the  esteem  of  those  who 
know  him.  He  is  unmarried.  In  political 
views  he  is  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Second  Reformed  church. 


Kelley,  Harry  S.,  was  born  at  Mt.  Joy, 
Pa.,  September  27, 1867.  His  parents,  Rich- 
ard P.  and  Catherine  (Stayer)  Kelley,  are 
natives  of  Lancaster  county,  and  his  mother 
is  still  living,  having  her  home  in  New  Jer- 
sey. Harry  S.  spent  his  boyhood  at  Mt.  Joy, 
and  secured  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
that  place.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
removed  to  Harrisburg,  and  since  that  time 
he  has  been  continuously  engaged  in  the 
coal  business  with  his  uncle,  H.  M.  Kelley. 
He  has  had  entire  charge  of  the  extensive 
business  since  1887,  and  in  1890  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  firm  of  H.  M.  Kelley  ife  Co.,  as 
a  full  partner  in  the  business.  This  large 
success  and  rapid  advancement  are  due  to 
his  characteristic  energy,  his  demonstrated 
and  recognized  executive  ability,  and  his 
agreeable  social  equalities.  The  development 
of  the  great  business  of  his  firm  to  its  present 
dimensions  and  standing  is  largely  due  to 
his  unflagging  devotion  and  marked  ability 
and  capacity.  Mr.  Kelley  holds  a  promi- 
nent place  in  fraternity  circles,  holding  mem- 
bership in  the  following  orders,  namelv: 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.; 
Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21,  R.  A.  M.;  Pil- 
grim Commander}^  No.  11;  Harrisburg 
Council.  No.  7,  and  Harrisburg  Consistory, 
S.  P.  R.  S.,  82°;  Pisgah  Temple  of  Read- 
ing.    He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 


484 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


has  so  far  escaped  matrimouial  bonds.  His 
career  is  an  honorable  one,  and  is  an  object 
lesson  to  yoniig  men  as  to  wliat  a  firm  i)ur- 
pose,  high  aims  and  business  capacity  will 
enable  a  man  to  accomplish. 


Wallis,  Frank  J.,  Harrisburg,  was  born 
at  Liverpool,  Pcrrv  county,  Pa.,  November 
23,  1868,  son  of  Robert  and  Margaret 
(McLinn)  Wallis.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  in  Perry  county  until  he  was  seven- 
teen years  of  age.  He  then  was  for  one 
year  a  clerk  at  Port  Royal,  Juniata  county, 
in  the  store  of  R.  Raumels  &  Son.  In  1887 
he  came  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  clerked 
for  a  year  and  a  half  in  tlie  grocery  store  of 
E.  A.  Hotter,  and  in  1889  was  employed  as 
bookkeeper  by  H.  M.  Kelley,  in  the  coal 
trade,  with  whom  he  remained  one  year, 
after  which  he  was  with  another  coal  com- 
pany in  the  same  capacity  for  six  months. 
Since  1890  Mr.  Wallis  has  been  bookkeeper 
for  J.  13.  Montgomery.  For  three  years  he 
was  associated  with  his  father  in  the  livery 
business.  He  was  married  at  Harrisburg, 
October  5,  1893,  to  Mi.ss  Annie  F.  McKee, 
daughter  of  C.  and  Mar^- McKee.  Mr.  Wallis 
is  a  member  of  Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160,  I. 
0.  0.  F.  In  church  fellowship  he  is  con- 
nected with  Christ's  Lutheran  church.  Mrs. 
Wallis  was  born  October  ]0,  1871,  and  her 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Perry  county. 

Shaffer,  William  S.,  dealer  in  wall 
paper,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  March  11, 
1825,  son  of  George  W.  and  Mary  (Stowe) 
Hoffer,  and  is  one  of  fourteen  children  born 
to  his  parents.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  city  and  became  an  apprentice 
to  the  paper  hanging  business  before  he  was 
thirteen  years  of  age.  He  followed  this  oc- 
cupation in  Philadelphia  until  1855,  when 
he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  established 
himself  in  the  paper  hanging  business,  in 
which  he  has  been  engaged  for  the  past  forty 
years.  Mr.  Shaffer  was  married  in  Philadel- 
phia, June  18,  184G,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Jane 
Reeside,  daugliter  of  David  and  Ann  (Ehr- 
man)  Reeside,  of  Scotch  and  German  ances- 
try. She  was  born  in  Harford  county,  Md., 
October  3,  1824.  Her  fatlier  was  a  stone 
mason  by  trade  and  a  residentof  Philadelphia 
many  years.  Her  uncle  was  an  extensive 
mail  contractor  under  Jackson's  administra- 
tion. They  had  two  children  :  William  H. 
and  Elizabetli  -Jane,  who  died  in  childhood. 
Mr.  Siiaffer  came  into  tiie  Republican  party 


from  the  old  Whig  party,  having  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Henry  Clay,  and  wiiile  not  an 
office  seeker  has  been  prominent  in  politics, 
having  been  the  first  president  of  the  school 
board,  after  the  consolidation  of  the  city,  and 
having  served  as  an  efficient  member  of  the 
select  council  one  term.  For  twenty-five 
years  he  has  been  an  active  member  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge,  No.  4G4,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  for 
forty  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  Market 
Square  Presbyterian  church,  iiaving  been  a 
member  of  the  same  denomination  in  Phila- 
delphia. Physical  disability  prevented  his 
enlistment  in  the  late  war,  but  he  served 
twice  as  an  emergency  man,  first  at  Antietam 
and  next  at  Gettysburg,  and  was  of  valuable 
assistance  to  the  military  authorities  at  Camp 
Curtin  and  to  the  provost  marshal.  William 
H.Shaffer,  his  only  surviving  child,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  November  25,  1847,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Harrisburg  in  1855, 
where  he  was  educated  in  C.  V.  May's  acad- 
em}',  and  at  the  end  of  his  school  days  en- 
gaged in  his  father's  business,  in  which  he 
has  been  active  since  1870.  He  first  married 
at  Tamaqua,  Schuylkill  county, in  1809,  Hen- 
rietta I5ond, who  died  in  1878,  leaving  two  chil- 
di'en  :  William  S.  and  Edith  B.  He  married, 
secondly,  at  Chambersburg,  in  1880,  Emma 
R.  Witherspoon,  daughter  of  David  and 
Nancy  Ann  Witiierspoon,  to  whom  no  chil- 
dren have  been  born.  Mr.  Shaffer  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  404,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  of  Harrisburg  Council,  No.  499, 
Royal  Arcanum,  of  which  he  has  been  the 
collector  for  the  past  sixteen  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shaffer  are  members  of  Market  Square 
Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Shaffer  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Brotherhood  of  Andrew  and 
Philip  and  secretary  of  the  chajjter. 

Bergstresser,  Alexander  W.,  dealer  in 
wall  paper  and  window  shades,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  December  1, 1833.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Watson)  Berg- 
stresser, botli  natives  of  Dauphin  county. 
His  grandparents  on  the  father's  side  were 
natives  of  Northumberland  county,  but  early 
became  residents  of  Dauphin  county.  His 
grandfather  was  John  Bergstresser ;  his 
grandmother  had  been  a  Miss  AVMlkinson. 
Tiie  maternal  grandfather,  Jackson  Watson, 
came  to  America  from  Ireland  when  but 
nine  years  old.  and  from  that  date  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  passed 
away.  He  was  a  son  of  Alexander  Watson, 
a  native   of  Ireland,  and   for  many  years  a 


^C^cceXey  ^ .  o'^J^fccj^e-d&^yr 


DAUPEIN  COUNTY. 


487 


resident  of  Cumberland  county.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Sophia  Hoover,  and  spent  his  de- 
cHning  years  in  Harrisburg  with  his  son, 
Jackson  Watson.  The  wife  of  Jackson  Wat- 
son, maternal  grandmother  of  A.  W.  Berg- 
stresser,  was  a  Miss  Wentz,  born  in  Huni- 
melstown,  Pa.,  in  1789.  William  Berg- 
stresser,  father  of  Alexander  W.,  was  a  mill- 
wright, and  prominent  as  a  business  man  in 
Harrisburg.  He  died  in  May,  1844 ;  his 
wife  had  died  in  1842.  They  were  the  pa- 
rents of  tliree  children  :  Alexander  W.,  Will- 
iam J.  and  Isabella  C,  wife  of  Martin 
Keeney,  all  residing  in  Harrishurg. 

Alexander  W.  Bergstresser  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg.  He 
has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this  city,  with 
the  exception  of  two  years'  service  in  the 
United  States  army  during  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion.  After  completing  his  education 
he  learned  house  painting  and  paper  hang- 
ing, and  for  about  six  years  was  connected 
with  his  uncle  and  brother  in  that  business. 
Subsequently  he  was  in  the  same  business 
with  his  brother  for  about  five  years.  From 
18(j(3  to  1877  he  was  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Bergstresser  &  Boyd.  Since  the  latter 
date  he  has  been  conducting  business  solely 
in  his  own  interest.  During  this  time  he 
has  devoted  all  his  attention  to  wall  paper 
and  window  shades.  In  July,  1863,  Mr. 
Bergstresser  enlisted  in  company  G,  Seventy- 
nintli  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  as  a  private, 
was  detailed  as  a  musician,  and  served  until 
September,  1864,  when  he  was  discharged 
from  the  army,  as  a  private,  at  Jonesboro', 
Ga.  He  re-enlisted  as  a  musician  in  the 
band  of  the  Third  brigade,  First  divsion. 
Fourteenth  army  corps,  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  at 
Harrisburg  in  June,  1865,  having  served  his 
country  faithfully  for  two  years.  During 
that  term  he  had  served  in  the  double  capa- 
cit}'  of  musician  and  chief  clerk  of  the  quar- 
termaster's department  of  the  Third  brigade. 

Alexander  W.  Bergstresser  was  married  in 
Harrisburg,  September  12,  1857,  to  Anna 
E.,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Sach, 
who  was  born  in  Carrolton,  New  Orleans, 
and  later  a  resident  of  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.  Their  children  are  six  in  number : 
Edwin  R;  Alice  W.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years ;  Alexander  W.,  of  Philadel- 
phia; Anna  E.,  wife  of  Eustace  B.  Grimes, 
Philadelphia ;  Grace  E.,  living  at  home. 
Mr.  Bergstresser  is  a  member  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Persever- 
34 


ance  Chapter,  No.  21,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Pil- 
grim Commandery,  No.  11,  K.  T.  He  has 
for  fortj'-three  years  belonged  to  Dauphin 
Lodge,  No.  160,  I.  0.  0.  F.  He  is  a  member 
of  Central  Lodge,  No.  19,  A.  O.  U.  W.  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  at- 
tends the  Presbyterian  church. 


Adams,  William  J.,  furniture  dealer,  Nos. 
10Q-V2  South  Second  street,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Margerie  (Adams)  Adams.  He  was  reared 
in  his  native  county  and  educated  in  night 
schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  linen 
manufacturer,  and  came  to  America  in  1857, 
locating  in  Philadelphia  for  a  short  time; 
then  found  employment  on  a  farm,  and 
worked  there  for  three  years.  He  next  went  to 
Cliester.  Pa., and  became  a  blacksmith  helper 
in  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  shops.  The 
shops  were  abandoned  and  the  men  were  dis- 
tributed to  other  works  of  the  company.  Mr. 
Adams  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1861,  and  re- 
mained in  the  employment  of  the  railroad 
company  until  1862.  In  July  of  that  year 
he  enlisted  in  company  A,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-seventh  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
as  quartermaster's  sergeant,  and  served  nine 
months.  In  1863  he  formed  a  partnersliip 
with  John  T.  Ensminger  in  the  furniture 
business.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  com  pan}' 
G,  Two  Hundred  and  First  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  and 'after  two  months'  service 
was  put  on  detailed  duty  as  acting  assistant 
adjutant  general  of  the  Juniata,  with  head- 
quartei'S  at  Chambersburg,  Pa.;  he  served  for 
five  months  in  this  capacity,  and  was  then 
detailed  to  the  provost  marshal's  office  at 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  until 
the  close  of  the  war. 

He  continued  his  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ensminger  until  1868,  when  they  dissolved 
their  business  relations,  he  continuing  in 
the  business  as  W.  J.  Adams  at  his  present 
location,  and  as  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  W.  J.  Adams  &  Bro.,  on  Market  street, 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1891  he  ad- 
mitted his  son  to  partnership,  and  the 
firm  has  since  been  W.  J.  Adams  &  Son. 
Mr.  Adams  is  a  stockholder  in  the  East  Har- 
risburg Traction  Corapau}',  the  Harrisburg 
National  Bank  and  Trust  Comj^any,  and 
Kelker  Street  Market  House. 

He  is  a  Republican.  In  1879-80  he 
served  as  a  member  of  the  select  council, 
and    was   president  of  that   body  in   1881. 


488 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


He  resigned  this  office  after  serving  one 
year,  in  order  to  pay  a  visit  to  liis  native 
country,  from  which  he  had  been  absent 
twenty-five  years.  In  1887  he  was  a  member 
of  common  council.  During  iiis  member- 
ship in  both  branches  of  the  council  he 
served  on  many  important  committees.  In 
February,  1895,  he  was  elected  to  the  school 
board  from  the  Second  ward.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Post  58,  G.  A.  R. 

He  was  married,  in  1866,  to  Miss  Emma 
•J.,  daughter  of  George  Welker,  of  Harris- 
burg.  She  died  March  31,  1885.  They  had 
six  children :  George  Welker  Adams,  born 
August  31,  1869,  and  was  educated  in  the 
high  school  of  Harrisburg  and  the  com- 
mercial college ;  became  a  partner  with  his 
father  in  1891,  and  is  an  active  young  busi- 
ness man  ;  is  a  stockholder  in  the  East  Har- 
risburg Traction  Company,  the  Lebanon 
Valley  Railroad  Company  and  the  Cambria 
and  Juniata  railroad  ;  William  J.,  Jr.,  born 
November  3,  1871,  graduated  from  Lehigh 
University  as  an  electrical  engineer ;  Rich- 
ard L.,  Emma  K.,  Robert  G.  and  Helen  A. 

Mr.  Adams  was  again  married,  in  1887,  to 
Miss  Hattie  B.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Mann, 
of  Harrisburg;  they  have  two  children, 
Esther  Jane  and  Irene.  Mr.  Adams  is  a 
member^of  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  is  a  local  preacher,  having 
been  ordained  by  Bishop  Andrews,  of  York, 
Pa.     He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  church. 


Ogelsby,  Joseph  J.,  furniture  dealer  and 
undertaker,  was  born  in  Harrisburg  March 
23,  1838.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Jonah  and 
Phoebe  (Miller)  Ogelsby.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Chester  county,  were  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and  were  Quakers. 
They  settled  in  Harrisburg  in  1837.  The 
father  was  a  manufacturer  of  sickles  and 
worked  at  this  industrv  for  man\'  years  in 
Chester  county.  In  1838  he  removed  to 
Susquehanna  township,  where  he  was  a 
prominent  agriculturalist  till  1856.  He  died 
at  the  residence  of  his  son,  Washington  P., 
in  Philadelphia,  in  1885,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-five  years.  He  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  but  two  are  now  living, 
Joseph  J.  and  Washington  P.,  of  Philadel- 
phia. 

Joseph  J.  Ogelsby,  when  but  an  infant, 
came  with  his  parents  to  Susquehanna  town- 
ship, where  he  remained  till  he  was  seven- 
teen 3'ears  of  age.  He  worked  upon  his 
father's    farm,    receiving    such    educational 


advantages  as  could  be  obtained  in  the 
district  schools  during  the  winter  months. 
In  January,  1856,  Mr.  Ogelsby  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  firm  of  J.  R.  Boyd  &  Sou, 
Harrisburg,  to  learn  the  cabinet-making 
business.  He  was  a  faithful  employee  in  the 
service  of  this  firm  for  twenty-three  years. 
Since  1879  he  has  been  continuously  engaged 
in  business  for  himself  in  this  city.  He  was 
married  in  Harrisburg,  June  25,  1863,  to 
Miss  Fannie  Mauma,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Nancy  Mauma,  of  Harrisburg.  They 
have  had  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are 
living:  Warwick  M.,  Joseph  N.,  Boyd  M., 
Fannie  M.,  and  Martha,  all  residing  in  Har- 
risburg. 

In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Ogelsby  enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers,  and  served  for  nine 
months.  In  August,  1864,  he  re-enlisted  in 
the  Two  Hundred  and  First  Pennsylvania 
volunteers  and  served  for  a  further  time 
of  one  year  in  this  regiment.  He  is  a 
member  of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R.,  and  also  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum.  In  politics  he  is  a 
staunch  Republican.  The  family  attend  the 
Lutheran  church. 


Stoey,  John  R.,  dealer  in  wall  ]iaper  and 
window  shades,  was  born  in  Mechanicsburg, 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  February  18, 1839. 
He  is  a  son  of  George  W.  B.  and  Rachel 
(Ritner)  Stoey;  his  mother  is  a  niece  of  ex- 
Governor  Ritner,  and  daughter  of  John  D. 
Ritner.  George  W.  B.  Stoey  was  born  in 
Lebanon,  January  3,  1813.     He  is  a  son  of 

Henry  and  Stoey,  and   a   grandson 

of  the  late  Dr.  Stoey,  of  Lebanon.  He  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Cumberland 
county,  but  his  later  years  have  been  passed 
in  Harrisburg.  His  wife  is  a  native  of  Cum- 
berland county,  and  is  still  living.  They 
were  the  parents  of  fifteen  children.  John 
R.  is  the  eldest  survivor  of  their  family,  the 
others  being:  Catherine,  wife  of  Isaac  R. 
Smith, of  Harrisburg;  Washington  L., grocer, 
Harrisburg;  William  Wesley,  taxidermi.st 
and  naturalist,  of  Harrisburg;  Clara  E.,  wife 
of  Finley  Rogers, of  Mechanicsburg;  Oliver 
P.,  practicing  physician  at  Roxbury,  Frank- 
lin county,  Pa.;  and  Elmer  E.,  resident  at 
Williamsport,  Pa. 

John  R.  Stoe}'  spent  his  boyhood  in  his 
native  county.  He  received  only  a  limited 
school  education;  the  greater  part  of  his 
training  and  development  has  been  afforded 
by  experience  of  men  and   business  in  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


489 


struggles  of  life.  When  but  ten  3'ears  of  age 
lie  started  in  life  for  himself,  working  for  his 
board  and  clothing  only  for  three  years,  after 
which  he  received  three  dollars  per  naonth. 
He  continued  to  work  at  farming  until  he 
was  seventeen  years  old,  at  which  time  he 
was  earning  the  munificent  pay  of  seven  dol- 
lars per  month.  Tired  of  this  kind  of  work, 
he  walked  to  Mechanicsburg  and  engaged 
with  Simon  Arnold  as  store  boy.  After  re- 
maining for  six  months  with  him  he  con- 
cluded it  would  be  better  for  him  to  learn  a 
trade.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  at  paint- 
ing and  paper  hanging,  at  which  he  worked 
asapprenticeand  journeyman  for  seven  years. 
In  1874  he  engaged  in  his  present  business 
in  Harrisburg. 

In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Stoey  enlisted  in  com- 
pany A,  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  and  served  for  four 
months.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Antietam,  but  fought  through  the  battle,  not- 
withstanding the  injury.  On  account  of  dis- 
ability resulting  from  his  wound  he  received 
an  honorable  discharge  at  the  Cotton  Factory 
Hospital,  Harrisburg,  on  surgeon's  certificate 
of  disability.  On  December  24,  1862,  he  re- 
enlisted  for  one  year  in  the  Two  Hundred 
and  First  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and 
served  uniil  June  21,  1865,  when  he  was 
again  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Harris- 
burg, having  served  as  first  sergeant  of  his 
company. 

John  R.  Stoev  was  married  at  Carlisle,  Pa., 
December  31,  "1863,  to  Adeline  A.  Bobb, 
daughter  of  George  G.  and  Mary  Bobb,  of 
Cumberland  county.  They  have  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  have  adopted  a  daughter, 
Carrie  E. 

Mr.  Stoey  has  represented  the  Fifth  ward  in 
common  council  for  three  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464, 
Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21,  Pilgrim  Com- 
mandery  and  Harrisburg  Consistory,  F.  &  A. 
M.  He  is  an  honorary  member  of  Harris- 
burg Council,  No.  106,  0.  U.  A.  M.  He  is  a 
comrade  in  Seneca  G.  Simmons  Post,  No.  116, 
G.  A.  R. 

Mr.  Stoey  is  a  Republican.  He  and  his 
wife  have  been,  since  1868,  members  of  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Ensminger,  John  T.,  auctioneer,  commis- 
sion merchant  and  furniture  dealer,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg,  March  9,  1842,  and  is  a 
son  of  Philip  and  Elizabeth  (Shrenk)  Ens- 
minger.    His   grandfather   Ensminger  was 


born  in  Lancaster  count}',  but  settled  in 
Harrisburg  at  a  very  early  date  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  city.  His  father,  Philip  Ens- 
minger, was  born  in  Harrisburg,  October 
24,  1802.  He  was  engaged  in  the  butcher- 
ing business,  but  subsequentl}-  was  for  many 
years  engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  and 
continued  in  it  until  succeeded,  in  1860,  by 
his  son,  John  T.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  December  18,  1809.  The 
parents  were  married  October  25,  1838. 
They  had  six  children ;  Charles  M.,  born 
September  2,  1840,  died  December  10,  1840 ; 
John  T.;  Frances  Marion,  born  August  18, 
1844,  wife  of  Charles  Brown,  now  residing 
in  New  York  Citv  ;  Ellen  Virginia,  born 
February  13,  1847,  wife  of  W.  0.  Bishop, 
residing  in  Harrisburg;  Catherine  Jane, 
born  July  10,  1849,  wife  of  W.  E.  Smith, 
residing  at  Plainfield,  N.  J.,  and  Louis  Kos- 
suth, born  February  9,  1852,  and  died  April 
12,  1852.  By  a  previous  marriage  there 
was  a  family  of  four  children,  none  of  whom 
are  now  living.  Joseph  Ensminger,  brother 
of  Philip,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  De- 
cember 17,  1798,  and  was  the  organizer  and 
captain  of  the  first  company  of  Minors, 
(their  ages  ranging  fron  sixteen  to  eighteen 
years),  which  he  took  to  Baltimore  against 
the  English.  He  still  survives,  and  resides 
atCrawfordsville,  Ind.,  hale  and  hearty  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety -seven  years.  Samuel, 
another  brother  of  Philip,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, May  21,  1811,  and  was  a  prominent 
business  man  in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  for  many  years, 
where  he  is  well  and  favorably  known,  and 
is  now  a  resident  of  Topeka,  Kan. 

John  T.  attended  the  public  schools  of 
this  city  and  completed  his  education  at  the 
Academy  of  Newville,  after  which  he  en- 
gaged in  the  furniture  business  with  his 
father,  and  succeeded  him,  as  stated  above, 
in  1860.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Re- 
bellion in  1861,  he  gave  a  striking  illustra- 
tion of  his  patriotism  by  closing  up  his 
place  of  business  and  offering  his  ser- 
vices in  the  defense  of  his  country'.  He 
enlisted  in  the  Twenty-fifth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  was  attached 
to  company  F,  and  .served  three  months. 
He  then  re-enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  in  company 
A,  and  served  nine  months,  and  during  this 
time  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant. 
At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  again  en- 
listed, this  time  in  the  Two  Hundred   and 


490 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


First  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  was  appointed  captain  of  company  G. 
He  served  with  tliis  regiment  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice at  Harrisburg,  June  25,  1865,  having 
served  continuously  during  the  war  in  de- 
fense of  his  country,  during  which  time  he 
participated  in  some  of  the  most  important 
battles  fought  in  subduing  the  Rebellion. 
At  the  time  of  his  discharge  he  was  acting 
in  tlie  capacity  of  provost  marshal  of  the 
Monongahela  district,  with  headquarters  at 
Pittsburgh.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  his  business,  which  he  has  since 
conducted  with  credit  and  success.  He  has 
been  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  to  whom 
he  was  joined  December  26,  1866,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  was  Miss  Sallie  C.  Fought,  daugh- 
ter of  Jonas  Fought.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  are:  Edgar  Irwin,  born  October  3, 
1868,  and  Amy  Florence,  born  May  11, 
1870,  and  died  March  18,  1871.  Mrs. 
Ensminger  died  at  Harrisburg,  August  7, 
1870.  His  second  marriage  occurred  at 
Harrisburg,  December  30, 1873,  in  which  he 
was  united  to  Mary  J.  Charles,  daughter  of 
Henry  R.  Charles,  of  Union  county.  Pa. 
The  children  of  tliis  marriage  are:  Eugene 
Charles,  born  February  21,  1875,  Grace  Ste- 
phenson, born  December  29,  1876,  John 
Tyler  and  George  Hursh,  twins,  born  April 
26,  1878.  Mr.  Ensminger  has  represented 
the  Third  ward  of  Harrisburg  in  the  com- 
mon council.  He  is  a  member  of  Col. 
Seneca  G.  Simmons  Post,  No.  116,  G.  A.  R. 
In  political  views  he  is  a  staunch  Republi- 
can. He  attends  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


YiNGST,  Frederick  W.,  furniture  and  car- 
pet dealer,  was  born  in  Harrisburg  Decem- 
ber 21,  1843,  son  of  Carl  and  Anna  (Suavely) 
Yingst.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  city.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he 
became  an  apprentice  to  the  house  and  sign 
painting  trade  with  the  late  John  Cruik- 
shank,  a  well-known  mechanic.  In  1862, 
when  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  Mr.  Yingst 
enlisted  in  company  A,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  for  nine  months,  served  his 
time  and  was  discliarged  and  mustered 
out  at  Harrisburg,  when  he  re-enlisted  in 
Gompany  G,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-fourth 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  for  three 
months,  and  was  commissioned  as  second 
lieutenant  of  his  compan}'.     Having  served 


his  term  he  was  again  discharged,  and  the 
third  time  enlisted  in  company  D,  Seventy- 
eighth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  was  orderly  sergeant  of  his  company. 
He  served  in  this  regiment  until  June,  1865, 
when  he  was  finally  mustered  out  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  having  served  in  the  army,  in 
all,  two  j'ears.  He  then  returned  to  Harris- 
burg and  embarked  in  the  furniture  and 
carpet  trade,  and  since  that  time  has  been 
continuously  in  the  business  in  this  cit}'.  He 
was  married  in  Harrisburg,  July  4,  1871,  to 
Theresa  Youder,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Mary  (Frank)  Youder,  and  to  them  has  been 
born  four  children  :  Walter  H.,  Robert  M., 
Anna  M.,  and  Gertrude  A.,  all  living  and 
residing  in  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Yingst  is  a 
member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464, 
Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21,  Harrisburg 
Council,  No.  7,  and  Pilgrim  Commandery, 
No.  11,  F.  &  A.  M.  Since  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  has  been  a  member  of  State 
Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  was 
for  many  years  also  a  member  of  Olive  En- 
campment, No.  56,  I.  0.  0.  F.  In  political 
views  he  is  liberal  and  independent,  voting 
for  men  rather  than  party.  Mr.  Yingst  has 
been  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed  church 
for  twenty-seven  years,  of  which  his  wife  and 
family  are  all  members,  excepting  Walter 
IL,  who  belongs  to  the  Market  Square  Pres- 
byterian church. 

Hoover,  Joseph  W.,  furniture  dealer,  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Mechanicsburg, 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  June  15,  1850.  He 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  Ann  (Kun- 
kle)  Hoover,  the  former  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  January  2,  1812,  the  latter  in  York 
county.  Pa.,  December  2,  1815.  They  had 
nine  children  :  (1)  Mary,  born  December  10, 
1834,  died  September  24,  1871 ;  married 
Joseph  Carl,  and  had  two  children,  who  mar- 
ried and  removed  West;  (2)  John  H.,  born 
March  17,1836;  tinner,  of  Indianapolis,  Ind.; 
has  been  twice  married  ;  his  second  wife  is 
living;  (3)  Samuel,  born  March  11,  1838, 
and  is  deceased ;  he  married  Miss  Laura 
Collins,  who  with  two  daughters  survives 
him  ;  at  the  time  of  his  death  he-  was  fore- 
man of  the  tinning  department  of  the  Phila- 
delphia and  Reading  Railroad  Company; 
his  daughters  are  Emma,  wife  of  Harry 
Yoder,  of  Harrisburg,  and  Ida,  with  an  aunt 
in  Philadelphia;' (4)  William  Henry,  born 
February  10,  1841,  died  March  11,  1841 ;  (5) 
Elizabeth,  born  February  15,1842;  resides 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


491 


in  Philadelphia,  widow  of  the  late  Robert 
C.  Hilsee;  (6)  Sarah,  born  September  11, 
1844, died  September 8, 1865;  married  Henry 
Bittle,  of  Mechanicsburg;  her  husband  and 
her  son,  Elmer,  survive  her;  (7)  Catherine, 
born  March  21,1847;  married  Louis  Troup, 
of  Cumberland  county  ;  died  in  Harrisburg, 
leaving  four  children  ;  (8)  Joseph  W. 

Joseph  W.  Hoover  lost  his  father  by  death 
when  he  was  eight  years  old,  and  was  com- 
pelled to  begin  tiie  struggle  of  life  early.  For 
ten  years,  faithfully  and  without  complaint, 
he  bore  the  burden  of  hard  labor  on  the 
farm.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  began,  in 
Philadelphia,  to  learn  bricklaying,  and  fin- 
ished his  apprenticeship  four  years  later. 
For  some  time  he  worked  at  his  trade  as 
journeyman.  For  the  following  twelve 
years  he  was  in  the  transfer  business ;  in 
1885  he  entered  the  service  of  Adams  Ex- 
press Company,  in  which  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1894.  In  June  of  that  year  he 
established  himself  in  the  furniture  business 
at  Nos.  334-336  Broad  street,  Harrisburg, 
where  he  has  built  up  a  large  and  rapidly 
increasing  trade. 

He  was  married,  November  10,  1872,  to 
Emma  Frances,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Rachel  (Shin)  Fish,  born  in  Philadelphia, 
January  20, 1853.  They  have  one  daughter 
living,  Alice  Josephine,  born  May  17,  1880. 

Mr.  Hoover  is  a  member  of  Dauphin 
Lodge,  No.  160,  L  0.  O.  F.  He  attends 
Ridge  Avenue  Methodist  Episco])al  church. 

Benjamin  Fish,  father  of  Mrs.  Hoover,  was 
born  in  Pittsgrove,  Salem  county,  N.  J.,  Au- 
gust 30,  1823.  He  was  married,  March  13, 
1845,  to  Rachel  Shin,  a  native  of  the  same 
place.  She  died  May  13,  1858,  leaving  four 
small  children.  In  1862  Mr.  Fish  married 
again,  and  in  1865  removed  to  Mechanics- 
burg, Cumberland  count}',  Pa.,  his  daughter, 
Emma  Frances,  afterwards  Mrs.  Hoover,  be- 
ing at  that  time  eleven  years  old.  He  re- 
sided at  Mechanicsburg  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  January  13,  1882.  He  was 
a  man  of  prominence  and  of  great  personal 
worth  and  highly  esteemed  in  the  com- 
munity; his  death  caused  universal  sorrow. 
Mr.  Fish's  attainments,  as  well  as  his  natural 
endowments,  were  more  than  ordinary.  In 
his  chosen  occupation,  that  of  a  coaclismith, 
his  mechanical  genius  was  displayed  in  the 
skill  and  ingenuity  of  his  workmanship,  and 
in  the  completeness,  finish  and  durability  of 
his  productions.  His  fellow-citizens,  among 
whom  he  had  lived  for  seventeen  years,  bore 


testimony  to  the  virtues  of  his  life  and  char- 
acter as  they  were  exhibited  in  the  various 
relations  sustained  by  him,  of  son,  hu.sband, 
father,  brother,  neighbor  and  friend.  A 
workingman  himself,  he  was  the  working- 
man's  friend,  and  in  his  own  person  and 
conduct  embodied  the  excellencies  of  the 
ideal  American  mechanic.  His  manhood 
was  of  a  true  type,  rounded  out  in  the  four 
cardinal  elements  of  industr}',  intelligence, 
honesty  and  piety.  While  he  toiled  dailv 
at  his  forge,  hammering  into  shapeliness  and 
welding  together  the  parts  of  an  intricate 
mechanism,  he  at  the  same  time  endeavored 
to  lead  his  thoughts  to  a  comprehension 
of  the  State  and  tendencies  of  the  elements 
and  forces  actively  at  work  in  this  progres- 
sive age,  resulting  in  new  social  forms  and 
improved  institutions. 

He  was  as  earnest  and  tireless  in  his 
efforts  to  provide  material  for  the  strength- 
ening and  enlargement  of  his  mind  as  to 
procure  food  for  his  body.  In  order  to  live 
and  to  enjoy,  he  felt  he  must  be  intelligent; 
he  was  convinced  that  ignorance  and  indif- 
ference to  trutii  are  as  inimical  to  happiness 
and  true  peace  of  soul  as  sloth  and  shiftless- 
ness  are  to  material  interests.  Llistory,  the 
story  of  men,  was  his  favorite  study,  and  his 
especial  delight  was  the  history  of  liis  own 
country.  On  all  subjects  he  sought  to  store 
his  mind  with  information  which  could  be 
his  own  solace  in  hours  of  leisure,  and  enable 
him  to  entertain  and  edify  others  in  social 
intercourse.  This  knowledge,  though  gained 
at  some  disadvantage,  as  it  must  of  necessity 
be  accumulated  after  the  close  of  his  day's 
toil,  was  nevertlieless  of  a  degree  and  com- 
pi'ehensiveness  surpassed  by  the  acquire- 
ments of  very  few  men.  The  contemplation 
of  his  country's  history  inspired  him  with 
patriotism,  and  led  him  to  recognize  the 
great  trutli  that  genuine  love  of  country  can 
be  instilled  into  the  rising  generation  only 
so  far  as  the}'  are  made  intelligent  concern- 
ing the  history  of  their  nation.  This  led 
Mr.  Fish  to  make  a  valuable  and  striking 
suggestion  to  his  fellow-citizens  of  Mechanics- 
burg, in  the  centennial  year,  wliich  was  to 
enclose  the  records  of  the  history  of  the  town 
and  of  their  times  in  an  iron  chest,  to  be 
sealed  and  remain  unopened  till  the  end  of 
the  century.  The  iron  chest  for  that  pur- 
pose he  constructed  with  his  own  hands,  and 
the  suggestion  was  carried  out.  It  immedi- 
ately called  forth  favorable  comment 
throughout  the  country. 


492 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


And  last,  but  far  more  important  than  all 
else,  Mr.  Fish  was  of  a  deeply  religious  nature, 
and  found  his  hicrhest  satisfaction  in  its  cul- 
ture and  gratification.  His  happiest  mo- 
ments were  spent  in  prayer  and  praise,  by 
which  his  soul  was  lifted  up  to  the  dwelling 
place  and  throne  of  God.  He  was  conscious 
of  his  own  imperfections,  of  his  frailties  and 
failures,  of  his  unworthiness  and  sin;  but  he 
had  a  sublime  faith  in  the  blood  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  and  in  the  power  of  divine 
grace,  by  which  his  soul  was  fortified  in  the 
time  of  affliction  and  in  the  hour  of  dissolu- 
tion. In  the  presence  of  the  king  of  terrors 
no  cloud  of  doubt  or  fear  obscured  his  vision 
of  the  Saviour.  In  the  triumphs  of  the 
cross  he  passed  away,  murmuring  with  al- 
most his  last  breath,  "Jesus,  lover  of  my 
soul." 


Adams,  Richard. — The  career  of  this 
well-known  and  recognized  man  of  Harris- 
burg  was  not  long  in  years,  but  in  spirit  and 
character  it  was  such  as  to  leave  an  abiding 
impress  in  the  community.  He  was  born  in 
county  Down,  Ireland,  August  15,  1850. 
His  parents,  James  and  Margerie  Adams, 
were  people  of  intelligenceand  of  good  social 
standing,  and  realized  the  importance  of 
careful  training  and  competent  instruction 
in  preparing  their  son  for  the  duties  of  life. 
Both  at  home  and  in  the  best  schools  his 
intellectual  faculties  were  developed  and 
trained,  and  his  mind  was  stored  with  infor- 
mation which  gave  him  a  clear  view  of  life, 
its  opportunities  and  its  responsibilities.  He 
was  active  and  mature,  and  was  ready  and 
anxious  to  enter  the  paths  of  business  early 
in  life.  He  first  engaged  in  business  at 
Bainbridge,  Ireland,  with  Mr.  James  Dodds, 
and  before  he  reached  his  majority  continued 
with  him  for  six  years.  He  longed  for  the 
broader  fields  and  larger  opportunities 
which  a  newer  country  with  its  vast  re- 
sources undeveloped  affords  the  ambitious 
young  man,  and  hence  in  18G9  he  came  to 
the  United  States  and  located  at  Harrisburg. 
His  choice  of  locality  was  perhaps  deter- 
mined by  the  fact  that  his  elder  brother, 
William  J.,  was  already  e.stablished  in  busi- 
ness in  this  city.  He  very  soon  became  as- 
sociated with  his  brother  in  business,  and 
his  entire  business  career  was  occupied  with 
the  firm  thus  formed.  The  brothers  were 
partners  for  over  twenty  jears,  and  were 
always  in  accord  in  their  views  and  plans, 
and  were  eminently  successful.     Richard  re- 


tired from  the  firm  only  a  few  months  pre- 
vious to  his  death  with  a  comfortable  com- 
petence for  his  family,  or  with  ample  ca[)ital 
for  other  business  or  investments,  as  inclina- 
tion and  opportunity  might  invite. 

Mr.  Adams  was  interested  and  active  in 
developing  the  general  resources  and  enter- 
prises of  the  city.  He  was  one  of  tiie  orginal 
stockholders  of  the  East  Harrisburg  Traction 
Company,  and  was  identified  with  many 
other  important  industries  of  a  public  nature, 
among  which  were  the  People's  Bridge  Com- 
pany and  Kelker  Street  Market  Company, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  promoters  as  well 
as  stockholder.  His  life  was  suddenly  ter- 
minated b\'  the  collision  of  trains  on  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad.  He  had  been  to 
Philadelphia  with  his  wife  to  place  her  under 
the  care  of  an  eminent  physician,  and  had 
nearl}^  reached  the  termination  of  his  return 
journey  when  by  an  unexplained  confusion 
of  signals  one  section  of  an  express  train 
dashed  into  another,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
instantly  killed,  June  24,  1892.  Although 
his  life  was  cut  off  when  he  was  just  enter- 
ing his  prime,  in  his  forty-second  year,  he 
had  in  this  brief  time  accomplished  the 
great  ends  of  living.  His  family  were  left 
with  property  sufficient  to  meet  all  their 
needs,  and  he  had  attained  that  completeness 
and  maturity  of  character  and  preparation  of 
heart  which  made  him  ready  for  the  future 
and  spiritual  existence  into  which  death  in- 
troduced him.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  sincere  and 
devout  Christian,  with  unassuming  piety 
and  unostentatious  charity  adorning  his  re- 
ligious profession. 

His  church  membership  was  first  with  the 
Vine  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  but 
afterwards  he  became  one  of  the  leading 
spirits  in  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  the  material  and  spiritual  pros- 
perity of  this  important  religious  enterprise 
were  always  near  his  heart. 

Mr.  Adams  was  married,  September  23, 
1875,  to  Miss  Susan  A.,  daughter  of  George 
and  Susan  (Ford)  Welker,  of  Harrisburg, 
who  survives  him.  They  had  five  children: 
Susan  Welker,  born  August  15,  1876,  died 
December  27, 1881 ;  James  Laird,  born  April 
21,  1878;  Margerie  Jane,  born  April  15, 
1880;  John  Ford,  born  December  19,  1881; 
and  Charlotte,  born  July  30,  189J. 

Goldsmith,  Joseph,  manufacturer  of  fur- 
niture and  general  upholsterer,  was  born  in 
the  province  of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  February 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


493 


3,  1835.  He  is  a  son  of  Meyer  and  Bella 
Goldsmith,  who  were  natives  of  the  same 
province,  now  both  deceased.  They  had 
born  to  them  a  family  of  nine  children,  eight 
of  whom  came  to  America.  Six  still  reside 
in  this  country,  namely:  Abraham,  a  prom- 
inent clothing  merchant  of  Harrisburg; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Ferdinand  Jesselson,  of  New 
York  City;  Arsar,  residing  in  Brooklyn,  N.Y.; 
Caroline,  wife  of  August  Levison,  residing  in 
Nyack,  N.  Y.;  Joseph,  and  Mina,  widow  of 
the  late  Judah  Knep,  who  now  resides  in  her 
native  home. 

Joseph  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
he  was  apprenticed  to  the  upholsterer's  trade, 
serving  for  four  years.  In  August,  1871,  he 
left  his  native  home  to  try  his  fortune  in 
America.  After  working  four  years  at  his 
trade  in  New  York  City  he  removed  to  Har- 
risburg, where  he  has  made  his  home  for  the 
past  twenty-five  years,  having  been  for  fifteen 
years  past  engaged  in  business  for  himself. 
He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  June  15, 
1881,  to  Miss  Frieda  Kuhn,  daughter  of 
Abraham  Kuhn,  of  Bavaria.  They  have 
three  children :  Isabella,  Carrie,  and  Meyer 
Lee.  Mr.  Goldsmith  is  a  member  of  Feace 
and  Plenty  Lodge,  No.  69,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  attends  the 
Second  Street  Jewish  synagogue.  The  busi- 
ness tact  and  enterprise  of  Mr.  Goldsmith, 
coupled  with  his  genial  manners  and  per- 
sonal worth,  have  resulted  in  securing  him  a 
large  patronage  and  wide  popularity. 


Hoover,  Charles  F.,  furniture  and  car- 
pet dealer,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  February 
25, 1861.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary 
B.  (Yingst)  Hoover.  William  H.  Hoover 
was  born  in  York  county.  For  many  years 
he  was  an  honored  resident  of  Harrisburg. 
He  served  three  years  in  the  army,  in  the 
defense  of  his  country,  and  was  during  that 
time  in  three  branches  of  the  service,  infantry, 
artillery  and  cavalr}'.  He  took  part  in  many 
of  the  famous  battles.  He  received  injuries 
in  tiie  service  which  eventuated  in  his  death 
in  1865.  He  married  Mary  B.  Yingst,  born 
in  Harrisburg,  who  is  still  living  in  this 
city.  Their  family'  consisted  of  two  children : 
Charles  F.  and  a  daughter,  Anna  Laura,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Charles  F.  Hoover  began  his  education  in 
the  city  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  eleven 
he  entered  Whitehall  Soldiers'  Orphans' 
School,  where  his  education  was  completed. 


He  worked  for  two  years  at  house  painting. 
He  then  removed  to  Adebolt,  Iowa,  where 
he  resided  two  years,  engaged  in  painting 
under  contracts.  He  next  removed  to  Phil- 
adelphia, and  was  in  the  service  of  John 
Wanamaker  &  Co.,  in  their  carpet  depart- 
ment, for  about  two  years.  Returning  to 
Harrisburg,  he  was  for  the  next  ten  years  in 
the  carpet  business  with  F.  W.  Yingst.  In 
1801  he  went  into  business  for  himself.  He 
was  married  in  Harrisburg,  May  1,  1883,  to 
Elizabeth  B.,  daughter  of  George  and  Anna 
Dinger,  of  Harrisburg.  They  have  had 
three  children  :  William  H.,  Charles  R.,  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years  and  ten  months, 
and  Robert  Patterson.  Mr.  Hoover  is  a 
member  of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  Olive 
Encampment,  No.  56,  and  Susanna  Rebecca 
Lodge,  No.  244, 1.  0.  0.  F.;  Cincinnatus  Com- 
mandery,  No.  96,  K.  of  M.;  Herculean  Castle, 
No.  480,  K.  of  G.  E.,  and  K.  of  H.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  independent.  He  and  his  family 
attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Hughes,  Washington  R.,  dealer  in  wall 
paper  and  window  shades,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, July  12,  1861.  He  is  a  son  of  Al- 
bert and  Rebecca  (Reeder)  Hughes.  _  Albert 
Hughes  was  born  in  Philadelphia.  He 
came  to  Harrisburg  about  1858,  and  with 
the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  has  been  a  resident  here  since 
that  date.  He  was  a  builder,  and  erected 
some  of  the  most  prominent  dwelling  houses 
in  the  city.  His  wife  died  January  25, 
1896.  Washington  R.  Hughes  received  a 
part  of  his  education  in  the  Harrisburg 
schools.  During  the  two  years'  residence  of 
the  family  in  St.  Louis  he  attended  the 
public  .schools  of  that  city.  On  his  re- 
turn to  Harrisburg  he  completed  his  edu- 
cation at  Gause's  Academy.  He  then 
learned  printing,  and  subsequently  paper 
hanging.  He  has  been  engaged  in  his 
present  business  since  January,  1887.  He 
is  an  active  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge, 
No.  21,  F.  &  A.M.;  Perseverance  Chapter, 
No.  21,  R.  A.  M. ;  Pilgrim  Commandery,  No. 
11,  K.  T. ;  Harrisburg  Sovereign  Consistory, 
Harrisburg,  and  Lulu  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  N. 
M.  S.,  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Hughes  is  a 
Democrat,  and  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


GouGH,  Hexry  W.,  managing  partner  of 
the  firm  of  H.  W.  Gough  &  Co.,  dealers  in 
furniture,    was    born    in    Monmouthshire, 


494 


BIO  GRA  PHI  CA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


Wales,  December  6,  1861,  and  is  the  only 
surviving  issue  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Thomas)  Gough.  In  the  early  part  of  18G2 
his  father  left  his  native  land  in  a  sailing 
vessel  to  seek  a  home  for  his  famih'  in  the 
New  World.  After  a  tedious  passage,  he 
reached  New  York  on  the  fourth  day  of  July, 
1862,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  Danville, 
Pa.,  where  he  concluded  to  take  up  his  resi- 
dence. In  the  following  3'ear  his  wife  and 
family,  including  Henry  W.,  also  left  the 
shores  of  old  England  and  set  out  to  join 
the  husbaud  and  father,  who  eagerly  wel- 
comed them  on  their  arrival  in  New  York 
in  August,  1863.  He  conducted  them  to 
the  new  home  which  he  had  prepared  for 
them  in  Danville,  Pa.  The.y  continued  to 
reside  in  Dan\ille  until  Marcli,  1867,  when 
they  removed  to  Harrisburg,  the  father  hav- 
ing preceded  'hem  thsro  in  1366.  He  was 
spared  to  them  but  a  short  time  after  their 
arrival  in  Harrisburg ;  he  died  in  1867. 
The  mother  still  survives  at  tlie  advanced 
age  of  seventy-eiglit  years,  hale  and  hearty, 
and  is  an  honored  and  revered  resident  of 
Kittanning,  Armstrong  county,  Pa. 

From  1867  until  the  present  date,  with 
the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in  the 
western  part  of  tliis  State,  Henry  W.  Gough 
has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  Harris- 
burg. He  received  the  advantages  of  a  pub- 
lic school  education.  After  leaving  school 
he  entered  the  company  store  of  the  Lochiel 
iron  mill,  and  from  October,  1878,  until  Au- 
gust, 1882,  he  was  continuous]}'  in  this  em- 
ployment ;  first,  in  the  capacity  of  clerk, 
and  for  the  last  three  years  as  bookkeeper. 

On  September  11,  1882,  he  entered  the 
employ  of  D.  \V.  Gross  &  Son,  druggists,  as 
bookkeeper  in  their  establishment,  and  con- 
tinued in  this  position  until  August  16, 1893. 
For  the  following  year  he  was  not  engaged 
in  any  special  branch  of  business,  but  was 
employed  as  an  expert  accountant  in  audit- 
ing the  accounts  of  insolvent  estates.  On 
August  6, 1894,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Yingst  Carpet  Company,  and  took  charge  of 
the  financial  part  of  this  business  until  March 
1,  1895.  On  this  date  Mr.  Gough,  in  con- 
nection with  some  other  members  of  the 
compan}^  purchased  the  business  and  was 
appointed  managing  partner. 

Henr}'  W.  Gough  was  married  in  Phila- 
delphia, August  25,  1885,  to  Miss  Jennie  L. 
Cope,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Cope,  res- 
idents of  Harrisburg.  They  had  three 
children,  Mary  Lewis,  William  Bailey,  and 


John  Edwin.  Mr.  Gough  is  a  member  of 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M., 
Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160,  and  Dauphin  En- 
campment, No.  10,  I.  0.  0.  F.  He  is  an  ac- 
tive politician  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republi- 
can party.  He  has  creditably  represented 
the  First  ward  in  common  council  for  two 
terms,  and  is  now  a  member  of  select  coun- 
cil from  that  ward.  He  was  twice  nomi- 
nated for  the  office  of  city  comptroller,  but 
was  defeated  by  W.  K.  Verbeke,  the  present 
incumbent.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gough  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Market  Square  Pres- 
byterian church. 


Potter,  Ik.a.  C,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Potter  &  Co.,  dealers  in  wall  paper, 
was  born  in  Liverpool  township.  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  January  1,  1866,  son  of  Levi 
and  Sarah  (Bear)  Potter.  The  father  was 
born  in  Buffalo  township.  Perry  count}', 
September  12,  1832,  son  of  the  late  Jonas 
and  Barbara  (Stevens)  Potter.  He  received 
only  a  limited  education  in  the  district 
schools.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  a  driver 
on  the  canal,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  married,  in  Buffalo  town- 
ship. Perry  county,  June  18,  1854,  to  Sarah 
Ann  Bear,  and  tliere  have  been  born  to 
them  twelve  cliildren,  of  whom  ten  are  liv- 
ing: William  Harrison,  Alfred  A.,  Charles 
C,  Cordelia,  wife  of  Peter  Walk,  Edwin  S., 
Oscar  R.,  Ira  C,  Alice,  wife  of  Hellorious 
Bodner,  Catherine  R.  and  Irvin  L.  In  liis 
politics  lie  is  a  Democrat,  and  attends  the 
Lutlieran  churcii.  Ira  C.  spent  his  early 
life  in  his  native  township,  and  attended 
the  public  schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
painter  and  paper  hanger,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  five  years.  After  this  he  engaged 
in  contracting,  and  since  1891  has  been  in 
the  wall  paper  business.  He  was  married, 
in  Harrisburg,  August  13,  1892,  to  Elea- 
nora  Roberts,  daughter  of  George  Roberts, 
and  to  them  has  'neen  born  one  child,  Wal- 
ter Monroe.  Mr.  Potter  is  an  active  ipember 
of  Complanter  Tribe,  No.  61,  I.  0.  R.  M., 
and  of  Harrisburg  Council,  No.  328,  Jr.  0. 
U.  A.  M.  In  politics  Mr.  Potter  is  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  attends  the  United 
Brethren  cliurch. 


Wn.Li.\MS,  Fr.\nk  E,  upholsterer,  was  born 
at  Harrisburg,  March  2,  1867.  He  is  a  son 
of  the  late  Evan  and  Amanda  (Walborn) 
Williams.  His  father  was  a  well-known  and 
honored   resident  of  Harrisburg  for    many 


DAUPEIJSI   COUNTY. 


495. 


years.  He  died  February  28,  1884.  They 
had  two  sons:  Frank  E.  and  Charles,  both 
living  in  Harrisburg.  Tlie  Walborn  family, 
to  which  the  mother  belonged,  were  among 
the  very  early  settlers  of  Dauphin  county. 
The  grandfather  Walborn  died  at  Berrys- 
burg  at  the  advanced  age  of  eight^'-two  years. 
In  his  youth  Frank  E.  received  the  advan- 
tages of  a  good  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  city.  After  leaving  school  he 
went  to  New  York  City,  whei'e  he  spent  three 
years  in  learning  the  upholstering  business. 
In  1892  he  returned  to  Harrisburg,  since 
which  date  he  has  been  engaged  in  business 
in  this  city  and  has  succeeded  in  building 
up  a  profitable  and  growing  patronage.  He 
was  married  in  Harrisburg,  November  3, 
1889,  to  Emma  Shearer,  daugliter  of  William 
and  Mary  Shearer,  of  Perry  county,  Pa.  He 
isa  member  of  Cincinnatus  Com raandery,  No. 
96,  K.  of  M.  He  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  Williams  is  a  thorougii  expert 
at  his  business,  which  he  conducts  with 
credit  to  his  energy  and  skill  and  with  the 
utmost  satisfaction  to  his  patrons. 


VoLLMER,  Harry  A.,  senior  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Vollmer  &  Siuims,  ujiholsterers,  dec- 
orators and  awning  manufacturers,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg  December  10,  1870.  He  is  a 
son  of  Charles  Y.  and  Catherine  (Haehnlen) 
Vollmer.  Charles  T.  Vollmer  was  born 
in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  October  12,  1825. 
He  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents 
when  but  a  child,  and  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Harrisburg  for  over  forty  years, 
working  here  at  his  trade  of  upholstering. 
During  the  late  Rebellion  he  was  retained  as 
administration  upholsterer  under  Governor 
Curtin.  He  still  resides  in  Harrisburg. 
Catherine,  his  wife,  is  a  native  of  Harrisburg, 
of  German  parentage.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  in  infancy  ;  a  son, 
Christian,  died  aged  twenty-four.  The  sur- , 
viving  children  are:  Edward,  Mary,  Frank, 
Henry  A.,  Emma,  and  Theodore. 

Harry  A.  Vollmer  was  educated  in  the 
public  scliools  of  liis  native  city,  and  after- 
wards learned  upholstering,  in  which  busi- 
ness he  has  been  engaged  up  to  the  present 
time.  In  1890  he  formed  with  his  brother, 
Frank  H.,a  partnership  under  tiie  firm  name 
of  F.  H.  Vollmer  &  Bro.,  which  lasted  four 
years.  During  1894  Mr.  Vollmer  was  en- 
gaged in  the  decorating  business  throughout 
this  and  adjoining  States.  -lanuary  1,  1896, 
here-commenced  business  in  Harrisburg,  and 


on  February  1,  1895,  Mr.  Simms  became  his 
partner.  Both  father  and  sons  are  staunch 
Democrats.  The}'  all  attend  Zion  Lutheran 
church.  Among  the  3'oung  business  men  of 
the  city  Mr.  Vollmer  holds  a  prominent 
place  and  enjoj's  an  enviable  reputation  for 
enterprise  and  integrity.  Pits  business  is 
large  and  extends  to  adjoining  States. 


Simms,  Edward,  of  the  firm  of  ^''ollmer  & 
Simms,  upholsterers,  decorators  and  manu- 
facturers, was  born  in  the  city  of  London, 
England,  May  16,  1869.  He  is  a  sou  of 
Samuel  and  Rebecca  Simms,  both  natives  of 
Germany,  still  living,  and  residing  in  Lon- 
don, where  Mr.  Simms  carries  on  the  mer- 
chant tailoring  business.  They  had  a 
family  of  ten  ciiildren,  of  whom  eight  are 
living:  Joseph,  the  eldest,  died  in  the  dia- 
mond fields  of  South  Africa,  after  a  resi- 
dence there  of  fourteen  years ;  Isidore,  died 
in  London,  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  The  sur- 
viving children  are :  Edward,  Ralph,  Rose, 
Estella,  xVlfred,  engaged  in  the  mercliant 
tailoring  business,  in  Harrisburg,  Catherine, 
Leah  and  Harry,  all  residing  in  London, 
except  Edward  and  Alfred. 

Edward  Simms  was  educated  in  the  Lon- 
don schools.  Tliere  also  he  learned  his 
trade  of  upholstering  and  decorating,  and 
after  learning  it,  carried  on  in  the  same 
city  the  business  of  upholstering  and  cabi- 
net making.  In  September,  1887,  he  came 
to  America,  locating  for  five  months  in 
New  York.  Since  February,  1888,  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  Harrisburg,  and  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  He  was  the  first 
man  to  establish  the  decorating  business  in 
ilarrisburg.  He  controls  the  patent  right 
of  the  Eldrich  Steam  Feather  Renovator, 
the  only  dry  air  process  machine  made.  In 
1894  he  made  a  visit  to  his  parents  in  his 
native  land. 

He  is  a  member  of  Star  of  America  Com- 
manderv,  No.  113,  K.  of  M. ;  Warrior  Eagle 
Tribe,  No.  340,  I.  0.  R.  M. ;  Herculean 
Castle,  No.  480,  K.  G.  E. ;  Harmony  Com- 
mandery,  No.  39,  Uniformed  Rank,  K.  P. 
Mr.  Simms  is  well  known  to  the  citizens  of 
Harrisburg  as  an  upright  business  man. 
By  his  skill  and  his  careful  attention  to 
business  he  has  justly  earned  the  confidence 
of  the  public,  wiiich  lie  enjoys. 


Brandt,  Lkvi,  member  of  the  Paxton 
Flour  and  Feed  Company  and  superintend- 
ent of  the  business,  was  born  near  Church- 


496 


Bl  0  GRA  PHICAL  ENGYCL  OPEDIA 


town,  Monroe  township,  Cumberland  county, 
Pa.,  May  20,  1829.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Coover)  Brandt,  both  natives 
of  Cumberland  county.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  Adam  Brandt,  born  1751,  died 
1838,  who  married  Eve  Metzger,  born  1752, 
died  1830.  His  mother,  Elizabeth  Coover, 
was  granddaughter  of  George  Coover  (1740- 
1820),  who  descended  from  a  German  family 
named  Kobar  (afterwards  changed  to  Coover), 
of  Coburg,  German\'. 

Levi  Brandt  attended  country  school  until 
he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  From  1844  to 
1849  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm.  From 
1849  to  1861  he  was  in  the  live  stock  busi- 
ness in  Pennsylvania  and  Kentucky.  From 
1862  to  1865  he  was  in  the  grain  business  in 
Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  in  the  firm  of  Brandt  & 
Co.,  the  members  of  the  firm  being  David 
Brandt,  James  Brandt  and  Levi  Brandt.  In 
1866  he  was  in  the  grain  business  in  Me- 
chanicsburg at  the  Hummel  warehouse. 
From  1867  to  1872  he  sold  flour  and  grain 
for  Thomas  B.  Bryson  in  the  coal  regions  and 
in  New  York  City.  On  April  1,  1872,  he 
came  to  Ilarrisburg  and  assumed  the  man- 
agement of  the  warehouse  at  State  and  Canal 
streets  for  John  Hoffer  &  Co.  On  April  1, 
1874,  he  became  a  member  of  this  firm.  On 
January  1,  1890,  this  firm  was  succeeded  by 
the  Paxton  Flour  and  Feed  Company,  Levi 
Brandt  being  the  superintendent.  The  firm 
consists  of  the  McCormick  Estate  and  Levi 
Brandt.  It  operates  the  warehouse  at  Har- 
risburg,  the  grain  elevator  at  Bridgeport, 
Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  and  the  Lochiel 
flour  mill,  Ilarrisburg. 

Mr.  Brandt  was  married,  November  8, 
1866,  to  Elmira  A.,  daughter  of  Daniel  and* 
Christina  (Memper)  Bailey.  Her  grandfather 
was  John  Bailey  (1769-1832)  and  her  great- 
grandfather was  Daniel  Bailey,  a  native  of 
county  Monaghan,  province  of  Ulster,  Ire- 
land, who  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
York  county,  Pa.  To  Levi  and  Elmira 
Brandt  were  born  five  children :  Daniel 
Bailey,  John  Austin,  Christine  B.,  Elizabeth 
G.  and  Nellie  R.  Mr.  Brandt  has  never  been 
a  i^olitician,  in  the  sense  of  office-seeking. 
In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian 
church, of  which  Mrs.  Brandt  is  a  consistent 
member. 

Mr.  Brandt  belonged  to  a  family  of  eight 
children,  of  whom,  besides  himself,  only  one 
remains,  namel}^  Susan,  widow  of  the  late 
George  W.  Brandt,  of  Cumberland  county, 


Pa.,  who  now  resides  at  Boiling  S[M-ings. 
Successful  is  the  word  which  describes  Mr. 
Brandt's  business  career. 


Spahr,  John  H.,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  J.  H.  Spahr  &  Bro.,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
was  born  in  the  southern  part  of  York 
county.  Pa.,  January  25,  1852.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Mary  (Hoff)  Spahr,  both  na- 
tives of  York  count}',  the  former  still  sur- 
viving and  residing  at  Mount  Wolf,  York 
count}' ;  the  latter  died  at  Mount  Wolf. 
The  father  has  spent  his  whole  life  in  his 
native  county,  engaged  all  the  time  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  served  his  country 
nobly  during  the  late  Rebellion,  being  for 
nine  months  a  private  in  company  A,  One 
Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers. He  was  three  times  married.  To 
the  first  marriage  twelve  children  were  born, 
of  whom  nine  are  living,  namely  :  Henry, 
Lucy,  wife  of  Peter  Stair,  Reuben,  John  H., 
Samuel,  Mary,  wife  of  John  Herman,  Will- 
iam A.,  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  J.  II.  Spahr 
&  Bro.,  Louis  H.,  Alice,  wife  of  Charles 
Simons.  To  the  second  marriage  there  were 
born  two  children,  George  and  Charles,  both 
living.  Of  the  third  marriage  there  was  no 
issue. 

John  H.  Spahr,  when  but  six  months  old, 
was  taken  by  his  jjarents  to  Manchester 
township,  York  county  ;  when  he  was  about 
eleven  years  old  they  again  removed  to  AV^est 
Manchester  township.  Two  years  later  he 
returned  by  himself  "to  Manchester  township 
and  resided  there  for  about  six  years.  His 
primary  education  was  received  in  the  above 
named  townships.  During  the  last  six  years 
of  his  residence  in  Manchester  township  he 
completed  his  education  in  the  Millersville 
Normal  School.  After  leaving  this  school 
he  spent  a  short  time  in  Dauphin  county 
near  Harrisburg,  after  which  lie  went  to 
Milton,  Northumberland  county,  and  re- 
sided there  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
this  time  he  returned  to  the  home  of  his 
parents  at  Mount  Wolf,  York  county,  and 
attended  the  business  college  of  Prof. 
Leeds  for  six  months.  In  1877  he  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  and  since  that  date  has  been 
a  continuous  resident  of  this  city.  During 
eight  years  of  this  time  he  has  been  engaged 
in  his  present  business. 

John  H.  Spahr  was  married  at  York,  in 
December,  1878,  to  Emma  J.  Gross,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Susan  (Wolfe)  Gross.  To 
them   have  been  born  five  children,  one  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


497 


whom  died  in  infancy;  their  living  children 
are  Walter  S.,  Harry  M.,  Susie,  and  Grace. 

He  is  a  member  of  Dauphin  Lodge,  No. 
160,  I.  0.  O.  F.;  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  50,  K. 
of  P.;  also  of  Goldsmith's  Division,  Uniformed 
Rank,  K.  of  P.  In  political  views  Mr.  Spaiir 
is  Democratic.  He  is  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Fifth  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Mrs.  Spahr  belongs  to  the  Lutheran 
church,  but  with  her  family  attends  the 
adopted  church  other  husband. 

Spahr,  William  A.,  of  the  firm  of  J.  H. 
Spahr  &  Bro.,  flour  and  feed  merchants,  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Mary  (Hoff)  Spahr.  He 
was  born  near  Mount  Wolf,  York  county, 
January  2,  1862.  His  boyhood  days  were 
spent  at  Mount  Wolf,  and  his  education  was 
received  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
county.  Later  he  attended  the  Business  Col- 
lege of  Toledo,  Ohio.  When  eighteen  years 
of  age  he  became  apprenticed  to  the  flour 
milling  business  with  his  brother  Henry,  at 
Glen  Rock,  York  county.  He  spent  ten  years 
at  this  business,  and  has  for  several  years 
past  been  engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  busi- 
ness in  connection  with  his  brother,  John 
H.,  in  Harrisburg. 

He  was  married  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  to  Mar- 
garet E.  Clinton,  daughter  of  Emanuel  and 
Susan  Clinton,  of  Harrisburg.  One  son  was 
born  to  them,  who  died  in  infancy.  He  is 
not  connected  with  any  secret  societies  at  the 
date  of  this  writing.  He  is  Democratic  in 
his  political  views.  He  and  his  wife  attend 
the  Lutheran  church. 

The  members  of  the  firm  of  J.  H.  Spahr  & 
Bro.  are  both  honorable  business  men,  and 
are  highly  respected  in  business  and  social 
circles  for  their  personal  worth. 

Beck,  David  M.,  proprietor  of  flour  and 
feed  warehouse  and  elevator,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Progress,  Dauphin  county, 
October  26,  1860.  He  is  a  son  of  David  and 
Susan  (Whitmoyer)  Beck,  both  natives  of 
Dauphin  county.  His  father  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  January  28,  1828, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  Beck;  he  was  reared  a 
farmer  boy,  with  only  the  limited  advantages 
of  education  afforded  by  the  country  school. 
A-large  poi'tion  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  During  the  past  fif- 
teen years  he  has  not  been  in  active  business. 
He  was  married,  in  Lower  Paxton  township, 
to  Susan  Whitmoyer,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and   Catherine   (Laniken)  Whitmoyer,   also 


natives  of  Dauphin  county.  To  them  were 
born  four  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  living  children  are  :  Samuel  E., 
residing  in  Reading,  Pa.,  and  David  M.  Mrs. 
Beck  died  May  6,  1882.  Both  the  parents  of 
the  elder  David  Beck  were  of  German  an- 
cestry and  farmers.  They  came  to  Dauphin 
count}'  at  a  verj'  early  date  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  here. 

David  M.  Beck  spent  his  boyhood  in  Pro- 
gress, and  his, education  was  received  prin- 
cipally in  the  public  schools  of  this  village. 
He  had  the  advantage  of  one  term  in  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Millersville,  Pa.,  and 
n  Berrysburg  Seminary.  He  taught  school 
for  six  years,  during  which  time  he  taught 
one  term  in  Halifax  township,  one  in  Wayne 
township,  and  four  terms  in  Susquehanna 
township.  He  taught  three  terms  in  the 
graded  schools  of  Progress.  He  engaged 
with  the  firm  of  Forney  Bros.  &  Co.,  which 
he  represented  as  traveling  salesman  for 
nine  years.  For  the  last  four  years  of  this 
period  he  was  interested  also  in  the  flour  and 
feed  business.  In  June,  1895,  he  built  the 
large  and  commodious  premises  he  now  oc- 
cupies. He  now  gives  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  the  flour  and  feed  business. 

David  M.  Beck  was  married,  at  Penbrook, 
November  15,  1884,  to  Sarah  B.,  daughter  of 
Henry  J.  and  Lydia(Walmer)  Forney.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  surviving  chil- 
dren are:  Lydia  A.,  Harry  F.,  and  Charles  E. 
Mr.  Beck  is  a  member  of  Dauphin  Lodge, 
No.  250,  K.  of  G.  E.  In  political  views  he  is 
a  Republican.  He  attends  the  Church  of 
God.  Mr.  Beck  is  well  launcl)ed  upon  the 
tide  of  business  and  it  flows  rapidly  toward 
success.  The  breath  of  popular  favor  is  also 
in  his  sails. 


BusER,  Otis  S.,  miller,  was  born  in  Mid- 
dletown,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  October  22, 
1861.  He  is  a  son  of  Joiin  K.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Stoner)  Buser,  both  natives  of  Dau- 
phin county.  When  but  an  infant,  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Highspire,  where  he  spent 
liis  youth,  receiving  the  advantages  of  a 
good  public  school  education  in  that  town. 
He  learned  the  milling  business  with  his 
father.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  in 
1888,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  Ira,  he 
carried  on  the  business  for  four  years.  At 
the  expiration  of  this  period  he  withdrew 
his  interest  and  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  in  Harrisburg.     In  1892  he  also 


498 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


conducted  a  grocery  and  produce  exchange 
business  in  the  Cumberland  Valle}^  From 
1892  to  1894  he  was  engaged  in  various 
pursuits.  In  1894  lie  again  engaged  in  the 
milling  business,  and  in  November,  1895, 
in  the  flour  and  feed  business,  in  Harris- 
burg.  He  was  married,  in  Upper  Allen 
township,  Cumberland  county,  October  24, 
1893,  to  Amy  Benola  Souder,  daughter  of 
George  and  Emma  Souder.  Thej^  have  one 
son,  named  Guy  Erastus  S.  Mr.  Buser 
served  one  year  as  tax  collector  of  Iligh- 
spire.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Prohibi- 
tionist. He  attends  the  Church  of  God. 
He  is  a  reliable  and  enterprising  business 
man,  and  is  highly  esteemed. 


Zollinger,  John  H.\rris,  deceased,  was 
born  on  the  Hannah  farm,  near  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  August  22,  1812.  He  was  a  son  of  the 
late  George  and  Elizabetii  (Everhart)  Zoll- 
inger. Ilis  father,  George  Zollinger,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg.  His  ancestors  were 
Swiss,  who  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
Dauphin  county;  they  were  among  the  very 
earliest  settlers  of  Harrisburg.  He  was  at 
one  time  a  very  large  land  owner.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth  Everhart,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg. They  had  seven  children,  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  deceased. 

John  II.  Zollinger  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Harrisburg.  He  was  for  many  years  a 
hatter.  He  was  prominently  identified  witii 
the  interests  and  welfare  of  the  citv.  He 
died  February  11,1871. 

Mr.  Zollinger  was  married,  in  Harrisburg, 
January  23, 1848,  to  Julia  B.  Fitzgerald, born 
in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  June  9,  1824,  daughter  of 
the  late  David  and  Catherine  (Kendig)  Fitz- 
gerald, by  whom  he  had  two  children : 
George  C,  passenger  conductor  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania railroad,  and  Mary  Frances,  wife  of 
William  B.  Moore,  train  master,  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad.  Mrs.  Zollinger  is  still  living 
and  resides  in  Harrisburg.  She  and  her 
family  are  members  of  Grace  Methodist  Epis 
copal  churcii. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Zollinger  were  botli 
born  in  Lancaster,  Pa.  Her  grandfather 
Fitzgerald  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to 
America  during  the  Revolution  in  Ireland. 
He  settled  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  life.  The  Kendig 
family  were  of  Swiss  ancestry.  They  settled 
in  Lancaster  at  a  very  early  date.  Some 
members  of  the  family  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary army.     The  parents  of  Mrs.  Zoll- 


inger had  three  children:  Mary  L.,  wife  of 
John  Kepple,  cigar  manufacturer  of  Harris- 
burg; Mrs.  Zollinger;  James  Kildare,  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Zollinger's  father  died  from 
the  effects  of  a  fall  when  but  twenty-six 
years  of  age.  By  a  second  marriage  of  Mrs. 
Fitzgerald,  to  James  Williams,  there  was  one 
child  who  died  in  infanc_y.  By  her  third 
marriage,  to  Samuel  McDonald,  she  had  six 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  William 
K.,  Theodore  and  David  B. 

George  C.  Zollinger,  only  son  of  John  H. 
and  Julia  B.  Zollinger,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  June  4,  1849.  He  was  educated 
in  the  Harrisburg  public  schools,  and  took  a 
commercial  course  in  the  Business  College  of 
that  cit3\  After  finishing  his  education,  he 
learned  plumbing  but  never  worked  at  his 
trade  beyond  the  time  of  his  apprenticeship. 
For  twenty-six  years  he  has  been  in  railroad 
employ,  twenty-four  years  of  that  time  have 
been  passed  in  the  service  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company.  Mr.  Zollinger 
was  married  in  Harrisburg,  December  24, 
1873,  to  Carrie,  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Elizabeth  Hake,  of  York  county,  Pa.  Of 
their  two  children,  one  died  young,  the  sur- 
viving one  is  Elizabeth  Beatrice.  Mr.  Zoll- 
inger is  an  active  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.  His  wife  and 
daughter  are  members  of  the  Forster  Street 
Lutheran  church. 


Derr,  Anthony,  deceased,  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Lundow,  Bavaria,  Germany,  Novem- 
ber 9, 1814.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  land, and  learned  the  trade  of  cabi- 
net maker.  He  came  to  America  when  nine 
years  of  age  and  settled  at  Harrisburg,  where 
his  life  has  been  spent,  with  the  exception 
of  three  years,  during  which  he  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Berks  county.  He  followed  his 
trade  in  this  city  and  died  January  1,  187G. 
Mr.  Derr  was  married  in  Harrisburg  in 
September,  1844,  to  Catherine  Berrier,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  J.  and  Margaret  (Eckly)  Ber- 
rier. Tliey  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
three  died  in  childiiood.  Their  living  chil- 
dren are:  Mary  II.,  widow  of  the  late  John 
Taylor,  Josephine  M.,  Catherine  W.,  widow 
of  Martin  Schriver,  Laura  J.,  wife  of  Hugh 
J.  McCloskj',  and  Antliony  Lewis.  Henry  J. 
Berrier,  father  of  Mrs.  Derr,  was  a  native  of 
France.  He  married  Margaret  Eckh',  a  na- 
tive of  Germany.  They  came  in  youth  to 
tliis  country  and  spent  their  lives  in  Harris- 
burg.    Mrs.  Berrier  died  September  1,  1878, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


499 


aged  eighty-two  years.  The.y  had  eight 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Bar- 
bara, wife  of  George  Krickbaum,  of  Harris- 
burg;  Catherine, Mrs.  Derr;  and  .Joseph,  Har- 
risburg.  Mr.  Berrier  was  a  house  and  bridge 
builder,  and  helped  to  build  the  bridge 
across  the  Susquehanna  river. 


Hellerman,  Hiram,  foreman  of  the  black- 
smith department,  Middle  division,  Penn- 
sj'lvania  Railroad  Company,  was  born  in 
Oxford  township,  Philadelphia  county,  Pa., 
March  15,  1824,  son  of  the  late  Isaac  and 
Sarah  (Conrow)  Hellerman,  the  former  a 
native  of  I-'hiladelphia  county,  of  Moravian 
ancestry,  the  latter  a  native  of  New  Jersey. 
The  Hellerman  family  were  of  German  de- 
scent, and  came  to  America  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  last  century,  locating  at  Bethle- 
hem. The  father  was  a  farmer  and  engaged 
in  otiier  pursuits.  He  spent  his  whole  life 
m  Oxford  township,  where  he  died  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years,  his  wife 
having  preceded  him  in  death.  They  had 
six  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  living  : 
Hiram,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Nise,  of 
Frankford,  Pa.,  and  John,  a  farmer,  residing 
near  Millerstovvn,  Pa.  Hiram  spent  his 
boyhood  days  in  his  native  township,  where 
he  attended  subscription  schools.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  at  Frank- 
ford,  and  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  Phila- 
delphia until  1853,  in  which  year  he  en- 
tered the  employment  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  at  Altoona,  and  four 
years  later  was  transferred  to  Clarksburg, 
Chester  county,  where  he  remained  until 
April  1,  1861,  when  he  was  removed  to  the 
shops  at  Harrisburg.  He  has  been  in  the 
service  of  the  compan\'  fortj'-two  years,  for 
thirty-eight  of  which  he  has  been  foreman 
of  the  blacksmith  department.  Mr.  Heller- 
man was  married  at  Philadelphia,  to  Mary 
M.  Bo.sert.  Their  children  are  :  Joseph  I., 
a  clerk  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany; Sallie,  a  teacjier  in  the  public  schools 
of  Harrisburg;  a  son  who  was  killed  by  the 
bursting  of  a  boiler  on  the  locomotive  he 
was  fireman,  in  January,  1893,  and  Emery 
G.,  residing  in  Harrisburg.  In  politics  Mr. 
Hellerman  is  a  Republican.  Tiie  family 
attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Crane,  Irvin  J.,  was  born  at  Liverpool, 
Perry  county.  Pa.,  February  4,  1829.  His 
father,  George  W.  Crane,  was  of  English  an- 
cestry and  was  born  in  Lycoming  county, 


Pa.  He  removed  to  Perry  county  when 
quite  a  young  man,  and  spent  the  greater 
portion  of  his  life  there.  He  was  a  farmer  for 
some  years,  and  subsequently  was  a  pilot  on 
the  Susquehanna  river.  He  was  a  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Perry  county  for  thirty-nine 
years.  In  1845  he  was  elected  recorder, 
register  and  clerk  of  Orphans'  Court  of  Perry 
county,  and  served  two  terms.  He  died  at 
Jersey  Shore,  Lycoming  county,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  his  daugiiter,  September  7,  1852, 
after  a  useful  life,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight 
years.  The  mother,  Jane  M.  Watt,  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry;  she  was  born  in  Mif- 
flin (now  Juniata)  county,  and  died  in  1854. 
They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  of  whom 
Irvin  J.  is  the  only  survivor. 

He  spent  a  part  of  his  boyhood  in  his 
native  place,  where  he  received  the  advan- 
tages of  a  good  common  school  education. 
When  about  seventeen  years  of  age  he  re- 
moved to  Bloomfield,  Pa.,  and  began  his  busi- 
ness career  as  a  clerk  in  the  county  court. 
He  served  in  this  place  for  six  \^ears.  For 
one  year  Mr.  Crane  was  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools.  On  January  10, 1853,  he  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company.  He  was  first  a  brakeman  for 
thirteen  months,  then  passenger  conductor 
for  seven  years,  then  ticket  agent  for  one 
year.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  the  Fifth  Penn- 
sylvania cavalry,  U.  S.  A.,  and  served  therein 
till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  and  mustered  out  of  service  in 
June,  1865,  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  returned 
to  Harrisburg  and  re-entered  the  service  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne 
(fe  Chicago  railroad,  and  appointed  yard- 
master  at  Alliance,  Ohio;  in  this  position  he 
remained  until  1873,  when  he  returned  to 
Harrisburg  and  was  made  assistant  yard- 
master  of  the  Middle  division,  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  and  afterwards  became  yardmaster. 
In  1888  he  was  appointed  weighmaster  of 
tlie  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  which 
position  he  now  holds. 

Irvin  J.  Crane  was  married  in  Philadel- 
phia, August  24, 1848,  to  Margaret  R.  Smith, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Rebecca  Smith, 
of  Pha'nixville,Chester  county,  Pa.  They  have 
iiad  four  children, the  solesurvivorof  whom  is 
Mary  C,  wife  of  I.  J.  Davis,  residing  in  Pitts- 
V)urgh,  Pa.  Mrs.  Crane  died  at  Harrisburg. 
Mr.  Crane  was  married  the  second  time  at 
Harrisburg,  June  14,  1857,  to  Laura  C.  Burr, 
of  Perry  county.     To  them  have  been  born 


500 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
namel)':  Scott  S.,  superintendent  Altoona  & 
Logan  Vallej'  Electric  railway,  at  Altoona, 
Pa.;  Harry  G.,  assistant  yard  master,  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad,  at  Harrisburg;  Louise  C, 
wife  of  Frank  Gaum,  residing  at  Hartford, 
Conn.;  Currance  G,  wife  of  John  W.  Caum, 
residing  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  Richard  L., 
also  a  resident  of  Harrisburg. 

Mr.  Crane  is  a  member  of  Conrad  Lodge, 
No.  270,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Alliance,  Ohio;  Mt. 
Moriah  Chapter,  No.  166,  HoUidaysburg,  Pa.; 
Mountain  Commandery,  No.  10,  K.  T., 
of  Altoona;  Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160,1.  U. 
0.  F.;  Miriam  Rebecca  Lodge,  No.  12,  D.  of 
R.  In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Democrat. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane  are  members  of  the  Cove- 
nant Presbyterian  church,  which  the  family 
attend.  Mr.  Crane  is  a  man  of  solid  char- 
acter and  great  personal  worth,  as  his  forty- 
three  years  of  service  in  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company  attests. 

Clark,  James,  general  agent  of  the  Cum- 
berland Valley  Railroad  Company,  was  born' 
in  Middlesex  township,  four  and  a  half  miles 
north  of  Carlisle,  December  25,  1829,  son  of 
Robert  and  Margaret  (Smiley)  Clark,  the 
former  a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  the  latter  a  native  of 
Perry  county,  of  English  ancestry.  James 
was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  county 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  township.  He  was  engaged 
in  farming  until  1864,  when  he  entered  the 
employment  of  the  Cumberland  Valley_ 
Railroad  Company  as  collector  at  Bridge-' 
port.  Pa.,  from  wliich  he  was  transferred  in 
1872  to  his  present  position,  where  he  has 
since  been  a  faithful  official  of  the  company. 
Mr.  Clark  was  married  in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 20,  1859,  to  Elizabeth  Culbertson, 
daughter  of  Stephen  Culbertson,  to  "whom 
have  been  born  five  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  The  survivors  are  :  George 
Edward,  residing  at  Butte,  Montana  ;  Helen 
C.  and  James  A.,  both  residing  with  their 
parents  at  Harri.sburg.  Mrs.  Clark  died  at 
her  residence  in  Harrisburg,  February  21, 
1893.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Clark  is  a 
Republican.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Pine  Street  Presbvterian  church. 


McFadden,  both  natives  of  county  of  Done- 
gal, Ireland.  He  removed  from  his  native 
place  with  his  parents  to  Elizabethtown 
and  lived  there  one  year.  Thence  he  re- 
moved to  Bridgeport,  Cumberland  county, 
and  lived  there  two  years,  and  from  there 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Harrisburg.  He  was  employed  at  the  prin- 
ter's trade  for  several  years,  and  afterwards 
learned  the  baking  business,  at  which  he 
worked  about  four  years,  and  then  resumed 
the  printing  business.  In  the  early  part  of 
1851  he  entered  the  .service  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company'  as  brakeman,  and 
at  the  end  of  four  years  was  appointed  bag- 
gage master,  which  position  he  has  held  for 
forty  years  with  the  utmost  satisfaction  to 
the  company  and  the  traveling  public.  He 
was  first  lieutenant  of  battery  A,  First  Penn- 
sylvania artillery  (emergency  men).  He 
was  married  in  Philadelphia  to  Catherine 
McGrath,  daughter  of  Francis  and  Catherine 
(O'Treil)  McGrath.  Of  the  nine  children 
born  to  them  four  are  living:  Mary  B., 
madame  of  Convent  of  Sacred  Heart,  at 
Manhattan,  N.  Y.;  Frances  Julia,  wife  of 
George  T.  Kelley,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.;  Jose- 
phine, Rose  and  Monia.  Mr.  McFadden  rep- 
resented the  Sixth  ward  in  common  coun- 
cil for  six  3'ears,  and  was  also  alderman  for 
same  ward  for  six  years.  He  represented 
the  Fourth  ward  in  council  for  one  year. 
In  political  principles  he  is  a  Democrat. 
The  family  attend  the  Roman  Catholic  cathe- 
dral. 


McFadden,  William  C,  baggage  agent  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  was 
born  at  Lebanon,  Pa..  March  31,  1830.  He 
is  a  son  of  Marcus  and  Eleanor  (Gallagher) 


Miller,  John  Edmund,  foreman  of  No.  2 
round  house,  Philadelphia  division,  Penn- 
sylvania railroad,  was  born  at  Waynesburg, 
now  called  Honey  Brook  Station,  of  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  and  Western  railroad,  in  Chester 
county,  April  9,  1831.  He  is  a  sou  of  Peter 
and  Elizabeth  (Evan.s)  Miller,  the  former  a 
native  of  Scotland,  the  latter  of  England, 
both  of  whom  came  to  America  when  quite 
young.  His  parents  died  when  John  E.  was 
but  eighteen  months  old.  He  was  reared  by 
his  uncle,  Adam  Miller,  of  New  Holland, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  where  he  spent  his 
boyhood,  receiving  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. When  fifteen  years  of  agehe  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  millwright  trade  and  worked 
at  this  trade  for  seven  years.  Beginning 
with  the  year  1852  he  was  employed  for  five 
years  on  the  State  road  between  Columbia 
and  Philadelphia,  four  years  as  fireman  and 


DA  UPHJN     CO  UNTY . 


501 


one  year  as  engineer.  In  1856  he  was  pro- 
moted to  engineer  of  passenger  train,  hold- 
ing this  position  until  1881.  On  June  1, 
1881,  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  posi- 
tion. His  good  character  and  excellent  qual- 
ities are  abundantl}'  attested  by  the  fact  tluit 
he  has  been  for  thirty-nine  years  continu- 
ously employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Compan}\  He  is  still  in  the  same  em- 
ploy. 

John  E.  Miller  was  married  at  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  October  10,  1861,  to  Sarah  M.,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Matliiot.  They  have 
two   children:  Alfred    C,  born   August  12, 

1862,  and  George  W.,  born  December  17, 
1867.  In  political  views  Mr.  Miller  is  a 
Democrat.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  and  their 
sons  are  members  of  Ridge  Avenue  Methodist 
church.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  Colum- 
bia Lodge,  No.  286,  F.  &  A.  M.  Mr.  Miller 
was  the  engineer  of  the  train  which  carried 
the  body  of  Abraham  Lincoln  from  Harris- 
burg,  April  22,  1865. 

KiNTEK,  George,  trainmaster  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania railroad,  was  born  in  Susqueliauna 
township,  near  Harrisburg,  May  1,  1831. 
He  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  the  four 
born  to  iiis  parents,  George  and  Elizalieth 
(Miller)  Kinter,  both  natives  and  honored 
residents  of  Dauphin  county.  His  father 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Sus- 
cpiehanna  township  up  to  1846,  and  from 
that  date  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 

1863,  he  was  engaged  in  merchandising. 
George  Kinter  received   his  education  in 

the  public  schools  of  his  native  township, 
and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  in  boating 
on  the  canal.  On  October  2,  1855,  he  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road as  a  freight  brakeman  on  the  division 
running  from  Mifflin  to  Columbia,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  service  as  brakeman,  flagman 
and  conductor  until  October  2,  1862,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  the  superintendent's 
office  as  night  yardmaster  and  assistant 
trainmaster  and  train  dispatclier.  He  served 
as  such  till  January  1,  1874,  when  he  was 
appointed  trainmaster  of  the  division  run- 
ning from  Harrisburg  to  Altoona,  in  which 
position  he  has  rendered  satisfactory  service 
to  the  company  for  over  twenty  years,  and 
which  he  still  holds.  He  has  completed 
forty  years  of  continuous  service  in  the  em- 
ploy of  this  company,  which  is  a  demonstra- 
tion of  his  ability,  trustworthiness  and  good 
character. 


He  was  married  in  Union  county.  Pa., 
April  3, 1856,  to  Caroline,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Catharine  Charles,  of  Union  county,  Pa. 
Of  their  five  children  four  are  living:  Charles 
Henry,  S.  Wilt,  George  Hutchison,  and  John 
Carroll.  Mary  W.  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Kinter  is  a  member  of  Phoenix  Lodge,  No. 
59,  K.  of  P.  He,  his  wife  and  children  are 
members  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


FosNAUGHT,  John  R.,  assistant  yardmaster 
of  the  Middle  division,  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road, was  born  in  Southampton  township, 
Franklin  county,  Pa.,  February  13,  1833. 
He  is  a  son  of  Conrad  and  Catherine  (Jacoby) 
Fosnaught,  both  natives  of  Southampton 
township.  His  education  was  begun  in  the 
puljlic  schools  of  his  native  township,  but 
when  ten  years  old  he  removed  with  his 
father  to  Shippensburg,  Pa.,  where  his  edu- 
cation was  finished.  He  was  engaged  in 
farming  for  five  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time  he  began  his  career  in  railroad- 
ing. He  was  agent  on  individual  cars  for 
seven  years.  From  1858  to  1861  he  was 
again  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Southampton  township,  Cumberland  county. 
In  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  company  H, 
Third  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and  served 
three  years  in  the  army.  During  this  time 
he  participated  in  the  battles  of  ISIalvern 
Hill,  Gettysburg,  and  many  other  important 
engagements.  Having  served  the  term  of 
his  enlistment,  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  mustered  out  of  service  August  28, 1864, 
at  Philadelphia,  when  he  returned  to  Ship- 
pensburg. On  October  4,  1864.  he  removed 
to  Harrisburg  and  engaged  with  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company  as  brakeman. 
He  followed  this  occupation  for  six  months, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
conductor  and  acceptably  performed  his 
duties  in  this  capacity  for  twenty  years.  In 
October,  1884,  he  was  appointed  to  his  pres- 
ent position. 

Mr.  Fosnaught  was  married  at  Moline,  Rock 
Island  county,  111.,  December  6,  1855,  to 
Charlotte  S.  Rhode,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Lydia  (HoiTman)  Rhode.  Of  their  six 
children  three  died  in  childhood.  The  liv- 
ing children  are :  Ida,  widow  of  the  late 
Harvey  Stevick,  Louisa,  wife  of  Daniel  Stone- 
seifer,  and  Gertrude.  Mr.  P^osnaught  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors. 
In   political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.     The 


502 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


famil}'  attend  the  Church  of  God.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  citizen,  of  long  residence  and 
long  service  to  the  coramunit}'.  His  char- 
acter is  without  blemish,  and  he  is  highly 
esteemed  for  his  personal  worth. 


Williams,  Robert  E.,  assistant  trainmas- 
ter, Philadelphia  division,  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  was  born  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  March 
29,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Elea- 
nor (Pool)  Williams,  both  natives  of  Bala, 
Wales.  He  was  reared  at  Utica  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  Pie 
learned  telegraph}',  and  followed  this  occu- 
pation in  Utica  until  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age.  He  removed  to  New  York  City  and 
was  engaged  in  the  business  of  manufactur- 
ing gold  pen  and  pencil  cases  until  1856, 
when  he  entered  the  employment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  tele- 
graph operator  at  Lewistown,  Pa.  lie  re- 
mained in  that  position  for  sixteen  months, 
and  was  then  transferred  to  the  same  posi- 
tion at  Mifilin,  Pa.,  which  he  held  for  two 
years.  Leaving  the  telegraph  service  for 
one  year  he  took  the  place  of  locomotive 
fireman  between  Mifflin  and  Columbia.  Re- 
turning to  his  original  occupation  he  was 
transferred  to  Harrisburg  and  took  charge 
of  the  line  between  Lancaster  and  Mifflin 
until  1861.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
he  answered  the  call  of  the  Government  for 
telegraph  builders,  and  went  to  Washington 
and  followed  the  army  for  eight  months, 
building  telegraph  lines  for  the  Government 
wherever  they  were  needed.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  this  time  he  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia and  resumed  the  position  of  telegraph 
operator  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  which  he  held  till  1864,  when  he 
was  appointed  train  dispatcher  at  the  same 
point.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  assistant 
trainmaster  at  Harrisburg.  He  has  filled 
this  [)osition  for  tiiirty  years  at  Harrisburg, 
Philadelphia  and  Columbia.  He  has  served 
thirty-nine  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company. 

He  was  married  at  Philadelphia,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1885,  to  Minnie  Bowers,  daughter  of 
Amos  and  Sarah  Bowers,  of  Columbia. 
They  have  two  children  :  George  E.,  born 
April  25, 1887,  and  Ruth  E.,  born  Novem- 
ber 30,  1892.  He  is  a  member  of  Phoenix 
Lodge,  No.  130,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Philadelphia. 
The  familv  attend  the  Reformed  church. 


Caum,  Edward  L.,  master  mechanic  of 
HarrLsburg  machine  shop.  Middle  division, 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Companv,  was  born 
at  Camden,  N.  J.,  December  3,  1833.  He  is 
a  son  of  James  and  Lydia  (Lacy)  Caum, 
natives  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  He  grew 
to  manhood  in  his  native  town,  passed 
through  the  public  schools  and  served  an 
apprenticeshi))  with  what  is  now  the  Dia- 
logue Steam  Engine  and  Shipbuilding  Com- 
pany. He  also  spent  one  year  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Harlan  and  Hollingswortli  En- 
gine Company,  of  Wilmington,  Del.  Mr. 
Caum  entered  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company  at  Mifflin,  Pa.,  as  jour- 
neyman machinist,  June  23,  1856,  and  was 
appointed  master  mechanic  of  the  Mifflin 
shops  in  April,  1864.  He  was  transferred  to 
Harrisburg  in  November,  1869,  and  has  been 
permanently  located  here  since  tiiat  date. 

Mr.  Caum  was  married  at  Mifflin,  Pa., 
February  14, 1861, to  Ellen  S.  Wright,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Elizabeth  Wright,  of  Mifflin. 
They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  three  are 
living:  Frank,  chief  engineer  of  the  Electric 
railroad,  of  Hartford,  Conn. ;  John  W.,  and 
Edward  L.,  Jr.,  both  of  whom  reside  in  Har- 
risburg.    Mrs.  Caum  died  April  21,  1885. 

Wells.  James  B.,  road  foreman  of  engines, 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  was  born  in  Chester 
county.  Pa.,  June  11,  1834.  His  father, 
Lewis  Wells,  was  a  native  of  Chester  count}', 
and  his  mother,  Sarah  (Elmer)  Wells,  was  a 
native  of  Boston,  Mass.  Both  died  in  Ches- 
ter county  at  advanced  ages,  after  active  and 
well-spent  lives.  The  education  of  James 
B.  Wells  was  received  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and,  to  use  his 
own  language,  it  was  not  of  an  extensive 
character.  There  were  no  standard  text- 
books at  that  time;  each  scholar  used  such 
books  as  the  home  library  afforded.  The 
Bible,  the  History  of  the  LTnited  States,  by 
different  authors,  the  Book  of  Martyrs, 
Cortez'  Invasion  of  Mexico,  the  Pirates' 
Own  Book,  the  History  of  Captain  Kidd — in 
fact,  anything  and  everything  available  in 
the  form  of  literature  furnished  the  reading 
matter.  The  first  work  at  which  he  sought 
employment  and  pay  was  as  water  boy  to 
the  harvest  hands  on  neighboring  farms. 
He  afterwards  worked  at  home  with  his 
father  at  the  carpenter  trade,  and  also  some- 
times in  Philadelphia.  When  a  boy,  in 
Chester  county,  he  spent  his  leisure  among 


'^^^  /^ ,  <^Z^?rgtrt^iU^>-~ 


y\Jy^ctO(//cu^. 


DAUPRIN  COUNTY. 


505 


the  old  State  Road    locomotives,  for  which 
he  had  a  great  liking.     All  he  needed  in  the 
way   of  passes  on   the  road   was   "  to    helj) 
wood  up."     The  knowledge  he  was  enabled 
to  pick  up  in  this  way  was  valuable  to  Inm 
when  he  came  to  make  railroading  his  busi- 
ness.    In  1853  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
Philadelphia,    Wilmington   and    Baltimore 
railroad  as  a  fireman,  and  in  October,  1854, 
was  promoted  to  engineer.     January  1, 1857, 
he   resigned   this   place,   and    went   to  the 
Delaware,   Lackawanna  and    Western   rail- 
road, in  the  latter  part  of  March,  1857.     On 
the  14th  of  April,   1857,  Mr.  Enoch  Lewis, 
second  assistant  superintendent,  in  charge  of 
the  Middle  and  Mountain  division,  gave  him 
a  position  as  engineer  in  the  shop,  and  on 
July  7,  following,  he  was  given  a  freight  en- 
gine to  run   between  Altoona   and    Mittiiu. 
On  March  4, 18G1,  he  commenced    running 
a  freight  train  between  Altoona  and  Harris- 
burg.     On  April  5,  18G1,  he  was  appointed 
extra  passenger  engineer   for   both  Middle 
and  Pliiladelphia  divisions,  with  headquar- 
ters at  Harrisburg.     At  that  time  the  Cum- 
berland  Valley    railroad    had    not   engines 
heavy  enough  to  haul  a  regiment  of  soldiers, 
so  he  and  his  engine  were  engaged   to  con- 
vey the  three  months'  volunteers   to    Camp 
Slifer,    at  Chambersburg,   and   later,   from 
that  place  to  Hagerstown.     In   September, 
1801,  he  was  given    a  passenger  train,  the 
Philadelphia    Express,   and    continued    in 
charge  of  it  until  February    2,  1862,  when 
he  was  appointed  road  foreman  of  engines. 
In  June,  18G3,  after  all  the  shop  machinery 
and  engines  under  repairs  were  hauled  to  a 
place  of  safety,  Mr.  Wells  enlisted    in   the 
Twentieth    Pennsylvania    cavalry,   and    in 
August   of   that  year  he  was   detailed    for 
railroad  service,  and  ordered   to   report   to 
Enoch  Lewis,  as  road  foreman.     In  August, 
18G4,  he  re-enlisted  in  the  Two  Hundred  and 
First    Pennsylvania    volunteers,    and    was 
mustered  out  of  service  June  1,  1865.     He  at 
once   resumed   his  place  of    road   foreman, 
and  has  well  performed  its   duties   to  this 
time. 

He  was  married  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  April 
2,  1856,  to  Lucinda  Vandever,  daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Chambers)  Vandever. 
The  Chambers  family  were  among  the  very 
earliest  settlers  of  this  country,  their  ances- 
tors having  come  over  with  William  Penn. 
Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wells,  of  whom  five  sons  still  survive, 
namely :  William  S.,  a  machinist,  residing 
35 


at  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind. ;  John  V.,  a  machinist, 
residing  at  Wilmerding,  Pa.;  James  A.,  a 
locomotive  engineer,  on  the  Schuylkill  Val- 
ley division,  Pennsylvania  railroad  ;  Henry 
C,  foreman  in  the  machine  shops,  at  Mifliin, 
Pa.,  and  Edward  C,  a  civil  engineer.  Mrs. 
Wells  died  October  14,  1893.  Mr.  Wells  is  a 
member  of  Mountain  Lodge,  No.  281,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Altoona.  He  attends  the  Lutheran 
church. 


RuMPF,  Chakle.s  C,  foreman  of  machine 
shops.  Middle  division,  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road, was  born  in  Prussia,  January  11, 1836, 
his  parents  both  being  natives  of  Prussia. 
Charles  C.  and  a  sister  named  Minnie,  wife 
of  Henry  Aman,  residing  near  Chillicothe, 
Ohio,  were  tlieir  only  children.  The  father 
died  at  Chillicothe,  the  mother  died  in  her 
native  land  when  Charles  was  an  infant. 
The  father  married  again  in  Prussia.  When 
six  years  old  diaries  C.  liumpf  came  to 
America  with  his  father  and  step-mother 
and  located  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio.  Here  he 
spent  his  youth,  receiving  an  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  city.  After  com- 
pleting his  education  he  acted  for  two  years 
as  interpreter  to  the  civil  engineer  who  sur- 
veyed the  Cincinnati  and  Marietta  railroad, 
who  was  a  German.  For  three  years 
longer  he  was  in  the  same  service  as  assist- 
ant to  the  engineer  corps.  When  this  road 
was  completed  he  was  a[)pointed  baggage- 
master,  and  served  in  this  position  for  six 
months.  He  also  served  one  year  as  fireman, 
was  then  appointed  engineer,  and  ran  a  yard 
engine  for  six  months.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  he  entered  the  machine  shops' of  the 
Cincinnati  and  Marietta  railroad  at  Chilli- 
cothe, where  he  learned  the  machinist  busi- 
ness. In  1861  he  removed  to  Litchfield,  111., 
and  became  foreman  of  the  roundhouse  of 
the  Terre  Haute  and  St.  Louis  railroad  at 
that  place.  In  tlie  latter  part  of  the  same 
year  Mr.  Rumpf  removed  to  Altoona,  Pa., 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  erecting  shops 
of  the  Pennsjdvania  railroad  for  five 
months.  In  the  spring  of  1802  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Harrisburg  as  foreman  of  round- 
house No.  1,  and  filled  this  position  until 
1868,  when  he  was  appointed  foreman  of  the 
machine  and  erecting  shops,  the  position  he 
now  so  acceptably  fills. 

Charles  C.  Rumpf  has  been  twice  married; 
first,  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  to  Teressa  Studer, 
who  died  in  Harrisburg  in  1865,  and  by 
whom  he  had  four  children,  three  of  whom 


506 


BIOGRAPHICAL   ENCYCLOPEDIA 


are  living,  namely  :  Annie,  wife  of  Andrew 
Schutzenbacli ;  Charles,  and  Lena,  wife  of 
Abraham  Taylor,  residing  in  Hummelstown, 
Pa.  He  was  married  the  second  time  in 
Harrisburg  to  Louisa  Studer,  a  sister  of  his 
first  wife.  Tliey  had  three  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy:  Joseph  and  Mary, 
twins,  are  living.  In  1803  he  enlisted  in 
company  E,  Two  Hundred  and  First  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  and  served  for  three 
months,  at  the  end  of  wliich  time  he  was 
discharged  by  substitution  at  Scranton,  Pa., 
and  returned  to  the  employment  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company,  at  Harrisburg. 
For  a  third  of  a  century  he  has  been  con- 
tinuously in  the  service  of  this  company, 
which  demonstrates  the  fact  that  he  has  the 
"staying"  qualities  of  industry,  skill  and 
fidelity.  The  family  attend  St.  Lawrence 
Roman  Catholic  church. 


Reed,  Reuben  S.,  foreman  of  car  inspec- 
tors and  wreckmaster  of  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  January  12, 
183G.  liis  fatiier,  Robert  Reed,  was  of  English 
ancestry,  and  was  born  in  Lebanon  county. 
His  grandfather,  John  Reed,  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier.  The  greater  part  of  his 
father's  life  was  spent  in  Dauphin  county, 
and  in  working  at  liis  trade,  which  was  that 
of  blacksmith.  He  died  April  30,  1870,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  His  mother, 
Harriet  Reisenpott,  was  of  German  extrac- 
tion, was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  and  died 
in  1872.  Their  family  consisted  of  twelve 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  living:  Louisa, 
wife  of  Abraliam  Attics,  residing  at  Steelton ; 
Samuel,  a  German  Baptist  minister,  residing 
in  Lower  Paxton  townsliip;  Reuben  S.;  John, 
a  blacksmith,  residing  near  Rutherford  Sta- 
tion, in  Swatara  township;  Rebecca,  wife  of 
John  Hoke,  residing  in  Lower  Paxton; 
Thomas  W.,  residing  in  Susquehanna  town- 
ship ;  Matilda,  wife  of  Jacob  Zearfoss,  resid- 
ing in  Union  Deposit.  Dauphin  county ; 
Robert  G.,  residing  in.  Lower  Paxton,  and 
Martin  L.,  residing  in  Hornerstown,  Dau- 
phin county. 

Reuben  S.  Reed  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict school,  and  first  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade  in  his  father's  shop.  Not  liking  the 
trade,  he  abandoned  it  and  tried  milling 
for  a  time,  but  finally  learned  carpentry. 
He  worked  at  his  trade  for  six  years,  work- 
ing in  the  summer  and  teaching  school  in 
the  winter.     He  taught  four  years  in  East 


Hanover  township,  and  two  winters  in  Mid- 
dle Paxton  township.  In  1803  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  as  a  car  builder,  and  pursued  tliis 
occupation  for  one  year.  In  July,  1804,  he 
enlisted  in  company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
First  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  was  ap- 
pointed first  lieutenant.  He  served  one 
year,  and  mustered  out  of  the  service  at 
Newburn,  N.  C,  and  honorably  discharged 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in  July,  1805,  on  ac- 
count of  the  ending  of  the  war.  He  re- 
turned to  his  former  })Osition  as  car  builder, 
which  lie  held  till  1877;  in  tiiis  year  he  was 
appointed  cliief  car  inspector  in  the  Harris- 
burg yards.  Mr.  Reed  is  an  old  and  faithful 
employee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  a  gentlemen  highly  esteemed  in 
business  and  social  circles  for  his  many 
good  qualities. 

He  was  married  at  East  Hanover,  August 
0,  1857,  to  Mary  A.  Martz,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Madeline  (Penabaker)  Martz,  old 
settlers  of  East  Hanover  township.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them :  Emma 
H.,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  ;  Benja- 
min, employed  b}'  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  and  Mary  M.,  died  at  the 
age  of  eight  years.  Mr.  Reed  has  repre- 
sented the  Seventh  ward  in  the  common 
council  one  term.  He  is  a  member  of 
Harrisburg  Lodge,  No.  08, 1.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of 
Ph(L'nix  Lodge,  No.  59,  K.  of  P.  He  is  a 
Democrat.  Tlje  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Daugherty,  Hamlet,  foreman  of  round- 
house No.  1,  Middle  division,  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  was  born  at  Milton,  Northumber- 
land county.  Pa.,  September  20,  1836.  His 
father,  Daniel  Daugherty,  was  of  Irish  an- 
cestry, and  was  born  in  Dauphin  county. 
In  j-outh  he  learned  the  trade  of  weaving 
and  dyeing,  but  a  larger  part  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  agricultural  pursuits  at  Hummels- 
town, where  he  was  a  prominent  and  pros- 
perous man,  universally  respected.  His  wife, 
Nancy  (Dellevan)  Daugherty,  was  of  French 
ancestry,  and  was  born  in  Bucks  county, 
Pa.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  them,  two 
are  living,  namely:  Hamlet  and  Margaret, 
wife  of  James  Foster,  residing  at  Huntington, 
W.  Va. 

When  Hamlet  Daugherty  was  three  years 
old,  his  parents  went  to  Micliigan,  were 
located  at  Schoolcraft  for  about  four  years, 
and  then  they  returned  to  Milton,  Northum- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


507 


berland  count}',-  Pa.  Here  bis  boyliood 
was  spent  and  here  he  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  county. 
He  was  apprenticed  to  the  machinist  trade 
and  worked  at  it  for  three  years.  In  the 
winter  of  1855  he  entered  tlie  employ  of  tiie 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  a  ma- 
chinist, and  worked  about  eighteen  months. 
He  then  went  to  Savannah,  Ga.,  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Georgia  Central  railroad,  and 
continued  for  eight  months;  then  returned 
to  Harrisburg  and  re-entered  the  service  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  In 
1867  he  was  appointed  assistant  foreman  of 
the  roundhouse,  at  Philadelphia,  where  he 
remained  until  18H9.  He  was  then  appointed 
foreman  of  roundhouse  No.  2,  at  Harrisburg; 
during  the  same  year  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position,  which  he  holds  with 
growing  satisfaction  to  his  employers. 

Hamlet  Daugherty  was  married  at  Har- 
risburg, September  7,  1857,  to  Emma 
Hoover,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
Hoover,  of  Harrisburg.  Four  of  their  five 
children  are  living :  Alberta,  Frank  H., 
Harry  L.  and  Mary  E.  In  political  views 
Mr.  Daughert}'  is  inclined  to  be  Democratic. 
The  family  attend  the  Episcopal  church. 

Wallace,  Thomas  L.,  was  born  in  Clear- 
field county.  Pa.,  September  8,  1837.  His 
father,  Robert  Wallace,  was  born  in  Ireland, 
but  came  to  America  when  he  was  nineteen 
years  of  age.  He  located  first  at  Hunting- 
don, Pa.,  and  somewhat  later  removed  to 
Clearfield,  thence  to  HoUidaysburg,  subse- 
quently returning  to  Clearfield,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife, 
Jane  (Hemphill)  Wallace,  was  a  native  of 
Huntingdon,  Pa.,  and  died  at  Clearfield. 
They  had  ten  children,  five  of  whom,  besides 
Thomas  L.,  are  living:  W.  A.,  ex-United 
States  senator;  Sarah  M.,  wife  of  George  W. 
Saunders,  of  Perry,  Oklahoma;  Samuel  H., 
ticket  agent,  Pennsylvania  railroad,  Broad 
street,  Philadelphia;  Rebecca,  wife  of  S.J.  M. 
McCarrell,  senator  of  Dauphin  district ; 
Jane,  wife  of  C.  G.  Cadwallader,  chief  clerk 
in  ticket  office,  Pennsylvania  railroad. 
Broad  street,  Philadelphia. 

Thomas  L.  Wallace,  when  but  a  youth,  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  HoUidaysburg. 
Here  he  attended  the  public  schools  and 
academy.  He  also  had  the  advantage  ot  a 
year's  tuition  in  the  academy  of  Clearfield. 
After  leaving  school  he  was  employed  as 
salesman  in  a  general   store  until  August, 


1857,  when  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  a  clerk 
in  the  HoUidaysburg  agency,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  years.  In  1859  he  was 
transferred  to  Harri.sburg  and  appointed  a 
clerk  in  the  freight  department.  In  Octo- 
ber of  the  same  year  he  was  ai)pointed 
freight  agent  of  the  Pennsjdvania,  Northern 
Central  and  Union  Line  railroads,  which 
position  he  now  acceptably  holds. 

Mr.  Wallace  was  married  at  Harrisburg, 
October  11,  1SG2,  to  Miss  Annie  M.  Wallace, 
daughter  of  William  Q.  and  Eleanor  Wal- 
lace. Of  their  seven  children  one  died  in 
infancy.  Their  living  children  :  Helen  B.; 
Annie  L.,  wife  of  D.  C.  McLean,  of  Harris- 
burg ;  Robert  B.,  of  the  Harrisburg  bar ; 
William  T.,  of  the  freight  department,  Penn- 
sylvania railroad;  Emily  McCoy  and  Elea- 
nor W. 

Mr.  Wallace  served  one  term  as  auditor 
of  HoUidaysburg  when  he  was  but  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  In  political  views  he  is  a 
Democrat.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wallace  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  church, 
and  Mr.  Wallace  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
church.  He  has  also  been  chairman  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  for  ten  years.  His 
long  retention  in  its  employment  by  the  cor- 
poration he  serves  is  the  clearest  and  most 
unquestioned  acknowledgment  of  his  ability 
and  integrity,  and  he  enjoys  a  reputation 
won  only  by  those  who  are  guided  by  the 
principles  of  righteousness. 


Hepford,   Samuel,  was   born   in   Lower 
Swatara    township,   Dauphin    county,    Pa., 
September  27,  1837.     He  is  a  son  of  David 
and  Susan  (Lingle)  Hepford,  both  natives  of 
Dauphin  county,  and  both  residents  of  the 
county    all   their   lives.     His   fatiier  was  a 
blacksmith   bv  trade,  but  the  larger  part  of 
his  life  was  spent  in  agricultural   pursuits. 
He  was  a  man  who  stood   high  in  his  com- 
munity, and  died  in  Susquehanna  township 
in   1882.     His  worth}'   wife,  the  mother  of 
Samuel,  still  survives   him  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-one  years.     The   parents  had 
born  to  them  a  family  of  ten  children,  seven 
of  whom   are  still   living,  namely :  Samuel, 
David,  of  Harrisburg,  George,  a  prominent 
farmer,  Enos,  Thomas,  all  residing  in   Sus- 
quehanna township,  Susan,  widow  of  the  late 
William  Unger,  of  Harrisburg,  Sally,  wife  of 
Luther  Lunker,  of  Lower  Paxton. 

Samuel,  when  about  four  years  old,  removed 


508 


BIO  GRA  PHI  GAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


with  his  parents  to  Susquehanna  township 
and  there  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  He  was  apprenticed  to  the  car- 
penter trade  and  followed  this  business  for 
five  years.  In  1861  he  entered  the  services 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company^  Mid- 
dle division,  as  freight  brakeman,  filling  this 
place  for  only  a  short  time.  He  returned  to 
liis  trade  of  carpenter.  In  1864  he  accepted 
a  position  in  the  motive  power  department 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as 
fireman.  In  the  same  year  he  enlisted  in 
company  E,  Two  Hundred  and  First  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered 
out  of  service  .June,  1865,  at  Harrisburg  and 
took  liis  old  position  with  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  which  he  filled  for  six 
years.  In  1870  he  was  promoted  to  engineer 
of  freight  trains,  and  in  1882  to  engineer  of 
passenger  trains.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest 
engineers  in  the  service  of  the  company. 
He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  September  27, 
1859,  to  Matilda  Pottinger,  daughter  of  Jacob 
L.  and  Elizabeth  Pottinger,  of  Lower  Paxton 
township.  To  them  have  been  born  ten 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Their  living  children  arc:  Sadie  M.,  wife  of 
Leonard  Sparver,  of  Harrisburg ;  Carrie  B., 
wife  of  Samuel  C.  Loomis,  of  Harrisburg ; 
Mazie  S.,  wife  of  William  H.  Elliott,  residing 
in  Philadelphia  ;  Josephine  E.,  wife  of  H.  A. 
Snyder,  residing  in  Seattle,  Wash.;  Grace  P., 
Charles  W.,  Samuel  Garfield  and  John  E., 
residing  in  Harrisburg.  In  political  views 
Mr.  Hepford  is  a  Republican.  The  family 
attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Whitmoyer,  Simon,  yardmaster.  Middle 
division,  Harrisburg  DE  yard,  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  was  born  January  7,  1S3S,  on  the 
old  General  Foster  farm  in  Susquehanna 
township,  about  two  miles  from  Harrisburg, 
and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Catherine  (Lan- 
nigan)  Whitmoyer,  who  were  prosperous 
farmers  of  that  township.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  eleven  children,  only  three  of 
whom  are  now  living:  Jacob,  a  retired 
fanner  of  Lower  Paxton  township;  David, 
a  grain  dealer  in  Vilasca, Iowa;  and  Simon. 
The  last  named  was  brought  up  on  the  farm 
and  attended  the  district  school  of  the  town- 
ship. He  continued  at  farming  till  1866, 
when  he  entered  the  employment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  brake- 
man.  After  having  served  as  flagman  and 
subsequent!}'   as   conductor  for   about    ten 


years,  he  was  appointed-  assistant  yard- 
master,  and  in  April,  18.95,  was  appointed  to 
his  present  position. 

He  was  married,  in  Swatara  township,  to 
Sarah  Brightbili,  daughter  of  William  Bright- 
bill.  There  was  born  to  them  a  family  of 
seven  boys,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  living  children  are  William  G.,  pas- 
senger brakeman,  Pennsylvania  railroad ; 
Franklin  S.,  passenger  brakeman,  Pennsjd- 
vania  radroad  ;  Ilarr}*  E.,  fireman  on  pas- 
senger train,  Philadelphia  division,  Penn- 
sylvania railroad;  John  C,  an  electrician  in 
the  Westinghouse  Electrical  Works,  at  Pitts- 
burgh, a  graduate  of  Harrisburg  high  school 
and  Lehigh  University,  Bethlehem,  Pa.; 
Howard  B.,  residing  at  home.  Mr.  Whit- 
moyer is  a  member  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.; 
Malta  Encampment,  No.  106,  K.  of  M.  and  St. 
J.;  and  of  Relief  Department,  Pennsylvania 
railroad.  In  political  views  he  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  The  family  attend  the  Memor- 
ial United  Brethren  church. 


MuENCH,  Isaac  S.,  ex-chief  clerk  of  freight 
department,  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, was  born  in  Halifax  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  December  7,  1839,  son  of 
Daniel  A.  and  Lydia  S.  (Smith)  Muench,  the 
former  a  native  of  Berks  county,  the  latter 
of  Lancaster  countj^,  an  early  settler  of  Dau- 
phin county.  The  parents  resided  in  Har- 
risburg from  1854  until  death.  The  father 
died  March  29,  1893.  The  father  was  for 
many  years  in  the  forwarding  business. 
Isaac  S.  spent  his  boyhood  in  Halifax  and 
attended  the  public  school  there  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Harrisburg,  where  his  education 
was  completed,  and  he  learned  the  trade  of 
machinist.  He  followed  this  occupation 
until  1862  when  he  entered  the  United  States 
navy  as  an  engineer,  and  served  in  the  gulf 
squadron  under  Admiral  Farrigut,  and  in 
the  West  India  squadron  under  Admiral 
Larder  until  the  fall  of  1864  when  he  re- 
signed from  ttie  navy  and  returned  to  Har- 
risburg. In  the  spring  of  1865  he  entered 
the  freight  department  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  and  in  1868  was  pro- 
moted to  chief  clerk. 

Mr.  Muench  was  married  at  Harrisburg, 
October  22,  1867,  to  Adelaide  E.  Stroh, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Piiscilla  Stroh,  of 
Harrisburg.  (3f  their  two  children,  one  died 
in  childhood,  and  Elizabeth  A.  is  attending 
school   at   Utica,  N.  Y.     Mr.  Muench   is   a 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


509 


member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F. 
&  A.  M.  In  his  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 
He  attends  Zion  Lutheran  church. 


Chandler,  George  P.,  assistant  baggage 
agent,  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg,  September  13,  1841. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jonathau  and  Julia  (Mower^^) 
Chandler.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
sciiools  and  learned  the  trade  of  printer.  In 
1862  he  enlisted  iu  company  A,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-seventh  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  under  Col.  W.  W.  Jen- 
nings. He  served  for  nine  months,  during 
wliich  time  he  participated  in  several  engage- 
ments. He  was  mustered  out  of  service  in 
May,  1863,  at  Harrisburg.  He  returned  to 
the  printing  business  and  continued  at  it 
until  January  22,  1866,  when  he  abandoned 
his  trade  and  accepted  the  position  of  assist- 
ant baggagemaster  of  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  which  he  has  filled  with  satisfac- 
tion to  his  employers  for  thirty  years.  He 
was  married  in  Harrisburg,  May  24, 1862,  to 
Hannah  M.  Crawl,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Eliza  Crawl,  of  Harrisburg.  They  have  had 
six  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  William  R.  and  Julia,  both  resid- 
ing at  Harrisburg.  Mrs.  Chandler  died 
March  27,  1895.  Mr.  Chandler  is  a  charter 
member  of  Peace  and  Plenty  Lodge,  No.  69, 
I.  0.  0.  F.;  a  charter  member  of  Capital  City 
Castle,  No.  40,  K.  of  G.  E.;  a  member  of 
Phojnix  Lodge,  No.  59,  K.  of  P.;  and  a  mem- 
ber of  Harrisburg  Castle,  No.  70,  K.  of  M.  C. 
He  has  been  both  select  and  supreme  com- 
mander, and  is  past  supreme  commander 
of  this  organization.  In  {)olitics  he  is  a 
Democrat.  He  attends  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 


KuLP,  James  C,  storekeeper  of  Harris- 
burg shops,  Middle  division,  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  was  born  in  Lewistown,  Mifllin 
county.  Pa.,  July  13,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of 
George  M.  and  Jane  E.  (Crawford)  Kulp, 
both  natives  of  Mifflin  county.  When  six 
years  old,  he  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Patterson,  Juniata  county,  where  he  spent 
his  boyhood  days,  receiving  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  schools.  He  at- 
tended theTuscarora  Academy,  at  Academia, 
Pa.,  and  the  Academy  of  Shade  Gap,  Hunt- 
ingdon county.  Completing  his  education 
in  1863,  he  enlisted  in  compan}'  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Ninety-seventh  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  served  for  one 


hundred  days.  He  was  mustered  out  of 
service  at  Philadelphia,  at  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  enlistment,  and  returned  to 
Mifflin,  and  read  medicine  with  Drs.  Craw- 
ford and  Light  for  several  years  ;  lie  also  at- 
tended the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  New  York.  During  1867-68  lie 
was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, at  Marysville,  Perry  county,  Pa.  In 
the  latter  part  of  1868  he  retired  from  the 
practice  of  medicine,  and  in  1869  he  entered 
the  employment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  at  Mifflin,  under  Supervisor 
James  McKnight,  and  remained  in  this  posi- 
tion until  August,  1870,  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Harrisburg  and  appointed  assistant 
storekeeper  of  the  Middle  division.  In  1883 
he  was  appointed  storekeeper.  He  has  been 
twice  married  ;  first  at  Waynesville,  in  1868, 
to  Mary  E.  Morrison,  who  died  in  Harris- 
burg in  1877,  leaving  no  children.  He  was 
married  the  second  time,  in  1883,  to  Sarah 
R.  Meredith,  daughter  of  Israel  and  Cath- 
erine Mereditli,  of  Harrisburg.  To  this 
marriage  have  been  born  five  children :  Al- 
fred Cleveland,  Catherine  Caum,  George 
Mark,  Helen  Mereditli  and  Nancy  Isabella. 
In  political  views  Mr.  Kulp  is  a  Republican. 
The  family  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


MooREHOusE,  George  H.,  assistant  super- 
intendent of  Western  division,  Pennsylvania 
department,  Adams  Express  Company,  was 
born  in  Hollidaysburg,  Pa.,  August  11,1844. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  was 
thirteen  j^ears  of  age,  and  in  1857  entered  the 
service  of  the  Adams  Express  Company  as 
clerk  under  Joseph  Bingham  at  Hollidays- 
burg, where  he  continued  until  1862,  at 
which  time  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  took 
the  position  of  local  clerk  of  the  office,  ^fter 
two  years'  service  in  this  position  he  was 
promoted,  in  1872,  to  route  agent,  taking 
charge  of  the  lines  leading  north,  south,  east 
and  west,  and  in  1880  was  made  general 
route  agent  of  the  entire  system.  In  1887 
he  was  promoted  to  his  present  position  of 
assistant  superintendent,  in  charge  of  the 
lines  west  of  Harrisburg,  west  of  Pittsburgh, 
Erie,  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  and  of  tlie  AVestern 
department  of  the  Pennsylvania  division. 
West  Virginia,  New  York,  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Moorehouse  is  one  of  the 
organizers  and  directors  of  the  South  Harris- 
burg Chain  Works.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican.     He   is   prominent   in  fraternity 


510 


BIOGRAPniCAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


circles,  liolding  membership  in  the  Masonic 
and  Knights  Templar  orders  and  being  a 
charter  member  of  Knights  of  Pythias  of 
Harrisburg.  Mr.  Moorehouse  was  married, 
in  1873,  to  Miss  Margaret  L.  Simons,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Simons,  of  Philadelphia.  The}' 
have  no  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moorehouse 
are  members  of  the  Episcopal  church.  ' 


George  P.,  who  is  living.  Mr.  Drake  is  a 
member  of  Mt.  Lebanon  Lodge,  No  226,  F. 
&  A.  M.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Camp  No. 
43,  Union  Veteran  Legion.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican.  The  family  attend  the  Lu- 
theran churcli. 


Heister,  William  A.,  son  of  A.  0.  Heister, 
was  born  September  29, 1845,  at  "  Estherton  " 
(the  old  homestead).  He  was  educated  at 
St.  Paul's  Sciiool,  Concord,  N.  H.,  and  at 
Dickin.son  College,  Carlisle,  Pa.  He  was  in 
tiie  subsistence  department  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  from  1862  to  1865,  and  on  sur- 
veys of  the  western  rivers  from  1865  to  1868 ; 
was  there  employed  as  assistant  engineer  on 
the  construction  of  various  railroads  until 
1886,  when  he  was  appointed  roadmaster  of 
the  Buffalo  division  of  the  Erie  railroad  and 
held  that  position  until  the  spring  of  1896, 
when  he  resigned  and  moved  to  Harrisburg. 
He  was  married  in  1870  to  Elizabeth  R., 
daughter  of  the  late  William  Stephens,  and 
they  have  three  children,  one  son  and  two 
daughters. 


Drake,  Henry,  foreman  of  roundhouse, 
Philadelphia  and  Reading  railroad,  was 
born  at  Bristol,  N.  H.,  May  3,  1846.  He  is 
a  son  of  Philip  S.  and  Harriet  (Locke) 
Drake,  both  natives  and  residents  of  New 
Hampshire.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town.  In  1862,  when  not 
quite  sixteen  years  of  age, he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany C,  Twelfth  New  Hampshire  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  in  1865.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  at  Richmond,  Va., 
and  finally  discharged  at  Concord,  N.  H. 
He  returned  to  Bristol,  and  in  September, 
1865,  entered  the  employment  of  the  North- 
ern New  Hampshire  railroad  (now  a  part  of 
the  Boston  and  Maine  system),  as  a  fireman, 
and  served  as  such  about  four  years,  after 
which  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Lake 
Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  railroad  as 
engineer.  He  filled  this  position  until  April, 
1877,  when  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
Reading  railroad  as  passenger  engineer,  and 
ill  October,  1891,  was  appointed  to  his  pres- 
ent position.  He  was  married  at  Reading, 
Pa.,  in  October,  1877,  to  Catherine  Colt- 
rider,  daughter  of  Samuel  Coltrider,  natives 
of  Maryland.  To  them  have  been  born  two 
children,   one    who   died    in    infanc}',    and 


Johnston,  Andrew  P.  W.,  assistant  to  the 
assistant  engineer  of  the  Middle  division, 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  was  born  in  Venango 
county.  Pa.,  October  14,  1847.  His  grand- 
father. Rev.  John  Johnston,  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  and  came  from  Belfast,  Ire- 
land, when  a  young  man ;  was  pastor 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Hunting- 
don, Pa.,  from  1790  to  1823,  a  period 
of  thirty-three  years,  and  was  the  first 
pastor  of  that  church.  His  father,  An- 
drew Johnston,  was  a  native  of  Huntingdon, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  a  prominent  hotel  keeper, 
well  and  favorably  known,  and  where  his 
useful  and  well-spent  life  was  terminated  in 
1885.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Venango 
county,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry;  she 
died  in  1858.  Their  family  consisted  of  five 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  surviving  children  are  :  Andrew  P.  W.; 
Jemima  Linn,  wife  of  W.  A.  Crawford,  a 
prominent  merchant  of  Cooperstown,  Ve- 
nango county,  Pa.;  Joseph,  residing  in  Cali- 
fornia, and  Kate,  residing  in  Nebraska. 

Andrew  P.  W.  Johnston  when  but  six 
years  of  age  removed  with  his  parents  to 
'Huntingdon,  and  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  that  place.  He  also  took  a 
course  of  study  in  and  was  graduated  from 
the  Iron  City  Business  College  of  Pittsburgh. 
After  this  he  was  engaged  in  surveying  with 
J.  Simpson  Africa  for  about  two  years,  and 
for  two  years  later  studied  engineering  on 
the  Bedford  and  Bridgeport  railroad.  In 
1873  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company  as  engineer  under 
W.  H.  Brown,  superintendent  of  Bedford  di- 
vision, and  has  been  for  the  past  twenty-two 
years  continuously  in  the  employment  of 
this  company,  during  seventeen  of  which  he 
has  been  connected  with  the  Middle  divi- 
sion. 

He  was  married  at  Huntingdon,  Pa., 
March  19,  1873,  to  Letitia  Pheasant,  daugh- 
ter of  George  W.  and  Elizabeth  W.  Pheas- 
ant. They  have  had  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  Eva  Kate  and  Andrew  C. 

Mr.  Johnston  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  No.  499.  He  is  vice-president  of 
the  Commonwealth  Building  and  Loan  As- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


511 


sociation.  In  political  views  he  is  a  good 
sound  Democrat.  Ho  and  his  family  attend 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  Mrs.  .Johnston 
and  her  daughter  are  members  of  that  reli- 
gious body. 


MacAvoy,  Thomas  D.,  road  foreman's 
clerk,  Middle  division,  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road, was  born  in  Philadelphia,  May  31, 
1848.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Ellen 
(Grant)  MacAvo}',  both  natives  of  Belfast, 
Ireland,  who  came  to  America  in  their  early 
life  and  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  they 
both  died.  His  father  was  a  carpet  manu- 
facturer. They  had  born  to  them  a  family 
of  three  children,  namely:  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  the  late  Joseph  VanWinkle,  residing  in 
West  Philadelphia;  Thomas  D.,  and  John 
M.,  who  was  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river,  near 
Portsmouth,  Ohio,  in  1868,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  years.  Thomas  D.  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia.  He 
was  engaged  as  salesman  in  a  dry  goods 
store  and  later  was  employed  with  Messrs. 
Reily  &  Sargent,  news  agents,  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  Richmond,  Ind.,  Allegheny  City,  Pa., 
Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  and  Harrisburg.  He  left 
the  News  Company  in  March,  1872,  and  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  as  freight  brakeman,  and  in 
September,  1872,  was  engaged  as  fireman. 
He  was  appointed  coal  premium  clerk  in 
1879,  and  filled  this  position  until  October, 
1894,  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present 
position.  He  was  married  at  Harrisburg, 
September  17, 187G,  to  Mary  L.  Shaffer,  daugh- 
ter of  Cornelius  and  Catherine  Shaffer,  of  Har- 
risburg. Their  children  are:  Charles  G. 
Eugene  F.,  Gertrude  Marie,  John  L.,  and, 
Norman  D.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. The  family  attend  St.  Patrick's  Pro- 
Cathedral. 


Moore,  W.  Brooke,  passenger  trainmas- 
ter of  tiie  Pennsylvania  railroad,  was  born 
at  White  Hall  (now  called  Bryn  Mawr), 
Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  November  3, 1848. 
His  father,  James  A.  Moore,  was  for  many 
years  a  prosperous  and  progressive  agricul- 
turalist of  Delaware  county,  but  in  his  later 
yeais  lived  a  retired  life  in  Bryn  Mawr, 
where  he  died  after  a  well-spent  life  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  He  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Marple  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  he  was  for  many  years  an 
elder.  He  was  of  Scotch  ancestry  and  born 
in    Montgomery   county.      His   wife,  Eliza 


(Lindsay)  Moore,  was  of  Irish  ancestry,  but 
was  born  and  died  in  Delaware  county.  Pa. 
They  had  eight  children.  One  died  in  child- 
hood ;  James,  who  served  one  year  during  the 
late  war  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
fourth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  was  acci- 
dentally killed  when  jumping  from  a  mov- 
ing train  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad. 
Those  surviving  at  this  date  are  as  follows: 
Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Jesse  Brooke,  residing  at 
West  Chester,  Pa. ;  Catherine,  wife  of  Jesse 
B.  Matlack,  residing  at  Bryn  Mawr;  Ara- 
bella, residing  at  Upper  Darby,  Pa.;  John  L., 
residing  at  Bryn  Mawr ;  W.  Brooke  and 
Cora,  wife  of  Henry  C.  Childs,  residing  at 
Wayne,  Delaware  county,  Pa. 

W.  Brooke  Moore  received  a  common 
school  education  in  the  schools  of  Delaware 
county  and  also  attended  Bryant  &,  Stratton's 
Business  College,  in  Philadelphia.  He  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  at  White  Hall  for  the  pur- 
pose of  learning  telegraphy,  but  turned  aside 
from  this  and  took  a  position  as  brakeman 
on  the  Middle  division  of  this  road  under 
Superintendent  S.  A.  Black.  He  occupied 
this  iiosition  until  February  16,  1870,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  baggage-master  and 
served  as  such  until  October  8, 1870;  he  was 
then  still  further  advanced  to  the  position  of 
passenger  conductor.  On  August  16,  1875, 
he  was  appointed  train  dispatcher  under 
Superintendent  James  McCrea.  On  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1886,  Mr.  Moore  was  appointed  as- 
sistant trainmaster  under  Superintendent  0. 
E.  McClellan,  and  on  January  1,  1893,  re- 
ceived his  appointment  as  pa.ssenger  train- 
master, the  duties  of  which  place  he  still 
efficiently  performs. 

W.  Brooke  Moore  was  married  at  Harris- 
burg, June  13,  1872,  to  Mary  F.  Zollinger, 
daughter  of  John  H.  and  Julia  B.  Zollinger, 
of  Harrisburg.  Their  children  are  Clarence 
Z.  and  Brooke  Lindsay.  Mr.  Moore  is  a 
member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21,  and 
Pilgrim  Commandery,  No.  11.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  Both'  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Moore  are  members  of  Grace  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Clemson,  Lloyd  Colder,  assistant  road 
foreman,  Middle  division,  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  was  born  at  Harrisburg,  January 
20,  1849.  His  father,  Amos  Clemson,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry.     For  many  years  he 


512 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


was  a  packet-boat  captain  on  both  the  Ju- 
niata and  Susquehanna  rivers,  plying 
between  Harrisburg  and  Williamsport,  and 
Harrisburg  and  Hollidaj'sburg ;  at  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  the  oldest  packet-boat 
captain.  He  also  served  as  passenger  con- 
ductor for  two  j'ears,  on  the  Middle  division, 
Pennsylvania  railroad.  In  1851  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  at  Newport,  Perry  county, 
Pa.,  and  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits up  to  the  date  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  July,  1888,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years.  He  was  a  prominent  and  pro- 
gressive farmer;  he  served  as  commissioner 
of  Perry  county  for  three  years,  and  was 
president  of  the  school  board  for  many 
3'ears.  He  also  filled  several  minor  offices 
in  his  county.  His  wife,  Elmira  Jane  (Bos- 
serman)  Clemson,  was  born  at  Milford,  Perry 
county,  September  14,  1828,  and  was  of 
American  ancestry.  She  is  still  living,  and 
resides  at  Newport.  These  worthy  people 
had  two  children  born  to  them  :  Arabella, 
wife  of  John  Funk,  residing  at  Newport, 
and  Llo3^d  C. 

When  one  3'ear  old,  Lloyd's  parents 
brought  him  to  Newport,  where  the  district 
scliool  afforded  him  the  only  educational 
advantages  he  enjoyed  in  youth.  He 
became  a  teacher  himself,  and  taught 
three  winters  in  Centre  township,  working 
on  the  farm  during  the  summer  months. 
On  June  1,  1870,  he  engaged  as  fireman  on 
the  Northern  CJentral  railroad,  between  Har- 
risburg  and  Sunbury,  and  filled  this  posi- 
tion until  December  3,  1871,  when  he  re- 
signed it  to  accept  the  position  of  brakeman 
of  freight  train  on  the  Middle  divi-sion, 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  between  Harrisburg 
and  Altoona.  He  held  this  place  until  Jan- 
uary 15,  1872,  when  he  was  appointed  fire- 
man on  a  freight  train.  In  May,  1873,  he 
wns  transferred  to  passenger  fireman  ;  De- 
cember 1,  1880,  he  was  promoted  to  freight 
engineer,  and  May  15.  1885,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  passenger  train  engineer.  April 
1,  1892,  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  po- 
sition. 

Mr.  Clemson  was  married  at  Harrisburg, 
September  18.  1872,  to  Miss  Laura  Nixdorf, 
daugliter  of  Emanuel  and  Mary  Nixdorf,  of 
Harrisburg.  They  have  had  one  child  born 
to  them,  who  died  in  infancy.  He  is  a 
member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodee.  No.  464,  F. 
&  A  M.,  and  Warrior  Engle  Tribe,  No.  340. 
I.  0.  R.  M.  In  political  views  he  is  a 
staunch    Republican.     The    famil}'^   attend 


the  Lutheran  church,  of  which  Mrs.  Clemson 
is  a  member. 


McCr.iNTOCK,  Charles  W.,  assistant  train- 
master, Middle  division,  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road, was  born  in  Loudon,  Franklin  county, 
Pa.,  April  10,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr. 
Joseph  H.  and  Saraii  (Allender)  McClintock. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Chambersburg, 
Pa.  For  over  forty  years  he  practiced  medi- 
cine in  Loudon  and  was  regarded  as  skillful 
and  successful.  He  married  there  a  native 
of  the  town  and  there  he  died.  His  wife 
survives  him  and  lives  in  the  homestead  they 
occupied  together  so  many  years.  Tliey  had 
four  children,  of  whom  only  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  living.  Charles  W.  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Loudon  and  Harris- 
burg. He  entered  the  employment  of  tiie 
Pennsylvania  railroad  to  learn  telegraphy, 
and  served  as  messenger  boy  without  I'emun- 
eration.  In  May,  1869,  he  was  appointed 
extra  telegraph  operator  and  filled  this  place 
one  month.  June  1,  1809,  he  was  appointed 
telegraph  operator  and  served  in  tliis  ])osi- 
tion  until  1878,  when  he  was  appointed  extra 
train  dispatcher.  In  1881  he  was  appointed 
train  dispatcher,  and  August,  1891,  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  trainmaster. 

He  was  married  at  Harrisbur,  November- 
18,  1874,  to  Laura  Trace,  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick and  Sarah  Trace,  of  Harrisburg.  To 
them  have  been  born  five  children:  Janie 
Grace,  Frederick  T.,  Sarah  Bell,  died  in  in- 
fancy, Joseph  H.,  and  Edgar  F.  In  political 
views  Mr.  McClintock  is  a  Democrat.  The 
family  attend  the  Lutheran  church,  of  which 
Mrs.  McClintock  is  a  member. 


Rose.  William  John,  division  freight 
agent  of  that  portion  of  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad  covered  by  the  Philadelphia,  Schuyl- 
kill and  Frederickdivisions,  wasbornatPitts- 
burgh.  Pa.,  October  5, 1852.  He  is  a  son  oftlie 
late  William  John  and  Mary  Lee  (Mahon) 
Rose.  In  •  his  early  infancy  his  parents  re- 
moved with  him  to  New  York  City,  and 
were  among  the  earliest  jia.ssengers  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  modern  facilities  of  tran.s- 
portation  offered  by  the  Pennsylvania  "all 
rail "  route  over  the  Allegheny  mountains. 
He  became  a  resident  of  Washington  toward 
the  close  of  the  Buchanan  administration, 
his  father  being  connected  with  the  State 
department.  Although  extremely  youthful, 
the  stormy  scenes  of  that  threatening  period 
left  a  deep  impression  upon  his  mind,  and 


^^cz. 


d .         Wi— e»_^__.c4_^t_r- 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


513 


he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  men  and 
affairs  of  that  day  which  is  exceptional. 
U])on  tlie  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  he 
returned  to  Fittsburgli  and  remained  there 
during  its  continuance.  Altliougli  he  ma- 
tured rapidly  he  was  too  young  to  be  en- 
listed in  the  war,  but  he  toiled  in  the  trenches 
besides  the  mechanics,  merchants  and  pro- 
fessional men  of  Pittsburgh  when  the  raids 
of  Stuart  and  Morgan  threatened  that  city. 
Removing  to  Pliiladelpliia  with  the  advent 
of  peace,  liis  family  affiliations  soon  brouglit 
him  in  contact  with  the  progressive  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad  developments  of  the  time, 
among  which  was  the  recognized  necessity 
for  the  construction  of  a  projected  indepen- 
dent line  to  connect  the  Philadelphia  and 
Erie  road  with  the  oil  regions.  This  was 
accomplished  in  the  building  of  the  Warren 
and  Franklin  railroad.  A.  J.  Cassatt  be- 
came superintendent  of  this  line,  and  it  was 
at  his  headquarters  that  Mr.  Rose  served  his 
actual  railroad  a])i)renticeship.  To  the  close 
personal  association  with  Mr.  Cassatt,  and 
his  skillful,  though  kindly  discipline  and 
instruction,  Mr.  Rose  always  attributes  what- 
ever measure  of  ability  he  has  developed  in 
later  years  in  the  Company's  service.  When 
Mr.  Cassatt  was  made  superintendent  M., 
P.  and  M.,  Mr.  Rose  temporarily  accom- 
panied him  to  Altoona,  returning  later  to 
irvineton,  and  .subsequently  accompanying 
the  headquarters'  staff  to  Corry,  to  whicli 
point  the  general  offices  were  removed  in 
consequence  of  the  absorption  of  the  Farmers' 
railroad  and  the  Oil  Creek,  forming  what 
was  subsequently  known  as  the  Oil  Creek 
and  Allegheny  River  railroad.  This  ex- 
perience afforded  Mr.  Rose  exceptional  oppor- 
tunities for  acquiring  a  more  varied  and 
practical  knowledge  of  his  chosen  vocation 
than  Altoona  seemed  to  promise  at  that  time. 
It  was  at  this  period  that  he  became  actively 
engaged,  first  at  Cincinnati  and  finally  at 
Pittsburgh,  with  the  Pennsylvania  &  Ohio 
Anthracite  Coal  and  Transportation  C'om- 
pany,  formed  by  A.  J.  Cassatt  and  otlier 
friends  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  for  the 
purpose  of  relieving  tlie  company  of  the  em- 
barrassment caused  by  the  want  of  lading 
for  the  large  percentage  of  cars  moving  empty 
west  bound.  The  object  for  the  promotion 
of  the  coal  com])any  having  been  attained, 
Mr.  Rose  was  made  general  freight  and  pas- 
senger agent  of  the  Pittsburgh,  Virginia  & 
Charleston  railroad,  and  continued  so  dur- 
ing the  eight  years  of  its  existence  under 


separate  organization.  Finally,  when  it  be- 
came part  of  the  parent  system  as  the  Mo- 
nongahela  division,  he  continued  to  devote 
liis  energies  to  the  commercial  interests  of 
that  territor3%to  which  was  added  the  larger 
field  of  the  main  line  and  branches  in  West- 
ern Pennsylvania.  In  the  fall  of  1879  he 
was  transferred  to  Harrisburg,  succeeding 
W.  C.  Ward  as  general  agent,  Penn.sylvania 
Railroad  and  Northern  Central  Railway  Fast 
Local  Freight  Lines,  liaving  for  their  object 
the  development  of  merchandise  traffic  to 
and  from  interior  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore.  Upon 
the  re-organization  of  the  general  freight 
agent's  department,  Mr.  Rose  was  appointed 
to  his  [iresent  position.  Educated  in  early 
youth  at  the  best  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, although  not  a  college  graduate,  he 
has  been  a  constant  student,  employing  pri- 
vate tutors  in  the  completion  of  his  educa- 
tion, as  circumstances  permitted.  Since  his 
assignment  to  his  present  duty  lie  has  be- 
come identified  in  many  and  varied  ways 
with  the  commercial  and  industrial  welfare 
of  his  district.  He  is  connected  with  the 
Railroad  Men's  Christian  Association,  of 
Harrisburg,  as  a  member  of  the  advisory 
board  and  treasurer  of  its  building  fund; 
he  is  a  manager  of  the  Harrisburg  Hosj)ital. 
In  religion  lie  is  a  churchman,  holding  tiie 
office  of  rector's  warden  in  St.  Luke's  parish, 
Mechanicsburg,  Cumberland  county,  wiiere 
lie  resides  upon  a  large  farm  fifteen  minutes' 
ride  from  his  office,  and  where  as  a  lover  of 
nature  he  devotes  his  leisure  moments  to  his 
favorite  diversions — horticulture  and  agri- 
culture. His  home,  known  as  "  Nantillie," 
is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  substantial  of 
those  old-fashioned  .stone  mansions  peculiar 
to  the  Cumberland  Valley,  and  is  a  repro- 
be  found  only  among  tlie  homes  of  the  better 
duction  of  the  severe  lines  of  architecture  to 
type  in  Ireland,  having  been  adopted  by 
that  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  race  to  which  he 
belongs,  and  who,  like  him,  believe  tiiat 
'■  the  ornament  of  a  house  is  the  friends  who 
frequent  it."  The  farm  of  Mr.  Rose  is  fam- 
ous among  tiie  many  famous  farms  of  that 
fertile  valley,  and  is  rapidly  acquiring  an 
enviable  reputation  for  its  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  practical  and  scientific  develop- 
ment. The  business  methods  of  a  railroad 
career  having  taught  him  that  the  duty  of 
every  man  is  to  subdue  his  environment,  he 
has  made  his  fields  teem  with  productiveness. 
Believing  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  railroad 


514 


Bl  0  GRA  PHI  GAL  ENGYCL  OPEDIA 


corporation  to  do  the  same  thing,  b}'  recog- 
nizing the  importance  of  its  local  industrial 
development  and  by  treating  the  interests  of 
every  local  industry  as  identical  with  its 
own,  he  has  made  his  transportation  field  as 
productive.  Both  his  own  and  his  wife's 
family  are  among  tlie  oldest  and  most  dis- 
tinguished in  the  State,  and  he  brings  to  the 
service  a  ripe  experience  in  every  detail  of 
his  profession  seldom  attained  by  one  of  his 
years.  Mr.  Rose  was  married  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.,  April  28,  1880,  to  Miss  Sarali 
Reed  Watts,  daughter  of  William  Miles  and 
Anna  Matilda  (Reed)  Watts.  Tiiey  have  two 
children,  Mary  Lee  and  William  Watts. 


StrOxMINGEr,  Frank,  ticket  and  freight 
agent.  Philadelphia  and  Reading  railroad, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
December  25,  1852.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  (Henry)  Strominger. 

Daniel  Strominger  was  born  in  York 
county.  Pa.,  but  removed  to  Harrisburg 
early  in  life.  He  worked  in  that  city  at  his 
trade  of  plastering  until  within  a  few  years 
previous  to  his  deatli,  which  occurred  March 
22,  1872.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Henry,  was 
also  born  in  York  county,  and  came  early 
to  Harrisburg.  Four  of  their  ten  children 
are  living:  Ellen,  widow  of  Joseph  Shisler, 
residing  in  Harrisburg;  Annie,  wife  of  A.  T. 
Hubiey,  of  Harrisburg;  Agnes,  wife  of  G.  A. 
Lawrence,  of  Denver,  Col.;  and  Frank.  Of 
the  deceased  children,  five  died  in  infancy, 
and  one,  Lucy,  at  twelve  years  of  age.  The 
mother  died  September  14,  1885. 

Frank  Strominger  took  the  regular  course 
of  studies  in  the  public  scliools  of  Harris- 
burg, and,  to  obtain  more  tliorough  prepara- 
tion for  business  sulxsequently  took  a  course 
in  tlie  Eastman  Business  College,  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.  He  then  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  four  3'ears  at  bricklaying,  and 
after  this  worked  at  the  trade  as  a  journey- 
man for  two  years.  At  this  point  the  course 
of  Mr.  Strominger's  life  was  changed.  In 
November,  1874,  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Pliiladelphia  and  Reading  railroad  as  a 
Ireight  house  truck-hand.  Tiiis  was  begin- 
ning at  the  bottom,  but  Mr.  Strominger 
wisely  appreciated  the  oppottunity  of  show- 
ing his  fidelity  in  any  place,  however  hum- 
ble. Faithful  to  duty,  he  patiently  worked 
and  waited  for  promotion.  His  fidelity  and 
efficiency  were  not  unobserved  by  his  em- 
ployers, and  in  due  time  promotion  came. 
He   was  advanced   step   by   step   until   he 


reached  his  present  responsible  position  to 
which  he  was  called  May  10,  1891. 

Frank  Strominger  was  married  at  Cham- 
bersburg.  Pa.,  June  7,  1877,  to  Miss  Matilda 
B.,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Garvin) 
White,  of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  both  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strominger  have  four  children : 
Lottie,  Frank,  Hugh  P.,  and  Minnie. 

Mr.  Strominger  is  an  active  member  of 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.; 
Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21,  R.  A.  M.,and 
Pilgrim  Commandery,  No.  11,  K.  T.,  of  Har- 
risburg; Lulu  Temple,  A.  A.  0.  of  M.  of  M. 
S.,  of  Philadelphia;  Harrisburg  Lodge,  No. 
68,  Dauphin  Encampment,  No.  10,  and 
Daughters  of  Rebecca,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Har- 
risburg; alsooftiie  Mutual  Beneficial  Society 
of  Harrisburg. 

Mr.  Strominger  and  his  family  attend 
Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Calder,  William  James,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  East  Harrisburg  Passenger 
Railroad  Company,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  October  1,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Regina  Camilla  (Greenawalt)  Cal- 
der. He  received  his  education  in  the 
city  schools  and  in  Seller's  Academy.  He 
took  the  course  of  study  in  the  Pennsylvania 
State  College,  and  was  graduated  from  this 
institution  in  1875.  He  began  busmess  as 
discount  clerk  in  the  First  National  Bank. 
On  the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred 
July  19,  1880,  he  was  made  one  of  the  ex- 
ecutors of  his  estate.  The  discharge  of  this 
trust,  in  settling  this  large  estate,  claimed 
his  entire  attention  up  to  1886.  In  this 
year  he  became  interested  in  the  East  Har- 
risburg Passenger  Railway  Company.  He 
was  made  its  first  president,  and  continued 
in  this  position  till  1889,  when  he  became 
general  manager  and  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany. In  1891  he  became  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  company,  the  position  he 
now  holds.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Harris- 
burg Car  Company,  First  National  Bank 
and  the  Harrisburg  Foundry  and  Machine 
Shop.  Since  his  father's  death  Mr.  Calder 
and  his  brother  have  continued  the  transfer 
and  livery  business. 

He  is  one  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the 
Harrisburg  Hospital,  one  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Home  of  the  Friendless,  and 
one  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Chil- 
dren's Industrial  Home.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
the  president  of  its  board  of  trustees,  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


515 


has  served  as  superintendent  of  the  infant 
department  of  the  Sabbatli-school. 

He  is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  a  member  of  the  Hai-risburg 
Club,  a  member  of  the  Inglenook  Club,  and 
its  vice-president.  In  politics  Mr.  Calder  is 
a  Republican.  He  was  married  at  Ilion, 
N.  Y.,  December  1,  1880,  to  Jessie,  daughter 
of  E.  Remington.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, Helen,  Etiiel  and  William. 


ter  of  Jacob  S.  and  Mary  (Matheot)  Snyder. 
To  them  has  been  born  one  son,  Jacob  Her- 
bert, born  at  Columbia,  Pa.,  September  14, 
1878.  Mr.  Tliomas  is  a  Republican.  He  at- 
tends the  Lutheran  church. 


TfiOMAS,  Pkrcy,  ticket  receiver  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Compan}^  was  born  at 
South  Easton,  Northampton  countv.  Pa., 
May  6,  1854.  His  fatlier,  Herbert  Thomas, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  and  is 
of  Welsh  ancestry.  He  is  now  extensively 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Louisville, 
K}^  He  served  with  distinction  during  the 
late  war  as  captain  of  company  D,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-ninth  regiment,  Penn.syl- 
vania  volunteers,  and  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg.  He  was  a  ]iromi- 
nent  business  man  in  Lancaster  and  Clinton 
counties,  where  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known.  His  wife,  Henrietta(Hecht)  Thomas, 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  of 
German  ancestry.  Her  father.  Rev.  Joim 
P.  Hecht,  was  a  noted  Lutheran  clergyman, 
and  her  mother  was  a  native  of  Harrisburg. 
She  died  in  Jefferson ville,  Ind.,  March  23, 
1895.  They  had  born  to  them  a  family  of 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  survive:  Percy, 
Edward  H.,  residing  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
Grace  B.,and  William  Herbert,  residing  with 
their  father  at  Jeffersonville,  Lid. 

Percy  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Northampton  and  Clin- 
ton. He  also  had  the  advantage  of  a  three 
years'  course  at  Tremont  Seminary,  Norris- 
town.  Pa.  He  was  connected  with  his  father's 
business  as  accountant  for  six  years.  On 
January  15,  1876,  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Pennsylvania  railroad  as  train  agent  of 
_the  Middle  and  Pittsburgh  division,  with 
headquarters  at  Pitt.sburgh,  and  later  was 
transferred  to  the  general  office  at  Philadel- 
phia. In  1882  he  removed  to  Michigan  and 
spent  two  years  in  the  lumber  regions  of  that 
State.  In  1885  he  returned  to  the  service  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  clerk 
in  the  auditing  department  at  Philadelphia, 
and  on  October  1, 1887,  was  a{)pointed  tu  his 
present  position,  whicii  he  has  filled  accept- 
ably since  that  date. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  married  at  Columbia,  Pa., 
Septetaber  17, 1877,  to  Alice  E.  Snyder,  daugh- 


RosE,  H.\RVEY  J.,  division  operator,  Mid- 
dle division,  Pennsylvania  railroad,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg,  July  6, 1854.  The  Rose 
family  to  whicli  he  belongs  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Dauphin  county.  For  many 
years  the  grandfather  Rose  kept  a  well- 
known  tavern  called  the  "  Bull's  Head." 
Samuel,  the  father  of  Harvey  J.,  was  of  Eng- 
lish ancestry,  and  his  mother,  Elizabeth 
(Eisenberger)  Rose,  was  of  German  ancestry  ; 
both  were  born  in  Cumberland  county. 
Their  fiiraily  consisted  of  five  children,  three 
of  whom  survive:  Lillie  J.,  Harvey  J.,  and 
Edward  F.  The  father  was  accidently 
killed  by  the  cars  in  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road yard,  when  returning  from  a  shooting 
excursion.  The  mother  still  survives  and 
resides  in  Harrisburg. 

Harvey  J.  attended  the  public  schools  of 
this  city.  From  1868  to  1871  he  was  em- 
ployed as  messenger  boy  by  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company'.  He  learned 
telegraphy  in  tiie  Northern  Central  Rail- 
way Company's  office  at  Bridgeport,  oppo- 
site Harrisburg,  and  was  in  the  employment  of 
tins  company  under  the  late  Simon  Cameron 
Wilson,  superintendent  of  telegraph  of  Nortii- 
ern  Central  line  between  Canandaigua  and 
Baltimore,  until  August  1,  1876.  While 
working  in  the  superintendent's  office  at 
Harrisburg,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Mid- 
dle division,  and  worked  as  operator  until 
October,  1889,  when  he  was  appointed  divi- 
sion operator.  While  with  the  Northern 
Central  railway  he  worked  every  office, 
both  night  and  day,  between  Sunbury  and 
Baltimore  ;  also  different  oflSces  on  the  Bal- 
timore and  Potomac  railroad  when  it  first 
opened,  and  was  controlled  by  the  Northern 
Central  Railroad  Company.  In  his  present 
position  he  has  charge  of  the  telegraph  opera- 
tors, numbering  nearly  two  hundred  ;  of  the 
telegraph  repairmen,  and  the  construction 
and  maintenance  of  the  telegraph  and  tele- 
phone lines  of  the  entire  length  of  the  divi- 
sion, which  includes  one  hundred  and  thirt}'- 
tvvo  miles.  There  are  twelve  hundred  miles 
of  wire  with  sixty-five  telegraph  offices, 
twenty-four  of  which  are  interlocking  cabins. 
The  telephone  system  at  Harrisburg,  con- 
necting the  different  offices  throughout  the 


516 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


extensive  j^ards,  was  put  up  and  installed 
under  his  supervision,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  complete  on  the  entire  Penns3'lvania 
railroad.  He  also  has  charge  of  all  the  line- 
men and  electric  signal  men  between  Har- 
risburg  and  Altoona.  He  had  charge  of  the 
Voluntary  Relief  Department  of  the  Middle 
division,  Pennsylvania  railroad,  the  first  six 
months  of  its  career,  and  he  walked  over  the 
entire  division,  explaining  the  rules  and  reg- 
ulations of  this  department  to  the  em- 
ployees. 

Mr.  Rose  was  married  at  Harrisburg,  .June 
23, 1879,  to  Miss  Margaret  C.  Kosher,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Lucy  A.  Kosher,  of  Harris- 
burg. Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
six  children  :  Nellie  C,  Lucy  B.,  Harvey  J., 
Edward  W.,  Margaret  C.,and  Fannie  C.  In 
politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Democratic 
party.  Heand hisfamily attend theEpiscopal 
church.  The  business  record  of  Mr.  Rose  is 
his  eulogy,  and  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
the  community,  which  he  enjoys,  is  a  rich 
reward  for  his  virtues  and  excellencies. 


Ellmakek,  Frank,  late  superintendent  of 
the  Middle  division  of  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road, was  born  August  10,  1854.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Parkesburg  Institute  and  tiie 
Polytechnic  College  of  Pennsylvania,  from 
.which  he  was  graduated  .June  26,  1875.  He 
entered  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  June  14, 1880.    From  August, 

1871,  to  November,  1872,  he  was  engaged 
with  S.  W.  Mifflin,  chief  engineer  on  sur- 
vej'S,  location  and  contraction  of  the  Phila- 
delphia and  Newtown,  and  Pennsylvania  and 
Delaware  railroads,  in  the  cajiacity  of  rod- 
man,  levelman  and  transitman.    From  June, 

1872,  to  June,  1875,  he  took  the  course  at 
the  Polytechnic  College  as  above  stated. 
From  June,  1875,  to  November  of  the  same 
year,  he  was  engaged  on  surveys  of  La- 
moille Valley  division  of  Portland  and  Og- 
densburg  railroad  as  levelman.  From  No- 
vember, 1875,  to  June  13, 1880,  he  was  em- 
ployed on  the  Springfield,  Jackson  and 
Pomeroy  railroad  in  the  following  capaci- 
ties: From  November,  1875,  to  January, 
1876,  as  rodman;  January,  1876,  to  March, 

1876,  as  levelman ;  March  to  May  of  same 
year,  as  transitman;  May,  1876,  to  August, 

1877,  as  assistant  engineer  on  location  and 
construction;  August,    1877,    to    December, 

1878,  as  principal  assistant  engineer;  De- 
cember, 1878,  to  March,  1879,  as  rodman; 
March,  1879,  to  June  13,  1880,  as  chief  engi- 


neer;  June  14, 1880,  to  April,  1881,  as  assist- 
ant engineer  in  principal  engineer's  office  at 
Altoona;  April  18,  1881,  to  February  20, 
1882,  as  assistant  supervisor  of  division  MI, 
Philadelphia  division;  February  20,  1882, 
to  March  1,  1883,  as  assistant  engineer  of 
Monongahela  division;  January  1,  1883,  to 
January  14,  1886,  as  assistant  engineer  of 
New  York  division;  January,  1886,  to  Au- 
gust, 1889,  as  superintendent  of  Belvidere 
division;  August  1,  1889,  to  February  1, 
1891,  as  superintendent  of  Shamokin  di- 
vision. Northern  Central  railroad,  and  Sun- 
bury  division  of  Philadelphia  and  Erie  rail- 
road; February  1,  1891,  to  January  1,  1893, 
as  superintendent  of  Amboy  division ;  Janu- 
ary 1,  1893,  to  May  1,  1893,  as  superin- 
tendent of  Delaware  Extension  and  Ken- 
sington division  ;  May  1,  1893,  to  October  1, 
1895,  as  superintendent  of  Middle  division, 
Pennsylvania  railroad.  This  is  a  bare  state- 
ment of  dates  and  facts,  but  is  more  impres- 
sive than  any  eloquence  of  language,  for  it 
tells  of  hard  work,  close  ap[)lication,  techni- 
cal skill,  business  tact  and  ability,  and  the 
grand  success  which  these  qualities  and 
achievements  are  certain  to  produce.  In 
the  winner  of  these  substantial  promotions, 
such  able  business  men  as  General  Roum- 
fort,  James  McRea  and  S.  M.  Prevost  find  a 
worthy  successor  and  compeer. 


KiTZMiLLER,  Dixox  G.,  of  tlic  divisioii 
freight  agent's  office,  Philadelphia  and  Read- 
ing railroad,  was  born  at  Pine  Grove,  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Pa.,  September  25,  1854.  His 
father,  Daniel  Kitzmiller,  came  to  Harris- 
burg in  1871,  and  was  connected  with  these 
railroads  till  within  a  short  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  November,  1892. 
His  mother,  Sarah  A.  (Gorgas)  Kitzmiller, 
survives  and  is  living  at  Harrisburg.  The}' 
had  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living:  Frank  K.,  Augusta  G.  and  Dixon  G. 

Mr.  Kitzmiller  is  descended  from  a  his- 
toric family,  prominent  in  the  early  settle-* 
ment  of  Lebanon  county.  His  paternal 
grandmother  was  the  daughter  of  Christian 
Ley  (Lei),  who  was  the  son  of  the  original 
Michael  Ley  (Lei)  and  his  wife,  Eva  M.  Ley, 
the  former  born  in  1739  and  died  in  1824; 
the  latter  born  1744,  died  1815.  They  are 
buried  in  the  graveyard  at  Meyerstown  be- 
neath the  shadow  of  Frieden  Lutheran 
church.  Here  also  lie  buried  their  son 
Christian  and  his  wife,  Anna  Catherine 
(Coppenhofl'er)  Ley,  the  former  born  in  1762, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


517 


died  in  1832;  the  latter  died  Januaiy  11, 
1822. 

Inheritin^the  virtues  of  this  worth}'  line, 
Dixon  G.  sought  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  town  and  also  at 
Palatinate  College,  Meyerstown,  Lebanon 
county.  He  was  for  ten  years  a  teacher  of 
music  in  Harrisburg.  In  1880  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Read- 
ing railroad,  and  continued  in  it  for  sixteen 
3'ears,  twelve  years  of  which  he  has  spent  in 
the  freight  department. 

He  was  married  in  McAllisterville,  Juni- 
ata county,  April  29,  1878,  to  Catherine  J. 
Caven}-,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  J. 
(^'an  6rmer)Caveny,  of  McAllisterville.  Of 
their  five  sons  but  one  survives,  Dixon  G., 
Jr.,  four  having  died  in  childliood.  In  po- 
litical views  Mr.  Kitzmiller  is  a  Republican. 
He  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


Kerns,  William  H.,  stationary  engineer, 
Harrisburg  Electric  Light  Company,  was 
born  at  Fayetteville,  Franklin  county.  Pa., 
November  3, 1854.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Reed)  Kerns,  the  former  a  native 
of  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  the  latter  of 
Franklin  county,  Pa.  His  father  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  near  Fayetteville  for  many 
years  and  later  worked  in  ore  mines.  He 
enlisted  in  1861  in  the  heavy  artillery  and 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga 
September  19,  1863.  His  wife  died  in  1887. 
Tiiey  had  four  children,  namely:  Thomas, 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  West 
Virginia ;  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  Charles  E. 
Swisher,  residing  at  St.  Thomas,  Franklin 
county,  Pa.;  William  H.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  Charles  A.,  who  died  in  1886. 

William  H.  Kerns  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  his  native  county,  but  having  been  left  an 
orphan  early  in  life,  his  education  was  lim- 
ited, his  success  in  life  being  due  to  his  own 
energy  and  ambition.  When  ten  years  of 
age  he  went  to  work  in  the  Caledonia  ore 
mines,  where  he  continued  until  1869.  He 
then  removed  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  now  called 
Richmond  Furnace,  and  worked  in  the  ore 
mines  there  until  1872.  For  four  years  from 
that  date  he  worked  on  the  Chesapeake  and 
Ohio  canal.  From  1876  to  1878  he  was  em- 
ployed as  mill  hand  in  a  portable  saw 
mill  -in  Little  Cove,  Franklin  county, 
and  for  three  succeeding  years  as  engineer. 
From  1881  to  1884  he  was  engineer  in 
the  ore  mines  at  Cleversburg,  and  from  1884 
to  1887  in    a  saw  mill  at   Chambersburg. 


From  1887  to  1889  he  was  engineer  in  the 
Dauphin  car  shops.  He  then  removed  to 
Harrisburg  and  was  engaged  with  the  elec- 
trical company  one  year.  In  1890  he  went 
to  Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,  where  he  was  in 
charge  of  an  electric  plant  for  over  three 
years.  He  returnetl  to  Harrisburg  in  1893 
and  has  since  that  date  been  in  his  present 
position. 

William  H.  Kerns  was  married  at  Mer- 
cersburg.  Pa.,  February  13,  1876,  to  Martha 
J.,  daughter  of  James  Spidle.  They  have 
no  children  of  their  own,  but  have  adopted 
the  two  children  of  a  deceased  brotiier. 
Charles  A.,  who  are  named  James  A.  and 
Elizabeth.  Mr.  Kerns  is  a  member  of  Her- 
culean Lodge,  No.  480,  K.  of  G.  E.;  of  Cin- 
cinnatus  Commandery,  No.  96,  K.of  M.,and 
of  the  Electrical  Workers'  Association.  In 
political  views  he  is  liberal.  He  attends  the 
Evangelical  church. 


TnoM.A.s,  Harry  H.,  engineer,  was  born 
in  MitHin  county.  Pa.,  May  5,  1859.  Pie  is 
a  son  of  James  and  Angeline  (Staiil)  Thomas. 
His  maternal  great-grandparents  are  of  Ger- 
man origin.  Henrj'  Stahi,  maternal  grand- 
fatiier  of  Mr.  H.  H.  Thomas,  was  born  at 
Lewistown,  Mifflin  county,  and  was  a 
butclier.  His  wife  was  also  a  native  of 
Lewistown.  Tliey  had  nine  children,  four 
of  whom  are  still  living :  Adam,  Henry, 
Mary,  wife  of  John  Morrison,  of  Decatur, 
111.,  and  Angeline,  wife  of  James  M.  Thomas. 
Their  deceased  children  are:  Lavinia,  wife 
of  Robert  Jackson  ;  John  ;  Rachel,  wife  of 
Henry  Croffer,  died  September  17,  1873, 
aged  thirty-nine  years ;  Charlie,  died  Sep- 
tember 17,  1874,  aged  forty  years,  and 
George.  The  family  were  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church.  Both  grand- 
parents passed  away  at  Lewistown,  Mifflin 
county.  The  paternal  grandparents  of 
Harry  H.  Thomas  were  natives  of  Hunting- 
don county.  Pa.  His  grandfather  was  a 
barber  by  occupation.  He  had  a  family  of 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living: 
Annie,  wife  of  James  McGlennan,  resides  at 
Zanesville,  Ohio ;  Valeria  Jane,  wife  of  J.  B. 
Reed,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  William;  James 
M.,  father  of  Harry  H.  Thomas,  and  Martha, 
wife  of  William  Stone,  Hollidaysburg,  Blair 
county.  Pa.  Their  deceased  children  are: 
Johnson  and  E.  Clarence,  who  died  in  1889, 
aged  eight}'  years.  Both  grandparents  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  both 
died  at  Lewistown. 


518 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


James  M.  Thomas,  fatlier  of  Harry  H., 
was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pa.,  in 
1824.  He  spent  the  earlier  part  of  liis  busi- 
ness life  in  running  packet  boats  on  the 
Pennsylvania  canal  between  Philadelphia 
and  Pittsburgh,  in  which  business  he  was  en- 
gaged for  eleven  years.  Later  lie  was  em- 
ployed in  the  ore  mines  in  Mifflin  county 
for  two  3'ears.  He  was  married,  at  Lewis- 
town,  to  Miss  Angeline,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Susan  Stahl.  They  had  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living :  Valeria  J.,  wife 
of  M.  H.  Rider,  Lewistown,  Pa. ;  James  B., 
Harry  JL,  Andrew  M.,  George  M.,  E.  Clare 
J.,  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Patton,  deceased, 
and  Ida  May,  wife  of  Harry  Hatfa.  Their  de- 
ceased children  are:  Matilda,  died  May  15, 
1873,  aged  nineteen  years,  wife  of  Benjamin 
Pauling,  and  William  H.,  died  March  8, 
1858.  After  his  marriage,  in  1852,  Mr. 
Thomas  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  and 
has  been  a  prosperous  and  popular  hotel 
keeper  for  thirty-seven  years.  He  is  well 
adapted  to  the  business,  and  enjoys  it;  he  is 
still  actively  engaged  in  furnishing  public 
entertainment.  Mr.  Thomas  enlisted,  ISGl, 
in  company  C,  Seventy-eighth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  participating  in 
the  battle  of  Antietam.  Mr.  Thomas  is  an 
active  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  Lodge 
No.  14G,  K.  of  P.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  the  family  are  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church. 

Harrj'  H.  Thomas  attended  the  public 
schools  in  Lewistown,  Pa.,  until  he  was  six- 
teen, when  he  left  school  for  the  railroad. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  took  a  position 
as  brakeman  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad, 
between  Harrisburg  and  Altoona.  In  six 
weeks  he  was  promoted  to  be  fireman,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  six  years  and  five 
months.  In  1888  he  was  promoted  to  en- 
gineer, which  position  he  has  held  to  the 
present  time.  Mr.  Thomas  has  passed 
through  very  exciting  and  adventurous  ex 
periences,  and  has  had  some  narrow  escapes 
from  death.  On  February  3,  1896,  running 
between  Mifflin  and  Mexico,  his  engine  col- 
lided with  a  box  car,  in  which  accident  he 
sustained  injuries  so  severe  that  he  was  un- 
conscious for  three  days,  and  disabled  for 
six  weeks.  Mr.  Thomas  was  married  at 
Freedom  Forge,  Mitflin  county.  Pa.,  April 
7,  1877,  to  Mary  M.,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  E.  (Clearer)  Soles,  born  in  Juniata 
county,  July  16,  1859.  They  have  had  four 
children:    Angeline,  Harry   F.,  James  M., 


and  one  that  died  at  its  birtli.  Mr.  Thomas 
is  an  active  member  of  State  Capital  Lodge, 
No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  Eaj'ptian  Com- 
mandery.  No.  114,  K.  of  M.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  and  his  family  are  consistent 
members  of  the  P^ifth  Street  Methodist 
church. 

John  Soles,  father  of  Mrs.  Thomas,  was 
born  in  Juniata  county,  Pa.  He  was  a  far- 
mer, and  in  the  winter  was  engaged  in  burn- 
ing lime.  His  wife,  Mary  E.,  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Mary  E.  Clearer,  and  a 
native  of  Juniata  county,  where  they  were 
married.  Seven  of  their  nine  children  are 
living  :  Matilda,  Mrs.  Thomas  ;  Emma,  wife 
of  Jose[)h  Jones,  Harrisburg;  Annabel,  wife 
of  Frederick  Bequitt,  Harrisburg;  Charles; 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Adam  Ziegler,  Harrisburg; 
Edward,  and  Ida.  Mr.  Soles  died  at  his 
home,  in  Beale  township,  Juniata  county. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist,  and  his 
wife  of  the  Lutheran  church.  She  died  in 
Harrisburg,  and  was  interred  beside  her 
husband,  in  Juniata  county.  George  Soles, 
paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Thomas,  was 
born  in  LickingCreek  Valley,  Juniata  county, 
and  was  a  laborer  by  occupation.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Rebecca  Yocum.  They  had 
nine  children,  four  of  whom  are  living: 
George,  Mary,  wife  of  William  Wagner, 
Lewistown,  Pa.,  Henry,  and  Rebecca,  wife 
of  George  Yocum.  Their  deceased  children 
are  :  Eliza,  wife  of  Abraham  Meffard;  Sarah; 
John,  father  of  Mrs.  Thomas  ;  William,  died 
June  9,  1882,  aged  thirty-nine  years ; 
Hannah,  wife  of  Calvin  Cassner.  Mr.  Soles 
died  at  Lewistown  and  his  wife  at  Licking 
Creek  Valley,  Juniata  county.  Both  were 
buried  in  the  Licking  Creek  Valley  ceme- 
tery. The  family  were  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church.  Thomas  Clearer,  maternal 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Thomas,  was  born  in 
Juniata  county  and  was  a  siioemaker.  He 
had  a  family  of  six  cliildren,  four  of  whom 
are  living:  Amelia,  wife  of  Andrew  Heck, 
of  Marysville,  Perry  county ;  Varina,  wife 
of  Levi  Loomey,  York  county ;  Rebecca, 
wife  of  Harry  Harris,  Winthrop,  Mass.,  and 
Kezia  J.  Their  deceased  children  are:  Mary 
E.,  wife  of  John  Sales ;  Harrison  C,  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Antietam.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clearer  are  buried  side  by  side  in  the  ceme- 
tery in  Juniata  county. 


McCaleb,  \Villi.\m  B.,  assistant  engineer 
of  Pennsylvania  railroad,  was   born  at  Mt. 


DAUPHIN     COUNTY. 


519 


Pleasant,  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  May  18, 
1862.  He  is  a  son  of  John  D.  and  Sarah  B. 
(Sherrick)  McCaleb,  both  natives  of  West- 
moreland county,  and  both  of  American  an- 
cestry. Both  parents  are  living  and  reside 
at  Mt.  Pleasant,  where  for  many  j-ears  the 
fatlier  was  a  prominent  merchant  and  manu- 
facturer. He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
two  terms  and  is  well  and  favorably  known 
in  business  circles.  The  parents  had  born  to 
them  five  cliildren,  four  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  John  S.,  residing  in  Connersville, 
Fayette  county,  Pa.;  Ella,  residing  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  secretary  of  Vassar  College; 
William  B.,  and  Effie,  residing  at  home. 
George  H.  died  in  1884,  aged  tw'enty-five 
years.  William  B.  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  at  Mt.  Pleasant  Institute. 
After  completing  his  education,  in  1880,  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  in  the  capacity  of  chainman 
in  an  engineering  corps,  located  at  CoUins- 
ville,  and  served  in  this  capacity  there  and 
at  Pittsburgh  and  Altoona  for  three  years, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  assistant  super- 
visor, serving  in  this  position  at  New  Flor- 
ence, Harrisburg  and  Greensburg  until  1886, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  supervisor.  He 
served  in  this  position  at  Tyrone,  Middle- 
town  and  Downingtown  until  December, 
1889,  when  he  was  appointed  assistant  engi- 
neer of  West  Pennsylvania  division  with 
headquarters  at  Allegheny  City,  where  he 
was  located  until  January  1,  1893,  when  he 
was  transferred  to  the  same  position  on  the 
Middle  division  with  headquarters  at  Harris- 
burg. He  is  a  member  of  the  Engineers 
Club,  of  Philadelphia.  In  political  views  he 
is  a  Republican.  He  attends  the  Presbyte- 
rian church. 


Roberts,  George,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  August  13,  1862.  He  is  a  son  of  Alex- 
ander and  Charlotte  (Geiger)  Roberts.  He 
received  his  primary  education  in  the  schools 
taught  by  S.  D.  Ingram  and  Miss  Lucken- 
baugh  and  completed  his  education  in  Har- 
risburg Academy.  He  then  studied  civil 
engineering,  and  spent  several  years  in  sur- 
veying and  civil  engineering  on  the  New 
River  railroad  in  the  western  part  of  Vir- 
ginia. Feeling  the  need  of  a  more  thorough 
scientific  and  technical  knowledge  of  his 
business,  he  entered  the  Van  Rensselear 
Polytechnic  Institute,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  June  13, 
1888.     He  returned  to  Harrisburg  qualified 


and  equipped  for  the  most  efficient  work  o^ 
his  interesting  profession.  He  has  entered 
business  for  himself  and  is  successfully  con- 
ducting it.  Mr.  Roberts  is  a  member  of 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M., 
Pilgrim  (!omn:andery.  No.  11,  K.  T.,  Perse- 
verance Chapter,  No.  21,  R.  A.  M.,  Harris- 
burg Council,  No.  7,  Harrisburg  Consistorv, 
32°;  Mystic  Shrine,  Lulu  Temple,  Philadel- 
phia; Harrisburg  Lodge,  No.  241,  B.  P.  O.  E. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 


Whiteside,  John  Elton,  civil  engineer, 
405  Market  street,  was  born  in  Philadelpiiia 
November  8,  1863.  His  father,  George  A. 
Whiteside,  is  a  native  of  Harrisburg  and  has 
been  engaged  in  the  carriage  building  busi- 
ness since  1867.  His  mother,  Mary  Webb, 
was  a  native  of  Philadelphia  and  died  in 
this  city  in  1870.  He  is  one  of  four  children, 
of  whom  three  survive,  namel}' :  George  A., 
Jr.,  residing  in  Stockton,  Cal.;  Harry  I.,  re- 
siding in  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  and  John  Elton, 
wlio  came  to  Harrisburg  with  his  parents 
when  but  four  years  of  age.  He  jjassed 
through  the  course  of  study  of  the  public 
schools  and  the  high  school  of  this  city, 
graduating  from  the  latter  institution  July 
2,1880.  He  then  entered  tiie  office  of  Thomas 
T.  Wierman,  chief  engineer  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Canal  Company,  where  he  remained 
until  September,  1891,  when  he  engaged 
in  business  for  himself.  He  is  highl}'  re- 
spected in  the  community  as  an  honorable, 
intelligent  and  enterprising  man.  He  has 
won  success  b}'  honorably  deserving  it.  He 
was  married  in  Harrisburg,  May  12,  1892,  to 
Jessie  M.  Weaver,  daughter  of  Professor  T. 
and  Caroline  (Pancake)  Weaver,  of  Harris- 
burg. They  have  one  son,  John  Elton,  Jr., 
born  August  1,  1896,  at  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 
Mr.  Whiteside  is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  America 
Council,  No.  3,  0.  U.  A.M.  In  political  views 
he  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  attend 
the  Lutheran  church. 


MussER,  Frank  B.,  general  superintend- 
ent of  the  Harrisburg  Traction  Company, 
was  born  in  Columbia,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  Februaiy  19,  1864.  He  is  a  sou  of  An- 
drew J.  and  Catherine  E.  (Shenberger)  Mus- 
ser.  Andrew  J.  Musser,  his  father,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  where  he  has  spent 
his  life.  In  the  early  portion  of  his  career 
he  was  a  merchant;  since  he  retired  from 
this  business  he  has  been  connected  with  the 


620 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENVTGLOPEDIA 


Fairview  Milling  Company,  of  which  he  is 
now  president.  He  has  served  his  native 
town  efficiently  as  president  of  the  town 
council  and  in  various  other  capacities.  He 
married  Catherine  Shenberger,  a  native  of 
York  county.  They  have  two  sons:  .John 
S.,  a  merchant,  residing  in  Philadelphia,  and 
Frank  B. 

Frank  B.  Musser  spent  his  youth  in  his 
native  town,  receiving  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  began  his 
business  life  in  the  service  of  the  Philadel- 
pliia  and  Reading  Railroad  Company  as 
telegrajih  operator,  and  remained  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  company  in  various  capacities 
for  nine  years.  After  severing  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Reading  Railroad  Company  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  Columbia  Electric 
Light  Company,  serving  as  superintendent 
for  three  years.  In  March,  1889,  he  was  ap- 
pointed general  superintendent  of  the  East 
Harri.sburg  Passenger  Railway  Company.  By 
seven  years  of  successful  management  Mr. 
Musser  has  demonstrated  his  general  busi- 
ness abilit\'  and  peculiar  fitness  for  his  posi- 
tion. To  him  is  due  much  of  the  comfort 
and  convenience  of  the  citizens  in  their 
transit  over  this  road.  He  is  popular  and 
is  highly  esteemed  for  his  enterprise,  his 
progressive  policy  and  his  honorable  bear- 
ing- 
Mr.  Musser  was  married  in  Columbia,  Pa., 

Decemlier  1,  1886,  to  Susanna  R.,  daugiiter 
of  William  K.  and  Susanna  (Shearer)  Now- 
len,  of  Columbia.  Mr.  Musser  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  Persever- 
ance Lodge,  No.  2\,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  and  his 
wife  attend  the  Thirteenth  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


Fisher,  William  H.,  yard  master,  Middle 
division,  Pennsylvania  railroad,  was  born  in 
Lancaster,  Pa.,  March  24, 1864.  He  is  a  son 
of  Reedan  A.  and  Dorothy  (Sivilky)  Fisher, 
the  former  a  native  of  Chester  county.  Pa., 
thelatterof  Fell  bach,  Wurtemberg,  Germany. 
His  educational  advantages  were  limited  and 
such  as  could  be  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place.  When  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  started  in  life  for  himself  as 
a  telegraph  operator.  He  obtained  a  posi- 
tion with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, which  he  held  for  several  years.  He 
was  then  transferred  to  the  superintendent's 
office  in  Harrisburg  in  the  same  capacity.  In 
1889  he  was  appointed    train  receiver  and 


faithfully  did  the  work  of  the  place  for  one 
year.  In  1890  he  was  appointed  chief  night 
yard  master  and  on  April  5,  1891,  appointed 
to  his  present  position.  He  was  married  at 
Harrisburg,  April  17,  1894,  to  Miss  Frances 
Gift,  daughter  of  Thomas  W.  and  Rosanna 
Gift.  They  had  one  child,  Emily  Dorothy, 
born  February  12,  1895.  In  political  views 
Mr.  Fisher  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He 
attends  the  Lutheran  church.  Few  men  are 
more  highly  esteemed  than  he. 


Hoi.sTEiN.  Howard  0.,  chief  of  the  fire  de- 
partment, Harrislnirg,  was  born  at  Ilum- 
melstown.  Pa.,  March  22,  1868.  He  is  a 
son  of  Harry  M.  and  Jane  E.  (Saylor)  Hol- 
stein.  His  father  was  born  near  Middle- 
town,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  August  9,  1846, 
and  has  sjtent  his  whole  life  in  business. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  blacksmithing  in 
Harrisburg  for  twenty-one  years.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Perrysville,  Pa.,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1838.  They  have  had  two  boys, 
Howard  O.  and  William  H.,  born  June  20, 
1873  ;  died  October  28,  1878. 

Howard  O.  Holstein  came  to  Harrisburg 
with  his  parents  when  he  was  six  years  of 
age.  He  received  his  education  in  the  j)ub- 
lic  schools  of  the  city.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  broom-making,  and  s[)ent  three  years  at 
the  business.  He  spent  one  year  in  the 
rolling  mill,  and  then  worked  nine  years  at 
blacksmithing  with  his  father.  On  Novem- 
ber 1,  1893,  he  was  appointed  on  the  police 
force,  serving  until  January  1,  1895,  when 
he  was  appointed  chief  of  the  fire  depart- 
ment, the  place  he  now  holds.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  fire  department  eleven 
years,  and  president  of  the  Citizen  coin[)any 
over  three  years  previous  to  his  appointment 
as  chief.     He  is  a  deservedly  popular  official. 

Mr.  Holstein  was  married  at  Carlisle  Pa., 
December  4,  1890,  to  Jennie  C.  Strominger, 
of  Goldsboro,  York  county,  Pa.,  daughter  of 
Reuben  P.  and  Elizabeth  Strominger. 
They  have  two  daughters,  Frances  Viola, 
born  April  17,  1891,  and  Carrie  Esther 
Ruth,  born  October  19,  1893. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Senior  and  the 
Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics,  and 
is  State  councillor  of  tlie  former.  He  is  a 
member  of  Cincinnatus  Commandery,  No. 
96,  A.  &  I.  0.  K.  of  M.;  Fulton  Council,  No. 
35,  0.  U.  A.  M.;  Harrisburg  Council,  No.  328, 
Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.;  Warrior  Eagle  Tribe,  No. 
340,  I.  0.  R.  M.;  Bayard   Lodge,  No.  150,  K. 


V^ 


.jillM^ 


'^t^'C^^:* 


c^.  khdji<:j\ 


BAUPEIN   COUNTY. 


523 


of  P.,  and  Firemen's  Beneficial  Association. 
In  political  views  Mr.  Holstein  is  a  Demo- 
crat. The  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Zeigler,  Richard  B.,  of  Harrisburg,  was 
born  at  Columbia,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
October  5,  1S74,  son  of  Francis  and  Jane  C. 
(Martin)  Zeigler.  Francis  A.,  the  great- 
grandfather, came  to  this  country  about 
1778,  and  located  at  Lancaster,  Pa.  The 
father  was  born  at  Columbia,  April  9,  1817, 
son  of  John  and  Maria  Leciiler.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  cooper  in  liis  youtli  and  worked 
at  it  until  he  arrived  at  man's  estate,  when 
he  became  a  teacher  and  followed  that  pro- 
fession. He  was  married,  June  13,  1838,  to 
Miss  Jennie  P.  Martin,  daughter  of  Richard 
and  Clarissa  (Berry)  Martin,  of  Delaware. 
Their  children  are:  Catlierine,  Jane,  Agnes, 
Richard  B.,  Francis,  Clement,  Eugenia,  and 
Mary.  Both  parents  are  living  and  reside 
at  Columbia.  The  father  is  manager  of  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  and 
Adams  Express  Company.  In  liis  political 
views  he  is  a  Democrat,  while  in  religious 
faith  and  fellowship  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic. 
Richard  B.  acquired  his  education  for  the 
most  part  in  the  public  scliools  of  Columbia, 
but  his  school  days  and  privileges  were 
limited,  as  at  the  age  of  eleven  years  he  was 
employed  in  his  father's  office  as  messenger 
boy.  in  1886  he  entered  the  employment  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  a 
telegraph  messenger,  where  he  wasemploj^ed 
about  six  months,  after  whicli  he  was  with 
tiie  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  in 
the  Harrisburg  oflftce  until  1887,  when  he 
received  the  appointment  of  assistant  post- 
master at  Harrisburg  under  Cleveland's  ad- 
ministration, and  occupied  the  position  until 
1892.  Tiie  following  year  he  connected 
himself  with  the  Morning  Cai^  for  six  months, 
and  was  afterwards  engaged  in  lecturing 
until  April  1,  1894,  when  he  was  appomted 
superintendent  of  the  city  fire  alarm,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Zeigler  was  mar- 
ried in  January,  1869,  at  Harrisburg,  to  Miss 
Sally  J.  McReynolds,  daughter  of  Henry  F. 
and  Sarah  G.  "(Adams)  McReynolds.  Their 
children  are:  Joseph  M.,  Francis  E.,  and 
Edith  C.  Mr.  Zeigler  was  elected  to  the 
common  council  from  the  Fourth  ward  and 
served  nineteen  months.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat  and  is  a  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church. 
36 


KuTZ,  Wir.Li.\M  C,  engineer,  was  born  in 
Allentown,  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  February  6, 
1834  ;  son  of  the  late  Benjamin  and  Abigail 
Kutz.  David  Kutz,  the  grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Kingston,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  and 
was  a  farmer.  His  wife  was  born  in  the 
same  place.  They  reared  a  family  and  both 
lived  to  old  age.  Benjamin  Kutz,  the  father, 
was  a  native  of  Berks  county.  In  early  life 
he  was  a  tanner  and  later  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  and  later  still  was  proprietor 
of  a  hotel  in  Cumberland  county,  which  he 
was  conducting  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1849.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Lehigh 
county.  His  children  are:  William  C,  Sallie 
A.,  wife  of  George  Sourbier,  of  Reading,  Pa.; 
Maggie,  wife  of  William  Power,  deceased  ; 
she  married,  secondly,  James  Keen  a,  also 
deceased  ;  Henrietta,  wife  of  Wells  Hoyer ; 
John  N.,  Allen,  and  one  child  who  died  in 
infancy. 

William  C.  attended  the  public  schools 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade,  wliicli  he  followed  for  about  six  years, 
and  then  engaged  in  railroading.  He  was 
married  in  May,  1853,  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Allen,  daughter  of  George  and  Catlierine 
(Raum)  Allen,  to  whom  have  been  born  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Alice  M., 
wife  of  Jacob  Kirk  ;  William  A.;  John,  died 
in  1863, aged  six  years;  Benjamin,  died  also 
in  1863,  aged  two  years.  In  1852  Mr.  Kutz 
entered  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  and  worked  as  a  blacksmith 
for  two  years,  and  then  took  the  place  of 
fireman,  which  he  filled  six  years,  when  he 
was  promoted  to  engineer,  in  which  position 
he  has  been  continuously  employed  to  the 
present  time,  with  the  exception  of  one  year 
spent  in  the  army.  He  enlisted  in  the  mil- 
itary service  August  19,  1864,  and  was  dis- 
charged by  special  order  on  November  7, 
1864,  when  he  resumed  work  with  the  rail- 
road company.  His  faithful  service  has 
given  him  a  place  among  the  most  highly 
honored  and  esteemed  employees  of  the  com- 
pany. Mr.  Kutz  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No. 
324,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Mifflintown,  with  which 
he  united  thirty-three  years  ago.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Republican. 

Mrs.  Kutz  was  born  July  11, 1835.  George 
Allen,  her  father,  is  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county  and  by  trade  a  machinist,  which  he 
followed    until    disabled    by   sickness,  with 


524 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


which  he  has  suffered  for  about  twenty 
years.  He  married  Miss  Catherine  Rauin, 
also  a  native  of  Dauphin  county.  They  had 
fourteen  children,  five  of  whom  are  living  : 
Maria,  wife  of  David  Miller;  Mary  A.,  Mrs. 
Kutz;  John  Y.;  Emma,  wife  of  John  Dubbs; 
Virginia,  wife  of  August  Miller.  Their  de- 
ceased children  are:  Elizabeth,  Cammello, 
William,  Henry,  Charles,  George,  Kate, 
Louisa,  and  Rebecca.  Her  father  died  in 
1889  and  the  mother  in  1887,  the  former 
aged  seventy-one  and  the  latter  seventy-two 
years,  and  both  were  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  church, of  Harrisburg.  Thegrand- 
parents  of  Mrs.  Kutz  reared  six  children  • 
Kate,  Sarah,  Susillia,  Elizabeth,  Harry,  and 
Simon,  all  deceased. 


of  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  59,  K.  of  P.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Republican.  The  family 
attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


BicKLEY,  William  H.,  Sr.,  chief  engineer 
of  tiie  ILarrisburg  Electric  Company,  was 
born  at  Bronton,  Morris  county,  N.  J.,  May 
26,  184G.  He  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Harris)  Bickley,  both  natives  of  Eng- 
land ;  both  came  to  America  in  early  life. 
They  lived  in  Massachusetts  for  many  years 
and  later  in  Pennsylvania,  the  father  being 
one  of  tiie  founders  of  the  Pottsville  Iron 
and  Steel  Works.  He  died  in  Elm, 
Camden  county,  N.  J.  The  mother  still  re; 
sides  at  Elm,  N.  J.  They  had  born  to  them 
a  fainil}'  of  thirteen  children,  six  of  whom 
survive:  Thomas,  residing  in  Reading,  Pa.; 
John,  residing  in  Dover,  Morris  county,  N. 
J.;  William  H.;  George,  residing  at  Orwigs- 
burg,  Pa.;  Miriam,  wife  of  Albert  Wood,  re- 
siding at  Hammonton,  N.  J.;  and  Alice, 
wife  of  Walter  W^ood,  residing  in  Camden, 
N.  J.  William  H.  spent  his  early  life 
in  New  Jersey,  Massachusetts  and  Penn- 
sylvania. He  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Chelsea,  Mass.,  and 
Pottsville,  Pa.  He  worked  in  a  rolling- 
mill  at  Pottsville  and  followed  the  occupa- 
tion for  about  seven  years.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  machinist  and  worked  at  this  busi- 
ness more  tiian  tiiirt}'  years.  On  May  25, 
1872,  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  worked  at 
his  trade  of  machinist  in  different  shops  and 
for  himself  For  the  past  tliree  years  he  has 
filled  his  j)resent  position.  He  was  married 
at  Pottsville,  Pa.,  July  IS,  1805,  to  Virginia 
Phillips,  daughter  of  William  and  Ann 
Phillips.  One  son  has  been  born  to  them, 
W^illiam  H.,  a  sketch  of  whom  follows  in 
this  volume.  Mr.  Bicklev  is  a  member  of 
State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  fO,  L  O.  O.  F.,  and 


Bickley,Wm.  H.,  jR.,of  the  firm  of  Harvie 
&  Bickley,  proprietors  of  the  Keystone  Forge 
and  Machine  Works,  was  born  in  Pottsville, 
Pa.,  October  2, 1866.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
H.  Bickley,  Sr.,  and  Virginia  (Piiiiiips) 
Bickley.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  with  his 
parents  when  he  was  seven  years  old,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  also 
took  a  course  in  the  Harrisburg  Business 
College.  He  learned  the  machinist  business 
and  has  been  engaged  in  this  business  ever 
since.  On  August  10,  1893,  he  commenced 
business  for  himself,  in  connection  with 
John  C.  Harvie,  under  the  above  firm  name. 
He  was  married  at  Harrisburg,  October  1, 
1890,  to  Rebecca  Gsell,  daughter  of  John 
and  Rebecca  Gsell,  of  Chambersburg.  To 
them  have  been  born  two  sons:  William  P. 
and  John  H.  Mr.  Bicklej'  is  a  member  of 
Cincinnatus  Commandery,  No.  96,  K.  of  M. 
In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  He 
attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


Blyer,  Robert  E.,  a  practical  electrician 
and  foreman  of  the  Harrisburg  Electrical 
Company,  was  born  in  what  is  now  the  bor- 
ough of  Steelton,  Dauphin  count}^.  Pa.  He 
is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Susan  (Black)  Blyer. 
His  parents  removed  to  Harrisburg  al)out 
1866,  where  they  resided  until  death.  Their 
family  consisted  of  eight  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living:  Susan,  wife  of  H.  B.  We- 
and  ;  Mary,  Agnes,  and  Robert  E.  The  last 
named  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township.  In  1862  he 
enlisted  in  company  D,  Twentieth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  cavalry,  afterwards  called  the 
First  Prqvisional  cavalrj'.  He  served  in 
this  regiment  for  three  years,  and  during 
this  service  he  participated  in  many  of  the 
most  important  engagements  of  the  war.  In 
July,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out  of  service 
at  Philadelphia,  and  returned  to  his  home 
in  Steelton,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
boilermaker,  and  followed  this  occupation 
for  five  years.  He  then  studied  telegraphy 
with  the  Western  Union  and  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Telegraph  Companies.  Since  1886  he 
has  satisfactorily  filled  the  position  he  now 
holds. 

He  is  a  member  of  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  59, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


525 


Knights  of  Pythias;  Star  of  Aujerica  Com- 
mandery,  No.  113,  Kniglits  of  Malta;  Elec- 
trical Workers'  Union,  No.  53 ;  Fireman's 
Beneficial  Association,  and  Mt. Vernon  Hook 
and  Ladder  Comi)any. 


the  following  concerns :  Harrisburg  National 
Bank  and  Buy  Shoe  Company.  He  is  un- 
married. 


Hertz,  William,  engineer  of  the  city 
water  department,  was  born  in  Susquehanna 
townshi]),  November  14,  1847.  Pie  is  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Stober)  Hertz,  both 
natives  of  Lebanon  count}^  and  of  American 
ancestry.  Both  died  in  Susquehanna  town- 
ship in  1848.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Susquehanna  townshi|).  After 
leaving  school  he  worked  in  machine  shops 
until  1876.  Since  that  date  he  has  been  in 
his  present  position.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest 
officials  in  this  department  of  the  city  ser- 
vice. His  public  position  he  has  held  for  so 
many  years  because  he  has  demonstrated  his 
fidelity  to  duty,  his  mechanical  skill  and 
efficiency  and  his  integrit}'  and  social  worth. 

Mr.  Hertz  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1873,  to  Mary  P.  Crotzer,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Rebecca  Crotzer,  and  a  na- 
tive of  Lebanon  county.  Seven  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  six  of  whom  are 
living:  May,  William,  Roy,  Grace,  John  H. 
and  .Jessie.  He  is  a  member  of  Pluenix 
Lodge,  No  59,  K.  of  P.,  and  of  Robert  Tippet 
Council,  No.  736,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  His  family  attend 
the  Baptist  church. 


WiERMAN,  Thomas  T.,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Bradford  county.  Pa.,  November  11,  1850. 
His  father,  Thomas  Thornburg  Wierman, 
was  a  native  of  Manallen  township,  Adams 
county.  Pa.  His  mother,  Emily  V.  Piollet, 
was  born  at  Wysox,  Bradford  county,  Pa., 
and  is  still  living,  a  resident  of  Harrisburg. 
Thomas  T.,  Jr.,  came  with  his  parents  to 
Harrisburg  in  1858.  Here  he  was  reared, 
and  here  he  received  his  education  in  the 
Harrisburg  Academy.  He  has  held  con- 
tinuous residence  here  with  the  exce))tion  of 
three  years  spent  in  Bedford  county.  Pa., 
when  he  was  engaged  in  the  construction  of 
a  railroad.  His  business  career,  with  the 
above-named  exception,  has  been  with  the 
Penn.sylvania  Canal  Companj',  where  he 
served  under  his  father.  At  his  father's 
death  in  1887  he  succeeded  him  in  the 
charge  of  the  business  of  the  company. 
Mr.  Wierman  also  sustains  other  important 
business  associations  and  responsibilities, 
being  a  member  of  the  boards  of  directors  of 


Enders,  Edward  A.,  was  born  at  Enders, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  May  31,  1858,  son  of 
George  and  Su.san  (Fetterhoff)  Enders.  He 
attended  school  in  his  native  town  for  a 
short  time  each  year  until  he  was  eighteen, 
when  he  devoted  himself  to  active  work  on 
the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of 
age.  He  was  then  for  a  season  employed  in 
the  mines.  Then  he  found  employment  at 
the  almshouse,  where  he  was  in  charge  of 
the  insane  inmates  for  four  years,  and  was 
for  one  year  in  the  boiler  house  as  engineer. 
In  1886  he  removed  to  Williamstown,  Dau- 
phin county,  and  worked  in  the  coal  mines 
three  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  his 
native  town  and  lived  one  year  with  his 
family.  At  all  these  places  he  was  employed 
as  an  engineer.  In  1890  Mr.  Enders  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg,  and  was  employed  in 
the  same  capacity  by  the  Brelsford  Packing 
Company.  He  has  continued  to  be  thus 
em]iloyed  to  the  present  time. 

Edward  A.  Enders  was  married  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  July  30,  1885,  to  Alice  C,  daugh- 
ter of  Harry  and  Kate  Brightbill.  They 
have  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living :  Harry  B.,  Ruth  \V.,  Calder  E.,  and 
Grace.  Their  deceased  children  are:  Frank- 
lin, died  May  20,  1888,  aged  seven  months 
and  one  day  ;  Annie,  died  August  19,  1891, 
aged  one  month  and  sev6n  days,  and  George, 
died  February  26,  1894,  aged  six  months 
and  three  days.  Mr.  Enders  is  a  member  of 
St.  John's  Castle,  No.  17,  A.  0.  K.  of  M.  C. 
His  political  views  are  Republican. 

Mrs.  Enders  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.,  October  6,  1865.  Her  parents 
were  both  natives  of  the  same  county.  Mr. 
Brightbill  spent  his  eaiJy  life  in  dealing  in 
stock,  and  later  was  engaged  in  contracting. 
His  wife  was  the  daugliter  of  John  and 
Rachel  (Manott)  Kilkey.  They  had  four- 
teen children,  of  whom  four  are  living: 
Alice,  Mrs  Enders;  Edgar;  Mary,  wife  of 
David  Huntzberger,  and  Franklin.  Mr. 
Brightbill  was  a  Democrat.  He  died  July 
25,  1888,  aged  fifty-eight  years.  Mrs.  Brigiit- 
bi;l  survives  him  and  resides  at  Carlisle,  Pa., 
in  good  health.  Both  of  the  grandparents 
of  Mrs  Enders  died  in  Cumberland  county. 
They  were  farmers  by  occupation,  and  had 
a  family  of  seven  children,  hve  of  whom  are 
living:  Maria,  Dollie,  Eve,  wife  of  Daniel 


526 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Fisher,  deceased,  Kate,  Amelia.  Their  de- 
ceased children  were:  Emma,  died  in  1886, 
aged  thirty-three,  wife  of  Shell  Ream,  and 
Harr}',  father  of  Mrs.  Enders. 

Baskin,  George  B.,  electrician  and  chief 
engineer  of  the  Harrisburg  Electrical  Com- 
pany, was  born  in  Plalifax,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,"'April  3,  1804.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Hannah  Amelia  (Blaze)  Baskin.  His 
parents  were  well-known  and  honored  resi- 
dents of  Halifax  township,  where  the  father 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Tliey 
had  a  family  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living:  Margaret,  wife  of  William  Rhen, 
residing  at  Steelton,  Pa.;  Mary,  wife  of 
Thomas  A.  Bates,  residing  in  Onset,  Leb- 
anon county,  Pa.;  Annie,  wife  of  William 
Workman,  residing  at  Wesquehoning,  Car- 
bon county,  Pa.;  George  B.  and  Laura,  wife 
of  Philip  Garrahan,  residing  in  Knaqua, 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa. 

George  B.  lived  in  Halifax  until  he  was 
ten  years  old.  His  educational  advantages 
were  limited.  His  success  in  the  business  of 
life  is  due  more  to  his  own  exertions  than 
to  the  training  and  aid  of  scliools.  In  18/4 
he  removed  to  Lykens  and  began  the  study 
of  steatn  engineering.  This  business  iias 
been  his  life  occupation.  Since  1888  he  has 
filled  iiis  present  position  with  the  Harris- 
burg Electric  Company,  and  has  proved  to 
be  the  man  for  tiie  place.  He  was  married 
in  Wormleysburg,  Cumberland  countv.  Pa., 
July  19,  1890,  to  Miss  Lillie  May  Bodmer, 
daughter  of  John  and  Leah  Bodmer,  of 
Steelton,  Pa.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  two  sons,  Harry  Edison,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years  and  six  months, 
and  George  William.  Mr.  Baskin  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Herculean  Lodge,  No.  480,  K.  of  G. 
E.;  Warrior  Eagle  Tribe,  No.  34,  I.  0.  R.  M., 
and  Native  Brotherhood  of  Electrical  Work- 
men, No.  53.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  attends  the  LTnited  Brethren 
church. 


HicKOK,  William  Okville,  was  born  at 
the  residence  of  his  maternal  grandfatiier, 
Job  Lockwood,  near  Warsaw,  Wyoming 
county,  N.  Y.,  October  6,  1815.  He  was  a 
scion  of  good  English  stock,  a  descendant  of 
an  old  and  honorable  family  of  Warwick- 
shire, England.  The  name  has  been  spelled 
in  various  ways,  almost  as  numerous  as  the 
possible  combination  of  letters  compris- 
ing it  would   admit,  and  this  fact  indicates 


a  long  family  history.  Had  Mr.  Hickok  been 
inclined  to  boast  of  his  ancestry  lie  could 
have  pointed  to  illustrious  names  in  his  line 
in  this  and  many  preceding  generations, 
whose  achievements  and  rank  would  liave 
justified  an  honest  famil}'  j)ride.  It  was  his 
aim  rather  to  prove  liimself  worthy  of  his 
ancestors,  and  to  add  to  the  luster  of  his  line 
by  accomplishing  something  in  his  own  ca- 
reer worthy  the  recognition  and  honor  of 
mankind,  and  in  this  laudable  ambition  he 
was  gratified,  as  a  brief  record  of  his  life 
will  show.  The  first  American  ancestor  of 
the  name  was  William  Hickox,  of  Farming- 
ton,  Conn.,  of  the  seventii  generation  pre- 
ceding William  O.,  the  date  of  whose  coming 
to  tliis  country  cannot  be  definitely  fixed, 
l)ut  is  somewhere  between  1(;27  and  1633. 
In  his  boyhood  Mr.  Hickok  displayed  the 
possession  of  those  talents  which  later  gave 
him  success  and  distinction.  He  met  with 
an  accident  when  five  j'ears  old  b}'  being 
trampled  down  in  the  street  in  front  of  his 
home  in  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  by  a  passing  liorse, 
the  resulting  injuries  of  which  were  so  great 
that  his  life  was  saved  onl\'  by  a  difficult 
surgical  operation,  and  which  left  him  an 
invalid  man\'  years  and  caused  him  physical 
limitations  and  adversities  whicli  he  bore 
tlirougii  life.  His  parents  removed  to  Penn- 
sylvania, but  lie  remained  witii  his  maternal 
grandparents  until  lie  was  fifteen  years  old, 
when  he  rejoined  his  family  at  Lewistown, 
Pa.,  where  his  fatlier  was  conducting  a  pop- 
ular academy  and  where  lie  pursued  a  course 
of  studies.  It  was  tiiought  best  to  put  Will- 
iam 0.  in  training  for  mercantile  pursuits, 
and  with  this  end  in  view  he  entered  the 
employraenlj  of  James  Parker,  in  whose 
stores  he  soon  won  a  reputation  for  intelli- 
gence, aptness  and  trustworthiness.  In  1834 
his  father  gave  up  teaching  and  embarked 
in  the  book  publishing  business  and  William 
0.  entered  the  bindery  department  as  an  ap- 
prentice, but  in  a  siiort  time  was  promoted 
on  merit  to  the  position  of  foreman.  The 
work  of  Mr.  Hickok  in  this  country  office  is 
of  the  deepest  interest,  not  only  to  the  i)rac- 
tical  mechanic  and  artisan,  who  deliglits  in 
seeing  valuable  mechanical  results  produced, 
but  equally  also  to  the  philosopher  who 
makes  a  study  ofthe  development  of  human 
powers  and  talents.  In  boyhood  Mr.  Hickok 
had  invented  and  constructed  ingenious 
toys  and  had  shown  that  he  was  gifted  with 
remarkable  talent  in  the  way  of  invention 
and  the  application  of  mechanical   princi- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


527 


pies.  This  talent  was  called  into  use  in  the 
office,  when  there  were  rude  and  imperfect 
appliances  producing  incomplete  and  unsat- 
isfactory results,  of  improv^ements  suggested 
bj'  liis  fertile  brain  and  executed  by  his 
skillful  iiand,  tliere  were  many  ;  and,  indeed, 
through  his  wliole  connection  with  the  book 
business  there  was  a  continued  exercise  of 
his  inventive  faculties  and  an  output  of  prac- 
tical improved  appliances.  In  1836  his  father 
removed  the  business  to  Chaml)ersburg,  Pa., 
where  William  0. continued  in  charge  of  the 
mechanical  department  and  kejit  on  im- 
proving tiie  tools  and  machinery.  He  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg  with  liis  father's  family 
in  1830.  His  father  sliortly  after  retired 
from  business  and  William  0.  conducted  a 
book  bindery  for  a  time,  but  losses  by  fire  and 
other  adverse  business  conditions  led  liim 
finally  to  abandon  the  busines,s.  This  fail- 
ure of  business  plans  appeared  disastrous,  but 
in  reality  proved  to  be  the  vaxy  of  his  final 
prosperity  by  leading  him  gradually  into  a 
field  wiiere  there  was  room  and  occasion  for 
his  undeveloped  talents.  As  early  as  1846 
he  began  in  a  small  shop  to  manufacture 
bookbinder's  specialties  and  from  tiiis  germ 
has  sprung  tlie  magnificent  plant  of  the 
"  Eagle  V\'orks,"  the  most  extensive  and  the 
most  complete  of  tlie  kind  in  the  world  In 
1886  tiie  Inisiness  was  incorporated  as  the 
Hickok  Manufacturing  Company,  witii  Mr. 
Hickok  as  its  first  president. 

It  would  be  profitable  to  trace  the  steps 
and  stops  of  tliis  development,  for  it  would 
reveal  the  history  of  human  genius  in  its 
growtli  and  fruitage.  The  production  of  a 
perfect  ruling  pen,  and  that  wliicli  displays 
still  more  ability,  the  production  of  a  ma- 
ciiine  to  make  the  pen,  which  is  as  nearly 
perfect  as  any  tlie  human  brain  and  hand 
have  everconstructed,  are  among  the  achieve- 
ments of  Mr.  Hickok,  w  hich  luive  given  him 
a  world-wide  fame  and  most  honorable  dis- 
tinction. The  cleverness  and  completeness 
of  the  productions  of  this  factory  places  them 
bevond  and  aljoveall  competitors  and  assures 
the  permanent  and  liberal  prosperity  of  his 
enter[)rise.  Mr.  Hickok  had  business  talent 
which  would  have  made  him  successful  and 
conspicuous  in  au}'  branch  of  enterprise, 
but  which,  coupled  with  his  mechanical 
genius,  enabled  him  to  create  an  establish- 
ment which  is  a  landmark  in  human  pro- 
gress and  achievement.  His  combination  of 
qualities  and  characteristics  account  for  his 
distinguished  success.     Impaired  health,  ad- 


verse business  conditions  and  other  unfa- 
vorable elements  often  stood  in  his  way,  but 
his  disj)osition  to  thoroughness,  his  unswerv- 
ing devotion  to  his  aim,  his  careful  and 
painstaking  attention  to  details,  his  inven- 
tive genius  and  his  indomitable  energy  and 
courage  bore  him  successfully  through  all 
hindrances  and  made  him  master  in  the 
realm  in  which  he  wrought.  With  these 
masterful  elements  of  power  were  conjoined 
the  qualities  of  heart  which  won  for  him  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  worked 
with  him  and  under  him,  and  made  them 
all  anxious  to  gratify  him  by  the  best  ser- 
vices the}^  could  render.  In  public  matters 
Mr.  Hickok  was  interested  and  prominent. 
The  element  of  prosperity  of  the  community 
to  which  his  business  contributed  was  no  less 
gratifying  to  him  than  his  personal  success. 
For  six  j'ears  he  was  the  president  of  the 
common  council,  and  willingly  gave  his 
aljlest  services  to  the  public  when  his  fellow- 
citizens  desired  them.  His  death  occurred 
May  25, 1891,  in  iiis  seventy-sixtli  year.  His 
loss  was  felt  by  the  community  and  all  bore 
grateful  tribute  to  his  ability  and  worth. 
He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 10,  1840,  to  Miss  Caroline  L.  Hutter. 
Their  ciiildren  were:  Mary  Alice,  Edwin 
Hutter,  William  Orville,  Jr.,  Caroline  Louisa, 
widow  of  Frank  R.  Schell,  and  George 
Herbert. 


Bailey,  Charles  Lukens,  son  of  Jo.seph 
Bailey  and  Martha  (Lukens)  Bailey,  was 
born  March  9,  1821,  in  Chester  county.  Pa. 
His  paternal  ancestors  were  of  English  and 
his  maternal  ancestors  of  Welsh  descent. 
His  great-grandfather,  Edward  Bailey,  was  a 
resident  of  Bucks  county  and  his  grandfather, 
William  Bailey,  a  resident  farmer  in  Phila- 
delphia county.  Pa.  His  father  was  born  in 
1796  and  settled  in  Chester  county  in  1819, 
where  he  carried  on  farming  until  1838,  when 
he  engaged  in  the  iron  business  at  the  old 
Lukens'  mill  in  Coatesville  and  there  manu- 
factured boiler  plate  for  six  years.  In  1844 
he  removed  to  Berks  county,  near  Potlstown, 
and  erected  on  the  site  of  the  "Old  P^orge  " 
of  the  Pine  Iron  Works,  a  rolling  mill  and 
carried  on  business  alone  for  a  few  years  and 
afterwards  in  connection  with  his  sons  under 
the  firm  name  of  Joseph  Bailey  &  Sons,  until 
within  a  short  period,  when  he  retired  from 
active  life,  leaving  his  manufacturing  inter- 
ests then  in  the  hands  of  his  son,  Joseph  L. 
Bailey.     The  children  of  Joseph  and  Martha 


528 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Bailey  were:  Charles  L.,  Sarah,  Edward, 
formerlj'  manager  of  the  iron  works  at  Glas- 
gow, Montgomery  county,  deceased ;  Dr. 
George,  of  Philadelphia;  William  L., "treas- 
urer and  manager  of  Thorndale  Iron  Works; 
Joseph  L.,  Hannah,  and  Anne,  deceased. 

Chirles  L.  Bailey,  el  lest  son,  obtained  liis 
eaily  education  at  the  Westtown  School, 
Chester  county,  and  for  some  time  thereafter 
was  a  clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  Thomas 
Evans  &  Co.,  of  Philadelphia.  His  career 
in  the  iron  business  began  in  1838  as  a  clerk 
for  his  father  at  Coatesville,  where  he  became 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  details  of  the 
business  carried  on  at  that  place.  He  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Berks  county, 
where  he  continued  his  clerkship  for  five 
years,  and  from  1849  to  1852  was  a  partner 
with  his  father  in  the  Pine  Iron  Works.  In 
August  of  tlie  latter  year  Mr  Bailey  removed 
to  Harrisburg  and  in  connection  witli  Morris 
Patterson,  of  Philadelphia,  founded  the  Old 
Central  Iron  Works,  which  he  has  latterly 
used  as  a  puddling  mill.  He  continued  busi- 
ness until  1859  wiien  he  became  interested 
with  the  late  James  McCormick  in  the  Nail 
Works  at  Fairview,  Cumberland  county,  re- 
built the  works  and  carried  them  on  success- 
fully until  18G6,  when  he  retired  from  the 
firm,  and  founded  and  erected  the  present 
Chesapeake  Nail  Works  in  Harrisburg. 
Later  he  associated  with  him  his  brother. 
Dr.  George  Bailey,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Charles  L.  Bailey  &  Bro.  The  business  is 
now  carried  on  by  Charles  L.  Bailey  &.  Co., 
Arteraus  Wilhelm  being  a  part  owner  in  the 
concern. 

In  1869  Mr.  Bailey  removed  to  Pottstown, 
and  until  1875  was  the  treasurer  and  general 
manager  of  the  Pottstown  Iron  Company, 
manufacturing  nails,  boiler  plate  and  pig 
iron.  Closing  out  his  interest  there  he  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg,  and  in  1877-78  erected 
the  present  Central  Iron  Works,  contiguous 
to  the  Chesapeake  Nail  Works,  of  whicii  lie 
is  president.  Mr.  Bailey  is  thoroughly  im- 
bued with  the  spirit  of  progress  and  enter- 
prise, as  his  various  industrial  undertakings 
attest,  and  altiiough  his  mind  is  largely  ab- 
sorbed in  business  pursuits,  he  has  not  held 
entirely  aloof  from  duties  incumbent  upon 
him  as  a  citizen.  He  is  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Market  Square  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  in  1880  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Hoyt  a  trustee  of  the 
Pennsj'lvania  Insane  Asylum.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  select  council  of  the 


city  in  1877,  was  a  member  of  the  State  Leg- 
islature in  1879,  and  in  1881  he  was  again 
elected  a  member  of  the  select  council,  chosen 
president,  and  served  as  chairman  of  the 
finance  committee. 

Mr.  Bailey  married,  in  1856,  Emma  H. 
Doll,  daughter  of  William  Doll  and  Sarah  M. 
(Elder),  of  Harrisburg,  whose  maternal  great- 
grandfather was  Rev.  John  Elder.  Their 
surviving  children  are:  William  Elder,  a 
graduate  of  Yale  in  the  class  of  1882; 
Edward,  Jr.,  a  graduate  of  Yale  scientific 
course  in  the  class  of  1881 ;  ("harles  L.  and 
James  B.,  also  graduates  of  Yale,  and  Emma 
D.,  wife  of  Robert  E.  Speer,  of  New  York. 


HiLDRUi',  Wii.LiAM  Thomas,  formerly 
treasurer  and  general  manager  of  the  Harris- 
burg Car  Works  and  its  kindred  manufac- 
tories, was  born  in  Middletown,  Conn,  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1822.  and  is  the  son  of  Jesse  Hil- 
drup,  of  Hartford,  in  the  same  State.  He  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  district,  and  was  an  apt  and  advanced 
scholar,  especially  in  studies  of  a  mathemati- 
cal cliai'acter. 

Having  learned  the  carpenter  trade,  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years  he  started  out  in  life, 
with  the  sum  of  twenty-five  dollars  and  a 
plain  .set  ofcarpenter's  tools,  with  such  energy, 
capacity  and  industry  as  maj'  be  inherent  in 
him,  to  carve  his  wa\'  in  the  world.  He  first 
proceeded  to  Cape  Vincent,  Jeff^erson  county, 
N.  Y.,  working  at  house  and  sliip  carpenter- 
ing for  a  period  of  two  years,  after  which  he 
went  to  Worcester,  Mass.,  where  he  entered 
Bradley  &  Rice's  car  works  as  one  of  their 
employees.  Determining  that  a  business  that 
was  ft'ortli  following  was  worth  mastering, 
and  that  though  railroading  was  in  its  in- 
fancy, it  was  bound  to  be  one  of  the  great  in- 
dustries of  the  countrv,  he  set  himself  to  the 
task  of  obtaining  the  highest  knowledge  of 
that  branch  of  the  business,  and  was  soon 
noted  for  industry  and  skill.  He  began  also 
a  close  study  of  theoretic  mechanics,  as  well 
as  a  close  application  of  best  practices.  Dur- 
ing nine  years'  sta)'  in  these  works,  he  be- 
came thoroughly  proficient  in  every  depart- 
ment. Two  years  after  going  to  Worcester 
he  married  Harriet  E.,  daughter  of  John  B. 
Esselstyne,  of  Cape  \'incent,  N.  Y.,  a  daugh- 
ter of  one  of.  the  prominent  families  there, 
and  a  niece  of  the  Hon.  Orville  Hungeford, 
a  prominent  banker  and  railroad  man  of 
^\"aterto\vn,  X.  Y. 

In   1852,  believing   himself  qualified  for 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


529 


higlier  responsibilities  and  more  profitable 
opportunities,  he  removed  to  Elmira,  N.  Y., 
where  he  establislied  a  car  wheel  foundry  and 
machine  shop.  While  en  route  to  Elmira  he 
met  traveling  a  prominent  citizen  of  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  who  set  before  him  the  advantages 
that  locality  possessed  for  a  railroad  car  works, 
but  he  was  then  too  far  committed  to  tlie  en- 
terprise at  Elmira  to  change  at  that  time, 
but  in  1853,  a  year  later,  he  was  induced  to 
visit  Harrisburg  at  the  solicitation  of  several 
of  its  citizens,  where  lie  consented  to  take  up 
the  enterprise,  and  tlien  organized  the  Har- 
risburg Car  Manufacturing  Company  and 
commenced  the  erection  of  its  buildings— a 
small  works  with  a  capacity  of  nine  eight- 
wlieeled  cars  weekly  and  a  capital  stock  of 
$25,000 — taking  charge  as  manager. 

In  1862  the  compan}'  was  entirely  re-or- 
ganized with  a  capital  stock  of  $75,000,  made 
up  from  its  original  money  paid  in,  and  from 
accumulated  earnings — a  new  departure  that 
greatly  augmented  its  production,  employing 
two  hundred  and  fifty  hands.  In  1864  its 
capital  was  again  increased,  and  so  success- 
ful had  it  been  that  in  four  years  more  its 
capital  was  raised  to  twelvefold  the  original 
sum,  and  all  from  earnings,  besides  having 
paid  liberal  cash  dividends  from  time  to  time 
during  the  period.  Thus  in  fifteen  years  it 
had  risen  from  a  modest  beginning  of  small 
capacity  to  a  large  and  prosperous  enterprise. 
with  over  a  thousand  bu.sy  men  in  a  teeming 
hive  of  industry.  By  his  enterprise  other  es- 
tablishments grew  out  of  the  undertaking — 
a  saw  mill,  planing  mill  and  a  large  machine 
works,  the  property  of  the  present  enterprise. 

Wlien  he  first  came  to  Harrisburg  there 
was  very  little  mechanical  skill  among  the 
artisans  of  the  city.  Being  possessed  of  great 
mechanical  ability,  .skillful  and  experienced, 
with  a  mastery  of  all  the  details,  he  was  able 
to  lead  {)ractically,  and  from  the  crude  ele- 
ments of  meclianical  attainment,  bring  out 
a  bod \' of  skilled  workmen,  to  effect  which 
during  the  winter  of  1853-54  he  established 
a  free  school,  for  the  instruction  of  his  young 
men,  in  free-hand  and  mechanical  drawing, 
tiius  cultivating  tliem  in  theoretic  mechanics 
and  general  intelligence  for  leaders  to  a 
higher  skill  and  efficiency. 

Having  been  a  mechanic  himself,  among 
the  first  things  receiving  his  attention  were 
the  interests  and  well-being  of  the  workmen 
under  his  charge,  endeavoring  to  improve 
tiieir  condition.  Custom  made  the  pay- 
ments of  laboring  men  lax   and    irregular. 


He  commenced  by  adopting  a  weekly  pay- 
ment of  partial  earnings  for  the  weekly 
necessities  of  market,  paying  the  balance  in 
monthly  settlements-  Otiier  methods  were 
organized  for  concentrating  their  wants  for 
coal  and  flour,  which  a  few  substantial 
dealers  would  make  concessions  to  secure, 
the  company  paying  for  the  same  monthly, 
thus  securing  to  the  workmen  lower  prices 
than  their  individual  purchases  could  be 
made  by  other  means.  He  has  never  al- 
lowed one  dollar  to  be  brought  to  the  treasury 
of  the  company  by  any  s[)eculation  for  re- 
duction of  the  money  promised  as  wages  to 
tiie  workmen. 

By  his  unselfish,  persistent  and  sincere 
careof  their  interests  he  greatly  endeared 
them  to  him,  and  they  manife.sted^to'him  tiie 
utmost  respect  and  kindest  regard,  believing 
he  had  the  heart  to  do  them  justice.  In 
this  connection  it  maybe  stated,  that  on  his 
fifty-first  birthday,  February  6,  1873,  he  was 
the  recipient  of  a  massive  silver  tea  service 
of  a  cost  of  $1,250,  which  was  presented  to 
him  as  a  testimonial  of  affection  and  esteem 
by  the  employees  under  his  control.  The 
greatest  secrecy  in  getting  up  this  kind  re- 
membrance was  had,  fearing  if  it  came  to 
his  knowledge  he  would  suppress  the  effort, 
which  secrecy  was  successfully  maintained 
until  being  invited  to  meet  them  for  a  little 
manifestation  of  their  kind  feeling,  supposed 
to  be  on  his  part  something  more  of  kind- 
ness than  value.  He  was  only  undeceived 
when  a  magnificent  chest  of  silverware  was 
opened  to  his  astonished  gaze.  It  was 
kindly  meant  and  gratefully  received,  under 
protest  of  the  hope  that  none  had  been 
oppressed  or  coerced  into  contributing  to  the 
purchase  for  fear  of  favor  to  be  lost.  In  this 
connection  it  may  also  be  stated,  that  in  the 
early  history  of  tiie  company,  at  the  second 
annual  meeting,  so  great  was  ihe  satisfaction 
of  the  stockholders  with  the  success  of  the 
enterprise,  that  the  proposition  was  then 
made  to  present  the  manager  with  a  silver 
service,  at  a  cost  of  §650.  He,  on  his  part, 
having  his  synipathies  frequently  enlisted 
by  sickness  among  his  men  or  their  families, 
instead  of  receiving  sucii  testimonial,  re- 
quested that  he  be  allowed  to  contribute 
among  the  men  as  need  required,  from  the 
company's  funds,  an  equivalent  sum,  which 
was  kindly  granted,  and  from  that  time  for- 
ward it  has  been  his  jiolicy  never  to  let  his 
employees  suffer  in  sickness  of  themselves, 
or  their  families,  oftentimes  burying  their 


530 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


dead,  helping  them  by  advances  in  slack 
work,  to  be  worked  out  in  more  prosperous 
times,  to  which  obligation  the  men  have 
been  uniformly  faithful,  and  in  case  of  in- 
jury about  the  works  kindlj'  care  has  been 
taken  of  the  injured. 

His  meciianical  faculty,  perfected  by  dili- 
gent study  with  a  lifelong  practice,  has 
raised  him  to  the  highest  ranks  of  best  me- 
chanics in  the  enterprises  of  the  Common- 
wealth. He  has  largely  aided  in  building 
up  the  industries  of  Harrisburg,  and  added 
to  its  wealth  and  prosperity,  disseminating 
many  millions  of  dollars  to  its  laborers, 
thence  ramifying  through  all  the  trade  of 
the  city,  and  this  largel}'  from  products  sent 
to  foreign  states  and  territories. 

Railroad  car  building  has  in  its  history 
periodic  seasons  of  depression.  In  the  panic 
of  1857  this  was  notably  the  condition,  but 
a  familiarity  with  general  manufactures 
and  mechanics  enabled  the  manager,  with 
the  facilities  of  a  fully  equipped  car  works, 
by  watchfulness  to  select  some  other  branch 
for  the  emj)loyraent  of  his  facilities,  and  the 
manufacture  of  machinists'  tools  was  taken 
up  and  successfully  estalilished.  On  the  re- 
covery of  railroads  from  the  distress  of  the 
panic,  and  renewal  of  business,  witli  the 
growth  consequent  on  increased  population, 
and  the  neglect  to  keep  up  rolling  stock, 
made  urgent  demand  for  new  cars — a  profit- 
able business  for  car  works,  so  much  so  that 
every  facility  of  the  works  could  be  fully 
used  in  tiiat  line,  crowding  out  the  machine 
business.  Under  these  conditions  twenty- 
two  acres  of  land  in  another  portion  of  the 
city  were  purchased,  large  and  commodious 
shops  built  and  equipped  with  best  class 
machiner}',  tlie  maciiine  business  removed 
thereto,  and  since  carried  on  as  the  Harris- 
burg Foundry  and  Machine  Woi'ks,  now 
doing  a  large  and  flourishing  business  in 
general  boiler  and  engine  work,  where  great 
numbers  of  oil  tanks  and  tiie  company's 
celebrated  "Ide"  engine,  and  a  great  variety 
of  other  foundry,  machine  and  boiler  work 
are  manufactured. 

The  large  consumption  of  lumber  and  tlie 
difficulty  of  keeping  up  assortments  of  sup- 
plies, led  to  the  purchase,  in  1865,  of  a  fully 
equipped  saw  mill  in  the  city,  which  since 
has  been  one  of  the  active  branches  of  tiie 
com})any's  works,  adding  to  tlie  care  of  the 
manager.  Five  years  since,  the  old  mill 
and  site  were  sold  and  a  large  new  mill  of 
modern   equipment  built   at   a    more  con- 


venient point.  In  1871,  for  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  works,  ground  was  purchased  at 
contiguous  points,  and  a  large  planing  mill 
erected  and  equipped  as  a  branch  of  the 
works. 

On  the  25th  of  April,  1872,  a  passing  lo- 
comotive set  fii'e  to  the  car  works,  and  in  an 
hour's  time,  buildings,  lumber,  cars  and 
everything  combustible  were  in  flames,  mak- 
ing a  total  destruction  of  the  great  plant. 
Again  the  manager's  mechanical  experience 
and  ability  for  directing  working  forces  were 
tested  to  the  utmost.  At  one  o'clock  p.  m. 
the  fire  commenced,  and  that  night  the  saw 
mill  was  set  sawing  lumber  for  the  erection 
of  a  shop  for  building  cars  at  the  foundry 
and  machine  works,  and  by  seven  o'clock 
the  next  morning  carpenters  were  at  work 
framing  the  same.  With  the  foundry  and 
machine  department  and  the  planing  mill 
facilities,  five  box  cars  were  daily  erected 
there  during  the  rebuilding  of  the  car  works. 

Every  drawing,  pattern  and  guide  to  build 
by  had  been  consumed  by  the  flames;  tiie 
old  works  had  been  built  small  as  a  begin- 
ning, and  additions  made  from  time  to  time 
as  business  advanced;  the  total  destruction 
of  the  works  admitted  plans  more  fitting  to 
the  plant,  whicli  were  arranged  and  under 
the  immediate  direction  of  tiie  manager,  tlie 
busiest  man  in  the  force.  The  great  collec- 
tion of  large  buildings,  counting  from  the 
daj'  of  the  fire,  was  erected,  with  sliafting  and 
machinery  put  in  place,  in  ninety  daj's'  time, 
and  turning  out  ten  eight-wheeled  finished 
cars  daily.  Tiiis  when  told  to  ex|)erienced 
builders  seems  to  be  incredible,  but  it  is  a 
fact  well  known  to  many  of  the  citizens  of 
Harrisburg. 

Summarizing,  he  has  within  the  thirty- 
five  j^ears  since  he  began  this  enterprise, 
starting  with  $25,000,  with  a  small  plant, 
with  crude  and  unskilled  labor,  built  up 
this  large  system  of  works,  the  meciianical 
head  and  master.  He  retired  from  the  ma- 
chine works  in  1891. 

During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  lie  aided 
in  supplying  the  Governmeiit  with  horses. 
He  ran  the  first  train  over  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad  after  the  battle  of  Antie- 
tam. 

He  has  steadily  refu.sed  to  seek  or  receive 
political  honors,  believing  tlie  responsibili- 
ties of  an  active  business  life  was  a  full 
measure  of  one  man's  duties.  He  has  had 
many  other  interests  and  business  connec- 
tions besides  those  herein  named. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


531 


He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church  many  years,  and  is  a  contributor  to 
the  city  hospital.  He  believes  sincerely  in 
his  duty  under  God  to  his  fellow-man,  as 
taught  by  tiie  gospel  of  Christ,  has  invested 
in  his  business  under  that  command,  k\\u\- 
ness  and  paternal  care  over  those  under  his 
direction,  and  while  believing  in  it  as  a  duty, 
also  believes  in  it  as  a  wise  policy.  It  brings 
willing  hands  and  hearts  to  his  aid — a  prime 
element  of  successful  working  out  a  prob- 
lem of  associated  life.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternit}'. 

He  has  three  surviving  children,  one  son, 
W.  T.  Hildrup,  Jr.,  associated  with  him  in 
the  management  as  secretary  of  the  company 
and  superintendent  of  the  car  wheel  making 
department.  He  is  liimself  now  one  of  the 
oldest  car  wheel  makers  in  the  country,  hav- 
ing been  in  it  for  forty  years.  His  first  wife 
having  died,  he  was  again  married,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1876,  to  Miss  Emma  J.  Piper,  of  Pliila- 
delphia,  a  lady  of  high  culture,  a  devoted 
and  aftectionate  wife. 


GiLMORK,  James  A.,  Harrisburg  Bridge 
Company,  was  born  in  Indiana  county.  Pa., 
August  7,  1822,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Davies)  Gilmore.  The  mother  was  a  native 
of  Carlisle  and  the  father  who  was  of  Scotch - 
Irish  descent,  came  from  the  North  of  Ire- 
land to  America  when  a  young  man.  On 
his  arrival  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States 
army  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Alter 
tlie  war  he  settled  in  Indiana  county,  and 
after  his  marriage  removed  from  there  to 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  where  both  he  and  his  wife 
died.  He  was  a  contractor  and  was  engaged 
in  work  on  the  Cumberland  Valley  railroad. 
James  A.  left  home  at  the  early  age  of  six- 
teen years  and  went  to  Duncannon,  Pa., 
where  he  found  work  among  the  furnaces 
until  1840, when  became  to  Harrisburg  and 
learned  the  trade  of  cabinet  maker  with 
Joseph  R.  Boyd.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
for  some  years  and  then  was  employed  by 
the  State  in  the  building  of  the  Penn.sylvania 
cana',  worked  on  bridges,  locks  and  gates 
for  five  3'ears  and  subsequentl}'  was  employed 
about  the  same  length  of  time  by  the  Penii- 
S3dvania  Railroad  Company,  after  whicli  he 
engaged  with  W.  O.  Hickok  at  tlie  Eagle 
Works,  in  the  wood  working  department, 
where  he  remained  a  number  of  years.  In 
1873  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Harris- 
burg Bridge  Company  and  took  charge  of 
the  repair  work  on  the  bridge,  which  position 


he  has  occupied  since  that  time.  Mr.  Gil- 
more  sent  a  substitute  into  the  arm3'.  In 
his  political  views  lie  is  a  Democrat  but  has 
never  sought  office.  He  was  married,  in 
1844,  to  JVliss  Adeline  Stalil,  daughter  of 
John  Stahl,  of  Harrisburg.  Their  children 
are:  John  A.,  a  retail  merchant  of  Harris- 
burg; Mary,  wife  of  Lalta  Laverty,  of  Nor- 
wood, Delaware  county;  Ida,  married  W.  J. 
Poole,  deceased.  Mr.  Gilmore  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Pre.sbyterian  church. 


Bi'X'KER,  Henry,  tentmaker  at  the  State 
Arsenal,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Saarbrucken, 
jirovince  of  Lorraine,  France,  May  4,  1823. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Philip  and  Caroline 
(Myer)  Becker.  His  parents  had  born  to 
them  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom 
Henry,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Will- 
iam P.,  an  ex-alderman  and  police  magis- 
trate, are  the  only  living  members.  Henry 
attended  a  German  school  in  his  native  city 
for  two  years.  Wlien  seven  years  old  he 
came  to  America  with  his  [larents  in  1830 
and  located  in  what  was  then  tlie  suburbs  of 
Philadelphia.  He  completed  his  education 
in  the  private  schools  of  Port  Richmond,  Pa. 
He  worked  in  the  rope-walks  of  Port  Rich- 
mond for  one  year.  In  1836  he  was  bound 
out  a.s  a))prentice  to  the  baker's  trade  and 
worked  at  this  business  for  six  years.  From 
1839  to  1841  he  was  a  contractor  for  unload- 
ing vessels  arriving  in  the  Schuylkill  river 
with  cargoes  of  wood.  In  the  beginning  of 
May,  1841,  he  shipped  in  the  United  States 
navy,  and  was  assigned  to  tlie  sloop-of-war 
Cyane,  Capt.  Cornelius  Stribling  commander. 
He  served  for  five  ^years  on  this  vessel,  dur- 
ing her  trip  to  the  North  and  Soutir  Pacific 
ocean,  on  a  surveying  and  ex[)loring  exjie- 
dition.  In  1812  the  vessel  was  pressed  into 
the  service  to  assist  Commodore  Jones,  tlie 
naval  commander  of  the  Pacific  coast,  to  take 
})Ossession  of  California.  In  tlie  fall  of  1845 
he  returned  to  Pliiladel[)iiia,  and  was  dis- 
charged from  the  service.  From  1846  to  the 
fall  of  1848  he  was  engaged  in  tlie  merchant 
service  between  New  York  and  London.  On 
February  1,  1849,  he  removed  to  Harrisburg 
and  carried  on  a  taking  business  for C'harles 
F.  Muench,  for  one  year.  In  1850  he  engaged 
ill  the  baking  business  for  himself  and  con- 
tinued in  it  till  1877.  From  1877  to  1883 
lie  was  in  charge  of  the  lumber  yard  of 
TrulJinger  <&  Co.  Since  tiiat  date  he  has 
filled  his  presen-  position  in  the  State 
Ar.senal.     From   1860  to  1872   he  fired  all 


532 


BIO  GRA  PHIGA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


State  salutes,  and  this  duty  he  still  performs 
on  State  occasions. 

He  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  mar- 
riage occurring  in  Harrisburg,  March  26, 
1850,  when  he  was  united  in  matrimony  by 
Rev.  Charles  A.  Hay  to  Sophia  Morsh,  of 
Harrisburg.  There  were  no  children  by 
this  marriage.  Mrs.  Becker  died  November 
25,  1856.  He  was  united  in  marriage  the 
second  time  in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Hoffman,  a  Lutheran  minister,  December  24, 
1858,  to  Margaret  E.  Umberger,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Elizabetii  (Smith)  Umberger. 
To  this  marriage  have  been  born  nine  cliil- 
dren,  six  of  whom  are  living,  namely: 
Catherine,  wife  of  Josepli  Blackburn,  resid- 
ing in  Pliiladelpliia;  William  U.,  residing 
in  Harrisljurg;  Henry,  residing  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y. ;  Margaret  E.,  wife  of  William  Shel- 
drake, residing  in  Pliiladelphia;  Charles  P., 
residing  in  Harrisburg;  and  Louisa,  wife  of 
•Joim  Tress,  residing  in  Harrisbure.  Mrs. 
Becker  died  February  22,  1892. 

In  political  views  Mr.  Becker  is  now  a 
Republican.  He  attends  the  Lutheran 
cliurcii.  Mr.  Becker  has  been  a  traveler  to 
all  parts  of  tlie  world  and  lias  accumulated 
a  store  of  information  wliich  he  readily  im- 
jiarts.  His  ready  flow  of  language  and 
genial  manners  make  iiim  a  good  enter- 
tainer in  all  circles. 


Brenneman,  Adam,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Soulii  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  May  8,  1825.  He  was  a  son  of  Henry 
Brenneman,  a  native  of  Lancaster  county. 
Henry  Brenneman  was  a  farmer  of  South 
Hanover  township,  and  was  killed  by  acci- 
dent while  felling  a  tree.  He  had  five  chil- 
dren :  Eve  (Mrs.  William  Scheffer),  of  Ohio  ; 
Adam  ;  Mar\'  (Mrs.  Jacob  Etter),  deceased  ; 
Elizabeth,  deceased  ;  Jacob,  deceased,  resided 
in  Oliio,  and  was  a  farmer  and  mechanic. 

Adam  Brenneman  married  Miss  Harriet 
Stoudt,  and  located  in  Lower  Paxton  town- 
sliip.  Tiience  lie  removed,  first  to  Susque- 
hanna townsliip,  tlience  to  East  Hanover 
townsliip,  and  engaged  in  farming.  When 
he  retired  from  business  he  moved  into 
Harrisburg,  where  he  died  in  1888.  He 
served  as  school  director  in  East  Hanover 
township,  and  helped  to  fill  the  quota  from 
that  township  during  the  war.  He  was 
brought  up  in  the  Lutheran  church,  but 
later  in  life  lie  and  his  wife  became  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
His  wife  died  in  1890.     They  reared  eight 


children  to  maturity  •  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Jacob 

C.  Albert),    of    Harrisburg;    William    H.; 
Adam,  of  Derry  township;  Edward,  Jacob 

D.  and  Ephraim,  all  of  Harrisburg  ;  Calvin, 
of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  Louisa. 

BrEiNneman,  William  H.,  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township.  May  15,  1849.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  at  Sel- 
ler's Academy  and  by  private  tutors.  He 
taught  sciiool  in  the  township  and  at 
Harrisburg  for  several  years.  In  1876  he 
began  business  as  a  florist,  and  continued 
until  1881,  when  he  engaged  in  tiie  manu- 
facture of  mince  meat.  He  does  an  exten- 
sive business  in  this  line,  shipping  his  pro- 
ducts to  all  parts  of  tiie  United  States.  In 
political  opinions  Mr.  Brenneman  is  Repub- 
lican. He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Malta. 

W.  II.  Brenneman  was  married  in  1871  to 
Miss  Emma  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Hassler, 
of  Lower  Paxton  township.  They  have  five 
children  :  Hattie,  Blanche,  Bessie,  Susie  and 
Emma.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 


Handshaw,  Hexry,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county, Pa.,  June  21, 1827  ;  son  of  John  and 
Catiierine  (Keim)  Handshaw.  The  grand- 
parents were  natives  of  Germany  and  were 
by  occupation  farmers.  The  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Daupiiiii  county.  The  father 
was  born  January  S,  1799.  He  followed  tlie 
occupation  of  farmer  until  within  a  short 
time  of  his  death.  He  married  Miss  Cath- 
erine Keim,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living:  Elizabetii, 
wife  of  Simon  Tobias,  deceased,  and  Henry. 
Susan,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  David 
Martz,  also  deceased.  Mr.  Handshaw  was 
married,  secondly,  in  1832,  to  Miss  Mary 
Carl,  to  whom  were  born  seven  children, five 
of  whom  are  living:  Jacob  W.,  J.  Levi, 
Thomas  L.,  Isabella,  wife  of  Jacob  Straw, 
Emma,  wife  of  Joim  L.  Henny,  of  Carlisle, 
Pa.  Their  deceased  children  were  Anna 
and  Mary.  Mr.  Handshaw  was  originally  a 
Whig  in  politics,  but  became  a  Republican. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  U.  B.  church.  His 
death  occurred  June  8,  1884,  at  tiie  age  of 
eiglity-five  years,  and  he  is  buried  at  the  U.  B. 
cliurciiyard  at  Centerville,  Pa.  His  first 
wife  died  in  1831.  His  second  wife  is  still 
living  at  the  advanced  age  of  88  years  and 
resides  at  Carlisle,  Pa. 

Henry  was  reared  on  the  farm  in   Cum- 


DAUPHIN     COUNTY. 


533 


berland  county  and  attended  the  public 
schools  a  part  of  the  time  each  year  until  he 
was  seventeen  3^ears  old,  when  he  left  the 
farm  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter  at  Car- 
lisle. He  worked  at  his  trade  in  Harrisburg 
seven  years,  and  then  secured  a  position  in 
the  car  works,  where  for  five  years  he  had 
charge  of  the  car  department,  at  the  end  of 
which  period  he  was  advanced  to  the  po- 
sition of  assistant  superintendent  of  the 
works,  which  he  held  until  1888.  In  all  he 
has  been  with  the  works  in  this  department 
for  thirty -three  years  and  has  won  an  en- 
viable reputation  for  mechanical  skill  and 
fidelity.  Mr.  Handshaw  was  married  De- 
cember 23,  1851,  in  Harrisburg,  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Quick,  daugiiter  of  James  and  Alice 
(Lamb)  Quick,  to  whom  four  children  have 
been  born :  James  Q.,  Catherine,  wife  of  S.  W. 
Guiles,  of  Columbia,  Pa.;  William  T.  H., 
Harry  I.  His  wife  died  June  5,  1879.  He 
married  again  July  8,  1880,  Miss  Margaret 
Quick,  sister  of  his  first  wife.  Mr.  Hand- 
shaw was  not  in  any  active  work  during  the 
year  188G,  but  thefollowing  fourteen  months 
was  manager  of  the  car  works,  since  which 
time  he  has  lived  retired. 

He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Order 
United  AVorkmen.  In  his  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican.  His  church  member- 
ship is  with  the  Grace  M.  E.  church. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Handshaw  were  of 
Irish  descent  and  came  to  this  country 
about  1800.  The  father  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade  and  followed  this  occupation.  He 
married  Miss  Alice  Lamb,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children,  the  only  survivor  of  whom  is 
Margaret,  the  second  wife  of  Mr.  Handshaw. 
Mr.  Quick  died  at  the  age  seventy-two  years 
and  is  buried  in  Juniata  county,  and  his  wife 
is  buried  in  the  Harrisburg  cemetery.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church  and  his 
wife  of  the  Episcopal  church. 


Mather,  Edmund,  president  of  the  board 
of  commissioners  of  water  and  light  depart- 
ment, was  born  in  Lancaster,  England, 
September  8,  1827.  He  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Sarah  (Aked)  Mather.  He  was  reared 
in  his  native  land  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  private  schools.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  paper-making  with  his  father.  In 
1849  he  emigrated  to  America  and  first 
settled  near  Fitchburg,  Mass.  where  he 
was  employed  in  the  paper  mills  for  three 
years.  In  1852  he  went  to  Raleigh,  N.  C, 
and  took  charge  of  a  paper  mill,  remaining 


for  three  years,  having  control  of  the  mill  on 
Crab  Tree  creek.  In  1854  he  purchased  the 
machinery  and  built  a  large  mill  at  the  Falls 
of  the  Neuse,  and  operated  the  same  for  the 
Manteo  Manufacturing  Company'.  In  1855, 
sickness  compelling  him  to  leave,  he  emi- 
grated to  Mount  Holly,  Pa.,  and  took  charge 
of  one  of  the  two  mills  then  at  that  place. 
After  two  years,  on  account  of  poor  health, 
he  removed  to  Sterretts  Gap,  Pa.,  where  he 
leased  a  hotel  and  engaged  in  business. 
Three  years  later,  in  18G0,  his  health  having 
been  restored,  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and 
was  engaged  by  Jacob  Zug  to  build  a  mill 
near  Mount  Holl}^  Pa.  He  completed  and 
started  the  same,  receiving  a  salary  for  his 
services;  he  also  owned  an  interest  in  the 
enterprise.  In  1861  he  closed  the  mill  on 
account  of  the  disturbed  condition  of  the 
country. 

When  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon  Mr. 
Mather  enlisted  in  the  Lochiel  Grays  and 
served  three  months.  He  re-enlisted  in  com- 
pany B,  Eight3'-fourth  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers; was  made  first  sergeant,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  adjutant  of  the  regiment.  He  was 
in  important  battles,  among  which  are  Win- 
chester, Chancellorsville  and  other  engage- 
ments. In  December,  1863,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Veteran  Reserve  corps,  on  ac- 
count of  disabilit}'.  He  resigned  in  Novem- 
ber, 1865.  Mr.  Mather  was  military  inspector 
of  the  hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  after- 
wards came  to  Harrisburg,  and  was  soon 
thereafter  employed  to  take  charge  of  a 
])aper  mill  at  West  Newton,  Pa.,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  but  a  short  time  on  account  of 
ill  health. 

In  Januar}',  1867,  Mr.  Mather  went  to 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  became  the  business 
manager  of  the  Evening  Leader,  a  Republi- 
can paper.  This  ])osition  he  held  for  one 
year  and  then  went  to  Titusville,  Pa.,  where 
he  built  a  paper  mill  His  health  continu- 
ing to  be  poor,  he  was  not  active  in  business 
for  tiie  next  twelve  years.  In  1883  he  em- 
barked in  tiie  construction  of  furnaces,  and 
has  since  gradually  worked  into  mechanical 
engineering. 

Mr.  Mather  was  elected  to  the  city  coun- 
cil in  1883  for  three  years.  In  1887  he  was 
made  president  of  tlie  water  board  ;  was  re- 
elected in  1890,  and  again  chosen  in  1893. 
He  never  solicited  a  single  vote,  his  prefer- 
ment to  office  came  unsolicited.  He  was 
one  of  tiie  first  who  hel|)ed  to  organize  the 
first  Board  of  Trade,  was  secretary  for  two 


534 


BIOGRAPHICAL   EN'CYCLOPEDIA 


j-ears  and  is  a  member  of  the  present  board. 
Mr.  Matlier  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
was  very  active  in  party  matters  in  1868, 
during  which  he  was  secretary  of  the  Re- 
publican Committee  of  Harrisburg.  He  is 
a  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F. 
&  A.  M.;  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic, and  a  charter  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum. 

Edmund  Mather  was  married  in  1851  to 
Miss  Jane  Ann  Parker,  daughter  of  John 
Parker,  of  England.  They  have  one  living 
child,  Sarah,  who  married  J.  W.  Deeter,  now 
of  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mather 
have  attended  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian 
church  since  1801.  He  is  a  life  member  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  As.sociation,and 
has  for  several  years  been  connected  with 
the  American  Water  Works  Association. 


risburg,  a  slate  roofer;  Mary  Emma,  Mrs- 
George  W.  Clinton,  Union,  British  Colum- 
bia; Albert,  of  Harrisburg,  slate  roofer; 
Harry  H.,  clerk  with  W.  H.  Spooner.  The 
family  attend  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


TowsEN,   James   A.,  superintendent   and 
treasurer  of  the  Capital  City  Flint  Company, 
was    born    in    Lancaster,  Pa.,  December   (J, 
1829,  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Wheeler) 
Towsen,  of  Lancaster  and  York  counties  re- 
spectivel}'.     He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  county,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
slate  roofing  in  1847,  at  which   he  worked 
on  sub-contracts  in  Lancaster  county  until 
1807,  when  he  embarked  in  the  business  as 
a  contractor   at   Harrisburg.     He  executed 
large  contracts  for  the  Pennsylvania  steel 
works,  the    McCormick    estate,   Charles  L. 
Bailey  &  Co.,  and  tiie  Pennsylvania  Railway 
Comjiany.     Up  to  1878  he  was  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Thomas  Arnold  &  Co.,  at  whicli 
date  he  purchased  the  interest  of  the  firm. 
In  February,    1895,    he   became   connected 
with   the  Capital  City  Flint  Company,  and 
in  June  following  was  elected  superintend- 
ent, and  was  nuide  trustee  of  the  company 
in  December  of  the  same  year.     During  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  he  served  with  the  State 
militia,  and   went  into  the   field  for  three 
months  as  a  member  of  company  K,  Forty- 
seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
under  Colonel  Wickersham,  being  first  a  cor- 
poral and  afterwards  quartermaster  sergeant. 
In  politics  he  is  active  as  a  member  of  tiie 
Republican  party.     Mr.  Towsen   was    mar- 
ried, in  1850,  to  Maria  Stauffer,  daughter  of 
Frank    Stauffer,   of    Lancaster    county,   by 
wliom  he   had   eight  children:  Charles  and 
Clare,  both  deceased;  Tliomas  F.,  of  Harris- 
burg,   roofer;    Martha,    wife    of   Henry     H. 
Spooner,  of  Harrisburg;  William  H.,  of  Har- 


HoLLiNGER,  Eli,  was  born  in  Reading 
township,  Adams  county.  Pa.,  June  20, 1830. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  late  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Asper)  Hollinger.  His  great-grandparents 
on  his  father's  side  were  natives  of  Switzer- 
land ;  on  his  mother's  side  they  were  Eng- 
lish. His  grandparents  were  both  natives 
of  Lancaster  county,  and  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  His  grandfather  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics.  At  this  grandfather's 
death  there  were  sixty-two  living  grandchil- 
dren, nearly  all  of  whom  were  at  his  funeral. 
George  Hollinger,  father  of  Eli  Hollinger, 
was  born  in  Adams  county  in  1799,  and  was 
a  farmer  nearly  all  his  life.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1820,  to  Elizabeth  Asper,  of  Adams 
county,  born  in  1803.  Tiiey  had  fifteen 
children,  five  of  wliom  are  living:  George, 
Eli,  Rebecca,  Kate,  wife  of  Jacob  T.  Smitli, 
and  Lydia,  wife  of  John  Miller.  Their  de- 
ceased children  were:  Michael,  Leah,  Jonas, 
(jhristian,  Anna,  Caroline,  Jacob,  killed  in 
the  war,  and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 
Tiie  father  died  aged  seventy-three  and  the 
mother  aged  seventy-six  years.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  The 
father  was  first  a  Whig  and  afterwards  be- 
came a  Republican. 

Eli  Hollinger  received  only  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools,  but  made  up 
much  of  the  deficiency  by  attendance  upon 
night  schools.  He  was  a  self-made  man. 
His  youtii  was  spent  on  the  farm.  At  nine- 
teen years  of  age  he  learned  blacksmithing 
and  followed  this  occupation  for  twenty-eight 
years.  During  one  of  these  years  he  travele<l 
witii  the  stone  masons.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  at  Abbotstown.  In  1851  he  was  coach- 
smithing  with  Squire  Palmer.  In  1852  lie 
came  to  Harrisburg  and  worked  at  his  trade 
in  the  car  sho|)S  until  they  were  closed.  In 
1854  he  traveled  through  some  of  the  west- 
ern States  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  some 
time  in  Chicago.  During  the  next  five  years 
he  worked  at  Alto  na.  Pa.  On  account  of 
failing  health  he  spent  the  next  eighteen 
months  at  his  old  home  in  Adams  county. 
In  1859  he  was  employed  in  Harrisburg  hy 
the  Car  Manufacturing  Company  for  about 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


535 


six  months.  In  the  same  year  he  began 
business  for  himself,  manufacturing  imple- 
ments and  farming  machinery. 

He  was  married,  August  7,  18G0,  to  Miss 
Melinda,  daughter  of  John  and  Hattie(HofFer) 
Livingston, a  native  of  Adams  county.    They 
iiad  three  children  :  Eleanor,  wife  of  Arthur 
Lescure;  George  B.,  married  to  Mrs.  Miller, 
widow  of  Rev.  Miller,  residing  in  Baltimore, 
Md.;  and  Calvin  Clinton,  died  July  9,  1862. 
Since  1860   Mr.  Hollinger  has  been  princi- 
jially  engaged  in  the  sale  of  agricultural  im- 
plements, roof  painting,  and  teaching  music. 
He  also  taught  in  a  public  school  for  one 
term.     In  1853  he  joined  Altoona  Lodge,  No. 
473,  L  0.  0.  F.     He  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  Peace  and  Plenty  Lodge,  No.  69, 
wiien  it  was  organized  seven  years  ago,  and  he 
has  long  since  passed  the  chair  in  this  lodge. 
During  his  connection  with  this  lodge  he  has 
been  an  indefatigable  worker.     Past  Grand 
Hollinger  lias  had  the  pleasure  of  witnessing 
the  initiation  of  sixty-seven   members  pro- 
posed   by  him.     Seven  of  his  nephews  are 
Odd    Fellows,  George  A.,  the  present  Past 
Grand,  No.  69,  being  one  of  them.     Mr.  Hol- 
linger is  also  an  active  member  of  Susannah 
Rebecca  Lodge.     He  was  a  charter   member 
and  has  always  kept  up  his  membership  of 
Harrisburg  Encampment,  No.  301.     He  has 
for  years  been  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order 
of  United  American  Mechanics  and  has  been 
an  active  representative  of  his  council.     In 
years  past  he  was  district  deputy  and  during 
his  term  of  office  organized  twenty-one  flour- 
ishing councils  within  fourteen  months.   Dur- 
ing his  official  term  he  also  instituted  Eureka 
Council,  Jr.  0.  U.  A  M.,  of  this  city.     He  is 
at  present  past  sagamore  of  Octorara  Tribe, 
No.  91,  I.  0.  R.  M. 

In  1852  Mr.  Hollinger  cast  his  first  vote 
for  President  of  the  United  States.  He  voted 
for  the  Free  Soil  candidate,  John  P.  Hale,  of 
New  Hampshire.  Mr.  Hale  had  only  six 
votes  in  Harrisburg,  of  which  Mr.  Hol- 
linger's  was  one  ;  here  is  where  he  lost  his 
first  vote.  He  joined  the  Republican  party 
and  acted  with  it  until  1873,  when  he  be- 
came a  Greenback-Republican. 

He  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Second 
Reformed  church  ;  his  departed  wife  also 
was  a  member  of  that  church.  Mrs.  Hol- 
linger died  September  2, 1865.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  York  county,  occupied  in 
farming.  They  had  seven  children  :  Alex- 
ander; Matilda,  wife  of  Christian  Kauffman, 
deceased;  Eleanor,  wife  of  George  Hollinger; 


Malinda,  Mrs.  Eli  Hollinger;  Leah,  wife  of 
Henry  Brenneman,  and  Granville.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  "Livingston  were  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church. 


B.\Y,  J.  G.  Mc,  a  prominent  and  well- 
known  business  man,  treasurer  of  the  Bay 
Shoe  Company,  was  born  in  Harford  county, 
Md.,  October  27,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Cenitii  Ann  (McClure)  Bay, 
who  were  natives  of  Maryland,  botli  now 
deceased. 

His  education  was  acquired  in  the  pay 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  after  leav- 
ing school  he  became  an  apprentice  to  the 
blacksmith  trade.  In  1852  he  came  to  Har- 
risburg, where  he  learned  the  trade  of  iron 
moulding,  and  followed  that  business  until 
1863.  In  that  year  he  and  his  brother, 
William  F.,  engaged  in  the  foundry  and 
machine  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
William  F.  Bay  &  Bro.,  and  this  business 
was  continued  for  five  years. 

In  1868,  in  connection  with  his  brother, 
William  F.,  H.  M.  Kelley  and  James  Mona- 
ghan,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
shoes  under  the  firm  name  of  the  Monaghan- 
Bay  Shoe  Company,  the  firm  name  being 
subsequently  changed  to  the  Bay  Shoe  Com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Bay  represented  the  Ninth  ward  in 
council  two  terms  and  is  a  Democrat  in  po- 
litical views. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  born  to 
them  a  family  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom 
survive:  William  F.,  Sarah  Jane,  J.  G.  Mc, 
Mary  M.  and  Thomas  A. 

The  shoe  trade  is  one  of  the  most  import- 
ant industries  in  Harri-sburg,  and  is  well 
represented  by  the  company  of  which  Mr. 
Bay  is  the  treasurer.  Their  factory  is  fitted 
up  in  modern  style,  well  lighted  and  alto- 
gether attractive  and  conspicuous.  The  firm 
are  quick  to  take  advantage  of  all  new  styles 
and  place  them  on  the  market  as  early  as 
any  manufactures  in  the  State.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  firm  are  all  enterprising  business 
men,  well  and  favorably  known  and  very 
popular  in  the  community. 


Richardson,  John  T.,  manager  of  the 
Anthracite  Wagon  Company,  one  of  the 
leading  industries  of  Harrisburg,  is  a  son  of 
Jcseph  and  Eliza  (Bryan)  Richardson,  na- 
tives of  the  State  of  Maryland,  where  they 
spent  their  entire  lives.     John  was  born  at 


536 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Elkton,  Md.,  May  2, 1832.  He  was  educated 
in  the  private  schools  of  his  native  town. 
Having  completed  his  education,  he  learned 
the  trade  of  blacksmith,  and  followed  this 
occupation  until  1876.  This  year  he  came 
to  Harrisburg,  and  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  taking 
charge  of  the  frog,  switch  and  signal  de- 
partment, and  efficiently  filled  this  position 
for  eight  years. 

In  1884  Mr.  Richardson  removed  to  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  where  he  remained  five  years,  in 
the  employ  of  the  Carlisle  Manufacturing 
Company.  At  the  end  of  this  period  he  re- 
moved to  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  business  for  two  years.  In  1893 
he  returned  to  Harrisburg,  and  accepted 
the  position  he  now  liolds — manager  of  the 
Anthracite  Wagon  Company. 

He  was  married,  at  Wilmington,  Del., 
April  23,  1857,  to  Eliza  McClure,  daughter 
of  James  and  Prudence  McClure.  Four 
children  were  born  to  them,  two  of  whom 
are  now  living:  Sarah  J.  and  Mary  E.  Mr. 
Richardson  served  as  member  of  the  council 
at  Wilmington,  Del.,  for  two  years.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Republican.  His  family 
attend  tlie  Metliodist  Episcopal  church. 


B.\RNES,  Jeremiah  S.,  superintendent  of 
tlie  Harrisburg  cemetery  was  born  in  York 
county.  Pa.,  October  26,  1832,  son  of  Josiah 
and  Sarah  (Sweitzer)  Barnes,  natives  of  York 
count}'.  A\'illiam  Barnes,  the  grandfather, 
was  also  a  native  of  York  count}^  and  a  car- 
pet weaver  by  trade.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, Sweitzer,  was  a  pensioner  of  the  war 
of  1812.  The  father  was  a  shoemaker. 
Both  parents  died  in  York  county.  Jeremiali 
S.  is  the  eldest  of  eight  children.  He  re- 
ceived only  a  limited  education  in  the 
schools  of  that  period,  and  for  several  years 
worked  around  among  the  farmers.  He 
learned  the  carpenters  trade  and  afterwards 
went  to  Ohio  and  worked  for  two  years.  He 
returned  to  York  county  and  in  1854  came 
to  Harrisburg  and  worked  as  a  journeyman 
at  his  trade  until  1868,  when  he  was  elected 
by  the  board  of  managers,  superintendent 
of  the  Harrisburg  cemetery,  which  position 
he  has  filled  for  thirty-three  years  with  the 
utmost  satisfaction.  His  suggestions,  ap- 
proved and  adopted  by  the  board,  have  re- 
sulted in  the  vast  improvement  of  the  ceme- 
tery, and  he  has  put  up  many  of  the  finest 
monuments  in  the  grounds.  He  served  in 
the  State  militia  under  Col.  Henry  McCor- 


mick,  going  to  Hagerstown,  Chambersburg, 
and  on  other  expeditions.  Mr.  Barnes  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  holding  membership  in  the  Blue 
lodge,  chapter,  commandery  and  council. 
In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is 
active  in  party  measures.  He  has  served  as 
a  member  of  the  school  board  nine  years. 
He  was  married,  in  1858,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Martha  Williamson,  daughter  of  Robert 
Williamson,  native  of  England  and  resident 
of  Harrisburg.  They  have  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living:  Robert  E.,  printer, 
lives  at  home;  Carrie,  deceased ;  Charles  W., 
at  liome,  a  musician  ;  Mary  Elfleda,  wife  of 
E.  H.  Gotschali,  of  Harrisburg  ;  Laura  May, 
deceased,  and  Harry  Marcus,  at  home,  witli 
Montgomery  &  Co.  Mr.  Barnes  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  holds  the  office  of  steward  in  the  same. 


Chandler,  William  G.,  agent  and  super- 
intendent of  tlie  United  Gas  Improvement 
Co.,  Harrisburg  works,  was  born  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  November  19,  1832.  His  father, 
Jonathan  Chandler,  was  born  at  Brandy- 
wine  Hundred,  Newcastle  county,  Del.,  in 
the  old  homestead  which  has  been  occupied 
by  theCiiandlerfamily  for  over  two  hundred 
years.  His  mother,  Mary  (Griffith)  Chand- 
ler, was  born  at  Gap,  Chester  county.  Pa. 
They  settled  in  Harrisburg  at  a  very  early 
date.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith,  and  an 
agent  for  the  Good  Intent  Packet  Line;  but 
in  his  later  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
livery  business.  He  was  widely  and  favor- 
ably known,  and  was  a  highly  respected  cit- 
izen. He  was  twice  married.  Of  the  first 
marriage  there  were  six  children,  of  whom 
the  only  one  surviving  is  William  G.  To 
the  second  marriage  there  were  born  four 
children,  of  whom  Elizabetli,  wife  of  David 
Wen  rich,  George,  and  Julia,  wife  of  Charles 
Markell,  still  survive  and  reside  in  Harris- 
burg. 

In  his  youth  William  G.  Chandler  had 
the  advantages  of  the  public  sciiools  only. 
He  worked  at  blacksmilhingiu  his  brother's 
shop  for  a  time,  but  subsequently  learned 
the  trade  of  iron  moulder.  In  1852  he  re- 
moved to  Altoona,  Pa.,  where  he  completed 
his  term  of  apprenticeship  at  this  business, 
and  afterwards  worked  at  his  trade  in  the 
shops  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  in  that 
town  for  about  two  years.  In  1856  he  be- 
came a  locomotive  fireman,  and  followed  this 
vocation   for   five  years.       From   January, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


537 


1861,  to  January,  18G2,  be  held  the  position 
of  locomotive  engineer  on  tlie  Nortliern 
Central  railroad  between  Marysville  and 
Baltimore,  Md.  In  January,  i8G2,  he  re- 
turned to  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  and 
was  employed  as  an  engineer  for  five  years. 
In  18G7  lie  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and 
retail  produce  business  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1872,  when  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Harrisburg  Gas  Company  ;  since 
September  1,  1864,  he  has  held  the  position 
of  superintendent  of  its  works.  This  con- 
tinuous service  of  one  company  for  twenty- 
three  years,  twelve  of  which  were  devoted 
to  the  management  of  its  business,  shows 
his  business  capacity  and  integrity,  and  the 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  those  wfio 
know  him  best.  He  was  appointed  agent 
of  the  company  May  1,  1896. 

Mr.  Ciiandler  was  married  at  Harrisburg 
to  Miss  Henrietta  Farver,  of  '  Bedford 
county.  Three  children  were  born  to  them, 
all  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Chandler 
is  a  member  of  Mountain  Lodge,  No.  281, 
Y.  &  A.  M.,  of  Altoona.  In  political  prefer- 
ence he  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  attends 
the  Presbvterian  church. 


Forney,  Henry  J.,  treasurer  of  the  Har- 
risburg Furnace  and  Boiler  Company,  was 
born  in  West  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa..  August  10,  1833.  He  is  a  son 
of  the  late  Henry  and  Sarah  (Cassel)  For- 
ney. Both  the  Forney  and  Cassel  families 
were  very  early  settlers  of  Dauphin  county, 
where  they  were  honored  tillers  of  the  soil, 
spending  their  whole  lives  in  the  county, 
and  all  living  to  an  advanced  age.  Mr.  H. 
J.  Forney's  parents  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living:  Michael,; 
residing  in  Ida  county,  Iowa ;  Henry  J. 
Susan,  wife  of  Peter  H.  Miller,  residing  in 
Mifflin  county.  Pa.,  where  he  conducts  an 
extensive  farm  and  nursery;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Henry  Booser,  residing  in  Harrisburg. 
Henry  J.  Forney  spent  his  boyhood  in  study 
and  in  work  on  the  farm.  His  education 
was  received  in  the  common  and  select 
schools  of  Linglestown.  This  course  com- 
pleted, he  learned  shoemaking.  He  subse- 
quently taught  school  for  six  terms  in  Dau- 
phin and  Lebanon  counties,  after  which  he 
resumed  work  at  his  trade,  and  also  opened 
a  retail  shoe  store  at  Linglestown,  Lower 
Paxton  township.  In  1861  he  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  and  purchased  tlie  business  of 


Daniel  Leed}',  wiiich  he  conducted  for  sev- 
eral years.  Afterwards,  in  connection  with 
his  brother,  James  C,  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  and  later 
carried  on  a  general  jobbing  business  in  this 
line.  In  1892  Mr.  Forney  sold  his  interest 
in  the  wholesale  jobbing  trade  to  liis 
nephews,  C.  C.  and  C.  Harvey  Forney,  who 
still  conduct  the  business,  and  who  are  re- 
ferred to  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
Mr.  Forney  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
Harrisburg  Boot  and  Shoe  Company;  a  di- 
rector, and  the  treasurer,  of  the  Harrisburg 
Boiler  Company,  and  an  extensive  dealer  in 
real  estate.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent  and 
progressive  business  men  of  the  city,  and  is 
lionored  and  esteemed  in  all  circles.  Mr. 
Forney  is  a  past  officer  in  Lamberton  Lodge, 
I.  0.  6.  F.;  of  the  Order  United  American 
Mechanics,  Post  No.  35,  and  of  the  Mystic 
Chain  of  St.  John  Castle.  He  is  not  active 
in  any  at  present. 

He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  June  20, 
1861,  to  Lydia.  daughter  of  David  and  Bar- 
bara Walmer,  of  Linglestown.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  five  children  :  Charles 
M.,  of  the  firm  of  Forney  &  Knouse,  a 
prominent  drug  firm,  referred  to  in  another 
part  of  this  volume;  Margaret  C,  wife  of 
M.  L.  Ludwig,  residing  at  Penbrook,  Sus- 
quehanna township  ;  Sarah  E.,  w'fe  of  D. 
M.  Beck,  residing  in  Harrisburg;  Rebecca 
I.;  and  Henry,  the  youngest  member  of  the 
family,  who  was  killed  by  falling  from  a 
tree,  at  Linglestown.  Mr.  Forney  repre- 
sented the  Ninth  ward  in  the  common  coun- 
cil for  man}^  years.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
first  members  of  the  select  council.  He  is 
not  at  present  a  member  of  anj'  secret  so- 
ciety, although  he  lias  held  many  important 
offices  in  several  orders.  In  political  views 
he  is  a  good,  conscientious  Republican. 
Himself  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  God.  He  became  connected  with 
tiie  church  in  Harrisburg  in  1861,  and 
served  as  deacon  and  elder  for  many  years. 
In  1877  he  moved  to  Penbrook,  and  took 
his  certificate  of  membership  from  tiie 
Fourth  Street  Church  of  God,  and  joined 
the  church  at  Progress,  where  he  held  the 
office  of  elder.  He  is  president  of  the  Dau- 
phin circuit,  composed  of  elders  and  deacons 
of  four  churches,  and  also  president  of  the 
Progress  church  council.  For  several  years 
he  was  a  delegate  from  the  East  Pennsyl- 
vania Eldership  to  the  General  Eldership  of 
the  Church  of  God. 


538 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


SiEBER,  Charles  F.,  proprietor  of  the  Har- 
risburg  Soap  Factory,  was  born  in  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  December  10,  1834.  He  is 
a  son  of  Cliristian  and  Barbara  Sieber,  who 
spent  their  lives  and  died  in  Germany.  He 
received  liis  education  and  learned  the  soap 
and  candle  making  trade  in  Germany.  In 
1854  he  came  to  this  country  and  located 
at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  entered  the  em- 
ployment of  his  step-brother,  Herman  Mul- 
ler.  He  remained  witii  him  till  1860,  when 
he  returned  to  iiis  native  land  on  a  visit  to 
his  friends  and  relatives.  In  1862  he  located 
in  Harrisburg,  and  has  since  been  continu- 
ously engaged  in  business  in  this  city. 

He  was  married  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  Octo- 
ber 1,  1861,  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Bissinger,  a 
native  of  Germany.  To  them  have  been  born 
ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  Mary  Elizabeth,  Loui-sa,  wife  of 
Hummel  K.  Maeyer,  residing  in  Harrisburg; 
Emily,  wife  of  W.  D.  Harris,  residing  in  Har- 
risburg; Bertha,  Frederick  C,  and  Lillie. 

Mr.  Sieber  is  a  member  of  Peace  and 
Plenty  Lodge,  No.  69,  I.  O.  0.  F.;  Harrisburg 
Encampment,  No.  301, 1.  0.  0.  F.;  and  Corn- 
planter  Tribe,  No.  01,  I.  O.  R.  M.  In  )ioliti- 
cal  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  churcli.  As  man,  mer- 
chant and  citizen,  Mr.  Sieber  ranks  with  tlie 
first. 


McL.M'OHi.iN,  J.\Mics  T.  W.,  pattern  and 
model  maker,  was  born  in  Little  Britain 
township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  June  1, 
1839.  He  is  a  son  of  Park  S.  and  Sarali 
(Gorsuch)  McLaughlin,  natives  of  Lancaster 
county,  where  they  have  passed  their  whole 
lives.  Park  S.  McLaughlin  was  a  mill- 
wright, but  has  now  retired  from  active 
business.  Both  parents  are  dead,  the  father 
aged  eighty-five,  the  mother  eighty-two 
years.  They  had  eight  children  :  James  T. 
W.;  William  G.,  killed  bv  a  fall  in  Philadel- 
phia in  1888;  Mary,  witeof  Dr.  J.  P.Miller, 
Oxford,  Chester  county.  Pa.;  Tlieodore,  Little 
Britain,  Pa.;  Hannah,  wife  of  George  Day, 
Little  Britain  ;  J.  Fietclier,  Little  Britain  ; 
Frank  and  Laura,  who  died  in  infancy. 

James  T.  W.  McLaughlin  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  and  at  Ciiestnut  Level 
Academy.  He  learned  tiie  millwright  trade 
with  his  father,  and  followed  it  for  about  ten 
years.  He  removed  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  in 
1864,  and  was  a  bookkeeper  there  until 
1873 ;  he  then  came  to  Harrisburg,  where 
he  has  since   been   a   continuous   resident. 


His  first  engagement  here  was  with  the  Har- 
risburg Car  Company  and  the  Foundry  and 
Machine  Works;  later  he  was  with  the  Jack- 
son Manufacturing  Company.  Since  1884 
he  has  been  in  business  for  himself.  He 
was  married  in  Delta,  York  county,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember, 1869,  to  Adeline,  daughter  of  Archi- 
bald A.  and  Nancy  Hawkins,  of  Delta,  Pa. 
They  have  no  children.  Mr.  McLaughlin 
was  school  director  for  six  years.  He  is  sec- 
retary of  the  Commonwealth  Building  and 
Loan  Association,  deputy  supreme  archon. 
Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs ;  secretary  of 
Harrisburg  Conclave,  No.  42,  I.  0.  H.,  for 
the  past  eighteen  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
Veteran  Castle,  K.  of  G.  E.,  No.  495,  and  has 
been  master  of  records  in  this  body  since  its 
organization.  His  political  views  are  Demo- 
cratic. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
Ridge  Avenue  Methodist  Episcojjal  church. 

Adams,  Thomas,  superintendent  of  the 
Harrisburg  Heat  and  Power  Company,  was 
born  in  Loudon,  England,  January  (!,  1840. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Griffin) 
Adams.  His  education  was  well  begun  in 
his  native  land.  In  1856  he  left  England 
and  came  to  America,  locating  in  New  York 
where  he  completed  his  education.  He 
learned  tiie  trade  of  marine  engineer  and 
followed  this  occupation  for  ten  years.  At 
the  ex[)iration  of  this  period  he  removed  to 
Lockport,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  connected 
with  the  Holly  Manufacturing  Company 
until  1877,  at  which  date  he  resigned  his 
position  with  this  company  and  accepted  a 
similar  position  with  the  Holly  Steam  Heat- 
ing Company,  which  position  he  filled  for 
twelve  years."  In  1889  he  removed  to  Har- 
risburgand  assumed  the  position  he  now  so 
efficiently  fills.  He  was  married  at  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  to  Edle  Smith,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Olivia  Smith.  Five  children 
have  been  born  to  them  :  William  Thomas, 
residing  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.;  Charles  J.,  Edna 
L.,  Cora  A.  and  Mattie  D.  He  is  a  member 
of  Auburn  Lodge,  No.  431,  F.  &  A.  M.;  of 
David  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.;  of  Royal  Arcanum, 
No.  407,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  at- 
tends the  Episcopal  church. 

Armpriester,  George  W.,  superintendent 
of  the  Central  Rolling  Mills,  Harrisburg,  was 
born  in  Union  township,  Berks  county,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1840.  Samuel  Armpriester,  his 
father,  was  of  German  ancestry,  and  Anna 


e 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


541 


(Flaver)  Armpriester,  his  mother,  of  French 
ancestry.     The}-  had   eight  children  born  to 
them,  four  of  whom    are   living:  Melinda, 
widow  of  the  late  Daniel  T.  Knabb,  residing 
at  Birdshorougli,  Montgomery  county,  Pa.; 
Amelia  E.,  wife  of  Alfred  Fable,  residing  in 
Philadelphia;    Lynes  C,   residing  at  Potts- 
town,  Pa.,  and  George  W.     The  last  named 
was  reared  a  farmer  boy  and  got  his  school- 
ing in  the  old   log  school   house.     He  con- 
tinued   at    farm    work    till    1860,    when    he 
learned  the  trade  of  puddler  and  was  also  a 
part  of  the  time  in  the  employment  of  the 
Government,  engaged  in  the  transportation 
of  grain  and   hay  to  Alexandria  and  other 
points.     In  1872  he  removed  to  Bethel,  Pa., 
where  he  again  engaged  in  the  occupation  of 
puddling  until   1865,  when   he   removed  to 
Pottstown  and  took  charge  of  the  puddling 
mills  of  the  Pottstown  Iron  Company  and 
efficiently  filled  the  position  till  1873.     He 
then  took  a  similar  position  with  the  Glas- 
gow Iron  Company  and  remained  in  it  until 
1879,   at   whicli    date    he    engaged   in    the 
grocery  business  at  Pottstown,  in  which  he 
continued   for  nine  months.     He  then  sold 
out  and  removed  to  Harrisburgand  has  been 
a  continuous  resident  here  since,  faithfully 
and  efficiently  performing  the  duties  of  su- 
perintendent of  the  old  Central  rolling  mills. 
He   was    married    at    Douglassville,    Berks 
county,  Pa.,  to  Amelia  M.  DeHart,  daughter 
of  John  and  Catherine  DeHart.     Of  a  family 
of  seven  children  born  to  them  five  are  liv- 
ing and  are  :  Mary  C,  widow  of  George  W. 
Sourbeer,  George  Warren,  Annie  A.,  wife  of 
H.  L.  Stohl,  Barton  A.  and  S.  Raymond,  all 
residents  of  Harrisburg. 

Mr.  Armpriester  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  of  Pottstown  and  has 
represented  the  Fifth  wai'd  of  Harrisburg  in 
the  common  council  for  two  terms.  He  is 
an  active  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge, 
No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Perseverance  Chapter, 
No.  21,  R.  A.  M.;  Pilgrim  Commandery, 
No.  11,  K.  T.;  Monocacy  Lodge,  No.  441, 
I.  0.  0.  F.;  Star  Encampment,  No.  139  ;  Naz- 
areth Commandery,  No.  125,  A.  and  I.  O.  K. 
of  M.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church; 


the  father   of  German  and    the  mother   of 
English  ancestry,  though    the   grandfather 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.     They  resided 
in  Lancaster  county  until  1861,  then  removed 
to   Cumberland    county,   and    for   the   past 
twenty-eiglit  years   have  lived  in  Lebanon 
city,  Pa.     John  B.  was  reared  in  his  native 
county  and   received  his  education   in  the 
subscription  schools  of  that  time.     In  1861 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Cumberland 
county,  and  was  engaged   in  farming  until 
1864,  when   he  enlisted  in  company  G,  One 
Hundred    and    Fiftieth    regiment,  Penn.syl- 
vania  volunteers,  known  as  ''  The  Bucktails," 
in  which  he  served  until  he  received  a  gun- 
shot wound,  February  4,  1865,  and  was  re- 
moved to  Jarvis  Hill  Hospital  at  Baltimore, 
where  he  was  confined  until  the  war  closed. 
He  was  discharged  when  sufficiently  recov- 
ered to  travel,  and  returned  to  Cumberland 
county,  where  he  subsequently  removed  to 
Franklin  county  and  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising for  one  year  four  miles  north  of  Ship- 
pensburg.    He  then  sold  his  business  and  was 
for  the  next  year  engaged  in  the  same  line 
at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  after  which,  in  1870,  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg,  and  on  June  29, 1871, 
settled  at  Steelton,  since  which  date  he  has 
been  a  continuous  resident  of  the  place,  and 
for  sixteen  and  a  half  years  of  this  time  he 
has  been  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
prosperous  business   men  of  the  place.     In 
September,  1895,  he  engaged  in  his  present 
business.    Mr.  Litch  has  also  for  twelve  years 
been  a  partner  of  Mr.  C.  G.  Smith   in  the 
leaf  tobacco  business.     He  was  married  in 
Mifflin    township,   Cumberland    county,    to 
Miss  Elizabeth  E.  Rynard,  daughter  of  S.  A. 
and   Susanna  Rynard,  of  Mifflin   township, 
both  deceased.     They  have  nine  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living :  Mary  S.,  wife  of 
J.  H.  Bondman  ;  John   E.,  Milton  B.,  Ellen 
C,  and  Alwieda.     Their  deceased  children 
are:  George  M.,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty -six 
years,  Harry  F.,  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years,  Willis,  and  William  C.     In  his  polit- 
ical views  Mr.  Litch  is  a  Democrat.   He  held 
the  office  of  burgess  of  Steelton  for  two  years, 
and  was  also   the  organizer  of  the  Steelton 
Fire  Company.     He  attends  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Litch,  John  B.,  treasurer  of  the  Smith 
Noodle  Compan}',  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  August  22,  1842,  and  is  the  only 
child  of  Jacob  and  Susanna  (Brunner)  Litch. 
Both  parents  are  natives  of  Lancaster  county, 
37 


CowDEN,  Frederick  H.,  proprietor  of  the 
Harrisburg  stoneware  pottery,  was  born  at 
Linglestown,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1843.  Mr.  Cowden  belongs  to  an 
old  and  honoi'ed   family,  and    is  the   fifth 


542 


BIOGRAPHICAL   ENCYCLOPEDIA 


generation  in  liis  line  of  descent  in  tliis 
count}'.  Tiie  original  ancestor  of  the  family 
in  America  is  Matthew  Covvden,  who  came 
from  the  nortli  of  Ireland,  and  settled  in 
Chester  county,  Pa.,  about  1730,  and  moved 
to  Dauphin  (then  Lancaster)  county  in  1746, 
wliere  he  resided  until  his  death.  His  son 
was  Col.  James  Cowden,  who  commanded  a 
company  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  After 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  he  lived 
in  Lower  Paxton  township,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1810.  Matthew 
B.  Cowden,  son  of  Col.  James  Cowden,  above 
mentioned,  and  grandfather  of  Frederick  II., 
was  a  prominent  farmer  in  Lower  Paxton 
township,  and  at  one  time  served  as  associate 
judge  of  the  county.  Pie  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in  Lower  Paxton 
township  in  1802.  .lohn  W.  Cowden,  fatlier 
of  Frederick  H.,  followed  farming  in  iiis 
early  life,  and  qualified  himself  for  the  busi- 
ness of  surveying.  \\\  1857  he  became  u 
resident  of  Ilarrisburg,  and  shortly  after- 
wards was  appointed  assistant  city  engineer. 
In  connection  with  llothcn- Ilage  and  Alex- 
ander Hamilton,  lie  laid  out  the  city  of 
Ilarrisburg.  About  18.")S)  he  was  appointed 
city  surveyor,  and  honorably  filled  the  ottiee 
until  his  death,  in  1872.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  W.  Cowden  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  seven  are  living:  Margaret,  wife  of 
Samuel  Hamilton,  of  Beaver,  I'a.;  Frederick 
H.;  Sarah,  wife  of  Homer  H.  Cummings,  of 
Harrisburg;  Elizabeth  B.,  wife  of  M.  R. 
Beck,  of  Beverly,  N.  J.;  Matthew  B.,  city 
engineer;  Ellen  .).,  wife  of  Stephen  Huberlis, 
of  Harrisburg;  and  Josephine  W.  His 
wife,  Mary  E.(Hatton)  Cowden,  died  in  May, 
1872. 

When  Frederick  H.  Cowden  was  two 
years  old,  his  parents  removed  to  a  farm 
about  three  miles  from  Linglestown,  where 
he  received  his  jirimary  education.  At 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Ilarrisburg,  and  completed  his 
education  in  the  city  schools.  He  learned 
the  pottery  trade,  and  with'  the  exception  of 
one  year  spent  in  the  army  during  the  late 
war,  he  has  been  continuously  engaged  in 
this  business  for  thirty-four  years.  In  1867 
he  became  partner  in  this  business  with  his 
father  and  Isaac  J.  Wilcox.  Since  1881  he 
has  conducted  the  business  solely  in  his  own 
interest.  He  has  made  the  Harrisburg  pot- 
tery a   successful   manufacturing   establish- 


ment and  Harrisburg  stoneware  justly  cele- 
brated throughout  Central  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Cowden  was  married  at  Chanceford, 
York  county,  Pa.,  Dec.  1, 1869,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Elizabeth  Reed,  daughter  of  Samuel  N.  and 
Sarah  J.  Reed,  of  Clianceford.  They  have 
four  children,  John  W.,  Florence,  Mabel 
Barnett  and  Frederick  IL,  all'  residing  in 
Harrisburg.  Mr.  Cowden  represented  the 
Fourth  ward  one  term  as  school  director.  In 
1804  he  enlisted  in  company  C,  Two  Hun- 
dred and  First  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  served  one  year,  being  honorably  dis- 
charged at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a 
member  of  Post  HS,  C  A.  R.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  Pine  Street  Presbyteri'in 
church. 


Wilson,  Willi.\m  C,  proprietor  of  the 
Ilarrisburg  Cornice  Works  and  of  Ma])le 
Cirove  Hotel,  was  born  in  C!oatesville,  Chester 
county,  Pa.,  January  17,  1847.  He  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Sophia (Stackhouse)  Wilson, 
both  natives  of  Chester  county.  He  was 
educated  in  tiie  i>ublic  schools  of  Coatesville. 
In  18()2  he  enlisted  in  tlie  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fourth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and 
was  assigned  to  company  X.  He  served  in 
tills  regiment  one  year  during  the  late  Re- 
bellion. After  he  was  discharged  he  re- 
turned to  Coatesville,  and  finished  his  edu- 
cation in  the  academy  of  that  place.  He 
learned  telegraphy  and  was  employed  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  in 
various  positions  and  ottices  until  1890.  He 
came  to  Harrisburg  in  1805.  After  leaving 
the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  in  1890,  he  went  to  South  Jersey 
and  became  superintendent  of  the  Philadel- 
jihia  and  Sea  Shore  railroad  for  a  short  time. 
He  then  returned  to  Harrisburg  for  one 
year.  In  1892  he  went  to  Shenandoah,  Va., 
where  he  was  chief  clerk  of  the  Shenandoah 
division,  Norfolk  and  Western  railroad.  At 
the  close  of  the  year,  he  resigned  and  went 
to  New  Jersey,  and  was  superintendent  of 
South  Jersey  railroad  from  1893  till  May. 
1894,  when  he  resigned  and  returned  to  Har- 
risburg and  engaged  in  his  present  occupa- 
tion. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  October 
14,  1875,  to  La  Rue  Y.  Grove,  daughter  of 
Michael  M.  and  Charlotte  S.  Grove.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them  :  Nellie  La 
Rue,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  months ; 
Alvah  B.,  and  \\'illiam  Grove.     Mr.  Wilson 


DAUFHIN  COUNTY. 


543 


was  elected  treasurer  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Midland  raihoad  in  1894.  He  was  the  Re- 
publican candidate  for  mayor  of  Harrisburg 
in  1890,  against  Dr.  John  A.  Fritchey,  but 
was  defeated.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hepta- 
soplis  and  of  tlie  Junior  Order  of  American 
Mechanics.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 
The  family  attend  the  Zion  Lutheran  church. 


PoGH,  A.  JuDSON,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  A.  J.  Pugli  &  Son  (The  Dauphin 
Roofing  Company),  was  born  in  Radnor 
township,  Delaware  county,  Pa.,  February 
27,  1847;  son  of  the  late  William  and  Mary 
(Pugh)  Pugh.  Tiie  Pugh  family  on  both 
sides  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Dela- 
ware county,  their  ancestors  having  been 
born  there  as  far  back  as  the  fourth  genera- 
tion preceding  the  present.  The  parents 
were  residents  of  Radnor  township,  and  the 
father  conducted  a  merchant  tailoring  busi- 
ness there.  They  had  nine  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living:  Joanna  H.,  widow  of  late 
J.  Hibbert  Hull,  of  Plymouth,  Montgomery 
county;  Joim,  Nelson,  Roland,  Jr.,  and  A. 
Judson.  A.  J.  spent  his  early  life  in  Radnor 
and  received  liis  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  townshij).  In  1876  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg  and  for  fifteen  years 
was  in  the  service  of  tiie  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  during  ten  years  of  which 
time  he  was  engineer  on  a  freight  train.  In 
1881  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the  Paxton 
Flouring  Mill  Company,  which  position  he 
held  for  ten  years,  after  which,  from  1891  to 
1894  lie  was  in  the  employment  of  the  Mer- 
chants' National  Bank,  and  in  November  of 
the  last  named  year  embarked  in  his  present 
business.  Mr.  Pugh  was  married  in  Phila- 
delphia, April  10, 1873,  to  Eloise  G.  Denney, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Denney,  of 
Chester  county,  both  deceased.  To  this  mar- 
riage have  been  born  four  children :  M. 
Elva,  William  E.,  Salinda  and  J.  Darling- 
ton. In  his  politics  Mr.  Pugh  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  and  his  family  attend  the  Baptist 
church. 


Bkintox,  Habry  a.,  general  manager  of 
the  Universal  Baking  Powder  Company,  was 
born  in  Daupiiin  count}^,  about  six  miles 
from  Harrisburg,  April  13,  1847,  son  of 
Caleb  and  Sarah  (Alleman)  Brinton,  the 
former  a  native  of  Chester,  the  latter  of  Dau- 
phin county.  The  father  came  to  Dauphin 
county  about  1 835,  and  was  for  ten  years 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  coffee  mills, 


ladles,  door  locks,  and  jack  screws  in  West 
Hanover  township,  after  which  he  was  a 
farmer  in  Susquehanna  townsliip  eight 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Swatara  town- 
ship and  farmed  eight  years  more.  From 
there  he  went  to  Cumberland  count}',  where 
he  lived  eleven  years,  and  in  18()6  came  to 
Harrisburg  and  resided  here  seven  years. 
He  next  moved  to  New  Cumberland,  where 
he  remained  four  years,  and  then  returned 
to  Harrisburg.  where  he  has  lived  retired 
from  active  business  for  the  past  twenty-five 
years,  and  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years  is 
still  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health.  His 
wife  died  in  1860.  Their  children  are:  Mar- 
tin, farmer  in  Cumberland  county  ;  John,  of 
Susquehanna  township;  Lydia  E.,  wife  of 
Peter  Hershey,  Harrisburg;  George,  of  Har- 
risburg; Caleb,  residing  in  Idaho;  Harry 
A.;  Susan,  wife  of  J.  D.  Sprout,  died  in  Jan- 
uarv,  1885;  Elizabeth,  wife  T.  W.  Jones,  of 
Cornell,  111.,  died  October  26,  1895;  and 
David,  died  in  infxncy. 

Harry  A.  was  about  seven  years  old  when 
he  with  his  parents  located  between  Fair- 
view  and  Bridgeport,  where  he  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  He  was 
engaged  in  farming  for  twelve  years,  and 
subsequently  became  an  engineer  and 
worked  for  ten  years  at  this  occupation  in 
Harrisburg,  after  which  he  was  for  fifteen 
years  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  in 
August,  1894,  became  a  stockholder  and  was 
elected  the  general  manager  of  the  Universal 
Baking  Powder  Company.  Mr.  Brinton  was 
married  in  Harrisburg  in  1871  to  Mary  J. 
Shaetfer,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Shaef- 
fer,  natives  of  Lancaster  county,  to  whom 
have  been  born  ten  children,  of  whom  five 
died  in  infancy,  and  the  survivors  are:  John 
C,  Mary  P.,  George  W.,  Charles  L.,  and 
Helen  J.  Mr.  Brinton  is  a  member  of  Dau- 
phin Lodge,  No.  160,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  the 
Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor.  In  his  politi- 
cal views  he  is  a  Republican.  The  family 
attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Bacon,  Daniel,  was  one  of  the  most 
widely  known  manufacturers  and  one  of  the 
most  popular  men  in  Central  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  born  June  26,  1847,  and  died  sud- 
denly of  heart  failure  April  22,  1893.  He 
removed  from  Scranton  to  Harrisburg  in 
1869,  and  shortly  afterwards  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  candy  near  the  site 
of  his  present  factory.  His  business  pros- 
pered  from  the  start,  and  needed  enlarged 


544 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


facilities,  which  he  provided  from  time  to 
time.  For  the  past  lifteen  years  he  liad  oc- 
cupied the  factory  and  store  where  his 
career  terminated,  which  is  one  of  the  best 
equipped  and  arranged  plants  of  its  kind  in 
this  part  of  the  State.  The  marked  l)usiness 
traits  of  Mr.  Bacon  were  his  enterprise  and 
ingenuity  in  forming  his  plans  and  his 
energy  and  courage  in  carrying  tlieni  out. 
When  confronted  with  disaster  and  threat- 
ened with  defeat,  as  he  was  at  three  separate 
times  when  burned  out,  he  lost  no  time  in 
useless  regrets,  but  at  once  employed  the 
occasion  to  alter  and  always  enlarge  his 
plans,  and  at  once  addressed  himselt  with 
redoubled  energy  and  industry  to  their  exe- 
cution. Mr.  Bacon  was  generous  and  whole- 
souled  on  the  social  side  of  his  nature, 
and  his  cheerful  and  mirLhful  disposition 
s])read  sunshine  all  around  liim.  One  of 
his  ver}'  marked  ciiaracteristics  was  his 
liking  for  the  commercial  travelers,  which 
amounted  to  a  ruling  .sentiment  and  almost 
a  passion.  It  was  said  he  never  let  one 
leave  his  place  of  business  without  giving 
him  an  order  and  making  him  feel  that  he 
was  with  a  friend,  and  all  were  made  wel- 
come as  honored  guests  at  his  hospitable 
iiome.  Mr.  Bacon  sustained  membership  in 
the  Ilarrisburg  Board  of  Trade;  Dauphin 
Lodge,  No.  IGO,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  East  Ilarrisburg 
Conclave,  No.  150,  I.  0.  H.,  and  the  National 
Confectioners'  Association.  Mr.  Bacon  was 
married  to  Annie  Clark,  a  native  of  Scran- 
ton,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  Arthur  D. 
This  son  received  all  tlie  advantages  of  edu- 
cation afforded  by  the  city  schools,  and  sub- 
sequently pursued  a  classical  course  of  study 
at  Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
upon  the  completion  of  which  he  entered  his 
father's  store.  He  had  just  reached  his  ma- 
jority when  the  untimely  and  sudden  death 
of  his  father  occurred,  and  he  was  put  in 
charge  of  the  large  business  built  up  by  the 
ability  and  success  of  his  honored  parent. 
His  mother  preferred  that  he  should  assunze 
the  management  and  become  responsible  for 
the  continuance  of  the  business,  feeling  well 
assured  that  lier  worthy  son  had  inherited 
the  business  talents  and  sterling  character 
of  her  lamented  husband.  In  this  hope  she 
has  not  been  disappointed.  His  successful 
management  of  the  business  of  D.  Bacon  & 
Co.,  wholesale  dealers  and  manufacturers  of 
confectioneries,  is  marked,  and  he  is  justly 
regarded  as  oneof  the  most  enterprising  and 
progressive  business  men  of  the  city.     Mr. 


Bacon  was  married  in  Harrisburg  January 
2,  1894,  to  Miss  Barbara  Baldwin,  of  this 
cit}^  He  is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Pilgrim  Com- 
mander}', No.  11  ;  Perseverance  Chapter, 
No.  21,  R.  A.  M.;  Rajah  Temple;  Mystic 
Shrine,  of  Reading,  and  Scottish  Rite  Mason, 
tiiirty-second  degree. 


Young,  John  G.,  general  manager  of  the 
Harrisburg  Branch  of  the  Deering  Har- 
vester Company,  of  Chicago,  was  born  in 
Kvansville,  Ind.,  December  4,  1847.  He  is 
a  son  of  Richard  and  Susan  (Hill)  Young. 
His  father  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia  and 
his  mother  was  born  uearOwensborough,Ky. 
They  removed  to  Indiana,  where  they  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The  father 
was  a  prominent  business  man  of  Cynthiana, 
Posey  county,  Ind.,  for  many  years,  where  he 
first  engaged  in  the  retail  boot  and  shoe  busi- 
ness and  later  in  the  retail  hardware  and 
grocery  business.  He  died  in  1893  and  his 
wife  died  when  John  G.  was  but  an  infant. 
Of  a  family  of  six  children  born  to  them 
John  G.  is  the  only  survivor.  When  but  a 
child  lie  removed  with  his  parents  to  Cynthi- 
ana, Ind.,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood  days, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  public  and 
select  schools  of  that  town.  After  complet- 
ing his  education  he  assumed  the  duties  of 
deputy  treasurer  of  the  county,  and  when 
but  twentj'-one  3'ears  of  age  was  elected  treas- 
urer of  Posey  county,  which  office  he  filled 
with  acceptance  for  two  years.  After  retiring 
from  office  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  busi- 
ness in  Mt.  Vernon,  Ind.,  in  connection  with 
Mr.  V.  C.  Finch,  under  the  firm  name  of  V. 
C.  Finch  &  Co.,  for  four  j'ears,  after  whicli  he 
removed  to  Cynthiana,  Ind.,  and  became  a 
partner  in  the  hardware  business  of  his 
father,  under  the  firm  name  of  R.  Young  & 
Son,  in  which  partnership  he  continued  for 
two  years.  He  subsequently  became  ac- 
countant for  H.  Brinkman  &  Sons,  of  Mt. 
Vernon,  Ind.,  and  was  connected  with  that 
firm  for  one  year.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time  he  became  connected  with  the  Deering 
Harvester  Company  in  the  capacity  of  book- 
keeper in  one  of  their  branch  warehouses  at 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  for  a  period  of  two  years. 
For  the  following  fifteen  months  he  served 
this  companj'  faithfully  as  manager  of  their 
branch  house  in  Philadelphia.  October  H, 
1887,  he  was  appointed  to  the  responsible 
position  he  now  holds,  as  manager  of  their 
business   in    Harrisburg.      He   has   been  a 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


bib 


faithful  employee  of  the  Deering  Harvester 
Company  for  a  period  of  twelve  years.  For 
seven  years  he  has  been  an  honored  and  re- 
spected resident  of  Harrisburg,  where  his 
strict  integrity'  and  lionorable  business  meth- 
ods liave  established  him  in  the  confidence 
of  his  employers  and  the  esteem  of  all  who 
meet  him  in  business  and  social  circles.  He 
was  married  in  Mt.  Vernon,  Ind.,  May  25, 
1873,  to  Fannie  Fuhrer,  a  daughter  of  Mau- 
rice and  Angeline  (Berne)  Fuhrer,  the  former 
a  native  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  the  latter  of 
Posey  county,  Ind.  To  them  have  been  Ijorn 
four  children.  Three  of  these  died  in  in- 
fancy; their  only  surviving  child  is  Angelyn 
Nelson.  While  filling  the  office  of  deputy 
treasurer  he  also  performed  the  duties  per- 
taining to  the  office  of  county  auditor.  He 
is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  Mount 
Vernon  Lodge,  No.  163,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Mt. 
Vernon  ;  Lavalette  Commandery,  of  Evans- 
ville,  Ind.,  K.  T.  In  political  views  he  is  a 
Democrat.  He  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


with  .Joseph  Youngel.  On  January  6,1896, 
a  stock  company  was  formed  and  Mr.  Moes- 
lein  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  as 
manager. 

Edward  Moeslein  was  married  in  Hannau, 
Germany,  January  21,  1872,  to  Martina 
Bittner.  They  have  had  five  children, three 
living:  William  E.,  Adam,  and  Charles. 

He  is  a  member  of  Peace  and  Plenty  Lodge, 
No.  69,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  Herman  Castle,  No.  339, 
K.  of  G.  E.;  and  K.  of  M.  C,  No.  17.  He  is 
president  ot  the  American  and  the  Union 
Building  and  Loan  associations,  assistant 
secretary  of  the  Columbia  and  the  Harris- 
burg Building  and  Loan  associations,  direc- 
tor in  the  West  Harrisburg  Building  and 
Loan  Association  and  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trade.  Mr.  Moeslein  and  his  family  at- 
tend St.  Lawrence's  Roman  Catholic  church. 


MoKSLEiN,  Edward,  manager  of  the  Cap- 
ital City  Shoe  Manufacturing  Company,  was 
born  in  Eckweisbach,  Germany,  January  24, 
1849.     He  is  a  son  of  David   and  Cecilia 
(Niebeling)  Moeslein,  both  of  Germany.    His 
boyliood  and  youth  were  spent  in  his  native 
land.    He  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  after  which   he  was  apprenticed 
for  five  years  to  learn  carpentry  and  build- 
ing.    After  his  apprenticeship  was  over  he 
worked   at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman  until 
1870.     He    was   drafted    into   the   German 
army,  and  served  his  country  faithfully  for 
two  years  in  the  Franco-Prussian  war,  dur- 
which  time  he,  with  his  regiment,  partici- 
pated   in  seventeen  engagements.     He  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  Sedan,  where  Louis 
Napoleon  was  made  a  prisoner.     After  iiis 
discbarge  from   the  army  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  in  his 
native  land  for  a  year  and  a  half.     In  1874 
he  embarked  for  America  and  landed  at  New 
York.     He  came  at  once  to  Harrisburg  and 
since  June  1,  1874,  has  been  a  continuous 
resident  of  this  city.     The  first  eight  years  in 
Harrisburg  he  spent  at  his  trade,  in  connec- 
tion   with    the    building   of    St.    Lawrence 
Roman  Catholic  Church.     In  1882  he  began 
contracting  and  building  on  his  own  account 
and  continued  this  business  until  August, 
1895.     At  this  date  he  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  children's  shoes  in   connection 


Nagle,  John  H.,  assistant  foreman  in  the 
Hickok  Manufacturing  Company,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  May  11,  1851.    He 
is  a  son  of  Emanuel  and  Saraii  (Markley) 
Nagle.     A  sketch  of  his  parents  and  grand- 
parents  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
He  received  his    education   in   the   public 
schools  of  Lancaster  county.    Before  the  age 
of  fourteen  he  had   been  in  various  occu- 
pations.    At  that  time  his  parents  removed 
from    Bainbridge  to   Collin's  Station,  Lan- 
caster county.    During  the  year  1865  he  was 
employed   as  water  boy,  carrying  water  and 
tools  for  the  "floating  gang"  on  the   rail- 
road.    In  1866  his  parents  removed  to  Mid- 
dletown.  Pa.,  where   he;found   employment 
on  the  railroad  during  the  summer  months, 
and  attended  school  in  the  winter.     For  two 
sessions  he  was   in    the    liigh   school.     On 
April  5,  1869,  he  began  an  apprenticeship  at 
the   trade   of    machinist   with    William   0. 
Hickok,  and    served    three  years   and    one 
month  ;  he  was  then  twenty-one  years  old. 
From  that  time  until   1875  he  worked  as 
a  journeyman  machinist.     In  order  to  be- 
come  more  familiar  with    machinery   and 
more  skillful  in   its  use,  he  spent  four  years 
as  fireman   on   the  Pennsylvania  railroad, 
Middle   division,  between    Harrisburg  and 
Allentown,    Pa.      In    1879    he   returned   to 
Harrisliurg  and  resumed  work  at  his  trade 
with  his  former  employer,  Mr.  Hickok.     In 
1891  he  was  promoted^o^assistant  foreman 
of  the  Hickok  Company's  shop,  tiie  position 
which  he  now  holds. 

In  1888  Mr.  Nagle  was  elected  to  the  com- 
mon council  from  the  Sixth  ward  of  Harris- 


546 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


burg  and  served  one  term.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Mystic  Chain, 
No.  17;  he  has  gone  through  all  the  chairs, 
and  been  connected  with  the  order  for  eigh- 
teen years.  He  has  also,  for  about  five  years, 
been  a  member  of  the  Knigiits  of  Honor. 
In  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Nagle  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Jennie  Feltz.  Her  father, 
John  Feltz,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county. 
When  a  young  man  he  was  a  farmer,  but 
later  he  learned  shoemaking  at  which  he 
worked  for  many  years.  For  the  past  four- 
teen years  he  has  been  partially  paral3'zed 
and  is  comparatively  helpless.  He  is  at 
present  proprietor  of  a  boarding-house  in 
Harrisburg.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Leah  Wagner.  Tliey  had 
two  daughters:  Kate,  wife  of  James  Lusk, 
and  Jennie,  deceased.  Mrs.  Nagle  belonged 
to  the  Lutheran  church.  She  died.  May  6, 
1892,  aged  thirty-seven;  she  left  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living:  Lillie,  wife  of 
Joiin  H.Forney, and  John  E.  Leah  E.  died 
January  19,  1896,  aged  nineteen  years  and 
nine  days. 

Mr.  Nagle's  second  marriage  occurred  Oc- 
tober 18,  1894.  He  was  then  united  to  Mrs. 
Minnie  Rhoads,  widow  of  Levi  Meyers,  and 
daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  (Glosser) 
Rhoads.  They  had  one  son,  Chester  L. 
George  Rhoads  was  born  in  Perry  count}-. 
Pa.  He  was  employed  by  the  railroad  com- 
pany in  various  capacities  for  forty-five 
years  and  finally  retired  on  account  of  fail- 
ing health.  His  wife  was  born  in  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Conrad 
and  Charlotta  Glosser.  They  had  fourteen 
children,  eleven  of  whom  are  living:  Mary, 
wife  of  Jacob  Shellenberger ;  Minnie,  wife  of 
John  H.  Nagle ;  Emma,  wife  of  Jolm  Sliellen- 
hammer;  Edward;  Frederick;  George  ;  Lot- 
tie, wife  of  John  Thompson;  Charles;  Ben- 
nie ;  Nelson  and  Virginia.  James  was 
killed  on  the  railroad  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two.  Willie  and  Tillie  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Rhoads  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Ti)e  grandparents  of  the  second  Mrs. 
Nagle  were  both  natives  of  Lancaster  county. 
Her  grandfather  was  employed  on  the  rail- 
road and  was  killed  in  an  accident.  He  had 
five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Cvrus,  Joseph  and  George.  The  grandfather 
died  in  March,  1891. 


Landis,  Henry  B.,  superintendent  of  Har- 
risburg Traction  Con:pany's  supplj'  store, 
was  bom  at  Mexico,  Juniata  county.  Pa., 
November  5,  1851.  He  is  the  only  child  of 
John  and  Anna  (Baker)  Landis.  His  parents 
are  both  natives  of  Juniata  county,  and  both 
are  living  at  Mexico.  The  father  was  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  ))ursuits,  and  for  many 
years  was  a  minister  in  the  United  Brethren 
church,  but  now  lives  retired.  Henry's  boy- 
hood days  were  spent  in  his  native  town, 
where  he  took  the  usual  course  of  study  in 
the  public  schools.  He  studied  telegraphy, 
and  followed  this  occupation  for  several 
years.  For  the  tiiree  following  years  he  was 
engaged  as  brakeman  on  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad.  The  following  year  he  was  em- 
ployed b}'  the  Prudential  Life  Insurance 
Company  as  bookkeeper  in  their  receiving 
office  at  Mexico.  In  the  next  year  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg,  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Citizens'  Street  Railway 
Company  and  Harrisburg  Traction  Com- 
pany since  its  inauguration.  He  is  the  oldest 
employee  of  the  company. 

He  was  married  in  MitHin  township,  Juni- 
ata county,  July  19,  1874,  to  Miss  Minerva 
P.  Smith,  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza 
(Miller)  Smith.  Five  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  of  whom  one  died  in  infancy. 
Those  living  are:  John  H.,  George  S.,  Led- 
yard  A.,  and  Annie. 

Mr.  Landis  is  not  connected  with  any 
societies.  He  attends  the  United  Brethren 
church.  By  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
duties  he  has  gained  the  utmost  confidence 
of  his  employers,  and  by  his  honorable  and 
upright  life  commands  the  respect  and  re- 
gard of  his  fellow-men. 

Weber,  \Villi.\m,  foreman  and  manager 
of  the  iron  and  brass  foundry  of  James  W. 
Roberts,  was  boin  at  Waterloo,  Bavaria, Ger- 
many, April  9,  1853.  He  is  tiie  son  of 
George  Adam  and  Eve  (Brickner)  Weber, 
both  natives  of  Bavaria,  but  residents  of 
Harrisburg  for  forty  years.  The.se  parents 
had  six  children,  four  of  whom  survive: 
William  ;  George,  residing  at  Sparrow's 
Point,  Md.;  ]\Iary,  wife  of  Augustus  Kreid- 
ler,  and  Andrew. 

William  Weber  came  to  Harrisburg  with 
his  parents,  in  1855,  when  he  was  but 
eighteen  montlis  old.  He  received  a  partial 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city. 
In  early  youth  he  took  up  the  trade  of  car- 
penter, working  at  it  only  a  short  time,  as 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


547 


he  found  it  not  to  bis  taste.  He  learned 
the  moulders'  trade,  and  has  followed  it  for 
twenty-five  years.  Mr.  Weber  is  highly  re- 
garded in  business  circles  for  his  enterprise, 
perseverance  and  sterling  integrity. 

He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  March  G, 
188G,  to  Mary  Wohleben,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Kegina  Wohleben,  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many, but  residents  of  Harrisburg.  They 
have  two  children:  AVilliam  Henry,  born 
April  7,  1889,  and  Elizabeth,  born  July  5, 
1890.  In  political  views  Mr.  Weber  is  a 
Democrat. 


Shields,  Ja.mes  D.,  manufacturer  and 
dealer  in  proprietary  medicines,  was  born  in 
Fayette  township,  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 21,  1853;  son  of  Charles  and  Sarah 
(Myers)  Shields,  both  natives  of  Juniata 
county  and  of  Irish  ancestry.  The  father 
died  in  1863,  aged  sixty-live  years.  The 
mother  is  still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of 
'eight3'-one  years,  and  resides  at  McAllisters- 
ville.  Juniata  county.  They  had  eleven 
children.  James  D.  was  reared  on  the  farm 
in  Juniata  county  and  attended  the  public 
schools  and  Port  Royal  Academy.  He  began 
his  business'  life  as  a  salesman  and  was  en- 
gaged in  various  occupations  in  his  native 
county  until  1878,  when  he  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  where  lie  was  for  ten  years  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  sewing  machines,  and 
in  1889  embarked  in  his  present  business. 
He  was  married  at  Lancaster  city,  September 
17, 1884,  to  Alice  E.  Lipp,  daughter  of  Heniy 
G.  and  Margaret  Lipp,  of  Lancaster.  They 
have  no  cliildren.  In  his  political  views, 
Mr.  Shields  is  a  Democrat. 


Rhoads,  James  M.,  was  born  at  Harris- 
burg, December  7,  1854.  His  father,  Daniel 
Rlioads,  was  a  well-known  and  honored  resi- 
dent of  Dauphin  county.  He  held  several 
important  civil  offices.  He  was  the  first 
high  constable  of  Harrisburg.  In  later 
years  he  w'as  engaged  in  the  lime  business 
in  this  city.  His  mother  was  Susan  Russell. 
The  surviving  children  of  the  family  are: 
John,  residing  in  Philadelphia;  Thomas, 
residing  in  Harrisburg;  Adeline,  wife  of 
Samuel  Black, residing  in  Baltimore;  Joseph 
E.,  Daniel  H.,  James  M.,  and  Charles  H. 
James  M.  received  the  advantages  of  a  pub- 
lic school  education  in  Harrisburg,  where  he 
has  spent  his  life,  with  the  exception  of  six 
years  which  he  spent  in  Philadel[diia.  After 
leaving  school  he  was  engaged  at  the  pla- 


ting trade  for  four  years.  After  this,  he 
engaged  in  the  sale  of  building  sand,  in 
which  he  still  continues,  in  connection  with 
other  enterprises,  especially  the  brick  manu- 
facture, conducted  by  the  enterprising  firm 
of  Bigler  &  Co.,  of  which  he  is  a  member. 
In  1874  he  removed  to  Piiiladelphia,  where 
he  spent  six  years  as  foreman  of  car  inspec- 
tors of  Pennsylvania  Gas  Goal  Company. 
In  1880  he  returned  to  Harrisburg,  and  has 
held  continuous  residence  here  since  that 
date.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive  business 
men  of  Harrisbure,  and  has  aided  substan- 
tially in  the  development  of  some  important 
enterprises,  whicii  have  materiall}'  bene- 
fitted the  city  and  county.  He  was  married 
in  Philadelphia  to  Ella  Jane  Sparks,  daugh- 
ter of  George  W.  and  Eiisa  Jane  Sparks. 
Their  children  are  Irene  C,  Eliza  and  .James 
('.  B.  In  political  views  he  is  a  liberal. 
Tiio  family  attend  the  Memorial  Lutheran 
church. 


WoRDEN,  Janies  IL,  was  born  in  Luzerne 
county,  October  9,  1855,  son  of  Hiram  B. 
and  Mary  A.  (Lockwood)  Miller  Worden. 
Hiram  B.  Worden  was  born  in  Luzerne 
county.  Pa.,  November  8, 1826.  His  early  life 
was  spent  in  the  coal  business  in  the  Wyom- 
ing Valley.  He  was  at  that  time  one  of  tlie 
most  prominent  coal  o]ierators  in  the  valley. 
He  continued  in  the  business  until  1861.  He 
was  first  married  to  Miss  Vangelia  C.  Lock- 
wood,  daughter  of  William  and  Hester 
Travis  Lockwood.  There  was  no  issue  of 
tliis  marriage.  Mrs.  Worden  died  in  1853, 
aged  twenty-four  years.  In  his  second  mar- 
riage Mr.  Worden  was  united  to  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  (Lockwood)  Miller.  She  was  born  Feli- 
ruary  5,  1821.  The  children  by  this  mar- 
riage are  .James  H.,  II.  M.  F.,  Vangelia  C, 
Carrie  K.,  who  died  September  27,  1886, 
aged  twenty-seven  years;  Hiranr  B.,  and 
Annie  M.  The  mother  died  February  26, 
1878,  aged  fifty-seven  years.  Mr.  Worden 
was  married  ihe  third  time,  April  21,  1880, 
to  Mrs.  Almira  Walker  Geer,  daughter  of 
Marshall  K.  and  Anna  M.  Walker.  After 
leaving  the  coal  business  in  1861,  Mr.  Wor- 
den went  into  farming  and  stock  raising,  to 
which  he  gave  his  attention  until  1878,  after 
which  he  was  in  the  milling  business  until 
1882,  when  he  engaged  in  the  hay  business, 
in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  Mr.  Worden 
is  prominent  in  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fel- 
lows fraternities.     He  is  a  member  of  the 


548 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Methodist  church,  in  which  he  has  filled  all 
church  offices. 

James  H.  Worden  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  finishing  at  the 
Keystone  Academy  at  Factory  ville,  Fa.,  and 
at  a  very  early  age  began  teaching  school  in 
Wyoming  county,  where  he  was  employed 
during  three  winter  terms ;  in  the  summer 
he  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm.  During 
the  year  1875  Mr.  Worden  was  clerk  in  the 
Chenango  Valley  Savings  Bank,  Bingham- 
ton,  N.  Y.;  during  1876  he  had  charge  of 
the  books  of  his  uncle,  George  Worden,  at 
Pittston,  Pa.,  in  the  meantime  teaching 
school  three  months  of  an  unexpired  term. 
He  also  taught  six  weeks  of  another  term  in 

1878  at  Yatesville,  Pa.,  in  May  of  which  year 
he  resigned  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Lochiel  Rolling  Mill  Company  at  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  which  position  he  held  for  one 
year  when  the  mill  was  closed  down.     In 

1879  he  took  charge  of  the  books  of  D.  W. 
Gross  &  Son,  119  Market  street,  Harrisburg, 
and  remained  with  them  until  1882,  wiien 
he  connected  himself  with  C.  E.  H.  Brels- 
ford  &  Co.,  of  Harrisburg,  having  charge  of 
the  accounts  of  this  company  until  January, 
1892,  when  it  was  reorganized  and  incor- 
porated in  the  name  of  the  Brelsford  Pack- 
ing Company,  and  Mr.  Worden  was  made 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  corporation, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  also 
connected  with  and  is  the  president  of  the 
Columbia  Baking  Company  of  Columbia, 
Pa.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Penns}'!- 
vania  State  Sportsmen's  Association,  and 
president  of  the  Harrisburg  Shooting  Asso- 
ciation. Among  the  fraternities,  Mr.  Wor- 
den is  past  master  of  Perseverance  Lodge, 
No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Harrisburg;  past  coun- 
cillor of  Capital  City  Council,  No.  327,  Jr.  0. 
U.  A.  M.,  and  for  twenty  years  has  been  an 
Odd  Fellow.  In  politics  he  is  and  always 
has  been  a  Republican.  The  family  are 
Episcopalians. 

James  H.  Worden  was  married  January 
17,  1883,  at  Carbondale,  Pa.,  to  Elizabeth  I. 
Joyce,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Margaret 
(Hartley)  Joyce.  They  have  two  children  : 
Lockwood  Brelsford,  born  July  4,  1886,  and 
Margaret  Hartley,  born  October  14,  1892. 

Mrs.  James  H<  Worden  was  born  at  Car- 
bondale, Pa.,  May  1,  1857.  Her  father, 
Thomas  Joyce,  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ire- 
land, June  27, 1809,  and  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1844.  He  was  a  farmer  and  sheep 
raiser.     He  first  married  Anna,  daughter  of 


John  and  Anna  Adams.  Their  children 
were:  Emily,  who  resides  near  Scran  ton. 
Pa.,  and  Robert,  who  died  June  17,  1859, 
aged  twentv-one  years.  In  his  second  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Joyce  was  united  to  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret  Hartley, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Thomas  H., 
Annie  M.,  wife  of  William  Kelley,  of  One- 
onta,  N.  Y.;  Elizabeth  Isabella,  wife  of  Mr. 
Worden,  and  John,  who  died  June  12,  1860, 
aged  sixteen.  Mrs.  Margaret  Joyce  died 
August  23,  1869,  aged  fifty-six.  Mr.  Joyce 
was  married  the  third  time  December  24, 
1872,  to  Eliza,  daughter  of  Robert  Reynolds. 
Of  this  marriage  tliere  is  no  i.ssue.  Mr.  Joyce 
entered  the  services  of  the  Delaware  and 
Hudson  Railroad  Company  in  th.e  capacity 
of  engineer,  assisting  in  the  building  of  the 
first  railroad  in  Luzerne  county,  and  re- 
mained in  the  employment  of  this  company 
until  1868,  when  he  retired.  He  was  an  ac- 
tive member  of  the  Episcopal  cliurch  until 
his  death,  June  13,  1881,  in  the  seventy- 
second  year  of  his  age.  Mrs.  Eliza  Joyce 
survives  him  and  resides  at  Factoryville, 
Pa.,  where  she  holds  membership  in  the 
Methodist  church. 


Carlile,  Alexander  W.,  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Carlile  &  Roberts,  proprietors 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Ammonia  and  Fertili- 
zer Works,  was  born  in  Chester  county,  near 
New  London,  Pa.,  December  3,  1855.  He  is 
a  son  of  Samuel  and  Julia  C.  (Henderson) 
Carlile,  the  former  a  native  of  Chester 
county,  the  latter  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 
After  passing  through  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town,  he  attended  Delaware 
College,  at  Newark,  Del.,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1882.  For  four  years  he  was 
assistant  analytical  chemist  in  the  State 
Laboratory  of  Delaware  College.  In  1886 
he  opened  a  chemical  laboratory  at  Wil- 
mington, Del.,  and  was  engaged  in  this  pro- 
fession for  four  years  in  this  place.  The 
next  year  he  was  engaged  in  the  same  pro- 
fession at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  during  this 
time  was  also  manager  and  stockholder  in 
the  Pennsylvania  Ammonia  and  Fertilizer 
Company,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  In  July, 
1895,  he  formed  a  partnership  in  this  busi- 
ness with  Mr.  Alexander  H.  Roberts. 

He  was  married,  in  Philadelphia,  January 
28,  1885,  to  Eveline  Juliet  V/inner,  daugh- 
ter of  Amos  L.  and  Amanda  Witmer,  of 
Lancaster,  Pa.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  one  of  whom  died  in   child- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


549 


hood.  The  living  child  is  Genevieve,  born 
December  27,  1892.  In  politics  Mr.  Carlile 
is  a  Democrat.  He  attends  the  Episcopal 
church. 


Bentley,  George   Rollaxd,  manager  of 
Paxton  Plate  Mills,  was  born  in  Coatesville, 
Chester  county,  Pa.,  March  8,  1856.       He  is 
a  son  of  John  S.  and  Mary  (Manley)  Bentley, 
the  former  of  Chester  county  and  the  latter 
of  Delaware  county.  Pa.     He  was  reared  to 
manhood  and   was  educated  in   his  native 
county.     In  boyhood  he  worked  on  a  farm, 
and  when  fifteen  years  old  went  to  work  in 
a  rolling-mill.     He  has  been  engaged  in  the 
iron  business  twenty-five  years.     In  1879  he 
removed  to  Chester,  and   there  also  worked 
in  a  rolling-mill.      Toward    the  last  of  his 
engagement  he  was  manager  of  the  Cliester 
rolling-mill,  and  afterwards  of  the  Wellman 
iron  and  steel  works.      In  October,  1892,  he 
removed   to    Harrisburg   and    assumed    his 
present  position.      He   has  been   twice  mar- 
ried.    He  was  married,  first,  at  Wilmington, 
Del.,  in  1877,  to  Edith   T.  Wier.     To   this 
marriage    were  born    six    children,   two   of 
whom    died    in    childhood.      Their  living 
children  are  Walter  S.,  J.  Frank,  Bertha  M., 
and  George  Allen ;    tliose  deceased,  .Jolm  E. 
and  C.  Edgar.      Mr.  Bentley  is  a  member  of 
Thurlow  Castle,  No.  159,  K.  of  G.  E.,  Chester, 
Pa.     In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican. 
The  family  attends  the  M.  E.  church.     Mrs. 
Bentley  died  at  Chester  in  March,  1890.     In 
April,  1892,  he  was  married   to  Melissa  Val- 
entine, widow  of  the  late  Joseph  Hendrick- 
son.     Two  children  were  the  fruit   of   this 
marriage,  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy,  and 
Paul  H.     The  parents  of  Mr.  Bentley  liad 
nine   children,   all    of    whom     are    living: 
Harry  G,  of  Philadelphia;  William   Hum- 
jjhrey,  of  Coatesville  ;    D.  Frank,  of  Coates- 
ville; Edith    A.,  wife  of  James  D.  Stott,  of 
Coatesville;  Harriet   E.,  widow  of   the  late 
David    Thompson,   of  Gum    Tree,    Chester 
county.  Pa.;    George  R.,  of  Harrisburg,  and 
Abram   H.,  of  Chester,  Pa.,  twin    Ijrotiiers ; 
Edmund  E.,  of  Coatesville,  Pa.       Mr.  Bent- 
ley has  thoroughly  demonstrated    his  busi- 
ness ability,  and  as  a  citizen  enjoys  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  his  neighbors. 


of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Irish  ancestrj'.  They 
both  died  at  Hazleton,  the  father  in  1889, 
the  mother  in  1878.  The  father  was  a  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Hazleton  and  prominent 
in  military  circles,  bearing  the  title  of 
colonel.  They  had  born  to  them  three  chil- 
dren ;  W.  R.,  Ella,  and  James  C,  Indian 
agent  at  Ft.  Dunlap,  Mon.  The  youth  of 
W.  Righter  was  spent  in  Hazleton,  where  he 
had  the  advantage  of  a  good  public  school 
education.  He  became  a  telegraph  operator 
in  the  emplo3'ment  of  the  Lehigh  Valley 
Railroad  Company.  In  1877  he  became 
connected  with  the  Hazleton  Electric  Light 
Company  and  on  March  17,  1884,  he  came 
to  Harrisburg  and  since  that  date  has  been 
connected  with  the  Harrisburg  Electric 
Light  Company.  In  May  of  the  same  year 
he  was  appointed  electrician  of  the  company 
and  has  efficiently  performed  the  duties  of 
his  present  position  since  1886.  He  was 
married,  at  Harrisburg,  June  1,  1886,  to 
Sarah  Coulter,  daughter  of  William  and 
Sarah  Coulter,  of  Harrisburg.  To  them 
have  been  born  two  children  :  Mary  and 
James.  He  is  a  member  of  Perseverance 
Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  attends  the 
Market  Square  Presbyterian  church. 


FiTZPATKicK,  W.  RiGHTEK,  superintendent 
of  the  Harrisb.irg  Electric  Company,  was 
born  at  Hazleton,  Luzerne  county. Pa.,  Marcli 
29,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Mary 
(Malloy)  Fitzpatrick,  who  were  both  natives 


Geisel,  Henry,  proprietor  of  the  Enter- 
prise Planing  Mill,  was  born  at  Harrisburg, 
June  10,  1856.  His  father,  Henry  Geisel, 
and  his  mother,  Amelia  (ieisel,  were  both  born 
in  Germany,  but  emigrated  to  this  country 
and  were  among  the  earh'  settlers  of  Harris- 
burg, where  Mr.  Geisel  carried  on  the  black- 
smith business  until  within  a  short  time  of 
Ins  death.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  living:  Heniy,  Richard, 
Lena,  wife  of  Harry  Smith,  residing  at  Plum 
Creek,  Neb.;  Amelia,  wife  of  George  Harris, 
Harrisburg;  Augusta  and  John,  also  resid- 
ing in  Harrisburg. 

Mr.  Geisel  received  a  public  school  e<]u- 
cation.  At  ten  vears  of  age  he  started  in  life 
as  an  errand  boj'  in  a  groceiy  store,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered  the  plan- 
ing mill  of  Trullinger  &Co.,  where  he  learned 
the  business  and  followed  it  both  in  Harris- 
burg and  Philadelphia  until  1890,  when  he 
engaged  in  business  for  himself 
'  He  was  married  n  Harrisburg,  May  28, 
1876,  to  Elizabeth  Henning,  of  Harrisburg, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Henning. 
They  have  four  living  children  and  one  dead. 


550 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Tlie  living  children  are:  Henrj',  Jr.,  John  F., 
Charles  H.,  and  Grover  Cleveland. 

He  is  a  member  of  Lamberton  Lodge,  No. 
708,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  Bayard  Lodge,  No.  150,  K. 
P.,  and  of  Goldsmith  Division,  U.  R.  K.  P. 
He  has  served  as  judge  of  election  board  of 
Sixth  ward.  In  political  views  he  is  a 
Democrat.  The  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Roberts,  Alexander  H.,  of  the  firm  of 
Carlile  &  Roberts,  proprietors  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Ammonia  and  Fertilizer  Works, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  August  1,  1856. 
He  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Charlotte  E. 
(Geiger)  Roberts,  whose  ancestors  were  early 
settlers  of  Harrisburg.  He  received  his 
))rimary  education  in  the  j)ublic  schools  of 
Harrisburg,  and  later  attended  the  prepara- 
tory school  of  Jacob  F.  Seller.  He  com- 
pleted his  education  at  Lafayette  College, 
Easton,  Pa.  He  went  to  Philadelphia  and 
became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Wm.  B. 
Riely  &  Co.,  horse  blanket  manufacturers. 
He  continued  in  the  business  ten  years,  when 
he  retired  from  the  firm,  returned  to  Harris- 
burg and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  stationery 
business  on  Market  Square,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Roberts  &  Meek.  He  is  still  an 
active  partner  in  this  firm.  In  July,  1895, 
he  became  associated  with  Mr.  A.  W.  Carlile 
in  the  manufacture  of  fertilizers. 

He  was  married  in  (lermantown,  Phila- 
delphia, April  8,  1885,  to  Mi.ss  Bertha  Hill, 
daughter  of  l']rastus  and  Sarah  ((irafley) 
Hill.  Of  tlieir  four  children,  two  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  living  children  are  Sarah  H., 
born  September  11,  1888,  and  Erastus  H., 
born  December  25,  1894.  In  political  views 
Mr.  Roberts  is  a  Democrat. 


WoRDKN,  Henky  M.  F.,  manager  of  Brels- 
ford  Packing  Company,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was 
born  at  Plains,  Luzerne  county.  Pa.,  October 
6,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of  Hiram  B.  and  Mary 
A.  (Lockwood)  Worden,  natives  of  Luzerne 
count}',  tlip  former  born  near  Wilkes-Barre, 
tiie  latter  near  Scranton.  His  fatlier  was  a 
coal  operator  and  ofiened  the  first  shaft  ever 
opened  between  Wilkes-Barre  and  Pittston. 
In  1861  he  sold  out,  went  to  Wyoming 
county  and  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
milling  up  to  1892,  when  he  removed  to 
Whitney's  Point,  N.  Y.,  and  is  now  engaged 
there  in  the  pressing  of  haj'.  His  mother 
died  at  Factoryville,  Wyoming  county,  Feb- 
ruarv  26,  1876.     These  parents  had  a  family 


of  six  children  :  James  H.,  Henry  M.  F., 
Vangelia,  wife  of  A.  E.  Baile}',  Hiram  B., 
Carrie  (deceased)  and  Annie  M. 

Henry  M.  F.  Worden  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  school  of  his  native 
county.  He  also  attended  the  Keystone 
Academy  at  Factoryville,  Wyoming  county. 
He  taught  school  for  two  years  in  Wyoming 
county  and  the  following  two  years  he  was 
an  accountant  at  Pittston,  Luzerne  county. 
Pa.  In  1881  he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and 
engaged  with  C.  E.  H.  Brelsford  as  account 
ant.  In  January,  1893,  this  business  was 
formed  into  an  incorporated  company  and 
Mr.  Worden  became  a  stockholder  and  the 
manager  of  the  company. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  Januarv 
20,  1885,  to  Mary  E.  Dietrich,  daugiiter  Jf 
B.  F.  and  Harriet  Dietric^i,  of  Harrisburg. 
They  have  one  child,  Harriet,  born  October 
6,  1888.  Mr.  Worden  is  a  member  of  the 
Capital  City  Council,  No.  327,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  ciiurcii.  Mr.  Worden 
faithfully  discharges  the  duties  devolving 
upon  him,  and  in  every  line  of  action  mani- 
fests energy,  fidelity  and  intelligence. 

Nagle,  Christian  M.,  chief  engineer  of 
the  Harrisburg  water  works,  was  born  in 
Bainbridge,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  February 
2,  1857.  His  father,  Emanuel  Nagle,  is  a 
native  of  Marietta,  Lancaster  county,  and  is 
of  German  ancestry.  He  is  a  Ijlacksmith, 
and  has  carried  on  business  in  Marietta, 
Bainbridge  and  Middletown.  He  has  lived 
thirty  years  at  Middletown,  and  served  sev- 
eral terms  in  the  common  council  of  the 
borough.  He  was  provost  marshal  of  Bain- 
bridge during  the  war.  He  was  also  for 
some  time  in  the  employment  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company.  He  is  now 
living  a  quiet,  retired  life,  at  Middletown,  at 
tlie  age  of  seventy-four  years,  highly  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him.  His  wife, 
Sarah  Ann  (Markley)  Nagle,  is  of  English 
ancestry,  and  was  born  at  Penningtonville, 
Chester  county.  Pa.  She  is  still  living,  at 
seventy-three  years  of  age.  They  had  ten 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living:  Mary  S., 
wife  of  Adam  Dennis,  residing  at  Mann's 
Choice,  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Dennis  has  been 
ticket  agent  and  operator  for  the  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad  for  over  twenty  years;  John 
IL,  residing  in  Harrisburg;  Esther  A.,  wife 
of  Ross  McCreary,  residing  in  Middletown  ; 
Christian  M.;  Ellen,  wife  of  George  Hutton, 


BA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY. 


551 


residing  in  Harrisburg,  a  prominent  grocery 
merchant,  and  a  water  works  commissioner ; 
and  Lutlier  j\I.,  residing  in  Middletown. 

Wlien  about  eight  j'ears  old,  Christian  M. 
Nagle  removed  to  Middletown  with  his 
parents,  and  passed  here  his  boyhood  days, 
taking  the  course  of  study  in  the  public  and 
high  schools  of  the  town.  After  leaving 
school  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  became 
an  apprentice  at  the  machinist's  trade,  in 
the  employ  of  W.  0.  Hickok  ;  he  remained 
with  this  firm  for  fourteen  years.  On  June 
4,  1888,  he  was  appointed  assistant  engineer 
of  the  water  works.  In  1890  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  place  of  chief  engineer,  which 
he  now  holds. 

He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  January 
15,  1879,  to  Naomi  Livingston,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Esther  Livingston,  of  Watts 
township.  Perry  county.  Their  children 
are:  Charles  E.,  born  January  10,  1880; 
Bertha  M.,  born  August  12, 1882,  and  Esther 
A.,  born  May  14,  1884. 

Mr.  Nagle  has  served  as  school  director, 
representing  the  Sixth  ward  for  two  terms. 
He  is  a  member  of  Egyptian  Commanderv, 
No.  114,  K.  of  M.;  .St.  John's  Castle,  No.  17, 
M.  C,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Republican.  The  family 
attend  the  United  Evangelical  church. 


Fleming,  David,  Jk.,  was  born  at  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  May  4,  1857.  He  is  a  son  of 
David  Fleming,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  volume,  and  Susan 
(Mowry)  Fleming,  daughter  of  Charles 
Mowry,  also  elsewhere  noticed  in  this  book. 

He  spent  his  youth  in  Harrisburg,  and 
enjoyed  the  best  educational  advantages  af- 
forded in  the  city.  He  studied  at  Princeton 
College  in  class  of  1878.  He  was  one  year 
with  the  engineer  corps  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Canal  Companj'.  In  January,  1879,  he  was 
with  the  Harrisburg  Car  Company  as  clerk, 
and  was  afterwards  made  cashier  of  the 
foundry  and  machine  department  of  the  car 
company.  In  the  re-organization  of  the 
Harrisburg  Foundry  and  Machine  Works  lie 
was  prominent,  and  was  elected  secretar}' 
and  treasurer  of  the  company,  the  position 
he  has  since  filled.  He  was  made  one  of  the 
executors  of  his  father's  estate  in  1890.  He 
also  succeeded  his  father  as  director  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Harrisburg.  Since 
his  father's  death  the  estate  rebuilt  and  re- 
constructed the  Commonwealth  Hotel  in 
1891,  andadded  the  annex  in  1892.     He  is 


one  of  the  organizers  and  a  director  of  the 
East  Harrisburg  Passenger  Railway  Com- 
pany. He  is  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the 
Harrisburg  Grocery  and  Produce  Company, 
and  one  of  the  incorporators  and  a  director 
of  the  Brelsford  Packing  Company.  He  is 
a  stockholder  in  the  Trust  and  Safe  De|)Osit 
Company  and  the  People's  Bridge  Company, 
and  succeeded  his  father  as  president  of  the 
People's  Gas  Companj-.  He  is  interested  in 
several  other  enterprises,  being  director  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Folding  Gate  and  Guard 
Company,  of  the  Pennsylvania  Ventilated 
Barrel  Company,  of  the  Westinger  Furnace 
Company  and  of  the  Harrisburg  Traction 
Company.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Harrisburg  Club,  and  was  on  the  gov- 
erning committee  of  the  club  for  several 
years.  He  is  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the 
Inglenook  ("lub  and  one  of  the  building 
committee  of  the  club.  In  politics  Mr. 
Fleming  is  a  Republican.  He  was  married 
in  October  16, 1884,  to  Mary  Curwen,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Curwen,  superintendent  of  Penn- 
sylvania Hospital,  Warren,  Pa.,  and  Martha 
Elmer,  daughter  of  Judge  Elmer,  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  New  Jersey.  They  have  two 
children  :  Martha  Elmer,  born  March  6, 
1889,  and  David  Fleming,  third,  born  April 
21,  1893.  He  is  a  member  of  Market  Square 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  holds  the 
office  of  deacon.  He  teaches  tlie  class  taught 
by  his  father  in  tlie  Sunday-school. 


Ctoodman,  BEXEniCT,  manager  of  the 
Goodman  Clothing  Company,  was  born  at 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  June  16,  1857,  son 
of  Simon  and  Sophia  (Rotenberger)  Good- 
man. The  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many. The  father  was  born  February  27, 
1821,  cam&  to  this  country  when  a  boy, 
landed  at  New  York,  and  from  there  went 
South  and  engaged  in  general  merchandis- 
ing with  Saligman  Bros.  The  partnershij) 
was  dissolved  at  the  end  of  five  or  six  years, 
and  he  came  North  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  for  himself,  in  which  he 
has  continued  to  the  present  time.  He  re- 
tired from  business  at  one  time,  but  being 
an  active  man,  could  not  be  satisfied  with- 
out employment,  and  hence  resumed  busi- 
ness. 'Tlie  father  was  first  married  to  Miss 
Sophia  Roseburger,  to  whom  eight  children 
were  born.  Mrs.  Goodman  died  June  16, 
1873,  aged  forty-six  years.  The  family  were 
members  of  the  Jewish  Synagogue.  Bene- 
dict Goodman  attended  the  public  schools  of 


552 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


his  native  place  until  he  was  thirteen  years 
old,  after  which  he  took  a  course  of  study 
at  the  academy  in  New  Haven.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with  his 
father  for  seventeen  years,  when  he  left 
his  home  and  went  to  New  York,  and  from 
there  to  Pennsylvania,  and  traveled  West 
looking  for  a  business  location.  He  returned 
to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  for 
two  years  in  the  retail  clothing  business,  and 
was  subsequently  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
business  until  1883.  He  then  became  a 
traveling  salesman  through  the  western 
States.  In  1883  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and 
opened  a  clothing  store  at  No.  422  Market 
street,  in  a  small  room  16x32  feet,  where  lie 
conducted  business  for  three  years.  In  .Jan- 
uary, 1886,  he  leased  tlie  corner  of  Fourtli 
and  Market  street,  where  he  has  since  been 
located.  Mr.  Goodman  was  married  De- 
cember 16,  1777,  to  Miss  R.  Goodman, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Matilda  Goodman, 
to  whom  lias  been  born  one  daughter, 
Sophia.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Goodman 
were  both  natives  of  South  Bend.  Tlie 
father  was  a  general  merchant  and  lived  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  died. 

KiNTER,  Charles  H.,  manager  of  the 
Harrisburg  Electric  Company,  was  born  at 
Columbus,  Oliio,  August  2,  1857,  son  of 
George  and  Caroline  C.  (Heister)  Kinter. 
He  came  to  Harrisburg  with  his  parents 
when  a  child  and  i-eceived  his  education  in 
the  public  scliools.  He  was  then  employetl 
as  messenger  in  tlie  train  dispatchers'  othco 
of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  from  which  lie 
was  transferred  to  the  position  of  clerk  in  tiie 
freight  warehouse  and  subsequently  served 
for  six  years  as  passenger  brakeman  and 
conductor  on  the  Middle  division.  On  Oc- 
tober 1,  1888,  he  was  made  manager  of  the 
Electric  Company  and  has  continued  in 
charge  of  this  important  business  since  tliat 
time.  He  was  married  at  Harrisburg,  No- 
vember 3,  1881,  10  Mary  C.  Groff,  daughter 
of  George  M.  and  Elizabeth  Groff.  They 
have  no  children.  Mr.  Kinter  is  a  member 
of  State  Capitol  Lodge,  No.  2030,  K.  of  H. 
He  is  a  Republican  and  attends  Grace  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church. 


father,  .John  Patton,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
.settlers  of  Northumberland  county,  where 
he  spent  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  and 
died  at  Milton  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was 
the  inventor  of  the  screw  propeller.  Will- 
iam P.  Patton,  son  of  John  and  father  of  J. 
Hervey,  was  born  at  Milton,  Northumber- 
land county,  and  came  to  Harrisburg  about 
the  year  1850.  For  twenty  years  he  was 
connected  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company.  Ide  was  the  first  superintendent 
of  the  Harrisburg  city  water  department. 
He  was  the  designing  architect  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  People's  Gas  Light  Compan}' 
and  superintendent  of  it  until  its  consolida- 
tion with  the  United  Gas  Improvement 
Company.  About  1885  he  removed  to 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  was  engaged  there 
for  four  years  in  the  Patent  Office.  He  re- 
moved to  Jersey  Citj'in  1889,  and  has  since 
been  in  the  employment  of  Munn  &  Co., 
publishers  of  the  Scientific  American  as  one 
of  their  patent  examiners.  He  married 
Margaret  Able,  mother  of  J.  Hervey  Patton. 

J.  Herve3'  Patton  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  the  city,  and  after  leaving 
school  spent  six  years  at  telegraphy  in  the 
service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany. In  1879  he  became  connected  with 
the  Harrisburg  Car  Company  in  the  capac- 
ity of  corres])onding  and  order  clerk-,  and 
was  continuously  in  the  service  of  this  com- 
paii}'  until  the  industry  was  discontinued. 
On  the  formation  of  the  companies  above 
named  he  was  chosen  to  the  position  he  so 
etficientl}-  tills  at  this  date. 

Mr.  Patton  was  married  at  Harrisburg, 
■September  7,  1886,  to  Mi.ss  Anna  W.  Lynch, 
daughter  of  John  S.  and  Elizabeth  Lynch, 
the  former  at  tiiat  date  being  recorder  of 
deeds  for  Dauphin  county.  They  have  no 
children.  Mr.  Patton  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum.  In  political  matters  he 
acts  with  the  Republicans.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Patton  are  consistent  members  of  Grace 
M.  E.  church.  Mr.  Patton  is  one  of  the 
stewards  of  that  church. 


Patton,  J.  Hervey,  chairman  of  the  Har- 
risburg Pipe  Bending  Company  (limited) 
and  also  chairman  of  the  Harrisburg  Tin- 
smith Company  (limited),  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  October  26,  1857.      His  grand- 


Spicer,  J.  Hknky,  superintendent  of  the 
Harrisburg  Burial  Case  Company,  was  born 
at  Plymouth,  Hancock  county.  III.,  Novem- 
ber 14,  1857,  son  of  Charles  A.  and  Nancy 
(West)  Spicer. 

Charles  A.  Spicer,  undertaker  and  furni- 
ture dealer,  was  born  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  April 
6,  1835.  His  father,  Henry  Spicer,  was  a 
native   of  Switzerland,    who   came   to   this 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


553 


country  and  settled  at  Carlisle,  Pa.  He  was 
owner  and  publisher  of  the  Carlisle  Herald 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1835.  His  wife,  Eliza  Gorman,  was  a 
native  of  Cumberland  county  and  died  in 
1841.  They  had  two  children,  of  wiiom 
Charles  A.  is  the  only  survivor.  He  took  a 
partial  course  in  the  public  schools,  and  in 
his  fifteenth  year  was  an  apprentice  to  the 
cabinet-making  business.  When  nineteen 
years  old  he  removed  to  Polo,  111.,  where  he 
worked  at  carpentry.  He  went  to  Plymouth, 
111.,  in  1855,  and  carried  on  the  furniture 
business  there  for  two  years.  He  returned 
to  Carlisle,  Pa.,  in  1859,  and  was  engaged  in 
business  there  until  1861.  In  June  of  that 
year  he  enlisted  in  company  A,  Seventh 
Pennsylvania  reserves,  and  served  till  his 
discharge  at  Falmouth,  Va.,  in  June,  1802, 
when  he  returned  to  Carlisle.  In  a  short 
time  he  removed  to  Harrisburg  where  he 
was  engaged  with  the  Harrisburg  Car  Com- 
pany for  four  years,  and  in  1800  established 
his  present  business,  which  he  has  conducted 
continuously  for  thirty  years.  He  was  mar- 
ried at  Plymoutli,  111.,  to  Nancy  West,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  West, 
residents  of  Peru,  Ind.  Of  the  ten  children 
born  to  them,  seven  survive:  J.  Henry, 
superintendent  of  the  Burial  Case  Company  ; 
Nellie,  wife  of  F.  Orth,  a  prominent  grocer 
of  Harrisburg;  Charles,  shipping  clerk, 
Burial  Case  Company;  William,  a  student 
in  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  ;  Rudolph, 
undertaker,  at  Altoona;  Bessie  and  Anna. 
Mr.  Spicer  represented  the  Third  ward  in 
council  for  one  year.  He  is  a  member  of 
State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and 
of  State  Capital  Beneficial  Society.  In  polit- 
ical views  he  is  a  Democrat.  The  family 
attend  the  Market  Square  Presbyterian 
church. 

The  famih'  removed  to  Harrisburg  when 
J.  Henry  Spicer  was  six  years  old.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
this  city  and  at  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle, 
Pa.  Upon  itscomi)letion  he  engaged  in  the 
furniture  business  with  his  father,  until  the 
organization  of  the  Harrisburg  Burial  Case 
Company,  in  1882.  Of  this  company  he  was 
made  superintendent,  and  has  pi'oved  effi- 
cient and  faithful  in  performing  the  duties 
of  his  position.  Mr.  Spicer  is  a  member  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Prohibitionist. 

J.  Henry  Spicer  was  married   at  Harris- 


burg, August  31,  1881,  to  Annie  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  A.  and  Christiana  (McWilliam.?) 
Spofford,  who  were  formerly  residents  of 
Harrisburg.  They  are  now  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs. Spicer  have  one  son,  John  Spofford, 
born  February  3,  1885.  Mr.  Spicer  is  an 
elder  in  the  Market  Square  Presbyterian 
church. 


Royal,  John  Kelker,  is  a  native  of  Har- 
risburg, and  was  born  September  6,  1858. 
He  is  a  son  of  Josiah  S.  and  Rebecca  E. 
(Morgan)  Royal.  The  former  was  a  native 
of  Lancaster,  and  was  connected  with  the 
printing  and  publishing  business  for  many 
j'ears,  and  died  September,  1885,  after  an 
active  and  well  spent  life.  The  latter  is  a 
native  of  Daupiiin  county,  and  is  still  living 
in  this  city.  John  K.  was  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  besides  himself  are  still 
living,  namely:  Morgan  J.,  residing  in  Har- 
risburg, and  Mar3'  E.,  also  residing  liere. 
Mr.  Royal  has  been  a  resident  of  Harrislnirg 
all  his  life,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  this  city.  He  learned  telegraphy 
on  the  Northern  Central  railroad,  and  was 
occupied  in  this  business  two  years.  He  was 
clerk  in  the  Bolton  House  from  1875  to  1880. 
He  was  emploj'ed  in  bookkeeping  from  1880 
to  1882.  In  the  latter  year,  in  connection 
with  J.  Henry  Spicer,  he  organized  the  Har- 
risburg Burial  Case  Company,  of  which  he 
was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  has 
faithfully  performed  the  duties  of  this  office 
since  that  date.  Mr.  Royal  is  also  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Harrisburg  Furniture 
Company  and  the  Harrisburg  Preserving 
Company.  He  was  married  in  Lebanon, 
April  2,  1891,  to  E.  Elizabeth  Miller,  daugh- 
ter of  J.  Henry  Miller,  of  Lebanon.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them :  J.  Doug- 
las M.,  born  June  6,1892;  Elizabeth,  born 
November  25,  1893,  and  R.  Ernestine,  born 
Jul}'^  4,  1895.  He  is  a  member  of  Persever- 
ance Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  church.  Mr.  Royal 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  city  council  in 
1890  in  the  strongest  Republican  ward  in 
the  city,  and  re-elected  successively  in  1892, 
1894  and  1896.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  finance  committee  since  his  first  election ; 
has  also  served  on  the  appropriation,  high- 
way and  sanitary  committees,  and  was  chair- 
man of  the  building  and  city  propertj'  com- 
mittee. 


554 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Marsh,  Fred.  H.,  general  eastern  agent  of 
the  Superior  Drill  Company  of  Springfield, 
Ohio,  was  born  near  Binghampton,  N.  Y., 
October  3,  1858;  son  of  David  and  Maria 
(Brundis)  Marsli.  He  was  reared  in  his 
native  township  and  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  subse- 
quently attended  the  Binghamton  high 
school  and  Lowell's  Commercial  College,  of 
Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  of  both  of  which  insti- 
tutions he  is  an  lionored  graduate.  After 
completing  his  education  he  was  for  three 
years  travelling  salesman  for  the  firm  of 
Thomas,  Little  &  Rogers,  of  Springfield, 
Ohio,  and  served  in  the  same  capacity  for 
E.  W.  Ross,  of  the  same  place,  until  1891, 
since  which  date  he  has  represented  the 
Superior  Drill  Company,  of  Springfield, 
Ohio,  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey, 
Maryland,  Delaware,  Virginia,  and  a  portion 
of  West  Virginia,  with  headquarters  at  Har- 
risburg.  Mr.  Marsh  was  married  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  .January  12, 1887,  to  Miss  N.  G.  Hamill, 
daugliter  of  Capt.  Joseph  and  Leah  (Creigh- 
ton)  Hamill,  and  to  them  has  been  born  one 
son,  Collin  Herman,  died  June  3,  1890,  aged 
eighteen  months.  Mr.  Marsh  is  a  member 
of  Xenia  Lodge,  No.  52,  Shawnee  Encamp- 
ment, No.  20,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  Xenia,  Ohio,  and 
of  Xenia  Lodge,  No.  1658,  Kniglitsof  Honor, 
Xenia,  Ohio.  In  politics  Mr.  Marsh  is  a 
Republican.  He  and  his  wife  attend  the 
Pine  Street  Presbyterian  churcli  in  this  city 
and  are  both  members  of  the  denomination. 


the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Orderof  Elks. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  He 
is  unmarried. 


Roberts,  James  W., iron  and  brass  founder, 
Harrisburg,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  De- 
cember 3,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of  Alexander 
and  the  late  Charlotte  (Geiger)  Roberts,  who 
are  referred  to  on  anotlier  page  of  this  vol- 
ume. He  received  his  |>rimary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  took  a 
regular  course  at  Lafayette  College,  Easton, 
Pa.,  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution 
in  the  class  of  1882.  After  completing  his 
collegiate  course  he  studied  civil  engineer- 
ing. For  two  and  a  half  years  he  was  in  the 
service  of  tlie  Pennsylvania  Canal  Company 
and  subsequently  was  assistant  engineer  for 
about  three  years.  He  was  also  assistant 
chief  clerk  in  the  railway  mail  service  for 
three  years.  He  was  connected  with  the  iron 
and  brass  foundry  for  one  year.  In  January, 
1895,  he  became  sole  proprietor  of  his  pres- 
ent business.     Mr.  Roberts  is  a  member  of 


Eberle,  A\'illiam  F.,  general  foreman  of 
the  Harrisburg  car  shops,  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  was  born  at  Altoona,  Blair  county. 
Pa.,  June  8, 1859.  He  is  a  son  of  Alexander 
and  Mary  (Kilpatrick)  Eberle.  He  received 
a  common  school  education  in  his  native 
cit3%  and  was  imlentured  as  an  apprentice  to 
learn  car  building,  in  the  service  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  at  Al- 
toona, August  1,  1876.  He  was  the  only 
person  indentured  as  an  apprentice  during 
the  Centennial  year.  He  served  four  years 
at  his  apprenticeshij),  and  afterwards  re- 
mained in  the  service  of  the  company,  work- 
ing in  the  cabinet  department  of  the  car 
siiops  until  September  21, 1887,  when  he  was 
appointed  assistant  foreman  of  the  passenger 
car  erecting  sliops.  On  February  1,  1891, 
he  was  apfjointed  assistant  general  foreman 
of  tlie  Wall  shops,  on  the  Pittsburgh  divi- 
sion, and  was  located  at  that  point  until 
February  27,  1893,  when  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position.  He  was  married,  at 
Altoona,  Pa.,  August  1,  1888,  to  Miss  Annie 
Bussman,  daugliter  of  Charles  and  Susan 
Bussman,  of  Altoona.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  two  ciiildren  :  Alma  May 
and  Alexander  Wallis.  Mr.  Eberle  has  rep- 
resented the  Second  ward  of  the  city  of  Al- 
toona in  common  council  for  two  terms. 
He  is  a  member  of  Altoona  Lodge,  No.  281, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Logan  Lodge,  No.  79,  K. 
of  P.,  of  Altoona.  He  is  a  Republican,  and 
attends  the  United  Brethren  church. 


BiGELDw,  Lucius  S.,  general  manager  and 
secretary  of  the  W.  0.  Hickok  Manufactur- 
ing Com{)any,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  its  ac- 
tive head  since  the  spring  of  1888,  was  born 
in  Homer,  Courtland  county,  N.  Y.,  Septem- 
ber 6,  1859.  During  his  childhood  Mr. 
Bigelow  lived  in  Homer,  N.  Y.,  Jackson, 
Mich., Silver  Creek,  N.  Y.,  and  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
At  the  last  named  place,  he,  as  a  youth, 
took  a  lively  interest  in  the  art  of  printing, 
and  started  in  an  amateur  way  a  printing 
office,  in  a  building  adjoining  the  rear  of 
the  family  homestead.  Some  time  later 
he  took  into  partnership  a  brother,  now  of 
Boston,  then  connected  with  one  of  the  Buf- 
falo banks. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


555 


Business  increased,  and  b}'  degrees  this 
small  office  grew  into  prominence.  It  was 
removed  into  the  business  portion  of  the 
city,  and  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of 
Bigelow  Bros.,  to  whicli  firm,  later,  a  third 
brother,  then  connected  with  tlie  auditing 
department  of  the  F.  and  P.  M.  railway  at 
East  Saginaw,  Mich.,  was  admitted  to  part- 
nership, tlie  business  having  been  again  ex- 
tended. 

Later,  the  founder  of  this  well-known 
concern,  receiving  a  flattering  proposition 
from  a  company  of  large  lumber  operators, 
took  a  responsible  position  with  them,  which 
at  times  called  him  into  Pennsylvania.  Dur- 
ing these  tri[)S  into  the  Keystone  State  Mr. 
Bigelow  met  and  subsequently  married  Miss 
Sarah  Esther  Harris,  born  in  Plarrisburg, 
and  one  of  the  few  living  direct  descendants 
of  John  Harris,  who  settled  on  the  present 
site  of  Harrisburg,  and  of  John  Harris,  his 
son,  the  founder  of  the  city  which  bears  his 
name,  and  who  gave  to  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, for  the  site  of  a  State  house,  tlie 
beautiful  spot  upon  which  that  building 
now  stands,  and  to  the  city  of  Harrisburg 
"  Market  Square,"  for  market  purposes. 

Although  Mr.  Bigelow's  lumber  connec- 
tions were  in  Tonawanda,  near  Buflalo,  N. 
Y.,  the  largest  lumber  shi]iping  point  in  t!ic 
world,  he  decided  to  live  in  Harrisburg, 
making  that  city  the  center  of  the  territory 
which  he  controlled  and  conducted  in  the 
sales  department  of  the  business.  During 
his  early  residence  in  Harrisburg  Mr.  Bige- 
low met  many  of  the  business  men  of  that 
cit}',  and  receiving  one  da}'  a  request  to  drop 
into  the  office  of  one  of  these  gentlemen,  he 
complied,  and  was  there  told  that  the  board 
of  directors  of  the  W.  0.  Hickok  Manufac- 
turing Company  had  at  a  recent  meeting  de- 
cided to  offer  for  his  acceptance  the  position 
of  general  manager  and  secretar\'  of  that 
company.  This  suggestion  was  an  entire 
surprise  to  Mr.  Bigelow,  since  he  had  known 
nothing  of  the  proposed  plan,  but  his  early 
trainingin  printingand  bookbinding  having 
well  fitted  him  to  conduct  the  mechanical 
end  of  the  Hickok  Company's  business, 
which  is  the  manufacturing  of  bookbinder's 
and  paperruler's  machinery,  and  his  experi- 
ence in  later  years  having  fitted  him  to  con- 
duct the  office,  sales  department  and  general 
business,  he  finally,  after  deliberation,  de- 
cided to  accept  the  offer,  although  in  doing 
so  he  gave  up  a  very  desirable  position  and 
business.     Certain  suggestions  made  by  the 


directors  of  the  Hickok  Company  decided 
him  to  make  the  change.  The  business  has 
jirospered  under  Mr.  Bigelow's  management ; 
its  line  of  manufactures  has  received  mate- 
rial additions,  tlius  enlarging  its  field  of 
usefulness  and  profit.  The  concern  is  doing 
a  large  foreign  as  well  as  domestic  business. 
The  recent  addition  of  a  bicycle  department 
to  the  line  of  manufactures  of  the  Hickok 
Company  was  purely  tlie  outcome  of  sugges- 
tions and  investigations  made  b}'  Mr.  Bige- 
low. His  untiring  efforts,  coupled  with  a 
highly  expert  assistant  in  the  foreman  of 
that  department,  whom  he  has  secured  from 
another  city,  bids  fair  to  make  of  it  a  marked 
success.  They  will  build  the  highest  grade 
of  wheels. 

Mr.  Bigelow  is  a  stockholder  in  the  J.  H. 
McFarland  Printing  Com|>anj',  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trade  of  Harrisburg  and  the 
secretary  of  tiie  Association  of  American 
Manufacturers.  In  his  political  views  he  is 
a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  Market 
Square  Presbyterian  church  and  is  solo  bass 
in  its  choir.  He  is  a  trustee  of  tiie  Paxtang 
Presbyterian  church.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bigelow  are  ;  Katharine,  Harris 
Storres  and  Allen  Caryl. 

FoosE,  Jacob  A.,  superintendent  and  man- 
ager of  the  Harrisburg  Tinsmith  Company, 
was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  February  11, 
ISGO.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Hambright)  Foose.  They  are  natives  of 
Lancaster  county,  where  his  father  was  for 
many  j'ears  identified  with  prominent  busi- 
ness interests.  He  efficiently  filled  the  office 
of  chief  of  police  in  Lancaster  for  many  years, 
and  for  many  years  served  the  city  well  in 
the  select  council.  He  now  resides  in  Read- 
ing, Pa.,  and  conducts  an  extensive  tin  and 
copper  smithing  business.  These  parents 
have  three  children  living:  Anna,  wife  of 
William  B.  Cox;  Ida,  wife  of  Ambrose  Sny- 
der, and  Jacob  A.  The  latter  received  a 
limited  education  in  the  Lancaster  public 
schools.  At  ten  yeai's  of  age  he  began  to 
work  in  his  father's  shop  at  plumbing,  gas- 
fitting,  tin  and  copper  smithing.  After  four- 
teen years  of  this  employment  in  his  native 
city  he  removed  to  Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  1884, 
and  was  for  one  year  foreman  of  a  tinsmith- 
ing  establishment  there.  In  June,  1885,  he 
opened  a  shop  in  Harrisburg  in  connection 
with  the  Harrisburg  Car  Manufacturing 
Company,  which  he  has  since  operated,  hav- 
ing been  connected  with  his  present  business 


556' 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


from  its  beginning.  He  was  ;married  in 
Lancaster,  November  15,  1877,  to  Sarab  F., 
daugbter  of  Peter  and  Amanda  Stout,  of 
Reading,  Pa.  Of  tbeir  ten  cbildren,  six 
died  in  infanc}'.  Tbose  living  are:  Jacob 
S.,  Frank  D.,  Bertlia  H.,  and  Helen.  Mr. 
Foose  is  an  active  member  of  Cornplanter 
Tribe,  No.  61,1.  O.K.  M.;  of  Daupbin  Castle, 
K.  of  G.  E.;  and  Pbiladelpbia  Council, 
Legion  of  Honor.  He  is  an  ardent  Demo- 
crat.    He  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


BuEHLER,  Maktin  H.,  general   manager 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Telephone  Company, 
was  born  at  Harrisburg,  January  29,  1861. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Anna  C.  (Locher) 
Buehler.     His  father  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  March   20,  1825.     He  is  a  son 
of    Martin    and     Anna     M.     (Schaubbut) 
Buehler,   who    were  born    in  the    town    of 
Eichen,  Parish  of  Schopfhein,  Baden,  Ober- 
land,  Germany  ;  the  former  May   19,  1780, 
the  latter  May  18,  1783.     The  father  was  a 
weaver;  he  was  married,  January  10,  1804, 
and  in  1817  came  to  America.     He  died   in 
April,  1852,  and  his  wife  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1852.     Jacob  was  reared  to  maniiood  in 
Lancaster  county,  receiving  his  education  in 
the   public  sciioois   and   private   schools  of 
that  count}'.     He  W'as  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits  there  until  1859,  at  which  time 
he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  and   for  thirty- 
six  years  has  been  continuously  in  business 
in  this  city.     He  was  married,  in  Lancaster, 
March  12,  1851,  to  Ann   C.  Locher,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  LI.  and   Marj^  E.   Locher,  born 
in  Boonsborough,  Washington   county,  Md. 
They  had  three  children,  namely  :  Mar}'  G., 
wife  of  H.  L.  Hershey,  recorder  of  Dauphin 
county,  residing  in  Harrisburg;  Martin   H. 
and  William  E.,  residing  in  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Mrs.    Buehler,   mother  of   Martin   H.,  died 
September    24,    1893.      The    grandparents, 
Martin  and  Anna  M.  Buehler,  had   born  to 
them   nine  children,  namely:    John,    born 
January  22,  1805,  died  Mav  14,  1811 ;    Mar- 
tin, born  April  20,  1806,  died  May  19,  1880; 
Anna  Maria,  born  October  18,  1807;  Anna 
Barbara,  born  July  24,  1810,  died  December 
25,  1886;  Catherina,   born    April    9,   1813, 
widow  of  the  late  Gottlieb   Laudenschlager, 
residing   in    Wayne   county,     Ohio;    John 
George,  born  April  23,  1815;  John,  born  at 
sea,  in  1817,  died  September  30, 1857  ;  Nancy, 
born  in  1819,  died  in  1843,  and  Jacob.    The 
grandparents  on  the  father's  side  were  John 
Jacob    Buehler,  a  citizen  of  Schlechtbach, 


and  burgomaster  of  Reitbach,  Germany, 
and  Maria,  born  in  Blum.  The  grandpar- 
ents on  the  mother's  side  were  John  Schaub- 
but, a  citizen  and  weaver  of  Eichen,  born 
July  9,  1752,  and  Barbara,  who  died  Decem- 
ber 30, 1801.  The  descendants  of  the  mother 
were  Anna  Maria  Schaubbut,  Maria  Bar- 
bara, born  August  19,  1781,  married  July 
27, 1806,  to  John  George  Ratz,  a  mason,  who 
was  born  July  18,  1782,  and  came  to 
America  with  their  three  children  in  1817; 
also  a  stepsister  named  Anna,  who  was  born 
November  1,  1804.  The  before-mentioned 
John  Schaubbut  married  for  his  second 
wife,  Magdalene  Rotzler,  widow  of  John 
George  Heckendorn,  in  Eichen,  December 
27,  1763,  and  died  January  28,  1827. 

Martin  H.  obtained  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  Seller's  Academy,  Harrisburg,  and 
completed  his  studies  in  the  Pennsylvania 
College,  Gettysburg,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  in  1882.  From  this  date 
he  has  been  continuously  connected  with 
the  Pennsylvania  Telephone  Company,  and 
for  eleven  years  of  that  time  has  faithfully 
and  efficiently  performed  the  duties  of  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  company.  Early 
in  1894  he  was  appointed  general  manager 
of  the  company.  He  was  married,  in  Har- 
risburg, November  14,  1894,  to  Miss  Fannie 
May  Siiearer,  daughter  of  Joseph  W.  and 
Annie  (Myers)  Shearer,  of  Harrisburg.  In 
political  views  Mr.  Buehler  is  a  Republican. 
His  wife  attends  Zion  Lutheran  church. 
Mr.  Buehler  has  displayed  business  capacity 
and  reliability  which  claim  recognition  and 
respect, 
high. 


His   standing  and    character    are 


Weast,  George  B.,  was  born  in  Mifflin 
township,  Cumberland  county,  January  24, 
1862.  His  father,  Jacob  Weast,  is  a  native 
of  Cumberland  county,  and  is  now  a  pros- 
perous farmer  of  Newville,  Cumberland 
county.  His  mother,  Lavinia  (Christlip) 
Weast,  is  also  a  native  of  Cumberland 
county.  The  family  consists  of  eight  living 
children:  George  B.,  Minerva,  the  wife  of 
Carl  Alexander,  residing  at  Carlisle,  Pa., 
Minnie,  Levi,  Clara,  wife  of  John  Heberling, 
residing  in  Mifflin,  Irvin,  Theodore  and 
Howard.  The  father  has  filled  numerous 
township  offices. 

George  B.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Mifflin.  When  seventeen 
years  old  he  went  to  Newville,  and  learned 
the  tinsmith's  trade  at  which  he  has  worked 


Jf:tAz/ur^AiWL^ 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


559 


all  his  life.  For  five  years  he  was  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  in  Newville,  and  since  1889 
has  done  business  in  Harrisburg.  In  the 
management  of  business  he  lias  met  with  suc- 
cess commensurate  with  his  unusual  abilities. 
His  strictly  honorable  methods,  his  pru- 
dence and  social  worth  command  the  respect 
of  the  community.  He  was  married  at  New- 
ville, October  11,  1883,  to  Miss  Annie  Myers. 
To  them  have  been  born  five  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Tlio  living  children 
are  Mary  L.,  Annie,  Ralph  and  Roy.  Mr. 
Weast  is  a  member  of  Conodoguinet  Lodge, 
No.  173,  I.  0.  0.  F.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  council  at  Newville  one  terin,  and  pre- 
sided over  that  body  for  one  year.  His  fam- 
ilv  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


DuNKEL,  Samuel  F.,  vice-president  of  the 
Harrisburg  Manufacturing  and  Boiler  Com- 
pany, was  born  in  Swatara  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  May  3,  18G2 ;  son  of  Jo- 
siah  A.  and  Mary  (Bishop)  Dunkel,  both  na- 
tives of  Dauphin  county  and  residing  at 
Steelton.  Samuel  F.  received  his  education 
in  tlie  public  schools  of  Swatara  township 
and  in  Seller's  Academj',  and  also  took  a 
course  in  the  Business  College  of  Harrisburg. 
After  conapleting  his  education  he  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business  with  his  father, 
under  the  firm  name  of  J.  S.  Dunkel  &  Son, 
and  continued  several  years,  when  he  pur- 
chased his  father's  interest  and  conducted 
the  business  four  years  longer  on  his  own 
account.  In  1889  lie  became  president  and 
manager  of  the  Star  Steam  Heating  Com- 
pany, and  in  1892  acquired  an  interest  in 
tiie  Harrisburg  Manufacturing  and  Boiler 
Company,  of  which  he  was  made  the  vice- 
president  in  1894.  He  is  also  a  partner  in 
the  firm  of  J.  S.  Dunkel  Sons  &  Co.,  real 
estate  dealers  at  Steelton.  Mr.  Dunkel  was 
married  in  Steelton  to  Miss  Jessie  Sefton, 
daugliter  of  Charles  J.  and  Rebecca  Sefton, 
of  Fairfield,  Adams  county,  Pa.  They  have 
no  children.  Mr.  Dunkel  has  filled  the 
oflSce  of  school  director  for  eleven  years,  and 
has  been  secretary  of  tlie  board  two  years 
and  treasurer  four  years.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  attends  the 
Lutheran  church. 


Blough,  Wilson  R.,  senior  member  of  the 
Blough  Manufacturing  Company,  was  born 
in  Palmyra,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  May  22, 
1862.  He  is  a  son  of  Cyrus  and  Sarah 
(Meyer)  Plough.  His  parents  have  been 
"38 


continuous  and  honored  residents  of  Harris- 
burg, where  his  father  has  conducted  a  suc- 
cessful dairy  business  for  the  past  twenty- 
five  years.  The  father  is  a  native  of  Leba- 
non county,  and  his  wife  of  Dauphin  county, 
and  both  are  living.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  those 
living  are  Wilson  R.,  Laura,  wife  of  Thomas 
R.  Redmond,  Jr.,  and  Bertram  F. 

When  about  eight  years  of  age,  Wilson  R. 
removed  to  Harrisburg  with  his  parents,  and 
his  education  was  received  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  city.  He  began  business  as 
traveling  salesman  and  was  thus  employed 
until  1892.  On  February  7,  1892,  in  con- 
nection with  his  brother,  Bertram  F.,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  ladies'  and 
cliildren's  wear,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Blougli  Manufacturing  Company.  He  was 
married,  in  Harrisburg,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Kline,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
Kline,  old  and  honored  residents  of  Dauphnr 
county.  They  have  had  four  children: 
Mabel,  Violet,  Ruth  and  Beatrice.  Mr. 
Blough  is  a  member  of  Harri.sburg  Lodge, 
No.  08,  I.  0.  O.  F. 


Blough,  Bertram  F.,  of  the  Blough  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, July  22,  1873.  His  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  public  schools  and  Business 
College  of  his  native  city.  He  was  for  a 
time  a  traveling  salesman.  In  1892  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Blough  Manufactur- 
ing Company.  These  young  men  have  just 
started  in  their  business  career.  Their  good 
qualities  are  apparent  in  the  success  so 
happily  inaugurated,  and  so  promising  as  to 
its  future  stability  and  enlargement.  They 
are  already  respected  as  reliable  business 
men,  and  are  cordially  granted  a  place  of 
prominence  among  good  citizens. 


HiLDRur,  William  T.,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  is  a  son  of  William  T. 
and  Harriet  (Esselstyne)  Hildrup.  He  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  in  the  private 
schools  of  his  native  city,  was  a  student  in 
the  McClellan  Institute  of  West  Chester,  Pa., 
for  three  years,  and  for  four  years  studied  at 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Philadel- 
phia, finishing  his  course  at  this  institution 
with  the  class  of  1882,  receiving  the  degree 
of  B.  S.  and  Mechanical  Engineer.  After 
completing  his  education  he  was  connected 
with  the  Harrisburg  Car  Manufacturing 
Company  in  the  charge  of  additions  and  im- 


560 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


provemeuts  of  shops,  efficiently  fiUiiig  this 
position  until  1890.  During  this  time  he 
was  also  secretary  and  assistant  treasurer  of 
the  company  and  superintendent  of  the  car 
wheel  department. 

In  1890,  in  connection  with  Me.ssrs.  -J.  H. 
Pattou  and  D.  E.  Tracy,  Mr.  Hildrup  formed 
the  associations  now  called  the  Harrisburg 
Pipe  Bending  Company  (limited)  and  the 
Harrisburg  Tinsmith's  Company  (limited), 
of  which  companies  he  is  the  caj)able  and 
faithful  secretary  and  treasurer.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  wide  intelligence,  of  great  en- 
ergy and  of  laudable  ambition.  He  is  pop- 
ular with  all  classes  and  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  city.  Mr. 
Hildrup  is  a  member  of  Perseverance  I^odge, 
No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Harrisburg  Council, 
No.  499,  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  one  of  the 
governors  of  the  Harrisburg  club.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Republican. 

Harvie,  John  C,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Harvie  &  Bickley,  proprietors  of  the 
Keystone  Forge  and  Machine  Works,  was 
born  at  Harrisburg,  December  22, 1862.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Jean  (Nairns)  Harvie. 
His  parents  were  both  born  in  Gla.sgow, 
Scotland,  and  came  to  America  in  1852. 
They  located  at  Philadel[)hia,  and  resided 
there  about  three  years.  In  1855  they  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg,  where  they  have  lived 
for  forty  years.  The  father  is  a  belt-maker, 
but  of  late  years  has  lived  a  retired  life.  The 
parents  had  born  to  them  a  family  of  six 
children:  Jennie,  wife  of  H.  Lutz;  Ellen, 
wife  of  M.  Dwyer;  James;  John  C;  Annie, 
wife  of  Edward  C.  Rouch,  and  Carrie.  John 
C.  was  reared  to  manhood  in  this  city  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  machinist,  which  has  been  his 
occupation  through  life.  He  has  been  a 
continuous  resident  of  Harrisburg  since  his 
birth,  with  the  exception  of  five  years.  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  at- 
tends the  Presbyterian  church.  The  manu- 
facturing plant  at  the  head  of  which  Mr. 
Harvie  stands  is  one  of  the  solid  industries 
of  the  city.  His  career  as  a  manufacturer 
has  been  marked  by  those  qualities  of  mind 
and  method  which  control  success. 


Zimmerman,  George  Z.,  of  the  firm  of  C. 
0.  Zimmerman  &  (,'o.,  brickmakers,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg,  July  11,  1863.  He  is  a  son 
of  Conrad  0.  and  Mary  (Gonter)  Zimmer- 
man, the  former  born  in  Harrisburg,  August 


9,  1820,  and  the  latter  in  Sharpsburg,  Jef- 
ferson county,  W.  Va.,  in  1835.  C.  0.  Zim- 
merman was  long  a  resident  of  Harrisburg, 
and  was  a  public-spirited  and  enterprising 
citizen.  He  was  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  brick  from  an  early  date,  and  built 
up  a  large  and  productive  trade.  He  held 
various  positions  of  trust,  among  which  was 
the  chairmanship  of  the  cit}'  water  works 
committee.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
common  council.  He  was  twice  married. 
To  ills  first  marriage  there  were  born  three 
children,  of  whom  George  Z.  is  the  only  sur- 
vivor. Mrs.  Mary  Zimmerman  died  May  3, 
1869.  The  second  wife  of  C.  0.  Zimmer- 
man was  Annie  E.  Ward.  To  this  marriage 
two  children  were  born,  both  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Zimmerman  died  January 
26,  1895;  his  wife  still  is  living,  and  resides 
in  Harrisburg. 

George  Z.  Zimmerman  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg,  and  at 
l-'ennsylvania  State  College.  After  complet- 
ing his  education,  he  entered  the  employ- 
ment of  his  father,  and  in  1885  was  admit- 
ted to  a  partnership  in  the  business.  Since 
his  father's  death,  he  has  continued  to  carry 
on  the  business.  The  Zimmerman  brick- 
yard, managed  b\'  him,  is  one  of  the  largest 
and  best  equijiped  plants  in  the  State.  It 
occujiies  thirty-two  acres  of  ground,  situated 
at  the  corner  of  Ninth  and  Reily  streets.  It 
is  fitted  up  with  four  kilns  of  one  hundred 
and  .seventy-five  thousand  capacity  each  ;  a 
Chambers'  Bros,  brick  machine,  a  disinte- 
grator, an  elevator  and  a  plug  mill,  all  of 
the  very  latest  make ;  also  a  steam  brick 
dryer.  The  motive  power  is  a  ninety  horse- 
power engine,  with  two  boilers,  of  ninety  and 
fifty  horsepower  capacity.  The  daih'  capac- 
ity of  the  ])lant  is  45,000.  The  products  are 
of  all  kinds  of  paving  and  building   brick. 

George  Z.  Zimmerman  was  married  in  Har- 
risburg, January  25, 1890,  to  Emma  S.  Burn, 
of  Cumberland  county,  Pa.  Their  children 
are  Paul,  born  August  26,  1892,  and  Helen, 
born  June  21,  1894.  Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a 
inember  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F. 
&  A.  M.;  Tribe  No.  340,  I.  0.  R.  M.,  of  which 
he  is  a  member  of  the  State  finance  com- 
mittee. He  is  an  enterprising  business  man, 
and   universally  popular. 


Reel,  Samuel  O.,  was  born  in  Susque- 
hanna township,  near  Harrisburg,  April  13, 
1864.  He  is  the  son  of  Augustus  and  Mar- 
garet (Olewein)  Reel,  both   natives  of  Dau- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


561 


pliin  count3',  now  residing  in  Harrisburg. 
He  is  one  of  fourteen  children,  seven  of 
whom  still  survive:  Samuel  O.,  William  o., 
John  S.,  Harry  D.,  Ross  B.,  Gertrude,  and 
Annie.  His  father  was  born  and  lived  in 
Susquehanna  township  for  many  years,  and 
was  engaged  in  market  gardening.  He 
served  Dauphin  count\^  as  sheriff  for  one 
lerm,  and  was  a  faithful  and  efficient  officer. 
During  late  years  he  lias  lived  a  quiet,  re- 
tired life. 

Samuel  O.  Reel  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic school  of  Susquehanna  township.  After 
leaving  school,  he  removed  to  Harrisburg 
and  learned  the  trade  of  founder  and 
moulder,  which  he  has  followed  till  the 
present  time.  Mr.  Reel  is  a  gentleman  of 
wide  experience,  and  master  of  his  trade  in 
all  its  branches.  He  is  enterprising  and 
progressive,  is  of  wide  popularity  and  of 
sterling  worth. 

He  is  a  member  of  Egyptian  Command- 
ery,  No.  114,  Knights  of  Malta.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  The  family 
attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Sw.iRTZ,  Robert  H.,  su[)eriatendentof  the 
McKarlaud  Printing  House,  was  born  March 
12,  18G5,  in  Cumberland  county.  Pa.  He  is 
a  son  of  .John  A.  and  Alsinda  (Haley) 
Swartz.  John  A.  Swartz  was  a  salesman 
and  also  filled  various  public  offices.  He  was 
marrieil  to  Miss  Alsinda  Haley,  daughter  of 
William  Haley.  They  had  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living  :  Robert  H.;  Clara, 
wife  of  L.  Wise;  Minnie  C,  wife  of  Andrew 
Crain,  a  Metliodist  minister,  residing  in 
Maine ;  Elizabeth  H.,  teacher  in  the  public 
schools,  Mechanicsburg, Pa.;  Blanche,  Edith, 
and  Nellie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swartz  are  both 
deceased. 

Robert  H.  Swartz  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  until  he  was 
nearly  fourteen  years  old,  when  he  was  ap- 
prenticed for  three  years  to  Mr.  R.  H.Thomas 
to  learn  printing.  In  1882  he  came  to  Har- 
risburg and  was  emj)loyed  as  a  printer  on 
the  Harrisburg  Telegraph  for  one  year;  he 
also  served  one  year  in  the  Patriot  office.  In 
188G  he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  was  em- 
ployed for  a  year  in  the  State  printing  office. 
h\  1888  Mr.  Swartz  engaged  with  the  Mc- 
Farland  Printing  House  and  was  made  its 
superintendent.  He  is  also  chairman  of  the 
Harrisburg  Paper  Company,  limited,  and 
treasurer  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Building  and 
Loan  Association. 


Mr.  Swartz  was  married,  March  12,  1885, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Annie  M.  (Freeburg)  Bering.  They  have  two 
children:  Jennie  M.  and  Robert  H.,  Jr.  Mr. 
Swartz  is  a  Prohibitionist  and  believes  that 
alcohol  should  be  sold  under  the  same  re- 
strictions which  guard  the  sale  of  poisonous 
drugs.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of 
Messiah  Lutheran  church. 

Thomas  Bering,  father  of  Mrs.  Swartz,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  a  wood 
carver  and  followed  that  vocation  until  he 
was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Wood- 
working Department  of  the  Soldiers'  Or- 
phans' Industrial  Scliool  at  Scotland,  Pa. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  M.  Free- 
burg, of  Philadel[)hia.  Six  of  their  seven 
children  are  living:  Ella,  wife  of  D.  B. 
Marks;  Ettie,  wife  of  I.  Miller,  broker, 
Tiiird  street,  Harrisburg  ;  Thomas  M.;  Eliza- 
betli  M.,  Mrs.  Swartz;  Henry  H.,  Annie  M., 
and  Edward  W.,  deceased.  Both  ])arents  re- 
side at  Scotland,  Pa.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  Messiah  Lutheran  church,  Harris- 
l)urg. 


Ferriday,  a.  Reeder,  was  born  at  Easton, 
Pa.,  April  28,  1865.  His  father,  .Joseph  C. 
Ferriday,  was  born  in  Louisiana.  He  was 
first  married  to  Euima  Reeder,  of  Easton,  Pa., 
the  mother  of  A.  R.  Ferriday,  who  is  the 
only  living  child  by  this  marriage.  She 
died  at  Easton,  May  11,  1865.  By  tlie  sec- 
ond wife  he  had  five  children  :  Helen,  wife 
of  Robert  A.  Bj'rnes,  residing  at  Natchez, 
Miss.;  Jennie,  wife  of  Robert  A.  Wood,  re- 
siding at  Natchez,  Miss.;  Mary  Emily  and 
B.  Pendleton,  both  residents  of  Natchez, 
Miss.  Mr.  Ferriday's  father  owned  and 
operated  a  large  cotton  plantation  before 
the  war,  but  from  1862  to  1868  he  was 
connected  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  at  Tyrone,  Sunbury  and  Altoona. 
In  1868  he  returned  to  his  plantation, 
and  continued  in  the  business  of  cotton 
raising  up  to  within  a  short  time  of  his 
death.  He  died  on  the  plantation  in 
1894. 

A.  Reeder  Ferriday  spent  his  youth  at 
Easton,  Pa.  His  education  was  begun  in 
the  private  schools  of  that  citv  and  com- 
pleted at  the  Hill  School  of  Pottsville,  Pa., 
and  at  Lafayette  College,  Easton.  He  re- 
ceived a  diploma  from  the  Lafayette  College 
in  1887.  After  completing  his  education  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  paints  at 
Bethlehem,   Pa.,  in  connection    with   F.  G. 


562 


BIO  GRA  PHI  a  A  L  ENGYGL  OPEDIA 


Semple  &  Co.,  for  two  years.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  this  time  he  removed  to  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  and  was  connected  with  the  Harrisburg 
Boiler  and  Manufacturing  Company  as  treas- 
urer of  the  company,  the  duties  of  which 
ofBce  he  faitlifully  and  efhcientl}'  performed 
for  one  j'ear.  In  1891  he  engaged  in  his 
present  business,  the  manufacturing  of  paper 
boxes,  etc.  B}^  iiis  ability,  energy  and  enter- 
prise he  has  developed  the  business  to  its 
jn'esent  fine  proportions  and  magnitude,  and 
has  deserved  and  won  a  high  place  in  the 
esteem  of  the  community  as  an  honorable, 
skillful  and  successful  business  man. 

He  was  married  at  Patersoii,  N.  .J.,  Octo- 
ber 25,  1893,  to  Eulalie  Quinn,  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Quinn,  of  Paterson,  N.  J. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child, 
Constance,  born  July  30,  1894. 

Mr.  Ferriday  is  a  member  of  the  Rho 
Chapter  of  Chi  Phi.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  attends  the  Episcopal  church  ; 
liis  wife  attends  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

Rexroth,  G.  William,  foreman  of  the 
Harrisburg  Traction  Company,  electric  de- 
partment, was  born  in  Montgomery  town- 
ship, Franklin  county,  Pa.,  September  14, 
1865.  He  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Margaret 
(Mosser)  Rexroth,  the  former  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  the  latter  of  Frankliu  county. 
His  father  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and 
spent  a  large  part  of  his  life  in  Franklin 
county.  He  died  at  Harrisburg,  in  1S93. 
His  wife  survives,  and  resides  in  Harrisburg. 
Thc}^  had  born  to  them  a  family  of  nine 
children,  the  eldest  being  G.  William;  the 
others  who  are  living  are :  Catherine,  Albert, 
Ida,  Gertrude,  Effie,  and  Ada. 

G.  William's  youth  was  spent  in  his  na- 
tive town,  where  he  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  He  first  began  busi- 
ness as  salesman  in  a  general  store,  in  which 
occupation  he  continued  for  nine  years.  In 
1887  he  removed  to  Harrisburg.  For  two 
years  he  was  salesman  in  the  retail  shoe 
business,  and  in  the  State  Capital  laundry. 
In  1889  he  became  connected  with  the  East 
Harrisburg  Street  Railway  Compan}',  and 
since  1892  has  had  his  present  position. 
He  was  married,  at  Chambersburg,  Decem- 
ber 4,  1891,  to  Miss  Minerva  Critchley,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Sarah  Critchley.  One 
child  has  been  born  to  them,  named  Paul 
C.  Mr.  Rexroth  is  a  member  of  Baldwin 
Commandery,  No.  108,  K.  of  M.,  of  Steelton, 
and  of  Robert  Tippett  Lodge,  No.  736,  Jr. 


O.  U.  A.  M.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


Butler,  James,  was  born  in  Fairfield, 
Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  November  25, 1865. 
The  Butler  family  from  which  he  descends 
was  of  Irish  nationality.  The  grandmotiier 
Butler  was  a  descendant  of  the  Irish  patriot, 
Daniel  O'Connell.  His  fatiier,  Thomas  But- 
ler, was  born  in  Kerry,  Ireland,  and  came  to 
this  country  when  he  was  eight  years  old, 
and  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  cheese- 
making.  He  was  married,  in  Herkimer 
county,  to  Margaret  O'Neil,  a  native  of  Cork, 
Ireland.  She  died  in  1871,  but  her  husband 
is  still  living  in  Little  Falls,  Herkimer 
county,  N.  Y.  Three  children  were  born  to 
them  who  died  in  infancy,  besides  William 
T.  and  James. 

James  Butler  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Norway,  Herki- 
mer county,  N.  Y.  He  also  attended  Fair- 
field Academy  and  graduated  in  1884.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  flour  miller  and  followed 
this  business  for  four  years  at  Little  Falls. 
In  1889  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  became 
manager  of  the  Star  Carpet  Cleaning  Works. 
In  May,  1895,  he  also  opened  the  Hot  Naph- 
tha Cleaning  Works.  Mr.  Butler  is  an 
active  business  man,  of  indefatigable  energy, 
and  with  a  perfect  knowledge  and  careful 
oversight  of  all  the  details  of  his  business  ; 
he  convinces  his  patrons  of  his  consideration 
of  their  be.st  interests,  and  wins  and  holds 
esteem  for  his  integrity  and  personal  worth. 

James  Butler  was  married  in  Jfrsey  City, 
June  19,  1889,  to  Carrie  E.  Kehoe,  daughter 
of  William  and  Martha  Kehoe,  of  Little 
Falls.  They  have  no  children.  Mr.  Butler 
was  a  member  of  the  Fire  Department  of 
Little  Falls.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  attends 
the  Roman  Catholic  church. 


Hoover,  William  H.,  general  foreman  of 
the  Harrisburg  Traction  Company,  was  born 
in  Franklin  county,  Pa.,  December  20, 1866. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Tolsen) 
Hoover.  His  parents  spent  their  lives  in 
Franklin  county,  where  the  father  died  in 
1867,  and  where  the  mother  still  resides. 
William  H.  is  their  only  child.  The  family 
are  Dunkards.  William  H.  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Franklin 
county.  He  learned  the  carpenter  trade. 
In  1887  he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  be- 
came connected   with   the  East  Harrisburg 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


563 


Railway  ConIpan3^  For  the  past  five  years 
he  has  been  the  general  foreman  of  the  com- 
pany. He  is  a  charter  member  of  Cincinnatus 
Comraandery,  No.  96,  K.  of  M.;  a  charter 
member  of  Warrior  Eagle  Tribe,  No.  340, 
1. 0.  R.  M.,and  of  Pocaliontas  Council,  No.  63, 
I.  0.  R.  M.;  a  member  of  Herculean  Castle, 
No.  480,  K.  of  G.  E.;  of  Harmon  Commandery, 
No.  38,  C.  of  G.  E.,  of  Robert  Ti[)pett  Lodge, 
No.  736,  Jr.  0.  A.  U.  M.  He  belongs  to  the 
Harrisburg  Firen:an's  Beneficial  Association, 
and  is  a  member  of  No.  2  Volunteer  Fire 
Company.  Mr.  Hoover  is  one  of  the  solid 
men  of  the  cit^'.  He  is  esteemed  as  an  hon- 
orable and  upright  man.    He  is  ver^'  popular. 


daughter  of  H.  D.  and  Jane  Hemler.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  attends  the 
Roman  Catholic  cluirch. 


Tracy,  David  E.,  was  born  at  Cousho- 
hocken,  Montgomery  county,  March  11, 
1867.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Margaret 
(O'Brien)  Tracy.  James  Tracy  was  born  in 
Pottsville,  Pa.,  but  is  now  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  in  Conshohockeu,  where  he  has 
resided  for  upwards  of  forty  years.  He  has 
been  burgess  of  the  town  and  a  member  of 
the  town  council  and  is  a  director  of  the 
First  National  Bank.  He  is  very  prominent 
in  business  circles  and  connected  with  man}' 
of  tlie  enterprises  of  the  city.  Plis  motlier 
was  born  near  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  came  to 
America  when  she  was  quite  young.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  James  Trac}'  had  a  family  of  ten 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  living,  namely: 
John  C,  a  partner  in  his  fatlier's  business  in 
Conshohocken ;  Henry  M.,  a  prominent 
member  of  the  bar  in  Consliohocken;  Cathe- 
rine E.;  David  E.;  George  E.,  ]iaying  teller 
of  the  City  Trust  Compan\'  of  Pliiladeipliia  ; 
Matthew  A.,  student  at  Pennsylvania  Uni- 
versity, Philadelphia;  Margaret,  Maria  J. 
and  Eliza  A. 

David  E.  Tracy  received  his  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  parochial  schools  of  his  native 
town.  He  completed  his  education  at  tiie 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Philadelphia, 
receiving  his  diploma  as  mechanical  engi- 
neer in  1887.  He  came  at  once  to  Harris- 
burg and  found  a  jiosition  as  mechanical 
engineer  with  the  Harrisburg  Ice  Machine 
Company.  Ho  served  in  this  position  three 
years.  In  1800,  in  connection  witli  Messrs. 
Hildrup  and  Patton,  he  organized  the  Har- 
risburg Pipe  Bending  Company  and  also  the 
Harrisburg  Tinsmith  Company  for  the 
manufacturing  of  all  kinds  of  galvanised  ice 
machinery. 

Mr.  Tracy  was  married  at  Ilari'isburg, 
September   6,    1894,    to    Gertrude  Hemler, 


Boll,  Chas.  S.,  president  of  the  Boll  Bros. 
Manufacturing  Company,  was  born  in  Balti- 
more county,  Md.,  on  the  6th  of  October, 
1867.  He  is  a  son  of  Ambrose  S.  and  Mary 
(Cooper)  Boll,  natives  of  Baltimore  county, 
both  now  residing  in  the  city  of  Baltimore. 
Their  family  consisted  of  twelve  children  : 
Micajah,  who  met  death  by  an  accident  on 
the  Pennsylvania  railroad  ;  Laura  J.,  wife  of 
Charles  Wood,  of  Baltimore,  died  in  1890; 
Annie,  died  in  1891  ;  Fannie  R.,  William 
A.,  George  E.,  Clara  M.,  wife  of  W.  H. 
Shubkagie,  of  Baltimore,  John  W.,  Charles 
S.,  E.  Frank,  and  two  who  died  in   infancy. 

Clias.  S.  Boll  was  but  four  years  old 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Baltimore;  a 
year  later  they  left  the  city,  and  again  re- 
sided in  the  county  of  Baltimore,  until 
Charles  was  eleven.  They  then  returned  to 
the  city,  and  he  attended  its  public  schools 
for  the  next  four  years.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen,  the  boy  began  business  as  an  em- 
ployee in  a  mattress  factory  ;  one  year  and  a 
half  later  he  was  appointed  foreman,  and  at 
the  end  of  two  years  more,  his  ability  was 
recognized  by  his  promotion  to  the  jiosition- 
of  manager  of  the  factory.  In  1885,  when 
only  eighteen,  Mr.  Boll  came  to  Harrisburg 
to  assume  the  management  of  a  branch 
house  for  the  firm  by  which  he  was  em- 
ploved,  and  managed  the  business  success- 
fully until  October  5,  1889.  At  this  time  he 
purchased  the  business,  and  admitted  his 
brother,  John  W.  Boll,  as  a  partner.  The 
beginning  was  modest,  and  the  new  enter- 
prise was  iiandicapped  by  want  (jf  space,  fa- 
cilities and  ca])ital.  But  courage  and  care- 
ful management,  with  honesty  and  sincerity 
of  purpose,  soon  placed  the  business  on  the 
road  to  prosperity,  notwithstanding  many 
discouragements  and  the  strongest  competi- 
tion. It  steadily  increased,  although  seri- 
ously interrupted,  in  1890,  by  a  disastrous 
fire.  One  building  after  another  was  out- 
grown, until  it  became  necessary  to  erect  the 
iiandsome  structure  now  occupied,  at  Tenth 
and  Mulberry  streets,  and  the  firm  now 
stands  at  the  head  of  the  mattress,  s|)ring 
bed  and  brass  and  iron  bedstead  business, 
with  a  national  reputation.  In  1892  Mr. 
William  A.  Boll  also  was  admitted  to  part- 
nership, and  the  title  of  the  Harrisburg 
Woven  Mattress  Company  was  adopted  by 


564 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


the  firm.  In  1893,  the  business  was  incor- 
porated as  the  Boll  Bros.  Manufacturing 
Company,  with  a  ca{)ital  of  $100,000,  Chas. 
S.  Boll  being  president,  John  W.  Boll,  treas- 
urer, and  William  A.  Boll,  secretary. 

Notwithst.'inding  the  demand  that  the  de- 
velopment of  this  large  business  has  made 
on  Mr.  Boll's  time  and  abilities,  he  has  given 
his  influence  and  encouragement  to  others. 
He  early  recognized  the  power  for  good  pos- 
sessed by  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  con- 
nected himself  with  tliat  organization.  His 
activity  in  promoting  its  influence  and  in- 
creasing its  membership  soon  made  him  a 
prominent  factor,  and  he  was  speedily  rec- 
ognized as  a  public  spirited  citizen  of  extra- 
ordinary zeal  and  ability.  Mr.  Boll  was 
elected  president  of  the  Board  of  Trade 
January  21,  1896.  His  election  is  justly  re- 
garded as  a  becoming  tribute  for  his  many 
services  in  behalf  of  the  Board  in  this  city, 
and  as  a  token  that  his  many  good  qualities 
are  highl}^  appreciated  by  his  fellow-citizens. 
Mr.  Boll  is  president  of  the  Boll  &  Shaar 
Manufacturing  Company,  Steelton,  Pa. ; 
vice-president  of  the  Barcalo  &  Boll  Manu- 
facturing Company,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Ridley  Park  Brick  Com- 
pany, Philadel{>hia,  Pa.  His  politics  are 
Republican. 

Chas.  S.  Boll  was  married,  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  May  12,  1891,  to  Carrie  S.,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Charlotte  M.  Wykoff, 
old  and  honored  residents  of  this  city. 
Their  children  are:  Charles  Wykoff  and 
Robert  Ambrose.  He  and  his  famil}'  are 
connected  with  Grace  Methodist  Episcoiial 
church.  Mr.  Boll  is  second  vice-president 
of  the  Fourth  General  Conference  district, 
Epworth  League,  which  includes  four  States. 
He  held  the  presidency  of  the  local  society 
for  four  years. 

John  W.  Boll,  treasurer  of  the  company, 
passed  away,  August  22,  1896,  after  an  ill- 
ness of  eight  months,  leaving  a  widow  and 
two  children. 


Jennings,  William,  president  of  the  Har- 
risburg Steam  Heat  and  Power  Company, 
was  born  in  this  city,  August  18,  1868,  and 
is  a  son  of  Col.  William  W.  and  Emily 
Jane  (Vanhorn)  Jennings.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg 
and  at  Lehigh  University.  After  completing 
his  education  he  was  employed  as  a  moulder 
and  machinist  for  one  year.  In  1889  he  was 
appointed  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Har- 


risburg Steam  Heat  and  Power  Company, 
and  in  May,  1894,  was  made  president  of  the 
same,  and  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing 
this  industry  into  a  prosperous  condition. 

Mr.  Jennings  was  married,  October  13, 
1892,  to  J.  Belle  West,  daughter  of  Rev.  Will- 
iam A.  and  Jennie  West.  Tliey  have  one 
child,  Dorothy.  He  is  a  member  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  with  his  wife  at- 
tends the  Presbyterian  church. 


Jennings,  Harry,  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Jackson  Manufacturing  Company,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg,  March  31,  1872.  He  is 
a  son  of  the  late  Col.  W.  W.  and  Emma  Jane 
(Vanhorn)  Jennings.  After  receiving  his 
primary  education  in  private  schools,  he 
spent  four  years  in  the  Military  College  of 
Chester,  graduating  from  this  institution  in 
1890  with  the  degree  of  Civil  Engineer.  In 
the  fall  of  1890  he  entered  Phillips  Academy, 
Andover,  Mass.,  and  graduated  from  this  in- 
stitution with  the  class  of  1893.  He  returned 
to  Harrisl)urg,  and  in  October,  1893,  was 
elected  to  his  present  position,  taking  charge 
of  the  office  in  January,  1894. 

He  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.  In  politi- 
cal views  Mr.  Jennings  is  a  Republican.  He 
attends  tiie  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He 
is  unmarried. 


Leedy,  Daniel,  deceased,  was  born  in  York 
county.  Pa.,  in  1819.  He- removed  to  Cham- 
bersburg.  Pa.,  where  lie  learned  the  trade  of 
wagon  maker.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  in 
1840,  and  was  for  a  time  employed  by  John 
Dimmick,  who  was  engaged  in  manufactur- 
ing the  "  Woodcock  Plough."  He  subse- 
quently purchased  the  business  and  con- 
tinued it  until  1851  or  1852,  at  which  date 
lie  relinquislied  the  enterprise  and  estab- 
lished a  siioe  business  on  Market  street,  near 
the  present  entrance  to  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad  station,  in  which  he  was  engaged 
until  the  fall  of  1861,  when  he  removed  to  a 
farm  in  Franklin  county.  In  1863  he  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg  and  for  a  year  and  a 
half  was  engaged  in  the  slioe  l)usiness  at  the 
corner  of  Fourtii  and  Market  streets,  after 
which;he  removed  his  store  to  the  new  build- 
ing he  had  erected  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and 
Market  and  continued  there  until  he  retired 
from  business  in  1870.  His  death  occurred 
in  1886.  Mr.  Leedy  was  one  of  the  stock- 
holders  in   the   first  Harrisburg  Passenger 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


565 


Railway  Company.  He  was  somewliat  active 
in  political  matters  in  connection  with  the 
Republican  part}',  having  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  from  the  Ninth  ward. 
His  church  membership  was  formerly  witii 
the  Locust  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
churcii, but  later  he  joined  the  Ridge  Avenue 
church  and  was  the  chorister  for  some  years. 
Mr.  Leedy  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Pey- 
ton, daughter  of  (Chambers  Peyton,  of  Cham- 
bersburg,  who  survives  him.  They  reared 
three  sons  and  three  daughters:  William, 
shoe  dealer,  deceased  ;  Margaret,  Mrs.  J.  H. 
DeHaven,  of  Harrisburg  ;  John  W. ;  Laura, 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Irvin,  Washington,  D.  C;  Mary  L., 
Mrs.  W.  L.  Calderword, Philadelphia;  Daniel, 
Jr.,  deceased,  a  private  in  the  United  States 
army,  afterwards  in  the  shoe  business  in 
Harrisburg.  John  W.  was  born  November 
23,  184-1,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  He  was  eniploj'ed  in  his 
father's  store  until  his  retirement,  in  1870, 
when  he  succeeded  to  the  business,  which 
he  conducted  for  eighteen  years.  In  1888 
he  gave  up  the  shoe  business  and  emljarked 
in  the  manufacturing  of  building  and  pav- 
ing brick,  in  which  enterprise  he  has  been 
successfully  engaged  since  that  time,  sui)ply- 
ing  the  home  demand  and  making  large 
shipments  to  other  towns.  Mr.  Leedy  is  iiot 
active  in  politics,  but  his  sentiments  are  in 
agreement  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
was  married  in  1806  to  Miss  Clara  May,  of 
Juniata  county,  who  died  in  1890.  Their 
children  are:  Alda,  Fannie,  Louisa,  Frank, 
and  Mary.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Ridge  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
in  which  Mr.  Leedy  holds  tlie  otiice  of  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  trustees. 


Whiteside,  George  A.,  carriage  maker, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  September  12, 1830. 
■Son  of  John  E.  and  Ruth  E.  (Allen)  While- 
side.  The  fatiier  was  born  in  that  portion 
of  Dauphin  county  which  is  now  included 
in  Lancaster  county,  and  subsequently  set- 
tled in  Harrisburg.  The  mother  was  a  na- 
tive of  Dauphin  county.  George  A. attended 
the  public  schools  of  tlie  city  and  when 
seventeen  years  old  removed  to  (Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  for  two  years  he  was  a  salesman 
for  his  brother  in  the  hardware  business. 
He  then  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  served 
an  apprenticeship  at  carriage  building  with 
William  Parkbill.  In  1852  he  removed  to 
Philadelphia  where  he  worked  eight  years 
at  his  trade,  and  then  went  to  Wilmington, 


Del.,  and  was  engaged  at  his  occupation  un- 
til the  breaking  out  of  the  war  depressed 
business  and  threw  him  out  of  employment, 
when  he  went  to  Mechanicsburg  and  re- 
mained until  1868,  in  which  year  he  returned 
to  Harrisburg  and  established  a  business  of 
his  own.  For  twenty-seven  years  he  has 
been  successfully  engaged  in  his  line  of  trade 
in  this  city.  Mr.  Whiteside  was  married  to 
MaryE  Webb,  of  Philadelphia,  to  whom  have 
been  born  four  sons:  William  W.,  died  at 
Harrisburg,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years; 
(reorge  A.,  resides  in  (California;  John  Elton, 
civil  engineer  and  surveyor,  of  Harrisburg; 
Harry  I.,  resides  in  Jersey  City.  Mr.  White- 
side was  married,  secondly,  to  Kate  E. 
Stucker,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  which 
died  in  infancy.  He  is  a  mendjer  of  the  A. 
0.  U.  W.  In  politics  he  is  liberal.  The  family 
attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Bowers,  Edwin,  carriage  and  wagon 
manufacturer,  was  born  in  Hummelstown, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  March  15, 1841,  son  of 
Amos  and  Sarah  (Longenecker)  Bowers,  the 
former  a  native  of  Dauphin  county  and  the 
latter  of  Lancaster  county.  The  father  was 
a  life-time  resident  of  Dauphin  county,  and 
was  a, carpet  weaver  and  butcher  by  occu- 
pation. He  died  at  Hummelstown  and  his 
wife  died  at  Harrisburg,  March  18,  1892, 
aged  eighty  years.  They  had  ten  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living:  Mary,  wife  of  Cor- 
nelius Fisher,  residing  in  Muscatine,  Iowa; 
Harry,  residing  in  York,  Pa.;  Edwin,  Mi- 
chael, Harrisburg;  Addie,  matron  at  Penn- 
sylvania railroad  station. 

Edwin  was  reared  in  Hummelstown  and 
received  a  limited  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  place.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  blacksmith,  and  worked  at  that  occupa- 
tion in  Hummelstown  until  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age,  when  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg, where  he  was  in  the  employment  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  about 
one  year.  He  then  entered  the  employment 
of  the  LTnited  States  Government  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  and  in  1865  went  West  with 
supply  trafns,  and  was  engaged  in  distrib- 
uting su])plies  to  the  various  military  posts 
until  1867,  during  which  year  he  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Iowa.  The  same  year  he  re- 
turned to  Hummelstown,  where,  until  1871, 
he  followed  his  occupation,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg,  and  for  the  past 
twenty-four  years  has  been  engaged  in  busi- 
ness in  this  city.     Mr.  Bowers  was  married 


566 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


at  Harrisburg,  in  1879,  to  Phebe  Dilvey, 
daughter  of  Amos  and  Hannah  (Hess)  Dil- 
ve}',  widow  of  the  late  Miles  Dilvey.  Their 
children  are :  Jessie,  Helen,  Edna,  and  two 
who  died  in  infancy.  By  her  first  marriage 
Mrs.  Bowers  has  one  son.  Miles.  Mr.  Bowers 
is  a  member  of  City  Lodge,  No.  301,  I.  0. 
0.  F.  In  his  politics  he  is  a  Prohibitionist. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Ridge 
Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Shaffer,  Clinton  E.,  was  born  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
June  12,1841.  His  father,  Elias  Shaffer, 
was  born  in  Susquehanna  township  but  re- 
moved to  Lower  Paxton  at  an  early  date  in 
the  history  of  that  township.  He  followed 
the  business  of  carriage-making  in  that 
township  for  fifty-three  years.  He  is  still 
living  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one, 
and  has  been  actively  engaged  in  business 
to  witiiin  a  period  of  one  year.  He  is  one 
of  the  oldest  and  most  highly  esteemed  res- 
idents of  the  township.  Elizabeth  (ShifHer) 
Shaffer,  his  faithful  wife,  and  mother  of  tlie 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  also  born  in  Sus- 
quehanna township.  She  died  in  1881. 
They  had  a  famil}'  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  five  are  still  living:  Rebecca,  wife  of 
^.  Samuel  Dasher,  residing  in  Harrisburg;  Al- 
fred and  Levi,  residing  in  Napierville,  111.; 
Eliza,  wife  of  Jacob  Bishop,  residing  in 
Lower  Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county, 
and  Clinton  E. 

Clinton  E.  Shaffer  spent  his  boyiiood  in 
his  native  township,  where  he  received  a  fair 
education  in  the  public  schools.  At  an  early 
age  he  became  an  apprentice  to  the  carriage 
,  maker's  trade  in  his  father's  shop,  at  which 
trade  he  worked  in  Lower  Paxton  until 
1862.  In  this  j'ear  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg and  engaged  in  business  for  himself 
He  has  occupied  his  present  premises  for 
over  twenty-three  years,  where  he  has  built 
up  a  large  and  profitable  business.  Trained 
from  youth  in  this  business,  and  devoting 
his  entire  business  career  of  thirty-three 
\'ears  to  its  management,  his  success  is  in 
the- natural  order  of  things.  He  is  one  of 
the  oldest  man  in  the  business  in  the  city, 
and  is  universally  esteemed  as  a  citizen  and 
a  man. 

He  was  married  at  Harrisburg,  October  9, 
1862,  to  Wilhelmina,  daughter  of  George 
and  Mary  Hocker,  both  long  residents  and 
highly  respected    citizens   of  Susquehanna 


township.  Their  children  are:  Ida  J.,  wife 
of  George  Hoak,  residing  at  Painted  Post, 
N.  Y.,  Inez  C,  EfRe  J.,  George  A.,  Eliza  J., 
Edith  A.,  Alfred  H.,  Charles  A.  and  Spencer. 
Mr.  Shaffer  is  a  sound  Democrat.  He  and 
his  family  attend  the  Reformed  church. 


Attick,  Oliver,  carriage  and  wagon 
maker,  was  born  at  Mechanicsburg,  Cumber- 
land county.  Pa.,  September  6,  1843  ;  son 
of  George  and  Hester  (Steese)  Attick,  the 
former  a  native  of  Cumberland  county  and 
still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
two  years,  the  latter  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county  and  died  in  1891.  The  father  carried 
on  the  carriage  making  business  at  Mechan- 
icsburg for  some  forty  years.  He  had  six 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living:  John, 
residing  in  Mechanicsburg  ;  Sarah  J.,  wife  of 
Edward  Boyer,  of  Harrisburg;  Oliver,  and 
Harry,  residing  in  Mechanicsburg.  Oliver 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  place,  and  when  seventeen 
years  of  age  came  to  Harrisburg  and  became 
clerk  in  a  store.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany A,  First  City  Zouaves,  of  Harrisburg, 
in  which  he  served  nine  months.  He  was 
then  employed  one  year  as  a  clerk  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  and  in  1864  enlisted  in  the 
Seventy-eighth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, in  which  he  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  ser- 
vice at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  October,  1865. 
He  then  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  for  nine 
years  was  engaged  in  carriage  smithing.  In 
1S74  he  opened  a  shop  for  the  manufacture 
of  carriages  on  his  own  account,  which  he 
conducted  for  two  years,  and  in  1876  ad- 
mitted Edward  Boyer  to  a  partnershij),  form- 
ing the  firm  of  Boyer  &  Attick,  which  con- 
ducted the  business  for  eight  years.  In  1884 
Mr.  Boyer  retired  from  the  firm,  since  which 
date  Mr.  Attick  has  conducted  the  business 
solely  in  his  own  interests.  He  was  married 
in  Harrisburg  in  1868  to  Emma  Stouffer, 
daughter  of  Henry  Stouffer,  to  whom  have 
been  born  two  daughters:  Esther  and  Carrie, 
both  residing  at  home.  Mr.  Attick  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  been 
an  active  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  for 
twenty-five  years,  liaving  filled  all  the  offices 
in  his  lodge.  He  is  also  a  member  of  A.  0. 
U.  W.,  No.  19,  and  since  1868  has  been  con- 
nected with  Council  No.  106,  O.  U.  A.  M. 
The  family  attend  the  Presbyterian  church. 


DA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY . 


567 


Dill,  Irvin  W.,  carriage  manufacturer, 
was  bom  in  Dillsburg,  York  count}',  Pa., 
March  24, 1SG5,  son  of  Wesley  and  Louie  R. 
(Naugle)  Dill,  both  natives  of  York  count)-, 
the  former  deceased,  the  latter  residing  in 
Harrisburg.  He  removed  to  Ilarrisburg 
with  his  mother  in  early  youth,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  city  schools.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  carriage  maker,  and  on  January 
1,  1892,  engaged  in  business  for  himself  at 
the  east  end  of  the  Mulberry  street  bridge. 
He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  December 
31, 1894,  to  Lillie  Frank,  of  Harrisburg.  Mr. 
Dill  is  a  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No. 
21,  F.  &  A.  M.  In  his  political  views  he  is 
aRepublican.  He  attends  the  Baptist  church. 

Bailey,  Hamilton,  patentee  of  the  cele- 
brated Eureka  coal  wagon,  was  born  in 
Scotland,  June  8, 1833,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Mary  (Hamilton)  Bailey,  who  were  also 
natives  of  Scotland.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  having  been  brought  to  Amer- 
ica in  early  boyhood.  At  Tremont,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  he  learned  the  trade  of  wheel- 
wright and  blacksmith  with  Silas  Ball  of 
that  place.  In  1858  he  began  business  for 
him.self  in  the  county  where  be  learned  his 
trade, and  his  business  career,  extending  over 
a  period  of  nearly  forty  years,  has  been  one 
of  satisfactory  results.  He  patented  the 
Eureka  coal  wagon,  and  is  now  devoting  his 
time  to  its  sale  together  with  that  of  wood 
and  coal  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  been 
living  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Bailey  is 
a  Republican  in  politics  and  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  public  affairs,  althougli  not  an 
office  seeker.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
Templar.  He  was  married  to  Catharine, 
daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  (Wright) 
Pinkerton,  by  whom  he  has  tlnce  children: 
Dr.  Milton  R.,  Arthur  Hamilton,  and  Min- 
nie Elizabeth.  Mr.  Bailey  and  family  ad- 
here to  the  Methodist  E[)iscopal  church. 


Redmond,  Andrew,  carriage,  wagon  and 
harness  dealer,  was  born  in  the  ju-ovince  of 
Ulster,  county  Down,  Ireland,  August  2G, 
1868.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  H.  and  Jane 
(Redmond)  Redmond,  both  natives  of  Ulster. 
The  father  emigrated  to  this  country  in 
1880,  and  for  the  past  fourteen  years  has 
been  in  the  employment  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Railroad  Compan}'.  The  mother  and 
remaining  members  of  the  family  came  to 
America  in   1882.     The  family  consists  of 


four  living  children:  Thomas  H.,  Andi-ew, 
.Joseph  and  Lizzie  J.  Andrew  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  coun- 
try. When  fourteen  years  of  age  became  to 
the  United  States  and  located  in  Harrisburg. 
In  1882  he  learned  the  trade  of  baker,  and 
worked  at  this  trade  for  three  years.  In 
1885  he  engaged  in  this  business  for  him- 
self In  1889  he  engaged  in  his  present 
business,  and,  although  tested  bj'  fire  and 
water,  his  efforts  have  been  crowned  with 
success.  He  has  one  of  the  finest  and  best 
stocked  establishments  in  the  region.  His 
cardinal  principles  of  business  are  the  best 
goods,  directly  from  the  best  manufacturers, 
bought  on  the  best  terms  and  sold  to  patrons 
on  the  lowest  lionest  margin,  and  he  finds 
these  winning  principles.  He  was  married 
at  Harrisburg,  June  20,  1894,  to  Anna  B. 
McFadden,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary 
McFadden,  of  Harrisburg.  He  is  a  membt^r 
of  Egyptian  Commanderv,  No.  114,  Knights 
of  Malta.  In  politics  Mr.  Redmond  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  and  his  wife  attend  the  Mar- 
ket Square  Presbyterian  church. 


Sankev,  James  W.,  wholesale  saddler, 
hardware  and  harness  deafer,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Millheim,  Centre  county. 
Pa.,  April  13,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
John  and  Catherine  (Kryder)  Sankey.  The 
Sankey  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 
John  Sankey,  father  of  James  W.,  was  born  in 
Scotland  in  1793,  and  came  to  America  when 
he  was  eight  years  old.  His  parents  died 
and  he  was  bound  out  by  one  of  bis  uncles 
as  a  tanner's  apprentice,  at  Millheim.  Ac- 
cording to  the  articles  of  agreement,  he  was 
to  serve  until  he  was  twenty-one.  When 
nearing  the  end  of  his  apprenticeship,  he 
was  offered  a  paying  position  with  another 
tannei"  in  the  same  town.  But  his  emploj-er 
refused  to  let  him  leave  his  service,  and  as 
an  inducement  to  him  to  remain  and  com- 
plete iiis  time,  agreed  to  admit  him  to  part- 
nership as  soon  as  he  became  of  age.  This 
promise  was  fulfilled,  and  became  a  partner 
in  the  business.  The  [lartnersbip  continue'd' 
until  the  former  en: jiloyer  retired  from  busi- 
ness on  account  of  advancing  age.  Mr. San- 
key carried  on  the  business  until  his  own  re- 
tirement in  1861.  He  died  in  1865,  after  an 
active,  u.seful  and  successful  life,  aged  seventy- 
five  years.  He  was  succeeded  in  business  bv 
his  son  Cyrus  K. 

The  mother  of  James  W. Sankey  was  born 
in  Centre  county.  Pa.,  about  two  miles  from 


568 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Millheim.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
Kryder,  for  many  years  associate  judge  of 
Centre  county, and  a  personal  friend  of  Gen. 
Andrew  Jackson.  She  died  at  Millheim  in 
1854.  The  parents  were  married  in  Centre 
count}'.  They  had  twelve  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living:  Jacob,  a  retired  tanner, 
living  in  Philadelphia;  John,  a  retired 
tanner,  in  Mifflin,  Pa.;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of 
Aaron  Wolf,  abankerof  lowaand  Nebraska, 
residing  at  Freeport,  111.;  and  James  W. 

James  W.  Sankey  spent  his  boyhood  on 
the  home  farm  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  tanner  with  his 
father,  and  followed  it  until  1879,  doing 
business  in  Light  Street,  Columbia  county. 
Pa ,  twenty-seven  years,  after  which  he  re- 
tired from  business.  In  1879  he  made  a 
trip  of  nearly  eight  thousand  miles  tiirough 
the  western  part  of  the  United  States  and 
into  Mexico,  traveling  most  of  the  distance 
in  a  wagon,  and  occupying  eleven  months 
in  the  trip.  In  1880  he  returned  to  Ilarris- 
burg,  tiie  point  from  which  he  had  started 
the  year  before.  Here  he  engaged  in  busi- 
ness at  323  Broad  street,  and  has  conducted 
it  with  energy  and  success.  He  ranks  among 
the  most  substantial  and  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city.  His  career  is  an  object 
lesson  to  young  men.  From  his  example 
they  can  di.scern  that  personal  qualities  have 
more  to  do  with  success  in  life  than  favor- 
able beginnings  and  fortunate  circumstances. 

Mr.  Sankey  was  married  at  Light  Street, 
Pa.,  November  29,  1857,  to  Harriet,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Martha  Melick,  of  Light 
Street.  They  have  one  child,  Emma  C, 
who  resides  with  them. 

Mr.  Sankey  is  a  good  straight  Republican. 
He  is  not  an  office  seeker,  but  prefers  to  de- 
vote his  time  and  attention  to  his  business. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  Perseverance 
Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Perseverance 
Chapter,  No.  21,  and  Knights  Templar,  of 
Harrisburg.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Walmer,  Noah  A.,  was  born  in  East  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  March 
22,  1841,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Albert) 
Walmer.  George  Walmer,  grandfather  of 
Noah  A.,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  as 
were  also  his  parents.  He  was  reared  on  tlie 
farm  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
was  twice  married  and  by  his  first  wife  liad 
nine  children,  who  have  all  passed  away: 


Michael,  William,  John,  Kate,  wife  of  Thomas 
Allen,  Jacob,  George,  Maria,  wife  of  George 
Daubert,  Joseph,  and  Eliza,  first  wife  of 
George  Daubert.  The  grandfather  died  in 
September,  1865,  aged  seventy-five  years.  By 
his  second  wife  he  had  four  children :  Lydia, 
wife  of  M.  Welmire,  _  Adam,  Cyrus,  and 
Washington,  deceased.  John  Walmer,  father 
of  Noah  A.,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.,  March  28,  1817.  He  married  Mary  Al- 
bert, born  in  East  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
pliin  county,  March  30,  1815.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  followed  that  occupation  until 
186(5,  when  he  retired  and  removed  to  Leba- 
non, where  he  died,  February  26,  1895,  aged 
seventy-eight  years.  He  was  a  Republican 
in  politics  and  served  as  school  director,  sup- 
ervisor and  in  other  offices  in  Lebanon 
county.  He  had  thirteen  children,  twelve  of 
whom  are  living:  ALargaret,  wife  of  John 
Martz;  Noah  A.;  Mary  M.,  wife  of  Gordin 
Bomgardner;  Louisa,  wife  of  Daniel  Siegrist; 
Elmira,  wife  of  Daniel  R.  Mills;  Albert  J.; 
EmmaC;  Zachariah  Light;  John  G.;  Erwin 
J.;  Ida  L.,  wife  of  Edwart  Ilauch;  Clara  V., 
wife  of  Elmer  E.  Embach ;  Fidelia  E.,  wife 
of  George  E.  Gilbert;  Sara  E.,  wife  of  Joseph 
Eustis,  died  in  February,  1887,  aged  forty- 
nine  years.  Mr.  Walmer  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Noah  A.  attended  the  public  .sciiools  of 
East  Hanover  township  at  intervals  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to 
learn  the  harness  making  trade  with  P.  T. 
Hummel  at  Hummelstown,  with  whom  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  four  years.  He 
enlisted  for  nine  months  in  company  D,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  having  served 
his  term  of  enlistment  was  discharged  May 
31, 1863.  He  then  returned  and  worked  with 
his  father  on  the  farm  for  one  year,  after 
which  he  worked  at  his  trade  at  Hummels- 
town and  Harrisburg  until  1864,  when  he 
went  to  Philadelphia  and  was  engaged  on 
Government  work  until  the  close  of  tlie  war. 
After  this  he  worked  at  his  trade  one  winter 
at  Hummelstown,  and  was  then  in  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  Stecker  for  five  years,  when  he 
bought  his  partner's  interest  and  engaged  in 
business  for  himself.  After  a  time  he  sold 
out  his  business  and  engaged  again  with  Mr. 
Hummel,  with  whom  he  worked  for  thirteen 
years.  Mr.  AValmer  was  married  October  20, 
1869,  in  Grantville,  East  Hanover  township, 
to  Miss  Emma  E.  Sherk,  daughter  of  Henry 
B.  and  Mary    (Swoop)   Sherk.     Their   chil- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


569 


dren  are:  Howard  C,  Mary,  Edith  M.  and 
Harry  S.,  died  August  11,  1S7G,  aged  five 
years.  Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Wahner  has 
been  engaged  in  harness  making  in  Harris- 
burg.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  69, 1.  0. 
0.  F.;  Lodge  No.  59,  K.  of  P.;  Post  No.  58, 
G.  A.  E,.,  and  of  tlie  Improved  Order  of  He[)- 
tasophs.  In  iiis  political  views  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethern  church.  Mrs.  Walmer  was  born 
May  14,  1846,  and  died  April  24,1895.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Lebanon  county  and 
engaged  in  farming.  They  had  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living:  Anna,  wife  of  Dr. 
T.  N.  Beam,  deceased ;  Mary,  wife  of  Cyrus 
Stoner;  Harry  A.;  Luc}-,  wife  of  Charles  S. 
Wirt;  William  C,  died  in  infancy.  The 
parents  reside  on  Allison  Hill,  in  Harris- 
burg,  where  they  are  living  a  retired  life. 
The  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Walmer  were 
natives  of  Berks  county,  the  grandmother 
having  died  young.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father, Jacob,  was  a  native  of  Lebanon  county 
and  a  farmer.  His  children  are:  Michael, 
Henry  B.,  Amos,  Thomas  and  Katie,  Mrs. 
Me^'er. 

Breckenm.4KER,  AiniAM  K.,  harness 
maker,  was  born  in  Middlesex  township, 
Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  September  28, 1852; 
sou  of  P.  Lilik  and  Susan  (Kirwin)  Breck- 
enmaker.  The  father  was  born  in  Elsorce, 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  July  18,  1814, 
learned  the  trade  of  weaver  and  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  when  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age.  He  has  since  resided 
in  Cumberland  county,  working  at  farming 
and  weaving,  and  still  survives  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  }^ears.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Queen  Anne  county,  Md.,  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry,  and  died  when  Abram  R.  was  an 
infant.  Tliey  had  nine  children,  of  whom 
Abram  is  the  onl}-  one  living.  The  mother 
is  of  the  well-known  family  of  Kirwins  of 
Maryland.  Three  brotiiers  were  steamboat 
captains,  one  of  whom  is  Capt.  John  Kir- 
win, bailiff  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Balti- 
more and  a  well-known  citizen,  prominent 
in  Masonic  circles. 

Abram  K.  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  township.  He  learned  his  trade  with 
William  Cleaver,  of  Carlisle,  and  at  the  end 
of  his  apprenticeship  removed  to  Baltimore, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  steamboating  for 
four  years.  In  1871  he  came  to  Harrisburg 
and  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman 
with  Charles  Grieb,  and   after  the  death  of 


Mr.  Grieb  took  charge  of  the  business  for  the 
widow  for  two  years.  In  1883  he  bought 
the  business,  and  has  conducted  it  since  that 
time  in  his  own  interests.  He  was  married 
in  Harrisburg,  May  29,  1873,  to  Sarah  S. 
Snyder,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Bridget  L. 
Snyder,  of  Lancaster.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  all  of  whom  died  in 
childhowl.  Mrs.  Breckenmaker  died  Janu- 
ary 3,  1890.  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
Breckenmaker  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served 
as  member  of  the  council  from  the  Third 
ward  for  two  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Ful- 
ton Council,  No.  35,  0.  U.  A.  M. 


Smith,  Pkter  A.,  harness  maker,  was  born 
in  Northampton  county.  Pa.,  September  5, 
1863.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Malinda 
(Flick)  Smith.  His  grandparents  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  His  grandmother, 
on  his  mother's  side,  is  still  living,  thougli 
very  aged,  and  resides  in  Wisconsin.  James 
Smith,  father  of  Peter  A.  Smith,  was  a  native 
of  Nortliampton  county.  He  was  a  farmer. 
He  married  Miss  Malinda  Flick.  Tiiey  had 
thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living: 
Benjamin,  Aliester,  Alfred  J.,  Mary,  wife  of 
George  Custabaughta,  William  H.,  Peter  A., 
Ellen  C,  wife  of  Ciiarles  Strawmeyer,  Elmer 
M.,  and  Harry.  Their  deceased  children 
are:  Emma,  wife  of  Benjamin  Hockman, 
also  deceased ;  Rebecca,  wife  of  William 
Hockman  ;  George,  and  one  child  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  father  died  in  1878,  aged 
fifty-two  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  church.  The  mother  still  sur- 
vives, aged  seven t}' -eight;  she  resides  in 
Philadelphia. 

Peter  A.  Smith  was  brought  up  on  his 
father's  farm.  His  course  in  the  public 
school  was  cut  short  by  the  death  of  his 
father,  which  caused  the  family  to  remove 
from  the  farm.  xVt  the  age  of  fifteen  he  be- 
gan to  learn  harness  making, serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  two  3'ears  with  his  brother  at 
Mauch  Chunk,  Pa.  During  the  succeeding 
twelve  years  he  worked  at  his  trade  as  jour- 
neyman for  various  employers.  In  1885  he 
came  to  Harrisburg,  and  for  about  four  years 
was  in  the  employ  of  Samuel  Hummel.  H^ 
was  married,  September  12,  1889,  to  Miss 
Laura,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Kate  C. 
Klauser.  Of  their  four  children,  three  are 
living:  Helen,  Jacob,  and  Mary.  Herman 
died  September  5, 1891,  aged  sixteen  months. 
In  1890  Mr.  Smith  began  work  for  Noah 
Walmer,  harness  maker,  and  was  employed 


570 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


by  him  for  two  years.  He  worked  for  one 
year  for  the  Harrisburg  Harness  and  Saddle 
Company.  After  this  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  two  years  with  Mr.  Keller  at  Me- 
clianicsburg,  Pa.,  beginning  in  1893.  He 
then  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  established 
a  business  of  his  own.  He  has  built  up  a 
large  trade  in  the  harness  business  at  the 
corner  of  Fifth  and  Walnut  streets.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church  on  Boas 
street. 

Jacob  Klauser,  father  of  Mrs.  Smith,  was 
born  in  Perry  county,  Pa.  He  was  a  black- 
smith, but  after  being  for  some  years  in  this 
occupation  he  became  a  farmer ;  the  latter  is 
still  his  calling.  He  married  Miss  Kate  C. 
Garland,  a  native  of  Perry  county,  by  whom 
he  had  ten  children  :  Frances,  wife  of  Levi 
Swartz ;  John ;  Jennie,  wife  of  David  Rice, 
deceased ;  Laura,  wife  of  Peter  A.  Smith  ; 
Alice,  wife  of  Levi  Swartz;  Harvey;  Daisy, 
wife  of  John  Mnll;  Annie,wifeof  Sim.  Smith; 
Minnie,  and  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy. 


BuRiiLEH,  Jacob,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  March  20,  1825.  son  of  Martin 
and  Ann  M.  (Schaubhat)  Buehler,  both  na- 
tives of  Germany.  The  father  was  born  in 
Eichen,  parish  of  Schopfheim,  Baden  Ober- 
land,  May  11),  1780.  He  was  a  weaver  by 
trade  and  resided  in  Germany  until  1817. 
He  was  married  January  10,  1804,  to  Ann 
M.  Schaubhat,  horn  May  18,  1783. 

The  paternal  grandparents  were  John 
Jacob  Buehler,  a  citizen  of  Schlectbach,  and 
was  burgomeister  of  Reilbach,and  Maria, 
born  in  Bluem.  The  maternal  grandparents 
were  John  Schaubhat,  born  July  9,  1752,  a 
weaver,  citizen  of  Eichen,  and  Barbara, 
died  December  30,  1801.  The  descendants 
of  the  mother,  Anna  ^h^ria  Scliaubhat,  were 
Maria  Barbara,  born  August  19, 1781;  mar- 
ried July  27,  1806,  to  John  George  Ratz, 
born  July  18. 1772,  a  mason  ;  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1817  with  three  children,  and  a  step- 
sister, named  Anna  Schaubhat,  who  was 
born  November  1,  1804.  John  Schaubhat 
married,  secondly,  Magdalen  Rotzler,  widow 
»f  John  George  Heckendorn,born  in  Eichen, 
December  27,  1763,  died  January  28,1827. 
The  parents  had  born  to  them  eleven  chil- 
dren :  John,  born  January  22,  1805,  died 
May  14,  1811;  Martin,  borii  April  20,  1806; 
Anna  Maria,  born  October  18,  1807;  Anna 
Barbara,  born  July  24,  1810;  Catherina, 
born  April  9, 1813,  widow  of  the  late  Gotlieb 


Laupenschlagel,  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio ; 
John  George,  born  April  23,  1815 ;  John, 
born  at  sea,  1819;  Nancy,  died  in  1842; 
Mar}^  died  in  1845,*and  two  other  children 
who  died  in  infanc3^ 

Jacob  Buehler  was  reared  in  Lancaster 
county  and  received  his  education  in  the 
public  and  private  schools,  and  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits  in  that  county  until 
1859,  when  he  came  to  Harrisburg,  where 
he  has  been  in  business  continuously  since 
that  date.  He  was  married  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  March  12,  1851,  to  Anna  G.  Locher, 
daughter  of  Jacob  H.  and  Mary  E.  Locher, 
a  native  of  Boonsborough,  Washington 
county,  Md.,  and  of  German  ancestry. 
There  have  been  born  to  them  three  chil- 
dren •  Mary  G.,  wife  of  H.  L.  Hershey,  recor- 
der of  Dau])hiu  county;  Martin  IL,  and 
William  E.,  residing  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Mrs. 
Buehler  died  September,  24,  1893.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Buehler  is  a  Republican. 
He  attends  Zion  Lutheran  church. 


LTku'H,  S.wiuel,  shoemaker,  was  born  at 
Linglestown,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  May  25, 
1833,  son  of  Solomon  and  Margaret  (Fisher) 
Urich.  The  father  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  November  21,  1805,  and  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade.  He  was  also  engaged  in 
the  huckstering  business,  and  was  also  for  a 
few  years  proprietor  of  the  Linglestown 
Hotel,  having  also  previously  been  in  the 
general  mercantile  business  at  the  same 
place.  He  married  INIiss  Margaret  Fisher,  a 
native  of  the  same  county,  to  whom  were 
born  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  living: 
George,  Joseph,  Samuel,  Solomon,  and  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Jacob  Nichols.  Their  deceased 
children:  Henr^^  John  and  Isaac,  both 
killed  in  the  array,  and  Thomas,  who  died 
in  infancy.  In  his  political  views  the  father 
was  a  Republican.  The  family  were  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty  years  in  1865.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  died  at  their  native  place, 
Linglestown.  Samuel  Urich  attended  the 
public  schools,  first  at  Linglestown  and  after- 
wards at  Harrisburg,  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  learn  the  trade 
of  shoemaker,  at  which  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  five  years  with  Peter  Saunders 
at  Harrisburg.  He  worked  at  his  trade  as  a 
journeymen  for  about  six  months,  when  he 
entered  the  employment  of  John  Edwards, 
with  whom  he  worked  at  intervals  for  about 
nine  years.    He  then  worked  for  Gen.  Knipe 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


571 


two  3^ears,  after  which  he  was  employed  for 
the  same  lengtli  of  time  by  Meyers  &  Jauss. 
He  was  married  at  Harrisburg,  September 
20,  1853,  to  Miss  Catherine  Loiignecker, 
daughter  of  John  and  Christian  (Hummel) 
Longnecker.  Mr.  Uricli  worked  for  Samuel 
Barnhard  for  one  year  and  tiien  engaged  in 
business  for  himself  at  No.  1329  James  street, 
where  he  continued  until  1.893,  when  he  re- 
moved to  No.  1815  North  Third  street  and 
established  a  large  trade.  He  was  also  en- 
gaged in  the  huckstering  business  a  short 
time.  Mr.  Urich  has  been  a  member  of 
Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  IGO,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  for 
forty  years.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Republican.  Mrs.  Urich  was  born  Februarj' 
18,  1835.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Dau- 
]ihin  county  and  married  Miss  Christiana 
Hummel,  a  native  of  the  same  county.  Tiie}^ 
reared  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: Eliza,  William,  Mar}',  Margaret,  and 
Sarah. 


of  Lodge  No.  59,  K.  of  P.,  and  is  also  con- 
nected with  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R.  In  his 
political  sentiments  he  stands  with  the  Re- 
puljlican  party.  His  church  membership  is 
in  the  Fourtli  Street  Lutheran  church. 


Frank,  Charles,  boot  and  shoe  dealer, 
was  born  in  Pliiladelphia  February  1,  1839; 
son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (List)  Frank.  When 
he  was  six  years  old  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Columbia, Lancaster  county,  where 
he  attended  tiie  public  schools  until  lie  was 
sixteen  years  of  age.  In  1855  he  came  to 
Harrisburg  and  entered  the  employment  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  first 
serving  an  apprenticesiiip  as  a  wood  coaker 
and  remaining  with  the  company  seven 
years.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  company  B, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  and  served  ten  montlis 
and  then  reenlisted  for  three  months,  serving 
in  Tennessee  on  detail  with  the  construction 
corps  in  the  position  of  assistant  foreman  of 
a  construction  gang.  During  his  term  of 
enlistment  he  participated  in  many  import- 
ant engagements,  among  which  were  the 
battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellors- 
ville.  After  his  discharge  from  the  army  he 
returned  to  the  employment  of  the  Pennsj'l- 
vania  Railroad  Company,  where  he  remained 
until  18(]9,  when  he  embarked  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  business  at  the  present  location, 
where  he  has  been  engaged  in  a  very  suc- 
cessful trade  for  over  twenty-seven  j-ears.  In 
1876  he  also  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Forney  Bros.  &  Co.  and  continued  his  con- 
nection one  year.  Mr.  Frank  is  one  of  tlie 
organizers  and  a  stockliolder  of  the  Chestnut 
street  market  house.  He  is  identified  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  is  a  charter  member 


Meily,  George  W.,  dealer  in  boots  and 
shoes,  was  born  in  Mechanicsburg,  Cumber- 
land county.  Pa.,  January  16,  1846,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (Boyer)  Meily.  The 
father  is  a  native  of  Lebanon  county  ;  the 
mother  is  a  daugliter  of  General  Boyer, 
near  Rockville,  Dauphin  count}'.  The 
father  was  in  the  grocery  business,  at  Cham- 
bersburg  and  Mechanicsburg,  and  in  1853 
came  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  the  same  line  of  trade,  from  1854  to  1859, 
at  which  date  he  retired,  and  died  in  1894, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  He  was 
originally  a  member  of  the  First  Lutheran 
churcli,  but  was  later  prominent  and  active 
in  the  organization  of  the  church  on  tlie 
corner  of  Capitol  and  Herr  streets.  His 
wife  and  two  children,  John  IL,  of  Harris- 
burg, a  plumber,  and  George  W.,  survive 
him.  Cjeorge  W.  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools,  and  early  entered  upon 
his  career  as  clerk  in  the  grocery  business, 
in  which  he  was  engaged  from  1855  to  1861. 
At  this  date  he  united  witli  Jeremiah  Hor- 
ner and  formed  the  firm  of  Horner  &  Meily, 
which  conducted  the  auctioneer  buisness  for 
two  years.  In  1864  Mr.  Meil}'  entered  upon 
the  shoe  business,  at  Nos.  214-216  Market 
street,  where  he  has  since  enjoyed  a  success- 
ful and  constantly  enlarging  trade.  On 
March  15,  of  tlie  current  j'ear,  he  occupied 
the  spacious  store.  No.  312  Market  street, 
where  he  does  an  immense  wholesale  busi- 
ness, the  sales  extending  to  all  parts  of  the 
State.  Mr.  Meil}'  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
East  Harrisburg  Railway  Compau}'.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  was 
married,  in  1867,  to  Emma,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Pinkerton,  of  Tremont,  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  who  died  in  August,  1889. 
They  had  three  children  :  Albert  E.,  Charles 
Wesley  and  George  Pinkerton.  Mr.  Meily 
is  a  member  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  formerly  held  a  place 
in  the  board  of  stewards,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 


Gross,  Joshua  W.,  dealer  in  boots  and 
shoes,  was  born  in  Plarrisburg  August  11, 
1847 ;  sou  of  D.  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Kunkel) 
Gross.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 


572 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  ill  Seller's  Academy.  He  then  entered 
the  drug  store  of  his  father,  where  lie  re- 
mained fourteen  years.  He  was  next  em- 
ployed for  about  five  years  as  bookkeeper  at 
the  Lochiel  rolling  mill  and  the  Steelton 
steel  works.  In  1886  he  embarked  in  the 
boot  and  siioe  business  at  the  present  loca- 
tion, No.  207  Market  street,  where  he  has 
since  continued.  Mr.  Gross  is  active  in  poli- 
tics in  connection  with  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
blue  lodge,  chapter,  consistory  and  com- 
mandery,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  Mr.  Gross  was  married,  in  1880, 
to  Miss  Almeda,  daughter  of  M.  M.  Grove,  of 
Harrisburg.  They  have  no  children.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  First  Reformed  church. 


Stern,  Emanuel,  dealer  in  boots  and 
shoes,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  April 
23,  1853;  son  of  Simon  and  Caroline  Stern. 
He  was  reared  in  his  native  city  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  the  Business 
College,  and  then  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Philadelphia.  In  1870  he  came  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  was  in  charge  of  the 
branch  store  of  Simon  Stern  &  Son  until 
April,  1875,  when  he  established  a  shoe  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  No.  32!i  l\hirket  street  and 
continued  there  until  April  1,  1883,  and 
then  moved  to  333  Market  street,  formerly 
occu[)ied  by  the  State  Bank,  and  finali^',  in 
April  1,  1894,  established  himself  in  the 
retail  trade  in  his  present  location  in  the 
Patriot  building.  Mr.  Stern  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  Chapter  of  Phila- 
delphia, of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  of  Har- 
risburg. In  political  views  he  is  a  Republi- 
can. Mr.  Stern  was  married,  February  23, 
1880,  to  Miss  Belle  O.  Ettinger,  of  Baltiinore, 
Md.  Their  children  are  Moses  S.,  Walter 
L.,  and  Edgar  S.  He  is  a  member  of  Oliev 
Sholem  church,  of  Harrisburg,  of  which  he 
is  also  the  principal  and  the  secretary. 


Forney,  Clayton  C,  eldest  surviving 
member  of  the  firm  of  Forney'  Bros.,  whole- 
sale dealers  in  boots  and  shoes  and  rubbers, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  May  29,  1864.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  John  and  Caroline  (Crum) 
Forney.  His  father  was  born  in  Lingles- 
town,  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  July  29,  1839.  He  was  a  son  of 
Henry  Forue}',  who  was  a  native  of  Dauphin 


county,  but  of  German  ancestry.  He  was 
educated  in  Lingkstown  and  taught  school 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  He  then 
removed  to  Harrisburg  and  engaged  in  the 
retail  shoe  business  until  1865,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  the  wholesale  boot  and  shoe  busi- 
ness until  his  death,  August  5,  1894.  His 
wife,  mother  of  our  subject,  still  survives 
him,  and  resides  in  Harrisburg.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Clayton  C,  C.  Harvey,  a  member 
of  the  firm  and  subsequently  referi'ed  to  in 
this  sketch  ;  Minnie  M.  and  Laura  A.  The 
father  served  in  the  select  council.  He 
was  an  earnest  worker  in  church  mat- 
ters and  an  elder  in  the  Fourth  Street 
Church  of  God  and  superintendent  of  the 
Sabbath-school.  Clayton  C.  received  his  edu- 
cation in  tlie  public  schools  and  Business 
College.  lie  began  business  as  a  traveling 
salesman  of  Forney'  Bros.  &  Co.  For  the 
past  eight  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
firm,  which  since  the  death  of  his  father  con- 
sists of  himself  and  his  brother  C.  Harvey 
Forney.  He  was  married,  October  28,  1886, 
to  Miss  l^ydia  J.  Lyme,  daughter  of  John  C. 
and  Mary  J.  Lyme,  of  Harrisburg.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely  : 
Carrie  May,  John  Wilson  and  diaries  Ed- 
ward. He  is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.;  of  Pilgrim  Com- 
mnndery.  No.  11 ;  Harrisburg  Consistory ;  and 
of  Star  of  America  Commandery,  No.  113,  K. 
of  M.  In  political  views  he  is  Republican. 
He  attends  the  Church  of  God. 


Forney, Christian  Harvey,  junior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Forney  Bros.,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  May  1, 1870.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  the  city. 
He  began  business  with  Forney  Bros,  as  a 
traveling  salesman.  For  the  j)ast  three 
years,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  Clay- 
ton C,  he  has  conducted  the  present  busi- 
ness. He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  July 
14,  1892,  to  Ida  Keim,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Lydia  Keim,  of  Harrisburg.  and  to  them 
has  been  born  one  child,  named  Edgar  Wil- 
son. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He 
attends  the  Church  of  God. 


Forney,  John  Wilson,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Forney  &  Stewart,  promi- 
nent retail  shoe  dealers  in  this  city,  died 
April  26,  1890,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight 
years,  leaving  a  widow  and  one  daughter. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


573 


Fleming,  Samuel  AV.,  bookseller  and  sta- 
tioner, was  born  in  Harrisl)urg,  Pa.,  Decem- 
ber 11,  1849,  son  of  Robei-t  J.  and  Sarab 
Ann  (Poor)  Fleming.  The  father  was  born 
in  Wasliington  count}^  Pa.,  and  came  to 
Ilnrrisburg  when  a  child.  He  was  reared 
in  Dauphin  county,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  coachmaking,  and  subsequently  es- 
tablished himself  in  the  business.  Samuel 
\V.  attended  the  city  schools  and  completed 
his  education  at  Lafayette  College,  where  he 
took  a  special  scientific  course,  and  prepared 
himself  for  professional  work  as  a  civil  engi- 
neer, but  did  not  follow  the  occupation.  In 
1875  he  embarked  in  the  stationery  business 
in  whicli  he  has  continued  since  that  time. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Fleming  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  been  prominent  in  public 
business.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
common  council  and  has  served  as  president 
of  that  body,  and  also  has  served  an  unex- 
pired term  in  the  office  of  mayor  of  the  city. 
He  is  one  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the 
Harrisburg  cemetery.  Mr.  Fleming  was 
married,  in  1875,  to  Miss  Mary  Sauser, 
daughter  of  B.  F.  Sauser,  of  Philadelphia, 
by  whom  he  has  three  children :  Mar\', 
Margaret,  and  Samuel  W.,  Jr.  Mr.  Fleming 
is  a  member  of  Market  Square  Presbyterian 
church,  and  of  its  trustees. 


ScHEFFER,  Thomas  Jefferson,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  September  1,1850.  He 
is  a  son  of  Theodore  F.  and  Louisa  (Geety) 
Schefier.  His  fatlier  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  can:e  to  Dauphin  county  when 
a  3'oung  man.  He  learned  printing  with 
Gustavus  Peters,  and  afterwards  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Scheffer  &  Lutz,  gen- 
eral printers.  Later  he  was  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Scheffer  &  Beck.  He  made  his  own 
inks  and  electrotypes,  and  was  the  first  man 
in  America  to  print  in  colors.  He  printed 
toy  books,  such  as  "  Cock  Robin,"  "  Mother 
Hubbard,"  etc.  He  also  established  a  book 
and  news  store  at  21  South  Second  street. 
He  died  in  1883,  aged  seventy.  He  was 
early  enrolled  in  the  State  militia.  He  was 
prominent  in  the  Masonic  fraternitj'  and 
the  I.  0.  O.F.  In  politics  he  was  independ- 
ent, and  would  never  accept  an  office.  He 
and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Lutheran 
church.  Mrs.  Theodore  F.  Scheffer  was  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county.  She  died  in 
September,  1886.  She  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Children's  Industrial  Home.  They 


had  nine  children  :  Theodore  K.,  mail  clerk  ; 
B.  Frank,  deceased ;  George  W.,  printer ; 
Martin  L.,  painter;  Louis  K.,  printer;  Em- 
ily D.,  widow  of  Capt.  George  A.Brookes: 
Thomas  Jefferson,  and  Maria,  all  residents 
of  Harrisburg. 

Thomas  J.  Scheff'er  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  learned  printing  of  his 
father,  but  his  health  not  permitting  him  to 
follow  it,  he  took  up  bookkeeping.  P^rom 
1875  to  1883  he  acted  as  manager  of  the 
Daily  Patriot,  and  helped  materialh'  to  in- 
crease its  circulation.  After  the  death  of 
of  his  father,  he  took  charge  of  his  business 
and  has  since  successfully  conducted  it. 

He  is  active  in  the  Democratic  party.  He 
has  served  two  terms  in  the  city  council ; 
was  chairman  of  the  railway  committee,  and 
was  on  the  highway,  finance  and  sanitary 
committees  of  the  council.  In  July,  1895, 
he  was  elected  to  the  school  board  from  the 
Third  ward.  He  is  a  member  of  Grace 
Methodist  church. 


McKiLLirs,  Alexander,  dealer  in  machin- 
ery and  printers'  supplies,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Tu.scarora  township,  Juniata 
county.  Pa.,  February  6,  1851,  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Martha  (McCabe)  McKillips.  The 
McKillips  famih'  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestiy, 
the  grandfather  of  Alexander  McKillips 
having  been  born  in  the  south  of  Ireland. 
AViiliam  McKillips  was  born  in  Juniata 
county,  and  his  wife,  Martha  McCabe,  in  the 
southern  part  of  Ireland.  Three  of  their 
six  children  are  living:  Jane,  wife  of  Daniel 
Keneppe,  of  Juniata  county  ;  David,  of  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  and  Alexander. 

Alexander  McKillips  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township,  and  there 
also  learned  cabinet  making,  to  which  he 
subsequently  added  organ  building.  He 
removed  to  Lancaster  in  1872,  and  resided 
there  until  1881,  engaged  in  these  two  occu- 
pations ;  he  also  conducted  a  supply  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  During  the  four 
years  following  he  was  employed  as  foreman 
in  planing  mills  in  the  counties  of  Clearfield 
and  Juniata.  In  1888  Mr.  McKillip  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg,  and  has  ever  since 
been  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in 
business  here.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
Veteran  Castle,  No.  495,  K.  of  G.  E.,  Harris- 
burg; his  son  James  is  a  member  of  Hercu- 
lean Castle,  No.  480,  same  fraternity.  Mr. 
^IcKillips  is  a  Democrat.  He  was  married 
in  Port  Royal,  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  January 


574 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


1,  1874,  to  Clarissa  A.,  daughter  of  the  late 
James  and  Mary  Shoaff,  of  Port  Ro.yal.  Of 
their  three  sons  only  one  is  living,  James  H. 
James  H.  McKillips,  only  surviving  child 
of  Alexander  McKillips,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster, Pa.,  and  received  most  of  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Port  Royal  and 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  At  present  he  is  serving 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  trade  of  wood 
working  with  his  father.  He  is  also  a  dealer 
in  all  kinds  of  rubber  stamps'  seals,  etc. 
The  family  attend  Bethlehem  Lutheran 
church. 


HuTTER,  Frank  L.,  bookbinder,  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Harrisburg.  His 
father,  Frank  L.  Hutter,  also  a  bookbinder, 
was  born  in  AUentown,  Pa.,  in  1829,  and 
died  in  1879.  He  married  Miss  Forney,  of 
Harrisburg,  born  in  1831,  died  in  1871. 
Their  children  are:  W.  H.,  Frank  L.,  John 
R.  Frank  L.  Hutter,  Jr.,  was  educated  in 
the  Harrisburg  schools,  being  graduated 
from  the  high  school  in  ]870,  and  from 
Seller's  Academy  in  1871.  He  learned 
Ijookbinding  with  his  father,  and  at  his 
father's  death,  succeeded  him  as  proprietor 
of  the  establishment.  In  1876  Mr.  Hutter 
enlisted  in  company  D,  Eighth  regiment, 
National  Guards  of  Pennsylvania  (City 
Gray.s),  and  ro-enlisted  in  1881.  He  was  ap- 
pointed inspector  of  rifle  practice  in  the 
Eighth  regiment.  National  Guards  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Frank  J.  Magee,  colonel,  in  1887; 
afterwards  he  was  re-appointed  and  served 
until  1895,  wiien  he  was  promoted  to  major 
and  ordnance  officer.  Third  brigade,  Na- 
tional Guards  of  Pennsylvania,  Gen.  J.  P. 
S.  Gobin,  commander.  Mr.  Hutter  is  still 
serving  under  his  last  appointment.  Mr. 
Hutter  was  married  in  Harrisburg  to  Miss 
Marion  Fisher,  born  in  Harrisburg.  Their 
children  are  named  Rachel  and  Charlotte. 
Mrs.  Hutter's  falher  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county  and  died  in  18()B;  her  mother,  Mrs. 
Kate  (Poist)  Fisher,  is  a  native  of  Cumber- 
land county.  Mr.  Hutter  is  a  thirty-second 
degree  ]\Lason  and  a  member  of  the  Mystic 
Siirine,  Lu  Lu  Temple.  His  politics  are  Re- 
publican.    His  family  are  Lutherans. 


Stanford,  Vincent  W.,  of  the  firm  of 
Roberts,  Meek  &  Co.,  was  born  in  Frank- 
lin, Venango  county.  Pa.,  December  17, 
1862.  He  is  a  son  o'f  Rev.  Wesley  1\L  and 
Rosa  (Weimer)  Stanford.  His  father,  bishop 
of  the  United  Evangelical  church,  was  born 


in  Venango  county  about  fifteen  miles  from 
Franklin,  March  15,  1846.  Vincent's  edu- 
cation was  somewhat  interrupted  by  the  con- 
stant moving  about  of  his  parents,  yet  in  all 
his  classes  he  stood  in  the  front  rank  until 
he  finally  graduated  in  the  high  school  of 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in  the  spring  of  1891,  and 
immediately  secured  a  position  with  the  firm 
of  Roberts  &  Meek,  wholesale  stationers  in 
the  same  city,  and  three  years  thereafter  be- 
came one  of  the  firm.  He  was  also  joined 
in  marriage  with  Miss  May  Wiest,  on  March 
13,  1895.  Miss  Wiest  is  a  daughter  of  Rev. 
S.  L.  Wiest,  who  was  elected  as  publisher  in 
the  United  Evangelical  church,  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1894,  and  given  full 
charge  of  all  their  publishing  interests,  lo- 
cated in  Harrisburg.  Miss  Wiest  in  addition 
to  a  common  school  education  also  attended 
D.  L.  Moody's  training  school  for  young 
ladies,  at  Northfield,  Mass.,  for  several  terms 
before  her  marriage.  In  politics  Mr.  Stan- 
ford is  a  Republican,  and  attends  the  Evan- 
gelical ciiurch,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee. 


Meck,  Charles  S.,  of  the  firm  of  Roberts 
and  Meck,  wholesale  stationers,  was  born  in 
New  Bloomfield,  Perry  county.  Pa.,  Febru- 
ary 16,  1865,  son  of  Joseph  H.  and  Cath- 
erine (Sheaffer)  Meck,  both  natives  of  Perry 
county,  and  residents  of  Harrisburg  since 
1865.  His  father  is  employed  in'  the  State 
printing  office.  He  served  in  the  army  dur- 
ing the  late  war.  His  children  are:  Charles 
S.,  Warren  Z.,  Zelda  M.  and  Frank  L. 
Charles  S.,  when  an  infant  of  nine  months, 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Harrisburg. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public  and 
high  schools,  and  in  the  business  college  of 
this  city.  When  he  had  finished  the  course 
of  studies  in  the  public  schools,  he  entered 
the  office  of  Boyd  &  Co.,  coal  dealers,  be- 
ginning as  office  boy  and  advancing  from 
one  position  to  another,  finally  reaching  the 
position  of  assistant  bookkeeper.-  He  con- 
tinued in  the  employment  of  this  firm  for 
eighteen  years,  during  wiiich  time  he  com- 
pleted his  education  by  night  study  and  at- 
tendance at  the  Commercial  College.  After 
leaving  Boyd  &  Co.,  he  formed  the  firm  of 
Charles  S.  Meck  &  Co.,  and  started  in  the 
wholesale  stationery  business,  continuing 
from  July  1,  1890,  to  April  1,  1891,  when 
the  firm  "of  Roberts  &  Meck  was  formed, 
which  does  an  extensive  business,  reaching 
out  over  the  greater  part  of  the  State,  and 
extending  into   the  adjoining   States.     Mr. 


■.M  ^<-^^^ 


BA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY . 


577 


Meek  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  March  8, 
1894,  to  Miss  Flora  A.  Staffer,  daughter  of 
Daniel  H.  and  Sarah  (Anderson)  Staffer,  na- 
tives of  York  county  ;  the  former  died  Octo- 
ber 29,  1895,  while  the  latter  survives,  and 
lives  in  Harrisburg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meek 
have  one  son,  Robert  S.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  attends  the 
Fourth  Street  Church  of  God. 


Bergstresser,  William  J.,  painter,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  February  5,  1836. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  W.  and  Mary  Ann 
(Watson)  Bergstresser.  John  Bergstresser, 
grandfather  of  William  J.,  was  a  millwright 
and  lived  and  died  in  Lykens,  Pa.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  His 
children  were:  Samuel,  of  Mt.  Carmel,  Pa.; 
Asa ;  William  W.;  Mary,  Mrs.  Shipman,  of 
Northumberland  county.  Pa.;  Hannah,  Mrs. 
Rumberger,  of  Lykens,  and  Mrs.  Sprout  of 
Lykens.  William  W.  Bergstresser,  father  of 
William  J.,  was  born  in  Lykens,  Pa.,  in 
1800.  He  also  was  a  millwright.  In  1831 
he  married  Mary  Ann,  daugiiter  of  Jackson 
\\'atson.  They  reai'cd  three  children  to 
maturity  :  Alexander  Watson,  William  J. 
and  Isabella  A.,  Mrs.  Martin  Keeny,  of  Har- 
risburg. He  settled  in  Harrisburg  in  1831. 
He  purchased  Carver's  mill  and  conducted 
it  for  several  years.  He  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  ciiurch,  and  in  pol- 
itics a  Whig.  He  died  in  Harrisburg  in 
1844 ;  his  wife  died  in  1842. 

William  J.  Bergstresser  was  educated  in 
Harrisburg.  He  learned  painting  with  his 
uncle,  Alexander  Watson,  and  became  after- 
wards his  foreman.  About  18G2  be  began 
conlractingon  his  own  account.  |Heisthe  old- 
est contractor  in  the  city.  He  is  a  Democrat 
and  represented  the  Second  ward  on  the 
school  board  for  nine  years,  and  was  also 
chairman  of  the  building  committee.  He 
belongs  to  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  He  was  married 
December  25,  1857,  to  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Abram  Edwards,  of  Harrisburg. 
They  have  six  children  :  Mary,  Mrs.  Charles 
Foster,  of  Harrisburg  ;  Charles  O.,  of  Har- 
risburg ;  Sue  W.,  Mrs.  J.  Clyde  Milton, 
Danbury,  Conn.;  Carrie,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Poole, 
of  Harrisburg;  William  E.,  of  Harrisburg, 
and  Bertha. B. 


maker  by  trade.  George  was  reared  in 
Berks  county  and  learned  the  trade  of 
painter  at  Reading,  Pa.  He  came  to  Harris- 
burg in  1858  and  worked  as  a  journeyman 
for  John  Cruikshank  from  1860  to  1866, 
when  he  and  .Jacob  P.  Barringer  formed  a 
])artnership  under  the  firm  name  of  Barringer 
&  Bannan,  and  were  engaged  in  contracting 
until  1888.  After  t wen t3'-two  years  of  active 
business,  the  firm  dissolved,  having  done 
good  work  on  the  Capitol,  and  other  import- 
ant structures,  and  holdnig  a  place  among 
the  leading  contractors  of  the  city.  Mr.  Ban- 
nan  is  a  Democrat  in  ]iolitics,  and  has  been 
the  candidate  of  his  party  for  important 
offices.  He  was  married,  in  1860,  to  Sarah 
J.  Kunkle,  daughter  of  George  Kunkle,  of 
Cumberland  county,  who  died  in  1895. 
Their  children  are:  John,  plumber,  Harris- 
burg; Samuel  T.,  painter,  Harrisburg; 
George  C,  painter,  Harrisburg ;  William  E., 
bricklayer,  Harrisburg;  Walter  K.,  painter, 
Harrisburg;  and  Sally  J.,  at  home.  Mr. 
Bannan  is  a  member  of  the  Fourth  Street 
Lutheran  church  and  is  active  in  church 
work. 


Bann.\n,   George,   painter,  was  born  in 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  November  5,  1837 ;  son 
of  John  and   Elizabeth  (Hart)  Bannan,  na- 
tives of  that  county.     The  father  was  a  shoe- 
39 


Barringer,  Jacob  P.,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  January  10,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of 
Michael  J.  and  Mary  (Parson)  Barringer. 
The  Barringer  family  were  natives  of  Alsace, 
France,  and  were  Lluguenots.  The  first  of 
the  family  to  come  to  America  was  Michael 
Barringer,  great-grandfather  of  Jacob  P.,  who 
settled  in  Lancaster  county,  where  his  son 
Jacob  was  born. 

Jacob  Barringer,  sou  of  Michael,  of  France, 
came  to  Dauphin  county  in  1810  or  1811 
and  located  in  Susquehanna  township.  The 
present  site  of  the  Harrisburg  cemetery  was 
a  part  of  his  farm.  He  was  a  prominent 
farmer  and  a  leading  member  of  the  First 
Reformed  church  of  Harrisburg;  he  aided 
in  building  its  first  house  of  wor,ship.  He 
was  a  Whig.  He  died  about  1830.  His  wife 
was  a  Miss  Palmer,  of  Franklin  county.  Pa. 
They  had  three  children :  Michael  J.;  Jacob, 
a  printer,  who  enlisted  in  the  United  States 
service,  was  commissioned  sergeant,  served 
in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  with  the  rank  of 
captain,  was  wounded  at  AVilliamsburg,  and 
died  leaving  no  issue ;  Aaron,  died  at  Har- 
risburg October,  1894,  was  a  house  painter 
by  trade  and  for  many  years  a  baggage- 
master  at  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  station. 
Michael  J.  Barringer,  son  of  Jacob  of  Lan- 
caster county,  grandson  of  Michael  of  France, 


578 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  father  of  Jacob  P.,  was  born  in  what  was 
then  Susquehanna  township-  but  is  now  the 
Eighth  ward  of  Harrisburg,  February  9, 
1816.  He  learned  house  and  sign  painting 
and  was  distinguished  in  that  line  of  work. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
He  died  in  1856.  His  wife,  still  living,  is  a 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Mary  Parson,  whose  family 
(Clark)  emigrated  from  England.  They  had 
five  children:  William  Clark,  printer,  who 
resides  in  New  Jersey ;  Michael  J.,  printer, 
enlisted  in  the  Eighteenth  United  States  in- 
fantry, served  through  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, was  wounded  at  Pittsburgh  Landing, 
and  died  in  1882;  Charles  H.,  of  Americus, 
Ga.,  painter,  employed  as  sign  writer  by  a 
southern  railroad  company  ;  Emma  R.,  Mrs. 
Charles  C.  Schriver,  of  Harrisburg. 

Jacob  P.  Barringer  was  educated  in  the 
Harrisburg  schools.  He  was  several  years 
in  the  drug  business,  after  which  he  took  up 
the  family  calling  of  painting.  In  1861  he 
enlisted  for  the  three  months' service  in  com- 
pany I,  Second  Pennsjdvania  volunteers.  \n 
1862  he  re-enlisted  in  the  "Anderson  cav- 
alry," vide  the  Fifteenth  Pennsylviinia  cav- 
alr}',  and  was  discharged  in  the  latter  part 
of  1864,  on  account  of  disability.  He  then 
became  connected  with  the  quartermaster's 
department  and  was  stationed  at  Alexandria, 
Va.,  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  then  returned  to  Harrisburg.  In 
1867  he  formed  a  partnership  with  George 
Bannan  in  the  house  and  sign  painting  busi- 
ness, which  they  conducted  until  1890  ;  he 
then  retired  from  business  on  account  of 
failing  health. 

Mr.  Barringer  is  a  Democrat.  He  served 
two  terms  in  the  common  council  from  the 
Fifth  ward  and  was  secretary  of  the  highway 
committee.  He  is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Perseverance  Chapter, 
Harrisburg  Council,  and  Pilgrim  Comman- 
dery,  K.  T.;  and  was  a  charter  member  of 
Bayard  Lodge.  No.  150,  K.  of  P. 

He  was  married  in  1853  to  Miss  Emily  J., 
daughter  of  William  Snyder,  of  Harrisburg. 
They  have  no  children.  He  is  a  member  of 
St.  Paul's  Epi-scopal  church  and  holds  the 
office  of  treasurer  and  rector's  warden. 


of  that  county  and  in  the  Cumberland  Valley 
Institute  and  White  Hall  Academy.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  painter  and  came  to 
Harrisburg  in  1859,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  two  years  and  then  enlistled  in  1861 
in  company  I,  Fifteenth  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  as  bugler,  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  attached  to 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  followed 
that  body  of  troops  in  all  its  marches  and 
engagements  under  its  illustrious  leaders, 
Rosecrans,  Thomas  and  Sherman,  and  went 
with  the  last  named  general  on  his  march 
to  the  sea,  having  received  two  wounds  dur- 
ing his  service.  After  his  discharge  he  re- 
sumed his  trade  of  painting  and  followed  it 
four  years  and  was  then  engaged  as  clerk 
with  John  Whitman.  He  subsequently  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  and  finally  pur- 
chased the  entire  business,  which  he  has 
since  conducted  alone.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Harrisburg  Trust  Company, 
First  National  Bank  and  the  Harrisburg 
Electric  Light  Company.  He  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellow 
fraternities.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Republican  and  has  served  on  the  board  of 
control  by  appointment  one  unexpired  term 
and  one  term  by  election  from  the  Ninth 
ward.  Mr.  Miller  was  married,  in'  1869,  to 
Miss  Margaret  E.  Sh reiver,  daughter  of 
Charles  Shi-eiver,  of  Cumberland  county. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Fourth  Street  Zion 
Lutheran  church. 


Miller,  Abraham  C,  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county,  Pa.,  December  14, 1842  ;  son 
of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Shepp)  Miller, 
natives  of  Cumberland  county.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Abraham  C. 
was  reared  and  educated  in  the  public  schools 


Baker,  Matthias  G.,  painter,  was  born  in 
York  county,  Pa.,  October  5,  1845.  He  is  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Marj^  (Greenawalt)  Baker, 
natives  of  York  county.  His  father  was 
employed  for  many  years  as  gatekeeper  on 
the  York  and  Harrisburg  turnpike.  Mat- 
thias Cr.  went,  at  twelve  j'ears  of  age,  to 
Cumberland  county,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated.  In  1862  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, and  served  nine  months.  He  re-en- 
listed, in  1863,  in  the  one  hundred  days'  ser- 
vice, in  company  E,  One  Hundred  and 
Ninety-fourth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers. He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
South  Mountain,  Autietam,  Fredericksburg 
and  Chancellorsville. 

After  the  war  closed,  he  learned  painting, 
in  Cumberland  county.  In  1867  Mr.  Baker 
came  to  Harrisburg,  and  was  employed  by 
John     Cruikshank,    for     ten     years.      For 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


579 


two  years  he  was  a  partner  with  Joim  \\. 
Hoerner.  Since  tliat  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged for  liimself,  in  contracting,  and  is  one 
of  the  leading  workmen  of  tlie  city. 

Mr.  Baker  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Harrisburg  Board  of  Trade,  and  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  of  the  People's  Bridge 
Company.  He  is  a  Repnblican;  has  served 
in  the  connnon  conncil  from  the  Fifth  ward, 
and  was  on  the  highway  committee.  He  is 
a  memlier  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  from 
the  blue  lodge  to  the  consistory ;  of  Dau- 
phin Lodge,  No.  160,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  and  of  Post 
No.  58,  G.  A.  R. 

He  was  married,  in  1871,  to  Miss  Emma 
E.,  daughter  of  George  Reed,  of  Hogues- 
town.  Fa.  His  children  are:  Howard  W., 
Emma  G.  and  Robert  R.  Mr.  Baker  and 
family  are  members  of  Westminster  Presby- 
terian church,  in  which  he  holds  the  office 
of  trustee. 


Fisher,  Emory  A.,  was  born  in  York 
county.  Pa.,  October  8, 1849.  He  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Eliza  (Trout)  Fisher,  natives  of 
York  county.  His  father  was  left  an  orphan 
at  ten  years  of  age.  He  learned  carpentry, 
came  to  Harrisburg  in  1870,  and  worked  on 
the  construction  gang  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company  up  to  October  9,  1877, 
when  he  met  with  an  accident  at  No.  11 
bridge,  Tyrone,  which  caused  his  death  De- 
cember 13,  1877.  His  wife  died  in  1873. 
They  had  twelve  children,  three  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  and  two  are  now  living: 
James  B.,  of  Harrisburg,  and  Emory  A. 
Emory  A.  Fisher  received  a  very  meager 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Cumber- 
land county.  In  18G4  he  hired  as  a  repair 
hand  on  the  Northern  Central  railroad.  In 
1866  he  hired  to  B.  F.  Lee  &  Co.  to  learn 
milling,  but  owing  to  the  dissolution  of  the 
firm  in  1867  he  became  apprentice  to  L. 
Crull,  of  New  Cumberland,  to  the  painter's 
trade,  and  remained  with  him  until  1870. 
He  then  came  to  Harrisburg,  and  was  in  the 
employment  of  J.  R.  Stoey  up  to  1872.  He 
then  engaged  in  business  for  himself.  The 
first  contract  he  had  was  to  paint  liouse  No. 
716  North  Third  street.  He  has  since  been 
one  of  the  leading  contractors  of  the  city, 
employing  from  ten  to  thirty  men.  In  1891 
he  added  to  his  business  a  complete  stock  of 
wall  paper.  He  is  a  Democrat,  with  Prohibi- 
tion proclivities.  He  has  served  two  unex- 
pired terms  on   the  school  board.     He  was 


married  in  1875  to  Miss  Susan,  daughter  of 
Lewis  B.  Raber,  of  Harrisburg.     Their  chil- 
dren are:  Lewis  R.,  Emory  A.,  Jr.,  and  Lile 
R.     Mr.  Fisher  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Otterbein  United  Brethren  church,  and 
was  the  leading  organizer   of  tiiat  church 
society  in  1878.    He  was  formerly  a  member 
of  the  Boas  Street  church,  but  withdrew  from 
that  church  and  had  many  followers.     He 
was  the  leader  of  the  ■'  original  forty."     He 
selected  the  site  of  the  present  edifice,  sub- 
scribed the  first  money  toward  building  it, 
and   was  active  in   raising  the  remainder. 
He  was  for  fourteen  years  leader  of  the  music 
in  the  church  and  Sunday-school.     He  was 
converted  on   Christmas  eve,  December  25, 
1866,    in    Mount    Olivet  LTnited    Brethren 
church,  York  county,  and  joined  the  church, 
and  from  that  time  has  held  office  in  the 
United  Brethren  church,  having  been  super- 
intendent of  Sabbath-school  for  twenty  years 
as  primary  superintendent,  at  this  time  su- 
perintendent of  the  adult  department  in  Ot- 
terbein Sunday-school.     He  is   one   of  the 
organizers,  and   the   first   president  of  the 
Master  Painters'  and  Decorators'  Association 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
national   convention   held   in   Buffalo,  Feb- 
ruary   12,  1896.      Mr.    Fisher  is  strictly    a 
self-made  man.     He  started   a  business  in 
1872  on  a  capital  of  seven  dollars  borrowed 
from   his  mother.     He  owes  his  success   in 
life  to  his  own  efforts. 


Bell,  Thornton  A.,  painter,  was  born  in 
Duncannon,  Perry  county,  Pa.,  May  8, 1850  ; 
son  of  Thomas  G.  and  Elizabeth  (C^amp) 
Bell,  natives  of  that  county.  The  father  was 
a  painter  and  came  to  Dauphin  county  in 
1853,  located  in  Harrisburg  and  followed  his 
occupation  until  1865.  In  1861  he  enlisted 
for  three  years  in  the  First  Pennsylvania  re- 
serves as  private  and  was  appointed  fife  major 
and  served  three  years. 

Thornton  A.  came  to  Harrisburg  with  his 
parents  when  he  was  two  years  of  age,  and 
subseciuentlj'  removed  to  Carlisle,  where  he 
was  reared  and  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  learned  the  painter's  trade  with  his  father, 
and  returned  to  Harrisburg  in  1873,  where 
he  has  since  followed  his  occupation.  He  is 
one  of  the  principal  contracting  painters  in 
the  city  and  has  been  employed  on  the  State 
work  and  other  important  contracts.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Bell  is  in  agreement  with 
the  Republican  party.  In  1880  he  enlisted 
in  company  D,  Eighth  regiment.  City  Grays 


580 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  was  made  bugler  for  the  company,  and 
for  two  years  previous  to  his  enlistment  he 
had  served  in  the  drum  corp  of  the  City 
Grays.  He  was  transferred  to  General  Gobin's 
staff,  Third  brigade,  and  was  appointed  chief 
musician  of  the  brigade.  In  February  14, 
1870,  he  enlisted  in  the  Governor's  Troop, 
National  Guard,  served  five  years  and  was 
honorably  discharged.  Mr.  Bell  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0. 
0.  F.  He  was  married,  in  1878,  to  Miss  Flora 
B.  Eichelberger,  of  Cumberland  county. 
Their  children  are:  Thomas  J.,  Frank  Hun- 
ter, Edward  Thornton,  Henry  Andrew, 
Charles  Edwin,  Wesley  Harrison,  Clara  Jane, 
and  Mary  Bell.  Mr.  Bell  is  a  member  of 
Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  is 
chairman  of  the  entertainment  committee  of 
the  Men's  Bible  class. 


Elder,  Matthew  B.,  plumber,  was  born 
in  Swatara  township,  December  19,  1848  ; 
son  of  Josiiua  and  Nancy  (Brown)  Elder. 
The  father  was  born  in  Indiana  county.  Pa., 
and  tiie  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
Brown,  of  Hanover  townsiiip.  When  a 
young  man  the  father  came  to  Dauphin 
county,  wiiere  i)e  married  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Swatara  township.  He  was  an 
elder  in  the  Paxtang  Presbyterian  church. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  Swatara  town- 
ship. Their  children  are:  Joshua,  farmer, 
of  Swatara  township;  John,  of  Swatara 
township;  David,  Harrisburg;  Elizabeth  M., 
Mrs.  W.  K.  Cowden,  of  PhiTadelphia;  Mar- 
garet B.,  Mrs.  J.  Q.  A.  Rutherford,  of  Swa- 
tara township ;  JCleanor  S.,  Mrs.  F.  W. 
Rutherford,  Swatara  township;  Mattiiew  B. 
and  Matilila,  unmarried. 

Matthew  B.  was  reared  in  Swatara  town- 
ship and  received  his  education  in  Seller's 
Academy.  After  leaving  school  he  learned 
the  trade  of  ])lumber,  at  which  he  worked 
as  a  journeyman  some  years.  In  1879  he 
engaged  in  busine.ssfor  himself,  and  became 
one  of  the  prominent  men  in  the  trade.  Mr. 
Elder  is  a  member  of  the  Hepublican  party. 
He  was  married  January  0,  1889,  to  ISIiss 
Frances,  daughter  of  John  A.  Rutherford,  of 
Swatara  township.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, John  R.  and  Joseph.  Mr.  Elder  is  a 
member  of  the  Paxtang  Lutlieran  church 
and  is  an  elder  in  the  same. 


William  E.  Poole  was  a  native  of  England 
and  for  many  years  was  a  commission  mer- 
chant of  Philadelphia,  where  he  now  resides. 
His  wife  was  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Md. 

Washington  I.  Poole  moved  to  Delaware 
count}'.  Pa.,  when  he  was  eleven  years  old. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Philadel- 
]ihia.  He  learned  plumbing  in  Camden,  N. 
J.,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years, 
after  which  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
plumber.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1873 
and  in  1874  established  his  present  business 
on  Chestnut  street.  He  is  considered  the 
leading  and  most  practical  plumber  in  the 
city,  being  equally  intelligent  and  skillful  in 
the  theoretical  and  mechanical  branches  of 
the  business.  Recognizing  the  sanitary  im- 
portance of  his  work,  he  spares  no  labor  or 
pains  to  free  the  homes  of  his  fellow-citizens 
entrusted  to  his  construction  from  the  death 
tra|)s  of  destructive  plumbing. 

Mr.  Poole  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Har- 
risburg Board  of  Trade.     He  is  a  Democrat. 

He  was  married  in  1879  to  Miss  Ida  Ma\% 
daughter  of  James  Gilmore,  of  Harrisburg. 
She  died  in  1894,  and  Mr.  Poole  was  married 
again  in  1896  to  Miss  Carrie,  daugiitcr  of 
William  Bergstresser,  of  Harrisburg.  Mr. 
Poole  is  a  member  of  the  Pine  Street  Pres- 
bvterian  church  and  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 


Poole,  Washington  I.,  plumber,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  4,  1851.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  E.  and  Marion  (Gray)  Poole. 


Natss,  Christian,  plumber  and  gas  fitter, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Harrisburg 
December  5,  1852.  He  is  a  son  of  Christian 
and  Christiana  ^^Kramer)  Nauss.  His  parents 
were  born  in  Germany ;  they  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  early  life  and  located  at  Harrisburg. 
His  father  was  first  engaged  in  brewing  and 
subsequently  in  the  bakery  business;  lie  is 
decea.sed;  his  widow  is  .still  living;  they  had 
six  children,  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Ciiristian,  Charles,  and  Kate,  wife  of  John 
Sayford,  all  of  Harrisburg.  Of  the  deceased 
cliildren  two  died  in  infancy  and  a  son, 
Cieorge,  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 

C'hristian  Nauss  has  spent  his  life  in  Har- 
risburg. His  education  was  received  in  the 
public  schools.  He  learned  plumbing  and 
gas  fitting,  which  has  been  his  occupation. 
For  six  years  he  was  the  junior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Elder  et  Nauss,  and  for  the  past 
seven  years  has  conducted  business  on  his 
own  account. 

He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg  May  18, 
1882,  to  Abbie  Elizabeth,daughter  of  George 
T.  and  Anna  E.  Murray.  They  have  three 
children  :  George  M.,  Russell  C,  and  Anna  E. 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


581 


Mr.  Nauss  is  an  active  member  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodc^e,  No.  464 ;  Perseverance  Chapter, 
No.  21;  Harrisburg  Council,  No.  7;  Pilgrim 
Commandery,  No.  11,  K.  T.;  standard  bearer, 
Harrisburg  Consistory,  32°;  Lulu  Temple, 
Knights  of  Mystic  Slirine,  F.  &  A.  M.  In 
his  i)olitical  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  The 
family  attend  the  Lutheran  church.  i\Ir. 
Nauss  is  one  of  tlie  representative  and  ])ro- 
gressive  business  men  of  Harrisburg. 


Vaughn,  H.  P.vrRicK,  pluml)er,  gas  and 
steam  fitter,  was  born  at  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
February  7,  1858.  His  parents,  Patrick  II. 
and  Mary  M.  (Callon)  Vaughn,  were  natives 
of  Ireland,  but  resided  in  Harrisburg  many 
years  and  were  well  respected  citizens.  The 
father  died  in  December,  1883,  and  the  mother 
in  1876.  Patrick  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  city,  and  here,  also,  he  learned 
the  trade  of  plumbing  and  gas  fitting,  which 
he  has  made  the  business  of  his  life,  embark- 
ing for  himself  in  the  business  in  1883.  He 
is  am])ly  equijiped  for  his  business  and  is 
skillful,  reliable  and  successful.  The  exten- 
sive contracts  he  has  executed  in  his  line 
speak  for  him.  Among  the  more  prominent 
jobs  he  has  done  may  be  mentioned  the 
plumbing  apparatus  of  the  executive  mansion 
and  of  tlie  Htate  Senate  chamber  of  tins  citj-. 

Mr.  ^^aughn  was  married  in  May,  1878,  to 
Emma  Frances  Smith,  daughter  of  Albert 
and  Harriet  Sm(th.  They  have  no  children. 
In  political  views  and  affiliation  Mr.  Vaughn 
is  a  Democrat.  He  attends  St.  Patrick's 
lioman  Catholic  church.  It  is  to  Mr. 
N'aughn's  ci'edit  that  in  his  own  city,  where  he 
was  born  and  brought  up  and  where  he  has 
spent  his  whole  life,  he  is  universally 
esteemed  and  regarded  as  an  honorable  and 
upright  man,  and  one  tlioroughly  competent 
and  reliable  in  business. 


Marsh.\ll,  .John  S.,  plumbing,  gas  fitting, 
heating  and  sanitary  drainage,  was  born 
near  Millerstown,  Perry  county.  Pa.,  May 
31,  1863,  son  of  the  late  John  L.  and  Mary 
Anna  (Wood)  Marshall.  The  father  was 
born  in  West  Chester,  Chester  county.  Pa., 
May  6,  1831,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Lancaster  and 
Chester  counties,  afterwards  removing  to 
Harrisburg  in  1868,  where  he  was  in  the 
service  of  tiie  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pan}'  until  his  death  by  accident,  July  5, 
1877,  being  cut  off  in   early   life   when  his 


future  pi'ospects  were  the  brightest.  The 
mother  was  born  in  Philadeljjhia,  April  15, 
1834,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Marshall  May 
21,  1855.  Their  children  are:  Addie  T., 
wife  of  Charles  M.  Davis,  of  Harrisburg ; 
Esther  D.,  wife  of  John  Ludwig,  of  Harris- 
burg; Sallie  E.,  wife  of  Elmer  E.  Stacy,  of 
Williamsport,  Pa.;  Joiin  S.;  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Henry  Ault,  of  Lebanon  city;  Mary  A., 
wife  of  Charles  S.  Anderson,  of  Harrisburg; 
Charles  G.  and  William  H.  S.,  of  Harris- 
burg. Their  children  are :  Robert  M.  and 
George  M.  John  S.  came  to  Harrisburg  with 
his  parents  in  1868,  where  he  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  later 
took  a  course  in  the  business  college  at  Al- 
toona.  Pa.  He  spent  four  years  in  other 
parts  of  the  State  in  perfecting  himself  in 
the  several  branches  of  his  business,  in  which 
he  has  been  engaged  for  fourteen  years 
in  this  city,  seven  of  which  he  has  con- 
ducted business  for  himself.  Mr.  Marshall 
is  a  member  of  Daupihin  Lodge,  No.  160; 
a  past  chief  patriarch  of  Dauphin  Encamp- 
ment, No.  10,  I.  0.  0.  P.;  a  past  sachem  of 
Octorara  Tribe,  I.  0.  R.  M.,  and  a  member  of 
Egyptian  Commandery,  No.  114,  K.  of  M.; 
Octorara  Council,  Daugiiters  of  Pocohontas, 
and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Master 
Plumbers'  Association  of  Harrisburg.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Mai'shall  is  a  Republican, 
Ijut  is  not  an  office  seeker.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Pine  Street  Presbvterian  church. 


McKee,  Edward  C,  plumber  and  gas 
fitter,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  January  23, 
1870.  His  father,  James  T.  McKee,  was 
born  in  Centre  county.  Pa.  He  was  reared 
on  the  farm,  and  from  boyhood  has  been 
connected  with  boating  and  railroading.  He 
came  to  Harrisburg  in  1868,  and  for  almost 
thirty  years  has  been  in  the  service  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  At  pres- 
ent he  holds  the  position  of  passenger  engi- 
neer on  the  Middle  division.  He  was  twice 
married.  In  his  first  marriage  he  was  united 
to  Miss  Sarah  Snyder.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren: William  B.,  who  died  in  Buftalo,  N. 
Y.,  December  2,  189L  and  his  lemains  are 
interred  in  Pine  Hill  cemetery,  Buffalo,  N. 
Y.;  Howard  S.,  and  James  T.,  both  residing 
in  Harrisburg.  His  second  marriage  was  to 
Mury  Roth,  January  12, 1868.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  are  also  three  children  :  Edward 
C,  Bertha,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Sadie 
E.,  wife  of  George  Keiser,  of  Harrisburg. 
The  mother  died  July  29,  1884,  and  her  re- 


582 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


mains  are  interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Hunt- 
ingdon, Pa. 

Edward  C.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Harrisburg.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  he  became  an  apprentice  to  the 
plumbing  trade,  and  has  made  this  business 
his  sole  occupation.  He  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  April  1, 1895.  He  is  a  prac- 
tical sanitary  plumber.  He  spent  two  years 
witli  one  of  the  best  firms  of  Pittsburgh  in 
learning  this  particular  branch  of  his  busi- 
ness, and  is  abundantly  qualified  to  execute 
work  on  the  most  modern  and  scientific 
plans  and  principles.  He  was  married  in 
Harrisburg,  October  21,  1895,  to  Sarah  A. 
Boyle,  daughter  of  Daniel  F.  and  Mary  E. 
Boyle,  of  Harrisburg.  He  is  a  member  of 
Cornplanter  Tribe,  I.  0.  R.  M.,  and  of  the 
Master  Plumbers'  Association.  He  is  a 
Democrat  and  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


King,  Anthony,  deceased,  was  born  in 
1818,  son  of  Lucy  (Auchinbauch)  King.  He 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  period, 
and  began  his  business  life  as  a  clerk  in  a 
hardware  store  in  Pittsburgh.  He  came  to 
Harrisburg  and  was  in  the  employment  of 
Mr.  Fahnestock,  as  clerk,  for  many  years. 
He  embarked  in  the  hardware  business,  in 
Harrisburg,  in  which  he  continued  until 
his  death,  in  1883.  Mr.  King  was  a  stock- 
holder in  the  stove  factory,  and  in  other 
industries,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trade.  He  was  a  Republican  in  his  po- 
litical views,  and  served  as  a  member  of  the 
city  council.  He  attended  the  Fourth  Street 
Lutheran  church.  Mr.  King  was  married, 
to  Miss  Harriet  Kunkel,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Rebecca  (Stine)  Kunkel,  who  died 
in  April,  1892.  They  reared  seven  chil- 
dren: Rebecca,  deceased  ;  George,  of  Harris- 
burg; Lucy,  Mrs.  George  T.  Ross,  of  Harris- 
burg; Libbie,  deceased;  Mary,  Mrs.  Frank 
Keet,  of  Harrisburg;  Harriet,  deceased; 
Carrie,  Mrs.  Gordon  Mullin,of  Philadelphia. 

Maeyer,  David,  of  the  firm  of  Eager  & 
Maeyer,  dealers  in  stoves,  ranges  and  furnaces, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  December  18, 
1828  ;  son  of  William  and  Dorothea  Maeyer. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
learned  the  trade  of  tin  and  sheet  iron 
worker,  which  has  been  his  life  occupation. 
In  1854  he  engaged  in  business  with  Mr. 
George  C.  Fager  in  which  he  has  continued 
since  that  time.  Mr.  Maeyer  was  married  at 
Harrisburg,  April  1,  1856,  to  Mary  A.  Win- 


agle,  a  native  of  Dauphin  county.  Their 
children  are:  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Howard 
Brown;  Fanny  H.,  wife  of  Harry  Vance; 
Hummel  K.,  Bertie  F.  and  Sarah,  all  re- 
siding in  Harrisburg.  In  his  political  views 
Mr.  Maeyer  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  as 
school  director  seven  years.  For  forty  years 
he  has  been  a  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge, 
No.  21,  and  of  Perseverance  Chapter,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  Pilgrim  Connnandery. 
The  family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


CoMPTON,  Samuel  R.,  hardware  dealer, 
was  born  in  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  March 
28,  1835 ;  son  of  John  G.  and  Nancy  (Brant) 
Compton,  natives  of  that  county.  The  father 
was  a  millwright  by  trade,  Samuel  R.  came 
to  Tioga  county.  Pa.,  with  his  parents,  where 
his  father  died  when  he  was  fifteen  years  old 
and  where  he  was  reared,  and  received  his 
education.  He  learned  the  trade  of  mill- 
wright and  followed  this  occupation  in  Ly- 
coming and  Clinton  counties  for  some  years. 
in  18(58  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  pro- 
vision business  at  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  and  con- 
tinued there  ten  years.  Subsequently  he 
took  charge  of  the  hardware  firm  of  Van 
Dyke  &,  Co.  for  ten  years,  which  po.sition  he 
resigned  with  a  view  of  engaging  in  business 
for  himself  at  Lock  Haven,  but  was  pre- 
vented by  the  flood  of  1889.  He  came  to 
Harrisburg  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  where  for 
two  years  he  was  connected  with  McCormiek 
tt  Co.,  and  in  1892  established  the  business 
in  which  he  has  continued  to  the  pi'esent 
time.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Compton  is 
a  Republican.  He  was  married,  in  ISGO,  to 
Miss  M.  J.  Robinson,  daughter  of  William 
Robinson,  to  whom  have  been  born  four 
children:  John  N.,  with  his  father;  Elmer 
F.,  bookkeeper  at  Altoona  ;  Emma  F.,  and 
William  A.,  at  home.  Mr.  Comjjton  is  a 
member  of  the  Grace  Methodist  Ei)iscopal 
church. 


Kline,  Daniel,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Kline  &  Himes,  was  born  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  June  21,1839;  son  of  Jo.seph  and  Eliza- 
beth (Keen)  Kline.  The  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Berks  county,  where  they  resided 
until  about  1852,  when  they  removed  to 
Lebanon  county  and  there  spent  the  remain- 
der of  their  lives.  The  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  later  in  life  kept  a  hotel.  Tiieir  living 
children  are:  Catherine,  Reuben,  Josejih,  Ed- 
ward, Elizabeth,  widow  of  William  Marlz, 
of  Steel  ton,  John  and  David.    Their  deceased 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


583 


children  are:  Rebecca,  Peter  and  Mary  0., 
who  all  lived  to  maturity.  Daniel,  when 
quite  3'oung,  removed  to  Lebanon  county  and 
located  near  Jonestown,  where  he  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools,  his  school 
days  being  terminated  when  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age  by  the  death  of  his  parents, 
which  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  start  out 
in  life  for  himself.  He  began  an  a})prentice- 
sliip  at  the  tinsmith  trade,  in  Uniontown, 
Dauphin  county,  which  was  completed  in 
Northumberland  county,  his  employer  hav- 
ing removed  his  business  to  that  county,  and 
where  he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  as  a 
journeyman  until  ISGl.  He  then  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  followed  his  occupa- 
tion as  a  journeyman  tinsmith  for  twenty 
years.  In  1881  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
William  G.  Zollinger,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Zollinger  &  Kline,  and  engaged  in  busi- 
ness. Subsequently  the  firm  was  succeeded 
by  a  joint  stock  company  called  the  Harris- 
burg Stove  and  Steam  Heating  Company,  of 
wliich  Mr.  Zollinger  was  the  treasurer  and 
Mr.  Kline  the  general  managei-,  and  which 
continued  the  business  for  five  years.  At  the 
end  of  this  time  Mr.  Kline  and  Mr.  Himes 
formed  a  partnership  and  purchased  the 
business  of  J.  D.  Rowe,  and  since  1892  have 
successfully  conducted  the  enterprise.  In 
his  political  views  Mr.  Kline  is  a  stauncii 
Republican.  He  attends  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 


Kautz,  Sajiuel  H.,  hardware  dealer,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  city,  Pa.,  July  12,  1845 ; 
son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Goss)  Kautz. 
Tlie  father  was  a  coppersmith  by  trade,  and 
followed  that  occupation  through  life.  He 
removed  to  Harrisburg  in  18G1  and  entered 
the  employment  of  the  old  State  Line  rail- 
road from  Philadelphia  to  Columbia,  and 
while  in  this  service  he  put  the  first  slieet 
iron  jacket  on  an  engine  on  this  road.  He 
was  a  member  of  theForster  Street  Lutheran 
church.  He  died  in  August,  1883.  In  po- 
litical views  he  was  with  tbe  Democratic 
party,  but  was  not  active  in  political  matters. 
Of  the  eight  children  born  to  him  six  are 
living:  John  M.,  of  Harrisburg ;  Eliza,  wife 
of  Nodell  Gully,  of  Harrisburg  ;  Samuel  H.; 
Edward,  engineer  on  Pennsylvania  railroad  ; 
Joseph,  ex-chief  of  jwlice,  Harrisburg; 
George,  ex-policeman,  of  Harrisburg.  Samuel 
H.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
the  academy  of  Chester  county.  Pa.,  under 
Dr.  Junkin,  and  came  to  Harrisburg  when 


he  was  sixteen  years  old.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  worker  in  copper,  tin  and  sheet 
iron  in  the  Pennsylvania  railway  shops 
under  M.  A.  Sliattuck,  and  worked  at  the 
trade  in  the  employment  of  the  company  at 
Harrisburg,  Altoona,  West  Philadelphia, 
Mifflin  and  Sunbury.  In  1871  he  engaged 
in  the  general  hardware,  tin  and  stove  bu.si- 
ness,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful, 
building  his  store  and  greatly  extending  his 
trade,  and  is  recognized  as  the  leader  in  his 
line  in  the  city.  In  1864  Mr.  Kautz  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  company  E,  Two  Hundred 
and  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, and  was  promoted  to  company  clerk 
and  placed  on  detached  duty  with  the  regi- 
ment, stationed  at  Carp's  Mill,  on  the  James 
river.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service  January  23,  1865,  being  then 
under  twenty  years  of  age.  In  politics  Mr. 
Kautz  is  a  Democrat,  and  from  1873-75  rep- 
resented the  Ninth  ward  in  tlie  common 
council,  and  .served  on  the  ordinance  and 
fire  committees  of  that  body.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  one  of 
the  organizers  of  theMt.  Pleasant  Fire  C!om- 
pany,  in  which  he  is  cliairman  of  tlie  house 
committee  and  ex-assistant  secretary.  Mr. 
Kautz  was  married  in  1868  to  Miss  Lillie, 
daughter  of  Richard  Sarumungbraun,  of 
Juniata  county.  They  have  no  children. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Pine  Street  Presby- 
terian church,  and  takes  great  interest  in  all 
church  work,  and  has  been  a  Sunday-school 
teacher  for  many  years. 


HoGENTOGLER,  Chalmers  Cooper,  hard- 
ware merchant  and  senior  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Hogentogler  Bros.,  proprietors  of  the 
Palace  Steam  Laundry,  was  born  in  Colum- 
bia, Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  September  12, 
1855.  He  is  the  eldest  surviving  son  of 
Joseph  and  Esther  (Sourbier)  Hogentogler. 
Joseph  Hogentogler,  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  was  a  prominent  and  honored  resi- 
dent of  Columbia,  and  was  for  many  years 
in  the  livery  business.  He  died  in  1887. 
His  wife  also  was  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county.  They  had  five  children,  four  of 
wliom  are  living:  Chalmers  C;  Emma,  wife 
of  E.  R.  Hess,  of  Williamsport,  Pa.;  Mary, 
wife  of  C.  C.  Groff,  of  Harrisburg,  and 
Harry  G. 

Chalmers  C.  Hogentogler  was  educated  in 
tlie  public  schools  of  his  native  town.  Leav- 
ing school  in  1870,  lie  was  for  two  years  em- 
ployed as  a  teamster.     From  1872  to  1875  he 


584 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


was  in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  business. 
From  1875  to  1883  he  was  in  the  service  of 
the  '  Phihidelphia  and  Reading  Raih'oad 
Company  at  Columbia.  In  1883  lie  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  and  became  a  salesman  in 
the  hardware  business.  In  1883  he  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  in  1892,  in  connection  witli  his 
brother,  he  established  the  Palace  Steam 
Laundry. 

He  was  married  in  HarrLsburg,  October 
14,  1885,  to  Miss  Grace  A.,  daugliter  of  Rev. 
Samuel  and  Susan  Yingliug,  a  native  of 
Palmyra,  Pa.  They  have  no  cliildren.  Mr. 
Hogentogler  is  an  active  member  of  Per- 
severance Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.  His 
political  views  are  Republican.  Pie  attends 
the  Lutheran  church. 

The  Palace  Steam  Laundry,  of  which  the 
Hogentogler  Bros,  are  sole  i^roprietors,  is 
situated  on  North  Third  street,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  It  is  equipped  with  the  most  improved 
machinery  and  appliances,  and  with  am])le 
steam  power.  It  gives  en:ployment  to  a 
number  of  skilled  workmen,  and  its  value 
to  the  cit}'  can  hardly  be  overestimated.  The 
concern  has  ample  capital  and  superior 
facilities,  and  is  in  position  to  guarantee 
prompt  and  perfect  fulfilment  of  all  de- 
mands, and  to  place  all  transactions  on  a 
.thoroughly  substantial  and  satisfactory  basis. 
Both  proprietors  are  liberal,  honorable,  and 
enterprising,  and  justly  merit  tlie  abundant 
success  secured  in  tbeir  important  business 
venture. 


Ensinger,  Samuel  D.,  hardware  dealer, 
was  born  in  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  January 
24,  1859  ;  son  of  F.  W.  and  Mary  M.  (Rey- 
nold) Ensinger,  the  former  a  native  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  the  latter  of  York 
county.  The  fatber  removed  to  Harrisburg, 
in  18(50,  where  he  was  for  a  short  time  en- 
gaged in  the  bakery  business.  He  subse- 
quently entered  the  employment  of  John 
Beatty,  as  a  marble  finislierand  slate  mantle 
maker,  with  whom  he  remained  for  twenty 
years,  or  till  near  his  deatli,  in  1883.  In 
his  political  views  he  was  a  Republican. 
His  wife  died  in  1879.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Vine  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  The}' reared  three  children  :  Will- 
iam H.,  cabinet  maker,  Harrisburg;  Annie 
E.,  Mrs.  John  R.  Silvius,  of  Fairview,  Pa., 
and  Samuel  D.  The  latter  came  to  Harris- 
burg with  his  parents,  when  one  j'ear  old, 
and  was  educated  in  the  citv  schools.     He 


was  for  several  years  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods 
store,  after  which  he  learned  the  trade  of 
tinner,  and  in  1885,  engaged  in  business  for 
himself,  subsequently  forming  the  firm  of 
Silvius  &  Ensinger,  which  continued  the 
business  until  1890,  when  he  established  his 
present  enterprise,  on  Race  street.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Junior  and  Senior  Orders 
United  American  Mechanics,  Capital  City 
Council,  and  a  charter  member  of  the  Bene- 
ficial Society.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. Mr.  Ensinger  was  married,  in 
1882,  to  Miss  Lydia  F.  Crownshield,  daugh- 
ter of  Jeremiah  H.  Crownshield,  of  Harris- 
burg, to  whom  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren: Lee  H.,  Irene  E.,  Grace  C.  and  Bertha 
M.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Trinity 
Lutheran  church,  on  South  Ninth  street,  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  organization, 
serving  as  deacon  and  teacher  in  the  Sun- 
da3'-school. 


Strayer,  Oliver  F.,  hardware  merchant, 
was  born  in  Washington  township,  York 
county.  Pa.,  October  4,  1859 ;  son  of  Cor- 
nelius and  Elizabeth  (LeRue)  Strayer.  Both 
parents  are  natives  of  York  county  and  still 
occupy  the  old  homestead  in  Washington 
township.  The  father  conducted  a  tannery 
for  many  3'ears,  but  is  now  engaged  solely  in 
farming.  They  have  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living :  Oliver  F.;  William  C,  St. 
Paul,  Minn.;  Minnie,  wife  of  Joseph  You- 
channaur,  of  Adams  county  ;  and  Alice,  wife 
of  Milton  Spahr,  of  York  county.  Oliver  F. 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  town- 
ship. For  three  years  he  was  employed  as 
a  clerk  in  a  hardware  store  at  Dillsburg, 
York  county,  and  then  removed  to  Min- 
neapolis, Minn.,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a 
traveling  salesman  for  ten  years.  After  this 
he  removed  to  Mercersburg, Franklin  county, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  in  the  hardware  business 
from  1892  to  1895,  at  which  date  he  came  to 
Harrisburg.  Mr.  Strayer  was  married  at 
Dillsburg,  Pa.,  March  15,  1882,  to  Annie  E. 
Spahr,  daughter  of  W.  A.  and  Lydia  Sjiahr, 
of  Dillsburg,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
two  children  :  LeRue  and  Olive  May.  In 
his  political  views,  Mr.  Strayer  is  a  Demo- 
crat.    He  attends  the  Presbyterian  church. 


Uhler,  Frederick  B.,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Uhler  Bros.,  coffee  and  spice 
mills,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  August  24, 
1866;  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Margaret  A.(Mc- 
Cullum)    Uhler.     The  father  is  one  of  the 


1 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


585 


oldest  living  settlers  of  Harrisburg.  He 
first  worked  in  the  brickyard,  afterwards 
was  clerk  in  a  bookstore,  later  was  clerk  in 
the  bank  and  for  fifteen  years  was  casliier  in 
the  Harrisburg  National  Bank.  Since  leav- 
ing the  bank  he  has  been  engaged  in  real 
estate.  The  mother  also  was  a  native  of 
Harrisburg.  They  had  seven  children,  of 
whom  five  are  living:  Frederick  B.,  Henry, 
Bessie,  wife  of  Dr.  A.  Frayer,  Margaret  and 
Mary.  Frederick  B.  has  spent  his  whole 
life  in  Harrisburg,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  city  schools.  He  began  business 
for  himself  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  form- 
ing a  partnership  with  his  brother  Henry, 
thirteen  years  old,  aijd  conducting  a  crock- 
ery ware  store  for  six  years.  For  the  past 
seven  j'ears  he  has  been  engaged  in  his 
present  business.  He  was  married  in  Phil- 
adelphia, June  2,  1890,  to  Clara  E.  Pierce, 
daughter  of  John  p].  and  Catherine  Pierce, 
of  Peri'v  county.  They  have  three  cliil- 
dren  :  Clarence  F.  and  Myrtle,  twins,  and 
Mary.  Mr.  Uhler  is  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  attends  the   Messiah  Lutheran  church. 


Altmaier,  Peter  A.,  was  born  in  New 
Bavaria,  Germany,  February  22,  1828.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  Peter  A.  and  Gertrude 
Altmaier,  who  both  died  in  their  native  land. 
Peter  A.  Altmaier,  the  younger,  was  educated 
in  his  native  country,  and  tiiere  he  also 
learned  the  trade  of  gunsmith,  which  has 
been  his  life-time  occupation.  In  1850  he 
eft  his  native  country  and  came  to  America, 
reaching  New  York  July  22.  From  there 
he  proceeded  to  Philadeli:)hia,  where  he  lived 
for  twelve  years.  He  subsequently  lived  for 
a  short  period  in  Lewistown  and  Altoona. 
In  1863  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  was  married,  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1858,  to  Miss  Verona  Beary.  To 
them  have  been  born  three  children:  Harry, 
residing  in  Chester;  Louise,  residing  in 
PhiUidelphia,  and  a  daughter,  Mary.  Mr. 
Altmaier  is  a  member  of  tiie  Ancient  Order 
of  LTnited  Workmen.  In  political  views  he  is 
liberal.  He  and  his  family  attend  the  Re- 
formed church.  He  is  highly  esteemed  in 
business  and  in  social  circles. 


Dill,  H.\rry  A.,  dealer  in  sporting  goods, 
was  born  in  Siiiremanstown,  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.,  April  20,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of 
Ambrose  H.  and  Mary  (Fackler)  Dill.  His 
parents  have  a  family  of  three  living  chil- 
dren :  Harry  A.,  Lida  E.,  wife  of  John    L. 


Miller,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jacob  Fry,  the 
latter  two  residing  in  their  native  town.  The 
father  is  a  prominent  and  respected  citizen  of 
Cumberland  county  ;  he  has  acceptably  filled 
various  township  offices,  including  that  of 
burgess  of  the  borougii  in  which  he  resides. 

Harry  A.  received  liis  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  with  bis  fatiierand  fol- 
lowed this  occupation  for  about  seven  years. 
During  the  year  1884  he  was  ticket  agent  at 
North  Asbury  Park,  N.  J.,  for  the  New  York 
and  Long  Brancli  railroad.  In  1886  he  en- 
gaged as  salesman  in  the  hardware  business 
in  Harrisburg  with  R.  B.  Mather  and  spent 
three  years  thus  employed.  Xi  the  expira- 
tion of  this  time  he  accepted  a  position  in  the 
same  capacity  with  D.  McCormick  &  Co.  and 
continued  in  this  place  and  employment  for 
three  years.  In  September,  1894,  he  engaged 
in  his  present  l)nsincss. 

Mr.  Dill  was  mari'ied,  in  Harrisburg  July, 
1887,  to  Miss  Annie  C.  Tliorley,  daugliter  of 
George  and  Elizabeth  Thorley,  natives  of 
York  county.  Pa.  This  marriage  has  been 
without  issue.  Mr.  Dill  is  a  member  of 
Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of 
Captial  City  Council,  No.  327,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M. 
In  politics  he  is  Republican.  He  attends 
Messiah  Lutheran  church.  The  store  of  Mr. 
Dill  is  a  model  emporium  in  its  line.  It  is 
presided  over  by  a  genial  gentleman  and  a 
prudent  and  progressive  business  man.  It 
is  naturally  attractive  to  patrons,  because 
they  find  tlieir  wants  and  interests  gener- 
ously provided  for. 

Knouse,  Franklin,  dealer  in  crockery  and 
glassware,  was  born  in  Allentown,  I'a.,  No- 
vember 3,  1831  ;  son  of  Reuben  and  Hannah 
(Snyder)  Knouse.  The  great-grandparents 
Knouse  were  natives  of  Grossherzogthum, 
Baden,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1749. 
They  settled  in  Lehigh  county  and  were 
farmers,  and  here  the  grandparents  and 
parents  of  Franklin  Knouse  were  born.  The 
Snyder  family  were  also  natives  of  Germany. 
Tlie  mother  was  born  in  an  old  log  cabin  on 
Lehigh  river.  The  parents  had  ten  cliildren, 
of  whom  seven  are  living:  Franklin  ;  Eliza, 
widow  of  the  late  George  Burkhard,  resid- 
ing in  Allentown,  Pa.;  Allen,  residing  in 
Quakertown,  Bucks  county.  Pa.;  Emma, 
wife  of  Abraham  Worman,  residing  in  Allen- 
town, Pa.;  Sarah,  residing  with  her  brother 
Franklin;  Catherine,  wife  of  Edward  Mc- 
Hose,  residing  in  Philadelphia;  and  Harry, 


586 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


residing  in  Harrisburg.  Franklin  was 
reared  on  the  homestead  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  district  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. From  early  3'onth  he  was  trained 
in  the  store,  and  has  devoted  the  greater 
part  of  his  business  life  to  mercantile 
pursuits.  From  1855  to  1871  he  conducted 
a  general  store  at  Allentown,  Pa.,  removing 
to  Harrisburg  in  1872,  where  he  was  not  in 
any  active  business  for  five  years,  but  has 
been  continuouslj^  engaged  as  a  merchant 
since  1877,  and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  highly  honored  business  men  of  the 
city.  Mr.  Knouse  was  for  many  years  a 
stockholder  in  the  Allentown  National  Bank, 
and  also  a  stockholder  in  the  Muhlenburg 
College,  and  of  the  Lehigh  Agricultural 
Society  of  Allentown,  and  was  associated 
by  membership  with  the  Odd  Fellows  fra- 
ternity of  that  city.  In  his  political  views 
he  was  a  staunch  Republican,  and  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.     j\Ir.  Knouse  died  in  1896. 


Fkaley,  Hp:nry,  dealer  in  china  and 
glassware,  was  born  in  Adams  county.  Pa., 
December  27,  1838 ;  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Koser)  Fraley.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  moved  to  Cumberland  county,  where  he 
died  wiien  Henry  was  four  years  of  age.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  nine,  and  his  sis- 
ter died  when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age. 
He  was  reared  in  Adams  and  Cumberlar.d 
counties,  among  strangers  and  having  a 
guardian.  When  sixteen  j^ears  of  age  he 
came  to  Harrisburg  and  was  clerk  in  a 
grocery  store  until  he  became  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  Ohio.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in 
company  A,  Sixty-sixth  regiment,  Ohio 
volunteers,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  July  16,  1865,  having  during  liis 
service  been  promoted  from  private  to  lieu- 
tenant of  company  A,  then  to  captain  of 
company  H.  He  was  in  General  Geary's 
division  in  the  Eastern  army  and  in  General 
Hooker's  division  in  the  Western  army.  In 
the  former  tiie  important  engagements  in 
which  he  participated  were :  Fort  Republic, 
Cedar  Mountain,  Chancellorsville,  Gettys- 
burg, and  was  among  the  troops  sent  to  New 
York  City  to  quell  the  riots.  In  the  West- 
ern army  the  prominent  battles  were:  Look- 
out Mountain,  Ringgold,  Rasacca,  New  Hope 
Church,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  and  all  tiie  principal  engagements  of 
that  body  of  troops.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
Mr.  Fraley  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
at  Warsaw,  Ind.,  for  five  years,  and  in  April, 


1870,  came  to  Harrisburg,  when  he  em- 
barked in  the  wholesale  and  retail  oil  busi- 
ness, which  in  1887  was  merged  into  the 
Capital  City  Oil  Compan}',  of  which  he  was 
made  general  manager.  He  continued  in 
this  position  until  October,  1891,  when  he 
took  up  his  present  business,  which  had  been 
established  by  him  in  1884.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  Fraley  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  common  council 
for  three  terms.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  Post  No.  116,  G. 
A.  R.  He  was  married,  in  1865,  to  Miss 
Susan  Strasbough,  of  York  county.  Pa.,  who 
died  in  1885.  They  had  one  child,  William 
H.,  born  in  1872,  assistant  to  his  father.  Mr. 
Fraley  married,  secondly,  Isabella  Kosure, 
of  Baltimore,  Md.,  by  whom  there  is  no 
issue.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fraley  are  members  of 
the  Bethlehem  Lutheran  church. 


SoPER,  Leander  V.  B.,  engraver,  watch- 
maker and  dealer  in  watchmaker's  sujiplios, 
was  born  June  13,  1830;  son  of  Joel  and 
Louisa  (Walker)  Soper,  the  father  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  the  mother  of  Ireland.  When 
eleven  years  old  he  removed  with  his  mother 
to  Virginia  and  thence  to  Maryland,  and  re- 
ceivetl  his  education  in  Washington  county, 
Md.,  and  then  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1857  he  located  in  Daupiiin,  Pa.,  and  resided 
there  about  two  years,  then  lived  at  Fair- 
field, Adams  county,  one  year,  and  removed 
from  there  to  Centerville,  Cumberland 
county,  where,  in  October,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  the  Seventeenth  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  and  served  until  mustered  out  at 
Alexandria,  Ya.,  July  4,  1864.  After  his 
discharge  he  returned  to  Cumberland  county 
and  was  engaged  in  the  watchmaker  and 
jewelry  business  at  Newville  for  three  and  a 
iialf  years,  and  removed  in  1867  to  Gettys- 
burg, and  followed  his  occupation  two  years, 
after  which  he  was  at  Riverview,  Clearfield 
county,  four  and  a  half  j'ears.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Sunbury,  Pa.,  and  after  being 
there  nine  years,  was  for  a  few  months  at 
Ephrata,  Lancaster  count}',  and  then  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg,  where  he  remained 
four  years.  He  was  then  again  at  Sunbury 
for  two  years,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  has  been  a  continuous 
resident  since  1890.  Mr.  Soper  was  married 
in  Cumberland,  November  29,  I860,  and  has 
three  children  :  Sallie  L.,  wife  of  M.  J.  Bick- 
ley,  of  Millersburg,  Harry  A.,  Margaret  M., 
wife  of  Daniel  E.  Bloom,  of  Sunbury,  Pa. 
He  is  a  member  of  Bethesda  Lodge,  No.  821, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


587 


I.  0.  0.  F.;  and  of  Capt.  Branner's  Post,  G. 
A.  R.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Soper  is  a 
Republican.  He  attends  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Fitzgerald,  S.vmuel  W.,  watclimaker  and 
jeweler,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster city,  Pa.,  June  11,  1852  ;  son  of  the 
late  James  R.  and  Catherine  (Dickey)  Fitz- 
gerald. The  father  was  of  Irish  ancestry 
and  born  in  Lancaster  city,  Pa.,  where  he 
resided  until  1850  when  he  removed  to  Har- 
risburg, making  his  home  in  this  city  until 
his  death,  December  3,  1894.  He  was  a 
cigar  manufacturer  and  took  an  active  part 
in  public  affairs,  having  represented  the 
Third  and  Seventh  wards  in  common  coun- 
cil for  several  years.  The  mother  was  a 
native  of  Harrisburg  and  is  still  living. 
Their  children  are:  David,  Samuel  W., 
James,  Harry,  Charles,  William,  Cathe- 
rine, wife  of  Jeremiah  Blessing,  John,  died 
aged  twenty-two  years,  and  Joseph,  who  died 
in  childliood.  Samuel  W.  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Harrisburg  when  he  was  two 
years  old,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
learned  the  trade  of  jeweler,  and  has  been  in 
business  for  twenty  years.  He  represented 
the  Seventh  ward  three  years  in  common 
council  and  one  term  in  select  council,  hav- 
ing been  chairman  of  every  committee  in 
council.  He  has  also  been  vice-chairman  of 
the  Democratic  committee  several  terms.  He 
was  married  at  Harrisburg,  January  2G,  1874, 
to  Laura  Morton,  daughter  of  John  B.  and 
Susan  Nett -Morton.  Their  children  are; 
Ethel,  died  in  childliood,  John,  Morton, 
Bertha,  Viola,  George,  Ross  Elmer,  Fran- 
cis Everhart,  and  Irene  Laura.  Mr.  Fitz- 
gerald is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason  and 
a  member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464, 
Perseverance  Cliapter,  No.  21,  and  Pilgrim 
Connnandery,  No.  11,  Harrisburg  Consistory, 
and  also  of  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  59,  K.  of  P. 
In  his  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


HuTM.vN,  George  A.,  jeweler  and  watcli- 
maker, Harrisburg,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
September  30,  185G.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
•Wdliam  E.  and  Martha  (Black)  Hutman. 

Mr.  Hutman's  great-grandfather  was 
among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Harrisburg. 
He  came  here  from  Hesse  Cassel,  Germany, 
as  far  back  as  1780.  His  homestead  was  on 
Front  street,  between  Chestnut  and  Mul- 
berry streets,  the  property  now  owned  by  the 
Ewing  family.     Soon  after  he  came  he  tried 


to  purchase  some  land  of  John  Harris,  but 
the  latter  refused  because  Mr.  Hutman  had 
only  Continental  money  ;  succeeding  after-  ' 
wards  in  having  his  money  exchanged  he 
bought  the  Front  street  propert}',  as  already 
_said.  Mr.  Hutman's  business  was  that  of  a 
tailor.  On  one  occasion  Mr.  Harris  offered 
him  the  square  of  ground  now  covered  by 
the  Bolton  House  in  exchange  for  clothing, 
but  Mr.  Hutman  declined  the  exchange, 
considering  the  ground  too  swampy.  He 
married  Miss  Catharine  Horter,  whose  father 
kept  the  old  Horter  hotel  on  South  Second 
street.  The  Horters  were  a  well-known 
family  of  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia. 
Their  children  were :  Elizabeth,  born  in 
Harrisburg,  January  1,  1792,  married  to 
William  Bell,  of  Second  and  Chestnut 
streets,  Harrisburg,  three  of  their  children, 
George,  Elizabeth  and  Catharine,  being  still 
living ;  Polly,  born  .lanuary  17,  1796 ; 
Catharine,  born  February  14,  1798,  married 
to  Mr.  John  Cameron,  of  Harrisburg,  a 
brother  of  the  late  Hon.  Simon  Cameron  ; 
George  Frederick  and  John  Matthias,  born 
February  23,  1802.  Polly  and  John  Mat- 
thias died  in  infancy. 

George  Frederick  Hutman,  grandfather  of 
George  A.,  was  born  January  24,  1800.  On 
November  2,  1824,  he  married  Harriet 
Adams,  of  West  Camp,  N.  Y.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Matthias  A.,  born  January  9, 
1826  ;  William  E.;  Julia  D..  born  September 
10,  1828,  and  Angeline  F.,  born  Januarv  30, 
1831,  died  February  16,1832.  Mrs.  Harriet 
(Adams)  Hutman  dying  June  9,  1832,  Mr. 
Hutman  was  married  again  September  29, 
1833,  to  Christiana  Shaffner,  widow  of  W. 
Bryan.  She  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Frederick 
Trace,  of  South  Second  street,  Harrisburg, 
and  was  born  in  Lancaster,  August  31, 1812. 
Their  children  were:  Harriet  Yager,  born 
September  1,  1834;  John  Shaffner.  born 
January  6,1836;  Mary  Ellen,  born  May  24, 
1840  ;  Sarah  Bricker,  born  January  2, 1842  ; 
Henry  Clay,  born  December  7, 1844  ;  Katie, 
born  December  15,  1846  ;  and  Emma  Vir- 
ginia, born  November  6  1848.  Mr.  George 
Frederick  Hutman  died  August  29,  185(), 
and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Christina  Hutman,  died 
in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  May  4,  1895. 

William  E.  Hutman,  father  of  George  A., 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  March  9,1827.  His 
occupation  was  bricklaying.  On  the  fourth 
of  Se[)tember,  1851,  he  was  married  by  Rev. 
William  DeWitt,  pastor  of  Market  Square 
Presbyterian  church,  to  Martha  Jane,  daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Matthew  B.  Black,  and  sister  of 


588 


BIO  GRA  PHICA L  EN  CYCL  OPEDIA 


Matthew  B.  Black,  Jr.,  of  Harrisburg.  Mrs. 
Martha  Jane  Hutman  was  born  in  York 
county,  May  7,  1831;  her  mother  was  the 
daughter  of  William  Clark,  of  Cumberland 
county.  Tiie  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Will- 
iam I'l  Hutman  are:  Clara  Jane,  born  in. 
Harrisburg,  July  30,  1852,  married,  Ai)ril  25, 
1872,  to  Abraham  Anderson,  of  Harrisburg, 
has  two  children,  William  and  Ida  M.;  James 
born  February  28.  1854,  naarried  Emma 
Forbes,  has  three  children.  Rose,  Nellie  and 
Carrie;  George  A.;  Hannah  E.,  born  June 27, 
1859,  married  December  25,  1883,  to  George 
W.  Peters,  of  Sunbury,  Pa.,  has  five  children, 
Harry,  Frank,  Bessie,  Roy  and  Mamie;  Will- 
iam B.,  born  July  3,  1861,  died  February  9, 
1862;  Henry  H.,  born  February  11,  1865, 
married,  June  18,  1886,  to  May  Etter,  of 
Harrisburg,  has  four  children,  Florence,  Car- 
rie, Martha  and  Bertha;  Julia  W.,  born  May 
29,  1SG7,  married  to  Mr.  Boyd  Sciiartzer,  of 
Harrisburg,  has  two  children,  Grace  and 
Earl;  Emma,  born  April  4,  1870,  married, 
March  15,  1892,  to  William  G.  Underwood, 
of  Ohio,  lias  two  children,  Helen  and  John ; 
and  Martini  J.,  born  September  16,  1872, 
died  January  31,  1873.  Mr.  William  E. 
Hutman  died  October  17,  1879. 

George  A.  Hutman  has  spent  his  entire 
life  in  his  native  city.  He  was  educated  in 
its  common  schools,  finishing  liis  course  in 
tiie  high  school.  He  tiien  became  clerk  in 
a  grocery  store  and  continued  for  about  three 
years.  He  next  worked  for  about  three  years 
at  the  jewehy  business  witii  William  Cruik- 
shank,  after  whicli  he  finished  learning  his 
trade  by  three  years  spent  in  the  watch  man- 
ufactory at  Lancaster,  Pa.  His  father  dying 
in  1879  he  was  obliged  to  return  to  Harris- 
burg. Shortly  after  he  engaged  in  the 
watchmaking  and  jewelrj'  business  for  him- 
self. He  began  in  a  small  way,  occupying  a 
single  room  in  his  mother's  dwelling.  He 
has  steadily  enlarged  his  business,  until  to- 
day he  has  one  of  the  largest,  handsomest 
and  most  attractive  stores  in  the  city.  His 
success  demonstrates  his  skill  and  business 
ability. 

George  A.  Hutman  was  married  in  Har- 
risburg, March  23,  1882,  by  Rev.  C.  Price,  of 
Fourth  Street  Church  of  God,  to  Miss  Mary 
Ellen  Lloyd,  born  in  Harrisburg  December 
23,  1859.  Her  parents  were  Prof,  and  Mrs. 
Isaac  Lloyd,  the  former  of  Lower  Allen  town- 
shi}>,  Cumberland  county,  I'a.,  the  latter  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Musser,  of  C'um- 
berland  county.  Mr.  and  Mr.  George  A. 
Hutman  have  had  four  children ;  one  was 


an  infant  whose  brief  life  was  not  more  than 
about  nineteen  hours.  The  surviving  chil- 
dren are:  Fannie  Irene, born  in  Harrisburg, 
September  8,  1884;  Anna  Martha,  born 
April  17,  1890;  and  Esther  Corene,  born 
November  27,  1894.  Mr.  Hutman  is  an  ac- 
tive member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No. 
464;  Per.severance  Cha]:)ter,  No.  21;  and 
Pilgrim  Commandery,  No.  11,  F.  &  A.  M. 
He  is  a  past  noble  grand  of  I.  0.  0.  F.;  and 
a  past  officer  of  Dauphin  Council,  No.  1101, 
Royal  Arcanum.  He  has  efficiently  served 
in  the  Hope  Volunteer  Fire  Company  for 
seventeen  years ;  during  two  of  these  years 
he  was  an  officer  of  the  company.  He  is  not 
an  active  politician,  but  is  Democratic  in 
his  [jrinciples.  He  and  his  wife  are  consist- 
ent members  of  Westminister  Presbyterian 
church. 


R[Nk'i<:Nn.\(;ii,  Edw.vrd  L.,  jeweler,  was 
born  at  Mauch  Chunk,  Carbon  county.  Pa., 
June  11,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Victoria  (Reise)  Rinkenbach.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  (lermany,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica about  1850.  They  made  their  home  per- 
manently in  Carbon  county,  and  here  the 
father  died  May  14,  1893.  The  mother  still 
survives  and  lives  at  Mauch  Chunk.  They 
bad  six  ciiildren:  William,  of  Johnstown, 
Pa.;  l>dward  L.;  Alljert,  of  Mauch  Chunk, 
Pa.;  Annie,  died  in  1893;  Leopold,  and 
Barbara,  residing  at  home. 

Edward  L.  spent  his  youth  in  his  native 
town.  After  taking  the  usual  course  of  in- 
struction in  tiie  public  schools  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  jeweler  and  watchmaker,  and 
has  worked  at  this  trade  until  the  present 
time.  He  came  to  Harrisburg,  March  2, 
1882,  and  worked  as  a  journeyman  for  five 
years.  In  1887  he  engaged  in  business  for 
himself  He  is  a  [irogressive  business  man, 
and  is  widely  and  favorably  known  by  the 
citizens. 

Mr.  Rinkenbach  was  married  in  Harris- 
burg, July  3, 1887,  to  Miss  Minnie  E..  daugh- 
ter of  Josephus  and  Ellen  (Strominger)  Shis- 
ler.  They  have  four  children:  Joseph  S., 
Edward  L.,  Helen,  and  Robert.  Mr.  Rink- 
enbach is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Heptasophs,  and 
the  Catholic  Legion.  He  is  a  Democrat.  He 
attends  St.  Lawrence's  Roman  Catholic 
church. 


SorEK,  1L\ui:y  A.,  jeweler,  was  born  in 
Newville,  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  January 
3, 1865;  son  of  Leander  V.  B.  and  Anna  A. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


589 


(Beistline)  Soper,  the  father  a  native  of  Long- 
Island,  N.  Y.,  and  the  mother  of  Cumber- 
land county,  both  living  and  residents  of 
Harrisburg.  Harry  A.,  when  nine  years 
old,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Sunbury, 
Pa.,  where  he  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  learned  the  trade  of 
watchmaker  and  manufacturing  jeweler. 
In  1SS3  he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  con- 
tinued to  work  at  his  trade  until  1890  when 
he  engaged  in  the  business  of  wholesale 
dealer  in  watch  materials  with  his  father. 
In  189"i  he  retired  from  this  i)usiness  and 
engaged  in  the  retail  trade  with  M.  J.  Bick- 
ley  under  the  firm  name  of  Bickley  &  Soper 
and  at  the  end  of  one  year  he  purchased  his 
partner's  interest,  and  since  that  time  has 
conducted  the  business  on  his  own  account. 
Mr.  Soper  was  married  in  Sunbury,  Pa., 
J-anuary  22,  1891,  to  Miss  Margaret  E.  Haas, 
daughter  of  William  and  Nettie  (Fahnes- 
tock)  Haas.  They  have  one  child,  Harriet. 
Mr.  Soper  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  ^^et- 
erans  and  in  his  political  views  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  and  his  wife  attend  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  church. 

Fahnc'e,  L.wvrence  a.,  engraver,  jeweler 
and  watchmaker,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  August  1,  1871;  son  of  Jacob  A.  and 
Sarah  A.  (Stahl)  Faunce.  Jacob  Faunce, 
grandfather  of  Lawrence  A.,  was  born  at 
Baden,  Germany,  and  came  to  America  about 
1833,  and  shortly  after  his  arrival  was  mar- 
ried to  a  young  woman  with  whom  he  be- 
came acquainted  during  the  voyage.  He 
settled  at  Harrisburg  an.d  engnged  in  butch- 
ering and  followed  this  occupation  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  the  thirty-fourth 
year  of  his  age.  His  wife  died  September  19, 
1872-  Their  surviving  ciiiklrcn  are:  Caro- 
line S.,  wife  of  Micliael  McLean  ;  Jacob  A.; 
and  Mary  Josephine,  wife  of  George  H.  Sour- 
bier.  Jacob  A.,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  January  8,  1843  ;  son  of  Jacob 
and  Caroline  (Beiser)  Faunce.  He  attended 
the  public  sciiools  of  the  city  and  at  a  very 
early  age  went  to  Philadelphia  and  learned 
the  trade  of  iron  moulder.  He  worked  five 
years  at  his  trade  in  that  city  and  then  came 
to  Harrisburg,  but  on  account  of  failing 
health  was  obliged  to  relinquish  his  trade 
and  was  employed  in  the  service  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  for  ten 
years.  He  was  obliged  to  abandon  this  busi- 
ness, also,  on  account  of  ill  health  and  for 
five  years  was  a  clerk  in  a  coal  office.     His 


health  has  been  such  for  the  past  fifteen 
years  that  it  has  been  impossible  for  him  to 
engage  in  any  active  business.  He  was 
married  in  Harrisburg,  January  14,  1866,  to 
Sarah  A.  Stahl,  daughter  of  Adam  and 
Margaret  Stahl,  to  whom  have  been  Ijorn 
two  children  :  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  Lawrence  A.  They  also  adopted  two 
children,  both  of  whom  died  in  childhood. 
Mr.  Faunce  represented  the  Sixtlr  ward  in 
council  two  terms,  and  served  as  county  and 
school  tax  collector  for  five  years.  He  holds 
membership  in  Phojuix  Lodge,  No.  59,  K. 
P.;  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  and  Olive 
Encampment,  No.  56,  I.  0.  0.  F.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  Republican.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
teiian  church. 

Lawrence  A.  attended  the  public  schools 
and  completed  his  education  bj^  private 
study  in  which  he  earnestly  engaged  while 
he  was  learning  his  trade.  After  complet- 
ing his  apprenticeship  he  worked  at  his 
chosen  occupation  in  Harrisburg  until 
October  11,  1894,  on  which  date  he  em- 
barked in  business  on  his  own  account.  He 
was  married  in  Harrisburg,  April  26,  1894, 
to  Miss  Lottie  M.  Christ,  daughter  of  George 
and  Miranda  Christ,  of  Harri.sburg.  Mr. 
Faunce  is  a  member  of  Cincinnatus  Com- 
mandery.  No.  96,  K.  of  M.;  Warrior  Eagle 
Tribe,  I.  0.  R.  M.;  and  America  Council, 
No.  3,  0.  U.  A.  M.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  attends  the  Reformed 
church. 


Liarici!,  LeRue,  pliotographer,  was  born 
in  Lisburn,  Cumberland  count}',  Pa.,  October 
26,  1837;  son  of  LeRue  and  Caroline 
(Church)  Lemer.  The  father  read  medicine 
with  old  Dr.  Reily,  of  Harrisburg,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  medical  department  of 
Yale  College  in  1838.  He  practiced  in  Lis- 
burn, Cumberland  county,  for  over  forty-five 
years  and  died  there.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, and  of  the  two  children  by  the  first 
marriage,  LeRue  is  the  only  survivor.  The 
mother  was  a  native  of  New  Cumberland, 
Cumberland  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Robert  R.  Church.  LeRue  received  iiis 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  in 
the  White  Hall  Academj'.  He  came  to 
Harrisburg  and  served  an  apprenticeship 
of  four  years  at  the  printer's  trade  in  the 
office  of  the  Patriot.  After  working  a  short 
time  at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman,  he  at- 
tended  the  White  Hall  Academy  one  sea- 


590 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


son  and  then  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  en- 
gaged in  the  photograph  business,  in  which 
he  has  continued  to  the  present  time,  being 
now  the  oldest  established  photographer  in 
the  cit}^  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  company  A, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  for  nine  months' 
service,  and  was  assigned  to  detached  duty 
in  hunting  up  deserters.  He  was  the  fourth 
sergeant  of  his  company.  Mr.  Lemer  is 
prominent  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being 
a  member  of  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  and 
commandery.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Democrat.  He  was  married  April  19,  1863, 
to  Miss  Rebecca  Marshall,  of  Philadelphia, 
daughter  of  Milton  Marshall,  of  Chester 
county,  Pa.  They  have  four  children  :  Mil- 
ton M.,  attorney  at  Harrisburg ;  Mary  A., 
teacher ;  May,  graduate  of  Wells  College, 
teacher  of  high  school ;  and  LeRue,  Jr.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  with  the  exception  of  Miss 
Ma}',  who  attends  the  Episco[)al  cliurch. 


ScHKivER,  ChaulksC!.,  photographer,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  February  10,  1853. 
He  is  a  son  of  Cornelius  and  Rebecca  (Alle- 
man)  Schriver.  Cornelius  Schriver,  born  in 
York  county.  Pa.,  in  1826,  came  to  Dauphin 
county  in  1840.  He  worked  at  tailoring  in 
Harrisburg  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in 
company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty 
Seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  served  nine  months.  In  1864  he  re- 
enlisted  in  the  Two  Hundred  and  First  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  as  commis- 
sary sergeant  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  and  other 
engagements.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
engaged  in  the  coal  business,  in  which  he 
continued  until  1871,  when  he  accepted  a 
position  at  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  station 
which  he  held  until  1882.  At  the  opening 
of  the  People's  bridge  he  was  put  in  charge  of 
the  Harrisburg  end  of  the  bridge,  and  re- 
mained in  that  position  until  his  death,  De- 
cember 30,  1894.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  He 
was  a  charter  member  and  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  in  1870.  For  many  years  he 
belonged  to  Zion  Lutheran  church.  His 
wife  survives  him.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren, Martin,  a  fireman  on  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  who  was  killed  b}'  an  accident  in 
1880,  and  Charles  C. 


Charles  C.  Schriver  was  educated  in  the 
common  schoolsof  Harrisburg,  graduating  in 
1869.  He  learned  photography  of  D.  C.  Bur- 
nite,and  remained  with  him  until  1874,  when 
he  went  to  Tyrone,  Pa.,  and  followed  the 
business  two  years.  In  1876  he  became  train 
agent  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad.  In 
1878  he  engaged  in  the  photograph  business 
for  himself  in  Tyrone.  In  1882  he  removed 
his  gallery  to  Harrisburg,  where  it  has  ever 
since  been.  In  1889  he  admitted  Calvin  M. 
Kibler  as  a  partner  and  the  firm  has  since 
been  Schrivei  &,  Kibler.  Their  gallery  is 
at  1213  North  Third  street,  and  their  whole- 
sale de{iartmentat71S  Pennsylvania  avenue. 
They  do  an  extensive  enlarging  and  copying 
business  and  manufacture  crayon  portraits 
and  picture  frames.  In  1889  Mr.  Schriver 
purchased  land,  and  laid  out  an  addition  to 
Higii.spire.  He  is  a  prominent  Republican  ; 
served  one  j'ear  as  auditor  of  Tyrone  bor- 
ough :  he  is  a  member  of  the  common 
council  of  Harrisburg.  He  was  elected  to 
tiie  latter  position  in  1893  and  1895  ;  was 
chairman  of  the  finance  committee  in  1893 
and  1895,  and  president  of  the  council  in 
1894.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.;  of  Perse- 
verance Chapter  and  Pilgrim  Commandery. 
He  was  worshipful  master  in  1878-79.  He 
also  belongs  to  the  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.,  and 
Royal  Arcanum. 

Mr.  Schriver  was  married  in  1878  to  Miss 
Emma,  daughter  of  Michael  Barringer,  of 
Harrisburg.  Their  children  are:  Mary  R., 
Emma  R.  and  Charles  Jacob.  He  is  one  of 
the  organizers,  and  a  charter  member  of 
Bethlehem  Lutheran  church  ;  has  served  as 
its  deacon,  and  is  now  assistant  superintend- 
ent of  the  third  department  of  the  Sabbath- 
school. 


Kibler,  Calvin  M.,  of  the  firm  of 
Schriver  &  Kibler,  photographers,  was  born 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  near  Staunton, 
Va.,  May  28, 1856 ;  son  of  Isaac  and  Mar- 
garet (Jackson)  Kibler.  The  father  came  to 
Harrisburg,  and  was  connected  with  the 
Harrisburg  Car  Works,  but  subsequently  re- 
turned to  Virginia  where  he  died.  He 
reared  five  children.  Calvin  M.  was  reared 
in  Shippensburg,  Pa.,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  that  place  and  of 
Harrisburg.  He  learned  the  business  of 
photography  at  Harrisburg,  at  which  he 
worked  for  Mr.  Schriver,  of  Tyrone;  with 
whom     he     remained     until    1890,    wdien 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


591 


he  was  admitted  to  the  business  and  the 
firm  of  Scliriver  &  Kibler  was  formed,  Mr. 
Kibler  having  charge  of  the  crayon  and 
water  color  dcjiartment  of  the  enterprise. 
In  politics  Mr.  Kililer  is  a  Republican.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
church  and  "was  formerly  connected  with 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 


is  at  present  engaged  with  Mr.  Roshon,  his 
son-in-law.  He  has  only  one  daughter,  Mrs. 
Roshon. 


Rosiiox,  John  William,  i)hotographer, 
was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pa.,  April 
21,  1863  ;  son  of  C.  S.  and  Phoebe  (Charles) 
Roshon.  John  Roshon,  the  paternal  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of -Montgomery  county, 
and  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  is  still  living 
and  resides  at  Baltimore,  Ohio.  His  wife 
Catherine  is  deceased.  They  reared  a  family 
of  five  children.  The  maternal  grandparents 
were  both  natives  of  Snyder  county.  The 
grandfather  was  a  lime  burner,  ancf  is  still 
living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine 
years,  at  Freeburg,  Pa.  His  wife  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years.  They  had  thirteen 
children.  C.  S.  Ro.shon,  the  father,  married 
Miss  Phoebe  Charles,  of  Snyder  county,  who 
died  in  1884,  aged  forty-nine  years,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children,  of  whom  the 
only  survivor  is  Joim  W.  The  father  was 
employed  one  year  at  the  Centennial  Expo- 
sition at  Philadelphia  in  1876.  From  Phil- 
adelphia   he  removed    to    Chicago,   111.,  in 

1877,  and  came  from  thereto  Harri3l)urg  in 

1878,  where  he  remained  for  eight  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Lebanon,  Pa.,  where  he 
has  since  been  in  business.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

John  William  received  a  part  of  his  edu- 
cation in  Harrisburg,  and  later  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Iluntingdon,  Pa.,  where 
he  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age.  Pie  was  engaged  with 
his  father  two  years,  after  which  lie  began 
business  for  himself  at  Newville,  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  in  which  he  continued  for 
three  years.  In  1887  he  removed  to  Har- 
risburg, where  he  has  been  continuously  in 
business  since  that  time  and  is  one  of  the 
leading  artists  in  his  line.  He  was  married 
August  12,  1880,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Pheney, 
by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Dorinda  F. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Roshon  is  a  Pro- 
hibitionist. He  is  a  member  of  the  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Roshon  were  both  natives  of  Leb- 
anon.    The  father  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  but 


Graham,  Robkrt,  florist,  was  born  in 
Harwick,  Scotland,  June  23,  1845;  son  of 
Archibald  and  Margaret  (Henderson)  Gra- 
ham. When  he  was  five  years  old  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  America.  The  family 
located  in  Philadelphia,  where  Robert  was 
reared  and  educated  and  where  he  learned 
the  business  of  florist.  He  came  to  Harris- 
Jiurg  and  engaged  in  the  cultivation  and 
sale  of  flowers  and  plants,  and  is  now  one  of 
the  oldest  florists  in  the  cit}'.  Mr.  (Jraham 
was  married  in  1871  to  Miss  A.  Kinnear, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Kinnear,  of  Ireland. 
They  have  one  child,  Helen,  at  home.  In 
his  political  views  Mr.  Graham  is  in  accord 
with  the  Democratic  party.  Mrs.  Graham 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


Brennemax,  Jacob  I).,  florist,  was  born  in 
South  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  October  21,  1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Adam 
and  Harriet  (Stoudt)  Brenneman,  was  reared 
in  Hanover  township  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  tiie  public  schools  of  that  town- 
ship and  of  Harrisburg.  Having  served  an 
apprenticeship  as  a  florist  in  Pittsburgh,  Phil- 
adelphia and  other  places,  he  established 
his  present  business  in  Harrisburg  in  1877 
and  has  since  continued  it.  He  is  considered 
the  leading  florist  of  the  city  and  is  also  en- 
gaged in  the  fancy  nursery  jjusiness.  He  is 
active  in  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Bren- 
neman was  married  in  1881  to  Miss  Cordelia 
Morburg,  of  Virginia,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren :  Mary,  Helen,  Cordelia,  Elma,  and 
Esther.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church. 


McFarland,  George  G.,  dealer  in  bi- 
cy-cles,  flowers,  birds  and  fish,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  September  12,  1867 ;  son 
of  George  F.  and  Addie  D.  (Greissemer)  Mc- 
Farland, the  former  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  of  Scotch  descent,  the  latter  a 
native  of  Berks  county,  of  German  ancestry. 
The  father  was  born  in  Susquehanna  town- 
ship. He  was  a  teacher,  and  owned  and 
conducted  Freeburg  Academy.  He  served 
with  distinction  in  the  late  war,  having  been 
a  captain  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
first  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and 
later  promoted  to  a  colonelcy  of  the  regi- 
ment.    He  lost  one  leg  and  was  seriously 


592 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


wounded  in  tlie  other,  at  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, July  1,  1863.  After  the  war  he  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a  florist.  He  organized 
the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  and  became 
the  first  superintendent  of  that  institution. 
He  died  from  the  effects  of  the  wounds  re- 
ceived at  Gettysburg,  in  1891,  at  Tallapoosa, 
Ga.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  makes 
her  home  at  the  last  named  place.  .  Their 
children  are:  John  H.,  head  of  the  Mt. 
Pleasant  Printing  Company  ;  Emma,  widow 
of  Howard  Wiiarton  ;  George  G.  George  G. 
was  educated  in  tiie  public  schools  of  Harris^ 
burg  and  was  subsequently  engaged  in  the 
florist  business  until  1894,  when  he  became 
also  a  dealer  in  bicj'cles.  He  was  married  in 
Harrisburg,  June  10,  1891,  to  Sai'ah  R. 
Steckley,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Steck- 
ley.  They  have  one  child,  Donald  Steckle}'. 
In  politics  Mr.  McFarland  is  a  Republican. 
Ho  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


The  Bowm.w  Famha'  emigrated  from 
Switzerland,  and  were  among  the  earlier  set- 
tlers in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  John  Bow- 
man was  born  in  Lancaster  county ;  moved 
to  York  county  earl}'  in  1815;  located  in 
Carroll  township  and  engaged  in  farming 
and  distilling.  He  was  a  Mennonite.  He 
died  in  Yoi'k  county  about  1860.  He  mar- 
ried Martha  Horr.  They  had  nine  children : 
Christian,  John,  Abraham,  Henry,  Frances, 
Mrs.  John  Baker,  of  Mechanicsburg.  Pa.; 
Martha,  Mrs.  Aaron  Firestone,  who  died  in 
Carroll  township,  York  county  :  Mary,  de- 
ceased ;  Ann,  Mrs.  Josopli  Plough,  of  Mon- 
roe township,  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  and 
Esther,  maiden  lady,  of  Mechanicsburg. 

Christian  Bowman  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  July  26, 1811.  He  received  a  limited 
education  in  private  schools.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  cooper  and  located  at  Monaghan 
township,  York  county.  He  retired  from 
active  business  about  1870  and  removed  to 
Carroll  township,  York  county,  where  he 
died  Januarj'  15,  1888.  He  was  first  mar- 
ried to  Susan  Coover,  who  was  born  in  York 
county,  October  25,  1812,  and  died  about 
1852.  They  had  twelve  children,  six  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity  :  John  C,  school 
teacher,  afterwards  merchant  in  Mechanics- 
burg, Pa.,  served  several  years  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness, was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Me- 
chanicsburg Gas  end  Water  Company  and 
died  June  20,  1891 ;  Jacob,  residing  on  the 
homestead  farm;  Calvin  L.,  for  many  years 


dry  goods  merchant  in  Harrisburg  and 
president  of  the  State  Bank  of  Harrisburg, 
died  in  Piiiladelphia,  Pa.,  May  10,  1893; 
Samuel,  of  Harrisburg  ;  Martha,  Mrs.  John 
Hertzler,  of  Monroe  township,  Cumberland, 
county;  Mary  Jane,  Mrs.  Joim  E.  Hertzler, 
of  the  same  township.  The  second  wife  of 
Mr.  Christian  Bowman  was  Margaret  Asper, 
of  York  county,  who,  with  her  daughter, 
Mary  Jane,  survives  him.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  "  Filey's  "  Reformed  church,  in  which 
he  was  an  elder.  He  was  a  Republican  and 
served  as  school  director,  supervisor  and  in 
other  offices. 

Samuel  Bowman,  -son  of  Christian  Bow- 
man, was  born  in  Monaghan  township,  York 
county,  in  October,  1842.  He  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  township.  Farm- 
ing was  the  occupation  in  which  he  was 
first  engaged.  In  August,  1864,  he  enlisted 
in  company  I,  Two  Hundredth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  wounded  at 
Hatch's  Run  and  also  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Petersburg  and  Fort  Steadman.  After 
the  war  he  was  for  four  years  engaged  in 
farming  and  then  removed  to  Lisburn, Cum- 
berland county,  where  for  two  years  he  was 
clerk  for  A.  Bowman  &  Co.  In  1872  he 
came  to  IIarnsl)urg  and  was  clerk  for  C.  L. 
Bowman  ctCo.  until  he  became  a  partner  in 
the  present  firm  of  Bowman  &  Co.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  People's  Bridge  Com pan}^ 
and  one  of  the  original  stock iiolders  of  the 
Chestnut  Street  Market  Comi)any.  He  is  a 
Uepublican  and  belongs  to  Post  No.  58,  G. 
A.  R.  He  is  a  member  and  a  trustee  of 
Salem  Reformed  church.    He  is  not  married. 

John  Bowman,  brother  of  Christian  Bow- 
man and  son  of  the  first  John  Bowman,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  in  Februarj', 
1813.  He  was  educated  in  private  schools. 
He  located  in  Upper  Allen  township,  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa.,  engaged  in  farming, 
distilling  and  lime  burning,  and  was  promi- 
nent in  the  affairs  of  his  township.  He  was 
a  Wiiig.  He  served  as  school  director  and 
in  other  township  offices.  He  died  in  Sep- 
ten:ber,  1856.  His  wife,  who  was  Maria  C. 
Kraft,  of  York  county,  Pa.,  survives  him 
and  resides  in  Harrisburg.  Their  children 
were  three  in  number  :  Martha,  Mrs.  W.  D. 
Rauch,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.;  John  K.,  of  Har- 
risburg ;  Joseph  E.,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  re- 
tired. Mr.  Bowman  was  a  Mennonite  and 
his  wife  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church. 


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DAUPHIN    COUNTY. 


595 


John  K.  Bowman,  son  of  John  Bowman, 
last  named,  and  cousin  of  Samuel  Bowman, 
was  born  in  Upper  Allen  township,  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  March  13,  1848.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools 
and  for  one  year  studied  at  the  Cumberland 
Valley  Institute,  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.  In 
1806  "lie  entered  the  First  National  Bank, 
Mechanicsburg,  as  clerk  and  teller.  In  De- 
cember, 1867,  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and 
engaged  as  bookkeeper  with  C.  L.  Bowman, 
and  remained  with  him  for  several  years. 
He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  N.  R. 
Swartz  in  the  dry  goods  business,  which 
lasted  one  year,  then  Mr.  Swartz  withdrew 
from  the  firm  and  Mr.  Bowman  conducted 
the  business  for  some  years  on  his  own  ac- 
count, after  which  he  purchased  an  interest 
in  the  business  of  C.  L.  Bowman  and  was  a 
member  of  that  firm  for  seven  years.  At  the 
exj)iration  of  that  time  he  and  Samuel  Bow- 
man formed  the  present  firm  of  Bowman  &, 
Co.  Mr.  J.  K.  Bowman  is  one  of  the  orig- 
inal stockholders  of  the  People's  Bridge 
Company  and  of  the  Chestnut  Street  Market 
Compan}'.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Har- 
burg  Trust  Company  and  the  Harrisburg 
Preserving  Com|)any  and  is  interested  in 
many  other  industries.  He  was  married,  in 
1872,  to  Miss  Emma  R.,  daughter  of  John 
S.  Hostetter,  of  Mechanicsburg.  They  have 
four  children  :  John  W.,  Bessie  M.,  Harry 
Hostetter.and  Emma  May.  Mr.  Bowman  and 
his  family  are  meml)ers  of  Salem  Reformed 
church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  takes  an 
active  interest.  He  has  served  as  deacon 
and  is  the  present  treasurer  and  a  teacher  in 
the  Sunday-school.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  has  served  on  the  board  of 
managers. 


Einstein,  M.  G.,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Stuttgart,  Germany,  in  June,  1813.  He  came 
to  America  in  1837,  and  located  in  Philadel- 
phia. He  was  in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  busi- 
ness in  that  city  and  in  Baltimore,  Md.  Pie 
came  to  Harrisburg  in  1856  and  established  a 
wholesale  and  retail  dry  goods  business.  He 
was  for  many  years  recognized  as  the  leading 
merchant  in  the  city.  He  died  in  February, 
1887.  He  was  marVied  in  1842  to  Catherine 
Van  Zant,  a  native  of  Baltimore  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.  They  had  four 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living  :  Celia  M., 
Joseph  v.,  and  Edgar  V.  Emma  R.,  Mrs. 
Thomas  J.  Finney,  of  Harrisburg,  died  in 
1894. 

40 


Einstein,  Joseph  V.,  was  bom  in  York 
county,  Pa.,  September  21,  1849.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg 
and  then  entered  the  store  of  his  father.  In 
1886  he  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Einstein  Bros.  He  was  married,  in  1878,  to 
Miss  Amanda,  daughter  of  Col.  E.  W.  Davis, 
of  Philadelphia.  Tiiey  have  one  child,  Mor- 
ris  G.  Mr.  Einstein  is  a  charter  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trade.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of  tiie  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Einstein,  Edgar  V.,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  in  January,  1859.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  city  schools  and  entered  his 
father's  store.  He  became  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Einstein  Bros,  in  1886.  He  is  identi- 
fied with  many  of  the  important  industries 
of  the  city.  He  was  married,  in  1888,  to 
Miss  Annie,  daughter  of  Richard  Fox,  of 
Hummelstown,  Pa.  They  have  one  child, 
Richard  Fox  Einstein.  Mr.  Einstein  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade. 


Zollinger,  W.  A.,  hat  dealer,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg.  His  father,  Elias  Zollinger, 
came  to  Harrisburg  in  1822  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  hats  and  also  in  the 
wholesale  and  retail  sale  of  his  products, 
having  wagons  on  the  road,  and  continued 
in  the  business  until  his  death  in  1857.  He 
was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  in  1856  was 
elected  to  the  common  council,  which  posi- 
tion he  was  holding  when  he  died.  His 
religious  views  were  in  accord  with  the  Re- 
formed church,  and  his  membership  was  in 
the  church  on  Chestnut  street,  in  which  he  also 
held  the  ofiice  of  elder.  Mr.  Zollinger  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Yonce,  of  Harrisburg, 
who  died  in  1877,  and  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children.  Warren  A.  was  next  to  the  young- 
est of  his  father's  family  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  At  the 
death  of  his  father,  Elias  R.,  an  older  son  took 
the  business  and  Warren  A.  assisted  him  in 
the  management  of  it  until  1882,  when  War- 
ren, having  purchased  the  interests  of  his 
mother  and  brother,  continued  the  establish- 
ment, which  is  the  oldest  in  the  line  in  the 
city,  having  been  conducted  seventy-four 
years  under  one  name.  He  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In 
politics  he  is  an  Independent  Republican, 
but  has  declined  to  accept  any  office.  Mr. 
Zollinger  was  married,  in  1865,  to  Miss  I.  A. 
Sayford,  daughter  of  William  Sayford,  mer- 
chant tailor  of  Harrisburg.     They  have  no 


596 


BIOGRAPHICAL   ENCYCLOPEDIA 


children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zollinger  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Zion  Lutheran  church,  on  Fourth 
street,  and  Mr.  Zollinger  is  a  member  of  the 
church  council. 


Lentz,  Joseph  F.,  merchant,  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  July  1,  1833  ;   son  of  the  late  John  and 
Margaret     (Farling)    Lentz.     The     parents 
spent  their  entire  life  in   Dauphin  county, 
and  the  greater  portion  of  it  in  South  Han- 
over township.     The   father  was  a  farmer 
and  a  prominent  citizen.     They  had  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Sarah, 
widow  of  David  Wagner;  Margaret,  resides 
in  South  Llanover;  John,  resides  in   Derry 
township,  Dauphin  county ;  Catherine,  and 
Joseph.     Joseph  F.,  when  five  years  old,  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  South  Hanover 
township,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated 
in   the  public   schools,  and   after   teaching 
school    for    some    time,   attended    Palmyra 
Academy.     He  was  then  engaged  in  teach- 
ing at  Manadaville  and  other  places  in  Dau- 
phin county,  but  soon  relinquished  this  oc- 
cupation and  acted  as  agent  for  various  firms 
for  four  years,  after  which  he  embarked  in 
the  grocery  business  at  Harrisburg,  in  which 
he  has  continued  for  over  thirty  years  with 
enviable  success.    Mr.  Lentz  was  married,  in 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  February  18,  1869,  to  Sabina 
Maulfair,  daughter    of    Jacob   and    Sabina 
(Winter)  Maulfair,  born  in  Lebanon  county, 
April  G,  1844.     There  have  been  born  to 
them  ten  children,  five  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy.    The  names  of  their  living  children 
are:  Minnie,  wife  of  Fulmer  J.  Reif,  mer- 
chant at  Harrisburg;  Sarah,  wife  of  Benja- 
min F.  Meckley,  merchant  of  Harrisburg ; 
Joseph  M.,  Esther  M.,  and  David  Vincent 
M.   Mr.  Lentz  was  originally  an  Abolitionist, 
then  a  Republican,  and  for  twelve  years  has 
been  a  strict  Prohibitionist,  and  in  1895  was 
a  candidate  for  county  treasurer  on  the  Pro- 
hibition ticket. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Ridge 
Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Lentz  were  natives  of 
North  Annville,  Lebanon  county,  and  spent 
their  whole  life  there.  The  father  for  many 
years  operated  a  grist  mill,  and  was  a  highly 
respected  citizen.  They  had  fourteen  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  are  living:  Eliza,  Mrs. 
Walborn ;  Levi ;  Edward ;  Sabina,  Mrs.  Lentz ; 
Sarah,  wife  of  H.  E.  Rider;  Malinda,  wife  of 
Daniel  Gillibach ;  John  Adam,  and  Noah. 


HuBLEY,  Alpheus  T.,  was  born  in  Ship- 
pensburg,  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  April  24, 
1844;    son   of  William    and    Eliza   (Shaw) 
Hubley.    He  was  reared  in  his  native  place 
and  received  his  education  in    the   })ublic 
schools.      He  began  his  business  life   as  a 
clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store,  in  which  capacity 
he  was  employed  in  Shippensburg,  Carlisle, 
Martinsburg,   Va.,   and    Harrisonburg,   Va. 
He  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1867  and  was  em- 
ployed as  a  clerk  for   six  years  in  several 
dry  goods  houses,  after  which  he  embarked 
in  his  present  business.     Mr.  Hubley  is  iden- 
tified with  a  number  of  local  business  cor- 
porations, being  a  stockholder  and  director 
of  the  West  Harrisburg  Market  House  Com- 
pany, of  the  Electric  Light  Com})any,  of  the 
Bay  Shoe  Company,  of  the  Harrisburg  and 
Mechanicsburg  Electric   Railway  Company 
and  of  the  Farmer's  Market  Company,  be- 
ing treasurer  of  the  last  named  corporation. 
In  politics  Mr.  Hubley  is  a  Democrat.     He 
was  married,  in  1876,  to  Miss  Annie  Strom- 
inger,   daughter   of    Daniel   Strominger   of 
Harrisburg.     Their   children  are:  Florence 
E.,  Walter   AVilliam,   Alpheus  T.,   Ross  S., 
Bessie  L.  and  Nellie.     The  family  are  mem- 
bers    of    tlie    Grace    Methodist    Episcopal 
church. 


Marks,  Herman,  merchant,  was  born  in 
Prussia,  March  20,  1846 ;  son  of  Marcus  and 
Babetha  (Gordon)  Marks.  He  was  reared  in 
his  native  country'  up  to  his  sixteenth  year, 
and  attended  the  common  schools.  He  came 
to  America  in  1864  and  settled  at  Harrisburg, 
where  he  was  employed  as  clerk  for  Joseph 
Strouse  and  later  for  Benjamin  Strouse.  In 
1869  he  engaged  in  the  clothing  business  for 
himself,  in  which  he  has  since  continued  and 
is  now  one  of  the  oldest  merchants  in  the 
city.  Mr.  Marks,  in  1896,  became  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Harrisburg  Improvement 
Companj^  and  its  treasurer.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Harrisburg  Electric 
Liglit  Company,  and  one  of  the  charter  stock- 
holders of  the  Harrisburg  Steam  Heat  and 
Power  Company.  He  also  organized  the 
Second  Building  and  Loan  Association  and 
has  been  the  treasurer  of  the  Citizen's  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Association  since  its  inception, 
and  is  also  one  of  the  organizers  and  direc- 
tors of  the  Capital  City  Shoe  Company.  For- 
merly he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trade.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but 
holds  no  office.  He  is  connected  with  Per- 
severance Lodge  and  Chapter,  F.  &  A.  M. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


597 


Mr.  Marks  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Miss 
Sophia  Dinglespeil,  of  Harrisburg.  Their 
cliildren  are:  Hattie,  Jennie,  and  Edgar.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Ohev  Sliolem  congrega- 
tion, of  Harrisburg. 


BoMGARDNER,  Jacob  M.,  of  the  firm  of 
Bomgardner  &  Son,  was  born  in  Lebanon 
count}'.  Pa.,  September  14,  1847;  son  of 
Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Miller)  Bomgardner, 
natives  of  that  county.  The  father  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade.  In  religious  views  he 
was  in  harmonj'  with  the  United  Brethrens, 
and  was  an  active  member  of  that  denomi- 
nation. Jacob  M.  received  his  education  in 
the  township  schools  and  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  and  subsequently  taught 
school  for  five  years  in  Lebanon  county.  In 
1870  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in 
East  Hanover  townshijj,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  removing  then  to  Mt.  Nebo.  After 
three  years  in  the  store  in  this  place,  his 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  sell  out  and 
engage  in  a  moi'e  active  occupation.  He 
acted  as  an  agent  for  sewing  machines  on 
the  road  until  1879,  when  he  went  to  Mid- 
dletown  and  became  clerk  for  B.  S.  Peters 
&  Son.  During  the  next  ten  years  he  was 
in  the  hardware  business  at  Lebanon,  Pa., 
in  connection  with  which  he  also  established 
an  ice  business.  In  1889  he  came  to  Har- 
risburg, wiiere  he  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  on  Walnut  street,  and  in  1895  en- 
tered upon  his  present  business  on  North 
Fourth  street,  erecting  his  jn-esent  store.  He 
was  formerly  a  stockholder  in  the  Trust 
Company.  His  only  fraternity  connection 
is  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  Mr. 
Bomgardner  was  married,  in  1870,  to  Miss 
Amanda  Roop,  daughter  of  Gideon  Roop,  of 
Lebanon  county.  They  have  two  children  : 
Irwin  R.,  born  in  1872,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  and  graduated 
from  the  high  school,  and  in  1893  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Bomgardner  &  Son ;  and 
Florence  E.  Mr.  Bomgardner  is  a  member  of 
the  Boas  Street  United  Brethren  church,  in 
which  organization  he  is  a  trustee,  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  branches  of  church 
work. 


Harrisburg,  the  father  having  come  to  this 
country  and  settled  in  this  city  in  1845  or 
184G.  He  was  a  stone  mason  and  formed  a 
partnership  in  this  business  with  Roger 
Sheehey.  He  was  an  Independent  Democrat 
in  politics  and  was  identified  with  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  German  orders.  His  death 
occurred  March  17,  1891,  his  wife  still  sur- 
viving and  residing  at  Harrisburg.  Their 
children  are :  William  M.;  Lewis,  retired ; 
Emma,  Mrs.  Edward  Springer,  Harrisburg ; 
John,  purchasing  agent,  Foundry  and  Ma- 
chine Works;  Frederick,  machinist.  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  and  Henry,  musician,  at  home. 
William  M.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  scliools,  which  he  attended  until  he 
was  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  in  the  Harris- 
burg high  school,  and  later  took  a  course  in 
Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial  College. 
He  entered  the  dispatcher's  office  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  where  he 
remained  from  18G6  to  1878,  after  which  he 
became  the  company's  agent  for  tiie  West- 
moreland Coal  Company,  serving  six  years, 
and  then  for  the  Mashosmon  Coal  Company 
until  1895.  Having  been  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  company  for  thirty  years,  he 
retired  and  opened  his  present  business  at 
No.  404  State  street.  During  the  war  he 
served  as  messenger  in  the  quartermaster's 
department.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Gas- 
trock  is  a  Democrat  with  independent  pro- 
clivities, and  has  never  served  in  any  public 
office.  He  is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge, F.  &.  A.M.  Mr. Gastrock  was  married, 
in  1872,  to  Ida  Irene,  daughter  of  Gen. 
Joseph  F.  Knipe,  of  Harrisburg.  They  have 
nine  children  :  Rosa  E.,  Elizabeth  A.,  Joseph 
F.,  Benjamin  B.,  Martin  W.,  Frank  A.,  Albert 
E.,  Ida  I.  and  Bertha  Viola.  Mr.  Gastrock 
was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  church ;  Mrs. 
Gastrock  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


Gastrock:,  William  M.,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  March  16,  1848  ;  son  of  Barthol 
and  Rosanna  (Koenig)  Gastrock.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Prussia,  the  mother  of  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany.     They  were  married  in 


Lyter,  W.  H.,  was  born  in  Halifax, 
March  28,  1840;  son  of  Christian  and 
Catherine  (Bowman)  Lyter.  He  was  reared 
in  Halifax  and  educated  in  the  public 
school.  His  first  business  venture  was  in 
the  Avy  goods  business  in  Harrisburg,  on 
Market  Square,  which  he  began  in  1879  and 
continued  for  some  time.  Ten  years  later 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  W.  E.  Fahne- 
stock  under  the  firm  name  of  Lyter  &  Fahne- 
stock,  doing  business  on  Market  Square,  in 
which  they  were  active  until  the  spring  of 
1894,  when  Mr.  Lyter  retired  from  the  firm. 


598 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


He  returned  in  October,  1895,  and  purchased 
the  present  business.  Mr.  Lyter  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Trade.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican.  He  was  married  in  1S77  to 
Miss  Helen  Elizabeth  Eppley,  daughter  of 
David  Eppley,  of  Harrisburg.  They  have 
three  children:  Grace  E.,  Edward  and 
Charles  A.  Mr.  Lyter  is  a  member  of  the 
Fourth  Street  Lutheran  church. 


LusK,  Charles  P.,  coal  and  wood  mer- 
chant, was  born  at  Freeport,  Stephenson 
county.  111.,  Februarj'  11, 1851.  His  parents, 
William  J.  and  Sarah  J.  (Chrissman)  Lusk, 
were  both  natives  of  Mifflin  county,  Pa.,  but 
settled  in  Stephenson  county  at  a  very  early 
date.  They  removed  from  Freeport  when 
Charles  was  a  little  over  a  year  old,  and 
lived  at  Earl,  Lasell  count}',  111.,  for  ten 
years,  where  he  received  part  of  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  the  place.  In 
18G2  the  family  removed  to  Lewistown,  Mif- 
flin county,  Pa.,  and  about  four  years  after, 
removed  thence  to  Port  Royal,  Juniata 
county,  Pa.,  where  they  resided  five  years, 
and  where  Charles  completed  his  education. 
In  1872  the  family  removed  to  Harrisburg, 
where  the  mother  resided  till  her  death, 
which  occurred  March  3,  1890.  The  father 
died  at  Livingston,  Ala.,  April,  1879.  They 
had  four  children  :  one  died  in  infancy  ;  the 
living  are :  Mary  E.,  wife  of  F.  L.  Showalter, 
residing  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.;  Cliarles  P., 
and  Annie  M.,  widow  of  B.  F.  Gillette,  re- 
siding at  Osgood,  Ind. 

In  1872  Charles  P.  was  engaged  as  sales- 
man in  the  wholesale  notion  house  of  Wolf 
&  Hench,  and  filled  this  position  for  a  year 
or  more.  His  next  occupation  was  railway 
news  agent.  He  was  afterwards  employed 
in  the  laboratorj'  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Company's  works  for  three  and  a  half  years 
with  headquarters  at  the  Lochiel  House. 
He  next  established  a  custom  shirt  factor}'. 
In  December,  1894,  he  engaged  in  his  pres- 
ent business.  He  was  married  at  Harris- 
burg, June  27,  1893,  to  Margaret  A.  Middle- 
ton,  daughter  of  W.  A.  and  Mary  E.  Mid- 
dleton.  He  is  a  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Harrisburg  Con- 
sistory and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Sample,  John  B.,  merchant,  Harrisburg, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  count}'.  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 16,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and 
Frances  (Mason)  Sample,  also  of  Lancaster 


county.  Peter  Sample,  grandfather  of  John 
B.  Sample,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  a 
farmer.  He  removed  to  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Klincli,  of 
that  county,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children, 
the  only  one  surviving  is  Alexander  Sample. 

Alexander  Sample  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  February  28,  1827  ;  was  educated  in 
his  native  county  and  spent  his  boyhood  on 
the  farm.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Frances 
Mason,  daughter  of  James  and  Hattie 
Mason,  November  24,  1848.  She  was  born 
January  24,  1828,  and  died  February  3, 
1886.  They  had  nine  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living:  Peter  H.  and  John  B.  Tlie  de- 
ceased children  are:  Harriet  E.,  Esther  E., 
Sarah  M.,  James  A.,  Nathaniel  W.,  Charles 
S.  and  Caroline  A.  Alexander  Sample  was 
for  many  years  a  fanner  in  Lancaster  county. 
He  removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  lias 
been  in  business  at  intervals  for  thirty  years. 
He  was  a  partner  of  Oscar  Jones  in  the  ice 
cream  and  confectionery  business  at  Carlisle 
for  one  year.  He  was  in  the  St.  Cloud  Hotel 
in  Philadel[>hiafor  two  years,  and  from  that 
house  went  to  the  Aldine  Hotel,  1914  Chest- 
nut street.  After  thirteen  years  in  Pliiln- 
delphia  he  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  witli 
his  sons,  Peter  and  John, purchased  a  lot,  and 
erected  a  large  building  which  he  now  occu- 
pies with  a  dry  goods  business.  Mr.  Sample 
has  been  a  member  of  Brotherlv  Love 
Lodge,  No.  896,  G.  U.  0.  0.  F.,  fo"r  tiiirty 
years  and  belongs  to  No.  1,  Household  of 
Ruth.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  State  street,  of  which  his 
deceased  wife  was  also  a  member. 

John  B.  Sample  received  part  of  his  edu- 
cation in  his  native  county,  and  completed 
it  in  the  schools  of  Dauphin  county.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  he  took  a  position  in  tlie 
Jones  House,  now  known  as  the  Common- 
wealth Hotel,  and  remained  there  three 
years.  The  next  two  years  he  was  at  the 
Bolton  House.  Thence  he  went  to  the  Gross 
House,  now  Harris  House ;  thence  to  the 
Lochiel  Hotel,  where  he  was  employed  at  in- 
tervals for  eight  years.  He  had  a  good  rep- 
utation for  honesty,  and  was  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  for  three  years  at 
Niagara  Falls;  then  he  went  to  Reading, 
where  he  was  employed  for  six  months  in  a 
hotel  by  Emanuel  Long.  Returning  to 
Harri.sburg  he  found  employment  for  some 
years  at  the  State  Capitol  and  at  the  United 
States  Hotel. 


DAUPEIN  COUNTY. 


599 


In  January,  1881,  he  entered  the  railway 
mail  service  as  weighmaster.  He  has  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  colored  man  em- 
ployed in  the  railroad  mail  service  on  the 
Middle  division.  His  first  run  was  between 
Harrisburg  and  Pittsburgh  :  then  between 
Harrisburg  and  Allentown,  and  from  Har- 
risburg to  New  York.  He  was  afterwards 
transferred  to  the  Northern  Central  railroad 
where  he  was  employed  as  clerk  on  the  route 
between  Harrisburg  and  Baltimore,  and  he 
successfully  worked  himself  up  to  head  clerk, 
in  charge  of  the  route,  receiving  a  salary  of 
one  thousand  dollars  per  j'ear.  After  nearly 
twelve  years'  service  he  was  compelled  by 
failing  health  to  resign  his  position.  When 
he  had  regained  his  health  he  engaged  ni 
business  in  Harrisburg,  with  his  father, 
where  he  has  been  up  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Sample  was  married,  November  10, 
1877,  to  Miss  Maggie,  daughter  of  William 
and  Charlotte  Weaver.  They  have  had 
nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  living : 
Francis  G.,  Ada  E.,  Maria  A.,  Alexander  W., 
and  Maud  M.  The  deceased  children  were: 
Carrie  A.,  Cora  C,  John  G.,  and  Blanche  L. 

His  wife  was  born  June  10,  1858,  and  died 
October  4,  1895.  She  was  a  good  mother 
and  a  devoted  Christian,  a  member  of  the 
African  Methodist  church,  on  State  street, 
and  of  the  Household  of  Ruth.  William 
Weaver,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Sample,  was  born 
in  Dauphin  county,  and  was  for  many  years 
a  shoemaker.  He  married  Miss  Charlotte 
Chester,  daughter  of  George  and  Jane 
Chester,  who  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children.  Those  living 
are:  Jennie,  wife  of  Rev.  John  Palmer,  of 
Philadelphia  ;  Alda,  wife  of  George  Brisco, 
and  Fannie,  wife  of  James  Auter.  The 
father  died  in  Philadelphia  and  the  mother 
died  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  The  grandparents 
of  Mrs.  Sample  were  natives  of  Maryland. 


MiLNOR,  George  W.,  merchant,  was  born 
at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  30,  1856.  Fie  is 
a  son  of  Mali  Ion  and  Elizabeth  (Neilson) 
Mil  nor.  These  worthy  people  were  residents 
of  Philadelphia  until  1880,  since  which  date 
they  have  resided  at  York,  Pa.  They  had 
but  two  children :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  H.  D. 
Rupp,  a  prominent  merchant  of  York,  Pa., 
and  George  W.  The  latter  received  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  public  school  education  in  his 
native  city.  He  began  his  business  career 
as  accountant  and  cashier  in  a  large  house- 
furnishing  and  fancy  goods  warehouse  in 


Philadelphia.  The  ability  he  displayed  and 
his  fidelity  won  for  him  the  position  of  man- 
ager of  the  establishment.  He  left  his  na- 
tive city  in  1880,  and  engaged  in  business 
for  himself  at  York,  Pa.  He  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  in  January,  1884,  and  associated 
himself  in  the  mercantile  business  with 
George  Hoyer,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hoyer 
&  Milnor.  He  was  married,  in  Delaware,  to 
Sallie  L.  Cavender,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Lydia  Cavender.  They  have  no  children. 
Mr.  Milnor  has  represented  the  Fourth 
ward  in  the  common  council,  and  in  April, 
1895,  was  elected  president  of  that  honorable 
body.  He  takes  an  active  part  in  all  politi- 
cal contests  on  the  side  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  is  a  thorough  business  man,  re- 
spected for  his  integrity. 


QuicKEL,  Hexry  F.,  was  born  in  York 
Pa.,  September  5,  1856.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  Quickel,  native  of  York,  and  Mary 
Jane  (Axe)  Quickel.  of  New  Bloomfield,  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  and  their  only  living  child,  one 
child  having  died  in  infancy.  When  Henry 
was  two  years  old  the  family  removed  to  Me- 
chanicsburg,  where  his  early  life  was  spent. 
He  passed  through  the  public  schools  and 
also  took  the  course  of  the  Cumberland  ^^al- 
ley  Institute.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of 
coach  painter  and  followed  this  occupation 
almost  three  years. 

In  January,  1877,  Mr.  Quickel  removed  to 
Harrisburg  and  became  a  clerk  in  the  hard 
ware  store  of  Anthony  King.  He  filled  the 
place  for  fifteen  months,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  resigned  and  accepted  a  similar  posi- 
tion with  Henry  Gilbert  &  Son.  In  1882  he 
entered  business  for  himself  as  dealer  in 
boilers,  engines,  etc.,  purchasing  the  business 
of  David  Stevenson,  Jr.  He  has  conducted 
this  business  for  the  past  thirteen  years,  and 
by  his  practical  and  reliable  methods  has 
achieved  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  business 
man,  and  made  a  marked  success  in  his  busi- 
ness career.  He  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of 
the  staunch,  progressive  and  enterprising 
men  of  Harrisburg.  He  well  merits  the  high 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held  and  the  liberal 
patronage  extended  to  him. 

Henry  F.  Quickel  was  married  at  Harris- 
burg, November  13, 1883,  to  Mary  Ellen  Det- 
weiler.  They  have  two  sons:  Ralph  D.,  born 
August  23,  1885,  and  Kenneth  M.,  born 
April  26,  1890.  In  politics  Mr.  Quickel  is  a 
Republican.     He  and  his  family  are  consist- 


600 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


ent  members  of  the  Market  Square  Presbyte- 
rian church.  Mr.  Quickel  officiated  as  organ- 
ist of  this  church  from  1879  to  1886. 


Fahnestock,  W.  E.,  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  April  6,  1866 ;  son  of  Walter  B. 
and  Mary  L.  (Eppley)  Fahnestock.  Tlie father 
was  a  native  of  Pittsburgh,  the  mother  was 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  Eppley,  of  Harrisburg. 
W.  E.  was  reared  in  Pittsburgh  and  received 
his  primary  instruction  in  the  schools  of 
that  city.  He  completed  his  education  at 
Cornell  University,  graduating  from  that 
institution  in  the  class  of  1887.  In  Septem- 
ber of  the  following  year  he  came  to  Harris- 
burg and  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business, 
forming  a  partnership  with  W.  H.  Lyter, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Lyter  &  Fahnestock. 
The  firm  continued  in  business  until  Jan- 
uary 1,1894,  when  Mr.  Fahnestock  purchased 
the  interest  of  his  partner.  He  was  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  Masonic  frater- 
nities, holding  membership  in  the  blue 
lodge,  chapter,  commandery,  council  and 
consistory.  He  was  married,  in  1888,  to 
Mary  L.  VanOrder,  daughter  of  Captain 
VanOrder,  of  Ithaca,  N.  Y.  Their  children 
are:  Lena  Ruth  and  Arnold  VanOrder. 
Mr.  Fahnestock  attended  St.  Stephen's 
Protestant  Episcopal  church,  of  wiiicli  iiis 
widow  is  a  member. 


Democrat,  and  represented  the  Fourth  ward, 
in  common  council  for  one  term.  He  is  a 
member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


Glover,  John  W.,  merchant  tailor,  was 
born  in  Perry  county.  Pa.,  October  22,  1820; 
son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Glover,  the 
former  a  native  of  Perry  county,  the  latter  a 
native  of  Scotland.  The  father  was  a  miller, 
and  died  on  the  farm  on  which  he  was  born. 
They  had  five  children,  the  only  survivors 
of  whom  are  John  W.  and  Boyd,  when  last 
heard  from  residing  in  Kansas  Cit}'.  John 
W.  received  liis  education  in  Perry  county, 
and  came  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  two  years  at  the  trade  of 
tailor,  after  which  he  entered  business  on 
his  own  account.  He  has  been  a  continuous 
resident  of  the  city  since  1839,  and  has  been 
in  business  for  himself  since  1841.  He  was 
married,  in  Harrisburg,  April  20,  1843,  to 
Helena  H.  Haines,  a  native  of  Philadelphia. 
They  had  these  children  :  one  who  died  in 
childhood;  Edmund  W.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.; 
Catherine,  wife  of  E.  A.  Huber,  residing  in 
Sunbur}',  Pa.;  John,  deceased  ;  Helena,  wife 
of  H.  C.  Bosley,  residing  in  Harrisburg ; 
Maurice,  residing  in  Steelton,  and  Beverly 
W.     Mr.  Glover  in   his  political  views  is  a 


Gastrock,  William, merchant  tailor,  Har- 
risburg, was  born  in  the  province  of  Saxony, 
Prussia,  June  16,  1833.  He  is  the  only  son 
of  William  and  Dorothy  R.  Gastrock,  both 
deceased,  and  both  natives  of  Germany, 
where  they  spent  their  whole  lives.  His 
boyhood  was  passed  in  his  native  land.  He 
took  the  regular  course  of  studies  in  the  state 
schools,  completing  it  at  the  age  of  fourteen. 
He  then  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  3'ears  to  learn  tailoring.  Having 
served  his  time  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  manhood. 

In  1854  he  left  his  native  country  and 
came  to  America.  He  landed  at  Baltimore 
and  proceeded  at  once  to  Harrisburg.  For 
forty-two  years  he  has  been  a  continuous 
resident  of  this  city  and  for  thirty-three  years 
of  this  time  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  its  business  interests. 

He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  April  22, 
18G6,  to  Wilhelmina,  daughter  of  Frank  A. 
and  Katherine  Elmer,  natives  of  Wurtera- 
berg,  Germany.  They  had  three  children 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those  living 
are  :  Louisa  M.,  wife  of  Charles  Warkotsch, 
residing  in  Philadelpliia,  and  William  A., 
who  is  associated  with  his  father  in  business, 
in  llarri.sburg.  Pa. 

Mr.  Gastrock  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  German  Lutheran  church. 

HouTZ,  William  H.,  merchant  tailor,  was 
born  in  Bethel  township,  Lebanon  county. 
Pa.,  December  15,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  the 
late  William  and  Nancy  (Hunsicker)  Houtz. 
His  grandparents  were  both  natives  of  Leb- 
anon county.  The  grandfather  was  a  farmer 
and  distiller.  He  hauled  the  product  of  his 
distiller}'  to  Philadelphia  b}'  team,  where  he 
disposed  of  it  and  loaded  his  wagon  for  re- 
turn with  merchandise  of  various  kinds.  He 
had  eight  children,  only  one  of  whom  sur- 
vives, John,  a  farmer  living  in  Indiana. 

William  Houtz,  the  father  of  William  H., 
was  born  in  Bethel  township,  Lebanon 
county.  Pa.,  January  1, 1803.  He  was  a  son 
of  Henry  Houtz.  In  his  younger  days  he 
was  engaged  in  farming.  He  also  conducted 
a  distillery  for  about  fifteen  years.  He  was 
married,  in  1826,  to  Nancy,  daughter  of  Chis- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


601 


tiau  and  Sally  (Newcomer)  Hunsicker,  a 
native  of  Bethel  township,  Lebanon  county. 
They  had  twelve  cliikh-en,  nine  of  whom  are 
living:  Henry,  David,  William,  Samuel, 
Lydia,  wife  of  Jolm  Ritter,  Daniel,  Nancy, 
wife  of  John  Yorker,  Elias,  and  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  John  Sliolley.  Twochildrendiedinin- 
farrcy  and  Samuel  died  in  October,  1894,  at 
the  age  of  sixty  years.  William  Houtz  died 
December  24,  1894,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-three  years,  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Lebanon  county. 

William  H.  Houtz  had  very  limited  op- 
portunities for  receiving  an  education.     He 
is  practically  a  self-made  man,  in   the  best 
sense  of  that  word,  for  his  success  in  life  is 
the  result  of  his  own  efforts,  industry  and 
energy.     At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  learned 
the  trade  of  tailor  and  has  followed  it  through 
life.     In  1848  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  en- 
gaged to  work  at  his  trade  with  Adam  Mc- 
Afee, continuing  in  his  employ  for  sixteen 
years.    On  August  7, 1864,  he  enlisted  in  com- 
any  H,  Two  Hundred  and  First  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  served  in  the 
army  for  nearly  one  year.    He  was  discharged 
June  11, 1865.     While  on  picket  duty  he  was 
struck  on  the  head  by  a  fragment  of  a  shell. 
After  returning  from  the  army  he  moved  to 
Lower  Paxton    township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  four  years ; 
then  moved  back  to  Harrisburg  and  worked 
at  his  trade  for  William  Sayford.     December 
31,  1879,  he  moved  to  No.  306  Broad  street, 
and  engaged    in    business   for  himself.     In 
1884  he  bought  the  large  and  commodious 
property  lately  owned    by  Mr.   Ensminger, 
where  he  has  carried  on  his  business  and 
where  he  still  resides.     He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  Castle  No.  40,  K.  of  G.  E.,  for  twelve 
years, being  one  of  the  charter  members.    He 
is  also  a  member  of  City  Lodge,  No.  301,  I.  O. 
O.F.    He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Improved 
Order  of  Heptasophs  for  about  eleven  years. 
Mr.  Houtz  is  a  Republican.    He  was  married, 
July  5,  1852,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  William 
and  Magdalena  Douglass.     They  had   three 
children  :  Adam  D.,  Mary  E,  wife  of  Robert 
Gher,  and  William   B.,  died  in  1861,  at  the 
age  of  five  years  and  four  months.     His  wife 
died  June  5,  1875,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two 
j'ears.     He  was  married,  the  second    time, 
July  5, 1876,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Daniel 
andMary  (Mellinger)  Stroh.     They  have  no 
children. 

William    Douglass,   the    father   of    Mary 
(Douglass)  Houtz,  the  first  wife  of  William 


H.  Houtz,  was  a  farmer  of  Scotch  descent. 
He  married  Miss  Gibble,  a  native  of  Lebanon 
county.  They  had  four  children,  one  of  whom 
survives,  John,  living  in  Indiana.  Tlieir 
deceased  children  are :  Jeremiah,  Benjamin, 
Peter  and  Mary.  For  many  years  Mr.  Doug- 
lass taught  school  in  winter  and  served  as 
pilot  on  the  river  in  summer.  He  was  mar- 
ried the  second  time  to  Miss  Walter.  They 
had  five  children  :  Uriah,  Henry,  Franklin, 
Archibald  and  Catherine.  ' 

Elizabeth  Stroh,  the  second  wife  of  William 
H.  Houtz,  was  born  January  26,  1848.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Lebanon  county. 
Her  father,  Daniel  Stroh,  was  born  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1802.  -He  learned  wagon  making  and 
followed  this  occupation  for  many  years.  For 
twenty-six  years  he  taught  school.  He  was 
married,  in  1833,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  (Gebhard)  Mellinger.  They  had 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living: 
Leah,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  and  Sall}^,  wife  of 
John  Connor.  Three  children  died  in  in- 
fancy. In  1861  Daniel  Stroh  was  elected 
recorder  of  wills  of  Lebanon  county  and 
served  for  three  years.  In  1865  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  Annville,  Pa.  He  held 
this  office  at  the  time  of  his  death,  having 
■served  six  years.  He  died,  in  1871,  aged 
sixty-two  and  was  highly  esteemed  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  a  Republican  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Mary  Mellinger,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Houtz, 
was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  February  20, 
1814,  and  died  in  Harrisburg,  August  25, 
1884,  at  the  age  of  seventy  j'ears. 


Bernheisel,  Luther,  merchant  tailor, 
was  born  in  Perry  county.  Pa.,  April  1, 1834. 
He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Susan  (Kepner) 
Bernheisel.  His  maternal  grandfather,  John 
Kepner,  was  a  farmer,  and  one  of  the 
wealthiest  men  in  Juniata  county.  George 
Bernheisel  was  a  native  of  Perry  county 
and  a  merchant.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Susan,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Loye)  Kepner,  who  was  also  born  in  Perry 
county.  Three  of  their  children  are  living : 
John  C,  Cornelius  and  Luther.  The  de- 
ceased children  are:  Catherine,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  ;  Jacob,  and  Samuel,  who 
died  from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of 
Lookout  Mountain.  Mr.  George  Bernheisel 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Luther  Bernheisel  received  a  limited  edu- 
cation.    He  attended  the  public  schools  at 


602 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


intervals  until  he  was  about  fourteen,  when 
he  began  to  serve  a  four  years'  apprentice- 
ship at  tailoring  with  Patterson  Alexander, 
in  Juniata  county.  At  the  end  of  this  term 
he  was  employed  for  a  few  months  by  Mr. 
Howell.  He  then  worked  a  few  months  for 
Mr.  Stroup,  in  Milfiintown,  Juniata  county, 
then  seven  months  for  Christian  Metz,  of 
Williamsburg,  Blair  county.  Pa.  He  at- 
tended the  first  State  fair  held  in  Harrisburg 
and  during  his  stay  in  the  city  visited  some 
of  his  relatives.  After  this  he  returned  to 
Blair  county  and  spent  eight  months  work- 
ing for  his  former  employer,  Mr.  Metz.  In 
1856  Mr.  Bernheisel  went  into  the  tailoring 
business  for  himself,  purchasing  the  estab- 
lishment formerly  owned  by  Squire  Howell, 
at  Pleasant  Hill,  Juniata  county,  which  he 
conducted  for  a  few  years.  He  was  next  in 
business  for  sometime  at  Green  Park,  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  and  lived  there  three  years  when 
the  war  broke  out.  Mr.  Bernheisel  enlisted, 
August  20, 18G1,  for  three  years,  in  compan)' 
H,  Forty-seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers.  He  again  enlisted  at  Fort  Jef- 
ferson, in  1863.  He  was  discharged  at  Camp 
Cadwallader,  January  11,  1866.  He  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  Shen- 
andoah Valley,  under  General  Sheridan. 
He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Pocotalgo,  S. 
C,  also  Sabina  Cross  Roads,  Pleasant  Hill, 
and  King  River,  in  Louisiana ;  Berryville, 
Cedar  Creek,  and  Fisher's  Hill,  Va.  During 
his  service  he  was  in  eleven  States,  took 
eleven  trips  on  the  ocean  and  was  in  eleven 
battles. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  Green  Park 
and  was  in  the  tailoring  business  there  for 
a  short  period,  and  then  for  three  j'ears  at 
Andersonburg,  Perry  county.  He  then  re- 
moved to  New  Bloomfield,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged for  three  years,  and  from  there  to 
Newport.  Three  years  later  he  bough t.out  the 
business  of  David  Care,  at  Harrisl)urg,  and 
established  himself  at  106  Market  street. 
After  a  few  years  he  sold  his  business  and 
was  for  twelve  years  with  Mr.  Coover,  as 
manager  of  his  tailoring  department.  Mr. 
Bernheisel  was  again  in  business  on  his 
own  account  for  one  year,  at  121  Market 
street,  and  afterwards  removed  to  the  opjio- 
site  side  of  the  street,  at  the  corner  of  Mar- 
ket Square.  Later  he  was  with  Mr.  Coover 
in  the  Harrisburg  jManufacturing  Company 
as  cutter.  Wiiile  in  this  position  he  re- 
moved his  family  to  the  corner  of  Boas  and 
Green  streets.     Between  1892  and  1893  he 


resigned  his  position  and  established  him- 
self in  business  at  his  residence,  where  he  has 
built  up  an  important  trade. 

Mr.  Bernheisel  was  first  married,  at  Will- 
iamsburg, Blair  county.  Pa.,  March  4,  1856, 
to  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  George 
Winters,  born  in  1835,  in  Blair  county. 
They  had  twelve  children.  Those  now 
living  are :  Charles  0.,  Susan,  wife  of  Charles 
Snyder;  Robert  N.,  Frank  W.,  Bessie  M., 
wife  of  William  Shoemaker,  Rachel,  Mattie, 
wife  of  George  Briggles,  and  Lewis  C.  Their 
deceased  children  are :  Alice  E.,  died  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1859,  aged  seven  months;  Edwin 
M.,  died  October  10,  1862,  aged  two  years ; 
Luther  A.,  died  August  24,  1865,  aged 
one  year ;  Frank  L.,  died  December  16, 1868, 
aged  six  months.  Mrs.  Bernheisel  died, 
February  1, 1888,  aged  fifty-three  years. 

Mr.  Bernlieisel  was  married  again,  October 
1,  1891,  to  Miss  Susan  E.,  daughter  of  Josiah 
and  Salome  (Lenhart)  Sheets.  They  had 
two  children,  Harry  S.  and  Harvey  Da  Foe, 
wlio  died  June  19,  1894,  aged  four  weeks. 

Mr.  Bernheisel  is  a  member  of  Post  No. 
58,  G.  A.  R.,  and  for  many  years  has  been  a 
member  of  the  U.  V.  L.,  No.  67.  He  is  a 
Re()ublican  and  a  member  of  the  Messiah 
Lutheran  church. 

The  parents  of  the  first  Mrs.  Bernheisel 
were  natives  of  Blair  count3^  Her  fatiier 
was  a  farmer,  and  was  also  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business. 

The  parents  of  the  second  Mrs.  Bernheisel 
were  natives  of  Dauphin  county.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  still  resides  in  Dau- 
phin county.  He  has  held  various  town- 
ship offices  and  is  a  director  of  the  Halifax 
Bank.  His  politics  are  Democratic.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


McCreery,  Georue  J.,  merchant  tailor, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  December  20, 1834; 
son  of  William  and  Ann  M.  (Jones)  Mc- 
Creery. He  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Westmoreland  county  when  he  was  a  child, 
and  there  was  reared  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Ligonier  Val- 
ley. He  served  part  of  his  apprenticeship 
at  the  tailor  trade  in  his  native  townsliip, 
but  completed  it  at  Philadelphia,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  of  tailoring  and  cutting 
until  1885.  For  the  past  ten  years  he  has 
conducted  a  merchant  tailoring  business  in 
Harrisburg.  He  was  married,  in  Pottsville, 
Pa.,  October  3,  1867,  to  Catherine  L.  Kurtz, 
of  Pottsville,  to  whom  no  children  have  been 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


603 


born.  Mr.  McCreery  is  a  member  of  Will- 
iamsport  Lodge,  No.  106,  F.  &  A.  M.  •  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  and 
his  wife  attend  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian 
church. 


Froehlich,  John,  mercliant  tailor,  was 
born  in  Hesse  Cassel,  Germany,  July  31, 
1835.  He  is  a  son  of  Herman  and  Mary 
(Rohde)  Froehlich,  both  of  Germany,  who 
lived  and  died  in  their  native  land.  The 
father  was  born  Augu.st  1,  1800,  and  died 
June  24, 1848;  the  mother  was  born  in  1813, 
and  died  January  16,  1876.  These  parents 
had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living- 
Martha  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Bickel,  re- 
siding on  the  old  homestead;  John,  and 
Annie  E.,  wife  of  John  Lindenberger,  living 
in  Rock  Island,  111. 

John  Froehlich  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  land.  He  was  educated  in  the  State 
schools,  and  learned  the  trade  of  tailor.  At 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  in  1857,  he  left  the 
]iaternal  home  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  New 
World.  He  reached  New  York  September 
4,  1857,  and  proceeded  to  Harrisburg,  where 
he  took  up  his  residence  on  September  8. 
For  the  past  thirty-nine  years  he  has  been 
an  honored  resident  of  this  city,  and  for  over 
thirty  years  he  has  been  one  of  its  represen- 
tativeand-progressive  business  men.  In  1871 
Mr.  Froehlich  paid  a  visit  to  his  native  land, 
and  after  spending  four  months  there  with 
friends  and  relatives  returned  to  Harrisburg. 
He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  September 
29,  1859,  to  Cliristiana  Miller,  daughter  of 
the  late  John  and  Elizabeth  (Knouse)  Miller. 
They  have  a  famil}'  of  ten  children:  George 
H.,  born  February  22,  1861,  married  Jose- 
phine Mayer,  has  one  child,  resides  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y";  Mary  Anna,  born  April  23, 1863, 
wife  of  Isaac  M.  Over,  has  three  children, 
Helen,  Annie,  and  Rebecca,  lives  in  Harris- 
burg; Anna  Amelia,  born  July  27,  1865, 
living  at  home;  Frederick  William,  born 
March  30,  1867,  married  June  6,  1893,  to 
Miss  Annie  H.,  daughter  of  the  late  Jacob 
and  Mar}^  A.  Elder,  of  Harrisburg,  was  edu- 
cated in  theHarrisl)urg  publicschools, learned 
the  system  of  cutting,  taught  in  the  cutting 
schools  of  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  and 
January,  1893,  was  admitted  to  a  partner- 
ship in  his  father's  business;  John  Herman, 
born  February  10,  1870,  living  in  Harri.s- 
burg;  Charles  Martin,  born  September  5, 
1872,  living  in  Harrisburg;  Edward  Henry,  * 
born  October  27,  1874,  living  in  Kane,  Pa.; 


Albert  F.,  born  January  9,  1877,  living  in 
Harrisburg;  Martin  Luther,  born  December 
29,  1879,  living  in  Harrisburg;  Paul,  born 
January  12,  1882,  living  in  Harrisburg. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Froehlich  are  members  of  St. 
Michael's  German  Lutheran  church.  In  this 
church  their  children  were  all  baptized  and 
confirmed.  Some  members  of  the  family  now 
attend  Bethlehem  Lutheran  church. 


She.\ker,  Joseph  L.,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, March  18,  1843;  son  of  Josepii  and 
Margaret  (Small)  Shearer,  the  former  of 
Franklin,  the  latter  of  Cumberland  county. 
The  father  came  to  Dauphin  county  in  1838 
and  settled  at  Harrisburg,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  merchant  tailor  business,  in  which  lie 
continued  until  1893,  when  he  retired  from 
active  business.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  was  originally  a  Free  Soiler.  He 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  council.  He 
is  not  connected  with  any  church.  His 
children  are:  Joseph  H.;  Mary,  wife  of  W. 
P.  Denehey,  of  Harrisburg;  Samuel  B., 
broom  manufacturer;  Clara  R.,  Mrs.  C.  A. 
Dean,  of  Denver,  Col.  Josepli  L.  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  learned 
the  tailor  trade  with  his  father,  which  he 
followed  for  twenty-five  years,  and  for  the 
past  five  years  has  been  in  the  gentlemen's 
furnishing  business.  In  political  principles 
he  is  with  the  Republican  party.  Mr. 
Shearer  was  married,  in  1866,  to  Miss  Anna 
M.  Meyers,  daughter  of  Samuel  W.  Meyers. 
Their  children  are:  Fannie,  Mrs.  Martin 
Buehler,  of  Harrisburg ;  Samuel  G.,  ma- 
chinist, of  Harrisburg;  Joseph  L.,  Jr.,  and 
Clara  R.  Mr.  Shearer,  in  1862,  enlisted  in 
an  independent  cavalry  company,  and  after 
three  months' service  was  mustered  out.  He 
re-enlisted  in  1864  in  company  I,  Seventy- 
seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
in  which  he  was  a  sergeant,  and  served  on 
skirmish  duty.  He  was  finally  mustered 
out  at  Victoria,  Texas,  in  1865.  In  1869  he 
went  to  Denver,  Col.,  and  New  Mexico  on  a 
Government  survey.  Mr.  Shearer  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Zion  Lutheran 
church. 


Ross,  Harry  C,  merchant  tailor,  was 
born  in  Lewistown,  Pa.,  February  1,  1848; 
son  of  William  and  Margaret  M.  (Lawyer) 
Ross.  The  father  was  born  in  Fermanagh, 
Ireland,  and  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  when  a  child,  locating  at  Thomp- 
sontown,  Pa.,  where  he  was  reared  to  man- 


604 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


hood.  He  resided  at  Lewistowii  many 
years  and  was  for  some  time  editor  of  tlie 
Lewistown  Gazette.  He  served  in  several 
government  offices  and  represented  Mifflin 
county  in  the  State  Legislature.  His  death 
occurred  at  Lewistown  in  1860.  The  motiier 
was  born  in  Harrisburg  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  the  city.  Tlieircliildren  are:  Harry 
C;  Jose[)li  D.;  Mary  L.,  wife  of  George  Wolfe, 
of  Altoona  ;  Margai'et,  wife  of  John  Contner, 
of  Milro}',  Mifflin  county  ;  Jennie,  wife  of 
Robert  Delette,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Harry 
C.  was  reared  in  Lewistown  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
when  very  young  became  a  clerk  in  a  gen- 
eral store.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  companj' 
H,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-fifth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  re-enlisted  in 
company  M,  Seventh  regiment,  Pennsylva- 
nia cavalry,  in  which  he  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war  and  was  discharged  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  June,  1865.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  was  engaged  as  a  clerk  at  Lew- 
istown and  later  learned  the  tailoring  busi- 
ness, at  which  he  worked  in  Harrisburg 
from  1874  to  1878,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  business  for  himself.  Mr.  Ross  married, 
first,  at  Lewistown,  Miss  Elizabeth  M. 
Thrush,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  and  Raciiel 
Thrush,  of  Lewistown,  to  whom  was  born 
one  son,  John  C,  residing  at  Harrisburg. 
He  married,  secondly,  at  Harrisburg,  Eliza- 
beth I.  Herr,  daughter  of  David  S.  and 
Sarah  0.  Herr.  Their  children  are :  David 
Herr  and  James  Spencer.  Mr.  Ross  is  a 
member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21,  Pil- 
grim Commandery,  No.  11,  Harrisburg  Con- 
sistory and  Scottish  Rite,  and  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Lewistown  Lodge,  No.  97,  L  O.  0.  F., 
and  Lulu  Temple,  of  Philadelphia.  In 
his  political  views  Mr.  Ross  is  a  staunch  Re- 
jHiblican.  The  family  attend  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


Shope,  George  F.,  merchant  tailor,  was 
born  in  Linglestown,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
February  19, 1857.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Mason)  Shope,  who  are  referred  to  in 
the  Halifax  sketches  in  this  volume.  His 
parents  removed  when  he  was  six  years  old 
to  Dauphin,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  then 
became  an  apprentice  to  the  tailoring  busi- 
ness.    After  completing  his  apprenticeship,* 


which  he  did  in  Williamsport,  Pa.,  he  worked 
for  two  years  in  that  cit}^  as  journeyman. 
He  then  went  to  Harrisburg  and  worked  as 
journeyman  there.  In  1879  he  returned  to 
Dauphin  where  he  was  in  business  for  him- 
self for  thirteen  years.  Since  February,  1892, 
he  has  been  in  business  in  Harrisburg. 

He  was  married  in  Dau[)hin,  January  20, 
1881,  to  Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  Stephenson,  of  Dauphin.  They 
have  five  children :  Edna  C,  Alice  W.,  Harry 
S.,  James  A.  and  Paul  F. 

Mr.  Shope  has  served  one  term  as  auditor 
of  the  borough  of  Dauphin,  and  one  term  as 
school  director  and  treasurer.  He  is  an  ac- 
tive member  of  Paxton  Lodge,  No.  621,  of 
Dauphin,  of  Nazareth  Commandery,  No. 
125,  K.  of  M.,  of  Harrisburg,  and  of  Capital 
City  Council,  No.  325,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  Thirteenth  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Myers,  Charles,  merchant  tailor,  was 
born  near  Gettysburg,  Adams  county.  Pa., 
March  6,  1860,  and  is  a  son  of  Rolandusand 
Sophia  Myers.  His  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  Adams  county  and  of  German  ex- 
traction. The  father  was  a  master  painter 
and  followed  his  trade.  He  was  an  honored 
resident  of  Harrisburg  for  twentyfive  years. 
Pie  died  February  25,  1890.  The  mother 
survives  and  at  present  resides  in  Harris- 
burg. Two  of  their  children  died  in  infancy. 
The  survivors  are  :  Charles  ;  Ida  M.,  wife  of 
W .  H.  Keener ;  Alice  K.,  wife  of  Ira  D.  Rit- 
ncr:  Jesse  J.,  residing  in  Philadelphia; 
William  H.,  and  George  C,  both  residing  in 
Columbus,  Ohio. 

Charles  Myers  lived  in  Adams  county 
until  he  was  five  years  old.  In  1865  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Harrisburg  and  has  since 
l)een  a  continuous  resident  of  this  city.  He 
was  educated  in  the  Harrisburg  public 
schools  and  was  afterwards  employed  by 
John  Froehlich,  merchant  tailor,  for  over 
nineteen  years.  In  March,  1891,  he  engaged 
in  biisiness  for  himself. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  November 
3,  1887,  to  Mary  L.,  only  daughter  of  E.  0. 
and  Elizabeth  Dare,  of  Harrisburg.  They 
have  one  son,  Joseph  D. 

Mr.  Myers  is  a  member  of  B.  &  P.  0.  of 
Elks,  No.  241.  In  political  views  he  is  Dem- 
ocratic. He  attends  Bethlehem  Lutheran 
church. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


605 


Moore,  Austin  A.,  merchant  tailor,  Har- 
risburg,  was  born  in  Burnside  townsliip, 
(Uearfield  county,  Pa.,  October  6,  ISCUj.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  hxte  WilUam  and  Cordelia 
(Stonebarger)  Moore.  His  father  was  born 
in  Burnside  township,  Clearfield  county, 
where  he  spent  his  life  in  farming.  He 
served  his  country  faithfully  during  the  late 
war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  died  at  the  early 
age  of  fifty-six.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Blair  county,  Pa.,  and  after  her  marriage 
resided  in  Clearfield  county  until  1893, since 
which  date  she  has  resided  in  Harrisburg. 
Thej'  had  six  children :  Minnie,  wife  of 
Elmer  Brickley;  Austin  A.,  Blanche,  Stella 
and  Frank,  all  living. 

Austin  A.  Moore  spent  his  youth  in  liis 
native  township,  where  he  enjoyed  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  public  school  education.  He 
conducted  his  father's  farm  for  a  year  after 
finishing  school,  and  subsequently  removed 
to  Altooua,  Pa.,  where  he  learned  tailoring. 
He  followed  this  occupation  in  Altoona  for 
seven  j'cars.  In  May,  1889,  he  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  and  in  January,  1895,  engaged 
in  business  for  himself.  He  was  married,  in 
Altoona,  July  21,1884,  to  Jennie,  daugliter  of 
the  late  Thomas  and  Mary  Bernard,  of  Al- 
toona. They  had  five  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  childhood.  Their  surviving 
children  are  ;  William  Earl,  born  June  17, 
1885,  and  Thomas  Paul,  born  October  12, 
1895.  Mr.  Moore  is  an  active  member  of 
CJornnlanter  Tribe,  No.  61,  I.  0.  R.  M.;  of 
Dauphin  Castle,  No.  250,  K.  of  G.  E.,  and  of 
Mt.  Vernon  Council,  No.  333,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Mt.  Vernon  Hook  and 
Ladder  Company  and  to  the  Governor's 
Troop.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


Heard,  Frank  S.,  merchant  tailor,  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Hagerstown,  Md., 
February  4,  1867.  He  is  a  son  of  Franklin 
A.  and  Mary  (Mobley)  Heard.  Franklin  A. 
Heard  was  born  in  Hagerstown,  June  10, 
1826,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years 
of  his  boyhood  spent  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  that  city 
all  his  life.  He  is  a  printer  by  trade  and 
published  the  Weehly  Chronicle  at  Hagers- 
town for  fourteen  years.  In  1854  h-e  com- 
menced in  the  mercantile  business  in  Hagers- 
town and  is  at  present  the  oldest  merchant 
in  business  in  Hagerstown.  He  was  married, 
February  5,  1849,  to  Mary  Mobley,  who  was 


born  in  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  December  25, 1827, 
and  at  the  age  of  six  moved  to  Hagerstown, 
and  has  ever  since  resided  there.  They  have 
had  six  children:  William,  died,  aged  three 
years;  Laura  S.,  wife  of  R.  M.  Hays;  Ella, 
wife  of  J.  E.  Stonebraker  ;  C.  Edward  ;  Al- 
bert, and  Frank  S.,  all,  excepting  the  last 
named,  residing  in  Hagerstown. 

Frank  S.  Heard  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  Hagerstown,  Md.,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  tliat  city.  After 
leaving  school  he  was  apprenticed  to  tlio 
tailoring  business.  He  learned  the  cutting 
branch  of  the  business  at  the  cutting  school 
of  John  J.  Mitchell,  New  York  City.  After 
acquiring  a  tliorough  knowledge  of  the  work 
lie  was  for  nine  years  employed  as  cutter  in 
a  tailoring  establishment  at  Hagerstown. 
In  1893  he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  since 
that  date  has  been  in  business  for  himself  in 
this  city.  By  a  strict  regard  for  tiie  wants 
and  interests  of  his  patrons,  and  by  honorable 
dealing  and  good  workmanship,  Mr.  Heard 
has  achieved  enviable  success.  He  has 
built  up  a  profitable  and  rapidly  growing 
business.  He  is  highly  esteemed  in  business 
and  in  social  circles. 

He  was  married  in  Hagerstown,  April  21, 
1892,  to  Miss  Cladie  M.,  daughter  of  Jere- 
miah and  Nettie  Funk,  of  Wa.shington 
county,  Md.  They  have  two  children : 
Robert  L.  and  Catherine  M.,  both  living. 

Mr.  Heard  is  a  member  of  Perseverance 
Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.M.,  of  Harrisburg; 
Ithiel  Chapter,  No.  27,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Hagers- 
town, ]\Id.;  Pilgrim  Commandery,  No.  11, 
K.  T.,  Harrisburg;  Valley  Lodge,  No.  70, 
K.  of  P.,  Hagerstown  ;  Harrisburg  Ruling, 
No.  440,  Fraternal  Mystic  Circle.  In  politi- 
cal views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  attends 
the  Lutheran  church. 


MowRY,  Morgan  A.,  general  manager  of 
the  Star  Steam  Laundry,  was  born  in  Liver- 
pool, Perry  county.  Pa.,  May  15,  1851;  son 
of  Ephraim  L.  and  Emma  C.  (Harris) 
Mowry.  Ephraim  L.  Mowry  was  born  in 
Shamokin,  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  of 
which  county  Mrs.  Mowry  was  also  a  native. 
Eight  of  their  thirteen  children  are  living: 
Rufus,  Monroe,  Morgan  A.,  Louis,  Thomas, 
Frederick,  Minnie,  and  Jennie.  The  de- 
ceased children  are:  Mary,  Catherine,  Cora, 
Ellen  and  Louis.  Mrs.  Mowry  died  in  1895; 
Mr.  Mowry  still  survives  and  resides'  at 
Elmira,  N.  Y. 

Morgan  A.  Mowry  was   educated   in   the 


606 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


public  schools  of  Lewisburg,  Union  county, 
Pa.,  where  his  parents  removed  when  he  was 
about  nine  years  old.  He  began  early  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  leaving 
home  when  he  was  but  sixteen.  He  has 
been  a  continuous  resident  of  Harrisburg 
since  1873.  Immediately  upon  his  arrival 
in  that  city  he  was  employed  in  the  White 
Hall  Hotel,  of  which  he  was  clerk,  for  ten 
years.  Since  1883  he  has  been  connected 
with  the  Star  Steam  Laundry.  Since  the 
death  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yinger,  the  proprie- 
tors, he  has  conducted  the  business  in  the 
interest  of  the  estate. 

Morgan  A.  Mowry  was  married,  in  Harris- 
burg, December  9,  1880,  to  Anna  Mary 
Springer,  born  in  New  Market,  York  county. 
Pa.  Tiieir  children  are:  David,  Albert,  Bes- 
sie Ann,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Mowry  is  an  active  member  of  Bayard  Lodge, 
No.  150,  K.  of  P.,  also  of  Goldsmith  Division, 
No.  50,  Uniformed  Rank,  K.  of  P.  He  is  a 
Democrat.  Mr.  Mowry  and  his  family  at- 
tend Bethlehem  Lutheran  church. 


Klemm,  Charles  Augustus,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Klemra  &  Rahe,  proprie- 
tors of  the  City  Steam  Laundry,  was  born 
in  Hainichen,  in  the  kingdom  of  Saxony, 
Germany,  October  9,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of 
Frederick  William  and  Christine  (Rife) 
Klemm.  Frederick  William  Klemm  was  a 
native  of  Saxony.  He  was  a  stone  quarrier, 
and  died  in  1883.  His  wife,  Christine  Rife,  a 
native  of  the  same  town,  survives  him  and 
resides  in  her  native  country ;  she  is  seventy- 
two  years  of  age.  They  had  seven  children  : 
Charles  Augustus  is  the  only  one  of  them 
who  came  to  America.  The  others  are  Fred- 
erick W.,  Franz  Edward.  Maria  Bertha, 
Augusta  Christine,  Amelia  Ross  and  Laura 
Bertha,  all  residents  of  Germany. 

Charles  Augustus  Klemm  passed  his  boy- 
hood and  3'outh  in  Germany  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town.  His  school  education  finished,  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  and  a  half 
years  to  the  trade  of  cloth  weaving,  and  con- 
tinued to  work  at  it  as  journeyman  for  two 
years  more.  He  was  then  drafted  into  the 
German  army  in  which  he  served  three 
years.  When  discliarged  from  the  array  he 
resumed  work  at  his  trade  and  was  em- 
ployed in  different  parts  of  Germany  until 
1882.  In  March,  1882,  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica. He  landed  at  New  York,  April  9, 1882, 
and  after  a  few  days'  stay  in  that  city  came 


to  Harrisburg.  This  city  has  been  his  place 
of  residence  since  that  time.  For  eleven 
years  he  was  employed  as  an  attendant  in 
the  State  Lunatic  Asylum.  On  July  1, 1895, 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Henry  J. 
Rahe  and  engaged  in  his  present  business. 
He  lias  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Anna,  daughter  of  Ernest  and  Mina 
Hempel,  of  Harrisburg,  who  died  August 
24,  1891,  without  children.  His  second 
marriage,  in  which  he  was  united  to  Frieda 
Alwine,  daughter  of  Julius  and  Augusta 
Ahlefeld,  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  oc- 
curred in  Harrisburg,  February  12,  1894. 
They  have  one  son,  Paul  Ahlefeld.  In  1893 
Mr.  Klemm  paid  a  visit  to  his  old  home  and 
his  mother  in  Germany.  After  a  pleasant 
stay  of  two  months  he  returned  to  America 
and  it  was  upon  his  return  voyage  that  he 
made  the  acquaintance  of  his  second  wife. 
Mr.  Klemm  is  a  member  of  Peace  and 
Plenty  Lodge,  No.  69,  I.  0.  0  F.,  and  of 
Hermann  Castle,  No.  337,  K.  of  G.  E.  He  is 
a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Rahe,  Henry  J.,  of  the  firm  of  Klemm  cfe 
Rahe,  proprietors  of  the  City  Steam  Laundr\', 
was  born  in  Fairview  township,  York  county. 
Pa.,  January  (>,  1854.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Dorothy  (Hull)  Rahe.  Henry  Rahe  was 
born  in  Germany  and  came  to  America  early 
in  life.  He  settled  in  York  county ,  as  a  farmer. 
He  died  September  15, 1891.  His  wife,  Doro- 
thy Hull,  was  also  a  native  of  Germany  and 
came  to  this  country  in  her  youth.  She  died 
February  18,  1890.  They  had  ten  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living:  Henry  J.,  An- 
drew, Lewis  M.,  Anna  D.,  widow  of  Milton 
Sunday,  John,  Charles,  and  Samuel.  Tlie 
deceased  children  are:  Emma,  William  and 
John.  Henry  J.  Rahe  when  but  four  yeai's 
of  age  went  witli  his  parents  from  the  farm 
to  the  town  of  York,  Pa.  His  education  was 
received  in  the  public  schools  of  that  town. 
He  next  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  com- 
pleting his  apprenticeship  in  1873.  He  went 
to  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  on  January  6, 
1874,  located  at  Richmond,  where  for  three 
years  he  was  engaged  in  working  at  his  trade 
and  in  contracting.  Returning  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, he  was  for  two  years  employed  in 
mining  ore  near  Spring  Grove,  York  county. 
Having  sold  his  interest  in  the  mines  he  was 
for  three  seasons  engaged  in  threshing  grain. 
For  a  few  months  following  this  time  lie  was 
interested  in  a  bottling  concern.     He  next 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


607 


removed  to  Harrisburg  and  for  seven  months 
conducted  a  grocery  store.  Selling  this  out, 
he  engaged  for  a  short  time  in  the  renova- 
tion of  feathers.  He  then  took  up  the  work 
of  contracting  and  building,  which  he  car- 
ried on  until  July  1,  1895.  At  this  date  he 
formed  a  partnershij)  with  Mr.  Klemm  and 
purchased  the  City  Steam  Laundr}-.  He  is 
still  interested  in  this  business,  which  is  con- 
ducted under  the  firm  name  of  Klemm  & 
Rahe.  He  was  married  in  York,  November 
14, 1880,  to  Martha  J.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Caroline  (Fissel)  Stambaugh.  They  have 
had  three  children  :  Louis  Edward,  who  died 
in  childhood  ;  and  the  surviving  ones  are : 
Mary  Ellen  and  Charles  Henry.  Mr.  Rahe 
is  Democratic  in  his  political  views.  He  at- 
tends tlie  Presbyterian  church. 


HoGENTOGLER,  Harry  Grant,  juuior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Hogentogler  Bros., 
proprietors  of  the  Palace  Steam  Laundrj', 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Columbia,  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.,  December  20,  1863.  He 
is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Esther  (Sourbier) 
Hogentogler,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in 
this  volume. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
after  leaving  school  was  for  a  time  employed 
as  salesman.  Subsequently  he  was  in  the 
service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany for  about  four  years.  In  1884  he  came 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business.  On  May  9,  1892,  uniting 
with  his  brother  under  the  firm  name  of 
Hogentogler  Bros.,  they  established  tlie 
Palace  Steam  Laundry.  In  1894  he  sold  his 
interest  in  the  grocery  and  since  that  date 
has  given  his  entire  attention  to  the  laundr}' 
business. 

He  was  married  in  Camden,  N.  J.,  No- 
vember 4,  1889,  to  Miss  Millie,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Catherine  Mullen,  of  Columbia, 
Pa.  They  have  two  children  :  Joseph  Ray 
and  Esther  Catherine. 

At  the  general  election  of  1896  Mr.  Hogen- 
togler was  chosen  judge  of  elections.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  and 
his  family  attend  the  iMarket  Square  Presby- 
terian church. 


Fink,  Henry. — The  business  solidity  and 
commercial  prosperitj^  of  Harrisburg  is  due 
to  those  men  who  have  achieved  success  for 
themselves  and  by  their  generous  public 
spirit  have  made  the  community  sharers  in 
the  fruits   of  their  enterprise  and   ability ; 


and  among  this  class  of  men  stands  Henr\' 
Fink,  projirietor  of  the  Keystone  brewery. 
His  parents,  Conrad  and  Helen  (Bischof) 
Fink,  were  natives  of  Germany,  and  resi- 
dents of  the  province  of  Hesse  Cassel,  where 
Henry  was  born  September  7,  1835.  Besides 
this  son  they  had  two  otiiers,  Volpert  and 
Frederick  C,  for  all  of  whom  they  made  the 
most  ample  provision  in  the  way  of  educa- 
tion and  business  training.  Desirous  of  see- 
ing their  sons  started  in  business  where  there 
would  be  open  to  them  the  broadest  fields 
and  the  fullest  oi>portunities  for  enterprise 
and  achievement,  they  resolved  to  come  to 
the  United  States.  This  purpose  they  ac- 
complished in  1854,  in  which  year  they 
settled  in  Harrisburg.  The  parents  did  not 
long  live  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  the  new 
country,  and  were  not  permitted  to  see  how 
wisely  they  had  chosen  for  their  sons.  Mr. 
Fink  died  at  Harrisburg  in  1855  and  his 
faithful  wife  died  in  1867. 

Henry  Fink  had  richly  profited  by  his 
education  in  the  German  schools  and  was 
enabled  to  discern  the  business  situation 
and  the  needs  and  possibilities  of  the  com- 
munity in  the  line  along  which  he  desired 
to  act.  But  among  the  most  valuable  and 
practical  of  his  German  attainments  were 
his  knowledge  of  his  trade  and  his  acquaint- 
ance with  all  the  details  and  methods  of  the 
brewing  business  whicii  enabled  him  to  take 
advantage  of  one  of  the  most  inviting  oppor- 
tunities for  skill  and  enterprise.  The  possible 
improvement  and  indefinite  enlargement 
and  the  absolute  certainty  of  resulting 
profits  of  the  business  to  anyone  of  the  ca- 
pacity to  conduct  it  wisely  were  clearly  in 
his  view.  There  must  be  a  beginning,  and 
it  might  be  a  small  one,  but  no  matter  for 
that,  for  the  growth  was  certain. 

The  first  work  of  Mr.  Fink  in  Harrisburg 
was  in  the  Barnitz  brewery,  which  was  not 
a  very  large  establishment,  but  was  a  place 
where  honest  work  was  done,  and  where  re- 
liable and  excellent  products  were  made. 
While  working  here,  Mr.  Fink  was  doing 
good  service  for  his  employer  and  was  every 
day  learning  the  business  more  thoroughly. 
He  was  industrious  and  frugal,  and  was 
gradually  accumulating  means  to  enter  busi- 
ness for  himself  In  1862  Mr.  Fink  found 
that  the  time  had  come  for  his  own  venture. 
He  secured  a  lease  of  the  brewery  where  he 
had  been  employed,  and  at  once  engaged  in 
brewing  ale  and  porter.  He  resolved  that 
the  quality  of  his  products  must  first  be  es- 


608 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


tablislied  so  that  bis  brands  would  bave  an 
indisputable  standing  in  tbe  markets,  tbat 
tiiis  grade  must  be  maintained  at  any  cost 
and  that  all  increase  in  the  capacity  of  his 
brewery  and  the  output  of  goods  must  be 
made  in  consistency  with  this  high  quality. 
He  has  pursued  this  course  wisely  and  care- 
fully, and  has  made  enlargement  and  im- 
provement from  time  to  time,  all  the  while 
maintaining  his  reputation  for  manufactur- 
ing the  best  beer  and  ale  on  the  market. 
In  1881  be  was  obliged  to  have  larger  build- 
ings and  proceeded  to  erect  the  magnificent 
structure  wliich  now  accommodates  his 
business  and  which  is  the  largest  brewery  in 
the  city,  cqui[>ped  regardless  of  cost  witii 
all  known  and  most  modern  appliances  for 
liis  manufacture.  In  bis  progress  in  busi- 
ness Mr.  Fink  has  added  tbe  manufacture  of 
lager  beer,  and  has  provided  his  plant  with 
every  facility  for  making  this  popular  bev- 
erage of  the  highest  degree  of  excellence. 

Mr.  Fink  was  united  in  marriage  in  1857 
to  Christina  Katharine  Beyer,  a  native  of 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1852.  Seven  cliildren  liavebeen  born 
to  them  :  Frederick  J.;  Katherine,  wife  of 
James  Q.  Ilandsliaw,  of  Harrisburg  ;  Bertha 
Helen  ;  Henry  0.,  who  renders  his  father 
most  valuable  assistance  in  the  office  as  an 
accountant;  Robert  B.;  Christina  K.,  wife  of 
Milton  Plank,  and  Henrietta,  deceased.  In 
his  political  views  Mr.  Fink  is  in  accord 
with  the  Democratic  party.  The  family 
attend  tbe  services  of  tbe  Lutheran  church. 
While  Mr.  Fink  congratulates  himself  on 
tbe  success  of  bis  private  business  he  also 
regards  with  great  gratification  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  the  city  and  is  a  recognized 
leader  among  tbe  many  public-spirited  citi- 
zens who  are  planning  and  promoting  the 
common  welfare. 


JoHxsox,  Clement  B.,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, March  29, 1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam B.,  native  of  Hanover,  York  county,  Pa., 
and  Rose  A.  (McFadden)  Johnson,  a  native 
of  Lebanon,  Pa.,  and  of  north  of  Ireland  an- 
cestry. His  father  was  engaged  in  business 
in  Harrisburg  for  many  years.  He  opened 
up  the  marble  quarries  at  Chimney  Ridge, 
HoUidaysburg.  He  was  also  engaged  in 
business  at  Pottsville,  Carlisle,  Chambers- 
burg,  Zanesville,  Ohio,  and  Somerset,  Ohio. 
The  parents  both  died  at  Harrisburg,  the 
father  in  April,  1854,  the  mother,  August  29, 
1892.     This  family  consisted  of  eight  chil- 


dren, three  of  whom  are  living:  James  A., 
Fannie  L.,  a  teacher  in  the  grammar  school, 
and  Clement  B.  He  was  educated  in  tbe 
public  schools  of  Harrisburg,  and  after  leav- 
ing school  learned  telegraph^'  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany. He  was  engaged  in  this  vocation 
twenty-one  years.  In  1887  he  engaged  in 
the  bottling  business.  He  was  married,  in 
Harrisburg,  November  17,  1885,  to  Mary  A. 
Russ,  daughter  of  Louis  and  Carolinda 
Russ,  both  natives  of  Lucca,  Italy.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them :  William 
L.,  Maria  F.,  and  Herscbel  L.  In  politics 
he  has  always  been  a  Democrat.  The  family 
attend  St.  Patrick's  Pro-Cathedral.  Mr. 
Johnson  is  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  a 
successful  and  honorable  business  man. 


Dressel,  Christ  A.,  was  born  in  Aocb- 
stadt,  Bavaria,  Germany,  January  4,  1854. 
He  is  a  son  of  Bnrkortand  Josephina  Dressel. 
His  parents  both  died  in  Germany,  his  father 
Marcli  19,  1870,  and  his  mother  December  2, 
1870.  They  had  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living.  Andrew,  butcher,  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  and  Christ  A.  are  the  only  members  of 
the  family  who  have  come  to  America. 
Christ  A.  Dressel  was  educated  in  the  State 
schools  and  in  the  Trade  Academy  of  his 
native  place.  He  then  learned  the  business 
of  brewing  with  his  father.  In  1872  lie 
came  to  America  and  worked  at  brewing  in 
Phiiadeljihia  for  six  montiis.  Thence  be 
removed  to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  resided 
two  years,  and  subsequently  spent  one  year 
in  Columbia.  In  1876  he  removed  to  Har- 
risburg, where  for  seventeen  years  be  was 
engaged  in  the  brewing  business.  He  was 
married,  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  September  21, 
1875,  to  Caroline,  daughter  of  Fritz  and 
Barbara  (Kopp)  Beck,  born  in  Wurtemberg, 
June  1,  1854.  They  have  no  children,  but 
bave  adopted  a  son,  Walter  Beck,  born  July 
14, 1882.  Mr.  Dressel  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Beneficial  Society.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Democrat. 


Lyons,  William  H.,  wholesale  beer  bottler, 
of  the  firm  of  Lj-ons  &  Treon,  was  born  in 
Upper  Augusta,  Northumberland  county, 
Pa.,  September  8,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of 
Robert  and  Barbara  (Cotner)  Lyons,  who 
were  both  natives  of  Montour  county.  His 
father  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  Northum- 
berland county,  and  died  in  Upper  Augusta 
township,  where  he  spent  the  greater  part  of 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


609 


Iiis  life.  William  H.  Lyons  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  iiis  native  county,  on  his  fatiier's 
farm.  He  received  the  ordinary  education 
afforded  by  the  district  school,  and  there 
learned  the  carpenter  trade.  For  some  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  in  Sun- 
bury.  In  1888  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  and  continued  it  for  six  years.  In 
tiie  summer  of  1804  he  built  the  dyke  at 
Sunbury,  making  a  fill  of  29,000  cubic  yards. 
In  1895  he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  in 
connection  with  H.  H.  Treon  engaged  in 
his  present  lousiness.  He  was  married  in 
Upjier  Augusta  township,  February  18, 1886, 
to  Hattie  Rockafellcr,  daughter  of  Louis  and 
Catherine  K.  Rockafeller,  of  that  township. 
He  is  a  member  of  Fort  Augusta  Lodge,  No. 
143,  K.  of  P.,  of  Sunbury,  and  of  Lance  and 
Shield  Lodge,  No.  11,  O.  of  S.  P.  K.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  Lyons 
attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal  chui'ch. 


Johnson,  Max  P.,  wholesale  bottler,  was 
born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  June  5,  1858.  Llis 
early  life  was  spent  in  his  native  city,  and 
after  leaving  school  he  was  engaged  as  a 
salesman  in  a  brewery  for  fifteen  years, 
during  which  time  he  acquired  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  business  in  all  its  branches. 
In  1889  he  moved  to  Harrisburg  and  se- 
cured the  agencj'  for  the  famous  Anheuser- 
Busch  Brewing  Association,  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  also  for  D.  G.  Yuengling's  re- 
nowned porter  and  ales.  To  the  handling 
of  these  brands  of  goods  he  has  devoted  his 
entire  attention  the  past  seven  years.  His 
place  of  business  is  a  large  and  imposing 
stone  building  situated  opposite  the  Penn- 
sylvania railroad  depot,  which  is  used  en- 
tirely for  (he  purposes  of  his  business.  The 
trade  of  the  Harrisburg  Bottling  Works  is 
large  and  lucrative,  and,  apart  from  the  large 
country  trade  done  by  Mr.  Johnson,  includes 
an  extensive  trade  among  the  leading  hotels, 
cafes  and  select  families  of  the  city  and 
vicinity.  The  fame  of  the  Anheuser-Busch 
beer  is  so  well  established  that  praise  from 
us  would  seem  superfluous,  and  yet  judges 
of  good  beer  are  never  done  extolling  its 
merits.  The  plant  of  Mr.  Johnson  is 
equipped  througiiout  with  special  machinery 
for  the  bottling  of  liquids.  Mr.  Johnson 
personall}'  is  highly  esteemed  in  business 
circles  for  his  integrity  and  liberal  business 
views  and  well  merits  the  liberal  patronage 
that  is  bestowed  upon  him. 


BoMGAEnNER,  Geokge,  was  born  at  East 
Hanover,  Lebanon  county,  July  9,  1859. 
He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Margaret  (Zarger) 
Bomgardner,  natives  of  Lebanon  county. 
The  former  still  survives  and  resides  at 
Grantville,  Dauphin  county ;  the  latter  passed 
away  in  1894.  George  was  reared  to  man- 
hood and  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  East  Hanover.  After  leaving 
school  he  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  at 
which  he  worked  for  ten  years.  In  1873  he 
removed  to  Harrisburg  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  for  some  years  and  for  four  years 
was  engaged  in  the  retail  shoe  business  and 
was  subsequently  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
beer  and  bottling  business.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1871,  at  East  Hanover,  to  Emma 
Wagner.  She  bore  him  one  son,  who  was  ac- 
cidentally killed  bj^  a  Pennsylvania  railroad 
train  on  the  Market  street  crossing.  In  his 
second  marriage,  which  occurred  at  Leba- 
non, he  was  united  to  Ella  Blester,  daughter 
of  George  Biester,  of  Harrisburg.  They 
have  no  children.  In  politics  Mr.  Bom- 
gardner is  a  Republican. 

Graupner,  Rohert  H.,  proprietor  of  the 
Harrisburg  Brewery,  was  born  at  Crim- 
midscau,  province  of  Saxony,  Germany,  July 
5, 18G2.  He  is  a  son  of  August  and  Johanna 
(Herald)  Graupner,  both  natives  of  the  prov- 
ince of  Saxony,  both  died  in  their  native 
land.  Robert  H.  was  reared  to  manhood 
and  educated  in  Germany,  and  there  also  he 
learned  the  trade  of  brewer.  In  September, 
1883,  he  left  Germany  and  came  to  America. 
He  located  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  nine  years.  He  was  the 
head  man  for  the  Smith  establishment  in 
Philadelphia  for  three  years,  and  with  Mr. 
Heffner's  Lancaster  brewery  for  one  year. 
From  the  latter  place  he  came  to  this  city, 
in  1893,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  brew- 
ing business  here  since  that  date.  The  stars 
and  stripes  float  to-day  over  an  industry  that 
has  just  been  added  to  the  great  commercial 
interests  of  the  city,  which  has  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  its  products  the  most  imposing 
edifice  in  this  section  of  the  State.  This  fine 
building,  which  is  the  plant  of  the  Harris- 
burg Consumer's  Brewing  and  Bottling  Com- 
pany, and  located  at  Tenth  and  Market 
streets,  has  been  made  a  necessity.  It  is  the 
result  of  the  indomitable  push  and  fine  ex- 
ecutive ability  of  Mr.  Graupner,  the  presi- 
dent and  general  superintendent  of  the 
company.     The  entire  plant  was  constructed 


610 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


under  his  personal  supervision.  He  is  in 
every  way  a  remarkable  man,  as  an  author- 
ity in  matters  relating  to  brewing  he  stands 
at  the  top  and  is  highly  regarded  in  the 
community  for  his  ability,  enterprise  and 
sterling  integrity'.  ,It  is  safe  to  predict  the 
greatest  success  for  the  company  witli  such 
an  industrious  and  reliable  man  at  the  head. 
Mr.  Graupner  was  married  in  Philadelphia, 
June,  1884,  to  Mary  Leishner,  a  native  of 
Saxony.  They  have  five  children:  Max, 
Albert,  William,  Emma,  and  Frederick.  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  The 
family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


ScHooLEY,  William  G.,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Schooley  &  Moore,  proprietors  of 
the  Keystone  Bottling  Works,  and  manufac- 
turers of  aerated  waters,  was  born  in  Pitts- 
ton,  Luzerne  county.  Pa.,  October  17,  1864. 
He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  P.  and  Charlotte 
(Laird)  Schooley,  who  were  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town.  After  leaving 
school  he  worked  in  the  brickyard  of  his 
father  and  at  agricultural  pursuits  with  his 
uncle  until  1870,  when  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  and  bottling  of  aerated  w'ater. 
In  1885  he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  has 
continued  the  business  here  until  this  time. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  October 
24,  1894,  to  Mattie  R.  Withrow,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Withrow,  old  and 
honored  residents  of  Harrisburg.  In|political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  John  Harris  Council,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.,  and 
of  Cincinnatus  Commandery,  K.  of  M.  Mr. 
Schooley  is  a  live,  progressive  business  man, 
fully  abreast  with  the  times.  By  his  ener- 
getic business  methods  and  fair  treatment 
of  patrons  he  has  built  up  a  large  and  rap- 
idly increasing  trade. 

KoEMG,  Frederick  L.,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, January  23,  1867.  He  is  a  son  of 
Jonathan  and  Frederica  Katrina  (Goetz) 
Koenig,  both  deceased.  They  were  both 
born  at  Oberamt  Mahlbrun,  Koenigreich 
Wurtemberg,  Germany.  They  came  to  this 
country  and  settled  at  Harrisburg,  where 
they  resided  for  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Jonathan  Koenig  was  a  carpenter.  He  was 
for  twelve  3^ears  agent  for  the  Bergner  & 
Engel  Brewing  Co.  October  26,  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  company  K,  Ninth  Pennsylvania 
cavalry.  After  serving  one  year  in  this 
regiment  he  was  discharged  at  Louisville, 


Ky.,  September  13,  1862.  Mr.  Koenig  after- 
wards re-enlisted  in  company  G,  Two  Hun- 
dred and  First  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and 
served  until  June  20,  1865,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged atHarrisburg,  Pa.  He  died  in  Har- 
risburg, July  25,  1882  ;  his  wife  died  in  Har- 
risburg, July  7,  1891.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  in  childJiood.  Their 
living  children  are  Sarah  Louisa,  widow  of 
the  late  John  C.  Wieseman,  and  Freder- 
ick L. 

Frederick  L.  Koenig  has  spent  his  life  in 
his  native  city.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and  upon  its  comple- 
tion was  engaged  for  four  years  as  clerk. 
For  the  past  nine  years  he  has  been  em- 
ployed in  the  wholesale  trade  as  general 
agent  for  Bergner  &  Engel's  celebrated  lager 
beer. 

Pie  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  April  28, 
1892,  to  Ida  Selnia,  daughter  of  Ernest  and 
Wilhelmina  Katrina  (Schmeidel)  llempel. 
They  have  one  child,  Esther  Frederica.  Mr. 
Koenig  is  an  active  member  of  Capital  City 
Castle,  No.  40,  K.  G.  E.;  Cincinnatus  Com- 
mander}^  No.  96,  K.  of  M.;  Ilarri.sburg 
Commandery,  No.  4,  K.  G.  E.;  Hojie  Fire 
Company,  No.  2  ;  Firemen's  Beneficial  So- 
ciety, and  St.  Michael's  Church  Benevolent 
Society.  He  is  a  Democrat.  He  attends  St. 
Michael's  German  Lutiieran  church. 


Meyer,  Robert  L.,  bottler,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  April  2,  1872;  son  of  Charles  L. 
and  Sybillia  (Swunger)  Meyer,  the  former  a 
native  of  Wesplialia,  Prussia,  the  latter  of 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.  The  father  came  to 
Harrisburg  in  his  youth  and  was  a  contin- 
uous resident  and  in  business  in  this  city 
until  his  death,  June  4,  1893.  His  family 
consisted  of  eight  children :  Catherine,  wife 
of  John  Gorman  ;  Ella,  wife  of  William  Mc- 
Lean :  Grace,  Robert,  May,  Emma,  Bertha 
and  Lucretia.  Robert  L.  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  city  schools,  after  which  he 
learned  the  trade  of  machinist  and  followed 
that  occupation  six  j'ears.  Upon  the  death 
of  his  father  in  1893  he  succeeded  to  his 
business  which  he  has  conducted  since  that 
time.  In  political  views  Mr.  Meyer  is  a 
Liberal. 


CoRNMAN,  Wilson  S.,  manager  of  the  Com- 
monwealth Hotel,  was  born  at  the  hotel  of 
his  grandfather,  George  Sponsler,  one  mile 
east  of  Carlisle,  on  the  Carlisle  and  Harris- 
burg pike,  September  18,  1837;  son  of  Joua- 


"J^Z-T^Kt^J^^^ 


'^l^^Oy\-XJ^ 


cyi-^t-^^c 


$IMON  CAMERON 


REV.   JOHN  WINEBRENNER. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


613 


than  and  Jane  (Sponsler)  Cornman.  When 
two  years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Centre  county,  Pa.,  where  he  received 
his  education  in  the  public  scliools.  They 
located  on  a  farm  belonging  to  Dr.  Wilson, 
one  mile  north  of  Potter's  Fort,  Centre 
county,  where  he  lived  until  his  mother  died 
in  1S52,  and  then  lived  with  his  father  at 
Spring  Mills,  Centre  county,  a  short  time, 
after  which  he  removed  to  Carlisle,  where  his 
father  died  in  1855.  He  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years  at  the  printing  busi- 
ness in  the  office  of  George  Zinn,  editor  of 
the  Carlisle  American,  and  on  November  1, 
1858,  became  clerk  for  James  Raymond  at 
the  Cumberland  and  Perry  Exchange  Hotel, 
at  Carlisle,  where  he  remained  until  April  2, 
1862,  when  Mr.  Raymond  sold  out  and 
bought  the  White  Hall  Hotel  at  Harrisburg. 
Mr.  Cornman  then  became  clerk  at  the  White 
Hall  and  continued  for  some  time.  He 
made  three  attempts  at  enlistment  in  the 
United  States  army  and  was  as  many  times 
refused  by  the  recruiting  officers,  because  of 
being  under  the  required  size  in  lieight.  He 
then  went  to  Philadelphia  and  enlisted  in 
the  Keystone  battery  No.  2,  of  that  city,  and 
served  his  term  of  ninety  days. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  militarj^  ser- 
vice he  resumed  his  position  as  clerk  at  the 
White  Hall  Hotel  and  served  in  that  place 
until  Mr.  Raymond  sold  the  hotel  July  2, 
1866.  Mr.  Cornman  then  became  the  night 
clerk  at  the  Lochiel  on  July  9,  1866,  and 
served  in  that  position  until  April,  1881, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  chief  clerk.  He 
performed  the  duties  of  this  place  until  Au- 
gust 1,  1891,  when  he  resigned  to  accejit  the 
management  of  the  Commonwealth  Hotel, 
which  position  he  has  occupied  since  thatdate. 

Mr.  Cornman  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  fraternities,  holding  membership  in 
Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160,  and  Daupliin  En- 
campment, No.  10,  I.  0.  O.  F. ;  Phoenix 
Lodge,  No.  59,  K.  of  P.,  and  Central  Lodge, 
No.  19,  A.  0.  U.  W.  In  his  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Market  Square  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  Cornman  was  married,  No- 
vember 8,  1883,  to  Harriet  Susanna  Ray- 
mond, born  at  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  January  12,  1845,  daughter  of 
James  and  Sarah  Ann  (Ross)  Raymond. 


Heist,  Thomas  H.,  proprietor  of  the  Bolton 
House,  was  born  in  Milford,  Bucks  county. 
Pa.,  April   10,  1840 ;  son  of  Daniel  S.  and 
41 


Mary  (Himmelswright)  Heist.  The  Heist 
family  were  German  and  the  great-grand- 
father's people  settled  in  Montgomery  county 
at  an  early  date.  The  grandfather  Heist  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  father  was 
born  in  Bucks  county.  The  maternal  great- 
grandfather's people  were  English  and  came 
to  America  early,  settling  in  Germantown, 
Pa.,  where  they  resided  during  the  war  of 
1812.  The  parents  of  the  mother  removed 
to  Bucks  county,  where  she  was  born.  The 
father  in  early  life  had  a  grist  and  saw  mill, 
but  later  engaged  in  the  hotel  business.  The 
parents  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living:  Sarah,  wife  of  David  Huber,  Evans- 
burg  ;  Allen  H.,  residing  in  Doylestown,  hotel 
keeper  and  distiller ;  and  Thomas  H.  The 
father  died  in  1864  and  the  mother  died  in 
1886. 

Thomas  H.  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  at  Milford  Square, 
and  subsequently  attended  the  Millersville 
Academy,  of  Lancaster  county,  and  Oneida 
Institute  at  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.  He  then  spent 
one  year  in  Nevada  looking  after  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Quinterd  Silver  Mining  Company, 
which  was  composed  of  capitalists  of  Bucks 
and  Montgomery  counties,  after  which  he 
was  engaged  at  South  Fork,  Pa.,  in  coal  and 
general  merchandising  business.  In  1876 
he  went  to  Johnstown,  where  he  conducted 
the  Merchant's  Hotel  for  one  year.  In  the 
spring  of  1877  he  rented  the  Mountain 
House  at  Ebensburg,  Pa.,  which  he  conducted 
for  six  years,  and  in  1882  built  a  hotel  at 
Ebensburg,  which  he  managed  in  connection 
with  the  Summer  Hotel,  and  the  next  year 
opened  the  Maple  Park  Springs  Hotel  at  the 
same  place,  conducting  the  three  houses  at 
the  same  time.  '  During  tlie  summer  of  1875 
he  also  had  charge  of  the  White  House 
at  Atlantic  City.  In  the  fall  of  1883  Mr. 
Heist  came  to  Harrisburg,  since  which  time 
he  has  conducted  the  Bolton  House,  with 
the  exception  of  two  years.  He  was  married, 
at  South  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  by  Rev.  N.  C.  Sny- 
der, December,  1872,  to  Mis.s  Sallie  D.  Harrar, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Harrar. 
of  Montgomery  county.  Their  children  are : 
Elizabeth  H.,  a  most  accomplished  and  ami- 
able young  lady,  who  died  February  12, 1894, 
whileattendingtheBradford  Academy;  Stuart 
H.,  Mary  H.,  Ophelia  H.,  Lee  H.,  Lola  H.,  and 
Norma  H.  Mr.  Heist  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  45,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Chapter  No.  270,  R. 
A.  M.,  at  Doylestown,  Pa.  Mr.  Heist  is  a 
director  of  the  Harrisburg  Steam  Heat  and 


C14 


BIOGRAPHICAL   ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Power  Company  ;  of  the  RoaringSpring  Min- 
ing Company,  of  Missoui'i ;  of  tlie  South  Fork 
Coal  and  Iron  Company,  and  of  the  Blaisdele 
Paper  and  Pencil  Company,  of  Philadelphia. 
He  is  also  a  charter  member  and  a  director 
of  theHarrisburg  Electric  Company,  and  was 
a  charter  member  and  director  of  the  People's 
Bridge  Com})any.  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
Heist  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  family 
attend  the  Zion  Lutheran  church. 


Hershey,  Henry  E.,  proprietor  of  the 
Hershey  House,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Penn  township,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
November  14, 184G.  Pie  is  a  son  of  Christian 
and  Anna  (Eresman)  Hershey.  Christian 
Henshey  was  born  at  Sporting  Hill,  Lancas- 
ter township,  and  resided  in  that  county  un- 
til 1861,  when  he  removed  to  Dauphin 
county.  Here  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  the  latter  part  in  West  Hanover 
township,  where  he  died.  The  mother  was 
also  born  in  Lancaster  county,  and  is  still 
living  and  in  good  health  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three;  she  resides  at  Sporting  Hill. 
Five  of  their  six  children  are  living:  Maria  : 
Melinda,  widow  of  Augustus  Alwine,  of 
Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Elizabeth;  Frank,  of 
Chicago,  111.;  and  Henry  E. 

Henry  E.  Hershey  spent  his  early  life 
near  Manheim,  Lancaster  county,  where  he 
received  his  first  instruction  in  the  public 
schools.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Dauphin  county,  locat- 
ing in  Derry  township,  six  miles  from  Ilum- 
melstown.  Here  he  finished  his  education, 
attending  school  in  winter  and  doing  home 
and  farm  work  in  the  spring  and  summer. 
He  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1873,  when 
he  decided  to  change  his  occupation,  and 
began  his  career  as  landlord  and  hotel  man- 
ager with  the  Park  Hotel,  at  the  fair  grounds, 
which  he  conducted  successfully  for  two 
years.  He  next  took  charge  of  the  Stock- 
yard Hotel  on  the  bank  of  the  canal  above 
the  city  limits,  and  managed  it  until  1881. 
His  experience  with  tiiese  ventures  was  suf- 
ficient to  develop  his  qualifications  for  the 
business,  and  to  decide  him  to  make  it  his 
life  occupation.  In  1881  he  took  the  Her- 
she}'  House,  of  which  he  has  been  proprietor 
and  manager  since  that  date.  Ilis  house 
is  widely  and  favorably  known  to  the  travel- 
ing public,  and  Mr.  Hershey,  after  his  career 
of  twenty-three  j^ears,  stands  well  in  the  hon- 
orable and  popular  class  of  hotel  men. 

Henry  E.  Hershey  was  married,  in  Derry 


township  to  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Ciiristian  and  Anna  Wi-ssler,  of  Lancaster 
county,  botli  deceased.  They  have  had 
nine  children:  Anna,  Christian  W.,  Daniel 
W.,  Elizabeth,  George  S.,  Melinda,  Frank, 
Mabel,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Helen. 
Mr.  Hershey  has  served  efficiently  for  two 
terms  in  select  council,  and  during  his  last 
term  was  chairman  of  that  bodj'.  He  is  not 
an  active  member  of  any  secret  organization. 
In  political  views  he  is  Democratic.  The 
famih^  attend  Zion  English  Lutheran  church. 


L.A.NDIS,  Robert  F.,  proprietor  of  the  Cen- 
tral PIotel,wasbornin  Middletown,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  December  14,  1846  ;  son  of  Ma- 
jor Jacob  and  Marj^  (Felty)  Landis.  The 
parents  were  both  born  in  Dauphin  county 
in  1818,  and  have  been  continuous  residents 
of  the  county.  The  father  first  had  a  flour 
mill,  subsequently  engaged  in  farming  and 
was  for  some  years  a  school  teacher.  He 
represented  his  county  in  the  State  Legisla- 
ture several  terms  and  for  a  number  of  years 
was  a  major  in  the  State  militia.  Tiie 
parents  are  both  living  and  reside  at  Mid- 
dletown and  are  in  the  enjoyment  of  good 
health  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  They  had  four  children  :  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Samuel  A.  Stevens,  protlionotarv  of 
Huntingdon  county.  Pa.;  Robert  F.;  William 
Y.  .J.,  residing  in  Toledo,  Ohio;  Mary  A., 
wife  of  Mr.  Fezell,  residing  at  Grand  Island, 
Neb.  Samuel  F.  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  town.  In  1863  he  came  to 
Harrisburg  and  served  an  apprenticesiiip  at 
the  macliinist  trade  with  W.  O.  Hickok  & 
Son,  after  which  he  was  employed  bj'  them 
a  year  and  a  half.  He  then  engaged  with 
Raymond  &  Campbell,  of  Middletown,  as  a 
general  machinist  and  foundryman,  and  re- 
mained in  their  employ  for  twenty  3'ears. 
He  was  subsequently  in  the  service  of  the 
American  Tube  and  Iron  Company  for  eight 
3'ears,  and  on  January  3,  1895,  embarked 
in  his  present  business.  Mr.  Landis  was 
married  in  Middletown  to  Mi.ss  Ida  Bren- 
naman,  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  N.  and  Mary 
(Elliott)  Brennaman,  of  Middletown,  and  to 
tliem  there  have  been  born  three  cliildren  : 
Mary  0.,  deceased,  Robert  B.  and  Abraham 
B.  Mr.  Landis  is  liberal  in  his  political 
views,  supporting  men  rather  than  party. 
Part  of  the  family  attend  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Mrs.  Landis  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


(115 


Shaffner,  Henry  C,  proprietor  of  the 
Windsor  House,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
count}^  Pa.,  February  13,  1847.  He  is  the 
son  of  the  late  Gabriel  and  Margaret  (Fet- 
ter) Shaffner.  His  grandparents  were  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  by  occupation 
were  farmers.  They  had  six  children,  of 
whom  the  only  surviving  one  is  Catherine, 
wife  of  Jonas  White,  of  Manheim,  Pa.  Ga- 
briel Shaffner,  father  of  Henry  C,  was  born 
at  Manheim,  Lancaster  county.  He  learned 
cabinet  making,  and  pursued  that  calling  for 
many  years.  He  was  also  a  school  teacher; 
was  justice  of  the  peace  for  eight  years  ; 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  Manheim,  and 
died  aged  seventy-four.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jacob  A.  and 
Margaret  Fetter.  They  had  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living  :  Henry  C,  John 
M.  and  Mary.  Annie  M.  died,  aged  thirty- 
nine  years. 

Henry  C.  Shaffner  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Lancaster  county  a  part  of  each 
year  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  when 
he  went  to  Mount  Joy,  Pa.,  and  entei'ed  upon 
a  four  3'ears'  apprenticeship  at  cabinet  mak- 
ing. After  learning  his  trade  he  came  to 
Harrisburg,  and  for  twelve  j'ears  was  in  the 
employ  of  W.  O.  Hickok,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  in  this  volume.  Mr.  Shaffner  and 
his  father  formed  a  partnership,  and  opened 
a  grocery  store  at  the  corner  of  Capitol  and 
Cumberland  streets,  Harrisburg,  where  they 
carried  on  business  for  thirteen  3'ears,  after 
which  they  bought  the  residence  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Herr  and  Capitol  streets.  There  they 
continued  the  grocery  business  for  two 
years  longer  and  then  dissolved  partnership. 
Mr.  H.  C.  Shaffner  then  removed  to  Boas 
and  Cowden  streets  and  conducted  business 
for  himself  two  years ;  he  then  sold  out  and 
removed  to  his  former  place  of  business, 
Herr  and  Capitol  streets,  where  he  estab- 
lished a  bleachery,  which  he  managed  for 
nine  years. 

In  January,  189G,  he  removed  to  No.  418 
Market  street  and  opened  the  Windsor 
House  as  a  temperance  hotel.  This  house 
has  a  wide  reputation  as  a  place  of  comfort- 
able and  quiet  entertainment.  The  gentle- 
manly and  hospitable  manner  of  Mr.  Shaff- 
ner makes  him  an  agreeable  host  and  his 
excellent  house  has  a  large  patronage. 

Mr.  Shaffner  was  married  to  Miss  Sadie  J., 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Lucinda  Wenrick. 
They  have  two  sons,  Charles  E.  and  Edward. 
He  has  been  an  active  member  of  Harris- 


burg Council,  No.  106,  0.  U.  A.  M.,  for 
ten  years.  He  also  belongs  to  Silver  Star 
Council,  No.  130.  Mr.  Shaffner  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church. 

Mrs.  Shaffner  was  born  January  15,  1854. 
Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Dauphin 
county.  Her  father' was  a  carpenter.  He 
married  Miss  Lucinda,  daughter  of  Amos 
and  Lucinda  Mader.  Of  their  eleven  chil- 
dren, nine  are  living:  Kate,  wife  of  Wesley 
Eichelberger  ;  Daniel ;  Lucinda,  wife  of  A. 
H.  Rhoads  ;  Samuel  A.;  Sadie,  Mrs.  Shaffner  ; 
Susan,  wife  of  T.  J.  Bell ;  Joseph  ;  Anne,  wife 
of  Reuben  Henry ;  Ida,  wife  of  Henry 
Fisher.  Their  other  children  are:  Amos, 
drowned  in  Maryland  during  the  war;  John, 
shot  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Mr.  Wen- 
rick died  April  1,  187G,  aged  sixtj'-four  ;  his 
wife  died  May  3,  1891,  aged  seventy-two 
years.  The  family  were  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Shaff- 
ner were  both  natives  of  Dauphin  count)'. 
Her  grandfather,  Joseph  Wenrick,  was  a 
farmer  and  had  a  ftimily  of  five  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living,  Joseph  and  Cathe- 
rine Sherplin,  wife  of  Eli  Sherplin,  who  died 
a  prisoner  of  war  in  Libby  prison.  Those 
deceased  are:  Mary,  wife  of  the  late 
Peter  Bickel ;  Daniel  and  Eunice.  Mrs. 
Shaffner's  grandfather  died  in  West  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county,  aged  eighty- 
four,  and  her  grandmother  died  at  the 
same  place  at  the  age  of  sevent3'-three  years. 


Bach,  Harry  A.,  was  born  in  Ephrata, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  April  "25,  1853.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  Tillman  and  Sarah 
(Horting)  Bach.  His  grandfather,  George 
Horting,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county. 
His  early  business  for  some  years  was  that 
of  stock  dealing.  Later  he  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  and  was  for  years  proprietor 
of  the  Franklin  House,  Lancaster.  After 
many  years  devoted  to  this  business  he  re- 
tired and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  free  from 
its  burdens.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  church,  of  Lancaster.  His 
wife,  M.  Horting  Albright,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  in  1800.  She  was  also  a 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  chui'ch. 
She  died  May  7,  1887,  aged  eighty-seven, 
and  was  buried  at  Ephrata,  Lancaster  county. 
His  son,  Tillman  Bach,  was  born  in  Lehigh 


616 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


county,  Pa.  He  was  a  stone-mason  and 
a  contractor,  which  occupation  he  followed 
until  1862.  In  this  year  he  enlisted  in 
company  B,  First  Pennsylvania  artillery, 
and  was  with  the  ami}'  for  six  months.  He 
was  then  honorably  discharged  on  account 
of  disability,  caused  by  rupture.  This  in- 
jury, received  while  he  was  in  the  army, 
finally  resulted  in  his  death.  After  thirty 
years  of  weakness  and  suffering  a  surgical 
operation  was  resorted  to  in  the  hope  of  pro- 
longing his  life,  but  he  was  unable  to  sus- 
tain the  shock  and  died  in  March,  1895,  at 
the  age  of  sevent^'-six.  His  politics  were 
Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed church,  in  Lancaster.  His  wife, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  George  and  Magdalena 
Horting,  born  in  Lancaster  county,  March 
27,  1824,  still  lives  in  Lancaster,  in  the  en- 
joyment of  comfortable  health,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  Four  of  their  fourteen 
children  are  living:  Caroline,  wife  of  John 
Wolf;  Harry  A.,  Tillman  H.,  and  Martha, 
wife  of  Adam  Wise.  The  children  ileceased 
were  Fannie,  wife  of  Joim  Stanter ;  George 
W.  and  John ;  the  rest  died  in  infancy. 

Harry  A.Bach  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Lancaster  until  he  was  fifteen  years  old. 
He  then  spent  six  months  in  an  excellent 
private  school  in  the  same  city.  When 
nearly  sixteen  he  entered  the  employment 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as 
brakernan  on  the  Philadelphia  division.  By 
a  faithful  and  efficient  discharge  of  his 
duties  he  won  the  confidence  of  his  em- 
ployers and  was  subsequently  made  a  con- 
ductor, and  was  in  their  employ  for  twelve 
consecutive  years.  He  removed  from  Lan- 
caster to  Philadelphia,  from  thence  to  Mid- 
dletown  and  from  thence  to  Harrisburg,  and 
in  December,  1880,  took  charge  of  the  hotel 
on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Capitol  streets, 
Harrisburg.  Since  that  date  he  has  carried 
on  that  business  with  enviable  success  and 
attained  a  leading  place  among  hotel  men. 

Mr.  Bach  was  married  November  22, 1874, 
to  Miss  Minnie  C,  daughter  of  George  and 
Frederica  (Koch)  Werner.  George  Werner 
was  born  in  Germany,  in  October,  1826,  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  land, 
and  there  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran  church. 
He  was  a  locksmith  and  followed  this  busi- 
ness throughout  his  life.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica after  he  had  reached  manhood,  but  be- 
fore his  marriage,  and  settled  in  Baltimore, 
Md.  He  died  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  December 
11,  1887,  aged  sixt3--one.     He  was  an  Inde- 


pendent Democrat.  He  was  married  in  Bal- 
timore to  Miss  Frederica  Koch,  born  in 
Germany,  August  21,  1833.  She  came  to 
America  when  a  young  woman  and  settled 
in  Baltimore.  She  still  lives  in  the  city  of 
Lancaster  in  firm  health  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
two  3'ears.  They  iiad  seven  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living:  Minnie  C,  wifeof  Harry  A. 
Bach ;  Clara,  wifeof  Charles  Wolf,  and  Nellie, 
F.,  wife  of  Charles  Cretchman.  The  children 
deceased  are  Annie,  wife  of  Charles  Dunker; 
and  Edward,  an  infant.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harr)^ 
A.  Bach  have  four  children  :  Newton  V.,  Ger- 
trude M.,  wife  of  William  Holtzman,  George 
W.  and  Mabel.  Mr.  Bach  is  a  good  solid 
Republican  in  his  political  views. 

Aldincjer,  Willi.\m  C,  proprietor  of  the 
Park  Hotel,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  December  25,  1857.  He 
was  a  son  of  John  and  Regina  (Stoll)  Al- 
dinger,  natives  of  Germany,  who  came  to 
this  country  in  early  youth.  Mr.  John  Al- 
dinger  has  been  all  his  life  engaged  in  the 
business  of  blacksmitliing,  except  for  a  few- 
years  during  which  ill  health  compelled  him 
to  relinquish  active  employment.  He  is  still 
in  business  in  Linglestown,  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  has  resided  for  forty-five  years. 
Two  of  his  brothers,  Philij)  and  Andrew  Al- 
dinger,  reside  in  Harri.sburg:  the  latter  has 
retired  from  business.  His  wife,  who  was 
Miss  Regina  Stoll,  has  a  brother  who  is  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Ligonier,  Ind.  He  has 
been  nominated  for  a  State  senatorship,  and 
is  editor  and  proprietor  of  a  newspaper  in 
Ligonier.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Aldinger  are:  John,  William  C,  Carrie, 
wife  of  David  Hummel,  Frederick,  and  Kate, 
wife  of  John  Reimert. 

William  C.  Aldinger  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Linglestown  and  Harrisburg  until 
he  was  fourteen.  At  the  age  of  seventeen, 
he  was  employed  by  Mr.  Breitinger  and 
clerked  in  that  gentleman's  restaurant  for 
seven  years.  In  1883  he  embarked  in  the 
hotel  business  on  his  own  account  on  Straw- 
berrv  avenue,  where  he  remained  until  1888; 
he  then  removed  to  No.  309  Market  street 
and  continued  there  for  over  three  years. 
He  then  conducted  the  business  again  for 
four  years  on  Strawberry  avenue ;  from  that 
place  he  removed  to  his  present  location,  the 
Park  Hotel,  No.  307  Walnut  street,  of  which 
he  took  possession  in  1895.  Mr.  Aldinger's 
experience  of  more  than  a  score  of  years  is 
assurance  that  he  is  thoroughly  acquainted 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


(ilT 


with  the  needs  of  his  guests,  and  knows  how 
to  meet  their  wants  and  provide  for  their 
comfort.  He  adheres  to  the  Democratic 
part}'.  Mr.  Aldinger  was  married,  January 
18,  1881,  to  Miss  Christiana,  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Christiana  Ilalin.  They  liave 
one  daughter,  Evelyn,  horn  April  12,  1890. 
Mrs.  Aklinger's  parents,  Frederick  and 
Ciiristiana  Hahn,  were  horn  in  Germany, 
and  came  to  this  country  befoi'e  their  mar- 
riage. Mr.  Hahn  was  for  a  few  years  en- 
gaged in  the  Bailey  Iron  Works,  and  for 
many  years  was  foreman  of  the  Halyx  Ice 
Company.  Their  cliildren  are:  Carrie; 
Christiana,  Mrs.  Aldinger;  Mary,  Maggie, 
and  Lizzie,  Mrs.  Harry  Smith.  Mr.  Hahn 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  Mrs.  Hahn 
resides  on  Allison's  Hill,  Harrisburg. 


HrxTER,  Forrest,  proprietor  of  the  Lo- 
chiel  Hotel,  Harrisburg,  was  born  at  Plarris- 
burg,  May  28, 1869.  His  grandfather  Hunter 
was  a  civil  engineer  in  the  British  army. 
He  came  to  Canada  in  1829,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  at  Lakefield,  in  the 
province  of  Ontario,  Canada.  George  Will- 
iam Hunter,  his  son  and  the  father  of  Forrest 
Hunter,  was  born  at  Ballyglass,  count}'  of 
Mayo,  Ireland,  March  29, 1828.  His  parents 
were  English.  He  came  to  Canada  with 
them  when  he  was  one  year  old.  They  lo- 
cated at  Lakefield,  province  of  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, and  here  he  resided  until  he  was  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  when  he  removed  to  the 
United  States,  locating  in  different  parts  of 
the  country  until  1861,  when  he  came  to 
Harrisburg.  This  same  year  he  became  a 
clerk  in  the  Bolton  House.  Subsequently 
he  became  manager  of  the  Lochiel  Hotel, 
and  in  1868  assumed  the  proprietorship  of 
this  popular  house  which  was  conducted 
under  his  able  management  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  He  died  March  3,1891.  He 
will  long  be  remembered  for  his  succes.sful 
business  management  and  his  courtesy  and 
kindness.  His  wife  was  Mary  Bowman. 
She  was  a  native  of  Lebanon,  Pa.  She  is 
still  living  and  resides  in  Harrisburg.  They 
had  two  children,  Forrest  and  Alary,  wife 
of  W.  K.  Meyers,  a  leading  attorne^'-at-law,  of 
Harrisburg. 

Forrest  Hunter  was  educated  in  private 
schools  and  at  Seller's  Academy  of  Harris- 
burg. Since  the  completion  of  his  education, 
he  has  been  continuously  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business.  Previous  to  his  father's 
death  he  was  clerk  and   assistant  manager. 


After  the  death  of  his  father,  in  March, 
1891,  he  assumed  entire  control  of  the  busi- 
ness. 

In  the  successful  management  of  a  popu- 
lar hotel,  the  very  highest  bu.siness  qualifi- 
cations are  demanded.  At  the  same  time 
the  best  personal  and  social  qualities  are 
brought  into  play.  Of  all  these  characteris- 
tics of  the  successful  and  popular  landlord, 
Mr.  Hunter  is  abundantly  posse.ssed.  By 
inheritance,  by  training  and  by  natural 
taste  he  is  richly  endowed  for  his  enterprise. 
The  result  is  that  the  Lochiel  House  has  a 
wide  and  favorable  reputation  for  enjoyable 
entertainment. 


Aldinger,  Frederick  B.,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
was  born  at  Linglestown,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  June  10,  1874,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Regina  (Stoll)  Aldinger.  Mr.  Aldinger  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Lingles- 
town. At  the  early  age  of  thirteen  he  be- 
came clerk  in  the  general  store  of  C.  B.  Care 
&  Son.  Three  years  later  he  went  to  Har- 
risburg, to  act  as  clerk  in  the  hotel  of  his 
brother,  W.  C.  Aldinger.  When  he  was  sev- 
enteen years  of  age,  he  began  a  two  years' 
apprenticeship  at  printing  with  the  Harris- 
burg Publishing  Company,  afterwards  prac- 
ticing and  improving  himself  in  the  art  in 
the  State  printing  office,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  C.  M.  Busch.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  Mr.  Aldinger  went  into  the  hotel  busi- 
ness at  No.  231  Strawberry  avenue,  in  which 
location  he  still  continues  the  business. 


Russ,  Narcissus,  proprietor  of  the  Colum- 
bus Hotel,  is  a  native  of  the  soutiiern  part 
of  Italy,  having  been  born  near  Lucca.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  America  when  a 
lad  of  about  .seven  years.  The  family  firsfc 
located  at  Potts ville.  Pa.,  subsequently  re- 
moving to  Philadelphia  and  finally  to  Har- 
risburg. Mr.  Russ  first  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business  in  Harrisburg,  and  also,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  father,  conducted  a  fruit  and 
fish  stand  for  some  time.  As  agent,  he  intro- 
duced the  Louis  BergdoU  beer  in  the  Capital 
city  of  Pennsylvania.  Several  years  ago  he 
purchased  from  John  Gross  the  "  Gross 
House,"  which  he  changed  on  "  Columbus 
Day  "  to  the  Hotel  Columbus,  and  has  since 
given  his  attention  to  that  popular  hotel,  in 
which  he  has  had  eminent  success. 

Mr.  Russ  has  been  twice  married.  By  his 
first  wife,  who  is  dead,  he  has  two  children  : 
Adolph  and  Ella.    By  his  second  wife,  whose 


618 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


maiden  name  is  Lizzie  Shanoffen,  he  has  one 
living  son,  Maurice.  Mr.  Russ  has  five 
brothers  living  in  Harrisburg:  William,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  fruit  and  fish  business  on 
Market  Square;  Patrick,  proprietor  of  the 
Hotel  Russ;  James,  of  the  Commonwealth 
Hotel ;  John,  agent  for  Rupperts'  N.  Y.  beer, 
and  Lewis,  formerly  of  the  Grand  Hotel. 

Lauer,  Jacob  F.,  was  born  in  Chester 
count}',  Pa.,  June  28,  1819.  He  is  a  son  of 
the  late  George  P.  and  Mary  (Fisler)  Lauer. 
George  P.  Lauer  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Fisler.  They  had 
five  children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Jacob 
F.,  and  George,  residing  at  Coatesville,  Pa. 
Their  deceased  children  were:  Hannah,  wife 
of  Joseph  Valentine ;  Anna,  wife  of  Dr.  Mc- 
Holland ;  Parker,  died,  aged  fifteen.  Mr. 
Lauer  was  a  Republican. 

Jacob  F.  Lauer  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
went  to  Lancaster  to  learn  the  trade  of  ma- 
chinist, but  followed  that  occupation  for  only 
about  six  months.  He  then  worked  at 
boiler  iron  making  in  a  rolling-mill  at 
Coatesville  for  one  year.  After  this  lie  was 
employed  by  Joseph  Bailey  at  the  works 
below  Reading,  known  as  Pine  Iron  Works, 
in  which  he  was  foreman  for  ten  years.  Li 
1880  he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  was 
foreman  for  the  Bailey  Brotiiers  for  nearly 
eight  years.  In  1887  he  went  to  Michigan, 
near  Battle  Creek,  and  for  two  years  engaged 
in  farming.  Returning  to  Harrisburg,  he 
was  out  of  business  for  tliree  months  and 
then  removed  to  Jersey  City,  X.  J.,  where  he 
was  for  about  three  years  foreman  in  tlie 
Boiler  and  Plate  Works.  Again  returning 
to  Harrisburg,  and  to  the  employment  of 
Bailey  Brothers,  lie  was  their  foreman  for 
about  four  years.  In  the  spring  of  1894  he 
went  into  the  livery  business  on  Blackberry 
avenue  and  Fourth  street,  in  Harrisburg,  and 
has  been  continuously  in  that  business  up 
to  the  present  time.  He  had  also  a  livery 
stable  on  tiie  corner  of  Third  and  Cumber- 
land streets  for  a  number  of  years.  His  es- 
tablishment is  at  present  on  the  corner  of 
Green  and  Cumberland  streets,  Harrisburg. 
In  his  political  opinions  he  is  a  good,  solid 
Republican.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  presi- 
dent for  General  Harrison,  fifty-six  years 
ago.  He  was  married,  in  Philadelphia,  to 
Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  George  and 
Mar}'  Ailer.     They  have  had  thirteen  chil- 


dren, four  of  whom  are  living:  Anna,  wife 
of  John  Griffith;  Hannah,  William  M.,  and 
Emma,  wife  of  Edward  F.  Baum.  Their 
deceased  children  were:  George, died  in  Jer- 
sey City;  Parker,  killed  on  the  railroad; 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  and  some  others  who  died 
in  infancy. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Jacob  F.  Lauer  were 
both  natives  of  Lancaster.  Her  father, 
George  Ailer,  was  for  many  years  a  shoe- 
maker. He  and  his  wife  both  died  in  Lan- 
caster. They  had  six  children,  only  one  of 
whom,  Henry,  survives.  Catherine,  who  be- 
came Mrs.  Lauer,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  in 
1821,  and  died  May  31,  1895.  She  was  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Ridge  Avenue 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

William  M.,  only  son  of  Mr.  J.  F.  Lauer, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Februar}  23,  1856. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
in  Seiler's  Academy.  After  leaving  school 
he  engaged  with  his  father  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  has  ever  since  continued. 
He  is  known  and  esteemed  everywhere  as  a 
man  of  integrity.  He  was  married,  in  Har- 
risburg, in  October,  1876,  to  Miss  Anna  L., 
daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  Kitzle- 
man.  They  have  had  six  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living:  Nellie  G.  and  Bessie  E. 
Their  deceased  children  were:  George  P., 
Edith,  Florence,  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancv. 


Wai.lis,  Robert,  liveryman,  was  born  in 
Perry  county,  Pa.,  October  5,  1834.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Sarah  (.lones)  Wallis. 

Robert  Wallis,  grandfather  of  the  present 
Robert  Wallis,  was  born  in  Scotland.  He 
was  a  shoemaker,  and  pursued  that  vocation 
throughout  his  life.  He  died  in  Juniata 
county.  Pa.,  aged  ninety-six.  He  married 
Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Hugh  McDonald. 
They  had  six  children:  James,  William, 
John,  Samuel,  Erwin  D.,  and  Sarah,  wife  of 
Andrew  McKnight.  His  wife  died  in  Juni- 
ata county,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four.  Both 
paternal  grandparents  were  of  Scotch  descent. 

Mr.  Wallis'  maternal  grandparents,  Na- 
than and  Rebecca  (Gilfillan)  Jones,  were  of 
Welsh  extraction,  and  came  to  this  country 
at  an  early  day.  The  grandfather  was  a 
millwright.  They  had  five  children  :  Edwin  ; 
Sarah;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Samuel  Jordan;  Gib- 
.son  and  Nathan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  spent 
their  lives  by  the  Juniata  river,  and  died 
where  they  had  lived.  They  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


619 


William  Wallis,  father  of  Robert  Wallis, 
was  born  in  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  in  1801. 
He  learned  coopering,  and  worked  at  that 
trade  for  about  twelve  years.  His  wife,  Sarah 
Jones,  was  also  a  native  of  Juniata  county. 
They  had  thirte'en  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living:  twins,  William  and  Sarah,  wife 
of  Jacob  Holman;  Robert  and  John.  Their 
deceased  children  are:  Margaret,  died  in 
1846,  wife  of  J.  C.  Werich ;  Jackson,  died  in 
August,  1850,  aged  twenty-six  ;  Foster,  died 
in  September,  1851,  aged  twenty-six  ;  Eliza- 
beth, died  in  November,  1895,  aged  sixty- 
six  ;  Rebecca,  died  in  1839,  aged  eight  years ; 
and  four  children  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
William  Wallis  removed  to  Liverpool,  Pa., 
in  1828,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business; 
he  was  also  a  shipper  of  grain  and  produce 
to  Baltimore  and  Piiiladelphia,  by  his  own 
boats.  He  died  January  11,  1855,  aged 
fifty-five,  and  was  buried  at  Liverpool.  He 
was  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  She  died 
in  1881,  at  the  age  of  eiglity. 

Robert  Wallis  attended  the  schools  of  his 
native  county,  and  received  a  part  of  his  ed- 
ucation at  Liverpool.  He  worked  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  eighteen,  after  which  he 
was  engaged  with  his  father,  who  kept  a 
hotel  and  a  general  store.  His  father  died 
when  Robert  was  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
and  his  mother  continued  the  business  until 
1865,  putting  it  into  Robert's  charge.  In 
1865  he  bought  the  homestead,  hotel  and 
store,  and  carrieil  on  business  for  himself. 
He  continued  in  this  business  at  Liverpool 
until  1876,  when  he  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  leased  the  Allen  House,  No.  1220 
Market  street,  which  he  managed  for  two 
years.  He  then  returned  to  his  old  property 
at  Liverpool,  and  kept  the  hotel  there  until 
1889,  when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Har- 
risburg.  fie  bought  a  lot  on  the  corner  of 
Haehnlen  and  Prune  avenues,  erected  com- 
modious buildings,  and  established  himself 
in  the  livery  business. 

There  are  numerous  livery  stables  in  Har- 
risburg,  but  none  more  worth_y  of  popularity 
and  patronage  than  that  of  Mr.  Wallis.  His 
establishment  is  equipped  with  all  modern 
adjuncts  and  appliances  for  convenience  and 
comfort.  The  demands  of  all  classes  of 
patrons  are  especially  provided  for.  Vehicles 
are  strong,  modern  and  stylish  ;  careful  and 
skillful  drivers  are  employed;  and  horses, 
handsome,  well  trained  and  entirely  safe  and 
reliable,  are  furnished.     He   has  equipages 


for  private  hire,  carriages  for  parties  and 
balls,  buggies  for  pleasure  driving,  and  well- 
trained  and  easy-going  riding  horses;  and 
all  or  any  at  reasonable  rates.  By  his  ex- 
cellent furnishing,  his  reliable  business 
methods  and  his  agreeable  manner  of  treat- 
ing patrons,  Mr.  Wallis  has  won  the  confi- 
dence of  the  public,  and  especially  of  the 
business  men  of  the  city.  He  enjoys  a  large 
patronage. 

He  was  married,  May  24,  1866,  to  Miss 
Margaretta,  daughter  of  Ezra  and  Susanna 
(Alexander"!  McLinn,  born  March  26,  1845. 
They  have  had  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living:  Jean  May,  Frank  J.,  Ralph  M. 
and  Robert  Earl.  Edward  S.  died  January 
9, 1894,  aged  seven  j'ears. 

Mr.  Wallis  has  filled  various  offices.  In 
Perry  county,  he  was  solicited  to  accept  the 
office  of  sheriff,  but  declined,  having  no  desire 
for  public  office  and  honors.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  City  Lodge  No.  301,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
to  which  he  has  belonged  for  thirty-five  years. 
He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons 
of  America.  Mr.  Wallis  is  a  good,  solid 
Democrat.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Ezra  McLinn,  father  of  Mrs.  Wallis,  was 
born  in  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  February  11, 
1811.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  was  married 
in  January,  1836,  to  Miss  Susanna,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Rebecca  Alexander,  born 
in  the  State  of  Delaware,  May  16,  1818 
They  had  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  living  :  Margaretta.  wife  of  Robert  Wal- 
lis; Milton  E.;  George  G.;  Annie  M.,  wife  of 
Uriah  Shoeman  ;  Alton  B.;  William  B.;  and 
Luella  E.,  wife  of  C.  Ed.  Kennedy.  Their 
deceased  children  are:  Theo.  T.,  died  in 
1837,  aged  three  months;  Rebecca  Mary, 
died  in  -July,  1840,  aged  three  years  ;  Louisa 
Ellen,  died  in  July,  1840,  aged  one  year ; 
Samuel  A.,  died  in  April,  1843,  aged  three 
years.  Mr.  McLinn  filled  various  offices  in 
.Juniata  county,  such  as  county  commis- 
sioner, assessor  and  school  director.  His  po- 
litical opinions  are  Democratic.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 
He  died  March  23,  1878,  aged  sixty-seven 
3'ears.  His  wife  is  still  living  and  resides 
with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wallis.  She  is  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age,  and  in  comfortable  health. 

Thomas  McLinn,  the  paternal  grandfatlicr 
of  Mrs.  Wallis,  was  born  in  Juniata  county. 
He  was  a  farmer.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Gilfillan,  also  a  native  of  Juniata  county 


620 


BIO  GRA  PHIOA  L  EN  CYCL  OPEDIA 


daughter  of  James  Gilfillan.  They  had 
eleven  children,  all  deceased :  Annie,  wife 
of  William  Cox;  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas 
McLinn  ;  Sallie,  wife  of  Mr.  Vance;  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Robert  Jones ;  Hannah,  wife 
of  Robert  Patton  ;  Dorcas;  Mamie  Kipp,  and 
two  sisters  who  married  a  Mr.  Quigly ;  the  first, 
Elizabeth,  who  died,  and  then  her  sister  Re- 
becca married  the  same  man.  They  were 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 
The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Wal- 
lis  were  natives  of  Delaware.  Her  grand- 
father, Benjamin  Alexander,  was  a  farmer. 
He  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Brandywine 
and  Choch  Bridge.  He  married  Miss  Re- 
becca, daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
Woodland,  born  at  Elkton,  Md.,  in  1778. 
They  had  four  children:  William,  John, 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Benjamin  Alexander,  and 
Sarah,  wife  of  George  Reynolds.  Benjamin 
Alexander  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years  ;  the  grandmother,  who  died  Septem- 
ber 15,  1853,  to  that  of  seventy-five.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Wallis  has  in  her  possession 
a  mirror  to  which  the  grandmother  fell  heir, 
and  which  was  brought  over  from  Scotland. 
It  is  nearly  two  hundred  years  old. 

Joseph  and  Robert  Wallis,  great-uncles  of 
Robert  Wallis,  were  early  pioneers,  and  em- 
igrated to  this  country  at  an  early  day. 
Landingat  Philadelphia,  they  traveled  north- 
ward together,  seeking  a  place  to  locate.  At 
the  mouth  of  the  Juniata  river  they  disagreed 
as  to  the  direction  of  their  farther  journey, 
and  separated.  Robert  continued  his  jour- 
ney up  the  Juniata  river,  and  found  land  to 
his  liking  at  Mexico,  now  Juniata,  Pa.,  where 
he  settled,  and  engaged  in  farming  and 
shoemaking,  and  where  he  died.  Joseph 
pursued  his  way  up  the  Susquehanna,  and 
took  up  land  at  Northumberland,  where  he 
was  a  farmer,  and  where  he  died. 


Neely,  J.  M.,  was  born  in  Hunterstown, 
Adams  county.  Pa.,  Mareli  14,  1846.  He  is 
a  son  of  the  late  Samuel  and  Catherine 
(Elliott)  Neely.  Mr.  Neely  took  only  a 
partial  course  in  the  public  schools  of  Adams 
county.  He  worked  with  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  eighteen.  In  1863  he  en- 
listed for  three  years  in  the  army,  in  com- 
pany F,  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania  caval  y. 
He  served  his  full  time  and  was  discharg  d 
in  June,  1865;  he  then  returned  home  and 
worked  on  his  father's  farm  for  six  years,  ex- 


cepting one  year  spent  in  farming  on  his  own 
account. 

He  came  to  Harrisburg,  in  1871,  and 
opened  a  green  grocery  in  connection  with 
Mr.  Longsdorf,  under  the  firm  name  of  Longs- 
dorf  &  Neely.  After  a  year  Mr.  Longsdorf 
withdrew  and  Mr.  Neely  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness for  a  few  months  longer.  Finally  it 
was  closed  out,  and  Mr.  Neeiy  was  a  clerk  in 
the  grocery  of  John  Kerper  for  one  year. 
Resigning  this  position,  he  became  a  trans- 
fer driver,  for  Mr.  Black,  between  Harrisburg 
and  Steelton,  for  one  year.  In  May,  1874, 
he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
Harrisburg  Street  Railway  Company,  which 
position,  after  serving  eight  years,  he  resigned 
to  go  into  business  for  himself.  In  1882  he 
establislied  a  local  express  and  livery  busi- 
ness which  lie  still  conducts.  His  residence 
is  at  No.  12  North  Fifth  street,  and  his  place 
of  business.  No.  437  Strawberry  avenue, 
where  he  has  one  of  the  most  finely  fur- 
nished livery  establishments  in  Harrisburg. 

Mr.  Neely  has  been  a  member  of  Daupliin 
Lodge,  No.  160,  for  twenty  years.  lie  is  a 
member  of  Post  58,  G.  A.  R.  His  political 
views  are  good,  straight  Republican. 


Reed,  Samuel  B.,  Harrisburg,  was  born 
in  Dillsburg,  York  county,  Pa.,  June  10, 
1851 ;  son  of  George  W.  and  Nancy  (Jones) 
Reed.  The  parents  were  both  natives  of 
York  county.  The  father  was  a  cooper  by 
trade  and  later  in  life  became  a  farmer.  For 
thirty-five  years  he  carried  the  mail  from 
Dillsburg  to  Franklintown,and  from  Brants- 
ville  to  East  Burlington,  Adams  county.  He 
married  Nancy  Jones,  by  whom  lie  had  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Mary  A., 
Sarah  J.,  George  W.,  Maria  E.  and  Samuel 
B.  In  politics  Mr.  Reed  was  a  Democrat, 
and  served  as  tax  collector  of  Dillsburg  for 
several  years.  He  died,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years,  at  Dillsburg,  wiiere  his  wife  died. 
In  faith,  he  was  a  Quaker,  and  his  wife  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Samuel  B.  attended  the  public  school  in  Dills- 
burg until  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  and 
then  learned  the  tailor  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  three  years.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years  he  went  to  Pittsburgh  where  he 
found  employment  with  a  jewelery  and  prize 
package  company  for  thirteen  months,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Dillsburg  and  was 
elected  and  served  as  borough  supervisor 
one  year.  He  then  established  a  livery 
business  which  he  conducted  ten  years,  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


621 


sold  to  William  Harbolt,  after  which  lie 
opened  a  green  groceiy  at  Williamstown  and 
conducted  it  three  months.  His  next  em- 
ploj'ment  was  on  the  street  cars,  at  Harris- 
burg,  when  he  was  later  made  superintend- 
ent and  held  this  position  for  eight  years. 
His  next  business  venture  was  a  liver}'  es- 
tablishment, which  he  is  managing  at  the 
present  time.  He  was  married,  April  4, 1883, 
in  Lebanon  county,  to  Miss  Agnes  Golden, 
daugliter  of  David  and  Harriet  Golden. 
Tiieir  children  are:  Rudolph  C,  Maria  G., 
Bessie  A.,  and  George  Russel,  died  March  4, 
1894,  aged  nineteen  months.  In  politics 
Mr.  Reed  is  a  Democrat.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Reed  was  a  native  of  Adams  county,  wliere 
he  was  engaged  as  a  dealer  in  grain  and 
coal.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  under 
Lincoln's  administration  and  occupied  that 
office  many  years.  He  had  six  children. 
His  wife  is  a  native  of  Adams  county  and 
survives  him,  residing  at  Harrisburg,  and  is 
eigiit}'  3'ears  of  age. 


Duncan,  William,  son  of  William  and 
grandson  of  John  Duncan,  of  Derry  town- 
ship, was  born  October  16, 1806;  died  March 
31,  1884.  From  early  manhood  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  tobacco  business,  the  last 
twenty-live  years  of  his  life  at  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Walnut  streets,  Harrisburg,  where 
his  son  and  grandson  have  successively  suc- 
ceeded him.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  first  lodge.  No.  68,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  es- 
tablished in  Harrisburg,  and  was  the  first 
district  deputy  grand  master  in  Dauphin 
count\'.  Early  in  life  he  connected  himself 
with  Zion  Lutheran  church  and  for  many 
years  was  an  elder  in  the  church,  and  a 
superintendent  of  the  Third  (or  Bible  Class) 
department  of  the  Sunday-school,  which 
from  a  class  of  less  than  a  dozen  attendants 
increased  under  his  zealous  efforts  to  a  mem- 
bership of  hundreds,  compelling  the  sessions 
to  be  held  in  the  nave  of  the  church  and 
making  a  reputation  for  the  school  that  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  Sunday-school  lead- 
ers throughout  the  country.  One  of  the  bells 
of  "  Old  Zion's"  chime,  so  well  known  to  all 
Harrisburgers,  bears  the  impress  of  William 
Duncan's  name,  as  a  tribute  to  his  Christian 
work,  and  a  memorial  window  in  Bethle- 
hem Lutheran  church  is  a  like  testimonial 
from  the  Sunday-school  over  which  he  pre- 
sided for  so  many  years. 

Among  the  Scotch  who,  during  the  reign 
of  James  I.  of  England  (1603-1625),  emigra- 


ted to  the  north  of  Ireland  and  availed  of 
the  patents  granted  by  the  Government  in 
the  distribution  of  the  confiscated  lands  of 
tiie  Earls  of  Tyrone  and  Tryconnels,  were 
ancestors  of  William  Duncan.  This  colony 
of  Scotch  emigrants  made  history  for  the 
Protestant  religion  during  tiie  insurrection 
of  1641-1649,  and  the  province  of  Ulster,  after 
the  loss  of  thousands  of  lives  and  untold 
suffering  on  the  part  of  the  Scotch  settlers, 
became  tiie  bulwark  and  synonym  of  Presb}'- 
terianism  for  the  whole  world.  In  the  lapse 
of  time  many  of  the  descendents  of  this  he- 
roic race,  by  reason  of  .increased  taxation  and 
obnoxious  governmental  exactions,  set  their 
backs  on  the  scenes  of  their  forefathers'  trib- 
ulations and  successes  and  emigrated  to  the 
province  of  Pennsylvania,  commencing 
about  1720  and  continuing  until  1750,  bring- 
ing with  them  to  the  regions  of  the  Susque- 
hanna the  same  Calvinistic  principles  that 
animated  their  ancestors  in  the  battles 
of  the  Irish  insurrection  and  in  their  noble 
defense  at  the  siege  of  Londonderry,  the  im- 
press of  which  can  be  clearly  seen  in  the 
characteristics  of  the  population  of  Dauphin 
county  to  this  day.  Mr.  Duncan's  great- 
grandparents  were  among  the  earliest  of 
these  Scotch-Irish  emigrants  from  Ulster. 
His  grandfather,  John  Duncan,  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  his 
father,  William  Duncan,  was  a  deputy  super- 
intendent of  military  stores  during  the  war 
of  1812-1814.  His  mother  was  born,  Nancy 
Young,  and  at  marriage  to  his  father  was 
the  widow  of  Lawrence  Bennage. 

William  Duncan  married  Elmina  Stehley, 
daughter  of  George  Stehley,  of  Harrisburg, 
May  7, 1835.  Mrs.  Duncan's  maternal  grand- 
mother was  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Eliza- 
beth (Dietz)  Pancake;  she  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, June  24,  1743,  came,  when  a  child,  to 
this  countr}'  and  lived  with  her  brother, 
Peter  Pancake,  an  early  settler  of  Paxtang. 
In  1762  she  married  Sebastian  Crevous  and 
with  her  husband  moved  to  Fort  Augusta. 
Mr.  Crevous  was  among  the  first  Pennsyl- 
vanians  to  volunteer  for  service  in  the  Con- 
tinental army,  having  entered  the  First  bat- 
talion of  the  rifle  regiment,  April  9,  1776, 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Long  Island,  August  27,  1776,  and 
died,  soon  after,  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Mrs.  Crevous  continued  to  reside  in  Augusta 
township,  Northumberland  county,  after  her 
husband's  enlistment  and  death,  until  July, 
1778,  when,  warned  of  the  impending  Indian 


622 


BIO  GRA  PHI  a  A  L  ENCYCL  0  PEDIA 


outbreak  instigated  by  the  Britisii  army  at 
Wyoming,  she  abandoned  in  haste  her  home 
and  all  her  personal  belongings  and  with 
her  three  children  took  flight  in  a  bateau 
down  the  Susquelianna  river,  guiding  and 
working  the  boat  herself  to  Harris'  Ferry, 
where  witii  many  otlier  refugees  she  was 
given  shelter  b}'  John  Harris.  A  few  days 
later  she  took  her  family  to  an  uncle's,  at 
New  Holland.  After  a  few  years  she  returned 
to  Harris'  Ferry,  married  Richard  King  and 
had  by  tliis  marriage  one  child,  Sarah  King, 
who  married  George  Stehley,  and  was  mother 
of  Mrs.  Duncan.  \Villiam  and  Elmina 
(Stehley)  Duncan  had  these  children:  Ja- 
cob Mifflin;  Dauphin  Luther;  William 
Sneeder ;  Ciiarlotte  Louisa,  Mrs.  E.  T.  Jaques, 
of  Woodbury,  N.  J.;  Elizabeth  Ashmead, 
Mrs.  Charles  Westerman,  of  Philadelpliia, 
and  Sarah  King. 


Duncan,  Dauphin  L.,  son  of  William  and 
Elmina  (Steliley)  Duncan,  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg,  January  7,  1842;  was  educated  at 
the  Harrisburg  Academy ;  married  Eliza- 
beth Frances  Haney ;  succeeded  his  father, 
William  Duncan,  in  the  tobacco  business; 
was  also  custodian  of  the  United  States 
Court  and  Postoffice  building  for  four  j^ears 
and,  with  the  excejition  of  a  year,  as  clerk  in 
the  quartermaster's  department,  at  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  during  the  Civil  war,  spent  his  whole 
life  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  died,  March  23, 
1894,  leaving  four  children :  Charlotte  L., 
William  D.,  Elmina  S.,  and  Elizabeth  F. 
William  D.,  only  son  of  Dauphin  L.,  was 
educated  at  the  public  schools  and  Business 
College  at  Harrisburg,  and  spent  one  j^ear 
on  the  Nautical  Schoolship  "  Saratoga,"  dur- 
ing part  of  whicli  time  he  made  a  cruise  to 
England,  Portugal  and  Gibraltar.  After  the 
death  of  his  father  he  assumed  the  tobacco 
business,  which  has  been  conducted  succes- 
sively by  his  grandfather,  father  and  now  by 
himself,  for  over  fort}'  years,  at  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Walnut  streets,  Harrisburg.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  X. 
(.^uigley,  and  has  an  infant  daughter.  In 
politics  he  is  a  staunch  Democrat;  is  a 
member  of  B.  P.  0.  Elks,  and  is  recognized 
as  a  prominent  young  business  man. 

Kei'I'le,  John,  cigar  manufacturer,  was 
born  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  April  7,  1819.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  John  and  Susanna  (Baer) 
Kepple,  both  natives  of  Lancaster  county, 
where  they  spent  their  entire  lives.      John 


Kepple,  Sr.,  was  for  many  years  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  cigars  in  Lancaster  city. 
He  was  born  September  10,  1763,  and  died 
in  November,  1826.  His  wife  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,1781,  and  died  in  October,  1856; 
both  died  in  tiiecity  of  Lancaster.  John  was 
their  only  child.  By  a  former  marriage  of 
the  father  there  were  two  children,  both  of 
whom  are  deceased. 

John  Kepple's  early  life  was  passed  in 
Lancaster.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  city.  At  tlie  age  of  sixteen 
he  was  indentured  to  the  tailoring  trade  for 
fpur  and  a  half  years.  After  serving  two 
and  a  half  years  of  his  apprenticeship,  he 
was  compelled  to  abandon  the  business  on 
account  of  failing  sight.  He  then  engaged 
with  his  brother  in  making  cigars,  and  has 
continued  for  more  than  sixty  years  in  that 
business.  In  August,  1841,  he  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  and  has  been  a  continuous  resi- 
dent, and  in  business  for  himself,  for  fifty- 
hve  years. 

Mr.  Kepple  was  married  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  October  28,  1841,  to  Mary  L.  Fitzgerald, 
daughter  of  David  and  Catherine  Fitzgerald, 
natives  of  Lancaster  city.  They  are  referred 
to  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kepple  had  four  children,  three  of  whom 
died  in  childhood,  the  only  survivor  being 
Edwin  C,  engaged  in  his  father's  business 
as  manager.  Mr.  Kepple  has  been  an  active 
member  of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I. 
().  0.  F.,  for  over  fifty  years.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  attends  Grace  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member 


Reed,  George  Engard,  deceased,  was 
born  in  Philadelpliia,  Pa.,  December  19, 
1834.  He  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(Kehr)  Reed,  and  grandson  of  Col.  Philip 
Reed,  of  Pennsylvania  Horse  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  was  educated  in 
Philadelphia  and  learned  bricklaying.  He 
worked  on  the  erection  of  the  "Jupiter" 
Lighthouse,  in  the  Jupiter  Inlet,  Fla. 
Wiiile  a  journeyman  he  worked  on  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad  station  in  Harrisburg. 
In  1865  he  located  permanently  in  Harris- 
burg as  a  contractor.  In  1866  he  engaged 
in  the  retail  tobacco  bv;siness,  on  Market 
street,  and  continued  it  until  his  death,  in 
1893.  In  1878  he  and  John  K.  May  formed 
a  partnership  in  the  grocery  business,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Reed  &  May,  in  which  he 
continued  during  his  life.     In  1888  the  firm 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


623 


engaged  ill  the  manufacture  of  building  brick, 
and  did  an  extensive  business. 

Mr.  Reed  served  four  enlistments,  cover- 
ing nineteen  years,  in  the  National  Guard  of 
Penn,sylvania.  He  was  lieutenant  of  the 
"  City  Grays,"  and  through  his  efforts  the 
present  building  of  that  company  was 
erected.  He  was  a  Republican.  He  served 
eleven  years  as  a  member  of  the  common 
council,  and  for  the  same  length  of  time  was 
on  the  board  of  city  control,  and  was  presi- 
dent of  tliat  board  for  one  term. 

He  married,  in  1869,  Margaret  Barnett, 
daughter  of  Henry  H.  and  Jane  (Barnett) 
Lutz,  of  Harrisburg,  by  whom  he  had  one 
child,  Philip.  Mr.  Reed  was  a  charter  mem- 
ber and  trustee  of  the  Industrial  Home;  he 
always  took  an  active  interest  in  all  affairs  of 
a  public  or  charitable  nature. 

He  enlisted.  May  22,  1861,  in  company  E, 
Third  New  Jerse}'  volunteers,  and  was  as- 
signed to  the  First  brigade,  Runyon's  divi- 
sion, New  Jersey  volunteers.  He  took  part 
in  the  battles  of  Bull  Run,  Kearney's  Bridge 
and  Cloud's  Mills,  and  was  also  in  the  en- 
gagement at  Springfield  Station.  He  was 
discharged  on  surgeon's  certificate,  October 
15,  1861;  re-enlisted,  December  14,  1861,  in 
company  A,  Ninety-fifth  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, and  was  assigned  to  Third  brigade, 
First  division,  First  army  corps.  Array  of 
the  Potomac,  April  10,  1862 ;  and  to  the 
Second  brigade.  First  division,  Sixth  corps, 
on  May  18.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Fair  Oaks,  the  Seven  Days  before  Richmond, 
Cniines'  Mills,  Gadden  Farm,  Carter  Farm, 
Saville  Station,  Glen  Dale,  Malvern  Hill, 
Second  Bull  Run,  Chantilly,  Sugarloaf 
Mountain,  Antietam,  Shepherdstown  Ford, 
Hartwood  Church,  Fredericksburg,  Frank- 
lin's Crossing,  Bennett's  Farm,  Maryland 
Heigiits,  Gordonville  Road,  Salem  Heights, 
Gettysburg,  Parktown,  Md.,  Hagerstown, 
Rapjiahannock  Station,  Mine  Run  and  Lo- 
cust Grove.  He  re-enlisted,  December  22, 
1863,  in  the  same  companj',  and  was  in  the 
battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Alsop  Farm,  Laurel 
Hill,Spotts}dvania,  and  Bloodj-  Angle,  wlicre 
he  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  in  An- 
dersonville,  Ga.,  Cahawba,  Ala.,  and  Flor- 
ence, S.  C.  He  was  one  of  the  two  hundred 
and  fifty  prisoners  held  under  fire  of  the 
Union  guns  in  Slielltown,  Charleston,  S.  C, 
wiiose  removal  to  safer  c^uarters  Admiral 
Dahlgren  compelled  by  threatening  to  steam 
up  to  the  town  with  rebel  prisoners  outside 


the  turrets  of  his  monitors.  Mr.  Reed  was 
in  charge  of  the  Gangrene  Hospital  at  Flor- 
ence, S.  C,  and  performed  many  surgical 
operations  with  a  Barlow  knife  and  scissors. 
Two  well-attested  cases  of  his  skill  were  those 
of  John  W.  January,  of  company  B.  Four- 
teenth Illinois  cavalry,  and  Calvin  Bates,  of 
the  Eighth  Maine  volunteers.  He  was  paroled 
at  Florence,  and  mustered  out  May  27,1865, 
and  March  9,  1869,  he  enlisted  in  the  First 
City  Zouaves,  of  Harrisburg  ;  was  made  ser- 
geant in  company  A,  First  Cit}'  Zouaves,  De- 
cember 11, 1870  ;  first  sergeant,  December  11, 
1871 ;  second  lieutenant  company  D,  City 
Grays,  National  Guard  of  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 12, 1876.  He  retired  from  tlie  service 
in  1888.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of 
Post  58,  G.  A.  R. 

Henry  H.  Lutz,  deceased,  father  of  Mrs. 
George  E.  Reed,  was  the  son  of  Jacob  Lutz, 
who  emigrated  from  Germany,  sent  to 
America  by  the  East  India  Company  and 
located  in  Ohio.  Henr}'  H.  was  born  in 
Steubenville,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Harrisburg 
when  a  boy.  He  learned  house  painting 
and  in  1845  retired  from  business.  He  was 
for  many  years  crier  of  the  Dauphin  County 
Court,  and  served  as  high  constable  of  the 
borough  of  Harrisburg.  He  was  a  confiden- 
tial friend  of  Judge  Pearson. 

Mr.  Lutz  married  Jane,  daugiiter  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  (Finney)  Barnett.  He 
died  in  1867,  and  his  wife'in  1848.  They 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  and 
took  an  active  interest  in  church  work,  Mr. 
Lutz  holding  the  office  of  deacon.  He  was 
trustee  of  the  Church  of  God  and  helped  to 
build  their  ciiurch  edifice.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lutz  had  nine  children:  Sarah  .Jane;  Cath- 
erine Ann,  Mrs.  William  F.  McClure,  of  Mid- 
dletown;  Mary  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  William  M. 
Harmon,  of  Louisville,  Ky.;  Margaret,  Mrs. 
George  E.  Reed,  of  Harrisburg;  Harriet  N., 
Mrs.  Samuel  R.  Patterson,  of  Neosha,  Mo. ; 
Lieut.  Henry  H.,  enlisted  in  company  I, 
Seventh  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  died  in 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  from  the  effects  of  wounds 
received  by  the  falling  of  his  horse  in  battle  ; 
Thomas  Barnett,  Martin,  and  Helen  Matilda. 


Reed,  Philip,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  January  13,  1870.  He  was  educated  in 
the  city  schools  and  learned,  of  his  father, 
the  trade  of  bricklaying.  After  his. father's 
death  he  took  charge  of  his  business,  and  is 


624 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


now  a  partner  with  John  K.  May,  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick.  He  was  married,  in 
1895,  to  Miss  Margaret  P.,  daughter  of  Syl- 
vester and  Susan  Sunday,  of  Harrisburg. 


Herman,  John  C,  deceased,  was  born  on 
Slielly's  Island,  in  the  Susquehanna  river, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  November  5, 1836;  son 
of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (CruU)  Herman. 
His  parents  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Lew- 
isberry,  York  county,  where  he  was  reared 
and  received  his  education.  He  served  an 
apprenticeship  at  cigar  making,  and  began 
business  for  himself  early  in  life;  at  the 
outset  of  his  career  he  displayed  extraor- 
dinary business  tact  and  talent. 

At  tlie  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion, Mr.  Herman  yielded  to  his  patriotic 
impulses  and  sentiments,  laid  aside  his  busi- 
ness and  enlisted  in  the  army  in  response 
to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln.  He  was 
enrolled  and  mustered  into  company  K,One 
Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, and  was  with  his  regiment  in  some 
of  the  most  hotly  contested  engagements  of 
the  war,  conspicuous  among  which  are  the 
battles  of  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  and 
Chancellorsville.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  service  when  his  term  of 
enlistment  had  expired,  and  returned  to  the 
occupations  of  civil  life,  bearing  in  his  body 
the  marks  of  wounds  received  on  the  fields 
of  conflict.  After  leaving  the  army,  Mr. 
Herman  returned  to  Lewisberry,  Pa.,  and 
was  for  a  sliort  time  engaged  in  tlie  tobacco 
business;  from  there  went  to  York  and  es- 
tablished a  wholesale  business.  In  1866  he 
became  senior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Her- 
man &  Hay,  and  established  a  wholesale 
and  retail  tobacco  business  in  Harrisburg, 
which  occupied  him  for  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  Mr.  Hay  retired  from  the  firm  at 
the  end  of  two  years,  and  the  business  was 
thereafter  ably  and  successfully  conducted 
by  Mr.  Herman,  who  also  dealt  extensively 
in  leaf  tobacco.  He  was  the  first  person  to 
take  out  a  manufacturer's  license  in  the 
Harrisburg  district.  The  integrity  of  his 
character  and  his  honorable  metliods  in 
business  won  for  him  the  utmost  confidence 
of  all  who  dealt  with  him,  and  as  a  result 
his  commercial  relations  were  rapidly  and 
widely  extended,  and  he  attained  the  most 
gratifying  success.  He  was  the  local  wiiole- 
sale  agent  for  some  of  the  most  famous  to- 
bacco manufacturers  and  merchants  in  the 
world,    who    unhesitatinglv    entrusted    him 


with  valuable  business  interests,  and  cordi- 
ally honored  him  as  an  able  and  honest  man 
and  merchant. 

Although  busily  occupied  with  the  im- 
portant and  varied  interests  of  his  private 
enterprise,  which  were  never  neglected  or 
slighted,  he  found  time  to  participate  in 
politics,  and  was  often  active  in  public 
affairs,  being  several  times  honored  by  his 
fellow-citizens  with  positions  of  trust.  In 
1881  he  was  selected  to  serve  tlie  unexpired 
"term  of  Mayor  Patterson,  and  at  the  subse- 
quent election  was  chosen  by  a  large  major- 
ity to  this  important  office.  His  official 
career  was  characterized  by  the  same  ability 
and  fidelity  that  he  had  disi)layed  in  com- 
mercial affairs.  Retiring  from  office,  Mr. 
Herman  resumed  business,  and  personally 
supervised  iiis  vast  establishment  until  his 
death.  The  illness  which  resulted  in  his 
deatli  had  its  inception-in  a  severe  cold  con- 
tracted in  the  year  previous,  which,  together 
with  a  disease  of  the  heai't,  battled  all  medi- 
cal skill,  and  gradually  brought  iiim  down 
to  the  grave.  He  was  well  aware  of  his 
approaching  dissolution,  and  made  ready 
his  affairs,  meeting  his  end  witli  peace  and 
resignation.  Mr.  Herman  was  prominently 
identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being 
a  member  of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464, 
and  Pilgrim  Commandery,  Knights  Temp- 
lar. He  was  also  a  prominent  member  of 
Post  58,  (4.  A.  R.,  and  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Young  Men's  Republican  Club,  being 
its  second  president,  and  a  member  until  its 
dissolution.  He  was  a  charter  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trade  and  took  an  active  in- 
terest in  building  up  the  city.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  citizens'  committee  who 
erected  the  monument  at  State  and  Second 
streets  to  the  memory  of  the  soldiers  of 
Dauphin  county. 

Mr.  Herman  had  the  most  kindly  dispo- 
sition, and  was  uniformly  genial  and  cour- 
teous. He  was  warm  hearted  and  generous, 
and  enjoyed  the  esteem  and  affection  of  his 
fellow-men.  He  died  July  17,  1886,  and 
was  followed  to  his  tomb  by  a  large  con- 
course of  citizens. 

He  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss  Frances, 
daughter  of  Moses  McGrew,  of  York  county. 
His  widow  and  three  children  survive.  The 
children  are:  Edwin  S.;  Jennie  F.,  who  mar- 
ried Dr.  John  C.  Bucher,  of  Lebanon,  Pa., 
and  Florence  M. 

Edwin  S.  Herman  was  born  in  Lewisberry, 
York  county.  Pa.,  May  9,  1864.     After  fin- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


625 


ishing  his  education  in  the  Harrisburg  high 
scliool  he  became  associated  witli  his  father 
in  business.  After  the  death  of  his  father 
he  conducted  the  business  as  an  estate  for 
about  eiglit  years,  wlien  lie  and  his  mother 
became  the  sole  owners,  and  have  since  con- 
ducted the  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
John  C.  Herman  &  Co.  Mr.  Herman  was  a 
very  young  man  when  the  death  of  his 
father  cast  the  burden  of  conducting  the 
business  upon  him,  and  he  is  entitled  to 
much  credit  for  the  able  and  successful 
manner  in  wdiich  he  has  managed  it.  He 
is  an  active  young  bu.siness  man,  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  a  director  in  the 
Harrisburg  Trust  Company.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  all 
branches  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  from  the 
blue  lodge  to  the  consistory'. 

Mr.  Herman  was  married  in  1887  to  Miss 
C.  Almeda  Kunkel  Wallower,  daughter  of 
Col.  .John  and  Mary  (Zollinger)  Wallower, 
of  Harrisburg.  They  have  two  children, 
Frances  Mary  and  John  Crull.  Mrs.  Her- 
man is  a  member  of  Grace  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 


Smith,  Charles  G.,  was  born  in  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germauy,  September  12,  1847.  He  is 
a  son  of  Frederick  and  Wilhelmina  (Kuebler) 
Smith,  who  came  to  America  in  1851  and 
located  in  Harrisburg.  The  father  lived  re- 
tired from  active  business  until  his  death,  in 
1860. 

Charles  G.  was  the  youngest  of  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  deceased  excepting 
liimself  and  one  brother,  Frederick,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, Pa.  Mr.  Smith  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg.  He 
learned  cigarmaking,  and  in  1860  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  cigars  on  Forster 
street.  In  1866  he  enlarged  his  business 
and  located  at  506  Market  street,  where  he 
remained  until  1885.  He  then  removed  to 
439  Market  street,  and  in  September,  1895, 
to  his  present  location.  He  does  an  exten- 
sive wholesale  and  retail  tobacco  business. 
In  1882  he  admitted  John  J.  Keffer  as  a 
})artner,  and  the  lirm  has  since  been  Smith 
&  Ketfer. 

In  1885  he  and  John  B.  Litch,  of  Steelton, 
engaged  in  the  leaf  tobacco  business,  that  is, 
packing  and  curing,  under  the  firm  name  of 
of  C.  G.  Smith  &,  Co.,  and  have  since 
continued  this  business.  This  is  one  of 
the  leading  firms  of  the  State  in  this  line. 
They   buy    tobacco    directly  from   the   pro- 


ducers, and  cure,  pack  and  ship  it  to  all  mar- 
kets. They  buy  in  the  States  of  Wisconsin, 
Ohio,  Connecticut,  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  have  an  extensive  warehouse 
on  Eleventh  street,  Harrisburg,  and  one  at 
Marietta,  Lancaster  county. 

Mr.  Smith's  start  in  business  was  with  a 
capital  of  $300,  and  this  sum  was  saved 
from  his  own  earnings.  As  a  business  man, 
it  is  an  exact  use  of  language  to  term  him  a 
self-made  man.  His  characteristics  are  re- 
flected and  defined  in  his  success.  Nothing 
but  industry,  energy,  enterprise,  integrity, 
intelligence  and  sound  judgment  could  pro- 
duce results  so  desirable  as  the  foundation, 
growth,  permanence  and  returns  of  Mr. 
Smith's  extensive  business.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat; he  has  been  repeatedly  solicited  to  ac- 
cept office,  but  has  always  declined.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge, 
No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was  married,  in  1867, 
to  Miss  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Peter  Kefl^'er, 
of  Lancaster  county,  and  niece  of  Prof. 
Washington  Ketfer.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren: Clara,  Mrs.  S.  Wirt  Mosser,  of  Har- 
risburg; Annie,  deceased,  wife  of  David 
Rahter,  of  Harrisburg ;  Laura,  Katherine, 
and  Linda.  Mr.  Smith  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  Board  of  Trade.  He  attends 
St.  Paul's  Episcopal  church;  he  was  for 
many  years  warden  of  that  church. 


Keffer,  John  J.,  of  the  firm  of  Smith  & 
Kefier,  tobacconists,  was  born  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  October  16,  1848.  He  is  a  son  of  Peter 
B.  and  Annie  M.  (Royal)  Kefier.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Ilenry  B.  Keffer,  was 
born  in  Germany,  where  he  was  educated 
and  learned  carpentrj'.  Coming  to  this 
country,  he  located  in  Lancaster,  and  there 
followed  his  trade.  He  was  a  prominent 
politician,  and  was  elected  to  various  oflices, 
among  them  that  of  county  commissioner. 
He  was  married  in  Lancaster,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Brock,  a  native  of  Germany.  Their 
children  were:  Peter  B.,  John  L.,  Washing- 
ton, Benjamin,  and  Julius;  all  now  deceased. 
Henry  B.  Keffer  died  January  9,  1850,  aged 
sixty-five  years;  his  wife  died  November  14, 
1871,  aged  eighty-six.  Mr.  Keffer's  maternal 
grandparents  were  both  natives  of  Germany. 

Peter  B.  Kefier,  father  of  John  J.,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  December  20, 
1820.  He  followed  the  occupation  of  house 
painting  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to 
enlist   in   the  army,  under  the  call  of  Presi- 


626 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


dent  Lincoln  for  three  years'  soldiers.  He 
was  discharged,  December  18,  1864,  on  ac- 
count of  disability.  After  the  war,  he  lived 
retired  from  active  business.  His  wife, 
Annie  M.  Royal,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  P'ebruary  22,  1821,  daughter  of 
Josiah  Royal.  They  had  nine  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living:  Annie  M.,  wife  of 
D.  B.  McDonald ;  Henry  B.;  Sarah  E.,  wife 
of  C.  G.  Smith ;  John  J.;  Clara,  wife  of  Dr.  E. 
Fornias,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Washington  B.; 
Charles  F.  Edward  F.  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years.  Mr.  Keffer  was  a  Democrat. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 
He  died  in  Harrisburg,  November  8,  1874, 
aged  fifty-four.  His  wife  is  living;  she 
resides  in  Harrisburg,  and  is  in  good  healtli, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four. 

■John  J.  Keffer  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Lancaster  county  until  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age.  Li  1860  he  became  clerk  in 
a  tailoring  establishment,  where  he  was 
employed  three  years.  In  1863  he  began  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  and  a  half  years  at 
coach  trimming.  Upon  its  completion,  in 
1867,  he  was  made  foreman  in  the  trimming 
department,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for 
nine  months;  he  then  resigned.  In  1868 
he  was  employed  as  a  coach  trimmer  by 
Stoner  &  Co.,  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  for  eight 
months.  He  was  next  employed  b^'  Vance, 
Halleck  &  Whiteside,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  for 
eight  months.  During  1871  he  served  as 
passenger  brakeman  on  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  between  Harrisburg  and  Altoona, 
and  between  Harrisburg  and  Philadelpiiia. 
In  1872  he  was  employed  by  C.  G.  Smith  as 
clerk  in  the  wholesale  tobacco  business. 
After  a  clerkship  of  two  years  he  became 
the  partner  of  Mr.  Smith,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Smith  &  Keffer,  doing  business  at 
506  Market  street.  The  firm  removed  in 
1885  to  No.  439  Market  street.  After  con- 
ducting business  there  for  ten  years  they 
removed  in  1895  to  No.  432,  same  street, 
where  they  have  established  a  large  and  in- 
creasing business. 

Mr.  Kefier  was  married  in  Lancaster,  No- 
vember 8,  1877,  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Showers)  Mar- 
shall, born  in  Lancaster,  June  20,  1847. 
They  have  six  children,  of  whom  four  are 
living:  Edward,  Frank,  John  and  Donald. 
Tiieir  deceased  children  are:  Charles  W., 
died  in  1885,  aged  seven  j-ears,  and  Sarah 
E.,  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Keffer  has  for  ten  years  been  an  active 


member  of  the  Masonic  order.  Lodge  No.  21, 
and  for  twenty-three  years  has  belonged  to 
Capital  City  Castle,  No.  40,  K.  G.  E.,  and 
to  the  Knights  of  the  Mystic  Chain,  No.  17. 
In  liis  political  views  he  is  Independent. 

William  Marsliall,  father  of  Mrs.  Keffer, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  city.  Pa.,  January  12, 
1834.  He  was  a  shoemaker,  and  pursued 
that  calling  for  thirty  years.  He  was  then 
appointed  overseer  at  Franklin  and  Mar- 
shall College,  and  held  that  position  for  some 
years,  after  which  he  retired.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth  Sowers,  was  the  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  Sowers.  Their  living 
ciiildren  are:  James  H.;  Elizabeth,  Mrs. 
John  J.  Keffer;  William  A.,  lieutenant  in 
the  United  States  nav_y;  Emma;  Alice,  wife 
of  Harry  G.  Elias.  Mr.  Marshall  died,  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1881,  aged  sixty-nine  years;  his 
wife  died  June  16,  1893,  aged  seventy-nine. 
Both  were  members  of  St.  John's  Episcopal 
church.  Mrs.  Keffer's  grandparents  were 
natives  of  Lancaster  county.  Her  grand- 
father was  born  in  LancastCT. 


Clemens,  Peter  H.,  was  born  near  Mc- 
Kee's  Half  Falls,  Snj'der  county,  Pa.,  Octo- 
ber 3,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Har- 
rietta  (Burraughs)  (Jlemens.  The  father, 
Peter  Clemens,  was  born  in  Snyder  county, 
May  22,  1819.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and 
afterwards  a  farmer.  He  married,  in  March, 
1844.  Miss  Harrietta  Burraughs,  who  was 
born  in  New  Berlin.  Union  countv,  daugliter 
of  Benjamin  Burraughs,  a  native  of  Ireland. 
Their  children  are:  Benjamin  F.;  Mary  D., 
wife  of  Peter  Ziegler,  deceased ;  Lydia  A., 
wife  of  James  Bell ;  Peter  H.;  Wesley  E.; 
John  D.;  U.  S.  G.;  George  I.,  died  April  3, 
1863,  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  aged  seventeen  ;  Joseph 
B.,  deceased,  and  Susanna,  wife  of  August 
McCarty.  Mr.  Clemens  is  a  Democrat.  He 
was  supervisor  of  Snyder  county  for  one 
term.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  The  parents  are 
living  retired  in  Mifflin  county.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Clemens  was  born  in  1782,  and  died 
at  Lancaster,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  The 
mother  of  Mr.  Clemens  was  born  in  1798, 
and  died  aged  seventy-five. 

Peter  H.  Clemens  received  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Liverpool,  Perry 
county,  Pa.  At  the  age  of  eleven  he  began 
to  work  for  himself  and  was  employed  for 
eight  months  on  a  farm.  Subsequently  he 
went  on  the  canal,  and  for  three  years  was  a 
driver  between   Liverpool  and  Harrisburg. 


DA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY. 


627 


He  was  next  employed  for  one  year  in  the 
mines  at  Lykens,  afterwards  for  two  years 
in  the  mines  at  another  place.  He  then 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  one  j'ear  at  car- 
pentry witii  Henry  Hoover,  Berrysburg, 
Daupliin  county.  The  next  year  he  worked 
at  his  trade  with  John  M.  Funstach,  Sun- 
bury,  Pa.,  after  whicli  he  engaged  in  business 
for  himself  for  one  year  at  S'lnbury  and  then 
for  three  years  at  Shenandoah,  Schuylkill 
county.  Tlience  he  went  to  Williamsport, 
and  met  an  Englishman,  witli  whom  he 
went  to  Pittsburgh,  in  .search  of  employment. 
Not  succeeding  at  Pittsburgh,  they  went  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  they  were  offered  a 
job,  which  they  could  not  accept,  because 
they  had  lost  tlieir  tools.  They  worked  on 
the  streets  in  Cleveland  for  a  half  a  day,  and 
then  went  into  the  country,  where  they  be- 
came acquainted  with  a  Pennsylvanian  and 
secured  a  two  weeks' job  in  the  stone  quarry. 
After  receiving  their  wagesand  settling  their 
bills  they  had  only  one  dollar  left,  and  voted 
the  job  unprofitable.  They  then  contracted 
with  a  farmer  to  cut  wood  for  him  for  six 
months.  Receiving  a  little  money  in  ad- 
vance, they  procured  some  lumber  from 
Cleveland  and  built  a  shanty  in  the  woods 
for  their  winter  quarters.  This  engagement 
completed,  Mr.  Clemens  found  his  first  job 
at  his  trade  in  Cleveland,  and  after  working 
there  for  three  months  returned  to  Shenan- 
doah, Pa.,  where  he  carried  on  carpentry  for 
a  year.  For  two  weeks  he  worked  at  cutting 
grain  and  hay  in  Columbia  county.  His 
partner  getting  into  some  trouble  they  went 
from  that  place  to  Newton  Hamilton,  Mifflin 
county,  where  they  were  for  two  years  en- 
gaged in  carpenter  work. 

Peter  H.  Clemens  was  married,  November 
24,  1874,  to  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Sanders 
and  Hannah  J.  (Hewit)  Daniels.  They  had 
six  children  :  Bessie  L.,  Rosa,  Gertrude,  An- 
nette H.,  Charles  AV.,  Peter  H.  and  Law- 
rence B. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Clemens  went  to 
Houtzdale,  Clearfield  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  contracting  for  one  year.  He  pur- 
chased a  lot  and  built  a  house,  but  sold  his 
property  tiie  next  year.  His  wife  went  to 
her  parents  and  he  returned  to  his  old 
home,  where  he  lived  inactive  for  a  year. 
The  next  winter  he  was  employed  to  make 
ties  for  the  railroad  at  Newton  Hamilton. 
In  the  following  .spring  he  went  to  Havana, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  two 
years.     In  the  next  year  he  went  to  Trenton 


Junction,  where  his  brother  gave  him  a  lot 
on  which  he  built  a  house  for  himself  and 
carried  on  his  business  for  a  \'ear.  He  was 
next  employed  for  a  year  in  the  car  shops  at 
Harrisburg,  and  then  for  four  years  engaged 
in  house  building  on  his  own  account.  He 
then  removed  his  family  to  Philadelphia 
where  he  was  in  business  for  himself  for 
three  years.  Having  secured  a  building 
contract  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  he  was  there  for 
a  year,  then  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  there  for  two  years 
longer.  He  then  went  to  Harrisburg,  bought 
the  property  at  the  corner  of  Six-and-a-half 
and  Park  streets,  and  began  a  cigar  and  to- 
bacco business  which  he  has  conducted  up 
to  the  present  time  in  addition  to  working 
as  a  carpenter.  Mr.  Clemens  has  for  twelve 
years  been  a  member  of  Lamberton  Lodge, 
No.  708,  I.  0.  0.  F.  His  politics  are  Demo- 
cratic. He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Mrs.  Peter  H.  Clemens  was  born  February 
2,  1853.  Her  parents,  Sanders  and  Hannah 
J.  Daniels,  were  both  natives  of  Mifflin 
county  where  they  were  engaged  in  farming. 
The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniels  are  : 
Annette,  Charles,  Annie,  wife  of  Frederick 
Kreitzer,  Sadie,  Mollie,  and  Rebecca,  Mrs. 
Clemens,  all  living.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are:  Ida,  wife  of  John  C.  Norton;  Ke- 
tura,  Andrew  J.,  Mamie,  and  two  that  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniels  now  re- 
side in  Altoona,  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Daniels  is  em- 
ployed in  the  railroad  shops,  and  they  con- 
duct a  boarding  house.  JMr.  Daniels  is  a 
Democrat.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mrs.  Clemens  had  previousl}^  been  mar- 
ried to  Matthew  Gafi^,  who  was  killed  on  the 
railroad,  October  30,  1873.  To  this  mar- 
riage there  was  one  child  born,  Melinda  B., 
wife  of  Thomas  Boehm,  residing  in  Phila- 
delphia. 


HooPES,  Jacob  B.,  cigar  manufacturer,  was 
born  near  Goldsboro,  York  county,  Pa.,  May 
30,  1854;  son  of  Jacob  B.  and  Mary  (Hum- 
bers)  Hoopes.  His  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  York  county.  They  were  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1861,  when 
they  removed  to  Harrisbui'g  where  the 
father  died,  November  7,  1891,  and  the 
mother,  August  5,  1875.  Of  their  five  chil- 
dren, one  died  in  childhood,  and  the  sur- 
vivors are :  Harrj^  A.,  Joseph  M.,  Daniel  B., 
and  Jacob  B.     Jacob  B.  was  seven  years  old 


628 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Harris- 
burg.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  the 
city  and  afterwards  learned  the  trade  of 
cigar  manufacturer,  wliicli  has  been  his  oc- 
cupation since  his  boyhood.  He  embarked 
in  business  for  himself  in  1882,  and  by  his 
able  business  management  and  commercial 
integrity  has  taken  his  place  among  the 
most  enterprising  and  successful  business 
men  of  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Hoopes  was  mar- 
ried, in  Harrisburg,  February  7,1874,  to  Ida 
Albright,  by  whom  ho  has  three  children  : 
Bessie,  Nellie  D.  and  Bertha.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican.  He  attends  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Cooper,  Alford  L.,  tobacconist,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg,  November  11,  18()5:  son  of 
Charles  and  Margaret  (Stansbur}')  Cooper, 
the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  the  lat- 
ter of  Baltimore,  Md.  The  father  came  to 
Harrisburg  with  his  jiarents  when  he  was 
about  three  years  old,  and  has  since  been  a 
continuous  resident  of  the  city.  In  liis 
earlier  life  he  was  a  market  gardener,  but 
later  has  been  employed  in  the  mills  as  a 
machinist.  His  parents  had  six  children,  of 
whom  five  are  living:  Mary  Catherine,  wife 
of  Joseph  Hurst,  Harrisburg;  Charles  L., 
Harrisburg;  John  Wesley,  residence  not 
known;  Alford  L.;  Margaret  S.,  and  one 
child  who  died  in  infancy.  Alford  L.  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  Harri.sburg,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  coach  trimming,  at 
which  he  worked  for  three  years;  subse- 
quently he  was  in  the  employment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  brake- 
man  until  November,  1894,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business.  Mr.  Cooper 
is  a  member  of  America  Council,  No.  3,  O. 
U.  A.  M.  The  family  attend  the  Pine  Street 
Presbvteiian  church. 


HoLTZMAX,  George  M.,  was  born  in  Mil- 
lersburg,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  August  IG, 
1870.  He  is  a  son  of  Frank  J.  and  Ellen 
A.  (Kline)  Holtzman.  His  grandfather 
Holtzman  was  born  in  Berks  county,  in 
1825,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of 
Millersburg.  For  many  years  he  dealt  ex- 
tensively in  cattle,  and  was  well  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  the  State.  Frank 
J.  Holtzman,  the  father  of  George  M.,  was 
born  in  Millersburg,  and  his  mother  in 
Hamburg,  Berks  county ;  she  died  in  De- 
cember, 1874 ;  the  father  is  still  living. 
Thev  had  three   children:   William    F.,   of 


Harrisburg;  George  M.,  and  Agnes,  wife  of 
Dr.  Batdorf,  of  Millersburg. 

George  M.  Holtzman  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Dauphin  county.  Tliey  located  in 
West  Hanover  township,  where  he  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  He  was  first 
employed  as  a  salesman,  and  engaged  in 
business  for  himself  May  2,  1894. 

Mr.  Holtzman  was  married  in  Harrisburg, 
March  27,  18i»4,  to  Bertha  M.,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Atkinson.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren. He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trade.  He  belongs  to  Jolni  Harris  Council, 
No.  174,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.;  to  Warrior  Eagle 
Tribe,  I.  0.  R.  M.;  and  to  the  Fraternal 
Mystic  Circle.  He  is  a  Republican.  He 
attends  the  Salem  Reformed  church,  of 
which  Mrs.  Holtzman  is  a  member. 


HoLCOMBE,  Henry  W.,  cigar  manufac- 
turer and  tobacco  jobber,  Harrisburg,  was 
born  July  25,  1872.  He  is  a  son  of  Lewis 
P.  and  Valeria  (Gregory)  Holcombe.  Rich- 
ard and  Thankful  (Shrope)  Holcombe,  the 
grandparents  of  Henry  W.,  were  natives  of 
New  Jersey,  where  the  grandfather  spent 
his  life.  He  was  a  prominejit  and  success- 
ful Itusiness  man,  a  miller.  He  was  killed. 
March  3, 1860,  by  the  explosion  of  the  boiler 
of  a  steamboat  of  which  he  was  a  part  owner. 
The  grandmother  died  at  Easton,  Pa.  They 
had  but  two  children  :  Mary  E.,wife  of  John 
P.  Bennett,  of  Hackettstown,  N.  J.,  and  Lewis 
P.,  father  of  Henry  W. 

Lewis  P.  Holcombe  was  born  in  Fleming- 
ton,  Huntingdon  county,  N.  J.,  September 
10, 1852.  While  he  was  a  child,  his  parents 
removed,  first  to  Asbury,  N.  J.,  thence  to 
Lambertsville,  N.  J.,  and  subsequently  to 
Belvidere,  Warren  county,  N.  J.,  where  his 
father  was  killed,  as  above  described.  The 
widow  and  her  son,  Lewis,  removed  to  Jersey 
City,  N.J.  Here  he  attended  a  private  school 
for  about  five  years.  He  then  became  sales- 
man in  a  retail  dry  goods  store  in  New  York, 
where  he  remained  about  three  years.  After 
this  he  attended  the  Excelsior  Normal  In- 
stitute, Carversville,  Bucks  county,  Pa.,  for 
two  years.  He  was  then  engaged  for  a  short 
time  as  bookkeeper  in  Philadelphia.  In 
1869  he  removeil  to  Harrisburg,  and  for  the 
ensuing  three  years  was  employed  by  Dr.  A. 
Patterson  in  the  carpet  business.  In  1872 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Henry  Grpgory, 
and  was  with  him  for  eleven  years.  He  has 
since   been   employed  as  accountant  and  as 


DijMweo-DyJ.R.RiCeS  Sons  Philaaa 


J^j^JU^a^n^     5W^^/C.^i/r^/ 


/ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


631 


traveling  salesman,  principally  for  New  Jer- 
sey and  Philadelphia  firms. 

He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  in  July, 
1871,  to  Miss  Valeria,  daughter  of  Henrj^ 
and  Matilda  Gregory.  They  have  had  four 
cliildren,  of  whom  three  are  living:  Henry 
W. ;  Louis  R.,  born  November  13,  1877 ; 
and  Zephaniah,born  March  20,  1872.  Mrs. 
Holcombe  died  December  16,  1891. 

Mr.  L.  P.  Holcombe  is  Republican  in  pol- 
itics.    He  attends  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Henry  W.  Holcombe  has  lived  all  his  life 
in  Harrisburg,  and  was  educated  in  the  city 
schools.  He  was  graduated  from  the  high 
school  in  1893,  from  which  date  until  1895  he 
was  employed  by  his  grandfather,  Henrj' 
Gregory,  as  traveling  salesman.  Since  Sep- 
tember, 1895,  he  has  been  a  cigar  manufac- 
turer. He  was  married,  in  Camden,  N.  J., 
February  26, 1894,  to  Miss  Laura  J.,  daughter 
of  John  and  Sarah  A.  Rider,  of  Harrisburg, 
but  both  natives  of  East  Hanover  township, 
Dau[)hin  county,  and  both  deceased.  H. 
W.  and  Laura  Holcombe  have  one  son, 
Henry  Gregory,  born  November  10,  1895. 
Mr.  Holcombe  is  a  Republican.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
ciiurch. 


army  service  was  as  private  in  company  H, 
Two  Hundred  and  First  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, and  as  hospital  steward. 

Mr.  Wiestling  was  married  in  Harrisburg, 
January  8,  1857,  to  Eliza,  daughter  of  Levi 
and  Eliza  (Amev)  Weaver,  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, May  17,"  1835.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren ;  both  died  young. 

He  is  an  active  member  of  Central  Lodge, 
No.  19,  A.  0.  U.  W.  His  political  views  are 
Republican.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiestling  are 
members  of  Salem  Reformed  church. 


Wiestling,  Samuel  C,  grocer,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  January  26,  1825.  He 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  C.  and  Henrietta  (Doll) 
Wiestling,  both  deceased.  They  were  Penn- 
sylvanians,  and  of  German  ancestry.  For 
many  j'ears  they  were  honored  residents  of 
Harrisburg.  Of  their  five  children,  three 
are  li.ving  :  Caroline,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.,  widow 
of  the  late  Thomas  Bibighaus,  a  member  of 
Congress ;  Joseph  C,  and  Samuel  ( '.,  resid- 
ing in  Hari'isburg. 

Samuel  C.  Wiestling  was  educated  in  the 
private  and  public  schools  of  Harrisburg. 
With  the  exception  of  ten  months'  ser- 
vice in  the  United  States  army,  during 
the  late  Rebellion,  and  two  years'  resi- 
dence in  Pliiladelphia,  his  entire  life  has 
been  spent  in  his  native  city.  He  learned 
carpentry,  and  lias  been  extensively  engaged 
in  contracting  and  building.  He  built  the 
Grand  Ojjera  House,  remodeled  the  Re- 
formed churcli  edifice  on  Chestnut  street, 
and  constructed  many  of  the  finest  resi- 
dences in  the  city  of  Harrisburg.  Aban- 
doning building  and  contracting  in  1877, 
he  established  himself  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, to  which  he  has  devoted  all  his  atten- 
tion   since  that  time.     His  ten    months   of 

42 


BuRKHOLDER,  WiLLiAM,  merchant,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county.  Pa.,  July  13, 1827. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Jacob  and  Mary 
(Shoemaker)  Burkholder.  His  maternal 
grandparents,  David  and  Magdalena  Shoe- 
maker, were  both  natives  of  Franklin  count)^ 
Pa.  Tliey  were  farmers.  They  lived  to  an 
advanced  age.  Tlieir  children  were  tlirec 
in  number:  John,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Chris- 
tian Burkholdei',  and  Mary,  wife  of  Jacob 
Burkholder.  The  parents  of  William  Burk- 
holder were  both  born  in  Franklin  county. 
His  faiher,  Jacob  Burkholder,  was  born  July 
24,  1788,  and  died  April  14,  1865.  He  was 
a  farmer.  His  wife,  Mary  Shoemaker,  was 
born  August  10,  1794,  and  died  October  20, 
1871.  They  had  nine  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living':  David,  William  and  Mary, 
wife  of  Jacob  Kohr,  residing  in  Franklin 
county  near  the  old  homestead.  Their  de- 
ceased children  were  Catherine,  Adam, 
Daniel,  Jacob,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Abraham 
Wenger,  and  John. 

William  Burkholder  received  a  limited 
education  in  the  iiublic  schools  of  Franklin 
county.  As  is  usual  with  boys  on  the  farm 
he  attended  school  in  the  winter  and  assisted 
on  the  farm  during  the  summer.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  began  an  apprenticeship 
of  two  and  a  half  years  at  shoemaking.  He 
followed  this  occupation  for  about  twenty- 
five  j'ears.  A  few  years  before  the  war  he 
removed  from  Franklin  to  Cumberland 
county.  October  16,  1862,  he  enlisted  for 
the  nine  months'  service  in  companj'  A,  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-eighth  Pennsylvania 
volunteers.  After  his  discharge  from  the 
army  he  worked  two  years  in  mercantile 
business,  after  which  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg and  was  employed  one  year  in  a  shoe 
store  on  State  street.  On  account  of  the 
business  panic  he  lost  his  place  and  while 
waiting  for  financial  prospects  to  brighten 
he  and  his  sons  worked  at  shoemaking  ;  but 


632 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


this  business  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  on 
account  of  failing  health.  When  the  panic 
was  over  his  former  employer  gave  him 
work  for  one  year,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
brooramaking  on  Boyd  avenue,  Harrisburg. 
He  next  removed  to  Broad  street  where  he 
and  his  two  sons  carried  on  a  factory  and 
store  for  four  years.  His  next  removal  was 
to  1316  Margaret  street,  where  for  a  short 
time  he  had  a  broom  factory.  Then,  having 
erected  at  this  place  a  large  and  convenient 
building,  he  opened  a  grocer}'  store  and  for 
the  past  ten  years  has  done  a  large  and  suc- 
cessful business  in  this  line.  He  is  well-es- 
tablished and  generally  known,  having  been 
a  resident  of  Harrisburg  for  twenty-five 
years. 

While  living  in  Cumberland  county  he 
served  one  year  as  supervisor,  and  also  as 
school  director  of  Silvers  Spring  township. 

He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Catherine  Laush,  both  of  Cumberland 
count}'.  Mr.  Laush  was  a  pumpmaker. 
Their  children  were  Elizabeth,  Andrew  and 
Mary.  Mr.  Burkholder  had  but  one  child 
by  his  first  wife,  Annie  E.,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mrs.  Burkholder  died,  aged  about 
t\vent}'-four  years.  Mr.  Burkholder's  second 
marriage  was  with  Miss  Annie,  daughter  of 
JMiilip  and  Elizabeth  Snell.  Her  father  was 
born  in  York  county,  Pa.  He  was  for  a 
number  of  years  a  weaver  and  was  after- 
wards engaged  in  farming.  Her  mother  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Fa.  They  had 
eight  children;  the  only  one  now  living  is 
Catherine,  wife  of  Benjamin  Hoover.  Those 
deceased  are :  Lena,  married  first  to  Philip 
Keaner  and  afterwards  to  Lawrence  New- 
gard  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mr.  Hurst;  George; 
Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Newcomer ;  Fannie,  sec- 
ond wife  of  Joseph  Newcomer;  Annie  E.,  and 
Christian.  Philip  Snell  died  at  the  age  of 
nearly  eighty  years.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in 
Cumberland  county,  Mr.  Burkholder  had 
three  children  by  his  second  wife,  two  of 
whom  are  living:  Jacob  and  William  H. 
Joseph  N.  died  March  30,  1889,  aged  thirty- 
two  years.  Mrs.  Annie  Burkholder  died 
November  29,  1893,  aged  seventy-one.  Mr. 
Burkholder  is  Democratic  in  politics.  He 
belongs  to  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ; 
both  of  his  wives  were  members  of  the  same 
church. 

Jacob  Burkholder,  eldest  son  of  William, 
was  born  May  6, 1854,  and  was  educated  in  the 


public  schools  of  Cumberland  county.  He 
started  in  busniess  as  an  attendant  in  an 
asylum  where  he  was  employed  for  two 
3'ears.  He  afterwards  worked  one  year  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as 
helper  on  the  gravel  train.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  was  employed  by  the  Jackson 
Manufactui'ing  Co.,  manufacturers  of  inter- 
locking switches,  as  traveling  agent.  He 
then  removed  to  Allentown,  Pa.,  still  being 
in  the  same  business.  He  was  married  De- 
cember 26, 1873,  to  Miss  Rebecca  J.,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Feeman.  They  had  one  daughter, 
who  died  in  infancy.  His  wife  died  Sep- 
tember 29,  1881.  Mr.  Jacob  Burkholder  is 
now  an  undertaker  in  Allentown.  He  is  a 
member  of  several  lodges. 

William  Burkholder,  Jr.,  youngest  son  of 
William,  was  born  September  23,  1857.  He 
also  was  educated  in  Cumberland  county. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  learned  broom- 
making  and  followed  this  occupation  for 
twenty-three  years.  He  was  married,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1880,  to  Miss  Clara,  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Catherine  (Brenner)  Stautier. 
They  had  two  sons,  Charles  A.  and  Arthur  J. 

Mr.  William  Burkholder,  Jr.,  is  engaged 
with  his  father  in  the  grocery  business.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  American  Mechanics, 
No.  106,  and  of  Washington  Camp,  No.  8, 
P.  0.  S.  of  A.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


PoTTEiGER,  Jacob,  grocer,  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  December  24,  1833 ;  son  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Feeser)  Potteiger.  Jacob  Pottei- 
ger,  the  grandfather,  came  from  Berks 
county,  and  settled  in  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship. He  married  Mary  Deck.  The  father 
was  the  oldest  of  seven  children,  the  only 
survivors  of  whom  are:  Jonathan,  of 
Lower  Paxton  township ;  Daniel,  of  Fort 
Hunter,  Dauphin  county ;  Elizabeth,  (Mrs. 
•Jonathan  Crum),  of  Illinois.  He  was 
born  in  Berks  or  Dauphin  county,  and 
reared  on  the  farm.  He  learned  the  black- 
smith trade,  and  followed  it,  having  a  shop 
near  Linglestown,  where  he  worked  until 
his  death,  in  1853.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  in  which  he  held  the  office 
of  deacon.  His  wife  died  in  1870.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Peter  Feeser.  They  raised 
eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  are  living: 
Jacob;  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Reuben  Conrad),  of 
Seneca    county,    Ohio;    Alert,    of    Fishing 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


633 


Creek  Valley,  Middle  Paxton  township ; 
Sarah,  deceased;  Joni\than,  of  Halifax; 
Matilda  (Mrs.  Samuel  Ilepford),  of  Harris- 
burg;  David,  of  Lock  Haven,  Pa.;  George, 
of  West  Hanover  township,  blacksmith ; 
James,  of  Oliio,  merchant;  Levi,  of  Iowa, 
laundry,  etc.;  William,  of  Ohio,  i)ainter  and 
paper  hanger. 

Jacob  was  reared  and  educated  in  Lower 
Paxton  township.  He  also  attended  school 
in  Linglestown,  and  subsequently  taught 
school  five  terms  in  the  township,  after 
which  he  was  engaged  in  farming  four  years. 
In  1867  he  settled  at  Progress,  in  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  conducted  a  general  mer- 
cantile business  until  1871,  when  he  pur- 
chased his  present  property  in  Harrisburg, 
and  has  since  continued  in  the  same  line  of 
trade.  Mr.  Potteiger  is  a  director  of  the 
East  Harrisburg  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation. In  his  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  served  as  a  school  director  one  term 
from  the  Ninth  ward,  and  also  as  assessor  of 
the  same  ward.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Imjjroved  Order  of  Heptasophs. 

Mr.  Potteiger  was  married,  in  1858,  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Allbright,  daughter  of  Henry  All- 
bright,  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  who  died 
June  14, 1893,  leaving  only  one  child,  Emma 
C,  wife  of  Wesley  Hoover,  of  Harrisburg. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Thirteenth  Street  Lu- 
theran ciiurch,  of  which  he  has  also  served 
as  treasurer.  He  also  served  as  an  elder 
and  secretary  of  the  council  of  the  Memorial 
Lutheran  church,  and  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  that  congregation. 


Ettek,  Calvin,  was  born  in  Newport, 
Perry  county.  Pa.,  in  December,  1835.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  Henry  H.  and  Mary 
(Shaffner)  Etter.  Henry  H.  Etter  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  He  was  for  along 
time  engaged  in  boating  on  the  canal.  For 
manjf  years  he  was  proprietor  of  the  Warm 
Springs  Hotel,  Warm  Springs,  Perry  county. 
He  was  for  a  time  employed  under  the 
United  States  Government,  in  the  Agricul- 
tural Department  at  AVashington,  D.  C. 
After  an  active  and  useful  life,  he  died  in 
Philadelphia  in  1890.  His  wife,  Mary 
Shaffner,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  and  died 
in  that  city  in  1865.  Their  children  are: 
Ellen,  wife  of  Jesse  S.  Butts,  of  Newport, 
Perry  county ;  Calvin  ;  Sarah,  wife  of  Francis 
Wilcox,  of  San  Diego,  Cal.,  and  Mary,  wife 
of  Ritzel  Shattick,  of  Philadelphia. 

Calvin  Etter  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 


Perry  county.  He  iiad  the  opportunities 
which  the  common  schools  afford  the  busy 
farmer's  boy,  and  his  subsequent  life  shows 
that  he  made  good  use  of  them.  The  close 
of  school  days  found  him  well-informed, 
disciplined  and  prepared  for  practical  work. 
His  natural  tastes  led  him  to  prefer  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  early  life,  but  at  the 
age  of  twenty  he  forsook  the  farm  and  be- 
came clerk  in  a  general  store.  Here  he 
spent  several  years,  becoming  in  that  time 
thoroughly  familiar  with  mercantile  busi- 
ness. 

In  1864  he  began  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count in  Harrisburg.  He  opened  a  grocery 
store,  and  has  since  been  in  the  business 
since  that  date.  With  perhaps  one  excep- 
tion, he  is  now  the  oldest  grocer  in  the  city. 
Mr.  Etter  has  a  combination  of  the  qualities 
which  make  a  successful  merchant.  He  is 
systematic  and  methodical,  able  to  lay  out 
his  plans  and  to  give  assiduous  attention 
to  the  minutest  details  in  their  execution. 
He  is  alert  and  enterprising,  and  always 
abreast  of  the  times.  Always  having  his 
own  business  well  in  hand,  he  has  time,  as 
well  as  inclination,  to  interest  himself  in  so- 
cial and  general  movements  intended  to 
promote  the  development  and  growth  of  the 
city.  In  social  life  he  is  a  model  gentleman, 
modest  and  always  approachable.  His  suc- 
cess, the  result  of  his  accurate  judgment, 
keen  insight  and  absolute  adherence  to  prin- 
ciple, is  as  honorable  as  it  is  large  and  envi- 
able. 

Mr.  Etter  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  in 
April,  1865,  to  Helen  Marshall,  of  Perry 
county.  They  have  had  four  cliildren,  one 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Their  living 
children  are ;  Carrie,  wife  of  Harry  S.  Kelly, 
wood  and  coal  dealer,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Charlie 
Ross,  a  salesman  in  his  father's  store,  and 
Mary  Grace. 

Mr.  Etter  is  a  Republican.  He  has  repi-e- 
sented  the  Fifth  ward  of  Harrisburg  in 
common  council  for  two  terms,  and  in  se- 
lect council  one  term. 


May,  John  K.,  grocer,  was  born  in  York 
county.  Pa.,  December  18,  1837.  He  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Ann  (Kirk)  May, 
natives  of  York  county,  and  farmers.  He 
was  reared  in  York  county  and  educated  in 
the  public  schools.  He  learned  bricklaying, 
and  coming  to  Harrisburg  in  1862  worked 
as  a  journeyman  until  1872.     At  this  date 


634 


BIO  GRAPHIC  A  L  ENCYCL  OP  EDI  A 


lie  and  Thomas  Stephenson  entered  into 
partnersliip  as  contractors;  this  partnership 
continued  one  year.  In  1873  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  George  E.  Reed,  which 
lasted  until  Mr.  Reed's  death,  in  1893.  They 
erected  many  fine  public  and  private  build- 
ings in  the  city.  In  1877  they  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  on  Market  street,  near 
Third.  In  188G  tiiey  began  the  manufac- 
ture of  pressed  and  hand-made  brick, 
and  do  an  extensive  business  in  that  line. 
In  1878  Mr.  May  went  into  the  retail  coal 
business,  in  which  he  has  since  continued. 
He  was  also,  from  1872  to  1890,  in  the  retail 
cigar  and  tobacco  trade. 

He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Harrisburg 
Foundry  and  Machine  Works,  the  East  Har- 
risburg Passenger  Railway  Company,  the 
Harrisburg  Trust  Company,  the  Harrisburg 
Shoe  Company,  and  the  Capital  City  Shoe 
Comjiany,  of  Harrisburg.  He  is  active  in 
the  Republican  party.  He  served  six  con- 
secutive years  on  the  school  board,  repre- 
senting the  Ninth  ward. 

He  was  married  in  18G5  to  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  William  Mahon,  of  Harrisburg. 
They  have  five  children :  Margaret,  Mrs. 
Cornelius  Shope,  of  Harrisburg;  Nora,  Mrs. 
William  Stroup,  of  Reading,  Pa.;  Charles, 
Theodore,  and  Queenie.  Mr.  May  and  his 
familv  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Umbeeger,  Henry  L.,  was  born  in  East 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
February  16, 1842.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Margaret  (Lingle)  Umberger,  both  deceased. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Dauphin  count\- ; 
his  motiier  of  Berks.  The  greater  part  of 
their  lives  was  passed  in  Dauphin  county. 
Of  their  ten  children, six  are  living:  Obadiah, 
of  Lewistown,  Mifflin  count}',  Pa.;  John,  of 
Hoernerstown,  Pa.;  Margaret,  wife  of  Wil- 
liam S.  Hettrick,  of  Harrisburg;  Hannah, 
wife  of  Daniel  Bennewitz,  of  East  Hanover 
township ;  Henry  L.,  and  Michael,  residing 
near  Taylorsville,  Hi. 

Henry  L.  Umberger  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township,  but  his  school 
days  were  cut  short  by  the  necessity  of  an 
early  beginning  of  eflbrts  to  earn  a  livelihood. 
He  was  engaged  in  various  occupations  be- 
fore he  reached  manhood.  He  learned  the 
milling  business  and  was  occupied  in  it 
for  eight  years:  four  years  of  this  time  he 
operated  his  own  mill  in  East  Hanover  town- 
ship.    About  1877  he  removed  to   Harris- 


burg, and  in  1879  established  his  present 
business. 

In  February,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company 
K,  Ninety-third  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, and  served  eighteen  months.  Dur- 
ing this  time  he,  with  his  regiment,  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  and 
Spottsylvania  Court  House.  In  the  latter 
engagement  he  was  wounded  in  the  left  leg 
and  conveyed  to  the  hospital.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  was  discharged  from  the  hos- 
pital and  returned  to  East  Hanover. 

He  was  married  at  the  Union  Water 
Works,  Lebanon  county,  to  Miss  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Josepli  and  Polly  Sheffey,  the 
former  deceased,  the  latter  still  living  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty  and  residing  in  Leba- 
non. Of  their  three  children,  one  died  an 
infant;  the  others  are :  Ellen  and  Katie.  In 
political  views  Mr.  L^mberger  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  He  and  his  family  attend  the 
Reformed  church. 


Miller,  William  F.,  was  born  in  York, 
Pa.,  October  25,  1842.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Sarah  (Beck)  Miller,  who  were  both  na- 
tives of  York  county.  His  father  was  a  well- 
known  stock  dealer  in  York  county,  where 
he  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  The 
family  consisted  of  eight  children,  four  of 
whom  still  survive,  namely  :  Henry  C,  a 
stock  dealer,  residing  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.; 
William  F.,  Robert,  and  Sarah.  William  F. 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  place,  and  after  completing  his  edu- 
cation he  learned  the  trade  of  a  printer.  In 
1861  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  for  the  following  twenty 
3'ears.  He  subsequently  held  a  jiosition  in 
the  Harrisburg  postoffice  for  six  j-ears,  and 
in  1887  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business. 
He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  November  2, 
1871,  to  Cavilla  Stroh,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Priscilla  Stroh,  who  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Dauphin  county.  There 
have  been  born  to  them  four  children,  one 
of  whom  died  in  infancj'.  The  children 
living  are  :  Irene  C,  Bradford,  and  Mabel. 
Mr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen  and  Artisans.  In  po- 
litical views  he  is  a  Republican.  He  and 
his  family  attend  the  Lutheran  church.  He 
is  a  liberal  and  public-spirited  citizen. 


Smith,  Wilson  0.,  grocer,  was  born  in 
Lower  Allen  township.  Cumberland  countv. 
Pa.,  April    21,  1843;    son  of  John  A.  and 


DAUPinX  VULNTY. 


635 


Barbara  (Sherbaue)  Smith,  both  deceased. 
The  parents  were  both  natives  of  Cumber- 
land count}',  where  they  spent  their  lives. 
The  father  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  They  had  seven  children, 
four  of  wiiom  are  living:  Catherine,  widow 
of  the  late  George  Oyster;  John  A.,  Henry 
H.,  and  Wilson  0.  By  a  subsequent  mar- 
riage there  is  one  son  living,  George  Smith. 

Wilson  O.  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  township 
and  subsequently  attended  the  AVhite  Jrlall 
Academy  in  Cumberland  county. 

In  March,  18(Jl,  he  enlisted  in  company 
H,  Seventh  Pennsylvania  volunteer  reserve, 
which  became  the  Thii-ty-sixth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  participated 
in  the  following  battles:  Dramsville,  Va., 
Mechanicsviller  (Taines'  Mills,  Charles  City, 
New  Market  Cross  Roads,  Malvern  Hill, 
Plains  of  Manassas,  Second  Bull  Run,  South 
Mountain,  Antietam  and  Fredericksburg,  in 
which  last  named  battle  he  received  a  gun- 
shot wound  in  the  breast  and  was  confined 
in  the  hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C,  for 
three  months,  from  which  he  was  discharged 
as  convalescent  June  29,  1863,  and  was  at- 
tached to  company  B,  Fourth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  as  second  lieuten- 
ant, and  subsequently  promoted  to  first  lieu- 
tenant. He  served  in  tliis  regiment  and 
position  three  months  and  was  then  detailed 
on  recruiting  service  at  Harrisburg  for  six 
months,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he 
was  promoted  to  captain  and  attached  to 
company  D,  Two  Hundred  and  First  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  in  which  position  he 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being 
mustered  out  in  1865.  After  his  discharge 
he  returned,  to  Cumberland  county,  where 
he  remained  at  home  one  year,  and  in 
the  spring  of  186G  came  to  Harrisburg. 
He  became  salesman  in  the  dry  goods 
store  of  Bowman  &  Co.,  and  afterwards  was 
employed  in  the  same  capacitv  by  Coover 
&  Co.,  until  July  26,  1888,  at  which  date 
he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business  on 
his  own  account,  in  which  he  has  been  con- 
tinuously and  successfully  engaged  since 
that  date.  Mr.  Smith  was*  married,  in  Har- 
risburg, December  16,  1869,  to  Miss  Ange- 
line  A.  Porter,  daughter  of  James  and  Isa- 
bella (Campbell)  Porter,  to  whom  have  been 
born  three  children  :  Romaine  A.,  J.  Porter, 
and  Isabella  J.  Mr.  Smith  is  prominent  in 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  holding  membership 


in  the  Mechanicsburg  Lodge,  No.  302,  Perse- 
verance Chapter,  No.  21,  and  Pilgrim  Com- 
mandery,  No.  11,  of  Harrisburg  ;  also  of  Har- 
risburg Council,  R.  S.  E.  and  S.  Masters; 
and  of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0. 
F.,  Harrisburg.  He  is  also  an  active  mem- 
ber of  Post  No.  58,  G.  A.  R.,  of  the  Union 
Veteran  Legion  and  of  the  Improved  Order 
of  Heptasophs.  In  his  political  views  he  is 
a  staunch  Republican.  He  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Pine  Street  Prebyterian 
ciiurch. 


Ruby,  Charles  W.,  grocer,  was  born  at 
Duncannon,  Pa.,  August  22,  1813  ;  son  of 
Daniel  and  Rebecca  Ruby,  both  deceased. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Perry  county, 
where  he  spent  his  entire  life.  In  his  earlier 
life  he  owned  and  operated  a  large  tannery, 
and  later  engaged  in  the  iron  business  at 
Duncannon,  where  he  died.  The  mother 
was  born  in  Lancaster  and  after  her  mar- 
riage resided  in  Perry  county  until  her  death. 
They  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living :  Margaret,  wife  of  Col.  Roswell  Shortel, 
residing  in  Youngstown,  Ohio;  Mary,  widow 
of  Irwin  Chisholm,  residing  in  Harrisburg, 
and  Charles  W.;  Augustus,  died  at  Youngs- 
town, Ohio,  in  1867,  from  the  effects  of  dis- 
ease incurred  while  serving  in  the  defense  of 
his  country.  Charles  W.  was  reared  in  his 
native  town  and  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  He  then  learned  the 
trade  of  nail  manufacturing  with  the  Dun- 
cannon Iron  and  Nail  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, and  was  in  the  service  of  tlie  com- 
pany for  over  forty  years.  In  March.  1889, 
he  removed  to  Harrisburg  and  embarked  in 
the  grocery  business,  in  which  he  has  been 
engaged  since  that  time.  In  1863  he  en- 
listed in  company  K,  Third  Pennsylvania 
volunteer  artillery,  in  which  he  served  for 
twenty-six  months,  and  was  discharged  at 
Philadelphia,  in  1865,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  town  and  resumed  work 
at  his  trade.  Mr.  Ruby  was  married  in 
Wheatfield  township.  Perry  county,  March 
25,  1870,  to  Anna  J.  Ebersole,  daughter  of 
John  and  Susanna  Ebersole,  both  deceased. 
There  have  been  born  to  them  three  chil- 
dren :  John  I.,  Maud  H.,  and  Mary  M.  Mr. 
Ruby  is  an  active  member  of  Lieut.  William 
Allison  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Duncannon,  Pa.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


636 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Enders,  I.  T.,  grocer,  1801  North  Sixth 
street,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Enders, 
Jackson  township,  August  31,  1843.  He  is 
a  son  of  George  and  Susanna  (Fetterhoff) 
Enders.  The  first  of  the  family  to  settle  in 
the  county  was  John  Enders,  a  German,  who 
entered  a  tract  of  land  in  Jackson  township, 
and  became  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of 
his  day.  He  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six  and 
his  son  John  succeeded  to  his  estate.  George 
Enders,  son  of  the  last-named  John  Enders, 
was  born  in  1800,  and  died  in  Jackson 
township.  He  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  one  of 
its  trustees.  He  served  as  supervisor  of  his 
township.  His  wife  died  in  1882.  They 
had  sixteen  children  :  William  H.,  of  Upper 
Paxton  ;  Uriah  F.,  of  Penbrook  ;  George  W., 
of  Enders;  Samuel  E.,  of  Enders;  I.  T.; 
Israel,  O.,  of  Fisherville  ;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Joseph 
Seiders,  of  Williamstown ;  Daniel  N.,  of 
Williamstown ;  Benjamin  F.,  of  Enders ; 
Levi  J.,  M.  D.,  of  Williamstown ;  Isabella, 
Mrs.  Joseph  Knouff,  of  Enders  ;  Edward  A., 
of  Harrisburg ;  four  children  are  deceased. 
I.  T.  Enders  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Jacksou  township.  He  was  occupied  in 
farming  until  about  1883,  when  he  removed 
to  Harrisburg  and  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  in  which  he  has  since  continued. 
He  enlisted,  February  24,  1864,  in  company 
E,  Ninth  regiment,  Penn.sylvania  cavalry, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
is  a  Republican.  He  served  two  terms  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  resigning  at  the  end  of 
the  second  term  to  remove  to  Harrisburg. 
He  was  elected  poor  director  in  1879,  and 
re-elected  in  1882.  In  1894  he  was  elected 
to  the  board  of  control  of  Harrisburg,  and 
has  since  served  as  a  member  of  that  body. 
He  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  sup- 
plies, and  is  also  on  the  teachers  committee. 
He  belongs  to  the  I.  0.  0.  F. 

He  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  James  Bowman,  of  Jackson 
townshij).  He  has  three  children :  Rev. 
Emanuel  A.,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  of  Conway,  Iowa,  graduate  of  Omaha 
Theological  Seminary  ;  Minnie  N.,  wife  of 
Harry  E.  Whitmoyer,  of  Harrisburg,  and 
Robert  A.  Mr.  Enders  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Reily  Street  United  Breth- 
ren church. 


the  late  John  and  Rebecca  (Martin)  Stewart. 
The  Stewart  famil}'  are  of  Scotch  ancestr}', 
the  grandfather  of  John  M.  having  been 
born  in  Scotland.  He  emigrated  to  this 
country  at  an  earlj^  date  and  finall^^  settled 
in  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  where  he  reared 
his  family,  and  was  prominently  identified 
with  the  early  history  of  the  county.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  a  leading  and  progressive 
man  among  farmers  and  men  of  business. 
The  mother  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  was 
born  in  Shiremanstown, Cumberland  county. 
She  now  resides  at  Newville,  Cumberland 
county.  Their  children  are  as  follows : 
Jennie  H.,  widow  of  the  late  Hugh  Gamble, 
residing  in  Harrisburg  ;  John  M.;  Carrie  R.; 
Laura  C,  wife  of  J.  B.  Livingston,  of  Har- 
risburg ;  Margaret  L.;  Nettie,  wife  of  William 
Nevin  ;  Susan  E.,  died  December  9,  1895, 
wife  of  James  M.  Early,  who  died  January 
6,  1896,  and  Mary  E.,  died  April  25,  1881. 

John  M.  Stewart  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  township.  Farm  work  demanded  so 
much  of  his  time  that  he  could  only  partially 
avail  himself  of  school  advantages.  He  was 
occupied  in  farming  until  1871,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg.  He  was  salesman  in 
the  hardware  business  for  four  j'ears  and  in 
the  grocery  business  for  seven  years.  Since 
June,  1892,  he  has  successfully  conducted 
the  grocery  business  oa  his  own  account. 

He  was  married  in  Philadelphia,  Septem- 
ber, 1876,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  the  late 
Johnston  and  Sarah  Stevenson.  They  have 
no  children.  Mr.  Stewart  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  St.  John  and  Malta,  No. 
106,  of  Harrisburg,  and  of  the  Junior  Order 
United  American  Mechanics.  His  political 
views  have  always  been  Republican,  but  he 
votes  for  men  rather  than  for  pai;ty.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Covenant  Pres- 
byterian church. 


Stewart,  John  M.,  grocer,  Harrisburg, 
was  born  in  MifBin  township,  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.,  October  9,  1844.     He  is  a  son  of 


Althouse,  Reuben  H.,  grocer,  was  born 
in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  February  3,  1845 ;  son 
of  Benjamin  and  Rebecca  (Herbine)  Alt- 
house,  natives  of  Berks  county.  The  fatlier 
came  to  Daupliin  county  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Susque- 
hanna township.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Reformed  church.  His 
death  occurred  April  16,  1861,  and  that  of 
his  wife  in  1880.  They  reared  three  chil- 
dren:  Reuben  H.:  Ella,  unmarried,  and 
George  B.,  of  Philadelphia.  Reuben  H., 
was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Susquehanna 
township  and  attended  the  district  school  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNT y. 


637 


the  locality.  After  the  death  of  his  father 
he  conducted  the  farm,  and  also  took  up  the 
dair^^  business,  in  which  he  continued  four- 
teen years.  In  1881  he  removed  to  Bedford, 
Monroe  county,  Mich.,  and  was  there  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  seven  years,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Harrisburg,  and  in 
1888  established  his  present  business.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  Odd  Fellows  fra- 
ternity, and  in  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle.  In  politics  he  is  a  ReiDublican,  and 
while  in  Michigan,  served  six  years  as  a 
school  trustee.  Mr.  Althouse  was  married, 
in  1866,  to  Miss  Frances  Rudy,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Rudy,  of  Harrisburg,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  eight  children:  Frank,  drug- 
gist, in  Harrisburg;  Carrie;  Harry  B.;  R. 
Edward,  with  his  brother  R.  H.;  Frances 
(Mrs.  George  Swab),  of  Harrisburg;  Joseph, 
Ella  and  Delanor.  Mr.  Althouse  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Reformed  church. 


Langlotz,  M.\rtin,  merchant,  was  born  in 
the  province  of  Saxony,  September  9,  184G. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Langlotz. 
His  parents  came  to  this  country  when  he 
was  nine  years  old,  and,  after  living  one  year 
in  Boston,  removed  to  Allegany  county, 
Md.,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  They  are  both  deceased.  They  had 
nine  children. 

Martin  Langlotz  spent  his  early  life  in  the 
Maryland  home  and  attended  the  free  schools 
of  his  adopted  country.  In  1872  he  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  where  for  the  past  twenty-four 
years  he  has  conducted  a  grocery,  provision 
and  notion  store.  Amid  the  numerous 
changes  which  have  taken  place  among  the 
business  men  and  firms  of  Harrisburg,  Mr. 
Langlotz  has  held  steadily  on  his  way.  His 
continuance  in  business  with  growing  suc- 
cess demonstrates  his  business  ability  and 
the  solidity  of  his  character.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  York  county,  Pa.,  to  Katlierine, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  H.  Boesch, 
natives  of  Germany,  and  residents  of  York, 
Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langlotz  have  had  two 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
living  child  is  Bransby  F.  In  political  views 
Mr.  Langlotz  holds  with  the  Democratic 
party.     He  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


Liken,  Thomas,  was  born  in  Coleraine, 
county  Derry,  Ireland,  February  7,  1847. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Thomas  and  Letitia 
(Hill)  Liken.  The  elder  Thomas  Liken  was 
also  a  native  of  Coleraine.     When  a  young 


man,  before  railroads  were  constructed,  lie 
was  engaged  in  carrying  freight  to  Belfast 
by  dray.  He  afterwards  became  a  whole- 
sale dealer  in  provisions,  and  in  his  later 
years  had  his  son  Oliver  as  his  partner  in 
the  business.  His  political  views  were  Demo- 
cratic. He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church.  He  died  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-two  years.  His  wife,  Letitia  Hill, 
also  a  native  of  Coleraine,  died  at  the  age  of 
forty-three.  They  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  seven  are  living :  William,  John, 
Thomas,  Margaret,  Matilda,  Mary  and 
Oliver. 

Thomas  Liken,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  the  3^oungest  of  the  family.  He  attended 
the  schools  of  his  native  town  until  he  was 
thirteen  years  old,  and  received  a  very  fair 
education.  In  1860  lie  took  a  position  as 
assistant  clerk  in  the  Coleraine  market. 
After  this  he  was  employed  by  two  Scotch- 
men, George  and  James  Rogerson,  in  their 
grocery  store.  He  remained  with  them  one 
year,  and  then  accepted  a  place  with  Mr. 
Irvin  in  the  business  of  shipping  butter  and 
eggs.  He  was  in  this  situation  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  His  next  employment  was 
with  Mr.  Huey,  shipper  of  all  kinds  of  grain, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  a  few  years. 

In  1867  he  came  to  America  td  visit  his 
brothers,  who  were  in  business  as  bakers  and 
confectioners.  His  brother,  John  H.,  admit- 
ted him  to  partnership,  which  lasted  several 
years.  Upon  its  dissolution  he  went  to  New 
York  City  and  established  himself  in  the 
grocery  business,  which  he  carried  on  for  a 
number  of  years.  At  the  earnest  solicitation 
of  J.  A.  Slentz,  of  Harrisburg,  dealer  in  flour 
and  feed,  he  closed  out  his  business  in  New 
York  and  returned  to  Harrisburg  as  book- 
keeper and  salesman  for  Mr.  Slentz.  At  the 
end  of  six  months  he  bought  out  the  busi- 
ness of  Mr.  Slentz  and  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent location,  1322  North  Sixth  street,  where 
he  now  deals  in  groceries,  confectionery  and 
flour  and  feed.  He  is  successful  in  business, 
and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knowliim 
as  a  man  of  worth  and  enterprise.  Mr. 
Liken  is  director  in  various  associations  in 
Harrisburg.  He  is  chairman  of  the  build- 
ing committee  of  Bloomington,  111.,  and  is 
very  highly  regarded  by  the  committee.  In 
Ireland  he  was  connected  with  several  socie- 
ties.    His  political  views  are  Democratic. 

Mr.  Liken  has  been  twice  married.  By 
the  first  marriage  he  had  two  children: 
Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  months 


638 


BTOGRA PHIGA L  ENCYCL 0 PEDIA 


and  six  days,  and  William  H.,  who  died, 
aged  two  months  and  thirteen  days.  Mr. 
Liken's  second  wife  was  Miss  Eliza,  daughter 
of  Casper  H.  and  Mary  L.  Dustman,  of  Get- 
tysburg, Pa.  He  is  a  consistent  member  of 
Pine  Street  Presbyterian  church  and  be- 
longs to  .James  McCormick's  Bible  class.  In 
his  native  country  Mr.  Liken  taught  a  large 
Bible  class. 


Keeney,  Martin  L.,  grocer,  Harrisburg, 
was  born  in  Tuscarora  township,  Bradford 
county.  Pa.,  August  23,  1848.  He  is  a  son 
of  the  late  Luther  and  Arietta  (Camp)  Keeney. 
He  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and  edu- 
cated at  the  district  schools  in  his  township. 
He  was  engaged  until  1892  in  farming  in 
Tuscarora  township,  where  he  still  owns  a 
well  cultivated  farm.  In  1892  he  sought  a 
change  of  residence  and  occupation.  lie  re- 
linquished farming  and  came  to  Harrisburg, 
and  in  January,  1896,  embarked  in  the 
grocery  business  in  that  city. 

Mr.  Keeney  was  married,  October  15, 1873, 
to  Isabella  C,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Watson)  Bergstresser,  referred  to  in  another 
place  in  this  volume.  They  have  one  son, 
William  Luther. 

Mr.  Keeney  has  served  as  town  commis- 
sioner, school  director,  and  inspector  of  Tus- 
carora township.  He  is  a  member  of  Wyom- 
ing Lodge,  No.  238,  K.  of  P.,  of  Wyoming 
county.  Pa.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Republican.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  Zion  Lutheran  church. 


Studebakkr,  Clement,  was  born  in  Fair- 
view  township,  York  county.  Pa.,  December 
26, 1851.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Jacob  and 
Nancy  (Mohler)  Studebaker.  Jacob  Stude- 
baker  was  born  in  Adams  county.  Pa.  He 
was  a  farmer.  For  some  years  after  his  mar- 
riage he  lived  in  Cumberland  county.  Pa., 
but  returned  to  York  county  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  in  Fairview 
town.ship,  York  county.  July  20,  1855.  He 
married  Nancy  Mohler,  of  Cumberland 
county,  who  survives  him  and  resides  in  Har- 
ri.sburg.  One  of  their  nine  children  died 
in  infancy.  The  others  are:  Daniel,  died 
July  12,  1855;  Sarah,  wife  of  Dr.  Simon 
Landis,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  died  May  29, 1854 ; 
Jolin,  residing  in  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  Eliz- 
abeth, wife  of  Samuel  Flickinger,  of  Harris- 
burg ;  Henry,  died  Marcli  8.  1867  ;  Nancy, 
Harrisburg;  Jacob,  living  in  Salt  Lake 
City,  and  Clement, 


Clement  Studebaker  spent  his  youth  in 
his  native  township.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen. 
In  18G5  he  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  completed  his 
education  in  the  Cumberland  Valley  Insti- 
tute of  that  place.  He  first  made  an  engage- 
ment as  traveling  salesman,  which  continued 
until  1872.  In  February  of  that  year  he 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Harris- 
burg, which  he  has  successfully  conducted 
since  that  time.  He  is  one  of  tlie  solid  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  January 
9,  1887,  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  George  W. 
and  Sarah  (Ebersole)  Barnes.  They  have  no 
children.  Mr.  Studebaker  belongs  to  the 
Harrisburg  Board  of  Trade.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Heptasophs.  In  ]iolitical 
views  lie  is  a  straight  Republican.  He  and 
•his  wife  attend  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian 
church. 


Orth,  Fred.  J.,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
January  6,  1854;  son  of  Leonard  and  Bar- 
bara (Schlayer)  Orth.  Botii  parents  are  na- 
tives of  Germany  and  came  in  their  child- 
hood to  Harrisburg.  The  father  was  a  car- 
penter, and  worked  at  his  trade  until  his 
death  in  1879.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  an  active  worker  in 
all  branches  of  religious  and  benevolent 
enterprises.  The  mother  is  .still  living  and 
in  good  health,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years,  residing  in  the  farmhouse  in  which 
she  lived  for  forty-five  years.  They  had 
eleven  children.  Those  living  are:  Henry, 
wife  of  Christian  Morganthaler,  of  Harris- 
burg; Ciiarles;  Margaret;  J.  Fred. and  Henr}', 
twins,  the  latter  secretar}'  to  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Danville  Insane  Asylum ; 
George  L.;  Rebecca,  a  teacher  in  tlie  Harris- 
burg public  schools;  and  J.  Andrew,  postal 
clerk  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad.  J.  Fred, 
was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  cit}', 
where  he  spent  his  life.  When  thirteen  years 
of  age  he  began  business  as  a  clerk  in  a 
general  store,  and  after  four  j^earsof  tiiis  ser- 
vice became  an  apprentice  in  the  trade  of 
printer  in  the  State  printing  office,  where 
he  worked  for  eleven  years.  In  1884  he  em- 
barked in  the  grocery  business,  which  he 
has  conducted  for  eleven  years  with  gratify- 
ing success,  securing  a  large  and  profitable 
trade.  Mr.  Orth  was  married,  in  Harris- 
burg, March  23,  1881,  to  Miss  Nellie  Spicer, 
daughter  of  Charles  A.  and  Nancy  Spicer,  to 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


Go9 


whom  has  been  born  one  son,  Charles  L. 
Mr.  Orth  is  a  member  of  the  Heptaso])lis, 
and  in  liis  poHtical  views  is  a  Prohibitionist. 
He  is  a  member  of  tlie  Salem  Reformed 
church,  in  whicii  he  is  an  elder  and  the 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 

Fisher,  Wkslky,  grocer,  was  boi-n  in 
Yocumtown,  York  county.  Pa.,  May  28, 
1855 ;  son  of  Martin  and  Leah  (Spangler) 
Fisher,  natives  of  that  county.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  in  York  county,  and  was  of 
German  ancestry.  The  family  has  lived  in 
the  I<lshing  Creek  ^^alley  over  a  hundred 
years.  David  Fisher,  their  ancestor,  was 
one  of  the  original  owners  of  the  canal. 
Wesley  was  reared  in  York  county  and  edu- 
cated in  the  township  scliools  and  in  the 
Millersville  State  Normal  School.  He  spent 
one  year  in  California,  Init  not  being  pleased 
with  the  country  returned  to  Harrisburgand 
clerked  in  a  grocery  store.  In  1879  he  es- 
tablished a  business  in  that  line  of  his  own  on 
Ninth  street.  He  purciiased  the  property  of 
George  W.  Erinton,on  the  corner  of  Race  and 
Dock  streets,  where  he  conducted  business 
five  years,  after  which  he  sold  the  property 
to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  and 
went  to  Canton,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
business.  He  returned  the  same  year  and 
established  himself  in  his  present  location, 
No.  128  Dock  street,  and  has  since  continued 
in  business  at  that  place.  Mr.  Fisher  is  a 
Republican  and  was  elected  member  of  the 
school  board  from  the  First  ward  in  1892, 
and  elected  for  a  second  term  to  the  same 
office  in  1895,  serving  in  the  board  on  the 
finance  and  teachers  committees.  He  is  a 
member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  & 
A.  M.;  Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21 ;  Pilgrim 
Commandery,  No.  11,  and  Lulu  Temple,  of 
Piiiladelphia;  and  is  also  a  member  of  John 
Harris  Council,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.,  of  Harrisburg. 
Mr.  Fisher  was  married, in  1884, to  Miss  Lottie 
Winand,  daughter  of  William  Winand,  of 
Harrisburg.  Their  children  are:  Daisy  W., 
Mary  E.,  Charles  Wesley,  Clarence,  deceased, 
Pearl  E.,and  Clyde  E.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Vine  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  Mr.  Fisher  has  served  on  the 
board  of  stewards  and  as  superintendent 
and  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school. 


felfinger,  the  former  a  native  of  Dauphin, 
and  the  latter  a  native  of  Lebanon  county, 
of  German  ancestry.  The  father  was  a  cab- 
inet maker  and  noted  for  his  superior  work- 
manship. The  parents  removed  to  Harris- 
burg in  1859,  and  were  continuous  residents 
of  the  cit}'  until  their  death.  They  had 
tliirteen  children,  three  of  whom  died  in 
childhood,  five  died  shortly  after  reaching 
maturity  and  five  are  living :  Catherine, 
wife  of  W.  B.  Allen,  residing  in  Martinsville, 
Clark  county,  111.;  Mary,  wife  of  Benjamin 
Brightliill,  residing  in  Harrisburg;  Annie, 
widow  of  the  late  John  Belford,  residing  in 
Renovo,  Pa.;  David  H.,  and  Edward  A.  Ed- 
ward A.  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Harris- 
burg and  received  his  education  in  the  city 
schools.  He  began  business  for  himself, 
when  he  was  twelve  years  old,  as  a  newsboy 
and  sub.sequently  learned  the  trade  of 
printer  in  the  office  of  B.  F.  Meyers.  After 
completing  his  apprenticeship  he  worked 
four  years  as  a  journeyman  in  the  State 
printing  office  and  then  relinquished  his 
trade  and  on  February  19,  1881,  embarked 
in  the  grocery  business,  in  wiiicli  he  has 
been  successfully  engaged  for  fifteen  years, 
having  for  the  past  three  years  occupied  his 
new  and  convenient  quarters.  Mr.  Heffel- 
finger  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  August 
15,  1878,  to  Sarah  E.  Garverich,  daugliterof 
Eliasand  Rebecca  (Orth)  Garverich,  to  whom 
have  been  born  two  children :  Edna  Ger- 
trude and  Ruth  Minerva.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  on 
the  school  board.  He  is  a  member  of  Rob- 
ert Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  Christ  Lutheran 
church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee  and  leader 
of  the  choir. 


Hefficlfinger,  Edward  A.,  grocer,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  August  IS,  1855 ; 
son  of  David  and  Maria  (Auginbaugh)  Hef- 


Harris,  Samuel  H.,  grocer,  Ilarri-sburg, 
was  born  near  Duncannon,  Perry  county, 
Pa.,  December  23, 1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Cas- 
tleberry  and  Catherine  (Cams)  Harris.  His 
parents  were  born  in  Perry  county,  and  were 
of  Scotch  and  Irish  ancesti'y.  The  father 
was  a  pros|)erous  farmer;  he  died  October 
25,  1879,  aged  seventy-two.  His  wife  sur- 
vives him,  and  resides  on  the  homestead 
farm  in  Perry  county  ;  she  was  born  Janu- 
ary 10,  1820.  They  had  six  children,  four 
of  whom  are  living:  (1)  Mary  J.,  born  Sep- 
tember 1,  1846,  wife  of  George  K.  Jones,  of 
Harrisburg;  they  were  married  in  Duncan- 
non, December  24,  1872,  and  have  two  chil- 
dren, Arthur,  born  October  29,  1873,  died 


640 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


June  30,  1891,  and  Burt  Andrews,  born  July 
15,  1876 ;  (2)  Gainor  S.,  born  November  24, 
1848,  died  December  24,  1889 ;  (3)  Hannah 
A.,  born  February  2,  1851,  widow  of  the  late 
George  Lickle,  of  Perry  county;  thej^  were 
married  in  Bloomfield,  Perry  county,  and 
have  three  children,  Clara  Jane,  George  Cas- 
key,  and  Chester  Harris ;  (4)  Samuel  H.;  (5) 
David  (3.,  born  September  13,  1859,  retail 
shoe  dealer  of  Duncannon  ;  he  married  Miss 
Carrie  Froehlich,  December  27,1892;  they 
have  one  child,  Mabel  F.,  born  March  27, 
1896;  (6)  a  son  who  died  in  infancy,  un- 
named. This  Harris  family  is  supposed  to 
be  descended  from  the  founder  of  Harris- 
burg. 

Samuel  H.  Harris  was  reared  a  farmer 
boy  in  a  comfortable  home,  enjoying  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  good  district  school  during 
winter  months.  He  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  he  was  nineteen.  He  learned  car- 
pentry, and  followed  his  trade  until  1888. 
Since  April  1  of  tiiat  year  he  has  been  in  his 
present  business. 

He  was  married,  in  Duncannon,  January 
14,  1886,  to  Gertrude  E.,  daughter  of  John 
and  Margaret  E.  (Thompson)  Beck,  born  in 
Luthersburg,  (!learfield  county,  Pa.,  August 
9,1868.  They  liave  three  children:  Clar- 
ence D.,  l)orn  February  2,  1887 ;  Merle 
Francis,  February  25,  1892;  and  Ethel 
Kathryn,  January  9,  1895. 

Mr.  Harris  is  liberal  in  his  political  views. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Cove- 
nant I'resbyterian  church. 

John  Beck,  tlie  father  of  Mrs.  Harris,  was 
born  in  Centre  county.  Pa.,  May  7, 1824,  and 
is  of  German  ancestr}'.  He  was  an  under- 
taker and  a  prominent  resident  of  Luthers- 
burg for  many  years ;  but  for  the  past  twelve 
years  he  has  been  an  honored  resident  of 
Perry  count\'.  His  wife,  Margaret  Thomp- 
son, was  born  in  Clearfield  county,  Septem- 
ber 25, 1829,  and  died  in  Luthersburg,  where 
she  had  spent  her  life,  October  9, 1874.  They 
had  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Boyd  (^uigle  ;  C'larissa  A.,  wife  of  Stewart 
Council,  died  March  11,  1877,  leaving  five 
children;  Mary  Ellen,  died  in  infancy; 
George  W.,  and  Gertrude  Emma,  Mrs.  Har- 
ris. 


They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  seven  are 
living:  Susan,  wife  of  John  Herr;  George, 
William,  John,  Jeannette,  Michal  Lucinda, 
and  Lafayette. 

Lafayette  Palmer  spent  his  early  life  in  his 
native  town.  He  attended  the  public  school 
during  the  winter  months  and  worked  in  his 
father's  cooper  shop  in  the  summer.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the  blast  furnaces 
at  Newport,  Pa.,  and  filled  the  position  of 
stationary  engineer  for  two  years.  During 
the  next  two  years  he  was  employed  as  engi- 
neer at  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works,  Steel- 
ton,  Pa.  He  then  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa., 
and  assisted  in  building  the  Braddock  Blast 
Furnaces  ;  for  two  years  he  was  employed  in 
these  works  as  engineer.  From  Pittsburgh 
he  went  to  Albany  and  was  employed  as 
engineer  in  the  blast  furnaces  at  tliat  place 
for  eighteen  months.  During  tiie  four  years 
following  he  was  again  emploj'ed  at  the  Steel 
Works,  Steelton,  at  frog  and  switch  making. 
He  was  employed  at  the  same  work  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  for  the  next  three  years,  after  which 
he  again  returned  to  Steelton  and  worked  for 
one  year  at  frog  and  switch  making  for  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Works.  In  1888  he  aban- 
doned the  shop  and  went  into  the  grocery 
bu.siness  in  Harrisburg,  and  has  successfully 
conducted  the  business  since  that  date. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  October 
25,  1883,  to  Florence,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  Galager,  of  Harrisburg.  Of  their  four 
children,  two  died  in  infancy;  the  survivors 
are  Amelia  B.  and  Ruth. 

Mr.  Palmer  is  the  inventor  of  several  pat- 
ented articles,  among  wliich  is  a  funnel  and 
measure  combined  ;  another  is  a  boiler  tube 
"cleaner;  and  another,  a  frog  for  railroad 
tracks. 

He  is  a  member  of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No. 
70,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  of  Egyptian  Commandery, 
jJo.  114,  K.  of  M.,  and  of  Harrisburg  Coun- 
cil, Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  His  political  views  are 
Republican.  He  and  his  family  attend  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Palmer 
stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  general 
public.  By  energy  and  perseverance  lie  has 
built  up  a  large  and  steadily  increasing  busi- 
ness. 


Palmer,  L.\fayette,  was  born  in  Golds- 
boro,  York  county,  Pa.,  December  13,  1857. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  ('u  ire) 
Palmer,  both  deceased.  Botii  were  natives 
of  York  county,  and   of  German   ancestry. 


HuTTON,  George  J.,  grocer,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  June  17, 1858.  He  is  a  son 
of  Franklin  A.  and  Mary  E.  (Utz)  Hutton. 
His  father  was  a  regular  graduated  physician 
and  practiced  in  Harrisburg.  He  went  to 
Brazil  in  1868,  at  the  request  of  the  Brazilian 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


641 


government,  to  treat  yellow  fever  patients. 
He  died  in  that  country  in  1872.  George  .J. 
Hutton  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  found  employment  in  an  iron  mill.  In 
1878  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  army  of  the 
United  States  and  served  for  five  years.  He 
was  stationed  in  Washington  and  Idaho  Ter- 
ritories. He  was  discharged  fi'om  the  army 
with  the  rank  of  quartermaster  sergeant. 
During  his  term  he  served  four  years  and 
five  months  as  a  non-commissioned  officer. 
In  1883  he  returned  to  Harrisburg  and  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business,  in  which  he 
has  since  continued.  He  is  Republican  in 
politics.  In  1892  he  was  elected  to  the  board 
of  water  commissioners  and  was  re-elected 
in  1895.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Malta  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  He  was 
married,  in  Middletown,  December  9,  1883, 
to  Miss  Ella  S.  Nagle,  daughter  of  Emanuel 
Nagle,  of  Middletown,  Pa.  He  has  two 
children,  George  W.  and  James  Nagle.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


church.  Mr.  Fortney  is  a  man  of  infegrity 
and  liigh  moral  character,  as  is  evidenced 
bj'  his  high  standing  in  business  and  social 
circles. 


Fortney,  Sylvester  T.,  was  born  in  Mid- 
dletown, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  June  23, 
1858.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Theodore 
Sylvester  and  Margaret  P.  (Walboru)  Fort- 
ney. His  parents  were  honored  residents  of 
Middletown  until  1860.  They  then  removed 
to  Harrisburg,  wliere  the  father  died  in  1875. 
Since  1893  the  mother  has  resided  in  Youngs- 
town,  Ohio.  Their  children  are:  Rufus  C, 
residing  in  Youngstown  ;  Sylvester  T.,  John 
\V.,  and  Ethel  E.,  residing  in  Youngstown. 

Sylvester  T.  Fortney  was  eight  years  old 
when  his  parents  came  to  Harrisburg,  and 
this  city  has  ever  since  been  his  residence. 
He  was  educated  in  tlie  city  schools  and 
afterwards  became  a  clerk  in  the  grocery 
business.  Subsequently  he  was  in  a  gentle- 
man's furnishing  store,  and  later  still  re- 
turned to  the  grocery  business.  lu  1883  he 
embarked  in  that  business  in  connection 
with  William  A.  Morehead,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Fortney  &  Morehead.  This  part- 
nership was  dissolved  August  11, 1887,  since 
wiiich  time  Mr.  Fortney  lias  conducted  the 
business  entirely  ni  his  own  interest. 

He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  September 
14,  1893,  to  Lizzie  I.,  daughter  of  Frank  and 
Lavinia  Putt,  of  Harrisburg.  They  have  no 
children.  He  is  an  active  member  of  Hope 
Fire  Company,  No.  2,  and  also  of  the  Fire- 
men's Beneficial  Association.  His  political 
views  are  decidedly  Democratic.  He  and 
his  wife  attend  the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian 


Van  Camp,  William  L.,  grocer,  was  born 
in  Newport,  Perry  county.  Pa.,  August  28, 
1858;  son  of  the  late  James  and  Rebecca 
(Potter)  Van  Camp.  The  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Perry  county,  the  father  having 
been  born  on  the  old  Van  Camp  farm,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Juniata  river;  the  mother 
near  Montgomery's  Ferry.  The  father  was 
a  harness  maker  and  was  engaged  in  that 
occupation  until  his  death,  April  29,  1881. 
The  mother  is  still  living  and  resides  in 
Harrisburg.  Of  their  three  children,  Will- 
iam L.  is  the  only  one  living,  two  having  died 
in  infancy.  William  L.  attended  the  schools 
in  his  native  county  until  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  completed  his  educa- 
tion in  the  city  high  school  and  in  the  Har- 
risburg Business  College.  He  worked  in 
the  store  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  old.  The  three  following  years  he 
was  employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  and  on  March  15,  1883,  en-' 
gaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  himself. 
He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  Se[)tember 
26,  1889,  to  Miss  Sarah  Alice,  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Woodcock) 
Crownshield,  born  in  Harrisburg,  October  6, 
1865.  They  have  no  children.  Mr.  Van 
Camp  is  a  member  of  Phrjenix  Lodge,  No. 
59,  K.  of  P.;  Egpytian  Commandery,  No, 
114,  K.  of  M.,  and  of  Capital  City  Council, 
No.  327,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  Van  Camp  is  a  Republican.  He 
and  his  wife  attend  the  Messiah  Lutheran 
church,  of  which  Mrs.  Van  Camp  is  a  mem- 
ber. 


FoERSTER,  George,  grocer,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  September  16,  1858 ;  son  of 
George  and  Catherine  (Klem)  Foer.ster.  The 
father  was  born  in  Bavaria,  near  Bogrenth, 
and  the  mother  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany. 
Tlie  parents  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
Harrisburg.  The  father  found  his  first  em- 
ployment in  this  country  with  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company,  and  subsequently 
worked  in  the  present  McCormick  stone 
quarries.  In  1860  he  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  on  Race  street,  in  which  he 
continued  until  1878,  and  has  since  then 
been  retired  from  active  business.      During 


642 


BTO GRA PHWA L  ENCYCLOPEniA 


the  war  he  served  a  short  time  with  the 
State  militia.  In  politics  Mr.  Foerster  is  a 
Democrat.  His  children  are:  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  F.  W.  Coover,  of  Harrisburg,  and 
George.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Michael's 
German  Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  has 
been  a  trustee  for  many  years. 

George  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  in  Seller's  Academ}'.  He 
subsequently  took  a  course  in  the  State  Nor- 
mal School  at  Millersville,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1878.  He  then  taught 
school  one  term  at  Dorrence,  Luzerne  county, 
and  two  terms  at  Tabor,  Pa.  In  1881  he 
succeeded  to  his  father's  business,  and  in 
1888  moved  to  his  present  location.  No. 
540  Race  street.  Mr.  Foerster  is  a  stock- 
holder  in  the  Harrisburg  Traction  Company, 
and  in  the  Harrisburg  Trust  Company,  and 
is  the  [)resident,  and  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  William  Penn  Building  and  Loan  Asso- 
ciation. He  is  a  member  of  Perseverance 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat.  Mr.  Foerster  was  married  in 
1884,  to  Miss  Annie  P.  Fairlamb,  of  Dela- 
ware county.  They  have  two  children : 
Annie  K.  and  Frederick  F.  The  family 
attend  the  Zion  Lutheran  church. 


board  and  borough  assessor,  of  Goldsboro. 
He  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  and  Odd 
Fellows  fraternities  at  Goldsboro.  He  at- 
tends the  Second  Church  of  God. 


Good,  Gkokge,  grocer,  was  born  in  Fair- 
view  township,  York  county,  Pa.,  May  30, 
1859;  son  of  the  late  Peter  and  Catherine 
(Zorger)  Good.  The  parents  spent  their 
whole  life  in  York  county.  The  father  was 
a  farmer  and  died  in  1891.  The  mother 
died  in  1884.  They  had  nineteen  children, 
of  whom  fourteen  are  living-  Sarah,  Elias, 
Peter,  John,  Daniel,  David,  Caroline,  Anna, 
Margaret,  Jane,  Emma,  Matilda,  Elizabeth 
and  George.  George,  when  he  was  eight 
years  old,  removed  with  his  parents  to  the 
village  of  Yocvimtown,  in  the  same  county, 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools.  He 
served  for  eight  years  as  a  clerk  in  a  general 
store  and  in  1884  engaged  in  business  for 
himself  at  Goldsboro,  on  the  line  of  the 
Northern  Central  railroad,  where  he  con- 
tinued successfully  until  1893,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg  and  has  since  con- 
ducted business  in  this  city.  Mr.  Good  was 
married  at  Goldsboro  to  Lottie,  Burger, 
daughter  of  John  and  Charlotte  Burger,  of 
Goldsboro,  to  whom  have  been  born  three 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
survivors  are  Amy  and  George.  Mr.  Good 
is  a  Liberal  in  his  political  views  and  lias 
served  as  councilman,  member  of  the  school 


Enders,  Amos  E.,  grocer,  Harrisburg,  was 
born  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  February  21,  1861.  He  is  a  son  of 
Uriah  F.  and  Catherine  (Warner)  Enders. 
His  grandparents  on  his  mother's  side  are 
natives  of  Dauphin  county,  and  are  still 
living,  at  an  advanced  age,  in  Jefferson 
township,  Dauphin  county.  His  parents  are 
natives  of  Jackson  township  and  resided 
there  until  1870,  since  which  date  they  have 
been  honored  residents  of  Susquehanna 
township.  They  live  at  Penbrook,  where 
they  are  quietly  and  peacefully  spending  the 
afternoon  of  life.  Five  of  their  seven  chil- 
dren are  living :  Amos  E. ;  Alfred  R.,  of 
Lower  Paxton  township  ;  Joseph  S.,  of  Hos- 
pers,  Iowa ;  Pierce  W.,  and  Cora  May,  resid- 
ing with  her  parents. 

Amos  E.  Enders,  at  nine  years  of  age,  re- 
moved with  his  i)arents  to  Penbrook,  Sus- 
quehanna township.  He  was  there  educated 
in  the  public  schools  and  completed  his 
studies  in  the  Lebanon  Vallej'  College.  Af- 
terwards he  was  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Susquehanna  township  for  twelve 
years.  On  November  12,  1892,  he  engaged 
in  his  j>resent  business. 

He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  Janu- 
ary 10,  1889,  to  Miss  Katie,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  (Forney)  Booser.  They 
have  two  children:  Violet  B.,  born  October 
9,  1891,  and  Esther  May,  born  May  4,  1893. 

Mr.  Enders  served  two  terms  as  register 
and  assessor  of  Susquehanna  township.  He 
is  a  member  of  Capital  City  Council,  No.  327, 
Jr.  O.  U.  A  M.,  and  of  Star  of  America  Com- 
mandery.  No.  113,  K.  of  M.  His  political 
views  are  Republican.  He  and  his  wife  at- 
tend the  United  Brethren  church  and  the 
Church  of  God. 

Henry  Booser,  the  father  of  Mrs.  A.  E. 
Enders,  was  born  at  Middletown,  Dauphin 
county,  February  9, 1842,  a  .son  of  Louis  and 
Peggy  (Weaver)  Booser,  who  both  died  dur- 
ing his  childhood.  He  was  a  farmer  boy 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  receiving  a 
limited  education  in  the  public  schools.  On 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
he  enlisted  in  company  I,  Ninety-third  regi- 
ment, Penn.sylvania  volunteers,  and  served 
two  years,  and  was  discharged  on  account  of 
disability.     In  July,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


643 


Two  Hundred  and  First  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Williamsburg  and  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  and  in 
the  Seven  Days'  battle.  When  discharged 
from  the  army  he  resumed  his  residence  in 
Harrisburg  and  has  for  thirty  years  worked 
at  his  trade  of  shoemakingwith  Forney  Bros. 
He  was  married  in  Linglestown,  Pa.,  in 
1866,  to  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Sarah  Forney,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Booser  have  had  live  children,  four  of  whom 
survive:  Kate,  wife  of  A.  E.  Enders;  Harry 
W.,  Charles  E.,  and  Blaine  A.  Lydia  F. 
died,  aged  three  years. 


Gould,  George  W.,  grocer,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  May  11,  1868. 
He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Rebecca  (Craig) 
Gould.  Christian  Gould  was  born  in  Car- 
lisle, Pa.  He  lived  in  Harrisburg  for  many 
years  and  was  connected  with  the  Philadel- 
phia and  Reading  railroad  as  yard  dispatcher. 
For  some  years  he  has  been  retired  from 
active  business.  He  was  twice  married.  Of 
the  first  marriage  there  was  one  daughter, 
Catherine,  now  wife  of  William  Banks,  of 
Harrisburg.  His  second  wife,  Rebecca  Craig, 
was  born  in  Columbia,  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 
The  only  child  of  this  marriage  is  George  W. 

George  W.  Gould  has  resided  in  Harris- 
burg all  his  life.  He  was  educated  in  the 
cit}'  schools,  and  afterwards  became  sales- 
man in  a  grocerj'  house ;  this  position  he 
held  for  about  two  years.  He  was  then  for 
eight  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Philadel- 
phia and  Reading  Railroad  Company  as 
brakeman,  fireman  and  engineer.  He  was 
one  year  with  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  as 
brakeman.  In  this  service  he  met  with  an 
accident  which  made  the  amputation  of  one 
leg  necessary,  and  was  consequently  com- 
pelled to  abandon  railroad  work.  In  1893 
he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  which 
he  still  conducts  with  success.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  Harrisburg  Sejitember  26,  1888,  to 
Frances,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
Anderson,  of  Harrisburg.  Mrs.  Gould  was 
born  in  Lancaster.  They  have  one  daughter, 
Annie  Rebecca.  Mr.  Gould  is  a  member  of 
Fulton  (buncil,  No.  35,  0.  U.  A.  M.,  and  St. 
John's  Castle,  No.  17,  K.  of  M.  C.  He  belongs 
to  the  Beneficial  Society  of  the  Pino  Street 
Presbyterian  church,  which  church  he  and 
his  wife  attend. 


H.-VRTMAN,  RuFus  A.,  grocer,  was  born  in 
Mount  Joy,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  October 
29,  1869 ;  son  of  George  W.  and  Elizabeth 
M.  (Durboraw)  Hartman.  He  attended  the 
public  school  of  his  native  township  and 
completed  his  education  at  the  Gettysburg 
Normal  School.  He  was  for  four  j'cars  em- 
ployed as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Adams  and  Lancaster  counties,  and  in  1891 
removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged as  a  salesman  until  1893,  at  which 
date  he  embarked  in  his  present  business. 
He  was  married  at  Kingsdale,  Adams 
county,  in  1892,  to  Jennie  Mehring,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Anna  Mehring,  by  whom  he 
has  one  child,  born  .January  31, 1896.  Mr. 
Hartman  is  a  member  of  Harrisburg  Coun- 
cil, No.  106,  0.  U.  A.  M.,  and  of  the  P.  0.  S. 
of  A.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics  and 
attends  the  Reformed  church. 


SoELL,  John,  butcher,  was  born  in  Mox- 
tone  township,  Berks  count}'.  Pa.,  July  1, 
1855.  He  is  a  son  of  .John  and  Catherine 
(Kripp)  Soell.  John  Soell  was  born  in  CJer- 
many,  where  he  was  brought  up,  educated 
and  married.  He  learned  carpentry',  and 
])ursued  that  calling  both  in  Germany  and 
America.  His  wife,  Catherine  Kripp,  was 
also  a  native  of  Germany.  After  their 
marriage  they  emigrated  to  this  country. 
They  remained  some  time  and  then  returned 
to  Germany,  where  Mrs.  Soell  died.  They 
had  fourteen  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
living;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Abraham  Nath  ; 
Kate,  wife  of  W.  A.  Bats';  Barbara,  wife  of 
W.  S.  Krause  ;  Mary,  wife  of  G.  Higes,  de- 
ceased ;  Frederick;  Louisa,  wife  of  a  Mr. 
Weaver,  and  John. 

John  Soell,  Jr.,  received  only  a  very  lim- 
ited education,  having  attended  the  public 
school  of  Berks  county  only  seven  weeks. 
He  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  return 
to  Germany,  and  spent  two  years  in  the  old 
country,  during  which  his  mother  died. 
After  this  event  he  returned  to  America 
with  his  brother.  He  reached  Harrisburg 
with  only  eighteen  cents  in  his  pocket,  a 
stranger  and  friendless.  In  some  way  he 
obtained  emplo^'ment  as  a  laborer  under 
Mr.  Hanshaw,  at  the  car  works,  and  held 
this  place  for  two  years  ;  he  was  then  pro- 
moted to  the  position  of  foreman,  and  served 
in  this  capacity  for  one  year.  Previous  to 
his  promotion  he  attended  the  night  school 
on  Walnut  street,  under  Prof.  Edwards,  for 
one   winter.     Desiring  to  learn  a  trade,  he 


644 


BIO  GRA  PHIUA  L  ENCYCL  0  PEDIA 


resigned  his  place  as  foreman  in  the  car 
works  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  at  butcliering  with  Mr.  Jacob  Olmer, 
at  Pottsville,  Pa.  He  worked  at  liis  trade 
there  for  some  years  and  then  returned  to 
Harrisburg  and  worked  a  few  months  for 
Mr.  Augustus  Gobi.  On  March  28, 1892,  Mr. 
Soell  began  business  for  liimself.  Heopeiied 
a  sliop  at  424  Walnut  street,  and  continued 
there  until  April  1,  1895;  he  then  removed 
to  428  Walnut  street,  where  he  is  now  car- 
rying on  a  large  and  profitable  business. 
Mr.  Soell  was  married,  March  1,  1882,  to 
Miss  Christiana,  daughter  of  Christopher 
and  Catherine  (Hersleman)  Bink.  They 
have  no  children.  Mrs.  Soell  was  born  in 
1846.  Her  {)arents  were  both  natives  of 
Germany.  Her  father  was  a  tinsmith,  and 
was  subsequently  engaged  in  mercantile 
business.  Her  mother  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-eight  years.  They  had  six 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Bar- 
barn,  wife  of  Willing  Eling,  deceased  ; 
Henry,  and  Christiana,  Mrs.  Soell. 


RouMFORT,  Charles  E., bread  and  cracker 
baker,  was  born  at  Chestnut  Hill,  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  November  30,  1828.  He  is  the 
son  of  Augustus  L.  and  Mary  M.  (Kline) 
Roumfort.  His  early  life  was  spent  in 
Philadelphia,  and  his  education  was  received 
in  tlie  public  schools  of  that  city.  After 
completing  his  education  he  learned  baking 
and  has  made  it  his  occupation  throughout 
his  life.  In  1853  he  removed  to  Harrisburg 
and  established  himself  in  business  in  which 
he  was  continuously  and  successfully  en- 
gaged until  March,  1896,  when  he  sold  out 
and  retired.  He  was  married,  in  Philadel- 
phia, to  Elizabeth  Haas,  born  at  Ciiestnut 
Hill,  daughter  of  Mathias  and  Malinda  Haas. 
They  have  three  children  :  Mary,  wife  of 
W.  F.  Kunkle,  residing  in  Philadelphia ; 
^'^ictorine  M.,  wife  of  M.  Coover,  residing  in 
Harrisburg,  and  Augustus  L. 

Augustus  L.  Roumfort  was  born  in  Har- 
risburg, January  30,  1866.  He  took  the 
regular  course  of  instruction  in  the  city 
schools  and  also  in  the  Commercial  College. 
His  education  ended,  he  at  once  became  con- 
nected with  his  father  in  business,  in  which 
he  was  actively  employed  until  his  father's 
retirement  from  business.  The  elder  Mr. 
Roumfort  is  a  Democrat.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Episcopal  church. 


Templar,  Joseph  E.,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Wellington,  England,  December  1,  1837  ; 
son  of  Joseph  and  Anna  (Hancock)  Templar. 
He  had  only  slender  educational  advantages, 
which  he  improved  to  the  utmost,  but  se- 
cured only  a  limited  education.  He  learned 
the  trades  of  wool  sorter  and  baker,  and  came 
to  America  in  1857,  locating  in  Harrisburg. 
He  was  foreman  for  General  Roumfort  for 
seven  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  where  he  carried  on  a  bakery  for 
two  years,  and  then  embarked  in  the  grocery 
business  in  Harrisburg,  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Walnut  streets,  which  he  conducted  for  six- 
teen years,  removing  in  1887  to  Thirteenth 
and  Market  streets.  Pie  died  February  16, 
1896.  His  political  affiliation  was  with  the 
Repuljlican  party,  and  he  had  always  been  a 
strong  anti-slavery  man  and  a  warm  friend 
of  tlie  colored  race.  Public  office  was  not  at- 
tractive to  iiim,  and  he  never  accepted  offi- 
cial positions,  having  served  onlj'  on  the  elec- 
tion board.  Mr.  Templar  was  married  to 
Miss  Susan,  daughter  of  Joseph  D.  Gallegher, 
of  Harrisburg,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 
dren: Frank  N.,  in  hardware  trade  in  Har- 
risburg; Harry  W.,  printer,  Harrisburg; 
Bertha,  Mrs.  Harry  C.  Young,  Harrisburg, 
and  IdaG.  He wasraarried, secondly, in  1876, 
to  Miss  Fannie  M.  Ferster,  daughter  of  Ru- 
dolph Ferster,  of  Honey  Brook,  Chester 
county,  Pa.,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Mary 
Alice.  Mr.  Templar  was  reared  a  Presbyte- 
rian, and  first  united  with  the  Market  Square 
Presbyterian  church,  but  afterwards  joined 
the  Pine  Street  church  of  the  same  denomi- 
nation. He  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
Elder  Street  Presbyterian  church,  and  was  a 
teacher  in  the  Sabbath-school  man)' years. 


Butler,  William  A.,  baker,  was  born  in 
Berkeley  county,  W.  Va.,  July  28, 1852.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  William  H.  and 
Sarah  (Price)  Butler.  Dr.  William  H.  But- 
ler was  born  in  Berkeley  county,  W.  Va., 
and  was  educated  in  his  native  county, 
where  he  also  studied  and  practiced  medi- 
cine. His  wife,  Sarah  Price,  was  also  born 
in  Berkelev  county.  They  had  one  son, 
William  R  Dr.  Butler  died  in  1862,  and 
is  survived  by  his  wife,  who  resides  with 
her  son.  William  H.  Butler,  Jr.,  received  a 
limited  education,  having  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  place  until  he  was 
twelve  years  old,  after  which  he  worked  for 
his  mother  for  a  time.     Soon  after  leaving 


DAUPTITN  COUNTY. 


645 


school  lie  secured  a  position  as  brakeman 
oil  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad,  wiiich 
he  held  for  one  year.  He  was  afterwards 
employed  for  four  years,  off  and  on,  in  the 
ore  mines.  In  1869  Mr.  Butler  came  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  secured  employment 
in  the  rolling  mill  at  Lochiel,  and  remained 
there  some  time.  After  his  marriage,  he 
was  employed  as  teamster  for  a  few  months, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  business  for  him- 
self. He  leased  the  restaurant,  corner  of 
Cowden  street  and  Strawberry  avenue, 
where  he  carried  on  business  for  five  vears. 
In  1890  he  removed  to  No.  418  Market 
street,  and  opened  the  Temperance  Hotel, 
known  as  the  Windsor  House;  he  con- 
ducted it  with  success  until  January,  1890, 
when  he  removed  to  No.  1409  North  Third 
street,  and  established  a  first  class  bakery. 
In  all  that  pertains  to  the  baker's  craft,  Mr. 
Butler  is  a  recognized  authority,  being  well- 
informed  in  the  details  and  general  scope  of 
the  business.  Mr.  Butler  was  married,  April 
27,  1873,  to  Miss  Annie,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Annie  E.  Wingert.  They  have  four 
children  :  Minnie  F.  E.,  wife  of  John  I.  Pier- 
son  ;  Sarah  K.,  Cora  J.,  and  Annie.  Mr. 
Butler  has  been  an  active  member  of  Lodge 
No.  08,  I.  0.  0.  F.  for  eight  years.  He  is  a 
Republican.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  First  Baptist  church,  corner  of  Second 
and  Pine  streets.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  But- 
ler were  both  natives  of  Germany,  who  came 
to  this  country  in  1863 ;  their  occupation  was 
farming.  They  had  two  children  :  Annie, 
Mrs.  Butler,  and  Lizzie,  Mrs.  George  Koch. 
The  father  died  in  1859,  aged  forty-five 
years.  Her  mother  still  lives,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one  years,  and  resides  in  Williams- 
port,  Pa.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church. 


Stence,  Benjamin  F.,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Motter 
farm,  December  12,  1806.  He  is  a  son  of 
the  late  Samuel  and  Mary  (Hoelstine)  Stence. 
His  paternal  grandparents  were  natives  of 
Dauphin  county ;  the  grandfather  was  a 
cabinet  maker.  His  maternal  grandparents 
were  farmers.  His  father,  Samuel  Stence, 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  October 
16,  1836.  He  learned  cabinet  making  and 
continued  in  this  business  until  after  his 
marriage,  when  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  married  in  1860  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Hoelstine,  born  January  7,  1841. 
Of  their  five  children,  four  are  living;  Louis, 


Benjamin  F.,  Agnes  and  Lottie.  Jacob  died 
January  9,  1893,  aged  twenty-one.  Mr. 
Samuel  Stence  was  a  Republican.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Bethel  church. 
Mrs.  Stence  died  in  January,  1878,  aged 
thirty -one. 

Benjamin  F.  Stence  was  reared  a  farmer 
boy  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  Dauphin  county.  At  the  age  of  twelve  he 
began  to  learn  baking,  and  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  twenty-one  months  with  Mr. 
Porter,  of  Dauphin,  Pa.  At  the  end  of  his 
apprenticeship  he  went  to  Newport,  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  and  worked  at  his  trade  eighteen 
months  for  George  E.  Gas.  After  this  he 
worked  for  one  year  in  New  York  City.  He 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  army  January 
18,  1884,  and  was  discharged  May  21,  1884, 
on  account  of  disability.  He  then  worked  at 
baking  for  three  months.  In  October,  1885, 
he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  worked  for  Mrs. 
Miller,  on  Paxton  street,  until  she  sold  her 
bakery,  when  he  found  employment  with  Mr. 
Gebhard  for  one  year.  Prior  to  this  he  had 
been  engaged  for  a  year  and  a  half  in  a 
pretzel  bakery  in  Duncannon,  Perry  county, 
Pa.  He  was  also  employed  by  Mr.  Gohl  on 
Walnut  street,  and  afterwards  for  three 
months  by  Christ  Dapp  on  Third  street. 

He  was  married,  Seiitember  23,  1887,  to 
Miss  Ellen  M.,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  (Beaver)  Fickes.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  is  living,  Clarissa  E. 
Their  deceased  children  arc  Bessie,  died 
August  10,  1888,  aged  three  months  and  one 
day;  Mary,  died  October  13,  1890,  aged  two 
months  and  five  days,  and  an  infant,  un- 
named.    Mr.  Stence  is  a  Republican. 

Benjamin  Fickes,  father  ,of  Mrs.  Stence, 
was  born  in  Dauphin  count}'.  He  was  a 
fanner  and  was  married  to  a  native  of  Dau- 
phin county.  They  had  two  daughters, 
Annie,  wife  of  A.  L.  Gast,and  Ellen  M.,  wi*'e 
of  B.  F.  Stence.  Her  parents  reside  in  Perry 
county  and  are  engaged  in  farming. 


Bell,  George  H.,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
July  27,1822;  son  of  Willia!ii  and  Elizabeth 
(Hutman)  Bell.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Northumberland  countj'  and  moved  to  Bed- 
ford county,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
carpenter.  He  came  to  Harrisburg  in  1818 
and  worked  on  the  Capitol  building,  then 
being  erected,  assisting  in  the  construction 
of  the  stairways  of  that  edifice.  He  married 
the  daughter  of  Mathias  Plutman  and  pur- 
chased property  on  the  corner  of  Second  and 


646 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


Mulberry  streets,  where  he  lived  until  1836, 
when  he  removed  to  Second  and  Chestnut 
streets,  and  spent  there  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  abandoned  carpenter  work  in  1824 
or  1825  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 
Mr.  Bell  was  one  of  the  original  stockholders 
in  the  Dauphin  County  Bank.  He  rendered 
service  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1846,  his  wife  surviving  until  1868. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
cliurch  and  she  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  They  reared  six  children.  George 
H.  secured  his  education  in  subscription 
schools.  He  entered  tlie  store  with  his 
father,  and  has  continued  in  the  business 
since  tliat  time.  In  politics  he  is  an  Inde- 
pendent Republican.  He  served  as  director 
of  the  poor  of  the  county  for  three  years  and 
was  a  member  of  the  first  city  council  of 
Harrisburg.  His  marriage  occurred  in  1862 
to  Miss  Mary  A.  Roberts,  daughter  of  Wayne 
Roberts,  of  Boston,  to  wiiom  has  been  born 
one  cliild  :  Clara  M.  Bell.  Mrs.  Bell  and 
lier  daugiiter  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Weaver,  John  S.,  of  the  firm  of  Weaver 
&  Hubley,  was  born  in  Higiispire,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  December  12,  1849;  son  of  John 
and  Barbara  (Hoffman)  Weaver.  The  fatiier 
was  a  truck  gardener  and  farmer,  near  High- 
spire.  John  S.  attended  the  district  schools 
and  when  thirteen  years  old  came  to  Har- 
risburg, wliere  lie  started  in  business  as  a 
clerk  for  Mr.  Felix,  in  the  confectionery  busi- 
ness, on  Market  Square,  with  whom  he  con- 
tinued four  years,  after  which  he  was  with 
Gardner  &  Sayford,  on  North  Third  street, 
from  1868  to  1872.  In  January,  1873,  he 
united  with  Alpheus  T.  Hubley,  forming 
the  firm  of  Weaver  &.  Hubley,  and  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  confection- 
ery, and  has  since  continued  in  the  business. 
In  politics  Mr.  Weaver  is  a  Republican,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  was 
married  in  1876  to  Anna  C.  Troup,  of  Har- 
risliurg.  Tliey  have  no  children.  Tliey  are 
members  of  the  First  Lutheran  church,  in 
whicii  Mr.  Weaver  holds  the  office  of  dea- 
con.    He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 


ZiNN,  Anson  B.,  baker,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Mechanicsburg,  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.,  December  5, 1856.  He  is  a  son 
of  Edward  P.  and  Margaret  (Pisle)  Zinn. 

Edward  P.  Zinn  is  a  native  of  York 
county.     He   received    an    ordinary   school 


education,  and  afterwards  prepared  himself 
for  the  practice  of  dentistry.  He  opened 
an  office  in  Mechanicsburg,  where  he  spent 
many  years  of  successful  work  in  that  line. 
He  was  skillful  and  reliable  in  his  opera- 
tions, and  enjoyed  a  liberal  })atronage.  For 
several  years  he  has  laid  aside  the  active 
work  of  his  profession.  His  wife,  Margaret 
Pisle,  was  a  native  of  Cumberland  county. 
Tliey  had  five  children;  one  died  in  child- 
hood, and  four  are  living:  Anson  B.,  Ida  E., 
Harry  I.  and  Minnie  Bell. 

Anson  B.  Zinn  spent  his  j'outh  and  part 
of  his  manhood  in  his  native  county.  He 
received  the  usual  school  training,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  baking.  His  life  has 
not  been  very  eventful,  and  there  is  little  to 
record,  beyond  the  honorable  mention  of  in- 
dustrious pursuits  and  faithful  service.  Mr. 
Zinn  spent  many  years  as  an  employee,  but 
was  nine  years  in  the  baking  business  on 
his  own  account  in  his  native  place.  He 
came  to  Harrisburg  in  ]S!)0,  in  search  of 
larger  business  opportunities,  and  iias  found 
no  reason  to  regret  the  change.  He  lias  had 
gratifying  success  in  this  city,  and  is  counted 
among  its  most  reliable,  enter])rising  and 
accommodating  bakers. 

Mr.  Zinn  is  still  in  the  ranks  of  the 
bachelors.  He  is  a  Re|)ublican,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  Wasiiington  Camp.  No.  164,  P.  0.  S. 
of  A.,  Mechanicsburtr. 


Meals,  Theodore  S.,  was  born  in  Adams 
county.  Pa.,  January  1,  185!).  He  is  a  son 
of  the  late  Michael  and  Catherine  (Sliorb) 
Meals.  His  great-grandfather,  Gabriel  Meals, 
was  a  native  of  Adams  county,  and  among 
its  earliest  inhabitants.  He  was  a  stone  cutter. 
Gabriel  Meals,  grandfather  of  Theodoi-e  S. 
Meals,  was  also  born  in  Adams  county,  was 
a  stonecutter,  and  had  a  large  marble  yard. 
He  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living.  Michael  Meals,  father  of 
Theodore  S.,  was  born  in  Adams  county, 
and  was  a  carriage  maker.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Catherine  Shorb,  a  native  of  Adams 
county.  They  had  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living:  Wesley,  William,  Gabriel  and 
Theodore  S.  Their  deceased  children  are 
Susan  and  Elizabeth.  The  father  was  a 
member  of  several  societies,  and  in  politics 
was  a  Republican.  He  belonged  to  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  died  in  September, 
1859,  aged  thirtv-six  years;  his  wife  died 
December  23,  18t2. 

Theodore  S.  Meals  was  about  nine  months 


^-if^y/Z^. 


IC-^-p-^-i^  ^'C^/t-y 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


f)49 


old  wlien  his  fatlier  died.  His  mother  re- 
moved from  Adams  county  to  Harrisburg, 
placing  him  in  the  Orphans'  School  at  Mid- 
dletown,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  remained 
three  years  and  received  a  part  of  his  educa- 
tion. He  then  returned  to  Harrisburg.  In 
1SG9  he  entered  the  DeWitt  school,  on  Wal- 
nut street,  where  he  remained  three  years. 
In  1873-74  he  was  in  Professor  Gause's  school. 
In  1875  he  found  employment  with  Mr.  D. 
H.  Heise}',  with  whom  he  learned  the  ice- 
cream business  and  by  whom  he  was  em- 
ployed for  thirteen  years.  At  the  end  of 
this  time  he  was  admitted  to  partnership 
with  Mr.  Heisey ;  this  partnership  lasted  two 
years.  In  1888  he  was  employed  as  rodman 
in  an  engineer  corps,  and  served  one  year  in 
that  capacity.  In  1889-90  he  was  inspector 
of  street  paving.  In  1S91  he  engaged  in  the 
ice-cream  business  for  himself,  at  No.  1315 
North  Third  street.  A  year  later  he  removed 
to  909  North  Third  street,  where  he  has  been 
since  located,  and  where  he  has  one  of  the 
finest  ice-cream  stands  in  the  city.  He  was 
married,  October  10,  1890,  to  Miss  Rosanna, 
daughter  of  John  and  Sophia  (Orsinger) 
Wild,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children: 
Casper  D.,  Ezra  S.,  and  Theodore  S.,  J  r.  Mr. 
Meals  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  State  street, 
while  Mrs.  Meals  belongs  to  the  Lutheran 
church.  He  is  practically  a  self-made  man 
and  has  the  esteem  of  the  community. 

John  Wild,  father  of  Mrs.  Meals,  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  was  a  baker.  He 
married  Miss  Orsinger,  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living:  Annie,  wife  of  E.  B.  Will- 
iams; Rosanna,  wife  of  T.  S.  Meals;  Will- 
iam and  Minnie.  John  and  Amelia  died  in 
infancy.  The  father  died  in  June,  1877, 
aged  thirty -six  ;  the  mother  still  lives  and  is 
now  the  wife  of  John  Willoughby.  The  pa- 
ternal grand [larents  of  Mrs.  Meals  were  both 
natives  of  Germany.  Her  grandfather  was 
a  stone  mason.  The  grandmother  still  sur- 
vives. The  grandparents  of  Mrs.  IVIeals,  on 
her  mother's  side,  were  also  natives  of  Ger- 
many. Mr.  Orsinger,  her  granilfather,  was  a 
baker,  but  later  was  engaged  in  hotel-keep- 
ing, in  Harrisburg,  where  he  died,  May  5, 
1892.  Mrs.  Meals'  great-grandmother,  also 
a  native  of  Germany,  lived  to  the  age  of 
ninety-eight  years. 


burg.  Pa.,  was  born  at  Mount  Holly  Springs, 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  September  19, 1808. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Susan  (Yost) 
Buttorff.  Jonathan  Buttorff  was  born  in 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  but  has  been  a  resident  of 
Mount  Holly  for  over  thirty  years.  He  was 
a  farmer  but  for  several  years  past  has  lived 
retired  from  business.  He  has  never  been  an 
office  seeker,  but  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  county  affairs.  He  is  seventj'-six 
years  of  age.  He  married  Susan  Yost,  of 
('Umberland  county,  who  is  still  living;  they 
reside  at  Mount  Holly  Springs.  They  have 
eight  children, all  of  whom  are  living:  John 
W.,  of  near  Mount  Holly ;  D.  Frank,  of  York, 
Pa.;  Mary  E.,  Emma  Frances  and  Elizabeth 
C,  at  home;  Annie  F.,  wife  of  Samuel  Frehn, 
of  near  Carlisle,  Pa.;  Simon  A.,  living  on  the 
homestead  ;  and  Harvey  Y. 

Harvey  Y.  Buttorff  was  educated  in  the 
Mount  Holly  public  schools  and  took  a 
course  in  the  Harrisburg  Business  College. 
For  three  years  he  was  clerk  in  a  drug  store 
at  Mount  Holly  and  for  a  time  also  at  York. 
He  afterwards  came  to  Harrisburg,  entering 
the  employ  of  D.  Bacon  as  shipping  clerk  and 
served  in  this  capacity  for  three  years  with 
so  much  satisfaction  to  his  employer  that  at 
the  end  of  that  time  he  was  promoted  to  the 
position  of  bookkeej^er,  which  he  held  until 
Mr.  Bacon's  death.  Then  the  D.  Bacon  C'om- 
pany  was  formed  to  carry  on  the  business, 
with  Mr.  Buttorff  as  one  of  its  members.  He 
was  married,  in  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  October  22, 
1893,  to  Minerva,  daughter  of  Aaron  and 
Lucy  Sheely,  of  that  place.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Lucy  Mildi'ed.  Mr.  Buttorff  is  a 
member  of  the  Fraternal  Mystic  Circle.  His 
political  views  are  Republican.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  Messiah  Lutheran 
church. 


Buttorff,  Harvey  Y.,  of  the  D.  Bacon 
Company,   wholesale   confectioners,  Harris- 
43 


Walkemeyer,  Henry,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Walkemeyer  Bros.,  ice  dealers, 
was  born  in  Harrisburg,  September  17, 185S; 
son  of  the  late  H.  A.  \Villiam  and  Margaret 
(Orth)  Walkemeyer.  The  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Germany,  the  father  having  been 
born  at  Brunswick,  Germany,  and  the  mother 
in  Hesse,  Darmstadt.  The  father  came  to 
America  when  twenty -five  years  old,  and  soon 
after  settled  at  Harrisburg,  where  he  spent 
his  life.  He  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  six  are  living:  Henry,  Clara  W., 
Frederick  R.,  Annie  M.,  Ida  Louisa,  wife  of 
Samuel  Taylor,  and  Nettie  May,  a  teacher  in 
the    public    schools  of    Harrisburg.      The 


650 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


father  was  not  an  office  seeker,  but  served 
for  one  year  as  school  commissioner.  Henry 
was  reared  in  his  native  city,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.  At  the 
end  of  his  schooling  he  engaged  in  the 
ice  business  with  his  father,  to  which  he 
has  given  his  time  and  attention  all  his 
business  life.  Since  the  death  of  his  father 
he  and  his  brother  have  conducted  the  busi- 
ness. He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  April 
13,  1878,  to  Margaretta  M.  Miller,  daughter 
of  Charles  Miller,  to  whom  has  been  born  one 
daughter,  Clara  Wilhelmina.  The  political 
views  of  Mr.  Walkemeyer  are  Republican,  and 
he  has  served  as  a  member  of  select  council 
four  years.  He  served  five  years  as  a  private 
and  non-commissioned  officer  in  the  City 
Grays,  and  was  also  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Governor's  Troop,  in  which  he  was  first 
lieutenant  three  years.  He  is  a  thirty-second 
degree  Mason  and  member  of  Lulu  Temple, 
of  Philadelphia,  and  is  also  connected  with 
John  Harris  Council,  No.  174,  Jr.  O.  U. 
A.  M.  He  and  his  wife  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Frederick  R.  Walkemeyer,  junior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Walkemeyer  Bros.,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg.  Ho  was  educated  in 
the  city  schools,  and  like  his  brotlier,  be- 
came at  once  interested  in  his  father's  busi- 
ness, with  which  he  has  been  connected  all 
his  life.  He  was  married  to  Isabella  Sharpe, 
daughter  of  Albert  Sharpe,  to  whom  have 
been  born  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living:  William,  Florence,  Frederick,  Bessie, 
and  Nettie.  Mr.  Walkemeyer  is  a  member 
of  John  Harris  Council,  No.  174,  Jr.  0.  U. 
A.  M.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  the  family 
attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


SouRBiER,  George  H.,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  George  H.  Sourbier  &  Son,  funeral 
directors  and  embahners,  was  born  in  Hun- 
terstown,  Adams  county,  Pa.,  September  2, 
1838.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary(Klunk) 
Sourbier,  who  were  both  natives  of  York 
county,  Pa.,  and  were  both  of  German  extrac- 
tion. They  spent  the  greater  portion  of  their 
lives  in  Adams  county  on  their  farm.  The 
father  died  September  1,1879,  and  the  mother, 
September  9,  1872.  A  family  of  four  chil- 
dren survive  them:  Edward,  residing  in 
York,  Pa.;  John,  residing  in  Hamilton, 
province  of  Ontario,  Canada ;  George  H.,  and 
Mary  J.;  wife  of  Henry  Pifer,  residing  in 
York,  Pa. 

George   H.  Sourbier  was  a  farmer's  boy, 


and  his  educational  advantages  were  limited 
to  such  as  were  obtainable  in  the  district 
schools,  when  his  .services  could  be  spared 
from  home  duties.  When  eighteen  years  old 
he  went  to  Hanover,  York  county,  and 
learned  house  painting.  In  1862  he  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg  and  worked  at  paint- 
ing for  John  Cruikshank  for  about  one  year. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  went  to 
Philadelphia  where,  on  August  24, 1863,  Mr. 
Sourbier  enlisted  in  company  H,  Forty-ninth 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  nobly  served 
in  defense  of  his  country  for  upwards  of  two 
}'ears.  He  participated  in  several  important 
engagements,  among  which  was  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness.  On  May  11,  1864,  he  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  left  foot  while  doing 
skirmish  duty.  He  was  conveyed  to  Satter- 
ley  Hospital,  West  Philadelphia,  where  he 
remained  until  after  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  discharged  witii  the  rank  of  corporal,  at 
Philadelphia,  May  16,1865.  He  resumed  work 
at  his  trade  in  that  city.  In  1866  he  returned 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  has  contmued  to  re- 
side since  that  date.  From  1867  to  1875  he 
was  engaged  in  the  painting  business,  and 
from  that  date  until  1882  was  in  the  whole- 
sale liquor  trade.  In  1882  he  engaged  in 
the  furniture  and  undertaking  business,  but 
since  1884  has  devoted  his  entire  attention 
to  undertakine. 

George  H.  Sourbier  was  married  in  Har- 
risburg, January  9,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary  Jose- 
phine Faunce,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Caro- 
line (Beiser)  Faunce.  They  have  had  four 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  surviving  children  are :  George  H.,  Jr., 
a  partner  in  his  father's  business  ;  William 
J.,  residing  in  AUentown,  Pa.,  where  he  car- 
ries on  the  undertaking  business,  the  firm 
name  being  Burkholder  &  Sourbier,  and 
Charles  J.,  residing  at  home.  Mr.  Sourbier 
and  his  son  George  are  both  graduates  of 
Clark's  School  of  Embalming,  in  Philadel- 
phia. He  served  five  years  as  a  private  in 
companj-  D,  Eighth  regiment.  National 
Guard,  of  Harrisburg.  He  represented  the 
Sixth  ward  in  common  council  for  two 
terms.  He  belongs  to  Post  No.  116,  G.  A. 
R.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  the  Citizens  Passenger  Street  Railway 
Company.  In  political  views  he  is  Demo- 
crat. He  attends  St.  Patrick's  Pro-Cathe- 
dral. 

Jacob  Faunce,  deceased,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Sourbier,  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany, 
and  emigrated  to  America,  settling  in  Dau- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


651 


pliiu  county  about  the  year  1833.  He  be- 
came acquainted  with  his  wife  on  board  the 
vessel  that  brought  them  over  and  shortly 
after  arriving  in  America  they  were  married. 
After  a  short  residence  on  Long  Island,  N. 
Y.,  they  removed  to  this  county  where  Mr. 
Faunce  engaged  in  the  butcher  business 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years ;  his  widow 
survived  him  until  September  19,  1S72, 
when  she  also  was  called  to  try  the  realities 
of  the  unknown.  They  had  five  children, 
three  of  whom  survive  :  Caroline  T.,  wife  of 
Michael  McLean  ;  .Joseph  J.  A.,  and  Mary 
Josepiiine,  wife  of  George  H.  Sourbier,  a 
prominent  funeral  director  of  Harrisburg. 


Sourbier,  George  H.,  Jr.,  a  partner  in 
the  undertaking  and  embalming  business 
witii  ills  father,  was  born  in  liarrisburg, 
Marcii  13,  1871,  and  lias  been  a  continuous 
resident  of  his  native  city  since  his  birth. 
His  education  was  begun  in  the  parochial 
schools  and  completed  in  Seller's  Academy, 
since  which  he  has  been  connected  with  his 
father's  business.  In  January,  1804,  he  was 
admitted  to  a  partnership  in  this  bu.siness. 

He  was  married  in  Harrisburg,  April  11, 
1894,  to  Ella  E.  Madden,  daughter  of  Michael 
J.  and  Elizabeth  Madden,  of  Harrisburg. 
They  have  one  son,  named  in  baptism  Ed- 
ward Vincent.  In  political  views  Mr.  Sour- 
bier is  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  and  his  wife  attend  St.  Patrick's  Pro- 
Cathedral. 


Hawkins,  James  D.,  funeral  director,  was 
born  in  Hartford  county,  Md.,  April  21, 
1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Archibald  A.  and 
Nancy  (Macomber)  Hawkins.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  Nor- 
mal School  of  Delta,  Pa.,  whither  he  had  re- 
moved with  his  parents  in  his  early  youth. 
He  entered  the  undertaking  establishment 
of  his  father,  and  for  twenty-five  years  he 
has  continuously  given  his  attention  to  this 
business,  twenty-three  of  which  have  been 
spent  in  Harrisburg.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
the  renowned  Training  School  for  Erabalm- 
ers  of  New  York  as  well  as  of  the  Harrisburg 
Embalming  School.  He  has  been  engaged 
in  business  for  himself  for  over  ten  years. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  Robert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Perseverance 
Cha{)ter,  No.  21 ;  Pilgrim  Commandery,  No. 
11,  of  Harrisburg,  and  Lulu  Temple,  of 
Philadelphia ;"  Herculean    Castle,   No.    480, 


Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle;  and  Egyptian 
Commandery,  No.  114,  Knights  of  Malta; 
also  a  member  of  Sovereign  Consistory,  Scot- 
tish Rite  Masons.  In  politics  he  affiliates 
with  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  been 
prominently  identified  in  musical  circles  in 
Harrisburg  as  a  vocalist.  He  was  one  of 
the  promoters  and  an  officer  of  the  Thurs- 
day Club,  and  an  officer  in  the  old  Har- 
monic Society.  He  has  contributed  his  tal- 
ent as  a  vocalist  to  many  of  the  leading 
musicales  and  operatic  performances  given 
in  Harrisburg.  He  has  sung  in  the  choirs 
of  Grace  church,  the  German  Reformed 
church,  Jewish  synagogue  and  Grace  Epis- 
copal church  of  Baltimore.  He  is  liighlj' 
esteemed  as  a  good  business  man,  a  gentle- 
man of  culture  and  a  public-spirited  citizen. 
Mr.  Hawkins  was  married  at  Philadelphia, 
April  27,  1896,  to  Miss  Sarah  Cornelia  Cook, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Cook,  of  Har- 
risburg. 


Thomas,  -Joseph  L.,of  the  firm  of  Thomas 
&  Hill,  funeral  directors  and  embalmers,  is 
a  son  of  George  W.  and  Matilda  (Coxston) 
Thomas,  and  was  born  in  Winchester.  Va., 
December  16,  1851. 

The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Thomas  on  both  pa- 
ternal and  maternal  sides  were  natives  of 
Mrginia,  in  which  State  his  parents  resided 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Rebellion. 
In  1861  the  family  removed  to  Harrisburg, 
where  they  resided  for  three  years,  and  in 
June,  1864,  they  moved  to  Philadelphia, 
where  the  mother  of  Joseph  L.  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1865,  and  the  father  in  December, 
1868.  Of  a  family  of  seven  children,  two 
died  in  infancy,  George  died  in  Philadelphia 
in  1869,  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  and  these 
still  survive :  Joseph  L.;  Rachael,  wife  of 
Talmage  Edwards,  residing  in  New  York  ; 
Martha  W.,  wife  of  William  H.  Fields,  re- 
siding in  Harrisburg,  and  Sarah  Matilda, 
wife  of  John  H.  Murray,  residing  in  Harris- 
burg. 

Joseph  L.  acquired  his  primarj'  education 
in  the  schools  of  Harrisburg,  and  after  his 
removal  to  Philadelphia  attended  the  schools 
of  that  city  until  1870,  in  which  year  he  re- 
turned to  Harrisburg  and  became  a  waiter 
in  the  Brady  House.  He  later  served  in  the 
same  capacity  in  the  Lochiel  Hotel,  and 
subsequently  became  head  waiter  at  the 
Bolton  House,  Harrisburg,  which  position 
he  efficiently  filled  for  ten  years.  During 
the  years  1893  and  1894  he  filled  the  posi- 


652 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


tion  of  assistant  head  waitei-  at  the  Logan 
House,  of  Altoona,  and  on  Ma^^  1,  1895,  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  a  graduate  of  Prof.  P.  A. 
Renavord's  Training  School  for  Embahners. 
He  is  past  master  of  Chosen  Friends  Lodge, 
No.  43,  Harrisburg;  a  member  of  Purit}' 
Chapter,  of  Altoona,  and  Harrisburg  (Jon- 
sistory.  No.  8,  A.  Y.  M.;  member  of  Broth- 
erly Love  Lodge,  No"  S9G ;  Council  No. 
7,  and  Harrisburg  Patriarchie,  No.  5,  G.  U. 
0.  of  0.  F.  During  the  years  1881,  1882 
and  1883  he  filled  the  office  of  district 
grand  master  of  the  latter  order,  and  in  the 
years  1879,  1880  and  1881  was  grand  patri- 
archie for  the  United  States.  In  political 
views  he  is  an  ardent  Republican. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  married  in  Hariisburg, 
October  26,  1881,  by  the  Rev.  George  M. 
Bonnard,  to  Miss  Marion  B.  Himes,  daugii- 
ter  of  William  E.  and  Annie  E.  Himes,  of 
Northumberland  county,  who  was  born  at 
Mount  Joy,  October  14,  1865.  No  children 
have  been  born  to  their  union.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tliomas  are  members  of  the  Capi- 
tol Street  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  Mr. 
Thomas  was  choirmaster  for  eighteen  years, 
and  now  holds  the  office  of  secretary. 

The  occupation  of  undertaker  is  one  that 
necessitates  certain  qualities  not  common  to 
all  lines  of  business  in  consequence  of  being 
thrown  in  contact  with  those  in  deep  afflic- 
tion. Mr.  Thomas  is  a  gentleman  wiiose 
pronounced  success  evidences  his  possession 
of  all  the  essential  qualifications  for  a  proper 
conduct  of  this  line  of  business.  He  gives 
personal  attention  to  all  details,  is  always 
ready  to  render  any  and  every  service  to 
those  in  affliction,  and  is  very  considerate  as 
to  their  wants  and  requirements. 


Mauk,  Ch.vrles  H.,  funeral  director  and 
embalmer,  was  born  in  Shiremanstown, Cum- 
berland county.  Pa.,  May  8, 1S63.  His  father 
is  Thomas  Mauk,  who  was  born  in  Germany 
and  came  to  America  in  childhood  and  set- 
tled in  Shiremanstown,  Cumberland  county. 
Pa.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  men  in  Me- 
chanicsburg.  He  was  engaged  in  the  furni- 
ture trade  and  in  undertaking  in  that  town 
for  forty  years.  He  now  lives  retired.  His 
mother,  Catherine  E.  (Hamburg)  Mauk,  is 
also  a  native  of  Germany  and  came  to  this 
country  when  quite  young.  She  died  Jan- 
ary  1,  1895.  To  these  worthy  parents  were 
born  ten  children,  of  whom  three  died  in 
infancy.     Their  seven  living  children  are  : 


John  J.,  undertaker,  residing  in  Columbus, 
Ohio;  Thomas  M.,  also  an  undertaker,  of 
Carlisle,  Pa.;  Charles  H.;  Catherine  E.,  wife 
of  Dr.  G.  M.  Hoovor,  of  Harrisburg ;  Mary 
Ellen,  residing  at  home;  Samuel  T.,  an  un- 
dertaker, in  Steelton,  Pa.,  and  Lottie,  resid- 
ing at  home.  The  father  served  in  the  com- 
missary department  at  Old  Point  Comfort 
under  Governor  Curtin  during  the  late  Re- 
bellion. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Charles  H.  were 
spent  in  Mechanicsburg.  He  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  took  a  complete  course  in  the  Cumber- 
land \^alley  Institute  and  graduated  with 
high  honors.  -After  this  he  finished  learning 
the  trade  of  cabinet  and  casket  making  with 
his  father.  He  then  went  to  California, 
where  he  spent  four  years  in  gold  and  silver 
mining,  also  working  at  undertaking  in  San 
Francisco,  after  which  he  returned  home. 
The  same  year  he  received  an  appointment 
as  cit}'  embalmer  in  Boston,  Mass.,  and  en- 
tered the  employment  of  Lewis  L.  Jones  & 
Co.,  undertakers,  and  remained  with  them 
about  one  and  one-half  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Mechanicsburg,  and  in  April,  1891, 
engaged  in  business  for  himself  in  Har- 
risburg. He  is  a  graduate  of  Sullivan's  Em- 
balming School,  of  Pittsburgh  ;  ("lark's,  of 
Boston,  and  theLTnited  States  College,  of  New 
York  City. 

Mr.  Mauk  is  the  most  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful undertaker  in  Harrisburg,  and  ranks 
as  one  of  the  leading  men  in  his  profession 
in  the  State.  His  trade  is  extensive,  and  his 
equipments  are  many  and  complete  as  well 
as  costly.  He  is  the  Pennsylvania  railroad 
undertaker,  having  been  endorsed  by  nearl}^ 
one  thousand  of  its  employees.  He  also  does 
a  large  business  in  receiving  bodies  from  a 
long  distance.  His  office  and  stables  are 
complete  with  long  distance  telephone,  and 
his  male  and  female  assistants  are  of  the  best 
in  all  cases.  He  is  not  only  a  square  but 
charitable  man  in  all  his  dealings  and  busi- 
ness transactions. 

Mr.  Mauk  was  married,  at  Harrisburg,  Oc- 
tober 19,  1894,  toM.  Josephine  Todd,  daugh- 
ter of  Ira  J.  and  Catherine  Todd,  of  Harris- 
burg. They  had  one  son,  Byron  Todd,  who 
died  in  infancv.  He  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  A.  M., 
of  Carlisle;  Carlisle  Chapter,  No.  21,  of  Car- 
lisle; Harrisburg  Council,  No.  328,  Jr.  0.  U. 
A.M.,  of  Harrisburg;  Octorara  Tribe,  No. 
91, 1. 0.  R.  M.;  Daughters  of  Pocohontas,  No. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


653 


50  ;  Lady  Harris  Council,  Daughters  of  Lib- 
erty, No.  100;  Fraternal  Mystic  Circle,  No. 
440 ;  Pho'nix  Lodge,  No.  59,  K.  of  P.,  the  L 
O.  6.  F.  and  K.  G.  E.  He  is  a  stauncli  and 
active  Republican.  He  and  his  wife  are 
among  the  leading  members  of  Fifth  Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Facklek,  Ezra,  funeral  director  and  fur- 
niture dealer,  was  born  in  Daupliin  county, 
February  12,  1865.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Sarah  Fackler.  His  father  was  of  Ger- 
man extraction,  and  of  the  fourth  genera- 
tion in  this  country.  He  died  at  Steelton, 
Pa.,  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years. 
His  motiier  is  still  .living,  and  resides  in  the 
city  of  Harrisburg.  Tiieir  family  consisted 
of  six  cliildren:  Ezra  L.,  John  H.,  Sarah, 
Katie,  Adeline, and  Jennie.  Ezra  L.  Fackler 
received  the  rudiments  of  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship, and  it  was  completed  in  the  high 
school  of  Steelton,  Pa.  He  embarked  in 
the  undertaking  business  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years,  at  Steelton,  and  has  continued  in 
it  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Fackler  is  a  man 
of  strict  integrity  and  is  held  in  high  esteem 
for  his  honorable  business  methods ;  his 
ciiaracter  is  witiiout  a  blemish.  He  was 
married,  in  1883,  to  Fannie  Heinly,  a 
daughter  of  Benniville  and  Catherine 
Heinley.  Their  children  are  Samuel  S. 
and  Charles  C.  Fackler. 


Miller,  Edmund  J.,  of  Miller  &  Stouffer, 
funeral  directors,  was  born  at  Milton,  North- 
umberland county.  Pa.,  June  1,1868.  He  is 
a  son  of  Jerome  Porterand  Catharine  (Moore) 
Miller.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  and  of  German  ancestry.  He 
was  for  many  years  connected  with  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company,  at  Milton,  as 
car  inspector,  and  in  other  positions  of  trust. 
He  died  at  Milton,  December  14,  1893.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  is 
still  living  with  her  daughter  in  Milton. 
Their  famil}'  consists  of  three  living  chil- 
dren: Edmund  J.,  Ida  T.,  and  Bertha  E. 
One  daughter,  Margaret  C,  died  August  15, 
1892. 

Edmund  J.  spent  his  boyhood  and  was 
educated  in  Milton,  and  later  took  a  course 
in  the  Keystone  Business  College,  at  Harris- 
burg. He  was  engaged  in  the  capacity  of  an 
accountant  for  aljout  five  years  for  the  firm 
of  John  H.  Kreitzer,  grocer,  of  Milton,  and 
about  three  years  for  George  Trullinger  & 


Co.,  Harrisburg.  In  1890  lie  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Harrisburg  Casket  and  Manufac- 
turing Company,  and  in  1892  was  appointed 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  tiie  company,  being 
a  trustworthy  young  man.  From  tiiat  date 
also  he  filled  tiie  position  of  superintendent 
in  connection  with  his  other  duties  until 
June,  1895,  at  which  time  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  J.  F.  Stouffer.  Since  then  he 
has  given  his  undivided  attention  to  the 
business  of  tiie  firm,  being  the  princijial 
operator  of  said  firm. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married,  at  Harrisburg, 
June  22,  1893,  to  Mary  E.  Sheesley,  daugh- 
ter of  ex-Slieriff  William  and  Anna  (Young) 
Sheesley.  Mr.  Miller  is  an  active  member 
and  past  officer  of  the  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Nazareth  Com- 
mandery.  No.  125,  K.  of  M.,  and  Pocohontas 
Tribe,  L  O.  R.  M.,  all  of  Harri-sburg,  Pa. 

In  connection  with  his  other  duties  he  looks 
after  the  affairs  of  A.  A.  and  the  estate  of 
George  Pancake.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  Zion 
Lutheran  church. 


Fraim,  Henry  S.,  proprietor  of  the  Excel- 
sior Marble  Works,  2003  Fifth  street,  was 
born  in  Dauphin,  Dauiihin  county.  Pa., 
]\Iarcli  30,  1850.  His  progenitors  were  of 
Scotch  ancestry.  During  the  religious  per- 
secution in  Scotland,  David  Fraim  and  two 
others  of  the  family,  being  Presbyterians  and 
strong  in  their  faith,  sacrificed  their  homes 
and  fled  the  country  rather  than  embrace 
the  Roman  Catholic  faith.  They  came  to 
America,  landing  at  New  York,  where  all 
trace  of  one  was  lost,  though  in  later  years 
some  of  his  descendants  were  discovered  in 
Canada  b}^  Rev.  Reuben  Fraim,  a  brother  of 
Benjamin.  The  other  two  Ijrotliers  settled  in 
Lancaster  county.  Pa. 

Benjamin  Fraim,  the  grandfather  of 
Henry  S.,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Sep- 
tember 25, 1791,  and  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Elizabeth  Stephenson,  November  14, 1813. 
They  had  eight  children:  Israel  W.,  born 
August  19,  1815;  Isaiah  L.,  born  March  16, 
1818;  Jeremiah  S.,  born  February  25,  1820; 
Josiah  M.,  born  December  5,  1821 ;  Ira  N., 
born  February  24,  1824;  Lavania  A.,  born 
February  14,  1826  ;  John  H.,  born  June  27, 
1827  ;  Amos  F.,  born  May  23,  1829. 

Jeremiah  S.  Fraim,  third  son  of  Benjamin 
Fraim,  was  born  at  Paradise,  Lancaster 
county,  and  died  at  Harrisburg,  September 
25,  1889.     His  wife  was  born  at  East  Han- 


654 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


over,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  April  7,  1821. 
Her  name  is  Charlotte  (Walters)  Fraim. 
She  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  with 
her  children.  They  were  married  August 
21,  1845,  and  had  six  children:  Alice  A., 
born  July  15,  1847,  died  in  infancy;  Henry 
S.;  Sarah  E.,  born  at  Dauphin,  April  24, 
1852,  wife  of  John  D.  Harris,  residing  in 
Philadelphia;  Mary  E.,  born  at  Dauphin, 
November  12,  1856,  wife  of  Robert  Hall,  re- 
siding in  Philadelphia ;  William  N.,  born  at 
Dauphin,  November  8,  1858,  residing  in 
Harrisburg;  Charles  F.,  born  at  Dauphin, 
February  21,  1862,  residing  in  Harrisburg. 

Henry  S.  Fraim  spent  his  boyhood  at 
Dauphin,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  that  place,  under  the  tuition  of 
Mrs.  Talley.  Here  he  learned  shoemaking 
at  which  he  worked  for  about  twelve  years 
in  Harrisburg,  where  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  1869.  He  was  engaged  in  various 
occupations  until  1893,  in  which  year  he 
commenced  his  present  business.  He  is  well 
and  favorably  known  in  trade  circles,  and  is 
esteemed  for  his  enterprise  and  integrity. 
He  justly  merits  the  large  patronage  he  has 
received. 

Mr.  Fraim  was  married,  at  Harrisburg, 
December  21, 1871,  to  Mary  E.  Hake,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Eliza  Hake.  Their 
children  are:  Alvin  H.,  born  October  24, 
1872;  Sylvia  A.,  born  April  29,  1875,  and 
died  August  15,  1877 ;  Charles  W.,  born 
April  3,  1880 ;  Howard  H.,  born  December 
28, 1889.  Mr.  Fraim  is  a  member  of  Pilgrim 
Encampment,  No.  83,  K.  of  St.  J.  &  M.,  and 
of  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  59,  K.  of  P.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fraim  are  consistent  members  of  Fiftli 
Street  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

McFaddkn,  Thomas  F.,  proprietor  of  the 
Market  Street  Granite  Works,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  July  11,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Margaret  (Garland)  McFadden. 
The  former  died  February  13,  1886;  the  lat- 
ter in  December,  1882.  Thomas  F.  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
city,  and  after  completing  his  education 
learned  the  stone  cutting  trade  with  his 
father.  In  1881  he  engaged  in  business  for 
himself  in  Lewistown,  Pa.  On  the  death  of 
his  father  he  returned  to  Harrisburg,  and  for 
ten  years  has  been  engaged  in  business  in 
this  cit}'.  He  has  built  up  a  large  and  in- 
creasing business.  He  was  married,  in  Lewis- 
town,  Pa.,  in  1877,  to  Emma  Highshman, 
daughter  of  Louis  and  Hannah  Highshman, 


natives  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  resi- 
dents of  Lewistown.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  four  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Their  only  living  child  is  Margaret 
G.  In  political  views  Mr.  McFadden  is  a 
Democrat.  His  family  attend  St.  Patrick's 
Roman  Catholic  church. 


McFadden,  John  E.,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, February  2,  1850,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  city.  When  he 
was  thirteen  years  of  age  he  ran  away  from 
home  and  enlisted,  at  N6rfolk,  Va.,  in  com- 
pany A,  Eleventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  being  mustered  out  at  Richmond,  Va., 
and  finally  discharged  at  Camp  Cadwalader, 
in  August,  1865.  He  returned  to  Harris- 
burg and  took  up  the  trade  of  stone  cutting 
in  the  monumental  department  of  his 
father's  shop.  After  acquiring  this  art  he 
was  occupied  at  it  in  various  parts  of  the 
State,  and  doing  business  on  his  own  account 
at  Port  Royal,  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  for  fif- 
teen years.  For  the  past  two  years  he  has 
been  at  Harrisburg.  He  was  married  in 
Harrisburg,  Augu.st  11,  1870,  to  Sarah  A. 
Heck,  daughter  of  Emanuel  A.  and  Sarah 
Heck,  of  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  They  have 
had  ten  children,  eiglit  of  whom  are  living: 
William  F.,  born  May  11,  1872;  John  C, 
born  October  14,  1874;  Laura  M.,  born  July 
22,  1876;  Edward  G.,  born  in  February, 
1883;  Sallie  M.,  born  May  11,  1885;  Mary, 
born  August  5,  1887;  and  Harry,  born  De- 
cember 4,  1894.  Mr.  McFadden  lias  filled 
several  township  offices  in  Juniata  county. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  attends 
the  Roman  Catholic  church. 


Gerlock,  Frank  G.,  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Gerlock  &  Lutz,  dealers 
in  stone,  lime,  cement,  plaster,  etc.,  was 
born  in  Huntingdon,  Huntingdon  county, 
Pa.,  January  12,  1855.  He  is  a  son 
of  Frank  and  Elizabeth  (Stange)  Ger- 
lock, both  natives  of  Germany,  who  settled 
in  Huntingdon  at  an  early  day  where  his 
mother  still  resides.  His  father  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade  and  was  engaged  in  this 
business  at  Huntingdon  from  an  early  pe- 
riod. His  parents  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living:  Frank 
G.;  Louisa,  wife  of  Richard  L.  Lutz ;  Ed- 
ward, residing  in  Huntingdon;  and  Harry 
W.,  also  residing  in  Huntingdon. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


655 


Frank  G.  Gerlock  received  his  education 
in  Huntingdon.  When  seventeen  years 
old  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  machinist.  He  followed 
this  occupation  for  more  than  twelve  years. 
Mr.  Gerlock  was  a  member  of  the  police 
force  for  two  years.  He  was  water  inspector 
for  over  three  years.  In  August,  1890,  in 
connection  with  Richard  L.  Lutz,  he  engaged 
in  his  present  business.  He  was  married  in 
Hummelstown,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 5, 1875,  to  Anna  E.  Manley,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Solomon  and  Barbara  (Brubaker) 
Manley,  of  Harrisburg.  The  children  born 
to  this  union  are :  James  Alfred,  Charles 
Elmer  and  Mabel  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Gerlock 
is  a  member  of  Dauphin  Castle,  No.  250, 
K.  of  G.  E.;  of  Union  Temple  No.  40,  L.  of 
G.  E.,  and  Conclave  No.  150,  I.  0.  H. 


Lutz,  Richard  L.,  of  the  firm  of  Gerlock 
&  Lutz,  dealers  in  stone,  lime,  cement,  etc., 
was  born  at  Hummelstown,  Dauphni  county. 
Pa.,  February  15, 1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Amos 
and  Susannah  (Hummel)  Lutz.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Lehigh  county,  and  settled 
at  Hummelstown  at  an  early  date,  where  he 
spent  his  life.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Hummelstown;  she  is  still  living  and  resides 
at  Harrisburg.  They  had  thirteen  children, 
four  of  whom  are  still  living  :  Jacob  D.,  Da- 
vid A.,  Ricliard  L.,  and  John  S.,all  residing 
in  Harrisburg.  Richard  L.  Lutz  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Hummelstown.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  machinist  at  which  he 
worked  for  about  thirteen  years.  In  1800 
he  engaged  in  his  [iresent  business  in  con- 
nection with  Mr.  Gerlock.  He  was  married, 
at  Harrisburg,  December  28,  1875,  to  Louisa 
Gerlock.  Five  children  have  been  born  to 
them:  Frank  L.,  James  H.,  John  Edward, 
Richard  Allen  and  Elsie  Louisa.  Mr.  Lutz 
is  a  member  Capital  City  Castle,  No.  40,  K. 
of  G.  E. ;  of  Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  100,  I.  0. 
O.  F. ;  and  of  Lodge  No.  150,  I.  0.  H. 


Black,  John,  of  the  firm  of  Black  & 
Hunter,  cut  stone  contractors,  was  born  in 
Rothesay,  Buteshire,  Scotland,  May  6,  1863. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  Stewart  and  Elizabeth 
(Mclntyre)  Black.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  after  which  he  learned  the 
cut  stone  business  in  all  its  branches.  He 
worked  on  some  prouiinent  buildings  in 
Scotland,  such  as  the  municipal  building  of 
Greenock  and  the  residence  of  Lord  Bute. 


Mr.  Black  emigrated  to  America  in  1887, 
and  resided  for  a  time  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
In  the  same  year  he  came  to  Hummelstown, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  was  for  two  years 
employed  by  the  Waltons.  In  the  spring 
of  1889  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  and  was 
made  foreman  for  the  Middletown  and  Hum- 
melstown Stone  Company.  In  1894  he  formed 
a  co-partnership  with  William  C.  Hunter, 
in  the  business  of  stone  contracting.  They 
buy  stone  in  the  rough  and  dress  it  to  any 
required  shape  or  style.  This  is  the  lead- 
ing firm  of  the  city  in  that  line  of  business. 

Mr.  Black  is  also  engaged  in  breeding  fine 
blooded  "  Scotch  collies."  He  is  the  owner 
of  the  "Maid  of  Bute,"  one  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  the  breed  in  this  country.  She 
won  everything  in  her  classes  at  New  York 
and  Philadelphia  in  1896.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  Scotland  ;  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Mystic  Chain,  Lebanon 
Valley  Castle,  No.  6,  and  of  "The  For- 
esters." In  political  matters  he  is  an  inde- 
pendent. 

Mr.  Black  was  married  at  Rock  Island, 
111.,  in  1889,  to  Miss  Catherine  Clark,  of 
Rothesay,  Scotland.  Their  children  are: 
John  Stewart,  Thomas  Clark,  and  Elizabeth 
Mclntyre.  He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Market  Square  Presbyterian  church, 
Harrisburg. 


Hunter,  William  C,  junior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Black  &  Hunter,  cut  .stone  con- 
tractors, was  born  in  Liverpool,  England, 
April  29, 1871.  His  father,  William  Hunter, 
and  mother,  Isabella  (Torrie)  Hunter,  are 
both  natives  of  Scotland.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Rothesay,  Scotland,  his 
parents'  native  town,  after  which  he  learned 
all  the  branches  of  the  building  business. 
He  also  studied  architecture  for  two  and  a 
half  years  under  J.  Russell  Thompson,  after 
which  he  was  with  his  father  as  foreman 
until  April,  1891,  when  he  came  to  America 
and  located  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  was 
employed  by  the  Harrisburg  Steam  Stone 
Company,  and  placed  in  charge  of  their 
erection  work  in  various  cities.  In  the  same 
capacity  he  was  employed  by  Allen  K. 
Walton,  of  Hummelstown,  and  also  by  the 
Middletown  and  Hummelstown  Stone  Com- 
pany. In  1894  he  became  a  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Black  &  Hunter.  This  firm  does  the 
most  extensive  business  in  the  stone  cutting 
line  in  the  city.  Mr.  Hunter  also  has  poetic 
talent,  and  has  composed  some  very  beauti- 


656 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


ful  poems  in  the  st5'le  of  the  favorite  bard  of 
Scotland,  Robert  Burns.  He  contributes  to 
the  leading  magazines  of  the  countr}'.  He 
is  an  adhei'entof  the  Prohibition  party.  Mr. 
Hunter  is  one  of  the  active  and  successful 
business  men  of  Harrisburg. 


Verbeke,  Marion,  wife  of  William  K. 
Verbeke,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Novem- 
ber 9,  1829,  and  died  March  8,  1896.  Her 
body  rests  in  the  family  burying  ground  in 
the  Harrisburg  cemetery.  She  was  the  e  d- 
est  daugliter  of  Charles  and  Eliza  Anderson, 
and  was  married,  January  3,  1849,  to  Will- 
iam K.  Verbeke,  the  present  city  controller 
of  Harrisburg.  In  speaking  of  Mrs.  Ver- 
beke's  death  the  Harrisburg  Telegraph  of 
March  9,  1896,  says  : 

"  The  friends  and  acquaintances  of  Mrs. 
Marion  Verbeke  will  be  pained  to  learn  of 
her  death,  which  occurred  last  evening,  at 
7.30  o'clock.  Her  sickness  was  of  long  dura- 
tion, and  of  much  suffering,  which  she  bore 
patiently  and  uncomplainingly.  Being  of  a 
mild,  gentle  and  happy  disposition  she 
made  home  one  of  unalloyed  bliss  and  ten- 
derness. Her  affection  and  solicitude  for  the 
welfare,  comfort  and  care  of  her  family  were 
unbounded.  Her  friends  loved  her  for  her 
sunny  ways,  and  their  friendships  were 
strong  and  enduring.  She  has  passed  away, 
but  the  memory  of  this  good,  true  woman 
remains. 

"  We  recall  her  active  life  in  the  church 
which  was  dear  to  her  heart.  Steadfast  to 
her  duties  to  the  end,  what  a  noble  Christian 
character  she  leaves  behind  as  a  solace  to 
the  loved  ones  of  her  household.  With  her 
family  cares  and  hernumerous  public  dutie.s, 
which  were  of  daily  occurrence,  she  found 
time  when  the  first  soldiers  of  the  war 
were  brought  into  the  improvised  hospitals, 
with  a  heart  full  of  love  for  her  country  and 
pity  for  the  poor,  unfortunate  volunteers, 
sicic  and  wounded,  many  of  them  mere  boys 
away  from  home  and  friends,  to  minister 
to  their  daily  wants.  She  took  with  her 
the  choicest  delicacies,  wines,  liquors,  pre- 
serves— everything  that  was  nice,  palata- 
ble and  strengthening  to  them,  which  they 
so  much  needed — and  with  a  mother's  care 
and  tenderness  nursed  them  and  watched 
them  until  recovery,  and  when  they  left 
they  blessed  her  for  what  she  had  done.  She 
never  tired  of  this  work,  but  from  the  earliest 
period  of  the  war  until  the  close  she  was  the 
constant  attendant  at  the  hospitals,  caring 


alike  even  for  the  wounded  Confederates 
from  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg  and 
thougl}  she  done  this  she  was  bold  enough 
to  condemn  them  for  the  part  they  took  in 
their  unholy  war.  Often  she  was  oj^por- 
•tuned  to  prepare  a  history  of  the  hospital 
service  of  Harrisburg,  for  which  she  was 
offered  pay,  her  services  and  knowledge  of 
them  being  comj)lete,  so  much  so  tiiat  no 
other  one  person  could  have  given  tlie  facts 
she  knew  and  the  difterent  actors  who  were 
associated  with  her.  In  honor  of  these  great 
services,  as  a  token  of  their  real  appreciation 
of  her  noble  work,  one  of  our  Pennsylvania 
regiments  conferred  tiie  honor  upon  her  of 
electing  her  "  Daughter  of  the  Regiment." 
Well  she  deserved  it.  No  history  of  the 
participants  of  the  bloody  struggle  from 
1861  to  1865  can  be  written  without  giving 
Mrs.  Marion  Verbeke  a  prominent  place  as 
an  active,  energetic,  untiring  agent  in  the 
military  hospital  service.  All  her  labors 
were  free,  given  with  heartfelt  pleasure, 
never  looking  for  remuneration,  with  no 
other  motive  than  to  do  good  to  a  fellow- 
being.  Such  a  lovely,  generous  woman,  one 
of  our  own  people,  has  passed  away,  but  the 
memory  of  her  will  be  ever  fresh  and  green 
among  us  and  shall  never  perish.  She 
leaves,  beside  her  husband,  two  sons,  Will- 
iam K.,  of  Phcenixville,  and  Marion,  of  this 
city,  and  a  daughter.  Miss  C4ertrude." 


CONEWAGO   TOWNSHIP. 


Goss,  Jacob,  miller,  was  born  near  Hum- 
melstown,  Derry  township,  Dauphin  count}'. 
Pa.,  February  23,  1836.  John  Goss,  his 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
of  German  descent,  and  was  a  farmer.  Ja- 
cob Goss,  Sr.,  father  of  Jacob,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  count}',  and  attended  the  school  of 
his  township.  He  grew  up  on  his  father's 
farm  and  became  a  farmer,  owning  and  cul- 
tivating a  farm  of  one  luindred  and  seventy 
acres  in  Derry  township.  He  was  also  a 
stock  raiser.  He  married  Mary  Landis, 
born  near  Derry  ('hurch,  and  they  had  five 
children:  Eliza,  living  at  Union  Deposit; 
Jacob  ;  Susan,  wife  of  Jacob  Shenk ;  Mary, 
wife  of  William  Gordon,  of  Cami)bellstown, 
and  John,  residing  in  Harrisburg.  Mr. 
Goss  was  a  Republican.  Tiie  family  wore 
members  of  the  German  Reformed  churcli. 
Mr.  Goss  died  in  Derry  township  in  1878  ;  his 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


657 


wife  died  in  tlie  same  township.  He  was 
well  known  throughout  the  count}'  and  en- 
joyed the  reputation  of  an  honest  man  and  a 
good  neighbor. 

Jacob  Ctoss,  Jr.,  lived  witii  his  grandfatlier 
at  Donegal,  Lancaster  county,  and  altendcnl 
the  schools  of  that  place.  He  remained  wit!) 
his  grandfatlier  working  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  nineteen,  and  tiien  came  to  Cone- 
wago  township  and  learned  the  business  of 
milling  witii  his  uncle,  remaining  with  him 
five  3'ears.  Young  Goss  was  full  of  enter- 
prise and  of  a  progressive  spirit  and  was  am- 
bitious to  iiave  a  business  of  liis  own.  He 
bought  the  mill  of  his  uncle  and  has  opera- 
ted it  since  that  time  with  gratifying  suc- 
cess. He  also  bouglit  a  snuiil  farm,  made 
improvements  upon  it,  and  superintends  its 
cultivation.  He  deals  extensively  in  grain 
and  feed  and  pays  mucii  attention  to  tlie 
mercantile  branch  of  tliis  business. 

Mr.  Goss  was  married  in  Conewago  town- 
sliip  in  1860,  to  Annie,  daughter  of  Peter 
Wieland,  natives  of  tiiat  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Goss  have  four  children  :  Melinda,  wife 
of  Levi  Lehman;  Peter,  a  miller  of  Eliza- 
bethtown,  Lancaster  county;  Harvey,  store- 
keeper, at  Elizabetii town,  and  Annie,  unmar- 
ried. Mr.  Goss,  in  politics,  holds  Republican 
views.  He  is  a  member  of  the  German  Baptist 
(Dunkard)  church.  Mr.  Goss  began  life 
poor,  and  has  accumulated  a  comfortable 
competence.  His  success  is  honorable,  inas- 
much as  it  was  achieved  by  industry,  hon- 
esty and  skillful  management.  He  is  genial 
in  social  intercourse,  and  is  well  liked  by 
his  neighbors. 


F.VRVER,  Christi.vn,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Londonderry  township,  Marcii  26, 1848.  His 
fatiier,  Frederick  Farver,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, where  he  was  educated  and  learned 
carpentry.  When  he  was  a  lad  of  sixteen 
he  came  to  this  country  and  located  at  Mari- 
etta, Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  where  he  found 
employment  in  a  distillery.  He  also  worked 
a  short  time  on  the  canals.  At  twenty-three 
years  of  age  lie  came  to  Dauphin  county 
and  located  in  Londonderry  township,  where 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of 
land  in  the  woods.  Here  he  worked  hard, 
early  and  late,  cutting  away  the  forests,  build- 
ing house,  and  barn,  and  fences,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  making  a  productive  farm  where 
he  had  found  the  wilderness.  He  was  known 
as  an  industrious,  hard-working  man,  spar- 


ing no  effort  to  make  a  home  and  all  need- 
ful provision  for  his  family. 

Mr.  Farver  married  Catherine  Meiley,  who 
was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  this 
country  in  early  \'outh.  They  had  ten  chil- 
dren: John,  farmer  in  Kansas;  William,  a 
prominent  farmer  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.; 
Christian;  Catherine,  wife  of  Jacob  I3aker, 
of  Conewago  township;  Samuel,  farms  the 
homestead;  Eliza,  Barbara,  and  Fred  died 
young,  and  there  were  two  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  Farver  was  a  Republican,  and 
one  of  the  most  widely  known  men  in  the 
township.  He  died  in  1887  in  Londonderry 
township.  His  wife  still  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Londonderry  township,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four.  She  has  a 
third  .set  of  teeth,  whicli  have  grown  since 
siie  was  eighty  years  old. 

In  his  youth  Christian  Farver  spent  a 
part  of  each  year  in  the  schools  of  London- 
derry township,  and  worked  the  rest  of  the 
time  on  the  farm.  He  also  worked  two  years 
for  the  Penn-sylvania  Railroad  Company, 
after  which  he  reuiained  on  the  homestead 
until  he  wns  twenty-four.  At  this  age  he 
spent  six  months  in  a  trip  through  the  west- 
ern States,  visiting  Oliio,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
and  other  portions  of  the  country.  Upon 
his  return  lie  rented  the  homestead  farm  one 
year,  after  which  he  removed  to  Conewago 
township,  where  he  rented  and  cultivated  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres 
for  twelve  years.  He  afterwards  bought  the 
farm,  erected  new  buildings,  improved  the 
old  ones,  and  made  improvements  to  the  ex- 
tent of  one  thousand,  five  hundred  dollars. 
This  is  his  present  homestead,  in  which  he 
is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Farver  was  married  at  Eiizabethtown, 
Lancaster  count}',  in  1871,  to  Lavinia, 
daughter  of  the  late  Jacob  E.  and  Elizabeth 
(Nissley)Shenk,  born  in  Conewago  townshi]), 
July  12, 1857.  Tliey  iia  ve  had  four  children : 
Jacob  S.,  born  August  27,  1871,  farmer  in 
the  township,  married  Bertha  Gruble;  Ed- 
win S.,  born  October  23.  1876,  educated  in 
the  township  and  resides  witli  his  father; 
Samuel  S.,  born  April  19,  1884,  attends 
school;  Harvey  B.,  born  Mav  19,  1873,  died 
March  8, 1874. 

Mr.  Farver  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been 
assessor  and  tax  collector  in  the  township. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Zion's 
church,  of  which  lie  has  been  a  deacon 
since  1885.  He  began  life  witii  a  debt  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-fi^ve  dollars  resting 


658 


BIO  GRA  PHI  GAL  ENCYGL  OPEDIA 


upon  him.  He  had  empty  pockets  but 
strong  hands,  a  brave  heart,  and  a  clear  head. 
His  career  has  been  successful.  He  is  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  and 
has  started  his  son  in  farming,  giving  him 
over  six  hundred  dollars.  He  is  a  large  man, 
tipping  the  beam  at  two  hundred  and  tliirty 
pounds,  and  is  large  of  heart  also.  Mr.  Far- 
ver  and  his  good  wife  are  the  dispensers  of  a 
liberal  hospitality,  and  take  great  pleasure 
in  entertaining  their  visitors.  Their  house 
is  the  abode  of  peace  and  plenty,  and  no 
peo[)le  are  more  highly  esteemed  than  are 
this  worthy  couple. 

Lehman,  John  R.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Derry  townsliip,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 23,  1838.  His  grandfather,  Peter 
Lehman,  was  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock 
raiser  of  Lancaster  county.  John  Lehman, 
father  of  John  R.,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  and  came  early  to  Dauphin  county. 
He  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  [trom- 
inentagriculturalists  of  Derry  township.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Rudd,  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster county.  They  had  five  children: 
Mary  and  Nancy,  unmarried  ;  Samuel,  lives 
on  the  homstead  ;  .John  R.,  and  Peter,  farmer, 
of  Derry  township.  Mr.  Lehman  was  a  Re- 
publican. He  was  a  member  of  the  Men- 
nonite  cliurch.  He  died  at  his  home  in  1875, 
and  Iiis  wife  in  1865. 

John  R.  Lehman  attended  the  common 
schools  of  Conewago  township  and  worked 
on  the  farm  with  his  fatber,  until  he  was 
past  twenty  years  of  age.  He  rented  a  farm 
in  Londonderry  townsliip  for  two  years,  re- 
moved then  to  Conewago  township  and 
rented  twenty  acres  for  two  years,  then  two 
hundred  acres  for  two  years  more.  Then  he 
went  to  Lancaster  count}'  and  rented  one 
hundred  and  seventy  acres  for  one  year; 
then  returned  to  Conewago  township  and 
rented  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
near  Bachmansville  for  two  years.  He  next 
bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  for  §3,000,  at  the 
sand  hills,  where  he  remained  for  three  years 
and  then  sold  out.  He  then  removed  again 
to  Lancaster  county  and  rented  a  farm  of 
fifty  acres  for  three  years,  and  another  of  one 
hundred  acres  for  one  year, and  then  returned 
to  Conewago  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Here  he  bought  a  farm  of  forty  acres  for 
which  he  paid  §4,200,  and  on  which  there 
were  good  improvements. 

Mr.  Lehman  wasmarried,at  Annville,  Leb- 
anon  county,  Pa.,   December   12,  1861,  to 


Annie,  daughter  of  John  and  Annie  (Coble) 
Snyder,  born  in  Derry  township,  Dauphin 
county,  September  27,  1836 ;  her  father  was 
a  farmer  of  the  county.  They  had  five 
children :  Lavinia  S.,  born  March  4,  1863  ; 
Fannie,  born  September  29,  1865,  wife  of 
Christian  Lehman,  of  Lebanon  county,  who 
has  five  children:  Minnie,  Annie,  Harvey, 
Laura  and  Mamie ;  Harry  B.,  born  March 
24, 1869,  died  in  1871 ;  Annie,  born  June  14, 
1872,  died  Februarv  14,  1873;  John,  born 
October  26,  1874,  died  August  10,  1875. 
Mr.  Lehman  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Mennonite  church,  and  one  of  the 
solid  and  popular  men  of  the  community. 

Gruber,  Peter,  Jr.,  justice  of  the  peace, 
manufacturer  and  merchant,  was  born  in 
Conewago  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
June  21,  1846.  The  family  came  originally 
from  Switzerland.  John  Gruber,  grandfather 
of  Peter  Gruber,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster 
count}',  and  a  prominent  farmer  there.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Brooks,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children:  Peter,  Sr.,  Joseph,  John,  and 
Fannie,  wife  of  Benjamin  Lehman,  of  Lan- 
caster county.  John  Gruber  was  an  Old 
Line  Whig.  He  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  church.  Both  died 
in  Lancaster  county. 

Peter  Gruber,  Sr.,  attended  subscription 
schools  in  Lancaster  county,  and  afterwards 
followed  the  occupation  of  butcher.  He  re- 
moved, when  a  young  man,  to  Conewago 
township,  Dauphin  county,  and  became  a 
farmer.  He  married  Barbara  Daughter- 
man,  born  in  1816,  by  whom  he  had  tbese 
children:  John,  farmer  of  Lancaster  county; 
Peter ;  Eliza,  wife  of  John  Gipfer,  of  Conewago 
township;  Jacob,  farmer  in  Illinois;  Amos, 
deceased;  Aaron,  farmer  of  Conewago  town- 
ship, and  Daniel,  deceased.  Mr.  Gruber  was 
a  Republican.  He  served  as  supervisor  and 
in  other  offices.  He  was  a  member  of  tlie 
German  Baptist  (Dunkard)  church.  He  died 
in  Conewago  township  in  1885.  His  wife  is 
still  living  and  is  cared  for  by  her  son  Peter. 

Peter  Gruber,  Jr.,  attended  .school  in  Cone- 
wago township  and  worked  on  his  father's 
farm.  He  obtained  a  teacher's  certificate 
and  taught  school  in  Conewago  and  London- 
derr\'  townships  for  seven  years.  After  this 
he  made  a  venture  in  the  patent  right  busi- 
ness, but  not  finding  it  profitable  he  aban- 
doned it  and  returned  to  Conewago  town- 
ship, where  he  learned  cabinet  making  and 
afterwards  went  into  the  business  for  him- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


659 


self.  He  built  a  fine  factory,  employed  sev- 
eral men,  and  supplied  the  surrounding 
country  with  furniture  of  his  manufacturing. 
He  now  conducts  also  an  undertaking  de- 
partment, and  since  1874  has  been  the  only 
undertaker  in  the  town  of  Bachmansville. 
A  few  years  ago  he  opened  a  store  for  grocer- 
ies, etc.,  and  has  been  successful  in  this 
branch  of  business.  Mr.  Gruber  was  mar- 
ried in  Conewago  township,  in  1873,  to  Mary 
A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Barbara  (Hoi- 
linger)  Hotfer,  born  in  Conewago  township. 
They  have  five  children:  Barbara  H.,  wife 
of  John  Blacker,  teacher;  Clara  PL,  Ellen 
M.,  Mary  A.,  and  Lena  H.  Mr.  Garber  en- 
listed at  Harrisburg,  August  23,  1864,  in 
company  C,  Two  Hundredtli  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  Col.  W.  H.  McCall  and 
Capt.  S.  0.  Reno,  Seventh  army  corps.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Steadnian, 
Hatche's  Run,  Butler's  Farm,  and  Peters- 
burg, and  in  several  small  engagements.  He 
was  in  the  hospital  at  Point  of  Rocks  for 
eight  weeks  suffering  from  exposure,  result- 
ing in  typhoid  fever.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  May  18,  1865. 

Mr,  Gruber  is  a  Republican.  He  was  first 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1887,  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  there  being  only  seven 
votes  cast  against  him,  and  was  elected  for  a 
second  term  in  1892  by  a  full  vote.  He  has 
filled  the  office  with  dignity  and  ability,  and 
has  dispensed  justice  with  an  even  hand.  He 
was  inspector  of  election  for  seven  years; 
tax  collector  for  county  and  State  for  two 
years;  assessor  and  school  director  for  tliree 
years,  and  has  been  supervisor.  Mr.  Gruber 
takes  an  active  part  in  all  political  move- 
ments. He  is  a  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church,  was  a  Sunday-school  superinten- 
dent four  years,  and  a  Sunday-school  teacher 
nearly  all  his  life.  Mr.  Gruber  is  a  promi- 
nent man  and  is  honored  by  all  who  know 
him.  He  may  always  be  found  on  tlie  side 
of  all  that  will  benefit  society  and  promote 
the  public  welfare. 


Kayler,  Neri  H.,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  December  26, 1865  ;  son  of  Lsaac  and 
Barbara  (Hoover)  Kayler.  Joseph  Kayler, 
his  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  and  reared  a 
family.  The  maternal  grandfather  was  also 
a  farmer.  Isaac  Kayler,  father  of  Neri  H., 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  is  a 
farmer;  at  different  times  he  was  also  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  barrels.  He  is 
a  Republican.     In  religious  faith  and  fellow- 


ship he  is  connected  with  the  United  Breth- 
ren church.  Mrs.  Kayler  is  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Barbara  (Snyder)  Hoover.  Their 
children  are:  Amos,  Samuel,  Linn;cus,  Neri, 
Annie,  Mary,  Franklin,  Isaac,  and  Katie, 
wife  of  Earnest  Buser;  Allen,  Joseph,  who 
died,  aged  four  years,  and  Abraham,  who 
died  in  1871, at  the  age  of  nineteen.  Neri  H. 
Kayler  attended  the  public  schools  and 
worked  on  the  farm  at  intervals  until  he  was 
twenty-two  years  old,  when  he  engaged  in 
farming  on  his  own  account.  This  lias  ever 
since  continued  to  be  his  occupation.  For 
one  year  he  held  an  agency  for  Mr.  Ebersole 
for  the  sale  of  agricultural  implements.  Mr. 
Kayler  is  a  Republican.  In  1802  he  was  ap- 
pointed tax  collector  for  Conewago  township 
and  served  one  year ;  he  was  elected  assessor 
in  1895,  which  office  he  still  holds. 


Coble,  Amos  G.,  Bellair,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  June 
19,  1870,  and  is  the  son  of  John  H.  and 
Elizabeth  (Gingerich)  Coble. 

Christian  Coble,  his  grandfather,  was  a 
farmer.  He  married  twice;  his  first  wife 
was  a  Miss  Hoffer;  his  second.  Miss  Nanc}', 
is  still  living.  Isaac  Coble  is  the  only  sur- 
viving son  of  Christian  Coble;  his  other 
cliildren.  Christian,  Barbara,  John  H.,  Sam- 
uel, and  Jacob,  all  being  deceased.  Both 
the  parents  of  Amos  G.  Coble  were  natives 
of  Dauphin  county,  and  his  mother  Eliza- 
beth was  the  daughter  of  Henry  Gengerich. 
Besides  their  son  they  had  one  daughter, 
Barbara.  Mr.  John  H.  Coble  was  always  a 
man  of  note  in  the  community ;  first  as  a 
teacher,  in  his  early  manhood  ;  after  he  had 
relinquished  this  profession  for  the  business 
of  farming  his  fellow-citizens  showed  their 
appreciation  of  his  intelligence  and  good 
judgment  by  electing  him  to  various  town- 
ship offices.  He  was  a  school  director  for 
some  j'ears  and  also  assessor  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  as  he  adhered  to  tliat  party. 
He  was  still  farming  when  his  useful  life 
closed  in  its  prime;  he  died  March  9,  1885, 
at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty-nine. 
His  religious  profession  was  Mennonite. 
His  wife  survives  him  ;  she  is  about  sixt}- 
one  years  of  age,  and  enjoys  the  care  of  her 
son  on  the  homestead  where  most  of  her  life 
has  been  passed. , 

Amos  G.  Coble  received  a  good  education, 
attending  first  the  common  schools  of 
Dauphin  and  afterwards  those  of  Lebanon 
county  until   he  was  nineteen  years  of  age. 


660 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENVTULOPEDIA 


After  leaviug  school  he  took  charge  of  the 
home  farm  and  cultivated  it  for  his  mother, 
but  since  1893,  the  year  of  his  marriage,  he 
has  carried  on  the  business  on  liis  own  ac- 
count. On  January  17  of  that  year  Amos 
G.  Coble  was  married  to  Kate  H.,  daughter 
of  Martin  M.  and  Maria  (Horst)  Kisser.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Coble  have  one  son,  Ira,  born  Sep- 
tember 23,  1895.  Mr.  Coble's  political 
opinions  are  Republican. 

WiTMER,  Joseph  B.,  Deodate,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Londonderry  township,  near  the  Cone- 
wago  line,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  May  24, 
1817.  He  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Esther 
(Burkholder)  Witmer. 

The  W'itmers  are  of  Swiss  origin,  the 
great-grandfather  of  Jo.sep]i  B.  Witmer  liav- 
ing  come  to  America  about  the  year  17G0. 
A  son  of  this  emigrant,  Joseph  Witmer, 
grandfather  of  Joseph  B.,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 29,  1755.  Farming  was  his  lifelong  oc- 
cu|)ation.  lie  married  Miss  Barbara  Hoover, 
born  in  Aj)ri],  1755,  and  was  tlie  father  of 
eiglit  cliildren,  all  now  deceased.  They  were: 
Peter;  Mrs.  Daniel  Wolkmann  ;  Mrs.  Martin 
Nissley  ;  Mrs.  Henry  Snyder ;  Mrs.  Jacob 
Heisy  ;  Katie,  wife  of  John  Horst ;  Samuel, 
and  Cliristian.  Joseph  Witmer  died  Marcli 
16,1844,  aged  eighty-eight;  his  wife  died 
June  19,  1835,  aged  eiglity  years. 

The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mr.  J.  B. 
Witmer  were  both  natives  of  Lancaster 
county,  where  Mr.  Burkholder  was  a  farmer. 
Of  their  eight  children,  the  only  survivor  is 
Abraham.  Those  deceased  are:  John,  Jo- 
seph, Peter,  Christian,  and  Jacob  ;  Estlier, 
married  to  Peter  Witmer,  and  Mary,  wife  of 
Ulrich  Shaffner.  Mr.  Shaffner  is  also  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Burkholder  died  about  tiieyear 
1809:  his  wife  survived  him  for  about  twenty 
years. 

Peter  Witmer,  fatlier  of  Josejyh  B.,  was 
born  in  Mount  Joy  township,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  October  IS,  1787,  and  spent  his 
years  in  tilling  and  improving  the  soil  of  his 
native  county.  His  wife  Estlier,  daugliter 
of  Josepli  Burkliolder,  was  born  in  Raplio 
townsliip,  in  tlie  same  county,  April  17, 1796. 
Their  family  numbered  seven,  of  whom  two 
are  deceased  :  Henry,  who  died  in  1886,  at 
tiie  age  of  sixty-six,  and  Nancy.  Five  are 
still  living:  .loseph  B.,  Peter,  Mary,  widow 
of  John  Longenecker,  Abraham,  and  Jacob. 
Mrs.  Esther  Witmer  died  May  28,  1830,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-four  years.  Mr.  Witmer 
was  again  married,  to  Miss  Barbara,  daugh- 


ter of  Jacob  Lehman.  By  this  marriage 
there  were  no  children.  Mr.  Witmer  died 
October  27,  1844,  aged  sixty-two. 

Joseph  B.  Witmer  was  a  pupil  in  what 
are  known  as  subscription  schools  until  lie 
reached  his  sixteenth  year.  From  tiiat  time 
until  he  was  about  twenty-six  he  was  occu- 
pied with  farm  work  for  his  father  and 
others.  From  about  the  date  of  his  first 
marriage  until  the  present  time  he  has  at- 
tended to  farming  on  his  own  account,  but 
has  not  been  so  entirely  devoted  to  bis  own 
affairs  as  to  take  no  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  communit)'  to  which  he  belongs. 
His  neighbors,  recognizing  his  public  spirit 
and  good  sense,  have  called  him  to  fill 
several  township  offices.  He  has  served  as 
auditor  at  different  times,  the  terms  aggre- 
gating about  ten  years;  he  was  a  school  di- 
rector before  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and 
for  about  fifteen  years  since  that  time,  dur- 
ing all  his  time  of  service  being  president  of 
the  board  ;  and  for  one  term  he  was  super- 
visor.    He  is  an  active  Republican. 

Mr.  Witmer  was  married,  March  14, 
1844,  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Hoffer,  Esq.,  and  of  Mrs.  Samuel  (Foltz) 
Hoffer.  Their  children  are:  Caroline,  wife 
of  Abraham  Gisii,  and  John  H.,  married  to 
Lydia  Etter.  The  mother  died  February 
26,  1848,.  aged  twenty-eight  years,  nine 
mouths  and  eight  days.  Mr.  Witmer's 
second  marriage  was  with  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  David  Buchwalter,  and  took 
place  December  24,  1848.  The  children  of 
this  marriage  are:  Annie,  wife  of  David 
Gratz ;  Martha,  wife  of  Solomon  Schenk  ; 
Lizzie,  wife  of  Peter  Shiffer,  and  David,  who 
died  December  2,  1862,  aged  three  years  and 
eight  months.  The  second  wife  died  October 
7, 1881,  aged  fifty-eight  years,  seven  months 
and  thirteen  days.  Mr.  Witmer  married 
the  third  time,  October  23,  1883,  Mrs.  Sarah, 
widow  of  John  Boosey.  Tliey  had  no  chil- 
dren. Joseph  B.  Witmer  is  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptist  church,  in  which  for 
tlie  past  thirty-one  years  he  has  held  the 
office  of  deacon. 

Christian  Witmer,  uncle  of  Joseph  B., 
was  born  March  20, 1799,  and  died  April  22, 
1872.  His  wife.  Miss  Mary  Wolgamuth, 
was  born  January  18  1801,  and  died  Marcli 
5,  1870. 


Kaukf.m.\n,  Henky  K.,  a  native  nf  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  was  born  September  5, 
1833 ;  son  of  Benjamin  and   Annie  Kauff- 


DA  UPHIN     COUNTY. 


661 


man.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Kaufl- 
man,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  as 
was  also  his  grandfather  on  the  mother's 
side,  and  both  of  liis  parents  were  born  in 
that  county.  Benjamin  Kauffman  was  first 
a  weaver  and  later  in  life  a  farmer.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Annie  Kauffman,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  Kauffman.  Four  of  their 
famii}' of  nine  children  are  living:  Henry 
K.,  Martha,  Benjamin  and  Andrew.  Those 
deceased  are:  Abraham ;  Susan,  wife  of  Jacob 
Snyder;  Jacob,  who  died  in  1863,  aged  thir- 
teen years;  Amos,  died  in  1862,  at  the  age  of 
seven  years;  and  Annie,  who  also  died  in 
1862,  aged  four  years  and  ten  days.  Mr. 
Benjamin  Kauffman  died  a  retired  farmer, 
aged  seventy-six  years  andthree  months  ;  his 
wife  died  aged  sixty  years.  Both  were  of  the 
Mennonite  persuasion. 

Ilenr}'  K.  Kauffman  received  his  educa- 
tion in  Rapiio  township,  Lancaster  county, 
attending  scliool,  like  farmers'  boj's  in  gen- 
eral, only  during  the  winter,  and  learning  the 
art  and  science  of  agriculture  practically  hy 
making  themselves  useful  on  tlie  farm  dur- 
ing the  rest  of  the  year.  Mr.  Kauffman  was 
all  his  life  a  farmer,  for  although  he  endeav- 
ored during  one  winter  to  learn  the  trade  of 
a  miller,  he  was  obliged  at  the  end  of  the 
season  to  give  up  the  attempt  on  account  of 
ill  health.  He  therefore  returned  again  to 
farming,  to  which  lie  has  ever  since,  espe- 
cially since  tlie  beginning  of  iiis  married 
life,  given  his  exclusive  attention.  Mr.  Kauff- 
man is  a  Reiniblican  ;  he  is  now  serving  his 
township  as  supervisor,  to  which  office  he  was 
elected  in  1895.  Henry  K.  Kauffman  was 
married,  February  16,  1871,  to  Susan  S., 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary(Slierry)Helman, 
born  August  1,  1833.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kauff- 
man have  had  four  children:  Annie  and 
Lizzie,  twins,  died  July  19,  1876,  aged 
twenty-one  days ;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Harry 
Shearer;  and  F.,  wlio  is  married  to  Miss 
Kate  Grumbine.  Mr.  Kauffman  belongs  to 
the  Mennonite  church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Helman,  the  parents  of 
Mrs.  Kauffman,  were  botli  natives  of  Lan- 
caster count}'.  Mr.  Helma'n  was  a  weaver, 
but  continued  only  a  short  time  in  that 
occupation  before  exchanging  it  for  fence 
making,  with  which  he  was  occupied  for 
many  years,  but  which  he  at  last  relinquished 
to  engage  in  butchering.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  Sherry,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Anna  Slierry.  Two  of  their  children  are 
deceased  :  Jvicob,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 


two  years  and  three  months;  and  Henry, 
died  at  the  age  of  forty  years  and  two  months. 
Their  living  children  are  :  Kate,  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Minutes;  Lizzie,  widow  of  Michael 
Steffey ;  Susan  S.,  Mrs.  Kauffman;  John; 
Mary,  wife  of  Peter  Kegerreis ;  Cyrus,  and 
George.  Mr.  Helman  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty  years,  and  INIrs.  Helman  in  1880,  aged 
seventy-five;  both  died  in  Lancaster  county. 
They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Bachman,  Samuel  S.,  postmaster  and 
school  teacher,  BachniansviUe,  Pa.,  was  born 
at  Baciimansville,  Pa.,  Januar}'  22,  1855  ; 
son  of  Henry  D.  and  Fanny  (Shelly)  Bach- 
man, a  retired  farmer,  and  reared  at  Swa- 
tara,  in  Derry  township.  His  grandfather 
was  the  founder  and  proprietor  of  the  town 
of  Baciimansville.  His  fatlier  was  also  a 
farmer. 

Samuel  S.  attended  the  district  schools  of 
South  Annville  township,  Lebanon  county, 
and  also  the  schools  at  Baciimansville.  He 
studied  tiiree  terms  at  Palmyra  Academy 
and  two  terms  at  the  State  Normal  Sciiool, 
at  Millersville,  from  whicii  latter  institution 
he  received  a  teacher's  State  certificate.  For 
the  past  fourteen  years  he  lias  devoted  his 
life  to  the  instruction  and  training  of  tlie 
youth  of  his  native  place.  He  also  spent 
eight  months  teaching  in  Illinois,  and  has 
taught  in  Derry  townsliip  as  well  as  in  Con- 
ewago.  Mr.  Bachman  was  married  at  Eliz- 
a'oethtown,  Lancaster  county,  in  1877,  to 
Katie  Goff,  a  native  of  Lancaster  county. 
Tliey  had  four  children  :  Cora,  Garfield  Ar- 
thur, Edgar  Cullen  and  Emma  Madora. 
Mr.  Bachman  was  appointed  postmaster  un- 
der the  Arthur  administration  and  has  lield 
the  office  since  that  time,  giving  to  the  pub- 
lic the  utmost  satisfaction  in  tlie  manage- 
ment of  the  office.  In  his  politics  he  is  a 
Republican  and  actively  interested  in  public 
matters.  He  is  agent  for  the  sale  of  the 
farm  implements  made  by  the  McCormick 
Company.  He  is  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday- 
school  and  a  zealous  worker  in  the  cause. 


Brandt,  Abraham  L.,  farmer,  Deodate, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Conewago  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  May  6,  1836.  Michael, 
the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia and  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  was 
also  an  undertaker.  John,  the  fatlier,  was 
also  born  in  Conewago  township,  in  1801, 
and  was  engaged  in  farming  in  London- 
derry township,    where   he   married   Annie 


662 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Loug.  His  children  were:  Samuel,  Annie, 
Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  Abraham.  His 
father  died  in  Londonderry  township  in 
1852.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics. 
The  mother  was  married  again  to  Joseph 
Youtz,  and  the\'  had  two  children,  Fannie 
and  Barbara,  both  deceased.  The  mother 
has  also  passed  away. 

Abraham  attended  school  and  worked  on 
the  farm  until  nineteen  years  old  when  he 
learned  the  blacksmith  trade  at  which  he 
worked  for  ten  years  as  a  journeyman,  and 
for  thirteen  j'ears  had  a  siiop  of  his  own. 
He  later  bought  the  farm  which  he  now 
occupies  and  which  he  has  cultivated  and 
improved.  He  was  married  in  Lebanon 
county,  in  1859,  to  Mary  Basehore,  born  in 
Londonderry  township,  Lebanon  county, 
October  13,  1840,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mary  Basehore.  Their  cliiidren  are:  Anna 
K.,  Alice,  Ella,  John,  Harriet,  Fannie,  Cora. 
William,  and  Eliza,  deceased.  Mr.  Brandt 
is  a  Republican  in  his  politics  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  township  matters. 


and  was  a  farmer.  He  married  Miss  Anna 
L.  Ebersole,  born'  in  Lancaster  county,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  two  children- 
Amanda  E.,  Mrs.  Brubaker,  and  E.  E.  The 
father  has  passed  away,  the  mother  survives 
and  lives  at  Mt.  Joy.  Siie  is  a  member  of 
the  Mennonite  church. 


Brubaker,  Seth,  Conewago  township, 
was  born  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  May  3, 
1863;  son  of  D.  B.  and  Kate"'(Royer)  Bru- 
baker. Jonas,  the  paternal  grandfather,  was 
born  in  1800,  in  Lebanon  county,  and  was 
reared  there.  His  wife  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion and  reared  a  family.  D.  B.  Brubaker, 
the  father,  was  a  miller  and  later  engaged  in 
farming.  He  married  Miss  Kate,  daughter 
of  Seth  and  Rosa  (Zinn)  Royer,  and  they  had 
eight  children,  five  of  wiiom  are  living: 
Jonas,  Rosie,  wife  of  Adam  0.  Brandt,  Seth, 
Emma,  and  A.  R.  The  deceased  children 
are:  Susan,  Amanda  and  Katie.  The  parents 
are  both  members  of  the  Church  in  Christ. 

Seth  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  Lebanon  ^'alley  College.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  began  teach- 
ing and  taught  for  three  terms  in  the  public 
schools.  In  June,  1885,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Amanda  E.  Risser,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham S.  and  Anna  L.  (Ebersole)  Risser.  They 
have  four  children :  Mabel,  Daniel,  Laura 
and  Stella.  In  1886  Mr.  Brubaker  engaged 
in  fanning  in  Conewago  township  and  bought 
the  farm  lately  owned  by  Abraham  Risser, 
which  he  has  since  occupied  and  cultivated. 
He  has  served  as  school  director  for  one 
year  and  is  a  neutral  in  his  politics.  Mrs. 
Brubaker  was  born  February  28, 1867.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Londonderry  township, 


Eby,  Henry  B.,  was  born  on  a  farm  in 
Derry  township,  Dauphin  countv.  Pa.,  May 
6,  1833;  son  of  Peter  Eby.  The  father  was 
born  in  Derry  township,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  sciiools  of  his  native 
township,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm 
of  his  father.  The  ancestors  were  from 
Switzerland.  The  father  succeeded  to  the 
homestead  in  Derry  township,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Mary 
Wisler,  of  that  county.  He  took  up  his  resi- 
dence on  the  home  farm  in  Derry  township, 
and  lived  tliere  until  his  death  in  1844.  His 
wife  survived  him  many  j'ears,  and  died  in 
Lancaster  county,  aged  eighty-nine  years. 
Their  children  are:  Samuel,  George,  Henry 
B.,  Annie,  Mary,  deceased,  and  Peter. 

Henry  B.  acquired  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  worked  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  his 
father  died,  and  lie  started  to  learn  the  trade 
of  shoemaking  near  Churchville,  Dauphin 
county,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two 
and  a  half  years.  When  he  was  nineteen 
years  of  age  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  store 
of  John  Eby,  who  kept  a  general  store  at 
East  Hanover,  Lebanon  county,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  and  then  clerked  for 
Moses  Early,  in  the  same  place,  for  one  year, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  worked  for 
awhile  for  Mr.  Garbuck  in  that  town.  He 
next  went  through  the  West  prospecting  for 
business,  and  after  a  few  months  sojourn  in 
Ohio,  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Iowa,  he  re- 
turned to  his  brother  Samuel's  home,  at  Bis- 
mark,  Lebanon  county.  In  a  short  time 
he  got  a  situation  at  Colebrook,  in  Lebanon 
county,  where  he  remained  six  months,  and 
then  returned  to  Bismark.  In  1855  he  em- 
barked in  the  mercantile  business  with  his 
brotiier  at  Bismark,  where  he  continued 
until  1864,  when  he  located  at  Bachmans- 
ville,  where  he  opened  his  present  place  of 
business,  and  conducts  a  general  store.  Mr. 
Eby  was  married  at  Bismark,  in  1860,  to 
Miss  Lizzie  Smith,  by  whom  he  has  four 
children :  Mary,  Robert,  Grant,  and  Lizzie, 
died  young.  His  wife  died  six  or  seven 
years  after  marriage,  and  he  took  for  his 


DAUPEIN  COUNTY. 


663 


second  wife  Miss  Lydia  Lehman,  a  native  of 
Lebanon  county,  by  whom  he  has  twelve 
children  :  Henry,  John,  Ida,  Anna,  Lonisa, 
deceased  ;  Lillie,  Katie,  Tillie,  George,  Will- 
iam, Elsie,  and  Ira.  Mr.  Eby  was  originally 
a  Republican,  but  is  now  an  independent 
voter,  and  has  never  sought  any  political 
office.  lie  is  not  o  member  of  anj'  religious 
organization. 


bore 
and 
Miss 


FoLTz,  Christian  M.,  was  born  in  Cone- 
wago  township,  Dauphin  count\',  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1SG8 ;  son  of  John  S.  Foltz. 
Christian,  the  grandfather,  was  tiie  son  of 
Christian,  great-grandfather,  and  he  was  the 
son  of  Christian,  wiio  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  the  first  of  the  family  to  come 
to  Americn.  Since  that  time  many  of  them 
have  been  farmers.  The  grandfather  reared 
a  large  family  and  died  in  Dauphin  county. 
John  S.,  the  father,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county  in  1831,  and  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Conewago  township  when  a  boj', 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools  of  that  township.  He 
was  first  married  to  Helen  Lntz,  who 
him  two  children,  Sarah  and  Maiy, 
then  died.  He  was  married  then  to 
Elizabeth  Alleman,  born  in  Lower  Swatara 
township  in  1826,  by  whom  he  liad  four 
children:  Ella  and  Catherine,  both  at  home  ; 
J.  Ezra,  proprietor  of  a  creamery  at  Deodate, 
and  Christian.  After  his  marriage  he  opened 
a  general  store  at  Deodate,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  his  death  in  1887. 

Christian  acquired  his  primary  education 
in  the  district  schools  and  was  graduated  at 
the  Normal  School  at  Kutztown  when  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age.  During  vacation  he 
was  employed  on  the  home  farm.  In  the 
spring  of  1891  he  embarked  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  at  Deodate,  succeeding  David 
Nissley,  and  has  .since  built  up  a  large  and 
profitable  trade.  He  was  never  married, 
but  lives  at  home  with  his  mother.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  is  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  the  community. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  staunch  Re- 
publican. Under  the  Harrison  administra- 
tion he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Deodate. 

Foltz,  J.  E.,  proprietor  of  the  creamery, 
Deodate,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Conewago  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  July  25,  1865.  His 
father  was  John  S.  Foltz,  a  well-known  mer- 
chant of  that  place.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Alleman,  and  they  have  four  children  :  Ella, 


Catherine,  J.  E.,  and  Christian,  all  of  whom 
are  unmarried.  Tiie  father  died  in  1884. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  in  his  political  views  was  a  Republican. 
He  served  as  school  director,  auditor  and 
in  other  offices. 

J.  E.  Foltz  was  educated  at  the  district 
schools,  Millersville  State  Normal  School, 
Cumberland  Valley  State  Normal  School 
and  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  from 
which  latter  institution  he  received  a  di- 
ploma. He  taught  schools  in  Berks,  Lan- 
caster and  Dauphin  counties,  and  was  also 
the  princi[ial  of  tiie  (!)r]ihans'  Home,  and  in 
all  taught  seven  full  terms.  In  1893  he  es- 
tablished a  creamery  at  Deodate,  which,  with 
equipment,  cost  $3,00t),  and  has  also  two 
branch  creameries,  one  at  ^'ine  and  the 
other  at  Bachmansville,  costing  $1,000.  He 
buys  milk  from  the  adjacent  farmers,  pay- 
out over  $300  per  week.  He  manufactures 
three  hundred  pounds  of  butter  per  day  and 
ships  it  over  the  State.  Mr.  Foltz  is  unmar- 
ried. He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is 
pi'oininent  also  in  Sundaj'-school  work,  be- 
ing the  president  of  the  Dauphin  Count}' 
Sunday-school  Association  and  has  been  a 
superintendent  of  tiie  local  Sunday-school. 


Grubb,  Ben.tamin,  farmer.  Deodate,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Conewago  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  July  19, 1845.  John,  the  father, 
was  born  in  the  same  township  in  1810  and 
was  a  farmer.  He  married  Annie  Brandt 
and  their  children  were:  Fannie,  Henry, 
John,  Jacob,  Benjamin,  Josiah,  and  three 
who  died  young.  He  was  a  Republican  in 
his  political  views.  His  wife  died  in  1876, 
and  he  died  July  17, 1893.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  Zion  church. 

Benjamin  attended  the  township  schools 
and  worked  on  the  homestead  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old.  He  then  bought  a 
farm  i'^  '  township  containing  130  acres 
whl...  x.^  oo  much  improved.  He  lost  his 
barn  by  fire  with  the  stock  it  contained,  en- 
tailing a  loss  of  $1,500.  In  1894  he  built  a 
fine  new  barn.  He  was  married,  in  London- 
derry township,  November  14, 1872,  to  Annie 
Herzey,  born  in  that  township,  July  30, 1851, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Herzey.  The 
former  was  a  native  of  Londonderry  town- 
ship and  was  a  farmer.  He  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1892,  and  his  wife  in  1877,  having  reared 
nine  children.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.   Grubb  are:    Mary  H.,  Benjamin   H., 


664 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Simon  H.,  Annie,  and  Harry.  Mr.  Grubb 
is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member 
of  Zion's  church. 


Grubb,  Joseph  G.,  farmer,  Baohmansville, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Conewago  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  March  3,  1832.  John 
Grubb,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  and  was  a  miller  and  farmer 
in  Conewago  township.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Whig.  He  and  his  family  were  members 
of  the  Mennonite  cliurch.  He  married  Susan 
Plough,  to  whom  tliere  were  born  five  chil- 
dren :  John,  Christian,  Daniel,  Susan  and 
Nancy.  Christian,  the  father,  was  educated 
in  the  subscription  schools  of  the  township, 
and  worked  with  his  father  on  the  farm. 
He  continued  on  the  iiomestead  and  has 
been  all  his  life  engaged  in  farming  in  his 
native  township.  He  married  Nancy  Ging- 
rich, a  native  of  Lebanon  county,  and  they 
had  eight  children :  Samuel,  Catherine, 
Polly,  Margaret,  deceased,  Micliael,  .Jo.sepii 
G.,  Susan  and  David.  Tiie  father  died  in 
1875,  and  his  wife  died  in  1881.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  j)olitics  and  always  much 
interested  in  public  matters. 

Joseph  G.  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  scliools  of  tlie  township  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farm  work  on  tiie  homestead  until 
he  became  of  age,  after  whicli  he  rented  a 
farm  and  began  business  for  himself.  When 
twenty-nine  years  of  age  he  rented  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  ■sixty-eight  acres  for  one 
year,  after  which  he  rented  another  farm, 
wliere  lie  spent  sixteen  3-ears  and  then 
his  present  farm  of  twenty-four  acres  for 
three  tiiousand  dollars,  on  wliich  he  has 
made  many  improvements.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Conewago  township,  in  1861,  to 
Christina  E.  Shenk,  and  to  this  marriage 
there  is  no  issue.  The}'  are  enjoying  their 
comfortable  home  and  reaping  the  fruits  of 
the  industry  and  frugality  of  their  earlier 
life.  He  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of 
Zion's  churcii. 


Shelly,  J.  0.,  Deodate,  Pa.,  was  born  No- 
vember 17,  1893;  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth Shell}'.  The  parents  were  both  natives 
of  Lancaster  county.  Tiie  father  was  born 
in  July,  1808,  and  was  a  farmer.  He  re- 
moved from  Lancaster  to  Dauphin  county 
and  settled  in  Conewago  township.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Christian  Over, 
of  Lancaster  county.  Their  children  are: 
Elizabeth,  Katherine,  Fannie,  Mary,  Henry, 


J.  0.,  and  Samuel,  deceased.  The  father  filled 
several  township  offices.  He  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1881,  aged  seventy-eight  years,  and 
his  wife  died,  aged  sixty-nine  years;  both 
were  members  of  the  Old  Brethren  church. 

J.  O.  Shelly  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Conewago  township  and  subsequently  took 
a  course  in  Palmyra  Academy.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  with  his  father  until  his 
marriage.  In  1867  he  began  farming  for 
himself  on  one  of  his  father's  farms,  wliere 
he  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Shelly  has  filled  several  public  offices,  that 
of  school  director  for  three  years,  and  that  of 
inspector  of  elections.  He  was  made  the 
executor  of  his  father's  estate,  and  ably  and 
honestly  discharged  the  trust. 

In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican. 
His  religious  fellowship  is  in  the  Old  Breth- 
ren church.  Mr.  Shelly  was  married,  Janu- 
ary 8,  1867,  to  Miss  Susan  Gipple,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Lydia(Shenk)  Gipple,  of  Leba- 
non county.  Their  children  are:  Harry,  Liz- 
zie, Samuel,  and  Isaac.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Siielly  are  natives  of  Lebanon  county.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  married  Miss  Liz- 
zie Shenk.  Tiieir  children  are:  Harry,  Sam- 
uel, Harvey,  John,  Jacob,  Lizzie,  Fannie, 
Leah,  Susan,  and  Josepli.  The  parents  re- 
side at  Palmvra,  Pa. 


She\k,  Cvkus  G.,was  bornin  Derry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  May  21,1839; 
son  of  John  M.  Shenk.  Rev.  Michael  Shenk, 
the  grandfather,  was  the  first  of  this  famih' 
to  settle  in  Dauphin  county.  He  was  first 
at  Germantown,  Pa.,  removed  from  there  to 
Philadelphia  and  later  to  Lancaster  county, 
where  he  received  his  education.  The  fam- 
ily were  of  the  class  which  left  Switzerland 
for  good  political  and  economical  reasons, 
removing  first  to  London,  England,  and 
later  to  America.  His  great-grandfather 
married  Miss  Lehman,  who  bore  him  a 
large  family. 

Christian,  the  grandfather,  was  brought 
up  a  farmer  boy,  and  had  few  educational 
advantages,  the  lack  of  which  made  him  a 
strong  advocate  for  a  liberal  provision  in 
this  respect  for  the  youth  of  the  State.  He 
was  married  in  Dauphin  county  to  Miss 
Martin,  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters  and 
one  son,  John  M.  He  later  married  a  Miss 
Lehman,  who  bore  him  two  daughters  and 
a  son.  He  was  a  man  of  great  public  spirit, 
an  advocate  of  free  schools  and  all  measures 
promoting  the  general  welfare  of  society,  and 


^z.^s-'^cLw-.jiJZtf^^/ 


J 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


667 


was  a  man  of  prominence  and  influence 
whose  advice  was  sought  on  all  matters. 
He  succeeded  his  father  on  the  old  Shenk 
farm  which  then  contained  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres. 

John  M.,  the  father,  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead, November  15,  1814,  and  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools  of  that  time.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm  and  became  a  farmer. 
He  was  married,  in  Dauphin  county,  in  1838, 
to  Miss  Mary  Gingrich,  born  in  Derry  town- 
ship, in  1815,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Moyer)  Gingrich.  After  marriage,  he  settled 
on  a  rented  farm  in  Derry  township,  and 
after  a  short  time  returned  to  the  old  home- 
stead in  Conewago  township.  Their  children 
are:  Cyrus  G.,  Diana.  Mary  Ann,  Christian 
M.,  and  Elizabeth.  His  wife  died  in  1881, 
after  a  lingering  illness.  She  was  a  devoted 
Christian  woman,  active  in  all  good  works. 
The  father  still  survives  and  enjoys  good 
health  for  his  years.  He  has  held  several 
township  offices,  and  has  been  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Hummelstown  National 
Bank  since  its  organization. 

Cyrus  G.  began  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Conewago  township,  and 
finished  at  Mt.  Joy  Academy,  when  he  was 
about  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  then 
taught  school  for  four  terms,  aud  later  be- 
came a  farmer,  and  has  made  this  his  occu- 
pation. He  has  been  something  of  a  traveler, 
having  visited  various  sectionsof  the  country, 
both  east  and  west.  He  was  married,  at  Mt. 
Joy,  Pa.,  in  1868,  to  Miss  Annie  Herr,  born 
in  Lancaster  count}',  in  1847,  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Ann  (Riehr)  Herr.  After 
marriage  he  took  up  his  residence  with  his 
father  on  the  old  homestead,  which,  in  1870, 
he  bought  from  his  father,  and  which  now 
contains  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  His 
children  are :  Albert,  Mamie,  John,  Herman, 
Cyrus,  and  Annie.  Mr.  Shenk  is  an  inde- 
pendent voter  with  Republican  preferences. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  school  director  for 
many  years,  and  also  that  of  auditor  and 
other  offices.  He  has  never  connected  him- 
self with  an}'  church,  and  has  always  held 
that  people  should  not  be  divided  by  relig- 
ious prejudices  and  preferences,  and  would 
prefer  to  call  all  men  brethren.  He  has 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  Sunday-schools,  and 
in  early  life  served  as  superintendent  at  the 
local  school.  He  is  treasurer  of  his  district, 
and  is  esteemed  by  all  as  an  upright 
man. 


Shenk,  Samuel,  M'as  born  in  Conewago 
township  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  February 
12,  1849;  son  of  Henry  Shenk.  John,  the 
grandfather,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
and  was  a  farmer.  He  married  a  Miss  Buck, 
by  whom  he  had  four  daughters  and  two 
sons.  He  died  in  Conewago  township,  and 
his  wife  survived  him  some  years  Henry, 
the  father,  was  also  born  in  Conewago  town- 
ship, June  18,  1805,  was  educated  in  the 
district  school,  grew  to  manhood,  and  was 
married,  in  Derry  township,  to  Miss  Mary 
Kellar,  native  of  Dauphin  county.  He  set- 
tled on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
acres  in  Conewago  township,  which  he  had 
bought  previous  to  his  marriage,  and  farmed 
there  for  some  years.  His  wife  died  and  he 
went  to  live  with  his  son,  where  he  died,  in 
1894.  Their  children  are  :  Josiah,  Columbia, 
Pa.;  John  and  Henry,  died  young;  Jacob, 
Lebanon,  Pa.;  and  Samuel  R.,  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  township 
and  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm. 
He  was  married,  in  Derry  township,  where 
he  was  temj>orarily  residing  at  the  time,  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Shenauer,  born  in  Upper 
Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county,  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Kate  Gingrich,  both  na- 
tives of  Dauphin  county.  To  this  marriage 
there  is  no  issue.  He  had  been  previously 
married  to  Lizzie  Farver,  who  died,  having 
born  two  children;  Kate,  died  in  infancy, 
and  Lavinia  Alice.  After  marriage  he  took 
up  his  residence  on  the  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  acres,  bought  from  his  father, 
which  he  occupied  for  about  sixteen  years. 
In  1892  he  rented  the  farm  and  moved  to 
his  present  place,  which  contains  seventeen 
acres  of  land,  and  has  a  fine  house,  barn  and 
all  modern  improvements.  Mr.  Shenk  is  a 
strong  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been 
school  director  and  filled  other  minor  offices. 
Mrs.  Shenk  lived  at  home  with  her  parents 
until  her  marriage.  She  is  one  of  seven 
children:  Mary,  Mrs.  Shenk;  Annie;  Mar- 
tin; Emma, died  young;  Adam;  John,  died 
in  infancy  ;  and  Mina. 


WiTMER,  Peter,  Bachmansville,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  June  25, 1821 ; 
son  of  Peter  and  Esther  (Burkholder)  Wit- 
mer.  He  acquired  his  education  in  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  Dauphin  and  Lancaster 
counties,  and  completed  his  course  before 
the  public  schools  were  established.  He 
learned   the   trade   of  cooper,  at  which  he 


44 


668 


BIO  GRA  PHIUA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


served  an  apprenticeship  of  one  year  and 
then  worked  at  the  trade  in  the  winter 
luonllis  for  ten  years,  working  at  farm  work 
in  the  summer  months.  He  was  married, 
November  20,  1851,  to  Miss  Nancy  Lehman, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  Lehman, 
by  whom  he  has  four  children  :  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Jacob  G.  Brandt;  John  L.,  married 
Miss  Eliza  Shenk,  resides  in  Lancaster 
county ;  Hettie  L.,  wife  of  Christian  G. 
Brandt ;  Aaron  L.,  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Lehman,  residing  on  the  old  homestead.  In 
1839  Mr.  Witmer  went  to  Lancaster  county, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  nineteen 
years,  and  has  spent  in  all  thirty-three  years 
in  that  county.  In  1872  he  returned  to  Dau- 
phin county  and  occupied  the  farm  on  which 
he  has  had  his  residence  since  that  time. 
Mr.  Witmer  is  a  good  Repuljlican  in  his  po- 
litical views,  and  in  1875  was  elected  a  school 
director  of  Conewago  townsiiip,  in  which 
office  he  has  served  for  nine  years.  In  re- 
ligious fellowship  and  faith  he  is  associated 
with  the  Mennonite  churcii. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Witmer  were  natives 
of  Dauphin  county.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
and  also  owned  a  grist  mill.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Lehman,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Maria  Lehman.  They  had  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  survive :  Henry,  Nancy, 
Barbara,  Polly,  Elizabeth,  Katie,  Daniel  and 
one  child  died  young.  The  mother  died  at 
the  age  of  forty-two  years.  The  father  then 
married  Mrs.  Nancy  Birks,  widow  of  Jolin 
Birks,  by  whom  he  liad  eight  children : 
Annie;  Sarah,  wife  of  Rev.  Henry  Bucher ; 
Daniel;  Peter;  Susan,  wife  of  Daniel  Long- 
enecker;  David;  Lydia,  deceased;  and  Mat- 
tie,  deceased.  The  father  died,  aged  seventy- 
nine  years.  His  widow  still  survives  and 
resides  in  Franklin  county. 


Bowers,  Abraham,  was  born  in  Lancas- 
ter county.  Pa.,  January  18,  1820;  son  of 
Christopher  and  Magdaline  Bowers.  The 
parents  were  both  born  at  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  in  their 
youth,  the  father  being  a  general  laborer. 
He  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  the  only 
survivor  is  Abraham.  The  father  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  and  the 
mother  at  the  age  of  fift\'-five  years,  and 
both  passed  awa}^  in  Lancaster  county. 

Abraham  attended  the  pay  and  public 
schools  and  worked  on  the  home  farm  until 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  began 


an  apprenticeship  at  the  blacksmith  trade, 
in  which  he  served  three  years,  and  then 
worked  at  his  trade  until  1891,  when  he  re- 
tired from  business.  He  was  married,  De- 
cember 21,  1843,  by  Rev.  Jacob  Stein,  to 
Miss  Madeline  Sanders,  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick and  Catherine  (Beam)  Sanders,  to 
whom  have  been  born  two  children  :  Israel, 
born  January  15,  1855,  and  Barbara,  died 
August  1,  1873,  aged  twenty-five  years.  Mr. 
Bowers  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
served  as  constable  of  Conewago  township 
one  year,  and  also  as  inspector  of  elections. 
He  came  to  Dauphin  county  in  1840,  and 
in  1892  moved  to  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides.  He  is  in  fellowship  witii  the 
United  Brethren  church. 

Mrs.  Bowers  was  born  August  21,  1821, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 
Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  when  j'oung,  and 
reared  a  family.  The  father  was  a  farmer  ; 
both  are  deceased,  the  mother  dying  in  1859. 

Israel,  the  only  son  and  living  child  of 
Abraham  Bowers,  has  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  the  past  twelve  years,  and  since  1892 
has  occupied  and  cultivated  his  father's 
farm.  He  was  married,  November  29,  1882, 
to  Miss  Amanda  Shoemaker,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Caroline  (Yeager)  Shoemaker, 
and  they  had  two  children,  both  deceased, 
Edward,  died  October  31,  1895,  aged  nine 
years,  and  Abraham,  died  October  11,  1894, 
aged  seven  years. 

Mr.  Bowers  is  a  Republican  and  has  been 
elected  to  several  offices.  He  served  as  in- 
spector of  elections  two  years,  and  in  1888 
was  elected  tax  collector  for  Conewago  town- 
ship, and  served  one  year,  and  in  1889  was 
elected  school  director  and  served  three 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  as  is  also  his  wife,  Amanda. 
She  was  born  March  18,  1868,  and  her 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Lehigli  county. 
The  fatlier  was  a  hotel  keeper  in  that  county, 
and  removed  to  Dauphin  county  in  1872, 
and  kept  the  hotel  at  Hummelstown  for 
many  years.  He  married  Miss  Caroline 
Yeager,  daugliter  of  Jacob  and  Lydia  Yea- 
ger, and  they  had  thirteen  children.  In 
1880  he  went  on  a  farm  in  Derry  town- 
ship and  cultivated  it  for  fourteen  years, 
and  then  retired,  and  is  now  living  at  Hum- 
melstown. He  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 
His  wife  is  a  Lutheran  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Evangelical  church. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


6G9 


DERRY  TOWNSHIP. 


Walton,  Allen,  Hummelstown,  was  born 
in  Chester  county,  Pa  ,  August  24, 1835.  His 
parents  moved  to  Piiiladelpliia  when  he  was 
one  year  old.  He  was  educated  in  that  city, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  machinist.  For 
about  ten  years  he  was  engaged  in  plumb- 
ing and  steam  and  gas-fitting,  in  Philadel- 
phia. In  1867  he  came  to  Hummelstown, 
and  was  made  superintendent  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Brown  Freestone  Company.  In 
1875  this  company  was  sold  out  at  sheriff's 
sale.  Mr.  Walton  was  the  purchaser  of  the 
property  and  business.  He  made  improve- 
ments in  the  machinery  and  enlarged  the 
operations.  In  1885  he  built  the  railroad  to 
his  quarries,  known  as  the  Hummelstown 
and  I3rownstone  railroad,  in  which  he  owns 
the  controlling  interest,  and  is  president  of 
the  company.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in 
the  Hummelstown  National  Bank  and  its 
vice-president.  He  owns  the  contmlling  in- 
terest in  the  electric  light  plant  and  in  the 
Hummelstown  Water  Works.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1859,  to  Miss  Emma  .J.  Koehlen- 
karap,  of  Philadelphia..  They  have  two 
children:  Allen  K.  and  Robert  J.  Mr. Wal- 
ton was  brought  up  in  the  Society  of  Friends. 
His  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 


NissLEY,  John  J.,  cashier  of  the  Hummels- 
town National  Bank,  was  born  in  Derry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  October  22, 1832. 
He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Nancy  (Funck) 
Nissley.  His  grandfather,  John  Nissley,  one 
of  the  ver}'  early  settlers  of  Dauphin  county, 
was  a  farmer  and  died  in  Derry  townshij)  in 
1836.  His  wife  was  Esther  Ober,  who  died 
in  Hummelstown  in  1867,  aged  ninety-one 
years.  They  had  two  children  :  Christian, 
and  a  daughter,  Francis,  who  married  Dan- 
iel Neidig,  became  a  widow,  and  afterwards 
married  Abraham  Landis,  and  settled  in 
Derry  township. 

Christian  Nissley  was  born  in  Derry  town- 
ship in  1806,  and  died  in  1847.  He  was  a 
farmer,  miller  and  distiller.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  establishing  the  free  school 
system  and  was  elected  the  first  school  di- 
rector in  his  township.  He  belonged  to  the 
old  Whig  party.  He  married  Nancy  Funck 
and  had  eight  children  :  Mar)',  wife  of  Isaac 
Mumma,  of  Highspire;  Rev.  Joseph  Nissley, 
of  Derry  township  ;  John  J.:  Martin  F.,  mer- 
chant in  Hummelstown  ;  Anna,  of  Middle- 


town  ;  S.  R.,  practicing  physician,  of  Eliza- 
bethtown  ;  Lee  H.,  of  Middletown,  formerly 
cashier  of  the  bank  of  that  town;  and  Capt. 
C.  A.,  who  died  December  25,  1887  ;  he  was 
formerly  a  merchant  in  Hummelstown,  but 
in  1862  enlisted  as  private  in  company  C, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers.  He  was 
transferred  to  company  I,  of  the  same  regi- 
ment, and  promoted  to  its  captaincy. 

John  J.  Nissley  was  reared  in  Derry  town- 
ship and  educated  in  its  common  schools 
and  at  Chamberlain's  Commercial  College, 
Baltimore,  Md.  When  he  was  twentj'-one 
he  and  his  brother,  Capt.  C.  A.  Nissley,  came 
to  Hummelstown  and  purchased  the  mer- 
cantile business  of  Col.  George  T.  Hummel, 
which  they  conducted  until  1868.  In  the 
management  of  this  mercantile  business  Mr. 
Nissley  recognized  the  need  and  opportunity 
of  the  conveniences  which  only  a  good  bank 
can  supply  to  the  business  communit}',  and 
impressed  with  the  belief  that  such  a  finan- 
cial institution  would  be  appreciated  by 
business  men,  and  would  contribute  to  the 
prosperity  and  growth  of  the  place,  he  organ- 
ized a  private  bank,  wdiich  became  known 
as  the  Hummelstown  Bank,  and  which  was 
prosperous  from  the  start.  His  recognized 
success  in  this  enterprise  convinced  the  com- 
munity of  the  desirableness  of  enlarging  the 
capacity  and  scope  of  the  bank,  and,  conse- 
quently, in  1882ja  national  bank  was  organ- 
ized and  Mr.  Nissley  was  chosen  its  cashier. 
This  important  position  he  has  filled  since 
that  time,  having  full  charge  of  the  business 
of  the  bank,  and  administering  its  trusts  in  a 
manner  that  has  insi)ired  the  utmost  confi- 
dence of  business  men  and  has  insured  grati- 
fying returns  to  the  stockholders. 

During  his  business  career  Mr.  Nissley  has 
found  time  to  look  after  other  commercial 
and  industrial  enterprises,  which  have  pro- 
moted the  welfare  of  the  place.  In  1856  he 
became  secretary  of  the  Hummelstown  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  serving  as  its  secretar}' 
and  manager  until  1893,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son,  and  he  is  also  a  charter 
member  and  a  director  of  the  Hummelstown 
Brownstone  Company. 

While  industriously  and  intelligently  em- 
ployed in  promoting  the  material  prosperity 
of  himself  and  community  Mr.  Nissley  has 
not  been  unmindful  or  negligent  of  his 
higher  and  spiritual  interests.  In  1860  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church 
on  public   profession   of  his  faith,  and  from 


670 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


the  beginning  of  his  religious  life  has  been 
active  and  devoted  in  the  performance  of  his 
duties.  He  was  earl}'  called  into  the  office 
of  the  eldership  and  for  years  has  been  the 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-sciiool.  He 
has  frequently  been  the  representative  of  the 
local  church  in  the  higher  ecclesiastical 
bodies  and  takes  an  active  part  in  the  gen- 
eral business  and  enterprises  of  his  denomi- 
nation, bestowing  upon  these  matters,  which 
are  of  a  business  character,  the  same  distin- 
guished ability  and  fidelit}'  which  have  char- 
acterized him  in  his  business  career.  Few, 
if  any,  men  of  his  denomination  are  more 
widely  or  favorably  known  or  have  been 
honored  with  as  important  trusts  as  those 
which  have  been  placed  in  Mr.  Nissley's 
hands.  In  1870  he  was  made  a  member  of 
the  board  of  trustees  of  tlie  Eastern  Synod 
of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America  and  he  has  also  filled  the 
responsible  position  of  treasurer  of  that 
synod  for  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Ni.ssley  has  been  for  many  years  one 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Theological 
Seminar}'  at  Lancaster.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  joint  Board  of  Home  Mis- 
sions of  the  Eastern  and  Potomac  Synod,  re- 
ceiving and  dispersing  all  the  money  of  this 
board  as  its  treasurer,  and  has  discharged 
these  duties  at  a  cost  of  much  personal  care 
and  outlay  of  money  with  a  willing  and 
cheerful  spirit.  In  early-  maniiood  he  was  a 
supporter  of  the  Know-Nothing  party,  but 
united  with  the  Eepublican  party  at  its  or- 
ganization. 

In  185G  Mr.  Nissley  was  married  to  Miss 
Kate,  daughter  of  John  Ubii,of  York  county. 
They  have  two  children  :  Annie  L.,  who 
married  Rev.  J.  F.  Mover,  pastor  of  the  Re- 
formed church,  of  Altoona,  Pa.,  andhasone 
child,  Ruth  Nissley;  J.  Paul,  born  May  7, 
1869,  educated  in  the  borough  scliools  and 
at  Harrisburg,  is  a  clerk  in  tlie  Hummels- 
town  National  Bank,  was  married  in  Feb- 
ruary 1894,  to  Miss  Caroline  L.,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Thomas  G.  Fox,  of  Hummelstown.  The 
deceased  children  of  John  J.  and  Kate  Niss- 
ley are:  Ada  Virginia,  wife  of  Burd  Zell, 
died  in  1884,  and  Grace,  born  September  28, 
1876,  died  June  21,  1879. 


Ulrich,  William  H.,  cashier  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Bank,  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Lower  Swatara  township,  Dauphin  count}', 
June  7, 1844 ;  son  of  Adam  and  Mary  Ulrich. 


He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
township  and  of  Middletown.  He  prepared 
himself  for  teaching  and  for  several  years 
taught  school  in  Lancaster  county  and  after- 
wards in  his  native  township.  For  two  years 
he  was  assistant  in  the  Middletown  Academy. 
He  then  exchanged  the  school  room  for  the 
farm,  working  for  five  years  at  the  homestead. 
While  teaching  and  farming  he  had  been 
studying  civil  engineering  under  Prof.  Ross, 
and  having  fitted  himself  for  that  profession 
he  left  the  farm  and  devoted  himself  to  its 
labors.  He  was  employed  at  different  times 
as  civil  engineer  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  the  National  Pipe  Line 
Company,  and  Miller,  Graff  &  Co.,  coal  oper- 
ators. He  was  forced  to  suspend  his  work 
for  the  last-named  company  on  account  of 
the  disturbances  caused  by  the  "  Molly  Mc- 
Guires." 

In  1885  he  became  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Farmers'  Bank  and  in  1892  was  elected 
its  cashier,  which  position  he  has  ever  since 
held.  He  is  a  director  and  the  secretary  of 
the  Cameron  Furnace  Comi)any,  of  Middle- 
town  ;  he  has  been  for  man}'  years  a  director 
in  the  Annville  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers 
and  is  a  director  of  the  Hummelstown  Elec- 
tric Light  Comjian}'.  Mr.  Ulrich  is  also 
largely  interested  in  agriculture.  He  is  the 
owner  of  six  farms,  lying  in  Lebanon,  Dau- 
phin and  Franklin  counties.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  opinions  and  actions.  In 
1874  he  was  elected  county  surveyor  and 
served  in  that  office  two  terms.  In  1886  he 
was  elected  prothonotary  and  clerk  of  the 
Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  Dauphin  county 
and  was  re-elected  in  1889,  serving  six  years. 
At  the  end  of  his  term  of  office  he  took  a  trip 
through  Florida  for  his  health.  Mr.  Ulricli 
is  a  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  Harrisburg;  of  tiie  Patriotic  Order 
Sons  of  America,  and  Junior  Order  United 
American  Mechanics.  He  was  married,  in 
1869,  to  Miss  Kate  E.  Bowman,  of  Lebanon 
county.  They  have  no  children.  They  are 
members  of  the  United  Bretiiren  churcli. 
Mr.  Ulrich  has  been  for  many  years  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  He  takes 
an  active  interest  both  in  the  local  church 
and  in  general  denomination  work.  He  has 
for  many  years  been  a  trustee  of  the  Lebanon 
Valley  College.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Mt. 
Gretna  Campmeeting  Association  and  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Chautauqua. 


DA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY . 


671 


Baker,  W.  C,  M.  D.,  Hummelstown,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pa.,  Januar}'  10, 
1850.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  school 
and  in  the  Millersville  Normal  School.  He 
read  medicine  under  Dr.  Henry  Carpenter, 
of  Lancaster,  and  Prof.  Frothinghani,  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  wliere  he  attended 
lectures  for  two  terms.  H-q  was  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1874.  He  practiced  for  six  months  in  Mari- 
etta, Lancaster  county.  In  December,  1874, 
lie  came  to  Hummelstown  as  successor  to 
Dr.  Roebuck;  and  now  has  an  extensive 
practice  in  this  part  of  the  county.  He  is 
physician  for  the  Hummelstown  Brownstone 
Company  and  the  Brownstone  and  Middle- 
town  Railroad  Company. 

He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Bank,  and  is  now  its  vice-president.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is  a  large 
stockholder  in  the  Hummelstown  Electric 
Light  Company.  Dr.  Baker  is  a  partner 
with  H.  G.  Waliner  in  the  milk  and  cream- 
ery business.  He  is  a  member  of  Persever- 
ance Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Harris- 
burg.  He  takes  an  active  part  in  politics  in 
connection  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
was  married,  in  1875,  to  Miss  Anna,  daugh- 
ter of  Diller  Bare,  of  Lancaster  county. 
They  have  three  children  :  Maude,  Gertrude 
and  Zelma. 


Walmer,  Henry  G.,  of  the  firm  of  Wal- 
mer  &  Fox,  carriage  and  sleigh  manufactur- 
ers, Hummelstown,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Hum- 
melstown in  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
and  Catherine  (Gilbert)  Walmer.  Samuel 
Walmer  was  born  in  Lebanon  county.  In 
1843  he  came  to  Hummelstown  and  began 
the  manufacture  of  carriages,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  in  1872.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  United  Bretiiren 
church,  and  assisted  in  building  the  church 
edifice.  His  politics  were  Republican.  His 
wife,  who  survives  him,  is  a  native  of  Leb- 
anon count}'.  They  have  five  children  liv- 
ing: Emma  W.,  widow  of  W.  W.  Reed,  of 
Hummelstown  ;  Henry  G.;  Minnie,  wife  of 
S.  M.  Killough,  of  Hummelstown  ;  Clara, 
wife  of  Henry  Bare,  of  New  York  city,  and 
Mary,  wife  of  W.  R.  Fox,  of  Hummelstown. 
Henry  G.  Walmer  was  educated  in  the 
Hummelstown  public  schools,  the  Otterbein 
College,  Westerville,  Ohio,  and  Eastman's 
Commercial  College.  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 
He  entered  the  counting-room  of  James 
Kent,  Santee  &  Co.,  dry  goods,  Third  street, 


Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  for 
some  time.  He  then  returned  home  and 
assisted  in  his  father's  business  until,  in 
1872,  his  father  died.  He  was  made  execu- 
tor of  the  estate,  and  continued  the  business 
until  1876.  At  that  date  the  existing  firm 
of  Walmer  &  Fox  was  organized.  In  1889 
he  and  Dr.  W.  C.  Baker  established  a 
"  Model  Creamery,"  and  built  a  chop  mill 
in  connection  with  it.  In  politics  Mr.  Wal- 
mer acts  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is 
president  of  the  boi'ough  council.  He  was 
married,  in  1876,  to  Miss  Anna  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Christian  Hoflfer.  Their  chil- 
dren are  :  Reed,  Samuel  R.  and  Clara  B. 


Cassel,  David  B.,  tanner  and  currier, 
Hummelstown,  Pa.,  was  born  in  South  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Octo- 
ber 17, 1854.  He  is  a  son  of  Uriah  and  Bar- 
bara (Hocker)  Cassel.  He  was  educated  in 
the  township  schools.  He  learned  the  tan- 
ner's trade  of  his  father,  and  has  followed 
this  occupation  through  life.  In  1877  he 
came  to  Hummelstown  and  opened  a  tan- 
nery. He  was  burned  out  in  1890.  After 
this  misfortune  he  built  the  currier  shop 
which  he  now  occupies.  Mr.  Cassel  is  a 
member  of  the  Junior  Order  United  Ameri- 
can Mechanics.  He  was  married,  in  1880, 
to  Miss  Ida  A.  Hofter,  daughter  of  Christian 
Hoffer.  They  have  five  children  :  Christian 
Uriah,  Agnes  Marie,  Romaine,  George  Ed- 
mund, and  Daniel  A.  Mr.  Cassel  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


SiPLE,  W.  H.,  lumber  dealer,  Hummels- 
town, Pa.,  was  born  in  Middletown,  Pa., 
January  1,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Susan  (Light)  Siple.  Henry  Siple  was  born 
in  Middletown  in  1803.  His  father  was 
Christian  Siple,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Dauphin  coui>ty,  a  gunsmith ;  he  died  in 
Middletown.  Henry  Siple  conducted  a  store 
on  a  canal  boat,  the  business  of  which  was 
to  furnish  goods  to  merchants  along  the 
Union  canal.  He  also  boated  lumber  to  Phila- 
delphia. He  afterwards  became  a  partner  in 
the  firm  of  Cobaugh  &  Siple,  later  Siple  &  Car- 
many,  dealers  in  lumber,  at  Middletown. 
He  was  in  this  business  for  many  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  and  a  director  of 
the  Middletown  Market  Company,  and  a 
stockholder  in  the  car  works,  and  in  the 
cemetery  association.  His  politics  were  Re- 
publican. He  was  an  elder  in  the  Church 
of  God,  and  a  member  of  its  building  com- 


672 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


mittee.  He  died  in  1879.  His  wife,  Susan 
Liglit,  survives  with  four  of  their  children: 
Henrietta,  W.  H.,  Nelson  W.  T.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  Henrj'  R.,  of  Chicago,  HI. 

\V.  H.  Siple  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Middletown,  where  he  was  reared, 
and  at  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.  He  was  em- 
ployed in  the  lumber  business  with  his 
father  until  his  father's  retirement,  and  after 
his  death,  in  1879,  he  succeeded  to  the  busi- 
ness, and  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Etter,  Carmany  &  Siple,  which  carried  on 
business  for  nine  years.  In  1881  he  came 
to  Hummelstown  and  established  the  busi- 
ness in  which  he  is  still  engaged,  known  as 
the  Hummelstown  Mills  and  Lumber  Com- 
pany. He  is  at  present  the  manager  and 
treasurer  of  this  company.  He  aided  in  the 
organization  of  the  Hummelstown  Water 
Company,  and  is  one  of  its  directors  and  its 
superintendent.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in 
company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  served  in  the  army  nine  months.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Ciiancellorsville 
and  Fredericksburg.  Mr.  Siple  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  is  president  of  the  borough  school 
board.  He  has  served  as  president  of  both 
the  Middletown  and  Hummelstow:i  coun- 
cils. He  is  a  member  of  Henderson  Post, 
No.  443,  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  the  first  com- 
mander of  the  post.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics. 
He  was  married,  in  1872,  to  Miss  Alice  E., 
daughter  of  George  W.  Etter,  of  Middletown. 
Their  three  children  are:  Bertha  B.,  George 
E.,  and  Willard.  Mr.  Siple  is  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  church  of  Hummelstown. 


Wall,  Richard  J.,  dentist,  Hummels- 
town, Pa.,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
May  1,  1865.  He  is  a  son  of  Richard  and 
Elizabeth  (Westcott)  Wall.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  county  Cork,  Ireland.  He  was 
a  sea  captain,  and  part  owner  of  a  merchant 
sailing  vessel,  and  engaged  in  traffic  in  all 
parts  of  the  globe.  While  he  was  yet  a 
young  man  he  became  an  officer  in  the 
British  navy.  He  commanded  a  battery  in 
the  Sepoy  Rebellion,  and  marched  from  Cal- 
cutta to  Lucknow,  a  distance  of  nine  hun- 
dred miles,  through  a  densely  settled  country, 
participating  in  many  battles.  He  came  to 
this  countrv,  and  in  1867  retired  from  all 
marine  service,  and  engaged  in  business  in 
Philadelphia.  In  1869  he  came  to  Hum- 
melstown and  became  foreman  in  the  Brown- 


stone  quarries,  where  he  was  employed  until 
1893 ;  at  this  date  he  retired  from  active 
business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity;  ])olitically, a  Democrat;  by  church 
membership,  a  Lutheran.  He  was  married 
in  Newfoundland  to  Elizabeth  Westcott. 
They  have  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  living  •  Cora,  wife  of  Wells  Grove,  of 
Harrisburg;  Richard  J.;  Charles  B.;  Lillie 
J.,  wife  of  Peter  Hummel,  of  Philadelphia; 
Emma  J.,  Archibald,  and  Florence  J.,  all  of 
Hummelstown. 

Richard  J.  Wall  was  educated  in  the 
Hummelstown  schools.  He  studied  den- 
tistry under  Dr.  Christ,  of  Hummelstown, 
and  graduated  from  the  LTni versify  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  1887;  he  has  since  that  time 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. In  1890  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
May,  daughter  of  H.  J.  Hummel,  of  Hum- 
melstown. They  have  three  children : 
Richard  C,  Margerie  M.,  and  Mary  Esther. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wall  are  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  is  a  member  of  the  Patriotic  Order 
Sons  of  America  and  Capital  City  Lodge, 
No.  301,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Harrisburg. 


Walton,  Robert  J.,  superintendent  of  the 
Hummelstown  Brownstone  Company,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  June  12, 1863,  and 
is  the  son  of  Allen  and  Emma  J.  (Koehlen- 
kamp)  Walton.  His  parents  removing  to 
Hummelstown  in  1867,  he  received  his  edu- 
cation here,  in  the  i)ublic  schools.  In  1885 
he  married  Miss  Carrie,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Jacob  Shope,  of  Hummelstown.  Their  chil- 
dren are  :  Robert  J.,  Jr.,  and  Emma  J.  Mr. 
Walton  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  Politicall}'  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. 


Snavely,  Joseph,  was  born  in  Lebanon, 
Pa.,  June  4,  1793.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
and  Gertrude  (Boehm)  Snavely,  Penn.sylva- 
nians,  of  (xerman  ancestry,  and  was  one  of 
four  children  born  to  these  worth}-  parents. 
Joseph  Snavely  attended  the  subscription 
schools  of  his  birthplace  and  worked  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  was  twent3'-one  years 
of  age.  His  father  then  purchased  a  farm 
and  hotel  near  Annville,  and  put  him  in 
charge  of  them,  thus  starting  him  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  He  conducted  this  busi- 
ness for  a  number  of  \'ears,  making  much  im- 
provement in  the  property,  and  was  reason- 
ably  successful.     He  was   a   very   popular 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


673 


landlord  and  surrounded  himself  with  many 
warm  friends.  After  selling  the  farm  and 
hotel  he  removed  to  Annville,  where  he 
spent  several  years.  Finallj'  he  removed 
to  Dauphin  county  and  located  in  Derry 
township,  wliere  he  bought  a  farm  of  fifty 
acres;  this  he  improved  and  cultivated  until 
his  death.  He  was  married,  in  Lebanon, 
June  15,  1820,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of 
Abraham  Light,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Leba- 
non county.  She  was  born  in  Lebanon,  De- 
cember 12,  1800.  They  had  ten  children: 
Edward,  deceased,  who  was  a  soldier  in  tiie 
Mexican  war;  Amanda, died  young;  Melinda, 
deceased,  wife  of  Simon  Mutch,  of  Lancaster 
count}' ;  Peremilia,  deceased,  wife  of  Isaac 
Wolfberger,  of  Kansas;  Moses,  died  voung; 
John  H.,  killed  July  9,  1894,  in  Wisconsin  ; 
Orpha  L.,  wife  of  Thomas  Lyons,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  and 
who  resides  on  the  homestead;  Peninah, 
wife  of  Solomon  Bechtel ;  Joseph,  resides  on 
the  homestead ;  Hannah,  wife  of  Dr.  Ellinger, 
of  Topeka,  Kan.  Mr.  Snavely  died  in  Au- 
gust, 1873,  his  wife  May  3,  1874.  He  was 
widel}'  and  favorably  known  and  universally 
esteemed  as  an  honest  and  upiight  man. 
He  was  industrious  in  his  business,  very 
genial  and  kindly  in  his  manner,  and  easily 
approachable  by  all.  His  politics  were 
Democratic.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church. 


Lyons,Thomas,  husband  of  Orpha  Snavely, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Snavely,  was  born  in 
county  Cork,  Ireland,  in  18(J0.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Mary  (Keller)  Lyons.  He  at- 
tended school  in  Cork.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  came  to  America  and  located  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  where  he  found  employment, 
and  remained  there  until  1884.  He  then 
came  to  Hummelstown,and  was  employed  for 
a  year  or  more  by  the  railroad  company. 
In  1885  he  married  Miss  Snavely  and  located 
upon  the  farm ;  he  is  now  devoting  his  atten- 
tion to  its  cultivation  and  improvement ;  he 
conducts  his  business  with  energy  and  in- 
dustry, and  is  very  successful.  He  is  an  hon- 
orable man,  social  in  his  intercourse  with 
others  and  has  made  many  friends  in  the 
conmiunity  in  which  he  resides. 


Shope,  Dr.  Jacob,  Hummelstown,  was 
born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  September  6,  1819.  He  is  a  son 
of  Abraham  and  Eiizabetli  (Wasser)  Shope. 
Abraham  Shope  was  born  in  the  same  town- 


ship. He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Shope,  also  a 
native  of  Lower  Paxton  township,  and  of 
German  descent.  Abraham  Shope  was  a 
weaver  and  farmer,  a  Whig  in  politics  and 
a  member  of  the  Church  of  God,  and  sub- 
sequently of  the  Evangelical  church.  He 
died  in  Lower  Paxton  township  in  1854. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  and  was 
a  daughter  of  John  Wasser,  a  surgeon' in  the 
Swiss  army.  Their  children  were:  John, 
Abraham,  Jacob,  David,  Elizabeth,  and  one 
who  died  in  infancy.  Elizabeth  (Wasser) 
Shope  died  in  182G.  Abraham  Shope's 
second  marriage  was  with  Elizabeth  McFad- 
den,bornin  Dauphin  county,  and  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  They  had  eight  children  : 
Elisha,  George,  Mary,  Cornelius,  Priscilla, 
Adam,  Susanna,  and  one  other  who  died 
young.  The  second  Mrs.  Shope  died  in 
Oberlin,  Pa. 

Jacob  Shope  attended  the  district  and  sub- 
scription schools  of  his  township  until  he 
was  fourteen  years  old.  He  then  went  to 
Harrisburg,  and  learned  printing  with  the 
Gospel  Publishing  Companj',  at  the  head  of 
which  was  John  Winebrenner.  He  was 
with  this  company  for  three  years.  Having 
learned  his  trade  he  went  to  Philadelphia, 
and  was  employed  for  six  months  on  the 
Morning  Star,  a  newspaper  edited  by  John 
Bausman.  He  then  returned  to  Harrisburg 
and  worked  for  one  year  on  the  Telegraph. 

At  the  earnest  request  of  his  uncle.  Dr. 
David  Shope,  a  prominent  and  successful 
physician,  he  removed  to  Hummelstown  in 
1840,  and  began  to  study  medicine  with  his 
uncle  as  his  preceptor.  After  two  and  a  half 
years  of  hard  study,  under  the  able  instruc- 
tions of  his  uncle,  he  was  prepared  to  begin 
practice ;  he  then  went  to  Middletown  and 
opened  an  office.  His  uncle  having  died,  he 
was  earnestly  solicited  by  that  phj'sician's 
patrons  to  return  to  Hummelstown  and  take 
his  uncle's  practice.  To  this  request  he  ac- 
ceded and  has  been  continuously  in  practice 
there  for  thirty  years.  He  has  been  eminently 
successful  and  has  gathered  around  him  a 
host  of  warral}'  attaclied  friends.  In  1860 
he  determined  to  enter  the  arm}'-  and  went 
to  Harrisburg  to  enlist,  but  the  citizens  of 
Hummelstown  so  urgently  entreated  him 
not  to  abandon  his  practice,  that  he  reluc- 
tantly gave  up  his  intention  and  returned. 
In  1861  he  engaged  in  the  drug  and  hard- 
ware business,  which  he  lias  since  carried  on 
with  a  fair  share  of  success.  He  has  also 
been  interested  in  agriculture,  having  bought 


674 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYGL  OPEDIA 


two  farms  which,  after  cultivating  and  im- 
proving them,  he  sold  again. 

Dr.  Shope  was  one  of  the  founders  of  tlie 
National  Bank  of  Hummelstown,  is  a  direc- 
tor and  has  been  its  president  for  the  past 
five  years.  He  was  the  originator  and  for  a 
number  of  years  president  of  the  fire  depart- 
ment. He  was  the  organizer  and  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Hummelstown  Cemetery  Asso- 
ciation. The  Doctor  was  one  of  the  foremost 
promoters  of  the  grading  of  the  streets  of 
Hummelstown,  and  also  one  of  the  promoters 
of  the  incorporation  of  the  borough.  He  was 
treasurer  of  Derry  township  in  the  putting 
in  of  substitutes  for  the  army  during  the  late 
Rebellion.  For  twelve  years  he  served  as 
school  director  and  has  always  been  active 
in  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the 
county,  and  during  his  early  years  was  an 
active  politician. 

He  was  married,  in  Hummelstown,  in  1843, 
to  Esther  Mann,  a  native  of  Hummelstown, 
and  a  daughter  of  Charles  E.  Mann,  a 
butcher  and  a  native  of  Germany.  They 
had  eight  children:  Charles  D.,  killed  in  the 
war  of  18G1-65,  a  sergeant  major  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventh  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Sam- 
uel Bear;  Ernest,  a  quarryman,  living  in 
Hummelstown ;  Addie  E.,  living  at  home  ; 
Agnes  M.,  wife  of  C.  Nissley  Mumma,  hard- 
ware mercliant  of  Steelton  ;  Carrie  M.,  wife 
of  Robert  -J.  Walton,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears on  another  page;  Sophia  M.,  and  Alice, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Dr.  Shope  has  been  for  half  a  century  a 
resident  in  his  present  home.  He  has  seen 
vast  improvements  in  the  town  and  much 
advancement  in  the  elements  of  refinement 
and  civilization.  Of  this  progress  he  has 
been  not  only  an  observer  but  an  active 
promoter.  He  is  both  prominent  and  pop- 
ular, being  a  man  of  kind,  genial  manners. 
In  politics  he  is  Republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Fox,  Thomas  G.,M.  D.,  was  born  in  Hum- 
melstown, Pa.,  July  19,  1827,  and  is  the  son 
of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Eshenour)  Fox. 
George  Fox  was  born  in  Derry  township, 
Dauphin  county.  He  is  a  son  of  Jolin  and 
Margaret  (Rupert)  Fox,  the  former  a  native 
of  Devonshire,  England,  the  latter  of  Hol- 
land. He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  Golden  House,  in 
Hummelstown.     He  was  a  Whig,  and  was 


postmaster  of  Hummelstown  for  thirty-five 
years.  He  was  an  exemplary  citizen,  ac- 
tive in  all  reformator}' and  progressive  move- 
ments. He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  He  died  in  1856,  and 
his  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county,  died  in  1862.  They  reared  a  family 
of  sons,  who  all  became  useful  and  notable 
men.  They  are:  Richard,  farmer  and  dealer 
in  stock;  John  E.,  deceased,  a  successful 
banker  in  Philadelphia,  died  leaving  an  ex- 
tensive estate  ;  James,  a  prominent  lawyer 
in  Harrisburg,  district  attorney,  member  of 
the  Legislature  for  three  terms,  a  brilliant 
orator  ;  George,  deceased ;  Abner,  farmer  at 
Danville,  111.,  and  Thomas  G. 

The  latter  attended  the  subscription  school 
in  Hummelstown  until  he  was  fourteen, 
when  he  went  to  Harrisburg  to  learn  print- 
ing. He  spent  four  years  in  the  office  of 
the  Teleffrapli. ;  at  tiie  end  of  this  time  he 
went  to  Philadelphia  and  was  em[)loyed  for 
two  years  as  clerk  in  the  Exchange  Bank. 
The  next  three  years  he  spent  in  the  stud}' 
of  medicine,  taking  the  regular  course  in  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  was  graduated,  with  honors,  in 
1852.  He  returned  at  once  to  Hummels- 
town and  opened  an  office  for  the  practice 
of  medicine.  He  was  a  skillful  physician, 
and  met  with  gratifying  success.  He  con- 
tinued in  practice  until  1873,  when  he  re- 
tired from  active  professional  duties.  Dr. 
Fox  has  been  somewhat  conspicuous  in  poli- 
tics in  connection  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
for  two  years  ;  was  elected  prothonotary  of 
Dauphin  county  for  two  terms  ;  served  as 
school  director  of  Hummelstown  and  Derry 
township  for  sixteen  years. 

He  was  married,  in  Hummelstown,  May 
11,  1852,  to  Diana,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mary  (Landis)  Hershey,  born  July  12,  1832, 
in  Derry  township.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren :  Dr.  L.  Webster,  a  very  prominent  ocu- 
list of  Philadelphia;  Elizabeth;  James  G., 
farmer,  of  Chester  county.  Pa.;  John  E.,  a 
well-known  attorney  in  Harrisburg  ;  Addie, 
wife  of  J.  H.  Gay,  carpet  manufacturer,  of 
Philadelphia ;  Marj^  H.;  Caroline,  wife  of 
John  P.  Nissley,  of  Hummelstown  ;  George 
H.,  medical  student  in  Philadelphia,  and 
one  child  who  died  young.  Dr.  Fox  has 
substantial  interests  in  real  estate.  He  is 
the  owner  of  six  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
is  enterprising  and  progressive  and  is  highly 
esteemed.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fox  are  popular  in 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


675 


social  circles,  are  active  in  promoting  the 
welfare  of  tlie  community,  and  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church. 


NissLEY,  Martin  F.,  general  merch;iiit> 
Hummeistown,  was  born  in  Derry  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  September  18,  lcS37. 
He  is  a  son  of  Christian  Nissley,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  with  tiie  sketch  of  John  J. 
Nissley  in  this  volume.  He  took  the  usual 
course  in  the  scliools  of  his  native  township. 
His  business  was  that  of  fanning  and  he  re- 
mained on  the  homestead  farm  until  1803. 
He  then  enlisted  in  company  E,  Thirty- 
sixth  regiment,  Petnisylvania  volunteers, 
and  served  three  months.  When  discharged 
from  the  army  he  returned  liome  and  re- 
mained for  two  years  upon  the  farm.  In 
1865  lie  removed  to  Hummeistown  and  dealt 
in  livestock  for  four  years.  He  finall}'  went 
into  the  butchering  business  which  he  car- 
ried on  successfully  for  ten  years.  In  1883 
he  bought  the  interest  of  his  brother  in  a 
general  store  and  has  continued  in  this  busi- 
ness to  the  present  time.  His  marked  suc- 
cess in  establishing  and  enlarging  his  trade 
demonstrates  his  ability  as  a  merchant.  He 
is  well  informed  as  to  the  needs  and  demands 
of  his  patrons,  is  a  skillful  buyer,  progressive, 
enterprising  and  genial.  To  name  tliese 
qualities  of  the  man  and  the  merchant  is 
sufficient  to  account  for  his  success. 

Mr.  Nissley  is  also  public-spirited.  Al- 
though not  an  active  politician,  he  is  will- 
ing, as  a  good  citizen,  to  render  such  services 
as  his  fellow-citizens  may  ask  of  him.  His 
political  preferences  are  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  a  school  director  for  six  years 
and  a  member  of  the  town  council  for  two 
terras.  He  is  a  memberofthe  United  Brethren 
church.  He  was  married,  in  Hummeistown, 
in  18()5,  to  Maggie  Greenawalt,  of  Hummeis- 
town, a  daughter  of  (Samuel  Greenawalt,  pro- 
duce dealer  of  that  town.  They  had  three 
ciiildren  :  Clara,  wife  of  George  P.  Huffer, 
implement  dealer  of  Hummeistown  ;  Harry, 
clerk  in  his  father's  store;  and  one  child 
who  died  young.  His  wife  died  in  1872. 
He  was  married  again,  in  Hummeistown,  in 
1879,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Shatters, 
blacksmith,  of  Hummeistown.  They  have 
three  children  :  Ross,  Grace  and  Bernicia, 
all  attending  school.  Mr.  Nisslev  is  a  mem- 
ber of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.'70,  I.  O.  0. 
F.,  of  Harrisburg. 


Curry,  -John  B.,  grain  and  coal  dealer, 
Swatara,  Fa.,  was  born  in  Derry  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  December  29,  1856. 
He  is  a  son  of  Conrad  and  Catherine  (Ba- 
shore)  Curry.  Conrad  Curry  also  was  born 
in  Dauphin  county, the  son  of  Samuel  Curry, 
a  carpenter  of  that  county,  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  He  was  brought  up  on  the  farms  of 
his  neighbors  until  twenty-one  years,  when 
he  learned  the  milling  trade  and  made  it  his 
occupation,  up  to  the  year  1884;  he  then 
transferred  the  business  to  his  son,  John  B. 
He  was  married  in  Derry  township,  where 
his  wife,  Catherine  Basliore,  was  born.  They 
had  three  children  ;  John  B.,  Samuel  B., 
grain  dealer  and  miller,  of  Lebanon,  Pa., 
and  Mary,  wiio  died  young.  Mr.  Curry  is  a 
Republican  and  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  He  resides  with  his  son, 
John  B.  He  is  a  genial  man  and  mucii 
respected. 

John  B.  Curry  attended  the  scliools  of 
his  native  townsliip  in  winter,  and  worked 
on  the  farm  in  summer, until  he  was  twenty 
years  old.  He  tiien  learned  the  milling 
trade  with  his  father,  and  worked  with  him 
until  1884,  when  his  father  relinquished  the 
business,  leaving  it  solely  in  his  manage- 
ment. He  met  with  reasonable  success,  but 
being  desirous  of  extending  his  operations, 
he  took  the  warehouse  at  Swatara,  owned  by 
Isaac  Erb,  and  traded  in  grain  and  coal. 
He  was  married,  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  in 
1880,  to  Emma,  one  of  the  six  children  of 
John  Kreider,  of  Lebanon  county.  They 
have  seven  children  :  Irwin,  Amnion,  Amos, 
Mary,  Henry,  John  K.  and  Catherine,  all 
attending  school.  Mr.  Curry  is  a  Republi- 
can in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Christian  church.  He  has  from  his 
youth  been  a  hard  working  and  very  busy 
man.  He  has  always  been  recognized  as  a 
man  of  sound  judgment  in  business  matters, 
and  is  prudent,  careful  and  enterprising.  His 
business  capacity,  coupled  with  strict  integ- 
rity, have  made  him  a  successful  and  an 
iionored  man. 


Kleinfelter,  Joseph,  proprietor  of  the 
Keystone  Hotel,  Hummeistown,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Kleinfeltersville,  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.,  October  4,  1854.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Behm)  Kleinfelter.  John 
Kleinfelter  is  well  and  widely  known  in 
Lebanon  and  Dauphin  counties.  He  has 
been  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  has  been 


676 


BIO  GRAPHIC  A  L  ENCYCL  OP  EDI  A 


successful  in  his  business.  His  present  resi- 
dence is  at  Annville,  Lebanon  county,  where, 
retired  from  business,  he  and  his  estimable 
wife  are  quietly  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their 
labors  in  other  days.  He  is  a  Republican. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kleinfelter  are  members 
of  the  Evangelical  church.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Beiim,  a  native  of  Lebanon  county. 
They  had  seven  children:  Sarah,  wife  of  U. 
S.Carpman,of  Lebanon  county;  Joseph;  Katie, 
wife  of  Jacob  Winters,  farmer,  of  West  Han- 
over; Jolin,  farmer  of  Berkeley  count}',  W. 
Va.;  Lizzie,  wife  of  David  Shank,  farmer,  of 
Annville;  Mary,  wife  of  John  Walbrun, 
farmer,  of  Lebanon  county ;  Rebecca,  wife 
of  Samuel  Imboden,  school  teacher,  of  Ann- 
ville. 

Joseph  Kleinfelter  attended  tiie  schools  of 
his  district.  His  beginning  of  the  work  of 
life  was  on  his  father's  farm  ;  after  two  years 
there  he  rented  a  farm  in  Lebanon  county, 
owned  by  G.  W.  Shenk ;  this  farm  he  culti- 
vated for  three  years,  and  tiien  rented  and 
worked  another  farm  in  the  same  county 
for  four  years.  After  this  lie  came  to  Dau- 
phin county,  and  rented  a  farm  owned  by 
J.  M.  Shenk,  which  he  worked  for  six  years. 
In  1890  he  bought  the  Keystone  Hotel,  at 
Hummelstown,  of  which  he  is  still  owner 
and  manager.  Mr.  Kleinfelter  is  well 
adapted  to  this  business.  He  keeps  a  first- 
class  hotel ;  his  house  is  furnished  with  all 
modern  improvements,  such  as  electric  light 
and  steam  iieat.  Here  he  dispenses  enter- 
tainment with  a  bountiful  hand  and  in  a 
cordial  manner,  which  makes  iiis  guests  feel 
at  home,  and  in  friendl}'  and  hospitable 
iiands.  His  accommodations  are  unsur- 
passed by  an\'  iiostelry  in  this  section  of  the 
count}',  and  his  hotel  is  deservedly  popular. 
Mr.  Kleinfelter  is  a  great  lover  of  good  horses, 
being  a  good  judge  of  tiiem,  and  the  owner 
of  some  that  are  able  to  make  good  speed  on 
both  road  and  track. 

Mr.  Kleinfelter  was  married  at  Union  De- 
posit, Dauphin  county,  by  Rev.  Brownmil- 
ler,  August  IG,  1877,  to  Miss  Emma  R.  Al- 
bright, who  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship, February  3.  1858,  a  daughter  of  Melus 
and  Maigaret  Albright.  Tiie  former  still 
survives,  and  resides  near  Hummelstown, 
the  latter  is  deceased.  To  their  union  was 
born  seven  children:  Coria,  born  Julv  2, 
1878;  Emma,  born  July  16,  18S1,  and  died 
Novembers.  1892;  Jose{ih,  born  June  11, 
1883;  Landis,  horn  March  23,  1886;  Clay- 
ton, born   February  7,  1888;   Edwin,  born 


May  24,  1889,  died  June  18,  1896 ;  Anna, 
born  March  24,  1891,  died  February  19, 
1894.  Mr.  Kleinfelter  is  a  member  of  the 
Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican  and 
the  familv  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Karmaxy,  William,  furniture  manufac- 
turer, general  house  furnisher  and  under- 
taker, Hummelstown,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Pal- 
myra, Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  May  26,  1853 ; 
son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Strock)  Karmany. 
Jacob  Karmany  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county  and  was  of  German  descent.  He  was 
a  carpenter  and  joiner  and  followed  this  trade 
all  his  life ;  he  was  a  Republican  ;  he  and  his 
family  attended  the  Lutheran  church  ;  he 
died  in  Palmyra  in  1891.  His  wife,  Eliza- 
beth Strock,  was  born  in  Belle  Grove,  Leb- 
anon county.  Pa.;  she  survives  him  and 
resides  in  Palmyra.  They  had  five  children, 
of  whom  three,  Daniel,  Edwin,  and  Alfred, 
died  young  ;  the  two  living  are :  Jacob,  gen- 
eral merchant  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and 
William. 

William  Karmany  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  place.  He  served 
a  three  years' apprenticeship  at  cabinet  mak- 
ing and  worked  at  that  trade  as  journeyman 
for  ten  years  more.  After  this  he  removed 
to  Hummelstown  and  began  the  manufacture 
of  furniture  on  his  own  account.  In  1882, 
finding  his  trade  increasing,  he  built  a  fac- 
tory and  warehouse,  and  manufactured  furni- 
ture on  a  large  scale,  giving  employment  to 
a  number  of  men.  In  his  large  show  room 
he  displays  for  sale  a  large  stock  of  all  kinds 
of  furniture,  carpets  and  house  furnishing 
goods.  He  not  only  draws  trade  from  the 
surrounding  territory,  but  also  ships  furni- 
ture to  Harrisburg,  Middletown  and  other 
points.  As  another  branch  of  his  business, 
he  is  well  equipped  as  an  undertaker,  and 
receives  his  full  share  of  jtatronage  in  this 
dei>artment.  The  establishment  of  Mr.  Kar- 
many is  one  of  the  solid  concerns  of  the  town 
and  is  of  large  advantage  to  the  place.  In 
the  employment  of  labor  and  the  outlay  for 
materials,  as  well  as  in  the  trade  brought  to 
the  town,  the  business  is  no  small  contribu- 
tion to  the  activity  and  prosperity  of  the 
place.  Mr.  Karmany  votes  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  was  elected  to  the  council 
of  Hummelstown  on  the  ticket  of  his  party. 
He  was  married,  in  Lebanon  county,  in  1872, 
to  Sarah  Reed,  born  in  Annville,  Pa.,  in  1857. 
They    have    two    children:    Clarence    and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


Q11 


George  W.,  both  attending  scliool.  Mr. 
Karmany  belongs  to  the  Sons  of  America 
and  to  the  Junior  Order  United  American 
Mechanics.  He  is  an  honorable  business 
man  and  a  genial  gentleman.  He  attends 
the  Lutheran  church. 


Strickler,  JosErH,  S.,  farmer,  stock  raiser 
and  lime  manufacturer,  of  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  on  the  old  Striclcler  home- 
stead, in  Derry  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  September  1,  1834. 

It  is  pleasant  to  write  and  profitable  to 
read  the  simple  chronicles  of  a  family  like 
tiie  Stricklers.  They  display  those  virtues 
which  are  developed  and  strengthened  and 
bequeathed  to  succeeding  generations  in  the 
lines  of  those  who  till  the  soil  and  live  in 
the  country.  Such  families  are  the  strength 
and  glory  of  the  nation,  and  the  promise 
and  potency  of  its  enduring  prosperity.  Mr. 
Strickler  is  a  representative  of  the  fourth 
generation  of  those  of  his  name  and  line 
who  have  lived  and  labored  and  rested 
where  he  now  has  his  home,  his  occupation 
and  his  enjoyment.  His  great-grandfather, 
Abraham  Strickler,  who  was  of  German  an- 
cestry, bought  this  farm,  now  known  as  the 
"Strickler  Homestead,"  about  1766.  The 
Stricklers  throughout  the  county  spring 
from  that  owner  of  the  Derry  townshij) 
farm.  Abraham  Strickler  bequeathed  the 
farm  to  his  son,  Henry  Strickler;  for  easy 
identification,  let  him  be  called  the  first 
Henry  Strickler.  He  married  Miss  Fronica 
Ziegler,  and  they  occupied  and  cultivated 
the  homestead  farm.  They  had  four 
children.  One  of  these  children  was  the 
second  Henry  Strickler,  the  father  of  Joseph 
S.  The  second  Henry  Strickler  was  a  noted 
farmer  and  stockman.  He  occupied  and 
tilled  the  homestead  farm  for  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  In  1831  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Shanks,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  They  had  eight  children : 
Joseph  S.;  John,  living  in  Cumberland 
county  ;  Fannie,  wife  of  J.  Lowe,  of  Cumber- 
land count\%  Pa.;  David,  died  young;  Sam- 
uel, farmer,  of  Cumberland  count}' ;  Henry, 
railroad  engineer.  Fort  Wa^nie  and  Chicago 
railroad,  residing  at  Ashtabula,  Ohio;  Abra- 
ham, died  young;  Annie,  unmarried,  living 
in  Cumberland  county.  In  1859  he  re- 
moved from  the  old  homestead,  in  Derry 
townshij),  to  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  where 
lie  engaged  extensively  in  farming  and  stock 
raising,  and   where  he  died  in  1886.     His 


wife  died  in  1880.  He  was  a  Republican 
and  a  member  of  the  Mennonite  church. 
He  was  a  prosperous  man,  of  solid  character 
and  great  personal  worth. 

Joseph  S.  Strickler  attended  the  schools  of 
Derr}'  township,  and  took  an  English  course 
in  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  Pa.; 
he  also  took  a  commercial  course.  After 
studying  at  Gettysburg  for  three  years  he 
returned  to  the  homestead,  and  for  five 
years  conducted  the  farm  for  his  father. 
His  father  then  removed  to  Cumberland 
county,  and  Joseph  took  charge  of  the  home- 
stead. Hegave  totheold  farm  his  undivided 
attention  and  it  became  his  joy  and  his 
pride.  He  planned  important  improvements 
and  proceeded  to  work  out  his  plans.  In 
1886  he  erected  one  of  the  finest  stone  dwell- 
ings in  the  township,  and  furnished  it  with 
all  modern  conveniences,  gas,  hot  and  cold 
water,  and  bath  room,  also  heating  it 
throughout  with  steam.  He  built  a  magnifi- 
cent barn  with  a  stone  basement,  and  fur- 
nished it  at  a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars. 
He  made  an  additional  outlay  of  two  thou- 
sand dollars  upon  otlier  outhouses  and 
minor  buildings.  Altogether,  upon  new 
buildings  and  improvements,  he  expended 
fourteen  thousand  dollars,  and  thus  made 
for  himself  one  of  tlie  most  convenient,  sub- 
stantial and  luxurious  farm  homes  in  the 
State. 

He  cultivates  two  hundred  and  thirty-five 
acres  of  land  and  keeps  the  entire  farm  under 
the  most  skillful  and  productive  tillage.  His 
farm  is  stocked  with  the  finest  breeds  of  horses, 
cattle,  hogs  and  sheep,  and  no  farmer  surpasses 
him  in  raising  live  stock.  In  addition  to  his 
extensive  and  profitable  operations  in  agricul- 
ture, he  has  fitted  up  a  lime  burning  plant 
of  several  kilns,  and  is  now  able  to  produce 
thirty  thousand  bushels  of  lime  per  year. 

He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Bank,  of  Hummelstown,  and  has  been  a 
director  of  the  bank  since  1885.  He  is  a 
Republican,  but  his  political  action  centers 
in  voting,  not  in  seeking  office.  He  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  but  would  not 
accept  the  office.  He  has  always  found 
enough  in  his  farm  and  business  to  employ 
his  time  and  strength.  Mr.  Strickler  is  a 
model  business  man  and  an  exemplary  citi- 
zen. He  is  enterprising  and  progressive  and 
ill  every  way  up  with  the  times.  He  is 
widely  known  and  everywhere  honored 
and  respected. 

In  December,  1858,  he  married,  in  Middle- 


678 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


town,  Susan,  daughter  of  Jacob  B.  Hummel, 
of  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  born  December  18, 
1840.  They  had  twelve  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living :  Marian  C,  born  Septem- 
ber 8,  18.59,  wife  of  Dr.  M.  R.  Fisher,  of 
Campbellstown,  Pa.,  a  practicing  phj'sician; 
Charles,  born  October  5, 18G8,  educated  in  the 
district  schools  and  Commercial  College,  in 
Philadelphia,  resides  on  the  homestead,  is 
an  excellent  young  man,  well-equipped  for 
business  and  promises  a  successful  career, 
unmarried  ;  Edwin  .J.,  educated  at  college, 
now  in  New  Orleans.  Tiie  deceased  chil- 
dren are :  Elizabeth, born  February  26, 1865, 
died  March  19,  1865 ;  Samuel  H.,  born  Sep- 
tember 30,  1863,  died  October  14,  1866; 
George  II.,  born  October  24,  1862,  died  Sep- 
tember 1,  1877;  Katie  H.,  born  August  26, 
1870,  died  July  27,  1886 ;  A.  Lincoln,  born 
November  8.  1860,  died  January  2,  1887. 
Four  other  children  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Strickler  died  at  the  liomestead,  April  7, 
1877.  On  September  30,  1879,  Mr.  Strick- 
ler married  his  second  wife,  Emma  Epler, 
born  in  Londonderrv  township,  April  6, 
1847.  She  died  April  lU,  1895,  without 
issue. 


Hershey,  M.\ktin  L.,  M.  D.,  Derry  Church, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Derry 
Cl)urcli,  April  1,  1857.  John  Hershey,  iiis 
father,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  in 
1799,  the  son  of  Henry  Hershey,  an  exten- 
sive and  prominent  farmer  of  that  county. 
John  Hershey  was  educated  in  tiie  subscrip- 
tion sciiools  of  llie  township,  and  was  all  his 
life  a  farmer.  He  removed  to  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  was  extensively  engaged 
both  in  farming  and  in  stock  raising.  He 
married  Catherine  M.  Friel,  born  in  Leb- 
anon county,  near  Campbellstown,  the 
daughter  of  Patrick  Friel,  a  Lebanon  countj' 
farmer,  of  Irisii  descent.  They  had  seven 
children  :  Henry  F.,  an  employee  of  the  steel 
works,  Steelton,  Pa.,  member  of  the  council 
of  Steelton,  married  Miss  Frantz,  and  has 
two  children,  Grace  and  Justus;  Margaret, 
single,  resides  at  Chicago,  111.;  Isaac  F., 
farmer,  of  Oberlin,  Kan.;  and  Martin  L.  The 
deceased  children  were:  Mary,  wife  of  S.  S. 
Slnrk,  contractor  and  builder,  left  one  child  ; 
Edgar,  timekeeper  at  the  Steelton  steel 
works ;  Elizabeth  and  Mandanna  died  young. 
Mr.  Hershey  was  a  Whig.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Biethren  church,  and  a 
widelv  known  and  highlv  respected  man. 
He  died  in  1884,  his  wife  in  1890. 


Martin  L.  Hershey  attended  the  district 
schools  of  Derry  Church  ;  was  graduated  at 
Lebanon  Valley  College.  He  taught  school 
at  Derry  Church,  giving  universal  satisfac- 
tion. Having  chosen  to  prepare  himself  for 
the  medical  profes.sion,  he  entered  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  and  after  two 
years'  close  application  to  study  he  was 
graduated  with  honors  in  the  class  of  1883. 
He  opened  an  office  in  his  native  town, 
Derry  Church,  and  was  well  received  by  his 
old  friends  and  neighbors.  He  has  succeeded 
in  building  u])  a  large  practice.  He  stands 
in  the  lead  of  his  profession,  second  to  none 
in  the  county.  He  has  a  host  of  friends,  ad- 
mirers and  patrons;  his  name  is  a  house- 
hold word  in  the  community. 

Dr.  Hershey  is  also  prominent  in  |)olitics 
as  an  active  Republican.  In  1890  lie  was 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature  on  tiie  Re- 
publican ticket  by  a  large  majority  ;  in  1892 
lie  was  again  elected  to  the  same  office,  de- 
feating his  opponent  by  three  thousand 
votes.  He  was  chairman  of  the  education 
committee,  and  member  of  the  fisheries 
committee  and  several  other  important  com- 
mittees of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He 
was  an  industrious  worker  and  was  distin- 
guished for  his  ability.  He  was  married,  in 
1885,  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth F.,  daughter  of  Diller  and  Mary  (Groff ) 
Bare,  born  at  Bareville,  Lancaster  county, 
February,  1865.  They  have  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Ruth  M.,  born  August  3, 1886;  John  B., 
born  November  6,  1887,  died  in  August, 
1888;  Paul  M.,born  January  17, 1888;  Cathe- 
rine E.,  born  April  30,  1889. 

Diller  Bare,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hershey, 
was  the  second  son  of  ex-Sheriff  Adam  Bare, 
who  was  well  known  in  Lancaster  county 
for  superior  intelligence  and  ability.  He 
was  married  twice;  first,  to  Rachael  Diller, 
of  whom  two  cliildren  survive:  Sarah,  wife 
of  Prof.  Shimmell,  teaciier  in  the  Harrisbuig 
schools  and  editor  of  the  School  Gazette;  and 
Annie,  wife  of  Dr.  VV.C.  Baker,  of  Hummels- 
town. He  was  married,  secondly,  to  Miss 
Mary  Groft',  by  whom  there  are  two  chil- 
dren: Elizabeth,  wife  of  Dr.  M.  L.  Hershey, 
and  Harry  E.,  of  Philadelphia.  Mrs.  Bare 
died  in  May,  1895,  and  Mr.  Bare  resides  with 
his  daughter,  Mrs.  Dr.  Hershey. 

MoYER,  John  H.,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Mover  &  Brightbill,  flour,  grain  and 
coal  merchants,  Derry  Church,  was  born  in 
Derry  Church,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Novem- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


679 


ber  12,  1857.  His  father,  John  B.  Moyer, 
was  also  born  at  Derry  Church,  and  is  a  son 
of  Jolin  Moyer,  who  was  a  prominent  farmer 
and  stockman  of  Lebanon  county.  Fa.,  well 
and  favorably  known  throughout  thatcounty. 
In  1S4S  John  B.  Moyer  married  Catherine 
Kline,  born  in  East  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.  They  had  five  children: 
John  H.;  Lizzie,  wife  of  D.  M.  Stoudt,  farmer, 
of  Derry  township  ;  Felix,  merchant;  Katie, 
unmarried  ;  Mary  A.,  died  young.  His  poli- 
tics were  Republican.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Baptistchnrch,and  a  well-known 
and  highly  honored  citizen.  He  died  in 
1881 ;  his  wife  still  lives  and  has  her  home 
in  Derry  Church. 

John  H.  Moyer  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and  at  Millersville  and  Pal- 
myra. For  five  years  after  completing  his 
education  he  taught  school,  and  gave  gen- 
eral satisfaction  as  a  teacher.  He  then  em- 
barked in  the  coal  business  at  Derry  Church, 
which  he  conducted  for  five  years  and  made 
very  profitable.  For  tiiree  years  of  this  time 
he  also  dealt  in  grain.  His  success  and  the 
increase  of  the  business  demanded  the  ad- 
mission of  a  partner,  whom  he  found  in  the 
person  of  his  brother-in-law,  Henderson 
Brightbill,  with  whom  he  formed,  in  1888, 
the  firm  of  Moyer  ife  Brightbill.  Tliese  part- 
ners were  young  men,  full  of  life  and  energy, 
witii  much  business  ability  and  enterprise. 
They  began  on  a  large  scale.  They  erected 
one  of  the  largest  mills  in  the  county  and 
equipped  it  witii  machinery  which  enabled 
them  to  manufacture  high  grade  flour  in 
large  quantities.  They  have  maintained  the 
grade  of  their  flour,  and  the  firm  of  Moyer 
&  Brightbill  has  established  a  r  eputation 
throughout  the  State  for  manufacturing  the 
highest  grade  roller  process  flour.  They 
liave  thus  built  up  an  extensive  and  profit- 
able trade.  Thej'  are  also  general  grain  mer- 
chants as  well  as  coal  and  salt  dealers.  They 
rank  among  the  most  successful  business 
men  of  the  county.  Mr.  Moyer  also  culti- 
vates one  of  the  largest  farms  in  the  town- 
ship, on  which  he  raises  some  of  the  finest 
stock  which  goes  to  the  market  from  this 
region.  In  tiiis  department  of  his  business 
he  employs  a  considerable  number  of  men. 

He  was  married,  in  1882,  to  Miss  Lizzie 
Brightbill,  born  near  Campbellstown,  Pa.,  in 
1861.  They  have  four  children  :  Homer, 
Viola,  Bessie,  and  Roy,  all  attending  school. 
Mr.  Moyer  is  a  Rejniblican.  He  is  charac- 
terized by  unusual  business  ability  and  tact. 


His  judgment  is  accurate  and  his  general 
views  comprehensive.  He  is  enterprising, 
genial  and  popular,  and  is  always  a  leader 
in  trade. 


Hummel,  Rev.  Solomon  M.,  Derry  Church, 
was  born  near  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  Februar}' 
3,  1839.  His  father,  Jacob  B.  Hummel,  was 
born  in  Hummelstown,  a  son  of  Jacob  Hum- 
mel. Jacob  B.  was  a  farmer,  belonged  to  tiie 
Democratic  party  and  was  a  member  of  tlie 
Lutheran  ciuirch.  He  was  a  substantial, 
honorable  and  genial  man,  and  died  in  Hum- 
melstown in  1894.  He  married  Fanny 
Mumma,  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  wlio 
died  in  1873.  They  had  eight  children  : 
Solomon  M.;  Mary,  wife  of  John  Landis, 
merchant,  Hummelstown  :  Jacob,  a  miller 
in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
L.  Strickler,  of  Hummelstown  ;  Susan,  de- 
ceased, wife  of  J.  S.  Strickler,  farmer  and 
lime  manufacturer,  of  Derry  townshi]i;  Calli- 
erine.  deceased,  wife  of  Franklin  Blessing  ; 
Fanny,  and  Isaac  died  young. 

Solomon  M.  Hummel  attended  the  home 
schools  of  tiie  township  and  worked  on  his 
farther's  farm  until  he  was  twenty-five  years 
old.  At  this  time  he  decided  to  become  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel  and  took  up  the  study 
of  theology.  After  three  years  of  study  he 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  He  became  an  able  and 
popular  pastor  and  preacher,  and  labored 
with  zeal  and  success  in  important  places. 
He  was  pastor  of  the  Union  Circuit  in  Dau- 
phin and  Lancaster  counties  for  two  years. 
He  was  elected  presiding  elder  by  the  (Jer- 
man  United  Brethren  Conference  and  served 
in  the  district  composed  of  Berks,  Lehigh, 
Montgomery,  Philadeliihia  and  other  coun- 
ties for  three  years.  Being  aftected  witli  a 
weakness  of  the  throat,  which  interfered 
at  times  with  the  u.se  of  his  voice  in  public 
speaking,  and  made  it  impossible  for  him  to 
perform  the  regular  work  of  the  ministry,  he 
was  compelled  to  resign  his  pastorate.  He 
reluctantly  retii-ed  from  professional  and 
public  life  and  located  in  Derr\'  Church, 
whicli  has  since  been  his  residence.  As  a 
local  preacher  he  still  devotes  much  time  to 
the  spiritual  wants  of  the  people.  He  is  a 
man  of  broad  and  deep  sympathy  and  is 
interested  in  the  welfare  and  happiness  of 
the  people.  He  is  of  a  kindly  disposition  and 
easily  approached  b}'  all  classes.  His  counsel 
and  help  are  sought  by  those  in  trouble  and 


680 


RIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  0  PEDIA 


want ;  his  presence  is  a  benediction  to  tlie 
place. 

Wliile  in  a  measure  prevented  by  one  form 
of  physical  weakness  from  doing  regular 
professional  work  he  is  still  a  vigorous  man, 
able  to  engage  in  other  business.  In  18S4 
he  took  up  the  coal  business,  which  he  man- 
aged witli  characteristic  energy  and  skill 
and  in  which  he  meets  with  success.  Mr. 
Hummel  was  married,  in  1864,  at  Derry 
Church,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Martin  L. 
Nissley,  of  Derry  (Jliurch.  They  had  one 
child,  Alice,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Hummel  died  in  1892.  He  married  again, 
January  23,  1895,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  O. 
S.  Shank,  merchant,  of  Annville,  Pa. 


BRKiiiTiULL,  Hendkksox  P.,  juuior  part- 
ner of  the  firm  of  Moyer  &.  Brightbill,  mil- 
lers and  grain,  feed,  seeds,  coal  and  salt 
dealers,  Derry  Church,  Pa.,  was  born  near 
Campbellstown,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  No- 
vember IG,  1855.  His  father,  Henry  Bright- 
bill,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county  in  1823, 
and  was  the  son  of  Abraham  Brightbill. 
farmer  of  that  county.  He  was  rearecl  on  the 
farm,  became  a  farmer,  and  was  thus  engaged 
for  some  years.  He  removed  to  Swatara, 
Derry  township,  where  he  went  into  the  grain 
business  and  carried  it  on  successfully  for  ten 
years.  He  married  Annie  Hotter,  born  in 
Lebanon  county.  They  had  four  children: 
Henderson  P.;  Lizzie,  wife  of  John  H.  Moyer ; 
and  two  children  who  died  in  infancy.  His 
politics  were  Republican.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Bretiiren  church,  and  died 
July  10,1890;  his  wife  is  still  living. 

Henderson  P.  Brightbill  received  a  liberal 
education ;  he  attended  the  district  schools 
of  his  native  township,  and  then  took  a 
course  in  the  Commercial  College,  at  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa;  he  also  took  a  college  course  at 
Oberlin,  Ohio.  Leaving  college,  he  went  to 
Charleston,  111.,  and  found  employmer.t  as 
clerk  in  a  wholesale  grocery  house,  in  which 
he  continued  six  years.  His  correct  habits, 
his  fidelit}' and  attention  to  business  won  for 
him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  em- 
ployers. He  next  crossed  the  continent  and 
at  San  Pedro,  near  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  was  for 
five  j'ears  bookkeeper  for  a  wholesale  lumber 
firm.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  re- 
ceived an  urgent  request  from  his  father  to 
come  East  and  share  his  rapidly  growing  and 
profitable  business.  He  acceded  to  this  re- 
quest and  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr. 
Moyer  iu  the  milling  and  mercantile  busi- 


ness, under  the  firm  name  of  Moyer  &  Bright- 
bill.  An  account  of  this  enterprising  and 
successful  firm  is  found  in  the  biographical 
sketch  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Moyer  in  another  place 
in  this  volume.  It  needs  only  be  added  here 
that  Mr.  Brightbill  has  proven  a  valuable 
accession  to  the  business  and  has  contributed 
his  share  to  the  phenomenal  success  of  the 
firm.  Mr.  Brightbill  was  married,  in  1886, 
to  Miss  Grace,  daugliter  of  Dr.  A.  K.  Spears, 
a  prominent  physician  of  Charleston,  111. 
They  have  two  cliildren,  Ruth  and  Madge, 
both  attending  school.  Mr.  Brightbill  is  a 
Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  of  Derry  Church,  Pa.  Begin- 
ning life  without  help  from  others,  Mr. 
Brightbill  has  secured  a  liberal  education 
and  has  advanced  himself  in  a  successful 
business  career.  He  is  a  good  example  of 
what  a  young  man  with  good  talents,  correct 
habits,  worthy  aspirations  and  fidelity  to 
duty  can  accomplish. 


Heckert,  John  E.,  farmer  and  stockman, 
Derry  Church,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lower  Pax- 
ton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  October 
3,  1850.  Peter  Heckert,  liis  father,  was  born 
in  Lower  Paxton  township,  in  1812,  and  was 
of  German  descent.  He  had  a  common 
school  education.  He  was  all  his  life  a 
farmer.  He  cultivated  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  acres.  He  married 
Caroline  Unger,  born  in  Lower  Paxton 
township.  They  had  ten  children:  Kate, 
unmarried  ;  John  E.;  Calvin,  a  physician ; 
Annie,  wife  of  S.  Fishburn  ;  Aaron,  of  New 
York;  Philip,  farmer  in  Derry  township; 
Emma,  ununirried;  Tiieodore,  Elizabeth, 
and  Jane,  all  deceased. 

John  E.  Heckert  passed  his  youth  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  boys,  attending  the 
public  schools  in  the  winter  and  working  on 
the  farm  in  the  summer.  He  remained  on 
the  farm  until  1878,  when  lie  removed  to 
Derry  township,  rented  a  farm,  and  culti- 
vated it  for  four  years.  After  this,  in  1884, 
he  bought  a  farm  of  thirty-eight  acres  in 
Derry  Church.  On  this  land  he  built  a  fine 
residence,  and  made  other  improvements, and 
by  careful  and  skillful  tillage  and  manage- 
ment brought  it  to  a  condition  of  great  pro- 
ductivenesss  and  beauty.  Mr.  Heckert  is  a 
man  of  great  industry  and  energy,  and  spares 
neither  labor  nor  expense  to  make  his  farm- 
ing operations  successful.  He  has  the  finest 
stock  upon  his  place,  and  sends  into  market 
some  of  the  very  best  products  of  his  region. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


681 


He  was  married,  October  15,  1878,  to  Bar- 
bara F.  Beljm.of  Derry  township,  born  Jan- 
uary 1,  1851.     Tbey  have  no  children. 

Jacob  Behm,  father  of  Mrs.  Heckert,  was 
born  near  Annville.  Lebanon  county,  Pa., 
and  is  a  son  of  Rudolph  Behm,  a  prominent 
farmer  in  tiiat  county.  He  grew  up  on  tlie 
farm,  and  in  1835  removed  to  Derry  town- 
ship, wliere  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising  on  a  large  scale.  He  married  Fannie 
Forney,  a  native  of  Lebanon  county.  They 
had  four  children:  Samuel,  of  Palmyra; 
John,  of  Palmyra;  Fannie,  wife  of  A.  E. 
Hershey,  and  Barbara,  wife  of  J.  E.  Heck- 
ert. Mr.  Behm  was  a  Republican,  and  served 
as  county  commissioner  during  the  time  the 
court  house  was  erected.  He  died  in  Mav, 
1895;  his  wife  in  March,  1892.  Mr.  Heck- 
ert, in  his  political  views,  accords  with  the 
Democratic  party. 


Balsbaugh,  John  H.,  was  born  in  Derry 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July  11, 
1828.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  made  farming  his  occupation 
until  1858,  when  he  engaged  in  the  grain 
and  coal  business  at  Swatai'a,  where  he 
erected  the  first  building  and  secured  the 
location  of  a  station  b}'  the  Philadelphia  and 
Reading  Railroad  Company.  He  was  at  the 
head  of  the  latter  business  until  1881,  when 
he  sold  out  and  gave  his  attention  chiefly  to 
farming,  cultivating  about  seven  hundred 
acres  and  making  substantial  improvements 
in  buildings  and  equipments.  He  was  a 
large  real  estate  owner,  and  was  considered 
one  of  the  most  successful  and  progressive 
farmers  in  the  count}'.  He  was  manager  of 
the  Swatara  Stone  and  Lime  Company,  in 
which  he  had  large  interests,  and  was  a 
stockholder  and  director  of  the  National 
Bank,  of  Hummelstown,  from  its  organiza- 
tion in  1886.  He  was  married,  December 
23,  1847,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Mary  (Landis)  Brightbill,  born  near  Camp- 
bellstown,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  October 
18,  1827.  She  was  a  kind-hearted  woman, 
and  universally  loved  and  respected.  The 
needy  were  never  turned  away  from  her 
door  unaided.  They  had  two  children  : 
Linda,  who  died  young,  and  Hiram  Whe- 
well.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Balsbaugh  met  death 
suddenly  on  the  night  before  Christmas, 
1895.  They  were  found  in  their  bedcham- 
ber on  Christmas  morning  poisoned  to  death 
by  the  escape  of  noxious  gas  from  a  defective 
stove  pipe.     The  high  esteem  in  which  they 


were  held  in  the  community  wasattested  by 
the  gathering  at  the  funeral  of  the  largest 
concourse  of  people  ever  assembled  on  a 
like  occasion  in  that  section.  Fully  three 
thousand  people  were  there  met,  with  hearts 
full  of  sympathy  and  sorrow,  and  with  eyes 
suffused  with  tears. 

Hiram  Wliewell  Balsbaugh,  the  only  sur- 
viving child  and  the  only  son  of  John  H. 
and  Mary  Balsbaugh,  deceased,  was  born 
June  12,  185G.  He  received  a  classical  edu- 
cation, beginning  with  a  primary  course  in 
the  district  schools  and  finishing  with  the 
curriculum  at  Cornell  University.  After 
completing  his  studies  he  was  a  partner 
with  his  father  in  the  grain  business  until 
1881,  when  he  engaged  in  journalism,  and 
was  employed  on  leading  daily  newspapers 
of  New  York  and  Chicago.  He  became  con- 
nected with  a  prominent  life  insurance  com- 
pany of  New  York  in  1888,  occupying  posi- 
tions of  trust  and  responsibility,  until  the 
sudden  death  of  his  father  made  it  necessary 
for  him  to  make  the  homestead,  at  Swatara, 
his  residence  and  assume  the  settlement  and 
care  of  the  estate.  He  was  married,  April 
29,  1896,  to  Theodora,  daughter  of  Theodore 
PfatHin,  of  New  York,  manager  of  Chicker- 
ing  &  Sons,  piano  manufacturers. 


GisH,  John  R.,  farmer  and  stockman, 
Hockersville,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Donegal,  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  November  18,  1840.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  L.  and  Annie  (Ressor)  Gish. 
John  L.  Gish  was  born  in  West  Donegal, 
Lancaster  county,  and  was  the  son  of  Jacob 
Gish,  also  a  native  of  Lancaster  county  and 
a  ver\'  extensive-  farmer.  The  Gish  family 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  State, 
and  are  supposed  to  be  of  Swiss  origin.  John 
L.  grew  up  on  the  farm  of  his  father  and 
made  farming  his  lifelong  occupation.  He 
was  a  Whig,  and  a  member  of  the  Mennonite 
church.  His  wife,  Annie  (Ressor)  Gish,  was 
born  in  Lebanon  county,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Ressor,  of  that  count}'.  They  had  these 
children :  Peter,  farmer  of  West  Donegal, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  Jacob,  fanner  on  the 
old  homestead  at  Donegal ;  David,  deceased  ; 
Samuel,  also  on  the  homestead  ;  Abraham, 
deceased ;  John  R. ;  and  Annie,  who  died 
young.  John  L.  Gish  was  an  honorable,  up- 
right man,  intelligent  and  of  sound  judg- 
ment ;  his  advice  was  sought  in  business 
and  social  matters.  He  was  very  popular 
and  highly  esteemed. 


682 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


John  R.  Gish  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  township.  He  worked  upon 
tiie  farm  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  old, 
when  he  married  and  made  a  home  of  his 
own.  He  rented  a  farm  in  the  same  town- 
ship which  he  cultivated  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Elizahethtown,  Lan- 
caster county,  and  occupied  another  rented 
farm  for  tliree  years.  In  1873  he  removed 
to  Dauphin  county,  locating  in  Derry  town- 
ship, where  he  settled  upon  a  tract  of  seventy- 
four  acres.  He  has  improved  it  at  an  ex- 
pense of  several  thousand  dollai's  and  has 
made  his  home  here  since  his  removal.  He 
has  a  good  limestone  farm  and  raises  fine 
live  stock.  On  February  23,  1867,  he  was 
married,  at  Donegal,  Lancaster  county,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  Rider,  who  was  born 
in  Donegal,  September  30,  1841. 

John  Jiiderwas  born  in  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  February  22,  1811.  He  was  a  son  of 
George  Rider,  a  farmer  of  German  descent. 
He  married  Lydia  Doner,  of  Lebanon  county, 
by  whom  he  liad  three  children :  Eliza, 
widowof  8.  Dyer,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio  ;  George, 
deceased,  of  Williamspori:  and  Mary,  wife 
of  John  II.  Gisii.  Mr.  Gish  had  three  chil- 
dren by  a  former  marriage:  Lillian,  born 
November  6,  1867,  unmarried  ;  John,  born 
January  19,  1871,  deceased  ;  Clayton,  born 
July  30,  1874,  attending  school  at  Lebanon. 
Mr.  Rider  was  a  Republican,  and  died  at 
the  farm  of  Mr.  Gish  ;  his  wife  still  lives,  aged 
eighty-four  years,  and  makes  her  home  with 
lier  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  R.  CJish. 

Mr.  John  R.  Gish  is  a  Republican.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Uniti'd  Brethren  church. 
He  is  much  interested  and  vei'y  active  in  all 
church  matters.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of 
the  church  for  six  years,  and  contributed  lib- 
erally toward  rebuilding  the  church  edifice. 
He  is  genial  and  agreeable,  and  enjoys  the 
esteem  of  his  neijihbors. 


Hershey,  M.VRTiN,  retired  farmer,  Hock- 
ersville.  Pa.,  was  born  in  Derry  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  December  27,  1830. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Frick) 
Hershej'.  John  Hershey  was  born  in  Derry 
township  in  1800,  and  was  a  son  of  Isaac 
Hershey,  a  native  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa., 
of  German  descent.  He  was  an  extensive 
farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  married  Mary 
Frick,  born  in  Rapho  township,  Lancaster 
county,  in  1800.  They  had  ten  children  : 
Annie,  wife  of  Isaac  Kulp,  farmer  ;  Martin; 
Mary,  who  died  young;  Elizabeth,  deceased; 


Fannie,  unmarried  ;  Priscilla,  wife  of  Jacob 
Kulp;  Lydia,  unmarried  ;  Leah,  deceased; 
Maria,  wife  of  Jacob  Wenger  ;  Menno,  farmer 
of  Derry  township.  Mr.  Hershey  died  in 
1851,  and  his  wife  in  1853.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Mennonite  church,  and  for 
several  years  a  minister.  He  gave  land  and 
otherwise  aided  liberalli'  toward  the  building 
of  a  church.  He  was  an  exemplary  citizen, 
and  a  worthy  and  respected  man. 

Martin  Hershey  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  township.  He  remained  on 
the  home  farm  during  his  father's  lifetime, 
and  after  his  death  continued  to  cultivate  it 
for  nine  years,  or  until  the  youngest  child 
became  of  age.  Upon  the  partition  of  his 
father's  estate,  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  was  allotted  to  him.  This  tract  he 
retained  for  his  home,  and  improved  by  the 
erection  of  a  fine  brick  dwelling  at  a  cost  of 
six  thousand  dollars  and  a  barn  which  cost 
three  thousand  dollars.  He  thus  provided 
for  himself  one  of  the  best  farm  houses  in 
the  region.  He  has  a  lime  kiln  upon  his 
farm,  and  is  also  interested  in   stock  raising. 

He  was  married,  in  Januaiy,  1861,  in 
Franklin  county,  Pa.,  to  Mary  A.  Shartle, 
born  in  that  county,  daughter  of  Ann  Maria 
(lluffer)  Shartle.  They  have  had  three 
children:  one  who  died  in  infancy;  Amos 
S.,  born  July  11,  1867,  received  jireliininary 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  the 
schools  at  Millersville,  Pa.,  graduated  from 
the  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  Pa., attended 
Bucknell  College,  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  graduated 
with  honors  from  Harvard  University,  grad- 
uated from  Heidleburg,  Germany,  and 
studied  at  Paris,  France,  and  is  now  a  profes- 
sor in  the  State  University  of  Indiana;  mar- 
ried Lillian  Wilcox,  a  prima  donna,  born 
in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.;  Ida,  third  child 
of  Martin  Hershey,  was  born  December  28, 
1869,  and  is  the  wife  of  Clinton  M.  Hershey 
of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  son  of  Christian  Hershey 
of  Derry  township.  Mr.  Hershey  is  a  Men- 
nonite, and  holds  the  office  of  deacon.  He 
is  a  substantial  citizen  and  a  man  of  strong 
character.  He  is  actively  interested  in  all 
that  promises  good  to  his  fellow-men. 


Gingrich,  Cyrus,  was  born  in  Derry 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  May  25, 
1830.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Annie 
(Moyer)  Gingrich,  the  former  born  in  Leba- 
noncounty.  Pa.,  March  12,  1781,  the  latter, 
in  Lebanon  county,  August  2,  1787.  Cyrus 
Gingrich  attended  the  common  schools  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


685 


the  township.  He  lived  with  his  father, 
and  cultivated  the  homestead  farm  for  him. 
After  his  father's  death,  he  took  entire 
charge  of  the  farm,  which  consisted  of  more 
than  three  hundred  acres ;  his  management 
was  skillful  and  profitable.  He  was  one  of 
the  largest  land  owners  in  the  township. 
He  constructed  several  dwellings  and  barns, 
and  expended  many  thousands  of  dollars  in 
improvements.  He  paid  especial  attention 
to  the  breeding  of  fine  cattle  and  horses,  and 
raised  some  of  the  finest  stock  to  be  found 
in  that  region.  He  also  had  lime  kilns  on 
tiie  farm. 

He  was  married,  November  13,  1856,  in 
Derry  township,  to  Melinda,  daughter  of 
Christian  and  Sarah  (Cinn)  Bechman.  She 
was  the  sixth  of  their  ten  ciiildren,  and  was 
born  in  Cornwall  township,  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.,  December  14,  183G.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gingrich  had  these  children :  Christian  B., 
farmer,  born  in  1857,  married  Alice  Hocker, 
and  has  six  ciiildren ;  John  M.,  born  1859,  mar- 
ried Clara  Horner,  resides  in  Hummelstown  ; 
Edwin  G.,  born  in  1861,  in  Derry  township; 
Annie,  born  in  November,  1863,  died  Octo- 
ber, 1878 ;  Fannie  15.,  born  July,  1865,  died 
in  January,  1877  ;  Cyrus  B.,  born  in  October, 
1867,  died  in  December,  1868  ;  Jeremiah,  born 
in  1872,  school  teacher,  at  iiome ;  Sarah  M., 
born  in  1870,  wife  of  Harvey  Bomberger, 
farmer.  Palmyra,  Pa.;  Amnion  B.,  born  in 
1874,  Farmers'  Bank,  Hummelstown  ;  a  son, 
not  named,  born  in  March,  1876,  died  in 
infancy  ;  Elmer  B.,  born  in  May,  1878,  died 
in  February,  18S2 ;  Mary  A.,  born  in  April, 
1883,  died  in  November,  1887.  Mr.  Ging- 
rich was  a  Republican,  a  school  director  for 
one  term,  and  a  member  of  tlie  Reformed 
church.  In  1888  he  retired  from  active 
business,  and  with  his  worthy  wife  enjoyed 
for  a  number  of  years  the  fruits  of  tlieir 
well-ordered,  industrious  and  successi'ul  life. 
He  was  respected  and  beloved.  He  died, 
February  10,  1895,  leaving  his  widow  well 
{provided  for  as  to  property,  and  she  is  af- 
fectionately cared  for  by  her  children.  His 
children  honor  his  memory,  and  cherish  the 
ricii  heritage  of  the  good  name  wliicli  lie  be- 
queathed to  them. 

Edwin  G.  Gingrich,  his  son,  like  his 
worthy  father,  attended  the  district  schools 
and  worked  upon  the  same  farm.  He  re- 
mained upon  the  homestead,  and  has  made 
it  his  life  work  to  cultivate  it.  He  inherits  the 
characteristics  and  the  business  methods  of 
his  father,  and  is  meeting  with  success  as  a 
45 


farmer.  He  was  married,  in  Derry  town- 
ship, to  Ellen  Risser,  who  was  born  in  Leba- 
non county.  They  have  one  child,  Cyrus. 
Mr.  Gingrich  is  a  Republican,  and  is  popu- 
lar and  highly  respected. 


Flowers,  George  L.,  farmer  and  cabinet 
maker,  Hockersville,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Mt.  Joy 
township,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  November 
13, 1826.  He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Susan 
(Lindersmilhj  Flowers.  Christian  Flowers 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  He  was 
a  weaver,  and  was  the  son  of  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, who  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  His 
wife,  Susan  Lindersmith,  was  a  daughter  of 
George  Lindersmith,  a  native  of  Switzerland, 
who  for  seven  years  and  eight  months  fought 
under  the  banner  of  George  Washington. 
They  had  seven  children:  George  L.;  Eli, 
carpenter,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  Rosanna, 
widow  of  Abraham  Meashly,  of  Lancaster 
county ;  Susan,  wife  of  C."  Arndt,  carpenter, 
Lancaster  county ;  Barbara,  wife  of  Jacob 
Brown,  of  Lancaster;  and  two  children  wiio 
died  young.  ]\Ir.  C.  Flowers  was  a  Republi- 
can, and  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
churcli. 

George  L.  Flowers  attended  the  schools  of 
his  native  township.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  began  to  learn  carpentry,  and  made  this 
his  occupation  for  twenty-one  years.  For 
nine  years  he  worked  at  cabinet  making 
also,  and  was  an  undertaker,  making  coffins 
and  caskets  as  ordered.  Then,  removing  to 
Dauphin  county,  he  changed  his  occupation 
to  farming.  He  rented  and  cultivated  farms 
in  several  parts  of  the  county,  taking  them 
on  shares.  He  was  very  successful  as  a  farmer 
and  accumulated  money.  Removing  to 
Annville,  Lebanon  county,  he  bought  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  forty-three  acres,  for 
wliicli  he  paid  $8,000  in  cash,  the  accumula- 
tion of  his  years  of  hard  toil.  He  made 
numerous  sul;)stantial  improvements  on  the 
farm,  and  cultivated  it  for  seven  years.  He 
tlien  sold  it  for  |10,000  and  spent  one  year 
with  his  son. 

In  1883  he  returned  to  Dauphin  county 
and  bought  forty  acres  of  land  witii  improve- 
ments, paying  for  it  $7,550.  He  remodeled 
the  dwelling,  which  was  a  hundred  years  old, 
built  a  workshop  and  made  other  improve- 
ments. He  works  in  the  shop  in  the  winter 
and  tills  the  land  in  summer.  He  finds  a 
a  good  market  in  the  surrounding  country 
for  the  furniture  he  makes. 

He  was  married,  in  September,  1847,  in 


686 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Lancaster  county,  to  Catherine  Werner,  born 
in  Raplio  township,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
October  10,  1827.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren: Ann,  wife  of  Jacob  Smith  ;  Abraham, 
farmer,  Dauphin  county ;  Aaron,  fiirmer ; 
Susan,  wife  of  Edward  Gailbaugh  ;  Emma, 
wife  of  D.  Seabold,  of  Lebanon  county  ;  Levi, 
farms  the  homestead ;  Frank,  thresher  and 
farmer;  Mary,  wife  of  George  Boyer,  and 
three  children  who  died  young.  Mr.  Flow- 
ers belongs  to  the  Mennonite  persuasion. 
He  is  a  friendly  man  and  has  many  friends. 
He  is  wortliy  of  the  confidence  and  respect 
which  his  neiehbors  cherisii  for  him. 


Coble,  Abraham  B.,  farmer  and  stock- 
man, Hockersville,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Milton 
Grove,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  June  25, 1864. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mar}'  (Baker)  Coble. 
John  Coble  was  born  inConewago  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  son  of 
Christian  Coble,  a  farmer  of  that  county. 
He  spent  tlie  first  ])art  of  his  life  on  the 
farm  in  Daupiiin  county,  and  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Lancaster  count}'  and  engaged  in 
farming  on  his  own  account.  He  was  a 
stock  breeder  as  well  as  a  farmer.  His  wife, 
Mary  Baker,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county.  They  had  five  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living :  Harry,  railroad  engineer, 
married  Amanda  Kiper,  resides  in  Harris- 
burg ;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Martin  Attick,  stock 
dealer,  Highspire,  Pa.,  and  Abraham  B. 
Two  children  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  John 
Coble  was  a  Republican  in  his  politics.  He 
was  a  Mennonite  and  an  industrious,  honest 
and  upright  man.  He  died  in  Lancaster 
county  in  1879.  His  widow  still  lives  and 
is  cared  for  in  her  old  age  b}'  her  son,  Abra- 
ham B.  Coble. 

The  latter  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  township  and  worked  on  the 
home  farm  until  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  at 
which  time  his  father  died.  He  then  farmed 
for  nine  years  with  his  uncle.  At  twenty- 
four  years  of  age  he  went  to  Iowa,  and  for 
one  year  bought,  sold  and  shipped  stock  to 
eastern  markets.  After  this  time  he  came 
to  Dauphin  county  and  settled  in  Derry 
township,  where  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  acres  of  land,  which  he  has  culti- 
vated and  improved.  He  has  raised  fine 
horses  for  which  he  finds  ready  sale  in  the 
township.  Mr.  Coble  was  married  in  Eliza- 
bethtown,  in  1888,  to  Laura,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Gish,  the 
former   a   prominent   farmer   in    Lancaster 


county.  The}'  have  four  children  :  Waltev, 
Minnie,  Harvey  and  Charles.  Mr.  Coble  is 
a  Republican.  He  is  a  man  of  public  spirit, 
always  interested  actively  in  every  enter- 
prise for  the  benefit  of  the  community.  He 
enjoys  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
neighbors  and  is  deservedly  popular. 

Hershey,  Israel  L.,  farmer  and  stock- 
man, Derry,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Derry  township,  Dauphin  county,  where 
he  now  resides,  January  5,  1845.  He  is  a 
son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Landis)  Hershey. 
Isaac  Hershey  was  also  born  in  Derry  town- 
ship, and  was  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Annie 
(Frentz)  Hershey,  the  former  an  extensive 
farmer  of  Lancaster  county,  where  he  was 
born.  Isaac  Hershey,  Jr.,  attended  subscrip- 
tion schools.  He  made  farming  his  voca- 
tion for  life.  He  was  one  of  the  best  and 
most  successful  farmei's  of  the  township. 
Mary  Landis,  his  wife,  was  born  January  10, 
1810,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Lan- 
dis, of  Lancaster  county.  They  had  seven 
children:  Lavinia,  Abram  and  Benjamin, 
decea.sed;  Israel  L.;  John,  deceased;  Annie, 
wife  of  John  Moyer,  farmer,  Derry  township; 
and  Leah,  deceased.  Mr.  Isaac  Hershey 
died  September  1,  1879,  on  the  homestead 
f:irm.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen,  and  be- 
longed to  the  old  Wliig  jtarty.  He  was  a 
Mennonite.  His  widow  survives,  and  has 
her  home  with  her  son  Israel  L. 

Israel  L.  Hershey  took  the  regular  course 
of  instruction  in  the  district  schools.  He 
remained  on  the  home  farm,  working  for 
his  father,  until  1879,  when  his  father  died. 
The  homestead  then  passed  into  his  posses- 
sion, and  he  has  ever  since  cultivated  the 
farm.  He  has  made  many  improvements, 
and  remodeled  the  dwelling.  He  has  to 
some  extent  carried  on  the  live  stock  busi- 
ness in  connection  with  farming.  He  was 
married,  in  1874,  in  Franklin  county,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  Shartle,  born  in 
Franklin  county.  Pa.,  April  3,  1850.  They 
have  had  four  children:  Elam,  born  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1875,  works  on  the  farm;  John, 
born  October  11,  1876,  teacher;  Isaac,  born 
October  26,  1879 ;  and  Abner,  born  October 
13,  1884. 

John  Shartle,  father  of  Mrs.  I.  L.  Hershey, 
was  a  prominent  farmer  and  stockman  of 
Franklin  county.  He  married  Mary  Miller, 
of  Franklin  county.  Their  children  were 
five  in  number :  Mary,  wife  of  I.  L.  Hershey  ; 
Samuel,  farmer,  Franklin  county,  Pa.;  Emma, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


687 


died  young;  Jacob,  doctor,  Millersville,  Pa.; 
and  John,  doctor,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shartle  died  in  Franklin 
county. 

Mr.  Hershey  is  a  Republican.  He  is  one 
of  the  substantial  and  reliable  men  of  the 
community.  He  prosecutes  his  business 
undertakings  with  industry  and  enterprise. 
He  is  a  man  of  genial  manner,  and  is  very 
popular. 


Reed,  William  H.,  furniture  manufac- 
turer and  undertaker,  Hummelstown,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Annville,  Lebanon  county,  Pa., 
July  13,  1861.  His  father,  Isaac  Reed,  was 
born  in  Lebanon  county,  where  he  still  re- 
sides. He  is  foreman  in  the  Lebanon 
stone  quarries.  He  married  Polly  Auchen- 
bunch,  also  a  native  of  Lebanon  county. 
They  had  six  children  :  John,  farmer,  in 
Ohio;  Sarah,  wife  of  William  Karman}', 
furniture  manufacturer,  Hummelstown,  Pa.; 
William  H.;  Charles,  residing  in  Hummels- 
town ;  Grant,  and  Samuel,  died  young.  The 
father  and  mother  both  reside  in  Annville. 
They  attend  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Mr.  Reed  is  a  Republican.  He  is  well  and 
favorably  known  throughout  the  town  and 
county  where  he  resides. 

William  H.  Reed  attended  the  common 
schools  of  Annville,  and  was  also  graduated 
from  the  school  at  Campbellstown,  Pa.  He 
learned  carpentry  at  Harrisburg,  where  he 
spent  ten  years,  and  worked  at  that  trade  in 
Annville.  In  1881  he  came  to  Hummels- 
town and  worked  witii  his  brotlier-in-law, 
William  Karmany,  at  furniture  making,  for 
fourteen  years.  In  tiie  spring  of  1895  he 
erected  a  factory  of  his  own  and  embarked 
in  the  furniture  business.  He  has  a  fine 
show  room  on  Main  street.  He  meets  with 
success,  obtaining  a  fair  share  of  the  town 
and  township  trade.  Mr.  Reed  was  mar- 
ried, December  22,  1884,  at  Hummelstown, 
to  Mary  Kelchner,  born  in  Palmyra,  Leb- 
anon county.  Pa.,  in  1863.  They  have  four 
children  :  Florence,  attending  school ;  Harry, 
Morgan  and  Stuart.  Mr.  Reed  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  In  business  he  is  indus- 
trious, enterprising  and  progressive.  He  is 
genial  and  friendly  and  is  much  liked. 


Strickler,  Adam,  farmer,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Derry  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  June  26,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of 
Ulrich     and    Molly    (Hamaker)    Strickler. 


Ulrich  Strickler  was  born  [in  jLondonderry 
township,  Dauphin  county,  in  1807,  and  was 
a  son  of  Ulrich  Strickler,  who  married  Miss 
Funk  ;  the  former  of  Dauphin  county  and 
of  German  descent.  The  younger  Ulrich 
Strickler,  father  of  Adam,  attended  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  the  township  and  was  a 
farmer  and  stock  raiser.  His  wife,  Molly 
Hamaker,  was  born  in  Derry  township, 
Dauphin  county,  in  1808.  Their  children 
are:  Jacob,  deceased;  Adam;  Elizabeth, 
deceased,  wife  of  Felix  Landis  ;  Ulrich,  de- 
ceased ;  David,  farmer,  of  Steel  ton ;  Mary, 
wife  of  John  B.  Hoverter,  of  Harrisburg;  and 
Martin,  deceased.  Mr.  Strickler  retired  from 
active  business,  and  resided  in  Hummels- 
town, where  he  died  in  1881.  His  wife  died 
in  1875.  He  was  a  Republican,  and  a 
member  of  the  United  Zion's  Children 
church.  He  had  a  wide  acquaintance,  and 
was  highly  respected. 

Adam  Strickler  attended  the  common 
schools  and  tiie  subscription  schools  of  Derry 
township.  He  worked  on  the  farm  in  the 
summer,  and  attended  school  in  the  winter 
months.  After  leaving  school,  he  continued 
to  work  on  the  homestead  farm,  and  for  two 
winters  taught  school.  When  he  was 
twenty-one  he  went  to  Londonderry  towif- 
ship,  Lebanon  county,  and  became  a  partner 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Felix  Landis,  in  the 
business  of  distilling;  in  this  he  continued 
two  years  with  fair  success.  He  next  en- 
gaged in  the  flour  and  grain  business.  The 
company  tiien  built  and  equipped  a  mill  at 
a  cost  of  §20,000.  He  had  operated  the  mill 
for  eleven  months  when  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  The  property  was  only  ptirtially  in- 
sured. Their  loss  on  mill,  machinery  and 
stock  was  about  $20,000.  He  then  removed 
to  West  Hanover  townshi}),  Dauphin  county, 
bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fourteen 
acres  and  cultivated  it  for  two  years.  He 
then  sold  this  farm,  and  returned  to  Lon- 
donderry township,  Lebanon  county  ;  there 
he  cultivated  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  owned  by  his  father-in-law,  M. 
A.  Brightbill,  for  one  year,  after  which  he 
removed  to  Soutli  Annville  township,  and 
bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  which  he  cultivated  for  three  years. 
After  this  he  came  to  Dauphin  county,  lo- 
cating at  Swatara  Station,  and  entered  into 
partnership  with  his  brotlier-in-law,  John 
H.  Balsbaugh,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in 
another  place  in  this  volume.  They  dealt 
for  three   years    in  grain,  coal    and   stock, 


688 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


during  which  time  Mr.  8trickler  went  to 
Ohio  in  tlie  interest  of  tiie  firm,  buying  live 
stock  and  shipping  to  eastern  markets.  The 
business  proved  very  profitable.  He  sold 
his  interest  in  the  business,  and  bought 
ninety  acres  of  land  nearb3%  which  he  im- 
proved and  made  his  home  there  for  fourteen 
years.  In  1883  he  bought  his  present  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  on  which  he 
has  expended  $2,000  in  improvements,  and 
which  is  now  his  residence. 

He  was  married,  September  3,  1857,  in 
Harrisburg,  to  Sarah  lirightbill,  who  was 
born  in  Lebanon  county,  December  24, 
1836.  She  was  one  of  fifteen  children  of 
Abraham  and  Mary  (Landis)  Brightbill; 
her  father  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  Leb- 
anon county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strickler  have 
had  eight  children:  Emma  R.,  wife  of  James 
G.  Fox,  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  G.  P^ox,  of  Hum- 
melstown,  and  has  eight  children :  George, 
Robert,  Walter,  Charles,  Edward,  Webster, 
Virginia,  and  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Agnes 
B.,born  March  5,  18()4,  wife  of  A.  G.  Long- 
enecker,  farmer,  of  Conewago  township, 
Dauphin  county,  has  one  child,  Benjamin 
Warren ;  Harry  B.,  born  April  18,  1866, 
mechanic,  married  Regina  Heinley,  has  one 
fhild,  Morris;  Sadie  B.,  born  January  30, 
1871,  wife  of  E.  B.  Mumma,  farmer,  three 
children  :  Milton  Ray,  and  two  that  died 
young;  Bertha  B.,  born  April  7,  1875,  un- 
married and  residing  at  home  ;  Annie  M., 
born  April  12,  1860,  died  May  10,  1860; 
Franklin,  born  January  30,  1863,  died  Feb- 
ruary 13,1863;  Morris,  born  February  17, 
1868,  died  April  3,  1872.  Mr.  Strickler  is  a 
Republican.  He  filled  the  office  of  school 
director  for  eighteen  years.  He  was  mer- 
cantile appraiser  for  one  year.  He  has  for 
six  years  filled  tiie  office  of  auditor,  which 
he  still  holds.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Hav- 
ing been  industrious,  frugal  and  successful 
throughout  life  he  and  his  wortliy  wife  may 
now  retire  from  active  participation  in  the 
labors  of  life,  and  comfortably  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  their  work.  They  have  the  respect 
and  esteem  and  the  good  wishes  of  all  their 
neighbors. 


Gerlack,  John  M.,  carriage,  buggy  and 
wagon  manufacturer,  Hockersville,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Mt.  Joy,  Lancaster  county,  August 
17,  1864.  He  is  a  son  of  John  S.  and  Cathe- 
rine (Witmer)  Gerlack.  John  S.  Gerlack 
was  born  at  Turkey  Hill,  Md.,  and  was  a 


prominent  farmer  of  that  region.  He  was 
subsequently  engaged  in  farming  in  Lancas- 
ter, Lebanon  and  York  counties.  Pa.  His 
wife,  Catherine  Witmer,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county.  They  had  six  children  :  Liz- 
zie, wife  of  H.  Butterfield,  of  Mt.  Joy,  Pa.; 
Barbara,  wife  of  John  Walters,  manufacturer; 
John  M.;  Sarah,  deceased  ;  and  two  children 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  J.  S.  Gerlack  was 
a  Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church.  He  had  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  and  was  respected  by  the 
community.  He  died  at  Campbellstown  in 
1891.  His  wife  died  in  Lancaster  in  1888. 
John  M.  Gerlack  attended  the  schools  of 
Lebanon  and  York  counties.  For  three 
years  he  worked  as  a  farm  laborer,  receiving 
as  wages  twenty  dollars  fier  month.  The 
next  year  he  worked  on  the  Coleman  rail- 
road. The  following  two  years  he  spent  in 
learning  wagon  making,  and  the  next  two 
he  passed  in  Lancaster  county,  employed  in 
carpenter's  work.  He  then  removed  to  Leb- 
anon, Pa.,  and  was  engaged  as  a  car  builder 
in  the  car  shops.  In  1889  he  came  to  Dau- 
phin county  and  opened  a  factory  and  re- 
pair shop.  At  the  end  of  four  years  he  found 
that  his  business  had  outgrown  his  shop.  In 
order  to  meet  the  demands  of  iiis  increased 
and  still  increasing  trade,  he  built  a  large 
factory  in  the  village  and  fitted  it  up  with 
engine,  boiler,  and  improved  machinery. 
He  keeps  upwards  of  six  men  employed  in 
the  general  business  of  manufacturing  car- 
riages, buggies  and  wagons  and  in  repair- 
ing. He  also  built  a  fine  dwelling.  His 
outlay  for  the  improvement  was  more  than 
$4,000.  He  is  meeting  with  gratifying  suc- 
cess in  his  business.  In  1884  he  was  married, 
in  Lancaster  county,  to  Lydia  Ober,  born  in 
White  Oak,  Lancaster  count}-.  Pa.;  they  had 
one  child,  David,  attending  school.  His  wife 
died  in  1886.  He  was  married  again,  in 
1887,  to  Mary  H.  Wolf,  born  in  Bucks  county. 
There  are  no  children  to  this  marriage.  Mr. 
Gerlack  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  River  Brethren  church  which  he  at- 
tends at  Hummelstown.  In  his  business  he 
is  diligent,  enterprising,  trustworthy  and  suc- 
cessful, and  in  social  circles  he  is  esteemed 
and  popular. 


i 


Eby,  Michael,  retired  farmer,  of  Derry 
township,  was  born  in  Derry  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides,  January  12,  1831.  His  grandfather, 
Michael  Ebv,  was  a  native  of  Switzerland. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


689 


He  came  to  this  country  when  a  young 
man,  located  in  Lancaster  county,  and  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Derry  township,  where 
h^  reared  his  family.  He  cultivated  and 
liighly  improved  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres,  and  here  also  he  died.  He  married 
Elizabeth  OberhoUer,  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa. 

Christian  Eby,  son  of  the  elder  and  father 
of  the  younger  Michael  Eby,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county.  He  attended  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  the  county.  He  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Dauphin  county,  and 
grew  up  there  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
made  farming  and  stock  raising  his  life  oc- 
cupation. He  married  Ehzabetli  Witzler, 
born  in  South  Hanover  townsliip,  Dauphin 
county.  They  had  nine  children:  John, 
farmer;  Michael;  ("hristian,  deceased;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  William  Light,  farmer,  Han- 
over township;  Catherine,  wife  of  Henry 
Linawav,of  Campbelistown ;  Amos,  deceased  ; 
Jonas,  justice  of  the  peace  at  Campbelistown, 
and  two  children  who  died  young.  Mr.  Eby 
died  in  Derry  township  in  1865.  His  wife 
also  died  in  Derry  township  in  1892.  His 
politics  were  Republican.  He  was  a  Men- 
nonite.  He  was  well  known,  had  many 
warm  friends,  and  was  universally  re- 
spected. 

Michael  Eby  iiad  the  ordinary  advantages 
of  the  neighborhood  schools.  He  remained 
upon  the  farm  with  his  father,  and  made 
farming  his  business  for  life.  He  bought 
the  homestead  of  two  hundred  and  nine 
acres,  and  made  improvements  of  great  ex- 
tent, costing  $5,000.  He  built  one  of  the 
finest  and  must  convenient  farm  dwellings 
in  the  township.  Stock  raising  was  an  im- 
portant branch  of  his  business.  Li  1888  he 
was  able  to  retire  from  active  business,  and 
enjoy  tiie  fruits  of  his  days  of  hard  but  suc- 
cessful work. 

He  was  married,  in  1855,  in  Harrisburg, 
to  Caroline  Detweiler,  born  in  South  Ann- 
ville,  Lebanon  county,  March  17,  1834,  one 
of  tlie  nine  children  of  Miciiael  and  Barbara 
(Thomas)  Detweiler.  Thechildren  of  Michael 
and  Caroline  Eby  are:  Charles  P.,  born  in 
1857,  married  Mary  Brandt,  born  in  Leba- 
non county,  and  has  two  children,  Nola  and 
Clyde;  Anson  H.,  born  in  1858,  married 
Mary  Bomberger ;  John,  married  Elizabeth 
Bowman,  resides  in  Lebanon  ;  Michael,  in 
the  creamery  business  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, Lebanon  county,  married  Emma  Bow- 
man; and  Franklin,  died  young. 


Mr.  Eby  is  a  Republican.  He  held  the 
office  of  supervisor  of  roads  for  one  year, 
and  of  tax  collector  for  one  year.  He  has 
been  a  traveler,  and  has  visited  manj^  ])arts 
of  the  Western  States.  He  is  enterprising 
and  industrious  in  business,  and  has  been 
successful.  He  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  neighbors. 

Hummel,  Elwood  F.,  postmaster,  Hum- 
melstown,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Hummels- 
town,  January  15,1865.  TheHunmiel  fam- 
ily is  one  of  the  old  and  prominent  fam- 
ilies of  Eastern  Pennsylvania.  The  great- 
grandfatiier  of  Mr.  E.  F.  Hummel  took  part 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  in  1775.  Each 
succeeding  generation  lias  iiad  representa- 
tives ready  for  the  public  service  in  what- 
ever form  tiie  demand  might  come. 

.Jacob  Hummel,  Mr.  E.  F.  Hummel's 
grandfather,  was  one  of  the  family  which 
estal)lished  Hummelstown.  He  was  a  farmer, 
a  man  of  cliaracter  and  substance,  and  an 
embodiment  of  the  virtues  which  made  the 
pioneers  so  illustrious.  His  son,  John  H. 
Hummel,  father  of  Elwood  F.,  was  born  in 
Hummelstown  July  14,  1817.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  subscription  schools  of  Harris- 
burgand  publicschoolsof  thetown,and  in  his 
younger  days  worked  on  the  farm.  He  made 
farming  his  vocation  for  life.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Fox,  born  in  Hummelstown  in 
1831,  daughter  of  James  Fox,  an  uncle  of 
Dr.  Thomas G.  Fox,  of  Hummelstown.  They 
had  eight  children  :  Frank  P.,  born  in  Hum- 
melstown November  12,  1854,  train  dis- 
patcher on  the  Union  Pacific  railroad,  Salt 
Lake  City,  married  and  has  a  family  ;  Kate, 
died  at  tiie  age  of  eigiiteen  ;  Paul  and  Elma, 
died  in  infanc_y  ;  Elwood  F.;  Maggie,  wife  of 
P.  W.  Hocuck  ;  Peter,  train  dispatcher  of 
the  Reading  railroad,  living  in  Philadel- 
phia ;  David,  druggist.  John  H.  Hummel 
was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  died  in  Hummels- 
town, August  23,  1894.  His  long,  busy  and 
successful  life  was  sjient  in  Hummelstown. 
For  three-quarters  of  a  century  he  was 
known  in  tiiat  community  as  an  lionest,  up- 
right and  intelligent  man.  His  reputation 
is  without  spot,  and  his  children  have  re- 
ceived from  him  the  precious  heritage  of  a 
good  name.  His  widow  is  still  living  and 
resides  in  Hummelstown. 

Elwood  F.  Hummel  took  the  regular 
course  of  instruction  in  the  schools  of  Hum- 
melstown, including   the   high   school.     He 


690 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


spent  three  years  as  apprentice  and  journey- 
man at  the  blacksmith's  forge.  He  then 
studied  for  one  term  at  the  West  Chester 
Normal  School,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Hummelstown  and  worked  for  nine  years  as 
carriage  blacksmith  in  the  factory  of  Walmer 
&  Fox.  He  left  the  factory  to  assume  the 
position  of  postmaster  of  Hummelstown,  to 
which  he  was  appointed  under  the  Cleveland 
administration  in  February,  1895.  He  per- 
forms the  duties  of  the  office  with  credit  to 
himself  and  with  satisfaction  to  the  public. 
Mr.  Hummel  is  a  Democrat  and  an  active 
participant  in  all  party  movements.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Viorough  council  for  three 
years,  during  which  time  many  important 
improvements  were  made,  among  these  the 
introduction  of  electric  lights.  He  was  the 
youngest  man  ever  elected  to  fill  the  office  of 
councilman.  He  was  recording  secretary  of 
the  Sunday-school  two  years,  and  also  finan- 
cial secretary  for  two  years.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  popular  men  in  the  town,  and  is 
universally  regarded  as  an  upright,  genial 
gentleman.     He  is  unmarrried. 


Erb,  Will  C,  general  merchant,  hotel 
proprietor  and  postmaster,  Hockersville, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Bainbridge,  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  January  11,  1847.  He  is  a  son 
of  Samuel  and  Eliza  (Bowman)  Erb.  Sam- 
uel Erb  was  a  son  of  Isaac  Erb,  a  prominent 
farmer,  and  was  born  in  Lancaster  county. 
He  was  a  merchant  and  lumber  dealer. 
His  wife,  Eliza  Bowman,  was  a  native  of 
Cornwall,  Lebanon  count3\  They  had  these 
children:  Edwin  B.,  deceased;  Will  C; 
Clara  E.,  unmarried ;  George  A.,  deceased ; 
Sybilla  A.,  wife  of  A.  S.  Craumer,  merchant, 
of  Lebanon;  Ammon  H.  and  M.  Jennie,  de- 
ceased ;  Samuel,  merchant  in  Lebanon,  Pa. 
Samuel  Erb,  Sr.,  was  a  Republican  and  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  church.  He  died 
in  Lebanon  in  1895,  and  w^as  one  who  acted 
upon  principle,  and  hnd  the  reputation  of  be- 
ing an  honest  man.  His  wife  is  still  living 
in  Lebanon,  having  attained  a  ripe  old  age 

Will  C.  Erb  enjoyed  the  best  educational 
advantages.  He  attended  the  schools  of 
Cornwall,  Meyerstown,  Lebanon,  Palmyra 
and  Millersville.  He  taught  school  in  Corn- 
wall township,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  for 
eight  years,  and  was  a  successful  and  popu- 
lar teacher.  In  1873  he  removed  to  Dau- 
phin count}',  and  located  at  Hockersville, 
where  he  went  into  the  mercantile  business, 


and  speedily  built  up  a  large  trade,  which 
extended  throughout  the  township.  He 
opened  the  Hockersville  House,  and  became 
a  successful  and  popular  proprietor.  The 
wants  of  his  guests  were  promptly  and  lib- 
erally met.  He  was  courteous  and  hospit- 
able, and  his  house  became  well  known  and 
deservedly  popular. 

In  1873  he  was  married,  at  Hockersville, 
to  Lavina  L.  Hocker,  born  in  Hockersville, 
the  daughter  of  Jacob  Hocker,  the  oldest 
resident  of  the  village.  They  have  had  five 
children  :  EdnaC, school  teacher;  A.Jennie, 
at  home ;  I.  Clarence,  clerk  in  his  father's 
store;  Elmer  E.,  at  school;  Ammon  R.,  died 
young.  Mrs.  Erb  died  in  1882,  after  a  pro- 
tracted illness.  In  1885  Mr.  Erb  was  mar- 
ried again,  to  Laura  E.  Saylor,  born  in  Ann- 
ville,  Pa.,  daughter  of  .John  L.  and  Ellen 
(Freylinghausen) Saylor,  both  natives  of  Lan- 
castercounty.  Mr  Saylor  isa  prominentman- 
ufacturer  of  carriages,  etc.,  of  Annville,  Pa., 
and  a  highly  respected  resident  of  that  place. 
Two  children  were  born  of  this  marriage, 
Clyde  S.  and  Pearl  M.,  both  attending 
school.  Mr.  Erb  is  a  Republican,  and  is 
holding  the  office  of  postmaster,  being  ap- 
pointed under  the  Cleveland  administration. 
He  is  also  county  auditor,  and  was  also  tax 
collector  and  town  clerk  for  about  eighteen 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church,  whicli  the  family  attend  at  Hum- 
melstown. He  has  spent  the  past  twenty- 
three  years  at  Hockersville,  and  is  well  and 
widely  known  and  highly  respected  by  all. 


Walton,  Allen  K.,  stone  merchant,  Hum- 
melstown, Pa.,  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  November  11,  1860.  He  is  a  son  of 
Allen  and  Emma  J.  (Kohlenkamp)  Walton. 
His  parents  removed,  when  he  was  a  small 
boy,  to  Hummelstown,  Daupliin  county,  Pa., 
where  he  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  became 
interested  with  his  fatlier  in  the  stone  quarry. 
He  has  continued  in  this  business  up  to  the 
present  time.  He  was  married,  November 
17,  1885,  to  Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Sophia  (Seiffert)  Goehmann. 
After  their  marriage  they  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  the  beautiful  house  in  Hummels- 
town built  by  Mr.  Walton  in  1884.  They 
have  three  children  :  Allen  G.,  Lillie  S.  and 
Caroline  E.  Mr.  Walton  is  a  strong  Repub- 
lican. He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church  at  Hummelstown. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


691 


Balsbaugh,  Uriah,  teller,  National  Bank, 
Hummelstown,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Derry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  December  27, 
1856.  His  father,  John  Balsbaugh,  was  born 
in  Derry  township,  in  1809,  and  was  a  son 
of  Abraham  Balsbaugh,  also  a  native  of  the 
county,  of  German  descent.  John  Balsbaugh 
attended  the  subscription  schools  of  his 
township.  He  began  his  business  career  b}' 
working  on  the  farm  for  his  father,  and 
made  farming  his  life  occupation.  He  be- 
came a  large  landholder.  He  owned  over 
five  hundred  acres,  on  which  he  built  some 
fine  brick  dwellings  and  frame  houses,  some 
of  the  finest  in  the  township.  He  expended 
many  thousands  of  dollars  in  improvements, 
valuable  and  substantial,  on  his  farms. 
These  improvements  are  monuments  of  his 
zeal  and  devotion  in  making  Derry  township 
to  lead  all  other  townships  in  the  county. 
He  was  also  interested  in  the  Union  Furnace 
Works,  and  was  one  of  the  first  promoters  of 
that  industry.  He  gave  attention  to  raising 
fine  live  stock,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
farmers  to  build  lime  kilns  and  manufacture 
lime  for  use  as  a  fertilizer.  He  married 
Catherine  Landis,  born  in  1810,  daughter  of 
Christian  Landis.  They  had  ten  children  : 
Christian,  retired  farmer,  living  in  Hum- 
melstown; Jeremiali,  retired  farmer,  also  of 
Hummelstown;  John,  an  extensive  farmer 
and  stockman  of  Lebanon  county;  Carrie, 
wife  of  George  Green,  architect  and  builder, 
Harrisburg  ;  Uriah  ;  Abraham,  Sarah  and 
Elizabeth,  deceased  ;  and  two  who  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Balsbaugh  died,  in  Hummels- 
town, in  1883.  His  name  still  lives,  and 
will  long  be  cherished  in  the  hearts  of  those 
who  knew  him.  In  all  the  relations  of  life 
he  was  a  true  man.  He  greatly  benefitted 
the  community  by  his  useful  life  and  the 
display  of  his  virtues.  His  wife  died  at  the 
home  of  her  son,  Uriah  Balsbaugh,  June  5, 
1895. 

Uriah  Balsbaugh  attended  the  district 
schools  and  also  graduated  from  the  Hum- 
melstown high  school,  after  which  he  learned 
coach  making  with  the  firm  of  Bear  &  Hov- 
erter,  with  whom  he  spent  the  first  ten  years 
of  his  business  life.  In  1878  he  took  a  busi- 
ness course  in  the  famous  Poughkeepsie 
Commercial  College,  N.Y.,  and  was  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  1879.  He  then  ob- 
tained a  position  as  clerk  in  the  Hummels- 
town National  Bank,  which  beheld  for  three 
years.  In  1883  he  was  elected  teller  of  the 
bank,  a  position  of  trust  and  responsibility. 


the  duties  of  which  he  has  performed  with 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  direc- 
tors of  the  bank  for  the  past  thirteen  years. 
Mr.  Balsbaugh  is  active  in  the  Republican 
part}'.  He  is  at  present  a  school  director. 
He  is  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school.  He 
is  a  member  of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70, 
1. 0.  O.  F.,  past  officer  ;  Robert  Burns  Lodge, 
No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  past  master  ;  and  of  Jr. 
0.  U.  A.  M.,  Council  No.  40,  Hummelstown. 
He  is  unmarried  and  is  a  well-known  and 
popular  man. 

Crist,  Dr.  Josiah  B.,  dentist,  oflSce  No. 
13  North  Third  street,  Harrisburg,  residence 
and  office  in  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  was  born 
on  the  Jonestown  Road,  Lebanon  county. 
Pa.,  April  25,  1841.  He  is  a  son  of  Elias 
and  Lucy  (Yingst)  Crist.  Elias  Crist,  son  of 
George  Crist,  of  Lebanon  county,  and  of  Irish 
descent,  was  a  tailor  ;  this  was  his  vocation 
tiiroughout  life.  He  resided  in  Lebanon 
county,  and  died  there  in  1848.  He  was  a 
Democrat,  and  well  and  favorably  known  in 
that  section  of  tiie  countr}'.  His  wife,  Lucy 
Yingst,  of  Lebanon  county,  was  of  German 
descent.  Their  children  were  :  Lydia,  wife 
of  Levi  Plough,  contractor  and  builder. 
North  Lebanon,  Pa.;  Josiah  B.,  and  Elias, 
wlio  died  young.  After  the  death  of  her 
first  husband  Mrs.  Crist  married  Chester 
Howetter.  They  had  one  daughter,  Louisa, 
wife  of  Charles  Alleman.  Mrs.  Howetter 
died  in  Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  1881. 

Josiah  B.  Crist  was  but  seven  years  old 
when  his  father  died.  His  uncle,  who  was 
also  his  godfather,  cared  for  him  and  gave 
him  a  home.  In  return,  he  worked  on  the 
farm  in  summer,  attending  school  during 
tlie  winter  months.  At  ten  years  of  age  he 
met  with  a  jiainful  accident.  While  work- 
ing in  a  field  with  a  fractious  horse  he  had 
his  foot  broken.  He  set  the  bones  himself 
and  was  helped  to  the  house  by  a  friendly 
Irishman  who  happened  to  pass.  The  Doc- 
tor has  never  foi'gotten  the  kindness  of  that 
Irishman.  He  remained  with  his  foster 
father  for  seven  years,  after  which  he  was 
hired  as  laborer  by  another  farmer  for  three 
years.  In  the  meantime  he  was  improving 
every  opportunity  for  gaining  information 
and  preparing  for  life's  ba'ttles.  He  worked 
on  the  canals  for  six  months,  and  spent  a 
short  time  at  cabinet  making  but  his  health 
failing  while  engaged  in  the  latter  occupa- 
tion he  abandoned  it.  He  was  employed  in 
coach  making  for  ten  years.    While  thus  en- 


692 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


gaged  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out. 
On  September  18,  1861,  he  enlisted  at  Leb- 
anon, Pa.,  in  company  K,  Ninetj'-third  regi- 
ment, Pennsj'lvania  volunteers.  Colonel  Mc- 
Carter  and  Captain  E.  Dougherty.  He  was 
in  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  May  5,  1862, 
of  Fair  Oaks,  and  the  Seven  Days'  fight.  On 
the  way  to  Richmond  with  the  army  he  was 
attacked  with  typhoid  fever  and  was  in  the 
hospital  for  six  months.  At  the  end  of 
eleven  months'  service  he  was  discharged  at 
Baltimore,  in  1862.  He  enlisted  for  two 
months  in  company  F,  State  militia,  in 
which  he  was  quartermaster's  sergeant. 

He  had  a  strong  desire  to  enter  professional 
life,  so  he  began  to  prepare  for  the  practice 
of  dentistry.  Pie  studied  under  Dr.  Bousel, 
a  well-known  dentist,  and  other  instructors. 
In  September,  1SG4,  he  came  to  Hummels- 
town  and  opened  an  office.  He  had  neither 
money  nor  friends,  but  he  had  pluck  and 
ambition  and  a  strong  determination  to  suc- 
ceed. He  lived  for  several  montlis  on  two 
meals  a  day,  and  walked  to  and  from  Leba- 
non because  he  was  not  able  to  pay  railroad 
fare.  Soon  the  coveted  success  came.  Peo- 
ple discovered  that  the  young  dentist  had 
not  only  resolution  and  perseverance,  but 
fine  ability  and  skill  as  well ;  that  he  was 
reliable  and  thoroughly  competent  in  his 
profession.  A  large  and  lucrative  practice 
was  established.  In  1883  he  determined  to 
extend  his  field  of  operations,  and  he  opened 
an  office  in  Harrisburg  and  devotes  a  part  of 
his  time  every  week  to  his  patrons  and 
patients  in  that  city.  Dr.  Crist  displays 
originality  in  his  profession  ;  he  is  the  in- 
ventor of  new  and  valuable  methods  and 
appliances;  he  first  invented  the  crown  tooth 
to  take  the  place  of  the  wooden  peg,  and 
holds  a  patent  right  on  several  new  instru- 
ments which  facilitate  the  work  of  dentistry. 
He  made  the  first  chair  he  used  in  his  prac- 
tice and  also  many  of  his  own  instruments. 
He  also  studied  watchmaking,  and  has  a 
buggy  in  his  possession  constructed  accord- 
ing to  a  plan  original  with  himself. 

Several  of  the  students  who  received  in- 
struction from  him  have  become  eminent  in 
their  profession ;  for  example.  Dr.  Wall,  of 
Hummelstown,  who  was  one  of  his  students 
and  is  now  a  dentist  in  London,  and  who 
has  had  the  honor  of  operating  on  Her 
Majesty  Queen  Victoria. 

Dr.  Crist  was  married,  in  1864, to  Amanda 
Bosser,  of  Annville,  Lebanon  count}',  Pa. 
They    have     had    eight    children:    Isorah, 


widow  of  M.  Grove,  coach  trimmer,  of  Hum- 
melstown, has  one  child,  named  for  his 
father,  and  resides  with  her  father.  Dr.  Crist; 
Will,  at  the  College  of  Dentistry,  Philadel- 
phia, a  young  man  of  good  habits  and  bright 
professional  promise ;  Annie  and  Abbie,  both 
deceased;  Ray,  dentist,  with  his  father; 
Bessie,  a  student  in  the  high  school ;  and 
two  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Crist  died  of 
heart  failure,  September  2, 1883.  She  was  an 
estimable  woman,  of  benevolent  and  friendly 
disposition,  well  known  and  universally 
loved  and  respected.  Her  death  cast  a 
gloom  upon  the  town.  In  1890  Dr.  Crist 
married  Mary  Aucherman ;  they  have  no 
children. 

Dr.  Crist  is  a  Tnember  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
Post  58,  Harrisburg,  and  a  Republican  in 
politics ;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  is  a  Sunday-school  teacher,  and  was 
for  years  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  He  attends  to  his  patients  in  Hum- 
melstown on  Mondays  and  Thursdays,  and 
is  found  on  the  other  days  of  tlie  week  at 
Harrisburg.  He  has  been  successful  to  a 
gratifying  degree  during  his  thirty  years' 
residence  at  Hummelstown,  and  has  accum- 
ulated a  handsome  property.  He  owns  four 
dwelling  houses  and  has  other  valuable  in- 
vestments. His  best  attainments  are  his 
professional  reputation  and  his  good  name. 

Fox,  William  R.,  of  the  firm  of  Walmer 
&  Fox,  carriage  manufacturers,  Hummels- 
town, Pa.,  was  born  in  Derry  township,  Sep- 
tember 3, 1853.  He  is  a  son  of  Richard  and 
Rachel  A.  (Patton)  Fox.  Richard  Fox  was 
born  in  Derry  township,  a  son  of  Thomas 
Fox,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this  vol- 
ume in  connection  with  that  of  Dr.  Thomas 
Fox.  He  had  a  common  school  education. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  largely  interested  in 
stock  raising.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. He  was  a  director  in  the  Merchants' 
Bank,  of  Harri.sburg;  was  a  prominent  and 
successful  business  man,  of  worth  and  popu- 
larity. He  was  first  married  to  Rachel  A. 
Patton,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two. 
Her  children  were:  William  R.;  George, 
time-keeper  at  the  quarry  in  Hummels- 
town ;  Jonas  and  David,  who  both  died 
young.  Mr.  Fox's  second  marriage  was 
with  Adelaide  Heinicke,  of  Harrisburg,  by 
whom  also  he  had  four  children :  Annie, 
wife  of  E.   Einstein,  merchant,  of  Harris- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


693 


burg ;  Mary,  unmarried ;  Richard  W.,  of 
Harrisburg;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William 
Wallin,  Philadelphia.  Richard  Fox  died 
in  1874;  his  wife  survives  him,  residing  in 
Harrisburg. 

William  Robin.son  Fox  attended  the 
schools  of  Hummelstown,  and  remained 
upon  the  homestead  farm  until  he  was 
twent}^  years  of  age,  when  he  removed  to 
Hummelstown,  and  bought  the  carriage 
manufactory  of  William  VValmer,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
He  conducted  the  business  for  one  year,  and 
then  sold  a  half  interest  to  William  Wal- 
mer,  establishing  the  firm  of  Walmer  &  Fox, 
under  whose  management  the  business  has 
been  extended  and  made  very  profitable. 
Mr.  Fox  was  married,  in  1875,  in  Hummels- 
town, to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Wal- 
mer, and  sister  of  his  partner,  William  Wal- 
mer. Their  children  are:  Marion  V.,  born 
in  1876;  Anna  L.,in  1878,  and  William  W., 
in  1883.  Mr.  Fox  is  a  Republican.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  town  council  for  six  years, 
and  auditor  for  three  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church.  lie  is  a  man 
of  good  business  abilit}^  genial  and  popular, 
and  enjo3's  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
neighbors. 


of  Lebanon  county,  who  died  December  17, 
1855.  Their  children  are  :  Annie,  Mrs.  H.  B- 
Houck,  of  Hummelstown,  and  Josiah,  of 
Hummelstown.  He  was  reared  in  the  Men- 
nonite  church. 


BuRKHOLDER,  MicHAEL  K.,  Hummels- 
town,  Pa.,  was  born  in  South  Annville  town- 
ship, Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  March  4,  1830  ; 
son  of  Ulrich  and  Polly  (Koffman)  Burk- 
holder.  Michael  K.  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Lebanon  county,  where  he  also  taught 
school  for  seven  terms.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  at  Palmyra  for  six  years, 
and  in  February,  1808,  moved  to  Hummels- 
town, where  he  opened  a  grain  and  coal 
business,  in  which  he  continued  until  1802, 
when  he  retired  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son.  Since  that  time  he  has  conducted  the 
"Royal  Oak"  mill  at  L^nion  Deposit,  in  con- 
nection with  F.  H.  Stouffer.  He  also  con- 
ducts a  f;irm  in  Lebanon  county  and  is  a 
breeder  of  Holstein  cattle.  Mr.  Burkholder 
is  one  of  the  charter  members  and  a  stock- 
holder and  director  of  the  Farmers'  Bank, 
and  is  a  stockholder  and  charter  member  of 
the  Electric  Light  Companj'.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  borough  council  and  also  a  member 
of  the  school  board.  Mr.  Burkholder  was 
married,  in  1853,  to  Miss  Barbara  Ann  Reish, 


Blessing,  Frank  D.,  merchant,  Hum- 
melstown, Pa.,  was  born  in  Derry  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  December  20,1852; 
son  of  Absalom  and  Mary  Blessing.  The 
first  of  the  family  in  the  county  was  Chris- 
tian Blessing,  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
settled  in  Derry  township,  at  an  early  day, 
where  he  took  up  a  tract  of  land.  His  son. 
Christian  Blessing,  was  born  in  Germany 
and  came  in  his  youth  with  his  parents  and 
became  a  farmer  in  Derry  township.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Absalom  Blessing,  father  of  Frank  D.,  was 
born  in  Derry  township  in  1801,  and  died 
December  31,  1891.  He  was  a  stone  mason 
and  followed  that  occupation.  In  political 
views  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religious 
faith  and  fellowship  a  Lutheran,  in  which 
connection  he  was  active  and  liberal,  and 
contributed  to  the  erection  of  the  Sand  Hill 
church.  His  wife  survives  him.  They 
reared  ten  children:  Mary,  wife  of  Henry 
Aldinger,  of  Conewago  township;  John, 
stone  mason  at  Lebanon  ;  Rebecca,  Mrs. 
.Joseph  Riddle,  Hummelstown;  Frank  D.; 
Daniel  D.,  Hummelstown;  Elizabeth,  Mrs. 
John  Smith,  of  Londonderry  township; 
Sarah,  Mrs.  John  B.  Nye,  Hummelstown ; 
John,  married  Amelia  Hatton;  David,  un- 
married, and  two  children,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Frank  D.  was  reared  in  Derr}  township 
and  attended  the  township  schools.  He 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  J875,  when  he 
became  a  clerk  in  a  store,  where  he  remained 
five  yeai's,  and  in  1879  he  opened  a  general 
store,  which  he  has  since  conducted.  He  is 
a  member  of  Harrisburg  Lodge,  No.  68,  I. 
O.  0.  F.,  and  of  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A.  at  Hum- 
melstown. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and 
has  served  in  tiie  borough  council.  Mr. 
Blessing  was  first  married  to  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Jacob  B.  Hummel,  who  died, 
leaving  one  child,  Olive.  For  his  second 
wife  he  married  Miss  Sabina  A.  Hoffer, 
daughter  of  Christian  Hoffer,  of  Hummels- 
town, by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Edwin 
Hoffer.  Mr.  Blessing  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  formerly  was 
a  deacon. 


694 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Hummel,  Valentine,  son  of  Frederick 
Hummel  (2d)  and  Regina  Ricker,  was  born 
February  7, 1787,  at  Hummelstown,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.  The  education  he  received  was 
quite  limited,  only  such  as  was  afforded  by 
the  countrj'  schools  of  the  time.  In  1806 
he  began  as  an  apprentice  to  Philip  Lee- 
brick,  of  Hummelstown,  to  leacn  the  trade 
of  a  saddler.  In  1810  lie  went  to  Harris- 
burg,  and  forming  a  partnership  with 
Michael  Lebkicher,  his  old  shop  mate  at 
Hummelstown,  began  the  saddlery  and  har- 
ness making  business.  Messrs.  Hummel  & 
Lebkicher  subsequentl}'  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising, the  running  of  saw  and  grist 
mills,  the  lumber  trade,  and  the  purchase  of 
land  botii  in  the  city  of  Harrisburg  and  on 
the  Cumberland  side  of  the  Susquehanna, 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Lebkicher,  when  the 
survivor  retired  from  all  active  business. 
Mr.  Hummel  was  elected  a  representative  of 
Dauphin  county  to  the  legislative  session  of 
1822-23,  and  again  in  that  of  1840.  Governor 
Shulze  appointed  him  one  of  the  associate 
judges  of  the  county,  November  12,  1827,  a 
position  he  resigned  Marcii  20,  18.37.  Both 
in  the  Legislature  and  while  upon  the  bench 
Judge  Hummel  served  the  public  with  the 
same  fidelity  and  honesty  of  jturpose  as 
characterized  him  and  made  him  remarkable 
in  his  private  business.  For  one-third  of  a 
century  he  was  a  director  of  the  public 
schools,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  a  trus- 
tee of  the  Harrisburg  Academy.  A  great 
believer  in  humane  treatment,  lie  advocated, 
while  a  member  of  the  school  board,  the 
total  abolition  of  corporal  punishment,  but 
without  success.  For  man}'  years  he  had 
been  interested  in  the  old  Harrisburg  Bank, 
had  served  as  a  director,  and  at  the  close  of 
his  life  was  president  of  that  institution. 
He  died  at  Harrisburg  on  the  4th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1870,  in  his  eighty-fourth  year.  His 
wife,  Elizabeth  Walborn,  died  October  25, 
1867,  aged  seventy  years.  Of  Judge  Hum- 
mel it  may  be  said,  he  was  a  man  of  great 
temperateness  of  habit  in  all  tilings,  was  eco- 
nomical and  frugal,  unostentatious,  and  en- 
joyed life  in  a  calm,  quiet,  and  rational 
manner. 


he  laid  out  on  a  portion  of  his  tract  a  town, 
wiiich  he  named  Frederickstown,  but  was 
changed  upon  his  death  to  that  now  be- 
stowed upon  it.  He  donated  land  for  the 
erection  of  the  Lutheran  and  German  Re- 
formed churches,  and  erected  a  school  house, 
directing  that  English  branches  should  be 
taught  therein.  He  was  an  active  partici- 
pant in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  and 
when  the  frontiers  were  setting  an  example 
to  people  of  tlie  three  original  counties  to 
prepare  for  resistance  to  British  injustice  he 
was  chairman  of  the  patriotic  meeting  of 
Derry,  held  at  Hummelstown  in  June,  1774. 
He  died  at  his  residence  on  the  25th  of  June, 
1775,  aged  fifty-three  years.  He  was  the 
ancestor  of  a  large  family,  who  can  look 
with  pride  to  the  high-born  zeal,  energy  and 
patriotism  of  their  progenitor.  His  remains, 
with  those  of  his  wife  and  children,  are  in- 
terred in  the  Lutheran  churcli  graveyard  at 
Hummelstown. 

Very  little  is  known  of  the  ancestor, 
Frederick  Hummel,  but  some  insight  into 
his  character  may  be  gained  from  the  fol- 
lowing advice  to  his  children  contained 
in  his  will :  "  After  this  I  leave  my  blessing 
to  them  all,  and  have  God  before  you  al- 
ways, then  the  Lord  and  great  Jehovah  will 
bless  you  now  and  for  evermore,  Amen." 


Hummel,  Frederick,  was  a  native  of 
Pfalz,  in  Germany,  born  April  14,  1722. 
With  some  friends  he  came  to  America 
about  1738,  and  subsequently  took  up  a 
large  body  of  land  where  Hummelstown  is 
located.     In  1762,  foreseeing  the  advantages, 


Hummel,  Valentine,  son  of  Frederick 
Hummel  (grandson  of  the  founder  of  Hum- 
melstown) and  Susanna  Hamaker,  was  born 
March  12,  1812,  at  Hummelstown,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  was 
sent  to  Harrisburg,  in  care  of  his  uncle. 
Judge  Hummel,  receiving  the  benefit  of  two 
years'  English  education  in  the  schools  of 
the  borough.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
was  apprenticed  to  the  printing  business, 
with  Jacob  Babb,  publisher  of  the  German 
paper,  the  Morgenrthe.  At  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one Mr.  Hummel  was  taken  into  partner- 
shii>,  and  the  firm  of  Babb,  Hummel  & 
Bigler  were  for  many  years  printers  for 
the  State  and  publishers  of  the  German 
Democratic  organ,  the  Morgenrthe.  In  1850 
Mr.  Hummel  was  elected  register  of  wills 
and  recorder  of  deeds  for  Dauphin  county, 
which  office  he  creditably  filled  one  term. 
He  subsequently  engaged  in  merchandising, 
in  which  he  continued  until  a  few  years  be- 
fore his  death.  During  the  Rebellion,  dur- 
ing the  invasion  of  Pennsylvania,  he  was 
lieutenant  of  the  Home  Guard,  Captain 
Nevin.      For  several  years  he  was  deputy 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


695 


collector  of  internal  revenue,  Fourteenth  dis- 
trict, and  for  a  long  period  collector  of  city 
taxes,  and  served  in  the  board  of  school 
control.  In  the  church  (Zion  Lutheran)  he 
took  an  active  part,  and  was  superintend- 
ent of  its  Sabbath-school  until  physical  dis- 
abilitj'  prevented  him  from  performing  the 
duties  of  its  service.  He  died  at  Harrisburg, 
Thursday  morning,  August  26,  1880. 


Hummel,  Frederick,  son  of  David  and 
Mary  (Toot)  Hummel,  was  born  December 
24,17 — ,in  Derry  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.  He  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer,  receiv- 
ing the  limited  education  thus  afforded  in 
the  country  schools  of  the  township.  When 
but  a  stripling  of  eighteen,  in  company  with 
his  brothers,  he  offered  his  services  to  his 
country  at  the  outset  of  the  Revolution,  and 
was  in  the  campaign  of  the  Jerseys  and  in 
and  around  Philadelphia  in  1776  and  1777, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  war  for  independ- 
ence was  a  major  in  a  battalion  of  asso- 
ciators.  In  the  political  affairs  of  the  coun- 
try he  became  quite  prominent  and  wielded 
considerable  influence,  owing  to  his  great 
popularity.  He  was  colonel  of  the  militia, 
a  position  he  held  for  many  years;  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  several  terms,  and  was 
commissioned  by  Governor  Ritner  an  asso- 
ciate judge  of  the  county,  April  5,  1837. 
He  died  at  Hummelstown,  October  31,  1847. 
Colonel  Hummel  married  Barbara, daugiiter 
of  Jacob  Metzgar,  of  Derry,  born  September 
1,  1779;  died  November  22,  1861,  and  with 
her  husband  is  buried  in  the  old  Lutheran 
churchyard,  at  Hummelstown. 


Hummel,  Richard  T.,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Hummelstown,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  March  23,  1821 ;  son  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Lubrick)  Hummel.  The 
first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  Dauphin 
county  was  Frederick  Hummel,  a  native  of 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  who  came  to  this 
country  and  took  up  a  tract  of  Government 
land,  which  included  the  present  site  of 
Hummelstown.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  was  the  founder  of  the  town 
which  bears  his  name.  He  donated  the  old 
site  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  the  j)res- 
ent  site  of  the  Reformed  church.  His  church 
connection  was  with  the  Lutheran.s,  and  he 
aided  in  the  foundation  of  both  churches. 
So  far  as  known,  his  children  are:  Frederick, 
Valentine,  and  David,  all  of  whom  were 
farmers.     He  sold  the  town  lots  on  ground 


rents,  stipulating  that  the  rents  should  be 
paid  in  the  currency  of  Great  Britain,  and 
divided  his  property  among  his  children. 
David  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  three  years. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  Toot,  and  his  children 
are:  Frederick;  David  ;  Joseph  ;  Leah,  Mrs. 
Henry  Landis,  of  Derry  townsliip ;  Annie, 
Mrs.  George  Stover,  died  in  Hummelstown  ; 
Mary,  Mrs.  Daniel  Baum,  of  Hummelstown. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  Of  his  sons,  Frederick  was  a  farmer 
at  Hummelstown  ;  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  as  associate  judge  of  the  county  ; 
David  located  in  Harrisburg,  and  died  there, 
having  served  as  commissioner  of  the 
county. 

Joseph,  father  of  Richard  T.,  was  born  in 
1793.  He  was  a  farmer  and  merchant,  and 
also  saddle  and  harness  maker.  During  the 
war  of  1812  he  rendered  military  service  as 
assistant  quartermaster  in  Captain  Moore- 
head's  company.  His  death  occurred  April 
18, 1852.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Lu- 
brick, of  flummelstown,  a  daughter  of  Philip 
Lubrick,  who  survived  liim  until  1S87.  He 
was  a  Lutheran  in  his  religious  faith  and 
fellowship,  and  in  political  views  was  promi- 
nent in  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties. 
His  children  are:  Henry  P.,  deceased,  for 
many  years  a  merchant  at  Hummelstown  ; 
was  married  to  Adeline  Stecker,  and  they 
had  no  children;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Frederick 
M.  Lauman,  deceased,  of  Middletown,  and 
they  have  two  children  :  Joseph,  deceased, 
and  William,  of  Middletown ;  Richard  T.; 
Mary,  widow  of  Benjamin  Gisler,  of  Cum- 
berland count)',  miller  by  trade;  Sarah, 
Mrs.  Martin  Earley,  of  Palmyra,  Pa.,  mer- 
chant and  farmer ;  David  J.,  of  Philadel- 
phia, merchant  for  many  years,  and  now  in 
the  saddle  and  harness  trade,  married  Cathe- 
rine Zinn ;  Joseph,  deceased,  all  his  life  an 
invalid  ;  Susan,  deceased  ;  Caroline,  unmar- 
ried ;  Hummelster,  Annie,  Edwin,  Silas,  and 
Charley  of  New  York  City,  commercial  agent, 
unmarried.  Richard  T.  attended  the  schools 
of  his  time,  and  learned  the  saddler  trade 
with  his  father,  and  was  afterwards  engaged 
in  the  business  for  forty  years.  In  1868  he 
engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  business, 
the  title  of  the  firm  being  first,  H.  L.  Hum- 
mel &,  Co.,  then  H.  L.  Hummel  &  Bro.,  and 
later  R.  T.  Hummel  &  Son,  and  continued 
up  to  1891,  when  he  retired  from  the  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Hummel  also  conducted  a  farm. 
He  was  married,  in  1847,  to  Mi.ss  Mary 
Coover,  daughter  of  John  Coover,  Esq.,  mer- 


696 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


chant,  at  Median icsburg,  Pa.  Their  children 
are :  Edgar  C,  Hummelstown,  deputy  sheriff 
of  the  county ;  C.  Carroll,  M.  D.,  physician, 
lias  been  practicing  at  Mechanicsburg  for 
nineteen  years,  a  graduate  of  Jefferson  Medi- 
cal College;  Salome,  Mrs.  Percy  B.  Metz- 
ger,  office  of  the  Union  Trust  Company,  of 
Philadelphia,  attorney-at-law.  During  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  Mr.  Hummel  was  called 
out  with  the  emergency  troops.  In  political 
matters  he  is  interested  and  active  in  the 
Republican  party.  He  has  served  as  mem- 
ber of  the  borough  council,  and  was  chair- 
man of  that  body  many  years,  and  also  has 
served  as  member  of  the  school  board  and 
auditor  of  tlie  township.  He  is  a  member 
of  tlie  Metiiodist  Episcopal  church,  in  wiiich 
he  holds  the  office  of  trustee,  steward  and 
class  leader,  and  is  also  the  teacher  of  the 
Bible  class  in  the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  Hum- 
mel helped  to  organize  tlie  first  Sunday- 
school  in  tiie  town. 


HoFFER,  Christian,  retired,  Hummels- 
town, Pa.,  was  born  in  South  Aiinville  town- 
ship, Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  January  13, 1824; 
son  of  George  and  Annie  ((Jingrich)  Hotter, 
natives  of  Jjebanon  county.  Christian  was 
reared  in  Lebanon  county  and  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  that  period. 
After  reaching  maturity  he  was  engaged  in 
farm  work  and  driving  team  for  eight  years. 
In  1848  he  was  married  to  Miss  S.  A.  Motter, 
daughter  of  Philip  Motter,  of  Lebanon 
county.  He  was  then  engaged  in  keeping 
hotel  at  Annville  for  two  and  a  half  years, 
and  in  1852  came  to  Hummelstown,  where 
he  conducted  the  old  Zearfoss  stand  for  one 
year,  after  which  he  removed  to  Palmyra 
and  kept  the  hotel  there  for  six  j'ears.  From 
Palmyra  he  removed  to  Reading  and  became 
the  proprietor  of  the  Union  Hotel,  where  he 
remained  one  year,  after  which  he  was  at 
Palmyra  again  for  eight  years,  and  then 
came  to  Hummelstown,  where  he  copducted 
the  National  Hotel  until  1878.  Since  the 
last  named  date  he  has  been  retired  from  ac- 
tive business.  Mr.  Hoffer  was  one  of  the 
organizers  and  the  first  president  of  the 
Farmers'  Bank.  In  1868  he  and  M.  K.  Burk- 
holder  established  the  flour  and  feed  and 
coal  business,  which  they  continued  two 
years,  and  also  the  implement  business, 
which  they  conducted  for  several  years.  In 
his  political  views  Mr.  Hoffer  is  a  Democrat, 
and  served  as  postmaster  at  Palmyra  under 
President  Buchanan.     He  was  a  member  of 


the  first  council  of  Hummelstown.  Mr. 
Hoffer  was  also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Hummelstown  Building  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion, and  served  as  its  treasurer  for  many 
years.  His  fraternity  association  is  with 
Lodge  No.  335, 1.  0.  0.  F.  His  children  are : 
Edwin  M.,  Hummelstown  ;  Emma  F.,  de- 
ceased, married  Earnest  M.  Shope,  of  Hum- 
melstown ;  Lizzie  A.,  wife  of  H.  G.  W'almer, 
of  Hummelstown;  Sabina  M.,  wife  of  F.  D. 
Ble.ssing,  of  Hummelstown  ;  Ida  A.,  wife  of 
David  Castle,  Hummelstown;  Agnes  C,  de- 
ceased ;  George,  Hummelstown  ;  and  Calvin, 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Hoffer  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 


Holler,  Charles  K.,  coal,  grain,  wood 
and  lime  dealer,  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  York  county,  October  21,  1843  ;  son 
of  Francis  and  Annie  (Kook)  Holler,  na- 
tives York  county.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  sjient  his  life  in  his  native 
county.  Charles  K.  was  reared  in  York 
county  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  In  1879  he  came  to  Dauphin 
county  and  located  at  Hummelstown,  where 
he  had  charge  of  the  coal  business  of  Chris- 
tian (iarver  from  1879  to  1886,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  business,  and  iias  conducted  it  in 
his  own  interest  since  that  date.  In  politics 
Mr.  Holler  is  a  Republican  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  sixth  year  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  of  the  borough,  of  wdiich  he  was  for- 
merlv  the  treasurer.  He  holds  membership 
in  Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of 
Harrisburg,  and intheJuniorOrderof  United 
American  Mechanics,  of  Hummelstown.  Mr. 
Holler  was  married,  in  1865,  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Mathias,  daughter  of  Henry  Mathias,  of 
York  county.  Their  children  are:  Sarah 
Jane;  Henry  F.,  of  Hummelstown,  deputy 
prothonotary  of  Dauphin  county,  married 
Miss  Alfaretta,  daughter  of  Abner  Fox,  of 
Illinois;  Charles  Irvin,  William  Harvey, 
and  LeRoy  C.  Mr.  Holler  is  a  member  of 
the  LTnited  Brethren  church,  and  lias  held 
the  office  of  treasurer  of  the  Sunday-school 
from  1882  to  the  present  time. 

Murray,  John,  merchant,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  December 
11,  1842;  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Ann 
(Baum)  Murray.  The  father  worked  on 
the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old, 
when  he  married  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Baum, 
and  engaged  in  hotel  keeping.  He  also  car- 
ried on  a  butchering  business  and  attended 


hAUPHlN  COUNTY. 


697 


the  Harrisburg  markets.  Later  he  removed 
to  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  he  died  in  1851, 
having  at  different  periods  had  charge  of  the 
"Golden  yheaf,"  "American  House,"  and 
"  Bhick  Bear  "  hotels.  After  his  death  his  wife 
continued  the  hotel  for  some  time,  and  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Alleglieny  City,  and 
from  there  to  Manchester,  and  finally  died 
at  Allegheny  City  in  1855.  They  had  five 
children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living: 
.John;  Daniel,  of  Youngstown,  Ohio,  coach 
trimmer;  Mary  Agnes,  wife  of  George  Sny- 
der, of  Youngstown,  Ohio. 

John  came  to  Hummelstown  in  1855  and 
lived  with  iiis  grandfatiier  Baum  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to 
Jjcbanon  to  learn  the  harness  maker's  trade 
with  his  uncle.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany A,  Ninety-third  regiment,  Pennsylva- 
nia volunteers,  as  a  private,  and  was  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  Peninsular 
campaign,  participating  in  all  the  battles. 
He  was  wounded  at  Richmond,  and  as  a  re- 
sult was  disabled  and  discharged  from  the 
service  in  1863,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Jjebanon,  Pa.,  and  resumed  work  at  his 
trade.  In  1864  he  came  to  Hummelstown 
and  opened  a  harness  shop,  M'hich  he  con- 
ducted a  short  time.  He  ilien  removed  to 
Derry  township,  where  for  four  years  he  was 
engaged  in  farming.  In  1871  he  returned 
to  Hummelstown  and  opened  a  store,  whicii 
he  has  since  conducted.  He  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Farmers'  Bank.  Mr.  Murray 
is  a  member  of  the  P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  and  of  the 
James  Henderson  Post,  No.  443,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
which  he  is  also  the  commander,  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  in  1891.  In  politics  lie 
is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  as  burgess 
and  as  member  of  the  borough  council.  He 
\vas  married,  in  1864,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  H., 
daughter  of  George  Balsbaugh,  of  Derry 
township.  Their  children  are:  Charles  B., 
at  home  ;  Catherine  B.,  wife  of  S.  C.  Stecker, 
of  Hummelstown;  and  Edith  M.  Mr.  Mur- 
ray is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


Rutherford,  Abner,  son  of  William  and 
Sarah  (Swan)  Rutherford,  was  born  March 
31,  1814,  on  the  Rutherford  homestead,  in 
Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
He  is  in  the  fourth  generation  from  Thomas 
Rutherford,  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in 
Pennsylvania.  He  received  the  education 
afforded    by  the  select  schools  of  Paxtang 


Valley,  and  most  of  his  life  he  has  passed 
in  farming.  For  several  years  he  has  been 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Hummelstown,  and  has  been  identified  with 
other  corporations,  and  active  in  various 
local  enterprises  of  the  da}'.  In  1865  he  was 
a  captain  of  the  Tenth  company.  Ninety- 
eighth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  militia.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  vice- 
presidents  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Agri- 
cultural Society,  in  the  founding  of  which 
he  took  a  prominent  part.  His  energy  and 
ability,  combined  with  his  business  habits, 
have  produced  that  success  which  generally 
follows.  Mr.  Rutherford  married,  February 
28,  1839,  Ann,  youngest  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Espy,  of  Swatara,  and  their  children 
are:  William  Franklin,  Sarah  Ann,  Susan 
Elizabeth,  and  Ada  Byron,  who  married 
Spencer  F.  Barber,  of  Williamsburg,  Pa. 


Shull,  Dr.  William  M.,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Springfield  townshijj,  Perry 
county.  Pa.,  August  14,  1859;  youngest  son 
of  Samuel  and  Almira  (Albert)  Shull,  na- 
tives of  Perry  county.  He  was  reared  on 
the  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
school.  For  five  years  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching,  and  a  part  of  this  time  he  gave 
instruction  in  the  Bloomfield  Academy. 
After  a  course  of  preparator}'  reading  he  at- 
tended the  lectures  at  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege, at  Philadelphia,  and  was  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  1885.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Con- 
cord, Franklin  county,  for  five  years,  for  one 
year  of  which  he  was  medical  examiner  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  In 
1890  he  came  to  Hummelstown.  Dr.  Shull 
holds  membership  in  the  Prince  Edwin 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  atMiddletown,  and  in  the 
Derry  Council  of  American  Mechanics.  In 
politics  he  is  interested  and  active  as  a 
member  of  the  Republican  party.  The 
Doctor  was  married,  in  1888,  to  Miss  Sadie, 
daughter  of  Joseph  0.  Ross,  of  Mifflin 
county,  and  to  this  marriage  there  is  no 
issue.  Formerl}'^  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  but 
is  now  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church. 


ScHAEFFER,  Dr.  Uriah  R.,  Hummelstowu, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  Jan- 
uary 24,  1859 ;  son  of  Adam  and  Fannie 
(Royer)  Schaeffer,  natives  of  Dauphin  count}'. 
The  father  was  a  prominent  dealer  in  coal, 
grain  and  lumber  in  Lebanon  count}',  but  is 


698 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


now  retired  from  active  business.  Uriah  R. 
was  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of  four 
children,  and  was  reared  in  Lebanon  county. 
He  received  his  education  at  Meyerstown 
and  Millersville.  His  private  preceptor  in  the 
study  of  medicine  was  Dr.  John  D.  Zimmer- 
man, of  Lebanon,  and  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  at  Phila- 
delphia, in  1879.  In  the  following  year  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Far- 
mersville,  Lanca.ster  county,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  1886,  when  he  removed  to 
Hummelstown,  where  he  became  prominent 
in  his  profession  and  enjoys  a  large  practice. 
During  the  past  five  years  he  has  been  the 
physician  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company.  Formerly  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Lancaster  County  Medical  Society,  and  at 
present  holds  membership  in  the  JuniorOrder 
United  American  Mechanics,  Patriotic  Order 
Sons  of  America  and  Knights  of  Pythias, 
lu  political  views  he  is  a  Republican  and  is 
active  in  party  interests.  Dr.  Schaetfer  was 
married,  in  1879,  to  Miss  Lizzie,  daughter  of 
Reuben  Royer,  of  Ephrata,  Lancaster  county, 
and  they  have  three  children  living:  Ralph 
Chester,  Gertrude  May  and  Roy  Herbert. 
Mrs.  Schaetfer  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  of  Hummelstown. 


BuRKHOLDER,  JosiAH,  dealer  in  coal,  grain, 
salt,  seeds,  fertilizers,  etc.,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 4,  1856;  son  of  M.  K.  and  Barbara 
Ann  (Reishj  Burkholder.  He  was  reared  in 
Lebanon  county  and  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  in  the  Millersville  State  Nor- 
mal School.  He  entered  the  business  of  his 
father  and  assisted  him  until  1892,  in  Sep- 
tember of  which  year  his  father  retired  from 
tiie  business,  to  which  he  succeeded,  and  has 
since  conducted  it  in  his  own  interest.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  borough 
council,  and  as  president  of  the  body  for  five 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Patriotic  Order 
Sons  of  America,  of  Hummelstown.  He 
was  married,  in  1876,  to  Emma  L.,  daughter 
of  David  Bender,  of  Hummelstown,  and  to 
their  marriage  there  is  no  issue.  Mr.  Burk- 
holder is  not  connected  with  anv  church. 


LaRoss,  Prof.  David  Henry  Earnest, 
son  of  Rev.  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Earnest) 
LaRoss,  was  born  January  9,  1827,  at 
Bloomsburg,  Columbia  county.  Pa.  His 
father  died  when  his  sou  was  an  infant,  and 


his  mother,  an  exemplary  woman,  when  he 
was  eleven  years  of  age.  Thus  early  left  an 
orphan,  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources for  a  livelihood.  After  varied  em- 
ployments he  returned  to  Hummelstown 
with  his  maternal  uncle,  and  shortly  after 
apprenticed  himself  to  the  trade  of  cabinet 
maker.  After  serving  his  time  he  began 
clerking  at  Harrisburg,  where  he  remained 
several  years,  at  the  same  time  closely'  apply- 
ing him.self  to  study.  He  sub.sequently  en- 
tered Lafayette  College,  Easton,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  his  limited  means  not 
permitting  him  to  remain  for  graduation. 
He  then  began  teaching  as  a  i>rofession.  In 
1860  he  was  first  selected  county  superin- 
tendent. He  was  re-elected  in  1875  and  in 
1878,  and  again  in  1881,  when  his  vote  was 
almost  unanimous.  Professor  LaRoss  died, 
at  Hummelstown,  October  22,  1882,  in  his 
fifty-sixth  year.  He  married,  first,  in  1853, 
Sarah  A.  Coil,  of  Shaeff'erstown,  Lebanon 
county.  Pa.,  who  died  in  January,  1867. 
Their  children  were  :  Joseph  ;  John  ;  Mary  ; 
Gertrude,  who  married  Eli  Kline,  of  Allen- 
town  ;  Carroll,  Robert,  Sarah,  and  Eva. 
He  married,  second,  Annie  W.  Breneman,of 
Elizabethtown.Pa..  who  died  two  years  after- 
wards. In  1872  he  was  married  a  third 
time,  to  Fannie  Hummel,  of  Hummelstown, 
and  their  children  were :  Fannie,  Claude, 
and  Edna. 


EAST  HANOVER  TOWNSHIP. 


Etter,  David  K.,  farmer,  was  born  in  East 
Hanover  township,  Daupliin  county.  Pa., 
November  19,  1865.  He  is  a  son  of  David 
and  Sallie  (Koons)  Etter,  both  natives  of 
East  Hanover  tow'nship.  David  Etter,  Sr., 
has  made  farming  his  business  for  man}' 
years.  Earlier  in  life  he  was  a  spangler, 
and  for  some  years  worked  at  that  trade. 
He  now  lives  retired  from  active  work.  His 
politics  are  Republican.  Hn  is  a  member 
of  the  Dunkard  church.  Mr.  Etter  married 
Miss  Sallie  Koons.  They  have  these  chil- 
dren :  Lizzie,  wife  of  George  Baum  ;  Kate 
K.,  wife  of  Amos  Giugerich  ;  John,  died  in 
1876 ;  Joseph;  David  K.;  Samuel ;  and  Leah, 
wife  of  Isaac  Basehore. 

David  K.  Etter  had  the  usual  opportuni- 
ties enjoyed  in  the  common  schools  by  the 
farmer  boy  who  can  be  spared  from  busy 
toil  only  for  a  short  time  during  the  winter 


DAUPHllSf  COUNTY. 


699 


months.  After  receiving  this  limited  intel- 
lectual training  he  remained  with  his  father 
working  on  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  old.  In  1889  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself  on  the  place  where  he 
now  resides.  Mr.  Etter  was  married,  May 
12. 1888,  to  Miss  Fannie  N.,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Sarah  Gingrich.  They  have  one  son, 
named  Harry.  Mr.  Etter  is  one  of  the  solid 
and  reliable  men  of  the  community.  He  is 
a  Republican.  He  is  also  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Dunkard  church. 


Basehoke,  Ben.tamin,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
August  14,  1832  ;  son  of  the  late  George  and 
Polly  (Etter)  Basehore.  His  grandfather. 
Rev.  George  Basehore,  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.;  he  was  a  weaver,  and  for  many 
years  carried  on  that  business.  He  subse- 
quently engaged  in  farming  and  was  so  em- 
ployed up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  October,  1840,  in  the  sixty-sixth 
year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  man  of  intelli- 
gence and  integrity  and  genuinely  pious. 
For  some  years  before  his  death  he  was  a 
minister  in  the  German  Baptist  church,  a 
godly  and  useful  man.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Fackler,  who  was  born  in  Paxton 
township,  Dauphin  county ;  she  died  in 
March,  1841,  aged  sixty-five.  They  had 
nine  children  :  Michael,  George,  Catherine, 
wife  of  Daniel  Miller;  John;  Abraham; 
Mary,  wife  of  Jacob  Hart ;  Benjamin,  Daniel 
and  Wendel. 

George  Basehore,  father  of  Benjamin,  was 
born  in  Berks  county.  Pa.  He  was  a  shoe- 
maker and  worked  at  that  trade  for  twenty- 
five  years.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  farming.  He  died  in  Paxton  town- 
ship in  1890,  aged  eighty-seven  years.  His 
wife.  Miss  Polly  Etter,  was  born  in  York 
county,  Pa.;  daughter  of  Rev.  Lawrence 
Etter;  she  died  in  Paxton  township  in  1877, 
aged  sixty-five.  They  had  eleven  children, 
of  whom  seven  are  living:  Mary,  wife  of 
Elias  Moore,  deceased  ;  Levi  Peffly ;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  William  Aungst;  Benjamin; 
Leah;  Rachel,  wife  of  Levi  Miller;  and 
Susan. 

Benjamin  Basehore  enjoyed  slender  educa- 
tional advantages  ;  he  attended  the  public 
schools  of  West  Hanover  township  and  was 
a  diligent  student.  After  receiving  his 
school  education  he  worked  for  his  father  on 
the  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age  and  made  farming  his  life  work.    He 


cultivated  his  father's  farm  in  Lower  Paxton 
township  for  nine  years.  In  1871  he  re- 
moved to  East  Hanover  township,  to  his 
farm,  where  he  remained  two  years.  Thence 
he  removed  to  Jackson  township,  Dauphin 
county,  and  farmed  for  three  years.  His  last 
removal  was  to  the  farm  in  East  Hanover 
township,  which  he  has  ever  since  occupied 
and  tilled. 

Mr.  Basehore  was  married,  May  31,  1802, 
to  Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  and  Re- 
becca (Heffling)  Weber.  They  had  seven 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Mary, 
wife  of  Uriah  Hook  ;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Charles 
Marberger,  and  Sallie. 

In  1888  their  family  was  sorely  afflicted 
by  the  death  of  four  of  their  precious  chil- 
dren within  a  few  days.  They  were  cut 
down  by  that  dreadful  di.sease,  scarlet  fever. 
Altiiough  bowed  down  beneath  the  weight 
of  this  four-fold  bereavement,  tlie  sorrowful 
family  were  submissive  to  the  will  of  the 
Heavenly  Father,  who  doeth  all  things  well. 
The  children  who  died  with  .scarlet  fever 
were:  John  W.,  died  February  26, 1888, aged 
twenty-four  years;  George  W.,  died  Febru- 
ary 25,  1888,  aged  eighteen  years ;  Rebecca, 
died  Februarv  16,  1888,  aged  fourteen  years, 
and  Daniel  W.,  died  March  7,  1888,  at  tt)e 
age  of  eight  years.  In  their  great  sorrow 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Basehore  had  the  sympathy  of 
all  their  neighbors.  They  are  regarded  as 
most  excellent  people. 


Bacastow,  Franklin  P.,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Highspire,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  May  31, 
1856;  son  of  the  late  Jolm  and  Mary  (Bren- 
ner) Bacastow.  His  great-grandfather  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  this  country 
in  early  boyhood.  George  Bacastow,  grand- 
father of  Franklin  P.,  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.  He  was  a  tanner,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  this  business  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  Dauphin  county. 
Mr.  Bacastow  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hoover,  born  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  She 
died  in  the  same  county.  They  had  three 
children:  George,  .John,  and  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Frederick  Reichert. 

John  Bacastow,  father  of  Franklin  P.,  was 
born  in  Hummelstown,  Dauphin  count}^. 
Pa.,  January  8,  1814.  His  occupation  was 
farming.  He  also  assisted  his  father  in  the 
management  of  his  tanner}'.  Mr.  Bacastow 
was  married,  in  1852,  to  Miss  Mary  M., 
daughter  of  Peter  Brenner.  They  had  seven 
children :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel  Kline ; 


TOO 


niOGRAPlIICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Rebecca,  wife  of  Daniel  Leise  ;  Franklin  P., 
George  T.,  Morris,  Emma  F.,  and  Simon  P. 
The  father  died  January  4, 1879,  aged  sixty- 
four;  the  mother  still  survives.  Both  were 
faitliful  members  of  the  Lutheran  churcli. 
Mr.  Bacastow's  jiolitics  were  Democratic. 

Franiilin  P.  Bacastow  is  a  self-made  man. 
He  received  a  short  course  in  the  public 
schools,  but  had  to  depend  for  his  prepara- 
tion for  the  work  of  life  principally  upon 
his  own  efforts.  In  his  youth  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming,  working  for  liis  father 
until  lie  became  of  age.  In  1879  Mr.  Baca- 
stow began  farming  on  his  own  account,  cul- 
tivating the  farm  of  his  father.  Since  1883 
he  has  been  engaged  on  the  farm  which  lie 
now  occupies.  In  1882  he  was  elected  su[(er- 
visor  of  East  Hanover  township,  and  served 
in  this  office  for  one  j'ear.  During  this  year 
his  farm  was  cultivated  by  his  brother,  Mor- 
ris Bacastow.  Mr.  Bacastow  was  married, 
November  15,  1883,  to  Miss  Mary  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  John  J.  and  Rebecca  (Zimmerman) 
Urich.  Five  of  their  six  children  are  living; 
Ira  •].,  Clinton  C,  Mary  M.,  Simon  P.,  and 
Ervvin  M.  Mr.  Bacastow  is  a  Democrat.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 

John  J.  Urich,  father  of  Mrs.  Bacastow, 
was  born  in  Lebanon  county.  He  was  a 
miller,  and  was  for  many  years  engaged  in 
that  business.  In  later  life  he  undertook 
farming.  His  wife,  Rebecca  (Zimmerman) 
Urich,  was  the  daugiiter  of  Michael  and 
Margaret  (Early)  Zimmerman.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Urich  had  :  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Mr.  F.  P.  Baca- 
stow. 

Mr.  Urich  died  in  September,  1892.  His 
wife  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  fifty-two, 
and  resides  in  Lebanon  count}'. 


Early,  Israel,  miller,  was  born  in  East 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  count}'.  Pa., 
December  8,  1825 ;  son  of  the  late  George 
and  Catherine  (Briglitenstine)  Early.  His 
great-grandfather,  \\'illiam  Early,  was  born 
in  Firebaugh,  Germany.  He  was  a  cai'pen- 
ter;  he  came  to  this  country  in  1725,  and 
practiced  his  trade  throughout  life.  His 
wife,  Mr.  Early's  great-grandmother,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  Both  died  near 
Palmyra,  Lebanon  county,  at  a  very  great 
age. 

Christian  Early,  Israel  Early's  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  now 
Lebanon  county.  Pa.  He  built  the  fiour 
mill  where  liis  grandson,  Israel  Early,  now 
lives.     He  also  built  the  large  mill  at  Man- 


ada  Gap,  now  owned  by  Jacob  Early.  Chris- 
tian Early  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Killinger.  They  had  twelve  children  :  John, 
William,  George,  Christian,  Jacob,  Cathe- 
rine, Ricligina.  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Margaret, 
born  April,  1803,  died  aged  eighty-eight 
veai's ;  one  child  died  at  the  age  of  six 
months,  and  one  died  the  day  of  birth. 

George  Early,  father  of  Israel,  was  born  in 
West  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county, 
March  15,  1787.  He  spent  his  business  life 
in  the  work  of  milling.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried; first  to  Polly  Gosert,  by  whom  he  had 
one  daughter,  named  Polly.  In  his  second 
marriage,  in  1816,  he  was  united  to  Cathe- 
rine Brightenstine,  born  in  Manheim,  Lan- 
caster county,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Bright- 
enstein.  They  had  nine  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living:  Sarah,  wife  of  Jacob  Wolf, 
deceased;  Israel,  and  Rosanna,  wife  of  Henry 
II.  Miller.  George  Early  died  in  1848,  aged 
sixty-one  years;  his  wife  died  in  1853,  aged 
fifty-five.  Both  died  at  the  old  homestead, 
with  their  son  Israel.  Both  were  faitliful 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Israel  Early  had  only  the  liriiited  educa- 
tion to  be  obtained  in  the  schools  of  his  time. 
In  ]  830  the  free  schools  were  established,  and 
he  reaped  much  benefit  from  his  attendance 
upon  them.  He  was  alert  and  ambitious, 
and  by  his  own  efforts  prepared  himself  for 
the  useful  and  successful  life  which  he  leads. 
In  early  life  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  in 
which  occupation  he  continued  until  he  was 
twenty-four.  At  that  age  he  went  to  learn 
the  tradeof  miller.  This  has  ever  since  been 
his  em])loyment.  He  is  now  seventy-one 
years  old,  strong,  and  in  good  health.  He  is 
still  in  the  old  mill  where  he  has  served  at 
least  two  generations,  and  where  his  father 
and  grandfather  worked  before  him.  He  is 
still  able  to  do  his  own  work  in  the  mill. 
In  1847  he  taught  school  for  one  term  in 
East  Hanover  township.  In  18G4  he  was 
drafted  for  service  in  the  United  States 
army,  but  was  discharged  on  a  surgeon's 
certificate,  on  account  of  the  weakness  of  one 
of  his  eyes.  In  1851  he  was  elected  school 
director  of  East  Hanover  township,  served 
for  five  years,  and  was  re-elected  for  three 
years.  Mr.  Early  was  married  January  15, 
1865,  to  Miss  Frances  M.,  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  (Zerker)  Getz.  They  have  three 
children:  Mary  C,  John  G.,  and  William. 

Mr.  Early  names  some  of  the  neighbors 
around  the  Early  iiomestead  when  he  was  a 
boy.     Along  the   Jonestown  road,   in   East 


cid(S^-i^  ^^^§U^^^ 


Dauphin  county. 


703 


Hanover  township,  were  Alexander  Mc- 
Knight  and  David;  his  brother;  along  the 
road  westward  lived  Christian  Shellenber- 
ger,  who  kept  a  hotel ;  next,  James  French; 
Dr.  Wenderstich  ;  John  Reed  ;  George  Good- 
man ;  Cliristian  Early,  uncle  of  Israel  Early; 
Philip  Nitruer;  Major  Shell;  Robert  Hill ; 
Jacob  Keim  ;  Benjamin  Snodgrass.  Along 
the  Manada  creek,  near  tiie  West  Hanover 
line,  stood  Adam  Raider's  mill ;  Rogers'  mill ; 
Samuel  Todd's  mill;  Conrad  Wagner;  Jacob 
Stine;  Berry  Hill  Bell ;  Jacob  Zimmerman  ; 
John  Snyder;  David  Killinger;  Henry  Zim- 
merman ;  Abraham  Meese  ;  Samuel  McCord. 
Mr.  Early  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  enter- 
prise and  integrity.  He  is  prosperous  in 
business,  and  no  citizen  is  more  honored  or 
more  popular. 


Leese,  ELI.J.A.H,  farmer,  was  born  in  East 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
July  23,  1855;  son  of  the  late  Michael  and 
Lydia  (Laurer)  Leese.  Michael  Leese  was 
born  in  Reading,  Berks  county.  Pa.,  October 
27,  1806.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  spent  his 
life  in  his  calling.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Lydia  Laura,  also  born  in  Reading,  Pa., 
January  15,  1814.  They  had  thirteen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  six  are  now  living:  Isabella; 
Emma,  wife  of  Samuel  Miller ;  Kate,  wife 
of  Joseph  Beck;  Levi,  Henry,  and  Elijah. 
Their  residence  was  at  Manadaville,  now 
Sand  Beach,  where  Mr.  Leese  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four.  His  wife  is  still  living, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty,  and  resides 
at  Sand  Beach.  Mr.  Leese  was  a  Republi- 
can, and  he  and  Mrs.  Leese  were  both  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Evangelical  church  at 
Union  Deposit,  where  Mr.  Leese  is  buried. 

Elijah  Leese  improved  faithfully  the 
slender  educational  advantages  which  he 
enjoyed.  There  was  hard  work  on  the  farm, 
summer  and  winter,  with  a  few  hours  daily 
for  a  few  weeks  eachyear  for  school  training. 
Yet  diligent  improvement  of  these  oppor- 
tunities, and  constant  efforts  to  add  to  his 
stock  of  general  information,  prepared  him 
as  thoroughly  as  the  average  farmer  boy  can 
be  prepared,  for  the  business  of  life.  He  is 
entitled  to  all  the  honor  that  may  attach  to 
the  self-made  man.  Mr.  Leese  continued  to 
work  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age.  He  was  married, 
September  9, 1875,  to  Miss  Rebecca,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  (Brenner)  Bacastow. 
They  had  three  children,  of  whom  two  are 
living :  John  M.  and  Morris  H.  Shortly 
46 


after  tiieir  marriage  thej'  removed  to  the 
farm  on  which  they  now  have  their  home, 
and  which  they  have  cultivated  since  1876. 
Their  industry,  skill  and  excellent  manage- 
ment have  yielded  tliem  liberal  returns, 
and  they  are  among  the  comfortable  and 
contented  people  of  the  township.  Mr. 
Leese  is  a  good,  solid  Republican.  He  is 
actively  interested  in  everything  that  tends 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  community. 

Buck,  Elias  B.,  was  born  in  East  Hanover 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  December 
14,  1841 ;  son  of  the  late  Jacob  and  Denna 
(Brown)  Buck.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  born  in  Susquehanna  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  and  died  in  Berks  county.  The 
grandmother  was  born  in  Berks  county. 

Jacob  Buck,  father  of  Elias  B.,  was  born  in 
Upper  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county. 
He  was  a  fuller  and  carried  on  his  business 
until  within  four  years  of  his  deatii.  His 
marriage  to  Miss  Denna,  daughter  of  Piiilip 
Brown,  born  in  Berks  county,  took  place  in 
that  count}'.  They  had  six  children,  of 
whom  three  are  living:  Eliza,  wife  of  George 
Runkle;  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Wiser; 
and  Elias  B.  Jacob  Buck  died  in  East 
Hanover  township,  June  21,  1885,  aged 
seventy-one;  his  wife  died  at  the  same  place 
in  December,  1882.  Mr.  Buck  was  a  Repub- 
lican. Both  he  and  his  wife  were  consistent 
members  of  the  Dunkard  church. 

Elias  B.  Buck  attended  the  neighborhood 
schools,  and  made  good  use  of  his  time  and 
opportunities.  His  desire  to  succeed  in  busi- 
ness prompted  him  to  gain  knowledge  from 
every  available  source.  He  made  constant 
efforts  to  become  intelligent  and  well  in- 
formed on  practical  subjects.  His  energy 
and  determination  resulted  in  success.  In 
this  sense  he  is  a  self-made  man,  and  may 
regard  his  prosperity  as  the  fruits  of  his  own 
kibor.  Mr.  Buck  was  employed  upon  the 
farm  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old.  In 
1864  he  responded  to  the  call  of  his  country, 
and  enlisted  in  company  B,  Twentieth  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  cavalry.  He  served 
under  Gen.  Phil.  Sheridan  in  his  brilliant 
campaign  of  1864-65.  One  year  and  ten 
months  after  Mr.  Buck's  enlistment  the  war 
was  ended,  and  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  resumed  farming.  This  calling  he  has 
ever  since  diligently  pursued,  and  with  suc- 
cess. In  1887  he  built  the  large  and  com- 
modious dwelling  he  now  occupies.  He  has 
gradually  made  improvements  and  is  com- 


704 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


fortably  settled,  with  fair  prospect  for  tiie 
enjoyment  of  life.  Mr.  Buck  was  married, 
December  22,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  E., 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Early)  Wolf. 
Their  children  are:  Clayton ;  Clarissa,  wife 
of  Adam  Shenk  ;  Alice,  wife  of  Jeremiah 
Gipe,  and  Jacob. 

Jacob  F.  Wolf,  father  of  Mrs.  Buck,  was 
born  in  East  Hanover  townsliip,  February 
24,  1819.  He  was  a  farmer.  His  wife.  Miss 
Sarah  Early,  was  born  in  the  same  township, 
October  19,  1819.  They  were  married  Octo- 
ber 22,  1843.  Their  children  were :  Moses, 
deceased,  and  Sarah,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Buck.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wolf  were  faithful  members  of  the 
Lutheran  cliurch.  Mr.  Wolf  was  a  Repub- 
lican. He  died  August  17, 1885,  aged  sixty- 
six.  His  wife  has  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight,  and  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Buck. 


Gipe,  Jeremi.\h  E.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Derry  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Jan- 
uary 6,  1872;  son  of  Peter  and  Caroline 
(Brown)  Gipe.  His  paternal  grandparents 
were  both  natives  of  Dauphin  count}',  and 
both  died  in  this  county,  the  grandfather 
aged  eighty-four  j'ears. 

Peter  Gipe,  father  of  Jeremiah  E.,  was 
born  in  Derry  township,  in  1823.  He  learned 
shoemaking  in  his  youth  and  followed  that 
calling  for  many  years.  Later  in  life  he  was 
engaged  in  farming.  His  wife,  Caroline, 
daughter  of  Ciiristian  Brown,  was  born  in 
Derry  township,  in  December,  1829.  Five  of 
their  ten  children  are  living:  Henry;  Cyrus; 
Mary,  wife  of  Levi  Curry;  Samuel,  and 
Jeremiah.  Mr.  Peter  Gipe  is  still  farming, 
and  is  strong  and  active  at  the  ripe  age  of 
seventy-five.  His  wife  still  enjoys  life  at  the 
age  of  sixty-nine,  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
Gipe  is  a  good,  solid  Democrat.  He  belongs  to 
the  United  Brethren  church,  and  his  wife  is 
a  faithful  member  of  tlie  Dunkard  church. 

Jeremiah  E.  Gipe  attended  the  township 
schools  and  industriously  used  the  means  to 
secure  an  education.  After  school  days  were 
ended  he  remained  on  the  farm  and  assisted 
his  father  in  its  work.  Mr.  Gipe  was  mar- 
ried, December  12,  1892,  to  Miss  Alice, 
daughter  of  Elias  and  Sarah  (Wolf)  Buck. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Annie  E.  Since 
1892  Mr.  Gipe  has  been  continuously  and 
diligentlj'  engaged  in  cultivating  the  home 
farm,  and  has  been  successful.  He  is  up  with 
the  times  and  is  a  progressive  and  enterpris- 
ing farmer. 


LiNGLE,  Levi,  farmer,  was  born  in  Upper 
Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
August  11,  1835;  son  of  tiie  late  John  and 
Molly  (Seibert)  Lingle.  John  Lingle  was 
born  in  Swatara  township,  and  was  a  team- 
ster. His  wife,  Molly  Seibert,  was  a  native 
of  the  same  township.  Their  children  were : 
Mary,  deceased,  and  Levi.  Mr.  John  Lingle 
anil  ins  wife  were  both  faithful  members  of 
the  Dunkard  church. 

Levi  Lingle  attended  the  schools  of  the 
township  and  made  good  use  of  such  slender 
advantages  as  they  afforded  for  mental  train- 
ing and  discipline,  and  for  gaining  useful 
information.  In  his  younger  days  he  was 
busil}'  employed  at  farming  with  his  uncle, 
John  Sherk,  in  South  Hanover  township.  • 
Farming  is  the  best  of  schools  for  business 
methods,  so  that  a  bright  farmer's  boy,  em- 
ployed in  agricultural  work,  is  a  trained 
businessman  by  the  time  he  is  of  age.  Such 
was  the  case  with  Levi  Lingle.  He  remained 
with  his  uncle  until  he  was  twenty-two,  and 
was  qualified  for  the  management  of  a  farm. 
In  this  business  he  was  for  several  years  en- 
gaged. In  18G4  he  enlisted  in  the  United 
States  army,  and  was  assigned  to  company 
C,  One  Hundred  and  Ninet3^-second  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  in  wliich  he 
served  for  six  months.  After  his  discharge 
he  continued  farming  for  two  years.  For 
the  following  two  years  he  was  engaged  in 
building  post  fences.  Since  that  time  he  has 
been  continuously  occupied  with  farming. 

Mr.  Lingle  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Mar}^  daughter  of  Tiiomas 
and  Annie  Jacks.  Of  their  nine  children, 
seven  are  living:  Sadie,  wife  of  Amos  Bell ; 
Thomas;  Franklin;  Ida,  wife  of  George 
Reigherger;  Alice,  wife  of  Daniel  France;  ' 
George,  and  Emma.  Mrs.  Mary  Lingle  died 
aged  forty.  In  his  second  marriage,  in  1875, 
Mr.  Lingle  was  united  to  Miss  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Fox.  They  have  no 
children.  Mr.  Lingle  is  one  of  the  older 
citizens  of  East  Hanover  township  and  is 
widely  and  favorably  known.  He  is  de- 
servedly honored  and  esteemed.  He  is  a 
substantial  and  useful  citizen,  and  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  the  communitv. 


Lesher,  Samuel  H.,  farmer,  was  born  on 
the  homestead  farm.  East  Hanover  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  October  8,  1854; 
son  of  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  and  Polly  (Bow- 
man) Lesher.  He  belongs  to  a  family  of 
substance  and  stability,  and  of  sturdy  char- 


DA  UPHIN     CO  UNT7. 


705 


acteristics.  He  is  tlie  third  generation  in 
his  line  to  occupy  and  cultivate  the  home 
farm. 

His  grandfather,  Jacob  Lesher,  was  a 
native  of  Dauphin  county,  and  a  farmer. 
He  was  especially  interested  in  raising  fine 
blooded  live  stock,  and  had  a  reputation  for 
breeding  some  of  the  best  horses  in  the 
region.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Christiana 
Mertz,  and  had  eight  children  :  John,. Jacob, 
Sallie,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Gebhard,  Gideon,  Polly, 
Daniel,  Thomas,  and  Samuel.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  died  suddenly,  without  sickness,  on 
the  homestead;  Mr.  Lesher,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-one. 

Rev.  Thomas  Lesher,  father  of  Samuel  H., 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead.  East  Han- 
over township,  April  4,  1812.  He  was  occu- 
pied through  life  in  farming,  and  was  also 
an  honored  and  useful  minister  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  He  traveled  widely, preach- 
ing the  gospel  and  ministering  to  thespiritual 
needs  of  the  people.  Polly  Bowman,  to 
whom  he  was  married,  was  born  in  Leba- 
non count}'.  Pa.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Bowman. 
They  had  six  children:  Jacob  B.,  Samuel  H., 
Kate,  Lydia,  John  T.,  and  Mary.  Rev.  Mr. 
Lesher  was  an  ardent  Republican,  a  warm- 
hearted and  benevolent  man,  and  a  devoted 
father.  He  died  August  14,  1894,  aged 
eighty-two  years,  four  months,  and  two  days. 
His  wife  is  still  in  excellent  health  at  the 
age  of  seventj'-two.  She  is  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Samuel  H.  Lesher  attended  the  schools  of 
the  township  and  derived  much  profit  from 
his  school  work.  He  belongs  to  a  family  of 
more  than  ordinary  culture  and  intelligence, 
and  found  much  help  and  intellectual  stimu- 
lus at  home.  He  learned  the  business  of 
farming  on  the  old  homestead,  and  when 
manhood  came  was  prepared  to  take  the 
honored  place  of  his  ancestors  as  a  first-class 
farmer.  In  1875  he  took  full  charge  of  the 
home  farm  on  his  own  account,  and  has  ever 
since  devoted  his  attention  to  its  cultivation. 

Mr.  Lesher  was  married,  in  October,  1874, 
to  Miss  Matilda,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Catherine  (Light)  Wagner.  They  have  seven 
children,  all  living:  Kate  M.,  Henry  G., 
Fannie,  Cora,  Ellen,  Lydia,  and  Annie.  In 
1894  Mr.  Lesher  was  elected  treasurer  of  the 
Cemetery  Association  at  Union  Deposit,  Pa., 
and  served  for  one  year.  In  1895  he  was 
again  elected  to  the  same  office.  He  filled 
the  office  of  secretary  of  the  Union  Sunday- 
school  for  two  years,  and  has  served  one  year 


as  its  assistant  superintendant.  Mr.  Lesher 
is  a  prominent  citizen,  and  is  very  highly 
esteemed. 


Caley,  Winfikld  S.,  was  born  in  Lancas- 
ter county.  Pa.,  July  28,  1861  ;  son  of  the 
late  William  and  Harriet  (Badruff)  Caley. 
Joseph  Caley,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  and  was  a  farmer. 
He  married  a  Mi.ss  McMullin,  born  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  by  whom  he  had  nine 
children.  Four  are  living :  Catherine ; 
Anna,  wife  of  Adam  Bufi^elmoyer ;  Harriet, 
wife  of  Jacob  Heineca,  and  Jacob.  Their 
deceased  children  are :  Joseph  ;  Ellen,  wife 
of  Christian  Over ;  William  E.,  father  of 
Winfiold  S.;  Addison,  and  David. 

William  E.  Caley  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  and  in  his  boyhood  learned  pump 
making,  which  calhng  he  followed  for  many 
years.  He  was  subsequently  employed  as 
watchman  on  the  Philadelphia  and  Read- 
ing railroad.  He  was  twice  married.  By 
the  first  wife  he  had  two  children,  both  de- 
ceased, and  secondly,  to  Miss  Harriet  Bad- 
rouff,  born  in  Lancaster  county.  They  had 
two  sons:  Jerome,  deceased,  and  Winfield  S. 
Mr.  W.  E.  Caley  enlisted  in  the  army,  and 
was  in  company  K,  Fifth  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  serving  for  three  years. 
He  received  two  gunshot  wounds.  For  a 
few  years  after  his  discharge  from  the  army 
Mr.  Caley  was  employed  in  the  furnaces  at 
Cornwall,  Lebanon  county.  Afterwards  he 
again  served  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading 
railroad  as  watshman,  and  in  that  position 
was  killed  by  an  accident.  His  wife  is  still 
living  and  resides  in  Lancaster  county. 
Winfield  S.  Caley  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Lancaster  county.  After  fin- 
ishing his  school  education  he  was  employed 
at  farming  with  his  father  and  among  the 
neighboring  farmers  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  old.  After  this  he  began  work  in  the 
stone  quarries.  Since  1881  his  employment 
has  alternated  between  the  farm  and  the 
quarry.  In  1894  he  bought  the  house  in 
which  he  now  lives. 

Mr.  Caley  was  married,  November  26, 
1881,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  William 
and  Hannah  (Enterline)  Hetrich.  Five  of 
their  six  children  are  living:  William, 
Harry  P.,  John  H.,  Bertha  and  Mabel.  Mary 
Ellen  died  March  8,  1885.  Mr.  Caley  is  a 
good  solid.  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Begin- 
ning  for  himself  early  in   life,   Mr.  Caley 


706 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


lias  puslied  his  way  along  the  road,  some- 
times up  steej)  hills,  sometimes  over  rough 
places,  hut  still  making  progress,  until  now 
the  way  is  smooth  and  the  journey  pros- 
perous. 

BoMGARDNER,  JoHN,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  July  2U,  1842 ;  son  of 
George  S.  and  Rebecca  (Zeiker)  Bomgardner. 
George  S.  Bomgardner  was  born  in  Lebanon 
county,  in  September,  1810.  He  was  a  shoe- 
maker, which  trade  he  followed  through  life. 
His  wife,  Rebecca  Zeiker,  was  born  in  Leba- 
non county  in  1808.  They  have  ten  chil- 
dren, all  living:  Catherine,  wife  of  Joseph 
Kline ;  Abraham  ;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Eden 
Stoner,  deceased;  Gideon;  Louisa;  John; 
David,  resides  in  Nebraska;  George;  Will- 
iam; Ellen,  wife  of  Dr.  Early.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
George  S.  Bomgardner  were  both  faithful 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Mr.  Bomgardner  resides  at  Grantville,  Dau- 
phin county,  and  is  aged  eighty-five  years; 
his  wife  died  in  December,  1891,  at  eighty- 
five  years  of  age. 

John  Bomgardner  took  the  regular  course 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county. 
In  his  boyhood  he  learned  shoemaking  and 
worked  at  that  trade  until  he  was  twenty- 
five  years  old  ;  after  this  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, which  has  been  his  occupation  since 
1888.  On  July  1,  18G3,  Mr.  Bomgardner 
enlisted  as  jn-ivate  in  company  D,  Forty- 
eighth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  David  S. 
Seibert.  He  served  three  months  and  was 
discharged  August  23,  1863  ;  he  again  en- 
listed August  26,  1864,  in  company  I,  Two 
Hundred  and  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  serving  ten  months,  and  was  dis- 
charged  at   the   close  of  the  war,  June  21, 

1865,  when  he  resumed  work  at  his  trade. 
Mr.   Bomgardner  was  married,  October  18, 

1866,  to  Miss  Maria,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Phoebe  (Isenhard)  Geruert.  They  have 
eight  children,  all  living:  Phoebe  R.,  wife  of 
John  Rambler;  George  E.,  Miles  A.,  Mary 
L.,  Carrie  May,  Hannah  D.,  John  G.,  and 
Claudius  E.  In  1890  Mr.  Bomgardner  was 
elected  school  director  of  East  Hanover  town- 
ship and  served  efficiently  for  three  years. 
He  is  a  reliable  man  and  a  useful  citizen, 
and  stands  well  in  the  community. 

Henry  Gernert,  father  of  Mrs.  Bomgardner, 
was  born  in  Lehigh  county,  Pa.,  November 
6,  1818.  In  his  younger  days  he  was  a 
farmer.     In  1847  he  purchased  a  hotel  north 


of  Jonestown,  Lebanon  county,  and  con- 
ducted it  for  eleven  years.  He  was  a  pros- 
perous business  man  and  universally  popu- 
lar. He  died  at  his  hotel,  November  1, 1860, 
aged  forty-one  years,  eleven  months  and 
twenty-five  days.  He  was  married,  Febru- 
ary 18,  1841,  to  Miss  Phoebe  Isenhard,  born 
in  Lehigh  county,  January  25, 1820.  Six  of 
their  eight  children  are  living:  Matthew; 
Aaron  ;  Anna  M.,  wife  of  Mr.  Bomgardner  ; 
Caroline,  wife  of  Samyel  Kreider ;  Sarah, 
wife  of  Daniel  Laudermilch  ;  and  George  Al- 
fred. Their  deceased  children  are  John 
Henry  and  Eliza.  Mrs.  Gernert  died  Decem- 
ber 31,  1860,  aged  forty. 

John  Gernert,  Mrs.  Bomgardner's  grand- 
father, was  born  October  21,  1780  ;  he  was 
married,  August  20,  1805,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Seighfert,  born  February  10,  1788  ;  he  died 
August  14,  1857,  aged  seventy  years;  his 
wife  died  July  7,  1844,  at  the  age  of  tifty-six. 
They  had  ten  children:  Jonas,  Nathan,  Solo- 
mon, Henry,  William,  Benjamin,  Catherine, 
wife  of  Daniel  Hinderline,  Mary,  wife  of  Mr. 
Boltz,  Hannah,  wife  of  Benjamin  Donmoyer, 
and  John.  Mrs.  Bomgardner's  great-grand- 
father, Henry  Gernert,  was  born  in  Germany, 
and  came  to  this  country  when  a  boy. 


Hummer,  Isaac  N.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
East  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  February  22,  1850  ;  son  of  the  late  Ben- 
jamin and  Eliza  (Nowman)  Hummer.  Ben- 
jamin Hummer  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  in  1820.  He  was  for  many  years 
a  butcher,  but  was  afterwards  engaged  in 
farming.  His  parents  were  farmers.  Eliza 
Nowman,  to  whom  he  was  married,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county,  March  13,  1826,  and 
was  the  daugiiter  of  Samuel  and  Maria  Now- 
man. Of  their  ten  children  seven  are  liv- 
ing: Samuel,  Benjamin,  Henry,  Anna,  wife 
of  Percival  Ney,  Isaac  N.,  John  N.,  and 
Susan,  wife  of  Edward  Lingle.  Their  de- 
ceased cliildren  are:  Abraham,  Lizzie,  and 
Amos.  Mr.  Hummer'  served  as  supervisor 
of  East  Hanover  township  for  four  years. 
He  was  a  Republican.  He  died  in  October, 
1876,  aged  sixty-four.  His  wife  is  still  in 
good  health,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six. 

Isaac  N.  Hummer  received  only  a  common 
school  education.  He  was  engaged  with  his 
father  in  tlie  cultivation  of  his  farm  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-two.  In  1873  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account,  and  this 
has  ever  since  been  his  calling.  In  1890  he 
removed  to  the  farm  on  which  he  now  re- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


707 


sides.  Mr.  Hummer  is  a  warm  Republican. 
In  1894  he  was  chosen  inspector  of  elections, 
and  still  holds  that  office.  He  was  married, 
January  9,  1873,  to  Miss  Amanda,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Strayer)  Bright- 
bill.  They  have  had  twelve  children,  of 
whom  ten  are  living :  Emma  S.,  wife  of 
William  F.  Kline ;  Katie  Anna,  wife  of 
George  W.  Wade ;  Samuel,  John,  Jennie, 
Lillie,  Amanda,  Isaac,  Michael,  and  Ed- 
ward. Their  deceased  children  are :  Amos 
B.,  died  September  20, 1873,  aged  six  months 
and  twenty-six  days  ;  Maggie,  died  August 
20,  1887,  aged  eigiiteen  days.  Lillie,  the 
seventh  child,  was  born  June  12,  1881.  At 
her  birth  she  was  a  natui'al  and  normal 
child.  At  the  age  of  six  weeks  she  had  a 
sickness,  the  effect  of  which  arrested  her 
growth.  Since  the  age  of  two  years  she  has  not 
grown  an  inch.  She  is  now  fifteen  years  old. 
Pier  weight  is  forty  pounds,  her  height  thirty- 
two  inches,  and  her  bust  measures  twenty- 
.five  inches.  She  wears  a  No.  6  shoe,  child's 
size.  She  is  intelligent  and  understands  as 
well  as  the  ordinary  j^outh,  but  cannot  talk 
plainly.  She  enjoys  perfect  health,  and  is 
the  pet  of  the  family. 

Samuel  Brightbill,  father  of  Mrs.  Hum- 
mer, was  a  farmer.  His  wife,  Catherine,  was 
a  daughter  of  George  and  Catherine  Strayer. 
They  had  five  children  :  Susan,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Ulrich  ;  William  ;  Jeremiah  ;  Amanda, 
wife  of  I.  N.  Hummer  ;  John,  deceased.  Mr. 
Samuel  Brightbill  died  July  G,  1886,  aged 
seventy-three  years.  His  wife  is  still  in  good 
health,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  and  re- 
sides at  Palmyra,  Pa. 


Gerberich,  Daniel,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  November  25,  1842; 
son  of  the  late  Jacob  and  Maria  (Rank) 
Gerberich.  Jacob  Gerberich  was  born  in 
Daui)hin  county,  and  is  the  son  of  Jacob 
Gerberich,  a  native  of  the  same  county.  Ja- 
cob Gerberich,  Jr.,  was  a  farmer.  His  wife, 
Maria  Rank,  was  also  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  They  had  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living:  Joseph  ;  Daniel ;  Maria.wife 
of  Aaron  Zuber  ;  Emma,  wife  of  Israel  Het- 
ricli,  and  Jacob.  Their  deceased  children 
are  :  Sarah  and  Catherine.  Mr.  Jacob  Ger- 
berich was  a  Republican.  He  died  in  Dau- 
phin county  in  1871,  and  his  wife  died  in  the 
same  county  in  1885. 

Daniel  Gerberich  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  was  employed  in  farm- 
ing with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-five 


years  old.  In  1807  he  engaged  in  farming 
for  himself;  this  has  since  been  his  occupa- 
tion. Mr.  Gerberich  was  married,  December 
10, 1881,  to  Miss  Kate  R.,  daughter  of  Moses 
and  Molly  (Long)  Keller,  born  in  South 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  May 
14,1857.  They  have  two  children:  Sadie 
and  Daniel.  Mr.  Gerberich  is  a  solid  Re- 
publican. 

Moses  Keller,  father  of  Mrs.  Gerberich, 
was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  and  a 
farmer.  He  married  Miss  Molly  Long,  b}' 
whom  he  had  seven  children,  all  now  living  : 
Mary,  wife  of  Clemens  Gingerich ;  Moses ; 
Kate  R.,  Mrs.  Gerberich  ;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Frank- 
lin McCord ;  Daniel,  John,  and  Mahlon. 
Mr.  Keller  is  a  warm  Republican.  He  makes 
his  home  with  his  children.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church.  His 
wife  died  in  1882,  aged  fifty-five  ;  she  also 
was  a  faithful  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church. 


Heisy,  Jacob  H.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  October  1, 1841;  son  of  the 
late  John  and  Kate  (Hershey)  Heisy.  Joseph 
Heisy,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.  He  removed  from  that 
county  to  Franklin  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming,  and  where  both  he  and 
his  wife  died. 

Rev.  Joseph  Hershey,  maternal  grand- 
father of  J.  H.  Heisy,  was  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster county.  He  married  Miss  Kate  Wit- 
mer,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children :  Bar- 
bara, wife  of  David  Martin  ;  Fannie,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Ritter;  Kate,  wife  of  Jacob  Heisy ; 
Annie,  wife  of  Henry  Metzer;  one  who  mar- 
ried Joseph  Gish ;  Mary,  wife  of  David 
Horst;  Susan,  wife  of  Abraham  Young; 
Joseph,  and  Jacob.  Rev.  Mr.  Hershey  and 
his  wife  died  in  Lancaster  county. 

John  Heisy,  father  of  Jacob  H.,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county.  He  was  a  blacksmith, 
and  was  also  engaged  in  farming  and  in 
butchering.  Miss  Kate  Hersiiey,  whom  he 
married,  was  also  born  in  Lancaster  county. 
They  had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  ten 
are  living:  Annie,  Henry,  Jacob  H.,  Joseph, 
David,  Kate,  wife  of  Leonard  Smith,  Mary, 
Christian,  Amos,  and  Cyrus.  Their  deceased 
children  are :  John,  Israel,  and  Samuel. 
John  Heisy  died  November  11,  1894,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-nine  ;  his  wife  died  Januarj^ 
11,  1893.  Both  were  members  of  the  River 
Brethren  church.  Mr.  Heisy  was  a  solid 
Republican. 


708 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


His  son,  Jacob  H.  Heisy,  received  a  limited 
education,  and  is  for  the  most  part  a  self- 
made  man.  He  worked  out  among  the  far- 
mers as  a  hired  boy,  and  in  this  way  he  be- 
gan the  business  of  life,  and  learned  farm- 
ing, which  he  has  made  his  occupation.  He 
cultivated  a  farm  for  six  years  in  Lancaster 
county.  In  1875  he  removed  to  East  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  to  the 
farm  which  is  now  his  home  and  which  he 
has  ever  since  cultivated,  except  during  two 
years  spent  in  Lebanon  county.  In  1804 
Mr.  Heisy  was  drafted  for  the  army,  but 
finding  it  impracticable  to  leave  home,  he 
paid  three  hundred  dollars  which  procured 
a  substitute.  Mr.  Heisy  was  married,  No- 
vember 21,  1869,  to  Miss  Susan,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Susan  (C4rove)  Meashey,  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  September  6,  1850.  Of 
their  nine  children,  seven  are  living :  Emma, 
wife  of  Cyrus  Hoover ;  Harry  H.;  Savilla 
and  Henry  E.,  twins  ;  Amanda  M.,  Samuel 
P.,  and  Francis.  Their  deceased  children 
are  Jacob  F.  and  Edward  G. 

Peter  Meashey,  father  of  Mrs.  Heisy,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  He  was  mar- 
ried, to  Miss  Susan,  daughter  of  Abraham 
and  Annie  Grove,  and  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county.  Thev  had  nine  children,  of  whom 
six  survive:  Peter;  Maria,  wife  of  William 
Barnhard,  deceased,  and  now  wife  of  John 
Stouffer  ;  Susan,  wife  of  J.  H.  Heisy;  Lizzie, 
wife  of  Henry  Nowman ;  Jacob,  and  Amanda, 
wife  of  Cyrus  Heisy.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are  :  Anna,  Abraham,  and  Amos.  Mr. 
Meashey  was  a  butcher  and  also  a  farmer  of 
Lancaster  county.  He  died  November  12, 
1894,  aged  seventy-six  years.  His  wife  died 
June  1,  1889,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 
Both  were  members  of  the  old  Brethren 
church.  Abraham  and  Annie  Meashey, 
paternal  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Heisy,  were 
both  natives  of  Lancaster  county. 

LouDERMiLCH,  Henry,  was  bom  on  the 
old  homestead  farm  in  East  Hanover  (own- 
ship,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  July  24,  1837. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Henry  and  Margaret 
(Early)  Loudermilch.  His  great-grandfather 
was  a  native  of  Germany.  John  Louder- 
milch, grandfather  of  Henry  Loudermilch, 
Jr.,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  and  was  a 
farmer.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Barbara 
Moyer.  Their  children  were;  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Albert ;  Sallie,  wife  of  Samuel  Ranch  ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Wagner;  Barbara, 
wife  of  William!  Albert;  John,  and  Kate,  died 


in  infancy.  Mr.  John  Loudermilch  died  on 
the  Itomestead  farm,  the  present  residence  of 
his  grandson.  His  wife  died  at  the  same 
place. 

Henry  Loudermilch,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  in  April,  1801,  and  was  a 
farmer.  His  wife,  Margaret  Early,  was  born 
in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  in  May,  1801 ; 
daughter  of  William  and  Catherine  (Her- 
shey)  Early.  They  had  five  ciiildren,  of 
whom  three  are  living:  Catherine,  wife  of 
Joseph  Gingericli ;  Mary,  and  Henry,  Jr. 
William  and  John  are  their  deceased  chil- 
dren. The  father  died  in  April,  1871,  aged 
seventy,  and  the  mother  in  May,  1891,  aged 
ninety-one. 

Henry  Loudermilch,  Jr.,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools.  lie  was 
reared  on  the  farm  and  was  industriously 
employed  in  farm  work  until  he  was  twenty- 
two  years  of  age.  In  1859  he  engaged  in 
butchering,  which  he  carried  on  for  many 
years.  During  this  time  he  also  kept  a  gro- 
cery store,  ami  for  two  j'ears  kept  hotel  at 
the  old  homestead,  where  he  now  resides. 
In  1867  Mr.  Loudermilch  sold  his  store  to 
Joseph  Landis  and  resumed  the  business  of 
farming  and  dealing  in  live  stock.  In  1872 
he  removed  to  Wayne  county,  111.,  and  for 
seven  years  was  engaged  there  in  farming, 
butchering  and  dealing  in  lumber.  In  1879 
he  returned  from  the  West,  making  the  jour- 
ney with  his  four-mule  team  in  twenty-two 
days.  In  all  that  time  he  inquired  the  way 
only  twice.  He  crossed  the  Lost  river  nine 
times  in  two  days.  He  crossed  every  river 
by  ferry  boat  except  the  Susquehanna.  One 
day  he  got  upon  the  wrong  road  and  traveled 
sixty  miles;  in  the  evening  he  found  him- 
self onl}'  four  miles  from  his  starting  place 
of  that  morning.  Mr.  Loudermilch  resumed 
his  residence  on  the  old  homestead,  where 
he  now  lives  retired  from  active  busmess. 

In  1862  Mr.  Loudermilch  was  drafted  for 
the  three  months'  service.  He  was  drafted 
twice  afterwards,  the  third  time  for  three 
years'  service.  On  retiring  from  the  arm}' 
he  resumed  his  traffic  in  live  stock.  Mr. 
Loudermilch  was  married,  October  7,  1859, 
to  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  William  and 
Anna  (Hain)  Cassel,  born  in  Upper  Paxton 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  August  29, 
1842.  Three  of  their  four  children  are 
living:  Samuel;  Catherine,  wife  of  Daniel 
Imboden,  and  John.  Henry  died  in  Green 
county,  111. 

William   Cassel,   father   of  Mrs.   Louder- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


709 


milch,  was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county  and 
a  farmer.  He  married  Miss  Anna,  daugh- 
ter of  Adam  Hain,  also  a  native  of  Dauphin 
count}'.  Seven  of  their  eleven  children  are 
living:  John;  William;  Hannah,  wife  of 
John  Ellser,  deceased  ;  Fannie,  wife  of  Peter 
Ruth,  deceased ;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Louder- 
milch,  and  Samuel.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are  :  Mary,  wife  of  Isaac  Straw  ;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Jacob  Siegrist ,  Sophia,  wife  of 
Joseph  West,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cassel  died  in  the  township  in 
which  they  were  born  and  spent  their  lives. 


Stahle,  Noah  L.,  painter,  was  born  in 
East  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  May  20,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
Jacob  and  Lydia  (Leob)  Stahle.  His  grand- 
parents were  both  natives  of  Germany.  They 
had  two  children:  Gotlieb  and  Jacob,  both 
now  deceased.  Jacob  Stahle,  father  of  Noah 
L.,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  March  31, 
1805.  He  was  a  shoemaker.  He  married 
Miss  Lydia  Leob,  born  in  Dauphin  county. 
Eight  of  their  nine  children  are  living:  John; 
Amanda,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Gossert,  deceased ; 
Mary,  wife  of  James  Witman  ;  Louisa,  sec- 
ond wife  of  James  Witman  ;  Henry  ;  Will- 
iam ;  Annie,  wife  of  David  Demming ;  Noah 
L.,  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  Lingle.  Mar}', 
first  wife  of  James  Witman,  died  twenty-five 
years  ago.  The  father  died  October  23, 1895, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  ;  his  wife  died 
February  7,  1877,  aged  seventy-two  years. 
Jacob  Stahle  was  a  Democrat.  He  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Noah  L.  Stahle  had  slender  educational 
advantages  in  his  youth.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  of  his  township  and  worked 
upon  the  farm  with  his  father  until  he  was 
seventeen.  In  1862  he  went  to  learn  cabinet 
making,  at  which  trade  he  worked  for  twelve 
years.  Finding  his  arms  not  strong  enough 
for  this  trade,  he  went  in  1874  to  learn  that 
of  painting,  which  has  since  been  his  occu- 
pation. For  the  past  eighteen  years  he  has 
been  both  painter  and  farmer.  He  tills  the 
farm  upon  which  he  now  has  his  residence. 
Mr.  Stahle  was  married,  May  4,  1874,  to  Miss 
Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Kerr)  Landis.  They  have  four  children, 
all  living:  Minnie,  wife  of  George  Kline; 
Robert  L.,  Sadie  V.,  and  Charles  N.  Mr. 
Stahle  was  elected  inspector  of  elections  in 
1894,in  East  Hanover  township,for  one  year. 

Samuel  Landis,  father  of  Mrs.  Stahle,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  car- 


penter. He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Kerr, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children  :  Sarah,  wife 
of  N.  L.  Stalile;  John  ;  Clara,  wife  of  Mahlon 
Snyder,  deceased  ;  Minnie,  wife  of  Martin 
Capp.  Mr.  Landis  died  February  7,  1883, 
aged  sixty.  His  wife  survives,  at  sixty-five 
years  of  age,  and  resides  in  Lancaster  county. 
Both  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  John  Landis,  Mrs.  Stahle's  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  and 
was  a  farmer.  He  reared  a  family  of  six 
children,  of  whom  three  are  still  living : 
Catherine,  wife  of  Christian  Smith  ;  Jacob, 
and  Marv,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Hoover. 


Withers,  Samuel  G.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  December  20,  1846 ;  a 
son  of  the  late  Samuel  and  Anna  (Werher) 
Withers.  His  grandfather,  George  Withers, 
married  a  Miss  Lutz,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children.  Mr.  George  Withers  died  in  Leba- 
non county,  aged  seventy-seven. 

Samuel  Withers,  father  of  Samuel  G.,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  January  12, 
1819;  son  of  the  late  George  Withers.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  was 
engaged  with  his  father  upon  the  farm  until 
he  was  twenty-five  years  old.  He  dealt  in 
live  stock  for  the  next  fifteen  years,  handling 
none  but  fine  blooded  stock.  He  was  also 
in  the  hotel  business  for  two  years.  During 
this  time  he  erected  a  large  and  commodi- 
ous building ;  after  occupying  it  for  two 
years  he  exchanged  it  for  a  farm  in  East 
Hanover  township,  latel}'  owned  by  John 
Blanch,  and  cultivated  it  for  two  years.  He 
then  rented  the  farm,  and  removed  to  Pal- 
myra, Pa.  He  returned  to  his  farm  twice, 
butfinally  settled  down  in  Palmyra,  where  he 
was  for  some  years  in  the  coach,  lumber  and 
machine  business.  While  in  the  lumber 
business  he  resided  with  his  father. 

Mr.  Withers  was  married,  in  1844,  to  Miss 
Anna,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna(Tiiomas) 
Werner,  born  in  Lebanon  county,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1821.  They  had  five  children,  of  whom 
two  are  living:  Samuel  G.,  and  Amanda  E., 
wife  of  William  Ohnmacht.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Sarah  W.,  Mrs.  David  W.  Cassel ; 
Anna,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Early,  and  Susan  R. 
Mr.  Withers  died  at  Palmyra,  Pa.,  aged 
seventy-two,  and  his  wife  died  in  East  Han- 
over township,  in  1879,  aged  fifty-eight 
years.  Mr.  Withers  was  an  ardent  Republi- 
can and  a  devout  Christian. 

Samuel  G.  W^ithers  received  his  education 
in    the   common    schools.      When    he   was 


710 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


twenty-one  he  went  to  Campbellstown,  Leba- 
non county,  where  he  found  employment  for 
one  year  as  clerk  in  tlie  dry  goods  and 
grocery  store  of  Mr.  William  Brunner.  In 
1863  Mr.  Withers  tauglitsehoolfor  one  term. 
After  this,  for  about  ten  years,  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm.  From 
1879  to  1881,  he  was  in  Annville,  Pa.,  and 
from  thence  removed  to  East  Hanover  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  to  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides,  and  in  the  cultivation  of 
which  he  has  ever  since  been  engaged.  Mr. 
Withers  was  married,  January  19,  1879,  to 
Miss  Lizzie,  daughter  of  John  and  Kate 
(Grupp)  Laudermilch.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren :  Bertlia  E.,  Amy  M.,  Mabel,  Elsie  C, 
and  Oscar  R.  Mr.  Withers  is  a  warm  Re- 
publican, lie  is  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Reformed  church. 

Jacob  Werner,  maternal  grandfather  of 
Samuel  G.  Withers,  was  a  farmer.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  Thomas,  by  whom  he 
had  five  sons  and  tiiree  daughters:  Henry, 
Jacob,  John,  David,  Joseph,  Bessie, Sarah, and 
Anna.  Mr.  Werner  spent  his  life  in  Leba- 
non county,  where  he  died,  aged  sixty-five 
years. 


Hetrich,  Eden,  farmer,  was  born  in  East 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
January  2,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Jane  (Fitting)  Hetrich.  His  grand- 
father, Philip  Hetrich,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. He  came  to  this  country  and  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Brightbill.  William  Hetrich, 
father  of  E.  Hetricli,  was  born  in  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  in  August,  1813;  son  of  the  late 
Philip  Hetrich.  In  early  boyhood  he 
learned  the  trade  of  spangler,  which  calling 
he  followed  for'  many  years.  For  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  he  was  a  farmer.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Fitting.  Mr.  Het- 
rich is  still  in  excellent  health  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-four.  He  resides  in 
Shellsville,  East  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.  His  wife  died  in  Decem- 
ber, 1873,  aged  seventy-two  years. 

Eden  Hetrich  received  only  a  limited  edu- 
cation. He  assisted  his  father  upon  the  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-five.  He  has  made 
farming  his  life  pursuit.  Mr.  Hetrich  was 
married,  October  12,  1867,  to  Miss  Malinda, 
daughter  of  John  and  Maria  (Gerberich) 
Lingle ;  she  was  born  in  August,  1849.  Six 
of  their  seven  children  are  living:  George 
H.;  Ida,  wife  of  Aaron  Grubb ;  Cora.  Will- 
iam, Annie,   and    John.     Mr.  Hetrich  is  a 


warm  Republican.  In  1887  he  was  elected 
tax  collector,  and  efficiently  performed  the 
duties  of  this  oflice  for  one  year.  In  1888 
he  was  chosen  inspector  of  elections,  and 
served  in  this  office  for  one  year.  He  served 
as  auditor  of  East  Hanover  township  for  six 
years.  Mr.  Hetrich  is  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Reformed  church.  His  wife  died  April 
7,  1892,  aged  forty-two  years. 

John  Lingle,  father  of  Mrs.  Hetrich,  was 
born  in  East  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county,  and  was  a  farmer.  His  wife  was 
Miss  Maria  Gerberich,  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county,  daughter  of  John  Gerberich.  They 
had  eight  children:  John  A.,  Thomas,  Emma, 
wife  of  Moses  Fackler;  Annie,  wife  of  Levi 
Hauer,  and  Milton.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are:  Malinda,  Mrs.  Eden  Hetrich; 
Henry,  and  Ellen.  Mr.  Lingle  died  in  Oc- 
ber,  1884,  aged  sixty-two.  His  wife  is  still 
in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health  at  the  age 
of  sixty-seven. 


Shenk,  Adam  R.,  farmer  and  butcher, 
was  born  in  South  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  January  25,  1868.  He  is 
a  son  of  the  late  Daniel  and  Susan  (Rider) 
Shenk.  His  grandfather.  Rev.  Jacob  Slienk, 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county  and  was  a 
farmer.  He  was  also  an  honored  minister 
of  the  Dunkard  church,  and  .spent  much  of 
his  time  in  attending  to  the  spiritual  needs  of 
the  people. 

Micliael  Rider,  maternal  grandfather  of 
Mr.  A.  R.  Shenk,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  for  njany  years  a  miller, 
but  later  in  life  engaged  in  farming.  Mr. 
Rider  married  Elizabeth  Brinser,  a  native 
of  Dauphin  county,  daughter  of  Rev.  Mor- 
decai  Brinser,  farmer  and  pastor  of  the 
Dunkard  church.  They  had  eight  children: 
Susan,  widow  of  Daniel  Shenk  ;  Emma,  wife 
of  Harry  Lackmayer,  of  Iowa ;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Levi  Jones;  Adam;  Henry;  Annie, 
wife  of  Solomon  Fackler ;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Aaron  Engle,  and  Jacob,  deceased. 

Daniel  Shenk,  father  of  Adam  R.,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county,  and  was  a  farmer. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Susan,  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Elizabeth  Rider,  born  in  Dau- 
phin county.  They  had  twelve  children,  of 
whom  seven  are  living:  Mary,wife  of  Henry 
Shope;  Christian,  Jacob,  Peter,  Adam  R., 
Michael,  and  Susan.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are :  Daniel,  Lizzie,  Milton,  and  two 
that  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Daniel  Shenk  was 
a  Republican.    He  served  one  year  as  super- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


711 


visor  of  South  Hanover  township.  He  was 
a  member  of  tlie  Diinkard  cliurcli.  He  died 
March  18, 1885.  His  wife  still  survives  liim, 
hale  and  liearty,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven,  and 
resides  in  Pahnyra,  Pa. 

Adam  R.  Shenk  took  only  a  ))artial  course 
of  instruction  in  the  public  schools.  At 
twelve  years  of  age  he  worked  at  butchering, 
attending  school  at  the  same  time.  From 
that  time  until  he  was  twenty-one  he  was 
hired  out  among  the  farmers.  In  1890  he 
began  to  learn  the  painter's  trade,  but  after 
six  months' work,  finding  tlie  work  injurious 
to  his  liealtii,  he  abandoned  it,  and  resumed 
farming  and  butchering,  whicli  callings  he 
has  since  pursued.  He  attends  the  Harris- 
burg  market,  on  Broad  street,  twice  a  week. 
Mr.  Shenk  was  married,  .January  9,  1892,  to 
Miss  Clarissa,  daughter  of  Elias  and  Sarah 
(Wolf)  Buck.  They  have  one  son,  Daniel  J. 
Mr.  Slienk  is  a  good,  solid  Republican.  He 
is  enterprising  in  business  and  prosperous. 
Personall}^  he  is  highly  esteemed. 


Shriver,  Henry,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  August  8, 1826 ;  son  of 
the  late  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Shirk)  Shriver. 
His  paternal  grandparents  were  both  natives 
of  Lebanon  countj%  where  the\'  reared  a 
family.  The  grandfather  died  in  1828  and 
the  grandmother  in  1872.  Jacob  Shriver, 
father  of  Henry,  was  born  in  Lebanon 
county,  and  was  a  blacksmith.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth  Shirk,  was  also  a  native  of  Leba- 
non county.  Their  only  surviving  child  is 
Henry  Shriver.  A  deceased  child  is  Cathe- 
rine, wife  of  Peter  Ney.  Mr.  Shriver  died 
and  Mrs.  Shriver  was  joined  in  her  second 
marriage  to  Peter  Heims,  by  whom  she  had 
one  daughter,  Sarah,  wife  of  Solomon 
Granger.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Heims, 
the  widow  was  married  to  her  third  hus- 
band, George  Fornwalt.  They  had  one 
child,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Henry  Shriver  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Lebanon  and  Daufdiin 
counties.  Left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age, 
he  had  to  struggle  on  in  his  own  way.  He 
lived  out  among  farmers,  and  sometimes 
found  life  hard.  Sometimes  he  was  at  farm 
work,  and  at  other  times  he  was  driving 
team.  He  finally  settled  down  to  farming 
as  his  regular  occupation.  Mr.  Shriver  was 
married,  April  18,  1858,  to  Miss  Lucinda, 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Hoofnagel) 
Snyder.  Their  children  are:  William,  John 
A.,  and   Lucretia,  wife  of  William    Aungst. 


In  1862  Mr.  Shriver  was  drafted  for  service 
in  the  army.  In  1865  he  was  again  drafted 
and  paid  three  hundred  dollars  substitute 
money.  He  is  a  Republican,  In  1876  he 
was  elected  supervisor  of  East  Hanover 
township  and  served  in  this  office  for  one 
year  and  a  half.  In  1879  he  was  again 
elected  to  the  same  office  and  served  one 
year.  In  1891  he  was  elected  for  a  third 
term  and  once  more  served  one  year.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

John  Sn3'der,  father  of  Mrs.  Shriver,  was 
a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  and  a  tailor. 
In  later  life  he  became  a  farmer,  on  the 
homestead,  where  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Shriver, 
now  lives. 

John  A.  Shriver,  a  son  of'  Henry  Shriver, 
was  born  at  the  homestead.  He  took  the 
regular  course  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
township  and  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  nineteen  years  old.  He  then 
attended  the  Witmer  College,  at  Palmyra, 
Pa.,  for  two  terras,  after  which  he  studied 
for  two  terms  at  the  Lebanon  Valley  College 
(United  Brethren),  Annville,  Pa.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-two  Mr.  John  A.  Shriver  began 
teaching  school,  and  has  since  been  contin- 
uouslj'  occupied  with  the  work  of  teaching. 
Mr.  Shriver  was  married,  in  1877,  to  Miss 
Maggie,  daughter  of  John  and  Rosa  (Kruse) 
Hinkle.  Thev  have  three  children  :  Harrv 
E.,  Charles  w!  and  Lillie  W.  Mr.  Shriver 
teaches  and  has  his  residence  in  Derry. 
His  abilit}'  as  an  educator  is  universally 
recognized  and  he  is  held  in  esteem  for  his 
personal  worth. 


HoERNER,  John,  retired  farmer,  was  born 
in  West  Hanover  township,  now  East  Han- 
over, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  April  17,  1813  ; 
son  of  the  late  Major  John  and  Magdalena 
(Eber-sole)  Hoerner.  Andrew  Hoerner,  his 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Germany  ;  he 
came  to  this  country  when  a  boy  and  settled 
on  the  farm  which  became  the  homestead  of 
his  family,  and  it  has  been  in  their  posses- 
sion up  to  this  time.  It  has  been  the  birth- 
place and  dwellingplace  of  three  generations, 
and  is  now  enjoyed  by  representatives  of  the 
fourth  and  fifth.  A  small  town  named 
Hoernerstown  and  a  school  house  now  oc- 
cupy part  of  this  farm.  Andrew  Hoerner 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  rifle 
he  carried  is  carefully  preserved  as  a  relic 
and  is  in  possession  of  Cyrus  Hoerner 
brother  of  John. 

Major  John  Hoerner,  their  father,  was  born 


712 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


in  1783  :  lie  was  a  farmer  and  owner  and  cul- 
tivated the  old  homestead  farm  ;  he  served  in 
the  war  of  1812.  The  bayonet  of  his  gun  is 
pi'eserved  in  perfect  condition  and  is  in  the 
possession  of  his  son,  John  Hoerner.  Major 
Hoerner  was  married,  in  1805,  to  Miss  Mag- 
dalena,  daughter  of  Peter  Ebersole,  a  native 
of  Dauphin  county.  They  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  living:  John,  Louisa, 
Barbara,  wife  of  Henry  Yingst,  Peter,  Albert 
and  Cyrus.  Their  deceased  children  are : 
Jacob,  born  in  1807,  died  in  1825;  Andrew; 
David,  born  in  May,  1811,  died  in  August, 
1893;  Anna, died  aged  eighteen  years ;  Ellen  ; 
Maggie,  born  December  25,  1815,  married  to 
John  Nunnemacher,  died  in  1864.  Major 
Hoerner  lived  on  the  old  homestead  for  sev- 
eral years  retired  from  active  duties  and  died 
aged  ninety-two.  He  was  a  Republican,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  both  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

John  Hoerner,  son  of  Major  Hoerner,  re- 
ceived only  a  partial  education  in  the  common 
schools  as  conducted  before  the  present 
system  was  established.  He  was  engaged 
with  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home 
farm  until  he  was  twenty  years  old;  he  then 
went  to  learn  blacksmithing,  which  calling 
he  followed  until  1841.  Mr.  Hoerner  was 
married,  November  11,  1841,  to  Miss  Mary, 
daughter  of  Barnbard  and  Sarah  (Wombech) 
Ranch,  born  on  the  homestead,  now  owned 
by  Mr.  John  Hoerner,  on  August  30,  1813. 
Of  their  three  children,  two  died  in  infancy  ; 
the  surviving  child  is  Isaac.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Hoerner  follow'ed  his  trade  for 
about  fifteen  years.  During  the  following 
fifteen  years  he  was  farming,  and  after  this 
he  retired  from  active  business.  In  1868  Mr. 
Hoerner  was  elected  supervisor  of  East  Han- 
over township  and  served  two  years.  After 
this  he  was  elected  auditor  of  the  same  town- 
ship and  served  many  years.  In  1876  he 
was  elected  assistant  elector  of  Hanover  town- 
ship and  held  the  office  for  three  years  ;  he 
has  always  been  a  decided  and  active  Repub- 
lican. His  wife  died  September  3,  1892. 
Mrs.  Hoerner  was  an  affectionate  and  faith- 
ful mother,  a  devout  Christian,  and  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Reformed  church  ;  she 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  After  her 
departure  Mr.  Hoerner  lived  alone,  keeping 
house  by  himself,  until  within  the  hist  year; 
he  enjoys  good  health  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church  and  a  liberal  contributor  to  all  church 
work. 


Bernard  Ranch,  father  of  Mrs.  Hoerner, 
was  married,  in  1811,  to  Miss  Sarah  Wom- 
bech. They  had  six  children,  of  whom 
Peter  is  the  only  survivor;  he  resides  in 
Michigan.  His  deceased  children  are  :  Mary, 
who  was  Mrs.  Hoerner ;  Catherine,  wife  of 
John  Lentz;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Joseph  Wal- 
mer  ;  and  Susan,  wife  of  Daniel  Hetrick. 


Thome,  Charles  V.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Londonderry  township,  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.,  June  16,  1835.  He  is  a  son  of  the  lute 
Dr.Samuel  N.and  Margaret  (Jeffries)  Thome. 
Dr.  Samuel  H.  was  born  in  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.  He  practiced  medicine  in  Lebanon 
county  for  forty-five  years.  He  also  had  a 
large  practice  in  Dauphin  county.  His  wife, 
Margaret  Jeffries,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster 
count}'.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living:  William  H.,  a  prominent 
physician  of  Palmyra,  Pa.;  Charles  V.; 
Emma,  wife  of  Dr.  P.  J.  Roebuck,  of  Lititz, 
Lancaster  count}',  Pa.;  John  M.,  residing  in 
Cordovia,  Argentine  Republic,  South  Amer- 
ica, as  director  of  an  astronomical  observa- 
tory ;  Samuel  W.,  American  Consul  at  As- 
sumption, Paraguay,  South  America.  Dr. 
S.  H.  Thorne  died  in  1874.  His  wife  died  in 
December,  1895. 

Dr.  Charles  V.  Thome  spent  his  youthful 
days  at  Palmyra,  Pa.  His  primary  educa- 
tion was  received  in  the  public  schools  of 
that  place.  He  attended  White  Hall  Acad- 
emy, Cumberland  county.  Pa.  He  read 
medicine  with  his  father  and  with  Dr.  C.  G. 
Gloninger,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.  While  study- 
ing with  his  father,  in  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
com|)any  E,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  served  nine  months.  During  this  time 
he  took  part  in  several  battles,  among  the 
most  notable  of  which  are  those  of  Fred- 
ericksburgandChancellorsville.  In  the  latter 
engagement  he  was  wounded  in  the  head 
by  a  fragment  from  a  bursting  ^lell.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service, 
at  Harrisburg,  and  at  once  returned  to 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  and  resumed  the  study  of  his 
profession. 

In  1863  Mr.  Thome  entered  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania,  in  Philadelphia,  and 
in  1866  received  his  diploma  from  that  in- 
stitution, with  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medi- 
cine. He  at  once  began  practice,  in  connec 
tion  with  his  father,  at  Palmyra.  After  a 
little  more  than  a  year,  he  was  appointed  as- 
sistant physician  at  the  State  Insane  Asylum. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


713 


This  position  he  held  for  over  three  years, 
and  then  practiced  at  Lititz  for  two  years. 
Since  1873  he  has  been  practicing  in  East 
Hanover  township. 

Dr.  Thome  was  married,  at  Palmyra,  in 
1872,  to  Miss  Emma  P.,  daughter  of  Moses 
and  Mary  (Rambler)  Early,  residents  of 
East  Hanover  township.  Two  of  the  tliree 
children  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Thome  are  living: 
Charles  C.  and  Edgar  R.  One  died  in  in- 
fancy. Dr.  Thome  is  a  member  of  Ashara 
Lodge,  No.  98,  Marietta,  Pa. 

Brown,  Gone  II.,  was  born  in  East  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 6,  1858  ;  son  of  the  late  John  and 
Margaret  (Snoddy)  Brown.  The  fatlier,  John 
Brown,  was  born  February  25,  1813.  He 
was  married,  March  IG,  1837,  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Snoddy.  They  had  twelve  children, 
eleven  of  whom  are  living  :  John ;  Mary,  wife 
of  a  Mr.  Hite,  deceased,  afterwards  of  James 
Jones,  deceased,  and,  thirdly,  of  Amos  Cassel ; 
William;  Calvin;  Samuel  S.;  James;  Jacob; 
Margaret,  wife  of  Anthony  Fetterman ;  Sarah, 
wife  of  Isaac  Boyer;  Gone  H.,  and  George. 
The  deceased  child  is  Lydia.  Mr.  Brown 
was  a  carpenter  and  continued  in  that  voca- 
tion for  many  years.  After  his  marriage  he 
became  a  farmer.  He  first  occupied  the 
farm  owned  by  a  Mr.  Moon,  and  tilled  it 
for  some  years.  From  this  farm  lie  removed 
to  the  one  owned  by  Jacob  Poorman.  Tlience 
he  removed  to  the  farm  of  Bernhard  Raucli, 
now  the  property  of  John  Hoerner.  His 
next  removal  was  to  the  farm  owned  by  a 
Mr.  Sheets,  and  the  next  and  last  to  the  old 
homestead  farm,  where  he  made  his  home 
with  his  son,  and  wliere  both  he  and  his 
wife  died  ;  Mr.  Brown,  November  20, 1889,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six,  and  Mrs.  Brown,  May 
21,  1881.  Her  age  was  sixty-four  years,  one 
month  and  twelve  days;  she  had  been  mar- 
ried forty-four  years,  two  months  and  five 
days,  and  had  reared  a  family  of  twelve 
children.  She  had  forty-five  grandchildren, 
of  whom  thirty-five  were  living  at  the  time  of 
her  death. 

Gone  H.  Brown  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  East  Hanover  township.  He 
hired  out  to  assist  the  farmers  until  he  was 
twenty-three  years  old.  He  then  learned 
plastering  and  has  made  it  his  principal  enr- 
ployment.  He  is  also  engaged  in  farming. 
Since  1883  he  has  regularly  attended  the 
Harrisburg  markets.  Mr.  Brown  was  mar- 
ried, January  3,  1883,  to  Miss  Lizzie,  daugh- 


ter of  Benjamin  and  Catherine  (Lehman) 
Lehman.  She  was  born  January  11,  1855. 
They  have  no  children.  He  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  at  Grantville. 

Benjamin  Lehman,  father  of  Mrs.  Brown, 
was  born  in  Londonderry  township,  Leb- 
anon county.  Pa.,  November  13,  1813.  He 
was  a  cooper  for  some  years.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  exchanged  his  occupation  for  tliat 
of  farming,  which  was  his  vocation  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Lehman  was 
married  to  Miss  Catherine  Lehman,  a  native 
of  Lebanon  county.  They  had  these  chil- 
dren :  Benjamin,  Annie,  Mary,  David,  Jacob, 
Kate,  wife  of  Melias  Moyer,  Lizzie,  wife  of 
G.  H.  Brown,  Peter,  Daniel,  Fannie,  de- 
ceased, and  Martin,  deceased.  In  1882  Mr. 
Lehman  was  elected  supervisor  of  East  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county,  and  served 
for  one  year.  In  1872  he  removed  from 
Londonderry  township,  Lebanon  county,  to 
East  Hanover  township,  in  the  same  county, 
to  the  farm  then  owned  by  J^cob  Urich, 
whicli  he  cultivated  for  five"years.  Thence 
he  removed  to  East  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  to  the  farm  of  Henry  Horst,  on 
which  he  remained  for  eleven  years.  His 
next  removal  was  to  the  fsirm  of  Solomon 
Cassel,  which  he  tilled  for  three  years.  He 
then  returned  to  Londonderry  township, 
Lebanon  county,  to  his  old  homestead,  wliere 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife 
died  April  16, 1882.  They  were  members  of 
the  Mennonite  church. 


Etter,  Rev.  David,  minister  in  the 
Dunkard  church,  East  Hanover  township, 
was  born  in  East  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  March  19,1820;  son  of 
Lawrence  and  Salome  (Kline)  Etter.  The 
grandfather,  Lawrence,  was  a  native  of 
Switzerland.  He  came  to  this  country  when 
nine  years  old  and  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter and  followed  that  occupation.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  York  county  and  was 
born  April  2,  1787.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  ^is  first  wife  was  Miss  Elizabeth 
Baulbaugh,  born  in  East  Hanover  town- 
ship, February  14,  1887,  to  whom  were  born 
eight  children  :  Mary,  Mrs.  George  Bashore; 
Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Abraham  Bashore ;  Cathe- 
rine, Mrs.  Henry  Lare ;  Leah,  Mrs.  Benja- 
min Gorman  ;  Rachel,  second  wife  of  Abra- 
ham Bashore;  Jacob,  John,  and  Sallie.  He 
married,  secondly.  Miss  Salome  Kline, 
August  23,  1823,  and  to  this  marriage  were 


714 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


born  six  children,  of  whom  the  only  survivor 
is  David.  The  father  died  November  9, 
1853,  aged  sixty-six  years. 

David  received  only  a  common  school 
education,  and  learned  the  carpenter  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  for  twenty  years.  Later 
he  became  a  farmer  and  has  followed  this 
occupation  for  fifty  years,  and  in  1893  he  re- 
tired from  the  active  work  on  the  farm.  For 
the  past  thirty  years  Mr.  Etter  has  been  a 
minister  in  the  Dunkard  church,  and  since 
1885  has  been  an  elder  in  the  district  of 
East  and  West  Hanover,  the  position  which 
he  now  fills  with  acceptance.  He  was  mar- 
ried, August  19,  1848,  to  Miss  Sarah  Koons, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Walmer) 
Koons.  Their  children  are  :  Lizzie  K.,  wife 
of  George  Baum  ;  Kate,  wife  of  Amos  Ging- 
rich ;  .Joseph  K.;  Sarah,  wife  of  David 
Becker;  David  K.;  Samuel  K.;  Leah,  wife  of 
Isaac  Bashore  ;  John  K.,  died  July  27,  1875, 
aged  seventeen  years.  John  Koons,  father 
of  Mrs.  Etter  was  a  native  of  Lebanon 
county.  He  first  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Walmer,  and  they  had  seven  children : 
Sallie,  Mrs.  Etter ;  Lydia,  Kate,  George, 
Elizabeth,  Maria,  and  John.  He  married, 
secondl}',  Miss  Mollie  Dutwieler.  He  died 
in  December,  1877,  aged  seventy-nine  years. 

Snyder,  Wilmam,  Grantville,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  East  Hanover  townshi[),  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  November  7,  1819 ;  son  of  the 
late  John  and  Sarah  (Hoofnackle)  Snyder. 
John,  the  father,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  July  12,  1788.  He  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  tailor  for  many  years,  and  later 
engaged  in  farming.  His  wife  was  also  a 
native  of  Dauphin  county,  and  the\'  had 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living: 
William;  Lucinda,  Mrs.  Henry  Shriver; 
Kate  Anna,  Mrs.  George  W.  Miller;  and 
Mary  A.,  Mrs.  Joseph  Krautzer.  Their  de- 
ceased children  are:  Eliza,  Daniel,  and  Jacob. 
Mr.  Snyder  died  August  3,  187U,  and  his 
wife  died  suddenly,  December  26, 1879,  aged 
eighty-seven  years. 

\\"illiam  attended  the  public  sclwols  for 
only  a  few  winter  terms.  At  twelve  years  of 
age  he  went  to  work  on  the  canal  with  Jacob 
Frantz,  and  remained  with  him  for  seven 
years.  He  then  bought  a  boat  and  began 
business  for  himself,  running  from  Middle- 
town  and  Pottstown  to  Philadelphia,  and 
making  the  round  trip  in  a  week's  time.  He 
worked  under  contract  with  Benjamin  Frick, 
and    was  engaged   in    boating   for  him  for 


eight  years.  In  1851  the  canal  was  widened 
and  larger  boats  came  into  use,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  Mr.  Snyder  bought  a  large  Penn- 
sylvania boat,  and  went  into  the  lumber 
trade,  shipping  from  Williamsport  and  Lock 
Haven  to  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  tak- 
ing two  weeks  for  a  round  trip.  He  had  a 
boating  contract  with  the  men  at  the  Star 
mills  for  four  years,  and  he  had  another  con- 
tract with  George  Lentz,  a  lumberman,  at 
Williamsport,  for  five  years.  Altogether  he 
was  engaged  in  boating  on  the  canal  for 
thirty-eight  years.  He  then  abandoned 
boating  and  engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  Sny- 
der was  married,  August  12,  1849,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Pancake,  daughter  of  Valentine  and 
Catherine  (Shreedley)  Pancake.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Clara ;  Alice,  wife  of  Allison  Bal- 
bough,  deceased ;  Elmer  E.,  and  Malon  H., 
died  in  1889,  aged  thirty-eight  years.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Snyder  is  a  Republican. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Snj'der  were  both  na- 
tives of  Dauphin  county.  Their  children 
are:  Anna.  Sarah,  Jacob,  Mary,  David,  all 
living;  and  Andrew,  John,  Catherine  and 
Elizabeth,  all  deceased.  Elmer  E.,  son  of 
William,  was  born  June  11,  1861.  received 
his  primary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  East  Hanover  township,  and  took  a  course 
at  Lebanon  Valley  College,  Annville.  In 
1882  he  began  teaching,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  that  vocation. 

Shirk,  Jacob  S.,  general  merchant,  Grant- 
ville, Pa.,  was  born  in  East  Hanover  town- 
ship, Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  June  30,  1844 ; 
son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Swoke)  Shirk. 
The  father  was  born  in  the  same  township, 
and  resided  there  until  1845,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  He  then 
removed  to  Daupliin  county,  where  he  con- 
ducted the  same  business  until  his  death  in 
December,  1867.  His  wife  was  born  in  Beth- 
lehem township,  Berks  county.  Pa.,  but  was 
reared  by  her  aunt  in  Lebanon  county,  her 
mother  having  died  while  she  was  a  child. 
She  removed  with  her  husband  to  East  Han- 
over township,  and  lived  there  until  his 
death,  and  for  the  past  sixteen  years  has 
been  a  resident  of  Harrisburg.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Emma  M.,  died,  aged  five  years; 
Galen,  died  at  the  same  age ;  John  H.,  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
Philadelphia ;  practiced  medicine  at  Ann- 
ville, Pa.,  for  a  3'ear  and  a  half,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  practicing  at  Phila- 


Dauphin  county. 


715 


delphia.  Their  living  children  are :  Cathe- 
rine G.,  wife  of  Henry  C.  Orth,  musical  in- 
strument dealer,  at  Harrisburg;  Jacob  S., 
and  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Harry  Ui)ler, 
real  estate  dealer  in  Harrisburg. 

Jacob  S.  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
East  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county, 
when  he  was  but  fifteen  months  old,  where 
he  acquired  his  education  in  the  district 
schools.  He  took  a  course  in  the  Commer- 
cial College  of  Bryant  &  Stratton,  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  became  a  salesman  in  his 
father's  store,  in  which  capacity  he  was  em- 
ployed until  1866,  at  which  date  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  a  partnership  in  the  business.  His 
father  died  in  1867,  and  the  following  j'ear 
he  took  entire  charge  of  tlie  business,  which 
he  has  conducted  since  that  time.  He  was 
married,  in  East  Hanover  townsiiip,  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1867,  to  Miss  Emma  R.  Early, 
daughter  of  Amos  and  Mary  Early.  Their 
children  are:  Marie  Ellen,  died  November 
18,  1889,  aged  nine  years;  Edward  M., 
Robert  E.,  and  Emma  L.  Mr.  Shirk  has 
served  efficiently  in  the  ofhces  of  auditor, 
tax  collector,  and  assessor.  He  was  an  ac- 
ceptable postmaster  for  thirty  years,  and  in 
politics  was  a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


HALIFAX  TOWNSHIP. 


Shertzer,  Benjamin  F.,  postmaster  and 
harness  maker,  Grantville,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
the  lower  end  of  Fishing  Creek  Valley,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  September  18,  1844  ;  son 
of  Paul  and  Susan  (Unger)  Shertzer.  He 
acquired  his  education  in  his  native  place, 
and  when  nineteen  years  of  age  removed  to 
Linglestown,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
harness  maker  and  where  he  pursued  this 
occupation  four  years.  In  1868  he  removed 
to  East  Hanover  township,  where  he  has 
been  engaged  in  business  twenty-nine  years. 
Under  the  first  Cleveland  administration  he 
was  appointed  postmaster,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  second  term  in  the  office.  He  was 
married,  in  West  Hanover  township,  July  10, 
1873,  to  Emma  Bouchter,  daughter  of  .John 
and  Leah  Bouchter,  residents  of  Lebanon 
county.  Two  of  their  children  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  those  living  are:  Bertha  May, 
Mrs.  Golen  Boyer  ;  Kate  E.,  Wesley  B.,  and 
Mabel  M.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
in  his  religious  faith  and  fellowship  he  and 
the  family  are  with  the  United  Brethren 
church. 


Leebrick,  George  T.,  retired,  Halifax, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  was  born  in  that  town, 
September  23,  1844.  and  still  resides  in  the 
house  in  whicli  lie  was  born,  which  was  in- 
herited from  his  grandparents. 

The  lineal  descent  of  George  T.  Leebrick 
is  as  follows  :  Capt.  Benjamin  Parke,  born  in 
Westerly,  R.  I,,  1735,  wlio  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  June  17, 1775.  George 
T.  is  the  son  of  Jolm  P.  Leebrick  and  Han- 
nali  Mary  (Parke)  Leebrick,  grandson  of 
Thomas  Parke  and  Eunice  (Cliaplin)  Parke, 
great-grandson  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Parke  and 
Hannah  (Stanton)  Parke,  great-great-grand- 
son of  John  Parke  and  Elizabeth  (Miller) 
Parke,  great-great-great-grandson  of  Thomas 
Parke  and  Abigail  (Dix)  Parke,  great-great- 
great-great-grandson  of  Richard  and  Sarah 
Faliier  Parke,  of  London,  England,  who 
settled  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  in  1G32.  Capt. 
Benjamin  Parke  assisted  materially  in  the 
struggle  for  American  independence,  being 
captain  of  a  company  which  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  committee  that  drew  up  the 
celebrated  resolutions  protesting  against  the 
infringements  of  the  rights  of  the  colonies, 
the  tax  on  tea  in  1774.  (See  Denison's 
Westerl}',  page  210).  The  Captain,  while  on 
a  visit  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Pendleton,  at  Ston- 
ington,  Conn.,  marched  to  tlie  relief  of  Bos- 
ton during  the  Lexington  alarm,  in  April, 
1775.  (See  adjutant  general's  report  of  Con- 
necticut in  the  Revolution,  page  22).  Ac- 
cording to  the  report,  "  the  said  Capt.  Ben- 
jamin Parke  marched  at  the  head  of  a  com- 
pany of  minute  men  to  the  relief  of  the 
American  army,  near  Boston,  in  June,  1775, 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  June  17,  1775,  in  which  battle  he  was 
mortally  wounded."  For  further  accounts 
see  Narragansett  Historical  Register,  vol.  1, 
page  217,  Denison's  Westerly,  page  74,  and 
Drake's  Dictionary  of  American  Biography, 
page  687. 

George  T.  Leebrick's  great-great-grand- 
father, John  Philip  Lebreg  (as  the  name  was 
then  spelled),  was  born  in  Manheim,  Ger- 
many, in  1696,  and  died  in  Manheim  Pa., 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  He  had  a  family 
of  four  children:  Nicholas,  born  in  Man- 
heim, Pa.,  in  1748,  married  Catherine  Franks. 
The  other  children  were  girls :  one  married 


716 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Daniel  Bridgian,  another  Charles  Wilstach, 
and  the  third  a  Mr.  Newman. 

The  children  of  Nicholas  and  Catherine 
(Franks)  Lebreg,  great-grandparents  of 
George  T.  Leebrick,  were  as  follows:  John, 
born  in  Manheim,  Pa.,  May  27,  1770,  died 
October  9,  1804,  unmarried;  Philip,  married 
Mar}'  Castle;  Daniel, dateof  birth  and  death 
unknown,  married  Elizabeth  Peters;  George, 
grandfather  of  George  T.,  born  Felsruarv  7, 
1779,  married  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ilgen,  at  Mifliin- 
burg,  Pa.,  March  17,  1801,  to  Mary  Mohr, 
was  a  tanner  and  merchant,  settled  in  Hali- 
fax in  1811,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  in  this  town;  his  death  occurred  March 
12,  1847.  His  children  were  nine  in  num- 
ber. 

His  son,  John  P.  Leebrick,  father  of  George 
T.,  was  born  February  10,  1804,  married 
Mary  Parke,  February  17,  1831,  died  Sep- 
tember 24,  1869,  and  his  wife  died  May  3, 
1852.  They  had  .six  children:  Ellen,  born 
June  24,  1832,  in  Halifax,  died  July  9, 1833; 
John  Eberle,  born  in  Halifax,  December  31, 
1833,  died  July  16, 1862 ;  Louisa  Parke,  born 
November  11,  1835,  resides  at  the  home- 
stead; Anna  Mary,  born  February  10,  1837, 
died  July  28,1838;  Henry  Clav,"  born  No- 
vember 12,  1839,  died  August  23,  1842; 
George  Thomas,  born  September  23,  1841. 
John  P.  Leebrick,  like  his  father,  resided  all 
his  life  in  Halifax  and  was  extensively  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  pursuits  and  in  railroad 
and  canal  contracts.  He  was  a  prominent 
and  progressive  man,  a  stockholder  and  di- 
rector in  canals  and  railroads,  and  interested 
in  other  like  industrial  ventures. 

George  Thomas  Leebrick  is  the  son  of  the 
late  John  Philip  and  Hannah  Mary  (Parke) 
Leebrick.  He  was  born  and  has  always 
had  his  home  in  Halifax.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  received  in  the  public  schools  and 
under  his  mother's  tuition.  Before  he  was 
ten  years  old  he  attended  an  academy  in 
Juniata  county,  Pa.  Later  he  was  at  the 
Mt.  Joy  Academy,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
and  still  later  the  Western  Reserve  College 
at  Hudson,  Ohio,  since  removed  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  now  called  Adelbert  Col- 
lege. 

His  education  finished, Mr.  Leebrick  taught 
school  during  one  winter.  In  April,  1861, 
he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  company  D,  Fif- 
teenth regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  served  three  months;  he  was  discharged 
at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  August  7,  1861;  re-enlisted 
September  2,  1861,  in  company  D,  Forty- 


sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  served  in  this  regiment  until  December 
2,  1862,  when  he  was  again  disciiarged  by 
the  Secretary  of  War,  at  Maryland  Heights, 
Md.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Cedar 
Mountain  and  Antietam.  In  1863  Mr.  Lee- 
brick commenced  the  study  of  law  with  A. 
H.  Dill,  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  and  remained 
with  him  two  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Halifsix,  wiiere  he  has  since  .spent  most  of 
his  time. 

Mr.  Leebrick  was  married,  in  Halifax, 
April  5,  1877,  to  Sarah  R.,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Susanna  Noblit,  early  settlers  of 
Halifax  township.  They  had  no  children. 
Mr.  Leebrick  belongs  to  H.  M.  Slocum  Post, 
No.  523,  G.  A.  R.;  is  a  Democrat,  and  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

The  fourth  child  of  Nicholas  Lebreg,  great- 
grandfather of  George  T.  Leebrick,  was  Will- 
iam Mohr,  who  died  in  1872. 


SiiorK,  J.4.C'0B  W.,  physician  and  surgeon, 
Halifax,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Linglestown,  Dauphin  county,  August  22, 
1845.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Mason) 
Shope.  John  Shope  was  born  in  Lingles- 
town in  1815.  From  the  date  of  his  mar- 
riage he  was  a  resident  of  Linglestown  and 
was  engaged  in  the  butcher  business.  In 
1864  he  removed  to  Dauphin,  Pa.,  where  he 
now  resides.  Mrs.  John  Shope,  wiio  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  in  1816,  died 
July  17,  1885,  in  the  borough  of  Dauphin. 
They  had  nine  children:  an  infant  that 
died  ;  David,  who  died  from  the  effects  of  a 
fall;  Harriet,  wife  of  P.  D.  Felty;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  A.  T.  Gerberich  ;  Dr.  Jacob  W.,  Will- 
iam, George,  John,  and  Mary,  wife  of  W. 
Manley,  residing  at  Rockville,  Dauphin 
count}'. 

John  W.  Shope  spent  his  boyhood  in  his 
native  town.  After  leaving  the  public 
schools,  in  which  he  was  educated,  he  was 
for  one  year  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store.  He 
then  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking,  at 
which  he  worked  for  some  time.  On  August 
22,  1864,  Mr.  Shope  enlisted  in  company  C, 
Two  Hundred  and  First  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  being  mustered  out  at  Harris- 
burg.  He  then  carried  on  the  retail  shoe 
business  at  Dauphin, Pa.,  for  two  years.  This 
business  he  sold  out  in  1867,  and  was  for  sev- 
eral years  engaged  in  bridge  building.  Again 
betook  up  the  shoe  business  at  Dauphin  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


Ill 


carried  it  oii  until  1876.  In  this  year  Mr. 
Shope  began  the  study  of  medicine.  In  the 
fall  of  1878  he  entered  .Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege, Pliiladelphia,  Pa.,  and  was  graduated  in 
March,  1880.  Since  that  date  he  has  been  a 
continuous  resident  of  Halifax  and  a  suc- 
cessful practitioner  in  his  profession. 

Dr.  Shope  was  married  in  Halifax,  Janu- 
ary 7,  1870,  to  Margaretta  J.,  daugliter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Oswald)  Shope.  They 
have  three  children  •  Charles  R.,  editor  of 
the  Halifax  Gazette;  Minnie  0.,  and  Susan 
E.  Dr.  Shope  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  school  board  and  its  president.  He  be- 
longs to  Susquehanna  Lodge,  No.  364,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Millersburg.  He  and  his  family 
attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Nace,  William  Benjamin,  druggist,  Hali- 
fax, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  was  born  in  Hali- 
fax township,  April  19,  1857.  He  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Elspy  A.  (Lebo)  Nace.  John 
Nace,  his  great-grandfather,  removed  with 
his  family  from  Montgomery  county,  N.  J. 
He  came  in  company  with  a  man  named 
Wilson.  They  bought  large  tracts  of  land 
in  Dauphin  county,  and  settled  in  Halifax 
township,  where  John  Nace  died,  at  the  age 
of  sixty.  He  had  been  twice  married,  and 
reared  seven  children,  and  at  his  death  he 
left  a  farm  to  each  of  his  seven  sons. 

William  B.  Nace  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  Halifax,  and 
afterwards  attended  the  Lykens  high  school, 
where  he  finished,  not  having  the  means  to 
secure  a  more  liberal  education.  He  went 
to  Harrisburg,  and  obtained  a  position  as 
clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  Howard  S.  Die- 
trich, in  which  he  served  three  years,  and 
was  tlien  for  two  years  with  A.  M.  Steever, 
of  Harrisburg. 

After  leaving  the  Lykens  higli  school  Mr. 
Nace  taught  school  three  consecutive  terms 
in  the  same  school  in  which  he  received  his 
early  education.  In  June,  1887,  he  left 
Harrisburg  and  opened  his  present  place  of 
business  in  Halifax,  where  he  has  built  up 
an  extensive  trade.  While  learning  the 
drug  business  his  wages  were  only  two  dol- 
lars and  a  half  per  week,  so  that  in  begin- 
ning business  for  himself  he  had  not  one 
dollar  of  capital. 

Mr.  Nace  was  married, in  Halifax,  July  5, 
1887,  to  Miss  Alice  A.,  daughter  of  George 


and  Louisa  Lantz,  natives  of  Dauphin 
county.  She  was  born  in  Halifax  township, 
October  15,  1863.  Tliey  had  one  child, 
Raymond  E.,  born  July  18,  1889. 

Mr.  Nace  is  a  Republican.  He  holds 
membership  in  Charter  Lodge,  No.  82,  I.  0. 
0.  F.,  and  in  Syrian  Commandery,  No.  133, 
Millersburg,  Dauphin  county.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  in  Halifax. 


Nace,  John  E.,  merchant,  Halifax,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Halifax  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Fa.,  April  1,  1835.  He  is  a  son  of 
David  and  Barbara  (Enders)  Nace.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  liis  native  place.  At  sixteen  years  of  age 
he  went  to  Dauphin,  wiiere  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  three  years  at  carpentry  with 
his  uncle,  Isaac  Nace.  He  then  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Dauphin  for  seven  years,  after 
which  he  was  for  seven  years  in  business  for 
himself,  as  a  contractor.  In  1865  Mr.  Nace 
opened  a  general  store  in  Fisherville,  where 
he  transacted  business  for  about  six  years, 
after  which  he  sold  his  business  and  was 
idle  for  one  year.  He  then  formed  a  part- 
nership with  J.  E.  Rutter,  and  opened  a 
butchering  business  at  Lykens,  Pa.  At  the 
end  of  the  first  year  he  sold  his  interest  in 
this  concern  to  his  partner  and  bought  a 
share  in  a  planing  mill  in  the  same  town 
and  was  made  a  superintendent  of  the  same. 
This  enterprise  proving  unprofitable  owing 
to  the  panic  of  1871,  in  two  years  he  lost  the 
money  he  had  invested  in  the  mill.  Dur- 
ing the  next  five  years  Mr.  Nace  was  em- 
ployed as  time  clerk  at  the  steel  works  at 
Steelton.  He  then  bought  the  general  store 
of  J.  E.  Lyter,  at  Halifax,  wiiere  he  has 
since  continued  in  business  with  the  most 
gratifying  success. 

Mr.  Nace  was  married  in  Halifax,  Janu- 
ary 8,  1861,  to  Miss  Lydia  A.,  daugliter  of 
Joseph  and  Catherine  (Londmilch)  Fetter- 
hoff,  born  in  Halifax  township,  December 
8,  1841.  Of  their  three  children,  two  died 
in  infancy;  the  survivor,  Oscar  C,  is  a  mer- 
chant at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  married 
Emily  Smith. 

Mr.  Nace's  political  views  are  strongly 
Republican.  He  has  served  Lykens  bor- 
ough one  term  as  councilman  and  one  as 
burgess,  and  he  was  councilman  at  Steelton 
for  one  term.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church. 


718 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Miller,  Clayton  C,  M.  D.,  Halifax,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  August  4,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  B.,  and  Mary  (Fitting)  Miller. 

Peter  Miller  (1),  great-grandfather  of  Dr. 
Miller,  was  born  in  Jackson  township,  in 
1780, and  died  therein  1847.  He  wasafarmer. 
He  mai'ried  a  Miss  Weaver;  their  children 
were  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
Christian  names  of  the  daughters  are  not 
now  accessible ;  they  were  all  married,  one 
to  Valentine  Straw,  another  to  Christian 
Snyder, and  another  to  John  L.  Keiter.  The 
sons  were  Peter,  Daniel,  and  Joseph.  Peter 
Miller  (2),  grandfather  of  Dr.  Miller,  was 
born  in  Jackson  township,  December  14, 
1805.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
place.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  be- 
came a  farmer.  He  married  Susan  Snyder. 
Their  eldest  children,  Annie  and  Daniel, 
died  while  they  were  small  children.  Tlie 
only  one  remaining  is  Samuel,  father  of  Dr. 
Miller. 

Samuel  B.  Miller  was  born  in  Jackson 
township,  February  4,  1838.  He  received  a 
common  school  education,  was  brought  up  a 
farmer,  and  made  farming  his  occupation 
for  life.  His  wife,  Mary  (Fitting)  Miller,  sur- 
vives him  and  resides  with  her  son,  Dr.  Mil- 
ler. Their  children  are:  Clayton  C.;  Susan 
Alice,  wife  of  James  A.  Gipple,  of  Lancas- 
ter, Pa.;  Penro  P.,  farmer  in  Jackson  town- 
ship; and  Florinda  J.,  wife  of  C.  E.  Sweigard, 
Jacksonville,  Pa.  Mr.  Miller  took  an  active 
part  in  local  affairs,  was  a  school  director  for 
many  years,  and  was  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  board.  He  was  a  life-long  Dem- 
ocrat. He  died  October  2,  1870,  and  is 
buried  in  Fairview  cemetery,  Jackson  town- 
ship. 

Clayton  C.  Miller  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  tiie  common  schools  of  his  native 
place.  In  1877  he  entered  Berrysburg  Sem- 
inary, Dauphin  count}',  and  in  1882  com- 
menced the  .study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
Wetzel,  at  Jacksonville,  Dauphin  county. 
He  subsequently  entered  the  medical  col- 
lege at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1885.  Soon  after  he  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  at  Lykens,  Dauphin 
county,  and  continued  there  until  18SG, 
when  he  removed  to  Matamoras,  in  the  same 
county.  There  he  remained  until  April  1, 
1895.  Desiring  a  more  central  location,  he 
removed  to  Halifax,  where  he  has  built  up 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  Dr.  Miller  is 
among  the  foremost  in  his  profession,  and  is 


held   in    high    estimation   throughout   that 
section  of  the  country. 

Dr.  Miller  was  married,  in  Jacksonville, 
Pa.,  September  10,  1882,  to  Ann  Jane  Helt, 
born  in  Dauphin  county,  July  4,  1862; 
daughter  of  Joiin  F.  and  Margaret  (Enders) 
Helt,  natives  of  Dauphin  county.  They 
have  five  children  :  Ada  B.,  born  December 
22,  1883;  Florence  A.,  June  18,  1886;  Beu- 
lah  M.,  October  11, 1887  ;  John  Calvin,  April 
8,  1893 ;  and  Harry  C,  October  13,  1894. 

Ryan,  Charles  W.,  cashier  of  Halifax 
Bank,  was  born  in  Powell's  Valley,  Halifax 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  February  17, 
1841 ;  son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Gay- 
man)  Ryan,  natives  of  Middle  Paxton  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  James  Ryan,  his 
great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Ireland. 
When  a  boy  he  came  with  a  party  of  Scotch- 
Irishmen  to  America,  settled  near  Derry 
Church,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  married 
a  Miss  Boyd.  His  remains  are  interred  near 
Derry  Church. 

John  Ryan,  grandfather  of  Charles  W., 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county.  He  married 
a  Miss  Oond}'.  Tiieir  children  are:  John, 
James,  Andrew,  father  of  C.  W.  Ryan,  Sally, 
and  Mary.  John  and  James  settled  in  Erie 
county.  Pa.,  when  that  region  was  a  wilder- 
ness. The  land  they  owned  is  now  a  part  of 
the  city  of  Erie.  James  was  a  noted  hunter 
and  fighter  of  the  Indians;  he  and  John 
took  part  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Charles  W.  Ryan  received  only  a  limited 
education ;  he  attended  school  but  three 
months  of  each  year,  and  that  only  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  walk  three  miles  to  reach  the 
school  house.  His  parents  died  when  he 
was  in  his  tenth  year,  but  the  eldest  member 
of  the  family,  Andrew,  a  worthy  young  man, 
twenty -seven  years  old,  was  for  two  years 
father  to  the  orphan  children  and  kept  the 
family  together.  At  the  end  of  two  years 
Andrew  died,  and  this  sad  event  dissolved 
the  tie  which  held  the  children  together.  Mr. 
Ryan  then  made  his  home  with  his  brother- 
in-law  until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  and 
tlien,  with  his  brother  Isaac,  worked  the  home 
farm  for  three  years.  During  the  next  year 
he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  David  B. 
Mather  at  $9  per  month.  At  the  end  of  the 
year,  having  become  of  age,  Charles  and  his 
brother  Isaac  bought  their  sisters'  share  in 
the  estate  and  divided  it  between  themselves. 
He  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1882,  and 


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DA  UPHIN     GO  UNTY . 


721 


in  addition  to  this  he  had  for  ten  years  pre- 
vious to  this  time  dealt  in  coal  and  lime  in 
Halifax.  In  1871  Mr.  Ryan  became  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Halifax  Bank,  and  in  March, 
1883,  he  succeeded  William  Shammo  as 
cashier  of  tliat  bank,  which  position  he  still 
holds.  He  also  owns  stock  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  at  Millersburg,  Pa.  Mr.  Ryan 
was  married,  in  Halifax  township,  December 
22,  1864,  to  Mary  L.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  (Hepler) Collier,  born  in  Halifax  town- 
ship, January  11, 1848.  Their  children  are : 
Harras  J.,  professor  of  electric  engineering  at 
Cornell  University,  N.  Y.,  be  married  Catiie- 
rine  F.  Fortenbaugh ;  Laura  M.,  at  home  ; 
Luther  W.,  merchant  at  Halifax,  married 
Mary  Gilbert. 


LoMis,  Albkrt  Scott  (formerly  Loomis), 
merchant,  Halifax,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Halifax 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  April  25, 
1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Anthony  W.  and  Maria 
(Brubaker)  Lomis.  Antiiony  W.  Loniis, 
father  of  Albert  8.  Lomis,  was  born  in  Al- 
stead,  N.  H.,  in  1811,  and  died  in  Halifax 
townshij),  Dauphin  count3%  Pa.;  in  August, 
1864.  He  came  to  Dauphin  county  when  a 
young  man.  Having  acquired  a  good  com- 
mon school  education  in  his  native  place, 
he  left  home  to  seek  his  fortune.  He  was 
blessed  with  a  robust  constitution.  Having 
been  reared  a  farmer's  son,  he  was  not  afraid 
of  hard  work.  He  taught  school  for  some 
years  after  coming  to  Dauphin  county,  and 
being  frugal  and  economical,  he  saved  enough 
from  his  earnings  to  start  in  business.  He 
rented  a  saw  mill  at  the  foot  of  Berry's  moun- 
tain, which  he  operated,  but  through  a 
serious  misfortune  lost  all  he  possessed.  He 
afterwards  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
later  in  mercantile  pursuits.  Mr.  Lomis  sub- 
sequently owned  and  edited  a  newspajjcr 
called  the  Halifax  Herald,  being  assisted  in 
the  office  work  by  his  son,  Albert  S.,  who 
distributed  many  of  the  papers  on  each  day 
of  publication.  Mr.  A.  W.  Lomis  was  re- 
garded as  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  fair 
dealing.  He  was  capable  in  business  mat- 
ters, and  possessed  large  views  and  great 
public  spirit.  His  death  was  lamented  by 
all ;  in  him  the  town  lost  one  of  its  most 
valuable  citizens. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Lomis  had  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife,  Maria  Brubaker,  had  four 
children:  Albert  Scott,  Daniel  11,  William 
A.,  and  Barbara,  widow  of  B.  B.  Brubaker, 
who  lives  in  Halifax.  The  second  wife  of 
47 


Mr.  Lomis  was  Mary  Murray,  sister  of  the 
late  Judge  Murray,  of  Harrisburg.  Their 
children  were:  Frank  M.,  Charles  C.,  George 
0.,  Walter  J.,  Margaret  0.,  and  Mary.  Mr. 
Lomis  was  a  life-long  Democrat. 

Albert  Scott  Lomis  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Halifax  township.  He 
worked  as  a  mule  driver  on  the  old  canal 
and  other  pursuits  from  the  time  he  was 
thirteen  years  old  until  he  was  eighteen; 
from  eighteen  to  twenty  years  of  age  he 
owned  and  operated  a  small  iron  foundry  in 
Halifax,  except  during  the  winter  of  his 
nineteenth  year,  when,  at  the  earnest  solici- 
tation of  the  school  board,  lie  taught  school 
in  Halifax  township.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  he  had  accumulated  one  thousand 
dollars,  which  he  invested  in  his  enterprise. 
While  building  and  operating  the  foundry 
times  became  hard  and  money  was  scarce, 
consequently  he  disposed  of  his  plant  at  a 
loss.  In  1864  Mr.  Lomis  went  to  work  for 
his  father  in  the  saw  mill  and  was  thus  em- 
ployed until  the  death  of  his  father,  in  Au- 
gust, 1864.  He  assumed  charge  of  iiis  fatii- 
er's  business  and  was  appointed  executor  of 
the  estate.  In  1S65  he  greatly  enlarged  the 
business.  In  1868  he  disposed  of  the  saw 
mill  business  at  a  great  sacrifice  and  for  the 
next  few  years  did  practically  nothing. 

In  1876  Mr.  Lomis  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  brother-in-law,  B.  B.  Brubaker,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Brubaker  &  Lomis, 
and  engaged  in  the  lime  and  coal  business. 
This  venture  proved  successful  and  in  1888 
they  added  a  general  store  to  this  business. 
In  February,  1892,  Mr.  Brubaker  died  and 
Mr.  Lomis  purchased  his  deceased  partner's 
interest  in  the  business,  which  he  has  since 
conducted  alone. 

Mr.  Lomis  was  married,  in  June,  1884,  to 
an  acquaintance  of  his  youth,  Eliza,  widow 
of  Morris  Smith.  They  have  two  children  : 
Anthony  Wayne  and  William  Penn.  Mr. 
Lomis  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  has 
served  his  borough  as  burgess.  He  is  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  82,  I.  0.  0.  F.,of  Hal- 
ifax. Mr.  Lomis  is  a  man  of  fine  physique, 
standing  over  six  feet  in  his  stockings,  and 
of  athletic  appearance.  He  is  genial,  well- 
informed  and  a  pleasant  talker.  He  is  hon- 
ored and  esteemed  by  his  neighbors. 


Bressler,  John  S.,  truck  farmer,  Halifax, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  was  born  in  Halifax 
township,  August  29,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of 
Philip   and   Mary  (Etter)  Bressler.     Philip 


722 


Bl  0  GRA  PHI  GAL  ENC7CL  OPEDIA 


Bressler  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in 
1800,  and  was  educated  in  his  native  place. 
He  was  a  farmer.  After  his  marriage  he 
came  to  Halifax  township  and  bought  a  farm 
of  his  father-in-law,  on  which  he  resided 
until  his  death  in  1869.  He  was  an  old  line 
Whig  and  afterwards  a  Democrat.  He  was 
well  known  and  highlj^  esteemed.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bressler  are  :  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Pliilip  Shaffer,  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.;  George  W.,  deceased,  married  Ellen 
Ryan ;  Sarah,  wife  of  Alfred  Burtnett,  Mun- 
cie,  Pa.;  Sarah,  married  first  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Bressler ;  her  second  husband  was  Charles 
Egolf,  deceased  ;  Mary  E.,  died  aged  eigh- 
teen ;  Maggie,  died  aged  two ;  John  S.;  Ann 
Jane,  married  first  to  Christian  Urich,  after- 
wards to  George  Rees,  and  Louisa,  wife  of 
Ira  Miller,  Millersburg,  Pa. 

John  S.  Bressler  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Halifax  township,  and  was 
reared  a  farmer.  In  boyhood  he  was  fond  of 
rural  sports,  and  spent  his  leisure  in  hunt- 
ing and  fishing.  His  father  died  in  1871. 
Then  the  home  farm  was  sold  and  he  and 
his  mother  removed  to  Halifax  and  bought 
the  property  he  now  occupies,  a  large  brick- 
dwelling  fronting  the  river.  His  mother 
died  there  in  1885.  Mr.  Bressler  was  mar- 
ried, in  Millersburg,  January  28,  1886,  to 
Alice  M.,  daughter  of  Simon  and  Caroline 
(Sauser)  Shoop.  She  was  born  in  Millers- 
burg, Pa.,  September  '25,  1854.  They  have 
had  no  children.  During  the  summer  Mr. 
Bressler  gives  his  whole  attention  to  truck 
farming,  which,  under  his  careful  and  skill- 
ful methods,  is  a  very  profitable  business. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Bressler  was  first  mar- 
ried to  Jacob  Gruber.  Mr.  Shoop  was  her 
second  husband.  Their  children  were : 
Alice  M.,  Mrs.  Bressler ;  Frank  A.,  farmer 
in  Halifax  township  ;  Clinton  T.,  telegraph 
operator,  Lykens  Valley,  and  Annie,  wife  of 
Howard  Frederick,  Millersburg,  Pa. 


Lyter,  Isaac,  bank  teller  and  county 
commissioner,  was  born  in  the  borough  of 
Halifax,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  November  11, 
1844.  He  is  a  son  of  Ciiristian  and  Cathe- 
rine (Bowman)  Lyter.  His  great-grand- 
father, Christian  Lyter,  is  supposed  to  have 
been  born  in  Germany.  When  a  child  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  America.  They 
settled  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and  re- 
moved thence  to  Lower  Paxton  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.     Christian  Lyter  lived 


to  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  four  years, 
and  passed  awa}'  suddenly,  one  morning, 
while  sitting  at  the  breakfast  table.  Peter 
Lyter,  grandfather  of  Isaac,  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  and  was  a  farmer. 
He  married  a  Miss  Shirk.  Their  children 
were:  Joseph,  Christian,  Henry,  Abram, 
Daniel,  John,  Moses,  Louisa,  married  a  Mr. 
Utz,  and  Betsy,  married  Henry  Bowman. 
Mr.  Lyter  died  in  Halifax,  in  February, 
1870. 

Christian  Lyter,  father  of  Isaac  Lyter,  was 
born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  was  educated  and  grew  to 
manhood.  He  came  with  his  father  to 
Halifax  in  1831  and  learned  the  trade  of 
blacksmith,  which  he  followed  in  addition 
to  the  business  of  auctioneering.  He  trav- 
eled much  over  this  part  of  the  State 
as  an  auctioneer,  and  was  one  of  the 
most  skillful  and  successful  men  in  the 
business.  His  death,  which  occurred  July 
9,  1874,  was  much  lamented.  He  had  been 
justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty  years,  and 
hail  filled  other  local  offices.  His  children 
are:  Ellen  \^,  wife  of  A.  J.  Shammo,  Hali- 
fax ;  Elspy,  wife  of  G.  W.  Bottomstone,  Wy- 
oming, la.;  Isaac;  Sarah,  deceased,  wife  of 
H.  C.  Brubaker;  William  H.,  grocer,  Har- 
risburg, Pa.;  John  F.,  clerk,  Harrisburg,  and 
Lawrence  W.,  conductor  on  the  Nortiiern 
Central  railway,  resides  in  Halifax.  Mrs. 
Lyter,  mother  of  Isaac,  died  January  10, 
1896,  aged  seventy-seven.  She  had  long 
been  a  great  sufferer  from  a  complication  of 
diseases. 

Isaac  Lyter  attended  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive j)lace  a  part  of  each  year  until  he  was 
seventeen.  During  his  boyhood  he  assisted 
his  father  both  on  his  farm  and  in  his 
blacksmith  shop.  In  this  way  he  gained 
considerable  knowledge  of  the  trade.  Isaac 
enlisted  at  Harrisburg,  September  14,  1864, 
in  company  I,  Forty-sixth  regiment,  Penn- 
.sylvania  volunteers,  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  with  Sherman  on 
his  march  to  the  sea.  He  was  discharged,  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  June  8,  1865,  and  at  once 
returned  home. 

In  the  s[)ring  of  1866  Mr.  Lyter  entered 
into  partnership  with  his  fatiier  in  the  black- 
smith business,  and  continued  with  him  two 
years.  He  then  bought  and  conducted  the 
business  alone  until  1888  ;  he  then  sold  it  to 
assume  the  position  of  teller  in  the  bank 
at  Halifax,  which  he  has  efficiently  filled 
since  that  date.     He  is  also  a  stockholder. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


723 


Mr.  Lyter  was  married,  January  6,  1870, 
to  Mary,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Esther 
Brubaker.  They  have  four  children  :  Harry 
W.,  born  December  4,  1871  ;  Pearl  E.,  June 
20,  1874  ;  May,  January  29, 1877,  and  Cathe- 
rine, October  19,  1881.  Mr.  Lyter  has  been 
honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  with  about  all 
the  offices  in  their  gift,  from  the  lower 
places  of  trust  up  to  the  office  of  burgess. 
He  was  first  elected  commissioner  of  Dau- 
phin county  in  1889,  and  is  now  serving 
his  second  term  in  that  responsible  position. 


Lodge,  William,  president  of  the  Halifax 
Bank,  and  ex-county  treasurer,  was  born  in 
Halif  IX  borough,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  June 
1,  1827.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Fetterhoff)  Lodge.  Matthias  Lodge,  his 
grandfatlier,  was  born  in  England,  and 
came  to  America  with  liis  wife  and  family. 
The  parents  died  soon  after  reaching  Penn- 
sylvania, leaving  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters— Jolm,  father  of  William  Lodge,  being 
one  of  the  sons. 

John  Lodge  was  born  in  Halifax  townsiiip, 
in  1800.  He  received  a  limited  education, 
his  parents  having  died  when  he  was  a  year 
or  two  old.  He  was  reared  by  Captain 
Smith,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Halifax.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  township,  and  early 
learned  slioemaking,but  worked  at  the  trade 
only  occasionally.  His  principal  occupation 
was  fence  building,  at  which  he  worked  in 
different  parts  of  the  country.  He  was  also 
extensively  engaged  in  butchering.  Mr. 
Lodge  removed  to  Halifax  in  1858,  and  was 
employed  by  his  son,  William,  to  assist  about 
the  warehouse  and  drive  a  team.  He  sud- 
denly expired  on  the  street,  when  on  his 
way  to  the  depot  to  meet  his  son.  His 
death  occurred  in  1880,  and  one  year  later 
his  wife  followed  him  to  the  grave.  She 
was  born  in  1801.  Their  children  were: 
Isaac,  died  in  infancy;  John,  a  farmer,  died 
in  1868  ;  Esby,  died  young;  William;  Dan- 
iel, died  young;  Susan,  wife  of  John  Robi- 
son,  Halifax  ;  George  W.,  painter  and  paper 
hanger,  Halifax,  and  Sarah,  wife  of  A.  M. 
Pike,  Halifax. 

William  Lodge  had  only  slender  oppor- 
tunities for  securing  an  education.  Twelve 
months  in  one  of  the  schools  of  the  township 
was  the  extent  of  his  schooling.  The  school 
house  was  situated  at  the  distance  of  two 
miles  from  his  home.  From  the  age  of  eight 
years  to  that  of  twelve  he  worked  out  among 
the   neighboring   farmers.      When   he    was 


thirteen  his  father  hired  him  to  Samuel 
Landis,  a  merchaat,  at  Halifax,  on  the  con- 
ditions that  he  was  to  remain  two  years,  and 
was  to  receive  |3  per  month  and  his  board 
and  clothing.  At  the  end  of  one  year  he 
had  shown  such  aptitude  and  ability  as  a 
clerk  in  the  store  that  his  wages  were  raised 
to  $4  per  month,  besides  his  board  and  cloth- 
ing. He  continued  in  the  store  of  Mr.  Lan- 
dis from  1841  to  1846,  afterwards  obtaining 
a  better  position  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Liver- 
pool, Pa.,  in  which  he  remained  two  years, 
after  which  he  returned  to  his  former  em- 
ployer, Mr.  Landis,  and  was  with  hira  until 
1851,  except  during  the  winter  of  1849,  when 
he  taught  school.  He  received  |15  per 
month  during  1850.  In  1851  he  bought  a 
one-half  interest  in  the  stock  of  Mr.  Landis, 
with  whom  he  continued  in  partnership  nine 
years. 

Close  confinement  to  the  store  and  con- 
tinuous application  to  business  affected  his 
health  injuriously,  and  on  this  account  he 
sold  his  interest  in  the  store,  and  sought  ac- 
tive outdoor  employment.,  He  bought  a 
canal  boat,  went  into  the  lime  business,  and 
gradually  worked  into  traffic  in  coal,  lumber, 
grain,  etc.  About  1860  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Josei)h  Landis,  a  son  of  his 
former  employer  and  [)artner,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Landis  &  Lodge.  This  firm  added 
to  the  business  a  general  store,  purchasing 
property  on  Market  street,  fitting  up  a  store 
room,  and  stocking  it  with  general  merchan- 
dise. This  partnership  continued  success- 
fully for  eight  or  nine  years  and  was  then 
dissolved,  Mr.  Landis  taking  the  store,  and 
Mr.  Lodge  the  lime,  coal  and  lumber  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Lodge  carried  on  business  alone 
until  1878.  In  that  year  he  was  elected 
treasurer  of  Dauj)hin  county,  and  finding 
himself  unable  to  attend  to  his  business  and 
perform  the  duties  of  his  office,  he  took  his 
brother-in-law,  Mr.  Pike,  as  his  partner,  and 
in  1889  or  1890  sold  his  own  interest  to  Mr. 
Pike,  since  which  date  he  has  lived  retired 
from  active  business. 

Mr.  Lodge  married,  at  Millerstown,  Perry 
county.  Pa.,  December  25, 1849,  Martha  Ellen 
Kinter,  a  native  of  that  town.  She  died  in 
1859,  without  issue.  Mr.  Lodge  was  again 
married  in  1862.  His  second  wife  was  Mari- 
etta Real,  a  widow.  They  have  no  children. 
He  has  served  as  president  of  the  Halifax 
Bank  since  its  incorporation.  He  is  the 
founder  and  president  of  the  Home  Fire 
Insurance  Company. 


724 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Nace,  Henry,  farmer,  was  born  in  Hali- 
fax township,  Dauphin  county,  May  20, 1883. 
He  is  a  son  of  David  and  Barbara  (Enders) 
Nace.  David  Nace,  a  son  of  John  Nace,  was 
born  in  Berks  county,  in  1808.  He  came  to 
Halifax  township,  wiien  young,  with  his 
father  and  family.  He  was  married,  in 
Armstrong  Valley,  to  Barbara  Enders,  a  na- 
tive of  that  place.  The  Nace  family  lived 
for  some  time  near  Halifax ;  then  David 
Nace  bought  the  farm  on  whicli  his  son 
Henry  now  lives,  and  here  the  father  died 
in  September,  1865.  His  children  are : 
Henry ;  John  E.,  merchant  at  Halifax ; 
William  W., died  young;  David  B.;  Rebecca 
Jane,  deceased,  wife  of  Frederick  Lutman ; 
Susan  and  Sarah,  died  young;  Samuel, 
Aaron,  and  Isaac. 

Henry  Nace  enjoyed  but  few  educational 
advantages,  because  his  services  were  re- 
quisite to  assist  his  father  in  farm  work.  He 
remained  at  home  until  his  marriage,  in 
Halifax  township,  March  16,  1854,  to  Miss 
Elspy  Ann,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Cathe- 
rine Lebo,  natives  of  Dauphin  count3\  She 
was  born  in  Halifax  township,  December  18, 
1832.  Mr.  Nace  and  his  wife  took  up  their 
residence  on  the  old  homestead,  where  he 
has  lived  ever  since  his  birth.  They  have 
ten  children :  William  B.,  Susan  Ellen, 
John  Lincoln,  Mary  C,  Jacob  G.,  the  twin 
of  David  Sherman,  who  died  in  his  fifth 
year;  Joshua  F.,  Jjydia  Ann,  James  Irving, 
and  Henry  Elmer.  Mr.  Nace  bought  the 
homestead  from  his  father's  heirs,  and  has 
since  built  a  new  barn  and  house,  and  made 
other  extensive  improvements. 

Mr.  Nace  is  a  strong  Republican.  He  has 
been  judge  of  election  one  year,  inspector  of 
election  and  jury  commissioner  one  term. 
He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  but  withdrew  from  that 
body,  and  has  not  since  affiliated  with  any 
other. 


Wagner,  George  W.,  farmer,  was  born 
near  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  August  9,  1862.  He 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Tiny  Ellen  (Lehr) 
Wagner.  He  was  a  babe  when  he  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Halifax  township, 
where  he  received  part  of  his  education.  At 
the  age  of  six  he  went  to  live  with  his  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  Jacob  Lehr,  and  remained 
with  him  five  years.  He  then  left  his  grand- 
father and  was  hired  by  William  Lebo, 
farmer,  of  Halifax  township,  for  two  dollars 
and  a  half  i^er  month  and  board.     He  was 


with  Mr.  Lebo  for  three  years,  then  one  year 
with  another  man,  then  with  Henry  Bow- 
man three  years;  his  wages  during  the  last 
year  were  four  dollars  and  a  half  per  month. 
He  next  hired  to  John  Urich  for  three  years 
at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  dollars  for  eight 
months.  Mr.  Wagner  was  married,  in  Hali- 
fax borough,  December  31,  1883,  to  Miss 
Henrietta,  daughter  of  Cornelius  antl  Sarah 
(Urich)  Harper.  She  was  born  in  Miners- 
ville,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  February  25, 
1857.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wagner  cul- 
tivated his  father-in-law's  farm  for  two  years; 
he  then  removed  to  Halifax  and  was  engaged 
on  the  railroad.  He  afterwards  returned  to 
Mr.  Harper's  farm,  worked  it  for  one  year, 
and  then  purchased  Mr.  Harper's  stock  and 
cultivated  the  farm  two  years  longer  on  his 
own  account.  In  the  spring  of  1895  he  came 
to  Halifax  township  and  bought  his  present 
place,  which  contains  sixty-two  acres.  Mr. 
Wagner  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never 
sought  any  political  office.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church.  He  is  one 
of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  the  township,  and 
his  success  demonstrates  his  enterprise  and 
business  ability.  His  children  are  :  Charles 
C,  Sadie  Ellen,  and  Harris  C. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harper,  the  parents  of  Mrs. 
Wagner,  had  ten  children  :  Annie  B.,  de- 
ceased ;  Samuel,  farmer  in  Montana;  Ade- 
line J.,  wife  of  John  P.  Jenkins,  Bedford 
county,  Pa.;  Valentine  U.,  of  Halifax  town- 
ship ;  Cornelius  A.,  miner,  at  Shamokin,  Pa.; 
Thomas  W.,  miner,  at  Lykens,  Pa.;  Clara, 
wife  of  F.  Miller,  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Henrietta, 
Mrs.  Wagner ;  Ida,  resides  with  Mr.  Wagner, 
and  Nora  J.,  died  young.  Mrs.  Wagner's 
father  died  March  27, 1885  ;  her  mother  died 
April  7,  1894. 

Jacob  Lehr,  Mr.  Wagner's  maternal  grand- 
father, with  whom  he  lived  for  five  years, 
was  a  native  of  Halifax  township,  and  grew 
to  manhood  here.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
huckster,  and  was  also  engaged  in  butcher- 
ing.   He  died  in  his  native  township  in  1880. 

Lebo,  James  M.,  farmer,  was  born  in  Up- 
per Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
October  26,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Annie  Ja,ne  (Novinger)  Lebo.  James  Lebo 
was  born  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  in 
1816,  and  died  on  the  farm  on  which  he  was 
born,  December  11,  1886.  He  was  a  man  of 
limited  education,  but  an  industrious  and 
enterprising  farmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lebo  had 
eleven   children:   Sarah,  wife  of  Nathaniel 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


Tib 


Martz,  of  Northumberland  county,  Pa.;  Sam- 
uel, merchant  at  Uniontown,  Pa.;  .Jonathan, 
died  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  in  18U(J; 
James  M.;  Christy  Ann,  deceased,  wife  of 
David  Kehler ;  George  W.,  farmer,  Upper 
Paxton  township;  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  Ed- 
ward SchrefHer,  Upper  Paxton  township; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Jolin  A.  Shott,  Millers- 
burg,  Pa.;  Jacob  H.,  farming  the  old  home- 
stead, Upper  Paxton  township ;  Emma  S., 
died  3'oung,  and  Alice,  wife  of  Henry  J. 
Zearing,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

James  M.  Lebo  attended  school  in  his  na- 
tive place  until  he  was  ten  years  old.  lie 
then  went  to  live  witli  his  uncle,  Jacob 
Lebo,  in  Halifax  township,  and  remained 
with  him,  attending  school  and  working  on 
the  farm,  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of 
age.  For  the  next  three  years,  while  he 
made  his  home  with  his  uncle,  he  worked 
out  among  the  neigiiboring  farmers,  getting 
$15.00  per  month  for  the  first  year,  and  for 
the  remainder  of  the  time  hiring  out  at 
$17.00  per  month,  with  the  privilege  of 
keeping  cattle  on  the  place.  He  bought  and 
sold  stock,  one-half  of  the  profits  going  to  liis 
employer,  which  made  him  a  very  profitable 
business. 

Mr.  Lebo  was  married,  in  Matamoras,  Pa., 
September  30,  18G9,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter 
of  William  and  Eliza  (Brought)  Taj  lor, 
born  in  Halifax  townshij), September  5, 1848. 
They  were  married  between  three  and  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  to  enable  them  to 
take  an  early  train  for  Harrisburg,  where 
they  enjoyed  the  State  fair  then  in  progress. 
They  then  visited  the  bride's  relatives  in 
Warren  county,  Iowa,  and  on  their  return 
home  went  to  housekeeping.  They  began 
with  one  chair,  and  a  stove  and  tal)le  bor- 
rowed from  Mr.  Lebo's  father-in-law,  Mr. 
Taylor. 

Mr.  Lebo's  first  investment  was  $2,100, 
paid  as  part  of  the  price  of  a  farm  of  216 
acres,  which  lie  sold  before  it  was  fully  paid 
for.  After  selling  the  place,  he  farmed  for 
two  years  on  rented  farms.  At  the  end  of 
one  year  he  bought  the  house  he  lived  in 
from  his  uncle,  Philip  Lebo,  and  at  the  end 
of  two  year.s,  sold  the  house  and  bought 
fortj'-two  acres  of  land,  with  a  house  and 
barn,  in  Wayne  township.  After  owning 
this  place  for  five  years,  he  traded  it  for  a 
house  and  two  lots  in  Williamstown,  re- 
maining on  the  farm  one  year  after  the  ex- 
change, and  renting  the  town  property.    At 


this  time  Mrs.  Lebo's  mother  died,  and  Mr. 
Lebo  rented  and  worked  the  Taylor  farm 
for  four  yeai's.  In  the  meantime  he  dis- 
posed of  his  Williamstown  propert}',  and 
with  the  proceeds  of  the  sale,  and  some  other 
money  which  he  had  accumulated,  lie  pur- 
chased his  present  place,  consisting  of  107 
acres  of  land,  with  house  and  barn.  He  has 
since  made  extensive  additions  to  both  these 
buildings,  and  has  otherwise  improved  the 
place.  He  also  owns  the  old  Taylor  home- 
stead, which  comprises  134  acres  of  farm 
land  and  ten  acres  of  timber  land.  He  re- 
cently purchased  another  farm  in  Wayne 
township  of  126  acres,  which  he  at  present 
rents. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  M.  Lebo 
are :  Laura  Irene,  died  when  two  days  old  ; 
Lawrence  T.,  at  home;  Elmer  Irving,  died  at 
seven  years  of  age ;  William  J.,  died  aged 
three  ;  Zora  R.,  died  aged  three  months;  the 
last  three  died  of  croup,  within  five  weeks; 
Nora  Edna,  at  home;  Calvin  E.,  at  home, 
and  Curtis  Chester,  died  at  seventeen  days 
of  age. 

Mr.  William  Taylor,  father  of  Mrs.  Lebo, 
was  born  in  Halifax  township,  where  he  was 
educated  and  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  of 
the  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  stock.  His  fatlier 
was  Matthew  Taylor,  who  died  in  Halifax 
township.  Mr.  Taylor  once  owned  600  acres 
of  land  in  Iowa,  also  the  Baskin  tract  of  153 
acres,  with  grist  and  saw  mill ;  lie  was,  be- 
sides, a  stockholder  in  the  Halifax  Bank. 
The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  are: 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Jacob  Sultzbauch,  Millers- 
burg  ;  Matthew  A.,  farmer,  Warren  county, 
Iowa ;  George  W.,  farmer,  Warren  county, 
Iowa;  Mrs.  Lebo;  Hiram  W.,  Kansas;  Win- 
field  S.,  farmer,  Warren  county,  Iowa;  Will- 
iam I.,  farmer,  Halifax  township,  and 
Emma  J.,  widow  of  Elias  Hufi'.  Mr.  Taylor 
died  on  the  homestead,  in  Halifax  township, 
January  12,  1891.  He  was  very  widely 
known.  He  filled  several  townshij)  offices, 
being  a  staunch  Republican.  Mrs.  Taylor 
died  October  9,  1880. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lebo  and  the  older  mem- 
bers of  their  family  are  consistent  members 
of  tiie  United  Brethren  churcli,  of  which 
church  Mr.  Lebo  is  a  trustee,  and  his  son 
Lawrence  T.,  secretary  of  Sabbath-school. 
Mr.  Lebo  has  served  one  term  as  tax  col- 
lector of  Halifax  township;  also  one  term  in 
same  office  for  Wayne  township,  collecting 
State,  county,  and  school  taxes. 


726 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYVL  OPEDIA 


Chubb,  Samuel  H.,  farmer  and  carpenter, 
was  born  in  Halifax  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  January  22,  1835.  He  is  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Nancy  (Miller)  Chubb.  Henr}' 
Chubb,  his  grandfather,  was  the  first  of  the 
family  to  come  to  America.  He  was  born 
in  Germany  and  emigrated  while  still  a 
young  man.  He  took  part  in  the  Revolu- 
tionar}'  war.  Henry  Chubb  (2),  father  of 
Samuel  H.,  was  born  in  Halifax  township, 
November  3,  1795,  and  died  September  12, 
1879.  He  learned  weaving  from  his  father, 
and  followed  that  trade  in  connection  with 
farming  in  Halifax  township,  where  he  died, 
in  his  eighty-fourth  year.  He  was  married, 
in  Halifax  township,  April  20, 1822,  to  Nancy 
Miller,  of  that  township.  Their  children 
were  eight  boys  and  three  girls  :  John,  born 
February  27,  1824,  served  through  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion,  died  at  Middletown,  Pa.; 
Su.sanna,  born  August  18,  1825,  married 
John  Peters,  who  was  a  prospector  in  Cali- 
fornia; she  died  at  Jacksonville,Pa.;  Henry, 
born  January  13,  1827,  went  to  Iowa  and 
Kansas  when  a  young  man,  returned  and 
served  throughout  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
in  a  cavalry  regiment;  Jacob,  born  Novem- 
ber 23,  1828,  farmer,  now  residing  in  Jefi'er- 
son  county,  Kan,;  Philip,  born  October  5, 
1830,  enlisted  first  for  three  months  in  com- 
pany D,  Fifteenth  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers;  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  in  com- 
pany D,  Forty-sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  January  4,  1864,  and  was  dis- 
charged July  IG,  1865 ;  he  was  taken  jiris- 
oner  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  held  at 
Belle  Island  for  six  months  and  then  re- 
leased ;  he  died  in  Utah  in  1876;  Jeremiah, 
born  October  14,  1832,  a  farmer  in  Kansas, 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  served  during 
the  war  in  the  Ilome  Guards  ;  Samuel  H.; 
Catherine,  born  Januarv  7,  1838,  deceased, 
wife  of  Eli  Huff;  Abigail,  born  July  4, 1840, 
wife  of  Josiah  Jury,  Halifax  township; 
Hiram,  born  March  14,  1843,  resident  of 
Halifax  borough,  and  David  B.,  born  May 
6,  1845,  farmer,  in  Halifax  township.  It 
happened  at  a  time  before  the  birth  of  their 
son  Samuel  H.,that  the  family  dwelling  was 
burned  while  the  mother  was  absent  and  all 
the  children  were  at  home. 

Samuel  H.  Chubb  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  place.  The 
old  school  house  was  furnished  in  the  most 
primitive  style,  with  slab  benches  and  a  ten- 
plate  stove.  He  went  to  school  a  few  months 
of  each  year  until  he  was  sixteen.     At  sev- 


enteen years  of  age  he  went  to  Jersey  Shore, 
Pa.,  to  learn  carpentry  ;  he  remained  there 
for  one  year  and  then  came  home.  Previous 
to  this  he  worked  with  a  gang  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  Northern  Central  railway, 
receiving  at  first  ninety  cents  per  day,  and 
finalh'  becoming  foreman  of  the  section.  He 
met  with  a  Mr.  Reed,  with  whom  he  went  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Linglestown  and  worked 
two  yeai's  at  carpentering,  receiving  seventy- 
five  cents  per  day.  At  the  end  of  two  years 
he  became  a  journeyman  carpenter,  and 
assisted  on  some  of  the  best  buildings  in  that 
part  of  the  country.  He  has  worked  at  his 
trade  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Ciiuhb  enlisted  in  company  H,  One 
Hundred  and  Ninety-second  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  February  15,  1865,  for 
one  year,  and  was  discharged  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  August  21,  1865.  His  first  military 
duty  was  guarding  prisoners  at  Camp  Chase, 
•near  (Jolumbus,  Ohio.  He  remained  there 
until  April,  1865,  and  was  then  ordered  to 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  and  Shepherdstown, 
Va.,  where  it  was  the  principal  duty  of  his 
detachment  to  order  rebels  to  cut  off  their 
army  buttons,  and  in  case  of  refusal  to  cut 
them  off  themselves.  After  discharge  Mr. 
Chubb  returned  home,  and  continued  his 
work  of  carpentry  and  farming. 

Mr.  Chubb  was  married,  in  Harrisburg, 
June  16,  1859,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Lyter,  born 
on  Haldeinan's  Island,  January  27,  1841; 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Susan  (Miller) Lyter, 
and  the  eldest  of  ten  children.  They  lived 
on  rented  farms  for  three  years  from  the 
time  of  their  marriage,  and  then  Mr.  Samuel 
("hubband  his  brother  Jacob  bought  twenty- 
one  acres  of  land.  Samuel  H.  Chubb  after- 
wards bought  out  his  brother's  interest  in  the 
land  and  added  to  it  eleven  acres  more. 

Mr.  Chubb  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but 
in  minor  matters  is  liberal  in  his  opinions. 
He  holds  membership  in  General  Slocum 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Halifax,  and  in  Lodge  No. 
82,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  at  Halifax  ;  he  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Encampment,  now  discon- 
tinued. He  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church.  His  children  are:  Seppler  Henry, 
born  September  20,  1859,  farmer  in  Kansas; 
Florence  Rebecca,  born  November  25,  1860, 
wife  of  Fred.  Bvrod,  Oberlin,  Pa.;  EmmaC, 
born  May  10,1860,  died  October  11,  1870; 
Hiram  Curtin,  born  July  1,  1862,  died  Octo- 
ber 11,  1870  ;  William  Benton,  born  May  10, 
1864,  died  January  3,  1878  ;  Philip  Elmer, 
born  October  5,  1869,  farmer  in  Kansas ;  Jo- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


727 


seph  Edward,  born  July  5,  1873,  at  home  ; 
John  Harvey,  born  November  23,  1874,  at 
home,  and  Ira  Roscoe,  born  December  4, 
1880,  died  February  7, 1882. 

Henry  Lyter,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Chubb, 
died  June  10,  1890,  and  his  remains  are  in- 
terred in  Long's  cemetery,  Halifax  townshi]). 
He  had  attained  tlie  advanced  age  of  eight}' 
years,  iiis  entire  life  having  been  spent  in 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Halifax  and  Reed 
townships.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  quali- 
ties, honored  and  respected  by  all  his  friends 
and  neighbors.  His  faithful  j)artner  through 
life  still  survives  him  at  the  advanced  age  of 
upwards  of  seventy-five  years. 

Mattis,  Abraham,  fanner  and  dairyman, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  Janu- 
ary 6,  1838  ;  son  of  Aaron  and  Catherine 
(Schwenk)  Mattis.  Aaron  Mattis  was  born  in 
Montgomery  county  in  1810 ;  he  was  educated, 
grew  up  and  married  in  his  native  township. 
In  1839  he  located  at  Uniontown  (now  Pillow), 
MitHin  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and 
embarked  in  mercantile  pursuits,  in  which 
business  he  continued  the  remainder  of  his 
life;  he  died  in  1872.  His  wife  still  survives 
and  resides  in  Millersburg,  Pa.  Their  chil- 
dren are  :  Abraham,  Aaron,  stock  dealer  at 
Millersburg,  Pa.;  Mary  J.,  died  aged  thirty 
years;  Sarah  B.,  resides  in  Philadelphia, 
wife  of  Samuel  Baker;  John  J.,  Pottsville, 
Pa.;  Solomon  S.,  Halifax  township  ;  Charles 
F.,  and  Edward,  Millersburg,  Pa. 

Abraham  Mattis  was  one  year  old  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Mifflin  township, 
where  he  received  his  education.  His  school 
advantages  were  limited  to  his  earlier  youth, 
as  he  did  not  attend  school  after  his  four- 
teenth year,  and  even  before  that  time  he 
had  done  considerable  work  in  his  father's 
store.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  put  in 
charge  of  his  father's  huckster  team  and 
drove  to  the  coal  regions  of  Schuylkill 
county,  forty  miles  distant,  leaving  home  at 
two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  and 
making  the  trip  in  all  kinds  of  weather.  In 
the  ten  years  during  which  he  had  charge  of 
this  part  of  his  father's  business,  he  missed 
only  five  weeks  out  of  the  five  hundred  and 
twenty.  His  father  paid  him  |1,000  for  his 
services  prior  to  reaching  his  majority  and 
$300  for  the  last  year  of  his  time. 

In  1859  Mr.  Mattis  opened  a  general  store 
in  Elizabethville,  Pa.,  which  he  conducted 
until  1865.  During  1864-65  he  also  dealt 
in  live  stock,  occupying  thirty-five  days  in 


bringing  a  drove  from  Erie,  Pa.,  to  this 
county.  In  the  fall  of  1865  Mr.  Mattis  sold 
his  store  and  removed  to  a  farm  he  had  pur- 
chased and  which  he  occupied  for  a  short 
time.  On  January  1, 1866,  he  went  to  Phila- 
delphia and  was  engaged  as  salesman  by  the 
Reigle  &  Fister  Drv  Goods  Company.  Dur- 
ing 1860  he  sold  $70,000  worth  of  dry  goods, 
receiving  $2,000  salary  for  the  year.  He  was 
offered  $2,500  for  the  next  }'ear,  but  the  busi- 
ness being  injurious  to  his  liealtii  he  was 
obliged  to  decline  the  offer.  He  returned  to 
the  farm  and  was  again  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  dealing. 

In  1869  Mr.  Mattis,  with  three  other  gen- 
tlemen, opened  the  coal  mines  of  Tower  City, 
Pa.  He  also  bought  one  hundred  acres  of 
timber  land,  constructed  a  saw  mill,  and  ran 
a  lumber  business  in  connection  with  the 
mines,  which  proved  to  be  the  largest  in  the 
world.  He  sold  three  hundred  thousand 
feet  of  lumber  to  the  Lebanon  Car  Com[)any 
with  which  to  build  cars  for  the  Pacific  rail- 
road in  California.  In  the  fall  of  1873  they 
sold  the  mines  to  the  Reading  Company, 
and  also  the  timber  land  and  mill,  for  which 
they  had  cut  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
feet  of  lutnber.  Mr.  Mattis  once  more  re- 
turned to  his  farm.  In  1872  lie  was  elected 
a  director  of  the  Miners'  Deposit  Bank  of 
Lykens,  and  held  that  position  for  three 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1886  he  disposed  of 
his  farm  and  bought  his  present  {dace  of 
residence,  known  as  the  garden  farm  of  Hal- 
ifax township.  On  this  farm  he  has  con- 
ducted a  dairy  business. 

Before  1800  Mr.  Mattis  was  a  Republican, 
but  ho  lost  faith  in  the  party  when  tlie  in- 
convertible bond  bill,  the  banking  act,  and 
reconstruction  measures  were  passed.  He 
then  parted  company  with  his  party,  and 
has  since  been  an  independent  voter.  He 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Elizabethville 
under  Abraham  Lincoln,  for  whom  he  cast 
his  first  vote  for  President.  Mr.  Mattis 
never  sought  office  but  once.  He  was  once 
a  candidate  for  sheriff,  but  was  defeated.  Mr. 
Mattis  claimed  "that  money  influenced  the 
result,  and  he  could  not  use  money  to  buy 
votes,  although  he  had  powerful  moneyed 
friends  willing  to  aid  him  in  securing  the 
election.  He  chose  rather  to  miss  the  office 
than  to  resort  to  corrupt  measures  in  order 
to  secure  it."  Mr.  Mattis  desired  to  enlist  in 
the  arm}'  in  1861,  but  as  he  was  already  in 
Government  employ,  he  could  not  be  ac- 
cepted.    He  visited  the  Antietam  battlefield. 


728 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Mr.  Mattis  was  married,  in  Upper  Paxton 
township,  December  19,  1858,  to  Miss  Louisa 
Meh)',  born  in  that  township,  January  29, 
1841  ;  daughter  of  George  and  Catherine 
(Wihnot)  Mehr,  natives  of  France.  Mrs. 
Mattis  was  born  and  brought  up  in  the 
Catholic  church,  but  after  her  marriage  she 
affiliated  with  the  Lutheran  church.  Their 
children  are :  Catherine,  wife  of  Frederick 
Shillinger,  died  in  Philadelphia,  leaving  her 
husband  and  two  children  to  mourn  her 
loss;  Annie  Louisa,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Mc- 
Gann,  of  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  has  three  children 
living  and  two  dead  ;  Laura  S.,  wife  of  David 
W.  Lurker,  Washington  town.ship,  Dauphin 
county,  has  three  boys;  Ella  Hannah,  wife 
of  Martin  Rapp,  a  civil  engineer  of  the  Santa 
Fe  Railroad  Company,  resides  at  Vancouver, 
Washington;  Jennie,  wife  of  William  C. 
Mills,  Millersburg,  Pa.,  has  no  children ; 
Lottie  May,  dieil,  aged  nine  months ;  George, 
attending  Millersburg  high  school,  seven-, 
teen  years  of  age,  and  Louisa,  at  home.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Mr.  Mattis  formerly  belonged  to  the  I.  0.  0. 
F.,  at  Berrysburg,  and  of  the  S.  P.  K.  of  Ly- 
kens ;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Al- 
liance. 


BRUBAKER,JoHNR.,farmer,  was  born  April 
21,  1846,  on  the  farm  in  Halifax  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  which  he  now  owns, 
and  which  was  handed  down  from  his 
grandfather,  Daniel  Ikubaker.  He  is  a  son 
of  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (Rutter)  Bru- 
baker.  Daniel  Brubaker  was  born  in  France, 
and  came  to  America  before  his  marriage 
and  located  at  Beaver  Creek,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.  He  came  with  considerable 
money,  which  he  invested  in  a  large  tract  of 
land,  extending  from  Berry's  mountain  to 
Fort  Halifax  (now  the  town  of  Halifax),  and 
later  added  much  more.  He  also  owned  the 
Montgomery'  Ferry.  He  was  a  great  lover 
of  fast  horses,  of  which  he  owned  many. 
He  built  a  race  track  near  Halifax  which 
attracted  the  attention  of  horsemen,  and 
was  the  scene  of  man)'  notable  races.  He 
was  considered  the  greatest  sporting  man  of 
that  day.  He  was  an  excellent  judge  of 
horses,  and  was  seldom  mistaken  in  his  esti- 
mate of  their  speed  ;  consequently  he  was  a 
successful  better,  and  realized  much  money 
from  his  skill  and  nerve  in  backing  his 
favorites.  He  brought  one  horse  from  the 
West  which  was  the  source  of  much  amuse- 
ment as  well  as  profit  to  him.     This  horse 


appeared  tame  and  slow  before  going  on  the 
track,  but  once  in  the  race,  he  was  spirited 
enough,  and  easily  distanced  all  competitors 
in  tiie  race.  Mr.  Brubaker's  brothers  were 
among  his  riders,  and  two  of  them  lost  their 
lives  by  accidents  on  the  track  ;  one  by  the 
fall  of  a  horse,  and  the  other  by  being 
thrown  against  a  tree,  both  resulting  in  in- 
stant death  by  broken  skull.  Mr.  Brubaker 
was  a  man  of  character.  He  was  of  iron 
will  and  dauntless  courage.  He  died  on  the 
homestead,  and  a  marble  slab  marks  his 
grave  on  the  old  farm.  Parts  of  his  vast 
landed  estate  are  now  probably  owned  by 
female  descendants.  His  wife  was  taken 
captive  by  the  Lidians,  and  held  a  long 
time,  but  was  finally  released.  The  births 
of  three  of  their  children  are  recorded : 
Jonathan,  father  of  John  R.;  Joseph,  and 
Benjamin.  This  worthy  couple  probably 
had  otiier  children,  of  whose  birth  there  is 
no  record.  The  releiise  of  Mrs.  Brubaker  by 
the  Indians  was  due  to  her  parents.  At 
that  time  they  had  to  go  to  mill  bj'  canoe, 
down  the  river  to  the  mill  near  Harrisburg. 
The  county  was  so  infested  by  Indians  that 
no  road  was  safe.  Every  farm  between 
Millersburg  and  Halifax  then  had  its  own 
private  burial  ground. 

Jonatlian  Brubaker,  father  of  John  R., 
was  born  on  the  homestead  in  Halifax 
township,  December  25,  1801.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  subscription  schools,  and  be- 
came an  expert  in  penmanship.  He  was 
reared  a  farmer's  boy  and  became  a  farmer. 
Later  he  engaged  largely  in  the  culture  and 
sale  of  tobacco.  Mr.  Brubaker  was  married, 
in  Halifax  township,  to  Elizabeth  Rutter, 
born  in  Halifax  township,  May  10,  1811  ; 
daughter  of  Andrew  Rutter.  Their  only 
child  is  John  R.  The  father  died  in  1848. 
He  was  prominent  in  township  affairs,  and 
was  highly  respected.  The  mother  is  still 
living  in  Harrisburg,  and  is  now  the  widow 
of  Benjamin  Straw. 

John  R.  Brubaker  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  his  native  place.  In  his  eighteenth 
year  he  entered  the  Central  Evangelical 
College,  New  Berlin,  Union  county.  Pa.,  and 
finished  his  course  in  his  nineteenth  year. 
He  then  returned  home,  and  for  the  next 
three  years  was  a  fireman  on  the  Northern 
Central  railway.  He  then  took  possession  of 
the  homestead  farm,  which  was  left  him  by 
his  father,  and  which,  since  that  date,  1867, 
he  has  been  engaged  in  cultivating.  Mr. 
Brubaker  was  married,  in  Halifax  township, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


729 


March  1,  1867,  to  Miss  Margaret  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Rutter)  Poflen- 
berger.  She  was  born  in  Middle  Paxton 
township,  Daupiiin  county,  November  8, 
1845.  They  had  two  cliildren :  James  G., 
born  November  11,  1868,  died  March  12, 
1895,  a  farmer,  and  Harry  R.,  born  April 
12,  1870,  a  school  teacher  of  Halifax  town- 
ship. He  attended  the  public  schools  of 
this  township,  and  later  graduated  from  the 
Bloomsburg  Normal  School,  in  Columbia 
county,  Pa.  Mrs.  Brubaker  died  in  Janu- 
ar}',  1894.  Mr.  Brubaker  is  a  Democrat. 
He  has  been  assessor  for  three  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Millersburg. 


Mellin,  Dustin  Fletcher,  was  born  in 
Nashua,  then  a  town  in  Massachusetts,  now 
in  New  Hampshire,  April  15,  1821.  He  is 
a  son  of  Ezra  and  Sarah  (Fletcher)  Mellin. 
The  pioneer  settler  of  the  Rfellin  family  came 
to  America  from  England  ten  ^^ears  after  the 
Pilgrims  landed  at  Plymouth  Rock.  He 
was  a  clergjanan,  and  located  at  Dorchester, 
Mass. 

John  Mellin,  grandfather  of  D.  F.  Mellin, 
was  born  at  Nashua,  and  lived  to  the  age  of 
ninety-six  years.  He  died  at  Washington, 
N.  H.,  where  he  had  been  a  farmer,  and  a 
deacon  in  the  church,  both  for  sixty  years. 
He  married  a  Miss  White.  Their  children 
were:  Annie,  Daniel,  Ira,  Sumner,  Francis, 
Ezra,  and  two  daughters,  Susan,  twin  of 
Ezra,  and  Polly,  next  older  than  Ezra.  By 
a  previous  marriage  Mr.  John  Mellin  had 
one  son  who  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and 
three  years  old. 

Ezra  Mellin  was  born  in  Nashua,  June  11, 
1797  ;  he  followed  various  occujiations.  He 
was  a  farmer ;  he  was  a  director  of  the  Indian 
Head  Bank,  at  Nashua,  and  was  one  of  the 
original  five  men  who  built  the  Nashua  and 
Lowell  railroad.  He  was  also  a  large  dealer 
in  wool.  Ezra  Mellin  died  at  Nashua,  aged 
fifty-nine  years.  His  wife,  Sarah,  was  born 
in  1801.  They  had  tiiree  children  :  Sarah, 
married  Franklin  Goddard,  and  lives  near 
Fitcliburg,  Mass.;  Emeline,  married  Eben 
Stone,  wiio  has  been  lieutenant  governor 
of  Massachusetts  for  two  terms,  and  member 
of  Congress  for  two  years,  residence,  Boston, 
Mass.,  and  Dustin  Fletcher. 

Dustin  Fletcher  Mellin  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  town.  In  1837, 
being  in  his  sixteenth  year,  he  began  to 
prepare  himself  at  North  Chelmsford,  Mass., 


for  the  work  of  mechanical  engineering.  He 
became  proficient,  and  has  made  this  his 
profession  ;  for  thirty-five  years  most  of  his 
work  has  been  in  Massachusetts.  For  four- 
teen years  he  owned  the  American  Machine 
Works.  In  1862  Mr.  Mellin  started  at  New 
York  City  what  was  then  known  as  the 
American  Gun  Company,  of  the  stock  of 
which  he  was  one-fifth  owner,  and  for  which 
he  was  manager  at  a  salary  of  §5,000  per 
year.  He  made  fifty  thousand  guns  for 
the  United  States  Government.  During  the 
same  time  he  originated  the  Bridgeport 
Chemical  Works  at  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and 
looked  after  the  business  of  that  concern  also. 
After  closing  operations  in  both  these  places 
Mr.  Mellin  started  the  (Connecticut  Screw 
Company,  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  which  he  man- 
aged for  one  year.  Miev  this  he  came  to 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  bought  his  pres- 
ent place  of  residence,  then  containing  two 
liundred  and  forty-four  acres,  now  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-eight.  He  has  extensively 
improved  tliis  place. 

Mr.  Mellin  was  first  married,  in  Manches- 
ter, N.  H.,  in  1842,  to  Miss  Nancy  Judkins, 
born  in  New  Hampshire,  and  one  of  the  five 
children  of  Joseph  Judkins,  a  native  of  Deer- 
field,  N.  H.  Their  children  are:  Annie 
Elizabeth,  died  young  ;  Ella  Maria,  deceased, 
married  a  Mr.  Sullivan;  Frank,  civil  engi- 
neer for  the  New  York  Central  railroad,  and 
George,  died  young.  Mr.  Mellin  was  married 
the  second  time,  in  New  York  City,  in  18G8, 
to  Miss  Rebecca  Rose  Hain,  born  in  Pine 
Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  November 
29,  1830;  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Keifer)  Hain,  both  natives  of  Schuylkill 
county.  Samuel  Hain,  father  of  Mrs.  Mel- 
lin, was  a  shoemaker.  He  was  married  in 
Pine  Grove,  and  later  removed  to  Pottsville, 
Pa.,  and  thence  to  Lykens,  about  1842.  He 
died  at  the  latter  place  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
two.  His  wife  died  at  the  home  of  her  son- 
in-law,  D.  F.  Mellin,  aged  about  sixty-seven. 
Tiieir  children  are:  Rebecca  Rose,  Mrs.  Mel- 
lin; John,  died  young;  George,  now  justice 
of  the  peace  at  Williamstown,  Pa.,  and  Mary, 
widow  of  Robert  G.  Steward,  residing  in 
Lykens  A^alley.  Mr.  Mellin  was  formerly  a 
Whig,  and  afterwards  became  a  Republican. 

B.\KER,  Henry  J.,  was  born  in  Jackson 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  December 
12,  1835.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Polly 
(Chubb)  Baker.  The  Bakers  were  originally 
from  Germany.     Jacob   Baker,  grandfather 


730 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


of  Henr}'  J.,  was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county ; 
was  married  here  and  reared  a  famil}'.  He 
died  on  tlie  home  farm  on  whicli  Henry  J. 
Baker  now  resides.  His  wife  was  a  Miss 
Shultz.  Daniel  Chubb, maternal grandfatlier 
of  Mr.  Baker,  was  a  soldier  throughout  the 
war  of  1812. 

Jacob  Baker,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
father  of  Henry  J.  Baker,  was  born  in  Hali- 
fax township,  JJauphin  county.  Pa.,  in  1805. 
He  was  married,  in  Halifax  tovvjship,  to 
Polly  Chubb.  Their  children  were  .seven 
girls  and  four  boys:  Susan,  wife  of  Peter 
Minnock ;  Sarah,  wife  of  Josiah  Dempsey  ; 
Catherine,  died  young;  Henry  J.;  Isaac, 
farmer  in  Plalifax  townshif);  Margaret, 
widow  of  Peter  Heckrick ;  Mary,  wife  George 
Jury;  Jacob,  farmer  in  Middle  Paxton  town- 
ship ;  Mattie,  wife  of  William  Bowerman  ; 
Daniel,  resides  in  Harrisburg,  and  Barbara 
Ellen,  wife  of  John  Kines. 

Henry  Baker  was  about  six  years  old  when 
his  parents  brought  him  to  Halifax  town- 
ship, where  he  received  his  education  in  tiie 
common  schools.  He  grew  up  a  farmer  boy, 
and  remained  at  home,  attending  school 
some  months  of  each  year,  until  he  was 
twenty  years  old.  Before  he  was  married 
his  father  died,  and  the  care  of  bringing  up 
iiis  brothers  and  sisters  fell  ujion  Henry. 

Mr.  Baker  was  married,  in  Halifax  town- 
ship, November  19,  1860,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Stoutsabarger,  born  in  York  county,  Pa.,  in 
1840.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  took  up  their 
residence  u])on  the  home  farm,  where  they 
have  ever  since  lived.  Their  children  are  : 
Mary  C,  died  young  ;  Emma  Jane,  deceased, 
wife  of  George  Messer ;  Annie  E,  wife  of 
Joseph  Straw  ;  William  J.,  farmer  in  Hali- 
fax township  ;  Martha,  Henry  E.,  George  D., 
and  Sarah  A., at  home  ;  Rosie  B.,  died  young; 
and  John  H.,  Carrie  M.,  Bertha  B.,  and  Min- 
nie G.,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Baker  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He 
was  school  director  for  seven  consecutive 
terras,  and  has  served  many  other  times  on 
the  board.  He  was  reared  in  tiie  faith  of  tlie 
United  Brethren  church,  but  does  uot  at 
present  belong  to  any  sect. 


CuMBLER,  J.  H.,  station  agent  at  Halifax, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Newport,  Perry  county,  Pa., 
April  6, 1850;  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Bowman)  Cumbler,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  grandfather,  Jacob  Kumler  (as  the 
name  was  then  spelled),  was  a  farmer  in 
Perry    countj'^,    where    he    died.     William 


Cumbler,  father  of  J.  H.  Cumbler,  was  a 
farmer  and  merchant  in  Perry  county,  Pa. 
He  was  married  three  times.  His  first  wife 
was  a  Miss  Oren  ;  their  children  were  :  Will- 
iam, Jacob,  Henry,  and  George;  all  deceased 
except  George,  who  is  president  of  the  Middle- 
town  and  Highspire  Street  Railroad  Com- 
pany, at  Steelton,  Pa.  The  second  wife  of 
Mr.  Cumbler  was  Elizabeth  Bowman,  by 
whom  he  liad  three  children  :  Henry,  a 
farmer  in  Perry  county,  Pa.;  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  a  railroad  contractor  at  Seattle,  Wash., 
and  J.  H.  The  mother  died  in  1855.  The 
third  Mrs.  Cumbler  waslsabelle  Finton  ;  she 
had  no  children.  Mr.  Cumbler  was  a  Re- 
[)ublican  and  a  member  of  the  Ciinrch  of 
God. 

J.  H.  Cumbler  lived  with  his  parents,  first 
in  his  native  place,  Newport,  afterwards  in 
New  Buttalo,  where  they  removed  in  1855, 
then  in  Montgomery's  Ferry,  and  then  again 
in  Newport;  he  attended  school  in  all  these 
l)laces.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  his  education 
was  far  enough  advanced  for  him  to  become 
a  teacher,  and  he  began  to  exercise  his  gifts 
in  that  line  by  teaching  two  terms.  For  the 
next  five  years  he  was  clerk  in  the  hardware 
store  of  J.  W.  Franklin,  at  Newport.  He 
was  also  bookkeeper  at  Steelton  for  his 
brotiier,  and  then  was  in  mercantile  business 
for  himself  for  two  years.  He  then  removed 
to  Halifax,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and 
been  continuously  employed  in  the  Northern 
Central  railway  office,  first  as  clerk,  and 
since  May  1,  1889,  as  agent;  also,  since  Sep- 
tember, 188-t,he  has  been  agent  for  the  Adams 
Express  Company.  Mr.  Cumbler  has  been 
a  director  in  the  Halifax  Bank  since  1890, 
and  is  a  stockholder  and  director  of  the  Hal- 
ifax Shoe  and  ]\Ianufacturing  Company.  He 
is  a  charter  member  of  Syrian  Commandery, 
No.  133,  A.  &L  I.  O.  K.  M";,  Millersburg ;  also 
charter  member  Millersburg  Conclave,  No. 
102,  I.  0.  H.;  and  a  member  of  P.  0.  S.  of  A., 
Washington  Camp,  No.  576,  of  Halifax,  Pa. 
Mr.  ('umbler  is  also  a  member  of  the  Inter- 
national Association  of  Ticket  Agents,  and 
in  1890  accompanied  his  fellow-members  to 
Florida,  in  1892  to  Canada,  and  in  189-1  to 
California. 

Mr.  Cumbler  is  a  Republican;  he  was 
elected  chief  burgess  of  the  town  in  1885,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  school  board,  in  which 
he  is  serving  his  second  term.  Mr.  Cumbler 
was  married,  in  Halifax,  December  25,  1877, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Judge  Landis. 
Three  of  their  four  children  died  in  infancy. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


731 


Only  tlieir  daughter,  Margaret,  survives.  Mr. 
Cunibler  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church. 


Sawyer,  Thomas  J.,  was  born  near  Pal- 
myra, Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  February  2, 
1828.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Bell) 
Sawyer.  John  Sawj'er  was  born  near  Pal- 
myra, October  25,  1779.  He  was  a  man  of 
much  ability  and  distinction.  He  served 
one  term  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  was  a 
soldier  all  through  the  war  of  1812.  He  was 
married,  in  Lebanon  county,  in  1810.  His 
wife  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ann 
Bell.  They  had  eleven  children;  of  these, 
John  died  in  Illinois,  aged  eighty-three 
3'ears.  The  remaining  children  are  all  de- 
ceased except  Thomas  J.,  and  the  youngest 
uf  the  family,  Sarah  Jane,  now  Mrs.  William 
Young,  of  Philadelphia.  The  father  died  in 
Lebanon  county  in  183G. 

Thomas  J.  Sawyer  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  place  for  a  short  time. 
When  he  was  eight  or  nine  years  old  his 
mother  and  other  members  of  the  famil}'  re- 
moved to  Centerville,  Montgomery  count^^, 
Ohio,  ten  miles  south  of  Dayton,  where  he 
went  to  school  for  some  years,  and  where,  in 
his  sixteenth  year,  he  taught  .school  one  or 
two  terms.  About  1848  the  family  returned 
to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  at  what  was 
known  as  Oak  Dale  Forge,  in  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  taught  school  two  terms. 
He  was  a  ])upil  for  one  term  at  the  Lewis- 
burg  Academy. 

About  1850  Mr.  Sawyer  bought  two  large 
farms  in  Powell's  Valley,  which  were  for- 
merly owned  by  his  father.  He  sold  these 
farms  and  for  three  years  was  interested  in 
business  with  his  brother  at  Decatur,  Macon 
county.  111.  He  returned  to  Dauphin  county 
in  1866  or  1867  and  bought  a  farm  in  Reed 
and  Halifax  townships,  which  he  cultivated 
until  he  located  in  Halifax  borough  in  1872, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Sawyer 
recently  purchased  the  old  Reed  homestead 
farm,  in  Reed  township,  which  was  handed 
down  to  this  family  by  the  grandfather, 
James  Reed.  This  farm  consists  of  two  hun- 
dred acres,  and  is  one  of  the  best  cultivated 
and  most  productive  farms  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Sawyer  was  married,  in  Reed  town- 
ship, June  23,  1863,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M., 
daughter  of  William  and  Clara  (Hatfield) 
Reed,  born  and  reared  in  Reed  township. 
This  township  was  named  for  Mrs.  Sawyer's 
father,  William  Reed  ;  and  his  father,  James 


Reed,  was  about  its  first  settlers.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sawyer's  children  are :  Henry,  Charles, 
and  Martha,  all  deceased.  Mr.  Sawyer  is  a 
Democrat,  but  is  liberal  in  his  views.  He 
has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number  of 
years  in  Halifax  township,  and  in  Powell's 
Valley  for  five  years.  Mr.  Sawyer  has  done 
much  as  a  surveyor  since  coming  to  Halifax. 
He  was  baptized  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Judge  John  Ray  is  connected  with  the 
Sawyer  family  through  the  marriage  of  his 
brother  James  H.  with  Ann  Sawyer,  eldest 
sister  of  Thomas  J.  Sawyer.  Judge  Ray  was 
for  some  time  commander  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

Mrs.  Sawver  was  born  in  Reed  township, 
February  22,  1 835.  Her  fiither  died  Novem- 
ber 6,  1864,  and  her  mother  died  in  Halifax, 
May  10,  1880.  Of  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, three  now  survive:  William,  residing 
in  Philadelpliia  ;  Margaret,  widow  of  tiie  late 
Dr.  Joim  0.  Whitman,  of  Halifax,  and  Mrs. 
Sawyer. 


FoRTENBAUGH,  ABRAHAM,  merchant,  at 
Halifax,  was  born  in  Newberrytown,  York 
county.  Pa.,  August  5, 1838.  He  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  E.  (Miller)  Fortenbaugh. 
Andrew,  the  grandfatlier,  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  came  to  America  with  his 
brother  Peter.  At  Philadelphia  they  sepa- 
rated, the  latter  settling  at  the  foot  of  Peter's 
mountain,  where  he  worked  at  wagon  mak- 
ing and  blacksmithing,  wliich  occupation  he 
followed  all  his  life.  He  had  a  family  of 
eleven  sons,  and  was  twice  married.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  went  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  married  the  reputed  wife  of 
Daniel  Boone.  Andrew  settled  in  Newberry- 
town, York  county,  and  engaged  in  farming, 
on  a  fine  place  of  two  hundred  acres.  He 
had  a  family  of  thirteen  children.  He  died 
between  1815  and  1820.  The  father  was 
born  in  Newberrytown,  York  county,  in 
1813.  He  received  liis  education  in  tiie 
public  schools  of  his  native  place.  He  was 
engaged  in  butchering  nearly  all  his  life. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Goldsboro, 
York  county.  He  died  in  Yocumtown,  in 
1865,  and  his  wife  in  1878.  They  had  these 
children,  viz.:  Annie,  deceased;  Abraham; 
A.  M.,  Samuel,  Mary,  Ellen,  and  five  other 
children,  all  deceased.  The  father  was  a 
Republican,  and  took  an  active  part  in  polit- 
ical affairs.  He  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  more  than  thirty-five  years. 

Abraham  received  a  limited  education  in 
the   public    schools,   only   attending   them 


732 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


until  twelve  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
assisting  in  his  father's  business.  In  his 
eighteenth  year  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  father  in  a  general  store  in  Yocum- 
town,  Newberry  township,  and  continued 
there  for  nine  years.  In  1864  he  moved 
to  Halifax  and  opened  up  his  present  place 
of  business,  in  which  he  has  been  vevy  suc- 
cessful. He  was  married,  in  Halifax,  Janu- 
ary 30,  1862,  to  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  By  rod, 
a  native  of  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster  county, 
and  daugiiter  of  John  and  Mary  Byrod. 
Their  children  are :  Seward  B.,  deceased  ; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  T.  Marthes,  attorney-at-law, 
Springfield,  111.;  Catharine,  wife  of  Prof. 
Harris  J.  Ryan,  of  Cornell  University,  N.  Y.; 
Samuel  B.,  profe.ssor  of  engineering,  Madi- 
son University,  Wisconsin.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Susquehanna  Lodge,  No.  364,  and 
was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  represented  liis  district  in 
the  State  Legislature  in  1874-75-76.  He  has 
served  as  scliool  director,  councilman,  and 
burgess  of  Halifax  He  leans  toward  the 
Episcopal  church. 


Cratzer,  Frank  B.,  merchant,  Halifax, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Pillow,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  July  2,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Bowman)  Cratzer.  The  father's  fam- 
ily consisted  of  the  following  children  :  An- 
drew Curtin,  Atlantic  City ;  Emma;  George, 
Harrisburg  ;  Frank  B.;  Mary,  wife  of  H.  W. 
Bottomsted  ;  Harvey;  Harry ;  Martha,  wife 
of  Mr.  Spahr,  Harrisburg,  and  Edward.  He 
is  a  strong  Rejiublican  and  has  held  several 
offices.  Frank  B.  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  Berrysburg  Seminary.  He 
moved  from  there  to  Halifax  with  his  par- 
ents, in  1877,  and  began  clerking  in  the 
general  store  of  G.  W.  Etter,  with  whom  he 
remained  four  j'ears.  In  1881  he  went  to 
Enterline  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits for  himself.  He  continued  there  for 
twelve  years  and  in  1893  came  to  Halifax, 
built  a  commodious  store,  above  which  are 
his  living  apartments.  He  was  married, 
February  24,  1881,  in  Halifax,  to  Miss  An- 
nie E.  Bickel,  who  was  born  November  13, 
1860,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  H.  and 
Catherine  (Bower)  Bickel,  both  natives  of 
Germany.  Their  children  are:  Carrie  B., 
born  October,  1881;  Bertha  Edna,  born  De- 
cember 28,  1883,  and  Annie  C,  born  April 
20,  1887.  In  politics  Mr.  Cratzer  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 


Ditty,  Joshua,  was  born  in  Liverpool, 
Perry  county.  Pa.,  December  10,  1831.  He 
is  a  son  of  Simon  and  Mary  (Brant)  Ditty. 
Tlie  grandfatlier,  Henry  Ditty,  came  with 
his  parents  from  Lancaster  county,  and  set- 
tled witli  liis  parents  in  Dau{)hin.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Catiiarine  Miller,  and  lived 
to  a  ripe  old  age.  The  father,  Simon  Ditty, 
was  a  native  of  Washington  township,  Dau- 
jihin  county.  In  early  life  he  moved  to 
Liver|>ool,  Perry  count^^and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  woolen  goods,  until  1854, 
when  he  moved  to  Halifax  township.  Tliree 
years  later  he  moved  to  Clark's  Ferry,  Reed 
township,  and  served  as  lock  tender  and 
collector.  He  was  accidentally  killed  by 
tlie  cars  in  1867,  and  his  wife  died  in 
1889, in  Duncannon,Pa.  Their  cliildren  are: 
Sarah  Ann,  Levi,  Joshua,  Mary, Rachel,. John, 
William,  Catharine,  deceased,  and  Rebecca. 
Joshua  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place  and  at  Montgom- 
ery's Ferry.  When  nineteen  years  old  he 
began  to  learn  the  trade  of  milling  at  Bas- 
kin's  mill,  Halifax  township.  After  serving 
an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  he  followed 
his  trade  a  short  time,  but  owing  to  an  in- 
jury was  compelled  to  relinquish  that  busi- 
ness. He  then  worked  on  a  farm  for  a 
time  and  next  became  a  boatman  on  the 
canal,  and  continued  thus  for  fourteen  years. 
He  then  came  to  Halifixx  and  clerked  for  his 
brother-in-law,  George  Etter.  After  pur- 
ciiasing  and  residing  on  a  farm  for  two 
years,  he  returned  to  his  former  position. 
He  eidisted  in  company  H,  One  Hundred 
and  Ninety-second  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  and  went  first  to  Cam})  Chase, 
Ohio,  thence  to  Harper's  Ferry  and  up  the 
Shenandoah  Valley.  In  1883  Mr.  Etter  be- 
came steward  at  Lebanon  Valley  College, 
Annville,  Pa.,  which  position  he  retained 
for  four  years,  when  sickness  compelled  him 
to  resign.  He  was  married,  March  13, 1860, 
to  Miss  Mary  Lebo,  who  was  born  in  Halifax 
township,  Dauphin  count)',  March  10,  1837, 
and  is  a  daugiiter  of  Jacob  and  Catharine 
(Kramer)  Lebo.  In  politics  Mr.  Ditty  is  a 
Republican,  and  lias  served  as  burgess  two 
terms,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term 
as  councilman.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  and  president  of 
the  board  of  trustees. 


Gilbert,  Isaac,  farmer  and  carpenter, 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead,  in  Halifax 
township,  April  29,  1849.     He  is  a  son  of 


DAUP3IN  COUNTt. 


733 


Jacob  and  Susan  (Fetterhoff)  Gilbert,  natives 
of  Lebanon  and  Halifax  townships,  respect- 
ively. The  grandfather,  Jacob  Gilbert,  was 
a  native  of  Lebanon  county,  and  came  to 
Halifax  in  1819.  Jacob's  father  and  two 
uncles  were  the  first  of  the  famil}'  to  come 
to  America,  and  they  separated  at  Pittsburgh. 
Jacob  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three,  leav- 
ing these  children:  Samuel,  Sarah,  Catha- 
rine, John,  George,  and  Jacob.  Tiie  fatiier 
was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  January  24, 
1808,  and  died  in  Halifax  townsliip,  in  1888. 
He  had  a  very  fair  education  and  came  to 
Dauphin  county  in  1819  with  his  parents. 
For  some  years  he  was  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Halifax  Herald.  His  family  consisted 
of  the  following  children:  George;  John, 
deceased;  Mary;  Elizabeth;  Sarah, deceased; 
Catiiarine,  deceased  ;  Jacob,  deceased  ;  Sam- 
uel, and  Isaac. 

Isaac  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place.  In  hisyoutli  he 
worked  very  iiard,  and  remained  with  his 
father  until  his  marriage,  after  wliich  he 
farmed  the  old  homestead  eleven  years.  He 
then  farmed  for  a  period  of  ten  years  another 
farm  of  his  father's.  In  1889  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-three 
acres  in  Halifax  township,  whicii  he  worked 
two  years,  and  then  began  carpentering. 
He  also  owns  another  farm  of  seventy-tliree 
acres.  He  was  married,  February  27,  1870, 
to  Miss  Phoebe  Frontmeyer,  born  in  North- 
umberland county,  March  9,  1852,  and  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  (Heckerd) 
Frontmeyer.  Their  children  are  :  John  L., 
Mary  G.,  Samuel  J.  and  Mary  Fetterhoff. 
Mr.  Gilbert  was  brought  up  in  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


KopPENHEFFER,  CoRNELius,  merchant, 
Halifax,  Pa.,  was  born  August  18,  1846,  in 
Washington  township.  He  is  a  son  of  Dan- 
iel and  Fanny  (Bordner)  Koppenhetier. 
Daniel  W.,  the  father,  was  born  in  Lyken's 
Valley  in  1814,  and  died  in  the  same  place 
in  1873.  His  family  consisted  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Phoebe,  Uriah,  P^lizabeth,  Re- 
becca, James  Monroe,  Cornelius,  Solomon, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Mary,  deceased,  Dan- 
iel, and  Catharine.  He  was  a  staunch  Re- 
publican and  served  in  various  positions  of 
honor  and  trust. 

('ornelius  received  his  education  in  tiie 
public  schools  of  his  native  place.  His 
early  life  was  spent  engaged  in  farm  work 
and  later  he  began  to  learn   the  trade  of 


moulding  in  Berrysburg.  After  serving  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  years  he  began  busi- 
ness for  himself.  Later  he  went  to  Juniata 
county,  and  afterwards  to  Pittsburgh,  where 
he  worked  in  the  foundry  for  five  years. 
After  working  in  Harrisburg  and  Berr^'s- 
burg  for  a  time  he  came  to  Halifax  and 
purchased  the  foundr}'  of  John  Ropp.  He 
was  married,  in  Lykens  Valley,  m  1866,  to 
Miss  Anna  Marwert.  Their  ciiildren  are : 
Lottie,  wife  of  Samuel  Fisher,  Harrisburg ; 
Ernest  Foster,  Andrew  Curtin,  Ivy  Johanna, 
Lawrence,  Sarah  Jane,  Mary  Jane,  Fannj^, 
Byron,  and  Cornelius.  In  politics  Mr.  Kop- 
penhetfer  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  in 
town  council.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  cliurcl:. 


Lyter,  Joseph  E.,  merchant,  Halifax, 
was  born  in  Halifax  township,  June  6, 1852. 
He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Susan  (Miller) 
Lyter,  who  reside  in  Halifax.  The  fatiier, 
Henry  Lyter,  was  born  near  Harrisburg. 
He  came  to  Halifax  township  with  his  par- 
ents when  a  boy,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  this  place.  He 
is  now  eighty  years  old,  and  his  wife  seventy- 
three.  Tiieir  children  are  :  Sarah,  John  B., 
James  W.,  Hiram,  Josepli  E.,  Mary  R.,  Al- 
fred, Agnes  v.,  Emma  L.,  and  one  who  died 
in  infanc}^ 

Jose|)li  E.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  place.  He  then 
a.ssisted  his  father  on  the  farm  for  a  time, 
and  at  tiie  age  of  nineteen  began  teaching 
scliool,  which  occupation  he  continued  seven 
consecutive  terms.  He  then  learned  the 
carpenter  trade,  which  he  followed  until 
August,  1881.  He  then  spent  some  years 
in  Iowa,  and  in  January,  1888,  went  to  Car- 
lisle, where  he  worked  in  a  grocery  store 
one  year.  After  teacliing  scliool  two  terms 
in  Halifax,  he  became  general  manager  of 
the  Halifax  Shoe  Manufacturing  Company, 
which  position  he  still  retains.  In  February, 
1893,  he  opened  his  present  place  of  busi- 
ness. The  firm  is  styled  J.  PI  Lyter  &  Co., 
Luther  Ryan  being  the  partner.  He  was 
married,  February  22,  1877,  to  Miss  Lydia 
A.,  daughter  of  John  and  Maria  (Clemson) 
Bonker,  by  wiiom  he  lias  one  child,  Rosa  C. 


Shaffer,  Mich.\el,  son  of  George  Shaefer, 
was  born  December  1,  1803,  at  Halifax, 
Daupiiin  county,  Pa.  For  some  years  he 
resided  in  Harrisburg,  and  when  quite  a 
young  man  he  married  Susan  Cloud,  of  Lan- 


734 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


caster  county,  and  made  his  home  in  that 
county  a  few  years.  Their  children  were 
Adaline,  who  married  Rev.  C.  A.  Wyeth ; 
Henry  J.;  John  M.,  acivil  engineer,  who  died 
at  Selena,  Ala.,  August  11,  1871;  Mary  L., 
who  married  Theodore  D.  Irish ;  Harriet 
Matilda,  who  married  Joseph  Davidson ; 
Lucetta,  who  died  June  9, 1837  ;  Anne  Eliza, 
who  married  John  Thompson  ;  George  T., 
who  died  November  4,  1867,  at  Ashland, 
and  Benjamin  Ingersoll.  In  1831-32  the 
Lykens  Valley  Coal  Company  was  organized 
and  commenced  operations  at  what  was  then 
known  as  "Bear  Gap"  (now  Wiconisco).  The 
company  built  a  large  log  frame  house,  and 
Michael  Sh_aefer  moved  into  it  for  the  pur- 
pose of  boarding  the  workmen  and  entertain- 
ing the  members  of  the  company.  At  that 
time  the  upper  end  (now  Lykens,  Wiconisco 
and  Williamstown)  was  one  vast  wilderness, 
with  a  few  log  huts  scattered  around.  He 
resided  in  this  place  up  to  the  date  of  his 
death,  November  30,  1849,  taking  an  active 
part  in  the  development  of  the  coal  region*. 
He  was  one  of  the  contractors  in  tlie  build- 
ing of  the  Lykens  Valley  railroad,  also  in 
the  building  of  the  a(|ueduct  and  other  im- 
provements at  the  mouth  of  the  Wiconisco 
canal  feeder.  After  the  first  railroad  was 
built  from  the  Gap  to  Millersburg,  he  had 
the  contract  for  the  delivery  of  the  coal,  float- 
ing it  across  the  river  to  Mt.  Patrick  on  the 
Pennsylvania  canal.  IIiswife,Susan8haefer, 
wlio  was  a  most  estimable  Christian  woman, 
died  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  on  February  17, 
1876.  Tiie  remains  of  both  rest  in  the  ceme- 
tery at  Harrisburg,  Pa. 


JACKSON  TOWNSHIP. 


Enders,  Philip  C,  paternal  great-grand- 
father of  G.  W.  D.  Enders,  was  born  Jul\' 
22,  1740,  in  Nassau,  Germany.  He  was 
married,  in  1764,  to  Miss  Anna  Appalonia, 
daughter  of  Conrad  Degen,  of  the  same 
country,  and  a  few  months  later  he  and  his 
wife  came  to  America,  landing  at  Philadel- 
phia. After  remaining  here  a  while  the}' 
located  near  Manheim,  Lancaster  county, 
and  settled  in  1788,  in  what  is  now  Jackson 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  The  land 
had  to  be  cleared,  as  the  country  was  yet  a 
wilderness,  and  he  followed  farming,  at  one 
time  owning  1,300  acres  of  land.  He  organ- 
ized and  taught  the  first  school  in  that  sec- 


tion, and  donated  land  for  the  first  school 
house  at  the  place  where  Enders  postoffice 
is  at  present  located.  Mr.  Enders  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  St.  Peter's  Reformed  and 
Lutheran  church,  now  generally  known  as 
Fetterhoff's  church,  in  which  he  took  an  ac- 
tive part,  serving  as  leader  of  the  singing 
until  his  death  in  1810.  Although  in  iiis 
youth  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
yet  he  was  not  buried  in  the  graveyard  of 
thechurcli  he  helped  to  build,  but  was  buried, 
as  he  desired,  by  the  side  of  his  wife,  who 
died  in  1796  and  was  buried  near  the  spot 
where  the  old  cabin  stood. 

In  1886,  their  descendants,  wishing  to 
perpetuate  their  memory  and  beautify  tiieir 
resting  place,  erected  a  white  granite  monu- 
ment, ten  feet  high  and  fully  inscribed,  over 
their  graves.  The  descendants  of  the  En- 
ders family  who  took  the  foremost  part  in 
iiaving  this  memorial  erected  were  G.  W. 
D.  Enders,  as  president,  and  Dr.  Levi  J.  En- 
ders, of  Williamstown,  Pa.,  as  secretary  of 
the  enterprise.  The  descendants  are  scat- 
tered over  many  States  and  Territories  of  the 
Union.  Jeremiah  B.  Enders,  a  great-grand- 
son of  Philip  C,  emigrated  to  Australia  and 
has  become  quite  wealth}'. 

John  Conrad  Enders,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  G.  W.  D.  Enders,  and  youngest  son 
of  Philip  C,  was  born  in  1788,  and  died  in 
1874.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Witman,  daughter  of  Bartholomew  Witman, 
who  was  a  native  of  Germany.  Mr.  Wit- 
man lived  near  the  Black  Forest,  and 
coming  to  America  engaged  in  farming 
until  his  death..  Mr.  Enders  was  a  farmer 
and  lumber  manufacturer,  and  fougiit  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  held  various  township 
offices,  and  opened  tlie  first  public  road  lead- 
ing from  Halifax  via  Fisherville  to  the  place 
now  known  as  Elizabetbville.  As  a  stage 
road  it  was  known  as  the  old  Harrisburg 
via  Gratz  to  Pottsville  road.  Mrs.  Enders 
died  before  her  husband,  and  both  are  buried 
in  the  graveyard  of  Fetterhoff's  church, 
of  which  they  were  active  members.  They 
had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  among 
whom  was  Philip,  the  father  of  G.  W.  D. 
Enders. 

John  Frederic  Zimmerman,  the  maternal 
great-grandfather  of  G.  W.  D.  Enders,  was 
born  in  Wolluria,  Gern:any,  and  came  to 
America  in  1764,  landing  at  Philadelphia. 
He  settled  in  Armstrong  Valley,  southeast 
of  Halifax,  at  a  place  later  known  as  Urick's 
Mill,  now  as  Yeager's  Mill,  where  he  and  his 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


735 


wife  died  and  are  buried  nearby.  Their 
graves  are  marked  on  rough  stones  on  which 
place  Uxrge  oak  trees  have  now  grown  up. 
Mr.  Zimmerman  and  family  had  in  the  early 
days  great  trials  with  roving  bands  of  In- 
dians, who  burned  three  times  their  cabin 
and  took  or  destroyed  his  possessions.  To 
escape  the  Indians  the  family  took  refuge  in 
a  cave  near  by  on  the  banks  of  the  Arm- 
strong creek. 

Christian  Zimmerman,  maternal  grand- 
father of  G.  W.  D.  Enders,  was  married  to 
Miss  Margaret  Anna,  daughter  of  John 
Joseph  Miller,  generally  known  as  Jost  Mil- 
ler, who  came  to  America  from  Badenberg, 
Germany,  and  who  was  also  the  grandfather 
of  Joseph  Miller,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mr.  Zimmerman 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  graveyard  of 
Fetterhofi"s  church,  of  which  they  were 
active  members.  Mr.  Zimmerman's  father- 
in-law,  John  Joseph  Miller,  was  born  in 
1742,  in  Badenberg,  German}',  and  was  bap- 
tized and  confirmed  in,  and  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  church  of  this  country. 
He  married  Miss  F^lizabeth  Schissler,  in 
1774.  Landing  at  Philadelphia  he  first  set- 
tled in  Lancaster  county  and  followed  farm- 
ing. Later  he  became  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Dauphin  county,  settling  in  what  is  now 
Jackson  township.  He  owned  large  tracts 
of  land,  held  many  responsible  offices,  and 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  Fetterhoff's  church, 
taking  an  active  part  in  its  affairs.  He  died 
in  1824,  and  is  buried  in  the  Fetterhoff 
graveyard,  in  that  part  which  is  marked 
with  red  stone. 


Enders,  George  W.  D.,  postmaster  and 
merchant,  Fislierville,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
January  22,  1834.  He  is  a  son  of  Philip 
and  Margaret  A.  (Zimmerman)  Enders. 

Philip  Enders  attended  the  subscription 
schools  of  the  county.  He  inherited  from 
his  father  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Armstrong 
Valley,  upon  which  he  made  extensive  and 
substantial  improvements,  and  upon  which 
he  engaged  largely  in  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing. His  wife,  Mafgaret  A.,  daughter  of 
Christian  Zimmerman,  died  in  1870.  Their 
seven  children  were :  George  W.  D.;  Susanna, 
wife  of  William  Withman  ;  Elizabeth,  de- 
ceased, wife  of  James  Cooper ;  Margaret  A., 
deceased,  wife  of  John  F.  Helt,  resides  in 
Enders,  Pa.;  Catherine,  wife  of  Henry  Smith, 


engineer  on  the  Lykens  Valley  railroad  ; 
Mary  J.,  wife  of  Aaron  Wilbert,  mason,  Arm- 
strong Valley ;  Isaac  F.,  farmer,  on  the  old 
homestead.  Mr.  Enders  is  still  living,  aged 
eighty-two  years.  He  resides  in  Armstrong 
Valley,  Jackson  township.  He  has  held 
several  township  offices.  His  political  views 
are  Democratic.  Mr.  Enders  is  a  Lutheran, 
and  has  held  the  offices  of  elder,  deacon,  ar.d 
other  positions  of  trust  in  the  church.  He 
has  come  through  a  very  active  and  useful 
life  to  a  comfortable  and  happj'old  age,  and 
enjoys  the  esteem  and  best  wishes  of  a  host 
of  relatives  and  friends. 

George  W.  D.  Enders  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  township  and  the  high 
school  of  Berrysburg.  He  remained  on  the 
homestead  with  his  father  until  he  was 
twenty-six,  attending  school  in  liis  earlier 
3'outh  as  often  as  possible.  He  taught  school 
for  nine  terms.  He  worked  on  the  Northern 
Central  railroad  until  1863.  During  the 
great  rebel  invasion  which  culminated  in  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  he  acted  with  the  [)io- 
neer  corps,  cutting  down  timber,  repairing 
bridges,  and  aiding  the  Union  ami}'  in  all 
possible  ways.  After  this,  he  was  in  the 
Lykens  Valley  coal  regions,  employed  about 
the  mines  as  machinist,  carpenter,  boiler 
maker,  engineer,  etc.  During  the  following 
eight  years  he  was  in  [)artnership  witli  his 
brother-in-law,  John  F.  Helt,  in  mercantile 
business,  at  Jacksonville,  in  which  he  met 
with  a  fair  share  of  success.  Disposing  of 
this  business,  Mr.  Enders  opened  a  general 
store,  at  Enterline,  in  Powell's  Valley,  where 
he  remained  until  1879  ;  he  then  removed  to 
Fislierville  and  conducted  a  general  mer- 
chandising business  there  until  1890.  In 
this  enterprise  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
a  Mr.  Lebo,  to  whom,  after  one  year,  he  dis- 
posed of  his  own  interest,  I'elinquishing  the 
business  entirely. 

With  the  proceeds  of  this  sale  Mr.  Enders 
jHirchased  a  farm  in  Armstrong  \''alley,  on 
which  he  made  valuable  improvements,  in- 
volving an  outlay,  including  the  purchase 
money  of  the  farm,  of  the  handsome  sum  of 
$9,000.  His  final  venture  in  business,  and 
the  one  which  now  occupies  his  attention,  is 
a  general  store  in  Fislierville,  where  he  car- 
ries a  large  stock  and  varied  enough  to  meet 
the  demands  of  the  community.  His  abil- 
ity and  integrity,  coupled  with  his  genial 
personality,  attracts  a  large  and  profitable 
patronage. 

Mr.  Enders  is  a  Democrat.    He  was  assist- 


736 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


ant  postmaster  under  Postmaster  Joseph  P. 
Lyter,  at  Enders,  Pa.,  from  1868  to  187G,  and 
from  187()  to  1879,  at  Enterline,  Pa.,  under 
Postmaster  Amos  Sponsler.  He  was  first 
made  postmaster  under  President  Hayes, 
and  held  under  the  first  Cleveland  adlninis- 
tration  ;  he  was  displaced  under  President 
Harrison,  and  appointed  again  in  1893,  by 
President  Cleveland.  He  was  for  several 
years  in  each  office,  auditor,  school  director, 
and  judge  of  elections,  and  is  at  present 
townshij)  treasurer.  He  was  for  seven  years 
in  the  .State  militia.  He  is  a  member  of 
Charity  Lodge.  No.  82,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  Eureka 
Encampment,  No.  137,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Hali- 
fax, Pa.,  and  a  member  of  Lodge,  No.  359, 
K.  of  P.  Mr.  Enders  has  been  a  stockholder 
of  the  Halifax  Bank  ever  since  it  was  insti- 
tuted, and  became  its  vice-president,  a  posi- 
tion to  which  he  has  since  been  annually 
re-elected. 

Mr.  Enders  was  married,  in  1858,  in  Jack- 
son township,  to  Annie  Kneile,  born  in  Ger- 
many, in  1835;  she  came  to  this  country  in  ' 
youth.  They  have  one  child,  Emma  K., 
wife  of  Dr.  M.  I).  Lehr,  of  Lykens.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Lehr  have  four  children.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  cliurch,  and  takes 
an  active  part  in  all  church  matters.  He  is 
an  elder  in  the  church, and  has  been  deacon, 
Sunday-school  superintendent,  and  teacher. 
The  career  of  ^Ir.  Enders  commands  the 
admiration  of  his  neiglibors,  and  his  charac- 
ter wins  their  esteem.  He  is  a  supporter  of 
all  good  causes  and  the  advancement  of  his 
community,  and  is  a  willing  contributor, 
when  possible,  to  the  different  cimrciies  in 
his  home,  when  aid  is  requested  of  liim. 

Mr.  Enders  is  deeply  interested  in  histor- 
ical matters  and  recently  wrote  the  follow- 
ing history  of  tlie  well  known  Fetterhoff 
church: 

In  the  year  1795  the  citizens  and  those  of 
a  religious  turn  of  mind  living  in  Armstrong 
Valley,  Dauphin  county,  resolved  to  erect 
for  themselves  a  house  of  worship.  Accord- 
ingly, in  179(3,  St.  Peter's  church,  known  as 
Fetterhoff's  church,  a  log  structure,  was 
erected.  It  soon  became  prominent  in  Ly- 
kens Valley,  and  was  one  of  the  churches  of 
the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  charge,  which 
embraced  a  large  territory,  extending  as  far 
as  the  east  side  of  the  Blue  mountains  and 
the  east  side  of  the  Susquehanna  river. 

The  records  show  that  the  fii'st  class  of 
catechumens  was  under  three  months'  in- 


struction by  Rev.  Enterline,  and  was  con- 
firmed on  the  Saturday  before  Whit  Sun- 
da}',  1797.  The  following  composed  the 
class  :  Daniel  Enterline,  son  of  Rev.  Enter- 
line ;  George,  son  of  Francis  Schaetfer  ;  John 
and  Simeon,  sons  of  David  Herman  ;  John 
and  Elizabeth,  son  and  daughter  of  Jost 
Miller;  John  Adam  and  Catharine,  son  and 
daughter  of  Henry  Warfle  ;  Elizabeth  and 
Catharine,  daughters  of  Ann  Maria  Zimmer- 
man ;  Catharine,  daughter  of  Philip  C.  En- 
ders ;  Elizabeth  Bowerman,  parents  not 
given;  Magdalena  Schmuck,  parents  not 
given. 

The  first  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  held  on  Whit  Sunday,  1797,  Rev.  En- 
terline officiating.  The  following  com- 
muned on  this  occasion  :  Philip  C.  Panders, 
Christiana  Enders,  Ann  Maria  Miller,  Jost 
Miller,  Henr\'  Warfle,  Ann  Maria  Zimmer- 
man, John  l>rown,  Eve  Maria  Brown,  Bar- 
bara Degan,  Ann  Maria  Sweigart,  Magdalena 
Chubb,  and  Maria  Eva  Messersclnnidt. 

The  next  communion  on  record  was  held 
and  served  again  by  Rev.  Enterline  in  1799, 
and  the  following  new  names  appear  on  the 
records  in  addition  to  the  above :  Carl 
Frederick  Frank,  Frederick  Albrecht,  Ann 
Margaretta  Null,  Christiana  Boken,  Catha- 
rine l']tteninger,  Barbara  Neffen,  Margaretta 
Schultz,  Elizabeth  Sliei)lev,  and  Catharine 
Null. 

The  third  communion  on  record  was  held 
October  25,  1807,  and  served  by  Rev.  I.  D. 
Petersor..  He  also  administered  the  sacra- 
ment in  1808,  and  July  2  and  September 
24,  1809.  Like  services  were  held  June  3, 
1810,  and  June  20,  1812,  but  no  pastor's 
name  is  recorded,  only  the  names  of  the 
communicants.  On  August  7,  1813,  Rev. 
James  Ross  Roily  confirmed  a  class  of  cate- 
chumens, numbering  thirty-one  members, 
and  held  communion  on  the  following  Sun- 
day, August  8,  in  which  the  class  and  others 
participated.  Communion  services  were  held 
on  September  10,  1813,  November  12,  1814, 
September,  1815,  April  28,  181G,  October  12, 
181G,  May,  1817,  October  13,  1817,  April  26. 
1818,  October  10,  1819.  To  the  latter  nine 
communion  services  no  pastor's  name  is  re- 
corded. However,  history  states  that  Rev. 
James  Ross  Reily  did  ministerial  work  in 
Lykens  V'^alley  up  to  1819,  when  he  was  e- 
lieved  by  Rev.  Isaac  Gerhard,  who  became 
the  regular  pastor  of  the  Reformed  congre- 
gations, and   during  this  time  Rev.  Reily 


^&t-vulLU>^    ^W>- 


'^^44^=?V -^-^^s'72;?!!!^ 


l^^c^^e^L^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


739 


served  in  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature,  the 
charge  being  served  by  supplies  instead  of 
Rev.  Reily. 

Rev.  Isaac  Gerhard  confirmed  his  first 
class  of  catechumens  and  held  his  first  com- 
munion service  December  25, 1819,  and  con- 
tinued to  serve  the  church  until  April  4, 
1841.  Records  show  that  Lutheran  minis- 
ters held  communion  services  from  May  11, 
1823,  to  April,  1832,  no  names  being  given. 
From  1832  to  May  23,  1836,  Rev.  J.  N. 
Hemping  served  the  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion. On  December  31,  1837,  Rev.  G.  Ellen- 
meyer  administered  the  sacrament.  In 
1841  Rev.  John  R.  Kooken  became  pastor 
of  the  Reformed  congregation,  and  hekl  liis 
first  communion  Octol)er  17,  and  continued 
to  serve  the  congregation  to  April  16,  1843, 
and  was  assisted  in  iiis  last  communion  by 
the  Lutheran  minister,  Rev.  William  G. 
Leitzei.  Records  siiow  that  Rev.  Leitzel  was 
pastor  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  from 
April  17,  1842,  to  April  16,  1843,  and  that 
Rev.  Kooken  assisted  him  in  his  last  com- 
munion service. 

The  third  structure  now  stands  where  the 
first  was  built.  Tiie  second  church  was  a 
two  story  frame  building,  and  tlie  present 
one  is  a  brick  edifice  with  bell  tower,  stained 
glass  windows,  and  frescoed  walls  and  win- 
dows. The  Rev.  Kooker,  referred  to  by  Mr. 
Enders,  became  quite  prominent  politically, 
being  appointed  United  States  consul  at 
Trinidad,  Cuba,  and  remaining  there  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  when  lie 
returned  to  the  United  States.  Having  con- 
siderable military  knowledge,  he  organized 
a  company  of  volunteers,  became  their  leader 
and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, Va.,  in  1862. 


Erb,  Peter,  boot,  shoe  and  harness  maker, 
was  born  near  Reamstown,  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  November  9,  1S40.  His  father  having 
died  before  that  time,  Mr.  Erb  never  heard 
his  fatiier's  first  name.  His  mother  was 
Barbara  (Ludwig)  Erb.  He  was  brought  up 
by  his  grandfather  Ludwig,  who  died  when 
Peter  was  twelve  years  of  age,  From  that 
time  he  was  dependent  on  his  own  exertions 
for  his  living.  His  first  occupation  was 
farm  work.  He  had  to  try  hard  for  the  op- 
portunity of  working  for  his  board  and  cloth- 
ing. At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  began  to 
learn  shoemaking,  at  which  he  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  years.  He  then 
continued  working  at  his  trade  as  a  journey- 
4S 


man  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war. 
Mr.  Erb  enlisted,  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  in  the 
fall  of  1861,  in  cotnpany  G,  Seventy-ninth 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  Colonel 
Humbaugli  and  Captain  McGovern.  He 
was  in  many  famous  battles:  At  Perry ville, 
Stone  River,  Chickamauga  and  Chattanooga," 
and  in  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  marched 
with  General  Sherman  to  the  sea  and  up 
through  Georgia,  Soutii  Carolina  and  North 
Carolina;  he  was  present  at  the  surrender 
of  General  Johnson.  He  contributed  his 
full  share  to  the  achievements  of  the  western 
army,  and  his  brave  and  patriotic  comrades 
is  the  story  of  the  Nation's  salvation  and 
iionor.  h\  more  than  a  score  of  battles  did 
he  stand  by  the  flag;  and  in  tije  weariness 
of  marches  and  tlie  privations  of  camps,  his 
patriotism  and  devotion  to  duty  never  failed. 
He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  and  dis- 
charged at  Piiiladelphia,  in  June.  1865,  and 
returned  to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  remained 
until  1866.  In  tiiat  year  he  removed  to 
Fisherville,  Dauphin  county,  and  opened  a 
shop  and  store  for  the  manufacture  and  sale 
of  boots  and  slices  ;  he  has  continued  in  this 
business  until  tlie  present  time.  In  con- 
nection with  the  shoe  business  he  also  man- 
ufactures liarness  work,  his  son  Charles 
being  in  charge  of  this  department. 

Mr.  Erb  was  married,  in  Adams  county, 
in  1867,  to  Julia,  daughter  of  John  Fiect,  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county.  They  have 
nine  children  :  Charles,  liarness  maker,  in 
business  witli  his  fatiier;  William,  Laura 
and  Ellie,  attending  school ;  Lillie,  died  at 
twelve  years  of  age ;  Emma,  died  aged  eight ; 
Locliiel,died  when  eighteen  months  old,  and 
two  children  died  in  infancv.  Mr.  Erb  is  a 
member  of  B.  E.  Miller  Post,  No.  393,  G.  A. 
R.,  and  is  commander  of  the  Post.  He  also 
belongs  to  Enders  Lodge,  No.  359,  K.  of  P., 
at  Fisherville.  His  politics  are  Republican. 
Mr.  Erb  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church;  he  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  has  been  a  teacher,  and  for  twenty 
years  treasurer  of  the  school. 


KiLLiNGER,  John  G.,  justice  of  the  peace 
and  im]ileraent  dealer,  Fisherville,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  was  born  November  10, 
1840.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Maria  Kil- 
linger.  Jacob  Killinger  was  born  in  South 
Hanover  townsliip,  November  3,  1811.  He 
attended  tiie  township  school,  and  worked 
on  the  farm  until  he  was  of  age,  and  left 
home  to  seek    employment.     His   wife   ac- 


740 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


companied  him.  Their  only  capital  was 
five  dollars  in  cash,  and  the  sum  of  their 
goods  was  the  clothing  tied  up  in  a  red  ban- 
danna handkerchief.  They  located  in  Hali- 
fax township.  Mr.  Killinger  had  learned 
shoemaking,  so  lie  opened  a  small  shoe  shop. 
They  set  up  housekeeping  with  two  chairs 
and  an  empty  dry  goods  box  for  a  table, 
which  latter  gave  place  to  a  tool  chest. 

Mr.  Jacob  Killinger  invested  first  in  twelve 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  built  a  house  and 
a  shoe  shop.  Trade  prospered,  and  frugality 
ruled  the  household.  In  consequence,  ac- 
cumulations furnished  means  for  adding  to 
their  holding.  In  course  of  time  they  had 
eighty-eight  acres  of  land  and  all  the  equip- 
ments and  surroundings  of  a  comfortable 
home.  In  this  home  Mr.  Killinger  died 
April  1,  1876,  and  his  wife  on  August  23  of 
the  same  year.  Their  children  were:  Jacob, 
accidentally  drowned  in  a  mill  pond ;  Susan, 
widow  of  John  Novinger,  Tiffin,  Ohio; 
Lydia,  wife  of  Jacob  Zimmerman,  of  Halifax 
township;  Rebecca,  died  young;  Mary, 
widow  of  Peter  Klinger,  of  Fisherville;  John 
G.,  and  William,  carpenter,  Dauphin,  Pa. 
Mr.  Killinger  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a 
substantial  and  popular  man. 

John  G.  Killinger  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  township  and  at 
Truley's  Academy,  in  Snyder  county,  and 
Berrysburg  Seminary.  On  September  1, 
1864,  he  enlisted,  atHarrisburg,  in  company 
A,  Two  Hundred  and  Tenth  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  under  Captain  Bower- 
man,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Arlington 
Heights,  May  ol,  1865,  and  returned  home. 

In  June,  1868,  Mr.  Killinger  took  up  car- 
pentry, at  which  he  worked  for  fourteen 
summers,  and  taught  school  twenty-one 
terms  during  the  winter  months.  The  con- 
finement of  the  school  room  proved  detri- 
mental to  his  health,  and  compelled  him  to 
abandon  the  work  of  teaching.  He  next 
tried  work  on  the  railroad,  but  this  was  too 
arduous.  In  the  fall  of  1887  he  began 
butchering,  and  has  since  followed  that  busi- 
ness. He  is  also  agent  for  all  kinds  of  agri- 
cultural implements.  He  has  been  ver}' 
successful  in  this  line.  He  also  superintends 
a  farm  of  twenty-two  acres. 

Mr.  Killinger  was  married,  in  Jackson 
township,  June  3,  1869,  to  Anna  M.  Whit- 
man, born  in  Halifax  township,  October  22, 
1846;  daughter  of  Philip  and  Susan  (Fetter- 
hoff)  Whitman.   Their  children  were:  Laura 


A.,  died  when  three  j'ears  old ;  Hiram  W., 
in  business  in  Philadelphia;  Thomas  J., 
died  at  four  years  of  age;  John,  died  aged 
three  years;  H.  Frank,  James  LaRoss,  and 
Maggie  P.,  at  home.  Mr.  Killinger  is  a 
member  of  Enders  Lodge,  No.  359,  K.  of  P., 
Fisherville;  and  of  B.  F.  Miller  Post,  No. 
393,  G.  A.  R.;  he  is  adjutant  of  the  Post. 

The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Killinger,  Colonel 
Fetterhoff,  was  in  the  war  of  1812.  The 
great-grandmother  of  Mrs.  Killinger  (Mc- 
Frederick  Fetterhoff)  was  blind  for  thirty 
years  previous  to  her  death. 


BoNAWiTZ,  W.  E.,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  Fisherville,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Mif- 
flin township,  near  Berrysburg,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  January  30,  1866.  Jonathan 
Bonawitz,  the  father  of  Dr.  Bonawitz,  was 
born  in  Mifflin  township,  and  was  a  son  of 
John  Bonawitz,  a  farmer,  also  a  native  of 
Dauphin  county;  the  father  of  John  Bona- 
witz was  George  Bonawitz,  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  and  of  German  descent.  Some  of 
the  earlier  generations  participated  in  the 
Revolution  and  in  the  war  of  1812.  All  of 
the  Bonawitz  family  were  land  owners  and 
stock  raisers.  The  earliest  representatives 
of  the  family  settled  in  Dauphin  county 
about  1780. 

Dr.  Bonawitz's  father,  Jonathan  Bonawitz, 
is  still  living.  He  attended  subscription 
schools,  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  made 
farming  his  life  occupation.  He  was  an  ex- 
tensive farmer  and  stock  raiser,  owning 
more  than  two  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
was  a  strong  advocate  of  the  free  school  sys- 
tem, and  was  active  and  influential  in  secur- 
ing its  adoption.  Mr.  Bonawitz  married 
Margaret  Rutter,  born  in  Halifax  township, 
daughter  of  Henry  Rutter,  a  furniture  manu- 
facturer. Tiieir  children  are:  Mary  L.,  wife 
of  P.  E.  Stino,  who  keeps  a  creamery  in  Mif- 
flin township  ;  Charles  E.,  farms  the  home- 
stead ;  Dr.  W.  E.;  Kate,  milliner  and  school 
teacher,  and  S.  Fannie,  resides  at  home.  Mr. 
Bonawitz  is  Republican  in  his  views,  but 
does  not  dabble  in  politics.  He  has  always 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  church  matters,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He 
was  a  leader  of  the  church  choir  from  the 
age  of  sixteen  until  he  became  too  old  for 
that  work. 

W.  E.  Bonawitz  attended  first  the  common 
schools  of  Mifflin  township  and  then  the 
seminary  at  Berrysburg,  where  he  received 
a  teacher's  certificate.  He  attended  the  State 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY, 


741 


Normal  School,  at  West  Chester,  from  1885 
to  1886.  When  seventeen  years  old  he  taught 
school  in  Northumberland  county.  He  sub- 
sequently taught  in  Mifflin  and  Jefferson 
townships,  Dauphin  county.  He  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  A.  J.  Kantz  and  Dr.  J.  M. 
Linker,  of  Berrysburg,  after  which  he  studied 
at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
of  Baltimore,  and  received  liis  diploma  as 
physician  and  surgeon  from  that  institution 
in  1889.  He  then  took  a  supplementary 
special  course  in  operative  surgery  and  head, 
throat,  and  lungs  at  the  same  college,  and 
received  from  that  college  a  diploma  as  spe- 
cialist in  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  the 
heart,  throat,  and  lungs,  subsequently  pass- 
ing an  examination  in  general  medicine  and 
surgery  at  the  Medico-Chirurgical  College, 
of  I'hiladelpliia. 

Dr.  Bonawitz  began  the  practice  of  iiis 
profession  in  Fisherville.  His  recognized 
ability  and  his  agreeable  manners  have 
made  him  popular,  and  he  has  built  up  an 
extensive  remunerative  practice  througiiout 
the  county.  His  services  are  in  demand  in 
the  surrounding  territory  and  in  other  towns 
and  borouglis.  He  has  performed  many 
most  difficult  surgical  operations  with  phe- 
nomenal'success. 

Dr.  Bonawitz  was  married,  at  Berrysburg, 
in  1890,  to  Anna  M.  Beshler,  of  Philadelpiiia, 
born  in  IJerrysburg,  daughter  of  Dr.  -John 
Beshler,  and  granddaugliter  of  Dr.  Henry 
Beshler,  well-known  pbysicians  of  Daupliin 
county.  They  have  no  children.  Dr.  Bona- 
witz is  a  member  of  Enders  Lodge,  No.  359, 
K.  of  P.,  Fisherville,  and  of  the  Improved 
Order  of  Heptasophs.  He  belongs  to  the 
Lutheran  church.  Dr.  Bonawitz  was  ap- 
pointed physician  for  the  poor  in  his  district 
in  1892,  and  has  held  the  office  since  that 
time.  He  is  both  successful  in  his  profes- 
sion and  popular  as  a  man. 


BixLER,  Cornelius,  merchant  and  manu- 
facturer, was  born  in  Higgins  township, 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  November  20,  1834 
His  father,  .John  Bixler,  was  born  in  the 
same  township,  and  was  a  son  of  Peter  Bix- 
ler, a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.,  of  German 
and  English  ancestry.  John  Bixler  grew  up 
on  the  farm  in  his  native  county.  His 
father,  Peter,  was  a  large  landholder  and 
carried  on  several  branches  of  business,  farm- 
ing, distilling  and  wagon  making.  In  1844 
John  Bixler  removed  with  his  family  to 
Dauphin    county    and    located    in   Jackson 


township,  where  he  owned  a  farm  and  mill, 
which  lie  operated  until  his  death,  in  1863. 
He  married  Sarah  Straw,  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Straw,  a 
farmer,  of  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.  They  had 
eight  children :  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  James 
Miller,  farmer,  of  Jackson  township;  Cor- 
nelius, Percival,  William,  Kate,  Mary,  Lydia, 
and  one  wiio  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Bixler 
was  a  Democrat  in  iiis  earlier  life,  and  after- 
wards a  Republican.  He  died  in  1863,  and 
his  wife  died  June  17,  1896. 

Cornelius  Bixler  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  township.  In  boyhood  and 
early  manhood  he  was  employed  about  his 
father's  mill,  wliere  he  remained  until  his 
father's  death,  when  he  sold  the  mill.  He  then 
enlisted  in  company  A,  Two  Hundred  and 
Tenth  regiment,  Penns\'lvania  volunteers. 
He  entered  the  army  as  a  second  lieutenant, 
and  was  subsequently  in  command  of  com- 
pany C.  He  was  at  tbe  fight  of  Gravel  Run, 
at  Five  Forks  and  Richmond,  and  was 
present  at  the  surrender  of  General  Lee. 
He  was  sick  in  the  hospital  for  three  days, 
but  escaped  all  wounds,  althougli  many 
comrades  fell  on  all  sides^f  him. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Bixler  returned 
to  his  native  county  and  located  in  Fisiier- 
ville,  where  he  took  charge  of  a  hotel  and 
conducted  it  for  five  years  with  gratifying 
success.  He  also  established  a  carriage  fac- 
tory, and  undertook  the  manufacture  of  ve- 
hicles on  a  large  scale,  giving  employment 
to  many  men,  and  in  many  ways  benefiting 
the  community.  For  twenty  years  he  was 
interested  in  this  business,  and  gave  it  his 
best  efforts  with  good  results.  The  enter- 
prise was  the  pride  and  joy  of  his  heart.  He 
enjoj-ed  to  the  utmost  the  siglit  of  skilled 
mechanics  at  their  work,  earning  comfort- 
able wages,  producing  meritorious  work,  and 
making  patrons  pleased  with  their  purchases. 
He  regarded  the  busy  factory  as  the  very 
fountain  of  prosperity,  sending  out  its  streams 
in  all  directions  to  bless  the  community. 

In  1884  he  relinquished  his  business  and 
entered  the  political  arena  as  count}'  com- 
missioner. In  1892  Mr.  Bixler  erected  two 
creameries,  one  at  Fisherville,  the  other  in 
Powell's  Valley,  Halifax  township.  At  an 
expenditure  of  $6,000  he  provided  his  plants 
with  the  finest  equipments  to  be  had.  These 
creameries  are  also  a  great  public  benefit. 
The  payment  to  farmers  for  milk  is  over 
$1,600  per  month,  and  the  products  are 
shipped  to  points  near  and  far,  throughout 


742 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


the  country.  In  connection  with  the  cream- 
ery, Mr.  Bixler  runs  a  cider  mill,  which  pro- 
duces a  hundred  barrels  daily.  He  has  a 
farm  of  fifty-two  acres,  near  Fisherville,  upon 
which  he  has  made  important  improvements 
for  keeping  ten  milch  cows  and  other  stock. 
In  1893  he  added  to  his  enterprises  a  general 
merchandise  business,  and  in  this  also  he 
meets  with  deserved  success. 

Mr.  Bixler  was  married,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, September,  185(j,  to  Catherine  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Miller,  a  farmer  of  .Jackson 
township.  They  have  had  twelve  children,  of 
whom  six  are  living:  Isaac  P.,  shipper,  at 
Halifax ;  Emma  J.,  housekeeper  for  her 
father;  David  W.,  resides  in  Powell's Valle}' : 
Katie,  wife  of  Samuel  Bowman,  a  hotel  man, 
of  Fisherville;  John,  a  storekeeper,  and 
William,  at  school.  Mary  E.  and  Robert 
died  young,  and  four  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Bixler  is  a  Republican.  He  was  elected 
county  commissioner  in  1884,  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  receiving  3,200  votes  over 
his  competitor;  in  1888  he  was  elected  for  a 
second  term  to  the  same  ofKce.  His  admin- 
istration was  marked  by  many  substantial 
improvements  throughout  the  county. 

Mr.  Bixler  is  a  member  of  Enders  Lodge, 
No.  359,  K.of  P.,  Fisherville,  and  has  main- 
tained his  membership  for  twenty-one  years. 
He  belongs  to  B.  F.  Miller  Post,  No.  393,  G. 
A.  R.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  The  business  enterprise  of  Mr.  Bix- 
ler has  made  his  name  a  liousehold  word, 
and  his  popularity  is  unlimited.  Mrs.  Bixler 
died  March  6,  1892. 


Helt,  John  F.,  postmaster  and  general 
merchant,  was  born  in  Clark's  Valley,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  January  14,  1841.  His 
lather,  David  Helt,  was  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  a  son  of  Christian  Helt,  an  ex- 
tensive farmer  and  stockman  in  Clark's  Val- 
ley. David  Helt  also  was  largely  interested 
in  the  same  business,  being  the  owner 
of  over  three  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Miller,  a  native  of  Dau- 
phin county,  by  whom  he  had  eight  chil- 
dren: John  F.;  Henry,  deceased;  Emeline, 
widow  of  David  Smink  ;  William,  deceased  ; 
Daniel,  farmer  of  Jackson  township;  Eliza- 
beth, deceased  ;  Catherine,  unmarried,  and 
one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  David  Helt 
died  in  Jackson  township.  May  3,  1883.  His 
wife  is  living,  and  resides  in  the  township. 
Mr.  Helt  was  a  Republican.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  was  deacon 


and   elder,  and  held    other   church    offices. 
He  was  a  prominent  and  popular  man. 

John  F.  Helt  attended  school  in  L'nion- 
town,  Clark's  and  Powell's  Valley,  for  six 
months;  this  was  his  entire  school  educa- 
tion. He  is  self-educated.  He  worked  with 
his  father  on  the  iarm  until  he  was  fifteen, 
after  which  he  hired  out  to  work  for  wages, 
for  three  years.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
went  to  learn  carpentry,  in  which  occupa- 
tion he  spent  ten  years.  During  part  of  the 
time  he  was  a  contractor  and  builder.  In 
18(37  Mr.  Helt  formed  a  jiartnership  with 
George  W.  D.  Enders  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, in  Jackson  township.  This  partnership 
continued  until  1876,  when  he  bought  the 
interest  of  Mr.  Enders,  and  has  since  con- 
ducted the  business  with  fair  success.  He  is 
a  director  in  the  Halifax  Bank  and  was  one 
of  its  organizers. 

Mr.  Helt  was  first  appointed  [)OStmaster 
under  the  administration  of  President  Hayes, 
and  has  given  so  general  satisfaction  that 
he  has  been  retained  in  office  through  all 
the  changes  in  the  General  Government. 
Mr.  Helt  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  filled  the 
township  offices  of  school  director,  auditor 
and  treasurer.  He  was  married,  in  18Gl,to 
Margaret  Enders,  a  native  of  Jackson  town- 
ship, daughter  of  Conrad  Enders,  and  sister 
of  G.  \V.  I).  Enders.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Anna  J.,  wife  of  Dr.  C.  C.  Miller,  of 
Halifax,  and  Ira  M.  Mrs.  Helt  died  No- 
vember 21,  1894.  Mr.  Helt  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 

Ira  M.  Helt,  son  of  .John  F.  Helt,  was  born 
August  17,  18()5.  He  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools,  in  the  high  school  of  Eliza- 
bethville,  and  in  Berrysburg  Academy.  He 
is  now  in  charge  of  his  father's  store.  He 
is  a  promising  3'oung  business  man,  and  is 
popular  in  all  circles.  Mr.  Helt  was  mar- 
ried, on  his  twenty-fifth  birthday,  August 
17,  1890,  to  Maggie,  daughter  of  William 
Philips.  They  have  two  children:  Vernie 
and  Carrie.  Mr.  Helt  is  a  Democrat.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Enders,  George  W.,  general  merchant, 
was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  January  6,  1836.  His  grand- 
father, John  Enders,  was  a  son  of  the  first 
Enders  who  settled  in  Dauphin  county,  a 
sketch  of  whom  is  found  in  connection  with 
the  sketch  of  G.  W.  D.  Enders.  He  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  and  was  the 
owner  of  six  hundred  acres  of  land. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


743 


Jolni  Enders,  father  of  George  W.,  was 
born  in  Jackson  township,  in  1800.  He  at- 
tended the  subscription  schools  of  the  town- 
ship, and  later  his  occupation  was  fanning 
and  stock  raising.  He  married  Sarah  Ettien, 
born  in  Halifax  township.  The\'  had  ten 
children :  Peter,  veteran  of  the  late  war,  of 
Jacksonville  ;  Henry,  of  Jacksonville  ;  Eliza- 
beth, deceased  ;  Catherine,  deceased,  wife  of 
Daniel  Sliope ;  Mary,  second  wife  of  Daniel 
Shope ;  Philip,  farmer  in  Wyandotte  county, 
Ohio  ;  George  W.;  John,  deceased  ;  Nelson, 
residing  in  Harrisburg;  Jacob,  farmer  of 
Jackson  township,  and  a  veteran  of  the  late 
war.  The  father  died  in  1872,  the  mother 
in  1873.  Mr.  John  Enders  was  for  fifteen 
years  justice  of  the  peace,  was  tax  collector, 
and  was  first  president  of  the  school  board 
of  Jackson  township,  being  elected  about 
1834.  His  politics  were  Democratic.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  He  was  well  known  and  highly 
esteemed  for  his  many  virtues  and  excel- 
lencies. 

George  W.  Enders  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  township  and  Berrysburg 
Academy,  where  he  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation. He  taught  school  for  twenty-six 
years  in  Jackson,  Halifax  and  Williams 
townships.  He  also  learned  shoemaking, 
and  followed  that  trade  for  some  time. 
Having  accumulated  money  by  teaching, 
Mr.  Enders  removed  to  Jacksonville  and 
erected  a  fine  house  and  store,  at  an  expen- 
diture of  $4,000.  He  went  into  mercantile 
business  in  1884,  to  which  he  has  since  that 
time  given  his  attention.  He  has  built  up 
a  profitable  business.  He  has  also  invested 
in  land,  having  farms  aggregating  one  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  acres,  one  of  which,  with 
the  improvements  made  on  it,  has  cost  him 
$3,000.  Stock  raising  is  also  part  of  iiis 
business. 

Mr.  Enders  was  married,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, in  1858,  to  Susan  Warner,  a  native  of 
Dauphin  county,  daughter  of  John  Warner, 
of  that  county.  They  have  four  children  : 
Fernando  C.,  farmer,  married  Emma  Yingst, 
residing  in  Tennessee ;  Clinton  D.,  farms 
the  homestead,  married  Laura  Enders  ;  Wal- 
ter, farmer,  of  Jackson  township,  married 
Jane  Shook  ;  and  Carson  C.,athome.  Mr.  En- 
ders has  been  agent  for  the  Halifax  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company  for  eighteen  years. 
He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty- 
four  years,  and  has  never  had  an  appeal 
taken    from    his    court.     His    politics  are 


Democratic,  but  he  votes  the  Prohibition 
ticket.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  is  local  preacher,  member 
of  the  annual  conference,  elder  of  the  church 
since  1880,  and  has  been  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school  twenty-five  years.  He  is 
one  of  the  substantial  and  reliable  men  of 
the  community,  and  is  universally  esteemed. 


WiLBERT,  C.  B.,  teacher  and  farmer,  was 
born  in  Jackson  townshin,  Dauphin  countv, 
Pa.,  March  18,  1857.  His  father,  Levi  Wil- 
bert,  was  born  in  Jackson  township  in  1823, 
and  died  in  1892.  He  was  a  stone  mason, 
and  was  engaged  in  canal  and  railroad 
building.  He  was  married,  in  April,  1856, 
in  Jackson  township,  to  Julia,  daughter  of 
Adam  Zimmerman,  a  farmer  of  Jackson 
township.  They  had  three  children  :  C.  B.; 
Isaac,  killed  in  the  coal  mines  at  Williams- 
town,  January,  1889,  and  Annie,  wife  of  Al- 
bert Dieterich,  of  Lykens  township.  Mr. 
Wilbert  was  a  Republican.  His  wife  is  liv- 
ing and  resides  in  Jacksonville,  Pa. 

C.  B.  Wilbert  attended  the  common  schools 
until  he  was  fifteen  years-old.  In  1873  he 
entered  the  Berrysburg  high  school.  He 
had  a  strong  desire  to  obtain  a  more  liberal 
education,  and  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
profession  of  a  teacher.  He  had  no  re- 
sources at  his  command  save  his  natural 
capacity  and  the  laudable  ambition  to  be- 
come a  useful  and  prominent  man.  He 
taught  school  in  Jackson  township  in  1873. 
He  attended  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Millersville,  Lancaster  county,  during  the 
.sessions  of  1875,  1876  and  1878.  By  this 
course  of  alternate  teaching  and  studying  he 
was  enabled  to  secure  a  thorough  training 
for  his  chosen  profession. 

Mr.  Wilbert  has  been  a  teacher  for  twenty- 
two  years  in  Jackson  township,  and  the  re- 
sults of  his  work  are  seen  in  the  numbers  of 
his  pupils  who  hold  honorable  positions  in 
the  ranks  of  business  and  professional  men. 
There  are  teachers,  preachers,  doctors  and 
lawyers,  as  well  as  merchants,  manufactur- 
ers and  farmers,  who  gratefully  acknowledge 
their  indebtedness  to  his  faitliful  and  skill- 
ful instructions.  How  to  succeed  in  teaching 
has  been  his  life's  study,  and  he  has  cer- 
tainly solved  the  problem  in  his  experience 
and  success.  He  has  also  found  time  to 
superintend  and  cultivate  a  farm. 

Mr.  Willjert  was  married,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, September  2,  1881,  to  Lydia  Louder- 
milch,  born  September  2,  1856,  a  native  of 


744 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Jackson  township,  where  her  father,  Michael 
Loudermilch,  a  well-known  farmer,  shoe- 
maker and  butcher,  resides.  They  have  had 
four  children  :  Ella  M.,  born  July  20, 1882; 
Annie  E.,  May  4,  1891  ;  Mabel  A.,  died 
young;  and  Emma  B.,  born  May  24,  1896. 
Mr.  Wilbert  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
United  American  Mechanics.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  was  clerk  of  the  township.  He 
is  a  Lutheran,  and  has  been  a  deacon  in  the 
church  for  six  years.  He  has  been  a  teacher 
in  tiie  Sunday-school  since  1875,  and  is 
now  its  superintendent.  He  stands  high 
among  the  teachers  of  the  State,  and  is  a 
genial  and  popular  gentleman,  and  was 
census  enumerator  in  1880  for  Jackson  town- 
ship. 


Miller,  James,  farmer,  was  born  in  Jack- 
son township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Janu- 
ary 26, 1843.  His  great-grandfather,  Josepii 
Miller,  was  born  in  Germany.  He  came  to 
this  country  some  time  between  1760  and 
1770,  and  settled  in  the  valley  which  now  is 
comprised  in  Jackson  township.  He  was  an 
extensive  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  died 
in  Jackson  township.  His  son,  Joseph  Mil- 
ler, the  grandfather  of  James  Miller,  grew 
up  on  his  fatlier's  farm  and  followed  his 
father's  occupations,  to  wliich  he  added  that 
of  distilling.  He  married  a  Miss  Lantz, 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children:  John, 
Samuel,  Joseph,  Barbara,  Catherine,  Sarah, 
and  Maria.     He  died  in  Jackson  township. 

Joseph  Miller  (3),  father  of  James  Miller, 
attended  subscription  schools  in  the  town- 
ship. He  followed  the  occupations  of  his 
father  and  grandfather,  and  was  extensively 
engaged  in  farming,  stock  raising  and  dis- 
tilling. He  married  Elizabeth  Bowerman, 
born  in  Jefferson  township,  in  1815,  and 
died  in  1886.  They  had  six  children  :  John, 
enlisted  in  company  A,  Fifteenth  regiment, 
United  States  infantry,  went  into  the  field, 
and  was  never  heard  from ;  Joseph,  engi- 
neer in  Hoe's  factory ;  Jacob,  deceased ;  James ; 
B.  F.,  who  died  in  the  army,  and  Sarah, 
wife  of  James  Nobinger,  a  farmer  and  car- 
penter of  Jackson  township.  Mr.  Miller  still 
lives,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-three  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  has  been  trustee,  deacon,  elder,  Sunday- 
school  teacher,  and  superintendent.  His 
politics  are  Republican.  Mr.  Miller  is  an 
impressive  example  of  a  happy  old  age;  his 
happiness  is  well  founded  and  can  never 
decay,     It  consists  in  doing  good,  and  try- 


ing to  make  others  happy.  He  has  made 
himself  familiar  with  all  that  the  Heavenly 
Father  has  to  communicate  of  truth  and 
grace  to  his  children,  in  the  messages  of 
love  contained  in  the  Bible,  hence  his  mind 
is  fortified  against  errors  which  might  else 
disturb  his  peace.  His  own  family,  who 
best  know  him,  and  have  felt  his  influence 
most,  love  him  best,  but  all  bear  witness  to 
the  life  of  charity,  righteousness  and  purity 
which  he  has  led. 

James  Miller,  until  he  was  seventeen  years 
old,  was  in  the  district  schools  a  short  time 
in  the  winter,  and  was  busy  at  farm  work  in 
summer.  At  the  age  mentioned,  he  went  to 
learn  the  trade  of  shoemaking,  in  his  native 
township,  and  after  acquiring  the  trade  con- 
tinued working  at  it  for  some  time.  He 
then  went  to  York  county,  where  for  two 
years  he  was  engaged  in  milling,  at  which 
business  he  afterwards  spent  two  more  years 
in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county. 

On  August  10,  1863,  Mr.  Miller  enlisted 
at  Harrisburg,  in  company  C,  Fifteenth  reg- 
iment, Lfnited  States  infantry,  for  five  years, 
under  Col.  A.  M.  Dudley  and  Capt.  A.  M. 
Brown,  and  was  sent  to  Fort  Adams,  R.  L 
He  was  in  the  quartermaster's  department 
as  wagon  master.  Mr.  Miller  was  in  the 
service  three  and  a  half  years,  six  months  of 
which  time  he  spent  in  the  hospital,  suffer- 
ing with  lung  and  liver  troubles.  He  was 
discharged  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  in  January, 
1866,  after  which  he  returned  home,  and 
was  for  two  years  in  the  milling  business. 
He  then  purchased  a  farm,  which  he  im- 
proved at  an  outlay  of  §2,000;  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
He  has  found  trading  very  profitable,  and 
since  1875  has  given  it  much  attention.  He 
is  also  interested  in  a  dairy. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship. May  28,  1868,  to  Sarah  A.  Bixler,  born 
in  Jackson  township,  February  18,  1847 ; 
sister  of  Cornelius  Bixler,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  They 
had  four  children  :  Lydia  C,  born  January 
11, 1869,  married  December  24,  1894,  to  C. 
M.  Bowerman,  school  teacher,  of  Jackson 
township;  J.  Edward,  born  October  10, 1872, 
plasterer,  married  Annie  Harper,  born  in 
Jackson  township ;  Sarah  E.,  born  Mav  10, 
1879,  and  Annie  M.,  born  July  18,  1883,  at- 
tending school. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  Republican  and  is  inspec- 
tor of  elections.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  has  been  deacon,  elder, 


DAUPUIN  COUNTY. 


745 


Sunday-school  teacher  and  superintendent. 
He  belongs  to  R.  B.  Miller  Post,  No.  393,  G. 
A.  R.,  and  to  Enders  Lodge,  No.  359,  K.  of 
P.,  Fisherville.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  hard  worker, 
and  is  full  of  push  and  pluck.  He  has  suc- 
ceeded in  the  struggle  of  life,  and  enjo3's  the 
good  will  and  esteem  of  the  community. 


Snyder,  Joseph,  farmer  and  stockman, 
was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  October  9,  1843.  His  grcat- 
grandfatlier  emigrated  from  Germany  and 
settled  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  was 
an  extensive  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  Will- 
iam Snyder,  grandfatiicr  of  Josepli  Snyder, 
was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  also  kept 
what  is  known  as  the  Mountain  House.  He 
had  eleven  children  :  George,  Daniel,  Peter, 
Michael,  Jonathan,  Jolm  Christian,  Cathe- 
rine, Lydia,  Mary,  Ellen,  and  Susanna. 
William  Snyder  died  in  Jackson  township. 
He  was  a  good  churcii  member,  and  was  re- 
sjjected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

John  Cliristian  Snyder,  father  of  Joseph, 
grew  up  on  the  farm,  and  became  a  farmer 
and  stock  raiser.  He  married  Susan  Miller, 
born  in  Jackson  township ;  died  in  1882. 
They  had  eleven  children  :  Nathaniel ;  Peter; 
Lydia,  died  young;  Joseph;  Ellen, deceased, 
wife  of  Uriah  Hegard  ;  Isaac  P.,  deceased ; 
Josiah,  resides  at  Fisherville;  Mary  M., 
wife  of  William  McNeal,  farmer,  of  Jackson 
township;  Susan  A.,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Shutt, 
Jackson  township;  C.  Frank,  farmer,  and 
William  R.,  farmer.  Mr.  Snyder  was  a  Re- 
publican. He  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed and  Lutheran  church.  He  died  in 
Jackson  township  in  1885. 

Joseph  Snyder  attended  school  a  part  of 
each  year,  and  worked  on  the  farm  in  busy 
seasons.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  was  twenty  years  old.  After  this  he 
worked  two  years  at  shoemaking  with  Daniel 
Shoop,  of  Jackson  township.  He  was  occu- 
pied in  shoemaking  on  his  own  account 
until  1883,  when  he  fell  ill,  and  had  to  go 
to  the  hospital.  In  the  fall  of  1883  Mr.  Sny- 
der bought  a  farm  of  sixty-seven  acres,  for 
which  he  paid  $4,200.  After  improving  it 
and  working  it  two  years,  he  sold  it  for 
§4,200.  In  1885  he  bought  the  farm  he  now 
owns  and  occupies,  consisting  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres,  for  $8,500,  and  ex- 
pended $1,000  more  in  making  improve- 
ments on  it.  Mr.  Snyder  is  justly  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  enterprising  farmers 


in  the  township.  Besides  his  land  invest- 
ments he  has  also  an  interest  in  the  Fisher- 
ville creamery.  Mr.  Snyder  was  married,  in 
1866,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Zimmer- 
man, born  in  Jackson  township,  in  1846. 
They  have  three  children  :  Lillie  C.,  at  home; 
Ira  P.,  in  the  creamery  business  at  Bowells- 
ville,  Ohio,  and  Martin  Luther,  attending 
school  and  farming.  Mr.  Snyder  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  is  serving  as  a  school  director. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  has  been  six  years  a  deacon.  Mr.  Sny- 
der is  well  known,  and  recognized  as  a  man 
of  intelligence  and  good  judgment,  progres- 
sive and  full  of  enterprise.  He  is  well  liked 
by  his  neighbors. 

Zimmerman,  Amos,  farmer  and  stockman, 
was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  December  18,  1841.  Christian 
Zimmerman,  his  grandfather,  was  a  farmer 
and  stock  raiser  in  tiie  same  township. 
John  Zimmerman,  father  of  Amos,  was  born 
in  Jackson  township,  February  12,  1816. 
He  attended  subscription  schools,  and  from 
early  boyhood  worked  on  his  father's  farm. 
He  made  farming  and  stock  raising  his  life- 
long occupation.  Mr.  Zimmerman  was  mar- 
ried, June  1,  1837,  to  Lydia  Bowman,  born 
April  23,  1815,  in  Jackson  township.  They 
had  eight  children :  Charles  B.,  born  De- 
cember 10,1838,  farmer,  Cumberland  county, 
Pa.;  Nathaniel,  born  May  5, 1840,  deceased  ; 
Amos,  born  December  18,  1841  ;  Susan, 
February  16,  1844,  wife  of  William  David- 
son ;  Mary,  March  3,  1846,  wife  of  Joseph 
Snyder ;  Jacob,  May  7, 1848,  deceased  ;  Mar- 
garet, February  6, 1850,  wife  of  George  Shez- 
ley,  carpenter ;  Isaac  P.,  May  17, 1855,  a  pas- 
tor in  the  Lutheran  church,  in  Schuylkill 
countv.  Pa.  The  father  died  July  14,"l888, 
and  the  mother  February  28,  1885.  Mr. 
Zimmerman  belonged  to  the  Democratic 
party,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Amos  Zimmerman  attended  the  common 
schools  of  Jackson  township  in  the  winter, 
and  worked  on  the  farm  during  the  summer 
months,  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old. 
For  two  more  years  he  remained  at  home 
and  cultivated  his  father's  farm,  but  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three  he  went  with  his  young 
wife  and  all  the  property  tiiey  possessed  to 
Lykens  Valley.  There  he  rented  a  farm 
and  began  life  for  himself.  He  cultivated 
that  farm  for  six  years,  and  then,  returning 
to  Jackson  township,  bought  the   farm  he 


746 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


now  owns,  which  he  has  tilled  and  im- 
proved, and  made  his  home  from  that  time 
to  the  present.  He  is  one  of  the  enterprising 
and  successful  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of 
thetownsliip.  Mr.  Zimmerman  was  married, 
in  Jackson  township,  December  1.  1864,  to 
Mary  Yeager,  born  in  Lykens  "\^alley,  in 
June,  1848 ;  daughter  of  Christopher  Yeager, 
a  retired  farmer,  living  in  Fisherville.  They 
have  one  child,  Kate,  born  in  October,  1868, 
wife  of  Henry  Remberger,  farmer,  of  Jack- 
son township,  who  has  two  children,  Harry 
and  Edna. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which 
he  has  held  the  offices  of  deacon,  elder,  Sun- 
day-school teacher  and  superintendent.  He 
is  well  known,  is  genial  and  popular. 


Zimmerman,  Harrison,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
May  5,  1864.  Jacob  Zimmerman,  father  of 
Harrison,  was  born  in  the  same  township, 
in  April,  1833.  He  was  educated  in  its  sub- 
scription and  common  schools.  He  became 
a  farmer  and  stockman,  and  is  classed  among 
the  progressive  and  prosperous  farmers  of 
Armstrong  Valley.  He  married  Sybiila 
Yoder,  born  in  Upper  Mahantango  Valley, 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  in  1834,  and  died  in 
October,  1894.  They  had  eleven  children  : 
Louisa,  wife  of  Isaiah  Enders,  farmer,  Jack- 
son township  ;  Alice,  wife  of  Ed.  Specht, 
Washington  township,  Dauphin  county; 
Lucinda,  wife  of  Frank  Snyder,  farmer, 
Jackson  township  :  Felix,  farmer,  Jackson 
township;  Harrison;  Gabriel,  farmer,  Jack- 
son township  ;  Galon,  resides  on  the  home- 
stead ;  Annie,  wife  of  Miner  Elvord  ;  Har- 
vey, Robert,  and  Myron,  all  three  at  home. 
The  father  is  still  living,  and  resides  on  the 
old  homestead.  He  is  of  the  Republican 
party,  a  prominent  citizen,  and  well  liked 
b}'  his  neighbors.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Harrison  Zimmerman  attended  the  schools 
of  Jackson  and  Jefferson  townships.  He 
was  a  student  at  Berrysburg  Academy,  at 
Gross  Road  Seminar^',  and  took  a  course 
under  Major  Dill  at  Freeburg  Academy, 
Snyder  county,  and  also  took  a  course  under 
D.  D.  DeLong,  at  Lebanon  Valley  Gollege. 
These  advantages  gave  him  ample  training 
and  equipment  for  his  life  work,  which  was 
the  profession  of  teaching.  He  was  engaged 
in  that  work  twelve  years,  in  Jackson,  Rush 
and  Halifax  townships.     He  had   labored 


faithfully  in  his  younger  days  to  obtain 
means  for  his  education  ;  thus  he  may  be 
called  a  self-made  man.  In  1893  he  gave  up 
teaching,  and  bought  the  old  Miller  farm  of 
one  hundred  acres,  which  he  has  greatly  im- 
proved, and  is  cultivating.  Mr.  Zimmerman 
was  married,  in  Jackson  township,  January 
14, 1886,  to  Rebecca  Shoop,  a  native  of  Wayne 
township,  and  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Wise)  Shoop.  They  have  five 
children:  Leroy,  Raymond,  William,  How- 
ard, and  Herbert.  Mr.  Zimmerman  is  a 
Republican  ;  he  has  been  clerk  of  elections. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  in  which  he  is  class  leader,  steward, 
Sunday-school  superintendent  and   teacher. 


Snyder,  Josiah,  implement  dealer  and 
partner  of  John  G.  Killinger,  was  born  in 
Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
October  29,  1848.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
Christian  and  Susan  (Miller)  Snyder,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  with  that  of  Joseph  Snyder 
in  this  volume.  Josiah  Snyder  attended  the 
Miller's  district  school,  Jackson  township. 
His  life,  until  he  was  twenty-one,  was  passed 
on  his  father's  farm.  After  reaching  his 
majority  hespent  nine  months  in  Washington 
townshij)  learning  the  blacksmith  trade.  He 
was  then  employed  as  a  journeyman  by  Mr. 
Migley,  of  Fisherville.  In  1875  he  opened 
a  shop  of  his  own,  and  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness for  fourteen  years  in  Fisherville.  His 
health  at  last  demanding  outdoor  employ- 
ment, he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty-two  acres, 
whicli  he  imjjroved  and  cultivated  for  some 
time,  but  subsequently  rented  it.  Previous 
to  this  farm  enterjirise  he  had  been  agent  for 
the  sale  of  C.  H.  McGormick's  farming  ma- 
chinery ;  and  now,  in  connection  with  Mr. 
Killinger,  his  partner,  Mr.  Snyder  deals  in 
the  machinery  and  implements  of  this  and 
other  firms.  'He  also  owns  property  in  Fish- 
ervillebesides  his  farm.  He  is  a  Republican; 
has  been  treasurer  of  the  township  and  col- 
lector of  State  and  county  taxes  ;  he  was  also 
inspector  of  elections.  Mr.  Sn\'der  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  is  not 
married  and  is  a  genial,  whole  souled,  social 
man,  fond  of  good  company  and  is  himself 
good  company. 

Keiter,  Samuel,  was  born  in  Jackson 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  November 
8,  1819.  He  is  a  son  of  Garhert  Keiter,  a 
Pennsylvanian,  of  German  ancestry,  and  a 


DA  UPHIN     COUNTY. 


1^1 


farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Jackson  township. 
He  married  Barbara  Lentz.  They  iiad  tea 
children:  John,  Joseph,  Michael,  Garhert, 
Peter,  Samuel,  Catherine,  Sarah,  Ann,  and 
Barbara,  all  of  whom  are  deceased  except 
Samuel.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keiter  were  Lutherans. 
They  died  in  Jackson  township.  Mr.  Keiter 
was  a  Republican. 

Samuel  Keiter  attended  the  subscription 
schools,  and  worked  with  his  father  at  farm- 
ing until  he  was  of  age.  He  then  learned 
shoeraaking,  and  worked  at  that  trade  for 
eigiit  3'ears.  He  then  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land  on  which  he  now  resides,  built  a 
house  and  barn,  and  otherwise  extensively 
improved  the  land,  which  he  continued  for 
some  time  to  cultivate.  In  1862,  at  the  age 
of  forty-three,  Mr.  Keiter  was  drafted  into 
the  army,  and  assigned  to  company  A,  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-second  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  under  Capt.  Solo- 
mon Bowerman  and  Colonel  Cleckner.  He 
served  nine  months  and  was  then  discharged, 
and  returned  home.  He  resumed  farming; 
also,  for  twelve  years,  in  connection  with  his 
brother  Miciuiel,  was  a  manufacturer  of  lum- 
ber. In  this  business  they  met  with  fair  suc- 
cess. Mr.  Keiter  was  married,  in  Jackson 
township,  in  1842,  to  Miss  Susanna  Shott,  born 
in  Lykens  Valley.  They  had  twelveciiildren  : 
Susan,  wife  of  Jienry  Hoffman;  Jonas,  de- 
ceased ;  Catherine, deceased  ;  Philip,  farmer; 
Leah,  wife  of  Solomon  Matters;  Ellen,  wife  of 
William  Shertzer;  Sarah,  wife  of  Isaac  Plen- 
ninger;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  wife  of  James 
Miller;  Amanda,  wife  of  Isaac  A.  Enders ; 
Isaac,  farmer.  South  Bend,  Ind. ;  Charles, 
and  Hiram.  Mr.  Keiter  is  a  Republican,  but 
no  office  seeker.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keiter  have 
passed  fifty-four  years  of  wedded  life,  have 
reared  a  family  of  twelve  children,  have 
been  industrious  and  frugal,  and  are  now 
quietly  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  well  spent 
life.  They  are  surrounded  by  three  genera- 
tions of  descendants,  but  are  not  chilled  by 
the  frosts  of  age.  They  are  cheerful  and 
geni;d,  and  by  old  and  young  are  considered 
pleasant  compan}'.  They  present  an  attrac- 
tive example  of  the  happiness  resulting  from 
right  living.  In  their  own  cheerful  old  age, 
in  the  society  of  their  children  and  grand- 
children, in  the  enjoyment  of  home  and 
friends,  they  proclaim  that  the  marriage  re- 
lation is  no  failure,  but  the  largest  success  of 
which  human  nature  is  capable. 


Miller,  Aaron,  farmer  and  stock  raiser, 
was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  July  9,  1846.  John  Miller,  his 
grandfather,  was  of  German  descent.  He 
came  from  Northumberland  county  to  Dau- 
phin county  in  1817,  settled  in  Jack.son 
township,  and  cleared  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy  acres  of  land  ;  on  this  farm  he 
died.  His  son,  Michael  Miller,  was  born  in 
Northumberland  county.  Pa.  He  was  a 
farmer,  and  also,  for  twenty  years,  a  black- 
smith. He  improved  and  cultivated  a  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  two  acres,  and  had  one 
of  one  hundred  and  forty-one  acres,  also  over 
two  hundred  acres  of  woodland  ;  he  was  also 
engaged  in  stock  raising.  His  first  wife  was 
Catherine  Straw,  of  Jackson  township.  Their 
children  are:  Josiah,  Balthasar,  and  Cyrus, 
a  blacksmith,  married  a  Miss  Sweigard,  and 
died  in  Reading,  Pa.,  leaving  a  widow  and 
four  children.  After  Mrs.  Miller's  death, 
Mr.  Miller  married  Hannah  Buffinger, 
widow  of  Jacob  Kolva.  They  had  ten  chil- 
dren :  Michael,  who  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead, in  Jackson  township;  Lydia,  Eli,  Sam- 
uel, all  died  under  the  age  of  eight  years; 
Leah,  died  at  the  age  of  forty -two  ;  Hannah, 
wife  of  D.  A.  Snyder,  Elizabethville ;  Joshua, 
died  in  his  third  year ,  John  A.,  deceased, 
and  twins,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Miller 
was  a  Democrat ;  he  held  the  offices  of  as- 
sessor and  tax  collector.  He  was  trustee  to 
the  end  of  his  life  in  the  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  and  Mrs.  Miller  held  membership. 
Mr.  Miller  died  December  27.  1864.  and  his 
wife  April  24,  1890. 

Aaron  Miller  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  township.  He  remained  on  the 
farm  until  his  father's  death,  which  occurred 
when  Aaron  was  eighteen.  For  two  years  he 
worked  on  the  home  farm,  and  then  began 
business  for  himself  He  bought  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  where  he  now 
resides;  on  it  he  built  a  barn,  and  made 
many  other  improvements,  among  which 
was  the  planting  of  a  large  apple  orchard. 
Mr.  Miller  has  several  other  farms  in  the 
valley  ;  he  is  one  of  its  largest  landholders, 
having  upwards  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  good,  arable  land.  He  is  also  largely 
interested  in  the  breeding  of  stock.  Mr.  Miller 
was  married,  in  Lykens  township,  to  Flor- 
enda  Bender,  born  in  Washington  township, 
daughter  of  A.  Q.  and  Susanna  (Fisher) 
Bender.  They  have  six  children  :  Fannie, 
wife  of  Harry   McNeal ;  Edwin,   attending 


748 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


school ;  Ammond,on  the  homestead  ;  Sarah, 
living  at  home  ;  Hany,  and  Adam,  attend- 
ing school.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Democrat;  he 
has  been  inspector  of  elections  and  tax  col- 
lector. He  was  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics,  but  is  not  so  now.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber, and  was  deacon,  of  the  Lutheran  cliurch. 
He  is  genial  and  hospitable,  is  widely  known 
and  highly  esteemed. 


Enders,  Isaac  F.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
December  30,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  Piiilip 
Enders,  and  brother  of  George  W.  D.  En- 
ders, whose  sketcli  appears  in  this  volume. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
the  township,  and  worked  with  his  father  on 
the  farm.  After  his  marriage  he  took 
charge  of  tlie  liomestead  of  fifty-nine  acres. 
Tliree  years  ago  he  bought  the  liome  farm, 
and  lias  made  many  valuable  improvements 
upon  it.     He  is  engaged  in  stock  raising. 

He,  in  company  with  (Hinton  D.  Enders, 
made  a  tour  South  and  West,  in  January, 
ISOO.  They  visited  F.  C.  Enders,  who 
moved  to  Fountain  Plead,  Tenn.,  in  1888, 
wliere  they  had  a  pleasant  and  profitable 
time,  visiting  Nashville,  tlie  State  capital, 
the  State  armory,  Fort  Mitchell,  where  they 
found  bullets  tliat  were  fired  in  the  late  war, 
and  also  Forts  Negley  and  Markin.  They 
left  tliere  January  22  for  Cincinnati  and 
Columbus,  Ohio,  then  went  to  Upper  San- 
dusky, Tiffin,  Bloomsville  and  Carey,  where 
they  met  their  old  friends  of  boyhood  days, 
Charles  Enders,  Nathan  Shoop  and  Charles 
and  Aaron  Sweigard.  These  friends  left 
Dauphin  count^^  when  grown  up  and  are  all 
successful  farmers, having  already  purchased 
farms  of  their  own.  On  February  7  they 
left  for  home,  having  had  a  very  profitable 
time,  meeting  old  acquaintances  and  mak- 
ing a  careful  study  of  farming  in  the  differ- 
ent sections  of  the  country  visited. 

Mr.  Enders  was  married,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, in  1876,  to  Maggie,  daughter  of  the 
late  James  and  Mary  (Fell)  Wilson.  She 
was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  October  9, 
1854.  They  have  had  one  child,  Philip 
Byrne,  born  in  1886.  Mrs.  Wilson's  father, 
James  Wilson,  was  killed  in  the  army,  dur- 
ing the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Her  mother 
died  in  Jackson  township.  Mr.  Enders  is  a 
Democrat.  He  has  served  as  inspector  of 
elections.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.     He  is  a  genial,  whole-souled  man. 


He  takes  good  care  of  his  father,  who  is  now 
over  eighty  years  of  age,  and  gives  him  a 
good  home.  Mr.  Enders  enjoys  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  his  neighbors. 

Fitting,  William  H.,  farmer  and  stock- 
man, was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  March  20,  1833.  John 
Fitting,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  emigrated  to  this  country,  set- 
tling in  Dauphin  county,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  a  small  way,  and  where 
he  reared  his  family.  John  Fitting  (2), 
father  of  W.  H.  Fitting,  was  born  in  Ilan- 
ovcr  township,  whore  he  grew  up  and  at- 
tended school.  He  worked  on  the  farm  in 
early  youth,  and  afterwards  learned  shoemak  ■ 
ing,  which  trade  he  carried  on  for  some 
years.  He  finally  removed  to  Jackson  town- 
ship, and  bought  a  farm  of  ninety  acres,  and 
sixty  acres  of  woodland.  Here  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  married 
Saraii  Betz,  of  Northumberland  county.  Pa. 
They  had  ten  children  :  William  H.;  Samuel 
deceased ;  Annie  R.,  deceased ;  Mary  A., 
widow  of  Samuel  Miller,  and  mother  of 
Dr.  C.  C.  Miller,  of  Halifax;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Henr}'  Rough,  farmer,  Lykens  \^dley,  and 
Valeria,  wife  of  George  Hummel,  of  Lykens 
Vallej'.  The  other  children  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Fitting  was  a  Republican.  He  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Reformed  church, 
in  which  he  was  an  elder.  They  both  died 
in  Jackson  township. 

William  H.  Fitting  attended  the  common 
schools  of  this  township,  and  worked  on  the 
farm  with  his  father  until  he  was  sixteen 
3'ears  of  age,  when  his  father  died.  For 
four  years  after  he  worked  the  farm  and  sup- 
ported the  family.  At  twenty  years  of  age 
he  married  and  removed  to  Lykens  Valley, 
where  he  cultivated  a  rented  farm  for  nine 
j'ears.  He  then  returned  to  Jackson  town- 
ship and  bought  the  ninety-acre  farm  on 
which  he  now  lives.  He  built  a  fine  dwell- 
ing and  other  farm  structures,  and  made 
improvements  costing  $15,000.  He  also 
bought  another  farm  of  fifty-five  acres  near 
Fishersville,  which  his  son  cultivates. 

Mr.  Fitting's  marriage  took  place  in  Jack- 
son township,  October  23,  1853.  His  wife 
was  Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of  Adam  and 
Elizabeth  (Lebo)  Cooper;  she  was  born  in 
Mifflin  township,  November  28,  1832;  her 
father  was  a  farmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitting 
had  seven  children :  Amanda,  wife  of  Heze- 
kiah    Matter,  Millersburg;  Cevilia,  wife  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


749 


Reuben  Snyder;  John,  school  and  music 
teacher,  married  Clara  Boyer;  Leon,  de- 
ceased, married  Annie  Tison,  has  two  sons, 
Samuel  E.  and  William  H.;  Elmer,  farmer, 
married  Emma  AUjright;  Harry,  teacher, 
Jeffei'son  township,  and  Samuel,  deceased. 

Mr.  Fitting  is  a  Republican ;  he  lias  served 
as  tax  collector  of  the  township.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which 
he  is  deacon  and  elder.  Mr.  Fitting  is  a 
good  living  man,  and  has  made  life  success- 
ful. He  married  at  twenty,  and  set  out  in 
the  world  witli  his  young  wife  to  earn  a  liv- 
ing and  make  a  home.  His  present  situa- 
tion, in  a  delightful  home,  where  he  and  his 
worthy  wife  are  resting  from  the  active 
duties  of  life,  is  a  suitable  close  to  his 
career.  He  is  justly  honored  and  esteemed. 
John,  the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  Fitting,  takes  a 
very  active  part  in  church  matters;  he  has 
been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for 
several  years,  and  is  secretary  of  the  church. 
The  mother  of  Mr.  Fitting  was  of  the  sturdy 
old  Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 


Frank,  George  W.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Jackson  township,  August  13,  1835.  His 
father,  David  Frank,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
count)'.  Pa.  He  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  be- 
came a  farmer.  He  removed  to  Dauphin 
county,  and  settled  in  Jackson  township, 
where  he  bought  a  farm  and  engaged  in 
raising  stock  and  distilling  for  many  years. 
He  married  Annie  Cameron,  and  had  ten 
children :  Henry,  Jacob,  John,  Samuel, 
George,  Daniel,  Sarah,  Susanna,  Julia,  wife 
of  Frederick  Baker,  Dauphin,  Pa.,  and  one 
that  died  in  infancy.  Miss  Susan,  Mrs.  Ba- 
ker; and  George  W.,  are  the  only  surviviiig 
children.  Mrs.  David  Frank  died  in  Jack- 
son townsliip.  Mr.  Frank's  second  wife  was 
Gertrude  Ivider,  a  native  of  Jackson  town- 
ship, by  whom  he  has  two  children  :  Andrew 
P.  and  Joseph.  Mr.  Frank  died  in  Jack- 
son township  in  1873,  and  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Gertrude  Frank,  in  1889,  also  their  son 
Joseph  in  1889.  They  were  members  of  the 
Reformed  church.  Mr.  Frank  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat. 

George  W.  Frank  attended  the  common 
schools  of  Jackson  township.  He  remained 
at  home  on  the  farm,  and  managed  the 
work  of  farming,  distilling,  etc.,  until  he  was 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  farmed  as  a 
tenant  until  he  was  thirty-eight  years  of  age, 
when  he  bought  a  farm  of  seventy-five  acres, 
on  which  he  erected  a  dwelling  and  a  barn, 


and  made  other  improvements,  and  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  Jackson  township,  in  1861,  to  Lydia, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Hoffman) 
Hoffman,  born  in  Halifax  township,  in  1842. 
They  have  three  children  :  Sarah,  wife  of 
George  Matter,  of  Steelton  ;  Lizzie,  a  dress 
maker,  residing  at  home,  and  Ida  M.,  a 
teacher.  Mr.  Frank  is  a  Democrat  and  has 
served  three  terms  as  school  director  and  one 
term  as  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  church,  has  been  a  deacon,  and  is 
an  elder  in  that  church. 

Ida  M.  Frank,  daughter  of  George  W. 
Frank,  attended  the  district  schools,  and 
completed  lier  education  at  the  Millersburg 
high  school,  where  she  graduated  in  1893, 
in  a  class  of  ten,  and  at  Sliippensburg  State 
Normal  School,  in  1894,  in  a  class  of  one 
hundred  and  one  members.  While  attending 
the  Normal  School  atShippensburg,  she  took 
a  special  course  in  painting  (pastel  and 
water  colors),  and  also  in  elocution.  She  has 
recited  at  a  number  of  different  places,  en- 
tertainments, societies,  local  institutes,  etc. 
She  also  took  a  partial  course  in  the 
Bible  studies  for  "  The  Chautauqua  Normal 
Union."  She  is  now  (July,  '96)  taking  a 
course  with  the  American  Correspondence 
Normal,  Danville,  N.  Y.  Since  graduation 
she  taught  an  ungraded  school  two  succes- 
sive terms,  in  Jackson  township.  She  is 
elected  teacher  of  the  primary  school  at  Hal- 
ifax for  the  coming  year.  She  received  her 
second  diploma  from  Shippensburg  Normal 
School,  June  30,  1896,  entitling  her  to  the 
degree  M.  E.,  and  is  now  aspiring  for  some 
special  course  at  a  college.  She  is  a  young 
lad}'  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  is  classed 
among  the  best  educated  teachers  of  the 
county.  Besides  her  professional  ability, 
Miss  Frank  possesses  the  charm  of  a  pleas- 
ing personality  and  a  manner  expressive  of 
kindness. 


McGann,  Capt.  John  K.,  retired  farmer 
and  real  estate  dealer,  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  May  28,  1835.  Edward  McGann, 
his  grandfather,  was  born  and  passed  his 
life  in  Ireland ;  he  was  a  wool  carder  and 
spinner.  Edward  McGann,  Jr.,  father  of 
Captain  McGann,  was  born  in  Kildare 
count}',  Ireland.  He  received  his  education 
in  Ills  native  county,  and  worked  in  the 
woolen  mill  with  his  father  until  he  became 
of  age,  when  he  left  Ireland  for  America. 
He  made  the  voyage  in  a  sailing  vessel,  ac- 


750 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


companied  by  his  young  wife.  They  landed 
at  Philadelpliia,  where  he  found  work  at  his 
trade  for  one  j'ear.  At  the  end  of  the  year 
Mr.  McGann  removed  to  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  for  fourteen  years  was  employed  in 
the  woolen  mills  of  N.  K.  Zook.  He  next 
removed  to  Dauphin  county,  locating  in 
Lykens  ^^alley,  where  for  four  years  he  car- 
ried on  the  business  of  carding  and  weaving 
on  his  own  account.  He  then  removed  to 
Armstrong  Valley  with  his  family,  and 
worked  for  six  months  at  his  trade  as  a 
journeyman  for  his  former  em[)loyer,  at  Lan- 
caster county,  and  he  finally  settled  at  Har- 
risburg,  where  lie  died  March  3,  1870.  His 
wife,  Bridget  (Kelly)  McGann,  died  in  the 
same  city,  about  1884.  They  were  married 
in  Ireland.  They  had  seven  children : 
John  K. ;  ('atherine,  wife  of  C.  McCarty,  of 
Harrisburg  ;  William  C,  of  Harrisburg,  in 
the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Raih'oad 
Company;  Susan,  wife  of  John  O'Leary, 
hotel  keeper  in  Harrisburg;  James, deceased ; 
Mary,  widow  of  Alexander  Boyle,  Harris- 
burg; and  Margaret  A.,  deceased.  Mr.  Mc- 
Gann was  a  Democrat,  a  prominent  man, 
and  quite  popular. 

John  K.  McGann  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Lancaster  county,  and  also  tlie 
Academy  at  Strasburg.  In  his  younger  days 
he  worked  in  the  mills  with  his  father.  Af- 
ter tlie  removal  of  the  family  to  Lykens  Val- 
ley, he  worked  four  years  as  a  farm  hand 
among  the  neighboring  farmers.  Then  for 
two  years  and  six  months  he  was  clerk  and 
teamster  for  Jacob  Buch,  in  Lykens  Valley, 
and  subsequently  drove  team  for  Mr.  Bucli 
to  and  from  Pottersville.  For  several  years 
after  this  Mr.  McGann  was  engaged  in 
huckstering.  He  taught  school  in  Miller's 
school  house  four  months,  after  which  he 
was  for  seven  months  clerk  in  a  store  in 
Mahantango  ^'^alley,  then  taught  again  four 
months  in  Jackson  township.  Then  he  was 
clerk  for  six  montlis  in  Powell's  Valley,  then 
taught  four  months  at  Jacksonville.  In 
1858  Mr.  McGann  spent  nine  months  in 
Harrisburg,  in  the  emploj'  of  the  Northern 
Central  Railway  Company,  as  clerk;  he  then 
taught  still  another  four  months  at  Fisher- 
ville.  He  had  fourteen  acres  of  land  which 
he  farmed  between  other  engagements. 

On  August  19,  1862,  Mr.  McGann  enlisted 
in  company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  as  first 
lieutenant,  under  Captain  Hoofacker  and  Col. 
H.   J.   Zinn.     The   Captain   being  on  sick 


leave.  Lieutenant  McGann  commanded  the 
company.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg, 
and  Chanceliorsville.  Being  wounded  at 
Fredericksburg,  he  was  for  a  few  days  in  the 
field  iiospital.  He  was  discharged  from  the 
service  May  20,  1862,  and  returned  home. 
He  continued  teaching  school,  cultivating 
his  farm,  and  working  for  other  farmers. 
Upon  the  ordering  of  the  draft,  February  24, 
1864, Captain  McGann  formed  a  company  of 
forty-two  men  and  joined  comnany  E,  Ninth 
Pennsylvania  cavalry.  He  was  jtromised 
the  command  of  tlio  company,  but  failed  to 
obtain  it.  He  fouglit  in  the  battle  of  Cripple 
Creek,  and  throughout  the  campaign  of  Gen- 
eral Siierraan.  On  October  16,1864,  he  was 
made  private  secretary  ofCJeneral  Kilpatrick, 
witii  whom  he  remained  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  received  his  disciiarge  at  Lex- 
inton,  N.  C,  July  20,  1865.  After  returning 
home,  Captain  McGann  continued  teacliing 
and  farming.  He  bought  more  land,  and 
has  now  eighty-five  acres,  which  he  has 
iiighly  improved.  He  retired  from  active 
farming,  and  since  1876  has  dealt  in  real 
estate,  settled  up  estates,  etc. 

Captain  McGann  was  married,  in  Jackson 
township,  in  1857,  to  Miss  Eispy,  daughter 
of  Colonel  G.  and  May  (Zimmerman)  Fetter- 
hott',  born  in  Jackson  townsiiip,  April  28, 
1835.  They  have  three  cliildren  ;  Isaac  H., 
Lutheran  pastor,  of  Union  county.  Pa.,  was 
educated  at  the  State  Normal  School,  at  Mil- 
lersville,  and  the  Missionary  Institute,  in 
Snyder  county;  was  ordained  to  tlie  ministry 
in  1885;  married  Annie  Mattis,  and  has  three 
cliildren:  Maud,  Laura  and  Evaiine;  Ellen, 
married,  in  1882,  to  James  F.  Gerberich, 
who  was  born  in  Jackson  township;  son  of 
Amos  and  Julia  A.  (Keiter)  Gerberich,  at- 
tended school  in  Jackson  townshif),  was  six 
years  turnkey  at  Harrisburg  lock-up,  farms 
tlie  homestead  of  his  wife's  father,  has  three 
children:  J.  D.  Cameron,  Annie  Gertrude 
and  Esther ;  Annie  E.,  teacher  in  Jackson 
township,  educated  in  the  high  school  in 
Harrisburg,  and  graduate  of  Berr^'sburg,  and 
Millersville  State  Normal  School,  has  been 
teaching  three  years. 

Captain  McGann  is  a  Republican.  He 
was  clerk  in  the  county  commissioners' 
office,  county  auditor,  assessor  and  tax  col- 
lector; he  was  also  for  several  years  justice 
of  the  peace.  He  was  captain  of  a  volunteer 
company  formed  before  the  Civil  war.  He 
is  a  member,  and  is  chaplain,  and  has  been 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


751 


commander  of  R.  B.  Miller  Post,  No.  392,  G. 
A.  11.  He  is  one  of  the  most  widely  known 
and  most  jiopular  men  of  the  county.  He 
is  esteemed  for  his  virtues,  and  beloved  for 
his  good  will  and  kindness  to  all. 


Shoop,  Daniel,  retired  farmer,  was  born  in 
Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
October  2,  1828.  His  father,  Daniel  Shoop, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  and  was  a 
farmer  and  stockman  in  Jackson  township. 
He  married  Susan  Albright,  a  native  of  Dau- 
phin county.  They  had  eight  children  : 
Henry,  deceased ;  Catherine,  deceased,  wife 
of  Jonas  Poole;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  wife  of 
Leonard  Bender ;  Frederick,  deceased  ; 
Lydia,  wife  of  John  Warfield  ;  Sarah,  de- 
ceased, wife  of  Christian  Dravids;  Daniel, 
and  Clinton,  of  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Shoop  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  They  died  in  Jackson  township. 
They  were  good  people,  and  highl\'  respected. 

Daniel  Shoop,  Jr.,  attended  the  common 
school  in  the  winter  and  worked  on  the  farm 
for  his  father  in  the  summer  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  old,  when  his  father  died. 
He  remained  on  the  homestead  one  year 
longer,  when  it  was  sold  to  pay  tiie  debts  of 
his  father's  estate.  Tiien  he  had  to  go  into 
the  world  and  look  out  for  iiimself.  He 
worked  as  a  farm  hand,  and  at  various  em- 
ployments, receiving  small  wages  for  hard 
labor.  At  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  went 
to  Jacksonville  to  learn  shoemaking.  He 
worked  there  one  year  and  then  removed  to 
a  small  place  of  sixteen  acres,  where  he  now 
lives.  This  place  he  improved  and  culti- 
vated and  made  his  home.  He  worked  at 
his  trade  and  tilled  his  little  farm  for  ten 
years.  By  industry  and  frugal  living  he 
prosjjered,  and  at  the  end  of  ten  years  was 
able  to  buy  thirty-five  acres  more.  By  con- 
tinuing to  work  and  to  save,  he  added  more 
land  from  time  to  time,  and  is  now  in  pos- 
session of  two  hundreil  and  sixty  acres  of 
good,  arable  land,  all  of  which  is  fully  culti- 
vated and  improved.  Mr.  Shoop  ha.s  built 
several  dwelling  houses  and  barns  and  other 
Jarm  structures  on  his  different  farms  which 
his  sons  are  cultivating.  He  built  a  fine 
house  for  himself,  where  he  and  his  wife  are 
now  living  retired  from  active  business. 

Daniel  Shoop  was  married  in  Jackson 
township,  June  5,  1852,  to  a  native  of  that 
township,  Catherine,  daughter  of  John,  and 
sister  of  George  W.  D.  Enders,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  in  this  volume.     They  had 


eight  children :  Mary,  deceased ;  Aaron, 
farmer  in  Lykens  Valley,  married  Lydia 
Bechtel,  has  four  children  ;  Nathan,  farmer, 
in  Ohio,  married  Sallie  Becket ;  Henry, 
farmer  in  Powell's  Valley,  married  Martha 
Hoover,  has  one  child  ;  Emanuel,  deceased  ; 
Edward  0.,  carpenter,  married  Susan  En- 
ders ;  Curtin,  miner  at  Minersville,  Pa.,  and 
John,  farmer,  married  Mary  Miller,  and  has 
four  children.  Mrs.  Catherine  Shoop  died 
in  Jackson  township,  in  July,  1887.  On 
June  18,  1881,  Mr.  Shoop  married  Mary  M. 
Enders,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  widow 
of  Aaron  Sweigard.  Of  this  mariage  there 
is  no  issue. 

Mrs.  Shoop  is  a  daugliter  of  John  Enders, 
one  of  the  oldest  farmers  of  Jackson  town- 
ship. Her  first  husband,  Aaron  Sweigard, 
was  a  farmer  and  stockman  in  the  same 
township.  They  had  five  children  :  Annie 
S.,  wife  of  Lewis  Ziegler;  Elizabeth  and 
C!harles,  deceased  ;  Aaron,  farming  out  West, 
and  Catherine,  deceased.  Mr.  Sweigard 
died  in  Jackson  township  in  1866.  Mr. 
Slioop  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  never  held 
any  office  in  the  township.  He  is  a  member 
and  a  trustee  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
He  lias  been  a  diligent  worker  from  boy- 
hood, and  a  wise  manager.  His  success 
demonstrates  his  ability.  He  is  honored  in 
the  community. 


Endkrs,  Henry,  retired  farmer,was  born 
in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
January  26,  1828.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
Enders,  and  a  brother  of  George  W.  Enders, 
who.se  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  book. 
He  attended  school  in  his  native  township 
during  the  winter,  and  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  in  summer;  he  remained  on  the  home- 
stead until  he  was  twenty-two.  He  then  re- 
ceived from  his  father  seventy-eight  acres  of 
land,  on  which  was  built  a  house  and  barn, 
and  made  all  improvements  needful  for  a 
good  stock  farm.  He  has  added  to  iiis  land 
until  he  has  now  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres,  well  im})roved  and  cultivated.  In 
1891  Mr.  Enders  relinquished  farming,  re- 
moved to  Jacksonville,  and  bought  a  dwell- 
ing, which  he  remodeled  and  improved  at  a 
cost  of  $2,000.  In  this  comfortable  and 
beautiful  home  he  and  his  faithful  wife  reside, 
free  from  the  burdens  and  cares  of  busi- 
ness, and  quietly  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their 
labor  and  prudent  management  in  earlier 
life. 

Henry  Enders  was  married,  in   Jackson 


752 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


township,  in  1856,  to  Susan,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Eva  (Mitzer)  Sweigert,  born  in 
Powell's  Valley  in  1834.  They  have  these 
children:  Ellen  M.,  deceased,  wife  of  James 
Miller ;  Oliver  T.,  farmer  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, married  Mary  Horsinger,  has  one  child, 
Webster ;  Charles  R.,  farmer,  Lykens  Valley ; 
Ira  A.,  farms  the  homestead,  married  Alice 
Warfield  ;  Lester  Alice,  wife  of  C.  Redinger, 
farmer,  Jackson  township ;  Selina,  and  one 
infant,  deceased.  Mr.  Enders  is  a  Democrat, 
and  attends  the  United  Brethren  church. 
He  possesses  those  qualities  of  head  and 
heart  which  constitute  a  good  man,  and  ren- 
der him  successful  and  popular. 

Endees,  Samuel,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Jackson  township,  Dauphin  countv.  Pa.,  Oc- 
tober IG,  ISIG,  and  died  February  23,  1896; 
son  of  Conrad  and  Elizabeth  (Whitman)  En- 
ders. His  father,  Conrad  Enders,  was  the 
grandfather  of  G.  W.  D.  Enders,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Samuel  Enders  received  his  education  in 
the  public  and  private  schools  of  his  town- 
ship. He  worked  on  the  farm  with  his 
father  until  he  was  twenty-three,  when  his 
father  gave  him  fifty  acres  of  land  on  which 
the  only  improvements  were  a  log  house  and 
a  barn.  Here  he  and  his  wife  began  life, 
young,  strong,  and  ambitious,  with  will  and 
courage  to  meet  and  overcome  all  obstacles. 
The  old  log  house  soon  gave  place  to  a  fine 
frame  dwelling,  and  a  new  barn  and  other 
needed  imi)rovements  were  added.  Pros- 
perity attended  tiieir  unremitting  efforts,  and 
their  resources  were  iiusbanded  by  frugality 
and  economy.  Additions  were  made  to  their 
land,  and  the  farm  grew  in  productiveness 
under  their  skillful  tillage.  The  final  result 
was  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  with  first- 
class  im])rovements,  constituting  a  home  and 
a  business  among  the  best  in  the  com- 
munity. Stock  raising  and  the  raising  of 
market  produce  were  Mr.  Enders'  specialties. 

Samuel  Enders  was  married,  in  Harris- 
burg,  February,  1839,  to  Leah  Etter,  born  in 
York  county.  Pa.,  in  1820;  daughter  of 
George  and  Kate  (Fackler)  Etter,  both  na- 
tives of  York  county,  but  residents  of  Dau- 
phin county  at  the  time  of  their  death.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Enders  liad  seven  children :  Isa- 
bella, wife  of  Daniel  Wert ;  Aaron,  farmer  in 
Kansas,  married  xVmanda  Miller,  had  three 
children ;  Rebecca,wifeof  A.  Zimmerman, had 
one  child  ;  James,  merchant  at  Ashland,  Pa., 
married   Susan  Yeager,  had    six  children  ; 


Louisa,  deceased,  wife  of  Daniel  Bowman,  had 
five  children ;  Charles  W.,  lumber  manu- 
facturer, at  Elizabeth ville,  married  Phoebe 
Buffington,  has  four  children  ;  Ann  J.,  wife 
of  Dr.  Levi  Enders,  of  Williamstown,  Pa. 
Mr.  Enders  was  a  Democrat  and  attended  the 
United  Brethren  church.  Until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Enders  he  and  his  wife  had  the  satis- 
faction of  looking  back  over  fifty-seven  years 
of  their  united  labors,  sorrows  and  joys. 
Their  comfortable  situation,  in  a  good  iiome, 
with  a  competence  for  all  their  needs,  among 
their  children  and  their  children's  children, 
and  hosts  of  friends,  was  a  lot  as  happy  as 
any  that  Heaven  could  bestow  upon  mortals. 

Strayer,  Valentine,  farmer  and  stock- 
man, was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  Oc- 
tober 27,  1827.  His  grandfather,  Mathias 
Strayer,  came  from  Wittenberg,  Germany, 
when  a  youth.  His  father,  Valentine 
Strayer,  was  a  native  of  Lebanon  county. 
He  was  a  farmer;  in  his  younger  days  he 
was  a  German  school  teacher.  He  farmed 
in  Lebanon  county,  also  in  Halifax,  Lykens, 
Washington  and  Jackson  townships, in  Dau- 
phin county.  He  owned  a  small  fixrm  near 
the  town  of^Gratz,  where  he  died.  He  mar- 
rii-d  Catiierine  Bealy,  and  they  had  tliese 
cliildren  :  John,  decea-sed,  farmer  in  Iowa; 
Elizaboih,  deceased,  wife  of  Jonas  Matter,  of 
Ohio ;  Nancy,  deceased,  wife  of  George 
Doebler,  school  teacher,  of  Ohio ;  Catherine, 
wife  of  Andrew  Slieets,  of  Iowa  ;  Daniel,  de- 
ceased, farmer,  of  Gratz  ;  Lafayette,  farmer, 
Jackson  township  ;  George,  farmer,  Iowa  ; 
Valentine  ;  Lucinda,  deceased,  wife  of  Jonas 
Kiser;  Mary,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 
The  mother  also  died  at  Gratz.  Mr.  Strayer 
was  a  member  and  a  deacon  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  He  was  formerly  a  Whig,  and  af- 
terwards became  a  Repul)lican. 

Valentine  Strayer,  the  son,  attended  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
worked  with  his  father  on  farms  in  various 
parts  of  the  county.  When  he  was  twenty- 
two  years  old  he  rented  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  in  Halifax  townsliip, 
which  he  worked  for  four  years.  He  also 
cultivated  another  farm  in  the  same  town- 
ship for  one  year,  after  which  he  removed  to 
Jackson  township  and  bought  the  farm 
which  he  now  owns,  and  on  which  he  built 
a  dwelling  and  a  barn,  and  made  other  im- 
j)rovements.  He  was  for  twenty  years  en- 
gaged in  raising  stock  and  attending  the 
markets  of    Lykens.     His   industry,   enter- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


753 


prise,  and   good   management  secured   the 
success  of  bis  operations. 

Mr.  Strayer  was  married,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, November  (3, 1850,  to  Christiana  Straw, 
born  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  March  21, 
1824;  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  M.  Eliza- 
beth (Grimm)  Straw,  natives  of  Schuylkill 
county,  but  residents  of  Jackson  township 
when  they  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strayer 
have  no  children.  Mr.  Strayer  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  has  been  tax  collector  for  two 
terms,  and  inspector  of  elections.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Straj'er  are  among  those  who  were  wise 
in  youth  and  prepared  for  age  and  ease. 
They  have  been  industrious,  have  lived 
carefully,  and  can  now  enjoy  the  comforts  of 
life.  They  are  worthy  people,  and  are  hon- 
ored in  the  community. 

Frank,  Andrew  P.,  farmer,  Elizabeth- 
ville  P.  0.,  was  born  in  Jackson  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  September  5,  1847; 
son  of  Daniel  and  Gertrude  (Keiter)  Frank, 
of  that  townshij).  He  attended  the  public 
.schools  and  worked  on  the  farm  at  iiome 
until  he  became  of  age,  when  he  bought  and 
improved  sixt\'  acres  of  land,  on  which  he 
erected  buildings  and  made  other  improve- 
ments at  a  cost  of  $3,500.  He  was  married, 
in  Washington  township,  January  26,  1878, 
to  Catherine  Knerr,  born  in  Mitllin  township, 
July  17, 1834;  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
Matter  Knerr,of  that  township.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Bertha  J.,  born  November  29, 1884 ; 
Mabel  M.,  born  July  17,  1887  ;  and  Henry 
D.,  born  May  23,  1893.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  Frank  is  a  Democrat.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  he  is  a  Sunday-school 
teacher.  Pie  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pvthias. 


Fetterhoff,  Clarence,  farmer,  Enders, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  September  6, 1862.  The  grand- 
father was  Col.  George  Fetterhoff.  Philip, 
the  father,  was  born  in  the  same  township, 
October  3,  1825.  He  has  spent  his  life  in 
farming  and  raising  stock,  in  the  Armstrong 
Valley,  and  is  now  living  retired  from  active 
])ursuits,  at  Fisherville,  Pa.  He  married 
Sarah  Sweyard,born  in  Powell's  Valley, and 
they  have  four  children :  George,  hotel 
keeper,  at  Halifax  ;  Isaac,  farmer ;  Clarence, 
and  Margaret,  who  died  young.  The  father 
is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  he  and  liis  wife 


are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  They 
are  living  quietly  and  comfortably  at  Fish- 
erville, enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  hard  la- 
bor in  earlier  life. 

Clarence  acquired  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
has  always  remained  on  the  homestead, 
which  he  took  charge  of  when  his  father  re- 
tired. He  was  married,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, in  August,  1884,  to  Sadie  Rutter,  born 
in  Halifax  township,  September  5,  1864 ; 
daughter  of  Uriah  and  Sarah  (Ryan)  Rutter, 
farmer  in  Halifax  township.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Nora,  born  February  28,  1886; 
Jennie,  born  October  5,  1889 ;  and  Mary, 
born  September  24,  1890.  Mr.  Fetterhoff 
votes  with  the  Democrats,  and  has  been 
auditor  for  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 


Miller,  Michael  H.,  farmer,  Enders,  Pa., 
was  l)orn  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  June  15, 1836.  He  attended  the 
Miller  school  and  worked  on  the  farm  with 
his  fatlier  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of 
age.  He  then  rented  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  forty-four  acres  for  four  years,  after 
which  he  returned  to  the  homestead  and 
worked  it  until  his  father's  death,  when  he 
inherited  two  hundred  and  two  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  erected  a  fine  brick  house  costing 
$3,000,  a  barn  and  other  needful  buildings. 
He  was  married,  in  Jackson  township, 
in  1860,  to  Catherine  Snyder,  of  that  town- 
ship, born  in  1840;  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  Snyder.  Their  children 
are:  Arabella  J.,  Mrs.  William  Warfield, 
Jackson  township,  and  she  has  six  chil- 
dren ;  Ellen  A.,  Mrs.  Henry  A.  Warner, 
Jackson  township  ;  Ira  0.,  farmer,  married 
Julia  A.  Glaze,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren ;  Harvey  O.,  Washington  townsiiip, 
married  Agnes  W.  Boyer,  and  they  have  two 
children  ;  Jennie,  wife  of  Harry  H.  Snyder, 
and  they  have  one  child  ;  Edwin  E.  and 
Lizzie  I.,  at  home;  Elmer  0.,  and  Emma  M., 
died  young.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Democrat  and 
has  held  several  township  offices.  In  relig- 
ions faith  he  is  a  Lutheran  of  the  old  school, 
and  is  a  deacon  in  tlie  church,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  0.  F. 


Whitman,  William,  farmer,  Fisherville, 
Jackson  township,  was  born  in  Jackson 
township,  Dauphin  county,  July  3,  1823. 
Bartholomew  Whitman,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Berks  county,  and  removed  to 


754 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Dauphin  county  with  his  famil}',and  located 
in  Lykens  Valley,  afterwards  removing  to 
Jackson  townshij),  where  he  and  his  wife 
died.  John,  the  father,  was  also  born  in 
Berks  county,  and  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Dauphin  county  when  a  chHd, 
where  he  attended  the  schools  of  Jackson 
township,  and  from  early  boyhood  worked 
on  the  farm  with  his  father.  He  also  owned 
and  operated  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  in  Armstrong  Valley,  and  was  ex- 
ten.sively  engaged  in  raising  stock.  He  mar- 
ried Catherine  Maisner,  born  in  Washing- 
ton township  in  180(5.  Their  children  are: 
Mary,  Daniel,  William,  Elizabeth,  Catherine 
A.,  iSarah,  deceased,  John,  deceased,  La- 
vina,  and  Rebecca,  died  young.  The  father 
was  once  a  Democrat,  ijut  became  a  Repub- 
lican, and  served  as  supervisor  for  three 
years.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  served  as 
a  deacon.  He  died  April  14,  1884,  in  Jack- 
son township,  and  his  wife  died  in  the  fall 
of  188G,  in  Powell's  Valley. 

William  attended  the  schools  in  Jackson 
township  in  tlie  winter  months,  and  worked 
on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  he  was 
twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  tlien  lenrned 
the  trade  of  carjjenter  and  joiner,  at  wliicii 
he  worked  for  several  years,  taking  contracts. 
He  built  several  houses  and  barns  in  Jack- 
son township.  He  bought  thirty-three  acres 
of  land  from  his  father  on  which  he  built  a 
dwelling  house  and  barn.  After  his  father's 
death  he  got  the  homestead  of  ninety  acres, 
where  he  has  his  present  residence.  For  a 
timber  supply  he  bought  mountain  land, 
and  has  made  important  improvements  on 
the  homestead.  In  September,  1895,  his  barn 
was  struck  by  lightning,  and  with  its  contents 
entirely  consumed  by  tire,  entailing  a  loss  on 
building  and  crops  of  $o,(JOU.  He  is  now 
building  a  new  barn.  He  was  married, 
April,  1857,  to  Susanna  Enders,born  in  Jack- 
son township,  December  25,  1835;  daughter 
of  Philip  and  sister  of  George  W.  Enders. 
Their  children  are:  Isaac,  William,  Bertha, 
and  Ellen,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Whitman 
enlisted  at  Harrisburg,  September,  1864,  in 
company  A,  Two  Hundred  and  Tenth  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  oi  Gravel  Run,  Hatch's 
Run,  Five  Forks,  and  was  at  Lee's  surrender. 
He  was  discharged  May  3, 1865,  at  Arlington 
Heights,  and  was  present  at  the  grand  reunion 
in  Washington,  He  was  not  sick  a  single  day 
while  in  the  service,  and  receives  no  pension. 


In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  served  as  supervisor,  tax  collector  and 
a,s.sessor,  one  term  each.  His  religious  faith 
and  fellowship  are  with  the  Lutherans,  and 
he  is  a  deacon  in  tiie  church  and  a  Sunday- 
school  teacher. 


Zeirn,  Charles,  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  in  Jackson  town- 
ship. He  was  born  m  Baden,  German}-,  De- 
cember 4, 1826,  and  when  quite  young  came 
to  this  country  with  his  parents  and  five 
other  cliildren.  The  father  was  a  tailor  by 
trade.  Charles  found  employment  in  a  store 
at  Palmyra,  Pa.,  as  a  clerk,  where  he  spent 
ten  years,  and  then  removed  to  Lykens, 
where  lie  had  a  similar  position  witli  Martin 
Bloom.  He  also  worked  in  the  coal  mines 
for  fourteen  years.  In  1870  he  came  to  Arm 
strong  Valley  and  bought  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  acres  in  Jackson  township,  on 
which  he  made  substantial  improvements, 
and  wliicli  he  cultivated  up  to  the  time  of 
his  deatli,  January  23,  1895.  He  was  mar- 
lied,  at  Ilarrisl)urg,  in  March,  1863,  to  Nancy 
Suavely,  born  in  Lebanon  county,  Septem- 
ber 28, 1828;  daughter  of  William  and  Annie 
(Long)  Suavely.  Their  children  are:  Mary, 
wife  of  Frank  Bucli,  moulder,  Harrisburg; 
Margaret,  Mrs.  .lulius  Bonner,  Harrisburg; 
Leah,  wife  of  Fled.  Brown,  Harrisburg.  lie 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  Catholic  in 
religious  faith  and  fellowship.  His  widow 
survives  and  resides  on  the  farm  in  Jackson 
township. 


JEFFERSON  TOWNSHIP. 


Sheetz,  John,  farmer  and  postmaster  of 
Carsonville,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Jederson  town- 
siiip,  now  Wayne  township.  November  26, 
1842.  His  grandfather,  John  Sheet/,,  was  a 
native  of  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  a  farmer. 
William  J.  Sheetz,  father  of  the  younger 
John  Sheetz,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
November  20,  1805.  He  grew  up  on  the 
farm,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to  Jef- 
ferson townsliip,  now  Wayne,  where  he 
bought  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  on  which 
he  built  a  brick  dwelling  and  barn,  and 
made  other  improvements,  and  carried  on 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  was  enter- 
prising and  prosperous.  Mr.  Sheetz  was 
married  to  Barbara,  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Margaret  Zimmerman,  of  Jackson  town- 
ship, born  June  3, 1811.    Their  children  are: 


^/^M^^,  J^&.£^^ 


TT^. 


'A~?^^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


Y5Y 


Josiah,  boi'rt  March  22,  1831,  farmer,  of 
Wayne  tovvuship ;  George,  September  3, 
1832,  farmer,  Wayne  townsliip;  Mary  B., 
May  7,  1834,  wife  of  James  Svveigert,  Jack- 
son township ;  Samuel  B.,  July  20,  1836, 
farmer,  Wayne  township;  Julia  A.,  April  8, 
1839,  wife  of  James  Huffman,  Jackson  town- 
ship ;  Elizabetli,  Ai)ril  G,  1841,  widow  of 
Henry  E.  Welker,  Wayne  townshi)) ;  John  ; 
Washington,  June  15,  1845,  resides  on  the 
homestead  in  Wayne  townsliip  ;  William, 
October  7,  1847,  resides  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship; Margaret,  October  26,  1849;  Sarah  M., 
deceased,  born  September  8,  1852,  wife  of 
Emanuel  Ludwig,  merchant,  Penhrook,  Pa.; 
Catherine  E.,  March  24,  1855,  wife  of  Leon- 
ard Hawk,  farmer,  Wayne  townsliip.  Mr. 
Sheetz  was  a  Democrat.  The  family  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  died 
in  Wayne  township,  and  Mrs.  Sheetz  in 
Jackson  township. 

John  Sheetz  attended  school  in  Wayne 
township  dui'ing  the  winter  months,  work- 
ing on  the  farm  during  the  summer.  He 
remained  on  tiie  home  farm  until  he  was 
twent3'-one,  at  which  time  he  had  accumu- 
lated over  one  thousand  dollars.  With  sev- 
eral other  young  men  he  went  into  the  oil 
business  asa speculation,  putting  down  wells, 
etc.,  which  they  soon  found  to  be  unprofit- 
able. Having  lost  his  one  thousand  clollars 
he  returned  to  his  old  neighborhood  to 
begin  life  anew.  With  such  help  as  lie  could 
get  from  his  father  and  fatlier-in-law,  Mr. 
Sheetz  bought  tifty-seven  acres  of  land  in 
Jefferson  township,  which  he  improved  and 
fanned  until  1886.  At  the  same  time  he 
carried  on  the  manufacture  of  lumber  with 
fair  success. 

In  1886  Mr.  Sheetz  went  into  a  general 
mercantile  business  in  Carsonville,  wiiich  he 
conducted  eight  years  with  very  satisfactory 
profits.  During  this  time  he  also  operated 
a  saw  mill  and  manufactured  and  dealt  in 
lumber.  In  1894  he  sold  his  store  and  mill 
and  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fif- 
teen acres  near  Carsonville,  on  which  he 
made  improvements  costing  $2,000,  and 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  In 
addition  to  this  homestead  he  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-six  acres  of  land  in  Wayne 
and  Jefferson  townships  and  eleven  hundred 
acres  of  timber  land  in  Centre  county,  on 
which  there  is  a  saw  mill,  with  a  factory  and 
other  improvements. 

Mr.  Sheetz  was  married,  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, in  November,  1864,  to  Sarah  J.  Parks, 
49 


born  in  Jefferson  township,  .January  18, 
1847;  daughter  of  George  Parks,  farmer  and 
lumberman  and  merchant  of  that  township. 
They  had  ten  children:  Margaret,  born 
April  14,  1866,  died  April  18,  1877;  Emma 
E.,  born  September  10,  1867,  wife  of  Alfred 
Taylor,  Chicago,  111.;  Carson  A.;  William  H., 
born  February  20,  1871 ;  George  W.;  Mary 
A.;  John  E.,  born  November  2,  1876,  died 
November  30,  1879;  Thomas  R.,  born  July 
10, 1879, at  home;  Rosella  C;  and  Annie  L., 
born  August  11,  1884,  died  September  6, 
1884. 

Mr.  Sheetz  was  postmaster  eight  years, 
under  both  of  President  Cleveland's  admin- 
istrations. He  was  school  director  for  three 
years,  and  for  the  same  length  of  time  audi- 
tor of  Jefferson  township.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat. The  family  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Sheetz  is  a 
hard-working,  enterprising  and  prosperous 
man,  is  widely  known  and  universally  pop- 
ular. 

Carson  Asbury  Sheetz,  eldest  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  Jane  Sheetz,  was  born  June  29, 
1869,  at  Carsonville,  Dauphin  county,  Pa. 
He  attended  country  schools  during  the 
winter  and  worked  on  the  farm  summers. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  attended  spring  and 
fall  terms  at  Berrysburg  Seminary.  In  the 
spring  of  1889  attended  Elizabeth ville  Sem- 
inary under  Prof.  D.  G.  Lubold  ;  taught 
school  that  winter  at  Rank's  school  house, 
Jefferson  township.  Lefttiie  following  spring, 
1890,  for  Quincy,  III.  Took  full  course  of 
bookkeeping  and  accountant  there  at  Gem 
City  Business  College.  The  fall  of  1890  left 
Quincy  for  Chicago.  Was  cashier  for  H.  M. 
Kinsley,  Chicago,  until  July,  1891;  later 
was  employed  as  invoice  clerk  at  Mandel 
Bros,  dry  goods  store,  Chicago.  Shortly 
afterwards  was  taken  down  with  an  attack 
of  rheumatism,  and  immediately  went  back 
home.  Instead  of  returning  to  Chicago  as 
was  intended,  was  persuaded  to  teach  the 
(Jarsonville  school  that  winter.  In  the 
spring  of  1892  attended  Fredericksburg 
Seminary,  one  term,  leaving  home  July  22, 
same  year,  for  Denver,  Colo.  At  Den- 
ver took  the  full  course  of  stenography  at 
Woodworth's  Shorthand  College.  January 
1,  1893,  accepted  a  [losition  as  stenographer 
with  Hon.  F.  W.  Owers,  district  judge  of  the 
Fifth  Judicial  District  of  Colorado,  at  Lead- 
ville.  Left  Leadville,  July,  1894,  for  Crip- 
ple Creek,  Colo.  Accepted  a  position  tliere 
as  stenographer  with  C.  S.  Wilson,  attorney 


758 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


for  W.  S.  Stratton,  owner  of  the  Independ- 
ence mine.  Remained  in  the  employ  of  C. 
S.  Wilson  until  February,  1895,  when  the 
position  as  head  bookkeeper  and  settlement 
clerk  for  the  Lawrence  Gold  Extraction  Com- 
pany, Cripple  Creek  district,  was  tendered 
him,  which  he  accepted.  Hemained  with  the 
Lawrence  Company  in  the  above  capacity 
until  the  first  of  the  year,  the  entire  plant 
being  destroyed  by  fire  December  23,  1895. 
Lnmediately  after  the  destruction  of  the 
Lawrence  Works  a  proposition  was  made 
him  by  .J.  H.  Willard  &  Co.,  an  old  and 
established  real  estate  firm,  to  enter  into 
equal  partnership  with  them,  which  was 
accepted  January  1,  1896.  The  firm  name 
was  changed  from  .J.  H.  Willard  &  Co. 
to  the  Willard  Investment  Company,  with 
Mr.  Sheetz  as  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
new  corporation  ;  their  princijial  office  being 
at  Victor,  Colo.,  which  is  situated  in  the 
very  center  of  the  Cripple  Creek  gold  mining 
district. 

William  H.  Sheetz,  second  son  of  John 
Sheetz,  in  February,  1888,  went  to  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  where  he  took  a  course  and 
graduated  in  the  school  of  stenography  of 
Eastman  College;  thence  to  New  York,  where 
for  five  months  he  was  stenographer  in  the 
Merchants'  Exchange  National  Bank  ;  thence 
to  Sufiblk,Va.,  where  he  wasstenographerand 
clerk  in  a  wholesale  feed  and  coal  house  for 
seven  months;  thence  home  to  Carsonville, 
where  in  the  winter  of  1889-90  he  taught 
school ;  in  April,  1890,  he  went  to  Valparaiso, 
Ind.,  where  he  attended  the  Normal  School 
four  months;  thence  to  Denver,  Colo., 
where  he  worked  as  stenographer  with  the 
Denver  Fire  Insurance  Company  ;  thence  to 
Pueblo,  Colo.,  where  he  was  seven  months 
as  stenographer  in  the  law  office  of  Gerry  & 
Caiupbell ;  thence,  in  1891,  to  Aspen,  Colo., 
where  he  worked  in  the  law  office  of 
L.  S.  Smith  in  the  same  capacity  for  two 
years;  thence  to  Cripple  Creek,  Colo.,  where 
he  was  stenographer  in  a  law  office 
for  two  j'ears;  and  on  January  1,  1895, 
came  to  Leadville,  Colo.,  where  he  now  is  of- 
ficial stenographer  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  Fifth  Judicial  District  of  the  State  of 
Colorado.  While  in  the  several  law  offices, 
he  has  spent  all  his  leisure  hours  at  reading 
law.  He  was  twenty-five  years  of  age  on 
February  20  last,  and  is  single. 

The  three  children,  George  W.,  Mary  A. 
and  Rosella  C.  are  living  in  Carlisle,  Pa. 
George  W.  was  born  July  20,  1872,  at  Car- 


sonville, and  resided  on  the  farm  with  his 
parents  until  the  age  of  seventeen,  when  he 
taught  school  in  Rush  township  for  a  year. 
During  the  winters  of  1890  and  1891  he 
taught  in  Jeff'erson  township.  In  1892  he 
attended  Schuylkill  Seminary,  and  again 
taught  the  following  winter.  He  is  now  a 
junior  in  Dickinson  College,  having  entered 
the  Freshman  class  in  1894.  During  his 
first  year  at  Dickinson  he  was  awarded  the 
first  prize  for  "  Dramatic  Declamation,"  an 
honor  which  was  well  deserved,  as  Mr. 
Sheetz  possesses  rare  ability,  and  never  fails 
to  entertain  the  many  audiences  before 
which  he  recites.  Mary  A.  Sheetz  was  born 
December  8,  1873,  and  attended  the  home 
school  nine  years,  the  Elizabethville  Semi- 
nary one  term  and  tlie  Schuylkill  Seminary 
one  term.  The  two  succeeding  years  were 
spent  at  Millersburg  high  school,  from  which 
she  graduated  in  1893.  The  following  win- 
ter she  taught  the  home  school,  and  in  1894 
entered  Metzger  College,  Carlisle,  as  a  stu- 
dent of  art  and  music,  but  at  present  is  con- 
tinuing music  only.  Rosella  C.  Sheetz  was 
born  November  2,  1882,  at  Carsonville. 
After  living  with  her  parents  up  to  the  age 
of  twelve  she  moved  to  Carlisle  with  her 
brother  George  W.  and  sister  Mary  A., 
where  she  is  at  present  attending  the  pub- 
lic schools. 


Row,  Jonas,  farmer  and  justice  of  the 
peace,  was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  now 
Washington  township,  Dauphin  countv,  Pa., 
May  11,  1839.  His  grandfather,  WHliam 
Row,  was  of  English  descent,  and  was  a  car- 
penter and  farmer.  He  married  Barbara 
Rudy,  also  of  English  extraction.  His  son, 
Jacob  Row,  father  of  Jonas  Row,  was  born  in 
Lykens  Valley,  in  LS12.  Pie  owned,  improved 
and  worked  a  farm  of  ninety  acres  in  Wash- 
ington township  in  connection  with  which 
he  carried  on  a  butchering  business,  also  a 
store  at  Matterstown.  He  married  Susan 
Matter,  born  in  Mifflin  township.  They  had 
nine  children  :  Jonas ;  Catherine,  widow  of 
Daniel  Carle ;  Susanna,  wife  of  J.  Matter,  of 
Harrisburg;  Melinda,  widow  of  Samuel  Kop- 
penberger;  Amanda,  wife  of  Henr}'  Bechtel, 
plasterer,  Elizabethville;  Sarah,  wife  of  John 
Lebo,  Schuylkill  county  ;  Adam,  deceased  ; 
Samuel,  of  Schuylkill  county;  Isaac,  resides 
on  homestead,  at  Matterstown.  Mr.  Row 
first  held  Democratic  views  in  politics,  but 
changed  for  a  time  to  the  Republican  party, 
and  finally  returned  to  the  Democratic  party. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


759 


He  has  served  as  supervisor  of  roads,  tax 
collector,  and  in  other  offices.  He  died  in 
Schuylkill  countj'  at  the  age  of  eighty-two^ 
Mr.  Row  was  well  known  and  highly  re- 
spected. He  was  comfortably  cared  for  in 
his  declining  years  by  his  faithful  son,  Jonas. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  old  school  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  he  was  deacon  and  trus- 
tee, also  Sunday-school  superintendent  and 
teacher.  Mrs.  Row  died  in  Washington 
township. 

Jonas  Row  attended  the  schools  of  Wash- 
ington township  in  the  winter,  and  worked 
with  his  father  in  the  various  departments  of 
his  business  until  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  On  reaching  his  majorit}'  he  was 
employed  by  his  father  on  wages.  He  worked 
two  years  on  the  homestead  farm,  at  Matters- 
town,  and  two  years  in  Lykens  Valley,  at 
butchering,  etc. 

In  18G3  Mr.  Row  enlisted,  at  Harrisburg, 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  under 
Colonel  Jennings  and  Captain  Bell.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  was 
wounded  in  the  knee,  the  result  of  which  was 
to  lame  him  for  life.  He  was  discharged  at 
the  end  of  three  months'  service,  but  re-en- 
listed in  the  fall  of  1868,  in  company  F,  Six- 
teenth Pennsylvania  cavalry,  under  Colonel 
Robinson  and  Capt.  J.  H.  Ressler.  He  was 
at  Petersburg  five  days,  and  on  account  of 
bravery  in  action  was  promoted  to  tiie  rank 
of  orderly  to  General  Gregg.  Mr.  Row  was 
at  the  surrender  of  General  Lee,  and  was 
mustered  out  of  service  in  1865.  He  returned 
home  and  engaged  in  trading  in  Lykens 
Valley  for  two  years,  after  which  he  bought 
thirty-three  acres  of  land  and  added  twenty- 
two  acres  more,  in  Washington  township. 
This  farm  he  improved  at  an  expense  of 
15,000.  But  Mr.  Row  became  security  for  a 
friend,  through  which  he  sustained  a  loss  of 
$4,000,  and  was  forced  to  sell  his  farm  which 
brought  only  $5,000.  In  1890  he  removed 
to  Jefferson  township  and  purchased  eighty 
acres,  the  buildings  on  which  he  remodeled 
and  enlarged,  and  fitted  the  place  for  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Row  was  married,  in  Washington 
township,  October  23, 1859,  to  Susan  S.  Martz, 
born  in  U|)per  Paxton  township,  Septem- 
ber 25,  1845.  They  have  seven  children  : 
Jacob  C.,  born  October  27,  1860,  operates  in 
mines,  Tower  City.  Schuylkill  county.  Pa. ; 
Theodore  and  Charles,  twins,  born  Novem- 
ber 9,  1862,  deceased ;  Ida  A.,  born  May  15, 


1864,  wife  of  Henry  Harinan,  Halifax  town- 
ship; Ira  U.,  born  January  11, 1867, deceased; 
Eve  Jennie,  born  January  27, 1868,  deceased  ; 
Olive  0.,  born  April  12, 1869,  deceased.  Mrs. 
Row  died  December  28, 1870,  in  Washington 
township.  The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Row  was 
Catherine  R.,  daughter  of  David  Matter,  of 
Washington  township,  born  in  that  township, 
in  1844.  They  have  no  children.  Mr.  Row 
is  a  Republican,  served  as  supervisor  of 
roads  for  two  terms,  and  justice  of  the  peace 
for  two  years.  He  belongs  to  Helner  Post, 
G.  A.  R.,  at  Lykens. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Row  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
deacon  and  in  other  offices,  and  is  Sunday- 
school  superintendent  and  teacher.  Mr. 
Row  has  led  a  busy  and  somewhat  eventful 
life.  He  has  met  misfortunes  with  a  brave 
and  cheerful  heart.  His  wife  is  a  genial 
woman  and  a  true  helpmeet.  Tiiey  are  sur- 
rounded by  friends  who  honor  them  for  their 
worth. 


Enders,  Cornelius,  farmer,  stockman  and 
mail  carrier,  was  born  in  Jetierson  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  November  12,  1856. 
Ills  father,  John  Enders,  was  a  son  of  George 
Enders  and  brother  of  Dr.  Levi  Enders,  of 
WiJliamstown,  Pa.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
married  Caroline  Paul,  and  had  three  chil- 
dren :  Cornelius,  Emma,  who  died  young, 
and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Enders  both  died  in  1860,  when  Corne- 
lius was  three  and  a  half  years  old.  They 
were  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Mr.  Enders  was  a  Republican. 

Cornelius  Enders,  after  the  loss  of  his 
parents,  was  reared  by  his  grandfather.  He 
attended  the  township  schools  during  the 
winter  and  worked  in  summer  on  his  grand- 
father's farm,  until  he  was  fourteen.  For 
four  years  from  that  time  he  was  employed 
in  the  mines.  He  then  came  to  Jefferson 
township  and  worked  on  the  farm  and  in 
saw  mills  for  three  years.  He  next  rented  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres 
for  one  year ;  then  again  went  to  mining  in 
Schuylkill  county,  where  he  was  employed 
in  various  mines  for  three  years.  For  the 
two  following  years  he  kept  a  hotel  at  Dayton, 
Dauphin  county,  after  which  he  worked  six 
years  in  the  Williamstown  coal  mines.  Mr. 
Enders  next  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  three  acres  in  Wayne  township,  on 
which  he  built  a  barn  and  made  other  im- 
provements, but   sold    the  farm  in  a  short 


760 


BIO  GRAPHIC  A  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


time  and  returned  to  Jefferson  township. 
There  he  bought  anotlier  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  four  acres,  built  a  fine  barn,  re- 
modeled the  dwelling  and  put  the  place  in 
first-class  condition.  He  conducts  a  business 
of  farming,  stock  raising  and  manufacturing 
shingles  from  his  timber,  which  he  makes 
profitable.  He  is  industrious  and  enterpris- 
ing and  displays  business  ability.  Mr.  Enders 
was  married,  in  Jackson  township,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1877,  to  Harriet,  daugliter  of  Simon  and 
jMary  (Michael)  Smitli,  born  in  Jefferson 
township,  November  12,  1858.  They  have 
had  six  children,  of  whom  three  are  living  : 
Harry,  a  school  teacher,  Nora,  and  Esther. 
Carrie,  Floyd,  and  one  infant  all  died  young. 
Mr.  Enders  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been 
school  director  for  three  years  and  advocates 
compulsory  education  and  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  all  educational  matters.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Enders  are  regarded  as  among 
the  most  intelligent  and  agreeable  people  of 
tlie  communitv. 


Etzwilkr,  William  H.,  blacksmitli  and 
general  iron  worker,  was  born  in  Jefl'erson 
township,  Daupliin  county.  Pa.,  August  28, 
1866.  His  great-grandfatiier,  Daniel  Etz- 
wiler,  was  killed  l)y  tiie  Indians  in  Lykens 
Valley  many  years  ago.  Daniel  Etzwiler, 
Jr.,  grandfather  of  William  H.,  was  a  farmer 
and  stockman  in  Lykens  Valley,  where  lie 
was  born  in  1800.  He  married  Christina 
Smith.  His  son,  Michael  Etzwiler,  father  of 
William  H.,  was  born  at  Elizabethville,  in 
the  Lykens  Valley,  November  15, 1831.  He 
attended  school  in  Washington  and  Jefferson 
townships,  and  worked  asafarm  laborer  until 
he  was  twent^'-one  years  old.  He  then  went 
to  Hanover  township  and  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  the  blacksmith's  trade,  then 
worked  as  journeyman,  spending  in  all  five 
years  there.  After  that  he  returned  to  Jef- 
ferson township,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
for  thirty-five  years  and  was  patronized  b}' 
all  the  surrounding  countr}'.  He  also  culti- 
vated a  small  farm. 

Michael  Etzwiler  was  married  Se[)tember 
27,  1855,  in  Jackson  township,  to  Catherine 
Bodner,  born  in  Lykens  townshi|),  March 
12,  1838;  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Sny- 
der) Bodner,  of  Jackson  township.  The}' 
have  had  nine  children :  Amanda,  born  June 


16,  1856,  wife  of  James  W.  Nelson,  farmer 
and  dairyman,  of  Mercer  county.  Pa.;  Re- 
becca J.,  born  February  4, 1858,  wife  of  John 
C.  Nelson,  farmer,  Mercer  county  ;  Christina, 
born  July  3,  1860,  died  August  31,  1860; 
Anna  Sophia,  born  September  16,1864,  died 
August  20,  1866;  William  H.;  Nathaniel  E., 
born  January  3,  1869,  carpenter,  in  Mercer 
county;  Jacob  F.,  born  July  7,  1871,  black- 
smith, with  his  brother  William  H.;  Simon, 
born  January  14,  1875,  died  October  6, 1879, 
and  Carrie  E.,  born  May  3, 1878,  is  at  home. 
Mr.  Etzwiler  was  first  a  Democrat,  but  his 
political  views  changing  in  later  life,  he  be- 
came a  Republican.  He  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  tvvent\'-five  consecutive  years;  for 
several  years  he  was  a  school  director.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  was  deacon,  elder,  treasurer  and 
trustee,  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  He  died  December  14,  1893.  He 
was  a  good  man,  liked  and  honored  by  all 
who  knew  him. 

William  IL  Etzwiler  attended  school  in 
Jefferson  townshi])  and  two  sessions  in  Mercer 
county.  Li  the  latter  county  he  worked  two 
years  as  dairyman.  After  this  he  returned 
to  Jeflferson  township  and  worked  in  his 
father's  shop.  In  1891  his  father  sold  to  him 
his  interest  in  the  shop  and  retired  from 
business.  He  has  since  conducted  the  busi- 
ness with  success.  He  was  married,  in  Jack- 
son township,  August  28,  1891,  to  Amelia 
Enterline,  born  in  Wayne  townshi|).  May  10, 
1871.  Tliev  had  fourchildren  :  Thomas  G., 
born  October  26,  1891  ;  Emma  R.,  July  12, 
1892;  Michael  J.,  July  3,  1894,  deceased, 
and  Gertrude  E.,  September  13,  1895. 

Mr.  Etzwiler  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a 
school  director,  has  been  delegate  to  conven- 
tions, and  clerk  of  elections,  and  has  served 
in  various  township  offices.  He  attends  the 
Lutheran  church  and  is  a  hard-working,  up- 
right and  intelligent  man,  enterprising  and 
successful  in  business.  He  is  genial  in  social 
intercourse  and  is  esteemed  for  his  many 
excellencies  of  character. 

Jacob  F.  Etzwiler,  brother  of  William  H., 
was  married,  in  Fisherville,  December  25, 
1894,  to  Jennie  G.  Lehr,  daugliter  of  Emanuel 
and  Isabella  Lehr,  of  Enterline,  Wayne 
township,  Daui)liin  county,  and  to  this  union 
has  been  born  one  child,  Carrie  B.,  born 
June  18,  1895.  He  is  election  inspector,  a 
Republican  in  political  views,  and  attends 
the  Lutheran  church. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


761 


KuMMEL,  John  L.,  shoemaker  and  farmer, 
Jefferson  township,  was  born  in  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  December  12, 1822  ;  son  of  George 
and  Catlierine  Rnmmel,  natives  of  Germany, 
and  farmers  by  occupation.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  land 
and  there  also  learned  the  trade  of  siioe- 
maker.  In  1839  he  came  to  tiiis  country, 
crossing  the  ocean  on  the  sailing  vessel 
"  America,"  and  landing  at  Baltimore  after  a 
voyage  of  fifty-six  days.  He  settled  at  Har- 
risburg,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for 
three  years  in  the  shop  of  a  man  named 
Rentier,  after  which  he  worked  one  year  at 
the  furnace  works  at  Clarksville,  and  tlien 
returned  to  Harrisburg  and  resumed  work 
with  his  old  employer.  He  remained  here 
for  three  years,  during  which  time  he  re- 
ceived an  inheritance  from  Germany  of 
$1,100  in  money,  and  witii  this  he  bouglit  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  acres  in 
Jefferson  township.  Tiiis  was  timber  land, 
which  he  proceeded  to  clear  up,  and  on 
which  he  erected  two  houses  and  barns  and 
other  buildings.  He  also  worked  at  his 
trade  and  traveled  about  as  a  journeyman. 
He  was  married,  in  Jefferson  township,  in 
1844,  by  Esquire  Jacob  Davidson,  to  Mary 
Miciiael,  born  in  that  townsiup  August  23, 
1819,  and  died  November  10,  1855.  Their 
children  are:  William,  Catherine,  Sarah, 
Amanda,  Daniel,  and  John,  deceased.  Mr. 
Rummel  is  a  liberal  in  politics,  but  in  Na- 
tional and  State  matters  votes  witii  tlie  Re- 
publican party.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  but  is  a  warm 
admirer  of  Martin  Luther.  Three  years  ago 
Mr.  Rummel  was  attacked  at  his  home  by 
robbers,  who  supposed  lie  was  alone  in  tlie 
house.  His  life  and  property  were  saved  by 
tlie  heroism  of  iiis  housekeeper.  Miss  Lizzie 
C.  Warfield,  who  appeared  on  the  scene  at 
the  moment  the  robbers  had  overpowered 
their  victim.  She  shot  one  and  ])Ut  tiie  rest 
to  flight.  In  recognition  of  tiie  fidelity  and 
braver}'  of  his  deliverer  he  lias  provided  in  his 
will  that  she  shall  have  a  home  with  him  as 
long  as  she  desires  to  stay  and  shall  have 
$1,000  from  his  estate.  Securities  and  money 
to  the  value  of  $17,000  were  concealed  in  the 
house  at  tlie  time  of  tiie  attack. 


the  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land. Samuel,  tiie  grandfather,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Montgomery  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming.  James  B.,  the  father, 
was  also  born  in  Montgomery  county,  and 
followed  farming.  He  married  Sarah  A. 
Miller,  of  Germantown,  Montgomery  county. 
Tlieir  children  are:  Ann  Eliza;  Samuel  S.; 
Mary  A.,  deceased ;  B.  Franklin ;  John  M., 
deceased  ;  Lewis,  and  Martlia,  deceased.  The 
father  was  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He 
died  on  the  homestead,  and  his  wife  died  at 
Monterey,  Berks  county. 

Samuel  S.  received  a  fair  education  in  tlie 
schools  of  Upper  Providence  township,  Mont- 
gomery county.  He  learned  the  nailling 
business  in  Chester  county,  where  he  spent 
several  years  in  the  grist  mill,  after  whicli 
lie  operated  a  mill  in  Lykens  Valley  for 
three  years,  and  also  worked  on  the  canal. 
In  1854  he  bought  a  farm  in  Halifax  town- 
sliip,  which  he  improved  and  cultivated  for 
three  years,  and  then  sold  it.  He  then 
bouglit  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Jefferson  township,  which  lie  cleared  and 
on  wiiich  he  made  valuable  improvements, 
and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
He  attends  the  Lykens  markets.  He  was 
married,  in  Powell's  Valley,  Halifax  town- 
ship, in  1856,  to  Mary  J.  Baskin,  of  tliat 
township,  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Eliza 
(Smith)  Baskin,  tiie  father  a  well-known 
resident  of  the  county,  ojierating  a  farm, 
woolen  factory  and  saw  and  grist  mill.  They 
had  two  children :  Oliver  B ,  manages  the 
homestead,  in  the  postoftice  at  Lykens, 
formerly  a  bookkeeper  at  Pliiladel[ihia,  an 
estimable  gentleman,  not  married,  taking 
care  of  liis  parents  in  their  old  age;  Annie 
E.,  single,  at  home,  a  lady  of  culture  and  re- 
finement, much  interested  in  Sunday-school 
and  church  work.  Mr.  Horning  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics;  was  a  tax  collector 
and  scliool  teaclier,  and  always  much  in- 
terested in  educational  matters.  Tlie  family 
attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Horning,  Samuel  S.,  farmer,  Jefferson 
township,  was  born  in  Mifflin  townsiiip, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa., March  1,1826.  Michael, 


Shultz,  Joshu.4,  shoemaker,  Carsonville, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  Daupliin 
county.  Pa.,  January  20,  1859.  John,"  the 
father,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county  and  was 
a  farmer  in  Jefferson  township,  where  he 
still  resides.  He  married  Mary  Snyder,  a 
native  of  Jackson  township,  and  they  have 


762 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENVYULOPEDIA 


nine  children :  John;  George;  Annie,  Mrs. 
Jacob  Book;  Joshua;  Hannah,  Mrs.  George 
Shadow ;  Mary,  Mrs.  William  Orth ;  Philo- 
mela, Nathaniel,  and  an  infant,  deceased. 
The  mother  died  in  Jefferson  township  in 
1870.  The  father  next  married  Levina  Mil- 
ler, widow  of  George  Hall,  1py  whom  he  had 
four  children :  Theodore,  Carson,  David, 
and  Morris.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics 
and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Joshua  attended  school  in  his  native  town- 
ship, and  worked  on  the  farm  with  his 
father  until  he  became  of  age.  He  then 
worked  as  a  farm  laborer,  and  also  took  up 
the  trade  of  shoemaking,  at  which  he  worked 
most  of  the  time,  at  Oar.sonville.  In  1880 
he  was  married,  in  Jefferson  township,  to 
Katie  E3'ester,  born  in  Schuylkill  county, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Eyester,  a  farmer  of  that 
county.  Their  children  are  :  Emma,  Har- 
vey, Edmund,  Estella,  and  William,  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Shultz  is  a  Democrat  in  his  po- 
litical views,  and  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


LONDONDERRY  TOWNSHIP. 


Smith,  Simon,  farmer,  Jefferson  township' 
was  born  in  Washington  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  December  23,  1825  ;  son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Ivoppenheffer)  Smith.  The  father 
was  a  blacksmith  by  occupation.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat  and  in  religious  views 
and  fellowship  a  Lutheran.  He  and  his  wife 
both  died  in  Washington  townsliip.  Their 
children  are  Simon,  Christina,  and  Errick, 
deceased.  Simon  attended  the  schools  of  his 
native  township  and  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter. He  followed  this  occupation  for  five 
j'ears,  after  which  he  removed  to  Jefferson 
township  and  bought  two  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  which  he  improved  and  culti- 
vated, where  he  has  been  for  over  fifty  years 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was 
married,  in  1851,  to  Mary  Michael,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  June,  1832.  Their 
children  are:  Rebecca,  deceased  ;  Sarah,  de- 
ceased ;  Caroline,  deceased ;  Catherine,  Mrs. 
Jacob  Hoffman  ;  Mary  T.,  wife  of  Peter  Hoff- 
man ;  Harriet,  Mrs.  C.  Enders ;  William  M., 
deceased ;  John  A. .deceased ;  Emma,  deceased; 
Simon  F.,  deceased ;  Thomas  L.,  Henry  E., 
and  one  child  died  young.  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  was  school  di- 
rector and  assessor,  and  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  but  did  not 
serve.  In  religious  views  and  membership 
he  is  a  Presbyterian. 


Brinser,  Rev.  S.  H.,  Middletown,  Pa., 
was  born  at  his  present  home,  February  3, 
1846.  The  first  of  the  Brinser  family  to  settle 
in  Pennsylvania  was  Christian  Brinser,  a 
native  of  Germany,  He  came  to  America 
and  resided  in  what  was  then  Lancas- 
ter county.  April  10,  1761,  he  took  out 
naturalization  papers;  he  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  that  county,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death.  His  son,  John  Brinser,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county  in  1750,  and  in  1809 
became  the  owner  of  tlie  farm  now  occupied 
by  Rev.  S.  H.  Brinser,  in  Londonderry,  town- 
then  Derry  township.  He  built  thefirst  house 
and  improved  the  farm.  He  married  Miss 
Anna  Mary  Gish.  They  belonged  to  the 
River  Brethren.  He  died  in  1820,  aged 
sevent}'  years;  his  wife  in  May,  1846,  aged 
eighty-eight  years.  His  family  consisted  of 
Matiiias  ;  John,  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
four ;  Jacob,  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-two; 
Abraham,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  and 
two  daughters,  Annie,  who  married  Johannes 
Wilhelm  Berg,  and  Catiierine,  ail  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Jacob  was  for  many  years  a 
brick  maker;  Jolin  manufactured  grain 
cradles,  ar.d  was  well  known  ;  Abraham  was 
a  farmer.  Rev.  Mathias  Brinser  was  born 
May  10,  1795,  on  the  present  homestead  of 
Rev.  Solomon  H.  Brinser,  and  died  in  1889. 
He  had  tlie  ordinary  education,  and  taught 
some  of  the  early  schools.  He  was  a  self- 
made  man.  He  succeeded  to  his  father's 
homestead,  where  he  resided  until  his  deatii. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  River 
Brethren;  hut  in  1854  or  1855,  he  and  his 
followers  formed  the  United  Zion's  Chil- 
dren's church,  which  now  numbers  many  ad- 
herents in  Dauphin,  Lancaster  and  Franklin 
counties.  He  was  a  minister  in  that  church, 
and  in  politics  a  Republican.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1821,  to  Miss  Catherine  Heisey, 
daughter  of  Peter  Heisey,  of  Londonderry 
township.  She  survives  her  husband  and 
resided  with  Rev.  Solomon  Brinser,  and  is 
now  with  Rev.  Samuel  Kieffer.  They 
reared  nine  children  :  Susan,  wife  of  Joseph 
Martin,  of  Londonderry  township  ;  Eliza- 
beth, deceased,  married  Adam  Metzger ; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel  Kieffer,  of 
Elizabethtown ;  Fannie,  wife  of  Isaac  Brinser; 
Lydia,  wife  of  Henry  B.  Kieffer,  of  Middle- 
town  ;  Rev.  Solomon  H.;  Mary,  deceased, 
married   Christian    Wohlgemuth ;     Nancy, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


763 


married  Samuel  GrofF;  Daniel,  who  was  a 
school  teacher,  died  at  the  age  twenty-one. 

llev.  Solomon  H.  Brinser  received  the 
ordinary  education  in  the  sciiools  and  at 
home,  and  taught  sciiool  in  Lancaster  and 
Daupliin  counties.  He  was  married,  Seii- 
tember  12,  1867,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
John  B.  and  Catherine  (Horst)  Sliearer.     In 

1868  he  bought  the  farm  where  he  has  since 
resided.  In  1892  the  Pennsylvania  railroad 
abandoned  the  track  through  his  farm.     In 

1869  he  became  identified  with  the  United 
Zion's  Children's  church,  and  in  1879  he 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry,  and  has  since 
been  active  in  church  work.  He  is  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  has  served  in  township 
affairs.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farmers' 
Bank  of  Middletown.  He  has  nine  chil- 
dren living:  Harry,  graduate  of  the  Kutz- 
towQ  Normal  School,  teaching  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.;  John,  Mathias,  Katie,  Annie, 
Martin,  Amos,  Ira,  and  Edna  Elizabeth,  all 
at  home;  and  two  dead,  Daniel  and  Ezra. 


The  Metzger  Family. — The  first  of  the 
Metzger  familyto  settle  in  Dauphin  county 
was  Jacob  Metzger,  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  resided  first  near  Middletown,  at  that 
time  in  Lancaster  county,  and  afterwards  in 
Londonderry  township,  Dauphin  county,  on 
the  farms,  part  of  which  are  now  occupied 
by  Henry  and  Adam  Metzger.  His  son 
Jacob  was  born  on  the  farm  now  occupied 
by  Henry  about  1756  or  1757.  Jacob  Metz- 
ger, Jr.,  married  Margaret  Brandt,  a  native 
of  Cumberland  county.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Dunkard  church.  They  reared 
a  large  family  ;  their  children  were:  David, 
Eva,  Barbara,  Joseph,  Jacob,  Martin,  Eliza- 
beth, Esther,  and  Catherine. 

David  Metzger  was  born  in  1779.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education  for  that  period,  and 
succeeded  to  his  father's  homestead,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death.  He  was  counted 
one  of  the  foremost  farmers  of  his  day.  He 
was  a  very  methodical  man,  and  always  very 
careful  and  exact  in  his  business  transac- 
tions. He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Dunkard  church,  and  died  in  1832.  He 
married  Miss  Eva  Rothrock,  who  died  March 
18,  1843.  They  reared  eight  children  to 
maturity  :  Jacob,  deceased  ;  Christiana,  de- 
ceased, married  Joseph  Gingrich  ;  Margaret, 
Mrs.  Joseph  Gingrich,  of  Lower  Swatara 
township,  died  April,  1896;  Barbara,  widow 
of  John   Meyers,  and  widow   of  Frederick 


Beck,  of  Lancaster  county  ;  John,  deceased  ; 
Leah,  Mrs.  John  Stout,  of  Hanover,  Pa.; 
Henry,  and  Adam. 

Henry  Metzger  was  born  on  his  present 
homestead,  September  17,  1827.  He  has 
always  been  engaged  in  farming,  so  that  his 
life  has  not  been  one  of  unusual  incidents 
and  adventures.  He  has  been  industrious 
and  enterprising  in  the  management  of  his 
farm,  and  has  been  able  to  meet  all  the  de- 
mands which  the  community  and  his  family 
have  made  upon  him.  In  1851  he  married 
Miss  Fannie  Miller,  daughter  of  David  Mil- 
ler, of  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  They  have 
four  children  :  David  M.,  farmer,  of  London- 
derry township,  married  Barbara  Mumma, 
daughter  of  Christian  Mumma;  Joseph,  of 
Elizabethtown,  Lancaster  county,  married 
Fanny  Keyler ;  Amanda,  wife  of  John  Rider, 
of  Londonderry  township;  Emma,  wife  of 
Frank  Hoffer,  of  Mt.  Joy,  Pa.  Mr.  Metzger 
is  Republican  in  politics.  He  and  his  family 
are  prominent  in  the  Mennonite  church. 

Adam  Metzger,  farmer,  Middletown  P.  O., 
was  born  on  his  present  farm,  January  8, 
1830.  He  secured  only  a  limited  education 
in  the  schools,  being  obliged  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  to  leave  home  and  seek  a  livelihood. 
He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1851  he  settled  on  the  farm  known  as  the 
John  Metzger  farm,  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, where  he  resided  for  a  few  years.  He 
afterwards  purchased  the  farm  he  now  owiTs 
and  occupies.  He  has  been  very  successful ; 
his  farm  is  universally  considered  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  township.  Ever}'  feature  of  the 
place  displays  the  work  of  a  master  hand. 
Usefulness,  comfort  and  beauty,  all  the 
essentials  and  adornments  of  farm  work  and 
farm  life,  are  abundantly  provided  for  under 
ins  skillful  management.  He  has  other 
business  interests  also.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  of  the  Middletown  Car 
Works.  In  1852  Mr.  Metzger  married  Miss 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Matthias  Brenser,  of 
Londonderry  township.  She  died  Septem- 
ber 9,  1894.  His  family  con.sists  of  four 
children:  Millard,  of  Londondeir\'  township, 
who  married  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Meckley,  of  Elizabethtown,  and  after 
her  death  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Bierbower, 
of  Dauphin  county ;  Fa4mie,  wife  of  David 
Ulrich,  of  Londonderry  township;  Martin, 
of  Londonderry  township,  married  Ruth, 
daughter  of  Abram  Roth;  John,  of  Royal- 
ton,  and  Solomon,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three.     Mr.  Metzger  is  independent  in  poli- 


764 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


tics ;  he  has  filled  many  township  offices,  and 
served  as  school  director  of  his  townsliip  for 
nine  consecutive  years. 


Ulmer,  Jacob,  was  born  in  Londonderry 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  April  13, 
1826.  His  early  training  and  education 
were  such  as  the  ordinary  schools  and  the 
average  families  afforded.  He  spent  his 
whole  life  in  the  township,  being  absent 
only  for  short  periods  of  time  when  duty  and 
business  called  him  elsewhere.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  made  this  his 
chief  occupation.  In  connection  with  this 
trade  he  was  also,  in  earlier  life,  engaged  in 
manufixcturing  grain  cradles,  but  the  general 
introduction  of  farm  machinery  has  placed 
this  part  of  iiis  occupation  among  the  un- 
used arts.  Mr.  Ulmer  was  not  deaf  to  tlie 
call  of  the  President  for  volunteers  during 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He  enlisted  in 
1804,  and  served  until  the  end  of  tiie  war, 
and  was  lionorably  disciiarged.  After  his  dis- 
ciiargefrom  the  army  he  returned  to  his  home 
and  resumed  work  at  tlie  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  continued  to  follow  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  December  5,  1895.  In  1848 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Espenshade, 
of  Swatara  township.  They  had  ten  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  are  living:  David,  the 
eldest,  born  July  18,  1853,  Ellen,  John, 
George,  Adeline,  Elizabeth,  and  Benjamin. 
Mr.  Ulmer  occupied  the  residence  where  he 
died  since  1873.  Mrs.  Ulmer  died  June  4, 
1887.  Mr.  Ulmer  was  a  Republican  in  pol- 
itics, and  served  as  constable  of  London- 
derry townshij)  for  nearly  thirty-one  years. 


Books,  Jonas,  was  born  in  Lower  Swatara 
township.  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  January  4, 
1842.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Ulrich)  Books.  Jacob  Books,  his  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Dauphin  county.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  He  was 
the  father  of  six  children.  John  Books,  the 
father  of  Jonas,  was  born  in  Derry  township, 
in  1803.  He  married  Elizabeth  Uh-icli,  by 
whom  he  had  ten  children,  five  died  in  in- 
fancy, three  died  at  old  age,  Levi,  living  near 
Rockville,  Pa.,  and  Jonas.  The  latter  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  place.  He 
remained  in  his  first  home  till  he  was  ten 
3'ears  of  age.  In  this  time  he  had  secured 
such  training  and  preparation  for  the  work 
of  life  as  the  common  schools  aftbrded,  in 
connection  witli  careful  home  instruction. 
He  was  then  employed  with  farmers  until 


seventeen  years  old,  when  he  learned  a  trade, 
that  of  shoemaking.  In  1862  he  removed 
with  his  father's  family  to  Susquehanna 
township,  where  he  remained  nine  years,  in 
various  employments.  In  1871  he  moved 
to  Steelton,  where  he  was  employed  in  the 
steel  works  for  ten  years.  In  1881  he  moved 
to  Londonderry  township,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  In  1892,  desiring  to  possess  a 
a  home  of  his  own,  he  purchased  the  place 
where  he  now  lives.  While  he  has  changed 
his  place  of  residence  a  number  of  times,  he 
has  kept  steadily  employed  and  has  always 
sought  to  make  every  change  profitable  and 
agreeable.  He  has  everywhere  been  a  useful 
citizen  and  a  good  neighbor.  He  has  also 
met  with  the  other  ordinary  experiences  of 
life.  He  was  married,  in  1870,  to  Miss  Esther 
Meyers,  by  whom  lie  had  four  children:  Elias 
W.,  married  Miss  Katherine  Kinsey,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Kinsey;  Mary  Ann,  Clara 
Esther,  and  Pierson  M.  His  wife  died  in 
1884.  March  1,  1893,  he  married,  for  his 
second  wife,  Mi.ss  Amanda  Felker,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Felker,  of  Londonderry  township. 


Holland,  Thomas  H.,  was  born  at  Safe 
Harbor,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  January  28, 
1848.  He  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Bridget 
(Sullivan)  Holland.  His  father  came  from 
Lancaster  county  in  1854  and  settled  on 
what  is  known  as  Furnace  Hill,  Port  Royal, 
now  Royalton.  He  was  an  iron  worker  and 
worked  for  a  number  of  years  at  the  Cameron 
Furnace,  of  that  [dace.  In  1846  he  married 
Miss  Bridget  Sullivan,  a  native  of  Ireland. 
They  had  ten  children,  all  of  whom  are  dead 
except  two,  Thomas,  and  Elizabeth,  born 
November  8,  1858.  He  died  in  1861,  and 
his  wife  March  28,  1887. 

Thomas  lived  with  his  parents  at  Safe 
Harbor  until  he  was  six  years  old,  and  then 
removed  with  them,  in  1854,  to  lloyalton, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  acquired  a 
good  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
was  employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  for  twelve  years.  In  1883  he  built 
the  store  in  which  he  has  carried  on  mer- 
cantile business  up  to  the  present  time.  In 
1894  he  was  ajipointed  postmaster  of  Royal- 
ton.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  burgess  and 
assessor  of  that  town.  He  is  treasurer  of  the 
Londonderry  Building  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion. He  was  married,  December  29,  1886, 
to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  William  and  Cath- 
erine Zimmerman,  of  Middletown,  by  whom 
he  has  four  children :  William  Michael,  born 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


765 


March  13,  1888  ;  Francis  L.,  born  Marcli  4, 
1890,  died  July  28, 1890  ;  Catlierine  B.,  born 
June  17,  1891,  and  Carrie  Elizabeth,  born 
July  4,  1894,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

NissLEY,  John  H.,  was  born  in  London- 
derry township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1857.  He  lias  spent  his  whole  lil'e 
in  his  native  township.  When  a  boy  he  was 
sent  to  the  public  schools  and  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  acquiring  all  the  intellectual  train- 
ing and  useful  information  that  these  schools 
could  impart.  Like  other  boys  on  the  farm 
he  was  always  busy ;  but  the  farm  work  was 
not  permitted  to  interfere  with  school  work. 
He  made  good  improvement  of  the  time  and 
opportunity  afforded  him  for  preparing  for 
the  business  of  life.  When  he  reached  man- 
hood lie  was  ready  for  its  duties  and  respon- 
sibilities. Whatever  ma_y  have  been  his 
desire  to  go  abroail  and  see  other  places  and 
people  he  did  not  grant  it  to  any  extent.  He 
has  found  ample  room  for  the  exercise  of  his 
abilities  at  home.  In  addition  to  his  over- 
seeing the  farm,  he  is  engaged  in  milling. 
He  is  one  of  the  solid  and  useful  men  of  the 
community.  He  is  not  prominent  in  poli- 
tics in  the  sense  of  seeking  preferment  to 
office.  He  votes  with  the  Republican  party  ; 
he  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  He  was  married,  in  1880,  to  Miss 
Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Garrett,  of  Dauphin 
county.  They  have  six  children  :  David, 
born  February  12,1882;  Martin,  born  August 
25,  1883 ;  John,  born  February  7, 1887  ;  Nor- 
man, born  February  12,  1889;  Harvey,  born 
May  27,  1892 ;  and  Clayton,  born  July  25, 
1894. 


Reider,  Jacob  S.,  farmer,  Middletown,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  July 
13,  1842.  He  was  reared  in  that  county, 
and  secured  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  the  Millersville  State  Normal 
School.  He  qualified  himself  for  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching,  and  had  begun  his  work, 
and  taught  two  terms  in  Lancaster  county 
before  the  war.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in 
company  C,  Twenty-first  Pennsylvania  cav- 
alr}',  which  had  182  in  the  line,  and  was 
corporal  of  his  company.  He  saw  ver\'  ac- 
tive service  for  nine  months,  being  most  of 
the  time  on  detail  duty,  and  engaged  in 
skirmishing  in  West  Virginia.  At  the  end 
of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  was  honorably 
discharged  from  the  service,  and  returned  to 
Lancaster  county.     He  at  first  resumed  his 


former  occupation,  and  taught  two  terms  in 
Lancaster  county.  He  also  taught  ten  con- 
secutive terms  in  Swatara,  Londonderry  and 
Derry  townships,  Dauphin  county.  In  the 
meantime  he  was  also  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1870  he  removed  to  Dauphin  county,  and 
purchased  the  farm  he  is  at  present  occupy- 
ing. He  was  married,  in  1808,  to  Miss  Mary, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Strickler,  of  Dauphin 
county,  by  whom  he  has  three  children : 
Morris  S.,  married  to  Emma  Baum,  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  Baum,  of  Londonderry  town- 
ship; Laura  E.,  wife  of  F.  Y.  Muth,  jeweler, 
of  Ilummelstown  ;  Ralph  D.,  and  George  S., 
died  at  twelve  years  of  age.  In  politics  Mr. 
Reider  is  a  Re|)ublican.  He  and  his  family 
are  supporters  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


Demy,  Simon  S., justice  of  the  peace,  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lower  Swatara  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  April  24,  1849. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Ellen  (Shreadley) 
Demy.  His  grandfather  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Dauphin  county.  His  father  was  born  in 
1778,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  butcher 
through  life.  After  his  marriage  he  resided 
in  Lower  Swatara  township.  He  afterwards 
moved  to  Centre  county.  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
mained a  few  years.  Returning  to  Dauphin 
county,  he  resided  in  Londonderry  township 
until  his  death,  in  1878.  His  wife,  the 
mother  of  Simon  S.,  died  in  1855.  He  had 
previously  been  married  to  a  Miss  Muchel- 
haney,  by  whom  there  is  one  child  living, 
Henry,  of  Swatifra  township.  By  his  second 
wife  he  had  five  children:  Ellen,  Mrs.  Fred- 
erick Core,  of  Harrisburg ;  Savilla,  Mrs. 
Hiram  Kelley,  of  Plighspire ;  Leali,  wife  of 
Jacob  AUeman,  of  Oberlin ;  Maria,  Mrs. 
Simon  Stark,  of  Lower  Swatara  township, 
and  Simon  S.  He  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Lutheran  cliurch  and  a  member  of 
the  choir.     He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

Simon  S.  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Lower  Swatara  townshi]).  He  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and  builder,  which  he  has 
made  his  life  occupation.  In  1871  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Elias  Krepps, 
of  Lower  Swatara  township,  and  settled  in 
the  home  he  now  occupies.  He  has  six 
children  :  John,  married  Agnes  Shenk,  and 
has  one  child,  Susan ;  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Espenshade,  has  one  child,  Elsie;  Simon, 
Isaac,  Samuel,  and  Abner.  Mr.  Demy  is  a 
Republican.  He  has  filled  nearly  all  the 
township   offices.     In  1892   he  was  elected 


766 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  has  since 
filled.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  70,  I. 
O.  0.  F.,  of  Harrisburg.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  Ebenezer  United  Brethren  church, 
of  Lower  Swatara  township.  He  is  the  super- 
intendent of  two  Sunday-schools. 


Jacks,  Levi,  was  born  in  Derry  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  August  27,  1842.  He 
is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Joann  (Dewitt) 
Jacks.  His  father  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  near  Columbia,  in  1815.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  came  to  Dauphin 
county  when  a  young  man,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  married 
Miss  Joann  Dewitt,  of  Dauphin  county, 
whose  parents  died  while  she  was  very 
young.  The}'  had  ten  children,  six  of  whom 
are  living  :  Levi ;  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  George 
Buser,  of  Harrisburg ;  Thomas,  married 
Miss  Ann  Hummel,  of  Ilummelstown ; 
Jennie,  wife  of  John  Spidle,  of  Hummels- 
town  ;  Annie,  wife  of  Christ  Henry,  of  Koy- 
alton  ;  Andrew,  married  Miss  Media  Shoe- 
maker, of  Hummelstown.  The  deceased  cliil- 
drenare:  Mary,James,William  and  an  infant. 

Levi  attended  the  public  schools  and  ac- 
quired a  good  education  for  that  period.  He 
was  all  tlie  time  as  busy  as  all  farmer  boys 
must  be.  The  days  and  hours  for  school 
were  mingled  with  those  of  work ;  for  the 
stock  must  be  cared  for,  and  wood  and 
water  for  the  house  must  be  provided.  Amid 
a  multiplicity  of  exacting  demands  upon 
time  and  strength  the  farmer's  boy  must  use 
his  earnest  efforts  to  become*intelligent,  well 
informed,  and  educated  for  life's  work. 
Levi  found  time  for  all  duties,  and  none 
were  neglected.  He  chose  farming  as  his 
occupation  for  life,  and  is  still  engaged  in  it. 
It  was  a  time  of  excitement  in  the  country 
when  he  became  old  enough  to  have  a  voice 
in  the  government.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  candi- 
date for  re-election  to  the  presidency,  and 
Levi  cast  his  first  vote  for  that  great  man. 
He  has  continued  his  connection  with  the 
Republican  party  as  a  voter.  He  holds  the 
office  of  township  auditor. 

He  was  married,  October  1,  1867,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Abram  and  Eliza- 
beth (Nissley)  Strickler,  of  Dauphin  count}'. 
They  had  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are 
living;  Ida  E.,  wife  of  Harry  Christman,  of 
Dauphin  county  ;  Bertha  A.,  living  at  home; 
Sherman  S.,  Mabel  J.,  Beulah  P.,  and  Laura 
May.  Those  deceased  are:  Franklin  S., 
Minerva,  and  Milton. 


Cryder,  Moses  G.,  was  born  in  Lebanon 
county.  Pa.,  January  16, 1828.  He  is  one  of 
five  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  His 
father,  Gottlieb  T.  Cryder,  died  in  Lebanon 
county  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  Moses 
lived  in  that  county  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  old.  He  attended  school  regularly 
until  ten  years  old,  then  only  four  or  five 
months  a  year.  His  school  days  were  well 
employed  and  he  came  to  their  end  with  a 
very  fair  education  for  the  times.  When  he 
was  fifteen,  in  1843,  he  came  to  Londonderry 
township  where  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
in  what  is  now  Royalton  borough.  He  be- 
gan the  active  business  of  life  as  President 
Garfield,  a  boy  on  the  canal.  He  continued 
to  be  employed  as  boatman  on  the  canal  for 
sixteen  years,  from  1838  to  1854.  In  the  last 
named  year  he  changed  his  occupation,  be- 
coming engaged  in  sawing  lumber.  He  was 
engaged  from  1855  to  1883  in  this  and  other 
pursuits,  meanwhile  getting  ready  for  some 
more  congenial  business,  and  in  1880  he  be- 
gan the  grocery  business,  in  which  he  is  still 
engaged.  In  1851  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Caroline,  daughter  of  Thomas  Dunn,  of  Lan- 
caster county.  They  have  one  child,  J.  Dunn 
Cryder,  born  August  11,  1853,  who  has  been 
in  the  employment  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company  for  twenty  years.  In 
politics  Mr.  Cryder  is  independent. 

FoLTZ,  John  E.,  was  born  in  Londonderry 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  August  31, 
1830.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Cath- 
erine (Eby)  Foltz.  Christian  Foltz,  his 
grandfather,  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
settle  in  Dauphin  county,  about  1787.  He 
had  seven  children:  Elizabeth,  John,  Susan, 
Polly,  Katherine,  Christian,  and  Christiana, 
all  deceased.  John  Foltz,  father  of  John  E., 
was  born  in  Londonderry  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  August  16,  1792.  He 
married  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Barbara 
Eby,  of  Dauphin  county.  Tliey  had  eleven 
children,  seven  daughters  and  four  sons : 
Barbara;  Mary  Ann,  deceased;  Catherine, 
Elizabeth,  deceased;  Christiana;  Susan,  de- 
ceased; Christian, deceased;  John  E.;  Samuel 
deceased  ;  James  Monroe,  deceased,  and  Sa- 
billa,  deceased. 

John  E.,  in  1837,  when  he  was  seven  years 
old,  moved  to  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster 
county,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  seventeen, 
and  where  he  received  the  most  of  his  educa- 
tion. In  1847  he  went  to  Harrisburg,  where 
he  spent  the  next  twelve  years.   He  returned 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


767 


in  March,  1859,  to  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster 
county,  and  there  lived  until  October,  1805. 
Since  tliat  date  he  has  lived  in  Londonderry 
township  and  in  Royalton,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. The  public  schools  in  the  several 
places  in  which  his  younger  days  were  spent 
afforded  him  the  opportunity  of  acquiring  a 
very  fair  education.  During  the  twelve  years 
that  he  lived  in  Harrisburg  he  was  for  the 
most  part  employed  in  sawing  lumber.  On 
August  31,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  United 
States  army  for  one  year.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  company  E,  Two  Hundred  and  Third 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  June  27,  1805, 
and  reached  home  July  3.  The  hearing  of 
his  left  ear  was  entirely  lost  at  the  battle  of 
Fort  Fislier,  January  14  and  15,  1865.  He 
was  employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  from  May  1, 1861,  to  1892,  a  period 
of  over  thirty-one  years,  with  the  exception 
of  the  one  year's  service  in  the  army,  as  above 
stated.  In  connection  with  Thomas  Hol- 
land and  John  Matthias,  he  suggested  the 
organization  of  Royalton,  and  was  active  in 
carrying  out  the  plan.  He  has  held  all  the 
township  offices,  has  been  tax  collector  in 
Royalton  since  1891,  and  has  also  served  a 
term  as  burgess  and  treasurer  of  the  bor- 
ough. He  was  married,  September  14,1804, 
to  Miss  Frederica,  daughter  of  Andrew  Hon- 
nesy,  a  native  of  Germany.  Tiiey  have  one 
child,  Harry  F.  Foltz,  born  May  21,  1866; 
married  Miss  Annie  Miller,  July  3,  1887, 
and  has  one  child,  John  E.,  born  May  18, 
1888.  Mr.  Harry  F.  Foltz  is  employed  at 
the  Middletown  Pipe  Works  as  overseer  of 
the  sticker  blocks. 


Epler,  Jacob  R.,  Londonderry  township, 
was  born  where  he  now  lives,  March  31, 
1840.  His  great-grandfather,  Peter  Epler, 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  one  of 
the  old  settlers  of  Berks  county.  Pa.  He  was 
the  father  of  three  sons:  John,  Christopher, 
and  Abraham.  John  Epler  was  born  in 
Berks  county  in  1774,  and  came  to  Dauphin 
county  in  1812.  He  married  Miss  Barbara 
Moyer,  of  Lancaster  county,  by  whom  he 
had  ten  children,  all  deceased  :  John,  Eliza- 
beth, Jacob,  Abraham,  David,  Daniel,  Bar- 
bara, Mary,  Christopher,  and  Jacob.  Two 
of  his  sons  were  named  Jacob.  His  son 
David  M.,  father  of  Jacob  R.,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  count}',  December  2,  1810.  He 
came  to  Londonderry  with  his  parents  in 
1812,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  pub- 


lic schools.  His  mother  died  in  1820.  In 
1820  he  left  home  and  began  to  work  for 
himself.  He  was  married,  February  5, 1835, 
to  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Henry  Roth- 
rock,  of  Dauphin  county.  They  had  these 
children  :  John  Henry,  Eliza  Ann,  Margaret, 
Mary,  Barbara,  Jacob,  David,  Abraham, 
Catherine,  Lj'dia  H.,  and  Laura  E.  He  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  took  an  active 
part  in  politics,  in  connection  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  held  many  of  the  town- 
ship offices.  He  was  for  sixt}'  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  died  Jan- 
uary 31,  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty -one  years. 
Jacob  R.  attended  the  public  schools,  and 
acquired  a  good  education.  He  lived  at 
home  until  he  became  of  age,  in  1867,  when 
he  established  a  home  of  his  own,  and  be- 
gan business  for  himself.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Farmers'  Bank,  of  Middle- 
town.  He  has  been  a  director  of  the  Lon- 
donderry Live  Stock  Insurance  Company 
since  its  organization  in  1887.  He  pur- 
chased the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives  in 
1889.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  takes  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  politics ;  he  has  held  many 
of  the  township  offices.  He  and  his  family 
are  connected  with  the  Lutheran  church  of 
Elizabethtown.  He  was  married,  July  14, 
3807,  to  Mi.ss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Joshua 
and  Barbara  (Welker)  Kaylor,  of  London- 
derry township.  They  have  one  child, 
Simon  L.  Epler,  born  August  26,  L867 ;  liv- 
ing at  home. 


HoFFM.\N,  ErHRAiM  B.,  was  born  in 
Diftiphin  county,  December  24,  1840.  His 
father,  Peter  E.  Hoffman,  was  born  December 
10,  1813.  He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Dauphin  county.  He  acquired  an  ordinary 
education  ;  he  was  a  farmer  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  farmed  on  what  is  known  as 
Duffy's  island.  He  was  a  Republican  and 
held  many  of  tiie  township  offices.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  William  Berg, 
a  native  of  Germany.  They  had  .seven  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living :  John  B.,  mar- 
ried Sylinda  Lane,  daughter  of  Jolin  Lane, 
of  Dauphin  county,  died  August  2,  1886; 
Ephraim  B.;  Anne,  wife  of  Horace  Strong,  of 
Dauphin  county;  Barbara,  died  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  years ;  Jacob,  died  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years;  Amanda,  died  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  months;  and  Elizabeth,  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years. 

Ephraim  B.  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.     He  lived  on  the  farm  with 


768 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


his  father  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of 
age.  He  has  been  employed  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company  since  January 
16, 1866.  For  twenty-four  years  he  was  con- 
ductor of  the  wreck  train.  On  March  25, 
1890,  he  lost  his  left  leg,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  employed  by  the  company  in  the 
town  as  leverman.  He  built  one  of  the  first 
houses  in  what  is  now  known  as  Royalton. 
He  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics  as 
a  Republican.  He  and  his  family  take  a 
prominent  part  in  church  work  in  the  Lu- 
theran cliurcli.  He  married,  April  20,1865, 
Lydia  B.  Fink,  daugliter  of  Samuel  and  Re- 
becca (Burns)  Fink,  by  whom  he  has  had  six 
children  :  Emma,  born  November  2,  1865, 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  William, 
born  September  11,  1867,  died  February  24, 
1871;  Lizzie,  born  January  15,  1870,  died 
September  !»,  1871 ;  Charles,  born  February 
24,  1872,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years; 
John,  born  January  1,  1874,  living  at  home, 
employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  and  Peter,  born  July  6,  1876,  em- 
ployed by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany. 

Miller,  Joiix  E.,  was  born  in  Germany, 
February  25,  1840 ;  came  to  this  country 
with  his  step-father  in  1846 ;  was  educated 
in  the  public  scliools;  learned  whip  making, 
and  worked  at  that  trade  for  a  number  of 
years  at  York,  Pa.  On  August  27,  1864,  lie 
enlisted  in  tlie  army  under  Capt.  John 
Weimer,  of  coin|iany  A,  Two  Hundredtii 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers.  He 
served  in  this  company  until  June  28,  1865, 
when  he  was  honoraldy  discliarged  on  ac- 
count of  incurred  disability.  \\\  1870  lie 
was  employed  by  the  Penn.sylvania  Railroad 
Company  as  track  walker,  in  which  capacity 
he  served  until  his  death  in  1883.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  wliat  is  now  known  as 
Royalton.  He  and  his  wife  were  both  active 
members  of  the  Lutheran  ciiurch  of  Middle- 
town.  He  was  married,  October  17,  1864,  to 
Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary 
(Rickard)  Andrews,  of  Elizabethtown,  by 
whom  he  had  eight  children,  all  now  living 
except  one.  They  are:  Harry  Edwin,  born 
March  20, 1865,  married  Miss  Rebecca  Baile}', 
of  Youngstown,  Ohio,  where  they  now  live, 
and  have  one  child,  Jennie;  Annie  Mary, 
born  August  13,  1867,  wife  of  Harry  Foltz, 
of  Royalton,  has  one  child,  John  E.;  John 
Franklin,  born  September  16,  1869,  died 
August  24,  1870;  Alice  Louisa,  born  April 


25,  1871,  wife  of  Harry  T.  KaufFman,  of 
Royalton  ;  Jennie  E.,  born  August  1,  1874, 
living  at  home;  Charles  A.,  born  October 
25,  1875,  living  at  iiome,  employed  in  the 
pipe  works ;  Edgar  B.,  born  January  7, 1879, 
living  at  home,  and  Daisy  E.,  born  Marcii 
27,  1881,  living  at  home.  Mr.  Miller  died 
October  17, 1883,  of  lung  disease. 


Mathias,  John,  was  born  in  York  county, 
Pa.,  December  18,  1831.  His  grandparents 
had  born  to  tliem  a  family  of  eight  children: 
Peter,  Henry,  George,  John,  Jacob,  Lena, 
Elizabeth,  and  Catharine,  all  of  whom  are 
deceased.  Peter  Matliias,  his  father,  a  son 
of  John  Mathias,  who  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many and  came  at  an  early  date  to  York 
county,  was  born  there  in  1800.  He  was  a 
miller  by  occupation  and  acquired  the  ordi- 
nary education  of  that  time.  He  married 
Henrietta  Striue,  of  York  county.  They 
had  six  children  :  John;  Nassese,  born  Jan- 
uary 24,  1834,  deceased;  Charles  Henry, 
born  November  24,  1836,  deceased  ;  Susan, 
born  December  26,  1837,  deceased;  Mary 
Ellen,  born  February  2,  1843,  widow  of 
Frederick  Messenger,  resides  in  York  county; 
Sarali  Jane,  born  December  10,  1845,  wife  of 
John  Nancbtrup,  living  in  tlie  West. 

John  Matliias  lived  with  his  parents  in 
York  county  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  in  1849,  at  which  time  the  death  of  his 
father  occurred.  He  had  the  usual  oppor- 
tunities for  securing  an  education  afforded 
by  the  public  schools  of  the  time.  He  was 
engaged  first  in  the  business  of  a  saw  mill 
and  afterwards  for  a  number  of  years  in 
mercantile  busines.s.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth 
regiment,  Penn.sylvania  volunteers,  in  which 
he  served  for  nine  months.  In  August,  1864, 
he  enlisted  for  one  year  in  company  E,  Ninth 
Pennsylvania  cavalr}',  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  has  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  politics.  He  is  also  much  interested 
in  church  work  and  was  for  many  years 
connected  with  the  United  Brethren  church. 
He  gave  the  lot  on  which  the  first  chapel 
was  built  in  what  is  now  known  as  Royal- 
ton, in  1875.  On  the  same  lot  the  Liberal 
church  was  erected  in  1893.  He  was  mar- 
ried, September  8, 1850,  to  Henrietta,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Repman,  of  York  county.  They 
hacf  seven  children:  Elinor,  born  November 
29,  1850,  wife  of  Samuel  Harvey,  living  at 
Canton,  Ohio;  Cyrus,  born  February  28, 
1852,  married  Miss  Emma  France,  by  whom 


DA  UPBIN    CO  UNTy. 


7G9 


he  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing ;  Morris,  born  A))ril  5,  1854,  married 
Clara  Sides,  has  three  children,  lives  in  Can- 
ton, Ohio  ;  Priscilla,  born  November  7, 1857, 
wife  of  Joseph  Myers,  of  York  county,  has 
one  child  ;  Mahala,born  November  29, 1859, 
deceased  ;  Minerva,  born  January  31,  18U2, 
wife  of  Kirk  Snyder,  of  Royalton,  has  four 
children  ;  Sarah  Ellen,  born  August  20, 
1SG4,  wife  of  Gammiel  Grove,  of  York 
county,  has  six  children  ;  Henrietta,  wife  of 
John  Matliias,  died  June  8,  1865.  He  was 
married  to  his  second  wife,  Susanna  Eichel- 
berger,  widow  of  William  Henry  Eichelber- 
ger,  P'ebruary  27,  1860.  They  have  had 
two  children :  Newton  C,  born  December 
27,  1867,  died  November  19,  1870,  and  Cas- 
per B.,  born  October  11,  1870,  married  Eliz- 
abeth Cormely,  has  one  child  and  resides  in 
Royalton. 

Mrs.  Matliias  had  born  to  her,  by  her  pre- 
vious marriage  with  W.  H.  Eichelberger, 
five  children  :  William  Henry,  who  married 
Clara  Moser  and  now  resides  in  Royalton, 
they  have  three  living  children  ;  Charles 
Edward,  single  and  resides  in  Arizona ; 
Emeline,  wife  of  John  Zimmerimm.  has  two 
living  children  and  resides  in  Middletown ; 
John  B.  McLeilan,  died  at  tiie  age  of  fifteen 
years ;  Alice  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  Cle- 
land,  who  have  five  living  children  and  re- 
side in  Royalton.  William  Henry  Eichel- 
berger served  in  company  G,  Sixth  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  during  tlie  Rebellion  and 
was  killed  while  nobly  serving  in  defense  of 
his  country. 


Be.vrd,  Ammon  W.,  was  born  at  Fox  Hill, 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  September  4,  1840.  His 
father,  Samuel  Beard,  was  born  in  1803,  in 
Berks  county,  where  he  lived  until  1858, 
when  he  came  to  Daupiiin  county.  He  had 
only  a  limited  education.  He  was  a  black- 
smith and  worked  at  this  trade  for  the  Read- 
ing Railroad  Company.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican and  took  an  active  part  in  polities. 
He  married  Hannah  Rhodes,of  Berks  county, 
by  whom  he  had  eleven  children:  Mark  J., 
married  Catherine  Sides,  of  Dauphin  county  ; 
Eliza,  wife  of  Jacob  L.  Rehner,  of  Royalton  ; 
Ammon  W.;  Catlierine,  wife  of  Cyrus  Dur- 
borow,  of  Falmouth,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.; 
Samuel  G.,  married  Margaret  Barnes,  of 
Steelton  ;  Hannah,  wM"e  of  Isaac  Rank,  of 
Lebanon  county ;  Harmon  T.,  married  Miss 
Millie  Weymer,  of  Harrisburg;  Titus,  died 
at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  Henry,  died  aged 


twenty-one  years ;  George,  died  aged  twenty- 
three  years ;  William,  died  at  the  age  of  fifty 
years.  William  and  George  served  in  the 
late  war,  in  the  Fifty-third  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers. 

Ammon  W.  came  to  Middletown  in  1858. 
He  acquired  a  good  education  in  the  schools 
at  Pottstown,  Pa.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
blacksmith.  He  has  worked  at  this  trade 
and  has  also  followed  carpentry  and  boat 
building  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was 
foreman  in  the  wood-working  department  of 
the  Middletown  Car  Works  for  four  years. 
He  has  been  employed  in  the  milk  business 
for  the  last  four  years.  He  was,  at  one  time, 
a  member  of  Lodge  No.  68,  K.  of  P.,  in 
Middletown,  and  of  the  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics.  At  the  present  time 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Poketo  Tribe,  No. 
315,  L  0.  R.  M.,  of  Middletown.  He  takes 
an  active  part  in  the  operations  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  was  married,  July  18, 
1861,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Knerr,  stepdaughter 
of  John  Springer,  by  whom  lie  has  eight 
children  :  Rebecca,  wife  of  Jacob  P.  Dough- 
erty, of  Royalton  ;  Charles  F.,  married  Mi.ss 
Maria,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  Meyers 
Peters,  of  Middletown ;  Samuel  H.,  Isaac, 
Otis,  Sophia,  Nellie,  and  Edna,  all  at  home. 
He  has  occupied  his  present  home,  in  what  is 
now  known  as  Royalton,  since  1861.  In 
1892  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  which 
office  he  has  since  filled.  He  is  also  super- 
visor of  Royalton. 

DiEHN,  Henry,  Royalton,  was  born  in 
Penn  township,  Lancaster  count}',  April  30, 
1828.  His  father,  John  Diehn,  son  of  Philip 
Diehn,  was  born  in  Warwick  township,  Lan- 
caster county,  August  5,  1795.  He  died 
August  19,  1873.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  in 
politics  a  Republican.  He  was  an  active 
member  in  the  White  Oak  Lutheran  church. 
He  married  Miss  Sarah  Seitzinger,  daughter 
of  Michael  Seitzinger,  of  Berks  county.  Pa. 
They  had  five  children  :  Eliza,  born  Septem- 
ber 5,  1820,  wife  of  Abraham  Dohner,  of 
Penn  township,  Lancaster  count}' ;  Leonard, 
born  September  19,  1822,  died  November 
27,  1876;  Sarah  Ann,  born  April  28,  1826, 
wife  of  David  Smith,  of  Penn  township,  Lan- 
caster county  ;  Henry;  Priscilla.  born  Octo- 
ber 21,  1834,  wife  of  Christopher  Eversole, 
of  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster  county,  died 
December  19,  1863.  The  father  died  August 
19,  1873,  and  the  mother  October  17,  1865. 

Henry  lived   in    Lancaster  county  until 


770 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


1867.  He  was  educated  in  the  White  Oak 
school  in  that  county.  He  chose  farming  as 
his  occupation,  and  was  engaged  in  that  pur- 
suit until  he  was  nearly  thirtj'-five  years  of 
age.  In  1867  lie  came  to  Dauphin  county, 
to  what  is  now  Royalton,  and  purchased  the 
home  where  he  has  since  lived.  When  lie 
came  to  this  county  he  changed  his  voca- 
tion, finding  employment  with  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company,  and  has  con- 
tinued to  serve  that  corporation  up  to  the 
present  time.  For  twenty-four  years  he 
worked  on  the  wreck  train.  For  the  past 
four  years  he  has  been  employed  by  the 
company  as  gateman  at  the  Union  street 
crossing  in  Middletown.  He  is  a  Republi- 
can. As  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church 
he  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  church 
work.  He  was  married,  in  Lancaster  count)^ 
August,  1857,  to  Miss  Julia  Ann  Leightner, 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Ellen  (McGomery) 
Leightner,  of  York  county,  by  whom  he  iiad 
three  children,  wlio  were  reared  to  maturity: 
Leonard  H.,  born  December  28,  1858,  mar- 
ried Miss  Annie  Federoh,  of  Highspire,  by 
whom  lie  has  two  cliildreu,  Mary,  and  Julia, 
living  in  Baltimore,  Md.;  8arah  Ellen,  born 
Octot^er  18,  1862,  wife  of  William  Andrews, 
of  Middletown  ;  Elias  Grant,  born  December 
26,  1867,  married,  and  has  a  famil}'  of  four 
children;  lives  in  Philadelphia  and  is  em- 
ployed by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany. 


Brinser,  Solomon  C,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  February  21,  1832.  His 
father,  John  Brinser,  was  born  in  the  same 
county, in  1782,  died  September  17, 1875.  He 
acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
His  political  opinions  were  Republican.  In 
1820  he  began  the  manufacture  of  grain 
cradles,  and  made  the  first  implement  of  the 
kind  ever  produced  in  Dauphin  county.  He 
continued  in  this  business  for  many  years, 
and  is  succeeded  in  it  by  his  sons,  who  still 
carry  it  on.  He  married  Marj'  Carper,  by 
whom  he  had  eleven  children:  Jacob,  Jolni, 
Samuel,  Jo.seph,  Jonas,  Abraham,  Matthias, 
Solomon  C,  Betsey,  Katie,  and  Nancy.  John, 
Samuel,  Betsey  and  Nanc}'  are  deceased. 

Solomon  C.  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Dauphin  count}'.  He  inherited  the  me- 
chanical tastes  and  talents  of  his  father,  and 
naturally  chose  manufacturing  as  his  life 
employment.  He  was  also  of  an  inventive 
turn  of  mind  ;  he  invented  and  manufac- 
tured the  first  wheel  rake  made  and  used  in 


this  county,  and  its  manufacture  became  the 
business  which  occupied  him  from  1855  to 
1868.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the 
manufacture  of  woolen  goods  and  carpets, 
and  conducted  that  enterprise  until  1880. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  celebrated  Standard 
Corn  Meal,  made  by  a  process  of  his  own  in- 
vention, which  has  reached  an  enormous 
sale  throughout  the  county,  one  dealer  alone 
selling  more  than  a  thousand  bushels  per 
season.  He  also  manufactures  sawed  chest- 
nut shingles. 

He  was  married,  in  1856,  to  Miss  Barbara, 
daughter  of  John  Ruth.  They  have  had 
ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living:  Al- 
bert, born  November  30,  1858,  married  Miss 
Maggie  Shope,  has  one  child ;  Clara,  born 
April  18,  1860,  wife  of  John  Vance,  of  Lon- 
donderry township  ;  Mary,  born  November 
3,  1861,  married  Aaron  Coble,  of  London- 
derry township,  has  three  children;  Harry, 
born  April  8,  1865,  married  Miss  Lizzie 
Tennis,  has  three  children;  Emma,  born 
August  10,  1867,  married  Sadoc  Shope,  has 
one  child;  Ida,  born  December  10,  18<)9, 
married  Joseph  Mumma,  has  two  children  ; 
Katie,  born  January  18,  1872,  died  August 
25,  1879  ;  Solomon,  Jr.,  born  July  27,  1874, 
and  John,  born  December  22,  1876,  both  in 
the  milling  business  with  their  father,  and 
unmarried;  Ruth,  born  .lanuary  27, 1880,  at 
home. 


Baum,  MirH.\EL  S.,  miller  and  ice  dealer, 
was  born  in  Dauj)hin  county.  Pa.,  August  5, 
1845.  His  grandfather,  John  Baum,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  and  was  a  farmer. 
He  married  a  Miss  Baum.  Their  children 
were  five  in  number:  Michael,  Benjamin, 
Martha  and  Sarah,  both  decea.sed,  and 
Daniel.  He  came  to  Dauphin  county  at  an 
early  date  and  purchased  the  Locust  Grove 
Hotel,  near  Oberlin,  which  he  carried  on 
for  many  years. 

Michael  Baum,  father  of  Michael  S.,  was 
born  HI  January,  1811.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  and  when  a  young  man 
learned  the  business  of  milling,  which  he 
followed  for  about  twenty-five  years ;  he  after- 
wards engaged  in  farming.  He  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  politics  in  connection  with  the 
Republican  party.  In  1832  he  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  George  Smith,  of  Dauphin  county, 
by  whom  he  had  eight  children  :  John,  mai'- 
ried  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jacob  Reider ; 
Samuel,  married   Miss   Elizabeth   Stookey ; 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


11\ 


Sarah,  wife  of  John  Cassel ;  Michael  S. ; 
George,  deceased  ;  Isaac,  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years  ;  Ann,  wife  of  George  Bell ;  Mary, 
married  first  to  John  Besehover,  the  second 
time  to  William  Umberger. 

Michael  S.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  this  county.  He  learned 
the  milling  business  when  a  young  man,  and 
has  continued  it  up  to  the  present  time.  He 
is  also  a  dealer  in  ice.  In  186G  he  married 
Miss  Susan,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Cordelia 
(Smith)  Keeiier,  of  Dauphin  county.  They 
have  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: Joseph,  born  May  18,  18G8,  married 
Jennie  Plouse,  of  Hummelstown,  has  one 
child;  Simon  Michael, born  October 28, 1870, 
married  Miss  Barbara  Hoffer,  of  Dauphin 
countv,  has  one  child  ;  Cordelia,  born  July 
28, 1872,  died  January  27,1874;  Sarah  Ann, 
born  June  14,  1873,  wife  of  Harry  Strickler, 
of  Clifton,  has  one  child;  Emma,  born  Sep- 
tember 23,  1875,  wife  of  Morris  Reider,  son 
of  Jacob  Reider ;  Homer,  born  August  14, 
1877,  living  at  home  ;  Harvey,  born  March 
3, 1880, living  at  home;  Susan, born  Novem- 
ber 2,  1882,  living  at  home. 


Rutherford,  John  M.,  Royalton,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  November  17, 
1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Rutherford, 
a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  and  Elizabeth 
(Minnich)  Rutherford,  of  Lancaster  county. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
was  suffocated  in  a  well  in  Lancaster  county 
in  1860.  These  parents  had  five  children  : 
Frank,  killed  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad 
while  in  the  employment  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company;  Eliza,  Samuel, 
David,  and  John  M.  John  M.  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Lancaster  county. 
He  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1875,  when 
he  became  an  apprentice  to  James  Ruther- 
ford to  learn  stonemasonry.  After  serving 
his  apprenticeship  he  worked  at  his  trade 
for  some  years.  In  1881  he  was  employed 
by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
and  held  his  position  for  four  years.  In  1885 
he  managed  the  Farmers'  Hotel  at  High- 
spire,  Pa.  After  this  he  was  employed  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  at  Steel- 
ton,  for  two  years,  and  for  the  next  two  years 
at  the  rolling  mill  at  Harrisburg.  In  1890 
he  located  at  Middletown,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged with  the  American  Tube  and  Iron 
Company,  and  was  also  contractor  for  stone 
work  for  one  year.  He  was  then  employed 
in  the  store  of  M.  H.  Hartman  for  a  year, 


after  which  he  engaged  in  the  baking  busi- 
ness. He  then  returned  to  Mr.  Hartman's 
store,  which  he  afterwards  left  for  the  dry 
goods  store  of  Mrs.  Fairman.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Royalton,  where  he  has  since  car- 
ried on  a  general  mercantile  business.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  Ameri- 
can Mechanics  at  Royalton,  and  of  the  Senior 
Order  at  Middletown.  In  1878  he  married 
Miss  Lizzie,  daughter  of  John  Nunnemacher, 
of  Lancaster  county.  They  have  had  six 
children :  John,  Samuel,  deceased,  Mary, 
Frank  A.,  William,  and  Joseph. 


Brinser,  Simon,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Londonderry  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  March  10,'  1866 ;  son  of  Peter  Brinser. 
He  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  engaged  in  grain  and  truck 
farming,  in  which  he  has  been  continuously 
employed.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Re})ublican.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Zion  Children's  church. 
Mr.  Brinser  was  married,  Marcli  15,  1885,  to 
Miss  Maggie  Beaver,  daughter  of  William  L. 
Beaver,  of  Dauphin  county,  by  whom  he  lias 
four  children :  William,  born  February  3, 
1886;  Charity,  born  March  7,  1887;  Annie, 
born  March  20,  1894 ;  Maggie,  born  March 
31,  1890,  and  died  July  9,  1890. 


Brinser,  E.  C,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born 
at  Bachmansville,  Pa.,  November  13,  1843; 
son  of  John  C.  Brinser.  He  attended  the 
school  of  his  native  place  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of 
age.  He  then  taught  in  the  public  schools 
for  six  terms  in  Londonderry  township  and 
in  Lancaster  county,  after  which  he  suc- 
ceeded his  uncle,  Mathias  Brinser,  in  the 
manufacturing  of  the  celebrated  Brinser 
grain  cradles  and  scythe  snaths,  in  which 
he  continued  for  some  years,  and  during  the 
past  eight  years  has  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  fruit  raising,  which  he  carries  on 
extensively.  In  1870  he  married  Miss  Caro- 
line K.  Deckard,  daughter  of  Israel  Deck- 
ard,  of  Middletown,  by  whom  he  has  four- 
teen children,  who  are  all  living :  Nancy, 
born  April  15,  1870,  wife  of  Edward  Mun- 
burg,  of  Middletown,  and  they  have  one 
child  ;  Zeruah,  born  September  6, 1872,  wife 
of  Albert  Good,  of  Londonderr}'  township, 
and  they  have  one  child  ;  Harry  D.,  born 
November  30,  1873  ;  John  Wesley,  born  Au- 
gust 3,  1875  ;  Mary  D.  and  Barbara,  twins, 
born  August  26,  1877 ;  Bertha,   born  April 


772 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


10,  1880  ;  Oscar,  born  June  18, 1882  ;  Carrie, 
born  June  28,  1884;  Marion,  born  January 
24, 1886  ;  Blanche,  born  September  IS,  1887  ; 
Florence,  born  September  12.  1889  ;  Grace, 
born  February  11,  1892;  Helen,  born  April 
30,  1894.  Mr.  Brinser  and  his  family  are 
connected  with  the  United  Brethren  church. 


Brinser,  Jonas  C,  was  born  in  London- 
derry township,  June,  1828,  where  he  has 
spent  bis  entire  life,  with  the  exception  of 
two  years.  He  attended  the  local  schools 
and  acquired  a  good  business  education. 
For  about  four  years  he  was  engaged  in  a 
general  mercantile  business,  after  which  he 
became  interested  in  the  manufacture  of  the 
celebrated  Brinser  grain  cradles.  Mr.  Brinser 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  political  affairs 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  ten  years. 
In  1854  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia 
Weaver,  daughter  of  (ieorge  Weaver,  of 
Lancaster  county.  They  have  had  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living;  Dudley, 
married  Miss  Kate  Snyder;  Julia  Ann, 
unmarried;  Burd,  married  Miss  Annie 
Rider,  of  Harrisburg;  Alice,  wife  of  Albert 
Foetz,  of  Londonderry  townsiiip. 


Beates,  Edward  K.,  farmer,  Londonderry 
township,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  Novem- 
ber 17,  1852;  .son  of  F.  W.  and  Sophia  (Kel- 
ler) Beates.  The  father  was  a  son  of  William 
Beates  and  was  born  ami  reared  in  Lancaster 
count}'.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  the  same 
county  and  was  a  daughter  of  Adam  Keller. 
They  had  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are 
living;  William  A.,  living  in  Ohio;  Anna 
M.;  James  F.,  living  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  ; 
Louisa  C,  and  Ldward  K.  Li  1859  the 
parents  came  to  Londonderry  township, 
Dauphin  county,  where  they  now  reside. 
Edward  K.  lived  iu  his  native  place  until  he 
was  seven  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to 
Dauphin  county  with  his  parents  and  settled 
in  Londonderry  township,  where  he  attended 
the  public  schools  and  also  was  one  term  at 
the  State  Normal  School.  His  occupation  is 
farming.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Bond,  S.  Weidler,  farmer,  Middletown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
March  27,  1835 ;  son  of  John  and  Eliza 
(Weidler)  Bond,  natives  of  Lancaster  county. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
was  considered  one  of  the  most  prominent 


farmers  of  that  period.  His  wife  died  in 
Lancaster  count}'.  They  were  members  of 
the  I^utberan  church,  in  which  Mr.  Bond 
held  the  ofHce  of  deacon.  S.  Weidler  was 
married,  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  December 
27,  1857,  to  Miss  Susan  Hess,  daughter  of 
Jacob  He.ss.  In  1864  he  moved  to  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1872  or  1873,  when  he  returned 
to  Dauphin  county  and  purchased  iiis  pres- 
ent farm  in  Londonderry  township,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  His  wife  died  in 
March,  1884.  He  was  married,  secondly,  in 
May,  1S8G,  to  Mrs.  Anna  Landis,  daughter 
of  David  Sumny,  of  Londonderry  township. 
His  children  by  his  first  wife  are  ;  Ada  E., 
Mrs.  John  Grove,  died  December  3,  1881, 
they  have  one  child,  Laura ;  Alvin  H.,  of 
Lower  Swatara  township,  married  Mary 
Strickler  ;  Alice  M.,  Mrs.  Harry  Gingrich,  of 
Lower  Swatara  township,  who  has  three 
children,  Mary,  Editii,  and  Florence;  Arva 
B.,  deceased,  married  Marv  Gingerich,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Ada  and  Katie; 
John  H.,  MidtlJetown,  coachmaker,  married 
Katie  Chubb,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Alice;  Milton  H.,  Oberlin,  married  Anna 
Straub;  William  P.,  at  home.  In  his  poli- 
tics Mr.  Bond  is  a  Republican.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


CoNNELY,  James,  Royalton,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Ireland,  May  16,  1842;  son  of  John  Con- 
nely.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland 
and  spent  his  life  in  his  native  land.  He 
married  Miss  Joanna  Murphey,  by  whom  he 
reared  three  children  ;  Matthew,  Martin  and 
James.  Martin  was  a  soldier  in  the  English 
army  during  the  Crimean  war,  and  after 
twelve  years  service  returned  to  Ireland,  and 
later  removed  to  England,  where  he  died. 
Matthew  died  of  consumption  in  his  native 
land. 

James  acquired  his  education  in  the  par- 
ish schools  of  his  native  country.  He  was 
married,  June  24,  1861,  to  Miss  Ann  O'Con- 
nor, daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  (Byrn) 
O'Connor,  and  to  them  were  born  six  chil- 
dren ;  Joanna,  born  in  Ireland,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Manning,  of  Royalton,  Pa.,  and  they 
have  four  sons ;  John,  William,  James,  and 
Joseph  ;  Matthew,  born  in  Ireland,  died  on 
the  voyage  to  America  and  is  buried  at  sea ; 
Fannie,  born  in  Ireland,  died  at  Royalton, 
Pa.;  Mary,  died  at  Royalton,  Pa.;  Lizzie, 
wife  of  B.  Mathias,  of  Royalton,  and  they 
had  one  child,  Maud  V.;  .jfohn,  born  March 


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DA  UPHIN     CO  UNT7. 


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23,  1872.  Mr.  Connely  left  Britain  for 
America  November  1,  1864,  and  landed  in 
New  York  December  31,  where  he  stayed 
three  weei^s  and  then  went  to  Bucksville,  Va., 
where  he  remained  with  his  family  about 
seven  months.  He  removed  thence  to  Dan- 
ville, Va.;  and  from  thence  to  Baltimore,  Md., 
and  finally  settled  at  Royalton,  Pa.,  in  1808, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  in  the  employment  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company  on  the  wreck 
train.  He  is  a  member  of  tiie  Roman 
Catholic  church. 


Coble,  Andrew,  was  born  in  York  county. 
Pa.,  April  4,  1849 ;  son  of  John  C.  Coble. 
The  father  was  born  in  York  county,  Pa., 
in  1801,  and  died  in  March,  1881.  He 
learned  the  cooper  trade  and  followed 
it  for  some  years.  In  his  political  views 
he  was  a  Republican.  He  married  Mary 
Kauffman  and  they  had  seven  children : 
William,  Jacob,  Charles,  Henry,  Sarah, 
Reuben,  and  Andrew.  Andrew  was  reared 
and  received  his  education  in  his  native 
county.  He  learned  the  blacksmith  trade, 
and  followed  this  occupation  in  connection 
with  farming  in  York  county  until  1883, 
when  he  removed  to  Dauphin  county,  and 
purchased  the  place  where  he  now  lives. 
He  was  married,  July  30,  1868,  to  Miss  M. 
T.  Strominger,  daughter  of  Henry  Strom- 
inger,  of  York  county.  Their  children  are  : 
Mary  Ellen,  William  Henry,  John  A.,  Emma, 
Alda,  Sarah,  Chester  Cleveland,  Margaret 
Pearl,  Onia,  Leroy,  and  Lottie.  In  his  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  iiis  famil}' 
are  active  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 


near  Pennville,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and 
have  four  children  ;  Abraham,  married 
Christina  Snyder,  both  deceased,  five  chil- 
dren surviving  them ;  Catherine,  wife  of 
George  Hosier,  they  have  seven  children 
living  and  one  deceased ;  John  P.,  attended 
the  public  schools  and  learned  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  cooper,  which  he  followed  up 
to  1866  and  has  also  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  at- 
tends the  Lutheran  church.  In  1858  he 
married  Miss  Sarah  Smith,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Smith.  Their  children  are :  Mary,  born 
November  28,  1858,  married  E.  B.  Wisler,  of 
York  county,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Clarence,  Manada  and  John  ;  Solomon,  born 
December  7, 1860,  has  taught  school  since  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  makes  his  home 
with  his  father;  Elizabeth, born  November  17, 
1862,  wife  of  F.W.  Shoemaker,  of  Campbells- 
town,  and  they  have  seven  children:  Mabel, 
Yeagie,  Carrie, Robert,  Lillie,  Sally  and  John  ; 
Fannie,  born  September  12,  1870,  wife  of  I. 
H.  Foltz,  of  Londonderry  township,  and  tiiey 
have  two  children,  Addie  and  Russell ;  Jolui 
Webster,  born  February  12, 1877,  unmarried 
and  living  at  home. 


Ebersole,  John  P.,  was  born  in  London- 
derry township,  on  the  place  on  which  he 
now  lives,  March  26,  1832;  son  of  John 
Ebersole.  The  father  was  born  in  Derry 
township,  Dauphin  county.  May  20,  1797. 
He  acquired  a  good  education  and  came  to 
Londonderry  townsiiip  when  a  young  man, 
in  1821,  and  settled  on  the  farm  yow  owned 
by  his  son  John  P.,  where  he  was  continu- 
ously engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Pile,  born  January  26,  1796,  died 
February  2,  1892;  daughter  of  Jacob  Pile. 
Their  children  were:  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph 
Foreman,  both  deceased,  six  children  surviv- 
ing them  ;  Jacob,  deceased,  married  Maria 
Bowman,  eight  children  surviving  him ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Samuel  Hosier,  living 
50 


Foltz,  J.  H.,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Susquehanna  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  February  18,  1858 ;  son  of  Christian 
Foltz.  The  father  was  born  July  12,  1802. 
He  was  a  merchant  and  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty  years, 
March  27,  1863.  He  married,  first,  Anna 
Mary  Eppler,  by  whom  he  had  eight  chil- 
dren:  Jacob,  born  August  17,  1823,  died 
April  2,  1859;  Susanna,  born  April  8,  1825; 
Josiah,  born  November  8,  1826;  John,  born 
July  26,  1828  ;  Christian,  born  June  7, 1830, 
died  April  29,  1836 ;  Samuel,  born  April  12, 
1832  ;  Jonas,  born  September  26,  1835,  died 
March  22,  1836;  and  an  infant  son,  died 
July,  1835.  Mr.  Foltz  married  a  second 
time,  and  by  this  wife  he  had  six  children  : 
Eli,  born  February  8, 1841 ;  Mary  Ann,  born 
August  12,  1842;  David,  born  August  10, 
1845;  Elizabeth,  born  May  17,1847;  Cath- 
erine, born  April  27,  1849;  Barbara,  born 
March  24,  1851.  Mr.  Foltz  married,  thirdly. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Huntzburger,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Obed.  born  April  12,1862;  Emeline,  born 
March  25,  1857 ;  and  J.  H.  J.  H.  Foltz  at- 
tended the  school  of  his  native  place,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  was 
employed  in   the  Middletown  Car  Shops  for 


776 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


a  number  of  3'ears  and  has  also  been  much 
engaged  in  farming.  In  1890  he  purchased 
the  Keller  farm,  where  he  has  resided  since 
that  date.  He  was  married,  in  1888,  to  Miss 
Fannie  Ebersole,  daughter  of  John  P.  Eber- 
sole,  of  Londonderry  township,  by  whom  he 
has  two  children:  Russel,  born  November  9, 
1890,  and  Sadie,  born  December  2,  1888. 


Gbyer,  Michael,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  September  2, 
1853 ;  son  of  Jacob  Geyer.  The  father  was 
the  first  of  the  Geyer  family  to  settle  in  Dau- 
phin county,  he  having  come  from  Mt.  Joy, 
Lancaster  county,  in  1860,  and  having  lo- 
cated on  what  is  known  now  as  the  ''Old 
Geyer  Homestead."  He  was  well  educated 
for  his  time,  and  was  a  prominent  and  suc- 
cessful farmer.  He  married  Miss  Annie 
Kauffman,  of  Lancaster  county,  and  their 
children  are:  Katie,  Abram,  George,  Mar- 
tha, deceased,  and  Michael.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Geyer  were  members  of  the  United  Brethi-en 
church.  He  died  in  1889.  Michael  came 
with  his  parents  to  Dauphin  county  when 
he  was  six  years  of  age,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  schools  of  this  county. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  sub- 
sequently engaged  in  farming.  He  is  active 
in  politics,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Republi- 
can party.  His  church  membership  is  with 
the  United  Brethren.  In  1878  Mr.  Geyer 
was  married  to  Miss  Fanny  Kinsey,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Kinsey,  of  Londonderry  town- 
ship. They  have  no  children  living.  In 
1890  Mr.  Geyer  purchased  the  farm  on  which 
he  is  now  living. 

Garver,  C.  L.,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  March  1,  1838 ; 
son  of  Christian  Garver,  Jr.  The  grand- 
father. Christian  Garver,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of 
Lancaster  county.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. He  married  Miss  Grim,  of  Lancas- 
ter county,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children: 
David,  John,  Jacob,  Christian,  Rachel,  Nancy, 
Barbara,  and  one  unnamed,  all  deceased. 
He  came  to  Dauphin  county  about  1820,  and 
settled  on  a  piece  of  land  which  is  still  in  the 
possession  of  the  family.  Christian  Garver, 
Jr.,  the  father  of  C.  L.,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county  in  1815,  and  when  five  j^ears  of  age 
came  "with  his  parents  to  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  was  reared  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  school  of  that  period.  In  1836 
he  was  married  to  Miss  R.  Lord,  daughter  of 
James  Lord,  a  native  of  England,  by  whom 


he  had  six  children :  John,  Elizabeth,  C.  L.. 
Joseph,  Susan,  and  Samuel. 

C.  L.  Garver  acquired  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Londonderry  township,  which 
he  attended  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age.  In  his  earlier  life  he  was  employed  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  and 
in  1875  he  began  farming,  which  has  since 
been  his  occupation.  In  1876  he  purchased 
the  farm  on  which  he  has  since  had  his  resi- 
dence. 

He  takes  an  active  interest  in  politicslin 
connection  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
has  held  many  of  the  township  offices.  He 
and  his  family  attend  the  United  Brethren 
church.  In  1862  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  Bunser,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Barber)  Bunser,  of  Londonderry  town- 
ship, by  whom  he  has  six  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living:  Albert  B.,  married  Miss 
Mary  Bowser,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Bowser, 
and  they  have  two  children  living;  John, 
married  Ellen  Moyer,  living  at  Conoy,  Pa., 
and  they  have  three  children ;  Harry  B., 
school  teacherat  Royalton,  living  at  home,un- 
married ;  Susan,  wife  of  David  Brandt,  and 
they  have  four  cliildren;  Annie  and  Katie, 
twins — Katie  died  at  the  age  of  seven,  Annie 
living  at  home. 


Garver,  Joseph  L., Londonderry  township, 
was  born  on  the  old  Garver  farm,  in  London- 
derry township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 3, 1840  ;  son  of  Cliristian  Garver,  Jr. 
The  grandfather.  Christian  Garver,  Sr.,  was 
the  first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  Dauphin 
county.  He  came  to  the  county  about  1805 
and  located  on  what  came  to  be  known  as 
the  old  Garver  homestead,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death  in  1848.  He  had  nine  chil- 
dren :  John,  Jacob,  David,  Samuel,  Chris- 
tian, Nancy,  Mary,  Fanny,  and  one  child  not 
named.  Christian  Garver,  Jr.,  father  of  Jo- 
seph L.,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in 
1813.  He  acquired  a  good  education  for 
that  period  and  became  a  farmer,  and  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  through  life.  He  was 
an  active  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  His  wife  was  Miss  Susan  Lord, 
daughter  of  William  Lord,  of  Lebanon 
county,  and  they  had  five  children  :  Eliza- 
beth, John,  Christian,  Joseph,  and  Susan,  who 
are  all  living  excepting  Elizabeth,  who 
died  in  the  fall  of  1875.  Joseph  L.  lived  on 
the  home  farm  until  he  was  nineteen  years 
of  age,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farming 
on  his  own  account  and  has  made  this  his 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


Ill 


occupation.  In  1867  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  C.  Bunser,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Bunser,  of  Londonderry  township.  Mr. 
Garver  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  an 
active  member  of  tiie  United  Brethren 
church.  Mrs.  Garver  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Zion's  Children's  church.  They  have 
one  child,  Harry  B.,  born  February  15, 1870. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Millersville,  July  3,  1890,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  teaching 
in  the  public  schools. 


GiNGiRicH,  Jacob,  farmer,  Middletown, 
Pa.,  was  born  on  the  Nissley  farm  in  Lon- 
donderry township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
June  16,  1840  ;  son  of  Jonas  and  Christina 
(Metzger)  Gingirich.  The  first  of  the  family 
to  settle  in  the  county,  so  far  as  known,  was 
David  Gingirich,  who  is  buried  in  the  grave- 
yard on  the  present  Guyer  farm.  His  chil- 
dren were :  Jonas,  John,  Daniel,  David.  Dan- 
iel settled  in  Illinois,  and  died  there.  John 
died  on  the  homestead.  David  settled  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  near  Elizabethtown, 
where  he  died.  Martha  married  George 
Wyman,  and  died  in  Londonderr}-  township. 
Barbara,  married  a  Mr.  Sheeley,  and  lives  in 
the  West.  Jonas,  father  of  Jacob  M.,  was 
born  on  the  homestead  in  1811,  and  died  in 
1844.  He  was  a  farmer.  His  religious 
fellowship  was  with  the  United  Brethren, 
and  in  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  His  wife 
was  born  in  1809,  and  died  in  1892.  They 
had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living: 
Jacob  M.  and  Leah,  wife  of  David  Espen- 
stoch,  of  Londonderry  township. 

Jacob  M.  received  only  a  limited  education. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  four  years  old, 
and  he  was  reared  among  strangers  and  be- 
came a  farmer.  In  18G7  he  married  Elizabeth 
Wagner,  daughter  of  John  Wagner,  of  Lon- 
donderry township.  Their  children  are: 
Simon  W.,  born  in  1869,  married  Carrie 
Whitmer,  daughter  of  David  Whitmer,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Lizzie  ;  David  W.,  born 
in  iS71,  married  Miss  Mary  Rife,  daughter  of 
John  Rife,  of  Londonderry  township.  Mr. 
Gingirich  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  1865, 
and  farmed  on  the  shares  for  one  year,  and 
then  purchased  the  farm.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Farmers'  Bank,  and  is  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers and  a  director  of  the  Middletown 
Market  Company.  In  politics  ho  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  attends  the  United  Brethren 
church,  of  which  he  is  a  liberal  supporter. 


HiTE,  J.  C,  Royalton,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Derry  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Oc- 
tober 9,  1849 ;  sou  of  Henry  and  Elvira 
(Coley)  Hite,  natives  of  Dauphin  county. 
The  lather  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
reared  nine  children  :  Katie,  wife  of  James 
A.  Knighton.of  Harrisburg ;  Jacob,  deceased ; 
Annie,  wife  of  Jacob  Espinshader,  deceased; 
J.  C;  Emanuel,  married  Miss  Lydia  Hamil- 
ton, and  they  have  four  children,  Steelton, 
Pa.;  Harry,  living  in  Edgar  county.  111.; 
Jerome,  deceased  ;  Gabriel, deceased;  James, 
married  Mrs.  Susan  Oaks,  living  in  Hanover 
township. 

John  C.  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  at  the  academy  at  Pal- 
myra. When  a  young  man  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
besan  teachina;  school  in  the  winter  months 
and  has  been  engaged  ni  that  occupation 
since  1867,  with  the  exception  of  three  years, 
during  which  he  was  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness. In  1882  he  moved  to  Royalton,  from 
the  Round  Top  mountain,  where  he  has 
since  taught  school,  with  the  exception  of 
two  years.  He  is  active  in  political  matters 
in  connection  with  tlie  Republican  party. 
In  1890  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  which  he  has  filled  up  to 
the  present,  his  terra  of  office  expiring  in 
May,  1896.  Mr.  Hite  was  married,  in  1871, 
to  Miss  Mary  Aungst,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Shakespeare)  Aungst,  of  Dauphin 
county,  who  died  in  June,  1887.  Their 
children  are:  Oliver  R.,  Ada  V.,  Ezra  E., 
Mazie  E.,  Lizzie  N.,  Mable  C.  and  Annie 
May,  deceased. 


KiNSEY,  Samuel,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  August  11, 
1821 ;  son  of  Jacob  Kinsey.  The  father  was 
the  first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  born  and  reared  in  Lan- 
caster county,  came  to  Dauphin  county  in 
1822,  and  located  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Joseph  Martin.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Lancaster  county  schools  and 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  which  he 
followed  until  he  came  to  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  held 
independent  views  in  politics  and  was  not 
connected  with  any  party.  His  religious 
faith  brought  him  into  fellowship  with  the 
Dunkard  cliurch.  Mr.  Kinsey  married  Mary 
Cans,  by  whom  he  had  thirteen  children  : 
Barbara,  Nancy,  Sallie,  David,  John,  Jacob, 


778 


BIO  GRAPHIC  A  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


Christian,  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Mary,  Cathe- 
rine, Susan,  and  Margaret. 

Samuel,  when  very  young,  came  with  his 
parents  to  Dauphin  county  and  attended  the 
common  schools.  He  has  always  been  a 
hard-working  and  industrious  man,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  was  engaged  in  butcher- 
ing. He  has  been  the  superintendent  and 
sexton  of  the  Hillsdale  cemetery  for  over 
forty  years,  during  which  time  he  has  buried 
over  three  hundred  bodies  in  this  beautiful 
ground.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
himself  and  family  are  connected  with  the 
United  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Kinsey  was 
married,  in  1847,  to  Miss  Margaret  May, 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Susan  (Miller)  May, 
of  Dauphin  county,  by  whom  he  has  nine 
children  :  David,  Sarah  Ann,  Fanny,  Eliza- 
beth, Margaret,  Barbara,  Mary,  Eli,  and 
Katie.  In  1860  he  purchased  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides. 


LoNGENECKER,  CHRISTIAN  R.,  farmer,  Mid- 
dletown,Pa.,  was  born  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  December  17, 
1862;  sou  of  John  S.,.and  Margaret  (Peck) 
Longenecker,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  London- 
derry township  for  several  years.  Later  he 
took  up  farming,  which  has  since  been  his 
occupation.  In  the  spring  of  1888  he  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-three  acres,  where  he  has  had 
his  residence  since  that  time.  He  was 
married,  in  1886,  to  Miss  Alice  Ging- 
rich, daughter  of  Christian  Gingrich,  of 
Lower  Swatara  township,  and  later  of  Lon- 
donderry township.  They  have  one  child, 
Harry,  born  October  7,  1895.  In  politics 
Mr.  Longenecker  is  a  Republican.  His  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


Martin,  Joseph  E.,  farmer,  Middletown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Derry  township,  now  Cone- 
wago  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 21, 1832  ;  son  of  Henry  Martin,  native 
of  Mt.  Joy  township,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
who  moved  from  Lancaster  count}'  to  Derry 
township,  Dauphin  county,  about  1831.  He 
married  Miss  Catherine  Eshelman,  of  Dau- 
phin count}'.  In  1843  he  moved  into  Lon- 
donderry township  and  settled  near  Red- 
seeker's  Mill,  where  he  died  in  1860.     His 


wife  is  also  deceased.  They  were  members 
of  the  Dunkard  church  and  were  actively 
interested  in  all  church  work.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Mary,  not  married,  living  at 
Elizabethtown ;  Joseph  E.;  Barbara,  de- 
ceased ;  and  Henrj',  resides  in  Oklahoma. 

Joseph  E.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township  and 
became  a  farmer.  He  was  married,  in  1856, 
to  Susan,  daughter  of  Rev.  Mathias  and 
Catherine  (Ileisy)  Brinser.  In  1857  he 
settled  on  the  farm  on  which  he  has  since 
resided.  In  political  matters  he  is  an  ac- 
tive Republican,  and  has  served  as  township 
auditor  for  the  past  six  years.  His  family 
consisted  of  one  daughter  and  three  sons: 
Fannie,  wife  of  Theo.  Laverty,  Middletown  ; 
Samuel,  at  home,  married  Mary  Horst,  of 
Lancaster  county ;  Abraham  L.  B.,  Harris- 
burg, Pa.,  clerk  for  Dives,  Pomeroy  & 
Stewart,  married  Ellen  Hersey,  of  Lancaster 
county;  Joseph  B.,  Middletown,  school 
teacher  at  Royalton,  Pa.,  married  Myra 
Deal,  of  Lancaster  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Martin  are  members  of  the  Zion's  Children's 
church. 


Nls.sley,  Jacob,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born 
on  the  James  Young  farm,  in  Swatara  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  March  14,  1825; 
son  of  John  Nissley,  Jr.  The  grandfatlier, 
John  Nissley,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Derry  town- 
ship. He  had  three  children  :  John,  Samuel, 
and  Catherine.  John  Nissley,  Jr.,  the  father 
of  Jacob,  married  Miss  Lizzie  Roup,  daugh- 
ter of  Christian  Roup,  of  Swatara  township, 
by  whom  he  had  eight  children:  Betsy,  Liz- 
zie, Sarah,  Leah,  Samuel,  Jacob,  John,  and 
Martin.  Jacob  Nissley  attended  the  scliools 
of  his  native  township,  and  remained  at 
work  on  his  father's  farm  for  a  number  of 
3'ears.  After  marriage  he  moved  on  to  his 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  remained  for  five 
years,  having  succeeded  to  the  ownership. 
At  the  end  of  this  time  he  sold  the  farm  to 
James  Young,  since  which  time  he  has  lived 
in  the  locality  in  which  he  now  resides.  He 
married  Miss  Catherine  Horst,  daughter  of 
John  Horst,  of  Swatara  township,  and  they 
have  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  eight  are 
living:  Fannie,  Emma,  Mary,  John,  Jacob, 
Samuel,  Ellen,  Annie;  Martin,  deceased; 
Catherine,  deceased,  and  Lizzie,  deceased.  In 
his  politics  Mr.  Nissley  is  a  Republican,  and 


DAUPSIM   COUNTY. 


779 


has  held  the  office  of  supervisor  for  three 
years,  and  also  that  of  school  director.  He 
is  a  member  of  Zion's  Children's  church.  At 
one  time  Mr.  Nissley  was  engaged  in  the  mill- 
ing business,  and  built  the  Irvin  mine  mill, 
near  where  he  now  lives. 


Shoop,  John,  carpenter,  Royalton,  Pa., 
was  born  in  West  H-anover  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  September  25,  1825  ;  son 
of  Samuel  Shoop  and  Catherine  (Hoover) 
Shoop.  The  father  was  an  early  settler  of 
Dauphin  county,  and  reared  thirteen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  living:  John  and 
George,  a  resident  of  Dauphin  county.  John 
was  reared  in  his  native  township  and  at- 
tended the  country  schools  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  at  which  age  lie 
learned  the  carpenter  trade,  and  has  since 
followed  that  occupation.  He  lived  in  West 
Hanover  township  until  1884,  and  then  re- 
moved to  what  is  now  known  as  Royalton. 
In  1847  he  married  Sarah  Long,  daughter 
of  George  Long,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  one  is  living,  George,  born  in 
1854,  at  Rockville,  Dauphin  county,  where 
he  is  now  living.  Mr.  Shoo])  is  in  fellow- 
ship with  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Peck,  Levi  N.,  farmer,  Middletown,  Pa. 
was  born  on  his  present  homestead,  July  23, 
1860;   son  of  Christian  and  Anna  (Nissley) 
Peck.     The  father  was  born  near  Marietta, 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  in  1842  or  1843  ;  the 
mother  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  C.  Nissley,  of 
Londonderry  township.     After  marriage  the 
father  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  his  son,  Levi  N.,  where  he  lived 
until  1887,  when   he  returned  to  Marietta, 
Pa.,  which  is  his  present  residence.    His  wife 
died  April  1,  1881.     For  his  second  wife  he 
married  Miss  Ella  Gest.     By  his  first  wife  he 
had  four    children :    Levi    N.;  Emma,   Mrs. 
John  Ober,  of  Elizabethtown,  Pa.;  Barbara, 
wife  of  Aaron  Booser,Steelton,  Pa.;  and  Jacob, 
with  his  brother  Levi.     Mr.  Peck  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the   Democratic  party,  with  indepen- 
dent proclivities,  and  has  served   as  school 
director  and  as  supervisor  of  the  township. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Zion's  Chil- 
dren's church. 

Levi  N.  received  his  education  in  the  town- 
ship schools.  He  was  married,  December  9, 
1882,  to  Miss  Mary  Foltz,  daugliter  of  John 
Foltz,  of  Deodate,  Conewago  township.  After 
his  marriage  he  settled  on  the  farm,  where  he 
now  lives.    He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Farm- 


ers' Bank  of  Middletown.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican  and  has  served  as  school  di- 
rector for  six  years.  His  children  are  :  Ella, 
Edith,  Anna,  Floy,  and  Christian.  His 
brother  Jacob  was  born  on  his  present  farm, 
June  21,  1873,  and  is  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. 


Reiff,  Jacob  L.,  was  born  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  lives  in   Londonderry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  October  20,  1816; 
son  of  John  Reiff,  Jr.    John  Reiff,  the  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county  and 
a  resident  of  Londonderry  township,  where 
he  died.     He  was  the  father  of  eight  chil- 
dren.    John   Reiff,  the  father  of  Jacob  L., 
was  born  in  Londonderry  township  in  1780, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1822.     He 
acquired  a  good  education  for  that  time  and 
was  an  active  church  member.     He  married 
Miss   Fanny  Riser,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children:  Peter,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Kop,  of 
Lancaster  county  ;  Jacob  L.,  and  John,  mar- 
ried  Miss   Barbara  Gingerich,   of  London- 
derry township. 

Jacob  L.  was  busily  engaged  in  farming 
up  to  1880,  when  he  retired  from  active 
work,  but  is  still  living  on  his  farm  and  has 
an  oversight  of  all  the  farmer's  operations. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  while  in  re- 
ligious faith  and  profession  he  is  connected 
with  the  Dunkard  church.  In  1840  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Fanny  Nissley,  daughter  of 
Martin  Nissley,  of  Dauphin  county,  by  whom 
he  had  six  children :  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Abram  Guyer  ;  John  N.,  married  Miss  Mary 
Ulch,  of  Dauphin  county ;  Martin,  died  in 
1869,  aged  twenty-four  years,  buried  in 
Guyer's  cemetery  ;  Catherine,  wife  of  George 
Guyer;  Jacob,  died  October  9,  1876,  aged 
twenty-five  years, and  Fanny,  living  at  home 


Rife,  J.  N.,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born  on 
the  old  homestead,  January  31,  1845.  He 
acquired  his  education  in  the  public  school 
and  became  a  farmer.  In  1870  he  moved 
to  the  place  on  which  he  now  has  his  resi- 
dence. In  his  political  sentiments  Mr.  Rife 
is  a  Republican.  He  was  married,  in  1869, 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Ulricb,  daughter  of  Adam 
Ulrich,  of  Swatara  township,  and  to  them 
there  have  been  born  two  children  :  Mamie 
N.,  wife  of  David  W.  Gingrich,  and  Katie  W., 
died  July  7,  1892,  aged  fourteen  years,  and 
is  buried  at  the.Hillsdale;cemetery. 


780 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Smith,  Jacob,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  December  3,  1805. 
He  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
county  and  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet 
maker.  In  1834  he  removed  to  Dauphin 
county  and  settled  on  the  place  where  he 
now  resides.  He  has  followed  his  occupa- 
tion of  cabinet  making,  and  has  also  been 
engaged  in  undertaking.  In  his  earlier 
life  he  was  active  in  political  matters,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Republican  party.  For  a 
term  of  years  he  served  as  supervisor  of  the 
township.  Although  advanced  in  years  he 
still  maintains  an  active  membership  in  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  is  interested  in  the 
spiritual  and  benevolent  works  of  his  de- 
nomination. Mr.  Smith  was  married  in 
1832  to  Elizabeth  Russell,  of  Londonderry 
township.  Their  children  are:  Mary,  died 
July  8,  1841,  aged  nine  years;  Sarah,  wife 
of  John  AVersoll,  of  Dauphin  county;  ("hris- 
tina,  wife  of  Jacob  AVanamaker,  of  London- 
derry township  ;  Elizabeth,  unmarried,  and 
lives  with  her  father  ;  Henry,  died  January 
5,  1845,  aged  five  years.  Mrs.  Smith  died 
in  March,  1863.  ]\Ir.  Smith,  at  ninety  years 
of  age,  is  in  good  health  and  is  able  to  cut 
wood  and  do  much  work  around  his  home. 

BoosER,  Ephraim,  was  born  in  London- 
derry township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Octo- 
ber 7,  1842 ;  son  of  Jacob  Bouser.  Henry 
Booser,  the  grandfather  of  Ephraim,  was 
born  in  Switzerland,  and  was  the  first  of  the 
family  to  settle  in  Dauphin  county.  He 
married  Miss  Goss,  a  native  of  America,  by 
whom  he  had  five  children  :  Plenry,  John, 
Benjamin,  Jacob  and  Barbara,  all  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Jacob  Booser,  the  father  of 
Ephraim,  was  born  in  Londonderry  township, 
in  1797,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life  on  the 
old  homestead.  He  acquired  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  and  engaged  in 
teaching,  and  was  an  active  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Dunkard  church.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Maria  Ober,  of  Lancaster  county, 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children:  Henry, 
married  Elizabeth  Longenecker,  and  lives 
in  Cumberland  county;  Mary,  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Foltz,  of  Conewago  township;  Jacob, 
John,  Benjamin,  Michael,  and  Abraham,  all 
deceased.  His  wife  died  in  1840,  and  in 
1842  he  married,  secondly,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Brestel,  widow  of  Michael  Brestel,  of  Dau- 
phin county,  by  whom  he  had  two  children; 
Ephraim  and  Samuel,  married  Elizabeth 
Heisey,  daughter  of  Henry  Heisey,  of  Dau- 


phin county,  and  they  had  these  children  : 
Emma,  deceased,  Mary,  Anna,  Elizabeth, 
and  Sarah. 

Ephraim  was  born  on  the  old  homestead, 
where  he  lived  until  he  was  about  sixteen 
years  old,  when  he  went  out  in  the  world  to 
make  his  own  way.  He  became  a  farmer 
and  spent  his  life  in  the  township,  in  which 
he  has  filled  nearl}'  all  of  the  township  of- 
fices. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  hav- 
ing cast  his  fir.st  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
when  he  was  a  candidate  the  second  time. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Dunkard  church. 
Mr.  Booser  was  married,  June  6,  1809,  to 
Miss  Maria  Hamilton,  daughter  of  William 
and  Mary  Hamilton,  of  Lancaster  county, 
by  whom  he  has  two  children :  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Franklin  Detweiler,  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  thej'  have  one  child,  Weigie, 
born  October  20,  1893;  and  Alice,  born  Oc- 
tober 11,  1871,  unmarried  and  living  at 
home. 


LOWER  PAXTON  TOWNSHIP. 


Hain,  Joseph,  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  He  is  a  son 
of  George  and  Sarah  (Garman)  Hain.  The 
great-grandparents  of  the  Hain  family  were 
eminent  and  highly  respected  residents  of 
Lower  Paxton  township.  Their  remains 
are  interred  in  the  family  lot  in  Sharp's 
cemetery.  George  Hain,  grandfather  of 
Joseph  Hain,  served  efficiently  as  commis- 
sioner of  Dauphin  county  from  1854  to 
1800.  George  Hain  (2),  father  of  Jo.seph, 
died  at  the  age  of  sevent}' ;  his  wife,  Sarah 
Garman  Hain,  died  aged  seventy-three. 
They  liad  eleven  children,  of  whom  none 
are  now  living  except  David  and  George. 

Joseph  Hain  was  a  farmer,  very  diligent 
in  the  prosecution  of  his  calling,  and  very 
successful.  His  bu.siness  dealings  were  char- 
acterized by  the  highest  integrity.  He  was 
punctual  in  meeting  all  his  engagements, 
and  enjoyed  the  utmost  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  his  neighbors.  He  was  married  in 
December,  1851,  to  Elizabeth  B.  Hanshaw, 
born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  October 
20,  1832,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Cathe- 
rine (Zimmerman)  Hanshaw.  Her  parents 
had  a  family  of  eight  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  surviving 
children  are :  Susanna,  wife  of  Peter  Shaef- 
fer;  Elizabeth  B.,  wife  of  Joseph  Hain; 
William  ;  Samuel ;  Jeremiah;  Henry  ;  Mary, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY, 


7S1 


wife  of  Samuel  Alleman;  and  Catherine, 
wife  of  Solomon  Stites.  The  parents  are 
hoth  dead ;  the  mother  died  in  April,  1879, 
aged  sixty-nine,  the  father  on  March  4, 1888, 
aged  eighty-three.  They  were  widely  known 
and  respected  citizens  of  Dauphin  county. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  B.  Ilain  received  her  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  her  native 
township.  She  resided  with  her  parents  up 
to  the  time  of  her  marriage  with  Joseph  Hain. 
They  had  eight  children;  of  these  George 
was  born  August  5,  1854,  and  died  August 
24,  1854,  aged  nineteen  days.  Their  living 
children  are :  Henry  H.,  born  August  7, 
1855;  John  Joseph,  December  12,  1859; 
Elizabeth  R.,  February  27,  1860,  wife  of 
John  Unger;  Catherine,  June  3,  1862,  wife 
of  John  E.  Trullinger;  Sarah  Ann,  October 
27,  1864,  wife  of  John  E.  Mumma;  Ida  T., 
January  9,  1869,  wife  of  Edward  M.  Crune; 
and  Irwin  Edgar,  born  June  11,  1872.  Mr. 
Hain  was  a  consistent  and  earnest  Christian, 
and  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.  His  political  views  were  Demo- 
cratic. He  was  a  good  citizen,  a  kind  and 
indulgent  father,  a  devoted  and  loving  hus- 
band. 


Crum.  Amos,  farmer,  was  born  at  the  old 
homestead  where  he  now  resides,  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 14,  1852.  He  is  a  son  of  William  L. 
and  Elizabeth  (Crall)  Crum.  William  L. 
Crum  was  born  March  16,  1807,  and  was  a 
farmer.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Crall,  was  born 
April  27, 1811.  They  had  thirteen  children  : 
Susanna,  born  January  10,  1832;  Elias,  May 
1,1833;  Simon,  August  13,  1834;  William, 
December  5,  1835;  Elizabeth,  August  18, 
1837  ;  John  H.,  September  2,  1839  ;  Caroline, 
February  1,  1841 ;  Rebecca,  November  12, 
1843;  Hettie,  Februarv  3,  1845;  William 
H.,  September  22,  1846;  David,  October  18, 
1850  ;  Amos,  November  14, 1852  ;  one  infant 
without  name,  died  July  1,  1849.  Their 
other  deceased  children  are :  William, 
died  September  7,  1837  ;  Simon,  September, 
15,1835;  Elias,  May  12, 1838;  Rebecca,  Janu- 
ary 21,  1847 ;  Hettie,  January  3,  1860,  and 
Susanna,  August  29,  1891.  Of  the  two  sur- 
viving daughters,  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
Theodore  Heckert,  and  Caroline  of  John  C. 
Forney.  The  mother  died  May  6,  1886, 
aged  seventy-three  years  and  ten  days ;  the 
father  died  September  25,  1889,  aged  eighty- 
two  years,  six  months  and  nine  days. 

Amos  Crum  was  educated  in  the  public 


schools  of  his  native  township.  He  worked 
on  his  father's  farm  up  to  the  time  of  his 
marriage.  In  1876  he  commenced  farming 
on  his  own  account.  In  1879  he  removed 
to  the  old  homestead  where  he  now  resides, 
having  purchased  the  farm  after  his  father's 
death.  He  was  married,  May  26,  1876,  to 
Matilda  Bright,  by  whom  he  has  had  four 
children.  One  child,  Mary  E.,  was  born 
July  5, 1877,  and  died  October  28, 1877,  aged 
three  months  and  twenty-two  days.  Their 
surviving  children  are:  Tillie  A.,  born  July 
6,  1879;  Carrie,  February  19,  1881,  and 
Jennie  May,  January  23, 1889. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Crum  are  botli  de- 
ceased. Her  mother  was  born  October  10, 
1813,  and  died  February  21,  1891,  aged 
seventy-seven  years,  four  months  and  eleven 
days.  Her  father  died  May  5,  1877,  aged 
sixty-three  years.  They  had  a  family  of 
eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  deceased  : 
Catherine,  born  April  25, 1840,  died  January 
20,  1844 ;  George  Washington,  born  July  20, 
1843,  died  February  9,  1849 ;  Sevilla,  born 
March  15,  1853,  died  September  21,  1864; 
Adeline,  wife  of  Daniel  W.  Pottieger,  born 
June  18,  1845,  died  July  20,  1869.  Their 
surviving  children  are :  Harriet,  born  June 
20,  1836,  wife  of  Augustus  Shank;  William, 
December  28,  1837  ;  John,  January  2,  1846, 
and  Matilda,  Mrs.  A.  Crum,  January  2, 1851. 


Levan,  Peter  Dressler,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  November  10,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of 
Peter  K.  and  Mary  A.  (Dressier)  Levan.  His 
grandparents,  John  and  Christina  Levan, 
had  nine  children  :  Solomon,  Anna,  John, 
Charles,  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Chauncy,  Peter 
K.,  and  George.  Peter  K.  was  the  last  sur- 
vivor of  their  children.  The  parents  of  his 
wife,  Mary  A.  Dressier,  had  thirteen  children  : 
Daniel,  John,  Samuel,  David,  Lydia,  Reuben, 
Hannah,  Solomon,  Jonas,  Judy,  Mary  Ann, 
Jacob,  and  William.  All  are  deceased  except 
Judy,  widow  of  Samuel  Welker.  Their  son, 
Samuel  Dressier,  became  prominent  in  poli- 
tics in  Ohio.  He  was  a  plain  and  modest 
man,  and  not  being  desirous  of  notoriety  or 
prominence,  he  declined  the  nomination  of 
the  Republican  party  for  governor  of  the 
State. 

Peter  K.  Levan  was  a  farmer.  He  was 
born  October  12,  1812,  came  to  Dauphin 
county  in  the  spring  of  1847,  and  located  on 
the  present  homestead.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  convictions  and  energetic  in  the  trans- 


782 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


action  of  his  business.  He  was  married,  in 
Berks  county,  Pa.,  March  5,  1843,  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Dressier,  born  July  29, 1820.  They 
had  ten  children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased  : 
Sylverrius,  born  April  14, 1845,  died  August 
5,  1849,  and  George  Williams,  born  July  30. 
1864,  died  February  27,  1865.  Their  living 
children  are :  Anna  M.,  born  December  25, 
1846;  Sarah  E.,  October  16,  1848,  wife  of 
John  A.  Landis;  Amelia  M.,  April  30,1850; 
Mary  J.,  April  22,  1853,  wife  of  John  A. 
Carmany,  of  Harrisburg ;  Ellie  M.,  February 
5,  1855  ;  Peter  Dressier,  iSTovember  10,  1850  ; 
Carrie  G.,  May  19,  1859,  wife  of  Dr.  H.  R. 
Feeser;  ('harles  Dressier,  September  20, 1861. 
Peter  K.  Levan  died  June  2,  1887,  in  the 
seventy-fifth  3'ear  of  his  age.  His  wife  died 
March  4,  1894,  in  the  seventy-fourth  year  of 
her  age.  He  was  a  staunch  Democrat.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  to  which  the  family  still 
adheres. 

Peter  Dresisler  Levan  received  his  elemen- 
tary education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lower 
Paxton  township.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
entered  the  academy  at  Kutztown,  Berks 
county,  Pa.  His  first  business  emploj'ment 
was  on  his  father's  farm.  Later  he  became 
engaged  in  dealing  in  cattle  and  horses,  and 
has  continued  in  that  business  up  to  the 
present  time.  He  is  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful. He  is  always  accurateh'  informed 
as  to  supply  and  demand,  and  his  judgment 
is  seldom  at  fault  with  regard  to  the  actual 
and  market  value  of  live  stock. 


Ceum,  Edward  M.,  farmer,  was  born  at 
the  old  iiomestead.  Lower  Paxton  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  September  8,  1867. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jonas  and  Maria  (Kamerer) 
Crum.  His  paternal  grandparents  are  both 
deceased.  The  grandfather  died  September 
26,  1882,  aged  seventy-two  years;  the  grand- 
mother in  March,  1888,  aged  seventy-four. 
Jonas  and  Maria  Crum  had  three  children  : 
Minnie,  wife  of  George  A.  Houck  ;  Emma  C, 
wife  of  Albert  W.  Horstick,  and  Edward  M. 
Both  parents  are  living.  Mr.  Jonas  Crum 
has  served  as  tax  collector  and  assessor  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  and  is  a  highly 
respected  citizen. 

Edward  M.Crum  attended  the  publicschools 
of  his  native  township,  and  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen went  for  two  years  to  the  Normal  School, 
Millersville,  Lancaster  count}'.  Pa.  After 
this  he  was  employed  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-two.     He  was  then  em- 


ployed by  Forney  Bros.,  shoe  manufacturers, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  for  about  three  years,  on  a 
stitching  machine.  He  afterwards  resumed 
farming,  which  occupation  he  has  continued 
up  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Crum  was  mar- 
ried, December  22,  1892,  to  Miss  Ida  F., 
daugliter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  B.  (Han- 
sha\y)  Hain  ;  thej'  have  one  child,  Joseph 
Luther.  A  sketch  of  the  parents  of  Mrs. 
Crum  appears  in  another  part  of  this 
volume.  Mr.  Crum  is  a  staunch  Repub- 
lican. He  and  his  family  are  membei's 
of  the  Lutheran  Reformed  church.  He  ranks 
among  the  enterprising  and  successful  farm- 
ers of  the  townshi{),  and  is  a  good  citizen. 


Shope,  Rev.  Adam  J.,  cherishes  a  laud- 
able pride  in  his  name,  because  it  was  borne 
by  his  paternal  grandfather,  whose  exem- 
j)lary  character  and  life  inspired  his  love 
and  reverence.  The  Scotch-Irish  blood  flows 
in  his  veins  and  it  has  ever  been  his  aim  in 
life  to  be  a  worthy  scion  of  that  stock  so  pro- 
lific of  good  and  great  men.  At  the  time  of 
his  birth  his  parents,  John  A.  and  Elizabeth 
(Stout)  Shope,  were  residents  of  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  Their  other  children  are: 
C!atlinrine,  who  married  Daniel  Baum,  and 
resides  in  Linglestown  ;  Nancy,  wlio  married 
David  E.  Brehm,  and  is  living  in  Astoria, 
Ills.,  and  Esther,  who  married  Daniel  Crum. 

Adam  J.  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
younger  days  on  the  farm  in  Lower  Paxton 
township  on  which  he  now  resides.  He 
pursued  the  usual  course  in  tiie  com- 
mon schools  of  tlie  township,  and  secured 
the  training  and  information  which  the 
bright  and  industrious  pupil  ordinarily  re- 
ceives from  such  advantages.  That  his 
moral  and  spiritual  nature  was  developed 
along  with  his  physical  and  intellectual 
faculties  is  shown  by  readiness  and  desire  in 
early  manhood  to  make  a  public  profession 
of  religion.  He  united  with  the  German 
Baptist  church  (Old  Brethren)  and  his  life 
and  conversation  were  consistent  with  the 
vows  he  had  taken.  Earlj'  in  his  Christian 
course  he  showed  an  intelligent  and  devout 
spirit  which  qualified  him  to  be  a  spiritual 
leader.  Two  years  after  he  had  united  with 
the  church  his  brethren  recognized  his  apti- 
tude for  spiritual  affairs  and  elected  him 
deacon.  He  accepted  this  trust,  and  for  ten 
years  served  efficiently  and  acceptably  in 
this  responsible  position.  His  spirituality 
and  conspicuous  concern  for  the  rescue  of 
the  perishing  led  the  church  to  install  him 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


783 


into  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 
This  was  done  by  vote  of  the  whole  chnrch, 
as  is  the  invariable  order  of  this  fraternity. 
He  has  proved  himself  to  be  an  able  minis- 
ter of  the  Word,  and  has  been  a  zealous 
and  successful  worker  in  the  cause  of  his 
Master. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  years  Mr.  Shope  was 
married  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Litchey)  Wenger,  who  has  been  an 
efficient  helper  and  wise  counsellor  in  his 
parochial  work.  Thirteen  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  six  of  whom  died  young. 
Their  living  children  are:  Katie,  wife  of 
Elias  Kautfraan  ;  Elmer,  who  married  Me- 
linda  Baura ;  Samuel,  who  married  Ellen 
Miller;  Lizzie,  wife  of  John  H.  Walter;  Ida, 
wife  of  John  H.  Fackler,  and  two  who  are 
yet  single. 


Shirk,  Simon,  ratired  farmer,  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  July  20,  1827.  He 
is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Lyter)  Shirk. 
George  Shirk  was  born  December  24,  1798; 
his  wife,  Mary  Lyter,  December  18,  1795. 
They  had  six  children :  Sophia,  born  March 
28,  1822,  died  in  1858  or  1859;  Mary  Ann, 
wife  of  Frederick  Reichert,  born  February  3, 
1829 ;  Sarah,  wife  of  Isaac  Hoostick,  born 
October  1,1825;  Henry  A.,  who  died  aged 
two  years  and  six  months.  Their  living 
children  are  Simon  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Amos  Houck.  The  father  died  May  3, 1862, 
and  the  mother  November  3,  1883. 

Simon  Shirk  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township.  At  the  early 
age  of  thirteen  he  was  industriously  at  work 
on  the  farm.  He  attended  school  during 
the  winter  months  up  to  the  age  of  twenty- 
one.  He  then  made  farming  his  occupation 
and  for  four  years  was  engaged  in  cultivating 
his  fatiier's  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five 
he  began  farming  on  his  own  account  and 
continued  in  that  business  until  his  retire- 
ment from  active  work. 

He  was  married,  November  25,  1852,  to 
Sarah  Zieter,  daughter  of  David  and  Sarah 
Stahl.  Their  children  are  three  in  number: 
Mary  Ann,  born  March  14,  1854,  died  Jan- 
uary 31,  1862  ;  Susan,  born  November  3, 
1856,  died  September  3,  1866  ;  and  Sarah 
Jane,  born  November  12,  1862,  wife  of 
Michael  Farling,  has  had  two  children,  both 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Shirk  died 
February  6, 1895,  after  a  painful  and  linger- 
ing illness.    She  was  a  benevolent,  hospitable 


Christian  woman,  beloved  and  esteemed  b,y 
her  many  friends  and  neighbors.  Her  death 
will  be  a  loss  to  those  wlio  have  enjoyed  her 
generous  hospitality  and  her  helpful  society. 
She  lost  her  mother  when  she  was  seventeen 
days  old.     Her  father  died  in  1872. 

Mr.  Shirk  has  served  three  terms  as  school 
director  and  is  at  present  treasurer  of  the 
school  board.  In  1866-67  he  served  one 
term  as  road  supervisor.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Shoop's  (Lutiieran)  church.  He  is 
now  enjoying  at  leisure  the  fruits  of  his  early 
industry  and  frugality.  He  has  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  his  neighbors. 


Walmer,  George  W.,  retired  carpenter, 
was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  January  17,  1826.  He  is 
a  son  of  David  and  Barbara  (Gaverich)  Wal- 
mer. Their  six  children  were :  Eve,  wife  of 
John  Schafier;  George  W.;  Margaret,  wife 
of  William  Calderdeck ;  John  ;  Lydia,  wife 
of  Henry  Forney ;  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy.  David  Walmer  died  in  August, 
1884,  aged  about  eighty-three;  his  wife  died 
in  September,  1889. 

George  W.  Walmer  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Lower  Paxton  township. 
He  attended  school  in  the  winter,  and  as- 
sisted his  father  on  tiie  farm,  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age.  He  then  went  to  Jones- 
town, Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  and  served  a 
two  years'  apprenticeship  at  cigar  making; 
after  which  he  worked  at  that  trade  on  his 
own  account  for  about  six  years.  He  then 
removed  to  Ohio,  and  was  employed  in  farm 
work.  His  first  year's  pay  was  $140  ;  later, 
he  received  |240  per  year.  Then  he  gave 
up  farming,  and  was  employed  at  divers  oc- 
cupations. He  lived  for  a  number  of  years 
in  Indiana.  After  an  absence  of  fifteen 
years  he  returned  to  his  native  township. 
In  1868  he  engaged  in  carpenter  work  with 
his  brother  John,  and  was  employed  at  that 
occupation  for  about  fifteen  years.  He  then 
took  up  carpet  weaving,  and  has  carried  it 
on  until  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Walmer  was  married  in  East  Han- 
over township,  October  31,  1871,  to  Miss 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Rebecca  (Kit- 
tels)  Gaverich.  They  have  no  children. 
Mrs.  Walmer  was  born  April  2,  1836,  and 
died  October  23, 1885.  Her  parents  are  both 
deceased.  They  had  eight  children  :  Elias, 
David,  John,  Andrew,  Daniel,  William,  Sarah, 
who  is  Mrs.  Walmer,  and   Elizabeth,   Mrs. 


784 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Welpner.  Mr.  Waliner  belongs  to  Lodge 
No.  629,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Linglestown.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Lauman,  Henry,  was  born  in  Swatara 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  March  3, 
1805.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  Swatara  township.  After  leaving  school 
he  learned  the  hatter's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  until  his  marriage.  He  then  took 
up  farming,  in  wiiich  he  was  engaged  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  director  of  the  poor,  and  served  for 
one  term.  He  was  married  to  Blanche 
Trewick,  born  .June  10,  1807,  and  died  .Jan- 
uary 3,  1858.  They  had  seven  children,  all 
of  whom  are  deceased  except  one  daughter, 
Anna  A.  Their  ciiildren  were:  Richard  T., 
born  November  20,  1830,  died  August  8, 
1892;  William,  born  October  22,  1833,  died 
May  20,  1882  ;  Ellen  A.,  born  January  14, 
1836,  died  in  August,  1836;  Mary  H.,  born 
December  23, 1838,  died  November  20,1839; 
Anna  A.,  born  February  10,  1840,  still  liv- 
ing ;  Walter  T.,  born  May  7,  1848,  died  Jan- 
uarv  25,  1844;  Eliza  C,  born  May  11,  1845, 
died  July  6,  1845. 

Mr.  Jjauman  died  May  4,  1862.  In  busi- 
ness iie  was  enterprising  and  industrious, 
prompt,  exact  and  iionorable,  and  from  these 
characteristics  it  follows  that  he  was  also 
successful.  His  character  and  conduct  in- 
spired his  neighbors  with  confidence,  and 
won  their  esteem.  In  social  circles  he  was 
genial  and  apiiroachable,  always  courteous, 
and  never  lacking  in  tiie  amenities  of  inter- 
course. A  strong  Christian  faith  and  de- 
vout piety  rounded  out  liis  character.  His 
memory  is  a  benediction  to  his  devoted 
daughter,  and  is  cherished  by  her  as  a  price- 
less inheritance. 

Anna  A.  Lauman,  daughter  of  Henry,  re- 
ceived her  early  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  her  native  township.  When  she 
was  nine  years  of  age  she  attended  school 
in  Harrisburg.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  she 
entered  the  school  of  Professor  Waugh,  of 
Harrisburg,  the  liberal  advantages  of  which 
she  enjoyed  for  two  years.  After  complet- 
ing her  education,  she  lived  with  her  parents 
until  their  death,  and  afterwards  remained 
on  the  old  homestead  with  her  brothers, 
Richard  and  William.  Later,  she  removed 
with  them  to  West  Hanover  township,  and 
subsequently,  with  her  brother  Richard,  to 
Linglestown,  where  she  still  has  her  resi- 
dence.    She  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


FocHT,  John,  was  born  in  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  in  1799.  When  he  was  yet  a  boy  his 
parents  removed  to  Dauphin  county  and 
settled  on  the  farm  which  is  now  the  family 
homestead,  near  Linglestown.  He  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Dauphin  county,  and  was 
reared  in  the  ways  and  customs  of  pioneer 
life.  He  early  began  to  work  his  own  way. 
Since  he  had  no  material  inheritance,  it  be- 
came needful  for  him  to  bring  into  play  his 
native  energy  and  enterprise.  He  first 
worked  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  was  after- 
wards industriously  employed  in  various  oc- 
cupations, as  opportunities  for  obtaining  em- 
ployment presented  themselves.  Among  his 
earlier  ventures  in  business  was  the  trans- 
portation of  produce  and  merchandise  by 
team  between  Harrisburg  and  Philadelphia, 
and  in  several  other  directions  as  well. 
Freighting  by  liis  line  was  not  as  rapid  as  it 
is  by  rail  and  canal  in  our  time,  but  it  was 
more  satisfactory  in  other.ways.  He  learned 
to  know  every  foot  of  the  way  and  every 
house  of  entertainment  on  the  road  between 
the  two  cities.  In  good  weather  the  trip  was 
a  picnic  from  start  to  finish.  The  company 
was  good,  for  the  best  people  of  the  country 
followed  the  turnpike  for  pleasure  or  profit, 
as  they  now  follow  tlie  railroad.  This  stream 
of  travel  and  transportation  was  also  the 
news  nerve  of  the  Nation,  for  there  were  few 
newspapers  and  no  telegraph  or  fast  mail 
trains.  In  order  to  get  the  news  one  mu,st  be 
in  touch  with  the  turnpike. 

What  wonder  that  the  jolly  freighter  was 
late  in  settling  down  at  home?  He  was 
near  the  age  of  forty-five  when  he  married 
Catherine  Buck.  They  had  two  daughters. 
Elizabeth  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years,  five  months  and  five  days.  Mary  M. 
is  still  living.  His  wife  died  November  28, 
1870,  aged  about  fifty -seven.  Mr.  Focht  died 
April  15,  1882,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 
Politically  he  was  a  Republican.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  force  of  character  and  of 
solid  worth.  Tlie  golden  rule  was  his  law 
in  business  and  in  social  intercourse. 
With  habits  of  industry  and  frugality  he 
easily  accumulated  a  competence,  and  was 
able  to  leave  a  handsome  property  to  his 
heirs.  But  his  best  legacy  to  them  was  his 
spotless  reputation  and  his  good  name. 

Mary  M.  Focht,  sole  surviving  child  of 
John  Focht,  received  her  education  in  the 
public  schools.  She  remained  with  her  par- 
ents until  their  death.  In  1887  she  removed 
to  her  present  residence.     Her  uncle   Jacob 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


785 


made  his  home  with  hei'  until  his  death, 
whicli  occurred  January  22,  1887,  in  the 
seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age.  Miss  Foclit 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Felty,  John  Solomon,  farmer,  was  born 
at  the  old  homestead  in  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  April  9,  1829. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  Solomon  and  Mary  Ann 
(Becker)  Felty.  The  elder  John  Solomon 
Felty  was  born  February  27, 1799,  at  the  old 
homestead.  Lower  Paxton  township.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  married  Miss  Marv  Ann 
Becker,  born  October  6,  1823.  They  had 
eight  children  :  Isamiah  ;  Harriet  Ellen,  de- 
ceased; John  Solomon,  Jr.;  Philip;  Daniel; 
Savina,  wife  of  \^alentine  Zimmerman ; 
Annie  Eliza,  deceased;  Ann  Caroline,  wife 
of  Tliomas  Crum.  Mr.  Felty  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  ownorshii)  and  occuj)ancy  of 
the  homestead  farm,  having  purchased  the 
interests  of  his  brothers  and  sisters.  Here 
he  spent  his  life  in  cultivating  his  ancestral 
acres.  He  died  November  17,  1850;  his 
wife  October  10,  1883. 

John  Solomon  Felty,  Jr.,  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  subscription  schools.  At  the  age 
of  eight  or  ten  he  attended  the  public  school 
of  his  native  township.  At  eighteen  he  en- 
tered the  Lititz  Academy,  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  and  studied  there  for  two  terms.  He 
was  also  engaged  in  teaching  ;  he  taught  his 
first  school  in  Lower  Paxton  townsliip,  when 
he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  After  leaving 
the  academy  he  devoted  himself  to  teaching 
and  was  employed  in  this  profession  for 
about  eleven  years.  In  1859  he  began  active 
farming  on  the  homestead  with  his  two 
brothers,  Philip  and  Daniel.  This  joint  en- 
terprise was  continued  until  the  death  of  his 
brother  Philip,  which  took  place  in  August, 
1864.  He  and  his  brother  Daniel  then  as- 
sumed the  interest  of  Piiilij),  and  continued 
their  partnership  until  tlie  spring  of  1888, 
when  Daniel  withdrew  from  the  business. 
While  cultivating  the  land,  the  brothers  were 
also  improving  the  property,  making  altera- 
tions for  the  better  in  the  buildings  and  all 
appurtenances  of  the  farm.  The  old  iiome- 
stead,  which  has  been  in  possession  of  the 
family  for  more  than  a  century,  is  now  in 
first  class  condition,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
thoroughly  equipped  farms  in  the  township. 
Mr.  Felty  is  still  its  occupant,  and  is  farming 
with  skill,  and  continuing  the  work  of  im- 
provement with  skill  and  taste.  He  is  en- 
dowed with  mechanical  genius ;  his  ability 


in  this  line  is  displayed  in  the  arrangement 
of  the  buildings  and  their  adaptation  to 
modern  methods  in  agriculture,  and  the 
conveniences  and  improved  implements 
which  lighten  and  facilitate  labor. 

Mr.  Felty  was  married,  October  2,  1862, 
to  Miss  Sara  A.,  daughter  of  George  and 
Sarah  (Fisher)  Metz.  Of  their  ten  children, 
six  are  deceased  :  Jacob,  born  July  11,1863, 
died  August  4,  1863;  Franklin  and  Albert, 
twins,  born  and  died  May  15, 1864;  Samuel, 
born  April  26, 1865,  died  February  29, 1866, 
George  Washington,  born  August  28,  1869; 
died  March  17,  1870,  and  Sarah  Ellen,  born 
December  26,  1870,  died  December  14,  1876. 
Their  surviving  children  are  :  Lutlier  Daniel, 
born  September  10,  1866;  John  S.,  March 
24,  1868;  Wilson,  April  27. 1873,  and  David 
August  30,  1876.  Mr.  George  Metz,  father 
of  Mrs.  Felty,  died  in  November,  1878;  her 
mother  is  still  living.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Sara,  Mrs.  Felty;  David ;  Catherine, 
wife  of  Jacob  Bishop,  and  Mary,  wife  of 
Abraham  Witmer.  Mr.  Felty  has  served 
his  township  two  terms  as  school  director. 
He  is  a  Republican.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Church  of  God. 


Felty,  John  S.,  farmer,  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Lower  Paxton  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  March  24,  1868.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  Solomon  and  Sarah  (Metz) 
Felty.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  township.  He  assisted 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  farms  of  his  father 
and  of  his  uncle,  Luther  D.,  until  he  was 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account.  Mr.  Felty  was 
married,  November  25,  1893,  to  Sarah  E. 
Brightbill.  Mrs.  Felty's  parents  are  both 
living;  they  had  six  children:  George,  who 
was  born  September  6,  1869,  and  died  aged 
seven  days;  John  W.,  Andrew  M.,  David 
E.,  Harry  L..  and  Sarah  E.,  who  is  Mrs. 
Felty. 


Grove,  Samuel,  carpenter  and  farmer,  was 
born  in  West  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  December  23,  1828.  He  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Gaunse)  Grove, 
residents  of  West  Hanover  township.  Mrs. 
Grove  died  at  about  sixty-two  years  of  age, 
and  Mr.  Grove  at  about  seventy-four.  They 
had  eight  children  :  Mary  Ann,  John,  David, 
Jacob,  Eliza,  wife  of  George  Myers,  Sarah, 


786 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


wife  of  Peter  ShaefFer,    Catherine,   wife   of 
Benneville  Pointer,  and  Samuel. 

Samuel  Grove  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  township  during  the  winter 
months  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  began  to  learn 
carpentry  with  Barnie  Clay,  of  West  Han- 
over townshii).  According  to  the  terms  of 
his  indenture  he  was  permitted  to  attend 
school  during  the  winter,  and  as  wages  was 
to  receive  six  dollars  per  month  and  board. 
At  the  end  of  his  apprenticeship  he  worked 
as  a  journeyman  about  three  years,  after 
which  he  and  his  brother-in-law,  Peter 
Schaeffer,  formed  a  partnership  for  doing 
carpenter  work  and  building, which  continued 
for  one  year.  He  then  conducted  business 
on  his  own  account  for  about  eighteen  years. 
In  1867  he  began  farming,  in  which  he  was 
employed  until  1884,  when  he  built  the  house 
where  he  now  resides.  About  1856  or  1857 
Mr.  Grove  began  to  exercise  his  gifts  as  a 
local  preacher.  He  preached  his  first  ser- 
mon in  the  Church  of  God  at  Linglestown, 
Pa.  Since  that  time  he  has  preached  at  nu- 
merous places.  He  has  always  generously 
given  his  services  on  the  circuit  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  minister  in  charge. 

Mr.  Grove  was  married,  January  1,  1852, 
to  Elizabeth  Friday,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children :  Mary  Jane,  born  December  16, 
1852,  died  when  about  eight  months  old ; 
Sarah  Ann,  born  July  30,  1856,  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Samuel  F.,  born  August  30,  1854. 
Mrs.  Grove  died  about  July  1,  1856.  He 
was  married,  the  second  time,  in  1857,  to 
Molly  Forney.  They  have  had  nine  chil- 
dren, three  died  early,  one  being  as  yet  un- 
named ;  David  and  Mary  Ellen  both  died 
aged  about  ten  months.  The  surviving 
children  are:  John  E.,  born  June  28,  1859  ; 
Christian  H.,  October  18,  1862;  Willis  Sher- 
man, August  23,  1864  ;  Lydia  K.,  July  28, 
1889 ;  Ellen  L.,  Februarv  7,  1871,  and  Anna 
L.,  July  19,  1873.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Molly  (Forney)  Grove  are  both  deceased. 
They  had  six'  children :  Mary  Ann,  wife  of 
Jonathan  Fox ;  Molly,  Mrs.  Grove ;  Cathe- 
rine, Christine,  Henry,  Lydia  and  Jonathan. 
Mr.  Grove  has  served  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship for  one  terra  as  supervisor.  His  poli- 
tics are  Republican  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Church  of  God. 


of  whom  appears  in  this  volume.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  district  schools 
and  at  an  academ}'.  When  his  school  edu- 
cation was  finished  he  assisted  with  the  work 
on  his  father's  farm.  Later  he  began  farm- 
ing on  the  homestead,  in  connection  with 
his  brother  John  Solomon. 

Mr.  Felt}'  is  industrious  and  energetic  in 
business,  and  is  not  behind  any  man  as  to 
skill  and  success  in  farming.  He  is  also  a 
man  of  good  taste  and  of  strong  intellectual 
faculties.  He  is  a  great  lover  of  reading,  and 
has  found  time  in  his  busy  life  to  store  his 
mind  with  valuable  information ;  he  has 
found  his  most  profitable  and  entertaining 
society  in  good  books.  He  has  never  mar- 
ried. He  is  of  a  kind  and  charitable  dis- 
position, and  in  all  business  transactions  is 
true  to  the  line  of  honesty  and  justice.  By 
true  estimate  of  life  he  is  a  successful  man. 
He  has  by  industry  and  frugality  accumu- 
lated a  competence,  and  looks  without  appre- 
hension toward  the  evening  of  life.  He  en- 
joj's  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  receives 
from  them  the  abounding  good  will  which 
he  bestows  on  all. 


Felty,  Luther  D.,  retired  farmer,  was 
born  and  reared  on  the  old  homestead.  He 
is  a  brother  of  John  Solomon  Felty,  a  sketch 


Goss,  Martin,  farmer,  was  born  in  Derry 
township,  near  Oberlin,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  September  2, 1819.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Polly  (Eshelman)  Goss.  They  were 
married  March  31, 1812,  and  had  eight  chil- 
dren :  Abraham,  born  January  18,  1813; 
Jacob,  May  15,  1814;  Elizabeth,  July  15, 
1816;  Michael,  July  15,1817;  Mary,  January 
13,  1818  ;  Martin,  September  12, 1819 ;  Mag- 
dalena,  March  20,  1822 ;  and  Barbara,  Sep- 
tember 20, 1824.  Mr.  Goss  died  aged  seventy- 
four  years,  and  Mrs.  Goss  aged  seventy-five. 

Martin  Goss,  in  his  boyhood,  worked  on 
the  farm  during  the  spring  and  summer 
months  and  attended  school  in  the  winter. 
He  was  employed  by  John  Conrad  for  five 
years  at  farm  work,  at  $11  per  month.  He 
also  worked  nineteen  months  for  George 
Moon,  and  then  was  again  employed  by  Con- 
rad for  one  year.  He  then  rented  Frederick 
Kelties'  farm  and  cultivated  it  for  eighteen 
years.  He  was  all  the  time  accumulating 
and  laying  by  money.  In  1863  he  was  able 
to  own  a  farm  and  accordingly  purchased 
his  present  homestead  where  he  has  ever 
since  been  engaged  in  farming. 

Mr.  Goss  was  married,  March  26,  1846,  to 
Harriet  George.  Out  of  six  children  of  this 
marriage,  three  are  deceased  :  Martin  and 
David,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Susie,  who 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


787 


lived  to  be  five  years  old.  The  survivors  are  : 
Harry;  Mary,  wife  of  Eli  Umberger;  and 
Sarah,  wife  of  Daniel  Freinfrock.  Mrs.  Har- 
riet Goss  died  in  1860.  In  a  second  mar- 
riage, April  28,  18G1,  Mr.  Goss  was  united  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  MoUie  Peck 
Garrett,  bv  whom  he  had  these  children : 
Amos,  born  April  12,1862,  died  in  1890; 
Barbara,  born  December  28,  1863,  wife  of 
David  Peters;  Jacob,  born  April  28,  18G6 ; 
George,  born  February  28,  1868  ;  Samuel, 
born  April  10,  1870 ;  and  John  H.,  born 
June  14, 1872.  Tiie  second  wife  of  Mr.  Goss 
died  in  1875.  He  was  married  again, October 
10, 1878,  to  Ann  Whitman.  They  have  had 
three  children :  Daniel  W.,  who  died  in  in- 
fanc}' ;  Isaac  H.,  born  January  20,  1871 ; 
and  Annie  Elizabeth,  October  12, 1884.  Mr. 
Goss  is  a  Rej)ublican.  He  is  an  honest  and 
charitable  man,  and  a  good  citizen. 


Fox,  William  L.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  September  16, 1859. 
He  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead,  wliere 
he  now  resides.  Winter  scliool  and  summer 
work  is  the  short  story  of  his  education  and 
preparation  for  making  his  way  in  the  world. 
The  only  variation  in  his  case  from  the  or- 
dinary course  of  the  farmer  boy  is  that 
school  time  was  shorter  and  self-supporting 
work  began  earlier  than  with  the  majority 
of  boys  brought  up  on  the  farm.  At  the  age 
of  fourteen  he  was  employed  on  the  farm  of 
Jonas  Crum,  for  whom  he  worked  about  five 
years.  He  then  returned  to  the  home  farm, 
which  he  worked  for  his  mother  about  three 
years.  Tlien,  wishing  a  change  of  occupation, 
he  went  to  Steelton,  Pa.,  and  found  work  at 
the  Bessemer  Steel  Works,  where  he  was 
employed  about  thirteen  years.  One  more 
change  he  made,  which  was  to  return  again 
to  the  homestead  and  resume  farming,  whicli 
has  ever  since  been  his  occupation.  He  was 
married,  February  3,  1880,  to  Emma  E., 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Barbara  (Fackler) 
Cassel.  They  have  five  children  :  Miles  M., 
born  July  26,  1881 ;  Pearl  E.,  June  5,  1883  ; 
Edith  L.,  June  16,  1886 ;  Minnie  E.,  March 
28,  1888,  and  Beatrice  O.,  January  28,  1894. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Fox  died  in  1865,  but 
his  mother  is  still  living.  They  had  seven 
children :  Louis  E.,  Benjamin,  Wesley, 
William,  Annie,  wife  of  Henry  Wolf,  and 
C!hristopher  and  Peter,  deceased.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Joseph  Cassel,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Fox, 
are  living.  Of  their  ten  cliildren,  two  are 
deceased :   Francis  R.  and  Millard  F.     The 


surviving  children  are  Emma  E.,  Mrs.  Fox  ; 
Alice  S.,  wife  of  John  Seiders,  Astoria,  111.; 
Minnie  L.,  wife  of  George  E.  Shurtzer ;  Fanny 
L.,  wife  of  George  Aungst;  Wilson  J.,  Lillie 
B.,  and  Stella  O.  Mr.  Fox  is  a  Republican. 
His  family  belong  to  the  Lutheran  church. 
Mrs.  Fox's  parents  are  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist church. 


Cassel,  Joseph,  carpenter  and  farmer,  was 
born  in  Lower  Paxton  townshij^,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  February  18,  1837.  He  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Annie  (Hain)  Cassel. 
William  Cassel  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years,  and  his  wife  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four.  They  had  thirteen  children :  Eliza- 
beth, Sophia,  John  J.,  William  H.,  Samuel, 
who  died  in  infanc}',  Mary,  Hannah,  Joseph, 
Fannie,  Catherine,  Jonas,  a  child  unnamed 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  Samuel  B. 

Joseph  Cassel  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township.  At  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  carpentry 
with  his  brother,  William  H.  Cassel.  He 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  sixteen  months 
and  received  as  his  wages  the  sum  of 
$56.  After  learning  his  trade,  he  worked 
as  journeyman  and  received  $16  as  the 
wages  of  the  first  two  months.  He  con- 
tinued to  work  at  his  trade  until  1865. 
He  was  employed  by  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment in  the  Construction  Corps.  He  was 
sent  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  worked  on  the 
Chattanooga  railroad  in  East  Tennessee,  and 
later  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  until  the  time  of  Lee's 
surrender.  He  then  returned  home,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  for  a  year  and  a  half 
longer.  He  now  began  business  on  his  own 
account,  and  was  engaged  in  building  and 
contracting  up  to  1890.  He  built  the  barns 
at  the  county  buildings  in  1883.  He  bought 
his  present  homestead  in  1870,  and  has  had 
his  residence  and  his  principal  occupation 
tliere  up  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Cassel  was  married,  June  11,  1857,  to 
Barbara  Fackler,  born  December  4,  1837, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Mumma) 
Fackler.  Thej'  have  had  ten  children,  of 
whom  two  are  deceased  :  Millard  Fillmore, 
l)orn  March  8,  1858,  died  June  6,  1858; 
Francis  R.,  born  May  11,  1862,  died  May  14, 
1862.  Their  living  children  are:  Fannie  L., 
born  November  18,1856;  Emma  E.,  born 
April  20,  1859;  Alice  S.,  November  4,  1860; 
Minerva  L.,  Februar}'  9,  1864 ;  Jennie 
Nelson,  Mav  10, 1869  ;  Joseph  W.,  June  11, 
1872;    Lillie   B.,   September  15,   1875,  and 


788 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Stella  0.,  October  2, 1880.  Mr.  Cassel  served 
as  school  director  for  one  term.  He  served 
two  terms,  in  1871  and  1872,  as  tax  collector 
in  Lower  Paxton  township ;  he  was  also 
assessor  for  one  term.  He  is  a  Republican. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Fackler, 
the  parents  of  Mrs.  Cassel,  are  both  de- 
ceased. Her  father  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years,  and  her  mother  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six.     They  had  eleven  children. 

Cassel,  Michael  H.,  retired  farmer,  was 
born  on  his  grand fatlier's  homestead,  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  in  May,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Klein)  Cassel.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Cassel,  originally  obtained  a 
grant  and  deed  from  Thomas  and  Richard 
Penn,  on  October  31,  1765.  The  original 
tracts  of  land  have  continued  in  the  posses- 
sion of  tlie  family  down  to  tiie  present  time. 
Michael  Cassel,  grandfather  of  Michael  H., 
was  one  of  three  children,  the  others  were 
named  Henry  and  Sophia. 

Jacob  Cassel,  father  of  Michael  H.,  was 
born  in  1800.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Klein, 
was  one  of  four  children;  the  others  were: 
Esaias,  Zephanias  and  Nancy.  The  former 
two  are  deceased,  Nancy  in  the  wife  Israel 
Deckert,  of  Middletown,  Dauphin  county,  Pa. 
Mr.  Cassel  died  July  30,  1878.  He  was  a 
plain  man,  unostentatious,  honest  and  dili- 
gent, benevolent  and  kind.  The  cordial  and 
generous  hospitality  of  himself  and  his  ex- 
cellent wife  was  greatly  enjoyed  by  the  many 
toward  whom  it  was  exercised.  Mrs.  Jacob 
Cassel  is  still  living.  Michael  H.  Cassel  was 
their  only  child. 

Michael  H.  Cassel  spent  his  early  days  on 
the  old  homestead,  and  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lower 
Paxton  township.  He  attended  the  academy 
of  Prof  Aaron  Kemble,  at  Harrisburg,  for  a 
year  and  a  half,  entering  at  the  age  of 
twelve.  He  was  then  for  the  same  length  of 
time  at  the  Middletown  Academy,  under 
Prof  John  Ross,  uncle  of  the  kidnapped 
Charlie  Ross.  After  leaving  school  he  was 
employed  upon  his  father's  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-three  years  of  age.  He  then  began 
farming  on  his  own  account  and  has  made 
this  his  business.  He  is  also  extensively  en- 
gaged in  buying  and  selling  live  stock.  Mr. 
Cassel  was  married,  August  15,  1869,  to 
Emma  C,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Nie- 
dig)  Nissley.     They  have  five  children ;  one 


of  whom,  Don  Arthur,  is  deceased.  Their 
living  children  are :  Harry  N.,  Mary  E.  and 
Lizzie  R.,  who  are  twins,  and  Clara  L.  The 
twins  and  Harry  N.  attend  the  Hummels- 
town  Academy.  Mr.  Cassel  is  a  Democrat. 
The  family  attend  the  German  Lutheran 
church.  Mrs.  Cassel  was  only  three  years 
old  when  her  mother  died.  Her  father  is 
still  living.  They  had  three  children,  two 
of  whom  are  deceased.  Mr.  Nissley  was 
again  married;  his  second  wife  was  Cathe- 
rine Harper.  They  had  eight  children  :  Ira, 
Elma,  Isaac  Jr.,  Warren,  Harper,  Clara,  Ida, 
and  Cora. 


AuNGST,  John,  farmer,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Dau[)hin  county.  Pa., 
January  5,  1839.  .  He  was  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Bilit)  Aungst.  Both  his  parents 
are  deceased  ;  the  father  died  at  tiie  age  of 
forty-seven  years,  and  the  motlier  ten  years 
later.  They  had  eight  children :  Daniel, 
William,  Harriet,  wife  of  LeviRunkle,  Annie, 
wife  of  Jacob  Sherk,  Peter,  John,  Henry, 
and  Sarah,  wife  of  Daniel  Strim. 

John  Aungst  attended  school  at  the  For- 
ney school  house.  He  helped  on  the  farm 
in  the  summer  months,  and  went  to  school 
in  the  winter,  and  in  this  way  obtained  his 
education  and  learned  his  business  at  the 
same  time.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  left 
the  farm  for  tlie  shop.  He  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  two  years  with  Jacob  Lyme, 
to  learn  carpentry,  at  the  close  of  wiiich  he 
returned  to  the  farm,  and  was  for  three  years 
emj)loyed  in  farm  work.  At  twenty-two 
years  of  age  he  began  farming  on  his  own 
account,  and  followed  that  occupation 
through  life.  Mr.  Aungst  has  served  one 
term  as  supervisor,  and  four  years  as  school 
director.  He  was  a  Republican.  The  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church.  Mr.  Aungst  was  married,  October 
20,  1859,  to  Susanna,  daughter  of  George 
and  Dolly  (Lutz)  Smith,  born  March  17, 
1841.  They  liave  five  children  :  George  H., 
born  April  14,  1863 ;  John  A.,  December  10, 
1864  ;  Dolly  J.,  January  13, 1873  ;  Simon  H. 
January  5,  1875  ;  and  Ezra  C,  July  28, 1879. 

George  Smith,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Aungst, 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead,  July  9,1817. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  continued  to  be  ac- 
tively engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his  farm 
until  1876,  when  he  retired.  His  wife,  Dolly 
Lutz,  was  born  December  27,  1818,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-eight.  Their  children  are: 
Susanna,  born  March   17,  1841,   now  Mrs. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


789 


Aungst;  Samuel,  born  August  17,  1842,  died 
October  18, 1845 ;  Sarah,  born  July  24, 1844 ; 
Catherine,  born  September  21,  1846;  Isaac, 
born  September  22,  1849 ;  Maria,  born  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1852,  died  September  6, 1853  ;  Han- 
nah, born  October  28,  1854  ;  and  Ezra,  born 
July  23,  1859.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Fackler,  Catherine  of  Mundel  Fackler,  and 
Hannah  of  Samuel  Fackler ;  the  Facklers  are 
brothers. 


K.iUFFMAN,  Felix,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Conewago  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
November  15,  1842.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
and  Mary  (Stivig)  Kauffman.  Samuel 
Kauffman  was  a  carpenter,  is  also  a  farmer, 
and  resides  in  Conewago  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kauffman  had  nine  children,  three  of 
whom  are  deceased:  Henry,  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Eudy  Harg,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy, 
unnamed.  Their  surviving  children  are : 
Felix ;  John ;  Catherine,  wife  of  Levi  Moyer ; 
Nancy,  wife  of  Peter  Swartz  ;  Mary,  wife  of 
Jacob  Shearer,  and  Elias.  Felix  Kauffman 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
townsiiip.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  be- 
gan to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He 
was  hired  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  for 
about  five  years,  or  until  he  was  twenty-two 
years  of  age.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  army,  at  Harrisburg,  and  was 
assigned  to  company'  F,  Two  Hundredth 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers.  Cap- 
tain Hoffman  was  his  commander.  He  en- 
listed for  one  year,  and  served  his  term.  He 
was  discharged  May  30,  1865,  at  Alexandria, 
Va.  He  was  with  the  army  in  the  opera- 
tions and  movements  at  and  around  Peters- 
burg, Va.  He  took  part  in  two  important 
engagements  there,  and  in  other  minor  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes.  He  is  still  suffering 
from  the  effects  of  exposure  during  his  ser- 
vice in  tlie  army. 

Returning  from  tlie  war,  he  located  in  his 
native  township  and  engaged  in  farming, 
on  wages.  In  1868  he  began  farming  on 
his  own  account.  In  1869  he  removed  to 
Lancaster  county,  and  was  for  twelve  years 
engaged  in  farming  there.  He  then  removed 
to  his  present  homestead,  where  he  has  con- 
tinued to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Kauffman 
was  married,  October  15,  1870,  to  Elizabeth 
G.,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Mary  (Gieb) 
Martin.  Of  their  three  children,  two  are  de- 
ceased :  Sarah  M.,  born  August  6,  1870,  died 
August  19,  1870  ;  and  Alice  M.,  born  May 
25,  1873,  died  May  19, 1879.     The  surviving 


child  was  born  December  10,  1875.  Mr. 
Kauffman  has  served  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship for  one  term  as  school  director.  He  is 
a  Republican  and  belongs  to  the  German 
Baptist  church. 

Jeremiah  Martin,  father  of  Mrs.  Kauffman, 
is  still  living.  He  married  Mary  Gieb,  born 
July  IS,  1818,  died  July  2,  1890.  They  had 
twelve  children,  five  of  whom  are  deceased  : 
Christian,  Mary  Ann,  Fannie,  Joseph,  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy.  Their  living  chil- 
dren are :  Elizabeth  G.,  who  is  Mrs.  Kauff- 
man, Jeremiah.  Addison,  Jacob,  Annie,  Ben- 
jamin, and  Barbara. 


Felty,  John  S.,  farmer,  Linglestown,  was 
married  to  Sarah  E.  Brightbill,  November 
25,  1893.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  district.  He  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  when  he  began  farm- 
ing for  himself.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Felty 
are  both  living  and  have  a  family  of  six 
children :  George,  born  September  6,  1869, 
deceased,  John  W.,  Andrew  M.,  David  E., 
Harry  L.,  and  Sarah  E. 


Fisher,  William,  farmer.  Progress,  was 
born  in  Maxataning  township,  Berks  county. 
Pa.,  April  28,  1818.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Susan  (Wink)  Fisher.  The  parents  have 
both  passed  away,  the  father  dying  at  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy-seven  years  and  the 
mother  at  the  age  of  seventy  one.  They  had 
a  family  of  five  children  :  William,  James, 
Peter,  Mary,  wife  of  William  Reno,  and 
Jacob.  Mrs.  Fisher's  parents  are  both  de- 
ceased also,  the  father  having  died  aged 
eighty-two  years  and  the  mother  eighty-four 
years.  They  had  these  children :  Joshua, 
Annie,  Jacob,  Elizabeth,  Harriet,  Catharine, 
William,  Henry,  Daniel,  and  George.  Will- 
iam received  his  education  in  an  old  log 
school  house  near  his  home.  He  assisted 
his  father  in  the  tailoring  business  for  a  time 
and  then  worked  on  his  grandfather's  farm 
until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  farming  for  himself  He  lived  in 
Maxataning  township  for  eight  years,  and  in 
1849  moved  to  Dauphin  county,  and  located 
on  the  old  Baer  farm,  which  he  purchased 
and  cultivated  ten  years.  He  then  sold  the 
farm  and  rented  a  small  place  in  Lower 
Paxton  where  he  stayed  two  years.  He  next 
bought  a  farm  near  Linglestown,  where  he 
remained  three  years  and  then  sold  it  and 
purchased  his  present  homestead  in  1864. 


790 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


•In  1874  he  built  his  present  residence.  He 
was  married  in  May,  1841,  to  Catharine 
Levan,  and  their  children  are :  John  L., 
Catharine,  wife  of  John  H.  Sheesley,  and 
George  L. 


HocKER,  Joseph,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  February  19,  1839, 
and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary  Maria 
(Brubaker)  Hocker.  The  father  was  born 
September  15,  1810,  and  died  in  1872  ;  the 
motlier  was  born  March  5,  1815,  and  died 
just  one  day  after  iier  husband.  Their  re- 
mains are  interred  in  one  grave  at  Crum's 
church  cemetery.  They  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children  :  Annie  Maria,  born  Febru- 
ary 20,  1835  ;  Lydia,  born  October  10,  1837; 
Joseph  ;  Martin,  born  November  10,  1840  ; 
Emanuel,  born  July  11,  1842;  Willielmina 
Jane,  born  December  24,  1845  ;  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, born  June  12,  1847 ;  Susan  Emma, 
born  August  16,  1849;  George  Benjamin, 
born  October  17,  1851 ;  Henry  Harrison, 
born  February  1,  1854 ;  Samuel  Augustus, 
born  March  27,  18.56;  Lizzie  Ellen,  born 
June  7,  1859.  Four  of  the  children:  Annie 
Maria,  Emanuel,  Susan  Emma,  and  Williel- 
mina Jane,  are  all  deceased.  Mrs.  Hocker's 
parents  are  both  deceased,  the  father  died  at 
the  age 'of  seventy-eight  and  the  motiier  at 
the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  They  had  a 
family  of  eight  children  :  Jacob,  Elizabetli, 
Barbara,  Samuel,  Kate,  Mary,  Annie,  and 
Lydia.     Annie  and  Barbara  are  deceased. 

Joseph  received  liis  education  in  the  pub- 
lic sciiools  of  Lancaster  and  Daupliin  coun- 
ties. He  assisted  on  his  father's  farm  until 
he  was  twenty-six  years  old,  wlien  he  began 
farming  for  himself  in  Upper  Swatara  town- 
ship. After  living  in  various  places  for  a 
few  years  he  removed  to  the  Paxtraia  Hotel, 
on  the  Jonestown  Road,  where  he  remained 
ten  years.  In  1891  he  purchased  his  present 
homestead.  He  was  married,  September  13, 
1864,  to  Lydia  (Keller)  Hocker,  daugiiter  of 
Samuel  and  Katie  (Shoop)  Hocker.  Their 
children  are:  George  Albert,  born  April  14, 
1869 ;  Samuel  Milton,  born  February  6, 
1871 ;  Joseph  Edwin,  born  December  4, 
1873;  and  Katie  Florence,  born  July  31, 
1888.  In  politics  Mr.  Hocker  is  a  Republi- 
can. The  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


Christian  and  Barbara  (Shope)  Lyter.  The 
parents  of  Mr.  Lyter  had  a  family  of  ten 
children  :  Kate,  Mary,  Esther,  Joseph,  Sarah, 
Isabella,  Barbara,  Susanna,  Samuel,  and  one 
who  died  in  infancy.  The  father  of  the  first 
wife  is  deceased,  but  the  mother  survives. 
Their  children  are:  Emma,  Samuel,  Sarah, 
Frank,  Ellen,  and  two  deceased.  The  par- 
ents of  the  second  wife  had  these  children : 
John,  Adam,  Elizabeth,  Daniel,  Samuel, 
Annie,  William,  and  Emma.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Lyter  had  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren: Lydia,  Peter,  Ellen,  Carrie,  Charles, 
Aaron,  Annie,  Moses,  Amelia,  John  and  Al- 
bert, both  of  whom  have  pas.sed  away. 
Samuel  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  place  until  sixteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  began  farming.  When  twenty- 
eight  years  old  he  worked  his  father's  farm 
on  his  own  account,  and  in  1888  he  pur- 
chased the  old  homestead,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  was  married,  in  1873,  to  Miss 
Emma  Page,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
Page,  by  whom  lie  had  two  children:  Jacob 
Edward,  died  in  infancy,  and  Sallie  A.,  wife 
of  William  Kiefer.  He  married,  secondly. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Rabuck,  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  Rabuck.  Their  children  are  :  Mary 
M.,  Barbara  L.,  John  H.,  and  Katie  J.  He 
married,  thirdly.  Miss  Annie,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Amelia  Lyter.  They  had  a 
family  of  five  children:  Charles,  Martin, 
Harrison,  Carrie,  all  deceased;  and  Agnes 
Louisa  and  Elsie  Ruth.  In  politics  Mr. 
Lyter  is  a  Republican. 


Lyter,  SAMUEr.,  farmer,  Penbrook,  was 
born  on  the  old  homestead.  May  9,  1845,  in 
Lower  Paxton  township.     He  is  a  son  of 


Look,  Monroe  M.,  farmer.  Progress,  was 
born  July  12,  1862,  on  the  old  homestead  ; 
son  of  George  and  Annie  (Meyers)  Look, 
daughter  of  Christian  Meyers.  The  father  is 
deceased  and  the  mother  now  resides  at 
Oberlin.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren :  Reuben,  deceased,  John,  deceased, 
Jane,  Sarah,  George, Emma,  Joiin,  and  Mon- 
roe. Mrs.  Look's  mother  died  February  19, 
1890,  and  is  survived  by  her  husband.  The 
parents  had  these  children  :  Jeremiah,  Ellen, 
Earl,  John,  Kate,  all  of  whom  are  deceased, 
and  Mary,  William,  Wellington,  and  Annie. 
Mr.  Look  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Lower  Paxton  township  and  then 
until  he  was  twenty-three  years  old  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm.  At  that  age  he  be- 
gan farming  for  himself  and  has  been  thus 
engaged  ever  since.  He  was  married,  Oc- 
tober 7,  1886,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Zimmerman, 
daughter   of   William   and    Sarah  (Guldin) 


^^^z^./^  /cL. 


^>c^- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


793 


Zimmerman,  by  whom  he  has  one  child, 
Morris  M.,  born  May  18,  1887.  He  is  a 
Republican,  and  the  family  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church. 


Miller,  S.4.muel  A.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  January  16,  1843, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Frantz) 
Miller.  The  father's  first  wife,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children,  died  in  1845,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-th  ree  years.  His  second  wife  was  Miss 
Maria  Mader,  who  died  December  24,  1888. 
Mrs.  Miller's  father  was  born  December  9, 
1819,  and  died  January  2.5,  18G9,  and  the 
mother  was  born  January  10, 1826,  and  died 
September  5, 1875.  Samuel  A.  first  attended 
the  public  .schools  of  his  native  township, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  entered  White 
Hall  Academy,  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa. 
He  next  attended  Collegeville  Seminary  in 
Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  for  four  terms, 
when  he  received  a  teacher's  certificate  from 
Prof.  Hunsicker.  He  then  taught  school  in 
Susquehanna  township  for  four  years,  at 
Sinking  Springs,  Berks  county.  Pa.,  one  year, 
and  two  terms  in  Lower  Paxton  township. 
In  1870  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  since 
that  time  has  continued  in  the  same  occupa- 
tion on  his  present  homestead.  He  was  mar- 
ried, September  16,  1869,  to  Sarah  C.  Fox. 
They  have  no  children.  Mr.  Miller  was 
elected  secretary  of  the  Dauphin  County  Mu- 
tual Fire  Insurance  Company  in  1882,  and 
has  served  in  that  capacity  until  the  present 
time.  He  has  been  auditor  and  also  school 
director.  He  is  a  member  and  past  grand 
in  Shellsville  Lodge,  No.  1,080,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
and  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Penn- 
sylvania, I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  also  a  member  of 
the  Farmers'  Alliance.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


Miller,  John,  farmer,  was  born  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  August  15,  1815,  and  is  a 
son  of  Andrew  and  Ann  (Good)  Miller,  daugh- 
ter of  Franz  and  Elizabeth  Neidig  Good. 
Mr.  Miller  is  one  of  a  family  of  eleven  ciiil- 
dren  and  only  two  of  them  survive.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  inthe  private  schools  of 
Harrisburg,  and  after  leaving  school  went  to 
New  Cumberland,  Cumberland  county,  to 
learn  the  milling  business  with  David  Em- 
mert,in  1835.  Havingacquiredagood knowl- 
edge of  the  business  he  returned  to  Lower  Pax- 
ton township  and  assisted  in  his  father's  mill. 
In  1840  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself, 
51 


and  continued  up  to  1850,  when  he  sold  his 
interest  in  the  mill  and  began  farming, 
which  occupation  he  followed  until  1870,  at 
which  time  he  retired  from  active  work.  He 
was  married,  in  1840.to  Miss  Elizabeth  Frantz, 
who  died  September  11,  1844.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Samuel  A.,  and  Mary,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  months.  He  married, 
secondly,  Miss  Maria  Mader,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Catherine  Mader.  Thej'  have 
no  children.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  the  family  are  members  of  the  Bethel 
church. 


MoYER,  Benjamin  F.,  teacher  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Sep- 
tember 9;  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Rebecca  (Gettle)  Moyer. 

The  parents  are  both  deceased.  The 
father  was  born  June  10,  1797,  and  served 
as  bugler  in  a  company  of  United  States  cav- 
alry. He  participated  in  the  military  parade 
at  Harrisburg  at  which  General  Lafayette 
was  present.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he 
learned  the  trade  of  milling,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  a  time  and  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1872. 

Mrs.  Moyer's  parents  are  also  deceased. 
The}'  had  a  family  of  four  children,  viz: 
Mrs.  Moyer;  Emma  J.,  wife  of  Peter  Fox; 
David;  Martha, and  Caroline, deceased.  Her 
father  was  married  a  second  time  and  had 
two  children  by  this  marriage,  viz :  Susan, 
and  Matilda,  deceased. 

Benjamin  F.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  until  he  was  twentj'  years  of 
age,  when  he  attended  the  academy  at 
White  Hall,  Cumberland  county.  Later  he 
attended  the  Palmyra  Academy,  Lebanon 
county,  under  Professor  Witmer.  He  as- 
sisted for  a  time  in  his  father's  mill  and  then 
engaged  in  farming,  but  at  the  same  time 
taught  school  during  the  winter.  In  1867 
he  began  farming  on  his  own  account,  and 
has  continued  up  to  the  present  time.  At 
the  urgent  request  of  the  school  directors  of 
his  district  he  taught  school  for  twelve  win- 
ters, beginning  in  1869,  and  in  1895  he  be- 
gan teaching  again.  He  was  married  De- 
cember 17,  1866,  and  has  a  family  of  five 
children :  Joseph  D.,  born  November  5, 
1868,  and  died  September  22,  1869 ;  Sarah 
Jane,  born  March  9,  1872,  and  died  April  3, 
1890;  Laura  Irene,  born  October  1,1870; 
Nevin  W.,  born  May  28, 1876  ;  Cora  M.,  born 
March  30, 1881.  Mr.  Moyer  served  efficiently 
as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Lower  Paxton  town- 


794 


BIO  GRA  PEIVA  L  ENUYUL  OPEDIA 


ship  for  one  term.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics and  a  meinber  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  at  Wellsville.  The  family 
attend  the  German  Reformed  church. 


Nye,  Daniel  Henry,  farmer.  Progress; 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Palmyra; 
Londonderry  township,  Lebanon  county; 
July  23,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  )Solomon  and 
Mary  (Bowman)  Nye.  The  mother  died  Oc- 
tober, 1895,  aged  seventy-three  years,  and  the 
father  still  survives.  They  had  a  family  of 
ten  children  :  Samuel,  deceased ;  .John  M., 
deceased;  Lizzie,  deceased;  Daniel  Henry, 
Christian,  William,  Mary,  Joseph,  Emma, 
and  Jacob.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Nye  are 
both  deceased  and  had  these  children : 
Annie,  Louisa,  George,  Samuel,  Clemens, 
Sadie,  all  deceased,  and  Jacob,  who  lias  not 
been  heard  from  for  twelve  years;  Serena 
F.,  Mary,  Sarah,  and  Susan. 

Daniel  Henry  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  place  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  and  then  went  to  the  Palmyra 
Academy  for  three  years.  He  taught  school 
four  terms  in  Palmyra,  and  in  1869  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  that  town  by  President 
Grant.  This  position  he  held  seven  consecu- 
tive years,  and  resigned  in  November,  1875. 
In  1872  and  1873  he  served  as  tax  collector 
of  Londonderry  township.  Being  elected 
recorder  and  clerk  of  the  court  in  1875  by  a 
very  large  majority  he  entered  upon  tlie 
duties  of  the  ofSce  on  January  1,  1870,  and 
served  three  years.  He  has  also  served  as 
school  director.  In  1879  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  moved  in  1891  to  his  present 
homestead,  where  he  has  followed  that  occu- 
pation up  to  the  present  time.  On  Februar}'' 
5,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  company  J,  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  in  Harrisburg,  under  Cap- 
tain McMullin,  of  Lancaster,  and  Colonel 
Boyd.  After  being  stationed  in  Carlisle, 
Chambersburg  and  various  other  places  his 
regiment  went  to  xVlexandria,  Va.,  where 
they  embarked  for  Port  Royal,  S.  C.  He 
participated  in  the  conflicts  at  Spottsylvania, 
the  Wilderness  and  Cold  Harbor.  At  the 
latter  place  his  right  arm  was  shot  away, 
being  struck  by  an  eight-inch  shell.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  on  February  5,  1865. 
He  was  married,  February  20,  1868,  to 
Serena  F.  Hlig,  by  whom  he  has  nine  chil- 
dren :  Aurora  B.,  born  April,  1875,  and  died 
August,  1875 ;  Allen  B.,  born  September  13, 
1875,  and  died  April,  1877  ;  Amasa,  born 
January  14,  1870 ;  Annie  M.,  born  March 


29,  1871 ;  Alma  Lacy,  born  January  24, 
1873  ;  Aaron,  born  January  24,  1878  ;  Dan- 
iel B.,  born  May  7,  1882  ;"  Serena  B.,  born 
March  29,  1886,  and  Benjamin  Harrison, 
born  May  24,  1889.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Painter,  David,  blacksmith,  Lingleslown, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Womels- 
dorf,  Heidelburg  township,  Berks  county, 
July  8,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Bar- 
bara (Hassler)  Painter.  The  parents  have 
both  passed  away;  the  mother  in  October, 
1877,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one,  and  the  father, 
February,  1881,  aged  eighty-one  or  eighty- 
two.  The  father  was  a  moulder  by  trade 
and  also  farmed  for  twenty  years.  By  his 
industry  and  economy  he  acquired  a  com- 
petency for  his  old  age.  He  was  a  consistent 
Christian.  His  family  consisted  of  thirteen 
children,  five  of  whom,  Robert,  Emeline, 
Barbara,  Stephen,  and  Samuel,  are  deceased. 
The  surviving  ones  are:  Joseph,  Jacob, 
Thomas,  Valentine,  Pricilla,  Sarah,  Eliza- 
beth, and  David.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Painter 
died  February  29,  1894,  and  the  mother 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years.  They 
had  only  one  child.  The  father  by  his  sec- 
ond marriage  had  two  children. 

David  received  his  education  in  the  pay 
school  and  later  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  began  the  blacksmith  trade  with  his 
brother  Jacob  in  Lower  Paxton  township. 
He  enlisted  in  company  C,  First  Penn- 
sylvania light  artillery,  under  Captain 
Simpson  and  Major  West.  He  served  with 
distinction  during  the  Peninsula  campaign 
and  at  Yorktown,  Williamsburg,  and  Fair 
Oaks;  also  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  was  dis- 
charged at  Manorin  Junction,  Md.  He  then 
returned  to  West  Hanover  township  and  en- 
gaged in  blacksmithing  at  Manada  Furnace 
for  three  years  and  a  half,  when  he  removed 
to  Colebrook,  Lebanon  county.  Here  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  for  a  time  but  soon 
moved  to  Lebanon  city  and  worked  at  his 
trade.  He  next  worked  at  Manada  Furnace 
for  five  years,  and  then  moved  to  his  present 
home  in  Lower  Paxton.  He  was  married  at 
Linglestown,  March  8,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Powley)  Bright- 
bill.  They  have  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
two  of  whom  have  passed  away  :  Jennie, 
born  August  5,  1882,  and  died  April  19, 
1883 ;  Elizabeth,  born  January  22,  1867,  and 
died   in  infancy.     The  surviving  ones  are : 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


im 


Emma,  Pjorn  May  4,  1868,  wife  of  Harry 
Smith ;  Margaret,  born  August  31,  1869, 
wife  of  Harry  Moyer;  Marv,  born  December 
22,  1870;  Sarah,  born  January  14,  1873; 
Valentine,  born  September  26,  1875  ;  Cath- 
arine, born  October  25,  1877 ;  Susan,  born 
January  21,  1880  ;  David,  born  March  5, 
1881,  and  Bessie,  born  December  16,  1885. 
Mr.  Painter  is  a  staunch  RepubUcan  and  is 
now  serving  liis  second  term  as  supervisor. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
church. 


Eeimert,  Hiram,  plasterer  and  butcher, 
was  born  in  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county, 
April  5,  1834.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Susanna  (Spoon)  Reimert.  The  father  was 
born  August  25, 1813,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years;  the  mother  was  born  July 
18,  1812,  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-three 
years.  Their  children  are:  Hiram,  Hezekiah, 
Louisa,  John,  William,  Annie,  George  Wash- 
ington, and  Oliver.  Mrs.  Reimert's  mother 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-eight,  and  the  father 
survives.  Their  children  are :  Mary  Ann 
Christ,  George,  Samuel,  Ed  ward,  John,  Daniel, 
Benjamin,  Henry,  and  Emma.  Hiram  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Schuylkill  and  Dauphin  counties.  He  aided 
his  father  on  the  farm  and  at  the  business  of 
butchering  for  a  time,  and  in  1851  he  began 
the  trade  of  plasterer  with  Henry  HofFnagle, 
of  Linglestown.  After  following  his  trade 
for  twenty-one  years,  including  his  appren- 
ticeship, he  began  the  butcher  business  at 
Linerlestown.  He  has  served  as  tax  collector 
of  Lower  Paxton  township;  was  a  charter 
member  of  Lodge  No.  629,  L  0. 0.  F.,  Lingles- 
town, withdrew  and  helped  to  organize  the 
Shellsville  Lodge,  No.  1,080,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of 
which  he  is  now  past  grand.  He  was  mar- 
ried, February  12,  1863,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann 
(Knupp)  Reimert,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Eshnauer)  Knupp.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  John  H.,  born  May  7, 1804 ;  George 
Washington,  born  September  26, 1867  ;  Mary 
A.,  born  November  11,  1872,  wife  of  Harvey 
M.  Juillard.  Mrs.  Reimert  attends  the  United 
Brethren  church,  while  her  husband  and 
children  attend  the  German  Reformed 
church. 


in  the  Seventeenth  Penn.sylvania  cavalry 
under  Capt.  Andrew  Vand,  and  died  in  the 
Regimental  Hospital  from  a  sickness  con- 
tracted while  in  the  service.  The  mother 
died  August  13,  1891,  aged  sixty-five  years. 
They  had  a  family  of  six  children  :  Joseph, 
deceased  ;  Elias,  deceased  ;  Emma,  deceased  ; 
James,  born  September  28,  1853  ;  Robert  L,, 
and  John,  born  March  4,  1858.  Mrs.  Reed's 
parents  are  both  deceased.  The  mother  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  and  two  years 
later  the  father  married  Miss  Mary  Swartz. 
The  children  by  the  first  marriage  are  :  Eliza- 
beth, Millard  Fillmore,  and  Josephine;  and 
by  the  second:  Henry  Clay,  Fannie  A.,  Lin- 
coln, Harriet, Naoma,  and  Edith.  The  father 
died  September,  1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four 
years. 

Robert  L.  received  his  education  in  the 
place  of  his  birth  until  he  was  nine  years  old, 
tiien  attended  the  school  of  the  Soldiers' 
Orphans'  Home,  at  White  Hall,  Cumberland 
county.  Later  he  attended  the  Loysville  Or- 
phans' Home,  in  Perry  county,  and  then  re- 
turned to  his  mother  in  Buffalo  township, 
Perr}'  county,  and  assisted  on  the  farm  until 

1877.  For  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  brick- 
making  in  Center  township,  Peny  county, 
and  in  1878  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  was 
engaged  as  a  teamster  until  1879,  when  he 
removed  to  his  native  county  and  located  at 
Millerstown.  Some  time  afterward  he  farmed 
for  seven  years  in  Perry  county,  and  in  De- 
cember, 1889,  engaged  in  railroad  business 
as  foreman,  removing  to  Harrisburg  in  1890. 
They  purchased  the  present  homestead  in 
October,  1895.     He  was  married,  March  13, 

1878,  to  Josephine  Clouser,  daughter  of  Fran- 
cis B.  and  Mary  J.  (McCullough)  Clouser. 
Their  children  are:  Francis  Irvin,  born 
April  7,  1880  ;  Naoma  Edith,  born  July  28. 
1883;  Charles  Hamburg,  born -May  2,  1889, 
Mr.  Reed  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  St. 
John  and  Malta,  No.  93,  of  Harrisburg.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  church. 


Reed,  Robert  L.,  carpenter  and  farmer, 
Linglestown,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Liverpool  township.  Perry  county,  April 
12,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of  Elijah  and  Mary 
(Cram)  Reed.     The  father  enlisted  in  1862 


RiCKER,  Uriah,  retired  tanner  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  Swatara  township,  January  27, 
1836.  He  is  a  son  of  John  S.  and  Catharine 
(Snyder)  Ricker.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Franklin  county,  and  his  grandfather 
served  as  a  teamster  in  Washington's  army. 
At  the  age  of  sixty-four  years  the  father 
died,  and  the  mother  passed  away  in  May, 
1867.  They  had  six  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy :    Alfred,  deceased ;    Cathe- 


796 


BIO  GRA  PHIVA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


rine,  wife  of  Alexander  Klink ;  Mary,  wife 
of  Henry  Koof,  living  in  Oklahoma,  and 
Uriah.  Mrs.  Ricker's  father  died  in  March, 
1863,  and  her  mother  October  7,  1852. 
Their  family  consisted  of  seven  children, 
all  of  whom,  except  Mrs.  Ricker,  are  de- 
ceased. They  are :  Catherine,  Mary,  Eliza- 
beth, Fanny,  Abraham,  and  Molly. 

Uriah  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township.  He  learned 
the  business  of  tanning  with  his  father, 
whom  he  succeeded  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years,  and  continued  until  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war,  when  he  sold  the  tannery 
to  Emanuel  Fox.  He  then  moved  to  Lower 
Paxton  township  and  engaged  in  farming 
for  four  years,  when  he  moved  to  New  Kings- 
ton, Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
farmed  on  his  father's  farm.  Losing  all  his 
stock  and  property  by  tire  he  returned  to 
Lower  Paxton  township,  and  farmed  for  his 
father-in-law  until  the  latter's  death  in  1875. 
He  then  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he 
lived  and  continued  fanning  there  until 
1886,  when  he  retired.  He  was  married,  in 
1856,  to  Barbara  Sheetz,  daughter  of  Messiah 
and  Susan  (Baker)  Sheetz.  They  have  a 
family  of  fourteen  children :  Raymond  E., 
born  June  6,  1858,  deceased ;  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, born  May  2,  1860,  wife  of  Jacob  Kline; 
Catharine,  born  July  23,  1861,  wife  of  E.  D. 
Wright ;  Willis, deceased,  born  April  2, 1863 ; 
Uriah  Monroe,  deceased,  born  October  7, 
1864 ;  Ambrose,  born  April  25,  1866  ;  Thias, 
deceased,  born  June  7,  1868;  Laura  Ann, 
born  November  15,  1869,  wife  of  John  Sny- 
der; Mannasah,  deceased,  born  July  29, 
1872  ;  Agnus  M.,  born  August  15,  1873,  wife 
of  Noah  Wisler;  Samuel,  deceased  ;  Norman, 
deceased ;  Freeman,  deceased  ;  Elmer,  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Ricker  is  a  Republican  and  has 
served  on  the  school  board.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 


Shope,  Jacob,  son  of  Abraham  and  Eliza- 
beth fWasser)  Shope,  was  born  September  6, 
1819,  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  His  mother  was  the  daughter 
of  Dr.  John  L.  Wasser,  who  was  ship-surgeon 
on  a  Swiss  vessel,  and  emigrated  to  America 
in  1769.  His  advantages  of  an  early  educa- 
tion were  limited,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
entered  the  office  of  the  Gospel  Publisher-  as 
an  apprentice  in  the  art  of  printing.  He 
subsequently  took  charge  of  the  office  as 
foreman,  then  spent  some  time  at  Philadel- 


phia, when  returning  to  Harrisburg  he  there 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1840.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  with  his 
uncle.  Dr.  David  Shope,  and  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  1842,  and  upon  the 
death  of  the  latter  located  at  Hummelstown, 
taking  charge  of  the  large  practice  left  by 
the  former.  Until  1865  he  continued  in  the 
active  prosecution  of  his  profession,  and  with 
much  success.  Dr.  Shope  married,  in  1843, 
Esther,  daughter  of  E.  J.  Mann,  of  Hum- 
melstown. Their  children  were:  Charles 
David,  who,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  enlisted 
in  the  Seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers ;  was  severelj-  wounded  in  the  hip  at 
Gettysburg ;  subsequently  rejoined  his  com- 
mand ;  promoted  sergeant  of  Colonel  Mc- 
Coy's regiment,  and  killed  in  front  of  Peters- 
burg, June  19,  1864;  Elizabeth,  Ernest 
Mann,  Ada  Esther,  Agnes  May,  and  Carrie 
Lenah. 


Shope,  David,  son  of  Jacob  Shope,  was 
born  July  25,  1808,  in  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.  His  grandfather, 
Andrew  Shope,  emigrated  from  the  Palati- 
nate, Germany,  to  America,  arriving  at 
Philadelphia  October  22,  1754,  on  the  ship 
"  Halifax  "  from  Rotterdam.  He  settled  in 
wliat  was  then  Lancaster  county,  married 
and  was  in  service  during  the  French  and 
Lidian  war.  He  had  three  sons  :  Bernhard, 
Jacob, and  Adam.  He  first  married  and  re- 
moved to  Centre  county,  where  his  descend- 
ants now  reside.  Jacob  and  Adam  divided 
the  farm,  the  former  of  whom  subsequently 
disposed  of  his,  the  latter  dying  on  the  old 
homestead  at  the  age  of  ninety-one  j^ears. 
Jacob  Shope,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven,  married  a  Miss  Hart,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  :  Abraham,  Jacob,  Bernhard,  Da- 
vid, Barbara,  Mary,  Elizabeth, and  Catherine. 
David  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  the 
age  of  sixteen,  receiving  such  educational 
advantages  as  the  country  schools  then  af- 
forded. He  was  afterwards  sent  to  a  select 
school  in  Cumberland  county,  and  also  that 
taught  by  Mr.  Curamings  at  Brown's  school 
house  on  the  Jonestown  road.  He  taught 
school  several  terms,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
Markley,  of  Manheim,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  after  the  latter's  death  with  his 
successor.  Dr.  Veasey.  In  October,  1832,  he 
located  at  Hummelstown,  where  he  contin- 
ued in  the  successful  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion until  his  death,  December  2,  1842,  at 


DAUPHIN  COUNT y. 


797 


the  age  of  thirty-four  years,  and  is  buried  in 
the  Huninielstown  cemetery.  Few  prac- 
titioners stood  higher  in  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  community  in  which  he  lived 
than  Dr.  David  Shope.     He  never  married. 


Shadel,  David  F.,  farmer  and  butcher, 
Linglestown,  was  born  at  Lykens,  January 
6,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  H.  and  Mary 
S.  (Matter)  Shadel.  The  fatlier  died  No- 
vember 23,  1883,  aged  about  forty-five  j^ears. 
He  was  an  earnest  Cliristian,  and  had  a 
family  of  seven  children  :  Luther,  deceased, 
Sarah  C,  Christia,  Harry  B.,  Charles  G., 
Louis,  and  Howard.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Shadel  died  July  21,  1883,  and  the  mother 
survives.  Their  children  are:  Edward,  Jo- 
seph, Jacob,  Mary,  Lydia,  Henry, and  Samuel. 
David  F.  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Washington  and  Middle  Paxton 
townships.  He  lived  with  his  grandparents 
until  nine  years  old,  then  went  home  and 
remained  with  his  parents  until  the  age  of 
seventeen.  He  was  engaged  in  various  oc- 
cupations until  1884,  when  he  purchased 
his  present  homestead.  He  was  married, 
January  30,  1879,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Rye, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Rebecca  Rye.  They 
have  two  children,  Annie  M.  and  Henry  E. 
His  wife  died  February  8,  1893.  Her  par- 
ents are  both  deceased  and  had  five  chil- 
dren :  Annie,  Fannie,  Elizabeth,  deceased, 
Ephraim,  deceased,  and  Katie,  deceased. 
On  June  7,  1894,  Mr.  Shadel  married,  sec- 
ondly, Miss  Mary  M.  Rye,  cousin  of  his 
former  wife. 


Smith,  William  C,  M.  D.,  Linglestown, 
was  born  at  Annville,  Lebanon  county,  Pa., 
October  9, 1828.  He  is  a  son  of  Conrad  and 
Susanna  N.  (Ensminger)  Smith.  The  grand- 
father served  as  an  officer  in  the  Revolution- 
ary army.  The  father  died  at  Huniniels- 
town at  the  age  of  ninety  years  and  the 
mother  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  Dr. 
Smith  received  his  primary  education  at 
Hummelstown  and  attended  the  Annville 
Academy  for  six  months.  He  then  returned 
to  Hummelstown  and  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  John  Stably,  with  whom 
he  remained  three  years,  and  at  the  same 
time  attended  lectures  at  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated  on  April  8, 1850.  He  then  located 
in  Hummelstown  for  one  year,  then  in  Lin- 
glestown and  Middletown  each  for  one  year. 
He  next  returned  to  Linglestown  and  has 


continued  the  practice  of  his  profession  there 
up  to  the  present  time.  During  the  war  he 
treated  with  remarkable  kindness  the  fami- 
lies of  the  brave  defenders  of  our  Union.  In 
18GG  he  was  instrumental  in  securing  the 
funds  necessary  for  the  erection  of  the  sol- 
diers' monument  in  the  Willow  Grove  ceme- 
tery, dedicated  to  the  brave  soldiers  of  Lower 
Paxton,  West  Hanover,  East  Hanover  and 
Susquehanna  townships.  He  was  married, 
in  1850,  to  Miss  Hauna  A.  (Care)  Smith, 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Geiger)  Care. 
Their  children  are :  Edward  C,  deceased, 
William  C,  deceased,  Charles  H.,  M.  D.,  and 
Jeremiah  P.,  M.  D.  Dr.  Smith  also  greatly 
assisted  in  the  establishment  of  Union  chapel 
of  Linglestown,  which  is  used  by  the  German 
Baptist,  Methodist  Episcopal  and  Lutheran 
denominations,  and  the  Union  Sabbath- 
school  which  meets  each  Sunday. 


Strock,  John  H.,  instructor  and  principal 
of  the  Linglestown  select  school,  was  born  in 
West  Hanover  March  21,  184G,  and  is  a  son 
of  Jacob  and  Catharine  (Hurtz)  Strock.  The 
grandfather,  Jacob  Strock,  Sr.,  was  born  De- 
cember 15,  1785,  in  West  Hanover,  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  died  February  28, 
1834.  The  father,  Jacob,  Jr.,  was  born  No- 
vember 9,  1814,  and  died  .June  11,  1879. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking  with 
John  Shakespeare,  near  Hornerstown,  South 
Hanover  township,  and  followed  it  his  entire 
life.  He  was  a  consistent  Christian  and  his 
wife  survives  him.  They  had  a  family  of 
three  children :  Angelina,  wife  of  Jacob 
Karnerer ;  John  H.,  and  Catharine,  wife  of 
Edward  Hetrick.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Strock  are  both  deceased,  the  father  having 
died  in  October,  1891,  and  the  motlier  on 
February  10,  1887.  They  had  these  chil- 
dren :  Catharine;  Mary,  wife  of  John  H. 
Naecker;  Sarah  E.;  Annie,  wife  of  Dr.  T.  P. 
Batdorpf ;  Ira  W.,  living  at  Oberlin  ;  Ella, 
wife  of  Edward  Lingle;  Susanna,  wife  of 
Joseph  A.  Stober;  Emma,  wife  of  Mor- 
ris Tobias;  Lillie,  wife  of  John  Tanner; 
Maggie,  wife  of  Jacob  Burkheimer ;  Minnie, 
wife  of  William  Look  ;  and  two  children  who 
died  in  infancy. 

John  H.  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  West  Hanover  town- 
ship. At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  attended  a 
select  school  taught  by  David  Shope  and 
then  went  for  one  term  to  the  St.  Thomas 
Institute  at  Linglestown.  He  next  attended 
the  Millersville  State  Normal  School  in  Lan- 


798 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENVYVLOFEDIA 


caster  county.  After  teaching  school  at  va- 
rious places  for  about  ten  years  he  engaged 
in  the  retail  boot  and  shoe  business,  at 
Linglestown,  with  Michael  Forney,  of  the 
well  known  firm  of  Forney  Brothers,  shoe 
manufacturers,  Harrisburg.  He  soon  pur- 
chased the  entire  business  and  continued 
until  1884,  when  he  began  teaching  again. 
In  1887  he  established  a  select  and  normal 
school.  He  also  assisted  in  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  Dauphin  County  Fire  Insurance 
Company  and  served  as  its  secretary  for  five 
years. 

In  1874  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
for  five  years  and  was  twice  re-elected.  In 
1887  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Lingles- 
town, and  at  the  expiration  of  his  service  in 
that  capacity  was  again  elected  justice  of 
the   peace.       He  was   married,  on    October 

4,  1870,  to  Sarah  E.  Yeager,  daughter  of 
William  and  Catharine  (Focht)  Yeager. 
They  have  a  family  of  six  children  :  Luther 
Wesley,  born  September  6,  1874,  and  died 
June  4,  1878  ;  Sarah  Elmira,  born  Novem- 
ber 6,  1877,  and  died  May  20,  1881 ;  Katie 
Savilla,  born  October  3,  1871,  an  accom- 
plished musician ;  Lydia  Anna,  born  De- 
cember 23,  1872 ;  Maggie  Viola,  born  March 

5,  1879,  and  Harry  Blaine,  born  January  24, 
1887.  Mr.  Strock  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  G29,  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  of  the  Jr.  0.  U.  A. 
M.,  No.  680,  Linglestown.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Evangeli- 
cal church. 


Smith,  Charles  H.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Linglestown,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  August 
9,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  W".  C.  Smith  and 
Hannah  (Care)  Smith.  The  grandfather 
Smith  was  of  German  descent,  and  came  to 
America  in  1761,  and  was  a  conspicuous  sol- 
dier in  Peter  Grubb's  company  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  believed  that 
"  vincit  amorpatriffi."  The  maternal  grand- 
father was  of  English  descent,  and  settled 
prior  to  the  Revolution  in  Hopewell,  Ches- 
ter county.  With  the  crude  facilities  at  his 
command  he  cast  cannons  to  be  used  by 
Washington.  Charles  H.  received  his  early 
training  in  the  public  schools  and  later  at- 
tended Dickinson  Seminary  at  Williams- 
port.  Here  he  prepared  for  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated  in  1872.  He  located  at  Lingles- 
town, and  practiced  with  his  venerable 
father  for  several  years.  He  married  Miss 
Laura  E.  Unger,  and  they  have  three  chil- 


dren :  Sarah,  Grace,  and  Hannah.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Dauphin  County  Medical 
Society,  and  a  very  prominent  and  success- 
ful practitioner. 

Ungkr,  John  J.,  farmer,  Linglestown,  was 
born  in  Lower  Paxton  township  on  the  old 
homestead,  June  14,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  G.  and  Sarah  (Wolf)  Unger.  The 
father  died  July  21,  1889,  and  the  mother 
March  5,  1887.  Tliey  had  a  family  of  eight 
children:  Mary,  deceased  ;  David,  deceased; 
Annie,  deceased ;  Susan,  wife  of  Andrew 
Brightbill;  Laura  E.,  wife  of  C.  H.  Smith  ; 
John  J.,  George  A.  and  David  E.  John  J. 
received  his  primary  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  township.  He  then 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  when  he  began  farming 
on  his  own  account,  and  has  continued  up 
to  the  present  time.  He  married  Miss  Re- 
becca E.  (Ilain)  Unger,  November  IS,  1880. 
Their  children  are:  Ira  Leroy,  born  April 
14,  1882;  Anna  Edith,  born  January  28, 
1884;  John  Elias,  born  December  27,  1886. 
He  is  a  Democrat,  and  the  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Reformed  cliurch 


Crum,  Sarah  Jane,  widow  of  John  Crum, 
was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  April 
1,  1845.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Hanna  Rhadel  (McElhenny)  Crum.  The 
father  passed  away  in  Jul}',  1862,  and  his 
wife  a  few  weeks  later.  They  had  these  chil- 
dren :  Samuel  and  Joseph,  both  deceased ; 
Mary  Ann,  Hannah,  Elizabeth,  Caroline, 
Alexander,  Matilda,  William,  Amanda,Sarah 
Ann,  and  John.  Mr.  Crum's  father,  David, 
died  in  October,  1889,  and  his  mother, 
Catharine,  in  1865.  They  were  residents  of 
Lower  Paxton  township.  Sarah  Jane  re- 
ceived her  education  in  Lower  Paxton  town- 
sliip.  After  the  death  of  her  father  she  re- 
sided among  strangers  until  her  marriage 
on  December  22,  1865,  to  John  Crum.  They 
had  six  children  :  Marv  Ella,  born  October 
9, 1866,  and  died  October  27, 1867  ;  Rebecca, 
who  died  in  infancy;  John  H.,  born  June  25, 
1868  ;  William  Edward,  born  November  20, 
1869;  JennieS.,born  June25,1872;  DavidF., 
born  February  12, 1877.  Her  husband,  John 
Crum,  died  June  3,  1886,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five  years.  In  politics  Mr.  Crum  was  a  Re- 
publican and  served  two  terms  as  school 
director.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  God,  of  which  his  family  also  are  mem- 
bers. 


DAUFEIN  COUNTY. 


799 


LOWER  SWATARA  TOWNSHIP. 


Etter,  Abram  Landis,  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Middletown  Journal  (weekly), 
established  in  185-i,  and  Daily  Journal,  es- 
tablished 1890,  was  born  in  Middletown, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  August  15,  1862.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  George  W.  Etter,  who 
was  born  in  Middletown  in  1815,  was  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  for  forty  years, 
and  conducted  one  of  the  largest  saw  mill 
jilants  along  the  Susquehanna  south  of 
Williamsport.  His  ancestors  have  resided 
in  Middletown  for  more  than  a  century. 

Abram  L.  was  the  youngest  son  of  his 
father.  His  education  was  such  as  could  be 
obtained  by  a  bright  and  ambitious  boy  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  town.  But  his 
course  of  study  did  not  end  with  the  close 
of  his  school  days.  He  chose  as  his  occupa- 
tion for  life  the  printer's  trade,  and  went 
into  the  office  of  his  predecessor,  the  late  -J. 
W.  Sfofer,  to  learn  the  art.  The  printing 
office  is  the  very  best  school  for  mental 
training  and  development  in  special  direc- 
tions ;  certainly  orthography  and  grammar 
are  not  mastered  so  thoroughly  in  any 
school  as  they  are  in  the  printing  office. 
And  when  the  office  is  that  of  a  newspaper, 
there  is  a  training  in  literary  taste  and  an 
attainment  in  the  use  of  language  excelling 
the  results  of  tuition  in  school  and  college. 
In  such  favorable  conditions  did  young 
Etter  continue  his  education,  beginning  his 
apprenticeship  in  1878.  In  1881,  when  in 
his  nineteenth  year,  he  secured  employment 
in  the  Government  printing  office  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  and  continued  there  for  three 
years.  In  1888  he  was  employed  in  Ciii- 
cago,  111.,  in  the  office  of  the  Daily  Market 
Report,  a  trade  publication. 

His  native  newspaper  tastes  and  talents 
began  to  assert  themselves,  and  he  looked 
about  him  for  an  opjjortunity  to  gratify 
them.  His  old  friend,  the  proprietor  of  the 
Middletown  Journal,  was  compelled  by  fail- 
ing health  to  contemplate  the  abandonment 
of  active  business.  The  would-be  seller  and 
purchaser  were  naturally  brought  together, 
and  the  contract  between  them  materialized 
and  was  consummated  in  September,  1885. 
In  his  native  place,  in  the  office  where  he 
had  learned  the  art  of  printing  and  the 
greater  art  of  newspaper  making,  surrounded 
by  a  host  of  old  and  tried  friends  and  well- 
wishers  and  prospective  patrons,  Mr.  Etter 
was  in  the  conditions  calculated  to  stimulate 


his  powers  to  their  most  active  and  fullest 
exertion.  The  results  are  demonstrated, 
and  are  to  the  utmost  satisfactory.  They 
are  told  in  few  words,  which  embody  the 
statement  of  large  facts ;  the  removal  of  the 
|)lant  to  more  commodious  and  convenient 
quarters,  the  increase  in  the  size  of  the 
paper  from  four  pages  of  eight  columns  each 
to  eight  pages  of  six  columns  each  to  ac- 
commodate the  rapidly  growing  advertising 
patronage,  the  addition  of  the  Daily  Journal, 
and  last,  but  not  least,  the  enlarged  list  of 
subscribers;  these  are  the  facts  which  justify 
the  offering  of  hearty  congratulations  to 
both  proprietor  and  patrons  on  the  posses- 
sion of  a  successful  newspaper.  Like  many, 
perhaps  most  newspaper  men,  Mr.  Etter 
owns  to  some  political  aspirations,  and  be- 
yond doubt  they  will  be  gratified.  The 
people  are  always  awake  to  an  opportunity 
to  secure  for  public  service  the  ability  and 
fidelity  of  successful  men.  Mr.  Etter  was 
married,  June  11,  1889,  to  Anna  Ober, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph  Nissley,  of  Derry 
townshiji. 


Nissley,  Isaac  0.,  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Middletown  Press,  was  born  on  his 
father's  farm,  one  mile  south  of  Hummels- 
town,  February  8,  1854.  He  is  the  eldest 
son  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  and  Anna  (Ober) 
Nissley.  His  boyhood  and  youth  were 
spent  on  the  farm,  with  the  usual  activities 
in  the  way  of  work  and  plaj'  which  fall  to 
the  lot  of  the  farmer  boy.  During  the  winter 
months  he  was  a  regular  attendant  at  the 
Stoverdale  school,  until  promoted  to  the  oc- 
cupation of  teaching  in  some  of  the  public 
schools  in  the  adjoining  townships.  He 
remained  upon  the  farm  for  the  full 
period  of  his  minority,  but  when  he 
came  of  age  he  resolved  to  extend  the 
course  of  his  studies.  With  a  stock  of 
good  health  and  a  flow  of  spirits,  he  en- 
tered the  State  Normal  School  at  Indiana, 
Pa.  Here  he  found  several  hundred  young 
people  filled  with  the  same  desire  for  im- 
provement and  impelled  by  the  same  am- 
bition for  usefulness  as  himself.  He  was 
graduated  from  this  institution  in  the  class 
of  1879.  While  pursuing  his  course  of 
study  he  found  time,  during  the  year  1878, 
to  teach  the  classes  in  vocal  music  and  pen- 
manship. Before  and  after  graduation  he 
taught  in  the  public  schools  of  Swatara, South 
Hanover   and  Derry   townships,  May  town, 


800 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENVYCLOFEDIA 


East  Donegal,  Lancaster  county,  Hummels- 
town  and  Annville,  nine  terms  in  all. 

In  March,  1882,  he  removed  to  Middle- 
town,  having  bought  the  Press  of  J.  R. 
Hoffer,  then  also  editor  of  the  Mount  Joy 
Herald,  now  deceased.  In  the  field  of 
journalism  and  in  the  management  of  his 
paper  Mr.  Nissley  found  scope  for  his  talents. 
In  the  community  the  spirit  of  improve- 
mant  was  prevalent,  and  growth  and  enlarge- 
ment were  rapidly  attained.  Mr.  Nissley 
was  abreast  of  all  advancement  and  a  leader 
in  all  that  tended  to  make  the  jjlace  larger 
and  more  prosperous.  The  growth  of  his 
paper  is  an  indication  of  his  ability  in  the 
line  of  a  "  boomer."  Under  his  management 
the  Press  has  increased  its  circulation  more 
than  five  fold,  or  to  state  the  figures,  from  a 
circulation  of  about  three  hundred  and  fifty 
the  list  has  ri.sen  to  near  tiie  two  thousand 
mark. 

Mr.  Nissley  united  with  St.  Peter's  Lu- 
theran church  in  1887.  The  next  year  he 
was  elected  to  the  church  council,  and  has 
been' a  member  of  that  body  ever  since,  part 
of  the  time  as  trustee,  and  part  as  elder.  He 
has  been  leader  of  the  choir  during  almost 
all  the  time  he  has  been  connected  with  the 
church.  After  the  death  of  George  A. 
Lauman,  Mr.  Nissley  was  elected  super- 
intendent of  the  iSabbath-school,  and  is  the 
third  man  to  fill  that  office  since  the  school 
was  organized,  seventy-five  years  ago.  The 
school  has  eigh.t  hundred  pupils  on  its  roll. 
Mr.  Nissley  was  married,  June  2,  1881,  to 
Miss  Emma  M.  Brunner,  daughter  of  W.  E. 
Brunner,  of  Campbellstown,  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.  They  began  housekeeping  at  Marietta, 
but  moved  to  Middletown  in  1882,  where 
they  have  since  resided. 


MiSH,  George  F.,  M.  D.,  Middletown,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  July  5,  1827.  He 
is  a  son  of  George  and  Catherine  (Doll)  Mish. 
The  first  of  the  Mish  family  to  settle  in  Dau- 
phin county  was  Jacob  Mish,  a  son  of 
Johannes  Mish,  of  Cumberland  county.  Pa., 
who  settled  in  Harri-sburg  in  1780.  He  was 
a  tanner,  and  established  one  of  the  first 
tanneries  of  Harrisburg.  His  wife  was  Cathe- 
rine Bickle.  Their  children  were :  John 
Bickle,  George,  Jacob,  Henry,  and  Elizabeth, 
deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  George  W. 
Boyd,  of  Harrisburg.  John  B.  Mish  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  Samuel  Agnew,  of  Harris- 
burg, and  graduated  from  the  L^niversity  of 
Pennsylvania.     He  located  in  Lebanon,  Pa., 


where  be  resided  until  his  death  in  1847. 
He  served  as  burgess  of  the  town  and  as  pro- 
thonotary  of  Lebanon  county,  and  was  a 
highly  respected  citizen.  Jacob  Mish  learned 
the  tanner's  trade,  and  became  associated 
with  his  father  in  that  business.  He  died  in 
Harrisburg.  Henry  Mish  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years. 

George  Mish,  father  of  George  F.,  was  born 
in  Harrisburg  about  1795.  He  received  the 
ordinary  education  of  that  period,  and 
learned  the  tanner's  trade,  but  not  finding  it 
a  congenial  vocation  he  did  not  follow  it. 
He  was  connected  with  the  Government  land 
office  for  some  years,  and  afterwards  became 
a  contractor  on  the  Pennsylvania  canal, 
Pennsylvania  railroad  and  other  public 
works.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Democrat,  but 
later  became  identified  with  the  Whig  party. 
He  served  as  prothonotary  of  the  count3^ 
During  the  war  of  1812  he  enlisted  in  the 
volunteer  service,  but  after  reaching  Balti- 
more the  services  of  the  companj'  were  not 
required.  He  was  cashier  of  the  First  Dau- 
phin Deposit  Bank.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Reformed  church  and  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.     He  died  in  1850. 

His  wife  was  Catherine  Doll,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Esther  Doll,  of  Dauphin  county, 
who  survived  him  many  years,  and  died  in 
1879.  Their  family  consisted  of  four  daugh- 
ters, who  died  in  infancy,  and  four  sons,  as 
follows:  (1)  Henry  Augustus,  was  educated 
in  Harrisburg  and  graduated  from  Marshall 
College,  Mercersburg,  Franklin  county.  He 
studied  law  with  George  W.  Harris,  of  Har- 
risburg, and  practiced  his  profession  at 
Chambersburg  and  Mercersburg.  He  estab- 
lished the  Mercersburg  Weekly  Journal  and 
the  Franklin  Intelligencer,  of  Chambersburg, 
and  also  published  the  Mercersburg  Reviexv, 
edited  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Nevin,  D.  D.,  and  the 
Kirchenfreund,  edited  by  Rev.  Philip  Schaff, 
D.  D.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Harrisburg 
and  practiced  his  profession  for  a  short  time, 
when  he  established  the  Keystone  Nurseries. 
During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  served 
as  volunteer  for  a  short  time,  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  office  in  Washington,  D.  C.  He 
was  never  married.  He  died  September  16, 
1870.  (2)  Simon  Cameron  Mish  was  born 
January  7,  1833.  He  was  appointed  in  the 
United"  States  navy  as  a  midshipman,  and 
went  with  Commodore  Perry  to  Japan.  He 
claimed  that  he  and  Perry  introduced  the 
art  of  English  printing  into  Japan.  He  re- 
signed from  the  navy  at  the  outbreak  of  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


801 


Rebellion  aud  enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Penn- 
sylvania cavahy  ;  he  was  sergeant-major  of 
his  regiment.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and 
confined  at  Anderson ville,  where  it  is  sup- 
])osed  he  died.  (3)  Jacob  Mish  was  born  at 
Harri.sburg,  April  4,  1835.  He  engaged  in 
farming  in  Swatara  township  and  afterwards 
became  connected  with  the  Keystone  Nur- 
series. He  served  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
and  was  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  (4) 
George  F. 

Dr.  George  F.  Mish  was  reared  in  Harris- 
burg.  He  received  his  education  at  the 
Harrisburg  Academy  and  at  Captain  Part- 
ridge's Military  Institution,  of  Bristol,  Pa., 
afterwards  of  Norwich,  Vt.  He  learned  the 
]n-inter's  trade,  and  afterwards  read  medicine 
under  Dr.  Joshua  M.  Wieslling,  of  Hai'ris- 
burg,  and  graduated  from  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania  in  1853;  hebegan  his  practice 
in  the  same  year  at  Middletown,  Pa.  In 
1858  he  moved  to  Harrisburg,  where  he  prac- 
ticed for  two  years,  and  returned  to  Middle- 
town  in  1860,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  is  one  of  the  oldest  physicians  of  Dauphin 
county.  He  has  served  as  vice-president  of 
the  Dauphin  County  Medical  Society,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Society  and 
of  the  American  Medical  Association.  From 
1862  to  1865  he  served  as  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  Fifteenth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers. He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Stone 
River  and  confined  in  Libby  prison,  but  was 
soon  exclianged.  He  is  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Middletown  Gas  Company  and  is  its 
vice-president.  He  is  one  of  the  organizers 
and  the  president  of  the  Middletown  Drain- 
age Company.  He  belongs  to  Simon  Came- 
ron Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Middletown.  The 
Doctor  enjoys  an  extensive  practice.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Middletown.  In  1859  he  married 
Mary  E.  Smuller,  daugliter  of  George  and 
Caroline  (Fisher)  Smuller,  of  Middletown. 
They  have  four  children  :  Caroline  S.,  wife 
Dr.  Charles  H.  Saul,  of  Steelton,  Pa.;  George, 
civil  engineer,  of  Middletown ;  Mary  C,  at 
home ;  and  Frederick,  who  died  in  1895, 
aged  twenty-three  years. 


Young,  Col.  James,  was  a  grandson  of 
Peter  Young,  gentleman,  who  resided  near 
Sinking  Springs,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  who  performed  active 
service  during  that  trying  struggle,  and 
whose  patriotism  was  evidenced  by  the  pub- 
lic recognition   of  the  Continental  authori- 


ties. On  December  14,  1776,  he  was  com- 
missioned by  the  Council  of  Safety  of  Phila- 
delphia second  lieutenant  of  the  Third  bat- 
talion' of  Berks  county  militia.  The  com- 
mission is  signed  by  David  Rittenhouse, 
vice-president.  On  May  17,  1777,  he  was 
commissioned  by  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council  of  Pennsylvania  second  lieutenant 
of  a  company  of  foot  in  the  Fourth  battalion 
of  militia,  Berks  county,  and  on  May  10, 
1780,  he  was  commissioned  by  the  same  au- 
thority lieutenant  of  a  company  in  tlie  Sixth 
battalion  of  militia  of  the  same  county. 
Those  were  the  days  in  which  militiamen 
fought  the  battles  of  their  country. 

James  Young's  maternal  grandfather  was 
David  Ettla,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  emi- 
grated to  this  country  about  1756  and  settled 
at  Middletown,  Pa.,  where  he  pursued  the 
occupation  of  a  tailor  the  greater  part  of  his 
life.  He  was  an  important  man  in  the  his- 
tory' of  the  early  settlement  of  that  now 
prosperous  borough,  and  was  one  of  the 
three  commissioners  appointed  by  the  King 
of  England  to  raise  the  necessary  funds  for 
the  building  of  the  old  St.  Peter's  church,  of 
Middletown.  While  in  performance  of  the 
duties  incumbent  upon  him  in  that  position 
he  on  one  occasion  walked  from  Middletown 
to  Philadelphia,  tlirough  wliat  was  then  a 
desolate  and  almost  impassable  section  of  the 
State.  He  married  Magdalena  Oldweiler, 
also  a  native  of  Germany,  and  their  children 
were  :  David,  who  married  Elizabeth  Croll, 
of  Middletown  ;  Philip,  who  married  Sarah 
Radenbaugh ;  Conrad,  a  shoemaker,  who 
married  Annie  Smuller,  of  Middletown,  and 
who  died  in  1836  ;  Jacob,  who  married  Miss 
Hertz,  of  Harrisburg,  and  Sophia,  who  mar- 
ried Peter  Young. 

James  Young,  son  of  Peter  and  Sophia 
Young,  was  born  at  Swatara  Hill,  Pa.,  July 
25,  1820.  His  father  was  born  November 
13,  1781,  emigrated  from  Berks  county,  and 
jiassed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  the  busi- 
ness of  hotel  keeping.  From  1820  to  1834 
he  was  tlie  proprietor  of  the  stage  house  on 
Swatara  Hill,  and  on  P^ebruary  1,  1835,  took 
charge  of  the  Washington  House,  Middle- 
town,  and  kef)t  it  until  his  demise  on  Sep- 
tember 29,  1844.  He  enjoyed  a  common 
school  education,  and  passed  his  earliest 
years  of  usefulness  in  assisting  his  father  in 
the  liotel  business.  At  this  early  period  he 
evinced  a  remarkable  degree  of  activity  and 
ambition,  and  willingly  performed  the  most 
menial  labor  if  it  conduced  to  his  pecuniary 


802 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


advantage.     By  close  economy  and  a  care- 
ful and  absteminous  course  of  living  he  had 
accumulated  in  1839  a  sum  of  money  suffi- 
cient for  him  to  purchase  a  canal  boat,  which 
he  run  for  one  year  between  Hollidaysburg 
and  Philadelphia.     In  1840  he  established 
a  lumber  yard  at  Middletown,  to  which  he 
subsequently  added  the  coal  business,  and 
for  twenty-six  years  engaged  in  successful 
trade  in  these  lines,  at  the  same  time  fur- 
nishing supplies  to  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  under  contract.     He  was  also 
the  ])urchasing  agent  for  the  Northern  Cen- 
tral and  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  during  the  late  war 
engaged   in  laying  a  portion  of  the  second 
track    for    that    company    under   contract. 
About  1859  he  purchased  a  valuable  lime- 
stone quarry  at  Learn  an    Place,   Lancaster 
county,    which  the    manager   of  his   estate 
operates,  and  from  which  has  been  furnished 
large   amounts   of  stone    for   building    tiie 
bridges  and  abutments  for  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company.     James  Young  was  em- 
phatically a  self-made  man.    Tiiough  spring- 
ing from  good  stock,  he  started  out  in  life  a 
poor  boy,  and  won  a  proud  place  among  the 
representative  men  of  his  State  by  faithful, 
earnest  work  and   the  exercise  of    indomi- 
table  pluck  and    resolution.     He  owned    a 
large  amount  of  real  estate  in  Middletown 
and   elsewhere,  including   the    Washington 
Hotel,  in  which  he  began   his  business  life, 
the  opera  house,  and  divers  stores  and  dwell- 
ing houses.     He  took  an  active  interest  in 
local  affairs,  and  was  identified  with  various 
local   institutions  and  enterprises.     He  was 
president  of  the  American  Tube  and   Iron 
Company,  of  Middletown,  president  of  the 
Cameron  Furnace,  of  the  same  place,  and  a 
director   of  the  Commonwealth    Guarantee, 
Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company  of  Harris- 
burg,  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  of  Middletown, 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Lebanon,  Pa., 
of  the  Lochiel   Rolling  Mill  Company,  and 
was  a  director  of|the  Harrisburg,  Portsmouth, 
Mount  Joy  and  Lancaster  Railroad  Company 
for  over  twenty  years.     He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber  of  the   State   Board    of  Agriculture   of 
Pennsylvania,  by  appointment  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, and  vice-president  of  the  State  Agri- 
cultural Society.     Though  politically  a  Re- 
publican he  always  declined  public  position, 
feeling  at  the  same  time  a  warm  interest  in 
State  and  National  politics      He  was  a  regu- 
lar attendant  and   supporter  of  St.   Peter's 
Lutheran  church,  of  Middletown.     He  mar- 


ried, June  8,  1843,  Ann,  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Catherine  Redsecker,  and  their  children 
were  :  R.  I.,  residing  in  Baltimore,  Md.;  De- 
lanson  J.,  deceased  ;  Catherine  S.,  who  mar- 
ried H.  P.  Dunbar,  of  Harrisburg ;  Sarah 
H.,  deceased  ;  James  S.,  who  was  engaged  in 
business  with  his  father;  Simon  Cameron, 
who  was  formerly  a  civil  engineer  in  the  ser- 
vice of  tlie  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company 
and  is  now  administrator  of  his  father's 
estate,  and  Henry  P.,  who  resides  at  Colum- 
bia, Pa. 


Young,  Simon  Cameron,  was  born  in 
Middletown,  Pa.,  February  20,  1859.  He  is 
a  son  of  Col.  James  Young,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Friends'  Central 
School  of  Philadelphia  and  the  Polytechnic 
College  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  graduated 
as  a  civil  engineer.  He  at  once  became 
connected  in  that  capacity  with  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company,  and  had  charge 
of  the  construction  on  the  West  Pennsylvania 
division.  He  was  assistant  suj)ervisor  at 
Blairsville,  New  Florence  and  Gallitzin,  and 
supervisor  at  Jonesbury,  N.  J.,  and  Reading, 
Pa.  He  retired  from  the  road  May  15, 1895, 
and  with  his  mother,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Young, 
was  made  administrator  of  his  father's  estate. 
As  representing  the  estate,  he  succeeded  his 
fatiier  in  the  management  of  the  numerous 
and  varied  enterprises  in  which  he  was 
interested  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  is 
president  of  the  Cameron  Furnace  Company  ; 
was  made  a  director  and  vice-president  of 
the  American  Tube  and  Iron  Company  in 
February,  1896  ;  is  a  director  in  the  Farmers' 
Bank  of  Middletown,  and  the  Steelton  Na- 
tional Bank  ;  and  also  a  director  of  the  Steel- 
ton,  Highspireand  Middletown  Electric  Rail- 
way Company.  He  is  a  member  of  Prince 
Edward  Lodge,  No.  486,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  of  Mount 
Pine  Lodge,  I.  O.  0.  F.,  of  Reading,  and  of  the 
Middletown  Lodge,  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is 
Republican  in  politics.  In  1881  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Cleaver,  who  died  in  1886,  leav- 
ing two  children :  Eliza  A.  and  .James.  He 
was  niarried  again,  in  1889,  to  Miss  Emma 
Sutton,  of  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J.  Mr.  Young 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  St.  Peter's 
Lutheran  church. 


Young,  Harry  P.,  was  born  June  17, 
1862.  He  is  a  son  of  Col.  James  Young,  of 
whom  a  sketch  is  given  elsewhere.  He  was 
educated   at  the   Friends'   Central    School, 


J)  A  UPHIN     COUNTY. 


803 


Philadelphia,  and  is  a  machinist  by  trade. 
He  married  Miss  Lillian  Maher,  of  Colum- 
bia, Pa. 


Pease,  Charles  E.,  M.  D.,  Middletown, 
was  born  in  Brook  Haven,  L.  I.,  May  9, 1857. 
He  is  a  son  of  E.  H.  and  Sarepta  (Hulse) 
Pease.  He  obtained  his  literary  education  at 
Claverack  College.  He  read  medicine  with 
Dr.  Thomas  Shaw,  of  Pittsburgh,  and  gradu- 
ated from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1882.  He  began  practice  at  Irvington,  N.  J. 
In  November,  1882,  he  came  to  Middletown, 
where  he  lias  since  enjoyed  an  extensive  ju'ac- 
tice.  He  is  surgeon  for  the  American  Tube 
and  Iron  Company  and  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Dau- 
phin County  Medical  Society.  He  belongs  to 
Triune  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  to  the  Patriarch 
Encampment  and  tlie  Royal  Arcanum.  He 
is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Middle- 
town  Drainage  Company.  In  politics  Dr. 
Pease  is  an  active  Republican.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
in  which  he  holds  the  office  of  trustee.  He 
was  married, injDecember,  1882,  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  Hedden,  daughter  of  Morris  Hedden,  of 
Orange,  N.J.  They  have  two  children:  Nor- 
man D.  and  Ada  Scott. 


Bowers,  Charles  E.,  M.  D.,  Middletown, 
was  born  in  Middletown,  January  13,  1868. 
He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Yjose) 
Bowers,  natives  of  Germany,  who  came  to 
America  in  1852,  located  in  Philadelphia, 
and  in  1853  came  to  Middletown,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  business  as  a  sawyer. 
He  managed  a  mill  for  Etter,  Carmany  & 
Siple  for  about  thirty  years.  He  was  also 
for  some  j'ears  with  Kendig  &  Lauman. 
Since  then  he  has  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness. His  family  consists  of  four  children  : 
Frederick,  Charles  E.,  Catherine,  and  Rose. 
He  served  as  secretary  of  the  school  board 
for  nine  years.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  he  be- 
longs to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Charles 
E.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Mid- 
dletown. He  engaged  in  the  drug  business 
with  Dr.  J.  W.  Rewalt,  after  which  he  took 
a  course  in  the  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1889.  He  studied  medicine  under  Dr.  Will- 
iam A.  Burns,  of  Philadelphia,  and  gradu- 
ated from  the  Medico-Chirurgical  College  in 
1893.  He  began  practice  in  Columbia,  Pa., 
and  in  1895  located  in  Middletown,  where 


he  has  since  resided.  Dr.  Bowers  has 
also  established  and  conducts  a  drug  store. 
In  politics  the  Doctor  is  a  Democrat.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  He  was  married  in  1893  to  Miss 
Catherine  Cox,  daughter  of  Thomas  L.  Cox, 
of  Ephrata,  Pa.,  by  whom  he  has  three  chil- 
dren :  Karl,  and  Dorothy  and  Florine,  who 
are  twins. 


Kendig,  Walter  Henry,  was  born  in 
Middletown,  Pa.,  June  3,  1830.  He  is  a  son 
of  Martin  and  Rebecca  (McFarland)  Kendig. 

Martin  Kendig, paternal  great-grandfather 
of  Walter  Henry,  was  a  descendant  of  one  of 
the  earliest  Swiss  settlers  in  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
he  located  on  Senaca  Lake,  near  Waterloo, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  died.  He  married  Mar}' 
Brenneman,  and  they  had  eight  children  : 
John,  Martin,  Joseph,  Daniel,  Elizabeth, 
Christian,  Mary,  and  Nancy. 

John  Kendig,  oldest  child  of  Martin,  and 
paternal  grandfather  of  Walter  Henry,  was 
born  October  4,  1770,  and  died  October  12, 
1831,  at  Middletown,  Pa.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Hill,  born  September  17,  1770,  died 
March  20,  1845,  at  Middletown.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Martin,  Sarah,  and  Daniel. 

Martin  Kendig,  oldest  son  of  John,  and 
father  of  Walter  H.,  was  born  December  31, 
1797,  in  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county, 
Pa.,  died  August  28,  1850,  near  Middletown, 
Pa.  After  completing  his  education  he 
learned  the  trade  of  harness  making  at  Har- 
risburg,  and  established  himself  in  the  busi- 
ness at  Middletown,  being  at  the  same  lime 
interested  with  his  brother  Daniel  in  the  lum- 
ber trade;  with  wliom  and  with  Judge  Murry 
lie  joined  and  erected  a  sawmill  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Swatara,  where  they  carried  on  a  large 
business.  Mr.  Kendig  was  an  enterprising 
and  successful  business  man,  and  a  gentle- 
man of  probity,  highly  honored  and  of  com- 
manding influence  in  public  affairs.  He 
served  as  one  of  the  auditors  of  the  county 
from  1826  to  1828,  and  represented  Dauphin 
county  in  the  Legislature  from  1837  to  1839. 
He  was  thrice  married,  being  first  united, 
June  15,  1820,  to  Rebecca  McFarland,  of 
Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  born  June  28,  1800,  died  April  1,  1831. 
The  children  born  to  this  marriage  are :  Rev. 
Daniel  and  Walter  Henry.  Mr.  Kendig  mar- 
ried, secondly,  Sarah  Sebaugh,  daughter  of 
Conrad  Sebaugh,  of  Middletown,  by  whom 
he  had  five  children:  John  Allen,  James, 


8U4 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Rebecca,  William,  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Ken- 
dig  married,  thirdly,  September  1, 1842,  Mrs. 
Rachel  (Shelly)  Croll,  widow  of  Abner  Croll, 
no  surviving  issue. 

Walter  Henry's  grandfather  on  his  moth- 
er's side  was  John  McFarland,  a  native  of 
Scotland.  He  died  January  17,  1787,  aged 
fifty-four  years.  He  married  Mary  Ireland, 
who  died  August  20,  1790,  aged  forty-eight 
years.  They  are  both  buried  at  Derry 
Church.  Their  son,  Walter  McFarland, 
died  in  1820.  He  married  Sarah  Mitchell, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Mitchell,  and  settled  on 
the  Swatara.  Their  children  were:  Joiin, 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Martin  Kendig  and  mother 
of  Walter  Henry,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Mr. 
Wilson.  The  McFarland  and  the  Ireland 
families  first  settled  in  Cecil  county,  Md. 

Walter  H.  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town.  He  was  early 
trained  in  the  mercantile  business,  and 
afterwards  became  a  contractor  on  public 
works.  He  was  interested  in  several  exten- 
sive contracts  on  the  New  York  and  Erie 
railroad  in  connection  with  Philip  Irwin  and 
Stephen  Atherton.  He  returned  to  Middle- 
town  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
with  Daniel  Kendig  &  Co.  He  is  still  in 
that  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Ken- 
dig &,  Lauman.  He  served  as  postmaster  of 
Middletovvn  by  the  appointment  of  President 
Lincoln,  and  was  removed  from  that  office 
by  President  Johnson.  He  was  married, 
December  25,  1856,  to  Jane  E.,  daughter  of 
William  McMurtrie,  of  Huntingdon,  Pa. 
They  had  one  son,  Martin,  born  January  5, 
1858;  educated  in  public  schools ;  learned 
the  printing  trade  in  Washington,  D.  C; 
spent  a  portion  of  his  life  in  iiis  father's 
office,  subsequently  employed  with  the 
American  Tube  and  Iron  Company,  of 
Middletown ;  he  died  May  3,  1894.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kendig  have  an  adopted  daughter 
named  Edith,  widow  of  the  late  Frank 
Croll,  who  now  resides  in  Middletown. 

Rev.  Daniel  Kendig,  brother  of  Walter  H., 
was  born  in  September,  1824.  He  is  a 
chaplain  in  the  United  States  army  and  was 
stationed  at  the  posts  of  Fort  Stallacoom,  in 
Washington,  and  the  Presidio,  San  Fran- 
cisco, from  December  19,  1859,  to  May  27, 
1867;  post  chaplain  April  31,  1867  ;  on  the 
retired  list  of  the  United  States  army,  1891. 


Borland,  John  A.,  Middletovvn,  was  born 
in  Andersontown,  York  county.  Pa., in  Janu- 
ary, 1847.     He  is  a  son  of  William  and.  Jane 


(Anderson)  Borland,  natives  of  York  county. 
They  were  prominent  members  of  the  Bethel 
church.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  Leaving  home  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen he  engaged  as  clerk  at  Eberly's  Mills, 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.  In  1861  he  went 
to  Washington,  D.  C,  to  learn  the  drug  busi- 
ness with  his  uncle,  who  was  a  prominent 
physician  of  that  city.  The  business  did 
not  prove  congenial,  and  he  remained  there 
only  six  months.  In  1864  he  went  to  Har- 
risburg,  and  for  several  years  was  clerk  in 
some  of  the  largest  dry  goods  houses.  For 
seventeen  months  Mr.  Borland  .served  as 
secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  of  Harrisburg. 
Through  the  urgent  solicitation  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Pattison,  father  of  Governor  Pattison,  he  was 
induced  to  fill  the  appointment  of  junior 
local  preacher  at  Gilbertson,  Mahanoy  Plain 
and  Frackville.  As  a  result  of  his  labors  at 
the  two  latter  places  two  church  organiza- 
tions were  effected,  which  have  since  grown 
to  be  prosperous  congregations  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  denomination.  In  1880  he 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  for  him- 
self in  Middletown,  and  has  since  continued 
there.  On  March  20,  1895,  he  established  a 
branch  store  at  Carlisle,  Pa.  He  was  a  di- 
rector in  the  Middletown  National  Bank. 
On  January  10,  1896,  the  store  occupied  by 
Mr.  Borland  at  Carlisle  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  On  April  30,  1896,  Mr.  Borland  pur- 
ciiased  the  grocery  store  and  good  will  of 
the  business  adjoining  his  former  premises 
in  Middletown,  formerly  conducted  by  W. 
W.  Reitzel,  and  in  connection  with  his  large 
dry  goods  business  he  is  now  also  conduct- 
ing one  of  the  most  extensive  and  well 
equipped  grocery  stores  in  Middletown,  un- 
der the  name  of  Borland's  Apartment  Store. 
Mr.  Borland  is  a  member  of  tiie  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Malta  and  the 
Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  fills  the  office  of  steward.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  all  church  work 
and  all  matters  i)ertaining  to  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
He  was  married  in  1877  to  Miss  Kate  M. 
Young,  daughter  of  Amos  W.  Young,  by 
whom  he  has  had  three  children :  Bertha, 
died  December  8,  1894  ;  Herbert  A.,  and 
Edgar  S. 

LiNGLE,  John  C,  M.  D.,  of  Middletown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  September  17, 
1859.     He   is   a  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


805 


(Steel)  Lingle,  and  a  brother  to  Lockwood  J. 
Lingle,  of  Philipsburg,  Centre   county,  Pa., 
now  engaged  as  a  foreman  at  the  firebrick 
works  of  Wigton  &  Co.,  of  that  place.     The 
Doctor's  early  life  was  spent  in  Harrisburg, 
where  he  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion,  graduating  from    the   high  school    of 
that  place  in  1876,  being   a  member  of  the 
second  class  that  held  their  commencement 
exercises  in  the  then  new  opera  house.  After 
leaving  school  he  entered  the  drug  business, 
serving    as   clerk    with    Drs.    Markley   and 
Nunemacher  for   a  period  of  one  year  and 
six  months.     Being  inclined  from  early  boy- 
hood to  become  a   phy,sician,   and    showing 
many  traits  characteristic  of  his  love  for  the 
profession,  his  parents,  though   in  ordinary 
circumstances,  concluded  to  grant  him   his 
desire,  and  in  the  spring  of  1878  he  began 
the  study  of  medicine  with   Dr.  M.  Friese, 
of  Harrisburg.     After  studying  one  year  he 
entered  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  Medi- 
cal College  with  the  intention  of  completing 
a  three  year  course  there,  but  after   taking 
one  year  his  preceptor  became  seriously  ill 
and  was  taken  to  the  Homoeopathic  Hospital 
of  Philadelphia  for  treatment,  and  requested 
him  to  finish  the  remaining   two  years   of 
the  course  in  the  Halnieniann  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  Philadelphia,  which  he  did,  graduat- 
ing in  1881  with  high  honors.     He  took  the 
prize  of  his  class  for  superior  scholarship,  the 
class  numbering  about  one  hundred.     In  a 
competitive    examination    for    hospital    ap- 
pointments he  was  the  first  one  chosen   for 
Ward's  Island,  but  declined,  and  going  home 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Har- 
risburg in  the  spring  of  1881.     In   the  fall 
of  1882  he  removed  to  Middletown,  where 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  practice.      He 
is  a  member  of  Triune  Lodge,  No.  307, 1.  O. 
0.  F.,  Middletown,  Pa.,  a  past  officer  of  the 
lodge,  and  was  the  acting  past  grand  at  the 
time    of  the   dedication  of  their  new  hall, 
now  situated  on  Emaus  street.     He  was  also 
one   of    the   building   committee   entrusted 
with    the   responsil)ility  in    the   erection    of 
their  new   hall  which   to-day  is   considered 
not  only  a  credit  to  the  lodge,  but  also   to 
the  town.     In  the  cornerstone  of  the  build- 
ing, among  other  things,  will  be  found   a 
piece  of  copper  plate  upon  which  is  inscribed 
the  names  of  the  acting  officers,  and  among 
which  will  be  found  the  name  of  Dr.  J.  C. 
Lingle,  P.  G.  H.     He  is  also  a  member  of  K. 
G.  E.,  K.  of  P.,  and   the  Masonic  fraternity. 
He  was  married,  December  20,  1883,  to 


Miss  Alice  May,  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Elcinda  McCrone,  natives  of  Maryland,  but 
for  the  last  twenty  years  residents  of  Harris- 
burg. They  have  four  children :  Charlie 
Percival,  Yula  May,  Frances  Estell,and  .lohn 
C,  .Ir.  Dr.  Lingle  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  politics,  being  a  stauncli,  stalwart  Repub- 
lican, and  unswerving  in  his  conviction  as 
to  the  necessity  of  a  protective  tariff.  He 
and  his  Axmily  attend  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church. 


Reider,  Abraham  H.,  cashier  of  the  Far- 
mers' Bank,  of  Middletown,  was  born  in  Mt. 
.Joy   township,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  June 
14,  1848.     He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Eliza- 
beth   (Shearer)    Reider.     He    belongs  to    a 
family  of  German  descent,  one  of  the  oldest 
in  the  State,  and  one  with  a  most  honorable 
history.      His     great-greatgrandfather     be- 
longed to  the  provisional  army  under  Wash- 
ington and  Braddock,  in  the    war  of  1754- 
1756,   and    was   killed    in    that    war.     The 
Reider  family  has  numerous  representatives 
among  the  residents  of  Dauphin,  Lanca.ster 
and    Franklin   counties,  occupying   promi- 
nent places  in  business  and  professional  life. 
Prof.  John  A.  Ryder,  who  filled  a  chair  in 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  who 
died    in    1895,    was    of    this    family.      Mr. 
Reider's  father  is  a   local   minister  in   the 
United  Brethren  church,  and   also  a  retired 
farmer.     While  he  appreciates  the  honor  of 
a  noble  ancestry,  Mr.  Reider  has  always  rec- 
ognized the  obligation  imposed  upon  him 
to  be  worthy  of  that  ancestry,  and  realized 
that  he  could  do  this  only  by  earnest  and 
faithful  eff'orts  to  be  useful  and  honorable  in 
his    own    day    and    generation.      He   was 
reared  in    Lancaster   county,  and   received 
his    education    in    the   public   schools,   the 
Lebanon  Valley  College  and  the  State  Nor- 
mal   School   at    Millersville.      This    course 
pi'epared  him  for  the  profession  of  teaching. 
He  holds  a  certificate  from   the  State  and 
county   superintendents   of   schools,  which 
permanently   and   perpetually  entitles  him 
to  teach  in  any  county  of  the  State  witliout 
being  examined.     He  taught  school  in  Lan- 
caster and  Dauphin  counties  for  a  number 
of  years.     At  the  organization  of  the  Farm- 
ers'    Bank    of    Middletown    in    1882    Mr. 
Reider  was  elected  teller  of  the  bank,  and 
filled  this  position  for  twelve  years.   In  1894 
he  was  elected  cashier,  which  office  he  now 
fills.     He  is  also  engaged  in  farming  in  Lon- 
donderry township.     On  September  1, 1895, 


806 


BIO  GRA  FHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  Cameron 
Furnace  Company.  He  served  as  treasurer 
of  the  Middletown  borough  from  1894  to 
1895,  and  declined  re-election.  He  is  Re- 
publican in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  United  Bretliren  church  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school.  He  takes  an 
active  interest  in  all  church  work.  He  is 
much  interested  in  historical  and  genealogi- 
cal matters,  and  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Pennsylvania  German  Society. 

Brandt,  B.  F.,  Middletown,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  April  5,  1839.  He  is 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (McClenigan) 
Brandt,  natives  of  that  county.  They  moved 
to  Dauphin  county  in  1854,  and  located 
on  a  farm  in  Londonderry  township.  Tiie 
father  died  in  Middletown  in  1868,  and  the 
mother  died  in  Middletown  in  1872.  They 
were  members  of  the  United  Zion's  Children 
church.  They  reared  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  are  now  living.  Tlieir 
children  are  :  Abraiiam,  of  Middletown,  wlio 
died  February  14,  189G ;  Samuel,  of  Middle- 
town;  John,  married  Lucetta  Rife,  daughter 
of  Abruliam  Rife,  and  died  in  1860 ;  Jacob, 
married  Anna  Houser,  daughter  of  Peter 
Houser,  of  Middletown,  and  died  in  1875, 
leaving  one  child,  Kate,  who  married  John 
Young,  of  Delta,  Md.;  B.  F.;  Mary  Jane,  wife 
of  Jacob  S.  Keyser,  of  Middletown  ;  Henry, 
of  Royalton  ;  David  C,  of  Middletown,  born 
January  10, 1847,  married  Maggie  Piatt,  and 
have  five  children :  Jacob,  Anna,  Clarence, 
Laura,  and  Catherine ;  Elizabeth,  widow  of 
Henry  Schaffer,  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 

B.  F.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
In  1857  he  began  business  on  the  Pennsyl- 
vania canal,  and  followed  the  occupation 
until  1870.  During  the  latter  years  of  this 
period  he  owned  and  commanded  his  boat. 
In  1870  lie  and  his  brother  Jacob  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  liquor  business.  After  the 
death  of  Jacob  his  brother  Abraham  became 
a  member  of  the  firm,  and  continued  in  it  up 
to  1890.  He  then  retired,  and  his  son,  John 
A  Brandt,  took  his  interest.  Mr.  Brandt  is 
one  of  the  charter  members  and  a  director  of 
the  Farmers'  Bank  of  Middletown.  He  is  a 
charter  member  and  president  of  the  Mid- 
dletown Market  Company.  In  1862  he  en- 
listed in  company  H,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-seventh  regiment,  Penusjdvania  vol- 
unteers, and  served  until  1863,  participating 
in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville,  etc.     He  is  a  member  of  Triune  Lodge, 


No.  307,  I.  0.  0.  F.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics.  He  was  married,  in  1882,  to  Miss 
Clara  Willman,  daughter  of  Albert  Willman, 
of  Londonderry  township.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Klugh,  0.  R.,  M.  D.,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
offices  Nos.  103  and  105  North  Second  street, 
residence  No.  1628  North  Third  street,  was 
born  in  May  town,  Lancaster  county,  Novem- 
ber 28,  1866.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Frederick 
and  Mary  C.  (Hambriglit)  Klugh,  natives  of 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.  His  father  was  born 
in  1838.  In  1857  he  taught  school.  He 
came  to  Dauphin  county  in  1864  and  became 
])rincipal  of  the  high  school  at  Highspire, 
which  po.sition  he  held  for  two  years.  He 
then  became  manager  of  the  Wilson  Lumber 
and  Manufacturing  Company,  and  after- 
wards of  the  Wilson  Distillery  Company 
until  1870,  when  he  resigned  and  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business.  He  has  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  at  Higlispire  for  about 
twenty-five  years.  Politically  he  is  identi- 
fied as  a  Democratic  leader.  Under  Presi- 
dent Cleveland's  first  administration  he  was 
appointed  U.  S.  pension  examiner.  He  was 
one  of  the  promoters  of  tiie  Harrisburg, 
Highspire  and  Middletown  Electric  Railway 
Company.  At  the  present  time  he  is  devel- 
oping the  addition  of  Highspire  known  as 
Klughton.  His  family  consists  of  five  chil- 
dren :  Dr.  0.  R.,  Aaron  D.,  Ida  N.,  Mary  C, 
and  Jacob  Hancock. 

Dr.  0.  R.  was  reared  in  Highspire  and 
educated  in  the  high  school  of  that  town. 
He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  E.  J.  Putt,  and 
graduated  from  the  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  Philadelphia,  April  4,  1889.  In  1894 
he  was  made  one  of  the  board  of  censors  of 
the  Medico-Chirurgical  College  of  Philadel- 
phia, examining  physician  of  the  Protectors' 
Indemnity  Corporation  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  Company 
of  New  York.  He  began  practice  in  High- 
spire, where  he  continued  until  August  30, 
1893,  when  he  removed  to  Middletown. 
Here  he  had  enjoyed  an  extensive  practice 
until  he  removed  to  Harrisburg,  January  1, 
1896.  He  is  a  specialist  of  chronic  and  pri- 
vate diseases  of  both  sexes.  Dr.  Klugh  is 
well  known  throughout  the  State  and  is  one 
of  the  most  practical  specialists  Pennsylvania 
has  ever  had.  He  is  tlie  author  and  pro- 
prietor of  Dr.  Klugh's  female  prescription,  a 
powerful  germicide  and  antiseptic,  used  in 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


807 


the   ills  of  females   and   popularly   known 
throughout  the  world. 

He  is  an  active  and  consistent  member  of 
the  Democratic  part}'.  He  is  one  of  the 
original  .stockholders  of  the  Champion  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  of  Middletown.  He 
was  married,  November  6,  1890,  to  Miss 
Ada  B.  Brenneman,  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  N. 
Brenneman,  of  Middletown.  They  have  one 
child,  J.  Russel  Klugh,  born  March  2,  1892. 
Mrs.  Klugh  is  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  Lu- 
theran church. 


Kurtz,  Benjamin  W.,  merchant  and  bur- 
gess of  Middletown,  was  born  in  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  April  28,  1854.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Margaret  (Fackler)  Kui'tz.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Chester  county.  Pa., 
and  came  to  Middletown  in  1840  with  his 
father,  John  Kurtz,  who  located  in  London- 
derry township.  The  father  was  a  hotel 
keeper  and  a  tenant  farmer  for  Hon.  Simon 
Cameron  for  a  number  of  years.  He  after- 
wards became  the  owner  and  captain  of  a 
canal  boat,  which  he  managed  for  several 
years.  Mr.  Kurtz  was  Republican  in  politics. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  He  died  in  1888,  his  wife  in 
1880.  They  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
six  are  now  living,  namely:  Elizabeth  P., 
wife  of  Jolm  Kohr,  of  Middletown  ;  Mary  J., 
wife  of  Thomas  J.  Bretz,  of  Harrisburg ; 
Benjamin  "W.;  John  F.,  of  Middletown,  a 
recessor  at  the  Tube  Works,  born  in  June, 
1856,  married  Emma  Wolton,  and  has  two 
children,  George  W.  and  John;  Stephen  R., 
of  Middletown,  a  tinsmith,  born  in  1858, 
married  Adeline  Killian,  and  has  these 
children :  Eva,  Maggie,  Myra,  Susan,  and 
Albert ;  Edwin,  born  in  1861,  married 
Cordie  Walton,  and  has  two  children,  Em- 
ma and  Elizabeth. 

Benjamin  W.  was  reared  m  Middletown, 
and  enjoyed  the  advantages  to  be  derived  by  a 
wide-awake  boy  from  a  course  in  the  schools 
of  the  borough.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
butt-welder,  but  this  employment  was  not 
active  and  stirring  enough  for  a  young  man 
of  his  energy  and  ambition.  For  six  years 
he  followed 'the  canal.  From  1875  to  1881 
he  was  connected  with  the  Central  railroad 
of  New  Jersey  as  baggagemaster  and  assistant 
ticket  agent  in  Union  and  Monmouth 
counties.  In  1881  he  returned  to  Middle- 
town,  and  worked  for  the  American  Tube 
and  Iron  Company  for  thirteen  years.     By 


industry,  economy  and  frugality  he  had  ac- 
cumulated enougli  to  enable  him  to  engage 
in  business  for  himself.  He  chose  merchan- 
dizing, and  in  1892  established  his  present 
business.  He  was  elected  burgess  of  Middle- 
town  in  1894.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  ac- 
tive as  a  party  worker.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  On  Oc- 
tober 28, 1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Fanny 
Wilson  Stipe,  daughter  of  Perry  Stipe,  of 
Middletown.  They  have  two  children,  Ma- 
bel Elizabeth  and  Edna.  He  and  his  family 
attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  he  holds  the  office  of  steward. 


Rambler,  Michael  Backenstoe,  deceased, 
was  born  in  West  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  January  19,  1831.  He  was 
a  son  of  Leonard  Rambler,  also  a  native  of 
Dauphin  county,  and  a  grandson  of  Peter 
Rambler,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Dauphin  count}' 
about  1780.  Leonard  Rambler  was  born 
February  26,  1795,  and  was  one  of  the 
prominent  and  wealthy  farmers  of  his  day. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Shells- 
ville  Lutheran  church.  He  died  August  17, 
1871.  His  wife  was  Miss  Priscilla  Backen- 
stoe. Their  children  were;  John,  Mary, 
Henry,  Michael,  Jane,  Eli,  and  Priscilla; 
three  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Mary, 
wife  of  Moses  Early,  of  Shellsville  ;  Priscilla, 
wife  of  Benjamin  Gingerich,  of  West  Han- 
over, and  Eli,  of  Grantville,  Pa. 

Michael  B.  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Harrisburg  and  Gettysburg.  In 
1855  he  came  to  Middletown  and  established 
a  mercantile  business,  which  he  continued 
until  his  death  in  1892.  He  was  one  of  the 
'  original  stockholders  of  the  American  Tube 
and  Iron  Company,  and  of  the  Middletown 
Car  Works.  He  served  on  the  school  board 
for  many  years,  and  was  instrumental  in 
establishing  the  present  high  school.  He 
was  treasurer  of  the  school  board,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  town  council  for  several 
years.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  He 
was  a  regular  attendant  and  an  active  worker 
and  supporter  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  church. 
He  was  married,  April  15,  1856,  to  Miss 
Matilda  J.  Caskie,  daughter  of  Joseph  Cas- 
kie,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  Their  living  chil- 
dren are :  Leonard  C;  Julia,  wife  of  Frank 
Nissley,  of  Middletown,  and  Alice.  He  or- 
ganized the  Building  and  Loan  Association 
in  1868,  and  was  its  treasurer  up  to  the  time 


808 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


of  his  death.  His  grandfather,  Peter  Ram- 
bler, was  burgomaster  of  Antwerp,  Belgium, 
and  after  coming  to  America  was  a  commis- 
sioned officer  in  the  Continental  army. 


Rambler,  Leonard  C,  son  of  Miciiael  B. 
Rambler,  was  born  in  Middletown,  April  8, 
1857.  He  completed  his  education  in  the 
high  school  of  the  borough.  In  1873  he  en- 
tered his  father's  store,  and  remained  witli 
him  until  1884,  when  he  engaged  with  tlie 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  ticket 
receiver  at  Atlantic  City,  N.  J.  At  his  fath- 
er's death,  in  1892,  he  returned  to  Middle- 
town,  took  charge  of  his  business,  and  has 
carried  it  on  ever  since.  He  also  succeeded 
liis  father  as  treasurer  of  the  Middletown 
Building  and  Loan  Association.  He  was 
married,  in  1887,  to  Miss  Anna  E.  Early, 
daughter  of  Moses  Early,  of  West  Hanover 
township.  They  have  one  child,  Leonard 
C,  Jr.  Mr.  Rambler  is  a  Democrat.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran 
church. 


Deckard,  Levi  L.,  dentist,  Middletown, 
was  born  in  Swatara,  Daupiiin  county.  Pa., 
January  28, 1828.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Martlia(Ziders)  Deckard,  natives  of  Daui)hin 
county.  His  grandfather  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  was  one  of  tlie  earliest  settlers 
of  tliis  county.  His  father  was  a  carpenter, 
and  died  about  1830.  Tlieir  children  were: 
Jacob,  a  carpenter,  who  was  killed  by  an  ac- 
cident, he  married  a  Mi.ss  Rigle,  and  left  one 
son,  Jacob,  residing  at  Renovo,  Clinton  county. 
Pa.;  Martha,  deceased,  married  Adam  Ulricli ; 
Israel,  deceased  (see  sketch  of  L  L.  Deckard 
elsewhere);  Henry,  retired  farmer,  of  Middle- 
town  ;  David,  deceased  ;  John,  deceased,  and 
Levi  L. 

Levi  L.  was  reared  on  a  farm.  He  was  the 
youngest  of  tiie  family,  and  his  father  died 
when  he  was  four  years  old.  This  means 
more  uncertainty  and  greater  limitations  in 
living  and  learning  than  are  the  lot  of  the 
ordinarj'  boy,  but  he  had  a  good  home  on 
the  farm,  and  the  usual  summer  work  and 
winter  schooling  wiiich  farmer  boys  enjoy. 
Such  an  experience  is  not  without  substan- 
tial benefits  in  the  way  of  practical  knowl- 
edge of  men  and  att'airs  and  training  for  the 
business  of  life.  This  was  his  lot  up  to  1839, 
wlien  he  was  over  ten  years  of  age,  when  he 
came  to  Middletown.     In  1847  he  engaged 


with  Conkle  &  Sayford,  of  Harrisburg,  with 
whom  he  remained  one  year.  In  1848 
he  became  connected  with  Souders  &  War- 
ren, of  Philadelphia,  for  a  short  period.  He 
then  returned  to  Middletown  and  engaged 
in  the  merchant  tailoring  business.  In  1855 
he  began  tlie  study  of  dentistry  under  Dr. 
Carman,  of  Harrisburg;  he  finished  his  pro- 
fessional preparations  with  Dr.  Armstrong, 
of  Philadelphia,  and  afterwards  remained 
with  him  for  several  years.  He  again  re- 
turned to  Middletown  and  opened  an  office, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  practice  his 
profession.  Dr.  Deckard  is  one  of  the  oldest 
practicing  dentists  in  Pennsylvania.  He  is 
also  prominent  in  liis  profession.  He  is  the 
inventor  and  patentee  of  the  Electric  Dental 
Spring  Machine,  for  the  painless  extraction 
of  teeth,  which  is  quite  generally  used  by 
dentists  throughout  the  country.  In  1855 
he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Brestle,  daughter 
of  Peter  Brestle,  of  Middletown.  She  died 
January  11,  1888,  leaving  no  cliildren.  Dr. 
Deckard  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  an  attendant 
and  supporter  of  tiie  Presbyterian  church. 


Ulrich,  Sylve.ster,  M.  D.,  Middletown, 
was  born  in  Lebanon  county,. Pa.,  October 
9, 1862.  He  is  a  son  of  Sebastian  and  Cath- 
erine (Eagle)  Ulrich.  His  father  is  a  native 
of  Germany,  and  his  mother  of  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.  His  fatlier  is  a  carpenter  and 
was  connected  with  the  Colemans  in  Leb- 
anon county  for  many  years.  During  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  United  States  Government,  en- 
listed in  the  corps  of  meciianics,  and  engaged 
in  bridge  building.  Tlie  Doctor  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Lancaster  county  when 
he  was  two  years  old,  and  was  educated  at 
the  high  school  of  Elizabethtown.  He  read 
medicine  under  Dr.  Lingle,  of  Middletown, 
and  attended  the  Hahnemann  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1890.  He  then  succeeded  to  the 
practice  of  Dr.  A.  P.  Bowie,  of  Uninntown, 
Fayette  county.  Pa.  In  1891  he  located  in 
Middletown,  where  he  has  since  practiced 
his  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  South 
Central  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Ulrich  is  active  in  the 
Democratic  party.  He  was  married,  in 
1892,  to  Miss  Emma  Harglerotli,  daughter 
of  George  Hargleroth,  of  Elizabethtown, 
Lancaster  county.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church. 


(S{l^-i-t/^2>t/t^c-u-t^v^  .U^- .,e/\cor^ 


M     / 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


811 


The  Croll  Family.— The  first  of  the  CroU 
family  to  settle  in  Dauphin  county  was  John 
Croll,  a  native  of  York  county,  Pa.,  who  set- 
tled in  Middletown  at  an  early  day  and  estabr 
lished  one  of  the  first  tanneries  of  the  town. 
He  had  three  sons:  John,  Abner,  and  Henry, 
and  one  daughter,  Lydia,  who  married  Philip 
Ettle.  The  eldest  of  these  sons,  John,  en- 
gaged in  the  tanning  business  in  Middle- 
town.  He  was  connected  with  the  Middle- 
town  Bank  under  Hon.  Simon  Cameron. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church 
and  for  many  years  its  treasurer.  He  organ- 
ized the  first  Sunday-school  and  superin- 
intended  it  for  over  fifty  years.  He  was  also 
trustee  of  the  Emaus  Orphan  Home.  He 
married  Eliza  Lauman,  daughter  of  William 
Lauman.  Their  children  are:  Elizabeth, 
Susan,  and  Annie,  residing  in  Middletown  ; 
Maria  L.,  who  married  Rev.  W.  M.  Baum, 
D.  D.,  pastor  of  St.  Matthew's  Lutheran 
church,  Philadelphia;  Caroline  and  Maggie, 
deceased  ;  George  L.,  deceased  ;  and  Emeline, 
who  married  Dr.  J.  P.  Keller,  of  Harrisburg. 
Henry  CroU  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade, 
and  afterwards  engaged  in  the  butciiering 
business,  which  he  continued  until  his  death. 
He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Philip  Old- 
weiler,  and  left  several  children  ;  one  child, 
Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Nissley,  of  Middletown, 
Pa.,  survives. 

Abner  Croll  was  born  in  Middletown,  Sep- 
tember 9,  1800,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
hatter.  Afterwards  he  succeeded  to  his 
father's  business.  He  married,  September  6, 
1827,  Raciiel,  daughter  of  John  Shelly,  of 
Londonderry  township.  He  died  August  27, 
1835  ;  his  wife  November  29,  1875.  He  was 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Lutheran  churcli 
and  a  leader  of  tiie  choir.  His  children  were : 
John  S.,  who  died  in  York,  Pa.,  in  1880; 
William  A.,  of  Middletown  ;  Lydia  S.,  wife 
of  Jacob  L.  Nissley,  of  Middletown  ;  Lutlier 
H.,  who  was  professor  of  mathematics  of 
Pennsylvania  College,  and  died  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

George  L.  Croll,  son  of  John  Croll,  second, 
was  born  in  Middletown  in  1823.  He  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  the  borougli.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  became  a  clerk  in  a 
general  store  in  York,  Pa.  About  1853  he 
returned  to  Middletown  and  formed  a  part- 
nership in  the  general  mercantile  business 
with  Frederick  Lauman,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Lauman  &  Croll,  which  continued 
for  a  few  years.  He  then  purchased  his 
partner's  interest  and  carried  on  the  business 

52 


until  his  death,  in  1874.  He  was  considered 
one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  the 
town  He  had  interests  in  the  Middletown 
Furniture  Company.  He  was  a  Democrat. 
He  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board. 
In  1854  he  married  Sarah  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Mercer  Brown,  of  Middletown. 
She  died  in  September,  1882.  They  were 
members  of  the' Lutheran  church.  They  had 
these  children  :  Mercer  B.,  physician,  of  Fre- 
mont, Neb.,  born  in  1855  ;  John,  of  South 
Boston,  Va.,  born  in  October,  1856,  an  or- 
dained minister  of  the  Lutheran  church ; 
Edward  L.,  of  Middletown  ;  George  L.,  of 
Sparrow's  Point,  Md.,  born  in  1861 ;  Re- 
becca Brown,  born  in  1863  ;  Frank,  who  died 
in  1891,  aged  twenty-four  years  ;  Raymond 
L.,  student  of  music  at  Cincinnati,  O. 

Edward  L.  Croll,  proprietor  of  the  Middle- 
town  Furniture  Company,  was  born  in  Mid- 
dletown, December  15,  1858.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  took 
a  special  course  in  the  Pennsylvania  College 
at  Gettysburg.  He  then  went  to  Philadel- 
phia and  engaged  with  John  E.  Fox  &  Co., 
bankers.  Afterwards  he  became  connected 
with  the  Union  National  Bank,  where  he 
remained  for  nearly  five  years,  being  pro- 
moted to  assistant  receiving  teller.  He  re- 
signed this  position  in  1882,  and  became 
connected  with  the  Middletown  Furniture 
Company,  in  which  he  was  a  stockholder. 
In  December,  1884,  he  and  his  brothers  George 
and  John  purchased  the  controlling  interest 
in  the  company,  and  became  its  managers. 
On  June  10, 1895,  he  purchased  the  control- 
ling interestand  has  since  conducted  the  busi- 
ness of  the  company.  They  manufacture 
cabinet  work,  and  receive  many  Government 
contracts  for  postoffice  furniture.  Mr.  Croll  is 
a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  Swatara 
Council,  No.  949,  R.  A.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  has 
for  several  years  served  as  deacon  and  secretary 
of  the  council  of  the  church. 

William  A.  Croll  was  born  in  Middletown, 
February  17,  1830.  He  is  a  son  of  Abner, 
a  sketch  of  whom  is  given  elsewhere  in  this 
volume,  and  Rachel,  daughter  of  John  Shelly. 
He  was  educated  in  the  borough  schools,  and 
engaged  in  farming.  He  was  appointed 
principal  of  the  Emaus  Orphans'  Home  in 
February,  1866,  and  has  since  held  that 
position.  He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
in  1874,  and  still  continues  in  that  office. 
In  June,  1882,  he  was  appointed  notary 
public.     He  sent  a  substitute  to  the  war  of 


812 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


the  Rebellion,  and  afterwards  joined  Colonel 
Young's  cavahy,  but  was  discharged  on 
reaching  Harrisburg.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers,  and  a  director  of  the  Middletown 
Water  Companj^,  and  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  in  the  Middletown  Car  Works. 
He  was  married.  May  24,  1855,  to  Miss  Annie 
Faber,  daugliter  of  Adam  Faber,  of  Adams 
county.  They  have  four  children :  Abner, 
merchant  of  Middletown ;  William  L.,  prac- 
ticing dentistry  in  Londonderry  ;  Cliarles  E., 
and  Edward  Hillis,  of  Middletown.  Mr. 
Croll  and  his  family  are  active  and  prominent 
members  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  ciiurcli,  in 
which  he  has  for  many  years  filled  the  office 
of  trustee. 


McCreaky,  Eli.iah,  Middletown,  was 
born  in  York  county,  Pa.,  October  24,  182G. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Maria  (Lutz)  Mc- 
Creary,  and  a  grandson  of  Isaac  McCreary, 
a  native  of  Scotland,  who  first  settled  in 
Chester  county.  Pa.,  and  removed  to  York 
county  during  the  Revolutionary  period. 
John,  father  of  Elijah,  was  born  there.  He 
was  a  carpenter  and  removed  to  Dauphin 
county  in  1837 ;  he  located  in  Middletown 
and  engaged  in  hotel  keeping.  He  died  in 
1843,  leaving  four  children :  Mary,  wife  of 
Jacob  Patton,  now  deceased  ;  Elijah  ;  Maria, 
wife  of  Frederick  Morningstar,  of  Middle- 
town,  and  John,  who  was  killed  on  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  December  8,  1892. 
Elijah  and  Maria  are  now  the  only  surviv- 
ing members  of  the  family. 

Elijah  came  to  Middletown  with  his  par- 
ents and  engaged  as  driver  on  the  State  and 
Union  canals;  this  occupation  he  followed 
until  1843.  On  March  lU,  1844,  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  John  Watson  to  learn  boatbuild- 
ing. After  serving  six  months  of  hisappren- 
ticeship  he  was  bound  out  until  he  became 
of  age,  a  period  of  three  years  and  seven 
months.  He  was  then  recommended  by 
Simon  Cameron  and  Joseph  Ross  to  a  place 
in  the  United  States  navy  yard,  at  Phila- 
delphia, but  did  not  accept  the  appointment. 
He  took  a  trip  through  tlie  ^\'est  with  his 
brother  John,  visiting  Chicago,  Louisville, 
Cairo,  Cincinnati,  Pittsburgh,  St.  Louis,  and 
other  places,  traveling  all  the  way  by  water, 
and  returning  to  Middletown  in  1849.  In 
1850  he  and  his  brother  John  and  Jacob 
Patton  engaged  in  boat  building.  Pat- 
ton  retired  from  this  firm  after  one  year, 
and  the  McCrearys  continued  the  business 


for  many  years,  and  were  very  successful. 
They  also  engaged  in  merchandising,  deal- 
ing very  extensively  in  pork,  and  for  many 
years  conducted  a  saw  mill.  Mr.  McCreary 
was  also  engaged  in  the  coal  and  ice  busi- 
ness for  about  eight  years.  He  is  not  now 
engaged  in  any  active  business,  but  spends 
the  autumn  of  his  life  in  comparative  re- 
tirement amidst  the  surroundings  of  his 
home  and  family.  In  1854  he  married  Miss 
Laura  Siieffer,  daughter  of  Adam  Siieff'er,  of 
Marietta.  She  died  in  1872,  leaving  five 
children:  Wesley,  Elmer  E.,  Elijah  P.,  Car- 
rie, wife  of  Alfred  Antrim,  and  Laura,  wife 
Grant  Croll,  all  of  Middletown.  He  was 
again  married,  in  1881,  to  Miss  Eleanor  V. 
Duck,  daughter  of  Washington  Duck,  of 
Columbia,  by  whom  he  has  two  children : 
Estella  and  May.  Mr.  McCreary  was  for- 
merly active  in  political  matters.  He 
served  nine  3'ears  in  the  borough  council 
and  seven  years  as  member  of  the  sciiool 
board.  He  and  his  family  attend  the  Bethel 
church. 


Dkckard,  Dr.  I.  K.,  postmaster.  Middle- 
town,  was  born  in  Middletown,  June  27, 
1862.  He  is  a  son  of  Israel  and  Nancy 
(Kline)  Deckard.  His  father  was  a  miller, 
and  conducted  the  grist  mill  for  the  Cam- 
eron Furnace  Company  for  about  thirty- 
five  years.  He  died  March  19,  1889.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Kline, 
of  Lancaster  county,  and  a  native  of  Lingles- 
town,  Dauphin  county,  survives  him.  Their 
family  consists  of  six  children  :  Mary,  wife 
of  Andrew  Yingst,  of  Middletown;  Jacob,  of 
Middletown  ;  Caroline,  wife  of  E.  C.  Brinser, 
of  Londonderry  township  ;  Henry,  of  Sioux 
City,  Iowa  ;  Barbara,  wife  of  Joiin  H.  Horst, 
of  Middletown,  and  Israel  K. 

Israel  K.  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Middletown.  In  1885  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  a  position  in  tlie  railway  mail 
service.  This  position  he  filled  with  credit 
to  himself  and  with  satisfaction  to  the  pub- 
lic for  four  years.  In  1889  he  resigned  it 
with  a  view  of  preparing  himself  for  profes- 
sional work.  He  entered  the  American 
Veterinary  College,  in  New  York  City,  took 
a  three  years'  course,  and  was  graduated  in 
1891.  He  returned  to  Middletown,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  here  in  the  practice  of 
his  profes.sion.  On  October  1,  1895,  he  was 
appointed  j^ostmftster  of  Middletown  by 
President  Cleveland.     He  is  the  first  repre- 


BA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY. 


813 


sentative  of  the  Democratic  party  to  receive 
the  appointment  of  postmaster  of  Middle- 
town  for  tliirty-four  years. 


Deckard.  Jacob  B.,  feed  dealer,  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Middletown,  Febru- 
ary 13,  1849.  He  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  was  afterwards  engaged  in 
the  feed  and  milling  business  with  his  father. 
He  established  his  present  business  in 
1S93.  In  the  same  year  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Emma  Parthemore,  daughter  of  David 
Parthemore,  of  Highspire,  Pa.  In  politics 
ho  is  Democratic.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
borough  council.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Bethel  church.  He  attends  the  Lu- 
theran church. 


Keener,  Harry  O.,  was  born  in  Eliza- 
bethtown,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  June  24, 
1870.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  C.  and  Kate 
(Oldweiler)  Keener.  His  father  was  born  at 
Chickey's  Mills,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  April 
16,  1845,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
sciiools  of  Mt.  Joy,  Pa.  He  learned  the 
milling  business  of  Brandt  &  Manning,  of 
Mt.  Joy,  and  pursued  that  occupation  for 
many  years.  He  operated  the  Elizabetlitown 
gni.in  warehouse  and  elevator  from  1877  to 
1887,  when  he  came  to  Middletown  and 
established  the  firm  of  J.  C.  Keener  &  Son, 
in  the  general  warehouse  business,  which 
continued  until  his  death  in  1889.  This 
firm  also  purchased  the  Robert  P.  Long 
brickyard  property,  wiiich  they  enlarged  and 
remodeled  so  as  to  carry  on  an  extensive 
business  in  that  line.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Middletown  Market  Company  and  a 
stockholder  in  the  Elizabetlitown  Exchange 
Bank.  In  politics  he  was  Republican.  He 
.served  as  school  director  and  member  of  the 
borough  council  for  man}'  years.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Bethel  church.  He  died  sud- 
denly on  the  train,  June  16,  1891,  when  re- 
turning from  attending  an  annual  conven- 
tion of  the  brickmakers  of  the  United  States, 
held  at  Washington,  D.  C.  He  married  Miss 
Kate  Oldweiler,  of  Lancaster  county,  who 
survives  him.  They  had  five  children : 
Harry  O.,  Annie  O.,  Mary  A.,  James  B.,  and 
Joseph,  Jr. 

Harry  0.  received  his  education  in  the 
Elizabeth  town  high  school,  the  Franklin  and 
Marshall  and  the  Commercial  colleges  of 
Lancaster  county.  He  became  a  partner  in 
his  father's  business  in  1887  under  the  firm 
name  of  J.  C.  Keener  &  Son.    Since  the  death 


of  his  father,  which  occun-ed  in  1889,  he  has 
had  entire  charge  of  the  business.  Although 
young  in  years  and  in  expei'ience,  he  has 
proved  himself  abundantly  qualified  to  man- 
age interests  of  magnitude  and  importance. 
He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Middletown  Market 
Company  and  its  secretary.  He  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Champion  Manufacturing 
Company  of  Middletown.  He  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Keener 
married,  April  9,  1896,  Mi.ss  Sarah  Elizabeth 
Fackler,  daughter  of  Joseph  Fackler,  of  Mid- 
dletown, and  stepdaughter  of  John  W.  Re- 
walt.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Bethel  church 
and  is  a  sympathizer  and  co-worker  in  all 
movements  and  measures  for  promoting  the 
material  and  moral  welfare  of  the  commu- 
nity. He  takes  a  special  interest  in  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  of  which 
he  is  an  active  member. 


Dasher,  Hiram  D.,  merchant,  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  August  24,  1838. 
He  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Catherine  (Pal- 
mer) Dasher,  of  Dauphin  and  Lancaster 
counties  respectively.  Peter  Dasher,  his 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
a  stone  mason ;  he  married  Miss  Hufty. 
Tlie  parents  of  Hiram  D.  were  married  in 
1828,  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  London- 
derry township,  Dauphin  county.  The 
father  died  there  in  February,  1890.  The 
mother  is  still  living.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Nancy,  wife  of  John  Frantz,  of  Roy- 
alton.  Pa.;  Hiram  D.;  Mary,  wife  of  Reuben 
Snavely,  of  Middletown,  and  William,  of 
Middletown. 

Hiram  D.  received  his  education  in  the 
township  schools.  He  learned  bricklaying, 
and  followed  this  occupation  for  some  years. 
In  1861  he  enlisted  in  company  D,  Ninety- 
third  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers  ; 
re-enlisted  in  1864  as  a  veteran  and  was 
honorably  discharged  June  27, 1865.  During 
his  service  in  the  army  he  was  promoted 
from  the  rank  of  private  to  be  sergeant,  sec- 
ond lieutenant  and  first  lieutenant.  He 
served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  was 
a  sharer  in  the  marches,  battles,  defeats  and 
victories  of  that  great  army.  He  was  in  the 
battles  of  Fair  Oaks,  the  Seven  Days' fighting, 
Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg,  the  Wilderness, 
and  other  engagements.  He  is  justly  en- 
titled to  the  rewards  and  honors  which  a 
prosperous  and  grateful  people  delight  to 
render  to  the  defenders  and  preservers  of  the 


814 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Nation.  After  the  close  of  the  war  lie  became 
a  contractor  for  masonrj'  in  Middletown, 
and  carried  on  this  business  until  1876.  He 
erected  many  of  the  prominent  buildings  of 
the  town.  In  1876  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business,  and  has  continued  in  the  same 
since  that  date.  Mr.  Dasher's  politics  are 
Republican.  lie  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  borough  council.  He  was  married  in 
1860  to  Miss  Delilah  Corl,  daughter  of 
Henry  Corl,  of  Cumberland  county.  Pa. 
They  have  three  children  :  Robert  F.,  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Nauss  ;  Charles  Henry,  married 
Minnie  Fleck,  and  has  one  child,  Fern 
Marie;  Lillian,  wife  of  William  Wagner,  of 
Middletown,  has  three  chilbren :  Blanche 
L.,  CHaude  N.,  and  Hiram  D.;  George,  and 
Wasliington  D.  Mr.  Daslier  is  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church. 


NissLEY,  John  L.,  dealer  in  farming  imple- 
ments, Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lon- 
donderry township,  January  12,  1842.  He 
is  a  son  of  Martin  and  Mary  (Longenecker) 
Nissley,  and  a  grandson  of  Martin  Nissley,  a 
farmer  of  Londonderry  townsliip,  who  also 
conducted  a  grain  mill  and  distillery.  His 
children  were:  Jacob,  who  succeeded  to  his 
father's  business,  and  died  in  1895 ;  Mary, 
wife  of  Martin  Nissley,  of  Derry  township  ; 
Fannie,  wife  of  Jacob  Rife,  of  Londonderry 
township;  Mrs.  Jacob  Mumma,  of  Mechan- 
icsburg.  Pa.;  Catherine,  wife  of  Christian 
Reesor,  of  Lebanon  county,  and  Martin. 
The  latter,  who  was  the  father  of  John  L., 
was  born  in  Londonderry  township,  and  was 
a  farmer  and  tobacco  raiser.  He  engaged  in 
the  lumber  husiness  at  Falmouth,  and  was  a 
partner  with  Abraham  Collins  in  conducting 
canal  boats.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Men- 
nouite  church.  In  politics  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican. He  served  as  school  director  in  the 
township.  He  died  in  1887.  His  first  wife 
died  in  1854,  leaving  four  children:  John 
L.;  Christian,  of  Swatara  township  ;  Jacob, 
of  Lower  Swatara  township,  and  Annie,  wife 
of  H.  B.  Engle,  of  Steel  ton.  Pa.  His  second 
wife  was  Mary  Horst,  of  Swatara  township. 
She  survives  him  and  resides  in  Londonderry 
township.  B}'  her  he  had  six  children, 
namely :  David,  of  Maryland ;  Frank,  of 
Lower  Swatara  ;  Amos,  of  Middletown  ;  Jo- 
seph, of  Lancaster  county,  Pa.;  Emma,  wife 
of  David  Eppler,  of  Londonderry  township, 
and  Harvey,  of  Philadelphia,  clerk  for  the 
South  Jersey  railway. 

John  L.  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 


lic schools.  For  three  years  he  was  era- 
ployed  in  teaching  school.  He  conducted 
his  uncle's  grist  mill  in  1866-67-68.  In 
1870  he  came  to  Middletown  and  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Reider,  Ramsey  & 
Nissley,  conducting  a  planing  mill  and  lum- 
ber yard.  In  1879  he  became  connected 
with  Engle  &,  Bro.,  and  managed  their  im- 
plement business  for  seven  years.  At  the 
end  of  this  period  he  succeeded  the  firm,  and 
has  since  conducted  the  business  in  his  own 
interest.  In  1865  he  furnished  a  substitute 
in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He  is  a  direc- 
tor and  is  treasurer  of  the  Londonderry  Live 
Stock  Insurance  Company,  and  was  also  the 
secretary  of  the  company  for  two  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle,  Mystic  t'hain,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  Knights  of  Malta.  In  politics  lie  is  a 
Rejiublican.  He  was  married,  in  1869,  to 
Miss  Ada  K.  Landis,  daughter  of  Abraham 
Landis,  of  Middletown.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren. He  and  his  wife  are  active  members 
of  the  Bethel  church.  He  served  as  deacon 
in  the  church  for  twelve  years. 

KiAUiH,  Jacor  Frederick,  Ilighspire, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Newberrytown,  York  county. 
Pa.,  March  17,  1838.  Ho  is  a  son  of  Freder- 
ick H.  and  Catherine  (Elicker)  Klugh,  na- 
tives of  York  county,  who  moved  to  May- 
town,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  in  1840.  His 
father  was  a  potter,  and  also  taught  school 
in  York  and  Lancaster  counties. 

J.  F.  Klugh  was  reared  in  May  town.  Pa., 
and  educated  in  the  public  schools.  In' 
1852  his  father  died,  and  he  then  worked 
with  his  brother,  Henr}'  E.  Klugh  (now  a 
prominent  and  successful  attorney  of  New 
York  City),  in  his  father's  pottery  at  May- 
town,  Pa.,  until  the  year  1857,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  pottery  himself  and  carried  on 
the  jjottery  business  until  1864.  In  1857  he 
began  teaching  school  in  the  winter,  and 
continued  teaching  until  1868,  and  one  term 
after  that  in  1874;  and  while  teaching  he 
was  principal  of  the  Elizabethtown  high 
school  three  terms,  the  Manheim  high  school 
one  term,  and  the  Highspire  higli  school 
two  terms.  In  1865  he  engaged  in  the 
clothing  business  in  Marietta,  Pa.,  and  Har- 
risburg.  He  was  bookkeeper  for  the  Eliza- 
bethtown boot  and  shoe  factory,  and  also 
bookkeeper  and  local  editor  on  the  Harris- 
burg  Patriot  for  a  short  time.  He  perma- 
nently came  to  Highspire  in  1870,  engaging 
with  William  K.  Wilson,  and  had  charge  of 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


815 


his  business  and  telegraphing  until  1882, 
when  he  began  the  manufacture  of  cigars, 
dealing  in  real  estate,  surveying  and  draft- 
ing. He  quit  manufacturing  cigars  in  the 
spring  of  1889,  since  which  time  he  has  given 
his  attention  to  real  estate,  surveying,  draft- 
ing, and  the  ottice  of  tlie  justice  of  the  peace, 
to  which  othce  he  was  first  elected  in  1874, 
and  has  uninterruptedly  served  in  that  ca- 
pacity until  the  present  time,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States  Government  as  special  exam- 
iner of  pensions,  under  the  commissioner  of 
l)ensions,  Hon.  John  C.  Black.  Recently  he 
has  purchased  about  twenty-eight  acres  of 
finely  located  land  adjoining  the. town  of 
Ilighspire,  which  he  laid  out  as  "Klughton," 
an  addition  to  Ilighspire.  He  is  a  member 
of  Elizabetlitown  Lodge,  No.  128,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
and  Dauphin  Encampment,  No.  10,  of  Har- 
risburg.  Pa.  He  was  the  promoter  of  tiie 
Middletown,  Highspire  and  Steelton  Street 
Railway  Compan}',  of  whicii  he  was  a  stock- 
holder and  director  until  it  was  built  and 
swallowed  up  by  the  East  Harrisburg  Pas- 
senger Railroad  Company,  now  a  part  of  the 
Harrisburg  Traction  Company,  and  was  a 
stockholder  in  the  Highspire  Car  Shops, 
which  failed  in  1872.  and  is  a  stockholder 
of  the  Iliglispire  Building  and  Savings  As- 
sociation. In  18G5  he  married  Miss  Mary 
C,  daughter  of  George  and  Matilda  (Black) 
Hambright,  of  Wilmington,  Del.  They  have 
had  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, viz :  Oliver  R.,  M.  D.,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
Ida  Nora,  Aaron  D.,  Mary  C,  and  Jacob 
Handcock.  Mr.  Klugh  was  brought  up  a 
Lutheran,  which  church  and  Sunday-school 
he  regularly  attended,  but  since  he  is  at 
Highspire  he  is  a  contributor  to  and  the  fam- 
ily attend  the  United  Bretliren  church. 


EsHLEMAN,  John,  Highspire,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  November  20, 1842. 
He  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Susan  (Ebersole) 
Eshleman,  natives  of  Lancaster  county.  His 
father  was  a  laborer  and  died  in  that  county. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Mennonite  church. 
His  family  consisted  of  ten  children,  reared  to 
maturity,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living  : 
Martha,  wife  of  Uriah  Eichelberger,  of  Du 
Page  county.  111.:  Susan,  wife  of  Jacob  Hii'sh, 
of  Du  Page  county,  111.;  Adeline,  of  Du  Page 
county,  111.;  David,  of  Nebraska,  a  saddler ; 
Henry,  of  Marietta,  Lancaster  county  ;  Simon, 
of  Donegal  township,  Lancaster  county,  and 
John. 


John  was  brought  up  and  educated  in  Lan- 
caster county.  His  school  days  were  limited 
by  his  earnest  desire  to  enter  the  ranks  of  the 
breadwinners.  He  went  to  work  as  a  wage- 
earner  at  the  age  of  eleven  on  the  farm  of 
David  Ebersole.  Until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old  he  worked  at  farming  for  various 
people.  During  this  time  he  was  accumu- 
lating knowledge  and  experience  and  gaining 
physical  strength  and  muscular  vigor,  which 
were  to  serve  him  as  capital  in  the  business 
of  life.  Leaving  farm  work,  he  engaged  as  a 
laborer  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company.  Hei'e  his  superiority  to  the  com- 
mon laborer  with  whom  he  was  associated 
was  soon  recognized  and  appreciated.  In  a 
short  time  he  was  made  foreman  of  the 
■'  floating  gang,"  and  lielped  to  build  the 
double  track  from  Middletown  to  Columbia. 
In  18G8  he  moved  to  Highspire  and  became 
section  foreman  for  the  Penn.sylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  which  position  he  filled  until 
1883.  In  this  year  he  engaged  in  tlie  lum- 
ber business,  in  which  he  has  since  continued. 
He  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Har- 
risburg and  Middletown  Pike  Company  and 
a  stockholder  in  the  Harrisburg,  Highspire 
and  Steelton  Electric  Railway  Comjiany.  He 
has  also  large  real  estate  interests.  He  is 
Republican  in  politics.  He  served  as  as- 
sessor of  Lower  Swarata  township  for  three 
years.  He  is  superintendent  of  the  High- 
spire Cemetery  Association.  Recently  Mr. 
Eshleman  has  given  further  proofs  of  his 
enterprise  by  laying  out  twenty  acres  of  land 
at  tlie  east  end  of  Highspire  into  town  lots, 
which  is  called  the  Eshleman  addition  to 
Highspire.  These  lots  are  being  rapidly  pur- 
chased by  residents  and  newcomers,  who  are 
erecting  handsome  and  comfortable  homes, 
and  in  a  very  short  time  this  will  form  one 
of  the  most  picturesque  portions  of  the  vil- 
lage. He  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Miss  Ellen, 
daughter  of  Henry  Wolf,  of  Lower  Swatara 
township,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Harry 
W.,  born  in  1871.  Mr.  Eshleman  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  of  God. 


Wolf,  Franklin,  farmer,  Highspire  P. 
0.,  was  born  in  York  county.  Pa.,  December 
29,  1849.  He  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and 
Lydia  (LeFevre)  Wolf,  natives  of  York 
county.  Pa.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and 
tobacco  raiser.  He  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  was  Republi- 
can in  politics.  He  died  in  18G8,  his  wife  in 
1852.    They  had  nine  children,  two  of  whom 


816 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


are  now  living:  Annie,  wife  of  Peter  Shingle, 
of  Goldsboro,  York  county,  and  Franklin. 

Franklin  was  reared  in  York  county  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools  till  he  was 
sixteen  years  old,  when  he  became  a  worker 
for  wages,  hiring  out  as  a  farm  laborer.  In 
1865  he  came  to  Dauphin  county,  and  lived 
with  Hon.  Isaac  Mumma  for  thirteen  years. 
For  the  last  eighteen  j'ears  of  this  period  he 
rented  his  farm  and  conducted  the  business 
for  himself.  In  1878  he  engaged  with  Col. 
John  Motter,  and  has  since  had  charge  of 
his  farming  interests.  He  is  an  active  Re- 
publican. He  has  served  as  school  director, 
treasurer  and  assessor  of  Lower  Swatara 
township.  He  is  a  member  of  Prince  Edwin 
Lodge,  No.  486,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Middletown ; 
of  the  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics, 
and  of  Harrisburg  Lodge,  No.  68,  and  En- 
campment No.  10, 1.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Harrisburg. 
He  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Mi.ss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Hoke,  of  Lower  Swatara 
township.  Siie  died  December  12.  1883, 
leaving  four  children  :  Harry  E..  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  David  Smith,  and  has 
one  child,  Walter  S.;  Emma,  wife  of  David 
Smith,  of  Lower  Swatara  township,  and  has 
two  children,  Annie  and  Harry  ;  John  Mot- 
ter, and  Harvey  J.  He  was  again  married, 
in  1884,  to  Miss  Kate  R.  Duncan,  daugliter 
of  David  Ober,  of  Swatara  township,  by  whom 
he  has  four  children  :  Clarence,  Annie,  Ober, 
and  Mary.  Mr.  Wolf  and  his  family  attend 
the  Lutheran  church. 


Allem.\n,  Henry,  farmer,  Middletown  P. 
0.,  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies, 
February  28,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Catherine  (Rudy)  Alleman.  Five  brotli- 
ers,  his  ancestors,  came  from  Germany  at  an 
early  day  and  settled  in  Berks  county.  Pa. 
Henry  Alleman,  grandfather  of  Henr3%  was 
born  in  Berks  county  and  settled  in  what  is 
now  Lower  Swatara  township,  where  he  be- 
came a  prominent  farmer  and  distiller.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
helped  to  build  the  old  Lutheran  church  of 
Middletown.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Julia 
Long,  of  South  Annville  township,  Lebanon 
county.  His  second  wife  was  a  widow  Sibert, 
and  survived  him  several  years.  He  was 
buried  on  the  Rook  farm.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  eight  sons  and  two  daughters, 
many  of  them  settled  in  Ohio.  Two  died  in 
Franklin  county.  Pa.  The  maternal  grand- 
parents (Rudy)  were   members  of  the  Re- 


formed church  and  their  bodies  are  interred 
in  Shoop's  church  cemetery. 

Michael  Alleman,  father  of  Henry,  was 
born  in  Lower  Swatara  township  in  1784, 
and  was  a  farmer  and  distiller.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  and  a  deacon  in  the  Lu- 
theran church.  He  was  first  a  Whig  in  poli- 
tics, and  allied  himself  with  the  Republican 
party  upon  its  formation.  He  served  as 
school  director  for  many  years.  He  died  in 
1868 ;  his  wife  survived  him  until  1890. 
They  reared  six  children  :  Susanna,  widow 
of  John  Cope,  of  Palmyra,  Lebanon  county, 
Pa.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  S.  Foltz,  of 
Conewago,  Pa.;  Maria,  wife  of  Michael  Con- 
nelly, of  Middletown  ;  Michael  R.,  who  was 
trustee  in  the  Emaus  Orphans'  Home  for  many 
years,  died  in  1870;  his  wife  was  Leah  Royer, 
of  Schaefferstown,  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  who 
now  resides  in  Steelton  ;  Henr}' ;  and  Joseph 
W.,  died  in  1893,  farmer  in  Lower  Swatara 
township,  married  Margaret  K.  Royer,  now 
residing  in  Lower  Swatara  township. 

Henry  received  his  education  in  the  town- 
ship schools,  the  Middletown  high  school 
and  Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettysburg. 
He  taught  school  in  Dauphin  county  for  five 
years.  Since  1855  he  has  been  engaged  in 
farming.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  has  served  as  town- 
ship auditor.  He  is  a  trustee  of  Emaus  Or- 
phans' Home.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Sa- 
lome Seltzer,  daughter  of  Samuel  Seltzer,  of 
Middletown.  They  have  had  fourteen  chil- 
dren :  Samuel,  of  Swatara  township,  married 
Miss  Reed  ;  Martin,  a  car|)enter,  of  Middle- 
town,  married  Miss  Meade  Wallower;  Sarah, 
wife  of  John  V.  Ricker,  of  Swatara  town- 
ship; Henrv  M.,  of  Swatara  township,  mar- 
ried Minnie  Fisher, resides  in  Albany  county, 
N.  Y.;  Edward  J.,  of  Paxton  township,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Mumma  ;  Robert  G.,  Abner  T., 
Ira  F.,  Mary,  Salome,  Catherine,  Helen, 
David^James,  and  David  A.,  deceased.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Mr.  Alleman  has  served  in  all  the  church 
offices. 


HocKER,  Andrew  C,  Highspire,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Highspire,  May  3, 1861.  He  is  a  son 
of  Jacob  and  Jane  (Keplinger)  Hocker.  His 
father  was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Harrisburg, 
March  25,  1819,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob 
Hocker,  who  was  born  April  17,  1775,  and 
died  April  8, 1836.  Jacob  Hocker,  Jr.,  moved 
with  his  father,  by  wagon,  to  Ohio.  After 
remaining  there  a  short  time  he  returned  to 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


817 


Dauphin  county  and  worked  as  a  driver  on 
the  Union  canal.  He  invested  his  earnings 
in  tlie  pui'chase  of  a  boat,  wliich  lie  conducted 
for  several  years.  After  this  he  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  Union  Deposit  for  a 
short  period  ;  he  then  came  to  Highspire  and 
opened  a  store  which  he  conducted  until 
1884,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  in 
Reading,  Pa.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  of  the  Highspire  Car  and  Manu- 
facturing Company.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  American  Mechanics.  He  united 
with  the  Hummelstown  Lutheran  cliurch  in 
1835.  He  was  Repul)lican  in  politics,  and 
filled  various  township  offices.  He  died 
March  28,  1892.  His  wife  survives  him. 
They  were  married  in  Harrisburg,  Decem- 
ber 13, 1842.  Their  family  consisted  of  eight 
children  :  Mary,  married  William  Iv.  Wilson, 
and  died  in  Washington  ;  David  K.,  died  in 
Philadelphia;  Amelia  J.,  wife  of  Shannon 
Kore,  of  Highspire ;  Robert  J.,  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Catherine  Ann,  wife  of  M.  A.  Bart- 
lett ;"  Ella,  wife  of  L.  W.  Kribbs,  of  Washing- 
ton ;  W.  C.  A.  L.,  who  died  in  Highspire,  and 
Andrew  C. 

The  latter  received  his  education  at  the 
public  school  of  Highspire,  and  entered  his 
father's  store  as  a  clerk.  In  1884  he  pur- 
chased the  business  and  continued  it  until 
1893.  Since  that  time  he  has  devoted  his 
attention  to  his  large  real  estate  interests. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  American 
Mechanics.  He  is  a  Republican  with  Prohi- 
bition proclivities.  He  was  married,  in  1884, 
to  Alice  F.,  daughter  of  Henry  Zimmerman, 
of  Lower  Swatara  township,  by  whom  he  has 
four  children:  Mervyn  J.,  Jacob  C,  Ivan, 
and  Edna  Francis.  Mr.  Hockerand  his  wife 
are  prominent  members  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  of  Highspire,  in  which  he  holds 
the  office  of  trustee  and  is  a  class  leader. 

MuMMA,  JosiAH  J.,  farmer,  Highspire,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  February 
12,  1841.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Cathe- 
rine (Kreider)  Mumma.  He  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Lebanon  county.  He  came  to 
Dauphin  county  in  18G4,  and  located  in 
Lower  Swatara  township.  He  was  married, 
in  1862,  to  Miss  Annie  Elizabeth  Ulrich, 
daughter  of  Michael  Ulrich,  of  Lower 
Swatara  township,  a  sketch  of  whom  is 
given  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mr.  Mumma, 
during  the  progress  of  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion, was  patriotic  and  in  full  sympathy 
with   those   who   sought    to   maintain   the 


Union  and  perpetuate  the  life  of  the  Nation. 
He  was  a  young  man,  just  beginning  life 
and  life's  business  on  the  farm,  and  had  just 
married.  While  he  was  not  so  situated 
that  he  could  enlist  in  the  army  and  render 
service  in  person,  he  was  yet  entirely  will- 
ing to  bear  his  part  in  the  patriotic  sacri- 
fices wdiich  were  demanded  of  all  good  citi- 
zens. Consequently  when  he  was  drafted, 
he  cheerfully  furnished  a  substitute  who  was 
young  and  strong  and  able  to  do  full  ser- 
vice in  his  name  and  place  in  the  army. 
Mr.  Mumma  is  a  Republican.  He  is  not  an 
office  seeker,  but  is  active  in  the  support  of 
good  men  for  all  places  of  public  trust.  He 
has  eight  children  :  Catherine,  wife  of  Addi- 
son Shearer,  of  Hummelstown,  Pa.;  Michael 
U.,  of  Lower  Swatara  township.;  Ida  Alice ; 
Josiah  J.,  of  Lower  Swatara  township ;  Eva 
U.,  Isaac  N.,  Eluma  Le  Roy,  and  Annie 
Elizabeth  May.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Highspire  United  Brethren  church. 

Michael  Ulrich,  deceased,  was  born  near 
Hummelstown,  Pa.,  November  18,  1811. 
He  moved  with  his  parents  to  Lower 
Swatara  township.  He  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. He  died  March  6, 1889.  He  was 
married  to  Catherine  Heicher,  of  Lower 
Swatara  township,  who  died  December  18, 
1883.  They  had  three  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  third,  Annie 
Elizabeth,  married  Joshua  J.  Mumma,  and 
resides  in  Lower  Swatara  township.  Mr. 
Ulrich  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  filled  the  of- 
fice of  elder. 


Strayer,  Horace  R.,  farmer,  Middletown 
P.  0.,  was  born  in  Lower  Swatara  township, 
July  20, 1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and 
Mary  (Rathbon)  Strayer,  natives  of  Dauphin 
county.  His  father  was  a  son  of  Micliael 
Strayer,  and  was  born  in  Swatara  township. 
May  9,  1813.  After  his  marriage  he  located 
in  Lower  Swatara  township,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death,  November  13,  1883.  His 
wife  was  born  in  1815,  and  died  in  1890. 
They  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  They  reai'cd  two  children:  Mary, 
wife  of  John  M.  Strickler,  of  Derry  Church, 
and  Horace  R. 

The  latter  was  educated  in  the  township 
schools  and  at  Palmj'ra  Academy.  After 
completing  his  education  he  took  his  place 
in  the  ranks  of  school  teachers.  He  was  oc- 
cupied in  this  vocation  for  three  terms.  In 
1870  he  married  Annie,  daughter  of  Peter 


818 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  Elizabeth  (Berks)  Hoffman.  He  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  found  this  occupation 
congenial  and  promising  of  good  returns  for 
the  labor  bestowed.  In  1883  he  purchased 
the  farm  he  now  occupies  and  cultivates.  He 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  prominent  and  solid 
farmers  of  the  region.  In  connection  with 
his  farm  he  also  conducts  a  dairy,  and  has 
a  large  list  of  customers  to  whom  he  fur- 
nishes a  daily  supply  of  milk.  His  reputa- 
tion is  one  of  strict  integrity.  As  one  of  his 
patrons  expressed  it,  his  cows  and  his  cans 
furnish  the  same  kind  of  milk.  Mr.  Strayer 
has  thi'ee  children  :  Clarence  Hoffman,  Hor- 
ace, and  Albert.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics.  He  has  served  as  school  director 
and  as  supervisor  of  the  township.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church. 


BoDMEit,  Edward,  proprietor  of  the  Bod- 
mer  House,  Highspire,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Highspire  in  August,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of 
Hilarius  and  Justina  (Keller)  Bodmer,  botii 
natives  of  Germany.  Hilarius  Bodmer  was 
born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  January  2, 
1820,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Anna  (Bach- 
man)  Bodmer.  His  father  died  in  Germany, 
and  he  and  his  mother  came  to  America  in 
1840.  They  located  in  Harrisburg  where 
he  worked  at  the  stone  mason's  trade  for 
two  years.  His  mother  moved  to  Ohio,  and 
later  to  Iowa,  where  she  died.  Mr.  Bodmer 
located  in  Highspire  in  1844,  and  has  since 
resided  there.  For  thirt3'-two  years  he  was 
emplo\'ed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  and  had  charge  of  their  masonry 
work  from  Harrisburg  to  Philadelphia.  He 
also  kept  a  hotel  at  Highspire  for  many 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  Harrisburg  Lodge, 
No.  68, 1.  0.  0.  F.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  was  married,  in  Germany,  in  1840, 
to  Miss  Justina,  daughter  of  Christian  Keller. 
She  died  in  1883.  They  had  nine  children, 
six  of  whom  are  now  living :  John,  a  mason, 
of  Steelton  ;  Anna,  wife  of  Edward  Orth,  of 
Steelton ;  William,  of  Harrisburg;  Sarah, 
wife  of  Taylor  Crownshield,  of  Harrisburg; 
Catherine,  widow  of  John  Douglass,  of  Har- 
risburg, and  Edward.  Mr.  Bodmer  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Edward  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  place.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
stone  mason,  which  he  followed  for  four 
years.  He  then  learned  baking,  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  that  business  in  1876.  He 
was  successful  in  this  line  of  business,  and 


continued  in  it  for  seventeen  years.  In  1891 
he  purchased  the  Bodmer  House,  which  he 
has  conducted  since  that  date.  He  is  Dem- 
ocratic in  politics,  and  has  served  as  tax  col- 
lector of  the  township.  He  was  married,  in 
1888,  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Andrew 
Sinigar,  of  Middletown.  They  have  two 
children,  Marion  E.  and  Delia  May.  Mrs. 
Bodmer  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church. 


Morrow,  John  C,  of  the  firm  of  Rohrer  & 
Morrow,  proprietors  of  the  Highspire  Glue 
Works,  was  born  in  Mifflin  county.  Pa.,  Oc- 
tober 3,  1837  ;  son  of  James  W.  and  Mary 
(Cox)  Morrow,  natives  of  Ireland.  They 
were  married  in  Mifflin  county.  The  father 
was  engaged  in  the  butchering  business  at 
Hollidaysburg,  Pa.,  where  he  died.  The 
mother  died  in  Harrisburg  in  1892.  John  C. 
was  reared  in  Blair  count}'  and  educated  in 
the  public  schools.  He  engaged  in  the 
butchering  business  with  his  father.  In  1862 
he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  was  employed  by 
the  Adams  Express  Company,  for  which  he 
worked  nine  years.  He  was  then  foreman  of 
the  Pennsylvania  freight  house  at  Harris- 
burg for  three  years.  For  several  years  he 
acted  for  the  Baltimore  Fast  Freight  Line. 
In  connection  with  George  F.  Rohrer  he 
dealt  in  produce.  Later  they  began  the 
manufacture  of  glue  at  Harrisburg  and  in 
1884  removed  to  Highspire,  where  they 
erected  their  present  plant.  Mr.  Morrow  was 
married,  in  1866,  to  Miss  Ella  Hittle,  of 
Juniata  count}',  Pa.,  by  whom  he  has  four 
sons:  Albert  B.,  married  Miss  Minnie  Smith, 
and  has  two  children,  Le  Roy  and  Helen  ; 
Joseph  W.,  married  Minnie  McKinley, 
daugiiter  of  Warren  McKinley ;  George  R., 
and  John  C,  Jr.  Mr.  Morrow  and  his  family 
attend  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  ranks 
with  the  solid  business  men  of  the  com- 
munity; he  has  the  qualities  which  compel 
success. 


Zimmerman,  Solomon,  farmer,  Highspire 
P.  0.,  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies, 
February  15,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Catherine  (Hawk)  Zimmerman.  His 
grandfather  was  also  named  Henry,  and  was 
a  son  of  Peter  Zimmerman,  of  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.  He  came  to  Dauphin  county  at  an 
early  date,  married  Barbara  Greiner,  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Greiner,  and  in  1814  purchased 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  Solomon.  He 
was  also  a  wheelwright.     He  died  in  1839 ; 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


819 


his  wife  survived  until  March,  1866.  He 
was  one  of  the  i)roniinent  men  of  his  (hiy. 
In  politics  he  was  Democratic.  They  reared 
twelve  children  to  maturit}',  namel)':  Re- 
becca, married  Peter  Brenner,  and  died  in 
Oberlin,Pa.;  Elizabeth, married  John  Becker, 
died  May  19, 1895,  at  Springfield,  Ohio ;  Cathe- 
rine, married  Samuel  Hanshue,  died  in 
Steelton,  Pa.;  Philip  died  in  Middletown ; 
Henry;  George,  of  Springfield,  Ohio;  Simon, 
died  in  Ottawa,  111.;  Isaac,  died  in  Springfield, 
Ohio;  Mary,  married  Benjamin  Brubaker, 
died  in  Springfield,  Ohio;  Solomon,  died  in 
Middletown;  Valentine,  of  Lower  Swatara 
township  ;  and  Magdalene,  widow  of  Henry 
Meyers,  of  Conewago  township. 

Henry  Zimmerman, fatherof  Solomon,  was 
born  in  Lower  Swatara  township,  in  1816, 
He  was  educated  by  his  own  efi'orts,  not  hav- 
ing the  advantage  of  schools.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  and  millwright,  but 
made  farming  his  chief  occupation.  He  be- 
came one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  the 
county,  accumulating  a  handsome  property 
by  his  own  efforts.  He  was  a  Democrat.  His 
wife  was  Catherine,  daughter  of  Christian 
Plawk,  of  Swatara  township,  who  owned  the 
land  upon  which  Oberlin  is  now  built.  This 
land  was  purchased  by  Henry  Zimmerman, 
who,  in  turn, sold  it  to  the  persons  wiioplotted 
the  village.  Henry  Zimmerman  died  in  1882. 
His  wife  survives  and  lives  at  Steelton.  They 
were  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
The}'  reared  nine  children,  of  whom  seven 
are  now  living :  Solomon  ;  Morris,  of  Spring- 
field, Ohio ;  Benjamin,  died  at  seven 
years  of  age;  Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  Henry 
Wolf,  of  Swatara  township;  Adeline  J., 
wife  of  George  Hocker,  of  Paxtang;  Kate, 
died  at  twenty-four  years  of  age;  Samuel 
S.,  of  Steelton ;  Alice  Frances,  wife  of  A. 
C.  Hocker,  of  Highspire ;  and  Henry  R., 
commercial  traveler,  of  Pittsburgh. 

Solomon  received  his  education  at  the 
White  Hall  Academy  and  Lebanon  Valley 
College,  Annville,  and  at  Millersville  Normal 
School.  After  completing  his  education  he 
became  a  teacher ;  he  taught  in  the  schools 
of  Middletown,  Steelton,  Oberlin  and  Swatara 
township.  He  leased  the  stone  quarries  at  the 
Half-way  House  and  operated  them  six  years, 
in  partnerslii[)  with  George  W.  Cumbler.  In 
1883  he  purchased  his  present  farm.  In  ad- 
dition to  ordinary  farming  he  carries  on  a 
dairy,  and  also  conducts  the  stone  and  lime 
business.  He  has  large  interests  in  Steelton, 
and  owns  many  houses  there.     He  is  one  of 


the  charter  members  and  a  director  of  the 
Highspire,  Middletown  and  Steelton  Street 
Railway  Company.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics.  He  has  served  as  school  director  of 
the  township.  He  was  married,  in  1886,  to 
Miss  Lizzie  M.,  daughter  of  John  E.  Ricker, 
of  Swatara  townsiiip.  They  have  no  children. 
Mrs.  Zimmerman  isa  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Orth,  Charles,  merchant,  Middletown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Swatara  township,  October 
3,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Cathe- 
rine (Eckert)  Orth,  natives  of  Germany,  who 
came  to  America  in  1837,  and  located  in 
Swatara  township,  where  the  father  died  in 
1846,  and  the  mother  in  1853.  They  were 
small  farmers.  They  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  Both  are  buried  in  the 
Oberlin  cemetery.  They  had  six  children, 
tliree  of  whom  are  living :  Mary,  wife  of 
Adam  Sheets,  of  Ida  Grove,  Iowa;  John,  of 
Dauphin  county,  and  Charles. 

Charles  was  reared  in  Swatara  township. 
He  enjoyed  only  limited  advantages  in  the 
public  schools.  He  was  put  out  to  work  on 
a  farm  when  quite  young,  and  continued  to 
be  thus  employed  until  1861.  Although 
but  eighteen  years  old,  and  without  the 
knowledge  of  any  business  except  farming, 
he  liad  .strong  arms  and  a  brave  and  hopeful 
heart.  With  earnest  purpose  and  lionorable 
aims  he  launched  his  boat  upon  the  stream 
of  life.  In  18G1  he  married  Miss  Barbara, 
daughter  of  John  Stoefter,  of  Paxton  town- 
ship. He  worked  by  the  day  for  three 
years.  The  wages  were  not  large,  but  with 
frugalit}'  and  self-denial  were  sufficient  for  a 
comfortable  support.  He  then  took  a  farm 
from  Rev.  Solomon  Swartz  on  shares,  and 
this  proved  a  step  in  advance.  He  removed 
from  there  to  the  Dr.  Rutherford  farm,  upon 
which  he  lived  nine  years,  and  then  farmed 
for  Jacob  Bomberger  and  conducted  a  dairy 
until  1887.  These  years  upon  the  farm  had 
been  years  of  success  and  moderate  accumu- 
lation. He  was  now  prepared  for  another 
advance.  He  moved  into  Middletown,  and 
in  1888  enrolled  his  name  among  the  mer- 
chants and  purchased  his  present  business, 
which  he  has  since  conducted  with  gratify- 
ing success. 

He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  served  on  the  school  board 
of  the  township  for  six  years.  He  belongs 
to  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr.  Orth  has 
two  children  :  Edward   E.,  of  Steelton,  who 


820 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


married  Annie,  daughter  of  Hilarius  Bod- 
mer,  of  Highspire,  and  Annie,  wife  of  Abra- 
ham Fetrow,  of  Steelton,  vviio  has  one  child, 
Maggie,  clerk  for  Dives,  Pomeroy  &  Stewart, 
of  Harrisburg.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church ;  has  been  a 
trustee  of  that  church  for  twenty  j^ears,  and 
for  many  years  a  general  steward  and  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school. 


Roop,  John  S.,  merchant,  Middletown, 
was  born  in  Londonderry  township,  Febru- 
ary 25,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Shank)  Roop.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Cumberland  county,  who  came  to 
Dauphin  county  as  a  young  man,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Londonderry  township. 
His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Michael 
Shank  of  that  township.  In  1841  his  father 
moved  to  Middletown  and  engaged  in  the 
the  tinning  business,  in  which  he  continued 
for  six  years.  Then  he  purchased  a  small 
place  near  the  town,  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, and  lived  there  three  years.  He  then 
moved  to  Nissley's  Mills,  and  lived  there  re- 
tired from  business  until  the  death  of  his 
wife  in  1876.  He  then  moved  to  Middle- 
town  and  lived  with  his  daughter  until 
November  8,  1885,  when  he  departed  from 
this  life.  They  were  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  He  was  a  Re- 
publican and  was  supervisor  of  the  town- 
ship. Of  their  four  children,  one  died  in 
infancy;  those  living  are:  David,  of  Dan- 
bury,  Iowa,  journeyman  tinner ;  Annie,  wife 
of  John  H.  Cobaugh,  of  Middletown,  and 
John  S.  The  latter  was  reared  in  London- 
derry township.  He  learned  the  tinner's 
trade  with  his  father  and  worked  at  the 
Middletown  Car  Shojis,  at  saw  milling  and 
other  occupations.  In  1887  he  established 
his  present  business,  in  which  he  has  since 
continued  with  success.  In  1865  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Strauss,  of  Middletown.  They  had  one  child, 
William  J.,  who  was  born  April  25,  1867; 
learned  the  printing  trade  and  is  now  a 
partner  in  his  father's  business;  he  was 
married,  in  September,  1894,  to  Catherine, 
daughter  of  George  W.  and  Lydia  Shaneor, 
of  Middletown.  They  have  one  child.  Amy 
K.  Mr.  Roop  is  a  Republican.  He  has 
been  assessor  of  the  Second  precinct.  Third 
ward,  for  the  past  three  years.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  Church  of  God. 


Baker,  Charles  H.,  proprietor  of  the 
Keystone  bakery,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  December  28,  1855  ; 
son  of  Christian  and  Catherine  (Houghen- 
doubler)  Baker.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Germany;  married  in  Lancaster  county  and 
was  in  the  shoe  business  at  Columbia,  Pa. 
Charles  H.  was  reared  in  Lancaster  county 
and  pursued  the  regular  course  of  study  in 
the  public  schools  of  Marietta,  Pa.  He  was 
active  and  ambitious  and  anxious  to  get 
started  in  the  world.  He  could  not  think  of 
any  better  wa}'  for  a  boy  to  get  into  buisness 
than  the  old-fashioned  way  of  learning  a 
trade.  He  was  on  the  lookout  for  an  oppor- 
tunity of  getting  a  knowledge  of  some  useful 
occupation.  He  found  a  place  in  a  cigar- 
shop  and  learned  cigarmaking.  In  posses- 
sion of  a  trade  he  started  out  to  find  a  jilace 
of  employment,  and  in  1S7G  alighted  upon 
Middletown.  The  firm  of  H.  Stagman  &  Co. 
were  not  only  willing  to  give  him  work  but 
to  admit  him  as  a  partner ;  and  it  soon  be- 
came the  firm  of  Stagman  &  Baker,  our  young 
cigarmaker  being  the  junior  partner.  Busi- 
ness prospered,  and  the  capital  must  needs 
be  further  increased ;  hence  the  firm  was 
merged  into  Keystone  Cigar  Company,  of 
which  Mr.  Baker  became  foreman.  Still 
ambitious  for  larger  things,  in  1883  he  sold 
his  interest  in  the  Keystone  Cigar  Compan}', 
and  while  looking  for  a  place  of  business  he 
took  charge  of  a  factory  in  Lancaster  county, 
which  employed  one  hundred  hands,  the 
business  of  which  he  managed  for  two  years 
with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his 
employers. 

Meanwhile  business  prospects  brightened 
at  his  old  residence,  Middletown.  While  the 
field  here  in  his  own  line  of  business  was  oc- 
cupied, other  branches  of  trade  offered  oppor- 
tunities which  Mr.  Baker  was  quick  to  dis- 
cern and  prompt  to  avail  himself  of.  He  at 
once  engaged  in  his  present  business,  which 
he  is  pushing  with  his  characteristic  energy 
and  skill.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Middle- 
town  Building  and  Loan  Association.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  American 
Mechanics  and  of  the  Knights  of  Malta.  He 
is  a  Democrat,  and  was  the  nominee  of  his 
party  for  the  Legislature  from  the  Second 
district,  and  while  he  was  not  elected  he  was 
flattered  by  a  vote  largely  in  excess  of  the 
strength  of  his  party.  He  was  married, 
June  20,  1878,  to  Miss  Susan,  daughter  of 
Michael   Connelly,    of    Middletown.      They 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


821 


have  four  children  :  Bertha,  John,  Charles, 
and  Raj'niond.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 


Balsbach,  Henry,  farmer,  Oberlin,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Derry  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  January  29,  1831 ;  sou  of  John 
and  Mary  (Zeigler)  Balsbach.  The  mother 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county  and  the  father 
was  born  in  East  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  He  was  a  son  of  Valentine,  a 
son  of  Valentine  (1),  who  came  from  Ger- 
many and  cultured  a  tract  of  land  in  Derry 
and  Hanover  township.  Valentine,  the 
grandfather  of  Henry,  was  a  minister  in  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  lived  to  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-six  years.  He  married 
Miss  Brosh,  and  they  reared  a  large  family. 

John,  the  father,  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  settled  in  Derry  township,  where 
he  remained  until  1827,  when  he  removed 
to  Lower  Swatara  township,  and  died 
there  in  1875,  and  his  wife  died  in 
1867 ;  both  were  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  nine  grew  to  maturity : 
George,  of  Oberlin ;  Valentine,  deceased, 
Middletown ;  John,  deceased,  Juniata  county ; 
Elijah,  deceased,  Lower  Swatara  townsliip  ; 
Henry  ;  Solomon,  Lower  Swatara  township  ; 
Elizabeth,  Mrs.  John  Snyder,  of  York  county ; 
Mary,  wife  of  Cornelius  Shope,  of  Oberlin, 
and  Annie,  unmarried,  at  Oberlin. 

Henry  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  township  and  learned  the  carpenter 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  some  years, 
and  later  engaged  in  farming.  In  )»olitics 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  served  as  supervisor 
of  the  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  is  also  a  trus- 
tee of  the  organization  and  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  Balsbach  was 
married,  in  1855,  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Ulrich,  after  which  he  located  on  his 
present  farm.  Their  children  are:  Frank, 
born  in  1871,  married  in  1892  to  Miss  Jen- 
nie Ebersole,  daughter  of  Martin  Ebersole, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Theo.  Mary, 
and  Annie  Esther;  Amelia,  wife  of  Henry 
Stauffer,  of  Oberlin,  and  they  have  three 
children,  Jennie,  Mary,  and  Sally;  Emma, 
wife  of  C.  0.  Horstic,  lives  with  her  father, 
and  has  three  children,  Harry,  Eva,  and 
Lucy. 


Balsbach,  Solomon,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Lower  Swatara  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  October  1,  1838.  He  learned 
the  carpenter  trade  and  followed  that  occu- 
l^ation  for  several  years.  Later  he  became  a 
farmer,  and  in  1866  engaged  in  keeping 
hotel  at  "Running  Pump,"  where  he  con- 
tinued for  some  years.  He  was  married,  in 
1861,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Ulrich,  by  whom  he  has  five  children : 
Elmer, of  Paxtang  township,  married  Minnie 
Felix;  John,  of  Oberlin,  married  Mary  Bod- 
mer ;  Samuel,  Milton,  and  Naomi.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Balsbach  is  a  Republican 
and  has  served  in  the  offices  of  tax  collector, 
supervisor  and  other  offices.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  is 
also  a  minister  in  that  denomination.  At 
present  he  is  the  president  of  the  cemetery 
board. 


BusER,  John  K.,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Londonderry  township,  Dauphin  count}^ 
Pa.,  July  9, 1818.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Germany  and  came  to  America  at  an  early 
day.  He  landed  at  Philadelphia,  and  after- 
wards located  in  Londonderry  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  where  he  died  at  forty- 
five  years  of  age.  His  children  are:  Jacob, 
located  in  Hummelstown,  wiiere  he  was  en- 
gaged in  butchering  and  died  there;  Henry, 
carpenter  by  trade  and  died  in  Iowa ;  Levi ; 
John  K.;  Catlierine,  Mrs.  Henr^'  Poorman, 
of  Middletown,  deceased ;  Mattie,  Mrs.  Henry 
Ilisey,  of  Kansas. 

John  K.  received  his  education  in  his  na- 
tive township,  and  learned  the  milling  busi- 
ness. He  o()erated  the  Middletown  mill  for 
eight  years,  and  in  1861  built  the  grist  mill 
at  Highspire  and  conducted  it  until  iiis  death 
in  1887.  He  was  a  prominent  and  repre- 
sentative man  of  the  count}-.  He  was  also 
engaged  in  the  coal  business.  In  his  politi- 
cal views  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married 
Miss  Harriet  Fogle,  daughter  of  Henry 
Fogle,  of  Middletown,  and  granddaughter  of 
Israel  V.  Fogle,  of  the  Steelton  flour  mill. 
He  married,  in  1852,  for  liis  second  wife.  Miss 
Elizabeth  Stoner,  daughter  of  John  Stoner, 
and  she  died  in  1882.  Mr.  Buser  was  a 
leading  member  of  the  Church  of  God,  in 
which  he  ahso  held  the  office  of  elder  for 
many  years.  By  his  second  wife  he  had 
eight  children  ;  Ira  and  Milton,  twins  ;  Otis 
S.;    Oscar,   deceased ;      Emma,    unmarried  ; 


822 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Laura  B.,  wife  of  George  W.  Coover,  of  High- 
spire  ;  Clara  and  Alice,  both  deceased. 

Milton  Buser  was  born  in  Middletown, 
Pa.,  February  22,  1853,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Highspire,  wliere  also, 
he  was  married  in  1861.  For  twenty  years 
he  was  in  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Company  in  different  capacities,  and  in 
1892  he  engaged  with  his  brother  Ira  in 
milling.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and 
served  as  assessor  of  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship. In  1875  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Amanda  Attick,  daughter  of  George  Attick, 
of  Lower  Swatara  townshij),  and  to  them  has 
been  born  one  child,  Mary  A.  His  religious 
fellowship  is  with  the  Church  of  God. 

Ira  Buser,  proprietor  of  tlie  Highspire 
mills,  was  born  in  Middletown,  Pa.,  Febru- 
ary 22,  1853, and  attended  the  public  schools. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  miller,  which  busi- 
ness he  learned  fi-om  his  father,  and  has  al- 
ways followed.  After  the  death  of  his  fiither 
he  and  his  brother  Otis  conducted  the  mill 
for  three  years,  since  which  time  he  has  liad 
the  entire  interest.  In  1890  he  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business,  in  which  he  has  since 
continued.  Formerly  Mr.  Buser  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  his  political  views,  but  is  now  an 
independent  voter.  He  was  married,  in 
187G,  to  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Poop, 
of  Highspire,  and  to  this  marriage  there  is 
no  issue.  He  is  a  member  of  tiie  Church  of 
God,  in  which  he  holds  the  offices  of  elder 
and  treasurer.  * 

Otis  S.  Buser  was  born  in  Middletown,  Pa., 
in  18G0.  He  worked  with  his  father  in  the 
mill  until  iiis  death,  when  he  and  his  brother 
Ira  purchased  the  mill  and  conducted  it 
until  1892,  when  he  retired  from  the  firm, 
and  engaged  in  gardening.  He  was  also  in 
the  flour  and  feed  business  at  Harrisburg. 
He  married  Miss  Amy  Souders,  by  whom  he 
has  one  cliild,  Guy. 


B.vNDER,  Augustus,  leather  dealer,  Mid- 
dletown, Pa.,  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, January  19,  1834;  son  of  David  and 
Caroline  (Moser)  Bander.  He  was  reared 
and  educated,  aud  learned  the  trade  of  tan- 
ner with  his  fatiier,  in  Germany.  In  1856 
he  came  to  America,  aud  located  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  worked  at  his  trade,  and 
in  1858  removed  to  Elizabeth ville,  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
tanner  for  three  years.  In  1861  he  estab- 
lished a  tannery  of  his  own,  which  he 
conducted  until  1888,  when  he  came  to  Mid- 


dletown, Pa.,  and  for  two  years  was  a  partner 
in  the  Rife  tannery,  after  which  he  was 
for  four  years  with  S.  B.  Luce,  in  the  Meyers- 
town  tannery.  In  1895  he  and  his 
son  established  their  present  business  of 
hides  and  leatiier  dealers,  at  Middletown. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Bander  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  was  married,  in  1860,  to  Miss 
Margaret  M.,  daughter  of  David  Matter,  of 
Elizabethville,  Dauphin  county,  by  whom 
he  has  seven  children:  David,  Franklin, 
Aaron  W.,  Charles,  William  A.,  Jacob,  and 
George  W.  Mr.  Bander  is  a  member  of  tiie 
United  Bretlireu  church,  of  Middletown,  of 
which  he  is  a  trustee,  and  is  treasurer  of  the 
Sabbath-school. 


Coble,  Isaac  H.,  farmer,  Middletown  P.O., 
Pa.,wasborn  in  Conewago township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  October  11,  1829  ;  son  of  Chris- 
tian and  Elizabeth  (Hofter)  Coble,  natives  of 
Dauphin  county.  Jacob  Coble,  the  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Germany  and  settled 
on  the  homestead  in  Conewago  township 
and  later  moved  to  Derry  township,  where 
he  died.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Men- 
nonite  church.  The  father.  Christian  Coble, 
was  born  on  the  homestead  and  has  always 
resided  there.  He  divided  it  into  three 
farms  and  made  important  improvements. 
He  was  ingenious  in  mechanical  work,  and 
made  a  revolving  rake  for  hay  and  much 
of  his  farming  implements  and  machinery. 
In  political  views  he  was  a  Republican  and 
served  as  suitervisor  of  his  township.  His 
death  occurred  in  May,  1873,  and  that  of  his 
wife  in  1846.  They  had  five  sons  and  one 
daughter,  the  only  survivors  of  whom  are  : 
Isaac  H.,  and  Christian,  farmer  and  mer- 
chant, of  Bellaire,  Lancaster  county.  He  was 
again  married,  to  Miss  Nancy  Snyder,  wiio 
survives  him,  aud  to  this  marriage  there  is 
no  issue.  They  were  members  of  the  Men- 
nonite  church. 

Isaac  H.  was  reared  on  the  homestead  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  His  occupa- 
tion has  always  been  farming.  In  1853  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Eshenaur,  daugh- 
ter of  Frank  Eshenaur.  He  remained  on 
the  homestead  farm  until  1858,  when  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  farm,  which  he  has 
greatly  improved.  They  have  three  sons  and 
two  daughters:  Frank  E.,  of  Conewago  town- 
ship, married  Elizabeth  Good,  and  they  have 
four  children  :  Martha,  Annie,  Lizzie,  and 
Aaron ;  Aaron,  of  Londonderry  township, 
married  Mazie  Brinser,  and  their  children 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


823 


are:  Harry,  Truman,  and  Ruth  ;  Mar}',  wife 
of  Joseph  Selser,  of  Derry  township ;  Isaac, 
and  Emma,  both  unmarried,  at  home.  Mr. 
Coble  is  one  of  the  originators  and  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Middletown  Bracket  Company 
and  was  its  manager.  He  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Hummelstown  Bank.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as 
school  director  and  supervisor  of  the  town- 
ship. In  church  fellowship  he  is  with  the 
Mennonites. 


Carmany,  Charles  Augustus,  jeweler, 
Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Schaeffersville, 
Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  October  26,  I860;  son 
of  Jacob  and  Leah  (Houser)  Carmany.  He 
was  reared  in  his  native  county,  and 
attended  tiie  public  schools  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  wiien  he  went  to  Mid- 
dletown, and  learned  tlie  jeweler's  business, 
in  whicii  he  was  employed  for  some  years. 
In  1889  he  established  his  present  business, 
which  he  has  conducted  since  that  time. 
Mr.  Carmany  is  a  member  of  tlie  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Eagle  and  of  tlie  Kniglits  of 
Malta.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. In  1893  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Lillie  E.  Bresserman,  daughter  of  William 
Bresserman,  of  Middletown,  and  tiiey  have 
one  child,  Elva. 


Erb,  John,  farmer  and  minister,  Harris- 
burg  P.  O.,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.,  October  13,  1839 ;  son  of  John 
and  Fannie  (Berke)  Erb.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  and  minister  in  the  Mennonite 
church.  He  was  reared  near  Manheim, 
Lancaster  county,  and  moved  to  Cumber- 
land county,  where  he  died.  John  lost  his 
father  when  he  was  five  years  old,  and  was 
reared  in  York  and  Lancaster  counties.  In 
1862  he  was  married  to  Barbara  Miller, 
daughter  of  David  Miller,  of  Lancaster. 
After  marriage  he  located  in  Lanca  te 
county,  wiiere  he  lived  until  1867,  when  he 
came  to  Dauphin  county  and  purchased  the 
farm  be  now  owns  and  occupies,  which  he 
stocked  with  all  kinds  of  fruits,  etc.  For- 
merly he  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
has  always  been  a  member  of  the  old  Men- 
nonite church,  in  which  connection  he  was 
made  a  minister  in  1877.  He  has  served 
the  Shoop  and  Strickler  churches,  and  has 
been  active  in  work  since  his  ordination  to 
the  ministry.  His  children  are  :  Mary,  wife 
of  Frank  Nissley,  of  Lower  Swatara  town- 
ship ;    Annie,   wife   of   Abraham   Lutz,    of 


Donegal  township,  Lancaster  county  ;  Bar- 
bara, at  home;  Ellen,  wife  of  Benjamin  Bru- 
baker,  of  Mt.  Joy,  Lancaster  county  ;  Eliza- 
beth, died  aged  twenty-one  years;  an  in- 
fant, deceased  ;  Amanda,  Susan,  Alice,  Sam- 
uel, John,  Emma,  and  David. 


Engle,  Daniel,  farmer,  Hummelstown 
P.  O.,  Pa.,  was  born  on  tiie  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides,  in  August,  1837,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Sheets)  Engle. 
His  grandfather,  Daniel,  was  the  first  of  the 
fiimily  to  settle  in  Dauphin  county,  having 
came  from  Lancaster  county  and  being 
among  the  very  earlj'  settlers  of  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  a  member  of  the  River 
Brethren.  Jacob,  the  father,  was  born  on 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son,  in  1812. 
He  spent  his  entire  life  there  and  died  in 
186-5.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  farmers 
of  the  township.  His  wife  survived  him 
many  years,  and  both  were  members  of  the 
River  Brethern  church,  of  which  connection 
Mr.  Engle  was  also  an  honored  minister. 
Their  children  are:  Daniel;  Jacob,  farmer 
and  speculator,  died  in  Lebanon  counlj' ; 
John,  of  Hummelstown  ;  Leah,  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Peters,  Derry  township ;  Benjamin,  of 
Harrisburg,  a  contractor  ;  Samuel,  of  Pal- 
myra, Pa.,  merchant.  Daniel  was  reared  on 
the  farm  which  he  now  occupies,  and  on 
which  he  spent  his  entire  life.  In  1867 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of 
(Christian  Mumma,  of  Lower  Swatara  town- 
ship, by  whom  he  has  six  children:  Aaron, 
school  teacher,  in  Lower  Swatara  township ; 
Milton,  Clayton,  Samuel,  Mary,  and  Morris. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Engle  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  his  religious  faith  and  form  of 
worship  are  those  of  the  River  Brethren, 
with  whom  he  is  in  fellowship  at  Hummels- 
town. 


Fisher,  John  L.,  farmer,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  April  27,  1845  ; 
son  of  William  and  Catherine  (Levan) 
Fisher.  The  father  came  to  Dauphin 
county,  in  1848,  and  located  in  Swatara 
township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
His  present  residence  in  near  Linglcstown. 
John  L.  was  reared  in  Swatara  township, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
at  the  Millersville  State  Normal  School. 
He  became  a  farmer  and  has  always  followed 
that  occupation.  Mr.  Fisher  was  married, 
December  22, 1889,  to  Miss  Mary  Linebaugh, 
daughter  of  Edward  and'Salina  (Macklin) 


824 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Linebaugh,  of  York  county,  by  whom  he  has 
one  child,  William  Henry.  He  located 
near  Linglestovvn,  and  in  1890  came  to  his 
present  farm  in  Lower  Swatara  township. 
In  politics  Mr.  Fisher  is  a  Democrat.  The 
family  attend  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Fisher,  John  G.,  Middletown,  deceased, 
was  born  near  Elizabethtown,  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  in  1830;  son  of  John  Fisher. 
George,  the  grandfather  of  John  G.,  was  born 
in  Germany  in  1752,  came  to  America  and 
became  a  soldier  in  the  Continental  army, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Lan- 
caster county,  where  he  died.  John  Fisher, 
father  of  John  G.,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  and  was  engaged  in  farming.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1812.  John  G.  wfis 
reared  in  Lancaster  county,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  coach  builder.  In  185G  he  came  to 
Dauphin  county  and  located  in  Middletown, 
where  he  opened  a  shop  for  building  coaches, 
and  conducted  the  enterprise  for  many  years. 
His  death  occurred  in  March,  1888.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Fisher  was  a  Democrat,  and  served 
on  the  school  board  and  in  the  borough 
council.  In  1819  lie  was  married  to  Miss 
Amanda,  daugliter  of  Rev.  Henry  G.  Steelier, 
of  liummelstown.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  died  in  1893. 
Four  of  their  children  lived  to  maturity: 
Henry  S.,  insurance  agent,  at  Middletown, 
married  Clara  Rodfong,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Hattie  Romain  ;  Frank  Z.,  learned  the 
shoe  business,  and  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture and  sale  of  boots  and  shoes  in  1888,  and 
has  since  continued  in  the  business;  Sarah 
E.,and  Walter  R.,  of  Middletown.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Good,  Martin,  proprietor  of  the  High- 
spire  \¥oolen  Mills,  was  born  in  Upper  Pax- 
ton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  August 
2.  1833 ;  son  of  Christian  and  Catherine 
(Noll)  Good.  Christian  Good,  Sr.,  the  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  and 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Upper  Paxton 
township,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
and  milling,  having  the  first  mill  in  that  place, 
and  where  lie  died.  His  children  are:  Chris- 
tian; Henry,  farmer,  died  at  Progress  ;  Abra- 
ham, died  in  Perry  county,  Pa.;  Michael,  of 
Kansas ;  Barbara,  Mrs.  Christian  Roop,  of 
Highspire;  Nancy,  Mrs.  Samuel  Shaefuer,  of 
East  Hanover  township,  who  was  poisoned  by 
her  husband;  Mary,  maiden  lady,  of  Millers- 
burg;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Ritter,  of  Elizabeth- 


ville  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Samuel  Hoffman,  of 
Perry  county,  deceased. 

Christian,  Jr.,  father  of  Martin,  was  reared 
in  Lykens  Valley  and  learned  the  trade  of 
woolen  manufacturing  and  continued  in  the 
business  with  his  father  in  Lykens  Valley. 
In  1833  he  moved  to  Lower  Swatara  town- 
ship and  erected  the  present  "  Good  "  mill  in 
1844,  which  he  conducted  until  1855,  when 
he  retired,  and  shortly  after  died  in  Lebanon 
county.  He  was  three  times  married  and 
was  the  father  of  fourteen  children,  of  whom 
.these  are  living:  Martin;  John,  of  Morris, 
Minn.,  liardware  dealer;  Simon,  of  St.  Paul, 
Minn,  lumber  dealer;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Adam 
Light,  of  Lebanon  county;  Emma,  Mrs.  David 
Light,  of  Lebanon  county ;  Catherine,  Mrs. 
Casper  Light,  of  Morris,  Minn.  Mr.  Good 
is  an  active  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  and  has  been  a  class  leader  for  many 
years. 

Martin  was  reared  on  the  present  home- 
stead and  learned  the  trade  of  his  fatlier;  he 
has  always  been  in  the  business,  and  pur- 
chased his  father's  interest  in  1855,  since 
which  date  he  has  conducted  the  enterprise. 
He  keeps  his  plant  and  its  equipment  abreast 
of  the  times.  He  is  also  engaged  in  farming 
and  operating  a  saw  mill.  In  18G5  he 
opened  a  general  store,  which  he  has  man- 
aged since  that  time.  Mr.  Good  is  a  director 
of  the  Steelton  National  Bank  and  of  the 
Merchants'  Bank,  of  Harrisburg.  In  his 
politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  in 
various  township  offices.  Mr. Good  was  mar- 
ried, in  1858,  to  Mary  Ann  Peffly,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Christian  Peffly,  of  Bunker  Hill, 
Lebanon  county.  They  attend  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


Hatz,  Jacob  W.,  retired,  Middletown,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Londonderry  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  December  29, 1823  ;  son  of  Jacob 
and  Anna  Mary  (Wagner)  Hatz.  Three  broth- 
ers of  the  name  came  from  Germany,  one  of 
whom  settled  in  Lancaster,  one  in  Lebanon, 
and  one  in  Dauphin  county.  John  Hatz, 
son  of  the  one  who  settled  in  Dauphin,  and 
grandfather  of  Jacob  W.,  came  with  his 
parents  to  America  when  a  small  child.  Ja- 
cob, the  father  of  Jacob  W.,  was  a  farmer 
in  Londonderry  towaiship  on  his  father's 
farm  which  he  leased.  Later  he  became  a 
tenant  farmer  in  Lancaster  county,  when 
he  died.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his 
first  wife,  Anna  Mary  Wagner,  had  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  deceased  except  Jacob 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


825 


W.  By  his  second  wife,  Miss  Susan  Keller, 
he  had  eleven  children.  The  family  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Jacob  W.  was  reared  by  his  maternal 
grandparents,  and  at  eighteen  years  of  age 
learned  the  carpenter  trade  at  which  he 
worked  until  18G3.  For  the  next  twelve 
years  he  was  a  tenant  farmer  in  Londonderrj' 
township,  after  which  he  moved  to  Middle- 
town  and  was  with  Etter,  Carmany  &  Siple 
ni  the  lumber  business  for  several  years.  In 
1849  Mr.  Hatz  was  married  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  Aungst,  of  Lancaster 
county.  Their  children  are :  John,  born  Au- 
gust 3,  1850,  lives  at  Middletown,  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Jacob  Nissley,  and  they 
have  four  children  :  Garfield  W.,  Jacob  N., 
Pearl,  and  Blanche ;  Henry,  born  January  6, 
1852,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  David 
Detweilcr,and  they  have  two  children,  Fannie 
and  Blaine;  Jacob,  born  September  13, 1856, 
married  Ellen  Coble,  and  have  three  chil- 
dren :  Maude,  Guy,  and  Reuben ;  David,  born 
October  6,  1859,  married  Miss  Barbara 
Brinser,  and  they  have  four  children  :  May, 
Bessie,  Ralph,  and  Marion  ;  Annie,  born 
January  29,  18G2,  wife  of  Henry  Douhower, 
of  McKeesport,  Pa.,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Marion  and  Robert;  and  Elizabetli, 
born  September  1,  1872.  The  family  attend 
the  Church  of  God.  Mr.  Matz  was  orig- 
inally a  Whig  but  later  joined  the  Repub- 
lican part}'.  In  18G4  he  served  as  tax  col- 
lector in  Londonderry  township  and  has 
also  filled  the  offices  of  school  director  and 
auditor  of  the  township. 


HoFFER,  Christian  H.,  Esq.,  Middletown, 
Pa.,  traces  his  ancestry  through  Samuel  (2), 
his  father,  Samuel  (1),  his  grandfather,  John, 
his  great-grandfather,  and  Mathias  Hofi'er, 
his  great-great-grandfather,  who  was  born  Au- 
gust 24, 1718,  in  the  Canton  of  Basle,  Switzer- 
land. He  came  to  America  in  the  ship 
"  Loyal  Judith,"  landed  in  Philadelphia,  Sep- 
■tember  2,  1743,  and  later  settled  near  Man- 
heim,  Lancaster  county,  where  he  died  in 
May,  1803.  His  son,  John  HofFer,  married 
Barbara  Long,  and  lived  in  what  is  now 
Conewago  township,  Dauphin  county,  where 
he  died  December  4,  1837.  His  son,  Samuel 
Hofi'er  (1),  married  Catherine  Foltz,  and  .set- 
tled in  Conewago  township,  where  he  died  No- 
vember 4,  1878.  He  was  an  expert  in  land 
surveying,  and  served  as  deputy,  and  later  as 
county  surveyor  of  Dauphin  county,  and  was 
also  justice  of  the  peace  for  thirty -four  years. 


His  children  are:  Samuel,  of  Bachmansville; 
George  F.,  on  the  old  homestead  in  Conewago 
township;  Catherine,  Mrs.  John  Snyder,  of 
Paris,  111.;  Mary,  Mrs.  Isaac  Hoft'man,  of  Derry 
township.  Samuel,  the  grandfather,  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 

His  son,  Samuel  (2),  father  of  Christian  H., 
was  born  July  31, 1817,  and  married  Barbara, 
daughter  of  Christian  HoUinger.  He  was  a 
farmer  in  Conewago  township,  and  is  now  re- 
tired from  active  business.  He  also  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Baptist  church.  His  wife 
died  November  22,  1881.  Thej'  had  eleven 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  living:  Chris- 
tian H.,  Samuel  H.,  Mary  Ann,  Amos  H., 
Elizabeth,  Linneus,  Harry  H.,  Sarah,  and 
Barbara. 

ChristianI  H.  was  born  in  Conewago  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  July  29, 1845.  He 
was  educated  in  tlie  public  schools  and 
learned  surveying  with  his  grandfather.  In 
1874  he  came  to  Middletown  and  the  follow- 
ing year  was  appointed  on  the  board  of  street 
commissioners.  Later  he  was  made  borough 
survej'Or  and  filled  this  office  for  nineteen 
years.  In  1887  he  was  elected  borough  sur- 
veyor of  Steelton,  Pa.,  in  which  office  he  has 
since  served  with  the  exception  of  one  year. 
At  the  first  election  held  in  the  township 
after  he  attained  his  majority  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  and  served  until  1871, 
when  he  removed  to  Lancaster  county  and 
remained  two  years.  He  returned  to  the 
township  and  was  re-elected  to  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  succeeding  Esquire  Shats- 
man,  and  has  since  been  continuously  com- 
missioned in  this  office.  Mr.  Hoffer  was  the 
instigator  of  the  new  addition  to  Middletown. 
He  was  married,  in  1871,  to  Miss  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Teghtmeyer,  of  Londonderry 
township,  by  whom  he  has  one  child  :  Ger- 
trude. The  family  are  members  of  the  Bethel 
Church  of  God. 


Hartman,  Maurice  H.,  merchant,  Mid- 
dletown, was  born  in  Hummelstown,  Feb- 
ruary 7, 1859 ;  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Hertz- 
ler)  Hartman.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
York,  and  the  mother  of  Dauphin  county. 
The  occupation  of  the  father  was  that  of 
blacksmith,  and  later  in  life  he  settled  on  a 
farm  in  York  county,  where  he  died  in 
August,  1864.  He  reared  a  family  often  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Maurice  H.  was  the  fifth  in  the 
order  of  their  birth.  Maurice  H.  was  reared 
in  York  county,  where  he  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  he 


826 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


was  nineteen  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
learned  the  trade  of  cabinet  maker,  and 
worked  at  it  four  years.  In  1882  he  em- 
barked in  the  grocery  business  at  Middle- 
town  and  the  same  year  purchased  the 
wholesale  oil  business,  wliich  ho  conducted 
for  six  years.  He  tlien  entered  the  firm  of 
Hartman  &  Bros.,  in  the  grocery  business, 
in  which  he  continued  until  February  11, 
1891,  and  on  May  1,  1891,  established 
his  present  business  as  a  general  store.  He 
is  also  connected  with  the  Champion  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  of  Middletown,  in 
which  he  is  a  stockholder.  Mr.  Hartman  is 
a  member  of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of 
America,  the  Junior  Order  United  Ameri- 
can Mechanics,  and  of  the  American  Pro- 
tective Association.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican and  is  a  member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil. He  was  married,  in  1879,  to  Miss  Sarah 
J.  Wise,  daughter  of  Peter  Wise,  of  Golds- 
boro,  York  county.  Pa.  Their  children  are: 
Urban  A.,  Marion  M.,  Stella  M.,  Laura  J., 
Bertha  E.,  Isabella  W.,  and  Earl  P.  The 
family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


William,  who  are  all  at  home.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
Middletown. 


Hendrickson,  Wilf.iam  D.,  Middletown 
was  born  at  Mt.  Joy,  Lancaster  county,  Pa,, 
September  17,  1829;  son  of  Okey  and  Mary 
(McDowell)  Hendrickson.  The  iatlier  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey.  He  kept  a  hotel  at 
Mt.  Joy  and  was  the  first  postmaster  of  the 
place,  under  President  Jackson,  and  died 
there  in  1841.  William  D.  was  reared  and 
educated  at  Mt.  Joy,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  merchandising  until  18.59,  when  he  came 
to  Middletown  and  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Daniel 
Kendig  &  Co.,  in  which  he  continued  until 
1880,  when  he  retired.  In  1890  he  was 
elected  tax  collector  and  since  1894  has  col- 
lected all  the  taxes.  In  earlier  life  he  was  a 
Whig  in  politics,  and  came  into  the  Repub- 
lican party  when  it  was  organized,  having 
always  been  interested  in  political  affairs. 
He  has  served  as  a  member  of  council,  and 
of  the  school  board,  and  as  judge  of  elections. 
Mr.  Hendrickson  was  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  in  the  Middletown  Water  Com- 
pany, and  for  a  time  served  as  the  secretary 
of  that  organization,  and  was  a  stockholder 
also  in  the  Car  Works.  He  was  married,  in 
1857,  to  Miss  Louisa  E.,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Kendig.  She  died  in  1891,  and  three  chil- 
dren survive  her :  Alice  K.,  Annie  G.,  and 


Hemperly,  Leurs  F.,  Middletown,  Pa., 
was  born  at  Middletown,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  August  17,  1814 ;  son  of  George  and 
Sarah  (Fishburn)  Hemperl^^  Martin  Hem- 
perly, paternal  grandfather  of  Leurs  F.,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  and  one  of  the  early 
citizens  of  Middletown.  He  was  a  stone 
mason  by  trade,  and  reared  four  children, 
who  are  all  deceased.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, Ludwig  Fishburn,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  He  came  from  Ger- 
many and  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
what  is  now  Derry  townsliip,  near  Hockers- 
ville.  George  Hemperly,  the  father,  was  a 
painter  by  trade,  and  married  Sarah  Fish- 
burn, and  they  were  members  of  the  Lu- 
tlieran  eiiurch.  Leurs  F.  was  married  at 
Derry  Ciiurcli,  Daupliin  county,  Pa.,  Janu- 
ary 3,  1839,  to  Catlierine  Motter,  daughter 
of'  Philip  and  Elizabeth  (Reed)  Motter. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Hemperly  moved  to  Mid- 
dletown and  engaged  in  the  saddle  and  har- 
ness business,  which  was  his  occupation 
during  his  lousiness  life.  His  cliildron  are  : 
Lutlier,  Jolm  M.,  C'alvin,  Elizabeth,  Anne, 
and  Emma,  five  of  whom  are  living. 


Irwin,  Philip,  son  of  Henry  and  Mar- 
garet (Fisher)  Irwin,  was  born  August  30, 
1815,  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  His  educa- 
tional advantages  were  comprised  in  one  or 
two  winters  at  a  country  school.  By  self- 
application  and  industry,  however,  he  be- 
came well-informed,  and  witli  great  activity 
and  energy  was  generally  successful  in  his 
various  undertakings.  For  many  years  he 
was  engaged  in  building  railroads,  the 
scenes  of  his  operations  being  the  Northern 
Central,  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  Erie,  Leba- 
non A'^alley,  Lake  Shore,  Michigan  Soutiiern 
and  otiier  railroads.  Although  an  active- 
politician  he  never  sought  or  held  office,  his 
business  interests  requiring  all  his  time  and 
attention.  He  died  at  Middletown,  Decem- 
ber 11,  1878,  aged  sixty-three-  years.  Mr. 
Irwin  married,  November  24,  1840,  Anna 
Eliza,  daughter  of  George  and  Nancy  (Shelly) 
Etter,  who  survives.  Their  children  are: 
Margaret,  Ann,  Mary  Ellen,  George,  Henry, 
Franklin  Etter,  Jenny  Lind,  Philip  Etter, 
and  Lillian. 


Az^yvtl/  ^'  .^^^^-^t^tJ'^i^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


829 


Kaufman,  Benjamin  S.,  justice  of  the 
peace,  Highspire,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Milltown, 
Chester  county.  Pa.,  September  10,  1828; 
son  of  Henry  and  Susan  (Snyder)  Kaufman. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  York,  and  tlie 
mother  of  Lancaster  county.  Benjamin  S. 
was  reared  in  York  county  from  two  years 
of  age,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  for  his  first  business  worked  at  farm 
work  by  the  day.  He  was  employed  by  his 
father  for  two  years,  and  in  1856  came  to 
Highspire,  where  he  engaged  in  the  butcher- 
ing business,  and  attended  the  Harrisburg 
markets,  and  subsequently  purchased  a  boat 
which  he  conducted  for  two  years.  For  sev- 
eral years  following  this  he  was  interested  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick.  At  present  he  is 
gardening  and  raising  poultry.  Mr.  Kauf- 
man was  married,  in  1851,  to  Miss  Mary  K., 
daughter  of  John  Fisher,  of  York  county, 
who  died  in  1885,  leaving  three  children  : 
Annie,  Mrs.  Daniel  Beirhour,  of  York  county ; 
John,  of  Decatur,  111.;  and  David  L.,  attorney 
atlHighspire  and  Harrisburg.  He  was  mar- 
ried, secondly,  January  4,  1887,  to  Mary  A. 
Fisher,  daughter  of  James  Fisher,  of  Lower 
Swatara  township.  Mr.  Kaufman  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  was  first  elected 
justice  of  the  jieace  in  1863,  and  has  held 
the  office  by  repeated  elections  since  that 
date.  He  is  a  member  of  Dauphin  Lodge, 
No.  160,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  Council  No.  155, 
0.  U.  A.  M.  In  his  religious  faith  and 
form  of  worship  he  is  united  with  the  United 
Brethren  church,  in  which  he  takes  an 
active  part,  and  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees. 


KoHR,  Michael,  farmer,  Middletown  P. 
0.,  was  born  in  York  county.  Pa.,  October 
19, 1824;  son  of  Ludwig  and  Rebecca  (Eisen- 
haur)  Kohr,  natives  of  Lebanon  county,  sub- 
sequently residents  of  York  county,  where 
he  died.  Michael  was  married,  in  1847,  to 
Henrietta  Stormfrietz,  who  died  in  1871, 
and  to  this  marriage  there  was  born  five 
children  :  Annie,  wife  of  James  Harvey,  of 
Lower  Swatara  township  ;  Fannie,  wife  of 
John  Chrismer,  of  Londonderry  township; 
Mar}',  wife  of  Peter  Shank,  of  Londonderry 
township ;  Samuel,  deceased  ;  and  David,  of 
Lower  Swatara  township.  He  was  married, 
secondly,  in  1872,  to  Miss  Mary  Hostetter,  of 
Lebanon  county,  by  whom  he  has  two  chil- 
dren :  Amanda,  wife  of  R.  0.  Seitz,  of  Lower 
Swatara  township ;  and  Christian,  at  home. 
53 


After  his  first  marriage  he  removed  to  Lan- 
caster county,  and  worked  at  his  trade  of 
carpenter  until  about  1805,  when  he  came  to 
Dauphin  county,  and  located  in  London- 
derry township.  In  1874  he  moved  on  his 
present  farm,  in  Lower  Swatara  township, 
wiiich  he  has  been  engaged  in  cultivating 
till  the  present  time.  Mr.  Kohr  takes  no 
interest  in  politics  and  is  not  identified  with 
any  party.  In  religious  faith  he  is  a  Men- 
nonite. 


Lehman,  John  J.,  merchant,  Highspire, 
Pa.,  was  born  at  Middletown,  Pa.,  October 
10, 1842;  son  of  Daniel  and  Susan  (Detweiler) 
Leliraan.  Christian  Lehman,  grandfather  of 
John  J.,  early  settled  in  Dauphin  county  and 
was  a  large  farmer  near  Middletown.  His 
children  are:  Henry,  Martinsburg,  Ohio; 
David,  located  atMiddletown  and  died  there; 
Martin,  merchant  of  Highspire;  Mary  Jane, 
deceased;  Daniel;  and  one  sister, who  married 
a  Mr.  Fisher  and  died  in  the  West.  Daniel, 
father  of  John  J.,  was  born  on  the  farm  in 
1816.  He  kept  a  hotel  and  ferry  at  Falmouth, 
now  known  as  Collins'  Store,  and  in  1851 
purchased  the  Farmers'  Hotel  at  Highspire, 
which  he  conducted  until  his  death  in  1861. 
In  politics  he  was  associated  with  the  old 
Whig  party  and  served  as  school  director  of 
the  township.  He  was  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  His  wife  was  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church  and  died  in 
1885.  They  reared  six  children  :  John  J.; 
Christian,  farmer,  died  in  Unionville,  Centre 
county,  Pa.;  William,  in  the  pipe  mill,  at 
Middletown  ;  Franklin,  street  railway  con- 
ductor, died  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  Simon  C, 
confectioner,  at  Steelton,  Pa.,  and  Daniel 
Lawrence,  restaurant  keeper,  Urbana,  Ohio. 

John  J.  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  place.  In  1861 
he  enlisted  in  company  I,  Twentieth  regi- 
ment, independent  volunteer  infantry,  in 
which  he  served  one  year.  He  was  taken 
prisoner  from  the  steamer  Fannie  in  Pamlico 
Sound,  and  was  confined  at  Richmond,  Va., 
and  Columbia,  S.  C,  for  seven  months,  after 
which  he  was  paroled  and  came  home.  In 
1863  he  enlisted  in  company  E,  Forty-third 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  was 
again  captured  at  Warrenton  Junction,  Va., 
and  was  confined  at  Belle  Island,  Libby  and 
Andersonville  for  nineteen  months,  when  he 
was  exchanged  and  honorably  discharged. 
In  his  first  enlistment  he  was  with  General 


830 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Wool  in  the  coast  survey,  and  in  his  second 
with  General  Meade  in  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac. After  the  war  he  worked  in  the 
store  and  at  farming  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  was  for  three  years  with  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company.  In  1870  he 
established  a  general  store  at  Highspire, 
wiiich  lie  has  since  conducted.  He  is  also 
one  of  the  original  stockliolders  in  the  High- 
spire  Car  Manufacturing  Company.  Mr. 
Lehman  is  connected  with  Middletown  Post, 
G.  A.  R. ,  and  also  with  the  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics.  In  politics  lie  is  a 
Democrat,  and  has  served  as  school  director 
twelve  years.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Highspire  b}'  President  Cleveland 
and  served  during  the  administration.  He 
was  married,  in  1865,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Strickler,  daughter  of  Henry  Strickler,  of 
Lower  Swatara  township.  Mrs.  Lehman  is 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  churcli, 
of  Highsjiire. 


Laverty,  DeWitt  C,  M.  D.,  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Middletown,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  May  1,  185(>;  son  of  Dr. 
Theodore  C.  and  Lydia  (Lauman)  Lav- 
erty. He  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Middletown,  and 
read  medicine  under  his  father,  after  which 
he  attended  the  .Jefferson  Medical  College  at 
Ph.iladelphia,  from  which  he  received  his 
diploma  in  1877.  After  his  graduation  he 
returned  to  Middletown,  where  he  opened 
an  office  and  entered  upon  the  general  prac- 
tice of  medicine.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  in  agreement  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  town 
council.  Dr.  Laverty  was  married,  in  1881, 
to  Miss  Bertha  Frey,  daughter  of  George  S. 
and  Annie  (Smith)  Frey,  of  York,  Pa.,  to 
whom  have  been  born  three  children  :  Theo- 
dore, George  Lauman,  and  L3'dia.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  wiiich 
he  holds  the  office  of  trustee,  and  has  been 
the  treasurer  for  several  vears. 


Landis,  Joseph  H.,  son  of  Christian  and 
Elizabeth  (Hammaker)  Landis,  was  born 
May  14,  1832,  in  Hummelstown,  Daujihin 
county,  Pa.  He  attended  the  ordinary 
schools  of  the  time,  and  subsequently  the 
Pennsylvania  College,  at  Gettysburg,  but 
did  not  take  the  full  course.  He  worked 
some  time  on  a  farm  and  was  clerk  in  a  store 
two  years.  He  became  manager  of  the  Cam- 
eron furnace  at  Middletown,  and  afterwards 


a  partner  of  Landis  &  Co.  in  the  same  furnace. 
In  1878  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  and  served  one 
term  of  two  years ;  was  on  several  important 
committees  but  declined  a  second  election. 
He  is  at  present  secretary  of  the  Lochiel  Iron 
Company  and  superintendent  of  the  Lochiel 
furnaces.  He  was  married,  about  1864,  to 
Matilda  L.,  daughter  of  the  late  George  and 
Mary  Crist,  of  Middletown,  and  their  chil- 
dren are:  George  C,  Matilda  C,  Joseph 
Henry,  and  John  C. 


Lauman,  Michael  C,  Middletown,  retired, 
was  born  in  Middletown,  Pa.,  August  28, 1810 ; 
son  of  George  and  Christina  (Conrad)  Lau- 
man. George  Lauman,  Sr.,  grandfather  of 
Michael,  was  one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers 
of  the  county,  and  was  a  mason  by  trade. 
He  married  Esther  Maria  King,  who  died 
December  13,  1831,  aged  eighty-one  years. 
He  died  June  26,  1809,  aged  sixty-five  years. 
Their  children  were:  Jacob,William, George, 
John,  Martin,  Esther,  Henry,  Elizabeth, and 
William.  The  grandparents  were  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  George  Lauman, 
Jr.,  father  of  Michael,  remained  at  Middle- 
town.  He  was  a  mason  by  trade  and  be- 
came later  in  life  a  farmer,  and  the  owner  of 
valuable  farm  property  at  Middletown  and 
in  the  surrounding  country.  He  married 
Christian  Conrad,  daughter  of  Michael  Con- 
rad, a  native  of  Germany.  Their  children 
were:  three  who  died  in  childhood  ;  George, 
Michael  C,  William,  Clara,  Catherine,  Eliza- 
beth, Maria,  and  Lj'dia.  The  parents  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  the 
father  was  one  of  tiie  trustees  and  one  of  the 
principal  movers  in  building  the  steeple  on 
the  old  church.  In  politics  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  filled  many  township  offices.  His 
death  occurred  May  23,  1848,  and  that  of  his 
wife  February  21,  1863. 

Michael  C.  received  only  a  limited  educa- 
tion and  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith. 
In  1835  he  joined  the  corps  of  civil  engineers 
locating  the  Penns3'lvania  railroad,  then 
called  the  Lancaster,  Mt.  Joy  and  Elizabeth- 
town  railroad,  and  through  Gen.  Simon 
Cameron  got  the  position  of  division  fore- 
man from  Conewago  bridge  to  Highspire. 
This  position  he  filled  until  1856,  having 
been  on  the  road  for  twent3'-one  j'ears,  since 
which  time  he  has  not  been  in  any  active 
business.  His  first  vote  for  President  was 
cast  in  1832  for  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  and 
he  has  since  continued  his  connection  with 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


831 


the  Democratic  party.  He  has  served  as 
member  of  council  and  was  president  of 
that  bod)^,  and  was  also  enlistment  officer  of 
the  Swatara  infantry,  of  which  organization 
he  was  also  the  treasurer.  He  was  reared  in 
the  Lutheran  church,  but  is  not  now  an  ac- 
tive member,  having  relinquished  his  mem- 
bership aud  became  an  undenominated 
Christian. 


Laverty,  Dk.  Theodore  C,  Middletown, 
Pa.,  was  born  at  Mechanicsburg,  Cumber- 
land county.  Pa.,  May  12,  1831 ;  son  of  Pat- 
rick and  Anna  Mary  (Ditto)  Laverty.  The 
father  was  born  and  reared  in  Ireland,  came 
to  this  country  when  a  young  man  and  lo- 
cated in  (Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  where  he 
was  first  engaged  in  teaching,  and  subse- 
quently took  up  other  pursuits.  He  served 
as  collector  of  taxes  in  the  United  States 
internal  revenue  district,  composed  of  York, 
Cumberland  and  Adams  counties,  and  was 
also  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years  in 
Cumberland  county.  He  died  at  Mechanics- 
burg.   His  wife  was  a  native  of  York  county. 

Dr.  Theodore  C.  was  reared  at  Mechanics- 
burg, Pa.,  and  pursued  the  usual  course  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  place,  upon  the 
completion  of  which  he  taught  school  for 
some  time  in  his  native  county.  During 
the  years  from  1847  to  1849  he  read  medi- 
cine under  Dr.  P.  H.  Long,  of  Mechanics- 
burg, and  was  graduated  from  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College  in  1853.  In  the  same  year 
he  came  to  Middletown  and  opened  an  of- 
fice, where  he  has  since  enjoyed  a  successful 
l^ractice.  In  connection  with  his  professional 
work  he  has  also  conducted  a  drug  busi- 
ness for  many  years.  Dr.  Laverty  is  one  of 
the  early  members  of  the  County  Medical 
Society.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
Middletown  Car  Works.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  as  school  director 
of  the  borough.  Dr.  Laverty  was  married, 
in  1855,  to  Miss  Lydia  Lauman,  daughter  of 
George  Lauman,  to  whom  have  been  born 
five  children;  DeWitt  C;  Jennie;  Clara, 
Mrs.  Joseph  Raymond,  of  Middletown ; 
Theodore,  with  the  Iron  and  Tube  Company, 
of  Middletown,  and  married  Miss  Fanny 
Martin,  daughter  of  Joseph  Martin,  of  Lon- 
donderry township,  by  whom  he  has  four 
children:  Beulah,  Myra,  Elsie,  and  Estella ; 
and  Eugene,  druggist.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church. 


LoNGENECKER,  IsAAc  A.,  merchant,  Mid- 
dletown, Pa.,  was  born  at  Highland,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  January  10,  1846 ;  son  of 
Christian  aud  Mary  (Kingport)  Longenecker. 
The  father  moved  froni  Lancaster  to  Dau- 
phin county  about  1840,  and  engaged  in 
farming  on  the  present  site  of  Highland, 
where  he  died  in  1845.  His  wife  died  in 
1851.  Their  children  are:  John  K.,  of 
Lancaster  county;  Daniel,  of  Kansas;  Cathe- 
rine A.,  widow  of  David  Barnliill,  of  Middle- 
town,  and  Isaac. 

Isaac  Longenecker  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  locality,  receiving  a  limited 
education.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he 
became  a  clerk  in  a  general  store.  He  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  in  1867,  established  a  shoe 
business  in  Mechanicsburg,  which  he  con- 
tinued four  years  and  then  removed  to  Mid- 
dletown, where  he  was  in  the  shoe  trade 
until  1875,  when  he  went  to  Lykens  and 
opened  a  confectionery  store  and  ice  cream 
parlor,  which  he  conducted  for  six  years. 
He  again  returned  to  Middletown  and  estab- 
lished a  business  as  grocer,  baker  and  confec- 
tioner. In  1864  Mr.  Longenecker  enlisted 
in  company  I,  Ninth  regiment,  Pennsylva- 
nia cavalry,  as  a  private  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  At  Rockingham,  N. 
C,  in  March,  1865,  he  was  taken  prisoner 
and  was  confined  in  Libby  prison  about 
twenty-two  days,  after  which  he  was  paroled 
and  exchanged  at  Annapolis,  and  sent  home 
on  thirty  days'  furlough,  but  shortly  received 
orders  to  report  at  Harrisburg  and  be  mus- 
tered out.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Long- 
enecker is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  on 
the  school  board  three  j'ears  and  is  at  pres- 
ent a  member  of  the  city  council.  He  is 
a  member  of  Simon  Cameron  Post,  G.  A. 
R.;  Prince  Edwin  Lodge,  No.  486,  F.  &.  A. 
M.;  Middletown  Lodge,  No.  268,  K.  of  P.;  Ivy 
Court,  No.  6797,  A.  0.  F.  of  A.;  and  Triune 
Lodge,  No.  307,  I.  O.  0.  F.,  also  patriarch  of 
Encampment  No.  171, 1.  0.  0.  F.  Mr.  Long- 
enecker was  married,  in  1868,  to  Miss  Anna 
D.,  daughter  of  Jacob  ShaeHer,  of  Mechanics- 
burg, Pa.  Their  children  are:  Bertha;  Ida; 
Charles  E.,  in  business  with  his  father,  mar- 
ried Caroline  A.  Etter,  daughter  of  Henry 
Etter ;  Lulu  May,  Emma  K,  Bessie  V.,  Elsie 
E.,  and  Mary  E.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Church  of  God,  of  which  Mr.  Longe- 
necker is  the  treasurer. 


832 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


MuMMA,  Christian,  was  born  in  Lower 
Swatara  township,  Dauphin  count}^  Pa., 
March  28,  1812 ;  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Frantz)  Mumma.  The  grandfather,  John 
or  Jacob  Mumma,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  took  up  a  tract  of  land  now  known  as 
the  Motter  farm,  which  he  divided  between 
his  two  sons,  John  and  Christian.  John,  the 
father,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  Lower 
Swatara  townshij).  He  succeeded  to  one- 
half  of  his  father's  farm,  on  which  he  built 
a  house  in  1808,  which  he  occupied  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  member  of  the  old  Men- 
nonite  church,  and  in  the  latter  years  of  his 
life  was  a  minister  in  that  connection.  His 
ciiildren  are:  Christian;  Fannie,  Mrs.  John 
Strickler, of  Derry  township;  Elizabeth,  John, 
Jacob,  Samuel,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 

Christian  was  reared  on  the  homestead, 
and  was  all  his  life  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  married,  in  1839,  to  Miss  Nancy  Nissley, 
daughter  of  Martin  Nissley,  after  which  he 
located  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained for  thirty-six  years.  In  1875  he 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  tiiirty-six  acres,  which  he  has  since  oc- 
cupied. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and 
was  formerly  a  scliool  director  of  the  town- 
ship. Nine  children  were  born  to  him,  two 
of  whom  died  young,  four  died  of  scarlet 
fever  within  one  month,  and  three  are  still 
living:  Martin  N.;  Mary,  wife  of  Daniel 
Engle,  of  Lower  Swatara  township;  Barbara, 
wife  of  David  Metzger,  of  Londonderry  town- 
ship. Mr.  Mumma  is  a  member  of  the  old 
Mennonite  church,  in  which  he  is  also  a 
deacon.     His  wife  was  born  in  June,  1815. 

Their  son  Martin  N.  was  born  January 
1-1,  1841,  in  Low(!r  Swatara  township.  He 
was  educated  in  the  township  schools,  and 
has  always  been  a  farmer.  He  married  first, 
in  1869,  Miss  Elizabeth  Burger,  daughter  of 
Enos  Burger,  of  Juniata  county,  who  died  in 
1871.  They  had  two  children,  Enos,  of 
Philadelpliia,  and  Elizalieth,  wife  of  Daniel 
M.  Hershey,  of  Harrisburg.  He  married, 
secondly,  in  1878,  Miss  Elizabeth  Ebersole, 
daughter  of  John  D.  Ebersole,  of  Lancaster 
county.  Their  children  are:  Martin,  Annie, 
and  Mary.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Mumma 
located  in  Swatara  township  on  a  farm,  and 
for  one  3'ear  also  was  in  Cumberland  county, 
and  at  the  present  time  is  with  his  father. 
During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  furnished 
a  sub.stitute  in  the  army.  In  his  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  now  filling  the 
office  of  school  director  for  the  second  time. 


He  is  a  director  in  the  Middletown  Market 
House.  His  religious  faith  and  membership 
is  with  the  Mennonite  church. 


Mumma,  Edward  L.,  merchant,  Highspire, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lower  Swatara  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  January  13,  1872;  son 
of  Samuel  and  Anna  M.  (Leiby)  Mumma, 
natives  of  Dauphin  county.  The  father  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  was  also  a  dealer 
in  real  estate.  He  was  prominent  and  active 
in  the  Republican  party  and  in  his  connection 
with  the  United  Brethren  church.  His  death 
occurred  in  1892,  and  his  wife  survives  him. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  William  Leiby,  and  re- 
sides in  Steelton.  Their  children  are:  J.  Mil- 
ton, of  Steelton;  Samuel,  deceased;  Edward  L.; 
Ray,  deceased,  and  Mabel,  with  her  mother. 
Edward  L.  was  reared  on  the  homestead  and 
received  his  education  at  Lebanon  Valley 
College,  Annville,  Pa.,  and  New  Bloomfield 
Academy.  He  was  first  engaged  in  tiie  flour 
and  feed  trade,  and  in  1892  established  a 
general  store  which  he  conducted  since  that 
time.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Champion 
Manufacturing  Com|)any,  of  Middletown. 
His  fraternal  association  is  in  the  member- 
ship of  Baldwin  Commandery,  No.  108, 
K.  of  M.,  of  Steelton,  Pa.  Mr.  Mumma 
was  married,  in  1892,  to  Miss  Mary  Keister, 
daughter  of  David  Keister,  of  Lower  Swatara 
township,  b}'  whom  he  has  two  children, 
Samuel  and  Donald.  In  his  political  views 
he  is  in  accord  with  the  Republican  party, 
while  in  matters  of  faith  and  worship  he  is 
with  the  United  Brethren  church. 


Mumma,  Isaac,  deceased',  was  born  on  the 
homestead  in  Lower  Swatara  township,  Dau- 
piiin  county,  Pa.,  May  2,  1824;  son  of  Chris- 
tian Mumma,  and  grandson  of  John 
Mumma,  who  settled  near  Highspire,  Pa., 
in  1752.  Isaac  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
received  a  fair  education  in  the  schools  of 
his  period.  In  1847  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  commissioner  of  Dauphin  county, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  his  official  terra  was 
appointed  revenue  commissioner.  In  1862 
he  was  elected  associate  judge  of  Dauphin 
county  and  served  in  the  office  for  the  term 
of  five  years,  and  in  1867  was  elected  to  a 
second  term  of  the  same  office,  but  before 
the  expiration  of  this  term,  the  new  State 
constitution  came  into  effect  abolishing  the 
office,  and  he  returned  to  his  farm.  In  1885 
he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Dauphin  county 
and  discharged   the  duties  with   credit  and 


1 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY, 


833 


satisfaction  until  his  death,  March  11,  1887. 
Mr.  Mumma  was  a  director  in  the  Hummels- 
town  Banlc,  and  filled  many  places  of  puh- 
lic  and  private  trust,  with  the  utmost  effi- 
ciency and  fidelity,  establishing  a  reputation 
for  ability  and  integrity.  In  all  circles, 
commercial,  political  and  social,  he  was 
prominent  and  influential.  Mr.  Mumma 
was  married  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Cliristian 
Nissley,  of  Derry  township,  who  with  eight 
cliildren  survive  him.  These  children  are  : 
Emma;  Anna;  Mary,  wife  of  Edgar  Hum- 
mel, of  Hummelstown ;  Christian  N.,  of 
Steel  ton ;  Alice;  Blanche;  Ralpli,  in  the 
railway  mail  service,  and  Opal. 

Matheson,  George,    son    of   Adam    and 
Isabella  (Wright)   Matheson,  was   born   Oc- 
tober 27,  1828,  at  Jedburgh,  Roxburyshire, 
Scotland.     He  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  only  a 
common  school  education,  and  in  June,  1845, 
left  lioine  and  entered  the  employ,  as  an  ap- 
prentice, of  George  and   Robert  Stepiienson, 
the  celebrated  locomotive  and  engine  build- 
ers, at  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  England.     He  re- 
mained with  them  the  full  term  of  five  years, 
making  himself  proficient  in  all  departments 
of  the  business.     He  afterwards  worked  a  few 
montlis  in    England,  but   in  October,  1850, 
embarked   from  Glasgow  for  America.     On 
the  second  day  after  his  arrival  in  New  York 
he  commenced  work  in  the  shops  of  Hoggs 
&  Delaraater,  and  subsequently  labored  in 
and   had   charge  of  other  works,  finally  set- 
tling down  in  the  employ  of  the  Old  Novelty 
Iron  Works,  where  he  remained   ten  years. 
He  then   assumed  charge  of  the  erection  of 
engines  in  the  vessels  which  were  fitted  out 
by  the  Fulton  Iron  Works  of  James  Murphy 
&  Co.,  New  York,  remaining  in  that  position 
several  years.     Tlie  Civil  war  being  then  in 
progress  he  liad   charge  of   all   the  outside 
work  of  that  firm,  including  fitting  out  Gov- 
ernment vessels.     In  186-1  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  East  River  Iron  Works, 
Samuel  Secor  &  Co.,  at  that  time  largely  en- 
gaged  in    building    marine  and  stationary 
engines.     It   was   here   he  first  became  ac- 
quainted  with  the  manufacture  of  tubing, 
having  built  the  machinery  for  the  Bergen 
Tube  Mill,  of  New  Jersey.     In  1869  he  en- 
tered into  an  arrangement  with  parties,  after- 
wards  incorporated    as   the  National  Tube 
Works  Company,  to  erect  works  for  them  in 
East  Boston,  Mass.,  and  subsequently  acted 
as  superintendent  of  these  works  until  1872, 
when  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  more  exten- 


sive establishment  at  McKeesport,  Pa.  Mr. 
Matheson  took  entire  charge  of  the  projected 
works,  and  they  were  built  under  his  man- 
agement. He  acted  as  general  superinten- 
dent of  the  establishment  until  1880,  intro- 
ducing several  improvements  in  tubing 
manufacture,  and  successfully  operating 
Siemens'  gas  regenerator  furnaces,  which 
had  never  been  used  in  this  country  for  that 
purpose,  and  not  successfully  in  England. 
In  1880  he  removed  to  Middletown,and  with 
his  sons  projected  and  established  the  large 
and  successful  works  of  the  American  Tube 
and  Iron  Company,  and  of  which  his  sons, 
A.  Scott  and  James  H.,  have  the  general 
management.  He  married.  May,  1850,  Isa- 
bella Hewison,  a  native  of  Newcastle,  Eng- 
land, and  they  had  eleven  children,  of  whom 
eight  survive :  A.Scott;  James  H.;  Isabella 
H.,  who  married  John  Sword,  of  Scotland ; 
Elizabeth;  Mary  A.  H.,  who  married  A.  W. 
Momeyer;  Hannah  H.,  William  D.,  and 
Cornelia  C. 


McDaniel,  Dr.  Harry  M.,  Highspire,  Pa., 
was  born  in  York  county.  Pa.,  August  30, 
1858 ;  son  of  Isaiah  S.  and  Harriet  (Sunday) 
McDaniel.  He  was  reared  in  his  native 
county,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
sclioois  and  at  Lebanon  Valley  College,  Ann- 
ville.  Pa.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carpentry, 
and  followed  that  occupation  for  eight  years, 
after  which  he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine 
under  Dr.  J.  W.  Roop,  then  of  New  Cumber- 
land, now  of  Harrisburg.  He  later  attended 
the  lectures  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  from  which  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  in  1883,  and  the 
same  year  received  a  diploma  also  from  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  In  the  latter  part 
of  1883  he  located  at  Highspire,  where  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  general  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  has  also  been  phy- 
sician of  the  county  poor  house  for  many 
years.  In  his  politics  Dr.  McDaniel  is  a  Re- 
publican. In  1892  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Annie  G.  Backenstoe,  daughter  of  John  Back- 
enstoe,  of  Union  Deposit,  Pa.,  and  to  their 
marriage  there  is  no  issue.  Mrs.  McDaniel 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
of  Highspire. 

Myers,  J.  R.,  grocer,  Middletown,  Pa., 
was  born  in  York  county.  Pa.,  September 
16,1846;  son  of  John  and  Maria  (Roller) 
Myers.  The  father  moved  to  Cumberland 
county  when  he  was  six  years  of  age,  and  in 


834 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


1870  came  from  there  to  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Upper 
Paxton  township.  He  is  now  living  with 
his  daughter  in  Ida  Grove,  Iowa,  his  wife 
liaving  died  Februarj'  2,  1892.  Their  sur- 
viving cliildren  are  :  J.  R.,  and  Kate,  wife  of 
Owen  J.  Thompson,  of  Steelton,  tiie  only 
ones  living  in  this  country ;  Mary,  Mrs.  J. 
M.  C.  Halton,  of  DesMoines,  Iowa;  Matilda, 
Mrs.  William  Brady,  Ida  Grove,  Iowa ; 
Lottie,  Mrs.  Herbert  Myers,  of  Ida  Grove, 
Iowa,  and  William  L.,  of  Grand  Fork,  N.  D. 
The  parents  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  Mr.  Myers  held  the  office  of 
trustee  in  St.  John's  church  of  Cumberland 
county  for  many  years. 

J.  R.  Myers  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany D,  Twenty-eighth  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania cavalry,  in  which  he  served  six 
months,  and  then  re-enlisted  in  company  D, 
Two  Hundred  and  Second  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  After  his  discharge  he 
entered  the  New  Berlin  Academy,  and  re- 
mained two  terms,  after  which  he  worked 
three  years  in  the  West  Fairview  rolling 
mill.  In  December,  1869,  he  came  to  Mid- 
dletown,and  was  for  a  time  emploj'ed  in  the 
car  shops,  after  which  he  clerked  for  B.  S. 
Peters.  He  served  for  two  years  as  brake- 
man  on  the  Northern  Central  railroad,  and 
in  1894  established  his  present  business, 
which  he  has  since  continued.  Mr.  Myers 
is  a  member  of  the  Middletown  Lodge,  I.  0. 
0.  F.,  and  of  the  Columbia  CommanderN', 
K.  of  M.  In  his  political  views  he  is  inde- 
dendent.  He  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board  three  years  and  the  president  of  the 
body  two  years,  taking  an  active  interest  in 
all  educational  matters.  He  was  married,  in 
1866,  to  Miss  Susan  Fake,  of  York  county, 
Pa.,  and  they  had  four  children  :  John,  of 
Middletown,  married  Miss  Edith  Maybury  ; 
Frank,  Minnie,  and  Carrie.  Mr.  Myers  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  has 
served  in  the  church  council  for  twelve 
years,  taking  an  active  part  in  all  church 
work. 


died  in  Middletown  when  a  young  man. 
The  parents  came  to  Dauphin  county  when 
they  were  young  people  and  married  here. 
The  father  was  engaged  in  the  general  mer- 
cantile business  and  also  was  a  lumber  dealer. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  political  views,  but 
cherished  strong  independent  proclivities. 
He  was  reared  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  his  wife  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  died  in  1888  and  his 
wife  died  1871.  They  had  three  children  : 
Alvan;  William,  shoe  dealer,  at  Middle- 
town  ;  and  Ellen,  unmarried,  died  in  1893. 

Alvan  was  reared  at  Middletown  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  painter  and  followed 
that  occupation  for  some  years.  In  1S73  he 
engaged  in  mercantile  business,  in  which  he 
continued  one  year  and  then,  in  1874,  took  up 
the  real  estate  business  and  improved  several 
properties.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  company 
D,  Sixth  regiment.  United  States  cavalry,  in 
which  he  served  as  a  non-commissioned 
officer  for  three  years.  He  was  wounded  at 
the  skirmish  at  Slatersville,  after  the  battle 
of  Williamsville.  His  regiment  was  with 
the  Arm}'  of  the  Potomac  and  participated 
in  the  operations  and  battles  of  that  body  of 
soldiers.  Mr.  McNair  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Middletown  National  Bank.  In  political 
views  he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  borough  council  for  three 
years. 

He  married  Miss  Maria  L.  Swartz.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Solomon  L.  Swartz. 
By  this  marriage  he  had  three  children  : 
Helen,  Mary,  and  William.  Mr.  McNair  was 
married,  secondly,  to  Miss  Ella  Melborn, 
daughter  of  Oliver  P.  Melborn,  an  engineer, 
at  the  American  Tube  Works  at  Middletown 
and  was  killed  by  an  accident.  They  had 
four  children:  Claude  M.,  Ethel  May,  Harold 
\im,  and  Ruth  Y.  Mr.  McNair  attends  the 
Lutheran  church  and  his  family  attend  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


McNair,  Alvan,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Middletown,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
August  31,  1843;  son  of  Henrj'and  Su.sanna 
(Rewalt)  McNair,  natives  of  Lebanon  count}'. 
The  paternal  grandfather  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  came  to  America,  and  died  at 
Lewistown,  Pa.     The  maternal  grandfather 


NissLEY,  John  H.,  flour  and  feed  dealer, 
Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Derry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Novemlfer  16,  1844 ; 
son  of  Martin  and  Barbara  (Nissle}')  Nissley. 
Martin  Nissley,  Sr.,  the  grandfnther,  was  a 
farmer  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  and  re- 
tired, moving  to  Middletown,  where  he  died. 
Martin  Nissley,  Jr.,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  in  1812,  was  reared 
on  the  farm,  and  after  his  marriage  settled 
on   a   farm   in   Derrj'   township,  where   he 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


835 


lived  until  his  death,  in  1882.  His  wife  sur- 
vives him  and  lives  in  Annville,  Pa.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  in  which  he  held  various  offices  and 
was  a  trustee  of  the  church  for  many  years. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Republican.  He  reared 
six  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
and  the  others  are :  Fanny,  Mrs.  Franklin 
J.  Witmer,  of  Annville,  Pa. ;  Mary,  Mrs.  S.  M. 
Hummel,  of  Derry  (Jhurch,  deceased  ;  Jacob, 
of  Derry  township  ;  and  J.  H. 

John  H.  was  reared  in  Derry  township, 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  that  township  until 
1892,  when  he  retired  from  active  work  and 
moved  to  Middletown,  where  he  established 
his  present  business.  He  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Middletown  Novelty  Company. 
Mr.  Nissley  was  married,  in  1872,  to  Annie, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Solomon  Swartz,  of  Middle- 
town,  and  they  have  three  children  :  Edward 
S.,  teller  of  the  Union  National  Bank,  of  Mt. 
Joy,  Pa.;  Solomon  M.,  at  home ;  and  Mary 
Barbara.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Nissley  is 
a  Republican.  Heisamember  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  in  which  he  was  formerly 
a  trustee,  and  aided  in  building  the  Derry 
church. 


Peters,  Benjamin  Snyder,  banker,  Mid- 
dletown, was  born  in  Londonderry  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  March  19,  1834;  son 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Snyder)  Peters. 
His  grandfather,  Jacob  Peters,  was  a  native 
of  Lebanon  county,  and  died  there.  He 
married  Barbara  Buley,  of  Lebanon,  Pa., 
and  she  died  at  Altoona,  Pa.  Their  son, 
William  Peters,  was  boru  in  Londonderry 
now  Conewago  township,  October  27,  1811. 
His  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham Snyder,  a  native  of  Switzerland.  She 
was  born  in  Londonderry  township,  April 
15,  1812,  and  is  still  living.  The  father  is 
deceased. 

Benjamin  S.  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation, and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  entered 
a  store  at  Kelly's  Corners,  Lebanon  county,  to 
learn  merchandising,  and  was  afterwards  at 
Meyerstown.  From  1858  to  18G2  he  was  in 
commercial  business  at  Palmyra,  Lebanon 
county,  after  which  he  removed  to  Middle- 
town,  where  he  entered  into  jjartnership  with 
his  uncle  in  the  mercantile  trade.  Ujion  the 
dissolution  of  this  firm  he  purchased  the 
store  of  Yetman  Eves,  and  for  several  years 
was  the  senior  partner  of  the  firm  of  Peters 
&  Bros.,  retiring  from  business  in  January. 


1883.  The  following  year  he  again  engaged 
in  business  with  his  son,  under  the  firm 
name  of  B.  S.  Peters  &  Son,  which  conducted 
two  stores.  When  the  Farmers'  Bank  was 
organized  he  was  made  a  director,  and  was 
chosen  the  president  of  the  bank,  which  po- 
sition he  has  since  held.  Mr.  Peters  was 
married,  in  1855,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  John 
and  Polly  (Beard)  Rupp,  of  Lebanon  county. 
Their  children  are:  Jerome  G.,  Emma,  and 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Horace  McKee,  son  of  Rev. 
David  McKee  and  they  have  one  child,  Ben- 
jamin. Mr.  Peters  was  one  of  the  organiz- 
ers and  one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  Car 
Works.  In  political  matters  he  is  not  an 
active  partisan,  but  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  His  religious  fellowship  is 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which 
he  is  an  active  member,  and  of  which  he  has 
been  the  treasurer  for  fifteen  years. 


Rewalt,  Dr.  J.  W.,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Middletown,  and  was  reared  in  his 
native  town.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  until  he  attained  the  age  of  fourteen 
years,  when  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  general 
store.  After  a  short  period  of  service  in  this 
position  he  entered  the  drug  store  of  Mr. 
Blensinger,  with  whom  he  remained  two 
years,  and  while  thus  enployed  he  was  pros- 
ecuting his  studies  in  pharmacy.  After  a 
thorough  preparation  he  entered  the  Phila- 
delphia College  of  Pharmacy  and  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  regular  course  from  that  institu- 
tion. Subsequently  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  T.  C.  Laverty  in  the  drug  business,  in 
which  he  continued  for  two  and  a  half  years, 
when  the  firm  was  dissolved,  and  Dr.  Rewalt 
has  since  conducted  the  business.  He  has 
served  on  the  school  board  for  twelve  years. 
He  is  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


Ringland,  Dr.  John,  Middletown,  Pa.,  re- 
tired, was  born  in  Middletown,  Pa.,  January 
9,  1825;  son  of  James  and  Magdaline  (Bom- 
berger)  Ringland.  John  Ringland,  the  grand- 
father of  Dr.  John,  was  born  in  County  Down, 
Ireland,  as  was  also  his  wife.  They  came  to 
America  in  1792,  and  first  settled  in  Chester 
county.  Pa.,  from  whence  they  removed  to 
Lancaster  county.  James  Ringland,  the 
father,  was  a  native  of  Chester  county,  and 
came  to  Dauphin  county  in  1822  or  1823, 
settling  in  Middletown,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death   in   1834.     He  was 


836 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYGLOFEDIA 


originally  a  Presbyterian,  and  later  united 
with  the  Lutheran  church,  of  which  his  wife 
was  a  member.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig, 
and  served  in  various  township  offices.  His 
children  are:  Dr.  John;  Joseph,  deceased, 
merchant  at  Middletown,  and  formerly  a 
currier ;  Eliza  Jane,  Mrs.  G.  L.  Yetter,  of 
Middletown  ;  and  Mary  M.,  wife  of  Benjamin 
F.  Kendig,  of  Harrisburg.  After  his  death 
his  widow  married  Jacob  Lindermuth.  She 
died  in  1887. 

Dr.  John  Ringland  attended  the  public 
schools  until  lie  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  Lancaster  and  learned  the 
printer's  trade,  which  lie  followed  for  five 
years,  after  which  he  was  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness for  a  short  time.  He  read  medicine 
under  Dr.  Benjamin  J.  Wiestling,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  LTniversity  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1850.  He  practiced  medicine  for 
one  year  and  a  half,  but  was  forced  to  aban- 
don profes.sional  work  on  account  of  impaired 
hearing.  For  four  years  he  was  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  in  Cumberland  county 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Ciiurch,  Lee  '& 
Ringland,  after  which  he  returned  to  Mid- 
dletown and  embarked  in  tlie  dairy  busi- 
ness. In  1860  Dr.  Ringland  was  elected  re- 
corder of  deeds  of  Dauphin  county,  and  in 
1863  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office.  He 
served  as  a  meml^er  of  the  school  board  and 
of  the  council  of  Middletown,  and  has  also 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  about  seven- 
teen years.  He  was  originally  a  meraVier  of 
the  Whig  party,  and  later  joined  the  Repub- 
licans. In  1850  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret  E.  Smith,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mary  Smith,  of  Middletown.  Their  cliildren 
are:  Joseph  H.,  John  Augustus,  Mary  Jane, 
Louisa  B.,  and  Almeth  K.  The  family  were 
members  of  the  Presbvterian  church. 


Shireman,  William,  farmer  and  stock 
raiser,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Maytown, 
Lancaster  county,  November,  19,  1843 ;  son 
of  Aaron  and  Mary  (Lentz)  Shireman,  both 
natives  of  Lancaster  county.  The  father, 
Aaron  Shireman,  was  born  in  the  same  house 
that  Simon  Cameron  was  born  in.  In  1867 
he  purchased  a  farm  on  the  island  opposite 
Buck  Lock,  where  he  resided  for  many  years, 
but  now  lives  with  his  son  William.  He  is 
a  cabinet  maker  by  trade,  and  is  also  an 
active  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.  His  family  consists  of  three  children: 
William,  and  two  brothers,  who  reside  at 
New  Albany,  Ind. 


William  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Maytown,  which  he  attended 
until  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  then  learned 
the  trade  of  cabinet  maker  with  his  father, 
and  later  on  rented  his  farm  on  the  island, 
which  he  worked  for  sixteen  years,  and  eight 
years  of  this  time  he  attended  market  regu- 
larly in  Harrisburg.  By  his  untiring  energy 
and  economy  he  accumulated  sufficient 
money  to  buy  a  farm  of  his  own,  and  in  1882 
purchased  what  is  known  as  "Hillsdale  Farm," 
a  most  beautiful  place,  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship. Here  he  engaged  in  breeding  and 
raising  of  thoroughbred  stock,  and  is  the 
owner  of  as  fine  stock  as  can  be  found  in  the 
county.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Loug- 
necker,  daugiiter  of  Jacob  Longnecker,  of 
Maytown,  Lancaster  county,  in  1865.  Their 
five  children  are:  Anna,  Mrs.  Soloman  M. 
Gingrich,  Londonderry  township;  John  W., 
of  Royalton,  who  married  Miss  Elhi  Goss; 
Rachael,  Mrs.  John  W.  Metzger,  of  Royalton; 
Minnie,  and  Edward  L.  In  politics  Mr. 
Shireman  is  a  Democrat,  and  was  lionored 
by  being  elected  county  commissioner  in 
1893.  He  holds  the  office  of  trustee  in  the 
Middletown  Presbyterian  church,  of  whicli 
he  is  a  consistent  member. 


Rehrer,  Henry  L.,  coal  dealer,  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
June  17,  1835;  son  of  Jacob  and  Cliristina 
(Lott)  Rehrer.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Lancaster,  and  the  mother  of  Berks  county. 
He  moved  to  Dauphin  county  in  1837,  and 
located  at  Union  Deposit,  and  conducted  a 
distiller}'  for  General  Hocker  for  some  years. 
Later  he  came  to  Middletown,  where  he  was 
in  tlie  lumber  business  for  sixteen  years  and 
where  lie  died  in  185G.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Bethel  church,  and  was  also 
active  in  the  Democratic  party.  His  wife 
died  in  1877.  They  reared  seven  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living  :  Henry  L.;  Jacob, 
of  Royalton;  Andrew,  of  Middletown;  and 
George,  of  Middletown.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are :  Mary  L.,  Mrs.  Henry  Stipe  ;  John, 
and  Nicholas. 

Henry  L.  came  with  his  parents  to  Dau- 
phin county  when  he  was  two  years  old.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  for 
some  years  was  engaged  in  boating  on  the 
canal  and  for  eight  years  was  proprietor  of 
the  Pennsylvania  House.  Subsequently  he 
was  appointed  collector  on  the  Union  canal, 
and  held  the  position  for  fourteen  years.  In 
1876  he  established  his  present  coal  business 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


837 


in  wliich  he  lias  since  continued.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  of  the  Order  of 
United  American  Mechanics.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  six  years  in 
the  borough  council.  Mr.  Rehrer  was  mar- 
ried, in  1855,  to  Miss  Mary,daughter  of  James 
Stephenson,  of  Easton,  who  died  in  1889, 
leaving  no  issue.  He  was  married,  secondlj% 
in  1893,  to  Miss  Anna  E.,  daughter  of  George 
Stackhouse,  of  Fort  Deposit,  Md.  They  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  Middletown. 


SwARTZ,  Rev.  Solomon  L.,  Middletown,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Lower  Swatara  township,  Sep- 
tember IS,  1827.  The  first  of  the  family  in 
Dauphin  county  was  Ciiristian  Swartz,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany  who  came  to  America  and 
settled  first  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  He 
removed  from  thence  to  Dauphin  county  and 
located  in  what  is  now  Lower  Swatara  town- 
ship, where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  made 
many  improvements  on  his  place,  among 
which  is  a  store  house  erected  by,  him  in 
1799,  which  is  still  standing.  He  reared  two 
children,  Jacob  and  Christian,  who  succeeded 
to  his  estate  and  lived  with  him  until  his 
death.  Jacob  B.  married  Miss  Nancy  Nissley, 
daughter  of  Martin  Nissley,  who  died  in  1844. 
They  reared  three  children.  Rev.  Solomon  S. 
being  the  only  survivor.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  and  subscription  schools,  and 
engaged  in  farming  for  several  years.  He 
made  a  profession  of  religion  early  in  life  and 
connected  himself  with  the  United  Brethren 
church,  taking  always  an  active  part  in 
church  work.  In  1871  he  made  application 
to  conference  to  be  admitted  to  the  ministry, 
and  in  1879  was  received  and  ordained  to  the 
sacred  office.  In  1891  he  settled  at  Middle- 
town  as  a  minister  without  charge  and  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  place  since  that  date. 
Mr.  Swartz  was  married,  in  1849,  to  Mary 
Nissley,  a  daughter  of  Peter  Nissley,  of  Lan- 
caster county,  by  whom  he  has  one  child, 
Anna,  wife  of  John  H.  Nissley,  of  Middle- 
town,  Pa.  He  was  married,  secondly,  to  Miss 
Anna  Wagner. 

Swartz,  Martin  Nissley,  deceased,  was 
born  in  Lower  Swatara  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  September  30,  1829 ;  son  of 
Christian  and  Nancy  (Nissley)  Swartz.  His 
parents  died  and  he  was  reared  by  his  grand- 
parents and  attended  the  schools  of  his  na- 


tive township.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm  and 
chose  farming  as  his  occupation.  After  his 
marriage  he  located  on  the  farm,  which  he 
occupied  until  his  death,  in  September,  1878. 
He  was  a  stockholder  in  theBomberger  Bank, 
of  Ilarrisburg.  Mr.  Swartz  was  married,  in 
1858,  to  Miss  Harriet,  daughter  of  lohn  and 
Catherine  Wallower,  of  Dauphin  county. 
Of  their  nine  children  five  are  living.  The 
first  is  Christian  Landis,  born  April  3,  1864, 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  in 
the  Lebanon  Valley  College  at  Annville; 
worked  for  sometime  for  the  American  Tube 
and  Iron  Company,  and  was  also  a  clerk  at 
Harrisburg;  married,  April  17,  1884,  to 
Ann,  daughter  of  Abraham  C.  Brinser,  of 
Londonderry  township,  and  their  children 
are  :  Christian  Ira,  Ida  May,  Martin  Oliver, 
and  Milford  Ross.  The  second  is  Oliver 
Martin,  born  March  20, 1806,  at  Middletown  ; 
married  in  1892  to  Sarah  Rose,  of  Harris- 
burg, and  their  children  are:  Oliver  Henry, 
William  Krebs,  and  Sarah  Harriet.  The 
third  is  Joshua  William,  born  January  9, 
1867,  attorney-at-law,  Harrisburg  ;  received 
his  education  at  Annville,  and  was  gradu- 
ated at  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle.  He 
married  Miss  Adella  Gohen,  daughter  of 
John  Gohen,  of  Indiana  county,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Joshua  G.  The  fourth  is 
Isaac  Benjamin,  born  November  8,  1868,  at- 
torney-at-law, Harrisburg ;  received  his  edu- 
cation at  Annville,  Shippensburg  and  Dick- 
inson Law  School,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  was  one 
term  at  Millersville  Normal  School.  The 
fifth  is  Elijah  Gabriel,  born  September  13, 
1872,  cigar  manufacturer  at  Lebanon,  Pa. 
Emma  Catherine,  born  July  12,  1870,  died 
in  1878,  and  three  other  children  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  Swartz  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 


Shope,  Henry  N.,  farmer,  Highspire,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Lower  Swatara  township, Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  September  8,  1852;  son  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Martha  (Gaynson)  Shope.  The 
grandfather  located  in  Lower  Swatara  town- 
ship, and  married  Miss  Martha  Bannan.  They 
were  members  of  the  old  Mennonite  church, 
and  reared  four  children.  The  father  was 
born  in  Paxton  township  in  1812,  and  was 
reared  in  the  township.  After  marriage  he 
located  in  Lower  Swatara  township,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death,  in  1877.  In 
his  religious  faith  he  was  a  Mennonite,  and 
was  a  bishop  in  that  church.  His  wife  died 
in  1892.     They  reared  nine  children  :  Mary, 


838 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


widow  of  Samuel  Kohr,  of  Oberlin,  Pa.; 
Martha,  wife  of  Adam  Hocker,  of  Mt.  Wolf, 
York  county;  Edward,  of  White  Plill,  Cum- 
berland count}' ;  Eliza,  wife  of  Samuel  Zim- 
merman,of  Lower  Swatara  township ;  Henry 
N.;  Hettie,  wife  of  David  Martin,  of  Bain- 
bridge,  Lancaster  county  ;  Susan,  wife  of 
Jonas  Zimmerman,  of  Oberlin  ;  Sarah,  wife 
of  David  Kohr,  of  Lower  Swatara  township  ; 
and  Adam,  of  Hummelstown.  Henry  N.  was 
reared  and  educated  in  tlie  township,  and  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  farming,  He  was 
married,  January  1, 1874,  to  MissSaraii  Mey- 
ers, daugiiter  of  Henry  Mej'ers,  of  London- 
derry townsliip.  Their  children  are:  Martha, 
wife  of  Elmer  Handshew  ;  Harry  M.,  Annie 
M.,  Bertha  S.,  Eli  C,  William  B.,  and  Myrtle 
M.  Mr.  Shope  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 
In  religious  faith  he  is  a  Mennonite,  and  is 
a  minister  in  that  connection. 


Lower  Swatara  township;  Leah  A.,  Emma 
J.,  Minnie  M.,  and  Annie  Viola.  Mr.  Stout 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 


Stout,  David,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
South  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  count}-. 
Pa.,  August  10,1848;  son  of  John  and  Leah 
(Metzger)  Stout,  natives  of  Dauphin  county. 
Adam  Stout,  grandfather  of  David,  was  the 
first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  the  count}', 
coming  from  up  the  river,  and  locating  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  wiiere  he  followed 
his  occupation  of  weaving  in  connection 
with  farming.  Joiin,  fiither  of  David,  was 
born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  February 
2,  1814,  and  was  engaged  in  farming,  first  in 
Paxton  and  later  in  South  Hanover  town- 
ship, wiiere  he  died  in  1890.  His  wife  sur- 
vives him  and  is  a  resident  of  South  Han- 
over township.  Of  their  children  six  died 
young  and  the  others  are:  Catherine,  Mrs. 
John  Allwine,  of  South  Hanover  township  ; 
David,  and  Daniel  M.,  of  Derry  township. 
The  father  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church,  and  a  Re])ublican  in  his 
politics.  David  was  reared  in  South  Han- 
over township  and  attended  the  public 
schools.  He  was  married,  October  26,  1871, 
to  Miss  Louisa  Albert,  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Taylor)  Albert,  of  East  Hanover 
township.  He  located  on  tiie  old  homestead, 
where  he  remained  eight  years,  and  then,  in 
1891,  purciiased  the  Martin  Swartz  farm,  on 
which  he  has  since  resided.  In  political 
matters  Mr.  Stout  is  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  served  as  school  director  in 
South  Hanover  township.  His  children  are: 
Sally  Ann,  wife  of  David  E.  Schaffner,  of 


Stoner,  Milton  J.,  agent  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company,  was  born  at  Higli- 
spire,  Pa.,  August  12,  1846  ;  son  of  Henry 
and  Mary  (Miller)  Stoner.  John  Stoner,  tiie 
grandfather,  was  an  early  settler  of  the 
county  and  a  carpenter  by  trade.  The  father 
was  born  in  Lower  Swatara  township  in  1813 
and  was  a  school  teacher  at  Plighspire.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  carpentry  and  followed 
that  occupation  for  many  years.  In  1848  he 
opened  a  general  store  in  Highspire,  which 
he  conducted  until  his  death  in  1876.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican  and  served  as 
postmaster  at  Highspire  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  His  wife  is  a  native  of 
Lewisburg,  Pa.,  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Steelton.  They  have  three  children:  Milton 
J.;  Ellwyn  M.,  of  Steelton,  agent  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  ;  and 
Ulysses  S.,  died  in  1889,  aged  twenty-one 
years.  Milton  J.  was  reared  and  educated  at 
Highspire.  He  learned  telegraphy  and  in 
1863  entered  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company  as  operator  between  Har- 
risburg  and  Altoona,  and  was  stationed  at 
the  latter  place  for  six  years.  In  1872  he 
came  to  Highspire  and  opened  the  office  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  of 
which  he  has  since  had  charge,  and  is  also 
freight  and  express  agent.  Mr.  Stoner  is  a 
member  of  Baldwin  Commandery,  No.  108, 
K.  of  M.,  and  is  also  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  lodge.  In  politics  he  is  an  active  Repub- 
lican. General  Grant  appointed  him  post- 
master of  Highspire,  and  he  served  continu- 
ously in  that  office  until  Cleveland  was 
elected  President.  He  was  married,  in  1872, 
to  Miss  Cora  L.  Herrick,  daugiiter  of  John 
Herrick,  of  Steelton.  They  have  one  child, 
Otho  N.,  born  in  1874,  assistant  to  his  father. 
Mrs.  Stoner  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  of  Highspire. 

ScHULTz,  Leonard,  deceased,  was  born  at 
Wurtemburg,  Germany,  March  5,  1827  or 
1828.  He  came  to  this  country  when  a  young 
man,  and  located  in  Middletown  in  1850, 
where  he  established  a  brewery,  which  he 
conducted  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1872.  He  was  married  at  Philadelphia  to 
Anna  Catherine  Smith,  who  was  also  a  na- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


839 


tive  of  Wurtemburg.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  clmrch.  Tlieir  children  are: 
(1)  John,  of  Middletown,  born  January  30, 
1852,  received  his  education  in  tiie  jmb- 
lic  schools  and  learned  the  trade  of  baker. 
He  was  married,  in  1S75,  to  Susan  Capp,  of 
Middletown,  and  to  this  marriage  there  is 
no  issue.  He  is  independent  in  his  politi- 
cal views.  (2)  William,  born  in  1853,  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  and  resides  at  Middle- 
town.  He  married  Susan  Brenser,  of  York 
county.  Pa.,  and  they  have  two  children  : 
Leonard  and  Gertrude.  (3)  Catherine,  wife 
of  Harry  Steele,  of  Middletown,  Pa.  (4) 
Frederick,  Middletown,  born  May  3,  1858, 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  engaged 
in  butchering,  and  established  his  present 
business  in  1885.  He  was  married,  in  1880, 
to  Miss  Emma  Wilson,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Wilson,  of  Middletown.  Tliey  have  no 
children.  1\\  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Stecher,  Rev.  Henry  G.,  son  of  George 
Stecher,  was  born  July  16, 1792,  near  Easton, 
Northampton  county.  Pa.  He  received 
an  academic  and  collegiate  education,  and 
began  the  study  of  theology  at  Easton. 
He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Lutheran 
church  at  Logansville,  York  county,  Pa., 
in  1819,  and  served  that  congregation 
faithfully  until  1830,  when  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  church  at  Hummelstown.  His 
charge  included  other  congregations,  and  he 
was  as  energetic  in  the  devotion  to  the  wants 
of  his  widely  scattered  flocks  as  he  was 
earnest  in  his  expounding  of  religious 
truths.  He  was  well  educated,  a  profound 
theologian,  and  of  an  exceeding  amiableness 
of  character.  In  1854  he  resigned  his  charge 
owing  to  advancing  years  and  physical  ina- 
bility. From  that  point  until  the  close  of 
his  life  he  resided  at  Hummelstown,  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  charms  of  the  domestic 
circle  of  a  good  man.  He  died  April  20, 
1870.  Rev.  Mr.  Stecher  married  Julianna, 
daughter  of  George  Fouse,  who  survives  in 
her  eighty-sixth  year.  Their  children  are 
as  follows:  Mary  Ann,  deceased  ;  Adeline, 
who  married  Henry  L.  Hummel ;  Julianna, 
deceased;  Amanda,  who  married  John 
Fisher,  of  Middletown;  Albert,  who  married 
Rebecca  Groom,  of  York  county  ;  Theodore 
A.,  who  was  educated  at  Pennsylvania  Col- 
lege, Gettysburg,  with  the  intention  of  enter- 
ing the  ministry  ;  about  1860  he  went  into 
the  service  of  the  Pennsvlvania   Railroad 


Company  at  Altoona,  under  Engineer  Her- 
man Haupt,  subsequently  transferred  to  gen- 
eral ticket  agent  at  Philadelphia,  which  po- 
sition he  filled  creditably  until  his  death  in 
1880,  which  took  place  at  Ardmore,  near 
Philadelphia;  George,  who  married  Bell 
Haines,  of  Philadeli)hia;  Sarah,  Caroline, 
and  Frank  B. 


Smuller,  George,  son  of  John  and  Su- 
sannah (Shirtz)  Smuller,  was  born  October 
7,  1805,  at  Jonestown,  Lebanon  county.  Pa. 
He  acquired  a  fair  English  education  in  the 
schools  of  the  day,  and  in  early  life  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  tailor.  He  subsequently  be- 
came extensively  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness with  theUnion  Canal  Company  and  aeon- 
tractor  in  the  public  works  of  the  State.  He 
was  afterwards  appointed  collector  of  tolls  in 
the  Union  canal,  at  Middletown,  a  position  he 
filled  many  years,  resigning  in  1857,  when 
he  was  elected  president  of  the  Middletown 
Bank.  As  first  officer  of  that  institution 
Mr.  Smuller  won  for  himself  the  highest 
confidence  of  the  community,  which  he  re- 
tained down  to  the  close  of  his  busy,  active 
life.  He  died  at  Middletown,  August  19, 
1882,  aged  almost  seventy-seven  years.  Few 
men  stood  higher  in  any  community  than 
he.  His  life  was  characterized  by  great 
goodness  of  heart  and  true  nobleness  of  soul, 
which  won  for  him  the  love  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow-men  and  neighbors.  Mr.  Smuller 
married  Caroline,  daughter  of  Dr.  Karl  and 
Mary  Fisher, of  Middletown ,  born  in  1805,  and 
died  January  5, 1870.  Their  children  were: 
Lehman  ;  Mary  ;  Elizabetli,  who  married 
George F.Mish,M.D.;  Annie  G.,  who  married 
Henry  J.  Meily  ;  Ellen,  who  married  David 
G.  Swartz,  of  Chicago  ;  and  Caroline. 


Saul,  Henry  R.,  proprietor  of  the  Middle- 
town  Carriage  Factory,  was  born  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  March  18, 1843  ;  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Magdaline  (Rouch)  Saul,  both  old  fami- 
lies of  that  county,  whose  ancestors  were  na- 
tives of  Germany,  and  the  very  oldest  settlers 
of  Berks  county.  Tiie  father  was  a  farmer. 
He  died  February  2, 1880,  aged  seventy-eight 
years,  and  the  mother  died  in  Berks  county 
in  1862.  Their  children  are :  Lena,  Eliza- 
beth, David,  Mary,  Henry  R.,  and  Charles. 

Henry  R.  came  to  Dauphin  county  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  years.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  and  learned  the 
trade  of  coachmaking  at  Hummelstown.  Sub- 
sequently he  took  a  course  in  the  Commer- 


840 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


cial  College  at  Lock  Haven.  In  1868  he  es- 
tablished a  business  at  Lock  Haven,  Pa.,  and 
continued  there  five  years,  when  he  went  to 
Wisconsin  and  for  seven  years  was  in  the 
lumber  business.  In  1887  he  came  to  Mid- 
dletown,  where  he  opened  a  shop  for  the  mak- 
ing of  carriages  and  doing  general  repairing 
work. 

In  political  views  Mr.  Saul  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  formerly  was  a  member  of  tiie  I.  0. 
0.  F.  He  was  married,  June,  1881,  to  Miss 
Florence,  daughter  of  John  S.  Watson.  Mr. 
Watson  married  Sabilla  Beyerle,  of  Reading, 
Pa.,  in  1832,  and  about  1835  settled  at  Mid- 
dletown,  where  he  had  a  saw  mill,  built  boats 
for  the  canal  and  carried  on  a  trade  in  lum- 
ber. He  was  a  prominent  man  of  his  day, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  stockholders  and  a 
director  in  the  Middletown  Bank.  His  death 
occurred  January  8,  1878,  and  that  of  his 
wife  in  February,  1889.  He  was  a  Whig  in 
politics.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Bethel 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  liberal  supporter. 
Their  children  are :  Mary  Ann,  Mrs.  William 
M.  Daugherty,  of  Sunbury,  Pa.,  and  Florence, 
Mrs.  Henry  R.  Saul.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Saul  have 
no  children.  They  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee. 

Shepler,  Jacob  H.,  merchant.  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  was  born,  in  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  February  18,  1840  ;  son  of  Samuel  and 
Regina  (Albert)  Shepler,  natives  of  that 
count}'.  The  father  came  to  Dauphin  county 
with  his  family  in  1850,  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Middle  Paxton  township,  where 
he  continued  until  his  death.  His  ciiildren 
are:  John,  of  Middle  Paxton  township; 
Sarah,  Mrs.  Eli  Salzer,  of  Middle  Paxton 
township;  Jacob  H.;  Mary,  Mrs.  Amos 
Parker,  of  Hanover  township ;  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  Thomas  Hinkle,  of  Chicago,  111.;  Will- 
iam, and  Isaac,  both  of  Middle  Paxton  town- 
ship. 

Jacob  H.  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  learned  the  trade  of  plasterer 
and  also  of  wood  worker.  In  1861  he  en- 
listed in  the  United  States  army  and  served 
until  1865,  having  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  in 
1863  in  the  same  company,  and  having  been 
commissioned  as  captain  of  his  company. 
At  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  he  was 
taken  prisoner  and  was  confined  in  Libby 
prison  for  four  months.  After  serving  two 
years  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Western  army  under  Gen- 
eral Sherman,  participatingiiu  the  triumph- 


ant battles  and  marches  of  that  great  army 
and  going  with  it  to  the  sea.  After  his  dis- 
charge from  the  military  service  he  was  em- 
ployed at  different  tunes  by  the  Harrisburg 
Car  Company,  the  Middletown  Car  Works,  the 
Furniture  Company  and  other  companies. 
In  1893  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
at  Middletown,  in  which  he  has  continued 
until  the  present  time.  Mr.  Shepler  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  United  American 
Mechanics  and  of  Simon  Cameron  Post, 
G.  A.  R.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 
He  was  married,  in  1868,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hughes,  daughter  of  Jacob  Hughes,  of  Han- 
over township,  and  to  this  marriage  there  is 
no  issue.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  holds  the  offices  of 
steward  and  class  leader  in  the  same. 


SwEiGARD,  Daniel,  dealer  in  coal.  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Jackson  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  April  20,  1842 ;  son  of 
Jonas  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Sweigard.  The 
first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  Dauphin 
county  was  Peter  Sweigard,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  and  took  up  a 
tract  of  Government  land  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, on  which  he  settled  and  remained.  His 
son  Adam,  the  grandfather  of  Daniel,  was 
born  in  Jackson  township,  where  he  also 
took  up  land  and  cleared  up  a  farm,  and  was 
also  engaged  in  hauling  to  Harrisburg  and 
Lancaster  county.  The  family  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  married 
Miss  Warfel,  of  one  of  the  early  families  of 
the  township,  and  they  reared  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  are  living:  Piulip,  of 
Lower  Swatara  township,  retired ;  Rachel, 
wife  of  George  Shoop,  of  Wayne  township; 
Mar\',  wife  of  John  Miller,  of  Jackson  town- 
ship ;  and  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Enders,  of 
Jackson  township.  Jonas  Sweigard,  fixther 
of  Daniel,  was  born  in  Jackson  township, 
January  30,  1813.  He  followed  farming  in 
Jackson  and  Jefferson  townships.  Politi- 
cally he  was  a  Democrat  and  filled  various 
township  offices.  His  death  occurred  Oc- 
tober 3,  1880,  and  that  of  his  wife  December 
19,  1893.  They  were  prominent  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  Their  children  are: 
James,  of  Jackson  township;  Daniel  and 
Samuel,  of  Ellsworth  county,  Kan. 

Daniel  was  reared  in  his  native  township 
and  learned  the  trade  of  stonemason,  which 
he  followed  for  twenty  years.  In  1864  he 
enlisted  in  company  A,  Two  Hundred  and 
Eighth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 


DATTPHJN  COUNTY. 


841 


and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In 
18G7  he  came  to  Middletown  and  cultivated 
the  Frcy  farm  one  year,  after  which  he 
worked  at  his  trade  until  1876,  when  he  es- 
tablished his  present  business.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat.  He  was  married,  in  1870, 
to  Catherine,  daughter  of  Frederick  Klein- 
dopf,  of  Londonderry  township,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Annie,  at  home.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  church 
and  is  a  trustee  of  the  organization. 

Selskr,  Samuel  S.,  Middletown,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Middletown,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
May  29,  1850;  son  of  Samuel  and  Christina 
(Ehrsman)  Selser.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age, 
and  learned  the  tinner's  trade,  which  occu- 
pation he  has  since  followed.  In  187(3  he 
established  a  business  for  himself,  and  in 
1879  built  the  store  which  he  has  since  oc- 
cupied. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  of  the  Junior  Order  United 
American  Mechanics.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican.  Mr.  Selser  was  married,  De- 
cember 31,  1879,  to  Miss  Barbara,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Kleindopf,  of  Middletown,  by  whom 
he  has  two  children :  Catherine  B.  and  Lucy 
E.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Peter's  Lu- 
theran church. 


Selser,  Samuel,  retired,  Middletown,  was 
born  at  Middletown,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
March  5,  1815;  son  of  George  and  Catherine 
(Musser)  Selser.  The  father  was  born  in 
York  county  and  the  mother  in  Lancaster 
county.  John  George  Selser,  the  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to 
America,  settled  in  York  county,  and  had 
three  .sons  and  one  daughter:  George,  Nicho- 
las, Michael,  and  Christina.  George  Selser, 
the  father,  came  to  Middletown  before  his 
marriage,  about  1812,  and  purchased  a  lot 
from  the  Foot  family.  He  was  originally  a 
distiller,  but  after  coming  to  Middletown  en- 
gaged in  the  manufactui'e  of  nails,  and  fol- 
lowed that  business  many  years,  and  later  in 
life  was  engaged  in  milling,  carpentry  and 
other  employments.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  was  one  of  the 
workmen  employed  in  building  the  steeple 
on  the  church.  He  died  in  1852  and  his 
wife  died  in  1876.  Their  children  are : 
Catherine,  married  Adam  Foot,  and  died  at 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich.;  Samuel,  and  Mary, 
Mrs.  Eli  May,  of  Middletown. 


Samuel  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
that  period  and  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet 
making,  at  which  he  worked  for  several 
years,  after  which  he  had  a  saw  mill  and 
was  in  the  lumber  business  for  thirty-five 
years,  in  connection  with  which  he  did  car- 
penter work.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig, 
and  later  a  Republican,  and  served  as  mem- 
ber of  the  council  and  as  tax  collector.  Mr. 
Selser  was  married,  in  1835,  to  Sarah  Smith, 
who  lived  only  a  short  time,  and  after  her 
death  he  married  Miss  Christina,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Ehersman.  She  died  in  1893. 
They  had  eleven  children :  Anna,  Salome, 
Sarah,  Catherine,  Christina,  Mary,  Lucinda, 
George  W.,  Samuel  S.,  John,  and  Jacob.  Mr. 
Selser  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


Ulrich,  Adam,  retired,  Middletown,  was 
born  in  Lower  Swatara  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  January  11,  1818 ;  son  of 
Michael  and  Kate  (Stoner)  Ulrich.  The 
father  came  fi'om  Lebanon  county  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  in  Lower  Swatara  township 
about  1812.  He  was  a  weaver  and  saddler 
by  trade,  and  worked  at  these  occupations  to 
some  extent  in  connection  with  farming, 
until  he  retired  from  active  business  and 
moved  to  "Middletown,  where  he  died  in 
1845,  and  is  buried  in  the  Middletown  cem- 
etery. By  his  first  wife,  who  died  about 
lS35,  he  had  nine  children ;  two  died  in  in- 
fancy :  Mary,  deceased,  married  Christian 
Eshenour ;  Elizabeth, deceased,  married  Jacob 
Eshenour ;  Samuel, deceased,  farmer  in  Lower 
Swatara  township ;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Philip 
Albert ;  Michael,  deceased,  farmer  in  Lower 
Swatara  township;  John,  who  conducted  a 
sash  factory,  at  Middletown,  and  Adam,  the 
only  survivor  of  the  family.  Mr.  Ulrich 
married  for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Mary 
Deckard,  who  died  in  1875.  They  were 
members  of  the  Luthenin  church,  and  later 
joined  the  United  Brethren  church.  In  pol- 
itics Mr.  Ulrich  was  a  Whig. 

Adam  was  reared  on  the  homestead,  and 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  1883,  when 
he  retired  from  active  work.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1839,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry 
Deckard,  of  Swatara  township,  and  settled 
on  his  father's  homestead,  where  his  wife 
died  in  1883.  They  had  four  children : 
William,  cashier  of  the  Huramelstown  Bank  ; 
Mary,  wife  of  John  W.  Rife,  of  Middletown  ; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Benjamin  Martin,  of 
Kingston  ;  John,  on  the  old  homestead.     In 


842 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


politics  Mr.  Ulrich  is  a  Republican  and  has 
served  in  various  township  offices.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Guyer's  United  Brethren 
church. 


married  Carrie  Keller,  and  now  resides  in 
Wrightsville;  Katie,  John,  Charles,  and 
Mary.  Mr.  Witman  is  a  Republican  in 
politics. 


Ulrich,  John  L.,  farmer,  Middletown  P. 
0.,  was  born  in  Lower  Swatara  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  January  2,  1861.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  township 
schools,  and  learned  the  milling  business. 
In  1881  he  rented  the  Nissley  mill,  which 
he  conducted  for  three  years,  after  which  he 
removed  to  his  father's  homestead,  which  he 
has  since  occupied.  Mr.  Ulrich  was  married, 
in  1881,  to  Miss  Barbara,  daughter  of  Jacob 
C.  Nissley,  of  Londonderry  township,  and 
they  have  two  children  :  Katie  V.  and  Mary 
B.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Ulrich  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  as  township 
auditor.  His  church  membership  is  with 
the  United  Brethren  at  Hummelstown. 


Witman,  John  A.,  shoemaker,  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Londonderry  township,  April  22,  1834 ;  son 
of  John  and  Mary  (Kouchman)  Witman. 
The  first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  this  county 
was  John,  the  grandfather  of  John  A.,  who 
moved  from  Lancaster  county  in  1795  and 
settled  in  Londonderry  township,  where  he 
lived  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Anthony,  John,  Jacob,  Paul, 
Joseph,  Elizabeth,  and  Mary,  all  of  whom 
are  deceased. 

The  father  was  born  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, April  21,  1799.  He  was  a  weaver  by 
trade,  but  engaged  in  brick  making  and  in 
butchering  for  a  number  of  years.  He  died 
March  26,  1880,  and  his  wife  August  12, 
1847,  at  the  age  of  forty-three.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Kouchman,  by  whom  he 
had  twelve  children :  Lydia,  Catherine, 
Henry,  Mary  Ann,  Elizabeth,  John  A.,  Sarah 
Margaret,  Paul,  William,  Phiannas,  Joseph, 
and  Emma  M.  He  afterwards  married  ^Irs. 
Anna  Eversole,  b}'  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, Louisa  and  Martin.  John  A.  was  first 
engaged  in  shoemaking.  From  1870  to  1880 
was  in  mercantile  business  in  Wrightsville. 
During  1883  and  1884  was  working  for 
the  E.  C.  M.  railroad.  From  1865  to  1869 
was  superintendent  for  James  Young,  Mid- 
dletown, and  kept  hotel  in  Wrightsville, 
York  county,  for  five  years,  and  for  a  time 
in  Middletown.  He  married  Miss  Leah 
Ginder,  of  York,  York  county,  December  27, 
1860.     Their  children  are:  Maggie;  Morris, 


Whitmer,  Abraham  U.,  farmer,  Oberlin, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Pa.,  Jan- 
uary 22, 1848;  son  of  Abraham  and  Catherine 
(Urich)Whitmer,natives  of  Lancaster  count)'. 
The  father  removed  to  Dauphin  county  in 
1856,  and  located  in  Lower  Swatara  township, 
where  he  lived  until  1888,  when  he  removed 
to  Oberlin,  and  died  in  February,  1890.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  was  in 
connection  with  the  River  Brethren  church. 
His  wife  died  in  1892.  Their  children  are: 
Fannie,  widow  of  Samuel  Brelim,  of  Steel  ton  ; 
David,  of  Londonderry  township;  Abraham 
U.,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Heney  Wolgemuth, 
of  Lancaster  county.  Abraham  U.  came 
with  his  parents  to  Dauphin  county  when 
he  was  eight  i'ears  of  age,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  After  the 
death  of  his  father  he  succeeded  to  the 
homestead.  In  1876  he  was  married  to 
Mary  E.  Metz,  daughter  of  George  Metz,  of 
Swatara  township,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children :  Sally  A.,  Mary  Jane,  and  Harry 
W.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  \\'hitmeris  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  in  the  office  of 
inspector  of  elections,  and  auditor  of  the 
township. 


Wagner,  John  R.,  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Londonderry  townsliip,  June 
10,  1833  ;  son  of  John  Wagner.  Tiie  first 
of  the  Wagner  family  to  come  to  Dauphin 
count}'  was  Frederick  Wagner,  grandfather 
of  John  R.,  who  settled  on  the  tract  of  land 
now  owned  by  the  All  wine  estate.  Frederick, 
born  December  14,  1758,  was  a  carpenter 
and  one  of  the  early  settlers  at  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  when  there  were  onl}'  a  few  houses 
where  the  city  now  stands.  Frederick  was 
drafted  for  service  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
marched  from  Londonderry  township  to 
Baltimore.  He  acquired  a  good  education 
for  that  period,  was  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  He  was  a  shoemaker,  but  like  most 
other  mechanics  was  also  at  times  engaged 
in  farming.  He  married  Miss  Anne  Wright- 
m3'er,  by  whom  he  had  these  children : 
Elizabeth,  Anna,  Margaret,  Mary,  and  .John, 
all  of  whom  are  deceased.  Frederick  Wag- 
ner died  on  the  homestead  in  1846,  aged 
eighty-seven  years. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


843 


John  Wagner,  the  father  of  John  R.,  was  born 
in  1799,  on  the  old  homestead,  where  lie  spent 
his  entire  life,  and  died  in  1874.  He  was  the 
youngest  child  of  his  father's  family,  acquired 
a  good  education,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  held  the 
office  of  supervisor  of  the  township  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  In  his  religious  views  and  fel- 
lowsliip  he  was  a  Lutheran  and  was  an  active 
member  of  that  church.  He  married  Miss 
Catherine  Rodfong,  daughter  of  Michael  Rod- 
fong,  of  Dauphin  county.  Their  children  are  : 
Caroline,  who  died  in  1863,  aged  fourteen  years; 
Frederick,  married  Leah  Peters,  daughter  of 
David  Peters,  of  Dauphin  county ;  John  ; 
Annie,  married  S.  C.  Swartz,  son  of  Christian 
Swartz,  of  Dauphin  county;  Mary,  married 
Davis  Eshenower,  of  Lower  Swatara  town- 
ship; Eliza,  married  Jacob  M.  Giugerich,  of 
Londonderry  township ;  Sarah,  married 
David  Roop,  of  IVIiddletown,  Pa.;  Catherine, 
unmarried,  and  lives  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  S. 
C.  Swartz. 

John  R.  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead 
and  lived  thereuntil  1864.  He  acquired  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  lie  was  over  thirt}' 
years  of  age,  after  which  he  was  for  two  years 
in  the  employment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company.  In  1864  he  was  appointed 
b}'  the  county  commissioners,  Henry  Hart- 
man,  J.  J.  Milleisen,  and  Robert  McClure, 
collector  of  State,  county,  and  local  taxes,  in 
which  office  be  served  one  year,  and  was 
precinct  assessor  for  fifteen  j'ears.  In  his 
political  views  he  was  a  Republican.  Mr. 
Wagner  was  married,  March  28,  1865,  to 
Miss  Katie  Garrett,  daughter  of  John  Garrett, 
of  Lebanon,  Pa.  In  1871  they  moved  to  the 
premises  where  they  now  have  their  home. 

Wagner,  Frederick  R.,  coal  dealer, 
Middletown,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Londonderry 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  October  20, 
1830;  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Rodfong) 
Wagner.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
the  township,  and  remained  with  his  father 
and  worked  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was 
thirty  years  of  age.  In  1860  be  was  married 
to  Miss  Leah  Peters,  daughter  of  David  Peters, 
of  Londonderry  township.  After  his  marriage 
he  located  on  a  farm  in  the  same  township, 
and  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1865,  after  which  he  was  for  one  year 
in  Swatara  township.  In  1866  he  returned 
to  the  old  homestead  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, which  he  leased   until   1881,  when  he 


removed  to  Middletown,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  tube  mill  for  seven  years.  In 
1894  be  established  a  coal  business,  to  which 
he  has  devoted  his  entire  attention  for 
several  years.  His  children  are :  Abraham 
L.,  clerk  for  Gray  at  Middletown ;  John, 
butcher,  at  Middletown  ;  William,  with  his 
father ;  Charles,  physician  at  Hanover,  York 
county ;  Simon,  butcher,  at  Middletown ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Klinger,  of  Middle- 
town  ;  Emma,  and  Annie.  In  politics  Mr. 
Wagner  is  a  Republican  and  was  formerly 
active  in  party  matters.  He  has  served  in 
the  office  of  assessor  of  Londonderry  town- 
ship, and  school  director  of  the  same  town- 
ship. He  attends  the  United  Brethren 
church. 


Yetter,  Samuel  L.,  insurance.  Middle- 
town,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa., 
March  4, 1838  ;  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Lindemuth)  Yetter.  The  father  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812,  and  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Baltimore.  He  held  the  com- 
mission of  captain  of  his  company.  By  oc- 
cupation he  was  a  mason,  and  kept  a  hotel 
in  Lancaster  for  many  years.  Samuel  L. 
was  reared  in  Lancaster  county,  receiving 
bis  education  in  the  public  schools  and  at 
the  Millersville  State  Normal  School,  and 
was  engaged  in  teaching  in  Lancaster,  Dau- 
phin, Snyder,  and  Lebanon  counties.  In 
1872  he  came  to  Middletown,  and  was 
teacher  in  the  Emaus  Orphans'  School  for  six 
months,  which  position  he  was  compelled  to 
resign  on  account  of  failing  health,  and  took 
up  the  insurance  business.  In  1885  he  was 
appointed  under  President  Cleveland  dep- 
uty collector  of  internal  revenue  for  the 
Ninth  district.  State  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
which  office  he  served  four  years  and  five  or 
six  months.  Mr.  Yetter  is  a  member  of 
Prince  Edwin  Lodge.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  American  Me- 
chanics, and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Fores- 
ters. In  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  was  elected  in  1881,  1882,  1891,  and 
1892  to  the  office  of  burgess  of  Middletown, 
and  refused  another  election.  He  was  also 
elected  to  the  school  board,  and  was  its  sec- 
retary, which  office  he  resigned  to  become 
teacher  of  the  German  school.  Mr.  Yetter 
was  married,  in  1872,  to  Miss  E.  J.  Ringland, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Ringland,  of  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  having  been  previously  married 
to  Mary  M.  Klugb,  teacher,  daughter  of 
Frank  Klugh,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 


844 


ntOGRAPmCAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Eugene  H.,  in  the  mail  service  at  Philadel- 
phia. Mr.  Yetter  is  a  member  of  St.  Peter's 
Lutheran  church,  and  was  trustee  of  the 
organization  for  many  years. 


Beard,  Charles  F.,  merchant,  Middle- 
town,  was  born  at  Royalton,  Londonderry 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  November 
23,  1865 ;  son  of  Ainmon  W.  and  Mary 
(Knerr)  Beard.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  public  school  of  his  neighborhood  and 
entered  the  employment  of  the  American 
Tube  and  Iron  Company,  where  he  remained 
for  nearly  nine  years.  In  April,  1893,  he 
embarked  in  the  grocery  business,  at  Mid- 
dletown,  which  he  has  since  conducted. 
His  political  views  and  associations  are  with 
the  Republican  party,  to  the  principles  and 
men  of  which  he  gives  the  support  of  his 
suffrage.  In  fraternity  circles  he  is  promi- 
nent in  the  membership  of  the  Knights  of 
Malta,  the  Red  Men  and  the  Junior  Order 
American  Meciianics.  Mr.  Beard  was  mar- 
ried, in  1889,  to  Miss  Mary  Peters,  daughter 
of  Joseph  A.  Peters,  of  Middletown,  to  whom 
have  been  born  two  children  :  Florence  M. 
and  Harry  C. 


MIDDLE   PAXTON  TOWNSHIP. 


Umberger,  John  Roberts,  M.  D.,  Dau- 
phin, Pa.,  born  at  Linglestown,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  December  9,  1829.  The  Um- 
berger family  forms  a  part  of  that  German 
element,  full  of  sturdy  vitality  alike  in 
physique  and  in  intellect,  which  goes  so  far 
to  make  up  the  bone  and  sinew  of  tiie  State 
of  Pennsylvania.  Tiie  family  records  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic  embraces  six  gen- 
erations, and  run  back  to  that  Heinrich 
Umberger,  who,  with  his  wife  and  two  bo^^s 
Michael  and  John,  crossed  the  ocean  in  a 
vessel  significantly  named  the  Hope.  Land- 
ing at  Piiiladelphia,  August  28,  1733,  they 
soon  made  tiieir  way  to  that  part  of  Lan- 
caster county  now  included  in  Lebanon 
county,  where  they  took  up  a  square  mile 
of  land,  near  the  present  site  of  the  city  of 
Lebanon.  From  that  time  the  family  his- 
tory is  frequentl}'  interwoven  with  that  of 
the  country,  and  presents  in  each  genera- 
tion some  notable  point.  The  sons  of 
Michael  Umberger,  Heinrich's  elder  son, 
were  four  in  number:  John,  Henr}',  Adam, 
and  Philip.  John  and  Henry  were  both 
captains   in    the   Continental  Army  under 


"  Mad  Anthony  "  Wayne.  In  the  battle  of 
Long  Island  John  must  have  been  either 
killed  or  captured  bj'  the  British,  for  from 
that  day  he  was  nevermore  seen  or  heard 
of  by  his  family.  Henry,  on  the  contrary, 
served  throughout  the  Revolution,  and  lived 
afterward  to  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hun- 
dred and  three.  He  left  a  large  family  of 
sons  and  daughters.  The  third  son,  Adam, 
had  four  children:  John,  David,  Susanna 
H.,  and  Elizabeth.  Tiiis  generation,  the 
fourth,  is  noticeable  for  a  double  alliance 
with  the  Weinrich  family;  the  elder  son, 
John,  marrying  Elizabeth  Weinrich,  and  the 
elder  daughter,  Susanna  H.,  becoming  the 
wife  of  Miss  Wein rich's  brother,  Peter 
Weinrich,  afterwards  sheriff  of  Dauphin 
county.  The  younger  sister  married  Peter 
Heckert,  of  Linglestown,  and  died  near  that 
place  at  the  age  of  ninety-two.  John  Um- 
berger was  an  extensive  cattle  dealer,  operat- 
ing principally  in  Ciiester  and  Delaware 
counties.  His  sons  were  David,  John,  Jr., 
William,  and  Benjamin;  his  daughters,  Eliz- 
abeth and  Mar)'.  As  his  uncles  had  aided 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  so  John  Umber- 
ger served  his  country  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  was  in  command  of  a  regiment  of  militia, 
whose  colonel  he  continued  to  be  until  his 
death,  in  1813,  at  Paoli,  Chester  county. 

During  part  of  Colonel  Umberger's  early 
married  life  he  resided  in  Lower  Paxton 
to\vn?iiiii,ata  house  known  as  the  "Running 
Pumj)  Hotel."  His  eldest  son,  David  Um- 
berger, was  born  in  that  township,  December 
20,  1796.  His  first  business  engagements 
were  mercantile,  and  at  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
where  he  began,  a  little  later,  the  study  of 
medicine.  His  preceptor  was  Dr.  Martin 
Luther.  Dr.  David  Umberger  was  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  medical  department,  University  of 
Penn.sylvania,  class  of  1823.  From  this  date 
until  1827  he  practiced  at  Elizabethtown, 
Lancaster  county;  1827  to  1837  in  Dauphin 
county  ;  1837  to  1845  at  Jonestown,  Lebanon 
county.  In  1845  he  returned  to  his  native 
county  and  practiced  at  Linglestown,  in  full 
enjoyment  of  the  confidence  and  regard  of 
his  many  patients,  until  the  arduous  duties 
of  the  profession  became  too  severe  for  his  de- 
clining strength.  The  characteristic  public 
spirit  of  the  family  was  manifested  by  Dr. 
David  Umberger  in  his  earnest  and  effective 
advocacy  of  the  public  school  system  during 
his  residence  in  Jonestown.  It  is  well  known 
that  the  system  met  with  very  determined 
opposition,  on  various  grounds,  in  different 


DAUFHIN  COUNTY. 


847 


parts  of  tRe  State.  It  was  largely  due  to  the 
influence  of  Dr.  Umberger  that  the  prejudice 
against  it  was  overcome  and  the  public  schools 
established  in  that  part  of  Lebanon  county. 
In  later  years  his  fellow-citizens  showed  their 
appreciation  of  his  worth  and  sound  judg- 
ment by  giving  liim  a  vote  as  Democratic 
candidate  for  Congress  from  the  district  com- 
prising Dauphin,  Lebanon  and  Schuylkill 
counties,  which,  though  insufficient  to  elect 
him,  was  still  flatteringly  large. 

In  March,  1823,  Dr.  David  Umberger 
married  Miss  Juliet,  daughter  of  John  Rob- 
erts, of  Washington  county,  Pa.,  a  sister  of 
Drs.  James  and  Edmund  Roberts,  of  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Umberger  had 
twelve  children :  James  and  Emily,  twins, 
who  died  in  early  infancy  ;  Emily,  Margaret, 
Dr.  John  R.,  Juliet,  Mary,  Dr.  Edmund  R., 
Jane,  Caroline,  David,  jr.,  and  Harriet. 
True  in  the  sixth  generation  to  the  tradition 
of  the  family,  two  sons,  Edmund  and  David, 
served  in  war  for  their  country.  Both  en- 
listed in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  Dr.  Ed- 
mund R.  as  surgeon  in  the  Ninety-third 
Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry,  and  David 
in  the  Two  Hundred  and  First  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry.  Both 
were  mustered  out  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in 
June,  1865.  Mrs.  Umberger  was  born  in 
1804,  and  died  December  6,  1862 ;  Dr.  Um- 
berger died  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  Dau- 
phin, Pa.,  July  29,  1874. 

The  education  of  Dr.  John  R.  Umberger 
was  begun  in  a  log  school  house  in  Lower 
Paxton  township.  His  parents  removing  to 
Lebanon  county  when  he  was  nine  years 
old,  he  continued  his  studies,  entering  the 
public  schools  which  his  father  had  done  so 
much  to  establish.  At  sixteen  the  family 
again  removed,  and  to  Dauphin  county. 
John  had  already  pursued  medical  studies 
under  his  father's  direction,  for  two  years ; 
they  were  continued  until  he  attained  his 
twentieth  year  when  he  matriculated  at  the 
Philadelphia  College  of  Medicine.  He  was 
graduated  in  1852,  and  has  also  an  honorary 
dij)loma  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  began  practice  in  West  Hanover 
township,  but  in  1855  removed  to  Dauphin, 
Pa.,  where  he  continued  to  practice  until  he 
retired  from  active  professional  duties  in 
1890.  Dr.  Umberger  is  a  member  of  the 
State  Medical  Association,  of  the  Dauphin 
County  Medical  Society,  of  the  Harrisburg 
Pathological  Society,  and  a  charter  member 
of  the  Harrisburg  Academy  of  Medicine. 
54 


He  belongs  to  Paxton  Lodge,  No.  621,  I.  0. 
O.  F.  He  is  a  Democrat.  On  August  24, 
1852,  he  was  appointed  aid-de-camp  on  Gov- 
ernor Bigler's  staff  with  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant colonel. 

Dr.  John  R.  Umberger  was  married,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1855,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Mary  Moody,  of  Soutii  Hanover  town- 
ship. They  have  three  children:  Lillie  J., 
wife  of  A.  T.  Polfenberger,  medical  ex- 
aminer of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, at  Sunbury,  Pa.,  born  in  January, 
1857,  died  December  26,  1893;  Emily,  born 
in  December,  1858,  wife  of  Joseph  M.  Cum- 
mings ;  and  Mary,  born  in  1804.  The  family 
attended  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Dr.  James  Roberts,  elder  brother  of  Mrs. 
David  Umberger,  was  born  in  1780,  at  Wash- 
ington, Pa.  He  began  practice  at  Harrisburg 
Pa.,  but  removed  to  Peoria,  111.,  where  he 
died  about  1834.  During  his  residence  at 
Harrisburg,  his  younger  brother  Edmund  W. 
Roberts  came  there  to  study  medicine  under 
his  preceptorship.  Edmund  W.  was  born 
about  1806,  at  Washington,  Pa.;  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Yale  College,  and  of  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. He  practiced  successfully  in  Harrisburg 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  that  city, 
November  10,  1805,  in  his  fifty-ninth  year. 
Dr.  Edmund  W.  Roberts  married  Miss  Caro- 
line, daughter  of  Andrew  and  Hannah 
(Templin)  Ross,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
sister  of  Dr.  Robert  J.  Ross,  of  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  Her  death  took  place  at  Newburg,  N.  Y., 
January  23,  1877 ;  she  is  buried  at  Harris- 
burg. Dr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts  had  two  chil- 
dren. Their  daughter  Mary,  wife  of  Rev. 
B.  B.  Leacock,  D.  D.,of  the  Episcopal  church, 
died  at  Harrisburg  in  1867. 

Dr.  Robert  J.  Ross,  although  he  died  in 
his  early  prime,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven, 
was  already  eminent  in  his  jtrofession.  He 
married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Judge  Foot, 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  They  had  two 
children.  Dr.  Ross'  death  took  place  April 
4,  1875. 

Coble,  Aaeon  C,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Derry 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  near  Hock- 
ersville,  at  the  old  Coble  homestead,  July  6, 
1859.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mary 
(Riser)  Coble.  Henry  Coble  died  October  9, 
1875,  aged  about  forty-five  years.  He  was  a 
farmer  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  life,  and 
later  engaged  in  mercantile  business.  Still 
later  he   was   in   hotel  business.     He   had 


848 


BIO  GRAPHIC  A  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


also  studied  surveying.      On   November  18, 

1862,  he  enlisted  at  Harrisburg  in  company 
C,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-tliird  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteer  infantry.  Col. 
David  Nagle.  He  was  fifth  sergeant  of  his 
company.     He  was  discharged  August   17, 

1863,  at  Harrisburg.  He  was  in  a  number 
of  battles.  His  wife  Mary,  daughter  of 
Christian  Riser,  survives  him.  They  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  two  are  deceased  : 
Ida,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve,  and  Dr. 
Addison  B.,  who  died  aged  thirty-nine  years, 
having  lost  his  life  by  an  accident.  Their 
living  children  are:  Sarah,  wife  of  J.  A. 
Schoeuer.  of  Harrisburg ;  Emma,  wife  of 
William  H.  Wagner,  Camden,  N.  J.;  Ellen, 
wife  of  Joseph  Henning,  of  Harrisburg; 
Fanny,  wife  of  Harrison  Hoover,  Derry 
township ;  Harry,  and  Dr.  Aaron  C.  Mr. 
Cbble  was  an  active,  industrious  man,  of  ex- 
cellent character  and  popular  with  his  neigh- 
bors. 

Aaron  C.  Coble  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Linglestown, 
I'a.,  to  which  })lace  his  parents  removed 
when  lie  was  nine  years  old.  In  1882  he 
went  to  Dauphin,  Pa.,  and  read  medicine 
with  his  brother,  Dr.  A.  B.  Coble.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-three  he  entered  the  Univer- 
sity of  Maryland,  at  Baltimore,  and  studied 
there  three  years,  being  graduated  from  that 
institution  in  1885.  He  tiien  returned  to 
Daupliin,  and  continued  studying  with  Dr. 
A.  B.  Coble  for  about  five  years.  In  1SS8  he 
received  a  diploma  from  the  Pharmaceutical 
Examining  Board  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
succeeded  his  brother.  Dr.  A.  B.  Coble,  who 
died  in  November,  1890.  He  has  conducted 
a  drug  store  since  1888,  and  has  established 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

Dr.  Coble  was  married,  March  26,  1891, 
to  Mary  C,  daughter  of  Elias  and  Ann  Mary 
(Schaeffer)  Fertig.  Mrs.  Fertig  died  August 
17, 1895,  aged  about  seventy-one  years.  Mr. 
Fertig  is  still  living.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren :  Milton,  Maria,  Elizabeth,  Mar}-  C, 
and  Laura.  Dr.  Coble  has  served  as  borough 
school  director.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Republican  State  Convention  in  1891.  He 
is  a  member  of  Perry  Lodge,  No.  458,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  at  Marysville,  and  of  Patton  Lodge, 
No.  621,  I.  O.'O.  F.,  at  Dauphin.  He  is  a 
Republican.  He  and  his  family  attend  the 
Lutheran  church. 


MiLLiKEN,  Thomas,  justice  of  the  peace, 
was  born  at  Petersburg,   now    Duncannon, 


Perry  county.  Pa.,  December  24,  1830.  His 
father  was  born  in  Tuscarora  Valley,  Juniata 
county.  Pa.,  August  4,  1794,  and  died  De- 
cember 28,  1860.  His  mother  died  June  9, 
1855,  aged  about  forty-four.  The  first  wife 
of  the  elder  Mr.  Milliken  was  Rachel  Bran- 
yon,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Jolm 
and  James.  His  second  wife  was  Susanna 
Parker.  They  had  nine  children :  Isaac, 
Thomas,  Joseph  E.,  William  Parker,  Susanna 
Parker,  Francis  Bonner,  Jackson  McFadden, 
Alexander  Jackson,  and  Charles  Parker. 
The  boys  all  volunteered  in  the  army.  Isaac 
was  in  a  cavalry  compan}',  under  Captain 
Sanno,  of  Carlisle;  Joseph,  in  company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers;  William,  in  the  old 
Eleventh  infantry  regiment.  Colonel  Colter; 
Francis  B.,  in  company  B,  Eighty-seventh 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers;  and  A. 
Jackson,  in  the  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth 
regiments.  United  States  regulars. 

Tliomas  Milliken  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town.  The  family  re- 
moved first  to  Bloomfield,  afterwards  to 
Liverpool,  both  in  Perry  county.  Wiien 
Thomas  was  six  years  of  age  thej^  went  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  attended  the  city 
schools.  Later,  having  removed  to  Coxes- 
town,  lie  attended  a  school  there  which  was 
taught  by  Charles  Huston  in  an  old  log 
school  liouse,  near  where  tlieMetliodist  Epis- 
copal church  now  stands.  The  next  removal 
was  to  the  premises  known  as  the  old  Burnt 
Tavern  ;  the  next  to  the  old  Clark's  Ferry 
Tavern,  where  he  went  to  the  old  log  school 
house  on  Duncan's  Island.  Once  more  he 
removed  with  liis  parents  to  the  place  then 
known  as  Greensburg  and  Port  Lyon,  now 
Dauphin,  where  Thomas  attended  school 
under  J.  Wilson  Parks. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  Mr.  Milliken  be- 
gan work  on  his  own  account,  being  em- 
ployed as  driver  on  the  canal.  Later  he 
kept  store  for  J.  G.  Updegrove,  atCoxestown, 
and  afterwards  attended  store  at  Matamoras, 
Powell's  Vallej',  for  James  Reed.  He  returned 
tohisjobon  thecanalat  Dauphin, receivingas 
wages  eight  dollars  per  month.  His  parents 
at  this  time  removed  to  Clark's  Ferry  and 
kept  tavern.  On  April  26, 1849,  he  engaged 
with  his  uncle,  A.  R.  Kincade,  in  mercantile 
business  on  Duncan's  Island.  After  carry- 
ing on  this  business  for  a  year  he  sold  his 
interest  and  engaged  in  section  boating  on 
the  canal,  and  shipped  between  Philadelphia 
and  Pittsburgh.     He  was  thus  occupied  for 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


849 


about  sixteen  yecirs,  being  at  the  same  time 
engaged  with  George  G.  Neuer  in  butcher- 
ing at  Dauphin.  In  March,  18G5,  Mr.  Milli- 
ken  enhsted  at  Camp  Curtin,  Harrisburg,  in 
company  I,  Capt.  John  Bell,Seventy-seventli 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  Col. 
Thomas  E.  Rose.  His  regiment  was  sent  as 
far  south  as  Texas.  He  was  discharged  at 
^^ictoria,  Texas,  December  6,  18G5,  and  re- 
turned to  Dauphin.  In  ISfjG  he  engaged  in 
keejiing  hotel  and  boating  at  Dauphin  locks. 
In  March,  1892,  he  removed  to  the  home- 
stead, where  he  now  resides.  He  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  in  1887  and  re-elected  in 
1892,  and  has  served  in  that  office  up  to  the 
present  time.  His  political  views  are  Demo- 
cratic. The  family  are  Presbyterians,  and 
are  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 

Mr.  Milliken  was  married,  at  the  old  Stees 
Hotel,  December  7, 1852,  to  Mary  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  Frederick  and  Catherine  (Hassinger) 
Stees.  Of  their  four  children  all  are  deceased 
but  one,  Augustus  Bell, born  October  1,1856. 
He  is  at  present  general  supernitendent  of 
the  erection  department  of  the  Plxx'nix 
Bridge  Company,  Phoenixville,  Pa.  Their 
deceased  children  are  :  Susanna  Parker,  born 
September  18.  1853,  died  -April  12,187^2; 
Estlier  Graydon,  born  November  30,  1859, 
died  January  29,  1862  ;  Thomas,  born  July 
7,  1862,  died  February  2,  1877  ;  and  Daniel 
Stees,  born  August  25,  1868,  died  September 
27,  1868. 


Bell,  William  A.,  was  born  in  Stony 
Creek,  formerly  known  as  Bell's  Valley,  near 
Dauphin,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  June  11, 
1826.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Clarissa 
(Armstrong)  Bell.  He  was  one  of  nine  chil- 
dren :  Jane  E.,  Theodore  J.,  Mary  W.,  Cla- 
rissa A.,  two  who  died  in  infancy,  Alfred, 
Armstrong,  and  Sarah  Ellen.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  his  native  township  and  at  Dauj)hin, 
and  learned  carpentry  with  Isaac  Updegrove, 
at  Coxestown.  He  worked  at  his  trade  in  the 
employ  of  Messrs.  Stone  &  Quigley,  contractors 
anil  builders,  until  1865  or  '6(1  Having 
thus  obtained  a  full  knowledge  of  the  busi- 
ness he  became  a  contractor  and  builder  on 
his  own  account,  and  continued  in  this  occu- 
pation until  his  death,  December  24,  1880. 
He  was  a  man  of  enterprise  and  integrity  and 
possessed  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his 
neighbors. 

Mr.  Boll  was  married,  February  10,  1852, 
to  Miss  Sabra  M.,  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Catherine  (Hassinger)  Stees,  born  at  Millers- 


burg,  then  Union,  now  Snyder  county.  Pa., 
August  17,  1827 ;  afterwards  her  parents  re- 
moving first  to  Chapman  township,  Snyder 
county,  and  then  to  Rockville,  she  attended 
the  district  schools  of  both  places.  Removing 
in  1838  to  Dauphin,  she  completed  her  edu- 
cation there,  and  has  ever  since  resided  there. 
Mr.  and  Mrs  Bell  had  four  children  :  two  are 
deceased :  Ciiarles  Lovell,  born  April  4, 1854, 
died  July  21,  1854,  and  Bertha  Burton,  born 
August  6, 1858,  died  October  8, 1858.  Their 
living  childi'en  are  :  Katherine  S.,  born  April 
24,  1860,  married  to  W.  P.  Clark,  May  12, 
1888 ;  and  Anna  C,  born  August  12,  1867. 

Mr.  Stees,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Bell,  was  born 
in  April,  1796,  and  died  January  24,  1864. 
Her  mother  was  born  March  28,  1799,  and 
died  August  19,  1876.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren :  Reuben  H.,  Julia  Ann,  Jcsiah,  Aaron, 
Sabra  M.,  Mary  Jane,  Elizabeth,  Alfred  F., 
and  one  who  died  in  infanc}^  Mr.  Bell  was 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  Marys- 
ville.  After  1857  he  was  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  the  Presbyterian  church. 


G.iYMAN,  John  P.,  was  born  in  Stony  Creek 
Valley,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  February  22, 
1825.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Ettein)  Gayman.  His  grandfather,  Isaac 
Gayman,  was  a  soldier  in  Washington's 
aj'my.  His  father,  Jacob  Gayman,  was  born 
May  11,  1789.  It  was  in  1794  or  1795  that 
Isaac  Gayman  and  his  wife  settled  in  Stony 
Creek  Valley  on  the  homestead  which  has 
been  in  possession  of  the  family  from  that 
time  to  the  present.  Jacob  Gayman  wtis 
colonel  of  the  Sixteenth  Penns^dvania 
militia  in  1812.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Ettein, 
was  born  July  8,  1795.  They  had  twelve 
children, seven  of  whom  are  deceased:  Will- 
iam, born  October  9,  1829,  died  Mav  15, 
1832;  Sarah,  wife  of  Philip  Miller, 'born 
July  9,  1816;  Isaac,  born  June  1,  1823; 
Elizabeth,  born  January  1,  1815,  wife  of 
John  Stuesley  ;  Ellen,  born  October  1,  1831, 
wife  of  James  Reed  ;  Jacob,  born  Maj^  9, 
1827;  Mary,  born  June  6,  1821,  wife  of  Joel 
Ney.  The  surviving  children  are  :  Charles, 
born  October  16,  1817;  Leah,  born  Septem- 
ber 29,  1819,  widow  of  Jacob  Chubb  ;  John 
P.;  Catherine,  born  November  25,  1833,  w'ife 
of  William  Kline  ;  Samuel  W.,  born  March 
3,  1836.  The  father  died  September  17, 
1845,  and  the  mother  November  23,  1863. 

John  P.  Gayman  attended  a  private  school 
taught  by  a  Mr.  Neill  and  Walter  Bell,  in  a 
small  structure  about  sixteen   by  eighteen 


850 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


feet,  built  of  logs  and  mud  mortar.  When 
he  was  about  fourteen,  the  public  schools 
having  been  established,  he  attended  them. 
School  was  then  held  for  three  months  in 
the  winter  season.  During  the  spring  and 
summer  months  John  worked  on  his  father's 
farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  began  to 
teach  during  the  winter,  receiving  a  salary 
of  twenty  dollars  per  month.  He  continued 
farming  and  teaching  for  about  ten  years. 

When  Mr.  Gayman  was  twenty-one  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  his  own  account,  having 
bought  the  old  homestead  after  his  father's 
death.  He  still  taught  school  during  the 
winter.  When  he  was  twenty-six  years  old 
he  traveled  through  the  Western  States.  In 
the  following  summer  he  repeated  his  West- 
ern trip.  While  at  Chicago,  III,  in  1848, 
ten  acres  of  ground  were  oflered  to  him  atten 
dollars  per  acre,  in  what  is  now  the  central 
part  of  the  city.  Owing  to  the  marshy  con- 
dition of  the  ground  he  refused  to  invest.  It 
was  land  wliich  had  been  granted  by 
the  Government  to  the  school  board.  Mr. 
Gayman  returned  from  the  West  to  the  old 
homestead,  and  continued  farming  until 
1883,  when  he  retired  from  active  business 
and  removed  to  his  present  residence  in 
Dauphin. 

He  was  married,  December  22,  1854,  to 
Lucy  A.,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Lucv 
Hyde,  born  November  29,  1833.  They  had 
six  cliildren  :  John  Cloyde,  born  October 
23,  1876,  died  October  27,  1881  ;  Elizabeth, 
born  October  23,  1854,  widow  of  Thomas 
Wertz ;  Jenny  Ellen,  born  November  9, 
1856;  Margaret  Lucy,  born  June  1,  1858; 
Ida  Catherine,  born  October  12, 1868,  wile  of 
Louis  Stager  ;  Bertha  Louisa,  born  February 
6,  1874.  Mrs.  Gayman  died  August  11, 
1893.  Mr.  Gayman  has  served  in  several 
township  offices  for  a  number  of  terms  each. 
He  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  family  at- 
tend the  Presbyterian  church. 


PoFFENBERGER,  Leoxard,  blacksmith, 
Dauphin,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  was  born  De- 
cember 15, 1823,  in  Middle  Paxton  township, 
within  half  a  mile  of  his  present  home,  where 
he  has  lived  forty-five  years.  He  was  a  son 
of  William  and  Catharine  (Noll)  PofFenber- 
ger. 

The  first  record  in  the  possession  of  the 
family  is  of  the  arrival  of  the  ship  Pink  Mar}-, 
of  Dublin,  September  29,  1733,  when  George 
Pfatfenberger,George  Pfaffenberger,  Jr.,  Eliza- 
beth, age'd  eleven,  Christina,  six,  and  Adam, 


four  years  of  age,  landed.  The  next  is  of  the 
grandfather  of  Leonard  Poffenberger,  Daniel, 
who  died  July  29,  1845,  and  is  buried  at  St. 
John's  church,  near  Ellerton,  Md.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  a  resident  of  Frederick  county, 
Md  ,  where  he  died,  aged  about  ninety-five 
years.  His  wife  died  September  28,  1831. 
They  left  a  large  family  of  sons  and  daugh- 
ters. One  of  their  sons,  William  Poff'enber- 
ger,  was  born  Julv  22,  1783,  and  died  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1842.  His  wife,  Catherine  Noll, 
was  born  August  19,  1779,  and  died  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1841.  They  were  residents  of  Mid- 
dle Paxton  township.  They  were  married 
February  28,  1804,  and  had  ten  children, 
whose  biograj)hies  are  briefly  as  follows: 

(1)  Daniel,  born  February  7,  1805,  mar- 
ried Margaret  Heckert,  March  15,  1832,  died 
March  6,  1872;  (2)  Elizabeth  Sarah,  born 
August  25, 1806,  married  Daniel  McAllister, 
May  12,  1831,  died  March  5, 1843;  (3)  Will- 
iam, l)orn  March  22, 1810,  married  Henrietta 
McConneil,  March  12,  1840,  died  May  2, 
1860;  (4)  Mary  Magdalena,  born  March  22, 
1812,  married  Joseph  Buchanan  in  Novem- 
ber, 1843,  died  November  24,  1881;  (5) 
George,  born  March  28, 1813,  married  Rachel 
PoH'enberger,  a  distant  relative,  died  March 
6,  1872;  (6)  Catherine,  born  February  24, 
1815,  married  George  Singer,  January  31, 
1839,  died  December  10,1839;  (7)  Susanna, 
born  January  20,  1817,  resided  with  her 
brother  Leonard  for  about  thirty  years  be- 
fore her  death,  September  24,  1881 ;  (8)  John, 
born  May  21,  1819,  married  Elizabeth  Rut- 
ter  in  1842,  died  June  10, 1801  ;  (9)  Andrew, 
born  Julv  29,  1821,  died  September  1,  1823; 
(10)  Leonard. 

Three  nephews  of  Leonard  Poffenberger 
served  in  the  Union  army  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion.  William  L.,  son  of  John  Poffen- 
berger, enlisted  February  24,  1865,  in  com- 
pany H,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-second 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  was 
discharged  at  Harper's  Ferry  in  August, 
1865;  Joseph,  son  of  Daniel  Poffenberger, 
enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
third  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
under  Capt.  C.  A.  Harper.  He  was  after- 
terwards  in  the  commissary  dej)artment  at 
Chambersburg,  Pa.;  William  H.,  son  of 
George  Poffenberger,  having  served  for  three 
years,  and  going  home  re-enlisted  in  the 
regular  United  States  army. 

Miss  Margaret  S.  Poffenberger,  who  has 
for  four  years  resided  with  her  uncle,  is  the 
daughter  of  his  eldest  brother,  Daniel. 


DA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY. 


85] 


Leonard  Poffenberger  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  and  private  schools  of  his 
native  township.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
entered  upoii  an  apprenticeship  with  his 
brother  Daniel,  and  served  two  j'ears  at  the 
blacksmith  trade.  After  working  five  years 
as  a  journeyman  at  various  places,  Mr.  Pof- 
fenberger engaged  in  business  for  himself  in 
Daupliin  county  in  1850,  which  he  con- 
ducted almost  continuously  for  forty-five 
years,  having  associated  with  himself,  since 
1881,  his  nephew,  William  L.  Poffenberger. 
Being  very  talented,  ingenious  and  a  skilled 
mechanic,  his  fame  as  a  workman  spread  for 
miles  around,  and  he  was  able  for  many 
years  to  carry  on  a  ver^'  profitable  business. 
Honest, generous,  and  trustworthy,  heenjoyed 
universal  confidence,  and  was  chosen  for 
various  positions  of  resjjonsibility.  He 
served  for  twenty-five  years  on  the  school 
board,  part  of  the  time  as  its  treasurer.  He 
was  for  several  terms  a  member  of  the  bor- 
ough council  and  its  treasurer,  besides  being 
treasurer  of  the  Lutheran  church  for  thirty- 
nine  years. 

Formerly  an  "Old  Line  Whig,"  Mr.  Poffen- 
berger has  long  been  an  ardent  Republican. 

On  September  19,  1850,  Leonard  Poffen- 
berger was  married,  by  Rev.  C.  F.  Stoever. 
to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Miller)  Kinter.  Tiieir  children  were:  Jane 
Elizabeth,  born  Jul}'  6, 1851,  died  September 
15.  1852;  Anna  Maria,  born  November  8, 
185G,  died  August  6, 1859,  and  Albert  Theo- 
dore, born  November  9,  1853.  Mrs.  Eliza- 
betii  Poffenberger  was  born  November  11, 
1828  and  died  July  4,  1858.  In  April,  1861, 
Mr.  'Poffenberger  nuirried  his  second  wife, 
Ann  E.,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Ann 
Gross,  who  was  his  companion  and  iiel]>mate 
in  life  until  July  4,  1892,  when  she,  too, 
passed  away. 

Albert  Theodore  Poffenberger,  the  only 
surviving  child  of  this  family,  was  educated 
in  the  public  and  private  schools  of  Daui)hin 
and  at  Harrisburg  Academy  ;  lie  also  took  a 
course  at  Crittenden's  Commercial  College, 
Philadelphia.  He  held  a  clerkshii)  in  tiie 
office  of  an  insurance  company  in  Pottsville, 
Pa.,  in  the  early  part  of  1873;  but  later  in 
the  year  entered  the  Lochiel  Iron  Company's 
store  as  clerk,  remaining  two  years.  After 
teaching  school  one  term  in  Dauphin,  Mr. 
Poffenberger  began  the  study  of  medicine  in 
April,  1876,  in  the  office  of  Dr.  William 
Graydon.  He  studied  three'  years  and  at- 
tended three  courses  of  lectures  at  Jefferson 


Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  He  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  March,  1879,  receiv- 
ing honorable  mention  for  his  thesis.  After 
practicing  one  year  with  Dr.  J.  R.  Umberger, 
and  nine  years  on  his  own  account  with  a 
fair  measure  of  success,  he  was  appointed 
medical  examiner  in  the  voluntary  relief  de- 
partment of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany with  offices  at  Sunbury,  Pa.,  a  position 
he  has  ever  since  filled  with  credit.  Dr. 
Poftenberger  still  enjoys  the  confidence  of 
home  friends  who  seek  his  professional  ad- 
vice when  he  visits  his  native  town. 

Dr.  Poffenberger  has  gained  a  reputation 
as  an  amateur  photographer,  and  being  fond 
of  travel,  he  has  visited  many  places  of  in- 
terest in  the  United  States,  from  Plymouth 
Rock  to  Salt  Lake  City,  and  from  Niagara 
Falls  to  the  Lake  Worth   region  of  Florida. 

In  November,  1879,  Dr.  Albert  Theodore 
Poffenberger  was  married  to  Lillie  Jane, 
daughter  of  Dr.  J.  R.  and  Mary  H.  Umber- 
ger; she  died,  beloved  by  everybody,  Decem- 
ber 23,  1893.  During  their  fourteen  years 
of  married  life  they  had  five  children,  one 
of  whom,  William  Mood}%  was  born  in  Octo- 
ber, 1892,  and  died  May  10, 1893.  The  sur- 
viving children  are:  Mary  Elizabeth,  born 
January5,1881 ;  John  Leonard, .July  27,1883; 
Charles  Albert,  October  23,  1886,  and  Joseph 
Cummings,  October  27,  1888. 


Fertig,  Elias,  was  born  at  the  old  home- 
stead, near  Daupiiin,  then  known  as  Greens- 
burg,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  April  13,  1817. 
He  is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Klein) 
Fertig.  His  grandfather,  Michael  Fertig, 
witii  his  famil}',  was  among  the  first  who 
came  to  this  locality  and  settled  above  Dau- 
pliin. His  children  were:  Peter,  .John,  Adam, 
Zachariah,  Michael,  and  Anna  Maria,  wife  of 
Jacob  Bogner,  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  He 
lived  totheageof  one  hundred  and  fouryears, 
five  months  and  five  days.  Adam  Fertig, 
father  of  Elias  Fertig,  and  his  brother  Peter, 
were  drafted  and  .served  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  died  in  November,  1839,  aged  sixty-tiiree 
years.  His  wife  was  born  in  1800,  and  died 
aged  eighty  years.  They  had  eight  children, 
two  of  whom,  Jacob  and  a  sister,  died  in  in- 
fancy. Their  other  children  were  :  Michael; 
Anna  Maria,  wife  of  Daniel  Snyder;  Sam- 
uel; Elias;  Clarissa,  wife  of  John  Garman, 
and  Solomon. 

Elias  Fertig  received  his  education  in  the 
private  schools  near  Dauphin.  His  first 
schoolmaster  was  Andrew  Sproul.     He  at- 


852 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


tended  school  only  during  the  winter.  He 
worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  When  his  father 
died  lie  farmed  the  iiomestead  for  his  mother ; 
and  when  his  brother  Solomon  reached  his 
majority  they  consolidated  their  interests 
with  the  mother's,  and  continued  to  operate 
the  farm.  They  were  so  successful  that  shortly 
after  they  bouglit  an  additional  tract  of  land 
from  William  Poffenberger,  and  continued 
their  joint  interests  until  their  mother's  death. 
Elias  Fertig  then  acquired  the  old  homestead, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
He  has  continued  farming  to  the  present 
time. 

Mr.  Fertig  was  married,  March  28, 1850,  to 
Anna  Mary,  daughter  of  George  and  .Inna 
(Arnold)  Siiatfer,  born  December  3,  1823. 
They  have  five  children  :  Elizabeth  Frances, 
born  March  12,  1852,  wife  of  Reily  Bogner; 
Adam  Milton,  born  December  29, 1853 ;  Anna 
Maria,  born  Augu.st  9,  1855,  widow  of  John 
R.  Kinter;  Mary  C.,born  Marcli  1, 1859,  wife 
of  Dr.  A.  C.  Coble,  of  Dauphin,  and  Laura, 
born  July  28,  18G0,  wife  of  John  F.  Dewalt. 
Mrs.  Fertig  died  August  27,  1895.  Her 
parents  were  residents  of  Snyder  county.  Pa. 
Her  father,  George  Shaffer,  was  three  times 
married  and  left  a  large  family  of  sons  and 
daughters.  Mr.  Fertig  has  served  his  town- 
ship as  supervisor  and  assessor  and  in  other 
minor  offices.  He  is  a  Democrat.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Miller,  John  Patterson,  was  born  Jan- 
uary 7,  1814.  He  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  (Pauly)  Miller,  of  Juniata  county. 
Pa.  He  engaged  in  boating  in  early  life,  and 
was  captain  on  the  line  running  between 
Columbia  and  Hollidaysburg  on  the  Penn- 
sj'lvania  canal.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he 
engaged  in  hotel  keeping  at  Thompsontown, 
Juniata  county.  He  removed  to  Dauphin 
county  April  1,  1844,  and  located  at  the  old 
Armstrong  property,  known  as  the  Fish 
Hotel,  originally  bought  by  James  Armstrong 
about  1810,  and  at  that  time  called  the 
Franklin  Hotel.  In  1784,  the  old  structure 
had  been  partially  destroyed  by  an  ice  flood. 
Mr.  Miller  continued  there  until  1849.  The 
old  building  was  then  removed  on  account 
of  the  construction  of  the  Susquehanna  and 
Schuylkill  railroad.  He  then  removed  to 
the  Hetzel  Hotel  in  Dauphin,  where  he  died 
October  2,  1850. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married,  March  1,  1842,  to 


Jane  E.,  daughter  of  William  and  Clara 
(Armstrong)  Bell.  She  was  born  in  the  Stony 
Creek  Valley,  east  of  Dauphin,  Pa.,  January 
20,  1822.  She  received  her  education  in  the 
private  .schools  of  Middle  Paxton  township. 
Her  parents  having  removed  in  1828  to  the  old 
Armstrong  mansion  at  Hunter's  Falls,  near 
Dauphin,  known  as  the  Fish  Hotel,  she  re- 
mained with  them  until  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Miller.  She  had  three  children :  George 
Dare,  born  March  11,  1847,  died  January  20, 
1851;  Emma,  wife  of  John  F.  Kinter,  born 
September  21,  1843,  and  William  Bell,  born 
August  14,  1845. 

Mrs.  Miller  was  married  a  second  time,  De- 
cember 30, 1852,  to  J.  Peter  Miller ;  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Susan  (Young)  Miller,  not  related  to 
her  first  husband.  They  had  no  children.  He 
died  April  14,  1891.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
butcher.  After  his  marriage  he  moved  to 
Dauphin,  and  was  prominent  as  an  auction- 
eer. During  the  war  he  was  an  extensive 
buyer  of  horses  and  mules  for  the  Govern- 
ment. In  1865,  he  removed  to  Harrisburg, 
and  bought  what  was  then  known  as  the 
Black  Horse  Hotel,  corner  of  Vine  and  Pax- 
ton  streets.  In  1872,  he  sold  the  premises 
to  the  Harrisburg  School  Board.  He  then 
bought  the  Fox  Hotel,  at  the  corner  of  Herr 
and  North  Front  streets,  and  resided  there 
until  1890,  when  he  bought  the  present  home- 
stead at  Dauphin. 

William  Bell,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Miller,  was 
born  in  Bell's  Valley,  Middle  Paxton  town- 
ship, July  20,  179B.  He  was  a  farmer  early 
in  life,  and  later  a  hotel  keeper.  He  served 
one  term  in  the  Legislature.  For  many 
years  he  kept  the  Fish  Hotel,  where  he  died 
March  1, 1844.  His  wife  died  March  8, 1844. 
His  father,  James  Bell,  was  a  son  of  William 
Bell,  who  settled  there  in  1774.  The  great- 
grandfatherof  Mrs.  Miller,  Robert  Armstrong, 
was  the  first  white  man  to  whom  William 
Penn  deeded  land.  His  son,  James  Arm- 
strong, had  four  daughters,  and  a  son  who 
died  young.  James  Armstrong  married 
Jane,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Patton) 
Hatfield.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 


Kinter,  Samuel,  cabinet  maker  and  un- 
dertaker, was  born  near  Maclay  street,  on  the 
old  Kunkel  farm,  in  Susquehanna  township, 
near  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  July  20,  1822.  He  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Kinter. 
His  father  was  born  March  20,  1785,  and 
died    February    16,   1833,    aged   forty-eight 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


853 


years.  His  motlier  died  October  25,  1865, 
aged  seventj^-five  years,  five  months  and 
fourteen  days.  They  had  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  deceased:  Peter,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Fertig; 
John,  died  September  30, 1S48,  aged  thirty- 
five  years;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Leonard  Pof- 
fenberger,  born  November  11, 1828,  died  July 
4,  1858,  and  George,  who  died  July  21,  1887. 
Their  living  children  are  Samuel  and  Isaac. 

Samuel  Kinter  attended  school  at  Coxes- 
town.  When  he  was  ten  years  old,  the  famil}' 
removing  to  Stony  Creek  Valley,  Middle  Pax- 
ton  township,  he  attended  the  old  private 
school  at  Dauphin,  near  the  Dauphin  ceme- 
ter}',  until  he  was  fourteen ;  after  that  he 
went  for  three  years  to  the  public  school. 
At  seventeen  he  began  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  years  to  the  carpenter  trade  with  John 
Bell,  at  Fort  Hunter;  after  which  he  worked 
at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman  for  about  three 
years.  At  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  be- 
gan carpentry  on  his  own  account;  in  1857 
he  changed  it  for  his  present  occupation, 
cabinet  making  and  undertaking,  which  he 
has  ever  since  carried  on. 

Mr.    Kinter    was    married,  December  24, 

1844,  to  Susanna,  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Sarah  (Inch)  Taylor,  born  at  Liverpool, 
Perry  county,  Pa.,  April  10,  1822.  They 
had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased: Elizabeth  Ann,  born  November  22, 

1845,  died  March  21,  1849 ;  John  Ruther- 
ford, born  January  17,  1851,  married  in 
1875  to  Ainia  Maria  Fertig,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children,  died  January  20,  1882  : 
Spencer  Gilbert,  and  Mary  Susan.  The  sur- 
viving children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel 
Kinter  are  George  Cooper,  born  June  7, 
1855,  and  William  Dal,  born  June  2,  18G0. 
Mrs.  Kinter  died  August  24,  1882.  She  and 
her  husband  were  members  of  the  ^Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Dauphin.  She  was  a 
consistent  and  devoted  Christian  ;  she  took 
an  active  part  in  every  measure  and  move- 
ment to  promote  the  temporal  and  spiritual 
interests  of  the  church.  She  was  president 
of  the  Ladies'  Mite  Society  from  its  organi- 
zation, a  period  of  fourteen  years.  Her 
Christian  sympathy  and  large  heart  were 
manifested  in  visiting  the  sick  and  the  poor, 
and  caring  for  them.  She  was  everywhere 
spoken  of  with  esteem  and  affection,  and 
many  will  cherish  the  most  grateful  recol- 
lections of  her  kindness  and  generosity. 

On  January  20,  1887,  Mr.  Kinter  married 
his  second  wife,  Harriet  J.  Linton,  widow  of 


James  M.  Linton,  and  daughter  of  Alexan- 
der and  Anna  Brooks. 

Mr.  Kinter  has  served  two  terms  as  bur- 
gess and  a  number  of  terms  as  school 
director  of  Dauphin  borough.  His  political 
views  are  Republican  ;  his  first  vote  for  Pres- 
ident as  a  Republican  was  cast  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  He  is  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
at  Harrisburg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinter  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

The  parents  of  the  present  Mrs.  Kinter 
are  both  deceased.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren :  Catherine,  James,  Rachel  A.,  Mary  E., 
Harriet  J.,  Adeline  E.,  William  B.,  Hiram 
T.,  Julia  A.,  Sarah  M.,  and  George  A.  James 
Brooks,  brother  of  Mrs.  Kinter,  removed  to 
the  vicinity  of  Richmond,  Va.,  and  estab- 
lished a  profitable  business  in  the  black- 
smith trade.  When  the  war  came  he  was 
pressed  into  the  Confederate  service,  and  his 
smithy  was  converted  to  the  use  of  the  South- 
ern army.  He  was  subsequently  designated 
as  sergeant  under  Captain  McKinney,  and 
three  months  later  was  sent  out  in  charge  of 
a  foraging  train  to  collect  the  tithe  levied  by 
the  Confederate  government  upon  the  farm- 
ers. The  citizens  and  some  of  the  officials 
protested  against  the  apj)ointment  of  Mr. 
Brooks  to  a  position  of  responsibility,  on  the 
ground  that  no  Yankee  could  be  considered 
trustworthy.  But  in  the  case  of  the  Brooks 
boys  the  objection  did  not  hold  good.  Their 
integrity  and  honor  made  even  their  cove- 
nant with  enemies  inviolable. 

William  Brooks,  another  brother,  enlisted 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  in  wdiich  regiment  he 
served  nine  months,  and  was  honoral>ly  dis- 
charged. He  participated  in  a  number  of 
fierce  engagements.  John  Brooks,  an  uncle 
of  Mrs.  Kinter,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812. 


HousER,  John,  merchant,  was  born  at 
Manada  Furnace,  West  Hanover  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  May  15,  1843.  He  is 
a  son  of  William  and  Catherine  (Mease) 
Houser.  His  grandparents,  the  Housers, 
were  born  at  Schaefterstown,  Lebanon  county. 
Pa.,  and  had  a  large  family  of  sons  and 
daughters.  William  Houser,  his  father,  was 
born  September  2,  1822.  He  enlisted  in 
November,  1802,  at  Camp  Curtin,  Harris- 
burg, in  company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventy-seventh  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
Captain  Beck,  Colonel  Wiestling.     He  died 


854 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


at  Portsmouth,  Va.,  August  3,  1863.  His 
wife,  Catherine  (Mease)  Houser,  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 18G3.  They  had  five  children  :  Josepli 
William,  died  at  about  three  years  of  age; 
ohn,  Benneville,  Henry,  and  Elizabeth, 
widow  of  George  Rahn. 

John  Houser  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  West  Hanover  township.  He 
worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was  eighteen. 
He  enlisted,  September  2,  1861,  at  Camp 
Curtin,  Harrisburg,  in  company  D,  Forty- 
sixth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  Capt.  George 
A.  Brooks  and  Col.  Joseph  F.  Knipe,  and 
served  in  that  company  until  July  16,  1865, 
when  he  was  discharged  at  Alexandria.  Va. 
He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Cedar  Mountain, 
August  9,  1802,  and  was  imprisoned  four 
weeks  on  Belle  Island,  near  Richmond,  Va., 
when  he  was  exchanged  and  returned  to  his 
company.  He  was  again  captured  atChancel- 
lorsville"  May  2, 1863,  and  confined  in  Libby 
prison,  at  Richmond.  After  suffering  con- 
finement and  privation  for  thirteen  days,  he 
was  paroled. 

Mr.  Houser  was  twice  wounded  during 
the  battle  at  Peachtree  Creek,  Ga.,  in  the 
siege  of  Atlanta.  He  received  a  bullet 
wound  in  the  right  hip,  and  a  few  minutes 
later  was  struck  by  a  bullet  below  the  tem- 
ple. The  ball  lodged  near  tiie  cheek  bone, 
and  remains  there  to  the  present  time.  He 
fell  to  the  ground  from  the  shock  of  the 
second  wound,  was  borne  to  the  hospital, 
and  subsequently  removed  to  the  hospital 
at  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  he  remained  three 
months.  When  discharged  from  the  hos- 
pital he  rejoined  his  regiment,  and  partici- 
pated in  "Sherman's  march  to  the  sea." 
Among  the  battles  which  he  took  part  may 
be  mentioned  Winchester,  Cedar  Mountain, 
Ciiancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Resaca,  Ga., 
Dallas,  Ga.,  Manilla,  Peachtree  Creek  and 
Benton  ville,  N.  C.  At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr. 
Houser  returned  iiome,  and  enlisted  in  com- 
.  pany  I,  Sixth  cavalry,  U.  S.  A.,  and  served 
three  years  along  the  frontier  in  Texas.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  at  Fort  Griffin, 
Texas,  and  retured  home.  He  located  at 
Heckton,  Middle  Paxton  township.  He 
suffered  severely  from  the  effects  of  his 
wounds,  and  was  pensioned  by  the  United 
States  Government  in  1878. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  Mr.  Houser  engaged 
in  carpenter  work.  He  has  been  an  exten- 
sive builder  and  contractor.  He  built  a 
great  number  of  the  houses  at  Heckton,  and 
many  also  at  Dauphin.     He  constructed  all 


the  wood  work  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  edifice  at  Dauphin.  In  1889  he  em- 
barked in  mercantile  business  at  Heckton, 
in  which  he  is  still  engaged  and  has  been 
very  successful. 

.  Mr.  Houser  was  married,  November  2, 
1871,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Amanda 
(Harman)  Zimmerman,  by  whom  he  has 
two  children  :  Emma  C,  wife  of  T.  Emerick, 
and  Carrie.  Mr.  Houser  has  served  one 
term  as  school  director.  He  is  a  Democrat. 
He  and  his  family  attend  the  Methodist 
church.  Mr.  Zimmerman,  Mrs.  Houser's 
father,  died  aged  fifty-three;  her  mother  is 
still  living.  They  had  ten  children:  John; 
Catherine,  wife  of  John  Brown;  Mary; 
Amanda,  wife  of  George  Rice;  Levi ;  Henri- 
etta, wife  of  Louis  Gayman  ;  Joseph  ;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Henry  Houser;  Matilda,  wife 
of  Frank  Albert ;  Emma,  Levi,  Henrietta, 
and  Emma  are  deceased. 


CRAiOr,  L.  P.,  section  foreman,  Philadel- 
phia ami  Reading  railroad,  was  born  in 
Middle  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  August  22,  1844.  He  is  a  .son  of  An- 
drew and  Rachel  (Enty)  Craig.  Andrew 
Craig  was  born  near  Fort  Hunter,  Susque- 
hanna township,  Dauphin  county,  Septem- 
ber 21,  1795.  He  died  August  24,  1864. 
His  wife,  Rachel  Enty,  was  a  native  of 
Schuylkill  county.  She  died  January  7, 
1887.  They  had  eleven  children:  Esther, 
John,  Cyrus,  Hannah,  L.  P.,  Richard  H., 
Mary  R,  wife  of  William  R.  Hopkins,  and 
four  who  are  deceased. 

L.  P.  Craig  attended  the  public  school 
during  the  winter.  From  ten  to  twelve  years 
of  age  he  attended  the  public  school  of  Dau- 
phin, and  afterwards  in  Stony  Creek  Valley. 
He  left  school  at  the  age  of  sixteen  and 
worked  at  farming  in  the  summer;  he  also 
sawed  wood  with  Elijah  Stout  for  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company.  He  afterwards 
succeeded  Mr.  Stout,  and  furnished  the  com- 
pany with  wood  for  locomotive  use  until 
186.5,  when  coal  took  the  place  of  wood  as 
fuel. 

At  Harrisburg.  February  19,  1865,  he  en- 
listed for  one  year  in  company  ^L  Second 
United  States  cavalry,  Capt.  Edwin  Hugiies. 
He  was  sent  with  his  company  to  Camp 
William  Penn,  Philadelphia ;  thence  to  Nor- 
folk, Va.;  thence  to  Brazos,  Santiago,  Tex., 
and  thence  to  Clarksville.  He  was  returned 
to  City  Point,  Va.,  where  he  was  mustered 
out  of  service  February  11,1866.     He  then 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


855 


returned  home,  and  was  for  three  years  em- 
ployed by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  sawing  wood,  and  afterwards  as 
track  repairer.  In  1872  he  was  sent  from 
Dauphin  to  Rattling  Run  and  placed  in 
charge  of  a  section  of  railroad,  controlled  by 
the  Philadelphia  and  Reading  Company,  as 
foreman,  which  position  he  has  held  to  the 
present  time. 

Mr.  Craig  was  married,  February  3,  1S7G, 
to  Amelia,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
Ann  (Care)  Surls.  Of  their  two  children 
one  died  in  infancy,  not  yet  named  ;  the 
other,  Andrew  Edward  L.,  was  born  August 
17,  1879,  and  died  November  24,  1891.  Mr. 
Craig  is  a  Republican.  He  belongs  to  G. 
A.  R.  Po.st  520,  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Heand  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 

Mr.  Surls,  Mrs.  Craig's  father,  was  an  iron- 
worker. Mrs.  Surls  died  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
nine  ;  eleven  months  later  Mr.  Surls  died 
aged  sixty-two  years.  Both  were  natives  of 
Berks  county,  where  they  spent  their  lives, 
except  the  last  twelve  years,  during  which 
they  lived  in  Lebanon  county.  They  iuid 
sixteen  children,  of  whom  five  are  living: 
Amelia,  Mrs.  Craig;  Jacob;  Susanna,  wife 
of  James  Underbill ;  Nelson,  and  Mary 
Emma,  wife  of  William  Jones. 

Mrs.  Jones  has  four  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living  with  their  uncle,  Mr.  Craig: 
Naomi  Nora,  whom  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Craig  have 
adopted,  and  Joshua  Birch. 


Irwin,  D.vnief,,  whose  parents  are  both  de- 
ceased, was  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren :  John  L.,  Mary,  Ehzabetii,  Martlia, 
Sarah,  Jose[)h,  Samuel,  David,  William, 
Daniel,  Jane,  and  Catherine.  Mr.  Irwin 
began  life  without  material  inheritance,  but 
witii  a  body  and  mind  capable  of  profiting 
by  the  good  training  wliich  he  received  in 
bis  boyhood  and  youth.  With  industry, 
energy,  enterprise  and  worthy  aim  he  began 
the  work  of  life,  and  rapidly  attained  valu- 
able results.  He  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer 
and  after  his  marriage  pursued  this  vocation 
on  his  own  account.  In  18GG  he  bought  the 
bomestead,  on  which  he  resided  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  October  26, 1892.  His 
politics  were  Republican.  In  all  social  and 
private  walks  of  life  he  was  faithful  to  duty, 
amicable  in  disposition  and  agreeable  in 
manner.  He  was,  morever,  successful  in 
business  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  securing 


an  ample  competence  for  the  loved  ones  he 
left  behind  him. 

Mr.  Irwin  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
March  4,  1856,  by  Rev.  Charles  A.  Hay,  to 
Miss  Agnes  A.,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Susan 
(Brooks)  Lehman.  She  was  born  at  Ellen- 
dale  Forge,  in  Stony  Creek  Valley,  Middle 
Paxton  township,  June  11,  1840.  She  at- 
tended the  district  school  of  Middle  Paxton 
township  and  resided  with  her  parents. 
After  she  was  twelve  years  of  age  she  resided 
with  Dr.  William  Graydon,  at  Dauphin,  for 
one  year,  and  then  with  Mary  and  Sarah 
Irwin,  sisters  of  her  future  liusband,  for 
about  three  years.  She  was  then  at  home 
with  her  mother  until  her  marriage  with  Mr. 
Irwin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irwin  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  is  deceased  :  Mary,  born 
May  4,  1859,  married  to  Augustus  Dewalt, 
bail  three  children  :  Frederick,  Bertha,  and 
Sallie,  died  September  27,  1888.  The  sur- 
vivors of  the  Irwin  family  are:  Clara  B., 
born  May  18, 1857,  wife  of  Samuel  Warner ; 
John  L.,  born  February  21,  1861;  Emma 
(!.,  born  December  3,  1863,  widow  of  Harvey 
Steeley  ;  Martha  G.,  born  August  19,  1866  ; 
Su.san  E.,  born  August  7,  1868,  wife  of 
George  Murray ;  Ida  M.,  born  August  3, 
1870,  wife  of  Elijah  Dewalt ;  William  B.,  born 
September  3,  1873  ;  Charles  D.,  November 
16,  1875  ;  Etta  M.,  February  26,  1878  ;  and 
Anna  B.,  May  13,  1880.  Mrs.  Irwin  has 
maintained  the  home  up  to  the  present  time 
and  the  children  reside  with  her. 

Mr.  Lehman,  Mrs.  Irwin's  father,  died  aged 
about  forty-eight  years;  her  mother  died 
September  6,  1892,  aged  seventy-six.  They 
had  six  children,  of  whom  Iwoare  deceased  : 
James,  who  died  in  tiie  army,  from  typhoid 
fever,  at  Belle  Plain  Laniliug,  Va.,  and 
William.  Their  living  children  are  :  Mary, 
wife  of  Philip  Kline;  Agnes  A.,  George, 
and  Ellen,  wife  of  Benjamin  M.  Carroll. 
Mrs.  Irwin  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

Ney,  Joicl,  farmer,  was  born  near  Pal- 
myra, Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  March  17,  1820. 
He  is  a  son  of  Sauniel  and  Catherine  (Kaiser) 
Ney,  both  deceased.  His  parents  had  five 
cbihlren:  Lucetta,  wife  of  Tiiomas  Gouts, 
deceased;  Joel;  Caroline,  wife  of  Thomas 
Cayton  ;  Lydia,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Ricker,  who  re- 
moved to  Oregon,  where  she  died,  and 
William. 

Joel  Ney,  at  ten  years  of  age  came  with 
bis  parents   to    Middle    Paxton     township. 


856 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


where  he  attended  a  private  school  until  he 
was  about  fifteen.  He  then  attended  the 
district  school  in  winter  and  assisted  on  his 
father's  farm  during  tlie  summer.  When  he 
was  al)out  twenty-five  he  began  farming  for 
himself  near  Stone  Glen  Station,  Middle 
Paxton  township,  and  continued  there  for 
about  nine  years.  He  then  resided  upon 
and  cultivated  John  P.  Gayman's  farm  for 
about  two  years,  after  which  he  removed  to 
his  present  homestead. 

Mr.  Ney  was  married.  May  1,  1845,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Gay- 
man.  Of  tlieir  eight  children,  four  are  de- 
ceased ;  one  who  died  in  infancy,  unnamed  ; 
Charles,  died  Octol)er  14, 18(39  ;  Louisa,  born 
October  21,  1860,  died  October  28,  1852; 
John,  born  February  15,  1851,  died  March 
18,  1887.  Their  living  children  are  Amos, 
born  August  21,  1846,  was  in  the  army  and 
served  about  fourmontlis;  Henry,  December 
25, 1848  ;  Catherine,  February  17,1854,  wife 
of  John  P>ickle  ;  Lewis,  October  24, 1857,  who 
was  married  August  17,  187G,  to  Clara, 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Geistwhitc, 
and  had  four  children  :  Frank,  born  P'ebru- 
ary  14,  1877;  Mary  Alice,  December  22, 
1878;  George  Lewis,  September  24,  1880, 
and  Harper  Joel,  September  3,  1887.  Lewis 
Ney,  father  of  the  children  just  named,  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  of  INIiddle 
Paxton  township,  which  he  attended  until 
he  was  eigiiteen  years  old.  He  then  began 
farming  on  his  father's  farm  and  lias  con- 
tinued in  tiiat  occupation  up  to  the  present 
time. 

Mr.  Joel  Ney  lias  served  three  years  as  tax 
collector  of  Middle  Paxton  townsliip.  He  is 
a  Republican.  He  and  his  family  atteml 
the  Lutlieran  church.  His  wife  died  De- 
cember 24, 1895. 


Sebourn,  Andrew,  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, in  the  district  ttien  known  as  South- 
wark,  January  14,  1823.  He  w'as  left  an  or- 
phan at  four  years  of  age,  and  was  cared  for 
at  the  Orphans'  Home,  Philadelphia,  until 
he  was  nine.  He  was  then  indentured  by 
that  institution  to  Eusebius  Barnard,  near 
Brandywine  creek,  Ciiester  county.  Pa.  He 
remained  with  Mr.  Barnard  until  lie  was 
twenty-one,  attending  the  common  schools 
for  six  weeks  of  each  year.  After  he  attained 
his  majority  he  was  employed  one  year  at 
farming  in  Chester  county  by  James  Painter, 
who  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends.  At 
the  end  of  the  3'ear  he  engaged  to  go  with  Mr. 


Amos  Houser  to  Lancaster.  Mr.  Painter  en- 
deavored to  persuade  Andrew  to  remain  in 
his  employ,  promising  him  the  same  wages 
that  Mr.  Houser  had  off'ered.  Bat  the  con- 
tract having  been  made  with  Mr.  Houser,  he 
would  not  break  his  promise.  He  remained 
with  him  in  Lancaster  county  for  four  years. 

Mr.  Sebourn  then  applied  to  the  foreman 
on  the  State  canal,  at  Columbia,  for  employ- 
ment, but  was  informed  that  there  was  no 
position  vacant.  He  would  not  take  no  for 
an  answer,  but  went  industriously  to  work 
assisting  in  unloading  and  re-shipping,  giv- 
ing his  time  without  pay.  The  foreman  see^ 
ing  his  ability  and  diligence,  gave  him  a 
position  of  responsibilitj',  which  lie  held  for 
six  years.  For  the  following  ten  years  he 
was  employed  by  the  railroad,  then  operated 
by  the  State,  between  Columbia  and  Lancas- 
ter. He  changed  for  a  short  time  to  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  but  re- 
turned to  his  former  employer  and  ran  tiie 
same  cars  to  Lancaster.  In  this  employment 
lie  remained  for  four  years,  and  then  removed 
to  Middle  Paxton  township,  located  near 
EUendale  Furnace,  engaged  in  general  work, 
and  remained  there  four  years  on  the  prem- 
ises of  the  railroad  company.  He  was  then 
in  Chester  county  again  for  six  months,  after 
which  he  entered  the  euiploy  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company,  at  Harrisburg,  and 
has  remained  with  the  company  for  twenty- 
eight  years. 

He  bought  his  present  homestead  in  1807, 
removed  to  it  the  next  j'car  and  has  made  it 
his  residence  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Sebourn 
was  married,  October  14, 1845,  to  Belinda  F., 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  French.  Of  tiieir 
eight  children,  four  are  deceased  :  John  Wes- 
ley, born  in  1849,  died  January  1,  1850; 
Franklin  Pierce,  born  in  1854,  died  February 
13,  1855;  ^\'illiam  Bishop,  born  January  20, 
1856,  died  December  28,  1857 ;  Isaac  Jeffer- 
son, born  January  5,  1858,  and  died  October 
7,  1864.  Their  living  children  are:  James 
Barnard,  born  October  9,  1846,  enlisted  in 
the  Union  army,  served  three  months,  re-en- 
listed in  the  Fifteenth  United  States  infantry, 
was  wounded  in  front  of  Atlanta  and  brought 
home  by  permit  from  Governor  Curtin  ; 
Washington  Ciiarles,  January  22,1848;  Jacob 
Henry,  June  3,  1852,  and  Mary  Catherine, 
October  23,  1861,  wife  of  Rev.  Ira  McDonald, 
of  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 

When  Mr.  Sebourn  resided  at  EUendale 
Forge  he  was  largely  instrumental  in  estab- 
lishing   the   first    Sunday-school    in    Stony 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY, 


857 


Creek  Valley,  and  became  its  superintendent. 
Wlien  he  returned  to  the  valley  in  18G8  he 
was  again  superintendent  of  the  school;  at 
one  time  it  had  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
pujiils.  Mr.  Sebourn  served  one  year  in  the 
city  council  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  is  a 
Democrat,  lie  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Church  of  God. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  French  had  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  deceased  except  Mrs. 
Sebourn. 


Shoop,  George  W.,  miller,  was  born  at 
Fort  Hunter,  Susquehanna  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  December  12,  1838.  He 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Hoover) 
Slioop.  Samuel  Shoop  met  his  death  by 
drowning  in  the  canal,  near  Dauphin,  about 
18G8;  bis  wife  died  in  1844.  They  liad 
seven  children:  John,  born  September  18, 
1825 ;  Mary  A.,  born  April  4,  1829,  wife  of 
George  Shatzer ;  Catherine,  born  April  5, 
1832,  wife  of  George  Fitting;  George  W., 
born  December  12,  1838;  Elizabeth,  born 
February  11,  1842,  wife  of  Jacob  Rhoads ; 
Samuel,  born  June  10, 1845  ;  and  Isaac,  who 
was  drowned  in  the  canal,  at  Fort  Hunter. 

George  W.  Shoop  was  about  six  years  of 
age  when  his  mother  died.  His  father  kept 
the  family  together  for  two  years  after  her 
demise;  then  the  boy,  being  about  eight, 
was  placed  by  his  father  in  the  care  of  Joiin 
C.  McAllister,  of  Fort  Hunter,  with  whom  he 
remained  about  ten  years,  assisting  in  work 
during  the  summer  and  attending  the  com- 
mon school  in  the  winter.  In  1856  he  en- 
gaged in  general  work.  The  ensuing  year 
he  spent  in  learning  the  trade  of  milling, 
with  Jacob  Shadle,  at  the  Cameron  mills, 
near  Harrisburg,  and  with  Mr.  Shadle  he 
removed  to  Duncaniion,  Perry  county,  and 
spent  anotiier  year.  Then,  Mr.  Shadle  hav- 
ing discontinued  business,  he  spent  several 
months  with  John  Shaffer,  at  Mt.  Holly, 
Cumberland  county.  He  was  also  a  short 
time  with  Harvey  Garman,  on  the  same 
creek.  He  was  subseqently  employed  for  a 
short  timeby  James  Reed,  near  Fort  Hunter ; 
tiien  he  returned  to  Mr.  Garman,  and 
worked  until  spring,  when  he  again  entered 
the  employ  of  Mr.  Shadle,  who  had  resumed 
business,  near  Milltown,  Cumberland  county. 
For  the  next  year,  up  to  the  fall  of  1862,  he 
had  full  charge  of  John  Heck's  mill. 

On  October  16,  1862,  Mr.  Shoop  enlisted 
in    company    B,  One    Hundred    and  Sixty- 


fifth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  Col- 
onel Bruhler  and  Capt.  A.  J.  Rupp.  He 
served  nine  montiis  and  was  discharged  at 
Gettysburg,  July  28,  1863.  He  took  part  in 
five  Ifiercely  contested  engagements — that 
of  the  Deserted  House,  skirmishes  on  the 
Jamestown  Road,  White  House,  Beaver's 
Dam,  and  Carsville.  From  the  time  of  Mr. 
Shoop's  return  from  the  army  until  the  follow- 
ing spring,  he  worked  again  for  Mr.  Heck, 
and  for  the  ensuing  ten  months  for  his 
former  employer,  Mr.  Shaffer,  who  was 
located  opposite  to  Mr.  Heck.  In  February, 
of  1865,  Mr.  Shoop  rented  a  mill  near  West 
Fairview,  Cumberland  count}',  which  be- 
longed to  Mr.  Heck,  and  managed  it  on  his 
own  account  for  two  years.  The  next  year 
lie  rented  the  Fort  Hunter  mills  of  his 
former  guardian,  J.  C.  McAllister.  At  the 
end  of  the  year  lie  returned  to  Cumberland 
county,  and  for  another  year  superintended 
the  Eberly  mills  for  Samuel  Zechariah  and 
George  Heck.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he 
rented  the  Stony  Creek  mill,  in  Middle  Pax- 
town  township,  of  James  Reed,  and  con- 
ducted it  for  eight  years.  Then,  October  12, 
1877,  he  purchased  the  mill,  and  made  ex- 
tensive additions  and  improvements  to  it. 
In  1890  he  also  built  the  house  which  is  his 
present  residence. 

Mr.  Shoop  was  married,  December  1, 1864, 
to  Angeline,  daughter  of  Tobias  and  Sarah 
(Sipe)  Moltz,  who  was  born  August  30,  1848. 
Four  of  their  eleven  children  are  deceased  : 
Katie  E.  and  Annie  M.,  twins,  boru  Septem- 
ber 7,  1873— Katie,  died  March  11,  1874, 
and  Annie,  April  15,  1874;  Harrv  F„  born 
May  30,  1872,  died  August  8,  1883 ;  and 
Charles  E.,  born  March  2, 1870,  died  August 
14,1883.  Their  living  children  are  :  George 
W.,  Jr.,  born  November  24,  1865;  Alice  M., 
Mav  28,  1867 ;  Samuel  T.,  December  14, 
1868:  John  L.,  December  24, 1875;  William 
A.,  December  26,  1877;  Emma  A.,  Marcli 
20,  1881  ;  and  Sarah  A.,  August  24,  1885. 

Mr.  Shoop  has  served  Middle  Paxton 
township  as  assessor  and  as  tax  collector.  He 
is  a  Democrat.  The  family  attend  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  The  career  of  Mr.  Shoop, 
begun  without  material  inheritance,  charac 
terized  by  ability  and  honesty,  resulting  in 
a  comfortable  competence  and  an  untar- 
nished good  name,  is  most  honorable,  and 
well  worthy  of  a  record  in  the  annals  of  his 
native  county.  Nor  will  it  detract  from  (lie 
interest  of  this  record  to  make  mention  of 
the  diligence,  frugality,  wisdom  and   devo- 


858 


BIO  GRA  PHIGA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


tion  of  his  wife,  which  have  contributed  so 
much  to  his  success. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Shoop  are  both  de- 
ceased. She  lost  her  motlier  in  1842,  when 
she  was  four  years  old.  Her  father  died 
January  7,  1894,  aged  seventy-four.  They 
had  four  children  :  Elmira,  born  in  1844, 
wife  of  John  Costello  ;  Angeline,  Mrs.  Slioop; 
Catherine  E.,  born  in  1842,  wife  of  Franklin 
F.  Jackson,  and  Thornton,  wlio  died  at  about 
seven  years  of  age. 


ScHAFFER,  Benjamin  Franklin,  fanner, 
was  born  in  Lower  Mahanoy  townshi[), 
Northumberland  county',  Pa.,  October  10, 
1847.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Hannah 
(Bingamau)  Schaffer.  Isaac  Sciiaffer  was  a 
cabinet  maker  and  undertaker,  and  con- 
ducted a  successful  business  in  Lower  Ma- 
iianoy  township.  He  was  a  man  of  frugal 
habits,  energetic,  persevering  and  enterpris- 
ing. Honorable  and  just  in  all  transactions, 
he  was  higiily  esteemed.  He  died  Marcli 
30,  1872,  aged  forty-seven.  His  wife  was  the 
daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Mary  (Whitmer) 
Bingamau  ;  she  died  March  30,  1872,  aged 
forty-five. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Schaffer  attended  tlie 
private  school  of  liis  native  townsiiip  until 
he  was  nineteen  years  old.  He  then  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Halifax  township, 
Daui)hin  county,  wiiere  he  attended  tiie  dis- 
trict scliool  for  two  winters.  He  helped  liis 
father  with  tlie  farm  work  during  tlie  sum- 
mer, and  continued  at  farming  until  1859, 
wiien  lie  removed  with  his  fat-lier  to  tlie 
present  homestead  in  Middle  Paxton  town- 
siiip; tiiere  fatlier  and  son  cultivated  tiie 
farm  jointly  until  the  father's  deatli  in  1872. 
Being  the  only  child,  Benjamin  succeeded 
his  fatlier,  and  has  ever  since  owned  and  oc- 
cupied the  farm. 

On  December  23,  1869,  Mr.  Schaffer  mar-' 
ried  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet (Hofi'man)  Lantz.  One  of  their  four 
children  has  passed  away,  Lillie  Kolira,one 
of  twins,  born  March  4,  1872,  and  died  the 
same  da}'.  Their  living  children  are:  Laura 
J.,  survivor  of  the  twins,  M'ife  of  Charles 
Reed;  Mary  E.,  born  December  13,  187G, 
and  Isaac  L.,  June  5,  1880. 

Mr.  Schaffer  has  served  one  term  as  super- 
visor, and  is  at  present  assessor  of  Middle 
Paxton  township.  He  is  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  the  Evangelical  church. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Schaffer  died  May  1, 
1853,   aged    about    thirty-four  years.     Her 


father  died  February  4, 1888,  at  aboutseventy- 
two  years  of  age.  They  had  nine  children, 
four  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Sarah,  Katie, 
Samuel  N.,  and  Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of  Andrew 
Brossel.  Their  living  children  are:  George 
W.,  John,  Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  V.  Enders, 
Margaret,  and  Lydia  E.,  wife  of  Michael 
Sweigert.  Mr.  Lantz  was  again  married  ; 
his  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Pliile,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  Amanda  E., 
died  aged  four  years,  and  Charles  G. 

Frantz,  Henry,  carpenter  and  contractor, 
was  born  in  East  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  January  21.  1844.  He  is 
a  son  of  Henry  and  Esther  (Bates)  Frantz, 
both  deceased.  They  had  eleven  children : 
John,  Benjamin,  Polly,  Elizabeth,  Levina, 
Peter,  David,  Alexander,  Caroline,  Henry, 
and  Benneville. 

Henry  Frantz,  Jr.,  was  educated  in  the 
common  school  of  East  Hanover  township. 
At  seventeen  years  of  age  he  left  home  and 
enlisted  in  the  Union  arm}',  at  Camp  Curtin, 
Harrisburg,  September  2,  1861.  He  joined 
company  I),  Forty -sixth  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  ami  was  sent  with  his  regi- 
ment to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  it  was  sta- 
tioned along  the  Potomac  river  until  the 
spring  of  1862.  The  regiment  was  then  sent 
with  General  Banks'  command  on  an  expe- 
dition into  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Young 
Frantz  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Winches- 
ter, March  23,  1862;  Middletown,  Va.,  May 
28,  1862;  Winchester,  Va.,  May  26,  1862; 
Cedar  Mountain,  Va.,  August  9,  1862;  Sul- 
phur Springs.  Va.,  August  27,1862;  South 
Mountain,  Md.,  September  14,1862;  Antie- 
tam,  Md.,  September  17,  1862;  Cliancellors- 
ville,  Va.,  Mav"  1,  2,  3,  1863  ;  Gcttvsburg,  Pa., 
July  1, 2, 3, 1863  ;  Resaca,  G».,  Mav  15,  1864; 
Cassville,  Ga.,  Mav  19,  1864;  D'allas,  Ga., 
May  25,1864;  Pine"Knob,  Ga.,  June  9,1864; 
Culp's  Farm,  Ga.,  June  22,  1864;  Peachtree 
Creek,  Ga.,  July  20, 1864  ;  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Sep- 
tember G,  1864;  Cypress  Swamp,  Ga.,  De- 
cember 8,  1864;  Savannah,  Ga.,  December 
21,  1864;  ChesterHeld  Cburt  House,  S.  C, 
March  2,1865;  Coon  Run,  N.  C,  April  10, 
1865;  Avervsborough,  N.C.,  March  14, 1865; 
Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  19, 1865.  He  was 
wounded  while  on  picket  duty  near  Chester- 
field Court  House,  S.  C,  by  a  gun  shot.  He 
lost  the  hearing  of  his  left  ear  from  prox- 
imity to  cannonading  at  the  battle  of  Culp's 
Farm,  Ga.,  June  22,  1864.  He  contracted 
muscular   rheumatism  by    his   three   days' 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


859 


march  througli  swamps  and  water,  from 
wliicli  he  never  recovered.  He  was  marclied 
with  his  company  from  Raleigh,  N.  C,  to 
Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  was  discharged 
July  16,  1865. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  army  Mr. 
Frantz  returned  to  iiis  native  township,  and 
served  an  apprenticesiiip  of  three  years  at 
carpentry  with  Joiin  Riioads,  of  East  Han- 
over townsiiip,  upon  the  completion  of  wiiich 
he  went  to  Harrisburg,  and  worked  there  for 
five  years  as  journeyman  carfienter.  Tlien, 
returning  to  East  Hanover  townshij),  lie  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building  on  his  own 
account.  He  became  widely  known  through- 
out the  county  as  a  builder.  He  constructed 
some  of  the  largest  and  most  modern  barns 
and  residences  in  the  county,  especially  in 
the  borough  of  Dauphin,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  the  Dauphin  Car  Siiops.  He 
built  a  large  modern  barn  for  Joseph  H. 
Cofrode,  Prince  William  county,  Va.  He 
erected  his  own  mansion  near  Dauiihin  in 
1882. 

Mr.  Frantz  was  married,  June  6,  1867,  to 
Katie,  daugliter  of  ^"alentine  and  Elizabeth 
First.  One  of  their  children  is  deceased, 
Anna  Laura,  born  April  1,  1873,  died  Octo- 
ber 1,  1884,  aged  eleven  years.  Their  living 
children  are:  Sherman  Tecumseh,  born  Jan- 
uary 1,  1868,  and  Harvev  Napoleon,  October 
7,  1870.  Mrs.  Frantz  d'ied  June  24,  1874. 
The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Frantz,  to  whom  he 
was  married  December  25,  1877,  was  Lucy 
Louisa  Lindemuth.  They  have  had  four 
children:  Joseph  Elmer  Sheridan,  born 
March  7,  1879;  Carrie  May,  July  3,  1880; 
Jennie  Daisy,  October  8,  1882;  Cora  Mabel, 
September  26,  1886.  Mr.  Frantz  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Post  58,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Harrisburg.  He 
is  a  Republican.  The  family  attend  the 
Evangelical  church. 

Mrs.  First,  mother  of  the  first  Mrs.  Frantz, 
is  deceased.  Her  father  is  still  living.  Their 
children  were  five:  Susan,  Elizabeth,  Katie, 
Annie,  and  Valentine. 

Mrs.  Lindemuth,  mother  of  the  present 
Mrs.  Frantz,  died  April  1,  1877,  and  her 
father  in  May,  1883.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren :  Reuben,  Sabilla,  Levina,  Daniel, 
Joseph,  Emma,  Catherine,  Alfred,  Sarah, 
Lucy  Louisa,  and  Jonathan. 

David  and  Alexander,  brothers  of  Mr. 
Henry  Frantz,  served  in  the  same  regiment 
with  liimself.  Peter  enlisted  at  Camp  Curtin, 
Harrisburg,  in  company  E,  One  Hundred 
and   Seventy-seventh    Pennsylvania  volun- 


teers, as  color  sergeant.  Peter  was  wounded 
at  Dallas,  Ga.  AH  served  three  years  and 
all  returned  to  their  home. 


Stricker,  Albert,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Middle  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  at  the  old  homestead,  where  he  now  re- 
sides, August  23,  1852.  He  is  a  son  of  .Jacob 
and  Ellen  (Keller)  Stricker.  Jacob  Stricker 
was  born  November  15,  1815.  He  was  a 
man  of  strict  integrity.  He  made  the  "golden  " 
rule"  the  motto  of  his  life,  and  in  all  private  ^ 
and  public  relations  was  conscientious  and 
exem(>lary.  He  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  his 
neighbors.  He  died  January  9,  1885,  aged 
seventy-eight  or  seventy-nine.  His  wifeilietl 
December  15,  1880.  Three  of  their  four 
children  are  deceased  :  Alexander  Jackson, 
born  June  13,  1839,  died  March  29,  1842  ; 
Jefferson  Monroe,  born  January  2, 1843,  died 
July  21,  1843;  Theodore  Scott,  born  June 
17,  1845,  accidentally  killed  in  the  coal 
mines  at  Shamokin,  in  November,  1887. 
Their  only  living  child  is  Albert. 

Albert  Stricker  attended  the  public  school 
in  Middle  Paxton  township  during  the  win- 
ter, and  in  summer  assisted  his  father  about 
farm  work  until  he  was  nineteen.  He  then 
became  interested  in  the  farm,  and  his  father 
and  he  cultivated  it  jointly  until  the  death 
of  the  former,  January  19,  1885.  He  then 
succeeded  his  father  and  has  ever  since  con- 
tinued farming  the  homestead. 

Mr.  Stricker  was  married,  May  24,  1887,  to 
Clara,  daughter  of  William  and  Annie 
(Etter)  McKissick.  They  have  six  children: 
William  Grant,  born  September  12,1878; 
Harry  Garfield,  March  14,  1880;  Jacob 
Lewis,  August  24,  1881  ;  Clara  Eilith,  May 
10,1883;  Earle  Arvine,  October  25,  1886; 
and  Robert  Bayard,  April  10,  1892.  Mr. 
Stricker  is  a  Republican.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Evangelical  church. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Stricker  died  August 
7,  1865,  aged  about  thirty-nine.  Her  father 
is  still  living.  They  had  ten  children,  five 
of  whom  are  deceased.  The  survivors  are: 
John,  born  March  15,  1849;  Kate,  January 
22,  1853;  Clara,  May  27,  1856;  Pomeroy, 
June  1,  1858  ;  and  Ellsworth,  May  20,  1861. 


S.N'YDER,  Peter,  married  Joanna  Shipman. 
Jemima  B.  Snyder,  their  daughter,  was  born 
near  Sunbury,  Northumberland  county.  Pa. 
She  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  her 
native  township,  and  remained  with  her 
parents  until  her  marriage.    She  was  married 


860 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


December  1,  1835,  to  Lot  Bergstresser,  born 
April  4,  1807.  Thej-  had  eleven  children  ; 
five  are  deceased  :  Joanna,  died  in  int'anc}' ; 
Mary  Alice,  born  March  10,  1845,  died  No- 
vember 19,  1859 ;  John  Clinton,  born  April 
9,  18G1,  died  March  10, 1862  ;  Phoebe  Ellen, 
wife  of  Samuel  B.  Bishoff,  born  June  19, 
1850;  Henry  Clay,  born  December  4,  1838, 
supposed  to  have  died  in  Arizona.  The 
other  children  are :  Peter  S.,  born  November 
2,  1836;  Jane,  August  8,  1842;  Emeline, 
wife  of  Charles  Swab,  December  24,  1847 , 
Clara,  December  25, 1852  ;  Edwin  Lot,  April 
7,  1855;  and  Charles  M.,  June  25,  1858. 

Peter  S.,  was  graduated  from  Lafayette  Col- 
lege, Easton,  Pa.  He  enlisted  in  company  I, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventy-seventh  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  served  nine 
months,  after  which  he  re-enlisted  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  now  prin- 
cipal of  the  public  schools  at  Trevorton, 
Northumberland  county.  Pa.  He  served 
one  term  as  assemblyman,  in  1865.  (Uiarles 
M.  also  is  a  graduate  of  Lafayette  College.  He 
is  the  editor,  and  one  of  the  firm  of  Dow, 
Jones  ife  Co.,  proprietors  of  the  Wall  Street 
Journal,  New  York.  Edward  L.  is  in  mer- 
cantile business  at  Lykens,  Pa. 

Mr.  Bergstresser  wasa  millwright,  and  was 
also  extensively  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  a  prominent  citizen,  of  excellent  reputa- 
tion. In  1855  he  served  one  term  as  assem- 
blyman. Mr.  Bergstresser  wasa  Republican. 
He  died  October  26,  1860. 

Mrs.  Bergstresser  remained  a  widow  until 
December  4,  1863,  when  she  was  married  lo 
James  W.  Grittith.  They  had  no  children. 
Mr.  Griffith  had  been  previously  married, 
and  had  a  family  of  sons  and  daughters  by 
his  first  wife.  He  was  a  carpenter, extensively 
engaged  in  building  and  contracting.  Mr. 
Griffith  wasa  justice  of  the  peace  at  Dauphin 
for  about  thirty  years,  and  was  universally 
regarded  as  a  just  man  and  a  capable  and 
reliable  officer.  He  was  a  Republican.  He 
died  September  28,  1878,  aged  about  seventy- 
six  years.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbvterian  church. 


BAY.4.RD,  Henry  M.,  was  born  in  1812. 
He  is  a  sou  of  James  A.  and  Ann  (Bassett) 
Bayard.  Hon.  Richard  Bassett,  the  mater- 
nal grandfather  of  Henry  M.. Bayard,  son  of 
Micliael  Bassett  and  Judith  Herman,  of  Bo- 
hemia Manor,  was  born  in  1735  and  died  in 
1815.     He  was  a  member  of  the   executive 


council  of  Delaware  from  1776  to  1783,  and 
served  in  the  Continental  army.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Annapolis  Convention  in 
1785,  and  to  the  convention  which  formed 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  to 
which  he  set  his  hand,  and  then,  hastening 
home,  he  induced  Delaware  promptly,  and 
in  advance  of  all  other  States,  to  ratify  it. 
He  was  the  first  Senator  in  Congress  from 
the  State  of  Delaware,  and  later  became 
Governor  of  the  State.  Later  in  life  he  re- 
tired to  the  old  family  homestead,  Bohemia 
Manor,  Md.,  where  he  died,  leaving  the  estate 
to  his  only  daughter,  Ann,  wife  of  Hon. 
James  A.  Bayard.  Governor  Bassett  mar- 
ried Miss  Ann  Ennells,  of  Dorchester,  Md. 
James  A.  Bayard,  father  of  Henr}'  M. 
Bayard,  was  born  July  28,  1767,  and  died 
August  6,  1815.  He  was  a  son  of  Dr.  James 
and  Ann  (Hodge)  Bayard,  and  was  an  emi- 
nent lawyer  and  politician.  His  classical 
education  was  completed  at  Princeton  Col- 
lege in  1784.  He  studied  law,  and  on  his 
admission  to  the  bar  settled  in  the  State  of 
Delaware,  where  he  soon  acquired  a  high 
reputation  and  obtained  a  large  practice.  A 
few  years  after  he  reached  his  majority  he 
served  as  re{)resentative  from  Delaware  in 
Congress,  and  soon  distinguished  himself  as 
an  able  statesman.  He  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate  in  1812.  He  strenu- 
ously opposed  the  declaration  of  war  with 
Great  Britain.  President  Madison  selected 
him  as  one  of  the  commissioners  to  treat  for 
peace  under  the  proposed  mediation  of  Em- 
peror Alexander,  of  Russia,  and  he  was 
largely  instrumental  in  consummating  the- 
treaty  of  Ghent.  He  was  subsequently  ap 
pointed  envoy  of  the  United  States  Govern 
ment  to  the  Court  of  St.  Petersburg.  Hon 
Henry  Clay,  on  his  arrival  in  New  York 
after  the  signing  of  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  in 
company  with  Hon.  Albert  Gallatin,  learn- 
ing of  the  death  of  James  A.  Baj^ird,  was 
deeply  aff'ected  by  the  mournful  intelligence 
and  lamented  that  he  should  never  again 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  that  distin- 
guished statesman.  At  the  same  time  he 
expressed  his  high  estimate  of  the  important 
services  rendered  to  the  country  during 
their  mission  by  Mr.  Bayard,  averring  it  as 
his  firm  belief  that  but  for  the  able  and  con- 
ciliatory mediation  of  Mr.  Bayard  between 
the  commissioners  of  the  respective  govern- 
juents  no  such  treaty  could  have  been  fixed 
upon. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


861 


From  the  earliest  history  of  the  country 
the  Bayard  family  has  heen  highly  distin- 
guished, and  every  generation  has  furnished 
celebrated  leaders  and  statesmen.  Thomas 
F.  Bayard,  nephew  of  Henry  M.  Bayard,  is 
at  present  the  representative  of  the  United 
States  Government  at  the  Court  of  St.  James. 

Henry  M.  Bayard  died  in  August,  1886, 
aged  about  seventy-four.  He  married 
Emma,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Shipley 
Dixon  ;  his  wife  is  still  living.  They  had 
nine  children  :  Anne  C,  widow  of  Jolm 
Joiinstone,  now  residing  in  Australia;  Ed- 
ward ;  James  A.;  Mary  S.;  Catherine  L.; 
Elizabeth  L.,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  N.  Fitzmathew  ; 
Lucy  A.,  wife  of  C.  A.  Messiter,  Esq.,  now 
deceased  ;  Constance,  and  Joseph  S. 
'  Edward  Bayard,  son  of  Henry  M.  and 
Emma  (Dixon)  Bayard,  was  born  at  the 
homestead  at  Victoria  Furnace,  in  Clark's 
\"aliey,  September  10,  1840.  He  was  in- 
structed in  private  schools  until  he  was  six- 
teen 3'ears  old,  and  completed  his  education 
by  a  four  years'  course  in  a  Philadelphia  col- 
lege under  Prof.  Saunders.  He  then  re- 
turned home  and  took  charge  of  his  fatlier's 
business  of  farming  and  cutting  lumber,  in 
which  he  was  engaged  until  about  1873.  He 
then  began  manufacturing  lumber  and  barrel 
staves.  In  1882  he  associated  himself  with 
the  business  intei'ests  of  the  family,  establish- 
ing the  firm  of  Bayard  &  Co.,  and  has  since 
carried  on  a  large  farming  and  lumber  man- 
ufacturing business. 

Mr.  Bayard  was  married,  December  29, 
1874,  to  "Ella,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  Steers,  of  Virginia.  Of  their  six 
children,  one  is  deceased,  Henry,  who  was 
born  September  15,  1884.  Their  other  chil- 
dren are :  James  Ashton,  born  September 
25,  1875;  Charles  M.,  December  22,1877; 
Lucv  Ashton,  August  10,  1879  ;  Constance 
G.,  October  16,  1881 ;  Ptichard  Bassett,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1888. 

Joseph  S.  Bayard,  son  of  Henry  M  and 
Emma  (Dixon)  Bayard,  was  also  born  at  the 
homestead  at  Victoria  Furnace,  November  14, 
1853.  He  received  his  elementary  education 
in  private  schools,  and  was  then  four  years  at 
Mrs.  Crawford's  Academy,  near  Frankford, 
Philadelphia.  He  then  returned  to  the  old 
homestead  and  has  been  associated  with  tlie 
extensive  business  interests  of  the  family  to 
the  present  time.  Botli  brothers,  Edward 
and  Joseph  S.,  are  Democrats.  Tiiey  are 
members  of  the  Episcopal  church. 


CuTCHALL,  Richard,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  county.  Pa.,  October  25,  1836. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Hannah  (Lane) 
Cutchall.  William  Cutchall  was  born  in 
1800,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  ; 
Mrs.  Cutchall  died  aged  fifty-four.  They 
had  ten  children,  of  whom  four  are  deceased: 
Jacob,  George  Washingtor,  John  L.,  and 
Dutton.  Their  living  children  are:  Wilson; 
William;  Richard  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Isaac  Mad- 
den ;  Agnes,  wife  of  Martin  Mathias,  and 
Eliza,  wife  of  Simon  Rohrer. 

Richard  Cutchall  was  educated  in  his  na- 
tive county.  At  ten  years  of  age  he  was 
already  occu[)ied  about  firming,  working 
during  the  summer  and  attending  school 
during  the  winter  months.  After  he  was 
fourteen  he  was  engaged  in  various  kinds  of 
work,  principally  on  the  farm  ;  he  was  thus 
employed  until  1861,  when  the  call  came  for 
volunteers,  and  he  enlisted  in  the  United 
States  army.  His  first  enlistment  was  at 
Camp  Curtin,  Hari'isburg,  in  company  I, 
Fourteenth  i-egiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, for  four  months.  During  his  term  of 
service  he  was  in  several  severe  skirmishes 
in  A'irginia.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  returned  to  his  home  in  Hunting- 
don county,  and  remained  a  sliort  time.  He 
re-enlisted  September  20,  1861,  in  company 
B,One  Hundred  and  Tenth  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers.  He  took  part  in  twenty- 
two  battles,  among  whicii  were  Fredericks- 
burg, Laurel  Hill,Spotlsylvania  Court  House, 
the  Wilderness,  South  Mountain,  the  second 
Ball  Run,  Port  Republic,  Gaines'  Mills,  and 
Gettysburg.  He  was  discharged  at  Harris- 
burg  June  13,  1865,  and  returned  to  his  na- 
tive county.  He  afterwards  removed  to 
Middle  Paxton  townsliip,  Daupliin  county, 
and  was  variously  employed  until  his  mar- 
riage, when  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  hns 
ever  since  pursued  the  same  calling. 

Mr.  Cutchall  was  married,  June  23,  1867, 
to  Barbara  Wynn,  widow  of  Webster  Wynn. 
They  had  one  child,  Lizzie  D.,  wile  of  Will- 
iam F.  Beam.  Mr.  Cutcliall  is  neutral  in 
politics.  The  family  attend  tlie  Evangelical 
church. 

Mrs.  Cutchall  was  married  to  her  first  hus- 
band, Webster  Wynn,  January  17,  1854. 
They  had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are 
deceased :  Maria,  wife  of  Samuel  Brenne- 
man,  and  Fanny,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
fifteen.  Their  living  children  are:  Daniel 
Webster  and  Zachar}'  Taylor.    Mrs.  Cutchall 


862 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany.  Slie 
came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  in 
1833.  They  located  in  Lancaster  county, 
removed  to  Juniata  county,  returned  to  Lan- 
caster county,  and  finally  settled  in  Midtlle 
Paxton  township,  Daupliin  county.  In  1851 
the  parents  removed  to  Armstrong  Valle}', 
where  they  died.  Tliey  had  ten  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  childhood. 

Webster  Wynn,  the  first  husband  of  Mrs. 
Cutchall,  was  a  highly  respected  citizen.  He 
served  one  three  years'  term  as  director  of 
the  poor  of  Dauphin  county.  He  was  cap- 
tain of  a  militia  company  at  Gratztown.  He 
was  an  ardent  supporter  of  Heni-y  Clay  wlien 
he  ran  for  the  presidency  in  1844.  He  was 
at  one  time  the  only  Whig  in  Middle  Pax- 
ton  township,  but  through  his  influence  tiie 
party  rapidly  increased  in  number.  The 
first  wife  of  Mr.  Wynn  was  Fanny  Boll,  by 
wlioni  he  had  six  children  :  Louisa,  Annie, 
Leander,  Jackson,  William  and  Henry,  the 
last  two  twins.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Wynn 
established  the  homestead  at  an  early  date. 
His  father,  Josiah  Wynn,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  whose  widow,  Susanna  Wynn, 
drew  a  pension.  She  died  aged  about  ninety- 
five. 


Baker,  John  J.,  farmer,  was  born  in  Hali- 
fax townshij),  Dauphin  county,  ]\x.,  October 
18,  1848;  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Chubb) 
Baker.  Jacob  Baker  was  an  entei'prising  and 
successful  farmer  of  ILdifax  townshiii.  He 
was  honorable  and  substantial  and  main- 
tained a  high  social  standing.  Heand  his  wife, 
Mary  Chubb,  are  both  deceased.  They  had 
eleven  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Their  living  children  are:  Susanna, 
wife  of  Peter  Minnick  ;  Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph 
Demjisey  ;  Isaac  ;  Margaret,  widow  of  Peter 
Hetrick  ;  Mary,  wife  of  George  Jury ;  Martha, 
wife  of  AVilliam  Bowerman ;  John  J.;  Daniel ; 
Ellen,  wife  of  John  Kines,  and  Henry,  the 
eldest. 

John  J.  Baker  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  township.  He  could 
not  pursue  a  continuous  course  in  the  schools 
because  his  help  was  required  on  the  farm 
in  the  working  season.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  he  engaged  in  farm  work,  and  began 
farming  on  his  own  account  when  he  was 
twenty-seven.  In  1802  he  ren:oved  to  Dau- 
phin borough,  where  he  has  since  had  his 
residence. 

Mr.  Baker  was  married,  December  10, 
1874,  to  Sarah  North,  daughter  of  John  and 


Mary  Gable  North  Hammer.  Of  their  five 
children  one  is  deceased,  John  Truman,  born 
October  2,  1885,  died  February  G,  1893. 
Their  living  children  are:  Harlow  Iv.,  born 
Mav  30,  1875  ;  Ida  M.,  December  9,  1877 ; 
Mnua  B.,  June  9,  1883  ;  Minzie  N.,  October 
24,  1887.  Mr.  Baker  is  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  the  Evangelical  church.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Baker  are  deceased.  Three 
of  their  nine  ciiililren  are  also  deceased  : 
John,  Jacob,  and  Susan,  Mrs.  Louis  Noll. 
The  survivors  are  :  Margaret,  Mrs.  William 
Richard;  Henry;  Israel;  Samuel;  Sarah, 
Mrs.  Baker,  and  Amos. 


Simmons,  Roi!Eut  Alonzo,  builder  and 
contractor,  was  born  in  Clark's  Valley,  Mid- 
dle Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
June  16,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  Robert  and 
Priscilla  Amelia  (Bricker)  Simmons.  Robert 
Simmons,  grandfather  of  Robert  A.,  was  a 
resident  of  Middle  Paxton  township.  He 
married  Sarah  Ward.  Their  children  are: 
Washington,  Mary  J.,  John  Henry,  Matilda, 
Sarah,  and  Robert,  father  of  Robert  A.  Mr. 
Simmons'  maternal  grandfather  was  Henrj' 
Bricker,  who  married  Mary  Firestein.  Their 
children  are:  John,  Priscilla,  Amelia,  Har- 
riet, Jane,  Franklin,  and  Albert.  The  par- 
ents of  Robert  A.  Simmons  had  six  chil- 
dren :  Robert  Alonzo,  Peter  S.  McCullough, 
Sarah  Olivia,  wife  of  David  Umberger, 
John  Henry,  George  Washington,  and  Pris- 
cilla Amelia,  wife  of  James  Baxter.  The 
mother  died  May  5,  1892.  The  fatlier  is  still 
living. 

Robert  Alonzo  Simmons  received  his  pri- 
mary education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township,  which  he  attended  at  such 
times  as  he  could  be  spared  from  farm  work. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  set  out  to  earn  his 
own  livelihood.  The  business  career  of  Mr. 
Simmons  can  be  recorded  in  a  brief  space 
and  in  a  short  statement  of  facts  and  dates. 
In  1861  he  turned  from  the  scene  of  his 
youth,  the  sports,  the  schooling  and  the  farm 
labor  and  faced  the  world  to  seek  employ- 
ment, training  and  a  vocation  for  life.  For 
the  first  five  years  he  is  with  the  Keystone 
Bri'dge  Company,  beginning  as  an  appren- 
tice and  endnig  as  a  skilled  workman  in  the 
art  of  bridge  building.  For  the  next  four 
years  he  is  with  J.  H.  Coffrode  &,  Co.,  of 
Philadelphia,  as  general  foreman.  The  next 
five  years  he  is  with  Clark,  Reeves  &  Co.,  of 
the  same  city,  as  foreman  of  structural  work ; 
and  for  the  next  twelve  years  he  is  with  the 


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DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


865 


PhcBnix  Bridge  Company,  of  Phoenixville, 
Pa.,  as  general  superintendent  of  construction. 
And  then  lie  is  established  in  business  for 
himself.  This  is  his  career  in  its  briefest  state- 
ment. By  these  few  steps  the  modest  farm- 
er's bo}'  rose  to  one  of  the  most  honorable 
positions  held  by  an  American  mechanic. 
It  is  well  to  contemplate  it  in  its  brevity. 
Its  substantial  and  enduring  monuments  dot 
the  continent.  Mr.  Simmons  took  part  in 
the  erection  of  the  principal  iron  structures 
west  of  Pittsburgh,  at  Kansas  City,  at  St. 
Louis,  at  Cincinnati,  the  structures  on  the 
railroad  from  Milton  to  Williamsport,  Pa., 
the  Bound  Brook  railroad,  the  South  street 
to  Penrose  Ferry  bridge  at  Philadelphia,  and 
the  bridge  across  the  Mississippi  at  Louis- 
iana, Mo. 

Mr.  Simmons  was  one  of  the  first  success- 
ful contractors  in  building  elevated  railways. 
The  great  Kinzura  Viaduct,  which  spans  the 
Kinzura  Vallej',  thirteen  miles  south  of 
Bradford,  McKean  county.  Pa.,  on  the  New 
York,  Lake  Erie  and  AVestern  railroad,  is 
one  of  the  works  erected  under  his  superin- 
tendence and  is  worthy  of  a  more  detailed 
description.  It  is  2,052  feet  long  and  at  the 
bottom  of  the  valley  it  is  302  feet  high,  be- 
ing the  highest  railroad  bridge  in  the  world. 
The  famous  truss  bridge  at  Cincinnati,  with 
its  550  feet  span,  is  another  structure  which 
he  superintended.  He  had  charge  of  the 
bridges  on  the  West  Shore  railroad,  and  also 
of  man}'  large  bridges  in  Canada  and  South 
America.  Since  1888  Mr.  Simmons  has  been 
in  business  for  himself.  He  erected  the 
large  bridge  over  the  Potomac  river  at  Will- 
iamsport, Md.,  and  the  bridge  for  the  New 
Jersey  Steel  and  Iron  Company  in  Kentucky. 
Mr.  Simmons  has  erected  some  of  the  most 
difficult  structures  in  this  countr_y  ;  among 
these  are  the  famous  bridges  on  the  Pomeroy 
and  Delaware  railroad,  the  Alexandria  and 
Fredericksburg  railroad,  the  Girard  Avenue 
and  Sixth  Street  bridges,  Philadelphia,  the 
Greenbush  and  Roundout  bridges  in  New 
York,  and  numerous  other  important  rail- 
road bridges  in  this  country  and  in  Cuba 
and  South  America. 

Mr.  Simmons  has  endured  the  liardships 
and  privations  and  exposure  incident  to  the 
life  and  work  of  a  bridge  builder,  the  severest 
in  his  experience  being  at  Quantico,  Va., 
driving  piles  along  the  Potomac  river,  which 
can.  never  be  forgotten.  The  accomplish- 
ment of  more  important  and  difficult  work 
with  better  success  than  any  other  builder 
55 


is  the  title  to  prominence  which  must  be  con- 
ceded to  him.  The  highest  compliment  that 
can  be  paid  to  his  skill  and  fidelity  is  to 
note  that  his  work  has  been  done  with  fewer 
fatal  accidents  than  that  of  any  other  builder 
who  has  executed  as  much  dangerous  and 
difficult  construction.  He  is  familiarl}' 
known  among  builders  by  the  homely  cog- 
nomen of  "Pop."  The  name  is  a  tribute  to 
his  good  heart  and  to  his  prominence  as  a 
master  builder.  In  his  success  and  celebrity 
Mr.  Simmons  has  not  lost  sight  of  his  native 
place,  which  he  delights  to  honor.  He  al- 
ways gives  a  Dauphin  man  the  first  chance 
for  employment.  The  annals  of  his  native 
county  would  be  incomplete  without  the 
record  of  his  life  and  works,  which  are  an 
enduring  monument  to  American  skill. 

Mr.  Simmons  was  married,  February  20, 
1870,  to  Martha  L.,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Catherine  (Books)  Leaman.  They  have 
two  children :  Harvey  J.,  born  November 
12,  1871,  and  Bertha,  born  November  12, 
1873.  Mr.  Simmons  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  75,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Chapter  No.  198.  R.  A. 
M.;  Council  No.  1G8,  and  Jerusalem  Com- 
mandery.  No.  15,  K.  T.,  at  Phoenixville. 
He  is  a  member  in  good  standing  in  Paxton 
Lodge,  No.  621,  L  0.  0.  F.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican. The  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Mr.  Leaman,  father  of  Mrs.  Simmons,  died 
in  August,  1874,  aged  about  sixty-four  years. 
Her  mother  died  in  February,  1891.  They 
had  eight  children,  two  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased, one  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Na- 
thaniel, who  died  aged  about  forty  years. 
The  survivors  are :  John  ;  Mary,  wife  of 
George  Langsdorf  Free;  Martha  L.,  Mrs. 
Simmons  ;  Joseph,  and  Albert. 


HocKER,  John  P.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Clark's  Vallev,  Middle  Paxton  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  March  16,  1837.  He 
is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Nancy  (Welpmer) 
Hooker.  Peter  Hocker  was  born  February 
24,  1801.  He  was  a  prominent  and  honored 
citizen ;  was  extensively  interested  in  farm- 
ing, and  also  had  charge  of  the  Peters'  Moun- 
tain Inn.  He  served  several  terms  as  county 
commissioner  of  Dauphin  county,  and  a  num- 
ber of  terms  as  school  director.  He  con- 
tributed liberally  to  the  establishment  and 
support  of  churches  at  Dauphin  and  in  the 
vicinity.  He  was  a  Democrat.  He  died  De- 
cember 17, 1865  ;  his  wife  died  February  20, 
1877,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  one  month  and 


866 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


twenty -six  days.  They  had  nine  children  : 
Susan,  wife  of  Jacob  Beam  ;  Martin  ;  Peter; 
Margaret  A.,  wife  of  Benjamin  Meyers  ;  John 
P.;  Catherine,  wife  of  Jonathan  Fox  ;  George 
W.;  Jacob,  and  Emeline,  wife  of  Martin 
Koons. 

John  P.  Hocker  in  his  early  boyhood  at- 
tended private  schools;  at  twelve  years  of 
age  he  attended  the  district  school.  At  seven- 
teen he  left  school  and  worked  on  iiis  father's 
farm  until  he  was  twenty-five.  He  enlisted 
at  Camp  Simmons,  Harrisburg,  October  16, 
1862,  in  company  K,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventy-third  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, under  Capt.  C.  A.  Harper  and  Colonel 
Nagle.  He  was  discharged  at  Harrisburg, 
August  18,  1863.  He  returned  home  in  ill 
health  and  cultivated  the  homestead  farm 
until  1865.  His  father  having  been  killed 
at  this  time  by  the  running  away  of  a  team 
of  horses,  Mr.  John  Hocker  succeeded  to  the 
management  of  the  farm,  which  he  conducted 
for  one  year.  He  then  removed  to  the  neigh- 
berhood  of  Zion  church,  where  he  lived  and 
was  employed  for  a  year  and  a  half.  On 
January  14,  1869,  he  bought  the  homestead 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Hocker  was  married,  March  24,  1861, 
to  Mary  Ann  Ferree.  Of  their  fourteen  chil- 
dren, four  are  deceased :  Marv  Jane,  born 
February  14,  1862,  died  March  20,  1863; 
George  Williams,  born  April  29,  1864,  died 
April  19,  1866;  Charles  Cleveland,  born 
Ja"nuary  26, 1885,  died  March  20, 1885  ;  Car- 
rie Emma,  born  August  12,  1882,  died  Sep- 
tember 29,  1893.  Their  living  children  are : 
John  Peter,  born  July  24,  1865 ;  Julia  Ann, 
April  6,  1867,  wife  of  John  E.  Bickel ;  Ophe- 
lia, April  2,1869;  Catherine  Elizabeth,  Au- 
gust 15,  1871,  wife  of  Theodore  A.  McCarty  ; 
James  Martin,  June  23,  1873;  Alexander 
Harvey,  September  16, 1875 ;  Agnes  Gertrude, 
August  19,  1877  ;  Sarah  Ellen,  August  20, 
1879;  Martha  Washington,  Februarv  22, 
1886  ;  and  Maud  Ethel,  March  15, 1889".  Mr. 
Hocker  is  neutral  in  politics.  He  has  served 
two  terms  as  supervisor  of  Middle  Paxton 
township.  The  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Themother  of  Mrs.  Hocker  died  in  Decem- 
ber, 4866 ;  her  father  in  August,  1878.  They 
had  eight  children :  Leah  Jane,  wife  of  George 
Hocker;  Mary  Ann,  Mrs.  John  Hocker;  Joel; 
Jefferson ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Zachariah 
Knapp ;  Agnes,  wife  of  James  Duncan  ;  and 
Ellen,  wife  of  John  Arrison. 


Clemson,  L.  W.,  was  born  in  Watts  town- 
ship. Perry  county.  Pa.,  July  23,  1826.  He 
is  a  son  of  Leonard  and  Mary  (Bechaman) 
Clemson.  Joshua  Clemson,  grandfather  of 
L.  W.  Clemson,  was  a  major  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  was  at  York,  Pa.,  when  General 
Ross  was  shot  near  Baltimore.  Leonard 
Clemson,  father  of  L.  W.,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.,  on  "  Hallow  Eve,"  1800. 
He  was  energetic  and  persevering.  He  drove 
for  his  father,  who  ran  a  line  of  teams  from 
Philadelphia  to  Pittsburgh.  When  the  State 
Capital  was  removed  he  hauled  the  first  six- 
horse  wagon  load  of  State  records  from  Phila- 
delphia to  Harrisburg.  He  died  July  23, 
1892,  being  run  down  by  a  freight  train  in 
Halifax.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Bechaman  ;  she  died  aged  about  seventy-five 
years.  They  had  ten  children  :  L.  W.;  Lydia 
Ann,  wife  of  Alexander  Lingle ;  Maria 
Louisa,  widow  of  John  Brubaker;  Alfred 
Buchanan  ;  Amos  ;  Jemima  Jane ;  Mary  ; 
Laura  Cecilia,  wife  of  John  Metzinger ; 
Charilla  Jacevis,  and  one  infant,  not  yet 
named. 

L.  W.  Clemson  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  private  schools  of  his  native 
township.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he  went 
with  his  parents  to  Dauphin  county,  and  at- 
tended the  public  schools  until  he  was  eigh- 
teen. From  that  time  until  he  reached  his 
twenty-sixth  year  he  assisted  his  father  on 
his  farm  on  Clemson's  Island,  opposite  Hali- 
fax. He  was  afterwards  engaged  in  boating 
on  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  between  Belle- 
fonte  and  Philadelphia,  on  his  own  account, 
until  the  autumn  of  1859.  In  1860  his 
father  purchased  the  present  homestead, 
which  L.  W.  Clemson  cultivated  on  his  own 
account  until  his  father's  death  in  1892. 
Succeeding  his  father  in  the  ownership  of 
the  place,  he  has  occupied  it  since  that  date. 
Mr.  Clemson  was  married  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Margaret  Livingston.  The 
grandfather  of  Daniel  Livingston  was  one  of 
the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clemson  iiad  twin  chil- 
dren, Harry  and  Lillie  Elizabeth,  born  Sep- 
tember 24,  1852.  Mrs.  Clem.son  died  Feb- 
ruary 9, 1858,  aged  thirty  years,  five  months 
and  twenty-six  days. 

On  December  29,  1859,  Mr.  Clemson  mar- 
ried his  second  wife,  Mary  Jane,  daughter  of 
John  G.  and  Eliza  (Hampton)  Nowvirck.  Of 
their  three  children  two  are  deceased  :  Leon- 
ard Alfred,  born  April  30,  1861,  died  Marcii 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


867 


11,  1SG6,  and  Emma  Cecilia,  born  Septem- 
ber 30,  18G2,  died  April  4,  1872.  Their  sur- 
viving child  is  Maggie  Ma}',  born  May  24, 
1869  ;  married,  February  13, 1800,  to  Charles 
Bricker,  one  of  the  five  children  of  John  and 
Amanda  (Stout)  Bricker;  has  had  two  chil- 
dren, Mamie  Edna,  born  September  5,  1890, 
died  January  8, 1894,  and  John  Wesley,  born 
August  3,  1894. 

Mr.  Clemson  had  been  an  earnest  and  ac- 
tive worker  for  the  welfare  of  Dauphin 
county.  He  is  a  successful  business  man 
and  a  prominent  citizen.  His  fellow-citizens 
have  repeatedly  honored  him  by  calling  him 
to  places  of  public  service.  He  has  served 
two  consecutive  terms  as  auditor,  and  two 
as  director  of  the  poor  of  Dauphin  county; 
also  one  term  as  supervisor  of  Middle  Pax- 
ton  township.  Mr.  Clemson  is  a  Republi- 
can. The  family  attend  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

The  parents  of  the  present  Mrs.  Clemson 
had  six  children  :  Louis ;  John  ;  William  ; 
Mary  Jane,  who  is  Mrs.  Clemson  ;  Elias,  and 
Emma.  Mr.  Nowvirck,  her  father,  died  in 
January,  1852,  aged  fifty-seven  ;  her  mother 
died  in  October,  1858,  aged  about  forty- 
nine  years. 


Shaffner  Aaron,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Halifax  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1847.  He  is  a  son  of  Philip  and 
Mary  (Hov)  Shaffner.  Philip  Shaffner  was 
born  October  20,  1809,  and  died  October  21, 
1894 ;  Mrs.  Shaffner  died  November  20, 1887, 
aged  seventy-five  years,  ten  months  and 
thirteen  days.  Of  their  ten  children,  four 
died  in  infancy,  and  Henry  died  December 
17,1880.  Their  other  children  are:  Philip 
H.;  William  H.;  Susan,  wife  of  William 
Sheetz;  Aaron,  and  Sarah,  wife  of  James 
Lyter. 

Aaron  Shaffner  was  a  pupil  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  township  until  he  was 
ten  yeai's  old.  His  parents  then  removing 
to  Middle  Paxton  township,  he  attended  the 
district  schools  there  during  the  winter  until 
he  was  twenty.  He  was  then  regularly  em- 
ployed by  his  father  in  farm  work ;  this 
arrangement  continued  for  six  years,  and 
then  he  rented  the  farm  of  his  father,  and 
cultivated  it  on  his  own  account.  He  con- 
tinued to  be  a  renter  on  the  homestead  until 
September,  1895,  when  he  bought  the  farm  of 
his  father's  heirs. 

Mr.  Shaffner  was  married,  July  6,  1873, 
to   Anna   Rebecca,   daughter  of  John  and 


Mary  (Reicht)  Bowman.  Tliey  had  two 
children,  one  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Harry 
B.,  born  September  5,  1877.  Mr.  Shaffner 
belongs  to  the  Junior  Order  United  American 
Mechanics.  He  is  a  Republican.  The  family 
attend  the  Evangelical  church. 

Mrs.  Bowman,  Mrs.  Shaffner's  mother,  died 
November  30,  1877,  aged  forty-nine  years, 
three  months  and  eighteen  days.  Her  father 
died  March  28,  1894,  aged  sixty-three  years 
and  one  month.  Pour  of  their  ten  children 
are  deceased  :  John,  died  aged  four  months; 
Jennie,  aged  two  years  and  twenty  days ; 
Uriah,  aged  six  months  ;  and  one  infant  died 
unnamed.  Their  living  children  are:  Anna 
Rebecca,  Mrs.  Shaffner;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of 
Jacob  Conrad;  Henry  R.;  William;  Margaret 
A.,  wife  of  Peter  Witman;  and  Cora,  wife  of 
James  Nelson. 

The  brothers  of  Mr.  Shaffner  were  in  the 
United  States  army.  William  enlisted  in 
company  H,  Fourth  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  re-enlisted  in  the  regular  army 
and  served  three  years  more.  Philip  en- 
listed at  Harrisburg  in  a  cavalry  regiment, 
and  served  three  years.  Henry  enlisted  at 
Harrisburg,  and  served  less  than  one  year. 

Meyers,  Ben,iamin,  retired  farmer,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  October  11, 
1834.  He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Eliza- 
beth (Cassel)  Meyers.  His  father  died  in 
1858,  aged  about  sixty-four,  and  his  motiier 
in  1861,  aged  about  sixty-seven  years.  They 
had  fifteen  children:  John;  Isaac;  Katie, 
wife  of  John  Hess;  Christian;  Annie,  wife 
of  George  Look  ;  Daniel ;  Fannie,  wife  of 
Peter  Fox  ;  Abraham ;  Benjamin  ;  Sarah 
Jane,  wife  of  Elias  Brooks ;  Elias ;  Hetty, 
wife  of  Jonas  Brooks  ;  and  three  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Benjamin  Meyers,  at  four  years  of  age, 
went  with  his  parents  to  Lower  Paxton 
township,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  school  in  winter  and  as- 
sisted his  father  on  the  farm  during  the  busy 
season  until  he  was  twenty-two.  He  then 
began  farming  for  himself,  renting  his 
father's  farm  for  two  years  .and  afterwards 
for  one  year  another  farm  near  by.  In  1859 
he  removed  to  Clark's  Valley,  Middle  Paxton 
township,  and  rented  a  farm  from  his  father- 
in-law  for  five  years.  In  the  spring  of  1866 
he  purchased  the  liomestead  from  his  father 
and  farmed  it  for  ten  years.  In  1876  he 
bought  an  additional  tract  of  land  near  the 
old  Hocker  Tavern;  upon  which  he  built  a 


868 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


new  house  and  barn,  and  which  was  his  resi- 
dence until  1889,  when  he  relinquished 
farming  and  removed  to  his  present  home. 

Mr.  Meyers  was  married,  October  9,  1856, 
to  Anna,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Nancy 
(Welpman)  Hocker,  both  deceased.  They 
have  had  seven  children  :  James  W.,  born 
December  9,  1871,  died  May  8,  1872;  Sarah 
Jane,  born  August  22,  1859,  wife  of  F.  H. 
Sponsler;  Mary  Ellen.  August  28, 1862,  wife 
of  George  W.  Simmons ;  Peter,  September 
17,  1864;  John,  August  2,  186G;  Alfred 
Stephen,  October  25,  1859;  and  Samuel, 
April  17,  1873. 

By  his  efficient  business  methods,  his  care- 
ful manner  of  living  and  the  help  of  his 
good  wife,  Mr.  Meyers  has  accumulated  an 
ample  competence.  Freed  from  the  cares 
and  burdens  of  business  he  ma}'  now  enjoy 
the  afternoon  of  life  in  his  quiet  home.  Mr. 
Meyers  has  served  the  public  in  several 
township  offices.  He  was  supervisor  for  four 
years,  school  director  twelve  years,  and  tax 
collector  and  assessor  four  years.  His  jmli- 
tics  are  Democratic.  The  family  attend  the 
Lutheran  church. 


Garman,  Isaac,  farmer,  was  born  near  the 
homestead,  in  Middle  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  July  26, 1829.  He  is  a  son 
of  Casper  and  Elizabeth  (Bogner)  Garman. 
His  grandfather,  Jacob  Bogner,  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  arm}'.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
one  hundred  years  and  six  months.  Casper 
Garman,  father  of  Isaac  Garman,  died  June 
18,  1877,  aged  eighty-five  years,  five  months 
and  eighteen  days.  His  mother  died  March 
5, 1872,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  five  months 
and  three  days.  They  had  seven  children  ; 
Lucy,  Zacharias,  Tobias,  Isaac;  Eleanor, 
wife  of  John  Umberger  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Coffrode,  and  Catherine,  wife  of  Jacob 
Bogner. 

Isaac  Garman  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  township  during  the  winter, 
and  assisted  his  father  in  farm  work  during 
the  summer  until  he  was  sixteen.  He  re- 
mained on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  he 
was  twenty-four  ;  at  this  age  he  rented  and 
cultivated  the  old  Goss  farm  for  four  years 
on  his  own  account.  He  next  spent  two 
years  on  the  old  Peter  Hocker  farm,  and 
moved  thence  to  Susquehanna  township, 
where  he  farmed  for  three  years,  and  subse- 
quently worked  General  Ott's  farm  for  two 
years.  His  next  removal  was  to  a  farm  near 
Rockville,  which  he  occupied  three  years. 


He  then  rented  Dr.  Heck's  farm  in  Middle 
Paxton  township,  and  cultivated  it  eight 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1876  he  purchased 
his  present  homestead,  where  he  has  been 
engaged  in  farming  up  to  the  present  time. 
He  has  served  three  consecutive  terms  as 
supervisor  in  Middle  Paxton  township,  and 
also  served  as  judge  of  elections.  He  is  a 
Democrat. 

Mr.  Garman  was  married,  November  18. 
1855,  to  Julienne,  daughter  of  David  and 
Catherine  (Geiger)  linger.  Of  their  nine 
children  four  are  deceased :  Annie  Kate, 
born  September  1,  1856,  died  April  24, 1864; 
Johnny,  born  April  9,  1871,  died  Mav  8, 
1873 ;  Stella  May,  born  February  22,  1874, 
died  August  25,  1874,  and  Isaac  C,  born 
February  11,  1865,  died  June  16,  1892.  He 
was  temporarily  engaged  as  foreman  for  a 
section  of  the  bridge  in  process  of  building 
over  the  Licking  river  at  Covington,  Ky., 
when  a  portion  of  the  structure  collapsed, 
carrying  him  and  thirty-seven  other  work- 
men to  sudden  death.  Their  living  children 
are  :  Elwood  Purdy,  born  February  4, 1858  ; 
Laura  E.,  July  2,  1860,  wife  of  John  Lebo ; 
David  Unger,  June  25,  1868  ;  Eugene  M., 
July  27,  1875,  and  Lulu  F.,  December  7, 
1879.  The  family  attend  the  Evangelical 
church. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Garman  died  in  1840, 
aged  about  thirty-five  years.  Her  mother 
was  born  March  14,  1811,  and  died  Decem- 
ber 27,  1885,  aged  seventy-four  years,  nine 
months  and  twelve  days. 


WiLVERT,  Henry  E.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Powell's  Valley,  Halifax  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  November  6,  1862.  He  is  the 
son  of  Henr}'  M.  and  Susan  (Steel)  Wilvert. 
His  grandfather,  John  Wilvert,  was  a  con- 
tractor in  stone  work.  He  built  the  stone 
piers  of  the  old  Dauphin  bridge  across  the 
Susquehanna  river ;  he  also  built  those  of 
the  bridge  over  the  Susquehanna  at  Clark's 
Ferry.  On  this  latter  job  he  sustained  con- 
siderable financial  loss.  He  was  a  man 
whose  word  was  as  good  as  a  bond.  He 
completed  his  contract  at  the  expense  of  his 
estate,  which  was  the  result  of  the  labors  of 
a  lifetime.  His  son,  Henrj'  M.  Wilvert,  Sr., 
was  a  stonemason.  He  died  December  27, 
1876,  aged  about  fortveight.  His  wife  died 
July  3, 1894.  Their  children  were:  William 
J.,  Daniel  Theodore,  John  Albert,  and 
Henry  M. 

Henry  M.  Wilvert,  Jr.,  went  to  the  public 


I 


JDA  UPHIN     GO  UNTY . 


869 


schools  at  M atamoras,  Halifax  township,  dur- 
ing the  winter,  until  he  was  eighteen  j'ears 
old,  and  worked  on  the  farm  in  summer. 
He  was  employed  at  various  kinds  of  work 
until  he  became  of  age.  He  then  took 
up  farming  on  his  own  account,  on  the 
old  Geiger  homestead,  Middle  Paxton 
township.  He  purchased  the  homestead  in 
the  autumn  of  1883,  and  has  occupied  it 
since  that  time  as  his  home.  Mr.  Wilvert 
was  married,  December  23,  1883,  to  Isimiah 
M.,  daughter  of  William  and  Eleanor  (Felty) 
Geiger.  They  have  no  children.  Mr.  Wil- 
vert is  a  Republican.  The  family  attend 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Christian  Geiger,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Wil- 
vert, came  from  Lancaster  county  and  settled 
in  Middle  Paxton  township.  Her  father, 
William  Geiger,  was  born  in  that  township, 
near  the  old  homestead,  which  he  bought 
after  his  mother's  death.  He  was  born  Sep- 
tember 29, 1815,  and  died  March  20,1888.  His 
wife  was  born  January  27,  1828,  and  died 
July  7,  1867.  They  had  seven  children  : 
Daniel  W.,  died  in  infancy;  John  Christian, 
born  May  27,  1852 ;  Mary  Alice,  November 
3,  1853,  wife  of  Michael  Crisswell ;  Caroline 
E.,  July  3,  1855,  wife  of  George  W.  Reed ; 
Solomon  F.,  August  22,  1857 ;  Isimiah  M., 
Mrs.  Wilvert.  December  15,  1859,  and  Will- 
iam C,  March  7,  1862. 


Welker,  Joshua,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  October  30, 
1867.  He  is  a  son  of  Jonas  and  Sarah 
(Kocher)  Welker.  His  father  was  born  Oc- 
tober 16,  1809,  and  died  February  16,  1888. 
His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Peter 
Kocher.  She  died  aged  about  sixty-four 
years.  They  had  thirteen  children  :  Will- 
iam, Joshua,  Amanda,  Joel,  Isaac,  Sarah, 
John,  Levi,  Eli,  Jonas,  who  died  in  child- 
hood, and  three  others  who  are  deceased. 

Joshua  Welker  attended  a  private  school 
in  an  old  log  school  house  in  Northumber- 
land county,  until  he  was  twelve  years  old, 
when  his  father  removed  to  Lykens  Valley, 
Dauphin  count}',  in  1849  or  1850.  He  at- 
tended the  district  schools  in  Washington 
township  four  or  five  years,  when  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Jefferson  township.  There 
he  continued  attending  school  in  the  winter 
months  until  lie  was  twenty  years  of  age, 
assisting  his  father  during  the  busy  season 
on  the  farm.     At  twenty  years  of  age  he 


rented  Buffington's  saw  mill,  Jefferson  town- 
ship, and  began  business  for  himself,  cutting 
lumber  for  the  farmers  and  for  merchant 
trade.  He  continued  this  business  until 
June,  1863.  On  this  date  he  enlisted  at 
Camp  Cui'tin,  Harrisburg,  in  companj'  C, 
Thirty-sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, Capt.  Dr.  Witman,  of  Halifax,  and  was 
sent  to  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  stricken 
down  with  typhoid  fever,  and  was  for  some 
time  in  the  army  hospital.  He  returned 
home,  but  again  enlisted  at  Harrisburg,  Au- 
gust 23,  1864,  in  company  F,  Two  Hun- 
dredth regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
He  was  in  the  ranks,  but  was  promoted  to 
corporal  in  November,  1864,  for  meritorious 
services  and  bravery  while  on  picket  duty 
near  Dutch  Gap.  He  was  in  a  number  of 
hotly  contested  engagements,  and  at  the 
storming  of  Petersburg.  He  was  discharged 
at  Alexandria,  Va.,  May  30,  1865.  His 
health  was  seriously  impaired  by  exposure. 
On  his  return  Mr.  Welker  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, and  continued  there  until  1872,  when 
he  rented  the  old  Greenawalt  farm.  Middle 
Paxton  township,  which  he  has  cultivated 
up  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Welker  was  married,  June  12,  1856, 
to  Catherine  Spayd,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Spotts)  Spayd.  Siie  was  born  in 
Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  May  18,  1834. 
They  have  ten  children  ;  five  are  deceased  : 
one  died  in  infancy ;  Elizabeth,  born  No- 
vember 19,  1859  ;  John  Henry,  born  May 
15,  1862  ;  Minnie  Agnes,  born  August  28, 
1869  ;  Edward  J.,  born  July  7, 1874.  Their 
living  children  are  :  Sarah  Jane,  wife  of  Au- 
gust Meals ;  Clara  R.,  wife  of  John  Shoop  ; 
Ellen,  December  7,  1866,  wife  of  Horace  W. 
Ballets  ;  Charles  F.,  and  George  H.,  born 
August  11,  1876.  Mr.  Welker  is  earnest 
and  active  in  all  measures  intended  to  pro- 
mote the  welfare  of  the  community.  He 
has  been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  at  Red  Hill  for  many  years.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  Republican.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  churches. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Welker  are  both  de- 
ceased. Her  father  died  aged  about  sixty- 
four,  and  her  mother  aged  eighty-two  years. 
They  had  nine  childi'en,  two  of  whom  are 
deceased ;  John  and  Joseph.  Their  living 
children  are:  Jonathan;  Philip  Levering ; 
Catherine,  Mrs.  Welker;  Lydia,  Elizabeth, 
Rebecca,  and  Amanda. 


870 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Lyter,  Hiram,  carpenter  and  farmer,  was 
born  in  Halifax  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  August  26,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Henr^' 
and  Susan  (Miller)  Lyter,  prominent  and  re- 
spectable residents  of  Halifax  township. 
They  had  ten  children  :  Ellen,  who  died  in 
childhood;  Sarah,  wife  of  Samuel  Chubb; 
John;  James;  Hiram;  Joseph;  Mary;  Agnes, 
wife  of  Clinton  Miller;  Alfred;  Emma,  wife 
of  Ira  Dunkle. 

Hiram  Lyter  attended  the  common  schools 
of  Halifax  township  for  three  months  of  each 
year  until  he  was  nineteen  yeai's  old.  Dur- 
ing the  other  nine  months  his  assistance  was 
given  in  the  regular  work  of  the  farm.  For 
three  years  after  his  school  days  were  ended 
he  remained  with  his  father,  doing  for  him 
the  work  of  a  farm  hand.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  he  began  an  apprenticeship  of 
two  and  a  half  years  at  carpentry  with  Peter 
Klinger,  Jackson  township.  His  apprentice- 
ship over,  he  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  jour- 
neyman for  .seven  or  eight  years.  He  then 
undertook  carpenter  work  and  contracting 
on  his  own  account,  and  continued  it  about 
nine  years.  In  the  autumn  of  1890  he  re- 
turned to  the  business  of  farming  and  re- 
moved to  the  homestead  in  Middle  Paxton 
township,  where  he  has  since  resided  and 
carried  on  his  business. 

Mr.  Lyter  was  married,  Ma}^  25,  1873,  to 
Agnes  L.,  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Margaret 
(Buffington)  Weaver.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren :  Harry  Edward,  born  September  22, 
1875;  Frank  Newton,  November  30,  1877; 
Annie  Melinda,  October  2,  1879;  Charles 
Monroe,  November  29, 1881 ;  William  Alton, 
April  9,  1886;  Lizzie  Lucretia,  August  17, 
1889;  Susan  Rebecca,  March  6,  1894.  Mr. 
Lyter  is  a  Democrat.  The  familj^  attend  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Joseph  Weaver,  father  of  Mrs.  Lyter,  con- 
ducted an  extensive  cabinet  making  and  un- 
dertaking business  at  Berryburg  and  Fisher- 
ville,  Dauphin  countv.  He  died  in  August, 
1873.  Mrs.  Weaver  d"ied  in  1872.  They  had 
six  children  :  Henry,  died  aged  about  seven 
years;  John;  Agnes  L.,  Mrs.  Lyter;  Alice, 
wife  of  William  Shell ;  George;  Phoebe,  wife 
of  William  Burrell.  Isaac  Lyter,  first  cousin 
of  Hiram  Lyter,  is  at  present  county  com- 
missioner of  Dauphin  county. 


Conrad,  Jacob,  farmer  and  watchmaker, 
was  born  in  Clark's  Valley,  Middle  Paxton 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July  24, 
1852.     He   is   a   son   of  Jacob   and   Sarah 


(Hoover)  Conrad.  His  grandfather,  John 
Conrad,  married  Catherine  Buche.  Their 
children  were:  Jacob,  Daniel,  Frederick, 
John,  and  Mary,  wife  of  John  Saum.  The 
parents  of  Jacob  Conrad  are  both  deceased. 
His  mother  died  aged  about  fifty-nine.  His 
father  died  April  29,  1887,  aged  about 
seventy-five  years.  They  had  ten  children  : 
Rebecca,  born  December  3,  1843,  died  Octo- 
ber 2,  1851,  aged  seven  years;  Catherine, 
wife  of  John  Tobias;  Adeline,  wife  of  Michael 
Schaffer  ;  Rachel,  wife  of  David  Umberger  ; 
Mary  M.,  widow  of  Samuel  Essinger  ;  Eliz- 
abeth, wife  of  Henry  D.  Bender  ;  Emeline, 
wife  of  Benjamin  Hummel;  Jacob,  John  P., 
ami  William  H. 

Jacob  Conrad  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  Middle  Paxton  township.  He  was 
at  school  in  winter  and  at  work  on  the  farm 
in  summer  until  he  reached  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, when  his  school  days  ended,  and  he 
became  regularly  engaged  in  farming.  Two 
years  later  he  left  the  farm  and  worked  in  a 
saw  mill  for  three  years.  Coffrode,  Saylor 
&  Co.  emploj^ed  him  one  year  in  bridge 
building,  and  then  he  spent  one  year  in 
farming  on  his  own  account.  He  next  en- 
tered the  emplo}'  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  in  the  capacity  of  track 
walker,  in  which  occupation  he  has  con- 
tinued up  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Conrad 
employed  his  leisure  time  in  learning  watch- 
making, and  has  established  a  large  and 
profitable  business  in  his  neighborhood. 

On  January  9, 1876,  Mr.  Conrad  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  Ellen,  daughter  of  John  aTid 
Mary  (Reicht)  Bowman.  They  have  two 
children,  Edward  Franklin,  born  April  4, 
1877,  and  Flora  May,  born  January  31, 
1880.  Mr.  Conrad  is  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  the  Lutheran  church.  Henry 
Bowman,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Conrad,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Urich.  Their  children  are : 
Margaret,  wife  of  James  Howden  ;  Christian  ; 
Mary,  wife  of  Nicholas  Snyder;  Hannah, 
wife  of  Michael  Dunkle  ;  Uriah,  and  Jacob. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Conrad  are  both  de- 
ceased. Her  mother  died  November  29, 
1877,  aged  forty-nine  years.  Her  father 
died  March  25,  1894,  aged  sixty-five.  Tiiey 
had  nine  children :  Uriah,  died  aged  six 
months ;  John,  died  aged  four  months ; 
Leah  Jane,  died  aged  two  )'ears ;  Anna 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Aaron  Shaffer;  Sarah 
Ellen,  Mrs.  Conrad  ;  Henry ;  William  ;  Mar- 
garet Alice,  wife  of  Peter  Witman,  and 
Hannah  Cora,  wife  of  James  Nelson. 


DAUFEIN  COUNTY. 


871 


Geeberich,  Andrew  T.,  merchant  tailor, 
was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.  He  is  a  son  of  Adam  and 
Marie  (Tittle)  Gerberich.  -Andrew  Gerberich, 
great-grandfather  of  Andrew  T.,  was  one  of 
seven  brotliers  who  emigrated  to  this  country 
about  1700.  His  son,  John  Adam  Gerberich, 
had  nine  children,  one  of  whom  was  Adam 
Gerberich,  father  of  Andrew  T.  Gerberich. 
He  died  aged  seventy-three  years.  His  wife, 
Mary  (Tittle)  Gerberich,  died  aged  sixty- 
eight.  They  had  nine  children :  Elias, 
David,  John,  Adam,  Andrew,  Sarah,  Daniel, 
William,  and  Elizabeth.  Jacob  Tittle,  the 
maternal  grandfather  of  Andrew  T.  Ger- 
berich, emigrated  from  England.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Fisher,  a  native  of  Lebanon 
county.  Pa.  They  had  seven  children : 
David,  Sepina,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Kate,  Mary, 
and  Jacob. 

Andrew  T.  Gerberich  went  with  his  par- 
ents to  Annville,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  where 
his  father  kept  an  inn  for  one  year.  The 
family  then  removed  to  a  farm  in  East  Han- 
over township,  Lebanon  county,  where  An- 
drew enjoyed  the  advantages  of  the  common 
schools  in  winter  and  assisted  at  farm  work 
in  summer.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  be- 
gan an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  at  tailor- 
ing with  Edmund  K.  Kimmel,  at  Lebanon, 
Pa.  After  learning  his  trade  he  remained 
nine  years  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Kimmel  as 
a  journeyman.  He  then  worked  eight 
months  for  William  WoelHy,  at  Jonestown, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Lebanon  and 
worked  six  months  for  Michael  Wagner.  He 
was  then  employed  again  by  Mr.  Kimmel 
for  six  months,  but  on  account  of  dull  trade 
was  forced  to  seek  employment  in  other 
fields.  For  one  year  he  was  with  a  lumber 
firm,  engaged  in  assorting  lumber.  Mr. 
Gerberich  now  began  business  on  his  own 
account,  opening  a  shop  for  tailoring  in  East 
Hanover  township,  Lebanon  county.  Thir- 
teen months  later  he  removed  his  business 
to  Linglestown,  Pa.;  after  two  years  he  sold 
his  property  tliere  and  removed  to  Dauphin, 
where  he  has  built  up  a  large  and  profitable 
business.  Lie  is  still  carrying  on  this  trade 
with  gratifying  success. 

Mr.  Gerberich  was  married,  in  1858,  to 
Elizabeth,  one  of  the  four  children  of  David 
Hoostick.  Their  only  child,  William  C, 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  months.  Mrs.  Ger- 
berich died  in  1860,  aged  about  twenty-six 
years.  Four  years  latter  Mr.  Gerberich  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 


(Masener)  Shope.  They  have  had  four  chil- 
dren: Freeman  0.,  Harvey  J.,  William  S., 
and  Carrie  Vernon,  wife  of  Harry  J.  Sim- 
mons. Mr.  Gerberich  is  a  member  of  Pax- 
ton  Lodge,  No.  621,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  at  Dauphin. 
He  is  a  Republican.  The  family  attend  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Abraham  Shope,  grandfather  of  the  second 
Mrs.  Gerberich,  married  Elizabeth  Wasser. 
They  had  five  children.  Mrs.  Shope  died, 
and  Mr.  Shope's  second  marriage  was  with 
Elizabeth  McFadden,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children. 

The  mother  of  the  second  Mrs.  Gerberich 
died  July  17,  1885,  aged  about  sixty-eight 
years.  She  had  nine  children  ;  David,  de- 
ceased ;  Harriet,  wife  of  Philip  Felty;  Eliza- 
beth, Mrs.  Gerberich  ;  Dr.  Jacob  W.,  served 
in  the  Union  army  nine  months  ;  AVilliam, 
Calvin,  John,  George,  and  Mary,  wife  of 
Washington  Manley. 


Hoffman,  David,  hotel  proprietor,  was 
born  in  Powell's  ValleJ^  Reed  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  January  8,  1852  ;  son 
of  George  and  Susanna  (Miller)  Hoffman. 
His  grandfather,  Nicholas  Hoffman,  died  in 
1865,  aged  eighty-two  years.  His  wife  is  also 
deceased.  They  had  a  family  of  sons  and 
daughters,  of  whom  George,  father  of  David 
Hoffman,  was  born  October  26,  1814. 
George  and  Susanna  Hoffman,  the  parents 
of  David  Hoffman,  are  both  living.  They 
have  had  fourteen  children,  three  of  whom 
died  in  early  childhood:  Margaret,  died  aged 
eighteen ;  John  ;  James  ;  Sarah,  wife  of  Uriaii 
Bowman  ;  Daniel ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Charles 
Smith  ;  David ;  Susanna,  wife  of  William 
Tyson;  William,  Samuel,  and  Jacob.  John 
Miller,  maternal  grandfather  of  David  Hoff- 
man, died  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  ;  his 
wife,  Pollie  Miller,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight.  , 

David  Hoffman  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  township.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  twenty-one,  when  he  started  out  in  life 
on  his  own  account.  He  was  employed  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  at  stone 
cutting  and  masonry  on  their  road  between 
Baltimore  and  Harrisburg.  He  was  engaged 
two  summers  at  Harrisburg  in  building  the 
Methodist  and  Presbyterian  churches.  In 
1882  Mr.  Hoffman  returned  to  his  old  home 
and  spent  two  years  there.  He  then  moved 
to  the  lower  end  of  Reed  township,  where  he 
lived  three  years,  and  then  took  the  Dauphin 


872 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Hotel,  at  Dauphin,  which  he  managed  two 
years,  and  then  removed  ti)  a  private  resi- 
dence in  Dauphin.  Later,  in  the  autumn 
of  1891,  he  purchased  the  Dauphin  House, 
wliich  he  has  occupied  and  managed  since 
that  time.  Mr.  Hoffman  is  an  enterprising 
business  man,  and  a  generous  dispenser  of 
hospitahty.  He  is  interested  and  active  in  all 
movements  to  promote  the  prosperit}'  of  the 
community.  Mr.  Hoffman  was  married, 
February  Iz,  1883,  to  Malinda  J.,  daughter 
of  ('yrus  and  Elizabeth  (Sweigert)  Miller. 
Their  children  are:  Harry  Edward,  born 
May  14,  1885,  died  October  8,  1891 ;  Annie 
Elizabeth,  born  December  20,  1883 ;  and 
Ray  Coble,  born  February  22,  1891.  Mr. 
Hoffman  has  served  four  years  as  council- 
man ;  he  is  a  Republican.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The 
father  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Hoffman  are  both 
deceased.  Her  mother  was  born  March  2, 
1856. 


McKee,  Harry,  D..  bridge  builder,  was 
born  at  Clark's  Ferry,  Middle  Paxton  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  June  10,  I860. 
He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Fore- 
man) McKee.  Henry  McKee  was  born  in 
Scotland,  September  7,  1819.  He  died  in 
June,  1890.  He  M-as  married  to  Catherine 
Foreman,  born  in  Heilbronn,  Germany. 
They  had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  there 
are  living:  Belhi,  wife  of  W.  Oyster;  Harry 
D.,  Luther  P.,  and  George  B.  Their  mother 
is  still  living. 

Harry  D.  McKee  attended  the  common 
schools  of  Reed  township  until  he  was  fif- 
teen, when  he  entered  the  Bloomfield  Acad- 
emy, Perry  county,  Pa.  After  leaving  this 
institution  he  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Dauphin,  in  connection  witli  his 
sister.  Miss  Bella  McKee,  their  father  fur- 
nishing the  capital.  Harry  D.  contin,ued  in 
this  business  until  1884,  after  which  he  was 
one  year  in  the  emjiloy  of  the  Philadelphia 
and  Reading  Railroad  Company.  During 
this  year  he  lived  with  J.  A.  Sweigert,  the 
present  superintendent  of  the  road. 

He  then  entered  the  employ  of  Clark, 
Reeves  &  Co.,  and  was  engaged  in  bridge 
and  structure  work  under  the  supervision  of 
Mr.  R.  A.  Simmons.  Remaining  in  the  em- 
ploy of  this  company,  now  known  as  the 
Phcenix  Bridge  Company,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  position  of  foreman  of  erection, 
■which  he  has  filled  with  credit  to  himself 
and   satisfaction    to  his  employers,  to    the 


present  time.  He  has  assisted  in  numerous 
structures  built  by  the  Phoenix  Company 
throughout  the  United  States.  He  is  at 
present  foreman  of  erection  of  the  terminal 
buildings  of  the  Brooklyn  bridge,  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.  He  was  married,  I\Lay  10,  1885,  to 
Annie  M.,  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Martha 
(Bretz)  Dougherty.  Of  their  two  children, 
one,  Francis  Simmons,  is  deceased  ;  and  the 
other  child  is  Luther  Reed. 

Mr.  McKee  is  a  skillful  and  successful  me- 
chanic. His  knowledge  and  ability  in 
structural  work  have  been  gained  by  dili- 
gent study  and  long  and  profitable  experi- 
ence. His  reliability  as  a  man,  and  his 
superiority  as  an  artisan  are  demonstrated 
by  the  responsible  position  he  holds.  He 
had  unusual  advantages  for  developing  his 
natural  mechanical  talents,  under  the  super- 
vision of  that  prince  of  mechanics  and  fa- 
mous bridge  builder,  Mr.  R.  A.  Simmons, 
familiarly  known  among  the  bridge  build- 
ing fraternity  as  "  Pop  Simmons,"  a  title  ex- 
l^ressive  of  the  general  opinion  as  to  liis 
priority  and  prominence  in  the  craft.  He 
is  a  member  of  Fern  Council,  No.  774, 
Royal  Arcanum,  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  also 
of  Brooklyn  Lodge,  No.  228,  F.  &  A.  M.  He 
is  a  Republican. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  McKee  died  July  14, 
1883,  aged  seventv-six  years.  Her  mother 
died  October  16,  1883,  aged  fifty-two.  They 
had  seven  children:  John  W.,  Philip  D., 
James  W.,  Annie  M.,  Mrs.  McKee;  Carrie  M., 
Harry  LI.,  and  Daisy  W.  The  grandmother 
of  Mrs.  McKee  lived  to  be  ninety-three  years 
of  age. 

SwEiGART,  MicftAEL,  was  bom  in  Powell's 
Valley,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  February  25, 
1853.  He  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Susan 
(Fawber)  Sweigart.  Philip  Sweigart  was 
born  February  3, 1820,  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Powell's  Valley,  Jefferson  township,  now 
Wayne  township,  where  his  grandfather 
originally  settled  before  the  Revolution.  He 
died  November  14,  1894.  His  wife  died  in 
May,  1870,  aged  about  fortj'-five.  They  had 
nine  children :  Susanna,  wife  of  William 
Rummel :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Reuben  Kessler; 
Amos;  Michael;  Martha,  wife  of  Nathan 
Zimmerman  ;  Samuel ;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of 
Jonas  Rudy;  Emma  Jane,  and  George 
Franklin. 

Michael  Sweigart  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  township  during  the 
winter  months  until  he  was  twenty  years  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


873 


age.  When  he  was  twenty-one  he  began 
cultivating  his  father's  farm  in  Jefferson 
township  on  his  own  account,  and  continued 
to  do  so  for  about  eight  years.  From  tliat 
time  until  1892  lie  was  farming  in  Fishing 
Creek  Valley,  Middle  Paxton  township.  He 
then  removed  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  was 
there  one  year,  after  which  he  returned  to 
the  homestead,  and  has  resided  there  up  to 
the  present  time.  In  the  autumn  of  1894 
he  established  his  extensive  saw  mill  plant 
for  manufacturing  a  variety  of  lumber  pro- 
ducts. He  supplies  the  farmers  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  has  also  a  good  share  of  the 
merchant  trade. 

Mr.  Sweigart  was  married,  February  11, 
1875,  to  Lydia  E.,  daughter  of  John  J.  and 
Margaret  (Hoffman)  Lantz,  born  January 
20,  1849.  They  have  four  children  :  Charles 
F.,  born  February  29,  187G;  Harry  W., 
March  1,  1878;  Samuel  C,  November  28, 
1881,  and  Maggie  May,  November  8,  1886. 
Mr.  Sweigart  is  an  energetic  and  i)rosperous 
man,  and  is  exemplary  in  all  relations  of 
life.  He  is  a  Democrat.  The  family  attend 
the  Evangelical  church. 

John  J.  Lantz,  father  of  Mrs.  Sweigart, 
died  February  6,  1888,  aged  about  seventy- 
two.  Mrs.  Lantz  died  May  1,  1853,  at  the 
age  of  about  thirty.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren: George  W.;  John  W.;  Samuel  N.; 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  Samuel  V.  Enders;  Sarah 
Margaret,  wife  of  Benjamin  F.  Schaffer; 
Lydia  E.,  Mrs.  Sweigert;  Eliza  Jane,  wife  of 
Andrew  Brusler;  Katie,  died  in  infancy; 
also  one  infant,  not  named.  The  second 
wife  of  Mr.  Lantz  was  Elizabeth  Pyle.  They 
had  two  children :  Susan  _  Amanda  and 
Charles  Grant. 


Stexce,  Ephraim  Elij.\h,  farmer  and 
merchant,  was  boi'n  in  Fishing  Creek  Valley, 
Middle  Paxton  townshij),  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  May  22,  1854.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Mar}'  Ann  (Douglas)  Stence.  His  mother 
died  May  10,  1887,  and  his  father  in  June, 
1890.  Their  children  were  :  Frederick  and 
Ephraim  E. 

Ei)hraim  E.  Stence  went  to  the  public 
schools  of  his  township  until  he  was  sixteen, 
assisting  at  farm  work  during  the  bus}'  sea- 
son. He  worked  for  his  father  until  he  was 
twenty-six,  when  they  became  equal  partners 
and  co-operated  in  farming  until  1887.  At 
that  time  he  bought  his  present  homestead 
of  eighteen  acres,  and  also  embarked  in  mer- 


cantile business,  which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted. 

Mr.  Stence  was  married,  December  12, 
1872,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Challis  and 
Sarah  (Lambshore)  Bailey.  They  have  one 
child,  Jacob  Elijah,  who  was  married,  Au- 
gust 24,  1894,  to  Hattie  E.  G.,  daughter  of 
George  AV.  Reed.  Mr.  Stence  is  a  Republi- 
can. The  family  attend  the  Evangelical 
church. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Stence,  Mr.  Bailey,  is 
deceased ;  her  mother  is  still  living.  They 
had  eight  children  :  Laura,  wife  of  Joseph 
Shartzer;  Mary  E.,  Mrs.  Stence;  Daniel, 
Charles,  William,  Joshua,  Albert, and  Susan. 
Joseph  and  Laura  (Bailey)  Shartzer  had  three 
children:  Harry,  died  aged  three  months; 
Susie,  wife  of  George  Hoover;  and  Mary. 
Mr.  Shartzer's  father  was  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  (Shisley)  Shartzer.  He  was  a 
farmer,  born  in  Middle  Paxton  township. 
He  died  in  May,  18G(J,  and  his  wife  in  1861. 
They  had  six  children:  Agnes,  Sarah, 
Amanda,  Elizabeth,  John,  and  .Joseph.  Mr. 
Shartzer's  second  wife  was  Sarah  Fyle,  by 
whom  he  had  one  child,  Elmina. 


Steese,  Alfred  David  Frederick,  rail- 
way postal  clerk,  was  born  at  Fort  Hunter, 
Susquehanna  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  December  4,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  Fred- 
erick and  Catherine  (Hassinger)  Steese.  His 
grandfather,  Frederick  Steese,  was  married 
three  times  and  had  a  family  of  eighteen 
sons  and  three  daughters.  Frederick  Steese, 
Jr.,  father  of  A.  D.  F.  Steese,  died  aged  sixty- 
seven  years.  His  wife  was  born  in  1800  and 
died  August  19,  1876.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren :  Reuben  H.;  Josiah  G.;  Julia  A.,  wife 
of  James  Reed;  Aaron  W.;  Sabra  M.,  widow 
of  Augustus  Bell ;  Jane,  wife  of  Thomas 
Milliken,  Esq.;  Catherine,  Elizabeth,  Bar- 
bara, and  Alfred  D.  F.  The  family  removed 
to  Dauphin,  Pa.,  April  1,  1838. 

Alfred  D.  F.  Steese  attended  the  borough 
school  during  the  winter  and  worked  on  the 
farm  during  the  busy  seasons  until  he  was 
sixteen.  He  was  for  three  months  in  the 
employ  of  the  Susquehanna  and  Dauphin 
railroad  as  brakeman  on  a  freiglit  train,  and 
was  then  promoted  to  be  a  conductor  on  a 
passenger  train.  He  served  one  year  in  that 
capacity.  He  then  voluntarily  became 
brakeman  on  a  passenger  train,  was  after- 
wards made  fireman,  and  so  continued  for 
one  year.     At  the  solicitation  of  his  parents 


874 


BIOGRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


he  left  the  railroad  service  when  he  was 
eighteen,  and  they  started  him  at  boating 
ou  the  Pennsylvania  canal  from  Pittsburgh 
to  Columbia,  over  the  Allegheny  mountains 
on  cars,  and  thence  by  water  to  Columbia, 
He  carried  on  this  business  one  season,  and 
then  became  locomotive  fireman  on  the 
Nortliern  Central  railway  on  the  first  loco- 
motive run  over  the  Susquehanna  division 
under  Engineer  Preston  Hall.  He  held  this 
position  fifteen  months,  and  was  then  pro- 
moted to  engineer  on  the  old  "camel  back  " 
engine.  No.  31.  He  ran  the  first  locomotive 
into  Sunbury  on  the  Northern  Central  rail- 
way. His  parents  again  prevailed  upon  him 
to  abandon  the  railroad,  and  fitted  him  out 
with  a  boat  on  the  Pennsylvania  canal.  He 
made  four  trips  from  Wilkes-Barre  to  Balti- 
more, and  then  sold  his  boat  to  the  United 
States  Government,  being  taken  into  Gov- 
ernment service  and  sent  with  his  boat  to 
Washington,  D.  C.  His  boat  was  loaded 
with  munitions  of  war  and  sent  to  Acquia 
Creek,  where  he  remained  six  months,  and 
then  returned  fo  Dauphin.  He  was  subse- 
quently prostrated  with  typhoid  fever,  and 
was  attended  by  Dr.  J.  R.  Umberger.  Re- 
covering from  this  critical  illness  he  returned 
to  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  took  charge  of  a  lo- 
comotive on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria 
railroad  in  the  service  of  the  United  States 
Government.  He  was  captured  by  tlie 
rebels  at  Vienna,  Fairfax  county,  Va.,  and 
barely  escaped  starvation  before  he  reached 
the  Union  lines.  He  was  again  captured  at 
Fairfax  Station,  again  released,  and  made 
his  way  back  to  camp.  He  was  employed 
by  the  Government  as  engineer  until  tlie 
close  of  the  war.  While  he  was  in  tlie  ser- 
vice two  of  his  firemen  were  killed  by  tlie 
enemy.  After  the  war  he  was  again  in 
the  service  of  the  Northern  Central  Rail- 
way Company  as  engineer  until  .Janu- 
ary 2,  1867.  On  April  1,  1867,  he  embarked 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  Daujihin,  Pa., 
and  was  in  that  business  for  ten  years.  He 
then  failed,  and  for  one  year  was  engaged  in 
fishing  along  the  Susquehanna  river.  On 
August  29,  1870,  he  was  appointed  railway 
mail  agent,  and  given  a  route  on  the  Ehnira 
and  Baltimore  railway  postofiice.  He  has 
held  that  position  since  that  date,  and  is 
truly  a  veteran  railway  clerk.  His  record 
is  without  a  blemish,  and  he  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence of  the  department. 

Mr.  Steese  was  married,  Febrnarj'  15, 1858, 
to    Mary    Davis.     They  had    six    children : 


Elniina,  born  October  4,  1866,  died  Novem- 
ber 17,  1866  ;  .Julia  Frances,  born  .January 
26,  1860,  wife  of  Dr.  Thomas  L:  Poff"enber- 
ger,  dentist,  Harrisburg ;  Louis  Mershon, 
born  August  11,  1862  ;  Martha  Davis,  wife 
of  Dr.  F.  Gerberich ;  Sabra  Bell,  December 
12,  1875. 

Mr.  Steese  has  been  president  of  the  bor- 
ough council  of  Dauphin  for  three  consecu- 
tive years.  He  is  a  Republican.  Since 
1867  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Perry 
Blue  Lodge,  No.  4,  F.  &  A.  M.  The  family 
attend  the  Presbyterian  church. 

(Christian  Dull,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Steese, 
married  Elizabeth  Essex.  They  had  nine 
cliildren:  diaries,  James,  Catherine,  Mary, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Theresa,  Hannah,  mother 
of  Mrs.  Steese,  and  Helen.  Rev.  John  W. 
Davis,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Steese,  was  born  at 
Newburyport,  Mass.  He  was  the  son  of 
John  Davis,  and  was  a  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter. He  had  charge  of  the  church  at  Dau- 
phin at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred August  14  or  15, 1868.  He  resided  in 
New  York  before  coming  to  Dauphin.  His 
wife,  Hannah  Dull,  was  born  in  1808,  and 
died  September  13,  1872.  They  had  seven 
children  :  Charles  A.,  served  nine  months 
in  the  Union  army  ;  Elizabeth  ;  Mary,  Mrs. 
Steese;  Martha  A.,  widow  of  William  Blerut- 
ter  ;  Thaddeus.  killed  at  the  battle  of  Mis- 
sionary Ridge ;  John  W.,  participated  in 
Sherman's  march  to  the  sea  ;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Martin  Hiner,  of  Harrisburg. 

Josiah  G.  Steese  and  Aaron  W.  Steese, 
brothers  of  A.  D.  F.  Steese,  both  enlisted  in 
the  Union  army,  were  honorably  discharged 
from  the  same,  and  returned  home.  Their 
father,  Frederick  Steese,  was  one  of  the  de- 
fenders of  Baltimore,  in  1814,  when  General 
'Ross  was  shot  by  the  two  American  youths 
at  North  Point,  near  Baltimore. 


B.^KER,  Hexry,  farmer,  was  born  in  Leb- 
anon county.  Pa.,  January  31,  1819.  He  is 
is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Catherine  (Eshel- 
man)  Baker.  His  grandfather,  Frederick 
Baker,  Sr.,  married  Elizabeth  Kinsey.  They 
had  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
mother  of  Henrv  Baker  was  born  April  12, 
1794,  and  died"  January  19,  1852.  His 
father  was  born  October  22,  1893.  They 
had  nine  children  :  Elizabeth,  born  Novem- 
ber 9.  1817;  Henry;  Isaac,  February  1, 
1821  ;  John,  January  15,  1824;  Rudolph, 
January  16,  1826;  Jacob,  May  6,  1828; 
David,  September  8,  1830;  Frederick,  April 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY 


875 


2,  1834 ;  Catherine,  May  27,  1839.  The  sec- 
ond wii'u  of  Frederick  Baker,  Jr.,  was  Mary 
Fk)ry,  to  whom  he  was  married  Marcli  29, 
1853.  Their  children  -are,  Mary,  born 
March  5,  1854,  and  Joseph,  December  12, 
185G. 

Henry  Baker  attended  private  schools  in 
Londonderry  township.  When  a  boy  he 
also  assisted  his  father  in  w-eaving  and  farm 
work.  He  remained  with  his  father  until 
he  was  twenty-eight,  and  then  began  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account,  having  rented  a 
farm  in  West  Hanover  township.  For  five 
years  he  worked  on  rented  farms  and  in 
1853  removed  to  his  present  homestead, 
which  he  has  cultivated  since  that  date. 

Mr.  Baker  was  married,  December  9, 1847, 
to  Anna  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Mollie 
(Paynter)  Foreman.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren :  Rudolph,  born  December  10,  1850, 
died  August  14. 1852  ;  Mary  Ann,  born  Janu- 
ary 9,  1846,  wife  of  James  L.  Brown,  who 
died  April  14,  1873;  she  afterwards  married 
J.  W.  Wade  ;  David,  bofn  January  11,  1802, 
married  July  25, 1886, to  Annie  M.Lehman, 
daughter  of  John  and  ^lary  Ann  (Reese) 
Lehman ;  they  have  five  children :  Mary 
Alice,  born  January  20,  1887 ;  Cliarles  An- 
derson, August  30,  1888;  Elizabeth  Agnes, 
January  6,  1891  ;  Sarah  Adeline,  January 
5,  1893 ;  and  James  Albert,  January  14, 
1890.  Mr.  Baker  is  a  Republican.  He  was 
an  old  line  Whig,  and  cast  his  first  vote 
for  President  for  William  Henry  Harrison. 
The  family  attend  the  German  Baptist 
church. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Baker  are  both  de- 
ceased. Her  father  died  aged  about  seventy- 
five.  Tiiey  had  a  family  of  five  daughters 
and  four  sons. 


CoRBETT,  Joseph  F.,  in  the  earlier  and 
more  active  part  of  his  business  career,  was  a 
contractor  and  builder ;  he  spent  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  as  a  retired  capitalist.  He 
was  born  in  Fishing  Creek  Valley,  Middle 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Jan- 
uary 23,  1819;  son  of  Joseph  and  Jane 
(Foulk)  Corbett.  His  opportunities  for  secur- 
ing an  education  were  slender,  being  only 
such  as  the  schools  of  his  native  township 
afforded  ;  and  of  these  he  could  make  Init  a 
limited  use,  as  he  began  at  a  very  early  age 
to  earn  liis  own  living.  He  soon  embarked 
in  contracting  and  building  on  his  own  ac- 
count.    Mr.  Corbett  was   successful   in   his 


work  from  the  outset,  and  soon  became  well 
known  and  prosperous.  He  obtained  tlie 
contracts  for  some  of  the  largest  bridges  in 
Dauphin  county,  and  superintended  their 
construction  ;  and  in  every  important  struc- 
ture completed  under  his  supervision  he  has 
left  an  abiding  monument  of  his  mechanical 
skill  and  commercial  fidelity. 

By  his  activity  and  success  in  contracting 
and  building  he  accumulated  means  which 
enabled  him  to  become  interested  in  other 
branches  of  business.  He  soon  found  that 
his  mechanical  talent  was  fully  ecpalled  by 
his  financial  ability,  and  he  became  con- 
nected with  a  number  of  the  financial  insti- 
tutions of  the  county,  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  :  The  Lykens  National  Bank,  now 
the  First  National'  Bank  of  Millersburg,  in 
which  he  served  as  director,  and  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  organizers,  and  largely  instru- 
mental in  its  estal)lishment ;  the  Lykens 
National  Bank  of  Lykens,  in  which  also  he 
was  for  years  a  director,  having  been  active 
and  influential  in  its  organization;  and  the 
Merchants'  National  Bank  at  Harrisburg,  in 
wdiich  he  served  for  man}-  years  as  a  director. 

Mechanical  enterprises  were  no  less  invit- 
ing to  Mr.  Corbett  than  financial  ones.  He 
was  largely  interested  in  the  Harrisburg  Car 
Works,  and  was  a  stockholder  and  director 
of  the  Axle  Works  at  Millersburg.  Although 
he  began  life  without  the  assistance  of  influ- 
ential friends  or  material  inheritance,  rely- 
ing upon  his  own  resources  and  employing 
only  honorable  means  and  measures,  Mr. 
Corbett  achieved  an  enviable  success,  com- 
ing to  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  reli- 
able and  efficient  business  men  of  the  county, 
and  enjoying  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
men  in  all  circles. 

•  Mr.  Corbett  was  married,  August  29,  1846, 
to  Margaret  Tindall.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  deceased:  Emma 
Virginia,  born  March  31,  1854,  died  January 
26,  1860  ;  Maggie  Florien,  born  January  23, 
1856,  died  Julv  20,  1873 ;  William  Henry 
Harrison,  born"May23,  1847,  died  March  25, 
1874 ;  Charles  J.,  born  November  22,  1848, 
died  .June  28,  1879;  he  married  Emma  C. 
Berick,  and  they  had  one  son,  Charles  J. 
The  widow  married  G.  C.  Wright,  and  they 
had  three  children.  The  surviving  child  of 
Mr.  Corbett  is  Viola  Estelle,  born  December 
15,  1850,  married  Daniel  C.  Hamilton,  of 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.;  they  have  six  children,  two 
of  whom,  Frank  and  Joseph,  are  deceased  ; 


876 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


their  living  children  are:  Harry  C,  Bessie, 
Eben  C,  and  Xathan  McDowell.  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton died  and  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  married 
to  Mr.  F.  C.  Gore.  Mrs.  Joseph  F.  Corljctt 
died  .January  23,  1864.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  I\Ir.  Corbett  occurred  August  28, 
1866,  in  which  he  was  united  to  Elizabeth 
Martin,  widow  of  Perry  Martin,  who  died 
July  21,  1863.  Mrs.  Corbett  is  still  living; 
she  is  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mar}' 
(Gorgas)  Gleim,  of  Lebanon  county.  Pa.;  her 
parents  had  six  children :  Josepli,  George, 
Christiana,  Maria,  Charles,  and  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  Corbett,  born  August  31,  1820. 


Spoxsler,  .John,  farmer,  deceased,  was 
born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Clark's  Valle}', 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  March  21,  1814;  son 
of  John  and  Susanna  (Kinter)  Sponsler.  An- 
drew Sponsler,  his  grandfather,  emigrated 
from  Germany,  and  settled  in  Clark's  A'alley, 
near  the  site  of  the  homestead.  John  Spons- 
ler (1),  was  born  December  28,  1783.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  had  six 
children:  Andrew,  married  Anna  Sweigert ; 
Isaac,  died  in  earl}'  life ;  Henry,  married 
Katie  Miller;  Elizabeth,  married  Henry  Ri- 
neard ;  and  George,  married  Barbara  Bow- 
man, had  two  children,  Samuel  and  Albert. 

John  Sponsler  (2),  was  educated  in  the 
subscription  schools  of  his  native  township. 
He  remained  at  home,  and  worked  with  his 
father  on  the  farm  from  boyhood  to  early 
manhood. 

Mr.  Sponsler  was  married,  December  26, 
1837,  to  Julia,  daughter  of  John  Etter  and 
Elizabeth  (Shellv)"  Etter,  born  March  16, 
1810.  They  had  six  children:  Calvin  B., 
born  October  5,  1838  ;  James  K.,  April  29, 
1840  ;  Marv  J.,  Mav  24,  1841 ;  Isaac  E.,  born 
April  13,  '1846,  d'ied  November  8,  1860; 
William,  born  October  7,  1847,  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Sponsler  remained 
on  the  home  farm  and  cultivated  it  for  six 
years.  In  1843  he  bought  from  Henry  M. 
Bayard  a  tract  of  land  containing  135  acres, 
which  he  cleared,  and  on  which  he  made 
many  valuable  improvements,  building  a 
substantial  barn  in  1866,  and  in  1874  erected 
the  stone  mansion  which  is  the  spacious  and 
elegant  home  of  the  family.  Mr.  Sponsler 
was  an  enterprising  and  pro-sperous  man. 
In  all  relations  of  life  his  conduct  was  emi- 
nently correct,  and  won  for  him  the  confi- 
dence  and  esteem   of  his   neighbors.      His 


politics  were  Democratic.  In  matters  of 
faith  and  religious  life  he  held  with  the 
Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Sponsler  died  March 
4,  1895,  and  his  wife  July  25,  1871. 

Calvin  B.  Sponsler,  son  of  John  Sponsler 
(2),  was  married  to  Edna  Belle  Lyons,  and 
now  resides  in  Pittsburgh.  He  learned  the 
blacksnrith's  trade  with  Leonard  Potfen- 
berger,  at  Dauphin,  Pa.,  and  afterwards  be- 
came engaged  with  the  Keystone  Bridge 
Company,  of  Pittsburgh,  of  whose  forging 
department  he  lias  been  for  twenty-five  years 
foreman,  and  still  holds  that  position.  James 
K.  Sponsler,  another  son,  married  Susan  P. 
Milliken ;  they  have  one  daughter,  Cora. 
He  also  learned  his  trade  with  Mr.  Poffen- 
berger,  and  worked  at  a  number  of  places. 
He  conducted  business  on  his  own  account 
at  Goshen,  Ind.,  for  four  years,  after  which 
he  served  different  firms  in  the  capacity  of 
salesman  and  steel  inspector,  being  thus  en- 
gaged for  about  fourteen  years.  His  wife 
died  June  11,  1881.  William  Sponsler,  a 
third  son,  is  at  present  employed  at  the  shops 
of  the  Harrisljurg  Car  ^Manufacturing  Com- 
]iany,  at  Harrisburg.  He  married  Sarah  E. 
Straw  ;  they  have  one  son,  John  C. 


Kexdig,  D.\niel,  was  born  at  Sunbury, 
Pa.,  March  16,  1802;  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Hillj  Kendig.  A  sketch  of  his  father 
and  grandfather  appears  in  this  volume.  He 
went  to  Middletown,  Pa.,  when  quite  young, 
and  served  an  apprenticeship  to  his  brother 
Martin  at  the  saddlery  and  harness  trade. 
Subsequently  he  was  partner  with  his  brother 
in  the  lumber  business,  and  in  connection 
with  Judge  Murray  they  built  a  saw  mill  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Swatara  and  established  a 
large  trade.  In  1862  Mr.  Kendig  was  ap- 
pointed assessor  of  internal  revenue  for  the 
district,  and  held  the  office  until  removed  by 
President  Johnson.  He  was  at  one  time  a 
candidate  for  sheriff  but  was  defeated.  He 
was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  a  gentleman  of  great  personal  worth. 
He  died  December  31,  1876,  at  Middletown. 
Mr.  Kendig  was  twice  married. 


ZiMMERMAX,  VaLEXTIXE,    yOUUgCSt  SOU  of 

Henry  and  Barbara  (Greiner)  Zimmerman, 
was  born  May  19,  1829,  in  the  old  stone 
springhouse  on  the  Kerr  estate  in  Dauphin 
county.  When  he  was  ten  years  of  age  his 
father  died,  leaving  the  care  of  the  farm 
upon  the  shoulders  of  his  mother  and  his 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


877 


elder  brothers.  He  attended  pay  school  in 
Churchville,  iu  the  Old  Neidich  meeting- 
house, now  occupied  by  tlie  United  Brethren 
church;  and  also  attended -school  in  High- 
spire  at  what  was  called  the  "Academy," 
located  where  the  recent  Wilson  Distillery 
stands,  and  then  tauglit  for  many  years  by 
Henry  Stoner.  He  assisted  his  older  brother 
Henry  during  the  years  of  his  minority  to 
farm  the  home  place,  until  near  the  time  of 
attaining  his  majority,  when  he  and  his 
mother  moved  back  to  the  forty-acre  tract, 
adjoining  where  his  fatlier  lived,  before 
moving  on  the  Kerr  estate.  Here  they 
erected  a  new  briclc  house  in  1S49,  and  in 
the  following  year  they  erected  a  frame  bank 
barn  which  was  burned  to  tiie  ground  in 
June,  1884.  The  mother's  dower  interest  in 
the  Kerr  estate  was  also  set  apart  at  this 
time,  swelling  the  tract  to  about  seventy 
acres,  to  which  seventeen  acres  were  later 
added  from  the  Neidich  estate,  making  it  a 
valuable  tract  of  about  eighty-eight  acres. 
In  1856  he  married  Barbara  S.  Felty,  of 
Linglestown,  Daupliin  county,  and  bought 
this  tract  from  the  estate.  In  the  spring  of 
1849  he  and  his  mother  undertook  an  over- 
land journey  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  with  a 
spirited  horse  and  a  characteristic  chaise  of 
that  day.  The  railroads  had  not  then  yet 
been  built  over  the  mountains,  and  did  not 
extend  farther  west  than  Pittsburgh.  In  their 
journey  they  followed  the  stage  line  route 
through  Chambersburg  and  Bedford  county, 
stopping  en  ronte  at  the  various  public  inns 
of  that  day.  That  trip  consumed  some- 
thing over  two  weeks,  which  is  now  easily 
covered  in  about  eighteen  hours.  He  often 
related  of  the  struggle  in  Dauphin  county 
to  adopt  the  free  school  system.  At  that 
time  the  polling  place  for  Lower  Swatara 
township  was  at  Portsmouth,  known  as  the 
■'  point "  now  where  the  borough  of  Middle- 
town  stands ;  and  that  when  the  election  was 
to  be  held  in  the  spring,  a  snowstorm  and 
blizzard  so  drifted  the  country  roads  that 
many  of  the  farmers  who  were  opposed  to 
the  measure  could  not  cast  their  vote, 
and  so  free  schools  won  the  day.  He  in 
every  way  corroborated  the  many  descrip- 
tions of  the  primitive  schoolhouse  furniture, 
and  the  district  schoolmaster  training,  so 
characteristic  of  that  early  day.  The  "  rule 
of  tliree  "  was  then  the  scholar's  highest  am- 
bition, and  the  geographies  represented  Ohio 
as  the  far  West. 

For  many  years  he  farmed  a  tract  of  about 


sixty  acres  of  land  known  as  the  "  White 
House  Farm,"  and  owned  b}'  Mary  Stoner, 
until  in  1880,  when  he  purcha.sed  a  large 
tract  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  acres,  known  as  the  Heisy  estate,  in 
Conewago  township,  Daupiiin  county. 

In  1895  he  sold  the  farm  adjoining  the 
Kerr  estate  to  his  nephew,  Sol.  Zimmerman, 
and  the  following  spring  moved  to  New 
Benton,  a  suburb  of  Steelton.  His  reputa- 
tion as  a  farmer  was  always  of  the  highest 
order.  He  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  citizen 
by  all  who  knew  liim. 

For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  super- 
visors of  his  township  and  held  minor  offices 
of  trust.  He  first  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  but  later  affiliated 
himself  with  the  Church  of  God,  of  which 
his  wife  is  a  zealous  member. 

In  politics  lie  probably  inherited  his 
father's  Democratic  faith,  but  was  in  no 
sense  a  partisan,  but  has  frequently  voted 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  was  especially 
independent  of  party  lines  in  local  elec- 
tions. 


Bell,  Samuel,  farmer,  was  born  on  tlie 
homestead,  July  1,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Martha  (Irwin)  Bell,  the  latter 
being  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catharine 
(Freeburn)  Irwin.  The  great-grandfather, 
John  Bell,  settled  in  Middle  Paxton  town- 
ship. The  father  died  in  September,  18G2, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  and  the 
mother  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  They 
had  a  family  of  seven  children  :  William, 
deceased  ;  John,  deceased  ;  Isaac,  Catharine, 
Samuel,  Mary,  and  James.  Mrs.  Bell's 
father,  Isaac  Bell,  was  born  February  6, 1803, 
and  died  January  25,  1873,  and  her  mother, 
Jane  Sprout,  was  born  August  8,  1815,  and 
died  April  13,  1843.  The  children  are: 
Mary  Jane,  deceased ;  Clarissa,  James, 
Louisa,  and  one  who  died  in  infauc}'. 

Samuel  attended  school  in  the  old  Stony 
Creek  school  house  during  the  winter  and 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  in  the  sum- 
mer. When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  was 
employed  by  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading 
Railroad  Company,  for  which  he  continued 
to  work  at  intervals  for  ten  years.  He  and 
his  brother  Isaac  then  bought  the  old  Bell 
farm,  formerly  owned  by  their  grandfather, 
James  Bell.  After  living  there  eight  years 
Samuel  moved  to  the  homestead,  where  he 
now  resides.  After  his  father's  death,  in 
1862,  the  estate  was  divided  into  six  tracts. 


878 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


He  married  Miss  Louisa  A.  Bell,  daughter  of 
Isaac  Bell,  a  native  of  Dauphin  county, 
March  17,  1856.  Their  children  are:  Irwin 
G.,  born  September  27, 1857  ;  Charles S.,  born 
February  23,  1861 ;  Lawrence  M-,  born 
March  28,  1864;  Samuel  J.,  born  August  25, 
1867 ;  Clara  J.,  born  July  22,  1870 ;  Anna 
L.,  born  August  10, 1874;  and  Mary  C,  born 
September  25,  1878.  In  politics  Mr.  Bell  is 
a  Democrat,  and  served  as  tax  collector,  as- 
sessor, and  six  consecutive  terms  as  super- 
visor. The  family  attend  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


Baker,  Jacob,  Sr.,  farmer,  Fort  Hunter, 
was  born  in  Conewago  township,  May  6,1828, 
and  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Catharine 
(Eshelman)  Baker.  The  father,  a  weaver  by 
occupation,  learned  his  trade  in  Elizabeth- 
town,  Lancaster  county,  but  spent  the  last 
part  of  his  life  farming  in  Middle  Paxton 
township.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  these 
children:  Betsy, Henry, Isaac, John, Rudolph, 
Jacob,  David,  Frederick,  and  Katie;  and  by 
his  second  wife:  Marj'  and  Joseph.  Mrs. 
Baker's  parents  are  both  deceased  and  had  a 
family  of  nine  children.  Jacob  first  attended 
the  subscription  schools  and  later  the  public 
schools  of  his  district.  At  tlie  age  of  eighteen 
he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoemaking 
with  Elijah  Wise,  at  Harrisburg.  He  con- 
tinued in  this  occupation  for  ten  years.  In 
1856  he  purchased  the  present  homestead 
from  his  father's  estate  and  engaged  in  farm 
ing,  which  he  still  follows.  He  was  married, 
August  15, 1850,  to  Miss  Susan  Straw,  daugh- 
ter of  Frederick  and  Catharine (Kipple) Straw. 
Their  children  are:  Sarah  Adaline,  born 
March  6, 1852,  wife  of  Solomon  Felty ;  Valen- 
tine, born  March  21,  1856  ;  Anna  Mira,  born 
August  10,  1861,  wife  of  Jacob  Livingston  ; 
Cliarles  William,  born  September  1,  1865. 
Mrs.  Baker  died  January  31,  1889.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  su- 
pervisor. The  family  attend  the  Evangeli- 
cal church. 


CoFRODE,  William  R.,  iron  moulder,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  count}'.  Pa.,  December  22, 
1822,  and  died  October  25,  1893.  The 
parents  had  a  large  famil}',  of  which  Jacob, 
David,  William  R.,  and  Jessee  were  mem- 
bers. Mrs.  Cofrode's  father  died  in  June, 
1877,  and  the  mother  March  8,  1877.  Their 
children  are:  Lucy  Ann,  deceased ;  Tobias, 
deceased  ;  Zachariah,  deceased  ;  Mary,  born 
August  4, 1833  ;  Isaac ;  Ellen,  widow  of  John 


Minberger,  and  Catharine,  widow  of  Jacob 
Bogner.  William  R.  received  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  count}'.  At  an 
early  age  he  learned  the  trade  of  iron 
moulder  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  worked 
at  it  in  that  ()lace  and  subsequently  in  Dau- 
phin Car  Works.  In  1856  he  moved  to 
Berrysburg,  and  on  January  25,  1865,  en- 
listed in  company  G,  Fifty-fifth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  George  H.  Miller 
being  his  captain.  After  receiving  an  lion- 
orable  discharge  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  August 
30,  1865,  he  again  worked  for  the  Dauphin 
Car  Companj^  and  continued  with  it  until 
1887.  He  was  married,  March  20,  1856,  to 
Miss  Mary  Garman,  daughter  of  Casper  and 
Elizabeth  (Bognn)  Garman.  Their  five 
children  are:  Parker  L.,  born  June  23, 1857; 
Birn  T.,  born  October  11,  1858;  Cora  S., 
born  January  10, 1865 ;  Effie  E.,  born  March 
10, 1868,  and  Mary  E.,  born  August  24, 1874, 
married  March  15,  1894,  to  Charles  II.  Web- 
ber, who  has  two  children,  Birn  C,  born 
June  30,  1894,  and  Roy  R.,  born  October  12, 
1895.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and 
the  family  attend  the  Evangelical  church. 


Denison,  George  R.,  farmer,  Daupliin 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Wiieeling,  W.  Va.,  and  is  a 
son  of  Horatio  W.  and  Jane  Chambers  (Drips) 
Denison.  The  grandfather,  Hugh  Deni- 
son, conducted  a  large  hotel  at  Juniata  Cross- 
ing in  Bedford  county  and  also  operated  a 
ferr}'  at  the  same  place.  He  was  born  Sep- 
tember 12,  1782.  His  family  consisted  of 
these  children  :  Jane,  Bartly,  Horatio,  Re- 
becca, Mary,  and  Agnes  Amanda ;  all  are 
deceased.  His  wife,  Mary,  was  born  April 
12,  1784,  and  died  July  28,  while  he  died 
February  13,  1819.  The  maternal  grand- 
fatlier  was  Benjamin  Chambers,  the  founder 
of  Chambersburg.  Mr.  Chambers  was  the 
first  white  .settler  in  Franklin  county,  locat- 
ing there  about  1726.  The  father  died  July 
28,  1875,  and  the  mother  on  November  11, 
1861.  Their  children  were:  Margaret  J., 
George  R.,  Mary  R.,  and  William  D.  George 
R.  came  to  Loudon,  Pa.,  with  his  parents 
when  but  one  3'ear  of  age.  His  education 
was  received  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
place.  April  1,  1862,  the  family  moved  to 
Dauphin  county  and  located  on  the  present 
homestead  in  Middle  Paxton  township. 
George  has  resided  on  the  farm  up  to  the 
present  time.  He  was  married,  February 
17,  1885,  to  Elizabeth  (Kinter)  Denison, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Rebecca  (Boam)  Kin- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


879 


ter.  Their  children  are:  Rebecca  K.,  Mary 
Jane,  William  D.,  Esther,  and  George  R. 
In  politics  Mr.  Denison  is  a  Republican  and 
the  family  attend  the  Presbyterian  church. 

DeWalt,  Ferdinand,  farmer,  was  born 
in  South  Manheim  township,  yduiylkill 
county,  March  1,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Abra- 
ham and  Elizabeth  (Rheim)  DeWalt.  The 
parents  died  September,  1850,  only  one  day 
apart.  Tiieir  family  consisted  of  eiglit  chil- 
dren :  Edward,  Lydia,  Clara,  Leah,  Ferdi- 
nand, Susan,  Louisa,  and  Levina.  Mrs.  De- 
Walt's  parents  are  also  deceased  and  had  a 
family  of  nine  cliildren :  Susan,  Thomas, 
John,  Maria,  Rachel,  Sarah  Ann,  Daniel, 
and  William,  also  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Ferdinand  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age  and  then  attended  a  private  school  at- 
tached to  the  Lutheran  church.  From 
eighteen  to  twenty  he  was  engaged  at  tiie 
trade  of  shoemaking,  and  in  1853  entered 
the  service  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Harris- 
burg  Railroad  Company.  In  1862  he  was 
made  roadway  foreman  and  held  the  posi- 
tion until  it  was  abolished  when  the  com- 
pany was  re-organized.  He  was  then  sec- 
tion foreman  until  he  was  compelled 
to  quit  work,  in  1895,  on  account  of  ill 
health.  He  was  married,  September  17, 
1853,  to  Sarah  Ann  Luckins,  daughter  of 
William  and  Margaret  (Bingman)  Luckins, 
who  was  born  August  18,  1836,  near  Read- 
ing, Berks  county.  Pa.  Their  children  are  : 
Joseph,  Clara,  Elizabeth,  all  deceased  ;  and 
Augustus,  born  March  21,  1855  ;  John,  born 
December  17,1856;  Margaret,  born  Marcii 
13,  1858;  Sarah,  born  March  17,  1860; 
Elijah,  born  April  8,  1863  ;  Katie,  born  De- 
cember 29,  18"69;  Charles,  born  July  22, 
1872;  Frederick,  born  January  21,  1874; 
Victor,  born  May  6,  1877  ;  and  Leroy,  born 
August  23,  1879 ;  also  one  child  who  died 
in  infancy.  A  Democrat  in  politics  Mr.  De- 
Walt  has  served  as  school  director  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading 
Railroad  Relief  Association,  and  of  Lodge 
No.  621,  I.  0.  0.  F.  He  and  his  family  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  church. 


was  born  October  9,  1816.  Their  children 
were:  Margaret  Ann,  John,  Hannah,  Cathe- 
rine, all  deceased ;  and  Michael,  William, 
Jacob,  and  Benjamin.  Michael,  during  the 
late  war,  was  enlisted  at  Millersburg  in  the 
Union  army.  Mrs.  Fetterhotf's  father  was 
born  June  23,  1803,  and  died  December  7, 
1868,  while  her  mother  was  born  May  30, 
1804,  and  died  May  29, 1860.  Their  family 
consisted  of  .seven  cliildren  :  Susan,  Eliza- 
beth, Catharine,  Jacob,  Mary  Ann,  Amanda, 
and  Sarah  Jane. 

William  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  district  up  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age.  He  worked  on  the 
farm  until  the  age  of  twenty,  when  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  two  years  at  the  trade 
of  mason.  Then  worked  as  journeyman  for 
one  year,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farming 
in  Halifax  township  for  liimself,  and  con- 
tinued there  three  years.  In  1875  he  moved 
to  Middle  Paxton  on  his  present  homestead, 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  married, .  December  23,  1869,  to  Miss 
Amanda  (Tyson)  Fetterhotf,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Slmltz)  Ty.son.  Their 
children  are:  William  B.,  born  February 
15,  1872,  and  died  November  4,  1881 :  Isaac 
E.,  born  December  1, 1877,  and  died  Novem- 
ber 7,  1881 ;  Estella  M.,  born  March  10, 
1876,  and  died  November  25,  1881 ;  Jacob 
E.,  born  August  15,  1870;  John  M.,  born 
May  15,  1894,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
In  politics  Mr.  Fetterhoff  is  a  Democrat,  and 
has  served  as  assessor  in  Middle  Paxton 
township.  The  family  attend  the  Evangel- 
ical church. 


Fetterhoff,  William,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Powell's  Valley,  Halifax  township,  Octo- 
ber 30,  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Car- 
oline (Unger)  Fetterhoff.  Tiie  father  was 
born  December  14, 1812,  and  died  November 
18,  1865,  being   survived   by  his  wife,  who 


Fertig,  John  K.,  farmer,  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead,  in  Middle  Paxton  township, 
February  16, 1843,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Catharine  (Kinter)  Fertig.  The  grandfather, 
Peter  Fertig,  was  born  January  21, 1774,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Kline,  by  whom 
he  iiad  five  children:  Rachael,  John,  Eliza- 
beth, Sarah,  and  Julia  Ann.  The  father  died 
in  the  autumn  of  1848,  being  accidentally  in- 
jured at  the  old  homestead,  and  the  mother's 
death  occurred  February  22,  1843.  Their 
children  were:  John  K.  and  James.  The 
father  of  Mrs.  Fertig  was  born  April  17, 
1835,  and  died  March  7,  1872 ;  the  mother 
died  in  1889.  They  had  six  children :  Joseph 
H,  deceased,  William  Luther,  Lewis,  Margaret 
S.  Daniel  H.,  and  Elizabeth. 

John  K.  attended  the  subscription  schools 


880 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


until  he  was  nine  years  of  age,  when  he  be- 
came a  student  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  continued  until  he  was 
eighteen  j-ears  of  age.  Being  left  witliout  a 
mother  when  but  six  days  old,  he  was  reared 
by  his  grandmother,  Elizabeth  Kinter,  in 
Stony  Creek  Valley.  He  studied  for  one 
term  in  the  Loysville  Academy,  Perry- 
county,  Pa.  After  being  engaged  in  farming 
for  some  years,  he  secured  employment  with 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  and 
soon  received  the  appointment  of  car  in- 
spector, at  Altoona,  which  position  he  filled 
two  years.  He  bought  the  old  homestead 
in  18(56,  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1885, 
when  he  built  his  present  home  and  retired 
from  active  work.  He  was  married.  Octo- 
ber 18,  1866,  to  Elizabeth  C.  Poftenberger. 
The}'  have  no  children.  In  politics  Mr. 
Fertig  is  a  Republican,  and  has  labored  in- 
dustriously all  his  life,  hence  he  enjoys  the 
fruits  of  his  early  eftbrts.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Fertig,  John  Q.,  farmer,  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead  near  Dauphin,  and  is  a  son  of 
Solomon  and  Rebecca  Enterline  Fertig.  The 
father  was  born  February  8,  1824,  and  died 
March  13,  1882.  He  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing all  his  life,  and  was  married,  January  23, 
1851,  to  Miss  Rebecca  (Enterline)  Fertig. 
Their  children  were:  .John  Q.,  Elizabeth, 
William,  Mary  Ellen,  deceased,  Ida,  and 
Estella.  Mrs.  Fertig's  father  died  April  27, 
1882,  and  her  motlier  in  November,  1892. 
They  had  a  famil}'  of  four  children  :  Jairus, 
Christian  B.,  Charles,  and  Mar}^  R.  John  Q. 
repeived  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Dauphin  county,  and  also  attended  Crit- 
tenden's Business  College,  Philadelphia.  He 
first  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm,  but  in 
1876  began  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
Crawford  county.  Pa.  Here  he  purchased  a 
farm  in  Cambridge  township,  on  which  he 
lived  eight  years.  In  August,  1885,  he 
bought  his  father's  homestead  near  Dau- 
]5hin,  and  has  resided  there  since  that  time. 
He  was  married,  June  22, 1875,  to  Miss  Mary 
R.  Kinter,  daugiiter  of  Henry  and  Eliza- 
beth (Blyton)  Kinter.  Their  children  are: 
Virginia,  deceased  ;  Nellie,  deceased  ;  Robert, 
F.,  deceased ;  Elsie  Fidelia,  born  August  7, 
1879 ;  Charles  R.,  born  August  4,  1883,  and 
Mary,  born  October  4,  1894.  In  politics 
Mr.  Fertig  is  a  Democrat  and  has. served  for 
three  successive  terms  as  auditor.  The 
family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Greexawalt,  Phillip  B.,  station  agent, 
Dauphin,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lebanon,  May, 
1825.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  Ann 
Brown,  daughter  of  Luke  and  Mary  Brown. 
The  father  was  a  mercliant  in  Lebanon,  Pa., 
and  is  now  deceased.  By  his  first  marriage 
he  had  these  children:  Elizabeth,  Margaret, 
Rebecca,  and  Edwin  Everett ;  and  by  his 
second  marriage  he  had  four  children : 
Phillip,  Henry,  John,  and  Sarah.  Phillip 
B.  attended  the  subscription  schools  in  Leb- 
anon and  when  public  schools  were  estab- 
lished attended  school  at  Lancaster  city. 
Next  he  went  to  Harrisburg  schools  and  fin- 
ished his  education  at  the  academy  in  Litilz, 
Lancaster  county.  He  soon  went  to  Phila- 
delphia and  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  cabi- 
net making.  After  remainingthere  two  years 
he  came  homo  and  was  in  the  mercantile 
business  for  ten  years  with  liis  brother  Henry. 
In  1863  he  secured  a  position  as  clerk  in  the 
station  for  the  Northern  Central  railroad 
and  the  Philadelpliia  and  Reading  Railroad 
Cornpan}'.  On  January  1,  1891,  he  was  ap- 
pointed agent  at  Daui)hin  for  the  Philadel- 
delphia  and  Reading  railroad  and  retains 
the  position  to  the  present  time.  He  mar- 
ried, first.  Miss  Dorcas  Stackpole  March  20, 
1849.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabetii  Stackpole,  and  they  had  a  family 
of  three  children  :  John  R.,  Thomas  S.,  and 
Dorear,  who  died  in  infancj'.  Mrs.  Green- 
await  died  March  22,  1853.  He  was  mar- 
ried, secondly,  April  10,  1858,  to  Susan  Mil- 
ler, by  whom  he  had  two  children:  Charles 
F.,  and  Edmund,  deceased.  The  wife  died 
March  8,  1857.  He  married,  thirdly,  on 
January  6,  1859,  Sarah  ¥.  Steel,  daughter  of 
Davis  and  Pattalina  Clark.  Their  ciiildren 
are:  Bertha  Regina,  deceased  ;  Alice  Clark, 
deceased  ;  William  Clark,  Phillip  Herbert, 
and  Mary.  Mr.  Greenawalt  is  a  Republican, 
and  the  family  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church. 


Heck,  Dr.  Lewis,  was  born  in  Franklin 
county.  Pa.,  in  1810,  and  was  the  son  of 
John  Heck-.  He  died  in  August,  1890,  and 
his  wife  in  .January,  1894.  Lewis  received 
his  primar}'  education  in  a  private  school  in 
Cumberland  count}',  and  continued  there 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  to  read  medicine  with  Dr.  William 
Rankin,  atShippensburg.  Pa.  When  twenty 
years  old  he  entered  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege, at  Philadelphia,  and  graduated  from 
that   institution    at   the  age  of  twenty-two 


DAUPHIN  UOtlNTY. 


883 


with  honor.  He  first  located  in  Buffalo, 
Perry  county,  and  then  in  Fort  Hunter, 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  practiced  his 
profession  up  to  1855.  Pn  1843  he  became 
interested  in  the  lumber  business,  and  pur- 
cliased  the  extensive  saw  mill  plant  built  by 
Robert  Dempsey,  it  being  one  of  the  first 
mills  erected  on  the  Susquehanna  river  north 
of  Harrisburg.  He  conducted  a  large  and 
profitable  business  up  to  1876,  when  his  son, 
J.  Lewis  Heck,  succeeded  him.  In  1852  or 
1853  he  purchased  theEmaline  furnace,  two 
miles  above  Dauphin,  and  rebuilt  tiie  fur- 
nace in  1854,  when  it  became  known  as  the 
Georgianna  furnace.  Here  he  burned  char- 
coal for  twelve  years,  when  he  changed  it  to 
an  antiiracite  furnace  and  leased  tbe  plant. 
He  was  also  largely  identified  witli  fanning 
interests.  He  married,  June,  1839,  Miss 
Caroline  C.  (Wright)  Heck,  of  Lancaster 
city.  Their  children  are :  Alice  C,  de- 
ceased ;  Edward  W.,  deceased  ;  Albert  H., 
deceased;  Emma  A.,  deceased;  George  W., 
Mary  iVnna,  and  J.  Lewis.  A  Democrat  in 
politics,  he  served  as  school  director,  and 
was  sent  to  the  State  Assembly  b}'  a  large 
majority.  The  family  attend  the  Presbyte- 
rian church. 


Jones,  J.  Challis,  miller  and  flour  manu- 
facturer, Daupiiin,  was  born  at  Dawley, 
Shropshire,  England,  July  8,  1864,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Amelia  (Bailey)  Jones. 
The  father  and  mother  are  botli  deceased, 
the  latter  dying  November  27,  1867.  They 
had  a  family  of  six  children  :  Frances  Mary, 
Henry  James,  Ruth  Susanna,  J.  Challis, 
William  Thomas,  and  Charles  Samuel.  The 
fatlier  of  Mrs.  Jones  passed  away  February 
22,  1893,  aged  sixty-two  years,  and  is  sur- 
vived b}'  his  wife.  Their  children  are: 
Agnes  Eraser,  Theodora  Caroline,  and  Charles 
Stewart.  The  father  was  county  judge  of 
Welland  county,  Ont,  having  been  ap- 
pointed for  life  by  the  Crown.  He  was  a 
man  of  sterling  integrity  and  highly  esteemed 
by  liis  many  friends  and  neighbors. 

J.  Cballis  received  his  education  in  his 
native  country  until  1878,  when  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Canada,  and  located  in 
Huron  county,  where  he  completed  his  edu- 
cational training  in  the  high  school  at 
Wingham.  He  then  went  to  Thorold,  Wel- 
land county,  and  began  to  learn, the  trade  of 
milling  with  his  uncle  James  and  Sir  W.  P. 
Howland,  K.  C.  B.,  with  whom  he  remained 
three  years.  He  engaged  in  the  milling 
56 


business  for  himself  in  1886,  at  Thorold,  Wel- 
land county,  Ontario  Province,  and  con- 
tinued there  until  1888,  when  he  moved  to 
Dauphin  and  rented  the  "Robinson  Mills." 
After  operating  them  for  two  years  he  pur- 
chased the  extensive  milling  jjlant  and  his 
present  homestead.  He  was  married,  at 
Tiiorold,  May  5,  1892,  to  Theodora  Caroline 
(Baxter)  Jones,  daughter  of  George  and  Car- 
oline (Low)' Baxter.  He  succeeded  A.  B. 
Wagner  as  school  director  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Court  Crescent,  No.  128,  A.  0.  of  F., 
Thorold,  Welland  county,  Ontario,  Canada. 
Politically  he  is  liberal,  voting  for  the  fittest 
candidates.  He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Episcopalian  church. 


Kennedy,  Bailey,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Middle  Paxton  townsiiip,  December  25, 1826, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Brown) 
Kennedy.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Kennedy  are 
both  deceased,  the  fatlier  dying  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years  and  the  mother  when  she 
was  eighty-one  years  of  age.  Tiieir  children 
are:  John,  George,  Margaret,  James,  William, 
Bailey,  David,  Thomas,  Joseph,  Ambrose, 
and  Catharine.  Mrs.  Kennedy's  parents  are 
also  deceased,  and  had  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren :  John,  Caroline,  Barbara,  and  Daniel. 

Bailey  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic scliools  of  his  native  place.  When  twenty- 
three  years  of  age  he  served  with  an  engineer 
corps,  assisting  in  the  construction  of  the 
Schuylkill  and  Susquehanna  railroad.      In 

1850  he  managed  his  fatlier's  farm  and  in 

1851  he  and  his  brother  William  furnislied 
wood  to  the  railroad.  He  next  worked  on 
the  Lebanon  Valley  Railroad  with  the  engi- 
neer corps  and  then  engaged  in  farming  on 
the  homestead,  which  he  purchased  in  Sep- 
tember, 1882,  and  where  he  now  resides. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Cumberland 
county,  and  the  father,  upon  his  removal  to 
Dauphin,  operated  the  old  fiour  mill  then 
owned  by  Judge  Green.  A  brother  James 
having  drowned  at  the  mouth  of  Stony  Creek, 
his  mother  became  an.xious  for  the  safety  of 
the  children,  and  they  moved  to  Middle  Pax- 
ton  township.  His  father  served  in  the  war 
of  1812.  Bailey  was  married,  June  8,  1851, 
to  Miss  Barbara  Ann  (Seltzer)  Kennedy  by 
tlie  Rev.  C.  F.  Stoever.  Tliey  have  fourteen 
children,  and  all  but  three  are  living:  Eliza- 
beth Jane,  born  July  20, 1851 ;  Clarissa,  born 
February  19,1854;  David  Lewis,  born  Au- 
gust 8, 1855  ;  Bailey,  born  September  8, 1858  ; 
Anna  Maria,  born  January  9, 1862 ;  Barbara, 


884 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


born  March  7, 1864 ;  George  G.,  born  May  3, 
1865;  Thomas  F.,  born  October  20,  1866; 
Caroline  Ida,  born  January  13, 1868;  Harry, 
born  February  28, 1872 ;  Alice  P.,  born  March 
8,1873;  Stewart  and  Alice,  both  deceased, 
and  one  child  unnamed,  who  died  in  infancy. 
A  Democrat  in  politics,  Mr.  Kennedy  has 
served  as  jury  commissioner  and  school  di- 
rector. The  family  attend  tiie  Church  of 
God. 


KiNTER,  Isaac,  farmer,  was  born  in  Sus- 
quehanna township,  on  the  Elder  farm,  No- 
vember 17,  1825.  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Miller)  Kinter.  The  maternal 
grandfather  was  Hugh  Boden,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1763. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Kinter  are  both  dead, 
the  father  dying  February  16,  1833,  and  the 
mother  October  25,  1865.  They  were  mar- 
ried November  7,  1809,  and  their  children 
were:  Peter,  John, Catharine,  George,  Samuel, 
Isaac,  and  Elizabeth,  all  of  whom  have  died 
except  Isaac  and  Samuel.  The  parents  of 
Mrs.  Kinter  are  also  deceased.  Her  father, 
John  Boden,  was  one  of  two  twins;  the 
other,  Andrew,  once  served  in  Congress, 
The  father  was  an  attorney  at  Carlisle,  Pa., 
and  was  appointed  president  judge  of  the 
district  conn)ri.sing  Perry  and  Cumberland 
counties,  but  died  very  suddenly  before  his 
commission  arrived.  He  was  married,  No- 
vember 25,  1811,  to  Miss  Jane  Boden.  Their 
children  are :  Sarah,  Clarissa  Mary,  Jane 
Elizabeth,  Robert  Clark,  Hugh,  Catharine 
Elvina  and  John  C.  The  mother  died  Sep- 
tember 5,  1828,  and  Mr.  Boden  married, 
secondly,  September  1,  1830,  Miss  Agnes 
Irwin.  Their  children  are:  Rececca  J.  and 
"William  Andrew.  His  wife  dying  March 
13,  1836,  Mr.  Boden  married,  as  his  third 
wife.  Miss  Elizabeth  Logue,  on  June  16, 
1841.     She  died  January  4,  1848. 

Isaac  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  place  and  those  of  Middle 
Paxton  township,  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  York  county 
and  was  engaged  in  hauling  ore  from  that 
place  to  Harrisburg  to  be  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  rails.  After  being  thus  engaged 
for  about  seven  years  he  returned  to  the  old 
homestead  and  began  farming  for  himself 
and  has  continued  there  to  the  present  time. 
He  married,  December  15,  1852,  Rebecca 
(Boden)  Kinter,  daughter  of  John  C.  and 
Irwin  Boden.  They  have  a  family  of  twelve 
children:     Samuel,    George,    William    A., 


Elizabeth,  Esther,  Marshall,  Catharine  El- 
vina, Isaac,  Sarah  Virginia,  Rebecca  Agnes, 
Mary  Jane,  John  B.  and  Edwin,  both  de- 
ceased. In  politics  Mr.  Kinter  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  has  filled  various  township  offices, 
among  tiiem  being  president  of  the  school 
board.  The  family  attend  the  Presbyterian 
church. 


McCarty,  Jesse,  farmer,  was  born  at 
Dauphin,  Dau[)hin  county,  August  2,  1830, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jesse  and  Mary  (Walker) 
MeCarty.  The  first  of  the  McCarty  family 
to  settle  in  this  country  were  three  brothers, 
one  of  whom  was  familiarly  called  "  Big 
Dan,"  who  came  from  Scotland.  The  father 
was  born  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  moved  to  Dau- 
phin county  in  1829  and  located  at  Dauphin, 
where  he  engaged  in  tanning.  He  was  an 
industrious  worker,  a  gooil  citizen  and  earn- 
est Christian  man.  He  died  in  Ma}^  1857, 
and  his  wife  in  Jul}',  1872.  They  had  a 
family  of  nine  children  :  Martin  ;  William  ; 
John;  David;  Ann,  wife  of  hsaac  Williams; 
Mary,  wife  of  Jo.seph  Gallagher ;  William 
Henry,  all  deceased  ;  and  Jesse  and  Joseph, 
who  survive.  The  father  of  Mrs.  McCarty, 
who  was  of  German  descent,  was  engaged  in 
the  blacksmith  business  at  Dauphin.  He 
died  November  29,  1874,  and  his  wife  sur- 
vives him.  They  had  one  child,  Mrs.  Mc- 
Carty. 

Jesse  received  his  education  in  the  jtublic 
schools  of  Dauphin.  He  spent  some  years 
at  work  on  the  canal  and  later  built  and  be- 
came the  owner  of  boats  and  engaged  in 
freighting  lumber  and  coal  to  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore  and  New  York,  continuing  that 
occupation  up  to  1879.  In  1863  he  and  his 
two  brothers,  William  and  Joseph,  bought 
the  present  homestead,  where  he  has  resided 
uj>  to  the  present  time,  and  which,  by  con- 
stant and  faithful  work,  he  has  brought  up 
to  its  present  standard  of  excellence.  He 
married,  at  Dauphin,  June  11,  1867,  Miss 
Mary  J.  Novinger,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Sarah  (Fertig)  Novinger.  Their  only  child 
is  George  L.,  born  July  29,  1868.  Mr.  Mc- 
Carty assisted  in  removing  the  Sunday- 
school  library  from  the  Old  Cemetery  church 
library  to  Dauphin.  He  is  a  self-made  man 
and  is  well  known  for  his  honesty  and  gen- 
erous hospitality.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  has  served  as  school  director  and  as 
assistant  assessor.  The  family  attend  the 
Presbyterian  church. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


885 


MiNSKER,  Moses,  farmer  and  blacksmitli, 
was  born  in  Clark's  Valley,  Middle  Paxton 
township,  April  1, 1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Lud- 
wig  and  Henrietta  (Keen)  Klinsker.  For  two 
generations  the  Minsker  family  have  lived 
in  the  locality  where  Moses  was  born.  The 
father  was  born  in  1799,  and  had  a  family 
of  ten  children.  They  are :  Benjamin  ;  Solo- 
mon ;  John  ;  Moses;  Mar}^  deceased  ;  Aaron, 
deceased;  Sarah,  deceased  ;  Catharine,  Har- 
riet, and  Rachel.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Mins- 
ker are  both  deceased,  and  had  a  famih'  of 
six  children:  Rebecca,  John,  Mary  Ann, 
Edward,  James,  and  George. 

Moses  received  his  education  in  the  pubiic 
schools  of  his  native  place  until  he  was  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  and  then  assisted  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  the  latter's  death  in  1857. 
He  tiien  was  engaged  in  various  occupations 
until  1871,  when  he  began  working  for 
Henry  M.  Bayard  &  Co.,  with  whom  lie  re- 
mained seven  years.  He  then  located  on  his 
present  place  and  erected  a  new  house,  black- 
smith shop  and  other  buildings,  and  has 
continued  to  reside  there  to  the  present  time. 
He  was  married,  December  5,  1863,  to  Miss 
Mary  Ann  (Forney)  Minsker.  Tiieir  chil- 
dren are :  Catharine,  born  May  29, 1877,  and 
died  September  6,  1878;  William,  born 
August  21,  18G4 ;  Susan  E.,  born  February 
3,  1866 ;  John,  born  August  8,  1867 ;  Eliza 
Ann,  born  April  14,  1870;  Mary  Rebecca, 
born  January  15,  1873 ;  Hanna  Alice,  born 
January  20, 1875;  Sarah  Jane,  born  Septem- 
ber 12,  1879,  and  Moses,  born  October  2, 
1882.  Mrs.  Minsker  passed  away  November 
13,  1893.  She  was  a  consistent  Christian,  a 
devoted  wife  and  fond  and  indulgent  mother, 
whose  lo.ss  was  felt  by  all  who  knew  her.  Mr. 
Minsker  is  a  self-made  man,  and  by  his  en- 
terprise and  perseverance  has  accumulated  a 
competency  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  spend 
comfortably  his  remaining  life.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  the  family  attend  the 
Evangelical  church. 


Sponsler,  S.vmuel  B.,  farmer,  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Clark's  Valley, 
Middle  Paxton  township,  December  5,  1854. 
He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Barbara  (Bow- 
man) Sponsler.  The  father  was  born  Octo- 
ber 30,  1821,  and  died  June  6,  1894,  while 
the  mother  was  born  June  18, 1826,  and  died 
August  8,  1872.  Thev  were  married,  De- 
cember 20,  1853,  by  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Stover,  of 
Harrisburg,  and  their  children  are:  Samuel 


B.  and  Albert  L.  The  father  served  as 
school  director  and  as  assessor.  Samuel  B. 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  township.  He  assisted  on  his 
father's  farm  until  the  latter's  death,  in  1894. 
He  has  served  as  telegrapher  for  several 
years  under  J.  S.  Fraim,  of  Dauphin,  but 
was  compelled  to  give  up  his  position  on  ac- 
count of  his  mother's  illness  and  death.  He 
has  been  school  director  and  auditor  for  his 
township.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and 
attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


Si'ONSLER,  Albert  L.,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Clark's  Valley,  Middle  Paxton  township, 
April  10,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Barbara  (Bowman)  Sponsler.  Albert  L.  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Middle  Paxton  township,  and  then  worked 
on  his  father's  farm.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat  and  attends  the  Lutheran  church. 


BoGNER,  Riley,  farmer,  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead,  in  Middle  Paxton  township, 
April  10,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Anna  Maria  Bogner.  The  ancestors  of  the 
Bogner  family  were  among  tiie  first  settlers 
of  Clark's  Valley.  Tobias,  whose  only  pos- 
sessions were  his  rifle,  axe  and  knapsack, 
located  near  the  mouth  of  Clark's  creek. 
His  son,  Jacob  Bogner,  was  the  father  of 
Isaac  and  of  Mrs.  Anna  Maria  Bogner,  the 
mother  of  Riley.  Tobias  and  his  son  .lacob, 
who  was  but  sixteen  years  old,  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  The  grandfather  Bog- 
ner died  November  22,  1874,  and  his  wife 
survives.  They  had  only  one  child.  The 
mother  of  Riley  died  July  21,  1871,  and  the 
father  survives.  Riley  was  their  only  child, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  beginning  farm  work  with  his 
grandfather  he  has  followed  that  occupa- 
tion all  his  life.  In  1880  he  moved  to  the 
old  homestead.  He  was  married,  June  10, 
1879,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Elias  and 
Anna  Mary  (Schaffer)  Fertig,  and  is  the 
father  of  two  children  :  Anna  Maria  and 
Isaac  Fertig.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Bogner 
had  these  children  :  Elizabeth  ;  Milton  ; 
Maria,  wife  of  John  Kinter;  Mary,  wife 
of  Dr.  A.  C.  Coble,  and  Laura,  wife  of  John 
DeWalt.  In  politics  Mr.  Bogner  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  has  served  as  assessor  and  as  audi- 
tor in  his  native  township.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  church. 


886 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


LYKENS  TOWNSHIP. 


GiSE,  Joseph  D.,  farmer  and  stockman, 
was  born  in  Lykens  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  April  27,  1834.  His  grand- 
father, Nicholas  Gise,  was  a  native  of  Lehigh 
county,  Pa.,  and  a  carpenter.  He  married 
in  Lehigh  count}',  and  had  a  family  of  five 
sons  and  tliree  daughters. 

Among  the  sons  of  Nicholas  Gise,  was 
Benjamin,  father  of  Joseph  D.  Gise.  He  was 
a  farmer  in  Lehigh  county,  where  lie  was 
born  and  spent  his  early  life.  While  still  a 
young  man  ho  removed  to  Dauphin  county, 
locating  in  Lykens  township,  on  a  farm  of 
eight}'  acres,  which  he  greatly  improved, 
and  on  which,  besides  farming,  he  made  a 
business  of  I'aising  live  stock.  Benjamin 
Gise  was  married,  in  Lykens  township,  to 
Rebecca  Umholtz,  born  in  Lykens  township, 
December  25, 1810.  They  had  ten  children : 
Joseph  D.;  John  B.,  at  Gratz ;  Mary  A.,  wife 
of  Jacob  Shiro,  of  Gratz ;  Sarah  A.,  wife  of 
B.J.  Evitts,  postmaster  at  Gratz;  Amanda, 
wife  of  J.  W.  Hoffman,  farmer,  Lykens  town- 
ship; Edward,  Jacob,  Henry,  and  Daniel, 
deceased,  and  two  children  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  Gise  died  at  Gratz  in  1885.  He 
was  a  Republican,  and  served  as  supervisor 
of  roads.  In  all  religious  matters  he  took  a 
deep  interest,  and  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Evangelical  church,  serving  as  deacon, 
elder  and  class  leader,  also  as  a  local  preacher. 
He  was  a  prominent  and  very  useful  citizen, 
and  an  upright  and  devout  Christian. 

Joseph  D.Gise  attended  subscription  schools 
and  was  for  one  year  in  tlie  public  school 
of  the  township  ;  he  was  also  for  two  terms  a 
pupil  in  the  New  Berlin  Academy,  Union 
county.  Pa.  He  began  to  work  on  the  farm 
in  early  boyhood,  and  was  employed  there 
until  he  was  tvventj'-three  \-ears  old.  Dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  this  time  lie  taught 
scliool  for  two  terms.  For  fourteen  years 
after  leaving  home  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  in  summer  and  taught  in  the  town- 
ship schools  during  the  winter  months. 
Throughout  all  that  time  he  diligently  pur- 
sued a  course  of  private  study  and  reading, 
with  the  view  of  acquiring  a  more  liberal 
education. 

Under  the  administration  of  President 
Grant,  Mr.  Gise  was  appointed  and  commis- 
sioned in  the  Internal  Revenue  service  as 
storekeeper  and  ganger  of  the  Fourteentii 
Congressional  district  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  under 


an  official  bond  of  §20,000.  He  retained 
this  position  for  seventeen  years  and  per- 
formed its  responsible  duties  with  entire  sat- 
isfaction to  the  Government  and  with  the 
utmost  credit  to  himself.  After  leaving  the 
Government  service  Mr.  Gise  bought  a  farm 
of  twenty  acres  in  Lykens  township,  on 
which  he  made  substantial  improvements, 
building  a  fine  dwelling  house  and  barn, 
planting  orchards,  etc.,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising. 

Joseph  D.  Gise  was  married,  at  Berrys- 
burg.  Pa.,  January  27,  1857,  to  Elizabeth  E. 
Witmer,  born  in  tlniontown,  Pa.,  March  14, 
1840;  daughter  of  Benjamin  Witmer,  a  tailor, 
of  Uniontown.  They  have  three  children: 
Henry  Day,  professor  in  the  high  school, 
SchuylkillHaven,  Pa.,  where  he  has  been 
employed  for  eleven  years,  being  a  graduate 
in  the  class  of  1878  of  the  State  Normal 
School,  Millersville,  Pa.;  George  W.,  attor- 
ney-at-law,  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa.,  read  law 
under  Guy  Farquhar,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.,  and 
has  a  large  practice ;  Mary  A.,  died   young. 

Mr.  Gise  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  at 
Ilarrisburg,  May  25,  18G2,  in  company  I, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventy-seventh  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers.  Col.  George  B.  Wiest- 
ling  and  Capt.  Benjamin  J.  Evitts,  and  was 
mustered  in  as  second  lieutenant.  He  was 
discharged  and  mustered  out  August  5,  1864, 
having  served  on  guard  duty  at  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk,  Va.,  and  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Mr.  Gise  is  a  Republican ;  he  has  held 
most  of  the  township  offices,  and  was  twice 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  but  declined  to 
serve.  He  is  a  member  of  Kissinger  Post,  No. 
37G,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Gratz,  and  has  also  belonged 
to  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  to  K.  of  P.,  to  S.  P.  K., 
and  the  Grangers ;  he  is  interested  in  the 
Grange  store  at  Gratz.  He  is  a  most  worthy 
man,  honored  and  esteemed  in  the  commu- 
nity. 


Kissinger,  J.\cob,  farmer  and  stockman, 
Gratz,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lykens  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  November  14,  1843. 
His  grandfather,  John  Kissinger,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Lykens  township,  farmer,  who  lived 
and  died  in  that  township.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Klinger,  of  Lykens  Valley  ;  their 
children  were:  John,  Jonas,  Peter,  Angeline, 
Susan,  George,  and  Kate. 

George  Kissinger,  father  of  Jacob,  was 
born  in  Lykens  townsiiip  in  1817,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  subscription  schools  of  the 
township.     His  life  was  spent  in  farming. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


887 


He  owned  a  farm  of  sixt}'  acres  in  Lykens 
township,  wliieli  lie  cultivated  and  improved, 
and  on  which  he  was  engaged  in  stock  rais- 
ing. He  is  still  an  active  business  man. 
He  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  George  Kissinger  was 
married  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  to  Sarah 
Knerr,  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  in  1822. 
Their  children  were  :  John,  in  Northampton 
county,  Pa.;  Jacob;  Catherine,  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Hoffman ;  Jane,  wife  of  Reuben 
Steeley,  Lykens  township ;  Amos,  farmer, 
Lykens  township,  and  Amanda,  died  young. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kissinger  still  reside  in  tiie 
township.  Mr.  Kissinger  took  an  active 
part  in  the  Sunday-school — was  teacher  and 
treasurer  for  many  years. 

Jacob  Kissinger  attended  the  Kissinger 
school  house  in  the  winter  and  worked  on 
the  farm  during  the  summer.  He  con- 
tinued work  at  home  until  July  1, 1S()3,  when 
he  enlisted  in  what  was  called  the  "  Home 
Guards,"  at  Gratz,  Pa.  He  was  in  company 
C,  Thirty-sixth  regiment  of  these  militia 
troops,  and  served  eight  weeks  at  Gettys- 
burg. Being  then  disciiarged,  he  returned 
home  and  remained  on  the  farm  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  when  he  re-enlisted  at  Gratz 
for  three  years  in  company  K,  Ninth  Penn- 
sylvania cavalry.  Col.  Thomas  J.  Jordan  and 
Capt.  J.  Frank  Miller.  He  was  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  and  went  with  Sherman 
to  the  sea,  and  remained  with  Sherman's 
army,  participating  in  marches  and  battles, 
until  the  surrender  of  Johnson,  liavingbeen 
in  forty-two  battles  and  skirmishes.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  Mr.  Kissinger  was  honor- 
ably discharged  from  the  service  at  Harris- 
burg,  returned  home,  and  for  two  years  as- 
sisted his  father  in  cultivating  the  home 
farm.  After  this  he  cultivated  a  rented  fiirm 
of  eighty-five  acres  until  1885,  when  he 
bought  the  farm  he  now  owns  and  occupies 
for  $8,U00.  He  has  built  upon  it  a  dwelling 
costing  |1,500,  and  made  other  important 
improvements.  Besides  farming,  he  carries 
on  a  stock  and  a  dairy  business. 

Jacob  Kissinger  was  married,  in  Lykens 
township,  in  August,  1867,  to  Amanda  Will- 
iard,  born  in  Lykens  township  October  1, 
1848,  daughter  of  a  farmer  of  that  township, 
George  Williard,  and  his  wife,  Lavinia 
(Deibler)  Williard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kissinger 
had  eleven  children :  Harvey  F.,  born  No- 
vember 11,  1868,  farmer,  Lykens  township; 
Mary,  born  February  8,  1870,  wife  of  Frank 
Hoii'man,  Lykens  township ;  S.  Katie,  born 


June  9,1872;  Daniel,  born  January  10,1874, 
farmer;  Edmund  0.,  born  November  9, 1876, 
at  home;  Ida,  born  January  9,  1878,  died 
January  19,  1880;  Dora  E.,  born  December 
13,  1880;  Annie,  born  September  21,  1882, 
died  in  1891 :  Charles  W.,  born  September  4, 
1884;  Jacob,  born  August  12,  1886;  and 
Thomas  H.,  born  October  6,  1888. 

Mr.  Kissinger  is  a  member  of  Kissinger 
Post,  No.  376,  G.  A.  R.,  was  commander  of 
the  Post  one  year,  and  has  officiated  as  chap- 
lain, vice-commander,  and  lieutenant  vice- 
commander.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
of  the  Grange.  He  is  a  Republican  ;  has 
been  four  terms  supervisor  of  roads  and 
judge  of  elections,  and  has  served  in  other 
township  offices.  Mr.  Kissinger  is  also  prom- 
inent in  church  affairs,  being  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  church  at  Gratz.  He  has  been 
an  elder  for  three  years,  and  has  represented 
the  congregation  at  synods.  He  lias  served 
in  all  offices  of  the  church,  and  is  a  diligent 
worker,  and  an  honorable  and  influential 
citizen. 


SiTLiNGER,  Isaac,  farmer  and  stockman, 
was  born  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 15,  1833.  George  Sitlinger,  his  father, 
was  born  in  Germany,  and  formerly  spelled 
his  name  Zittlinger.  He  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man  and  located  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  where  he  followed  the  occupation 
of  harness  making.  He  was  a  well  educated 
man  and  taught  subscription  schools  in  the 
county,  both  English  and  German.  He 
married  Sarah  Klinger,  a  native  of  Schuyl- 
kill county,  by  whom  he  had  only  one 
child,  Isaac.  He  died  in  Schuylkill  county. 
His  politics  were  Democratic.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  clmrch.  He  was 
well  known,  genial  and  popular,  enjoying 
the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his  neigh- 
bors. 

Isaac  Sitlinger  was  in  his  early  youth  in- 
structed by  his  father  and  also  attended  the 
subscription  schools  of  the  township.  When 
quite  young  he  came  to  Dauphin  county, 
and  found  work  as  a  farm  hand  in  Lykens 
township  until  he  was  fifteen.  At  this  age 
he  began  work  as  a  coal  miner,  and  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  Lykens  Goal  Company 
for  over  forty  years.  He  was  a  faithful  and 
diligent  worker,  intent  on  earning  a  support 
for  his  family  and  accumulating  moneys  for 
busine.ss  purposes. 

In  1874  Mr.  Sitlinger  bought  a  farm  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


fifty-two  acres  in  Lykens  township  on  which 
he  built  a  fine  barn,  costing  over  $1,000,  and 
which  he  substantially  improved  in  other 
ways ;  since  that  date  he  has  been  engaged 
in  general  fanning. 

Isaac  Sitlinger  was  married,  in  Lykens 
township,  in  1852,  to  Maria  Shade,  born  in 
Schuylkill  county,  June  23,  1834  ;  daughter 
of  Jacob  Shade,  a  farmer,  and  Catharine 
(Klinger)  Shade,  his  wife.  The  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sitlinger  are:  Sarah,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Shadle,  Washington  township ; 
Jacob,  a  miner;  Clara,  wife  of  Joseph  Ras- 
patch,  Wiconisco;  George,  farmer,  Lykens 
township;  Alvin,  farmer  on  the  homestead  ; 
Ida,  wife  of  Uriah  Daniels;  Samuel,  a  miner ; 
Elsie,  housekeeper  at  home;  Lettieand  Mag- 
gie died  young.  Mrs.  Sitlinger  died  Octo- 
ber 23,  1889.  She  was  a  devout  member  of 
the  Reformed  church,  and  was  zealous  and 
active  in  all  church  work.  She  was  exem- 
jilary  as  a  wife  and  mother,  a  lovely  Chris- 
tian woman. 

Mr.  Sitlinger  is  a  Republican.  He  was 
supervisor  of  roads  for  five  years,  and  gave 
general  satisfaction  in  office.  He  is  one  of 
tiie  local  party  leaders,  and  is  always  active 
in  political  movements.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  church,  and  lias  been  an 
elder  for  three  years.  He  was  formerly 
connected  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Sitlinger  has  an  honorable  record  as 
a  soldier  in  the  late  war.  He  enlisted  at 
Harrisburg,  in  March,  1865,  in  company  G, 
One  Hundred  and  Third  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  Capt.  C.  Harper  and  Colonel 
Lehman.  He  was  detailed  on  guard  duty 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  Norfolk,  and  Roanoke 
Island,  N.  C.  His  enlistment  was  for  three 
years,  and  he  was  mustered  out  at  Newberne, 
N."C.,  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  returned 
home  much  broken  in  health,  and  was  for 
one  year  an  invalid  The  sight  of  his  right 
ej'e  is  seriously  impaired  from  exposure  in 
the  service.  He  is  well  worthy  of  a  pension 
but  as  3'et  none  has  been  granted  to  him. 
He  is  a  substantial  and  reliable  man,  well 
liked  by  his  neighbors. 


Ferree,  Frank  P.,  farmer  and  stockman, 
Gratz,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lykens  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  May  25,  1853.  Isaac 
Ferree,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
France  and  a  descendant  of  the  Huguenots 
who  were  expelled  from  that  country'.  He 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  Lancaster 


county,  where  he  was  a  farmer  and  where  he 
died.  Isaac  Ferree  (2),  grandfather  of  Frank 
P.,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  and 
was  also  a  farmer.  He  took  part  in  the  war 
of  1812.  He  came  to  Dauphin  count}'  and 
located  in  Lykens  Valley  and  took  up  one 
thousand  acres  of  timber  land.  He  laid  out 
the  town  of  Lykens  and  was  extensively  inter- 
ested in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  was 
much  disturbed  by  Indian  outbreaks  and 
was  repeatedly  compelled  to  take  up  arms 
against  the  red  warriors.  He  owned  a  pow- 
der mill  at  Lykens.  He  was  an  influential 
man,  widely  known  and  highly  esteemed. 
He  was  an  ardent  Democrat.  He  held  mem- 
bership in  tb.e  Reformed  church.  He  mar- 
ried in  the  township  and  was  the  father  of 
ten  children,  among  whom  was  George  W., 
father  of  Frank  P.  Ferree. 

George  Washington  Ferree  was  born  in 
Lykens  Valley,  Washington  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  November  21,  1810.  He 
attended  the  subscription  schools  of  the 
township,  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
was  for  twenty-five  years  employed  in  the 
coal  mines  of  Wiconisco.  Later  he  bought 
a  farm  of  thirty-three  acres  in  Lykens  town- 
ship, and  during  the  remainder  of  his  life 
was  engaged  in  agriculture.  Mr.  Ferree  was 
married,  in  Lykens  township,  in  1834,  to 
Leah  L^mholtz,  born  in  Lykens  Valley,  Ly- 
kens township,  February  7,  1815;  daughter 
of  Henry  Umholtz,  a  farmer  of  that  town- 
ship. They  had  ten  children  :  Cyrus,  de- 
ceased ;  Uriah,  deceased  ;  Mary  A.,  deceased, 
wife  of  Isaac  Burd;  Elizabeth;  Henry, 
miner;  Leah,  died  in  infancy;  Sarah,  de- 
ceased, wife  of  N.  Bressler  ;  George  W.,  de- 
ceased ;  Frank  P.;  and  Ethel  E.,  deceased, 
wife  of  John  Rush.  Mr.  George  W.  Ferree 
died  on  the  homestead,  November  5,  1873. 
He  was  a  Democrat  and  was  very  active  as 
a  local  leader  in  his  party.  His  wife  died  in 
18S5. 

Frank  P.  Ferree  attended  the  common 
schools  and  was  also  a  pupil  at  the  Berrys- 
burg  Seminary  for  four  terms.  He  became 
a  teacher  and  taught  the  township  school 
during  the  winter  months  and  worked  on 
the  home  farm  in  the  summer.  He  always 
remained  on  the  homestead  and  took  charge 
of  the  farm  after  the  death  of  his  mother. 
He  was  also  at  intervals  engaged  in  working 
in  the  mines,  and  up  to  the  present  time  is 
occasionally  employed  in  this  work  in  the 
mines  at  Wiconisco. 
Frank  P.  Ferree  was  married,  in  Lykens, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


889 


township,  in  1878,  to  Catherine  Salada,  born 
in  Lykens  township,  March  12, 18G0 ;  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Salada,  a  brick  maker,  and 
Elizabeth  (Siloe)  Salada..  They  have  four 
children  :  Sarah  E.,  born  November  20, 
1879  ;  Joseph  A.,  born  December  17,  1885  ; 
Lizzie  L.,  born  April  1, 1890  ;  and  Henry  U., 
born  April  20,  1892. 

Mr.  Ferree  is  a  Democrat  and  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  and  served  two  terms, 
seven  years,  and  was  an  acceptable  officer. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  deacon  and  Sunday- 
school  teacher  and  superintendent.  He  is  of 
good  reputation  and  character  as  man  and 
as  citizen,  is  well  and  widely  known  and 
universally  respected. 


Hoffman,  John  W.,  farmer  and  stock- 
man, Gratz,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Gratz,  Lykens 
townshiji,  Daui)hin  county.  Pa.,  March  8, 
1813.  His  father,  Henry  C.  Hoffman,  was 
born  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  and  came 
when  a  young  man  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  wliere 
he  worked  as  a  carpenter  for  Mr.  Holman. 
He  afterwards  came  to  Lykens  township, 
and  worked  at  his  trade  at  Gratz,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  liis  life,  and  died  in 
1878.  He  was  married,  in  Gratz,  to  a  native 
of  that  place,  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Wel- 
ker.  Their  children  were:  Sarah,  wife  of 
John  B.  Hoke,  Pottsville,  Pa.;  John  W.; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  F.  Heitzman,  Shamokin, 
Pa.;  Hannah,  wife  of  John  Eisenhart;  Ellen, 
wife  of  George  Reed,  Valley  View,  Pa.;  Re- 
becca, wife  of  Amos  Kissinger;  James  F.,  re- 
sides in  Gratz ;  Amelia,  wife  of  John  Getler, 
Pottsville,  Pa.;  Mary  and  Samuel,  both  de- 
ceased, and  three  children  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Mr.  Hoffman  took  an  active  i>art  in  poli- 
tics, first  as  a  Whig  and  subsequently  as  a 
Republican.  He  held  various  township 
offices,  as  auditor,  etc.  He  was  an  official 
member  in  the  Reformed  church,  serving  as 
deacon,  elder  and  in  otlier  church  offices. 
His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  same  church. 
She  died  in  Gratz  in  1881. 

John  W.  Hoffman  attended  school  for  a 
short  time  each  winter,  and  worked  on  the 
farm  of  Daniel  P.  Stine  every  summer  from 
his  ninth  to  his  sixteenth  year.  He  also  at- 
tended Freeburg  Academy,  Snyder  county, 
for  two  terms.  By  this  course,  together  with 
diligent  private  study  and  reading,  he  pre- 
pared himself  for  the  work  of  teaching,  and 


taught  school  twelve  terms,  ten  of  which 
were  in  the  winter  season. 

Mr.  Hoffman  learned  carpentry  with  his 
father,  and  worked  as  a  journeyman  until 
the  war  broke  out.  He  enlisted  at  Harris- 
burg in  August,  1862,  in  company  D,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  Pennsylvania 
volunteers.  Col.  W.  W.  Jennings  and  Capt. 
J.  B.  Keene.  He  was  ordered  to  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  and  remained  at  Arlington 
Heights  until  December  1,  when  he  marclied 
with  his  company  to  Fredericksburg,  and  on 
December  13,  18G2,  participated  in  the  battle 
fought  there.  He  was  afterwards  sick  for 
seven  weeks,  and  remained  there  all  winter. 
He  was  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville 
May  3, 1863,  and  in  the  four  days'  fight 
there.  His  term  of  enlistment  having  ex- 
pired, he  returned  home  in  June,  1863,  and 
remained  there  until  April,  1865,  when  he 
again  enlisted,  this  time  for  three  years,  at 
Ilarrisburg.  He  was  sent  to  Roanoke  Island, 
where  he  performed  close  guard  duty.  He 
was  mustered  out  at  the  expiration  of  the 
war,  and  was  left  with  impaired  health,  re- 
sulting from  exposure  in  service.  Return- 
ing to  Gratz  Mr.  Hoffman  taught  school 
until  1878.  He  then  bought  a  farm  of  fifty- 
two  acres  in  the  Snyder  mill  property,  on 
which  there  was  only  an  old  frame  house. 
He  built  on  this  place  a  good  dwelling  house 
and  barn,  costing  over  $2,000,  and  made 
other  valuable  improvements.  In  1889  he 
bought  the  Shade  farm  of  fifty-two  acres, 
and  has  since  cultivated  the  one  hundred 
and  four  acres,  on  which  he  has  been  exten- 
sivel}'  engaged  in  raising  stock. 

John  W.  Hoffman  was  married  in  Lykens 
township,  January  17,  1807,  to  Amanda 
(tuise,  born  in  that  township  December  30, 
1847.  Their  children  were:  Edwin,  tinsmith. 
Valley  View,  Pa.;  Harry  W.,  farmer,  on4lie 
homestead,  married  Edna  Daniel,  of  Lykens 
township  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Isaac  Troutraan  ; 
Martha,  unmarried ;  Stephen,  Charles  G., 
Clarence  and  Ellie,  all  at  home,  and  Emma 
C,  who  died  at  five  years  of  age.  Mr.  Hoff- 
man is  a  member  of  Kissinger  Post,  No.  376, 
G.  A.  R.  He  is  a  Republican,  active  in 
party  movements  and  deeply  interested  in 
townshiji  affairs.  He  was  school  director 
for  a  number  of  years.  For  .seventeen  years 
he  was  secretary  of  the  Dauphin  County  Fair. 
He  is  also  much  interested  in  church  mat- 
ters. He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church,  in   which   he  was  for  years  Sunday- 


890 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


school  teacher  and  superintendent.  He  is  a 
live  man  in  all  public  and  social  concerns, 
active  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. 


Umholtz,  Emanuel,  farmer,  Gratz,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Lj'kens  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  July  30, 1843.  Philip  Umholtz, 
his  grandfather,  was  of  German  descent',  and 
was  a  farmer  in  Lykens  township,  where  he 
died.  He  was  an  old  line  Whig  and  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  churcli.  His  son 
Samuel,  fatlier  of  Emanuel  Umholtz,  was 
also  born  in  Lykens  township,  where  he 
owned  and  cultivated  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Frederick  Harner,  was  a  native  of 
tiie  same  township.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren :  Maria,  died  young  ;  Emanuel ;  Isaac, 
enlisted  in  company  H,  Two  Hundred  and 
Tenth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  was 
killed  in  battle  ;  Sarah  M.,  wife  of  Henry  M. 
Ritzraan,  Lykens  township;  Ellen,  wife  of 
Elias  Klinger ;  Henry,  deceased;  Louisa, 
wife  of  Jacob  Zimmerman,  Williamstown, 
Pa.;  Edward,  in  Iowa.  Mrs.  Umholtz  died 
in  Lykens  township  in  1856.  Mr.  Umholtz 
was  again  married,  to  Elizabetli  Genter,  born 
in  Washington  township;  tlieir  children 
were:  Adeline,  wifeofGeorgeWeJker, Lykens 
township;  Harvey,  killed  by  a  casualty  in 
the  mines,  and  William,  miner,  residing 
in  Gratz.  Mr.  Umholtz  died  in  the  town- 
sliip  in  March,  1884.  He  was  a  Republican ; 
he  served  as  tax  collector  and  in  otlier  town- 
ship offices.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Reformed  church,  serving  as  deacon  ;  he 
was  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his 
fellow-men. 

Emanuel  Umholtz  Iiad  only  the  most  slen- 
der educational  advantages,  having  been  in 
school  not  more  than  a  year  altogether.  He 
began  at  a  very  early  age  to  work  with  his 
father  on  the  farm,  and  remained  with  him 
until  he  was  fifteen ;  at  this  age  he  went 
to  Ohio,  worked  for  a  year  on  a  farm,  and 
then  returned  and  was  for  two  years  in  the 
employ  of  a  farmer  in  Lykens  township. 
He  enlisted  on  July  1,  1863,  in  company 
H,  Thirty-sixth  Pennsylvania  militia,  and 
served  sixty  days  in  and  about  Gettysburg, 
at  the  time  of  the  great  rebel  invasion.  He 
afterwards  worked  on  the  farm  until  Septem- 
ber of  that  year,  when  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany H,  Ninth  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  Cap- 
tain Kimmell  and  Col.  J.  J.  Jordan.  He  was 
with  Sherman  in  all  his  campaigns,  and  par- 


ticipated in  the  battles  fought  by  that  army 
up  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  dis- 
charged July  28,  1865,  resumed  farm  work 
with  his  father,  and  remained  with  him 
until  1867.  In  this  year  he  bought  a  farm 
of  eight3'-two  acres,  which  he  cultivated  for 
twelve  years,  and  then  bought  a  farm  of 
sixty-four  acres,  improved  it  and  farmed  it 
for  four  years.  He  then  sold  this  farm  and 
bought  the  old  homestead  of  seventy  acres, 
which  he  now  occupies  and  cultivates. 

Emanuel  Umholtz  was  married,  in  Lykens 
township  in  1867,  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
Henry  Hartman,  born  in  that  township  in 
1840.  Their  children  are:  Isaac  M.,  on  the 
homestead,  married  L.  C.  Cecilia  Willard 
and  has  one  child,  Elmer;  and  Lizzie,  wife 
of  George  Daniel,  farmer,  Lykens  township, 
has  one  child,  Charles. 

Mr.  Umholtz  is  a  Republican  ;  has  served 
fifteen  years  as  constable.  He  is  a  member 
of  Kissinger  Post,  No.  376,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Gratz. 
He  is  connected  with  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  has  been  four  years  a  deacon.  He  has 
spent  an  active  and  useful  life.  He  worked 
a  year  and  a  half  in  the  mines,  but  most  of 
his  life  has  been  devoted  to  agriculture.  He 
takes  an  active  part  in  the  county  fair,  and 
is  alive  to  all  that  promises  good  to  the 
farmers.  He  is  well  known  and  well  liked 
and  everywhere  recognized  as  a  solid  man. 


RiEGLE,  Harrison,  farmer  and  stockman, 
was  born  in  Lykens  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  November  15,  1840.  Daniel 
Riegle  (1),  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
Berks  count}',  of  German  descent,  and  a 
farmer.  He  and  his  wife  died  in  Lykens 
township.  Both  were  members  of  the  Re- 
formed church.  He  was  an  old  line  Whig. 
His  son,  Daniel  Riegle  (2),  father  of  Harrison, 
owned  and  cultivated  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  in 
Lykens  township,  which  he  greatly  improved, 
and  occupied  it  until  1850.  He  then  sold 
this  farm,  and  purchased  the  mill  property 
belonging  to  the  Hoover  estate,  now  the 
property  of  Daniel  Buffington,  on  which  he 
resided  until  1855.  He  tiien  removed  to 
Gratz,  where  he  died  in  June  of  the  same 
year.  He  served  one  term  as  county  com- 
missioner of  Dauphin  count}',  also  one  term 
as  director  of  the  poor  of  the  same  count}'. 
He  was  once  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 
sheriff,  but  was  defeated.  He  was  married, 
in  Lykens  township,  to  Catherine  Hoffman, 
a  native  of  that  township,  who  died  there  in 
1864.     Their  children  were:  Eliza,  deceased, 


DAUPHIN  COUNT y. 


891 


wife  of  Elias  Etzwiler,  Jackson  township  ; 
Josiah  R.  and  Jonas  P.,  both  deceased;  and 
Harrison. 

Harrison  Riegle  attended  the  public  school 
for  onl}'  a  few  terms,  during  winter  months. 
He  began  early  to  help  his  father  in  farm 
work,  and  remained  with  him  until  in  his 
sixteenth  3'ear.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
began  working  as  a  laborer  in  the  mines ;  at 
the  end  of  a  year  he  became  a  miner,  and 
was  so  employed  until  1865.  He  enlisted  at 
Harrisburg,  March  10,  1865,  in  company  G, 
One  Hundred  and  Third  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  for  one  year.  He  was  sent 
by  the  way  of  Baltimore  to  Fortress  Monroe, 
tlience  to  Norfolk  and  Roanoke  Island,  and 
was  on  guard  duty  for  four  months.  He  was 
mustered  out  of  service  July  14,  1865,  at 
Palmer,  N.  C,  and  returned  to  Harrisburg, 
where  he  received  his  discharge.  After  this 
he  continued  in  the  employment  of  the 
Lykens  Valley  Coal  Company,  as  a  miner 
until  1886,  when  he  relinquished  mining 
and  bought  a  farm  in  Lykens  township,  con- 
taining forty  acres  cleared  land  and  thirty- 
seven  acres  woodland,  which  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  improving  and  tilling. 

Harrison  Riegle  was  married,  in  Lykens 
township,  in  1867,  to  Hannah  L.  Rickert, 
born  in  that  township  in  May,  1849 ;  daugh- 
terof  Martin  Rickert,  farmer.  Their  cliildren 
were:  Chauncey  A.,  miner;  Lizzie  C;  Edward 
A.,scliool  teacher;  Charles G.,  miner;  Bertha, 
Mabel,  Norman,  and  seven  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  Riegle  is  a  Republican  ;  has  been 
for  three  years  school  director,  and  takes  an 
active  part  in  to  wn.ship  affairs.  At  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  joined  the  Gratz  Lodge,  I. 
0.  0.  F.,  and  still  iiolds  his  membersiiip  in 
that  fraternity.  He  is  also  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  with  the  Lykens  Lodge 
of  S.  P.  K.,  and  with  Kissinger  Post,  No.  376, 
G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Riegle  is  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  church. 


Grtjbb,  Henry  A.,  farmer  and  dairyman, 
was  born  in  Greenwood  township,  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  September  30,  1850. 

Henry  Grubb  (1),  grandfather  of  Henry 
A.  Grubb,  was  a  farmer  in  Perrj'  county,  and 
died  in  that  county.  Henry  Grubb  (2)  was 
born  in  Greenwood  townsliip,  where  he 
owned  and  cultivated  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres,  on  which  he  died  in  1862.  He  mar- 
ried Abbey  Mentz,  a  native  of  Northumber- 
land county.  Their  children  were:  Susan, 
William, Sophia,  and  Sarah  J.,  all  deceased; 


Abbey,  wife  of  Henry  Long,  Perry  county ; 
Angeline,  wife  of  Joseph  Ulsh  ;  Abraham,  of 
Perry  county ;  Henry  A.;  Mary,  wife  of  Henry 
Grubb,  farmer,  Perry  county ;  Ida,  wife  of 
John  App.  Mrs.  Grubb  died  in  Perry  county, 
February  10,  1892.  Mr.  Grubb  was  a  Re- 
publican. He  was  a  zealous  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
its  enterprises. 

Henry  A.  Grubb  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  township.  AVhen  he 
was  twelve  years  old  he  engaged  in  regular 
work  on  the  home  farm,  and  was  so  em- 
ployed until  his  father's  death,  after  which  he 
hired  out  as  a  farm  hand,  at  from  §14  to  $23 
per  month.  He  worked  one  year  in  Perry 
county,  then  two  years  for  George  Negley,  in 
Washington  township,  Dauphin  county.  He 
was  for  the  next  two  years  repairer  in  the 
Lykens  coal  mines.  He  then  bought  the 
old  Hess  farm,  one  hundred  and  eleven 
acres,  in  Lykens  township,  on  wliich  was  the 
Hess  Hotel,  paying  $62.50  per  acre.  He  im- 
proved the  place,  adding  needful  buildings, 
etc.,  and  began  cultivating  it,  at  the  same 
time  kee])ing  the  hotel  for  two  j'ears.  In 
1895  he  engaged  in  the  dair^'  business,  and 
has  a  good  trade  in  supplying  Lykens.  Mr. 
Grubb  has  great  energy,  and  is  very  enter- 
prising; he  is  successful  and  prosperous.  He 
is  popular  and  well  known  as  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  the  township. 

Henry  A.  Grubb  was  married,  in  Lykens 
township,  in  1874,  to  Isabella  Hess,  a  native 
of  Lykens  township,  and  an  adopted  daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  Hess,  a  hotel  keejier.  Tiieir 
children  are :  William,  on  the  farm  ;  Annie, 
Edward  N.,  Cliarles,  Carrie,  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Grubb  is  a  Republican, 
and  is  active  in  public  affairs.  He  has  been 
school  director  for  three  years. 


Kessler,  Reuben,  manufacturer  and 
farmer,  was  born  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa., 
June  18, 1846.  Abraham  Kessler,  his  father, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  and  a 
farmer.  In  1850  he  bought  a  farm  of  forty- 
one  acres,  of  Daniel  Riegle.  in  Lykens  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  built  a  saw  mill  and 
manufactured  lumber  on  this  place  from 
1868  to  1881  ;  he  was  very  enterprising.  He 
was  married,  in  Schuylkill  county,  to  Cathe- 
rine Riegle,  born  in  Lykens  township  ;  Reu- 
ben was  their  only  child.  Mr.  Kessler  died 
June  12,  1881.  He  was  a  Democrat.  His 
wife  died  at  the  home  of  her  son  November 


892 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


15,  1892.     They  were  members  of  the  Re- 
formed church. 

Reuben  Kessler  was  well  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Lykens  township.  He  worked  on 
the  farm  and  in  the  saw  mill  for  his  father. 
After  his  father's  death  he  took  chai'ge  of 
the  estate,  tilled  the  farm  and  employed 
several  men  in  the  mill.  In  1894  he  built 
a  distillery  and  engaged  with  success  in  the 
manufacture  of  whiskey.  The  business  of 
the  saw  mill  was  equally  satisfactory,  and 
the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-three 
acres  contributed  its  share  to  the  prosi)erity 
of  the  estate.  Mr.  Kessler  has  his  hands 
full  of  business,  but  with  his  able  oversight 
and  systematic  management,  nothing  is 
neglected  and  ample  returns  are  derived 
from  all  branches  of  his  enterpri.se. 

Reuben  Kessler  was  married,  in  Jackson- 
ville, Jackson  township,  to  Elizabeth  Swei- 
gart,  of  Powell's  Valley,  on  February  26, 
1871.  Their  children  are :  George  W., 
James  A.,  and  Lousonna  Catharine,  on  the 
farm;  Abraham  P.,  died  in  1895.  Mr.  Kess- 
ler is  not  a  politician.  In  church  matters 
he  is  zealous  an  dactive,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  church.  Pie  belongs  to  the 
Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America,  and  form- 
erly belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  is  much  interested  in  the 
Grange  and  in  all  agricultural  matters,  but 
takes  most  pride  in  his  fine  blooded  stock. 


Stine,  Daniel  P.,  farmer  and  manufac- 
turer, was  born  in  Lykens  township,  Dau- 
l)hin  county,  Pa.,  March  27,1822.  Frederick 
Stine,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1775,  when  he  was  a  young  man.  He  fought 
in  the  Revolution  on  the  side  of  the  Eng- 
lish. After  the  war  he  settled  in  Berks 
count}',  where  he  remained  for  some  time. 
He  removed  to  Lykens  Valley  in  1788,  took 
up  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  bought  some 
besides,  and  was  extensivelj'  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  also  worked 
at  iiis  trade,  masonry,  in  the  valley.  He 
married  Abigail  Lamm,  born  in  Berks 
county.  Their  children  were:  Elizabeth, 
Rosanua,  Catherine,  and  John  P.  Frederick 
Stine  died  in  Lykens  township,  April  24, 
1832.  His  wife  had  died  in  October,  1823. 
He  was  a  Democrat,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
church. 

John  P.  Stine,  father  of  Daniel,  was  born 
in  Berks  county  in   1784.     He  had  a  good 


German  education,  and  also  received  some 
training  in  English  schools.  He  owned  a 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  on 
which  he  built  a  dwelling  house,  barn  and 
other  needful  structures,  in  which  he  car- 
ried on  a  general  busine.ss  in  farming.  John 
P.  Stine  was  married,  in  Lykens  township,  to 
Regina  Coleman,  born  in  Lykens  township 
in  1795;  daughter  of  Charles  Coleman,  a 
farmer  of  that  township.  Their  children 
were  :  Daniel  P.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel 
Retzman  ;  Abigail,  wife  of  Joseph  D.  Frelin  ; 
Peter  L.,  merchant,  Elizabethville;  Jonas, 
engineer  at  Pottsville ;  Josiah,  farmer  and 
tanner,  Washington  township,  Dauphin 
county;  and  Catherine,  Frederick,  Ellen, 
John,  Charles,  Isaac,  and  Ann  Myra,  all  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Stine  died  in  Lykens  township 
in  1854  ;  Mrs.  Stine  died  in  Gratz  in  1878. 
They  were  members  of  the  Reformed  church, 
in  which  Mr.  Stine  was  deacon,  elder  and 
trustee.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  held 
several  township  offices.  He  was  ]irominent 
in  business  and  in  social  matters,  and  was 
esteemed  as  an  honorable,  worthy  man,  of 
intelligent  and  public  spirit. 

Daniel  Stine  attended  German  sciiools  in 
his  township  and  also  English  subscription 
schools,  but  the  whole  extent  of  his  school 
days  was  not  more  than  six  months.  He 
began  working  on  the  farm  at  eight  years  of 
age  and  continued  with  his  father  until  he 
was  of  age,  assisting  in  clearing  the  land 
and  in  the  work  of  cultivation.  At  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  Mr.  Stine  began  business 
for  himself  He  bought  a  shop  in  Gratz, 
hired  a  harness  maker  and  learned  harness 
making.with  him.  He  then  carried  on  this 
trade  in  Gratz  for  eight  years.  After  this  he 
bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  in  Schuylkill 
county,  which  he  improved  and  cultivated 
for  four  years  and  then  sold.  He  bought 
the  homestead,  consisting  of  eighty-nine 
acres,  in  1854,  paying  $3,500  for  it,  built  a 
fine  barn  on  it,  whicii  cost  |1,700,  and  made 
other  improvements.  He  worked  at  harness 
making  in  winter  and  was  reasonably  suc- 
cessful in  his  business.  He  has  been  assessor 
and  supervisor  in  his  townshii).  He  is  a 
Democrat. 

Daniel  P.  Stine  was  married,  in  Schuylkill 
county,  August  27, 1844,  to  Catherine  Strong, 
born  in  that  count}',  June  13,  1820  ;  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Mary  C.  (Carl)  Strong. 
Their  children  are :  Mar}'  J.,  born  July  20, 
1845,  wife  of  P.  J.  Artz ;  and  Amelia  B., 
born    November   28,    1847,    wife   of    David 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


893 


Dietz,  on  the  homestead.  Mr.  Stine  is  both 
grandfather  and  great-grandfatlier.  His 
grandchildren  of  the  family  of  P.  J.  and 
Mary  Artz  are :  Jennie  C,  Ida  M.,  Daniel 
S.,  Lizzie  K.,  and  Austin  C.  The  children 
of  David  and  Amelia  Dietz  are  :  II.  E.  and 
Katie  R.  His  descendants  of  the  fourth 
generation  are:  John  G.,  Beulali  E.  and 
Flossie  C.  Mover.  Mr.  Stine  is  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  church,  has  been  deacon,  and 
is  elder  and  trustee. 


Shiro,  Jacob,  merchant,  Gratz,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Wittenberg,  Germany,  February 
19,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Susanna 
(Bellem)  Shiro.  Jacob  Shiro,  Sr.,  was  born 
in  France,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Frencli 
army,  with  which  he  crossed  into  Germany 
during  one  of  the  wars  of  religions.  At  the 
ckise  of  the  war  he  married  and  settled  in 
Wittenberg,  where  he  conducted  a  public 
tavern  until  his  death  which  occurred  aljout 
1844.  His  children  are  ;  Mina,  Mrs.  James 
Bocker,  of  Harrisburg,  and  Jacob,  Jr.  His 
widow  married  Henry  Snyder;  she  died  in 
1893.  Mr.  Snyder  survives  her  and  resides 
in  Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
where  his  wife  died.  The  children  of  her 
second  marriage  are:  Angeline, Mrs.  Daniel 
Reichert,  Williamstown,  Pa.;  Rose,  first  mar- 
ried Adam  Frederick,  deceased,  and  is  now 
Mrs.  Samuel  Boke ;  Henry,  farmer,  Gratz, 
Pa.;  Amanda,  Mrs.  John  Coleman,  Gratz, 
Pa.,  and  John,  farmer,  Lykens  township. 

Jacob  Shiro,  Jr.,  was  about  one  year  old 
when  his  father  died.  At  the  age  of  six  he 
began  to  attend  school  in  Wittenberg,  and 
was  at  school  three  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1852,  with  his  mother,  stepfather  and  the 
other  members  of  his  family,  he  emigrated 
to  America.  They  embarked  at  Havre, 
Fi'ance,  in  a  sailing  vessel,  and  after  a  rough 
voyage  of  twenty-nine  days,  during  which 
they  were  in  constant  peril  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  large  icebergs,  thej'  landed  in 
New  York  and  came  directly  to  Wiconisco, 
where  they  decided  to  make  their  home  and 
where  the  stepfather  at  once  found  employ- 
ment in  the  mines.  Young  Jacob  attended 
the  English  schools  in  Wiconisco  for  four 
terms,  and  this  completed  his  school  educa- 
tion. At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  began 
work  in  the  mines,  picking  slate  at  $8  per 
month,  and  has  been  employed  in  the 
mines  for  over  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Shiro  enlisted  March  10, 1864,  at  Har- 
risburg, in   company  G,  One  Hundred  and 


Third  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  under  Capt. 
C.  A.  Harper.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Roanoke  Island  by  way  of  Fortress  Monroe 
and  Norfolk,  where  they  were  assigned  to 
guard  duty  for  six  or  eight  months.  They 
were  then  ordered  to  Newberne,  N.  C.,  to 
guard  the  Weldon  railroad.  While  they 
were  here  a  malignant  fever  broke  out 
among  the  soldiers,  from  which  as  many  as 
a  hundred  died  per  day.  Mr.  Shiro  was  at- 
tacked by  the  disease,  but  his  sound  consti- 
tution and  his  indomitable  spirit  enabled 
him  to  resist  the  fatal  effects  of  the  conta- 
gion. Although  very  ill  he  continued  on 
duty,  and  proceeded  on  the  march.  He  and 
other  comrades  hired  an  old  colored  man 
with  a  cart  to  carry  their  knapsacks  and 
ec^uipment,  but  the  rickety  vehicle  proved 
inadequate  to  the  strain,  and  their  baggage 
was  dumped  on  the  road.  Mr.  Shiro  deter- 
mined to  push  on  at  all  hazards,  and  re- 
suming his  burden,  he  continued  the  weary 
march,  on  which  one  of  his  comrades  fell  b}^ 
the  wayside  and  died.  Much  dispirited  and 
worn  in  body,  they  finally  reached  New- 
berne, where  they  rested  a  short  time,  and 
then  pushed  on  to  Morehead  City  and  boarded 
tiie  steamer  for  Baltimore,  where  they  ar- 
rived July  4,  1865.  They  reached  Harris- 
burg July  7,  and  on  that  date  were  honor- 
ably discharged  from  the  service.  Mr. 
Shiro  was  still  suffering  from  the  effects  of 
the  fever,  and  remained  in  Harrisburg  two 
weeks  before  he  was  sufficiently  recovered  to 
go  home.  During  this  time  his  physician  at 
times  despaired  of  his  recovery.  But  he  was 
finally  restored  to  health,  and  retired  to  his 
home.  He  soon  resumed  work  in  the  mines, 
where  for  four  years  he  held  the  position  of 
mine  foreman. 

In  1877,  having  accumulated  $2,000,  Mr. 
Shiro  removed  with  his  family  to  Freeport, 
111.,  and  from  that  place  to  Coles  county, 
111.  There  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land,  intending  to  try  the  life 
of  a  farmer.  As  there  was  an  unexpired 
lease  on  the  farm  he  could  not  oI)tain  posses- 
sion until  autumn ;  he  therefore  rented  the 
adjoining  place  for  the  season.  Mr.  Shiro 
remained  three"years  in  Coles  county,  and 
was  successful  as  a  farmer.  He  would  have 
continued  to  live  there  but  for  the  loss  of  his 
wife,  whose  death  occurred  in  1880.  This 
decided  him  to  return  to  his  old  home  in 
Penn.sylvania,  which  he  did  in  the  fall  of 
that  year.  He  located  on  a  farm  in  Gratz, 
and  in  1882  sold  his  Illinois  farm  for  |6,O()0. 


894 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


In  1886  Mr.  Shiro  opened  a  general  store  in 
Gratz,  Pa.,  which  he  has  successfully  con- 
ducted since  that  time.  He  also  operates  the 
North  Side  colliery  on  Short  mountain. 

]Mr.  Shiro  has  been  married  three  times. 
In  18(32  lie  married  Amanda  Mover.  Tliev 
had  two  children:  Annie,  Mrs.  John  Schrei- 
ner,  residing  in  Illinois,  and  Carrie,  Mrs. 
Shield,  residing  in  Pueblo,  Col.  Mrs. 
Amanda  Shiro  died  in  1880.  In  his  second 
marriage,  in  1882,  Mr.  Shiro  was  united  to 
Miss  Lizzie  Diebler,  by  whom  he  had  one 
ihiugliter,  Lizzie,  wife  of  Morris  Schrctilcr, 
Mililin  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Shiro  died  in  1885.  Mr.  Shiro  is  now 
married  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Benjamin  (xise. 
They  have  one  child,  Jacob  B.  Mr.  Shiro 
is  a  strong  Democrat.  He  served  as  postmas- 
ter of  Gratz  for  several  years,  luiving  been 
first  appointed  under  President  Garfield. 
He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  563,  I.  O.  0. 
F.,  at  Gratz,  and  of  tlie  Encampment  at 
Gratz ;  also  of  Lykens  Valley  Lodge,  No. 
365,  K.  of  P.,  at  Gratz.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Evangelical  church. 


Hepler,  Isaac,  merchant,  Gratz,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Eldred  township,  Schuylkill  county. 
Pa.,  August  5,  1840.  He  is  tlie  son  of  George 
W.  and  Hannah  (Graiter)  Hepler.  His 
grandfather,  Christopher  Hepler,  was  born 
and  reared  in  Schuylkill  county  and  was  a 
farmer.  He  died  in  his  native  county  about 
1845.  He  married  Catherine  Wagner  and 
they  were  tlie  parents  of  a  large  family  of 
sons  and  daughters. 

George  W.  Hepler,  father  of  Isaac  He]>ler, 
was  born  in  Eldred  township,  Scliuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  May  16,  1810.  He  died  in  his 
native  townshij)  and  was  buried  there.  He 
married  Hannah  Graiter  and  their  cliildren 
are:  Catlierine,  Mrs.  John  Berger,  residing 
near  Williamsport,  Lycoming  county;  An- 
drew K.,  died  in  Schuylkill  county  in  1882 
and  is  buried  at  Gratz,  Pa.;  Polly,  died 
young;  Isaac;  Hannah,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Fox, 
Sullivan  county,  Pa.;  Lizzie,  Mrs.  David 
Williert,  Uniontown,  Pa.;  George,  laborer, 
Rocktown,  Pa.;  and  Jolm,  laborer,  Ashland, 
Pa. 

Isaac  Hepler  was  not  permitted  to  attend 
school  verj'  long  as  his  help  was  needed  on 
tiie  farm  as  soon  as  he  was  strong  enough  to 
do  farm  work,  and  his  father  died  when  he 
was  eight  years  old.  The  farm  contained 
one  hundred  and  thirteen  acres,  but  it  was 
heavily   encumbered    with    debt,  and    Mrs. 


Hepler  found  it  difficult  to  keep  the  family 
together.  She  died  when  Isaac  was  nine- 
teen years  of  age.  The  farm  was  then  sold, 
and  after  i)aying  debts  he  found  that  his 
share  was  just  $19.  He  went  out  from  homo 
and  found  work  for  one  year  with  his  uncle, 
John  Haas.  In  October,  1862,  he  enlisted  at 
Harrisburg  in  company  K,  One  Hundred 
and  Seventy-second  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  for  nine  months.  During  six 
months  of  the  time  tlie  company  did  ar- 
tillery duty.  They  were  first  ordered  to 
Wasliington,  D.  C,  thence  to  Newport  News, 
thence  after  a  week's  stay  to  Yorktown,  Va., 
which  place  they  left  July  2,  1863,  for  Get- 
tysburg, Pa.  On  the  way  to  Gettysburg  Mr. 
Hepler  was  taken  sick  on  board  the  boat  and 
was  ordered  to  the  hospital.  He  refused  to 
go  and  recovered  his  health  on  the  march. 
The  regiment  did  not  reach  Gettysburg  in 
time  to  take  part  in  the  battle.  Mr.  Hepler 
was  ordered  to  Williamsport,  Pa.,  thence  to 
Warrenton  Junction,  where  he  was  dis- 
charged, his  term  of  service  having  expired, 
and  came  home.  He  then  worked  eight 
months  for  his  uncle,  John  W.  Hepler,  after 
which  he  was  employed  on  the  public  works 
at  Girardville  and  Go.ss  Creek.  His  next 
employment  was  as  carpenter  in  the  mines, 
l)uilding  breakers.  Ho  had  never  served 
any  apprenticeship  at  carpentry,  but  had 
natural  aptitude  for  using  tools.  He  bought 
him  a  set  of  rough  implements  and  went  to 
work,  earning  the  regular  wages  of  $^.25  to 
$3  i)er  day,  and  none  knew  or  discovered 
tliat  he  was  not  an  instructed  carpenter. 
Wliile  building  one  breaker  it  l)ecame  neces- 
sary to  attach  the  block  and  tackle  to  a  point 
fifty  feet  from  the  ground.  All  the  other 
workmen  refused  to  attempt  the  difficult  and 
hazardous  undertaking,  but  Mr.  Hepler  safely 
accomplished  the  feat,  and  was  rewarded  by 
an  advance  in  his  wages  from  $2.50  to  $3 
per  day. 

In  1866  Mr.  Hepler,  with  his  brother  An- 
drew as  partner,  opened  a  store  and  hotel, 
Ids  brother  attending  to  the  business  at  home 
while  he  went  out  on  the  road  as  huck.ster. 
After  five  years  in  the  business  Mr.  Isaac 
Hepler  sold  his  interest,  and  in  1871,  his 
lirother  again  being  his  partner,  bought 
property  and  a  hotel  at  Gratz,  Pa.  Building 
a  store  room  adjoining  the  hotel,  they  put  in 
a  general  stock  of  merchandise.  After  five 
years  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  Isaac 
Hepler  taking  the  store  and  Andrew  the 
hotel.     Mr.  Hepler  has  continued  the  mer- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


895 


cantilc  business  alone  since  1876,  and  also 
owns  and  manages  a  farm  of  fifty-five  acres. 

Isaac  Hepler  has  been  twice  married. 
First,  August  19,  1865,  to  Miss  Matilda 
Knarr,  who  died  August  15,  1869,  leaving 
one  child,  Lewis  F.,  who  was  killed  on  the 
railroad  March  17, 1891,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three.  His  second  marriage,  November  25, 
1875,  was  with  Amanda,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Harper,  deceased.  Their  children  are:  George 
Edgar,  Jo.seph  Harper,  Lottie  Florence, 
Thomas  R.,  Hannah  M.,  Rolicrt  Rny,  and 
Annie,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Hepler  is  a  Democrat,  but  is  very  lib- 
eral in  his  views  and  has  never  sought  office. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
He  sustains  a  reputation  for  the  most  un- 
swerving rectitude,  and  enjoj'S  the  highest 
fsteem  of  his  neighbors. 

The  Klinger  Family. — George  S.  and 
Daniel  S.  Klinger  are  of  German  ancestry, 
and  are  of  the  fourth  generation  of  their 
family  in  this  country.  John  Philip 
Klinger,  their  first  progenitor  in  America, 
and  their  great-great-grandfather,  was  born 
in  Poffenberfort,  Germany,  July  11,  1723. 
It  is  supposed  that  he  married  in  Germany 
and  soon  after  came  to  America.  He  was  a 
farmer,  and  was  first  settled  at  Reading, 
Pa.,  where  liis  wife  died.  He  returned  to 
Germany  and  married  again  ;  then  removed 
to  Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county,  and 
engaged  in  developing  a  farm  from  the 
wilderness.  He  died  in  Lykens  township, 
September  30,  1811,  leaving  a  large  family, 
some  of  wiiom  located  in  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Ohio. 

George  Klinger  (1),  great-grandfather  of 
George  S.  and  Daniel  S.  Klinger,  was  born 
in  Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county.  May 
13,  1761,  and  there  passed  his  youth.  After 
his  marriage  lie  removed  to  Lower  Mahan- 
tango  township,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa., 
where  he  died  April  24,  1840.  George 
Klinger  (2),  grandfather  of  George  S.  and 
Daniel  S.,  was  born  in  what  was  then  Ma- 
hantango,  but  is  now  Hubly  township, 
Schuylkill  county,  September  16,  1787.  He 
spent  his  life  in  his  native  township.  Lie 
married  Catherine  Schmeltz.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Andrew,  died  at  Mt.  Carmel,  Pa., 
was  a  farmer,  married  and  left  a  familj' ; 
Elizabeth,  married  Daniel  S.  Kissinger,  botii 
died  in  Lykens  township;  William,  father 
of  George  S.  and  Daniel  S.;  Elias,  married 
Sallie  Kissinger,  both  died  in  Lykens  town- 


ship ;  Daniel,  married  Caroline  Shadle,  re- 
sides at  Seven  Points,  Northumberland 
county.  Pa.;  Mary,  married,  first,  Jacob 
Shade,  and  second,  Peter  Potticher,  deceased, 
resides  in  Tower  City,  Pa.;  Magdalena,  died 
at  Seven  Points,  Pa.;  wife  of  Samuel  Klinger, 
who  survives  her.  The  grandfather  died 
November  18,  1838.  His  widow  was  again 
married,  to  George  Welker.  She  died  April 
22,  1872. 

William  Klinger,  father  of  George  S.  and 
Daniel  S.  Klinger,  was  born  in  Hubly  town- 
ship, Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  April  19,  1820, 
and  grew  up  on  the  farm  on  wiiich  he  was 
born.     When  a  young  man  he  learned  the 
art  of  mason  work,  which  lie  afterwards  prac- 
ticed in  addition  to  farming.     He  died  Sep- 
tember 17,  1872,  and  is  buried  at  Klinger's 
Church,    Lykens    township.     He     married 
Rebecca  Schofistall,  who  survives  him,  and 
resides  at  Gratz,  Pa.    She  was  born  February 
25, 1825,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mag- 
dalena (Hoover)  Schoffstall.     Their  children 
are  :  George  S.;  Maria,  Mrs.  Jacob  M.  Wiest, 
Lykens  township ;  Caroline,  Mrs.  Emanuel 
Miller,  Lykens   township;    Elizabeth,  died 
young;  Daniel  S.;  Mary  Jane,  died  young; 
William,  a  mason  ;  Tobias,  huckster,  Gratz, 
Pa.;  Louisa,  Mrs.  Bennoville  R.  Troutman, 
Lykens    townsiiip ;    John    S.,    stonemason, 
Hubly  township,  Schuylkill  county  ;  Cathe- 
rine, Mrs.  Jacob    Williard,  Gratz,   Pa.,  and 
Levi.  Hubly    township,  Schuylkill   countv. 
Pa. 

George  S.  Klinger  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  grew  up  on  the  farm. 
In  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  went  into 
the  army  as  a  substitute  for  his  father,  and 
in  September  of  that  year  was  enrolled  in 
company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
third  Pennsylvania  volunteers ;  left  Harris- 
burg  with  the  regiment  early  in  November. 
This  regiments  was  comj)used  of  companies 
A,  D,  F,  G  and  H  from  Schuylkill  county ; 
E  from  Perry  county,  and  K  from  Dauphin 
county.  It  was  organized  at  Camp  Curtin, 
Harrisburg.  in  October  and  November,  1862, 
with  the  following  field  officers:  Daniel  Neg- 
ley,  Schuylkill  county,  colonel ;  Zaccheus  P. 
Boyer,  Schuylkill  county,  lieutenant  colonel; 
Grant  Weidman,  Lebanon  county,  major. 
On  November  30,  1862,  the  regiment  moved 
to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  was  ordered  to 
Suffolk,  Va.,  but  before  reaching  Fortress 
Monroe  its  destination  was  changed  to  Nor- 
folk. Upon  its  arrival  there  it  reported  to 
General  Veile,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  in 


896 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


gUiU'ding  the  approach  to  Camp  Veile,  three 
miles  north  of  Norfolk,  where  tlio  regiment 
was  thorouglily  drilled,  and  detailed  to  duty 
as  follows :  Two  companies  were  stationed  at 
Norfolk,  one  at  Princess  Anne  Court  House, 
twelve  miles  southeast  of  Norfolk,  at  the  in- 
trenched lines  running  from  shore  to  shore, 
and  protecting  Norfolk  on  the  north ;  an 
officer  and  twenty  men  at  Swells  Point,  a 
non-commissioned  officer  and  twenty-five 
men  at  Cape  Henry  Lighthouse;  two  com- 
panies at  the  Dorris  Mill  l)ridgc,  or  liead  of 
West  Branch,  thirteen  miles  sonthwt'st  of 
Norfolk,  towards  Suffolk ;  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer  and  six  men  as  guard  to  the 
mail  boat  Arrow,  running  through  Albe- 
marle Sound  to  Roanoke ;  a  guard  at  the 
Indian  Pole  bridge,  north  of  Norfolk;  a 
guard  at  the  Gri'at  l>i-iilge,  ten  mik'S  soutii 
of  Norfolk,  at  the  Alln'marie  canal ;  a  guard 
at  Princess  Anne  river,  and  a  guard  along 
Farmers'  creek.  These  detachments  were 
n^gularly  relieved  at  intervals  of  a  week. 

Early  in  May,  1S63,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Norfolk  for  provost  dnty,  where 
it  remained  until  July  I*,  and  was  tlien  sent 
with  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-seventii 
Pennsylvania  volunteers  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  tlience  to  Frederick.  Md.,  report- 
ing to  General  Meade,  who  was  moving  in 
pursuit  of  tile  Ri'hel  army  on  its  7vtreat  from 
Gettysburg,  Pa.  It  was  immediately  ordered 
to  report  to  General  Howard,  in  command 
of  the  Eieventli  corps,  and  w^as  assigned 
to  the  First  brigade  of  the  Second  divi- 
sion, in  which  it  was  associated  with  the 
Twenty-seventh  and  Seventy-tliird  Penn- 
sylvania regiments,  and  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-fourth  and  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-fourth  New  York  regiments.  It 
was  now  subjected  to  long  and  tedious 
marches,  to  which  it  was  little  accustomed. 
It  crossed  the  Potomac  river  at  Berlin,  four 
miles  below  Harper's  Ferry,  and  was  finally 
settled  on  guard  duty  to  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  railroad,  at  Warrenton  Junction, 
Bristow  Station  and  Manassas  Junction.  On 
August  13,  the  term  of  his  service  having 
expired,  the  regiment  was  oi'deredto  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.,  where  it  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice, August  16,  17  and  IS,  1863. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  army,  ]\Ir. 
Klinger  returned  to  his  home  in  Schuylkill 
county,  and  served  a  short  apprenticeshii) 
with  Henry  Klinger,  stone  mason,  and  sul)- 
sequently  worked  at  the  trade  on  his  own 
account.     In  1870  he  bought  a  saw  mill  in 


Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  near 
Gratz,  which  he  operated  at  times,  besides 
working  at  his  trade  until  December  14, 
1883,  when  he  met  with  a  painful  accident 
while  cutting  down  a  tree,  being  struck  on 
the  knee  by  a  glancing  axe,  which  severed 
one  of  the  main  cords,  and  left  him  lame  for 
life.  In  partnership  with  Samuel  Klinger, 
he  also  owned  and  operated  a  threshing  ma- 
chine for  three  or  four  years.  In  1893  he 
sold  his  saw  mill,  and  turned  his  attention 
to  mercantile  business.  In  1885,  in  connec- 
tion witli  his  l)rother  Daniel  S.,  he  had 
bought  the  general  stock  of  goods  of  William 
Erdman  at  Gratz,  most  of  which  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  May  1,  1886.  They  then 
purchased  the  site  on  which  they  erected 
their  present  store,  which  was  completed 
in  December,  1888,  they  having,  after  tlie 
fire,  occupied  the  Odd  Fellows'  building  with 
their  business.  Their  store  is  very  comj)lete 
and  their  stock  full  in  all  lines  of  their  busi- 
ness. 

Mr.  George  S.  Klinger  has  never  married, 
lie  is  a  Democrat,  and  ha.s  been  tax  collecti)!' 
and  auditiir.  lie  is  a  mendjer.of  the  Lu- 
theran chui-cli. 

Daniel  S.  Klinger,  brother  of  George  S., 
and  his  partner  in  bu.sine.ss,  was  born  in 
JIulily  township,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa., 
and  I'eceived  his  primary  education  in  tlie 
connnon  school.  He  also  attended  Freehurg 
Seminary  in  1S()9,  and  Berrysburg  Seminary 
in  1870.  He  afterwards  taught  school  for 
fifteen  winter  tennis  and  two  summer  terms. 
In  1885  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
with  his  brother  George,  as  above  stated. 

Mr.  D.  S.  Klinger  was  married  in  Upper 
.Maliantango  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
i'a.,  February  9,  1873,  to  Miss  Lizzie,  daugh- 
ter of  Nathan  and  Rachel  (Montelius)  Erd- 
man. Their  ciiildren  are:  Alvin  Lemuel, 
died  in  infancy;  ]\Ieta  Maria,  Ursula  Sadie, 
Eston  Dornian,  and  Guy  Raymond,  all  at 
home.  Mr.  Klinger  is  a  Democrat.  He  is 
now  serving  his  second  term  in  council.  He 
has  also  been  judge  of  elections  for  one 
term. 


RiTZNr.\N,  A.  S.,  Gratz,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
June  27, 1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  (Hartman)  Ritzman.  Michael 
Ritzman  was  born  in  Lykens  township, 
Dauphin  county,  .January  10,  1826,  and  was 
reared  on  the  farm.  After  his  marriage  lie 
removed  to  Washington  township,  upon  a 


DA  UP  BIN    CO  UNTY . 


897 


farm,  wlicro  he  died  November  17,  1858. 
His  children  are :  Abby,  wife  of  Hiram 
Knorr,  Unioiitown,  Pa.;  Caroline,  wife  of 
Henry  Schoffstall,  Sunbury,  Pa.;  Catherine, 
wife  of  H.  H.  Romberger,  Gratz,  Pa.;  and 
A.  S.  Mrs.  Ritzman  was  married  a  seeond 
time,  to  Abraham  Troutman;  tluy  had  one 
daughter,  Agnes,  wife  of  Charles  Butfington, 
Gratz,  Pa. 

A.  S.  Ritzman  was  only  a  year  and  a  half 
old  wlien  brouglit  by  his  mother  to  Lykens 
townsldp  on  a  farm  whieh  she  bongiit  aftcir 
lier  husliand's  death.  After  mature  years  he 
attended  common  schools  until  he  was  seven- 
teen, and  subsequently  studied  at  Berrysburg 
Seminary  for  a  few  terras.  In  November, 
1875,  he  Ix'gan  teaching  school  in  Lykens 
township,  and  was  employed  for  two  terms. 
Considering  the  salary  insufficient  compen- 
sation for  his  time  and  services,  he  decided 
to  change  his  occupation.  He  rented  his 
mother's  farm  on  shares,  and  besides  his 
fai-ming  operations,  conducted  also  a  huck- 
stering business ;  in  these  occupations  he 
continued  until  the  spring  of  1888,  when  he 
removed  to  the  town  of  Gratz  to  a  jiroperty 
which  he  had  bought  in  1886,  and  which 
consisted  of  a  house  and  barn  and  nine  acres 
of  land.  In  1890  he  bought  his  mother's 
farm  of  sixty-two  acres,  situated  in  Lykens 
township. 

Mr.  Ritzman  was  married,  in  Lykens  town- 
ship, on  January  9,  1876,  to  Miss  Amelia, 
daughter  of  Zacharias  and  Lydia  (Kissinger) 
Loudcnschlager,  born  in  the  borough  of 
Gratz.  Their  children  were:  Henry  M.,  died 
at  the  age  of  four  vears ;  Michael  E.,  born 
March  24,  1881;  Allan,  born  August  12, 
1885  ;  the  youngest  chikl  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Ritzman  is  a  Republican.  He  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1889,  served 
five  years  and  was  re-elected  in  1894.  He 
also  served  as  councilman  for  five  years,  and 
for  four  years  was  secretary  of  the  council. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
treasurer  of  the  joint  congregation. 


Abraham,  John,  Jacob,  Susanna,  and  one 
child  not  named.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church,  an  old  line  Demo- 
crat, and  died  at  Gratz.  The  father  was  born 
in  1799  in  Lykens  township,  received  his 
education  in  tlu^  jniblic  schools  and  then  as- 
sisted on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old.  He  then  located  in 
Mifflin  township  on  a  farm  and  remained 
there  until  1839,  when  he  moved  to  Lykens 
township,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  married  Miss  Susanna  Artz, 
daughter  of  Jaeol)  Artz,  of  Schuylkill  county. 
Their  children  were:  Elias,  deceased,  Han- 
nah, Amos,  deceased  Caroline,  Sarah,  Jere- 
miah, Daniel,  Susanna,  and  Maria.  The 
father  and  mother  died  in  1867  and  1878, 
respectively.  The  father  was  a  Republican 
and  field  various  township  offices.  He  also 
was  a  memljcr  of  the  German  Reformed 
church,  in  whieh  he  filled  several  offices. 

Daniel  attended  school  until  eight  years 
of  age,  when  ho  began  working  on  the 
homestead,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
twenty-six  years  old.  He  then  bought  his 
l)resent  home  of  sixty  acres,  on  which  he 
erected  a  fine  dwelling  house  which  cost  up- 
wards of  $5,000.  Later  he  purchased  a  saw 
and  grist  mill,  and  in  1882  bought  an- 
other farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-three 
acres.  He  was  married,  in  1801,  to  Miss 
Catharine  Hartman,born  in  1838;  daughter 
of  Henry  Hartman.  Their  children  are: 
Henry  F.,  who  married  Miss  Liddie  Ritzman, 
by  whom  he  has  two  children :  Milton,  real 
estate  broker,  Denver,  Col.,  and  Irvin  N.  In 
politics  Mr.  Buffington  is  a  Rei>ublican  and 
has  served  as  judge  of  elections.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Reformed  church, 
in  which  he  is  an  elder  and  Sunday-school 
teacher. 


Buffington,  D.vniel,  farmer,  Gratz,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Lykens  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  November  17,  1837;  son  of 
John  fe.  and  Susanna  (Artz)  Buffington.  The 
grandfather,  Eli,  was  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  and  came  to  Lykens  township  and 
located  on  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  timl)er  land,  which  he  cleared  for 
farming  purposes.  He  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth   Kissinger,  and   their    children    were : 


Coleman,  John  C,  farmer,  Gratz,  Pa.,  was 
born  October  18,  1852,  in  Lykens  township. 
He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Sophia 
(Klinger)  Coleman.  The  grandfather,  John 
Coleman,  was  of  Irish  descent.  The  father 
was  born  in  Lykens  township  in  1816.  He 
received  his  education  in  his  native  place, 
and  then  followed  the  occupation  of  farming. 
He  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  near 
Gratz,  and  on  it  made  many  improvements. 
He  was  married,  in  January,  1849,  to  Miss 
Sophia  Klinger,  born  April  30, 1830;  daughter 
of  J.  P.  Klinger.  Their  children  are:  Mary 
A.,  wife  of  Isaac  Daniel ;  John  C,  and  Dan- 
iel, a  school  teacher.     He  is  a  life-long  Re- 


898 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


publican,  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
•churcli,in  which  he  holds  the  office  of  deacon. 
John  C.  attended  tlie  public  schools  of 
Gratz  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  working  on  the  homestead,  and  also 
worked  two  years  in  the  mines.  In  1874  he 
took  charge  of  the  farm  and  has  since  culti- 
vated it,  and  also  been  engaged  in  stock  rais- 
ing. He  was  married,  in  Oetol)er,  1875,  to 
Miss  Anaanda  L.  Snyder,  born  in  Lykens 
townsliipin  1855;  daughter  of  Henry  Snyder. 
Their  cliildren  are:  Henry  L.,  Fred,  Annie 
B.,  Minnie  A.,  Allen  E.,  deceased,  Maggie 
M.,  Dora  R.,  Flosie  S.,  Elmer  H.,and  Foster  F. 
Mr.  Coleman  tauglit  school  for  tliree  terms, 
was  tax  collector  in  1881,  and  is  a  Reiiuhlican 
in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Luthei-an 
church,  in  wiiicli  he  fills  the  office  of  deacon. 


member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  of  wdiich 
he  is  an  elder  and  Sunday-school  super- 
intendent. 


CoLEM.\N,  Charles,  farmer,  Gratz,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Lykens  township,  May  30, 184;4. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jolm  and  Catharine  (Artz) 
Coleman.  The  grandfather,  John  Coleman, 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  settled  on 
land  in  Lykens  township,  whicli  lie  cleared 
and  improvi'd  inniself  He  married  a  Mi,«s 
liosina  Stine.  They  iiad  these  eliihhx'n  : 
John,  Charles,  Fred,  Rosina,  Elizabetli, 
Anna  May,  and  Barbara.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran cliurcli.  He  took  part  in  the  war  of 
1812.  Tiic  fatlier  resided  on  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  whicli  lie  cultivated 
and  also  was  engaged  in  stock  raising.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Catharine  Artz,  a  native 
of  Schuylkill  county.  Their  children  were : 
Daniel,  Charles,  and  Lizzie,  wife  of  B.  A. 
Boyer.  Mr.  Coleman  took  a  great  delight  in 
hunting  deer.  His  death  occurred  in  De- 
cember, 1851.    Li  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 

Charles  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  then  engaged 
in  farming.  He  inherited  a  fondness  for 
hunting,  and  is  quite  an  ardent  sportsman. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
He  was  married,  October  19, 18(j9,  at  Berrys- 
burg.  Pa.,  to  Miss  Lydia  Rine,  born  in  Snyder 
county,  March  3,  1850;  daughter  of  John 
Rine.  Their  children  are:  George  W.,  born 
July  ■22,  1870;  Charles  J.,  deceased;  Mary 
A.,  born  July  28, 1874 ;  Jennie,  born  Decem- 
ber 25,  1880 ;  Susan  K.,  born  September  18, 
1883;  Minnie  C,  born  June  28,  1888,  and 
Carrie  V.,  born  June  29, 1891 .  Mr.  Coleman 
is  an  active  politician  and  has  served  as  tax 
collector  and  mercantile  appraiser.     He  is  a 


Daniel,  Uriah  H.,  teacher  and  farmer, 
Gratz,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lykens  township, 
February  1,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Elizabeth  (Hoffman)  Daniel.  The  father 
was  born  in  Lykens  township  in  1822, 
and  was  a  son  of  Andrew  Daniel.  His  edu- 
cation was  received  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  place,  after  wdiich  he  assisted  his 
father  on  the  homestead  until  1868,  Mdien  he 
moved  to  Gratz  and  began  to  conduct  a  hotel. 
After  remaining  there  for  three  years  he 
returned  to  the  farm.     He  was  married,  in 

1828,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hoffman,  daughter 
of  John  Hoffman,  of  Mifflin  township,  who 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  Their 
children  are :  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Andrew,  Ada, 
Uriah  H.,  George  F.,  Mary  E.,  deceased, 
and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  The  parents 
still  live  on  the  homestead  and  are  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  church.  In  politics 
the  father  is  a  Republican. 

Uriah  IL,  after  leaving  tlie  public  school, 
attended  Berryshurg  Academy  and  later  the 
Millersville  State  Normal  School.  He  has 
iiccu  engaged  in  teaching  .school  nearly  all 
his  life,  except  three  years  when  he  was  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  pursuits.  In  1891  he 
purcha.sed  a  farm  in  Lykens  township,  to 
which  he  gives  his  attention  during  the  sum- 
mer months.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ber- 
ryshurg band  for  eleven  years.  He  was  mar- 
ried August  25, 1884,  to  Miss  Ida  L.  Sitlinger, 
born  in  Lykens  township  in  1863 ;  daugh- 
ter of  Lsaac  and  Maria  (Shade)  Sitlinger. 
Their  children  are  :  Clarence  E.,  Norman 
A.,  Elsie  M.,  and  one  wlio  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Daniel  is  a  Republican  in  j^olitics.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  church, 
in  \vhich  he  holds  the  office  of  deacon.  He 
is  also  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 

RoMBERGER,  G.  D.,  life  insurance  agent, 
Berryshurg,  Pa.,  was  born  Fel>ruary  28, 1856, 
in  Northumberland  county ;  son  of  Gilbert 
and  Maiy  (Keihl)  Romberger.  The  father 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  January  19, 

1829.  He  worked  on  the  farm  until  eighteen 
years  of  age  and  in  1847  went  to  Geoi'getown, 
Pa.,  to  learn  the  saddler  trade  with  Jacob 
Dreivell.  He  remained  there  three  years, 
then  moved  to  Uniontown,  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  until  1800,  when 
he  jjurchased  a  fiirin  near  Berryshurg,  Pa. 


4/cii^AJ^    QJ^-i.^^<-c 


CC^, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


901 


Eight  years  later  he  sold  the  farm  and  i^uv- 
chased  anotlier  near  Elizabetliville,  where  lie 
remained  one  year.  Pie  next  bought  a  home 
in  Berrysburg  and  was  engaged  there  at  his 
trade  until  a  few  years  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  8,  1894.  He  was  married, 
in  1852,  to  Miss  Mary  Keihl.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Elmira  M.,  deceased ;  Mary  A.; 
George  D.;  Daniel  H.;  Rebecca  K.;  Clara  E.; 
Lillie  E.;  Samuel,  deceased ;  Jerome,  deceased ; 
Annie  G.,  deceased ;  Ralph  E.;  and  five  chil- 
dren who  died  in  infancy. 

George  D.  moved  to  Lykens  Valley  with 
his  parents  wlien  four  years  old.  He  assisted 
on  the  farm  and  then  attended  the  Berrj's- 
burg  Seminary,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated  when  twenty  years  of  age.  He 
was  then  princijial  of  the  Lower  End,  Will- 
iams townsliip,  .school  until  1880,  when  he 
went  to  Harrisburg  and  read  law  two  years 
under  J.  C.  McAlarney.  After  completing 
his  law  course  he  formed  a  co-partnership 
with  Hon.  W.  B.  Bechtel,  of  Reading,  Pa., 
in  law  and  the  insurance  business.  Since 
dissolving  partnership  his  entire  time  has 
been  given  to  life  insurance.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1880,  to  Mi.ss  Laura  Miller,  daughter 
of  Major  Frank  Miller,  of  Berrysburg,  Pa. 
Tlieir  children  are:  Florence  M.,  born  July 
17,  1882,  and  died  May  20,  1887 ;  Daniel  B., 
born  January  13,  1884 ;  Lila  V.,  born  July 
19,  1880 ;  one,  not  named,  who  was  born 
August  21, 1887,  and  died  September  1, 1887 ; 
George  L.,  born  August  10, 1888 ;  Willard  M., 
born  August  6,  1889 ;  Naomi  R.,  born  Au- 
gust 1(3,  1890  ;  Mary  F.,  born  September  25, 
1891 ;  Franklin  G.,  born  December  2,  1893 ; 
and  Donald  L.,  born  October  16,  1895. 


RoMBERGER,  How-^Rn  H.,  merchant, Gratz, 
Pa.,  was  born  July  12, 1852,  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Lykens  township.  He  is  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Hannah  (Bergstresser)  Romber- 
ger.  Howard  H.  received  bis  education  in 
the  public  schools  and  the  Berryslmrg  Semi- 
nary. After  assisting  on  his  father's  farm 
for  a  time,  he  l>egan  farming  for  himself. 
Later  he  spent  four  years  in  preparation  for 
the  ministry,  and  began  active  work  in  1881. 
He  was  connected  with  the  Evangelical 
church  and  continued  preaching  for  nine 
years,  during  wbicli  time  lie  served  varifius 
places  in  Carbon,  Schuylkill,  Lel)anon  and 
Monroe  counties.  In  1890  he  retired  from 
the  pulpit  and  moved  to  Gratz,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  business.  He  was  married,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1873,  in  Berrysburg,  to  Miss  Catha- 
57 


rine  Ritzman,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Eliza- 
beth Ritzman.  Their  children  are :  D.  Am- 
brose, born  August  10,  1874,  a  graduate  of 
Albright  Collegiate  Institute,  Meyerstown, 
Pa.,  now  principal  of  the  schools  at  Gratz, 
and  Amy  Agnes,  born  September  5,  1882. 
Mr.  Romberger  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 


Scheie,  Charles  Monroe,  farmer,  Gratz, 
Pa.,  was  Ijorn  in  Lykens  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  January  15, 1861.  He  is  a  son 
of  Joshua  A.  and  Elizabeth  (Raudenbaugh) 
Scheib.  The  grandfather,  Michael  B.,  was 
born  in  Sclmylkill  cMjunty,  and  coming 
to  Lykens  bought  a  I'arm  of  one  hundred 
acres,  on  which  he  engaged  in  stock  raising. 
He  was  of  German  descent,  and  died  in  Ly- 
kens township.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church.  The  father  was 
an  extensive  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He 
bad  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Lykens 
township.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Raudenbaugh,  a  native  of  Lykens  Valley, 
born  in  1837.  Their  children  are :  Isaiah, 
Victor,  Melindia,  Cinderilla,  Charles  Monroe, 
Wilhelmina,  deceased,  and  two  who  died  in 
infancy.  Tlie  father  died  in  1890.  He  took 
an  extremely  active  part  in  politics  in  wliich 
he  was  much  interested.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  and  has 
held  various  church  offices.  Charles  Mon- 
roe received  his  education  in  the  jxiblic 
schools  of  his  native  place.  He  assisted  on 
the  farm,  and  in  1893  purchased  the  home- 
stead, where  he  now  resides  and  engages  in 
stock  raising.  He  was  married,  in  1883,  to 
Miss  Hannah  E.  Klinger,  born  in  1865,  a 
daughter  of  John  Klinger.  Their  children 
are :  Emma  J.,  Ira,  Bursia  N.,  Amelia  C, 
and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church. 


ScHMENKY,  John,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Upper  Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland 
county,  January  27,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of 
Jolni  and  Mary  (Thower)  Schmenky.  The 
grandfather,  a  native  of  Germany,  located 
in  Lancaster  county  and  engaged  in  hotel 
keeping.  His  wife  was  Susanna  Acre,  and 
they  had  a  large  family.  The  father  was 
l)orn  in  Hinklestown  and  was  engaged  in 
farming  when  a  boy.  He  then  studied  medi- 
cine and  practiced  in  Millersburg  and  var- 
ious other  places.  His  death  occurred  in 
1855.  His  wife  died  subsequently,  aged  sev- 
enty-one years.    Their  children  were:  Emma, 


902 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


deceased,  John,  Henry,  Elizabeth,  Aaron, 
and  Susan.  John  attended  public  school 
until  he  was  fourteen,  then  entered  the  school 
at  Bloomfield,  Perry  county,  and  then  Sun- 
bury.  In  1850  he  began  to  read  medicine 
with  his  father,  and  in  1851  read  one  year 
with  Dr.  Masters,  Hinklestown.  In  1852  he 
entered  the  Pennsylvania  Medical  College  of 
Philadelphia,  from  which  institution  he  grad- 
uated in  1854.  He  began  the  jH-actice  of  his 
profession  with  his  father  and  (ine  year  later 
located  at  Gratz.  In  1871  and  1872  he  served 
in  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  married, 
December  22,  1859,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Wiest, 
daughter  of  Jacob  AViest.  Their  children  are  : 
Gorney  M.,  Allan  Beecher,  Harry  Newton, 
John,  and  Bertha  May.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat  and  is  now  filling  the  office  of  bur- 
gess. He  has  served  a  number  of  years  as 
school  director.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  church. 

JIoYER,  JouN,  farmer,  Gratz,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Gratz,  March  19,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Margaret  (Tallman)  Moyer.  The 
father  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1801,  and 
learned  there  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  In 
1821  he  came  to  the  United  States  in  a  sail- 
ing vessel,  and  landed  at  Baltimore.  He 
first  located  in  Gratz,  and  later  moved  to 
Gratz,  where  he  purchased  a  shop  and  began 
blacksmithing,  which  occupation  he  con- 
tinued all  his  life.  He  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Tallman,  also  a  native  of  Germany. 
Theirchildrcn  were:  Mary, deceased;  Louisa; 
George  I),  deceased;  Charles  H.,  deceased ; 
John ;  Amanda,  deceased ;  and  Caroline. 
The  father  died  in  1870,  and  the  mother 
in  1864.  They  were  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran clmrch.     The  father  was  a  Democrat. 

Joim  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Gratz,  Pa.  Hc^  then  learned  the 
furniture  manufacturing  business  in  Harris- 
burg,  where  he  worked  for  six  3'ears.  He 
then  moved  to  Gratz  and  farmed  the  home- 
stead. In  1882  he  bougiit  additional  land 
and  made  numerous  improvements  oii  it. 
He  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss  Sarah  Gon- 
ser,  born  in  Northumberland  county,  Janu- 
ary 4,  1841 ;  daughter  of  Daniel  Gonser. 
Their  children  are:  Charles  P.,  Daniel  G., 
William  0.,a  graduate  of  Millersville  Normal 
School,  and  principal  of  the  high  school 
Gratz,  and  Sadie.  In  politics  Mr.  Moyer  is 
a  Democrat  and  served  as  member  of  city 
council,  as  chief  burgess,  as  school  director 
and  also  as  tax  collector.     He  is  a  member  of 


Lodge  No.  565,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  Grangers,  No- 
530;  and  of  Washington  Camp,  No.  575,  P.  0- 
S.  of  A.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  in  which  he  holds  the  office 
of  deacon,  besides  being  Sunday-school  super- 
intendent. 


McClure,  Charles  B.,  M.  D.,  Gratz,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Washington  township,  July  5, 
1856.  He  is  a  son  of  David  K.  and  Ann 
Eliza.  (Beshler)  McClure.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  H.  C.  lieshler,  was  born  in  New 
Berlin,  Snyder  county.  He  took  a  medical 
course  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  then  practiced  for  several  years  in  var- 
ious places.  Finally  he  located  in  Berrys- 
burg,  where  he  died,  December  25,  1888,  at 
the  age  of  eiglity-one.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Boyer,  of  Freeburg,  Pa. 
The  father  was  born  in  Chester  county.  Pa., 
in  1825.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm, 
and  later  worked'  at  the  forge.  He  moved 
to  Beriysburg  and  at  that  time  owned  what 
is  known  as  the  Oakdale  Forge.  The  father 
now  lives  with  one  of  his  daughters  in  Upi^er 
Paxton  town-ship  ;  the  mother  died  in  1882, 
and  is  l)uried  at  Berrysburg.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  1855,  an<l  tln'ir  cjiildi'cn  were  :  Charles 
B.,  Emma  J.,  H.  J()sc})li,  John  C,  Arthur  E., 
and  Gertrude.  Charles  B.  received  his  pri- 
iiuuy  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Washington  townshija  and  the  Berrysburg 
Seminary.  In  1883  he  began  reading  medi- 
cine with  his  grandfather,  and  in  the  fall 
entered  the  University  of  Penn.sylvania, 
where  he  remaint-d  two  years.  He  then  as- 
sisted other  physicians  until  1887,  when  he 
entered  Westei'u  Penn.sylvania  College,  Pitts- 
burgh, from  which  institution  he  graduated 
in  1888,  and  then  loc;ited  in  Luzerne  county. 
After  practicing  at  various  places  he  came 
to  Gratz  in  1894,  and  has  .secured  an  excel- 
lent practice.  He  was  married,  in  Blooms- 
burg,  Pa.,  October  4,  1887,  to  Miss  Lizzie 
Hower,  daughter  of  Jackson  Hower,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children  :  A.  Carlton  and 
Hiester  N.  Dr.  McClure  is  a  Repul)lican, 
also  a  member  of  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of 
America  and  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 


iSIiLLER,  John  C,  merchant  and  news- 
dealer, Lykens,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Annville, 
Lebanon  county,  January  18,  1844.  He  is 
a  son  of  Daniel  anil  Lousia  (Karmany) 
Miller.  The  grandfather,  John,  was  born 
in  Lebanon  county,  and  was  of  German  de- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


903 


scent.  The  father  was  born  in  1818  and  was 
a  weaver  by  occupation.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Lousia  Karmany,  daughter  of  John 
Karman}'.  Their  children  are:  John  C, 
Elizabetli,  wife  of  Francis  Feindt,  and  Daniel 
A.  Tlie  father  now  resides  in  Lykens.  John 
C.  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Annville  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age. 
He  then  worked  on  the  farm  for  a  time  and 
later  learned  shoemaking.  In  1861  he  en- 
listed at  Annville  in  company  K,  Ninety- 
third  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
under  Captain  Daugherty  and  Colonel  Mc- 
Carthy. The  battles  in  Avhich  he  partici- 
j^ated  are  as  follows,  viz :  WilliarnslAirg, 
Va.,  Fair  Oaks,  Seven  Days,  Antietam, 
Fredericksburg,  Salem  Heights,  Rappahan- 
nock, Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Har- 
bor, Petersburg,  Charlestowu,  Winchester, 
Fisher  Hill,  and  Cedar  Creek.  He  was 
wounded,  j\Iay  31,  1865,  at  Salem  Heiglits, 
and  lay  in  the  hosj^ital  four  months,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Washington  at  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  then  came  to  Lykens 
and  attended  school  one  year,  after  which  he 
began  his  present  business.  He  was  mar- 
ried, at  Lewisburg,  Pa.,  February,  1869,  to 
Miss  Louisia  Reyman,  daughter  of  John 
Reyman.  Their  children  are:  Gertrude  and 
John.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  535,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  Post 
No.  252,  G.  A.  R.;  commander  of  latter  in 
18i»(;;.  He  is  connected  with  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Blyler,  Simon,  stonemason,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1823,  in  Schuylkill  county.  He  is 
a  son  of  Michael  and  Maria  (Burket)  Blyler, 
whose  family  consisted  of  these  children : 
Daniel,  deceased;  Solomon,  Elias,  Philip, 
Betsey,  Kate,  Edward,  and  Julia.  Simon  re- 
ceived his  education  in  ]\Iifflin  township, 
Clarion  county,  to  which  place  his  parents 
moved  while  he  was  yet  quite  young.  After 
working  for  a  few  years  on  the  farm  he 
learned  the  trade  of  masonry  and  continued 
at  this  occupation  sixteen  years.  He  en- 
listed at  Harrisburg  in  company  A,  Fif- 
tieth regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
He  was  discharged  in  1863  in  Washington 
for  disability.  For  sixteen  years  he  was  en- 
gaged at  various  occupations,  and  then  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  working  as  stonemason.  In 
1895  he  came  to  Gratz,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  married,  August  28,  1844, 
to  Miss  Caroline  Klinyer,  a  native  of  Lykens 
Valley.  His  wife  died  September  7,  1895. 
Their  children  are :  William,  Shamokin, 
Pa.;  Samuel,  hotel  proprietor,  Lebanon, 
Pa.;  Preston,  Bear  Valley,  Pa.;  Daniel,  hotel 
jjroprietor,  Gratz,  Pa.;  Frank,  tinsmith, 
Lebanon  ;  Emma  ;  Joseph  ;  Alice,  deceased, 
and  Charles  M.  In  politics  Mr.  Blyler  is  a 
Republican,  and  a  member  of  Kissinger  Post, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Gratz. 


Matter,  Balthaser,  farmer,  Berrysburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  MifHin  township,  April  22, 
1864.  He  is  a  son  of  Balthaser  and  Magde- 
lina  (Littick)  Matter.  The  father  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Mifflin  township.  He 
married  Miss  Magdelina  Gesemen.  Their 
children  are:  William,  Benjamin,  George, 
Daniel,  John,  Jacob,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  and 
four  who  are  deceased.  He  married,  sec- 
ondly. Miss  Littick,  by  whom  he  had  one 
child,  Balthaser.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  politically  was  a 
Democrat.  His  death  occurred  in  1869,  and 
his  widow  has  since  married  Peter  Botololf. 
Balthaser  received  his  education  in  the  jjub- 
lic  schools  and  the  Berrysburg  Academy. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  farming  continu- 
ously since  that  time.  He  married,  in  1887, 
Miss  Sarah  Sebold,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children,  viz:  Aaron  J.,  Warren  B.,  Beulah, 
Charles  H.,  and  Verna.  He  is  a  Republican 
and  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 


MIFFLIN   TOV\^NSHIP. 


RoMBERGER,  JosEPH  F.,  manager  of  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  office,  and  general 
merchant,  Berrysburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
February  4,  1848  ;  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Amelia  (Fisher)  Romberger.  He  attended 
the  common  schools  of  Mifflin  township  in 
the  winter  and  worked  on  the  farm  in  sum- 
mer. He  also  studied  at  Berrysburg  Semi- 
nar3'  for  five  terms,  thirteen  weeks  each  sea- 
son, after  which  he  taught  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship for  two  terms.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
became  clerk  in  the  store  of  Frederick 
Weaver,  Berrysburg.  Several  years  later 
Mr.  Weaver  having  sold  out,  he  was  for  a  year 
in  the  store  of  William  Boyer,  at  Gratz.  He 
then  spent  three  months  as  clerk  in  a  store  in 
Illinois.  Returning,  he  became  clerk  for 
George  Lark,  Berrysburg,  until,  with  his 
father  as  his  partner,  he  bought  the  stock  of 
Dr.  John  Beshler  ;  the  firm  conducted  a  gen- 


904 


-870  GRA  PHIGA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


eral  mercantile  business  for  several  years. 
Mr.  Joseph  Romberger  subsequently  bought 
his  father's  interest,  carrying  on  the  business 
on  his  own  account,  and  has  succeeded  in 
building  up  an  extensive  trade.  He  also 
deals  largely  in  live  stock  and  horses,  ship- 
ping from  the  West.  He  has  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  for  which  he  paid 
$9,000.  He  built  a  fine  dwelling  in  Berrys- 
burg  and  a  store,  expending  upon  them 
over  $12,000.  In  earlier  life  he  was  a 
butcher.  For  four  years  and  a  half  he  was 
postmaster. 

Joseph  F.  Romberger  was  married,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1870,  to  ]\Iary  S.,  daughter  of  Henry 
Yeager,  born  in  Washington  township. 
They  have  two  children :  Grace,  wife  of 
John  Stover,  clerk  in  her  father's  store ;  and 
Harry  B.,  who  died  in  early  youth.  Mr. 
Romberger  belongs  to  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pj-thias. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  lias  been  deacon,  trustee  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  Romber- 
ger is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  the  town.  His 
success  in  business  demonstrates  his  ability 
in  that  line.  He  also  stands  in  the  lead  in 
social  circles. 


Deibler,  John  W.,  farmer,  and  late  pro- 
prietor of  the  Deibler  House,  Berry sburg. 
Pa.,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Mifflin  township, 
December  25,  1846.  His  grandfather,  John 
Deibler,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa. 
He  was  of  German  descent  and  was  a  farmer 
and  stockman.  He  married  Catherine  Mil- 
ler, by  whom  he  had  two  children :  Cath- 
erine, wife  of  Jacob  Hartman,  farmer,  Mifflin 
township,  and  George.  John  Deibler  and 
his  wife  both  died  in  Mifflin  township.  They 
were  members  of  the  Reformed  church.  He 
was  a  Democrat  of  the  old  scliool. 

George  Deibler,  father  of  John  W.,  wasborn 
in  Mifflin  townshij),  Dauphin  county, in  1826. 
He  obtained  a  fair  education  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  the  township,  grew  up  on  his 
father's  farm  and  made  farming  his  occupa- 
tion. He  liad  a  grist  and  flour  mill  in  Wash- 
ington township,  owned  large  tracts  of  cleared 
and  timber  land,  and  dealt  extensively  in 
cattle,  horses,  etc.  George  Deibler  was  mar- 
ried, in  the  township,  to  Hannah  Deibler, 
born  in  Lykens  Valley.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren :  John  W.;  George,  farmer,  Mifflin  town- 
ship; Daniel  J.,  on  the  homestead  ;  Emma, 


deceased,  wife  of  Emanuel  Hoy,  of  Up- 
per Paxton  township;  William  H.,  farmer, 
Berrysburg  ;  and  Amanda  J.,  wife  of  J.  M. 
Matters,  Upper  Paxton  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  George  Deibler  were  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  They  died  on  the 
homestead.  Mr.  Deibler  was  at  first  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  in  later  life  acted  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 

John  W.  Deibler  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  the  township, 
attending  a  short  time  each  winter,  and 
working  during  the  rest  of  the  year  on  the 
farm.  He  was  very  fond  of  reading  and 
educated  himself  by  means  of  good  books 
and  periodicals.  He  remained  on  the  home- 
stead until  he  was  twenty-two,  when  he  be- 
gan farming  on  his  own  account.  He  began 
with  a  tract  of  land  comprising  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven  acres,  wliich  he  cleared 
and  modified  with  substantial  imjirovements. 
In  1890  he  sold  his  finely  improved  farm 
and  bought  a  hotel  in  Berrysburg,  now 
known  as  the  Deibler  House,  which  he  con- 
ducted four  years  and  six  months  with  good 
success,  good  management  making  the  in- 
vestment a  profitable  one.  He  sold  the  house 
to  its  present  proprietor,  Mr.  Charles  Etz- 
weiler,  in  1894.  He  then  bought  several  lots 
in  the  village  and  built  also,  at  a  cost  of 
$4,000,  one  of  the  finest  dwelling  houses  in 
Berrysburg,  putting  in  all  tiie  modern  con- 
veniences. 

John  W.  Deibler  was  married,  in  1868,  to 
Eliza  A.  Ho}',  born  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship. Tiiey  had  no  children.  Mrs.  Deibler 
died  in  1872.  Mr.  Deibler's  second  wife, 
whom  he  married  in  1873,  was  Miss  Katie 
Wert,  born  in  Northumberland  county.  Pa.; 
daughter  of  Michael  Wert,  an  extensive 
mill  owner  in  that  count}'.  They  have  one 
child,  Harry  C,  born  in  1874,  and  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  Mifflin  township 
and  in  Berrysburg  Academ}'.  He  has  great 
natural  musical  talent,  wiiich  has  been  finely 
cultivated  ;  he  is  gifted  as  a  writer  and  com- 
poser of  music.  He  is  agent  for  several 
manufacturing  firms  in  the  State.  His  future 
appears  to  be  brilliant  with  promise. 

Mr.  Deibler  is  a  Republican.  He  was 
school  director  for  three  years  and  has  held 
the  office  of  constable  and  other  positions  of 
responsibility  in  the  township.  He  has  much 
business  ability  and  is  respected  for  his  per- 
sonal worth.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed church. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


905 


RoMBERGER,  ■  Henry  A.,  jiostmaster  and 
general  merchant,  Curtin,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Mifflin  township,  Augnst  4, 1855.  His  fatlicr, 
David  Ronibergor,  was  born  in  the  same 
township,  September  12,  1823,  and  is  a 
brother  of  Benjamin,  and  uncle  of  Joseph  F. 
Roml)erger,  sketches  of  whoso  lives  aj)pear 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  He  cultivated  and 
greatly  improved  one  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  Mifflin  township,  and  was  also  engaged  in 
raising  live  stock.  David  Romberger  was 
married  in  the  township  to  Anna  Mary 
Swab.  Of  their  six  children  are  living : 
Elizabeth;  Henry  A.;  Anna  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
W.  H.  Hoover,  Curtin,  Pa.;  and  Franklin  P., 
farmer  on  the  homestead.  Catherine  and 
George  H.  both  died  young.  Mr.  Romberger 
died  May  11, 1887.  He  was  a  Democrat  and 
held  .some  township  offices.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutlieran  church,  old  school,  and 
was  very  active  in  church  matters  as  deacon, 
elder  and  Sunday-school  teacher.  ]\Irs.  David 
Romberger  is  now  sixty-nine  years  of  age, 
and  resides  on  the  homestead. 

Henry  A.  Romberger  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  in  the  Avinter  months  and 
worked  on  the  farm  during  the  rest  of  the 
year.  He  also  studied  for  six  terms  at  Ber- 
rysburg  Academy,  after  which  he  taught 
school  in  the  township  for  eight  terms,  while 
still  farming  on  the  homestead  and  carrying 
on  the  produce  business.  After  this  he  was 
for  five  years  engaged  in  .shipping  produce 
and  grain  to  the  Lykens  Valley  coal  district, 
which  he  made  a  successful  business.  He 
then  bought  of  Mrs.  M.  P.  Mattis  the  store 
and  stock  at  Curtin,  Pa.,  for  which  he  paid 
$5,750,  and  on  March  13,  1885,  with  stock  to 
the  value  of  $4,000,  began  a  general  mercan- 
tile business,  Avhicli  he  conducted  for  more 
than  eleven  years,  meeting  with  great  suc- 
cess and  building  up  a  good  trade.  He  also 
dealt  in  grain  seeds,  etc.  On  March  16,1890, 
Mr.  Romlierger  sold  this  business  to  William 
P.  Shaffer,  of  Mandata  P.  0.,  Northumber- 
land county.  Pa. 

Henry  A.  Romberger  was  married,  in  Mif- 
flin township,  February  21,  1885,  to  Eliza 
Koppenheffer,  born  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  July  5, 1862 ;  daughter 
f)f  Moses  and  Elizabeth  (Ritzman)  Koppen- 
lietfer ;  her  father  was  a  retired  farmer  and 
stockman,  and  a  resident  of  Upper  Paxton 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Romberger  have 
one  child,  Charles  A.,  born  December  17, 
1892.  Mr.  Romberger  is  a  Democrat.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  election  board  and  was 


elected  township  clerk  in  1895.  He  was  ap- 
])ointed  postmaster  under  President  Cleve- 
land's first  administration  and  re-ajjjjointed 
under  the  second.  He  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Lutheran  church,  and  is  prominent 
and  active  in  all  church  matters.  He  has 
been  a  Sunday-school  teacher  nearly  all  his 
life  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school 
several  times.  He  is  a  deacon  and  served 
on  the  committee  which  drafted  the  by-laws 
of  the  church.  He  always  takes  his  full 
share  in  every  good  enterprise.  Although 
retired  from  general  business  Mr.  Romberger 
still  cultivates  a  small  farm  of  twenty-three 
acres.  He  is  jiojjular  with  all  classes,  for  all 
recognize  his  personal  worth  and  good  will. 

BuFFiNGTON,  Cyrus  F.,  justice  of  the  peace 
and  carriage  builder,  Uniontown,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  September  24,  1839.  His  father,  John 
Buffington,  was  born  in  Lykens  Valley  in 
1818,  and  now  resides  in  Uniontown.  He 
was  a  farm  laborer  in  his  younger  days,  and 
in  later  life  worked  at  carriage  and  wagon 
making  in  Uniontown.  Pie  married  Dena 
France,  born  in  Lykens  Valley,  and  died  in 
1858.  They  had  twelve  children  :  Cyrus  F.; 
Sarah,  wife  of  John  Klinger;  William  ;  Han- 
nah, deceased ;  Solomon ;  Mary,  deceased ; 
Christina,  wife  of  Isaac  Groff;  Elizabeth ; 
Harriet,  wife  of  William  Drum  ;  Adam,  and 
two  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Buffington  is 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
has  been  both  deacon  and  elder,  and  is  a 
class  leader.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
Uniontown  for  over  fifty  years,  is  well  and 
favorably  known,  and  universally  honored. 
He  has  been  foremost  in  every  movement  to 
better  the  social  condition  and  material  pros- 
peritj'  of  the  community. 

Cyrus  F.  Buffington  attended  school  for  a 
short  time  in  Washington  township ;  the  re- 
mainder of  his  education  was  received  in 
Uniontown.  He  hired  to  do  farm  work  at 
ten  years  of  age,  and  for  four  years  worked 
for  his  board.  He  began  to  learn  the  trade, 
of  a  millwright,  and  spent  one  j^ear  at  this 
work,  but  changed  his  plan,  and  worked  for 
three  years  as  apprentice  with  his  father  at 
wagon  making.  He  afterwards  began  the 
business  of  carriage  making  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  carried  it  on  successfully  for  five 
years.  In  1866  he  admitted  his  brother  to 
partnership,  and  since  that  time  the  firm  of 
Buffington  &  Bro.  have  conducted  a  carriage 
and  wagon  factory  which  yields  to  none  in 


906 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


the  State  for  first-class  workmanship.  They 
have  built  a  large  factory,  costing  $1 ,000,  and 
furnished  it  witli  the  best  maclnnery. 

Mr.  Buffington  has  l)een  justice  of  the 
peace  for  fifteen  years,  elected  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket.  He  administers  the  law  and 
dispenses  justice  with  ability  and  imparti- 
ality. He  is  a  member  of  the  borough  coun- 
cil and  the  school  l)oard. 

Cyrus  F.  Buffington  was  married,  at  Berrys- 
liurg,  in  1S62,  to  Caroline  Bingaman,  a  native 
of  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  Northumber- 
land county.  Pa ;  she  died  in  1884.  They  had 
five  children :  Henry,  educated  at  Lebanon 
Valk\y  College,  Annville,  I'a.,  minister  in  the 
United  Brethren  church ;  Irwin,  carpenter, 
deceased,  was  suiTocated  in  the  mines  at  Slia- 
mokin  in  1894;  John,  Flora,  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Buffington  married 
again  March  17,  1885 ;  his  second  wife  was 
Maria  Dunkelberge'r.  Tlieir  children  are 
Ijloyd  D.  and  Emma.  Mr.  Buflington  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  Sun- 
day-school superintendent,  tru.stee,  deacon, 
and  elder.  He  has  the  business  virtues  in 
line  proportion  ;  is  industrious,  enterprising, 
frugal  and  intelligent.  He  is  al.so  genial  in 
spirit  and  manin'r,  and  is  well  liked  by  his 
neighboi's. 


Buffington,  Willi.\m,  is  tlie  brother  and 
partner  of  Cyrus  F.  Buffington.  He  was 
born  in  Uniontown,  March  IS,  1845.  He 
took  tlie  ordinary  course  of  instruction  at  tlie 
schools  of  Uniontown,  after  whicli  he  worked 
for  three  years  on  the  farm.  He  .spent  one 
year  at  the  millwright  trade,  and  then  worked 
at  the  coal  breakers  for  two  years.  He  lias 
been  in  jiartniTshij)  with  his  brother  in  the 
carriage  liuilding  Imsiness  since  1866. 

William  Bulhngton  was  married, at  Berrys- 
burg,  in  1861,  to  Catherine  A.  Souder,  born 
in  Montgomery  county.  Pa.  Their  children 
are:  William  W.,  a  mechanic;  Harry,  re- 
siding at  Shaniokin  ;  Anna,  and  John,  died 
young.  Mr.  Buttington  is  a  Republican.  In 
liusiness  capacity  and  the  elements  of  charac- 
ter that  secure  success,  as  well  as  in  2)ersonal 
worth,  he  is  a  good  match  for  his  excellent 
brother  and  partner,  and  is  his  peer  in  the 
social  realm.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


Klinger,  William,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
March  7,  1840.  His  grandfather,'  Peter 
Klinger,  was  a  farmer  of  Lykens  ^'alley,  and 


had  a  grist  mill  in  Lykens  township.  He 
w^as  a  Democrat.  He  had  ten  children.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

John  A.  Klinger,  father  of  William 
Klinger,  was  one  of  the  ten  children  of  Peter 
Klinger,  and  was  born  in  Lykens  township. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  in  1840  settled  on 
seventy-five  acres  of  land  in  MitHin  town- 
ship, built  a  house  of  brick  manufactured  on 
the  farm,  the  house  costing  $2,000  ;  also  built 
a  barn,  set  out  an  orchard  and  made  other 
improvements.  He  raised  stock  for  home 
markets.  He  married,  in  Lykens  township, 
in  1835,  Lydia  Dornheim,  liorn  in  that  town- 
ship. They  had  eight  children :  Lydia,  de- 
ceased, wife  of  Gotlieb  Quiner;  kSauniel, 
farmer,  of  Powell's  Valley ;  William;  Caro- 
line, Avife  of  Jere  Carl,  plasterer,  Williams- 
town  ;  Mary  A.,  Mrs.  Edward  Lenker,  Upper 
Paxton  township;  John  H.,  farmer,  Wash- 
ington township;  Daniel  D.,  died  young; 
Charles,  burned  to  death  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Klinger  died  in  1885,  and  Mrs.  Klinger  in 
1894.     He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

In  the  church  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
the  Lutheran,  he  held  all  the  offices,  trustee, 
deacon,  elder,  .Sunday-school  teacher,  and 
sujierintendent.  He  was  numliered  among 
the  Ijrave  and  patient  toilers  wlio  redeem  the 
country  from  the  wilderness  and  introduce 
civilization.  Only  the  most  sturdy  virtue, 
manifesting  itself  in  industry,  frugality  and 
ju-udence,  can  accomplish  .such  valuable  re- 
sults. Such  were  the  characteristics  of  Mr. 
John  A.  Klinger. 

William  Klinger  received  four  months' 
.schooling  in  the  winter  of  each  year,  and 
from  early  Ijoyhood  was  accustomed  to  hard 
work  on  the  farm,  helping  his  father  to  clear 
and  cultivate  the  homestead.  On  that  farm 
he  remained  all  his  life,  and  purchased  the 
farm  after  his  father's  death. 

William  Klinger  was  married,  in  Washing- 
ton township,  in  February,  1809,  to  Hannah 
Eliza  Kemmerer,born  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship, November  1,  184G;  daughter  of  Chris- 
tian and  Catherine  (Fisher)  Kemmerer,  na- 
tives of  Dauphin  county.  Mr.  Kemmerer 
was  a  farmer,  and  died  at  Elizabethville  in 
1882;  his  wife  died  in  1880.  The  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mr.s.  Klinger  are:  Fannie  Elta, 
born  February,  1871,  attended  school  in  the 
township ;  John  A.,  born  January  20,  1872, 
educated  in  town.ship  schools  and  Berrys- 
burg  Seminary ;  for  five  terms  taught  .school 
in  Mifflin  township. 

Mr.  Klinger  is  a  Democrat.     He  takes  a 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


907 


deej)  interest  in  educatioiuil  matters.  lie  is 
a  member  of  tlie  Lutlieran  cliurch,  and  was 
a  deacon  and  a  Sunday-school  teacher.  He 
is  prominent  in  all  good  works. 

Latsha,  John  J.,  miller  and  farmer,  was 
born  in  Jackson  township,  Nort]niinl>erland 
county,  Pa.,  May  12,  185G. 

Henry  Latsira,  his  great-grandfather,  was 
a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  after- 
wards removed  to  Northund>erland  county. 
On  his  way  to  that  county  to  pay  for  his 
land  he  was  lost  and  spent  the  night  in  the 
mountains.  It  was  in  tlie  dead  of  winter, 
and  his  feet  became  frozen,  and  had  to  be 
amputated.  He  owned  a,  large  tract  of  land 
in  Northumbi'rland  county,  all  in  its  native 
forest. 

Henry  Latsha  (2),  gi-andfatlier  of  John  -I. 
Latsha,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pa.  He 
was  a  farmer,  and  owned  four  farms  in 
Northumberland  county,  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, lie  married  Miss  Emericli ;  tliey  had 
four  children:  Henry,  Jacob,  Michael,  and 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Rogers,  all  of  whom 
are  deceased.  The  grandfather  died  in  Jack- 
son township,  Northumberland  county,  as  also 
did  his  wife.  Owing  to  an  accident  which 
happened  to  the  pastor  on  his  way  to  the 
funeral,  Mr.  Latsha  was  buried  witliout 
clergical  ministrations.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  His  politics  were 
Democratic.     He  was  a  prominent  citizen. 

Henry  Latsha  (3),  father  of  John  J.,  was 
born  in  Jackson  township,  Northumberhind 
county.  Pa.,  in  1802.  He  was  a,  farmer,  and 
cultivated  a  farm,  of  one  hundred  acres  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  also  engaged 
in  stock  raising.  Mr.  Latslia  was  married, 
in  Jackson  township,  to  Mrs.  Elizal)eth 
Blosser,  of  thesametownsliip.  They  had  six 
children:  David,  deceased;  Mary,  deceased, 
wife  of  William  DeWitt;  Henry,  farmer  of 
Nortlmmberland  county ;  Michael  and  Peter, 
deceased,  and  one  child  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Latsha  died  on  the  homestead. 
Mr.  Latsha  was  married  again,  to  Margaret 
Lees,  a  native  of  Nortlnunberland  county,  by 
wliom  he  had  four  children:  Sarah,  wife  of 
Henry  Deppen,  of  Northumberland  county  ; 
Harriet,  wife  of  David  Bohner,  of  Northum- 
berland county;  Samuel,  farmer.  Lower  Ma- 
hanoy  township,  Northumberland  county, 
and  John  J.  The  father  died  in  January, 
1856.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  Democratic  in  politics.  His 
widow  was  again  married,  her  second  hus- 


band being  Peter  Reitz,  farmer,  Northum- 
berland county.  They  had  no  children. 
Mrs.  Reitz  died  in  1870. 

Jolm  J.  Latsha  was  born  five  months  after 
liis  father's  deatli,  and  having  but  slender 
educational  advantages  was  compelled  to 
make  up  the  deficiency  as  far  as  possible  by 
his  own  efforts.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he 
came  to  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  county, 
and  worked  on  tlie  farm  of  John  Lark  for 
one  3'ear  for  his  board  and  clothing.  He 
next  spent  four  years  with  his  .stepfather  on 
the  homestead,  after  which  lie  worked  in  the 
cotton  factory  at  Uniontown,  Daupiiin 
county,  for  eight  mouths,  and  then  again  at 
farm  labor  for  three  years.  He  was  next  at 
milling  for  a  year  and  a  half,  then  at  farm- 
ing in  Ogle  county'.  111.,  for  two  years;  then 
at  liome  for  a  short  time ;  then  farming  one 
season  in  Nebraska ;  then  home  again,  and 
ran  a  threshing  machine  for  two  years;  then 
having  sold  out  this  business,  he  tried  trad- 
ing in  Lykens  Valley  for  three  years,  and 
found  it  very  profitable.  After  this  Mr. 
Latsha  rtaited  the  farm  of  John  Snyder,  near 
Berrysburg,  and  settled  down  to  farming  for 
eleven  years.  In  1895  he  returned  to  Union- 
town  and  operated  a  grist  mill  and  a  saw 
mill  with  fair  success. 

John  J.  Latsha  Wiis  married,  at  Elizaljeth- 
ville,  January  1,  1881,  to  Emma  Meckley, 
born  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin  countv, 
September  6,  1857,  died  December  31,  1881. 
They  had  one  child,  which  died.  He  mar- 
ried again,  at  Berrysburg,  April  27,  1882, 
liis  second  wife  being  Susan  Sn3'(ler,  born 
<  )ctober  9,  1849,  at  Uniontown  ;  daiigliter  of 
John  Snyder,  and  granddaughter  of  that 
John  Snyder  who  laid  out  Uniontown.  Their 
children  are :  John  Snvder,  born  February 
15,  1883,  and  Annie  E.,born  April  13,  1887. 
Mr.  Latsha  bought  his  present  home  in  1884, 
paying  for  it  $1,850;  he  lias  substantially 
improved  it.  He  lost  his  mill  bv  the  flood 
of  1892,  and  rebuilt  it  at  a  cost  olf  $800. 

He  is  a  Republican,  is  a  member  of  the 
Uniontown  council,  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formi'd  church,  has  been  deacon,  and  is 
elder,  and  secretary  of  the  Sunday-.scliool. 
He  is  a  prominent  man,  and  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  solid  and  square  members  of  the 
business  community,  and  a  worthy  and 
honorable  citizen. 


BoNAwiTZ,  Jonathan,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Mifflin  townsliip,  Dauiihin  county,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember   27,    1833.     George    Bouawitz,    his 


908 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


grandfather,  was  the  son  of  a  German  who 
came  from  the  Fatherland  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  became  a  farmer.  George  was  born  in 
Berks  county,  learned  tailoring,  and  worked 
at  the  trade  both  in  Berks  county  and  in 
Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  county,  whei'e  he 
came  while  still  a  young  man.  In  this 
township  he  bought  one  hundred  acres  of 
land,  part  of  which  he  cleared,  and  built  on 
it  a  log  house  and  barn,  and  made  other  im- 
provements. Here  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  raising.  He  married  a  Miss  Kop- 
penheffer;  their  family  consisted  ofsixcliil- 
dren.  His  wife  dying,  he  married  a  Miss 
Matter;  her  children  were  eight  in  number. 
George  Bonawitz  died  in  Mifflin  township. 
He  was  an  old  line  Whig.  He  belonged  to 
the  Lutheran  church,  new  school. 

John  Bonawitz,  father  of  Jonathan,  at- 
tended subscription  schools,  and  obtained  a 
fair  education.  He  went  to  farming  and 
stock  raising  upon  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  on  wliicli  lie  had  built  a 
dwelling  and  other  needful  structures.  He 
married  Sallie  Schoflstall,  born  in  Lykens 
township.  They  had  five  children,  of  whom 
Jonathan  is  the  only  survivor ;  Kate,  Polly, 
Henry,  and  .Sarali,  wife  of  Jacolj  Lesker,  all 
being  deceased.  The  mother  dying  in  1.S40, 
Mr.  Bonawitz  married  Kate  Harman,  widow 
of  John  Mossner.  They  had  no  children. 
John  Bonawitz  died  on  the  homestead  in 
1884.  He  was  an  old  line  Whig,  and  be- 
longed to  the  Lutlieran  church,  old  school, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  churcli  ni;itters. 
He  was  a  well-known  citizen,  and  was  uni- 
versally liked. 

Jonathan  Bonawitz  attended  subscription 
schools  and  pu]>lic  schools  during  the  win- 
ter, and  worked  on  the  farm  in  summer.  He 
became  a  farmer,  lived  all  his  life  on  the 
homestead,  and  took  care  of  his  father  in  his 
old  age.  He  cultivated  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  made  many 
imju'ovemcnts.  Jonathan  Bonawitz  was 
married,  in  Halifax  township,  in  August, 
18(jl,  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  Henry  Put- 
ter of  that  township;  born  in  jNIillersburg, 
Pa.,  in  1840.  Their  children  were:  Mary, 
wife  of  Peter  Stine;  Charles,  farms  the 
homestead ;  William  E.,  physician  at  Fish- 
erville,  Jackson  township;  Katie  and 
Frances,  both  in  the  millinery  business  at 
Berrysburg.  Katie  attended  the  Westches- 
ter State  Normal  School.  Mr.  Bonawitz  is 
a  Republican.  He  has  been  school  director 
for  one  term,  also  tax  collector,  assessor  and 


supervisor  of  roads.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
old  Lutheran  church,  a  Sunday-school  teacher 
and  superintendent.  He  is  also  the  leader 
of  the  choir,  and  has  been  organist  of  the 
church  from  boyhood.  He  has  been  an  ex- 
cellent singer  in  his  day.  He  is  a  favorite 
both  in  church  circles  and  in  political  life. 
His  home  is  a  musical  one,  all  the  children 
being  musicians.  It  is  a  delightful  family, 
and  a  fountain  of  good  to  the  connnunity. 


Stine,  Peter  E.,  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Bona- 
witz, was  born  in  Washington  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  September  23,  18U1. 
His  father  was  Peter  L.  Stine,  and  his  grand- 
father Peter  Jolin  Stine,  a  farmer  of  Lykens 
townsliip.  Peter  L.  Stine  was  born  in  tiiat 
townsliip  in  1827.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  had 
a  grist  mill  in  Washington  township  for 
seventeen  years.  In  1885  he  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  in  Elizabethville,  Pa., 
meeting  with  success.  He  Avas  married,  in 
Lykens  township,  to  Elizabetli  Butfington, 
born  in  Lykens  Valley ;  she  died  in  1802. 
Their  children  were:  Ellen,  wife  of  C.  A. 
Deibler,  farmer  of  Mifflin  township;  Sarali, 
wife  of  Daniel  J.  Deibler,  Mifflin  townshij); 
Isaac  T.,  farmer  and  miller,  Lykens  town- 
sliip; Catherine,  wife  of  Edwai'd  Martin, 
Kansas ;  Peter  E.;  David  C.,  at  home ; 
John  J.,diedaged  four  years;  Harry  W.,  with 
his  father;  Carrie,  wife  of  Charles  Cooper, 
farmer,  Washington  township;  Samuel  T., 
with  his  fatlier.  Peter  L.  vStine  is  now  in 
the  drug  business  in  Elizabethville.  He  is 
a  Democrat,  and  has  held  various  township 
offices,  including  that  of  school  director.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 

Peter  E.  Stine  received  a  fair  education  in 
the  schools  of  Washington  township  and  at 
Berrysburg  Seminary,  which  he  attended  for 
one  term.  He  worked  on  the  farm  for  his 
father  until  he  Avas  twenty  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  was  clerk  for  Frederick 
AVeaver  in  Elizabethville  for  four  years. 
For  seven  years  afterwards  he  managed  busi- 
ness for  his  father.  On  March  25,  1892,  he 
removed  to  Mifflin  township  and  embarked 
in  the  creamery  business,  establishing  a  jdant 
which  cost  $4,000,  including  a  cider  press 
and  chop  mill.  He  pays  the  farmers  in  the 
region  over  $1,000  per  month  for  milk.  He 
has  also  a  branch  creamery  in  Northumber- 
land county,  which  cost  over  §1,000.  In  this 
business  he  is  meeting  with  success.  Peter 
E.  Stine  was  married,  in  Mifflin  township,  in 
1885,  to  Mary  F.,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Bon- 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


909 


awitz,  born  in  May,  18(;2.  Their  children 
are :  Amy  J.,  Earl  A.,  Clayton  E.,  and  Hu- 
bert N.  Mr.  Stine  is  a  Democrat ;  he  was 
for  three  years  auditor.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  church,  and  a  deacon.  He 
has  been  for  twenty  years  a  Sunday-school 
teacher,  and  for  four  years  a  superintendent 
of  the  school.  The  career  of  Mr.  Stine  is 
notable  and  especially  interesting  to  young 
men  and  boys  who  have  to  make  their  own 
way  in  the  world.  Hi'  began  with  only  ten 
cents  for  capital.  By  i)ush,  pluck  and  enter- 
prise, coupled  with  industry  and  integrity,  ho 
has  made  his  way  into  a  comfortable  busi- 
ness and  an  assured  competence. 


RoNK,  Rev.  .Jacob,  retired  minister  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  residing  at  Bcrrys- 
burg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Elizabethville,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  July  20, 1835.  His  grand- 
father, John  Jacob  Runk,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, April  16,  1763.  He  came  to  this 
country  early  in  life  and  settled  in  Lykens 
Valley,  then  a  part  of  Lancaster  county. 
He  married  a  Miss  Hayman  and  bought  of 
liis  father-in-law  seventy  acres  of  woodland. 
This  he  cleared  and  built  upon  it  a  dwelling 
and  other  structures,  living  at  first  in  a  log 
house.  He  was  always  a  fai'mer.  His  chil- 
dren were  :  Jlicliaeh  Jacol),  Phili]),  Ludwig, 
John,  Susan,  Elizabeth,  Kate,  and  Hannah. 
Mr.  Runk  and  his  wife  died  on  the  home- 
stead, the  former  on  December  4, 1826.  They 
were  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.     Mr.  Runk  is  a  Democrat. 

His  son  Philij),  father  of  Rev.  Jacob  Runk, 
was  born  in  Elizabethville  in  September, 
1805.  He  had  a  fairly  good  German  educa- 
tion and  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
became  a  farmer  and  cultivated  eighty  acres 
of  land ;  he  had  also  forty  acres  of  timber 
land.  He  was  to  .some  extent  a  stock  raiser. 
He  was  married,  in  Lykens  Valley,  to  Eliza- 
beth Smith,  born  in  the  valley  near  Eliza- 
bethville, in  1808  ;  daughter  of  John  Adam 
Smith,  a  farmer  of  Berks  county,  of  German 
descent.  They  had  nine  children :  Mary,  de- 
ceased ;  Susan,  deceased,  wife  of  William 
Bordner,  Powell's  Valley;  Rev.  .Jacob;  Chris- 
tina, wife  of  Henry  Buthngton,  Dauphin 
county ;  Michael,  black.smith,  Pine  Grove, 
Pa.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Shoop,  Ninevah, 
Mo.;  Hannah,  wife  of  Elias  Shooi),  farmer, 
Powell's  Valley;  Adam,  resides  in  JjOgan.s- 
port,  Ind.,  and  Philip,  died  young.  The 
father  died  on  the  homestead  in  December, 
1874.     He  was  born  a  Democrat  and  died  a 


Republican.  He  was  school  director,  super- 
visor and  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  in  which  he  was  a  cla-ss  leader  and 
trustee.  His  wife  also  took  an  active  part  in 
church  affairs.  She  died  on  the  homested  in 
1877. 

Jacob  Runk  attended  a  German  school  in 
Powell's  Valley,  kept  in  the  basement  of  a 
private  house,  and  afterwards  went  to  Eng- 
lish and  German  schools  of  the  township. 
From  eiglit  to  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
worked  on  his  father's  farm.  He  educated 
himself  by  reading  and  observation,  and 
took  up  preaching.  Ho  was  licensed  to 
preach,  and  after  taking  a  three  years'  course 
in  theology  was  ordained  to  the  ministry 
in  the  United  Brethren  church  Ijy  the  con- 
ference held  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  Pa.,  in 
1859. 

Mr.  Runk's  first  field  of  labor  in  the  Lord's 
vineyard  was  near  Reading,  Berks  county. 
Pa.,  where  he  spent  a  short  time.  He  went 
thence  to  Lebanon  circuit,  and  remained 
two  years ;  thence  to  Hummelstown  one 
year ;  thence  to  Lykens  Valley ;  thence  to 
Middleburg,  Snyder  county,  two  years;  to 
Reading  Station  two  years;  to  Bethlehem, 
Northampton  county,  three  years ;  to  Salem 
church,  Lebanon,  as  station  preacher,  two 
years.  He  was  then  presiding  elder  for  four 
years.  He  went  then  to  the  town  of  Lykens 
for  three  years ;  thence  to  Jacksonville  cir- 
cuit two  years;  to  Lykens  Valley  circuit  two 
years.  Thencehe  went  to  Bellevue,  Lebanon 
county,  and  was  one  year  on  Bellevue  circuit ; 
thence  to  Allentown  two  years.  Mr.  Runk 
was  again  elected  presiding  elder  in  1888, 
and  removed  to  Berrysliurg,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  After  serving  four  years  as 
presiding  elder  ho  retired  to  his  fine  farm  of 
thirty-eight  acres,  on  which  lie  has  his  home. 
Several  churches  hnve  been  built  up  under 
his  supervision.  He  has  been  three  times  a 
delegate  to  general  conference:  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  in  1873;  Westtield,  111.,  1877;\and 
York,  Pa.,  1889.  He  still  takes  an  active 
part  in  church  matters. 

Rev.  Jacob  Runk  was  married,  in  Union- 
town,  MifHin  township,  Dauphin  count}'. 
Pa.,  to  Henrietta  Geist,  born  in  Uniontown, 
August  21,  1843  ;  daughter  of  Conrad  Geist, 
a  preacher  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
They  have  five  children :  Cora  M.,  born 
April  1(1,  1865.  wife  of  Rev.  Charles  Mutch, 
a  United  Brethren  preacher,  of  Shamokin, 
Northumberland  county ;  Anna  I.,  born 
September  7,  1867  ;    M.  Ellie,  born  January 


910 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


2,  1870,  wife  of  Prof.  Daniel  Rombcrger, 
Williarastown,  Pa.,rlied  June  5,1893;  Irvin, 
born  August  23,  1874,  teacher,  now  .studj'ing 
at  Lebanon  Valley  C'ollege.  Mrs.  Henrietta 
Ruuk  died  August  28,  1874.  She  was  a  de- 
vout Christian,  and  a  talented  leader  in 
church  work,  a  lovely  lady,  and  a  devoted 
mother.  Mr.  Hunk  was  married  the  second 
time  in  1876,  at  Lebanon,  to  Sallie  Davis, 
born  November  18, 1846,  in  Lebanon  county. 
They  had  one  child,  Harry  V.,  born  July 
11,  1877,  is  a  tinsmith  at  Uniontowu.  Mrs. 
Sallie  Rank  died  July  11,  1877. 

Mr.  Runk  is  a  Repulilican  and  a  Prohi- 
bitionist. He  worked  hard  to  obtain  an 
education,  having  to  depend  upon  his  own 
resources.  He  won  success,  and  established 
himself  in  his  chosen  profession.  He  has 
been  very  active  and  useful ;  he  has  worked 
for  the  establishment  of  righteousness  and 
religion,  antl  in  all  his  fields  of  labor  has 
been  a  power  for  good.  Advancing  years 
have  not  chilled  his  ardor  or  dampened  his 
zeal ;  in  years,  as  in  youth,  he  is  alive  to  the 
needs  of  the  world,  and  to  all  opportunities 
for  doing  good. 


Ro.MBERGER,  Bengohan,  retired  farmer, 
was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  January  17,  1821.  His  grand- 
father, Baltzer  Romberger,  was  the  son  of  a 
German  .settler  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and 
was  a  laborer.  He  married,  in  Lelianon 
county,  a  Mi.ss  Bricker;  they  had  nine  ciiil- 
dren.  Mr.  Romberger  died  at  the  home  of 
his  sou  Baltzer,  in  Mifflin  township,  aged 
eighty-eight ;  his  wife  died  at  tlie  same  place 
in  her  seventy-eighth  year.  He  was  a  pio- 
neer, and  had  a  hard  tiglil  in  life.  Three 
times  he  was  driven  from  his  home  by  the 
Indians.  He  was  an  old  school  Democrat 
and  an  old  school  Lutheran.  Baltzer  Rom- 
berger (2),  father  of  Bengohan,  was  born  in 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  in  1778.  He  received 
a  German  education  in  subscription  schools, 
and  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith.  He  be- 
gan business  as  a  smith,  and  later  in  life 
came  to  Lykens  Valley  and  bought  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  for  a  piart  of  which  he 
paid  $10  per  acre  ;  the  land  was  all  in  tim- 
ber. With  the  assistance  of  his  family,  Mr. 
Romberger  cleared  this  land,  and  erected 
upon  it  the  needed  buildings,  made  fences, 
planted  an  orchard,  etc.  He  then  engaged 
in  stock  raising. 

Baltzer  Romberger,  Jr.,  was  married,  in 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  to  Elizabeth  Seacrer,  born  in 


Lebanon,  daughter  of  Conrad  Seacrer,  a 
farmer,  of  Lebanon  county.  They  had  eleven 
children :  Mary,  deceased,  wife  of  Daniel 
Matter,  farmer  ;  Catherine,  deceased,  wife  of 
Philij)  Matter ;  George  and  Daniel,  deceased  ; 
Bengohan ;  Hannah,  wife  of  Jacob  Wood- 
side,  Berrysburg,  Pa.;  Rebecca,  deceased, 
wife  of  Jere  Horner ;  David,  deceased  ;  Balt- 
zer, farmer;  Susan,  deceased,  wife  of  John 
Bordner;  and  Elizabeth,  deceased,  wife  of 
Jacob  Hoy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Romberger  were 
prominent  and  active  memlters  of  the  Lu- 
tlieran  church.  Mr.  Romberger  was  deacon 
and  elder.  His  politics  were  Democratic. 
He  died  in  Mifflin  township  in  1838 ;  his 
wife  died  in  the  same  place  in  I860,  at  the 
home  of  her  son  Bengohan,  who  watched 
over  her  in  her  declining  years.  She  was 
exemplary  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and 
especially  was  she  wisfe  and  faithful  in  the 
training  of  liei'  family. 

Bi'ngohiin  Kondjcrger  attt'udcd  subscrip- 
tion .senools  in  Miiflin  township  in  the  winter, 
and  further  educated  himself  by  reading  and 
private  study.  From  early  boyhood  he 
worked  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  helping  to 
clear  and  cultivate  the  land.  He  I'emained 
upon  the  farm  until  he  was  seventeen  years 
of  age,  when  his  father  died.  He  then  spent 
two  years  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Gratz,  and 
after  that,  until  he  was  twenty-one,  he  was 
clerk  in  the  .store  of  his  brother-in-law  at 
Curtin,  Pa.  Mr.  Romberger  then  purchased 
the  homestead  of  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
acres,  paying  $66.66  per  acre.  Part  of  the 
price  he  paid  with  money  saved  from  his 
earnings,  and  for  the  rest  he  went  into  debt. 
After  cultivating  this  farm  for  four  years,  he 
.sold  it  for  twice  as  nnich  as  he  paid  for  it, 
and  bought  another  farm  of  one  hundred 
*iind  ten  acres,  which  he  improved,  and  occu- 
pied for  ten  years,  and  then  sold.  He  then 
bought  a  third  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
hftv  acres,  'well  improved,  which  he  .still 
operates.  He  purchased  also  another  farm 
of  ninety  acres,  which  he  keeps  under  culti- 
vation. He  is  interested  in  live  stock.  He 
is  a  very  industrious  man,  working  early 
and  late,  and  making  every  day  tell  toward 
provision  for  the  present  and  future  needs  of 
himself  and  famih'. 

Mr.  Romberger  was  married,  in  Washing- 
ton township,  in  1842,  to  Amelia,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Fisher,  farmer,  born  in  Alifflin 
township  in  1822.  They  had  five  children  : 
Daniel,  deceased;  Joseph  F.,  merchant  at 
Berrysburg ;     Mary   M.,    deceased,   wife    of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


911 


Charles  Mattis ;  Nathan,  fanner,  Lykens 
townsliip ;  and  one  chihl  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Amelia  Romberger  died  in  1S69.  She 
was  a  hard  workinj;,  worthy  woman.  On 
April  2,  1S76,  Mr.  Komherger  married  his 
second  wife,  Hannah  SchivfUer,  Ijorii  in 
Northumberland  county,  January  5,  1837  ; 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Gutzer) 
Sehreffler,  farmers  of  Bei-ks  county,  and  the 
parents  of  fourteen  children.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Romberger  had  no  children.  Mrs.  Rom- 
berger had  been  previously  married  to  Elias 
Troutman,  by  whom  she  had  two  children  : 
J.  P'rankly,  residing  in  Cleveland,  Ohio  ;  and 
Catherine  H.,  who  died  young. 

Mr.  Roinl)crger  was  a  school  director  for 
two  terms  and  tax  collector  for  seven  terms. 
He  has  been  a  merchant  for  many  years,  and 
has  been  enterprising  and  successful,  dis- 
playing business  tact  and  talent.  He  is  a 
man  of  dominant  public  spirit,  as  much  in- 
terested in  the  advancement  of  the  town  as 
in  the  success  of  his  own  business.  He  has 
been  aptly  called  the  "  Father  of  BerryslAirg," 
which  is  an  expression  of  the  general  convic- 
tion as  to  his  plans  and  purposes  in  the  im- 
provement of  the  community.  He  has  built 
many  well  arranged  dwellings,  among  them 
his  own  home,  whicli  he  furnished  witli  all 
convenienc'cs,  at  an  outlay  of  $4,000.  In 
church  affairs  he  is  even  more  prominent,  as 
an  honored  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
old  school,  which  he  has  served  as  trustee, 
deacon  and  elder.  The  brick  of  wliich  the 
fine  house  of  worsliip  of  that  denomination 
is  built  was  burned  on  his  farm.  He  col- 
lected most  of  the  money  to  pay  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  edifice,  and  was  himself  the  largest 
contributor  to  the  fund.  He  has  spent  for 
the  church,  first  and  last,  the  sum  of  $8,000. 
In  some  respects  Berrysburg  is  a  model  town, 
and  to  the  intelligence,  enterprise,  pul)lic 
spirit  and  liberality  of  Mr.  Romberger  much 
of  its  attractiveness  is  due.  The  town  has 
always  been  an  object  of  his  care  and  service, 
and  its  citizens  in  turn  love  to  honor  Mr. 
Romberger  as  a  public  benefactor. 


HoYER,  Bennevillp:,  retired,  Berrysburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Mahantango  township, 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  February  12,  1844. 
His  grandfather,  Peter  Hoyer,  was  a  laborer ; 
he  died  in  Berks  county.  Pa. 

Henry  Hoyer,  father  of  Benneville  Hoyer, 
was  born  in  Lykens  Valley,  Pa.  He  was  a 
laborer  and  removed  to  Schuylkill  county. 


He  followed  in  his  occupation  until  1855, 
when  he  died.  In  Lykens  Valley  he  married 
Mary  Boyer,  born  in  Schuylkill  county,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Boyer,  farmer,  of  tlie  same 
county.  They  had  five  children  :  Elizaljeth, 
deceased,  born  in  1833,  wife  of  William  Engle ; 
Rebecca,  unmarried,  lives  at  Barry,  Schuyl- 
kill county.  Pa.;  Henry,  deceased,  soldier  in 
the  late  war  in  company  A,  Fiftieth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers;  Peter,  died  young. 
Mr.  Henry  Hoyer  was  a  Democrat.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  cluirch.  His  wife 
died  in  Stone  Valley,  Northumberland  county, 
Pa.,  in  February,  1856. 

Benneville  Hoyer  attended  the  public 
schools.  iVt  the  age  of  eleven  he  lost  his 
father  and  was  obliged  to  work  on  a  farm  for 
his  board  and  clothing  until  he  was  seven- 
teen. He  was  then  employed  six  months  as 
a  teamster  by  G.  Adams,  after  which  he  spent 
a  few  months  as  apprentice  in  a  smithy.  At 
tlie  age  of  eighteen  Mr.  Hoyer  enlisted,  at 
Sacramento,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  February 
24,  1802,  in  company  G,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh  regiment,  Pennsvlvania  volunteers, 
Col.  Thos.  A.  Ziegler,  afterwards  Col.  T.  F. 
McCoy  and  Capt.  M.  Murphy.  He  partici- 
pated'in  the  battles  of  Cedar  Mountain,  Bull 
Run,  South  Mountain,  and  Antietam.  At 
the  last  named  battle,  September  17, 1802,  he 
lost  his  leg  by  a  minie  ball  passing  tlirough 
it.  The  leg  was  amputated  in  a  barn,  and  lie 
was  confined  in  the  Smoketown,  Md.,  hospital; 
was  discharged  July  11,  18()3,  and  returned 
liome.  His  father  and  mother  being  both 
dead  he  remained  only  a  short  time  and  then 
went  to  Philadelphia  and  learned  cigar  mak- 
ing, at  which  he  spent  some  time.  He  also 
worked  a  short  time  at  label  printing,  and 
then  went  to  the  Soldiers'  Home,  supported 
by  the  citizens  of  Philadelpiiia.  Here  he  at- 
tended school  in  18()4-()5,  and  then  returned 
to  Schuylkill  county  and  worked  a  short  time 
at  cigar  making.  After  this  he  was  for  two 
years  clerk  for  John  Reed,  of  Gratz,  Dauphin 
county.  In  1809  Mr.  Hoyer  studied  at  Free- 
burg  Academy,  Snyder  county.  Pa.,  under 
Prof.  D.  Boyer;  in  1871-72  at  Berry.sburg 
Seminary,  under  Prof.  Peter  Bergstresser.  He 
then  taught  school  very  successfully  for  two 
terms  in  Jackson  and  Jefferson  townships. 
For  tlie  following  six  years  he  had  a  cigar 
manufactory  and  a  restaurant  at  Gratz,  whicli 
he  sold,  and  in  1876  established  the  same 
business  at  Berrysburg ;  he  conducted  a  cigar 
factory  and  a  restaurant  in  that  place  for  fif- 
teen years.     He  at  length  sold  out  and  now 


912 


BIO GRA PHICAL  EN  GYCL  OPEDIA 


resides  in  Berrysburg,  having  relinquished 
active  work. 

Beniieville  Hoyer  was  married,  in  Jackson 
township,  Daupliin  county,  November  3, 1872, 
to  Caroline  Schoffstall,  widow  of  Benjamin 
Kuntzelman,  born  in  Gratz,  Lykens  township, 
January  15,1850;  daughter  of  Solomon  and 
Catherine  (Bordner)  Schoffstall ;  her  father  a 
farmer  of  Lykens  township.  Tlieir  children 
are :  Jennie  D.,  born  February  25,  1874,  wife 
of  C.  H.  Schoffstall ;  Charles  H.,  born  Octo- 
ber 9,  1875,  baker,  Philadelphia ;  James  M., 
born  August  18, 1877,  farmer  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship ;  William  E.,  born  August  23, 1879,  died 
March  30,  1881 ;  Raymond  F.,  born  Febru- 
ary 12,  1881,  ched  February  23,  1889 ;  Anna 
M.,  born  February  4, 1886,  attending  Chester 
Springs  School ;  Ella  M.,  born  November  24, 
1887,  also  at  same  school ;  Beulah  C.,  born 
September  26,  1891.  Mrs.  Hover  died  of 
heart  failure  October  8, 1892. 

The  children  by  Mrs.  Ployer's  fir.st  marriage 
to  Mr.  Kuntzelman  are :  Aaron  I.,  born  April 
27,  1867,  miner,  at  Williamstown ;  John  B., 
born  October  7,  1868,  farmer  in  Uj)per  Pax- 
ton  township. 

Since  the  death  of  his  wife  Mr.  Hoyer  has 
had  as  housekeeper  ]\Iiss  Emma  J.  Gessner, 
an  excellent  young  lady.  The  first  vote  Mr. 
Hoyer  cast,  in  November,  1864,  in  Philadel- 
phia, was  a  Democratic  ticket ;  he  is  now  a 
Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  Kissinger 
Post,  No.  376,  G.  A.  R.,  Gratz,  Pa.,  and  of  P. 
O.  S.  of  A.,  Washington  Camp,  No.  307,  Ber- 
rysburg, Pa.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church,  Berrysburg,  Pa. 

Mr.  Hover  is  among  the  maimed  patriots, 
suffering  mucli  from  the  loss  of  his  leg  sacri- 
tit'cd  in  the  service  of  his  country,  Init  secure 
in  the  reward  bestowed  by  a  consciousness  of 
duty  faithfully  performed,  and  in  the  grati- 
tude which  all  good  citizens  render  to  those 
who  redeemed  the  life  of  the  Nation.  He  has 
cheerfull}'  accepted  his  limitations  and  pa- 
tiently worked  on.  Declining  years  bring 
him  no  regrets,  and  the  iuture  is  spanned 
with  the  bow  of  hope. 


Straub,  William,  farmer  and  stockman, 
Berrysburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  September  21,  1831  ;  son  of 
John  and  Christian  (Hime)  Straub.  John 
Straub  was  also  born  in  Schuylkill  county, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  Straub,  farmer  and 
mill  owner  of  that  county,  where  he  died. 
John  Straub,  Jr.,  was  also  a  farmer,  and  cul- 
tivated several  rented  fanns  in   his  native 


county,  where  he  died  in  1845.  His  wife, 
Christiana  Hime,  was  born  in  Northumber- 
land county.  Their  children  were:  John, 
resides  in  Northumberland  county ;  Ange- 
line,  deceased,  wife  of  Jerc  Matter,  engineer; 
William;  Elizabeth,  deceased,  wife  of  Da- 
vid Seal ;  Samuel,  Lykens  township,  Dau- 
phin county ;  Amos,  farmer,  Mifffin  town- 
ship; Sarah,  died  young;  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Wetmore,  Seven  Points,  Northumber- 
land county.  Mr.  Straub  was  a  Democrat. 
He  was  a  memljer  of  the  Lutheran  cliurch. 
The  second  husband  of  Mrs.  Straub  was  Val- 
entine Savage ;  tliey  had  a  daughter,  Alice, 
wife  of  Henry  Hamhulse,  of  Schuylkill 
county.  Mrs.  Savage  died  at  the  home  of 
her  son,  William  Straub,  in  1880. 

William  Straub  attended  subscription 
schools  for  a  short  time  each  year,  during 
the  winter  season,  but  his  school  advantages 
were  very  limited,  as  he  went  to  work  on  the 
farm  when  he  was  six  years  of  age.  He 
worked  for  his  fother  until  he  was  fourteen, 
when  his  father  died,  after  which  he  hired 
out  to  do  farm  work,  receiving  as  wages 
$4  per  month.  He  worked  in  this  way 
for  three  or  four  years  and  then  learned 
shoemaking,  and  worked  for  four  years  at 
that  trade.  He  then  came  to  Mifflin  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  and  for  tiiree  years 
was  a  teamster  for  Mr.  Martin  Curtin,  a 
storekeeper;  then  drove  the  mail  stage  from 
Millersburg  to  Fremont,  Schuylkill  county. 
He  then  rented  and  cultivated  for  sixteen 
years  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
acres  in  Mifffin  township.  Having  by  this 
time  saved  some  money,  Mr.  Straulj  bought, 
in  1873,  his  present  farm  of  thirty  acres 
from  Daniel  Matter,  on  wiiich  there  was  an 
old  house.  In  1875  he  bougiit  tlurty  addi- 
tional acres  near  the  homestead,  Ituilt  a  fine 
house  as  a  dwelling,  and  one  of  the  best 
barns  in  the  township,  costing  over  $5,000. 
He  afterwards  bought  of  G.  J.  Miller  a  farm 
of  eighty  acres.  He  cultivated  all  this  land 
and  engaged  extensively  in  stock-breeding. 
He  has  been  and  is  still  a  very  industrious 
man.  In  his  younger  days  it  was  his  cus- 
tom to  work  on  the  farm  in  the  day  time 
and  drive  a  huckster  wagon  at  night.  He 
has  been  very  successfully  engaged  in  luick- 
stering  for  forty -five  years. 

William  Straub  was  married,  in  Miffiin 
township,  in  December,  1853,  to  Elizabeth 
Hultzman,  born  in  Mifflin  townsliip,  in 
1837 ;  daughter  of  .Jonatium  Hultzman, 
farmer,  Mifflin    township.     Their   cliildren 


DAUPEm  COUNTY. 


913 


are :  John  N.,  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Mary,  wife 
ofJolin  Dockey,  who  farms  the  homestead; 
Charles,  deceased;  Norman,  farmer,  Mifflin 
township ;  Emma,  wife  of  Henry  Howe, 
farmer,  Mifflin  township;  Harry,  farmer, on 
homestead  ;  Katie,  wife  of  Jacob  U.  Hart- 
man,  farmer,  Mifflin  township.  Mrs.  Straub 
died  in  1890,  since  when  Mrs.  Mary  Dockey 
lias  been  her  father's  liousekecper.  Mr. 
Straub  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  new  school,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  has  been  a  trustee  of  the. 
church,  to  wiiich  he  <>ives  liberally.  He 
contriljuted  over  $000  for  building  the  house 
of  worship.  He  is  a  member  of  tiie  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Grange.  Mr. 
Straub  is  a  man  of  good  common  sense,  en- 
terprising and  active,  and  is  a  very  success- 
ful business  man.  He  began  farming  with 
$50  and  a  horse  and  buggy ;  jjlanted  an 
orchard  of  five  acres,  worked  hard,  and  was 
rewarded  with  the  most  gratifying  success. 


DuBENDORF,  Samuel  D.,  blacksmitli,  was 
born  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  January  31,  1857. 

His  grandfather,  Samuel  Dubeudorf,  was 
a  Pennsylvanian  of  German  extraction  and 
a  farmer,  owning  and  cultivating  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  acres  in  Lykens  townshi2),  Dau- 
phin county,  on  which  he  raised  fine  stock. 
He  was  a  famous  hunter  in  his  day.  He 
married  in  Lykens  township.  His  children 
were:  David,  William, Samuel,  Levina,  Hat- 
tie,  Matilda,  Su.san,  and  Sarah.  He  was  an 
old  line  Whig.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
died  in  Lykens  townshij).  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Pefonned  cliurch. 

Samuel  Dubcndorf  (2),  father  of  Samuel 
D.,  was  born  at  Gratz,  Lykens  township,  in 
1828.  He  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith. 
He  removed  to  Tpper  Paxton  township, 
where  he  built  a  shop  and  worked  as  a  smith 
for  over  fifty  years,  at  the  same  time  farming 
twenty-one  acres,  on  which  be  built  a  house 
and  barn  and  made  other  valuable  improve- 
ments. He  was  full  of  energy  and  enterprise 
and  his  business  was  proportionately  suc- 
cessful. His  first  wife  was  a  native  of  Mifflin 
township,  Lydia,  daughter  of  John  Kadel, 
farmer.  Their  children  were ;  John,  black- 
smith, Elizabethville,  Pa.;  Amanda,  wife  of 
John  Bechtel,  Elizabethville ;  Susan,  wife  of 
John  Seal,  Upper  Paxton  township  ;  Samuel ; 
Daniel,  and  Cliarles,  both  deceased.  Mrs. 
Lydia  Dubendorf  died  in  18G2.     Mr.  Duben- 


dorf's  second  wife  was  Christiana  Marklc,  of 
Northumberland  county.  They  had  three 
children:  Vv'illiam,  carpenter,  Millersburg, 
Pa.;  Mar}-,  and  Henry  G.,  who  reside  at 
home.  Mr.  Dubendorf  was  a  Republican. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 
He  died  in  1893 ;  his  wife  survives  him  and 
resides  in  Upper  Paxton  township. 

Samuel  D.  Dubendorf  attended   school  in 
early  boyhood  in   Upper  Paxton  township, 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  went  to  work  in 
the   blacksmith  shop  with  his  father.     He 
continued  working  with  liis  father  until  he 
was  twenty,  and  then  wtirked  one  year  at  his 
trade  for  Henry  Wise,  at  Gratz.     Then  for 
one  year  he  was  employed  to  shoe  the  min- 
ing team  at  Daj-ton,  Pa.     At  the  end  of  that 
year  he  returned   to  work   in   his   father's 
shop.     A  year  later,  in  1881,  he  bought  his 
father's  shop  and  trade  and   has  ever  since 
conducted  a  general  blacksmithing  business 
on  his  own  account.     He  has  prospered  and 
during  this  time  has  built  a  fine  dwelling  cost- 
ing $1,000,  making  all  the  improvements  re- 
quisite for  a  most  convenient  and  comfortal)le 
home.     Mr.  Dubendorf  was  married,  on  the 
homestead,  in  November,  1881,  to  Ahiry  J., 
daughter  of  John  N.  Deibler,  of  Mifflin  town- 
ship, born  in  Centre  county.  Pa.,  in  June, 
1855.      The}"   have    three   children:  'John, 
born  November  20,  1882,  attending  school ; 
Gertrude,    born    in    June,    1886,    attended 
Berrysljurg  Seminary  in  1893;   and  Pearl, 
born  August  29,  1889.     Mr.  Dubendorf  is  a 
Republican  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
politics ;  he  has  served  as  inspector  of  elec- 
tions.    He  is  deeply  interested  in  all  school 
matters  and  is  in  favor  of  compulsory  edu- 
cation.    In    church    interests  he   is  no  less 
active  and  devoted.     He  serves  the  United 
Brethren   Sunday-school    as    secretary  and 
librarian   and    has   for   the   last    ten   years 
offlciated  as  sexton  of  the  church.     Mr.  Du- 
bendorf displays  tireless  industry  in  all  that 
he  undertakes,  is  progressive  and  full  of  en- 
terprise.     He   is   a  most  useful  member  of 
society,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  his 
neighbors. 


Ulsh,  Jacob  M.,  is  among  the  prominent 
and  prosperous  farmers  and  stockmen  of 
Mifflin  township.  He  is  a  native  of  Green- 
wood township.  Perry  county.  Pa.,  and  was 
born  January  8,  1855.  He  bears  the  name 
of  his  grandfather,  Jacob  Ulsh,  also  a  native 
of  Perry  county  and  a  farmer.  His  father, 
Josiah  Ulsh,   was  likewise  born  iu   Green- 


914 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


wood  township,  Perry  county,  where  he  was 
reared,  and  where  he  owned  and  cultivated 
one  hundred  acres  of  hind,  and  was  an  ex- 
tensive stock  raiser.  Josiah  Ulsh  married 
Sarah  Arbogast,  born  in  Snyder  county,  Pa., 
in  1827.  They  had  six  children:  Jacob  M.; 
Maggie,  unmarried,  residing  in  Perry  county. 
Pa.;  John,  farmer,  Greenwood  township, 
Perry  county;  Amelia,  wife  of  Solomon 
Weaver,  Topeka,  Kan.;  Sarah,  died  young; 
Albert,  unmarried,  lives  in  Topeka,  Kan. 
Mrs.  Ulsh  died  in  1882.  Mr.  Ulsh  survives 
her  and  resides  on  the  homestead  in  Perry 
county.  He  is  a  Republican,  is  well  known 
and  universally  esteemed. 

Jacob  M.  Ulsh  attended  the  schools  of  his 
native  townshiji,  and  began  business  early 
by  working  on  the  home  farm,  where  he 
continued  until  he  was  twenty  years  old. 
He  then  came  to  Lykens  Valley,  Dauphin 
county,  and  worked  four  years  as  a  faiin 
hand  for  Jonathan  Reigle,  then  went  to 
Benjamin  Keigle's  and  worked  for  four  years 
on  his  farm,  after  which  lie  cultivated  the 
farm  of  D.  D.  Elder,  Washington  township, 
for  eleven  years.  In  1894  he  moved  on  the 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres, 
on  which  he  now  resides,  in  MitHin  town- 
ship, and  is  engaged  in  farming  and  raising 
live  stock. 

Jacob  M.  Ulsh  was  married,  in  MifHin 
township,  in  1879,  to  Mary  Lehman,  born  in 
Mifflin  townsliip,  daughter  of  Samuel  Leh- 
man, a  merchant  of  Uj)perPaxton  townsliip, 
and  his  wife,  Catherine  (Deil)ler)  Leiiman. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ulsli  have  had  two  chihlren : 
Sallie  C,  born  in  1880,  and  Jacob  H.,  in 
1886. 

Mr,  Ulsh  is  a  Republican.  He  served  as 
school  director  of  \\'asiiington  townsliip  for 
two  years.  In  1882  he  was  constable  of  the 
tow-n.ship.  Mr.  Ulsii  has  always  been  a 
hard-working  man  and  a  good  man  of  busi- 
ness, and  has  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  com- 
fortable competency.  He  is  well  known  and 
liked  by  every  one,  and  is  one  of  the  solid 
citizens  of  the  comnninity. 


Miller,  Major  J,  Fr.4nk,  was  born  in 
Annville,  Lebanon  county,  June  13,  1830. 
His  grandfather,  John  Miller,  spelled  his 
name  Muller ;  he  was  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land, and  came  to  this  country  with  his  par- 
ents, who  settled  in  Dauphin  county,  then 
included  in  Lancaster  county.  He  owned  a 
large  tract  of  land,  then  covered  with  tim- 
ber, on  which  he  cleared  several  farms,  and 


Avas  extensively  engaged  in  agriculture.  He 
married  in  Lancaster,  the  name  of  his  wife 
cannot  now  be  given  with  certainty,  but  it 
was  probably  Suavely.  The  names  of  his 
children,  so  far  as  known,  are:  John,  Isaac, 
Abraham,  Jacob,  Christian,  Magdalena;  but 
there  were  others  whose  names  cannot  be 
ascertained.  He  died  in  Hanover,  Lebanon 
county.  He  was  a  Whig  and  a  member  of 
the  Mennonite  denomination, 

Isaac  Miller,  father  of  the  Major,  received 
a  good  education  in  subscriirtion  schools. 
He  spent  his  younger  daj's  with  his  father 
on  the  farm,  and  became  a  competent  busi- 
ness man.  When  he  became  of  age  he 
bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  South  Annville  township,  Ix'banon 
county,  which  he  occupied  and  improved 
and  continued  to  cultivate  until  1847.  He 
then  retired  from  active  work,  bought  prop- 
erty in  Annville  and  resided  there  until  his 
death.  Besides  farming,  he  did  a  large  busi- 
ness in  live  stock,  buying  in  the  West  and 
shijijiing  to  the  eastern  markets.  His  Inisi- 
ness  in  hor.ses  was  very  successful. 

Isaac  Miller  was  married  at  the  place  of  his 
birth,  Hanover  townshiij,  Lebanon  county, 
to  MoUie  Frensier,  a  native  of  tiiat  place; 
they  had  eight  children  :  Henry,  deceased,  a 
farmer;  Sarah,  widow  of  John  Frensier, 
Annville,  Lebanon  county ;  Christiana,  widow 
i)f  Jacob  Bachman,  Annville;  Magdalena, 
deceased,  wife  of  Philij)  Wolfenbergor,  of 
Illinois;  Kli/.abeth,  second  wife  of  the  same 
Philip  \\'(jlfenberger,  Princeton,  111.;  J. 
Frank :  Jacob,  in  real  estate  business, 
Princeton,  III.;  Mollie,  died  in  infancy,  Mr, 
Miller  died  at  Annville  in  1878.  He  was 
originally  a  Whig,  and  afterwards  a  Re- 
l»ublii-an,and  took  an  active  part  in  political 
movements.  He  possessed  great  business 
ability  and  was  always  successsful  in  his  en- 
terprises. He  and  his  wife  became  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  church  at  Annville, 
and  attended  the  services  there  up  to  the 
time  of  their  death. 

J.  Frank  Miller  was  educated  at  subscrip- 
tion schools  taught  in  German,  and  learned 
his  first  lessons  in  that  tongue ;  in  that 
course  he  went  as  far  as  the  psalter.  He 
also  attended  the  Meyerstown  Academy  for 
one  j'ear,  and  attended  the  Annville  Acad- 
emy, Lebanon  county,  for  two  \'ears.  He 
worked  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until 
1848  and  then  went  to  Iowa ;  remained  a 
short  time,  and  returned  as  far  as  Mansfield, 
Ohio,  near  which  jilace  he  had  charge  of  a 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


915 


grist  mill  for  just  six  months,  when  he  was 
taken  ill,  and  returned  to  his  home  at  Ann- 
ville.  Pa.,  and  taught  winter  school  for  three 
terms.  After  this  Mr.  jNIiller  was  for  two 
years  in  the  shoe  and  hat  factory  husiness  at 
Meyerstown,  and  was  reasonably  successful. 
During  this  time  he  received  his  first  com- 
mission from  Governor  Bigler,  as  lieutenant 
of  State  militia. 

In  1854  Mr.  Miller  went  to  Princeton,  111., 
and  engaged  in  the  grain  business,  which 
yielded  him  very  satisfactory  profits  until 
the  panic  of  1858  prostrated  all  business. 
He  did  not,  however,  abandon  the  busi- 
ness Jhere  until  1800,  when  he  returned 
to  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  During  his  stay  at 
Princeton  he  became  identified  with  the 
• "  underground  railroad."  In  1853  he  received 
from  Governor  Bissell,  of  Illinois,  a  commis- 
sion as  first  lieutenant  in  the  Illinois  State 
militia.  After  his  return  to  Pennsylvania 
he  resided  at  Benysburg  until  the  war  broke 
out  in  1801. 

In  June  of  that  year  Mr.  Miller  enlisted 
in  company  B,  Ninth  regiment,  Pennsylva- 
nia cavalry,  as  second  lieutenant,  under 
Colonel  Williams  and  Capt.  E.  G.  Savage. 
He  served  with  the.  regiment  in  this  rank 
until  August  2, 1802,  when  he  was  promoted 
and  mustered  in  as  first  lieutenant,company  C ; 
May  23, 1863,  he  was  again  promoted  and  mus- 
tered in  as  captain  of  company  K.  He  was 
promoted  to  major  of  the  regiment  June  23, 
1865.  During  his  time  of  service  Major 
Miller  was  in  tlie  following  engagements : 
Paris,  Ky.,  July  9,  1862;  Richmond,  Ky., 
September  2,  1802;  Perryville,  Ky.,  October 
8,  1862 ;  Carter's  raid  into  East  Tennessee, 
December,  1862;  commanded  by  General 
Carter,  1,104  men  in  the  saddle;  marched 
twent\'-one  days,  often  continuouslj'  da\' 
and  night,  two  hundred  and  seventy-three 
miles  into  the  enemy's  lines;  Franklin, 
Tenn.,  March  4,  1803 ;  Spring  Hill,  Tenn., 
March  10,  1803;  Triune,  Tenn.,  June  11, 
1803  ;  Shelbyville,  Tenn.,  June  28, 1803  ;  La- 
fayette, Ga.,  September  13,  1803 ;  Chicka- 
maugua,  Ga.,  September  19,  20, 21 ,  1803 ;  New 
Market,  Ala.,  October  6,  1803;  Dandridge, 
Tenn.,  December  24,  1863;  Mossy  Creek, 
Tenn.,  December  26,  27,  29,  1863;  Dan- 
dridge, Tenn.,  January  16,  1864;  Lovejoy 
Station,  Ga.,  November  16,  1864;  Macon, 
Ga.;  November  20,1804;  Waynesboro,  Ga., 
November  28,  1864 ;  Savannah,  Ga.,  Decem- 
ber 21,  1864;  Columbia,  S.  C,  February  18, 
1865;  Averysboro,  N.  C,  March  16,  1865; 


Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  19,  20,  1865; 
Raleigh,  N.  C,  April  12,  1865 ;  Morrisville, 
N.  C,  April  13,  1865,  and  at  the  surrender 
of  Johnson  and  his  army  at  Benton's  house, 
N.  C,  April  26,  1865.  Major  Miller  was  di.s- 
charged  from  the  service  at  Harrisburg  in 
September,  1865. 

For  the  first  year  after  his  return  from  the 
army  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
at  Berrysburg.  He  then  became  agent  for 
several  companies  manufacturing  agricul- 
tural implements,  and  was  thus  occupied  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  has  now  practically 
retired  from  active  business. 

Maj.  J.  Frank  Miller  was  married,  at  Ber- 
r3^sburg,  July  4,  1855,  to  Emma  J.,  daugliter 
of  Dr.  H.  C.  and  Mary  (Boyer)  Beshler,  born 
at  Freeburg,  Union  county,  now  Snyder 
county,  March  6,1835.  Their  children  are: 
Henry  I.,  born  February  24,  1857,  educated 
in  Berrysburg  Seminary,  taught  school,  and 
became  a  music  dealer,  he  married  Addie 
Moyer,  of  Georgetown,  Northumberland 
county,  and  they  have  four  children  :  Frank, 
Ralph,  Albert,  and  George,  deceased  ;  Anna 
Laura,  born  August  24,  1859,  educated  in 
Berrysburg  Seminary,  married  George  D. 
Romberger,  insurance  agent,  at  Berrysburg, 
and  they  have  ten  children,  of  whom  eight 
are  living. 

Major  Miller  was  for  four  years  postmaster 
at  Berrysburg,  commissioned  under  Presi- 
dent Harrison.  He  was  also  justice  of  the 
peace  for  five  years,  and  was  a  careful,  im- 
partial and  popular  official.  He  was  school 
director  for  two  terms,  and  is  an  ardent  ad- 
vocate of  compulsory  education.  He  has 
served  as  both  State  and  county  tax  collec- 
tor, and  was  census  taker  for  Lykens  Valley 
in  1870  and  1880.  He  was  a  candidate  for 
sheriff  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  1806,  but 
was  defeated.  He  is  a  member  of  Princeton 
Lodge,  No.  112,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Princeton,  111., 
and  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  Princeton;  he 
is  also  a  member  of  Kilpatrick  Post,  G.  A. 
R.,  at  Millersburg,  Pa.  Major  Miller  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  new 
school. 

Dr.  H.  C.  Beshler,  Mher  of  Mrs.  Miller, 
was  a  well-known  physician  at  Berrysluirg. 
He  was  a  native  of  Northumberland  county, 
and  of  German  descent.  His  wife  was  born 
in  Snyder  count}',  also  of  German  ancestry. 
They  had  three  children  :  Emma  J.,  Mrs. 
Miller;  Annie  E.,  deceased,  wife  of  D.  K. 
McClure  ;  John  B.,  deceased,  a  prominent 
physician,  of  Berrysburg. 


916 


Bl  0  GRA  PHI  GAL  ENGYCL  OPEDIA 


BuNTZ,  Rev.  Stephen,  pastor  of  the  United 
Evangelical  church,  Bcrrvsbvirg,  was  born  in 
Schuylkill  county,    Pa.,  "October   22,  1854 ; 
son  of  John  and  Charlotta  (Keler)  Buntz, 
both  natives  of  Germany.     The  father  was 
a  carpenter  by  occupation  and  in  1854  came 
to  this  country,  locating  in  Schuylkill  county, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  children  are:    Henry,  Elizabeth,  Her- 
man, Mary,  John,  deceased,  Stephen,  John, 
deceased,  and  two  children,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy.    The  father  died  in  Schuylkill  county 
in  18GS,  and  liis  wife  died  in  Ashland,  same 
county,  in  1891,  and  both  were  members  of 
the  Evangelical  church.     Stejjhen  attended 
the  schools  at  Tamaqua  and  began  his  busi- 
ness life  by  working  several  years  in  the  coal 
mines.     Later  lie  learned  the  trade  of  cigar 
making  and  followed  tiiat  business  for  fifteen 
years.    He  then  took  up  tlie  study  of  theology 
and  other  branches  in  preparation  for  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and   was  ordained  a 
deacon  by  tlie  Evangelical   A.ssociation   in 
1888  at  Norristown,  Pa.     Since  liis  ordina- 
tion he  has  had  charge   of  the  churciies  at 
Ring-town,  Hackney,  Bridston,  ]\h\verst(i\vn 
and  Kuntstown,  and  in  March,  189(1,  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  church  at  Berrysburg. 
Rev.  Buntz  was  married,  at  Asldand,  Pa.,  in 
October,  1873,  to  Mary  E.  Tuckenbiil,  a  na- 
tive of  Schuylkill   county.     Their  children 
are:  Edwin  S.,  attending  school,  and  Robert 
D.,  died  young.    Mr.  Buntz  is  a  Prohibitionist 
in  his  political  views. 


Bowman,  William  II.,  furniture  manufac- 
turer and  undialaker,  Uniontown,  Pa.,  was 
born  near  Berrysburg,  Pa.,  January  13, 185(!. 
He  attended  the  schools  of  the  township  in 
the  winter  and  worked  on  his  grandfather's 
farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  He 
then  attended  the  Berrysburg  Seminary 
under  Prof  Bergstresser  for  two  }■  ear's,  after 
which  he  spent  three  years  as  an  apprentice 
at  the  trade  of  cabinet  making,  and  then 
worked  three  years  as  a  journeyman.  In 
1880  he  started  a  small  shop  of  his  own  in 
Uniontown,  having  only  |20  in  cash  to  be- 
gin with,  and  has  continued  in  the  business 
since  that  time.  Eight  years  later  he  erected 
a  factory  22x56  feet,  and  eciuijiped  it  with 
the  most  improved  machinery.  His  business 
has  increased  and  has  been  profitable.  He 
has  built  a  fine  residence,  and  is  a  prominent 
and  prosperous  business  man.  Mr.  Bowman 
was  married,  at  Uniontown  in  1877,  to  Miss 
Kate  Underkofl'er,  born  in  Northumberland 


county  in  1850;  daughter  of  John  Under- 
koff'er,  a  farmer  and  miller.  They  have  six 
children :  Emory  I.,  Elura  M.,  Clayton  V., 
Bertha  C,  Paul  J.,  and  Florence  E.  In  po- 
litical views  Mr.  Bowman  is  a  Democrat  and 
served  as  Imrgess  of  Uniontown  three  years, 
school  director  nine  years,  and  also  as  audi- 
tor, judge  of  elections  and  clerk.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which 
he  holds  the  office  of  deacon  and  is  the  super- 
intendent and  a  teacher  of  the  Sunday-school. 
He  is  master  of  forms  in  tlie  Patriotic  Order 
Sons  of  America. 


Deibler,  Daniel  J.,  farmer  and  stock- 
man, Berrysburg,  Pa.,  was  born  on  the  old 
.homestead  in  ]Mifi3in  township,  I)au])liin 
county,  Pa.,  August  7,  1849;  son  of  George 
and  Hannah  (Deibler)  Deibler.  He  attended 
the  township  school,  taugiit  in  the  Deibler 
sciiool  house  for  three  months  each  winter, 
and  worked  on  the  farm  in  the  other  months, 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  He  then 
wt'iit  to  Illinois,  and  for  sixteen  montiis  was 
engaged  in  farming,  after  which  lie  returned 
and  worked  on  the  homestead  until  his 
father's  death,  since  wliich  he  has  had  charge 
of  the  farm,  which  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-nine  acres,  of  which  fifty  acres  are 
tiinl)ered  land  on  which  there  is  a  saw  mill. 
He  was  married,  at  Annville,  Lebanon 
county,  March  13,  1873,  to  Sarah  L.  Stine, 
born  April  8,  1854 ;  daughter  of  Peter  L. 
Stine  and  Elizabeth  (BufRngton)  Stine.  The 
former  resides  at  Elizabethville,  and  is  a 
fanner  and  miller;  the  latter  died  at  Eliza- 
bethville in  1892.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Deibler  are;  Clara  E.,  Katie  E.,  Polly 
L.,  Daniel  D.,  Carrie  M.,  Abbie  R.,  Sadie  I., 
Lulie  E.,  Mark  L.,  John  C,  and  one  child 
died  young.  Mr.  Deibler  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  served  as  school  director  nine  years, 
and  supervisor  of  roads  three  years,  assistant 
assessor  one  term,  and  judge  of  elections  one 
year.  He  is  a  member  of  ttie  German  Re- 
formed church. 


Deibler,  Georgic  A.,  farmer  and  dairy- 
man, Berrysburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Mirtlin 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  June  13, 
1848;  son  of  George  and  Hannah  (Deibler), 
Deibler,  and  brother  of  John  W.  Deibler,  of 
Berrysburg.  He  attended  the  school  taught 
during  the  winter  months  at  the  Deibler 
school  iiouse  and  during  the  sumnn'r  months 
worked  on  the  farm.  He  remained  on  the 
old    homestead   until    he   was    twenty-four 


:--iP^*>K, 


l^li^l 


ry-L,i3^A- c^  a>i^  c/c^ 


DAUPHIK  COUNTY. 


919 


years  old,  and  then  began  farming  for  him- 
self. He  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  acres  of  farming  land  and  fifty  acres  of 
mountain  land,  which  he  has  been  engaged 
in  cultivating  and  developing.  In  1874  he 
built  a  tine  residence  of  brick  made  on  the 
place,  costing  S2,500,  and  erected  a  barn  and 
other  buildings,  costing  $2,000  additional. 
He  was  married,  in  Washington  township, 
in  1872,  to  Ellen  Stine,  born  in  Lykens 
township,  September  30,  1851,  a  daughter  of 
Peter  L.  Stine.  Their  children  are  :  Peter 
F.,  Charles  E.,  Sallie  T.,  George  W.,  Emma 
I):,  Elmer  S.,  Henry  H.,  Isaac  N.,  and  Cora  E. 
Mr.  Deibler  was  school  director  two  terms, 
supervisor  one  term,  and  assesisor  and  tax 
collector  one  term.  In  his  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church  and  a  Sunday- 
school  teacher. 


Detter,  David  F.,  principal  of  Berrys- 
burg  Seminary,  was  born  in  Y*)rk  county, 
Pa.,  August  (),  18()5.  Tlie  great-grandfather 
came  from  Germany  in  his  youth,  st'ttled  in 
York  county,  engaged  in  farming  and  died 
in  that  county.  John  Detter,  the  grand- 
ftither,  was  also  a  farmer  in  York  county. 
He  married  Sarah  .Jacobs,  and  they  had  six 
children.  lie  was  a  Democrat  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church.  James  Detter, 
the  father,  was  born  in  182()  and  l»rought  up 
in  York  county.  He  attended  subscription 
schools,  and  also  the  Oxford  College  in 
Adams  county,  where  he  received  his  higher 
education.  He  became  a  professional  teacher, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  work  for  seventeen 
years,  teaching  in  both  subscription  and  in 
public  schools.  While  teaching  he  con- 
ducted a  business  of  contracting  and  build- 
ing. Subsequently  he  took  up  farming  on 
the  homestead,  and  became  an  extensive 
farmer  and  stockman,  retiring  from  the 
business  in  1882.  He  rented  iiis  farm  and 
took  up  his  residence  at  Bermudian,  in 
Adams  county. 

He  was  married,  in  York  county,  to  Cathe- 
rine Roth,  born  in  Jackson  township,  York 
county,  in  1830;  daughter  of  John  Roth, 
farmer.  Their  children  are :  Franklin,  Wal- 
ter, David  F.,  Howard,  Mary  J.,  Latimer, 
Reuben,  and  John,  who  died  in  infancy. 
The  father  was  originally  a  Democrat,  and 
changed  his  views  and  became  a  Republican 
in  18G1.  He  was  much  interested  and  very 
active  in  all  church  matters  in  his  younger 
58 


days.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church. 

David  F.  attended  the  public  schools 
in  Washington  township,  York  county, 
and  was  reared  on  the  farm.  At  eigh- 
teen years  of  age  he  entered  East  Berlin 
Academy,  in  Adams  county,  and  after  two 
years  study  was  graduated  in  1882.  He 
taught  school  in  Washington  township, 
York  county,  one  term,  was  sent  to  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  Franklintown  .school  one  year, 
and  then  taught  in  Lancaster  county  until 
1887,  when  he  took  an  elementary  course 
and  was  graduated  from  the  Millersville 
State  Normal  School  in  1889.  He  then  be- 
came principal  of  the  New  Holland  public 
school,  in  which  position  he  remained  until 
1892,  when  he  was  elected  principal  of  the 
Berrysburg  high  school,  and  has  filled  the 
place  for  four  years  with  great  acceptance. 
Mr.  Detter  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Epi.scopal  church,  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sun- 
day-school. In  political  views  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  is  a  member  of  Washington 
Camp,  P.  0.  S.  of  A. 

Enterline,  Solomon  H.,  deceased,  for- 
merly a  prominent  business  man  at  Berrys- 
burg, was  born  in  Uniontown,  Mifflin  town- 
shii),  January  7,  1835 ;  son  of  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  (Herfer)  Enterline.  The  grand- 
father was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to 
this  country,  where  he  .spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  labors  of  the  ministry  in  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  ministered  to  the 
spiritual  needs  of  the  people  in  Mifflin  town- 
sliip  and  helped  to  Ijuild  the  first  Lutheran 
church  in  the  township,  known  as  the  Hill 
church.  By  his  .self-sacrificing  devotion  and 
faithful  and  able  services  he  endeared  him- 
self to  the  people  and  was  held  in  high 
esteem.  In  his  political  views  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat. Michael,  the  father,  was  born  and 
educated  in  Germany  and  learned  the  trade 
of  hatter.  Later  he  engaged  in  keeping 
hotel  and  in  cultivating  a  farm.  He  was 
married,  in  Lykens  Valley,  to  Elizabeth 
Herfer,  a  native  of  Centre  county.  Their 
children  were :  Eliza,  Sarah,  Mary  A.,  Louisa, 
Catherine,  Elizabeth,  Solomon,  Jennie,  and 
two  who  died  young.  The  lixther  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat. He  and  his  wife  were  mcral)ers  of  the 
Lutheran  church  and  both  died  in  Berrys- 
burg. 

Solomon  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
town.ship  and  acquired  a  fair  education. 
When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  became  clerk 


920 


BIOGRAPHICAL  .ENCYCLOPEDIA 


in  a  store  at  Benysburg,  where  he  remained 
until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old.  He  then 
l)ought  an  interest  in  the  store  of  George 
Lark,  with  whom  he  remained  in  business 
for  several  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  for 
three  years  was  clerk  in  the  grain  business 
at  Elizabethville.  He  next  started  a  store  at 
Bull  Run,  Hnyder  county,  which  he  con- 
ducted successfully  for  two  years,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Berrysburg  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  for  two  years.  His  next  venture 
was  in  partnership  with  Josiah  Yeager  in  a 
store  at  P^isherville,  which  they  conducted 
for  three  and  a  half  years.  He  then  returned 
to  Berrysburg  and  bought  a  store  for  |2,500, 
wliich  he  conducted  with  gratifying  success, 
and  in  which  he  continued  until  his  death. 
Mr.  Enterline  was  married,  in  Halifax,  Sep- 
tember 2G,  ISfiO,  to  Anna  E.  Snyder,  born  in 
Berry.sburg,  December  3,  1840;  daughter  of 
Aliraham  and  Hannah  (BordiU'r)  Snyder,  the 
former  a  shoemaker  and  a  native  of  l)uu])hin 
county.  Their  children  are :  M.  Elizabeth, 
born  October  11,  1861,  wife  of  Dr.  Charles 
M.  Kichert,  of  Harrisburg;  Katie  A.,  born 
August  12,  1SG3,  unmarried,  bookkee])er  at 
Philadelpliia ;  Sallie  L.,  born  October  20, 
1SG5,  unmarried,  at  Harrislnirg;  Virginia 
E.,  born  January  5,  18()7,  wife  of  Prof  J.  B. 
Eeese,  principal  of  Ridgway  school ,-  Oliarlcs 
M.,  born  April  20,  1808,  moulder,  at  York. 
Mr.  Enterline  died  July  7,  1870.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  fra- 
ternal relationship  he  was  associated  with 
the  Indeiiendent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  His 
business  tact  and  talent  were  of  a  high  or- 
der, and  his  business  career  was  successful 
and  laudable.  He  built  a  fine  residence  at 
an  outlay  of  $4,000,  and  took  place  among 
the  most  prominent  business  men  of  the 
region.  He  was  widely  known  and  uni- 
versally populai-. 

^  HoFFM.'VN,  William,  son  of  Jacob  and  Eve 
Elizabeth  (Weiser)  Hottinan,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 7,  1831,  in  Jordan  township,  North- 
umberland county.  Pa.  His  grandfather  re- 
moved from  Berks  county,  where  he  was 
born,  to  Lykens  Valky,  at  an  early  daj', 
locating  on  a  farm  near  Berrysburg.  He 
married  Rebecca  Kuntzman,  and  their  chil- 
dren were :  Daniel,  George,  Jacob,  John,  and 
seven  daughters.  Jacob  learned  the  trade 
of  a  carpenter  and  married  Eve  Elizabeth 
Weiser.  Their  children  were:  William; 
John ;  Marj',  who  married  a  Mr.  Witmer ; 


Sarah,  who  married  a  Mr.  Moyer ;  and  Eliza- 
beth, wlio  married  a  Mr.  Deppen.  He  re- 
moved to  Northumberland  count}-,  where 
he  followed  farming  and  cabinet  making,  and 
there  most  of  their  children  were  born. 
William  Hoffman's  early  life  was  passed  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  his  educational  advan- 
tages were  limited  to  the  country  .schools. 
In  18.50  he  removed  to  Uniontown,  Daupbin 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandising 
until  1865,  when,  having  retired  from  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  he  began  the  manufacture  of 
agricultural  implements,  which  occupation 
was  continued  until  1878,  when  he  again 
resumed  his  former  business.  In  1860  Mr. 
Hoffman  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
which  office  he  held  for  twenty  years.  In 
1877  he  was  chosen  burgess  of  Uniontown 
borough,  and  is  a  director  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Millersburg.  Mr.  Hotfman 
married,  Octolier  20,  1853,  Lydia,  daughter 
of  Adam  Willier,  of  Lykens  township.  Their 
children  are:  W.Jacob;  J.  Weiser;  Sarah  E., 
who  maiTi(»d  a  Mr.  Emrick  ;  Kate  A.,  and 
Eulera  J. 


Hess,  John,  farmer,  Pillow  P.  0.,  was  born 
in  Lykens  township,  Dauiihin  county.  Pa., 
January  31,  1840;  son  of  Solomon  and  Eva 
(Salbyn)  Hess,  and  brother  of  Solomon  Hess. 
He  attended  .school  in  the  township  only  in 
the  winter,  and  only  for  about  one  month  in 
each  year.  He  began  regular  farni  work  at 
eight  years  of  age,  and  was  employed  on  the 
homestead  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of 
age.  He  then  rented  a  farm  in  Lykens  town- 
ship containing  eighty  acres,  which  he  worked 
for  two  years,  and  also  ninety  acres  belong- 
ing to  his  father  for  two  years  aftei*.  He 
next  went  into  the  hotel  business,  buj'ing 
property  at  Uniontown,  for  which  he  paid 
$7,000,  a  part  of  which  he  had  saved  from  his 
four  vears'  farming.  He  kept  the  hotel  one 
year\ind  sold  it  for  §9,000,  and  in  1869 
bought  a  farm  of  ninet}'  acres  of  his  fatlier  in 
Lykens  township,  which  he  has  improved, 
erecting  a  dwelling  for  §3,000  and  a  barn  for 
$2,500,  and  otherwise  imjiroved  the  place. 
He  raises  stock  and  attends  the  markets  at 
MiddUtown,  and  also  takes  a  great  interest 
in  county  fairs.  He  was  married,  in  Upper 
Paxton  township,  in  1862,  to  Caroline  Moyer, 
born  at  Gratz,  January  10,  1844;  daughter  of 
George  Moj'cr,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  a 
blacksmith  by  trade.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren:  Mary  C,  married  Nathan  Hortman, 
who  died  in  1891,  and  they  have  one  child, 


DAUPBIN  COUNTY. 


921 


Annie;  she  next  married  Luther  Byerly, 
farmer  on  the  homestead;  Annie  M.,  unmar- 
ried. Mr.  Hess  is  a  EepubHcan  and  has 
served  as  school  director  three  years,  tax  col- 
lector three  terms  and  assessor  one  year.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed  church 
and  has  been  an  elder  for  two  years. 


Hartman,  Jacob,  farmer  and  mill  owner, 
Berrysburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lykens  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  March  28,  1828. 
Henry  Hartman,  the  grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Germany  and  a  farmer.  He  first 
settled  in  ^L:>ntgomery  county ;  moved  from 
there  to  Williams  Valley  and  afterwards  to 
Lykens  Valley,  where  he  farmed  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  and  raised  live  stock. 
He  married  a  Miss  Herner,  and  they  had  six 
children.  Both  were  menrbers  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  both  died  near  Gratz,  Pa. 

Henry,  the  father,  was  an  exten.sive  farm 
and  stockman,  cultivating  three  hundred 
acres,  and  owning  and  operating  a  grist  mill 
in  Washington  township.  He  married  Mag- 
delina.  ShoHstall,  of  Lykens  "\^alley,  and  they 
had  six  sons  and  five  daughter.s:  .John,  de- 
ceased ;  Henry ;  Simon,  deceased ;  Elizabeth ; 
Jacob ;  Benneville  and  Catherine,  twins,  de- 
ceased ;  Moses,  Michael,  Catherine,  Polly, 
and  Umholtz.  Originally  Mr.  Hartman  was 
a  Whig,  and  later  a  Republican.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  he  served  in  various  church  and 
Sunday-school  otfices.  Both  died  on  the  old 
homestead. 

Jacob  attended  the  suliscription  school 
taught  in  the  log  school  house,  which  was 
originally  his  father's  home.  His  education 
was  limited,  because  he  was  obliged  to  drive 
the  horses  in  tramping  out  the  wheat,  and 
also  to  use  the  flail  on  the  grain,  to  chop 
wood  in  winter,  and  work  on  the  crops  in 
summer.  He  remained  at  home  until  he 
was  twenty-four  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
took  one  of  his  father's  farms  in  Washington 
township  on  the  shares  for  six  years,  and 
saved  a  little  money.  He  bought  a  farm  of 
his  father  consi.sting  of  one  hundred  and  six 
acres  of  land,  only  a  part  of  which  was 
cleared,  on  which  there  were  a  small  frame 
house  and  log  barn,  for  which  he  paid  $5G 
per  acre.  He  cleared  the  land,  built  a  fine 
dwelling  house,  of  brick  made  on  the  farm, 
costing  $3,000,  and  also  a  good  barn,  and 
other  buildings  costing  $1,800.  He  also 
bought  more  land,  and  built  a  flouring  mill 
costing  $8,000 ;  and  is  reported  as  oue  of  the 


most  prosperous  men  in  the  township.  He 
was  married,  in  Mifflin  township,  in  1853,  to 
Catherine  Deibler,  daughter  of  .J  ohn  Deibler, 
born  in  Mifflin  township,  in  1833.  Their 
children  are :  Lena ;  John ;  Nathaniel,  de- 
cea.sed ;  George,  deceased ;  Henry,  Grant, 
Kate,  Emma,  and  one  child  died  young. 

Mr.  Hartman  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  served  in  the  offices  of  school  direc- 
tor, supervisor,  tax  collector,  and  assessor. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  is  deacon,  elder,  trustee,  and  treas- 
urer, and  is  also  Sunday-school  superintend- 
ent and  teacher. 


Kautz,  Dr.  a.  J.,  physician,  Berrysburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Union  county.  Pa.,  .Julj^  31, 
1837;  son  of -John  Kautz.  Tlie  father  was  a 
carpenter  by  occupation,  and  died  in  1850. 
He  married  Mary  Fisher,  also  a  native  of 
Union  county,  and  they  had  six  children  : 
Ciiristian,  Mary  A.,  George  W.,  Samuel  B., 
Dr.  A.  J., and  B.Franklin.  Themotherdiedin 
Snyder  county,  in  1881.  Dr.  A.  J.  attended 
school  in  Washington  township,  Snyder 
county,  and  hired  out  as  a  farmer  boy  until 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  after  wiiich  he 
attended  Freeburg  Academy,  and  Dickinson 
Seminary,  Williamsport,  Pa.,  two  terms.  In 
1860  he  taught  school  during  the  winter 
months  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  read  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Sciiaffer  for  six  months.  In 
18G2  he  went  West  to  Illinois  and  read  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Fox,  and  was  an  assistant  in 
the  hospital  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  for  three 
years.  He  was  graduated  from  the  medical 
department  of  the  Iowa  State  University,  in 
1SG5,  after  wliicli  he  worked  in  a  drug  store 
for  a  time,  and,  in  tiie  latter  part  of  the  same 
year  came  East  and  located  in  Northumber- 
land county,  where  he  practiced  medicine  for 
three  years.  He  then  took  an  extended 
course  at  Jefferson  ]\Iedical  College,  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  received  a  diploma  from  that  in- 
stitution in  18G9.  He  came  tiien  to  Berrys- 
burg, where  he  has  since  been  in  practice 
since  that  time.  Dr.  Kautz  was  married,  in 
Fel)ruary,  in  1869,  to  Emeline  S.  Miller,  of 
Berrysburg,  and  to  this  marriage  there  is  no 
issue.  She  died  in  1888,  and  he  married,  in 
1890,  for  his  second  wife,  Sarah  F.  Kahler, 
of  Berrysburg,  and  to  this  marriage  no  chil- 
dren have  been  born.  In  politics  Dr.  Kautz 
is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  has  served  as 
school  director.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder  and 
deacon. 


922 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Lehman,  William,  farmer  and  stockman, 
Berrysljurg,  was  born  near  St.  John  Lu- 
theran church  in  Mifflin  township,  Daupliin 
county.  Pa.,  February  7,  1857.  John,  the 
father,  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  was  born 
in  Mifflin  township,  June  10,  1821.  He  at- 
tended the  subscription  schools  and  acquired 
a  fair  education  in  German  and  English.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker  and  followed 
the  occupation  for  some  years,  after  which 
he  rented  a  farm  of  sixtj'  acres  belonging  to 
the  church,  which  he  operated  for  twenty- 
eight  years.  He  then  bought  the  farm  of 
fifteen  acres  which  his  son  now  owns  and 
occupies,  upon  which  he  erected  buildings 
and  made  substantial  improvements.  He 
was  married,  in  Mifflin  township,  to  Denah 
KoppenhefFer,  born  in  the  township  in  1825. 
They  have  ten  children:  Anna,  Henry, 
Mary,  Amanda,  deceased,  John,  Hannah, 
William,  Saraii,  f'liarles,  and  Emma,  de- 
ceased. He  died  January  27, 1S9.3.  In  iioli- 
tics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  in  faith  and  fel- 
lowshij)  a  Lutheran,  and  was  an  elder,  deacon 
and  trustee  in  the  church. 

William  attended  school  near  Berrvsburg, 
and  worked  on  the  farm  imtil  he  attained 
his  majority,  when  he  lived  out  as  a  f;irm  la- 
borer for  twelve  years.  He  took  up  butch- 
ery and  continued  at  it  one  year,  after  which 
he  returned  to  the  homestead  on  which  he 
has  since  been  employed.  He  is  not  mar- 
ried but  is  the  support  and  stay  of  his  mother. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  in  religion 
a  Lutheran,  and  is  a  deacon  and  Sunday- 
school  teacher.  His  entire  life  has  been 
spent  in  his  native  valley. 

Lenker,  Valentine,  liarness  maker, 
Berrysburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Washington 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  July  12, 
1838.  Christian  Lenker,  the  father,  was  born 
at  the  same  place  and  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. He  married  Susan  Shott,  born 
in  Lykens  Valley,  and  they  had  four  chil- 
dren: Daniel  S.,  Valentine,  Christian,  a 
physician  in  Schuylkill  county,  and  Hiram. 
died  young.  The  fatlier  served  as  county 
commissioner  for  one  term,  and  in  most  of 
the  township  offices.  He  was  a  Democrat, 
and  a  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.  He  died  on  the  old  homestead,  and 
his  wife  died   in  Jackson  township  in  1877. 

Valentine  attended  school  in  the  town- 
ship and  worked  on  the  homestead,  later  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  four  years  at  the 
trade  of  harness  making  with  Josiah  Yarger, 


after  which  he  opened  a  shop  in  Wicouisco, 
which  he  conducted  for  several  months,  and 
then   engaged    in    the   same    business   near 
Harrisburg,   and    remained    a   short    time. 
He  then  removed  to  Fisherville,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  in  connection  with  car- 
riage trimming.     September  21, 1861,  he  en- 
listed at  Halifax  in  company  E,  Ninth  regi- 
ment,   Pennsylvania   cavalry,   Capt.    J.    E. 
Dealhuter  and  Col.  Ed. Williams,  and  served 
under  General  Kilpatrick  until  he  was  dis- 
charged December  24,  1864.     After  remain- 
ing at  his  home  at  Fisherville  a  short  time, 
he  obtained  a  position  as  a  Government  har- 
ness maker  at  Washington,  D.  C,  which  he 
held  until  the  close  of  tlie  war.     He  then  re- 
turned to  Berrysburg  and  resumed  work  at 
his  trade,  and  continued  until  March,  1896, 
when  he  sold  his  business  to  William  Miller. 
Mr.  Lenker  was  married,  at  Fisherville,  in 
1860,  to  Ellen  E.  Uhler,  born  at  Harrisburg, 
and    tiiey    have    six    children :  Charles  ('.; 
Anna  L.,  wife  of  R.  J.  Robertson,  salesman ; 
Maggie  V.,  wife  of  R.  M.  Hoover ;  Harvey 
E.,  Thomas  E.,  and   one  child  who  died  in 
infancy  ;  his  wife  died  May  14,  1892.    In  his 
jiolitical  views  Mr.  Lenker  is  a  Republican. 
He  represented  the  county  in  the  State  Leg- 
islature one  term,  and  served   as  burge.ss  of 
Berrysburg,  tax  collector  and  justice  of  the 
peace.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order    of    Odd    Fellows,    Patriotic    Order 
Sons  of  America,  and   Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.     In  religious  faith  and  fellow.ship 
he  is  with   the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Miller,  Jonathan,  retired,  Berrysburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  April  8, 
1812.  Christian  Miller,  the  father,  was  born 
in  Maryland,  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
carpenter,  in  Berks  countv,  where  he  died  in 
1818.  He  married  Mary  Shall,  of  Berks 
county,  and  tlieir  children  are :  Isaac,  de- 
ceased;  Catiierine,  deceased,  wife  of  Fred. 
Yousel  ;  Sarah,  widow  of  George  Seibert ; 
Jonathan,  and  Sanuiel  S.,  resides  in  Indiana. 
The  father  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
in  religious  faith  and  fellowship  was  a 
Lutheran.  The  mother  died  in  Berks 
county. 

.Jonathan  acquired  a  good  education  in 
the  subscription  schools  of  Berks  county. 
He  learned  both  English  and  German  and 
still  has  in  his  possession  the  text  books  he 
used  in  his  school  days.  At  eleven  years 
old  he  left  home  and  became  a  clerk  in  a 
store  in  Berks  county,  where  he  remained 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


923 


until  he  was  fifteen  years  old.  On  June  12, 
1828,  he  located  in  the  wilds  of  Daupliin 
county,  at  a  small  place  then  called  Hellers- 
town,  and  which  subsequently  received  the 
name  of  Berrysburg.  His  first  employment 
was  as  a  general  clerk  in  the  store  of  Mr. 
Uhlman,  with  whom  he  remained  twelve 
years  and  five  months.  At  the  end  of  this 
period,  in  1837,  during  the  business  panic  of 
that  time  he  embarked  in  business  for  him- 
self, and  although  the  only  money  in  circu- 
lation was  the  famous  and  infamous  "  shin 
plasters  "  of  that  time,  he  was  successful 
in  his  venture  and  continued  in  business 
four  years.  During  the  next  sixteen  years  he 
cultivated  a  farm  of  eighty-four  acres,  which 
he  bought,  and  on  which  he  made  substantial 
improvements.  Desiring  a  change  of  occupa- 
tion, he  left  the  farm  and  removed  to  Berrys- 
burg, where  he  speculated  in  real  estate  ami 
made  loans.  On  account  of  the  many  and  sub- 
stantial improvements  in  property  made  by 
him,  he  may  fittingly  be  called  the  father 
of  Berrysburg.  Mr.  Miller  has  mechanical 
tastes  and  talents  and  is  an  expert  in 
the  use  of  tools.  He  is  also  gifted  with  liter- 
ary ability,  has  a  good  memory,  and  has  ac- 
cumulated a  lil)rar\'  of  good  books,  valued 
at  §1,000,  and  of  course  is  deeply  interested 
in  education  and  all  means  for  the  intellec- 
tual betterment  of  the  community.  He  was 
married,  in  Mifflin  township,  January  3, 
1832,  to  Elizabeth  Bleistine,  born  in  that 
township,  January  3,  1815.  Their  children 
were :  Sarah  A.,  died  young ;  Enieline  S.,  Mrs. 
Kautz;  Uriah,  died  young.  His  wife  died 
in  1882,  and  in  1884  he  married  Catherine 
Deibler,  widow  of  Mr.  Speck,  and  to  this 
marriage  there  is  no  issue.  Mr.  Miller  is  a 
Democrat  in  jiolitics,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  ciiurch.  He 
is  retired  from  active  business  and  is  enjoy- 
ing the  evening  of  life  in  a  quiet  and  com- 
fortable home,  cheered  by  the  society  of  his 
wife  and  occupied  with  literature  and  art. 


Eakek,  Dr.  AVilliam,  Uniontown,  Pillow 
P.  0.,  was  born  in  Northumberland  county, 
Pa.,  in  February,  1836.  John,  the  father, 
was  born  in  the  same  county  and  was  a  phy- 
sician. He  died  in  his  native  county  in 
1874.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Barthomaluc,  was 
a  native  of  the  same  county.  Their  children 
are :  William ;  Katie,  -R-ife  of  J.  Remger, 
coal  dealer,  in  Northumberland  county ; 
Elizabeth,  unmarried ;  and  Henry  M.,  phy- 
iciau.       The  father  was  a  Democrat  of  the 


old  scliool,  and  in  religious  views  was  an  old 
school  Lutheran. 

William  received  his  primary  education  in 
Augusta ville  and  attended  the  high  scliool  at 
Selinsgrove  and  the  college  at  (Jettysburg. 
He  read  medicine  under  his  father  and  under 
Dr.  Smith  for  two  years,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  medical  college  at  Philadelphia  in 
1854.  He  shared  his  father's  p)ractice  at 
home  for  six  months  and  then  settled  at 
Uniontown,  where  he  has  lieen  in  practice 
for  over  forty  years  and  has  met  with  large 
success  in  his  professional  work.  Lie  was 
married,  in  Northumberland  county,  in  1857, 
to  Catherine  Weaver,  who  w'as  born  at  Ber- 
rysburg, Pa.,  and  they  have  four  fhildren: 
Alice  G.,  w'ife  of  J.  S.  Overholzer ;  Ella  J., 
wife  of  Prof.  J.  A.  Eisenhaur;  Clarence  B., 
student  of  pharmacy ;  Clara,  wife  of  J.  J. 
Hoffman,  merchant,  Uniontown,  Pa.  His 
wife  died  November  2,  1871.  He  married, 
secondl)',  Emma  Heller,  of  Ea.ston,  and  they 
have  four  children :  John  W.,  Edw'ard  H., 
Maud,  and  Alvin  J.,  all  at  school.  Dr. 
Kaker  is  a  Democrat  and  served  in  the  office 
of  burgess  for  a  number  of  years  and  also  as 
secretary  of  the  council.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 


Reed,  Dr.  J.  J.,  Uniontown,  Pillow  P.  0., 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Northumberland  count}', 
Pa.,  August  18,  1840.  David,  the  father, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  owning 
and  cultivating  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  in  connection  with  which 
he  run  a  saw  mill.  He  married  Cath- 
erine Hass,  of  the  same  county.  Their 
children  are :  Jacob,  Mary,  Eva,  Susan, 
Lenesia,  Daniel,  Henry,  Samuel,  Dr.  J.  J., 
Harriet,  Melinda,  Oscar,  and  two  children 
wlio  died  in  infancy.  The  father  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics  and  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Dr.  J.  J.  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place,  and 
also  was  graduated  from  the  high  school.  For 
four  winters  he  taught  school,  and  served  as 
assistant  teacher  in  the  high  school.  In 
August,  1862,  he  enlisted  at  Harrisburg  in 
company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  Capt. 
Homer  N.  Jones  and  Colonel  AUaback,  and 
served  nine  months.  After  his  discharge 
from  the  service  he  returned  liome  and  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine.  He  read  under 
Dr.  Penn  and  Dr.  E.  S.  Robbins,  of  Shamokin, 
for  three  years,  and  then  entered  Jefferson 


924 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Medical  College,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1866,  after  which  he  practiced  in  his 
native  county  for  three  years.  In  1869  he 
came  to  Dauphin  count}'  and  settled  in 
Uniontown,  wiiere  lie  has  since  been  in  prac- 
tice and  has  met  witii  gratifying  success. 
Dr.  Reed  was  married,  at  Uniontown,  in 
1869,  to  Catlierine,  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  H. 
Laubach,  of  that  place.  Their  children  are : 
Lizzie,  unmarried;  Clara,  wife  of  Dr.  Elmer 
Hoffman  ;  Arthur  ;  Jay  E.,  attending  school, 
and  Vernie.  His  wife  died  in  1878,  and  the 
following  year  he  married  Addie  E.  Bassler, 
by  whom  he  lias  one  child,  Henry,  at  school. 
Dr.  Reed  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views,  and  is  a  school  director.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  and  is  an 
elder  and  deacon  in  the  same.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic. 

Shoop,  Rev.  James,  pastor  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  Berrysburg,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Jefferson  township,  Dau]iliin  county.  Pa., 
October  17,  1840.  John  Shoop,  the  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Lykens  Valle}'  and  was 
of  Swiss  descent.  He  removed  to  Jackson 
townsliip,  where  he  followed  farming.  He 
married  P^lizabeth  Coojior.  They  botli  passed 
away  in  Jackson  townshij)  and  both  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  an  old  line  Whig.  George,  the 
father,  was  born  in  Jackson  township  in  1812. 
He  acquind  a  fair  education  in  the  German 
schools  and  became  a  farmer,  owning  and 
cultivating  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  on 
which  he  operated  extensively  in  raising 
stock.  In  clearing  land  and  making  a  farm 
with  all  its  improvements,  he  was  a  typical 
pioneer,  and  also  had  another  characteristic 
of  that  honored  claiBS,  he  was  a  good  shot  and 
loved  to  hunt.  He  married  Rachel  Suer- 
gard,  born  in  Armstrong  Valley.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Andrew,  William,  James,  Samuel, 
Elias,  Philip,  Harvey,  John,  Adam,  Amanda, 
Nathan,  and  Emma.  Mr.  Shoop  took  an 
active  part  in  political  matters  and  was  a 
Whig  in  his  views.  He  wasamember  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  and  a  practical 
Christian,  looking  faithfully  after  the  welfare 
of  his  home  and  familj'.  He  died  in  Jeffer- 
son township  in  1864.  His  wife  survives 
him  and  is  living  at  Carsonville,  at  the  ripe 
old  age'of  eighty  years'and  is'still  activejn 
church  matters. 

James  received  only  a  limited  education, 
as  he  began  farm  work  in  earnest  when  nine 


years  of  age,  and  was  employed  on  the  home- 
stead until  he  was  twenty  years  old,  at  which 
time  he  left  home  and  worked  as  a  farm 
laborer  for  one  year,  and  then  returned  to  the 
homestead  and  worked  three  years  longer. 
In  February,  1865,  he  enlisted  at  Harrisburg 
in  company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety- 
second  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
Capt.  Peter  Bergstresser,  Col.  W.  W.  Stewart, 
and  spent  seven  months  in  the  service,  being 
discharged  at  Hari)er's  Ferry,  September, 
1865.  Upon  returning  from  the  army  ho 
took  up  the  study  of  theology  and  began 
preaching.  He  was  ordained  to  the  ministry 
by  the  annual  conference,  met  at  Belleview  in 
1869.  His  fir.st  charge  was  the  Belleview  cir- 
cuit, and  then  followed  Germanville,  Sink- 
ing Springs,  I'ine  Grove,  Lykenstown  mission, 
Valley  View  circuit  and  Allentown  station, 
spending  two  years  in  each  of  these  ap])oint- 
ments.  He  was  elected  presiding  elder  at 
Pine  Grove  conference  and  for  five  years  was 
located  at  Carsonville,  then  he  had  the  Avon 
circuit  one  year  and  Lebanon  one  year,  after 
which  he  was  elder  again  for  five  years,  being 
elected  at  the  Elizabethvillo  conference,  and 
residing  at  Lebanon  during  the  term.  After 
one  year  on  the  Vallc}'  View  circuit  he  was 
.stationed  at  Berry.sburg,  and  has  that  charge 
at  the  present  time.  He  lias  greatly  strength- 
ened the  charge,  adding  to  the  membersliip 
and  improving  the  property.  His  preaching 
ability  is  acknowledged  and  his  personal 
worth  ap])reciated  by  a  grateful  i)eo])le.  Mr. 
Shoop  was  married,  in  Berrysburg  in  1867, 
to  Sarah  A.  Hoy,  born  in  MifHin  township  in 
1848  ;  daughter  of  Peter  Hoy,  farmer,  in  that 
township.  Their  children  are:  Curtin  A., 
Emma  E.,  Harvey  E.,  William  H.,  Elmer  II., 
and  Sadie.     In  politics  he  is  a  Prohibitionist. 


Straub,  Amos,  farmer,  Berrysburg,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 14,  1836;  son  of  John  and  Christina 
(Home)  Straub,  and  a  brother  of  William 
Straub,  farmer  in  Mifflin  township.  He  at- 
tended subscription  schools  in  his  native 
township  and  began  working  on  the  farm 
when  he  was  six  years  old,  working  with  his 
uncle  and  looking  after  the  cattle,  and  re- 
mained with  him  one  year.  He  then  hired 
to  a  farmer  as  a  farm  hand,  working  for  his 
board  and  clothing,  and  remained  in  that 
place  on  those  terms  for  seven  years.  At 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  left  his  employer 
and  contracted  to  work  for  another  farmer 
for  seven  to  eight  dollars  per   month,  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


925- 


remained  witli  this  man  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  After  working  one  year 
for  a  shoemaker,  he  came  to  iiis  hrotiier 
William  and  worked  for  iiim  two  years,  and 
then  for  another  farmer  one  year,  after 
which  he  rented  a  small  farm  wliich  he  cul- 
tivated a  year  and  a  half,  and  in  connection 
with  his  farming  drove  a  coal  team.  He 
then  bouglit  a  team  and  traded  through  the 
country  for  two  years,  after  which  he  worked 
rented  farms  on  the  shares  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship. On  April  2,  1887,  he  bought  forty-five 
acres  of  land  owned  by  W.  M.  Switzer,  and 
lias  since  been  engaged  in  farming  and  raising 
stock.  He  was  married,  in  1861,  in  Mifflin 
township,  to  May  Delfill,  a  native  of  that 
township,  born  in  1841.  Their  cliildren  are  : 
John,  Edwin,  Samuel  S.,  Milton,  Harvey  C, 
deceased,  David  F.,  died  young,  and  two 
children  who  died  in  infancy.  In  liis  poli- 
tics Mr.  Straub  is  a  Democrat.  He  has 
served  as  a  school  director,  superintendent 
of  roads  one  year,  and  as  inspector  of  elec- 
tions. In  religious  views  and  fellowship  he 
is  a  Lutheran. 


Snyder,  .John  D.,  justice  of  the  peace, 
Berrysburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lykens  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  December  9, 1827. 
The  great-grandfather  came  from  Germany 
and  settled  in  Lancaster  county  before  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Leonard  Snyder,  the 
grandfather,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Lykens  township.  He  was  a  farmer,  and 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  He 
was  married,  in  Lykens  Valley,  to  Amanda- 
Sliolt,  a  native  of  the  valley,  and  their  cliil- 
dren were:  John,  Samuel,  and  Elizalietli. 
The  grandfatlier  was  a  Democrat  in  jiolitics, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  township  matters. 
He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  church.  Tiiey  were  pioneers, 
and  experienced  the  hardships  and  enjoyed 
the  advantages  of  pioneer  life. 

John,  the  fatlier,  was  born  in  Lykens  town- 
ship in  1794,  and  obtained  a  fairly  good  edu- 
cation in  the  subscription  schools  of  the 
township.  He  was  jirominent  in  the  advo- 
cacy of  the  public  school  system,  and  worked 
night  and  day  to  secure  its  adoption  l)y  the 
State.  He  was  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser, 
and  cultivated  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres,  which  he  greatly  improved.  He 
married  Anna  May  Wert,  who  was  born  in 
Lykens  Valley  in  1799.  Their  children  were  : 
Jacob,  John,  [Leonard,  Emanuel,    and    one 


cliihl  who  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  died 
in  1835,  and  he  married  Elizabeth  Enterline, 
widow  of  George  Lark,  of  Lykens  Valley,  by 
whom  he  had  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy. 
He  died  on  the  homestead  in  1849.  In  po- 
litical views  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  took 
an  active  part  in  his  party's  measures.  His 
religious  fellowsiiij)  was  in  the  German  Re- 
formed church.  His  wife  died  at  Berrysburg, 
in  18G9. 

John  I),  attended  the  subscription  scliools 
taught  at  the  Hoffman  church  during  the 
winter  months.  He  also  attended  the  public 
scliool  at  Berrysburg  for  a  sliort  time.  He 
worked  on  the  homestead  at  farmin";  until 
he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  came  to 
Berrysljurg  and  learned  the  trade  of  iron 
moulder,  in  the  foundry  of  Siiaffei'  &  Wen- 
rich,  where  lie  worked  two  years.  The  firm 
then  sold  out,  and  he  went  to  Pittsburgh, 
where  he  worked  one  year  in  the  foundry, 
and  then  returned  to  Berrysburg  and  en- 
gaged in  business  for  liimself.  He  and  his 
brother  bouglit  the  foundry  and  operated  it 
a  year  and  a  lialf,  after  which  he  bought  Iiis 
brotlier's  interest,  and  continued  to  run  tiie 
business  alone  for  upwards  of  fifty  3'ears, 
which  he  has  made  very  successful,  miiiiu- 
facturing  stoves,  plows,  and  other  articles. 
He  also  owns  a  farm  in  the  township.  He 
built  the  first  brick  house  in  Berrysburg,  at 
a  cost  of  $9,000.  Througii  unwise  indorse- 
ments he  lost  his  handsome  accumulations 
made  by  many  years  of  hard  work,  his  losses 
aggregating  $14,000.  He  was  married,  in  Ly- 
kens Valley,  in  1849,  to  Hannah  Lark,  born 
in  the  valley,  December  2G,  1827.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Jennie,  Mary,  Rachel,  Joseph,  Ar- 
thur L.,  John  T.,  Elizabeth,  and  Edwin,  the 
last  two  deceased.  Mr.  Snyder  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  for  thirty-five  years  has  been 
justice  of  the  peace,  always  being  re-elected 
by  good  majorities.  He  is  a  just  and  judi- 
cious officer,  and  his  rulings  are  seldom  re- 
versed in  the  higher  courts.  In  1872  he  was 
elected  associate  judge  of  the  county,  and 
served  for  five  years.  He  has  solemnized 
many  marriages  in  the  town  and  townslii[). 
Mr.  Snyder  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  in  which  lie  holds  the 
office  of  trustee,  and  is  also  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sundaj'-school.  He  has  been  a  lay 
delegate  to  the  conference.  In  fraternity  cir- 
cles he  is  prominent  as  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  and  of  Millersburg  Lodge, 
No.  3G0,  I.  0.  0.  F. 


926 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Weaver,  David  B.,  farmer  and  stockman, 
Berrysburg  was  born  on  the  homestead  in 
Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 5,  1842.  Peter,  the  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  was  brought  to  this 
country  by  his  parents  when  he  was  one  year 
old.  He  was  reared  in  Lykens  township, 
and  became  a  farmer,  owning  and  cultivating 
one  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  married  a  Mi.ss 
Peifer,  of  Lykens  township,  and  to  them  wei'e 
born  seven  children :  Jacob,  Peter,  John, 
George  J.,  Daniel,  Anna  M.,  and  Elizabeth. 
He  (lied  in  Lykens  township.  He  and  his 
wife  Avere  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.  1\\  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  Daniel, 
the  father,  was  born  in  Lykens  township,  in 
September,  1805.  He  attended  subscription 
schools  and  acquired  a  good  German  educa- 
tion. He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and 
joiner,  and  later  in  life  became  a  farmer. 
He  bought  a  farm  of  forty-three  acres  of  land 
in  Mifflin  township,  which  he  cultivated  and 
improved  and  on  which  he  died  in  1883. 
He  married  Su.san  Buffington,  of  Washington 
townsliip,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Buffington, 
a  farmer.  They  have  four  children :  Isaac, 
David,  Harah,  deceased,  and  Martin.  Mr. 
Weaver  was  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of 
the  German  Reformed  church.  His  wife 
died  at  the  homestead  in  1878.  David  at- 
tended the  conunon  schools  and  worked  on 
the  farm.  At  nine  years  of  age  he  began  to 
do  regular  work  on  the  homestead,  and  has 
been  continually  em])loyed  his  entire  life. 
He  was  married,  in  Mifflin  township,  in  18()3, 
to  Catherine  Motter,  born  in  "\\^ishington 
township.  Their  children  are :  Mary  8., 
wife  of  Peter  Bmuler;  Amanda,  Harry, 
and  Daniel,  attending  school.  His  wife  died 
in  September,  1892,  and  he  married  again, 
July  4,  1895,  Salome  Engle,  widow  of  Amos 
Motter.  ]\Ir.  Weaver  is  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  has  served  as  .school  director  for 
nine  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church,  and  holds  the  ofBce  of  elder  and 
deacon,  and  is  also  a  Sunday-school  teacher. 


WiTMER,  Daniel,  retired  farmer,  Mifflin 
township,  was  born  in  Northumberland 
county,  near  the  Dauphin  county  line,  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1821.  Daniel,  the  father,  was  also 
born  in  Northumberland  county,  and  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  blacksmith  in  his 
younger  days,  and  later  cultivated  a  farm  in 
Mifflin  townsliip  and  was  engaged  in  raising 
stock.  He  married  Susan  Bower,  a  native 
of  the  same  county,  and  they  had  eight  chil- 


dren :  Jacob,  deceased,  Kate,  Samuel,  Polly, 
Sarah,  Daniel,  Elizabeth,  and  John.  His 
wife  died  in  Northumberland  county,  and 
he  married  again,  but  the  name  of  his  sec- 
ond wife  is  not  known.  He  died  in  Mifflin 
township.  He  was  an  old  line  Whig  in 
politics,  and  in  religious  faith  and  fellow- 
ship was  with  the  German  Reformed  church. 
Daniel  received  only  a  limited  education, 
having  attended  subscription  schools  only 
six  months  in  the  winter  season.  He  worked 
on  the  farm  as  a  laborer  and  received  |3 
per  month,  and  was  occupied  in  this 
way  until  lie  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he 
learned  tlie  trade  of  wagon  making  at 
Uniontown,  and  worked  two  years  at  the 
trade.  He  then  started  a  shop  in  Berrys- 
burg, which  he  conducted  for  fifteen  years, 
and  built  up  a  [jrofitable  trade.  He  bought 
twenty-one  acres  of  woodland,  for  whicti  he 
paid  $90  per  acre.  It  took  liim  years  of 
hard  work  to  clear  the  ground  and  make 
improvements,  but  he  finally  built  a  fine 
residence  and  good  barn,  and  made  a  first- 
class  farm.  He  has  also  two  hou.ses  in 
Berrysburg.  He  was  married,  in  INIitflin 
township,  in  1844,  to  Rebecca  Reher,  born 
in  Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  in  1823  ; 
daughter  of  John  Reher,  a  farmer.  Their 
children  are:  Emeline,  Alice  S.,  Henry  N., 
Ann  Eliza,  Daniel,  Agnes,  William,  David, 
John,  and  Edmund,  who  died  3'oung.  Mr. 
Witmer  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has 
held  the  office  of  school  director  and  other 
township  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church,  in  which  he 
served  as  elder  and  deacon.  He  is  retired 
from  active  work  through  bodily  infirmity, 
and  is  faithfully  cared  for  by  his  faithful 
wife. 


Apr,  Francis,  farmer  and  stockman,  Ber- 
rysburg, was  born  in  Selin.sgrove,  Snyder 
county,  Pa.,  August  31,  1848.  John,  the 
grandfather,  was  born  at  the  same  place  in 
1804,  and  was  a  farmer.  Isaac  was  also  a 
native  of  Selinsgrove  and  came  later  to  own 
and  cultivate  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land.  He  married,  at  Berrysburg,  in  1847, 
Mary  Holtzraan,  born  in  Lykens  Valley ; 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Holtzman.  Their 
children  are :  Francis,  John  G.,  Daniel  N., 
and  Henry  Jackson.  The  father  died  at 
Selinsgrove  in  1872.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Republican  and  served  in  the  office  of  school 
director.     His  wife  died  on  the  homestead 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


927 


in  1886.  Francis  attended  the  public  schools 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  regular  work  on  the  homestead,  and 
remained  there  until  he  was  thirty-four  years 
old.  He  then  went  to  Union  county  and 
rented  a  farm,  which  he  cultivated  for  twelve 
years.  After  this  ho  returned  to  Dauphin 
county  and  took  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
four  acres  in  Mittlin  township,  where  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising.  He  was  married,  in  Selinsgrove,  in 
1881,  to  Sarali  Miller,  born  at  Mt.  Carmel, 
Northumberland  count\^ ;  daughter  of  Adam 
Miller.  They  have  three  children  :  George, 
Harrj',  and  Frank,  all  attending  school,  two 
of  whom  are  at  tlie  Millersburg  Seminary. 
Mr.  App  is  a  Republican  and  served  as 
school  director  two  terms  and  he  takes  an 
active  part  in  political  matters.  In  religious 
views  he  is  a  Lutheran. 


REED  TOWNSHIP. 


Lenker,  Charles  H.,  telegraph  operator, 
was  born  in  Millersburg,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  September  5,  1871,  and  is  a  son  of 
David  G.  and  Emily  (Kuntzleman)  Lenker. 
His  early  life  was  spent  under  the  paternal 
roof  in  his  native  town,  where  he  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.  Com- 
pleting his  .school  days  he  entered  the  Mil- 
lersburg office  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad 
and  there  learned  telegrapliy,  after  which  he 
worked  in  various  offices  for  tiiis  company 
between  Renovo  and  Rock  ville  station.  Since 
January,  1894,  he  has  been  located  at  Clark's 
Ferry  as  operator. 

Mr.  Lenker  was  married,  in  Duncannon, 
June  27,  1895,  to  Miss  Emma  C.  Bechtel, 
daughter  of  H.  Edward  and  Elizabeth 
Bechtel,  who  for  a  number  of  years  were 
honored  residents  of  Dauphin  county,  but 
now  reside  in  Perry  county.  Mr.  Lenker  is 
a  member  of  Millersburg  Coramandery,  No. 
13.3,  Knights  of  Malta,  and  Junior  Order 
United  American  Mechanics,  of  Duncannon. 
In  his  piolitical  views  he  is  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  estimable  wife  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  re- 
side in  Duncannon,  Perry  county.  Pa.,  where 
they  are  held  in  high  esteem  by  their 
neighbors  and  acquaintances. 


Heikel,  Henry,  was  born  in  Harrisburg> 
Pa.,  April  12,  1828,  and  died  in  Reed  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  October  5,  1894;  son 
of  Christopher  and  Mary  (Ridge)  Heikel. 
The  maternal  grandfather.  Dr.  Tate,  was  a 
native  of  Ireland.  Tiie  father  was  a  butcher 
b_y  trade  and  was  married  to  Miss  Mary- 
Ridge,  a  native  of  Harrisburg,  who  is  now 
deceased.  Their  children  were:  Cliristopher, 
Jr.,  David,  Henry,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  and 
Catharine.  Henry  came  to  Reed  township 
when  a  mere  boy  and  became  a  boatman, 
wiiich  occupation  he  followed  all  his  life. 
He  married  Martha  Jane  Byoely,  who  was 
born  in  Youngstown,  Westmoreland  county. 
Their  children  are:  Thomas,  living  on 
Duncan's  Island,  Dauphin  county  ;  Christo- 
pher, deceased;  and  Henry,  Duncan's 
Island. 


Westf.\ll,  John  C,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  March  16,  1828;  son  of 
Simeon  and  Hannah  (Barr)  Westfall.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Robert  Barr,  came 
from  Ireland  when  a  young  man  and  as- 
sisted in  the  construction  of  the  State  capi- 
tol  buildings.  The  father  was  born  in  Indi- 
ana, in  1793,  and  left  his  native  place  when 
a  young  man  and  came  to  Harrisburg.  For 
many  years  he  bandied  merchandise  with  a 
six  horse  team  between  Pittsburgh  and  Phil- 
adelphia. His  business  not  being  profitable 
after  the  building  of  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road, he  started  a  tavern  called  the  Black 
Horse,  in  Harrisburg.  His  new  venture 
proved  a  success  and  he  made  considerable 
mone}'.  He  was  on  his  way  to  Baltimore, 
during  the  war  of  1812,  to  join  the  army, 
when  peace  was  declared.  He  died  in  Har- 
risburg and  was  survived  by  his  wife  who 
lived  some  years  longer.  Their  children 
were:  George  Washington,  deceased;  Sarah 
Jane;  Mary  Ann,  deceased  ;  Catharine,  de- 
cea.sed  ;  Permelia,  deceased  ;  Emmaline,  and 
•John  C. 

John  attended  the  common  schools  of 
Harrisburg  until  he  was  nineteen  j'ears  of 
age.  In  1847  he  came  to  Duncan's  Island, 
and  entered  tiie  butcher  business.  Here  he 
remained  until  1868,  when  he  purchased  the 
pleasant  place  of  eighty-seven  acres  wliere 
he  now  lives,  and  began  farming.  He  was 
married,  in  Harrisburg,  in  1848,  to  Miss 
Catharine  Mader,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children,  all  of  whom  are  dead.  He  mar- 
ried, secondly,  in  1857,  Miss  Mary  E.  Fess- 
ler,  now  deceased,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 


928 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


dren,  both  of  whom  are  dead.  His  third 
marriage  occurred  in  18G1,  to  Miss  Mary 
Margaret  Byerly,  wlio  was  born  in  Youngs- 
town,  Pa.  Their  children  are:  John,  who 
died  when  four  years  old ;  George,  employed 
in  United  States  Revenue  service;  Franklin 
B.  at  home,  and  Brittomart  C.  A  Democrat 
in  politics,  he  has  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  thirty-five  years,  was  postmaster 
several  years,  school  director,  and  is  now 
president  of  the  school  l)oard. 


SOUTH  HANOVER  TOWNSHIP. 


Farnsler,  Milton  A.,  notary  public,  was 
born  in  South  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  November  8, 1854.  He  is  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Elizabetli  (Mook)  Farnsler. 
natives  of  Ijcbanon  county,  who  came  to 
Dauphin  county  and  located  first  in  West 
Hanover  and  afterwards  in  South  Hanover 
township.  Josei)h  Farnsler  was  a  civil  engi- 
neer and  actively  em]iloyed.  He  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Soutii  Hanover  town- 
ship for  twenty-five  years.  He  was  a  direc- 
tor of  the  Hummelstown  National  Bank. 
His  politics  were  Democratic.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Relbrmed  cliurcli,  and  died 
in  187G.  His  wife,  P:ii/.abeth  (Mook)  Farns- 
ler, survives  him,  residing  in  Union  Deposit. 
They  had  six  children :  Malinda,  Mrs.  Abra- 
ham Fackler,  of  Union  Depo.sit;  Milton  A.; 
Sarah,  Mrs.  Samuel  H.  Gingerich,  Derry 
townsliip;  Mildred,  wife  of  Rev.  Martin  P. 
Hocker,  Steelton;  Clara,  Mrs.  Michael  Cas- 
sel.  West  Hanover  township;  Maggie,  Mrs. 
Samuel  H.  Albright,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Milton  A.  Farnsler  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  at  Palatinate  College, 
Meyerstown,  Pa.,  after  which  he  studied  civil 
engineering  with  his  father,  and  has  since 
followed  that  profession.  Mr.  Farnsler  was 
married,  in  187G,  to  Miss  Lizzie  M.,  daugh- 
ter of  Levi  Hocker,  of  Harrisburg.  They 
have  one  child,  Hershey  H.  Mr.  Farnsler 
is  a  Democrat.  He  has  served  tliree  terms — 
ten  years — as  justice  of  the  peace  of  South 
Hanover  township.  In  1892  he  was  ap- 
pointed notary  public.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers,  and  is  a  director  and  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Union  Deposit  Creamery  Com- 
pany. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 


Snyder,  John  D.,  was  born  in  Aunville, 
Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  August  17,  1844.  He 
is  a  son  of  Frederick  and"  Christina  (Speece) 
Snyder,  natives  of  Prussia,  Germany.  They 
both  came  to  America  when  they  were  young, 
were  married  in  Philadelphia  and  settled  I'll 
Lebanon  county.  Frederick  Snyder  was  a 
tanner.  AI)out  1849  he  removed  to  East 
Hanover,  Dauphin  county,  and  leased  the 
Weise  tannery,  which  he  conducted  four 
years,  after  which  he  returned  to  Annville 
and  worked  in  the  Beaver  tannery  for  twenty- 
two  years.  He  then  purcha.sed  a  tanneiy 
near  Palmyra,  which  he  conducted  until  his 
death  in  1800.  He  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Reformed  church,  which  he  served 
successively  as  deacon  and  as  elder.  His 
wife  survives  him  and  has  her  home  with  her 
son,  John  D.Snyder.  Their  children  are: 
Lewis,  of  Lebanon  county ;  William,  Sus- 
(piehanna  township,  Dauphin  county;  John 
D. ;  Cu'orge  F.,  died  aged  eight  years;  Re- 
becca, wife  of  Joseph  Lutz,  Lebanon  county ; 
Edward,  of  Palmyra;  Elizabeth,  deceased, 
married  Samuel  Lutz ;  and  Harry,  deceased. 

John  D.  Snyder  was  reared  in  Lebanon 
and  Dauphin  counties  and  attended  the 
township  schools.  He  learned  tailoring  and 
also  worked  some  time  in  a  rolling  mill  at 
Duncannon.  In  18G1  Mr.  Snyder  enlisted 
in  company  F,  Ninety-third  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  and  served  eleven 
months,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged, 
with  the  rank  of  corporal,  on  account  of 
rheumatism.  He  re-enlisted,  in  1863,  in 
company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers.  At  the 
battle  of  Spottsyivania,  May  10,  18G4,  he  was 
so  seriously  wounded  by  the  bursting  of  a 
shell  that  both  legs  had  to  be  amputated  be- 
low the  knees  ;  the  operation  was  performed 
in  the  field  ho.spital  at  Fredericksburg,  Va. 
He  was  sent  to  the  Columbia  College  Hos- 
pital, Washington,  D.  C,  and  thence  trans- 
ferred to  Philadeljdiia.  He  was  in  the  hos- 
pitals at  T\\-enty  fourth  and  South  streets, 
Ninth  and  Christian  streets,  and  Crosier's 
College,  between  Chester  and  Upland,  Chester 
county.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service,  and  as  soon  as  convalescent  re- 
turned home.  Mr.  Snyder  took  part  in  the 
battles  at  Williamsburg  and  Fair  Oaks,  the 
Seven  Days'  fight  around  Richmond,  WiL 
derness,  and  the  fight  at  Spottsyivania. 

He  was  marriecl,  in  1876,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Henry  Poorman,  of  Leba- 


DA  UPHIN     CO  UNTY. 


929 


lion  founty.  In  1S79  Mr.  Snyder  removed 
to  Union  Deposit,  where  lie  has  since  re- 
sided. He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Union  Deposit 
Creamery  Company.  He  is  a  member  of 
Sedgwick  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Hummelstown, 
and  of  Camp  No.  302,  P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  in 
which  lie  lias  passed  through  the  chairs.  He 
is  a  Jlepublican  ;  he  has  served  as  judge  of 
elections  and  inspector.  Mr.  Snyder  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  church. 
His  children  are :  Minnie,  David,  Clarence, 
Jonatlian,  and  Ijy  adoption  Alice  Lutz. 


HoERNER,  Lieut.  Peter,  was  born  in 
what  is  now  South  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  September  10,  1822.  He 
is  a  son  of  Maj.  .John  and  Magdalena  (Eber- 
sole)  Hoerner.  Plis  grandfather,  Andrew 
Hoerner,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county, 
and  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Dauphin  county. 
He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution.  His 
children  were:  Annie,  Mrs.  John  Berst ; 
Nancy,  Mrs.  John  Ebersole ;  Henry,  Mala- 
chi,  John,  George,  Jacob,  Michael,  William, 
and  Andrew.  His  son  Jacob  became  a  car- 
penter and  undertaker ;  Hoernerstown  was 
named  for  him. 

John  Hoerner,  father  of  Lieutenant  Hoer- 
ner, was  born  in  South  Hanover  township, 
in  1783.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  was  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  ranked  as  major.  After 
his  marriage  he  settled  on  his  father's  home- 
stead. He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  He  was  first  a  Whig  and  after- 
wards a  Republican,  although  he  voted  for 
Andrew  Jackson  for  Pre.sident.  He  served 
as  director  of  the  jioor  and  in  other  township 
offices.  He  died  in  1875;  his  wife  in  1867. 
Of  their  twelve  children,  six  are  living  :  Cap- 
tain John,  of  East  Hanover  township  ;  Lucy, 
maiden  lady  ;  Barbara,  Mrs.  Henry  Yingst, 
Derry  township  ;  Peter,  of  South  Hanover 
township;  Albert,  of  Steel  ton  ;  and  Cyrus,  of 
Hoernerstown. 

Ijieut.  Peter  Hoerner  was  brought  up  on 
the  homestead,  and  has  followed  farming, 
milling,  etc.  He  was  married,  in  1845,  to 
Su.san  Brenneman,  daughter  of  Christian 
Brennenian,  of  South  Hanover  township. 
They  have  five  children  living  :  Barbara  M., 
Mrs.  Frederick  Rlioads,  of  Mi.ssouri ;  Anna 
Lucy,  Mrs.  John  S.  Walters,  of  Penbrook  ; 
Heniy  Clay,  of  I^ower  Paxton  township  ; 
William  Harrison,  of  I^ower  Paxton  town- 
ship;  and  Mary  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Jjcvi  Hab- 
acher,  of  Hummelstown  ;  John,  and  Andrew 
also  died  in  infancy. 


The  lieutenant  was  a  Whig  and  afterwards 
a  Republican.  He  has  served  the  township 
as  school  director,  auditor,  supervisor  and 
tax  collector.  He  was  formerly  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Hummelstown  Bank.  He 
settled  on  his  j)resent  farm  in  1848.  He 
also  conducts  a  saw  and  chop  mill.  Lieu- 
tenant Hoerner  is  a  deacon  in  the  Lutheran 
church,  at  Hoernerstown,  and  contributed 
liberally  to  the  building  of  the  church  edi- 
fice. In  1842  he  was  commissioned  lieu- 
tenant of  company  Fourth,  Thirty-sixth  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  militia;  also  in  18(J2  he 
enlisted  as  an  emergency  man  under  Capt. 
Graff;  also  in  1863  enlisted  in  company  E, 
Thirty-sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, and  served  from  June  to  August ;  also 
in  1865  enli.sted  in  company  D,  One  Hun- 
dred and  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, served  from  March  to  July. 


Allwine,  John  H.,  fanner,  Hummels- 
town, Pa.,  was  born  in  Swatara  township, 
July  13,  1870  ;  son  of  John  B.  and  Catherine 
(Stout)  Allwine,  the  former  a  native  of  Leba- 
non, the  latter;of  Dauphin  county.  Jonas 
Allwine,  the  grandfather  of  John  IL,  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Swatara  town- 
ship. He  was  a  farmer  and  lime  burner 
and  was  a  director  in  the  Hummelstown 
Bank.  He  married  Mary  Bomck,  and  they 
had  these  children  :  Louisa,  deceased ;  Annie, 
Mrs.  Martin  Ebersole,  of  Middletown,  Pa.; 
Jonas,  of  Swatara  township,  and  John  B., 
deceased.  John  B.,  the  father,  was  a  farmer 
and  lime  burner,  and  located  on  the  home- 
.stead  farm,  when  he  died  in  1872,  his  wife 
surviving  him.  Their  children  are  :  Mary, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Etter,  of  East  Hanover  town- 
ship ;  John  H.,  and  Kate,  Mrs.  George  Baker, 
of  Middle  Paxton  township. 

John  H.  taught  school  in  Middle  Paxton 
and  Lower  Paxton  townships,  and  in  1893 
located  on  his  present  farm.  In  1891  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  John 
Cassel,  of  West  Hanover  township.  They 
have  two  children  :  Bessie  and  Mary.  Mr. 
Allwine  in  his  political  views  is  a  Rejiubli- 
can.  He  has  served  in  the  office  of  school 
director. 


Baker,  John  M.,  teacher,  Union  Deposit, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lower  Swatara  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  June  15,  18()3 ;  son  of 
John  and  Catherine  (May)  Baker.  Fred- 
erick Baker,  the  grandfather,  came  from 
Lancaster  county,  was  an  early  settler   in 


930 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Dauphin  county,  and  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church.  John  Baker,  the 
father,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county  in  1824, 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  followed  that 
occupation  for  twent^'-eight  years,  but  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  in  Middle  Paxton  town- 
ship. In  his  religious  views  and  membership 
he  is  with  tiie  German  Baptist  church.  His 
children  are :  Annie,  Mrs.  Christian  Miller, 
of  Middle  Paxton  township  ;  Jacob  M.,  of 
Middle  Paxton  township  ;  John  M.:  Fannie, 
Mrs.  Joseph  McGorkle,  of  East  Hanover 
township ;  and  George  M.,  of  Middle  Paxton 
township. 

John  M.  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  Berrysburg  Semimuy,  and  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Bloomsburg,  Pa.  In  1882 
he  adopted  teaching  as  his  profession  and 
occupation  and  has  taugiit  schools  in  Leba- 
non county  and  in  Middle  Paxton  and  East 
and  West  Hanover  townships,  Dauphin 
county.  Mr.  Baker  was  married,  in  1S87,  to 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Suavely,  daughter  of  Peter 
Suavely,  of  East  Hanover  township,  Lebanon 
county.  In  his  politics  he  is  a  Rei>ublican. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  of 
Union  Deposit. 


Book,  David  N.,  farmer,  Union  Deposit, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1831 ;  son  of  Daniel  and  Christina 
(Neff)  Book,  natives  of  Lancaster  county. 
He  was  married,  December  25,  1860,  to  Miss 
Fannie  S.  Creider,  of  Lancaster  county.  In 
1873  he  came  to  Daupiiin  county,  and  settled 
on  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies.  His 
children  are:  Annie,  Mrs.  George  R.  Ca.ssel, 
of  East  Hanover  township;  Emma,  Mrs. 
John  E.  Kramer,  of  the  same  township ; 
Enos,  on  tiie  homestead  farm ;  Lizzie,  Mrs. 
Jacob  Frausnaught,  of  Derry  townsiiip ; 
Mary,  Mrs.  Harry  Kettering,  of  Palmyra, 
Pa.;  Fannie,  and  David.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  United  Zion's  Children 
churcii. 


Plough,  George,  retired,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1821 ;  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Mil- 
ler) Blough,  natives  of  Lebanon  county,  and 
of  German  ancestry.  He  moved  to  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  with 
his  mother  and  stepfather  when  three  years 
of  age,  and  was  there  reared  and  learned  the 
trade  of  mason,  which  has  been  his  occupa- 
tion through  life.  His  residence  has  been 
at  Hoernerstown  for  over  fifty  years.     Mr. 


Blough  was  married,  in  1844,  to  Miss  Mary 
Keller,  daughter  of  Martin  Keller,  of  South 
Hanover  townsiiip,  and  the}'  have  three  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom  is  Harry  K.,  M.  D., 
of  Elizabeth  town,  born  in  1845,  read  medi- 
cine under  Dr.  Keller,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Phila- 
delphia. He  first  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  at  Bachmansville,  and  removed 
from  that  place  to  Elizabeth,  where  he  has 
since  been  professionally  employed.  In  1891 
he  was  elected  member  of  the  State  Hou.se  of 
Rejiresentatives  on  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  served  one  term  in  that  office  with  dis- 
tinction. He  was  married  to  Elizabetii 
Shank,  of  Lebanon  county,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Jennie,  wife  of  Dr.  D.  F.  Kline,  of  Lan- 
caster, Pa.,  and  Albert  S.  The  second  child 
of  Mr.  George  Blough  is  Sarah,  and  the  third 
David  H.,  born  Noveml)er  3,  1854,  and  was 
educated  at  Palmyra  Academy.  He  taught 
school  for  twelve  years  in  Dau])hin  and  Lan- 
caster counties,  and  since  then  has  been  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  raising  fine  horses. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mr. 
George  Blough  is  a  member  of  tiie  United 
Brethren  churcli,  in  whicli  he  has  served  as 
a  class  leader  for  many  years. 


Cassel,  Martin  S.,  farmer,  Hummels- 
town, Pa.,  was  born  in  South  Hanover  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  July  31,  1857; 
son  of  Uriah  and  Barliara  (liocker)  Cas.sel. 
He  attended  the  schools  of  iiis  native  town- 
ship and  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner  with 
his  fatlier,  wiiich  he  has  always  followed  as 
an  occupation.  In  1889  he  established  a 
leather  and  finding  store  in  Lebanon,  Pa., 
which  he  is  still  conducting,  and  in  1893 
rented  his  father's  tanner}^,  of  which  he  lias 
been  the  manager  and  proprietor  since  that 
date.  Mr.  Cassel  was  married,  in  1888,  to 
Miss  Jennie  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Cassel,  of 
Paxton  township,  and  the}'  iiave  one  child, 
Floyd  F.  In  jiolitics  he  is  a  Democrat,  in 
religious  views  and  membership  a  Lutheran, 
and  is  tlie  organist  of  the  church  and  Sab- 
bath-school to  which  he  belongs. 


Cassel,  .I(jnN  W.,  farmer,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides. May  12,  1866;  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Hoj'er)  Cassel.  He  received  his  education 
iu  the  township  school  and  in  Millersburg 
Academy,  and  subsequently  taught  school  in 
South  Hanover  township  for  six  terms,  after 
which  he  worked  at  the  tanning  business  for 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


931 


three  j'ears,  and  then  engaged  an  farming, 
which  has  since  been  his  occupation.  Mr. 
Cassel  was  married,  in  April,  1886,  to  Miss 
Mary,  daughter  of  Uriah  Cassel,  of  South 
Hanover  township,  by  whom  lie  has  two  chil- 
dren :  Flora  Elizabeth  and  I^elia  May.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of 
America,  and  of  the  Junior  Order  United 
American  Mechanics,  while  in  his  political 
views  he  is  a  Republican.  Mr.  Cassel  holds 
membership  and  the  office  of  deacon  in  the 
Lutheran  church. 


Cassel,  Uriah,  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  South  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  February  5,  1830 ;  son  of  David 
and  Catherine  (Horst)  Cassel.  The  father 
was  l)orn  in  South  Hanover  township,  No- 
vember 27,  1895.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
tanner  from  his  father-in-law  Michael  Horst, 
and  succeeded  to  the  Hor.st  estate,  conducting 
the  tannery  for  many  years.  In  lii.s  political 
views  Mr.  Cassel  was  a  Democrat  and  served 
in  the  office  of  county  commissioner.  He 
was  prominent  in  the  membership  of  the 
Lutheran  church  of  Hummelstown.  His 
wife  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
They  reared  nine  children  :  Amos,  of  South 
Hanover ;  Uriah ;  Solomon,  of  East  Han- 
over, Daniel  H.,  of  East  Hanover ;  Cath- 
erine, Mrs.  John  Sidles,  of  Swatara  town- 
ship ;  Louisa,  deceased,  Mrs.  John  C.  Ging- 
I'ick ;  Lucetta,  Mrs.  Michael  Mast,  of  In- 
diana ;  Mary ;  Mrs.  Aaron  Uingriek,  of  South 
Hanover,  and  an  infant  deceased. 

Uriah  Ca.ssel  learned  the  trade  of  tanner 
of  his  father,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the 
business  for  fifty  years.  In  1851  he  became 
the  owner  of  his  present  tannery,  which  he 
conducted  until  1893,  when  he  retired  from 
its  active  management.  Mr.  Ca.ssel  is  one  of 
the  wealthy  men  of  the  region,  is  largely  in- 
terested in  farming  and  was  formerly  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  Hummelstown  National 
P>ank.  He  was  married,  in  1851,  to  Miss 
Barbara  Hocker,  daughter  of  Martin  Hocker 
of  Derry  township.  Their  children  are: 
Amanda,  Mrs.  John  F.  Seiliert,  of  South 
Hanover  township ;  David  B.,  Hummels- 
town ;  Martin,  of  South  Hanover  township ; 
Frank,  of  South  Hanover;  Mary,  Mrs.  John 
W.  Cassel,  of  South  Hanover  township,  and 
Abner,  who  died  in  1891,  aged  thirty-one 
years.  Mr.  Cassel  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  is  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  organization. 


Ebersole,  Levi,  farmer,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  on  the  farm  which  he  now 
occupies,  January  8,  1844.  Peter  Ebersole, 
the  great-grandfather  of  Levi,  was  the  first 
of  the  family  to  settle  in  Dauphin  county. 
His  son  John,  the  grandfather  of  Levi,  was 
born  in  Soutli  Hanover  townsiiip  and  mar- 
ried Nancy  Hoerner,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children:  Andrew;  John;  Peter,  deceased; 
Barbara,  Mrs.  Jacob  Stouffer,  of  Lower  Pax- 
ton  township  ;  Annie,  Mrs.  Jacob  Pease,  of 
Danville,  111.  Andrew,  tlie  father  of  Levi, 
was  born  in  South  Hanover  township,  June 
4,  1814,  and  in  1843  settled  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  his  son  Levi,  which  he  greatly 
improved.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  filled  several  township  offices.  He  was 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Hummelstown 
Lutheran  church,  and  one  of  tiie  committee 
appointed  to  rebuild  the  cliurcli  edifice  in 
1855.  His  deatli  occurred  in  1890,  and  that 
of  his  wife  in  1880.  They  had  six  children 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  four  who  grew  to 
maturity  :  Levi  W.;  John  A.,  Lower  Paxton 
townshi]i ;  Alice,  South  Hanover  township; 
Clara,  Airs.  Reuben  Plouse,  of  South  Han- 
over township. 

Levi  W.  was  married,  in  1872,  to  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  David  Kruger,  of  York 
county.  Thev  have  five  children  :  Samuel 
W.,  David  K.,"]\hibel  Elizabetii,  Bertha  May, 
and  Blanche  Louise.  Mr.  Ebersole  is  a 
member  of  the  Prohibition  party,  and  has 
served  as  school  director.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Hummelstown  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  holds  the  office  of  trustee,  and  is 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 


Earnest,  Simon  F.,  M.  D.,  Union  Deposit, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1867 ;  son  of  Richard  and  Annie 
(Fleisher)  Earnest.  He  was  reared  by  his 
grandparents  at  Annville,  Pa.,  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  took  a  course 
at  the  Annville  College.  His  private  pre- 
ceptor in  medicine  was  Dr.  E.  B.  Marshall, 
of  Annville,  with  whom  he  pursued  the 
usual  course  of  reading  and  preparatory 
study,  after  which  he  was  graduated  in  1891, 
from  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania.  He  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  at  Union  Deposit  im- 
mediately upon  his  graduation,  where  he 
has  been  professionally  emjtloyed  since  that 
time.     Dr.  Earnest  was  married,  in  1892,  to 


932 


BIOGRAFHKJAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Miss  Laura  Bale,  daughter  of  Jacob  Bale,  of 
Hunimelstown,  Pa.  In  his  political  views 
Dr.  Earnest  is  a  Republican. 

HoRST,  Michael,  farmer,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  May  13,  1847,  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  has  liis  residence.  Ho  is  a 
son  of  Peter  and  Majidalino  (Snyder)  Horst. 
In  1S70  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Loiick, 
daughter  of  John  Louck,  of  South  Hanover 
township.  They  have  two  children  :  Landis 
and  Charles.  Mr.  Horst  lias  always  had  his 
home  on  the  farm  on  which  he  is  now  Jiving. 
He  is  a  consistent  member  of  tlie  (lerniau 
Baptist  cliurch,  and  in  accordance  witli  tiie 
tenets  of  Iiis  faitli  he  refrains  from  voting. 


Horst,  David,  merchant,  Hoernerstown, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Soutli  Hanover  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Marcli  21,  ISoO  ;  son  of 
Peterand  ^hlgdaliIU'(Sny(!er)  Horst.  ^fichacl 
Horst,  tile  grandfatiier,  was  born  in  Lebanon 
county.  Pa.,  in  1785,  and  died  in  1821.  He 
was  proprietor  of  one  of  tlie  early  tanneries 
of  tlie  county.  He  married  Barbara,  daugli- 
ter  of  Peter  Ebersole,  of  South  Hanover  town- 
ship. Tlieir  cliildren  were:  Barbara,  Mrs. 
UeorgeCa.ssel ;  Catherine,  Mrs.  David  C'assel ; 
Saraii,  Mrs.  David  Buck,  ancl  Peter,  all  of 
whom  are  deceased.  The  grandparents  were 
members  of  tlie  German  ]5aptist  ciiurcii. 
Peter,  the  father,  was  born  in  South  Hanover 
township,  Ajiril  IG,  1818,  and  died  January 
10,  1882.  His  children  were:  Micliael,  of 
South  Hanover  townsliip,  and  David. 

David  learned  the  cMr[>enter's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  for  several 
years,  and  afterwards  engaged  in  farming  in 
East  Hanover  township,  and  in  l.sOo  he  es- 
tablished his  present  mercantile  business  at 
Hoernerstown,  wliich  he  has  conducted  since 
that  date.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Horst 
is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  as  school  di- 
rector for  live  years.  He  was  married,  in 
1872,  to  Miss  Kate  E.  Fackler,  of  West  Han- 
over township,  by  wiiom  he  has  tliree  cliil- 
dren :  Harry  M.,  William  P.,  and  Katie  M. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  church. 


HocKER,  George  M.,  Union  Deposit,  Pa., 
was  born  in  South  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
})hin  county.  Pa.,  March  10,  1847;  son  of 
George  and  Barbara  (Martin)  Hocker.  The 
father  was  born  in  Derry  township,  in  1806; 
sou  of  Martin  Hocker,  a  native  of  Germany, 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Derry  township. 


and  a  hotel  keeper  at  Hoekerstown,  which 
was  named  from  him.  Tlie  father,  George 
Hocker,  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith.  He 
removed  to  South  Hanover  township  and  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  hotel  at  Union  De- 
posit, where  he  also  was  engaged  in  the  coal, 
lumber,  grain,  and  distilling  liusiness,  and 
was  the  owner  of  several  lioats  on  the  Union 
canal.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  propri- 
etors of  Union  Deposit,  at  which  point  he 
erected  a  paper  mill,  which  he  conducted  for 
.some  time.  His  death  occurred  in  187().  He 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  in  1845  aided  in  building  the 
church  edifice.  He  had  nine  children : 
Mary,  decea.sed,  Mrs.  Eli  Zimmerman,  of 
South  Hanover  township  ;  Barbara,  Mrs.  Mar- 
tin Londes,  of  West  Virginia;  Rebecca,  Mrs. 
Henry  Loy,  of  Philadelphia;  Christina,  Mrs. 
P.  R.  Killinger,of  Union  Deposit;  Sarah,  Mrs. 
■lolin  Stauffer,  of  Union  Dejiosit ;  George  M.; 
Rudolph,  of  Steclton ;  Rev.  Martin  S.,  pastor  of 
St.  John's  Lutheran  church,  Steelton. 

George  M.  received  his  education  in  the 
liublic  schools  and  in  the  Millersville  State 
Normal  School.  He  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school  for  eight  years  in  South  Hanover 
townshij),  and  for  one  year  in  l^ower  Paxton 
townshi]!.  Subse(iuently  he  took  a  commer- 
cial course  in  the  Business  College  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  was  clerk  for 
the  Patriot  Pul)lishing  Company,  at  Harris- 
burg,  for  a  year  and  a  iialf.  In  1874  he  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  hotel  at  Union  De- 
])0sit  and  continued  to  manage  the  house 
until  1885.  Mr.  Hocker  was  secretary  of  tiie 
Union  Building  and  Loan  Association  for 
several  years.  In  1893  he  organized  the 
Union  Deposit  Creamery  Association  and 
has  since  been  interested  in  tlie  enteri)rise. 
He  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the  Palmyra  Bank, 
and  is  the  owner  of  several  farms.  He  is 
jirominent  in  fraternity  circles,  holding  mem- 
bership in  several  secret  orders.  In  his  po- 
litical views  Mr.  Hocker  is  a  Democrat. 


Hanshue,  .John  P.,  farmer.  Union  Deposit, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township, 
September  14,  1 830 ;  son  of  David  and  Cathe- 
rine (Obercash)  Hanshue.  The  first  of  the 
family  to  settle  in  Dauphin  county  was  John 
Hanshue,  born  in  1775,  who  moved  from 
Lebanon  county  about  1808  or  1810,  located 
in  Susquehanna  township,  and  in  1820  set- 
tled on  the  farm  in  South  Hanover  town- 
ship on  which  his  grandson,  John  P.,  now 
resides.     He  helped  to  haul  the  stone  for  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


933 


abutments  of  the  first  bridge  built  across  the 
Susquehanna  river  at  Harrisburg,  and  also 
to  build  the  first  market  house  in  that  city. 
He  married  Susan  Hetrick,  of  Lebanon 
county.  His  death  occurred  in  1837,  that  of 
his  wife  in  1848.  He  was  a  member  of  tlie 
Lutheran  and  she  of  the  German  Reformed 
churcli.  They  reared  six  children:  .John; 
David  ;  Samuel ;  Susan,  Mrs.  John  Haver- 
stick  ;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Henry  Crorl  ;  Mary, 
Mrs.  George  Ripley,  all  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased . 

David,  the  father  of  John  P.,  was  born  in 
Lebanon  county,  November  14,  1803.  After 
his  marriage  he  settled  in  Lower  Paxton 
township,  and  removed  from  there  to  the 
present  site  of  Steelton.  In  1830  he  was 
made  administrator  of  iiis  fatlier's  estate, 
and  succeeded  to  the  homestead,  upon  which 
he  resided  until  his  death  in  1875.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
helped  to  build  the  house  of  worship  at 
Union  Deposit.  He  reared  three  children  : 
Lavinia,  deceased,  married  Jacob  Crorl,  of 
South  Hanover  township;  John  P.,  and 
David,  of  Lower  Paxton  townsliip. 

John  P.  was  married,  in  1854,  to  Lucinda 
Zimmerman,  daughter  of  Samuel  Zimmer- 
man, of  West  Hanover  townsliip,  and  they 
liave  five  chiUlreif:  Emma,  Mrs.  Joim  L. 
Siioop,  on  the  homestead,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Ira  D.;  Amos  H.,  of  Soutli  Hano- 
ver township,  married  Susan,  dauglitor  of 
David  Houck,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Mary  Edna  and  Clarence;  Catherine  M., 
David  S.,  and  Elizabeth  M.  Mrs.  Hanshue 
died  February  17,  1882.  In  his  politics  Mr. 
Hansliue  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  as 
scliool  director  for  eighteen  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Union 
Deposit,  in  which  he  served  as  deacon  eight 
years,  and  of  whicli  he  is  at  present  a  trustee. 


Pa.,  and  afterwards  removed  to  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  his  son  C.  E.,  where  he  died  in 
1878.  His  wife  survives  him  and  lives  in 
Derry  township.  They  belonged  to  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church.  Their  children  are: 
John  M.,  deceased;  Mary, Mrs.  John  H.Ungst, 
of  Derry  township ;  C.  E.;  Sadie,  Mrs.  Amos 
Jones,  of  Monroe  county ;  Harvey  D.,  of 
Derry  township  ;  and  Lillie,  wife  of  William 
Seibert,  of  Derry  township. 

C.  E.  learned  the  butcher's  trade,  which  he 
has  followed  in  connection  with  farming. 
He  was  married.  May  13, 1882,  to  Miss  Emma 
H.  Gerber,  daugiiter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
Gerber,  of  South  Hanover  township.  Their 
children  are:  Lizzie  G.,  AnnieM., Emma  G., 
Martha  G.,  and  Sarah  E.  They  are  members 
of  the  German  Baptist  churcli. 


Landis,  C.  E.,  farmer.  Sand  Beach,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  South  Hanover  township,  September 
25,  1862;  son  of  C.  F.  and  Martha  (Brelim) 
Landis.  Christian  Landis,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Derry  township,  and  was  a  farmer 
and  storekeeper  at  Derry  Ciuirch.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Benjamin,  of  Paxton  township; 
David,  of  Kansas;  Christian  F.;  Susan,  de- 
ceased, Mrs.  David  Borsli,  of  Derry  town- 
ship ;  and  Mary,  deceased,  Mrs.  Benjamin 
Sliue,  of  Cumberland  county.  Christian  F., 
the  fatiier,  was  born  in  Derry  township,  in 
1833.  His  wife  was  born  in  1838.  He  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Annville, 


Maulfair,  Dr.  Harvey  E.,   Union  De- 
posit, Pa.,  was  born  in  East  Hanover  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July  17,1864; 
son  of  John  and   Elizabeth  (PeifFer)  Maul- 
fair.      His   father   was   born     in    Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  December   24,  1836,  and  is  of 
German  ancestry.     P)y  occupation  he  was  a 
farmer  and  distiller,  and  also  kej)t  a  hotel 
at    Auburn,   Schuylkill    county.    Pa.,    from 
1867  to  1872,   after  wiiich  he  was  for  four 
years   engaged   in  the  milling  business  at 
Derry    Church.     In   1889    he  was   made   a 
steward  of  Annville  College,  which  position 
he  now  holds.     His  church   membership  is 
with   the  United    Brethren.      His  children 
are  Lillian  Agnes  and  Dr.  Harvey  E.,  who 
were  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in 
the  Lebanon  Valley  College;  he  read  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  M.  L.  Hershey,  of  Derry  town- 
ship, and  was  graduated  from  the  .Jefier.son 
Medical  College  at  Philadelphia  in  1890;  prac- 
ticed medicine  for  three  years  at  Hummels- 
town,  and  has  since  been    located   at  Union 
Deposit.     Dr.  Maulfair  was  married,  in  1889, 
to  Miss   Ida   K.  Landis,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and    Catherine   Landis,  of  South   Hanover 
township.     They  had   one  child,  Catherine 
E.     The  Doctor  is  a  member  and  a  trustee 
of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


McCoRD,  Joseph,  farmer.  Union  Deposit, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  West  Hanover  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  December  28,  1855 ; 
son  of  Joseph  Shannon  and  Elizabeth 
(Mackin)  McCord.  The  first  of  the  family  to 
settle  in  Dauphin  county  was  William  Mc- 
Cord, a  native  of  Scotland,  who  entered  six 
hundred  acres  of  laml  in  what  are  now  West 


934 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  South  Hanover  townships.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Derry  Presbyterian  cliurcli. 
His  son,  William  McCord,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township  ;  was  a  soldier  in  the  llevo- 
lutionary  war,  and  like  his  father  was  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Derry  Presbyterian  cliurch.  He 
married  Miss  Wolf,  and  they  reared  seven 
children :  Margaret,  deceased,  Mrs.  Bom- 
gardner.  West  Hanover  townsliip;  .Josej)h 
Sliannon,  deceased ;  Mary,  Mrs.  Jose])h 
Hoerner,  of  Hocrnerstowii ;  William,  de- 
ceased. South  Hanover  township  ;  Catherine, 
Mrs.  Jacob  Seibert,  of  West  Hanover  town- 
sliip ;  Annie,  Mrs.  Josepli  Walmer,  of  Har- 
risburg ;  Sarah,  Mrs.  George  McMonaby, 
Derry  township. 

Joseph  Shannon,  the  fatlier,  was  born  in 
South  Hanover  township)  in  1815,  and  died 
March  1(3,  1895.  His  wife  also  is  deceased, 
and  both  were  members  of  the  Derry  church. 
They  had  six  children :  James,  AVest  Han- 
over ;  Joseph ;  Mary,  Mrs.  Edward  Abling, 
of  Lelianon,  Pa.;  Maria,  Mrs.  John  Yotty, 
East  Hanover  township ;  Franklin,  of  East 
Hanover  township ;  Clara,  Mrs.  Theodore 
Krebs,  of  South  Hanover  townsliip. 

Josepli  was  married,  in  1875,  to  Elizabeth 
Yctter,  davighter  of  John  Yetter,  of  Swatara 
townshi]),  and  tlu'y  have  two  children,  .John, 
born  in  1877,  and  Joseph,  born  in  1886.  In 
his  politics  Mr.  Mct'ord  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  served  as  school  director  for  three  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Ihvlbren 
church. 


Rapp,  W.  H.,  merchant.  Union  Deposit, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  April  5, 
1858;  son  of  Charles  Augustus  and  Eva 
(Mease)  Rapp.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  and  engaged  in  thecream- 
ery  business  at  Pleasant  Valley,  in  which  he 
continued  for  eight  years.  In  1883  he  re- 
moved to  Union  Deposit  and  opened  a  gen- 
oral  store,  which  he  has  since  conducted.  He 
is  a  member  of  State  Ca})ital  Lodge,  No.  7(1,  I. 
0.  O.  P.,  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America 
and  of  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Me- 
chanics. In  his  political  views  he  is  in 
agreement  with  the  Republican  party.  Mr. 
Rapp  was  married,  in  1875,  to  Miss  Ella  J. 
Yost,  daughter  of  John  Yost,  of  Northamp- 
ton county.  Pa.  His  church  membership  is 
with  the  Reformed  church  of  Springfield, 
Bucks  county,  Pa. 


Snavely,  Joseph  K.,  farmer.  Sand  Beach, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Derry  township,  Dau{)hin 
county.  Pa.,  September  7,  1847  ;  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Nancy  (Keller)  Snavely.  Josepli 
Snavely,  the  grandfather  of  Joseph  II.,  came 
to  Dauphin  county  about  1828,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Derry  township.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
and  reared  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living:  George,  of  Derry  township ;  Henr)% 
of  Middletown  ;  Leah,  Mrs.  Joseph  Hersbey, 
of  Hummelstown  ;  Fannie,  of  Derry  town- 
ship;  Eliza,  Mrs.  William  Eckenrode,  of 
Hummelstown  ;  Catherine,  Mrs.  John  Wag- 
ner, of  South  Hanover.  William,  the  father 
of  Joseph  K.,  located  in  Derry  township  after 
his  marriage  and  engaged  in  farming  and 
huckstering,  and  was  a  stockholder  in  the 
Farmers'  Bank.  In  politics  he  was  a  Re- 
publican and  served  as  tax  collector.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  in  which  he  filled  the  office  of  stew- 
ard. His  death  occurred  in  August,  1894 ; 
his  wife  having  died  in  1872.  Of  their  nine 
children  six  are  living:  John,  at  Union  De- 
jiosit;  Jacob,  at  Elizabethtown  ;  Susan,  Mrs. 
Uriah  Seltzer,  of  South  Hanover  township  ; 
Fannie,  Mrs.  .John  Hummel,  Derry  town- 
ship ;  Mary,  Mrs.  Edward  Weaver,  Hum- 
melstown, and  Joseph  Ki 

Joseph  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  has  always  been  engaged  in  agricultural 
])ursuits.  In  1870  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Wagner,  daughter  of  Conrad  Wagner, 
of  South  Hanover  townshii).  The}'  have  five 
children  :  Albert;  Harry,  married  Ida  Rasp, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Naomi ;  Conrad, 
Annie,  and  Sadie.  Mr.  Snavely  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  views  and  has  served  as 
school  director  in  South  Hanover  township 
for  six  years.  IJe  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


ScHAFFNER,  Daniel,  retired  farmer,  Hum- 
melstown, Pa.,  was  born  in  Lykens  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  August  (>,  1827  ; 
son  of  Christian  and  Christina  (Hoffman) 
Schaffner.  The  first  of  the  family  to  settle 
in  Dauphin  county  were  the  grandparents, 
Martin  and  Fannie  (Halderman)  Schaffner, 
natives  of  Lancaster  county,  who  located 
first  in  Swatara  township  and  from  there 
moved  to  Upper  Paxton  township.  They 
were  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
church.  Their  children  are:  Jacob;  Mar- 
tin;   Frederick;   John;    Christian;  Fannie, 


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DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


937 


Mrs.  Linderraan ;  Nancy,  Mrs.  Fleisher ; 
and  several  who  died  in  infancy.  Christian, 
the  father  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  Upper 
Paxton  township,  and  is  buried  at  Hoff- 
man's church.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  was  a  member  of  the  German  Re- 
formed church.  His  children  are:  Martin  ; 
Amanda,  Mrs.  Peter  Sellers  ;  Obed  ;  David, 
deceased  ;  Daniel ;  Eli,  of  Savannah,  111.; 
Fannie,  Mrs.  William  Swab,  of  Philadelphia; 
Sarah  J.,  Mrs.  William  Shartzer,  of  Elizabeth- 
ville. 

Daniel  was  reared  in  Lykens  Valley  and 
educated  in  select  schools.  He  learned  the 
carpenter  trade  and  subsequently  taught 
school  twenty  terms.  In  1870  he  opened  a 
general  store  at  Hoernerstown,  which  he 
conducted  until  1895,  when  he  retired  from 
business.  He  was  married,  in  1852,  to  Miss 
Salome  Hoover,  of  South  Hanover  tOi^nship. 
His  children  are  :  Frmklin  J.,  of  Ilummels- 
town  ;  Henry  C;  Daniel  W.,  M.  D.,  of  Steel- 
ton  ;  (JarolineS.;  and  Rev.  Alfred  Schaflner, 
pastor  in  the  German  Reformed  church,  a 
graduate  of  the  Franklin  and  Marshall  Col- 
lege and  the  Lancaster  Seminary.  In  his 
political  principles  and  policy  Mr.  Schaffner 
is  a  Democrat,  and  served  six  terms  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  South  Hanover  town- 
ship. He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church,  of  Hummelstown,  in  which  he  has 
filled  the  office  of  deacon,  and  for  twenty  years 
the  office  of  elder,  and  has  also  served  as  the 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  at  Ber- 
rysburg  and  Hoernerstown.  He  enlisted  in 
tlie  Thirty-sixth  regiment,  Penn.sylvania 
militia,  and  did  provost  duty  at  Gettysburg. 
He  re-enlisted  in  company  I,  Eighty-seventh 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Petersburg,  and 
was  at  the  surrender  at  Appomattox  Court 
House,  after  which  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. 


Stauffer,  David  H.,  Union  Deposit,  Pa., 
was  born  in  South  Hanover  townsliip,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  January  31,  1843;  son  of 
Isaac  and  Nancy  (Kettering)  Stauffer,  na- 
tives of  Lebanon  county,  and  subsequently 
residents  of  South  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  The  father  was  a  miller  by 
trade,  and  was  proprietor  of  the  Spring  Creek 
Mills  for  ten  years,  after  which  he  conducted 
tlie  mills  at  Union  Deposit  for  several  years. 
He  is  deceased  and  his  wife  survives  him. 
Their  children  are  :  David  H.  and  John,  who 
learned  the  trade  of  miller  from  his  father, 
59 


and  assisted  him  in  his  business.  Subse- 
quently ho  was  proprietor  of  the  State  Capi- 
tal Mills  at  Harrisburg  for  two  years,  and  in 
1878  purchased  the  Union  Deposit  Mills, 
which  he  operated  until  his  death,  October 
12,  1896.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Farmers'  Bank  at  Hummelstown.  He 
married  Sarah,  daughter  of  George  Hooker, 
and  they  had  eight  children:  Frank  H., 
Clarence,  George  M.,  Charles  E.,  Edith,  Elva, 
Violet,  and  Earl.  The  remaining  children 
of  Isaac  are :  Levi  L.,  deceased  ;  Isaac  K.,  of 
Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa ;  Mary,  Mrs.  R.  Clay,  of 
Union  Deposit.  Mr.  Stauffer  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


Wagner,  George,  retired.  Union  Deposit, 
Pa.,  March  16,  1815 ;  son  of  Conrad  and 
Catherine  (Fauver)  Wagner,  natives  of  Leb- 
anon county,  removed  to  Dauphin  county  in 
1829  and  .settled  in  South  Hanover  town- 
ship. The  father  was  a  blacksmith  and  far- 
mer and  was  an  active  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church,  to  the  erection  of  the  church 
edifice  of  which  he  was  a  liberal  contributor. 
He  died  in  South  ITanover  township  at  the 
age  of  ninety-one  years.  His  children  are: 
John,  Daniel,  Samuel,  Henry,  Thomas,  Isaac, 
deceased,  Conrad,  and  George,  who  died  in 
1845.  He  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  brick  until  1873,  when  he  retired  from  ac- 
tive business  and  moved  into  Union  Deposit. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  served 
twenty-two  years  as  supervisor  of  the  town- 
ship. He  was  married,  October  28,  1841,  to 
Catherine  Yingst,  daughter  of  John  Yingst, 
of  Derry  township,  whose  death  occurred  in 
August,  1894.  Their  children  are:  John, 
enlisted  in  1861  in  company  D,  Ninety-third 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  died 
in  the  hospital,  September  26,  1862  ;  Henry, 
of  South  Hanover  townshi]} ;  Ellis  G.,  of 
Barber  county,  Kan.;  Mary,  Mrs.  John 
Gruber,  died  leaving  four  children  :  Cath- 
erine, iVIrs.  Frank  Schaeffer,  of  Union  De- 
posit ;  Lincoln,  of  Philadelphia  ;  Fannie,  of 
Harri.sburg;  and  Uly.sses,  of  Lebanon  county. 
Mr.  Wagner  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church  and  has  served  as  elder  in  the  same. 


Wagner,  Henry,  brick  and  tile  manufac- 
turer. Union  Deposit,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa.,  December  11,  1848; 
son  of  George  Wagner,  of  Union  Deposit. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  the  Meyerstown  Academy. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  brick  making  from 


938 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


his  father  and  in  1872  he  succeeded  to  his 
father's  business.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Hocker,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Hocker,  of  Derry  township.  Their 
children  are  :  Clayton  L.,  George  Franklin, 
Annie  Irene,  Sadie  Ma}',  Henry  Edgar,  Katie 
Madora,  Allen  Hocker,  and  Jacob  Arthur. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Wagner  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  in  his  religious  faith  and 
membership  is  a  Lutheran,  in  which  church 
he  holds  the  office  of  deacon  and  trustee. 


business  at  Rockville,  and  enjoys  a  good 
reputation  as  a  merchant.  He  is  also  highly 
rcsjjected  as  a  citizen. 


YiNGST,  Samuel  H.,  farmer  and  stock 
dealer,  Sand  Beach  P.  0.,  was  born  in 
Derry  townsiiip,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
March  6,  1858 ;  son  of  Rev.  Peter  and  Lydia 
(Wenger)  Yingst,  of  Derry  township.  He 
was  married,  in  1876,  to  Miss  Kate  Wagner, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Wagner,  of  South  Han- 
over township.  Their  children  are:  Harvey, 
Thomas,  Peter,  Lydia,  Eva  Ma\',  Victor  M., 
Katie,  Samuel,  and  Ellen  Violet.  In  1872 
Mr.  Yingst  engaged  in  shipping  cattle  from 
the  West  to  the  home  markets,  and  has  since 
continued  in  that  business.  In  his  politics 
he  is  a  Republican. 


SUSQUEHANNA  TOWNSHIP. 


Shaffer,  George  AV.,  merchant,  Rock- 
ville, Pa.,  was  born  in  Susquehanna  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  January  17, 1837. 
He  is  a  son  of  .John  and  Elizabeth  (Platz) 
Shatfer.  The  Shaffer  family  are  of  German 
ancestry.  They  came  to  this  country  at  a 
very  early  date,  and  settled  at  Manheim,  Pa. 
John  Shaffer,  the  father  of  George  W., -re- 
sided in  Susquehanna  township  during  the 
greater  part  of  his  Rfe.  He  died  October  12, 
1881;  his  wife  in  1873.  They  had  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living :  George  AV.; 
John,  of  Harrisburg ;  AVilliam,  of  Harrisburg ; 
Augustus,  of  Fort  Hunter;  Mary,  wife  of 
George  AValker,  of  Pottsville,  Pa. 

George  W.  Shaffer  received  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools.  He  worked 
at  various  occupations  until  the  spring  of 
1865,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Ninety-second  regiment,  PennsjJvania 
volunteers,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  AA'hen  discharged  from  the  army  he 
returned  home  and  engaged  in  mercantile 
business,  which  has  been  his  occupation  since 
the  latter  part  of  1865.- 

Mr.  Shaffer's  political  opinions  are  Repub- 
lican.    He  has  been  long  established  iia  his 


Brown,  George  Lancaster,  A.  jVL,  M.  D., 
was  born  in  Middle  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  September  17, 1866.  He  is  a 
son  of  James  L.  and  Mary  (Baker)  Brown.  The 
father  was  born  in  Florida,  was  of  English 
ancestry,  and  settled  in  Middle  Paxton  town- 
ship about  1865,  where  he  followed  his  trade 
of  carpenter  and  bridge  builder,  until  near 
the  time  of  his  death,  April  14,  1873.  The 
mother  was  born  in  Middle  Paxton  township, 
where  she  still  resides,  deservedly  honored  and 
loved.  They  had  four  children,  three  sons 
and  one  daughter ;  three  are  living,  George 
L.,  William  A.,  James  0.;  Lavinia,  wife  of 
Peter  Fisher,  of  Hummelstown,  died  Decem- 
ber 29,  1892. 

The  Doctor  attended  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  township,  and  subsequentl}'  the 
State  Normal  School  of  Shippensburg,  Pa. 
He  M-as  graduated  from  this  institution  with 
the  class  of  1890.  For  the  ensuing  two  years 
he  taught  school  in  Dauphin  county.  In 
1894  he  completed  the  regular  course  of  stud- 
ies in  the  Baltimore  Medical  College,  and  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  M.  D.  Remaining  at 
the  college,  he  took  a  post-graduate  course, 
which  he  completed  in  1895.  From  a  liter- 
ary college  he  received  in  June,  1896,  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

In  June,  1895,  Dr.  Brown  opened  an  office 
for  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Rockville, 
Susquehanna  township.  He  has  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  has  dis- 
played more  than  ordinary  professional 
abilit}',  and  an  accurate  and  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  all  branches  of  the  art  of  healing. 
He  is  recognized  as  a  })hysician  of  great 
promise,  deserving  of  confidence  and  success. 

Dr.  Brown  is  a  member  of  Paxton  Lodge, 
No.  621,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Dauphin,  Pa.  His 
politics  are  Republican.  He  attends  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Reily,  John  AA\,  ^jroprietor  of  the  Luck- 
now  Forge,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
September  26,  1860.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
John  AV.  and  Katherine  E.  (Dull)  Reily,  a 
sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  He  was  educated  in  the  Harris- 
burg Academy  and  afterwards  attended  the 
McClellan  Institute,  Westchester,  Pa.,  and 
the  Peabody  Scientific  School,  Andover, 
Mass.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1879. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


939 


After  completing  this  thorough  educational 
course,  Mr.  Reily  was  for  one  year  assistant 
manager  of  the  furnace  in  the  Montgomery 
Iron  Company's  mill  at  Port  Kennedy,  Pa., 
after  which  he  returned  to  Harrisburg.  For 
the  following  year  he  was  assistant  manager 
of  the  Union  Forge,  after  which  he  became 
the  manager  of  this  important  industry. 

In  1883  he  erected  the  buildings,  provided 
the  equipment  and  established  his  extensive 
business  at  Lucknow  Station.  In  addition 
to  the  management  of  this  large  industrial 
plant,  Mr.  Reily  gives  personal  attention 
to  large  agricultural  operations.  He  super- 
vises the  cultivation  of  a  tract  of  land  con- 
taining six  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  which 
gives  him  rank  among  the  prominent  prac- 
tical farmers  of  the  count}'.  He  is  a  man  of 
varied  abilities  and  seems  equally  at  home 
in  the  management  of  all  kinds  of  business. 
A  gratifying  success  attends  all  his  ventures, 
and  prosperity  is  the  outcome  of  his  en- 
terprise. He  is  popular,  by  reason  of  his 
generous  treatment  of  his  employees,  and  his 
liberal  public  spirit. 

John  W.  Pteily  was  married,  in  Harrisburg, 
November  3,  18G6,  to  Miss  Helen,  daughter 
of  the  late  Daniel  and  Margaret  Boas.  Mr. 
Reilj'  is  president  of  the  Fort  Hunter  Road 
Commission.  His  political  views  are  those 
of  a  good,  solid  Republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Presbyterian  church. 


Kelley,  Patrick,  was  married  in  1832; 
his  wife  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to 
America  in  1832.  She  settled  first  in  New 
York ;  afterwards  she  removed  to  Harris- 
burg, and  finally  to  Rockville,  and  has  been 
a  resident  of  Dauphin  county  up  to  tiiis 
time.  They  had  four  children  :  John  Frank- 
lin, William  Edward,  Mary  Elizabeth,  and 
Caroline,  who  died  at  six  years  of  age.  The 
eldest  son,  John  Franklin,  was  among  the 
first  volunteers  from  Rockville  in  the  arm\' 
for  the  defense  of  tlie  Union  at  tlie  breaking 
out  of  tiie  late  Rebellion.  He  served  three 
years  in  the  United  States  army  and  navy. 
The  second  son,  William  Edward,  volun- 
teered and  served  in  the  Two  Hundred  and 
First  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
under  Colonel  Awl,  of  Harrisburg.  After- 
wards he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  navy 
at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March  7,  1804,  and 
served  seventeen  months  on  the  warship 
"  R.  R.  Cuyler."  He  was  wounded  while  in 
line  of  battle  b}^  the  premature  discharge  of 
a   cannon.     He   was   discharged    from    tlie 


naval  hospital  at  Portsmouth,  Va.,  July  3, 
1865.  In  1887, during  President  Cleveland's 
first  administration,  Mrs.  Kelley  was  ap- 
pointed postmistress  of  Fort  Hunter  and  has 
held  the  office  continuously  since  that  time. 
Mrs.  Kelley  was  brought  up  in  the  Catholic 
faith,  to  which  she  still  adheres. 


Feee,  John  W.,  was  born  in  Emigsville, 
York  county.  Pa.,  November  9,  1832.  He  is 
a  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Dick)  Free.  His 
father  resided  in  Dauphin  county  for  twelve 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Perry  county, 
Pa.,  where  he  died  in  1853.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Free  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living:  Catherine,  wife  of  Solomon  Shatto; 
John  W.;  Thomas  J.,  of  Perry  county,  and 
Hiram  A.,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio. 

When  John  W.  Free  was  six  years  old  his 
parents  removed  to  the  town  of  Dauphin, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  district 
and  subscription  sciiools.  His  school  educa- 
tion completed,  he  engaged  in  steamboating 
on  the  Chesapeake  bay  and  canal.  In  1860 
he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Rock- 
ville. 

He  was  married,  at  Harrisburg,  January 
3,1854,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Wilhelmina  (Krehl)  Livingston,  long  and 
highly  honored  residents  of  Susquehanna 
township.     They  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Free  has  creditably  filled  the  offices  of 
school  director  and  tax  collector.  He  be- 
longs to  Dauphin  County  Lodge,  No.  621, 
I.  O.  0.  F.  His  political  views  are  Repub- 
lican. He  attends  the  Methodist  church. 
He  was  among  the  first  wlio  left  Rockville 
and  enlisted  in  the  army  in  defense  of  the 
Union.  He  served  nine  montiis  in  the 
Pennsylvania  volunteers. 


Felty,  Philip  D.,  was  born  in  Susque- 
hanna township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  June 
11,  1837.  He  was  educated  in  the  district 
and  private  schools,  and  spent  his  boyhood 
on  the  farm.  He  also  attended  school  under 
Profs.  Davis,  Oak,  and  Weatherford,  at  Lin- 
glestown  Academy.  At  the  age  of  fourteen 
he  learned  tanning,  serving  at  apprentice- 
ship with  Christian  Hoover.  This  trade  ac- 
quired, he  farmed  for  two  years,  and  was 
afterwards  engaged  in  tanning  at  Lingles- 
town,  until  the  spring  of  1859.  He  then 
removed  to  Hanover,  bought  the  old  Stover 
tannery,  and  continued  in  business  there 
until  1861.  He  was  drafted  and  served  in 
the  army  nine  months,  in  the  One  Hundred 


940 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  Seventy-seventh  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, under  Col.  George  B.  Wiestling.  He 
was  appointed  second  lieutenant  and  one 
month  later  first  lieutenant.  He  was  dis- 
cliarged  from  the  army  on  August  5,  1863. 

He  sold  his  interest  in  the  tannery  and 
worked  as  a  journeyman.  Later  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading 
Railroad  Company  for  one  year  as  baggage- 
master.  He  was  next  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Rockville,  and  was  afterwards  again 
employed  by  the  railroad  company  for  six 
years.  In  1871  he  built  a  tannery  at  Rock- 
ville and  continued  in  business  for  three 
years.  He  went  West  to  seek  a  location  for 
bu.siness,  but  returned  to  Rockville  and  then 
moved  to  Harrisburg.  In  1889  he  returned 
to  the  old  homestead,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided. 

He  was  married,  September  5,  18G2,  to 
Harriet  U.,  daughter  of  .1.  M.  and  Mary 
Shope.  They  have  three  children  :  Charles 
Irvin  ;  Clara  F.,  wife  of  J.  \V.  Miller,  and 
John  Ct.  Charles  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Felty  is  a  stauncli  Republican.  His  family 
are  members  of  the  Bethel  Metliodist  Epis- 
copal church. 


Turns,  Wiluam,  was  born  near  Middle- 
town,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  May  30,  1832. 
His  fatiicr,  .Joiui  Turn.s,  was  born  in  1807; 
lie  married  a  daughter  of  Owen  and  Katie 
(Rice)  White.  They  had  eleven  children : 
\\'illiam  ;  .John  ;  Owen  ;  George ;  Henry  ; 
Mattlicw;  Elizalieth,  Mrs.  Hallman  ;  Martiii : 
Mary  Ann,  Mrs.  Ilothnan;  l^jiln-aim,  and 
Rebecca,  Mrs.  Daniel  Runkcl.  John  Turns 
died  in  1880,  Ijut  his  wife  is  still  living. 

William  Turns  was  largely  interested  in 
the  manufacture  of  lumber  in  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  a  representative  citizen,  and 
was  held  in  high  esti-em.  He  died  C)ctober 
(i,  1882.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married 
August  18, 1803,  was  Miss  Mary  S.,  daughter 
of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Dewe\')  Straw.  Her 
parents  belonged  to  an  old  and  respected 
family  of  Dauphin  count}'.  They  had  ten 
children,  of  wliom  Mrs.  Turns  was  the  eldest. 
Mr.  Straw  died  October  3,  1881,  and  Mrs. 
Straw  October  9,  1889.  Two  of  their  sons 
and  a  daughter  died  in  infancy  ;  their  daugh- 
ter Susan,  wife  of  William  Swover,  died  in 
1893. 

Mrs.  Turns  was  born  in  Middle  Paxton 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  May  28, 
1820.  She  received  her  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  her  native  towiishiji).    After 


her  marriage  to  Mr.  Turns  she  removed  to 
Susquehanna  township,  where  she  now  re- 
sides. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turns  had  three  chil- 
dren :  Lewis,  Edward,  and  William.  Lewis 
Turns,  with  his  Ijrother  Edward,  works  in 
the  Harrisburg  Car  Shops.  Mrs.  Turns  at- 
tends the  German  Reformed  church. 


Rawn,  Charles  C,  was  born  at  George- 
town, D.  C,  July  30,  1802.  His  parents  re- 
moving to  Westchester,  Pa.,  he  received  his 
elementary  education  there.  He  afterwards 
passed  through  college,  took  up  the  study  of 
law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Harris- 
burg. From  that  time  until  his  death  he 
was  occupied  with  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  filled  a  high  position  in  the 
army  board  during  the  war,  and  at  its  close 
resumed  his  practice  in  Harrisburg.  He 
was  married  May  25,  1833.  His  wife  was 
born  February  16,  1815,  and  educated  at 
Harrisburg.  She  is  still  living,  and  resides 
in  Harrisburg.  They  had  seven  children, 
four  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Elizabeth,  died 
March  19,  1838,  aged  three  years  ;  Charles 
C,  born  December  16,  1837,  died  October  6, 
1887 ;  James  C,  born  in  1840,  died  April 
12,1842;  Mary  Scott  Glendin,  born  April 
10,  1842,  died  in  Marcli,  1852.  Tiie  fatiier 
died  December  18,  1805. 

Charles  C.  Rawn,  .son  of  diaries  C,  en- 
listed in  tlie  army  witli  the  Lochiel  Grays 
under  Col.  Henry  McCormick.  He  was  ap- 
pointed second  lieutenant,  and  later  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  After  re- 
turning from  the  army  lie  was  married,  and 
resided  in  Connecticut.  At  present  he  is  the 
manager  of  the  Roanoke  Gas  and  Water 
Company,  of  Roanoke,  Va. 

Frances  Glendin  Rawn,  daughter  of 
Charles  C,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  April 
IS,  1849.  She  received  her  primary  educa- 
tion in  private  schools  and  attended  Ivy 
Hall  Seminary,  Brigiiton,  N.  J.  She-  was 
married,  at  Harrisburg,  October  22,  1872,  to 
William  J.  Torrington.  They  had  three 
children:  Ethel,  i:)orn  at  Harrisburg;  Will- 
iam James,  at  Mt.  Washington,  Md.,  June 
30,  1879;  and  Francis  Rawn,  at  Mt.  Wash- 
ington, Md.,  September  17,  1881.  Mr.  Tor- 
rington is  deceased.  The  religious  creed  of 
the  family  is  Presbyterian. 


Bitting,  John,  was  born  in  Berks  county, 
near  Reading.  He  married  Barbara  Flick- 
inger,  of  Lancaster  county.  Tiiey  had  seven 
children.     He  died   at  the  age  of  seventy 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


941 


years;  his  wife  died  twelve  years  before  him. 
Catherine  Bitting,  daughter  of  John  and 
Barbara  Bitting,  was  born  near  the  Black 
Horse  Tavern,  Lancaster  counts'.  Pa.,  June 
9,  1821.  She  received  her  education  in  the 
private  schools  of  Lancaster  county.  She 
was  married,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine  years, 
at;Dauphin,  Pa.,  to  John  Dawson.  They  had 
two  children  :  Thomas  and  Catherine.  Tlie 
latter  died  in  infancj'.  Tliomas  B.,  only  son 
of  the  late  John  Dawson  and  his  wife  Cath- 
erine Dawson,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Rockviile,  Pa.  At  the  age  of  thir- 
teen he  learned  telegraphy  and  has  been 
employed  in  that  occujiation  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was 
married  to  Susie  E.,  daughter  of  George  and 

Ellen .    They  have   eight   children  : 

Daisy  M.,  John  0.,  Mabel  E.,  Jennie  E.,  Ger- 
trude M.,  Harvey  R.,  T.  Ivan,  and  Goldie 
Pearl.  The  family  are  not  members  of  any 
church. 


Leonard,  Joseph  L.,  was  born  at  Coch- 
ranville,  Chester  county.  Pa.,  April  17,  1846. 
He  is  a  son  of  Lot  Evans  and  Jennie  E. 
(Best)  Leonard.  His  "father  was  of  Scotch 
and  his  mother  of  Irish  descent.  His  father's 
family  were  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  while  his  mother's  family  were  Meth- 
odists. Their  children  are:  Joseph  L.;  Mary 
L.,  wife  of  William  Updegrove,  who  had  two 
children;  Martha  E.,  wife  of  John  iMarzolf, 
has  four  children  living  and  two  deceased  ; 
Mai'y  L.  and  Martha  E.  are  Ijoth  deceased. 

Joseph  L.  Leonard  received  a  public  school 
education,  completing  his  course  in  1863  in 
the  schools  of  Harrisburg.  He  enlisted  in 
the  Fifty-fifth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  un- 
der Col.  Richard  White,  and  was  assigned  to 
company  G.  He  remained  in  active  service 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  won  distinc- 
tion and  honor  in  many  of  the  prominent 
battles.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
at  Petersburg,  Va.,  August  30,  1865.  From 
this  time  on  lie  was  engaged  in  various  occu- 
pations. For  two  years  he  had  charge  of  the 
male  department  of  the  Soldiers'  Orphans' 
Schools  at  McAllisterville  and  White  Hall, 
Pa.  After  severing  his  connection  with  the 
latter  school,  he  was  employed  hy  the  Har- 
risburg Car  Manufacturing  Company  ;  later 
he  was  in  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works  in 
the  capacity  of  machinist.  After  this  he  em- 
barked in  the  business  of  hotel  keeping.  He 
conducted  the  Bridgeport  Hotel,  at  Bridge- 
port, Cumberland    county,   Pa.,   and   other 


hotels  well  known  in  the  State ;  also  the  Ar- 
cade Hotel,  1023  Seventh  street,  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  and  the  Susquehanna  Hotel,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa. 

He  was  married,  August  12,  18G9,  to  Miss 
Carrie  L.,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Lida 
(Ranch)  Lichtenwalner,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children,  who  both  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Leonard  is  a  member  of  the  organization 
of  the  survivors  of  the  Fifty-fifth  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  and  is  president  of  that  or- 
ganization at  the  present  time. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Leonard  had  ten  chil- 
dren, tliree  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Their 
living  cliildren  are:  Camilla,  wife  of  Samuel 
T.  Train  ;  Albert  L.;  Mary  Catherine,  wife  of 
Frank  Deal ;  Carrie  L.,  wife  of  J.  E.  Leon- 
ard ;  Lydia  A.,  wife  of  William  Hoehrine; 
Josephine,  and  Nathan. 

Olewine,  George  W.,  foreman  of  the  Luck- 
now  Forge,  was  born  at  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
February  21, 1839.  He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Mary  (Fremoil)  Olewine,  both  deceased. 
His  father  was  a  tailor,  and  conducted  a  suc- 
cessful business  in  Harrisburg.  He  had  four 
children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

'George  W.  Olewine  attended  school  in 
Harrisburg  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age, 
when  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Sus- 
quehanna township,  and  there  finished  his 
studies.  After  leaving  school  he  was  em- 
ployed in  farming  until  1872,  when  he  en- 
gaged with  the  Harrisburg  Car  Company  as 
a  wood  worker.  He  afterwards  entered  the 
employment  of  John  W.  Reily,  proprietor  of 
the  Lucknow  Forge,  in  the  capacity  of  fore- 
man, and  has  held  that  position  to  the  pres- 
ent time. 

He  was  married,  August  8,  1865,  to  Jane, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Shoop)  Funk. 
They  have  eleven  children :  Mary,  Mrs. 
Daniel  Hartz ;  America,  Mrs.  Milton  Dis- 
singer;  Benjamin,  married  Clara  Beaver; 
Amie,  Mrs.  John  Mummert ;  Jennie,  Mrs. 
George  Beaver ;  Katie;  Maggie  and  Annie, 
twins;  George  A.  and  Blanche,  twins,  and 
Francis.  Blanche  died  at  the  age  of  five. 
Mr.  Olwine  is  a  well-known  citizen  and  es- 
teemed by  the  many  employed  under  his 
supervision. 


WiMER,  L.  Edmund,  master  carpenter, 
Middle  division,  Pennsylvania  railroad,  was 
born  in  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  March  12, 1835. 


942 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


He  is  a  son  of  Zachariah  and  Marj'  (Brach- 
bill)  Wimer.  His  father  died  July  16,  1835, 
and  his  mother  died  April  11,  1881,  aged 
seventy-one. 

L.  Edmund  Wimer  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Juniata  county.  He  left 
home  at  the  age  of  fifteen  and  was  employed 
in  farming.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  be- 
gan to  learn  his  trade  with  Reuben  Yarger. 
and  later  finished  his  apprenticeship  with 
his  uncle  Christopher.  Having  thus  ac- 
quired skill  in  carpentry  he  began  business 
for  himself  in  his  native  county.  In  18G(I 
he  was  employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  for  one  year.  Then,  return- 
ing to  his  native  count}-,  he  was  in  liusiness 
for  himself  until  1803.  Next,  for  aljout  a 
year,  he  was  employed  by  the  Keystone 
Bridge  Company,  of  Pittsburgh.  Augu.st  30, 
1804,  he  returned  to  the  employment  of  the 
Penn.'^ylvania  Railroad  Company  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  forenum,  at  Bellefonte,  Pa.,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1865.  In  that  year  he  en- 
listed in  the  Sixteenth  Penn.sylvania  cavalry, 
company  F,and  served  until  August  11  of  tlie 
.same  year.  He  was  then  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice at  Manchester,  Va.,  and  returned  to  his 
native  county.  Once  more,  on  September  1, 
1865,  he  entered  the  employment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  as  foreman 
carpenter,  and  retained  that  position  until 
November  1,  1871,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
master  carpenter  on  the  Middle  division,  a 
post  in  which  he  still  continues  to  serve  the 
company. 

He  was  married,  November  29,  1859,  to 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Caj)t.  Nathan  and 
Mar}'  (Foose)  Thomas.  They  have  had 
three  children,  one  of  whom  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  months.  Their  living  children 
are:  John  L.,  and  Lizzie,  wife  of  James  H. 
Gingrich,  of  Harrisburg.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

A  life  of  useful  industry  and  a  successful 
business  career  have  enabled  Mr.  Wimer  to 
enjoy  a  home  at  Lucknow,  a  romantic  and 
beautiful  suburl)  of  Harrisburg. 


Grove,  John,  farmer,  was  born  at  Coxes- 
town,  Pa.,  October  14,  1834.  He  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Hoak)  Grove.  John 
Grove  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  began  to 
learn  the  wheelwright's  trade.  When  his 
apprenticeship  was  over  he  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself.  In  1856  he  removed  to 
Harrisburg  and   was  for  four  years  in   the 


employ  of  the  Harrisburg  Car  Manufactur- 
ing Company.  He  was  next  engaged  in 
farming,  until  the  spring  of  1865,  when  he 
returned  to  Harrisburg,  and  was  for  five 
years  employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company,  then  for  two  years  by  the 
Harrisburg  Manufacturing  Company.  The 
confinement  of  indoor  work  being  found 
detrimental  to  his  health  the  Penns\'lvania 
Railroad  Companj'  changed  his  position  to 
that  of  car  inspector.  This  place  he  held 
for  five  years,  and  then  resumed  inside  work. 
He  was  thus  employed  until  1878,  when  he 
went  back  to  farming  and  has  made  that  his 
occupation  up  to  the  present  time. 

He  was  married,  September  26,  1856,  to 
Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Annie 
Lebo.  They  have  had  three  children,  one 
of  whom  died  aged  four  years.  Their  living 
children  are:  Ida  Jane,  wife  of  Samuel 
Meckley,  and  William  E.  Mr.  Grove  is  a 
staunch  Republican. 

HousER,  George  W.,  market  gardener, 
was  born  in  Susquehanna  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  March  26,  1849.  He  is  a 
son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Lantz)  Houser. 
His  fatlier  died  August  12,  1885,  aged  sev- 
enty-two years  and  six  months  ;  his  mother 
died  October  5,  1895,  aged  eighty-four  years 
and  six  months.  They  had  six  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  four  sur- 
viving are:  Louisa,  wife  of  William  Coffer; 
Matilda,  wife  of  Ambrose  Kennedy  ;  Mary 
E.,  and  George  W. 

George  W.  Houser  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  After  leaving  school 
heengaged  in  gardening  and  farming,  wliich 
he  has  carried  on  up  to  the  present  time. 
Mr.  Houser  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  has 
served  one  term  as  school  director  in  his 
native  township. 

He  was  married,  November  21,  1872,  to 
Anna  Tressa,  daughter  of  George  and  Agnes 
(Hervey)  Piper.  They  have  seven  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infanc}'.  Their  living 
children  are:  Michael  E.,  George  W.,  Jr., 
Rebecca  J.,  Mary  E.,  and  Carrie  A.  Mr. 
Houser  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 


Fox,  Milton,  farmer,  was  born  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  De- 
cember 16,  1857.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Hyde)  Fox,  natives  of  Daujjhin  countv. 
His  'father  died  November  20,  1884.  They 
had  eight   children,  two  of  whom  are  de- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


943 


ceased.  Jerome  died  aged  three,  and  Chris- 
tian at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  Tlieir 
remaining  children  are :  Annie  E.,  wife  of 
David  Smith ;  George ;  John  H.;  Mary  M., 
M'ife  of  Harry  K.  Bruhaker;  Isaac,  and  Mil- 
ton. 

]\Iilton  Fox  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
left  school  and  hegan  farming.  Ho  has 
made  this  his  occupation  ever  since. 

He  was  married,  June  2G,  1879,  to  Mary 
(!'.,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Sliutt) 
Strohm.  Their  union  was  blessed  with  four 
children :  Emma  R.,  Laura  P.,  William  E., 
and  Mabel  M.,  the  last  named  died  Novem- 
ber 5,  1895. 

Mr.  Fox  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  has 
served  in  his  native  township  for  two  terms 
as  supervisor.  He  is  one  of  tlie  enterprising 
and  successful  farmers  of  Susquehanna  town- 
ship. 


Stouffer,  Jacob  W.,  farmer  and  dairy- 
man, Mas  born  in  Daujihin  county,  Pa., 
April  26,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Rebecca  (Waltz)  Stouffer.  His  parents  had 
a  family  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
deceased  ;  two  died  in  infancy.  The  parents 
are  still  living,  and  are  prominent  and  re- 
spected residents  of  Dauphin  county. 

Jacob  W.  Stouffer  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
he  became  a  farmer,  and  that  has  been  his 
occupation  to  the  present  time.  He  was  mar- 
ried, at  tlie  age  of  twentv,  to  Emma,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Sayring)  Sny- 
der. They  have  four  children :  Lizzie  M., 
Katie,  Marion,  and  Ruth.  Mr.  Stouffer  is  a 
staunch  Republican. 


Miller,  William  H.,  was  born  in  Leba- 
non county.  Pa.,  August  8,  1850.  He  is  a 
son  of  Franklin  A.  and  Levina  (Ciegler)  Mil- 
ler. He  attended  first  the  public  schools  of 
Lebanon  county  and  afterwards  the  college 
at  Meyerstown,  Pa.  His  education  finished, 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  miller,  in  his  native 
county,  and  followed  this  vocation  for  some 
time.  He  afterwards  became  a  skillful,  prac- 
tical iron-worker,  which  is  his  present  occu- 
pation. He  is  employed  at  the  Lucknow 
Forge,  Susquehanna  township. 

He  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Melinda  New- 
man, daughter  of  Adam  and  Kate  (Pallen) 
Newman.  They  have  three  children :  Charles, 
John,  and  Minerva.  His  wife  died  in  April, 
1875.     He  was  again  married,  November  21, 


1878,  to  Ida,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Cathe- 
rine (Walboru)  Dowmoyer,  by  Avhom  he  has 
five  children :  Harry  G.,  Alleu  E.,  Sadie  ('., 
Helen  N.,  and  William  J.  The  parents  of 
the  second  Mrs.  Miller  are  residents  of  Leba- 
non count}'.  They  had  eight  children,  two 
of  whom  are  deceased;  the  remaining  chil- 
dren also  reside  in  Lebanon  county.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Miller  is  a  staunch  Re- 
puldican. 

HiESTER,  Gabriel,  was  born  at  Estherton, 
Pa.,  April  28,  1850.  He  attended  school  in 
Harrisburg  until  1866,  when  he  entered  the 
sopiiomore  class  of  the  Agricultural  College 
of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  1868.  Returning  to  Plar- 
risburg,  lie  engaged  in  market  gardening  and 
fruitgrowing;  he  still  carries  on  the  latter 
branch  of  the  business.  He  has  become  one 
of  the  best  and  most  favorabl}^  known  fruit 
growers  in  the  State.  The  positions  of  trust 
and  prominence  to  which  he  has  been  called, 
in  connection  with  State  agricultural  inter- 
ests, are  the  pulilic  aiid  popular  as  well  as 
the  official  recognition  of  his  practical  suc- 
cess and  his  eminent  scientific  abilities. 

He  bas  served  as  a  trustee  of  Pennsylvania 
State  Agricultural  College  since  1879.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of 
Agriculture  since  1881,  and  vice-president  of 
the  State  Agricultural  Society  since  1885.  The 
Governor  appointed  him  commissioner  to  rep- 
resent the  State  at  the  Agricultural  Congress 
which  met  in  California  in  1886 ;  and  by  the 
same  authority  he  was  appointed  to  perform 
the  same  duty  at  the  Agricultural  College 
which  met  in  West  ^^irginia  in  1894. 

Mr.  Hiester  was  married,  in  1871,  to  Miss 
Annie  E.  Maurer. 


Simon,  Dr.  Samuel  H.,  was  born  at  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  .July  5,  1840.  .  He  is  a  son  of 
John  B.  and  Mary  (Hertz)  Simon.  They  had 
twelve  children,  seven  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  Doctor's  education  was  begun 
in  the  Southern  District  public  school  of 
Harrisburg  ;  he  afterwards  attended  private 
schools.  He  undertook  tbe  study  of  medi- 
cine in  1861,  but  turned  aside  from  it  in 
1862  to  engage  in  business  with  his  father, 
a  carpenter  and  builder,  with  whom  he  had 
served  a  full  term  as  an  apprentice  to  the 
trade.  He  enlisted  during  the  Avar  in  com- 
pany K,  First  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
served  his  time  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged.   He  has  been  identified  with  numer- 


944 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


ous  enterprises  of  Harrisburg,  and  lias  been 
indefatigable  in  bis  efforts  to  advance  tbe 
interests  of  bis  native  city  and  county.  In 
1866  Dr.  Simon  engaged  in  brickmaking, 
and  conducted  one  of  tbe  largest  and  most 
successful  establisbments  of  tbe  kind  at  tbat 
time.  He  was  tbe  first  manufacturer  in  tbe 
city  to  introduce  tbe  improved  metbods  of 
making  bricks  by  machinery.  lie  became 
largely  interested  in  real  estate  on  Market 
and  State  streets,  east  of  tbe  canal.  He  built 
tbe  P'armers'  Market,  at  tbe  corner  of  Market 
and  Fourteentb  streets,  baving  bimself  guar- 
anteed tbe  entire  stock  of  the  enterprise. 
He  was  largely  influential  in  developing  tbe 
street  railways  of  tbe  city,  and  was  the  chief 
promoter  of  tbe  East  Harrisburg  street  rail- 
way. In  1875  he  resumed  tbe  study  of  medi- 
cine and  was  graduated  from  the  Hahne- 
mann Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in  1880. 
He  then  entered  upon  tbe  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  Camden,  N.  .J.,  succeeding  Dr.  Keator 
on  Linden  Terrace  in  tbat  city.  He  prac- 
ticed there  until  1882,  and  then  removed  to 
Harrisburg  and  purchased  the  large  and 
beautiful  residence  at  No.  228  North  Third 
street,  where  his  wife  died  March  10,1888. 
In  1861  he  married  Julia  E.,  daughter  of 
David  and  Elizabeth  Kendig,  of  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  They  iiave  three  cbildi'en: 
John  B.;  Mary  L.,  wife  of  J.  David  Kendig, 
and  E.  CHarence.  The  Doctor  served  on  tbe 
school  board  of  Harrisburg,  baving  been 
elected  as  a  Democrat  by  a  Republican  board 
to  fill  a  vacanc}',  and  afterwards  elected  to 
a  full  term  in  a  Rejiublican  (Ninth)  ward. 
He  is  a  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No. 
21 ;  past  high  priest  of  Perseverance  Chap- 
ter, No.  21,  and  past  commander  of  Pilgrim 
Commandery,  No.  11,  K.  T.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tbe  American  Institute  of  Homa'- 
opathy.  Dr.  Simon  and  his  family  are 
members  of  Zion  Lutheran  church,  Harris- 
burg, Pa. 


Wagxer,  Serell,  gardening  farmer,  was 
born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.",  December  25,  1840. 
He  was  a  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Wag- 
ner, residents  of  Dauphin  county.  His  par- 
ents had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are 
deceased.  Their  living  children  are  :  Henry, 
Alfred,  and  Serell. 

Serell  Wagner  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  He  engaged  in  farming 
and  gardening,  and  followed  this  calling 
throughout  his  life.  His  politics  wei'e  Demo- 
cratic. 


He  was  married,  July  31,  1863,  to  Cathe- 
rine J.  Mader,  by  whom  be  has  three  chil- 
dren: John  Elmer,  Annie  N.,  wife  of  George 
Davis,  and  Alnieda  J.  Mrs.  Wagner's  par- 
ents bad  fourteen  children.  Tbe  family 
attend  Bethel  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Wagner  died  on  March  19,  1896. 


BoMGARDNER,  Jerome,  was  boru  in  Leb- 
anon county.  Pa.,  March  14,  1852.  He  is  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Kratzer)  Bom- 
gardner.  His  parents  bad  eight  children, 
four  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Samuel,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Catherine,  died  aged  four- 
teen ;  Lydia,  wife  of  David  Ream,  died  aged 
about  thirty ;  and  Lucetta,  died  aged  fifty- 
three  j'ears,  nine  months  and  twenty-five 
days.  Their  living  children  are  :  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Elias  Kelley,  of  Lebanon  county; 
John  A.,  residing  near  Hummelstown  ;  Je- 
rome, and  Harve}',  of  Lebanon  county. 

Jerome  Bomgardner  received  bis  educa- 
tion in  tbe  public  schools.  After  leaving 
school  he  engaged  in  farming,  in  which  oc- 
cujiation  he  has  ever  since  continued. 

He  was  married,  June  22,  1872,  to  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Daniel  and  Rebecca  Mary 
Keller.  They  have  had  six  children,  one  of 
whom,  Charles,  died  at  two  years  of  age. 
Their  surviving  children  are:  Lizzie  R., 
William.  Grant,  Harry,  and  Samuel.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Bomgardner  were  natives  of 
Lebanon  count}',  Pa.  Her  father  is  de- 
ceased, but  her  mother  is  still  living. 

Mr.  Bomgardner,  in  politics,  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No. 
12,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M. 


Greenawalt,  Charles  F.,  retired  farmer 
and  real  estate  dealer,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  April  5,  18.57.  He  is  the  only 
child  of  Philip  B.  and  Susan  E.  (Fox)  Green- 
await.  His  mother  was  tbe  only  child  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Fox;  Elizabeth  Fox 
was  tbe  only  child  of  David  and  Susan 
Sboop,  and  Susan  Shoop  was  the  only  child 
of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  Blosser,  of  Dauj)bin, 
Pa.  Susan  E.  Fox  Greenawalt,  mother  of 
Charles  F.,  died  in  tbe  spring  of  1858,  aged 
twenty-eight. 

Charles  F.  Greenawalt's  education  was 
begun  in  tbe  public  schools.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  be  attended  school  in  Harrisburg 
under  Prof.  Gause.  At  sixteen  he  entered 
Ursinus  College,  Montgomery  county,  Pa., 
and  took  a  course  preparatory  for  entrance 
to  the  State  College.       He  remained  in  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


945 


latter  institution  until  he  was  twenty  years 
old,  leaving  at  that  time  on  account  of  the 
death  of  his  grandfather. 

He  was  married,  March  4,  1876,  to  Mary 
Fair,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Anna  Fagley. 
They  had  six  children  :  Susan,  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Louis  Philip,  born  September  20, 
1880 ;  Maggie  Umberger,  born  January 
16,  1886;  Napoleon  Hall,  born  February 
19,  1887;  Caroline,  born  September  27, 
1890,  and  John  Fox,  born  January  24, 1895. 
From  the  time  of  his  marriage  \mtil  1887 
Mr.  Greenawalt  was  engaged  in  farming 
in  Susquehanna  township.  In  1887,  by 
the  death  of  his  grandfather,  he  came 
into  possession  of  a  vast  estate  which  had 
been  in  the  family  since  the  colonial  days  of 
1768.  lie  is,  therefore,  a  large  landholder  ; 
he  occupies  a  beautiful  residence  situated 
on  the  river  road  in  Susquehanna  township. 

Mr.  Greenawalt  belongs  to  the  Junior  Or- 
der United  American  Mechanics.  He  is  a 
staunch  Republican.  He  has  been  a  school 
director  for  six  consecutive  years,  and  has 
been  president  of  the  school  board  for  five 
years.  He  was  appointed  census  enumer- 
ator of  Susquehanna  township  in  1890.  He 
is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Coxestown 
Metliodist  Episcopal  church,  which  he  and 
his  family  attend. 


Snyder,  George  William,  farmer,  was 
born  November  18, 1842.  He  is  a  son  of  Fred- 
erick and  Christiana  (Speese)  Snyder,  natives 
of  Germany.  His  father  died  in  1858;  his 
mother  is  still  living.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  deceased.  Their 
living  children  are  :  Louis,  George  William, 
John  D.,  Edward  S.,  and  Rebecca,  wife  of 
Joseph  Lutz. 

George  William  Snyder  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  of  Lebanon 
county.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  his  sciiool 
days  were  ended,  and  he  began  regular  work 
with  his  father  in  the  tannerj'.  On  September 
18, 1861,  he  volunteered  his  service  in  defense 
of  the  Nation,  and  was  enrolled  in  company 
F,  Ninety-third  regiment,  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, under  Colonel  McCarter  and  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Johnson.  He  served  in  the 
army  until  February,  1863,  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Alexandria,  Va. 
He  then  returned  to  his  home,  and  served  an 
apprentieesliip  at  carpentry  with  William 
Cassel.  Having  learned  his  trade  he  worked 
for  two  j'ears  as  journeyman  carpenter.  At 
the  expiration   of    this   time    he  became   a 


farmer,  and  has  since  made  this  his  business. 
He  was  married,  August  27,  1867,  to  Han- 
nah, daughter  of  Emanuel  and  Hannah 
Cassel,  of  Dauphin  county.  They  have  had 
two  children  :  Jerome,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  three  years  and  ton  months;  and  John 
IL,  who  is  living. 

The  political  preferences  of  Mr.  Snyder 
are  with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  church. 


Miller,  David,  Sr.,  carpenter  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 8,  1814.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Annie  (Medlin)  Miller.  He  has  the  blood  of 
Revolutionary  soldiers  in  his  veins.  His 
grandfather  and  grandfather's  brother  came 
to  America  during  the  war  for  freedom  from 
Britisli  rule.  They  were  seventy-four  days 
in  crossing  the  ocean.  They  landed  at  New 
York  and  at  once  enlisted  in  the  patriot 
army  commanded  by  Washington.  The 
army  was  at  that  time  resisting  the  landing 
of  British  troops  on  Long  Island. 

Mr.  Miller's  parents  had  five  children,  of 
whom  he  is  the  only  one  now  living.  He 
was  educated  in  the  subscription  schools. 
At  sixteen  years  of  age  he  began  to  learn 
carpentry.  He  was  engaged  in  various  oc- 
cupations until  his  marriage ;  after  this  im- 
portant event  he  became  a  farmer  This 
was  his  occupation  until  1882 ;  he  then  took 
up  gardening,  in  which  he  has  been  em- 
ployed fromlhat  time  to  the  present. 

He  was  married,  December  24,  1835,  to 
Miss  Sarah  Wood.  They  have  had  nine 
children,  five  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Sarah 
E.,  died  August  29,  1858;  Harriet  Ellen, 
died  February  25,  1872 ;  AV.  Wesley,  died 
April  20, 1881 ;  Susan  M.,  died  July  15, 1881 ; 
Samuel  B.,  died  August  11,  1888.  The  sur- 
vivors are:  David  W.;  John  C;  Jane  Eliza- 
beth, widow  of  Moses  Zimmerman,  and  Mary 
Ann,  wife  of  Henry  Smith.  Mrs.  David 
Miller  died  March  11,  1868.  She  was  one 
of  a  family  of  six  children. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  Republican.  Ho  has 
served  one  term  as  a  constable  of  Susque- 
hanna township.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He'  has  been 
a  ver}'  industrious  man,  and  has  lived  a 
useful  and  successful  life.  He  is  genial  and 
sociable,  and  has  drawn  around  him  a  circle 
of  warm  friends.  He  is  an  intelligent  and 
leliaVjle  citizen,  and  commands  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  his  neighbors. 


946 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Garman,  Charles  B.,  gardening  farmer, 
was  born  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  November  21, 
1857.  He  is  a  son  of  George  B.  and  Cathe- 
rine (Page)  Garman.  His  parents  had  nine 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
survivors  are  :  Daniel,  Mar}',  Joseph,  Henry, 
Sarah  J.,  wife  of  John  L.  Beaver,  Rebecca, 
and  diaries  B.  The  father  and  mother  are 
both  deceased. 

Charles  B.  Garman  enjoyed  the  advan- 
tages afforded  by  the  city  schools  of  Harris- 
burg. He  looked  forward  in  his  younger 
days  to  the  time  when  he  must  begin  the 
actual  struggles  of  life,  and  made  good  use 
of  his  time  and  privileges  in  preparing  him- 
self to  act  his  part  well.  At  nineteen  years 
of  age  his  school  days  ended,  and  he  looked 
about  for  a  beginning  of  work.  He  engaged 
in  farming,  making  a  specialty  of  gardening. 

He  was  married,  October  27, 1881 ,  to  Mary 
M.,  daugliter  of  John  and  Crescenta  (Kern) 
Meyer.  They  have  six  children  :  John  Carl, 
Mary  C,  Thirza  A.,  Annie  M.,  Herman  G., 
and  Bertha  Catherine.  In  political  princi- 
ples Mr.  Garman  is  in  accord  with  tlio  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  He  is 
prosperous  in  his  business,  because  he  is  en- 
terprising, energetic  and  skillful. 


Reichert,  David  J.,  gardener  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  Susquehanna  township,  April 
26,  1862.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Jlar- 
garet  (Douglass)  Reichert,  natives  of  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.  They  had  ten  children: 
Mary  E.,  deceased  ;  Emma  A.,  wife  of  Ham- 
ilton Bender;  David  J.;  Henry  L.;  William 
J.;  Rebecca,  wife  of  George  Hoyert ;  Andrew 
A.,  Benjamin  H.,  Frederick  J.,  and  Carrie  M. 

David  J.  Reichert  took  the  usual  course  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  township.  At  the 
close  of  his  school  days  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  gardening,  and  has  continued  to 
make  these  occupations  his  business  to  the 
present  time.  He  is  alive  to  the  demands  of 
the  times,  and  is  too  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive to  fall  behind  the  leading  men  in 
his  line. 

He  was  married,  October  18, 1883,  to  Fan- 
nie E.,  daughter  of  Lazarus  and  Mary 
(K reiser)  Cassel.  They  have  one  child,  Cleve- 
land AV.  Reichert.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Reichert  are  both  old  residents  of  Dauphin 
county.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Reichert 
is  a  Democrat.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church. 


Garman,  George  B.,  dairyman  and  farmer, 
was  born  November  1;  1832.  He  is  a  son  of 
David  and  Elizabeth  (Brightbill)  Garman. 
His  father  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-one,  and 
his  mother  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years. 
They  had  fourteen  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  deceased.  The  story  of  two  of  these, 
George  and  Benjamin,  is  like  that  of  many 
other  patriotic  boys,  but  it  is  one  which  can- 
not be  too  often  told,  both  as  a  just  tribute 
of  gratitude  to  those  who  freely  gave  their 
lives  to  redeem  the  Nation  and  to  perpetuate 
free  institutions,  and  as  an  inspiration  to 
coming  generations.  Both  of  these  boj's  en- 
listed in  the  army  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Re- 
bellion. George  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Spottsylvania.  Benjamin  was  taken  pris- 
oner, and  died  a  lingering  death  from  priva- 
tion in  the  prison  pen  of  Andersonville. 

George  B.  Garman  was  educated  in  the 
district  school  of  Susquehanna  township.  He 
left  school  while  still  in  his  teens,  and  began 
the  business  of  life  as  a  farmer.  He  is 
adapted  to  this  occupation,  and  likes  it.  He 
has  the  indefatigable,  i)ersistent  energy  and 
purpose  which  cannot  fail.  He  has  demon- 
strated the  pos.sibilities  of  farming  in  Dau- 
phin county.  He  was  married,  in  October, 
1858,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Bar- 
bara Fisher.  They  have  six  children :  Fran- 
cis H.;  Emma  B.,  wife  of  David  Moyer; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Edwin  Herr;  George  P.; 
Sallie  E.,  wife  of  John  Starry,  and  Ida  M. 
Mr.  Garman  has  been  school  director  for 
nine  consecutive  years,  and  township  audi- 
tor for  nine  years.  He  is  a  staunch  Repub- 
lican. He  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Meckley,  Samuel  Joseph,  dairyman  and 
farmer,  was  born  February  28,  1863.  He  is 
a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Brubaker) 
Meckley,  prominent  and  highly  esteemed 
residents  of  Susquehanna  township  and 
members  of  the  Dunkard  church. 

Samuel  Joseph  Meckley  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
township.  He  entered  upon  the  business  of 
farming  at  the  clo.se  of  his  school  days  and 
has  made  this  his  life  occupation,  fie  is  a 
staunch  Republican. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  Samuel 
Meckley  was  married  to  Ida  J.  Grove.  They 
have  two  children  :  Elroy  Ellsworth,  born 
October  28,  1886,  and  Mary  Elizabeth,  No- 
vember 6,  1892.  Mr.  S.  J.  Meckley  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


947 


His  standing  as  a  business  man  is  among  tlie 
foremost  in  his  line.  He  is  a  man  of  per- 
sonal worth  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  his 
neighljors. 

S.  J.  Mecklcy's  parents  are  members  of  tlie 
Dunkanl  church,  l>ut  himself  and  family 
are  Methodists. 


Shutt,  Henry  Lawrence,  miller  and 
farmer,  was  born  in  West  Hanover  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  April  23,  1856.  His 
father  died  November  28,  ISfiO;  liis  mother 
is  still  living.  They  had  ten  children,  three 
of  wiiom,  William,  John  Alfred,  and  Ellen, 
died  in  infancy.  Their  living  children  are  : 
Mary  J.,  Ste[)hen  E.,  Catherine  A.,  Sarah  A., 
Elizabeth  E.,  Emma  R.,  and  Henry  Law- 
rence, all  of  whom  have  been  married. 

Henry  Lawrence  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  his  native  township.  His 
school  days  were  cut  short  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen, when  he  went  out  from  home  to  make 
his  own  way.  He  hired  out  to  work  on  a 
farm,  and  was  employed  in  this  way  until 
1879,  when  he  engaged  in  milling.  The 
numerous  farmers  who  arc  his  neighbors 
and  patrons  of  his  mill,  bear  testimony  that 
he  is  a  square-dealing  business  man  and  a 
good  citizen.     His  politics  are  Republican. 

He  was  married,  May  25,  1875,  to  Har- 
riet, daughter  of  George  and  Rebecca  (Mc- 
Clure)  Ludwig.  They  have  had  ten  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Wilson, 
Isaac,  Raymond,  and  Annie  died  in  infancy, 
and  Trueman,  aged  three  years.  The  sur- 
viving children  are:  Sarah  E.,  Henry  L., 
Lizzie  V.,  David  S.,and  Earl  A.  Mrs.  Shutt's 
parents  are  both  deceased ;  her  father  on 
June  25,  18(J6,  her  mother  November  3, 
1860.  Mr.  Shutt's  family  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Waltz,  Daniel,  farmer  and  dairyman, 
was  born  January  9,  1838.  He  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  and  Sarah  (Clemens)  Waltz,  who  l)oth 
died  at  an  advanced  age.  He  attended  the 
schools  of  Dauphin  and  Lebanon  counties. 
Since  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  has  been 
continuously  engaged  in  farming. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-eight  he  married 
Melinda,  daugiiter  of  Benjamin  and  Lydia 
Geisy.  They  have  had  twelve  children, 
three  of  whom  died  in  infancy :  Gideon, 
Riley,  and  John ;  and  Edward,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four.  Their  surviving  children  are  : 
Lydia  A.,  Harriet  E.,  Charles  H.,  William 


T.,  Calra  A.,  Benjamin  F.,  Rose  D.,  and  Ma- 
bel M. 

Mr.  Waltz  has  an  honorable  record  as  a 
.soldier.  On  July  28,  1861,  he  enlisted  at 
Harrisburg,  in  company  C,  First  regiment, 
light  artillery,  under  Captain  Simpson  and 
Colonel  Canijibell.  He  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Camp  Curtin,  July  30,  1865.  He  jmrtici- 
pated  in  fifteen  fiercely  contested  engage- 
ments, in  all  of  which  he  displayed  the  qual- 
ities and  bearing  of  a  heroic  soldier.  His 
brotlier  George,  impelled  by  the  same  lofty 
patriotism,  also  enlisted,  and  laid  down  his 
life  in  defense  of  the  Union.  He  was  taken 
prisoner,  and  died  of  privation  at  Anderson- 
ville.  A  third  brother,  John  H.,  also  ren- 
dered patriotic  service  in  the  Two  Hundred 
and  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers. The  record  of  these  three  brothers  is 
worthy  of  preservation.  It  will  show  to  the 
young  men  of  the  present  and  future  that 
patriotism  is  among  the  virtues  ;  that  it  may 
demand  supreme  sacrifice,  but  that  its  re- 
wards are  imperishable.  Mr.  Waltz  is  a 
.staunch  Republican.  His  family  belong  to 
the  Evangelical  church. 


Hoke,  Peter,  farmer,  was  born  March  9, 
1830.  He  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Maria 
(Fox)  Hoke.  His  parents  had  eight  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom,  Anna,  Louisa,  and 
Benjamin,  are  deceased.  Their  living  chil- 
dren are :  Elias ;  Peter  H.;  Mary,  wife  of 
Christian  Loy  ;  Lydia,  wife  of  .John  Weund, 
and  Philip.  The  mother  died  at  the  age  of 
fifty-seven,  and  the  father  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-five years. 

Peter  H.  Hoke  attended  the  district 
schools.  He  became  a  farmer  and  has  al- 
ways pursued  this  occupation.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-eight  he  was  married  to  Ruth 
Ann,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Lydia  Ann 
(Russell)  Payne.  They  have  no  children, 
but  have  adopted  a  son,  whom  they  have 
named  John  H.  Hoke.  In  political  views 
Mr.  Hoke  has  always  been  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  family  attend  the  Reformed 
church.  Mr.  Hoke  is  one  of  the  successful 
and  prosperous  farmers  of  the  township,  and 
is  a  worthy  man. 

Snyder,  John,  dairyman  and  farmer,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county.  He  is  a  son  of 
.John  and  Mary  (Bright)  Snyder.  His  par- 
ents had  six  children,  of  whom  one  died  in 
infancy  ;  William,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  ;  and 


948 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Elizabeth,  wife  of  Michael  Clay,  at  the  age  of 
forty-nine  years.  The  survivors  are  :  Sam- 
uel, Benjamin,  and  John.  The  mother  died, 
and  the  father  married  again.  His  second 
wife  was  Eliza  Balsbacli,  by  whom  he  Ivid 
six  children  :  George  ;  Maggie ;  James;  Mary, 
wife  of  Samuel  Brinton  ;  Harry,  and  Kate. 
Both  parents  are  living. 

John  Snyder  attended  the  district  schools 
of  his  township  After  his  school  days  were 
ended  he  was  employed  for  three  years  on 
the  railroad.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
began  farming,  and  has  made  this  his  busi- 
ness up  to  the  present  time.  He  was  mar- 
ried, October  13,  1874,  to  Elmira,  daughter 
of  Isaac  and  Mary  A.  (Shope)  Schatzer. 
They  have  six  children  :  Mary,  Ralph,  Cora, 
Mabel,  Kirk,  and  Grace. 

Mr.  Snyder  has  efficiently  served  four  con- 
secutive terms  as  school  director  for  his 
district.  In  political  views  he  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  He  and  liis  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Bi'ethren  church.  Mr. 
Snyder  is  highly  esteemed  by  his  neighbors. 
He  is  a  reliable  man  and  a  citizen  of  public 
spirit.  His  life  is  such  as  to  commend  liim 
to  the  confidence  of  those  associated  witli 
him  in  business  and  social  circles. 


Dagnell,  John  RiciiARn,  miller,  was  born 
in  Prince  Edward  county,  ^"a.,  October  10, 
1847.  He  is  a  son  of  John  R.  and  Agnes 
(Rogers)  Dagnell.  His  parents  l)oth  died 
when  he  was  very  young.  Tiiey  had  two 
children  :  Julia,  deceased,  and  John  Richard. 

He  was  educated  in  tlie  pul)lic  schools  of 
his  native  county.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  was  married,  October  25,  1868,  to  Susan 
A.,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Margaret  Stam- 
baugh.  They  had  nine  children,  three  are 
deceased  :  Alice,  Lula  Margaret,  and  Philip. 
Their  surviving  children  are:  Robert  R.; 
Agnes  v.,  wife  of  Frank  Slu-ller ;  Luella  M., 
.  Harry  S.,  Grace  I.,  and  Bessie  E.  Mrs.  Dag- 
nell's  fiitber  died  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  eightv- 
one  years. 

Mr.  Dagnell  came  to  Dauphin  county  four 
years  ago  and  engaged  in  milling.  His  resi- 
dence and  place  of  business  are  situated  di- 
rectly on  the  boundary  line  between  Susque- 
hanna and  Lower  Paxton  township.  He  has 
conducted  his  business  in  such  a  way  as  to 
wan  the  confidence  of  his  patrons.  His  skill 
and  trustworthiness  are  unquestioned;  his 
success  is  decided  and  most  gratifying. 

He  is  a  member  of  Eureka  Lodge,  No.  302, 


F.  &  A.  M.,  Mechanicsburg ;  also  of  Council 
No.  197,  0.  U.  A.  M.,  Mechanicsburg,  Pa. 

In  politics  Mr.  Dagnell  is  independent.  In 
voting  he  selects  men  of  worth  and  fitness, 
without  regard  to  party  connection,  but  usu- 
ally votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  llis  family 
attend  the  Reformed  church. 


Marzolf,  George,  gardener  and  farmer, 
is  a  native  of  Ringendorpf,  jirovince  of  Al- 
sace, France.  He  was  born  December  13, 
1830.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Margaret 
Marzolf,  both  deceased.  They  had  eight 
children,  six  of  whom  came  to  America,  and 
.settled  in  Dauphin  county.  They  are  :  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Frederick  Wagner ;  George, 
Michael,  John,  Mary  and  Jacob. 

George  Marzolf  received  his  education  in 
France,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  until 
his  emigration  to  America  in  1857.  He 
landed  in  New  York  and  came  directly  to 
Harrisburg.  Here  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  gardening,  which  has  been  his  employ- 
ment to  the  present  time. 

lie  was  married,  December  25,  1851,  to 
Catherine  Mosler,  one  of  the  five  children 
of  George  and  Margaret  Mosler,  born  in  the 
town  of  Wickersheim,  Alsace,  France.  They 
have  had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. Maggie  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen, 
and  Catherine,  wife  of  Frank  Mergner,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-eight  years.  The  living 
children  are,  George  M.  and  John.  The 
mother  died  May  16,  1873.  The  children 
being  all  adults,  and  the  father  left  alone,  he 
married  again  ;  his  second  wife  was  Cathe- 
rine Fifer,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
(Schmidt)  Pifer,  born  in  Heingren,  Bavaria, 
Germany.  Of  this  marriage  there  has  been 
no  issue. 

In  political  views  Mr.  Marzolf  is  Demo- 
cratic. He  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church. 


Moody,  William  H.,  gardening  farmer, 
was  born  November  29,  1868.  He  is  a  son 
of  Washington  and  Adeline  (Fleischer) 
Moody.  His  parents  are  old  and  highly  re- 
spected residents  of  Susquehanna  township. 
They  had  ten  children,  three  of  whom  are 
deceased,  Alfred,  died  in  infancy,  George 
W.  and  Annie  M.,  both  died  at  about  the 
age  of  four  years.  Their  living  children  are: 
Sallie  F.,  wife  of  Samuel  Bankes;  William 
H.;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Charles  Dunlap  ;  Cathe- 
rine, Charles  W.,  Jennie,  and  Miriam  M. 

William  H.  Moody  attended   the  public 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


949 


schools.  When  he  was  of  age  to  begin  busi- 
ness, he  engaged  in  gardening  and  farming, 
and  has  made  this  his  occupation  to  the 
present  time.  He  was  married,  December 
30,  1892,  to  Annie  L.,  daughter  of  Ellis  W. 
and  Sarah  J.  (Lebo)  Ford.  They  had  one 
son.  Ford  W.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Moody 
are  residents  of  Dauphin  county,  They  had 
a  family  of  three  children  :  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy ;  Annie  L.,  and  Lizzie  W. 
Mrs.  Ford  died  July  28, 1882,  aged  forty -two. 
Mr.  Ford  married  for  his  second  wife,  Re- 
becca Smith,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  : 
two  of  whom  are  deceased  ;  George,  died  in 
infancy,  and  Don  S.,  at  the  age  of  six. 

Mr.  Moody  is  still  a  young  man,  but  has 
displayed  good  business  qualities,  and  by 
his  energy  and  thrift  has  established  a  good 
reputation,  and  is  regarded  as  a  successful 
gardener  and  farmer.  He  is  a  Democrat. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


RiNEARD,  Samuel  W.,  gardening  farmer, 
was  born  in  Susquehanna  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  December  19,  1841.  He 
is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Catherine 
(Sponsler)  Rineard.  His  fatlier  was  born 
March  21,  1817,  and  died  March  3,  ^189U; 
his  mother  was  born  February  2('),  1817,  and 
died  September  12,  1880.  They  had  four 
cliildren:  one  died  in  infancy,  unnamed; 
Susanna  A.,  died  August  21,  185B,  and 
Jacob  C,  February  29,  1872.  Samuel  W., 
the  second  of  the  family,  is  the  only  sur- 
vivor. He  took  the  ordinary  course  of  in- 
struction in  the  common  schools  of  Susque- 
hanna township.  He  learned  blacksmith- 
ing,  and  worked  at  that  trade  for  about 
twenty  years.  Then,  changing  his  occupa- 
tion, he  began  gardening  and  farming,  and 
has  continued  in  this  business. 

He  was  married,  September  17,  18G.">,  to 
Mary  Ellen,  daugliter  of  John  M.  and  Mary 
Reichard.  They  had  two  children  ;  one  died 
an  infant,  March  2,  1872 ;  the  surviving 
child  is  Harry  C.  Mrs.  Rineard's  parents 
were  prominent  and  highly  respected  resi- 
dents of  Dauphin  county.  They  are  both 
deceased.  Mr.  Rineard  is  a  Republican. 
The  family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 

Harry  C.  Rineard,  son  of  Samuel  W.,  was 
married,  February  18,  1889,  to  Lillie  A., 
daughter  of  Theophilus  and  Caroline  Strayer, 
by  whom  he  has  throe  cliildren:  David  H., 
Kenneth  T.,  and  Mary  Ellen. 


The  Rineard  homestead  has  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  family  over  a  century. 
Mary  Madelina,  Mr.  Rineard's  aunt,  was 
born  on  the  homestead,  July  20,  1812,  and 
spent  her  life  there.  She  died  November  8, 
1892.  His  uncle,  Samuel  Rineard,  was  born 
there  November  13,  1815.  He  is  still  living, 
having  spent  his  life  also  on  tlie  homestead. 


Smith,  Andrew  C,  gardener  and  farmer, 
was  born  January  15,  1861.  He  is  a  son  of 
David  and  Lydia  (Hocker)  Smith.  His 
parents  had  ten  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living:  Mary,  wife  of  John  Loban  ;  Andrew 
C;  Katie,  widow  of  David  Sheesley  ;  Alice, 
wife  of  Frank  Eshmer ;  Annie,  wife  of  Frank 
Ebersoll ;  David,  Jr.;  George ;  Lizzie,  wife 
of  Harry  Wolf;  Emma,  and  Jennie. 

Andrew  C.  Smith  received  his  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship. iVfter  leaving  school  he  engaged  in 
gardening  and  farming.  He  has  continued 
in  this  business  and  has  prosecuted  it  with 
skill  and  energy.  He  stands  among  the 
most  successful  men  in  his  line  in  Susque- 
hanna township. 

He  was  married,  October  2,  1882,  to  Mary 
A.,  daughter  of  Jacob  C.  and  Margaret 
(Schlegel)  Matzinger.  They  have  four, chil- 
dren :  Edward  J.,  David  W.,  Margaret  Eva, 
and  one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  He  is 
a  Republican.  His  family  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  cluirch. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Smith  were  married 
January  13,  1865.  They  had  four  children  : 
John  W.;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Andrew  C.  Smith ; 
Frank  H.,  and  William  J.  The  father  died 
January  9,  1892,  deeply  mourned  by  his 
loving  wife  and  children,  and  by  his  many 
friends  and  neighbors. 


Klopfer,  Gottlieb,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Weilheim,  county  of  Clundeheim,  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany.  He  is  a  son  of  Gottlieb  and 
Dora  (Pfitzer)  Klopfer.  They  had  ten  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
living  children  are :  Dora,  wife  of  Gottlieb 
Mock;  Gottlieb,  Carl  H.,  Frederick,  Henry, 
Albert,  Christina,  and  Lotta,  wife  of  Mr. 
Monroe.  Both  parents  died  in  Germany, 
the  father  aged  sixty-iive  years,  the  mother 
aged  forty. 

Gottlieb  Klopfer  received  his  education  in 
the  private  schools  of  his  native  town.  He 
learned  shoemaking  in  Germany.  He  came 
to  America  in  1850.  He  sailed  from  Havre, 
France,  was  aboard  ship  six   weeks,  landed 


950 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


at  New  York  and  located  in  Pliiladelpbia. 
There  lie  worked  at  his  trade.  Removing  to 
Harrisl)urg  in  tlie  fall  of  1851,  he  continued 
for  five  years  to  work  at  shoemaking.  In 
185G  he  became  a  farmer,  locating  in  Sus- 
quehanna township,  where  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed the  same  vocation.  When  he  came 
there  were  but  four  German  farmers  in  the 
township  ;  he  is  now  the  oldest  farmer  of 
the  town.ship.  Mr.  Klopfer's  first  presiden- 
tial vote,  after  obtaining  his  naturalization 
papers  in  1856,  was  cast  for  James  Buchanan. 
His  political  views  are  still  in  harmony  witli 
those  of  the  Democratic  party. 

He  was  married,  at  Ilarrisburg,  in  March, 
1853,  to  Caroline  Switzer.  They  have  had 
five  children,  one  of  whom,  Henry,  died 
aged  six  months.  Their  living  children  are : 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  James  Beaver  ;  Louisa,  wife 
of  Frank  Kline;  iUbert,  and  Charles,  both 
unmarried.  Mr.  Klo})fer  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  churcii. 


WiTMAN,  Daniel,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Messner) 
Witman.  His  parents  had  nine  children, 
five  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Lavinia  died  at 
the  age  of  two  ;  Margaret,  at  the  age  of  four  ; 
John,  aged  twenty-two ;  Catherine,  wife  of 
Henry  Wilbert,  aged  thirty-two  ;  Sarah,  wife 
of  George  W.  Enders,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
one.  Their  living  children  are  :  Polly,  wife 
of  Henry  Stonenjad  ;  Daniel,  William,  and 
Elizabeth. 

Daniel  Witman  received  his  education  in 
the  private  schools  of  his  native  town.  After 
leaving  school  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
in  other  occu[)ations,  working  as  a  carpenter 
for  three  years.  He  then  returned  to  the 
farm,  where  he  has  remained.  He  enlisted 
in  the  short  service,  in  company  C,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Henry  0.  Witman,  Thirty- 
sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  militia,  under 
Colonel  Alleman.  He  is  a  Republican.  He 
has  served  efficiently  as  road  supervisor  in 
Susquehanna  township  for  one  term.  He 
also  held  the  office  of  tax  collector  in  Jackson 
township.  He  is  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Jacksonville  Council,  No.  80,  at 
Enders  postoflice,  Dauphin  county.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  German  Re- 
formed church. 

He  was  married,  in  Jackson  township, 
March  8,  1857,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Joseph 
P.  and  Elizabeth  (Bowman)  Lyter.  They 
have  had  fourteen  children,  seven  of  whom 


are  deceased :  Ellen  Sevilla,  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years ;  Oliver  Theodore,  at  the  age  of 
four  years;  Joseph  O.scar,  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen months;  John  Oliver,  aged  four  years  ; 
Lydia  Loui.sa,  aged  seven ;  Sarah  Elspy,  aged 
eleven  ;  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Their 
living  children  are :  Peter  Bartholomew, 
Catherine  E.,  Mary  Jane,  Daniel  Grant,  Mar- 
tha Peninnah,  Emaimel  Wesley,  and  Cora 
Daisy.  Catherine  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  P. 
Conrad ;  Mary  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Zeiters,  and  Martha  Peninnah  is  the  wife  of 
AVilliam  H.  Conrad. 


Clay,  Daniel  W.,  gardening  farmer,  was 
born  in  West  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  June  17,  1854.  He  is  a  son  of 
Adam  and  Sarah  (Rapp)  Clay.  They  had 
four  children,  one  of  whom,  John  A.,  died 
aged  twenty-four ;  he  lost  his  life  on  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad  at  Harrisburg,  where 
he  was  employed  as  car  inspector.  He  left 
a  wife  and  one  child.  Mr.  and  Mrs  Clay's 
living  children  are ;  Elmira,  wife  of  Stej^hen 
Hassler,  of  Reading,  Pa.;  William  F.,  and 
Daniel  W.  The  fattier  died  aged  sixty-four 
years;  the  mother  is  still  living. 

Daniel  W.  Clay  was  educated  in  the  public 
sciiools  of  West  Hanover  township.  He  was 
on  the  farm  assisting  his  father  until  he  was 
twenty-five,  when  he  began  as  a  gardening 
farmer  on  his  own  account,  llis  energy, 
skill  and  industry  soon  brought  him  success, 
and  he  now  ranks  among  the  most  thriving 
and  [)rosperous  men  in  his  line  in  the  town- 
ship. He  was  married,  June  21,  1877,  to 
Ellen  E.,  daughter  of  David  and  Susan 
Reichert.  They  have  one  child,  Ida  F.,  who 
is  at  school,  and  stands  high  in  her  classes. 
Mr.  Clay  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  and 
his  family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Clay  died  at  the  age 
of  fifty-two  years  and  ten  months,  and  the 
mother  February  15,  1892,  aged  seventy- 
eight  years  and  eleven  moutlis.  They  had 
seven  children ;  of  these,  John  and  Katie 
died  in  infanc}' ;  the  surviving  children  are  : 
Daniel  E.,  Sarah,  David,  Susan,  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin C.  Hoover,  and  Ellen  Ethel,  wife  of 
D.  W.  Clay. 


Hummel,  Jacob,  gardening  farmer,  was 
born  in  Susquehanna  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  March  28,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of 
Christian  and  Catherine  (Rineard)  Hummel. 
Christian  Hummel  was  born  March  12, 
1819,  and    died  May   30,  1885.     His   wife, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


951 


Catherine  Rineard,  was  born  April  4,  1823, 
and  died  January  23,  1880.  Tliey  had  six 
children  :  two  died  in  infancy,  Mary  Jane, 
born  November  3,  1849,  died  February  23, 
1850,  and  Elizabeth,  born  November  12, 
1852,  died  April  15,  1855 ;  David,  who  was 
born  January  5,  1855,  died  May  24,  1887. 
The  surviving  children  are:  Jacob,  born 
March  28,  1843;  Sarah  Ann,  widow  of 
Aaron  Shreiner,  born  November  22,  1846 ; 
and  Jeremiah,  born  February  13,  1858. 

Jacob  Hummel  received  a  common  school 
education  in  his  native  township.  After  his 
school  days  were  ended  he  at  once  began 
business  for  himself  He  engaged  in  gar- 
dening and  farming  and  has  made  thi.s  his 
occupation.  Mr.  Hummel  has  served  his 
native  township  for  ten  consecutive  terms  as 
supervisor,  and  has  performed  the  duties  of 
his  office  with  satisfaction  to  the  public  and 
with  credit  to  himself  By  his  honest  and 
fair  dealing  he  has  secured  the  confidence 
of  the  community.  His  political  views  are 
Democratic. 

Jacob  Hummel  was  married,  February  18, 
1877,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Ra- 
chel Hawk,  both  now  deceased.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hummel  have  two  children  :  George 
W.  and  Sadie  C.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  German  Lutheran  church. 


Shreiner,  Aaron,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county  on  April  27,  1842.  He  was  the  son 
of  Daniel  and  Eliza  Shreiner.  His  parents 
had  twelve  children,  six  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. Those  living  are:  Louisa,  wife  of 
Andrew  Reed,  residing  in  Kansas ;  Catherine, 
wife  of  William  Frick,  of  Barto,  Pa.;  Ella, 
wife  of  James  Fale}',  of  Harrisburg;  Sarah, 
wife  of  William  Lingle,  of  Pliiladelpliia  ; 
Mary,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Rickard,  of  Illinois;  and 
George,  of  Linglestown,  Pa. 

Aaron  Shreiner  had  the  educational  op- 
portunities enjoyed  by  the  average  farmer 
boy.  He  was  dutiful  and  faithful  and  of 
more  than  ordinary  intelligence.  By  dili- 
gent use  of  his  opportunities  be  became  well 
prepared  for  tlie  actual  work  of  life  by  the 
time  when  lie  must  begin  it.  He  was  pru- 
dent and  skillful  in  business  and  earned  well- 
merited  success  by  his  careful  and  frugal 
methods.  He  was  highlv  esteemed  by  his 
neighbors. 

On  February  24,  1874,  he  married  Sarah 
Ann,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Catherine 
(Rineard)  Hummel;  she  was  born  Novem- 
ber  22,    1846,  in    Susquehanna    townshii). 


They  had  one  child,  William  Irwin.  Mr. 
Shreiner  died  April  2,  1894,  aged  fifty-one 
years.  He  was  a  Republican.  Mrs.  Shreiner 
and  his  son  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  His  death  was  deeply 
mourned  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances,  who  highly  esteemed  him  for 
his  many  virtues  and  amiable  characteristics, 
and  honored  him  as  an  upright  and  benev- 
olent man.  It  w'as  his  strong  desire  and 
ambition  to  give  his  only  son  a  liberal 
education,  and  it  is  the  aim  of  the  widowed 
mother  to  fulfill  his  wish  and  carry  out  his 
plans. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Shreiner  had  six  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living :  Jacob  ;  Sarah 
Ann,  Mrs.  Shreiner;  and  Jeremiah,  born 
February  13,  1850,  residing  at  Steelton,  Pa. 
Their  deceased  children  were:  Mar}'  Ann, 
died  February  23,  1850;  Elizabeth,  born 
November  12,  1852,  died  April  15,  1855; 
David  E.,  born  January  13,  1855,  died  May 
24,  1887. 


David  Hepford's  father  died  aged  ninety- 
five  years ;  his  mother  aged  eighty  years  and 
three  months.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and 
worked  at  his  trade  until  1847,  when  he  took 
up  the  business  of  gardening  and  farming, 
which  he  carried  on  throughout  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  bought  the  present  homestead, 
consisting  of  about  four  acres,  in  1868.  He 
was  a  strong  Repul^lican.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  German  Reformed  church. 
In  1835  he  was  married  to  Susanna,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Hetrich)  Lingle, 
born  June  17, 1814.  They  had  ten  children: 
Samuel ;  John  J.;  David,  died  August  3, 
1890 ;  George ;  Mary  Ann,  died  aged  two 
years  and  three  months;  Enos;  Joshua, died 
aged  eleven;  Susan,  wife  of  William  Mun- 
ger;  Thomas;  Sarah,  wife  of  Luther  Lenker. 

Thomas  Lingle,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hep- 
ford,  died  in  1815.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Hetrich,  by  whom  he  had  three  children; 
Adam,  Elizabeth,  and  Susanna,  wife  of  Daniel 
Hepford.  Mrs.  Lingle's  second  marriage  was 
with  John  Shoop,  by  whom  she  had  three 
children:  Annie,  wife  of  Cyrus  Stapler; 
Sarah,  who  died  aged  twentj^-four,  and  John, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years. 

Mrs.  Hepford  has,  up  to  the  present  time, 
thirty-five  grandchildren  and  fifteen  great- 
grandchildren. Four  of  the  grandchildren 
are  deceased.  The  names  of  the  grandchil- 
dren by  families  are  as  follows:  Laura  F., 
Dora   S.  E.,  Sadie   M.,  Carrie    B.,  Mary  S., 


952 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENVYCLOPt^DlA 


Josephine  E.,  Grace  P.,  Samuel  G.,  and  John 
E.,  children  of  Matilda  Hepford ;  Laura, 
Annie,  Gertrude,  Minerva,  Stella,  Alice,  Nel- 
lie, Herbert,  and  A^ernada,  children  of  David 
and  Mary  Hepford  ;  William,  Daniel,  Emma, 
John,  and  Annie,  children  of  George  and 
Susan  Hepford ;  Laura,  John,  Bertha,  C'harles, 
Sadie,  and  Rose,  children  of  William  and 
Susan  Hepford  Munger ;  Charles,  son  of  Enos 
and  Ellen  Hepford  ,  William,  Jesse,  Walter, 
Charles,  and  Samuel,  children  of  Luther  and 
Sarah  Hepford  Lenker. 

The  great-grandchildren  are :  E.  Chester, 
Edna  M.,  Harry  L.,  and  Grace  M.  Sparver ; 
Irene  E.  and  Charles  H.  Loomis ;  Robert  H. 
Elliott;  Mary,  Edna,  George,  and  an  infant 
not  yet  named,  children  of  William  and  Sallie 
Hepford ;  Ross  and  two  other  children  of 
David  and  Emma  Heiiford;  an  infant  cliihl 
of  Russell  and  ^Vnnie  Hepfonl  Dyers. 


Waltz,  Benjamin,  dairyman  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  June  17, 
1850.  He  is  a  .son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Clem- 
ens) Waltz.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
Lebanon  county.  The  father  died  (Jctober 
20,  1881,  aged  seventy-fwo;  the  mother  died 
August  31,  1893.  They  had  ten  children, 
four  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Jacob,  Catii- 
erine,  Rosi',  and  George,  who  died  in  tlie 
army.  The  living  children  anv  David;  Re- 
becca, wife  of  Jacob  Stoutfer;  Sarah,  wife  of 
.lolin  Reinert,  residing  in  Kansas;  Alfred, 
John,  and  Benjamin. 

Benjamin  Waltz  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship. He  engaged  in  farming  and  has  matle 
this  his  life-long  occupation.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-tw(j  he  was  married,  January  9,  1873, 
to  Amanda  E.  Bell,  daughter  of  Daviil  and 
Rachel  Bell. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Waltz  had  nine  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  deceased  :  John  A., 
Allen,  and  Levi,  all  died  in»infancy.  Their 
surviving  children  are :  Sarah  J.,  wife  of 
George  Herman ;  Adam  H.;  Amanda  E., 
Mrs.  Waltz;  George  T.,  Monroe  D.,  and  Ed- 
ward K.  The  parents  are  both  living,  and 
reside  in  Dauphin  county.  Mr.  Waltz  is  a 
staunch  Republican.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  church. 


seventy -six  years.  They  had  ten  children, 
six  of  whom  are  deceased.  Their  living- 
children  are :  Samuel  Walker,  George  Lu- 
ther, Mary  Susanna,  wife  of  Joseph  Hain, 
and  John  E. 

John  E.  Trullinger  attended  the  public 
schools  in  Susquehanna  township.  He  chose 
the  occupation  of  farmer,  and  has  been  en- 
gaged in  this  business  U})  to  the  present  time. 
He  was  married,  April  14,  1886,  to  Cathe- 
rine, daughter  of  Joseph  and  Susan  (Han- 
chow)  Hain.  They  have  one  child,  Sylva 
Minerva.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  TruUingur 
had  seven  children.  The  father  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years. 

Mr.  Trullinger  is  an  energetic  and  enter- 
prising young  man.  By  his  good  manage- 
ment and  thrift  he  has  taken  rank  among 
the  successful  farmers  of  the  township.  In 
ills  i>olitical  views  he  is  a  staunch  liepubli- 
can.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church. 


■  Trullinger,  John  E.,  dairyman  and 
farmer,  was  born  June  29,  1858.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Walker) 
Trullinger.  His  father  is  living ;  his 
mother     died    November    16,    1894,    aged 


Clemens,  Reuben,  dairyman  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  East  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
j)liin  county.  Pa.,  July  3t),  1842.  He  is  a 
son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Clemens. 
His  parents  had  eight  children,  three  of 
wliom  are  deceased  :  one  died  in  infancy  ; 
Reuben,  the  firstson  by  that  name,  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years,  and  William  F.  at  the  age 
of  seven.  Their  surviving  children  are: 
Cyrus  P.;  Livina,  wife  of  Benjamin  Hess, 
John  H.;  Reuben,  second  son  by  this  name, 
and  Jacob  M.  His  mother  died  April  8, 
1895,  aged  eighty  years.  His  father  died 
six  days  later,  April  14,  1S95,  aged  eighty- 
five. 

Reuben  Clemens  was  educated  in  the  pri- 
vate and  public  schools  of  East  Hanover 
township.  He  was  in  the  farm  and  dairy 
business  up  to  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage. He  was  twenty-two  years  old  when 
he  was  married,  November  6,  1862,  to  Sarah 
E.,  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Elizabeth 
(Hoover)  Felty.  They  have  seven  children, 
two  of  whom  are  deceased  :  William  F.,  died 
in  infancy,  and  Ida  M.,  at  the  age  of  seven 
years.  Their  living  children  are:  Adelia 
P.;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Adam  Hocker;  Jacob 
M.,  Sarah  E.,  and  Margaret  L. 

In  August,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  company 
B,  Two  Hundred  and  First  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  under  Capt.  William  McCarroll 
and  Colonel  Awl.  He  served  for  ten  months, 
during  which  time  he  was  stationed  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Mrginia.     He  was  honorably 


C 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


955- 


discluirged  and  mustered  out  at  Harrisburg. 
He  then  returned  to  his  native  tovvnsliip. 
In  the  spring  of  18(36  he  removed  to  Harris- 
burg, and  for  nineteen  years  was  employed 
in  the  Eagle  Works.  In  the  spring  of  1895 
he  bought  the  homestead,  where  he  now  re- 
sides, cultivating  the  soil  and  conducting  a 
dairy.  Mr.  Clemens  is  a  Republican.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Church 
of  God. 


Lucas,  William  D.,  dairyman  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  Colerain  township,  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  November  20,  1815.  He  is  a 
son  of  Robert  and  CluxrloUe  Lucas.  His 
parents  had  nine  cliildren,  one  of  whom, 
James,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  Their 
surviving  children  are:  Charles  L.;  Sarah, 
widow  of  a  Mr.  Hansziegle ;  William  D.; 
Robert  J.;  Christiana,  wife  of  Nelson  John- 
son ;  Harry  H.;  Newton  J.;  Ellen,  wife  of 
William  Fraim.  His  father  died  in  1871, 
aged  seventy-two. 

William  D.  Lucas  received  liis  early  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
county.  When  he  was  sixteen  years  old  his 
parents  removed  to  Indiana  county.  Pa.,  and 
he  attended  the  public  schools  of  that  county. 
After  leaving  school  he  learned  iron  mould- 
ing at  Lancaster,  Pa.  This  trade  acquired, 
he  went  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  engaged  as 
journeyman  in  the  Harrisburg  Car  Works. 
He  was  employed  by  this  company  for  ten 
years.  He  then  removed  to  Perry  countv. 
Pa.,  and  engaged  in  dairy  farming.  Re- 
turning later  to  Harrisburg,  he  took  charge 
of  the  stock  at  the  asylum.  After  holding 
this  position  for  about  two  years,  he  resumed 
dairy  farming,  which  he  has  carried  on  up 
to  the  pre.sent  time. 

Mr.  Lucas  was  married,  October  28,  1872, 
to  Susan  B.,  daughter  of  Philip  K.  and  Mary 
Auxer.  Of  their  four  children,  Samuel  H. 
died  in  infancy,  and  Frank  T.  aged  ten 
years.  The  surviving  children  are:  Philij) 
A.  and  Daniel  E.  Mr.  Lucas  is  a  member 
in  good  standing  of  State  Capital  Lodge,  No. 
70,  I.  0.  O.  F.  He  is  a  stauncli  Republican. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  God.  Philip  K.  Auxer,  father 
of  Mrs.  Lucas,  died  in  February,  1887,  aged 
seventy-five ;  his  wife  August  20,  1878,  aged 
sixty-five  years. 


Sr.,  by  his  first  wife.  His  mother  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  The  second  wife  of 
John  Raysor,  Sr.,  was  Susan  Fackler;  they 
iuid  three  children:  Elizabeth,  Catherine  and 
Samuel. 

John  Raysor,  Jr.,  married  Mary  Frantz; 
they  had  three  children  ;  Susanna,  unmar- 
ried and  residing  in Susquebanna  township; 
Michael  F.,  and  John  F.  Mr.  Raysor  died 
September  18,  1894;  his  wife  February  16, 
188V. 

Susanna  F.  Raysor,  only  daugliter  and 
eldest  child  of  John  and  Mary  (Frantz) 
Raysor,  was  born  in  Susquehanna  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.  She  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  her  native  township. 
Since  her  school  days  she  has  always  de- 
voted much  of  her  time  and  attention  to 
Christian  work,  and  has  been  active  in  aid- 
ing the  various  enterprises  by  which  the 
church  seeks  to  promote  the  welfare  of  so- 
ciety. She  has  dispensed  a  generous  hospi- 
tality, and  by  her  good  works  and  her  be- 
neticent  and  amiable  life  and  character  she 
has  won  the  esteem  and  love  of  the  com- 
munity. She  is  a  member  of  Zion  Lutheran 
church,  and  is  active  and  self-sacriiicing  in 
promoting  the  interests  of  that  religious  or- 
ganization. 


R.wsoR,  John,  was  born  in  Susquehanna 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  October  28, 
1815.     He  was  the  only  child  of  John  Raysor, 
6o 


Peters,  Abraham,  miller,  was  born  in 
Derry  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
March  19,  1827  ;  son  of  Heur}'  ami  Nancy 
(Kinter)  Peters,  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa.;  his 
parents  had  eiglit  children,  three  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Their  living  children  are: 
Henry;  Samuel;  Elizabeth,  wiio  is  Mrs. 
Haldeman  and  resides  in  Indiana;  Barbara, 
wife  of  David  Books,  of  Hummeistown,  Pa.; 
and  Abraham.  Mr.  Henry  Peters  died  aged 
ninety  years,  two  montiis  and  seven  days  ; 
Mrs.  Nancy  Peters  at  tlie  age  of  seventy-six 
years. 

Abraham  Peters  was  educated  in  the  sub- 
scri[)tion  schools  of  his  native  county.  He 
was  then  engaged  in  farming  until  1863, 
when  he  removed  to  tlie  village  of  Progress, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  began  the  manu- 
facture of  brooms.  In  1876  he  engaged  in 
milling.  His  skill  as  a  mechanic,  his  integ- 
rit\',  and  his  many  other  excellent  character- 
istics have  made  him  popular  and  successful. 
His  business  has  steadily  increased,  so  that 
he  has  been  compelled  to  enlarge  his  exten- 
sive plant  to  its  present  proj^ortions.  He 
was  married,  October  16,  1848,  to  Annie, 
daugliter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Stoner.    One 


956 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


of  their  five  children,  Louisa,  died  aged  thir- 
teen years.  The  living  children  are:  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  David  Hoerner ;  John,  Henry, 
and  Abraham.  Mrs.  Peters  died  June  4, 
1867.  Mr.  Peters'  second  wife  was  Susan 
Hoerner,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth 
Seibert.  Their  children  were :  Mary  Alice, 
who  died  aged  seven  ;  Maggie,  wife  of  Grant 
Early  ;  and  William.  Mr.  Peters  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  God. 


Strike,  Daniel  H.,  blacksmith  and  wheel- 
wright, was  born  in  Cumberland  county. 
Pa.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  C.  and  Rebecca 
(Danner)  Strine.  They  had  nine  children, 
of  whom  one  died  iu  infancy;  Elizabeth 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty.  Their  living  chil- 
dren are  :  Samuel  P.;  Lydia  A.,  wife  of  John 
Reed  ;  Daniel  H.;  Regina  S.;  Mary  J.,  wife 
of  John  Grunden ;  William  C,  and  Clara, 
wife  of  Edward  Long.  Mrs.  Strine  died 
May  13,  1869,  and  Mr.  Strine  April  20, 
1893,  aged  about  eighty-one  years. 

Daniel  H.  Strine  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  his  native  county.  When  he 
was  nineteen  he  began  to  learn  blacksmilli- 
ing  with  John  Reed,  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship. At  the  age  of  twenty-three  lie  began 
business  for  himself  in  that  township,  re- 
maining there  for  iifteen  years.  In  1889  he 
removed  to  the  village  of  Progress,  where  he 
has  ever  since  continued  work  at  his  trade. 
His  strict  integrity  and  honorable  dealings 
have  built  up  for  him  a  large  and  paying 
business.  He  is  a  complete  master  of  his 
art,  and  is  reliable  and  agreeable.  His 
principle  is,  an  honest  dollar's  worth  of 
work  for  an  honest  dollar. 

He  was  married,  February  7,  1869,  to 
Sarah  C,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Billet)  Aungst.  They  have  four  children  : 
Wesley  A.,  born  February  22,  1871 ;  Grace 
M.,  wife  of  Oscar  Holtzman,  born  March  24, 
1873  ;  Minnie  E.,  born  August  30,  1882  ; 
Annie  M.,  born  June  2,  1892.  Mr.  Strine's 
political  views  are  Democratic.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  Church  of  God. 


Shuey,  Daniel,  shoemaker,  was  born  in 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
January  14,  1836.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  (Moon)  Shuej'.  His  parents  had 
thirteen  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Their  living  children  are  William, 
Catherine,  Jacob,  John,  Daniel,  Mary,  wife 


of  Peter  Leiten,  Samuel,  Adam,  George, 
Henry,  and  Lizzie,  wife  of  Christian  Wine- 
rich. 

Daniel  Shuey  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  township. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  began  to  learn 
shoemaking  with  David  Crum,  of  Paxton 
township.  His  apprenticeship  over  he  en- 
gaged in  business  for  himself.  After  this  he 
was  in  the  employment  of  Forney  Bros., 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  working  at  his  trade  for  ten 
years.  During  this  time  he  kept  his  home 
at  Progress  and  walked  back  and  forth  be- 
tween home  and  shop  every  morning  and 
evening.  Ever'  since  leaving  the  emploj^- 
ment  of  Forney  Bros,  he  has  done  business 
on  his  own  account  at  Progress.  He  has  an 
enviable  reputation  among  his  numerous 
jiatrons  as  a  skillful  and  reliable  mechanic, 
honest  and  agreeable  in  his  manners.  His 
maxim  has  always  been  to  give  a  dollar's 
worth  of  work  for  eveiy  dollar  of  pay  that 
lie  receives. 

He  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth Pottinger.  Two  of  their  children  are 
deceased :  Edward,  who  died  aged  ten  years, 
and  Katie,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  sur- 
vivors are  two:  Elizabetli,  wife  of  Mr.  Fag- 
ley,  of  Harrisliurg,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Reuben 
Packer.  Mrs.  Sarah  Shuey  dying,  Mr.  Shuey 
married,  October  25,  1866,  Mi.ss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  Bauman.  They  have  had 
four  children  ;  one  who  died  in  infanc}' and 
Sadie,  William,  and  Jolm. 

Mr.  Shuey  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Church 
of  God. 


Sheesley,  John  H.,  dairyman,  farmer  and 
stockman,  was  born  April  19,  1851.  He  is  a 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Catherine  (Raysor) 
Sheesley.  Abraham  Sheesley,  grandfather 
of  John  H.,  was  a  carpenter.  He  was  a  man 
of  extraordinary  intelligence  and  was  hon- 
ored by  all  who  knew  him.  He  filled  the 
position  of  local  president  in  the  United 
Brethren  church.  He  died  October  1,  1871, 
lacking  only  eight  days  of  being  eighty -five 
years  old.  His  wife  died  September  29,  1873, 
at  nearly  eighty -two  years  of  age.  They  had 
fifteen  children,  only  five  of  whom  are 
living.  The  parents  of  John  H.  Sheesley 
had  five  children.  One  of  them,  David  F., 
died  at  theage  of  twenty-eigiit.  Their  living 
children  are:  Susan,  wife  of  Joshua  Bright- 
bill;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Good;  Samuel 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


957 


E,.,  and  John  H.  Mr.  Sheesley's  father  died 
February  4,  1887,  aged  seventy-two  years ; 
his  mother  September  24,  1889,  aged  nearly 
seventy-two. 

John  H.  Slieesley  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  entered  a  private  academy  at 
Harrisburg,  under  Prof  Gause,  and  studied 
for  two  terms.  He  was  then  at  Lebanon 
Valley  College,  Annville,  Lebanon  count}', 
Pa.,  for  one  term,  after  which  he  taught 
school  for  two  years  in  Susquehanna  town- 
ship, and  for  three  years  in  Lower  Paxton 
township,  at  the  Pleasant  Hill  school  house. 
From  that  time  until  the  present  he  has 
given  his  principal  attention  to  farming  and 
the  raising  of  cattle  and  horses  in  his  native 
township,  making  a  specialty  of  the  breed- 
ing of  stock  for  dairy  2>urposes.  He  is  also 
extensively  interested  in  the  manufacture  of 
lime  as  a  fertilizer  and  for  building  purposes. 
His  establishment  has  an  extensive  local 
patronage,  and  also  supplies  large  demands 
from  the  builders  of  Harrisburg  and  neigh- 
boring towns. 

Mr.  Slieesley  was  married,  September  9, 
1875,  to  Catherine  E.,  daughter  of  William 
and  Catherine  E.  (Levan)  Fisher.  They 
have  liad  four  children.  Those  living  are  : 
Byron  ¥.,  born  November  9, 1876  ;  John  M., 
July  25,  1881,  and  Charles  E.,  May  20,  1884. 
William  H.,  born  May  25,  1879,  died  Sep- 
tember 28,  1894,  aged  fifteen  years,  four 
months  and  three  days.  He  was  a  youth  of 
unusual  intelligelice.  His  amiable  disposi- 
tion won  the  esteem  and  fond  affection  of 
his  parents  and  brothers,  his  companions  at 
school  and  his  many  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. 

Mr.  Slieesley  is  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Farmers'  Grange.  He  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  Mrs.  Sheesley  is  a  member  of 
the  Woman's  'Missionary  Society  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  which  church  Mr. 
Sheesley  and  his  family  belong. 

William  and  Catherine  (Levan)  Fisher, 
the  parents  of  Mrs.  Sheesley,  had  three  cliil- 
dren  :  John  L.,  Catherine  E.,  and  George  L. 
They  were  natives  of  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  and 
resided  there  until  their  removal  to  Dauphin 
county,  where  they  now  live.  Benjamin 
Levan,  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Shees- 
ley, lived  to  the  age  of  eighty  two  years,  and 
his  wife  to  eighty-three.  Her  paternal 
grandfatiier,  John  Fisher,  lived  to  the  age 
of  seventy-five  years;  his  w'fe  died  at  about 
the  same  age. 


Good,  John,  harness  maker,  was  born  in 
Ujjper  Paxton  townshijj,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  August  27,  1836.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Lydia  (Eders)  Good.  His  parents  had 
six  children,  one  of  whom,  Jacob,  met  his 
death  by  accident  at  Media,  Pa.,  in  1865,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-six.  He  had  served  three 
years  in  the  army  in  comj^any  D,  Forty- 
sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
Their  .surviving  children  are :  Barbara ;  John ; 
Henry ;  Catherine,  wife  of  William  Bolton, 
and  Christian  E.  Henry  Good,  the  father, 
died  aged  seventy-three ;  his  wife  is  still  liv- 
ing. 

John  Good  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  township.  His  school 
days  ended  when  he  was  nineteen ;  he  then 
learned  harness  making  with  Jonas  Schoener, 
at  Linglestown,  Dauphin  county.  After 
learning  his  trade  he  worked  at  it  as  a  jour- 
neyman for  two  years,  and  then  began  busi- 
ness for  himself  in  Jackson  towship,  Dauphin 
county.  Then  for  one  year  he  was  farming 
in  Lower  Paxton,  his  native  township.  Re- 
suming work  at  his  trade  he  oi>ened  a  .shop 
at  Progress,  and  continued  there  until  1884, 
when  he  retired  from  business.  He  is  now 
settled  in  a  comfortable  and  beautiful  home 
adjoining  the  Church  of  God,  in  the  village 
of  Progress. 

He  was  married,  November  19,  1868,  to 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jonatlian  and  Cathe- 
rine Sheesley.  They  have  one  child,  Oscar 
E.  Mr.  Good  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  at  Penbrook.  Mr.  Good 
enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
neighbors.  After  an  active  and  useful  life, 
he  is  justly  entitled  to  the  rest  and  happiness 
of  his  quiet  home. 


Rudy,  Michael, was  a  son  of  Frederick  and 
Elizabeth  Rudy.  His  parents  had  eleven 
children,  ten  of  whom  are  deceased  :  John  ; 
Daniel ;  Catherine,  wife  of  William  Ortli ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel  Plause ;  Frederick  ; 
Jonas;  Michael;  Maria,  wife  of  Joseph  Mc 
Ardle ;  Jacob,  and  a  child  who  died  un- 
named.    The  one  living  is  Jacob. 

Michael  Rudy  was  an  enterprising  and 
successful  farmer  in  Susquehanna  town- 
ship. He  succeeded  his  father  on  the  old 
Rudy  farm,  which  has  been  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  the  family  for  ninety-five  years. 
He  continued  to  occupy  and  cultivate  the 
farm  until  1884,  when  he  removed  to  the 
homestead   where   his   widow    now    resides. 


958 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  where  he  died,  January  27,  1894.  He 
was  married,  October  4,  1847,  and  had  a 
family  of  five  children  ;  one  died  in  infancy, 
unnamed,  and  Rebecca  E.  died  January  25, 
1857,  aged  two  years  and  nine  months. 
Their  living  children  are  :  Sarah  Jane,  wife 
of  John  W.  Smith  ;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  John 
Snoke,  and  Martha  Alice,  wife  of  AVilliam 
Forbes.  Mr.  Rudy  was  a  succe.ssful  business 
man  and  was  highly  respected  by  his  neigh- 
bors. He  was  a  firm  adherent  to  the  Re- 
publican j)art3'.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church,  to  wliich  his 
family  also  belong. 

Mrs.  Rudy  was  born  in  Susquehanna 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  February 
26,  1827,  and  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Upper  Paxton  township.  Her  parents 
had  twelve  children,  seven  of  wiiom  are  de- 
ceased. Two  died  in  infanc}',  unnamed ; 
Jacob  died  aged  sixty-nine  years ;  Isaac, 
aged  five,  and  Jane,  aged  twenty-six  ;  Joseph 
died  from  the  eff'ects  of  typhoid  fever,  while 
serving  in  the  United  States  army,  at  the 
age  of  forty  ;  he  enlisted  March  18,  1865. 
The  last  who  died  was  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Moyer.  The  surviving  children  are  :  Cathe- 
rine, wife  of  Abraham  Mader;  Susan  ;  Eliza- 
beth,wife  of  Emanuel  Walburn;  John,  and 
George.  Mrs.  Rudy's  father  died  Marcli  0, 
1868,  aged  seventy  vears;  her  mother  died 
June  19,  1884. 


Smith,  David  H.,  was  born  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  He 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (L'  ngenecker) 
Smith.  He  was  brought  up  in  Dauphin 
county,  and  educated  in  the  <listriet  schools. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen,  prompted  by  patriotism, 
he  enlisted  in  the  armj',  and  fought  in  de- 
fense of  the  Union.  He  enlisted  August  22, 
1861,  in  company  H,  Forty-seventh  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  under  Capt.  James  Kacev 
and  Col.  T.  H.  Good.  He  served  the  fufi 
term  of  his  enlistment,  three  years,  with 
valor  and  distinction.  He  rose  from  the 
ranks  to  be  first  sergeant,  under  Capt.  Reuben 
S.  Gardner.  He  was  honorably  discharged, 
December  25,  1865,  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  He 
remained  in  Camp  Cadwalader,  at  Philadel- 
phia, until  Januar}',  1866,  when  he  received 
his  bounty  in  full.  Returning  to  his  home 
in  Linglestown,  he  began  as  a  farmer,  but 
has  since  been  engaged  in  various  occujia- 
tions.  He  is  a  member  of  Post  No.  116,  G. 
A.  R.,  Harrisburg;  of  Dauphin  Castle,  No. 
250,  K.  G.  E.;  and  Mt.  Vernon  Council,  No. 


333,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  During  his  service  in  the  army, 
he  took  part  in  nine  fiercely  contested  battles 
and  was  twice  wounded. 

He  was  married.  May  30,  1873,  to  Matilda 
J.  Saul,  born  in  Susquehanna  township,  Sep- 
tember 22,  1840 ;  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  (Garevick)  Saul.  Their  children  were: 
Sallie  J.,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Detter,  of  Hunt- 
ingdon count}'.  Pa.,  and  Edith  E. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Smith  had  ten  children, 
four  of  whom  are  deceased :  Josiah  and 
Fannie  died  in  infancy;  Lydia  at  the  age  of 
eight  3'ears  and  nine  months ;  and  Mary 
Barbara  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years ;  she 
was  married,  and  resided  in  Germany,  where 
she  died.  The  surviving  children  are  :  Will- 
iam S.,  of  Perry  county.  Pa.;  Margaret  S., 
wife  of  Austin  McGraw,  of  Jefferson  Citv, 
Mo.;  Catherine  A.,  wife  of  W.  W.  Morrow; 
Mrs.  Susan' E.  Putnam,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.; 
Matilda  J.,  and  Joseph  S.  Her  mother,  Mrs. 
Mary  Saul,  died  August  17, 1868  ;  her  father 
died  March  18, 1887,  aged  eighty-three  years 
and  nineteen  days.  He  was  born  February 
27,  1804,  either  in  Lebanon  or  Dauphin 
count}',  probably  in  the  former,  near  Jones- 
town. While  he  was  a  child  the  family  re- 
moved to  Lower  Paxton  township,  where 
they  remained  until  his  father  died  ;  Joseph 
was  then  about  eighteen.  He  remained  with 
his  mother,  and  was  her  main  support  until 
he  was  twenty-four,  when  his  mother  and 
brothers,  except  the  eldest,  with  his  sisters, 
removed  ^^''est. 

He  married  shortly  after,  and  removed  to 
Susquehanna  township.  He  removed  from 
place  to  place  until  1848,  when  he  purcliased 
a  small  tract  of  land,  the  site  of  his  late  house 
in  Progress.  There  he  built  the  second  or 
third  house  erected  in  the  town,  in  which  he 
ended  his  days.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  and 
respected  by  all.  He  was  cordial  and  prompt 
in  all  neighborly  offices,  giving  counsel  and 
aid  in  various  ways,  and  always  by  safe  and 
judicious  methods.  His  disposition,  uni- 
formly cheerful,  endeared  him  to  everybody. 
In  some  respects  he  was  peculiar.  He  never 
rode  in  a  railroad  car.  When  a  young  man 
he  went  on  foot  from  the  vicinity  of  Lingles- 
town to  Gettysburg,  and  returned  in  the  same 
way ;  this  distance  was  the  farthest  he  ever 
went  from  home.  He  was  a  consistent  and 
devout  Christian.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
he  was  converted  and  connected  himself  with 
the  Methodist  church.  In  later  years  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  United   Brethren  in 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


959 


Christ,  in  his  native  town.  He  was  twice 
married,  and  the  father  of  ten  children, 
named  above.  In  his  declining  years  he 
made  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Smith,  who  tenderl}'  cared  for  him  ;  here  he 
passed  away  from  earth.  There  are  in  all 
thirt}'  grandchildren  of  his  family. 


Wirt,  Charles  L.,  harness  maker,  was 
born  at  Linglestown,  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
jihin  county.  Pa.  He  is  a  son  of  .Jeremiah 
and  Hannah  (Forney)  Wirt.  His  parents 
had  eight  children,  two  were  twins  and  died 
in  infancy.  The  living  children  are  :  Sarah, 
wife  of  David  Smeltzer;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Dan- 
iel Longenecker;  Charles  L.;  Katie,  wife  of 
Alfred  Enders ;  Susan,  wife  of  William 
Muenich,  and  .Jolin  F.  Mr.  .Jeremiah  Wirt 
was  drowned  at  Harrisburg,  in  Paxton  creek, 
July  4,  1873,  aged  forty-three  years ;  Mrs. 
Wirt  died  in  July,  1893,  aged  sixty -three  years. 

Charles  L.  Wirt  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Lower  Paxton  township.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  began  an  ajiprentice- 
ship  of  three  years  at  harness  making  with 
John  Good,  at  Progress.  He  afterwards 
worked  one  year  as  journeyman,  and  then 
began  business  for  himself,  succeeding  his 
former  master  and  employer.  He  was  for 
two  years  at  Progress  and  then  removed  to 
Penbrook,  where  he  conducts  a  large  and 
profitable  business.  Being  enterprising  and 
reliable,  he  not  only  meets  with  success,  but 
enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  patrons 
and  neighbors. 

He  was  married,  July  30,  1890,  to  Lula, 
daugliter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Sherk.  Their 
children  are:  Emma  Sherk  and  Lydia  For- 
ney'. Mr.  Wirt  is  an  active  and  efficient 
member  of  the  board  of  health  of  Penbrook. 
He  has  served  one  term  as  liorough  auditor, 
and  also  as  election  inspector.  He  is  a 
staunch  Republican.  He  and  his  family, 
are  members  of  the  Church  of  God. 

Mrs.  Wirt's  parents  had  six  children;  tiiose 
deceased  are :  Emma  E.,  wife  of  Noah  Wal- 
mer,  and  William  H.  The  living  children 
are :  Miwy  E.,  Henry  A.,  and  Lula,  Mrs. 
Wirt. 


Mader,  Daniel  E.,  gardening  farmer, 
was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township  in 
1842.  His  parents,  Amos  and  Elizabeth 
(Zarker)  Mader,  had  seven  children,  two  of 
whom  are  deceased;  Susan,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Samuel  Cas- 
sel.     Their  living  children  are:  Daniel  E.; 


Benjamin;  Harriet,  wife  of  Hiram  Wilt; 
A^illiam  H.,  and  Catherine,  wife  of  Andrew 
Poffenberger.  Daniel  E.  Mader  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  Lower  Paxton 
township.  After  leaving  school  he  began 
business  for  himself  as  a  gardener  and 
farmer,  and  has  thus  been  occupied  up  to 
the  present  time. 

He  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
December  13,  1862,  to  Fannie,  daughter  of 
•Jaeolj  and  Rebecca  (Young)  Warner.  They 
have  had  ten  cliildren;  four  are  deceased: 
David,  born  March  9,  18G6,  died  July  13, 
1800;  Clara,  born  August  3,  1875,  died 
January  21,  1876 ;  Eddie,  born  August  26, 
1884,  d'ied  September  12,  1884,  and  one  in- 
fant unnamed.  Their  living  children  are  : 
William,  born  .June  8,  18(57;  Henry,  born 
September  3,  1869  ;  Elizabeth,  born  July  4, 
1872 ;  Cora,  born  September  16, 1877 ;  Lydia, 
born  May  1,  1887,  and  Emmet,  .June  8, 
1889. 

Mr.  Mader  has  served  as  road  supervisor 
of  Susquehanna  township  for  two  terms.  He 
is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
He  is  consistent  and  earnest  in  his  Christian 
life  and  fills  the  full  measure  of  good  citi- 
zen.ship.  In  social  life  he  is  agreeable  and 
popular,  and  is  an  embodiment  of  the  do- 
mestic virtues. 

Jacob  and  Rebecca  (Young)  Warner,  the 
parents  of  Mi'S.  Mader,  had  a  family  of  nine 
children.  Four  are  deceased  :  Jacob,  died 
aged  two  years ;  John,  had  served  in  the 
arm}%  and  after  the  war  went  West  and  is 
suppo.sed  to  be  dead  ;  William,  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty -four,  and  Sarah,  who  died  aged 
forty  four.  Their  surviving  children  are : 
Samuel;  Christian,  who  resides  in  Missouri; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Ble.ssley,  of  Lebanon 
county ;  David,  who  resides  at  Penbrook, 
Pa.,  and  Fannie,  who  is  Mrs.  D.  E.  Mader. 


HoucK,  George  A.,  dealer  in  agricultural 
implements,  Penbrook,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.  He  is  a  son  of  Amos  and  Elizabeth 
(Shirk)  Houck,  both  living  at  this  writing. 
They  had  three  children,  one  of  whom,  Fi- 
delia, died  aged  nineteen.  The  surviving 
children  are  Henry  Oliver  and  George  A. 

George  A.  Houck  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Lower  Paxton  township, 
and  after  leaving  school  worked  on  the  farm 
with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-two 
years  old.     He  then  began  farming  for  him- 


960 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


self,  and  made  it  his  sole  occupation  for  five 
years.  Later  he  engaged  in  the  dairy  busi- 
ness, which  he  conducted  for  about  two  years. 
For  the  ensuing  two  years  he  was  in  tlie  em- 
l)loyment  of  Robert  B.  Mateer,  of  Ilarris- 
burg,  dealer  in  liardware.  He  tlien  removed 
to  Peubrook,  Pa.,  and  opened  a,  store  on  his 
own  account,  which  he  has  managed  since 
that  time.  He  deals  in  genei'al  hardware, 
and  is  specially  engaged  in  the  sale  of  agri- 
cultural implements. 

He  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty-two, 
on  October  17,  1880,  to  Minnie  J.,  daughter 
of  Jonas  and  Maria  Crura.  They  have  two 
children,  Harry  Edward  and  Russel  Amos. 

At  the  present  time  Mr.  Houck  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  of  Pen  brook.  He 
is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  and  his  family 
attend  the;  Lutheran  church  at  Penbrook. 
His  religion  is  of  the  practical  kind.  In 
business  he  is  enterprising  and  energetic, 
and  keeps  in  the  lead.  He  is  pul)lic  spirited 
and  social,  and  in  all  relations  faithful  and 
just.  Jonas  and  Maria  Crum,  Mrs.  Houck's 
parents,  are  both  living.  Their  children  are: 
Minnie  J.,  who  is  Mrs.  Houck  ;  Emma,  wife 
of  Alfred  Hoostick  ;  and  Edward. 


H.\KGKST,  John  James,  gardening  farmer, 
was  born  in  Baltimore  county,  near  Balti- 
more, Md.  He  is  a  son  of  William  E.  and 
Raciiel  A.  (Taylor)  Hargest.  William  Har- 
gest  died  November  11,  1872,  aged  fifty-two 
years  and  three  months.  His  wife  is  still 
living,  and  resides  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.  Tiiey 
had  eight  children,  five  of  wliom  are  de- 
ceased:  Henry  C;  William  E.;  Taylor  Fill- 
more; Mar}',  wife  of  Charles  H.  Kemp;  and 
Rose  Alba,  wife  of  Charles  Raymond.  Their 
living  children  are  :  John  J.,  Jefferson  S., 
and  Thomas  S. 

John  James  Hargest  received  his  primar}' 
education  in  the  public  and  private  scliools 
of  Baltimore  count}',  which  he  attended  until 
lie  was  twelve  years  old.  His  parents  then 
removing  to  Newcastle  county,  Del.,  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  that  county  for 
two  years;  then,  removing  with  them  to 
Harrisburg,  he  finished  his  studies  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  entered  the  Quartermaster's  de- 
partment. United  States  army,  and  was 
stationed  at  Stephenson's  depot,  near  Win- 
chester, Va.,  for  about  nine  months,  after 
which  he  was  discharged.  He  then  returned 
to  his  home  in  Harrisburg,  engaged  in  gar- 
dening and  farming,  in   which  he  has  ever 


since  been  occupied.  For  twenty-four  years 
he  owned  and  resided  upon  the  island 
known  as  Bridge  Island,  which  later  was 
called  Hargest  Island.  In  October,  1889, 
be  sold  this  island  and  located  in  Susque- 
hanna township,  where  he  has  since  been  a 
continuous  resident. 

He  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  in  May,  1869,  to  Susan  E.,  daughter 
of  David  and  Sarah  Zarker.  They  have  had 
five  children,  one  of  wliom,  John  Herman, 
died  at  the  age  of  four  montiis.  Their  living 
children  are:  Mar}  K,  Catherine  B.,  Bessie 
M.,  and  Jennie  R.  Mrs.  Hargest  died  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1880.  Mr.  Hargest  was  again  mar- 
ried, to  Mary  K.,  daugiiter  of  George  and 
Jane  E.  Whiteman.  They  have  had  six 
children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Clara 
v.,  born  June  15,  1893,  died  August  28, 
1894,  and  Thomas  J.,  born  August  27,  1894, 
died  September  16,  1894.  Their  living 
children  are:  George  W.,  Rachel  T.,  Helen 
B.,  and  John  J. 

Mr.  Harge-st  is  a  staunch  Republican. 
He  served  with  efficiency  and  credit  in  the 
city  council  of  Harrisburg,  and  was  the 
president  of  that  body  for  the  year  1881. 
He  is  now  a  member  of  the  school  board  of 
Susquehanna  township.  He  belongs  to 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at 
Harrisburg;  he  was  a  member  of  Persever- 
ance Chapter  and  Pilgrim  Commandery. 
Mr.  Hargest  and  his  family  are  men^bers  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  churcli.  He  is  suc- 
cessful HI  business  and  enjoys  the  good  will 
and  confidence  of  his  neighbors. 

George  and  Jane  E.  (Harman)  Whiteman, 
parents  of  Mrs.  Hargest,  had  five  children  : 
Mary  K.,  Jacob  N.,  George  W.,  Charles  C, 
and  Edna  H. 


Hargest,  Jefferson  S.,  gardening  farmer, 
,  was  born  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  August  25, 
1860.  He  is  a  son  of  William  E.  and  Rachel 
A.  Hargest.  His  parents  removed  to  Har- 
risburg when  he  was  five  years  of  age,  and 
he  was  educated  in  the  public  and  private 
schools  of  that  city.  At  eighteen  years  of 
age  he  began  gardening  and  farming,  and 
has  been  continuously  engaged  in  those  oc- 
cupations up  to  the  jjresent  time. 

He  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty-two, 
April  2,  1882,  to  -Clara  Reese,  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Elizabeth  Reese.  They  had  no 
children.  His  wife  died  April  25,  1895.  She 
was  a  consistent  and  earnest  Christian  woman. 
Her  home  was  attractive  and  always  shone 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


961 


with  the  light  of  a  warm  and  generous  hos- 
pitality. By  her  many  virtues  she  drew 
around  her  a  circle  of  devoted  friends  and 
admirers  who  deeply  mourn  her  loss.  Her 
parents  had  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are 
deceased :  Clara,  Mr.s.  Hargest ;  Mattie,  wife 
of  Jacoh  Whiteman  ;  Maggie,  and  two  chil- 
dren who  died  in  intaney.  The  surviving 
children  are  Harry  and  Jennie.  Mr.  Har- 
gest is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  As 
a  business  man  he  is  characterized  by  strict 
integrity,  industry  and  enterprise.  He  is 
genial  in  social  life,  interested  in  church 
matters,  and  prompt  and  faithful  in  the  per- 
formance of  cluty. 


Moody,  Washixgtox,  gardening  farmer, 
was  born  in  Wa.shington  township,  York 
county,  Pa.,  in  1839.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabetli  Moody.  They  had  seven 
children,  all  boys ;  one  of  them,  Thomas, 
died  aged  about  twentj^-six  years.  Those 
living  are:  William,  Henry,  David,  James, 
John,  and  Washington.  The  father  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty,  and  the  mother  four  years 
later,  aged  seventy  years. 

Washington  Moody  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township.  After 
leaving  school  he  was  for  ten  years  engaged 
in  farming  and  then  added  gardening.  In 
18G5  he  removed  to  Dauphin  county  and  lo- 
cated on  Sheesley's  Island,  where  he  pur- 
sued his  vocation  of  gardening  and  farming. 
He  subsequently  removed  to  Susquehanna 
township,  and  in  1875  purchased  his  present 
homestead,  where  he  continues  to  conduct 
the  same  business. 

On  February  24,  1864,  Mr.  Moody  was 
married  to  Adeline  E.,  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  Fleisher.  They  had  ten  children, 
three  of  whom  are  deceased  :  George  Wash- 
ington, died  August  8,  1871,  aged  four  years 
and  thirteen  days ;  Albert,  January  8,  1875, 
aged  three  days;  iVnnie  Margarette,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  18S2,  aged  four  years  and  three 
months.  The  living  children  are :  Sallie 
Florence,  wife  of  Samuel  Bankes,  born  Jan- 
uary 2,  1865  ;  William  Henry,  November 
29,1868;  Ada  Elizabeth,  born  August  25, 
1870  ;  Mary  Catherine,  February  5,  1872 ; 
Charles  Wesley,  born  August  20,  1874  ;  Re- 
becca Jane,  June  10,  1880;  Miriam,  June  IS, 
1884. 

Mr.  Moody  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal    church.      Mr.    Moody    has   been 


diligent  in  business,  and  as  the  result  of  his 
skill,  energy  and  industry  he  stands  in  the 
lead  of  men  in  his  line  of  business.  He  is  a 
reliable  and  worthy  man  and  has  been  true 
to  all  the  obligations  of  duty. 

Mrs.  Moody's  parents,  John  and  Sarah 
Fleisher,  iuid  four  children,  one  of  whom, 
William,  went  West  in  1865  and  is  supposed 
to  have  died.  Their  surviving  children  are  : 
Milton,  John,  and  Adeline  E.,  Mrs.  Moody. 
The  father  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years ; 
the  mother  is  slill  living. 


Hummel,  Samuel  Wesley,  gardener  and 
farmer,  was  born  in  Halifax  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  February  17,  1837.  He  is 
a  son  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Bowman) 
Hummel.  They  had  seven  children,  of 
wlujm  two  died  in  infancy;  Joseph  died  at 
Ilarrisburg,  aged  about  thirty;  and  George 
died  at  the  age  of  .seventeen  years.  Tlie 
surviving  children  are:  Samuel  W.;  Susan, 
wife  of  Sampson  Bogner,  of  Steelton ;  and 
John  F.,  residing  in  Daui)hin  county.  Sam- 
uel Hummel  died  in  1867,  aged  fifty-nine  ; 
liis  wife  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two. 

Samuel  Wesley  Hummel  was  educated  in 
tiie  district  schools  of  his  native  townsliip. 
After  leaving  school  he  was  variously  em- 
ployed until  the  spring  of  1866,  when  he 
removed  to  Susquehanna  township,  and  en- 
gaged in  gardening  and  farming;  he  has 
ever  since  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Harris- 
burg  and  carried  on  the  same  business. 
Mr.  Hummel  has  served  as  judge  of  elections, 
and  as  election  inspector.  He  is  a  stauncli 
Democrat.  Ho  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is 
prominent  and  successful  in  his  line  of  busi- 
ness, is  regarded  as  a  good  citizen,  and  is 
faithful  and  agreeable  in  all  the  relations  of 
life. 

He  was  married,  September  19,  1865,  to 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
Huggins.  They  have  seven  children:  Cora 
L.,  born  January  27,  1866,  wife  of  Henry 
Reichert ;  Ida  May,  October  17, 1867  ;  Jacob 
L.,  Mav  28,  1870;  Susan  L.,  November  4, 
1872;  Katie  Alice,  April  80,  1875;  Anna 
Mary,  February  3, 1878 ;  and  John  W.,  April 
20,  i881. 

Jacob  and  Catherine  (Deckard)  Huggins, 
the  parents  of  Mrs.  Hummel,  had  eleven 
children.  Four  are  deceased.  The  survi- 
vors are :  Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Bowers,  of 
Harrisburg ;  Susan,  Avife  of  John  Thompson ; 
Charles;  Ellen;  Alice,  wife  of  Edward  Gil- 


962 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Ian,  of  Harrisburg;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Hum- 
mel ;  and  Jacob.  Mr.  Huggins  died  at 
about  eighty  j^ears  of  age;  his  wife  is  still 
living. 

Berry,  Robert,  gardener  and  dairyman, 
was  born  in  Dumfries,  Dumfriesshire,  Scot- 
land, July  27,  1862;  son  of  William  and 
Sarah  Ann  (McCuUongh)  Berry.  His  parents 
had  three  children  ;  one  of  them,  Marj',  died 
March,  1879,  aged  eighteen.  The  surviving 
children  are  Robert  and  John  ;  the  latter 
resides  on  the  homestead  in  Scotland,  the 
parents  having  their  home  with  him. 

Rohert  Berry  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  town.  He  was  a  bright  and 
ambitious  boy,  full  of  energy,  and  made  the 
best  use  of  the  advantages  within  his  reach. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  well  qualified 
for  ordinary  business.  His  first  employment 
after  leaving  school  was  farming.  But,  find- 
ing that  his  home  did  not  offer  him  the  op- 
portunities which  he  sought  for  business 
and  for  rising  in  the  world,  he  looked  to  the 
newer  countries  of  the  Western  Continent  as 
affording  a  wider  field  for  his  activities.  In 
1881  he  embarked  for  America,  and  landed 
in  New  York  July  4.  He  was  attracted  to 
Chicago,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  cattle 
business.  After  trying  various  occupations 
he  finally  settled  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  in 
the  spring  of  1889,  and  engaged  in  farming 
and  gardening,  in  connection  with  the  dairy 
and  milk  business;  in  these  occupations  he 
has  continued  up  to  the  present  time.  With 
his  natural  energy  and  his  enteri)rising  and 
]irogressive  spirit,  he  lias  found  success  within 
his  reach.  He  already  stands  among  the 
leaders  in  his  line,  and  commands  the  respect 
of  his  neighbors. 

Stutsman,  John  P.,  freight  conductor, 
was  born  in  Perry  county.  Pa.,  July  20, 1847. 
tlis  father  was  a  carpenter,  contractor 
and  l)uilder.  He  was  cut  off  in  early  life, 
dying  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years;  his 
wife,  who  was  Miss  Mary  D.  Poole,  is  still 
living,  and  makes  her  home  with  her  daugh- 
ter Mary,  wife  of  William  Huston,  of  Har- 
risburg. Their  children  were  five  in  num- 
ber; the  living  ones  are  John  P.,  David, 
and  Anna,  widow  of  Cyrus  Lowe. 

John  P.  Stutsman  was  only  eight  years 
old  when  his  father  died  His  schooling 
was  just  begun,  and  after  this  sad  loss 
had  to  be  carried  on  amid  many  hin- 
derances.     While  attending  school  he  found 


time  to  do  many  odd  jobs,  by  which  he 
aided  materially  in  the  maintenance  of  his 
mother  and  the  other  children.  At  sixteen 
he  found  regular  employment  on  the  North- 
ern Central  railroad,  and  has  been  con- 
tinuously in  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad  since  that  time.  All  his  wages, 
during  his  youth,  were  turned  over  to  his 
mother,  for  wliom  he  cherished  the  fondest 
regard  ;  and  he  was  rewarded  by  her  love 
and  confidence.  In  this  way  a  peculiar  in- 
timacy was  established  between  mother  and 
son,  which  has  continued  through  life.  He 
is  one  of  the  oldest  employees  in  this  capa- 
city in  the  service  of  the  railroad  company. 
His  long  continuance  in  their  employment 
and  confidence  demonstrates  his  ability  and 
faithfulness. 

He  was  married,  December  24,  1871,  to 
Jane  E.  Rudge.  They  have  five  children, 
two  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Myrtle  A.,  born 
December  1,  1872,  died  May  1,1873;  Jonas 
R.,  born  in  November,  1875,  was  drowned 
while  bathing  in  the  old  Price  basin  at  Har- 
risburg, August  7,  1882  ;  his  brother  James, 
who  was  with  him,  was  not  able  to  render 
him  any  assistance.  The  living  children 
are  :  James  0.,  Catherine  L.,  and  John  L. 
Mr.  Stutsman  resided  in  Harrisburg  until 
1894,  when  he  purchased  his  present  resi- 
dence in  Susquehanna  township.  He  is  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  IGO,  I.  O.  0.  F.,  Har- 
risburg. Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church. 

Mrs.  Stutsman's  parents  are  both  deceased. 
Her  father  died  June  14, 1879,  aged  seventy- 
three;  her  motlier  in  June,  1881,  aged 
eighty  years.  They  had  eight  children,  one 
of  whom,  Edward,  was  in  the  Union  army, 
in  company  B,  Eighty-seventh  Penns3dva- 
nia  volunteers.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and 
died  of  starvation  in  Andersonville  prison. 
Their  surviving  children  are:  Adam,  David 
K.,  Darius,  Annie,  widow  of  George  Neuer, 
WiUiam,  Jonas,  and  JaneE.,  Mrs.  Stutsman. 


HoLTZMAN,  Harry  B.,  dairyman  and 
farmer,  was  born  at  Matanioras,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  August  28,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of 
Isaac  and  Annie  (Hocken)  Holtzman.  Isaac 
Holtzman  was  born  August  31,  1832;  his 
wife,  Annie  Hocken,  February  20, 1835.  They 
had  seven  children:  John  S.,  born  February 
11,  1854;  George,  June  10,  1856,  died  Sep- 
tember 6,  1858  ;  Henry  B.,  Augu.st  28,  1858 ; 
Joseph  M.,  September  8,  1860;  Andrew  J., 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


963 


December  22,  1SG5;  Oscar  J.,  November  27, 
1872,  and  Anna  M.,  January  24, 1880.  Both 
the  father  and  the  mother  are  deceased  ;  the 
latter  died  October  9, 1890.  They  were  con- 
sistent Cliristians,  dutiful  and  faithful  in  the 
home,  in  society,  and  in  the  church. 

Harry  B.  Holtzman  was  educated  in  tlie 
public  schools  of  Susquehanna  township  and 
attended  an  academy  in  Harri.sburg  for  one 
term.  He  selected  the  dairy  and  farm  busi- 
ness as  his  vocation,  and  has  no  cause  for  re- 
penting his  choice,  having  met  witli  .satisfac- 
tion and  success. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-seven  he  bethought 
him  of  the  error  of  his  way  of  living  and 
abandoned  the  ranks  of  the  bachelors.  On 
February  9, 1886,  he  married  Anna  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Harry  F.  and  Catherine  S.  (Harter) 
Long.  They  had  four  children :  Ruth  E., 
born  October  17, 1887  ;  Edna  J.,  June  5, 1890; 
Edith  May,  August  10,  1891;  Earl  Harry, 
May  3,  1893.  Mr.  Holtzman  is  a  Prohibi- 
tionist. He  and  his  family  ai'e  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church. 

Mrs.  Holtzman's  parents,  Plarry  F.  and 
Catherine  S.  Long,  have  had  nine  children  : 
Three  are  deceased  :  Albert,  died  in  infancy ; 
Addie  L.,  and  one  infant  unnamed.  The  sur- 
viving children  are :  Annie  A.,  Efifie  Irene, 
Bessie,  Harvey  H.,  Olive  B.,  and  Reese. 
Both  parents  are  living  and  reside  in  Perry 
county,  Pa. 


Walter,  John  S.,  dairyman  and  farmer' 
was  born  in  Derry  township,  DaujDhin 
county,  Pa.,  February  23,  1843.  He  is  a  son 
of  Henry  L.  and  Elizabeth  (Shaefter)  Walter. 
They  had  four  children:  Susan,  wife  of 
Henry  Ang.st;  John  S.;  Joseph;  and  Mary, 
wife  of  Eli  Fackler.  The  mother  died  Sep- 
tember 18,  1878 ;  the  father  in  December, 
1880,or  January,  1881. 

John  S.Walter  attended  the  public  schools 
of  South  Hanover  township,  and  also  the 
academy  at  Palmyra,  Pa.,  under  Professor 
Witmer. 

He  was  married,  August  16, 1868,  to  Louisa 
Ann,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Susan  (Bren- 
eman)  Hoerner.  They  have  had  thirteen 
children,  three  of  whom  have  died :  Ida,  an 
infant;  Peter,  aged  six  months;  and  David, 
eight  days  old.  The  surviving  children  are : 
Ellen,  born  November  5,1870;  Elizabeth, 
July  29,  1871;  John  Henry,  January  22, 
1873;  Susanna,  May  3, 1876;  Agnes,  August 
17,  1878;  Ephraim,  September  7,  1880; 
Sarah,  December  31,  1882 ;  Anna  May,  Oc- 


tober 3,  1885  ;  Harrison,  July  2, 1888 ;  Edith 
Irene,  July  29,  1893. 

For  twent}'-four  years  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Walter  was  engaged  in  fanning  and  in 
running  a  gri.st  and  saw  mill  in  Lower  Pax- 
ton  township.  In  1894  he  removed  to  his 
present  homestead,  and  engaged  in  garden- 
ing, in  connection  with  whicJi  he  conducted 
a  dairy.  To  these  branches  of  business  he  is 
now  giving  his  attention,  with  gratifying  re- 
sults. 

Mr.  Walter  has  served  efficiently  as  tax 
collector  of  Lower  Paxton  township  for  one 
term.  He  also  served  seven  years  as  school 
director  in  the  same  township.  He  is  a 
staunch  Republican.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Pen- 
brook. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoerner,  the  parents  of  Mrs. 
Walter,  had  seven  chiMren,  two  of  whom 
are  deceased,  John  and  Christopher.  The 
remaining  children  are :  Barbara,  wife  of 
Frederick  Rhoad  ;  Louisa  Ann,  Mrs.Walter  ; 
Henry;  William;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Levi  Hagbaker.     Both  parents  are  living. 


HoAK,  George  J.,  dairjmian  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  Su.squehanna  toAvnsliip,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  May  4,  1846.  He  is  a  son 
of  Andrew  and  Lucetta  (Wagner)  Iloak. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public  .schools  of 
his  native  township.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  was  already  engaged  in  farming,  when 
the  late  war  broke  out.  Prompted  by 
patriotism,  he  enlisted  in  company  B,  Two 
Hundred  and  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  under  Captain  ]\IeCarro!l  and 
Colonel  Awl.  He  was  sent  with  his  com- 
pany through  the  Cumberland  Valley  to 
Camp  Slough.  At  that  place  he  suffered 
innocently  the  abuse  of  one  of  his  superiors, 
the  result  of  force  of  circum.stances.  He  was 
sent  with  his  company  to  Baltimore,  Md., 
thence  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  thence  to 
A  lexandria,  Ya,.  Here  he  was  confined  in  the 
militaiy  hospital  for  four  months,  and  later 
in  the  regimental  hospital.  After  dismissal 
from  the  hospital  he  returned  to  his  regi- 
ment, and  was  sent  to  Philadelpliia,  tlien  to 
Fort  T)elaware,  and  then  to  Harri.sburg, 
where  he  was  lionorably  discharged,  June  21, 
1865.  He  has  since  suffered  from  a  chronic 
spinal  affection  to  such  a  degree  as  to  unfit 
him  for  any  physical  exertion. 

He  was  married,  March  11,1875,  to  Katie, 
daugliter  of  Joseph  and  Sopliia  (Cassel)  Wert, 
born  October  16, 1352.     They  have  had  three 


964 


£10  GRAPHIC  A  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


children,  one  of  whom,  Emma,  died  January 
7,  1879,  aged  five  months.  The  living  chil- 
dren are  Cora  Sophia  and  Jennie  Lucetta. 
Mrs.  Hoak  died  December  14.  1878.  On 
March  27,  1881,  Mr.  Hoak  was'  married  to 
Clara  Fisler.  Thej^  have  six  children: 
Charles  A.,  Blanche  J.,  John  A.,  Annie  W., 
Ralph  A.,  and  Margaret  II.  Mr.  Iloak  is  a 
staunch  Republican.  He  and  his  family 
attend  the  Reformed  church. 

The  parents  of  Clara  Fisler  Hoak  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  four  are  deceased  : 
Charles  H.,  died  aged  eleven  years ;  Sarah 
H.,  aged  two  months ;  Maud  J.,  one  month 
and  twenty -eight  days ;  and  Jennie,  aged 
seven  years.  Their  surviving  children  are: 
Calvin  J.;  Lizzie  M.,  wife  of  William  Bow-' 
man;  Clara,  Mrs.  Hoak;  and  Minnie  F., 
wife  of  Harry  Alleman.  The  mother  died 
Augu.st  24, 1894,  aged  .sixty-three  years,  ten 
months  and  eleven  day.s.  Tlie  father  is  still 
living. 


Frank,  James,  farmer,  was  born  in  Hali- 
fax township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  in  IS.")!!. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Whit- 
man) Frank.  Tliey  had  six  children,  of 
whom  David  and  Henry  are  deceased.  Those 
living  are:  Barbara,  widow  of  John  H. 
Yiengst,  who  had  two  children;  James; 
Sarah,  wife  of  William  G.  Gier,  and  Fred- 
erick. 

James  Frank  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  Halifax  township.  He  then  worked 
on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  He  then  engaged 
in  farming  on  his  own  account,  and  has 
made  this  his  occupation  since  that  time. 
He  resided  up  to  1878  in  his  native  town- 
ship; he  then  removed  to  Middle  Paxton 
township,  and  after  a  residence  of  one  year 
to  Lower  Paxton  township.  After  residing 
there  eight  years  he  removed  to  Snsfjue- 
hanna  township,  and  located  on  the  farm 
owned  by  Alfred  Crum,  where  he  has  since 
conducted  his  farming  operations. 

He  was  married,  October  24,  1885,  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Blessing. 
They  have  had  two  children,  Harvey  D.  and 
AVilliam.  In  political  views  Mr.  Frank  is 
Democratic.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  church.  Mr.  Frank  is 
a  successful  farmer,  because  he  is  full  of  en- 
ergy and  enterjtrise,  and  carries  on  his  work 
with  unflagging  industry  and  h\  intelligent 
methods.  Better  than  success  is  the  good 
name  and  good  will  won  from  his  neighbors 


by  bis   upright  character  and  friendly  dis- 
position. 

Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Landis)  Blessing 
had  nine  children  :  Mary,  Mrs.  Frank ;  John ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Ira  Hoover;  Elmer; 
Agnes,  wife  of  James  Ensinger;  Levi,  Clara, 
Alice,  and  Amanda.  The  mother  died  April 
14,  1887.     The  father  is  still  living. 


Meckley,  Jacob,  retired  farmer,  was  born 
in  Londonderrj^  township,  in  1830.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Hoover)  Meck- 
ley. Four  of  the  ten  children  of  these  par- 
ents are  deceased ;  those  surviving  are :  Jacol) ; 
Catherine,  wife  of  John  Dunn ;  Leah,  wife  of 
Daniel  Siegler ;  Joseph  ;  Michael ;  and  Bar- 
l)ara,  wife  of  Amos  Young. 

Jacob  Meckley  received  bis  education  in 
subscription  scliools  and  later  in  the  pul»lic 
schools  of'  Londonderry,  Derr}',  and  Lower 
Paxton  townships.  He  learned  carpentry 
with  Jacob  Breueman,  at  Union  Deposit, 
West  Hanover  township,  serving  an  appren- 
ticeship of  two  years.  His  pay  was  $5  per 
month.  The  third  year  he  worked  as  a  jour- 
neyman and  received  $10  per  month;  after 
the  third  3'ear  he  received  seventy-five  cents 
per  day  and  board.  In  1860  he  engaged  in 
farming  near  the  village  of  Progress,  where 
lie  remained  four  years.  The  following  six 
years  he  spent  on  the  farm  of  James  E. 
Elder,  near  the  county  buildings.  After 
jiassing  eight  years  on  the  Hotfer  farm  near 
Highspire,  Swatara  township,  he  returned  to 
Susquehanna  townsliip.  In  1891  he  pur- 
chased and  removed  to  the  homestead  on 
which  he  has  made  his  residence  since  that 
date. 

He  was  married,  December  20,  1855,  to 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Annie 
Brubaker.  They  have  had  ten  children,  six 
of  whom  are  living :  Annie  L.,  born  October 
4, 18ot) ;  Christian  M.,  August  (i,  1858  ;  Cathe- 
rine B.,  Mav  2,  1860 ;  Samuel  J.,  February 
29,  1863 ;  Benjamin  F.,  March  31,  1870,  and 
Edwin  A.,  January  18, 1873.  Their  deceased 
children  are :  Jacob  Henry,  died  January  10, 
1862,  aged  one  month  and  fourteen  days ; 
Elizabeth  ilary,  August  18, 1865,  aged  eleven 
months  and  twenty-five  days ;  David  Bru- 
baker, Julj'  19, 1868,  aged  seven  months  and 
seven  days;  John  W.,  born  November  10, 
1865,  died  January  9,  1893,  near  Freetown, 
Sierra  Leone,  West  Africa,  at  Mahera  Station. 
He  was  sent  to  this  mission  station  from 
Colon,  Neb.,  under  the  au.spices  of  the  Chris- 
tian Alliance  and  Foreign  Mission  Associa- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


965 


tion,  of  which  the  celebrated  evangelist, 
Moody,  was  the  head.  He  was  married,  Feb- 
ruary" 16,  1892,  to  June  0.,  daughter  of  Mrs. 
S.  M"  Schofield,  of  Colon,  Neb.  "  He  and  his 
young  wife  were  both  earnest  and  devoted 
Christian  workers,  and  gave  themselves  to 
the  noble  and  .self-sacrificing  work  of  carry- 
ing the  gospel  to  the  heathen.  Soon  after 
reaching  the  field  of  labor  assigned  to  them 
in  Africa,  and  liefore  they  had  become  accli- 
mated to  the  extreme  heat  and  other  adverse 
conditions  of  those  regions,  they  were  stricken 
with  a  maliguiint  fever  that  proved  fatal  to 
both.  They  died  on  the  same  day,  and  are 
buried  in  that  ftir-a way  land. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Meckley  are  both  de- 
ceased. Her  father  was  born  September  20, 
1798,  and  died  August  25,  1873 ;  her  mother 
was  born  November  17,  1798,  and  died  July 
27, 1871.  They  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living :  Christian,  Elizabeth,  Michael, 
Mary,  and  David.  The  deceased  children 
are :  Anna,  wife  of  Christian  Fortney ;  Bar- 
bara, wife  of  Solomon  Manley,  and  P'annie, 
wife  of  Conrad  Page. 

Mr.  Meckley  served  efficiently  for  two 
years  as  road  supervisor  in  Swatara  town- 
ship. In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  in 
Christ,  or  Kiver  Brethren. 


ScHLOSSER,  Andrew,  dairyman  and 
farmer,  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship), Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  January  19, 1861. 
He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Catherine 
(Mountz)  Schlosser,  both  natives  of  Europe. 
His  father  was  born  in  Alsace,  France,  and 
his  mother  in  the  town  of  Willaugha,  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Lower  Paxton  township  March  19, 
1857.  They  had  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living :  David,  Andrew,  Joseph,  and 
Emma  Jane,  wife  of  Charles  Specs.  Those 
deceased  are :  Clara,  died  aged  fourteen 
years,  nine  months  and  eighteen  days ; 
and  Sarah  Jane,  aged  two  years  and  five 
months.  The  father  died  September  12, 
1893,  and  the  mother  is  .still  living. 

Andrew  Schlosser  took  the  usual  course 
of  study  in  the  public  schools  of  Lower 
Paxton  and  Susquehanna  townships.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  he  was  apprenticed  to 
Reuben  Morret,  of  Harrisburg,  to  learn 
carpentry,  and  served  two  years.  After 
finishing  his  apprenticeship  and  attaining 
his   majority    he   concluded   to   choose   an- 


other occupation.  He  went  upon  the  farm, 
and  has  since  been  continuously  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits. 

He  was  married,  December  5,  1885,  to 
Phoebe  A.,  daughter  of  Montgomery  and 
Mary  A.  (Yeager)  Hughes.  They  have 
three  childi'en :  Clara  May,  born  January 
22,  1886 ;  Alice  Pearl,  June  19,  1887,  and 
Rella  May,  January  26,  1893,  died  August 
17,  1893. 

Mr.  Schlosser  has  served  as  election  in- 
spector for  one  year  in  the  South  precinct  of 
Susquehanna  township.  He  is  a  Democrat. 
He  belongs  to  Castle,  No.  250,  K.  of  G.  E., 
at  Harrisburg.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


HiESTER,  A.  0.,  son  of  Gabriel  and  Mary 
(Otto)  Hiester,  was  born  at  Reading,  Pa., 
November  11,  1808.  His  father.  Gen.  Ga- 
briel Hiester,  was  an  officer  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  removed  to  Harrisburg  in  1813 
to  become  surveyor  general  of  Pennsylvania. 
At  twelve  years  of  age  A.  0.  Hiester  was 
sent  to  Downingtown  Academy,  tlien  in 
charge  of  Joshua  Hooper,  a  Hicksite  Friend  ; 
he  was  afterwards  placed  under  the  care  of 
Rev. Mr.  Ernst,  a  LutheranpastoratLebanon, 
Pa.,  and  prepared  for  college  by  that  gentle- 
man and  Mr.  A.  E.  Shulze,  son  of  ex-Gover- 
nor Shulze.  In  1824  he  entered  Dickinson 
College,  and  graduated  in  1828.  He  was 
afterwards  for  many  years  a  trustee  of  the 
college.  After  his  graduation  Mr.  Hiester 
spent  a  year  studying  law,  in  tiie  office  of 
Judge  Krause ;  at  the  end  of  that  time  find- 
ing the  study  uncongenial,  he  abandoned  it 
and  spent  six  months  at  Huntingdon  Forge, 
which  was  owned  by  Dr.  Shoenberger,  and 
the  following  six  months  with  Reuben  Trex- 
ler,  at  Long  Swamp  Furnace,  in  Berks 
county. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Hiester  was  elected  a 
delegate,  with  Dr.  E.  W.  Roberts,  to  an  in- 
fant school  convention  held  in  Washington, 
D.  C.  He  traveled  there  in  an  old-fashioned 
gig  and  dined  with  Henry  Clay  on  the  day 
before  the  convention  met. 

In  1830-31,  Mr.  Hiester,  then  residing  in 
Harrisburg,  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the 
rolling  mills  at  the  mouth  of  tlie  Conedo- 
guinet  creek,  when  his  father,  in  partner- 
shiji  with  Norman  Cullender,  Vjuilt  a  large 
boiler  plate  and  bar  iron  mill.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  the  management  of  the  busi- 
ness until  1836,  during  the  most  disastrous 
period,   financially,  that  the  ironmasters  of 


966 


BIO  GRA  PHI  GAL   ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


the  United  States  have  ever  known.  In  that 
year  he  leased  the  mill  to  Jared  Pratt,  re- 
moved to  Harrisburg,  spent  a  year  there  in 
settling  up  his  iron  business  and  then  re- 
moved to  Estherton  Farm.  In  1838  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace.  His  experience 
in  that  capacity  furnishes  an  excellent  illus- 
tration of  the  primitive,  frontier-like  condi- 
tion of  many  rural  neighborhoods  at  that 
date.  The  favorite  amusements  of  old  and 
young  were  raffling  and  throwing  dice  for 
turkeys,  ducks,  and  geese,  gambling  and 
horse  racing.  Fights  at  singing  schools  and 
disturbances  of  religious  meetings  were  fre- 
quent. Horse  stealing  was  common.  To 
remedy  this  Mr.  Hiester  and  four  of  his 
neighbors  organized  a  society,  which  rapidly 
increased  in  number,  and  was  carried  on 
under  his  presidency  until  its  object  was 
accomplished.  By  his  strict  and  impartial 
administration  of  the  law  he  succeeded  in 
correcting  the  abuses  that  had  existed,  and 
materially'  improving  the  state  of  society 
witiiin  the  limits  of  his  jurisdiction. 

Mr.  Hiester  was  for  many  years  a  director 
of  tlie  Branch  Bank  of  Pennsylvania,  until 
it  was  closed.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
old  Harri.sburg  Bank  until  it  was  changed, 
and  continued  for  years  after  on  the  board 
of  directors  of  the  Harrisburg  National 
Bank.  In  1851  he  was  appointed  associate 
judge  by  Governor  Jolmston,  to  lill  a  va- 
cancy occasioned  In-  death,  and  was  twice 
subsequently  elected  to  the  same  office  by 
the  people,  for  terms  of  five  years  each.  In 
1861,  under  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  !)(> 
was  ajipointed  one  of  three  commissioners 
by  tlie  l)au])liin  county  court  to  liear  testi- 
mony and  report  their  opinion  of  the  dam- 
ages sustained  by  individuals  consequent 
upon  Stuart's  raid  through  the  counties  of 
Fulton,  Franklin  and  Adams.  The  other 
members  of  the  commission  were  Col.  James 
Worrall  and  a  gentleman  from  Lebanon 
county.  They  elected  Mr.  Hiester  chairman. 
He  was  also  chairman  of  tlie  committee  of 
arrangements  of  the  first  State  Fair,  held  at 
Harrisburg  in  1851.  He  was  one  of  five 
commissioners,  the  others  being  Judge 
Watts,  Judge  Miles,  H.  N.  IMcAllis,  and  Mr. 
Walker,  to  select  a  location  for  the  State 
xVgricultural  College.  After  it  was  finished  he 
was  annually  elected  a  trustee  for  about 
fifteen  years.  His  son  Gabriel,  a  graduate 
of  the  college,  has  taken  liis  place  upon  the 
board  of  trustees.  He  was  also  for  four  years 
secretarj'  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society, 


and  for  six  years  a  trustee  of  the  State  Luna- 
tic Hospital.  Mr.  Hiester  was  among  the 
first  subscribers  to  the  Harrisburg  Cotton 
Factory ;  the  Harrisburg  Car  Works,  of 
which  he  was  a  director  ;  of  the  Harrisburg 
Street  Passenger  railroad,  of  which  he  was 
president ;  and  of  the  Fort  Hunter  Road 
Commission,  of  which  he  was  secretary  and 
treasurer  from  the  time  of  its  organization. 
Besides  superintending  the  affairs  of  his 
own  he  was  executor  for  a  number  of  valua- 
ble estates,  and  frequently  acted  as  trustee, 
guardian  and  assignee. 

In  1845  Mr.  Hiester  joined  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  clmrch,  and  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  society  at  Coxestown.  From  that 
time  to  the  time  of  his  death  he  held,  unin- 
terruptedly, the  positions  of  class  leader, 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  and 
treasurer  •  of  the  board  of  trustees.  For 
many  years  lie  was  president  of  the  Dauphin 
County  Bible  Society,  and  was  president  of 
the  Dauphin  County  Sunday-school  Associa- 
tion from  the  time  of  its  founding.  He  was 
probably  more  widely  and  better  known  on 
account  of  his  church  work  than  in  anj' 
other  capacity. 

Mr.  Iliester's  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine 
M.,  daughter  of  John  B.  Cox,  took  place  in 
1835.  He  died  May  6,  1895,  at  his  resi- 
dence, Estherton. 


Bowman,  William,  farmer,  was  born  in 
1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Eliza- 
beth Brightbill  Bowman.  His  parents  had 
a  famiiv  of  nine  children,  two  of  whom, 
Andrew  and  Theophilus,  have  passed  away. 
The  surviving  ones  are:  Henry;  John; 
Mary,  wife  of  Jacob  Fisher;  Susan,  wife  of 
Jacob  Hain  ;  William ;  Margaret,  wife  of  Geo. 
Machen;  Laura,  wife  of  David  Hain.  Will- 
iam received  his  education  in  the  public 
sciiools  of  Susf{uehanna  township,  and  after 
leaving  school  engaged  in  farming,  and  has 
continued  that  occupation  up  to  tiie  present 
time.  He  was  married,  September  1,  1879, 
to  Lizzie  M.  Fisler,  daughter  of  Amos  and 
Harriet  Fisler.  Their  children  are  Jennie 
and  William,  Jr.  In  politics  Mr.  Bowman 
is  a  Kejiublican,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
Council  No.  398,  Jr.  0.  U.  A.  M.  The 
family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 


Bowman,  Christian,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Penn  township,  Cumberland  county,  August 
8,  1824.  He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Mary 
(Moulder)  Bowman.     The  father  died  at  the 


DA  UPHIN     GO  UNTY . 


967 


age  of  ninety-three  years  and  the  mother  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  Their  cliikh-en 
are:  Mollie,  wife  of  John  Longenecker; 
John,  Samuel,  Annie,  and  Cliristian.  Chris- 
tian received  his  education  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  Cumberland  and  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Dauphin  county.  Sinct'  he 
left  school  he  has  been  engaged  continuously 
at  farming.  He  was  married,  October  12, 
18-17,  to  Elizabeth  Brightbill.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Theophilus  and  Andrew,  both  de- 
ceased ;  Henry ;  John ;  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Jacob  Fisher;  Susan  L.,  wife  of  Jacob  Hain; 
William;  Margaret,  wife  of  George  Machcu; 
and  Laura  K.,  wife  of  David  Hain.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Repu])lican,  and  has  served  for 
six  years  as  school  director  and  tliree  years 
director  of  the  poor.  The  family  belong  to 
the  German  Reformed  churcb. 


Bender,  Hamilton,  gardener  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  Susquehanna  township.  He  is  a 
son  of  David  and  Mary  Rineard  Bender.  The 
father  died  September,  1877,  and  the  mother 
is  living.  Their  children  are  :  Henry  ;  Ham- 
ilton ;  Caroline,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Hummel ; 
Daniel ;  David,  deceased,  and  also  one  child 
who  died  in  infancy.  Hamilton  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Sus- 
quehanna township  and  then  engaged  in 
gardening  and  farming  at  which  he  has  con- 
tinued until  the  present  time.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years  he  married  Miss  Anna 
E.  Reichart,  daughter  of  Henry  Reichart. 
Their  ciiildreu  are  :  Emma,  Margaret,  David, 
Daniel,  and  Hamilton  K.,  deceased.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church. 


Crum,  Alfred,  retired  farmer,  Penbrook, 
was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  in  1850.  He  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Rebecca  Pottiger.  The  father 
died  September  21,  1884,  and  the  mother 
March  20,  1888.  Their  children  are  :  Eliza, 
deceased,  wife  of  John  Reim  ;  Jonas;  Mary, 
wife  of  EphraimCassel ;  Thomas,  and  Alfred. 
Mrs.  Crum's  father  died  July  2o,  1886,  and 
her  mother  October  14,  1893.  They  had  a 
family  of  five  children,  of  whom  Mary  D. 
alone  survives.  Alfred  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Lower  Paxton  township 
and  in  the  Linglestown  Academy.  After 
leaving  school  he  engaged  in  farming  with 
his  father  and  continued  until  he  was  twenty- 
two  years  old,  when  he  began  farming  for 
himself.     He  continued  at  this  occupation 


until  the  spring  of  1888,  when  he  moved  to 
his  present  residence  in  Penbrook. 

He  was  married,  September  5,  1872,  to 
Miss  Mary  D.  Rudy,  daughter  of  Frederick 
and  Maria  Rud}'.  Their  children  are  : 
Beckie,  wife  of  William  Myers,  of  Penbrook, 
and  Ida  M.  In  politics  Mr.  Crum  is  a  Re- 
publican and  has  served  as  judge  of  elections 
and  is  now  serving  as  town  councilman  of 
Penbrook.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church. 


Garman,  John,  farmer,  was  born  at  his 
present  home,  January  3,  1820.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Catharine  Wollaner  Garman. 
The  father  died  August  6,  1846,  and  the 
mother  March  11, 1857.  Their  children  are  : 
.lohn  :  Mar}',  wife  of  John  Stess;  Sarah,  wife 
of  David  Alter ;  and  Susan,  wife  of  Noah 
Hartzer,  of  Juniata  county.  John  received 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
place.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  with 
his  father,  and  continued  in  that  occupation 
up  to  1877,  when  he  moved  to  Harrisburg, 
and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  for 
six  years.  At  this  time  he  came  to  the  old 
homestead,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
was  married,  January  18,  1843,  to  Miss 
Emma  McKeekan,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Mary  McKeekan.  Their  children  are:  John; 
Wilhelmina,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Hanshaw; 
Emiline,  wife  of  Andrew  Cameron ;  James, 
Virdilla,  Laura,  and  Robert,  deceased.  In 
politics  Mr.  Garman  is  a  staunch  Repub- 
lican. The  family  are  members  of  the  Lu- 
theran church. 


Hassler,  Edwin  0.,  dairyman  and  farmer, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton 
township,  September  4,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Susan  (Mumma)  Hassler.  The 
father  was  born  May  1,  1802,  and  died  Octo- 
l)er  30, 1870 ;  and  the  mother  was  born  Janu- 
ary 31,  1808,  and  died  October  12,  1875. 
Tliey  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  five 
of  whom  have  passed  away :  Emanuel  A., 
born  August  28,  1827 ;  David,  born  August 
2(j,  1829,  and  died  August  6,  1830 ;  Cornelius, 
born  Julv  1,  1836,  and  died  in  1836;  Mary, 
born  in '1832,  and  died  February  3,  1833; 
Samuel,  born  March  18, 1831,  and  died  Janu- 
ary 6, 1887.  The  surviving  ones  are:  Susanna, 
born  January  2,  1834,  widow  of  Abraham 
Miller ;  Wilimina,  born  June  24, 1837,  wife  of 
Isaac  Beinhower,  of  Oberlin  ;  Elizabeth,  born 
July  5, 1839,  wife  of  John  H.  Kramer ;  Catha- 
rine, born  July  4,  1841,  widow  of  Joseph 


968 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


Vogel,  now  wife  of  John  Etter,  of  Cumber- 
land count)' ;  Edwin  0.;  Harriet,  Ijorn  De- 
cember 8, 184G,  wife  of  Jonas  Giell ;  Elias  M., 
born  September  2,  1848,  and  Emma  E.,  born 
December  26,  1850.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
Hassler  died  November  5,  1875;  the  father 
remarried  and  now  resides  in  Missouri.  Tliey 
had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  seven  of 
whom  have  passed  awaj^:  Martin  Luther, 
Robert,  Morris  Monroe,  Charlotte,  Roswell 
W.,  Jessie  May,  and  Rollin  Gale.  The  sur- 
viving ones  are :  Rebecca,  Elizabeth,  George, 
Jo.seph,  and  Jennie. 

Edwin  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Lower  Paxton  and  Susquehanna 
townships,  and  then  assisted  on  his  father's 
farm  until  he  was  twenty  years  old.  In  1863 
he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpentry  with 
Henry  Shoop,  at  Harrislnirg,  from  whom  he 
received  |50  per  year  for  his  services.  After 
M-orking  at  his  trade  six  years  he  engaged  in 
farming,  first  in  Susquehanna  and  then  in 
Lower  Paxton  township.  In  1895  he  moved 
to  his  present  home.  From  January  23, 1865, 
to  July  4  of  the  same  year,  lie  was  with  com- 
pany A,  First  division  construction  cor])s,  and 
was  located  at  various  times  in  CJeorgia,  Ala- 
bama, North  C'arolina,  and  Kentucky.  He 
was  married,  March  5,  1868,  to  Miss  Mary 
Felty,  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Susan  Felty. 
Their  children  are:  Edwin,  deceased  ;  Sam- 
uel F.,  born  September  28,  ISliH,  and  J.  Elmer, 
born  October  4,  186!l.  The  son  Samuel  F.  is 
a  physician  in  Harrisburg.  He  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Lower  Paxton  township  and  then  entered 
Lebanon  Valley  College,  Annville,  Pa.  He 
then  taught  school  five  terms,  and  next  at- 
tended college  at  Bloomsburg,  Pa.  Sep- 
tember 23,  1891,  he  entered  Jefferson  Medi- 
cal College,  of  Philadelphia,  from  which  in- 
stitution he  graduated  ^[ay9, 1894.  He  also 
took  a  course  at  the  Maternity  Hospital,  and 
attended  the  City  Hospital,  of  Harrisburg, 
one  year. 

Mr.  Hassler's  first  wife  was  born  Septem- 
ber 3,  1845,  and  died  November  26,  1871. 
He  was  married,  secondly,  July  26,  1877,  to 
Miss  Rebecca  Stover,  daughter  of  Joseph  A. 
and  Elizabeth  (Smeltzer)  Stover.  Their  chil- 
dren are;  Gertrude  M.,  born  \\)n\  6,  1878; 
Colin  E.,  born  April  3,  1879  ;  Lottie  J.,  born 
August  1,  1881 ;  Emorv  0.,  born  October  31, 
1882;  Charles  Blaine,  born  August  23, 1884; 
Hilda  E.,  born  January  22,  1886;  Frank 
Stanley,  born  Augu.st  2, 1887.  Politically  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  as  school  di- 


rector for  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
Lambertou  Lodge,  No.  708,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Har- 
risburg ;  member  of  the  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry, of  Pennsylvania ;  master  of  Dauphin 
County  Grange,  and  a  member  of  the  Horti- 
cultural Society,  of  Pennsylvania.  Tliefamily 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


HoERNER,  Isaac  R.,  hotel  jn-oprietor.  Pro- 
gress, Pa.,  was  born  in  South  Hanover  town- 
ship, January  25,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Mary  Rauch  Hoerner.  The  parents 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  The 
mother  died  September  12,  1892.  Isaac  R. 
received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  then  attended 
White  Hall  Academy,  Cumberland  county, 
of  which  institution  David  Denhugh  was 
principal,  and  Captain  Vale,  of  Carlisle, 
instructor.  From  1852  to  1864  Mr.  Hoerner 
resided  in  Lebanon  county.  After  complet- 
ing his  education  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
fifteen  years.  Next  he  entered  the  hotel  busi- 
ness, and  in  1887  also  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits,  which  he  has  conducted  very  suc- 
cessfully in  connection  with  his  hotel.  He 
was  married,  December  31,  1872,  to  Miss 
Anna  M.  Bitner,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Susan  (Long)  Bitner,  of  Washington  county, 
Md.  Their  children  are ;  Irene  Idilla  ;  Mary 
Minerva,  and  I.  Grant.  Mr.  Hoerner  is  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  629,  I.  O.  0.  F.  Ho 
was  j)ostmaster  at  Progress  during  President 
Cleveland's  first  administration.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican. 

Their  son,  I.  Grant  Hoerner,  is  a  bright 
young  man.  He  is  pursuing  a  course  of 
study  with  a  view  to  becoming  a  lawyer.  He 
attended  tlie  college  at  Annville,  Pa.,  for  one 
term,  and  was  graduated  from  Dickinson 
College,  Carlisle,  in  the  class  of  '96.  He  is  a 
young  man  of  much  promise,  and  is  very 
])0])ular. 


Knupp,  Benjamin  F.,  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  B.  F.  Knupp  &  Bro.,  marble  and 
granite  dealers,  Penbrook,  Dauphin  county, 
was  born  on  the  10th  of  December,  1857,  at 
Springfield,  Ohio.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Eshnauer)  Knupp.  The  parents 
had  a  family  of  ten  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living.  They  are :  Mary,  wife  of  Hi- 
ram Reimert,  Christopher,  George,  Sam- 
uel, Edward,  John,  Daniel  W.,  Benjamin, 
Henry,  and  Emma,  wife  of  David  McNeil. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forrest,  the  parents  of  Mrs. 
Knupp,    had    these     children:      Mary,    de- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY, 


969 


ceased,  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel  Smith,  of  Hunt- 
ingdon county,  Pa.;  Abner  J.;  Emma,  wife 
of  Ejjhraim  Yeingst ;  Ellen;  Sadie,  wife  of 
Samuel  First.  Mr.  Knupp's  parents  moved 
to  Harrisburg  when  he  was  only  one  year 
old  and  he  received  his  edvication  in  the 
public  schools  of  Susquehanna  township. 
He  then  learned  the  trade  of  broom  making 
with  his  father  and  also  the  trade  of  j^laster- 
ing  with  his  brother  Samuel.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  business  for  himself  and  continued 
thus  until  1892,  when  he  established  the 
l)U,siness  which  is  now  so  extensive  and  well 
known,  and  of  which  he  is  the  head.  His 
brother,  Edward  M.,  is  associated  with  him. 
He  was  married,  in  1875,  to  Mi.ss  Ellen  For- 
rest, daughter  of  Abner  and  Catharine  For- 
rest. Tliey  had  three  children  :  Minnie  E., 
deceased ;  Irvin  A.,  and  Verna  M.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Knupp  is  a  Repul)lican.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  churcli. 


LuDWiG,  Emanuel,  merchant,  Penbrook, 
was  born  in  1851,  in  Lancaster  county.  He 
is  a  son  of  Emanuel  and  Hanna  Stager 
Ludwig.  The  fother  died  in  ]\Iarcli,  1882, 
and  tlie  mother  December  10,  ISfil.  They 
liud  these  children  :  Emanuel ;  Sarah,  widow 
of  Samuel  Lentz ;  Amanda,  wife  of  Franklin 
Walburn  ;  Hanna  ;  Lydia,  wife  of  Abraham 
Shoenaman  ;  Jerome  ;  Adam  ;  Annie,  wife  of 
Jacol)  Shakespear,  wlio  died  -June,  18.10 ;  and 
Jacob,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  father  mar- 
ried, secondlj'.  Miss  Mary  Brandt  in  18(>4. 
Emanuel  received  hiseducationin  the  public 
schools  of  Lancaster  and  Dauphin  counties. 
After  leaving  school  he  learned  the  trade  of 
shoemaking  at  Fisherville,  Dauphin  county, 
witli  Peter  Erb.  He  then  foHowed  painting 
for  about  .sixteen  years.  Subsequent!}'  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  pot- 
tery at  Harrisburg  and  still  continues  the 
business  in  connection  with  his  mercantile 
pui'suits  at  Penbrook.  He  was  nuirried,  in 
August,  1872,  to  Sarah  Malinda  Sheetz, 
daughter  of  William  and  Barbara  Zimmer- 
man Sheetz.  Their  children  are:  Sadie 
Irene,  deceased,  Emma  Francis,  Barbara 
Annie,  and  Emanuel  Leroy.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  judge  of 
elections.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Zion  Evanp'elical  church. 


parents  had  a  family  of  four  children  :  .John 
W.,  Mary,  Frank  H.,  and  William  J.  Mrs. 
Matzinger's  father  died  in  January,  1891, 
and  her  mother  still  survives.  Their  children 
are  :  Catherine  E.,  Charles  J.,  Sadie  AV.,  John 
L.,  Ross  W.,  and  Madie  M.  Frank  H.  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Harrisburg,  and  then  engaged  in  gardening 
and  fanning,  in  which  occupation  he  has 
been  continuously  engaged  to  the  present 
time.  He  was  married,  January  22,  1895, 
to  Miss  Catherine  E.,  daughter  of  John  L. 
and  Sarah  Garman  Beaver.  The}'  have 
two  children,  Sarah  M.  and  Jeanette  Catha- 
rine. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Coxestowu  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church. 


MiNNicK,  Michael  E.,  brickmaker,  Har- 
risburg, Pa.,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Oc- 
tober 27,  1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Jane  Murphy  Minnick.  The  father  died 
October  13,  18(')2,  and  the  mother  January 
25,  1S81.  They  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Minnick 's  father  died  May  4, 
1872,  and  her  mother  still  survives.  Michael 
E.  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Harrisburg.  At  an  early  age  he 
learned  the  trade  of  brickmaking.  From 
1870  to  1886  he  was  in  the  liotel  business, 
and  then  engaged  in  making  bricks  with  the 
firm  of  Maloney  &  Minnick.  In  1893  the 
firm  dissolved  partnership,  and  since  then 
Mr.  Minnick  has  conducted  the  business  in 
company  with  his  brother.  He  was  married, 
June  4,'  1891,  to  Ellen  J.,  daughter  of  -James 
and  Annie  M.  Nugert,  of  Philadelphia.  They 
have  one  child,  Tliomas.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church. 


Matzinger,  Frank  H.,  farmer  and  gar- 
dener, Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  August  12, 
186(),  at  Harrisburg.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
G.  and  Margaret  Cameron  Matzinger.     The 


NissLEY,  Martin  H.,  dairyman  and  farmer, 
is  a  son  of  Solomon  and  Catharine  (Paul) 
Nissley.  The  parents  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren :  .Joseph,  Francis,  Henrietta,  Henry  P., 
Rachel  H.,  Rebecca  L.,  Martin  H.,  Emma  E., 
Edgar  G.  and  Annie  A.  Mrs.  Nissley 's  father  is 
deceased  and  her  mother  still  survives.  They 
liad  four  children,  two  of  whom,  Mary  and 
Eliza,  are  deceased.  Mr.  Nissley's  education 
was  received  in  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive place  and  in  the  high  school  of  New 
Kingston,  Cumberland  county.  After-Ieav- 
ing  school  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  was 
married,  September  21, 1886,  to  Miss  Emma 
Dodge,  daughter  of  Edwin  and  Charlotte 
(Sherwood)    Dodge.       Their    children   are: 


970 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Annie  C,  Horace  C,  Marion  C,  and  Rachel 
H.  In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Republican, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church. 


NissLEY,  Isaac  L.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Swatara  township,  December  22,  1822.  He 
is  a  son  of  Martin  and  Fanny  (Laudis) 
Nissley.  Mr.  Nissley's  father  had  a  family  of 
ten  ciiildren,  five  of  whom  survive  :  Isaac  L., 
Solomon,  Jacob,  Joseph,  and  Fannie.  Isaac 
L.  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  farming,  but  is  now  living  retired. 
He  was  married,  in  1840,  to  Miss  Mary, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Neidig, 
by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Mary.  His 
wife  died  January  14,  1852.  He  married, 
secondh',  Catharine  M.  Harper,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Mar\'  (Miller)  Harper.  Their 
children  are:  Ira  H.,  Clara,  Elmer  E.,  Isaac 
L.,  Ida  E ,  Cora,  Warren  R.,  and  J.  Harper. 
Elmer  is  a  mail  agent,  and  J.  Harper  is  a 
stenographer.  Mr.  Nissley  is  a  staunch  Re- 
])ublican  and  has  served  two  terms  as  super- 
visor. He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 


Painter,  Jacob,  retired  blacksmith,  Pro- 
gress, Pa.,  was  born  in  Oley  township,  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  in  1825.  The  parents  are  both 
deceased.  There  was  but  one  day  of  a  dif- 
ference in  their  ages,  each  Ix'ing  eighty-one 
years  old.  Jacob  received  his  education  in 
his  native  county,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
began  to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksniith  with 
Frederick  Yeiser,  in  Mill  C^reek  township, 
Lebanon  county.  He  served  an  apprentice- 
ship of  two  ami  a  half  years,  for  which  he 
received  |20  per  year,  after  which  he  worked 
six  years  in  his  native  county.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  he  began  lousiness  for  himself, 
at  Manada  Hills,  Middle  Paxton  town.ship, 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  remained  three 
years.  After  living  at  Pine  Grove,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  and  various  other  places,  he 
moved  to  Susquehanna  township,  where  he 
continued  his  trade  for  twenty-seven  years. 

In  1887  he  purchased  the  Ludwig  prop- 
erty, and  in  1889  bought  his  present  home. 
He  retired  from  business  in  1892. 

He  was  married,  first,  August  21, 1847,  to 
Miss  Amelia  McCorkle,  daughter  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Fultz)  McCorkle.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Jacob  H.,  born  May  27,  1849,  and 
died  August  27, 1854 ;  Joseph,  born  March 
16,  1856,  and  died  in  1857  ;  Barbara,  born 


Septeml:ier  29,  1851,  wife  of  Augustus  Shoop  ; 
Mary  E.,  born  Octol)er  10, 1853,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Wolf;  and  one  child  who  died  in  infancy. 
His  wife  died  April  9,  1857.  He  married, 
secondly,  February  4,  1858,  Miss  Eliza, 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  Lutz. 
Their  children  were :  Katie  E.,  born  Decem- 
ber 26, 1860,  wife  of  Jacob  Wolf;  and  Sallie 
E.,  born  Ajiril  4,  1863,  wife  of  Wentz  Metz- 
ger.  Both  daughters  are  deceased.  Their 
mother  died  December  30, 1883.  He  married, 
thirdly,  July  23,  1885,  Miss  Mary  E.  Weaver, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Zimmer- 
man) Weaver.  In  politics  Mr.  Painter  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  .served  in  various  offices, 
being  township  auditor  for  three  terms,  and 
tax  collector  for  one  term,  in  1887.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  God. 


Re.\m,  Ai5ram,  miller.  Fort  Hunter,  Pa., 
was  born  near  Schaefferstown,  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.,  November  25, 1833.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Sarah  Ream.  The  father  was 
boi'u  September  1,  1808,  and  died  April  27, 
IScSO,  while  the  mother  was  born  in  1806  and 
died  March  10,  1878.  They  had  a  family  of 
eight  children  :  Annie,  wife  of  Henry  Hem- 
perly  ;  Abram  ;  Levina,  wife  of  John  Tittle ; 
John  ;  Sarah,  widow  of  William  Gross  ;  Ma- 
linda,  wife  of  William  Rhoads ;  and  two 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Ream's  father  died 
December  30,  1894,  aged  eighty-three  years, 
and  her  mother  died  .\pril  27,  1874,  aged 
sixty -eiglit  years.  They  had  these  children : 
Abraham  G.,  Elizabeth,  Henry  and  John, 
both  deceased,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Abram  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Ea,st  Hanover  township,  Lebanon 
county.  He  then  assi.sted  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  1852,  when  he  Ijegan  to  learn  the 
milling  trade.  He  rented  a  mill  and  began 
business  for  himself  in  1856.  In  1863  he 
moved  to  Manada  Furnace  and  rented  the 
mill  owned  by  his  father-in-law.  In  1868  he 
bought  the  old  McAllister  mill  at  Fort 
Hunter.  The  original  structure  was  built  in 
1735,  and  the  present  building  was  erected 
in  1881.  In  1886  the  roller  system  was  in- 
troduced into  the  mill.  He  w'as  married, 
June  5,  1856,  to  Elizabeth  Rider,  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Barbara  (Gisli)  Rider.  Their 
children  are  :  Ida  C,  born  .June  19, 1871,  and 
died  August  13,  1887;  Emma  L.,  born  May 
22,  1857  ;  Ellen,  born  .January  31,  1860,  wife 
of  Dr.  Heckert,  of  West  Fairview,  Cumber- 
land county  ;  Elmer  E.,  born  August  21, 
18G2;  Abraham    Lincoln,  born  August  28, 


WILLIAM  J.  GEORGE. 


PA  UPHIN  CO  UNT7. 


973 


1864;  Harry  R.,  born  December  7,  1S8(). 
In  politics  Mr.  Ream  is  a  Rej)ublican.  Tiie 
family  attend  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


Reiciiert,  Henry,  farmer,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 17,  1833.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Annie  Denny  Reichert.  The  father  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one  \'ears  and  tlie  motlier 
at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  They  had  a 
family  of  three  children.  Henry  received 
his  education  in  the  public  scliools  of  Lower 
Paxton  and  Susquehanna  townships.  After 
leaving  scliool  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
has  been  engaged  in  that  occupation  con- 
tinuously up  to  the  present  time.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Margaret  Douglass,  daugh- 
ter of  Jeremiah  and  Mary  (Wagner)  Douglass. 
Their  children  are  :  Annie  M.,  David  Joseph, 
Harvey  L.,  William  J.,  Andrew  C,  Rebecca 
E.,  Benjamin  H.,  Jeremiah  F.,  Carrie  M., 
and  one  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 
Mr.  Reichert  has  served  two  terms  as  super- 
visor and  also  serves  as  inspector.  His  an- 
cestors were  Lutherans. 


Shope,  Elias  L.,  M.  D.,  Penbrook,  was 
born  at  Penbrook.  He  is  a  son  of  Elias  P. 
and  Elizabetli  Fackler  Sbope.  The  fatber 
was  born  November  25,  1833,  and  died 
March  13,  1885,  and  the  mother  was  born 
May  10,  1833,  and  died  August  6,  1873. 
They  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  five  of 
whom  have  passed  away.  The  surviving 
ones  are :  George  W.,  Susan  E.,  and  Elias  L. 
Elias  L.  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Penbrook  and  in  the 
Harrisburg  Acadera3^  He  then  taugbt 
school  three'  years,  after  which  he  began 
to  study  medicine  with  Dr.  Emil  Putt,  of 
Oberlin.  In  1887  he  entered  the  University 
of  Maryland,  Baltimore,  and  a  year  later 
continued  Ins  studies  in  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  of  Philadelpiiia,  from  which  insti- 
tution be  graduated  in  1889.  He  located  in 
Penbrook  for  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  enjoys  a  large  practice.  He  built  his 
present  borne  in  1894.  In  addition  to  his 
profession  he  also  conducts  a  store  success- 
fully. 

He  was  married,  August  15,  1889,  to  Miss 
Mary  Hocker,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Martba 
Hocker.  They  iiave  one  child,  Herman  S 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Shope  bad  tbese  ciiil- 
dreu:  Kate,  wife  of  David  Gingerick  ;  Ella, 
wife  of  Samuel  Garrett ;  Mary;  Lizzie,  wife 
of  Daniel  Rhodes ;  Susan,  and  Martin.  In 
6i 


1889  the  Doctor  was  appointed  county  phy- 
sician by  the  board  of  directors  of  tiie  i)oor, 
and  was  largely  instrumental  in  having 
Penbrook  incorporated  as  a  borough  in  1893. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


Stouffer,  Elias  E.,  farmer,  was  born  Au- 
gust 3,  1854,  in  Lower  Paxton  township.  He 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  J.  and  Barbara  (Ebersole) 
Stouffer.  The  father,  Jacob  J.  Stouffer,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county,  January  4,  1806, 
and  died  April  21,  1891.  The  mother  was 
born  November  10,  1816.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children.  Mrs.  Stouffer's  father 
died  August  29,  1895,  and  her  mother  in 
March,  1893.  Elias  E.  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools,  and  then 
engaged  in  farming,  which  he  has  fol- 
lowed up  to  the  present  time.  He  was  mar- 
ried, January  25,  1877,  to  Miss  Elizabetli 
Ann  Ewing,  daughter  of  William  and  Bar- 
bara (Lingle)  Ewing.  Their  children  are  : 
Mary  E.,  Ida  A.,  William  E.,  Laura  J.,  and 
Ruth  M.  Mr.  Stouffer  is  a  Repul>liean  and 
has  served  as  assessor.  He  is  treasurer  of 
Shoop's  Union  Congregational  church. 

Trullinger,  George  L.,  dairyman  and 
farmer,  was  born  in  Middle  Paxton  town- 
ship, October  23,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Eliza  Walker  Trullinger.  The 
motiier  died  November  16,  1884,  and  had  a 
famil}'  of  ten  children,  four  of  whom  sur- 
vive: Samuel  Walker,  George  L.,  John  E., 
and  Mary,  wife  of  John  J.  Hain.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  academy.  He  then  engaged  in  farming, 
and  has  continued  in  that  occupation  to  the 
present  time.  He  was  married,  December 
26,  1876,  to  Miss  Katie  R.  Kunkle,  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Susan  Black  Kunkle.  Their 
cliildren  are:  Mary  S.,  George  C,  and 
Ralph  E.  In  politics  lie  is  a  Republican, 
and  tiie  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
churcli. 


Ulrich,  Is.iAC,  farmer,  was  born  in  Lower 
Swatara  township,  Oetoljcr  1,  1845.  He  is  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Polly  Allaman  L^lrich. 
The  father  died  in  1886,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine  years,  and  the  mother  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty  years.  Thej'  had  these  chil- 
dren: Nancy,  Solomon,  Catharine,  Mary, 
Eliziibeth,  Martin,  Isaac,  Sarah,  David, 
Emma,  Rebecca,  ana  Samuel,  both  de- 
ceased. 


974 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Isaac  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  then  engaged 
in  farming  for  his  father.  In  1809  he  began 
to  farm  for  himself,  and  has  continued  in 
that  occupation  to  the  present  time.  He  was 
married,  in  November,  1869,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Foltz,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Bar- 
bara Folt/,.  Their  children  are:  Milton  F., 
Mary  A.,  Albert  N.,  a  graduate  of  Sldppens- 
burgNoi'mal  ydiool ;  A\'illiam  ]*].,  and  Bertlia 
M.  He  is  a  Rei)ul)lican,  and  has  served  as 
school  director,  tax  collector,  and  townsliip 
auditor.  He  and  his  family  attend  the 
United  Brethren  chnrc  h. 


Beaver,  John  L.,  farmer  and  fruit-grower, 
was  born  September  28,  18r)(J.  He  is  a  son 
of  Isaac  L.  and  Catharine  (Lingle)  Beaver. 
The  father  died  July  17,  1891,  and  tlie 
mother  September  25,  1861.  They  had  four 
children  :  John  L.;  Annie,  wife  of  John  Ham- 
])ing;  James  Buchanan;  and  Emma,  wife 
of  Isaac  Zinnni'rman.  Mr.  Beaver  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  then 
engaged  in  farming  until  1872,  when  he  be- 
gan truck-farming,  a  business  which  he  has 
followed  up  to  the  present  time.  He  mar- 
ried, March  20,  1872,  Miss  Sallie  (iarman, 
daughter  of  George  and  Katiierine  (I'age) 
Garman.  Their  children  are  :  Katie  E.,  wife 
of  Franklin  Matzinger;  Charles  E.,  Sadie, 
John  L.,  Jr.,  Ross,  and  Manda.  Mr.  Beaver 
has  served  as  inspector  on  the  election  board, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Grange, 
No.  42,  of  Daupiiin  county.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


STEELTON  AND  SWATARA  TOWN- 
SHIP. 


Henderson,  William  B.,  M.  D.,  was  born 
in  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  January  8,1830.  He 
is  a  son  of  Dr.  AVilliam  Henderson  and  Mary 
( Wolfe rsherger)  Henderson.  His  father  was 
born  in  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  in  1795. 
He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Sampson,  of 
Siiippensburg,  and  graduated  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  in  1818.  In  the 
same  year  he  located  in  Huramelstosvn,  Pa., 
and  engaged  in  tiie  pi'actice  of  his  pro- 
fession, in  which  he  continued  until  his 
death,  in  1849.  He  was  recognized  as  one 
of  the  leading  physicians  of  his  time.  In 
1838  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature, 
and  served  two  terms,  the  first  session  being 


held  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  second  in 
Harrisburg.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  Wolfe  rsherger,  of  Campbells- 
town,  Lebanon  county.  Pa. 

Dr.  William  B.  was  primarily  instructed 
in  the  subscription  schools  of  the  town,  and 
subsequently  completed  a  collegiate  course 
at  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg.  When 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  he  engaged  as 
clerk  with  Robert  E.  Snodgra.ss,  of  Ship- 
pensburg,  and  remained  with  liim  two  years. 
After  this  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  Benjamin  Wiestling,  of  Middle- 
town.  In  the  autumn  of  1851  he  entered 
the  office  of  Prof  John  Atlee,  a  member  of 
the  faculty  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  College. 
He  was  graduated  from  this  institution  in 
March,  1853.  In  the  following  year  he  be- 
gan the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  in 
Hummelstown,  forming  a  partnership  with 
Dr.  Jacob  Shope.  In  1860  he  removed  to 
Mount  Nebo,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  and  took 
ciiarge  of  the  extensive  practice  of  Dr. 
Jacob  Cooper.  In  1862  lie  left  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice  and  enlisted  in  the  army 
in  defense  of  his  country.  He  was  assigned 
to  duty  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Eighth 
regiment,  Penn.sylvania  volunteers,  "  The 
Philadelphia  Blues,"  and  joined  his  regi- 
ment at  Hagerstown,  Md.  In  November  of 
the  same  year  he  was  commissioned  by  Gov. 
Andrew  G.  Curtin  as  assistant  surgeon  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventii  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  drafted  militia,  com- 
manded by  Col.  Charles  Knoderer,  and  was 
at  his  side  when  he  was  killed  at  tiie  battle 
of  Deserted  House,  Virginia,  December  29. 
In  1864  he  was  assigned  to  duty  as  assistant 
surgeon  of  the  United  States  army  at  General 
Slough  barracks  hospital,  Virginia,  under 
Surgeon  Bentley.  Later  he  was  assigned  to 
duty  at  the  general  hospital  in  the  Fairfax 
Seminary  building,  at  Fairfax  Court  Hou.se, 
Va.  He  was  afterwards  in  service  at  Berks 
Station,  Va.,  and  at  Winchester,  W.  Va.  He 
was  also  for  several  months  with  the  Six- 
teenth New  York  cavalry.  In  1865  he  was 
again  commissioned  by  the  War  Gover- 
nor of  Pennsylvania  as  assistant  surgeon  of 
the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  cavalr}',  and  was 
with  that  regiment  until  the  end  of  the  war. 
After  his  discharge  from  the  army  he  prac- 
ticed medicine  and  surgery  in  various  places 
until  1880,  when  he  located  in  Steelton, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  and  where  he 
enjoys  a  good  practice.     He  has  been  sur- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


975 


geon  of  Sergeant  Lascomb  Post,  No.  351, 
G.  A.  R.,  since  its  organization  in  1883. 
He  married  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
farmer  .Jacob  Seiders.  They  are  prominent 
in  society  and  are  important  factors  in  tiie 
busy  and  prosperous  community  in  wliich 
they  reside. 


Henderson,  Dr.  .James,  deceased,  was 
born  in  Hummelstown,  in  1827.  He  .studied 
medicine  under  Dr.  Wasliington  L.  Atlee,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  remained  with  him  eight 
years,  assisting  him  in  his  extensive  practice. 
He  married  a  Miss  Wolfe rsberger,  and  went 
to  Plymouth,  Ohio,  where  be  remained  two 
years.  At  the  death  of  his  father  he  returned 
to  Hummelstown,  and  succeeded  to  the  ex- 
tensive practice  his  father  bad  enjoyed  there. 
Early  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  enlisted 
in  the  defense  of  his  country,  and  became 
commander  of  company  G  ,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty -seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers ;  he  served  with  distinction,  par- 
ticipating in  many  of  the  famous  battles  of 
the  war.  He  re-enlisted  in  August,  1864,  in 
the  Two  Hundred  and  First  regiment,  as  as- 
sistant surgeon  to  Dr.  Benjamin  F.  Wagon- 
seller,  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  De- 
cember, 1864,  at  Alexandria,  Va.  He  then 
returned  to  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  and  resumed 
tlie  practice  of  medicine.  He  died  from  a 
pulmonary  attack  in  April,  1880,  leaving  a 
widow  and  five  children :  James  A.,  of  Har- 
risburg;  Charles  R.,  of  Trenton,  N.  J.;  Henry 
Clay,  of  Harrisburg;  Annie,  wife  of  Robert 
Emerick,  of  Harrisburg,  and  Maggie  May,  a 
teacher  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 


Henderson,  John  W.,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Hummelstown.  He  served  in  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion.  He  was  a  member  of  com- 
pany C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  of 
company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-second 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  both 
companies  from  Hummelstown.  He  was  for 
twenty-four  years  a  member  of  the  Hum- 
melstown Band,  and  was  a  proficient  per- 
former on  the  B  flat  cornet.  Socially  he  was 
a  man  of  great  kindness  of  heart  and  of  most 
generous  impulses,  and  was  very  popular. 
He  died  in  Hummelstown,  in  1889.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Fox,  daughter  of  John 
Fox.  His  wife  survives  him,  with  four  chil- 
dren :  Minnie,  Sallie,  Mary,  and  Bruce. 


Seibert,  William  Henry,  M.  D.,  the  son 
of  Jacob  and  Anna  Mary  (Nonamaker)  Sei- 
bert, was  born  February  19,  1850,  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  ten 
miles  east  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.  His  great- 
grandfather, John  Adam  Seibert,  emigrated 
from  Germany  in  the  year  1764,  and  settled 
in  the  vicinity  of  Reading,  Pa.  He  had  four 
children  :  Jolin,  born  in  1767  ;  Tobias,  born 
in  1769 ;  George,  born  in  1772 ;  and  Susanna, 
who  was  married,  first,  to  Peter  Dentzel,  and 
second,  to  John  Mayer,  of  Paxtang  township. 
John  Adam  Seibert  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  soon  after  its  close  removed 
to  the  vicinity  of  Hummelstown,  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  continued  to  live  until  the 
time  of  his  death. 

George  Seibert,  born  November  3,  1772, 
died  May  6,  1837;  was  married  to  Margaret 
Brandt,  who  was  born  September  13,  1787, 
and  died  September  9,  1849.  She  was  tlie 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Maria  Elizabetli 
(Windnagle)  Brandt,  whose  children  were : 
Elisabeth,  Susan,  Margaret,  CUn-istian,  Maria 
Ann  (Nancy),  and  John.  The  parents  of 
Jacob  Brandt  were  Samuel  Brandt,  born  in 
1708  and  died  in  1768,  and  Rosina  Brandt, 
born  in  1712,  who  emigrated  from  Germany 
in  1732,  and  settled  in  Paxtang  townsliip. 
Tlieir  children  were :  Chrii^tian,  John,  Peter, 
Nancy,  Elizabeth,  Jacob, and  Maria.  Maria 
Elizabeth  Windnagle,  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Brandt,  born  December  14,  1753,  died  1837, 
was  the  daughter  of  John  Matbias  Wind- 
nagle, born  May  14,  1716,  died  February  28, 
1786,  and  Maria  Catliarine  Ritter,  his  wife, 
born  April  7,  1717,  died  February  28,  1786. 
They  emigrated  from  Switzerland  in  1732 
and  settled  near  Middletown,  Pa.  Their 
descendants  are  quite  numerous  and  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Dauphin  county. 

George  and  Margaret  (Brandt)  Seibert  had 
children:  Elizabeth,  born  June  17,  1804, 
married  Michael  Horner,  died  September 
22,  1853  ;  Catharina,  born  Augu.st  10, 1805, 
married  John  Peters,  died  May  22,  1869  ; 
Anna  Maria,  born  August  10,  1809,  married 
Jacob  Gensler,  died  October  7,  1895  ;  Mag- 
dalena,  born  December  10,  1810,  died  single 
January  8,  1879;  Sarah,  born  April  21, 
1812,  married  Solomon  Snyder,  died  Sep- 
tember 23,  1885 ;  Susanna,  born  January  8, 
1814,  married  John  Shirk,  died  December 
20,  1847 ;  John,  born  October  28,  1816,  late 
of  Palmyra,  Pa.,  died  March  20, 1893 ;  -Jacob, 
born  September  22,  1818,  died  near  Hum- 
melstown,  October  9,   1886 ;     David,   born 


976 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


September  20,  1820,  died  near  Lebanon  Pa., 
September  3,  1870,  and  George,  born  July 
13,  1825,  living  at  Union  Deposit,  Pa.;  be- 
sides several  deceased  minor  children. 

The  wife  of  Jacob  Seibert.  born  September 
22,  1818,  died  October  9,  1886,  was  Anna 
Mary  Nonamaker,  born  March  10, 1824,  and 
died  February  2{),  1858.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  John  H.  Nonamaker,  died  Sej)- 
tember  5,  1831,  who  emigrated  from  Ger- 
many, and  Sybilla  Slecht,  died  18()6,  the 
daughter  of  Matthias  Slecht,  who  also  emi- 
grated from  Germany.  Their  children  were : 
Anna  Mary,  Catharine  E.,  John  II.,  and 
Charles.  Tiie  children  of  Jacob  Seibert  are  : 
John  D.,  born  in  1846,  a  farmer  of  Hanover 
Dale,  Dauphin  county  ;  Annie  M.,  born  in 
1848,  of  Steelton,  Pa.;  William  H.,  born  in 
1850;  Susan  S.,born  in  1852,  married  George 
W.  Dress,  of  Steelton,  Pa.;  and  George  W., 
born  in  1855,  a  physician  of  Lebanon,  Pa. 

William  H.  Seibert  spent  his  childhood 
on  tiie  farm  with  his  parents,  receiving  the 
education  afforded  by  the  country  schools. 
Later  he  attended  the  select  school  of  the 
neighborhood,  and  subsequently  taught  for 
live  years  in  the  country  schools,  and  studied 
at  Lebanon  Valley  College,  In  1872  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine  witli  John  H. 
Roebuck,  M.  D.,  of  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  and 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, March  12,  1874.  He  soon  after  lo- 
cated in  Steelton  (then  Baldwin),  where  he 
has  since  practiced  iiis  profession.  On  the 
organization  of  the  tdwn  into  a  borough  in 
1880,  Dr.  Seibert  was  elected  a  councilman 
and  occupied  the  position  of  president  of  the 
council.  In  1883  he  was  elected  burgess 
and  re-elected  for  the  following  term.  He 
has  been  active  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  prominent  in  the  business  en- 
terprises of  the  place  and  vicinit}'. 

Peters,  Jacob  M.,  M.  D.,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was 
born  at  Mountville,  Lanca.ster  county.  Pa., 
December  1, 1862.  His  grandfather,  Michael 
Peters,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Lancaster 
county,  and  lived  to  a  good  old  age.  Rev. 
Lewis  Peters,  father  of  Jacol)  M.,  was  born 
July  12,  1836,  and  died  March  8,  1893.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Con- 
ference of  Pennsylvania.  He  officiated  as 
pastor  in  the  United  Brethren  church  for 
over  forty  years.  He  married  Miss  Cassa- 
della  Rank,  of  Lancaster  county,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children,  namely:  Jacob  M.; 
Augustus,  a  prominent  druggist  of  Steelton, 


and   Minnie,  wife  of  John    P.    Knisely,   of 
Steelton. 

Jacob  M.  attended  the  common  schools  of 
Lanca.ster  county  until  he  was  about  fifteen 
years  old.  In  1877  he  entered  the  gramniar 
school  of  Mrs.  Johnson,  after  which  he  was 
promoted  to  Professor  Hoofnagle's  class.  In 
1879  he  entered  the  freshman  class  in  the 
classical  course  at  Lebanon  Valley  College. 
In  1883  he  passed  examination  before  Dr. 
William  L.  Atlee,  Sr.,  Dr.  J.  Carpenter,  of 
Lancaster,  and  Dr.  Ziegler.  He  then  en- 
tered the  office  of  Dr.  Henry  B.  Stehman  as 
a  student  of  medicine,  where  he  remained 
for  about  six  months,  when  Dr.  Stehman  re- 
moved to  Chicago,  111.  He  then  entered  the 
office  of  Dr.  Frank  M.  Mu.sser,  of  Lancaster, 
where  he  remained  until  1885.  He  was 
graduated  from  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  in  May,  1886.  After  one 
month's  vacation,  he  located  in  Steelton,  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profeission.  He  has 
met  with  gratifying  success,  and  enjoys  an 
extensive  practice.  He  has  been  surgeon  for 
the  Penn.sylvania  Railroad  Company  since 
1889.  He  was  county  physician  from  1887 
to  1891.  He  has  been  healtii  officer  of  Steel- 
ton Board  of  Healtii  since  March,  1895.  He 
has  also  been  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Health 
since  its  organization  in  1892.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  464,  F.  &  A. 
M.;  Pilgrim  Commandery,  No.  11,  K.  T.; 
Harrisburg  Consistory,  32°,  and  Lulu  Tem- 
ple, A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Philadelphia.  He 
lias  l)een  a  member  of  the  Dauphin  County 
jNh'dical  Society  since  1887.  He  was  mar- 
ried, December  15,  1886,  to  Miss  Margaret 
McCausland  Samjjle,  daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel 
R.  Sample,  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa. 


MissEMER,  J.  R.,  editor  and  publisher  of 
the  Steelton  Advocate, ■wa.shom  on  the  banks 
of  the  Little  Chickies  creek,  in  Mount  Joy 
township,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  March  24, 
1851.  His  father  died  when  he  was  only 
three  years  old.  He  spent  the  first  twenty- 
five  years  of  his  life  on  the  farm  on  which 
he  was  born.  He  received  the  education 
which  the  country  schools  afforded  and  the 
important  practical  training  which  indus- 
trious employment  in  farming  gave  him.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  a  teacher's  certificate 
was  granted  him  by  County  Superintendent 
Evans.  He  taught  school  three  terms  in 
his  native  township.  When  he  was  twent\'- 
one  j'ears  of  age  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  for  five  years,  and  at  the  expira- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


977 


tion  of  this  term  he  was  re-elected  to  tlio 
same  oftice,  liLit  .soon  removed  from  the  dis- 
trict. During  that  time  ho  also  carried  on 
surveying  and  convc^'ancing,  besides  doing 
an  extensive  business  as  a  scrivener.  He 
first  embarked  in  the  newspaper  business  in 
1875,  when  he  became  the  local  editor  of  the 
Milton  Grove  News,  which  at  that  time  was 
published  b}'  the  Lancaster  County  News- 
paper Alliance.  Tlie  following  year  lie  es- 
tablished the  paper  as  an  independent  jour- 
nal and  became  its  sole  editor  and  pub- 
lisher. At  the  same  time  he  established  and 
conducted  a  jol)  printing  office. 

In  1878  lie  purchased  the  M(.)unt  Joy  Star 
and  consolidated  the  two  papers  as  the 
Mount  Joy  Star  and  News.  He  published 
tiiis  paper  for  nine  years  and  enlarged  and 
improved  it.  For  a  number  of  years  it  was 
the  largest  of  the  eighteen  papers  published 
in  the  county  outside  of  Lancaster  city. 
For  several  years  he  conducted  a  newspaper 
syndicate,  during  whicli  time  he  edited  and 
published  tiie  Florin  Independent,  Milton 
Grove  Progress,  Bainbridge  Banner,  Sporting 
Hill  Messenger,  Salunga  Siftings  and  I^andis- 
vilie  Vigil. 

In  1888  he  purchased  the  Steelton  Advo- 
cate, which  he  has  published  since  that  time. 
At  present  he  issues  only  a  weekly  edition  of 
the  i^aper,  but  for  some  time  before  the  de- 
pression of  business  two  years  ago  he  pub- 
lished the  Daily  Advocate.  In  18!)2  he  asso- 
ciated his  son  George  W.  with  himself  in 
the  publisliing  of  tlie  Advocate.  Tlie  junior 
member  of  the  firm  was  only  fifteen  years  of 
age  at  the  time  he  assumed  the  responsible 
position  of  proprietor,  and  was  then  the 
youngest  editor  and  newpaper  publisher  in 
the  United  States.  In  18i'3  Mr.  Missemer 
again  purchased  the  Mt.  Jo}'  iS'to-  and  Neivs, 
which  he  had  sold  six  years  before.  Since 
that  time  he  publishes  both  papers,  but  both 
offices  and  papers  are  kept  as  distinct  and 
separate  as  if  they  belonged  to  different  pro- 
j)rietors.  He  continues  to  reside  with  his 
family  at  Steelton  and  gives  tlie  Advocate]iiH 
persona]  attention  for  several  days  of  each 
week.  The  rest  of  his  time  he  devotes  to  his 
Mt.  Joy  office.  In  his  absence  the  Steelton 
office  is  in  charge  of  his  .son  and  is  in  safe 
and  able  hands.  By  this  feature  of  his  busi- 
ness Mr.  Missemer  is  demonstrating  by  prac- 
tical operation  the  advantages  of  having 
more  than  one  newspaper  and  printing  office 
under  one  management.  This  plan  has  been 
successfully  carried  out  in  many  brandies  of 


business,  but  lias  not  before  been  attempted 
in  the  publishing  business.  The  result  is  so 
eminently  satisfactory  that  he  contemplates 
starting  a  third  paper  and  printing  office. 

While  Mr.  Missemer  has  had  his  hands  so 
full  at  home  he  has  not  failed  to  look  abroad. 
He  has  made  a  notable  record  as  a  traveler, 
having  visited  the  Pacific  Coast  and  Canada 
as  well  as  the  Soutliern  States.  He  recently 
made  a  trip  to  the  Cotton  States  Exposition, 
at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  at  the  same  time  went 
to  Florida,  visiting  .Jacksonville,  St.  Au- 
gustine and  Tampa.  Mr.  Missemer  has  been 
serving  as  administrator,  executor  and  as- 
signee for  a  number  of  estates.  Llis  family 
consists  of  his  wife,  fnur  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. 


WiCKERSH.iM,  Frank  B.,  attorney,  Steel- 
ton, Pa.,  was  born  in  Newberry  township, 
York  county.  Pa.,  April  7, 1863.  His  father, 
Joseph  Wickersham,  was  a  native  of  York 
county,  Pa.  He  was  born  April  1,  1809, 
and  died  February  28,  1892.  He  was  a  far- 
mer, and  also  taught  school  for  a  period  of 
ten  years.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  edu- 
cational affairs,  and  was  an  ardent  temper- 
ance reformer.  He  belonged  to  the  Society 
of  Friends.  He  married  Hannah  C.  Squibb. 
They  had  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  John,  who  married  Miss 
Ada  Bryan,  and  has  six  children  ;  Susan, 
wife  of  .John  M.  Freeburn,  of  Dau[ihin 
county,  who  has  four  children  ;  Matilda, 
living  in  Steelton  ;  Marianna,  widow  of  Joim 
A.  Sponsler,  of  Dauphin  county  ;  Clara,  wife 
of  Dr.  Geo.  C.  Garretson,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio  ; 
M.  S.,  married  to  Lizzie  Elden,  b}'  whom  he 
lias  two  children ;  Emma,  wife  of  John  H. 
Wacker,  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  who  has  one 
child,  and  Frank  B.  William  and  Rebecca 
were  scalded  to  death  at  the  ages  of  four  and 
two  years  respectively.  Ellen,  Annie  and 
Lizzie  died  of  diphtheria  when  quite  young. 

Frank  B.  acquired  liis  primary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  townshij). 
In  1881  he  began  teaching  school,  and 
taught  two  terms  in  his  native  township, 
one  term  in  the  model  school  of  the  Normal 
School  at  Shii)|)ensburg,  Cumberland  county, 
one  term  in  the  Hanover  liigh  school  and 
three  terms  in  Steelton,  Pa.  In  1884  he 
graduated  from  the  Cumberland  Valley 
State  Normal  School,  and  in  1885  registered 
as  law  student  under  Senator  McCarrell. 
January  19,  1888,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Dauj)hin   county   bar.     Since  that  time  he 


978 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


has  been  engcaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Steelton.  He  has  acted  as  solicitor 
of  the  borough  of  Steelton  since  1889.  He 
is  director  and  attorney  for  tiie  Steelton 
Home  Water  Company,  and  director  and  so- 
licitor for  the  People's  Building  and  Loan 
Association.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  a  period  of  six  years.  He  is  a 
Republican,  and  is  active  in  party  matters. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  St.  John's  Lu- 
theran church,  and  is  one  of  its  trustees. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  of  Steelton.  In  1889  he 
married  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Roe)  Fencil,  of  Steelton,  by  whom 
he  lias  two  children,  Frank  Brewster,  born 
June  22, 1893,  and  Robert  Cad wallader,  born 
February  2, 1895. 


.  HuMMELL,  Levi,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born 
July  19,  1820.  Christian  Hummell,  his 
grandfatlier.  was  a  native  of  Dauphin  countv, 
his  father's  family  being  among  its  earliest 
settlers.  He  lived  and  died  in  Hummels- 
town.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He 
married,  and  I'eared  seven  children :  John, 
Jacob,  Cliristian,  Jr.,  Frederick,  Joseph, 
David,  and  Polly.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  Jacob  Hummell,  son  of 
Christian  and  father  of  Levi,  wasliorn  March 
13,  1791.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
and  followed  that  occupation  through  life. 
He  married  Miss  Justina  Bowers,  of  Hum- 
melstown,  who  was  born  in  Germany.  Tiieir 
children  were:  Susanna,  liorn  January  (i, 
1810,  died  September  1,  1822  ;  Caroline,  who 
died  Februar}^  21,  1852 ;  Levi;  Justina,  I  )orn 
December  8,  1822,  widow  of  Benjamin  Fes- 
ter, of  Mansfield,  Ohio;  Sarah,  born  October  4, 
1825;  Abner,  born  October  2,  1827,  die<l 
leaving  a  widow  and  six  children;  Harriet, 
deceased,  born  February  3.  1830,  married 
Christian  Laley,  had  two  children;  Theo- 
dore, born  October  16,  1833,  married  Miss 
Hoy,  and  liad  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living ;  Mary,  born  July  20,  1836,  living 
in  the  A\'est. 

Levi  Hummell  acquired  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  locality.  At  the 
age  of  eleven  years  he  began  learning  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter,  as  apprentice  to  his 
father.  He  followed  this  occupation  until 
1871,  when  he  erected  the  first  grocery  store 
in  Steelton,  where  he  had  carried  on  that 
business  for  fifteen  years,  after  which  he  re- 
tired. He  takes  an  active  part  in  politics 
in   connection  with  the   Republican  party. 


He  has  held  the  office  of  borough  supervisor 
for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  and  liis  fam- 
il}'  attend  the  United  Brethren  chui'ch.  He 
was  married,  February  20, 1845,  to  Miss  Julia 
M.  Brestle.  daughter  of  Charles  Brestle,  of 
Middletown.  Their  children  are:  Elmer C, 
clerk  in  the  commissioner's  office,  at  Harris- 
burg;  Charles,  a  carpenter  at  the  Steel  Works; 
Clara  W.,  living  at  home,  and  five  who  have 
died  :  John  Boyd,  Henry,  and  Robert,  died 
in  infancy;  Harriet  Rebecca,  in  1864,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years,  and  Josejih  Abner,  May 
14,  1891,  aged  forty  years. 


CuLP,  John  F.,  M.  D.,  Steelton,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  6,  1864.  His  father, 
John  Culp,  is  a  native  of  the  same  county, 
and  was  born  in  1832.  He  was  a  contractor 
and  builder  in  the  early  part  of  iiis  life,  and 
later  engaged  in  the  produce  business.  He 
retired  from  business  in  1888.  He  married 
Miss  Alice  Onell,  of  Piiihulelphia.  They  had 
six  children:  William,  dt'ceased  ;  Margaret, 
died  in  infancy;  Emma,  wife  of  William 
Spencer;  John  F.;  Lea,  living  at  home  ;  and 
Raymond,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Culp 
lias  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters,  and  has  especially  sought  to 
give  his  children  the  ailvantages  of  a  thor- 
ough and  liberal  education.  John  F.  com- 
pleted his  preliminary  education  in  the 
Philadelphia  high  school,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1882.  He  pursued  the  regular 
course  in  the  University  of  Penn.s^ylvania, 
entering  in  1883,  and  receiving  his  dijjloma 
in  1886.  He  came  at  once  to  Harrisburg, 
and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  as 
resident  physician  in  the  HarrLsburg  Hos- 
pital, where  he  remained  one  year.  He  next 
entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Thomas  J.  Dunott, 
where  he  remained  one  year;  after  this  he 
located  in  Steelton,  where  he  has  since  con- 
ducted a  general  practice,  and  has  enjoyed  a 
gratifying  success.  He  is  surgeon  and  resi- 
dent physician  for  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Company,  of  Steelton.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Harrisburg  Academy  of  Medicine,  the 
Dauphin  County  Medical  Society,  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  Medical  Society,  and  the 
American  Medical  Association. 


CouFFER,  Samuel,  proprietor  of  the  Couffer 
House,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  near  Harris- 
burg, in  what  is  now  a  part  of  the  citv 
March  9, 1838.  His  father,  William  Couffer, 
was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  Pa.  He  was 
born  in  1808.     He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


979 


He  married  Miss  Catherine  Sunnon  ;  and  of 
their  five  children  two  are  living  :  William, 
engaged  in  mining  zinc  and  lead,  at  Joplin, 
Miss.,  married  and  has  a  family;  and  Sam- 
uel.    The  father  died  December  24,  1S83. 

Samuel  acquired  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Dauphin  county  and  the  city 
schools  of  Harrisburg.  At  the  age  of  eleven 
he  became  a  boatman  on  the  Pennsylvania 
canal,  and  followed  this  occupation  up  to 
1864.  From  that  time  until  1876  he  had 
charge  of  the  Bombaugh  stone  ([uarry.  He 
was  next  engaged  in  the  ice  and  coal  busi- 
ness, which  he  carried  on  for  fourteen  years. 
In  1880  he  turned  his  attention  to  hotel 
keeping  and  opened  the  C'ouffer  House  in 
Steelton,  and  has  since  continued  to  be  its 
])roprietor.  He  has  met  with  success  in  this 
undertaking,  and  has  demonstrated  his  busi- 
ness ability.  He  is  also  interested  in  other 
business  ventures.  He  was  the  instigator  of 
tlie  Steelton  Light,  Heat  and  Power  Com- 
pany, which  was  organized  with  a  capital  of 
§40,000,  .since  increased  to  $60,000  and  the 
company  made  a  stock  company.  He  acted 
as  burg&ss  of  Steelton  for  one  year.  He  is  a 
member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  of 
Harrisburg,  and  of  the  I.  0.  R.  ]\L,  No.  243, 
of  Steelton.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  polities. 
In  1860  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Martin,  of  Hummelstown,  who 
died  in  the  West.  Their  children  are  three : 
Charles  M.,  who  married  Amanda  Mumma, 
and  has  four  children  ;  Samuel  S.,  lineman 
for  the  Steelton  Light,  Heat  and  Power  Com- 
pany, married  Mi.ss  Bowman,  and  has  one 
child  ;  Carrie,  living  at  home.  Mr.  Couffer 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  what  is  now 
Steelton.  When  he  came  there,  in  1865,  the 
borough  was  not  yet  organized. 


SiEG,  William  H.  H.,  editor  and  pub- 
lisher, Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lykens 
Valley,  near  Millersburg,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  May  17,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
P.  and  Catharine  (Young)  Sieg.  The  father 
was  born  near  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  -lanuary 
31,  1803,  an<l  died  in  Harrisburg,  March  12, 
1879.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade  and  was 
employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  for  thirty  years.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Catharine  Young,  who  was  born  in 
Youngstown,  Pa.,  February  21,  1804,  imd 
died  in  Harrisburg,  March  24,  1885.  They 
have  had  these  children:  Louisa;  Catha- 
rine ;  Samuel   H.,  died  in  Chicago,  in  1892  ; 


William  H.  H.;  Elizabeth,  died  in  Harris- 
burg, in  185G  ;  and  Lydia  A. 

AVilliara  H.  H.  received  his  education   in 
the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg.     In  early 
life  he  felt  inclined  toward  newspaper  work, 
and   in   1852  began  to  learn  printing   with 
Rev.  John  AVinebrenner,  on  the  Church  Ad- 
vocate, remaining  tliere  two  years.     During 
the  war  he  was  engaged  part  of  the  time  as 
clerk  in  the  Harrisburg  postofiice,  and   was 
also  in  the  secret  service    under  Governor 
Curtin,  rendering  valuable  and  efficient  ser- 
vice to  the  Government  when  the  Southern 
troops  were  in  the  Cumberland  Valley,  be- 
fore the  battle  of  Gettysburg.     In   1869   he 
embarked  in  the  printing  business  in   Har- 
risburg, and  in  1882  moved  to  Steelton  and 
established   the  Steelton  Reporter,  an  enter- 
prise which  has  proven  very  successful,  and 
of  which  he  is  still  the  head.     From  1866  to 
1876  Mr.  Sieg  was  a  member  of  the  common 
council  of  Harrisburg,  being  president  of  the 
same  from  1873  to  1875.     He  was  secretary 
of  Steelton  borough  council   from   1883  to 
1885,   resigning   to   accept   the  position    of 
postmaster,  to  which   he  was  appointed    in 
February,  1885.     After  serving  three  years 
and  a  half  he  was  re-appointed  by  President 
Harrison,  September,   1891,  and  continued 
four  years  and  a  half  longer  in  the  same 
position.     All  the  positions  of  public  trust 
which  Mr.  Sieg  has  occupied  have  been  held 
with  that  same  fidelity  and  strict  honesty 
which  has  always  characterized  his  private 
affairs,  and  which   has  been  the  keynote  of 
his  succe.ss.     He  is  a  member  of   Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  and  of  the   Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.     He  was  married,  in 
Harrisburg,    November   27,    1858,   to    Miss 
Annie  A.  Black,  born  September  10,  1837, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Black,  ])orn  in  Dauphin 
county,  in  1806,  and   Catharine  (Hemperly) 
Black,  born    in    Middletown,  Pa.,   in    1808. 
Tlieir  children  are :  Katie,  Mary,  William  P., 
Annie,  deceased,    and    .James    Young   Sieg. 
In  politics  Mr.  Sieg  is  a  Republican,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


Neeon,  D.  W.,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  November  10, 1841. 
John  Neron,  his  grandfather,  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  and  was  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Cumberland  county.  According  to 
well-authenticated  records,  he  lived  to  be 
over  one  hundred  years  old.  He  married 
Miss  Tarman,  of  Adams  county,  Pa.,  by 
wliom   he  had  five  children :  John,  Benja- 


980 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


mill,  Joseph,  Robert,  and  Rachel,  wlio  mar- 
ried Jolni  Hutchinson.  Benjamin  Neron, 
father  of  D.  W.,  was  born  in  1810,  in  Cum- 
berhind  county,  Pa.,  where  he  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  He  was  a  horse- 
shoer  by  ti-ade.  For  many  years  he  was  en- 
gaged on  the  Mississippi  river  in  navigation. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  Moore,  daughter  of 
Anthony  Moore.  They  had  tliree  children: 
D.  W.;  Anne,  wife  of  William  Vanasblin,  of 
Harrisburg,  and  John  R.,  died  in  1868,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 

D.  W.  received  his  education  in  tlie  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  place.  When  a 
young  man  he  M'orked  with  his  fatiier  at  the 
trade  of  horseshoeing.  He  was  also  engaged 
for  about  one  year  with  a  Mr.  Redding,  who 
was  a  coach  painter.  In  1861  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Government  in  the  three 
months'  service  as  a  team.ster.  In  18()4  lie 
enlisted  in  the  army  in  defense  of  his  coun- 
try in  the  Two  Plundred  and  Seventh  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  volunteers,  under  Col. 
R.  C.  Cox,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  participating  in  many  noted  battles. 
After  his  discharge  from  the  army  he  was 
engaged  in  the  Cumberland  ^'alley  as  a 
house  painter.  He  followed  this  occupation 
until  1889,  when  he  removed  to  Steelton, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  is  engaged  in 
house  painting  and  has  a  real  estate  Imsiness. 
He  is  also  agent  for  an  insurance  company. 
He  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  is  always  actively  interested  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  party.  In  1894  he  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  In  1863  he 
married  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  John 
Filey.  They  have  three  children:  Elmer 
E.,  John  F.,  and  Mary  E.,  telegraph  opera- 
tor at  the  Commonwealth  Hotel,  in  Harris- 
burg. 


HiTE,  Jerome,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Susquehanna  township,  Dauphin  ccmnty.  Pa., 
December  31,  1836.  His  grandfather,  Jacob 
Hite,  was  born  near  the  Round  Top,  Dau- 
phin county.  He  was  married  and  reared 
five  children.  He  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years,  and  his  wife  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight.  Their  children  are:  Jacob,  Henry, 
John,  and  Barbara,  all  deceased,  and  Cathe- 
rine, wife  of  Mr.  Bricker,  of  Londonderry 
township.  Jacob  Hite,  father  of  Jerome,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county  in  1811.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  gardener.  His  wife  was  Miss 
Sarah  Foreman,  daughter  of  John  Foreman, 
who  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-four  years,  and 


Sally  Foreman,  who  lived  to  be  ninety-seven 
years  old.  They  had  five  children:  Jerome; 
Mary;  Susan,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years; 
Sarah,  deceased,  and  Jacob  F.  Mary  is  the 
widow  of  A.  Hoopes,  who  was  killed  on  the 
railroad  at  Plirenixville,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren ;  Sarah,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  ]\Iax- 
well  Stanton.  Jacob  Hite,  the  father,  died  in 
1874,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  His  wife 
Sarah  is  still  living  at  Washington,  Iowa, 
with  her  son  Jacob  F.,  who  married  Kittie 
Harper,  of  Dauphin  county. 

Jerome  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon school  of  Coxestown.  In  early  years  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  gardening ;  he 
was  well  known  in  the  Harrisburg  markets. 
In  1862  he  went  as  a  volunteer  with  H.  W. 
Hoffman  to  the  battle  of  Antietam.  In  1870 
he  changed  his  occupation  and  began  hotel 
keeping.  His  first  venture  was  the  Holsbach 
Hotel,  in  which  he  remained  three  years.  At 
the  end  of  this  time  he  rented  the  hotel  near 
the  Bolton  House,  in  Harrisburg,  then  called 
Mechanic's  Hall,  where  he  remained  eight 
years.  In  1881  he  went  to  Steelton,  where 
he  has  ever  since  conducted  the  Steelton 
Hotel.  He  was  instrumental  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Steelton  Light,  Heat  and  Power 
ComjDany,  of  which  he  has  served  as  director 
since  its  organization.  He  was  an  organizer 
of  the  Paxtang  Hook  and  Ladder  Company 
in  1888.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  the  meas- 
ures of  his  party.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
mercantile  appraiser  for  one  year,  and  has 
been  assessor  of  the  Fourth  ward  since  1885. 

He  is  a  member  of  Paxtang  Tribe,  No. 
243,  I.  0.  R.  M.;  Paxtang  Council,  No.  2,  de- 
gree of  Pocahontas ;  Steelton  Lodge,  No. 
411,  K.  of  P.;  Baldwin  Commandery,  No. 
108,  A.  &  L  0.  K.  of  M.,  Steelton;  Moro 
Castle,  No.  163,  K.  G.  E.;  Crusade  Castle, 
No.  73,  A.  0.  K.  of  M.  C,  Steelton.  He 
is  past  chancellor  commander  of  No.  411, 
K.  of  P.;  past  sachem  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Red  Men  ;  representative  of  the 
Great  Council  of  Pennsylvania  for  six 
terms,  and  in  appreciation  of  liis  valuable 
services  received  the  appointment  of  Great 
Guard  of  Wigwam.  In  his  active  and 
varied  career  Mr.  Hite  has  used  his  abilities 
for  the  upbuilding  of  many  fraternities,  but 
his  greater  interests  have  always  been  enlisted 
in  behalf  of  Redmanship  and  its  principles. 
He  was  adopted  into  Octorara  Tribe,  No.  91, 
at  Harrisburg,  in  1867.  After  serving  his 
tribe  and  the  order  for  a  number  of  years, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


981 


he  moved  to  Steelton,  withdrawing  from  No. 
91.  He  deposited  his  card  in  Paxtang 
Tribe,  No.  243,  and  became  as  active  there 
as  he  had  been  in  No.  91. 

After  being  admitted  into  the  C4reat  Coun- 
cil his  effective  work  in  advancing  the  inter- 
ests of  the  brotiierhood  gained  for  him  a  wide 
and  deserving  reputation.  He  was  appointed 
for  three  great  suns  Deput}'  Great  Sachem. 
While  in  the  latter  position  he  was  instru- 
mental in  organizing  Susquehanna  Tribe. 
No.  298,  at  Steelton  ;  Toketo  Tribe,  No.  315' 
at  Middletown  ;  Canouicus  Tribe,  No.  94,  at 
Mechanicsburg;  Tc-ton  Tribe,  No.  311,  at 
Harrisburg;  Arrapahoe  Tribe,  No.  68,  at 
Huntingdon ;  also  Paxtang  Council,  No.  2, 
D.  of  P.,  at  Steelton.  He  was  elected  Great 
Junior  Sagamore  b}-  the  largest  vote  ever 
polled  for  this  office,  and  raised  at  Great  Sun 
Council  at  Columbia,  May  23,  1896. 

In  1857  he  married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Lynn, 
daughter  of  Micliael  Lynn,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land. They  have  four  children  :  Jacob  L., 
married,  and  living  at  Syracu.se,  N.  Y.;  Sadie 
v.,  wife  of  M.  Cronan,  of  Steelton  ;  Clara  L., 
wife  of  J.  C.  Whitmoyer,  of  Steelton ;  and 
Bertie  L.,  wife  of  John  Sutton,  of  Altoona,  Pa. 

McGiNNES,  Lemuel  E.,  was  born  in  Perry 
county.  Pa.,  May  15,  1853.  James  McGin- 
nes,  his  paternal  great-grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  the  north  of  Ireland.  He  came  to 
America  in  1790  and  settled  in  Greenwood 
township,  now  Buffalo  township,  Perry 
county.  John  Ditty,  his  maternal  grent- 
great-grandfather,  settled  in  the  Lykens 
Valley,  three  miles  northeast  of  Millerslnirg, 
in  1770.  John  Cociiran  McGinncs,  father 
of  Lemuel  E.,  was  a  native  of  Perry  county 
and  was  born  in  1812.  He  was  well  edu- 
cated, and  his  vocation  was  that  of  a  teacher. 
He  died  in  1887.  He  married  Sarah  Ann 
Ditty,  who  survives  him. 

Their  son,  Lemuel  E.  McGinnes,  enjoyed 
usual  educational  advantages.  His  parents 
were  intelligent  and  well  educated  people. 
The  influences  of  his  home  were  such  as  to 
stimulate  him  to  mental  effort  from  the 
very  dawning  of  his  intellectual  life.  He 
pas,sed  through  the  course  of  stud)-  in  the 
public  .schools,  and,  as  supplementary  to 
this,  he  enjoyed  tuition  in  good  private 
schools  and  the  instructions  of  the  most 
competent  private  teachers.  The  aim  of 
his  parents  was  to  qualify  him  for  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching.  He  was  in.spired  with 
lofty  aims  and  equipped   with    all    the   in- 


tellectual furnishings  he  had  the  capacity 
to  receive.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he 
was  ready  to  begin  the  business  of  life.  He 
followed  his  ancestral  bent  and  entered  the 
ranks  of  the  teachers.  He  began  on  the 
lower  plane  of  the  ungraded  countrj^  school, 
and  his  first  three  terms  were  spent  in  get- 
ting hold  of  the  practical  elements  of  his 
art  by  the  experience  of  actual  relationship 
and  contact  l)ctweeu  teacher  and  pupil. 
The  lowest  primary  grade  is  as  favorable  a 
field  for  getting  this  experience  as  the  high- 
est grade  in  the  course.  Promotion  comes 
in  due  time  to  the  patient  toiler  in  the  lower 
grades.  It  came  to  Mr.  McGinnes  in  1875, 
and  the  steps  of  his  promotion  were  rapid 
and  substantial.  First  came  the  principal- 
sliip  of  the  Lower  Duncannon  high  school ; 
three  3'ears  later  the  principalship  of  the 
Duncannon  borough  high  school,  and  three 
years  later,  or  in  1881,  the  principalshiji  of 
the  Steelton  schools.  Much  was  expected 
of  lum,  and  great  demands  wer-e  made  on 
his  ability  and  professional  skill  in  this  new 
position.  The  most  substantial  business 
elements  of  the  community,  and  especially 
the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  had 
adopted  the  wise  and  beneficial  policj'  of 
giving  substantial  aid  to  the  educational 
interests  of  the  rapidly  developing  indus- 
trial town.  The  most  liberal  provisions 
were  made,  in  buildings  and  funds,  for  the 
best  system  of  schools.  Mr.  McGinnes  was 
placed  at  the  head  of  this  great  enterprise. 
His  native  tastes  and  aspirations,  his  thor- 
ough education  and  his  nine  years  of  ex- 
perience combined  to  qualify  him  for  his 
work.  His  success  is  phenomenal.  At  the 
end  of  seven  years  the  system  was  perfected. 
From  1881  to  1888  lie  was  principal  of  the 
high  school  and  supervisor  of  all  the  de- 
partments, and  in  1888  he  was  unanimously 
elected  to  the  office  of  superintendent  of  the 
schools.  This  system  of  schools,  so  largely 
the  creation  of  his  hand,  is  the  demon.stra- 
tion  of  his  ability,  fidelity  and  professional 
devotion.  Mr.  McGinnes  is  interested  in 
the  community  as  a  professional  teacher. 
But  his  influence  has  a  broader  and  deeper 
sweep  and  flow.  He  is  deeply  interested  in 
morals  and  religion,  and  is  an  active  force 
in  the  Chri.stian  and  benevolent  work  of 
the  town.  He  is  an  elder  in  the  Fir.st  Pres- 
byterian churcli,  and  In's  character  and  life 
show  him  to  be  a  worthy  incumbent  of  the 
high  office.  He  was  married,  in  1879,  to 
Miss  Ida  Clark,  daughter  of  Hugh  K.  and 


982 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Ellen  S.  Wilson,  of  Periy  county,  in  whom  he 
finds  a  wife  in  full  and  cordial  sympathy 
with  him  in  his  aims  and  efforts  to  advance 
society.     They  have  one  child,  Ellen  S. 

Landis,  a.  C,  Steelton,  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa.,  February  11,  1837.  He 
is  a  son  of  Henry  Landis.  He  obtained  his 
education  in  Cumberland  county.  When  a 
young  man  he  learned  the  trade  of  tailor, 
and  followed  this  occupation  until  18G1.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, in  1861,  he  answered  the  first  call  for 
volunteers,  and  enlisted  in  the  three  months' 
service  under  C  lonel  Stumbaugh.  At  the 
end  of  the  three  months'  service  he  enlisted 
for  three  years,  in  company  K,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  under  Colonel  Ziegler,  of  York, 
Pa.  On  August  28, 1864,  was  commissioned 
as  captain  of  his  com})an}^  He  served  on 
the  staff  of  Gen.  John  P.  Slough,  military 
governor  of  Alexandria,  \'a.  He  j)artici- 
i:)ated  in  the  following  battles :  Cedar  Moun- 
tain, August  9,  1862 ;  Rappahannock,  Au- 
gust 18  and  25 ;  Thorough  Gap,  August  28  ; 
Bull  Run,  August  30;  South  Mountain,  Sep- 
tember 14  ;  Antietam,September  ]6  and  17; 
Sharpsburg,  October  30;  Bristow  Station, 
December  12;  Frederick,  Va.,  Decemljcr  IS- 
IS; Chancellorsville,  January  21, 1861  ;  Fitz- 
hugh's  Crossing,  April  28-30 ;  Chancellors- 
ville, May  1-3;  Gettysburg,  July  1-3.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  Captain  Landis  came 
to  Harrisburg  and  resumed  work  at  his 
trade.  He  served  as  cutter  for  J.  R.  Croft 
for  five  years.  After  this  he  came  to  Steel- 
ton  and  look  charge  of  the  dry  goods  and 
clothing  department  of  the  Company's  store, 
in  which  capacity  he  remained  for  fifteen 
years,  when  he  resigned.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  organizing  the  Steelton  Light,  Heat 
and  Power  Company,  and  was  elected  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  comj^any.  He  filled 
the  office  for  two  years,  and  then  resigned. 
He  has  served  in  the  borough  council.  He 
was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  the  State 
Legislature.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  active 
in  the  movements  of  his  {>arty.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order.  Lodge  No. 
351,  Shippensburg.  He  has  been  president 
of  the  Steelton  Board  of  Trade  since  its  or- 
ganization, in  1888.  In  1849  he  married 
Miss  Rebecca  Allison,  daughter  of  J.  B.  Alli- 
son, of  Franklin  county,  by  whom  he  liad 
eight  children.  Mrs.  Landis  died  in  1891. 
Their  children  are :  Alfred  M.,  born  June  10, 


1859,  married  Miss  Emma  Steel,  and  lives  at 
Landisburg  ;  Calvin  D.,  born  July  30,  1860, 
married  Miss  Nellie  Galligan,  who  died  in 
1895,  leaving  four  children  ;  Annie  M.,  born 
October  16,  1861,  wife  of  George  Brinser,  of 
Steelton ;  Florence  B.,  born  November  4, 
1864,  wife  of  William  Greist,  of  Steelton  ; 
Harry  J.,  born  February  11,  1867,  married 
to  Miss  Lizzie  Franklin, of  Steelton  :  E.  Maud, 
born  November  11,  1871,  wife  of  James 
D.  Banford,  of  Steelton  ;  William  R.,  born 
February  25,1869,  died  February  1,  1870; 
Charles  A.,  born  December  27, 1874,  married 
Mary  Weisman,  of  Harrisburg. 


Fletcher,  Joseph  A.,  Steelton,  was  born 
in  Manciiester,  England,  December  14, 1835. 
His  father,  William  Fletcher,  of  Manchester, 
married  Maria  Whitaker,  by  whom  he  had 
five  .children  :  Sabina  ;  Edward  ;  Elizabeth, 
deceased  ;  William,  who  came  to  this  country 
in  1867,  and  now  resides  in  Middletown, 
Pa.,  and  Josej)!)  A.  Mr.  Fletcher  died  in 
1872  and  his  wife  in  1873. 

Joseph  A.  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  England.  Having  learned  the 
moulder's  trade  when  a  young  man,  he  fol- 
lowed this  occupation  for  seven  years.  In 
March,  1854,  became  to  this  country,  sailing 
on  the  sailing  vessel  Henry  Clay.  He  lo- 
cated at  Cold  Springs,  N.  Y.  Here  he  found 
employment  at  his  trade  and  was  busily  en- 
gaged for  three  years.  In  1857  the  home 
feeling  prevailed  and  he  turned  his  face 
toward  his  English  home  and  friends.  Two 
years  were  sufficient  toenaljle  him  to  realize 
that  this  country  ofi'ered  him  more  oppor- 
tunities for  rising  in  the  world  than  he  could 
find  in  his  own  country.  In  March,  1859, 
he  returned  to  the  United  States,  and  again 
found  a  place  to  work  at  Cold  Springs  for 
one  year.  He  was  now  complete  master  of 
the  trade  of  moulder  and  iron  worker.  After 
leaving  Cold  Springs  he  was  employed  in 
steel  mills  in  several  different  States.  He 
finally,  in  1867,  settled  in  Steelton,  which 
has  since  that  date  been  his  permanent  place 
of  residence.  He  engaged  with  the  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Company,  first  as  overseer  of 
the  Bessemer  melting  department;  for  the 
next  five  years  he  had  charge  of  the  foundry 
for  the  same  works.  In  1874  he  resigned 
his  place  with  the  Steel  Company  and  went 
to  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  where  he  conducted  a 
dry  goods  business  until  1876.  At  this  time 
he  returned  to  Steelton  and  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business.     He  demonstrated  his  ability 


1 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


983 


in  this  line  by  ki^eping  a  good  house  and 
making  this  business  profitable.  In  1880 
he  built  the  large  hotel  known  as  the 
Fletcher  House,  which  he  has  since  man- 
aged. Mr.  Fletclier  is  one  of  the  original 
stoekiiolders  and  one  of  the  largest  investors 
in  the  Steelton  Light,  Heat  and  Power  Com- 
pany. He  has  also  been  one  of  its  directors 
since  it  was  organized.  He  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Harrisbnrg  Trust  Company, 
and  in  the  Harrisburg  Electric  Light  Com- 
pany. 

In  1861  he  married  Miss  ]\Iargaret  Arthur, 
of  Troy,  N.  Y.  They  had  eight  children  : 
Joseph  A.,  .Jr.,  married,  and  living  at  Spar- 
row's Point,  Md.,  has  five  children  ;  Minnie; 
BeHa,  deceased;  William  Artiiur;  infant 
daughter,  deceased  ;  Alfred  ;  Bella,  deceased  ; 
Charles  deceased.  His  wife,  Margaret  (Ar- 
thur) Fletclier,  died  in  March,  1885.  He 
was  married  again  in  August,  1885,  to  Miss 
Martlia  Booser,  daughter  of  Jacob  Booser,  of 
Hummelstown,  by  whom  he  lias  tliree  chil- 
dren, Nellie  E.,  Mary  L.,  and  Ambrose  L. 
Mr.  Fletcher  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  No.  486,  of  Middletown,  Pa.,  and 
joined  Oriental  Cliapter  and  Kadosh  Com- 
mandery,  of  Philadeljihia,  in  1875. 


DuNKLE,  J.  A.,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  September  11,  1834. 
His  father,  George  Dunkle,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county  in  1791 ;  moved  to  Dauphin 
county  with  his  fatlier  and  family.  He  was 
the  son  of  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Dau- 
[)hin  county.  He  follovveii  farming  in  the 
early  part  of  his  life,  but  was  also  a  mer- 
cliant  and  a  wood  worker.  He  was  in  the 
war  of  1812,  under  General  Foster.  He 
died  in  1847.  He  married  Miss  Susan  Grei- 
ner,  daughter  of  Andrew  Greiner,  of  Dau- 
phin county.  They  had  these  children : 
George,  Jacob,  John,  Washington, and  Susan, 
deceased;  the  surviving  ones  are:  Henrj^, 
J.  A.,  and  Peter,  residing  in  Steelton.  His 
wife,  Susan,  died  in  1860. 

J.  A.  took  the  regular  course  in  the  schools 
of  his  time  and  place.  He  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  and  was  a  contractor  and 
builder  for  twenty-one  years.  He  built  the 
first  complete  house  ever  erected  in  Steel- 
ton, then  known  as  Baldwin,  in  the  fall  of 
1866.  He  has  been  interested  in  a  business 
wa}'  in  Steelton  since  1866,  and  has  had  his 
residence  here  since  1880.  In  1865  he  be- 
came engaged  more  particularly  in  the  real 
estate  business.     He   laid   out  a  large  por- 


tion of  Steelton,  Highland,  now  Enhaut, 
Benton,  and  parts  of  Oberlin,  being  asso- 
ciated with  a  Mr.  Ewing  in  laying  out  East- 
mere.  For  several  years  he  was  a  resident 
of  Oberlin.  He  was  also  interested  in  other 
branches  of  business.  For  a  time  he  dealt 
in  coal  and  lumber.  He  and  Mr.  J.  B. 
Ewing  organized  the  Harrisburg  Boiler  and 
Manufacturing  Company'  in  1880,  and  he 
has  served  as  director  in  ihe  company  since 
its  organization.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Steelton  Light,  Heat  and  Power 
Company,  and  served  as  director  in  the 
company  from  1890  to  1894.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Harrisburg. 
He  is  connected  with  the  furniture  store  of 
Dunkle  &  Co. 

In  1857  he  married  Miss  Mary  Bishop, 
daughter  of  William  Bishop,  near  Oberlin, 
Pa.,  by  whom  he  had  these  children :  Ellen, 
wife  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Suavely,  Steelton,  has 
five  children ;  Catherine,  wife  of  Abraham 
Dunkle,  Steelton,  has  five  children  ;  Samuel 
F.,  married  Miss  Jessie  Sefton,  of  Carlisle, 
Pa.,  is  engaged  with  his  father  as  manager 
of  the  sales  department  of  the  Harrisburg 
Boiler  Company;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  F.  H. 
Alleman,  of  Steelton,  has  four  children ; 
Amos  W.,  married  Miss  Barnett,  of  Steelton, 
has  one  child  ;  Maggie,  living  at  home.  .  Mr. 
Dunkle  was  the  originator  of  the  Citizens' 
Passenger  Railway  Company  from  Oberlin 
to  Harrisburg.  He  was  president  of  the 
company  for  the  first  few  years  of  its  exist- 
ence and  is  at  present  one  of  its  directors. 
He  was  also  for  several  years  interested  in 
the  hardware  and  stove  business. 


SuLTZABERGER,  D.  0..  Steeltou,  Pa.,  was 
born  HI  York  county.  Pa.,  August  25,  1854. 
His  father,  Israel  Sultzaberger,  was  born  in 
York  county,  August  2,  1823,  and  died  Au- 
gust 24,  1893.  He  mari-ied  iMiss  Juliana 
Binneman,  daughter  of  Henry  Binneman; 
she  died  August  1,  1859.  They  had  six 
children:  Peter,  deceased;  Mary  Jane,  wife 
of  Peter  Snyder,  of  York  county  ;  Eliza  Ann, 
deceased ;  D.  0.;  W.  H.,  married  and  living 
in  Mechanicsburg,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.; 
Elizabeth,  deceased.  In  1860  he  married, 
for  his  second  wife,  Miss  Julianna  StouiTer, 
of  York  county,  who  died  August  10,  1893, 
aged  seventy  years,  ten  months  and  twent}'- 
four  days. 

D.  0.  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  York  county.  In  early  life  he  was  em- 
ployed in  farming.     At  nineteen  years  of  age 


984 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


he  went  to  loarn  the  carijenter  trade,  and 
followed  this  occupation  until  he  was  thirty 
years  of  age.  In  1885  he  engaged  in  the 
coal  business,  which  lie  has  carried  on  since 
that  time.  In  the  fall  of  1875  he  came  to 
Steelton,  where  he  first  worked  for  ten  years 
as  a  carpenter,  and  then  embarked  in  the 
coal  bvisiness,  under  the  firm  name  of  Couffer 
&  Sultzaberger.  He  has  an  interest  in  the 
Steelton  Light,  Heat  and  Power  Company. 
In  the  spring  of  1885  he  was  elected  to  the 
borough  council  of  Steelton  for  a  term  of 
three  years.  In  188G  he  married  Miss  Lillie 
Rank,  born  March  1, 1860;  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Rank,  of  Harrisburg.  They  have  one 
child,  Clarence  I.,  born  November  4,  1892. 
Mr.  Sultzaberger  is  a  Republican  and  en- 
gages actively  and  with  much  interest  in  all 
the  undertakings  of  his  part}'. 


Shoi'E,  a.  L.,  M.  D.,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Oberlin,  October  16,  1868.  He  is  a, son  of 
A.  H.  Shope.  His  great-grandfather,  Jacob 
Shope,  was  a  native  of  Germany.  He  came 
to  Dauphin  county,  married,  and  reared  a 
family  of  children,  all  of  whom  are  dead. 
His  son,  Abraham  Shope,  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Shope,  was  a  weaver.  Earl}'  in  life  he  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business,  and  later  in 
farming.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Wasser, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Wasser,  wiio  came  from  Eu- 
rope. They  had  five  children:  Elizabeth, 
born  Se{)tember  8,  1811,  deceased;  John, 
born  March  27,  1815;  Abram,  born  July  24, 
1817,  deceased  ;  Jacob,  born  September  6, 
1819;  David,  born  April  1,  1826.  His  sec- 
ond wife  was  Elizabeth  McFadden.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  Cornelius,  born 
May  18,  1831  ;  Elias  P.,  born  November  25, 
1833,  deceased ;  Mary  Ann,  born  April  17, 
1836;  George  W.,  born  August  13,  1838; 
Priscilla,  born  March  30,  1841;  Adam  H., 
born  December  27,  1844;  Susan,  born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1848. 

C.  B.  Shope,  uncle  of  Dr.  Shope,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  Dauphin 
county.  Vv'hen  a  young  man  he  was  occu- 
pied in  farming,  and  later  he  learned  car- 
pentry. In  1863  he  engaged  in  the  butch- 
ering business,  in  Churchville,  now  known  as 
Oberlin,  in  which  he  continued  until  1883. 
Since  that  year  he  has  been  unable,  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health,  to  attend  to  busi- 
ness. He  was  married,  February  8,  1852, 
to  Matilda  Lose,  born  July  IS,  1824,  in  Lan- 
caster county,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Lose. 
They   had  two  children ;  William  W.,  born 


January  25,  1853,  at  Harrisburg;  and  V.  B., 
Jr.,  born  March  22, 1866,  at  Harrisburg.  His 
wife  died  in  September,  1866.  His  second 
wife  was  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  John  Bals- 
bach,  born  June  11,  1828.  He  is  much  in- 
terested in  church  work.  He  is  connected 
witli  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  has 
been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school 
for  about  fifteen  years. 

A.  H.  Shope,  son  of  Abram  Shope,  was 
born  December  27,  1844.  His  father  was 
born  November  16,  1788,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 16,  1854.  His  motlier,  Elizabetii  Siiope, 
was  born  October  30,  1806,  and  died  Jan- 
uary 11,  1879.  He  was  educated  in  tlie  com- 
mon schools  of  Dauphin  county.  He  was 
engaged  in  farm  work  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  old,  when  lie  entered  the  drug  store  of 
Shope  &  Orth,  in  Hummelstown,  as  clerk, 
and  -remained  there  until  1863.  At  that  date 
he  enlisted  in  the  Thirty-sixth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  militia,  for  three  months.  He 
was  afterwards  in  the  butcliering  business, 
in  Harrisburg  and  at  Oberlin.  From  1879 
to  1882  he  was  in  nu'rcantile  l)usiness.  In 
1884  he  was  elected  director  of  the  poor,  in 
which  office  he  served  for  three  years,  and 
was  re-elected  for  a  second  term,  serving 
until  1890.  He  has  ever  since  been  engaged 
in  general  mercantile  business,  to  the  time 
of  tills  writing,  October,  1895.  He  married 
Mi.ss  Jane  Reighart,  daughter  of  John  Reig- 
hart,  of  Daupliin  county,  who  died  Decem- 
ber 23,  1890,  leaving  him  one  child.  He 
married,  on  May  16,  1893,  Ida  \.,  daughter 
of  Jacob  Heckert.  He  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  Hummelstown  Bank. 

Dr.  A.  L.  Shope  took  the  usual  course  of 
study  in  the  schools,  but  with  some  varia- 
tions. When  a  very  young  man  he  was  a 
news  agent  in  Oberlin  for  four  years.  He 
picked  up  the  trade  of  {tainting,  and  carried 
it  on  during  the  summer  months.  In  winter 
he  continued  his  studies.  He  acquired  his 
preliminary  education  at  the  Academy  in 
Steelton.  In  1886  he  put  himself  under  tlie 
instruction  of  Dr.  Putt,  of  Oberlin,  and 
began  reading  medicine  with  that  gentle- 
man as  his  preceptor.  In  1887  he  entered 
the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  was  graduated  in  1890.  In  the 
spring  of  that  year  he  located  in  Oberlin, 
wiiere  he  has  since  enjoyed  an  extensive 
practice.  He  was  married,  in  October,  1895, 
to  Miss  Emma,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Mary  Wagner,  of  Dauphin  county. 

George  Shope,  uncle  of    Dr.   A.  L.,   left 


DAUPniJSf  COUNTS. 


985 


home  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 
He  went  to  Marion  county,  Iowa,  and  re- 
mained two  years;  then  to  Strong  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
married,  in  Iowa,  a  Miss  Ellen  Sesson,  by 
whom  he  has  four  sons:  Edwin,  Charles, 
William,  and  Albert.  He  removed  to  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  was  married,  a  second  time,  to  Mrs.  Post ; 
they  have  one  son,  George  W.,  Jr.  He  has 
served  as  city  treasurer  for  two  terms.  He 
was  cashier  of  the  Grand  Avenue  Savings 
Bank  until  October,  1895,  when  he  retired. 
He  takes  an  active  part  in  politics  in  con- 
nection with  tlie  Republican  party. 


ScHAFFNER,  D.  W.,  M.   D.,  Enhaut,  Pa., 
was   born    at  Berrybnrg,  Dauphin    county, 
February  17,  1857.     He  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
Schaffner,  a  sketch   of  whom   appears  else- 
where in  this  volume.     His  early  education 
he  received  in  the  common  schools  of  Dau- 
phin count}'.     He  also  studied  at  Palatinate 
College,  Meyerstown,  Lebanon  county.     His 
first  employment  was  teaching  school ;  he 
taught  in  AVcst  and  South   Hanover  town- 
ships.    In  1882  he  began  reading  medicine 
with  Dr.  W.  C.  Bakt^r,  of  Hummelstown.    In 
1883  he  entered  the  University  of  Maryland, 
and  graduated  in  1887.     In  tlie  same  year 
he  located  in  Highland,  now  known  as  En- 
haut.    This  name  was  given  to  the  place  by 
Dr.  Schaffner.     He   began   the    practice   of 
medicine  here,  and   has  continued  it  since 
that  time.     He  has  been  successful,  and  now 
enjoj's  an  extensive  practice.     Dr.  Schaffner 
is  a  member  of  the  Dauphin  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  and  also  of  the  State  Medical 
Society.     He   is  interested  as  a  stockholder 
in   the  Plarrisburg  Traction  Company.     In 
1888  he  married  Miss  Frances  H.,  daughter 
of  Isaac  Beinhower,  of  Oberlin,  Pa.     They 
have  one   child,  Meade   D.,  born    April    24, 
1895.     The  Doctor  is    identified    with   the 
Democratic  party.     He  is  town  committee- 
man.    He  was   the  organizer  of  the  band, 
and   is  the  treasurer  of  tlie  Industrial  Sav- 
ings and  Loan  Company,  the  main  office  of 
which  is  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 


MiDDLETON,  William  John,  M.  D.,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  January  9,  1858. 
He  is  the  eldest  son  of  John  A.  Middleton 
and  Margaret  Ann  Gamble.  He  is  descended 
from  one  of  three  brothers  who  came  to  New 
Jersey  before  the  days  of  William  Penn.; 
two  of  them  remained  in  New  Jersey,  while 


one  removed  to  South  Carolina.  The  fam- 
ily removed  early  to  Philadelphia.  The 
name  of  Aaron  Middleton,  mariner,  the 
great-great-grandfather  of  Dr.  Middleton, 
appears  in  the  first  directory  of  the  citJ^ 
Margaret  A.  Gamble  was  the  second  daugh- 
ter of  Wiliiam  Gamble,  who  grew  to  man- 
iiood  in  Leacock  township,  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  and  belonged  to  a  com})any  among  the 
troops  from  that  county  which  served  at 
Baltimore  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  became 
Captain  Gamble  in  1814.  He  afterwards 
married  Elizabeth  Richardson,  a  daughter 
of  the  famous  family  of  linen  manufacturers 
of  Belfast,  Ireland. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  Middleton  removed  to 
Harrisburgin  18()9.    He  received  a  common 
school  education  in  that  city.     In  1876  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  George 
R.  Hursh,  then  a  busy  practitioner,  residing 
on  North  Second  street.    He  received  the  de- 
gree of  M.  D.  from  Jefferson  Medical  College 
in  March,  1879,  returned  to  Harrisljurg,  and 
at  once  began  to  practice  his  profession  there. 
He  was  elected  assistant  disiaensary  physi- 
cian to  the  Harrisburg  Hospital,  and  served 
in  that  capacity  for  several  months.     Upon 
his  retirement  from  the  place  the  Board  of 
Managers  voted  him  their  thanks.    In  Janu- 
ary, 1881,  Dr.  Middleton  formed  a  partner- 
ship with   Dr.  W.  J.  Kline,  of  Greensburg, 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  a  little  over  a  year. 
In  the  spring  of  1882   he  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  surgeon  to  the  Juragua  Iron 
Company,  of  Santiago  de  Cul)a,  and  served 
the  company  at  their  mines,  east  of  Santiago, 
for  fifteen  months.     In  November,  1884,  he 
came  to  Steelton  as  surgeon  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Steel  Company,  which   office   he   re- 
signed in  1888  to  devote  himself  to  the  prac- 
tice of  liis  profession  in  Steelton.     In  April, 
1888,  he  married  Lavinia  Sterling  Towson, 
of  Baltimore.     They  have  three  sons :  Wil- 
liam Towson,  born  in  1889 ;  Albert  Gamble, 
in  1890;  and  Leonard  Reynolds,  in  1892.    Dr. 
Middleton  still  resides  in  Steelton,  and  con- 
ducts  a   general    practice.     He   enjoys   the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  best  people  in 
the  community,  and  is  justly  regarded  as 
one  of  the  leading  men  in  his  profession. 


EsHENAiTR,  H.  G.,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Lower  Swatara  townshif),  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  October,  1843.  His  grandfather, 
Christian  Eshenaur,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
the  count}'.     He  was  a  farmer.    He  married 


986 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


and  reared  a  family  of  children,  six  sons  and 
one  daughter:  John,  Andrew,  Jacob,  Chris- 
tian, Leonard,  Youckle,  and  Catherine,  all 
of  whom  are  dead.  Frederick  Eshenaur,  son 
of  Christian,  and  father  of  H.  G.;  was  born 
in  1807.  He  spent  his  life  on  the  farm,  and 
died  in  1857.  He  married  Miss  Mar}',  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Gayman.  Mr.  Gayman  died 
in  1885,  on  his  ninety-ninth  birthday.  To 
this  marriage  were  born  four  children: 
Nancy,  wife  of  Isaac  Coble;  Christiana,  wife 
of  John  Zell,  of  Franklin  county  ;  H.  G.;  and 
Jacob,  deceased,  married  Anne  Booser;  two 
children  survive  him,  Henry  and  Katie. 
George  Eshenaur  was  a  sou  of  Christian 
Eshenaur,  of  Dauphin  county. 

H.  G.  Eshenaur  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Dauphin  county.  He  began 
early  in  life  as  a  farmer,  anil  made  farming 
his  life  occupation.  In  1893,  at  fifty  years 
of  age,  he  removed  from  the  farm  toOberlin, 
where  he  has  since  lived  retired  from  active 
business.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Citizens' 
Passenger  Iiailway  Company  and  a  stock- 
holder in  his  company.  He  has  been  one 
of  the  board  of  directors  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company.  He  was  instrumental 
in  the  laying  out  of  the  town  of  Benton.  He 
is  public  spirited,  taking  an  interest  in  all 
that  })romotes  the  growth  and  j)rospcrity  of 
the  community.  He  was  marrii'd,  in  1868, 
to  Miss  Eslienaur,  daughter  of  George  Eshe- 
naur, by  whom  he  has  seven  children  :  Har- 
vey, married  Miss  Smelcher,  daughter  of 
William  Smelcher,  of  Swatara  township,  and 
is  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old  homestead 
in  that  township;  \\'illiam  J.,  living  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  editor  of  tlie  Carlisle  Leader,  a 
weekly  paper;  Mamie,  living  at  home; 
Emma,  living  at  home;  Ernest  Earl,  and 
Vernie  Pearl,  twins. 


Hoick,  Isaac,  Enhaut,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Northampton  county.  Pa.,  December  6, 1839. 
He  is  a  son  of  Adam  Houck,  a  native  of 
Northampton  county,  born  in  1813.  He  was  a 
collier,  and  was  also  to  some  extent  engaged 
in  farming.  He  came  in  1840  to  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in 
1880.  He  married  and  reared  a  family  of 
five  children  :  John,  deceased,  married  Susan 
Smith,  who  with  several  children  survives 
him ;  Charles,  deceased,  died  shortly  after 
tliree  years'  service  in  the  defense  of  his 
country,  married  Sarah  Jane  Herman,  who 
with  one  child  survives  iiim  ;  Rebecca,  wife 
of  Henry  Zimmerman,  living  in  Iowa :  Juli- 


ana, widow  of  Jacob  Laudermilch,  has  five 
children,  lives  at  Oberlin  ;  and  Isaac. 

Isaac  Houck,  when  about  one  year  old, 
came  with  his  parents  to  Dauphin  county. 
He  acquired  his  education  in  the  common 
sciiools.  When  he  was  fourteen  years  old  he 
went  to  the  West,  settled  in  Indiana  and  en- 
gaged in  farming,  remaining  five  years.  In 
1858  he  returned  to  Dauphin  county,  and 
was  there  occupied  with  farming  until  1870. 
He  tl'.en  found  employment  with  the  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Company  in  the  Bessemer  de- 
])artment.  From  this  department  he  was 
transferred  to  the  forge  mill,  and  from  this 
to  the  rail  department,  where  he  has  since 
remained.  During  the  late  war  he  was  in 
the  service  of  the  Government  as  a  teamster. 
In  the  spring  of  1805  he  was  in  Lycoming 
county,  near  Pine  Creek,  during  the  Hooil 
wiiich  occurred  that  year.  In  1800  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Mef- 
ibrt,  of  Dauphin  county.  Mr.  Meffort  died 
September  24,  1884;  his  wife  in  March,  1879. 
They  have  had  twelve  cliildren,  ten  of  whom 
are  living;  John  A.,  born  September  27, 
1861,  engaged  with  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Company,  married  Emma  Keller;  Mary  E., 
born  August  8,  1863,  wife  of  Emery  E. 
Holmes ;  Margaret  E.,  born  February  2, 
1S()(;,  wife  of  Jacob  Pathamore,  of  Enhaut; 
diaries  ().,  born  February  J 5,  1868,  married 
Mattie  Morrison,  of  Huntingdon  county ; 
Christiana,  born  April  7,  1870,  wife  of  H.  T. 
Hoy ;  William  B.,  born  April  14,  1872,  mar- 
ried Martha  Prowl,  of  York  county;  Susan 
J.,  born  ^hiy  8,  1874,  living  at  home  ;  Ed- 
ward, liorn  March  1,  1877;  Rebecca,  born 
March  2, 1879;  J.  Sylvester  and  Perly  Esther, 
twins,  born  December  29,  1880;  the  former 
died  January  0,  1881,  the  latter  February 
24,  1881 ;  Bertha  May,  born  January  10, 
1883. 


Snavely,  M.  N.,  Enhaut,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county,  January 
20,  1840.  His  father,  Jacob  Snavely,  was  a  ' 
farmer.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  cliurch,  and  served  it  for 
many  yearsas  pastor.  He  died,  March,  1891, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  He  married  Miss 
Barbara  Nissley,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children:  John,  of  Steel  ton  ;  Anna,  wife  of 
Solomon  Landis,  of  Union  Deposit ;  Jacob, 
deceased,  shot  while  serving  in  the  defense 
of  his  country  in  1862;  Solomon,  living  in 
Michigan  ;  M.  N.;  Susan,  wife  of  Franklin 
Balsbach,  living  near  Hummelstown;  Bar- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


987 


bara,  widow  of  Jacob  Eberly,  wliose  first  lius- 
band  was  Hany  Graybill.  The  second  wife 
of  Jacob  Suavely  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
John  Walters,  of  Daupiiin  county.  They 
had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living; 
Michael,  retired  merchant,  residing  in  Ilar- 
risburg;  Mary,  wife  of  Christian  Knupp, 
of  Oberlin,  Pa.;  Emma,  died  in  youth  ; 
Ellen,  living  in  Steelton,  and  Samuel  Ed- 
ward, living  in  Harrisburg,  are  twins; 
Maggie,  wife  of  S.  C.  Lehman,  of  Steelton. 

M.  N.  Suavely  has  resided  all  his  life  in 
his  native  township.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Dauphin  county, 
and  afterwards  learned  carpentry,  which 
was  his  occupation  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  also  made  contracting  a  part  of  his  busi- 
ness, and  was  to  some  extent  employed  in 
house  painting.  In  18G1  lie  enlisted  for  the 
defense  of  his  country  in  the  nine  months' 
service.  He  served  under  Capt.  John  J. 
Ball  and  Col.  W.  W.  Jennings.  He  partici- 
j^ated  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  At  the 
end  of  the  term  lie  was  honorably  discharged. 
He  then  resumed  his  business  as  carpenter 
and  contractor,  which  he  followed  until 
1889.  He  then  succeeded  James  Siiimmel 
in  the  general  mercantile  establishment, 
which  he  has  since  conducted.'  He  was 
married,  November  11,  1873,  to  Mi.ss  Eme- 
line,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Bein- 
lauer)  Boyer,  who  was  born  January  27, 
1853.  Mrs.  Catherine  Boyer  died  April, 
1894,  aged  seventj'-five  years  and  six  months. 
Mr.  Jacob  Boyer  was  born  in  1814,  and  is 
still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  N.  Suavely 
have  eight  children  :  Naomi  Jane,  born  Sep- 
tember 16,  1874  ;  Jacob  Boyer,  July  7, 1870  ; 
Agnes  A.,  December  19,  1877;  Harry  Gar- 
field, April  9,  1881 ;  James  Blaine,  Novem- 
ber 14,  1883;  Charles  Edward,  Julv  14, 
1885;  Franklin  Ilarison,  May  21,  1888; 
George  Edward,  February  2,  1891. 


Still,  Samuel  G.,  Enhaut,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  January 
30,  1865.  His  father,  Thomas  M.  Still, 
was  born  in  Adams  county,  in  1829.  He 
had  limited  educational  advantages,  and 
worked  as  a  laborer  until  he  was  twenty-five 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  sincere  piety 
and  felt  called  to  preach  the  gospel.  His 
brethren  recognized  the  genuineness  of  his 
conviction  of  duty  and  formally  set  him 
apart  and  ordained  him  to  the  ministry. 
Mr.  Still,  feeling  his  lack  of  early  training, 
set  about  preparing   himself  for  his   work. 


He  had  strong  natural  gifts,  which  bj'  obser- 
vation and  study  he  developed  and  strength- 
ened. He  pursued  his  work  with  tireless 
industry,  ardent  devotion  and  unquenchable 
zeal.  He  was  warm-hearted  and  attractive 
and  drew  about  him  devoted  friends.  He 
preached  in  many  counties  of  this  State  and 
was  engaged  in  this  work  until  the  close  of 
his  life.  Few  men  in  tiie  eldership  have 
accomplished  better  results  for  the  church 
than  were  secured  \>y  this  consecrated  man 
in  the  thirty-three  years  of  his  ministry. 
He  died  suddenly,  of  neuralgia  of  the  heart, 
at  his  home  in  Woodbury,  Bedford  county, 
Pa.,  July  27,  1883,  and  was  buried  at  High- 
land, near  Harrisburg.  He  is  remembered 
with  esteem  and  gratitude  by  tiiousands  who 
heard  the  gospel  through  his  persuasive 
voice.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Leah 
Bcsecker,  of  Adams  county,  by  whom  he 
had  seven  children:  Charles,  deceased; 
Ruhama  C,  wife  of  Amos  Byrum,  of  Steel- 
ton ;  Dufiield,  deceased;  Levi  H.,  living  in 
Perry  county.  Pa.;  John,  deceased;  Samuel 
G.;  Anna  M.,  wife  of  Stewart  Barnes. 

Samuel  G.  Still  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Dauphin  county.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  farm  work  until  he  was  fourteen 
years  old,  and  from  that  time  until  he  was 
eighteen  was  employed  in  mining  ore  in 
Lancaster  county.  For  the  past  thirteen 
3'ears  he  has  been  in  the  employment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Works.  He  was  married, 
in  1887,  to  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of  William 
P.  and  Hannali  (Downing)  McNew,  of  Balti- 
more, Md.  They  have  five  children : 
Thomas  Williams,'born  February  27,  1888; 
Hannali  L.,  Octolu-r  28,  1889 ;  Samuel  G., 
Jr.,  May  25,  1892;  Anna  Cora,  February  11, 
1894,  died  July  22,  1894 ;  Ruby  Catherine, 
March  25,  1895,  died  August  22,  1895.  Mr. 
Still  is  a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife  are 
active  members  of  the  Church  of  God,  in 
Enhaut. 


Garverich,  James  W.,  Enhaut,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  January  29, 
1854.  His  father,  John  Adam  Garverich, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  and  married 
Sybilla  Weaver,  of  Bethel  township,  Lebanon 
county.  They  had  one  child,  James  W. 
The  second  husband  of  Mrs.  Garverich  was 
John  Kindt,  a  native  of  German}^ ;  by  this 
marriage  she  had  twelve  children  :  Mary  C, 
deceased  ;  Elizabeth  ;  S.  Sophia,  deceased  ; 
Nanilla  K.,  deceased  ;  Gedaliah  H.,  Caroline, 
Magdalena,  Annie  R.,  Ida,  Jacob,  and  Sam- 


988 


BIOGRAPSIUAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


uel  and  Amanda  H.,  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kindt  are  living  in  Lebanon  county. 

James  W.  received  his  education  in  tlie 
schools  of  Lebanon  county.  He  began  when 
a  young  man  to  work  on  the  farm,  and  was 
so  engaged  until  188L  At  this  date  he  came 
to  Highland,  Dauphin  county,  and  found 
employment  with  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Company,  in  which  he  remained  until  1892  ; 
he  was  employed  in  the  Bes.semer  department. 
Since  1892  lie  has  been  in  the  cigar,  tobacco 
and  confectionery  business  in  Enhaut.  He 
belongs  to  the  Republican  jiarty,  and  is  active 
in  all  party  movements.  He  has  served  on 
the  county  committee  for  nine  years,  and 
also  as  a  delegate  to  the  county  convention. 
In  1893  he  was  appointed  tax  collector  for 
Swatara  township,  and  served  for  one  year. 
In  1<S92  he  was  elected  assessor  of  Swatara 
township  for  a  three  years'  term,  and  after- 
wards re-elected  for  a  second  term.  He  was 
a  charter  member  of  the  Citizens'  Passenger 
Railway  Company  formed  in  1893.  In  1870 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucetta  Moyer,  of 
Lebanon  county.  They  have  iiad  two  chil- 
dren :  John  H.,  born  in  1870,  died  August 
13,  1892,  aged  twenty-two;  and  Lizzie  0., 
born  in  1876,  living  at  home.  Mr.  (Jarver- 
ich  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  in  whose  work  he  takes  an 
active  interest;  he  is  an  official  member. 
Mr.  Garverich  was  president  of  the  Citizens' 
Band  of  Highland  for  a  number  of  years. 

John  B.  Moyer,  the  father  of  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Garverich,  is  a  farmer  in  Lebanon  county, 
and  a  prominent  inan  in  his  neighborhood. 
He  married  Miss  Lydia  Kriser,  by  whom  he 
has  three  children  :  Grant,  Emnui,  and  John. 
His  first  wife  was  Miss  Wagner;  her  children 
were  two  in  number:  Sarah,  and  Lucetta, 
married  to  ]\Ir.  Garverich. 


EsPEXSHADK,  Christian,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county  in  1849.  His  father, 
Jacob  Espenshade,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
county,  where  he  spent  his  life.  He  was  a 
farmer.  He  married  Margaret  Ebens.  They 
had  eight  children :  Mary,  wife  of  Peter  Bow- 
man ;  Valentine,  Susanna,  Christian,  and 
Jacob,  living ;  and  Solomon,  Elizabeth,  and 
Henry,  deceased.  He  died  in  1878,  aged 
seventy-two  years;  his  wife  in  1888,  at  the 
age  of  seventy -seven. 

Christian  Espenshade  acquired  his  eiluea- 
tion  in  the  common  schools  of  Dauphin 
county.  He  began  life  as  a  farmer ;  for  some 
time  he  worked  as  a  miner  in  the  Lykeiis 


Valley,  but  after^vards  resumed  farming  and 
continued  in  that  occupation  for  several  years. 
Since  1880  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  Besse- 
mer department  of  the  works  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Steel  Company,  at  Steelton.  He  has 
always  been  a  resident  of  Dauphin  county. 
In  politics  ho  is  a  Republican.  In  1870  he 
married  Miss  Hoffman,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Eliza  (Musser)  Hoffman ;  they  have  five 
children:  Charles  F.,  Harry  E.,  Jacob  W., 
Laura  F.,  and  Christian  C.  Jacob  Hoffman, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Christian  P]spenshade,  mar- 
ried Eliza  Musser,  by  whom  he  had  six  chil- 
dren;  three  are  living:  Maggie,  Mrs.  Espen- 
shade, and  John ;  the  three  deceased  were : 
Jacob,  Sarah  and  Harry. 

The  Livingston  Family — John  Living- 
ston, a  native  of  York  county,  Pa.,  was  the 
first  of  the  family  to  settle  in  Dauphin 
county,  having  come  in  1804,  or  ISUo.  He 
purchased  the  tract  of  land  on  which  the 
town  of  Enhaut  is  located,  and  lived  upon 
it  until  his  death.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a 
prominent  citizen.  He  belonged  to  the  Old 
Jviver  Brethren.  His  wife  Avas  Catherine 
Brinser,  daugliter  of  a  Mr.  Brinser  who  was 
an  early  settler  of  Londonderry  township. 
Tliey  had  five  children  :  John,  born  in  1804, 
died  ISt).");  Abraham,  1800-18(34 ;  Matthia.s, 
1811-1840  ;  .hicob,  1808-1885;  and  Catherine, 
1817-1893. 

His  son,  Abraham  Livingston,  was  born 
in  1806  in  Dauphin  county,  where  he  spent 
his  life.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  county.  He  was  a  post  and 
fence  maker,  and  also  carried  on  farming  to 
some  extent.  He  was  a  meml.)er  of  the 
Dunkard  denomination  and  took  an  active 
interest  in  all  church  matters.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Eshelman,  daughter  of  Peter 
Eshelman,  of  Londonderry  township.  They 
had  six  children  :  Jacob,  of  Enhaut;  John; 
Pi'ter,  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years; 
Abraham,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years; 
Benjamin,  died  in  infancy ;  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Shoffer,  of  Benton,  Pa. 

Jacob  Livingston,  eldest  son  of  Abraham 
Livingston,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county  in 
1833,  and  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  the  county.  When  a  young 
man  he  was  occupied  with  farming,  in  con- 
nection with  his  father.  After  marriage  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account,  con- 
tinuing it  until  1871.  For  four  j^ears  from 
that  date  he  was  engaged  in  lime  burning. 
In  1870  he  was  employed   by  the  Pennsyl- 


Dauphin  county. 


991 


vania  Steel  Company  and  continued  for 
eight  3^ears.  Since  1884  he  has  carried  on  a 
general  mercantile  business  in  Enhaut. 
He  is  Republican  in  politics.  Mr.  Living- 
ston was  married,  in  1853,  to  Miss  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  John  Livingston.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Catherine,  born  1855,  died  1859 ; 
John  W.,  born  1859,  living  at  Enhaut,  mar- 
ried Nancy  Rongle;  Ephraim  G.,born  18()7, 
died  1869  ;  Harry  Jacob,  born  1871,  mar- 
ried to  Florence,  daughter  of  George  Keim. 

Jolm  Livingston,  second  son  of  Abra- 
ham Livingston,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  in  1837.  His  educational  advan- 
tages were  suclias  tlie  schools  of  his  native 
county  afforded.  His  first  business  was 
farming,  but  his  occupations  were  varied.  He 
was  at  different  times  engaged  in  boating, 
"stone  quarrying  and  lime  burning.  From 
1872  to  1884  lie  was  employed  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Company.  Since  the  latter 
date  he  has  lived  retired  from  business. 
He  has  resided  on  the  present  location  of 
Enhaut  since  1846,  a  constant  resident  of 
Swatara  township.  He  has  served  as  school 
director  of  Enbaut  since  1880.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican and  is  interested  and  active  in 
politics.  He  has  served  as  delegate  for 
many  years.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church,  in 
which  he  has  for  the  past  fifteen  years  been 
steward  and  trustee.  In  1880  he  married 
Catlierine,  daughter  of  John  Livingston. 
They  have  one  son,  Morris,  of  Steelton,  em- 
ployed bj'  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company. 

John  Livingston,  tlie  father  of  Mrs.  Jacob 
and  Mrs.  John  Livingston,  married  Sarah 
Ludwig.  He  was  a  weaver.  Their  children 
are:  Catlierine,  wife  of  John  Livingston; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Nicholas  Hanger;  Re- 
becca, wife  of  Jacob  Livingston  ;  Mary,  wife 
of  William  Davis  ;  Leah,  widow  of  Charles 
Pazey. 

Jacob  Livingston,  son  of  John  Livingston, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  1808,  and  married  Mary 
Sheets,  by  wliom  he  had  two  children : 
Lydia,  wife  of  Christ.  Gorman ;  and  Susanna, 
wife  of  IMichael  Gross.  His  second  wife  was 
Susan  Martin;  they  had  two  sons:  Jacob, 
died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years;  and 
Joseph,  married  a  Miss  Straw,  and  has  a 
family. 

Matthias  Livingston,  son  of  John  Livings- 
ton, Sr.,  was  born  in  1811,  and  married 
Elizabeth  Eshelman  ;  their  children  were : 
Mary,  wife  of  George  Kill  heifer ;  Catherine, 
wife  of  a  Mr.  Smith,  living  in  the  West; 
62 


Elizabeth,  wife  of  Harrison  Stroup,  both  de- 
ceased ;  Joseph,  enlisted  in  the  defense  of 
his  country  in  1861,  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  was  honorably  discharged,  and  died 
on  his  way  home ;  Catherine,  wife  of  Jacob 
Beinhauer,  deceased,  by  wliom  she  had 
three  children :  Jacob,  Adam,  and  ('ath- 
erine. 


G.\RDNER,  Adam  Henry,  treasurer  of 
Steelton,  was  born  January  6,  1835 ;  son  of 
Barnhart  and  Mary  (Trostle)  Gardner.  His 
great-grandfather,  Barnhart  Gardner,  with 
his  wife,  wdio.se  maiden  name  Avas  Barbara 
Weidman,  emigrated  from  Bremen,  Ger- 
many, and  settled  in  Lancaster  count}^.  Pa., 
prior  to  the  American  Revolutionary  war. 
Their  children,  all  of  whom  settled  along  the 
Conewago  and  Berunding  creeks,  in  the 
western  part  of  York  county,  before  the  year 
1800,  wore  named  as  follows:  Adam,  Will- 
iam, Barnhart,  Martin,  Jacob,  John,  Christo- 
plier,  George,  and  Margaret.  William,  the 
second  of  these  children,  was  married  and 
lived  on  the  bank  of  Conewago  creek,  where 
he  had  a  family  of  six  children  :  John,  Barn- 
iiart,  William,  Adam,  Sarah,  and  Margaret. 
Barnhart,  the  second  of  these,  was  born  in 
1704,  died  April  5,  1859,  and  is  buried  in 
Bender's  Church  cemetery,  Adams  county. 
He  married  Mary  Trostle,  daughter  of  George 
and  Catherine  Trostle,  of  near  Getty.sburg, 
Adams  county.  She  was  born  June  27,  1805, 
died  May  4,  188<),  and  was  buried  in  Filey's 
Church  cemetery,  York  county.  Barnhart 
was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church,  and 
his  wife  Mary  belonged  to  the  Lutheran 
church.  Their  children  were  named  :  Frank- 
lin, born  April  6, 1827,  died  January  6, 1833; 
William,  born  April  25, 1829,  a  farmer,  mar- 
ried Margaretta  Wilson,  January  18,  1855, 
and  resides  near  Satank,  Garfield  county, 
Colo.,  with  his  wife  and  children,  Ella,  Flor- 
ence, and  Emma;  George  Washington,  a 
wheelwright  bv  occupation,  born  September 
11,  1831,  died  "July  13,  1861,  married  Sarah 
Wilson,  of  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Kansas, 
where  he  died,  leaving  one  child,  Emma; 
John  T.,  born  March  27, 1833,  a  farmer,  near 
Toulon,  III,  married  Philura  Bliss,  and  had 
three  children,  Edith,  Alice,  and  George; 
Adam  Henry  ;  Mary  Jane,  born  January  2, 
1837,  married  Michael  W.  Coover,  a  farmer 
of  York  county,  Pa.,  January  18,  1855,  and 
has  eight  children  :  William,  Annie,  Ella, 
Laura,  Daniel,  Sallie,  Carri^,  and  Emma  ; 
Lydia  Ann,   born  March   2,   1839,  married 


992 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Edward  Arnold,  of  Dillsburg,  York  county, 
September  18, 1857,  and  have  tl)ree  children, 
Alice,  Kate,  and  Emma;  Sarah  Elizabeth, 
born  February  5,  1811,  married  Jolm  H. 
Gluck,  of  Lehmasters,  Franklin  county.  Pa., 
and  have  two  children  deceased,  Leila  and 
Charles  Nisley ;  Daniel  Barnhart,  born  July 
20,  1850,  died  September  13,  1880,  married 
Emma  Davis,  of  Ashtabula,  Oliio,  and  settled 
in  Grecnleaf,  Kan.,  where  his  widow  subse- 
quently married  W.  P.  Mudgett. 

Adam  Henry  Gardner  was  married.  May 
23,  1867,  by  the  Rev.  William  Raber,  at  Me- 
chanicsburg,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  to 
Fannie  C.  Smith,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Marjf  (Campbell)  Smith.  He  resided  for 
some  time  at  Eberly's  Mills,  and  on  Novem- 
ber 12,  1875,  removed  to  Steelton,  Dauphin 
count\',  where  he  accepted  employment  with 
the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company  as  store- 
house clerk,  which  position  he  still  iiolds. 
When  the  borough  of  Steelton  was  incor- 
porated in  1880  Mr.  Gardner  was  elected  bor- 
ough treasurer,  and  has  continued  tohll  this 
important  and  responsible  position  ever 
since.  He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
John  C.  Fremont,  and  has  ever  since  been 
an  ardent  Rei)ublican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum,  Steelton  Council,  No. 
933,  and  Past  Regents  Association  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  since  1860.  His 
children  are:  John  Comfort,  who  died  when 
seventeen  months  old ;  Emma  Elizabeth, 
George  Smith,  Harry  Daniel,  Annie  Laurie, 
and  Percival  Jacob. 


mandery,  No.  393.  He  was  married,  in 
1883,  to  Miss  Carrie  McClellan,  daughter  of 
John  Snavely,  of  Steelton.  They  have  two 
children,  Ev;i  May  and  Russell  H.  Mr.  Dif- 
fenderfer  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 


DiFFENDERFER,  JoxAH  G.,  burgess  of  Stecl- 
ton  and  superintendent  of  the  finishing  and 
shipping  department  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Company,  was  born  in  Marietta,  Lan- 
caster county,  Pii.,  October  24,  1859.  He  is 
a  son  of  William  and  Annie  (Gelsbaugii) 
Dift'endcrfer,  now  of  Highspire,  Dauphin 
county.  His  youth  M'as  spent  in  York 
county,  where  he  received  a  common  school 
education.  He  learned  carpentry,  and 
worked  at  it  for  five  years.  In  1880  he  came 
to  Steelton,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  in  the  rail  de- 
partment, and  in  1890  he  was  appointed  to 
his  present  position.  Mr.  Diffenderfer  is  a 
Republican ;  in  1894  he  was  elected  burgess 
of  Steelton.  He  is  a  member  of  Steelton 
Lodge,  No.  184,  L  0.  O.  F.;  of  P.  0.  S.  of  A.; 
of  Royal  Arcanum,  and   of  Steelton  Com- 


Kntsely,  John  P.,  grocer,  was  born  in 
Shepherdstown,  Cumberland  county,  Pa., 
August  14,  1866.  He  is  a  son  of  A.  Y.  and 
Annie  B.  (Grable)  Knisely.  Mr.  A. Y.  Knisely 
was  born  in  York  county.  Pa.,  March  23, 
1843.  His  parents  were  Peter  and  Matilda 
(Seitz)  Knisely.  He  was  reared  in  York  and 
Cumberland  counties,  and  was  a  farmer. 
He  married  IMiss  Annie  B.  Grable  in  1865. 
He  located  in  Maryhind,  and  removed  to 
Mechanicsburg,  Cumberland  county,  and 
afterwards  to  Steelton.  He  was  in  mercan- 
tile business,  but  relinquished  it  in  1895,  and 
has  since  been  in  the  fire  insurance  and  the 
building  and  loan  business.  He  sei'ved  for 
two  terms  in  the  borough  council  of  Steel- 
ton, having  been  elected  on  the  People's 
ticket.  In  1861  he  enlisted,  and  served 
three  years  and  nine  months.  He  is  past 
comnianderof  Lascomb  Post,  No.  351, G.  A.  R. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Malta,  the 
1.  ().  U.  F.,  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  has 
five  children  :  John  P.;  Elsie  M.,  wife  of 
Isaac  Lehman,  of  Virginia;  Annie  U.,  wife 
of  Thomas  Keim,  of  Steelton  ;  Edith  L.,  wife 
of  Melvin  C.  Conklin,  of  Steelton  ;  and  Jen- 
nie S.  Mr.  Knisely  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  secretary  of  its  board 
of  trustees. 

John  P.  Knisely  attended  the  Steelton 
public  schools,  and  wasgradua'ed  from  them 
in  1884.  In  the  .same  year  he  engaged  with 
his  father  in  the  clothing  and  gentlemen's 
furnisliing  business,  in  which  he  continued 
until  1892,  when  he  purchased  his  present 
grocer}'  business,  established  by  his  father 
in  1890.  Mr.  Knisely  is  a  Republican.  He 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Malta.  He  was 
married,  in  1888,  to  Miss  Minnie,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Lewis  Peters,  deceased,  of  Steelton. 
They  have  three  children :  Edna  M.,  H. 
Lloyd,  and  Lester  P.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  in 
which  he  is  prominent.  He  is  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday-school,  church  organist, 
and  president  of  the  Christian  Endeavor 
Union.  Mr.  Knisely  is  chairman  of  the 
"  Good  Citizenship  Association,"  of  Steelton. 


DAUPBIN  COUNTY. 


993 


Morris,  Milton  K.,  master  mechanic, 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Comjmnj^  was  born  in 
Chester  county.  Pa.,  November  19,  1842.  lie 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Eleanor  (Fletcher) 
Morris,  natives  of  Chester  county.  William 
Morris  was  a  locomotive  engineer  and  after- 
wards road  supervi.sor  of  the  Ilarrisburg  and 
Lancaster  railroad.  He  removed  to  Harrisburg 
in  1853,  and  commenced  hotel  keeping.  He 
was  proprietor  of  the  "  White  Swan,"  ''  Will- 
iam Tell,"  "Red  Lion,"  and  "Pennsylvania 
Avenue"  hotels,  at  different  periods.  He 
died  in  Pittsburgh  in  1875  while  a  delegate 
to  the  State  convention  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W. 

Milton  K.  Morris  was  eleven  years  old 
when  his  j^arents  removed  to  Harrisburg. 
He  was  educated  there  in  the  public  schools 
and  the  Harrisburg  Academy.  He  learned 
the  machinist's  trade  with  W.  0.  Hickok. 
He  was  emiiloyed  by  P.  A.  Moltz,  of  Will- 
iamsport,  Pa.,  and  afterwards  j)urchased  the 
business  of  Jacob  Moltz,  in  Harrisburg,  and 
conducted  it  for  two  years.  In  1861  he  en- 
listed in  the  three  months'  service,  but  was 
too  young  to  be  mustered  in.  In  1863  he  en- 
listed in  Capt.  Asbur}-  Awl's  company.  In 
1804  the  Government  sent  him  to  Alexandria, 
^"a.,  where  he  was  employed  for  eighteen 
months  as  a  machinist  and  locomotive  engi- 
neer. He  then  worked  in  the  navy  yard  at 
Washington,  1).  C,  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  in  the  audience  at  Ford's  Theater,  in 
Washington,  when  President  Lincoln  was  as- 
sassinated. After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr. 
Morris  worked  in  the  Altoona  shops  of  the 
Penn.sylvania  railroad  for  several  years.  In 
1870  he  came  to  Steelton  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Companj-,  in 
whicli  he  has  ever  since  continued,  with  the 
excejition  of  a  short  time  spent  in  the  Paxton 
Polling  Mills.  He  served  as  foreman  of  the 
machine  shops  until  April,  1892,  when  he 
was  made  master  mechanic  of  the  works.  He 
is  a  member  of  Carthage  Lodge,  No.  104,  K. 
of  P.;  Baldwin  Commandery,  No.  108,  K.  of 
M.;  and  of  Steelton  Conclave,  I.  0.  H.  Mr. 
Morris  is  independent  in  politics.  He  was 
the  Democratic  nominee  for  burgess  of  Steel- 
ton,in  1893,  but  was  defeated.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1865,  to  Miss  Sallie  A.,  daughter  of 
John  C.  Linn,  of  Chester  county.  Pa.  They 
have  four  children  :  John  Finley,  foreman 
for  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  married 
Fannie  Norris,  they  have  one  child,  Grace; 
M.  Dewitt,  Howard  D.,  and  Bessie.  Mr. 
Morris  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 


Good,  Jacob,  foreman  of  the  boiler  depart- 
ment of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company, 
was  born  in  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  Octo- 
ber 22,  1842.  His  father  died  when  he  was 
quite  young,  and  he  removed  with  his 
mother  to  Daupiiin  county  and  located  in 
Harrisburg,  where  he  attended  tlie  public 
sciiools.  He  learned  boiler  making  in  the 
shops  of  the  Pennsylvania  Raih'oad  (Com- 
pany, and  was  employed  by  that  company 
for  nine  years.  He  was  afterwards  several 
years  with  Robert  Tippett.  In  1876  he  was 
employed  at  Steelton  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Company  as  journeyman.  In  1877  he 
was  made  foreman  of  the  boiler  department, 
which  position  he  has  held  continuously 
since  that  time.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in 
company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
seventh  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers, 
and  served  nine  months.  He  took  part  in 
the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancel- 
lorsville.  He  re-enlisted  in  August,  1864, 
in  company  D,  Two  Hundred  and  First 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and 
served  for  five  months  as  orderly  to  Gen.  J. 
P.  Slough.  Mr.  Good  is  a  member  of  State 
Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  and  Olivet  Encamp- 
ment, No.  56,  I.  O.  0.  F.;  of  Phojnix  Lodge, 
No.  59,  K.  of  P.,  and  of  Baldwin  Command- 
ery, No.  108,  K.  of  M.  In  1890  he  helped  to 
organize  the  Mechanics'  and  Heljiers'  Re- 
lief As.sociation,  and  has  since  been  its  treas- 
urer. He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Good  Will  Fire  Companj^,  No.  7,  of  Harris- 
burg, for  a  number  of  years,  and  is  now  pres- 
ident of  the  Citizen  Fire  Company,  of  Steel- 
ton. He  is  past  commander  of  Sergt.  Sam- 
uel W.  Lascomb  Post,  No.  351,  G.  A.  R.; 
is  an  active  Republican,  and  at  present  a 
borough  councilman. 

Mr.  Good  was  married,  in  1864,  to  Miss 
Maggie  E.,  daughter  of  George  Pipes,  of  Har- 
risburg. They  have  four  children:  George 
E.,  roll-turner,  of  Steelton  ;  Mary  Lizzie,  wife 
of  George  H.  Yestadt,  of  Sparrow's  Point, 
Md.;  Glenzora,  wife  of  Oliver  Weigle,  of  Steel- 
ton, and  Lawrence  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Good 
are  members  of  St.  Paul's  Baptist  church,  in 
which  he  is  trustee,  and  superintendent  of 
the  Sundav-school.  Mr.  Good  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 


Dougherty,  John  W.,  superintendent  of 
the  blast  furnace  department,  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Company,  was  born  in  Worcester, 
Mass.,  August  17,  1867.  He  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Margaret  (Geinham)  Dougherty. 


994 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


His  parents  removed  to  Pittsburgli  in  1870, 
and  in  1875  came  to  Steelton.  After  gradu- 
ating from  the  Steelton  high  school  he  took 
a  course  at  Ulrich's  preparatory  school  and 
graduated  from  the  mining  and  engineering 
department  of  Lehigh  University  in  1889. 
He  learned  the  open  heartli  business,  and  in 
January,  1890,  was  made  foreman  of  the 
open  hearth  department  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Steel  Company.  In  January,  1892,  he 
became  superintendent  of  the  blast  furnace 
department,  which  position  he  has  since 
filled.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Harris- 
burg  Trust  Companj'.  He  is  independent 
in  politics.  Mr.  Dougiierty  was  married,  in 
1893,  to  Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of  Patrick 
McNiff,  of  Harrisburg. 


Downs,  John  -B.,  superintendent  of  the 
rail  and  blooming  mills,  Nos.  1  and  2,  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Company,  was  born  in  Leeds, 
England,  June  21,  1849.  He  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  Downs.  His  youth  was 
passed  in  England.  In  July,  1867,  he  came 
to  America,  intending  to  visit  California  for 
the  benefit  of  his  health.  He  stopped  in 
Philadelphia,  and  worked  one  year  at  the 
Milldale  Steel  Works.  In  1869  he  came 
to  Steelton,  and  was  for  eighteen  months 
employed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Com- 
pany as  helper  at  the  forge  hammer.  He 
then  returned  to  England,  where  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Seaman  &  Martin  furnace 
as  heater.  Coming  again  to  America  he  had 
charge  of  the  Seaman  &  Martin  furnace  at 
Joliet,  111.,  for  about  one  year,  after  which  he 
returned  to  Steelton,  and  took  charge  of  No. 
1  forging  hammer.  He  was  gradually  pro- 
moted to  thesuperintendency  of  different  de- 
partments. He  has  held  his  present  respon- 
sible position  for  the  past  ten  years.  Mr. 
Downs  is  a  Republican,  and  is  treasurer  of 
the  Fourth  Ward  Republican  Club.  He  is  a  • 
member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Harrisburg.  He  was  married,  De- 
cember 25,  1883,  to  Miss  Amelia  G.,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Jacob  Miller,  of  Wilmington, 
Del.  They  have  two  children,  Nelson  Mil- 
ler and  Thomas  Watson.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Downs  are  members  of  St.  Stephen's  Episco- 
pal church,  Harrisburg. 


and  was  educated  at  the  Gymnasium  at 
Wesel,  Germany,  and  at  the  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  civil  engineering.  In 
1886  he  engaged  with  the  Pittsburgh  Bridge 
Compan}^  as  designer  and  remained  with 
the  company  two  years.  He  was  next 
employed  at  the  Snead  &  Co.  Iron  Works, 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  later  by  the  Penn 
Bridge  Company,  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.  After 
this  he  engaged  as  assistant  on  the  con- 
struction of  the  Cairo  bridge  across  the 
Ohio  river,  the  St.  Louis  merchants'  bridge 
across  the  Mississippi,  and  other  important 
structures ;  being  stationed  at  this  period 
at  the  Union  Bridge  Company's  Works, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  Athens,  Pa.,  and  at  the 
Edgemoor  Bridge  Works,  Wilmington,  Del. 
In  December,  1890,  at  the  organization  of 
the  bridge  and  construction  department  of 
•  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  Steelton, 
he  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  engineer 
and  in  the  spring  of  1891  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  department.  Some  of  the 
notable  structures  erected  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Steel  Company  under  his  supervision 
include  tlie  steel  arch  span  across  the  Ni- 
agara, re})lacing  the  old  railway  suspension 
bridge  ;  a  doulile  track  bridge  across  the  har- 
bor of  Duluth,  Minn.,  including  one  of  the 
heaviest  draw  spans  in  existence ;  the  Lake 
Roland  elevated  railway,  running  through 
the  heart  of  Baltimore,  and  a  bridge  across 
the  Norwalk  river  at  South  Norwalk,  Conn., 
including  the  first  four  track  draw  span 
built  in  this  countr}'. 

Mr.  Reynders  was  married,  in  1894,  to 
Miss  Clare,  daughter  of  Dr.  S.  T.Charlton, 
of  Harrisburg.  They  have  one  child,  J.  V. 
W.  Reynders,  Jr.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynders 
are  members  of  the  Pine  street  Presbyterian 
church,  Harrisburg.  His  politics  are  inde- 
pendent. He  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  the  Engineers' 
Club,  "of  Philadelphia,  and  the  Harrisburg 
Club. 


Reynders,  J.  V.  W.,  superintendent  of  the 
bridge  and  construction  department,  Penn- 
svlvania  Steel  Companv,  was  born  in  Ho- 
boken,  N.  J.,  December  17,  1866.  He  is  a 
sou  of  John  and    Louise  (Sellers)  Reynders, 


McEntee,  Thomas  T.,  superintendent  of 
the  open  hearth  department,  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Companv,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.,  March  28,  1861.  He  is  a  son 
of  Peter  and  Catherine  (Lynch)  McEntee. 
The  family  removed  from  Lancaster  county 
to  Perry  county,  and  in  1872  to  Harris- 
burg, Dauphin  county.  Pa.  Peter  McEntee 
was  a  keeper  in  the  blast  furnace.  He  died 
iu  Steelton  in  1879;  his  wife  died  in  1890. 


BA  UFHIN     COUNTY. 


995 


Tliomas  T.  McEntee  was  twelve  years  of  age 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Daupliin 
county.  He  attended  the  public  scliools 
and  made  his  beginning  of  worli  in  the 
Minnick  brickyard.  In  1873  he  came  to 
Steelton,  and  was  emi)loyed  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Steel  Company  as  a  laborer  in  tiie 
open  hearth  department.  He  was  gradu- 
ally promoted  until  he  was  made  superin- 
tendent of  that  department  in  1890.  Mr. 
McEntee  was  married,  in  1886,  to  Miss  Mary, 
daughter  of  Simon  Quinn,  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, and  a  resident,  of  Steelton.  They  have 
tiiree  children  :  Bernard,  Thomas,  and  Marie. 
Mr.  McEntee  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Harris- 
burg  Trust  Company.  His  politics  are 
Democratic.  The  famil}'  are  members  of 
St.  James'  Catholic  church. 


Campbell,  Harry  Huse,  general  superin- 
tendent of  the  works  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Company,  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass. 
His  education,  obtained  in  the  Boston  schools, 
was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  Massa- 
cliusetts  Institute  of  Teciinology,  Boston  ; 
from  this  celebrated  school  lie  received  a  de- 
gree in  1879.  He  came  at  once  to  Steelton, 
engaged  with  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Com- 
pany, and  has  since  tliat  time  been  continu- 
ously in  its  employ.  He  has  served  in  vari- 
ous capacities  in  the  Bes.seraer  and  open 
hearth  departments,  and  was  in  charge  of 
the  latter  department  for  some  time.  From 
1889  to  1893  he  was  assistant  superintendent 
of  the  works  ;  he  was  then  made  general 
superintendent,  whicli  position  he  still  holds. 
Mr.  Campbell's  rapid  advancement  to  respon- 
sible positions  can  be  accounted  for  only  by 
taking  into  account  his  rare  combination  of 
c|ualities.  Eminent  mechanical,  scientific 
and  literary  talents,  coupled  with  industry, 
fidelity,  ambition  and  entliusiasm  in  the  cul- 
tivation and  practical  use  of  his  endowments, 
have  carried  him  safely  and  rapidly  on  in 
his  remarkable  career.  The  position  ac- 
corded him  by  tiie  great  company  he  repre- 
sents is  a  certificate  of  his  mechanical  and 
scientific  equipment.  His  standing  as  a 
writer  is  even  more  prominent.  His  scien- 
tific articles,  especially  those  on  metallurgical 
topics,  find  ready  accejitance  and  speedy  pub- 
lication in  tlie  leading  journals  of  the  country. 
His  thesis  on  the  "  Open  Hearth  Process,"  read 
in  August,  1893,  in  Chicago,  at  the  meeting 
of  the  American  Institute  of  Mining  Engi- 
neers, of  which  lie  is  a  member,  attracti'd 
world-wide  attention,  and  gave   him    rank 


among  the  leading  metallurgists  of  the  age. 
Mr.  Campbell  is  not  merely  a  sliop  and  book 
man,  but  is  felt  as  a  power  in  social  circles. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  lias  been 
a  member  of  the  borough  council  of  Steelton 
since  1890,  and  president  of  that  bodv  since 
1894. 


Calder,  a.  Russell,  superintendent  of  the 
manufacture  of  special  steel  in  the  open 
hearth  department,  Pennsylvania  Steel  Com- 
pany, was  born  in  Siiipitensburg,  Pa.,  March 
14,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of  Rev.  James  and 
Ellen  C."  (Winebrenner)  Calder.  He  was 
brought  up  in  Harrisburg  and  educated  in 
the  public  schools  ;  he  was  graduated  in  the 
Pennsylvania  State  College  in  1877,  after 
which  he  took  a  post  graduate  course  in 
science  in  the  same  institution.  For  five 
j'oars  he  was  foreman  in  the  wlieel  depart- 
ment of  the  Harrisburg  Car  Manufacturing 
Company.  lu  1883  he  came  to  Steelton  and 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Company,  Basic  Bessemer  department. 
In  1889  he  was  superintendent  of  the  open 
hearth  department.  Since  that  year  he  has 
been  superintendent  of  the  manufacture  of 
special  steels.  Mr.  Calder  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Harrisburg  Trust  Company.  His 
politics  are  Republican.  He  was  married,  in 
1889,  to  Mi.ss  M.  Alice,  daughter  of  A.  R. 
Hess,  of  Steelton.  He  is  a  tru.stee  of  the  Free 
Will  Baptist  church,  Fourth  and  State  streets, 
Harrisburg,  and  a  director  of  the  Steelton 
Y.  M.  C.  A. 


Mauk,  Samuel  T.,  undertaker  and  funeral 
director,  Steelton,  was  born  in  Mechanics- 
burg,  Cumberland  county,  Pa.  He  is  a  son 
of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Humberg)  Mauk, 
who  are  referred  to  in  another  place  in  this 
volume.  His  early  life  was  spent  under  the 
paternal  roof,  and  his  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town  and  in  the  Business  College  of  Harris- 
burg, Pa.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  undertaking  since  he  left  school,  hav- 
ing received  his  first  training  from  his 
fatiier.  He  is  also  a  graduate  of  tlie  F.  A. 
Solomon  Embalming  School,  of  Harrisliurg, 
his  certificate  of  proficiency  bearing  the 
date  of  July  28,  1891.  He  has  also  a  di- 
ploma from  the  Clark  School  of  Embalm- 
ing, Philadelphia,  dated  the  same  3'ear. 
Early  in  1895  Mr.  Mauk  established  his 
business  in  Steelton.  By  strict  personal  at- 
tention to  the  requirements  of  his  art,  he  has 


996 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


secured  a  patronage  which  would  be  credi- 
table to  older  houses.  His  establishment  is 
tastefully  fitted  up  and  furnished  with  all 
needful  modern  appliances.  He  has  in 
stock  a  full  line  of  funeral  furnishing  goods, 
and  is  able  to  meet  the  various  tastes  and 
needs  of  his  patrons,  from  the  most  elaborate 
and  costly  outfittings  to  gratify  the  wealthy 
to  the  simplest  supply  for  the  slenderest 
purse.  And  withal,  to  rich  and  poor  alike, 
are  given  the  decorous,  regardful  and  sym- 
pathetic services  of  the  trained  and  efficient 
director,  Mr.  Mauk.  He  attends  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  cliurch,  and  is  not  married. 


Keller,  Edward  (1,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Keller  &  Mumma,  hardware  mer- 
chants, Steelton,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  August  22,  1865.  He  is  a  son  of  Valen- 
tine and  Catherine  (Fox)  Keller.  Valentine 
Keller  was  born  in  Germany.  He  received 
his  education  and  was  married  in  his  native 
country.  He  was  a  master  mechanic.  He 
came  to  America  and  settled  at  Harrisburg, 
where  he  spent  his  life  and  where  lie  died  in 
1881.  His  wife,  Catherine  Fox,  was  also 
born  in  Germany  and  came  with  her  hus- 
band to  America.  She  resides  in  Harrisburg. 
Four  of  their  nine  children  are  living: 
AVilliam  V.,  physician.  Stony  Point,  N.  Y.; 
Edward  C;  Louis  E.,  a  prominent  manufac- 
turer, of  New  York  City;  and  Dorothy. 

Edward  C.  Keller  received  his  education 
in  the  schools  and  the  Business  College  of 
Harrisburg,  From  early  life  lie  was  in  the 
hardwart'  business  as  salesman  with  Keller 
&  Son.  In  1888  he  became  clerk  in  the 
hardware  establishment  of  Dunkle  &  Sons, 
Steelton.  One  year  later  he  was  promoted  to 
manager.  The  year  following  he  became 
junioi  partner  in  the  firm,  and  two  years  later 
tlie  present  firm  was  constituted,  of  which 
lie  is  senior  partner.  Mr.  Keller  is  at  present 
secretary  of  the  Steelton  Electric  Light,  Heat 
and  Power  Company.  He  is  a  Republican 
and  has  served  three  years  as  school  director. 
Mr.  Keller  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  Seji- 
tember  12,  1886,  to  Annie,  daughter  of  the 
late  William  Buehler,  one  of  the  old  settlers 
of  Harrisburg.  They  have  three  children  ; 
two  died  in  infanc}' ;  the  surviving  child  is 
William  D.  He  and  his  wife  attend  St. 
John's  church.  Mr.  Keller  belongs  to  Cap- 
ital City  Castle,  No.  40,  K.  of  G.  E.;  to  Sus- 
quehanna Tribe,  No.  298,  LO.  R.  M.,  and 
to  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Steelton. 


Snavely,  William  J.,  cashier,  Steelton 
National  Bank,  was  born  near  Boiling 
Springs,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  July  10, 
1861.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Susan  (Gish) 
Snavely.  John  Snavely  was  born  in  Bis- 
marck, Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  but  had  resided 
in  Cumberland  county  some  years  before  his 
son  William  J.  was  born.  He  was  for  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  a  farmer,  but  since 
1875  has  resided  in  Steelton.  He  has  reached 
the  age  of  seventy-three;  Mrs.  Snavely,  who 
was  a  native  of  Hummelstowu,  Dauphin 
county,  is  seventy-one  years  old.  They  had 
eleven  children,  of  whom  nine  are  living : 
Catherine,  wife  of  Samuel  Plouse,  Camp- 
bellstown.  Pa.;  Matilda,  wife  of  Arthur 
Young,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Lera-Belle,  wife 
of  Joseph  B.  Hummel,  Steelton,  Pa.;  John 
H.,  dentist,  Steelton ;  AVilliam  J.;  Carrie, 
wife  of  Jonah  B.  Diffenderfer,  referred  to 
elsewhere  in  this  volume ;  Bertha  G.,  Minnie 
B.,  and  Ora  A.  One  child  died  in  infancy  ; 
George  W.  enlisted  in  company  A,  Twen- 
tieth Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and  died  in 
Andersonville  jn-ison. 

A\'illiam  J.  Snavely,  when  but  a  cliild, 
left  his  native  county  with  his  parents,  who 
located  in  Hockersville ;  five  years  later 
they  removed  to  Hummelstown,  and  five 
years  after  that  to  Manheim,  Pa.,  where  he 
remainetl  until  1884.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Hummelstown  and 
Manheim.  In  June,  1884,  he  removed  to 
Lincoln,  Pa.,  and  was  cashier  of  the  Lincoln 
National  Bank  until  December,  1886.  He 
llien  came  to  Steelton,  and  has  since  that 
(late  been  cashier  of  the  Steelton  National 
Bank,  efficiently  performing  the  duties  of 
that  position.  He  has  been  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Middletown,  Highspire  and 
Steelton  Street  Railway  Company  since  its 
organization.  Mr.  Snavely  is  a  Republi- 
can, but  votes  for  men  rather  than  for  [larty. 
He  has  served  two  years  as  school  director 
of  Steelton.  He  was  married,  in  Duncan- 
non,  Pa.,  August  1,  1889,  to  Miss  Carrie  J., 
daughter  of  Hugh  and  Ellen  (Lightner) 
Wilson,  of  Landisburg,  Perry  county.  They 
have  no  children.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
Mr.  Snavely  began  to  fight  the  battles  of 
life  for  himself.  The  important  positions 
he  has  filled  have  been  won  by  his  own  in- 
defatigable exertions. 

Wilt,  Harry,  furniture  dealer  and  funeral 
director,  was  born  in  Fairview  township, 
Cumberland  county,  Pa.,   January  2,  1854. 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


997 


He  is  a  son  of  William  ami  Sarah  (Smitli) 
Wilt.  His  father  now  resides  in  New  Cum-, 
berlaiid,  Cumberland  county;  his  mother 
died  August  7,  1882.  Up  to  the  age  of 
twelve  years  he  spent  his  life  at  home, 
receiving  the  advantages  of  a  good  public 
school  education  in  his  native  township.  In 
1870  he  began  a  three  years'  apprenticeship 
at  cabinet  making,  in  Blaine,  Perry  county, 
after  which,  in  1873,  he  went  to  Manchester, 
York  county,  and  worked  at  his  trade  two 
years  as  journeyman.  In  187.5  he  engaged  in 
the  furniture  and  undertaking  business  on 
his  own  account,  at  New  Cumberland,  Pa.; 
he  carried  on  the  business  successfully'  at 
that  place  for  eight  years.  Since  March, 
1888,  he  has  been  a  continuous  resident  of 
Steelton,  and  is  one  of  the  enter]>rising  and 
successful  business  men  of  tiie  place.  Mr. 
Wilt  was  married,  in  York  county.  Pa.,  De- 
cember 24,  1874,  to  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of 
Michael  Gross,  born  in  Manchester,  York 
county.  They  have  had  seven  children, 
all  sons,  one  of  whom,  Samuel,  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  living  children  are:  Russell  G., 
Lee  G.,  Robert  G.,  Harry,  Chester,  and  Frank. 
Mr.  Wilt  is  an  active  member  of  the  Hepta- 
sophs,  and  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Red 
Men.  His  politics  are  Republican.  He  at- 
tends St.  John's  Lutheran  church. 


Peters,  D.  Augustus,  pharmacist.  Steel- 
ton,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Florin,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  August  27,  1865.  He  is  a  son 
of  Rev.  Lewis  and  Cassadella  (Ranck)  Peters. 
Rev.  Lewis  Peters  spent  his  early  life  in  the 
ministry  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
He  died  at  New  Holland,  Lancaster  county, 
March  8,  1893.  His  remains  are  interred  in 
Baldwin  cemetery,  Steelton.  His  wife  .survives, 
residing  in  Steelton.  Their  three  children  are 
all  living:  Dr.  Jacob  M.  Peters,  referred  to  else- 
where in  this  volume;  D.  Augustus;  and 
Minnie  A.,  wife  of  John  P.  Knisely,  a  prom- 
inent grocer  of  Steelton,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  D.  Au- 
gustus Peters  being  the  son  of  a  minister,  his 
early  life  was  of  necessity  migratory.  Most 
of  his  primary  education  was  obtained  in  the 
public  schools  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.  He  sub- 
sequently pursued  a  course  of  studj-  in  the 
Lebanon  Valley  College.  In  1888  he  went 
to  Lancaster,  where  for  three  years  he  was 
clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  John  F.  Long's 
Sons.  In  1886  he  entered  the  Philadelphia 
College  of  Pharmacy,  and  was  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1887.     In  May  of  the  same 


year  he  opened  a  pharmacy  in  Steelton,  and 
has  since  resided  continuously  in  that 
borough,  ranking  to-day  among  the  leading 
and  successful  business  men  of  the  commu- 
nity. He  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  Oc- 
tober 4,1887,  to  Nora  L.,  daughter  of  Joseph 
G.  and  Eva  Wharton,  of  Harrisburg.  They 
have  two  children,  Eva  Luella  and  Howard 
Lewis.  Mr.  Peters  belongs  to  Peace  and 
Plenty  Lodge,  No.  69,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Harris- 
burg; Baldwin  Commandery,  No.  108,  K.  of 
M.,  Steelton;  and  Moro  Castle,  No.  163,  K. 
of  G.  E.  He  is  a  Republican.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Peters  attend  the  United  Brethren  church. 


Smith,  Frederick  E.,  the  genial  proprietor 
of  the  Central  Hotel,  the  leading  hotel  of 
Steelton,  was  born  in  Blina,  South  Wales, 
G.  B.,  February  5,  1868.  He  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Eorma  (Hilliard)  Smith.  Henry 
Smith  was  born  and  educated  in  Great  Brit- 
ain. He  came  to  America  after  his  marriage 
and  settled  at  Harrisburg.  He  was  connected 
with  the  Lochiel  rolling  mill  for  eight  years, 
and  from  1875  until  his  death,  February  1, 
1894,  was  continuously  in  the  service  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  at  Steelton. 
He  was  a  thoroughly  practical  meciianic  and 
an  honorable,  upright  man,  who  enjoyed  the 
esteem  and  good  will  of  all  who  knew  him. 
His  memory  will  long  be  cherished.  His 
wife  survives,  residing  in  Steelton.  Nine  of 
their  ten  children  are  living :  John,  who  re- 
sides in  his  native  land;  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
Luke  Butt,  of  Columbia,  Pa.;  Henry  0.,  of 
Steelton  ;  Julia,  wife  of  John  Butt,  of  Leba- 
non, Pa.;  Emily,  wife  of  0.  C.  Nace,  of  Har- 
risburg ;  Rhoda,  wife  of  John  F.  Bogner,  of 
Steelton;  Alfred,  of  Columbia,  Pa.;  Frede- 
rick E.,  and  Bella,  in  Steelton,  teacher  in  the 
public  schools. 

Frederick  E.  Smith,  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
months  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  xVmer- 
ica.  He  lived  with  them  in  Harrisburg 
until  April,  1877 ;  since  that  date  he  has 
been  a  continuous  resident  of  Steelton.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Harris- 
burg and  Steelton.  He  was  subsequently  in 
the  employ  of  the  Penn.sylvania  Steel  Com- 
pany, at  Steelton,  for  seven  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  he  became  proprietor 
of  the  Central  Hotel.  He  has  since  continued 
to  conduct  it  with  success.  Mr.  Smith  has 
recently  built  a  large  addition  to  his  hotel, 
and  has  refurnished  it  throughout,  making 
it  one  of  the  most  comfortable  hostelries  in 
Dauphin  county.     His   generous  provision 


998 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


for  the  wants  of  the  inner  and  outer  man 
are  not  surpassed  by  many  more  pretentious 
houses.  Mr.  Smith  was  married,  in  Harris- 
burg,  to  Olive  Alleman,  daughter  of  S.  S.  and 
Mary  A.  Handslioe.  Tliey  liave  had  three  chil- 
dren :  Lyle  A.,  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years ; 
Floyd  L.,  accidentally  killed  by  the  electric 
street  cars  in  front  of  his  father's  residence ; 
and  Hazel  L.,  the  only  living  cliild.  He 
is  a  Republican  and  attends  the  Methodist 
church. 


Benton,  Eev.  Gilbert  Liguori,  the  be- 
loved rector  of  St.  James'  church,  Steelton, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Newry,  Blair  county.  Pa., 
December  10,  1857.  He  is  a  son  of  Frank 
H.  and  Elizabeth  (Christy)  Benton.  In  1867 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Renovo, 
Clinton  county,  Pa.,  and  obtained  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  public  schools  of 
that  town.  He  subsequently  attended  St. 
Vincent's  College,  near  Latrobe,  Pa.,  and 
after  completing  a  thorough  collegiate  course 
in  tliat  institution,  he  entered  St.  Bona- 
venture  Seminary,  Allegany,  Cattaraugus 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  took  his  philosoph- 
ical and  theological  courses.  On  December 
21,  1882,  he  received  the  "minor  orders"  in 
the  Cathedral  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  He  was  or- 
dained to  the  sub-deaconship  December  28, 
1882,  at  the  Seminary  of  our  Lady  of  Angels, 
Suspension  Bridge,  Niagara  county,  N.  Y., 
and  to  the  deaconship,  December  24,  1882, 
at  the  Cathedral,  in  the  citv  of  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  by  the  Right  Rev.  Stephen  V.  Ryan, 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and 
continued  his  studies  at  the  above  named 
seminary  until  .January  24,  1883.  On  this 
date  he  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  in 
St.  Patrick's  Pro-Cathedral.  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
by  the  Right  Rev.  J.  F.  Shanahan,  Bishop 
of  tlie  Diocese  of  Harrisburg.  On  February 
3,  1883,  he  was  appointed  to  the  assistant 
rectorship  of  Our  Lady  of  Mt.  Carmel,  at 
Mount  Carmel,  Pa.  A  little  over  four 
months  later,  .June  22,  1883,  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  rector  of  the  Pro-Cathedral 
at  Harrisburg.  November  1,  1883,  he  was 
removed  to  Sylvan  Heights  Seminary,  and 
was  professor  of  Sacred  Liturg}-  there  until 
Juh'8,  1884;  he  was  then  re-appointed  to 
the  assistant  rectorship  of  the  Pro-Cathedral 
at  Harrisburg.  He  remained  in  Harrisburg 
until  October  1, 1887,  when  he  was  appointed 
to  the  rectorship  of  St.  James'  church.  Steel- 
ton,  his  present  charge. 


Newcomer,  Samuel  S.,  merchant  tailor, 
Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Mechanicsburg, 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  November  9,  18G1. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lucy  (Shun)  New- 
comer. John  Newcomer  was  born  near 
Fairview,  Pa.,  May  13,  1833.  He  is  a  car- 
penter, and  has  spent  his  life  in  Cumber- 
land county ;  he  is  still  an  honored  resident 
of  Mechanicsburg.  His  wife  died  at  Me- 
chanicsburg, March  25, 1895.  Of  their  seven 
children,  three  are  now  living:  Samuel  S., 
Frank,  of  Steelton,  and  Annie,  wife  of  Ira 
Ryder,  of  Mechanicsl)urg. 

Samuel  S.  Newcomer  spent  his  boyhood  at 
Mechanicsburg,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  place.  Leaving  school 
he  came  to  Harrisburg  and  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  tailoring.  He  afterwards 
worked  at  his  trade  as  a  journcN'man,  first  in 
Harrisburg  and  later  in  Pottsville  and  in 
New  York.  He  located  in  Steelton  on  Jan- 
uary 15,  1889,  and  engaged  in  business  for 
himself.  He  has  since  been  a  continuous 
resident  of  this  borough,  and  has  built  up  a 
large  and  rapidly  increasing  trade.  Mr. 
Newcomer  was  married,  in  Steelton,  Janu- 
ary 10, 1889,  to  Phoebe  M.,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  Eckert,born  inElizabethtown, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  at  the  date  of  her 
marriage  a  resident  of  Steelton.  They  have 
one  child,  Ruth  Antoinette,  born  July  31, 
1893.  Mr.  Newcomer  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  Steelton  Lodge,  No.  184,  I.  0.  0. 
F.;  of  Washington  Camp,  No.  164,  P.  O.S.  of  A., 
Mechanicsburg  ;  of  Moro  Castle,  No.  163,  K. 
of  G.  E.,  Steelton.  He  is  a  Republican.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Newcomer  attend  St.  John's  Evan- 
gelical church,  of  Steelton. 


SouLLiARD,  John  H.,  was  born  in  Ches- 
ter county,  Pa.,  June  10,  1852.  He  is  a  son 
of  Lewis  and  Louisa  (Fraulinger)  Soulliard. 
Lewis  Soulliard  was  born  in  France,  Jan- 
uary 1,  1815.  He  came  to  this  country  in 
1850,  located  at  a  place  in  Chester  county, 
and  then  returned  to  France  for  his  family. 
He  is  a  forgeman,  and  has  followed  that  vo- 
cation from  boyhood.  He  was  married,  in 
France,  to  Louisa  Fraulinger.  They  have 
twelve  children,  six  of  whom  were  born  in 
France,  and  six  in  America  ;  nine  are  living : 
Louis ;  George ;  Joseph  ;  Frederick  ;  John  H.; 
Sybilla,  wife  of  Fred.  Stauter,  of  Altoona, 
Pa.;  James,  of  Chicago ;  Charles,  and  Rev. 
Aaron.  The  children  deceased  are  :  Louisa, 
wife  of  Aaron  Stine,  died  November,  18G8, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


999 


aged  thirty  years ;  Kate,  and  Frances.  In 
making  his  seA'cral  trips  Mr.  SoulHard  was 
seventy-two  weeks  on  the  water.  Heis  in  good 
health,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one,  and  resides 
in  Lebanon,  Pa.  His  wife  died  in  May, 
1888,  aged  seventy-two.  She  was  a  faithful 
mother  and  a  devout  Christian,  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Jolm  H.  Soulliard  was  brought  when  a 
child  to  Lebanon  county,  where  he  received 
a  limited  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  learned  house  painting,  and  worked  at 
that  trade  for  eight  years.  He  afterwards 
worked  at  butchering  with  Mr.  Eeily  Ring- 
ler,  at  Lebanon,  for  one  year,  after  which  he 
found  employment  at  Middletown,  Pa. 
Since  1872  Mr.  Soulliard  has  been  employed 
at  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works.  He  was 
made  runner  boy,  and  held  that  position  for 
sixteen  years.  Subsequently  he  was  em- 
ployed in  other  capacities,  and  was  at  last 
promoted  to  the  Bessemer  department.  He 
is  also  auctioneer,  and  is  occasionally  em- 
ployed in  that  capacity.  Mr.  Soulliard  was 
married,  November  5,  1872,  to  Miss  Eva 
Hartig,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Barbara 
(Stroval)  Hartig.  They  have  eight  children  : 
John  M.,  married  Miss  Lydia  Smith  ;  Louisa, 
Adam  ;  Fred,  and  Daniel,  twins  ;  Sarah  and 
William,  twins;  and  Charle.s.  Mr.  Soulliard 
is  a  member  of  several  Steelton  societies. 
His  j)olitics  are  Republican.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

Mrs.  Soulliard  was  born  November  23, 
1855,  in  Lancaster  county.  Her  father. 
Christian  Hartig,  was  born  in  Germany, 
and  came  to  this  country  when  a  boy.  He 
was  killed,  July  5,  1S72,  by  being  struck  by 
a  fast  train  while  he  was  walking  on  the 
railroad  track.  His  age  was  forty-two  years. 
His  wife,  Barbara  Stioval,  was  also  a  native 
of  Germany.  She  resides  at  Highland,  Dau- 
phin county' ;  her  age  is  sixty-three.  Five 
of  their  eight  children  are  living:  Eva,  Mrs. 
Soulliard;  Adam,  John,  Frederick,  and 
Maggie,  Mrs.  Isaac  Houck.  Their  deceased 
children  are :  Louisa,  wife  of  Daniel  Day- 
lor ;  Christian,  and  Mary.  The  grandpar- 
ents were  both  natives  of  Germany ;  the 
grandmother  died  in  her  native  land.  Chris- 
tian, the  grandfather,  served  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war  in  Germany.  He  came  to  this 
country  in  early  life,  and  had  been  in  the 
hotel  business  in  his  native  land  prior  to 
coming  to  America,  but  sold  out  when  his 
wife  died.     He   settled    here,    in   Lancaster 


county,  with  his  daughter,  Eva  Fohlinger. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age. 


Fisher,  Charles  Frederick  William, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Siaux,  Ger- 
many, September  25,  1835.  He  is  a  son  of 
Christian  and  Lora  (Miller)  Fisher.  His 
paternal  grandfatlier  was  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  and  his  maternal  grand- 
father was  a  farmer.  Christian  Fisher, 
father  of  Charles  F.  W.,  was  born  in  Ras- 
slian,  German}'.  He  was  a  stonemason.  His 
wife,  Lora  Miller,  was  a  native  of  Albro, 
German}'.  Of  their  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, two  are  living,  Ernest  and  Charles  F. 
W.  Their  deceased  children  are:  Caroline, 
Rosanna,  Minnie,  and  two  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Christian  Fisher  died  in  March, 
1841,  aged  fifty-four;  his  wife  died  in  July, 
1802,  aged  sixty-five.  They  were  both 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Charles  Frederick  W.  Fisher  received  a 
limited  education  in  his  native  country, 
his  school  days  having  been  shortened  by 
his  yielding  to  an  inclination  to  learn 
a  trade.  He  chose  that  of  a  miller 
and  followed  that  occupation  for  forty 
years.  Mr.  Fisher  came  with  his  fam- 
ily to  the  United  States  in  1882,  and  was 
employed  at  his  trade  in  various  places.  In 
1887  he  came  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where  he 
was  employed  for  nine  years  in  the  flour 
mill  of  John  Hoffer.  Mr.  Fisher  bought 
the  farm  lately  owned  by  Mr.  Cassel  and 
known  as  Cassel's  tannery,  in  Swatara  town- 
ship, to  which  he  removed,  and  where  he 
now  resides,  engaged  in  fanning.  He  was 
married,  February  5,  1805,  to  Miss  Amelia, 
daughter  of  Colonel  and  Julia  (Bottgar) 
Shoeman,  natives  of  Saxenburg,  Germany. 
They  have  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living:  Frederick;  Helena,  wife  of 
George  Kishman  ;  Sidonia,  Charles,  and 
Mary.  Their  deceased  children  are:  Paul, 
died  March  7,  1887,  aged  nineteen;  Eliza- 
beth, died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Fisher  was 
born  August  3,  1885.  Her  parents  were 
both  born  in  Saxenburg:  her  father  was  a 
miller.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living:  Emilia;  Nathalie;  Charles; 
Amelia,  wife  of  Mr.  Fisher;  Moritz,  and 
Earnest.  Graf,  a  step-brother  of  Mrs. 
Fisher,  came  to  America  before  1882  and 
has  not  been  heard  from  since.  Any  in- 
formation concerning  him  would  be  gladly 


1000 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


received.  Mrs.  Fisher's  father  died  at  the  resides  in  Lebanon  county.  Mr.  Kuntz  is  a 
age  of  thirty-five  years,  and  her  mother  at  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  German 
the  age  of  seventy-eight.  Bapt'st  church. 


Kuntz,  John  B.,  farmer,  Hummelstown, 
was  born  in  Daupliin  county.  Pa.,  February 
28,  1838.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  EHza- 
betli  (Bordlemay)  Kuntz.  Wendol  Bordle- 
may,  his  maternal  grandfather,  was  a  native 
of  Germany.  He  liad  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, all  now  deceased :  Henr}',  died  in  1886 ; 
David,  died  in  1890 ;  Jacob,  deceased ;  John  ; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Henry  Gerberich,  deceased  ; 
Sarah,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Bordlemay,  and  Eliza- 
beth, Mrs.  Kuntz,  who  was  born  in  Lebanon 
county.  Her  husband,  Jacob  Kuntz,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county,  and  was  a  shoe- 
maker. They  had  these  children :  Cathe- 
rine, wife  of  Samueb  Reed  ;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Daniel  Kline ;  John  B.  Mr.  Jacob  Kuntz 
was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  memljer  of  the 
Baptist,  and  his  wife  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Mr.  Kuntz  died  in  February,  1880,  aged 
seventy-four.  Mrs.  Kuntz  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1884,  aged  sixty-two  ;  both  died  in  Dau- 
phin county.  John  B.  Kuntz  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Duu])hin 
county.  At  the  end  of  his  school  days  he 
was  engaged  as  a  hired  hand  at  farming  for 
about  ten  years.  In  1860  he  took  his 
father's  farm  in  East  Hanover  township,  and 
cultivated  it  on  liis  own  account  for  eight 
years.  He  was  then  for  two  years  on  the 
farm  of  John  Keim,  from  which  he  removed 
to  West  Hanover  township,  to  the  land  of 
John  Lenkers,  which  he  occupied  for  a  year. 
In  1872  Mr.  Kuntz  removed  to  the  farm  of 
John  Backstow,  in  the  same  township,  which 
he  cultivated  for  twelve  yeai-s.  In  1882  he 
bought  the  farm  formerly  owned  by  John 
Eshelman,  to  which  he  removed  two  years 
later,  and  which  since  that  date  he  has  been 
engaged  in  tilling.  John  B.  Kuntz  was  mar- 
ried,  in  Dcrry  township,  March  1,  1859,  to 
Susan,  daugliter  of  Isaac  Failor.  They  have 
four  children :  Clara,  wife  of  Daniel  Saulbach  ; 
Sarah,  wife  of  William  Demmy  ;  Laura,  wife 
of  John  Gingerich,  and  AVilliam.  Mrs.  Kuntz 
was  born  in  1840.  Her  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Lebanon  county,  and  were  farmers. 
Their  children  are:  John;  William;  Susan, 
wife  of  John  B.  Kuntz ;  Sarah,  wife  of  a  Mr. 
Long;  Isabella,  wife  of  John  William  Rine. 
Mr.  Isaac  Light  died  in  January,  1882,  aged 
seventy-four.     Mrs.  Light  survives  him,  and 


Flowers,  Thomas,  was  born  in  Rapho 
township,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  May  5, 1830. 
He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Davis) 
Flowers.  Henry  Thomas  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  and  was  a  farmer.  His  wife 
was  Catherine  Davis,  and  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  Pa.  They  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  living :  John  ;  Henry  ; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Jacob  Lehman ;  Jacob, 
Thomas,  and  Christian.  Their  deceased 
children  are :  Marian,  died  aged  seventy-six  ; 
Fannie,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Messerman  ;  Henrietta  ;  and  three  who  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Henry  Flowers  died  iu 
July,  1856,  aged  seventy-five  years;  his  wife 
died  in  1847,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  Tiiey 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  Both 
died  in  Lebanon  county. 

Thomas  Flowers  was  educated  partly  in 
Lancaster  and  partly  in  Lebanon  county ; 
but  his  school  advantages  were  limited.  He 
left  school  young,  and  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  old  was  engaged  in  chopping  wood  at 
the  Clearbrook  furnace  for  Mr.  Coleman, 
after  which  he  was  for  three  years  engaged 
in  farming.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
left  Lebanon  county  and  came  to  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  continued  farming.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Flowers  farmed  for  some 
time  in  Conewago  townsliip,  and  then  bought 
a  small  farm  near  Campbellstown,  Lebanon 
county,  on  which  he  lived  for  twelve  years. 
Then  for  seven  years  he  was  engaged  in 
farming  at  Chambers  Hill,  Swatara  town- 
ship ;  thence  he  removed  to  Stoverdale, 
where  he  lived  retired  for  seven  years.  In 
1896  he  purchased  the  large  farm  lately 
owned  bj'^  J.  Allwine,  in  Swatara  townshi[), 
where  he  has  resumed  the  active  life  of  the 
farmer.  Thomas  Flowers  was  married,  at 
Hershey's  church,  August  15,  1855,  to  Miss 
Leah,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Barbara 
(Minich)  Shoop.  Their  children  are:  Meno, 
and  Leah,  wife  of  Henry  P.  Etmoyer. 

Mrs.  Flowers  was  born  April  6,1832.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Dau|>hin  county,  and 
were  farmers.  Three  of  their  seven  children 
are  living:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Samuel  Crum, 
deceased;  Leah,  Mrs.  Flowers;  and  Samuel. 
Their  deceased  children  are:  Polly,  died 
April  28,  1894,  aged  seventy-three;  Barbara, 
died    February   2,  1854,  aged  twenty-three. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1001 


Mr.  Shoop,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Flowers,  died 
October  23,  1872,  aged  seventy-six  years ; 
and  Mrs  Shoop  died  November  18,  187G,  at 
the  age  of  eighty  ;  both  died  in  Dauphin 
county. 


Rutherford,  W.  F.,  was  born  in  Swatara 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  December 
7,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of  Abner  and  Ann 
(Espy)  Rutherford.  Thomas  Rutherford,  the 
ancestor  of  the  Rutherford  family  in  America, 
was  born  in  Cookton,  county  Tyrone,  Ireland, 
January  24,  1707.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1728,  landing 
at  Philadelphia.    He  was  married,  September 

7,  1730,  to  Miss  .Jane,  daughter  of  John  and 
Agnes  Murdoch.  They  had  twelve  children  : 
Agnes,  died  in  1735,  aged  four  years ;  Elea- 
nor, died  aged  sixty-four,  was  first  the  wife 
of  M'illiam  Wilson,  who  died  ;  her  second 
husl)and  was  John  Davidson  ;  Jane,  wiio  was 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Mays,  and  went  to  North 
Carolina,  where  both  died  ;  John  ;  Thomas, 
died  in  infancy,  in  1739 ;  Agnes,  died  in  1813, 
aged  seventy-three,  was  the  wife  of  a  Mr. 
Dunlap,  who  died,  and  she  was  again  mar- 
ried, to  William  Gray ;  a  second  Tliomas, 
was  killed  by  tiie  falling  of  a  tree,  January 

8,  1760,  when  lie  was  sixteen  years  old  ;  Mary, 
went  to  North  Carolina,  where  she  died ; 
Elizabeth,  died  October,  1745,  in  her  infancy; 
James,  died  Mareh  6,  1809,  aged  sixty-one; 
Samuel,  died  May  2,  1785.  aged  tliirty-five, 
was  a  soldier  in  tlie  Revolution  ;  Elizabetli 
was  married  tliree  times,  first  to  Patrick  Gal- 
loway, secondly,  to  Patrick  Harbison,  and 
thirdly,  to  Thomas  Archibald,  with  whom 
she  went  South,  wliere  both  died. 

John  Rutherford,  son  of  Tliomas,  and 
great-grandfather  of  W.  F.  Rutherford,  was 
born  in  Donegal  township,  Lancaster  conn t\', 
Pa.,  February  16,  1737  ;  son  of  Thomas  and 
Jane  (Murdoch)  Rutherford,  both  natives  of 
Ireland.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  townsliiji,  and  was  a  farmer  He 
was  married,  February  4,  1762,  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet I*ark,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children: 
Jane,  died  February  28, 1807,  aged  forty-three 
years,  wife  of  Samuel  Hutchinson  ;  Martha, 
died  August  27,  1849,  aged  eighty-four,  was 
the  wife  of  Capt.  James  Collier,  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolution;  Thomas,  died  October  15, 
1793,  aged  twenty-five;  Samuel,  died  No- 
vember 26, 1833,  aged  sixty-four ;  Mary,  died 
August  17,  1863,  aged  ninety-one,  was  the 
wife  of  Robert  Gray,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolu- 
tion ;  John,  died  May  1, 1832,  aged  fifty-eight ; 


and  William.  Mr.  Rutherford  besides  being 
a  farmer  was  also  in  public  life,  having  held 
office  in  1776-77.  In  later  years  he  fought 
against  the  Indians.  He  died  October  1, 
1804,  aged  sixty-seven.  Margaret,  his  wife, 
died  January  18,  1810,  aged  seventy-three 
years.  Both  were  members  of  the  Paxtang 
Presbyterian  church,  and  both  are  buried 
there. 

William  Rutherford,  son  of  John  and 
grandfather  of  W.  F.  Rutherford,  was  born 
in  Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county,  Au- 
gust 4,  1776,  and  was  educated  in  the  old 
Paxtang  school  house,  under  the  instruction 
of  Master  Allen.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  was 
in  tiie  militia,  and  filled  all  offices  from 
lieutenant  to  that  of  colonel.  In  1816  he  was 
cliosen  one  of  the  directors  of  the  poor  of 
Dauphin  county.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  1819  to  1821,  and  again 
from  1829  to  1831.  Mr.  William  Rutherford 
was  married,  March  17,  1801,  to  Miss  Sarah, 
daughter  of  William  and  Martha  (Renick) 
Swan.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
the  onlv  one  now  living  is  Dr.  Hiram 
Rutherford,  of  Oakland,  111.  Their  de- 
ceased children  are:  John  P.,  died  May 
12,  1871,  aged  sixty-nine  years ;  Martha, 
October  20,  1851,  aged  fort3'-seven  ;  Will- 
iam W.,  March  13,  1873,  aged  sixty-seven  ; 
Margaret,  June  7,  1889,  aged  eighty;  Sam- 
uel, March  26,  1872,  aged  sixty-one  ;  Sarah, 
March  28,  1873,  aged  sixty,  was  the  Avife 
of  Daniel  Kendig;  Abner;  Mary,  died 
April  14,  1818,  aged  ten  months;  Cyrus, 
killed  by  the  limb  of  a  tree  falling  on  his 
head,  March  30,  1850,  aged  thirty  years. 
Mr.  William  Rutherford  died  January  17, 
1850,  aged  seventy-three. 

His  son,  Abner  Rutherford,  father  of  W. 
F.  Rutherford,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
March  31,  1814.  He  was  educated  in  Swa- 
tara township,  and  j^rincipally  at  the  old 
school  house  at  the  Paxtang  church.  He 
was  a  farmer.  He  was  married,  February 
28, 1839,  to  Miss  Ann  Espy,  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  August  13,1812;  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Susan  (Gra}^)  Espy.  They  were 
married  by  the  Rev.  James  Sharon,  who  also 
baptized  them  in  their  infancy.  They  had 
nine  children,  three  of  whom  are  living: 
William  F.,  Susan  E.,  and  Ada  Byron,  wife 
of  Spencer  F.  Barber.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are:  John  M.,  died  May  24,  1869,  aged 
twenty-eight;  Susan  E.,  May  5,  1846,  aged 
two  years  and  seven  months;  Sarah  A.,  De- 
cember 21,  1883,  aged  thirty-eight,  was  the 


1002 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


wife  of  Dr.  A.  C.  Renninger,  also  deceased  ; 
Abner,  January  10, 1855,  aged  seven  years; 
Alice  A.,  August  26,  1850,  aged  one  yeav. 
Abner  Rutherford  was  engaged  in  farming 
at  Rutlierford  station,  near  Harrisburg,  until 
1868,  when  he  retired.  In  1835  Mr.  Ruth- 
erford was  elected  captain  of  the  Tenth  com- 
pany, Ninety-eighth  regiment,  Pennsylva- 
nia militia.  He  was  oufj  of  the  founders  of 
the  State  Agricultural  Society.  He  filled 
various  offices  in  the  township.  Mr.  Ruther- 
ford was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  became  a 
Rejiublican  wheu  that  party  was  organized. 
He  was  for  many  years  president  of  the 
Hummelstown  Bank,  and  held  tliat  position 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  all  his  life 
a  member  of  the  Paxtang  Presbyterian 
church.  His  death  occurred  September  2, 
1890,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  His  wife  is 
still  living  and  is  in  good  health  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-four.  She  is  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Paxtang  Presbyterian 
church.  The  mother  of  William  F.  Rutli- 
erford was  descended  from  the  Espy  family. 
Its  first  American  ance.stor,  George  Espy, 
was  born  in  Ireland  and  died  in  1761.  He 
came  to  America  in  1729,  and  settled  in 
Derry  township,  Lancaster,  now  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  married  in  Ireland  to  Miss 
Jane  Taylor.  They  had  these  children : 
John,  born  in  1716 ;  Josiah,  born  L718 ; 
William,  died  in  Augu.st,  1761,  aged  forty- 
one  years ;  Mary,  Ixiru  in  the  north  of  Ire- 
land in  1722,  wifeof  John  Woods  ;  Jane  and 
Elizabeth,  twins,  born  in  1725  ;  Elizabeth 
was  the  wife  of  James  Forster;  James,  born 
in  1727,  died  in  1787;  David,  died  in  June, 
1795,  in  Bedford,  Pa.,  was  a  prominent  law- 
yer; George,  bom  in  1732,  and  Anne,  born 
in  1736,  wife  of  William  Crane. 

Josiah  Es])}',  son  of  George,  and  maternal 
great-great-grandfather  of  "W.  F.  Rutherford, 
was  born  iu  the  north  of  Ireland  in  1718, 
and  came  with  his  parents  from  Ireland  in 
1729.,  They  located  in  Hanover,  Lancaster 
county,  now  Lebanon  county,  where  Josiah 
died  in  1762,  aged  forty-four  years.  He  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Buell  and  after- 
wards to  Miss  Elizabeth  Crane.  There  is 
no  account  of  the  separate  issue  of  these 
marriages,  but  by  both  there  were  these 
children:  Josiah;  Susan,  wife  of  John  Pat- 
ton  ;  Mary,  died  in  1818,  aged  seventy-three, 
was  the  wife  of  James  McClure ;  Martha, 
born  in  1747,  wife  of  Capt.  Lazarus  Stew- 
art; George,  died  in  April,  1814,  in  Luzerne 


county  ;  Priscilla,  born  in  1753  ;  Robert,  in 
1755,  and  Samuel,  in  1757. 

Josiah  Espy  (2),  maternal  great-grand- 
father of  W.  F.  Rutherford,  was  born  Alarch 
10,  1742,  in  Hanover,  then  Lancaster,  now 
Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  wiiere  he  was  reared 
and  educated.  His  chief  occupation  was 
farming,  at  which  he  spent  most  of  his  life 
in  Dauphin  county,  Mr.  Espy  was  married, 
July  8,  1769,  to  Miss  Ann,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Margaret  Kirkpatrick.  They  had 
these  children  :  Margaret,  died  September 
4,  1851,  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Elder; 
Priscilla,  died  September  29,  1845,  wife  of 
Robert  McClure ;  Josiah,  died  April  13,  1811 ; 
William  ;  James  Snodgrass,  died  September 
21,  1872,  in  Harrisburg,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  leading  merchants;  Dr.  John  E., 
died  April  26,  1831,  at  Harrisburg,  where 
he  was  a  jirominent  physician. 

William  Espy,  maternal  grandfather  of 
W.  F.  Rutherford,  was  born  June  2,  1776, 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Paxtang  and 
w'as  a  farmer.  He  was  married,  June  2, 
1807,  to  Miss  Susanna,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Forster)  Gray,  Rev.  James 
R.  Sharon  officiating.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  living:  Elizaljcth  G., 
w'ife  of  Samuel  Sharp,  deceased,  and  Ann 
Josiah,  born  December  22, 1809,  died  August 
12,  1891,  aged  eighty-two  years.  Mr.  Espy 
retired  in  1843  and  removed  to  Plarrisburg, 
where  he  died  July  28,  1850,  aged  seventy- 
four.  His  wife  died  July  10,  1854,  aged 
seventy-two  years.  Both  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

W.  F.  Rutherford  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  schools  of  Swatara  town- 
ship, and  afterwards  attended  the  Mt. 
Joy  Academy,  Lancaster  county,  for  five 
years.  He  subsequently  engaged  iu  farm- 
ing, on  the  place  on  which  he  now  lives. 
In  1860  he  taught  school  for  one  year.  Mr. 
Rutherford  was  married,  in  Swatara  town- 
ship, December  30,  1862,  to  Miss  Adeline 
M.,  daughter  of  John  B.  and  Keziah  (Park) 
Rutherford,  Rev.  A.  D.  Mitchell  performing 
the  ceremony.  Of  their  nine  children  seven 
are  living:  Annie  E.,  Richard,  Jane  D., 
Adeline  M.,  Marshall,  Keziah  P.,  and  Don- 
ald. Their  deceased  children  are :  Flor- 
ence, died  in  1864,  an  infant,  and  Helen  P., 
died  August  29,  1889,  aged  twenty-three 
years.  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  Republican  and 
in  1864  was  elected  school  director,  and 
served  three  years.     He  has  also  served  as 


DAlTPITIN  COUNTV. 


1003 


assessor.     He  has  been  connected  with  the 
Pennsylvania  State  Agricultviral  Society'  for 
about  thirty  years  and  has  been  its  treasurer 
for  tlie  past  three  years.     He  is  a  member  of 
the   Paxtang    Presbyterian   churcli    and    is 
secretary  of  the  Ijoard    of  trustees  of  that 
church.     Mrs.  WilUam  F.  Rutherford  was 
born  March   22,  1839.     Her  father,  John  B. 
Rutherford,  was   born   iri   Dauphin  county 
and  was  a  farmer   by   occupation.     He  was 
married,    March   10,  1833,   by  Rev.  James 
Latta,   to   Miss  Keziali  Park,    daughter  of 
CoL  James    and     Mary     Parli,    and     cele- 
brated their     golden   weddjng     March    19, 
1883.     Their  family  of  eight    children  are 
all  living,  and  are  as  follows :  Mary  L.,  wife 
of  Janies  McCiure  ;  Eliza  Jane,  wife  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Dickey  ;  Adeline,  Mrs.  Rutherford  ; 
Samuel  P.,  married  to  Eliza  R.  Bunn ;  John 
Q.  A.,  married  to  Margaret  B.  Elder;  Francis 
W.,  married  to  Eleanor  Elder;  Keziah  V.,  and 
Marion  Gertrude,  wife  of  S.  Ralston  Dickey. 
Mr.    Rutherford    spent'    his    active    life    in 
farming,  from  which  he  retired  a  few  years 
before  his  death.     The  Whig  party  elected 
him  to  tlie  Pennsylvania  House  of  Rejire- 
sontatives,  in  which  he  served  from  1845  to 
1849.      By    tlie   Republican    party   he    was 
elected   in   later  time  to   the  State  Senate, 
and  served  three  years   with   distinguished 
ability.     He  was  treasurer  of  the    Pennsyl- 
vania State  Agricultural  Society  for  twenty- 
five  years.     He  also  held    various  township 
otRces.    Mr.  Rutherford  was  a  ruling  elder  in 
Paxtang  church  for  about  fifty  years.     He 
died  October  10,  1892,  aged  eighty-six  years. 
His  wife  was  born   in   Parksburg,  Chester 
county,  October  28,  1810,  and  died  July  23, 
1885,  aged  seventy-four  years. 

RiEGEL,  Samuel,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  July  15, 1842  ;  son  of  Jacolj  and 
Matilda  (Hummel)  Riegel.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  grandfather's  occupation  was  hat  manu- 
facturer. On  the  maternal  side  the  grand- 
parents were  Susan  and  John  Hummel. 
Jacob  Riegel,  father  of  Samuel  Riegel,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county  on  May  G,  1810, 
and  died  October  22, 1883,  aged  seventy-three 
years,  five  months  and  sixteen  days.  He  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  the  county  and  was 
for  forty  years  a  blacksmith,  but  late  in  life 
engaged  in  farming  in  South  Hanover  town- 
ship. He  was  married  to  Miss  Matilda, 
daugliter  of  John  and  Susan  Hummel,  also 
a  native  of  Dauphin  county.     They  had  ten 


children,  six  of  wdiom  are  living:  Catherine, 
wife  of  John  M.  Lowe  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Jacob 
Dimler ;  Samuel,  William,  Jacob,  and  David. 
Their  deceased  children  are :  Silas,  died  No- 
vember 5, 1853,  aged  six  years  and  nine  days; 
John,  died  October  8, 1853,  aged  three  years 
and  eighteen  days ;  Caroline  Ida,  died  June 
16,  1869,  aged  five  years  and  eight  months, 
and  one  that  died  in  infancy,  Elizabeth 
Riegel,  died  1860,  aged  six  months  and 
twenty -two  days. 

Jacob  Riegel  was  a  Democrat  and  held 
various  otfices ;  he  was  twice  elected  tax  col- 
lector and  inspector  in  Lower  Paxton  and 
South  Hanover  townships;  in  the  same 
townships  he  had  the  rank  of  captain  of 
militia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Riegel  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  died 
October  22,  1883,  aged  seventy-three  years; 
Mrs.  Riegel  died  August  1,  1880,  aged  sixty- 
one  years,  eleven  months  and  twenty-three 
days. 

Samuel  Riegel  received   his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Lower  Paxton  and  South  Han- 
over townships  and  worked   with  his  father 
until  he  was  twenty-one.     He  enlisted  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1865,  in  company  C,  One  Hundred 
and  Ninety-second  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  for  one  year's  service  and  was 
discharged  August  24,  1865,  the  war  having 
ended.     From  this  time  for  two  years  he  con- 
tinued  farming.     In   1868  he  took   up  car- 
pentry, at  which  he  worked  for  three  years. 
He  was  then  for  five  years  in  the  service  of 
the  Reading  Railroad  Company,  and  since 
1872  has  been  engaged  in  farming.     While 
in  the  army  Mr.  Riegel  learned  the  business 
of  auctioneering,  which   he  has  followed  for 
the   past   twenty   years  in  connection  with 
farming.     He  is  a  member  of  James  Hender- 
son Post,  No.  443,  G.  A.  R.,  Hummelstown, 
Pa.     Mr.  Riegel  was  married,  April  7,  1863, 
to  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  George  Washing- 
ton and  Catherine  Cassel.     They  have  had 
seven    children,  of  whom    two   are   living : 
Emma  L.,  born  April  6,  1867,  wife  of  Harry 
Snyder;  Harry  A.,  born  December  14,  1877. 
Their  deceased  children  are  :  John  W.,  born 
July  19,   1864,  was  killed  on    the  railroad 
March  2,  1888 ;  Mary  E.,  born  November  6, 
1865,   died    January    13,    1882 ;    Catherine, 
born  August    25,   1868,  died  September  9, 
1868  ;  Jacob,  born  December  12,  1871,  died 
April  12,  1872  ;  David  M.,  born  January  15, 
1875,  died   April   4,1875.     Mr.  Riegel  is"  a 
Reijublican.     The    family  are    members   of 
the  Lutheran  church. 


1004 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYVLOPEDlA 


Emma  L.,  daughter  of  Mr.  S.  Riegel,  was 
married,  October  26,  1889,  to  Harry  E.  Sny- 
der. Tliev  have  four  children  :  Annie,  born 
January  17,  1888;  Harry  H..  July  27,  1891 ; 
John  F.,  October  4,  1892,  and  Meade  S., 
March  11,  1896. 

Mrs.  Samuel  liiegel  was  born  April  19, 
1841.  Her  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Dauphin  county.  Her  father,  George  W. 
Cassel,  was  born  November  2,  1806,  and  was 
a  farmer  and  butcher.  He  was  married, 
May  22,  1834,  to  Miss  Catherine,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Sallie  (Ewing)  Cassel. 
Their  children  are:  Sarah,  Mrs.  Riegel; 
Sophia,  born  in  1843,  wife  of  George  Bow- 
man ;  Kate,  born  July  30,  1845,  died  August 
2,  1846;  Elizabeth,  December  27,  1847,  wife 
of  D.  H.  Bashore  ;  Louisa,  January  15, 1853, 
wife  of  Jacob  Gingerich.  The  mother  died 
October  3,  1865.  Mr.  Cassel  was  married 
again,  and  his  wife,  who  survives  him,  re- 
sides in  Harrisburg.  Their  one  child  was 
May  Rebecca,  born  March  24,  1867.  Mr. 
Cassel  died  September  11, 1876,  aged  seventy 
years,  eleven  months  and  nine  days.  Mrs. 
Riegel's  grandfatiier,  Jacob  Cassel,  was  a 
native  of  Dauphin  county. 


DiMLER,  Philip,  farmer,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  September  27,  1838  ;  son 
of  John  and  Susan  (Mover)  Dimler.  John 
Dimler  also  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
and  was  a  farmer.  He  removed  to  Dauphin 
count}'  in  1841,  and  engaged  in  farming,  in 
Swatara  town.ship.  He  filled  important  of- 
fices. His  death  occurred  in  July,  1879;  his 
age  was  seventy-one  years.  He  was  married 
to  Susan  Moyer,  a  native  of  Lancaster  county. 
Seven  of  tlieir  ten  children  are  living : 
Philip,  Jacob,  Eli,  Benjamin,  Richard, 
Catherine,  wife  of  Adam  Morrow,  and  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Reuben  Bomgardner.  Their 
deceased  children  are  :  John  ;  Henry,  died  in 
Lancaster  county,  aged  two  years.  Mrs. 
Dimler  is  in  good  health,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years. 

Philip  Dimler  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  the  Dauphin  county  schools.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father,  assisting  him  in 
farm  work,  until  he  was  twentj'-four  3'ears  of 
age.  In  1864  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Kate  (Shopp)  Heck- 
ert,  born  December  5,  1839.  They  have  no 
children.  Mr.  Dimler  has  always  been  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  ;  gardening 
and  truck  farming  are  a  .specialty  of  his  busi- 
ness.    He  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  filled  va- 


rious township  offices.  He  was  elected  super- 
visor of  Swatara  township,  and  held  that 
office  for  three  years.  He  is  a  leading  man 
in  the  community,  and  is  highly  esteemed. 
Mr.  Dimler  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
churcli. 

Peter  Heckert,  Mrs.  Dimler's  father,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  and  was  a 
farmer.  He  was  niarried  to  Miss  Catherine 
Shaffer,  a  native  of  Dauphin  county.  Mr. 
Heckert  now  resides  in  Linolestown,  Pa. 


Barber,  Spencer  F.,  farmer  and  dairy- 
man of  Swataj-a  township,  w'as  born  in 
Union  county.  Pa.,  January  22, 1855  ;  son  of 
William  B.  and  Agnes  (Rezner)  Barber. 
His  maternal  grandfather,  James  Rezner, 
was  a  farmer  and  married  Miss  Finney,  by 
whom  he  had  six  children  :  Robert ;  Samuel  ; 
Agnes;  Sarah,  deceased,  wife  of  Dr.  Schuy- 
ler; Elizabeth,  who  married  John  B.  Barber, 
and  died  March  5,  1887 ;  Susan,  deceased, 
wife  of  Thomas  Pollock.  William  B.,  tlie 
father,  was  born  in  Union  county.  Pa.,  Maj' 
8,  1830.  He  received  such  education  as  the 
limited  advantages  of  tiie  schools  of  that  (hiy 
afforded,  and  engaged  in  farming,  spending 
the  greater  part  of  his  active  life  in  that  oc- 
cupation. He  was  married  in  his  native 
county,  February  9,  1854,  to  Miss  Agnes 
Rezner,  born  January  2,  1835  ;  daughter  of 
James  and  Miss  (Finney)  Rezner.  Their 
children  are:  Spencer  F.;  Susan,  wife  of 
Bernard  Taylor,  residing  in  Mifflinburg; 
Mary  Ann  ;  Fannie  J.;  Henrietta,  wife  of 
James  Caldwell  and  lives  in  Chester,  Pa.; 
James  W.,  Grace,  and  Eva.  The  parents  are 
both  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Spencer  F.  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  had  the  experiences  w^hich  fall  to 
the  lot  of  the  ordinary  farmer  boy,  of  win- 
ter schooling  and  summer  working,  both 
needful  and  beneficial  in  fitting  the  boys  for 
the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  subsequent 
life.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he 
located  in  Luzerne  county.  Pa.,  and  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  J.  F. 
Barber  &  Co.  for  six  months,  after  which  he 
was  for  one  year  put  in  charge  of  the  books 
of  the  firm.  Subsequently  he  was  employed 
for  two  years  by  the  Buck  Mountain  Coal 
Company  of  Philadelphia,  after  which  he 
was  in  charge  of  the  Stout  Coal  Company's 
store  at  Milesville  for  one  year,  which  posi- 
tion he  was  compelled  to  resign  on  account 
of  failing  health.  He  then  spent  one  year 
in    traveling    through    the    West,   visiting 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1005 


Denver,  Col.,  CWorado  Springs  and  other 
important  and  interesting  localities,  and 
after  returning  was  for  nine  months  in  the 
employ  of  Hall,  Shenk  &  Co.,  Philadelphia, 
as  a  traveling  salesman.  In  the  spring  of 
1883  he  relinquished  all  other  pursuits  and 
settled  down  on  the  old  homestead  at  Ruth- 
erford station,  on  the  Philadelphia  and 
Reading  railroad,  near  Harrishurg,  where 
he  has  since  had  his  home  and  heen  a 
farmer  and  dairyman.  In  the  latter  branch 
of  business  Mr.  Parber  is  prominent  and 
easily  a  leader,  keeping  some  of  the  best 
blooded  stock  to  be  found  in  this  part  of  tlie 
State.  In  social  life  Mr.  Barber  occupies  an 
honorable  position  and  enjoys  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  his  neighbors.  Mr. 
Barber  removed  from  Luzerne  county  and 
on  October  5,  1882,  was  married  to  Miss 
Ada  B.  Rutherford,  danghter  of  Abner 
and  Ann  (Espy)  Rutherford,  by  whom  he 
has  four  children :  Ann  E.,  William  B., 
James  R.,  and  Nelson  R.  Mrs.  Barber  was 
born  in  Swatara  township,  November  27, 
1852.  In  his  political  .sentiments  and 
views  Mr.  Barber  is  in  harmony  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Paxtang  Presbyterian 
church. 


Allwine,  Jonas,  was  born  in  London- 
derry townshi[i,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July 
21,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  Jonas  and  Mary 
(Barrick)  Allwine.  John  Allwine,  his  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  was  a  farmer ;  he  mar- 
ried in  Lanca.ster  county  and  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children  :  Henry  ;  Savilla,  wife 
of  John  Havvn;  one,  who  is  the  wife  of 
John  Aldinger,  of  Iowa  ;  Philip  ;  William  ; 
Louisa,  wife  of  John  Harvey,  Springville,  Pa.; 
Jonas,  deceased.  Mr.  John  Allwine  died 
aged  seventy-nine  years ;  his  wife  died  in 
1869.  The  maternal  grandfatiier  of  Jonas 
Allwine,  Jr.,  was  born  in  VVurtemburg,  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  this  country  at  an  earlj' 
day.  He  was  a  tailor,  and  continued 
throughout  life  to  work  at  that  trade.  He 
married  a  native  of  Dauphin  county.  They 
had  tlu'ee  children  :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Peter 
Hotihian,  deceased  ;  Mary,  deceased  ;  Wil- 
liam. 

Jonas  Allwine,  Sr.,  was  born  in  August, 
1820,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  burn- 
ing lime.  He  filled  various  township  offices; 
served  ten  years  as  supervisor  of  Swatara 
townsliip,  and  two  terms  as  school  director. 
His  wife  was  Mary  Barrick.     Of  their  seven 


children  two  are  living  :  Anna,  wife  of  Mar- 
tin Ebersole;  and  Jonas.  Their  deceased 
children  are:  John,  died  in  1872,  aged 
thirty  ;  Lavi-nia,  died  in  May,  1895,  aged 
thirty-seven;  Edwin,  twin  of  Lavinia,  died 
in  18(i3,  aged  three  years ;  William  and 
Catherine  both  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  All- 
wine died  May  10,  1885,  aged  sixty-tive 
years  and  three  months ;  his  wife  died  Au- 
gust 6,  1888  ;  both  died  at  the  house  of  their 
son,  Jonas.  They  were  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist cluirch,  the  father  having  united  with 
the  churcli  shortly  before  his  death. 

After  com})leting  his  school  education, 
Joseph  Allwine,  Jr.,  was  engaged  in  assist- 
ing his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-four ;  he  was  also  interested  with  his 
fatlier  in  the  lime  burning.  Mr.  Allwine 
was  married,  July  31,18G9,  to  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Conrad  and  Mary  (Seltzer)  Wagner, 
born  in  East  Hanover  township,  September 
21,  1847.  Their  children  are  :  Emma,  Will- 
iam H.,  John  J.,  and  Frank  J.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Allwine  continued  farming 
and  lime  burning,  and  was  also  in  the  coal 
business  for  about  eighteen  years.  During 
the  year  1876  lie  served  on  tlie  police  force 
in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  after  which  he  resumed 
his  usual  business,  which  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  prosecute  without  interruption. 
Since  1877  he  has  regularly  attended  the 
Harrisburg  market.  Mr.  Allwine  is  a  Re- 
publican. In  1893  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  supervisor  of  Swatara  township, 
served  a  few  months,  and  then  resigned. 

Conrad  Wagner,  father  of  Mrs.  Allwine, 
was  born  in  Lebanon  count}',  Pa.,  and  was  a 
farmer  during  the  active  years  of  his  life  ; 
he  has  now  retired  from  business.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Sellers,  a  native  of  Lebanon 
county.  They  had  seven  children  :  Sarah, 
Mrs.  Allwine ;  Catherine,  wife  of  John 
Suavely ;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Suavely  ; 
Amos ;  Emma,  wife  of  John  Baum  ;  Louisa, 
died  in  1869,  aged  twenty-three  ;  Elizabeth, 
deceased,  wife  of  Joseph  Seltzer.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wagner  now  reside  at  Union  Depo-sit, 
Pa.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  All- 
wine was  also  named  Conrad. 


Hanshue,  Elmer  E.,  was  born  in  Lower 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
June  25,  1868.  He  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and 
A^ernina  (Garnan)  Hanshue.  A  sketch  of 
his  parents  appears  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume. Mr.  Hanshue  received  his  primary 
education     in     the     schools    of     Dauphin 


1006 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


couuty,  and  afterwards  attended  the  Blooms- 
burg  State  Normal  School  for  two  terms, 
during  the  years  1888  and  1889.  He  taught 
school,  after  completing  tliis  course,  for  one 
term  in  Swatara  township.  He  tiien  en- 
gage in  farming  with  his  father,  and  con- 
tinued until,  in  1896,  he  began  farming  on 
his  own  account.  Mr.  Hanshue  was  mar- 
ried, at  Middletown,  Pa.,  November  28, 1895, 
to  Miss  Martiia  E.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Henry 
N.  and  Sarah  (Meyers)  Shope.  She  was 
born  November  24,  1874.  Her  father,  Rev. 
Henry  N.  Shope,  was  born  September  8, 
1852,  attended  the  schools  of  his  county, 
and  spent  iiis  early  life  in  farming  and  the 
dairy  business.  For  tlie  last  thirteen  years 
he  has  been  in  the  ministry,  and  is  still  ac- 
tively engaged  in  that  sacred  calling.  He 
was  married,  January  1,  1874,  to  Miss 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Coble) 
Meyers.  They  iiave seven  children:  Martha 
E.,  Mrs.  Hanshue ;  Harry  M.,  Annie  M., 
Sadie  Bertha,  Eli  C,  William  B.,  and 
Myrtle  M.  Henry  Meyers,  maternal  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Hanshue,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin count}'.  He  was  a  school  teacher  and 
farmer,  and  subsequently  was  a  bisiio})  in 
his  church  for  some  years.  His  first  mar- 
riage was  to  Miss  Sarah  Ober,  who  died 
without  issue.-  Mr.  Meyers'  second  marriage 
was  to  Miss  Sarah  Coble,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children,  four  of  whom  are  living: 
Christ.;  Barbara,  wife  of  William  Bates; 
David,  and  Sarah,  Mrs.  Shope,  born  Febru- 
ary 28,  1852;  Eli,  died  September  11,  1892. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Meyers  died  in  March,  1852, 
aged  thirty-five  years.  Mr.  Meyers'  third 
wife  was  Miss  Maria,  daughter  of  Harry  and 
Barbara  (Rimer)  Zimmerman ;  they  had 
two  children  :  Simon  B.  and  Ella  M.,  wife  of 
Edward  Slienk.  Mr.  Meyers  died  Septem- 
ber 2,  1890,  aged  eighty-six  years,  eleven 
months  and  one  day.  His  wife  is  still  liv- 
ing at  the  age  of  sixty-six. 

Natlianiel  Shope,  paternal  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Hanshue,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  became  a  teacher,  and  later  entered 
the  ministry.  He  was  afterwards  ordained 
a  bishop.  Mr.  Shope  was  married  to  Miss 
Martha,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Martha 
(Bowman)  Garman.  Their  children  are : 
Margaret,  wife  of  Samuel  Kolir,  deceased; 
Martha,  wife  of  Adam  Hocker ;  Eliza,  wife 
of  Samuel  Zimmerman  ;  Henry,  father  of 
Mrs.  Hanshue ;  Hettie,  wife  of  David  Mar- 
tin ;  Susan,  wife  of  Jonas  Zimmerman,  de- 


ceased ;  Sarah,  wife  of  Daniel  Kohr,  and 
Adam.  Mr.  Shope  was  a  farmer  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  wliicli  occurred  March  28, 
1877.  His  wife  died  in  October,  1892,  aged 
seventy-seven.  Both  were  members  of  the 
Mennonite  cinirch. 


Hanshue,  Jeremiah,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  August  5,  1841  ;  son  of 
Samuel  and  Catiierine  (Zimmerman)  Han- 
shue. His  paternal  and  maternal  grand- 
parents were  natives  of  Dauphin  county, 
and  were  farmers.  His  paternal  grand))ar- 
ents  had  a  family  of  five  cliildren.  Samuel 
Han.shue,  father  of  Jeremiah  Hanshue,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county,  where  he  was  edu- 
cated and  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. He  married  Miss  Catherine  Zimmer- 
man, born  in  Dauiihin  county.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Susan,  wife  of  Peter  Sliafi'er  ;  Eliz- 
abeth, wife  of  Josejdi  Ilain  ;  William  ;  Sam- 
uel ;  Jeremiah  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Alle- 
man  ;  Henry  ;  Clara,  wife  of  Solomon  Stiles. 
Mr.  Hanshue  died  April  13,  1890,  aged 
eighty-two  ;  his  wife  is  also  deceased.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Jeremiah  Hanshue  was  educated  in  the 
l>ublic  schools,  and  at  the  Linglestown  Insti- 
tute; he  subsequently  attended  the  Millens- 
town  Normal  School  for  two  terms.  He  be- 
gan teaching  school  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and 
was  employed  in  this  vocation  for  ten  years 
in  Lower  Paxton,  East  Hanover  and  Swatara 
townships,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Mr.  Hanshue  was  married  to  Miss  \qy- 
niua  Garman,  daughter  of  John  and  Emily 
(McGigan)  Garman.  The}'  have  four  chil- 
dren: Elmer  E.,  Ermina,  Urban,  and  Es- 
tella.  Mr.  Hanshue  has  served  as  school 
director  for  sixteen  years;  in  1896  he  was 
re-elected,  and  will  begin  a  new  term  in 
June.  He  is  a  Republican.  John  Garman, 
father  of  Mrs.  Hanshue,  was  born  in  Dau- 
})hin  county,  and  was  a  farmer.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Emily  ilcGigan,  a  native  of  Cumber- 
land couuty.  Pa.  They  had  six  children  : 
John  ;  Vernina,  Mrs.  Hanshue ;  Emma,  wife 
of  Edwin  Cameron ;  James,  Verdilla,  and 
Laura.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garman  reside  in  Dau- 
phin county.  They  belong  to  the  Lutheran 
church.  Erwin,  son  of  Mr.  Hanshue,  was 
graduated  from  the  Normal  School  in  1893, 
and  began  teaching  in  the  high  school,  at 
Enhaut,  Pa.  The  other  son  is  a  farmer  in 
Dauphin  county. 


T,<^^^      f^UZiyj  ^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1009 


Rupp,  John  H.,  was  born  in  Swatara  town- 
ship, Daui^hin  county,  Pa.,  June  25,  1850. 
He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Fanny  (Horst) 
Rupp.  His  great-grandfather,  .Jacob  Rupji, 
was  a  farmer.  He  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren :  Joim,  Jacob,  Christian,  and  Peter; 
Nancy,  wife  of  Christie  Allman ;  one  who 
was  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Nissley,  and  one  who 
was  the  wife  of  Jacob  Fisher.  Christian 
Rupp,  grandfather  of  John  H.  Rupp,  was 
born  in  1788,  on  the  homestead,  where  he 
passed  his  life  in  farming,  and  where  he 
died  March  11, 1872,  aged  eighty-four.  He 
was  married,  first,  to  Miss  Shultz ;  no  cliil- 
dren  were  born  of  this  marriage.  Mr.  Rupp's 
second  wife  was  Miss  Mary  Hippart,  born  in 
1800;  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Hippart. 
They  had  two  children:  Samuel,  and  Mary, 
wife  of  Martin  Nissley.  Mr.  Rupp  filled 
many  offices,  and  was  much  occupied  in 
settling  estates.  He  was  a  prominent  man, 
and  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  commu- 
nity. His  wife  died  July  2(3,  1872;  both 
passed  away  in  Swatara  township. 

Samuel  Ruj)p,  father  of  John  H.  Rupp, 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  April  16, 1824. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Swatara 
township,  and  reared  on  the  farm.  He  made 
farming  liis  occupation,  and  died  in  the 
home  in  which  he  was  born.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1850;  his  wife,  Miss  Fanny  Horst, 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Long- 
necker)  Horst.  They  have  had  three  chil- 
dren :  John  H.;  Mary,  wife  of  William  H. 
Atticks,  and  Samuel  E.  Mr.  Rupp  was  a 
Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Brctiiren  church.  His  death  occurred  May 
6,  1887,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  His  wife 
still  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 

Joiin  Horst,  maternal  grandfather  of  J.  H. 
Rupp,  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
a  miller  and  distiller,  but  later  in  life  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Longnecker,  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  daughter  of  John  Longnecker.  They 
had  ten  children,  four  of  whom  are  living: 
Fanny,  wife  of  Samuel  Rupp,  deceased  ; 
Mary,  widow  of  Martin  Nissley;  Adeline, 
wife  of  Daniel  Metz  ;  Ellen,  living  at  home. 
Their  deceased  children  are :  Elizabeth,  died 
in  1858,  aged  twenty  years;  Leah,  died  in 
1859,  aged  nineteen  years;  Anna,  died  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1879,  aged  forty-tw'o  years,  was  the 
wife  of  Benjamin  Cockley;  Catherine,  died 
in  September,  1891,  aged  sixty  years,  wife  of 


Jacob  Nissley;  Jacob,  died  December  2, 
1891,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Horst  survives  her  husband,  having  been  a 
widow  for  thirty-eight  years.  She  resides  in 
Swatara  township,  and  has  attained  the  age 
of  eighty-eight  years.  She  is  a  Mennonite  in 
her  faith. 

John  H.  Rupp  attended  the  schools  of  his 
native  township  until  ho  was  eighteen,  when 
he  entered  Lebanon  Valle}'  College,  and 
studied  tiiere  two  terms.  He  then  tauglit 
winter  schools  in  Swatara  township  three 
terms,  working  with  his  fatlier  on  tlie  farm 
dunng  the  summer  until  he  became  of  age. 
After  his  marriage  he  began  farming  on  his 
own  account,  and  in  connection  with  the 
farm  conducted  the  dairy  business.  Mr. 
Rupp  was  married,  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 21,  1871,  to  Miss  Barbara,  daughter 
of  Christian  and  Barbara  (Epler)  Foltz,  born 
in  Conewago  township,  March  24,  1851. 
They  have  five  ciiildren:  Christian  J.,  born 
February  15,  1873 ;  Samuel  E.,  September 
18,  1878"';  Mary  E.,  July  16,  1880;  Clara  V. 
and  Mabel  S.,  twins,  born  March  11,  1891. 
Mr.  Rupp  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been 
elected  to  important  offices.  He  served  as 
auditor  of  Swatara  township  for  three  years, 
and  subsequently  as  assessor  for  seven  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church  at  Chambers  Hill. 

Christian  Fol  tz,father  of  Mrs.Rupp,was  born 
in  Daupliin  county  in  1800.  Hewasforanum- 
ber  of  years  a  merchant ;  later  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  put  his  sons  in  charge  of  the 
store.  He  was  married  three  times.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Bucks,  daughter  of  Jonas 
Bucks.  Of  tiieir  children,  two  are  living, 
Josiah  and  Samuel.  The  deceased  children 
are:  John,  died  June  10,  1884,  aged  sixtj^- 
four  years;  Jacob;  Susan,  died  in  1862, 
wife  of  Michael  Conley ;  her  children  died 
in  infancy;  Mr.  Foltz  was  married,  sec- 
ondly, to  Miss  Barbara  Epley,  daughter  of 
David  Eplej',  by  whom  there  were  born  six 
children  :  Eli;  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  Wallower; 
David,  of  Topeka,  Kan.;  Eiizabetii,  wife  of 
Isaac  Ulrich;  Catherine,  wife  of  David  Gar- 
mon;  Barbara,  Mrs.  Rupp.  Mrs.  Barbara 
Foltz  died  April,  1851.  The  third  wife  of 
Mr.  Foltz  was  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Isaac  Hentzberger.  They  have  had  four 
children :  Emma,  wife  of  Daniel  Smith '. 
Isaiah;  Obert,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Foltz  died  in  March,  1863,  aged  sixty- 
three.     His  wife  survives  him,  and  resides  in 


63 


1010 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Londondeny  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Christian  Foltz,  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Rupp,  was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  a 
farmer  ;  lie  reared  five  children. 


Stephenson,  John  L.,  was  horn  in  Harris- 
hurg,  Ph.,  August  20,  1849;  son  of  John  D. 
and  Annie  (Knupp)  Stephenson.  Plis  pa- 
ternal grandfatlier  was  a  native  of  England 
and  a  shoemaker.  He  caine  at  an  early  day 
to  this  country  and  settled  at  Harrisburg. 
He  had  a  family  of  six  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living:  Asa,  residing  in  Ohio,  and 
Annie,  wife  of  Dr.  LJpdegraff,  Philadelphia. 
The  deceased  ciiildren  are:  Jacol),  Thomas, 
Paul,  and  John  D.,  father  of  John  L.  Stephen- 
son. Both  grandparents  were  members  of  the 
Metliodist  church,  and  died  in  Harrisburg. 
The  grandfather  died  in  1852  and  the  grand- 
mother in  1851.  Tiie  maternal  grandfather 
of  Joiin  L.  Stephenson  was  a  farmer.  I>y  iiis 
first  marriage  he  had  two  children  :  Annie, 
wife  of  John  D.  Stephenson ;  and  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Samuel  AUeman.  Mr.  Knupp  was 
married  the  second  time,  and  had  by  this 
marriage  one  daughter,  Mary,  wife  of  Lute 
Chandler. 

Jolin  D.  Stephen.son,  fattier  of  John  L., 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  was  a 
carpenter;  his  wife,  Annie  (Knupp)  Steph- 
enson, was  also  a  native  of  Dau[)hin  county. 
Of  their  four  children  only  Jolin  \j.  survives. 
Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Sheets,  died  aged 
thirty-five  years;  Theresa,  wife  of  Philip 
Yeager,  was  killed  on  the  railroad  in  1873; 
Sarah,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Stephenson 
filled  various  township  offices  and  was  a 
mend^er  of  several  fraternal  orders.  He 
died  October  11,  1854,  aged  thirty-two;  his 
wife  is  still  living,  residing  wdth  her  son 
John  L. 

John  L.  Stephenson  took  the  regular 
course  in  the  public  schools  of  Swatara  town- 
ship, after  wdiich  he  worked  on  the  farm  with 
his  uncle  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  Mr.  Stephenson  was  married,  in  Har- 
risburg, December  23, 1870,  to  Miss  Sarah  A., 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Werner)  Con- 
rad, born  in  Dauphin  county,  November  21, 
1849.  Nine  of  tiieir  ten  children  are  living : 
Annie,  wife  of  Philip  Bomgardner;  John  E., 
Theresa  J.,  Sarah  C,  Samuel,  Helen  R.,  Ed- 
ward R.,  Nettie,  and  Marion  F.  Emma  died 
May  26,  1872,  aged  five  months  and  twenty- 
seven  days.  Since  his  marriage,  Mr.  Steph- 
enson has  been  continuously  engaged  in 
farming.     In  1880  he  removed  to  the  farm 


lately'  owned  by  David  Alleman,  where  he 
has  lived  since  that  date.  Mr.  Stephenson 
is  a  Democrat.  His  church  membership  is 
with  the  Lutherans.  John  Conrad,  father 
of  Mrs.  Stephenson,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  and  was  a  shoemaker.  He  was  first 
married  to  Miss  Page,  by  whom  he  had  three 
sons.  The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Conrad  was 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  Werner;  of  this 
marriage  there  were  four  chddren  :  David ; 
Sarah,  Mrs.  Stephenson;  Joseph,  and  Solo- 
mon. Mr.  Conrad  died  December  2(),  1873, 
aged  seventy-five  years.  His  wife  died  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1889;  both  died  in  their  native 
count}'. 


Snyder,  John  Beigh,  was  born  in  Buttalo 
Valley,  Perry  county.  Pa.,  May  14,1862;  son 
of  Emanuel  and  Alargaret  (Beigh)  Snyder. 
Jacob  Snyder,  his  great-grandfather,  was  a 
farmer,  born  in  Northumberland  county. 
His  wife  Catherine  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen 
children  :  John,  Jacob,  Jonathan,  Samuel, 
Peter,  David,  Jose{)h,  Geiger,  Andrew, 
Henry,  Lydia,  Kate,  and  Sarah.  David 
Snyder,  grandfather  of  John  B.  Snyder,  was 
born  in  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 20,  1808.  He  was  a  carpenter ;  for 
about  fifteen  years  he  followed  that  occupa- 
tion, and  afterwards  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Campbell. 
Of  their  ten  children,  four  are  living: 
Emanuel,  Edward,  Charles,  and  David. 
Their  deceased  children  are :  Harriet ;  Hel- 
ena, died  in  September,  1876,  aged  forty- 
nine  years,  wife  of  William  Weaver;  Will- 
iam, died  in  1848,  aged  twenty-two  ;  Louisa, 
died  in  1890,  wife  of  John  Grubb ;  George, 
died  in  September,  1892,  aged  fifty-five  ;  one 
died  in  inianc}'.  David  Snyder  died  in  No- 
vember, 1886,  aged  eighty-one  years  and 
eleven  months.  His  wife  died  in  1847,  aged 
thirty-nine. 

Emanuel  Snyder,  fatiier  of  John  B.  Snyder, 
was  born  in  Northumberland  county,  Pa., 
September  27, 1832,  and  was  reared  in  Perry 
county.  He  was  a  tailor  and  worked  at 
tliat  trade  for  twelve  j^ears,  after  which  he 
was  engaged  for  about  five  years  in  boating 
on  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  having  in  De- 
cember, 1869,  accepted  a  position  on  the 
canal  between  Rockville  and  Losch  Run.  He 
was  married,  in  Buttalo,  Perry  county.  Pa., 
September  27, 1854,  to  Miss  Margaret,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Catherine  (Raugh)  Beigh. 
Seven    of  their   nine  ciiildren   are   living: 


DAtlPHIN  COlTNTt. 


1011 


Emma,  wife  of  Samuel  Crook,  resides  at  928 
South  Ninth  street,  Harrisburg ;  Ida,  wife  of 
John  Bidge,  Susquehanna  township;  John 
Beigh  ;  Margaret,  wife  of  John  Carpman,  of 
near  Niles,  Mich.;  Edward  A.,  South  Thir- 
teenth street,  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Serna,  wife  of 
William  Klaiss,  Lincoln  street,  Steelton,  Pa.; 
Alice,  wife  of  Benjamin  Bomgardner,Twenty- 
first  street,  Harrisburg.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are:  Charles,  died  in  August,  1877, 
aged  twenty-two;  David, died  in  June,  1874, 
aged  nine  years.  Mr.  Snyder  came  to  Har- 
risburg in  1S7(),  wiiere  he  was  employed  in 
day  labor  until  18SJ0  ;  he  then  retired  from 
active  work,  and  since  that  time  has  had  his 
home  with  his  eldest  son. 

John  Beigii  Snyder  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Perry  and  Dauphin 
counties.  He  was  engaged  for  six  years  in 
boating  on  the  canal,  after  which  he  was 
employed  in'  the  iron  works  at  Harrisburg 
for  about  thirteen  years.  He  served  on  the 
police  force  under  Mayor  Wilson  for  two 
years.  In  tiie  spring  of  1896  he  removed  to 
his  farm,  and  is  now  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  Mr.  Snyder  was  married, at  Liver- 
pool, Pa.,  March"  13,  1884,  to  Miss  Kate, 
daughter  of  David  D.  and  Annie  (Grubb) 
Ritter.  Their  children  are:  Earl,  born  in 
December,  1884  ;  Harry,  February  28, 1886; 
and  Charles,  November  24,  1887.  Mr.  Sny- 
der is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  160,  I.O.O.F., 
and  has  for  ten  years  belonged  to  the  Cen- 
tral Beneficial  Society.  He  is  a  Republican. 
Mrs.  Snyder  is  a  member  of  the  LInited 
Brethren  church.  David  Ritter,  father  of 
Mrs.  Snyder,  was  born  in  Perrj-  county.  His 
occupation  is  boating,  and  resides  at  Marys- 
ville.  Lie  married  Miss  Annie  Grubb.  Four 
of  their  children  are  living:  Katie,  Mrs. 
Snyder;  Ella,  wife  of  Elmer  Fulton  ;  Allen, 
and  Harvey ;  Ord  is  deceased.  Rev.  Dr. 
Ritter,  grandfather  of  ^Irs.  Snyder,  resides  in 
Liverpool.  The  maternal  grandparents  of 
Mrs.  Snyder  were  farmers,  at  Millerstown. 


Rutherford,  Samuel  Silas  Brisbin,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  April  28, 1825. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  Parke  and  Eliza  (Ruth- 
erford) Rutherford.  Thomas  Rutherford, 
first  ancestor  of  this  branch  of  the  family 
in  America,  and  of  the  fourth  generation 
preceding  Samuel  S.  B.,  was  born  in  Ireland, 
June  24,  1707,  and  emigrated  from  that 
country  in  1729.  He  was  married  in  the 
following  }'ear,  on  September  7,  by  Rev. 
James   Anderson,   of  Donegal,   province  of 


Pennsylvania,  to  Jean  Murdoch,  born  in  Ire- 
land, April  5,  1712.  They  had  these  chil- 
dren :  Agnes,  born  July  9,  1731,  died  in 
1735,.  aged  four  years;  Eleanor,  born  Jan- 
uary 16, 1733, married,  first,  to  William  Will- 
iams ;  secondly,  to  John  Donaldson  ;  Jane, 
born  January  22,  1734,  married  Thomas 
Mays,  and  lived  in  North  Carolina  ;  John  ; 
Tiiomas,  born  August  14,  1738,  died  in 
1739;  Agnes  (2),  born  September  14,1740, 
married  William  Gray  ;  Thomas  (2),  born 
February  12,  1743,  died  January  8,  1760, 
aged  sixteen  years  and  ten  months,  killed 
by  falling  from  a  tree  which  he  had 
climbed  for  a  squirrel ;  Mary  and  Elizabeth, 
twins,  born  February  18,  1745  ;  Mary,  mar- 
ried Andrew  Mayse  ;  Elizabeth,  died  Octo- 
ber, 1745 ;  James,  born  August  28,  1747, 
died  March  6,  1809,  aged  sixty-one  years, 
married  to  Margaret  Brisbin  ;  Samuel,  born 
December  13,  1749,  married  Susannah  Col- 
lier, enlisted  as  lieutenant  in  the  Revolution, 
and  was  promoted  to  captain,  died  May 
2,  1785,  aged  thirtj^-five;  Elizabeth  (2), 
born  February  27,  1752,  married,  first,  Pat- 
rick Gallowaj^  secondly,  Patrick  Harbinger, 
who  was  hanged  by  Tories  during  the  Rev- 
olution, and  thirdly,  Thomas  Archibald. 
Thomas  Rutherford  died  April  18,  1777, 
aged  seventy.  His  wife,  Jean  Murdoch,  died 
August  10,  1789,  aged  seventy-seven. 

John  Rutherford,  son  of  Thomas,  and 
great-grandfather  of  S.  S.  B.  Rutherford,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  February  16, 
1737.  He  was  married,  February  4,  1762, 
to  Margaret  Parke.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren :  Jane,  born  August  26,  1763,  wife  of 
Samuel  Hutchinson,  died  February  28, 1807, 
aged  forty-three  ;  Martha,  born  February  22, 
1765,  w4fe  of  James  Collier,  died  August  27, 
1849,  aged  eighty-four,  was  buried  at  Green- 
field, Ohio ;  Tiiomas,  born  November  28, 
17(57,  died  October  18, 1793,  aged  twenty-five 
years  and  ten  months ;  Samuel,  born  July 
16,  1769,  married  Elizabeth  Brisbin,  died 
November  26,  1833,  aged  sixty-four ;  Mary, 
born  September  13,  1771,  wife  of  Robert 
Gray,  died  August  16,  1863,  aged  ninety-one 
years ;  John,  born  January  15,  1774,  died 
May  1,  1832,  aged  fifty -eight;  married,  first, 
Jane  Maeder,  and  afterwards  Priscilla  Bar- 
rett ;  and  William.  John  Rutlierford  was  a 
farmer,  and  died  October  1,  1804,  aged  six- 
ty-seven; his  wife  died  in  January,  1810, 
aged  seventy-three  years. 

William  Rutherford,  paternal  grandfather 
of  S.  S.  B.  Rutherford,  was   born  August  4, 


1012 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


1776.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  was  twice 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature.  He  was 
married,  March  17,  1801,  to  Sarah  Swan,  born 
January  1,  1779;  daughter  of  W'illiam  and 
(Renick)  Swan.  They  had  ten  children,  of 
whom  the  only  survivor  is  Hiram,  who  re- 
sides at  Oakland,  Coles  county.  111.  Their 
deceased  children  are:  John  Parke;  Martha, 
died  October  20,  1851,  aged  forty-eight; 
William  Wilson,  died  Marcii  13,  1873,  aged 
sixty-seven,  married  Eleanor  Grain,  and  re- 
sided on  Front  street,  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Mar- 
garet, died  June  7,  1889,  aged  eighty ;  Sam- 
uel, died  March  2(>,  1872,  aged  sixty-one ; 
Sarah,  died  March  28,  1873,  aged  sixty-one, 
wife  of  Daniel  Kendig ;  Abner,  died  Sep- 
tember 2,  1890,  aged  seventy-six ;  Mary, 
died  April  14,  1818,  aged  ten  months  ;  Cyrus 
Green,  died  March  30,  1850,  aged  thirty, 
killed  by  the  faUing  of  a  tree.  William 
Rutherford  was  a  Whig.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Paxtang  Presbyterian 
church.  He  died  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
was  born  and  spent  his  life,  January  17, 
1850,  aged  seventy-three.  His  wife  Sarali 
died  June  17,  1852,  aged  seventy-three. 

His  son,  John  Parke  Rutherford,  father 
of  S.  S.  B.  Rutherford,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county,  February  14,  1802.  He  was 
a  farmer.  In  183(3  he  was  appointed  super- 
visor of  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  and  iield 
that  position  for  three  years,  after  whieii  he 
resumed  farming,  and  continued  vintil  1801, 
when  he  was  appointed  (quartermaster  in 
the  United  States  army,  and  served  through 
the  war.  He  also  tilled  the  office  of  county 
auditor  for  one  term  of  three  years.  After 
leaving  the  military  service  he  retired  from 
active  business  for  five  years.  Mr.  Ruther- 
ford wns  married,  in  October,  1824,  to  Miss 
Eliza,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Brisbin)  Rutherford.  Of  their  seven  chil- 
dren, five  are  living :  Samuel  S.  B.;  Eliza- 
beth Martha,  born  June  26,  1833;  Sarah 
Margaret,  born  August  21,  1835,  wife  of 
Job  D.  Randolpii ,  Mary  Jane,  born  Decem- 
ber 9,  1837,  wife  of  John  Elder;  Eleanor 
Gilchrist,  born  April  15,  1841.  Their  de- 
ceased children  are:  William  Swan,  born 
August  19,  1827,  died  January  24,  1895, 
aged  sixty-seven  years  and  five  months,  and 
John  Alexander,  born  November  23,  1830, 
died  December  17,  1891,  aged  sixty-one 
years.  Mr.  Rutherford  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Paxtang  Presbyterian 
church.  Both  died  at  the  old  homestead: 
Mr.  Rutherford  May  12,  1871,  at  the  age  of 


sixty-nine,  and  Mrs.  Rutherford  January  30, 
1860,  aged  fifty-eight  years. 

Samuel  Silas  Brisbin  Rutherford  attended 
the  private  schools  of  Susquehanna  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  and  was  for  one 
session  at  the  academy  at  Middletown,  Pa. 
In  1848-49  he  taught  in  the  public  schools. 
On  June  1,  1849,  he  received  an  appoint- 
ment to  a  clerkship  in  the  Harrisburg  post- 
office,  which  position  he  accepted,  and  occu- 
pied for  four  years  and  one  month.  He 
afterwards  entered  the  employ  of  John  H. 
Brant,  commission  mercliant,  as  clerk,  and 
was  thus  occupied  for  five  years,  wiien  Mr. 
Brant  went  out  of  business.  Through  Mr. 
Brant's  influence  Mr.  Rutherford  was  em- 
ployed as  clerk  in  the  freight  office  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  where  he 
continued  until  1861.  After  this  he  was 
ajtpoiuted  clerk  under  his  father  in  the 
quiirtermaster's  department,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865.  In  1866 
Mr.  Rutherford  came  home  and  assisted  his 
brother  during  the  month  of  August.  In 
September,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Mr.  Calder,  he  was  sent  to  Baltimore;  he 
removed  his  family  to  that  city,  and  resided 
there  until  April,  1870,  when  he  returned  to 
his  old  homestead.  He  has  resided  tliere 
ever  since,  and  attended  personally  to  tiie 
cultivation  of  the  land  until  1876,  when  he 
gave  up  active  duties.  Mr.  Rutherford  was 
married,  at  Ilarrisliurg,  August  28,  1860,  to 
Miss  Marv  Caroliiu^  dnugiiter  of  James  and 
Ann  (Reigel)  Walker;  born  October  1,  1842. 
They  had  live  children:  James  W.,  born 
April  1,  1862;  John  P.,  born  July  4,  1864; 
Bessie,  wife  of  James  A.  Rutherford,  born  at 
Baltimore,  Md.,  February  24,  1867;  Ram- 
sey, born  in  Baltimore,  June  17,  1869; 
Tiiomas  Wilson,  born  December  24,  1873. 
Mrs.  Rutherford  died  September  26,  1874, 
aged  thirty-two.  Mr.  Rutherford  was  mar- 
ried the  second  time,  March  22,  1888,  to 
Miss  Annie  Walker,  sister  of  his  first  wife, 
born  September  4,  1843.  Of  this  marriage 
there  is  no  issue.  Mr.  Rutherford  has  filled 
various  townshijj  offices.  In  1876  he  was 
elected  assessor,  and  served  one  year ;  he 
was  re-elected  in  1879,  1880  and  1882.  He 
is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Paxtang  Presbyterian  church,  and  is  a 
trustee  and  the  treasurer  of  tiie  church. 
James  Walker,  father  of  Mrs.  Rutherford,  is 
a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  and  a  mill- 
wright. He  was  also  a  miller  for  a  number 
of  years ;  he  subsequently  bought  a  farm,  and 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1013 


spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  auricul- 
tural  pursuits.  His  wife  also  was  a  native 
of  Daupliiu  county. 


Rutherford,  John  P.,  was  born  in  Swa- 
tara  township,  Dauphin  count}',  Pa.,  July 
4,  1864.  He  is  a  sou  of  Samuel  Silas  Bris- 
born  and  Mary  (Walker)  Rutherford.  A 
sketch  of  his  parents  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  He  was  first  a  pupil  in  the 
common  schools  of  Swatara  township  and 
afterwards  for  five  years  attended  tlie  Har- 
risburg  Academy.  After  completing  his 
school  course  he  was  employed  for  a  year 
as  clerk  in  the  clothing  store  of  Elder  & 
Tash,  North  Third  street,  Harrisburg.  In 
tlie  spring  of  1882  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company,  at 
their  headquarters  at  Omalia,  Neb.,  as  book- 
keeper in  the  bridge  department,  and  served 
in  this  capacity  for  eigiiteen  montlis.  In 
tlie  latter  part  of  1884  Mr.  Rutherford  went 
to  Western  Kansas,  and  was  for  some  time  a 
dealer  in  cattle.  Then  for  a  j-ear  and  a  half 
he  was  in  charge  of  the  grocery  store  of  his 
brother,  James  W.  Rutherford,  at  Argonia, 
Sumner  count}',  in  the  southern  central  part 
of  Kansas.  Mr.  Rutherford  returned  from  the 
West  in  January,  1889,  and  began  house- 
keeping in  Paxtang  township,  near  Harris- 
burg, his  old  home,  where  lie  has  resided 
since  that  date.  In  the"  latter  part  of  1889 
he  took  charge  of  the  stone  quarry  of  John 
A.  Rutherford,  which  he  superintended  for 
two  years.  In  1892  he  secured  the  position 
of  yard  foreman  of  the  bridge  department  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works  at  Steelton, 
Pa.,  and  served  in  this  capacity  for  one 
year  ;  he  was  then  promoted  to  be  foreman 
of  the  works,  which  place  he  still  holds. 
Mr.  Rutherford  was  married,  December  3, 
1888.  to  Miss  Alice  E.,  daughter  of  Alfred 
and  Martha  M.  (Henshaw)  Hosier,  of  Ar- 
gonia, Kansas.  They  have  two  children: 
Silas  B.,  born  January  11,  1890,  and  Robert 
H.,  October  6,  1894.  "  Mr.  Rutherford  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Knights  of  Malta.  He 
is  a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Paxtang  Presbyterian  church. 

Mrs.  John  P.  Rutherford  was  born  near 
Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  August  26,  1864.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Indiana.  Her  father, 
Alfred  Hosier,  was  a  farmer.  His  widow, 
Martha  (Henshaw)  Hosier,  removed  with 
her  daughter  to  Argonia,  where  she  was  a 
milliner  and  dressmaker  for  sixteen  years. 
In  1890  she  came  to  Dauphin   county  and 


made  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Rutherford,  for  the  rest  of  her  life.  Her 
death  occurred  in  1892  at  the  age  of  forty- 
nine  years.  Mrs.  Hosier  was  a  devout  Chris- 
tian, born  and  educated  as  a  Friend ;  later 
she  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  in 
which  communion  she  died.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Rutherford  was  a  fanner. 
Seth  Henshaw,  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Rutherford,  was  also  a  farmer,  but  has  now 
retired  fi'om  active  business.  Two  of  his 
children  survive:  Theresa  A.,  wife  of  Rufus 
A.  Walton,  of  Knightstown,  Ind.,  and  Will- 
iam H. 


Reed,  John  B.,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  August  31, 1832;  son  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  (Gonse)  Reed.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  natives  of  Berks  county. 
Pa.  The  grandparents  on  the  maternal 
side  were  of  the  same  county  and  by  occu- 
pation farmers.  Their  family  consisted  of 
six  children:  Margaret,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Mc- 
Elheuy  ;  Catherine,  wife  of  Daniel  Barkert; 
Ann ;  William ;  Mary,  \yife  of  Tliomas 
Reed,  and  George.  Thomas  Reed,  father  of 
John  B.  Reed,  was  born  in  Berks  county. 
He  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  weaver,  but 
later  in  life  engaged  in  farming.  He  was 
married  to  Mary  Gonse,  daughter  of  John 
and  Ann  (Kurtzmoyer)  Gonse.  Of  their 
eight  children  four  are  living:  John  B., 
William,  Samuel,  and  Eliza.  Their  de- 
ceased children  are :  Mary,  died  June  19, 
1889,  aged  fifty-three  years;  Thomas,  died 
in  the  army  service  in  1866  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years;  Catherine  and  Sarah,  died 
j'oung  and  were  buried  at  Wenrich's  church. 
Mr.  Reed  died  in  1883  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years  and  his  wife  died  in  1873,  aged 
sixty-six  years.  They  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church  and  are  buried  at  Shoop's 
church. 

John  B.  Reed  made  good  use  of  such  ad- 
vantages as  the  public  schools  of  Lower 
Paxton  township  afforded.  At  the  end  of 
his  school  days  he  went  to  work  with  his 
father  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  remained 
until  he  was  twenty-seven  years  old.  In 
18<)t)  Mr.  Reed  went  upon  the  farm  of  Mr. 
William  Bomgardner,  in  Lower  Paxton 
township,  and  cultivated  it  for  eight  years, 
after  which  he  removed  to  the  farm  of  James 
Raymond,  in  Susquehanna  township,  on 
which  he  remained  four  years.  Mr.  Reed 
bought  the  farm  wliich  is  now  his  home 
from    John   Millison.     He   occupied    it    for 


1014 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


four  3'ears  and  then  removed  to  tlie  farm  of 
James  Boyd ;  after  eight  years'  occupancy 
of  that  place  he  returned  to  his  own  farm, 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided  and  which 
he  has  tilled  up  to  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Reed  was  married,  in  18G0,  to  ]\Iiss  Soi)hia, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  P]lizabeth  (Leasor) 
Elser.  They  have  had  five  children  :  Mary, 
wife  of  Logan  McClintock,  deceased;  Eliza- 
beth; Katie,  wife  of  Edwin  Eschenour; 
John  C,  saddler,  of  Oberlin,  Pa.,  and  Charles 
P.,  employed  in  the  Harrisburg  Car  Shop. 
Mr.  Reed  is  a  Republican.  In  1889  lie  was 
elected  supervisor  of  Swatara  township,  and 
served  five  years ;  in  1894  he  was  re-elected 
to  the  same  office.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Mrs.  Joiin  B.  Reed  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  August  ■2G,  1820;  her  parents 
were  natives  of  tlie  same  county.  In  early 
life  her  father,  Peter  Elser,  was  a  carpenter, 
but  at  a  later  period  he  was  a  farmer.  lie 
was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Soj)hia  Leasor.  Four  of  their  five  chil- 
dren are  living:  John  L.;  George  L.;  Kate, 
wife  of  William  Paul,  deceased,  and  Soj)liia, 
Mrs.  Reed.  Elizabeth  died  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years.  Mr.  Elser  served  as  constable 
and  as  tax  collector  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  an  elder  in  the  Lutheran  churcli. 
He  died  in  ]88()  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years;  his  wife  died  in  1881,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years.  They  are  buried  in  Lancaster 
county,  at  Brickerville  church.  Mrs. 
Reed's  grandparents  on  the  mother's  side 
had  a  family  of  five  children.  They  be- 
longed to  the  Lutheran  church. 


Rurp,  Samuel  E.,  is  one  of  tlie  m'  st  j)rom- 
inent  and  enterprising  young  business  men 
of  his  township.  He  is  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  was  born  in  Swatara  townsliip, 
May  31,  ISOd  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Sam- 
uel and  Fannie  (Horst)  Rupp.  Mr.  Rupj) 
was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  and  received  a 
few  months  instruction  each  year  in  the 
township  schools,  being  occupied  with  farm 
work  during  the  liusy  seasons.  Tiiis  con- 
tinued until  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  when 
he  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  course  at  the 
Harrisburg  Business  College.  He  finished 
his  educational  training  at  the  Lebanon  Val- 
ley College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1887.  He  then  spent  two  j^ears  in  traveling 
through  the  Western  States,  and  visiting  the 
Rocky  Mountain  region.  Not  finding  awj 
locality  which  afforded  him  better  business 


op])ortunities  than  his  own  section  of  the 
country,  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
opened  a  real  estate  office  in  the  College 
Block,  Harrisburg.  In  December,  1895,  he 
removed  his  ofiice  to  No.  306  Market  street, 
where  he  is  doing  a  prosperous  business  in 
real  estate.  Mr.  Rupp  is  not  married,  but 
has  his  residence  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Swatara  township,  where  he  is  delightfully 
situated,  it  being  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
county.  Mr.  Rupp's  political  views  are  Re- 
publican. He  has  good  natural  abilities 
and  is  trained  to  the  best  use  of  his  talents. 
He  has  made  a  i)romising  l}e<!innino-  of  his 
career,  and  his  future  is  bright  with  hope. 

Attick,  Jacob  A.,  was  born  in  York 
county.  Pa.,  Sej^tember  19,  1846  ;  son  of 
Jacob  and  Jane  (Siiook)  Attick.  Jacob  At- 
tick, Sr.,  was  born  in  York  county,  Septem- 
ber 5,  1812  ;  he  was  a  farmer  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jane  Shook,  who  was  born  in 
York  county.  They  had  nine  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living  :  Sarah,  wife  of 
Samuel  Sail;  William  A.;  Martin  ;  Harry 
H.;  Jacob  A.;  Alice,  wife  of  Simon  Dacker ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Ross  Ducher.  The  de- 
ceased children  are  :  Hannah  Mary  and  John 
A.  Mr.  Attick  was  justiceof  the  peace  forsome 
years ;  he  also  served  several  years  as  super- 
visor. He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years;  his  wife  died  September  6,  1878,  aged 
sixty-four  j'cars;  both  died  in  Dauphin 
county. 

Jacob  A.  Attick  attended  the  common 
schools  and  was  engaged  in  farm  work  with 
his  father  until  he  was  twenty-one.  He  was 
then  employed  for  two  years  in  the  Penn- 
.sylvania  Steel  Works,  after  which  he  learned 
carpentry  and  worked  at  that  business  for 
al)out  twelve  years.  For  the  ensuing  ten 
vears  he  was  again  employed  at  the  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Works.  In  1889  Mr.  Attick 
undertook  farming ;  for  three  years  he  cul- 
tivated land  near  Middletown,  Pa.;  he  then 
removed  to  the  farm  lately  owned  bj'  Mr. 
Frantz,  and  at  present  by  W.  F.  Rutherford, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  Mr.  Attick  was 
married,  April  24,  1870,  to  Miss  Amanda 
W.,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Susan  (Nissley) 
Barnhard,born  in  Dauphin  county,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1848.  Of  their  thirteen  children 
eight  are  living:  William  J.,  Susan,  Besisie 
E.,  Ira  R.,  Eva  L.,  Sarah  G.,  Francis  C,  and 
Ruth  V.  Their  deceased  children  are:  Jen- 
nie I.,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  months; 
Edith  A.,  Clara,  Rosa,  and  one  died  an  infant. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1015 


Mr.  Attick  holds  Prohibitionist  views  and 
votes  with  that  party.  He  is  a  meiuber  of 
the  United  Brethren  cluirch. 

Michael  Barnhard,  father  of  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Attick,  was  a  weaver,  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Susan 
Nissley,  who  was  born  in  Dauphin  county. 
Tliey  liad  two  children  :  Amanda,  Mrs.  At- 
tick ;  and  Ellen,  wife  of  Jacob  Rupert.  Mr. 
Barnhard  was  married  a  second  time,  and 
to  this  union  there  were  born  three  chil- 
dren:  Henry;  Eliza,  widow  of  William 
Smith,  and  Sarah,  wife  of  George  Fide.  Mr. 
Barnhard  died  in  January,  1893,  aged 
eighty-six  years ;  his  wife  died  in  1891)  at 
tiie  age  of  seventy-six.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barn- 
hard are  members  of  the   Lutheran  church. 


Attick,  D.a.niel,  was  born  in  York  county, 
Pa.,  December  15, 1821,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Catherine  (Sudden)  Attick.  His  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  John  Sudden,  was  a  na- 
tive of  York  county,  a  farmer,  and  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  had  a  family 
of  seven  children:  John,  Peter,  Daniel,  Han- 
nah, Barbara,  Catherine,  and  Sallie.  Mr. 
Sudden  died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and 
one  years.  His  son,  Peter  Attick,  father  of 
Daniel,  was  born  in  York  county,  and  was  a 
weaver.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Catherine, 
daugliter  of  John  Sudden.  Of  their  nine 
cliildren  four  are  living:  Daniel,  Abraham, 
Peter,  and  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Henry. 
Their  deceased  children  are  :  John  ;  Henry  ; 
Jacob,  died  August  20,  1887,  aged  seventy- 
five  years  ;  George,  died  March  ."5,  IStio,  aged 
forty-four  years;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Samuel 
Sedler.     Both  parents  died  in  York  county. 

Daniel  Attick  attended  the  subscription 
schools  of  his  locality  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  old.  He  was  tlien  for  two  years  em- 
ployed as  a  farm  hand.  Thinking  it  would 
be  of  advantage  to  have  a  trade,  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  two  years  at  black- 
smithing.  He  tlien,  at  eighteen  years  of 
age,  came  to  Dauphin  county  and  hired  on 
a  farm  for  one  year,  and  afterwards  for  two 
years  more.  After  liis  marriage  he  took  the 
"fiirm  of  Philip  Dauglierty,  where  he  re- 
mained for  twenty-five  years.  He  next  re- 
moved to  Paxton  township,  remained  there 
five  years,  and  in  1881  removed  to  what  is 
known  as  the  Gray  farm,  which  has  ever 
since  been  his  residence.  Mr.  Attick  was 
married,  August  2,  1849,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Christiana 
(Lauderbach)    Mefferd.     They    had    twelve 


children,  of  whom  eleven  are  living:  Will- 
iam, John  B.,  Franklin  P.,  Daniel,  Sarah, 
Mrs.  John  Dieth;  George  W.,  James,  Samuel, 
Edward,  Ellen,  and  Ida  C;  Susan  died  No- 
vember 2,  1891,  aged  tinrteen  j'ears.  Mr. 
Attick  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  Daniel  Attick 
was  born  March  12,  1831,  and  died  March 
15,  1890,  aged  fifty-eight.  Her  father,  Ben-  • 
jamin  Mett'erd,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county. 
His  wife,  Christiana  Lauderbach,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Germany.  They  had  four  children: 
Sarah,  wife  of  Isaac  Houck ;  Rebecca,  wife 
of  Daniel  Seiders  ;  Mary,  Mrs.  Attick  ;  and 
Cornelia,  wiio  died  July  15,  1894,  aged  fifty- 
six  years.  Mrs.  Mett'erd  died  November  18, 
1894,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight.  Both  were 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


Walker,  James  Rutherford,  was  born 
in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  January  9,  1849 ; 
son  of  James  and  Susan  (Kuhn)  Walker. 
ThomasWalker,  his  parental  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Scotland.  He  was  a  cabinet  maker,  but 
later  in  life  was  engaged  in  farming.  He 
married  Mary,  widow  of  Thomas  Rutherford, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children;  the  only 
surviving  one  is  Susan,  wife  of  Moses  Foley. 
Their  deceased  children  are:  .Jacob  S.;  James; 
Eliza,  died  in  November,  1894;  she  was  the 
wife  of  William  Follinger;  Rutherford  died 
in  infancy.  Jacob  Kuhn,  maternal  grand- 
father of  James  R.  Walker,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county,  and  was  a  cabinet  maker.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  kept  hotel ;  in  1825  he 
was  steward  of  the  Dauphin  county  alms- 
house. ]\Ir.  Kuhn's  wife  was  Susan  Kunkel. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuhn  had  ten  children,  but 
one  of  whom  is  living,  Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph 
Hoover,  of  Galcsburg,  111.  The  deceased  chil- 
dren are :  William,  Jacob,  Samuel,  George, 
Mary,  Catherine,  Henrietta,  Susan, and  Ann. 
Mr.  Kulm  had  retired  from  active  business, 
relinquishing  farming,  in  which  he  had  for 
some  time  been  engaged,  some  years  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was 
seventy-six  years  old.  They  were  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church. 

James  Walker,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  October  9,  1814.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a  millwright,  and  afterwards  en- 
gaged in  milling;  in  1885  he  abandoned  the 
mill  for  the  farm ;  after  tilling  the  ground 
for  three  years  he  gave  up  all  active  busi- 
ness. At  one  time,  in  partnership  with  W. 
S.  Rutherford,  he  had  dealt  in  ice.  The  first 
wife  of  Mr.  Walker  was  Miss. Annie  Riegel ; 
they   had   two  daughters:    Mary,  deceased, 


1016 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


wife  of  Silas  B.  Rutherford  ;  and  Ann,  sec- 
ond wife  of  Silas  B.  Rutherford.  Mr.  Walker 
was  married,  the  second  time,  to  Miss  Kuhn, 
liorn  in  Dauphin  county,  May  31,  1825 ; 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susan  (Kunkel) 
Kuhn.  Their  children  are :  Jacob  K.,  mar- 
ried Sallie,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Barbara 
Fiske ;  Alice  L.,  wife  of  Thomas  R.  Walker, 
and  James  R.  Mr.  Walker  filled  various 
township  offices,  having  served  as  school  di- 
rector, and  also  for  many  years  as  assessor. 
He  was  a  Republican.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  a  trustee  of 
his  congregation.  Mr.  James  Walker,  Sr., 
died  September  10,  1895,  aged  eighty-one 
years;  his  wife  died  Sei)tember  28, 1885;  the 
remains  of  both  are  interred  in  the  Paxtang 
cemeter\'. 

James  Rutherford  Walker  took  the  ordi- 
nary course  of  instruction  in  the  public 
schools,  and  completed  his  school  education 
in  tlie  Harrisburg  Academy,  under  Prof 
Jacob  Seller.  His  academic  course  ended, 
he  went  into  the  mill  with  his  father,  who 
carefully  instructed  him  in  all  branches  of 
the  milling  business,  which  he  has  made  iiis 
occupation  up  to  tlie  present  time.  Mr.  Walker 
was  married,  in  Swatara  township,  April  24, 
1884,  to  Miss  Sallie  Jenkins,  daugliter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Peifer,  born  February 
4,  1860.  They  have  one  son,  James  Boyd, 
born  June  13,  1885.  Mr.  Walker  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Republican  party.  His  frater- 
nity as,sociation  is  with  tlie  Knights  of  Malta. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Pax- 
tang Presbyterian  church.  Mrs.  Walker's 
father,  Mr.  John  Peifer,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county,  May  31,  1830.  He  is  a  carpen- 
ter, and  is  also  engaged  in  farming.  He  re- 
sides near  Paxtang  street,  and  was  married 
to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Christian 
Casslow.  Mrs.  Peifer  died  October  2,  1895. 
Mr.  Peifer  is  prominent  and  active  in  town- 
ship affairs.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
school  director,  in  winch  he  served  many 
years  with  credit  and  usefulness.  He  has 
also,  for  a  number  of  years,  been  judge  of 
elections. 


Rutherford,  S.  A.,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  October  6,  1866;  son  of  the  late 
William  S.  and  J.  Eliza  Rutherford.  Mr. 
Rutherford  belongs  to  the  sixth  generation 
of  the  American  branch  and  is  descended 
from  the  well-known  family  of  that  name 
who  emigrated'from  Scotland  and  settled  in 
the  north   of  Ireland   upon  the  accession   of 


William  of  Orange,  in  1688,  and  from  thence 
came  to  America  in  1728.  His  parents  are 
both  natives  of  Dauphin  county.  Mr.  Will- 
iam S.  Rutherford  was  raised  a  farmer,  and 
after  reaching  manhood  was  for  ten  years 
engaged  in  agriculture,  at  the  same  time 
carrying  on  a  lumber  business  in  Harri.s- 
burg.  He  was  honored  by  election  to  va- 
rious township  offices ;  was  for  some  years 
director  of  the  poor ;  for  ten  years  he  was 
steward  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Hospital 
for  the  Insane.  His  last  business  enterjirise 
was  the  ice  bu.sincss  at  Harrisburg.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  living  retired  from 
active  work.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of 
S.  S.  and  Mary  A.  Rutherford,  of  Paxtang. 
Their  family  consisted  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  six  survive :  Mary  B.,  S.  A.,  Eliza  E., 
William  S.,  E.  F.,  and  Margaretta  S.  The 
deceased  children  are :  Jessie,  died  July  24, 
1804,  aged  six  months  and  three  days;  Ger- 
trude, died  August  7,  1879,  aged  seven 
months  and  nineteen  days;  James,  died 
July  28,  1873,  aged  twenty-eight  days,  and 
Martha,  died  March  31,  1875,  aged  three 
months  and  twenty-two  days.  William  S. 
Rutherford  died  January  24,  1895,  aged 
sixty-seven  years,  and  his  wife  May  20, 1891, 
aged  fifty  years.  Mr.  Rutherford  was  an 
active  Republican.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  church,  of 
Harrisburg. 

S.  A.  Rutherford  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1885,  and  in 
the  Pennsylvania  State  College,  where  he 
took  a  course  in  agriculture  in  1896.  He 
served  as  clerk  with  his  father  in  the  ice 
business  for  about  six  months.  In  the 
.spring  of  1886  he  came  to  the  old  Ruther- 
ford homestead,  which  has  been  in  possession 
of  the  family  for  one  hundred  and  forty-two 
years,  and  where  he  is  living  a  retired  life. 
He  has  a  large  interest  in  the  Rutherford 
Ice  Company,  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.  For  the 
past  three  months  Mr.  Rutherford  has  been 
traveling  in  the  South  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  a  .suitable  location  for  engaging  in 
farming.  He  is  a  staunch  Republican  in 
politics. 


XiSLEY,  Samuel,  w'as  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  December  24, 1818  ;  son  of  Jacob 
and  EHzabeth  (Rice)  Nisley.  John  Nisley, 
his  paternal  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
Dauphin  count}',  and  a  farmer.  His  chil- 
dren  were:  John,  Jacob,  and  Martin.     He 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1017 


and  his  wife  both  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
John  Rice,  maternal  grandfather  of  Samuel 
Nisley,  was  a  native  of  Germany.  He  came 
to  this  country  about  1800  as  a  sailor  boy. 
He  married,  and  had  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren :  John,  Daniel,  and  Elizabeth,  mother 
of  Mr.  Nisley. 

His  father,  Jacob  Nisley,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  and  was  a  farmer.  His 
first  wife  was  a  Miss  Nisley,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Mary  Nisley.  They  had  five 
children.  Mr.  Nisley's  second  wife  was  Miss 
Egle,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  all 
of  whom  are  deceased  :  Jacob,  died  in  1804, 
aged  eighty -seven;  Barbara,  wife  of  Jacob 
Suavely,  died  in  1842,  aged  fifty  years ; 
Susan,  wife  of  John  Mumma,  deceased,  and 
again  married  to  Michael  Barnhard  ;  she  died 
in  1893,  aged  eighty-three  years ;  and  Abra- 
ham, died  in  1890,  aged  seventy-six  years. 
Mr.  Nisley  was  married  the  third  time,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jolm  and  Eliz^i- 
beth  Rise ;  of  this  marriage  there  were  four 
children  :  »Samuel ;  Kate,  widow  of  Henrj' 
Gause ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jacob  Blackville  ; 
and  John.  Mr.  Nisley  was  a  Mennonite. 
He  died  in  1826,  aged  78  years.  Mrs.  Nisley 
died  in  1824,  aged  forty -eight  years. 

Samuel  Nisley  lost  his  parents  when  he 
was  very  young,  and  on  this  account  had 
but  limited  opportunities  for  securing  an 
education.  As  is  usual,  a  guardian  was  ap- 
pointed for  him, but  he  found  a  home  among 
strangers,  and  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer's 
boy.  Thus  he  learned  the  business,  and 
finally  became  a  farmer  on  ins  own  account. 
Mr.  Nisley  was  married,  November  2,  1841, 
to  Miss  Maria,  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Catherine  (Diebler)  Shaffner.  Their  living 
children  are:  Catherine,  wife  of  ^^■endell 
Gross;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Dr.  D.  B.  Traver; 
Jacob  A.,  married  to  Rhoda  Hull;  Fred.  J., 
married  to  Sallie  Johnson  ;  Mary,  wife  of 
Moses  Young;  Carrie,  wife  of  John  Whit- 
man. Their  deceased  children  are:  Will- 
iam H.,  died  December  5,  1846,  aged  two 
years,  eight  montiis  and  twelve  days ;  So- 
phia, died  January  6,  1852,  aged  twenty-five 
days;  Samuel  Otterbein,  died  Jul}'  7,  1861, 
aged  two  years,  three  months  and  twenty- 
one  daj's  ;  Fannie  S.,  died  January  22,  1870, 
aged  thirteen  years,  six  months  and  twelve 
days.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Nisley  was 
engaged  in  farming,  near  Linglestown,  for 
ten  years.  In  1851  he  removed  to  Harris- 
•burg,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  round- 
house of  tiie  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 


pany for  nine  years.  In  1865  Mr.  Nisley 
removed  toSteelton,  where  he  was  employed 
for  six  years  by  Donald  Cameron  as  post 
fence  maker ;  also  for  a  few  years  by  Mr. 
Dunkle.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works,  where  he  was 
engaged  for  about  twenty  years  in  various 
departments.  After  this  he  retired  from  ac- 
tive work.  Mr.  Nisley  is  a  Republican.  For 
sixty  years  he  has  been  a  member,  and  for 
forty  years  a  class  leader  in  the  United 
Brethren  church,  of  which  Mrs.  Nisley  also 
is  a  consistent  member.  Mr.  Nisley  has  long 
been  a  trustee  of  the  church. 

Mrs.  Samuel  Nisley  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  October  13,  1816.  Her  fatlier,  Fred- 
erick Shaffner,  was  also  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  was  a  farmer.  His  wife,  Cathe- 
rine Diebler,  was  born  in  the  same  county. 
They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  six  are  liv- 
ing :  Jacob,  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Reily  ; 
Isaac,  married  to  Miss  Mina  Rogers  ;  Philip, 
married  to  Mariah  Alleman ;  Catherine, 
wife  of  George  Miller,  who  died,  and  she 
then  married  Daniel  Hicks;  Barbara,  wife 
of  Solomon  Ulricli;  Lavinia,  wife  of  Levi 
Reider.  Their  deceased  children  are: 
George,  died  in  1883,  aged  62  years  ;  Martin, 
was  killed  in  the  army ;  John,  died  in  1861, 
aged  twenty-five  years;  one  child  who  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Shattner  died  in  1888,  aged 
ninety-four  years.  Mrs.  Shaffner  died  in 
1859,  aged  sixty -two  years. 


Gerdes,  Henry,  decea.sed,  was  born  in 
Bilderbach,  Westphalia,  Germany,  August 
18, 1830 ;  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Gerdes. 
Henry  Gerdes,  Sr.,  was  a  high  school  teacher 
in  Germany,  and  occupied  tlie  position  for 
life.  His  children  were ;  Andrew,  a  school 
teacher,  in  Germany ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Uhland  ;  the  deceased  children  are:  Her- 
man; Annie;  Barnhard,  who  died  in  Har- 
risburg,  March  29, 1894,  aged  sixty-one  years, 
and  Henry.     Henry  Gerdes,  Sr.,  died  in  1847. 

Henry  Gerdes,  Jr.,  was  educated  in  his 
native  country,  and  engaged  in  mercantile 
business.  His  three  years  of  military  service, 
required  by  law,  were  passed  in  the  special 
troop  of  the  Emperor,  which  is  composed  ex- 
clusively of  men  of  large  statue,  well  pro- 
portioned, without  blemish  and  fine  appear- 
ance. Mr.  Gerdes  came  with  his  famil}-  to 
this  country  in  1867,  settled  at  Harrisburg, 
and  found  employment  at  the  pattern  shop 
at  Steelton,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  January  6,  1895.       He   was  the  first 


1018 


BIO  GRA  PHI  GAL  ENGTGL  OPEDIA 


pattern  maker  ever  employed  at  the  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Works,  serving  under  Henry 
Cassel,  and  remaining  witii  the  company 
twenty-seven  years.  Mr.  Gerdes  was  married, 
September  26. 1865,  to  Miss  Amelia,  daughter 
of  Albert  and  Elizabeth  (Casting)  Lauder- 
mache.  They  liave  nine  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  living :  Albert,  married  Miss  Mag- 
gie, daughter  ot  Michael  and  Annie  Palmer; 
Amelia,  wife  of  Albert  Gratz ;  Oscar,  -Joseph, 
Ida,  Arthur,  and  l^essie.  Their  deceased  chil- 
dren are :  A\'illiam,  died  Sejitember  5,  1868, 
aged  nine  months ;  Adolph,  died  October  4, 
1891, aged  fifteen  years,  killed  by  falling  from 
tree.  Mr.Gerdcs  was  a  Republican.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Mrs.  Gerdes  survives  her  husband,  and  re- 
sides in  Steelton,  Pa.  She  was  born  in  West- 
phalia, Germany,  July  24, 1843.  Her  parents 
kept  a  general  store.  They  had  six  children, 
only  two  of  whom  are  now  living :  Albertina, 
wife  of  Abraham  Shaffer,  resides  in  the  Father- 
land, and  Amelia,  Mrs.  Gerdes.  Their  deceased 
children  are :  Wilhelm,  Dora,  and  Adolplia 
Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Gerdes' father  is  deceased;  her 
mother  died  aged  sixty  four.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Gerdes  was  a  farmer  and 
stock  dealer.  He  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
of  whom  two  survive  :  Florence  and  Ludwig. 
The  deceased  children  are:  Henry,  Josepli, 
and  twin  children,  born  deaf  and  dumb. 
Both  grandparents  died  suddenly  in  Ger- 
many. 


Rutherford,  John  Edmund,  was  born  in 
Swatara  township,  Dauphin  county,  Decem- 
ber 17,  1838.  His  parents  were:  Samuel  S. 
Rutherford,  born  in  Swatara  township,  De- 
cember 17,  1803,  died  January  23,  1872,  and 
Mary  A.  Rutherford,  born  in  the  same  town- 
ship, June  14,  ISIU,  died  December  14,  1884. 

Mr.  Rutherford  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  township 
and  theMt.  Joy  Academy,  Lancaster  county. 

After  leaving  the  academy,  he  taught  one 
of  the  district  schools  in  Swatara  township 
for  two  terms,  and  after  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  served  a  short  period  with  the 
Pennsylvania  State  militia  at  the  time  of 
the  battle  of  Antietam.  In  the  spring  of 
1863  he  took  service  in  the  c|uartermaster's 
department  of  the  volunteer  army,  and  re- 
mained in  that  position  until  May,  1866,  do- 
ing service  during  that  period  in  the  States 
of  Pennsylvanin,  Virginia,  West  Virginia 
and  South  Carolina,  in  the  latter  State  being 
connected  with  the  Freedman's  bureau. 


Returning  home  in  1866  he  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  until  1875,  and  then, 
in  connection  with  that  business,  went  into 
the  coal  business  in  Harrisburg,  continuing 
both  until  1879,  at  which  time  he  took 
charge  of  Senator  J.  D.  Cameron's  Locliiel 
fixrms,  and  subsequently  the  Senator's  Derry 
farms,  and  other  landed  estate. 

Mr.  Rutherford  has  been  a  director  and 
the  vice-president  of  the  Steelton  National 
Bank  since  its  organization  in  1886,  and  is 
also  a  director  of  the  Steelton  Brick  Com- 
pany and  the  Middletown  and  Higlispire 
Electric  Street  Railway  Company.  He  was 
first  married,  February  18,  1868,  to  Miss 
Ann  H.  McPherson,  daughter  of  John  and 
Ann  (Hammond)  McPherson,  of  Frederick, 
Md.  Their  children  are:  Samuel  McPher- 
son, born  September  5,  1869;  Robert  M., 
born  November  25,  1871 ;  Nannie  H.,  born 
May  2,  1874 ;  Mary  Agnes,  born  October  7, 
li>77,  died  December  5,  1881.  Mrs.  Ruther- 
ford died  April  3,  1882,  aged  thirty-eight 
years.  Mr.  Rutherford  was  ngain  married, 
March,  1887,  to  Miss  Delia  McCullough, 
daughter  of  James  T.  and  Catharine  (Mitch- 
ell) McCullough,  of  Maryland.  They  have 
no  issue.  Her  father  was  a  prominent  law- 
yer and  her  grandfather  was  a  physician. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Rutherford  is  an 
Independent  Republican,  and  in  religious 
belief  a  Presbyterian. 


Alleman,  Michael  R.,  was  born  near 
Middletown,  Daupliin  county,  June  25, 
1825;  son  of  Michael  and  Catharine  (Rudy) 
Alleman.  The  father,  Michael  Alleman, 
was  born  January  28,  1794,  on  the  old 
liomestead  in  Swatara  township,  near  High- 
spire,  Dauphin  county.  His  first  occupation 
was  school  teaching,  and  subsequently  he 
became  a  farmer,  and  was  engaged  from 
that  on  solely  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
his  death.  May  24,  18(58 ;  he  is  buried  in 
Middletown  cemeterv.  His  wife  died  March 
30,  1889,  aged  eighty -five  years.  They  had 
six  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity: 
Susan,  wife  of  John  Kope  ;  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  John  Foltz;  Henry;  Mariah,  wife  of 
Michael  Connelly,  of  Middletown  ;  Michael 
R.,  deceased  ;  and  Joseph  W.,  deceased.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  he  held  the  offices  of 
elder,  deacon  and  trustee  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

Michael   R.  received    his   earlier   instruc-t 
tions  in  the  subscription  schools  of  that  day, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1019 


and  afterwards  attended  the  public  schools, 
supplementing  his  education  by  an  academic 
course  under  Professor  Saddler,  at  Middle- 
town,  upon  the  completion  of  which  he 
commenced  teaching  school.  In  1853  he 
began  farming  and  devoted  his  time  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  for  about  eight  years,  when 
in  18(il  he  removed  to  Middletown  and  re- 
sumed teaching  and  surveying,  in  which 
occupation  he  was  employed  until  his  death, 
August  13,  1870. 

Michael  R.  AUeman  was  married,  August, 
1852,  by  the  Rev.  Ditzler,  of  Schaefferstown, 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Leah  Rover, 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Mil- 
ler) Royer.  They  have  these  children 
living:  Mary  A.,  born  November  14,1854, 
a  school  teacher  and  at  present  engaged  in 
teaching  at  the  Home  of  the  Friendless  at 
Harrisburg;  George  R.,  born  .January  17, 
1857,  married  Anna  M.  Koons,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Mary  (Bealer)  Koons,  and  is  a 
contractor  residing  at  Steelton ;  Frederick 
H.  and  M.  Rudy,  twins,  born  September  29, 
18G0;  these  twins  attended  the  public 
schools  and  completed  an  academic  educa- 
tion under  Professor  Seiler  at  Harrisburg, 
after  which  Frederick  H.  was  engaged  in 
teaching  school  one  term.  Li  1879  tliese 
brothers  formed  a  partnei'ship  under  the 
firm  name  of  Alleman  Brothers  and  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  on  Front  street, 
in  Steelton,  where  they  continued  until 
1886,  when  they  disposed  of  their  entire 
stock  and  relinquished  the  business.  In 
1888  tiie  brothers  formed  another  jiartner- 
ship  under  the  old  firm  name  of  the  Alle- 
man I5rothers  and  embarked  in  the  real 
estate  and  insurance  business,  in  which  they 
are  still  engaged.  Frederick  II.  is  also  the 
superintendent  of  the  Harrisburg  and  Me- 
chanicsburg  Railway  Company.  Frederick 
H.  was  married,  August  4,  1887,  to  Miss 
Lizzie  Duukel,  daughter  of  Josiah  and 
Mary  (Bishop)  Dunkle.  Their  children  are: 
Margaret,  born  June  24,1889;  Mary  D., 
born  December  15, 1890;  Frederick  R.,  horn 
February  18,  1893  ;  Ruth  E.,  born  January 
29,  1895.  Michael  Rudy  Alleman  was  mar- 
ried, April  30,  1895,  to  Miss  Lillian  A. 
Moyer,  daughter  of  George  D.  and  Sarah 
(Hoffman)  Moyer,  of  Uniontown,  Pa.  Th(>y 
liave  one  daughter,  born  April  14, 1896. 

The  deceased  children  of  Michael  R.  and 
Leah  (Royer)  Alleman  are:  Catharine  E., 
born  November  14,  1853,  died  November 
25,  1854;    Monroe   J.,  born    December   12, 


1858,  died  August  27,  1873,  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy.  Michael  R.  Alleman  was 
a  prominent  man  and  filled  various  county 
and  township  offices.  He  was  appointed 
county  surveyor  in  1867  and  served  in  the 
office  until  his  death  in  1870.  He  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  filled  the  various  offices,  being  an 
elder  and  trustee  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
Mrs.  Alleman  is  still  living  in  good  health 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  She  resides 
with  her  sons  in  Steelton. 


MiLLHOusE,  Augustus  S.,  superintendent 
of  the  foundry  department  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Steel  Works,  was  born  in  York  county. 
Pa.,  March  13,  1843  ;  son  of  Amos  and  Se- 
linda  (Stoughton)  Millhouse.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  xVugustus  S.  Millhou.se  mar- 
ried a  Miss  j\Ionroe,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  a  large  family.  Amos  Millhouse, 
ftither  of  Augustus  S.,  was  born  in  Chester 
county,  Pa.  He  learned  wagon  making,  and 
worked  at  that  trade  for  a  number  of  years, 
after  which  he  came  to  Harrisburg,  and  was 
employed  in  the  Car  Factory,  then  just 
opened.  His  engagement  there  lasted  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  July  9, 1883,  in  the 
seventy-third  year  of  his  age.  His  wife,  Se- 
linda  Stoughton,  was  born  in  Chester  county. 
Pa.  Their  children  are  :  Augustus  S.;  Owen ; 
Lydia,  wife  of  Joseph  McClintic,  of  Perry 
county,  Pa.;  Elwood  ;  Anna,  deceased;  Eliza- 
beth, deceased  ;  Mary  and  Clara,  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Oliver,  deceased.  Both  parents  are 
members  of  the  Ciiurch  of  God. 

Augustus  S.  Millhouse  was  very  young 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Dauphin  county, 
where  he  attended  the  public  .schools  until 
he  was  ten  3^ears  old.  He  was  then  employed 
for  about  four  years  in  the  pattern  factory 
in  Harrisburg,  after  which  he  entered  the 
Car  Factory  as  an  apprentice.  In  1861,  be- 
fore this  engagement  was  over,  he  enlisted  in 
com[)any  G,  Fifty-fifth  regiment,  Pennsylva- 
nia volunteers,  and  served  four  years,  receiv- 
ing his  discharge  September  1,  1865.  He 
then  returned  to  the  Car  Factory  and  com- 
pleted the  term  of  his  apprenticeship,  after 
which  he  was  employed  for  five  years  as  a 
journeyman.  When  the  new  foundry  was 
built,  on  Allison  Hill,  Mr.  Millhouse  was 
made  foreman,  and  served  in  that  position 
for  six  years.  In  1876  he  worked  five  months 
in  the  foundry  at  Reading,  Pa.  Returning 
to  Harrisburg,  he  became  foreman  in  the 
foundry    department  of    the    Pennsylvania 


1020 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Steel  Works  at  Steelton  in  June  of  the  same 
year.  Later  he  was  made  superintendent  of 
the  same  department,  and  lias  for  the  past 
twenty  years  filled  that  responsible  position 
with  the  utmost  success  and  acceptance.  Mr. 
Millhouse  was  married  to  Miss  Catherine, 
daughter  of  William  and  Catherine  (Tate) 
Bolil.  Their  children  are:  James  W.,  book- 
keeper for  the  Kelley  Coal  Company  ;  ]\Iabel, 
died  June  2,  1894,  aged  twenty-three.  Mr. 
Millhouse  is  a  good  Republican.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Fourth  Street 
Church  of  (Tod. 

William  Bohl,  father  of  Mrs.  Millhouse, 
was  a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  and  a 
cabinet  maker.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
kejjt  a  hotel  in  Harrisburg.  He  was  also 
justice  of  the  peace.  His  wife,  Catherine  Tate, 
was  a  native  of  Cumberland  county.  Their 
children  are :  Catherine,  Mrs.  Millhouse ; 
Mary,  Benjamin,  Charles,  and  .James,  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Bohl  is  deceased,  wliile  Mrs. 
Bohl  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mr.s.  Mill- 
house,  and  is  in  good  health,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  seventy-seven  years.  She  is  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Church  of  God. 


Tenxey,  Frank,  assistant  superintendent 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  was 
born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  February  4, 1861.  He 
is  the  .son  of  Benjamin  F.  Tenney  and  Mary 
(Viles)  Tennej'.  B.  F.  Tenney  was  born  in 
Sutton,  Worcester  county,  Mass.,  October 
27,  1813,  and  was  for  man}'  years  a  mer- 
chant in  I5oston,  but  subsequently  became  a 
member  of  the  Boston  Stock  Exchange  with 
which  he  is  still  connected.  Mr.  Tenney 
was  married,  in  January,  1861,  to  Mary 
Bowman  Mies,  daughter  of  John  and  Sally 
(Dudley)  A'iles,  of  Lexington,  Mass.  Their 
children  are:  Frank;  I\Iaud,  wife  of  F.  F. 
Sherburn,  and  Arthur,  who  died  in  1866. 

Frank  Tenney  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Boston,  finishing  his  course  in  the 
English  high  school  in  1879.  He  then  took 
a  four  years'  course  in  metallurgical  and 
mining  engineering  in  the  Massachusetts 
Institute  of  Technology,  receiving  the  degree 
of  S.  B.  in  1883.  Shortly  after  graduating 
Mr.  Tenney  came  to  Steelton  and  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  superintendent  of  the  blast 
furnaces  and  served  in  this  position  until 
the  fall  of  1885  when  he  was  transferred  to 
Ashland,  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  to  take 
charge  of  some  blast  furnaces  which  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Company  had  leased. 
In   1886  he   returned  to  Steelton   and  was 


made  purchasing  agent  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Company,  which  he  held  until  1890. 
From  this  year  until  1893  Mr.  Tenney  was 
assistant  to  the  general  manager,  when  he 
was  promoted  to  be  assistant  sujserintendent, 
which  position  he  has  since  that  time  filled. 
Mr.  Tenney  was  married,  in  Hull,  Mass, 
June  4,  1889,  to  Mi.ss  Edith  C,  daughter  of 
George  F.  and  A.  F.  (Cutler)  Bouve,  of  Bos- 
ton. Their  children  are :  John  B.,  born 
June  26,  1890  ;  Margaret,  April  1, 1892,  and 
Katharine,  October  5,  1894.  Mr.  Tenney's 
politics  are  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  school  board  of  Steelton. 


Shaffxer,  Francis  W.,  superintendent 
of  the  supply  department,  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Works,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  February  22, 1845;  son  of  George 
and  Christina  (Book)  Shaffner.  The  Shatf- 
ner  family  are  of  Swiss  descent.  Frederick 
Shaffner,  grandfather  of  Francis  W.,  was  a 
farmer.  He  married  Miss  Catherine  Deibler. 
Mr.  Shaffner  died  aged  ninety-four  years. 

George  Shaffner,  father  of  F.  AV.,  died  aged 
sixty-two.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Christina 
Book.  They  had  nine  children  :  Frederick; 
Francis  W.;  John ;  Samuel ;  Mar\',  wife  of 
Jacob  Lantz ;  Jacob ;  Emma,  wife  of  Jacob 
Spangler  ;  Rosa,  wife  of  Stewart  Groninger; 
Wiljiara,  who  died  in  1865,  aged  four  years. 
Mrs.  Shafiher  died  in  1867,  aged  nearly  fifty 
years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church,  of  Harrisburg.  Both  parents  died 
in  Harrisburg. 

Francis  W.  Shafiher  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Dauphin  and  Lebanon  counties, 
and  at  the  same  time  assisted  his  father  in 
farm  work.  He  was  afterwards,  for  two  sea- 
sons, employed  as  a  general  laborer  on  the 
Pennsylvania  canal  and  in  boating.  In  1859 
.he  began  an  apprenticesiiip  of  one  year 
and  a  half  at  coach  making,  after  which  he 
worked  at  his  trade  and  at  house  carpentry 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  In  1864 
Mr.  Shafther  enlisted  in  company  F,  Two 
Hundred  and  First  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  served  his  time  and  was  honorably 
discharged.  While  in  army  service  Mr.  Shafi- 
ner  contracted  a  chronic  disease,  which  in- 
capacitated him  for  manual  labor,  and  lead 
to  a  decision  to  prepare  himself  for  difi'erent 
pursuits.  He  took  a  course  of  eight  months 
at  the  Iron  City  Commercial  College,  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  and  in  1867  secured  a  position  as 
clerk  with  the  Pittsburgh  and  Monongahela 
Coal  (Jompan}',  in  which  he  continued  eight 


DAUPHIN  COUNTV. 


1021 


months.  He  was  next  employed  for  a  year 
and  a  half  as  clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  H. 
Meyers.  He  then  returned  to  Plarrishurg, 
and  to  his  trade  of  house  building  until 
1876,  at  which  time  he  was  appointed  super- 
intendent of  the  supply  department  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Works.  He  has  served 
in  this  position  with  credit  to  himself  and 
the  utmost  satisfaction  to  the  company  up 
to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Shafi'ner  is  identi- 
fied witli  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity, 
having  been  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  70 
since  July  23,  1807.  His  politics  are 
Democratic.  Mr.  8haffner  was  married, 
in  Reading,  Pa.,  May  28,  1868,  to  Miss 
Sarah,  daughter  of  David  and  Martha  (Mc- 
Fadden)  Bachstoss.  Their  children  are : 
Clyde,  born  December  5,  1869  ;  Gertrude, 
December  2,  1871,  wife  of  Howell  Bentecon  ; 
Cora,  born  September  1, 1873.  Mrs.Shatfner 
was  born  September  7,  1845.  Pier  father, 
David  Bachstoss,  was  for  many  years  a  tan- 
ner. He  was  married  to  Martha  McFadden. 
Their  children  are:  Eliza;  Rebecca;  Sarah, 
Mrs.  Shatther ;  Kate,  wife  of  .John  Clyde; 
Edward ;  Alexander,  was  killed  on  tiie 
Reading  railroad,  in  February,  181K3.  Mr. 
Bachstoss  died  in  1891,  aged  seventy-four 
years. 


McEntee,  Peter  J.,  foreman  of  the  open 
hearth  de])artment  of  the  Punn.sylvania 
Steel  Works,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  January  8,  1871;  son  of  Peter  and 
Catherine  (Lynch)  McEntee.  He  attended 
the  Dauphin  county  public  schools  until  he 
was  sixteen,  when  his  school  days  were 
ended  by  his  getting  regular  employment  as 
door  boy  at  the  steel  works.  He  served  in 
this  capacity  for  three  years,  and  then,  at 
the  age  of  nineteen,  began  a  three  years' 
appronticesliip  at  steel  working.  He  was  at 
once  recognized  as  a  master  mechanic  in 
his  line  and  was  made  foreman  of  the  open 
hearth  department.  So  satisfactory  to  his 
emjjloyers  is  his  direction  of  the  workmen 
in  his  department  that  he  has  been  retained 
in  that  position  to  the  present  time.  Mr. 
McEntee  has  a  combination  of  qualities 
which  render  his  services  valuable.  He  is 
not  only  a  first-class  steel  maker,  but  is  able 
to  make  sucii  assignments  of  place  and 
work  as  to  insure  the  best  results,  both  for 
the  men  and  the  company.  Mr.  McEntee 
was  married,  at  Steelton,  June  24,  1891,  to 
Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 


(McGinn)  McGeehan.  They  have  had  four 
children:  Mar}',  born  April  5,1893;  Anas- 
tasia,  March  15,  1895 ;  Joseph  and  John, 
twins,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  McEntee  is  a 
Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church.  Mrs.  McEntee  was  born  June  13, 
1866.  Her  father,  John  McGeehan,  was 
l)orn  in  Lancaster  caunty,  in  December, 
1834,  and  is  a  bricklayer  and  contractor. 
He  was  married,  in  January,  1862,  to  Miss 
Mary  McGinn,  daughter  of  Patrick  and 
Catharine  McGinn.  They  have  had  nine 
children  :  Edward  ;  Catherine,  Mrs.  McEn- 
tee ;  Antlion,  John,  Ambrose,  Thomas,  Mary 
and  Anastasia ;  James  died  aged  two  weeks. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGeehan  reside  at  Steelton. 
The}'  are  worthy  members  of  the  Catholic 
church. 


Gross,  Henry  S.,  superintendent  of  the 
merchant  mill  department,  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Works,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
February  6,  1854;  son  of  Daniel  W.  and 
Elizabeth  Kunkel  Gross.  Henry  S.  Gross 
attended  private  schools  in  Harrisburg, 
completing  his  course  there  in  the  Harris- 
burg Academy.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
entered  upon  a  course  at  the  Pennsylvania 
Polytechnic  College,  Philadelphia,  which  he 
completed  in  three  years,  and  was  graduated 
in  June,  1874.  For  the  ensuing  eleven 
months  Mr.  Gross  was  not  regularly  occu- 
pied. On  the  third  day  of  May,  1875,  he 
entered  the  emjjloy  of  the  Pennsjdvania 
Steel  Company  as  learner  in  the  Bessemer 
department.  After  his  first  year  he  was  re- 
tained in  this  department  as  assistant  fore- 
man for  a  period  of  three  years  when  he  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  steam  hammers,  and 
the  manufacture  of  special  steel  billets.  Af- 
ter serving  two  years  in  this  capacit}',  he 
again  entered  the  Bessemer  department  as 
foreman,  remaining  there  until  October, 
1884,  when  he  assumed  the  duties  of  super- 
intendent of  the  merchant  mill  department, 
which  position  he  has  since  iield.  He  was 
married,  in  Harrisburg,  December  7,  1881, 
to  Miss  Laura  B.,  daughter  of  the  late  Robert 
and  Elizabeth  (Bailey)  Corman,  of  Trindle 
Spring,  Cumberland  county.  Pa.  They  have 
no  children.  Mr.  Gross  removed  from  Har- 
risburg to  Steelton,  January  6,  1885,  and 
has  since  resided  in  that  borough.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Salem  Reformed  church, 
Harrisburg,  and  in  politics  lias  always  been 
Republican. 


1022 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Miller,  D.  W.,  superintendent  of  the  pat- 
tern department,  Pennsylviinia  Steel  Works, 
was  born  in  Daupliin  county,  Pa.,  August  8, 
1840 ;  son  of  David  and  Sarah  (Woods)  Mil- 
ler. David  Miller  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa.  He  was  a  farmer  from  his  youth 
until  a  few  years  before  his  death,  when  he 
retired  from  business.  He  was  married  to 
Sarah  Woods,  a  native  of  Dauphin  county. 
They  had  eight  children :  D.  W.;  J.  C;  Jane, 
wife  of  Moses  Zimmerman,  deceased ;  Mary, 
wife  of  Henry  Smith  ;  Samuel  B.,  deceased ; 
Harriet,  deceased;  William  W.,  deceased; 
Sarah,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Miller,  now 
eighty-two  years  of  age,  resides  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Zimmerman. 

D.  W.  Miller  attended  the  common  schools 
of  Dauphin  county  for  a  part  of  each  year 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen,  when 
he  became  an  apprentice  to  the  trade  of  pat- 
tern making  with  the  Harrisburg  Car  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  and  served  four  j'ears, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  entered  the  era- 
ploy  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company, 
and  worked  at  liis  trade  for  about  two  and 
a  half  years.  In  1879  Mr.  Miller  returned 
to  Harrisburg,  and  iiad  charge  of  the  pattern 
department  of  the  Car  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany for  eleven  or  twelve  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time,  in  1890,  he  accepted  a 
similar  jtosition  with  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Works,  which  lie  still  holds.  "Mr.  Miller's 
mechanical  skill  and  excellent  business 
ability  are  proved  by  tlie  long  terms  of  his 
service  with  the  companies  employing  him. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married,  in  Harrisburg, 
April  4,  ]8<)1,  to  Miss  Harriet,  daughter  of 
Frederick  Duey.  Their  children  are:  Eliz- 
abeth, wife  C.  F.  Gramm;  Susan,  wife  of  H. 
R.  Dasher ;  Mary,  Henrietta,  Sarah,  Robert, 
Henry  R.;  the  last  four  are  deceased.  Mr. 
Miller  is  a  Republican ;  he  was  for  three 
years  assessor  of  the  Ninth  ward,  Harrisburg. 
The  family  are  memliers  of  the  Reformed 
church. 

Mrs.  D.  W.  Miller  was  born  Marcli  12, 
1842.  Her  father  was  Frederick  Duey,  and 
for  many  j'ears  was  a  weaver.  Their  living 
children  are:  Caroline,  wife  of  Paul  Barn- 
hard,  deceased;  Simon  D.;  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Samuel  Stober;  Catherine,  wife  of  Jesse 
Long;  Henrietta,  Mrs.  Miller.  Both  parents 
died  in  Dauphin  county.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  church.  Samuel  Duey, 
jjaternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Miller,  died  at 
an  advanced  age. 


LeFevre,  James  Hasbrouck,  superin- 
tendent of  the  slabbing  mill  department  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Works,  was  born 
February  28,  1868,  in  Somerset  county,  N.  J. 
His  father,  Rev.  James  LeFevre,  D.  D.,  a 
native  of  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  has  been  for 
thirtj^-nine  years  an  able  and  honored  min- 
ister of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church,  and 
liis-  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Cor- 
nelia B.  Hasbrouck,  was  also  a  native  of 
Ulster  county.  His  parents  had  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Egbert,  Cornelia  B.,  Laura  H., 
Esther  Dew,  James  H.,  and  Joseph  H. 

James  H.  received  the  usual  primary 
instructions,  and  took  a  college  preparatory 
course  of  four  years  in  the  grammar  school 
of  Rutger's  College,  after  which  he  pursued 
the  four  years'  course  of  study  in  Rutger's 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
chemistry  witii  the  class  of  1889.  In  the 
same  year  he  was  engaged  in  chemical 
work  in  the  laboratory  of  Dr.  Peter  T. 
Austen  for  a  few  months.  On  November  1, 
1889,  he  came  to  Steel  ton,  where  he  was 
given  his  present  position,  which  he  has 
ever  since  ably  and  acceptably  filled. 

Mr.  LeFevre  was  married,  April  7,  1896, 
to  Miss  Florence  G.  Howard,  daughter  of 
George  C.  and  Georgiana  (Smith)  Howard. 
Her  father  is  a  prominent  and  successful 
jiliysician  at  Lawrence,  Mass.  Mr.  LeFevre 
is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 


Rutherford,  Samuel  H.,  was  born  in 
Swatara  township,  Daupliin  County,  Pa., 
March  3,  184o;  .son  of  Samuel  S.  and  Mary 
A.  Rutherford,  both  natives  of  Dauphin 
count}'.  Samuel  H.  attended  the  public 
sciiools  of  his  native  township,  and  after- 
wards took  a  course  of  three  years  in  the 
Academy.  He  was  then  engaged  with  his 
father  in  farming  until  he  was  twenty-seven 
years  of  age.  In  1870  he  took  up  the  dairy 
and  farming  business  on  his  own  account, 
and  has  been  continuously  employed  in 
them  up  to  the  present  time.  In  addition 
to  his  farm  and  dairy  operations,  Mr.  Ruth- 
erford became,  in  1891,  the  agent  of  the 
Rutherford  Ice  Company,  with  an  office  on 
Court  avenue,  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Rutherford's 
political  opinions  are  Republican.  On  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Fannie  E., 
daughter  of  J.  D.  and  Margaret  S.  (Bargtis) 
ShoU,  natives  of  Frederick  City,  Md.     Their 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1023 


children  are:  Samuel  S.,  in  the  poultry 
business  at  Paxtang  station  ;  and  Jesse  S., 
who  died  an  infant,  in  1875.  Mrs.  Rutherford 
died  December  14,  1884,  aged  forty  years. 
Mr.  Rutherford  was  again  married,  November 
28,  18!»4,  to  Edith  M.,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Matilda  (Mitchell)  Snively,  natives  of 
(ireencastle,  Pa.  To  this  marriage  there  is 
no  issue.  Mr.  Rutherford  now  resides  on 
the  farm  bought  by  his  ancestor,  Thomas 
Rutherford,  in  1755,  shortly  after  his  emi- 
gration from  Ireland, which  has  been  handed 
down  in  tiie  family  from  one  generation  to 
another. 


and  Elizabeth  Hummel,  of  Hummel.stown, 
Pa.  They  had  one  daughter,  Alice  Eliza- 
beth. Mrs.  Nelson  died  on  the  12th  of 
August,  1887. 


Nelson,  Arthur  F.,  was  born  in  Glouces- 
ter, Essex  county,  Mass..  May  19,  1864 ; 
his  parents  are  John  Edward  and  Alice 
(Warner)  Nelson. 

Mr.  Nelson's  education  was  carried  on  in 
the  public  schools  of  Gloucester,  Mass.,  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  seventeen  ;  afterwards, 
for  two  terms,  he  attended  a  private  draw- 
ing school.  This  excellent  foundation  for 
further  attainments  being  laid,  Mr.  Nelson 
came  to  Steelton,  Dauphin  county,  and 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  two  and  a  half 
years  in  the  machine  shop.  He  then  went 
into  the  roll  turning  department,  superin- 
tended by  Mr.  William  George,  and  served 
under  that  gentleman  for  about  two  years. 
So  well  had  the  young  man  improved  his 
time  and  opportunities  that  upon  Mr. 
George's  resignation  he  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  roll  turning  department  as  Mr. 
George's  successor.  At  the  time  when  Mr. 
Nelson  became  superintendent,  the  company 
had  all  new  work  finished  outside.  In  1889 
part  of  the  present  roll  turning  shop  was 
erected,  and  from  time  to  time  it  has  re- 
ceived additions,  until  now  this  department 
is  one  of  the  moist  important  in  the  plant. 
Its  growth  and  present  prosperity  are  largely 
due  to  the  diligence,  skill  and  sagacity  of  its 
superintendent,  Mr.  Nelson.  After  having 
been  for  years  a  zealous  and  influential  mem- 
ber of  the  Harrisburg  Wheel  Club,  Mr.  Nel- 
son is  now  its  president.  He  has  for  five 
years  been  the  representative  from  this 
State  to  the  National  Assembly  of  the  League 
of  American  Wheelmen  ;  also  representative 
of  the  Pennsylvania  division  of  the  League 
of  American  Wheelmen.  Mr.  Nelson  is  an 
adherent  of  the  Republican  party.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Abner 


B.\KER,  Charles  P.,  was  Ijorn  in  Dauphin 
county,  September  18,  1843.     He  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Anna  Maria  (Haamann)  Baker, 
the  former  a  native  of  York  county  and  the 
latter    of    Dauphin    county.      Mr.  Samuel 
Baker  had  as  his  intellectual  preparation  for 
his  life  work  little  beyond  his  native  intelli- 
gence,  he    having   received   no   more  than 
three  months  of  .school  training  and  instruc- 
tion.    He  was  a  farmer,  and  increased  his 
revenues  by  speculations  in  land.     His  wife 
was  the  daughter  of  Philip  and  Maria  Haa- 
mann.    They    had    eight   ciiildren,    five  of 
whom  are  now  living:    Samuel,  Jr.,  John, 
George  W.,  Charles  P.,  and  William.     Their 
daughters  all  died  ;  Maiy  on    December  3, 
1857;    Sarah  E.,  August  6,  1889,  and  Eliza- 
beth, March  23,  1842.     Both  parents  died  in 
Mercer  county;  Mr.  Baker  on  May  10,1860, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-eight,  and  Mrs.  Baker  on 
January  26,  1887,  aged  seventy-five.      They 
were  active  members  of  the  Reformed  church, 
diaries  P.  Baker  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  in  Dauphin  county  until  he  was 
eleven  years  old,  then    in    Mercer   county', 
completing  his  course  bj'  studying  for  two 
years    at    Mercersburg     College,    Franklin 
county.  Pa.,  which  he  entered  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one.      He  afterwards  taught  school 
in  Mercer  county  for  five  terms.      Then  ex- 
changing literary  for    mercantile  work   he 
became   a  clerk    in    the   store   of  Achre  &. 
Bright.     He    was   afterwards   employed    in 
the  same  capacity  by  William  Simmons,  at 
Fredonia,  Mercer  county,  entering  this  es- 
tablishment in  1868,  and  remaining  for  seven 
years.     After  the  third  year  of  this  time  the 
firm  name  changed  to  that  of  Simmons  & 
Swab.    In  1870  Mr.  Baker  spent  a  few  months 
as  a  visitor  in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  in  1876 
entered    the   employ    of    the   Pennsylvania 
Steel     Company    as    timekeeper.      Having 
faithfully  performed    the    duties    devolving 
upon  him  for  four  years  and  six  months,  he 
was  made  time  recorder  and  still  continues 
to  hold  the  same  position.     Ciiarles  P.  Baker 
was  married,  January  17,  1871,  to  Miss  Kate, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Lauder- 
milch)     Fetterhoff,    of     Halifax,    Dauphin 
county,  Pa.     He  was  in  earl}'  life  a  member 


1024 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


of  the  Reformed  church,  but  since  his  twenty- 
eighth  year  he  has  been  a  Presbyterian.  His 
political  views  are  those  of  the  Prohibition 
party. 

Whitney,  Everett  E.,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Hingham,  Plymouth  county,  Mass., 
May  3,  18G1.  He  is  a  son  of  Jason  W.  and 
Lydia  A.  (Davis)  Whitney.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  iiublic  schools  of  Hingham  and 
at  Comer's  Commercial  College,  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  completing  his  course  by  the  time  he 
was  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  tlien  engaged 
with  his  father  in  the  lumber  and  hardware 
business  ;  but  during  1882-83  he  had  a  busi- 
ness in  Boston.  In  the  fall  of  1883  Mr.  Whit- 
ney went  to  Tucson,  Arizona  Territory,  and 
remained  there  until  Julj^  1886;  he  then  re- 
turned for  a  few  months  to  Massachusetts. 
On  September  10  of  the  same  year  he  came 
to  iSteelton,  and  entered  upon  an  engage- 
ment in  the  auditor's  office  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Steel  Company,  serving  in  that  capa- 
city until  1890.  In  that  year  Mr.  Whitney 
was  made  auditor  and  cashier  of  tiie  com- 
pany, and  still  occupies  the  same  responsible 
position  with  undiminished  faithfulness  and 
credit.  He  was  married,  October  2, 1800,  to 
Miss  Katharine  J.  McCammon,  of  Middle- 
town,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Elisha  G.  and  Cathe- 
rine (Faber)  McCammon.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Whitney  have  one  child,  Jason  McC,  born 
February  8,  1894. 

Mr.  Whitney  is  a  lineal  descendent  of 
John  Whitney,  who  with  his  wife,  Elinor, 
emigrated  from  England  in  1G35,  and  settled 
in  Watertown,  Mass.  An  exhaustive  work, 
entitled  •'  The  Whitney  Genealogy,"  has  \ate\y 
been  compih^d  and  written  by  Frederick 
Pierce,  of  Chicago,  III.  Also  a  very  interest- 
ing and  valuable  work  by  llenrj' Melville, 
of  New  York,  entitled  the  "  Ancestry  of  John 
Whitney."  It  is  only  proper  to  say  that  a 
large  majority  of  those  persons  in  the  United 
States  wlio  are  named  Whitney  are  descend- 
ants of  John  and  Elinor  Whitney,  who  set- 
tled in  Watertown,  Mass.,  in  1635. 


Davis,  Charles  S.,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  New  Bloomfield,  Perry  county.  Pa.,  No- 
vember 14,  1864.  He  is  a  son  of  James 
R.  and  Margaret  (Dougherty)  Davis.  Mr. 
Davis' great-great-grandt'ather  settled  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  on  coming  over  from 
Wales,  about  1740.  His  great-grandfather, 
John  Davis,  moved  thence  to  Shippensburg 
about   1760,  where  he  became  a   farmer,  a 


contractor  for  part  of  the  old  Philadelphia 
and  Pittsburgh  turnpike,  a  Revolutionary 
.soldier,  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  Leg- 
islature about  1818,  and  later  a  local  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  preacher.  He  had  a  family 
of  one  daughter  and  six  sons,  ■  all  of  whom 
became  more  or  less  prominent :  (1)  Frank 
D.  was  a  contractor  on  the  Cumberland  Vah 
ley  railroad,  superintendent  of  the  old  forge 
at  Roxbury,  Franklin  county.  His  son, 
Wesley  Rei'd  Davis,  I).  D.,  is  now  pastor  of 
Dr.  Bethune's  Dutch  Reformed  church,  in 
Brooklyn.  A  daughter  married  Dr.  Miller, 
of  West  Virginia.  (2)  Jessie  L.  was  for 
nnuiy  years  the  head  of  a  bureau  in  the 
jxistotfice  department  at  Washington.  (3) 
Rev.  Samuel  died  in  1822,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-nine  while  pastor  of  the  Foundry 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  Washington, 
D.  C.  (4)  John  W.  removed  to  Carlisle, 
Ind.,  and  was  sent  to  Congress  for  several 
terms,  was  speaker  of  the  National  House  of 
Representatives  in  1847-48,  was  later  gov- 
ernor of  Oregon,  was  minister  to  China.  He 
was  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  Indiana 
Legislature,  speaker  of  the  House  there,  was 
president  of  the  National  Convention  that 
nominated  Franklin  Pierce.  The  late  Rear 
Admiral  John  Lee  Davis,  United  States  navy, 
was  his  son.  A  daughter  Mary  married 
William  Aiken,  of  Evansville,  Ind.;  Carrie, 
another  daughter,  married  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Denney,  of  Indiana ;  Captain  Denney, 
United  Slates  Marine  Corps,  being  a  son  by 
thismarriage.  (5)  Lemuel  Davis,  the  grand- 
father of  C.  8.  Davis,  was  a  surveyor,  justice 
of  the  peace  at  Shippensburg,  teacher  of  the 
grammar  .school  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  dying 
when  but  thirty-five  years  old,  while  on  his 
way  to  Penn.sylvania.  He  married  Catiie- 
rine  Reynolds,  who  was  descended  from  a 
prominent  French  Huguenot  family,  which 
was  obliged  to  flee  to  Germany  to  escape  re- 
ligious persecution  in  France.  Later  they 
emigrated  to  Baltimore,  and  her  mother  was 
among  the  early  Cumberland  \"alley  settlers, 
coming  there  from  Baltimore.  Tiiey  had 
but  two  children,  James  Reynolds,  the  father 
of  Charles  S.  and  Margaret  C,  who  died  un- 
married. James  R.  Davis  married  Margaret 
A.  Dougherty.  They  had  seven  children, 
only  three  of  whom  are  now  living,  Charles 
S.  being  the  only  living  son. 

On  his  mother's  side  he  is  descended  from 
Hugh  Dougherty,  of  Silver  Spring,  Cumber- 
land county,  a  son  of  whom,  George  A.,  mar- 
ried Martha  Shoemaker.      The  Shoemakers 


^/f^(^yyu^ 


DAlfPSiN  COUNTY. 


102f 


settled  in  the  Cumberland  Valley  about  the 
middle  of  the  eigliteenth  century,  coming 
from  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  John  and  David 
being  the  first  of  the  family.  Mr.  Davis  is 
descended  from  the  former,  who  built  the 
old  stone  homestead,  yet  standing,  about 
midway  between  Newburg  and  lioxbury. 
It  is  yet  occupied  I)}'  the  8iioemaker  descend- 
ants, who  constitute  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  respected  families  in  the  Cun:berland 
Valley. 

Mrs.  Davis'  father  is  descended  from  the 
Kinneys  who  settled  originally  in  Connecti- 
cut, moving  later  to  New  York,  and  yet  later 
to  Ohio.  He  served  three  years  during  the 
Civil  war  as  lieutenant,  adjutant  of  his  regi- 
ment, being  a  long  time  in  Maj.  Gen.  David 
S.  Sta.nley's  staff.  Her  mother  is  descended 
from  the  Delaplanes,  a  pron:inent  French 
family,  members  of  which  settled  first  in 
Virginia,  her  branch  moving  later  to  Ohio. 

Charles  S.  Davis  received  his  education 
principally  in  the  public  schools  at  Liver- 
pool, Perry  county,  completing  his  course  at 
the  Central  State  Normal  School,  Lock 
Haven,  Pa.,  in  1883.  In  the  years  1881-82  he 
taught  the  higii  school,  at  Thom^jsontown, 
Juniata  county.  Pa.  In  1883  Mr.  Davis  began 
teaching  in  the  secondary  school  at  Steelton  ; 
after  one  term  in  that  school  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  intermediate  sciiool,  where  he 
taught  for  four  months.  He  was  then,  on 
January  1,  1885,  made  assistant  principal  of 
the  high  school,  and  was  in  1888  promoted 
to  principal ;  he  still  occupies  that  dignified 
and  important  post.  In  the  first  year  after 
coming  to  Steelton,  Mr.  Davis  edited  the 
Daily  Item  during  his  summer  vacation.  Mr. 
Davis  has  been  since  1888  a  member  of  State 
Capital  Lodge  No.  70, 1.  0.  0.  F.,  and  of  En- 
campment No.  56,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  both  of  Har- 
risburg ;  also  a  charter  member  of  Com- 
mandery  No.  108,  K.  of  M.,  of  Steelton.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Dauphin  County 
Historical  Society.  His  politics  are  Demo- 
cratic. He  was  married,  July  14,  1892,  to 
Miss  Leonora,  daughter  of  John  P.  and 
Emma  D.  (Delaplane)  Kinney. 


Earle,  Thomas,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  September  7,  18G5  ;  son  of 
Henry  and  Martha  (Barker)  Earle.  The 
family  is  an  old  New  England  one,  having 
settled  there  about  1634.  For  several  gen- 
erations the  family  lived  in  Leicester,  Mass. 


Mr.  Earle's  grandfather,  Thomas,  was  the 
first  one  of  the  family  to  settle  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  was  born  at  Leicester,  Mass., 
April  21,  1796,  and  died  at  Philadelphia, 
July  14,  1849.  He  was  a  lawyer  and  writer 
of  note.  He  practiced  his  profession  in  Phil- 
adelphia for  many  years,  and  was  an  in- 
fluential member  of  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1837,  and  was  the  vice-presi- 
dential candidate  of  the  Liberty  party  in 
1840. 

Thomas  Earle  attended  a  public  school  in 
Massachusetts  for  one  year;  was  afterwards 
for  four  years  a  student  at  the  Germantown 
Academy,  Germantown,  Philadelphia,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1883  entered  the  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute,  Troy,  N.  Y.,from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  tlie  spring  of  1887.     In 
the  same  year  Mr.  Earle  engaged  as  draughts- 
man with  the  Pittsburgh  Bridge  Company, 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
for  one  year ;  then  for  one  month  occupied  a 
similar  position  in  the  service  of  the  Penn 
Bridge  Company,  at  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.     In 
1888  he  went  witli   Levering  &  Garringues, 
engineers  and  contractors,  at  Philadelphia, 
and  was  with  them  for  fifteen  months,  draft- 
ing, designing  and  estimating  on  bridges  and 
buildings.     From  the  fall  of  1889  to  April, 
1891,  he  was  assistant  engineer  on  the  Norfolk 
and  Western  railroad,  being  second  in  charge 
of    the   extensive    improvements  made   by 
that  company  at  Norfolk.     In  the  spring  of 
1891  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Steel  Company,  working  in  the  draw- 
ing room  of  the  bridge  and  construction  de- 
partment, where  he   checked  all  di'awings 
made,  and  also  designed  new   buildings,  be- 
ing so  employed  until  July,  1892.     He  then 
went  to  Chicago,  with  Fraser  &  Chalmers, 
and  was  assistant  superintendent  of  their  new 
shops  until  January,  1893,  when  he  returned 
to  his  former  position  as  assistant  engineer, 
in  charge  of  the  designing  of  buildings,  at 
Steelton.    Later  in  the  same  year  Mr.  Earle's 
faithful  and  valuable  services  received  recog- 
nition and  reward  in  his  promotion  to  the 
position  of  superintendent  of  the  shops  of 
the  bridge  and  construction   department  of 
the  Steel  Company's  plant.     This  is  his  pres- 
ent position.     Mr.  Earle,  while  at  the  Rens- 
selaer Polytechnic  Institute,  joined  the  Theta 
Delta  Chi   Fraternity ;  is  a  member  of  the 
Germantown  Cricket  Club,  and  since  1892 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Engineers'  Club  of 
Philadelphia.     Thomas  Earle  was  married. 


64 


1028 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


June  7,  1894,  to  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Bassler  and  Ellen  B.  (Shirk)  Boyer,  natives 
of  Lebanon  county.  Tiiey  have  one  son, 
Thomas  Earle,  Jr.,  born  June  6,  189G. 


Barxet,  John  J.,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Middletown,  Daupiiin  county.  Pa.,  Octo- 
ber 2,  1838;  sou  of  George  and  Barbara 
(Snyder)  Barnet.  Mr.  Barnet's  maternal 
grandparents  were  natives  of  Wurtemberg, 
Germany.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Middletown,  Dauphin  county,  where  his 
father  was  born  on  Juh^  20,  1813,  and  his 
mother  on  October  12,  1812.  Mr.  George 
Barnet  was  a  saddler  and  cooper,  but  his 
principal  business  engagements  were  on  the 
canal  and  the  railroads.  Mrs.  Barnet,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  the  year  1838,  was 
a  daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  Sny<ler. 
They  had  nine  children,  of  whom  Susan 
died,  aged  ten  years,  and  George,  aged 
twenty-five  years.  The  survivors  are:  John 
J.;  Augustus;  Annie,  wife  of  John  Daugh- 
erty,  deceased  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Charles 
Ilartline;  Clara,  wife  of  Jacob  McKinley, 
and,  after  his  death,  of  John  Brindle;  Chris- 
tian, and  Margaretta.  Mr.  George  Barnet, 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
March  7,  1886,  was  in  the  lumber  business. 
Mrs.  Barnet  died  December  8,  1873,  aged 
sixty  years,  one  month  and  twenty-eight 
days. 

John  J.  Barnet  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Middletown,  Pa.,  until,  in  his 
eighteenth  year,  he  began  a  six  months' 
course  at  the  Emaus  Institute,  at  Middle- 
town.  His  school  daj's  ended,  he  lost  no 
time  in  idleness,  but  engaged  as  clerk  in  the 
general  store  of  Lauman  &  Crum ;  in  the 
following  year  he  was  away  from  Middle- 
town,  but  on  his  return  was  received  again 
into  the  employ  of  the  same  firm,  and  served 
them  for  two  years  more.  At  about  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  ho  began  a  three  years'  ap- 
prenticeship at  carpentry.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  engaged  with  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company  as  brakeman  for  one 
year,  and  afterwards  with  the  Northern 
Central  Railroad  Company  as  conductor  for 
about  nine  months.  He  was  next  emplo3'ed 
as  a  millwright  until  186(),  at  which  time  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Company.  Mr.  Barnet  entered  the 
service  of  tiiis  company  as  a  carpenter.  Only 
a  year  was  necessary  to  make  the  company 


fully  sensible  of  the  value  of  his  services  as  a 
skilled  and  versatile  mechanic  and  a  faith- 
ful employee.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  was  made  foreman  of  the  carpentry  de- 
partment, and  has  continued  for  thirty  years 
to  manifest  the  same  qualities  in  that  re- 
sponsible position.  Mr.  Barnet  votes  with 
the  Democratic  party.  On  November  13, 
1859,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  A., 
daughter  of  John  and  Susan  (Wise)  Gurtner, 
of  New  Cumberland,  Cumberland  county, 
Pa.  One  of  their  family  of  seven  children, 
William  Augustus,  died  in  1864,  aged  three 
weeks.  The  living  children  are:  Harry, 
Annie  B.,  John  Robert,  Katie  E.,  Florence, 
and  Walter  Herbert. 


Bent,  Winslow  B.,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Norfolk  county,  Mass.,  December  17, 1825. 
Mr.  Bent  is  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Nancy 
(Stehler)  Bent,  both  natives  of  Norfolk  county, 
where  Mr.  Ebenezer  Bent  was  occupied  with 
mercantile  business,  his  lifelong  pursuit. 
Mrs.  Bent  was  a  Miss  Stehler.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bent  had  ten  children ;  only  four  arc  now 
living:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Monroe; 
Marv,  wife  of  R.  S.  Hausman ;  Winslow  B.; 
and 'Edith  S. 

Winslow  B.  Bent  was  a  pupil  in  the  public 
schools  of  Norfolk  until  he  was  eighteen, 
when  he  went  to  Quincy,  Mass.,  to  complete 
his  school  education.  From  1842  until  April, 
1848,  he  assisted  as  clerk  in  his  father's  store. 
In  1849  the  golden  gleam  of  California  mines 
allured  him,  and  he  joined  the  great  exodus 
of  young  and  enterprising  Eastern  men  of 
that  State.  There  he  no  doul)t  shared  the 
general  experience  of  vicissitudes,  often  more 
spicy  and  agreeable  in  the  subsequent  rela- 
tion than  in  the  actual  occurrence;  but  he 
pluckily  remained  in  that  State,  engaged  in 
various  pursuits,  for  about  fifteen  years. 
Afterwards,  from  18<)4  to  1879,  he  saw  life  on 
the  broad  western  plains,  in  the  service  of 
the  Union  Pacific  railroad.  At  length  the 
pale  glitter  of  steel  drew  Mr.  Bent  eastward 
with  truer,  if  more  moderate,  promise  than 
the  lustre  of  gold  had  held  out ;  and  in  the 
employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company 
he  found  a  position  worthy  of  his  accept- 
ance— tliat  of  superintendent  of  the  yard 
department.  Mutual  satisfaction  of  employer 
and  employees  have  brought  about  a  long 
tenure  of  the  position,  which  he  has  held 
from  1879  to  the  present  time.       Mr.  Bent's 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1029 


politics  are  Democratic.  On  March  10, 1859, 
Winslow  B.  Bent  was  married  to  Miss  Jean- 
nette,  daughter  of  Shellen  Tomlinson.  Tliey 
have  had  three  children :  Shellen  C;  Alice, 
wife  of  E.  C.  Felton  ;  and  Edith. 


Hooker,  Rev.  M.  P.,  pastor  of  St.  John's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  Steelton,  Pa., 
was  born  at  Union  Deposit,  Daupliin 
county,  Pa.,  October  1,  1853.  His  motiier, 
Barbara  Martin,  was  a  native  of  Cumber- 
land county,  and  his  father,  George  Ilocker, 
a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  having  been 
born  at  Hockersville,  June  15,  1806.  The 
father  lived  to  be  over  eighty  years  old. 
His  grandfather,  Martin  Plocker,  lived  to  be 
over  ninety-three  years  old,  and  was  the 
founder  of  Hockersville,  Dauphin  county. 
He  was  one  of  three  men  aj^pointed  to  run 
the  division  line  between  Dauphin  and 
Lebanon  counties;  the  otlier  two  having 
been  William  Cochran  and  John  Harrison. 

Rev.  Hocker  was  named  at  baptism  after 
his  grandfather,  in  honor  of  which  event  a 
Mexican  silver  dollar,  given  at  that  time,  is 
still  in  his  possession.  His  boyhood  days 
were  .spent  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  work- 
ing on  the  farm  and  assisting  about  tlie 
hotel  owned  and  kept  by  his  father.  Al- 
though his  early  environments  were  not  the 
most  conducive  to  the  best  morals,  yet, 
owing  to  the  blessed  influence  and  the 
prayers  of  a  precious  mother,  whose  death 
occurred,  however,  before  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  and  the  example  and  instruction 
of  a  most  honorable  father,  he  was  reared  to 
reverence  holy  things,  and  to  regard  honesty 
and  thrift  as  the  best  human  equipments 
for  an  honorable  and  successful  career. 
Although  the  youngest  of  nine  children 
his  father,  who  was  a  strong  patron  of  the 
common  schools,  gave  him  every  advantage 
possible  to  secure  an  education.  The  oppor- 
tunities afforded  were,  in  the  providence  of 
God,  eagerly  embraced,  and  an  early  aspira- 
tion to  enter  one  of  the  professions  was  thus 
fostered.  After  a  brief  academical  course 
he  received  his  first  appointment  as  teacher 
in  the  public  schools,  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years.  By  teaching  school  during  the 
winter  seasons  and  attending  school  during 
the  remaining  montlis  of  the  school  term 
at  Palatinate  College,  Meycrstown,  Pa.,  lie 
was  finally  prepared  to  enter  the  freslnnan 
class  in  Penn.sylvania  College,  Gettysburg, 
in  September,  1876.  After  joining  the  home 
church  in  1876,  the  hitherto  fixed  purpose 


to  enter  the  profession  of  law  was  aban- 
doned for  that  of  the  gospel  ministry.  Re- 
ceiving some  assistance  from  the  church,  he 
was  enabled  to  complete  the  jjrescribed 
course  without  interruption,  graduating 
with  the  class  of  1880.  He  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  in 
September  of  the  same  year. 

Throughout  the  college  and  seminary 
courses  he  supplemented  tlie  church  allow- 
ance by  engaging  in  manual  labor,  selling- 
books,  or  in  colporteur  work.  In  the  fall  of 
1882  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel 
by  the"  East  Pennsylvania  Synod  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  convened  in  Pottsville, 
Pa.  February  1,  1883,  he  received  a  call 
from  St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran 
chvrrch,  of  Steelton,  Pa.,  to  come  as  their 
pastor.  Being  still  a  student  in  the  senior 
class  of  the  Theological  Seminary,  he  could 
not  take  pastoral  care  of  the  congregation, 
but  supplied  them  with  preaching  services 
until  after  his  graduation  in  June,  '83.  On 
tlie  5th  day  of  July  of  tlie  same  .year  he  en- 
tered into  holy  wedlock  with  Miss  Millie  A. 
Farnsler,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Farnsler, 
Esfj.,  one  of  the  most  prominent  residents 
of  Union  Deposit.  Two  weeks  later,  accom- 
panied by  his  bride,  lie  took  full  charge  of 
the  congregation  in  Steelton,  being  installed 
in  his  pastoral  relation  by  the  Rev.  C.  A. 
Hay,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  M.  Valentine,  D.  D., 
LL.  D.,  on  the  22d  of  July,  1883.  A 
few  months  later,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
East  Pennsylvania  Synod  in  Germantown, 
Pa.,  he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of  the  General 
Synod. 

His  entire  ministerial  life  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  July,  1896,  has  been  associated 
with  his  present  congregation,  it  being  his 
first  and  only  pastorate.  A  record  of  his 
life  work,  therefore,  necessarily  involves  in 
large  measure,  a  history  of  this  energetic  and 
prosperous  congregation,  which  was  but 
eight  years  old  when  they  called  him  to  be 
their  pastor.  At  that  time  they  worshiped 
in  a  chapel  of  modest  pretensions  on  Locust 
street,  and  numbered  less  than  fifty  mem- 
bers, and  some  of  these  discouraged  because 
of  disheartening  conditions  resulting  from 
a  period  when  they  had  no  pastor  in  the 
field.  Taking  courage  with  the  advent  of 
the  new  pastor,  the  congregation  soon  re- 
gained their  lost  position  and  more.  The 
chapel  building  was  enlarged  the  second 
time  within  five  years.     About  this  time  a 


1030 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENUYCL  OPEDIA 


lot  of  ground  was  secured  on  the  corner  of 
Second  and  Pine  streets  at  a  cost  of  $5,000. 
In  the  fall  of  1892  ground  was  broken  for 
the  erection  of  a  tine  church  building.  April 
30,  1893,  the  cornerstone  was  laid  with  most 
impressive  services.  A  year  later,  July  15, 
1894,  the  completed  church  was  dedicated 
to  the  glory  of  God.  The  handsome  build- 
ing cost  over  $45,000,  or  $50,000  inclu<]ing 
the  ground.  The  congregation  now  num- 
bers nearly  six  hundred,  with  a  Sunday- 
school  of  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
members. 

In  these  thirteen  years  of  his  pastoral  re- 
lations he  has  seen  the  most  rapid  advance- 
ment of  the  progressive  borough  of  Steelton, 
witnessed  the  brilliant  career  of  Major  L.  S. 
Bent,  genera]  manager  and  president  of  the 
noted  Pennsjdvania  Steel  Company,  and  the 
no  less  substantial  success  of  the  present 
honored  president,  Mr.  E.  C.  Felton.  Living 
in  these  environments,  he  has  learned  the 
animus  of  the  community,  has  come  into 
S3Miipathetic  touch  with  the  noble  people 
making  up  the  bulk  of  the  population,  and 
so  has  learned  to  love  the  people  and  work 
for  the  community's  interests.  In  hi.s  min- 
isterial work  he  lias  received  nine  hundred 
members  into  church  fellowship,  baptized 
four  hundred  and  seventy-five  children,  per- 
formed one  hundred  and  eighty  marriages, 
officiated  at  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
funerals  and  made  at  least  eight  thousand 
pastoral  visitations  in  the  homes  of  Steelton. 
Being  in  the  prime  of  life,  he  naturally 
looks  forw^ard  to  a  career  of  usefulness  in  the 
Master's  service,  if  it  so  please  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church,  to  whom  shall  be  all 
praise  forever. 


Monroe,  C.  E.,  superintendent  of  the  elec- 
trical department  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Companj',  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lauder- 
bacli,  Germany,  October  15,  1864.  He  is  a 
son  of  the  late  Solinor  and  Rosa  (Cor)  Mon- 
roe, both  natives  of  Germany.  Selmor 
Monroe  was  in  early  life  engaged  in  brewing, 
but  later  became  a  banker,  and  was  in  the 
latter  employment  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
The  children  of  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Selmor  Monroe 
were  :  Julia,  Selmor,  Theodore,  Edith,  C.  E., 
Johanna,  Ernestiua,  and  Pollie;  also.  Barn- 
hard,  deceased,  and  Isidor,  who  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Sedan,  in  the  Franco-Prussian 
war.  The  father  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five,  and  the  mother  at  the  age  of  forty-eight 
years. 


C.  E.  Monroe  was  educated  in  the  Gennan 
pultlic  schools,  and  graduated  from  the  high 
school,  at  Breslau,  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 
He  then  took  a  four  years'  course  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Munich.  After  a  service  of  one 
year  in  the  German  field  artillery,  he  en- 
tered an  engineering  school,  from  which, 
after  a  course  of  study  covering  two  years, 
he  graduated  in  1887.  He  was  then  em- 
ployed for  three  years  by  the  General  Elec- 
trical Company,  of  Germany ;  in  1890  he  ob- 
tained a  position  in  the  electrical  depart- 
ment of  the  patent  office,  at  Berlin.  Mr. 
Monroe  came  to  Chicago  during  the  World's 
Fair,  and  at  its  close  entered  the  service  of 
the  Westinghouse  Electric  Company,  of  New- 
ark, N.  J.,  w'here  he  remained  for  two  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1894  he  came  to  Steelton,  where 
he  was  made  superintendent  of  the  electric 
dejjartment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Com- 
pau}' ;  he  still  retains  that  position. 

Mr.  Monroe  was  married,  February  23, 
1895,  to  Miss  Ella,  daughter  of  Allen  and 
Amanda  (Newhard)  Brader.  They  have  one 
child,  Selmor.  Mr.  Monroe  is  a  Democrat. 
He  and  Ins  wife  are  members  of  the  Dutch 
Reformed  chui'ch. 

Mrs.  Monroe's  grandfather,  Ciiarlcs  Bra- 
der, was  a  native  of  Lehigh  county,  and  was 
all  his  life  a  prominent  business  man.  He 
had  two  sons:  Allen  and  Franklin.  He 
died  in  September,  1892,  aged  twenty-eight 
years.  Allen  Brader,  and  his  wife  Amanda, 
daughter  of  Reuben  Newhard,  were  the  par- 
ents of  Mrs.  Monroe,  and  were  botii  born  in 
Allentown,  Lehigh  county.  Pa.  Mr.  Brader 
was  a  machinist,  but  was  for  a  few  years  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  at  a  later  time  in  the 
hat  business,  which  was  his  occupation  until 
his  retirement  in  1893.  During  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  he  was  captain  of  company  K, 
Fifty-first  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  after 
serving  four  years  was  honorably  discharged 
in  March,  1865.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Brader  are:  Henry,  and  Ella,  Mrs. 
Monroe.  Mrs.  Brader  died  November  19, 
1886,  aged  forty-eiglit.  Her  husband  sur- 
vives her,  and  resides  at  Cherry  Ford,  Le- 
high county,  where  he  has  filled  several 
township  offices. 


Nkwkecker,  John  J.,  master  mechanic  of 
merchant  and  billet  mill,  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Works,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  near 
Halifax,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  February  5, 
1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  J.  B.  and  Caroline 
(Maize)  Newbecker.      His  great-great-grand- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1031 


father,  John  INIartin  Newbecker,  came  over 
the  ocean  from  Rotterdam  in  the  sliip  Eihn- 
burg.  He  qualified  September  15, 1749,  and 
settled  at  the  mouth  of  Powell's  creek  on 
the  Susquehanna  river,  eighteen  miles  above 
Harrisburg.  His  son,  Philip  Nevvbecker, 
great-grandfather  of  John  J.  Newbecker,  was 
first  lieutenant  of  tlie  Sixth  company,  Fourth 
battalion  of  associated  battalions  and  militia 
of  the  Revolution,  in  1777,  under  Col.  Rob- 
ert Elder.  Philip  Newbecker,  Jr.,  grand- 
father of  John  J.,  was  a  farmer  and  black- 
smith for  many  years  at  Powell's  creek, 
Dau[>hin  county.  He  ,was  also  an  expert 
gunsmith  and  manufactured  rifles  and  shot 
guns  from  the  raw  material.  Some  of  these 
weapons  are  still  in  existence  in  Dauplnn 
county.  He  died  about  twenty  years  ago, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight,  leaving  three 
sons,  George,  Samuel,  and  John  B. 

The  third  son,  John  B.  Newbecker,  was 
the  father  of  John  J.  Newbecker,  and  was 
born  at  Halifax,  Dauphin  countv,  July  2, 
1820;  son  of  Philip  and  Mary  M.  (Rhawn) 
Newbecker.  He  attended  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive borough,  after  which  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  S.  P.  Brown,  of  Hali- 
fax, and  graduated  from  Jefferson  Medical  Col- 
lege in  1852.  After  practicing  in  Lower 
Augusta  township,  Northumberland  county, 
until  1861,  he  settled  in  Trevorton  and  es- 
tablished his  drug  business,  which  he  has 
since  conducted  in  connection  with  his  prac- 
tice. In  1862  the  Doctor  was  commissioned 
by  Governor  Curtin  as  assistant  surgeon  of 
the  Fift^'-sixth  Pennsvlvania  volunteers,  and 
in  1861  was  attached  to  the  White  Hall 
hospital,  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  and  the  Semin- 
ary hospital,  Alexandria,  Va.  The  Doctor 
is  a  Democrat.  In  1871  he  was  elected  to 
the  State  Legislature.  He  has  served  the 
township  as  treasurer,  also  many  times  as 
school  director.  He  is  connected  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  with  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Dr.  Newbecker 
was  married,  in  1842,  to  Caroline,  daughter 
of  Henry  Maize,  of  Dauphin  county.  Four 
of  theirchildren  are  living  :  Philip,  a  phy- 
sician, of  Danville,  Pa.;  Louisa,  wife  of  A.  L. 
Bastress,  of  Lycoming  county,  Pa.;  John  J., 
master  mechanic  at  Steelton  ;  and  Mary  M  , 
wife  of  J.  J.  John,  Lykens,  Pa.  Dr.  New- 
becker is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  representative 
citizens  of  Northumberland  county. 

John  J.  Newbecker  was  educated   in  the 
public   schools   and    at    Dixon's    Academy, 


which  he  attended  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  old.  He  then  learned  his  trade,  that 
of  machinist,  with  the  Hickok  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  of  Harrisburg,  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  four  years.  He  worked  one 
year  for  the  Harrisburg  Foundry  and  Ma- 
chine Company  and  then  went  to  Kansas, 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  King  Iron  Bridge 
(.'onipany,  of  Topeka,  as  master  mechanic, 
remaining  there  until  1874,  when  he  returned 
to  his  native  place.  In  1875  Mr.  Newbecker 
entered  the  emjjloy  of  the  Snyder  Manufac- 
turing Ciompany,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.,  builders 
of  .steam  engines  and  mining  machinery. 
After  serving  with  this  company  for  several 
years  he  became  superintendent  of  the  Sha- 
mokin  Gas  Company,  and  a  year  later  began 
work  for  the  Pennsylvania  Coal  Company, 
of  Lykens,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  for  a 
similar  length  of  time.  In  1878  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Com- 
pany and  worked  as  a  mechanic  for  four 
years.  Then  a  new  mill,  known  as  the  "  mer- 
chant and  billet  mills"  being  erected,  Mr. 
Newbecker  was,  in  1881,  made  its  master 
mechanic,  a  position  whicii  he  fills  to-day 
with  the  same  integrity  and  devotion  to 
duty  that  have  characterized  his  work 
wherever  he  has  been  employed. 

In  1891  Mr.  Newbecker  was  elected  a 
councilman  of  Steelton  borough,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  creditably  for  three  years. 
He  is  affiliated  with  Robert  Burns  Lodge, 
No.  464,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and 
with  Steelton  Conclave,  No.  106,  I.  0.  H. 
He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Steelton  Home 
Water  Companj'.  John  J.  Newbecker  was 
married,  in  1880,  to  Alice  E.,  daughter  of 
John  W.  and  Sarah  A.  (Nein)  Geiger.  Their 
children  are :  Leon  M.,  Verna  A.,  Margie, 
and  Brice  Atwood.  Mr.  Newbecker  and 
family  attend  the  Reformed  church. 


Gallagher,  Michael,  machinist,  Penn- 
s^dvania  Steel  Works,  Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Ireland,  in  August,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Bridget  (Highland)  Gallagher. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Owen  Gallagher, 
was  a  gardener,  and  was  all  his  life  in  the 
same  business.  He  first  married  Miss  Con- 
ally,  and  had  two  children :  Thomas,  and 
Michael.  By  a  second  marriage,  to  a  Miss 
Gallagher,  he  had  two  children  :  John,  and 
Bridget,  both  deceased.  Mr.  Gallagher's  ma- 
ternal grandparents  were  both  born  at  Cassel 


1032 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Bar, Ireland.  Tlieir  children  were ;  Mary,  who 
died  at  Pittsburgh,  and  who  was  Mrs.  Thomas 
Reihm  ;  and  Bridget,  Mrs.  John  Gallagher. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Gallagher  were  both  born 
in  Ireland.  Mr.  Gallagher,  like  his  father, 
was  all  his  life  a  gardener ;  he  served  in  some 
of  the  finest  situations  ni  both  Ireland  and 
England.  His  wife  Bridget  was  the  daughter 
of  Patrick  and  Magdalena  Highland,  men- 
tioned above.  Tlieir  children  are:  Mar}, 
wife  of  Michael  Clark ;  Annie,  ^\^fe  of  Pat- 
rick Daily  ;  Michael ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Burk  ;  Jane,  wife  of  John  Kassie;  Brid- 
get, wife  of  Patrick  Mitchel,  who  died  in 
1888.  The  father  died  January  1, 1883,  aged 
sixty -four,  and  the  mother  June  26,  1892, 
aged  seventy-five  years.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

Michael  Gallagher  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Ireland.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  he  went  to  England,  and  for  four 
years  and  nine  months  was  in  the  tin  busi- 
ness. He  then  worked  in  the  steel  works 
until  1869.  In  September  of  that  year  he 
came  to  this  countrj^  landing  at  New  York. 
A  few  days  later  he  came  to  Steelton,  and  at 
once  engaged  with  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Company  as  a  general  laborer.  In  a  few 
months  he  was  made  boss  hammerman  in 
the  hammer  mill,  and  was  afterwards  pro- 
moted to  his  present  position.  Witli  the  ex- 
ception of  thirteen  months  spent  in  Pitts- 
burgh and  Chicago, Mr.  Gallagher  has  worked 
continuously  since  1869  with  his  present  em- 
ployers. He  is  a  Democrat.  Michael 
Gallagher  was  married,  March  30,  1875, 
to  Mary  D.,  daughter  of  Morris  and  Julia 
(Cavana)  Murphy.  Their  children  are:  B. 
Agnes,  Julia  G.,  and  Johanna  T.;  Anna,  died 
in  May,  1882,  aged  three  years  and  nine 
months  ;  Minnie,  died  September,  1881 ;  and 
John  H.,  died  January  18, 1884.  Mrs.  Gal- 
lagher died  March  13,  1888,  aged  thirty-six 
years.  Mr.  Gallagher  is  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Gallagher  were  born 
in  Ireland.  Upon  coming  to  this  country 
they  settled  in  Steelton,  wdiere  Mr.  ]\Iurphy 
has  been  constantly  employed  ever  since. 
His  wife  was  Julia  Cavana.  Their  children 
are :  Johanna,  \\dfe  of  Jere.  Dailj^ ;  Michael, 
Thomas,  Katie,  and  Ann,  the  latter  born  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Murphy  is  deceased,  and  Mr. 
Murphy  resides  in  Steelton,  and  is  now  mar- 
ried to'Barbara  Kassie.  They  have  one  child 
deceased. 


Enney,  Geokge  W.,  assistant  foreman  in 
the  frog,  switch  and  signal  department, 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  Steelton,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  Novem- 
ber 8,  1861.  He  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and 
Catherine  (Lenheart)  Enney.  The  paternal 
grandmother's  maiden  name  was  Leah 
Wolf,  and  she  was  of  German  descent.  The 
grandfather,  John  Enne}',  was  born  in 
White  Hall,  New  York  City.  The  great- 
grandfather was  a  Frenchman,  and  came  to 
this  countrj'  in  1772  and  participated  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  under  Washington.  His 
name  was  George  PcEnney,  but  after  com- 
ing to  America  he  no  longer  used  the  De. 
The  elder  George  W.  Enney  was  a  foundry- 
man,  and  followed  the  same  line  of  work 
continuously  uiitil  four  years  ago,  when  he 
retired.  He  was  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county.  He  worked  in  Harrisburg  for 
about  eleven  years,  and  then  went  to  Dun- 
cannon,  Perry  county,  where  he  had  charge 
of  the  blast  furnace  for  eleven  years.  He 
next  went  to  Harrisburg,  remained  one 
year,  and  then  removed  to  Steelton,  where 
he  now  resides.  He  was  married,  July  4, 
1853,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  William 
and  Jane  Harman  Lenheart,  of  Perry 
county.  Their  children  are:  William  F. ; 
Ellen  Almeah,  wife  of  Edward  Doyle;  Har- 
riet, wife  of  H.  J.  Stimmel,  and  (ieorge  W. 
Both  parents  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 

George  W.  Enney,  Jr.,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Harrisliurg,  to 
which  place  his  father  removed  when  he 
was  nine  years  old.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  left  school  and  began  to  learn  the 
trade  of  machinist  with  the  W.  0.  Hickok 
Manufacturing  Company,  after  which  he 
was  employed  by  the  Jackson  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  of  Philadelphia,  for  tM'o 
months.  He  next  worked  eighteen  months 
for  the  Harrisburg  Car  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, in  the  foundry  and  machine  dej)art- 
ment.  In  the  spring  of  1885  Mr.  Ennej'^ 
went  to  Owata,  Minn.,  where  he  remained 
for  about  three  months,  working  at  his  trade 
with  Charles  Burdick.  The  next  twenty 
months  were  spent  in  the  service  of  Alt- 
house,  Wheeler  &  Co.,  Waupan,  Wis.  On 
February  13,  1887,  he  commenced  to  work 
for  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company  as  a 
machinist.  After  serving  for  eighteen 
months  in  this  capacity,  he  was  promoted  to 
the   position   of    assistant    foreman    in   the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1033 


frog,  switch  and  signal  department,  wliicli 
position  he  fills  with  fidelity  at  the  prt'scnt 
time.  Mr.  Penney  is  a  member  of  Robert 
Burns  Lodge,  No.  4G4,  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, Harrisburg;  of  Dauphin  Lodge, 
No.  160,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  also  of  Car- 
thage Lodge,  No.  194,  K.  of  P.,  Steel- 
ton.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  takes  a  very 
active  part  in  politics.  He  was  married, 
December  4,  1881,  to  Lizzie,  daughter  of 
John  and  Catlierine  (Clialfant)  Pelen,  na- 
tives of  Lancaster  county.  Their  children 
are:  Daisy,  Maud,  George, -Jr.,  and  Dewitt 
R.  Mrs.  Enney  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist church. 


long  to  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
wliich  he  is  trustee,  and  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  tlie  affairs  of  that  religious  organi- 
zation. He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A. 


Traver,  David  B.,  M.  D.,  who  is  tlie  phy- 
sician longest  in  active  practice  in  SteeUon, 
was    born    in    York  county.  Pa.,  March  14, 
1841.      His     parents,     David     and     Sarah 
(Ballets)  Traver,  were  also  natives  of  that 
county,  and  farmers  by  occupation.     He  re- 
ceived  his  literary  education  in  the  public 
and  select  schools,  afterwards  teacliing  for 
eight  years  in  York  and  Cumberland  coun- 
ties, and  in  the  State  of  Illinois.    He  studied 
medicine  under  the  able  tuition  of  Dr.  E.  H. 
Coover,  then   of  New   Cumberland,  now  of 
Harrisburg,  and  was  graduated  from  .Jeffer- 
son Medical  College  in  18G9.     Dr.  Traver  at 
once  took  up  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in    Steelton,    where,   by    strict  attention   to 
business,  he  has  attained  success,  not  only 
in  the  art  of  relieving  tlie  suffering,  but  in  a 
financial  way.     He  was  one  of  tlie  original 
stockiioldcrsof  the  East  Harrisburg  Railway 
Company,  now   known    as   the    Harrisburg 
Traction  Company.     In  his  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican,  but  takes  no  active  in- 
terest in  party  matters.     He  has  served  with 
credit  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
three   years    in    Swatara   township,  and  for 
three  terms  in  the  borough  of  Steelton  after 
its  incorporation,  and  has  been  treasurer  of 
that  body,  and  also  served   as  chairman  of 
the  teachers  and  buildings  committees.     The 
Doctor  is  a  member  of  tlie  Royal  Arcanum 
and  the  E.  A.  U.,  for  both  of  which  organi- 
zations  he  is    medical  examiner.     He  is  a 
member  of  the  Dauphin   County  and   State 
Medical  Societies  and  the  American  Medical 
Association,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  State 
and  National  conventions.     Dr.  Traver  was 
married,  in  November,  1871,  to  Miss  Sarah 
E.,  daugiiter  of  Samuel  Nisley,  of  Steelton, 
and    has    three   children  :  Samuel  N.,  Mary 
H.,  and  Alfaretta.     He  and   his  family  be- 


BoosER,  Henry,  retired,  Steelton,  was 
born  in  Londonderry  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  March  3,  182.5 ;  son  of  Benja- 
min and  Barbara  (Goode)  Booser.  Tiie 
fatlier  was  born  in  Londonderry  townsiiip 
in  1800,  and  was  a  son  of  Henry,  a  native 
of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  when  ten 
years  of  age  and  settled  with  his  parents  in 
Londonderry  township.  The  grandfather 
was  a  farmer  and  basket  maker.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  River  Brethren  church  and 
died  in  Londonderry  township  in  1838,  aged 
seventy -six  years.  His  chiUlren  are:  John, 
Henry,  Jacob,  Benjamin,  and  Barbara, 
married  Peter  Eshelman ;  all  of  whom  are 
deceased.  Benjamin,  the  father,  was  a 
farmer,  and  followed  his  occupation  in 
Dauphin,  Lancaster  and  CumljerJand  coun- 
ties. In  his  politics  he  was  a  Wliig  and  in 
his  religious  views  he  was  in  accord  with  the 
River  Brethren.  He  died  in  1864  and  his 
wife  died  in  1860.  Their  children  are:  Mary, 
deceased,  married  John  Shell  and  located  in 
Swatara  township;  Catherine,  died  unmar- 
ried, and  Henry.  Henry  was  reared  in 
Londonderry  township,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  that  period.  He 
engaged  in  farming  in  Swatara  township 
and  located  on  his  present  farm  in  1843,  a 
part  of  which  is  occupied  by  the  plant  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Works.  Mr.  Booser  is  a 
stockholder  in  tlie  Electric  Light  Company. 
He  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss  Emeline 
Musser,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Betsy 
(Sprickcr)  Musser,  of  Lancaster  county. 
They  have  five  children  :  Aaron,  of  Steelton; 
Catherine,  married  Albert  Lougenecker,  of 
Hummelstown  ;  Benjamin  Grant,  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  Mary  Emma,  and  Lillie.  Mr. 
Booser  is  a  Republican  in  j'olitics.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  River  Brethren 
church. 


Babb,  Charles  H.,  justice  of  the  peace, 
Steelton,  was  born  in  Chester  county.  Pa., 
September  25,  1833 ;  son  of  Sampson  Babb. 
The  grandfather,  Peter  Babb,  was  the  first 
settler  of  Tioga  county,  and  took  up  a  claim  of 
eight  hundred  acres,  subsequently  known 
as  the  "  Babb  Tract,"  watered  by  what  was 
afterwards  named  Babb  creek.     He  died  at 


1034 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENVTCL  0  PEDIA 


the  age  of  ninety  3'ears,  having  reared  four 
children :  John,  deceased,  hotel  keeper  in 
West  Chester,  Pa. ;  Jacob,  deceased,  fanner 
and  lumberman  in  Tioga  county  ;  William, 
lived  and  died  on  the  Babb  tract;  and 
Sampson. 

Sampson,  father  of  Charles  H.,  was  born 
in  Tioga  county  in  1782,  and  in  early  life 
was  employed  by  Stephen  Girard  as  a 
master  builder,  having  cliarge  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  warehouses  erected  by  that  gen- 
tleman in  Philadelphia,  in  which  he  was 
employed  for  about  twenty  years,  after 
which  he  purchased  tlie  Washington  Hotel, 
at  West  Chester,  which  he  conducted  for 
twenty-five  years.  About  the  time  he  moved 
to  West  Chester,  he  married  Miss  Charitj^  G., 
daughter  of  Emmor  Jeffris,  of  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  Chester  county,  by  whom 
he  had  ten  children,  of  whom  nine  were 
reared  to  maturity :  Peter,  deceased,  was  a 
druggist,  and  studied  pharmacy  under  Dr. 
Witlieral,  of  Philadelphia ;  his  widow  and 
two  children  survive  him  ;  Anna  Eliza,  de- 
ceased, the  wife  of  Truman  Wallace,  of 
Lancaster  county,  son  of  the  Rev.  John 
Wallace,  who  had  charge  of  the  old  Pequea 
church,  of  Lancaster  county,  for  over  fifty 
years;  Jeffris,  deceased,  buried  at  Yreka, 
Cal.,  was  a  druggist;  William,  deceased,  was 
a  siioemaker  by  trade,  engaged  in  steam- 
boating  on  the  Tombigbee  river  in  Ala- 
bama, some  years,  and  died  in  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.;  John,  deceased,  shoemaker, 
and  also  a  druggist,  is  survived  by  four 
children ;  Matilda,  wife  of  Capt.  Thomas 
Marshall,  Mobile,  Ala.,  who  died  in  1882, 
his  wife  and  four  children  surviving  him; 
Charles  H. :  Caroline  P.,  wife  of  Al.  A. 
Moore,  Montrose,  Ala.,  has  two  children 
living;  Edwin  L.,  married  Miss  Jaquilt,  of 
Chester  county,  was  drowned  in  1857,  leav- 
ing a  widow  and  one  daughter;  Thomas, 
died  in  infanc\'. 

Charles  H.  received  his  education  in  the 
])ublic  schools  of  Chester  county,  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  began  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  builder's  trade  with  John  Agin, 
with  whom  he  afterwards  worked  at  Har- 
land  and  Ilollingswortb,  Del.,  until  1855, 
when  he  located  at  Parkesburg,  Chester 
county,  where  he  was  employed  b)'  the  State 
Railroad  Company  as  machinist,  until  1860, 
with  the  exception  of  three  years  spent  in 
the  service  of  the  New  York  and  Erie  rail- 
road. He  then  was  engaged  for  a  short 
time  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 


pany at  Harrisburg;  in  1861  enlisted  in 
the  army  for  three  months,  and  afterwards 
enlisted  for  nine  months  in  company  A,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  in  which  he 
served  as  first  duty  sergeant,  at  which  time 
he  organized  company  F,  of  the  Twentieth 
Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and  was  made  cap- 
tahi  of  the  companj',  but  resigned  in  favor 
of  Capt.  V.  B.  Hummell,  under  whom  he 
served  as  first  lieutenant  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  enlistment.  He  was 
then  commissioned  as  first  lieutenant  of  com- 
pany E,  Twelfth  Penn.sylvania  regulars,  and 
served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  having 
been  brevetted  caj)tain.  Mr.  Babb  came  to 
Steelton,  in  February,  1867,  and  was  in  the 
emj^loyment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Company  as  machinist,  until  1884,  during 
which  time  he  had  charge  of  the  roil  turn- 
ing for  fifteen  years.  Since  the  last  named 
date  he  has  been  engaged  in  real  estate  and 
insurance  busines.s.  He  has  served  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  notary  public  for  a 
number  of  years.  Mr.  Babb  is  a  member 
of  Dauphin  Lodge,  No.  160,  and  Dauphin 
Encampment,  No.  10,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  is 
also  past  commander  of  Post  No.  58, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Harrisburg.  Li  1855  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Louisa  J.  Irwin,  daughter 
of  George  Irwin,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Chester  county,  by  whom  he  has  had  five 
children,  the  only  survivor  of  whom  is  Hay 
Jeffris,  married  to  Miss  Loven,  of  Lancaster 
county.  His  deceased  children  are:  Charles 
I,  Edwin  F.,  Cora,  and  one  child  who  died 
in  infiincy. 


BoYER,  Jacob,  Enhaut,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Dau|ihin  county,  Pa.,  August  14,  1814;  son 
of  John  Boj'er.  The  father  was  the  first  of 
the  Boj'er  family  to  settle  in  Dauphin  county. 
He  came  to  the  county  about  1800,  and  pur- 
chased a  small  farm  near  Chambers  Hill, 
which  he  cultivated  in  connection  with 
working  at  his  trade  of  stone  mason.  He 
married  a  Miss  Wliitman,  by  whom  he  had 
nine  children :  Henry,  John,  Benjamin, 
Jacob,  George,  Martin,  Samuel,  Rebecca,  and 
Catherine,  all  of  whom  are  deceased,  except- 
ing Jacob.  The  latter  attended  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  the  county,  and  engaged  in 
farming,  and  later  worked  a  stone  cjuany. 
In  1853  he  purchased  the  Abraham  farm,  on 
which  he  has  since  had  his  residence,  and  is 
one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  what  is  now 
known  as  Enhaut.   In  1843  he  married  Miss 


I 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1035 


Catherine  BeinhoAver,  daughter  of  Peter 
Beinhower,  of  Daupliin  county,  hy  whom  he 
has  two  children  living:  J.  C,  born  Octolier 
7, 1856,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  has  charge 
of  liis  father's  farm  ;  he  is  not  married  ;  and 
Emeline,  wife  of  M.  N.  Snavely,  of  Enhaut. 
Mr.  Boyer  has  been  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent citizens  of  Swatara  township,  and  is 
one  of  the  oldest  residents.  He  takes  an 
active  interest  in  all  church  work. 


of  Shiremanstown,  Cumberland  county,  by 
whom  he  has  two  children  :  Clara  M.  and 
George  H.,  both  living  at  home. 


Bowers,  Jacob,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.,  February  25,  1850 ;  son  of 
George  Bowers.  Tiie  father  was  born  in 
Alleckondorf,  France,  in  1810,  and  was  a 
tinner  by  trade.  In  1834  he  came  to  this 
country,  and  after  remaining  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,  until  1845,  settled  in  (Jumberland 
county,  and  wa.s  engaged  in  farming  until 
his  death,  in  1895.  He  was  married,  finst,  in 
his  native  country,  August  28,  1831,  to  Miss 
Catherine  Jacob,  who  died  in  1862.  He  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife,  Miss  Kruger,  by 
whom  he  reared  five  children :  Catherine, 
deceased  ;  Mary,  widow  of  William  Shaw ; 
George  W.,  living  in  Washington  State  ;  John 
Henrj^  living  in  Cumlierland  county,  and 
Jacol).     His  second  wife  survives  him. 

Jacob  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Cumberland  county.  When 
a  young  man  he  was  engaged  in  farming, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  and  builder.  In  1866 
he  went  to  I5altimore  and  worked  under  tiie 
instruction  of  his  fatlier,  serving  as  an  ap- 
prentice two  years,  and  in  this  way  couiplet- 
ing  his  mastery  of  the  business,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Fairview,  Cumberland  county, 
where  he  remained  until  his  marriage.  He 
worked  at  bis  trade  as  a  journeyman  until 
1879,  when  he  engaged  in  contracting  on  hi.s 
own  account.  In  1875  he  moved  from  Cum- 
berland county  to  Steelton,  and  in  1884  he 
built  the  house  in  which  he  now  lives,  on 
Meyers  street.  He  built  the  North  Side 
school  house  and  the  Maj.  L.  S.  Bent  school 
house.  He  also'  worked  at  Steelton  some 
years  as  a  journeyman.  Mr.  Bowers  is  a 
member  of  the  Republican  part}',  in  which 
he  takes  an  active  part,  having  served  as 
councilman  for  six  years,  during  half  of 
which  period  he  was  the  president  of  that 
body.  In  1878  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Emma    L.    Kutz,  daughter   of  John   Kutz, 


Beinjiower,  Adam,  was  born  in  Derry 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  August  21, 
1828;  son  of  Peter  B.  Beinhower.  The 
father  was  born  in  Dauphin  county  about 
1791,  and  was  a  farmer  Ijy  occupation.  He 
married  Miss  Smith,  by  whom  he  had  nine 
children  :  Sallie,  wife  of  John  Hocker ;  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth,  both  deceased ;  John,  of 
Swatara  township ;  Catherine  and  Susan, 
both  deceased  ;  Peter,  of  Oiiio ;  Adam,  and 
Isaac,  of  Oberlin,  Pa.  Adam  acquired  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  this 
pei'iod  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  became  an 
apprentice  at  the  wheelright  trade,  with  C. 
A.  Stover,  at  Middletown,  in  which  he  served 
three  years.  He  then  worked  one  year  at 
his  trade  as  a  journeyman  and  located  at 
Hockersville,  when  he  followed  his  occupa- 
tion for  twenty-two  years.  In  1876  he  came 
to  Steelton,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  worked  for  five  years  at  his 
trade  in  Steelton  and  since  1884  has  been 
engaged  in  the  undertaking  business.  On 
August  9,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company  C, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty -.seventh  Regi- 
ment, Penn.sylvania  volunteers,  under  Col- 
onel Jennings,  in  which  he  served  until 
his  discharge  in  1863,  having  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chan- 
cellorsville.  In  1876  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Catherine  Gingerich,  of  Derry  town- 
ship, to  whom  was  born  one  child,  William 
Hoyt,  died  at  the  age  of  tliree  years.  Mr. 
Beinhower  is  an  active  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 


Balsraugh,  Geokcje,  Olierlin,  Pa.,  was 
born  in  Derry  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  in  Decemlier,  1817;  son  of  Jolm  Bals- 
baugh.  The  Balsbaughs  are  one  of  the  old- 
est families  of  the  county.  Valentine,  the 
grandfather  of  George,  was  the  son  of  a  Mr. 
Balsbaugh,  who  came  from  Germany,  and 
was  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  of  the 
county.  He  died  in  Dauphin  county,  and 
is  buried  at  South  Hanover,  where  his  son 
Valentine  is  also  buried.  John  Balsbaugh, 
the  father  of  George,  and  the  son  of  Valen- 
tine, was  born  November  4,  1788,  and  died 
January  18,  1879.  He  was  married,  March 
22,  1814,  to  Mary  Seigler,  born  October  18, 


1036 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


1794,  and  died  May  28,1857.  They  had 
nine  children  :  George;  \^alentine  and  John, 
both  deceased  ;  Henry ;  Solomon ;  Mary, 
wife  of  Cornelins  Shopc;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
John  Snyder  ;  Anna,  unmarried,  and  Elijah, 
deceased.  John  Balsbaugh  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  a  prominent  man  in  his 
time.  George  Balsbaugh  attended  the  public 
schools  of  the  county,  and  learned  the  trade 
of  carpenter,  which  he  followed  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  also  engaged  in  farming  up 
to  1891,  when  he  removed  to  Oberlin,  where 
he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life.  While  in 
Lower  Swatara  township  he  served  in  the  of- 
fices of  township  assessor  and  school  director. 
In  1858  he  was  married  to  Miiss  Moyer,  of 
Dauphin  county,  ])y  wliom  he  has  three  chil- 
dren: George  W.,  with  the  Adams  Exjiress 
Company,  at  Harrisburg ;  Ephraim,  living 
in  Southern  California  since  1889,  is  mar- 
ried ;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  E.  Stautfer,  of  High- 
spire.  Mr.  Balsbaugh  is  the  oldest  one  of  the 
family  now  living. 


ving  L.,  born  July  18,  1872,  is  draughtsman 
for  the  Lincoln  Iron  Works,  Rutland,  \i., 
where  he  has  been  since  February,  1895. 


Beinhower,  J.  S.,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Derry  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.;  son 
of  Peter  Beinhower.  The  fatlier  was  a  son 
of  Peter  Beinhower,  whose  fatlier  came  from 
Germany  at  a  very  early  day  and  settled  in 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  was  employed 
in  farming  and  in  teaming  to  and  from 
Philadeljjhia.  The  father  married  Mary 
A.  Smith,  daughter  of  John  Smith,  of 
Dauphin  county,  by  whom  he  had  nine  chil- 
dren :  Jacob,  deceased;  John;  Peter,  living 
ill  Ohio;  Adam, Steelton  ;  J.S.;  Sarah,  widow 
of  John  Ilocker;  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Cathe- 
rine, and  Susan,  both  deceased.  J.  S.  Bein- 
hower was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  Swatara  townsliip,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest 
residents  of  Oberlin.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  car|)enter,  and  was  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building  up  to  1892.  Since  1859  he  has 
also  been  engaged  in  cabinet  making  and 
undertaking.  In  the  spring  of  18G0  he  moved 
to  the  present  site  of  Oberlin,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  In  his  political  views 
Mr.  Beinhower  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  tax  collector  of  Swatara  township 
for  several  years.  In  1859  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Hassler,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Su- 
sanna (Mumma)  Hassler,  of  Dauphin  count}', 
both  deceased.  Their  children  are:  Anna 
May,  born  May,  18G0,  died  September  G, 
1878  ;  Frances  H.,  wife  of  Dr.  D.  W.  Shaff- 
ner,  of  Enhaut,  born  February  1,  1862 ;  Ir- 


Baskin,  Oliver  P.,  superintendent  of  the 
Steelton  Light,  Heat  and  Power  Company, 
was  born  in  Perry  county.  Pa.,  July  24, 
1856 ;  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Slioy).  His 
father  was  born  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa., 
son  of  John,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  emi- 
grated to  this  country,  and  settled  in  Schuyl- 
kill county,  where  he  followed  the  occu|)a- 
tion  of  plasterer.  He  was  drafted  for  mili- 
tary service  during  the  war,  but  was  retired 
by  reason  of  occupying  a  civil  office  at  the 
time.  His  death  occurred  April  26,  1895, 
his  wife  having  died  in  1868.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  Shoy,  and  was  born  on  the 
ocean  during  the  voyage  to  this  country 
from  Ireland.  They  had  thirteen  children, 
of  whom  these  lived  to  maturity  :  Mary,  Mrs. 
Jacob  Eisenhart,  of  Middletown,  Pa.;  Julia, 
Mrs.  Adam  Boyer,  of  M'est  Fairview,  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa.;  Hannah,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Ilempley,  Bainbridge,  Pa.;  and  Oliver  P. 

Oliver  was  reared  in  Perry  county,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  township 
schools,  and  by  self-study  gained  a  practical 
knowledgi^  of  electricity.  He  was  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  in  Philadelphia-  for 
twelve  years  with  a  wholesale  hou.se,  and  for 
four  years  was  a  commercial  traveler.  In 
1890  he  came  to  Steeltoii,  and  worked  for 
the  Electric  Company,  the  present  plant  of 
which  companjr  was  built  by  him,  and  he 
has  since  acted  as  the  .superintendent  of 
the  company.  Mr.  Baskin  is  a  member 
of  the  Impi-oved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and 
also  of  the  Junior  Order  of  the  United 
American  Mechanics.  In  political  views  he 
is  a  Democrat.  In  Perry  county  he  served 
on  the  school  board,  and  in  Steelton  as  mem- 
ber of  the  council  and  judge  of  elections. 
Mr.  Baskin  was  married,  in  1882,  to  Miss 
Catherine  Underwood,  daughter  of  George 
Underwood,  of  Schuylkill  county.  They 
have  no  children. 


Dickinson,  Bayard  T.,  physician,  was 
born  at  Gap,  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  June  25, 
1854 ;  son  of  Henry  and  Anna  (Baldwin) 
Dickinson,  of  Lancaster  and  Chester  coun- 
ties, respectivel}'.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  and  select  schools  of  his  locality, 
and  was  for  a  time  engaged  in  mercantile 
business.  He  studied  medicine,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  medical    department  of 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1037 


the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  on  Marcli 
10,  1870,  after  whicii  he  began  the  practice 
of  medicine.  In  1879  he  removed  to  Steel- 
ton,  wlicre  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  liis  professioii.  Dr.  Dickinson  i.s 
a  member  of  tlio  Dauphin  Connty  Medical 
Society,  and  also  of  the  Pennsylvania  State 
Medical  Society.  In  liis  political  views  he  is 
a  Republican,  and  is  active  in  party  inter- 
ests. In  1883  he  was  elected  member  of  the 
borough  council,  and  was  made  chairman 
of  the  body ;  in  1887-89  was  a  member 
of  the  State  Legislature,  and  served  promi- 
nently in  the  Plouse  of  Representatives.  The 
Doctor  was  married,  in  1893,  to  Miss  Clara 
Hanshue,  daughter  of  Samuel  Han.shnc,  of 
Steelton.  Their  children  are  :  Alma,  Sarah, 
and  Annie. 

Dr.  Dickinson  was  born  and  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  Friends.  His  wife  and  family 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  churcl). 


E.VRNEST,  Franklin  C,  Steelton,  was  born 
in  Hummelstown,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Au- 
gust 2G,  1834 ;  son  of  Obed  Earnest.  David 
Earnest,  the  grandfatlier,  was  a  native  of 
Dauphin  county,  and  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  the  county.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  reared  a  large  family.  Obed 
Earnest,  tiie  father,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
count}'  in  1807,  and  received  his  education 
in  tlie  schools  of  that  time.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  when  he  learned  the  trade  of 
shoemaker,  which  he  followed  until  his 
death  in  November,  1857.  In  his  political 
views  he  was  a  Rejiublican,  and  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He 
married  Miss  Cobaugh,  by  whom  he  had  ten 
children,  of  whom  five  are  living:  Dr.  John 
A.,  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church  of  Mifliin- 
burg,  married  Miss  McCreary,  wiio  died  in 
1895;  Ricliard,  of  Hummelstown,  married 
Miss  Flasher,  of  that  place ;  Margaret,  widow 
of  Joseph  Hill,  of  Jersey  Shore,  Lycoming 
county  ;  Charles,  living  witli  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Joseph  Hill ;  Franklin  C.  The  deceased 
children  are:  David,  Obed,  Alice,  Mary  C, 
and  Amanda,  wife  of  Henry  Parker,  of 
Jersey  Shore. 

Franklin  C.  attended  the  schools  of  Hum- 
melstown, and  when  a  young  man  learned 
the  shoemaker's  ti'ade  with  his  father.  He 
was  engaged  in  tiie  shoe  trade  for  over  two 
years,  and  in  1873  removed  his  business  to 
Steelton  and  conducted  it  there  until  1884, 
since  which  time  he  has  worked  at  his  trade. 


In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  served  in  important  offices  as  school 
director  and  as  member  of  the  borough 
council  three  years,  and  also  as  justice  of 
the  peace,  resigned  the  latter  office  in  1875, 
on  account  of  its  interruption  of  other  busi- 
ness. In  1863  he  married  Miss  Jennie  E., 
daughter  of  Captain  McCreary,  of  Gettys- 
burg, by  whom  he  has  eight  children :  Jolin, 
living  at  Steelton,  married  Miss  Battey;  and 
they  have  two  children ;  Grace,  living  at 
home;  Jennie,  wife  of  (!harles  E.  Frasier,  of 
Carlisle,  and  they  have  two  cliiklren ;  May, 
living  at  home  ;  Frank,  at  home,  chemist; 
Ralph,  living  at  home,  machinist;  Luther, 
at  home ;  Robert,  at  home.  Mr.  Earnest 
and  his  family  are  connected  with  the  St. 
John's  Lutheran  church,  of  whicii  he  is  an 
elder. 


EsHENOWER,  Jacob  J.,  farmer,  Oljerlin,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  October  12, 
1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catharine 
(Bishop)  Eshenower.  The  paternal  grand- 
father. Christian,  was  a  farmer  and  wagon 
maker.  He  was  married,  twice,  the  first 
time  to  Miss  Shutt,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  Catharine,  John,  Chris- 
tian, Jacob,  Andrew,  Leonard,  and  Frederick. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  Peter  Bisiiop, 
was  enjjased  in  farming  all  his  life  and  was 
married  to  Miss  Catharine  Shaffer.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  John,  Sallie,  Peter,  Catherine,  and 
William.  The  fatlier  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  February  8,  1798,  and  while  young 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  wiiich  he 
followed  for  a  few  years  and  then  engaged 
in  farming.  Ho  married,  first,  Miss  Ulrich, 
daugiiter  of  Michael  Ulrich,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children  :  John  and  Elizabeth. 

He  married,  secondly,  Miss  Catherine 
Bishop,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Catharine 
(Shaffer)  Bishop.  Their  children  are  :  Mary, 
Jacob  J.,  and  Catherine  A.  He  filled  the  office 
of  supervisor  of  Swatara  township  for  some 
years  and  died  June  18,  1869,  and  his  wife 
in  May,  1880.  Both  were  meml)ers  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 

Jacol)  J.  received  liis  education  in  the 
public  scliools  of  Swatara  township  and  then 
assisted  his  father  on  tlie  farm  until  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age.  During  1867  and  1868 
he  conducted  the  "  Black  Swan"  Hotel,  situ- 
ated along  tlie  Reading  pike,  west  of  Hum- 
melstown. With  this  exception  Mr.  Eshe- 
nower has  farmed  continuously  during  his 
lifetime.     He  married,  first,  Miss   Susan  H. 


1038 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Newcomer,  November  3,  1859,  by  whom  he 
had  one  daughter,  Susan.  His  wife  was 
born  December,  1841,  and  died  in  1861.  He 
married,  secondly,  Miss  Susina  A.  Brown, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  (West) 
Brown.  They  have  six  children,  all  of 
vvdiom  are  living  :  Edward,  married  to  Miss 
Kate  Reed,  daughter  of  John  and  Sophia 
Reed  ;  Jacob,  married  to  Miss  Kate  Kramer; 
Carrie,  Elenora,  Grace  V.,  and  Martin  W.  In 
politics  Mr.  Eshcnower  is  a  Republican  and 
has  been  judge  of  the  election  board  and  also 
member  of  the  detective  association.  He  is 
connected  with  the  Lutheran  church.  Mrs. 
Susina  Eshenower  was  born  December  13, 
1843,  in  West  Hanover  township,  Dau[)hin 
county.  Her  parents  were  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  were  both  natives  of  Berks  county. 
Her  father  married  Miss  Rebecca  West, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Rambo)  West. 
Their  children  are:  John  W.,  Mary,  Susina, 
Elizabeth,  deceased,  and  Uriah  H.,  deceased. 


Frantz,  Michael  A.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  January  15,  1830,  and  is 
the  son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  Frantz. 
The  paternal  grandfather  was  engaged  in 
farming  and  married  a  native  of  Lancaster 
county,  by  whom  he  had  four  children : 
Michael,  John,  Elizabeth,  and  Suavely.  Tlie 
father  was  born  in  Dauphin  county  in  1789, 
and  was  married  twice,  first  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Maghdie,  by  whom  lie  had  two  children, 
Mary  and  Elizabeth ;  and  secondly,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Walters,  by  whom  he  had  a  family 
of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  survive. 
The  children  are :  Samuel,  Anna,  Michael  A., 
Fannie,  Jacob,  John,  Maggie,  Christian,  and 
Sarah,  deceased.  He  held  several  township 
offices  and  was  connected  with  the  Old 
Bridge  at  Harrisburg;,  and  also  with  the  con- 
struction  of  the  turnpike  from  Harrisburg 
to  Middletown.  He  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  he 
died  June  5,  1865. 

Michael  A.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Swatara  township.  After 
leaving  school  he  engaged  in  farming  with 
his  father,  and  since  the  age  of  twenty-three 
has  lived  on  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Frantz 
has  also  spent  .some  time  in  the  store  and  in 
real  estate  business.  He  was  married,  Janu- 
ary 15,  1861,  to  Miss  Barbara  A.,  daughter  of 
Rev.  David  and  Susan  (Gall)  Rush.  They 
have  one  daughter  who  resides  at  home.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  as- 


sessor, and  wasschool  director  fortwenty  j^ears- 
The  family  adhere  to  the  Methodist  church. 
Mrs.  Frantz  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
October  20,  1838.  Her  father,  who  was  'a 
minister  ot  the  Gospel  for  forty  years,  was 
born  May  17,  1805,  and  married  September 
2,  1829,  Miss  Susan  Gall,  daughter  of  Martin 
and  Elizabeth  (Graff)  Gall,  who  was  born 
April  16,  1805.  Their  children  are:  David, 
Barbara,  John,  Harry,  Magdaline,  deceased, 
Martin,  deceased,  John,  deceased,  and  Elias 
and  Isaac,  also  both  deceased. 


Fencil,  Nathaniel  S.,  dealer  in  stoves 
and  tinware,  was  born  in  York  Haven,  York  . 
county.  Pa.,  October  15,  1847 ;  son  of  the 
late  George  W.  and  Mary  E.  (Roe)  Fencil. 
The  grandfather  Fencil  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  America  in  1800,  locating 
in  York  Haven,  Pa.,  where  for  many  years 
he  worked  as  a  flour  miller.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812.  The  father  was  born  at 
York  Haven  in  1804,  where  he  was  a  mer- 
chant for  many  years.  He  removed  to  Dau- 
phin county,  where  he  died  April  17,  1881. 
Tiie  mother  was  a  native  of  Sussex  county, 
N.  J.,  and  died  in  189.5.  They  had  ten  cliil- 
dren,  seven  of  whom  are  living:  Francis 
R,;  Nathaniel  S.;  Rosa  Belle,  wife  of  John 
Guistwhite;  Georgiana,  wife  of  J.  M.  Curry; 
Mary,  wife  of  F.  B.  Wickersham ;  William, 
and  George  W.  The  father  served  as  post- 
master at  York  Haven  many  years. 

Nathaniel  S.  was  reared  and  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  place.  He 
was  busily  employed  in  his  boyhood  on  the 
farm  and  in  the  cigar  shop,  and  hence  re- 
ceived only  a  limited  education.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  served  an  apprenticeship  at 
the  tinners'  trade  at  Middletown,  upon  the 
completion  of  which  he  removed  to  Titus- 
ville,  where  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  for 
two  years.  In  1869  he  returned  to  Middle- 
town,  and  was  employed  in  business  for 
him.self  until  the  spring  of  1873,  when  he 
removed  to  Steelton,  where  he  has  since  been 
continuously  in  business,  being  now  one  of 
the  oldest  established  and  leading  business 
men  of  the  place.  Mr.  Fencil  was  married, 
at  Middletown,  Pa.,  November  7,  1872,  to 
Anna  C.  Bippers,  daughter  of  John  and 
Catherine  Bippers,  of  Jliddletown,  both  de- 
ceased. To  them  have  been  born  seven  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  the 
survivors  are:  Clarence  V.,  Jennie  C,  Mabel 
B.,  Marj^,  and  Ellen.     Mr.  Fencil  is  a  mem- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1039 


Ler  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  In 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


Grovk,  .John  W.,  boss  roller,  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Works,  was  born  in  Swatara  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  March  29,  1849 ;  sou 
of  S;imuel  and  Elizabeth  (Hall)  Grove.  The 
father  was  of  German  descent,  born  in  Leb- 
anon county,  Pa.,  son  of  Henry.  He  moved 
from  Lebanon  to  Dauphin  county,  when  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  engaged  in 
farming,  but  is  now  residing  in  Perry  county. 
He  served  in  the  office  of  school  director. 
His  membership  is  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  Nine  children  were  born  to 
him,of  wliom  six  are  living:  Catherine  E., 
Mrs.  J.  C.  Snoddy,  Penbrook ;  John  W.; 
Jacob  F.,  Steelton  f  Susanna  A.,  Mrs.  liobert 
E.  Lusk,  of  Harrisburg ;  Sarah,  Mrs.  .John 
Leopold,  Perry  county  ;  Emma,  Mrs.  Will- 
iam Stark,  of  Perry  county.  The  brothers 
are  twins. 

John  W.  was  reared  in  Swatara  townsliip 
and  when  eighteen  years  old  removed  to  In- 
diana and  was  there  engaged  in  wagon  mak- 
ing for  a  time,  after  which  he  was  for  two 
years  employed  in  the  Harri.slnirg  Car 
Works.  In  1871  he  came  to  Steelton  and 
entered  the  employment  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Steel  Works,  since  which  date  he  has  con- 
tinued in  the  employment  of  that  company, 
and  since  1882  lias  been  in  his  present  posi- 
tion. He  enlisted  in  the  Governor's  Troop, 
of  Harrisburg.  Mr.  CTrove  was  married,  in 
18G9,  to  Miss  Amanda  Nebenger,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Nebenger,  of  York  county. 
They  have  no  children.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican  and  has  served  in  the 
school  board  one  term  and  as  tax  collector 
three  years.  He  is  enrolled  in  the  member- 
ship of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
whicli  he  holds  the  office  of  steward,  and 
also  officiates  as  ciiorister,  and  is  interested 
in  all  branches  of  the  work  of  the  church. 


Grunden,  Martin  H.,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  March  .3,  1840;  son  of 
Charles  Grunden.  He  attended  the  pubhc 
schools  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  entered  the  store  of  H.  Felix,  at 
Harrisburg,  as  a  clerk,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  In  February,  1863,  he  enlisted 
in  company  E,  Twelfth  Pennsylvania  cav- 
alry, under  Capt.  D.  A.  Irwin,  an  ex-member 
of  the  Legislature,  and  now  commander  of 


the  Soldiers'  Home,  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  served  until  his  discharge,  July  20, 
1865.  He  was  then  in  the  employment  of 
the  Northern  Central  railroad  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  was  engaged  in  the  dairy 
business  for  two  years.  He  then  entered  the 
service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company, 
at  Steelton,  where  he  was  employed  for  four- 
teen years.  In  1894  he  engaged  in  the  coal 
business,  in  which  he  has  since  continued. 
In  1873  Mr.  Gnniden  was  married  to  Miss 
Alice,  daughter  of  Jacob  Hale,  of  Steelton, 
by  whom  he  has  three  children :  Rina, 
Alva,  and  Hale,  who  died  February  11,  1894, 
aged  twenty  years. 

Hess,  Christian,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  in  1820;  son  of 
Abraham  Hess.  Samuel  Hess,  the  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  German}',  and  came 
to  Lancaster  county  with  his  three  brothers 
at  a  ver}'  early  day.  He  was  a  farmer,  and 
lived  and  died  on  the  farm  where  his  son, 
Abraham  Hess,  died.  Abraham  Hess,  the 
father,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming,  and  died  in 
August,  1823.  He  married  Catherine  Ep- 
pjer,  daughter  of  Christian  Eppler,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children  :  Nancy,  de- 
ceased. Christian,  and  Samuel,  deceased. 
His  widow  married  John  Kingport,  by 
whom  she  had  five  children  :  David,  de- 
ceased, Daniel,  Lydia,  Fannie,  deceased, 
and  Abraham,  living  at  Harrisburg.  The 
mother  died  in  the  fall  of  1869,  aged  seven- 
ty-three years. 

Christian,  at  the  age  of  five  years,  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Lebanon  county, 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools  until 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Dauphin  county  and  worked  on 
tiie  farm,  and  subsequently  learned  the 
fuller's  trade.  He  was  afterwards  engaged 
in  milling  grain  for  three  years,  after  which 
he  took  up  farming,  which  has  been  his 
occupation  up  to  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Hess  laid  out  the  borough  of  Oberlin,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  resident  for  forty  j'ears, 
and  has  built  tlie  greater  portion  of  the 
town.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Citizens'  Passenger  Railway  Company.  In 
political  views  Mr.  Hess  is  independent, 
but  is  always  active  in  public  business.  He 
is  still  interested  and  active  in  farming,  and 
is  a  leading  man  in  agricultural  affairs.  He 
was  married,  in  1843,  to  Miss  Eshnauer, 
born  in  November,  1825 ;  daughter  of  John 


1040 


BIO  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


Eshnauer,  of  Dauphin  county,  by  whom  he 
has  eight  children  :  MaHnda,  John  H.,  and 
Samuel,  all  of  whom  are  deceased;  Chris- 
tian, married  Miss  Carrie  Bopc,  of  Harris- 
burg,  living  at  Mount  Clair,  Montgomery 
county,  formerly  a  resident  of  Steelton; 
Catherine  and  Abraham,  both  deceased ; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  SuU,  of  Oberlin; 
and  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Puffer,  of  Cum- 
berland county.  John  Eshnauer,  father  of 
Mrs.  Hess,  was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county; 
by  occupation  a  farmer  and  weaver.  He 
married,  first,  Elizabetii  Eishburn,  of  Derry 
township,  by  wliom  he  had  four  children: 
Catlierine  ;  John  and  Jacob,  both  deceased, 
and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Kaylor.  He 
married,  secondly,  Susanna  Pratz,  by  whom 
lie  has  one  ciiild,  Joseph,  of  Grantville,  Pa. 

HocKER,  George,  farmer,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1848,  on  the  old  homestead,  in  Swa- 
tara  township,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Catherine  (Cocklin)  Hocker.  The  Hocker 
and  Cocklin  families  were  both  of  German 
descent.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Adam, 
was  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  and  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  had  a  family  of 
seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  deceased. 
The  maternal  grandfather  was  also  a  farmer, 
and  reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  none 
of  whom  are  now  living.  The  father  was 
born  in  Daupliin  county,  January  21,  1794, 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
Plummelstown,  learned  the  trade  of  tailor, 
and  subsequently  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness in  Svvatara  township.  Later  he  began 
farming  on  the  old  homestead,  where  George 
was  born.  He  was  married,  first,  to  Miss 
Magdalen  Landis,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children,  l)otli  deceased :  Eugene  and  Levi. 
His  wife  died  in  1824.  He  married,  secondly, 
Catherine  Cocklin,  daugliter  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  (Hoover)  Cocklin,  November  5,  1835. 
Their  children  are  :  Margaret,  George,  and 
David,  deceased.  Most  of  his  life  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming,  until  1858,  when  he  re- 
tired. He  died  November  G,  1878,  and  his 
wife  died  in  November,  1881.  Served  as  tax 
collector  and  school  director,  and  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

George  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Swatara  township,  and  then  began  farm- 
ing with  his  fatlier,  and  until  he  was  twen- 
ty-five years  of  age  continued  to  do  so.  At 
that  time  he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself 
He  was  married,  December  9,  1879,  to  Miss 
Edith   A.  Zimmerman,  daughter  of  Henry 


and  Catherine  (Hawk)  Zimmerman.  Their 
children  are:  Cathernie,  Florence,  Walter, 
and  George.  After  farming  for  fifteen  years 
Mr.  Hocker  retired  for  eight  years,  when  he 
again  returned  to  the  farm.  He  is  connected 
in  church  fellowship  with  the  Lutheran  de- 
nomination. Mrs.  Hocker  was  born  in  1858, 
and  her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Dau- 
phin county.  Their  cliildren  are:  Solomon, 
Morris,  Ellen,  Ada,  Samuel,  Alice,  Real), 
B.  L.,  deceased,  and  Katie,  deceased.  Her 
father  died  in  May,  1882,  and  her  mother 
still  lives  at  Steelton,  enjoying  good  health. 


Hess,  John,  Steelton,  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa.,  September  24,  1857 ; 
son  of  George  Hess.  He  acquired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county  and  when  a  young  man  engaged  in 
floating  lumber  and  sand  on  contract  work, 
wiiich  he  followed  until  1880.  From  1873- 
74  he  and  his  brother  were  engaged  in  truck 
farming,  cultivating  the  VVahner  Island, 
which  he  now  owns.  In  the  spring  of  1880 
he  removed  from  Cumberland  county  to 
Steelton,  and  purchased  the  lot  of  ground  at 
the  corner  of  Front  and  Conestoga  streets, 
where  he  has  since  carried  on  a  coal  and 
sand  business,  furnishing  also  all  kinds  of 
plasterer's  materials  and  .sand  taken  from  the 
snag  river  beds.  In  his  jjolitical  views  he 
is  a  Republican  and  takes  an  active  part  in 
movements  of  his  part}'.  In  1887-88  he 
served  as  member  of  the  borough  council  of 
Steelton.  Mr.  Hess  is  a  stockholder  and  di- 
rector and  also  one  of  the  three  executive 
committeemen  of  the  Steelton  Light,  Heat 
and  Power  Company,  and  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Ilarrisburg  Trust  Company. 
He  is  connected  with  several  of  the  secret 
organizations  and  fraternities.  In  1880  Mr. 
He.ss  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Ames,  of 
Cumberland  county,  b}'  whom  he  has  five 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Bertha 
May,  born  in  1882;  Sylvia  Matilda,  born  in 
1885;  Linnie,  born  in  1892.  David  died  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  months,  and  George  died 
at  the  same  age. 


HoFFER,  Jacob,  Steelton,  was  born  in 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  in  September,  1824  ; 
son  of  John  Hoffer.  The  parents  had  eight 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living  :  Catherine, 
widow  of  William  ^^'illiams,  of  Ilarrisburg, 
and  Jacob.  Their  deceased  children  are : 
Samuel,  Sarah,  Marj',  I]lizabeth,  John,  and 
Joseph.      The    father  was  one  of  the   first 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1041 


settlers  on  wliat  is  now  Steelton.  Jacob 
came  with  his  father  to  Dauphin  county, 
and  received  las  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  county,  and  subsequently 
engaged  in  farming.  He  lived  in  Hanover 
township  for  manj'  years  and  in  Hummels- 
town  and  near  Paxtang  for  some  years.  In 
1846  he  engaged  in  farming  on  the  land 
now  occupied  by  the  Pennsylvania  Steel 
Company,  where  he  lived  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  1862  he  was  drafted  for  service 
in  the  array  and  was  attached  to  company 
C,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-seventh 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  under 
Captain  John  F.  Peck.  In  1863,  at  the  end 
of  his  nine  months'  service,  he  was  dis- 
charged and  returned  to  his  home.  In  the 
following  spring  he  moved  to  the  farm 
owned  by  Henry  Kelker,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  six  years.  In  1870  he  moved  to 
what  is  now  known  as  Steelton  and  built 
the  house  in  which  he  has  since  resided. 
The  same  year  he  entered  the  employment 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  in 
which  he  remained  for  ten  years  and  has 
since  lived  retired  from  active  work  on  ac- 
count of  old  age  and  ill  health.  Mr.  Hof- 
fer  was  married,  in  1859,  to  Miss  Traver, 
daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  Traver,  of 
York  county.  They  have  no  children. 
David  Traver,  father  of  Mrs.  Hoffer,  died  in 
York  county  in  1853,  aged  fifty-nine  years. 
His  wife  was  born  in  1803  and  died  in  1873. 


HoERNER,  Albert,  proprietor  of  the  Bes- 
semer House,  Steelton,  was  born  in  South 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
July  7,  1825 ;  son  of  John  and  Magdalena 
(Ehersole)  Hoerner.  The  parents  were  both 
born  in  South  Hanover.  The  grandfather 
Hoerner  was  born  in  Prussia,  April  19, 
1743,  and  in  company  with  four  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  came  to  America  about 
1780,  settling  first  near  Huminelstown,  and 
subsequently  removing  to  South  Hanover, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  there  October  10, 1821.  He  married 
Barbara  Klick,  wlio  was  born  October  20, 1751, 
and  died  March  18,  1829.  They  had  twelve 
children.  John,  tlie  father,  was  born  June 
3,  1783.  He  was  engaged  in  farming.  He 
married  Magdalena  Ebersole,  born  October 
20,  1788.  The  father  was  a  major  under 
General  Forster  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Albert  was  reared  on  the  farm,  educated 
in  the  public  schools  and  worked  with  his 
father  until  he   was    twenty-one    years   of 


age.  He  then  spent  one  year  at  Annville, 
Lebanon  county,  learning  milling,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Dauphin  county,  and 
was  engaged  in  this  business  for  four  years 
at  Union  Deposit  and  for  three  years  at 
Fidler's  Elbow.  From  1852  to  1859  he  con- 
ducted a  hotel  at  Hummelstown,  after  which 
he  was  for  three  years  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  at  Union  Deposit.  In  1862  he  en- 
gaged in  farniing,  at  which  he  continued 
until  April  14,  1882,  when  he  opened  the 
Bessemer  House  at  Steelton.  In  1863  he 
enrolled  in  the  Thirty-sixth  Pennsylvania 
militia,  and  served  sixty  days.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1865,  he  enlisted  in  company  I,  Eighty- 
seventh  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Hoerner  was 
married,  in  South  Hanover,  August  22,1852, 
to  Susan  R.  Ramsey,  daughter  of  David  and 
Catherine  Ramsey,  of  South  Hanover.  They 
had  nine  children,  of  whom  five  are  living: 
Julia  A.,  Robert  K.,  Edward  K.,  Susan  K., 
and  Katie  K.  In  political  views  Mr. 
Hoerner  is  a  Republican.  The  family  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  church. 


Keller,  Isaac  B.,  superintendent  of  the 
Capital  Shirt  Company,  Steelton,  was  born 
in  Rockland  townshij),  Berks  county.  Pa., 
April  1,  1850  ;  son  of  George  and  Louisa 
(Basl)  Keller,  both  deceased.  The  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Berks  county,  where 
they  spent  their  lives.  The  father  was  a 
weaver  by  trade,  but  for  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  was  occupied  in  farming.  He  died 
in  1876,  and  his  wife  died  in  1892.  They 
had  fourteen  children,  of  whom  eight  are 
liviug:  Augustus;  Zachariah  ;  Obediah;  Isaac 
B.;  Mary,  wife  of  Abraham  Beaver ;  Sarah, 
wife  of  Amos  Barto  ;  Louisa,  wife  of  Charles 
Dry  ;  and  Josephine,  wife  of  D.  E.  Long. 
Isaac  B.  was  reared  on  the  homestead  farm, 
and  attended  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
township  until  he  was  eleven  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  Reading,  Pa.,  and  learned 
the  millinery,  cloak,  and  dressmaking  trade, 
at  which  he  then  worked  for  five  years,  and 
for  the  next  five  or  six  years  he  was  a  clerk 
in  a  dry  goods  houseatBreinigsville,  Lehigh 
county,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  shirts,  in  which  he  has  been  em- 
ployed since  that  time.  He  subsequently 
returned  to  Reading,  and  shortly  afterwards 
returned  to  Lebanon,  whoi'e,  in  1886,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  shirts  with 
Simon  C.  Peters.  In  1888  the  Capital  Shirt 
Company    was    organized,    in    which    Mr. 


1042 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENUVVLOPEDIA 


Keller  took  a  large  amount  of  stock,  and 
was  appointed  the  superintendent  of  tlie 
company.  He  was  married,  in  Breinigsville, 
June  11,  1S71,  to  Annie  A.  Clause,  daughter 
of  George  Clause.  They  have  nine  children, 
of  whom  two  died  in  infancy,  and  the  sur- 
vivors are:  Minnie  Laura,  wife  of  A.  W. 
Kim,  of  Steelton;  Daisy  Louisa,  Martin  Lu- 
ther, Eva  Victoria,  Edna  Bella,  Henry 
Paul,  and  Isaac  Lee.  Mr.  Keller  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Steelton  Council,  No.  933,  R.  A.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  The 
family  are  members  of  St.  John's  Lutheran 
church,  of  Steelton. 


Keister,  William  A.,  merchant,  Steelton, 
was  born  in  York  county,  Pa.,  November  23, 
1848;  son  of  Samuel  Keister.  The  father 
was  born  in  1809,  son  of  Adam  Keister,  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  York  county.  He  married  Margaret 
Wagner;  both  lived  to  old  age.  Tlie  fatlier 
was  a  tanner  by  trade  and  followed  tliat  oc- 
cupation until  18G5,  when  he  went  West 
and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Anna  'uickersliam,  born  in  March, 
1810,  daughter  of  John  Wickersham,  oi  York 
county,  l)y  wiiom  he  iiad  fourteen  cinldren, 
of  whom  thirteen  are  living:  Matilda,  Re- 
becca, Margaret,  Lydia  Ann,  Louisa,  Clinton, 
Calvin,  Mahala  and  Malinda,  twins;  Will- 
iam A.  and  Martha  Jane,  twins ;  Maurice  and 
Elcinda,  twins,  the  latter  deceased,  and  Eu- 
seubius.  Tlie  father  died  in  1882  aged  sev- 
enty-three years.  William  A.  received  ins 
education  in  tlie  schools  of  York  county, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  which 
he  followed  for  several  years.  From  1872  to 
1873  he  was  clerk  in  the  store  of  Baucliman 
Sons  &  Co.,  and  served  in  the  same  capacity 
with  H.  Gregory  until  1877.  For  the  suc- 
ceeding three  years  he  was  traveling  sales- 
man for  A.  R.  McCowe  &  Co.  In  1881  he 
opened  business  in  New  Cumberland,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Kauffman  &  Keister  and 
continued  there  until  1882,  when  he  came 
to  Steelton,  where  he  has  since  continued  to 
conduct  a  general  mercantile  business.  Mr. 
Keister  was  married,  in  1882,  to  Miss  Prowell, 
daughter  of  James  W.  Prowell,  of  York 
county,  to  whona  has  been  born  one  child : 
Walter,  born  in  1883. 


was  a  hotel  keeper.  He  kept  the  hotel  at 
Buck's  Lock  while  the  Pennsylvania  canal 
was  being  built,  and  also  kept  the  Farmers' 
Hotel  at  Higlispire,  where  he  died  in  1861. 
He  married  Susan  Detweiler,  who  died  in 
188G.  They  reared  six  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living:  J.  J.  Lehman, at  Highspire; 
C.  Lehman,  deceased,  whose  widow  and  four 
children  survive  him;  W.  ('.,  Middlotown  ; 
Frank,  deceased,  whose  widow  and  two  sons 
survive  him;  Simon  C,  and  D.  L.,  living  at 
Urbana,  Ohio. 

Simon  C.  attended  the  common  schools  of 
his  neighborhood,  and  when  a  young  man 
was  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  brother,  J.  J. 
Lehman,  at  Highspire,  for  one  year,  after 
which  he  was  employed  in  the  steel  mills  at 
Steelton  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1885  he 
established  a  business  at  Highspire,  which 
he  conducted  until  1887,  when  he  removed 
to  Steelton  and  purchased  the  property  in 
which  he  now  resides,  and  engaged  in  the 
confectionery  business,  which  he  has  since 
carried  on.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  the 
interest  of  his  party.  In  1887  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Alaggie  J ,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Suavely,  of  Oberiin,  Pa. 


Lehm.vn,  Simon  C,  confectioner,  Steelton, 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  December 
3,  1856;  son  of  Daniel  Lehman.  The  father 
was  born  in  Lancaster  count}',  in  1821,  and 


Jones,  William  McHenry,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Steelton  Planing  Mill  Com- 
pany, Steelton,  Pa.,  was  born  April  12,  1844, 
in  Nortliampton  county ;  son  of  Robert 
Evan  and  Caroline  (Dietrick)  Jones.  Will- 
iam was  reared  in  his  native  county  until 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  His  educa- 
tion was  received  in  the  public  schools  and 
in  Buck.nell  University,  Lewisburg,  Pa.  In 
1860  he  moved  to  Union  county,  and  in  1861 
enlisted  in  company  E,  Forty-seventh  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  and  served  tiiree  years. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  took  a  com- 
mercial course  in  Eastman's  Business  Col- 
lege, Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  then  clerked 
for  Wallace,  Smith  &  Co.,  Lewisburg,  until 
1858.  In  1878  he  established  a  dry  goods 
and  notion  bazaar  in  Lewisburg,  and  con- 
tinued until  1878  when  he  moved  to  Steelton, 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  conducted  a  real 
estate  business  for  a  time.  About  1895  he 
became  connected  with  the  Steelton  planing 
mill.  He  was  married,  in  1868,  to  Caroline 
Criswell,  daughter  of  James  Criswell,  of 
Lewisburg.  They  have  three  children : 
Katie,  Edith  C,  ami  Criswell  Jane.  Mr. 
Jones  is  a  stockholder  in  one  of  the  banks 
and  is  connected  with  Sergt.  S.  W.  Lascomb 


HENRY  FARNUM. 


DAUPHIN  C'OUNTY. 


1045 


Post,  No.  351,  G.  A.  R.;  Royal  Arcanum, 
regent  and  past  regent ;  State  Capital 
Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Harrisburg.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been 
president  of  the  city  council,  and  also  been 
on  the  school  board.  He  is  jiresident  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  heisa  member.  Hisfatlier 
was  a  physician  and  practiced  in  Northani])- 
ton  county,  where  he  died.  His  brother 
Robert  is  attorney  for  the  Eastern  Transfer 
CompauN'  and  has  been  a  United  States  bank 
examiner.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  a  leader 
of  the  party  in  his  district. 


ried,  secondly,  in  1879,  to  Miss  Smith,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Smith,  of  Union  Deposit,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children :  Katie  and 
Miles,  both  living  at  home. 


Meyers,  John,  Jr.,  Enhaut,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  September  7,  1842  ; 
son  of  John  Meyers.  The  grandfather,  Abra- 
ham Meyers,  was  the  fir.st  of  the  family  to 
settle  in  Dauphin  county,  he  having  removed 
at  a  very  early  day  from  Lancaster  county 
to  Harrisburg,  where  he  died  when  John 
was  nine  years  old.  His  wife  died  when 
John  was  three  months  old.  John  Meyers, 
the  lather,  was  born  at  Harrisburg  in  1818, 
and  having  lost  his  parents  l.)y  death,  was 
reared  by  Abraluim  Weitzel,on  the  Cameron 
farm.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  miller,  and 
was  also  engaged  in  farming.  His  first  wife 
was  Susan  Miller,  and  they  had  six.  chil- 
dren :  John,  Harry,  Thomas,  Josepli,  Mary, 
and  Susan.  For  his  second  wife  he  married 
Catherine  Wade,  and  they  had  three  chil- 
dren :  Amos,  Katie,  and  Charles. 
'■  John  Meyers,  Jr.,  attended  the  common 
schools  of  Dauphin  count}'  until  his  four- 
teenth j'ear,  after  which  he  was  employed  by 
Martin  Good,  of  Lower  Swatara  townsiiip,  in 
the  fulling  mill  for  fourteen  years,  with  the 
exception  of  one  year  spent  in  the  army. 
On  September  7,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany I,  Ninety-third  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  under  Colonel  McCarty  and  Cap- 
tain Boynton,  of  Middletown,  in  which  he 
served  until  May  30,  when  he  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  and  was  con- 
fined to  the  hospital  three  months,  after 
which  he  was  discharged.  After  leaving 
Mr.  Good  he  entered  the  employment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Steel  Company,  in  1871,  where 
he  remained  eight  years,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  engaged  in  weaving  carpets. 
Since  1873  he  has  lived  in  Enhaut.  He  was 
married  first,  in  1865,  to  Miss  Pathmore,  by 
whom  he  reared  three  children  :  Solomon 
Goshen,  died  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Ober ; 
and  John,  living  in  Chicago.  He  was  mar- 
65 


MuMMA,  Christ  Nissley,  of  the  firm  of 
Keller  &  Mumma,  Steelton,  was  born  on  the 
homestead  farm  near  Highspire,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  July  5,  1857  ;  son  of  Isaac  and 
Mary  (Nissley)  Mumma,  both  natives  of 
Dauphin  county.  The  father  was  born  at 
Highsi^ire,  where  he  spent  his  life,  and  was 
engaged  in  farming.  At  tiie  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years  he  was  elected  commissioner  of 
Dauphin  county,  and  filled  that  important 
office  with  the  utmost  satisfaction  to  the 
citizens  for  two  terms.  For  about  twenty 
years  he  was  a.ssociate  judge  of  the  county, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  been  serv- 
ing as  sheriff  for  twenty-six  months.  He 
was  a  charter  member  and  director  of  the 
Hummelstown  National  Bank.  He  married 
Mary  Nissley,  a  native  of  Hummelstown, 
who  survives  him.  Their  children  are: 
Emma  J.;  Annie  E.;  Mary  F.,  wife  of  Edgar 
C.  Huinmel,  deputy  sheriff',  residing  in 
Hummelstown ;  Christ  N.;  Alice  E.;  Blanche 
B.;  Ralph  L,  postal  clerk,  and  Opal  H. 

Christ  N.  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  at- 
tended the  schools  in  Highspire.  P'or  eight 
years  he  was  teller  in  tiie  Hummelstown 
National  Bank,  after  which  he  served  for 
four  years  in  tiie  same  position  in  the  Steel- 
ton  National  Bank,  which  he  resigned  in 
July,  1887,  to  engage  in  his  present 
business.  Mr.  Mumma  was  married,  at 
Hummelstown,  February  22,  1883,  to  Mi.ss 
Aggie  M.  Shope,  daughter  of  Dr.  Jacob  and 
Esther  (Mann)  Shope.  Tlieir  children  are  : 
Charles  S.,  died  in  1889;  Robert  W.,  Walter 
M.,  and  Harold.  Mr.  Mumma  is  a  member 
and  for  six  j'ears  the  treasurer  of  Steelton 
Lodge,  No.  184;  of  Steelton  Encampment, 
No.  278,  and  of  Evangeline  Rebecca  degree 
Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  a  Republican.  He  attends  the  St.  John's 
Lutiieran  church,  Steelton,  and  is  secretary 
of  the  finance  committee  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
He  is  also  the  agent  at  Steelton  for  the 
Adams  Express  Company. 


Miller,  Charles  R.,  M.  D.,  Steelton,  was 
born  in  Walker  township,  Schuylkill  county. 
Pa.,  February  7,  1858;  son  of  Eli  and  Mary 
(Koch)  Miller,  both  deceased.  He  was  reared 
in  iiis  native  townsiiip,  and  his  primary  edu- 
cation was  received  in  the  district  schools  01 


104G 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


that  township  and  McCainsbiirg.  Subse- 
quently lie  took  a  normal  and  scientific  course 
at  Easton  Normal  School,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1883.  While 
securing  his  education  he  was  also  employed 
in  teaching  public  schools  for  ten  years,  and 
from  1882  to  1887  was  occupied  in  the  study 
of  medicine.  He  entered  the  Hahnemann 
Medical  College  at  Philadeli)hia,  in  1885, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1887.  Tiiree 
months  later  he  entered  upon  tlu^  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Steelton,  in  whicli  he  has 
been  continuously  engaged  since  that  time. 
Dr.  Miller  was  married  at  Orwigsburg, 
Schuylkill  county,  January  14, 1888,  to  Mary 
A.  Hoy,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hoy,  by  whom 
he  has  one  daughter,  Maud  H.  He  is  a 
member  of  Camp  No.  102,  P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  and 
Steelton  Lodge,  No.  184,  I.  O.  0.  F.  Dr. 
Miller  is  also  a  member  of  the  Central 
Pennsylvania  Homoepathic  Medical  Society. 
In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican.  lie 
attends  St.  John's  Lutheran  church. 


Mover,  Elkanah  D.,  general  secretary 
of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Steelton,  was  born  in 
Robisonia,  North  Heidelberg  township,  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  September  24,  1869;  son  of  Jer- 
emiah E.  and  Melinda  S.  (Wenrich)  Moycr. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Berks  county, 
and  the  mother  of  I^'banon  county,  both 
living  and  residing  in  Berks  county,  where 
the  father  is  engaged  in  agricultural  inir- 
suits.     His  children  are:  Rufus  E.,  Orlando 

C,  Herbert  C,  Stella  G.,  and  E.  D.     Elkanah 

D.  received  his  primarj'  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
later  attended  the  Keystone  State  Normal 
School,  from  which  latter  institution  he  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1889.  He  also 
took  a  course  at  the  Inter-State  Commercial 
College  at  Reading,  and  the  Palmer's  Sliort 
Hand  College  of  Philadelphia,  after  which 
he  taught  one  year  at  the  Inter-State  College 
and  four  years  in  tlie  public  school  of  his 
native  county.  He  then  attended  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  Training  School  at  Springfield,  Mass., 
and  comjtleted  a  course  there,  and  on  August 
1, 1895,  was  appointed  to  his  present  position. 
Mr.  Moyer  is  unmarried.  He  is  a  member  of 
St.  John's  Lutheran  church. 


carpenter  trade  with  Michael  Ebersone,  with 
whom  he  served  one  year,  after  which  he 
served  three  years  with  Daniel  Meyers.  In 
1871  he  came  to  Steelton  and  entered  the 
employment  of  the  Penn.sylvania  Steel  Com- 
pany, and  worked  in  tiie  Bessemer  depart- 
ment for  three  years,  wiien  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Idooming  mill  No.  1,  in  which  he 
remained  until  1891.  In  that  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  commissioner  of  Dau- 
phin county,  and  jierl'ormed  the  duties  of 
the  office  for  one  term,  with  satisfaction  to 
the  citizens,  who  elected  him  in  1893  for  a 
second  term.  He  also  served  as  State  and 
county  tax  collector  in  1889.  He  is  active  in 
political  matters  in  connection  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  Mr.  Nell  is  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  184,  and  of  Encampment  No. 
278,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  at  Steelton,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  Susquehanna  tribe,  No.  298,  I.  0. 
R.  M.  In  1874  he  was  married  to  Mi.ss  Sarah 
A.  Angeny,  daughter  of  William  Angeny, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living:  Harry  A.  and  William 
H.;  Jennie  May  died  at  the  age  of  two 
months.  Mr.  Nell  was  married,  secondly,  in 
1884,  to  Miss  Lorada  Maliel  Brown,  daugiiter 
of  David  Brown,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children  :  John  E.,  Zelma,  and  Katie. 


Nell,  Levi  H.,  Steelton,  was  born  in  Adams 
county.  Pa.,  June  17,  1850;  son  of  Abraham 
Nell.  He  attended  the  common  schools  of  his 
county,  and  woi"ked  on  the  farm  with  his 
father.     He  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the 


NissLEY,  Frank,  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Ca|)ital  Shii't  Company,  Steelton,  was 
born  in  Miildletown,  Dau]ihin  county,  Pa., 
June  10,  185(5;  son  of  Jacob  and  Lydia 
(Croll)  Nissley.  He  was  reared  in  Middle- 
town  and  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  place.  He  also  took 
a  course  in  the  Iron  City  Commercial  Col- 
lege, at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  His  first  business 
engagement  was  with  the  Middletown  Fur- 
niture Comjiany,  where  he  served  as  ac- 
countant for  six  years,  after  which  he  served 
in  the  same  capacity  for  two  years  with  R. 
1.  Young.  He  was  then  seven  years  as  ac- 
countant with  theConewago  Iron  Company, 
at  Middletown.  In  May,  1888,  he  was  ap- 
pointed secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Capi- 
tal Shirt  Company,  since  which  date  he  has 
acceptably  filled  the  position.  Mr.  Nissley 
was  married,  at  Middletown,  Pa.,  April  15, 
1880,  to  Miss  Julia  Rambler,  daughter  of 
M.  B.  and  M.  J.  Rambler,  of  Middletown. 
He  has  served  as  school  director  at  Middle- 
town.  He  and  his  family  attend  the  Lu- 
theran church,  of  Middletown,  where  they 
have  their  residence. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1047 


Peters,  Benjamin  Snyder,  son  of  Will- 
iam and  f]lizabeth  (Snyder)  Peters,  was  born 
March  19,  1834,  in  Londonderry  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.  His  grandfather,  Ja- 
cob Peters,  was  a  native  of  Lebanon  county, 
and  died  there.  He  married  Barbara  Beeley, 
of  Lebanon;  she  died  at  Altoona.  Their 
son,  William  Peters,  was  born  in  London- 
derry township,  now  Conewago  township, 
October  27,  1811,  and  is  still  living.  His 
wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Al)rahani 
Sn^'der,  a  native  of  Switzerland.  She  was 
born  April  15,  1812,  in  Londonderry  town- 
ship, and  is  living.  Benjamin  S.  Peters  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  entered  a  store  at  Kelly's 
Corners,  Lebanon  count}",  to  learn  merchan- 
dizing, and  afterwards  at  Meyerstown.  In 
1858  he  commenced  business  at  Palmj^a 
Landing,  Lebanon  county,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1862,  when  he  removed  to 
Middletown,  where  he  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  his  uncle  in  the  mercantile  trade. 
At  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  he  jiurcliased 
the  store  of  Yetman  Eves,  and  for  several 
years  w-as  the  senior  partner  of  the  firm  of 
Peters  &  Bro.  He  retired  from  business 
in  January,  1883,  and  when  the  Farmers' 
Bank  was  established  was  made  a  director 
and  chosen  president,  which  position  he  now 
fills.  Mr.  Peters  married,  in  November, 
1855,  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and.  Polly 
(Beane)  Rupp,  of  Lebanon  county,  and  their 
children  were :  Emma,  Jerome  G.,  and  Eliza- 
beth. 


Peters,  Simon  C,  president  of  the  Capital 
Shirt  Company,  Steelton,  was  born  in  Lon- 
donderry township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
June  15, 1846 ;  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Snyder)  Peters.  Both  parents  were  born 
in  Dauphin  county.  The  father  was  a 
weaver  by  trade  but  was  for  the  most  part 
engaged  in  farming.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one  years.  The  wife  survives  him 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years  and  resides 
on  the  old  homestead.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  five  are  living:  Benjamin  S., 
president  of  the  Fanners'  Bank  and  the  lead- 
ing merchant  at  Middletown,  Pa.;  Catherine, 
wife  of  Joseph  Felser,  residing  in  London- 
derry township;  Simon  C;  Mary,  married, 
Londonderry  township  ;  Samuel  S.,  a  prom- 
inent grocer  of  Middletown. 

Simon  C.  lived  on  the  farm  and  attended 
the  public  school  of  his  native  township  until 
he    was   twelve   years  of  age    when  he  re- 


moved to  Middletown  and  was  employed  as 
a  salesman  in  a  general  store.  About  twelve 
years  later  he  and  his  brother,  Benjamin  S., 
of  Middletown,  purchased  this  store  and  con- 
ducted it  for  eighteen  years  under  the  firm 
name  of  Peters  &  Bro.,  after  wliich,  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health,  he  was  obliged  to 
abandon  the  business  and  sold  his  interest 
to  his  nephew,  Jerome  G.  Peters.  For  the 
next  year  and  a  half  he  was  not  in  any  ac- 
tive employment,  but  in  1886,  in  connection 
with  I.  B.  Keller,  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  shirts  at  Lebanon.  In  1888  the 
CVipital  Shirt  Company  was  formed  and  in- 
corporated with  Mr.  Peters  as  president,  Mr. 
Frank  Nisslej',  secretary,  and  Mr.  Isaac  B. 
Keller,  superintendent.  Mr.  Peters  was 
married,  at  Middletown,  Pa.,  May  15,  1873, 
to  Miss  Rachel  S.  Nissley,  daughter  of  Jacob 
L.  and  Lydia  (CroU)  Nissley.  Their  children 
are  :  Marion  Nissley,  Lj'dia  Croll,  and  Simon 
C,  Jr.  Mr.  Peters  is  a  director  of  the  Far- 
mers' Bank  at  Middletown,  and  also  one  of 
the  organizers  and  treasurer  of  the  Mid- 
dletown Drainage  Company.  He  is  i)rom- 
inently  connected  with  the  Masonic  fratern- 
ity, being  a  member  of  Prince  Edwin  Lodge, 
No.  486 ;  Perseverance  Chapter,  No.  21,  and 
Pilgrim  Commandery,  No.  11,  K.  T.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Peters  is  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  family  are  memliers  of  St.  Peter's 
church,  at  Middletown,  where  they  reside. 


Prowell,  Dr.  Willi.\m  R,.,  pharmacist, 
Steelton,  was  born  in  Fishing  Creek  Valley, 
York  county.  Pa.,  March  20,  1854;  son  of 
Samuel  L.  and  Sarah  (Reeser)  Prowell.  The 
father  was  born  in  York  county,  July  25, 
1813,  and  died  July  18,  1871.  His  life  was 
spent  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he  took 
an  active  interest  in  all  measures  calculated 
to  better  the  condition  of  his  fellow-men  and 
to  promote  the  growth  and  prosi)(a'ity  of  the 
community.  He  was  much  in  jiublic  life, 
and  filled  efficiently  several  offices  of  ti'ust. 
The  mother  was  also  a  native  of  York 
county,  and  died  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  thir- 
ty-eight years.  They  had  twelve  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living:  Henry,  residing 
in  New  York  ;  Silas,  living  on  the  home- 
stead ;  Prof.  George  R.,  principal  of  Hanover 
high  school ;  Dr.  William  R.;  Eliza,  wife  of 
Martin  Bare,  Hummelstown,  Pa.;  Jane,  wife 
of  Jacob  Berger,  Goldsboro,  York  county  ; 
Ehnira,  wife  of  Sanniel  G.  Detwiler,  Steel- 
ton; and  Susan,  wife  of  Henry  Miller,  York, 
Pa.     Of  their  deceased  children,  two  died  in 


1048 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENUyVLOPEDlA 


infancy  ;  Dr.  Andrew  R.  died  at  Manchester, 
Pa.,  in  1872,  and  Franklin  R.  died  at  Golds- 
boro,  Pa,  in  1886. 

William  R.  was  reared  on  the  homestead 
farm,  and  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  township. 
In  1800  he  entered  the  State  Normal  School 
at  Millersville,  in  which  he  took  a  three 
years'  course,  and  in  1872  taught  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  York  county.  During  the  follow- 
ing year  he  read  nieditine  with  Dr.  AV.  E. 
Sweiler,  of  Yocumtown,  and  in  the  fall  of  1874 
entered  the  Jeti'erson  Medical  College,  at  Phil- 
adelphia, from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
March,  1876,  and  at  once  began  the  in-actice 
of  medicine,  at  Siddonsburg,  York  county,  in 
which  he  continued  until  July,  188!»,  when  he 
removed  to  Steelton,  where  he  has  since  been 
a  continuous  resident,  devoting  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  to  his  pharmacy.  Dr. 
Prowell  is  at  present  filling  the  office  of  tax 
receiver  in  the  internal  revenue  department, 
and  his  term  of  office  continues  until  1S!)7. 
He  was  married,  at  Siildonsburg,  Octol)er  5, 
1876,  to  Miss  Jennie  E.  Elcock,  daughter  of 
John  and  Christy  Ann  Elcock,  to  whom  have 
been  born  four  children,  of  whom  the  sur- 
vivors are:  Tolbert,  Nellie,  and  Jacob  Henrv. 
Viola  May  died  September  13,  1882,  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  Ella  died  March  2(j,  1886, 
at  the  age  of  six  months.  Dr.  Prowell  is  a 
member  of  the  Heptasophs,  and  of  the  State 
Pharmaceutical  Society.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  at- 
tends the  Presbyterian  church. 


Page,  S.  S.,  Oberlin,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Pax- 
tang  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  in 
1856 ;  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Ann  (Over- 
cash)  Page.  He  attended  the  schools  in 
Dauphin  county,  and  at  Palmyra,  Pa.,  and 
was  em})loyed  on  the  farm  until  .seventeen 
years  of  age,  when  he  became  an  ajiprentieo 
at  the  carpenter  trade  with  J.  B.  Dunkle, 
upon  completion  of  which  he  engaged  in 
contracting  and  building.  Subsequentl}'  he 
took  up  the  real  estate  businets  at  Steelton, 
in  which  he  has  continued  until  the  present 
time.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Page  is  a 
Republican,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  pub- 
lic matters.  He  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  in  1877,  and  served  until  1892,  when 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature, 
and  in  189-t  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office. 
He  has  been  a  delegate  to  county  conven- 
tions, and  has  served  on  the  Republican 
County  Committee.      Mr.   Page  was  instru- 


mental in  the  organization  of  the  Citizens' 
Passenger  Railway  Company,  and  was  one 
of  the  directors  of  the  company  up  to  1895. 
He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Dauphin  County 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  is  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Guarantee  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
I»any,  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Page  was  mar- 
ried, in  1876,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Brehm,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Samuel  Brehm,  of  Hummelstown, 
by  whom  he  has  six  children:  Anna  Mary, 
Jennie  Pearl,  Arthur  Levan,Louman  Brehm, 
Ivlgar  Sylvester,  and  Faith  G.  Mr.  Page 
has  been  an  honored  citizen  of  Oberlin  since 
1876,  and  has  contributed  largely  to  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  place. 


IvTTTHEKFORD,  JoHN,  teaclu'r  and  farmer, 
was  born  November  9,  1840,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  B.  and  Keziah  Rutherford.  The 
grandfather,  Samuel,  was  a  native  of  Dau- 
phin county  and  was  engaged  in  farming, 
which  occupation  he  pursued  all  his  life. 
liii  had  a  family  of  six  children.  The  par- 
ents also  were  natives  of  Dauphin  county 
and  were  engaged  in  farming. 

John  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren and  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Swatara  townshij)  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  attended  the 
academy  for  a  year  and  a  half.  In  1864 
Mr.  Iiutherford  enlisted  in  company  G,  Two 
Hundred  and  First  regiment,  and  served 
for  ten  months.  Since  that  time  his  time 
has  been  divided  between  teaching  and 
farming.  He  was  married,  December  10, 
1868,  to  Miss  Margaret  B.  Elder,  daughter  of 
Joshua  and  Nanc}'  (Brown)  Elder.  Their 
children  are:  Howard  A.,  Ralph  B.,  Elenora 
v.,  Isabella  P.,  .John,  Margaret  B.,  Matthew 
R.,  Ruth,  and  A'anc}-  B.  The  latter  died  in 
her  infancy.  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  Republi- 
can and  served  as  school  director  for  six 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  G.  A.  R.  Post 
No.  58,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
bvterian  church. 


Rutherford,  Francis  W.,  farmer,  was 
born  December  4,  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
B.  and  Keziah  (Park)  Rutherford.  The 
grandfather,  Samuel,  was  born  July  16, 1769, 
and  his  wife.  Miss  Elizabeth  Bronson,  in 
October,  1770.  The  maternal  grandfather 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  and  married 
Miss  jNIargarct  Ainsworth.  Tlieir  children 
were :  Thomas,  Samuel,  Matthew,  Eliza,  Mary, 
Margaret,  William,  Margaret  Long,  and  Ma- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1049 


tilda.     The  grandfather  was  a  director  of  the 
Harrishurg  Bank. 

The  fatlier  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
wliile  the  mother  was  a  native  of  Ciiester 
county.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Miss 
Keziah  Park,  and  their  marriage  occurred 
March  19,  1833.  Their  cliildren  were  :  Mary 
L.,  Eliza  J.,  Adaline,  Samuel,  John  A.,  Fran- 
cis W.,  K.  Y.,  and  Mamie  G.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  tarming  until  he  retired  in  1878. 
He  filled  a  number  of  township  offices  and 
seryed  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  also  for 
one  term  as  State  senator.  He  died  October 
10,  1892,  and  his  wife  July  2,  1885.  Tiu^y 
were  botli  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  Mr.  Rutherford  was  an 
elder  for  many  years. 

Francis  W.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Swatara  town.ship  until  he 
was  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  attended 
the  Millersville  State  Normal  School.  In 
]8(i4  he  enlisted  in  company  D,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Ninety-fourth  regiment,  and  served 
until  honorablv  discharged.  After  the  war 
he  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father.  He 
was  married,  February  14,  1878,  to  Miss  Ella 
S.  Elder,  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Nancy 
(Brown)  Elder.  Their  children  are:  Joshua, 
Thomas  M.,  Norman,  Francis  W.,  Samuel  B., 
Jane  W.  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  school  director 
and  a  member  of  Po.st  No.  58,  G.  A.  R.,  Har- 
ri.sliurg,  Pa.  In  j^olitics  he  is  a  Republican 
and  he  and  his  famil}'  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Mrs.  Rutherford's 
father  was  born  January  18, 1802,  in  Swatara 
township.  He  first  married  Miss  Elenora 
Sliearer,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons :  Joshua 
R.,  David  R.,  and  Jf»hn.  He  married,  sec- 
ondly, Miss  Mary  Gilmore,  and  they  had  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth  M.,  wife  of  William  K. 
Cowden.  His  third  wife  was  Miss  Nancy 
Brown,  daughter  of  Tiiomas  and  Margarette 
(Ainsworth)  Brown.  Tiieir  children  are: 
Margaret,  Mattiiew,  Eleanor,  Matilda,  and 
Mary  Ada,  deceased.  The  father  died  August 
25,  1888,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  and 
the  mother  October  4,  1887,  aged  seventy 
years.  Both  were  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church. 


RiCKER,  George  T.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Swatara  township,  Juh'  13,  1839,  and  is  a 
son  of  Frederick  and  Catherine  (Backstoe) 
Ricker.  The  great-grandfather  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  and  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  The  paternal  grandparents  were 
natives   of    Lebanon    countv  and    were  en- 


gaged in  farming.  Tliey  reared  a  family  of 
seven  children,  of  whom  William  alone  sur- 
vives. The  maternal  grandparents  were 
also  natives  of  Lebanon  county  and  engageil 
in  farming.  They  had  six  children,  and 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

The  father  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
October,  1790,  and  received  his  education  in 
his  native  county.  He  lived  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  thirty  years  old,  and  then,  in 
182G,  engaged  in  tiie  hotel  business  for 
twenty-seven  years  in  Swatara  township. 
He  then  began  farming  again,  and  contin- 
ued a  number  of  years  in  that  occu})ation. 
He  finally  retired  to  Hummelstown,  where 
he  died  in  May,  1872.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Wliig,  and  served  as  school  director  for  six 
years  in  Swatara  township.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  His  wife 
died  in  October,  1888,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  Backstoe,  daughter  of  George  and 
p]lizabeth  (Hoover)  Backstoe,  in  Derry  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  February,  1821. 
They  had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  five 
are  living:  Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Frederick, 
Mar}',  and  George  T. 

George  T.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  county,  and 
lived  with  his  parents  until  twenty-seven 
years  of  age.  In  1866  Mr.  Ricker  began 
farming  for  himself  on  the  old  homestead, 
which  he  bought  from  his  father's  estate  in 
1873,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was 
married,  at  Hummelstown,  November  19, 
1865,  to  Miss  C!atherine  Hetrick,  daughter 
of  Adam  and  Margaret  (Albright)  Hetrick. 
Their  cliildren  were  :  Maggie  C.;  Edwin  S.; 
William  H.,  who  graduated  from  the  Phila- 
delphia School  of  Pharmacy  in  1895,  and 
is  now  clerk  for  Dr.  Meade,  in  Philadel[)hia  ; 
Harry  C.  who  died  September  1,  1879.  In 
politics  Mr.  Ricker  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  served  as  school  director  for  six  years, 
and  held  the  office  of  tax  collector  one  year. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Mrs.  Ricker  was  born  May  28, 1843.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Dauphin  county, 
her  father  being  born  January  11,  1803,  the 
mother  July  11,  1798.  Her  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occu])ation,  and  married  Miss 
Margaret  Alljright,  daughter  of  Henrv  and 
Elizabeth  (Wahner)  Albright.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  John  H. ;  Adam  ;  William  ;  Cath- 
erine; Caroline,  deceased;  Margaret,  de- 
ceased ;  Amos,  deceased ;  and  Samuel,  de- 
ceased.    The  father  was  a  tanner  and  died 


1050 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


in  1865,  and  the  mother  in  1870.  The 
former  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church,  the  latter  of  the  Lutheran. 


Spitler,  Adam  CI.,  shoemaker,  was  born 
in  .Jonestown,  Lebanon  count}',  October  30, 
1818,  and  is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth 
(Gosscrd)  Spitlur.  The  grandfather  was  a 
native  of  Lebanon  county,  as  were  also  the 
father  and  mother.  The  father  was  a  weaver 
by  trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  all 
his  life.  He  mai-ried  Miss  Elizabeth  Oo.s- 
serd,  and  their  children  are:  Adam  G.; 
John,  deceased  ;  William,  deceased  ;  Samuel, 
also  deceased.  He  filled  various  offices  in 
Lebanon  county,  serving  as  constable  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  as  tax  collector,  and 
lor  iifteen  years  was  assessor. 

Adam  G.  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  until  he  was  sixteen  years 
old,  when  \w  secured  employment  on  the 
Union  canal  for  two  years,  and  then  began 
the  trade  of  hat  manufacturer,  but  was  com- 
pelled to  quit  because  of  ill  health.  We  next 
learned  the  trade  of  shocmaking,  and  has 
spent  most  of  his  time  since  in  that  occupa- 
tion, but  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  boating 
along  the  canal  above  Hummelstown.  He 
resided  for  thirteen  years  at  the  old  lock- 
house,  and  then  built  the  home  he  now  oc- 
cupies. He  retired  from  work  in  1894.  He 
was  married,  April  18,  1842,  at  .Jonestown, 
to  Miss  Rebecca  Swartz,  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Mary  (Cautier)  Swartz.  Their  children 
are:  Jacob,  Alfred,  Pollie,  Benjamin,  Sam- 
uel, Adam,  deceased,  and  I^nma,  deceased. 
Mr.  Spitler  is  a  Re])ublican,  and  a  member 
of  the  J^utheran  church.  ]\[rs.  Spitler  was 
born  February  28,  1825,  in  Berks  county, 
of  which  her  parents  were  both  natives. 
Her  father  married  Miss  Mary  Gauffer.  Their 
children  are  :  Absalom  ;  Susan  ;  Rebecca  ; 
Elizabeth  ;  Peter,  deceased  ;  Israel,  deceased  ; 
Reuben,  deceased ;  Leah,  deceased ;  and 
Adeline,  deceased. 


Saul,  Charles  H.,  M.  D.,  Steelton,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  iii  December, 
1853;  son  of  William  Saul,  a  native  also  of 
Dauj)bin  county.  He  receive  his  primary 
education  in  the  iMiddletown  schools,  and  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  entered  the  store 
of  Rambler  &  Luckier  as  a  clerk,  where  he 
remained  eight  years.  In  1875  he  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  Mish  as  a  student  of  medi- 
cine. In  1878  he  was  graduated  from  the 
medical   department   of  the    University    of 


Pennsylvania  at  Philadelphia,  and  at  once 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Steel- 
ton,  where  he  has  .since  enjoyed  an  extensive 
I^atronage.  Dr.  Saul  was  married,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1890,  to  Garoline  Smeller,  daughter 
of  Dr.  George  F.  and  Mary  (Smeller)  Mish, 
of  Middletown  Pa. 


Snavely,  John  H.,  D.  D.  S.,  and  notary  pub- 
lic, Steelton,  was  born  at  Newville,  Cumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  February  19, 1855;  son  of 
John  and  Susan  (Gist)  Suavely.  When  njne 
years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Hockersville,  and  subsequently  to  Hum- 
melstown, where  he  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  He  then  entered  the 
office  of  the  su})erintendent  of  the  Philadel- 
l)bia  and  Reading  Railroiul  Company  at 
Columbia,  as  telegrapher,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  In  the  early  part  of  1870  he  began 
the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  S.  Mathews, 
of  Steelton,  with  whom  he  subsequently 
became  a  partner  in  his  business  and  has 
been  engaged  in  tlu^  practice  of  his  jjrofession 
at  Steelton  for  twenty  years.  Dr.  Suavely 
was  married,  at  Steelton,  February  14,  1892, 
to  Miss  Ella  M.  Dunkle,  daughter  of  Josiah  A. 
and  Mary  Dunkle,  of  Steelton.  They  have 
six  children  :  the  first  born  died  in  infancy. 
Bertha  B.,  Nettie  E.,  Lottie  M.,  Herman  J., 
and  Ruth  B.  l^or  five  years  Dr.  Suavely  oc- 
cupied the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  and 
acceptably  performed  its  duties,  and  in  1890 
was  appointed  notary  public,  which  office  he 
still  holds.  In  connection  with  his  profession 
Dr.  Suavely  conducteil  a  general  store  in 
Steelton  for  four  years,  and  also  carries  on  a 
general  real  estate  business.  He  is  also  the 
agent  of  all  the  Trans-Atlantic  steamship 
companies. 


Vanier,  George  P.,superintendent  of  the 
chemical  department  of  the  Penn.sylvania 
Steel  Works,  was  born  in  Omaha,  Neb., 
June  6,  1862  ;  son  of  Timothy  and  Eliza 
(\''incent)  Vanier.  He  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1871,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  puljlic  schools  of 
that  city.  His  professional  and  scientific 
training  was  received  in  the  Boston  Insti- 
tute of  Technology,  from  which  institution 
he  received  the  degree  of  Mining  Engineer 
in  the  class  of  1885.  In  June  of  the  same 
year  he  came  to  Steelton  and  entered  the 
employment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Com- 
pany, and  in  1886  was  advanced  to  the  i)o- 
sitiou   of  superintendent  of    the    chemical 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1051 


laboratory,  wliicli  position  lie  lias  filled 
since  tliat  date.  Mr.  Vanier  was  married, 
in  1892,  to  Miss  Helen  Maloney,  daughter 
of  "Phomas  Maloney,  of  Harrishure;.  'Phey 
have  one  cliild,  George  Kenneth.  ]\Ir.  X'anier 
is  not  active  in  politics.  The  family  are 
members  of  St.  James'  Roman  Catholic 
church. 


Zeiglkk,  William  L.,  physician,  was  born 
at  Halifax,  Daupliin  county.  Pa.,  February 
18,  1855  ;  son  of  Daniel  Zeigler.  Owing  to 
the  death  of  his  father  when  eleven  years 
old  he  began  taking  care  of  himself,  and 
first  found  employment  in  the  tanyard  of 
J.  Henry  iShammo  for  two  and  a  half  years, 
after  whicii  he  became  a  driver  on  the  canal. 
Jacob  Knouf  employed  him  two  years  on 
tiie  farm,  and  then  he  worked  one  summer 
at  whitewashing,  and  after  another  turn  at 
canal  driving  lie  found  employment  at 
Halifax  in  the  store  of  Lodge  &  Landis  for 
some  years.  He  then  attended  a  select  school 
several  terms  and  taught  the  Tyson's  school 
one  term,  after  which  he  returnt'd  to  Hali- 
fax and  worked  for  four  and  a  half  years  in 
tlie  store  of  J.  B.  Landis,  during  which  time 
he  studied  medicine  out  of  business  hours 
with  Dr.  H.  R.  Caslow,  and  thus  prepared 
himself  for  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  at  Baltimore,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  with  honors.  In  May,  1881,  lie 
located  in  Steelton,  where  he  was  succes.sful 
in  his  professional  and  business  career.  In 
his  political  views  Dr.  Zeigler  is  a  staunch 
Democrat  and  is  prominent  and  active  in 
the  party,  having  served  as  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  County  Committee.  He  served 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board  two  terms, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  building  commit- 
tee four  years,  and  in  1891  was  elected 
member  of  the  city  council  from  the  Fifth 
ward,  in  which  office  he  was  active  and  in- 
fluential in  .securing  imi)ortaiit  public  im- 
provements. 


Abercromrie,  Wym.vn  E.,  general  super- 
intendent of  the  Steelton  Store  Company, 
was  born  in  Qnincy,  Mass.,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  form  of  a  practical  training 
for  business  in  dry  goods  and  jobbing  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  was  employed  for 
many  years.  In  1887  he  came  to  Dauphin 
county  and  became  the  superintendent  of 
the    Pennsylvania    Steel    Company's   store. 


which  position  he  has  filled  since  that  date. 
He  is  also  .secretary  of  the  Steelton  Brick 
Company  and  is  .secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Steelton  Flouring  Mills.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1S7G,  to  Mis.s  Coffin. 


UPPER  PAXTON  TOWNSHIP. 


Wenrich,  Francis,  retired,  was  born  near 
Linglestown,  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  September  9,  1810.  He  is 
a  son  of  Peter  and  Susanna  (Umberger)  Wen- 
rich.  His  paternal  grandfather  came  from 
Germany  and  settled  in  Lebanon  county. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  partici- 
pating in  the  battles  of  the  Brandywine  and 
of  Germantown,  served  in  the  military  oper- 
ations on  the  frontiers  against  the  Indians, 
and  was  subse(|uently  at  the  massacre  of 
Wyoming.  He  married  Elizabetli  Greiger; 
they  iiad  two  sons,  Peter,  fatiier  of  Francis, 
and  Philip,  besides  several  daughters.  The 
elder  Francis  Wenrich  died  about  1825,  and, 
witii  his  wife,  is  buried  in  the  Wenricli  grave- 
yard. 

Heinrich  Umberger,  ancestor  of  Susanna 
Umberger,  mother  of  the  younger  Fran- 
cis Wenrich,  came  with  his  wife  and  two 
sons,  Michael  and  John,  to  this  country  in  the 
ship  Hope.  They  landed  at  Philadelphia, 
August  28,  1733,  and  took  up  six  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land,  near  where  the  city 
of  Lel)anon  now  stands.  Michael  Umberger 
had  four  sons:  John,  Henry,  Adam,  and 
Philip.  John  and  Henry  were  soldiers  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  serving  as  captains 
under  Gen.  Anthony  AVayne.  John  was 
in  the  battle  on  Long  Islantl,  and  was  either 
killed  or  captured  by  the  British,  as  lie  never 
returned  or  was  heard  of.  Henry  served 
through  the  war  and  returned  home.  He 
died  aged  one  hundred  and  three  years. 

Adam  Umberger,  third  son  of  Michael, 
had  two  sons,  John  and  David,  and  two 
daughters,  one  of  whom,  Susanna  IL,  is  the 
mother  of  Francis  Wenrich,  iiaving  married 
Peter  Wenrich,  afterwards  high  si le riff  of 
Dauphin  county.  The  otiier  daughter,  Mar- 
garet, was  married  to  Peter  Heckert,  of  Lin- 
glestown, and  died  in  Dauphin,  aged  ninety- 
two.  John  "Umberger,  son  of  Adam,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Wenrich,  sister  of  Peter  Wen- 
rich, the  liigh  sheriff. 

Peter  Wenrich,  son  of  Francis  and  Eliza- 
beth (Greiger)  Wenrich,  was  born  near  Lin- 
glestown,   Dauphin   county.   Pa.,    in    1773. 


1052 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


He  was  brought  upon  his  father's  farm,  and 
received  a  rather  limited  education.  He  re- 
moved to  HaHfax  township,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  election  to  the  office  of  sheriff 
of  Dauphin  county ;  he  then  removed  to 
Harrisburg.  His  official  term  was  from  Oc- 
tober 19,  1818,  to  October  Ifi,  1821.  He  also 
became  proprietor  of  the  hotel  which  formerly 
occupied  the  site  of  the  Locliiel  House. 
Peter  Wenricli  was  of  moral  character,  a 
public-.sj)i riled  citizen  and  a  conscientious 
and  efficient  public  servant.  He  died  in 
Harrisburg,  February  27,  1825,  in  the  fifty- 
second  year  of  his  age.  His  marriage  with 
Susanna,  daughter  of  John  Umberger,  took 
place  February  2,  179G.  They  had  eleven 
children:  Joiui ;  Peter;  Samuel;  Francis; 
David ;  Joseph  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Henry  Sheafer ; 
Eiizaljetii,  wife  of  Isaac  Minshall ;  Susan, 
wife  of  Mr.  Sloan  ;  Sarali,  wife  of  William 
Scott,  and  Rebecca,  wife  of  Albeii  Umberger. 

In  181(5,  when  Francis  Wenrich  was  six 
years  old,  iiis  parents  removed  to  the  bor- 
ough of  Halifax  ;  two  years  later,  his  father 
beingmadesheriff,  the  family  removed  to  Har- 
risburg. There  he  attended  a  private  scliool 
tauglitby  Patrick  McCusliion,  was  afterwards 
a  student  in  the  Harrisburg  Academy,  until 
lie  was  fourteen,  and  later  attended  a  i)rivate 
school  at  Halifax.  After  his  father's  deatii 
in  1825,  Mr.  Wenrich  assisted  his  brotiier-in- 
law,  Henry  Sheafer,  in  the  management  of 
the  hotel.  Shortly  after  Mr.  Slieafer  took 
the  contract  for  building  tlie  turnpike  across 
Peters'  Mountain,  and  employed  Francis 
Wenrich  to  su])erintend  tiie  work.  This  be- 
ing completed,  Francis  engaged  in  contract- 
ing on  his  own  account,  and  at  sixteen  years 
of  age  .secured  the  contract  of  constructing 
two  sections  of  the  Lykens  \'al]ey  railroad, 
projected  and  located  some  time  before. 
Having  finished  this  job  in  about  a  year,  he 
was  for  some  time  employed  as  manager 
of  tlie  large  store  of  Slieriff  Samuel  France, 
at  Millersliurg,  Pa.  He  was  next  engaged  in 
sujierintending  the  construction  of  the  rail- 
road from  York,  Pa.,  to  Baltmore,  Md.,  which 
occupied  about  one  3'ear.  In-1846,  in  con- 
nection with  his  brother-in-law,  Henrj' 
Sheafer,  and  Mr.  Ehrman,  he  entered  into  a 
contract  for  tlie  rebuilding  of  the  Lykens 
Valle\'  railroad  and  completed  the  work  in 
about  two  years. 

Mr.  Wenrich  afterwards  returned  to  Mil- 
lersburg,  and  was  employed  as  shipping  agent 
for  the  Lykens  Valley  Coal  Company,  the 
company  then   consisting   of  Simon  Gratz, 


George  Thompson,  Rock  Thompson,  Henry 
Sheafer  and  Henry  Schreiner.  In  this  po- 
sition he  remained  until  1861 ;  he  shipped 
over  220,000  tons  of  coal  per  annum  for 
the  Summit  Branch  Railway  Coal  Com- 
pany. In  18()4  he  contracted  with  the  Sum- 
mit Branch  Coal  Company  for  the  excava- 
tion and  construction  of  the  famous  canal 
basin  at  Millersburg.  After  completing  the 
basin  he  was  employed  by  the  company  as 
shipping  and  sales  agent.  Since  1869  Mr. 
Wenrich  has  not  been  actively  engaged  in 
any  business  excepting  tlie  management  of 
his  extensive  private  interests.  He  was 
active  and  largely  interested  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Millersburg  Bank,  of  which  he 
is  now  the  president.  Mr.  Wenrich  began 
his  business  career  at  the  age  of  fifteen  with- 
out any  mr  ney  capital.  His  enviable  suc- 
cess is  due  to  his  sagacity  and  foresight  in 
business,  and  his  correct  and  able  methods. 
Young  men  will  find  in  the  record  of  his  life 
I'ncouragement  and  inspiration,  and  will 
learn  from  his  history  how  one  may  rise 
from  lowly  conditions  to  honor  and  affiuence. 

Francis  Wenrich  was  married,  May  29, 
1838,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Mary 
(Ditty)  Light,  born  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship, January  17,  1814.  They  have  had  four 
children  :  Joseph,  born  April  14,  1841,  died 
September  12,  1842;  Ellen,  born  August  11, 
1849,  died  March  30,  1863;  Mary,  born 
April  2,  1844,  died  October  16,  1864,  and  Isa- 
dore,  their  only  surviving  child,  born  March 
8,  1839.  Mrs.  Wenrich,  the  beloved  wife  of 
Francis  Wenrich,  passed  peacefully  away, 
June  5,  1896,  after  a  brief  illness  of  four 
weeks,  in  the  eighty-third  year  of  her  age. 

Mr.  Wenrich  is  a  Republican,  and  was 
unanimously  nominated  for  the  office  of 
count}'  treasurer  by  the  county  convention 
of  his  party,  but  declined  the  honor.  In 
matters  of  religious  faith  his  preferences  are 
with  the  Presbvterian  church. 


Bowman,  Simon  Sallade,  attorney-at-law, 
was  born  at  Elizabethtown,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  October  10, 1842.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
J.  and  Margaret  (Sallade)  Bowman.  John 
F.  Bowman,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  May  10, 1771, 
the  son  of  a  farmer  residing  at  Pequea 
creek,  near  Strasburg.  John  F.  Bowman 
was  brought  up  a  millwright.  In  1809  he 
removed  to  Halifax,  where  he  was  a  mer- 
chant until  1830;  at  that  time  he  removed 
to  Millersburg,  and  continued  to  carry  on  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1053 


business  successful!}'  until  liis  death,  which 
occurred  November  6,  1835.  He  was  first 
married,  in  1794,  to  a  daughter  of  Isaac 
Ferree,  by  whom  he  had  four  children: 
Eliza,  Maria,  George,  and  Josiah,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Rutter.  Mrs.  John  F.  Bow- 
man died,  and  Mr.  Bowman,  in  1805,  mar- 
ried Frances,  daughter  of  John  Crossen, 
born  August  31,  1786.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren :  John  J.;  Levi;  Louisa  and  Isaac; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Rev.  C  W.  Jackson ;  Lu- 
cinda,  wife  of  Dr.  Hiram  Rutherford  ;  Jacob, 
Emeline,  and  Benjamin.  The  second  Mrs. 
J.  F.  Bowman  died  September  30,  1846,  and 
was  interred  beside  her  husband  in  the  old 
Methodist  graveyard  at  Millersburg.  Tlieir 
remains  have  since  been  removed  to  Oak 
Hill  cemetery. 

John  J.  Bowman  and  Margaret,  his  wife, 
the  parents  of  S.  S.  Bowman,  are  both  de- 
ceased. They  had  seven  children  :  Mary  F., 
wife  of  T.  J.  Black  ;  Jennie  E.,  wife  of  Prof. 
C.  F.  Fahnestock,  of  Chester,  Delaware 
county.  Fa.;  Lucinda ;  Dr.  John  F.,  of  j\Iil- 
lersburg;  Simon  S.,  Levi  B.,  and  Maggie. 
John  Sallade,  maternal  grandlather  of  S.  S. 
Bowman,  was  of  Huguenot  extraction,  and 
was  born  at  Basel-on-the-Rhine  in  March, 
1739.  He  and  other  members  of  his  family 
came  to  America  at  an  early  date,  and  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  the  WiconLsco. 
Jolin  Sallade  died  in  November,  1827,  aged 
eighty-eight.  He  was  married,  February  8, 
1771,  to  Slargaret,  daughter  of  George  Ever- 
hart,  born  in  Berks  county.  Pa. 

Simon  Sallade,  maternal  grandfather  of 
S.  S.  Bowman,  by  his  excellent  character 
and  distinguished  public  services,  made  his 
name  well  known  to  all  the  citizens  of  Dau- 
phin county.  He  was  born  near  Gratz, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  March  7,  1785.  He 
was  four  times  elected  to  the  Pennsylvania 
House  of  Representatives;  first,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-four,  fortiie  term  of  1819-20  ;  next 
for  the  term  of  1835-1837,  when  he  was 
fifty-one  years  old,  and  again  in  1853,  when 
he  was  in  his  sixty-ninth  year.  He  served 
with  al>ility  and  distinction  in  all  tiiese  ses- 
sions of  the  Legislature.  Mr.  Sallade  was 
the  author  of  what  was  generally  known  as 
the  "  Wiconisco  Feeder  Bill,"  and  to  his  zeal 
and  tact  this  measure  of  importance  to  the 
materia]  interests  of  upper  Dauphin  county 
owes  its  passage.  Through  the  outlet  pro- 
vided by  this  improvement,  the  Lykens 
\'alley  coal  fields  were  developed.  Througli 
the  influence   of  the   canal   commissioners. 


Mr.  Sallade  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
tlie  construction  of  the  Wiconisco  canal. 

Simon  Sallade  died  at  the  old  homestead, 
near  Elizabethville,  November  8,  1854,  and 
is  interred  in  the  village  graveyard  at  that 
place.  His  wife  was  Jane  Woodside,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Woodside,  of  Lj-kens  Valley. 
Siie  died  September  3,  1854,  and  is  buried 
beside  her  husband.  Their  children  were  : 
Margaret,  wife  of  John  J.  Bowman,  of  Mil- 
lersburg; Ann,  wife  of  Edward  Bickel ; 
Jane,  wife  of  Daniel  K.  Smith ;  Simon, 
Jacob,  John,  George,  and  Joseph. 

The  story  of  the  life  of  Simon  Sallade  is  a 
familiar  one  in  Lykens  Valley.  His  socia- 
bilitj',  hospitality,  humor,  uprightness  and 
broad  charity  are  still  talked  about,  and 
form  a  part  of  the  traditional  local  iiistory. 
His  name  is  mentioned  witii  grateful  recol- 
lection of  his  goodness  and  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  greatness. 

Simon  Sallade  Bowman,  at  six  years,  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Millersburg, 
where  he  attended  the  borough  public  school 
until  he  was  sixteen.  He  then  entered  Dick- 
inson Seminary,  Williamsport,  Pa.,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  June,  1863.  He  then 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  army,  at  Camp 
Curtin,Harrisburg,  joining  company  G,  Thir- 
ty-seventh Pennsylvania  volunteers,  under 
Capt.  Thomas  Bennett  and  Colonel  Trout. 
During  his  service  he  was  detailed  for  duty 
in  the  office  of  Colonel  Sallade,  paymaster  of 
the  United  States  army,  department  of  re- 
ferred claims.  He  continued  in  this  posi- 
tion until  February,  1866,  during  which 
time  he  attended  the  Columbia  Law  School, 
Washington,  D.  C  He  afterwards  stuilied 
law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  A.  J.  Herr,  of  Har- 
risburg,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Harrisburg 
bar,  April  26,  1866,  having  passed  examina- 
tion before  a  committee  composed  of  Hon. 
John  J.  Pearson,  Hon.  John  C.  Kunkel,  Hon. 
David  Fleming,  and  John  S.  Detweiler,  Esq. 
Mr.  Bowman  then  opened  an  office,  at  Mil- 
lersburg, and  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
law.  He  has  obtained  a  large  and  profitable 
clientage,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 

Mr.  Bowman  was  married,  July  29,  1866, 
to  Anne  P.  Jack.son,  daughter  of  Addi.son 
and  Hannah  P.  (Light)  Jackson.  They  have 
seven  children :  Sumner  S.;  Edmund  B.; 
Irene  A.,  wife  of  J.  S.  Hopkinson,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Northern  Central  railroad 
from  Harrisburg  to  Sunbury  ;  Nellie  M.,  wife 
of  Hay  W.  Bowman,  editor  of  the  Millers- 


1054 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


burg  Sentinel;  Hannah,  at  present  a  student 
at  Dickinson  Seminary  ;  James  Donald,  and 
Robert  Herr.  Mr.  Bowman  is  a  Republican. 
He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  l)urgess  in 
1892,  and  re-elected  in  1894,  and  served  with 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituency. He  is  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  Susquehanna  Lodge,  No.  364,  F.  &  A. 
M.;  also  of  Kili)atrick  Post,  No.  212,  G.  A. 
R.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist cliurcli,  at  Millersburg,  Pa. 

Addison  -Jackson,  father  of  Mrs.  Bowman, 
is  deceased.  His  wife  is  still  living.  They 
had  four  children  :  Amelia,  wife  of  H. 
H.  Whitman;  Annie  P.,  Mrs.  Bowman; 
Helen,  wife  of  E.  H.  Giffin,  and  John  W. 


Freck,  Newton  C,  lumber  merchant, 
was  born  at  the  old  homestead  at  Millers- 
burg, Upper  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  November  21,  1841.  He  is  a 
son  of  Matthias  and  Eliza  A.  (Penro.se) 
Freck.  Matthias  Freck  was  born  at  Baden 
Baden,  German}^,  in  1795,  and  came  to 
America  when  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age. 
He  died  May  28,  1868.  He  was  very  influ- 
ential in  the  establishment  of  the  first 
public  school  at  Millersburg,  serving  on  the 
committee,  which  consisted  of  Jacob  Seal, 
John  J.  Bowman,  Dr.  Rathbon,  and  others. 
His  wife,  Eliza  A.  Penrose,  was  born 
August  12,  1804.  They  had  eight  children : 
Joseph;  Melvina,  wife  of  John  Johnson, 
deceased,  and  now  widow  of  Samuel  11. 
Lougluibaugh ;  Rudolph,  Roland,  Rinaldo, 
Melancthim  Paul,  John  Luther,  and  New- 
ton ('alvin.  Mrs.  Freck  died  January  10, 
1892.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Euphan  (Pratt)  Penrose.  Joseph  Penrose 
was  the  son  of  Col.  Joseph  Penrose,  of 
Revolutionary  fame,  who  commanded  a  regi- 
ment in  that  war,  and  who  was  a  brother- 
in-law  of  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  by  the 
General's  marriage  with  his  sister. 

Newton  Calvin  Freck  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Millersburg, 
wliich  he  attended  until  he  was  about 
fifteen.  He  then  Ijegan  to  learn  the  trade 
of  machinist  at  Minersville,  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.,  witii  William  DeHaven,  pro- 
prietor of  the  Minersville  Machine  Works. 
He  had  served  about  two  and  a  half  years 
of  his  apprenticeship  when  the  Vjusiness 
panic  of  1857-58  caused  the  closing  of  the 
works.  He  returned  home,  attended  the 
Millersburg  school  for  about  two  years,  and 
then  engaged  in    farming   for  his  brother 


Roland,  Upper  Paxton  township,  and  con- 
tinued there  about  two  years.  In  1862  he 
engaged  in  manufacturing  and  dealing  in 
lumber,  having  formed  a  partnership  witii 
his  brotlipr  Josej^h,  under  the  firm  name  of 
N.  C.  Freck  &  Co.  His  brother  was  an 
extensive  coal  dealer  at  Centralia,  Columbia 
county.  Pa.  The  firm  dealt  extensively  in 
all  kinds  of  lumber,  and  established  a  large 
and  profitable  trade  in  Eastern  and  Southern 
markets.  The  business  was  continued  until 
1890. 

Mr.  Freck  was  one  of  the  projectors  and 
one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  Millersburg 
Bank,  Millersburg,  Pa.  He  was  the  ciiief 
promoter  of  the  State  Millers'  Association, 
called  and  issued  the  circulars  for  the  first 
meeting,  which  was  held  at  Central  Hall, 
Sunbury,  Pa.,  January  8,  1878.  At  that 
meeting  he  was  apj)ointed  chairman  of  the 
committee  which  drew  up  the  by-laws  by 
which  the  association  has  ever  since  been 
governed.  Mr.  Freck  was  nominated  for 
president,  but  declined  on  account  of  his 
being  but  a  young  man  in  the  milling 
business.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  Millersburg  Water  Works,  and  is  at 
present  one  of  the  directors  of  the  works. 
He  is  likewise  interested  in  the  Millersburg 
Electric  Liglit  Works.  He  was  also  among 
the  promoters  of  waterworks  at  Mittlintown, 
and  Patterson,  Juniata  county ;  Steelton, 
Dauphin  county ;  Newport,  Perry  county,  and 
at  Woinelsdorf,  Berks  county.  He  superin- 
tended the  construction  of  the  works  at  all 
these  places.  He  is  the  inventor  of  an 
ingenious  device  for  filtering  the  water. 
He  is  one  of  a  company  of  six  who  are 
building  the  water  plant  at  Newville,  Pa., 
now  nearly  completed.  Ho  is  ranked 
among  the  most  sagacious  business  men, 
and  the  most  proficient  and  successful  me- 
chanical engineers.  Mr.  Freck  stands 
equally  well  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and 
his  ability  and  personal  worth  are  univer- 
sally recognized.  In  1876  Mr.  Freck  was 
the  Republican  nominee  for  assemblyman 
in  the  northern  district  in  Dauphin  county. 
He  was  defeated  at  the  election  by  three 
votes,  which  he  claims  resulted  from  the 
liquor  traffic  influence  being  on  the  side  of 
his  opponent,  Mr.  A.  T.  Englebert. 

Mr.  Freck  was  married,  November  28, 
1866,  to  Emma  R.,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Margaret  (Rote)  Wagner,  who  was  born 
November  26,  1843.  They  have  had  three 
children  :    Paul    W.,  born    October   7,  1876, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1055 


died  October  8,1886;  Annie  M.,  bom  Sep- 
tember 8,  1807,  and  Clark  C,  born  January 
11,  1870.  Mr.  Freck  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  churdi  at  jNIil- 
lersburg. 


Bowman,  Frank  S.,  attorney -at-la\v  and 
publisher,  Millersburg,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
is  a  son  of  Josiah  and  Margaret  (Rutter) 
Bowman,  being  the  youngest  of  a  family  of 
nine  children,  and  was  born  at  Loyalton, 
Dau[ihin  county,  .January  24,  1844. 

Mr.  Bowman  received  a  good  classical 
education,  after  which  he  read  law  in  the 
office  of  Hon.  Robert  A.  Lamberton,  Harris- 
bui'g,  Pa.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  in  April,  1866.  He  has  also  been 
admitted  to  all  the  neighboring  bars.  As  a 
newspaper  man  Mr.  Bowman  has  been  more 
than  ordinarily  successful,  in  June,  1884, 
he  established  the  Millersburg  Sentinel,  which 
was  a  success  from  the  start,  and  is  now  a 
journal  of  large  circulation  and  wide  influ- 
ence. Mr.  Bowman  is  a  talented  and  enter- 
taining writer.  His  style  is  fcirnied  from  tlie 
best  literature  and  standard  classic  models, 
as  he  has  possibly  the  largest  and  best  se- 
lected literary  library  in  his  end  of  tbe 
county.  His  scrap  books,  which  he  has  been 
making  since  the  age  of  fourteen,  alone  form 
a  rare  and  valuable  collection.  From  these 
certain  data  and  articles  have  been  copied 
and  furnished  to  some  di.stinguished  scholars. 
He  has  observed  the  rule  to  purchase  a  book 
when  visiting  a  new  city  or  community,  and 
as  a  result  bas  books  picked  up  in  many 
parts  of  the  country.  As  an  example,  he 
pui'cbased  a  coj)y  of  "Robinson  Cru.soe,"  in 
the  city  of  Elmira  in  1878.  At  this  time  he 
tried  a  case  in  court  in  Elmira  with  Hon. 
David  B.  Hill  as  associate  counsel.  He  owns 
part  of  the  library  of  that  distinguished 
scholar  and  critic,  R.  Khelton  MacKenzie, 
late  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Bowman  is  an 
enterprising  citizen,  and  has  filled  various 
offices  of  trust  in  his  community.  He  was  a 
delegate  from  his  county  to  tbe  Democratic 
State  Convention,  at  Pittsburgh,  in  1874,  the 
year  after  the  adoption  of  tbe  new  State 
Constitution.  He  was  always  an  admirer 
and  active  suppoiter  of  the  lamented  Will- 
iam A.  Wallace.  He  was  appointed  post- 
master of  Millersburg  by  President  Cleve- 
land, in  February,  1895,  and  commissioned 
for  four  years. 

Frank  S.  Bowman  was  married,  September 
14,  1869,  to    Mary    C,   third   daughter    of 


Simon  Wert,  a  prominent  citizen  and  highly 
esteemed  Christian  gentleman,  now  deceased, 
of  Millersburg.  Two  children  were  born  to 
this  union  :  Hay  Wert,  born  June  30,  1870, 
and  Linn,  born  April  28,  1874.  Hay  is  now 
editor  of  the  Millersburg  Sentinel,  and  is 
showing  rare  ability  as  a  writer  for  one  of 
his  years.  Linn  Bowman  is  a  member  of 
the  Junior  class  at  Dickinson  College,  and 
ranks  high  in  his  class.  He  has  the  minis- 
trj^  in  view. 

Mrs.  Bowman  died  December  5,  1893, 
under  the  most  touching  circumstances.  A 
true  Christian  mother,  a  devoted  wife,  an 
ardent  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  her  loss  was  keenly  felt  by  all  who 
knew  her.  Editor  Bowman,  of  the  Sentinel, 
was  married,  June  6,  1895,  to  Miss  Nellie  M. 
Bowman,  daughter  of  C'hief  Burgess  Simon 
S.  Bowman.  It  affords  us  pleasure  to  con- 
clude this  sketch  by  saying  that  the  family 
of  Mr.  Bowman  is  one  of  the  most  cultured 
and  intelligent  in  Dauphin  county. 


Bow.M.VN,  Levi  B.,  tinsmith,  was  l)orn  at 
Elizabetbville,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 14,  1846;  son  of  John  J.  and  Mar- 
garet (Sallade)  Bowman.  John  F.  Bowman, 
his  paternal  grandfather,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  May  10,  1771,  and  was 
tlie  son  of  a  farmer  residing  on  Pequea 
creek.  He  was  brought  up  as  a  millwright, 
but  in  1809  removed  to  Halifax,  where  be 
was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  until 
1830  ;  he  then  went  to  Millersburg,  and  was 
there  a  successful  merchant  until  bis  death, 
November  6,  18;;5.  Mr.  Bowman  was  flrst 
married,  in  1794,  to  a  daughter  of  Isaac 
Ferree,  whose  farm  adjoined  that  of  his 
father.  Their  children  were  :  Eliza,  Maria, 
George,  and  Josiah,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Rutter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Josiah  Bowman  were 
the  parents  of  Frank  S.  Bowman,  attorney- 
at-law,  at  present  postmaster  at  Millersburg 
and  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Millersburg 
Sentinel.  Mr.  John  F.  Bowman  was  married, 
the  second  time,  in  1805,  to  Frances,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Cro.ssen,  born  August  13,  1786. 
Their  children  were  :  John  J.;  Levi ;  Louisa ; 
Isaac  ;  Mary  F.,  wife  of  Rev.  C.  W.  Jackson  ; 
Lucindi,  wife  of  Dr.  Hiram  Rutherford ; 
Jacob,  Emeline,  and  Benjamin.  Mr.  Bow- 
man was  a  repre.sentative  man  in  upper 
Dauphin  county,  in  high  repute  for  upright- 
ness and  bone.sty ;  quiet,  but  genial  and 
much  esteemed.  He  never  sought  or  would 
accept  any  local  or  general  office.     His  sec- 


1056 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


ond  wife  died  September  30,  1846,  and  lies 
interred  beside  her  husband  in  Oak  Hill 
cemeter}',  at  Miliersburg.  John  J.  Bowman, 
father  of  Levi  B.  Bowman,  was  born  Febru- 
ary 12,  1807,  the  day  of  tlie  birth  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  and  died  Auj^ust  13,  1894. 
He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Simon 
and  Jane  (Woodside)  Sallade,  b}'  whom  he 
had  ten  children  :  Mary  F.,  widow  of  Jeffer- 
son Black  ;  Jane  E.,  wife  of  Prof.  Charles  S. 
Fahncstock,  of  Chester,  Pa.;  Lucinda,  Dr. 
John  F.,  Simon  S.,  Levi  B.,  Margaret  Ann, 
and  three  children,  triplets,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

John  Sallade,  maternal  great-grandfather 
of  Levi  B.,  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
pioneers  of  the  upper  end  of  Dauphin  county, 
was  of  Huguenot  descent,  and  was  born  at 
Basel-on-the-Rhine,  in  March,  1739.  He 
came  with  other  members  of  his  family  to 
America  at  an  early  date,  and  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  on  the  Wieonisco.  He  was  blind 
for  about  ten  years  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  November.  1827.  He  was  mar- 
ried, February  8,  1771,  to  Margaret,  daugh- 
ter of  George  Everheart,  born  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  in  1747.  When  a  young  girl 
Miss  Everheart  was  made  captive  by  the  In- 
dians during  one  of  their  incursions  intotlie 
territory  east  of  the  Sus(iue]ianua  river,  after 
the  defeat  of  Braddock,  in  the  fall  of  1755. 
She  was  captured  at  a  place  near  what  is  now 
Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and  was 
carried  into  the  wilderness  west  of  the  Ohio 
river,  where  she  remained  a  jirisoner  until 
General  Forbes,  by  his  skill  and  courage, 
broke  the  French  power  over  that  territorv. 
She  was  then  rescued  and  returned  to  her 
friends  in  Berks  county,  and  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age.  John  Sallade  and  his  wife  were 
the  parents  of  five  sons  and  two  daughters, 
Simon  being  next  to  the  youngest  child. 

Simon  Sallade,  maternal  grandfather  of 
Levi  B.,  by  his  excellent  character  and  dis- 
tinguished public  services,  made  bis  name 
well  known  to  all  the  citizens  of  Dauphin 
county.  He  was  born  near  Gratz,  Daupliin 
county,  March  7,  1785;  son  of  John  Sallade. 
Owing  to  the  lack  of  schools  in  his  day  and 
place,  he  was  obliged  to  depend  on  parental 
instruction,  but  being  an  apt  pupil  he  early 
mastered  the  main  branches  of  a  good  edu- 
cation. Like  Abraham  Lincoln,  lie  read  and 
re-read  the  few  books  that  fell  into  his  hands 
and  made  their  contents  his  own.  He  was 
also  greatly  assisted,  when  near  manhood, 
by  a  private  instructor  employed  by  himself 


and  other  young  men  of  the  neighborhood. 
Mr.  Sallade  learned  the  trade  of  millwriglit 
with  Jacob  Berkstrcsser,  of  Bellefonte,  and 
designed  and  built  many  of  the  old  mills 
within  thirty  or  forty  miles  of  his  residence. 
He  was  self-reliant  and  social,  energetic  and 
industrious,  thoroughly  upright  and  reliable, 
and  became  one  of  the  most  popular  men  of 
the  region.  Brought  into  contact  with  all 
kinds  and  classes  of  people,  in  social  life 
and  in  business  relations,  he  naturally  be- 
came warmly  interested  in  puVjlic  matters, 
and  especially  in  those  of  a  political  nature, 
and  was  in  consequence  drawn  into  public 
life;  not,  however,  as  a  professional  poli- 
tician, but  as  one  seeking  to  promote  the 
general  welfare.  He  was  always  a  loyal 
Democrat,  but  never  a  partisan,  and  when 
nominated  for  office  made  his  appeal  to  the 
people  and  not  to  the  party.  He  was  four 
times  tlie  nominee  of  his  party  for  the  State 
Legislature,  and  was  three  times  elected,  al- 
though the  majority  in  the  county  was  with 
the  opposite  party.,  and  the  single  instance 
of  his  defeat  resulted  from  the  clear  and 
honest  expression  of  his  opposition  to  the  en- 
actment of  the  Maine  liquor  law  in  1853, 
when  the  candidate  opposed  to  liim  was 
able  to  "  trim  "  on  the  i.ssue.  Mr.  Sallade 
served  in  the  State  Legislature  during  the 
sessions  of  1819-20,  183G-37  and  in  1853,  in 
all  of  wliich  he  was  a  prominent  and  in- 
fluential member.  He  was  the  author  of 
what  is  popularly  termed  the  "  Wieonisco 
Feeder  Bill,"  and  to  liis  advocacy  and  influ- 
ence, exerted  witii  zeal  and  skill,  tliat  meas- 
ure so  important  to  the  material  interests  of 
the  upper  end  of  Dauphin  county  owes  its 
passage.  Tiirough  the  outlet  provided  by 
this  impi'ovement,  the  Lykens  Valley  coal 
fields  were  developed.  Mr.  Sallade  was  su- 
perintendent of  the  construction  of  the  Wie- 
onisco canal,  receiving  his  apj^ointment 
from  the  canal  commissioners. 

Simon  Sallade  died  at  the  old  homestead 
near  Elizaljethville,  November  8,  1854,  and 
is  interred  in  the  village  graveyard  at  tha 
place.  His  wife  was  Jane,  daughter  of  John 
Woodside,  of  Lykens  Valley ;  she  died  Sep- 
tember 3,  1854,  and  is  buried  in  the  .same 
graveyard.  They  had  eight  children  :  Mar- 
garet, married  John  J.  Bowman,  of  Millers- 
burg  ;  Ann.  married  Edward  Bickel ;  Jane, 
married  Daniel  K.  Smith;  Simon,  Jacob, 
John,  George,  and  Joseph.  The  storj'of  the 
life  of  Simon  Sallade  is  a  familiar  one  in 
Lykens  Valley.     His  sociability,  hospitality, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1057 


humor,  honesty  and  generous  charity  are 
still  talked  aljout,  and  form  a  part  of  the 
traditional  local  history,  in  which  his  name 
is  mentioned  with  grateful  recollection  of 
his  goodness  and  just  recognition  of  his 
greatness. 

Levi  B.  Bowman  came  with  his  ])arents 
to  Millershurg  in  1847,  where  he  took  the 
usual  course  of  instruction  in  the  puhlic 
schools.  From  early  youth  he  had  assisted 
his  uncle,  Levi  Bowman,  in  his  store;  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty  he  engaged  with  that 
gentleman  in  a  regular  apprenticeship  to  iiis 
trade  of  tinsmitliing.  He  was  associated 
during  his  uncle's  lifetime  with  his  interests 
and  afterwards  succeeiled  him  in  the  busi- 
ness, which  he  has  successfully  conducted 
up  to  the  present  time. 


Ditty,  Joseph  Franklin,  was  the  son  of 
John  and  Catherine  (Woodside)  Ditty.  David 
Ditty,  his  paternal  grandfatlier,  married 
Anna  Osmond,  by  whom  he  had  six  chil- 
dren :  Andrew,  John,  Joseph,  Mary,  and 
David  ;  all  are  deceased  exce[)ting  Joseph. 
John  Ditty,  fatlier  of  Joseph  F.,  was  horn  at 
Millershurg,  and  removed  to  Kiizabetliville, 
wliere  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 
He  was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  at  Elizabethville,  on  an  inde- 
pendent ticket,  was  elected  by  a  large  ma- 
jority, and  re-elected  for  several  terms,  being- 
recognized  as  an  efficient  and  conscii'Utious 
j>ublic  servant.  He  removed  to  Millershurg 
in  1860,  and  died  January  6,  18(51,  aged 
forty-eight  years,  eight  months  and  sixteen 
days.  His  wife  Catherine  was  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Yeager)  Woodside  ; 
she  is  also  deceased.  They  hail  seven  ciiil- 
dren  :  William  Tlieodore,  married  Miss 
Lydia  Houpt,  served  in  the  United  States 
arm}'  for  nine  months ;  re-enlisted  and 
served  three  years ;  was  taken  prisoner  and 
confined  in  Libby  prison  and  at  Anderson- 
viile  for  over  eleven  months,  and  liberated 
at  the  close  of  the  war;  was  promoted  to 
coi-poral  and  then  to  sergeant ;  Anna  Mary 
received  her  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  her  native  place  ;  Isabella,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Dent ;  John  Peter,  enlisted  in  comjiany 
B,  Twenty-sixtli  Illinois  volunteer  infantry, 
died  in  the  hospital  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  aged 
seventeen  years ;  Thomas  Milton,  married 
Rebecca  Taylor,  also  served  in  the  United 
States  army  over  two  years ;  Charles  Fred- 
erick, died  aged  about  twenty-four  years ; 
and  Joseph  Franklin. 


Joseph  Franklin  Ditty  served  an  ajipren- 
ticeshii)  of  two  and  a  half  years  at  mould- 
ing, with  Foster,  Savidge  &  Co.,  and  worked 
at  the  trade  as  a  journeyman  for  a  short 
time.  Later  he  was  occupied  with  various 
kinds  of  work.  He  is  at  present  in  the  retail 
tobacco  business  in  Millerslnirg.  He  resides 
with  his  sister,  Anna  Mary,  and  tliey  occupy 
a  beautiful  modern  dwelling  in  that  town. 
Mr.  Ditty  is  a  member  of  Castle  No.  332, 
K.  of  G.  E.,  at  Millershurg.  His  political 
views  are  Democratic.  His  .sister  and  he 
attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Tliomas  Woodside,  maternal  grandfather 
of  Mr.  Ditty,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Avar  of 
181-2.  He  married  Mary  Yeager,  and  their 
children  were:  Jacol),  married  Hannah  Rum- 
berger  ;  John,  married  Mary  M.  Lark  ;  Leah, 
wife  of  Henry  Straub ;  Daniel,  married 
Hannah  Buffington  ;  Catherine,  wife  of  John 
Ditty  ;  Josepii,  married  Hetty  Laird  ;  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Joseph  Schuell ;  Mary,  wife  of 
Jairus  Mason  ;  Thomas  Jefferson,  married 
the  widow  of  A.  M.  Johnson. 


Klink,  George  W.,  carpet  manufacturer, 
was  born  October  20,  1852,  in  the  old  stone 
iiouse  on  the  eastern  outskirts  of  Millershurg, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  formerly  occupied  by 
Dr.  Haeseller,  now  of  Schuylkill  county,  and 
afterward  the  residence  of  Mr.  Kline's  parents, 
Henry  L.  and  Christiana  (Rasweiler)  Kline. 
The  Rasweiler  family  are  now  of  Chicago. 
Henry  L.  Kline  was  born  in  a  small  interior 
town  of  Prussia,  June  19,  1809,  and  at  five 
years  of  age  he  lost  both  his  parents.  He 
was  thrown  among  strangers,  and  wlien  only 
nine  years  old  was  employed  in  a  damask 
f\xctory  ;  there  he  learned  weaving,  and  was 
permitted  to  enjoy  a  few  montlis'  instruction 
in  the  public  school.  The  factory  was  a 
noted  one,  and  had  business  connections  with 
prominent  and  titled  people  and  historic  lo- 
calities, wiiich,  as  a  deliverer  of  goods,  he 
was  permitted  to  visit ;  but  these  privileges 
did  not  ciiarm  Hcniy,  for  liis  heart  was  fixed 
on  the  "  land  of  the  free."  .  Against  the  earn- 
est protest  of  his  friends  he  set  out  for 
America  in  1846,  and  after  a  tempestuous 
voyage  of  over  three  months  landed  at 
New  Orleans.  There  he  worked  three  months 
on  a  sugar  plantation,  after  which  he  went 
to  Cincinnati,  and  thence  to  Pittsburgii. 
From  that  point  he  traveled  on  foot  to  Phila- 
delphia, afterwards  by  way  of  Pottsville  to 
Orwigsburg,  where  he  found  permanent  em- 
ployment at  carpet  weaving. 


1058 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


In  January,  1848,  Mr.  Kline  came  to 
Millersburg,  and  embarked  in  tiie  business 
of  carpet  manufacturing  on  his  own  account. 
So  excellent  were  the  materials  and  the  work- 
manship of  his  products  that  his  carpets  soon 
gained  a  wide  reputation,  bringing  orders 
from  far  and  near,  and  making  him  a  bus}' 
and  prosperous  man.  A  successful  career  of 
tbirty-five  years  netted  liim  a  comfoi'table 
competency,  and  advancing  age  adraonislied 
him  to  retire;  consequently,  in  1883,  Mr. 
Kline  disposed  of  iiis  interests  to  bis  son, 
George  W.,  and  the  Rev.  H.  A.  Neitz,  who 
formed  a  partnershij)  under  the  name  of 
Kline  &  Neitz,  and  continued  the  business. 
Up  to  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Kline 
cherished  the  greatest  interest  and  pride  in 
the  large  and  flourishing  enterprise  whicli 
be  iiad  founded.  He  was  always  an  indus- 
trious worker  at  tlie  loom,  and  it  has  been  es- 
timated that  the  fabrics  woven  by  his  hands, 
if  stretched  at  length,  would  reach  from 
Millersburg  to  Philadelphia,  a  distance  of 
one  hundred  and  tiiirty-two  miles.  A  short 
time  before  his  last  illness,  iiaving  finisiied  a 
l)iece,  retired  from  the  loom,  remarking  lo 
his  son  tliat  lie  would  rest  a  week  ;  but  tlie 
final  rest  came.  His  wife,  with  whom  he 
had  lived  happily  for  thirty-seven  years,  had 
preceded  him,  liaving  passed  away  Septem- 
ber 17,  1847. 

Since  1847  Mr.  Kline  had  been  a  member 
of  Evangelical  church  of  Millersburg,  and 
had  served  in  the  several  offices  of  the  con- 
gregation. He  was  urbane  and  cordial  in 
his  manner,  and  of  kindly  disposition,  up- 
rigiit  and  \mve  in  character  and  life;  an 
embodiment  of  tiie  virtues  of  tlie  Christian 
gentleman.  Mrs.  Kline  was  born  in  Meders- 
heim,  German)',  September  2,  1814,  and 
emigrated  to  this  country  in  1841  in  company 
with  her  brother,  Henry  Rasweiler.  They 
located  in  Allentown,  Pa.,  later  removing  to 
Orwigsburg.  She  was  married  to  Mr.  Kline 
April  -28,  1848,  by  Rev.  John  Koehl.  For 
forty-five  years  she  was  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Evangelical  church,  a  devout  Christian 
woman.  In  her  last  illness  she  endured  great 
suffering,  which  she  bore  with  exemplary 
courage  and  ciieerful  resignation.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kline  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
John,  Joanna,  Amelia,  and  two  others  died 
in  infancy.  Theirlivingchildren  are:  George 
W.  and  Mary  Elizabeth. 

George  W.  Kline  received  his  first  instruc- 
tion in  the  old  school  house  on  the  banks  of 


Wiconisco  creek  ;  he  was  afterwards  a  pupil 
in  the  borough  schools  until  he  was  about 
fifteen  years  old,  during  which  time  he  as- 
sisted his  father  in  his  business  between 
school  terms,  and  in  this  way  learned  the 
art  of  carpet  weaving.  He  worked  dili- 
gently and  faithfully  for  liis  father  until  he 
reached  his  m;ijority,  when  his  father  re- 
warded him  by  giving  him  an  interest  in 
his  factory  and  trade.  The  father  and  son 
were  associated  until  1883,  when  the  father 
retired  and  sold  his  interest  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Neitz,  and  the  firm  of  Kline  &  Neitz  was 
founded.  This  firm  continued  tiu^  Ijusiness 
for  five  years,  when  the  Kline  &  Neitz  Com- 
pany took  charge  of  the  enterprise.  The 
corporation  was  not  prosperous,  and  failed 
in  1893;  the  concern  was  sold,  and  Mr. 
Kline  bought  the  ri.'tail  department  and 
machinery  connected  with  it  and  conducted 
tlie  retail  business  for  two  years.  In  1895 
lie  sold  the  retail  department  to  R.  0.  Nov- 
inger  &,  Co.  and  became  the  successor  of  the 
corporation,  the  manufacturing  department 
now  being  known  as  the  George  W.  Kline 
Company. 

Mr.  Kline  was  married,  August  17,  1878, 
to  Mary  Saville,  daughter  of  George  W.  and 
Catherine  (Rhodes)  Kramer.  They  have 
six  children:  Velma  Catherine,  born  July  3, 
1883,  died  May  17,  1884;  Nora  Elizabeth, 
born  March  19,  1879;  Emma,  born  Novem- 
ber 11,  1880;  George  Henry,  born  August 
1,1885;  Juanita  Adelia,  born  December  5, 
1888 ;  Robert  Kramer,  born  July  24,   1893. 

Mr.  Kline  is  a  Repulilican.  He  has  served 
as  school  director,  and  was  re-elected  to  that 
office  in  189().  He  is  identified  with  the 
Ma.sonic  fraternity,  having  passed  through 
all  the  chairs  in  Susquehanna  Lodge  at 
Millersburg  ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Perse- 
verance Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  at  Millersburg. 
Mr.  Kline  is  a  member  of  the  United  Evan- 
gelical church  at  Millersburg,  has  been  a 
trustee  for  eighteen  years,  and  for  the  same 
period,  excepting  one  year,  has  been  secre- 
tary of  the  board  of  trustees. 

Both  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Kline  are  living. 
They  have  eight  children :  Mary  Saville, 
Mrs.  Kline  ;  Carson  S.,  Emma,  Alice,  Harry, 
Elizabeth,  Minnie,  and  one  child  that  died 
in  infancy.  George  W.  Kramer  and  his 
brothers,  up  to  1880,  conducted  the  old 
Kramer  ferry,  opposite  Millersburg,  estab- 
lished by  their  father,  David  Kramer, 
shortly  after  the  year  1800. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY 


1059 


Bowers,  George  Washington,  retired, 
was  born  in  Halifax  township,  February  22, 
1815;  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Weaver) 
Bowers.  His  parents  had  nine  cliil(h'en: 
Michael,  John,  Jacob,  Martin,  Adam, 
Joseph,  George  W.,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry 
Hahn,  and  one  child  who  died  in  infancy. 

George  W.  Bowers  lost  his  father  when 
he  was  eight  years  old,  and  went  forth 
among  strangers  to  find  a  home.  He  was 
brought  u})  by  Isaac  Kinter,  a  farmer  in 
Middle  Paxton  township,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  he  was  twenty,  during 
which  time  he  recerved  a  limited  education 
in  the  township  sciiools.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  left  his  guardian  and  came  to 
Millersburg,  where  he  was  employed  by  his 
brother  Michael  for  about  six  years.  After 
this  he  was  engaged  in  various  occujjations 
until  his  marriage.  He  then  returned  to 
his  lirother's  employ,  and  was  with  him  for 
three  years,  after  which  he  was  for  some 
time  engaged  in  different  places  and  at 
various  occupations.  On  August  6,  1881, 
Mr.  Bowers  met  with  a  serious  accident  on 
the  Lykens  Valley  railroad,  from  the  effects 
of  which  he  was  so  disabled  as  to  have  been 
disqualified,  since  that  time,  for  any  kind  of 
work. 

Mr.  Bowers  was  married,  at  Millersburg, 
February  11,  1838,  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Mary  (Wingert)  Miller,  born 
November  25,  1 820.  They  have  had  six  chil- 
dren: Mary  Elizabeth,  born  November  3, 
1838,  died  September  19,  1842;  Margaret 
Louisa,  born  September  7,  1840,  died  May 
28,  1847;  John  Kinter,  born  April  28,  1845, 
died  September  19,  1850;  George  W.,  Jr., 
twin  brother  of  John  Kinter;  Sarah  Ellen, 
born  February  3,  1850 ;  Emma  Pierce,  born 
Fel)ruary  21,  1853.  Mrs.  Bowers  died 
March  16,  1893.  Mr.  Bowers  is  a  Democrat. 
He  has  served  two  terms  as  constable  in 
Upper  Paxton  township.  The  family  at- 
tend the  M(!thodist  Episcopal  church. 

Daniel  Miller,  father  of  Mrs.  Bowers,  was 
the  founder  of  Millersburg.  He  came,  with 
his  brother  John,  from  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  about  1790,  and  took  up  some  four 
hundred  acres  of  land,  including  the  site  of 
the  present  town,  where  a  settlement  was 
begun  probably  in  1794.  The  town  was 
laid  out  in  lots  in  1807.  An  act  incorpor- 
ating the  borough  of  Millersburg  was 
passed  by  the  State  Legislature  April  8, 
1850.  The  first  settlers  of  this  region  were 
Huguenots.     Francis  Jacques,  or  Jacobs,  as 


anglicized,  resided  some  time  at  Halifax, 
but  later  located  here,  where  he  had  taken 
up  several  acres.  Among  other  early 
settlers  here  appear  the  names  of  Klein, 
Larue  (Leroi),  Sharra  or  Joerg,  Wertz, 
Stoever,  and  Siiuetts.  Daniel  Miller  was 
the  first  school  teacher  in  the  vicinity,  and 
was  instrumental  in  establishing  and  build- 
ing the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
this  place.  Mr.  Miller  had  three  children 
by  his  first  marriage :  John,  Daniel,  and 
Elizabeth.  His  second  marriage,  in  1817, 
was  with  Mary  Wingert;  they  had  one 
child,  Mary,  who  became  Mrs.  Bowers. 


Day,  Charles  W.,  broom  manufacturer, 
was  born  in  Shrewsbury,  York  county.  Pa., 
April  4,  1864;  son  of  Jackson  and  Jane 
(Beck)  Day.  His  grandfather,  Levi  Day, 
married  Delilah  Downs,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children  :  Sarah,  born  June  30,  1823 ; 
Marv  J.,  born  Februarv  11,1826;  Jackson, 
July  30,  1828;  Amos,  August  22,  1831; 
Hannah  F.,  February  18,  1835;  Henrietta, 
March  11,  1838;  E.Henry,  May  4,  1841, 
and  Enoch,  December  1, 1844.  Jackson  Day 
was  married,  August  3, 1845,  to  Jane,  daugh- 
ter of  Jolin  and  Margaret  Beck.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Day  had  eight  children:  James,  born 
August  2,  1849,  married  Catherine  E.  Ward, 
who  died  March  19, 1874  ;  Noah,  born  May  1, 
1851,  married  Mary  Alda  Gilbert,  who  died 
August  28,  1876  ;  Levi,  born  March  4, 1853, 
died  April  6,  1853  ;  Emma,  born  June  23, 
1854,  died  March  29,1862;  John  Newton, 
born  April  23,  1856;  Oliver,  July  14,  1858; 
Eli,  March  4,  1861  ;  and  Charles  W.  Mr. 
Jackson  Day  die^fi  March  5,  1893. 

Charles  W.  Day  was  four  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Millersburg, 
where  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
attending  part  of  each  year  until  he  was 
nineteen.  For  the  next  two  years  he  was 
hard  at  work  learning  broom  making,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty -one  was  ready  to  begin 
business  on  his  own  account.  He  opened  a 
shop  and  l)y  the  diligent  jiursuit  of  liis  call- 
ing succeeded  in  establishing  a  large  -and 
profitable  business,  to  the  management  of 
which  he  has  given  his  attention  up  to  the 
present  time.  Mr.  Day  was  married,  Sep- 
tember 29,  1891,  to  Ella  E.,  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward and  Agnes  (Bowman)  Steever,  born 
March  4,  1873.  They  have  one  child,  Steever 
Raymond,  born  January  24,  1894.  Mr.  Day 
is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  Syrian 
Commandery,  No.  133,  K.  of  M.,  at  Millers- 


1060 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


burg.  The  family  attend  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Daj'  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  enterprising  and  .solid  busi- 
ness men  of  the  town,  and  contributes  his 
full  share  to  the  general  prosperity  of 
the  community.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward 
Steever,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Day,  had  two 
children  :  Ruth,  died  at  aliout  three  years 
of  age,  and  Ella  E.,  Mrs.  Day. 


Walborn,  Levi,  retired  farmer,  was  born 
near  Millersburg,  Upper  Paxton  township, 
Dauplun  county,  Pa.,  July  24,  1858;  son  of 
Henry  and  Barbara  (Leljo)  Wall)orn.  Henry 
AVall)orn,  who  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Walborn, 
was  born  October  17, 1817,  and  died  January 
0,  1868.  His  wife,  Barbai'a  Lebo,  was  born 
April  4, 1823,  and  died  August  8, 1895.  Their 
cliildren  were:  Sopliia,  born  November  24, 
1848,  died  March  12, 1859  ;  Uriah,  born  Feh- 
ruary  17, 1855,  died  April  3, 1859  ;  Abraham, 
born  June  8,  1854,  died  March  24,  18(j()  ; 
Henry  L.,  born  April  22,  1844;  Lavinia, 
born  August  24,  1856,  wife  of  Joseph  Hen- 
ninger ;  Jeremiah  E.,  born  November  24, 
1860. 

Levi  Wnibi)rn  in  earl^'  Ijo^'liond  attended 
tlie  public  school,  but  his  father  dying  when 
tlie  boy  was  but  ten  years  old,  his  lielp  on 
the  farm  was  so  needed  that  for  the  next  five 
years  he  had  only  an  occasional  winter's 
term  at  school.  After  he  was  fifteen  he  was 
for  some  years  hired  out  among  the  fiirmers. 
Finally  he  went  West  as  far  as  Nebraska  in 
search  of  profitable  employment  and  a  good 
locality  for  farming.  Not  finding  any  place 
in  the  West  that  suited  him,  he  returned  to 
Daui>!iin  county,  and  puuchased  of  Rev. 
Joseph  Young  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twelve  acres,  in  Upper  Paxton  township, 
upon  which  he  began  farming  on  his  own 
account,  and  continued  there  six  years,  af- 
ter which  he  bought  the  Jesse  Seal  farm, 
near  Millersburg,  containing  thirty-two  acres. 
Tlie  fine  improvements,  excellent  condition, 
and  attractive  appearance  of  Mr.  Walborn's 
farms  show  him  to  be  a  skillful  husbandman 
and  An  enterprising  business  man.  In  1887 
be  removed  to  his  farm  near  Millersburg, 
where  he  lived  three  j'ears,  and  then  jair- 
cliased  the  modern  dwelling  in  Millersburg 
in  which  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Walborn  was  married,  February  2, 
1882,  to  Sarah  Agnes,  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Caroline  (Beard)  Seal,  born  June  23,  1859. 
They  have  seven  children  :  Charles  L.,  born 
May  6,  1883 ;  Jesse  Blaine,    born    June   5, 


1884,  died  December  24,  1891  ;  Elmer  E., 
born  November  9,  18S5  ;  George  Mark,  Ijorn 
December  29, 1886  ;  Roscoe  Irvin,  born  May 
30,  1891;  Lottie  Irene,  born  January  25, 
1893  ;  Florence  Mabel,  born  February  20, 
1894 ;  died  September  20,  1894.  Mr.  Wal- 
born holds  Republican  views;  he  is  at  pres- 
ent serving  his  second  term  in  the  town 
council.  He  is  a  member  in  good  standing 
in  Commandery,  No.  133,  K.  of  M.,  at  Millers- 
burg. The  family  attend  Grace  United 
lilvangelical  church. 

Jes.se  Seal,  father  of  Mrs.  Walborn,  was 
born  February  20,  1806;  son  of  George  and 
Margaret  (Steever)  Seal,  and  died  March  20, 
1882.  His  wife,  Caroline  Beard,  was  born 
December  18,  1831,  and  she  .survives  him. 
They  had  three  children  :  Ira  B.,  died  May 
7,1885;  Charles  F.,  bom  October  1,1856; 
and  Sarah  Agni's,  Mrs.  Walborn. 

What  a  bright  and  honest  boy  can  do 
when  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  is 
shown  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Walborn.  He  began 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  with  little  aid  of  money 
or  infiuential  friends  at  the  start,  but  gradu- 
ally winning  liotb  l)y  his  prudent  course. 


MtTssER,  John  S.,  foundryman  and  ma- 
chinist, was  born  in  Fairview  township, 
York  county.  Pa.,  May  9,  1827,  and  is  a  son 
of  Benjamin  and  Frances  (Suavely)  Mus.ser. 
Benjamin  Musser,  Sr.,  great-grandfather  of 
John  S.  Musser,  died  November  12,  1820, 
aged  seventy-one  years,  four  months  and 
thirteen  days.  He  was  the  father  of  three 
sons  and  four  daughters.  His  son,  Dr.  John 
Musser,  was  married,  November  13,  1799, 
to  Elizal)etb  Neft".  Benjamin  Musser,  son 
of  Dr.  John  and  father  of  John  S.  Musser, 
was  married,  January  20,  1825,  to  Frances 
Suavely,  of  East  Pennsboro  township.  They 
had  fifteen  children:  Elizabeth,  born  Janu- 
ary 8,  182(5,  wife  of  Josiah  Seal;  John  S.; 
Henry  D.,  born  Decejnber  20,  1828,  married 
Ellen  Rupley;  Benjamin,  born  December 
21,1830,  married  Susan  Muench  ;  Catherine, 
l)0rn  October  1,  1832,  wife  of  Benneville 
Boyer;  Anna  L.,  born  April  13,  1834,  wife 
of  Isaac  Llovd  ;  Jacob,  born  November  5, 
1835;  Joseph  R.,  born  February  7,  1837, 
married;  Levi,  born  March  15, 1838  ;  David, 
l)orn  January  9,  1839,  married  Susan  Coble ; 
Daniel,  born  September  3,  1840;  Hiram, 
born  November  29,  1841  ;  Jeremiah,  born 
April  9,1843;  Sarah,  born 'April  19,1847; 
Josiah  A.,  born  July  29,  1849,  married. 


<^  }^  /\j^^->''2..ji-<;. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1063 


John  S.  Musser's  parents  removed  to 
Cumberland  county,  Pa.,  when  he  was  six 
years  old.  He  attended  the  subscription 
schools  there  during  the  sessions  of  1833-34, 
after  which,  the  family  removing  to  the 
vicinity  of  Millersljurg,  he  attended  the  sub- 
scription school  of  that  borough,  entering 
the  public  schools  after  they  were  established 
in  the  town.  In  the  meantime  he  gave  a 
good  share  of  his  time  to  the  assistance  of 
his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  seven- 
teen years  old  ;  after  that  he  was  wholly  em- 
ployed in  farm  work  until  he  became  of 
age.  His  father  then  employed  him  on 
wages  as  a  regular  farm  hand  until  1851, 
at  which  time  the  farm  was  sOld  to  James 
Freeland,  from  whom  Mr.  Musser  rented  it 
and  began  farming  on  his  own  account. 
He  continued  there  for  fourteen  years,  then 
relinquished  farming  and  in  1865  returned 
to  Millersburg.  Durmg  1865-GG  Mr.  Mus- 
ser was  engaged  in  contracting.  After  com- 
pleting his  contract  he  embarked  in  the 
foundry  and  machine  business  at  Millers- 
burg, associating  with  himself  Seth  Schreiber, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Musser  &  Schreiber. 
They  were  successful  in  establishing  a  large 
business  and  continued  the  partnership  un- 
til 1889,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  the  death 
of  Mr.  Schreiber.  Mr.  Musser  carried  on 
the  business  until  1805,  when  it  was  sold  in 
order  to  effect  the  settlement  of  the  estate, 
and  Mr.  Musser  engaged  in  plumbing,  which 
is  his  present  occupation. 

Mr.  Musser  was  married,  January  20, 
1848,  to  Elmira,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Hannah  (Ferree)  Hoffman,  born  January  19, 
1830.  They  have  six  children  :  Frances  E., 
wife  of  William  Kahler,  born  February  3, 
1849  ;  Sarah  A.,  born  August  9,  1851 ;  Henry 
A.,  born  July  3,  1853,  died  May  17,1873; 
Annie  K.,  born  September  19,  1857,  wife  of 
James  L.  Meek;  Laura  V.,  born  November 
18,  1859  ;  George  A.,  born  November  (i,  18G1, 
married.  Mrs.  Musser  died  November  17, 
1890.  She  was  well  known  for  her  generous 
kindness  and  hospitality,  and  was  an  earnest 
and  devout  Christian  woman,  zealous  in  all 
good  works,  especially  industrious  in  the  up- 
building of  the  church. 

Mr.  Musser  was  active  and  influential  in 
organizing  and  incorporating  the  Oak  Hill 
Cemetery  Association,  of  which  he  is  one  of 
the  directors.  Mr.  Musser  was  formerly  a 
Whig,  and  is  now  a  staunch  Republican. 
He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all  public  busi- 
ness. In  1858  he  was  elected  county  com- 
66 


missioner  of  Dauphin  county  for  three 
years.  He  was  the  only  Republican  in  the 
board  until  Mr.  Beam  was  elected  in  1859. 
Mr.  Musser  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
plan  of  building  a  new  court  hou.se,  and  to 
his  wise  and  energetic  support  of  the  project 
its  success  is  largely  due.  He  has  served 
several  terms  as  burgess  of  Millerslnirg,  and 
in  other  borough  offices.  In  1894  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  filled 
numerous  township  offices.  Mr.  Musser  be- 
longs to  Syrian  Comma ndery,  No.  133,  A. 
0.  of  K.  of  M.,  at  Millersburg.  Pie  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Mr.  Musser  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
honorable  business  activity  in  earlier  years, 
and  he  is  surrounded  by  those  who  cordially 
wish  him  long  life  and  happiness. 


Frank,  Henry,  carpenter  and  contractor, 
was  born  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  January  19,  1824 ;  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Meek)  Frank.  His  pa- 
ternal great-grandfather,  w'hose  surname  was 
Neighbor,  was  of  Huguenot  descent.  He 
owned  the  mill  and  water  power  where  the 
electric  light  plant  of  Millersburg  now 
stands.  His  family  consisted  of  four  daugh- 
ters, one  of  whom  was  married  to  John 
Frank,  another  to  David  Frank,  and  the 
other  two  daughters  married  brothers  by  the 
name  of  Sandoe.  Jolai  Frank,  father  of 
Henry  Frank,  was  born  in  Upper  Paxton 
township,  October  20,  1796,  and  died  Octo- 
ber 12,  1870.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Meek, 
was  born  in  1800,  and  died  in  May,  1857. 
They  had  four  children  :  George  W.,  married 
Elizabeth  Hoover,  and  had  seven  ciiildren; 
Henry;  Nathaniel  and  Catherine,  twins; 
Nathaniel  died  in  infancy,  but  Catherine  is 
still  living;  she  married  Henry  Knouff,  and 
was  left  a  widow  with  two  children,  .John 
and  Frank.  Mr.  John  Frank  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812  under  Captain  Fetter- 
hoff  and  Colonel  Ritchie.  He  was  among  the 
militia  drafted  in  1814.  Mr.  John  Meek, 
maternal  grandfather  of  Plenry  Frank,  was 
of  German  ancestry,  and  was  a  prominent 
farmer  and  miller  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship. He  had  four  chiMren  besides  Elizabeth, 
who  became  Mrs.  Frank. 

Henry  Frank  first  attended  the  neighbor- 
ing sul;>scription  schools,  and  was  subsecpiently 
a  pupil  in  the  jiublic  schools.  He  worked 
with  his  father  at  various  occupations  until 
1840,  when  he  went  to  Millersburg  to  learn 
carpentry    with   John    Frank,    his    father's 


1064 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCVCLOPELUA 


cousin.  He  remained  there  until  August  of 
the  same  year,  when  he  went  to  Harrisburg, 
and  became  an  apprentice  to  the  same  trade 
with  Alexander  Hamilton  and  Jacob  Reed. 
After  an  apprenticeship  of  three  j'ears  he 
was  employed  by  Mr.  Hamilton  as  a  journey- 
man, from  the  month  of  August  until  the 
following  May.  He  then  returned  to  his  native 
town  and  began  business  as  car})enter  on  his 
own  account.  The  first  house  lie  built  is  the 
one  in  which  he  now  resides.  He  also  built  the 
large  house  on  the  corner  of  Union  and  Race 
streets,  tlie  present  residence  of  Hon.  Mr. 
Bowman.  Among  other  important  structures 
erected  by  him  are  the  large  building  on  tiie 
northeast  corner  of  Market  and  Center 
streets,  now  used  as  a  store  and  halls;  the 
parsonage  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  other  buildings.  Mr.  Frank  was  actively 
engaged  as  a  j)ractical  builder  until  1875, 
and  later  erected  a  number  of  large  buildings 
in  Millersburg. 

Mr.  Frank  was  largely  influential  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Millersburg  Bank,  was 
one  of  the  original  stockliolders,  and  iias  becm 
and  is  at  present  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
bank.  He  was  also  actively  interested  in  the 
establisinnent  of  the  Millersburg  Agricultural 
Works,  of  which  he  became  the  treasurer  in 
1886.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  has 
served  as  burtress  and  filled  other  borougli 
oflices,  the  most  important  of  which  is  that 
of  school  director;  he  was  in  the  board  for 
six  consecutive  years,  and  at  a  later  time 
served  a  term  of  three  years,  filling  tiie  office 
of  president  for  five  years,  and  serving  one 
year  as  treasurer. 

Mr.  Frank  was  married,  February  11, 1851, 
to  Mary  B.,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Light)  Eberly.  Two  of  their  six  children 
are  decea.sed  :  Laura,  born  February  25, 1852, 
died  July  6,  1882;  Mary  E.,  born  May  31, 
185(;,  died  April  G,  1857.  Their  living  chil- 
dren are-  Simon  P.,  born  October  19,  1853; 
John  N.,  May  1,  1658,  married  Sarah  Wom- 
baugh,  who  died  September  26, 1895,  had  two 
children,  Maud  W.  and  James  T.;  Emma 
E.,  December  9,  1861 ;  Miriam  D.,  January 
7,  1869.  Mr.  Frank  joined  Perseverance 
Lodge,  No.  183,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  at  Millersburg,  in 
1849,  and  in  point  of  seniority  is  the  third  on 
the  list  of  its  members.  He  and  his  famil}' 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mr. 
Frank  began  business  at  the  bottom  round  of 
the  ladder,  and  has  by  ability  and  persever- 
ance climbed  it  rung  by  rung.  He  has  in  all 
his  course  been   self-reliant   and   persistent, 


wiseh'  depending  on  his  own  resources  and 
always  putting  forth  his  best  ettbrts.  He  may 
enjoy  his  accumulated  com[)etency  with  the 
utmost  satisfaction,  and  take  great  pleasure  in 
the  respect  and  good  will  accorded  him  by 
his  neighbors. 

Jolm  Eberly,  father  of  Mrs.  Frank,  was  born 
November  21,  1799,  and  died  January  22, 
1875.  His  wife  died  in  1842.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  sons  and  five  daughters. 


Kk.vmkr,  Iteorue  W.,  ferryman,  was  born 
at  Millersburg,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  corner 
of  North  and  Water  streets,  August  12, 1829 ; 
son  of  David  and  Sophia  Kramer,  both  de- 
ceased. 

George  W.  Kramer  was  first  taught  in  the 
sub.scription  schools  of  his  tow-n,  and  later 
attended  the  public  schools  at  Millersburg. 
It  was,  however,  only  in  the  winter  that  he 
could  take  time  to  secure  an  education,  for 
at  other  seasons  his  father  needed  his  as- 
sistance on  the  farm,  and  he  was  always  a 
willing  and  capable  helper.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  his  sciiool  days  were  ended  and  a 
change  came  in  his  occupation.  By  pur- 
chasing at  sheriff's  sale,  December  3,  1825, 
his  father  acquired  possession  of  the  ferry, 
for  which  he  paid  the  sum  of  $98.  George 
was  now  old  enough  to  be  a  valuable  as- 
sistant to  his  fatiier  on  the  boat,  and  was 
from  that  time  steadily  employed  in  this 
wa}'.  Finally,  in  1859,  George  W.  and  his 
brother,  Joseph  E.  Kramer,  succeeded  their 
father  in  the  ow'nership  of  the  ferry,  wdiich 
they  conducted  jointly  until  1880.  George 
W.  Kramer  then  sold  his  interest  and  has 
since  been  in  various  occupations. 

Mr.  Kramer  was  married,  December  29, 
1859,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Sarah  (Noll)  Rlioads.  Their  children  are  : 
Sarah  Emma;  Samuel  Canson,  married  Eliz- 
abetii  Forney;  Susan  Alice;  Harry  Irvin, 
married  Ole  Greenawalt,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren :  Charlotte  Catiierine,  George  Henry, 
and  Edward;  Ira,  died  March  27,  1869; 
Lizzie  Ettie;  Minnie  Myrtle;  Mary  Sa villa, 
wife  of  George  W.  Kline. 

Mr.  Kramer  is  a  Republican  and  has 
served  one  term  as  supervisor  of  the  borough. 
The  family  attend  the  Grace  United  Evan- 
gelical church. 


Se.vl,  John  Benjamin,  first  saw  the  light 
of  day  on  the  1st  day  of  March,  1847.  He 
was  born  and  brought  up  on  a  farm  in 
Upper  Paxton  township,  one  mile  northeast 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1065 


of  Millersburg,  on  the  same  premises  where 
botli  his  father  and  grandfather  lived  all 
their  lives.  He  had  a  natural  fondness  for 
study  and  was  a  regular  attendant  at  the 
district  school  during  the  winter  months 
when  his  services  were  not  required  on  the 
farm.  His  advantages  for  education  were 
limited,  but  he  managed  to  attend  a  private 
school  for  several  terms  in  addition  to  an 
average  of  about  three  months  in  the  year 
at  ijublic  school  until  he  arrived  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  when  he  began  teaching.  He 
followed  the  profession  seven  years,  at  the 
same  time  pursuing  his  studies  at  the  Mil- 
lersville  State  Normal  School.  He  taught 
three  terms  in  his  native  district,  had  charge 
of  the  grammar  department  of  the  public 
schools  of  Millersburg,  and  was  for  one  term 
principal  of  the  high  school.  He  also  organ- 
ized a  private  school,  known  as  the  West 
Bangor  Select  Scliool,  in  York  county,  and 
laid  tlie  foundation  for  a  flourishing  private 
institution  of  learning  which  has  since  sent 
forth  into  the  world  many  young  men  and 
women  who  now  occupy  prominent  positions 
in  life,  including  all  the  professions.  In  the 
fall  of  1872  Mr.  Seal  abandoned  teaching  and 
engaged  in  the  printing  and  stationery  Ijusi- 
ness  in  Millersburg.  Two  years  later  he 
established  the  Millersburg  Herald,  of  which 
he  is  still  editor  and  publisher.  With  regard 
to  his  newspaper  project,  although  it  is  not 
tlie  financial  success  which  his  efforts  war- 
ranted, he  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  its  influence  has  been  potent  for  good 
in  the  community  and  has  proved  one  of  the 
most  effective  agencies  in  promoting  the 
best  interests  of  the  town,  commercially,  in- 
tellectually, and  morally.  In  public  affairs, 
politics,  and  questions  of  local  interest  the 
Herald  has  alwaj's  taken  advanced  positions ; 
it  has  been  a  fearless  exponent  of  true  prin- 
ciples and  a  consistent  advocate  of  its  con- 
victions. 

Mr.  Seal  is  a  descendant  of  a  line  of  an- 
cestry distinguislied  for  industry,  frugality 
and  sterling  integrity,  and  having  been 
reared  on  the  farm  he  had  abundant  oppor- 
tunity to  develop  those  qualities  inherited 
front  his  forefathers.  His  great-grandfather, 
Henry  Seal,  was  one  of  those  sons  whose 
father  was  among  the  pioneers  of  Lykens 
Valley,  having  settled  there  when  wild  beasts 
inhabited  -its  primeval  forests  and  the  In- 
dians had  pos.session  of  the  land.  Henry 
Seal  was  born  October  16,  1770,  and  died 
December   21,    1827.      His   wife   Catherine 


was  born  April  7,  1779,  and  died  May  29, 
1842.  Both  are  buried  at  David's  Reformed 
chureli,  near  Killinger,  where  also  repose 
the  remains  of  J.  Benjamin  Seal's  grand- 
parents on  the  paternal  side.  John  H.  Seal, 
the  grandfather  of  John  Benjamin,  was  born 
March  14,  1797,  and  died  January  12,  1877. 
He  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  children, 
nearly  all  of  whom  emigrated  to  what  was 
then  known  as  the  far  West,  locating  in  Ohio, 
Wisconsin,  Illinois,  Missouri  and  Kansas, 
their  offspring  being  scattered  now  through 
all  parts  of  the  Union.  He  remained  on  the 
old  homestead  and  reared  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  being  twice  married.  Four  chil- 
dren survive:  Sallie,  married  to  Uriah 
Miller;  Katie  A.,  Daniel,  and  John  W.  He 
died  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-seven  years, 
all  of  which  he  spent  on  tlie  same  farm. 

Josiah  Seal,  father  of  John  Benjamin,  was 
born  May  5,  1820,  and  died  March  9,  1892. 
He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Musser,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  and  Frances  Musser,  the 
oldest  of  a  family  of  sixteen  children,  of 
wiiom  Catherine,  wife  of  Benneville  Boyer ; 
Anna  L.,  wife  of  Isaac  Lloyd  ;  and  John  S., 
Henry  D.,  Josepii  R.,  and  Josiah  A.  Musser 
survive.  The  mother,  Elizabeth  (Musser) 
Seal,  was  born  January  8,  1826,  and  died 
August  13,  1889.  This  happy  union  of  over 
forty  years  was  blessed  with  eix  ciiildren : 
Frances  L.,  married  to  Addison  J.  Haver- 
stick  :  John  B.;  Emma  V.,  married  to  H. 
Frank  Sheetz;  and  George  L.;  these  are 
living.  Sarah  A.  and  James  A.  died  in  their 
youtii,  Sarah  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and 
James  aged  nineteen.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Seal 
s[)rang  from  a  large  and  influential  Cumber- 
land county  family.  John  Benjamin  Seal 
was  named  for  his  grandfather,  John  H. 
Seal,  and  Benjamin  Musser.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Bertha  Adilla  Freck,  Decem- 
ber 23, 1879.  Two  children  are  the  fruits  of 
this  marriage:  Esther Lucretia,  aged  fifteen, 
and  Eugene  Freck,  aged  thirteen. 

He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
public  affairs.  His  voice  and  pen  are  ever 
ready  to  assist  in  every  enterprise  or  move- 
ment intended  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
private  individuals  or  for  the  public  good. 
He  is  a  useful  member  of  society,  and  a 
fiiithful  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
His  profession  has  naturally  brought  him 
into  public  prominence.  In  1884  he  was 
nominated  by  the  Republicans  of  Dauphin 
county  for  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature, 
and  in  November  of  that  year  was  elected  to 


1066 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


that  office  by  a  large  majority.  At  tlie  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  office  lie  returned  to 
his  editorial  work,  and  on  the  0th  day  of 
February,  18!ll,  was  commissioned  postmas- 
ter of  Millersburg  for  a  term  of  four  years  by 
President  Harrison,  in  recognition  of  his 
political  services  and  at  the  request  of  his 
fellow-townsmen.  At  the  February  election 
in  189G  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Millersliurg  school  board,  and  is  now  presi- 
dent of  that  body. 


HoLTZMAN,  David  K.,  retired  farmer,  was 
born  near  Berrysburg,  Mifflin  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  November  20,  ISoCi; 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Eii/.abeth  (Kojipen- 
liaver)  liollzman.  His  grandfatlier,  George 
Holtzman,  married  Elizabeth  Lebo.  Their 
children  are:  Peter,  never  married,  died 
aged  seventy-six  years;  John,  died  aged 
eiglity-one,  was  twice  married,  and  had  one 
child,  Sarah,  who  died  aged  sixty-one  or 
sixty-two ;  his  second  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Weaver,  and  they  had  seven  children;  Jona- 
tlian  ;  Jacob,  died  aged  twenty-five  years; 
Maria,  married  Jonathan  Novinger,  iiad  six 
cliildrcn  ;  Sallie,  married  Pliilip  Ivcnkur, 
liail  six  sons  and  six  daughters;  and  EHza- 
belii,  married  Daniel  llaak,  had  four  sons 
and  one  daughter.  Mr.  George  Holtzman 
died  aged  about  sixty-seven  years,  and  his 
wife  ilied  aged  al)out  seventy-eight.  Jona- 
than Ploltzman,  fatlier  of  David  K.,  died 
in  1881.  He  had  a  family  of  five  children: 
Mary,  married  Isaac  App,  of  Snyder  county. 
Pa.;  Jonathan  B.,  died  aged  twenty-three 
years ;  Edward,  died  aged  two  years ;  David 
K.;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Straub. 
Mr.  Holtzman,  in  his  second  marriage,  was 
united  to  Pjlizabeth,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Elizabeth  (Schwab)  Weaver,  of  MitHin  town- 
ship; they  had  one  child,  Henry. 

David  K.  Holtzman  attended  the  Mifflin 
township  subscription  schools  until  he  was 
twelve  years  old,  after  which,  until  he  w;is 
seventeen,  he  attended  the  public  school. 
He  then  studied  for  two  terms  in  the  Semi- 
nary at  Berrysburg,  and  hy  this  course 
qualified  himself  for  teaching.  His  first 
work  as  a  teacher  was  done  at  Uniontown, 
in  his  native  township,  not  far  either  from 
Berrysburg  or  from  his  home,  where  he  had 
a  school  for  three  terms.  During  this  time 
occurred  the  death  of  Mary,  his  wife.  After 
this  event  he  studied  one  term  at  the  Selins- 
grove  Seminary,  and  then  resumed  teaching 
at  the  old  Fisher's  schoolhouse  in  Monroe 


township,  Snyder  county,  Pa.;  he  was  en- 
gaged  there  for  five  consecutive  terms, 
having  by  his  skillful  and  successful  man- 
agement of  the  school  established  a  wide 
reputation  as  an  able  instructor.  After  this 
he  removed  to  Anderson's  Creek,  Clearfield 
county,  Pa.,  and  entered  the  employ  of 
Charles  Blanchard  in  the  capacity  of  book- 
keeper and  lumber  scaler.  He  was  called 
from  this  position,  after  nine  months'  ser- 
vice, by  the  illness  of  his  father,  with  whom 
he  remained  and  carried  on  one  of  his 
farms  for  a  year.  He  then  bought  the  old 
homestead  in  Washington  township,  for- 
merly owned  by  his  grandfather,  George 
Holtzman,  who  was  among  the  first  settlers 
in  Lykens  \'alley.  In  connection  with  his 
farming  operations  on  the  homestead  Mr. 
Holtzman  also  sold  agricultural  implements 
in  Dauphin  and  adjacent  counties.  In  1884 
he  retired  from  active  farming  and  removed 
to  Millersburg,  wlnnv,  in  the  following  year, 
he  built  the  spacious  and  beautiful  dwelling 
which  has  since  that  time  been  his  resi- 
dence. In  the  .same  year,  1885,  he  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business,  in  which  be  con- 
tinued until  bS'lo. 

From  the  time  that  lu'  was  about  twenty 
years  of  age  until  1882  Mr.  Holtzman  gave 
instructions  in  vocal  music,  and  Ijecame 
well  and  widely  known  as  an  able  and  .suc- 
cessful teacher  of  that  branch.  Mr.  Holtz- 
man was  married  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
Aaron  and  Catherine  (Schwenk)  Mattis. 
Their  children  are:  Emma  L.  and  Charles 
Franklin.  Mr.  Holtzman  was  married  again, 
December  25,  1874,  to  Maggie,  daughter 
of  David  and  Margaret  Neagley.  Their 
children  are:  Ottilia  Corbula,  born  March 
13,  187G;  Charles  Franklin,  married  Sarah 
Koppenhaver,  and  has  two  children:  May 
Edna,,  aged  nine,  and  Grace,  aged  five  years. 
Mr.  Holtzman  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  served 
as  school  director  of  his  native  township  for 
three  consecutive  years.  The  family  attend 
the  Lutheran  church. 


Feidt,  George,  shoemaker  and  farmer, 
was  born  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  June  7,  1832  ;  son  of  John 
and  Mary  Ann  (Will)  Feidt.  He  bears  the 
name  of  bis  great-grandfather,  George  Feidt, 
who  came  from  England  and  settled  in  Up- 
per Paxton  township;  had  issue:  George, 
John,  Abraham,  and  Peter  Feidt.  His  eldest 
son,  George  Feidt,  was  born  June  6,  1771, 
married  Rachel  Snyder,  who  was  born  Feb- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1067 


ruary  2,  1770;  tlieir  children  were:  John, 
George,  Daniel, Catherine, Peter,and  Thomas. 
George  Feidt(2),  died  August  30,  1829,  and 
his  wife  April  25,  1836.  Their  eldest  son, 
John  Feidt,  father  of  George  P'eidt  (3),  was 
horn  August  18,  1798,  and  died  November 
12, 1854,  aged  about  fiftv-five;  his  wife,  Mary 
Ann  Will,  was  born  April  1,  1800,  and  die'd 
aged  about  seventy-three,  on  January  18, 
1874.  They  had  five  children:  Sarah,  wife 
of  Jonas  Wise;  Catherine,  wife  of  Hiram 
Bulse;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Buffington ; 
George,  and  Mary  C. 

George  Feidt  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  townshij",  which  he  at- 
tended during  part  of  each  year  until  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  eighteen  yeai's,  when  he 
began  to  learn  shoemaking  with  Abraham 
Snyder,  at  Berrysburg,  Pa.  Upon  the  com- 
pletion of  an  apprenticeship  of  two  and  a 
half  years,  he  decided  that  his  trade  would 
not  be  tiie  l)est  occu[)ation  for  him,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  farming,  taking  a 
farm  in  Upper  Paxton  town.ship  which  he 
cultivated  for  three  years.  For  the  ensuing 
years  he  resumed  his  trade  and  worked  as  a 
journeyman  shoemaker.  Finding  the  occu- 
pation agreeable  and  profitable,  Mr.  Feidt 
embarked  in  a  business  of  his  own,  opening 
a  shop  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  where  he  . 
carried  on  tiie  business  until  he  entered  the 
United  States  armv. 

He  enlisted  October  30,  1862,  at  Camp 
Curtin,  Harrisburg,  in  company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Seventy-seventh  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, Capt.  Benjamin  Evitts,  Col.  George 
B.  Wiestling.  Mr.  Feidt  served  his  term  of 
enlistment  and  was  discharged  at  Harris- 
burg, Augu.st  5,  1863,  after  which  he  went 
home  and  worked  at  his  trade  until  the 
opening  of  the  following  year.  He  then  de- 
termined to  unite  his  two  occupations  of 
shoemaking  and  farming,  and  the  results  of 
the  experiment  were  so  satisfactory  that  he 
continued  the  plan  for  eleven  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  sold  the  farm,  and  gave 
his  attention  to  the  trade  alone  for  the  next 
five  years.  In  1880  he  took  up  farming 
again,  and  continued  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  1892,  when  he  exchanged  the 
farm  for  the  homestead  he  now  occupies,  and 
retired  from  active  business. 

Mr.  Feidt  was  married,  August  10,  1871, 
to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Rachel 
(Alleman)  Barnhart.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Feidt 
have  no  children.  On  January  14,  1891, 
the  name  of  Mr.  Feidt  was  enrolled  on  the 


honorable  list  of  United  States  pensioners- 
Mr.  Feidt  is  a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife 
attend  tiie  Lutheran  church.  Mr  Feidt  is  a 
(juiet,  unassuming  man,  always  agreeable  in 
manner,  and  always  punctual  in  business, 
and  faithful  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  He 
is  respected  by  his  neighbors  and  is  es- 
teemed as  an  excellent  citizen  and  a  consist- 
ent Christian. 


Johnson,  Joskph  M.,  contractor,  was  liorn 
at  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  May  1 , 
1847  ;   son    of  John    and    Melvina   (Freck) 
Johnson.     His  grandfather,  Jolm  Johnson, 
Sr.,    had  three  children  :  Mary,    Ann,   and 
John.     John  Johnson,  Jr.,  father  of  Joseph 
M.  Johnson,  was  one  of  the  first  locomotive 
engineers  on  the  Reading  railroad,  and  met 
his  death   November  8,  1848,  while  in  the 
employ  of  that  company.     During  a  strike 
his    fireman  was   attacked   by    rioters,  and, 
going  to  his  rescue,  lV[r.  Johnson  received  a 
blow  from  a  stick   of  wood   wiiich  inflicted 
upon  him  a  fatal  injury.    His  death  occurred 
in  his  twenty-eighth  j^ear.     His  wife  is  still 
living.     They  had  two  children  :  Joseph  M. 
and  Mary  ;  the   latter  died  at   Millersburg, 
aged  al)0ut  nine  years.     Mrs.  Johnson  was 
married  again,  to  S.  H.  Longal)ach.     Their 
children  are:  Ella, born  November  20, 1856, 
wife  of  Carson  Jensen;  Soj)helia,  born  June 
5,  1858,  wife  of  Frank  Bowers  ;  Samuel  New- 
ton,  born    July  17,    1859,    married    Lizzie 
Baker ;  John    Luther,  born    Novemlier   22, 
1860,  died  aged  nine  months  ;   Emma  Eliza- 
beth, born  February  22, 1861,  wife  of  Charles 
Seal  ;  Loretta  A'^enona,  born  September   22, 
1863,  wife  of  Harry  Freeborn. 

Joseph  M.Johnson  lost  his  fatlier  when  he 
was  but  eighteen  months  old,  and  was  sent 
to  his  grandfather,  Matthias  Freck,  who 
lived  at  Millersburg,  Pa.  There  he  was 
kindly  cared  for  and  reared,  and  was  kept 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  place  until  he 
was  twelve  years  of  age.  He  was  of  much 
service  to  his  mother,  who  married  again 
after  Mr.  Johnson's  death.  In  1858,  when 
he  was  but  twelve,  he  started  out  to  make 
his  own  living,  not  because  he  had  no  home, 
for  there  was  room  and  employment  for  him 
both  in  his  grandfather's  anil  his  mother's 
home ;  but  he  was  independent  and  self- 
reliant  and  preferred  to  be  under  obliga- 
tions to  no  one  but  himself.  For  the  first 
two  years  he  found  employment  with  the 
Minehill  Railroad  (Company,  in  Schuylkill 
county,  making  his  home  with  his  mother. 


1068 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


After  this  he  was  for  one  season  a  driver  on 
the  Sehuylkill  canal,  from  Pottsville  to 
Philadelpliia  and  New  York ;  lie  then  re- 
turned to  the  employ  of  tlie  Minehill  Rail- 
road Company,  in  which  he  remained  until 
September  10, 1862. 

At  this  date  Mr.  Johnson  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  army,  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  in 
company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
seventh  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  under 
Captain  Fox  and  Col.  W.  W.  Jennings, 
of  Harrisburg,  for  nine  months.  Dur- 
ing his  term  of  enlistment  he  participated 
in  the  first  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Clian- 
cellorsville,  and  other  minor  engagements, 
and  was  discharged  from  the  service  May 
29,  18G3  ;  he  returned  to  his  mother,  then 
living  at  Gordon,  Schuylkill  county.  After 
serving  a  short  time  in  the  Twenty-seventh 
cavalry  com]>any,  State  militia,  he  enlisted, 
February  1, 1804,  in  the  three  years'  service, 
joining  company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Six- 
teenth Pennsylvania  volunteers,  under  Capt. 
George  Reber  and  Col.  St.  Clair  Mulholland. 
During  this  term  of  service  he  took  part  in 
the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  lasting  seven 
days  ;  Dodal's  Tavern,  Va.;  Poe  River,  Va.; 
and  Spottsylvania,  where  he  was  wounded 
by  the  fragment  of  a  shell  by  the  explosion 
of  which  seven  of  his  comrades  were  in- 
stantly killed.  Mr.  Johnson  was  discovered 
among  the  dead  by  a  lieutenant  of  company 
G  of  his  regiment,  who  rescued  him  from  his 
exposed  position  and  had  him  conveyed  to 
the  field  hospital.  He  was  disabled  by  this 
wound,  and  was  detained  in  the  hospital 
about  three  months  ;  when  discharged  from 
the  hospital  he  rejoined  his  regimc^nt,  then 
at  City  Point,  Xa..  He  was  in  the  engage- 
ments before  Petersburg  uj)  to  the  time  of 
its  surrender,  and  in  all  other  fights  uj>  to 
the  close  of  the  war. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  service  Mr. 
Johnson  went  to  Millersburg,  Pa.,  whither 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Longabach  had  removed  from 
Gordon.  Here  he  entered  the  employ  of  H. 
C.  Frick  &  Co.  as  a  laborer,  but  by  industry, 
skill  and  fidelity'  soon  won  promotion  and 
was  made  superintendent  of  their  working- 
men  in  Centre  and  Cameron  counties,  wiio 
were  engaged  in  cutting  and  preparing  their 
timber  for  shipment.  He  was  in  this  posi- 
tion about  four  years,  during  which  time  he 
was  greatly  aided  by  his  faithful  wife,  who 
kept  house  and  took  the  lumbermen  to 
board,  and  in  this  way  contributed  no  small 
amount  to  tlie  familj^  income.     In  1873  Mr. 


Johnson  bought  Kramer's  ferry,  at  Millers- 
burg, which  he  oi)erated  in  his  own  indi- 
vidual right  until  1877,  when  lie  disposed  of 
it.  His  next  enterprise  was  the  manufacture 
of  staves  for  nail  kegs,  at  Millersburg,  in 
which  he  continued  up  to  1885.  He  then 
sold  his  interest  in  the  factory  and  returned 
to  the  superintendcncy  of  the  lumber  opera- 
tions of  H.  C.  Frick  &  Co.,  in  Cameron 
county.  This  engagement  lasted  only  one 
year,  at  the  end  of  which  he  returned  to 
Millersburg  and  became  interested  in  the 
manufacture  of  barrel  staves. 

Some  time  after  this  Mr.  Johnson  took  up 
the  Ijusiness  of  contracting, which  he  carried 
on  alone  until  1892.  He  then  associated 
himself  with  the  promoters  and  builders  of 
water  works,  first  at  Millersburg,  and  subse- 
quently at  Miffiintown,  Patterson,  Steelton,, 
and  Womelsdorf,  Berks  county ;  he  is  at 
present  active  in  the  pi'ojection  of  similar 
improvements  in  other  places. 

Joseph  M.  Johnson  was  married,  Novem- 
ber 18,  1867,  to  Mary  Ellen,  daughter  of 
David  and  Catherine  (Bush)  Etien.  They 
have  eight  children:  Harry  William,  born 
December  19,  1868,  married  Lizzie  Douden, 
has  one  child,  Ray  Edison,  born  October  5, 
1895 ;  Samuel  Sylvester,  born  October  11, 
1871,  married  Carrie  Hall ;  Mark  Edgar, 
born  November  27,  1873 ;  John  Newton, 
December  20,  1877  ;  Mary  Catherine  E.,  No- 
vember 3,1879;  Luke  Etien,  December  4, 
3  882;  .Joseph  Matliias,  June  10,1885;  and 
Martha  Melvina,  September  14,  1888. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  Republican.  The  fiimily 
attend  the  Methodist  Episcojial  church,  ex- 
cept Mrs.  Johnson,  who  worships  with  the 
Evangelical  church. 

David  Etien,  father  of  Mrs.  Johnson,  died 
in  November,  1855.  His  wife  is  still  living. 
Of  their  four  children,  two  are  deceased  : 
William,  died  in  Illinois,  aged  about  forty- 
five;  Louisa  Rebecca,  died  aged  fourteen 
months.  Their  surviving  children  are  : 
Mary  Ellen,  Jlrs.  .Johnson;  and  Hiram,  who 
married  Ella  Dirr.  Mrs.  Etien  was  married, 
the  second  time,  to  Hugh  LTrich  ;  they  had 
one  child,  Samuel  Edward.  Mr.  Urich  en- 
listed in  comjtany  E,  Ninth  Pennsylvania 
volunteer  cavalry,  and  died  while  in  the 
service,  aged  about  thirty-nine  years. 


Hatter,  George  W.,  furniture  dealer  and 
funeral  director,  Millersburg,  Pa.,  was  born 
at  Donaldson,  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  March 


DAUPBIN  COUNTY. 


1069 


3,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  j\Iary 
(Haberacker)  Hatter. 

George  Hatter  (1),  grandfather  of  George 
W.  Hatter,  married  Kate  Erdman.  They 
liad  nine  children :  Daniel,  Kate,  John, 
George,  Elizabeth,  Moses,  David,  Samuel, 
and  Amanda.  Mrs.  Hatter  died  aged  about 
eighty-eight.  George  Hatter,  Jr.,  fatlicr  of 
George  W.  tiatter,  and  his  wife,  Mary  (Haber- 
acker) Hatter,  are  both  living,  and  reside  in 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.  Of  iiheir  seven  chil- 
dren, one,  Frederick,  died  in  infancy.  The 
living  children  are:  Joel,  married  Elizabeth 
Wolfgang ;  Catherine,  widow  of  Benedict 
Trefsger,  and  now  wife  of  William  l^inger; 
George  W.;  William,  married  Emma  Miller; 
Samuel  M.,  married  Agnes  Miller,  and 
Andrew,  married  Leah  Lewis. 

George  W.  Hatter  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  remained 
with  liis  parents  until  he  was  eighteen. 
Although  he  had  not  attained  his  majority 
and  his  parents  might  lawfully  and  reason- 
ably liave  detained  him  at  home,  they  were 
willing  to  relinquish  their  claim,  and  let  him 
go  forth  into  the  world  to  make  his  own 
living.  He  looked  about  for  some  time  and 
tried  various  occupations ;  among  other  em- 
ployments he  worked  for  a  time  in  the  coal 
mines.  He  was  not  fully  settled  in  any 
regular  business  until  1875,  when  he  began 
to  deal  in  live  stock  and  in  merchandise  of 
different  descri[)tions ;  he  continued  to  be 
thus  occupied  until  1880.  He  afterwards 
obtained  a  contract  for  carrying  the  mails 
in  Sullivan  county,  Pa.,  under  an  engage- 
ment for  two  and  a  half  years,  after  which 
he  returned  to  his  native  town.  Finding 
there  an  opening  for  a  furniture  store,  Mr. 
Hatter  embarked  in  that  line  of  business, 
and  enjoyed  a  good  patronage,  Iniilding  up 
a  profitable  trade  in  which  he  was  engaged 
up  to  1889  ;  after  this  time  he  added  to  his 
enterprise  the  business  of  undertaker  and 
funeral  director.  He  continued  this  busi- 
ness at  Donaldson  until  1894,  when  lie  re- 
moved to  Millersburg,  established  him.self 
in  commodious  quarters,  and  began  his  suc- 
ce.ssful  career  as  furniture  dealer  and  under- 
taker. Mr.  Hatter  has  qualified  liimself  for 
his  business,  especially  in  the  undertaking 
branch,  being  the  onl}'  graduated  funeral 
director  and  embalmerin  Millersburg  or  the 
vicinity. 

George  W.  Hatter  was  married,  July  1, 
1876,  to  Jessie  F.,  daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Catherine    (Moses)   Miller.       Of    their   five 


children,  one  is  deceased,  Mary  Rebecca, 
born  September  28,  1879,  died  September 
18,1881.  Their  living  children  are:  Ivan 
M.,  born  July  %\,  1877 ;  Florence  M.,  Febru- 
ary 17,  1881 ;  Ernest  C,  December  17, 
1885  ;  G.  Granville,  August  25,  1889.  In 
beneficial  and  fraternal  circles  Mr.  Hatter  is 
prominent  as  a  member  of  Council  No.  972, 
R.  A.,  at  Tremont,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.; 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  at  Millersburg,  and  Washington 
Camp,  No.  74,  P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  at  Donaldson, 
Schuylkill  county.  He  is  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  the  Reformed  church. 

Lewis  Miller,  father  of  Mrs.  Hatter,  died 
April  10,  1886,  aged  about  seventy-four. 
His  wife  died  October  14,  1888,  aged  about 
sixty-nine.  Of  their  five  children,  one, 
Mary,  died  in  infancy  ;  the  others  are  :  Leo- 
line,  wife  of  William  Bodley ;  James  K., 
married  Lottie  Uminitz;  she  died  and  he 
married  Dora  Mutchler ;  Florence  E.,  wife 
of  William  Ludwick  ;  Jessie  F.,  Mrs.  Hatter. 

Mr.  Hatter's  business  career  is  interesting. 
He  began  without  material  aid,  carefully 
worked  his  own  way  and  is  now  well  estab- 
lished in  trade,  enjoying  a  liberal  patronage 
without  forebodings  as  to  tlie  future.  He  is 
among  the  substantial  and  honored  men  of 
the  community,  owing  his  success  to  his 
own  self-reliant  efforts.  Since  the  foregoing 
was  written  Mr.  Hatter  has  died. 


Etzweiler,  Jerome,  confectioner,  Millers- 
burg, was  born  at  Millersburg,  Pa.,  Novem- 
ber (),  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  John  D.  and 
Sarah  (Henninger)  Etzweiler.  His  grand- 
father, John  Etzweiler,  married  Annie  Gray, 
and  they  had  these  children  :  Rebecca,  wife 
of  Emanuel  Frank ;  John  ;  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Slaight ;  Salome,  wife  of  J.  Armbrus- 
ter  ;  Amanda,  wife  of  John  Walters  ;  Lydia, 
wife  of  Robert  Ritchie;  Theodore,  an  iii- 
valid,  and  three  children  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

John  D.  Etzweiler,  father  of  Jerome  Etz- 
weiler, resides  at  Dimmsville,  Juniata 
county.  Pa.  Mrs.  Sarah  Etzweiler  was  born 
in  1835,  and  died  in  April,  1883.  They  had 
six  children  :  John,  died  aged  two  years ; 
Jerome ;  Charles,  married  Lizzie  Schaffer, 
has  four  children  ;  Louisa,  wife  of  C.  W. 
Fralich,  has  two  children  ;  William,  married 
Emma  Vandyke,  has  three  children;  Jo- 
siah,  married  Gertrude  Krotzer,  has  one 
cliild.  Mr.  Etzweiler  was  married,  a  second 
time,  to  Jennie,  daughter  of  James  Cox. 


1070 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Jerome  Etzweiler  was  a  pupil  in  tlie  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  town  for  a  part  of 
each  year  until  he  was  seventeen.  During 
part  of  this  time  he  was  a  very  helpful  as- 
sistant in  tiie  hotel  kept  by  his  father.  After 
this  time  he  was  engaged  in  various  occupa- 
tions, being  industriousand  enterprising,  and 
willing  to  accejit  any  respectable  and  rea- 
sonably remunerative  employment.  Even 
at  that  time  he  had  the  name  of  being  an 
energetic  and  faithful  workman,  and  he  was 
seldom,if  ever,  without  ajob.  Ho  was  for  two 
years  in  the  employ  of  the  Northern  Central 
Railway  Comj^any,  and  might  iiave  contin- 
ued in  this  service  with  every  prospect  of 
rapid  promotion,  since  his  services  were 
prompt  and  faithful,  and  entirely  satisfac- 
tory to  tlie  company,  but  Mr.  Etzweiler  was 
enterprising  and  ambitious,  and  liad  a  strong 
desire  to  be  at  some  business  under  his  own 
control,  being  persuaded  that  his  time  and 
talents  thus  employed  would  result  in  larger 
benelit  than  if  given  to  the  business  of  an- 
other )iarty.  Scanning  tiie  situation  at  home, 
it  occurred  to  him  that  there  was  good 
promise  there  for  a  well-conducted  ice  cream 
and  confectionery  business.  Accordinglj',  on 
May  10,  1879,  Mr.  Etzweiler  announced  to 
the  public  his  readiness  to  accommodate 
them  in  this  line,  and  solicited  their  patron- 
age. Tlie  public  generously  responded  ;  the 
trade  increased,  and  soon  demanded  larger 
facilities  and  accommodations,  and  in  1882 
Mr.  Etzweiler  establislied  himself  in  the 
spacious  and  elegantly  furnished  rooms  in 
which  he  has  since  received  his  patrons.  He 
was  favored  by  his  friends  and  neighbors, 
not  only  because  the\'  thought  it  well  to  pa- 
tronize the  young  men  of  their  own  place, 
and  thus  encourage  them  to  stay  at  home 
and  aid  in  building  up  the  town,  but  princi- 
pally because  of  his  skillful  management, 
strict  attention  to  business  and  honest  deal- 
ing, coupled  with  a  courteous  manner  and 
an  obliging  disposition. 

Jerome  Etzweiler  was  married,  March  12, 
1882,  to  Sarah  E.,  daugiiter  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Enterline)  Holtzman,  born  De- 
cember 22,  1851.  They  are  blessed  with 
three  children  :  George  L.,  born  Januarj^  21, 
1883  ;  Mary  Grace,  May  22,  1886,  and  Will- 
iam H.,  January  15,  1888.  Mr.  Etzweiler  is 
prominent  among  the  Odd  Fellows,  holding 
membership  in  Lodge  Mo.  183,  Millersburg. 
He  votes  the  Republican  ticket  and  is  a 
school    director   in   Millersburg.      Mr.  Etz- 


weiler worships  in  the  Evangelical  church; 
his  family  attend  the  Lutheran  church. 

George  and  Elizabeth  Holtzman,  parents 
of  Mrs  Etzweiler,  are  living.  Of  their  eight 
children,  Edward  died  October  11,  18!)5, 
aged  thirty-seven,  leaving  a  widow  and  two 
children,  Charles  and  Pauline.  Their  other 
children  are:  Mary  J.;  John  M.,  married 
Kati'e  White ;  Simon,  married  Frances 
Klinger;  Sarah  E.,  Mrs.  Etzweiler;  Ida; 
Kate ;  and  Agnes,  wife  of  Joseph  Bowman. 
Michael  ILjltzman,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Etz- 
weiler, married  Elizabetii  Novinger.  They 
had  six  children :  George,  Jacob,  James, 
Elizabeth,  Leah,  and  Sarah. 


Hoffman,  Isaac  W.,  ticket  and  freight 
agent  for  the  Northern  Central  and  Penn- 
.sylvania  Railroad  Company,  Millersburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lykens,  now  Wasliington 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  March  5, 
1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacol)  D.  and  Eve 
(Rombergor)  Hoffman. 

John  Peter  Hoffman  was  the  first  Ameri- 
can ancestor  of  the  Hoffman  family.  Witli 
others  of  his  family  and  friends  he  came  to 
this  country  from  Germany  in  1739,  and  his 
descendants  were  soldiers  in  the  Colonial 
army  and  in  the  wars  with  the  Indians.  He 
settled  in  Lykens  Valley,  at  the  end  of  Short 
Mountain,  where  he  built  a  small  house  and 
where  some  of  his  descendants  are  living  at 
this  time.  Jacob  D.  Hoffman,  father  of 
Isaac  W.  Hoffman,  was  of  the  fifth  genera- 
tion in  the  direct  line  of  descent  from  John 
Peter  Hoftinan,  and  was  born  July  3,  1812, 
on  tlie  farm  on  which  that  ancestor  first  .set- 
tled. On  the  same  place  Jacob  D.  Hoffman 
had  his  residence  after  the  death  of  his 
father  until  1855.  For  his  education  he  is 
less  indebted  to  schools  than  to  his  native 
talent,  his  quick  and  clear  j)erception  and 
ready  observation  of  men  and  events.  His 
knowledge  was  of  that  practical  character 
which  prepared  him  for  action  and  leader- 
sliip,  when  matters  of  importance  were  to  be 
decided  upon  in  the  community.  He  farmed 
tlie  old  homestead  until  1850,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  large  Elder  and  Haldeman 
farm  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  at  the  end 
of  Short  Mountain.  Jacob  D.  Hoffman  was 
married.  May  19,  1836,  to  Eve,  daughter  of 
Adam  Romberger,  born  June  28,  1810. 

He  was  one  of  the  most  influential  Repub- 
licans of  his  neighborhood.  In  early  life  he 
filled  many  of  the  offices  in  his  native  town- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1071 


sliii)  in  the  most  acceptable  manner;  later 
he  became  prominent  in  county  politics.  In 
1848  he  was  elected  county  commissioner  to 
fill  an  unexpired  term,  and  in  tlie  following- 
year  was  elected  to  a  full  term  of  tliat  office. 
He  was  twice  elected  sheriff,  in  1854  and  in 
18G0.  Mr.  Hoffman  was  also  a  man  of  great 
social  worth,  and  his  life  was  characterized 
by  unfailing  kindness  and  generosity.  Those 
in  need  of  help  never  appealed  to  him  in 
vain.  Few  men  draw  to  themselves  more 
loyal  friends  than  those  who  were  attached 
to  him.  He  died  May  30,  1887.  His  wife 
died  October  31,  187G,  from  the  results  of 
an  accident,  having  been  run  down  by  an 
engine  at  Sunbury,  Pa.,  May  30, 1870.  tiiey 
had  nine  children. 

Isaac  W.  Hoffman  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  district  schools.  At  sixteen 
or  seventeen  years  of  age  he  attended  the 
Berrysburg  Academy  for  one  term,  after 
which  he  was  urged  by  the  school  board  to 
take  one  of  the  schools  in  his  native  town- 
ship. This  was  in  1854,  when  the  system  of 
county  superintendency  first  went  into  effect. 
Mr.  Hoffman  yielded  to  this  request  and 
taught  a  six  months'  term.  After  this  he 
studied  one  term  at  the  Ilarrisburg  Acad- 
emy, and  then  taught  a  winter  school  in 
Lykens  township,  sj)ending  the  next  term 
in  study  at  the  White  Hall  Academy  in 
Cumberland  county,  and  teaching  the  win- 
ter school  at  Stauffer's  school  hou.se  in  Lower 
Paxton  township.  The  next  summer  found 
him  at  the  Frecland  Academy,  Montgomery 
county,  Pa.,  after  which  he  taught  a  regular 
term  in  the  Berrysburg  Academy,  and  in 
the  following  winter  taught  the  regular  term 
of  the  district  school  of  that  place.  He 
spent  the  next  summer  at  the  State  Normal 
School,  Millersville,  Lancaster  county,  and 
in  the  following  winter  taught  tlie  Elder 
school,  in  Swatara  township,  Daupliin 
county. 

Mr.  Hoffman  now  determined  to  try 
another  branch  of  business,  and  accepted  an 
agency  for  the  Osborne  Reaper  and  Mowing 
Machine  Com|)any,  of  New  York,  in  whieli 
he  was  active  for  one  season.  In  tlie  follow- 
ing winter  he  did  important  service  at  Hali- 
fax, where  he  taught  the  borough  high 
school,  and  was  instrumental  in  establishing 
the  grading  of  the  schools;  so  fully  was  he 
appreciated  that  he  was  retained  for  two 
terms  in  the  superintendency  of  the  Halifax 
schools.     On  September  5,  1859,  Mr.  Hoff- 


man received  from  the  county  superintendent 
a  county  certificate  for  professional  teaching. 
In  1801  he  was  appointed  route  agent  in  the 
United  States  railway  mail  service.  Thi_s 
position  he  held  until  November  30,  1865, 
when  he  was  appointed  agent  of  the  North- 
ern Central  Railway  Company,  at  Millers- 
burg,  Pa.,  and  later  was  made  agent  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  at  the 
same  place,  which  position  he  still  satis- 
factorily fills. 

Isaac  W.  Hoffman  was  married,  November 
0,  1866,  to  Sarah  Frances,  daughter  of  Dr. 
H.  G.  and  Elizabeth  Martin.  Their  children 
are:  Roscoe  White,  born  September 5,  1867; 
Jacob  Odin,  born  August  5,  1869,  married 
Elizabeth  Crawford;  and  Pauline,  born  De- 
cember 4,  1871.  Mrs.  Sarah  F.  Hoffman 
died  December  17,  1874,  sincerely  mourned 
by  her  relatives  and  friends,  and  by  all  who 
knew  her  lovely  character  and  unselfish  life. 
She  was  a  true  Christian  woman,  conscien- 
tious in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  doing 
good  to  all  about  her.  Mr.  Hoffman  was 
married,  the  second  time,  November  0,1879, 
to  Marion,  daughter  of  .lacob  E.  and  Cath- 
erine (Bollinger)  Meek.  Their  children  are: 
Dean  Meek,  born  November  11,  1880  ;  Her- 
Ijert  Spencer,  born  .January  24,1882;  Mar- 
garet, born  March  27,  1889,  died  December 
7,1891;  Lois  and  Marie,  twins,  born  June 
20,  1893. 

Mr.  Hoffman  has  served  as  director  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Millersburg,  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Standard  Axle 
Works,  and  the  treasurer  of  that  company 
for  a  year ;  he  was  also  among  the  organizers 
of  the  Millersburg  Building  Association,  of 
which  he  served  as  secretai-y  during  the 
whole  term  of  its  exi,stence.  He  holds  a 
jn'ominent  place  in  the  International  Asso- 
ciation of  Ticket  Agents,  and  is  also  active 
in  fraternal  organizations,  being  a  member 
of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  183,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
of  Millersburg,  of  which  he  has  been  secre- 
tary for  twenty-five  years ;  of  Dauphin  En- 
campment, No.  10,  'l.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Harris- 
burg  ;  a  member  of  Perseverance  Lodge, 
No.  21,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Perseverance  Chapter, 
No.  21,  R.  A.  M.;  Pilgrim  Commandery, 
No.  11,  K.  T.;  Harrisburg  Consistory,  32°, 
S.  P.  R.  S.,  of  Harrislnirg  ;  Lulu  Temple, 
A.  A.  0.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Philadelphia ;  Syrian 
Commandery,  No.  133,  A.  &  I.  0.  K. 
of  M.,  of  Millersburg.  Mr.  Hoffman  is  a 
Republican.     He  has  served  on  the  borough 


1072 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


school  board  for  twelve  j'ears,  having  been 
its  secretary  during  all  that  time.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Metiiodist  Eiiiscopal  church. 
The  parents  of  the  present  Mrs.  Hoffman, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  E.  Meek,  are  botli  living. 
They  had  six  children :  William  North,  died 
when  one  year  old  ;  the  living  children  are : 
James  L.;  Marion,  who  is  Mrs.  Hoffman  ; 
Annie  S.;  Mary  A.;  Ida  May,  wifeof  Kimber 
E.  Heckert,  of  Millersburg,  Pa. 


Lenker,  Daniel  Y.,  distiller,  was  boni 
in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  Northumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  October  17,  1841.  He  is  a 
son  of  Nicholas  and  C-atlicrine  (Yeager)  Len- 
ker. Michael  Lenker,  great-grandfather  of 
Daniel  Y.  Lenker,  married  Matilda  Enter- 
lein.  John  Lenker,  grandfatiier  of  Daniel 
Y.,  married  Maria  Bobb.  They  had  ten 
ciiildren  :  Lydia;  Nicholas;  Daniel ;  Adam  ; 
Mary,  wife  of  Andrew  Ditty;  Catherine, 
wife  of  Jonas  Bonawitz  ;  John  ;  Jacob  ;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Josiah  Negley,  and  Michael, 
a  minister  at  Lykens.  Nicholas  Lenker, 
father  of  Daniel  Y.  Lenker,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 5,  1814,  and  died  March  29,  1888. 
His  wife,  Catherine  Yeager,  was  born  A]iril 
IG,  1817,  daughter  of  Christopher  and  Eliza- 
beth (Radel)  Yeager;  she  died  Februar}'  11, 
1895.  They  had  ten  children  :  Sarah,  de- 
ceased, wife  of  Daniel  Ke|)penhefTer ;  Isaac, 
married  Kate  Zinnnerman ;  Mary,  wife  of 
Michael  Metz;  Daniel  Y.;  .John  Y.,  married 
Lydia  Hidle,  of  Ohio ;  David  Y.,  married 
Emma  Kunzelman ;  William  Y.,  married 
Susan  Giebel ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William 
Forney;  Nicholas  Y.,  married  Lizzie  Wise; 
and  Catherine,  wife  of  Charles  Overholtzer. 

Daniel  Y.  Lenker  was  four  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Mifflin  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  township  until  he  was 
tiiirteen,  when  the}' again  removed  to  a  place 
near  Killinger  P.  0.,  in  Ujjper  Paxton  town- 
ship. There  the  children  had  the  advantages 
of  the  winter  district  school.  Daniel  not  only 
helped  on  the  farm,  but  also  spent  much 
time  in  his  father's  tailor  shop,  where  he  was 
a  valuable  assistant,  saving  his  father  many 
stitches,  and  gaining  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  trade.  He  was  employed  in  this  wa}- 
until  he  was  eighteen,  when  he  was  permitted 
to  supplement  the  instruction  received  in 
home  schools  by  attendance  for  two  terms  at 
the  academy  at  Freeburg,  Snyder  county,  in 
the  spring  of  1860.      Pteturning    home,    he 


was  engaged  in  tailoring  with  his  father  until 
he  entered  the  army. 

In  1862,  August  1,  Mr.  Lenker  enlisted  at 
Ilarrisburg,  in  company  G,  Sixth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  militia,  under  Captain  Shers 
and  Colonel  Kieffer,  and  was  moved  with  his 
regiment  to  the  battlefield  of  Antietam, 
and  thence  to  Fort  Waslungton,  where  his 
term  of  enlistment  expired,  and  he  was  mus- 
tered out.     He  reached  home  in  September, 

1862.  After  passing  the  winter  at  home,  Mr. 
Lenker  re-enlisted  in  May,  1863,  and  was 
made  an  orderly  at  Camp  Curtin  on  the  staff 
of  the  provost  marslnl,  which  position  he 
held  until  June,  1803,  when  he  was  ordered 
with  the  Twenty-sixth  Pennsylvania  militia 
to  Gettysburg.  Pie  was  detailed  with  others 
to  serve  as  spy,  to  locate  the  position  of  tiie 
enemy's  forces;  while  on  this  service  he  and 
fifteen  of  his  comrades  were  captured  and 
sentenced  to  be  shot  or  hanged  ;  but  the  de- 
feat of  the  Southern  army  at  (Gettysburg  re- 
sulted in  their  l)eing  paroled.  Barefooted 
and  with  hardly  enough  clothing  to  cover 
him,  Mr.  Lenker  made  his  way  on  foot  from 
Gettysburg  to  Dillsburg,  and  thence  to  his 
home,  vvliere  he  remained  until   December, 

1863.  He  then  entered  the  State  University 
at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  pursued  a  course  of 
study  until  June  2,  1864 ;  after  which  lie 
came  home,  and  again  enlisted  in  the  United 
States  army  at  Harrisbnrg,  joining  company 
G,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  in  which  he  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  at 
Newbcrne,  N.  C,  in  August,  1865. 

In  the  winter  of  1865  and  1866  he  taught 
school  in  Lower  Mahanoy  townshij),  North- 
umberland county,  in  the  old  weaving  shop 
of  his  grandfather,  tlie  room  in  which  the 
first  free  school  opened  in  that  township  was 
held.  In  the  spring  of  1866  Mr.  Lenker  re- 
turned to  LTpper  Paxton  township  and  en- 
gaged with  his  father  at  tailoring,  at  the 
same  time  carrj-ing  on  a  small  farming  busi- 
ness on  a  place  near  Rife  P.  ().,  known  as 
the  Henry  Pottinger  farm,  which  he  had 
l)ought.  He  continued  in  these  lines  of 
business  until  1869,  wiien  lie  sold  the  farm 
and  bought  his  present  homestead  near  Mil- 
lersburg, known  as  the  Haldeman  farm,  and 
once  owned  by  Daniel  Miller;  there  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  gardening  and  fruit  rais- 
ing. He  was  also  for  some  time  a  contrac- 
tor. In  1880  he  took  up  the  business  of  dis- 
tilling fruit  brandies,  essential  oils,  and  rye 
whiskey,  in  which  he  has  been  successfully 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1073 


and  profitably  engaged  up  to  the  present 
time.  Mr.  Lenker  has  sliown  great  energy 
and  enterprise  and  much  bu.siness  aljility, 
and  is  now  rewarded  by  prosperity'.  Ilis 
products  are  of  the  best,  and  find  a  wide 
market,  and  his  trade  is  secure  and  increas- 
ing. 

Daniel  Y.  Lenker  was  married,  October  23, 
18G6,  to  Julia  A.,  daughter  of  Williani  and 
Amelia  (Year)  Kootka,  born  November  25, 
1844,  at  Kremnitz,  near  Berlin,  Prussia. 
Three  of  tlieir  eight  children  are  deceased. 
Their  surviving  children  arc:  Mary  V.,  born 
March  14,  1863,  wife  of  George  Hoffman,  has 
three  children,  Gu}'  Lenker,  Harry  P.  and 
Esther  ;  Mildred,  born  March  3, 1870  ;  Catiie- 
rine,  Ajiril  24,  1872  ;  Harry  Cordes,  Febru- 
ary 10,  1874  ;  and  Earl,  .July  24,  1881. 

Mr.  Lenker  has  served  as  school  director 
for  about  twelve  years.  His  political  opin- 
ions are  independent.  He  is  associated  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  meml)er  of 
State  Lodge,  No.  22;  he  belongs  al.so  to  Kil- 
patrick  Post,  No.  212,  G.  A.  II.,  at  Millers- 
burg.  The  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 

William  Kootka,  father  of  Mrs.  Lenker, 
was  born  in  Carnnitz,  near  Berlin,  April  ], 
1810,  and  came  with  his  family  to  America 
in  1853.  He  landed  at  New  York,  came  to 
Wiconisco,  in  the  Lykcns  Valley,  and  re- 
moved to  Rife  P.  0.,  where  he  engaged  in 
milling;  he  died  in  Millersburg,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 19,  188(i,  aged  seventy- six  ;  his  wife 
also  died  in  Millersburg,  Sejitcmber  (i,  1887, 
aged  seventy-four.  They  had  three  children  : 
Amelia,  wife  of  Willard  Harper,  who  was 
killed  in  tlie  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  leaving 
one  child,  Thomas ;  liis  widow  married 
George  Falkenmeyer;  William  A.,  married 
Tina  Sophia  Weaver,  has  three  children  ; 
and  Julia,  Mrs.  Lenker. 


Lenker,  William  E.,  retired  merchant, 
was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  March  9,  1833,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Eve  Catherine  (Feidt) 
Lenker.  Philip  Lenker,  his  grandfather, 
was  twice  married.  His  second  marriage 
was  with  Ann  Margaret  Weaver;  their 
cliildren  were:  Jacob,  Philip,  William,  John, 
David,  Jonas,  Susanna,  Adam,  and  Sarali. 
William  Lenker,  father  of  William  E.,  was 
born  February  6,  1805,  and  died  March  29, 
1800.  His  wife,  Eve  Catherine  Feidt,  was 
born  December  24,  1805,  and  died  May  24, 


1887.  Four  of  their  six  children  are  de- 
ceased :  Joel,  born  December  17,  1839,  died 
August  27,  1844;  Aaron,  born  September  16, 
1843,  died  October  13,1846;  Lavinia,  born 
August  28,  1840,  died  February  25,  1892, 
wife  of  Thomas  Matter;  Susan,  born  May 
16,  1831,  wife  of  Joel  Koppenhaver,  who 
died,  and  she  married  Jacob  Emerick  ;  she 
died  December  27,  1894.  The  living  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Lenker  are: 
William  E.  and  Daniel,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 11,  1828,  and  resides  at  Aaronsburg,  Pa. 

William  E.  Lenker  was  educated  in  the 
di.strict  schools  of  Mifflin  township,  which  he 
attended  during  part  of  each  year  until  he 
was  fourteen.  At  that  age  he  went  with  his 
parents  to  Upper  Paxton  townshi}),  where 
he  continued  to  attend  the  common  schools 
until  1852.  During  his  years  at  school  he 
was  also  working  on  the  farm,  and  assisting 
his  parents  to  the  best  of  his  power  in 
every  busy  season.  On  November  2,  1852, 
he  entered  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  AV^e'st- 
moreland  county.  Pa.,  and  pursued  the  reg- 
ular course  of  studies  there  for  two  terms, 
after  which  he  attended  the  Berrysburg 
Seminary  for  two  terms.  In  1855  he  studied 
at  the  State  Normal  School,  Millersville, 
Lancaster  county,  during  the  spring  term; 
then  in  the  summer  of  the  same  year  he 
helped  his  father  as  usual  with  the  harvest 
work.  After  a  term  at  the  New  Berlin  Acad- 
emy in  Union  county,  he  taught  a  winter 
school  at  home,  resuming  farm  work  with 
his  father  in  the  spring.  The  following 
winter  he  taught  school  in  Ujjper  Paxton 
township,  working  again  for  his  father  in 
the  summer,  and  receiving  wages  ;  the  next 
winter  he  taught  again  in  Upper  Paxton 
township.  In  1858  Mr.  Lenker  rented  his 
father's  farm  on  shares,  and  continued  this 
arrangement  for  nine  successive  years,  teacli- 
ing  every  winter  either  in  Mifflin  or  Upper 
Paxton  township.  During  that  time  he 
received  a  teacher's  professional  certificate 
from  County  Superintendent  Ingram. 

On  February  12,  18(;(),  Mr.  Lenker  and 
Samuel  Lehman  made  ai-rangements  for  the 
purchase  of  the  Lykens  Valley  store,  and  on 
October  1,  1866,  they  took  possession  and 
began  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Len- 
ker &  Lehman.  Mr.  Lenker  remained  on 
the  home  farm  until  the  next  spring,  when 
he  occupied  his  present  homestead.  The 
firm  conducted  the  business  for  five  years. 
In  1871  Mr.  Lenker  bought  the  interest  of 
his  partner  and  continued  business  by  him- 


1074 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


self  until  March,  1888.  He  then  retired, 
leaving  as  successor  his  son,  Francis  Winfield 
Lenker,  who  lias  since  conducted  the  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Lenker  has  kept  pace  with  the 
march  of  improvement,  and  has  done  liis 
share  in  building  up  the  place.  In  1872  he 
built  tlie  fine  dwelling  in  which  his  son  now 
lives.  In  1892  he  remodeled  his  own  resi- 
dence, imjiroving,  enlarging,  and  adorning 
it,  and  making  it  one  ot  the  most  desirable 
homes  in  tbe  region. 

On  October  1,  1857,  William  B.  Lenker 
was  married  to  Amanda,  daughter  of  Jonas 
and  Elizaljeth  Diebler,  born  October  10, 
1837.  Mrs.  Diebler's  maiden  name  was  the 
same  as  that  of  lier  husband,  altliough  tiiey 
were  not  at  all  related.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Len- 
ker have  two  children  :  Francis  Winfield, 
born  April  12,  1801,  married  Annie  Miller, 
has  one  son,  Mark  Homer ;  and  Minnie  Sa- 
villa,  wife  of  Benton  P.  Negley,  has  two  chil- 
dren, Helen  Amanda  and  \\'illiam  Isaac. 
Mrs.  Lenker  died  December  21,  1880.  She 
was  faithful  in  all  her  round  of  duties,  and 
gentle  and  loving  in  her  ways.  She  made  a 
profession  of  religion  in  connection  with  the 
United  Bretliren  church,  and  honored  this 
profession  by  a  godly  walk  and  conversation. 
She  was  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  she  was  the  eldest ;  the  others  were 
Mary,  Lizzie,  John  H.,  Sarah  Jane,  Cathe- 
rine, and  Jonas  Edward.  Mr.  Lenker  was 
married,  the  second  time,  November  7,  1891, 
to  Miiry  M.,  widow  of  Cornelius  Hoy,  and 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Henry  E.  Ilackman, 
Elizabethville,  Dauphin  count}',  Pa. 

Mr.  Hackman's  famil}'  consisted  of  eleven 
children:  Anne,  wife  of  Michael  Hicker ; 
Mary,  Mrs.  Lenker  ;  Alice,  wife  of  Onesimus 
Kreider  ;  Edward,  married  Henrietta  Stahl  ; 
Clara  ;  Horace,  married  Mollie  Shoffstall ; 
Wilson,  married  Sallie  Light;  Ida,  wife  of 
Frank  Bender ;  Lizzie,  deceased  ;  Virginia, 
wife  of  Samuel  M.  Glenigon,  and  Laura,  wife 
of  Henry  Stein. 

Mr.  Lenker's  political  preferences  are  with 
the  Republican  party.  He  has  served  the 
township  in  various  offices.  He  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  in  1870,  served  two  years, 
and  then  resigned  ;  re-elected  in  1892,  he 
has  continued  in  office  ever  since.  Under 
President  Johnson's  administration,  in  1807, 
lie  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Killinger, 
Pa.,  and  held  the  office  until  1885.  Mr. 
Lenker  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 


RiEGLE,  Benjamin,  retired  farmer,  was 
born  in  Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county, 
Pa.,  March  24, 1805.  His  parents  are  George 
and  Anna  Mary  (Lesher)  Riegle.  His  pater- 
nal grandparents  are  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Zeller)  Riegle,  and  his  maternal  grandpar- 
ents John  and  Barbara  Lesher.  George 
Riegle,  his  father,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six  years  and  eight  months ;  his  wife  died 
aged  about  eighty-three.  They  had  twelve 
children  :  Benjamin,  Daniel,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two,  John,  Jacob,  Jonathan, 
David,  George,  Henry,  El  ia.s,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
and  Catherine. 

Benjamin  Riegle  was  carefully  trained  from 
earliest  childhood  at  home,  and  his  i)arents 
made  willing  contributions  for  the  support 
of  a  school  in  the  neighborhood  in  which  he 
was  a  pupil.  This  was  before  the  establish- 
ment of  the  admirable  public  school  system, 
maintained  liy  general  taxation  ;  these  sub- 
scription schools  were  tlu;  only  educational 
advantages  within  the  reach  of  people  of 
moderate  means.  The  family  removed  to 
Northumberland  county  when  Benjamin  was 
nine  years  old.  His  education  being  lim- 
ited, having  attended  school  only  a  few 
months  for  two  or  three  winters,  he  con- 
tinued to  attend  subscription  schools  until 
he  was  nineteen.  These  schools  were  only 
kept  open  during  the  winter  season,  when 
farm  work  was  not  pressing;  in  the  farming 
sea.son  all  the  girls  and  boys  were  industri- 
ous helpers  in  home  and  farm  work. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riegle  thinking  it  well  that 
a  boy  should  know  a  trade,  lienjaniin  was 
placed  with  Jacob  Welker,  of  Millersburg,  to 
learn  that  of  cabinet  making.  At  the  end  of 
two  years  Mr.  Welker  jtronounced  him  a  well 
trained  mechanic,  and  lie  went  to  work  as  a 
journeynnin.  After  following  this  occupa- 
tion for  one  year,  Mr.  Riegle  decided  to  re- 
turn to  farm  work ;  so,  after  due  considera- 
tion, he  rented  a  farm  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship, from  Jacob  Landis,  for  three  years. 
Within  the  first  year  of  his  lease  he  learned 
that  he  could  buy  a  farm  on  easy  terms,  so 
he  sublet  the  Landis  farm  to  Jacob  Lebo,  and 
on  April  1,  1828,  bought  his  present  home- 
stead, then  comprising  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  acres.  He  at  once  took  pos.ses- 
sion  and  began  the  [irocess  of  clearing,  im- 
proving, enriching  the  soil  and  erecting 
needed  structures,  making  substantial  im- 
provements of  all  kinds  in  due  order,  which 
have  brought  his  farm  into  first-class  condi- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1075 


tion,  both  for  productiveness  and  for  appear- 
ance, and  made  him  a  prosperous  farmer. 
His  first  great  improvement,  and  tlie  one  lie 
deemed  most  important,  wsis  the  large,  sub- 
stantial and  convenient  barn  that  he  built  in 
1834.  Finding  that  he  could  as  easily  and 
more  economically  manage  a  larger  farm, 
Mr.  Riegle  bought  fifty  acres  more  of  Chris- 
topher Yeager  in  1838,  and  fift\'  of  William 
Lenker  five  years  later;  all  of  which  coming 
under  the  same  skillful  and  judicious  man- 
agement, made  the  additions  equal  to  the 
original  farm  in  condition  and  value.  The 
dwelling  Mr.  Riegle  determined  should  be 
one  that  would  adorn  his  farm  and  afford  his 
family  convenience  and  comfort;  and  in 
1859  he  built  the  beautiful  and  spacious  resi- 
dence which  has  since  been  his  home. 

As  the  children  appear  upon  the  threshold 
of  active  life  Mr.  Riegle  takes  care  of  their 
interests.  In  1850  he  bought  of  George  Buf- 
fington  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  acres,  which  he  greatly  improved,  and 
which,  in  1865,  he  sold  to  his  son  Jonathan. 
In  1860  he  bought  of  Simon  Yeager  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of 
cleared  land  and  fJiirty  acres  of  timber,  on 
which,  in  1861,  be  built  a  large  barn  and 
made  other  improvements,  and  ni  1866  sold 
it  to  his  son-in-law,  Jeremiah  Landis.  In 
the  spring  of  the  same  year  he  sold  one 
hundred  acres,  with  buildings,  to  his  son 
Benjamin.  Mr.  Riegle's  circumstances  now 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  be  taxed  with 
the  burdens  and  responsibilities  of  active 
business,  but  his  integrity  and  ability  were 
so  manifest  in  his  career  that  organized  in- 
dustries and  financial  trusts  and  ven- 
tures desired  his  aid  and  support  in 
their  administration;  for  any  enterprise  to 
which  Benjamin  Riegle  would  give  his 
name  would  win  and  hold  public  confi- 
dence. A  number  of  such  enterprises  in 
the  lower  end  of  Lykens  Valley  have  en- 
joyed his  services  and  his  endorsement.  Mr. 
Riegle  was  for  many  years  a  stockholder  in 
one  of  the  Harrisburg  banks,  and  was 
largely  instnunental  in  the  organization  of 
the  Lykens  Valley  Bank,  now^  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Millersburg,  in  which  for 
many  years  he  was  a  director  and  one  of 
the  principal  stockholders;  he  was  also  one 
of  the  princijial  organizers  of  the  Lykens 
Bank. 

Benjamin  Riegle  was  first  married,  Janu- 
ary 31,  1826,  to  Catherine  Diebler,  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Anna  Mary  (Fessel)  Diebler. 


They  had  nine  children,  of  whom  seven 
are  deceased.  Mrs.  Riegle  died  January  16, 
1875,  and  was  deeply  mourned  by  those  who 
knew  her  many  virtues  and  her  exemplary 
conduct  in  all  relations  of  life.  In  the  sec- 
ond marriage  of  Mr.  Riegle  he  was  united, 
June  6,  1875,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hummel, 
widow  of  John  Hummel,  who  died  October 
6,  1865.  Mrs.  Riegle's  children,  by  her  first 
marriage,  are  Henry,  Jacob,  Matthias,  Chris- 
tian, and  Elizabeth,  all  deceased;  Mary; 
John,  who  married  Sysan  Bidding,  and 
Amanda,  wife  of  David  Lenker. 

Mr.  Riegle's  character  is  no  less  marked 
and  prominent  through  his  domestic  and 
social  qualities  than  through  those  wdiich 
secured  to  him  the  remarkable  success  of  his 
business  career.  Multitudes  share  his  hos- 
pitality and  enjoy  his  societ}'.  He  is  boun- 
tiful in  his  charities,  and  a  willing  and  lib- 
eral contributor  to  all  measures  for  the  pro- 
motion of  the  public  welfare.  His  church 
mendjership  is  in  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  he  is  second  to  none  in  his  sup- 
port of  its  benevolent  enterprises. 


Weaver,  Philip,  farmer,  was  born  on 
the  homestead  in  Up})er  Paxton  township, 
Daupiiin  county.  Pa.,  March  10,  1850,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Hoy) 
Weaver.  His  grandfather,  Jacob  Weaver, 
married  Christina  Cooper,  and  they  had  five 
children :  Jac  b,  who  died  young ;  George, 
married  Sarah  Cameron;  Adam;  William 
J.;  Sarah,  married  to  Peter  Schreffler,  who 
died,  and  she  married  Jacob  Martz.  Will- 
iam J.  Weaver,  father  of  Philip  Weaver, 
was  born  in  November,  1818,  and  died  May 
10,  1883,  aged  about  sixty-five.  His  wife 
died  November  13,  1887,  at  nearly  the  same 
age.  Their  children  are :  Sarah,  deceased, 
wife  of  Jacob  H.  Forney ;  Catherine,  wife 
of  Michael  Kuffer;  Philip;  Jonathan,  mar- 
ried Louisa  Strohnecker;  Christian,  married 
Catherine  Campbell ;  Isaac,  married  Eliza- 
beth Hummel,  and  after  her  death,  Sarah 
Novinger;  Samuel,  married  Kate  Miller; 
Elizabeth,  married  Daniel  Koppenheffer. 

Philip  Weaver  was,  in  his  boyhood,  kept 
busily  at  work  on  the  farm  during  the 
season  for  farm  work  ;  his  only  opportunity 
for  school  education  was  in  the  common 
.schools  of  his  township,  which  were  open 
for  a  few  months  of  each  winter.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  he  became  of 
age,  and  then  went  out  to  work  among  the 
neighboring  farmers.     His  first  engagement 


1076 


BIOGRAPSIGAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


was  with  Jonas  Diebler,  with  whom  he 
continued  until  August  10,  1871.  He  was 
then  with  Rev.  J.  W.  Lesher  for  eighteen 
montiis,  farming  for  liim  and  running  his 
saw  mill;  after  this  lie  was  for  a  short  time 
with  Brown  &  Earl}',  at  Williamsport,  Pa., 
.spending  the  remainder  of  the  summer  with 
Taher  &  Goodricli,  and  in  l)oth  of  these 
situations  doing  general  work.  He  went 
home  in  the  fall  of  1873,  and  remained 
until  the  following  sjiring,  when  he  took 
one  of  his  father's  farms  on  shares,  and  cul- 
tivated it  for  one  year.  He  then  removed 
to  his  present  homestead,  where  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  general  farming.  He 
has  much  improved  the  place;  in  1885  he 
built  ujion  it  a  saw  and  a  grist  mill,  and 
has  a  good  trade  with  the  fanners  of  the 
vicinity.  Philip  Weaver  was  married,  No- 
vember 10,  1873,  to  Amelia  Mary,  daughter 
of  Simim  and  Tina  (Hcnninger)  Daniel, 
born  June  25,  1848.  Their  cliildren  are: 
Oliver,  born  March  2,1874;  Annie  Nora, 
October  11,  1875,  wife  of  Francis  M.  Larkin, 
has  one  child,  Edna  Rebecca ;  George 
Melancthon,  March  17,  1877;  Lizzie  Celesta, 
January  5,  1870;  Tina  Amanda,  November 
16,  1880;  Frederick  Patterson,  November 
7,  1882;  Edward  Whitney,  January  10, 
1885;  and  Monroe  Curtin,  January  17,  1887. 
Mr.  Weaver  is  a  Democrat.  He  served  one 
term  of  five  years  in  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Reformed  church. 

Simon  Daniel,  father  of  Mrs.  Weaver, 
died  in  1885,  aged  about  seventy ;  his  wife 
survives  him.  Of  their  eleven  children, 
two  are  deceased:  Amanda,  wife  of  Gabriel 
Weary,  and  Malinda,  wife  of  Henry 
Schneider.  The  surviving  children  are: 
Edward  Isaac,  married  Mary  Coleman; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Cornelius  Kohler;  Aaron, 
married  Mary  Buffington ;  Amelia  Mary, 
]\Irs.  VV^eaver;  Henry,  married  Christine 
Hubach  ;  Catherine  and  Lizzie,  twins,  the 
former  married  to  William  Wolf,  the  latter 
to  William  Wenrich;  Fietta,  wife  of  Elmer 
Thompson. 

We.weu,  Adam  G.,  retired  farmer,  was 
born  on  ids  father's  farm,  Upper  Paxton 
townshi}),  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  November  24, 
1814,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Margaretta 
(Lenker)  Weaver.  Jacob  Weaver,  his  grand- 
father, was  born  near  Zweibreucke,  Bavaria. 
After  coming  to  this  country  he  married 
Margaretta  Schamera ;  their  children  were : 


Jacob,  Gretchen,  Daniel,  Magdalena,  and 
George.  George  Weaver,  father  of  Adam  G. 
Weaver,  died  in  July,  1858,  aged  about 
seventy-six  ;  his  wife  died  October  24,  1832, 
aged  about  forty-eiglit.  All  of  their  family 
of  fifteen  children  grew  to  maturity  but  one, 
Elizabeth,  who  died  aged  eleven.  The  other 
children  were :  Mary,  Jacob,  George,  Su- 
sanna, David,  Adam,  Lj'dia,  Daniel,  Simon, 
Fanny,  Rebecca,  Annie,  William,  and 
Rachel. 

Adam  Weaver  had  very  slender  oppor- 
tunities for  securing  an  education,  for  while 
there  was  a  subscription  school  open  in  the 
neighborliood  for  a  part  of  each  year,  he 
could  not  avail  himself  fully  of  even  tliis  ad- 
vantage, for  he  was  very  active  and  helj)ful, 
and  the  farm  work  made  constantly  increas- 
ing demands  on  his  time  as  he  grew  older. 
From  his  eighteenth  to  his  twenty-eighth 
year  he  gave  his  entire  time  to  farming.  For 
six  of  those  years  he  and  his  brotiier  took 
tiie  farm  on  shares.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  he  removed  to  his  present  homestead, 
which  had  been  bought  by  his  f'atiier,  and 
was  at  that  time  only  a  rough  piece  of  land, 
witiiout  buildings  or  improvements.  He 
iiiadi^  an  agreement  with  his  father  for  the 
use  and  final  possession  of  this  land  on 
terms  which  they  considered  reasonable 
and  within  his  reach.  Here  he  began  the 
making  of  a  farm  and  a  home.  He  first 
l>uilta  small  log  house,  which  was  a  comfort- 
able dwelling,  and  which  he  occupied  until 
he  had  secured  time  and  means  for  erecting 
a  good  house.  He  made  improvements  in 
the  order  of  their  necessity,  and  in  1844 
built  a  large  and  substantial  barn.  It  was  a 
long  time  before  he  felt  ready  for  the  dwell- 
ing, but  in  1801,  the  conditions  being  favor- 
able, the  elegant  residence  was  erected,  which 
has  been  the  home  of  his  family  since  that 
date.  All  other  improvements  came  in  due 
order  and  time,  and  the  result  is  the  home- 
stead in  its  completene.ss  and  excellence. 
The  time  of  waiting  was  shortened  by  Mr. 
Weaver's  employing  the  winter  months  in 
weaving  fiax  and  wool,  a  trade  which  he  had 
learned  from  his  father,  and  progress  was 
still  more  assisted  by  frugality  and  econom\' 
in  his  way  of  living  and  in  the  general  con- 
duct of  his  affairs.  At  the  time  of  his  fath- 
er's death,  in  1858,  Mr.  Weaver  received  the 
deed  to  the  farm,  which  consists  of  one  liun- 
dred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  improvement.  In  1860  he 
bought  the  John  Weaver   farm,  which  his 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1077 


son  Jereiuiah  occupies,  ;ind  wliicli  ha  sold  to 
liis  son  in  1890.  In  the  sanio  year  he 
bought  the  Isaac  Neglej'  farm,  on  wliich  his 
son  Adam  now  resides.  In  1S80  lie  built 
the  cottage  in  which  his  son  Aaron  lives, 
and  in  1892  purchased  two  hundred  and 
twenty-one  acres  of  land  from  Andrew  Rich- 
mond. 

On  May  30, 1843,  Adam  Weaver  was  mar- 
ried to  Susanna,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Catherine  (Buftiugton)  Daniel,  born  January 
31,  1831.  Their  childreu  are:  Catherine, 
born  July  6,  1844;  Jeremiah,  born  Novem- 
ber 25,  1845,  married  Sarali  I?ohner,  by 
whom  lie  had  four  children,  and  after  her 
death  married  Abby  Wright,  had  two  chil- 
dren ;  Cornelius,  born  February  13,  1848, 
married  Julia  Fogleman,  has  one  child ; 
Aaron,  born  October  30,  1849,  married  Ellen 
Miller,  had  two  children  ;  Adam,  born  March 
22,  1852,  married  Lizzie  Gassner,  has  five 
children ;  Susanna  Weaver,  born  May  4, 
1855,  married  Ciilbert  Troutman,  has  ten  chil- 
dren ;  Priscilla,'  born  April  18,  1858  ;  and 
Adeline,  born  July  7,  1860,  married  Jacob 
Wiest,  now  deceased,  had  one  child.  Mrs. 
Weaver  died  May  27,  1872. 

Mr.  Weaver  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  cliurch.  His 
business  course  is  a  fine  study  for  young  men. 
By  his  example  they  may  see  the  value  of  in- 
dustrious and  careful  habits  in  early  youth, 
and  thenecessity  of  frugalitj'  and  economy  if 
any  foundation  is  to  be  laid  for  future  compe- 
tency. They  will  .see  that  good  will,  lion- 
esty  and  a  scrupulous  regard  for  the  comfort 
of  others  are  needful  to  the  highest  success. 
They  will  further  see  in  the  conduct  and 
character  of  Mr.  Weaver  a  pattern  of  excel- 
lence in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  in  his 
quiet  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  early 
(liligence  tliey  may  observe  the  substantial 
rewards  of  right  living. 


Keeper,  Joseph,  Sr.,  watch  and  clock 
maker,  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  September  10,  1820, 
and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Christina  (Gip- 
ple)  Keefer.  Joseph  Keefer  (1),  father  of  Jo- 
seph Keefer,  Sr.',  died  February  1,  18G8, 
aged  eighty  years,  one  month  and  one  day. 
His  wife  died  October,  1837,  aged  fifty-one  or 
fifty-two.  Their  children  were:  Elizabeth, 
Jacob, Sarah,  Mary,  Catherine,  Jane,  Joseph, 
Susan,  and  Annie. 

Joseph  Keefer,  Sr.,  attended  the  subscrip- 
tion school  in   Lower  Paxton  township  one 


term.  When  he  was  nine  years  old  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Upper  Paxton  township  to  a 
place  tliree  miles  east  of  Millersburg,  settling 
there  in  April,  1830.  There  Joseph  was  in 
the  private  scliool  several  years,  and  later 
went  to  the  district  school  a  part  of  each 
year  until  he  was  eighteen.  For  several  years 
previous  to  this  he  had  been  repairing  clocks 
and  watches,  and  had  become  quite  skillful 
in  the  trade  which  he  subsequently  made  his 
occujjation.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  he  was  twenty-three,  and  then  went  to 
work  on  the  farm  of  his  brother-in-law,  near 
Oakland  Mills,  Juniata  county.  Pa.  In  1844 
he  returned  to  Upper  Paxton  township  and 
bought  forty  acrc^s  of  land  of  his  father,  on 
which  he  built  a  house  and  barn  and  made 
otiier  improvements,  substantial  and  service- 
able. In  1850  he  bought  a  farm  of  seventy 
acres,  in  Perry  county.  Pa.,  in  Liverpool 
township.  There,  besides  his  farming,  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  and  also  conducted  a 
carpet  and  cloth  weaving  business  until 
18(30.  In  that  year,  his  wife  having  died 
December  5,  18G5,  he  went  back  to  Upper 
Paxton  townshij)  and  lived  with  his  parents 
until  the  spring  of  18G7,  when  he  removed 
to  Pmnpkin  Hill,  now  Rife  Postoflicc,  in 
U[iper  Paxton  township.  There  he  worked  at 
his  trade  of  watch  and  clock  making,  and 
later  opened  a  general  store.  He  bought 
with  the  store  twenty  acres  of  land,  which  he 
cultivated.  In  18G9  Mr.  Keefer  sold  his  store 
and  farm  and  bought  a  small  farm  of  his 
father,  near  Millersburg,  consisting  of  thir- 
teen acres.  On  tiiis  placebo  remained  until 
1875,  when  he  bought  his  present  home- 
stead, and  in  187G  built  upon  it  the  house 
in  which  he  now  resides.  It  is  a  farm  of 
nineteen  acres,  which  he  has  highly  im- 
proved and  made  valuable  and  attractive. 

Jo.seph  Keefer  was  married,  May  2,  1843, 
to  Christina,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Cathe- 
rine Luckenbach,  born  February  7,  1827. 
Of  their  eight  children,  three  are  deceased: 
Jacob  T.,  born  November  8,  1846,  died  Oc- 
tober 6,  1881,  married  Margaret  Dunkle,  and 
left  five  children  ;  Sarah  A.,  born  April  13, 
1850,  wife  of  Adam  Miller,  died  July  2, 1884; 
Rev.  Daniel  W.,  born  February  4,  1859;  at- 
tended the  district  schools  of  Perry  county 
for  a  short  time  before  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  Upper  Paxton  township,  where  he 
went  to  winter  schools  and  worked  out  among 
the  farmers  during  other  seasons.  At  nine- 
teen years  of  age  he  began  teaching  school 
at    Loyalton,    Washington    township,    and 


1078 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


then,  after  working  for  a  time  with  liis 
brother,  Joseph  P.,  in  the  woolen  factory,  in 
Cumberland  county,  he  began  his  studies  for 
the  ministry.  At  their  completion  he  was 
ordained  to  the  sacred  ofhce,  and  occupied 
several  pastorates ;  he  was  last  located  at 
Highland  church,  near  Steelton,  Pa.,  where 
he  died  February  19,  1802.  He  was  an  able 
and  faitliful  minister,  became  prominent  in 
his  profession,  and  was  honored  and  loved 
by  all  his  parishioners.  He  left  a  wife  and 
one  child. 

The  surviving  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Keefcr  are  :  Jo.seph  P.,  born  October  6, 1848, 
married  Annie  Miller;  Mary  E.,  born  Jan- 
uary 8,1854,  wife  of  Tobias  Sheetz ;  Will- 
iam L.,  born  February  18,  18G0,  resides  in 
Florida  ;  John  B.,  born  May  27, 1862,  studied 
dentistry,  and  is  practicing  at  Altoona,  Pa., 
married  Mary  Auxer  ;  Kebecca  Jane,  born 
August  19, 18(54,  wife  of  Morris  Shultzberger. 
Mrs.  Keefer  died  December  5,  1805.  Mr. 
Keefer  was  married  again,  December  20, 
1866,  to  Sarah  Haflfley,  daughter  of  John 
and  Magdalena  Hafhey. 

Mr.  Ki'cfer  was  formerly  a  A\'hig,  and 
when  tiie  llepublican  party  came  into  exist- 
ence lie  united  with  that  organization.  Wliilc 
in  Perry  county  he  served  in  numerous  town- 
ship offices.  He  has  been  for  about  sixty 
years  a  member  of  the  Bretliren  in  Christ, 
commonly  called  River  Brethren  ;  was  for 
many  years  a  deacon  ;  inl87!»  he  waselected 
to  the  ministry,  and  still  holds  tliat  sacred 
office. 

Philip  Luckenbach,  father  of  the  first 
Mrs.  Keefer,  is  deceased,  as  is  also  his  wdfe. 
They  had  a  family  of  ten  girls  and  six  boys; 
Mrs.  Keefer  was  the  youngest  girl.  The 
present  Mrs.  Keefer  is  one  of  seven  children, 
one  of  whom,  Martha,  died  March  19,  1896, 
aged  sixty-eight  years  and  five  months.  The 
surviving  brotliers  and  sisters  are:  Jacob, 
David,  Elizabeth,  Sophia,  Nancy,  and  Sarah, 
Mrs.  Keefer. 


Pi..\Mr.ECK,  Joachim  Hartewig  "William, 
merciiant  tailor,  was  born  in  Marlow,  a  small 
town  in  the  province  of  Mechlenburg 
Schwerin,  Germany,  March  12,  1850.  He  is 
a  son  of  Joachim  Frederick  Christopher  and 
Maria  Magdalena  Augusta  (Juchstock)  Plam- 
beck.  Joachim  Juchstock,  maternal  grand- 
father of  Mr.  Plambeck,  had  a  family  of 
three  children :  Fritz,  William,  and  Maria 
Magdalena  Augusta. 


J.  F.  C.  Plambeck,  father  of  J.  H.W.  Plam- 
beck is  one  of  a  family  of  two,  the  other  be- 
ing Mary,  -who  died  at  about  eighteen  years 
of  age.  Mr.  Plambeck  was  liorn  October  23, 
1802.  His  wife,  Maria  M.  A.  Juchstock,  was 
born  October  26,  1816,  and  survives  him. 
Two  of  their  cliildren  are  deceased,  a  son 
bearing  the  same  name  as  J.  F.  C.  Plambeck, 
and  a  daugiiter  Mary  :  liotli  died  in  cliild- 
hood.  Tlie  surviving  children  are:  Helena, 
widow  of  Christian  Daden  ;  Fritz,  married, 
and  has  four  children  ;  Wilhelmine,  wife  of 
Heinrich  Brudigam  ;  Joachim  H.  W.;  Eliza, 
wife  of  Fritz  Niliers;  Jolianna,  wife  of  Fritz 
Wendt,  and   August  Piandjeck,  blacksmitli. 

Joachim  H.  W.  Plambeck  was  carefully 
trained  and  instructed  in  the  public  sciiools 
of  his  native  ]dace  until  he,  was  fourteen, 
when  he  began  an  ai>prenticeship  at  tailor- 
ing with  George  Tliomas,  in  the  city  of 
Rostock,  Mechlenburg.  His  term  of  in- 
denture ended  June  15,  18()S,  and  he  then 
worked  as  a  journeyman  in  various  places 
until  1872,  when  he  began  military  service 
in  an  artillery  regiment  of  the  Ninth  army 
corps  in  the  field.  His  three  years'  term  of 
service  having  expired,  he  resumed  work  as 
a  journeyman  tailor  at  several  places  in  Ger- 
many up  to  1882.  He  tlien  yielded  to  his 
strong  desire  to  see  the  land  of  free  institu- 
tions, leaving  Germany  September  13,  1882, 
and  landing  at  New  York,  September  27. 
1882.  He  settled  at  Millersliurg,  and  was 
employed  as  a  journeyman  by  Frederick  R. 
Gilbert  until  December  12,  1884,  wdien  he 
began  business  on  his  own  account,  and  by 
his  thorough  knowledge  of  his  trade,  and  his 
lionorable  dealing,  he  has  buih  up  a  large 
and  j)rofitable  business. 

Mr.  Plambeck  is  an  ardent  admirer  of  tiie 
Americans  and  their  libei'al  institutions,  and 
became  a  naturalized  citizen  September  80, 
1889;  he  is  as  loyal  and  patriotic  as  any 
native  born  citizen.  He  began  his  business 
career  as  a  stranger  and  without  capital,  and 
has  attained  to  the  envial)le  success  he  en- 
joys solely  by  his  own  skill  and  diligence. 
In  political  views  Mr.  Plambeck  is  not  iden- 
tified with  any  i>arty,  but  holds  neutral 
ground.  He  attends  the  religious  services 
of  the  Lutheran  cliurch. 


CoRDES,  Henry,  train  dispatciier.  North- 
ern Central  Railway,  at  Millersburg,  was 
born  near  the  harbor  of  Breman,  king- 
dom of  Hanover,  now  one  of  the  German 
States,  July  29,  1838.     He  is  a  son  of  Henry 


/ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1081 


and  Sophia  Cecilia  (Luebkon)  (hordes.  Henry 
Cordcs,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
grew  up  and  married  there.  Part  of  his 
family  preceded  him  to  America  in  1852 ; 
he  and  his  wife  emigrated  in  1856.  He 
died  Mav  2,  1876,  aged  sixty-two;  liis  wife 
died  Mai-cli  11,  1875,  aged  sixty.  Of  their 
nine  cliildren,  five  are  deceased  :  vVnna,  wife 
of  Cornelius  Fink,  had  one  cliild ;  Sopliia, 
who  married  Frank  Carlton  ;  Caroline,  w^ife 
of  WiiHam  Young  ;  George,  died  witliin  five 
weeks  of  Caroline's  deatli,  both  dying  of 
trichinosis  ;  Margaret,  wife  of  Jolm  C.  King, 
had  seven  cliildren:  Philipina,  Esther,  Mar- 
garet, John,  Louis,  Elizabeth,  and  one  de- 
ceased, .Joseph  ;  Louis  C,  married  Emma 
Brubaker,  had  three  children  deceased,  Mar- 
garet and  Anna  were  twins.  The  surviving 
children  of  Henry  and  (Jecilia  Cordes  are: 
Henry;  Hattie  C,  married  Oscar.  Snyder, 
who  died,  and  she  married  Charles  Bohne, 
and  after  his  death,  Frank  C.Taylor;  she 
had  one  child,  Oscar,  son  of  her  first  hus- 
band ;  Rettie,  twin  of  Hettie  C,  wife  of 
Charles  Dobson,  has  one  child,  Nellie;  these 
twin  sisters  so  closely  resemble  each  other  in 
personal  appearance  that  their  mother  often 
failed  to  distinguish  them ;  Frederick  G., 
married  Hannah  Willets,  has  one  ■  child, 
Frederick,  who  served  from  the  beginning 
to  the  end  of  the  Avar  of  the  Rebellion  in  the 
famous  Kane's  rifies,  Bucktail  regiment. 

Henry  Cordes  attended  the  scliools  of  his 
native  city  until  he  was  fourteen,  when  he 
came  with  his  .sister  Anna  to  America,  sail- 
ing April  15,  1852,  and  arriving  at  New 
York,  May  27,  1852.  He  came  to  Harris- 
burg  and  began  an  apprenticeship  with  his 
uncle,  Henry  Luebken,  at  baking;  after 
serving  two  years  he  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  lie  was  in  the  employ  of  Her- 
man Haupt,  chief  civil  engineer  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Comjiany  until  1856; 
he  then  returned  to  Harrisburg  with  his 
parents,  who  had  just  come  from  German}', 
and  remained  a  short  time  with  them. 
Through  Dr.  Butt,  of  Philadelphia,  he  was 
employed  by  the  Florida  Lumber  Company, 
in  the  capacity  of  clerk,  and  went  to  Florida, 
where  the  state  of  his  health  permitted  him 
to  remain  only  a  short  time.  He  was  then 
employed  by  Philip  Walters,  the  brother-in- 
law  of  his  uncle,  to  do  farm  work  and  assist 
in  butchering  on  his  farm  in  York  county. 
Pa.  He  contiinied  there  until  April  18, 
1861,  when  he  enlisted  at  Camp  Curtin,  Har- 


risburg, in  company  B,  Second  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  Capt.  John  Doebler  and  Col. 
Frederick  Staumback.  His  regiment  moved 
from  Harrisburg  to  the  vicinity  of  Baltimore, 
and  after  a  short  stay  there  was  sent  to  York, 
Pa.,  thence  through  Ahiryland  and  into 
Virginia,  and  thence  through  Baltimore  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  was  discharged  at  tiie 
end  of  three  months'  service. 

Mr.  Cordes  remained  with  his  parents 
until  August  9,  1861,  when  he  re-enlisted  in 
the  Eighteenth  United  States  infantry,  in 
whicl)  he  served  until  January  25,  1865. 
This  regiment  was  ordered  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  in  November,  1861,  was  transferred  to 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  participated  in  the  campaign 
through  Kentucky,  ending  in  the  defeat  of 
General  Zollicofter's  army  at  Mill  Springs, 
after  which  it  retired  to  Louisville.  The 
movement  of  the  regiment  was  then  from 
Louisville  to  East  Point,  Ky.,  thence  by 
boats  down  the  Ohio  river  to  the  Cumber- 
land, up  to  Fort  Donelson,  tiience  to  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  thence  to  Shiloh,  thence  to 
Corinth,  Miss.,  thence  to  Rienzi,  Blaekland, 
Booneville,  to  near  Holly  Springs,  Miss., 
thence  back  to  Corinth,  thence  to  luka, 
thence  to  East  Port  Landing,  crossing  the 
Tennessee  river  to  Alabama,  whence  they 
returned  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  by  way  of  iVthens, 
Tuscumbia,  Decatur  and  Salem,  Ala.,  Deck- 
ard,  Murfreesboro  and  Nashville,  Tenn., 
Bowling  Green,  Mumfordsville  and  East 
Point,  Ky.,  and  reaching  Louisville  October 
1,  1862. 

After  resting  four  days  they  started  on 
the  Perrysville  canii)aign,  by  way  of  Sliep- 
herdville,  Bardstovvn  and  Springfield  to 
Perrysville  or,  (Chaplain  Hills),  thence  to 
Crab  Orchard,  Frankfort,  Greenville,  Mum- 
fordsville, Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  Gallatin, 
Bellows  Ford,  Pilot  Knob,  Edgefield  and 
Nashville,  Tenn.  They  then  moved  on 
Christmas  day,  1862,  to  Murfreesboro  (Stone 
river),  where  they  lost  nearly  half  the  regi- 
ment. From  Murfreesboro  they  moved  to 
Tulahoma,  Tenn.;  thence  to  Cowen,  across 
the  Cumberland  mountains  into  the  Crow 
Creek  Valley;  thence  to  Stephenson,  Ala.; 
thence  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  where  they 
crossed  the  Tennessee  river  and  Raccoon 
mountains  into  the  Trenton  Valley,  Ga.; 
thence  across  Lookout  mountain  into  the 
Chickamauga  Valley,  Gn.;  thence  to  Chatta- 
nooga,  Tenn.,  where,    in    September,    1863, 


67 


1082 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


they  were  in  a  number  of  engagements  and 
remained  in  that  vicinity  until  May  14, 
1864. 

They  tlien  began  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
moving  first  to  Ringgold,  Ga.;  thence  to 
Tunnel  ITill,  thence  to  Buzzard's  Roost, 
thence  to  Snake  Creek  Gap  to  Resaca;  tlience 
to  Kingston,  Cassvilie,  ]5urnt  Hickory,  New 
Hope  Church,  Pumpkin  \"ine  Creek,  Big 
Shanty,  Kenesaw,  Smyrna,  Chattahooche 
river,  Peachtree  creek,  Atlanta,  Eutaw  creek, 
to  Jonesborough,  Ga.,  where  Mr.  Cordes  re- 
ceived a  serious  gunshot  wound  in  his  left 
arm,  necessitating  amputation  on  the  battle- 
field, after  which  he  was  taken  a  distance 
of  twenty  miles  to  the  hospital  at  Atlanta, 
suffering  intensely  on  the  way.  He  re- 
mained in  the  hospital  until  October  23, 
1,S()4,  when  he  was  sent  with  others  in  freight 
cars  to  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and  was  finally 
discharged  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  January  25, 
1805,  on  account  of  disability  resulting  from 
wounds  received  in  battle. 

Mr.  Cordes  then  returned  to  Harrisburg, 
and  after  a  short  stay  entered  Crittenden's 
Commercial  College,  Philadelphia,  wiiere  he 
took  a  cour.se  in  Ijookkeepingand  telegrajjliy, 
which  he  conn)letcd  in  l)ecember,  18(J5. 
Through  the  friendly  endorsement  of  Hon. 
J.  D.  Cameron  he  obtained  a  jiosition  in  the 
service  of  the  Northern  Central  Railroad 
Company,  and  was  stationed  at  Harrisburg; 
after  six  month.s  he  was  sent  to  Marysville, 
Perr}'  county,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  two 
and  a  half  years.  In  September,  1868,  he 
was  located  at  Millensburg,  and  has  been  in 
the  employ  of  the  same  company  at  that 
point  ever  since. 

Henry  Cordes  was  married,  December  25, 
1866,  to  Kate,  daughter  of  John  and  Cathe- 
rine (Sweigert)  Shoader.  Two  of  their  chil- 
dren are  deceased  :  John  Henrj',  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  days,  while  Catherine  Cecilia, 
who  was  born  December  20,  1868,  died 
March  27,  1895.  Those  who  survive  are 
also  two  in  number:  Florence  Victoria, 
born  June  8,  1872,  wife  of  Benton  M.  Jury, 
of  Millersburg,  Pa.,  and  Warren  Raj^  born 
January  9,  1875. 

Mr.  Cordes  is  a  Republican.  In  1892  he 
was  elected  to  the  otfice  of  director  of  the 
poor  for  a  term  of  three  years,  and  in  1895 
was  re-elected  to  the  same  office.  He  has 
been  the  commander  of  Post  No.  212,  G.  A. 
R.,  at  Millersburg  for  fifteen  years,  and  still 
holds  that  office.  He  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  Lodge  No.  183,  I.  O.  0.  P.,  at 


Millersburg.  Mr.  Cordes  and  his  famil)'  at- 
tend the  Lutheran  church. 

John  Shoader,  father  of  Mrs.  Cordes,  died 
January  4,  1875.  His  wife  survives  him. 
Their  children  are:  Frederick  G.,  married 
Kate  Harm;  Kate,  Mrs.  Cordes;  John  H., 
married  Mary  Flickinger ;  Harry  B.,  mar- 
ried Lydia  Hamilton  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Willis  Shearer;  William  B.,  married  Annie 
Flickinger,  and  Mary  B.  Mr.  Shoader 
served  in  the  United  States  navy  during  the 
Mexican  \var. 

Henry  Luebken,  uncle  of  Mr.  Cordes,  with 
whom  the  latter  resided  when  he  first  came 
to  America,  and  from  whom  he  learned  his 
trade,  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1832. 
He  had  learned  baking  in  his  native  land, 
and  was  one  of  the  fii'st  bakers  in  Harris- 
1  lurg.  I  le  married  Margaret  Walters,  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Walters. 

Henry  and  Margaret  Luebken  had  twelve 
children,  all  of  whom  died  in  childhood,  the 
eldest   having  lived  to  be  eighteen  years  of 


Ric'KERT,  John,  farmer,  was  born  near 
Gratz,  Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  January  4, 1829;  son  of  Henry  and  Sarah 
(Romberger)  Rickert.  Adam  Romberger, 
maternal  grandfather  of  John  Rickert,  mar- 
ried Mary  Werner.  She  died,  and  he  was 
married  the  st'cond  time  to  Mi.ss  Paul.  He 
was  the  father  of  twenty-four  children, twenty 
of  whom  were  girls.  Henry  Rickert,  father 
of  John  Rickert,  died  aged  sixty-five  years, 
five  months  and  fifteen  days  ;  his  wife  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  Their  ciiildren 
were:  Elizabeth,  Hannah,  Mary,  William, 
John,  Sarah,  Rebecca,  Jonas,  and  Lucetta. 

John  Rickert  was  only  a  few  years  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township,  re- 
ceiving a  limiti^d  I'ducation.  He  was  early 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  and  began 
to  earn  his  liveliiiood  at  nine  years  of  age. 
He  first  hired  out  to  do  farm  work  for  Daniel 
Leopold,  Lykens  township,  for  three  years, 
receiving  one  dollar  a  month  for  the  first 
year,  two  dollars  a  month  for  the  second 
year,  and  three  dollars  a  month  for  the  third 
year.  For  the  next  three  years  lie  was  with 
George  Rutter,  in  Armstrong  \'alley,  Halifax 
township  ;  after  this  he  was  in  the  service  of 
the  Summit  Branch  Railroad  Company  until 
1854.  He  worked  the  next  year  at  the  saw 
mill  of  Benneville,  Witmer  &  Co.,  Millers- 
burg ;  then  a  vear  for  the  Nortiiern  Central 
Railway  Company.     After  this  he  was  en- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1083 


gaged  in  various  occupations  until  1859. 
From  that  year  until  18G2  he  worked  for 
Peter  Berl,  Georgetown,  Northumberland 
county. 

On  October  18,  18(;-2,  Mr.  Rickert  enlisted 
at  Plarrisburg  for  three  years  in  comjjany  H, 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Pennsyl- 
vania infantry,  veteran  volunteers.  The 
regiment  was  sent  from  Harrisburg  to  Har- 
per's Ferry,  thence  to  Duniphreys,  thence  to 
Wolf's  Run  Shoals,  tiience  back  to  Dum- 
piii'eys,  thence  to  Chancellorsville,  thence  to 
Acquia  Creek,  and  to  the  battlefield  of  Get- 
tysburg, where  they  remained  a  few  days. 
Here  Mr.  Rickert  received  a  dangerous 
wound  in  the  groin  and  was  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital at  Wasiiington,  where  he  \&y  two  days 
and  two  nights,  and  was  then  sent  to  Tener's 
Lane  Hospitiilat  Piiiladelphia,  where  he  was 
under  treatment  for  six  months.  When  dis- 
charged from  the  hos[)ital  Mr.  Rickert  re- 
joined his  regiment  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  and 
moved  with  it  to  Lookout  mountain,  thence 
to  Chattanooga,  from  which  point  they  set 
out  on  the  Atlanta  campaign.  The  regiment 
then  moved  withSherman's  army  and  shared 
in  the  encampments,  marches  and  battles 
which  have  become  famous  in  history.  It 
went  down  to  the  sea  and  up  the  Atlantic 
coast,  was  at  the  final  surrender  and  marched 
in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
It  was  finally  mustered  out  and  the  men 
honorably  discharged  July  15,  18G5. 

After  his  discharge  Mr.  Rickert  was  em- 
l^loyed  by  the  Summit  Branch  Railroad  Com- 
pany on  the  road  for  nine  months,  after 
which  he  was  transferred  to  the  round  house, 
where  he  remained  about  one  year.  In  the 
spring  of  1867  he  removed  to  Halifax  town- 
ship, and  farmed  one  year  for  Sawyer  & 
Read  ;  then,  returning  to  Millersburg,  was 
emjiloyed  by  N.  C.  Fi'ick  &  Co.  for  two  years ; 
after  that,  until  1890,  he  was  engaged  in  a 
variety  of  occupations.  In  1890  he  was  put 
upon  the  pension  roll.  In  1877  he  bought 
the  ground  and  built  the  house  where  he 
now  has  his  residence. 

Mr.  Rickert  was  married,  July  31,  1853,  to 
Sarah  Ann,  daughter  of  Abel  and  Marj' 
(Keiter)  Palmer.  They  have  five  children  : 
Benjamin  Franklin,  born  June  23,  1854, 
married  Lizzie  Keagy ;  John  Henry,  born  July 
28, 1857,  married  Hannah  Litich;  Elizabeth 
Salome,  born  October  3,  1859,  wife  of  John 
Crawley;  George  McClellan,  born  March  17, 
18G2,  married  Annie  Sharon ;  James  Mon- 
roe, born  July  7,  1806,  married  Mary  Carl. 


Mr.  Rickert  is  a  Republican.  He  attends 
the  Reformed  church,  and  his  wife  the  Lu- 
theran. 

Abel  Palmer,  father  of  Mrs.  Rickert,  died 
aged  about  seventy.     His  wife  is  still  living. 


Bender,  William,  wheelwright  and  car- 
penter, was  born  in  Armstrong  Valley, 
•Jackson  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
January  17,  1842.  He  is  a  son  of  Leonard 
and  Elizabeth  (Shoop)  Bender. 

Adam  Bender,  his  great-grandfather,  kept 
a  hotel  at  Halifax,  and  later  removed  to 
where  Elizabethville  now  stands.  John 
Bender,  grandfather  of  William  Bender, 
married  Elizabeth  Gipple.  They  had  six 
children:  Leonard,  Jolm,  Elizabeth,  Bar- 
bara, Katie,  and  Nancy.  John  Bender  laid 
out  tiie  town  of  Elizabethville,  and  named 
it  for  his  wife  Elizabeth.  Leonard  Bender, 
father  of  William  Bender,  was  born  in  1811, 
and  is  living  at  the  time  of  this  writing. 
His  wife,  Elizabeth  Shoop,  died  February 
2,  1872,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four.  They  had 
six  children :  Samuel,  married  Barbara 
Shraeder;  William;  Susan,  wife  of  Isaac 
Keiter;  Sarah,  deceased,  wife  of  Emanuel 
Hoover  ;  John,  married  Sarah  Snyder,  who 
died,  and  he  married  Sarah  Warfel,  widow 
of  James  Warfel;  Louisa,  deceased,  wife  of 
David  Griesemer. 

AVilliam  Bender  was  at  school  for  a  few 
months  of  each  year  until  he  was  fifteen ; 
but  his  periods  of  attendance  at  school  alter- 
nated with  seasons  of  busy  employment,  and 
from  his  sixteenth  to  his  twenty-first  year 
his  time  was  wholly  taken  up  with  assisting 
his  father,  both  on  the  farm  and  in  the 
wheelwright  shop.  He  thus  acquired  a 
practical  knowledge  of  both  agricultural  and 
mechanical  business.  Thinking  it  well  to 
try  work  away  from  home  he  was  for  a  little 
less  than  a  year  in  the  employ  of  the  North- 
ern Central  Railway  Compau}',  after  wiiich 
he  worked  for  a  time  with  Levi  Straw  at 
carpentr}^ 

On  September  6,  1864,  Mr.  Bender  en- 
listed at  Camp  Curtin,  Harrisburg,  in  Capt. 
Solomon  B.  Bowerman's  company  A,  Two 
Hundred  and  Tenth  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  under  Col.  William  Sar- 
geant.  The  regiment  was  sent  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  assigned  to  the 
Tiiird  brigade.  Second  division,  Fifth  corps. 
It  was  ordered  from  Baltimore  to  City  Point, 
and  from  City  Point  to  tiie  front  of  Peters- 
burg, where  it  remained  during  the  opera- 


1084 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


tions  at  tluit  point  during  1864  and  1865. 
In  the  following  spring  the  regiment  was 
sent  to  Fort  Stedman,  tlience  to  Hatcher's 
Run,  tlience  to  Gravel  Run,  where  thej^ 
lost  their  colonel,  William  Sargeant,  thence 
to  Five  Forks,  thence  to  Appomattox, 
where  they  remained  for  three  days,  thence 
to  Petershurg,  thence  to  Richmond,  thence 
to  Fredericksliurg,  thence  to  Harper's  Ferry, 
thence  to  Arlington  Heights,  and  thence  by 
way  of  Washington  to  Harrisburg,  where, 
the  war  having  ended,  the  regiment  was 
honorably  discharged. 

Mr.  Bender,  after  his  discharge,  returned 
to  Jackson  town.ship,  spent  a  short  time  at 
home,  and  was  then  for  about  six  months 
in  the  employ  of  the  Northern  Central 
Railway  Company.  Then  for  six  months 
he  worked  at  his  trade  with  George  Yeager, 
at  Millersbnrg,  after  which  he  engaged  at 
carpenter  work  with  Theodore  Decliant,  and 
remained  with  him  during  the  summer  of 
1866.  The  next  year  and  up  to  the  spring 
of  1867  he  spent  with  his  father,  working 
on  the  farm  or  in  the  shop,  wherever  his 
help  was  most  needed.  After  a  short  visit 
to  Michigan,  from  which  he  returned  in  the 
the  following  June,  he  was  again  engaged 
at  his  trade  until  1871 ;  in  the  spring  of 
that  year  he  was  occupied  througiiout  the 
season  with  the  building  of  a  barn  on  his 
father-indaw's  farm,  in  Halifax  township. 
In  the  winter  of  1871-72  Mr.  Bender 
bought  a  tract  of  land  at  Lenkersville,  near 
Millersburg,  wiiere  he  built  his  present 
homestead,  to  which  he  removed  in  the 
spring  of  1873,  and  which  has  been  his 
residence  ever  since. 

For  the  next  six  years  Mr.  Bender  was 
employed  by  David  Kuhns,  in  carpenter 
work,  and  for  three  years  after  that  l)y  Mr. 
Bell,  in  bridge  building.  He  then  again 
worked  for  Mr.  Kuhns,  as  a  carpenter,  and 
later  did  the  same  kind  of  work  for  Benja- 
min Jury.  For  four  years  he  was  again  em- 
ployed by  the  Northern  Central  Railwa\' 
Company,  then  engaged  for  the  third  time 
with  Mr.  Kuhns,  carpentry  ;  then  he  worked 
for  John  R.  Miller,  and  afterwards  engaged 
in  car|)entry  on  his  own  account. 

William  Bender  was  married,  September 
16,  1866,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Joanna  Hoffman.  Kir.  and  Mrs.  Ben- 
der have  five  children :  Emma  L.,  born 
August  19,  1867,  wife  of  Clinton  Tobias, 
has  five  cliildren,  two  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased.   Ralph    Lester,    born    September   3, 


1866,  died  September  3,  1890,  and  Mary 
Edna,  born  February  27,  1888,  died  June 
24,  1888,  also  Anna  Dora,  born  November 
18,  1887,  Harry  Edwin,  August  28,  1890, 
and  Mark,  June  1,  1895;  Charles  Irwin, 
born  July  14,  1869,  married  Lizzie  Bilger; 
Annie  Dora,  born  May  6,  1871,  wife  of 
Ramsey  Beller,  has  two  children,  Rose  M., 
born  September  29,  1890,  and  Esther  May, 
May  24,  1891;  Harry  Edwin,  born  April  3, 
1875;  and  Sarah  Florence,  born  February 
13,  1885. 

Mr.  Bender  is  a  member  of  Kilpatrick 
Post,  No.  212,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Millersburg,  and 
is  a  pensioner  of  the  late  war.  He  is  a  Re- 
I)ubliean.  The  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Jonathan  Hoffman,  father  of  Mrs.  Bender, 
died  June  29,  1884,  aged  seventy-two;  his 
wife  died  December  30,  1893,  aged  sixty- 
nine  years,  six  months  and  two  days. 
They  had  twelve  children :  Nicholas,  Mary 
E.,  James,  Chailes,  Isaac,  Daniel,  Siunuel, 
Jacob,  Sarah,  Susan,  John,  and  Wellington. 


RiTZMAN,  Andrew,  farmer,  was  born  on  the 
homestead  in  Upper  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
])hin  county.  Pa.,  February  18,  1829;  son  of 
Adam  and  Mary  (Hawk)  Ritzman.  Andrew 
Ri  t  zm  a  n,Sr.,  grandfather  of  And  re  wRitzman, 
Jr.,  and  his  wife  Margaret,  had  two  children, 
Adam  and  Daniel.  Adam  Ritzman,  father  of 
Andrew  Ritzman,  Jr.,  died  in  September, 
1873,  aged  seventy-four.  Ilis  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Matthias  Hawk.  They  had 
eleven  children,  of  whom  four  are  deceased  : 
David,  Annie,  Jonas,  and  Martha.  The  sur- 
vivors are  :  Catherine,  wife  of  Daniel  Collier ; 
Susmna,  wdfe  of  Christopher  Yeager;  Lavinia, 
wife  of  Jonathan  Roedel  ;  iVndrew  ;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Moses  Koppenhafftjr  ;  Hannah, 
wife  of  William  Moyer ;  and  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Mattis. 

Andrew  Ritzman,  Jr.,  received  the  amount 
of  school  education  which  falls  to  the  lot  of 
the  farmer's  boy  when  his  services  are  earl}' 
needed  on  the  farm  ;  it  was  ended  by  the 
time  he  was  eighteen,  after  which  he  devoted 
all  his  time  to  farm  work.  After  he  became 
of  age  his  father  emploj'ed  him  regularly  as 
a  hand,  paying  him  at  first  five,  and  after- 
wards eight  dollars  2>er  month.  He  con- 
tinued to  work  for  his  father  on  these  terius 
until  he  was  twenty-seven  j'ears  old.  A 
new  contract  was  then  entered  into,  under 
which  he  was  to  cultivate  the  home  farm  on 
shares;  this  arrangement  was  continued  for 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1085 


eight  years.  In  1865  Mr.  Ritzman  entered 
the  enijdoy  of  the  Northern  Central  Kail  way 
Company  as  assistant  section  foreman  anil 
removed  his  family  to  the  neighborhood 
of  Millersburg.  After  serving  as  foreman  for 
six  years  he  was  put  on  the  gravel  or  repair 
train  and  was  for  five  years  in  that  position, 
making  eleven  years  of  service  with  the  com- 
pany. Ilis  father  having  died  during  that 
time  Mr.  Ritzman  bought  the  farm  of  the 
estate  and  resumed  farming  in  1678.  The 
farm  comprised  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
one  acres,  on  which  he  has  made  valuable 
impnivcments,  erecting  his  residence  in  1800 
and  adding  other  improvements  whicli  have 
greatly  enhanced  the  value  of  the  property'. 
By  energy,  enterprise  and  judicious  manage- 
ment Mr.  Ritzman  has  made  his  farm  one  of 
the  best  in  the  Lykens  Valley,  and  is  justly 
I'anked  among  the  most  intelligent  farmers 
of  the  township. 

Andrew  Ritzman  was  married,  November 
20,  1856,  to  Susanna,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  (Schaetfer)  Seller.  They  have  one 
child,  Mellie  Virgie,  born  January  20,  1873. 
Mr.  Ritzman  and  his  family  attend  the  Lu- 
theran church.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent 
Democrat. 

Joseph  Seller,  father  of  Mrs.  Ritzman,  tiled 
at  the  age  of  about  seventy -one  years.  His 
wife  died  aged  fifty-.six.  Two  of  their  twelve 
children,  Elizabeth  and  Sarah,  are  deceased. 
Those  surviving  are  :  John;  Moses;  Susanna, 
Mrs.  Ritzman ;  Michael ;  Rebecca,  wife  of 
Isaac  Osmond  ;  Phoebe,  wife  of  Reuben  Reu- 
benthal ;  Lydia,  wife  of  Charles  Snively  ; 
Kate,  wife  of  Louis  Epply  ;  Abby,  wife  of  Eli 
Charles;  and  Joseph  Albert.  The  maternal 
grandparents  of  INIrs.  Ritzman  were  Michael 
and  Sarah  Schaeffer. 


KorrENHAFFER,  MosES,  farmer,  was  born 
in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
July  25,  1831.  He  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Catherine  (Hopner)  Koppenhaffer.  Michael 
Ko])i)enhaffer,  his  grandfather,  married 
Catherine  Garrett,  and  they  iiad  a  family  of 
sons  and  daughters.  Jonathan  Koppen- 
haffer, father  of  Moses  Koppenhaffer,  died 
July,  1890,  aged  eiglity-eight  years  and  six 
months;  his  wife  died  in  April,  1885,  aged 
about  seventy-two.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren :  Emanuel,  Angeline,  Moses,  Sarah, 
George,  John,  Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Mary 
Jane,  Emeline,  and  Rebecca. 

Moses    Koppenhaffer    received    his    first 


school  instruction  in  the  subscription  schools 
of  his  native  township;  later  he  attended 
tlie  public  schools  for  a  part  of  each  year 
until  he  was  twenty-one,  being  throughout 
those  years  of  much  assistance  to  his  father 
in  the  work  of  the  farm.  After  reaching  his 
majority  he  .served  a  two  years'  aj)prentice- 
ship  at  stone  mason  work  with  Solomon 
Schaeffer,  Northumberland  county;  after 
which  he  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  journey- 
man for  about  five  years.  At  twenty-nine 
years  of  age  Mr.  Koppenhaffer  went  back  to 
the  homestead  under  an  agreement  with  his 
father  to  cultivate  the  farm  on  shares  for 
three  years.  In  18G0  he  removed  to  his 
father-in-law's  farm  in  Up[)er  Paxton  town- 
ship, under  an  agreement  similar  to  that 
which  he  had  made  with  his  father,  which 
was  the  usual  share  and  share  arrangement 
between  owner  and  renter.  In  this  case  it 
proved  so  satisfactory  that  it  was  continued 
for  twenty -two  years,  and  at  the  death  of  his 
father-in-law,  Mr.  Koppenhaffer  made  a  simi- 
lar engagement  for  two  years  more  with  his 
mother-in-law.  In  1874  he  bought  the  farm 
at  the  administrator's  sale  and  has  had  his 
residence  there  since  that  time. 

Moses  Koppenhaffer  was  married,  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1855,  by  Rev.  Frederick  Woltz,  to 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Mary 
(Hawk)  Ritzman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koppen- 
hatter  have  had  thirteen  childi'en,  two  of 
whom  are  deceased  :  Ann  Tourney,  died  aged 
three  weeks;  Hiram,  born  June  23,  1856, 
was  accidentally  killed  at  Sunbury,  Pa., 
while  coupling  cars,  October  27,  1890.  He 
was  employed  as  yardniaster  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company.  'Their  surviv- 
ing children  are:  Adeline,  wife  of  John  Row, 
had  six  children  ;  Agnes,  wife  of  Edwin  Eby  ; 
Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  December  1,  1860, 
wife  of  Charles  Holtzman  ;  Ann  Eliza,  born 
July  5,  1862,  wife  of  Henry  Rumberger ; 
Charles  Milton,  born  July  10,  18(53,  married 
Agnes  Stratzer,  had  two  children ;  Ebbie 
Jane,  born  May  28,  1866,  wife  of  Clayton 
Lenker,  has  seven  children;  Mary  EJlen, 
l)orn  February  17,1868;  Augustus  Edwin, 
born  March  17, 1870,  married  Lettie  Stepler, 
has  two  children  ;  Angelina,  born  October 
5,  1871,  married  Harry  Wise,  has  one  child; 
Anna  ^^erdilla,  l^orn  October  10,  1873,  and 
Carrie  Malinda,  born  Afiril  17,  1877. 

Mr.  Koppenhaffer  is  a  Republican;  he  is 
at  present  supervisor,  having  been  elected 
for  one  year.  He  and  his  family  attend  the 
Lutheran  church. 


1086 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Feidt,  Simon,  farmer,  was  born  in  Upper 
Paxton  township,  Daupliin  county.  Pa.,  near 
the  Mitflin  township  line,  January  25,  1829, 
and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Susanna  (Lenker) 
Feidt. 

George  Feidt,  his  grandfather,  married  a 
Miss  Snyder,  and  had  six  children :  John, 
George,  Daniel,  Peter,  Thomas,  and  Katie, 
who  married  William  Lenker.  George 
Feidt,  Jr.,  father  of  Simon  Feidt,  was  born 
November  2(5,  1800,  and  died  July  7,  18G2. 
He  married  Susanna  Lenker,  born  May  4, 
1800,  die.l  March  27,  1885.  Four  of  their 
twelve  children  are  deceased,  two,  who  were 
twin  daughters,  lived  only  twelve  hours,  and 
died  unnamed  ;  Amanda,  born  April  8, 1S41, 
died  March  12,  1843;  Emanuel,  born  Janu- 
ary 30,  1825,  died  February  9, 1896  ;  he  mar- 
ried Amanda  Smith  in  Illinois;  Emanuel 
died  in  Texas,  having  removed,  about  1892, 
from  Nebraska,  where  he  owned  a  tract  oi' 
one  iiundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  on 
which  his  only  child,  John  Henry,  resides. 
The  surviving  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
George  Feidt,  Jr.,  are :  William,  born  Octo- 
ber 13,  182G,  resides  at  Salem,  Ore.,  married 
a  widow,  Mrs.  Kraucb  ;  Simon  ;  Sallic,  born 
November  11,1830,  wife  of  i:)avid  Negley, 
has  five  children  ;  Hannah,  born  October  3, 
1832,  widow  of  Isaac  Lenker;  Mary  and 
Leah,  twins,  born  November  20, 1834  ;  Mary, 
married  J.  W.  Orndorff,  has  nine  children ; 
Susanna,  born  April  18,  183/,  wife  of  Jonas 
Diebler,  has  one  cliihl  living ;  Lydia,  born 
May  22,  1839,  wife  of  Henry  'Wall^rn.' 

Simon  Feidt  had  little  experience  in  his 
youth  to  put  him  in  contrast  with  other 
farmer  boys.  AVinter  school  ami  summer 
work  were  his  lot  until  he  becanu'of  age  ;  at 
that  time  he  arranged  with  his  father  to  re- 
main at  home  to  assist  in  or  take  charge  of 
the  farm  work,  as  his  father  might  require, 
for  which  services  he  was  to  be  paid  $100  a 
year.  Both  parties  were  satisfied,  and  the 
agreement  stood  until  Simon  was  thirty-two 
years  old,  when  the  contract  was  changed. 
and  he  took  the  farm  on  shares  for  six  years. 
During  this  time,  in  1807,  Mr.  Feidt  bougiit 
a  farm  of  Benjamin  Miller,  in  Upper  Paxton 
township,  to  which  he  removed  his  family  in 
1868  and  began  a  career  of  successful  farm- 
ing. In  1874  he  sold  this  farm  to  John 
Mattis,  and  in  1875  rented  and  removed  to 
the  Emanuel  Ho)'  farm ;  in  the  autumn  of 
the  same  year  he  purchased  this  farm  at  ad- 
ministrator's sale.  At  the  cost  of  much  labor 
and    money   he   has   greatly  improved   the 


place,  erecting  suitable  buildings  and  adding 
to  the  extent  of  the  farm.  In  1889  he  bought 
fifty-two  acres  additional  from  Christian 
Hoy's  administrator,  which,  with  the  origi- 
nal tract,  makes  one  hundred  and  four- 
teen acres.  This  tract,  by  Mr.  Feidt's  indus- 
tr}',  skillful  tillage  and  good  management, 
has  been  brought  into  the  best  condition. 
On  it  he  has  made  his  residence  up  to  the 
present  time. 

Simon  Feidt  was  married,  November  14, 
1861,  to  Sailie  Hoj',  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Leah  (Novinger)  Hoy.  They  have  three 
children;  James  Peter,  born  September  8, 
1866,  married  Sarah  W.  ShrelHer,  January 
18,1896;  George  Harvey,  born  November 
13,  1868,  married  Lillie  A.  Lebo  in  Novem- 
ber, 1889,  has  two  children,  William  Elmer, 
and  Mary  Esther ;  Christian  Walter,  born 
December  26, 1874.  Mr.  Feidt  is  a  Democrat. 
He  and  his  family  attend  the  Ilefonned 
church. 

Christian  Hoy,  father  of  Mrs.  Feidt,  died 
December  31,  1888,  aged  seventy  years,  five 
montlis  iind  tliirteen  days.  His  wife  died 
June  29,  1881,  aged  sixty-three  years  and 
two  days.  Seven  of  their  thirteen  children 
ai-e  decea.sed:  Samuel,  died  in  infancy  ;  Vesti 
Jane  and  Mary  Jane,  twins;  David;  Eliza- 
beth ;  Ann,  wife  of  John  Diebler,  MitHin 
township  ;  Emanuel,  married  Emma  Cathe- 
rine Diebler,  had  three  children  ;  the  fatlier, 
mother  and  one  child,  died  within  a  jieriod 
of  five  weeks;  Susanna,  wife  of  Daniel  S. 
Feidt,  had  four  children.  The  surviving 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoy  are:  Sailie, 
Mrs.  Feidt;  James  Peter,  married  Amanda 
WiTt,  has  four  children  ;  Christian  Alfred, 
married  Katie  Freimoyer,  has  four  children  ; 
Charles  Edwin,  married  Mary  ^W'aver,  has 
six  children  ;  Leah  Catherine,  wife  of  George 
G.  Snyder,  has  four  children  ;  Ida  Rebecca, 
wife  of  Charles  Dreibelbiss,  has  two  children. 
Peter  Hoy,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Feidt,  mar- 
ried Susanna  Lebo;  they  had  thirteen  chil- 
dren, Katie,  Jacob,  Rebecca,  Henry,  Peter, 
Polly,  John,  Elizabeth,  Susanna,  Daniel, 
Sailie,  Christian. 


Mark,  Adam  Ellenberger,  was  born  on 
his  grandfather's  farm,  near  Belle  Grove, 
Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  September  7,  1827. 
The  grandfather,  Henry  Mark,  died  com- 
paratively young,  but  his  wife  lived  to  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years.  John 
Mark,  father  of  Adam  Mark,  married  Cathe- 
rine Ellenberger;  they  had  seven  children  : 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1087 


Daniel,  married  Jane  Hain  ;  Adam  E.;  Sarah 
E.,  wife  of  Abraham  Herr ;  Georj^^e  E.,  mar- 
ried Prisciila  Maulfair;  John  E.,  married 
Mar}'  Maulfair ;  Eliza  E.,  wife  of  John  Light, 
and  Amos  E.,  married  Susan  Miller. 

Adam  E.  Mark  spent  his  youth  on  his 
grandfather's  farm,  and,  like  most  farmer 
ho3's,  received  such  instruction  as  could  he 
oljtained  in  schools  ojjen  for  only  a  few 
months  during  the  winter  season ;  during 
the  remainder  of  the  year  ho  was  busied 
with  such  farm  work  as  can  be  done  by  a 
bright,  active  boy.  It  was  thought  desirable 
to  give  Adam  a  trade;  he  was  accordingly 
apprenticed  to  a  harness  maker  at  Jones- 
town, lie  had  been  but  a  short  time  in  the 
shop  when  his  plans  were  changed,  and  he 
returned  to  Belle  Grove,  and  entered  the 
store  with  his  brother  David,  where  he  con- 
tinued for  three  years.  At  this  time  his 
brother  died,  and  Mr.  Adam  E.Mark  bought 
the  brother's  interest  in  the  store,  and  con- 
tinued the  business  for  two  years  longer.  In 
1857  Mr.  Mark  disposed  of  his  business  and 
removed  to  Millersburg,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed by  his  cousin,  G.  M.  Brubaker,  as 
clerk  for  five  or  six  years.  By  this  time  he 
was  ready  to  begin  business  again  on  his 
own  account,  so  he  bought  back  his  former 
store  at  Belle  Grove,  which  he  continued  for 
three  years,  and  then  returned  to  his  cousin, 
and  was  employed  as  clerk  for  two  years. 
During  this  time  the  death  of  his  father-in- 
law,  Jacob  Light,  occurred  at  New  Market 
Forge,  Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  and  opened  the 
way  for  him  to  engage  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Syner  P.  ().,  near  that  place.  He 
carried  on  that  business  for  about  two  years, 
then  sold  the  store,  and  in  18()7  returned  the 
third  time  to  Millersburg,  entered  into  part- 
nership with  his  cousin,  Mr.  Bruljaker,  in  the 
iron  and  hardware  business  at  that  place, 
and  continued  in  the  firm  until  about  1875. 
'i'lien  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  Mr. 
Mark  bought  a  part  interest  in  the  general 
store  of  John  R.  Bowman,  with  whom  he 
continued  in  Ijusiness  until  he  was  elected 
manager  and  bookkeeper  by  the  Millersburg 
Standard  Axle  Works.  Tliis  ])osition  ho 
held  until  his  death,  which  occurred  January 
3,  1881. 

Adam  E.  Mark  was  married,  March  22, 
1855,  to  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  (Longenecker)  Light.  Their  children 
are :  Carrie  Irene,  born  December  9,  1862, 
died  February  14,  18G.3,  being  the  only  de- 
ceased child  of  the    family  ;    the  surviving 


children  arc:  Clara  Alice,  horn  September 
30,  1856,  wife  of  Jacob  Buck,  had  one  child, 
Odessa  Mark,  born  October  10,  1877,  died 
August  11, 1878  ;  Cora  Catherine,  born  April 
24,' 1860,  wife  of  F.  H.  Wingert,  has  two 
children,  Ruth  Irene  and  Daniel  Mark; 
Mary  Jane,  born  April  15,  1864;  Jennie 
Light,  born  September  7,  186(5 ;  Sarah  Ann, 
born  February  10,  1869,  wife  of  William 
Begar,  had  one  child,  Pauline ;  Warren 
Light,  born  July  1,  1871  ;  Elma  Edna,  born 
August  16,  1874,  and  Martha  Eve,  born 
October  3,  1876. 

Mr.  Mark  was  a  Reiniblican,  and,  with  his 
family,  was  a  member  of  tlie  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  That  he  enjoyed  sub- 
stantial prosperity  and  stood  high  in  the 
community,  was  due  to  his  own  faithful  and 
persevering  ettbrts  and  to  the  courageous 
determination  which  never  forsook  him, 
even  in  times  of  adversity.  He  was  an 
earnest  and  consistent  Christian,  a  good  citi- 
zen, a  devoted  and  affectionate  husband  and 
father,  and  deservedly  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Mark  are  both  de- 
ceased. They  had  nine  children,  four  of 
whom  are  deceased  :  Jacob  ;  Annie  ;  Harry, 
married  Louisa  Early,  and  died  leaving  nine 
children;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  WiUiam 
Carmany,  left  one  child.  The  surviving 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Light  are:  Maria, 
wife  of  Oliver  Bowman,  has  five  children; 
Fannie,  wife  of  Peter  Honst,  has  had  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  five  arc  living;  Sarah  A., 
Mrs.  Mark ;  Cyrus,  married  Martha  Traf- 
ford,  has  four  children ;  John,  married 
Eliza  Mark,  has  nine  children,  eight  boys 
and  one  girl.  Samutd  Light  was  the  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Mark. 


Miller,  Daniel  Newton,  farmer,  was 
born  near  his  present  residence  in  Upper 
Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 22, 1858  ;  son  of  Andrew  and  Sophia 
(Clouser)  Miller. 

Daniel  Miller,  his  grandfather,  married  a 
Miss  Miller,  who  was  not  a  relative.  They 
bad  seven  children :  Jeremiah,  Andrew, 
Catherine,  Elijah,  Hannah,  Peggy,  and  Sam- 
uel. Andrew  Miller,  father  of  D.  N.  Miller, 
died  in  March,  1867,  aged  about  forty-two. 
His  wife,  Sophia  (Clouser)  Miller,  survives 
him.  They  had  eight  children  :  Sarah  Ellen, 
wife  of  xiaron  Weaver;  Mary  Jane,  married 
to  Jacob  Dreil)elbi.ss,  has  six  children  ;  Daniel 
Newton ;  Sophia  Agnes ;  Allaretta,  married 


1088 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


George  Dreibelbiss,  they  have  five  ehildren  ; 
Emma  Catherine,  married  to  Samuel  Weaver, 
has  six  children  ;  Frederick  Uriah,  married 
Annie  Lucker,  has  three  children ;  and  Annie 
Irene.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Miller,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Clouser, had th ree  other  cliildren :  Hen ry , 
Maria,  and  Zachariah,  who  died  in  infanc3^ 

Daniel  Newton  Miller  was  left  an  orphan 
at  an  early  age,  and  had  to  make  his  own 
living  soon  after  his  father's  death.  Both  be- 
fore and  after  his  father  died  he  attended  the 
common  schools  of  the  township  a  few  weeks 
of  each  year,  but  he  was  f)bliged  to  work  on 
the  farm  during  tlie  busy  seasons,  and  thus 
earn  liis  own  support.  From  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen until  he  was  twenty-one  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  teamster;  after  that  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account  by  renting  land 
to  farm  on  shares.  He  was  fortunate  in 
making  this  arrangement  with  a  man  like 
Mr.  Jacob  Weaver,  who  let  him  have  a  farm 
on  these  terms,  and  continued  the  contract 
with  him  for  over  ten  years.  Mr.  Weaver 
had  so  much  confi<lence  in  young  Miller  and 
cherished  so  friendly  a  spirit  toward  him, 
that  ho  made  provision  in  his  will  whereby 
Mr.  Miller  might  become  owner  of  the  farm 
on  eas}'  conditions  by  paying  out  the  inter- 
est of  other  heirs  of  the  estate  as  he  could 
conveniently  do  so.  When  the  farm  in  this 
way  came  into  his  possession,  Mr.  Miller 
planned  and  executed  substantial  and  valu- 
able improvements;  he  has  by  industrious 
and  skillful  cultivation  made  it  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  Lykens  Valley. 

Daniel  N.  Miller  was  married,  January  22, 
1879,  to  Sarah  Ellen,  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Susan  (Fegley)  Schaffer.  They  have  had 
nine  children:  Jacob  Edward,  born  October 
1,  187U;  Jennie  Catherine,  born  January  3, 
1882 ;  Philip  Andrew,  born  April  6,  1884 ; 
Susan  May,born  May  2, 1886 ;  Charles  Nevin, 
born  December  28,  1887 ;  William  Newton, 
born  May  21,  1890;  Paul  Shaffer,  born  Feb- 
ruary 2, 1892  ;  Addie  Esther,  born  March  15, 
1893,  and  Ralph  Theodore,  born  July  24, 
1895.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Democrat;  he  has 
served  one  term  as  auditor  of  the  township. 
He  and  his  family  attend  the  Reformed 
church. 

Adeline  Fegle}',  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Mil- 
ler, is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  ; 
her  husband,  Henry  Fegley,  died  aged  about 
eighty  years.  They  have  eight  children  liv- 
ing. Philip  and  Susan  Shaffer,  Mrs.  Miller's 
parents,  have  seven  children  :  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Charles  Etzweiler.;  William,  married  Ida 


Frank;  Sarah  Ellen,  Mrs.  Miller;  Adeline; 
Harry,  married  Lydia  Hoffman;  Maurice; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Edward  Kachner. 

HoLTZMAN,  B.  W.,  retired  merchant,  was 
born  in  Washington  township,  Dauphin 
count}'.  Pa.,  September  12, 1845  ;  son  of  .John 
and  Elizabeth  (Warner)  Iloltzman.  His 
grandfather,  George  Holtzman,had  a  family 
of  seven  children.  John  Holtzman,  father 
of  B.  W.  Holtzman,  was  born  March  2, 179(3, 
and  died  April  25,  1875.  His  wife,  Eliza- 
beth Warner,  was  born  March  IG,  1808,  and 
died  February  13,  1807.  They  had  seven 
children,  two  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Joseph, 
who  died  May  4,  1857,  and  Hannah ;  she 
was  the  widow  of  Benjamin  Riegle,  Jr.,  by 
whom  she  had  four  cliildren.  She  was  mar- 
ried again,  to  Daniel  Carl.  The  surviving 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Holtzman 
are:  Elizabeth,  married  George  Longabaeh, 
has  five  children  ;  John,  married  Susanna 
Weaver,  had  two  children  ;  she  died,  and  he 
married  Sarah  Schrefiier,  by  whom  he  had 
three  chiUlren  ;  Mary,  married  Henry  Bona- 
witz,  had  three  children;  Susanna,  married 
Thomas  Swab,  had  three  children,  all  of 
whom  are  deceased,  and  B.  W. 

B.  W.  Holtzman  took  the  regular  course  of 
instruction  in  the  public  schools  of  his  town- 
ship; at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the 
Millersburg  high  school,  which  he  attendeil 
for  three  terms.  He  then  taught  school  for 
one  term  in  his  native  township,  after  which 
he  attended  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Millersville,  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  for  one 
term.  Returning  home  he  taught  school 
for  three  terms  at  the  Holtzman  school 
house,  one  term  at  the  Zimmerman  school 
house,  and  later  two  terms  again  at  tlie 
Holtzman  school  house,  near  his  home.  In 
1869  he  removed  to  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship and  taught  the  Pleasant  Hill  school 
five  consecutive  terms ;  then  the  Rising  Sun 
school  for  five  tenns;  then  returned  to 
Pleasant  Hill  and  taught  two  terms  more ; 
then  taught  the  Feidt's  school  for  one  term, 
after  which  he  taught  five  consecutive  terms 
at  the  Fairview  school.  In  1877  Mr.  Holtz- 
man removed  to  his  present  homestead, 
which  he  had  built  the  year  before,  and 
where  he  afterwards  embarked  in  mercan- 
tile business.  He  continued  in  the  business 
at  Killinger  for  about  eight  years,  then  he 
closed  out  his  store  and  spent  some  time  in 
giving  instructions  in  vocal  music,  which  he 
had  made  his  study   from  early   boyhood. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1089 


In  1892  he  bought  the  farm  of  Widow 
Sheesley,  formerlj'  the  property  of  tlie  Re- 
formed ehurch  at  Killinger. 

Mr.  Holtzman  was  married,  January  2, 
18G8,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  George  and  Cathe- 
rine (Dreibelbiss)  Wert.  They  had  one 
cliild,  Honora  Hortensia,  born  January  19, 
1869,  died  Marcli  22,  18r,8. 

Mr.  Holtzman  is  a  Democrat.  He  was 
appointed  postmaster  at  Killinger  under 
President  Cleveland's  first  administration; 
was  re-appointed  in  1893,  and  still  holds  tiie 
same  office.  He  has  served  one  term  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  several  terms  as  asses- 
sor in  Upper  Paxton  township.  Mr.  Holtz- 
man and  his  family  attend  the  Lutheran 
church. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Holtzman  are  both 
deceased.  They  had  four  children  :  Delilah, 
married  to  J.  H.  Howe,  has  three  children  ; 
Mary,  Mrs.  Holtzman  ;  Malinda,  who  was 
one  of  twins,  married  to  John  E.  Wiest,  the 
other  twin  child  died.  The  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Holtzman  was  John  George  Wert,  who 
married  a  Miss  Miller. 


Beard,  Robert,  farmer,  was  born  near 
Hanover,  York  county,  Pa.,  October  18. 
1826  ;  son  of  Robert  and  Magdalena  (INIarks) 
Beard.  Robert  Beard  (1),  his  grandfather, 
had  a  family  of  five  children  :  Robert,  Jo- 
seph, .James,  John,  and  one  daughter.  Robert 
Beard  (2)  was  born  April  19,  1796,  and  died 
June  5,  1854.  He  was  a  charcoal  burner 
until  lie  was  about  thirty-seven  years  old, 
wlien  he  removed  to  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship and  began  farming.  His  wife,  Magda- 
lena Marks,  was  born  March  17,  1804,  and 
died  March  18,  1872.  They  had  thirteen 
children,  five  of  whom  are  deceased  :  Will- 
iam, died  aged  nine  years;  one  child  died  in 
infancy,  unnamed  ;  John,  died  aged  forty- 
five,  leaving  a  wife  and  children ;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Mo.ses  Witmer;  Sarah,  wife  of  Uriah 
D.  Free,  left  four  children.  The  surviving 
children  of  Robert  and  Magdalena  Beard 
are:  Robert;  Harry,  married  Hannah  Over- 
hoUzer,  had  two  children  ;  Albert ;  .Stephen  ; 
Edward,  married  Catherine  Keefer  ;  Carrie, 
married  to  Jesse  Seal,  has  three  cliildren  ; 
Maggie,  married  to  Emanuel  Witmer ;  Mary, 
married  to  George  Noll. 

Robert  Beard  (3)  attended  the  subscription 
schools  in  his  native  township  until  he  was 
about  twelve  years  old.     The  family   then 


removed  to  Upper  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  wliere  he  studied  at  pri- 
vate schools  for  several  years,  and  was  sub- 
sequently in  the  f)ublic  schools  until  he  was 
about  eighteen  ;  during  this  time  he  also 
rendered  his  father  valuable  assistance  in 
the  farm  work.  He  remained  with  his  father 
until  he  was  twenty-two,  and  then  sought 
employment  away  from  home.  He  first 
worked  a  few  months  in  the  summer  of  1849 
for  Thomas  Feaney,  in  Halifax  township, 
receiving  as  wages  $9  per  month.  His  father 
after  this  proposed  to  him  to  work  on  the 
home  farm  again,  and  ottered  him  SlOO  per 
year.  This  offer  he  accepted,  and  the  ar- 
rangement proving  satisfactor}',  it  was  con- 
tinued until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of 
age.  At  this  time  the  father  died  and  Mr. 
Beard  began  fanning  the  homestead  farm 
on  .shares,  continuing  on  these  terms  until 
the  autumn  of  1856,  when  he  purchased  the 
farm  from  the  administrators  of  his  father's 
estate.  It  comprised  one  hundred  and  fift}'- 
six  acres,  of  which  thirty-six  acres  were 
woodland.  He  remained  there  three  years, 
and  then  sold  the  farni  and  removed  to 
Millersburg,  where  he  lived  one  year,  and  in 
the  year  1860  removed  to  the  farm  of  George 
Marks,  near  Millersburg,  where  he  lived  one 
year.  After  this  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty- 
five  acres  in  Perry  county,  to  wliich  he  re- 
moved, and  which  he  cultivated  for  twenty 
years.  In  1881  Mr.  Beard  came  back  to 
Dauphin  county  and  located  on  his  present 
homestead  of  ninety-eight  acres,  whicli  has 
been  his  home  since  that  date. 

Robert  Beard  married,  February  28,  1855, 
Levina,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Kramer)  Noll,  born  November  11,  1831. 
Their  children  are :  Oliver  Franklin,  born 
November  10,  1856,  married  Annie  Bern- 
heisel,  of  Perry  county.  Pa.,  has  three  chil- 
dren, Florence,  Mal>el,  and  Ral[)h;  John 
Milton,  born  November  6,  1858,  married  Ida 
M.  West,  has  five  children,  Albert,  Clarence, 
Walter,  Norman,  and  Annie;  Charles  E., 
l>orn  October  12,  1862,  married  Clara  J. 
Longabach  ;  George  Christian,  born  April 
21,  18()6,  married  Clara  V.  O'Neil,  has  one 
child.  Guv  C,  born  March  22,  1895  ;  Sarah 
Emma,  born  April  16,  1869.  Mrs.  Beard 
died  November  3,  1882.  Mr.  Beard  finds  the 
Democratic  party  the  nearest  right,  and 
therefore  supriorts  its  men  and  measures. 
The  family  attend  the  Reformed  church. 
Mrs.  Beard's  parents  had  twelve  children : 


1090 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Joseph;  Emanuel;  John;  Daniel;  Jacob; 
Aaron  ;  George  ;  Angelina  ;  Laviua,  Mrs. 
Beard  ;  Polly  ;  and  two  died  very  young. 


Gilbert,  Frederick  R.,  merchant  tailor, 
was  born  at  Loyalton,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
November  IG,  1825;  son  of  Jolm  and  Eliza- 
beth (Rathron)  Gilbert.  His  great-grand- 
father, Samuel  Gilbert,  was  born  in  Germany, 
August  10,  1743,  and  died  in  Upper  Paxton 
township,  Dauphin  county,  April  8,  182G. 
He  came  to  America  with  two  brothers  in 
1752.  He  married  Catherine  Saul,  born 
December  11, 1757,  died  June  11, 1806.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  Saul,  who  resided 
near  Jonestown,  Lebanon  county,  and  later 
removed  to  Lykens  Valley,  where  he  died  in 
1814.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Gilbert  had 
three  children.  Jacob  Gilbert,  grandfather 
of  F.  R.  Gilbert,  was  born  April  2,  1783. 
He  was  prominent  both  in  business  and  in 
politics,  and  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature  during  the  early  history  of  the 
State.  He  first  married  Elizabeth  Long ; 
they  had  six  children  :  Samuel,  John,  Jacob, 
Sarah,  Catherine,  and  George.  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Gilbert  died,  and  Mr.  Gilbert  was  united 
in  second  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Mark.  John 
Gilbert,  fatiier  of  Frederick  R.,  married 
Elizabeth  Rathron  ;  tliey  had  four  children  : 
Frederick  R.;  Elmira,  w-idow  of  Micbael 
Ward  ;  Henry  L.,  and  .Jeremiah  S.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Gilbert  are  both  deceased. 

Frederick  R.  Gilbert  was  brought  by  big 
parents  to  Upper  Paxton  township  in  liis early 
childhood,  and  there  attended  the  public 
schools  until  he  was  sixteen,  at  which  time  he 
began  to  learn  tailoring  with  Jacob  Ziegler,  at 
Millersl)urg,  Pa.  After  an  ap|irenticeship  of 
four  years,  he  was  emploj'ed  for  one  season  liy 
Judge  Walker,  at  Sunbury,  Pa.  In  1846  he 
went  to  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  as  a  journeyman  until  the  spring  of 
1847.  He  then  returned  to  Millersburg,  Pa., 
and  began  the  tailoring  business  on  his  own 
account.  He  was  ver}'  successful,  and  later 
added  a  general  dry  goods  business.  In  1884 
he  erected  the  large  and  convenient  building 
on  Market  street,  which  now  accommodates 
his  extensive  trade,  and  where  he  carries  a 
full  stock  of  clothing  and  dr}'  goods,  and 
enjoys  his  full  share  of  the  patronage  of  tlie 
surrounding  territory. 

Mr.  Gilbert  has  been  prominent  in  numer- 
ous important  enterprises  in  Dauphin  and 
other  counties.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
movers  in  the  establishment  of  the  Millers- 


burg Bank,  having  drafted  the  constitution 
and  by-laws  of  that  institution  ;  his  draft  was 
adopted  by  the  board  of  directors  with  the 
change  of  but  one  word  ;  he  afterwards  served 
some  years  as  director  of  the  bank.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Mifflin  and  Pat- 
terson Water  Works,  at  MitHin,  Pa.,  and  at 
Steelton,  Pa.,  a  stockholder  in  both,  and 
elected  president  of  both  corporations,  in 
which  position  ho  .served  several  years.  From 
1868  to  1884  Mr.  Gilbert  and  his  family  re- 
sided on  his  Mt.  Pleasant  farm  ;  since  then 
their  home  has  been  in  Millersburg.  ^Ir. 
Gilbert  has  experienced  the  ordinary  vicissi- 
tudes of  a  business  life,  and  he  has  steadily 
persevered,  meeting  adversity  bravely,  and 
enjoying  jarosperity  without  undue  elation. 
The  outcome  of  his  enterprise  and  prudence 
is  an  ample  competence  for  himself  and  his 
family. 

Mr.  Gilbert  was  married,  January  1,  184G, 
to  Sarah  Ann,  daughter  of  David  and  Annie 
(Osmond)  Ditty,  born  January  14,  1827. 
Three  of  their  seven  children  are  deceased  : 
Mary  Elizabeth,  born  April  23,  1851,  died 
October  9,  1851 ;  Mary  Alda,  born  June  10, 
1852,  died  August  28,  1874,  was  the  wife  of 
Noah  H.  Day,  and  had  four  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy;  the  survivors  are 
Frederick  G.,  born  August  28,  18G9,  and 
Jennie  V.,  born  January  3,  1873.  The  de- 
ceased mother  was  an  earnest  Christian, 
taithful  to  all  her  duties  as  wife  and  mother, 
an  active  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  loved  and  honored  by  all  who  knew 
her;  Hodson,  born  September  2,  1 860,  died 
June  16,  1882,  married  Emma  Forsyth,  had 
one  child,  Sadie  E.,  born  July  26,  1881,  died 
March  27,  1887.  The  surviving  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  are:  Charles  Steinnian, 
born  September  10,  1849,  married  Elizabeth 
Gleim,  had  nine  children,  one  that  died  in 
infancy,  and  Charles  S.,  Virginia,  Grace, 
Martha  W.,  Herbert  S.,  Robert  B.,  Florence, 
and  Frederick  Gleim;  John  Frederick,  born 
January  14,  1851,  married  Belle  Kelley,  of 
Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  has  one  child,  Mabel ;  Annie 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Oliver  Day,  born  April  17, 
1858,  has  three  children,  Sadie,  Hodson,  and 
Gilbert;  Clara  Irene,  born  June  5,  1862,  wife 
of  Thomas  Long,  has  seven  children,  Helen, 
Fanny,  Fahy,  Nellie,  Eveline,  and  two  that 
died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Gilbert  died  January  5,  1881.  She 
was  affectionate  and  faithful  as  wife  and 
mother.active  and  devout  in  her  religious  life, 
and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her.     Mr.  Gil- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1091 


bert's  second  marriage,  October  4,  1890,  was 
to  Miss  Clara  A.  Wagner,  who  was  born  in 
West  Beavertown,  Snyder  county,  June  17, 
1856.  Slie  was  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Sabiua  Wagner;  the  former  of  Snyder  county, 
the  latter  of  Mifflin  county.  Pa.,  and  both 
now  deceased.  No  family  has  been  born  to 
the  second  union. 


Gilbert,  Samuel  E.,  farmer,  was  born  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Upper  Pax  ton  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July  31,  1840. 
He  is  a  sou  of  Samuel  and  Sarali  (Enter- 
line)  Gilbert.  Samuel  Gilbert  was  born  Oc- 
tober 2,  1805,  and  died  December  4,  1886. 
His  wife,  Sarah  Enterline,  daughter  of 
Michael  Enterline,  was  born  December  20, 
1805,  and  died  August  6,  1875.  Three  of 
their  children  are  deceased :  Jacob,  born 
January  3,  1836,  died  October  5,  1837 ;  Sa- 
lome, born  February  1,  1843,  died  August  5, 
1849 ;  Henry,  born  March  6,  1845,  died  Au- 
gust 12,  1845.  Their  living  children  are : 
Elizal^eth,  born  July  27,  1828,  wife  of  George 
Diebler;  Catherine,  September  30, 1831,  wife 
of  Casper  Heckert ;  Sarah,  October  13.  1833, 
wife  of  Aaron  Schretfler ;  Minerva,  Febru- 
ary 22,  1838,  wife  of  Emanuel  Emerick ; 
and  Samuel  E. 

Samuel  E.  Gilbert  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  township  part  of  each  year 
until  he  was  twenty-one,  and  assisted  his 
father  in  the  farm  work  during  the  busy 
seasons.  He  became  of  age  in  1861  and 
must  seek  some  business  of  liis  own.  Find- 
ing that  his  father  was  ready  to  afford  him 
a  chance  on  the  home  farm,  he  entered  into 
an  agreement  to  farm  it  on  shares,  and  this 
agreement  lasted  until  1875.  Those  were 
3'ears  of  hard  work,  but  the  farming  was 
skillfully  conducted,  and  tlie  returns  most 
economically  used,  so  that  at  the  end  of 
fourteen  years  Mr.  Gilbert  found  himself 
with  sufhcient  money  in  hand  to  buy  a  farm 
of  his  own.  Of  all  the  land  for  sale  the 
property  that  he  preferred  and  could  secure 
on  the  most  favorable  terms  was  the  one  he 
had  been  so  long  cultivating.  His  father 
was  willing  to  sell,  so  Samuel  E.  became 
owner  of  the  homestead,  comprising  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres.  Mr.  Gilbert 
now  set  about  the  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment of  his  farm  with,  if  possible,  increased 
diligence.  His  judicious  and  careful  man- 
agement has  brought  the  farm  and  all  its 
appurtenances  to  a  high  degree  of  excellence, 


and  has  placed  Mr.  Gilbert  among  the  most 
prosperous  farmers  of  the  township. 

Samuel  E.  Gilbert  was  married.  May  6, 
1861,  to  Susan,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  De- 
lilah (Yeager)  Nace.  They  have  had  four 
children,  of  whom  one  is  deceased,  Cathe- 
rine, born  November  1,  1862,  died  Septem- 
ber 6,  1886,  wife  of  Oliver  Holtzman,  had 
two  children,  James  Samuel  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  The  surviving  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  are:  Laura  J.,  born 
December  6,  1864,  wife  of  Ira  Holtzman,  has 
six  children,  Lester,  Susan,  Sarah,  Mabel, 
Florence,  and  George;  Savilla,  September 
20,  1867,  wife  of  George  Shaffer,  has  two  chil- 
dren, Laura  and  Annie;  Carrie,  January  3, 
1870;  Salome,  July  13,  1874. 

Mr.  Gilbert  is  not  too  busy  with  his  own 
affairs  to  pay  a  little  attention  to  iiublic  mat- 
ters. He  is  interested  in  politics  and  acts 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  served  on 
the  school  board  for  six  years,  during  which 
term  he  was  secretary  of  the  board;  he  has 
also  served  one  term  as  supervisor.  Mr.  Gil- 
bert and  his  family  attend  the  United  r)reth- 
ren  church. 

Joseph  Nace,  father  of  Mrs.  Gilbert,  died 
December  28, 1891,  aged  seventy-seven  years, 
four  months  and  five  days.  His  wife  sur- 
vives him.  Of  their  nine  cliildren,  three 
are  decea.sed :  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  and  John. 
The  living  children  are:  Susan,  Mrs.  Gil- 
bert; Kate,  wife  of  Lawrence  Lebo;  Jane; 
Enoch,  married  Sarah  Bowerman ;  Ben- 
jamin, married  Louisa  Hopple,  and  Sarah, 
wife  of  Samuel  Sweigert.  The  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Gilbert  was  David  Nace.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Linger,  and  after  her  death  was 
married  a  second  time. 


Forney,  Jacob  H.,  stone  mason  and 
farmer,  was  born  near  Killinger  P.  0., 
Upper  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  October  3, 1851  ;  son  of  George  and  Re- 
becca (Sultzbach)  Forney.  His  grandfather, 
Jacob  Fori.ey,  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren :  Christian,  Sally, Susanna,  Polly,  John, 
George,  Peggy,  Catherine,  and  Amanda. 
George  Forney,  father  of  Jacob  H.,  was  born 
February  16,  1828,  and  died  February  1, 
1868.  His  wife  was  born  April  14,  1827, 
and  died  March  21,  1883.  They  had  three 
children  :  Jacob  H.;  Mary  J.,  born  March  7, 
1856,  wife  of  Alfred  Seller,  has  three  chil- 
dren ;  and  Amanda  Alice,  born  November 
18,  1865,  died  November  17, 1890 ;  first  mar- 


1092 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCVVLOPEDIA 


ricd  to  Cliarles  Stroup,  who  died  ;  afterwards 
to  Charles  Diebler,  and  tlie}'  had  three  chil- 
dren. 

Jacob  H.  Forney  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon scliools  of  his  township,  wliicli  he  at- 
tended a  part  of  each  year  until  he  was  eigii- 
teen.  He  was  industrious  and  made  him- 
self useful  to  his  father  in  farm  work  and  in 
various  other  ways.  In  his  nineteenth  year 
be  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  stone  masonry 
with  William  Seal,  Upper  Paxton  township, 
at  which  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  years,  making  himself  thorough  mas- 
ter of  his  trade.  It  is  an  evidence  of  his 
proficiency  that  Mr.  Seal  retained  him  for 
ten  years  as  a  journeyman.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  engaged  in  business  on  his  own 
account  for  some  time ;  he  was  also  for  a 
while  in  the  employ  of  Isaac  Maris,  a  con- 
tractor. The  excellence  of  Mr.  Forney's 
work  is  visible  in  a  number  of  public  struc- 
tures on  which  he  was  engaged  in  the  con- 
struction of  tiie  masonry.  Among  tliese 
may  be  nameil  the  following:  The  l)ridges 
at  Rockville,  Susquehanna  township;  at 
Harrisburg,  and  across  Pine  creek,  near 
Gratz ;  Diebler's  bridge,  in  Upper  Paxton 
township,  and  Bechtel's  bridge,  in  Washing- 
ton township.  The  workmanship  of  Mr. 
Forney  is  prominent  also  in  important  ])ri- 
vate  buildings,  especially  the  masonry  in  the 
foundations  of  large  barns.  Among  these 
may  be  named  some  of  the  largest  barns  in 
the  township,  as  those  of  John  Diebler, 
Henry  Williards,  William  Lehman, and  Mrs. 
Catherine  Wert.  He  was  also  engaged  on  the 
masonr}'  of  the  Catholic  church  at  Williams- 
town,  tiie  church  at  Lykens  and  the  school 
house  at  Uniontown.  In  1834,  finding  it  de- 
sirable to  change  his  occupation,  Mr.  Forney 
laid  down  the  stone  hammer  and  trowel  and 
began  farming  the  Paul  place,  in  Upper  Pax- 
ton townshi]),  where  he  remained  two  years. 
This  experiment  in  agriculture  proving  suc- 
cessful, he  concluded  to  buy  a  farm,  and  in 
1886  he  bought  ninety-eight  acres  of  land, 
which  he  has  so  judiciously  improved  and 
so  carefully  and  skillfully  tilled  as  to  liring 
it  to  a  liigh  degree  of  excellence,  and  to 
make  his  homestead  one  of  the  most  flour- 
ishing and  attractive  farms  in  this  region. 
Jacob  H.  Forney  was  first  married,  March 
20,  1876,  to  Sallie,  daughter  of  William  J. 
and  Elizabeth  Weaver.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  deceased  :  Minnie, 
born  July  2,  1878,  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years,  and  an   infant.     The  surviving  chil- 


dren are  :  Anna  Nora,  born  October  18,1876  ■ 
Sallie  M.  and  Marie,  twins,  born  June  5. 
1885 ;  they  are  so  alike  in  appearance  that 
the  parents  often  fail  to  distinguish  them. 
Mrs.  Forney  died  June  17,  1885,  twelve  days 
after  the  birth  of  the  twins.  Mr.  Forney  was 
again  married,  March  20,  1886,  to  Lisle, 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Lydia  (Schreftler) 
Woland.  Mr.  Forney  is  a  Republican.  The 
family  attend  the  Reformed  church. 

Andrew  Woland,  father  of  Mrs.  Ijisle  For- 
ney, died  Jamiary  1),  1886,  aged  sixty-three. 
He  had  a  family  of  five  children  :  John  ; 
Plenry;  Lisle,  Mrs.  Forney;  Amelia,  wife  of 
William  H.  Seal;  and  Lydia,  residing  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  Andrew  Woland,  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Forney,  married  Elizabeth 
Ditty.  Tiieir  children  are  :  Solomon,  Jacob, 
John,  Andrew,  Katie,  Polly,  Adelia,  and 
Mrs.  Bowerman. 


Lkntz,  Augustus  D.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
the  Mahantango  Valley,  in  Upper  Paxlon 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  January  25, 
1846 ;  son  of  David  and  Salome  (Wert) 
Lentz.  Frederick  Lentz,  his  grandfather, 
married  Sarah  Fettcrhoff;  their  children 
were:  Micliael,  John,  Samuel,  David,  An- 
drew, Kate,  Sallie,  and  Henry.  David 
Lentz,  father  of  Augustus  D.,  was  born 
January  16,  1814,  and  died  September  28, 
1891.  He  married  Salome  Wert,  born  Sep- 
tember 18,  1817,  and  died  April  17,  1884. 
Their  deceased  children  are :  five  that  died 
in  infancy,  unnamed  ;  Andrew  Pliilip  and 
John  Henry,  twins;  Susanna,  and  Rcsissa. 
Their  living  children  are  :  Augustus  D.,  and 
John  H.,  m  rried  Loanda  Hoffman  ;  their 
children  are :  Resissa  Viola,  Anna  Verdilla, 
and  Abby  Sabina. 

Augustus  D.  Lentz  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town.shiji,  and  in  early 
boyhood  began  to  help  his  father  on  the 
farm.  After  his  school  days  were  over  he 
devoted  all  his  time  to  work  on  the  home- 
stead until  he  was  about  twenty-two.  He 
then  made  a  contract  with  his  father  to  take 
charge  of  the  homestead  and  farm  it  on 
shares ;  this  arrangement  continued  for 
twenty-six  years.  In  1878  Mr.  Lentz 
bought  his  present  homestead,  consisting  of 
ninety-one  acres,  and  removed  to  it  the 
same  year.  He  has  made  upon  it  many 
substantial  improvements;  in  1894  he  en- 
larged and  remodeled  his  house.  He  has 
paid  especial  attention  to  fruit  growing,  and 
has   one   of  the  largest  and  best   orchards 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1093 


in  liis  section  of  the  country.  Tliis  place 
is  his  present  residence.  Mr.  Lentz  was 
married,  Maj'  21,  1868,  to  Rebecca,  daugliter 
of  Abraham  and  Anna  (Bitterman)  Miller. 
Their  children  are:  Andrew  Phili]),  born 
February  22,  1869,  at  present  a  student  at 
Mt.  Airy  ycniinarj^  in  preparation  for  the 
ministry,  luiving  been  graduated  at  Muhlen- 
berg College,  Altoona,  Pa.,  in  1895;  Salome, 
born  August  27,  1870,  wife  of  David  Spatz, 
has  two  children,  one  of  whom,  Daisy 
Alberta,  died  at  two  3fears  of  age;  the  other 
is  Mabel  May.  The  otlier  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lentz  are:  Anna,  born  April  6, 
1872;  Mary,  May  5,1874;  Weslev,  June  6, 
1876;  Katie,  August  27,1878;  Mabel  May, 
October  13,  1880  ;  Clinton  Wellington,  Ai)ril 
12,  1882  ;  Grant,  .June  10,  1884;  and  Will- 
iam Clayton,  September  7,  1888.  Mr.  Lentz 
is  a  Republican ;  he  has  served  as  tax  col- 
lector of  Upper  Paxton  township  for  one 
term.  He  and  his  family  attend  the  Lu- 
theran church. 

Al)raham  Miller,  father  of  Mrs.  Lentz, 
was  born  Dt'cember  3,  1800.  and  died  Janu- 
ary' 31,  1867.  His  wife,  Anna  Bitterman, 
died  October  31,  1889.  Tliree  of  their  five 
children  have  passed  away:  Philip,  Daniel, 
and  Abraham.  Their  surviving  children 
are:  John,  and  Rebecca,  Mrs.  I^entz.  Mr. 
Miller  had  jireviously  married  Maria  Motter, 
by  whom  he  had  six  children.  Tlie  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Lentz  is  Balthasar  Miller. 
He  married  Barbara  Witman;  their  chil- 
dren are:  David;  Joel ;  Catherine;  Barbara; 
Elizabeth  ;  Annie,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Lentz; 
and  Polly.  John  Miller,  brother  of  Mrs. 
Lentz,  enlisted  in  comj)any  B,  Ninth  regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and  served 
about  four  ^  ears. 


Freeland,  George  W.  P.,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1842 ;  son  of  James  and  Hannah 
(Patton)  Freeland.  James  Freeland  was  a 
prominent  citizen.  He  served  twice  in  the 
State  Legislature,  first  in  the  session  of  1852 
and  again  in  1862-63.  He  died  March  28, 
1882.  His  wife,  Hannah  Patton,  died  Janu- 
ary, 1891.  Tliey  had  nine  children:  Will- 
iam Henry  and  Winfield  Scott,  deceased ; 
Thaddeus,  married  Mary  Decliert,  has  two 
children  ;  George  W.  P.;  Henry,  married 
Annie  Motter,  has  seven  children  ;  Mary, 
wife  of  Julni  Vallerchamp,  has  seven  chil- 
dren ;  James,  married  Lizzie  Brubaker,  has 
four  children  ;  .John,  married  and  lives  in 
Arizona;  Hannah,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Frick. 


George  W.  P.  Freeland  enlisted  at  Camp 
Curtin,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  September  11,  1862, 
in  company  E,  Eighteenth  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  under  Lieut.  Col.  James  Gowan. 
The  regiment  was  moved  to  Camp  Simmons, 
thence  to  Bladensburg,  thence  across  the 
Long  Bridge  to  Wasiiington,  D.  C,  thence 
to  Pine  Woods  Camp,  thence  to  Fairfax  Court 
House,  where  Mr.  Freeland  was  discharged 
on  account  of  disability.  On  April  20, 1863, 
he  was  i)romoted  from  corporal  to  third  ser- 
geant of  his  company.  Upon  his  discharge 
he  returned  iiome  to  Halifax  township  and 
resided  with  his  parents  until  1867,  when  he 
removed  to  Upper  Paxton  township,  near 
Millersburg,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  about  eighteen  years  ;  after  that  time 
he  removed  to  his  present  residence. 

Mr.  Freeland  was  married,  September  6, 
1866,  to  Julia  A.,  daughter  of  James  and 
Susan  Lear  Martin.  Mrs.  Freeland  was  born 
in  York  county.  Pa.,  September  22,  1840. 
In  early  childhood  she  resided  with  her  par- 
ents in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  for  several  years 
attended  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  The 
family  then  removed  to  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
and  siie  was  in  school  there ;  later  she  was 
for  one  year  at  the  academy  at  Dayton, 
Ohio.  During  the  two  years  following  she 
resided  with  her  parents  in  Missouri;  in 
1854  or  1855  they  returned  to  Su.squehauna 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  afterwards 
removing  to  Millersburg,  where  they  spent 
five  years.  In  1860,  the  family  removing  to 
the  homestead,  she  jived  there  about  eight 
years.  They  then  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Millersburg,  where  they  remained  eighteen 
years.  In  1887  ]\Ir.s.  Freeland  took  u|)  her 
residence  at  the  old  homestead,  where  she 
has  ever  since  resided.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Free- 
land  attended  the  Methodist  church.  His 
politics  were  Republican. 

James  Martin,  father  of  Mrs.  Freeland,  was 
born  May  2(),  1803,  and  died  March  28, 1873. 
His  wife  was  born  June  4,  1813,  and  died 
May  28,  1884.  They  had  nine  children: 
John  H.,  deceased,  born  August  16,  1836 ; 
Juliana,  born  September  22,  1840 ;  James, 
deceased,  born  July  22,  1842  ;  Henry  Clay, 
deceased,  born  July  10,  1844;  Perry,  born 
February  20,  184() ;  Adam,  deceased,  born 
December  29, 1848  ;  Atkinson,  born  May  16, 
1851;  Mary  .Jane,  born  December  13,1853; 
and  Theodore,  born  April  25,  1856. 

Mr.  Martin  was  a  railroad  contractor  and 
built  sevt^ral  railroads  in  Missouri  and  other 
States.      He    constructed    one   mile   of  the 


1094 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Nortliern  Central  railway  between  Millers- 
burg  and  Georgetown,  Pa.,  in  which  business 
he  was  brought  into  close  contact  with  Hon. 
Simon  Cameron.  He  was  formerly  interested 
in  political  affairs  in  Dauphin  county,  was 
elected  sheriff  on  the  Repuljlican  ticket  in 
1844  or  1845  and  served  one  term  in  that 
office.  His  son,  Henry  Clay  Martin,  enlisted 
in  comi)any  E,  Eighteenth  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  under  Lieut.  Col.  .James  Gowan. 
He  served  as  orderly  to  Dr.  Markley.  The 
grandfatlierof  Mrs.  Ereeland  married  Keziah 
Atkinson.  Tiiey  liad  a  family  of  sons  and 
daughters. 

Feidt,  David  E.,  cabinet  maker  and  fur- 
niture dealer,  Millersburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Upper  Faxton  township,  February  17,  1844, 
and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Elizal)etli  (West) 
Feidt.  The  father  died  March  25,  1889,  at 
M^llensburg,  and  the  mother  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1848.  Tlieir  children  are:  Daniel  S., 
Nathaniel,  David  E.,  Peter  F.,  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  fatlier  married,  sec- 
ondly, Susanna  Weaver,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Weaver,  by  whom  lie  had  two  children : 
Aaron  and  Katherine.  Mrs.  Feidt's  par- 
ents are  both  deceased,  the  father  having 
died  in  18()7,aged  sixty-two  years,  and  tiic 
mother  j)assed  away  at  tiie  age  of  forty-one 
years.  Their  children  were:  David,  Isaac, 
Harriet,  Catharine,  and  Mary.  David  E. 
was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  four  years 
and  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age.  Ho  then  worked  for 
his  cousin,  William  E.  Lenker,  on  the  farm 
for  two  years,  when  he  began  the  cabinet 
making  trade  with  Josiah  Weaver,  at  Ber- 
rysburg,  with  whom  he  worked  three  years. 
He  was  then  employed  with  Mr.  Bittenben- 
der,  of  Sliamokin,  Pa.,  and  subsequently  re- 
turned to  Millersi)urg.  On  March  20,  1865, 
he  engaged  in  cabinet  making  and  in  the 
undertaking  business.  He  soon  discontin- 
ued the  latter  branch  of  business  and  en- 
gaged extensively  in  liandling  furniture  un- 
til 1869,  when  he  sold  liis  interest  to  George 
Neagley.  He  remained  with  Mr.  Neaglej', 
however,  as  salesman  until  1873,  when  he 
again  purchased  the  business,  which  he  still 
conducts.  He  was  married,  March  4,  1869, 
to  Miss  Mary  Neagley,  daughter  of  George 
and  Charlotte  (Kintzle)  Neagley.  Their 
children  are:  Howard  N.,  l)orn  August  9, 
1870,  and  died  October  24,  1872;  and  Carrie 
M.,  born  June  17,  1875.  Mr.  Feidt  is  a 
member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  183,  I. 


O.  0.  F.,  of  Millersburg,  and  in  politics  is  a 
Republican.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


Feidt,  Danikl  S.,  farmer,  Millersburg, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Upjier  Paxton  township, 
January  19,  1839.  He  is  a. son  of  Peter  and 
Elizabeth  (West)  Feidt,  who  was  a  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Susanna  (Shoop)  West.  The 
grandfather,  George  Feidt,  was  married  to 
Rachel  Snyder,  by  whom  he  had  six  chil- 
dren:  John,  George,  Daniel,  Catharine, 
Peter,  and  Thomas.  The  father  by  his  first 
marriage  had  a  family  of  four  children  : 
Daniel  S.,  Nathaniel,  David,  and  Peter.  He 
married,  .secondly.  Miss  Susanna  Weaver, 
who  died  in  1881,  leaving  two  ciiildren, 
Aaron  and  Catharine.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Feidt  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children, 
seven  of  whom  survive:  Sallie,  Peter,  Al- 
fred, Charles,  Leah,  Catharine,  and  Ida. 

Daniel  S.  received  iiis  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  iiis  native  township.  lie 
was  then  engaged  in  farming  until  tlie  war 
broke  out,  when  he  enlisted  September  19, 
1861,  in  company  B,  Ninth  Pennsylvania 
cavalry.  After  serving  faithfully  in  various 
parts  of  the  field  and  taking  part  in  numer- 
ous engagements  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  King's  Bridge,  Ga.,  December 
24,  1864.  On  May  6,  1865,  he  returned  to 
Upper  Paxton  township,  and  in  1866  en- 
gaged as  a  sawyer  for  ten  years.  In  1876 
he  bought  a  farm  on  whicii  he  resided  until 
1882,  when  he  moved  to  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  remained  five  years.  He  next 
moved  to  tiie  F.  R.  Gilbert  farm  which  he 
purchased  and  resided  thereon  until  1893, 
when  he  moved  to  his  present  home.  He 
was  married,  March  10,  1867,  to  Miss  Anna 
Hoy,  daughter  of  ('liristian  and  Leah  (Nov- 
inger)  Hoy.  Their  children  are:  Emma  D., 
born  April  7,  1868 ;  Wilson  W.,  born  May 
31,  1871;  Leah  A.,  born  August  3,  1874; 
and  Sadie  E.,  born  September  11,  1876. 
His  wife  was  born  January  29,  1841,  and 
died  November  19,  189L  She  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  David's  Reformed  church, 
at  Killinger's.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics and  has  served  as  school  director,  asses- 
sor three  terms,  and  assisted  in  1890  to  take 
the  census.  He  is  connected  with  Lodge 
No.  183,  I.  O.  0.  F.,  Millersburg,  and  Kil- 
patrick  Post,  No.  212,  G.  A.  R.,  Millersburg. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  . 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1095 


Ulrich,  Marion,  M.  D.,  Millersburg,  Pa., 
was  born  at  Sclinsgrove,  Snyder  county,  Pa., 
December  25, 1850.  He  is  a  son  oi'Jolui  and 
Matilda  (Gauglar)  Ulrich.  The  grandfather 
was  Benjamin  Ulrich  and  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  (Houseworth)  Ulrich.  Tiie 
maternal  grandfather  was  Daniel  Glass  and 
was  married  to  Miss  Polly  (Herrold)  Glass. 
They  had  eight  children :  William  A., 
George  W.,  John  D.,  Mary,  Frederick  C, 
Henry  A.,  Adam,  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  mother  has  passed  away,  but 
the  father,  boru  in  1815,  still  survives.  Their 
children  are:  Diana,  Louisa,  Maria,  Izora, 
Maiion,  Henry,  Reuben  L.,  George  R.,  Eliza- 
beth M.  Mrs.  Ulrich's  fiither  survives,  but 
her  mother  has  passed  awaj'.  Tliey  had  four 
cliildren  :  Mary  M.,  one  who  died  at  the  age 
of  four  years,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 

Marion  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Selinsgrove,  which  he 
attended  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old.  He 
then  entered  the  Missionary  Institute  of  the 
same  place,  which  he  attended  until  187o. 
In  1874  and  1875  he  taught  school  in  Penn 
township,  at  the  old  Kautz  school  house.  He 
then  taught  at  various  places  until  1877, 
wiien  he  began  to  read  medicine  under  Dr. 
J.  W.  Sheets,  at  Selinsgrove.  He  then  at- 
tended the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons at  Baltimore,  Md.,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  graduated  March  3, 1880.  He  located 
in  Killinger,  April  20,  1880,  and  was  soon 
successful  in  establishing  a  large  practice. 
October  20,  1887,  he  moved  to  Millersburg, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  tnar- 
ried,  October  26, 1880,  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Glass, 
daughter  of  George  W.  and  Delilali  (Knight) 
Glass.  Their  children  are :  George  M.,  who 
was  born  June  25,  1887,  and  died  October 
20,1887;  and  Annie  C,  born  February  U, 
1883.  Dr.  Ulrich  is  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  also  a  member  of  the  Dauphin  County 
Medical  Society.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


East   Hanover   township,  Lebanon   county, 
who  survives.    Of  their  children  who  reached 
mature  age  were  George  M.  and  Margaret 
R.,  who  married  a  Mr.  Eberly.     George  M. 
Brubaker  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion   and  spent   several   years   in    clerking. 
He  subsequently,   in    connection    with  his 
stepfather,  Simon   West,  engaged  in  the  tan- 
ning  business,  which   was  continued  until 
1847.     He  then  began   merchandising  and 
in    1864    made    the    hardware    business   a 
specialty.      Mr.    Brubaker     married,     first, 
February   12,  1850,  Eliziabeth,  daughter  of 
George  Beaver,  of  Perry  county.     Slie    died 
July,  1856,  and  their  children  were:    Clara, 
George,  Mary,  and  Charles.     He  was  mar- 
ried, a  second  time,  in   July,  1857,  to  Mary, 
daughter    of    Jacob    Lime,    of    Schuylkill 
county,   and    their   children    were:    Albert, 
William,   Sarah,   John,    Wood,   Mark,  and 
Ray.     Mr.  Brubaker  was  the  first  president 
of  the  Lykens  Valley   Bank,  now  tlie  First 
National  Bank  of  Millersburg,  and  was  also 
one  of  the  founders  of  the   Miners'  Deposit 
Bank    of  Lykens.     He  is   a   gentleman    of 
enterprise  and  public  S2:)irit,  and  prominently 
identified  with  the  loading  industries  of  the 
Upper  End. 


Brub.\ker,  George  M.,son  of  George  and 
Sarah  (Mark)  Brubaker,  was  born  July  19, 
1824,  in  Millersburg,  Dauphin  county.  Pa. 
His  grandfather,  David  Brubaker,  of  Ger- 
man ancestry,  resided  near  Millersburg  on  a 
farm.  He  married  a  Miss  Dover,  and  of 
their  children,  Jacob,  born  in  17!)5,  learned 
the  trade  of  a  tanner,  located  some  j'ears  in 
Cliambersburg,  Pa.,  then  in  1822  removed 
to  Millersburg,  where  he  died  in  1838.  Jacob 
Brubaker  married,  in  1823,  Sarah  Mark,  of 


WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 


Stroup,  John  C,  M.  D.,  Elizabetliville, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Elizabetliville,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  January  8,  1859.  He  is  a  sou 
of  Dr.  John  B.  and  Saloma  (Shellenberger) 
Stroup.  Peter  Stroup,  grandfather  of  Dr. 
John  C.  Stroup,  was  a  native  of  Juniata 
county.  Pa.  He  was  a  farmer'  and  black- 
smith ;  he  died  at  the  age  of  forty.  His  wife 
lived  to  be  eighty-two  years  of  age.  Their 
children  are:  Samuel,  was  a  farmer  and 
blacksmith  in  Turkey  Valley,  Juniata 
county,  up  to  1889,  when  he  removed  to 
South  Bend,  Ind.,  and  worked  at  his  trade 
until  1894  ;  then  returned  to  Pennsylvania 
and  resides  with  his  sons  ;  he  is  seventy-six 
years  old ;  Nathan,  a  farmer  in  Juniata 
county;  two  daughters;  John  B.;  Peter,  a 
blacksmith,  met  his  death  at  forty  years  of 
age  riding  across  a  bridge  in  Juniata  county  ; 
he  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war ;  was  wounded 
in  the  leg.  The  majority  of  the  family  are 
Democratic  in  their  political  views.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Stroup  was 
Christian  Shellenberger.  He  and  his  wife 
were  natives  of  Juniata  county,  and  both  died 


1096 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


at  Richfield,  in  that  couoty,  the  grandfather 
aged  seventy-six,  the  grandmotlier  seventy- 
eight  years.  Tliey  left  a  family  of  nine  sons 
and  tliree  daughters,  most  of  whom  are  now 
living  in  Juniata  county. 

John  13.  Stroup,  M.  D.,  father  of  Dr.  John 
C,  was  horn  in  Juniata  countj^  in  March, 
1831,  and  was  reared  there.  His  father  died 
young  and  left  him  a  poor  hoy,  dependent 
on  his  own  resources  for  his  education.  He 
worked  by  day  and  applied  himself  to  books 
at  night,  and  in  this  way  prepared  him.self 
to  teach.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  took 
charge  of  a  school  in  Juniata  county,  and 
subsequently  taught  in  Oldtown,  Clearfield 
county,  Pa.,  finally  locating  in  Richfield, 
Juniata  county.  Here  he  began  the  .study 
of  medicine  under  Dr.  Werner,  with  whom 
he  contiiuied  three  or  four  years.  He  then 
entered  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  from 
which  he  subsequently  graduated.  He  lo- 
cated at  Richfield  and  assisted  Dr.  Werner 
for  several  years,  after  which  he  came  to 
Elizabethville,  and  was  the  first  physician  to 
locate  in  that  town.  He  was  also  the  only 
surgeon  of  prominence  in  that  part  of  the 
county,  and  was  frequently  called  into  con- 
sultation with  Dr.  Rutherford  and  Dr.  Du- 
nott,  both  eminent  surgeons  of  Harrisburg. 
He  was  often  invited  to  locate  in  larger 
places,  where  there  would  be  a  wider  field 
for  the  exercise  of  his  professional  ability. 
He  was  noted  as  being  skillful  in  operating 
on  cancer,  and  was  also  very  successful  in 
other  critical  cases.  Dr.  John  B.  Stroup  was 
married  in  Juniata  county  to  Saloma  Shel- 
lenberger.  Their  children  are  :  Mary  Alice, 
wife  of  Edwin  Swab,  Lykeus,  Pa.;  Fanny 
Catherine,  wife  of  William  Reitz,  Rebucks, 
Northumberland  county.  Pa.;  Dr.  John  C; 
an  infant,  died  unnamed  ;  Salome,  wife  of 
Charles  Lenker,  Halifax,  Pa.;  Dr.  Clement 
]5.,druggist,  Elizabethville,  married  in  March, 
1885,  Lizzie  A.  Bonawitz. 

John  C.  Stroup  first  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  was  subse- 
quently a  pupil  in  tiie  Berrj'sburg  Seminary, 
from  1S78  to  1882 ;  he  was  also  at  school  at 
South  Bend,  Ind.,  for  eight  months.  In 
1883  lie  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  and  was  graduated  in  the  fall 
of  1885,  after  which  he  located  at  Elizabeth- 
ville, where  he  has  built  up  an  extensive 
practice.  In  1887,  in  connection  with  his 
brother  Clement  B.,  he  bought  the  drug 
store  of  Jonas  Gorman,  and  continued  a 
member  of  the  firm  until  June,  1895,  when 


he  sold  his  interest  in  the  store  to  his 
brother,  the  growing  demands  of  his  i^ractice 
not  leaving  him  time  for  other  business. 
Dr.  Stroup  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  at  present 
postmaster  at  Elizabethville,  having  been 
ai)pointed  to  tlie  office  April  20,  1894.  On 
April  1  of  the  same  year  he  was  appointed 
county  physician  for  the  outdoor  poor,  which 
office  he  iield  one  year.  He  served  as  first 
judge  of  elections  of  the  borough.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Jett'erson  Alumni  Association. 
For  tliree  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  America.  Dr.  Stroup 
was  married  in  Northumberland  county. 
Pa.,  March  31,  1891,  to  Miss  MoUie  E., 
daughter  of  William  Depi)en,  deceased,  and 
his  wife  Elizal)eth,  and  a  native  of  that 
county.  They  have  two  sons:  Bryant  De 
( "o.sta,  born  Julv  28, 1892  ;  and  Paul  Eugene, 
born  March  25,"  1894. 


DoRNHEiM,  Prof.  Henry  G.,  formerly 
principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Elizabeth- 
ville, Pa.,  was  born  in  Gratz,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  November  7,  1859.  He  is  a  son 
of  Rudolph  II.  and  Mary  (Row)  Dornheim. 
His  grandfatiicr,  Ileinrich  Dornheim,  was  a 
native  of  Germany.  He  studied  medicine 
and  practiced  both  in  Germany  and  after 
coming  to  America.  He  died  in  Philadel- 
phia while  visiting  some  of  his  children. 
His  wife,  Johanna  Eleanora  Wilhelmina, 
born  at  Hagenbruch,  was  a  descendant  of  a 
noble  German  family.  She  died  at  Gratz 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  Their  children 
were:  Rudolph  H.;  a  son  who  died  aged  ten 
years  ;•  Henrietta,  deceased,  and  Frederica, 
decea.sed. 

Rudolph  H.  Dornheim,  father  of  Prof. 
Dornheim,  was  born  in  Germany  and  came 
to  America  with  his  parents  when  he  was 
seven  years  old.  His  father  came  first, 
and  settled  at  Gratz,  Pa.,  and  shorth'  after 
sent  for  his  wife  and  family.  Rudolph  was 
educated  in  Gratz,  where  he  also  learned 
cabinet  making.  This  has  been  his  occupa- 
tion to  the  present  time.  He  and  his  wife 
reside  at  Gratz.  He  enjoys  the  best  of 
health,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Prof.  Henry  G.  and  two  daugh- 
ters, one  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
and  the  other  in  infancy. 

Henry  G.  Dornheim  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  place  until  he  was  fif- 
teen, when  he  entered  Berrj'sburg  Seminar}'. 
After  attending  that  institution  for  three 
summers,  he  was  graduated  in  1879.     Dur 


J.  C.   ST  ROUP.  M.  D. 


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DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1099 


ing  the  winters  he  taught  school  ;  the  first 
term  in  Upper  Malianoy  township,  North- 
umberland county,  and  several  subsequent 
terms  at  Gratz  and  in  ungraded  country 
schools.  In  1880  Mr.  Dornhcim  entered 
Millersville  State  Normal  School,  and  was 
graduated  in  1883.  He  also  atttnided  this 
school  during  the  summer  of  1878.  After 
graduating  from  the  Normal  school,  he  be- 
came assistant  teacher  in  the  Lykens  high 
school,  and  remained  there  from  1883  to 
1884.  He  then  opened  the  Elizabethville 
Seminary  as  its  principal,  and  during  the 
winter  was  princit)al  of  public  schools, 
which  position  he  held  for  three  3'ears, 
and  then  returned  to  Gratz  and  took 
charge  of  the  high  school  for  six  years. 
At  the  end  of  this  time,  in  1894,  Mr.  Dorn- 
heim  returned  to  Elizabethville  and  re- 
sumed his  former  position  as  principal  of 
the  seminary  and  public  schools.  He  was 
an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  county  super- 
intendent of  Dauphin  county  in  1893  and 
1896.  On  July's,  1896,  he  was  elected 
principal  of  the  school  of  Treniont,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  where  he  now  resides. 

Henry  G.  Dornheim  was  married,  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  July  3,  1883,  to  Miss 
Ellen  W.,  daughter  of  John  Frey,  and  born 
in  Lancaster.  Their  children  are:  Susan, 
John,  Frank  R.,  Cora  May,  and  Oscar  E. 

Prof.  Dornheim  is  an  independent  voter. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  is  superintendent  of  the  pri- 
mary department  of  the  Sunday-school. 
While  residing  at  Gratz  he  acted  for  three 
years  as  secretary  of  the  Gratz  Driving  Park 
and  Agricultural  Society. 


Stroup,  Nath.4N  W.,  M.  D.,  was  born  near 
Millerstown,  Juniata  county,  Pa.,  January 
13,  1843 ;  son  of  Samuel  B.  and  Sarah 
(Weller)  Stroup.  His  father,  Samuel  B. 
Stroup,  was  born  in  Juniata  county,  where 
lie  grew  to  manhood  and  became  a  farmer 
and  blacksmith.  In  1876  he  removed  with 
his  wife  and  family  to  South  Bend,  Ind., 
where  he  now  resides.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  until  within  a  few  years.  He  is  at 
present  visiting  his  son.  His  children  are : 
Jane,  wife  of  Henry  Lydick,  resides  near 
South  Bend ;  Samuel  W.,  farmer,  Juniata 
county.  Pa.;  Wilson  W.,  physician,  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.;  Ellen,  wife  of  Irvin  Lydick,  near 
South  Bend;  Louisa,  wife  of  Daniel  Frame, 
South  Bend ;  John  W.,  wagon  maker,  South 
Bend  ;  Annie,  wife  of  Edward  Demsey,  resid- 
es 


ing  near  South  Bend,  Ind.  Mr.  Samuel  B. 
Stroup  is  a  Democrat.  When  in  .Juniata 
county  he  was  a  member  of  tiie  Evangelical 
church.  He  will  be  seventy-six  on  the  '2Uth  of 
August,  1896 ;  his  wife  is  seventy-five  years 
old  and  resides  with  her  daughter  at  South 
Bend. 

Nathan  W.  Stroup  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  place  until  be  was  about 
eighteen,  when  he  entered  the  McAllister, 
Pa.,  Academy  for  one  year.  He  then  taught 
school  for  two  terms  in  Washington  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county.  In  1864  he  began  to 
read  medicine  with  his  uncle.  Dr.  J.  B.  Stroup, 
at  Elizabethville;  remained  with  him  for 
four  years  and  then  entered  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  pursued  the  course 
of  study  and  attended  lectures  in  the  medical 
department  during  the  years  1867-68,  still 
reading  during  vacations  with  his  uncle. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  University  in 
March,  1868,  and  at  once  began  the  practice 
of  medicine  at  Elizabethville,  where  he  has 
since  continued  and  enjoys  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive practice. 

Dr.  Stroup  is  largely  interested  in  real 
estate.  He  owns  two  of  the  finest  ftirms  in 
Washington  townshijj,  one  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-three  acres,  the  other  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-seven ;  and  a  farm  of  fifty 
acres  in  Jackson  township.  He  also  owns 
and  occupies  one  of,  if  not  the  most  imposing 
residence  in  Elizabethville.  He  has  a  larger 
practice  than  any  other  physician  in  this 
part  of  the  county. 

Dr.  Nathan  W.  Stroup  was  first  married 
in  Elizabethville,  April  30,  1868,  to  Sally 
Sausser,  a  native  of  Berrysburg,  Mifflin  town- 
ship, daughter  of  Michael  and  Lydia  (Moyer) 
Sausser.  They  had  one  son,  Michael  E., 
born  August  1(),  1873 ;  he  is  a  graduate  of 
Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  and  is  now 
studying  law  under  Mr.  Stranalian,  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.  Mrs.  Sally  Stroup  died  August 
5,  1888.  She  was  a  devout  member  of  the 
Reformed  church  and  actively  interested  in 
all  charitable  enterprises.  She  is  buried  in 
the  Elizabethville  cemetery.  Dr.  Stroup's 
second  marriage  took  place  August  7,  1889, 
in  which  be  was  united  to  Mrs.  Susie  Al- 
dricli,  widow  of  Dr.  AUertoii  Aldrich. 

Tlie  Doctor  is  an  independent  voter.  He 
served  as  scliool  director  for  two  terms  and 
is  at  present  a  member  of  the  council.  For 
twenty-eight  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  church,  and  has  held 
various  church  offices. 


1100 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Mrs.  Stroup,  present  wife  of  Dr.  Stroup, 
was  born  in  Meadville.  Pa.,  October  20, 1852, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Rebecca 
(Lewis)  Alexandra.  She  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  her  native  place  until  she 
was  fourteen  years  old;  she  was  then  further 
advanced  than  any  of  her  schoolmates  of 
the  same  age,  and  was  granted  a  certificate 
to  teach.  Her  father  had  ample  means,  but 
held  the  idea  then  prevalent  that  while  a 
liberal  education  is  desirable  for  boys,  it  is 
not  needed  by  girls ;  hence  he  refu.sed  to  aid 
his  daughter  in  securing  a  more  thorough 
education.  She  resolved  to  secure  this  with- 
out his  assistance,  and  after  receiving  her 
teacher's  certificate  she  taught  school  six 
months  and  spent  the  next  six  months  in 
stud}'  at  Meadville  Aendemy,  finishing  the 
course  at  that  institution  in  1861).  SIk;  then 
entered  the  State  Normal  School  at  Edinboro, 
Pa.,  and  graduated  with  first  honors.  In 
all  she  has  taught  school  for  twenty-two 
years  with  marked  ability,  having  the  same 
uniform  success  in  the  University  of  Ohio 
that  characterized  her  efforts  in  the  rural 
districts,  where  she  taught  seven  years. 
Mrs.  Dr.  Stroup  taught  her  first  school  when 
but  fourteen  years  of  age,  for  $9  per 
month,  and  was  offered  the  same  school  the 
following  winter  at  $25  per  month.  Her 
father  lauglu'd  at  her  so  much  for  teaching 
for  §9,  that  one  day  she  remarked  :  "  Well, 
father,  you  will  live  to  see  that  sum  quad- 
rupled," and  it  was  a  prophecy  that  came 
true,  for  she  held  a  position  for  twelve  years 
for  which  she  received  $G50  per  year. 

Miss  Alexandra  was  married,  at  Mead- 
ville, Pa.,  August  2,  1875,  to  Dr.  Allerton 
Aldrich,  son  of  Judge  Thomas  Aldrich,  of 
Meadville,  and  a  graduate  of  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania.  They  settled  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal.,  where  Dr.  Aldricli  had  previously 
practiced  medicine  for  four  years,  and  where 
he  died  in  1887,  eigliteen  months  after  their 
marriage.  Siie  was  left  a  widow,  with  a 
babe  six  months  old,  and  with  no  means  of 
support  for  herself  and  child,  the  Doctor 
having  used  the  profits  of  his  large  practice 
in  discharging  debts  contracted  in  securing 
his  education.  Six  weeks  after  the  death  of 
her  husband  Mrs.  Aldrich  started  lor  An- 
dover,  Ohio,  where  her  sister,  Mrs.  Hampton 
Johnson,  now  deceased,  was  then  residing. 
The  expense  of  this  trip  consumed  all  the 
money  she  had,  and  as  she  did  not  wish  to 
return  to  her  father's  home,  she  natural!}' 
returned   to   her  old  occupation  of  teaching 


to  procure  a  support.  A  new  brick  academy 
was  then  just  completed  at  Andover,  and 
she  accepted  a  situation  offered  her  as 
teacher  in  the  new  building;  she  retained 
the  position  for  twelve  years.  During  this 
time  she  graduated  from  the  University  at 
Ada,  Ohio,  where  she  taught  two  years. 
While  at  Andover  she  was  married  to  Dr. 
Stroup,  August  29,  1889. 

Mrs.  Stroup's  daughter  by  her  first  mar- 
riage, Effie  Zaletta  Aldrich,  was  born  in  San 
Francisco,  December  1,  1870;  she  graduated 
in  the  teaeiier's  course  of  the  State  Normal 
School,  at  Millersville,  Pa.,  in  1895,  with 
first  honors,  and  in  June,  1890,  graduated  in 
the  scientific  course  of  the  same  institution. 
She  is  studying  German,  French,  Latin  and 
Greek;  is  receiving  thorough  training  in 
music  and  elocution,  and  will  enter  Harvard 
College  in  the  fall  of  1897. 

Thomas  Alexandra,  fatiier  of  Mrs.  Dr. 
Stroup,  was  born  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  in  1808, 
and  was  there  educated  and  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  was  married,  in  Pittsburgh,  in 
1832,  after  wiiich  he  located  at  Meadville, 
Pa.  He  was  a  large  speculator  in  farming 
lan<ls,  and  was  engaged  in  raising  fine 
blooded  stock.  He  died  at  Meadville,  No- 
vember 10,  1874.  His  wife  died  May  18, 
1878.  Their  children  are:  Elizabeth,  Mrs. 
Hampton  Johnson,  of  Andover,  Ohio;  Mar- 
tha, Mrs.  Reason  Bates,  State  Line,  Craw- 
ford county.  Pa.;  May,  deceased ;  Mrs.  Ben- 
jamin Miller,  Jamestown,  Mercer  county. 
Pa.;  Jennie,  Mrs.  Nelson  Gallagher,  Mercer 
county,  Pa.;  Sarah,  died  when  three  years 
old  :  William  J.,  died  in  infancy ;  John  B., 
farmer,  near  Meadville;  Samuel,  died  aged 
three  years;  William  James,  died  wiien  one 
year  old ;  Susie,  Mrs.  Dr.  Stroup ;  Florence 
Adela,  died  aged  four  years. 

Mrs.  John  Alexandra,  grandmother  of 
Mrs.  Dr.  Stroup,  was  born  in  Berlin,  Ger- 
many, and  belonged  to  the  aristocracy,  be- 
ing a  daughter  of  one  of  the  wealthy  noble- 
men of  that  city.  Martha  Brewer,  for  that 
was  her  name,  fell  in  love  with  John  Alex- 
andra, a  native  of  Dublin,  Ireland.  He  was 
a  young  man  of  excellent  principles,  but  was 
not  one  of  the  wealtiiy  nobility.  His  devo- 
tion to  the  beautiful  and  wealthy  daughter 
being  bitterly  opposed,  the  lovers  only  waited 
for  an  opportunity  to  sail  to  America.  One 
morning  at  4  o'clock  a  beautiful  white  steed 
drew  up  in  front  of  the  mansion,  and,  after 
mounting,  Barbara  bid  farewell  to  mother 
and  home,  and,  after  being  married,  set  sail 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


iiol 


with  her  lover  for  America.  They  settled  at 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  they  lived  for  twenty 
years  aud  amassed  a  great  fortune.  They 
sold  their  possessions  then,  and  moved  to 
Meadville,  Pa.  Their  children  were :  Thomas, 
father  of  Mrs.  Stroup ;  Mary,  Mrs.  James 
AVhite,  Jame.stown,  Pa.;  Richard,  died  aged 
twenty -one;  Deborah,  Mrs.  Williams,  de- 
ceased; William,  deceased;  Martha,  Mrs. 
William  Betts,  resides  near  Jamestown,  Pa.; 
John,  farmer  at  Espenville,  Pa. 

Thomas  Alexandra,  great-grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Stroup,  located  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and 
was  a  noted  criminal  lawyer  of  that  day. 
He  died  at  an  advanced  age,  about  the  year 
1854. 


RoMBERGER,  Saiviuel  B.,  was  liom  in  Ly- 
kens  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  August 
9,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Hannah 
(Bergstresser)  Romberger.  His  grandfather, 
Adam  Romberger,  was  twice  married,  and 
had  twenty-three  children,  of  whom  seven- 
teen, tiiree  sons  and  fourteen  daughters,  grew 
to  maturity  and  were  married.  Adam  Rom- 
berger died  at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  1868,  aged 
ninety-three,  leaving  an  estate  valued  at 
$40,000.  His  second  wife  preceded  him  a 
few  years  in  death.  His  descendants  are 
numerous,  numbering  at  the  time  of  his 
death  542,  and  are  scattered  over  Dauphin 
county. 

Daniel  Romberger,  father  of  Samuel  B., 
was  born  in  Lykens  towmship,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  February  19,  1816.  He  was 
brought  up  as  a  farmer,  and  was  married  in 
his  native  place.  He  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Washington  township  in  1854,  and  later 
located  on  a  farm  in  Berrvsburg,  where  he 
died  July  29,  1882.  His  wife  died  in  Eliza- 
bethville  in  1889.  Their  children  were : 
Adam,  born  August  21, 1889,  farmer,  North- 
umberland county.  Pa.;  Edward,  Ixirn  July 
30,  1841,  farmer  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Washington  township ;  Cyrus,  born  July  14, 
1843,  retired  farmer  and  merchant, Elizabeth- 
ville ;  Samuel  B.;  Josiah,  born  October  9, 1847, 
with  the  Reading  Railroad  Company  atSha- 
mokin,  Pa.;  John  A.,  born  April  21,  1850, 
grain,  coal  and  lumber  dealer,  Elizabeth- 
ville;  H.  Howard,  born  July  12,  1853,  mer- 
chant, Gratz ;  formerly  an  Evangelical 
preacher;  Alfred  D.,  born  October  9,  1854, 
died   September  15,  1857. 

Samuel  B.  Romberger  was  of  German  de- 
scent on  his  father's  side,  and  on  his  mother's 
Scotch-Irish.     He    attended    school    in    his 


native  place  until  he  was  nine  years  old, 
when  the  familj'  removing  to  Washington 
township  his  education  was  finished  in  the 
common  schools  there.  In  his  seventeenth 
yeiir  he  began  an  apprenticeship  at  tanning 
with  Isaiah  Matters,  at  Uniontown,  Pa.  He 
served  three  years,  during  which  time  he  re- 
ceived $175,  which  was  $40  in  excess  of  the 
original  contract.  He  worked  at  his  trade  a 
year  and  a  half  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa. 
He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  Reuben 
Weiser,  and  establislied  a  tanyard  at  Green 
Briar,  Northumberland  count}',  and  con- 
tinued in  business  there  two  and  a  half  years; 
at  the  end  of  this  time  he  bought  the  tanyard 
known  as  Stine's  plant,  above  Gratz,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.  He  operated  this  plant  for 
fourteen  years,  having  sold  the  one  at  Green 
Briar. 

In  the  spring  of  1883  Mr.  Romberger  dis- 
posed of  his  property  in  Lykens  township 
and  located  at  Elizabethville,  where  he  at  first 
operated  a  tannery,  but  later  relinquished 
the  business  of  tanning  and  dealt  in  hides 
and  tallow.  In  1892  he  took  into  partnei-- 
ship  his  two  sons,  Daniel  W.  and  Penrose 
C.  This  is  the  pioneer  firm  in  their  business 
in  this  count}' ;  there  are  but  two  larger 
dealers  in  the  State.  They  are  operating 
branches  at  Wilkes-Barre,  and  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Samuel  B.  Romberger  was  married  at 
Green  Briar,  Pa.,  March  12,  1867,  to  IVIiss 
Sarah  Jane  Brower,  born  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Pa.,  October  29, 1847;  daughter 
of  Nathan  and  Caroline  (Troutman)  Brower. 
Their  children  are:  Daniel  W.,  Ijorn  in  L}'- 
kens  township,  Feljruary  23,  1870,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  Gratz  and 
Elizabethville,  married  Sadie  Gotsiiall,  has 
three  boys,  Melvin  C,  Harold  L.,  and  Law- 
rence ;  Penrose  C,  born  in  Lykens  township, 
in  1872,  first  attended  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  township  and  of  Elizabethville, 
at  seventeen  years  of  age  he  entered  the 
West  Chester  State  Normal  School,  and  took 
a  commercial  course,  and  then  became  trav- 
eler for  the  firm  in  Pennsylvania,  New 
York,  Delaware,  New  Jersev,  and  A'irginia; 
Elba  A.,  Ijorn  July  18,  1874,  married  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1896,  to  Ammon  W.  Krebs,  resides 
with  her  father;  Ira  P.,  born  in  1875,  car- 
ries on  a  branch  of  his  father's  business  at 
Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.;  Ella  J.,  born  in  1878,  at 
home. 

Mr.  Romberger  is  a  Repulilican.  He  is 
president  of  Lykens  Valley  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  director  of  Lykens  Valley  Tele- 


1102 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


graph  and  Telephone  Company,  and  of  the 
Elizaliethville  Water  Company.  Pie  is  a 
member  and  a  steward  of  the  Evangelical 
church,  and  a  director  of  the  Maple  Grove 
Cemetery  Association,  of  Elizabethville,  Pa. 

Swab,  Jonas,  manufacturer  of  wagons, 
Elizabethville,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Washington 
township,  Dau|)hin  county,  Pa.,  March  18, 
1843.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Sally 
(Heller)  Swab. 

Daniel  Swab,  father  of  Jonas  Swab,  was  a 
native  of  Washington  township,  Lykens 
Valley,  and  a  farmer,  born  1814.  He  died 
on  the  homestead  farm,  in  Washington  town- 
ship, in  1871.  He  was  a  staunch  Democrat 
and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
was  widely  and  favorably  known.  His  wife 
still  survives  him  and  resides  in  Elizabeth- 
ville. Their  children  are:  Catherine,  widow 
of  Samuel  Snyder ;  Thomas,  merchant, ^"alley 
Falls,  Kan.;  Mary,  died  aged  thirteen  ;  Jonas ; 
Isaac,  foundryman,  at  Elizabethville,  Pa.; 
Sarah,  wife  of  F.  L.  Koppenheffer,  Mitiiin 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.;  John,  on 
the  old  farm,  Washington  township  ;  David, 
wagon  maker,  Marshalltown,  Iowa  ;  Daniel, 
died  at  age  of  fourteen,  and  Aaron,  coach- 
maker,  Elizabethville,  Pa. 

Jonas  Swab  attended  the  common  schools 
of  his  township  until  he  was  eighteen.  For 
several  years  in  succession  before  that  time 
he  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  six  or  seven 
acres  of  new  land.  He  was  employed  and 
trained  as  farmer  boys  usually  are.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  began  to  learn  the  tan- 
nery business,  at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  but  iind- 
ing  after  a  short  time  that  the  business  did 
not  suit  him,  he  abandoneil  it.  He  took  up 
carpentry  and  worked  at  that  for  a  year,  and 
then  for  two  years  found  employment  in  the 
factory  of  Riegel  &  Emerich,  manufacturers 
of  implements,  at  Uniontown,  Daujihin 
count}'. 

On  September  8,  1804,  Mr.  Swab  enlisted 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in  company  H,  Two 
Hundred  and  Tenth  regiment,  Pennsylva- 
nia volunteers.  Captain  Miller,  and  went  at 
once  to  the  front.  The  regiment  went  out 
one  thou.sand  sti'ong.  When  mustered  out 
at  Arlington  Heights,  Va.,  June  7,  1865, 
there  were  only  three  hundred  and  sixty-five 
men  on  the  roll.  They  had  been  at  the  front 
but  five  days  when  the}'  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Petersburg,  and  were  placed  in  the 
second  line  of  breastworks.  They  assisted 
in  tearing  up  the   Weldou   railroad.      Mr. 


Swab,  with  his  regiment,  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Hatch's  Run,  Va.,  October  27, 
1804;  second  battle  at  Hatch's  Run,  Febru- 
ary 5,  1865 ;  Dabney's  Mills,  Va.,  February 
6,  1865;  Gravelly  Run,  Va.,  March  3,  1865  ; 
Five  Forks,  April  1,  1865;  and  in  the  sur- 
render of  Lee  at  Claver  Hill,  Va.,  April  9, 
180.").  At  Gravelly  Run,  in  a  charge  made 
by  tiie  regiment  in  an  open  field  ui)on  what 
was  supposed  to  be  a  rebel  picket,  but  which 
proved  to  be  the  full  force  of  the  enemy, 
many  of  the  regiments  were  shot  down  and 
many  made  prisoners.  Mr.  Swab  barely  es- 
cajaed  capture. 

Coming  home  at  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr. 
Swab  was  employed  for  five  months  in  the 
imi)lement  factory  at  Uniontown.  In  the 
spring  of  1867  he  took  a  trip  westward,  as 
far  as  Omaha,  Neb.,  working  for  a  time  at 
.several  points.  In  the  following  December 
he  returned  home,  and  in  the  spring  of  1808 
built  the  works  and  began  the  manufacture 
of  wagons  and  implements  on  his  own  ac- 
account.  After  a  time  he  found  it  advan- 
tageous to  drop  the  implement  branch  and 
confine  his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of 
wagons.  With  money  saved  from  his  pre- 
vious earnings  lie  built  and  equipped  a  large 
plant,  which  he  conducted  with  growing 
success.  He  is  widely  known  as  a  reliable 
and  enterprising  manufacturer,  and  the  pro- 
ducts of  his  factory  arc  sold  throughout  the 
entire  State. 

He  manufactures  extensively  farm  and 
spring  wagons  which  are  classed  second  to 
none  made  in  the  State.  Hjs  factory  is 
equipped  with  all  the  most  modern  machin- 
ery, and  he  manufactures  every  portion  of 
wood  work  and  nearly  every  portion  of  iron 
work  used  in  the  construction  of  his  wagons. 
He  employs  a  large  number  of  hands  and 
his  factory  has  not  been  closed  down  three 
days  in  twenty-eight  years  of  business,  which 
speaks  well  for  his  excellent  management. 

Jonas  Swab  was  married,  at  Elizabethville, 
December  4, 1809,  to  Miss  Ellen  S.  Mattis. 
Their  children  are  :  Bertha  L.,  born  in  1870, 
died  when  four  years  old  ;  Etta  M.,  born 
June  5,  1878,  attended  Millersville  State 
Normal  School  one  year,  and  is  now  at  Irving 
College,  in  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.;  Ralph  M., 
born  in  1883,  died  when  three  years  old. 

Mr.  Swab  is  a  Democrat,  but  is  liberal  in 
his  views.  He  is  a  member  of  Heilner  Post, 
No.  232,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Lykens,  Pa.  The 
family  are  connected  with  the  Lutheran 
cl  lurch. 


DAUPEIN  COUNTY. 


1103 


Swab,  Aaron,  coach  mauufactiirer,  Eli/.a- 
betliville,  Pa.,  was  born  on  the  oM  lionie 
farm  in  Wasliin<;ton  town.sliip,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  October  26,  1859.  He  is  a  son 
of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Heller)  Swab.  A 
sketch  of  his  father  appears  in  this  volume 
in  connection  with  that  of  .Jonas  Swab. 

Aaron  Swab  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  township.  He  was  set 
to  work  on  the  farm  when  (piite  young,  and 
was  a  very  industrious  and  willing  assistant. 
He  was  eleven  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  From  the  age  of  fourteen  until  he 
was  twenty-two,  he  was  em2)loyed  in  the 
wagon  factory  of  his  brother,  Jonas  Swab. 
During  his  twenty-third  year  he  worked  at 
the  axle  factory,  at  Millersburg,  Pa.,  after 
which  he  returned  to  the  employ  of  his 
brother,  and  remained  with  him  until  1889. 
During  those  years  of  industry,  he  was  fru- 
gal and  economical,  and  had  accumulated 
some  money.  With  these  savings  and  a 
little  assistance,  Mr.  Swab  ventured  to  begin 
for  himself  the  manufacture  of  coaches  and 
other  vehicles.  At  his  beginning,  in  1889, 
his  plant  was  not  large,  but  he  has  from  time 
to  time  made  substantial  additions  which 
have  greatly  increased  its  capacity.  In 
1892  he  built  two  large  additions  to  the 
factory.  He  now  employs  eight  workmen. 
The  products  of  his  factory  are  known  as  be- 
ing first-class  in  material,  workmansliip  and 
finish,  and  find  a  wide  market  in  the  State. 

Aaron  Swab  was  married,  April  20,  1884, 
to  Miss  Mary  J.  Uhler.  Their  children  are: 
William  A.,"who  died  aged  nine  years ;  and 
Galen  A.,  in  his  second  year.  Mr.  Swab  is  a 
Democrat.  He  is  now  in  his  second  term  as 
town  assessor.  He  is  a  member  and  an 
elder  of  the  Reformed  church. 


Miller,  Nathaniel,  distiller,  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
November  19,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Catherine  (Snyder)  Miller.  His  grand- 
father, .John  Miller,  was  born  in  Northum- 
berland county.  Pa.  He  came  to  Daujihin 
county  and  owned  and  cultivated  a  farm 
in  Jackson  township,  where  he  died  in 
the  early  sixties.  His  wife  was  a  Miss 
Sauler.  Their  children  are:  Michael,  farmer 
and  blacksmith,  died  aged  fifty-five  years, 
in  Jackson  town.ship;  Philip,  wagon  maker, 
died  aged  eighty-two,  in  Jackson  township; 
Daniel;  John,  farmer,  residing  in  Jackson 
township;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  John  Letich,  re- 
siding in  Jackson  township  ;    Christian  B., 


removed  from  Dau])hin  county,  in  188(),  to 
Kansas,  where  he  now  lives,  and  several  chil- 
dren who  died  in  infancy. 

Daniel  Miller,  father  of  Nathaniel  Miller, 
was  born  in  I^ower  Mahanoy  township, 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  July  10,  1811. 
He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  followecl  that 
trade  in  connection  with  farming.  He  also 
conducted  a  distillery  in  Washington  town- 
ship until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred July  4,  1872.  His  wife,  Catherine 
Snyder,  was  born  June  18,  1808,  and  died 
December  15,  1884.  Their  children  are : 
Susan,  born  July  25,  1833,  married  John 
Frank,  resides  in  Elizabethville,  Pa.;  James, 
born  February  16,  1835,  Elizabethville; 
Nathaniel;  Adam,  born  July  14,  1841, went 
to  Mercer  county,  and  was  never  heard  from  ; 
Mary  C,  born  August  17,  1846,  married  G. 
Hoke,  Elizabethville.  Mr.  Daniel  Miller 
was  for  many  years  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Jackson  township. 

Nathaniel  Miller  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  place.  He  was 
put  to  work  on  the  farm  as  soon  as  he  was 
able  to  do  anything,  and  assisted  at  home 
until  he  was  twenty-two,  when  he  hired  out 
for  two  years.  He  then  spent  about  four 
months  in  learning  the  business  of  distilling 
whiskey.  After  his  marriage  he  worked  for 
two  years  in  his  father's  distillery.  Then 
on  account  of  the  high  whiskey  tax  the  dis- 
tillery was  closed  for  four  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  Mr.  Miller  rented  his 
father's  property  for  three  years.  His  father 
died  about  1872,  when  he  bought  the  dis- 
tillery and  has  ever  since  conducted  the 
business.  Mr.  Miller  owns  a  farm  in  Wash- 
ington township,  in  connection  with  a 
partner.  It  includes  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
fiveacres,  with  a  gristmill,  formerly  known  as 
Stine's  mill.  He  also  owns  a  farm  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Washington  township,  con- 
taining one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres, 
another  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
acres  in  Halifax  township,  and  still  another 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres  near 
Millersburg. 

Nathaniel  Miller  was  married,  January 
13,  1867,  to  Miss  Leah,  daughter  of  John  M. 
and  Elizabeth  Novinger  Holtzman,  born 
September  17,  1835.  She  died  in  Washing- 
ton township,  January  12, 1883.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Jane  Alice,  born  March  13,  1868, 
died  March  27,1869;  Stephen  Allan,  born 
September  22,  1870,  baggagemaster  on  the 
Summit    Branch    raili'oad,   married   Anna 


1104 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Beadle ;  Helen  Catherine  Elizabeth,  Ijorn 
December  15,  1876,  resides  at  home.  In  his 
second  marriage,  which  occurred  in  Perry 
county,  Pa.,  September  11,  1883,  Nathaniel 
Miller  was  united  to  Elmira  Bealor,  widow 
of  William  Smith,  born  in  Juniata  township, 
Perry  county.  Pa.,  April  28,  1819  ;  daughter 
of  David  and  Margaret  (Smith)  Bealor. 
They  have  one  child,  Ida  Mary,  born  Sep- 
tember 18,  1884.  Mr.  Miller  is 'a  Democrat. 
He  is  one  of  the  borough  council,  and  has 
been  school  director  for  one  term.  He  is  a 
memlter  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  has 
served  as  deacon. 

Max  Bealor,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Miller, 
was  a  native  of  Berks  county,  where  he  was 
educated  and  grew  to  manhood.  He  mar- 
ried and  removed  to  Perry  county.  Pa.,  in 
the  early  part  of  this  century.  He  settled  at 
Markclsville,  where  he  died  about  1850.  His 
wife,  Catherine  Keiser,  survived  him  fifteen 
years.  Both  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
church.  Their  children  are:  Mrs.  Susan 
McDowell,  deceased  ;  John,  deceased,  aged 
fifty-five  years;  David,  deceased;  Ahir- 
garot,  deceased,  wife  of  James  G.  I^lainc; 
Sallie  and  Catherine,  died  in  girlhood; 
Joseph,  deceased  ;  Mary,  maiden  lady,  died 
in  1892 ;  Benjamin  F.,  died  at  Markclsville, 
Pa.,  June  22,  189G,  at  an  advanced  age. 

David  Bealor,  Mrs.  Miller's  father,  was 
born  in  Brecknock  township,  Berks  county. 
Pa.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Perr\' 
county  at  the  age  of  twelve,  where  they 
settled  on  a  farm  at  Markclsville,  where  he 
was  brought  up.  He  received  two  weeks' 
schooling,  and  had  to  walk  twelve  miles  to 
school  wiicn  he  did  go.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  began  to  learn  nnisonry,  and  fol- 
lowed that  trade  until  his  marriage.  At 
that  time  he  bought  a  farm  on  which  he 
lived  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
died  in  1876,  in  his  eighty-third  year.  His 
wife,  Margaret  Smith,  was  a  native  of  Perry 
county.  She  died  in  1888,  aged  eighty-one. 
Their  children  were:  Sarah,  died  in  1895; 
her  first  husband  was  George  W.  Titzel;  her 
second,  John  Christ ;  John  C.,  fanner,  Blaine, 
Perry  county.  Pa.:  Catherine,  Mrs.  William 
Sausaman,  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Elizabeth,  Mrs. 
George  Ernst,  Washington  township  ;  Lydia, 
maiden  lady,  Harrisburg ;  Elmira,  Mrs. 
Miller;  and  Martha,  maiden  lady,  Harris- 
burg, Pa. 

Margaret  Smith,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Miller, 
is  descended  from  English  stock.  The  chil- 
dren of  her  parents,  Daniel  and  Catherine 


(Ketner)  Smith,  are:  John, died  in  Missouri, 
in  1884;  William,  died  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
in  the  spring  of  1895;  Daniel,  farmer,  near 
Millerstown,  Perry  county.  Pa.;  Elizabeth  C, 
Mrs.  Seabold,  died  at  Duncannon,  Pa.,  spring 
of  1893;  Samuel,  died  about  a  year  after  his 
mother,  in  1852;  Benjamin,  died  in  1S53, 
unmarried;  Margaret,  mother  of  Mrs.  Mil- 
ler; Sarah,  Mrs.  Moses,  died  at  Johnstown, 
Pa.,  in  1888;  Lydia  and  Catherine,  died 
young  ;  Charles  K.,  farmer,  Newport,  Perry 
county.  Pa. 

Mrs.  Miller  resided  at  home  until  her  first 
marriage  at  INhirkelsville,  Pa.  They  then 
located  at  Newport,  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Smith 
died.  He  was  born  in  Juniata  township. 
Perry  county.  He  was  a  carpenter,  and 
worked  at  that  trade  until  his  death  in  1877. 
Their  children  are:  Martha  Calista,  wife  of 
Harry  C.  Swab,  and  George  B.,  a  farmer,  in 
Illinois. 


Miller,  James,  justice  of  the  peace,  Eliza- 
bethville.  Pa.,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Lykens  Valley  Mutual  Insurance  Company, 
was  born  February  16,  1835.  He  is  a  son 
of  Daniel  and  Catherine  (Snyder)  Miller,  re- 
ferred to  in  this  volume  in  connection  with 
the  sketch  of  his  brother,  Nathaniel  Miller. 

John  Miller,  great-grandfather  of  James 
and  Nathaniel  Miller,  came  from  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  leaving  at  home  an  elder 
brother,  Ca.sper  Miller,  and  settled  in  Ma- 
hantango  Valley,  below  County  Line,  Pa., 
where  he  died  and  is  buried.  He  married 
a  Miss  Karstetter.  Among  tln^  children 
are:  Peter,  Daniel,  John,  grandfather  of 
James,  and  Nathaniel.  With  these  three 
sons  Mr.  Miller's  widow  came  to  Armstrong 
Valley.  She  died  at  Daniel  Miller's,  where 
Michael  H.  Miller  now  resides.  Her  remains 
are  buried  at  Fetterhoff's  church,  l>elow 
Fisherville,  Pa.  Her  son,  John  Miller,  lived 
where  Centre  View  postoffice  now  is.  He 
died  there,  and  is  buried  at  Miller's  church, 
near  his  home.  His  wife  Catherine  and 
many  relatives  are  buried  there.  William 
and  Elizabeth  Snyder,  maternal  grandpar- 
ents of  James  Miller,  with  some  of  their 
children,  lie  buried  in  the  same  churchyard. 

James  Miller  was  educated  in  the  old  log 
school  house  of  his  native  place,  in  Jackson 
township.  He  was  early  put  to  work  on  the 
farm,  and  was  reared  as  a  farmer's  boy.  In 
March,  1857,  he  went  West,  and  spent  the 
summer  in  Ogle  county.  111.,  working  at, 
anything  at  which  he  could  find  employ. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1105 


nu'iit.  Ill  the  fall  of  that  year  he  returned 
liome.  James  Miller  was  married,  in  Jack- 
son township,  July  4,  1858,  to  Miss  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Hoffman) 
Hoffman,  born  in  Halifax  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  December  G,  1835. 

Their  children  were  :  Milton  A.,  born  June 
oO,  1859,  in  Jackson  township,  train  dis- 
patcher at  Olean,  N.  Y.,  on  the  Western  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania  for  ten  years,  mar- 
ried Susan  Hoke  Leopold,  and  has  one  child, 
Ruth;  Ellen  Victoria,  born  April  11,  IStio, 
died  September  17,  1863 ;  Agnes  Amanda, 
born  in  Jackson  township,  July  24,  1865, 
wife  of  L.  U.  Bolton,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  has 
three  boys,  Leroy,  Winfred,  and  Stanley ; 
James  Melvin  ;  Elmira  Salina,  born  in  Eliza- 
bethville,  August  19,  18()9,  at  home;  and 
Harvey  Monroe,  born  in  Elizabethville,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1871.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Miller  went  to  housekeeping  in 
Jackson  township.  During  the  summer  ho 
farmed  as  tenant  farmer,  and  in  the  winter  for 
several  terms  taught  school  in  Jackson  town- 
ship. During  the  year  of  the  Susquehanna 
floods,  1865,  Mr.  Miller  repaired  fences  on 
Haldeman's  Island,  and  worked  on  the  re- 
pair train  of  the  Summit  Branch  railroad, 
teaching  school  again  in  the  winter.  In 
April,  1866,  he  located  in  Elizabethville,  and 
followed  carpentry  and  farming  as  a  hired 
hand  until  fall,  when  he  received  a  certiti- 
cate  to  teach  the  town  school.  He  taught 
for  that  term  ;  in  the  following  summer  he 
acted  as  clerk  for  F.  Weaver  in  a  general 
store.  He  taught  for  a  half  term  afterwards 
in  Elizabetliville.  On  March  29.  1869,  Mr. 
Miller  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Lykens  Vallej'  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany, and  has  continuously  held  both  posi- 
tions since  that  date.  In  1870  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  held  that  office  until 
July,  1885,  when  he  was  made  pcstmaster  of 
Elizabethville,  under  President  Cleveland. 
He  built  the  postoflfice  building,  and  held 
the  office  until  1889.  He  was  re-elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  commissioner  for  the 
term  beginning  May  1,  1891,  and  ending 
May  1,  189().  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Democrat,  but 
lias  never  sought  political  preferment.  He 
was  reared  in  the  Reformed  church. 


Swab,  Jacob,  retired  farmer,  was  born  in 
Mifflin  townnship,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
April  7,  1822.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  (Metz)  Swab. 


Jacob  Swab  was  educated  in  private 
schools  before  the  free  school  system  was 
adopted.  He  had  to  pay  fifty  cents  per 
month  for  his  tuition.  When  a  mere  boy 
he  was  set  at  work  helping  to  clear  and  cul- 
tivate land.  He  worked  at  home  until  he 
was  twenty-one,  and  then  started  out  to 
make  a  living  for  himself.  He  worked  on 
rented  farms  for  five  years,  beginning  witii 
one  in  Mifflin  township.  He  then  removed 
to  Donaldson,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  where 
he  hauled  timber  to  the  mines  with  a 
two-horse  team.  He  also  used  his  team  to 
draw  cars  laden  with  coal  from  the  mines 
to  the  Union  canal,  where  it  was  loaded  on 
boats.  At  the  end  of  five  years  he  bought 
a  farm  in  Porter  township,  Schuylkill  county, 
which  he  cultivated  for  thirteen  years.  Sell- 
ing liis  farm,  he  returned  to  Dauphin  count}' 
and  bought  another  in  Washington  town- 
ship containing  sixty-three  acres  of  land 
and  having  a  good  hou.se  on  it.  Here  lie 
made  his  home  until  the  spring  of  1882, 
when  he  retired  from  active  business  and 
purchased  a  house  and  lot  in  Elizabethville, 
where  he  has  lived  since  that  time. 

Jacob  Swab  was  married,  in  Mifflin  town- 
■sliip,  in  1843,  to  Mi.ss  Mary,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Catherine  (Shoop)  Matter,  a  na- 
tive of  Mifflin  township.  She  died  on  the 
farm  in  1881.  Their  children  are:  Amelia, 
deceased,  wife  of  Charles  Shoemaker ;  Cathe- 
rine, wife  of  George  Echternacht,  Marsh  alls- 
town,  Iowa  ;  Edwin,  miner,  in  Lykens,  Pa.; 
Samuel,  roof  painter,  Reading,  Pa.;  Enoch, 
farmer,  Marshall  county,  Iowa  ;  Emma  Jane, 
wifeofMahlon  Miller,  Pottsville,  Pa.;  Joseph, 
hotel  employee,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Swab  was  drafted  for  the  nine  months' 
service  in  the  army  in  October,  1862.  He 
served  ten  months  in  company  F,  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-third  regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers.  He  was  stationed 
at  Norfolk,  Va.,  during  most  of  his  time. 
At  the  end  of  the  ten  months  he  came  home 
and  was  married  again,  in  the  fall  of  1883, 
to  Elizabeth  McCully,  widow  of  George 
Snyder.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Catherine  (Seibold)  McCully,  the  former  of 
Irish  and  the  latter  of  German  descent.  She 
had  five  children  by  her  first  marriage. 

In  political  principles  Mr.  Swab  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  attends  the  Lutheran  church,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  deacon.  He  also 
held  several  minor  offices  in  the  village,  but 
has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of 
an  office  seeker. 


1106 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


BuFFiNGTON,  IsAiAH  T.,  seiiioF  member  of 
the  firm  of  BufRngton  &  Enders,  proprietors 
of  the  Elizabethville  planingmill  and  furni- 
ture factory,  and  also  funeral  directors,  was 
born  in  Uj^per  Paxton  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  July  20,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of 
Josiah  and  Susan  (Yeager)  Buffington.  Solo- 
mon BufRngton,  grandfather  of  Isaiah  T. 
Buffington,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
and  was  a  farmer  and  shoemaker,  doing 
business  in  this  and  other  counties.  Josiah 
Buffington,  father  of  Isaiah  T.,  was  born  in 
Upper  Paxton  township,  Dauphin  county, 
January  16,  1826.  He  was  a  prominent 
resident  of  Elizabethtown  for  forty  years, 
during  which  he  was  engaged  in  contracting, 
cabinet  making  and  undertaking.  He  was 
village  postmaster  for  over  twenty  years. 
He  is  now  seventy-one  years  old,  and  has 
resided  in  Elizabethtown  since  his  retire- 
ment, in  1892.  His  wife  is  also  living. 
Tiieir  children  are :  Isaiah  T.;  John  W.,  re- 
siding in  Elizabethville ;  Mary,  wife  of 
Andrew  Chubb,  Elizabethville ;  Henrietta, 
wife  of  Henrj'  Bickel,  near  Mt.  Carmel,  Pa.; 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Elizabethville;  Kate, 
residing  at  home;  Harry,  resident  of  Shamo- 
kin  ;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Charles  B.  Potter,  Eliza- 
bethville; Emma  and  Alvah,  wlio  died 
young. 

Isaiah  T.  Buffington,  when  about  three 
years  old,  was  brought  l)y  his  parents  to 
Mifflin  township,  were  tliey  remained  a  few 
years  ;  they  then  removed  to  Wa.shington 
township,  where  I.  T.  was  educated.  His 
father  gave  him  the  choice  between  working 
on  the  farm  and  going  to  college;  he  chose 
farm  work,  and  was  brought  up  a  farmer 
boy.  At  ten  years  of  age  be  went  to  work 
on  neighl)oring  farms,  and  was  engaged  as 
farm  hand  for  five  years.  He  then  began  to 
learn  cabinet  making,  carpentry  and  house 
building,  and  followed  these  branches  of 
business  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty- 
two.  All  this  time  he  had  worked  for  iiis 
board  and  clothing.  For  the  next  four  years 
his  wages  were  ^l.To  or  §2  per  day.  In  1876 
Mr.  Buffington  began  business  for  himself, 
in  Elizabethville,  as  cabinet  maker,  under- 
taker and  contractor,  and  conducted  busi- 
ness alone  until  1888.  In  the  beginning  he 
worked  in  a  small  room,  ten  by  sixteen  feet, 
and  made  additions  as  business  demanded. 
He  was  the  architect  and  builder  of  many 
of  the  most  imposing  residences  of  Eliza- 
bethville. In  1888  he  took  in  C.  W.  Enders 
as  a  partner  and  formed  the  firm  of  Buffing- 


ton &  Enders,  under  which  name  the  busi- 
ness has  ever  since  been  carried  on.  They 
manufacture  flooring,  siding,  moulding, 
sash,  doors,  shutters  and  blinds ;  also  hard 
and  soft  wood  chamber  suites,  parlor  suites, 
lounges,  tables  and  chairs. 

Isaiah  T.  Buffington  was  married,  at 
Elizabethville,  September  1,  1872,  to  Miss 
Mary  Kemmerer,  a  native  of  Upper  Paxton 
townshij^  and  a  resident  of  Washington 
township.  Their  children  are  :  William  E., 
at  home,  graduate  of  a  commercial  college; 
Edward  F.,  died  an  infant ;  N'ellie  Pearl, 
Ray  K.,  George  C,  and  Lewis,  all  at  home ; 
and  Annie,  died  aged  five  years. 

Mr.  Bufhngton's  political  j^rinciples  are 
Republican.  He  has  served  on  the  school 
board  oi;  the  township  for  one  term,  and  was 
elected  burgess  for  the  first  year  of  the  bor- 
ough. Formerly  he  was  a  member  of  P.  0. 
S.  of  A.  and  of  tiie  I.  0.  0.  F.  Mr.  Bufhng- 
ton  is  president  of  the  Enterprise  Hosiery 
Company,  and  also  a  director  of  the  Ceme- 
tery Association.  He  belongs  to  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  is  a  trustee.  He 
has  acted  as  Sunday-school  superintend- 
ent for  eight  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Young  People's  Christian  Union  (United 
Brethren)  Church  Societj'.  Mr.  Buffington 
has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He 
began  with  only  strong  hands,  a  clear  head 
and  a  good  heart.  His  career  is  successful 
as  it  is  lionorable,  and  his  example  is  an  en- 
couragement and  an  inspiration  to  all  boys 
who  have  onl)'  themselves  to  depend  upon, 
for  it  shows  that  industry,  frugality,  wisdom 
and  virtue  are  sure  to  win. 


Swab,  Isaac,  foundryman,  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
October  5,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Sarah  (Heller)  Swab. 

Isaac  Swab  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  Berrysburg  Academ)^  which 
he  attended  for  two  years.  He  worked  on 
the  farm  early  in  life,  and  remained  at  home 
until  he  was  twenty -three.  He  came  to  Eliza- 
bethville in  1868,  and  was  for  some  time  em- 
ployed in  his  brother's  wagon  factory.  He 
then  opened  a  hardware  and  stove  store  in 
Elizabethville ;  after  eight  or  ten  years  in 
this  business  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Har- 
risburg,  where  he  took  a  contract  for  putting 
cars  together  in  the  railroad  shops.  He  was 
employed  in  the  same  manner  for  two  years 
at  Millerstown,  Pa.,  after  which  lie  returned 
to  Elizabethville  and  established  a  foundry, 


DAUFEIN  COUNTY. 


1107 


which  he  has  conducted  since  that  time.  He 
was  also  for  a  short  time  engaged  in  broom 
making.  His  knowledge  of  the  foundry 
business  was  derived  from  reading  and  from 
observation. 

Isaac  Swab  was  married,  in  Berr3'sburg, 
Pa.,  in  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah  Ellen  Messner,  a 
native  of  Washington  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  Their  children  are :  Harry  C, 
married  Mattie  Smith,  resides  at  Elizabeth- 
ville.  Pa.;  Arthur  A.,  left  home  at  fourteen 
years  of  age,  found  employment  with  Drake 
&  Stratton,  bridge  builders.  New  York  ;  was 
at  Johnstown,  Pa.,  repairing  bridges  two 
days  after  the  great  flood ;  was  married,  at 
Hanover.  Ohio,  to  Effie  Hawarth ;  Sallie  E., 
at  homo;  Katie  C,  died  aged  six  years; 
Warren  F.  and  Percy  A.,  at  home. 

Mr.  Swab  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  been 
school  director  for  nine  years,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent secretary  of  the  school  board.  He  has 
been  township  clerk  for  six  years.  He  was 
formerlj'  a  stockholder  in  the  Water  Com- 
pany and  is  now  a  member  of  the  town  coun- 
cil. He  is  also  secretary  of  the  Lutheran 
charge,  which  includes  all  the  Lutheran 
churches  in  the  Lykens  Valley.  Mr.  Swab 
is  intelligent  and  public  spirited,  genial  in 
disposition  and  agreeable  in  manners.  He  is 
higiily  esteemed  and  respected. 

Keiper,  Michael  R.,  superintendent  of 
water  works,  agent  of  Lykens  ^^alle\'  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  Elizabethville,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Washington  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  on  tlie  homestead,  one 
mile  west  of  Elizabethville,  October  5,  1839. 
He  is  a  son  of  .Jolm  and  Catherine  (Runk) 
Keiper.  His  grandiatiier,  .Jacob  Keiper, 
was  a  native  of  Reamstown,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  a  lifelong  resident  of  that  place. 
He  was  a  cooper.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Ech- 
ternacht.  Mr.  Keiper's  father  was  born  in 
Reamstown,  July  14,  1810.  He  died  in 
AVashington  township,  August  16,  1854. 
From  the  time  wlien  he  came  to  Dauphin 
county,  at  twenty  years  of  age,  he  was  a 
farmer.  During  his  earlier  life  he  iiad  been 
engaged  in  driving  cattle  to  eastern  markets. 
While  thus  emploj-ed,  and  on  a  trip  through 
Washington  township,  he  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Miss  Catherine  Runk,  who  after- 
wards became  his  wife;  She  was  born  June 
20,  1822,  and  died  March  24,  1845.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Keiper  was  for  many  years 
engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Elizabeth- 


ville. His  children  by  his  first  wife  are : 
Michael  R.;  John,  died  in  Pliiladelphia, 
July  4,  1887,  where  he  was  embloyed  in  a 
store ;  Catiierine,  widow  of  Samuel  Keiter, 
Elizabethville.  Mr.  Keiper's  second  wife 
was  Miss  Lucinda  Buffington,  who  survives 
him,  and  by  wiiom  he  had  but  one  child, 
William  Henry,  residing  at  Lykens,  Pa. 
Mr.  Keiper  always  took  a  prominent  part  in 
village  and  township  affairs.  He  was  orig- 
inally a  Whig,  and  subsequently  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party. 

Michael  R.  Keiper  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  place  and  of 
Middletown,  Pa.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
commenced  working  Good's  woolen  mill, 
near  Millersburg,  Pa.  He  was  employed 
liere  two  years,  during  which  time  he  learned 
different  branches  of  the  business.  But  he 
was  forced  to  seek  other  employment,  the 
mill  work  being  detrimental  to  his   health. 

Mr.  Keiper  rented  the  home  farm  and  be- 
gan tilling  the  soil.  After  several  years  he 
l)ought  the  homestead,  and  continued  farm- 
ing from  that  time,  1861,  until  1885,  when 
he  retired  from  the  farm  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  his  new  home  in  Elizabethville, 
which  he  built  in  1884.  After  removing  to 
Elizabethville  he  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business,  and  is  now  agent  for  the  Lykens 
Valley  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company. 
Mr.  Keiper  still  owns  the  home  farm  and 
several  other  good  farms.  He  has  for  many 
years  been  director  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Miller.sburg,  and  of  the  Miners' 
Deposit  Bank  of  Lykens. 

Mr.  Keiper  was  married,  in  Washington 
township,  February  14,  1801,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Etta  Sbecsle)'.  Their  children  are  :  John  A., 
a  United  Brethren  minister  at  Meyerstown, 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  graduate  in  theology 
of  Ursinus  College,  Montgomery  county. 
Pa.,  married  Gertrude  Barr;  Katie  S.,  mar- 
ried Albert  Romberger,  farmer,  Washington 
township,  has  two  children.  Earl  K.  and 
Roy  Arthur;  Annie  E.,  married  Frank 
Campbell,  Millersbui;g,  Pa.;  Laura  Etta,  un- 
married, at  home. 

Mr.  Keiper  is  a  Republican,  and  an  ac- 
tive worker  for  his  party.  He  served  three 
3'ears  as  school  director,  three  years  as  as- 
.sessor,  and  one  year  as  judge  of  elections. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church;  is  class  leader  of  class 
No.  1,  trustee  of  the  church,  and  president 
of  its  official  board.     He  was  for  twentv-five 


1108 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


consecutive  years  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school.  He  is  president  of  the 
United  Brethren  Campmeeting  Association. 

RoMBERCiER,  B.  W.,  president  of  the  Yok- 
ney  Cotton  Mills,  Water  Valley,  Miss.,  and 
retired  dry  goods  merchant  of  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  December  7,  1825.  He  is  a  son 
of  Baltliaser  and  Elizabeth  (Serry)  Romber- 
ger.  Balthaser  Roniberger  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pa.  After  his  marriage 
he  came  to  Dauphin  county,  and  settled  in 
Mifflin  township,  where  he  died  in  1838, 
aged  sixty.  His  wife  died  some  years  after, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  Their  children 
were :  Mary,  Mrs.  Matter,  died  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, aged  sixty-three  years ;  Catherine,  Mrs. 
Matter,  died  aged  fifty-eight;  Anna  M.,  de- 
ceased ;  George,  farmer  in  iMifflin  township; 
Daniel,  died  in  Mittlin  township  ;  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  J.  Hoy,  died  in  Mifflin  township ;  Susan, 
Mrs.  Broderer,  died  in  Mifflin  township ; 
Rebecca,  Mrs.  J.  Harner,  died  in  Mifflin 
township;  Hannah,  Mrs.  Jacob  Woodside, 
widow,  resides  in  Mifflin  township ;  Benja- 
min, whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume,  lives  retired  at  Berrysburg,  Pa.; 
David,  deceased,  farmer,  Mifflin  township  ; 
and  B.  W. 

B.  W.  Romberger  liad  onh'  the  slendei' 
opportunities  for  education  afforded  bj'  sub- 
scription schools,  open  for  a  few  months  of 
each  year.  When  he  was  in  his  fourteenth 
year  his  father  died,  and  while  the  family 
were  not  left  destitute,  yet  they  were  by  no 
means  rich  in  this  world's  goods,  and  the 
boy  did  not  wish  to  remain  a  burden  to  his 
mother.  Being  active  and  ambitious,  he 
determined  to  start  out  in  the  world  on  his 
own  account,  and  to  demonstrate  that  even 
at  his  early  age  he  could  provide  for  him- 
self. He  first  hired  as  a  iarm  hand  for  one 
year  at  $3  per  month,  to  a  man  who  proved 
to  be  a  iiard  task  master,  requiring  him  to 
work  from  sunrise  until  late  at  night,  and 
.  expecting  of  him  in  t^e  fields  the  work  of 
an  able-bodied  man,  scarcely  allowing  him 
time  to  eat  his  dinner,  but  compelling  him 
to  do  chores  about  the  barn  while  the  men 
were  enjoying  their  hour  of  rest  at  noon. 
He  did  not  like  to  leave  his  place,  for  fear  of 
being  called  lazy,  and  patiently  worked 
through  the  year.  With  money  saved  from 
his  earnings  he  bought  the  first  suit  of  new 
clothes  he  ever  wore.  At  the  end  of  this 
year  he  found  employment  for  six  months 


with  another  farmer,  who  gave  him  |5  per 
month.  At  the  expiration  of  this  engage- 
ment he  began  an  apprenticeship)  to  a  car- 
penter in  Upper  Paxton  township,  with 
whom  he  served  three  years,  afterwards  re- 
ceiving regular  journeyman's  wages  for  the 
time  he  remained  in  his  employ. 

In  1848  he  went  to  Illinois  and  remained 
six  months,  during  which  time  Mr.  Rom- 
berger worked  only  one  month,  and  was  at 
ex|)ense  both  for  himself  and  for  his  com- 
panion, which  nearly  exhausted  his  money. 
They  changed  their  plans  and  returned, 
reacljing  home  with  just  $50  remaining  of 
the  $80U  with  which  he  started.  He  soon 
after  assumed  a  position  as  clerk  in  the  gen- 
eral store  of  his  brother-in-law,  at  Berrys- 
burg, Pa.;  he  was  for  five  j^ears  engaged  in 
this  occupation  in  several  places,  during  the 
winter  nronths  working  at  his  trade  in  the 
summer,  excepting  one  month  in  each  sea- 
son, when  he  was  engaged  as  a  harvest  hand. 

In  1852  or  1853  Mr.  Romljcrger  went  to 
Philadelphia  to  acquire  a  good  mercantile 
training,  with  a  view  of  establisiiing  himself 
in  a  general  store  in  some  country  place.  He 
little  thought  at  that  time  of  becoming  a 
prominent  dry  goods  merchant  in  that  great 
city.  Pie  at  once  applied  to  the  large  whole- 
sale dry  goods  firm  M'hich  of  late  is  known 
as  the  Jacob  Riegel  Company,  and  met  with 
a  cordial  reception.  He  stated  his  desire  of 
getting  a  position  as  salesman  frankly  and 
fully  informing  them  of  his  slender  experi- 
ence in  the  business,  and  asking  for  a 
month's  trial,  agreeing,  if  .successful,  to  re- 
ceive pay  according  to  the  value  of  his  ser- 
vices, but  if  after  trial  he  should  prove  not 
to  be  adapted  to  the  business,  he  would  ask 
no  wages.  They  were  pleased  with  his 
honest  frankness,  and  consented  to  the  trial. 
It  was  extended  to  four  months,  and  proved 
satisfactory  to  both  parties.  Mr.  Romberger 
agreed  to  remain,  and  continued  with  the 
firm  for  ten  years,  his  salary  being  advanced 
from  time  to  time  from  $600  to  $5,000  per 
annum.  He  sold  as  high  as  $410,000  worth 
of  goods  in  one  year,  and  after  deducting  his 
salary  his  sales  cleared  $62,000  for  the  firm. 
At  the  end  of  ten  years  he  united  with  Mr. 
Cunningham  in  forming  the  dry  goods  firm 
of  Romberger,  Cunningham  &  Co.,  which 
continued  in  business  two  years,  and  was 
then  changed  to  Romberger,  Long  &  Co., 
which  continued  until  1887,  when  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health  Mr.  Romberger  sold 
his  interest  in  the  business  to  Mr.  Long. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1109 


During  this  time  Mr.  Romberger  and  his 
brother-in-law,  D.  R.  Wagner,  formed  what 
is  known  as  the  Yokne}'  Cotton  Mills  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  became  president.  They 
built  a  large  factory  at  Water  Valley,  Miss., 
and  equipped  it  with  the  latest  and  most 
improved  machinery.  It  gives  employment 
to  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  hands ;  the 
president's  son,  Charles  Romberger,  is  an 
efficient  and  capable  superintendent  of  the 
business. 

Mr.  Romberger  was  married,  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  July  10,  1856,  to  Miss  Helena 
Wagner,  a  native  of  Snyder  county.  Pa., 
whore  she  lived  until  she  was  twelve  or 
fourteen  years  of  age  when  she  removed 
with  her  parents  to  Philadelphia.  Prior  to 
this  Mr.  Romberger  had  married  a  Miss 
Sarah  Orendorff,  who  lived  but  two  years 
after  marriage,  and  by  whom  he  had  one 
child,  Henry  M.,  residing  at  Winona,  Miss., 
cashier  of  Winona  Bank,  married  to  Flor- 
ence Smith.  There  have  been  two  children 
of  the  second  marriage :  (Jlara  Louisa,  wife 
of  Johnson  Alter,  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
eight,  leaving  one  child  ;  and  Charles  PI, 
superintendent  of  cotton  mills.  Water  Valley, 
Miss.,  married  Miss  Smith.  Mr.  Romberger's 
politics  are  Democratic.  For  fifty-five  years 
he  has  been  an  energetic,  progressive  and 
highly  esteemed  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Mr.  Romberger  spends  most  of  his  winters 
at  Water  ^'alley,  Aliss.  Hisliouse  in  Wash- 
ington township  is  situated  in  a  beautiful 
spot,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  is 
truly  baronial  in  its  proportions  and  ap- 
pointment.?. It  is  lavishly  supplied  with 
all  the  modern  conveniences  which  contriljute 
to  comfort  and  to  luxury.  Mr.  Romberger 
has  indulged  his  cultured  literary  taste  es- 
pecially in  the  furnishing  of  his  library, 
which  is  a  spacious  room  stored  with  selected 
l)0oks  in  every  department  of  literature, 
science  and  art.  It  is  an  agreeable  surprise 
to  find  so  beautiful,  luxurious  and  tasteful  a 
dwelling  in  rural  surroundings.  The  farm 
on  which  it  stands  contains  five  hundred  and 
seventeen  acres,  and  is  one  of  the  best  in  the 
State.  Mr.  Romberger  in  his  personality  is 
attractive  and  agreeable.  He  is  affable  and 
courteous  in  manner,  and  always  genial  and 
hospitable.  His  appearance  proclaims  him 
to  be  just  what  he  really  is,  a  man  of  dis- 
tinguished business  ability  and  refined  and 
cultured  tastes. 


Ernest,  George,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Madison  township.  Perry  county.  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1830.  He  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Catherine  (Ernest)  Ernest. 

The  Ernest  ancestors  came  from  Ger- 
many. They  were  connected  with  the 
Houise  of  Hanover,  who  were  in  full  power 
previous  to  the  Reformation.  Henry  Ernest, 
grandfather  of  George  Ernest,  was  a  native 
of  Berks  county,  where  he  was  reared  and 
married,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  removed  with  his  family  to 
Perry  county,  and  died  on  the  homestead  in 
Madison  township  in  1838,  his  wife  having 
preceded  him  to  the  grave.  Their  children 
were:  George;  David;  Daniel;  Elizabeth, 
who  was  Mrs.  Runsmith,  decensed ;  and 
Catherine,  Mrs.  Dysinger. 

Daniel  Ernest,  father  of  George,  was  born 
in  Berks  county,  September  17,  1796.  He 
was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  remained  on 
the  farm  until  he  was  a  young  man.  At 
that  time  the  family  removed  to  Perry 
county,  where  he  continued  farming  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  May  15,  1885. 
His  wife  died  December  22,  1873.  Daniel 
Ernest  was  a  prominent  man,  taking  an 
active  part  in  township  affairs,  and  filling 
various  township  offices.  Their  children 
are:  John,  a  coojier,  resides  in  Peoria,  111., 
is  active  in  city  affairs,  was  sheriff;  Samuel, 
farmer.  Perry  coimty,  lives  on  part  of  the 
homestead  in  Madison  township;  George; 
Sarah,  died  .some  years  ago,  unmarried; 
Henry,  resides  at  Cisna  Run,  Perry  county. 
Pa.;  Jane  A.,  deceased,  unmarried;  Mary, 
deceased,  unmarried  ;  Daniel,  retired  farmer, 
E.shcol,  Perry  county ;  David,  died  in  Perry 
county,  Jutie  4,  1876. 

Mr.  George  Ernest  attended  .subscription 
schools  and  finished  his  education  in  the 
public  schools,  which  he  attended  in  the 
winter  of  each  year.  He  remained  on  the 
farm  until  be  was  twenty-five,  when  he  went 
West,  in  1855  or  '56,  in  search  of  business 
opportunities.  There  were  more  boys  at 
home  than  were  needed  for  the  farm  work, 
so  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  worked  among  the 
farmers  near  Fostoria  for  one  year.  He  then 
went  to  Illinois  to  .see  a  brother.  After  a 
short  visit  he  hired  himself  to  a  farmer  west 
of  Peoria,  111.,  for  a  year,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  returned  home.  He  had  saved  about 
$100,  but  in  those  times  the  currencj^  of  one 
State  was  not  good  in  another.  After  his 
return  George  engaged  in  building  post  and 


1110 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


rail  fences  in  Perr}^  county,  and  continued 
there  three  summers,  but  was  unemploj'ed  in 
the  winter.  He  and  his  companions  were 
planning  for  something  by  which  they  could 
make  money  faster  and  more  easily,  and  de- 
cided to  open  a  general  store  at  Anderson- 
burg,  Perry  county,  which  they  conducted 
successfully  for  four  or  five  years.  Mr.  Ern- 
est then  sold  his  interest  to  his  partners  and 
went  to  Missouri.  He  there  made  collections 
for  his  father,  who  had  loaned  certain  sums 
to  a  man  whom  Mr.  Ernest  hunted  up.  Hav- 
ing successfully  transacted  this  Imsiness  and 
returned  he  remained  around  home  for  about 
a  year. 

After  his  marriage  he  opened  a  general 
store  in  Green  Park  and  conducted  it  for 
about  eighteen  months.  He  then  removed 
his  stock  to  Cisna  Run  (then  Cedar  Run), 
Perry  county,  and  carried  on  business  there 
for  aljout  a  year  and  a  half.  He  then  sold 
out  to  his  brother  David  and  located  in  Eliza- 
bethville,  purchasing  the  store  of  Simon 
Bickel.  He  remained  there  from  1870  to 
1885,  during  eleven  years  of  which  time  he 
had  charge  of  the  Inisiness.  From  1885  to 
1888  Mr.  Erne.st  remained  in  Elizaljethville, 
without  any  business  occupation.  In  1888 
he  removed  to  Centre  county,  Pa.,  where  for 
one  year  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness. After  this  he  located  on  his  present 
place  of  forty-five  acres  in  Washington  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  to  which  he  added 
twenty  acres,  and  is  devoting  Ids  whole  at- 
tention to  raising  poultry  and  fruit. 

George  Ernest  was  married.  May  30, 18()G, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bealor,  born  September  C, 
1839,  at  New  Bloomfield,  Perry  county ;  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Margaret  (Smith) 
Bealor.  Their  children  are:  Charles  David, 
deceased,  born  January  17,  18(j8 ;  William 
D.,  born  at  Elizabeth ville,  December  28, 
1870,  taught  school  in  Dauphin  county  two 
years,  then  took  a  course  in  shorthanil  at 
Chicago,  and  then  took  a  position  as  cashier 
of  a  life  insurance  company  at  C!hicago.  Six 
months  after  he  began  a  service  under  the 
United  States  lighthouse  inspector,  which 
lasted  for  a  year  and  a  half.  In  the  follow- 
ing June  Mr.  Ernest  entered  Pennsylvania 
College,  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  It  was  liis  intention  to  take  a 
theological  course  and  enter  the  ministrj^, 
bvrt  his  throat  would  not  stand  the  strain 
of  public  speaking.  While  in  Chicago  he 
attended  the  course  of  lectures  of  the  Moody 
Bible    Association.      He    has    now   turned 


his  whole  attention  to  the  work  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and 
has  been  engaged  in  the  Railroad  Branch, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  is  at  present  general 
secretary  and  physical  director  of  the  Mt. 
Carrael,  Pa.,  Association.  Harry  B.,  born 
Augu.st  8,  1873,  at  Elizabethville,  Pa.,  where 
he  atteniled  school,  after  which  he  taught 
for  two  winters  in  Washington  township. 
In  the  fall  of  1895  he  entered  Pennsylvania 
College,  and  is  taking  a  classical  course, 
whicia  he  will  complete  in  1900,  when  lie 
hopes  to  enter  the  ministry. 

Mr.  Ernest  is  a  Republican  and  is  decided 
in  his  views.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  Mrs.  Ernest  belongs 
to  the  Reformed  church.  Mr.  Ernest  began 
as  a  poor  boy,  has  made  his  way  without  as- 
sistance, and  is  now  among  the  prominent 
and  honored  men  of  the  communitv. 


Frank,  William  D.,  shoe  dealer,  Eliza- 
bethville, Pa.,  was  born  in  Halifax  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  February  20,  1860. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Susan  (Miller)  Frank. 
David  Frank,  his  grandfather,  was  a  farmer, 
and  at  one  time  owned  two  farms  in  Jack- 
son township,  and  one  in  Halifax  township. 
He  was  prominent  and  highly  respected  ;  he 
died  in  Jackson  township. 

John  Frank,  father  of  William  D.,  was 
V)orn  in  Armstrong  Valley,  Dauphin  county. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
reared  on  tiie  farm,  and  made  farming  his 
life  occupation.  He  died  in  Halifax  town- 
ship, in  1874.  His  wife,  Susan  Miller,  sur- 
vives hhn,  and  resides  with  her  son,  William 
D.  Frank.  Their  children  are  :  William  D.; 
Margaret  Ellen,  died  in  her  third  year ; 
Emma  J.,  has  been  twice  married  ;  her  first 
husband  was  John  W.  S[)eck,  deceased  ;  her 
second  is  Aaron  J.  Bressler,  Elizabethville, 
Pa.;  Mary  C,  wife  of  David  M.  Stone,  high 
school  teacher  at  Williamstown,  Pa.;  John 
A.,  bookkeeper  for  Alley  Bros.,  Curwensville, 
Clearfield  county,  l*a.,  married  Miss  Livia 
Edgbert,  of  Curwensville,  Clearfield  county. 
Pa. 

William  D.  Frank  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  i)lace,  which  he 
attended  in  tlie  winter.  In  summer  he  was 
engaged  in  farm  work.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  and  from 
that  time  he  supported  himself.  He  hired 
out  among  farmers  at  small  wages,  from 
which,  by  rigid  self-denial  and  strict  econ- 
omy, he   managed  to  save  a   little   money. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1111 


He  worked  four  years  as  a  farm  hand.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  became  apprentice  to 
a  shoemaker,  Josej^h  Snyder,  in  Jackson 
township,  whom  lie  served  two  years,  receiv- 
ing no  wages.  He  then  started  out  for  him- 
self, and  in  1880  opened  a  small  repair  shop 
in  Elizabelhville.  He  prospered  so  well, 
that  after  two  years'  work  he  was  able  to 
buy  a  building  lot,  and  to  erect  a  dwelling 
house  and  the  store  which  he  now  occupies. 
He  put  in  a  full  line  of  shoes,  and  from  time 
to  time  increased  his  stock,  as  the  growth  of 
his  trade  made  it  necessary  ;  he  now  enjoys 
a  large  and  })rofitabIe  business. 

William  l3.  Frank  was  married,  in  Eliza- 
beth ville,  Pa.,  January  22, 1882,  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  Koppenlu'ffer,  a  native  of  Washington 
townshiji.  They  have  had  four  children  : 
Charles  H.,  borii  June  27,  1886 ;  two  that 
died  in  infancy;  and  a  son,  born  May  3, 
18!)0,  yet  unnamed. 

Mr.  Frank  is  an  earnest  worker  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was 
elected  to  the  borough  council  in  1895 ; 
when  the  town  became  a  borough  he  served 
as  school  director,  and  Avas  largely  instru- 
mental in  making  improvements  in  the 
schools  and  school  buildings.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  church,  of  which  he  is 
a  trustee.  He  has  been  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Sunday-school  for  six  years. 

Mr.  Frank  is  active  and  energetic  in  busi- 
ness, intelligent  and  progressive  in  his  views, 
unselfi.sh  and  public  spirited.  He  is  promi- 
nent in  usefulness,  and  in  social  intercourse  is 
always  genial. 


Swab,  Eli,  was  born  in  Mifflin  township 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  October  7,  1824. 

The  first  ancestor  in  the  line  of  his  family 
to  come  to  America  was  his  great-grand- 
father, John  Schwab,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Germany,  where  he  learned  his 
trade  of  linen  weaving  and  was  married. 
At  the  age  of  thirty  or  thirty -five  he  came 
with  his  wife  and  children  to  this  country, 
about  1735,  and  for  a  time  settled  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
linen.  From  Philadelphia  he  went  to  Read- 
ing, and  finding  the  lots  were  selling  by  lot- 
tery, he  procured  two  of  the  principal  ones 
and  traded  them  for  farming  land  in  Berks 
county,  at  a  place  afterwards  called  Shupert's 
Mills.  Here  he  engaged  in  farming,  also 
working  at  his  trade.  He  took  part  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  was  noted  for  his 
equestrian  feats,  one  of  these  being  riding  at 


a  furious  pace  and  leaning  from  his  horse 
to  pick  up  a  hat  from  the  ground.  He  died 
on  his  Berks  county  farm. 

John  Jacob  Swab,  grandfather  of  Eli 
Swab,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  about  1763, 
and  reared  on  the  farm  in  Berks  county. 
He  was  married  there  about  1788  or  1789,  to 
Miss  Mary  Hetzcl.  Their  children  wei'e : 
Catherine,  wife  of  Philip  Brown,  lived  in 
Williams  Valley,  had  seven  children,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters ;  Jacob,  father  of 
Eli  Swab ;  Julia  Ann,  married  Christian 
Matter,  removed  to  Jefferson  county,  Pa., 
reared  a  family  and  died  there ;  John,  born 
in  Berks  county  and  reared  in  Daupliin 
county ;  William,  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
married  and  settled  in  Washington  town- 
ship, where  he  died;  Daniel,  born  and 
reared  in  Dauphin  county,  married  Katie 
Koppenheffer,  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he 
died  ;  Susanna,  married  Jacob  Herman,  set- 
tled in  Berrysburg,  Dauphin  county,  and 
died  there  ;  CTCOi-ge,  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
married  and  died  in  Washington  township, 
aged  eighty-six  years ;  Elizabeth,  married 
David  Bitterman,  died  in  Mifflin  township. 
The  grandfather  settled  in  Mifflin,  now 
AVashingtou  township,  where  he  died  in 
1819,  aged  fifty-six  years. 

Jacob  Swab,  father  of  Eli,  was  born  in 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  October  7,  1791,  and  in 
his  ninth  year  came  with  his  parents  to 
Dauphin  county,  where  he  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  and  practically  learned  the  art  of 
weaving  linen  from  his  father.  He  assisted 
the  father  in  clearing  the  land  and  making 
the  home.  He  was  married,  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, to  Catherine  Metz,  daughter  of  Sebas- 
tian Metz.  He  succeeded  to  part  of  the 
homestead  farm,  and  lived  on  the  place 
which  his  son  Eli  Swab  now  owns.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  Febru- 
ury  14,  1866,  aged  sixty-four  years.  His 
wife  died  in  1854.  Their  children  are:  Dan- 
iel, farmer,  died  in  Washington  township  ; 
Sarah,  married  Simon  Matter,  reared  a  fam- 
ily and  died  in  Washington  township ;  Cathe- 
rine, married  John  Wagner,  Pottsville,  Pa., 
reared  a  family  ;  Jacob,  married  and  retired, 
Elizabeth  ville.  Pa.;  Eli;  Simon,  blacksmith, 
married,  reared  a  familj'  and  died  in  Wash- 
ington township;  Mary,  married  David 
Romberger,  reared  a  family,  is  living  in 
Mifflin  township.  Mr.  Swab  was  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Eli  Swab  had  slender  opportunities  for  ac- 
quiring  an    education.     He   attended   sub- 


1112 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


scription  schools  and  grew  up  on  the  farm, 
assisting  his  father  with  the  Avork  until  he 
was  seventeen  years  old.  He  then  learned 
tanning,  at  which  he  worked  more  or  less 
steadily  for  ten  years,  but  finally  made  farm- 
ing his  chief  occupation.  In  1854  he  took 
charge  of  the  home  farm  and  cultivated  it 
until  1876,  wiien  he  came  into  possession  of 
it  by  paying  $91  an  acre ;  one  hundred  and 
six  acres  constituted  the  farm,  at  an  allow- 
ance of  six  per  cent. 

Eli  Swab  was  married,  in  Washington 
township,  in  1844,  to  Miss  Nellie,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  Cooper,  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington township.  Their  children  are :  Al- 
len, born  March  17,  1845,  a  farmer,  now  en- 
gaged in  the  tanning  business,  married  Eliza 
Lehman;  Philip  (J.,  born  September  10, 
1847,  married  Catherine  Koppcnheffer,  for- 
merly merchant  at  Williamstown,  recorder 
of  deeds  at  Harrisburg,  and  now  a  coal  mer- 
chant at  Hartranft,  Tenn.;  Hannah,  born 
November  15, 1851,  unmarried  ;  Aaron,  born 
February  11,  1854,  died  young;  Amanda, 
born  in  1857,  married  Daniel  Brower, 
resides  in  Northumberland  county.  Pa.; 
Isaiah,  born  September  25,  ISOl,  farmer  in 
Washington  township,  married  Ida  Kawell ; 
Mary,  born  September  24, 1864,  married  Oli- 
ver Shanlz  and  resides  in  Lehigh  county ; 
George,  born  October  21,  1869,  conveyancer, 
married  Frances  A.  Auldhouse,  resides  in 
Harrisburg. 

Mr.  Swab  owns  three  farms  adjoining  each 
other,  one  of  one  hundred  and  six  acres,  one 
of  one  hundred  acres  and  one  of  eighty 
acres  ;  also  two  tracts  of  wood  land,  in  pol- 
itics he  is  a  Republican,  and  was  elected 
county  commissioner  in  1873  and  served  two 
terms.  He  is  active  and  prominent  in  church 
affairs  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  he  has  held  important  of- 
fices. Mr.  Swab  is  one  of  the  best,  known 
men  in  the  community,  and  is  highly  hon- 
ored and  esteemed. 

The  family  name  was  formerly  spelled 
Schwab,  but  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Eli  Swab's 
grandfather  it  was  incorrectly  written  in  cer- 
tain legal  documents  as  Swab,  and  the  fam- 
ily finally  adopted  that  spelling. 


Mattis,  Charles  T.,  farmer  and  miller, 
was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  April  21,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of 
Isaac  and  Sally  (Troutman)  Mattis.  John 
Mattis,  his  grandfather,  was  the  sou  of  Chris- 


tian Mattis,  who  had  one  brother  that  died. 
John  Mattis  was  born  in  Limerick  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated  and  became  a  farmer. 
He  served  during  the  war  of  1812.  His 
first  wife  was  Katy  Swenk,  who  died  1816. 
Their  children  were :  Daniel,  a  plasterer, 
died  in  Montgomery  county  ;  Aaron,  died 
in  Mifflin  township,  a  sketch  of  his  life  ap- 
pears in  connection  witli  tiiat  of  Abram 
Mattis,  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  Mary, 
married  John  T.  Miller,  both  died  in  Mont- 
gomery county ;  Christian  and  Susan  died 
in  girlhood.  Mr.  ]\Iattis  was  again  mar- 
ried to  Katy  Barley,  widow  of  a  Mr.  Ren- 
hardt.  She  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-three. 
The  children  of  this  marriage  are  :  Hannah, 
married  Jacob  Bartley,  both  died  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.;  Sarah,  died  in  Montgomery 
county,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Jones;  John  B.,  died 
in  Tower  City,  Pa.;  Kitty,  married  and  re- 
sides in  Kansas.  Mr.  Mattis  died  in  Lim- 
erick township,  Montgomery  county,  about 
1833,  aged  fifty-six. 

Isaac  Mattis,  father  of  Charles  T.,  was 
born  in  Limerick  township,  Montgomery 
county,  Pa.,  July  28,  1814.  lie  attended  the 
subscription  schools  of  his  native  township 
a  part  of  each  year  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  old,  when  his  father  died.  After  that 
he  attended  a  school  taught  by  George  Gross 
for  one  term.  He  worked  out  among  the 
farmers,  receiving  $6  per  month  for  his  ser- 
vices. At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  became 
apprentice  to  a  plasterer,  and  served  two 
years,  when,  being  dissatisfied  with  his 
earnings,  he  droj)ped  that  trade,  and  drove 
a  huckster  team  to  Phihidelpliia.  He  made 
and  saved  a  little  money  in  this  business, 
and  was  enabled  to  start  for  himself.  He 
then  came  to  Dauphin  county  with  his 
brotlier  Aaron,  and  for  two  years  drove  a 
huckster  wagon  to  Pottsville,  after  wliich  he 
bought  a  tavern  of  John  Saltzer,  which  he 
owned  and  managed  for  thirteen  years  very 
successfully.  During  this  time  he  was  also 
engaged  in  the  cattle  trade,  buying  and 
driving  to  Montgomery  count3^  At  the 
end  of  thirteen  years  Mr.  Mattis  sold  the 
tavern  and  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  and  a  grist  mill,  and  worked  both 
farm  and  mill.  He  hired  a  miller  until  his 
son  had  learned  the  business  and  was  fully 
competent  to  manage  the  mill,  the  young 
man  being  then  nineteen  years  old.  In 
1883  Mr.  Mattis  retired  from  business  and 
removed  to  Elizabethville,  where,  in  1882, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1113 


he  had  built  the  residence  wliich  lie  now  oc- 
cupies. 

Isaac  Mattis  was  married,  in  Mahantango, 
Pa.,  in  December,  1842,  to  Miss  Sallic,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Troutman.  Their  children  are: 
Charles  T.,  miller  ;  Mary  Jane,  deceased,  wife 
of  Henry  Schretiler ;  Ellen,  wife  of  Jonas 
Swab,  Elizabethville ;  John,  farmer;  Alice, 
wife  of  William  Deibler,  Berrysburg,  Pa.; 
Etta  and  Katie,  at  home.  Mr.  Mattis  is  Dem- 
ocratic in  his  }(olitical  principles.  He  has 
served  as  school  director  and  in  other  offices. 
His  church  membership  is  in  the  Lutheran 
denomination. 

Charles  T.  Mattis  was  in  the  common 
scliools  until  he  was  eight  years  old,  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Washington  town- 
ship, where  his  education  was  comjaleted. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  had  learned  the 
business  of  a  miller  with  John  Klinger,  who 
was  in  charge  of  his  father's  mill.  His  father 
then  installed  Charles  as  head  miller  and 
put  that  branch  of  the  business  under  his 
management ;  he  has  ever  since  continued 
in  charge  of  the  mill.  He  also  owns  good 
farming  lands  in  Washington  and  MifHin 
townships,  and  is  much  interested  in  agri- 
cultural matters. 

Charles  T.  Mattis  was  first  married,  De- 
cember 11,  1869,  to  Miss  Mary  Magdalena, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Romberger.  They 
had  three  children  :  Sally  A.;  Carrie  E.,  de- 
ceased ;  and  a  boy,  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Mary  Magdalena  Mattis  died  October  3, 
1877.  Mr.  Mattis  was  again  married,  No- 
vember 24,  1878,  to  Miss  Mary  Jane,  daugh- 
ter of  Simon  Sheetz.  They  have  six  chil- 
dren :  Dora  Day,  born  November  23,  1879, 
at  home;  Charles  Warren, born  January  20, 
1882,  at  home  ;  Isaac  Blair,  born  December 
22,  1886;  Mary,  born  January  8,  1889; 
Annie  M.  and  Ella  Marie,  twins,  born  Au- 
gust 28,  1895. 

Mr.  Mattis  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  served 
for  many  years  as  school  director,  and  also 
as  auditor  many  years,  and  as  judge  of  elec- 
tions. He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  he  has  been  deacon  and 
elder  for  many  years,  and  is  assistant  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  He  is  an 
upright  man,  honorable  in  all  business  rela- 
tions, and  genial  and  agreeable  in  social  in- 
tercourse. 


BoYER,  JosiAH,  farmer,  Washington  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Berks  count}',  Pa.,  Decem- 
ber 22,  1832 ;  son  of  Peter  and  Christiana 


(Harp)  Boyer.  Peter  Boyer  was  also  born  in 
Berks  county,  where  he  was  reared  and  mar- 
ried. He  learned  the  mason's  trade,  which 
was  his  occupation  for  the  greater  part  of  his 
life.  About  1834  he  removed  with  his  wife 
and  family  to  Northumberland  county.  Pa., 
wliere  he  became  possessed  of  a  large  tract  of 
farming  land  containing  over  four  hundred 
acres.  He  also  owned  land  in  Perry  county. 
In  or  about  1842  he  removed  to  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  and  settled  in  Washington  town- 
ship, where  he  died  in  1852.  His  wife,  Chris- 
tiana Harp,  died  at  the  home  of  her  son 
Josiah,  in  1875.  Their  children  are:  Benja- 
min, deceased  ;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Kauffman,  de- 
ceased; Eli,  deceased;  Isaac,  farmer  and 
miller,  Uniontown,  Pa.;  Rachael,  Mrs.  Elias 
Buffington,  Gratz,  Pa.;  Abraham,  Hettie, 
Gabriel,  and  Catherine,  all  deceased ;  Josiah 
and  Bonneville,  twins,  the  latter  a  farmer  in 
Washington  township ;  John,  farmer,  and 
Leah. 

Josiah  Boyer  was  two  years  old  wbenhis  par- 
ents removed   to  Mahanoy  township,  North- 
umberland county.  Pa.    He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Georgetown  until  he  was  ten 
years  old,  when  his  parents  removed  to  Wash- 
ington township,  Dauphin  county,  where  he 
grew  up  on  the  farm.    He  naturally  became  a 
farmer,  and  has  spent  his  life  in  agricultural 
pursuits.      Josiah    Boyer    was    married    in 
Washington  township,   August  7,   1856,  to 
Miss  Ann  Jane  Ginder.      Their  children  are: 
David   Adam    Alfred,    merchant,  at  Tower 
City,  Schuylkill   county.  Pa.;  Malinda,  Mrs. 
Robert  Lenker,  Washington   township,  and 
John  C,  studying  medicine  in  Philadelphia. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Boyer  took   up  his 
residence  on  the  farm,  where  he  still  has  his 
home.      It   consisted    of  one  hundred    and 
forty  acres  of  land,  with  a  good  dwelling, 
barns,  and   all    other   improvements.     The 
land  was  not  good  at  first,  yielding  only  two 
and  a  half  bushels  of  wheat  the  first  season, 
but  industrious  and  skillful  tillage  has  made 
it   equal    to   any   land   in  the  region.     Mr. 
Boyer,    although    decided     in    his   political 
views,    which    are   Democratic,    has    never 
sought  office.     He  is  strongly  in  favor  of  jn'o- 
hibitory  legislation.    He  served  as  supervisor 
for  two  years.     He  holds  membership  in  the 
Reformed    church.     Mr.    Boyer    is    always 
read}^  for  a  social  chat.     He  is  a  clever  and 
entertaining  talker,  good  natured  and  jolly. 
He  is  widely  known  and  is  honored  and  es- 
teemed   for   his  sterling    worth    and    many 
virtues. 


1114 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Zerbe,  Jonathan,  hotel  keeper,  Loyal- 
ton,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lower  Mahanoy  town- 
ship, Nortliumljurland  county.  Pa.,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1857.  His  fother,  George  Zerbe, 
was  born  in  Northumberland  county,  edu- 
cated in  the  common  scliools,  and  reared  a 
farmer.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion 
he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  After  his  dis- 
charge he  located  on  a  farm  in  Lower 
Mahanoy  townsiiip,  where  he  died  in  1875. 
Ili.s  children  are:  William  D.;  Ellen,  widow 
of  William  Alleman  ;  Jonathan  ;  and  Susan, 
Mrs.  John  Meek,  Williamstown,  Pa. 

Jonathan  Zerbe  attended  school  during  the 
winter  months  from  the  age  of  six  years  until 
he  was  fifteen.  In  the  summer  he  worked 
out,  either  among  the  farmers  or  in  the 
mines.  He  was  sixteen  when  his  mother 
died,  in  1873,  and  he  was  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources.  He  was  employed  nearly 
five  years  as  a  farm  hand  by  A.  D.  Lentz, 
and  then,  in  March,  1878,  went  to  Kansas, 
having  saved  during  that  time  a  small 
amount  of  money.  After  working  as  a 
farm  hand  for  nine  months  he  returned  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  worked  for  D.  0.  Bower, 
Union  county.  Then  he  came  to  his  old 
home  and  was  married,  after  which  impor- 
tant event  he  resided  for  twelve  years  in 
Tower  City,  Pa.,  engaged  in  mining  coal. 
Receiving  good  wages,  and  working  on  con- 
tract besides,  he  was  enabled  to  accumulate 
some  money.  In  February,  1892,  he  en- 
gaged with  his  brother-in-law,  Jacob  Mess- 
ner,  in  the  hotel  business  in  Loyalton, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.  This  business  he  still 
carries  on. 

Jonathan  Zerbe  was  married,  October  28, 
1879,  to  Mi.ss  Julia,  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Mary  (Dockey)  Mes.sner,  born  in  Northum- 
berland county.  Their  children  are:  Harry 
A.,  died  in  infancy ;  Mary  A.,  nine  years 
old  ;  Lottie  Maj'^,  five  years  old  ;  and  Walter 
Scott,  one  year  old. 

Mr.  Zerbe  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  owes  his 
success  solely  to  his  own  ability  and  perse- 
vering efforts.  He  is  of  genial  disposition, 
and  liked  by  all  who  know  him. 

The  following  is  self-explanatory  : 

"  Jonathan  Zerbe  came  to  work  for  me 
while  still  a  boy  and  remained  with  me  for 
nearly  five  years.  His  parents  were  both 
dead  when  he  came  to  me,  so  that  he  had 
really  no  one  to  exercise  authority  over  him. 
His  conduct  gave  evidence  of  the  right  kind 


of  early  training.  He  was  by  far  the  best 
farm  hand  I  ever  had  in  my  employ,  always 
willing  to  work,  and  hard  toil  proving  no 
obstacle  to  him.  He  was  clever,  so  that  no 
matter  what  was  being  done  he  could  do  his 
share.  I  cannot  praise  him  too  highly  as  a 
workingman.  But,  above  all,  he  was  per- 
fectly honest.  I  attended  market  in  the  coal 
regions  while  Mr.  Zerbe  was  in  my  employ', 
and  bought  up  a  great  deal  of  produce.  I 
did  not  need  to  hesitate  to  send  young  Zerbe 
out  on  the  road  in  my  place,  nor  to  send 
any  amount  of  money  witli  him.  Fre- 
quently I  did  send  large  amounts  with  him 
and  he  never  cheated  me  out  of  a  single 
penny.  One  day  I  lost  my  purse  containing 
over  eight  hundred  dollars,  which  young 
Zerbe  found  and  returned  to  me,  when  he 
could  easily  have  kept  the  whole  amount. 
As  an  honest,  upright  man  I  commend  him 
most  cordially,  and  know  him  to  be  a  good, 
careful  and  conscientious  employee.  1  can 
say  that  I  raised  him  and  had  iiim  under 
my  care  during  a  time  when  young  men  are 
apt  to  become  bad  and  vicious.  He  always 
respected  my  advice  as  if  it  were  from  his 
own  father,  and  now  oftentimes  he  has 
words  of  gratitude  for  what  I  did  for  him 
when  he  was  almost  without  resources  of  any 
kind.  And  I  in  turn  am  thankful  for  what 
he  did  for  me."  A.  D.  Lentz. 


Enders,  Charles  W.,  was  born  in  Jackson 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  December 
12,  1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Leah 
(Etter)  Enders.  diaries  W.  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  township. 
He  began  work  with  his  father  on  the  farm 
in  his  early  boyhood,  and  was  thus  engaged 
until  his  fifeeenth  year,  when  he  became  an 
apprentice  with  Peter  Klinger,  carpenter, 
Fisherville,  Pa.  At  the  end  of  one  year  he 
went  to  Lykens,  Pa.,  and  was  employed  four 
months  as  a  carpenter  in  the  mines.  He 
next  went  to  Pine  Grove,  Cumberland 
county,  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  three 
months.  Becoming  dissatisfied  he  returned 
to  Lykens,  wdiere  he  remained  until  the  end 
of  that  year.  Times  were  not  very  prosper- 
ous and  good  jobs  not  plentiful  during  the 
panic  of  1875-76,  but  he  worked  through. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Enders  was  for 
eleven  months  in  Jacksonville.  Pa.  During 
the  next  five  years  he  farmed  the  old  home 
place,  after  which  he  sold  his  personal  prop- 
erty, and  removed  to  Charlotte,  Eaton  county, 
Mich.,  where  he  worked  eighteen  months  in  a 


u-^^  CT;  <^'iC'C^-7-^^'i^^.-«i_,^'^„^^ 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


111? 


planing  mill.  Whi]u  he  was  here  his 
parents  visited  him  and  brought  him  an 
offer  to  operate  the  planing  mill  at  Elizabeth- 
ville,  Pa.,  wiiicii  he  accepted.  He  managed 
the  mill  until  it  was  burned  down,  in  Au- 
gust, 1885.  While  the  mill  was  being  re- 
built, Mr.  Enders  was  employed  at  bridge 
building  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company,  until  December,  1886  ;  he  worked 
the  greater  part  of  that  time  on  the  Northern 
Central  railway. 

In  tlie  s],)ring  of  1887  Mr.  Enders  worked 
at  his  trade  in  Harrisburg,  and  resided  there 
and  at  New  Cumberland  until  December  of 
the  same  year.  In  January,  1888,  in  part- 
nership with  I.  T.  Buffington.  he  bought  the 
planing  mill  at  Elizabethville  of  his  former 
employer,  David  Snyder.  Since  that  time 
the  mill  has  been  run  by  the  firm  of 
Buffington  &  Enders.  The  mill,  for  which 
they  paid  $-1,500,  is  worth,  as  it  now  stands, 
over  $77,500.  Mr.  Enders  has  also  built 
himself  a  fine  dwelling  at  a  cost  of  $1,350. 
In  connection  with  the  planing  mill,  Mr. 
Enders  is  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Buffington 
&  Enders,  manufacturers  of  hosiery,  the 
companj^  being  known  as  the  Enterprise 
Hosiery  Companj'.  He  is  a  Republican  and 
does  not  seek  public  office. 

Charles  W.  Enders  was  married  in  Jackson 
townshiji,  Se[)tcmber  17,  1876,  to  Phoebe 
Buffington,  born  in  Lykens  Valley,  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  March  20, 1855.  Their  children 
are  :  Howard  E.,  pursuing  a  scientific  course 
at  Lebanon  Valley  College,  Annville,  Pa., 
with  the  medical  profession  in  view;  Fred. 
C,  Florence  B.,  and  Laura,  at  home.  Mr. 
Enders  has  been  for  eleven  years  a  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church. 


years  of  age,  his  wife  having  died  a  year  or 
two  previously.  Their  children  were  :  Jacob, 
a  farmer,  died  in  Washington  township; 
Philip,  farmer,  died  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship; Amos,  farmer,  died  in  Washington 
township;  Nellie,  Mrs.  Eli  Swab,  Washing- 
ton townshi});  Jemima,  wife  of  Daniel  Lebo, 
Up{)er  Paxton  township  ;  William  ;  Mary, 
widow  of  Josiah  P.  Miller,  Washington  town- 
shi]);  Silas,  farmer.  Upper  P.ixton  township, 
and  Amanda,  wife  of  Henry  Hartman,  Wash- 
ington township. 

William  attended  subscription  and  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  place  during  the 
winter  mouths  and  was  occupied  at  other  sea- 
sons in  the  saw  mill  and  on  the  farm  with 
his  father.  At  the  age  of  twenty-six  or  twenty- 
seven  he  was  married,  in  1858,  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  Martin,  native  of  Washington  township, 
and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  P.  and  Mary  (Du- 
bendorf)  Martin,  who  is  still  living.  After 
marriage  he  rented  and  cultivated  different 
farms  for  twelve  years,  and  about  1870  bought 
his  jiresent  farm  of  fifty-two  acres,  on  which 
he  has  good  buildings  and  improvements. 
His  children  are :  Jeremiah  F.;  Harry 
Chaundy,  Shamokin,  Pa.;  Abraham  Lincoln, 
clerk  in  store  at  Wichita,  Kan.,  since  1881 ; 
E.,  wife  of  Jacob  A  Matter,  Harrisburg ; 
Mary,  wife  of  Jacob  Weitzler,  Chester,  Pa.; 
William  H.,  dairyman  and  huckster,  Lyken.s, 
Pa.,  a  tanner  by  trade ;  Harry  M.,  shoe- 
maker, at  Halifax,  Pa.;  Edward  C,  at  home, 
and  Edith  I.,  at  home.  Mr.  Cooper  was  form- 
ei'ly  a  liberal  Republican,  but  is  now  a  mem- 
Ijer  of  the  Populist  party.  In  religious  fel- 
lowship lie  is  connected  with  the  Reformed 
church. 


Cooper,  William,  farmer,  Washington 
township,  was  born  in  Mifflin,  now  Wash- 
ington township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember, 1881 ;  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Mil- 
ler) Cooper.  The  grandfather,  Adam  Cooper, 
was  reared  in  Lykens  Valley,  and  died  in 
Mifflin  township.  The  father  was  born  and 
reared  in  Miffiin  township.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  natural  ability,  and  was  self  educated, 
learning  much  from  his  cliildi-en.  He  served 
one  term  in  the  State  Legislature  and  refused 
nomination  for  a  second  term.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Mifflin  township  and  afterwards  located 
on  his  father's  farm.  At  one  time  he  owned 
three  farms  aggregating  about  five  hundred 
acres.  His  death  occurred  on  tiie  old  home- 
stead about  1884,  when  he  was  eighty-six 
69 


Elder,  David  D.,  was  born  on  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  lives,  in  Washington 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Marcii  16, 
1838;  son  of  Robert  and  Hannah  (Deitrich) 
Elder.  Robert  Elder,  the  great-great-grand- 
father, passed  over  from  Scotland  to  the  north 
of  Ireland,  where  he  remained  for  many  years, 
and  later  joined  his  son  in  America.  John 
Elder,  the  great-grandfather,  was  born  in 
Edinburgh,  received  a  collegiate  education, 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  the  Presby- 
terian church,  came  to  America  long  before 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  settled  at  Pax- 
tang,  where  he  preached  for  fifty  years,  cov- 
ering the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  preached  from  his  pulpit  sermons  to 
arouse  the  i)eo|)le  to  resist  the  onslaught  of 
the  Hessian  soldiers,  and  raised  a  company, 


1118 


Bl  0  GRA  PHICAL  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


of  wliicli  he  was  made  llie  caj)tain,  and 
served  tli rough  tlie  Avar. 

David  Elder,  the  grandfather,  was  born  at 
Paxtang,  Daupliin  county,  and  was  reared 
to  the  occuf)ation  of  Government  surveyor, 
whicli  lie  followed  for  many  j'ears.  lie  died 
in  his  native  county,  manyj'ears  of  age,  and 
left  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  His  wife 
was  a  Miss  Galbraith. 

Kobert  Elder,  the  father,  was  born  in 
Derry  township,  Dauphin  county,  in  1800. 
In  early  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  hatter 
in  Philadel{)hia,  after  whicli  he  came  to 
Paxtang  and  manufactured  and  dealt  in 
hats.  He  came  to  Washington  township 
before  marriage  and  bought  two  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  wood  land,  which  he 
cleared  and  improved.  He  died  in  Harris- 
burg  in  1854,  and  his  wife  still  survives  him, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  They  had 
nine  children,  of  whom  David  is  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth.  His  father,  Thomas  J., 
now  resides  in  the  West. 

David  D.  attended  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive place  until  he  was  twelve  years  of  age, 
when  he  was  sent  to  his  uncle,  at  Danidiin, 
Derry  township,  where  he  was  in  school  for 
about  one  year.  He  lost  his  father  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years,  which  broke  up  the 
family,  and  he  went  out  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  He  obtained  a  position 
in  the  book  and  stationery  store  of  Town  & 
Barnes,  where  hp  remained  seven  years.  At 
first  his  salary  was  $3.25  per  week,  from 
which  he  had  to  pay  board,  and  was  gradu- 
ally increased  to  $000  per  year.  At  the  end 
of  seven  years  he,  with  J.  "\V.  Miller,  em- 
barked in  the  book  and  stationery  trade,  and 
continued  the  partnership  until  1877,  when 
he  bought  his  partner's  interest  and  took  his 
brother  into  the  firm,  under  the  name  of 
David  D.  Elder  &  Co.  In  1884  he  sold  the 
business  to  David  Bcntly,  and  began  the 
manufacture  of  wall  i)aper,  which  he  carried 
on  until  1892,  and  since  that  time  he  has 
lived  on  the  farm  and  given  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits. 

Mr.  Elder  was  married,  at  Mechauicsburg, 
Pa.,  January  30,  186G,  to  Miss  Kate  >Stoever, 
a  native  of  Milton,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Rev.  C. 
F.  and  Louisa  G.  Stoever.  They  have  five 
children,  three  daughters  and  two  sons.  Mr. 
Elder  served  with  the  emergency  troops  in 
1862  and  1863,  being  stationed  in  tlie  Cum- 
berland Valley  and  moving  as  far  as  An- 
tietam. 


Forney,  John,  miller,  Washington  town- 
ship, was  born  in  MifHin  township),  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.,  March  30,  1822 ;  son  of  John 
Forney.  Tlie  father  was  one  of  the  follow- 
ing children :  Simon,  farmer,  Hummels- 
town ;  Leah  Jane,  wife  of  Isaac  Weitzel, 
Upper  Paxton  townsiiip  ;  Sarah  Ellen,  wife 
of  John  Bonawitz,  Elizabethville  ;  Caroline, 
wife  of  Isaac  Row,  Washington  township; 
and  Eliza  Ann,  unmarried. 

John  attended  school,  worked  at  home 
and  lived  out  among  the  farmers  and  thus 
pas.sed  his  youth.  He  later  drove  a  huckster 
team  for  his  stepfather,  Benjamin  Reigle, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  drove  team 
to  Pottsville.  He  was  married,  in  Mifflin 
township,  December  30,  1844,  to  Miss  Su.san 
Lenker,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rebecca 
(Hoy)  Lenker.  After  marriage  he  lived  for 
one  year  with  his  stepfather  and  then  bought 
twenty  and  a  half  acres  of  land  near  Berrys- 
buig  and  was  engaged  in  gardening  for 
three  years,  after  wdiich  he  sold  the  place 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  one  of  the 
houses  of  his  stei)fatlier,  in  which  he  re- 
mained tiiree  years.  He  next  farmed  the 
])lace  of  William  Lenker  two  years  and  then 
bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  nine  acres 
in  Upper  Paxton  township,  on  which  he 
located  and  has  lived  there  for  thirty  years. 
Mr.  Forney  now  owns  seven  farms,  on  all  of 
which  there  are  good  buildings  and  first- 
class  improvements,  containing  altogether 
four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres.  In 
February,  1886,  he  bought  mill  property  of 
Mr.  Falkenmeyer  and  has  since  operated 
the  mill  in  connection  with  farming.  His 
children  are:  George  W.,  married  to  Su.san 
Lenker,  and  farms  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship ;  William  H.,  first  married  Lizzie  Whit- 
comb,  of  Centre  county.  Pa.,  and  secondly 
married  Lizzie  Lenker ;  Kate,  married 
Joseph  Matter,  resides  in  Washington  town- 
ship;  Sarah,  married  Harry  Keefer,  resides 
in  Elizabethville;  Daniel  Peter,  laborer,  in 
Upper  Paxton  township;  John  L.,  farmer, 
married  to  Annie  Bohner,  resides  in  Upper 
Paxton  township ;  Jacob  E.,  married  to 
Bertha  Enders,  a  farmer  in  Upper  Paxton 
township ;  Lizzie  Alice,  married  Carson 
Kromer,  Millersburg,  Pa.;  Carrie  Agues,  wife 
of  M.  D.  Bonawitz,  head  miller  for  Mr. 
Forney.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Forney 
is  a  Republican  and  takes  an  active  part  in 
the  interests  of  his  party.  In  Upper  Paxton 
township  he  served  as  supervisor,  tax  col- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1119 


lector  and  constable.  He  is  also  an  active 
and  energetic  menrber  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 


Hartman,  Henry,  farmer,  Washington 
township,  was  born  in  LyJiens  townsliip, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  August  2, 1821.  Henry 
Hartman,  grandfather,  is  supposed  to  have 
been  born  in  Chester  county,  Pa.  Ho  was 
reared  a  farmer,  and  was  married,  in  that 
county,  to  Sarah  Horner.  He  came  with 
his  family  to  Dauphin  county  and  settled  in 
Williams  Valley  between  1794  and  1800, 
when  he  built  a  grist  mill,  which  he  at  once 
sold,  having  learned  that  its  site  was  mort- 
gaged to  parties  in  England,  after  which  he 
bought  a  small  tract  of  lar.d  in  the  same  val- 
ley. He  prospected  a  great  deal  for  mines. 
On  the  advice  of  his  brother  Michael,  a  cat- 
tle buyer,  who  frequently  visited  these  val- 
leys, he  sold  his  place  and  located  in  Lykens 
Valley,  on  two  hundred  acres  of  land  near 
the  present  site  of  Gratz,  from  which  he 
cleared  up  a  farm,  built  house  and  barn;  and 
to  which  he  added  more  land.  He  partici- 
jjated  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  died  in 
1833,  aged  eighty-four  years.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  and  was 
twelve  years  his  junior.  They  had  thirteen 
children  ;  six  of  the  daughters  went  to  Phila- 
delphia and  married  there ;  John  died  in 
Lykens  Valley,  and  Michael  died  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

The  father  was  born  in  Chester  county, 
Pa.,  January  19,  1794,  and  was  a  mere  boy 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Dauphin 
county.  He  learned  the  trade  of  mason,  but 
was  principally  engaged  in  farming.  He 
married  in  Lykens  Valley  and  settled  on  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres  in 
Lykens  township.  At  one  time  he  owned 
eight  or  nine  farms,  and  died  comparatively 
wealthy,  leaving  to  each  of  his  children  a 
farm  and  a  sum  of  money.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  Lykens  township,  September  11, 
1879,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He 
and  his  wife  Magdalena  lived  together  over 
sixty  years.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Imshotfstall  and  Catherine  Hoffner,  bis  wife, 
and  was  born  in  Washington  township,  Oc- 
tober 27,  1797.  She  died  April  IG,  1879. 
Their  children  were:  -John,  Henry,  Simon, 
Elizabetii,  Jacob,  Beneven,  Caroline,  Moses, 
Michael,  Catherine,  and  Mary. 

Henry  received  a  good  common  school 
education  in  German  and  attended  the  Eng- 
lish schools  also,  but  only  for  a  short  time. 


He  was  put  to  work  when  quite  young  cut- 
ting wood  and  threslung  grain,  both  before 
and  after  school  hours  in  the  winter  time. 
The  threshing  was  done  with  a  flail  and  by 
tramping  with  horses.  He  was  married,  in 
Washington  township,  November  1,  1842,  to 
Margaret,  daughter  of  George  and  Barbara 
Snyder,  born  in  Northumberland  county. 
Pa.,  November  12,  1819,  and  died  in  Wash- 
ington township,  September  16, 1873.  Their 
children  are:  Cornelius  S.;  Emma  J.,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Row,  died  from  burns  by  cloth- 
ing taking  fire  ;  one  child  died  in  infancy  ; 
Rebecca  Ellen,  at  liome;  Henry  J.;  Cathe- 
rine Margaret,  Mrs.  Joseph  Sultzbach. 

After  marriage  he  located  on  a  farm  of 
his  father's  in  Washington  township,  then 
Mifflin  township,  where  lie  remained  five 
years  with  his  father,  bought  a  mill  in 
Washington  township,  which  he  operated 
for  five  years  and  then  sold  it  and  bought 
his  former  place  from  his  father,  where  he 
lived  until  coming  to  his  present  place  in 
187(),  which  he  bought  in  1875.  He  also 
owns  four  farms  ancl  wood  land.  In  1863 
Mr.  Hartman  was  appointed  county  com- 
missioner to  serve  tlie  unexpired  term  of 
Henry  Moyer,  who  died  in  office,  and  in 
1864  he  was  elected  to  a  full  term  of  five 
years  for  the  same  office.  He  was  formerly 
a  Whig  and  came  into  theRe|>ublican  party. 
He  has  filled  the  office  of  supervisor,  assessor, 
school  director,  judge  of  elections,  and  almost 
all  township  offices.  He  was  maiYied  to  his 
present  wife  February  9,  1884.  She  was 
Amanda  Cooper,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Miller)  Cooper,  and  was  born  in 
Wasiiington  township,  July  29,  1841.  To 
this  marriage  there  is  no  issue.  Mr.  Hart- 
man is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church 
and  is  now  a  trustee  of  the  church,  and  for 
twenty  years  has  been  the  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school. 


Hkrman,  Harry,  farmer,  Washington 
township,  was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  now 
Washington  township,  Dau[)hin  county.  Pa., 
November  7,  1833  ;  son  of  John  and  Rebecca 
(Heller)  Herman.  The  father  was  first  mar- 
ried to  Susan  Heller,  and  their  children  are  : 
Mary,  deceased,  Josiab,  and  Sarah.  He  next 
married  Rebecca  Heller,  and  their  children 
are :  Harr)'  and  Mary.  He  next  married 
Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  Keener,  widow 
of  Michael  Matter,  and  their  children  are: 
.John,  Rebecca,  Thomas,  Michael,  and  Jacob. 
Lastly  he  married  Lavina  Dubendorf,  widow 


1120 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


of  Charles  Matter,  and  their  children  are: 
PVances  Ann,  Samuel,  and  Lavina.  The 
father  removed  to  Clinton  county,  Pa.,  in 
187(),  and  died  near  Lock  Haven.  His  last 
wife  survives  him. 

Harry  attended  the  subscription  schools 
of  his  native  townsliij)  and  remained  on  the 
home  farm  until  his  marriage,  after  which 
he  located  on  one  of  the  farms  of  his  wife's 
father  and  which  came  to  him  through  mar- 
riage. It  consists  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres.  He  owns  another  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty-two  acres  and  also  one- 
half  interest  in  the  grist  mill  with  Natlianiel 
Miller.  He  was  married,  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, in  1854,  to  Miss  Mary  Koppenheffer. 
Their  children  are  :  Mary  Elizabetli,  wife  of 
Henry  P.  Hartman  ;  John  Milton  and  Simon 
A.,  twins ;  Laura,  widow  of  George  Hart- 
man  ;  Harry  Tliomas,  farmer,  in  Washing- 
ton township ;  Ida  Rebecca,  maiden  lady  ; 
and  Michael  H.,  at  home.  Mr.  Herman  is 
a  Republican  in  his  political  views  and  has 
been  sujiervisor  of  the  township.  He  is  a 
memljer  of  tiie  Lutheran  church. 


Hoke,  A.\ron  D.,  manufacturer  of  half 
hose,  Elizabethville,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Eliza- 
bethville,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July  2.5, 
181)8;  only  child  of  Jonathan  and  Clara 
(Matter)  Hoke,  both  of  whom  are  living. 
He  attended  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  place  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of 
currier  with  Mr.  Bander,  near  Elizabeth- 
ville,  with  whom  he  served  two  and  a  half 
years,  and  then  went  to  Philadelpiiia,  wiiere 
he  worked  at  his  trade  in  some  of  the  lead- 
ing shops  for  one  and  a  half  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Middletown,  where  he 
worked  with  the  J.  W.  Rife  Leatiier  Com- 
pany for  three  years.  His  next  move  was 
to  Meyerstown,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  two  years.  During  those  years  in 
wiiich  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  he  was 
receiving  good  wages,  and  was  saving  his 
monej'.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  came 
to  Eiizabethville  and,  in  April,  1895,  with 
Buffington,  Enders  and  Hoke,  formed  the 
Enterprise  Hosier}-  Company.  He  had  the 
satisfaction  of  being  able  to  embark  in 
business  with  money  saved  from  his  own 
earnings,  and  is  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortune,  having  supjiorted  himself  since  he 
was  ten  years  old,  and  has  made  his  way 
unaided.  The  capacity  of  the  factory  is 
fifty  dozen   per  day,  and   a  market  for  the 


goods  is  found  throughout  the  State.  Mr. 
Hoke  was  married,  in  Middletown,  Pa.,  Sep- 
tember 22, 18ni,  to  Miss  Katy  E.  Bowman,  of 
Williamstown,  Pa.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren: Wilmer  Bowman,  born  November  9, 
1893,  and  Elsie  Irene,  born  June  IG,  1895. 
Mr.  Hoke  has  been  active  in  promoting  the 
success  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  is  trustee  of  the  official  board,  Sunday- 
school  superintendent,  and  assistant  class 
leader. 


Hoke,  Jonathan,  shoemaker.Washington 
townsliip,  was  born  in  Washington  town- 
shi[),  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  December  25, 
1825;  son  of  Isaac  and  Catherine  (Botts) 
Hoke.  The  grandfather,  Rudolph  Hoke, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in 
Wasiiington,  then  Mifflin  township.  The 
father  was  born  in  Washington  township, 
tl)en  Mifflin  town.ship,  in  1804.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  shoemaker  and  followed  that 
occuitation.  He  owned  a  farm  in  Jackson 
township  on  which  he  lived  for  some  years. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  went  West  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Indiana.  Afterwards 
he  lived  some  time  with  his  daughter,  Eme- 
line  Shooj),  and  moved  with  her  to  Kansas. 
He  returned  to  liisold  home  and  died  at  Eiiza- 
bethville in  1893,  aged  eighty-nine  years. 
His  wife  died  many  years  ago  and  both  are 
buried  at  Eiizabethville.  Their  children 
were  :  Mary  Ann,  Jonathan,  Catherine,  Will- 
iam, deceased,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  and  Emeline, 
Mrs.  Siiooj). 

Jonathan  attended  the  subscription  schools 
of  his  native  townshiji  and  when  young 
learned  the  trade  of  siioemaker,  and  has 
followed  that  occupation  most  of  his  life. 
He  was  for  some  time  employed  in  building 
the  Summit  Branch  railroad,  received  wages 
for  his  services  at  the  rate  of  $1  per  day. 
He  was  married,  in  Washington  townsliip 
in  1857,  to  Mi.ss  Carrie  E.  Walter,  and  their 
children  are;  Aaron  D.,  and  Catherine,  died 
in  infancy.  After  marriage  he  went  to 
housekeeping  in  Eiizabethville,  where  he 
has  since  resided,  and  where  lie  owns  .several 
lots.  He  is  a  Republican  in  j^olitics,  and 
has  served  as  tax  collector  and  in  other  offices. 
He  was  reared  in  the  Reformed  church. 


Klinger,  Jonathan,  retired  farmer,  was 
born  in  Washington  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  March  2G,  1840 ;  .son  of  Alex- 
ander   and    Magdaline    (Smeltz)     Klinger. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1121 


George  Kliuger,  the  great-grandfather,  was  a 
resident  of  Lancaster  county,  where  it  is 
supposed  he  lived  most  of  liis  life.  Peter 
Klinger,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.,  and  was  a  farmer  and 
miller  by  occupation.  He  came  to  Klingers- 
town  at  a  very  early  daj%  and  later  opened 
two  grist  mills  and  owned  a  farm.  He  died 
at  Klingerstown  about  1850.  He  married  a 
Miss  Stoneljreaker  and  their  chiUh-en  were: 
Philip,  deceased  ;  Peter,  deceased  ;  Dietz  ; 
Hanna  ;  George  F.;  John;  Adam;  Daniel, 
resides  near  Klingerstown  ;  and  Mrs.  Weist. 
The  father  was  born  near  Klingerstown  in 
1805,  and  followed  farming  principally  and 
also  worked  some  at  the  miller's  trade.  Some 
time  after  his  marriage  lie  came  to  Wash- 
ington township  and  bought  the  farm  of 
seventy -three  acres  on  which  his  son  Jona- 
than now  lives,  which  was  a  tract  of  wild 
land  at  that  time  and  which  he  cultivated 
and  occupied  until  his  death  in  187(1  His 
wife  died  in  1878.  Their  children  were: 
Simon,  fanner,  in  Washington  township ; 
Beneval,  died  aged  nineteen  years  ;  Cathe- 
rine, widow  of  Jacob  Bowman,  Halifax  ; 
Daniel,  farmer  and  watch  maker,  Washing- 
ton townshi]5;  Jonatlian  ;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Ed- 
ward Romberger,  Washington  township ; 
Elias,  fiinner  in  Lykens  township;  Marietta, 
Mrs.  Thomas  P.  Moyer,  Washington  town- 
ship. The  father  was  a  Repubhcan  and  also 
took  an  active  part  in  church  matters. 

Jonatlian  attended  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  place  until  he  was  about  nine 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  work  on  the 
farm,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  was 
employed  in  cultivating  the  place.  He  was 
married,  in  Washington  township,  April  19, 
18G0,  to  Miss  Hettie  Uhler,  who  was  born  in 
the  township.  For  ten  years  after  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Klinger  cultivated  the  old  home 
farm  on  the  shares.  His  father  died  in  187G 
and  his  mother  in  1888.  In  1878  he  bought 
and  occupied  the  farm  until  1893,  when  he 
rented  his  farm  and  retired  to  Elizabethville 
and  occupied  a  house  he  had  built  m  1892. 
He  has  no  children. 


Lenker,  Henry,  farmer,  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
September  17, 1833  ;  son  of  Philip  and  Sally 
(Holtz)  Lenker.  The  father  was  born  in 
MitHin  township  and  was  reared  a  farmer. 
He  followed  that  occupation  in  connection 
with  weaving.  He  died  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm  in  Upper  Paxton  township  and 


his  wife  preceded  him  in  death  some  years. 
Their  children  were :  Catherine,  deceased ; 
Leah;  William,  farmer  in  Perry  county; 
Henry;  Joiin  D.,  deceased;  Edward,  farm- 
ing the  homestead;  Salome, deceased;  David 
K.,  farmer  on  the  homestead;  Hannah, 
widow  of  Jacob  Zimmerman ;  Elizabeth, 
maiden  lady ;  Amelia,  maiden  lady ;  Mary, 
wife  of  David  Lark,  and  Nathaniel,  deceased. 
Henry  received  liis  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  was  reared  a  farmer.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  his  eighteenth  year  and 
then  for  a  few  months  worked  out  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  State. 

He  was  married,  at  Berrysburg,  Pa.,  by 
Rev.  David  Sell,  February  18,  1858,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Longabauch.  Their  children  are: 
Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  Februar}  4,  1859; 
Charles  Edwin,  born  August  15, 18G0 ;  David 
Walker,  born  October  19,  1802;  Robert  Na- 
thaniel,born  January  22, 1805;  Henry  Grant, 
born  June  4,  1807;  Philip  Melancthon,  born 
July  14,  1870 ;  William  Peter,  born  August 
18,  1874,  and  Mary  Salome,  born  April  16, 
1879.  After  marriage  he  resided  in  Upper 
Paxton  township  and  removed  later  to  Mif- 
flin, returning  again  to  Upper  Paxton,  locat- 
ing on  his  present  place,  where  he  has  since 
had  his  residence.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church. 


Lenker,  George  N.,  farmer,  Washington 
township,  was  born  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  February  25, 
1842;  son  of  Ludwig  and  Amelia  (Dietrick) 
Lenker.  The  father  was  born  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  his  son  George  N.,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  and  spent  his  life,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years,  during  which  he 
lived  on  one  of  his  farms  in  Upper  Paxton 
township.  He  retired  to  Elizabethville  one 
year  prior  to  his  death,  in  1871,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three  years.  His  wife  survived 
him  eleven  years,  and  their  children  were  : 
Catherine,  John,  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Jacob, 
Annie,  Stephen,  Joseph,  and  George  N. 

George  was  about  two  years  old  wlieii  his 
parents  located  in  Washington  township, 
where  he  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and 
attended  the  public  schools.  He  remained 
at  home  until  his  marriage,  after  which  he 
located  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  which 
he  bought,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-three  acres,  of  which  he  sul>sequently 
sold  sixty  acres.  In  1890  he  built  his  pres- 
ent house  and  built  a  fish  pond,  which  he 
stocked  with  carp,  catfish  and  trout.     Five 


1122 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


years  later  he  l)uilt  a  wind  mill  for  grinding 
chicken  feed,  and  planted  three  thousand 
two  hundred  fruit  trees  of  the  varieties  of 
apple,  pear,  peach,  etc.  He  was  married,  in 
Washington  township,  in  September,  1863, 
to  Amanda  Emerich,  a  native  of  that  town- 
ship. Tiieir  children  are  :  Elmer,  went  to 
Texas,  and  from  there  in  1885  went  to  Ar- 
kansas, where  he  now  resides  and  is  in  the 
lumber  business  ;  Mary,  married  Aaron  Nov- 
inger,  resides  in  Arkansas;  Alice,  married 
Daniel  Riegle,  resides  in  Washington  ; 
Annie,  married  Oliver  Jury  and  lives  at 
home ;  George,  also  at  home.  Mr.  Lenker 
in  his  2)olitical  views  is  a  Democrat,  with 
leaning  toward  the  Prohibition  party.  He 
is  a  member  and  also  a  trustee  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church. 


Messner,  Jacob,  hotel  keeper,  Loyalton, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Lower  Mahanoy  townshij), 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  March  22,  ISGl ; 
son  of  Philip  and  Mary  (Dockery)  Messner. 
The  father  was  born  in  tlie  same  township 
in  1817,  and  w-as  educated  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  his  time.  He  was  brought 
up  a  farmer,  but  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter when  a  young  man  and  followed  that 
occupation  and  bridge  building  and  grading 
roads  and  other  kinds  of  contracting.  He 
came  to  Tower  City  about  1871  with  his 
family,  having  been  engaged  there  since 
18G8.  He  was  one  of  the  first  builders  at 
Tower  City  and  helped  to  build  up  the  place, 
having  erected  twenty-seven  houses,  and  the 
Pottsville  road  and  many  bridges.  In  1873 
he  located  on  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  between 
tiie  kSusquehanna  river  and  the  railroad  and 
up  to  the  time  of  his  deatii  gave  his  attention 
princijially  to  farming.  He  died  on  his  farm 
in  1883  and  his  wife  died  in  February,  1884, 
and  they  are  buried  side  by  side  in  the  ceme- 
tery at  Vera  Cruz,  Northumberland  county. 
Their  children  were:  Isaac,  Elizabeth,  Re- 
becca, David,  John,  Ellen,  Emma,  Julia,  and 
Jacob. 

Jacob  attended  school  in  his  native  place 
until  he  was  nine  years  of  age,  when,  in  1871, 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Tower  City, 
where  he  continued  in  school  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  was  employed  in  the  mines  at 
$3.50  per  week.  His  fatiier  allowed  him  to 
retain  his  wages  and  in  one  year  he  saved 
$90.  He  completed  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Upper  Paxton  township,  where  his 
parents  located  on  a  farm.  He  remained  at 
home  until   he  reached   manhood,  when  he 


engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account.  He 
was  married,  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  to 
Miss  Emma  Searer,  daughter  of  George 
Searer.  After  marriage  he  located  on  the 
John  Loutz  place,  which  he  farmed  from 
1873  to  1889.  During  1890  he  was  engaged 
in  contracting  and  building  houses.  The 
carpenter  trade  came  natural  to  him,  as  his 
father  was  of  that  occupation.  In  1891  he 
was  employed  by  the  Pennsjdvania  Railroad 
Company  in  bridge  and  carpenter  work, 
between  Harrisburg  and  Renovo,  and  as- 
sisted in  repairing  the  bridges  after  the  awful 
flood  of  1891.  In  1892  he  came  to  Loyalton 
and  engaged  in  hotel  keeping  with  Jonathan 
Zerby  and  subsequentlj'  became  proprietor 
of  the  Loyalton  Hotel.  His  children  are : 
George,  Philip  A.,  Mary  E.,  Esther  S.,  Harry 
A.,  and  Lloyd.  In  politics  Mr.  Messner  is  a 
Republican  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  of  which  he  was  once  a  trustee. 


Matter,  Daniel  D.,  blacksmith  and 
farmer,  Washington  township,  was  born  in 
the  house  in  which  he  now  lives,  in  \\'ash- 
ington  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1852.  Michael  Matter,  the  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Mifflin,  now  Washington 
township,  March  29, 1791,  the  name  of  whose 
father  is  not  known,  and  he  was  the  first  to 
come  into  Lykens  Vallej'.  The  grandfather 
was  reared  a  farmer  boy  and  followed  farm- 
ing as  his  occupation.  He  was  first  married, 
September  29,  1814,  to  Annie  Catherine 
Cooper,  who  died  in  1824,  aged  thirty-six 
years,  and  by  whom  he  had  five  children  : 
David,  Ciiristopher,  Ann,  Margaret,  Levi, 
and  Christianna.  He  was  married  the  second 
time,  March  29,  1825,  to  Margaret  Keener, 
daughter  of  Philip  Keener.  Their  children 
are :  Catherine  Ann,  Charles,  James,  Martin, 
Sarah,  Conrad,  Elizabeth,  Reuben,  Lavina, 
Lewis,  and  Mary.  His  second  wife  died  May 
7, 1854.  She  was  previously  married  to  John 
Herman,  by  whom  she  had  five  children. 
She  was  the  mother  of  seventeen  children. 
Levi,  the  father,,  was  born  in  Mifflin,  now 
Washington  township,  November  24,  1820, 
and  received  his  education  in  subscription 
schools,  the  tuition  being  two  cents  per  day. 
He  was  reared  on  the  farm.  His  father 
dying  when  he  was  about  sixteen  years  old, 
he  farmed  the  home  place  for  two  years,  and 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  j'ears  he  became  an 
apprentice  at  the  blacksmith  trade  in  his 
native  township,  with  George  Stabler,  and 
afterwards  followed  this  occupation.   In  1885 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1123 


he  sold  the  old  home  farm  to  his  son  Levi, 
and  moved  to  anotlier  farm,  wliere  he  died 
December  6,  1895.  He  was  a  member  of  St. 
John's  Lutheran  church,  and  is  buried  in  tlie 
cemeter}'.  His  wife  Esther  still  survives. 
She  was  born  in  Lykens  township,  November 
16,  1841,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Duben- 
dorf.  Her  children  are  :  Emma  Jane,  born 
February  12,  1844 ;  Mrs.  John  Everson,  of 
Clinton  county,  near  Lock  Haven;  Elizabetli, 
wife  of  Jacob  H.  Jury,  of  Wasliington  town- 
siiip;  Amos,  died  aged  seventy-eigiit  years; 
Daniel  D.;  Sarah  Ellen,  wife  of  Amos  L. 
Koppenliaver,  Harrisburg. 

Daniel  D.  attended  school  in  his  native 
place  from  the  age  of  six  years  until  he  was 
eiglitcen  years  of  age,  working  on  the  liome 
farm  during  the  summer  months.  He  then 
served  a  tliree  years'  apprenticeship  at  the 
blacksmith  trade,  after  which  he  was  for  two 
years  in  partnership  witli  his  fatiier,  and  then 
bought  the  shop  of  his  fiUher  and  began 
business  for  iiimself  wliicli  he  continued  uj) 
to  April,  1896,  when  lie  turned  liis  attention 
to  farming.  He  is  the  owner  of  tiie  old  home 
farm,  having  purchased  it  from  his  father  in 
1885,  and  it  now  consists  of  thirty-seven 
acres.  He  was  married,  in  Wasliington 
townsliip,  November  29, 1873,  to  Miss  Emma 
Susan  Lask,  who  was  born  in  MifHin  town- 
ship, October  15,  1856,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Susan  (Hoy)  Lask.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Carrie  Minerva,  born  September 
2,1874;  Maggie  Irena,  born  February  10, 
1877;  Aaron  Franklin,  born  December  13, 
1878;  Warren  Lask,  born  February  9,  1886. 
Mr.  Matter  has  interested  himself  in  the  suc- 
cess of  tlie  Republican  party  and  has  served 
as  township  auditor  for  one  term.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  cliurch,  in  wliicli 
he  has  served  as  deacon  for  three  years,  and 
as  elder  for  two  years. 


Messkrsmith,  Edward,  wagon  manufiic- 
turer,  was  born  at  Elizabethville,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  December  22, 1853;  son  of  Adam 
and  Polly  ( Welker)  Messersmith.  The  father 
died  at  Elizabethville  in  1888.  The  mother 
died  when  Edward  was  four  years  old.  He 
was  one  of  four  children  :  William,  James, 
Edward,  and  Henry,  deceased.  The  father 
was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  was  not  a 
member  of  any  church.  Edward  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
place.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  j^ears  he  started 
to  learn  the  blacksmith  trade  with  William 
Palton  at  Elizabethville,  with  whom  he  re- 


mained nine  months  and  then  worked  three 
months  with  Samuel  Snyder,  near  Loyalton, 
after  which  he  was  employed  in  the  Will- 
iamstown  collieries  as  blacksmitli  for  the 
company.  His  wages  at  one  time  were  $15 
per  week  and  he  was  at  different  times  em- 
ployed by  the  company.  In  1893  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Mr.  Byerly  for  the  manu- 
facture of  wagons  at  Elizabethville,  and 
they  have  built  up  a  large  and  profitable 
business.  Mr.  Messersmith  was  married,  at 
Berrysburg,  to  Miss  Mary  Snyder,  by  whom 
he  has  seven  childi'en  :  Nora  J.,  Sarah  E., 
Harry,  Walter  W.,  George  A.,  Mary  E.,  and 
Delia  Irene.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his  po- 
litical views,  but  he  never  sought  office.  His 
religious  fellowship  is  with  the  Lutherans. 

MoYER,  Rev.  C.  C,  pastor  of  the  Evan- 
gelical churches  of  Elizabetiiville,  Oakdale, 
Lykens  and  Wiconisco,  was  born  in  Bloom- 
ing Glen,  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  March  28, 
1867  ;  son  of  Christian  F.  and  Mary  (Clymer) 
Moyer.  Rudolph,  the  grandfather,  spelled 
his  name  Meyer,  previous  to  tiiat  it  had  been 
spelled  Maier.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Mont- 
gomery county.  Pa.,  where  he  died.  Tlie 
father  was  born  in  Montgomery,  where  he 
was  reared  to  manhood  and  became  a 
farmer.  He  was  married  there  December  2, 
1840,  and  removed  to  a  farm  in  Bucks 
county,  where  he  died  October  28,  1894. 
His  wife  was  born  October  25,  1825,  in  New 
Briton,  Bucks  county,  and  died  May  10, 
1882.  Their  children  were:  William,  a 
farmer,  on  the  homestead  ;  Abraham,  shoe- 
maker, emploved  in  the  factory ;  Henry, 
agent;  John,  died  aged  twenty -eight  years  ; 
Rev.  C.  C,  and  several  children  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  father  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. 

Rev.  C.  C.  attended  the  sciiools  of  his  na- 
tive place  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of 
age.  While  teaching  and  doing  other  kinds 
of  w^ork  he  pursued  a  course  of  chemical 
and  theological  studies  at  home.  For  ten 
yeai's  he  was  a  telegrapher,  and  served  as 
ticket  agent,  telegraph  operator  and  station 
agent;  has  accepted  twenty-eiglit  different 
positions,  and  during  this  time  he  continued 
his  studies  for  the  ministry  and  educated 
himself.  He  remained  for  two  years  at 
Northampton,  one  year  at  Nazareth  and 
Bath.  He  was  then  sent  to  Elizabethville 
in  1895.  He  was  married,  at  Perkasie,  Pa., 
April  7,  1887,  to  Miss  Alice  M.,  daughter  of 
David  Deily.     Their    children   are :    Elva, 


1124 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


born  October  31,1887;  Cora,  born  Decem- 
ber 4,  1889,  and  Annie,  born  June  4,  1892. 
Mr.  Moyer  is  a  Prohibitionist  with  Republi- 
can i:)roclivities. 


Nayloe,  Dr.  Wilson  E.,  dentist,  Eliza- 
bethville,  was  born  at  Mt.  Rock,  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.,  June  6,  1841 ;  son  of  Nelson  L. 
and  Catherine  (Bender)  Naylor.  The  an- 
cestors are  German,  and  the  uamoM'as  form- 
erly spelled  Neilor.  George  Naylor,  the 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Berks  county, 
and  removed  to  Cumberland  county  when  a 
young  man,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. His  first  wife  was  Miss  Cump,  whom 
he  married  in  Berks  county.  He  married 
his  second  wife  in  Cumberland  county,  and 
their  children  were:  Daniel, George,  Samuel, 
Frank,Hattie,  Jane,  Rebecca,  and  Mary.  He 
was  an  Evangelical  minister  for  many  years 
previous  to  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Mt. 
Rock  in  1848,  when  he  was  ninety-four  \-ears 
of  age.  The  father  was  born  in  ( 'umberland 
county  in  1810,  and  was  a  farmer.  He  died 
in  1844,  and  his  wife  died  in  1887,  aged 
seventy -three  years. 

Wilson  E.  is  the  only  child  of  his  parents, 
and  received  his  primar\'  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Adams  county,  where  his 
mother  located  after  his  father's  death,  when 
he  was  three  years  old.  He  attended  school 
at  Bendersville  until  1857,  in  the  summer  of 
wiiich  he  entered  Union  Seminary,  now  Cen- 
tral Pennsylvania  College,  where  he  took  up 
Latin,  Greek,  and  other  branches  of  study. 
He  enlisted  June  21,  1861,  at  Harrisburg,  in 
company  K,  Seventy-first  regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania reserves,  and  went  at  once  with  his 
regiment  to  the  front.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Mechanicsville,  in  front  of 
Richmond,  June  26, 1862 ;  June  27,  at  Gaines' 
Mill,  Charles  City  Cross  Roads;  June  30, 
Meadow  Hill,  followed  by  second  Bull 
Run,  July  1 ;  South  Mountain,  September 
14;  Antietam,  September  16;  Frederick.s- 
burg,  December  18.  At  Gettysburg  his  left 
shoulder  was  pierced  by  a  ball,  and  after  a  few 
days  in  the  hospital  he  was  removed  to  his 
home  at  Bendersville,  ten  miles  from  Gettys- 
burg, where  he  remained  until  completion  of 
convalescence  in  March,  1864.  He  then  re- 
joined his  regiment  at  Bristow's  Station,  and 
was  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  His 
regiment  occupied  a  prominent  position  dur- 
ing the  fight.  He  was  next  in  the  battles  of 
Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  and  siege  of 
Petersburg,  and  was  discharged  at  Arlington 


Heights,  July  2,  1865.  He  then  returned 
home  and  began  the  study  of  dentistry  with 
Dr.  Schlosser,  at  Hagerstown,  which  he  pur- 
sued for  one  year,  and  the  next  year  was 
with  Dr.  Bender,  of  Shippensburg.  The  next 
year  he  worked  with  Dr.  H.  C.  Derr,  at  Han- 
over, and  then  located  at  Littlestown,  Adams 
count}',  where  he  iiracticed  five  years.  Tlie 
next  eleven  j'ears  he  was  at  Bendersville, 
and  after  four  years  at  Hanover,  in  the 
spring  of  1894,  he  opened  an  office  in  Eliza- 
bethville,  where  he  has  since  practiced.  He 
was  married,  at  Bendersville,  Januar}'  22, 

1866,  to  Miss  Mary  Wert,  of  that  town,  and 
there  have  been  born  to  them  four  sons : 
Galen  L.,  Joseph  W.,  Edward  G.,  and  Reyn- 
olds. Dr.  Naylor  was  formerly  a  Demo- 
crat, but  now  votes  with  the  Populist  party, 
and  has  served  as  auditor  of  the  township. 
He  was  reared  in  the  Evangelical  ciiurch. 

Pfluec;er,  Rkv.  E.  0.,  pastor  of  Salem 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  Elizabeth  ville, 
Gratz,  and  Rife  Center,  was  born  in  Shanes- 
ville.  Pa.,  ^Larch  11, 1861 ;  son  of  James  S.  and 
Elizabeth  Pflueger.  The  grandfather  was  a 
native  of  Germany  and  came  to  America  with 
his  wife  and  eldest  child  about  1817.  They 
were  not  rich  and  moved  about  to  different 
places.  He  did  not  live  long,  and  his  wife 
married  again  and  had  children  by  her  sec- 
ond husljand.  The  father  was  born  in  Lit- 
itz,  Pa.  His  father  died  when  he  was  young 
and  he  was  reared  in  Lehigh  county  bj'  a 
brother.  He  grew  to  manhood  and  learned 
the  tailor  trade.  He  married  in  Allentown 
and  located  near  Shanesville,  Pa.,  where  he 
was  most  of  the  time  engaged  in  farming, 
and  removed   to  Berks  count}'   in   1866  or 

1867,  where  he  gave  his  whole  attention  to 
farming,  and  died  while  residing  with  his 
son  Oliver  J.,  at  Allentown.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  fourteen  years,  dying  at  Allen- 
town, March  11,1885.  Their  children  are : 
Oliver  J.,  machini.st,  at  Allentown,  Pa.; 
Asher  P.,  Lutheran  minister,  and  Rev.  0.  E. 
Li  his  political  views  the  father  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat. 

Rev.  0.  E.  when  five  years  of  age  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Quakerstown,  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  where  he  attended  school  until 
his  father  died,  when  the  family  removed  to 
Allentown,  where  he  continued  in  school 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  after 
which  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  two 
years.  He  was  graduated  from  Muhlenburg 
College,  at  Allentown,  in  1884,  and  at  once 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1125 


entered  the  Lutheran  Tlieological  Seminary, 
at  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1887.  On  June  7,  1887,  he  was  or- 
dained to  the  ministry  hy  the  Evangelical 
ministers  of  Philadelphia,  and  at  once  took 
charge  of  the  congregation  at  Beaverton, 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  July  1,  1889, 
when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Lykens  Val- 
ley charge  at  Elizabethville,  which  consisted 
of  five  congregations,  two  of  which  have  since 
become  independent  charges  and  self-sus- 
taining. He  was  married,  at  Fogelsville, 
Pa.,  June  14,  1887,  to  Miss  Ella  C.  Leopold, 
daughter  of  Rev.  0.  and  Maria  (Daniel) 
Leopold.  They  have  no  children.  Mr. 
Pfluegor  votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  but  is 
not  in  any  sense  a  politician. 

RoMBERGER,  Cyrus,  retired  mearchant, 
Washington  township,  was  born  in  Lykens 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July  14, 
1843;  son  of  Daniel  and  Hannah  (Berg- 
stresser)  Romberger.  He  attended  school  in 
Lykens  township  until  twelve  years  of  age, 
when  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Wash- 
ington township,  where  he  resumed  his 
schooling,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years 
he  entered  Berrysburg  Academy,  which  he 
attended  for  four  or  five  terms,  and  after- 
wards took  four  terms  at  Millersburg  Acad- 
emy. While  attending  school  he  did  con- 
siderable work  at  home  on  the  farm  during 
vacations.  At  tiie  age  of  nineteen  years  he 
began  teaching  winter  schools  and  in  all 
taught  eleven  terms,  three  of  which  were  in 
Schuylkill  county.  Much  of  his  teaching 
was  in  the  coal  regions,  where  at  times  he  had 
many  unmanageable  children.  On  account 
of  impaired  and  failing  health  he  was 
obliged  to  abandon  teaching,  and  in  1875  he 
embarked  in  mercantile  business  at  Hern- 
don,  Northumberland  county.  He  disposed 
of  his  store  and  in  the  spring  of  1877,  as- 
sumed charged  of  the  co-operative  store  at 
Elizabethville,  of  which  he  was  the  agent,  a 
stockholder  and  the  manager,  the  firm  being 
Romberger  &  Co.  After  six  years  the  firm 
was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent  and  the 
stock  disposed  of.  Li  one  year  he  sold 
$27,000  worth  of  goods,  and  as  he  was  un- 
willing to  continue  on  his  salary  of  $500 
per  year  the  companj'  w^as  dissolved.  He 
then  bought  fifteen  acres  of  land,  on  which 
he  built  a  store  house,  and  in  companj'  with 
his  brother  John  A.  opened  a  flour  and 
feed  store,  and  succeeded  in  building  u[)  a 
large  and  increasing  trade.      In  December, 


1894,  he  disposed  of  his  interest  to  his 
brother,  and  was  employed  by  R.  Budd,  in 
Snyder  county,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
one  year.  With  the  exception  of  managing 
his  two  farms  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight 
and  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  acres,  he  is 
retired  from  active  business,  hiring  his  farm 
laborers  by  tlie  day,  and  only  superintend- 
ing their  work.  Mr.  Romljerger  was  mar- 
ried, at  Herndon,  Northumberland  county. 
May  25,  1875,  to  Miss  Louisa  E.  Troutman, 
born  in  that  county,  June  30, 1851 ;  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Hepler)  Troutman. 
They  have  the  following  children:  Martha, 
born  July  15,  187G,  graduate  of  Bloomsburg 
State  Normal  School,  and  now  teaching 
school  at  Elizabethville ;  Oscar  L.,  born  April 
17,  1878,  at  home ;  Daniel  Homer,  born  April 
5,  1880;  Stewarts.,  born  February  14,  1883; 
Agnes  E.,  born  June  19,  1884 ;  Verna  Irene, 
born  October  14,  1885;  Hannah  E.,  Janu- 
ary 1,  1887,  and  Robert  Raymond,  born  Oc- 
tober 14,  1889.  In  politics  Mr.  Romberger 
is  a  Republican,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace 
from  1886  to  1891,  and  in  1896  was  elected 
for  another  term  of  five  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Evangelical  church,  in  which  he 
has  been  a  class-leader  since  1888,  a  teacher 
in  the  Sunday-school  and  member  of  the 
Young  People's  Society. 

Romberger,  John  A.,  dealer  in  coal,  lum- 
ber, grain,  seeds,  and  potatoes,  Elizabeth- 
ville, Pa.,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead,  in 
Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county,  April 
21,  1850  ;  son  of  Daniel  and  Hannah  (Berg- 
stresser)  Romberger.  When  he  was  six  years 
old  his  parents  removed  to  Washington 
township,  where  he  attended  the  common 
school  during  tiie  winter  months.  When  old 
enough  to  labor  he  assisted  his  father  in  the 
farm  work,  and  at  sixteen  years  of  age  en- 
tered the  Freeburg  Academy,  in  Snyder 
county,  and  remained  for  two  terms,  after 
which  he  taught  school,  one  term  in  L3'kens 
and  two  terms  in  Washington  township. 
One  of  these  terms  lie  tauglit  after  his  mar- 
riage. After  his  school  closed  he  went  to 
housekeeping  on  the  home  farm,  and  culti- 
vated the  place  on  shares  with  his  father 
until  1881.  During  the  following  two  years 
he  was  employed  in  the  creamery  at  Eliza- 
bethville, and  in  December,  1883,  witli  his 
brother,  opened  a  flour  and  feed  store,  and 
shortly  afterwards  erected  a  building  to  ac- 
commodate the  increasing  trade.  The  firm 
continued    to  be   C.   and   J.  A.  Romberger 


]126 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCrVLOPEDlA 


until  December,  1894,  when  he  bought  liis 
brother's  interest  and  has  since  continued 
the  business  alone. 

Mr.  Romberger  was  first  married,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1871,  at  Bcrrysljurg,  Pa.,  to  Miss 
Mary  Row,  a  native  of  Lykens  township, 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Kissen- 
ger)  Row.  She  fell  a  victim  to  the  dread  dis- 
ease of  consumption,  and  died,  after  an  ill- 
ness of  three  years,  October  23,  1881,  only 
three  days  after  the  family  had  removed 
from  the  home  farm  to  Elizabethville,  and 
is  interred  at  Berrysburg.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  P]vangelical  Association.  The 
children  by  her  are  :  Laura  A.,  a  graduate  of 
Bloomsburg  Normal  School,  wlio  has  taught  . 
two  terms,  one  at  Lykens  and  one  at  Eliza- 
bethville ;  and  Annie  C,  studied  music  at 
Fredericksburg  Academy,  and  also  studied 
j)ainting.  He  was  married,  secondly,  May  2, 
1882,  at  Herndon,  Northuinborland  county. 
Pa.,  to  Miss  Emma  Troutman,  a  native  of 
Snyder  county,  Pa.,  born  in  1857 ;  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Hepler)  Trout- 
man  ;  the  latter  died  in  1888.  The  children 
of  the  second  marriage  are  :  Clair  F.,  attend- 
ing school,  at  home ;  Nettie  Estelle,  and 
Floyd  T.,  both  at  home.  Mr.  Romberger 
attends  the  Evangelical  ciiurch  at  Elizabeth- 
ville, of  which  he  is  a  trustee,  and  is  the 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  He  is 
a  staunch  Republican,  and  has  served  on 
the  school  l)oard  two  years,  has  been  notary 
public  four  years,  appointed  by  Governor 
Beaver,  and  also  served  as  school  director 
and  assessor  when  living  in  the  township. 


Romeer<;er,  Edward,  ftirmer,  Washing- 
ton township,  was  born  in  Lykens  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July  30,  1841 ;  son  of 
Daniel  and  Hannah(Bergstres.ser)  Romberger. 
He  acquired  his  education  for  the  most  part 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  spent  three 
months  in  the  Seminary  at  New  Berlin,  Union 
county.  After  coming  from  the  Seminary  he 
taught  school  one  term  at  Williamstown,  Pa., 
in  whicli  he  had  all  the  children  from  Wico- 
nisco  to  the  count)'  line — twenty-four  or  five 
in  all.  Not  liking  the  occupation  of  teach- 
ing he  took  up  farming.  When  he  was  fif- 
teen years  old  his  parents  located  on  the  farm 
which  he  now  owns  and  which  he  bought 
when  he  was  forty  years  old.  It  now  con- 
sists of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  of  which 
one  hundred  and  sixty  are  cleared.  It  origi- 
nally was  over  four  hundred  acres,  for  which 


his  father  paid  $13,000,  and  he  paid  his  father 
$14,000  for  two  hundred  and  twenty-three 
acres. 

After  his  marriage  and  previous  to  his 
father's  death  he  had  for  sixteen  years  occu- 
pied a  farm  in  Lykens  township,  bought  from 
his  father,  and  which  he  sold  after  his  father's 
death  and  bought  his  present  farm.  He  was 
married,  January  10,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Klinger,  daughter  of  Alexander  Klinger,  na- 
tive of  Washington  township,  and  she  has 
bourn  him  two  children :  Elmer  Wesley,  l)orn 
September  6,  1872,  at  home;  Alice  C,  born 
March  19,  1870,  wife  of  P.  W.  G.  Raker,  a 
school  teacher  at  Williamstown.  Mr.  Rom- 
berger is  a  Republican  and  lias  served  as  a 
school  director  in  Washington  township  one 
term,  and  also  as  assessor.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Evangelical  church  and  has  served  as 
a  trustee  in  the  same  for  many  years. 


Swab,  John  G.,  carpenter,  was  born  in 
Washington  townsiiip,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
March  20,  1831  ;  son  of  George  and  Catha- 
rine (Umholtz)  Swab.  The  fatlier  was  born 
in  Mitllin  county.  Pa.,  February  9,  1802,  and 
early  in  life  learned  the  carpenter  trade, 
which  he  followed  all  iiis  life.  He  died  at 
Elizabethville,  July,  1888,  and  his  wife  in 
1863.  They  are  both  buried  in  St.  John's 
cemetery.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican 
and  served  one  term  as  constable  and  as 
supervisor  several  terms.  His  children  were : 
Lavina,  Cyrus,  Sarah,  John  G.,  Catharine, 
Elizabeth,  Joseph,  George,  David,  and  Mary. 

Jolin  G.  first  attended  the  subscription 
and  tiien  for  eight  years  the  public  schools. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  to  learn  the 
carpenter  trade  with  his  father,  with  whom 
he  worked  four  or  five  years.  After  work- 
ing at  his  trade  in  various  places  for  a  few 
years  he  went  West  in  company  with  Isaac 
Yeager.  Both  soon  found  employment  at 
Warren,  111.  After  building  a  number  of 
iiouses  in  this  State  Mr.  Swab  went  to  Mans- 
field, Ohio,  but  failing  to  secure  employment 
returned  home  in  February,  1855.  He  then 
began  working  in  L^'kens,  Pa.,  and  later 
moved  to  Pine  Valley,  and  from  there  to 
Swatara  township,  where  he  and  his  family 
resided  seven  years.  They  next  came  to 
Dauphin  county,  and  located  near  Halifax, 
where  they  lived  eleven  years,  during  which 
time  they  were  engaged  in  farming.  On 
March  28,  1878,  Mr.  Swab  located  on  the  old 
homestead,  which    he  purchased    from   his 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1127 


father,  and  has  since  divided  his  time  be- 
tween farming  and  doing  carpenter  work. 

He  was  married,  in  Schuylkill  count}-,  in 
1856,  to  Miss  Rachel,  daughter  of  David 
Sliucker.  Their  children  are  :  Jacob,  John, 
Mary  Ann,  Sarah  Catharine,  George  Harri- 
son, and  Emma  Jane.  In  politics  Mr.  Swab 
is  a  Republican  and  held  the  office  of  asses- 
sor in  1886,  and  was  tax  collector  for  two 
terms.  He  is  strongly  inclined  toward  the 
United  Brethren  church,  but  is  not  con- 
nected with  any  denomination. 


Swab,  John  D.,  farmer,  Washington  town- 
ship, was  born  in  the  township,  January  25, 
1848;  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Heller) 
Swab.  He  was  born  and  reared  on  tlie  farm 
on  which  he  now  lives,  and  accjuired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  Washing- 
ton townslnp.  He  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  he  was  married  and  then  took 
up  his  residence  on  the  place.  He  was  mar- 
ried, at  Killinger,  Pa.,  by  Rev.  Lesser,  to 
Miss  Lena  Hartman,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Hartman.  Their  children  are :  Mary  Ellen, 
at  home;  Daniel,  at  home  ;  Nathaniel,  P]Ii, 
and  William  Oscar.  He  has  a  farm  of  eighty- 
five  acres  and  is  interested  in  raising  fine 
stock.  In  his  religious  faith  he  is  a  Lu- 
theran and  an  elder  in  the  church.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  has  served  one 
term  as  school  director. 


ScHEFFLER,  Henry  W.,  chief  burgess  of 
Elizabethville,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Washington 
township,  Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 13,1839;  son  of  Jonas  and  Eliza- 
betli  (Witmer)  Scheffler.  Gotfried  Scheffier, 
the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Berks 
county,  and  married  Miss  Lebo,  in  North- 
umberland county,  where  he  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Lower  Mahanoy  township,  and 
later  located  in  Washington  township,  Dau- 
phin count}^  where  he  died,  aged  seventy 
years;  his  wife  died  about  the  same  time. 
Their  children  are:  Joseph,  John,  Peter, 
Fred,  Jonas,  Jacob,  Daniel,  Susan,  Eliza- 
beth, Lydia,  and  Eva. 

Jonas,  the  father,  was  a  native  of  North- 
umberland county,  and  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  which  occupation  was  his  principal 
employment.  For  some  years  he  was  in 
poor  health  and  unfitted  for  business.  His 
death  occurred  in  Mifflin  township  in  1852, 
in  the  thirty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  His 
children  by  the  mother  of  Henry  W.  are: 
Henry  W.,  Sarah,  Mary,  Benjamin,  Elias, 


Jonas,  Walter,  and  one  son  who  died  in  in- 
fanc}'. 

Henry  W.  first  attended  a  school  taught 
by  a  German  teacher  in  an  old  house  owned 
by  Elijah  Byerly,  two  miles  from  his  own 
home.  When  he  was  eleven  years  old  his 
parents  removed  to  Mahantango  township, 
same  county,  where  he  continued  his  educa- 
tion in  German  for  one  year,  when  another 
removal  of  the  family  took  place,  and  their 
new  location  was  in  Mifflin  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  years 
he  worked  with  his  grandfather  for  two 
years  for  his  board  and  clothing,  after  which 
he  came  home  and  got  $2  a  month  in  sum- 
mer, and  his  board  and  clothing  in  the 
winter  and  schooling.  After  the  death  of 
his  father  his  mother  hired  him  out  to 
farmers  for  eight  years  on  these  same  terms, 
$2  per  month  for  eight  months,  and  his 
board,  clothing  and  schooling  for  four 
months.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years  ho  be- 
gan to  learn  the  carpenter  trade  in  Wash- 
ington township,  with  Jacob  Miller,  and 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  two  years,  and 
from  1858  to  the  present  time  has  followed 
that  trade.  His  work  has  called  him  all 
over  this  and  adjoining  counties.  During 
the  war  in  1861  business  was  dull  and  he 
was  engaged  at  his  trade  in  Juniata  county. 
During  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  received 
good  wages. 

He  was  married,  in  Sunbury,  Pa.,  in  1865, 
to  Miss  Mary  J.  Matter,  of  Washington 
township,  who  died  in  1S77.  They  had  six 
children,  of  whom  two  are  living:  Annie  E., 
wife  of  William  J.  Lloyd.  Camden,  N.  J., 
and  William  H.,  married  Annie  Diebler, 
Elizabethville,  Pa.  Mr.  Scheffler  was  mar- 
ried, secondly,  in  1878,  to  Sally  Weaver,  of 
Mifffin  township,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  two  children  :  Alice  A.  and  John  W. 
Mr.  Scheffler  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in 
politics  as  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  is  now  chief  burgess  and  is  nomi- 
nated for  a  third  term.  In  religious  views 
and  fellowshij)  he  is  a  Lntheran  and  an  active 
worker  in  tlie  church.  In  1887  he  withdrew 
from  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Free  Masons. 


Spracht,  Harry  W.,  blacksmith,  Eliza- 
bethville, was  born  near  Berrysburg,  Mifflin 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  May  24, 
1867;  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Mary  (Koppen- 
heffer)  Spracht.  The  father  was  born  at 
Mahanoy  Station,  Pa.,  and  was  a  shoemaker 
by  trade.     He  died  young,  and  the  mother 


1128 


Bl  0  GRA  FHIGAL  ENGYGL  OPEDIA 


subsequently  married  Isaac  Shetz,  and  re- 
sides near  Jolinstown,  Pa.  They  had  two 
children  :  Harry  W.  and  Edward  W.,  farmer 
in  Lykens  Valley. 

Harry  W.  was  a  young  boy  when  his 
father  died,  and  was  reared  by  his  grand- 
father in  Washington  township,  where  he 
attended  school  until  he  was  ten  years  old, 
when  lie  left  his  grandfather  and  lived  out, 
getting  what  schooling  he  could  in  the  win- 
ter time.  At  eighteen  years  of  ago  he  went 
to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith  with  Daniel 
E.  Snyder,  with  whom  he  served  an  ap- 
pi'enticeshij)  of  two  years  and  afterwards 
worked  a  year  and  a  half  longer  as  a  jour- 
neyman. He  came  to  Elizabethville  and 
opened  a  shop,  where  he  worked  five  years 
and  then  built  the  shop  which  he  now 
occupies.  He  was  married,  at  Camden ,  N.  J.,  in 
October,  1882,  to  Miss  Fanny  Koppen better. 
They  have  two  children:  Mark  C.  and 
Raljili  Monroe.  Mr.  Sjiracht  is  a  Democrat 
in  })olitics  and  served  as  school  director  one 
year.  In  February,  ISiJU,  he  was  elected  to 
the  council.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran church. 


Stauffer,  Rev.  J.  J.,  pastor  of  Salem  Re- 
formed church,  Elizabethville,  was  born  July 
11,  1860 ;  son  of  Daniel  and  Fannie  (Long) 
Stauffer,  the  latter  deceased.  Three  Stautfer 
brothers  came  from  Spain,  one  of  whom 
settled  in  Bucks,  one  in  Montgojnery  and 
out!  in  Chester  county,  and  all  were  farmers 
by  occupation.  Jacob  Staufi'er,  the  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Bucks  county,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  where  he 
died.  He  married  a  Miss  Sciiantz,  who 
survived  him  some  years.  Their  children 
were:  Peter,  resides  at  Wilkes-Barre  ;  Will- 
iam, deceased  ;  Jacob  deceased  ;  Daniel ;  and 
Polly,  Mrs.  Groff.  Lancaster,  Pa. 

The  father  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  in 
1824,  where  he  was  reared  and  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools.  He  first 
learned  the  trade  of  cabinet  maker,  and  after- 
wards tliat  of  coach  maker.  He  married 
Miss  Fannie  Long,  and  settled  at  Crockers- 
port,  where  he  continued  business  at  his 
trade,  which  he  conducted  for  tliirty  years. 
He  is  now  living  retired  at  that  place,  and 
his  son  Harvey  continues  the  business.  His 
wife  died  September  11,  1877.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Annie,  Mrs.  William  Falk,  Brook- 
haven,  Pa.;  Eugene  E.,  painter  for  railroad, 
Elizabeth,  N.  J.;  Rev.  J.  J.;  Harvey  D.  P.; 
Samuel   P.,  Lutlieran  minister,  at  present 


taking  special  course  at  Johns  Hopkins  Uni- 
versity ;  George  A.,  theological  student.  Mr. 
Stauffer  is  a  strong  Proliibitionist  and  a 
member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  for  forty 
years. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Stauffer  attended  the  public 
schools  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age, 
and  during  vacation  was  engaged  in  work 
with  his  father.  At  this  age  he  entered  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  and  re- 
mained for  two  years,  and  then  prepared 
for  college  at  the  Muhlenburg  Academy,  at 
Allentown,  taking  a  two  years'  cours",  ami 
was  admitted  to  the  Freshman  class  of  Ursi- 
nus  College  in  tlie  fall  of  1880,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1884. 
His  theological  course  was  also  taken  at  the 
same  college,  and  was  completed  two  years 
later.  He  at  once  accepted  a  call  to  the 
church  at  East  Berlin,  Adams  county,  Pa., 
and  on  taking  charge  of  that  congregation 
was   ordained    to  the  same  office  in  June, 

1886.  He  I'cmaincd  in  this  charge  three 
years  and  was  then  called  to  Westport  and 
East  Mauch  Chunk,  where  his  pastorate 
continued  until  he  was  called  to  Elizabeth- 
ville in  1891,  where  he  has  since  labored. 
His  work  at  this  place  has  been  crowned  with 
success,  of  which  the  new  parsonage  and 
other  substantial  improvements  in  the  prop- 
erty aiid  the  growth  of  the-  Sabbath-school 
and  increase  of  church  membership  are  all 
marked  cn'idences.  Mr.  Stautfer  also  looks 
after  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  church  at 
Berrysburg,   Hoffman's   church    and  Gratz. 

He  was  married,  at  East  Berlin,  October  6, 

1887,  to  Miss  Ella  E.  Refert,  daughter  of 
Edward  and  Catherine  Refert,  by  whom  lie 
has  three  children :  Refert  Ur.sinus,  died 
aged  four  and  a  half  years;  Emma  Lulu, 
born  August  26,  1890,  and  Lottie  May,  born 
September  18,  1892.  Mr.  Stauffer  is'a  pro- 
nounced Prohibitionist,  and  believes  that 
the  suppression  of  the  liquor  business 
through  public  action  is  the  prominent  issue 
of  the  da}'  and  is  to  be  attained  by  the  crea- 
tion of  a  high  moral  public  sentiment. 


Stine,  Peter  L.,  merchant,  Elizabeth- 
ville, was  born  in  Lykens  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  July  26,  1827  ;  son  of  John 
P.  and  Regina  (Coleman)  Stine.  Frederick 
Stine,  the  grandfjitlier,  was  born  iii  Germany, 
and  received  his  education  in  his  native 
land,  where  he  also  learned  the  trade  of 
stone  mason.  He  came  to  America  in  1781, 
lauded  at  Philadelphia  and  settled  in  Mont- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1129 


gomery  county,  where  he  worked  at  liis 
trade,  and  hiter  removed  to  Daiipliin  county. 
He  married  Abigail  Lamb,  who  (bed  in  1804. 
Their  children  are  :  John  P.;  Elizabeth,  de- 
ceased, Mrs.  Andrew  Riegle ;  Rosina,  de- 
ceased, Mrs.  John  Coleman  ;  Catherine,  de- 
ceased, Mrs.  John  Dietz. 

The  father  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county.  Pa.,  in  1784.  At  the  age  of  four 
years  his  parents  settled  in  Lykens  township, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  was  edu- 
ucated  in  the  subscription  schools  of  the 
time.  His  death  occurred  on  tiie  old  home- 
stead, August  17,  1854.  His  wife  was  born 
in  Lykens  township,  August,  1795.  Siie 
was  Regina  Coleman,  daughter  of  Charles 
Coleman,  and  died  at  the  home  of  her  daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth  Retzman,  at  Gratz,  Pa.,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1878.  Their  children  are  :  Catherine, 
deceased,  wife  of  Henry  Moyer,  and  after- 
wards of  Peter  Mo}'er  ;  Frederick,  died  aged 
seventeen  years;  Helen,  deceased,  wife  of 
James  Glenn ;  John,  died  in  Schuylkill 
county,  Pa.;  Daniel  P.,  Lykens  township, 
saddler  and  farmer;  Elizabeth,  widow  of 
Daniel  Retzman  ;  Abigail,  wife  of  Joseph  D. 
Frank,  Pottsville,  Pa.;  Peter  L.;  Ciiarles, 
located  in  Perry  county  and  died  there  in 
1893;  Jonas,  engineer  on  the  Reading  rail- 
road, at  Pottsville  ;  Isaac,  died  aged  fifteen 
months ;  Anna  Maria,  died  aged  eleven 
months;  and  Josiah  P.,  farmer  and  tanner, 
Washington  township. 

Peter  L.  acquired  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  opened  a  flour  and  feed  store,  at  Potts- 
ville, Pa.,  which  proved  unsuccessful  as  a 
business  venture,  losing  him  his  entire  in- 
vestment. He  managed  to  paj'  his  debts  and 
resumed  work  on  the  home  farm  with  his 
father,  who  sold  him  ninety  acres  of  wild 
land,  which  he  cleared  up  and  improved, 
and  which,  in  1854,  he  sold  to  his  brother 
Daniel  P.  He  bought  from  his  father  a  half 
interest  in  the  farm  and  mill  property,  in 
Washington  township,  and  run  the  mill  with 
his  brother  in  connection  with  farming  until 
1871,  the  firm  being  P.  L.  &  C.  Stine.  Li 
1871  they  admitted  to  partnership  George 
Diebler,andcoiitinued  one  year,  when  Diebler 
died.  He  bought  Diebler's  interest,  who  had 
also,  before  his  death,  obtained  his  brother's 
interest,  and  continued  the  business  alone 
until  1873,  when  he  admitted  Harry  Herman 
as  a  partner.  He  continued  tliis  partnership 
until  1885,  when  he  sold  liis  interest  to  Na- 
thaniel Miller,  and  opened  iiis  present  store. 


buying  the  property  and  putting  in  a  new 
general  stock  of  goods,  and  has  since  con- 
tinued the  business.  He  was  appointed  Gov- 
ernment store  keeper  and  ganger  and  had 
the  position  until  a  change  of  administra- 
tion, during  which  time  he  saved  from  his 
income  $27'^000.  But  he  later  met  with  ad- 
versity, losing  in  187G  and  1877  §21,000, 
which  did  not  discourage  him,  but  impelled 
him  to  renewed  energy  and  enterprise. 

Mr.  Stine  was  married,  in  Upper  Paxton 
township,  December  17,  1850,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
betli  Buffington,  a  native  of  Gratz,  Pa.,  and 
a  daughter  of  Maj.  Jacob  Bufhngton.  She 
died  May  15,  1893.  She  was  a  devout  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  ciiurch  and  much  in- 
terested in  all  charitable  work,  and  a  loving 
and  faithful  wife  and  mother.  Their  children 
are:  Ellen  R.,  Mrs.  George  Diebler;  Sarah 
L.,  wife  of  D.  J.  Diebler ;  Isaac  F.;  Cathe- 
rine, deceased;  Peter;  David;  John  J.; 
Harry  W.;  Carrie,  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Cooper; 
and  Samuel  J.  Mr.  Stine  is  a  Democrat  and 
is  serving  as  a  school  director.  In  1875,  and 
again  in  1877,  he  was  elected  county  com- 
missioner, but  was  counted  out  l)oth  times. 
He  was  an  elder  in  the  Reformed  church  for 
many  years  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
Sunday-school  matters. 


Stine,  Josi.\h  P.,  farmer  and  tanner,  was 
horn  in  Lykens  township,  Daupliin  county, 
Pa.,  September  9, 1837.  He  attended  school 
only  ten  days  in  all  his  life.  He  worked  at 
home  for  his  father  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  lie  and  his  brother  went 
West  in  search  of  employment,  in  1855,  and 
rented  a  farm  in  Ogle  county.  111.  They 
were  soon  discouraged  and  remained  only 
two  months,  returning  home  in  May.  On 
the  way  his  pocket  was  picked  of  $82.  He 
then  served  an  apprenticeship  of  two  and  a 
half  years  at  the  tanner's  trade  at  Gratz,  Pa., 
after  which  he  bought  the  home  tannery  and 
eight  acres  of  land  in  Washington  township, 
where  i\e  has  continued  for  thirty -seven 
years.  He  has  added  to  the  original  pur- 
chase forty-nine  acres  and  has  conducted 
farming  operations  in  connection  with  the 
tannery. 

He  was  married,  at  Gratz,  Pa.,  February 
16,  1857,  to  Miss  Catherine  Louisa  Good, 
born  in  Lykens  township,  November  5, 1837  ; 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Margaret  (Rudy) 
Good.  Their  children  arc:  Franklin  Peter, 
born  August  0,  1858,  in  Lykens  township, 
educated  in  the  township  school,  Berrysburg 


1130 


BIOGRAPHICAL   ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Academj'  and  Millersville  State  Normal 
School,  and  has  taught  six  years  in  Wash- 
ington township  and  three  years  in  Upper 
Paxton ;  Daniel  M.,  born  in  Washington 
township,  February  24,  1860,  educated  in 
home  schools  and  jNIillerstown  Academy  and 
is  now  assistant  in  tiie  liigh  school  at  Will- 
iam stovvn,  married  to  Mary  C.  Fi'ank  ;  Mary 
L.,  born  January  9,  1863,  wife  of  Samuel  W. 
Cooper.  Mr.  Stine  is  a  Democrat  in  politics 
and  an  active  worker  in  the  Reformed 
church. 


Werner,  A.^ron,  farmer,  Wa.shington 
township,  was  born  in  Wasliington  town- 
ship, Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  October  2,  1853  ; 
son  of  George  and  Hannah  (Longabach) 
Webner.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
in  his  native  town.ship  during  the  winter 
months  and  worked  on  the  home  farm  in 
the  summers,  and  remained  at  home  till  his 
marriage,  which  occurred  in  Washington 
township,  December  2,  1876,  when  he  was 
united  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Sulzbach,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Landis)  Sulz- 
bach. His  father  having  returned  to  Eliza- 
bethville,  he  located  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  has  since  bought  the  place,  which  con- 
sists of  fifty  acres  with  good  buildings  and 
other  improvements.  His  children  are : 
Hannah  Nora,  born  September  2,  1877,  at 
home;  George  Joseph,  born  December  28, 
1879 ;  Annie  M.,  born  October  5,  1883,  at 
home;  Edward  Allen,  born  July  2,  1887. 
Mr.  Webner  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political 
views.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  has  served  as  elder,  deacon  and 
trustee  for  some  vears. 


BoYER,  Wesley,  farmer,  Washington 
township,  was  born  on  his  present  farm,  in 
Washington  township,  Daupiiin  county,  Pa., 
November  14,  1856;  son  of  Gabriel  and 
Maulda  (Ginler)  Boj'cr.  The  father  was  born 
in  Berks  county,  Pa.,  in  1823,  and  when  a 
boy  removed  with  his  parents  to  Lower 
Mahanoy  township,  Northumberland  county, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In  1842 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Dauphin  county 
and  learned  the  miller's  trade  near  Loyalton, 
at  which  he  worked  for  a  short  time.  When 
his  father  died  he  took  the  old  Lowe  farm  at 
Millersburg,  which  he  worked  for  a  year  or 
two,  and  subsequently  gave  his  attention  to 
firming  until  his  death,  October  14,  1887. 
He  is  interred  in  the  Berrysburg  cemetery. 
His  wife  survived  him,  passing  away  in  May, 


1892.  She  was  of  the  Lutheran  faith,  and 
active  in  Christian  and  benevolent  affairs. 
Mr.  Boyer  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

Wesley  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents, 
and  they  afforded  hitn  the  most  liberal  edu- 
cational advantages.  They  jilanned  to  give 
liim  a  collegiate  education,  but  he  preferred 
business  to  study,  and  desired  to  be  a  mer- 
chant. His  father  did  not  deem  it  necessary 
for  him  to  go  into  business,  as  he  was  the 
only  child  and  heir  and  would  succeed  to 
the  homestead.  He  developed  unusual  me- 
chanical ability,  and  has  constructed  several 
farming  implements  and  does  all  his  own 
repairing.  Mr.  Boyer  was  married,  in 
Washington  township,  in  1880,  to  Miss  Lydia 
Ann  Row,  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Lizzie 
(Wolf)  Row.  After  the  death  of  his  parents 
he  occupied  the  old  homestead,  to  the  owner- 
sbif)  of  which  he  succeeded.  Their  onl^' 
child,  Frances  Ellen,  was  born  October  15, 
1880.  Mr.  Boj-er  is  a  Democrat  in  his  po- 
litical views. 


Arxts,  Jacob,  creameryman,  Elizabeth- 
ville.  Pa.,  was  born  in  Bainbridge,  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  January  13,  1858;  son  of  John 
and  Barbara  Arnts.  The  grandfather.  Garret 
Arnts,  was  a  lumberman  and  died  in  the 
lumber  regions.  The  father  was  born  in 
Clearfield  county.  Pa.,  and  is  a  daj'  laborer. 
He  was  reared  in  Bainbridge,  Lancaster 
county,  where  he  resides  at  the  present  time 
in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health.  His  chil- 
dren are :  Lizzie,  Mrs.  Sears,  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
Mahata,  Mrs.  Eners,  York,  Pa.;  Jacob;  Gar- 
ret, merchant  in  Lebanon ;  Harry,  cigar 
maker,  York,  Pa.;  Samina,  Mrs.  Addick,  re- 
siding near  Harrisburg.  In  politics  the 
father  is  a  Republican,  and  entered  the  army 
in  1861  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Jacob  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  place.  At  the  age 
of  twelve  he  began  work  as  a  farm  hand  and 
used  his  earnings  for  the  supportof  the  family. 
He  was  married,  in  Mt.  Joy,  Lancaster  county, 
October  9, 1881,  to  Miss  Labina  Fack,  who  is 
a  native  of  Lancaster  county  and  was  born 
in  1862.  Their  children  are:  Norman  F., 
ELsie,  Clara,  and  Howard.  After  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Arnts  first  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Mt.  Joy,  and  worked  by  the  day  for  two  years, 
when  he  went  to  Lancaster  and  was  engaged 
in  a  creamery  for  one  year;  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  returned  to  Mt.  Joy.  He  next 
went  to  Bird-in-Hand,  Lancaster  county,  and 
worked  in  a  creamery  for  five  years.     From 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1131 


here  he  moved  to  Millerstown,  Perry  county, 
where  he  established  a  creamery,  which  he 
operated  for  some  time,  then  came  to  Ehza- 
bethville  and  began  business  with  Messrs. 
Mittis  &  Speck.  Firm  continued  thus  for 
three  years,  when  Mr.  Speck  sold  his  interest 
to  Arnts  and  Mittis,  under  which  name  the 
firm  now  does  business.  In  1892  a  branch 
creamery  was  started  at  Gratz.  In  politics 
Mr.  Arnts  is  a  Republican  and  has  never 
sought  any  office. 


WAYNE  TOWNSHIP. 


Sponsler,  Joseph  D.,  was  born  in  Halifax 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  September 
28,  1844.  ■  He  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Ann 
(Sweigard)  Sponsler.  The  Sponslers  are  of 
German  ancestry  and  were  all  staunch  Dem- 
ocrats. Andrew  Sponsler  was  born  in  Middle 
Paxton  township  and  grew  up  in  his  native 
place.  He  was  a  wagon  maker.  After  his 
marriage  he  settled  in  Halifax  township  and 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  he  went  West 
with  his  daughters.  He  died  in  the  West 
about  1890.  His  wife  had  preceded  him  to  the 
grave  by  about  fifteen  years.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Michael  W.;  Harriet,  wife  of 
Harry  Northhammer,  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Wesley  Stover,  resides  in  the 
We.st ;  John  A.,  died  aged  about  thirty -five 
years;  Joseph  D.;  Susan,  married  to  a  Mr. 
Black,  resides  in  the  AVest ;  Henry,  died 
aged  twenty-two  years ;  and  William,  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  the  West. 

Joseph  D.  Sponsler  attended  the  common 
schools  of  Matamoras,  Halifax  township. 
After  finishing  his  school  education  he  re- 
mained with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  twenty-one.  He  then  began  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years  at  blacksmitliing  wiili 
Leonard  Poffenberger  at  Dauphin,  Pa.  He 
was  to  receive  §3G  per  year  for  his  services, 
and  at  the  end  of  three  years  he  had  §3(3  due 
hun.  From  Dauphin  he  went  to  Millers- 
burg  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  Theodore 
Jury  at  §50  per  month.  At  the  end  of  four 
months  he  went  to  Halifax  and  worked  for 
Christian  Lyter  at  §40  i)er  month.  A  few 
montiis  later  he  began  business  for  himself 
in  Halifax  and  continued  there  for  several 
years.  He  then  opened  a  shop  below  Mata- 
moras, where  he  remained  for  about  three 
years.  After  this  he  bought  his  present 
place  of  Jacob  Stansburj',  consisting  of  a  shop 
and  about  eight  acres  of  land,  for  which  he 


paid  1700.  He  has  since  built  a  new  house 
and  barn  and  made  other  improvements. 
About  1870  Mr.  Sponsler  began  to  offer  his 
services  as  an  auctioneer,  and  he  has  been 
widely  employed  in  this  capacity.  In  both 
branches  of  his  business,  as  black.smith  and 
as  auctioneer,  he  is  successful.  In  the  latter 
vocation  he  is  brought  into  contact  with  the 
people  of  this  and  adjacent  counties,  and 
being  a  close  observer,  with  a  keen  apprecia- 
tion of  the  humorous  phases  of  human  na- 
ture, he  has  many  interesting  and  amusing 
things  to  tell  of  his  experiences. 

Joseph  Sponsler  was  married,  in  Halifax 
townsliip,  September  2('),  18G7,  to  Miss  Sarah 
A.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Knauil.  They  have 
five  children :  Jacob  K., married  Annie  Lebo, 
resides  in  the  borough  of  Halifax  ;  Laura, 
wife  of  Thomas  Lebo,  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  John 
N.,  operator  at  Burlingame,  Pa.;  Harvey, 
and  S3'lvia,  at  home.  Mr.  Sponsler  is  a  strong 
Refiublican.  He  was  for  four  years  constable 
in  Halifax  township.  He  and  his  wife  were 
reared  in  the  United  Brethren  church.  Mr. 
Sponsler  is  a  self-made  man.  He  is  a  good 
talker,  intelligent  and  sociable,  and  enjoys 
tiie  esteem  and  good  will  of  his  neighbors. 


Enders,  John,  was  born  in  Jefl'erson  town- 
ship, now  Wayne,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Au- 
gust 26,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  Philip  and 
Nancy  (Sheetz)  Enders.  Philip  Enders  was 
born  in  Jackson  township,  Daujdiin  county. 
May  22,  1805.  He  grew  up  and  married  in 
his  native  place.  After  his  marriage  he  suc- 
ceeded his  father  on  the  place  where  his  son, 
John  Enders,  now  resides;  he  remained  upon 
this  place  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
December  14,  1859.  His  wife  died  Januarj^ 
9,1891.  Their  living  children  are:  Sarah, 
widow  of  Benjamin  Radel,  Wayne  township ; 
Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Coogley,  Logansport, 
Ind.;  Peter,  farmer  in  Jefferson  township ; 
John ;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  John  Lebo, 
Wayne  township;  Amanda,  wife  of  Elias 
Hettinger,  Wayne  township.  Mr.  Enders 
was  a  Democrat. 

John  Enders  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  left  school  at 
about  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  was  reared 
as  farmer's  boys  usually  are.  He  succeeded 
his  father  on  the  home  farm  in  1859,  and 
since  tliat  time,  with  the  exception  of  two 
years,  he  has  always  farmed  the  place.  In 
1865  he  went  West  on  a  tour  of  inspection, 
seeking  a  favorable  ])lace  to  locate.  He  was 
accomjmnied  by  his  wife,  visited  Indiana  and 


1132 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Illinois,  and  was  absent  seven  montlis.  He 
rented  liis  farm  for  two  years,  and  left  liis 
live  stock  in  care  of  his  neighbors  wliile  he 
was  on  his  journey.  He  bought  a  home  in 
Armstrong  Valley,  Jackson  township. 

Mr.  Enders  was  married,  in  Jackson  town- 
sliip,  October  9,  1859,  to  Miss  Amanda, 
daughter  of  John  Grimm.  They  have  five 
children:  Charles,  merchant  at  Logansport; 
Clara,  died  aged  tliree  years;  Alice,  wife  of 
Abel  Palmer,  Washington  township;  Har- 
vey and  Katy,  at  home.  Mr.  Enders  is  a 
strong  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  tlie 
United  Bretliren  church,  is  a  trustee  of  the 
church,  and  treasurer  both  of  tiie  church  and 
of  the  Sunday-school.  In  December,  1895, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Enders  paid  a  visit  to  tlieir 
son,  who  was  sick  at  Logansport,  Ind. 


Hoffman,  Cornelius,  was  born  in  Mifflin 
township,  afterwards  Washington  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  April  24,  1831.  He 
w^as  a  son  of  (Uu-istian  and  Sarah  (Tobias) 
Hoffman.  His  great-grandfather,  John  P. 
Hoffman,  came  from  German}'  when  a 
young  man,  and  located  in  Berks  county. 
Pa.,  wdience  he  later  removed  on  horseback 
to  Lykens  Valley.  The  country  at  that  time 
was  wild  and  occupied  by  Indians,  numer- 
ous and  savage,  from  whom  tiie  travelers 
were  often  compelled  to  flee.  W'hen  Mr. 
Hoffman  reached  Lykens  Valley  an  old 
rooster  crowed,  and  he  took  that  as  a  sign  to 
stop  and  make  a  home  there.  He  died  in 
Lykens  Valley  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety. 
Christian  Hoffman,  gramlfatber  of  Cornelius, 
succeeded  liis  father,  Joini  P.,  on  the  home- 
stead in  Lykens  A^alley,  and  died  there. 
His  son  Christian,  father  of  Cornelius  Hoff- 
man, was  born  in  Lj'kens  Valley,  near  Short 
Mountain,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  July  30, 
1799.  He  grew  up  in  his  native  place,  was 
married  there  and  there  died,  June  1,  1870. 
He  was  fairly  educated  and  was  a  farmer. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 
His  wife  Sarah  was  born  in  Berne  town- 
ship, Berks  county,  Pa.,  October  5, 1802,  and 
came  with  her  mother  in  early  youtli  to 
Lykens  Valley,  her  father  iiaving  lost  his 
lil^e  by  falling  from  bis  barn.  She  died  Sep- 
tember 5,  1870.  Their  cliildren  are:  Will- 
iam, born  August  5,  1823,  resided  in  Lykens 
Valley  until  he  was  forty -.seven  years  old, 
tiien  removed  to  Illinois,  and  finally  located 
at  "N^ictoria,  Cass  county.  Neb.,  where  he 
died  in  1894,  leaving  a  daughter  and  three 
sons ;  Sarah,  born   December  5,  1825,  mar- 


ried Benjamin  Swamp,  resided  in  Mercer 
county,  Pa.,  until  1884,  since  which  date 
they  have  been  residents  of  Kansas ;  Mary 
M.,  born  April  12,  1828,  widow  of  John  Um- 
holtz,  of  Halifax  township,  Dauphin  county; 
Cornelius;  Peter,  born  February  22,  1833, 
died  of  apoplexy  in  Lykens  Valley,  Febru- 
ary 15,  1895 ;  Rebecca,  born  November  13, 
1834,  widow  of  Emanuel  Forney,  living  with 
her  son,  near  Fisherville,  Pa.;  John  T.,  born 
July  12,  1837,  resides  in  Upper  Paxton  town- 
ship; Henry  H.,  born  December  10,  1839, 
since  1870  a  resident  of  Republic  county, 
Kan.;  Susan,  born  December  27,  1842,  mar- 
ried John  Knoll,  removed  to  Mercer  county. 
Pa.,  later  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  died 
there  in  the  fall  of  1895  ;  Emma  J.,  born 
April  22,  1846,  married  Joseph  Tyson,  who 
died  in  Powell's  Valley,  she  went  to  Kansas 
about  1872,  and  married  a  Mr.  Rowe,  with 
whom  she  lives  in  the  Indian  Territory;  and 
Sallie  C,  born  November  4,  1847,  wife  of 
George  Dunkle,  removed  to  Mercer  county, 
and  later  to  Butler  county.  Pa.,  where  they 
now  reside. 

Cornelius  Hoffman  first  attended  the 
schools  of  his  native  place,  atid  afterwards 
was  a  i:)upil  at  the  Berrysburg  Seminary  for 
two  years.  He  was  twenty-three  years  old 
when  he  left  the  seminar}';  he  afterwards 
taught  school  for  twelve  winter  terms  in 
Jefferson  and  Washington  townships  He 
was  brought  up  a  farmer's  boy,  and  never 
served  an  aj^prenticeship  at  any  trade,  yet 
he  was  skillful  in  the  u.se  of  tools,  and 
could  accomplish  good  mechanical  results 
in  carpentry  and  other  branches  of  work- 
manship. He  made  himself  a  gun.  While 
teaching  school  during  the  winter  seasons, 
Mr.-  Hoffman  would  work  for  wages  as  a 
farm  hand  in  the  bu.sy  months  for  farm 
work ;  thus  he  obtained  the  means  for  a 
more  liberal  education.  He  literall}'  edu- 
cated himself  by  the  labor  of  his  hands. 

Cornelius  Hoffman  was  married,  in  Jack- 
son township,  November  4,  1850,  to  Mary 
Ann  Hassinger,  born  in  Lykens  township, 
Dauphin  county.  When  about  eight  j'ears 
of  age  she  removed  with  her  parents  to 
Washington  township,  where  she  resided 
until  her  marriage.  She  died  August  29, 
1895,  aged  sixty  years,  eight  months  and 
twenty-three  daj's.  Mrs.  Hoffman  was  the 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Esther  (Smells) 
Hassinger.  In  early  infancy  she  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  membershi])  of  the  Reformed 
church,    through    the    rite    of    baptism,    by 


S    J    M.  MCCARRELL 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1135 


Rev.  Isaac  Steiley.  She  was  buried  in  the 
cemetery  of  St.  Paul's  (Bowman's)  churcli, 
August  31,  1895.  She  was  an  estimable 
lady,  a  kind  mother,  and  a  faitiiful  and 
lovingwife;  she  was  loved  and  honored  by 
all  for  her  many  virtues.  The  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoffman  are:  William  H., 
born  in  Wasiiington  township,  February  26, 
1S59,  attended  school  there,  and  now  man- 
ages the  home  farm  ;  Agnes  Rebecca,  born 
December  20,  18()0,  wife  of  Washington 
Sheetz,  Wayne  township ;  Lucy  Ellen,  born 
December  20,  1862,  at  home ;  Margaret  E., 
born  November  4,  1864,  wife  of  William 
Demjjsey,  Wayne  township ;  John  C,  born 
May  19,  1867,  went  to  Cass  county,  Ind., 
February,  1895,  now  a  farm  hand  there; 
Charles  D.,  born  September  16,  1869,  gradu- 
ate of  Ada  College,  Ohio,  school  teacher  in 
Jefferson  township ;  Jacob  T.,  born  Novem- 
ber 9,  1872,  at  present  teaching  school  in 
Wayne  township ;  he  is  a  graduate  of 
Berrysburg  Seminary,  and  is  now  taking  a 
special  course  in  Franklin  and  Marshall 
College,  Lancaster,  Pa. ;  Aaron  M.,  born 
December  2.3,  1874,  at  home;  Albert  H., 
born  August  16,  1876,  went  to  Cass  county, 
Ind.,  Februar}',  1895,  is  a  farm  hand  there. 
After  tlieir  marriage  Mr.  Hoffman  and 
his  wife  went  to  housekeeping  on  his 
father's  farm;  they  soon  after  purchased  the 
farm,  and  in  1879  sold  it  and  removed  to 
Waj'ue  township,  and  located  in  their  pres- 
ent liome.  Mr.  Hoffman  has  a  farm  of 
seventy-six  acres  under  high  cultivation. 
Since  1860  Mr.  Hoffman  has  been  a  Repub- 
lican. He  was  for  three  years  assessor,  and 
school  director  for  four  years;  he  has  held 
several  offices  in  Washington  township.  He 
is  not  a  politician,  and  has  never  sought 
elevation  to  office.  Mr.  Hoffman  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  church.  He  is  intelli- 
gent, a  good  talker,  genial  and  sociable,  and 
is  highly  esteemed. 


Hoover,  Henry,  was  born  in  Lykeus 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  in  1833  ;  son 
of  John  and  Margaret  (Lebo)  Hoover.  His 
grandfather,  Jacob  Hoover,  was  a  farmer. 
He  was  a  man  of  large  size.  He  settled  in 
Lykens  townshij),  where  he  died  nearly  a 
hundred  years  old.  His  son,  John  Hoover, 
was  born  in  Lykens  township,  and  was  a 
farmer  and  miller.  He  was  twice  married. 
B}'  his  first  wife  his  children  are :  John, 
Elias,  Josiah,  Daniel,  Henry,  Thomas,  Su- 
sanna, Poll}',  and  Rebecca.  He  had  no  chil- 
70 


dren  by  his  second  wife,  who  preceded  him 
to  the  grave.  He  died  in  Lykens  Valley, 
aged  seventy-two.     He  was  a  Democrat. 

Henry  Hoover  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  Lykens  township  and  reared  a  farmer;  he 
remained  on  the  home  farm  until  his  mar- 
riage. He  was  married,  in  Lykens  township, 
in  1859,  to  Miss  Amanda  Ricard,  born  in 
Lykens  township.  After  his  marriage  he 
resided  with  his  father  seven  years  and  then 
came  to  Wayne  townsliip,  then  Jefferson, 
and  bought  one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres 
of  land,  upon  which  he  has  since  m.ade  sub- 
stantial improvements,  and  now  has  a  good 
house  and  barn  and  all  otiier  needful  or  de- 
sirable structures.  His  children  are  :  John 
H.,  farmer,  Halifax  township;  Tobias,  now 
at  iiome  sick  ;  Priscilla,  deceased  ;  Kate,  wife 
of  Aaron  Riegle,  Lebanon  county, Pa.;  Louisa, 
deceased;  Isaiah,  deceased  ;  Emma  J.,  Lean- 
der,  Alfred  and  Amanda,  all  deceased;  Rose 
Ann,  wife  of  Charles  Palmer ;  Ida  Rebecca  ; 
Isabella,  deceased  ;  Sadie  Ellen.  Mr.  Hoover 
is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  school  director,  hav- 
ing been  elected  in  1895.  He  is  a  member 
of  tiie  Reformed  church. 


McL.vuGHLiN,  Alexander,  merchant  and 
postmaster,  Enterline,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Jef- 
ferson township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Octo- 
ber 13,  1841  ;  son  of  Archibald  and  Rebecca 
(Wells)  McLaughlin.  His  grandfather,  the 
elder  Alexander  McLaughlin,  was  born  in 
Ireland  in  1770,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1788,  landing  at  Piiiiadelpliia,  Pa. 
Here  he  was  married  and  resided  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  then  removed  to  Lancaster 
county,  and  later  to  Dauphin  county,  where 
he  settled  in  Jefferson  township,  and  re- 
mained there  until  his  death  in  1857.  He 
was  a  farmer.  His  wife  was  Catherine  Fitz- 
patrick,  widow  of  Daniel  Frazier.  Their 
children  were :  Alexander,  born  1807,  died 
September  24,  1828 ;  Catherine,  married 
Archibald  McMichaels,  removed  to  Iowa 
about  1840,  both  died  there  ;  Rosanna,  mar- 
ried, first,  Mr.  McFarland  ;  they  removed  to 
Iowa,  where  he  died,  and  she  afterwards 
married  a  Mr.  Colby. 

Alexander  McLauglilin,  father  of  Alex- 
ander (3),  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  in  Jackson  township,  Dauphin 
county,  where  he  died  in  October,  1888. 
His  wife  preceded  him  in  death.  Their 
children  are :  Samuel,  died  aged  sixteen 
years  ;  Mary,  deceased,  wife  of  John  Garner  ; 


1136 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Hannah,  dierl  aged  thirteen  years  ;  Alexan- 
der. Mr.  McLaughlin,  the  father,  was  a 
pleasing  public  speaker  and  took  an  active 
part  in  politics. 

Alexander  McLaughlin  (3)  was  educated 
in  tlie  common  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  was  reared  a  farmer  boy.  He  remained 
and  worked  at  home  until  he  was  nineteen 
years  old.  He  tlicn  engaged  to  work  as  a 
farm  hand  at  $0  per  month  for  Amos  Fisler, 
near  Harrisburg.  Mr.  McLaughlin  enlisted, 
September  4,  1861,  at  Camp  Curtin,  Harris- 
burg, foj-  three  years,  as  private  in  company 
A,  Fiftieth  Pennsylvania  volunteers.  After 
serving  thirteen  months  he  was  transferred 
to  Ijattury  E,  Second  United  States  artiller}', 
in  which  he  served  twenty-three  months,  and 
was  discharged  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1SG4.  The  engagements  in  which 
he  took  part  are  :  Pocalogo,  N.  C;  the  fight- 
ing along  the  Rappahannock,  followed  by 
tiie  second  Bull  Run  ;  Chantilly,  wherehewas 
slightly  wounded  in  the  left  shoulder;  South 
Mountain,  ^Vntietam,  and  Fredericksburg. 
In  the  spring  of  1863  he  was  ordered  to  Lex- 
ington, Ivy.,  whence  iiis  regiment  proceeded 
South  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  thence  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  skirmishing 
all  the  way.  From  Jackson  they  moved  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  thence  to  Lexington,  Ky.; 
the  next  battle  was  Cumberland  Gap,  fol- 
lowed by  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.  Re- 
joined the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the 
spring  of  1864,  and  with  that  army  engaged 
in  the  battles  of  Spottsylvania,  the  Wilder- 
ness, Cold  Harbor,  Mine  Run,  then  Peters- 
burg; thence  they  were  ordered  to  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  where  Mr.  McLaughlin  received 
his  discharge  on  account  of  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  service.  He  lay  in  the  hospital 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  over  six  weeks  witii 
fever.  After  his  discharge  from  the  army 
Mr.  McLaughlin  returned  home  and  went  to 
work,  assisting  in  building  the  Cove  furnace 
in  Perrj'  county.  Pa. 

In  the  spring  of  1866  Mr.  McLaughlin  re- 
moved to  Cass  county,  Ind.,but  not  liking  the 
country,  he  returned  to  Dauphin  county  in 
the  next  fall,  located  in  Jefferson  township, 
and  engaged  in  huckstering.  After  a  few 
years  at  tiiis  business  he  removed  to  Will- 
iamstown  and  opened  a  restaurant,  which  he 
conducted  one  j'ear.  He  then  returned  to 
Jefferson  township  and  farmed  for  two  years 
in  connection  with  huckstering.  In  the 
spring  of  1898  he  purchased  the  John  Enter- 


line  stock  of  goods,  at  Enterline,  Pa.,  and 
has  conducted  the  business  up  to  date. 

Mr.  McLaughlin  was  married,  in  Jefferson 
township  in  the  spring  of  1866,  to  Miss 
Amanda  Spade.  Their  children  are:  Ida 
Alice,  widow  of  Mr.  Snyder ;  Minnie  F., 
died  aged  four  years;  Robert  B.,  miner  at 
Tower  City,  Pa.;  William  E.,  deceased  ;  Sam- 
uel C,  deceased ;  John  H.,  Harry  E.,  and 
Curtin,  all   at  home;  Harvey  0.,  deceased. 

Mr.  McLaughlin  is  a  Democrat.  He  has 
been  justice  of  tiie  peace  for  five  years,  con- 
stable four  years,  school  director  eight  years 
and  postmaster  at  Enterline  since  1893.  He 
is  a  member  of  Heilner  Post,  No.  232,  G. 
A.  R.,  at  Lykens.  Mr.  Laughlin  is  of  fine 
build  and  military  bearing.  Pie  is  a  promi- 
nent and  honored  man. 


Hoffman,  Christian,  farmer,  Wayne 
township,  was  born  in  Lykens  township, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  November  11,  1821 ; 
son  of  John  B.  and  Barbara  (Bowman)  Hoif- 
man.  Christian  Hoffman,  tlie  grandfatiier, 
was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  and  came 
with  his  parents  when  a  boy  to  Lykens 
Valley,  where  he  grew  up  on  the  farm.  He 
married  Susanna  Diebler,  and  shortly  after- 
wards moved  to  Halifax  townsiiip,  where  he 
died  about  1845.  His  children  are:  Ann 
Mary ;  John  Peas ;  John  B.;  Daniel  G.; 
Peter;  Christian;  Jonas;  Pliilip ;  Simon; 
Susanna,  married  Philip  Siiutt ;  and  Cathe- 
rine, married  Jonathan  Novinger. 

The  father  was  born  in  Mittlin  township, 
September  17,  1793.  Tlie  mother  was  born 
in  Halifax  township.  May  19,  1795.  The 
father  early  leai'ned  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith, and  made  the  irons  for  Buchanan's 
forge.  Carton's  furnaces  and  forges  in  Clark's 
Valley,  and  also  the  irons  for  the  Poor 
House  mill.  He  came  to  Halifax  township 
with  his  family  about  1S31,  and  bought  a 
small  farm,  and  also  worked  at  his  trade  in  a 
shop  of  his  own.  Later  he  removed  to 
Powell's  \'alle3',  where  he  died  April  30, 
1875,  his  wife  having  died  October  12,  1860. 

Their  children  were :  George,  born  January 
14, 1816,  moved  to  Indiana,  and  died  there ; 
John,  born  April  4,  1818,  died  in  Wayne 
township;  Susanna,  born  April  27,  1820, 
died  aged  four  years  ;  Christian  ;  Margaret, 
born  September  12,  1824,  wife  of  Jonathan 
Spate,  Jefferson  township;  Sarah  Ann,  born 
February  14,  1827,  wife  of  Thomas  Lebo, 
residing  in   Perry  county.  Pa.;  Josiali,  born 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1137 


May  10,  1829,  died  in  Halifax  township  ; 
Jaines,  born  February  25,  1831,  farmer  in 
Jackson  township ;  Peter  Albright,  born 
August  8,  1833,  died  in  February,  189G,  in 
Wayne  townsliip ;  Lidian,  born  May  3, 
1889,  died  in  Wayne  township.  Mr.  Hoff- 
man served  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Christian  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Halifax  township  under  his 
teacher,  Daniel  M.  Minich.  He  was  fourteen 
years  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Hali- 
fax township,  where  he  was  brought  up  on 
the  farm.  He  and  his  brotiier  John  carried 
on  the  ftirm,  while  his  older  brother  and 
his  father  worked  in  the  shop.  In  1844  he 
was  married,  in  Jefferson  township,  to  Miss 
Susanna  Enterline,  daughter  of  Peter  Enter- 
line,  a  prominent  man  in  the  township  at 
that  time.  They  had  twelve  children,  of 
whom  the-  survivors  are:  Peter  Franklin, 
farmer  in  Wayne  township  ;  Hannah  Mar- 
tha, wife  ofRomanius  Zimmerman,  residing 
in  New  Holland,  Pa.;  Thomas  Jefferson,  at 
home ;  Samuel  W.,  at  home,  married  to 
Mary  Hartman,  and  they  have  one  child. 
Mr.  Hoffman  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served 
as  assessor  of  the  township  one  term,  school 
director  for  several  terms,  and  as  supervisor  of 
the  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed church,  and  has  held  many  offices  in 
that  connection.  In  1849  he  bought  ninety- 
six  acres  of  land,  mostly  brush  land  and  very 
little  cleared,  which  is  a  part  of  his  present 
j^lace,  and  has  since  added  seventy-four  acres 
to  the  original  purchase.  He  also  owns  an- 
other tract  of  one  hundred  and  one  acres. 


Lebo,  Wii.liam  H.,  farmer,  Wayne  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  August  19,  1841 ;  son  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  (Shepley)  Lebo.  The  father  was 
born  in  Upper  Paxton  township.  He  was  a 
shoemaker,  and  followed  that  occupation 
until  1849,  when  he  came  to  Wayne,  then 
Jeffer.son  township,  and  bought  fifty  acres  of 
land,  to  which  he  later  added  man\'  more. 
Pie  removed  to  Halifax  township  and  oc- 
cupied a  tract  of  twenty-two  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  died  in  1893,  his  first  wife  having 
died  in  1800.  His  second  wife  was  Mary 
Shepley,  by  whom  he  had  no  children.  The 
children  by  his  first  wife  are:  Elsie,  resides 
in  Nebraska ;  Elmira,  died  in  1859 ;  William 
H.;  John,  in  Illinois;  Samuel,  deceased; 
Mary,  in  Harri.sburg;  Sarah,  in  Kansas; 
Charles   P.,  in   Illinois;  Su.san    A.,   in   Ne- 


braska ;  Joseph,  Wayne  township,  and  three 
children  who  died  young. 

William  H.  was  eight  years  old  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Wayne  township,  where 
he  I'eceived  a  common  school  education.  He 
worked  at  home  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
eighteen  years  old,  when  he  learned  the  trade 
of  carpenter,  and  followed  that  occupation 
for  twenty  years  or  more,  doing  contract 
work  at  times.  In  1864  he  enlisted  at  Har- 
risburg  in  company  A,  Two  Hundred  and 
Tenth  regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  in 
which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  discharged  at  Arlington  Heights  in 
June,  1865.  He  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Hatch's  Pun,  Muddy  Run,  Gaines'  Mills, 
Five  Forks,  and  was  present  at  Lee's  sur- 
render. After  his  discharge  from  the  army 
he  resumed  work  at  his  trade,  and  followed 
that  occupation  until  1878,  when  he  took  up 
farming,  and  has  been  employed  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  since  that  date.  He  cultivates 
two  farms,  one  of  seventy-five  acres  and  the 
other  of  eighty-one  acres,  both  in  Wayne 
township,  and  also  owns  twenty-six  .and  a 
half  acres  of  wood  land.  His  first  investment 
in  land  was  the  jnirchase  in  1877  of  the 
seventy-five  acres  which  is  his  present  home- 
stead. He  had  previously  lived  for  some 
years  at  Fisherville,  Pa. 

Mr.  Lebo's  first  vote  for  President  was 
cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  he  has  since 
adhered  to  the  Republican  party.  He  was 
reared  in  the  United  Brethren  church.  He 
is  a  member  of  Post,  No.  393,  G.  A.  R.  He 
was  married,  in  Jefferson  township,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1869,  to  Miss  Angeline  Tobias,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  W.  and  Mary  Tobias.  Their 
children  are:  Ellen  Louisa,  died  aged  seven- 
teen months  ;  Thomas  Edwin,  shoemaker,  at 
Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Daniel  Tobias,  a  private  in 
the  United  States  army,  at  Fort  Adams,  New- 
port, R.  I.;  Frank  Lewis,  farmer,  Halifax 
township;  Mary  Alice  and  Harry  Andrews, 
twins;  Mary  Alice,  married  A'.  C.  Kop- 
peuheffer,  Halifax  township;  Edward  Mor- 
ris, at  home;  Bella  Elsie,  at  liome;  Katie  K., 
died  young;  William  Joseph,  at  home; 
James,  died  in  infancy;  ('arrie  Angle,  at 
home ;  Sadie  Estella,  at  home ;  Vergie  Ann, 
died  in  infancy. 


Lebo,  Joseph  A.,  farmer,  A¥ayne  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Jefferson,  now  Wayne, 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  Ajiril  23, 
1853 ;  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Shepley) 
Lebo.     A  sketch  of  the  parents  appears  else- 


1138 


£10  GRAPHIC  A  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


where  in  this  volume.  Joseph  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
worked  at  iiome  with  his  father  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  witli 
his  brother  William  H.,  at  Fisherville,tolearn 
tlie  carpenter  trade,  with  whom  he  remained 
about  two  years  and  then  went  to  Harris- 
burg,  where  he  was  employed  about  two 
months  as  clerk  in  the  grocery  and  liquor 
store  of  J.  T.  Lynch.  After  this  he  returned 
and  resumed  work  with  his  father,  and  re- 
mained with  him  until  he  was  twenty-six 
years  of  age. 

On  September  1,  1878,  he  was  married,  at 
Berrysburg,  Pa.,  to  Miss  Saraii  C.  Hoffman, 
who  was  born  in  the  house  in  which  she  now 
lives,  February  21,  1857,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  .John  and  Mary  Enterline  Hoffman.  After 
marriage  they  were  located  on  the  father's 
farm  for  three  years,  after  which  they  occu- 
j)ied  the  Sawyer  farm  for  six  years  and  then 
located  on  the  jtresentfarm  and  later  bought 
the  place  at  the  death  of  Mrs.  Lebo's  father, 
and  this  has  since  been  their  home.  He  has 
one  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  of  culti- 
vated land  and  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  acres  of  wood  land.  Their  children  are: 
J.  Howard,  Fred  E.,  and  Sarah  Irene.  In 
politics  Mr.  Lebo  is  a  Rejjublican  on  na- 
tional questions,  but  in  local  and  minor  mat- 
ters is  a  liberal.  Since  May,  1895,  he  has 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  In 
religious  faith  and  fellowship  he  is  a  Lu- 
theran and  is  a  deacon  in  the  church.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Order  United  American 
Mechanics. 


Nace,  Enoch,  farmer,  Wayne  township, 
was  born  in  Jefferson  township,  now  a  part 
of  Wayne  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
September  2,  1848;  son  of  Joseph  and  De- 
lilah (Yeager)  Nace.  The  father  was  born 
in  Halifax  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
August  23,  1814.  He  was  a  farmer  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  till  his  death  in  the 
fall  of  1891.  In  1878  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  the  place  now  occupied  by  his  son 
Enoch.  His  wife  was  born  August  31, 1819. 
Their  children  are :  Sarah  A.,  born  January 
25, 1840, died  young;  Susan,  born  December 
24, 1840,  wife  of  Samuel  Gilbert,  Lykens  Val- 
ley ;  Catherine,  born  in  August,  1842,  wife  of 
Philip  Lebo,  residing  in  Washington  State; 
Elizabeth,  born  June  18, 1844,  died  aged  four 
years;  Mary  Jane,  born  February  2,  184G; 
John  W.,  born  October  25,  1847,  died  in  in- 
fancy ;   Enoch ;    Sarah   Frances,  born   June 


24,  1851,  wife  of  Samuel  Sweigard,  Millers- 
burg,  Pa.;  John  Benjamin,  born  April  25, 
1853.  The  father  was  prominent  in  town- 
ship offices  and  was  a  Republican. 

Enoch  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion in  his  native  township  and  lived  at 
home,  working  on  the  farm  with  his  father. 
In  1885  he  went  to  Carroll  county,  111.,  where 
he  was  variously  employed,  working  on  the 
farm,  in  the  tile  mill,  and  tending  saloon, 
until  December,  1890,  when  he  returned  to 
his  home,  where  he  has  since  remained.  He 
was  first  married  to  Miss  Viola  Arndt,  by 
whom  he  had  tliree  children:  Harry  O., 
Morna  E.,  and  Dorothy  D.  He  was  married, 
secondly,  March  25,  1803,  to  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Bowerman,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Elizabeth 
Bowerman,  and  they  have  one  child.  Merle 
Edward.  In  politics  Mr.  Nace  is  a  strong 
Republican.  He  was  reared  in  the  United 
Brethren  church  but  holds  no  membership 
in  any  denomination. 


SiiEETz,  Washington,  farmer,  Wayne 
township,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Wayne  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
June  15,  1840;  son  of  William  and  Barbara 
(Zimmerman)  Sheetz.  The  parents  are  re- 
ferred to  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of 
George  Sheetz  in  another  place  in  this 
volume.  Washington  was  reared  on  the 
farm  and  attended  the  common  schools  of 
his  township.  He  remained  at  home  and 
^■orked  on  tlie  farm  until  the  fall  of  1875. 
At  this  date  he  was  married,  in  Wayne 
township,  to  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  John 
Hoffman,  by  whom  he  had  two  children : 
Sarah  and  Carmeata.  His  wife  died  in 
August,  1883,  and  is  buried  in  the  Bower- 
man church  cemetery,  in    Wayne  township. 

Mr.  Sheetz  was  married  again,  Sejjtember 
25,  1884,  to  Miss  Agnes  Hoffman,  who  was 
born  in  Washington  township,  December 
20,  1860,  daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Mary 
Ann  Hossinger,  by  whom  he  has  three  chil- 
dren :  Charles  Edgar,  born  November  25, 
1885  ;  Mary  J.,  born  in  May,  1887  ;  Carrie 
Agnes,  born  August  22,  1893.  Mr.  Sheetz 
located  on  this  homestead  in  1875,  and  at 
the  death  of  his  father  in  1879  he  bought 
the  place,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  acres,  which  is  almost  all  under 
cultivation  and  on  which  he  has  made 
manj'  improvements.  In  his  politics  Mr. 
Sheetz  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never  sought 
any  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1139 


Sheetz,  Samuel,  farmer,  Wayne  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Wayne,  then  Jefferson 
township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July  30, 
1836.  He  is  a  brother  of  George  Sheetz,  and 
his  parentage  and  family  are  given  in  con- 
nection with  the  sketch  of  his  brother  in  tliis 
volume.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
and  was  reared  a  farmer  boy,  but  can  readily 
turn  his  liand  to  almost  any  kind  of  em- 
ployment. He  was  put  to  work  rjuite  young 
and  has  been  an  industrious  and  hard-work- 
ing man.  He  bought  his  present  place  be- 
fore his  marriage  and  after  that  important 
event  he  located  on  the  place  and  has  made 
substantia!  improvements  on  the  same.  He 
was  first  married,  near  Harrisburg,  April  8, 
1873,  by  Rev.  Edward  Doren,  to  Miss  Mary 
E.  Stephenson,  born  June  4,  1847,  and  died 
September  21,  1883,  and  by  this  marriage 
there  is  one  child,  Emma  Blanch,  at  home. 
In  his  second  marriage,  which  occurred  in 
Halifax  townsliip  in  1885,  he  was  united  to 
Miss  Rebecca  Hough,  by  whom  he  has  three 
children:  Harry  Samuel,  born  in  Wayne 
township;  Sarah  Ellen,  born  August  10, 
1887;  Chester  Alvin,  born  January  25,1896. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Sheetz  is  a  Demo- 
crat, while  in  religious  faith  and  fellowship 
he  is  a  Lutheran. 


of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Sheetz  has 
made  his  own  way  in  life  and  is  a  good  tj'pe 
of  the  self-made  man.  He  is  well-known 
and  highly  esteemed  and  is  liked  by  all. 


Sheetz,  George,  farmer,  Wajaie  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Jefferson,  now  Wayne 
townshij),  September  15,  1832 ;  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Barbara  (Zimmerman)  Sheetz.  Tiic 
parents  have  twelve  children  :  Josiah,  Mary, 
George,  Samuel,  Washington,  Jolm  Eliza- 
beth, Julia,  Malinda,  \\'illiam,  Margaret, 
deceased,  and  Emma.  George  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  was  brought 
up  on  the  farm  and  has  always  followed 
farming  as  his  occupation.  He  was  married, 
in  Lykens  Valley,  in  1860,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Snyder,  who  was  born  in  Lykens  Valley. 
Their  children  are :  Annie,  wife  of  Cedora 
Lebo,  Wayne  township;  Hannah,  deceased, 
wife  of  Samuel  Lebo ;  Mary,  wife  of  Jere- 
miah Riegle,  Halifax  township  ;  Amanda, 
wife  of  William  Litzel,  Wayne  township. 

Mr.  Sheetz  remained  at  home  and  worked 
on  the  farm  until  his  marriage,  when  he 
bought  his  present  place  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  or  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
acres,  on  which  he  has  since  built  a  fine 
residence,  barns,  outliouses,  and  has  other- 
wise substantially  improved  the  farm.  In 
his  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never 
sought  any  political  office.     He  is  a  member 


Etzweiler,  Samuel,  farmer,  Waj-ne  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Jefferson  townshitf,  Dau- 
phin county  Pa.,  Api'il  12,  1846;  son  of 
Jonathan  and  Marj'  (Hoover)  Etzweiler. 
George,  the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
Germany ;  came  to  America  when  a  young 
man,  and  with  his  family  settled  in  Snyder 
county,  where  he  spent  his  life  and  is  buried. 
He  was  scalped  by  the  Indians  on  one  of 
their  attacks  and  incursions. 

Daniel,  the  grandfather,  settled  in  Lykens 
Valle3',  Wasliington  township,  where  he 
cultivated  a  large  farm  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  the  sevent}- -sixth  year  of 
his  age.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  His  wife  was  Christina  Smith,  by 
whom  he  reared  eight  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ers.  Three  of  the  sons,  Daniel,  Michael,  and 
Elias,  served  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  he  also  was  a 
member  of  the  Home  Guards.  Being  at 
Millersburg  on  one  occasion  when  a  com- 
pany of  Indians  were  exhibiting  their  mode 
of  warfare,  he  became  enraged  at  the  mem- 
ory of  what  his  father  had  suffered  at  the 
hands  of  Indian  warriors,  precipitated  a 
fight  with  them  and  drove  them  out  of 
town. 

The  father  was  born  in  Washington  town- 
ship, is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  now 
lives  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  two 
acres  in  Wayne  township.  His  children  are: 
Satnuel,  Susan,  Daniel,  Elias,  Catherine, 
George  W.,  David  H.,  John,  and  Ellen.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  an  ardent  and 
active  Democrat. 

Samuel  was  educated  in  a  little  log  school 
house  in  his  native  place  and  was  put  to 
work  in  his  boyhood,  doing  a  man's  work 
on  the  farm  when  he  was  thirteen  years  of 
age.  He  remained  with  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age, 
wiien  he  enlisted,  in  1865,  at  Harrislnirg, 
in  company  D,  One  Hundred  and  First 
regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  His  regi- 
ment was  stationed  first  at  Norfolk,  Va., 
and  later  at  Roanoke  Island,  and  was  finally 
mustered  out  at  Newberne,  N.  C,  in  July 
1865.  After  his  discharge  he  came  home 
and  for  some  time  was  emplo3'ed  in  build- 
ing post  and   rail  fences,  for  which   he  re- 


1140 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


ceived  fair  compensation.  Mr.  Etzweiler 
was  married,  in  June,  1867,  in  Middle  Pax- 
ton  township,  to  Catherine  E.  Mader,  daugh- 
ter of  Jolin  P.  Mader.  After  liis  marriage 
he  farmed  on  the  shares  in  Middle  Paxton 
township  for  two  years,  and  then  bought  his 
present  place  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  acres  in  Wayne,  then  Jetterson,  town- 
ship, on  which  he  has  ;nade  many  improve- 
ments. His  children  are:  John  P.,  died 
aged  fourteen  years;  Mary  Alice,  at  home, 
and  Katie  Ellen,  at  home.  In  his  politics 
Mr.  Etzweiler  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  at  pres- 
ent tax  collector  and  for  three  years  has 
been  elected  constable, and  has  served  several 
terms  as  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of 
Miller  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Fishervillo.  His 
religious  fellowship  is  with  the  Reformed 
church,  in  which  he  was  a  deacon  for  eight 
years. 


WEST  HANOVER  TOWNSHIP. 


Rauch,  John  M.,  postmaster  at  Manada 
Hill,  Pa.,wasbornin  W'est  Hanovertownship, 
Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  December  25,  1833. 
John  Rauch,  the  father  of  John  M.,  was  born 
May  28,  1774.  He  was  for  many  years  an 
honored  resident  of  AVest  Hanover  town- 
ship, and  married  Mary  Miller.  They  had 
these  children  :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jonathan 
Kelchler,  deceased  ;  Marj^,  widow  of  the  late 
Martin  Brenner;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Peter 
Krautzer;  John  M.,  Samuel,  and  William. 
Mr.  Rauch  died  July  25,  1851. 

John  M.  Rauch  had  onl}'  slender  educa- 
tional advantages  in  his  early  life.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  painting,  and  followed 
this  occupation  for  about  thirty-five  j'ears. 
He  was  also  employed  to  some  extent  in 
carpentry  and  farming.  In  addition  to  his 
duties  as  postmaster  he  still  devotes  his  spare 
moments  to  painting.  In  1870  he  was 
elected  tax  collector,  and  served  in  this  capa- 
city one  year.  In  1884  he  was  elected  super- 
visor and  served  one  year.  In  1889  he  was 
elected  school  commissioner  and  efficiently 
performed  the  duties  of  the  office  for  three 
years.  In  1891  he  w'as  appointed  postmaster 
at  Manada  Hill.  By  his  fidelity  and  his 
obliging  disposition  he  has  made  himself  a 
verj'  [)opular  official.  He  was  married,  in 
Dauphin  county,  December  29,  1859,  to 
Catherine  Brenzinger.  The}'  had  these  chil- 
dren :  Curtin  Ann  ;  Marj'  L.,  wife  of  Irwin 
Moyer,  died    June    3,  1882;    William    F.; 


John  Henry;  Annie  M.,  died  July  9,  1880  ; 
Laura  E.;  Emma  R.,wife  of  Reily  S.  Cramer; 
and  Norman  B.  Mrs.  Rauch  died  June  23, 
1883,  aged  forty-one  years. 

Bellman,  Samuel,  was  born  in  Berks 
county,  Pa.,  June  30,1854.  He  is  a  son  of 
the  late  Simon  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Bell- 
man. His  parents  had  eight  children  : 
Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Brandt ;  Hannah,  wife 
of  Frank  Hain ;  Samuel ;  Rebecca,  wife  of 
Charles  Kenney;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Ezra 
Struhower;  Daniel;  Sarah,  wife  of  Peter 
Hartman  ;  and  David,  who  died  in  infancy. 
The  parents  of  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bellnnin 
were  well  known  throughout  Lebanon,  Berks 
and  Dauphin  counties.  Mr.  Bellman,  the 
father  of  Samuel,  was  born  and  reared  in 
Berks  county. 

Samuel  Bellman  had  a  common  school 
education.  He  lived  out  as  a  farmer's  boy, 
and  thus  learned  the  business  which  he  car- 
ried on  through  life.  He  was  married,  in 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.,  September  3,  1876,  to 
Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Solomon  and 
Fannie  (Keiter)  Cassel.  They  have  two 
children :  Michael  and  Agnes.  When  Mr. 
Bellman  moved  to  West  Hanover  township 
he  began  farming  there,  and  in  this  vocation 
he  is  still  engaged.  He  is  a  self  made  man, 
having  early  learned  to  depend  upon  his 
own  efforts.  He  is  esteemed  by  all  his  ac- 
quaintances. 


Kramer,  John  H.,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
on  the  old  homestead  where  he  now  resides, 
June  11,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  John 
and  Catherine  (Gerberich)  Kramer.  His 
parents  were  both  residents  of  Dauphin 
county.  Two  of  their  children  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Katie  died  aged  fifteen.  Their 
living  children  are:  Josiah,  George  W.,  John 
H.,  David,  and  Mary  E.,  wife  of  George 
Knubb.  The  father  died  aged  seventy-nine; 
the  mother  is  still  living  and  in  good  health 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two. 

John  H.  Kramer  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  in  the  St.  Thomas  Institute 
at  Linglestown,  Pa.  He  taught  school  for 
twelve  consecutive  years.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  failing  health  compelled  him  to  aban- 
don teaching ;  he  has  since  that  time  made 
farming  his  occupation.  In  1869  he  was 
elected  school  director  for  West  Hanover 
to^vnship  and  served  continuousl}'  and  ac- 
ceptably  for   twelve   years.      He   was   also 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1141 


elected  tax  collector,  and  served  two  terms. 
In  1880  he  was  elected  township  clerk,  which 
office  he  still  holds.  He  was  married,  in 
West  Hanover  township,  October  13,  1859, 
to  Miss  Lizzie  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Susan  Hassel.  Of  their  nine  cliildren  eiglit 
are  living :  Ira  W.;  Calvin  A.;  John  E.; 
Laura  E.,  wife  of  Jacob  Meyers  ;  Frances  B., 
wife  of  Samuel  Witnier ;  Samuel ;  Harvey 
F.;  Katie  G.,  wife  of  Jacob  J.  Eshenaur,  and 
Susan  M.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Kramer  had 
ten  children,  of  whom  eiglit  are  living : 
Emanuel,  Samuel,  Susan,  Williclmina,  Liz- 
zie, Edward,  Eiias,  Katie,  Harriet,  and 
Emma.  Both  families  are  worthy  and 
highly  respected. 


Demmy,  D.iviD,  was  born  in  Daupliin 
county,  Pa.,  August  4,  1840.  He  is  a  .son  of 
tlie  late  David  and  Catherine  (Siler)  Demmy. 
Christian  Demmy,  grandfather  of  David,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county  ;  he  removed  to 
Dauphin  county  and  was  a  ftirmer.  He 
married  Catherine  Hoover,  and  tliey  had 
eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, and  all  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age.  David 
Demmy,  Sr.,  was  tlie  youngest  son  of  Chris- 
tian Demmy.  He  was  born  in  Dauphin 
county,  and  he,  too,  was  a  farmer.  He  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife,  Catherine 
Siler,  was  the  mother  of  David  Demmy,  Jr. 
His  second  wife  was  Polly  Fox  ;  her  chil- 
dren were :  Jolmson  and  John  H.  David 
Demmy,  Sr.,  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-three. 

David  Demmy,  Jr.,  took  a  partial  course 
of  study  in  the  common  .schools ;  but  for  the 
most  part  he  is  self-made,  being  indebted 
for  his  success  to  his  own  efforts.  He  learned 
farming  in  boyhood  and  it  was  iiis  occupa- 
tion till  he  attained  the  age  of  twenty- 
eigiit  years.  He  also  learned  carpentry, 
and  worked  at  this  trade  for  twelve  years. 
In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  for  the  nine 
montlis'  service  in  company  C,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-seventh  regiment,  Penn- 
sj'lvania  volunteers.  He  was  honor.ibiy 
discharged  on  account  of  ill  health,  which 
obliged  him  to  return  home.  He  then  took 
up  agricultural  work,  and  was  occupied 
witli  ids  farm  until  within  a  few  years.  Not 
being  strong  enough  for  farming  he  has 
given  up  active  employment.  He  was  mar- 
ried, December  24,  1864,  to  Miss  Lydia, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Lydia  (Leob)  Stable. 
Their  children  are:  Noah  E.;  William  F.; 
Agnes  ;  Clara,  wife  of  Grant  S.  Wagner,  and 
two  who  died  in  infancy.     Mr.  Demmy  is  a 


Republican.  In  1879  he  was  elected  super- 
visor of  We.st  Hanover  township,  which  po- 
sition heboid  for  three  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Luthei'an  church. 

Jacob  Stable,  father  of  Mrs.  Demmy,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  1804 ;  he  came 
to  America  at  fourteen  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  shoemaker,  and  an  hon- 
ored resident  of  Dauphin  county  for  over 
seventy  years.  He  died  in  East  Hanover 
township,  October  23,  1895.  In  1829  he 
married  Lydia  Leob,  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
eight  are  living:  John,  residing  in  Palmyra, 
Pa.;  Amanda,  widow  of  the  late  Jeremiah 
Gastrock  ;  Louisa,  wife  of  James  Witman,  of 
Swatara  township  ;  Henr}' ;  William  ;  Lydia  ; 
Noah,  and  Sallie,  wife  of  Josiah  Lingle,  of 
South  Hanover  township. 


Miller,  Jacob  F.,  justice  of  the  peace,  was 
born  in  AVest  Hanover  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  December  14, 1834.  He  is  a  son 
of  the  late  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Fackler)  Miller, 
both  natives  of  Dauphin  county,  where  the}' 
spent  their  lives.  His  father  died  at  the  age 
of  .seventy-one,  and  his  mother  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years.  They  had  six  children,  of 
whom  Jacob  F.  is  the  only  one  now  living. 

Jacob  F.  Miller  was  brought  up  on  the  farm, 
and  received  the  advantages  of  a  common 
school  education.  For  fifty  years  he  has  de- 
voted his  attention  and  his  efforts  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  In  1869  he  was  elected  a 
school  director  and  filled  the  office  for  three 
years.  He  was  assessor  of  the  townships  for 
eight  years.  As  a  justice  of  the  peace  he 
has  been  honored  by  the  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship with  an  unusually  long  term  of  ser- 
vice. He  was  first  elected  in  1869,  and  was 
kept  in  office  ten  years.  In  1884  he  was 
again  elected  and  has  held  the  office  continu- 
ously since  that  date.  He  is  universally 
recognized  as  an  able,  faithful,  and  impartial 
officer.  Mr.  Miller  was  married,  December 
8, 1853,  to  Caroline,  daughter  of  the  late  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Strohm)  Forney.  They  have 
had  five  children  :  Monroe,  John  J.,  Alfred 
J.  S.,  Robert  S.,  and  Emma,  wife  of  James  M. 
Ranch.  Monroe  died  December  5, 1854,  and 
John  J.  August  21, 1869.  Mr.  Miller's  politi- 
cal opinions  are  Republican. 

MuMMA,  John,  was  born  in  West  Hanover 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  December 
20,  1827.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Ormond)  Mumma.     His  father  was  born  in 


1142 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Lancaster  county,  and  came  to  Dauphin 
county  in  1825.  He  was  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  was  Catlierine  Ormond ;  of 
tiieir  two  children,  John  Mumma,  Jr.,  is  the 
only  one  living.  The  second  wife  was  a  Miss 
Weller,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living.  The  father  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five.  John  Mumma  obtained 
a  common  school  education.  In  liis  boyhood 
he  learned  carpentry,  which  -was  his  occupa- 
tion for  about  ten  years.  He  then  bought  a 
farm  in  Fishing  Creek  Valley,  which  he  has 
cultivated  up  to  the  present  time.  Mr. 
Mummu  was  married.  May  27, 1856,  to  Sarah 
Flory,  daughter  of  the  late  Henry  and  Susan 
(Look)  Flory.  Of  their  thirteen  children, 
eleven  are  living :  Harriet,  wife  of  John  Sei- 
bert;  Isaiah;  Emanuel;  Susan,  wife  of 
Thomas  Lingle;  John  H.;  Elias;  Priscilla, 
wife  of  John  Hoover;  David ;  William ;  Sarah, 
wife  of  William  Rlioads,  and  Emma. 


Mumma,  Isaiah,  was  born  in  Fi.shing 
Creek  Valley,  West  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  February  3,  1859.  He  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Flory)  Mumma,  a 
sketch  of  wdiom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
vokirae.  In  his  boyhood  he  had  opportu- 
nity for  securing  an  education  in  the  public 
schools.  But  he  was  a  very  industrious 
helper  in  farm  work,  and  was  in  haste  to  be 
engaged  in  the  actual  business  of  life.  He 
tried  farm  work  until  he  was  twenty  years 
old,  and  then  conehuled  it  would  be  better  to 
learn  a  trade.  Accordingly,  in  1880,  he 
went  to  learn  the  business  of  a  carpenter 
and  continued  in  it  for  three  years.  He 
afterwards  resumed  farming.  He  was  mar- 
ried, April  18,  1880,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Kate  (Raver)  Shellahamer. 
They  have  had  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living :  Stella  M.  and  Gilbert.-  Mr. 
Mumma  is  now  managing  one  of  his  father's 
farms.  He  is  a  promising  young  farmer 
and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him. 


Gaistwhite,  Joseph,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
April  9,  1830.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Henry 
and  Christiana  (Ricker)  Gaistwhite.  His 
father  was  born  in  C'hester  county,  Pa.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  married, 
in  Dauphin  county,  to  Miss  Ricker,  a  native 
of  that  county.  They  had  twelve  children  : 
John  R.;  William  ;  Joseph  ;  Mary  M.,  wife 
of  John  R.  Lydic ;  Michael ;  Catherine, 
wife  of  Reuben  Alleman ;    Sallie,   wife   of 


Henry  Chritchley ;  Hannah,  wife  of  Isaac 
Sellers;  David,  Henry,  Daniel,  and  Frank- 
lin.    Seven  of  these  are  deceased. 

Joseph  Gaistwhite  obtained  a  common 
school  education.  After  leaving  school  he 
learned  shoemaking,  and  followed  the  trade 
for  twenty-six  years.  In  1863  he  began 
farming,  and  has  carried  on  this  business  to 
the  present  time.  In  1884  he  was  elected 
school  director  and  served  with  acceptance 
for  three  years.  He  was  married,  October  11, 
1858,  to  Miss  Levina,  daughter  of  John 
Kelley.  They  have  had  twelve  children  : 
Sophia  ;  Kate,  wife  of  Joseph  Early  ;  twins, 
unnamed;  Joseph  Grant;  Delia;  George 
W.;  John  C;  Frank  M.;  Emma,  wife  of 
Grant  Runkle ;  and  David  R.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Gaistwhite  died  aged  fifty-two,  and 
her  mother  aged  eighty-seven  years.  Both 
were  residents  of  Dauphin  county. 

MouNTZ,  Adam,  was  born  in  Germany, 
January  26,  1836.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
Leonard  and  Rosanna  (Schanheitz)  Mountz. 
A  sketch  of  his  father's  life  appears  in 
another  place  in  this  volume.  His  parents 
had  four  children:  Catherine,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Pentcove,  and  of  George  Sluscher ;  Leon- 
ard ;  Adam ;  and  Hannah,  wife  of  Enoch 
Runkle.  His  father  was  a  Republican,  and 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Adam  Mountz  c.  me  to  America  with  his 
mother  in  1843.  They  landed  in  New 
York,  spent  a  few  days  there,  and  then 
joined  his  father,  who  two  years  before  had 
settled  in  West  Hanover  towiishij),  Dauphin 
county.  Pa.  He  secured  a  fair  education  in 
the  public  schools.  He  worked  out  among 
the  farmers,  and  in  this  way  made  a  be- 
ginning in  business  for  himself.  In  1860 
he  was  engaged  in  the  car  shops  at  Harris- 
burg,  Pa.  He  was  married,  January  5, 
1861,  to  Miss  Martha,  daughter  of  Henry  S. 
and  Anna  Staut.  They  have  had  three 
children,  of  whom  C.  Annie  is  the  only  one 
living.  In  1862  Mr.  Mountz  and  his  brother 
bought  a  farm  and  began  farming,  and 
have  continued  in  the  business  up  to  the 
present  time. 


Mountz,  Leonard,  was  born  in  Germany, 
September  25,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
Leonard  and  Rosanna  (Schanheitz)  Mountz. 
His  father  was  born  in  Germany  in  1793, 
came  to  America  in  1840,  and  settled  in 
West  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.     His  wife,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  fol- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1143 


lowed  him  two  years  later.  He  died  in  West 
Hanover  at  tlie  age  of  sixty-five.  He  served 
seven  years  in  the  German  army,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  war  witli  Napoleon.  He  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  in  that  service,  the 
effects  of  which  he  carried  to  his  grave.  His 
wife  died  in  West  Hanover  to^vnship,  aged 
seventy-nine  years. 

Leonard  Mountz  came  with  his  mother  to 
America  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age.  They 
joined  his  father,  who  had  settled  in  West 
Hanover  two  years  before.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  and  received  a  fair  education. 
His  first  employment  was  as  a  farm  hand, 
and  he  has  made  farming  his  occupation. 
He  was  married,  in  1859,  to  Miss  Harriet, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Anna  (Staut)  Staut. 
They  have  seven  children  :  Emma,  wife  of 
Solomon  Buck;  John  W.;  Alice;  Daniel; 
Libbie,  wife  of  John  Bolton ;  Sadie,  wife 
of  Frank  Wolfelsberger,  and  Hattie.  Mr. 
Mountz  was  elected  supervisor  of  West  Han- 
over townsiiip,  and  served  one  year;  then 
school  director  of  the  same  township,  and 
served  five  years ;  after  which  he  was  again 
elected  supervisor.  In  18()3  he  was  drafted 
for  three  years'  service  in  the  United  States 
army.  His  political  views  are  Democratic. 
Mr.  Mountz  is  a  faithful  member  of  tiie  Lu- 
theran church. 


which  he  now  occupies  and  cultivates.  He 
was  married,  November  3,  1881,  to  Miss 
Adeline,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Wit- 
mer)  Umberger.  Mr.  Allen  is  one  of  the 
successful  and  prosperous  young  farmers  of 
the  township,  and  is  personally  held  in  high 
esteem. 


Allen,  John  M.,  was  born  in  West  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  July  3, 
1860.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  ^\'illiam  and 
Maria  (Albright)  Allen.  His  fathcr,Wiliiaiii 
Allen,  was  born  in  West  Hanover  township, 
in  1801),  and  was  a  farmer.  His  wife,  Maria 
Albright,  was  born  in  the  same  township,  in 
1826.  They  had  five  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living :  William  F.;  Mary  .Jane,  wife  of 
John  E.  Hetrich  ;  and  Jolin  M.  In  1840  he 
was  elected  captain  of  a  battalion  of  militia 
and  served  for  twenty  years.  He  taught  for 
twenty  years  in  the  schools  of  West  Hanover 
and  Lower  Paxton  townships  and  filieil  vai'i- 
ous  other  public  offices  in  Dan|)hin  county. 
He  was  a  Rej)ublican.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian,  and  his  wife  of  the  Lvi- 
theran  church.  He  died  July  12, 1880,  aged 
seventy-one,  and  she  died  in  1877,  aged  fifty- 
one  years. 

Jolm  M.  Allen  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  In  early  youtli  he 
learned  carpentry,  and  followed  that  occu- 
pation for  two  years.  In  1881  he  bought 
tlie   farm    formerly  owned  .by  John    Zeiter, 


Cassel,  Elias,  was  born  Fel)ruary  15, 
1830.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Henry  and 
Eva  (Backenstow)  Cassel,  both  of  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.  Mr.  Henry  Cassel  was  a  fanner, 
and  was  married  to  Miss  Eva  Backenstow. 
They  had  five  children  :  Lucy,  who  died  aged 
thirty;  Harriet,  wife  of  Henry  Brenneman; 
Eliza,  wife  of  John  E.  Ricker;  Elias;  and 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Henry  Bittner.  Mr.  Cassel 
was  elected  supervisor  of  Susquehanna  town- 
ship and  served  one  year.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
tile  Lutlieran  church.  He  died,  in  October, 
1857,  aged  sixty-one.  His  wife  is  also  de- 
ceased. 

Elias  Cassel  received  a  public  school  edu- 
cation. He  was  his  father's  assistant  on  the 
farm  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  old. 
He  was  married,  October  18,  1855,  to  Miss 
Susan,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Susan  (Levan) 
Biever.  They  had  eiglit  children  :  Sarah, 
wife  of  Calvin  Cassel ;  Michael ;  Laura,  wife 
of  Jacob  Landis ;  Agnes,  wife  of  D.  A. 
Brightbill ;  Ervin,  Francis,  Rebecca,  and 
Jacob.  Mr.  Cassel  removed  to  his  father's 
farm  in  1861,  and  cultivated  it  one  year.  In 
1862  he  bought  the  farm  of  his  fatiier  in-law, 
Mr.  Isaac  Biever,  on  which  he  still  resides. 
He  was  elected  school  director  of  West  Han- 
over townshii)  and  served  three  years.  In 
18(53  he  was  drafted  for  the  tiiree  j-ears'  ser- 
vice in  the  United  States  army  and  furnished 
a  substitute.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cassel  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church.   • 

Isaac  L.  and  Mrs.  (Levan)  Biever,  the 
parents  of  Mrs.  Cassel,  were  both  natives  of 
Berks  county,  Pa.  Tliey  removed  to  Leba- 
non county.  Pa.,  about  1845,  and  later  to 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.  Tiiey  settled  near 
Jonestown,  on  the  farm  where  Mr.  Cassel 
lives.  Their  children  were :  Julia,  Mary, 
Susan,  Isaac,  Daniel,  John,  William,  and 
Amos.  Of  these  two  are  now  living :  Su.san ; 
and  Mary,  widow  of  Joiin  Albrigiit,  of  Pen- 
brook.  Both  parents  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  cliurch,  and  were  worthy  people 
and  good  citizens.  Mr.  Biever  was  a  Demo- 
crat. 


1144 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Crum,  David,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  June  17,  1830.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
David  and  Catherine  (Cassei)  Crum.  Both 
were  residents  of  Dauphin  county,  Lower 
Paxton  townsliip.  His  father  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty -six  years.  Botli  parents  were 
faithful  members  of  the  German  Baptist 
church. 

David  Crum  received  a  common  school 
education.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  learned 
shoemaking  and  for  fifteen  years  made  this 
his  occupation.  After  that  time  he  engaged 
in  farming.  In  18G3  he  bought  the  farm  of 
his  father  and  cultivated  it  until  1884.  At 
this  time  he  retired  from  active  work  and 
bought  the  house  of  Joim  Sti'ock,  where  he 
now  resides.  In  1853  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
(Shuey)  Bolton.  They  had  two  children : 
Mary,  wife  of  William  Lingle,  and  Catherine, 
wife  of  Samuel  Potteiger.  Mr.  Crum  served 
as  tax  collector  of  West  Hanover  township 
for  the  year  1880.  In  1888  he  was  appointed 
collector  of  State  and  county  taxes.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  Republican.  He  is  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Church  of  God. 


Dare,  James  M.,  was  l»orn  in  AVest  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  He  is 
a  son  of  Josepli  G.  and  Giliah  (Reinhard) 
Dare,  both  natives  of  York  county.  Pa.,  who 
came  to  Dauphin  county  thirty  years  ago. 
His  father  was  a  farmer.  He  was  elected 
supervisor  for  one  year  and  iield  besides 
various  other  county  offices.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Giliah  A.  Reinhard.  They  had 
nine  children,  eiglit  of  whom  are  living: 
George  M.;  Eiizabetli  J.,  wife  of  Michael 
Straw  ;  James  M.,  Richard  L.,  Erastus  J., 
Josepli  G.,  William  H.,  and  John.  Mr.  Jo- 
seph G.  Dare's  politics  are  Democratic.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  God.  James 
M.  Dare  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. He  was  engaged  in  farming  until  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  In  November, 
1888,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Christie  M., 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Savilla  (Mar- 
berger)  Forney.  Their  children  are  :  Charles 
M.,  Minnie  M.,  Gertrude  M.,  Annie,  and 
Sherman.  In  1891  Mr.  Dare  bought  the 
farm  of  the  late  Micliael  Stockey,  wiiich  he 
has  since  that  time  been  cultivating.  His 
political  views  are  Re[)ublican.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  church. 


Lingle,  Thomas  W.,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
January  29,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
Benjamin  and  Rebecca  (Forney)  Lingle,  na- 
tives of  Dauphin  count}^  Mr.  Benjamin 
Lingle  was  born  May  23,  1811.  He  was  a 
weaver,  and  worked  at  that  trade  for  many 
years ;  later  in  life  he  became  a  farmer.  He 
was  a  Republican,  and  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried. His  first  wife  was  Miss  Staute,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children  :  Richard  ;  Per- 
cival ;  and  Lizzie,  wife  of  Samuel  Hummer  ; 
all  deceased.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Re- 
becca Forney,  born  June  25,  1827.  Their 
ciiildren  were  six  in  number:  Edward  L.; 
Josiah  T.;  Thomas  W.;  John  B.;  Emma, 
wife  of  John  McDonnel ;  and  Miiniie  C, 
wife  of  Levi  Hetrich.  Benjamin  Lingle  died 
March  9,  1872,  aged  sixty  years.  His  wife 
is  still  living,  aged  sixty-nine. 

Thomas  W.  Lingle  received  but  a  limited 
education  and  is  a  self-made  man.  His  suc- 
cess in  life  ispriucij^ally  due  to  his  industry, 
energy  and  good  sense.  His  early  youth 
was  spent  upon  the  farm.  At  seventeen 
years  of  age  he  began  as  a  blacksmith's  ap- 
prentice. He  has  worked  at  that  trade  up 
to  the  present  time.  By  observation  and  by 
natural  mechanical  talent  he  was  enabled  to 
pick  \i\y  a  knowledge  of  carpewtry  and  wagon 
making,  and  became  a  good  workman  in 
both  those  trades.  He  removed  to  Manada 
Hill,  West  Hanover  township,  and  in  March, 
1888,  bought  the  residence  formerly  owned 
by  Josiah  PefHy,  where  he  lias  since  carried 
on  his  business.  He  was  married,  February 
19,  1879,  to  Miss  Susanna,  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Flory)  Mumma.  They  iiave 
four  children  :  Grant  E.,  Minnie  R.,  Saraii 
R.,  and  .John  D.  Mr.  Lingle  is  a  member  of 
Roseville  Council,  P.  0.  S.  of  A.  His  polit- 
ical views  are  Republican.  He  is  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Lutheran  churci).  His  en- 
terprise and  energy  are  recognized  in  busi- 
ness circles,  and  he  enjoys  the  esteem  and 
good  wishes  of  his  neighbors. 


Buck,  Solomon  J.,  was  born  in  Lower 
Paxton  townshij),  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
March  1,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of  Solomon  and 
Sarah  (Albright)  Buck.  The  father,  Solo- 
mon Buck,  was  born  in  Dauphin  county. 
In  his  earlier  life  his  occupation  was  farm- 
ing. He  served  as  asscs.sor  of  Lower  Paxton 
township,  and  in  1890  was  elected  supervisor 
of  the  township.     His  wife,  Sarah  Albright, 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1145 


was  born  1821.  They  had  eight  children, 
of  whom  seven  arc  living :  Jane,  wife  of 
Samuel  Knubb;  Mary,  wife  of  Levi  Tittle; 
David,  John  H.,  Solomon  J.,  Edward,  and 
Sallie.  He  is  a  Democrat.  He  belongs  to 
the  Lutheran  church.  He  is  now  seventy- 
two  years  of  age.  His  wife  died  in  1875, 
aged  fifty-two. 

Solomon  J.  Buck  took  a  limited  coui'se  in 
the  public  schools.  He  was  engaged  in 
farming  for  some  years,  and  in  1882  wont  to 
Springfield,  Ohio,  and  worked  for  one  year 
in  a  foundry  as  a  moulder.  The  next  year 
he  came  back  and  worked  at  Penbrook  for 
six  months  at  plastering.  He  was  married, 
May  17,  1883,  to  Miss  Emma  E.,  daughter  of 
Leonard  and  Harriet  (Staut)  ]\Iountz.  Tiiey 
have  one  daughter,  Hattie  E.  Since  his 
marriage  Mr.  Buck  has  devoted  his  attention 
to  farming.  His  political  vifiws  are  Demo- 
cratic. He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 


BoESHORE,  David  H.,  was  born  in  Union 
township,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  October  11, 
1848.  He  is  a  son  of  the  lace  Thomas  and 
Leah  (Shuck)  Boeshore.  John  Boeshore,  the 
great-grandfather  of  Davitl  H.,  was  a  native 
of  Germany.  He  was  a  brewer.  With  two 
of  his  brothers  he  emigrated  from  Germany. 
While  on  the  ocean  one  of  the  brothers,  Au- 
gust, was  drowned.  On  reaching  this  coun- 
tr}'  the  survivors  were  disposed  of  as  laliorers, 
according  to  the  terms  by  which  they  had  se- 
cured their  pa.ssage.  John  brought  $11  and 
William,  the  other  brother,  $17.  William 
finally  settled  in  Berks  county,  and  John  in 
Lebanon  county,  Pa.  John  married  Cathe- 
rine Hoffman.  He  became  a  farmer  and 
continued  throughout  his  life  in  that  voca- 
tion. He  was  a  Ilepublican  and  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  cliurch.  Jacob  Boeshore, 
grandfather  of  David  H.,  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Kohr. 

Thomas  Boeshore,  father  of  David  IL,  was 
born  in  East  ILanover  township  in  1805.  His 
wife,  Leah  Shuck,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
township,  born  in  1811.  In  his  boyiiood  he 
was  emploj'ed  in  farming  in  Union  township, 
Lebanon  county.  He  learned  coopering  and 
made  it  his  occupation  for  some  years.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Catherine  Capenhaver. 
Two  of  their  four  children  are  living:  Peter 
C.  and  Catherine  M.,  wife  of  Daniel  U.  Ger- 
berich.  Miss  Leah  Shuck  was  his  second 
wife.  They  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom 
are  living :  Mary,  widow  of  Joseph  Shuey ; 


Levi;  William  H.;  Sarah,  wife  of  William 
Maturnas,  deceased  ;  David  H.,  and  Nathan- 
iel J.  Thomas  Boeshore  died  aged  seventy- 
six  ;  his  wife  still  survives  and  is  seventy- 
nine  years  old.  They  were  both  members  of 
the  Reformed  church.  Mr.  Boeshore  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

David  H.  Boeshore  made  the  most  of  his 
educational  opportunities,  which  were  limited. 
He  attended  the  academy  in  Jonestown,  Leb- 
anon county.  Pa.,  when  he  was  twelve  years 
of  age.  He  worked  in  his  youth  on  the  farm 
and  in  saw  mills.  He  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  and  worked  at  it  for  twelve  years. 
He  was  married,  in  November,  18G9,  to  Miss 
Emma,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
(Ganl)y)  Porter.  Four  of  their  six  children 
are  living:  Cora  L.,  Katie  M.,  Lillie  S.,  and 
Harry  D.  Mr.  Boeshore  was  for  a  time  en- 
gaged in  butchering  and  huckstering.  In 
18G2  lie  enlisted  in  the  army  as  a  teamster 
and  served  three  months.  He  was  on  the  field 
after  the  battle  of  Antietam  and  assisted  in 
burying  the  dead.  In  1873  he  was  appointed 
school  tax  collector  of  East  Hanover  township 
for  one  year;  in  1891  he  was  chosen  judge  of 
elections  for  a  term  of  two  years.  Mr.  Boe-' 
shore  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church. 


ScHUBAUER,  Jacob  C,  was  born  in  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  February  14,  1857.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  John  and  Catherine 
(Rabe)  Schubauer.  His  grandparents  were 
born  and  passed  their  lives  in  Germany. 
His  grandfather  was  a  grocer.  His  grand- 
niotiier  died  aged  ninety-six.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Germany.  The  father 
received  a  limited  education  in  the  German 
schools.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which  he  worked 
while  he  remained  in  his  native  land.  In 
1870  he  came  to  America,  lived  one  year  in 
Lancaster  county,  and  then  removed  to  Dau- 
phin county,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  He  was  married  to  Misi  Catherine 
Rabe.  They  had  fifteen  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living:  Frederick  William  ;  Rebecca, 
wife  of  William  Rollen  ;  John  H.;  Rachel, 
wife  of  Julius  Haberstroh  ;  and  Jacob  C 
Mr.  Thomas  Schubauer  died  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.     His  wife  died  aged  eighty-one. 

Jacob  C.  Sciiubauer  received  a  part  of  his 
education  in  Germany.  In  1870,  when  he 
was  thirteen  years  old,  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  America.  He  attended  school  in 
Dauphin  county  for  one  year.     After  leaving 


1146 


BIO  GRAPHIC  A  L  ENCYCL  OPEDIA 


school  he  went  to  Middletown,  Pa.  In  1871 
he  began  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  at 
shoemaking.  He  attended  school  during 
part  of  this  time.  After  acquiring  his  trade 
he  worked  at  it  in  Harrisburg  as  a  journey- 
man for  three  years.  He  next  went  to  York 
county,  Pa.,  and  worked  there  for  one  year; 
then  again  in  Harrisburg  for  three  months; 
then  tliree  months  more  in  West  Hanover 
township.  Returning  to  Harrisburg  he  was 
for  five  months  employed  by  J.  Simonetti 
as  driver  of  a  huckster  team.  He  then  set- 
tled down  in  West  Hanover  township,  and 
opened  a  shop  of  his  own.  He  has  been  en- 
gaged all  the  time  since  1882  in  shoemaking, 
and  in  conducting  a  grocery.  He  was  mar- 
ried, February  3,  1882,  to  Miss  Caroline  T., 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Totting) 
Rhoads.  They  have  one  daughter,  Katie  J. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  Democratic.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


and  Lavinia.  Mr.  Crum's  politics  are  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
ciiurch. 


Crum,  Daniel,  was  born  in  Lower  Paxton 
township,  Daujjhin  county.  Pa.,  March  6, 
1836.  He  is  a  son  of  David  and  Catherine 
(Cassel)  Crum.  David  Crum  was  a  native  of 
Dauphin  county.  He  was  a  weaver  l)y  trade, 
but  was  engaged  in  farming  during  his  later 
years,  and  until  he  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness. His  wife.  Miss  Catherine  Cassel,  was 
the  daughter  of  Emanuel  Cassel,  resident 
of  Dauphin  county.  Tliey  had  nine  chiklren, 
four  of  whom  are  living:  .Samuel,  David, 
Daniel,  and  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Bolton. 
Mr.  Crum  was  a  school  director  of  Lower 
Paxton  township  for  six  years.  He  was  a 
Republican.  Botii  he  and  his  wife  died  in 
Dauphin  county;  they  were  members  of  the 
German  Baptist  church. 

Daniel  Crum  received  a  limited  school 
education.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  be- 
gan a  two  years'  apprenticeship  at  black- 
smithing,  and  after  learning  the  trade  worked 
at  it  for  fifteen  years.  '  In  1883  he  abandoned 
the  forge  for  the  plough.  He  bought  the 
farm  formerly  owned  by  George  Fackler, 
wiiich  he  has  cultivated  up  to  the  jiresent 
time.  He  was  married,  October  6,  1801,  to 
his  first  wife,  Miss  Esther,  daughter  of  John 
Shope.  They  had  five  children,  of  whom 
three  survive :  Catherine,  wife  of  Jacob  Shope ; 
Annie,  wife  of  Thomas  Ervin,  and  Alice, 
wife  of  Elmer  Staute.  In  his  second  mar- 
riage, December  28,  1877,  Mr.  Crum  was 
united  to  Miss  Harriet  Eagle.  They  have  had 
our   children  ;  two  are    now  living :    Sadie 


Allen,  William  F.,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
February  5,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
William  and  Maria  (Albright)  Allen.  His 
father  also  was  born  in  West  Hanover  town- 
ship, on  March  7,  1809.  In  his  youth  he 
was  engaged  in  agriculture.  He  had  re- 
ceived an  education,  and  taught  school  in 
Lower  Paxton  and  in  West  Hanover  town- 
ships for  fifteen  years.  He  was  a  director  of 
the  poor  in  Dauphin  county  for  two  years. 
He  was  married  in  1848.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Christine  (Walmer) 
Albright,  and  was  born  in  Dauphin  county, 
September  3,1822.  They  had  five  children, 
of  whom  three  are  living:  William  F. ; 
Mary  J.,  wife  of  John  Hetrich  ;  and  John  M. 
Mr.  "Allen  died  August  13,  1880,  in  West 
Hanover  township;  his  wife  died  in  1873. 
He  was  a  Presbyterian,  and  his  wife  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  of  God.  Mr.  Allen's 
politics  were  Republican. 

William  F.  Allen  received  a  common 
school  education.  In  his  youth  he  assisted 
his  father  on  the  old  homestead  farm.  In 
1882  he  bought  the  farm  of  his  father,  and 
has  since  occupied  it.  He  is  the  fourth  in 
the  line  of  direct  descent,  all  of  the  name 
of  William  Allen,  to  own  and  cultivate  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  He  has 
been  twice  married ;  first,  June  6,  1870,  to 
Miss  Kate,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Bolton)  Hetrich  ;  they  had  one  son,  Milton 
M.  Mr.  Allen  was  married,  November  22, 
1874,  to  his  second  wife.  Miss  Lavina, 
daughter  of  Jared  and  Mary  (Potteiger) 
Lutz.  Their  children  are  :  William  E.  and 
Charles  F.  In  1883  Mr.  Allen  was  elected 
school  director  of  West  Hanover  township, 
and  served  three  years.  He  was  re-elected 
in  1889,  and  is  still  in  office. 


Wolfersberger,  Levi,  was  born  in  Derry 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  August  2, 
1846.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Jacob  and 
Susan  (Raser)  Wolfersberger.  Jacob  Wolfers- 
berger was  born  in  Lebanon  county.  Pa. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  for  twenty  years 
on  his  own  farm  in  Derry  township.  His 
wife  was  a  daugiiter  of  Christian  Raser  and 
a  native  of  Lebanon  count}'.  They  had 
seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Philip,    Levi,  and    Lavinia,  wife   of    Jacob 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1147 


Walter.  Mr.  Wolfersberger  died  in  Derry 
township  aged  sixty-six,  and  his  wife  died 
in  the  same  township  aged  sixty-one  years. 
They  wei'e  both  members  of  tlie  Reformed 
cliureb.  Mr.  WoU'ersberger  was  a  Repub- 
lican. 

Levi  Wolfersberger  obtained  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Derry  township. 
After  leaving  school  he  was  for  seven  years 
engaged  in  farming.  From  the  year  1871, 
for  six  years,  he  was  emjjloyed  in  making 
post  fence.  In  1877  he  went  upon  tiie  farm 
of  Cyrus  Gingerich,  which  he  cultivated  for 
four  years.  In  1882  he  occupied  one  of 
Don  Cameron's  farms  and  removed  in  1883 
to  the  farm  of  W.  Rauch,  in  East  Hanover 
township.  After  tilling  that  farm  for  three 
years  he  moved  to  West  Hanover  township, 
where  he  now  resides. 

He  was  married,  in  November,  1871,  to 
Miss  Louisa,  daughter  of  Harry  and  Rosanna 
(.Siiadle)  McCurty.  Tliey  have  had  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living:  Christian; 
Frank  ;  Susan,  wife  of  Milton  Allen  ;  Harvey, 
Alice,  and  David. 


Hetrich,  JohnE.,  was  born  in  East  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  Janu- 
ary 12,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Levi  and  Jane 
(Early)  Hetrich.  His  grandparents  were 
both  natives  of  Dauphin  county,  and  lived 
to  a  great  age ;  his  grandmother  died  aged 
ninety  years.  Levi  Hetrich,  father  of  John 
C,  was  also  born  in  Dauphin  county,  and 
was  for  sixty  years  a  farmer  of  West  Han- 
over township.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Jane  Early,  a  native  of  Dauphin  county. 
Tiieir  twelve  children  are  all  living,  and  are : 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Samuel  Ulrich  ;  Eckih  ; 
Martha,  wife  of  Jacob  Clements  ;  Edward  ; 
John  E.;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  John  Berry  ;  Val- 
entine ;  Thomas;  Levi;  Sarah,  wife  of  John 
McCormick  ;  Hiram  ;  Malinda,  wife  of  Simon 
Cassel.  Mr.  Levi  Hetrich  was  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Re- 
formed church. 

John  E.  Hetrich  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion. He  learned  shoemaking  in  his  boy- 
hood, serving  a  two  years'  apprenticeship. 
After  working  at  his  trade  for  six  months  he 
abandoned  it,  and  was  for  three  years  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  married,  Janu- 
ary 7,  1874,  to  Miss  Jane,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Maria  (Albright)  Allen.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Robert  G.,  and  Clara,  wife  of  David 
Shope.  In  1874  he  removed  on  a  farm,  and 
occupied  it  for  ten  years.     He  also  farmed 


in  Lower  Paxton  township  for  five  j'ears, 
after  which  he  removed  to  West  Hanover 
township,  Dauphin  county.  In  1882  he 
bought  the  farm  of  the  late  Samuel  Witten, 
which  he  has  since  cultivated  up  to  the 
present  time.  In  1894  he  was  elected  tax 
collector  of  West  Hanover  township,  which 
office  he  now  holds. 


Kramer,  George  W.,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Daupliin  county.  Pa., 
January  25,  1836.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
John  and  Catherine  (Hoffman)  Kramer, 
natives  of  Dauphin  county.  John  Kramer 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  seven  years 
previous  to  his  death,  when  he  retired  from 
active  business.  His  wife  was  Catharine 
(Hofi'man)  Kramer.  They  had  six  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living:  George  W.,  John 
H.,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  Knubb. 
Mr.  John  Kramer  died  aged  eighty-nine. 
In  his  political  views  he  was  Republican. 
He  was  a  member -of  the  Church  of  God  ;  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  same  church ;  she  still 
survives  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  George 
W.  Kramer  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  From  his  youth  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  18G1  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  his  own,  which  he  has  cultivated  for 
over  thirty  years.  He  was  married,  in  1860, 
to  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Michael 
Cassel.  Of  their  ten  children  these  ai'e  liv- 
ing :  Aaron;  Kate,  wife  of  John  Brightbill ; 
Annie,  wife  of  .John  Stoner;  Lizzie,  wife  of 
Edward  Sherk  ;  Maggie,  wife  of  Harry  Bol- 
ton ;  Caroline,  and  Cora.  In  1862  Mr.  Kramer 
was  drafted  for  three  years'  service  in  the 
Lhiited  States  army.  In  1885  he  was  elected 
supervisor  of  West  Hanover  township  for  a 
term  of  three  years  and  in  1892  was  again 
elected  to  the  same  office  for  two  years. 


Brightbill,  David  W.,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
September  23,  1838.  He  is  a  sjn  of  the  late 
Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Lingle)  Briglitbill. 
Adam  Brightlall  was  also  born  in  West 
Hanover  township  in  1809.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  He  was  engaged 
in  farming  until  1861,  when  he  retired  from 
business.  He  served  as  school  director  of 
West  Hanover  township  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  married  Mi.ss  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Paul  Lingle,  a  native  of  Dauphin 
county.  Five  of  their  eigiit  children  are 
living :    Benjamin  ;    Martha,    wife  of  John 


1148 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Runkle ;  David  W.;  Melinda,  wife  of  Jacob 
Kauffman ;  Adeline,  wife  of  Pliilip   Moyer. 

David  W.  Brightbill  received  a  limited 
education.  In  his  youth  he  assisted  upon 
his  father's  farm.  He  was  married,  March 
8,  1S60,  to  Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  John 
and  Sidne}'  (Heckert)  Buck.  They  have  had 
five  children,  of  whom  four  are  living : 
Lizzie,  wife  of  Frank  Hicks;  John  Adam, 
Joseph  M.,  and  Mary  M.  He  bouglit  the 
home  farm  of  his  fiither's  estate  in  1874. 
After  having  been  a  farmer  for  about  fift\' 
yeai's,  he  retired  in  1892,  and  moved  to  the 
residence  he  now  occupies.  He  served  efK- 
ciently  and  acceptably  for  three  years  as 
school  director  in  West  Hanover  township. 
In  1895  he  engaged  in  the  shingle  business, 
which  is  his  present  occupation. 

John  Buck,  father  of  Mrs.  Brightbill,  was 
born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  June  27, 
1811,  and  was  a  farmer.  Beginning  in  1825 
he  carried  the  United  States  mail  between 
Harrisburg  and  Hamburg  for  many  years. 
He  vvas  married,  December  26,  1836,  to  Miss 
Sidney  Heckert,  born  in  Lower  Paxton  town- 
ship, December  26,  1814.  They  had  ten 
children,  of  whom  these  are  living :  Mary 
Jane;  John  J.;  Lucy  Alice,  wife  of  Charles 
Greenawalt ;  Margaretta,  wife  of  Joseph 
Early;  Caroline  H.,  wife  of  Jacob  Snyder; 
Amos  C,  and  George  H.  In  his  later  years 
Mr.  Buck  was  engaged  in  hotel  keeping. 
He  was  for  two  years  proprietor  of  tlie  Pax- 
tonia  Hotel ;  he  also  had  the  Fairhill  Hotel 
for  ten  years,  after  which  he  retired'  from 
business,  and  settled  at  Hummelstown, 
Pa.,  where  he  died  June  10,  1882.  He  was 
Democratic  in  his  political  opinions.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
church,  antl  the}'  are  interred  in  Mt.  Zion 
cemeterv.  Lower  Paxton  township. 

Mr.  Jolm  Brightbill,  son  of  D.  W.  Bright- 
bill,  is  engaged  in  the  management  of  liis 
father's  farm.  Mr.  Joseph  Brightbill,  an- 
other son,  taught  school  two  years  in  Eliza- 
bethtown,  and  two  years  in  West  Hanover 
township,  Dauphin  county.  Since  1890 
he  has  been  a  clerk  in  Sible's  lumber  and 
planing  mill.  He  is  known  as  a  man  of 
integrity  and  is  universally  esteemed. 


Buck,  Solomon  C,  was  born  in  West  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  countj'.  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruarj'  21,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Sophia  (Cassel)  Buck.  His  grandfather, 
Christian   Buck,    was    married,  in   1808,   to 


Rebecca  Zarker.  They  had  seven  sons: 
John  and  Jacob,  who  were  twins;  David, 
Andrew,  Chri-stian,  Daniel,  and  Solomon. 
Christian  Buck  died  in  Dauphin  county. 
His  wife  died  March  9,  1874,  aged  eighty- 
seven. 

John  Buck,  son  of  Christian  and  Rebecca 
(Zarker)  Buck,  and   father  of  Solomon   C, 
was  born   in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  Pa.,  March  13,1810.     He  spent 
his  boyhood  on  the  farm.     At  eighteen  years 
of  age   he  learned    the  miller's  trade   in  a 
flouring  mill,  and  was  for  seven   years   en- 
gaged in  that  occupation.     He  was  then  em- 
l^Ioj'ed  in  farming,  until  he  was  twenty-nine 
years  old.     He  held   various  offices  in   West 
Hanover  township,  and  was  among  its  prom- 
inent and  honored  residents.     Sophia  Cassel, 
to  whom  he  was  married,  January  27,  1837, 
was  the   daughter   of  John    and    Christina 
(Smith)  Cassel,   and  was   born    in    Swatara 
township,    April    7,  1805.      They  had    four 
children,  of  whom  the  only  one  now  living 
is    Solomon  C.      The    father   died    in  Sep- 
tember, 1891,  aged  eighty-one;    the  mother 
died  June  9,  1895,  aged  ninety  years.     They 
were  both  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Solomon  (J.  Buck  received   his   education 
in  the  common  schools.    AVorking  out  among 
the  farmers  he  was  busily  employed  until  he 
was  of  age.     For  one  year,  1865,  he  attended 
bar  for  Mr.  John  Stemler  in    his   hotel    in 
IIarri.sburg.     The  next  year  he  began  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account.     He  was  married, 
February  17,  1870,  to  Miss  Kate  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Keiffer)  Jones.    They 
have  no  children.     In  1877  Mr.  Buck  bouglit 
the   farm    formerly  owned  by  Samuel  and 
Catherine   Glossbrenner,  at  which  place  he 
now  resides.     In  1889  he  was  elected  assessor 
of  West  Hanover  township,  served  one  term, 
was  re-elected,  and    served    a   second   term. 
For  a  term  of  three   \'ears  he  was  auditor. 
In  1892  he  was  elected  inspector  for  one  year. 
He  also  held  other  offices.     In  1885  he  was 
appointed  agent  of  fertilizer  appraiser  for  J. 
B.  Thomas,  of  Philadel|>hia,  which  position 
he  now  holds.    Mr.  Buck  is  Democratic  in  his 
political  views.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
llierau  church. 

The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Buck  was  born  in 
England  and  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 
four  years.  Her  grandmother  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county  and  was  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Lizzie  Keitter.  They  had  four  children  : 
John,  Jacob,  Daniel,  and  Catherine,  all  of 
whom    died    in    West    Hanover    township. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1149 


Jacob  Jones,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Buck,  was 
born  in  Dauphin  count}',  Pa.,  May  15, 1825. 
Her  mother  was  also  a  native  of  Daujihin 
county  and  was  born  March  26,  1828. 

Cassel,  Johx  B.,  was  born  in  Svvatara 
townsliip,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  June  5, 
1838.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Barbara 
(Horst)  Cassel.  George  Cassel  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county,  he  was  a  farmer  and  an 
lionored  resident  of  West  Hanover  township. 
He  held  various  offices,  such  as  supervisor, 
etc.  He  was  a  Republican,  and  a  meniber 
of  the  Lutlieran  ciiurch.  His  wife  also  was 
a  native  of  Dauphin  county ;  she  was  a 
daughter  of  Michael  Horst.  Seven  of  their 
eight  children  are  living:  Augustus  ;  John 
B.;  Ephraim  ;  Catherine,  wife  of  Levi  Bol- 
ton;  Absalom;  George;  and  Annie,  wife  of 
James  McCord.  His  wife  was  a  member  of 
IKe  Baptist  church. 

John  B.  Cassel  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion and  was  emplo3^ed  upon  his  father's 
farm  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  old. 
He  was  married  in  September,  1861,  to  Miss 
Kate,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
(Shuey)  Bolton.  They  had  six  children ; 
five  are  living  :  Emma  J.,  wife  of  Levi  Ging- 
erich  ;  Kate  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Cas- 
sel'; Annie,  wife  of  Jacob  R.  Sherk  ;  George 
E.,  and  John  H.  In  1862  Mr.  Cassel  re- 
moved to  his  father's  farm  and  cultivated  it 
for  four  years.  In  1872  he  bought  of  iiis 
fatiier  the  farm  where  he  has  since  resided. 
In  1862  he  worked  one  year  at  carpentering 
but  has  since  devoted  his  attention  exclu- 
sively to  fixrming.  In  1873  he  was  elected 
supervisor  of  West  Hanover  township  and 
served  one  year.  He  was  elected  school 
director  of  the  same  township  and  served 
three  years.  In  1892  he  was  again  elected 
supervisor  for  two  years.  Mr.  Cassel  is  a 
Republican. 

Bolton,  Levi,  was  born  in  West  Hanover 
townshif),  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  February 
22,  1838.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Cathe- 
rine (Shuey)  Bolton.  Jacob  Bolton  was 
born  in  Lebanon  count}'.  Pa.  He  was  a 
blacksmith,  but  was  principally  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Cathe- 
rine Shuey.  Of  their  seven  children  only 
three  are  living :  Sarah,  wife  of  David  Crum  ; 
Catlierine,  wife  of  John  Cassel,  and  Levi. 
Jacob  Bolton  was  a  Republican.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church.     Both  died  on  the  old   homestead. 


where  their  son  Levi  now  resides.  The 
father  died  in  1883,  aged  fifty-five,  the 
mother  died  aged  seventy-one  years.  Both 
are  buried  in  the  farm  graveyard. 

Levi  Bolton  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Dauphin  county.  After  leaving 
school  he  worked  with  his  father  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-three  years  old.  He 
was  married,  in  October,  1861,  to  Miss  Kate, 
daughter  of  George  and  Barbara  (Horst) 
Cassel.  They  had  three  children  :  John  H., 
George  E.,  and  Harvey  M.  Mr.  Bolton  was 
drafted  in  1861  for  the  three  years'  service 
in  the  United  States  army,  and  paid  $300, 
substitute  money.  In  1887  he  was  elected, 
tax  collector  of  West  Hanover  township  for 
one  year.  He  served  eleven  years  as  scliool 
director,  and  in  1895  was  elected  to  the 
same  position  for  an  additional  term  of  three 
years. 


Bell,  David  B.,  was  born  in  York  county, 
Pa.,  March  30,  1827.  He  was  a  son  of  the 
late  Peter  and  Sarah  (Meyers)  Bell.  His 
grandfather  was  born  in  England,  and  his 
grandmother  in  York  county.  Peter  Bell, 
his  father,  was  also  born  in  York  county. 
Pa.  He  was  educated  in  tlie  public  schools 
of  his  native  count} .  In  his  younger  days 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  in  York  county. 
He  was  married,  in  1814,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Meyers,  a  native  of  York  county.  They  had 
sixteen  children.  Five  of  these  are  living: 
Anna,  wife  of  Fred.  Crumlich ;  Rachel  C, 
wife  of  John  Ferry  ;  George  W.,  Isaiah,  and 
Lavinia  J.,  wife  of  Israel  Stine.  Peter  Bell 
died  in  June,  1844 ;  his  wife  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-five.  He  was  a  Republican,  and 
a  member  of  the  Evangelical  church. 

David  D.  Bell  received  a  common  school 
education.  He  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  he  was  eigliteen.  Ho  then  learned 
siioemaking,  and  worked  at  it  for  five  years. 
After  this  he  was  for  two  years  employed  in 
broom  making.  Mr.  Bell  was  married,  De- 
cember 26,  1847,  to  Miss  Rachel,  daughter  of 
George  and  Catherine  (Strominger)  Traver. 
Six  of  their  nine  children  are  living:  Sarah 
J.,  wife  of  George  Herman  ;  Adam  H.; 
Amanda  E.,  wife  of  Benjamin  Waltz  ;  George 
T.;  Monroe,  and  Edward  K.  From  York 
county,  where  he  was  farming,  Mr.  Bell  re- 
moved in  1868  to  Dauphin  county,  and  for 
six  years  occupied  the  farm  of  Dr.  Coover. 
He  tiien  removed  to  West  Hanover  town- 
ship and  worked  the  farm  of  Mr.  A.  Fackler 
for  seventeen  years.     In  1891  he  bought  the 


1150 


MOGRArillCAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


farm  of  the  late  D.  Bolton,  on  which  he  re- 
sided at  the  time  of  his  death. 

George  Traver,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Bell, 
was  a  native  of  York  county.  He  worked 
for  many  years  at  slioemaking,  and  was  also 
engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Miss 
Catherine  Strominger,  daughter  of  Michael 
Strominger,  of  York  county.  They  had 
ten  children,  of  whom  seven  are  living : 
Annie,  wife  of  George  Woods;  David; 
Rachel,  widow  of  David  D.  Bell ;  Rehecca, 
wife  of  Jose|)h  Hain ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
William  Downs ;  George  W.,  and  Daniel. 
Mr.  Traver  died  in  1878,  aged  eiglity-eigiit 
years.  His  wife  died  in  1873.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Church  of  God. 


Fackler,  Adam,  was  born  in  West  Han- 
over townsliip,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  De- 
cember 24,  ISol.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Harriet  (Fisher)  Fackler.  George  Fackler 
was  born  in  Lower  Paxton  township,  Dau- 
phin county ;  he  was  a  farmer.  His  wife 
was  also  a  native  of  Dauphin  county,  and 
was  a  daugiiter  of  Jolm  and  Catherine 
Fisher.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fackler  had  twelve 
cliildren,  of  whom  ten  are  living:  Adam; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Bernhard  Gastrock ; 
George  W.;  Daniel ;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Jacob 
Ensminger  ;  Harriet,  wife  of  Jacob  Stoutfer ; 
Sarah,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Hubbard ;  David, 
Emma,  and  Hoyt.  George  Fackler  was 
elected  supervisor  of  West  Hanover  town- 
ship and  served  two  terms.  He  also  served 
one  year  as  constable  of  the  same  township. 
For  two  j'ears  he  was  treasurer  of  the  Dau- 
phin County  Fire  Insurance  Company.  In 
1880  he  removed  to  Kansas.  He  has  retired 
from  business  and  he  and  his  wife  are  lead- 
ing a  quiet  life. 

Adam  Fackler  spent  his  early  life  on  the 
farm,  and  received  the  education  usually  ob- 
tained by  fanners' boys  in  tiie  public  schools. 
He  remained  upon  the  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-two.  He  was  married,  in  Lower  Pax- 
ton  township,  to  Miss  Amelia,  daughter  of 
Augustus  and  Mary  (Ort)  Gastrock.  They 
have  one  son,  John  A.  Mr.  Fackler  moved 
on  his  father's  farm  in  1873,  and  in  1875 
purchased  the  place,  and  has  resided  on  it 
ever  since.  He  is  a  good,  solid  Republican, 
and  a  member  of  tlie  Lutheran  church. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Fackler  were  both 
born  in  Germany.  They  came  to  America 
in  their  youth  and  wereeng'iged  in  farming. 
They  had  seven  children,  of  whom  three  are 
living:  Bernhard;    Amelia,   Mrs.    Fackler; 


and  Samuel.  Her  father  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years;  her  mother  is  still  living,  at 
tiie  age  of  sixty-five. 

John  A.  Fackler,  son  of  Adam  Fackler, 
received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools.  Xi  the  age  of  fifteen  ho  attended 
the  high  .school  in  Linglestown  for  one  ses- 
sion. When  he  was  sixteen  years  old  he  at- 
tended the  Williamsport  Business  College, 
and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  at 
the  enil  of  a  year,  after  which  he  learned 
short-hand  writing.  Then,  being  eighteen 
years  old,  he  attended  the  Millersville  State 
Normal  School  until  1895,  after  which  he 
began  teaching  in  the  public  school.  He  is 
regarded  by  all  as  a  young  man  of  probity 
and  ability,  whose  future  career  is  most 
promising. 


Rauch,  James  M.,  farmer,  was  born  in 
West  Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  February  17, 1849.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Shuf)]>)  Rauch,  both  natives 
of  Dauphin  county,  the  former  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  died  in  Martin.sburg,  W. 
Va.,  the  latter  born  in  Sus(piehanna  town- 
ship, is  still  living,  and  resides  in  Martins- 
burg.  James  M.  Rauch  grew  up  on  the 
farm  in  West  Hanover  townsliip.  He  ac- 
companied his  ])arents  when  they  removed 
to  Mai-tinsburg,  W.  Ya.,  in  1866,  and  made 
his  home  with  tiiem  for  eight  years.  But  a 
home  and  a  farm  in  his  native  township  had 
stronger  attractions  for  him,  and  in  1874  he 
gratified  his  desires  by  returning  to  West 
Hanover  township.  He  procured  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  resides,  and  has  found  oc- 
cupation in  cultivating  it.  He  was  married, 
June  19,  1880,  to  Miss  Emma  J.  Miller, 
daughter  of  Esquire  Jacob  T.  Miller.  They 
have  no  children.  Mr.  Rauch  is  a  good  solid 
Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church. 


Brown,  Samuel  S.,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
January  30,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
John  and  Margaret  (Snoddy)  Brown.  His 
great-grandmother  was  born  in  Germany. 
She  came  to  America  at  eighteen  years 
of  age,  and  settled  in  Daupiiin  county, 
where  she  died.  His  grandparents  were 
both  natives  of  Dauphin  county.  John 
Brown,  father  of  Samuel  S.,  was  born  in 
West  Hanover  township,  January  16,  1812. 
He  was  a  carpenter,  and  followed  that  bu.si- 
ness  for  many  years ;  but  later  in  life  he 


DAUFHIN  COUNTY. 


1151 


began  farming.  He  married  Miss  Margaret 
ynoddy,  who  was  born  in  1816,  in  West 
Hanover  townsliip.  Tliey  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  eleven  are  living:  Joim ; 
Mary,  wife  of  Amos  Cassel;  William;  Cal- 
vin ;  Samuel  S ;  James ;  Jacob ;  Margaret, 
wife  of  Anthony  Fetterman ;  Sarah,  wife 
of  Isaac  Boyer;  Lydia,  wife  of  Joshua 
Boeshore;  Gown;  and  George.  Mr.  John 
Brown  died  in  West  Hanover  township  in 
1890,  aged  seventy-eight ;  his  wife  died  in 
1881.  Both  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
church  at  Shellsville,  Pa. 

Samuel  S.  Brown  took  only  a  partial 
course  in  the  public  schools.  From  the  age 
of  fourteen,  for  four  years,  he  was  employed 
in  farming.  At  eighteen  he  enlisted  at 
Harrisburg  in  company  B,  Tenth  regiment. 
United  States  infantry.  His  regiment  was 
part  of  the  Ninth  army  corjjs  at  Petersburg, 
Va.  He  served  three  years.  In  186G-07  he 
served  on  the  frontier,  among  the  Indians. 
He  was  discharged  from  the  service  Febru- 
ary 16, 1867,  when  he  returned  home  and 
engaged  in  mrming.  Mr.  Brown  was  mar- 
ried, November  10,  1868,  to  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Elias  and  Sarah  (Kauch)  Dill- 
man.  They  have  had  twelve  children,  of 
whom  nine  are  living  :  Christian  ;  Margaret, 
wife  of  Elmer  Straw;  John,  Samuel,  Elias, 
Sarah,  Mary,  Monroe,  and  Emma.  In  1874 
Mr.  Brown  removed  to  Cornwall,  Lebanon 
county.  Pa.,  where  he  was  employed  in  fill- 
ing a  furnace.  Later  he  returned  to  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  In 
1888  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  Middle 
Paxton  township.  Since  that  year  he  has 
devoted  his  attention  to  farming.  Mr. 
Brown  is  a  Rejjublican,  and  a  member  of 
Hoffman's  church. 

Elias  Dillman,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Brown, 
was  born  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.  He  re- 
moved to  Cornwall,  Lebanon  county,  and 
for  eleven  years  was  engaged  in  filling  a 
furnace,  after  which  he  moved  to  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  and  thence  to  West  Hanover 
township,  Dauphin  county,  where  he  is  still 
living,  at  the  age  of  eightj'-one  years.  He 
married  Sarah  Kauch,  a  native  of  Schuyl- 
kill county  ;  they  had  six  children,  of  whom 
the  only  ones  now  living  are:  John,  and 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Samuel  S.  Brown.  Mrs. 
Dillman  died  in  1892,  aged  seventy-eight. 


Hannah  (Urich)  Cassell.  His  grandparents 
were  natives  of  Penn.sylvania.  Enuxnuel 
Cassell,  father  of  David  Cassell,  was  born  in 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.  Iir  his  earlier  life  he 
was  for  many  years  engaged  in  ftirming  and 
distilling.  He  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Miss  Polly  Urich,  by  whom  he  had 
one  son,  Daniel.  Ilis  second  wife  was  Miss 
Hannah  Urich,  a  native  of  Dauphin  county. 
They  liad  eleven  children,  of  whom  nine 
are  living:  Daniel;  David;  Catherine,  wife 
of  James  Baker,  deceased  ;  Elizabeth,  John, 
Samuel,  Emanuel,  William,  and  Hannah. 
He  died  aged  sixty-eight.  He  was  a  Re- 
publican and  h(^  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Church  of  God. 

David  Cassell  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  April,  1874.  In 
tills  year  he  removed  to  Harrislnirgand  was 
engaged  in  the  coal  and  lumber  business 
for  eleven  years.  After  this  he  dealt  in  live 
stock  for  four  years.  From  1885  to  1890 
he  traveled  through  the  Western  States,  vis- 
iting Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  other  important 
shii)ping  points,  and  bought  live  stock  for 
shijijiing  to  Eastern  markets.  In  1890  he 
returned  to  his  farm,  where  he  now  resides, 
and  which  lie  cultivates.  He  is  a  healthy 
old  bachelor  and  a  Republican. 


Cassell,  David,  was  born  in  West  Han- 
over township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  July  1, 
1830.     He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Emanuel  and 


S.MELTZER,  David  M.,  was  born  in  West 
Hanover  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa,, 
January  8,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late 
Peter  and  Rebecca  (Miller)  Smeltzer,  both 
also  natives  of  West  Hanover  township.  Mrs. 
Smeltzer  was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Mar- 
garet Miller.  Peter  Smeltzer  was  a  farmer. 
They  had  nine  children,  of  whom  seven  are 
living:  George;  John  ;  Rebecca;  Sarah,  wife 
of  Jonathan  Zeider ;  William  ;  David  M. ; 
and  Rosanna,  wife  of  Martin  Hocker.  Both 
parents  died  in  West  Hanover  township,  the 
mother  on  December  24,  1884. 

L)avid  M.  Smeltzer  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  township.  He  is  |)rac- 
tically  a  self-made  man.  At  seventeen  years 
of  age  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  miller  in 
a  flouring  mill  and  was  in  this  occupation 
for  five  years.  In  1863  he  enlisted  for  three 
months'  service  in  the  Union  army,  in  com- 
pany E, Thirty-sixth  regiment,  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  after  which  he  enlisted  for  one 
year  in  company  I,  Eighty-seventh  regiment. 
He  was  in  the  war  for  three  years.  After 
this  service  was  over  he  worked  for  three 
years  at  his  trade.     Beginning  with  1868  he 


71 


1152 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


was  for  three  years  employed  in  iarming  in 
South  Hanover  township,  then  four  years  in 
Lower  Paxton  township,  then  managed  a 
farm  in  Susquehanna  township  for  nine 
years ;  during  tiie  following  two  years  he  was 
fiirming  in  Lower  Swatara  townsliip  ;  tiien 
again  in  Lower  Paxton  township  for  two 
years;  then  in  Swatara  township,  where  for 
six  years  lie  operated  a  dairy  in  connection 
with  the  farm,  supplying  customers  in  the 
city  of  Harrishurg.  At  tlie  exjiiration  of  tiiis 
period  lie  removed  to  AVest  Hanover  town- 
sliip iind  Ijought  the  farm  of  the  late  Joseph 
Lingle,  wliich  he  now  occupies  and  culti- 
vates. 

In  August,  1S()3,  Mr.  Smeltzcr  married  his 
first  wife.  Miss  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jacoh 
and  Catlierino  (McCord)  Woily.  They  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  five  are  living: 
Minnie,  wife  of  George  W.  Miller;  Rohert ; 
Samuel ;  William  ;  and  Annie,  wife  of  Elmer 
Zeider.  Mrs.  Smeltzer's  parents  were  natives 
of  Dauphin  county  ;  her  fatlier,  Jacob  Wolly, 
tauglit  scliool  in  Soutli  Hanover  townsiiij) 
for  many  years.  In  Januar\',  1878,  Mr. 
Smeltzer  married  Ins  second  wife,  Miss 
Amanda  E.  Page,  daughter  of  Elias  and 
Catluirino  (Zeider)  Pago,  by  whom  he  had 
two  sons;  tiie  only  one  now  living  is  John. 
The  second  Mrs.  Smeltzer's  father,  Hhas 
Page  is  a  farmer;  lie  resides  in  Harrishurg. 
On  May  22,  1880,  Mr.  Smeltzer  married  his 
third  wife,  Miss  Saraii  J.,  daughter  of  Jere- 
miah and  Hannah  (Forney)  Wirt.  Of  their 
six  children  five  are  living:  Margaret  J., 
Sadie  J.,  Harrj'  E.,  Charles  L.,  and  Leroy  H. 
Tiie  parents  of  Mrs.  Saraii  Smeltzer  were 
natives  of  Dauphin  county.  Her  father  was 
both  carpenter  and  farmer.  He  died  Julv  4, 
1872.  Her  mother  died  July  29, 1893,  at  "the 
age  of  sixty-two.  In  1887  Mr.  Smeltzer  was 
electetl  sciiool  director  of  Lower  Paxton 
township  and  served  two  years.  He  is  a 
good,  solid  Rejiublican.  He  is  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Church  of  God. 


Balsbaugh,  Christian  Hervey,  author, 
was  born  in  West  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county,  Pa.,  April  10,  1831.  He  is  a 
son  of  the  late  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Longe- 
necker)  Balsbaugh.  George  Balsbaugh,  tiie 
great-grandfather  of  Christian  H.,  was  born 
in  Pfals,  Germany.  The  family  name  origi- 
nated there,  from  a  stream  of  water,  Bach, 
running  through  Pfals.  By  a  ciiange  of 
coiLsonants  it  became  Balsbaugh.  The  grand- 
father of  Christian   H.  Balsbaugh  was  born 


at  Spring  Creek,  near  tlie  old  Derry  church, 
in  Derry  township,  Dauphin  county ;  his 
grandmother  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pa.  They  resided  on  and  cultivated 
the  old  homestead  where  Christian  H.  was 
born.  The  grandfatlier  lived  to  within  a 
few  months  of  ninety-seven  years  of  age.  He 
was  for  many  years  a  bishop.  He  was  in 
perfect  health,  and  could  read  without  spec- 
tacles. He  died  without  sickness.  The  grand- 
mother died  in  a  similar  manner,  at  tlie  age 
of  sixty-nine  years.  They  are  buried  in  the 
graveyard  at  the  old  homestead  farm. 

Peter  Balsbaugh,  father  of  Christian  H., 
was  born  in  East  Hanover  township,  Dau- 
phin county.  He  was  a  very  temperate 
man  ;  he  was  a  farmer.  He  married,  on 
August  29, 181G,  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Abrahaiu  and  Maria  (Musser)  Longenecker, 
who  was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  They 
had  nine  cliildren,  of  whom  four  are  living  : 
Benjamin,  Maria,  Christian  Hervey,  and 
Samuel.  He  died  November  21,  1871,  aged 
seventy-nine.  His  wife  died  on  New'  Year's 
eve,  1874,  aged  seventy-seven.  Both  were 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  ciiurcii,and 
both  are  buried  at  the  West  Hanover  church 
aijove  named. 

C'hristian  Plervey  Balsbaugh  received  the 
ordinary  public  school  education.  As  a 
youth  lie  was  not  physically  strong,  but  was 
vigorous  in  mind  and  robust  in  his  spiritual 
nature.  At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  began 
teaching  school.  Having  to  make,  liis  own 
way,  ho  accomplished  his  end  by  teaching 
during  the  winter  months  and  studying  in 
the  summer.  He  attended  tlie  Harrishurg 
Academy  for  one  term  in  the  summer  of  his 
nineteenth  year.  In  1851  he  attended  Penn- 
sylvania College,  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  for  one 
term,  and  taught  school  during  the  winter. 
In  1852  he  attended  Freeland  Seminary,  in 
Montgomery  county.  Pa.  He  began  the  study 
of  medicine  in  the  autumn  of  1852,  and  in 
the  following  year  spent  one  term  at  the  Ec- 
lectic College,  Philadelpliia.  Here  he  was 
broken  down  by  too  arduous  study  and  was 
obliged  to  return  home,  where  he  remained 
until  the  autumn  of  1854;  he  then  went  to 
New  York  City,  entered  the  Hygienic  Col- 
lege and  pursued  a  course  of  study  until 
1860.  This  was  a  mo.st  important  and  profit- 
able period  in  his  mental  growth  and  de- 
velopment. He  was  under  tlie  instruction  of 
some  of  the  most  talented,  skillful,  and  emi- 
nent men  of  the  day.  The  result  was  a  broad, 
thorough  and  liberal  education. 


DAUPEIM   COUNTY. 


1153 


In  18(50  he  began  contributing  to  the  press 
and  has  pubhshed  many  able  and  notable 
articles  on  a  wide  range  of  subjects.  In  1895 
"  Glimpses  of  Jesus  "  or  "  Letters  of  C.  H. 
Balsbaugh  "  was  compiled  by  T.  T.  Myers. 
Tiie  book  is  having  a  ready  sale  and  is  elicit- 
ing testimonials  of  a  most  gratifying  charac- 
ter. Mr.  Balsbaugh  is  now  a  contributor  to 
five  magazines  and  carries  on  correspondence 
with  eminent  people  around  the  globe.  He 
administers  to  the  relief  of  the  afflicted  as  op- 
portunity and  ability  permits.  He  is  a  prac- 
tical Christian  and  a  firm  believer  in  the 
harmony  between  nature  and  revelation.  To 
assert  tills  harmony  and  demonstrate  it  has 
been  a  favorite  employment  of  his  facile  and 
able  pen  for  thirty  years.  He  still  pursues 
his  investigations,  but  confines  his  study 
mostly  to  physical  matters.  He  studies  his- 
tory, science,  and  philosopliy  only  so  far  as 
the}'  illustrate  the  higher  life. 

He  was  first  married,  April  15,  1878.  to 
Miss  Harriet,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Caroline 
Gipe.  They  had  no  children.  Mrs.  Bals- 
baugh died  January  8,  1887,  aged  forty-five. 
His  second  marriage,  May  1,  1890,  was  with 
Miss  Haj-riet,  daughter  of  Dr.  Elisha  and 
Anna  Mary  (Mackey)  Shelly,  who  before  her 
marriasre  had  been  a  teacher. 


Cassel,  Christian,  farmer  and  justice  of 
the  peace,  was  born  February  10,  1831,  in 
Derry  township,  Dauphin  county.  Pa.;  son 
of  Michael  and  Leah  (Mum ma)  Cassel.  His 
father  was  born  in  Middle  Paxton  townshii^ 
and  is  a  son  of  John  Cassel,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania  and  located  at  Middle- 
town,  this  county,  about  the  year  1815,  where 
he  became  a  miller  for  George  Fry,  and  was 
subsequently  appointed  agent  to  manage 
Mr.  Fry's  vast  estate.  Here  John  Cassel  died. 
He  was  the  father  of  eleven  children  :  Fred- 
erick, Michael,  John,  George,  Katharine, 
Jane,  Sarah,  Sophia,  Lena,  Elizabetli,  and 
Barbara.  The  mother  of  these  children  was 
Magdalene  Smith  before  her  marriage  to 
John  Cassel.  She  and  her  husband  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  Mr. 
Cassel  was  a  Whig  in  his  political  views. 

Michael  Cassel  married  Leah  Munnna  and 
followed  farming  mostly  in  Derry  and  Swa- 
tara  townships,  and  died  in  West  Hanover 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son.  Christian 
Cassel.  The  only  child  born  to  Michael  and 
Leah  (Mumma)  Cassel  was  Christian  C. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Michael  was 


married  to  Catharine  Gingrich,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children:  Ann  M.  and  Catharine. 

Christian  C.  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  Middletown  and  was  brought 
up  at  farm  labor.  He  married  Catharine 
Runyan,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
(Wilt)  Runyan,  and  tiiey  liad  eight  children: 
Calvin,  George  R.,  ]\Iiciiael  M.,  Edward  D., 
John  C.,  Emma  J.,  Mazie  E.,  and  Katie  E. 
Mr.  Ca.ssel  is  a  director  of  the  Hummelstown 
National  Bank,  one  of  tlie  managers  of  the 
creamery  at  Union  Deposit,  and  director  and 
treasurer  of  the  Dauphin  County  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company  since  January  1, 
1883.  He  has  served  as  school  director,  and 
supervisor  and  auditor  of  his  township.  He 
was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  1875, 
and  has  filled  that  dffice  ever  since  with 
much  credit  and  ability.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church  from  early 
manhood.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
staunch  Republican. 


Ingram,  Samuel  D.,  was  born  in  Chester 
county,  Pa.,  November  9,1811.  He  was  the 
son  of  Dr.  John  and  Lydia  (Delaplaine)  In- 
gram. His  father  died  wlien  he  was  six 
years  old.  From  that  time,  with  his  sister 
Eliza,  he  was  trained  and  educated  in  the 
home  of  his  aunt,  his  father's  sister,  the  wife 
of  Jonathan  Ganse,  then  a  prominent  teacher 
and  at  that  time  and  for  many  years  the 
principal  of  West  Chester  Academy  and 
Boarding  School.  In  the  eighteenth  year 
of  his  age  Mr.  Ingram  went  to  Sandsbuiy- 
ville  and  was  the  teacher  of  the  county 
school  there.  In  1837  he  was  elected  teacher 
of  tiie  girls'  grammar  school,  in  which  posi- 
tion he  continued  until  he  was  elected  the 
first  superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of 
Harrisburg  and  of  Dauphin  county,  which 
office  he  held  continuous)}'  for  fifteen  years. 
Subsequently  he  ta'ught  in  the  public  schools 
of  this  city,  and  for  twenty-seven  years  con- 
ducted a  private  school  under  liis  own  di- 
rect su[)ervision.  He  was  married,  January 
1,  18-13,  to  Malvina  F.,  y(jungest  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Schock)  Geiger.  To  tiiem 
was  born  one  son,  who  was  city  editor  of  the 
Harrisburg  Telegram,  and  who  died  October 
8,  1877.  Mr.  Ingram  was  quiet  and  unas- 
suming in  manner,  but  firm  in  his  convic- 
tions of  rigiit  and  sense  oC  duty,  unobtrusive 
and  retiring,  liis  influence  for  the  good  and 
true  was  felt  in  the  community  and  acknowl- 
edged by  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held. 
Pie  was  more  than  an  example  in   this  re- 


1154 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENGTGLOFEDIA 


gard,  he  was  a  factor  as  well.  Elected  super- 
intendent of  schools  for  the  city  and  county 
when  the  establisliment  of  the  office  was  o;)- 
posed,  and  tlie  office  itself  held  in  i)0sitive 
disresf)ect  by  those  who  should  have  better 
appreciated  its  bearing,  but  conscious  of  the 
necessity  of  elevating  the  standard  of  in- 
struction, Mr.  Ingram,  at  great  personal 
sacrifice,  a.ssunied  the  duties  of  the  office. 
He  labored  long  and  faithfully  in  condi- 
tions which  would  have  discouraged  any 
one  actuated  by  an  impulse  of  personal 
gain  only,  but  moved  by  a  sense  of  duty  to 
his  profession  and  liis  high  sense  of  respon- 
sibility to  do  with  his  might  wliat  his  hand 
found  to  do,  he  persevered  with  a  result 
which  was  to  him  its  own  reward,  and  to 
the  cause  to  which  his  service  was  rendered 
of  uiuneasured  value.  Mr.  Ingram  was  an 
enthusiast  in  his  profession,  and  was  not 
only  an  educator,  but  was  an  influential 
citizen.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of 
the  city  council  and  for  years  a  member  of 
the  board  of  control.  He  was  prominent 
in  man}^  of  the  humane  and  social  organiza- 
tions of  the  city.  He  was  an  earnest  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Always  a 
good  citizen  and  lover  of  iiis  country,  Mr. 
Ingram  cared  little  or  nothing  for  empty 
fame.  His  ambition  was  to  do  good,  to 
benefit  his  fellows  and  to  make  the  world 
better  for  having  lived.  He  died  June  30, 
1894.  He  was  prominent  in  Masonic  circles, 
being  at  the  date  of  liis  death  the  oldest 
member  of  Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  21,  and 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  Pilgrim  Coni- 
mandery,  No.  11,  K.  T. 


Gastrock,  Barnhard,  Linglestown,  was 
born  in  Susquehanna  township,  Dau[)liin 
county,  Pa.,  December  1*J,  1850;  son  of  Au- 
gustus and  Mary  (Orth)  Gastrock.  The  par- 
ents were  both  natives  of  Germany.  The 
father  came  to  this  country  when  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age,  having  been  employed 
in  a  hotel,  and  after  his  settlement  here  be- 
came a  farmer.  The  mother  came  one  year 
later.  They  had  a  family  of  five  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living:  Barnliard,  Amelia, 
and  Samuel,  of  Boston ,  Mass.  The  father  died 
August  20,  1873,  aged  seventy-four  years. 
In  his  politics  lie  was  a  Democrat.  His  family 
were  members  of  the  Lutiieran  church. 
Barnhard  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  ac- 
quired only  a  limited  education.  He  was 
married,  September  25,  1872,  to  Miss  Cathe- 
rine Fackler,  daughter  of  George  and    Har- 


riet (Fisher)  Fackler.  Their  children  are ' 
Elizabeth,  Mary  Ellen,  Barnhard,  and  Will- 
iam. In  1873  Mr.  Gastrock  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself  on  tl)e  farm  of  George 
Fackler,  which  he  cultivated  for  two  years. 
In  1875  he  bought  the  farm  lately  owned  by 
Tiionias  Finney,  which  he  has  occui)ied  since 
that  time.  In  1890  he  was  elected  super- 
visor of  West  Hanover  and  served  in  the 
office  three  years.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  in  1894  was  a  delegate 
to  the  county  convention  of  his  part}',  and 
the  year  following  represented  the  township 
in  tfie  Republican  State  Convention.  He 
and  liis  famil}'  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 


Rauch,  Samuel  J.,  farmer,  West  Hanover 
township,  was  born  March  14,  1844;  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Shoop)  Rauch.  The 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Dauithin 
county,  tile  father  of  East  Hanover  and  tiie 
mother  of  Lower  Paxtou  township.  They 
were  farmers  and  reared  a  family  of  six  ciiil- 
dren  :  Mary  J.,  Eliza  A.,  Samuel  J.,  John 
W.  and  Edward,  twins,  and  James  M.  Tiie 
fatiier  was  a  farmer  and  dairyman.  He  died 
at  tile  age  of  fiftyeiglit  years,  and  his  wife 
survives  and  resides  at  Martinsburg,  Va. 
The  grandparents  were  both  natives  of  Dau- 
jiiiin  county  and  were  farmers,  and  both 
died  in  Dauphin  county. 

Samuel  J.  received  his  primary  education 
in  tiie  public  schools  of  West  Hanover  town- 
ship, and  also  attended  private  schools  for 
two  sessions.  He  was  then  engaged  in  teach- 
ing for  three  successive  winters,  and  working 
on  the  farm  in  the  summers.  He  also  was 
agent  of  the  Buckeye  Company  in  selling 
agricultural  machinery,  and  held  this  posi- 
tion three  years.  He  was  also  in  the  retail 
grocery  business  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
was  married,  November  12,  1875,  to  Miss 
Louisa  Deitweiler,  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Barbara  (Thomas)  Deitweiler.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Lizzie  S.,  Jennie  A.,  Florence  D., 
Mary  L.,  Carrie  T.,  and  Maggie  V.  After  his 
marriage  he  was  engaged  in  selling  agricul- 
tural machinery  for  fi?e  years.  He  then 
bought  the  home  farm  of  his  father's  estate, 
on  which  he  has  since  been  extensively  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock  raising.  In  his 
political  views  lie  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
served  as  school  director,  supervisor,  auditor 
and  inspector  of  elections.  In  religious  faith 
he  is  with  the  Reformed  church  and  is  a 
member  of  that  denomination. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1155 


Michael  Deitweiler,  tlie  father  of  Mrs. 
Rauch,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  and 
was  a  farmer.  He  marriec]  Miss  Barbara 
Thomas  and  they  had  tiiesechihlren  :  John; 
Caroline,  Mrs.  Michael  Eby ;  Leah,  Mrs. 
Samuel  0.  Eby ;  Adam  ;  Mollie,  Mrs.  John 
Koons;  Christina,  widow  of  Daniel  Brehm ; 
Louisa,  Mrs.  Rauch;  and  Michael.  Mr. 
Deitweiler  died  December  31,1873,  aged  six- 
ty-two years,  and  his  wife  died  in  May,  1884, 
aged  sixty-five  years,  and  both  passed  away 
in  Lebanon  county. 


Cassel,  August,  West  Hanover  township, 
was  born  in  Swatara  township,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  March  13,  1834;  son  of  the 
late  George  and  Barbara  (Horst)  Cassel. 
The  parents  were  both  natives  of  Dauphin 
county,  and  were  married  in  1833.  They 
had  eight  children,  of  whom  seven  are  liv- 
ing: August;  John;  Ephraim  ;  Catherine, 
wife  of  Levi  Bolton  ;  Absalom,  George,  and 
Annie,  wife  of  James  McCord.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  and  a  prominent  man  in  town- 
ship affairs.  He  was  elected  supervisor  for 
one  year,  and  was  elected  assessor  of  West 
Hanover  township  for  two  years  in  succes- 
sion. For  the  last  five  years  of  his  life  he 
gave  up  farming  and  lived  retired  from  ac- 
tive business.  He  was  born  in  1809,  and 
died  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age.  His 
wife  was  born  in  1811,  and  died  in  May,  1 873. 

August  first  attended  a  school  in  the  old 
log  school  house  in  Swatara  township  for 
two  winters  and  was  in  the  common  schools 
a  part  of  the  time  each  year  until  he  became 
of  age.  He  was  employed  at  farm  work 
with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-three 
years  old.  In  February,  1856,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Malinda  Albright,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Christina  (Walmer)  Albright. 
They  have  these  children  :  John  W.;  Mary 
B.,  Mrs.  Jonatlian  Potteiger ;  Rebecca  J., 
wife  of  David  Potteiger  ;  Emma  A.,  wife  of 
Jolm  ^lountz;  William  A.;  Sarah  B.,  wife 
of  George  Wells  ;  Grant  E.  Mr.  Cassel  was 
elected  school  director  of  West  Hanover 
township  and  served  for  three  years,  was 
elected  assessor  for  two  years,  supervisor  for 
one  year,  and  judge  of  elections  for  one 
year.  In  1882  he  bougiit  the  farm  formerly 
owned  by  Emanuel  Cassel,  on  which  he 
still  resides. 


BoYER,  David  A.,  general  merchant  and 
postmaster,  was  born  in  Palmyra,  Lebanon 
county.   Pa.,    December    29,   1843;    son   of 


Abraham  H.  and  Maria  (Taylor)  Boyer.  The 
father  was  born  in  East  Hanover  township, 
Dauphin  county,  but  spent  a  portion  of  his 
life  at  Palmyra,  Lebanon  county,  and  later 
returned  to  East  Hanover  township,  where 
he  resided  until  1885.  His  present  residence 
is  Harrisburg,  where  he  is  filling  the  office 
of  county  turnkey.  During  his  active  busi- 
ness life  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming, 
hotel  keeping  and  various  otlier  pursuits. 
The  mother  was  born  near  New  Holland, 
Lancaster  county.  The  parents  had  ten 
children,  of  whom  eight  are  living:  David 
A.;  Augustine,  wife  of  Montgomery  Hughes, 
deceased  ;  Lizzie  A.,  wife  of  George  A.  Delhi, 
Harrisburg;  Martin  T.;  Sarali,  widow  of  the 
late  Samuel  Ingram ;  Abraham  F.;  Simon 
C;  Mary  C,  wife  of  Martin  Scholl;  Katie 
M.,  wife  of  W.  A.  Hetterick.  The  fatiier 
was  a  prominent  man  in  his  township  and 
took  an  active  part  in  political  matters.  He 
held  the  position  of  steward  of  the  almshouse 
and  various  township  offices. 

David  A.  when  five  years  old  returned 
with  his  parents  to  East  Hanover  township, 
where  he  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  district  schools  and  later  attended  Pal- 
myra Academy  and  Lebanon  Valley  College, 
studying  during  the  winter  and  engaging  in 
farming  and  other  pursuits  in  the  summer. 
After  completing  his  college  course  he  taught 
the  district  school  in  East  Hanover  township 
in  1861.  He  enlisted,  March  24,  1862,  in 
company  C,  Third  regiment.  United  States 
infantry,  in  which  he  served  over  three 
years,  during  which  time  he  participated  in 
numerous  prominent  engagements,  among 
which  were  the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Tenn., 
Chickamaugua,  Chattanooga  and  others. 
At  the  battle  of  New  Hope  Church  he  was 
wounded  and  was  also  di.sabled  b^'  disease 
and  taken  to  the  hospital,  first  at  Chatta- 
nooga, from  which  he  was  removed  in  turn 
to  the  hospitals  at  Nashville,  Jeffersonville, 
Madison,  Ind.,  and  Columbus,  Ohio,  from 
which  he  was  discharged  as  convalescent, 
November  12,  1864.  He  returned  to  East 
Hanover  and  taught  school  for  a  time,  after 
wliich  he  was  four  years  a  salesman  in  a 
general  store.  He  then  resumed  teaching, 
at  which  he  was  engaged  for  twelve  years, 
when  he  was  compelled  to  relinquisli  the 
work  by  reason  of  throat  trouble.  In  1876 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace,  which  he  filled  until  1889,  in  which 
year  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature 
and    represented    his    constituenc)'   in  that 


1156 


BIO  GRA  PHI  a  A  L  ENCTCL  OPEDIA 


honorable  body  four  years.  During  1893  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  other  })ursuits, 
and  in  1895  embarked  in  his  present  busi- 
ness. He  was  appointed  postmaster  in  .Jan- 
uary, 1895.  Mr.  Boyer  was  married,  in  East 
Hanover  township,  in  1867,  to  Marj'  E. 
Hampton,  daughter  of  John  Newton  and 
Carohne  Hampton,  to  whom  have  been  born 
six  sons,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and 
the  survivors  are:  Galen  T.,  Joiin  A.,  Harry 
A.,  Chester  S.,  and  William  M.  In  his  polit- 
ical views  Mr.  Boyer  is  a  Ilej>ublican.  He 
and  his  family  attend  the  United  Brethren 
church,  of  which  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers, and  in  which  he  lias  filled  the  positions 
of  trustee  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  for  many  years. 


WICONISCO  TOWNSHIP. 


Young,  Walter  S.,  burgess  of  Lykcns, 
was  born  in  Donaldson,  Schuylkill  county. 
Pa.,  January  19, 1854.  He  is  a  son  of  Moses 
R.  and  Sarah  (Brechbill)  Young.  Moses  R. 
Young  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  He  began 
business  as  a  coal  miner,  then  became  a  rail- 
road contractor,  and  afterwards  a  mercliant. 
He  removed  to  Wiconisco  in  1857,  and  was 
justice  of  the  peace  there  from  1860  to  1861. 
In  later  years  he  was  associate  judge  of  Dau- 
phin county,  with  Judges  Landis,  Pearson 
and  Mumma.  He  was  the  first  burgess  of 
Lykens,  in  1871.  He  was  a  Rejjubliean. 
Formerly  he  belonged  to  the  Odd  Fellows. 
Saraii  Brechbill,  his  first  wife,  was  a  native 
of  Lebanon  county ;  two  of  their  children 
are  living:  Walter  S.  and  Emma,  who  mar- 
ried Alfred  F.  Hanna,  of  Lykens,  and  died 
May  7,  1895.  Mrs.  Sarah  Young  dying  in 
1857,  Mr.  Young  married  Amelia  E.  Maurer, 
daughter  of  Dr.  A.  G.  Maurer,  who  survives 
him.  Their  children  are:  Arthur  F.,  Mag- 
gie M.,  and  Warren  Ray. 

Walter  8.  Young,  at  twelve  years  of  age, 
came  with  his  parents  from  Schuylkill  county 
to  Lykens,  and  completed  his  education  in 
the  public  school  of  that  place.  During  the 
latter  part  of  his  father's  life  Walter  S.  had 
charge  of  his  business.  Afterwards  he  be- 
came associated  with  Edw.  Miller  in  railroad 
contracts  in  New  Jersey  on  the  New  York, 
Susquehanna  and  Western  railroad.  In 
1879  he  engaged  with  the  Standard  Oil  Com- 
pany. In  1889  he  was  a  partner  in  the 
building  of  the  Lykens  Opera  House,  and 
has  been  the  manager  of  the  enterprise. 


Mr.  Young  is  a  Republican  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  political  movements  and 
measures.  He  was  appointed  notary  pul)lic 
in  1879,  and  resigned  to  accept  the  office  of 
postmaster,  to  which  he  was  first  appointed 
July  23,  1880,  under  the  administration  of 
President  Hayes,  and  resigned  July  15, 1886. 
He  received  the  same  appointment  the  sec- 
ond time  on  July  8, 1890,  and  still  holds  the 
office.  He  was  elected  chief  burgess  of  Ly- 
kens in  1880,  and  resigned  to  accept  the 
office  of  postmaster.  He  has  served  on  the 
school  board  with  great  credit  and  accept- 
ance. He  was  again  elected  burgess  in  1891, 
1892,  1893,  1894,  and  still  holds  the  office, 
his  term  expiring  in  1897.. 

Whitney,  James  B.,  president  of  the 
Miners'  Deposit  Bank,  Lykens,  Pa.,  was  born 
in  Framingham,  Mass.,  August  22,  1842; 
son  of  Simon  Whitney.  Nathaniel  R.  Whit- 
ney, grandfather  of  James  B.,  was  town  clerk 
and  teacher  in  his  native  town.  Simon 
Wliitney,  father  of  James  B.,was  the  next  to 
the  youngest  of  three  children  reared  by 
Nathaniel  R.  He  graduated  from  the  medi- 
cal (icpartment  of  Harvard  College  in  1818, 
and  in  1822  Ijegan  to  [iractice  medicine  in 
Framingham,  where  he  became  eminent  in 
his  profession  and  where  he  died  September 
2,  1867.  He  was  married.  May  6,  1824,  to 
Miss  Mary  Walker,  daughter  of  Timothy 
Walker,  of  Charlestown,  Mass.  She  died 
March  3,1872.  Their  children  are:  Eliza- 
beth W.,  Mrs.  John  W.  Osgood  ;  Mary,  de- 
cea.sed;  Allston  W.,  died  November  11, 1881 ; 
Abby  Walker,  died  in  1879,  wife  of  C.  S. 
Adatns  ;  Henry  A.,  born  1831,  drowned  in 
1840;  Harriet  L.,  born  1833,  died  in  1863; 
Clarence,  born  in  1838,  died  in  1881 ;  James 
Bradish,  born  August  22,  1842. 

James  B.  Whitney  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Framingham,  Mass.  He 
first  started  in  a  general  mercantile  business 
in  Framingham.  He  was  one  year  in  Bos- 
ton, and  then  became  clerk  in  a  commission 
house  in  Chicago  and  was  there  five  years. 
In  1869  he  became  connected  with  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company  and  was  dis- 
patcher at  Millersburg  for  ten  years,  and  for 
five  years  conductor  of  a  passenger  train  on 
the  branch  road.  About  1885  he  was  made 
president  of  the  bank  in  L^-kens.  He  is  a 
director  and  the  largest  stockholder  in  the 
Millersburg  Standard  Axle  Works.  He  also 
has  large  farming  interests  near  Millersburg 
He  is   a  stockholder  in  the  Lykens  Water 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1157 


Company.  In  politics  Mr.  Whitney  is  a 
Democrat.  He  was  elected  school  director 
in  Lykens  on  the  independent  ticket.  Mr. 
Whitney  was  married,  in  November,  1877, 
to  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  David  Leffler, 
of  MilJersburg,  Pa.  Thev  have  five  children : 
Abby  W.,  Nathaniel  R.,  Helen  Elizabeth, 
Allston  L.,  and  Leslie  A.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 


Haverstick,  Harry  W.,  railroad  agent, 
was  born  in  Duncanuon,  Perry  county.  Pa., 
November  4, 1856 ;  son  of  Michael  and  8usan 
(Meyers)  Haverstick.  Michael  Haverstick 
was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pa.  He 
was  a  miller,  and  settled  in  Perrv  county  in 
1853.  He  enlisted  in  1864  in  the  Sixteenth 
United  States  infantry.  He  died  at  Chatta- 
noogo,  Tenn.,  in  1864,  from  disease  con- 
tracted in  tlie  army.  His  wife,  Su.san  Mey- 
ers, was  also  a  native  of  C^umberland  county. 
They  had  eleven  children  ;  seven  are  now 
living,  of  whom  Harry  W.  is  the  fifth. 

After  the  death  of  his  father  Harry  W. 
Haverstick  removed,  with  his  mother,  to 
Millersburg,  where  he  wo,s  educated.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  and  was  a  pupil 
of  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  schools,  of  Para- 
dise, Lancaster  county,  and  White  Hall, 
Cumberland  county  ;  in  the  latter  he  was  the 
first  student  entered.  In  1871  he  engaged 
with  the  Northern  Central  railway  as  clerk 
at  Millersburg,  was  promoted  in  1881  to 
ticket  and  freight  agent,  and  has  filled  that 
position  ever  since. 

Mr.  Haverstick  has  been  notary  public  in 
Lykens  since  1891.  He  was  formerly  a 
stockholder  and  director  in  the  Lykens 
Bank.  He  is  president  of  the  school  board 
of  Lykens  foi'  the  third  term.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  a  memberofWicouisco  Lodge, 
I.  U.  0.  F.  ^ 

Mr.  Haverstick  was  married,  in  1878,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Schreiber,  of  Cumberland  county,  Pa.  Their 
children  are:  Edna  L.,  A.  Mildred,  and 
Park  W.  The  family  attend  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


Lehr,  Dr.  M.  D.,  Lykens,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Gratz,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.,  July  22,  1860  ; 
son  of  Henry  R.  and  Sarali  (Lebo)  Lehr. 
His  grandfather,  Daniel  Lehr,  was  born  in 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and  came  to  Gratz, 
Dauphin  county,  about  1825,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  a  general  mercantile  business  for 


twent}'  years.     He  was  also  for  many  years 
postmaster.     He  died  at  Gratz  in  1866. 

Henry  R.  Lehr,  father  of  Dr.  Lehr,  was 
reared  at  Gratz.  He  was  for  ten  years  pro- 
prietor of  the  Armstrong  flouring  mills  in 
Jackson  township.  In  1884  he  removed  to 
Lykens  and  engaged  in  the  produce  busi- 
ness, which  he  still  carries  on.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican and  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  church 
in  Lj'kens.  He  is  a  member  of  Wiconisco 
Encampment  and  Gratz  Lodge,  1. 0. 0.  F.  He 
had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

M.  D.  Lehr  is  the  eldest  of  his  father's 
family.  He  was  reared  in  Gratz  and  Jack- 
son township,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Berrysburg  Seminary  in  1879,  after  which 
he  taugh't  school  for  three  years.  He  read 
medicine  with  his  uncle.  Dr.  W.  Lebo.  of 
Valley  View,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and 
studied  at  Jeff'erson  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1884.  He  prac- 
ticed medicine  five  years  in  Northumberland 
county.  Pa.  In  1889  he  came  to  Lykens, 
where  he  now  enjoys  a  large  practice,  suc- 
ceeding Dr.  Meyers.  He  belongs  to  Ashley 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Wiconisco  Lodge, 
I.  0.  0.  F.     His  politics  are  Republican. 

Dr.  Lehr  was  married,  in  1884,  to  Miss  E. 
Kate,  daughter  of  G.  W.  D.  Enders,  of  Jack- 
son township.  Their  children  are:  Ger- 
trude, Annie,  Henry  Enders,  and  Earl  S.  Dr. 
Lehr  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church 
of  Lykens  ;  has  been  deacon  and  elder  ever 
since  1891. 


Williams,  Thomas  M.,  manager  of  the 
Lykens  Valley  and  Summit  Valley  Branch 
Coal  Company,  was  born  in  Wales,  G.  B., 
June  5,  1835.  He  is  the  only  child  of  John 
and  Margaret  (Morgan)  Williams.  His 
father  was  a  tiler  and  plasterer  ;  he  died  in 
Wales  in  1837.  His  mother  was  married 
again,  to  Thomas  Reese,  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  had  three  children  :  Mary,  widow  of 
John  Evans,  residing  in  Texas;  Susan,  wife 
of  Thomas  Finney,  of  Kentucky;  Margaret, 
wife  of  William  Finney,  of  Kentucky.  Mr. 
Williams'  mother  died  in  Keutuck\'. 

Thomas  M.  Williams,  when  he  was  seven 
years  old,  worked  with  his  stepfather  in  the 
Welsh  coal  mines,  using  pick  and  sliovel, 
and  working  hard  for  six  years.  In  1848,  with 
his  mother  and  her  child,  his  half-sister,  he 
embarked  at  Liverpool  for  America,  and 
after  a  voyage  of  five  weeks  and  one  day 
landed  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.  Here  he  worked 
in  the  mines,  first  in  Minersville,  then  one 


1158 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCrCLOPEDlA 


year  at  Mt.  Savage,  Md.;  here  he  got  twelve 
days  schooling,  the  first  school  instruction 
he  ever  received.  He  then  worked  at  Min- 
ersville  until  1853,  and  then  went  to  St. 
Clair.  He  began  working  for  himself  in  the 
mines  at  Minersville,  Pa.,  and  for  three 
months  attended  a  day  and  night  school. 
From  1<S54  to  1857  he  worked  at  Summit 
Hill,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and  from  1857 
to  1862  he  operated  in  the  coal  mines  at  Min- 
ersville, Pa. 

Mr.  Williams  enlisted  at  Pottsville,  Au- 
gust, 1862,  for  nine  months,  in  company  A, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  Capt.  G.  J.  Lawrence  and 
Col.  J.  G.  Frick;  was  ordered  to  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  and  thence  to  Virginia.  After 
three  months  in  active  service  he  was  dan- 
gerously ill  for  six  months,  remaining  in  the 
regimental  ho.spital  until  his  discharge.  May 
18,  18G3,  after  which  he  returned  home  and 
was  idle  for  three  months. 

From  1863  to  1865  Mr.  Williams  worked 
in  the  mines  as  fire  boss ;  he  was  then  ap- 
pointed boss  of  the  mines.  He  was  then  at 
the  Wilkes-Barre  mines  until  1869,  when  he 
was  made  manager  of  the  Anthracite  Monitor, 
a  newspaper  published  in  Tamaqua  in  the 
interest  of  the  laborers  and  miners  who  were 
then  on  a  strike.  After  managing  the  paper 
successfully  for  some  time,  Mr.  Williams  re- 
signed and  was  a[)pointed  Government  in- 
spector of  mines,  whicii  position  he  held 
until  1880,  and  was  then  for  six  months 
manager  of  the  Cameron  Coal  Company. 
Resigning  this  position  in  1881,  he  was  for 
one  year  with  a  com[)any  in  Arizona,  en- 
gaged in  developing  a  silver  mine;  during 
that  time  he  visited  many  i>artsof  the  West- 
ern States. 

After  his  return  from  tlie  West  Mr.  Will- 
iams took  contracts  for  tunnel  and  rock 
work.  He  was  appointed  general  inside 
foreman  at  Nanticoke,  and  held  that  posi- 
tion until  1885,  when  he  was  ajijiointed  su- 
perintendent of  the  Lykens  Valley  and  Sum- 
mit Valley  Coal  Company,  which  jiosition 
he  has  held  since  that  date,  giving  universal 
satisfaction,  not  only  to  the  company,  but 
also  to  the  2,200  men  emploved  under  him. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married,  in  the  summer 
of  1854,  at  Minersville,  to  Annie  Morgan,  of 
Welsh  descent.  They  have  six  children : 
Margaret  J.,  wife  of  Morgan  R.  Morgan,  gen- 
eral inside  superintendent  of  Lehigh  and 
AVilkes-Barre  Coal  Company ;  Thomas  J., 
treasurer  and   secretary  of  the  Standard  Oil 


Company,  Baltimore,  Md.;  H.  G.,  manufac- 
turer of  rock  drill  and  compressor,  Wayne, 
Pa.;  Augu.sta  R.,  wife  of  R.  Crotzer,  druggist, 
Danville;  Josie  H.,  unmarried;  Horatio, 
machinist,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Williams  is  a  member  of  Heilner  Post, 
No.  232,  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  Wilkes-Barre  Lodge, 
No.  61,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  Republican  and 
attends  the  Methodist  Episcoj^al  church. 

Having  begun  early  ^n  life  as  a  hard 
worker,  and  having  passed  through  all 
phases  of  life  as  a  laboring  man,  Mr.  Will- 
iams is  qualified  to  sympathize  with  the 
working  man.  He  has  educated  liimself, 
and  struggled  through  difficulties  and  dis- 
couragements to  success,  and  is  therefore  a 
wise  counsellor  for  the  laborer.  He  is  genial 
and  sociable,  and  is  universally  liked. 


BuPFiNGTON,  Harry  Edwin,  attorney-at 
law,  Lykens,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Lykens,  Dau- 
I)hin  county.  Pa.,  May  2,  1867.  He  is  a  son 
of  George  W.  and  Susanna  (Lenker)  Buffing- 
ton.  He  was  educated  in  the  Lykens  district 
school.  At  nine  years  of  age  he  began  to 
work  in  the  mines.  His  first  job  was  picking 
slate  in  the  breaker  of  the  Big  Lick  mines  for 
two  years.  He  then  worked  for  Edward 
Martin  on  a  farm  in  Washington  township 
for  one  year,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Lykens  and  worked  in  the  Short  Mountain 
Coal  Mines.  When  fourteen  years  old  lie 
drove  a  team,  hauling  coal  and  freight.  In 
the  fall  of  1883  he  learned  tailoring  with 
William  H.Smith, at  Lykens.  In  the  mean- 
time he  devoted  his  leisure  hou-rs  to  study. 
In  this  way  he  continued,  working  and  edu- 
cating himself,  until  he  had  saved  $50. 
With  this  suni  he  was  enabled,  by  boarding 
himself,  to  spend  three  months  in  the  pul)lic 
school  of  Lykens.  For  the  remaining  nine 
months  of  the  year  he  worked,  until  in  the 
following  vear  spent  three  months  more  in 
Lykens  high  scliool,  after  which  he  attended 
the  Berrysburg  Seminar)^  for  two  terms,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1887  entered  the  preparatorj' 
school  at  Waynesburg  College,  Green  county. 
Pa.  In  the  spring  of  1888  Mr.  Buffiugton 
was  compelled  to  leave  college  for  want  of 
means.  He  worked  at  the  tailor  trade,  and 
earned  and  saved  money  enough  to  jiay  his 
expenses  at  college  the  next  year.  Thereafter 
lie  paid  his  waj'  by  selling  Dr.  Chase's  Re- 
ceipt Book  in  vacations.  While  at  college 
he  was  the  recognized  leader,  and  was  re- 
garded by  teachers  and  students  as  a  diligent 
worker.    He  completed  the  six  years'  classical 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1159 


course  in  less  than  four  years,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  college  in  the  class  of  1891  with 
the  first  honors  of  the  class,  being  the  first 
student  east  of  the  Allegheny  mountains  to 
take  the  honors  of  Waynesburg  College. 

For  two  years  Mr.  Buffi ngton  studied  law 
in  the  office  of  J.  G.  McAlarney,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Daupiiin  county  bar  in  1893 
at  Harrisburg.  He  at  once  opened  a  law 
office  in  Lykens,  and  succeeded  in  building 
up  an  extensive  practice  in  Dauphin  and 
adjoining  counties.  His  politics  are  Repub- 
lican. He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
P.  0.  S.  of  A.,  and  composed  a  funei'al  ode 
for  the  order. 

H.  E.  Buffington,  thougli  a  young  man, 
was  engaged  as  tlie  leading  counsel  for  the 
defense  in  the  celebrated  Zeiders  murder 
trial,  March  9,  1896,  at  Pottsville.  The  trial 
came  to  a  sudden  termination  in  one  day  by 
the  peculiarly  shrewd  and  keenly  penetrat- 
ing cross-examination  of  the  young  practi- 
tioner. Frank  Adams,  Isaac  Bendigo,  and 
Charles  Bendigo,  of  Keincr  City,  Schuylkill 
count}^  were  indicted  for  the  murder  of  Ben- 
jamin Zeiders,  an  aged  huckster,  from  Perry 
county,  who,  on  Christmas  night  of  1895, 
had  his  skull  crushed  in  b}'  a  huge  stone 
sliortly  after  a  quarrel.  Zeiders  lingered  un- 
conscious for  eight  daj'S  and  died  with'iut 
recovering  consciousness,  considerable  pus 
having  formed  on  the  brain  beneath  the 
wound.  A  post  mortem  examination  also 
revealed  marked  symptoms  of  pneumonia, 
three-fourths  of  one  lung  being  inflamed. 
Young  Buffington  "  took  the  cue,"  and  by  a 
long  and  extensive  research  on  the  diseases 
of  the  brain  and  lungs,  framed  an  elaborate 
and  ingenious  defense.  The  Commonwealth 
trustingly  relied  on  tlie  testimony  of  three 
local  piiysicians  to  prove  the  corptift  delicto. 
The  first  unsusi)ecting  physician  gave  dam- 
aging testimony  on  direct  examination.  But 
Buffington  met  him  with  such  a  hot  fire  of 
technical  cross-examination  and  medical  au- 
tliorities  as  to  completel}'  break  up  tiie  Com- 
monwealth's case  and  to  establish  tlie  theory 
of  the  defense.  The  two  other  expert  wit- 
nesses of  the  Commonwealth  followed  tlie 
defendant's  pneumonia  theory  and  a  verdict 
of  "  Not  guilty  "  was  rendered  without  the 
jury's  leaving  the  box.  Frank  Adams,  how- 
ever, was  detained  on  the  same  indictment, 
and  a  verdict  of  simple  assault  and  battery 
was  rendered  against  him.  The  defendant 
was  admitted  to  bail,  and  the  case  appealed 
to  the  Superior  Court,  before  which  Mr.  Buf- 


fington made  the  chief  argument.  Mr.  W. 
J.  Whitehouse  was  associate  counsel.  A  de- 
cision has  not  yet  been  rendered. 

Harry  E.  Buffington  was  married,  at  Tower 
City,  June  17,  1896,  to  Miss  Elizabetli  A., 
daughter  of  Dr.  R.  B.  and  Annie  (Mathias) 
Wilson,  of  Tower  City.  Mr.  Buffington  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Buffington  shows  how 
a  young  man  with  noble  aspirations  can  win 
his  way  through  all  difficulties  to  an  honor- 
able position  and  qualify  himself  for  influ- 
ence and  usefulness. 

The  family  name  is  English.  The  first 
English  child  born  in  Pennsjdvania  was  a 
Buffington.  George  Buffington, great-grand- 
father of  Harry  E.,  was  born  in  Chester 
county.  Pa.,  in  February,  1759,  and  was  a 
son  of  Benjamin  Buffington,  also  a  native  of 
the  State.  In  1783  George  Buffington  mar- 
ried Barbara  Hoffman,  and  had  eleven  chil- 
dren ;  the  fifth  of  these  was  George  Buffing- 
ton, Jr.,  grandfather  of  Harry  E.  Tlie  par- 
ents, George  and  Barbara  (Hofliuan)  Buf- 
fington, both  died  in  Pennsylvania. 

George  Buffington,  Jr.,  was  born  May  10, 
1795,  in  Lykens  Valley.  He  was  a  miller, 
and  lost  his  mill,  which  cost  him  |7,000,  by 
a  cyclone  which  passed  over  the  valley  in 
1855.  He  married  Catherine  Yeager,  of 
German  descent,  born  in  Lykens  ^^alley. 
Their  children  were  twelve  in  number;  they 
were :  Cyrus,  born  December  30,  1821 ; 
Amanda,  May  28,  1824,  is  deceased  ;  Elias, 
December  23,  1825  ;  John  G.,  born  .January 
31,  1828,  died  July  27,  1884;  Henrietta, 
born  September  9,  1830,  died  Mav  22,  1832  ; 
George  W.,  born  December  23,  1832,  died 
January  26,  1871  ;  Catherine,  born  Novem- 
ber 3,  1834;.  Elizabeth,  born  December 
3,  1836 ;  Leah,  born  December  23,  1838; 
Jeremiah,  born  November  23,  1840,  died 
November  14,  1843;  Peter,  born  April  11, 
1843,  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen;  Aaron, 
born  about  1846,  died  aged  eighteen.  The 
father  died  in  Lykens  Valley.  He  was  a 
Whig,  and  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church. 

His  sixth  child,  George  W.  Buffington, 
was  the  father  of  Harry  E.,  and  was  born  in 
Lykens  Valley.  He  was  a  distiller  and  a 
contractor  for  hauling  logs  and  timber  to 
the  mines.  His  wife,  Susanna,  was  the 
daughter  of  Lewis  Lenker,  farmer,  of  Dau- 
phin county.  Their  children  are:  Harvey 
C.,  who  died  young  ;  Charles  F.,  who  resides 
in   Colorado  ;  Benjamin   F.,  tailor,  residing 


1160 


BIO  GRA  PHICA  L  ENVYCL  OPEDIA 


in  Indiana  ;  and  Harry  E.  Mr.  Buffington 
was  a  Republican,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  church. 


Thompson,  Alexander  F.,  ex-senator  and 
attorney-at-hiw,  was  born  at  Pottsville, 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  December  7,  1845. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Alexander  and  Isa- 
bella (Pennman)  Thompson,  both  paternal 
and  maternal  sides  of  the  family  being  of 
Scottish  ancestry.  The  father,  Alexander 
Thompson,  was  born  in  Dalkeith,  Scotland, 
in  1808,  and  spent  the  first  twenty  years  of 
his  life  in  his  native  land.  In  1828  he  emi- 
grated to  America,  accompanied  by  his 
brother  George,  by  James  and  Robert  Penn- 
man, and  by  Isabella  Pennman,  who  after- 
wards became  his  wife,  and  her  sister.  Land- 
ing at  New  York,  they  at  once  proceeded  to 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  and  settled  where  the 
city  of  Pottsville  now  stands.  Here  Mr. 
Thompson  began  prospecting  for  coal,  and 
shortly  after,  in  connection  with  James  and 
Robert  Pennman,  engaged  in  coal  mining, 
which  he  carried  on  for  the  ensuing  four  or 
five  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  be- 
came sujierintendent  of  the  nnnes  of  Potts 
&  Co.,  and  subsequently  furnished  timber 
to  different  mining  firms  in  that  section. 
In  1857  Mr.  Thompson  removed  to  Porter 
township,  Schuylkill  county,  and  engaged 
in  flour  milling,  lumber  manufacturing  and 
agricultural  pursuits,  giving  eight  years  to 
these  occupations.  From  1805  until  1871 
he  did  contract  work  in  the  mines  of  Will- 
iamstown,  and  from  1871  until  the  date  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  December, 
1873,  he  lived  a  retired  life. 

Alexander  Thompson  and  Isabella  Penn- 
man were  married  at  Pottsville.  They  had 
nine  children  :  Robert,  who  died  in  child- 
hood ;  David  P.,  who  resides  in  Illinois ; 
William  W.,  who  died  at  Frederick,  Md., 
while  serving  in  defense  of  his  country  in 
1862;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Hiram  Kimmel, 
who  died  at  Carver  Hospital,  Washington, 
D.  C,  while  acting  in  the  capacity  of  a  nurse  ; 
Jennie,  wife  of  Benneville  lloutz,  residing  in 
Tower  City,  Pa.;  Alexander  F.;  Robert  B.,  a 
miner,  residing  in  Tower  City ;  Isabella, 
wife  of  George  Paul,  of  Tower  City,  and 
James  C,  residing  in  Reynoldsville,  Pa. 
Mrs.  Isabella  Thompson  died  in  Pottsville 
in  1852. 

Alexander  Thompson  was  again  married, 
in  Pottsville,  to  Mary  Bast,  of  that  city.  To 
this  second  union  eleven  cliildren  were  born  : 


Isaac,  residing  in  Tower  City,  Pa.;  Georgei 
re.siding  in  Alaska;  John,  residing  in  Tower 
City  ;  Andrew,  of  Shamokin,  Pa.;  Abraham, 
of  Tower  City ;  Charles,  who  was  killed  in 
the  mines  at  Tower  City  ;  Mary,  wife  of 
George  Stout;  Winfield,  William,  Elmer, 
and  Rebecca,  all  residing  in  Tower  City,  Pa. 
Their  mother,  Mrs.  Mary  Thompson,  sur- 
vives her  husband,  and  resides  on  the  home- 
stead at  Tower  City.  Mr.  Thompson  was  a 
Republican  and  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

Alexander  F.  Thompson  attended  school 
for  a  month  in  Pottsville.  When  he  was 
eleven  years  old  his  parents  removed  to 
Porter  township,  where  he  went  foi'  a  few 
months  to  the  district  school.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  he  was  engaged  in  the  winter  in  driv- 
ing a  four-horse  team  hauling  logs  to  the 
mill,  and  in  summer  in  working  on  the  farm. 
He  was  employed  thus  for  two  years ;  the 
two  following  years  he  spent  in  the  gri.st  mill 
of  his  father. 

In  1802,  at  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  en- 
listed at  Pottsville  in  company  B,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-ninth  Pennsylvania  vol- 
unteers, under  Col.  J.  K.  Frick  and  Capt. 
William  Wrenn,  for  nine  months.  He  was 
mustered  in  at  Harrisburg,  then  i)roceeded 
with  bis  regiment  to  Washington,  D.  C, 
where  they  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
in  Virginia.  Mr.  Thompson  completed  his 
term  of  service  in  May,  1803,  and  returned 
to  Tower  City,  where  he  worked  in  the  mines 
until  June  ;!()  of  the  same  year,  and  then  re- 
enlisted  in  company  E,  Thirty-ninth  State 
militia,  under  Captain  Mull  and  Colonel 
Campbell.  He  spent  six  weeks  at  Cham- 
bersburg  and  Greencastle,  Pa.,  was  dis- 
charged at  Harrisburg  in  August,  1863,  and 
returned  for  a  time  to  his  old  occupation  of 
mining.  He  enlisted  for  the  third  time, 
January  20,  1864,  in  company  G,  Seventh 
Pennsylvania  cavalry,  Capt.  William  Wrenn 
and  Captains  McCormick  and  Hinkson.  He 
joined  his  regiment  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and 
went  with  them  through  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, and  during  this  term  of  service  had 
two  horses  shot  from  under  him,  one  at 
Rome,  Ga.,  and  one  at  Lovejoy  Station.  He 
was  finally  mustered  out  of  the  service,  Au- 
gust 23,  1805,  returned  tn  Tower  City,  and 
for  four  years  following  worked  in  the 
mines,  during  which  time  he  saved  enough 
money  to  carry  him  through  four  terms  at 
the  Freeburg  Academy.  After  this  he  again 
went  back  to  Tower  Citv  and  worked  in  the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1161 


mines  until  1872.  Then  for  two  and  a  half 
j'ears  he  was  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Snyder 
&  Thompson,  in  the  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness, at  Lykens.  At  tlie  end  of  that  time  he 
sold  his  interest  in  the  business  and  became 
a  law  student  with  C.  W.  Raber  at  Lykens, 
and  Hon.  A.  J.  Herr  at  Harrisburg.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1877,  and  opened 
an  office  at  Lykens  the  same  year,  wJiere  he 
has  ever  since  practiced.  Mr.  Thompson 
has  built  up  an  extensive  and  lucrative  busi- 
ness in  Dauphin  and  adjoining  counties  and 
in  tlie  higlier  State  courts,  he  Ijeing  a  mem- 
ber of  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  a  Repuljlican  and  has 
been  active  and  prominent  in  his  party.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Pennsylvania  House  of 
Representatives  in  November,  1880,  and  re- 
elected in  November,  1882,  and  served  four 
years  in  the  House  with  honor  to  himself 
and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  He  was 
subsequently  elected  to  the  State  Senate  in 
November,  1884,  and  re-elected  for  a  second 
term  in  November,  1888.  He  served  eight 
years,  during  which  he  was  member  of 
many  important  committees.  He  was  chair- 
man of  mining  and  mines  committees  dur- 
ing his  whole  term  of  service,  and  during 
his  entire  service  in  tlie  Legislature  was 
member  of  the  judiciary  general  committee. 
He  was  prominent  in  legislative  bodies  by 
reason  of  his  eminent  abilities  as  a  speaker 
and  debater,  always  commanding  attention 
when  he  addressed  the  body,  and  making- 
impression  by  tlie  cogency  of  his  speecli  and 
tlie  soundness  of  his  arguments. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married,  at  Lykens, 
October  24,  1872,  to  Lizzie  A.  Halk,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Rebecca  (Laudensch  lager) 
Halk,  the  former  a  merchant  tailor  at  Wico- 
nisco.  To  their  union  has  been  born  two 
children  :  W.  Claud,  student-at-law,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Williams  Valley  Light, 
Heat  and  Power  Company,  and  Warren 
Ray,  graduate  Pennsjdvania  State  College, 
now  taking  electrical  engineering  course  at 
Pennsylvania  State  College. 

Mr.  Thonijison  is  a  lover  of  horses  and 
has  a  track  of  his  own.  He  has  some  fine 
specimens  of  fast  horses.  He  is  a  member 
of  Post  No.  232,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Lykens,  and 
past  commander  of  William  Thompson  Post, 
No.  174,  Tower  City.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  cliureh. 

Mr.  Thomjjson  began  life  without  the  aid 
and  influence  of  property,  but  rich  in  native 
endowments  and  strong  in  pluck  and  push. 


He  has  traveled  the  road  on  foot,  and  well 
knows  every  inch  of  the  way  from  the  hum- 
blest ob.scurity  to  an  acknowledged  and  en- 
viable prominence  and  popularity.  As  a 
business  man,  statesman  and  jurist  he  is  of 
acknowledged  ability. 


Duncan,  Joseph,  general  foundry  and 
machine  shop,  Lykens,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Derbyshire,  England,  May  13,  1846.  His 
father,  George  Duncan,  was  born  in  Scot- 
land. In  his  younger  days  he  was  a  miner. 
While  still  a  young  man  he  removed  to 
England,  locating  in  Derbyshire,  and  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  machinist  with  the  Shef- 
field and  Lancastershire  Railway  Company. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Joshuason,  born  in 
Leicestershire,  England.  They  had  nine 
children  :  Mary,  Joseph,  John,  George,  Will- 
iam, David,  Martha,  Jennie,  and  Elizabeth. 
The  father  and  motiier  both  died  in  Eng- 
land. 

Joseph  Duncan  attended  school  until  he 
was  nine  years  old,  when  he  went  to  work 
for  sixpence  a  day  in  tlie  machine  .shops; 
this  continued  until  he  was  fourteen  years 
old,  when  he  was  bound  to  Byer  &  Pea- 
cock, locomotive  builders,  near  Manchester, 
England.  For  the  first  three  years  his 
wages  were  one  shilling  per  day ;  during  the 
next  four  years  he  received  one  shilling  and 
six  pence  per  day.  After  his  term  of  ap- 
prenticeship had  expired  he  visited  many 
parts  of  England,  and  worked  in  various 
places,  getting  new  ideas  of  the  working  of 
iron,  etc. 

In  18t)9  Mr.  Duncan  came  to  this  country 
on  the  steamer  City  of  Paris,  landed  at  New 
York,  and  after  a  short  stay  went  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  soon  after  to  Harrisl)urg,  Pa. 
After  a  few  da3's  he  came  to  Lykens,  where 
for  ten  years  he  was  machinist  for  the  Sum- 
mit Branch  Railroad  Company,  and  spent 
nine  years  in  the  shops  of  the  Lykens  Valley 
railroad.  In  1888  Mr.  Duncan  bought  the 
present  plant  from  J.  M.  Hensel  for  $8,000, 
and  improved  it  at  an  additional  outlay  of 
$3,000,  making  it  for  convenience  and  com- 
pleteness of  ecpiipment  one  of  the  most 
thoroughly  appointed  plants  in  the  State, 
with  a  capacity  for  any  product,  from  a  tack 
to  a  locomotive.  The  plant  is  capable  of  an 
output  of  one  hundred  tons  of  finished 
castings  per  month. 

Mr.  Duncan  was  married,  at  Manchester, 
England,  in  18G0,  to  Sarah  Kemp,  a  native 
of  England,  born  in  1846.     Of  their  twelve 


1162 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


cliildren,  those  now  living  are  ■  Harriet, 
wife  of  George  Hersh,  miner;  Elizabetli, 
wife  of  Frederick  Senior,  foundryman; 
Jennie,  Walter,  Josephine,  George,  and  Han- 
nah. The  deceased  children  are:  George, 
Mary,  Sarah,  David,  and  Katie.  Mr.  Dun- 
can is  a  member  of  the  Ejiiscopal  church. 
His  politics  are  Republican.  Comfortably 
situated  in  his  fine  dwelling  house,  with  a 
safe  and  prosperous  business,  surrounded  by 
a  host  of  friends  and  well  wishers,  Mr.  Dun- 
can may  call  his  career  a  successful  one. 


Stanley,  Alfred  G.,  druggist,  Lykens,  Pa. 
was  born  in  Salisbury,  England,  January  24, 
1845.  His  father,  Robert  Stanley,  was  born 
in  Nottingham,  England,  in  1805.  In  his 
younger  days  he  was  a  lace  manufacturer, 
and  later  in  life  was  a  professor  of  mu.sic. 
He  was  a  distinguished  alto  singer  and  was 
leader  of  the  choir  in  the  Salisbur}'  Cathe- 
dral. On  December  14,  1843,  he  married 
Annie  Allwood,  born  in  Worksop,  Notting- 
hamshire, who  died  August  17,  1874.  They 
had  nine  children:  Frederick  A.,  deceased  ; 
Alfred  G.;  Georgiana,  wife  of  Charles  Stroud, 
lawyer  in  England  ;  TiiomasA.;  Robert,  died 
aged  twenty-five  years ;  Maud,  wife  of  Harry 
Wortli, of  Nottingliam  ;  Sidney  J.,  also  a  law- 
yer; Katie,  and  Lucy,  deceased.  The  father 
still  resides  in  England,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one. 

Alfred  G.  Stanley  attended  the  parochial 
schools  of  his  native  place  and  the  Cathedral 
C'ollege  of  Salisbury.  He  learned  the  drug 
business  with  Roberts  &  Son,  with  whom  he 
spent  four  and  a  lialf  years,  after  wliich  he 
went  to  London  and  graduated  with  the  well- 
known  firm  of  Peter  Boully,  retail  druggist, 
of  London.  Having  worked  for  some  time 
at  the  profession  in  London,  iie  found  a 
change  necessary  to  his  health.  He  came  to 
this  country'  in  1869  and  was  for  a  short  time 
in  New  York, then  in  Phiadelphia  witli  Ellis 
Sons  &  Co.  In  1871  lie  came  to  Lykens,  Pa., 
and  estal)]ished  a  first-class  drug  business 
with  a  general  supply  of  all  kinds  of  drugs  ; 
he  has  acquired  the  reputation  of  being  one 
of  the  most  reliable  druggists  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Stanley  was  married,  at  Lykens,  in 
December,  1873,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  G. 
Spoerl,  born  in  Lykens.  They  have  seven 
children:  Walter,  deceased  :  Frederick,  drug- 
gist, witli  his  fatlier;  Charles,  also  witli  his 
father;  Wallington  Smith;  Katie  A.  M.; 
Ray,  and  Mabel.     In  politics  Mr.  Stanley  is 


a  liberal.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church. 

For  sixteen  years  Mr.  Stanley  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Gratz  Agricultural  Sf  ciety ;  he 
has  been  president  of  tlie  Lykens  Agricul- 
tural Society  for  three  years.  He  is  a  lover 
of  horses,  and  has  some  very  fine  ones.  He 
has  in  his  possession  some  rare  stuffed  birds 
from  various  parts  of  the  world,  some  of 
which  he  brought  from  England  on  his  re- 
turn from  a  visit  to  that  country  in  1886. 
His  visit  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  seeing 
his  father,  now  eighty-one  year.s  of  age 

Mr.  Stanley  is  a  genial  gentleman  and  a 
live  business  man.  He  is  the  proprietor  of 
the  celebrated  Stanley  Bitters.  He  is  well- 
known  and  popular. 


Lefever,  Dr.  John  Russel,  homceop- 
athist,  Lykens,  Pa.,  was  born  in  New  Bloom- 
field,  Perry  county.  Pa.,  October  7, 1860.  His 
father.  Dr.  Isaac  Lefever,  was  born  in  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.,  in  1820,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob 
Lefever,  founder  and  editor  of  the  Gettys- 
burg Compiler.  Dr.  Isaac  Lefever  was  edu- 
cated in  Gettysburg,  and  for  some  time 
edited  the  Compiler.  He  read  medicine  and 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  afterwards  adopted  homcjeopathy. 
He  practiced  in  Cumberland  county  a  few 
years  and  in  Perry  county.  In  1868  he  re- 
moved to  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  where  he 
practiced  until  1872 ;  he  then  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  built  up  an  extensive 
practice,  and  where  lie  died  October  20, 1808. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 

John  Russel  Lefever  attended  school  in 
New  Bloomfield  and  in  Mechanicsburg,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  iiigh  school,  Harris- 
burg, Pa.  He  read  medicine  with  his  father, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  Hahnemann 
Medical  College  of  Philadelphia  in  1884.  In 
August  of  that  year  he  located  at  Lykens, 
Pa.,  where  he  enjoys  a  large  and  successful 
practice. 

Dr.  Lefever  was  married,  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  in  1886,  to  Myra  B.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
M.  Ebersole,  of  Harrisburg.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Lefever  have  three  cliildren:  Hallett  R., 
born  October  9,  1887 ;  Russel  M.,  December 
15,  1892,  and  Lillian  M.,  October  17,  1894. 
Dr.  Lefever  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
of  Wiconisco  Lodge,  No.  570,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
State  Capital  Lodge,  No.  70,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Har- 
risburg.    The  Doctor  is  a  very  clever  man  in 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1163 


his  profession,  and  of  very  agreeable  person- 
ality. He  is  popular  and  prosperous,  liaj)py 
himself,  and  making  others  happy. 


Lefever,  John  Russel,  M.  D.,  homoe- 
opathist,  Lykens,Pa.,wasborn  in  New  Bloom- 
field,  Perry  county,  Pa.,  October  7, 1860.  The 
various  branches  of  the  Lefever  family  found 
wiilely  scattered  in  Pennsylvania  and  .south- 
ward generally  claim  descent  from  Hugue- 
not ancestors,  exiled  from  France  by  reli- 
gious persecution  some  two  centuries  ago. 
They  are  to  be  met  with  in  York,  Cumber- 
land, Crawford  and  Adams  counties,  Pa., 
about  Winchester,  Va.,  and  in  other  locali- 
ties, but  it  has  Become  impossible  to  trace 
relationships  among  tliem.  The  Lefevors  of 
Crawford  county  and  of  Winchester  are  prob- 
oh\y  the  most  closely  allied  to  the  family 
treated  of  in  this  sketch,  having  descended 
from  uncles  of  Jacob  Lefever,  who  was  Dr. 
John  R.'s  grandfiither. 

Jacob  Lefever  was  born  near  Newville, 
Cumberland  county.  Fa.,  May  31,  1/95.  He 
remained  at  home  on  his  father's  farm  until 
he  was  about  twenty,  when  he  went  into  a 
printing  office  in  Carlisle,  Pa.  Leaving  Car- 
lisle in  1818,  he  went  to  Gettysburg  and 
there  established  a  newspaper,  which  he 
called  the  Tlepuhlican  Compiler,  and  which 
he  conducted  until  1839,  when  Governor 
Porter  appointed  him  register  and  recorder 
of  Adams  county.  He  held  the  office  until 
the  Constitution  made  it  elective.  At  the 
time  of  his  ajipointment  he  retired  from  the 
paper,  and  soon  after  the  expiration  of  his 
terra  of  office  returned  to  Cumberland 
county  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  the 
spring  of  1848  Mr.  Lefever  represented 
Cumberland  county  in  the  State  Legislature. 
He  was  still  a  resident  of  this  county  when 
he  died,  April  26,  1875,  in  his  eightieth 
year. 

Dr.  Isaac  Lefever  was  the  son  of  Jacob 
Lefever  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  a  native  of 
Gettysburg,  and  of  German  descent.  He 
was  born  in  Gettysburg,  June  15,  1820,  and 
spent  in  that  town  tlie  first  twenty-five 
years  of  his  life.  It  may  be  said  that  his 
education  was  mainl}'  acquired  through  his 
diligent  application  while  employed  in  his 
father's  printing  office;  for,  although  he  at- 
tended scliool  regularly  from  the  early  age 
of  five  until  he  reached  his  thirteenth  year, 
it  was  but  a  common  school  education,  suf- 
ficient only  to  acquaint  him  with  the  ele- 
mentarj'  branches.     When  nearly  thirteen 


he  went  into  the  printing  office,  worked  dur- 
ing the  day  and  studied  at  niglit,  often  ris- 
ing before  daylight  on  winter  mornings  to 
read  and  study  in  tlie  office  until  breakfast 
time.  The  busy  young  printer  even  found 
time  for  Latin,  reciting  on  winter  evenings, 
about  1833  or  1834,  to  Dr.  J.  H.  Marsden,  now 
of  York  Springs,  Pa.,  but  at  that  time  prin- 
cipal of  an  academy  for  girls  at  Gettys- 
burg, 

After  his  father's  return  to  Cumberland 
county,  Isaac  Lefever  conducted  the  Compi- 
ler until  the  spring  of  1842,  when  he  sold  the 
establishment,  intending  to  remove  from 
Gettysl)urg.  But  at  this  time  a  new  impulse 
was  given  to  his  life,  by  the  influence  of 
David  Gilbert,  M.  D.,  whose  lectures  on 
anatomy  and  physiolog}'  before  the  senior 
class  of  Pennsylvania  College  he  had  at- 
tended, by  invitation  of  Dr.  Gilbert,  two  or 
three  yeai-s  before.  The  Doctor  now  sought 
an  interview  with  the  young  man,  whose 
talents  he  had  discerned,  and  suggested  that 
he  should  study  medicine.  The  idea  was 
new  to  Mr.  Lefever,  but  after  mature  consid- 
eration and  consultation  with  friends  he  de- 
cided to  act  upon  it,  and  accordingly  com- 
menced reading  with  Dr.  Gilbert  in  the 
summer  of  the  .same  year.  He  studied  un- 
der his  preceptor  until  October,  1844,  mean- 
while attending  a  course  of  lectures  on 
chemistry  at  Pennsylvania  College,  by  Prof 
M.  Jacobs.  During  tlie  winter  of  1844  and 
1845  Mr.  Lefever  attended  lectures  at  the 
medical  department  of  Pennsylvania  Col- 
lege, in  Philadelphia,  in  which  Dr.  Gilbert 
then  occupied  the  chair  of  surgery.  The 
other  professors  were  Drs.  William  R.  Grant, 
William  Darrach,  H.  L.  Patterson,  J.  Wilt- 
bank,  and  Washington  L.  Atlee.  Of  this 
group  of  distinguished  men.  Dr.  Atlee  is  now 
tlie  .sole  survivor.  Pennsylvania  Medical 
College  then,  and  for  a  few  years  after,  occu- 
pied a  building  afterwards  the  seat  of  Hahne- 
mann College,  but  the  former  was  always 
allopathic  in  its  principles. 

Dr.  Isaac  Lefever  first  practiced  his  pro- 
fession at  Mount  Rock,  Cumberland  county, 
Pa.,  for  one  _year,  then  moved  to  Loysville, 
in  Sherman's  Valley,  Perry  count}' ;  in  No- 
vember, 1855,  removed  to  New  Bloom  field, 
county  seat  of  Perr}'  county.  Here  he  joined 
the  Perry  County  Medical  Society,  served  in 
all  its  offices  and  held  his  membership  until 
he  took  up  homrcopathy.  He  was  also  con- 
nected with  the  State  Medical  Suciety,  and 
among  its  records  are  several  reports  made 


1164 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


by  him  on  behalf  of  the  Perry  county  so- 
ciet3^  In  1860  Dr.  Lefever  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  New  Bloomfield.  accepting  the 
office  principally  on  account  of  some  finan- 
cial difficulties  utt'ecting  himself  and  others 
as  sureties  for  the  previousincumbent;  these 
difficulties  being  removed,  his  resignation 
was  tendered  and  accepted,  and  he  was  re- 
lieved of  office  in  1861.  In  that  year  he  was 
appointed  surgeon  of  the  Third  brigade, 
Fifteenth  division,  Uniformed  militia  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  held  the  commission  un- 
til tlie  then  existing  militia  system  was  re- 
modeled. In  October,  1862,  he  was  elected 
associate  judge  of  thecourts  of  Perry  county, 
and  served  in  tliat  office  for  a  term  of  five 
years. 

In  1862  Dr.  Lefever  wished  to  apply  for 
an  appointment  in  the  medical  department 
of  the  army,  but  could  not  obtain  the  con- 
sent of  his  wife  and  family  to  this  step  until 
186-1.  The  application  made,  alter  dui*  (ex- 
amination, he  was  commissioned  and  ordered 
to  report  to  the  Seventy-sixth  Pennsylvania 
volunteers.  With  some  little  difficulty  lie 
reached  his  regiment,  which  was  encamped 
close  by  the  battlefield  of  Chupin's  Farm, 
and  remained  with  it  until  it  was  discharge*!. 
Although  his  commission  was  tliat  of  assist- 
ant surgeon,  yet  as  he  was  the  only  medical 
officer  with  the  regiment  he  performed  sur- 
geon's duty.  During  a  part  of  the  time  he 
also  served  in  the  same  capacity  a  New- 
York  battery  of  artiller}',  besides  rendering 
similar  services  occasionally  to  other  regi- 
ments dejirived  of  their  medical  officers.  In 
July,  1865,  the  regiment  was  discharged  at 
Raleigh,  N.  C,  and  the  Doctor  returned  home 
and  resumed  his  practice. 

Even  before  his  graduation  from  Pennsyl- 
vania Medical  College,  which  took  place  in 
March,  1854,  Dr.  Lefever  had  given  some 
consideration  to  the  subject  of  homceopathy, 
but  laboring  under  the  misapprehension 
common  among  allopathic  piiysicians  that 
that  system  consists  merely  in  giving  very 
minute  doses  of  medicine,  he  paid  it  little 
attention.  Still,  with  a  candid  desire  for  in- 
formation, he  purchased  and  read  Hahne- 
mann's Organon,  as  well  as  the  treatise  of 
Professor  Simpson,  of  Ediuburg,  against 
homcpopathy.  Influenced,  however,  rather 
by  the  latter  book,  wliicli  was  most  in  ac- 
cordance with  his  education,  he  again  dis- 
missed the  subject  from  his  mind  and  con- 
tinued allopathic  practice.  But  now,  after 
his  return  from   the  army,  it  was  in  some 


way  brought  again  under  his  consideration. 
Meeting  with  a  very  intelligent  homoeopathic 
physician,  and  receiving  satisfactory  answers 
to  the  many  inquiries  which  he  made  of  this 
gentleman.  Dr.  Lefever  began  to  experiment 
as  well  as  to  read  carefully  on  the  subject. 
Preparing  some  medicines  iie  treated  several 
cases,  as  he  then  supposed  homoeopathically, 
but  found  afterwards  that  he  had  only  made 
an  approach  to  that  practice ;  yet  he  ob- 
tained results  which  led  to  further  experi- 
ment with  growing  light  on  tlie  subject  and 
strengthening  convictions,  until,  actually 
against  his  inclination,  he  became  fully  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  of  homreopath}',  and 
wholly  discarded  allopathic  drugs.  The 
longer  he  is  engaged  in  hom«opathic  prac- 
tice, the  stronger  is  his  conviction  that  it  is 
the  true  method  of  treating  diseases. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  he  left  New  Bloom- 
field  for  Mechanicsburg,  Cumberland  county, 
from  which  place,  in  November,  1872,  he  re- 
moved to  Ilarrisburg,  Pa.,  where  he  died 
October  20,  189;J,  and  his  remains  were  in- 
terred in  tlie  cemetery  at  New  Bloomfield, 
Perry  county.  Pa. 

K.vr.B.vcii,  H.\RRY  A.,  druggist,  Lykcns, 
was  born  in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  October  15, 
1872.  His  father,  AVilliam  A.  Kalbach,  was 
born  in  Berks  county  in  1844,  and  is  a  son 
of  Adam  Kalbach,  a  farmer  of  that  county. 
He  was  a  lumber  manufacturer,  on  a  large 
scale,  in  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia. 
He  married  Emma  S.  Lengel,  born  in  Berks 
county  in  1851.  Their  children  are:  Harry 
A.,  Clayton  W.  and  Webster  L.,  both  at 
school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  A.  Kalbach 
reside  in  Kobesonia,  Berks  county,  Pa.  They 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  church. 

Harry  A.  Kalbach  attended  the  common 
.schools  until  he  was  thirteen  years  old,  when 
he  entered  Palatinate  College,  Meyerstown, 
Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  and  took  a  special 
course  of  two  years  and  a  half  in  mathe- 
matics and  science  in  1890.  He  spent  seven 
months  as  drug  clerk  with  Dr.  P.  M.  Ziegler, 
of  Reading,  Pa.,  after  which  he  was  with 
R.  E.  Mover,  of  the  same  city,  for  two  and  a 
half  years.  He  was  graduated  from  the 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  in  1894, 
after  which  he  was  with  his  uncle,  L.  D. 
Kalbach,  Bernville,  Berks  county,  until 
April,  1805.  In  that  month  he  came  to  Ly- 
kens  and  bought  the  oldest  drug  store  in  the 
place,  owned  at  one  time  by  Mr.  Garman, 
and  afterwards  bv  Brallier  &  Co.     Mr.  Kal- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1165 


bach  carries  a  full  stock  of  pure,  fresh  drugs 
and  all  other  goods  found  in  a  first-class 
store.  Physicians'  prescriptions  and  family 
reci2)es  are  carefully  compounded  under  his 
supervision,  and  accuracy  and  safety  may 
be  relied  ujion. 

Mr.  Kalbach  is  a  Democrat.  H?  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Reformed  church.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Robesonia,  Berks  county,  June  2, 
1896,  to  Miss  Sallie  M.  Miller,  a  native  of 
Robesonia,  and  daughter  of  Adam  P.  and 
Amanda  (Klopp)  Miller,  residents  of  Robe- 
sonia. 


Hensel,  Thomas  A.,  was  born  in  Lykens, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  December  ti,  1853. 
His  grandfiither,  Andrew  Hensel,  was  born 
near  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  was  a  shoemaker. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
married  Mary  A.  Geisse,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children :  Adam,  George,  and  Anna 
Barbara,  deceased;  John,  Andrew,  and 
Michael.  A ndrewMvas  a  Democrat.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
churcii.  Both  died  in  Bloomfield,  Perry 
county.  Pa. 

John  Hensel,  father  of  T.  A.,  was  born  at 
Bloomfield,  December  11, 1824,  was  educated 
in  his  native  county,  and  learned  carpentry, 
which  he  made  his  occupation.  He  has  re- 
sided in  Lykens  since  1846.  On  Marcli  1, 
1853,  he  married  Susan  Moyer,  born  in 
Lykens  Valley,  daughter  of  Jacob  Moyer,  a 
shoemaker  of  Lj^kens  Valley,  and  of  an  old 
famil}\  They  had  six  children :  Thomas 
A.;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Edward  Harris;  John, 
of  Lykens  ;  Jennie,  resides  in  Lykens ;  Jacob, 
and  Cliarles,  deceased.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Hensel 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  In  politics  Mr.  Hensel's  views  are 
liberal. 

Thomas  A.  Hensel  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Lykens  and  at  Dickinson  Semi- 
nary,Williamsport,  Pa.  He  learned  printing 
under  S.  B.  Coles  and  S.  M.  Fern.  From 
1872  to  April,  1885,  he  worked  at  the  top  of 
Lykens  Valle}' slope, unhooking  cars;  a  very 
respon'^ible  position.  He  served  as  clerk  for 
one  Eli  Kohlberg,  clothier,  from  April,  1885, 
to  April,  1891.  At  the  latter  date,  he  and 
J.  J.  Nutt,  as  partners,  bought  the  clothing 
establishment  of  L.  Marks,  who  removed  to 
Carlisle,  Pa.  In  May,  1895,  Mr.  Hensel 
bought  the  interest  of  his  partner,  Mr.  Nutt. 
He  has  been  very  successful  in  the  clothing 
and  furnishing  business,  handling  only  first- 
class  goods.     Wiien  the  firm  of  T.  A.  Hensel 


&  Co.  began  business  in  1891  there  were 
three  clothing  stores  in  Lykens.  Two  left 
town  the  first  year,  and  the  other  was  sold 
out  by  the  sheriff"  within  the  next  three 
years. 

Mr.  Hensel  joined  Wiconisco  Lodge,  No. 
533,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  when  he  became  of  age,  and 
has  since  joined  Wiconisco  Encampment, 
No.  181,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  Estella  Degree  Lodge, 
No.  19,  of  Rebeccas,  and  Lykens  Lodge,  No. 
106,  K.  of  P.  He  has  served  as  district 
deputy  grand  master  for  northern  Dauphin 
county  for  several  years,  and  as  district  deputy 
grand  patriarch  of  the  Encampment  for 
eight  years.  He  has  attended  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Pennsylvania  for  ten  years. 

Thomas  A.  Hensel  was  married,  October 
23,  1882,  to  Miss  Katie  E.  Coles,  daughter  of 
S.  B.  Coles.  They  have  two  children,  a  girl 
and  a  boy.  The  daughter,  Lillian  Anzella, 
is  eleven  years  old,  and  is  the  largest  girl  of 
her  age  in  Lykens.  Forest  Stanley,  the  son, 
is  six  years  old,  and  is  also  large  for  his  age. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hensel  have  been  active  and 
jjrominent  in  promoting  sociability  in 
Lykens.  They  were  members  of  the  Social 
Club  "  L.  C.  C",  whose  balls,  parties  and  mas- 
querades will  long  be  remembered  as  the 
local  "good  times"  of  1875-1890,  which 
drew  the  young  people  and  lovers  of  enter- 
tainment from  places  fifty  miles  away. 


G.\RMAN,  Jonas,  grocery  merchant,  was 
born  in  Snyder  county,  then  Union  county, 
Pa.,  November  12,  1827.  Henry  Garman, 
his  grandfather,  was  of  German  and  English 
descent.  He  was  an  extensive  farmer  in 
Snyder  county.  He  married  Mary  Berg- 
stresser,  of  the  same  descent  as  himself. 
They  had  seventeen  children. 

Peter  Garman,  father  of  Jonas  Garman, 
w'as  born  in  Snyder  county.  Pa.,  February 
28,  1803.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer 
and  in  later  life  had  a  country  store  in  Perry 
township,  Union  county.  He  married  Cathe- 
rine Minium,  native  of  Northumberland 
county,  Pa.,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Minium, 
stone  mason  and  farmer.  Tliey  had  seven 
children:  William,  deceased;  Jonas;  Peter, 
merchant  on  the  old  homestead  in  Snyder 
count}' ;  Catherine,  wife  of  David  Kersteller, 
retired ;  Sarah,  deceased,  wife  of  Thomas 
Misser ;  Sophia,  wife  of  Elias  Minnich, 
farmer  in  Berrien  county,  Mich.;  Eliza- 
beth, deceased,  wife  of  Henry  Misser,  also 
deceased.  Mr.  Peter  Garman  was  a  Whig. 
He  and  his  wife  were   members  of  the  old 


1166 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


school  Lutheran  church.  Both  died  in 
Snyder  county,  Pa. 

Jonas  Garman  attended  the  district  schools 
in  Perry  township,  Snyder  county,  and 
worked  with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  learned 
cabinet  making  and  worked  at  that  trade 
for  several  years  in  different  parts  of  the 
State.  Having  learned  the  drug  business 
in  a  wholesale  house  in  Philadelphia,  he 
came  to  Lykens  in  1837  and  opened  a  drug 
store,  which  he  conducted  for  twenty  years 
with  good  success.  In  1881  he  was  also  a 
partner  with  Reil}^  Bressler  in  the  tin  and 
hardware  business.  In  1866,  witli  J.  M. 
Hensel  as  ])artner,  Mr.  Garman  built  and 
equipped  a  foundry  and  continued  its  man- 
agement for  eiglit  years.  After  this  he  was 
for  some  years  retired  from  active  business. 
In  1891  he  opened  a  grocer}'  store,  and  has 
been  successful  in  this  line. 

Jonas  Garman  was  married,  in  1857,  at 
Freeburg,  Pa.,  to  Martha  Leopold,  a  native 
of  Dauphin  county.  Their  children  are  five 
in  number:  Jonas  H.,  druggist  at  Lykens; 
Martha  \ .,  wife  of  J.  L.  VVeidler,  Renovo, 
Pa.;  Samuel  F.,  Peter,  and  Kate,  deceased. 
Mrs.  Martha  Garman  died  at  Lykens  in 
1876.  Mr.  Garman  married  again  in  1878  ; 
his  second  wife  was  Sarah  A.  Wirt,  widow 
of  H.  H.  Mosser.  They  liave  two  children: 
Jessie  and  Pauline  M.,  at  school. 

Mrs.  Garman,  by  her  first  marriage  with 
Mr.  Mosser,  had  tliree  children :  Wirt,  com- 
mercial man ;  Charles  E.,  clerk  at  Lj'kens, 
and  Nef  IL,  in  Harrisburg. 

Mr.  Garman  is  a  Republican.  He  served 
for  several  years  as  scliool  director  and  was 
always  an  advocate  of  compulsory  education. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
has  been  a  deiicon  and  is  elder  and  trustee  ; 
he  has  served  in  all  church  offices. 

In  tiie  way  of  enterprise  and  progressive 
and  pushing  business  spirit  and  methods 
Mr.  Garman  has  been  a  leading  man  in  the 
community-.  In  personal  worth  he  stands 
at  the  front.  He  was  postmaster  during 
Abraham  Lincoln's  administration. 


Long,  Adam  C,  bookseller  and  stationer, 
was  born  in  Jonestown,  Lebanon  county. 
Pa.,  August  1,  1844.  His  greatgrandfather 
Aubarn  Long,  or  rather  Lang,  as  the  name 
was  originally  spelled,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many and  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionar}' 
war.  His  son,  Christian  Long,  grandfather 
of  Adam  C,  took  part  in  the  war  of   1812. 


He  was  a  distiller.  He  had  eleven  children. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
old  school.  Joseph  Long,  father  of  A.  C, 
was  also  born  in  Jonestown.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  distiller  in  Lebanon  county  ;  in 
the  winter  he  worked  as  blacksmith  and 
cooper.  He  married  Catherine  Shuey,  born 
in  Union  township,  Lebanon  county,  mem- 
ber of  an  old  German  family.  They  had  six 
children  :  Edward  C,  of  Pittsburgh  ;  Adam 
G;  Monroe  C,  postmaster  at  Jonestown,  Pa.; 
Emma,  wife  of  B.  F.  Schools,  weighmaster 
Cornwall  Furnace;  Sallie  C,  wife  of  E.  P ' 
Schropp,  foundr3'man,  Lebanon,  Pa.;  Annie 
E.,  wife  of  William  Shirk,  a  business  man  of 
Fredericksburg,  Pa.  Mr.  J.  Long  died  De- 
cember 23,  1886.  He  was  a  Democrat.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  cliurch.  His 
wife  is  still  living  at  seventy-six  years  of  age. 

Adam  C.  Long  attended  the  schools  of 
Jonestown,  Pa.,  also  Swatara  Collegiate 
Institute,  from  whicli  lie  was  graduated  in 
1800.  He  taught  school  three  terms  in  Leb- 
anon and  Schuylkill  counties.  He  was  gen- 
eral clerk  in  a  store  in  Fredericksburg  until 
1870,  when  he  came  to  Lykens  \'alley  and 
for  fourteen  and  a  half  years  was  bookkeeper 
and  clerk  for  the  firm  of  Miller  &  Hielner, 
Wiconisco,  giving  the  utmost  satisfaction. 
In  1884  Mr.  Ijong  began  selling  organs  and 
musical  instruments  and  opened  a  book- 
store in  Lykens.  He  has  continued  the 
business  very  successfully  to  the  present 
tirne. 

Mr.  Long  was  married,  at  MeyerstoAvn, 
Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  October  31,  1867,  to 
Elizabeth  L.,  daughter  of  Henry  Lebo,  farmer 
of  Lebanon  county.  She  was  born  at  Meyers- 
town,  March  23,  1848.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Irvin  J.,  born  February  6,  1869,  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Lj'kens  Register,  and 
Ella  N.,  born  January  0, 1871,  wife  of  Arthur 
F.  Douden,  druggist,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Mrs. 
Long  died  June  29,  1895.  She  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  church  matters. 

Mr.  Long  is  a  Republican  in  political  prin- 
ciples; is  notar}'  public,  agent  for  the  Nor- 
wood Insurance  Company,  of  New  York, 
and  for  the  German  Insurance  Company,  of 
Pittsburgh,  and  pension  attorney  for  Lykens. 
He  belongs  to  Lykens  Lodge,  No.  106,  K.  of 
P.,  and  is  a  past  officer  of  the  order. 


Smith,  Wellington  J.,  M.  D.,  physician 
and  surgeon,  was  born  on  the  eastern  shore 
of  Maryland,  November  16,  1837.  His 
grandfather,  John   F.  Smith,  was  a  practi- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1167 


tioner  of  medicine;  he  came  witli  his  family 
from  England  in  1830,  and  practiced  in 
Maryland,  wliere  lie  died  about  1845.  Will- 
iam J.  Smith,  father  of  Dr.  Wellington  J. 
Smith,  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Northumber- 
land county,  England,  December  29,  1810. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  the  medical  school  of 
the  University  of  Edinburg,  Scotland;  also 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  medical 
departnient,  in  1832.  He  practiced  in  Pliila- 
delphia,  and  later  in  Pottsville,  Pa.  He 
died  in  Minersville,  Schuylkill  county,  in 
1859.  He  was  the  only  child  of  Dr.  J.  F. 
Smitli.  He  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Ryan,  a 
native  of  England.  Their  cliildren  were: 
Ruth  Anna,  wife  of  W.  D.  H.  Mason,  post- 
master, WilHamstown,  Pa.;  and  Dr.  Wel- 
lington J.  Dr.  William  J.  Smith  was  a 
Democrat.     He  was  an  Episcopalian. 

Wellington  J.  Smith  was  educated  in 
Minersville  and  at  Dickinson  College,  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  and  was  graduated  from  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  1862,  having  previously  read 
medicine  with  his  father.  He  practiced  one 
year  at  Minersville  and  three  years  in 
Philadelphia.  Since  1866  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Lykens,  where  he  is  very  popu- 
lar as  a  physician  and  has  a  large  practice. 
He  is  also  eminentl}'  successful  as  a  surgeon, 
having  performed  many  difficult  operations. 

Dr.  Wellington  J.  Smith  was  married,  in 
1863,  to  Maria  Hablett,  born  in  Tamaqua, 
Pa.;  daughter  of  .John  Hablett,  an  English- 
man by  birth,  and  a  railroad  and  tunnel 
contractor.  Their  children  are :  Lulu  M., 
graduate  of  Kee-Mar  College,  Hagerstown, 
Md. ;  W.  Gordon,  druggist,  of  Philadelphia; 
Beulah  E.,  and  Alfreil,  the  former  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Lykens  high  school. 

Dr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church.  He  is  a  Democrat;  has  been  school 
director  for  two  terms,  councilman  for  two 
terms,  and  medical  examiner  for  the  pen- 
sion board  for  ten  years.  Dr.  Smith  is 
widely  and  well  known  as  being  eminent  in 
his  profession,  and  a  genial  gentleman,  en- 
joying the  esteem  of  his  neighbors. 


Keen,  W.  H.  Clay,  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature from  Dauphin  county  and  clerk  in 
the  office  of  the  Lykens  Valley  Coal  Com- 
panv,  was  born  in  Wiconisco,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  May  24, 1860.  Daniel  Keen,  his 
grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Tower  City  and 
a  shoemaker.     John  H.  Keen,  father  of  W. 


H.  C.  Keen,  was  born  in  Lykens  Valley  in 
1840.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  worked  all 
his  life  at  his  trade  in  the  mines.  He  mar- 
ried Anna  May  Mace,  born  in  Berrysburg, 
Pa.,  in  1833;  daughter  of  John  Mace,  a 
weaver.  They  had  six  children :  W.  H. 
Clay  ;  Ambrose,  clerk  for  the  Lehigh  and. 
Wilkes-Barre  Coal  Company  ;  C.  E.  L.,  a 
doctor;  Annie,  a  school  teacher;  George  S. 
J.,  student  of  medicine,  at  college  in  Phila- 
delphia ;  Benjamin  S.,  machinist ;  Millard 
and  John  died  young.  Mr.  Keen  is  a  Re- 
publican ;  has  been  school  director  for  eleven 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  is  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keen  re- 
side in  Wiconisco. 

La  early  boyhood  W.  H.  Clay  Keen  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  Wiconisco.  At 
the  age  of  eleven  he  began  to  earn  $3 
per  week  at  picking  slate  in  the  breaker; 
after  four  years  at  this  occupation  he  was 
employed  three  years  longer  in  the  mines  as 
a  pumping  engineer.  Being  industrious  and 
frugal  he  saved  money,  which  enabled  hitn 
to  complete  his  education.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  entered  Waynesburg  College! 
He  then  taught  school  in  Wiconisco  for  four 
years.  In  1883  he  obtained  a  position  as 
clerk  for  the  Lykens  Valley  Coal  Company 
and  has  ever  since  held  that  position,  per- 
forming its  duties  ably  and  faithfully  and 
with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  company. 

I\L'.  Keen  was  elected  to  the  State  Legis- 
lature in  1893  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of 
J.  A.  Laudenslager,  and  re-elected  for  a  sec- 
ond term.  He  is  a  Republican  and  active 
and  prominent  in  the  party,  as  is  shown  by 
his  elevation  to  important  offices.  The  coal 
mines  at  Wiconisco  and  the  legislative  halls 
at  Harrisburg  are  both  in  Dauphin  county, 
and  are  therefore  not  geogra[)liically  far 
apart.  But  the  social  uplift  from  the  posi- 
tion of  the  toil-stained  little  slate-picker  in 
the  one  to  that  of  the  successful  and  hon- 
ored legislator  in  the  other  is  a  magnificent 
movement,  accomplished  b^'  the  industry, 
talent  and  fidelity  of  Mr.  Keen. 

W.  H.  Clay  Keen  was  married,  in  Wico- 
nisco, Pa.,  in  1885,  to  Amelia  M.,  daughter 
of  George  W.  Hochlander,  of  Cumberland 
county.  Pa.  They  have  three  children  : 
Edwin  Roy,  Florence  M.,  deceased,  and  Mary 
Elma.  Mr.  Keen  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  and  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school. 


72 


1168 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


Steckel,  Rev.  L.  D.,  pastor  of  Christ  Ee- 
formed  church,  Lykeus,  Pa.,  was  bom  near 
Whitehall,  Leliigh  county.  Pa.,  January  2, 
1839.  The  ancestors  of  Rev.  L.  D.  Steckel 
came  from  Zweibrucken,  or  Zweibruecken, 
German}',  and  were  among  tiie  early  settlers 
of  Pennsylvania.  Daniel  Steckel,  father  of 
Rev.  L.  D.  Steckel,  was  also  born  in  Lehigh 
county,  in  1789.  He  was  a  farmer  in  that 
county.  He  married  Elizabeth  Frantz,  a 
native  of  Lehigii  county,  daughter  of  Peter 
Frantz,  a  farmer.  They  had  ten  children: 
Hattie,  wife  of  Cliarles  Sliafer,  of  Wliitehall, 
Lehigh  county ;  Reuben,  resides  in  Lehigii 
county:  Polly,  wife  of  Stephen  S.  Albright,  of 
Allentown,  Pa.;  Amos,  of  Bloomfield,  Iowa  ; 
William,  mercliant,  Montpelier,  Ind.;  Alfred, 
doctor,  Slatington,  Pa.;  Rev.  L.  D.;  Edmond, 
doctor,  Allentown,  Pa.;  Henry,  prefessor  in 
the  Whiteli  ill  schools,  and  Caroline,  wife  of 
Joseph  Miller,  of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steckel 
both  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Lehigh 
county,  the  former  in  1877,  and  the  latter  in 
1879.  Mr.  Steckel  was  originally  a  Whig, 
and  later  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church  in  the  United  States.  He  and  his  wife 
were  prominent  and  highly  respected  people, 
faithful,  just,  and  kind  in  all  the  relations  of 
life. 

L.  D.  Steckel  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  town  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  and 
when  he  was  seventeen  years  old  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  high  school.  He  taugiit  school 
eight  winters  and  worked  at  agricultural 
work  during  the  summers.  He  enlisted  at 
Allentown,  Pa.,  October  18, 1862,  in  company 
G,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-sixth  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers,  Capt.  L.  P.  Hecker,  Col.  A. 
A.  Lechler,  and  spent  nine  months  in  the 
service.  He  held  the  rank  of  quartermaster 
sergeant. 

After  his  return  from  the  army  he  spent 
one  year  as  a  student  at  Dickinson  College, 
after  which  he  to  )k  a  three  years'  course  in 
theology  in  Mercersburg  Seminar}^,  and  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry  in  1867.  His  first 
charge  was  Millersville,  Lancaster  county, 
where  he  spent  one  year.  He  was  next  for 
three  years  pastor  at  Huntingdon,  Pa ;  then 
had  a  charge  in  Perry  county  for  one  year 
and  a  half,  and  was  next  at  Meyersdale, 
Somerset  county,  for  eight  years ;  there  he 
built  a  church  edifice,  remodeled  the  par- 
sonage, and  otherwise  imi)roved  the  church 
property',  to  the  extent  of  §5,000.  Mr.  Steckel 
spent  two  years  at  Womelsdorf,  Berks  county, 


three  years  in  Pottsville,  and  five  at  Mifflin" 
burg,  Union  county. 

Li  1891  Rev.  Mr.  Steckel  received  a  call 
froni  the  Reformed  congregation  at  Lykens 
to  Ijecome  their  pastor,  which  he  accepted, 
and  entered  upon  the  pastorate  in  the  same 
year.  The  work  at  Lykens  has  greatly  pros- 
pered under  his  care.  A  church  edifice  cost- 
ing $5,000  has  been  erected,  and  ever\'  branch 
of  congregational  work  is  in  good  condition. 
Rev.  Mr.  Steckel  lias  another  congregation 
at  Tower  City,  and  he  is  equally  faithful 
and  efficient  in  looking  after  the  spiritual 
needs  of  that  part  of  his  parish.  Since  com- 
ing to  Lykens  he  has  done  a  grand  work  in 
promoting  the  religious  interests  of  the  com- 
munity ;  and  the  value  of  his  services  is  cor- 
dially recognized  by  all  the  citizens,  regard- 
less of  political  difierences.  Heand  his  family 
are  quick  to  respond  to  all  appeals  for  ma- 
terial or  spiritual  help. 

Rev.  Mr.  Steckel  was  married,  at  Manheim, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  in  1869,  to  Barbara 
Peters,  born  at  Millersville,  Pa.,  P^ebruary  16, 
1841 ;  daughter  of  Hon.  Abraham  Peters,  a 
native  of  Millersville,  Lancaster  county,  Pa., 
a  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Steckel  have  four  children:  Mary,  born  at 
Huntingdon,  Pa.,  January  17,  1872,  gradu- 
ated from  Female  College  at  Allentown,  Pa., 
and  the  Con.servatory  of  Music,  Philadelphia, 
is  a  teacher  of  music  ;  Martha,  born  March  8, 
1875,  at  Meyersdale,  Pa.,  graduated  at  the 
college  at  Meyerstown,  Pa.,  and  in  1892  at 
the  College  of  Orator}',  Philadelphia;  Fannie 
E.,  born  Jul\'  7,  1877,  graduated  at  Lykens 
high  school,  1894,  and  at  Frederick,  Md., 
College  for  Women  in  1895,  is  a  music 
teacher;  Abraham  Peters,  born  April  1, 
1879,  graduated  at  the  Lykens  high  school, 
1894,  and  from  Mercersburg  College,  in  1895, 
now  attending  Lehigh  University. 

Mr.  Steckel  takes  an  interest  in  public  and 
political  affaii-s.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Reformed  church  in  the  United  States. 
Rev.  Mr.  Steckel  has  in  his  family  a  compe- 
tentand  devoted  staff  of  church  workers.  j\Irs. 
Steckel  has  for  seven  years  been  president 
of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  The  daughters 
have  formed*  a  Young  People's  Societj',  in 
which  they  take  an  active  part.  The  Misses 
Steckel  are  organists  of  the  church.  All  the 
members  of  the  familj-  are  interested  in  Sun- 
day-school work  and  in  the  educational  and 
benevolent  enterprises  of  the  community. 
Their  home  is  a  fountain  of  good  influ- 
ences. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1169 


Shive,  Edward  L.,  engineer  Northern 
Central,  Summit  Branch  railroad,  was  born 
in  Lykens  Valley,  June  11,  1835.  John 
Shive,  his  father,  was  born  in  Lykens  Val- 
ley in  1801.  His  trade  was  weaving,  but  lie 
also  did  butchering  and  other  kinds  of  work. 
In  later  years  he  was  lock  tender  on  the 
canal.  He  married  Sarah  Wert,  born  in 
Lykens  Valley.  They  had  six  children : 
Alfred,  restaurant  keeper,  at  Williamsburg, 
Pa.;  Caroline,  deceased,  wife  of  Josepli  Mil- 
ler, of  Powell's  Valley ;  Edward  L.;  Eman- 
uel, deceased;  Rachel,  died  young;  Lizzie 
J.,  wife  of  Andrew  Pressley,  both  deceased. 
Mr.  Sliive  was  a  Democrat.  He  died  in  Mid- 
dle Paxton  township  in  1851.  His  wife  died 
at  the  same  place  in  the  same  year. 

Edward  L.  Shive  attended  school  at  Mil- 
lersburg,  and  began  work  when  lie  w-as 
quite  young.  At  fifteen  years  of  age  he  be- 
came collector  of  tolls  for  the  Clark's  Ferry 
Bridge  Company,  and  held  the  place  three 
years.  He  also  worked  on  tiie  canal 
for  two  years,  and  finally  engaged  in  boat- 
ing ;  for  eight  years  he  ran  a  boat  of  his 
own.  After  this  he  was  employed  by  the 
railroad  company  as  engine  cleaner,  hi 
1859  he  became  brakeman,  then  fireman, 
and  in  1865  he  was  promoted  to  engineer. 
Mr.  Shive  has  run  on  the  same  road  for  over 
thirty  years,  during  which  time  he  lias 
made  the  remarkable  and  honorable,  as 
well  as  enviable,  reputation  of  having  had 
no  accident  to  any  train  drawn  by  his  en- 
gine, a  record  perhaps  unparalleled  in  the 
history  of  railroad  engineers.  Such  skill 
and  fidelity,  such  courage  and  devotion, 
such  patience  and  painstaking,  such  sleep- 
less vigilance  and  cool-headed  judgment  as 
have  enabled  him  to  make  this  record  of 
successful  work,  have  won  for  iiim  tiie  ut- 
most confidence  of  the  company  and  created 
for  him  a  claim  on  the  respect  and  gratitude 
of  the  traveling  public.  All  honor  to  the 
man  who  has  had  thousands  of  human  lives 
and  millions  of  property  entrusted  to  him 
in  transit,  and  who  steps  down  from  his  cab 
with  not  a  cent's  worth  of  loss  or  damage  to 
his  charge  and  no  stain  of  blood  on  his  con- 
science. If  there  be  a  true  legion  of  honor 
among  men  he  has  in  his  record  a  free  pass- 
port to  its  highest  ranks. 

Edward  L.  Shive  was  married,  in  Harris- 
burg,  October  11,  1858,  to  Mary  J.  Weaver, 
born  in  Millersburg,  August  7,  1842.  They 
have  five  children:  Sarah  A.,  unmarried; 
Katie  E.,  widow  of  Joseph  Klinger ;  Susan 


R.,  wife  of  J.  P.  Heckard ;  Ella,  in  Harris- 
burg,  and  John  A.,  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Shive  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
Perseverance  Lodge,  No.  133,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  at 
Millersburg,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  Rebecca.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  donors 
to  the  Zion  Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  is 
a  member,  and  in  which  he  has  been  Sun- 
day-school teacher  and  superintendent.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  ciiurch  council  at  Will- 
iamstown.  His  children  are  all  church 
members  and  workers  in  the  Sunday-school. 

Martin  Weaver,  father  of  Mrs.  Shive,  was 
born  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  in  1811. 
He  w^as  a  machinist  and  worked  at  Potts- 
ville,  Pittsburgh,  and  Millersburg.  He  was 
killed  at  a  railroad  crossing  near  Millersburg, 
July  30,  1878.  He  was  married,  in  1841,  to 
Elizabeth  Keefer,  born  in  Hanover  township, 
Dauphin  county,  in  1820.  They  had  six 
children :  Reuben,  deceased :  Charles,  of 
Lancaster  county;  Mary  J.,  Mrs.  Shive; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  H.  Joury,  a  railroad  man; 
William  Miller,  at  Millersl)urg,  and  Nathan, 
distiller.  Mrs.  Weaver  finds  a  pleasant 
home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Shive. 

Joseph  P.  Heckart,  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Shive, 
was  born  in  Lloydsville,  Perry  county.  Pa., 
November  19, 1808;  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah 
(Grimm)  Heckart,  and  one  of  four  children. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  White 
Hill,  Cumberland  county.  When  a  young 
man  he  came  to  Lykens  and  obtained  a  posi- 
tion as  clerk  with  William  Bergstresser,  with 
whom  he  has  remained  since  that  time,  be- 
ing foreman  in  the  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness. Joseph  Heckart  was  married,  in  Ly- 
kens, Ajiril  6,  1884,  to  Susan  R.,  daughter  of 
Edward  L.  Siiive.  They  have  two  children, 
Zenie,  born  September  25,  1886,  and  C'lyde 
S.,  born  June  11,  1890.  Mr.  Heckart  is  a 
Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  Lykens 
Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Lu- 
theran church. 


KuNTZELMAN,  Amos,  scwing  machine 
agent,  Lvkens,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Lykens 
Valley,  March  20,  1833.  Henry  Kuntzel- 
nian,  his  father,  was  born  in  Pine  Valley, 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  in  1779,  and  was  a 
son  of  Henry  Kuntzelman,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a  farmer.  Henry  Kuntzel- 
man, Jr.,  was  also  a  farmer,  both  in  Pine 
^^alley  and  also  in  Washington  township, 
Dauphin  county.  He  married  Elizabeth 
McLean,  of  Irish  descent,  born  in  Millers- 
burg, Pa.     They  had  four  children  :  Josiah, 


1170 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


died  in  the  arinj^ ;  Elisha,  residing  in  Illi- 
nois; Amos;  Moses,  resides  in  Nebrasl<ta. 
The  father  died  in  Lykens,  January  19, 1880. 
He  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  wife  died 
in  Lykens  Vallej'  in  1859. 

Amos  Kuntzelman  attended  the  Valley  pub- 
lic schools  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  fourteen  years  old.  He  then  left  home, 
learned  tailoring  in  Lykens,  and  worked 
four  years  at  that  trade.  In  1854  he  began 
business  for  himself  as  a  merchant  tailor, 
first  for  three  years  at  Fisherville,  afterwards 
at  Lykens,  continuing  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war. 

Mr.  Kuntzelman  enlisted  at  Pottsville, 
Pa.,  September  23,  1861,  in  company  G, 
Ninety-sixth  regiment,  Penn.sylvania  volun- 
teers, Capt.  J.  13.  Haas  and  Colonel  Cake. 
He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  West  Point 
and  Cumberland  Landing.  He  was  taken 
sick  from  the  effects  of  cold  and  exj^osure, 
and  was  confined  in  the  hospital  for  two 
months.  He  was  discharged  from  the  ser- 
vice at  Philailelphia  in  June,  18()"2,  returned 
to  Lykens,  and  for  a  time  took  up  the  sewing 
machine  business  He  re-enlisted  at  Harris- 
burg  September  6,  18G4,  in  company  B, 
Ninth  Pennsylvania  cavalry.  He  was  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  and  went  with  Sherman 
to  the  sea,  under  General  Kilpatrick,  who 
appointed  him  division  tailor.  He  was  dis- 
charged at  Lexington,  N.  C,  May  29,  18G5. 
Returning  to  Lykens  he  resumed  the  sewing 
machine  business.  He  handled  the  Singer 
machine  for  twenty-seven  years,  has  sold  the 
Standard  for  the  past  three,  and  has  man- 
aged the  business  successi'ull}'. 

Amos  Kuntzelman  was  married,  in  1851,  to 
Sarah  Hoffman,  born  in  Lykens  Vallej'. 
Tliey  have  four  children:  William  H., 
miner,  of  Lj'kens  ;  Isaiah,  tailor,  Bainbridge, 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.:  Mary  E.,  wife  of  H. 
E.  Rumlinger,  manufacturer,  Philadel[)hia, 
and  Clara,  wife  of  Charles  Foster,  railroad 
man,  of  Bradford  county.  Pa.  Mrs.  Kunt- 
zelman died  January  13,  1865.  Mr.  Kunt- 
zelman was  married  again  October  23,  1865, 
to  Sarah  C.  Ersen bower,  native  of  Halifax, 
Pa.,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Robert  A., 
a  miner,  of  Lykens  A'allev.  His  second  wife 
died  May  5,  1882. 

Mr.  Kuntzelman  is  a  Republican.  He  is 
a  member  of  Heilner  Post,  No.  232,  G.  A.  R., 
at  Lykens,  and  of  Wiconisco  Lodge,  No.  533, 
I.  d.  O.  F.,  Lykens.  He  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  a  teacher 


in  the  Sunday-school.  He  is  a  diligent 
worker  and  an  upright  man,  genial  and 
popular,  has  a  good  family,  and  enjoys  the 
res[)ect  and  good  will  of  all  his  neighbors. 


Wallace,  JoHiV  J.,  retired  railroad  man, 
Lykens,  Pa.,  was  born  near  Campbellstown, 
Lebanon  count}',  Pa., October  20,1824;  son  of 
William  Wallace,  a  Pennsjdvanian  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  and  a  farmer.  His  earlier  oc- 
cupation was  charcoal  burning.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Christomer,  a  native  of  Lebanon 
county.  Their  children  were  :  Thomas,  de- 
ceased ;  Legrand,  deceased ;  John  J.;  Eliza- 
beth ;  Harriet,  wife  of  James  Shaw ;  Mary, 
deceased;  William,  miner  at  Lykens.  Mr. 
William  Wallace  died  at  Harrisburg;  his 
w'lic  died  near  Daujihin,  Pa.  He  was  a 
Democrat. 

John  J.  Wallace  attended  school  both  in 
Lebanon  and  Dauphin  counties,  for  the  most 
part  subscription  schools.  In  his  younger 
days  he  worked  both  on  the  farm  and  on  the 
railroad.  In  1847  he  removed  to  Lykens 
Valley,  and  for  three  j'ears  worked  on  the 
railroad  and  taught  school.  He  owned  a 
boat,  which  he  used  on  the  canal.  In  1867 
he  and  Mr.  Frederick  Weaver  owned  and 
operated  a  line  of  cars  on  the  Summit 
Branch  railroad  to  Philadelphia.  They  built 
warehouses  at  Lykens  at  much  expense,  and 
operated  the  line  until  1877.  Mr.  Wallace 
then  took  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres,  eighty  acres  of  which  were  cleared. 
For  eight  years  he  flirmed  this  tract  and 
then  retired  from  active  work  and  located  in 
Lykens,  where  he  built  two  houses  and 
bought  two  more.  He  and  his  wife  are  liv- 
ing in  their  own  home,  quietly  isnjoying  the 
fruits  of  their  early  labors,  having  done 
much  to  increase  the  pro.sperity  of  the  place 
of  their  adoption.  They  are  worthy  people, 
and  highly  re.sjiected. 

Mr.  \\'allace  was  married,  at  Halifax,  Pa., 
in  1849,  to  Elizabeth  Snavely,  born  in  Corn- 
wall township,  Lebanon  county.  Pa.,  April 
8,  1831  ;  daughter  of  Mary  A.  (Lemon)  and 
Thomas  Snavely,  a  shoemaker.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  A\"illiam  L.;  John  G,  of  Philadel- 
phia; Alfred,  of  Philadeli^liia ;  Samuel; 
Anna,  wife  of  Henry  Harter;  Jennie,  Ellen, 
and  Alice,  all  died  young.  Mr.  Wallace  is  a 
Democrat  of  the  old  school.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  of  the  0.  U.  A.  M. 

"Mr.  Wallace  has  seen  man\'  changes 
wrought  in  the  valley.  He  has  seen  the 
town  grow  up  where  the  wilderness  was,  and 


DAUFHIN  COUNTY. 


1171 


all  wild  life  giving  place  to  culture  and 
civilization.  Of  these  changes  he  has  heen 
an  important  part,  and  can  look  hack  with 
satisfaction  to  the  career  of  induslr}-  and  pul)- 
lic  service  wliich  he  has  pursued. 


Wall.\ce,Willi.\m  L.,  chief  clerk  of  Sum- 
mit Brancli  Railroad  Company,  Lykens,  Pa., 
was  l)orn  at  Lykens,  November  22,  1856  ; 
son  of  John  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Suavely)  Wal- 
lace. He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Ly- 
kens and  spent  three  montlis  at  an  academy 
away  from  home.  When  he  was  eleven 
years  old  he  was  employed  by  his  father  in 
the  railroad  ofhce  at  Lykens,  where  ho  re- 
mained until  1872  ;  he  was  then  transferred 
to  W'illiamstown  and  made  station  agent  at 
that  point  for  one  year.  At  the  expiration 
of  the  year  he  resumed  his  clerkship  at 
Lykens,  iind  lield  the  place  until  1887.  For 
nine  months  Mr.  Wallace  tried  tlie  tea  busi- 
ness at  Williamsport.  Since  January,  1888, 
he  has  been  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
Northern  Central  Railroad  Company  at  Ly- 
kens, a  position  which  lie  lias  tilled  with 
satisfaction  to  the  company  and  with  credit 
to  himself.  He  is  popular  among  railroad 
men  and  much  resj^ected  by  all. 

William  L.Wallace  was  married,  at  Hughes- 
ville,  Lycoming  county,  Pa.,  in  April,  1883, 
to  Emma  Snyder,  born  at  Port  Carbon, 
Schuylkill  county,  Pa.,  May  12, 185G.  They 
have  five  cliildren  :  ^"erdilla,  Clara,  Cloyd, 
Mary,  and  Herbert,  all  tine,  healthy  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Wallace  is  a  member  of  tiie  Lu- 
tlieran  church.  He  is  a  Democrat,  but 
having  been  content  to  follow  out  his  own 
business  plans,  has  never  sought  political 
preferment. 


Wallace,  Samuel  T.,  boot  and  shoe 
dealer,  Lykens,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Lykens, 
September  13,  1862;  son  of  John  J.  ancl 
Elizabeth  Wallace,  and  brother  of  William 
L.  He  attended  the  schools  of  Lykens  un- 
til he  was  nineteen,  receiving  a  thorough 
education.  He  was  graduated  with  honors 
in  the  spring  of  1881. 

Mr.  S.  T.  Wallace  began  his  business  life 
as  brakeman  on  the  Northern  Central  rail- 
way, between  Renovo  and  Harrisliurg,  and 
was  thus  employed  for  seven  years.  Then 
returning  to  Lj'kens,  he  became  proprietor 
of  the  Glenn  House,  a  well-known  hotel  of 
that  place.  Two  years  later  he  went  to 
Philadelphia,  where  for  five  years  he  was 
conductor  on  an  electric  street  railway.     He 


resigned  this  place  in  December,  1895,  and 
embarked  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade  at 
Lykens.  His  recognized  business  ability, 
agreeable  manners  and  accommodating 
spirit  have  made  him  both  popular  and  suc- 
cessful. 

Samuel  T.  Wallace  was  married,  at  Lykens, 
February  2,1883,  to  Emma  Klinger,  born  at 
Lykens  in  July,  1864.  They  have  one  child, 
C.  Lee,  born  March  7, 1884.  Both  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Wallace 
is  a  Democrat.  He  belongs  to  Wiconisco 
Lodge,  No.  533,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Lykens. 
He  .stands  high  in  business  and  social  circles, 
is  a  good  citizen  and  a  first-class  neighbor. 


Miller,  Samuel,  senior  partner  of  the 
firm  of  Miller  &  Heilner,  general  merchants, 
Wiconisco,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Sunbury,  Pa., 
December  3,  1833.  His  father,  Charles  H. 
Miller,  was  born  in  York  county,  Pa.  1\\  his  _ 
younger  days  he  was  a  contractor  for  canal 
and  railroad  work.  He  also  kept  a  hotel  in 
Harrisburg  for  a  number  of  years.  Later 
he  removed  to  Lykens,  where  he  died  in 
1872.  He  married  jNIary  Boucher,  a  native  of 
Sunbury,  who  died  in  Lykens.  They  had 
seven  children :  Edward,  deceased  ;  Sophia 
J.,  wife  of  J.  H.  Foster,  of  Lykens;  Samuel; 
Henry  C,  of  Danville ;  Barbara,  widow  of 
Hiram  Bueck  ;  William  P.,  deceased  ;  B.  F., 
of  Wiconisco.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  Republican. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Samuel  Miller  is  a  self-educated  man.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  for  only  a  short 
time  when  he  was  a  small  boy.  He  worked 
among  the  farmers,  earning  from  twenty-five 
to  fifty  cents  a  day.  Wlien  he  was  fourteen 
years  old  lie  was  clerk  in  a  store  in  Lykens, 
receiving  $2.75  per  week,  and  paj'ing  his 
own  board.  He  was  for  two  years  in  this 
position,  after  which  he  took  a  contract  for 
making  a  road  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
county,  in  connection  with  his  father.  After 
some  months'  work  on  this  contract  he 
worked  one  year  at  railroading  in  New  Jer- 
sey. He  then  returned  to  Lykens  and 
worked  two  years  as  a  blacksmith  for  the 
Lykens  Valley  Railroad  Company.  Then 
he  was  clerk  in  a  store  at  Lykens  for  four 
years,  and  spent  four  years  more  with  Bar- 
rett &  Bloom,  and  for  twenty -seven  years  he 
has  conducted  a  general  mercantile  business 
at  Wiconisco.  He  has  built  up  a  large  trade 
and  has  the  most  extensive  mercantile  estab- 
lishment in  Lykens  Valley.  Associated  with 
him  as  a  silent  partner  is  Rev.  S.  A.  Heilner, 


1172 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


of  Philadelphia,  minister  of  the  Methodist 
church.  Mr.  Miller  opened  a  branch  store 
in  1881  in  Lykens  and  conducted  the  busi- 
ness there  until  1888,  when  he  sold  it  to  his 
sons,  Charles  H.  and  Jacob  M.  Miller. 

In  1856  Samuel  Miller  was  married,  at 
Lykens,  to  Rebecca  Mann,  born  in  Chester 
county,  Pa.,  in  1836,  of  Welsh  descent.  They 
have  had  nine  children:  Annie  L.,  wife  of 
W.  J.  Simpson ;  W.  Howard,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years ;  Jennie;  Cliarles  H., 
merchant  at  Lykens;  Jacob  M.,  bicycle 
dealer ;  Rebecca  E.;  Carrie  L.,  died  in  in- 
fancy; Samuel  H.,  attending  Dickinson  Col- 
lege ;  and  Mary  M. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  Republican.  He  was  a 
school  director  for  two  terms,  during  part  of 
whicli  time  he  was  president  of  the  board. 
He  is  an  advocate  of  compulsory  education. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  a  Sunday-school  teacher  and  sui)er- 
inteudent,  an<l  has  been  trustee  of  the  church 
from  early  manhood.  He  was  for  about  five 
years  a  director  of  the  Miners'  Deposit 
Bank.  Few  men  are  more  widely  or  favor- 
ably known  in  the  town  or  valley,  and  none 
are  more  highly  esteemed.  He  is  gonial  and 
popular. 

Mr.  Miller  enlisted  for  three  months  at 
Harrisburg,  in  March,  1863,  in  company  D, 
Twenty-sixth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  un- 
der Colonel  .Jennings.  He  is  a  member  of 
Asliler  Lodge,  No.  570,  F.  ct  A.  M.,  Wico- 
'nisco,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows. 

Charles  H.  Miller,  son  of  Samuel  Miller, 
is  a  general  merchant  at  Lykens,  where  he 
was  born  February  18,  1SG5.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  At  sixteen 
years  of  age  lie  entered  iiis  father's  store  as 
clerk  and  remained  with  the  firm  until 
1888,  when  lie  and  his  brother  Jacob  M. 
bought  out  tlie  firm  of  Miller  &  Heilner, 
and  carried  on  the  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Miller  Bros,  for  seven  j'ears.  In 
1895  Charles  H.  Miller  purchased  his 
brother's  interest  and  has  since  conducted 
the  business  in  his  own  name.  Mr.  Charles 
H.  Miller  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  L\^kens.  He 
is  a  promising  and  popular  young  business 
man  with  a  bright  future  before  him. 

Jacob  M.,  second  living  son   of   Samuel 
Miller,  was  born  at  Lvkens,  November  18, 
1868.     The  removal  of  the  family  to  Wico- 
nisco  took  place  when  he  was  one  year  old 
His   entire   education  was  acquired  in  the 


public  schools  of  that  place.  After  leaving 
sciiool  he  was  clerk  in  his  father's  store  for  a 
j'ear,  and  for  two  years  after  in  a  branch 
store  at  Lj-kens.  In  1888  he  and  his  brother 
Charles  H.  purchased  the  above  mentioned 
business  at  Lykens  and  conducted  it  under 
the  firm  name  of  Miller  Bros,  until  October 
16,  1895,  at  which  date  Jacob  M.  Miller  sold 
his  interest  to  his  brotlier,  who  now  con- 
ducts the  business.  From  1892  until  June 
29,  18.96,  Jacob  M.  Miller  also  conducted  tiie 
Lykens  Marble  Works,  and  then  sold  out 
this  business  also.  He  is  now  dealing  in  bi- 
cycles at  Lykens.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  is  a  member  of  Ashler  Lodge,  No. 
570,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Wiconisco,  and  of  Lodge 
No.  533,  of  Lykens. 

Jacob  M.  Miller  was  married,  June  4, 
1895,  at  Lykens,  to  Emma,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Addie  Fenn.  Mr.  Fenn  is  the  late 
editor  of  the  Lykens  Register.  Mr.  Miller 
attends  the  Methodist  Episco2:)al  church. 


Lamey,  Philip  H.,  hardware  and  tinware 
merchant,  Wiconisco,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Clin- 
ton county,  Pa.,  March  2,  1836.  His  father, 
John  Lame}',  was  born  in  Scotland,  and 
came  to  this  country  when  a  young  man. 
He  settled  in  Clinton  county  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock  raising.' 
He  married  Elizabeth  Kaler,  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  brought  to  this  country  in  early 
youtii.  They  hail  twelve  children:  Susan, 
Christian,  John,  jNIichael,  Philip  II.,  William, 
Elizabeth,  Delilah,  and  four  infants  that 
died.  Mr.  Lamey  was  a  Republican.  The 
family  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lamey  died  in 
Clinton  county. 

Philip  H.  Lamey  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
county.  He  worked  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  old,  after  which  he  learned 
the  trade  of  millwright,  and  followed  that 
occupation  eleven  years.  After  this  he 
worked  two  years  on  the  Central  railroad 
in  Centre  countj^  and  then  six  years  in  the 
coal  regions  as  clerk  for  George  Moulton  & 
Co.  He  came  to  Wiconisco  in  1871  and 
was  employed  for  sixteen  years  by  the  Ly- 
kens Valley  C-oal  Company  as  outside  fore- 
man. In  1889  Mr.  Lamey  purchased  the 
business  of  J.  H.  Meyers,  hardware  and  tin- 
ware merchant.  He  has  conducted  the  busi- 
ness since  that  date,  meeting  with  good  suc- 
cess and  building  up  a  large  trade. 

Philip  H.  Lamey  was   married,  at   Free- 


DAUFRIN  COUNTY. 


1173 


Imrg,  Snyder  county,  Pa.,  in  1862,  to  Eliza- 
beth Boj'er,  born  in  Liverpool,  Perry  county, 
Pa.  They  have  three  children:  Mary,  un- 
married; Edward,  attendino-  school;  and 
Jacob,  deceased.  Jacob  was  in  the  tin- 
ware business  for  liis  father.  In  1891  he 
went  to  a  medical  college  at  Philadelphia, 
and  five  days  before  his  graduation  day 
he  died  from  the  effects  of  a  cold,  April 
13,  1893.  He  belonged  to  the  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Eagle. 

Mr.  Lamey  is  a  Republican,  for  a  j'ear  he 
was  a  school  director.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  a  Sunday- 
school  superintendent  and  teacher.  Mr. 
Lamey  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  Wiconisco. 
He  is  enterprising  and  prosperous  in  busi- 
ness, and  in  social  circles  is  genial  and  pop- 
ular. 


Mossop,  Is.\AC,  junior  i)artner  and  business 
manager  of  Kimmel  &  Mossop,  hosiery  man- 
ufacturers,Wiconisco,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Raven- 
glass,  England,  October  28,1860.  His  father, 
Henry  Mossop,  was  a  native  of  England,  and 
was  a  butchei".  He  married  Jane  Siiarp,  of 
Scotch  descent.  They  had  nine  children: 
William,  residing  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah ; 
Mary,  deceased,  wife  of  John  Shaw,  of  Eng- 
land; Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  Studholme, 
Tower  City,  Pa.;  Isaac;  Fanny,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Dewfall,  England;  Annie  J.,  Henry, 
John,  and  Tliomas,  died  young.  Mr.  and 
Mi's.  Henry  Mossop  died  in  England. 

Isaac  Mossop  received  a  connnon  school 
education  in  his  native  country.  He  began 
his  business  life  by  working  as  a  farmer's 
boy,  receiving  sixpence  a  day  and  his  board. 
After  six  months  of  this  employment  he 
worked  four  years  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 
He  was  next  employed  by  a  railroad  com- 
pany as  a  ship|)ing  clerk.  In  1881  he  came 
to  the  United  States  on  the  steamship  City 
of  Montreal,  landed  at  New  York,  and  came 
to  Philadelphia.  He  spent  a  week  there, 
then  went  to  Tower  City,  and  worked  four 
and  a  half  years  as  a  laborer  in  the  mines. 
He  afterwards  went  into  the  confectionery 
business  in  Tower  City,  and  continued  in 
this  business  three  years,  meeting  with  suc- 
cess. In  1889  he  came  to  Wiconisco,  and  in 
connection  with  the  late  A.  F.  Kimmel,  built 
a  large  factor}',  and  equipped  it  with  ma- 
chines for  the  manufacture  of  seamless  hose, 
expending  $5,0(10  in  furnishing  the  plant 
and  making  it  one  of  the  most  complete  and 


convenient  establishments  in  that  line  of 
work.  The  firm  employs  120  hands,  and 
pays  $1,500  [ler  month  in  wages,  producing 
goods  which  find  a  ready  market  in  all  parts 
of  the  country.  Since  Mr.. Kimmel's  death, 
Mr.  Mossop  is  the  general  manager  and  su- 
})erintendent  of  every  department  of  the 
business. 

Isaac  Mossop  was  married,  in  Tower  City, 
January  IG,  1883,  to  ^'iolet  Jenkins,  born  in 
Tamaqiia,  Pa.,  May  19,  1858  ;  daughter  of 
John  and  Matilda  Jenkins,  the  former  was 
killed  during  the  Civil  war.  They  have  no 
children. 

Mr.  Mossop  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a 
member  of  Ashler  Lodge,  No.  570,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  and  of  Lodge  No.  755,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Tower 
City.  In  the  planning  and  operating  of  his 
magnificent  factory,  and  in  the  successful 
management  of  the  establishment,  Mr. 
Mossop  has  displayed  great  busine.ss  ability. 
His  enterprising  .spirit  and  progressive 
methods  are  recognized  and  admired,  while 
his  genial  nature  and  kindly  manners  make 
him  most  agreeable  in  social  life.  Mr.  Mos- 
,sop  is  a  director  of  tiie  Miners'  Deposit  Bank 
of  Lykens ;  a  director  of  the  Williams  Valley 
Railroad  Company  and  treasurer  of  the  Wico- 
nisco Dye  and  Manufacturing  Company. 


Christman,  Charles  D.,  M.  D.,  physician 
and  surgeon,  Wiconisco,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
Kutztown,  Berks  county.  Pa.,  January  29, 
1857.  His  grandfather,  Daniel  D.  Clirist- 
man,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  was  a 
merchant  of  Montgomery  county.  Pa.  Silas 
Christman,  father  of  Dr.  Christman,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county.  In  his  younger 
days  he  was  a  stone  cutter  and  was  engaged 
in  contract  work.  He  was  one  of  tlie  builders 
of  tlie  Dauphin  bridge.  In  later  years  he 
was  a  music  teacher.  He  had  great  musical 
talent;  was  a  leader  in  church  singing  and 
an  organist.  For  thirt}'  years  he  filled  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  Montgomery 
and  Berks  counties  Mr.  Christman  mar- 
ried Telima  Jordan,  of  English  descent. 
They  had  six  children  :  Percival,  deceased  ; 
Sarah,  wife  of  John  Cerhart,  farmer,  Mont- 
gomery county ;  James,  carriage  maker, 
Bucks  county ;  Dr.  Charles  D.;  Annie, 
wife  of  T.  Shaw,  shoe  dealer,  Philadelphia ; 
Mary,  wife  of  A.  F.  Styer,  manager  of  Boltz 
&  Clyman's  cigar  factory,  Philadelphia. 
Tlie  father  died  in  1889,  the  mother  in  1884. 


1174 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


They  were  members  of  the  Reformed  church. 
Mr.  Chri.stman  was  a  Democrat. 

Charles  D.  Christman  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Kutztown,  Berks  county.  At 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  entered  Perkiomeu 
Seminary,  at  Pennsburg,  Pa.,  and  at  the 
close  of  a  five  years'  course  was  graduated 
with  honors.  He  then  taught  school  for  one 
term.  Mr.  Christman  then  spent  one  year  in 
the  drug  store  of  Dr.  Bobb,  of  East  Green- 
ville, at  the  same  time  reading  medicine 
under  Dr.  Bobb.  After  a  course  of  two  \'ears 
of  study  at  the  College  of  Pharmacy,  in  Phila- 
delphia, during  which  time  he  was  engaged 
in  the  piiarmacy  of  Dr.  David  T.  Brown,  29 
Ridge  avenue,  Philadel])hia,  he  was  grad- 
uated with  the  class  of  1880.  Dr.  Christman 
then  came  to  Wiconisco  and  was  in  tliedrug 
store  of  KneifFer  &  Diefenderfer  for  three 
years,  at  the  same  time  reading  medicine. 
Efe  was  graduated  from  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Baltimore,  Md  , 
in  1885,  and  returned  to  Wiconisco  and  took 
up  tiie  practice  of  medicine.  In  1886  the 
Doctor  returned  to  Baltimore  and  took  a 
special  course  on  the  treatment  of  the  dis- 
eases of  women,  and  of  the  eye,  ear  and 
throat,  and  simihvr  complaints;  also  in  gen- 
eral surgical  operations.  He  also,  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1892,  took  the  special  course  for 
tiie  treatment  of  catarrh.  In  1893  he  took 
tlie  appliances  of  the  0.  E.  Miller  hernia 
treatment,  and  has  made  a  specialty  of  this 
cure.  The  Doctor  has  built  up  a  |)ractiee 
extending  tiiroughout  the  State,  and  is 
visited  by  hundreds  of  patients  from  places 
near  and  far.  Dr.  Christman  is  also  inter- 
ested in  other  branches  of  business.  He  is 
a  partner  with  W.  H.  Clay  Keen  in  a  drug 
store,  with  which  is  connected  a  hardware 
department. 

Dr.  Christman  has  the  diplomas  of  eight 
schools  and  colleges,  and  is  well  versed  in 
professional  knowledge.  He  is  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  wide  information  and  great 
enterprise  and  industry.  He  is  also  de- 
servedly popular  as  a  gentleman  of  genial 
manner. 

He  was  married,  in  Reading,  Pa.,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1885,  to  Lizzie  Krum,  of  Missouri. 
They  have  three  children ;  Florence  M., 
Harry,  and  Charles.  Dr.  Christman  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  charter  member  of  Ashler 
Lodge,  No.  755,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  always 
open-handed  in  works  of  benevolence.  He 
helped  many  of  his  fellow-students  at  college 
who  had  need  of  financial  assistance. 


Lenker,  John  N.,  physician  and  surgeon, 
Wiconisco,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Northumberland 
county.  Pa.,  July  31,  1865.  Jacob  Lenker, 
father  of  John  N.  Lenker,  and  son  of  John 
Lenker,  was  also  born  in  Northumberland 
county,  in  1833.  He  married  Sarah  Bona- 
witz,  who  died  in  1869.  Mr.  Jacob  Lenker 
died  in  tiie  same  year  as  his  wife. 

John  N.  Lenker  lived  with  his  uncle  for  a 
few  years.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  went  to 
live  witli  Dr.  Kautz,  of  Berrysburg,  where 
he  attended  school.  He  taught  school  for 
two  years  in  Northumberland  county  and  at 
Carsonville,  Dauphin  county.  He  read 
medicine  under  Dr.  Kautz,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1886,  with 
honors.  He  spent  nine  montiis  as  an 
"  interne  "  at  Bay  View  Hospital,  Baltimore. 
In  1887  Dr.  Lenker  returned  to  Berrysburg, 
and  practiced  there  in  partnership  with  his 
former  preceptor.  Dr.  Kautz,  for  three  years. 
Since  1890  lie  lias  been  in  practice  at  Wico- 
nisco, and  iias  been  in  every  way  successful. 

Dr.  John  N.  Lenker  was  married,  at  Se- 
linsgrove,  Snyder  county.  Pa.,  October  7, 
1889,  to  a  native  of  that  county,  Sallie  E., 
daughter  of  Isaac  Burns,  of  Scotch  and  Ger- 
man descent,  a  contractor  and  builder.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Lenker  have  no  children.  Dr. 
Lenker  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  general  council,  at 
Lykens,  and  is  a  trustee  of  that  church. 
The  Doctor  is  well  established  in  his  practice 
and  is  doing  his  share  of  work  not  only  in 
healing  the  diseases  of  the  people,  but  in 
guiding  them  into  better  knowledge  and 
more  perfect  observance  of  the  laws  of  health. 


Jones,  Col.  William  W.,  train  dispatcher 
and  yardmaster,  Summit  Branch  railroad, 
Lvkens,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Llandilo,  Caermar- 
thenshire,  Wales,  August  22,  1827.  His 
father,  John  J.  Jones,  was  also  born  in 
Wales,  where  he  spent  his  younger  days  as 
keeper  for  the  estate  of  Lord  De  Never.  In 
1829  he  embarked  at  Swansea  on  a  sailing 
vessel  for  the  United  States.  After  a  long 
voyage  he  landed  at  Millsvillage,  Nova 
Scotia,  where  he  spent  one  year.  From 
there  he  came  to  Philadelphia,  and  after  a 
year's  stay  in  that  city  removed  to  Pottsville 
and  worked  for  a  time  at  shoemaking.  He 
was  also  emplo}'ed  five  years  by  the  Brooks 
Coal  Company.  He  taught  school  in  Potts- 
ville and  died  there  in  1860.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  Wales,  to  Mary  Jenkins.     They  had 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1175 


nine  children:  John,  died  in  Wales;  Ann, 
William  W.,  Jane,  Eliza,  Amelia,  Benja- 
min Franklin,  Jolin  (2),  deceased,  and  two 
children  that  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Jones 
died  in  IcSSS.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcojial  church. 
He  was  an  old  line  Whig ;  he  was  a  good 
citizen  and  an  industrious  and  worthy  man. 

William  W.  Jones  attended  the  common 
schools  at  Pottsville  and  worked  as  a  gar- 
dener in  his  boyhood.  When  he  was  eleven 
j'ears  old  he  left  home  with  all  he  owned 
tied  up  in  a  bandanna  handkerchief  He 
found  employment  on  tiie  Schuylkill  canal 
as  a  hand  on  a  canal  boat  for  three  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Pottsville  and  obtained 
the  position  of  "  printer's  devil  "  with  R.  M. 
Palmer,  editor  of  the  Pottsville  Emporium, 
and  remained  in  that  position  until  1847. 
He  learned  carpentry  in  Schuylkill  county 
and  was  employed  for  two  years  in  building 
coal  breakers. 

Mr.  Jones  was  next  employed  l>y  the 
Lykens  Valley  Coal  Company  at  Lykens,  in 
the  cajiacity  of  carpenter  and  foreman  in  the 
car  building  and  repair  shops,  for  seven 
years.  In  1852  he  became  brakeman  on  the 
Lykens  Valley  railroad  and  was  promoted 
first  to  fireman  and  then  to  engineer  on  tliat 
road.  In  18G9  he  was  made  a  commissioner 
to  construct  a  State  road  in  Schuylkill  and 
Dauphin  counties,  from  Tower  City  to 
Kett'ers ;  and  in  1872  was  given  the  position 
of  yardmaster  and  train  dispatcher.  He  lias 
since  held  that  position,  giving  the  utmost 
satisfaction  to  the  company  and  gaining 
great  credit  for  himtelf  In  his  long  service 
of  forty-four  years  with  the  company  Cblonel 
Jones  has  filled  many  positions,  from  the 
lowest  to  the  highest  and  most  responsible, 
and  in  allot  them  he  has  displayed  the  same 
excellencies  and  virtues — intelligence,  fidel- 
ity, industry  and  proljity.  His  employers 
value  his  services  and  esteem  the  man,  and 
his  felloW'-workmen  recognize  his  worth  and 
render  him  due  esteem.  All  regard  him  as 
an  upright  man  and  a  valuable  citizen. 

C'olonel  Jones  enlisted  at  Harrislnirg  in 
June,  18G3,  in  company  D,  Twenty-sixth 
Pennsylvania  volunteers.  Captain  Pell  and 
Colonel  Jennings,  for  three  months'  service. 
He  was  discharged  in  September,  1863,  at 
Harrisburg. 

He  was  married,  in  1852,  to  Annie  Shan- 
non, born  in  Palo  Alto,  Schuylkill  county, 
in  1881,  daughter  of  Philip  Shannon,  a  na- 
tive of  the  State  and  a  railroad  man.     Their 


children  are :  Elsie,  wife  of  D.  W.  Day,  rail- 
road conductor,  residing  at  Millcrsburg,  has 
four  children,  two  deceased ;  Katie,  deceased  ; 
Georgiana,  wife  of  Albert  Yeader,  miner, 
Lykens,  Pa.;  Harriet,  John  E.,  and  William 
Howard,  all  decea.sed  ;  Benjamin  Franklin, 
railroad  man  ;  Victoria  W.,  deceased;  Bertha 
Nevada,  deceased,  wife  of  William  Lehman, 
also  deceased. 

Colonel  Jones  is  one  of  the  original  Re- 
j)ublicans  of  Dauphin  county.  He  was  for- 
merly a  Whig.  He  has  served  as  scliool  di- 
rector. In  1869  he  was  a  candidate  on  the 
Independent  ticket,  opposing  Hon.  Donald 
Cameron,  and  owing  to  his  personal  popu- 
larity he  gave  that  distinguished  statesman 
and  politician  a  close  fight,  polling  a  very 
large  vote.  Workingmen  recognize  him  as 
one  of  their  number,  in  sj-mpathy  with 
them  and  a  safe  leader  and  counsellor.  Al- 
tliough  of  foreign  blood  and  birth  he  is  a 
thorough  and  loyal  American,  deprecating 
all  separation  of  citizens  into  classes  and  par- 
ties by  any  line  of  political,  social  or  re- 
ligious rank,  and  in  favor  of  all  measures 
that  will  develop  a  broad  and  genuine 
Americanism.  Colonel  Jones  is  the  sole  sur- 
vivor of  the  charter  members  of  Wiconisco 
Lodge,  No.  535,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  at  Lykens.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Lykens  and  the  organizer  of  its 
Sunday-school.  He  is  in  good  health  and 
presents  a  fine  example  of  an  active  and 
useful  life  crowned  bj'  a  comfortable  and 
happy  age. 


Reiser,  Henry,  supply  clerk,  Lykens 
Valley  Coal  Companv,  was  born  at  Gratz, 
Pa.,  October  26,  1840.  His  father,  Daniel 
Keiser,  was  born  in  Mahanoy  Valley, 
Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  in  1821,  and  was  of 
German  descent.  He  attended  the  subscrip- 
tion scliools  of  the  county,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  tanning.  He  continued  working 
at  that  trade  in  Centre  and  Dauphin  coun- 
ties until  1850.  In  that  year  he  bought  a 
hotel  at  Lykens  and  conducted  it  for  some 
years.  He  then  bought  an  eighty -acre  farm 
near  Wiconisco,  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
A.  F.  Engbert,  and  cultivated  it  for  a  few 
years.  In  1866  he  sold  this  farm  and 
bought  another,  containing  eighty-seven 
acres,  in  Williams  township.  On  this  farm 
he  made  extensive  and  valuable  improve- 
ments, building  a  fine  residence,  barn  and 
outhouses,  planting  an  orchard,  making 
roads,  etc.,  at  an  expense  of  $11,000.     He 


1176 


BIOGRAPUICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


also  owned  a  saw  mill,  manufactured  and 
dealt  in  lumber,  with  which  he  supplied  the 
mines,  and  manufactured  powder  in  the 
Glen  Valley.  Mr.  Daniel  Reiser  was  a  Re- 
publican ;  he  represented  Dauphin  county 
in  the  State  Legislature  from  18(33  to  1865. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Matter,  born  in  Ly- 
kens  Valley  in  1820.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren :  Henry ;  Maria,  wife  of  Joseph  Dun- 
lap,  butcher,  Lykens;  William,  farmer  in 
Delaware;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Levi  Work- 
man, manager  coal  mines,  West  Virginia; 
Su.san  A.,  wife  of  E.  H.  Wilson,  machinist, 
Baltimore,  Md.;  George,  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen;  John  and  Catherine,  died  young. 
Mrs.  Daniel  Keiser  died  at  Lykens  in  1852. 

Mr.  Keiser  was  married  again,  in  1853,  to 
Amanda  Zerby,  a  native  of  Lykens  Valle} , 
by  whom  he  had  twelve  children :  Ellen, 
wife  of  Lewis  Jackson,  of  West  Virginia; 
Daniel,  a  miner;  Morris,  merchant,  North- 
umberland county,  Pa.;  Edward,  miner, 
Lykens;  Samuel,  a  miner  of  Lykens;  Alice, 
resides  in  "W'illianistown,  Pa.  Their  other 
children  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Keiser  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  died 
in  1877.  He  was  enterprising  and  very 
progressive;  was  prominent  in  business,  in 
politics,  and  in  all  social  matters;  was  very 
popular  and  highly  respected. 

Henry  Keiser  attended  school  in  Centre 
county,  and  in  Elizabethville,  Dauphin 
county,  receiving  a  good  common  scliool 
education.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  en- 
tered tbe  printing  othce  of  Daniel  Hoffman, 
where  he  wns  employed  until,  in  April,  18G1, 
he  enlisted  at  Lykens  for  three  months' 
service  in  company  E,  Tenth  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  Capt.  E.  G.  Savage,  and  his  regi- 
ment formed  part  of  General  Patterson's 
division.  He  was  mustered  into  the  service 
at  Harrisburg,  and  spent  his  three  months 
in  the  field.  At  tbe  expiration  of  his  term, 
in  July,  he  was  again  employed  in  the  print- 
ing office  until  he  re-enlisted  at  Lykens,  in 
Se[)tember,  1861.  He  was  mustered  at  Potts- 
ville  into  company  G,  Ninety-sixth  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers.  Col.  H.  L.  Cake,  Capt.  F. 
J.  Dowden,  of  Lykens.  Mr.  Keiser  was  in 
the  battles  of  West  Point,  the  Seven  Days' 
Fight,  South  Mountain,  Gettysburg,  Freder- 
icksburg, battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Cold  Har- 
bor, Spottsylvania  (May  10  and  12,  1864), 
Shenandoah  Valley,  and  Cedar  Creek.  In 
this  last  battle  he  was  wounded  in  the  right 
hip  by  a  ball,  in  consequence  of  which  he 
was  six  weeks  off  duty  ;  he  then  rejoined  his 


regiment  in  the  field.  He  was  present  at  the 
surrender  of  General  Lee,  in  April,  1865, 
and  at  the  grand  review  of  the  troops  at 
AVashington,  D.  C,  and  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service  in  July,  1865.  Returning  to 
Lj^kens,  he  resumed  work  in  the  printing 
office,  where  he  was  employed  until  1873. 
In  this  year  he  was  engaged  as  supply  clerk 
by  the  Lykens  Valley  Coal  Company.  This 
responsible  position  he  has  held  for  the 
last  quarter  of  a  century,  performing  its 
duties  with  the  utmost  .satisfaction  to  the 
company  and   the  highest  credit  to  himself. 

Henry  Keiser  was  married,  in  March,' 
1864,  at  Harrisburg,  while  on  furlough,  to 
Sarah  Workman,  born  in  Williams  A'alley, 
in  January,  1841  ;  daughter  of  Joseph  Work- 
man, a  miner,  and  Catherine,  his  wife.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Keiser  have  ten  children  :  Anzella 
v.,  wife  of  Joseph  Dodd,  miner,  at  Lykens ; 
William,  a  miner ;  Daisy  B.,  unmarried ; 
Austin,  miner,  Lykens;  Claude,  a  clerk  with 
the  Lykens  A'alley  Coal  Company  ;  Cora  and 
Harry,  attending  school;  .Joseph,  Artiiur, 
and  Moses,  all  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Keiser  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been 
a  school  director  for  nine  years  in  Wiconisco 
township,  and  was  elected  to  the  same  posi- 
tion in  the  borough  of  Lykens  in  1896  for 
three  years.  He  has  always  taken  a  deep 
interest  in  school  matters,  and  is  in  favor  of 
compulsory  education.  He  takes  an  active 
part  in  religious  movements,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tiie  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
Keiser  is  a  man  of  pleasing  personality,  is 
always  well  dressed  and  agreeable  in  man- 
ners.  Both  employers  and  employees  like 
him,  and  he  is  popular  with  all  classes. 


Smith,  Hexiiy,  locomotive  engineer,  Ly- 
kensand  Summit  Branch  Railroad  Company, 
now  Central  Pen  nsyl  van  iaRailroadCompany, 
Lykens,  was  born  in  Washington  township, 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  April  6,  1843.  His 
father,  Daniel  Smith,  was  born  in  Northum- 
berland county.  Pa.,  in  1810.  He  was  a  car- 
))enter,  and  was  also  engaged  in  farming  in 
Washington  township,  Daujihin  county.  He 
married  Catherine  Runk,  born  in  that  town- 
ship. Their  children  are:  Daniel  R.,  farmer, 
on  homestead,  Washington  township;  Jona- 
than, carpenter,  Williamstown,  Pa.;  James, 
carpenter,  Williamstown,  Pa.;  Hiram,  car- 
penter, Elizabethville,  Pa.;  Adam,  was  a  sol- 
dier, lost  his  life  in  the  battle  of  Lookout 
Mountain ;  Thomas,  of  Elizabethville,  de- 
ceased ;  Katie,  wife  of  Samuel  Earhart,  Har- 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1177 


risburg,  Pa.,  and  Frank,  freight  conductor, 
Sunburj',  Pa.  Mrs.  Smith  died  at  the  home- 
stead in  Wasliington  town.ship.  The  second 
wife  of  Mr.  Smitli  was  Eliza  Rechstamer; 
they  liad  no  children.  Mr.  Smith  died  at 
Elizabeth ville.  He  was  a  Democrat  of  the 
old  school,  and  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Henrj'  Smith  obtained  a  good  common 
school  education  in  the  schools  of  Elizabeth- 
ville.  He  grew  up  on  the  farm,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farm  work  until  he  was  twenty-one. 
In  1864  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Sum- 
mit Branch  Railroad  Company,  and  was  a 
brakeman  on  a  coal  train  for  four  years.  He 
was  then  fireman  for  twenty-two  months.  In 
1870  he  was  promoted  to  engineer,  and  h.as 
served  in  that  position  for  the  past  twenty- 
six  years,  meeting  with  onh'  one  accident  in 
that  long  term  of  service. 

Henry  Smith  was  married,  in  Jackson 
township,  in  1865,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of 
Philip  Enders,  and  sister  of  G.W.  D.  Enders, 
of  Fisherville.  She  was  born  in  Jackson 
township,  August  18,  1842.  They  have  three 
children:  Alice,  born  June,  1865,  died  in 
Julj',  1865 ;  Harper  L.,  born  in  1868,  died 
May  26,  1884;  Harry  E.,  born  May  1,  1870, 
fireman  on  Northern  Central  railroad.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
to  which  he  is  a  large  contributor.  He  is  a 
trustee  of  the  church,  and  a  member  of  its 
building  committee  and  church  council.  His 
politics  are  Democratic. 

In  1893  Mr.  Harry  E.Smith  married  Miss 
Minnie  S.  Chupp.  They  have  two  children, 
Eldred  Burnett,  born  in  1893,  and  Pauline 
B.,  born  in  1895. 


Hooper,  Rev.  Philip  Stan.sbury,  pastor 
of  Zion  Lutheran  church,  of  Lykens,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Fannettsburg,  Franklin  county. 
Pa.,  September  11, 1834.  His  father,  Joshua 
Hooper,  was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Md., 
and  was  a  blacksmith.  He  married  Cathe- 
rine Zeigler,born  near Chambersburg,  Frank- 
lin county.  Their  children  are:  Philip 
Stansbury;  Rebecca,  wife  of  A.  Van  Scoyoc, 
farmer,  Tyrone,  Pa.;  James,  Isaac,  John, 
William,  Henry,  Susan,  and  Molly,  all  de- 
ceased, except  Philip  Stiinsbury,  and  Rebecca. 
Mr.  Hoo|)er  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  died  in  Altoona,  Pa., 
in  1861 ;  his  wife  had  died  in  May,  1860. 

Philip  Stansbur}'  Hooper  received  his 
primary  education  in  subscription  schools 
and  in   the  public  schools  of  Blair  county, 


Pa.  In  1850  he  began  learning  the  black- 
smith trade  with  his  father,  and  worked  at 
the  anvil  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old. 
At  this  age  he  left  the  paternal  roof,  and  was 
for  two  }^ears  employed  in  the  railroad  shops 
at  Altoona,  Pa.,  as  an  iron  worker.  He  saved 
his  earnings  with  the  view  of  acquiring  a 
liberal  education,  and  made  a  reputation  as 
an  industrious  young  man  with  high  and 
worthy  aims.  His  pastor,  who  was  always 
planning  for  his  young  friend,  obtained  for 
him  a  position  in  the  postoffice,  which  he 
gladly  accepted.  Soon  a  waj'  was  o[)ened 
for  him  to  enter  the  preparatory  department 
of  Pennsylvania  College.  Pursuing  the 
course  of  studies  there  with  untiring  dili- 
gence, lie  reached  the  Sophomore  class,  when, 
for  lack  of  means,  he  was  compelled  to  leave 
college  and  seek  I'emunerative  emploj'ment 
for  a  year.  When  ready  to  resume  college 
studies,  he  was  influenced  by  certain  consid- 
erations of  a  pecuniary  nature  to  enter  the 
Sophomore  class  of  Wittenberg  College  at 
Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1861,  and  where  he  subsequently  took  the 
full  theological  course. 

Upon  the  completion  of  this  course  Mr. 
Hooper  was  licensed  by  the  Miami  Synod  to 
preach  the  gospel,  and  a  year  later  was  or- 
dained to  the  ministry  of  the  Lutheran 
church  by  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod, 
holding  its  convention  at  Newville,  Pa. 
His  first  work  was  at  Carlisle  Springs,  Cum- 
berland county.  Pa.  This  was  during  the 
darkest  hours  of  the  late  Civil  war,  and 
being  settled  near  the  border  he  had  to  do 
his  work  amid  many  discouragements.  The 
salary  of  §400  kept  him  poor,  if  it  did  not 
keep  him  humble. 

During  his  pastorate  at  Carlisle  Springs 
Rev.  Philip  S.  Hooper  was  married,  at 
Springfield,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Sallie  C,  only 
daughter  of  Levi  and  Frances  Louisa  Lath- 
rop.  She  was  prominent  in  society  and 
church  circles  in  Springfield  and  a  graduate 
of  the  Presbyterian  Female  Seminary  of  that 
city.  They  had  two  children  :  Stella,  wife 
of  I.  J.  Long,  a  sketch  of  whom  ajipears  in 
this  volume;  and  Mar}' Florence,  who  died 
at  six  years  of  age. 

In  1864  Mr.  Hooper  accepted  a  call  to  the 
church  in  Martinsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  re- 
mained several  years  and  removed  thence 
to  New  Philadelphia,  thence  to  Findlay, 
and  thence  to  Bellefontaine,  all  in  Ohio. 
At  the  last-named  place,  in  conjunction  with 
others,  he  founded  the  Lutheran  Evangelist, 


1178 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


now  a  prosperous  cliurch  paper.  He  became 
foreman  and  office  manager,  assisted  in  set- 
ting the  first  tyi^e,  and  made  up  the  first 
forms  of  this  paper,  which  was  established 
as  a  Western  cliurch  paper.  From  this 
work  he  was  called  to  Trinity  church,  Sha- 
mokin.  Pa.,  where  he  stayed  longer  than 
any  of  his  predecessors  in  that  pastorate. 
Subsequentlj'  he  served  pastorates  at  Stone 
Clmrch,  Phoenixville,  and  Clearfield,  Pa. 

In  1882,  owing  to  ti)e  state  of  his  wife's 
health,  Mr.  Hooper  removed  with  tlie  family 
to  Pliiladeli)hia  in  order  to  place  her  under 
the  immediate  care  of  lier  favorite  physician. 
During  his  stay  in  that  city  he  was  office 
manager  of  the  Industrial  Review  and  the 
International  Review,  at  that  time  pul)lished 
by  a  company  of  experienced  journalists. 
When  Mrs.  Hooper's  healtii  im{)roved  he 
accepted  a  call  to  the  Central  Lutheran 
cinirch  of  Phoenixville,  where  they  worked 
successfully,  and  where  they  spent  the  most 
delightful  portion  of  their  married  life.  Rev. 
Mr.  Hooper  removed  from  Pluenixville  to 
Clearfield,  and  from  that  place  to  Lykens, 
Pa.,  where  he  is  now  (189G)  located.  He 
entered  upon  his  duties  here  on  the  first 
Lord's  Day  in  1890.  In  the  following  year 
the  cornerstone  of  a  new  church  edifice  was 
laid,  the  old  structure  having  become  in- 
adequate to  the  needs  of  the  congr*-'gation 
and  Sunday-school. 

In  the  work  connected  with  the  erection 
of  this  building,  as  well  as  in  all  the  duties 
of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Hooper's  wife  was,  un- 
der God,  his  guide,  his  helpmeet  and  strong 
right  arm.  Tpon  her  he  leaned  in  his 
hours  of  trial ;  to  her  he  went  for  counsel ; 
upon  her  advice  he  was  always  disposed  to 
act,  and  in  her  judgment  he  implicitly 
trusted.  In  matters  theological  and  eccle- 
siastical she  was  well  informed  and  was 
perfectly  familiar  with  the  work  of  her  de- 
nomination. The  needs  of  the  Lord's  vine- 
yard in  this  age  of  marvellous  opportunity 
stirred  her  soul  and  kindled  within  her  the 
fire  of  intense  missionary  zeal.  Her  death, 
which  occurred  in  Philadelphia,  May  31, 
1895,  at  the  age  of  fiftv  years,  brought  sad- 
ness to  many  hearts  throughout  the  church, 
and  left  the  parsonage  home  in  the  gloom 
of  night.  The  workers  in  the  broader  circles 
of  church  and  denominational  enterprise 
deeply  felt  her  loss.  The  "  In  Memoriam  " 
read  at  the  tenth  annual  convention  of  the 
Women's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  of  East  Pennsylvania  Sj-nod,  con- 


tains an  expression  of  the  high  esteem  in 
which  she  was  held  by  those  best  acquainted 
with  her  tireless  industry  and  ceaseless  ef- 
forts, her  womanh'  tact  and  skill  in  minis- 
tering to  the  happiness  and  to  the  spiritual 
needs  of  all  about  her. 

As  a  preacher  Rev.  Mr.  Hooper  is  clear, 
forceful  and  practical,  and  it  follows,  effec- 
tive. As  a  church  worker  the  results  of  his 
labors  demonstrate  his  ability  and  faithful- 
ness. As  a  man  the  value  of  his  work  in 
the  community  is  recognized  by  all  citizens, 
and  he  is  popular  with  all,  because  all  feel 
the  genuineness  of  his  character  and  tlie 
broad  charity  of  his  spirit. 


Long,  Irwin  J.,  son-in-law  of  Rev.  P.  S. 
Hooper,  was  born  at  his  grandfather's  farm, 
near  Jonestown,  Lebanon  countv.  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary G,  18G9.  He  is  a  son  of  Adam  C.  and 
Elizabeth  (Lebo)  Long.  In  the  fall  of  1870, 
when  he  was  not  quite  two  years  old,  his 
parents  removed  to  Wiconisco,  Daui)hin 
county.  Pa.,  wiiere  he  st)ent  his  boyhood,  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
In  1881  the  family  removed  to  Lykens,  Pa., 
where  his  education  was  continued  in  the 
borough  schools  and  he  was  graduated  in  the 
high  school  class  of  1885,  being  the  first  male 
graduate  of  the  school. 

Mr.  Long  was  elected  assistant  teacher  in 
the  grammar  schools  of  the  borough  in  1885, 
and  taught  four  years,  during  which  time  he 
w;>s  engaged  in  the  music,  book,  and  station- 
ery business  with  his  father,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Long  &  Son.  He  was  tlie  local  cor- 
respondent and  representative  of  the  Harris- 
burg  Morning  Call  also,  during  these  years. 
In  August,  1891,  he  sold  his  interest  in  tlie 
business  here  to  his  father,  and  went  into  the 
same  line  of  business  in  Salem,  Va. 

Irwin  J.  Long  was  married,  March  8, 1892, 
in  Zion  Lutiicran  church,  Lykens,  to  Miss 
Stella  R.,  daughter  of  Rev.  P.  S.  Hooper.  Mr. 
Long  returnefl  with  his  bride  to  Salem,  Va., 
and  shortly  afterwards  bought  the  interest  of 
Edward  Jeter  in  the  Salem  Soturdaij  Sun,  a 
weekh' newsfiajier;  assumed  editorial  charge 
of  the  paper  April  25, 1892,  put  the  paper  on 
a  substantial  basis,  owning  its  own  plant,  and 
in  August,  1892,  bought  the  interest  of  the 
other  original  proprietor,  T.  A.  Johnson,  thus 
becoming  sole  owner  of  paper  and  plant. 

After  a  jieriod  of  prosperous  business  Mr. 
Long  discontinued  the  publication  of  the 
Saturdny  Sun,  and  in  December,  1892,  re- 
moved his  printing  plant  to  Roanoke,  Va., 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1179 


formed  a  co-pai'tnership  with  J.  T.  Hall  and 
J.  C.  Hill,  under  the  firm  name  of  The  En- 
terprise Printing  and   Manufacturing  Com- 
panj',  of   wliich    he   became  secretary  and 
treasurer.     This  compan}'  owned  and   pub- 
lisiied    three  periodicals:    Tlic  Iron    Belt,  a 
monthl}'  trade  journal,  devoted  to  mining, 
railroad,  iron  and   steel  interests,  of  which 
Mr.    Long  was  editor ;   The  Roanoke  Metho- 
dist, a  weekl}'  paper  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  Methodism,  in  Roanoke  in  particular,  and 
the  South  in  general;  and  Words  and  Works, 
a  weekly  paper  devoted   to  the  interests  of 
Presbyterianisra  in  the  same  territory.  These 
gentlemen  also  composed  thd  Southern  Rub- 
ber Stamp  Company,  and  manufactured  rub- 
ber stamps,  dies,  seals,  etc.      Mr.  Long  was 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  this  company  also. 
On  March  11,  1893,  the  partnership  was 
dissolved  by  mutual  consent,  Mr.  Long  re- 
taining as  his  share  the  printing  plant  and 
Words  and  Works.     He  continued  the  pub- 
lication  of    this    jieriodical    until    August, 
1894,  at  the  same  time  owning  and  conduct- 
ing the  third  largest  job  printing  office  in 
the  city  of  Roanoke.     During  most  of  this 
time  he  also  served  on  the  editorial  stuff  of 
the  Roanoke  £'i'e?r{?i5'  World.     On  September 
5, 1894,  lie  removed  to  Lykens,  Pa.,  and  on 
November  5,   1894,  he   concluded    negotia- 
tions with  Samuel  M.  Fenn,  proprietor  of  the 
Lykens  Register,  b}'  which  he  entered  upon 
the  ownership    and    management    of    that 
paper- 

The  Lykens  Register  is  tiie  successor  of  the 
Farmers'  and  Miners'  Journal,  the  first  paper 
published  in  upjier  Dauphin  county,  its  first 
issue  being  dated  August  16,  1856.  It  was 
published  by  an  association  with  Dr.  J.  B. 
Hower  as  editor  and  S.  B.  Coles  as  publisher. 
It  was  suspended  in  October,  1861,  by  its 
owner,  George  W.  Buehler,  by  reason  of  four 
of  its  employees  having  enlisted  in  the  army, 
three  of  whom  died  in  defense  of  their 
country.  The  office  passed  into  the  hands 
of  S.  B.  Coles,  who  published  the  Business 
Man's  Journal  until  August  1,  1865,  when 
Capt.  G.  W.  Fenn  jjurchascd  a  half  interest 
in  the  concern,  and  formed  the  firm  of  Coles 
&  Fenn,  which  published  the  Upper  Dauphin 
Regisio'  and  Lykens  Valley  Miner  until  No- 
vember 18,  1868,  when  S.  M.  Fenn  became 
proprietor,  and  in  1872  changed  its  name  to 
Lykens  Register.  On  November  5,  1894,  it 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  Long,  and  is  now 
under  his  management.  The  paper  has 
been  greatly  improved  during  his  ownership. 


and  is  now  a  neatly  gotten  up  thirty-two 
column  home  printed  weekly  journal,  unsur- 
passed by  any  local  paper  in  the  county.  Its 
specialts'  is  local  and  Upper  End  news,  of 
which  it  contains  more  than  can  be  found  in 
any  other  journal. 

Mr.  Long  has  fine  musical  talent  and 
taste,  and  has  been  especially  successful  as  a 
choir  master  and  musical  conductor.  Under 
his  management  several  cantatas  have  been 
presented  in  the  L3'kens  opera  liouse  b}' 
home  talent.  For  one  year  he  was  the  mu- 
sical director  of  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  church, 
Roanoke,  Va.,  having  under  his  baton  one 
of  the  finest  choirs  of  that  city.  He  had 
charge  of  the  music  at  the  dedication  of  their 
magnificent  $60,000  cut  stone  house  of  wor- 
shijj  in  May,  1894.  He  is  at  present  musical 
director  of  Zion  Lutheran  Sunday-school  at 
Lykens. 


Bauer,  Fr.\nk  J.,  boiler  inspector  for  the 
Lykens  and  Summit  Branch  Railroad  Com- 
pany, was  born  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  13, 
1861.     His  father,  John  Bauer,  was  born  at 
Canton,    Ohio,   in    1841  ;    son   of    John    F. 
Bauer,  of  Germany,  and  a  wine  grower  in 
Illinois.     He  worked    with   his    parents   in 
the  vineyards  and  at  distilling,  and  was  also 
a  coppersmith.     He   was  afterwards  travel- 
ing salesman  for  a  St.  Louis  clothing  house, 
and  was  hurt  in  a  railroad  accident  at  Butte 
City,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died   in 
1891.     He  married  Pauline  Hultzman,  born 
near  St.  Louis   in    1844,  of  English  parent- 
age.    They   had   six    children :    Alonzo    F., 
engineer   of    the    Santa    Fe   railroad.    Fort 
Madison,  Iowa;  Frank  J.;  Albert,  employed 
on    the    staff    of    the   Topeka,   Kan.,  State 
Journal;    Edward,   bridge    builder   for  the 
King     Bridge     Company,     Topeka,    Kan.; 
Annie,  wife  of  Dr.  W.  E.  McVay,  professor 
in    Kansas   State    Medical    College ;    Katie, 
wife  of  John  Boltz,  Tojieka,  passenger  con- 
ductor on  Santa  Fe  railroad.     The  mother 
resides  in  Topeka,  Kan.,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Episcopal  church.     John  Bauer  was 
a  popular  man,  a  Presbyterian,  and  a  Re- 
publican in  politics. 

Frank  J.  Bauer  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion. When  he  was  thirteen  he  began  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  seven  years  at  boiler  mak- 
ing in  the  railroad  shops  at  St.  Louis.  He 
was  to  receive  fifty-five  cents  per  day  for  the 
first  three  years,  of  which  five  cents  was 
deducted  every  day  to  give  him  a  start  in 
business  after  he  had  learned  his  trade.     He 


1180 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


had  to  stand  on  a  block  of  wood  in  order  to 
reach  the  top  anvil  and  to  strike  the  iron. 
His  seven  years'  apprenticeship  ended,  he 
worked  as  a  journeyman  in  the  railroad 
shops  at  Topeka,  Kan.,  for  the  Santa  Fe 
E,aih'oad  Company,  and  received  as  wages 
$2.75  per  day.  He  remained  there  for  two 
years,  and  then  went  to  Raton,  New  Mexico, 
as  boiler  inspector  for  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad 
Company,  at  $125  per  month  and  expenses. 

After  spending  five  years  in  this  position 
he  came,  in  1885,  to  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  where 
ho  was  employed  by  the  Leliigh  and  Wilkes- 
Barre  Coal  Company  as  inspector  of  their 
boilers.  After  being  for  some  time  in  that 
position  he  was  for  eight  months  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Dixon  Manufacturing  ('omjiany 
as  foreman  of  boiler  shops.  He  then  worked 
for  one  year  for  tlie  Lehigh  ^'alley  Railroad 
Company.  In  1889  Mr.  Bauer  obtained  his 
present  position  with  the  Lykens  and  Sum- 
mit Branch  railroad,  which  he  has  filled 
since  that  date  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the 
company  and  with  great  credit  to  himself 
Besides  being  a  skilled  mechanic,  tliorougidy 
acquainted  with  his  business,  he  is  a  man  of 
character  and  standing. 

Mr.  Bauer  was  married,  at  Raton,  New 
Mexico,  in  1885,  to  Katora  D.  Lewis,  born  in 
Wilkes-Barre  in  18G3,  daughter  of  John  C. 
Lewis,  a  contractor  and  miner,  of  that  city. 
They  liave  four  children :  Kate  P.,  Anita  D., 
John  F.,  and  Anna,  all  of  whom  are  living. 
Mr.  Bauer  is  a  Republican  and  takes  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  all  political  movements  of 
probable  local  benefit.  He  belongs  to 
Wilkes-Barre  Lodge,  No.  867,  K.  of  P.;  of 
K.  of  M.  C,  and  is  past  commander  of  both; 
also  a  member  of  Lykens  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
churcii  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
church  matters.  Mr.  Bauer's  high  aim  and 
indomitaljle  perseverance  were  abundantly 
manifested  in  his  determined  eftbrts  at  .self- 
improvement.  In  order  to  supply  the  lack 
of  early  educational  advantages  he  spent  his 
evenings  in  stud}',  even  when  obliged  to 
work  hard  all  day.  He  now  enjoj's  the  re- 
wards of  his  diligence  and  resolution. 


the  blacksmith  trade.  In  1857  he  went  on 
the  railroad  as  brakeman,  was  soon  promoted 
to  the  position  of  fireman,  and  remained  on 
the  road  until  April  20,  1861,  when  he  and 
Capt.  E.  G.  Savage  organized  a  company  and 
entered  the  army  for  three  months.  At  the 
expiration  of  tliis  time  he  came  home  and 
re-enlisted  in  the  Ninety-sixth  regiment, 
Pennsylvania  volunteers,  September  17, 
1861  ;  served  in  that  regiment  until  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1864,  wiien  he  re-enlisted  again  in 
the  field  near  Culpepper  Court  House  for 
three  years  in  the  same  regiment,  and  served 
until  May  1,  at  which  time  he  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House, 
Va.,  in  the  left  forearm  and  left  side.  He 
was  sent  the  hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  was  finally  discharged,  February  15, 
1865.  Upon  his  return  to  Lykens  he  again 
engaged  in  railroading,  and  in  1866  was  pro- 
moted to  the  position  of  engineer,  which  he 
held  until  1870.  From  that  time  until  1889 
he  ran  a  hoisting  engine.  He  was  ap- 
])ointed  postmaster  of  Lykens  in  that  year, 
and  still  ably  fills  the  office. 


Alvard,  Jacob,  postmaster,  Lykens,  Pa., 
was  born  in  Williams  Vallev,  Dauphin 
county,  Pa.,  March  21,  1837.  'The  fiimily 
moved  to  Orwigsburg,  Schujdkill  county, 
in  1846.  Alter  the  death  of  his  mother, 
which  occurred  in  1853,  the  family  separated, 
and  Jacob  came  back  to  Lykens  and  learned 


Hanna,  Edward  C,  Lykens,  Pa.,  was  horn 
in  Philadelphia,  November  25,  1828;  son  of 
Edward  ('.  and  Ann  Hanna,  natives  of  Scot- 
land, who  settled  in  Philailelphia.  The 
father  was  a  sea  captain  and  followed  that 
vocation  for  many  years.  Edward  C.  was 
reared  in  Philadelphia  and  acquired  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  schools  of  that  city.  When 
sixteen  years  of  ago  he  became  an  ap^jren- 
tice  to  the  carpenter  trade  and  served  four 
and  a  half  years,  after  which  he  worked  at 
the  trade  in  Philadelphia  one  year,  and  was 
then  for  three  years  with  Howard  &  Co.,  as 
an  express  agent  on  the  railroad  between 
Philadelphia  and  Pottsville.  Subse(|uently 
he  was  in  the  same  capacity  on  the  Shamo- 
kin  division  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad, 
and  was  promoted  to  assistant  superintend- 
ent of  the  division,  and  was  located  at  Sun- 
bury  for  some  years.  He  then  became  the 
general  agent  of  the  Northern  Central  rail- 
way, at  Sunbury,  and  was  the  first  agent  of 
the  company'  at  that  place  and  continued  for 
two  year's.  He  was  transferred  from  there 
to  Trevorton,  and  had  charge  of  the  railroad 
accounts  and  collections  for  eleven  years.  In 
1870  he  came  to  Lykens  and  had  charge  of 
the  collections  for  thirteen  years,  and  for  a 
short  time  was  superintendent  of  the  railroad. 

In  1884  he  retired  from  the  railroad  and 
embarked    in  the  wholesale   flour  and   feed 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1181 


business.  Mr.  Hanna  was  also  a  director  in 
the  Lykens  Banli  for  several  years,  and  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Williams  Valley  railroad. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ijorough  council.  Ho  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Sunbury  Lodge,  No.  22,  of  the 
Masonic  order,  and  also  of  the  chapter  and 
Pilgrim  Commandery,  at  Harrisburg.  Mr. 
Hanna  was  married,  in  1852,  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet A.  Haas, daughter  of  Frederick  Haas, of 
Northumberland  county,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Alfred  F.,  at  Lykens,  and  Katie  H. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  in 
the  affairs  of  which  he  takes  an  active  in- 
terest, serving  as  vestryman  of  the  church. 


KiMMEL,  Andrew  F.,  merchant,  Lykens, 
Pa.,  was  born  in  Orwigsburg  (West  Bruns- 
wick), Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  August  30, 
1841;  son  of  Andrew  and  Esther  Kimmel, 
of  Schuylkill  county.  The  tatiier  was  a 
farmer  bj'  occupation,  and  in  his  political 
views  was  a  Republican.  He  served  in  the 
office  of  school  director,  supervisor,  and  au- 
ditor. He  was  a  member  of  the  Church  of 
of  God.  His  death  occurred  in  18ti8,  and 
that  of  his  wife  in  1803.  They  had  thirteen 
children,  Andrew  F.  being  the  tenth  in  the 
order  of  birth  of  those  who  grew  to  maturity. 

He  received  his  education  in  the  township 
schools,  and  remained  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  was  then 
for  three  years  in  mercantile  business  in  Or- 
wigsburg and  Philadelphia.  In  August, 
1871,  he  established  a  general  store  in  Wico- 
nisco,  which  he  has  since  continued.  ]\Ir. 
Kimmel  is  a  director  in  the  Lykens  Bank, 
and  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  knitting 
mill  at  Wiconisco,  which  manufactures  ho- 
siery and  underwear,  and  he  is  also  inter- 
ested in  the  Williams  Valley  railroad.  In 
political  views  he  is  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  held  the  office  of  school  di- 
rector, tax  collector,  etc.,  of  the  borough.  He 
was  married,  in  1801,  to  Miss  Margaret  S. 
Covener,  daughter  of  George  Covener,  of 
Columbia  county,  and  to  this  marriage  there 
is  no  issue.  Mr.  Kimmel  is  not  connected 
with  any  church. 


WILLIAMS   TOWNSHIP. 


Stites,  George  M.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Millerstown,  Perry  county.  Pa..  Marcli  11, 
1800.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  and  Cathe- 
rine (Matter)  Stites.     His  father,  Dr.  Samuel 


Stites,  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  He  studied 
medicine  and  practiced  for  eight  years  in 
Fisherville,  Dauphin  county,  and  then  lo- 
cated in  Millerstown,  Perry  county.  Pa.  He 
married  his  first  wife  in  Berks  county.  Pa. 
They  had  three  children:  William,  Anna, 
and  Sally.  Dr.  Stites'  second  marriage  was 
in  Dauphin  county.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  who  are  now  living  are  :  Harriet, 
residing  in  Millerstown,  Pa.;  Lydia,  residing 
with  her  brother.  Dr.  George  M.;  Clara,  court 
stenographer  at  Sioux  Falls,  S.  D.;  Harry, 
physician.  West  Pahn  Beach,  Fla.;  Albert, 
physician,  Sioux  Falls,  S.  D.;  and  Dr.  George 
M.  The  father  died  in  Millerstown,  in  1882, 
aged  sixty-two.  He  was  a  Republican.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Ferry  County  Medical 
Society,  and  was  a  leading  man  in  his  pro- 
fession. Dr.  Stites  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Methodist  church.  He  was  highly 
esteemed  as  a  man. 

George  M.  Stites  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  place  until  he  was  four- 
teen years  old.  At  this  age  he  entered  Dick- 
inson Seminary,  Williamsport,  Pa.,  and  con- 
tinued his  studies  there  until  he  was  seven- 
teen. He  then  pursued  his  studies  at  La- 
fayette College,  Easton,  for  eight  months,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  returned  home 
and  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  his 
father.  After  reading  under  his  father  for 
three  years  he  entered  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons,  Baltimore,  Md.,  from 
wliich  he  was  graduated  in  1882.  His  prac- 
tice of  tiie  healing  art  began  in  connection 
with  his  father  at  Millerstown,  Pa.,  and  was 
continued  with  success  for  five  years.  Dur- 
ing part  of  this  time  he  practiced  alone,  his 
father  having  died.  At  tiie  end  of  the  five 
years  Dr.  Stites  came  to  Williamstown,  and 
has  resided  here  ever  since.  He  has  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice,  and  is  in  the  en- 
joyment of  the  conditions  made  possible  by 
a  successful  business.  His  residence  is  a 
large  modern  structure  with  many  of  the 
latest  devised  conveniences. 

Dr.  Stites  is  a  Republican  and  takes  a  lead- 
ing part  in  the  measures  of  his  party.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health,  a  school 
director  and  a  trustee  of  the  Methodist 
church.  He  is  a  member  and  a  trustee  of 
the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  at  Lykens; 
a  master  mason  of  Ashler  Lodge,  No.  570, 
at  Wiconisco ;  a  member  of  Knights  of 
Pytliias  Lodge,  at  Lykens,  and  of  I.  0.  0.  F. 
Lodge,  at  Williamstown. 

Dr.  Stites   was   married,  in   Millerstown, 


1182 


BIOGRAPBICAL  F.N  CYCLOPEDIA 


November  24,  1887,  to  Miss  Hannah  Dur- 
bin,  daughter  of  J.  W.  and  Louisa  Durbin. 
They  have  had  five  children  :  Clara,  died 
aged  five  years ;  George,  died  at  eighteen 
months  of  age ;  Louisa  and  Joseph,  twins, 
and  Harry. 


Enders,  L.  Jay,  M.  D.,  phj'sician  and  sur- 
geon, Williamstown,  Pa.,  was  born  at  Enders, 
Jackson  townsliip,  Daupliin  county,  Pa.,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1854.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Susan  (Fetterhoff)  Enders.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  received  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  place.  When  he  was  fifteen  years 
of  age  he  began  teachnig  school  in  Jackson 
and  Jefferson  townships,  and  was  thus  en- 
gaged for  several  years.  He  began  the  study 
of  medicine  in  tlie  University  of  Pennsylva- 
nia in  187G-77.  He  afterwards  returned  to 
the  University  and  took  a  post-graduate 
course  in  1882.  In  the  meantime  he  worked 
in  the  mines  and  earned  and  saved  money 
with  which  to  meet  tlie  cost  of  his  literary 
and  professional  education. 

Dr.  Enders  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Pitman,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa., 
and  continued  there  for  five  years.  He 
demonstrated  his  professional  aljility  and 
skill,  and  enjoyed  a  large  and  profitable  prac- 
tice. About  188G  he  located  in  his  native 
town  and  practiced  there  until  1891,  when 
he  removed  to  Williamstown  where  he  now 
resides  and  has  built  up  a  good  practice. 

Dr.  Enders  was  married,  at  Enders,  Pa., 
February  21,  1877,  by  Rev.  G.  A.  Loose,  of 
the  United  Bretliren  church,  to  Miss  Annie 
Jane,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Leah  (Etter) 
Enders.  Their  children  are;  Leslie  Garfield, 
born  in  Jackson  township,  August  6,  1867 ; 
Joseph  Sanrord,born  in  Pitman,Pa.,  May  23, 
1881 ;  Jennie  Florence,  born  in  Jackson 
township,  June  5,  1885;  Lee  Jay,  born  at 
Williamstown,  Pa.,  December  20,  1891,  died 
December  11, 1893,  and  Samuel  George  Mor- 
ton, born  at  ^\'illiamstown,  October  29,  1894. 

Dr.  Enders  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  borough  council.  Li  1887  he  was 
a  candidate  for  the  Stale  Legislature.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Senior  and  Junior  Orders 
of  United  American  Mechanics  and  of  the 
Heptasophs.  Dr.  Enders  is  a  very  intelligent 
man,  and  is  in  the  lead  of  his  profession.  He 
is  of  a  verj'  genial  nature  and  is  a  fluent, 
pleasant  talker ;  hence  in  social  circles  he 
is  very  popular.  He  is  public-sj)irited  and 
broad  in  his  views,  and  is  a  power  for  good 
in  the  community. 


Hoffman,  John  H.,  merchant  and  manu- 
facturer, Williamstown,  Pa. 

John  Peter  Hoffman,  great-great-grand- 
father of  John  H.  Hoffman,  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1709.  With  others  of  his  family 
and  friends  he  came  to  America  in  1739,  in 
the  ship  Robert  and  Alice,  Gaptain  Good- 
man, arriving  in  Philadelphia  in  September 
of  that  year.  He  first  located  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade, 
whicli  was  that  of  a  carpenter.  During  the 
early  Indian  troubles  on  the  frontier  he 
served  some  time  as  a  soldier  in  the  Pro- 
vincial armj'.  Mr.  Hoffman  was  among  the 
earliest  settlers  in  the  Wiconisco  Valle}'. 
About  1750  he  came  to  the  end  of  Short 
Mountain,  in  Lykens  Valley,  where  ho  built 
a  small  log  house,  just  across  the  road  from 
the  iiouse  of  Daniel  Romberger.  Sixty  years 
ago  this  house  was  used  as  a  smithy.  He 
was  tiie  contemporary  of  John  Lycan,  or 
Lyken,  Ludwig  Shott,  John  Rewalt  and 
others,  and  with  them  was  driven  off  by  the 
Indians  in  their  incursions  of  175G. 

It  was  subsequent  to  this  period  that  John 
Peter  Hoffman  brought  his  family  to  the 
valley.  Here  he  followed  farming.  He  died 
in  1798,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine.  His  re- 
nuiins,  with  those  of  his  wife,  who  had  died 
before  him,  were  interred  in  the  field  near 
the  present  house  on  the  old  farm  now 
owned  by  Daniel  Romberger,  before  named. 
Mr.  Hottinan  left  issue,  among  others,  as  fol- 
lows :  ("atherine,  married  Andrew  Riegel, 
tlie  head  of  a  large  family  of  that  name  in 
the  "  Upper  End;"  they  both  reached  the 
age  of  fourscore  years ;  Barbara,  married 
George  Bufiington,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  the  iiead  of  the  family  of  that 
name;  Elizabeth,  married  Ludwig  Sheetz, 
the  head  of  a  large  family  of  tliat  name ; 
John,  born  in  174G,  married  Miss  Kautt'man  ; 
John  Nicholas,  born  1749,  married  Margaret 
Harman  ;  Christian,  born  1752,  married  Miss 
Deiblet. 

John  Nicholas  Hoffinan,  great-grandfather 
of  John  H.,  was  born  in  Tulpehocken  town- 
ship, Berks  county.  Pa.,  in  1749.  He  set- 
tled on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Benjamin 
Rickert,  near  Short  Mountain.  He  was  tiie 
owner  of  large  tracts  of  land,  now  divided 
into  a  number  of  farms.  He  deeded  land  to 
the  congregation  of  Hoffman  church,  for 
church,  school,  and  burial  purposes.  He 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Brandywine 
and  Germantowu.     His  life  was  an  active 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1183 


and  useful  one.  Jolni  Nicholas  Hotthian 
was  mai'ried,  April  22,  1772,  by  Pastor 
Kautz,  of  the  Lutheran  church,  to  Margaret 
Herman,  also  a  native  of  Berks  county.  Pa. 
They  liad  issue  as  follows:  Catherine,  born 
1775,  married  Peter  Shoffstalt;  they  resided 
near  Gratz,  and  died  at  advanced  ages  leav- 
ing a  large  family  ;  Susanna,  married  Levi 
Buffington,  a  carjaenter  ;  he  built  the  Hoff- 
man church;  Sarah,  married  Jonathan  Sny- 
der, they  removed  to  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
where  they  were  both  living  about  eight 
years  ago,  upwards  of  ninety  years  of  age; 
Margaret,  married  Alexander  Dinger,  and 
removed  to  Crawford  county.  Pa.,  she  died 
a  few  years  ago,  at  the  age  of  ninety-eight ; 
Peter,  born  September  22, 1778,  married  Miss 
Lubold,  he  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812  ; 
Jacob,  born  1782,  married  Catherine  Ferree; 
Daniel,  born  1784,  married  Hannah  Ferree, 
he  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  ;  Nicho- 
las, born  .1787,  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812;  John,  born  1790,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812  ;  George,  born  1798,  resides 
in  the  town  of  Gratz,  was  appointed  justice  of 
the  peace  in  1834.  In  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution John  Nicholas  Hoffman  first  ranked 
as  first  lieutenant,  afterwards  as  captain. 
His  service  was  mostly  in  New  York  State. 
After  the  war  he  occupied  his  farm  at  the 
foot  of  Short  Mountain,  in  Lykens  township. 

Jacob  Hoffman,  grandfather  of  John  H. 
Hoffman,  was  born  in  1782.  He  purchased 
his  father's  farm.  He  was  a  well  informed 
farmer  and  was  exceeding!}'  popular.  He 
filled  several  local  offices,  and  in  1823-24-25 
served  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  a 
zealous  Christian,  and  prominent  in  the 
church.  His  wife,  Catherine  Ferree,  is  de- 
scended from  an  illustrious  French  family. 
Their  children  were:  Amos,  born  1809, 
married  Amanda,  daughter  of  the  late  Gen- 
eral Harper,  who,  for  a  number  of  years,  was 
steward  of  the  almshouse,  and  at  present 
resides  at  Berrysburg ;  at  one  time  he  had 
five  sons  in  the  Union  army.  Col.  Thomas 
M.,  Capt.  Jacob  F.,  John  H.,  Edwin  A.,  and 
Henry;  Jacob  B.,  resides  near  Williams- 
town;  Hatniah,  married  .John  Romberger; 
Sarah,  married  Michael  Forney ;  Catherine, 
married  Abram  Hess. 

Amos  Hoffman,  father  of  John  H.,  was 
born  in  Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  May  22, 1809.  He  was  reared  a  farmer, 
and  followed  that  calling  up  to  the  time  of 
his  retirement  in  1870.  Amos  Hoffman 
was  married  in  his  native  township  in  1837. 
73 


His  wife  Amanda  is  descended  from  a 
noble  German  family.  The  first  of  her  an- 
cestors to  land  in  this  country  was  the  son 
of  an  illustrious  German  nobleman,  his 
father  having  banished  him  for  some  mis- 
deed. His  descendants  settled  in  Lebanon 
county,  Pa.  The  children  of  Amos  and 
Amanda  Hoffman  are:  Henry,  enlisted  at 
the  beginning  of  the  late  war  in  the  Eighth 
Illinois  cavalry,  served  through  the  war,  be- 
coming blind  towards  its  clo.se  from  ex- 
230sure.  Col.  Tliomas  W.,  enlisted  for  three 
years  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  was  in 
the  Seventy -second  Philadelpiiia  Fire  Zou- 
aves. His  regiment  was  assigned  to  tiie 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  he  was  engaged 
in  all  battles  fought  by  that  army.  He  re- 
turned home  in  1864,  raised  company  A, 
Two  Hundred  and  Eighth  Pennsylvania 
volunteers,  and  was  made  captain.  He  was 
later  transferred  to  General  Hartranft's 
staff  as  chief  engineer  officer  of  the  division ; 
and  by  reason  of  meritorious  service  at  the 
siege  of  Petersburg  he  was  brevetted  lieu- 
tenant colonel.  He  resides  in  Bethlehem, 
Pa.  Capt.  Jacob  F.,  merchant  at  Port 
Trevorton,  enlisted  during  the  emergency 
in  the  Twenty-sixth  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers. He  afterwards  became  first  lieu- 
tenant of  company  A,  Two  Hundred  and 
Eighth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  later 
was  promoted  to  captain  of  the  com- 
uau)'.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Fort  Steadman.  Edwin  A.,  en- 
listed in  One  Hundred  and  Third  Penn- 
sylvania volunteers,  in  1864;  was  sta- 
tioned near  Fortress  Monroe,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war ;  John  II. ;  Hen- 
rietta, wife  of  a  jMr.  Willard,  resides  in 
Girardville,  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.;  Adeline, 
Mrs.  Charles  Kosier,  of  Millersburg,  Pa.; 
George,  an  employee  of  the  Reading  Railroad 
Company  at  Shamokin,  Pa.;  Josejjh,  super- 
intendent of  Standard  Oil  plant  at  Millers- 
burg, Pa. 

John  H.  Hoffman  is  a  prosperous  mer- 
chant and  manufactui'cr  of  Williamstown. 
He  was  born  in  Lykens  township,  on  the  old 
liome  farm,  November  7, 1846.  He  received 
a  common  school  education  in  his  native 
place.  He  was  early  put  to  work  on  the 
farm  and  could  attend  school  only  a  few 
months  of  each  year.  At  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  went  to  Uniontown,  Mifflin  township, 
Dauphin  county,  to  learn  the  trade  of  tan- 
ning, and  had  served  about  one  and  a  half 
years  when  he  decided  that  iiis  country  had 


1184 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


need  of  his  services  in  the  army.  He  en- 
listed at  Uniontown  in  August,  1864,  in 
company  A,  Two  Hundred  and  Eighth 
Pennsylvania  volunteers.  His  regiment  was 
soon  after  ordered  to  the  front  by  waj'  of 
Bermuda  Hundred,  on  the  James  river. 
They  lay  at  Petersburg  about  six  weeks  and 
were  then  ti'ansferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac. After  reaciiing  Hatch's  Run,  where 
tliey  remained  a  few  days,  tiiey  were  ordered 
to  return  to  Petersburg  and  were  placed  in 
General  Hartranft's  division,  doing  sueh 
duties  as  fell  to  the  lot  of  I'eserve  troops. 
They  took  part  in  the  Weldonraid. 

Their  first  regular  engagement  was  on 
March  25,  1865,  wiien  the  battle  of  Fort 
Steadman  was  fought.  They  were  engaged 
in  the  siege  of  Petersburg.  They  followed 
Lee  as  far  as  Burkville  Junctiou,  where  they 
lay  until  after  his  surrender  at  Appomattox 
Court  House  ;  they  tiien  returned  to  Peters- 
burg and  City  Point,  and  were  transported 
thence  to  Alexandria,  \i\.,  and  mustered  out 
June  1,  1865. 

Mr.  Hoffman  then  returned  home  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  of  tanning  for  a  number  of 
years.  About  1874  he  opened  a  general 
store  at  Berry.sburg,  which  he  conducted  two 
years  and  then  located  at  Williamstown,  and 
formed  a  partnership  witii  Philijj  C.  Swab. 
At  the  end  of  two  years  he  sold  his  interest 
to  his  partner,  and  opened  a  general  store  at 
Curtin,  Dauphin  county,  which  lie  conducted 
three  years,  and  tlien  sold  and  was  engaged 
in  a  similar  business  at  Selinsgrove,  Sny- 
der county,  for  five  and  a  half  years.  Ii:  the 
spring  of  1885  Mr.  Hoffman  purchased  the 
property  and  stock  of  David  Clallinger  at 
Williamstown,  his  present  site,  where  lie  en- 
gaged in  business  and  has  built  up  an  exten- 
sive trade.  Here,  also,  in  connection  with 
John  M.Hughes,  in  the  fall  of  1895,  he 
erected  a  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  under- 
wear, equipped  with  the  latest  and  most  im- 
proved machinery  at  an  outlay  of  $12,000, 
and  employing  twenty -five  hands. 

Mr.  Holiinan  was  married,  at  Berrysburg, 
August,  1870,  to  Miss  Mary  Swab,  a  native 
of  Berrysburg,  Dauphin  county,  Pa.  Their 
children  are :  Elsie  Irene,  pupil  at  Wilson 
College,  Chambcrsburg,  Pa.;  Edward  Har- 
per, traveling  man  in  the  employ  of  Krause, 
Ingiiam  &  Heister,  Philadelphia ;  Charles 
Eclgar,  at  home ;  Henrietta,  at  home  ;  Sally, 
died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a  half  years ;  John 
Robert,  at  home;  Carrie  May,  and  Joseph,  at 
home. 


Mr.  Hoffman  is  a  member  of  Chester  Post, 
No.  280,  G.  A.  R.,  Williamstown ;  master 
mason,  Lafayette  Lodge,  No.  194,  Selins- 
grove, Pa.  He  has  been  chief  burgess  one 
year  and  school  director  for  seven  years.  Mr. 
Hoffman  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  is  its  trustee  and  for  many 
years  its  secretary.  He  is  intelligent,  genial, 
and  hospitable.  He  is  fond  of  history  and 
well  versed  in  it.  It  follows  that  he  is  agree- 
able company  and  very  jaopular  with  his 
neighbors. 

ScHMiNKY,  GuRNEY  M.,  M.  D.,  was  bom  at 
Gratz,  Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  December  7, 1862.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaiah 
S.  and  Elizabeth  (Wiest)  Schminky. 

His  father.  Dr.  Isaiah  Schminky,  was  born 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.  He  went  to 
Schuylkill  county,  where  his  father  practiced 
medicine  and  spent  his  life.  He  studied 
medicine  at  the  now  extinct  Pennsylvania 
Medical  College,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated, and  afterwards  practiced  for  a  very 
short  time.  While  in  Schuylkill  county  Dr. 
Schminky  treated  a  hysterical  patient  with 
cliloroform,  which  liad  just  then  come  into 
use  ;  by  this  action  he  created  a  stir  among 
the  people  to  whom  that  ana'sthetic  was  un- 
known. He  left  Schuylkill  county  and 
located  at  Gratz,  where  he  has  been  in  prac- 
tice for  forty  years.  He  is  Republican  ;  he 
was  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature  for 
two  years,  and  has  sat  for  upwards  of  thirty 
j-ears  in  the  borough  council  of  Gratz.  His 
wife  is  still  living.  Their  children  are:  Dr. 
Gurney  M.;  Allan  B.,  druggist,  Philadelphia ; 
HarryN.,  merchant,  Woodbury,  N.  J.;  John 
¥.  M.,  farmer  of  Gratz,  Pa.;  and  Bertha  M.,  at 
home. 

Gurney  M.  Schminky  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  place.  At  the  age 
of  fourteen  he  entered  Berrysburg  Academy, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  took 
a  two  years'  course  and  was  graduated  from 
the  National  School  of  Oratory  and  Elocution 
in  1880.  During  the  next  year  he  read 
medicine  at  home  and  then  took  a  three 
years'  course  of  study  and  lectures  at  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  He 
at  once  commenced  practice  at  Gratz,  Pa., 
and  continued  there  until  1894 ;  he  then 
located  at  Williamstown,  Pa.,  where  he  has 
since  remained  and  has  been  successful  in 
liis  practice.  He  is  medical  officer  of  the 
borough  of  Williamstown.  He  is  an  Inde- 
pendent  Republican    and   member   of    the 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1185 


Knights  of  Pj'thias  and  Sons  of  America  at 
Willianistown. 

Dr.  G.  M.  Schminky  was  married,  at 
Gratz.  May  13,  1884,  to  Miss  Ida,  daughter 
of  George  W.  and  Saraii  (Geise)  Garber. 
Tliey  liave  two  children,  Albert  Garfield  and 
Walter  M.  The  Doctor  attends  the  Metho- 
dist church. 


BuDD,  Capt.  Richard,  lumberman,  Will- 
ianistown, Pa.,  was  born  in  Queen's  county, 
Ireland,  April  1,  1832  ;  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  (Larns)  Budd.  The  family  of  his  par- 
ents consisted  of  the  following  children  : 
Richard;  John,  who  went  to  California  in 
1854,  and  died  there  some  years  after ;  Will- 
iam, coutractor,Williamstown,  Pa.;  Dora,  Mrs. 
Patrick  Boerman,  of  Philadelphia;  and  Re- 
becca, maiden  lady,  residing  with  her  brother 
Richard. 

The  father  died  when  Richard  was  seven 
years  of  age  and  left  a  good  farm,  which  was 
sold  to  an  English  lord.  The  family  was 
kept  together  for  a  year  and  then,  about 
1840,  the  mother  came  to  America  with  the 
children.  They  sailed  from  Liverpool  on 
the  sailing  vessel  Roshes,  and  after  a  stormy 
and  tedious  voyage,  landed  in  New  York. 
They  came  at  once  to  Potts ville.  Pa.,  where 
they  remained  a  few  days.  They  finally  lo- 
cated at  York  Tunnel,  Pa.,  where  the  mother 
some  time  afterwards  died  ;  tlie  children  re- 
mained together  until  their  marriage.  In 
1852  Richard  took  up  his  residence  at  York 
Tunnel,  then  OttoColliery,  and  later  removed 
to  Mt.  Pleasant,  Schuylkill  county,  Pa., 
where  he  engaged  in  manufacturing  lumber 
under  a  contract  with  a  Philadelphia  firm. 
In  1861  Mr.  Budd  raised  company  K,  Ninety- 
sixth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  was 
made  captain.  He  jDroceeded  with  the  regi- 
ment to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  siege  and  Seven  Days'  battle  at  York- 
town.  He  was  also  in  the  Maryland  cam- 
paign and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  In  the 
battle  of  Charles  City  Cross  Roads  he  was 
struck  by  a  shell.  He  was  discharged  at 
Warrentown  Junction  on  account  of  disa- 
bility, in  August,  18r)o.  Returning  home 
he  resumed  the  lumber  business.  In  the 
spring  of  1864  he  removed  to  Willianistown, 
of  which  he  was  among  the  first  settlers ; 
there  lie  has  continued  to  carry  on  the  lum- 
ber business  to  date. 

Richard  Budd  was  first  married,  at  New 
Mines,  Pa.,  in  1852,  to  Miss  Fanny  Robison. 


Their  children  were :  Christopher,  residing 
in  Armstrong  Valley,  Dauphin  county ; 
Benjamin,  died  young ;  John,  resides  in 
Williamstown,  Pa.;  George;  William;  An- 
drew; Richard,  and  Allan;  Joseph,  died 
young;  Mary,  died  aged  twenty-four;  Annie, 
died  aged  twelve;  one  infant  boy  died  un- 
named. Mrs.  Fanny  Budd  died  July  30, 
1880.  Captain  Budd's  second  marriage  was 
in  May,  1889,  to  Mrs.  Eliza  Shoemaker,  a 
widow;  they  have  no  children.  Captain 
Budd  is  a  staunch  Republican  and  has 
served  as  councilman.  He  belongs  to  the 
Sons  of  Temperance,  the  Good  Temjilars, 
and  to  Chester  Post,  No.  280,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Willianistown.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  Catholic  church. 


Lautenbacher,  Irvix  L.,  druggist,  was 
born  in  Schuylkill  Haven,  Schuylkill  county. 
Pa.,  February  21,  1862.  He  is  a  son  of 
Charles  and  Sarah  A.  (Graeff')  Lautenbacher. 
His  grandfather,  Karl  Lautenbacher,  was 
born  at  Stuttgart,  Germany.  He  had  a  farm 
on  which  was  a  stone  quarry,  which  tliej' 
worked.  He  served  some  years  in  the  Ger- 
man army.  The  cliildren  of  Karl  Lauten- 
bacher and  his  wifs  Ursula  were :  John, 
died  in  Philadelphia,  aged  eighty-one ;  Sieg- 
mund,  died  in  Phikidelphia;  Charles;  Jo- 
seph, resides  in  Philadelphia;  two  younger 
children,  names  unknown.  Tiie  grandfather 
died  in  Germany  at  an  advanced  age. 

Charles  Lautenbacher,  father  of  Irvin  L., 
was  also  born  in  Stuttgart  in  1832.  He 
learned  the  art  of  making  wooden  ware,  and 
coming  to  America  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
learned  marble  cutting  in  Philadelphia. 
His  first  work  was  on  the  Continental  Hotel 
of  that  city.  He  went  afterwards  to  Kutz- 
town,  Pa.,  where  he  married.  Still  later  he 
returned  to  Sciuiylkill  Haven,  where  he  had 
a  marble  yard,  and  where  he  died  in  1881. 
His  wife  survives  him.  Their  cliildren  are  ; 
Jerry  C,  manufacturer  of  underwear  at 
Schuylkill  Haven  ;  Irvin  L.;  Flora  C,  wife 
of  William  F.  McLennon,  Gloucester  City, 
N.J.  Mr.  Charles  Lautenbacher  was  a  Rejiub- 
lican.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church,  but  was  reared  in  the  Catholic 
church. 

Irvin  L.  Lautenbacher  attended  the  schools 
of  his  native  place,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  then 
read  medicine  for  about  two  years,  but  finally 
abandoned  it  for  the  study  of  j)harniacy. 
He   was  graduated    from   the  Philadelphia 


1186 


BIO  GRA  Fine  A  L   ENCYCL  OFEDIA 


College  of  Pharmacy  at  tlie  end  of  a  four 
3'ears'  course.  He  then  returned  home  and 
opened  a  drug  store,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  tliree  years,  and  tlien  disposed  of 
the  business.  He  came  to  Williamstown, 
bought  the  drug  store  of  B.  W.  Watson  & 
Son,  and  has  ever  since  continued  in  busi- 
ness here  with  success. 

Irvin  L.  Lautenbacher  was  married  in 
Reading,  Pa.,  May  10,  1890,  to  Miss  Katie 
E.  Schwenk,  a  native  of  Schuylkill  Plaven, 
Pa.  They  liavo  two  children,  Joan  L.  and 
Ruth  A.,  at  home.  Mr.  Lautenbacher  is  a 
member  of  Knights  of  Pythias  at  WilHams- 
town ;  of  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  of  the  Heptasophs.  He  is  past 
noble  grand  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  P^eilows. 


tlie  star  pitclier,  winning  for  himself  a  rep- 
utation in  that  capacity  second  to  none  in 
the  country.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
two  best  pitclier«  connected  with  college 
teams.  Mr.  Bowman  is  a  Republican.  He 
was  elected  treasurer  of  the  borough  of 
Williamstown  in  1890. 


Bowman,  Sumner  S.,  attorn ey-at-1  aw,  was 
was  born  in  Millersburg,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  February'  9,  1867;  son  of  Simon  S.  and 
Annie  P.  (Jackson)  Bowman.  His  parents 
had  seven  children  :  Sumner  S.;  Ediuond  B., 
at  home  ;  Irene,  wife  of  James  S.  Hopkinson, 
Phi]adelj)hia;  Nellie,  wife  of  Hay  W.  Bow- 
man, Millersburg;  Hannah,  James  Donald, 
and  Robert  Herr,  all  at  home. 

Sumner  S.  Bowman  attended  the  public 
schools  and  was  graduated  from  the  high 
school  of  Millersburg  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 
He  entered  Dickinson  Seminary  at  Williams- 
port,  Pa.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
June,  188G.  In  the  fall  of  the  year  1888  he 
entered  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and 
took  up  the  study  of  law,  at  the  same  time 
studying  under  private  instructors  in  the  of- 
fice of  Biddle  &  Ward,  Philadelphia.  Mr. 
Bowman  was  graduated  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania  in  1891.  In  the  fol- 
lowing autumn  he  was  admitted  to  tlie 
Philadelphia  bar,  and  in  the  next  spring  to 
the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Philadel- 
phia. In  the  fall  of  1892  Mr.  Bowman  went 
to  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  there.  He  became  associated  with 
Judge  Edgar  0.  Emerson  and  remained 
there  three  years.  In  the  fall  of  1894  he 
came  to  Williamstown  and  opened  a  law  of- 
fice and  has  ever  since  resided  and  practiced 
here. 

While  a  student  at  the  university  Mr. 
Bowman  took  an  active  interest  in  college 
athletics.  He  became  a  member  of  the  uni- 
versit}'  base  ball  team,  in  which   he  became 


Buggy,  John  P.,  merchant,  was  born  at  Lo- 
cust Gap,  Northumberland  county.  Pa.,  Octo- 
ber 14,  186();  son  of  Miciiael  and  Ann 
(Cannon)  Buggy.  His  grandfather,  John 
Buggy,  and  Maggie  O'Brien,  wife  of  John 
Buggy,  both  died  in  Schuylkill  county.  Pa. 
John  Buggy  was  a  miner.  Their  children 
were:  Jeremiah,  miner,  at  Williamstown; 
Michael ;  Mary,  Mrs.  Pierce,  Philadelphia  ; 
James,  miner,  at  Williamstown  ;  Annie,  Mrs. 
Halloran,  Waterbury,  Conn.;  Margaret,  Mrs. 
Mahar,  Williamstown,  and  John,  miner,  at 
Williamstown,  Pa. 

Michael  Buggy  was  born  in  Ireland,  and 
was  two  years  old  wlion  his  parents  brought 
him  to  America  and  settled  in  Schuylkill 
county,  where  they  died.  He  became  a 
miner,  and  was  so  occupied  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1894,  in  his  fifty-third 
year.  He  was  married,  in  Northumberland 
county,  to  Ann  Cannon,  who  survives  him. 
Their  chihlren  are  :  John  P.;  Bernard;  Bar- 
bara, in  Philadeljihia;  Michael,  lives  with 
his  brother  John  P.;  Maggie  and  Isabella, 
at  home;  Dionysius;  an  infant,  deceased; 
and  Mary,  at  home.  Michael  Buggy  was  a 
Democrat.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Sacred 
Heart  church,  and  his  remains  rest  in  the 
Catholic  cemetery  at  Williamstown. 

John  P.  Buggy  was  two  years  old  when 
hisiDarents  removed  to  Williamstown,  where 
he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
At  the  age  of  eleven  he  went  to  work  at 
what  is  called  the  "breaker"  in  the  coal 
mines,  and  was  engaged  in  mining  until  he 
was  twenty-six  years  of  age,  when,  in  1893, 
he  embarked  in  mercantile  business  in 
Williamstown,  Pa.  He  rented  a  store  room 
and  2>ut  in  a  general  stock  of  goods,  and  has 
succeeded  in  building  up  a  large  trade.  Mr. 
Buggy  is  unmarried,  and  makes  his  home 
with  his  mother.  He  is  a  Democrat,  but  is 
not  active  in  party  movements,  his  whole 
attention  being  given  to  his  business.  Mr. 
Buggy  is  a  member  of  the  Sacred  Heart 
Catholic  church  and  of  the  Ancient  (.)rder 
of  Hibernians,  Division  No.  3. 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1187 


Rowland,  James,  merchant,  Williams- 
town,  Pa,  was  born  in  jMartbrtli,  I'emliroke- 
shire,  South  Wales,  Great  ISritain,  July  'i'J, 
1833.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mar{i;aret 
(Scourfield)  Rowland.  His  maternal  ances- 
tors were  of  Scotch  descent.  John  Rowland, 
his  grandfatlier,  was  born  in  Wales,  was  a 
farmer  and  tiled  in  his  native  place  in  1856. 
John  Rowland  (2),  father  of  James  Rowland, 
was  also  a  native  of  Wales.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  died  in  Wales  in  1890.  His  wife,  Mar- 
garet Scourfield,  died  in  1890.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Martha,  died  in  Wales;  James; 
John,  merchant,  Bristol,  England  ;  Elizabeth, 
died  in  Wales;  Roger,  at  IJristol,  England; 
David,  and  Evan,  both  in  Wales. 

James  Row'lancl  was  educated  in  his  native 
place  and  was  brought  up  on  the  farm.  At 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
dr}^  goods  firm  in  Swansea,  Wales,  served 
three  and  a  half  years,  and  has  been  occu- 
pied in  mercantile  pursuits  to  tiie  present 
time.  In  June,  1865,  he  sailed  with  his  wife 
and  family  from  Liverpool  to  New  York  in 
the  sailing  vessel  City  of  Dublin,  and  after  a 
passage  of  thirteen  days  reached  their  desti- 
nation. Tliey  came  at  once  to  Philadelphia, 
and  from  that  city  to  Minersville,  Schuylkill 
county.  Pa.,  where  Mr.  Rowland  opened  a 
general  store,  which  he  conducted  very  suc- 
cessfully for  five  years.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  Mr.  Rowland  disposed  of  his  stock  and 
removed  to  Wiconisco,  Dauphin  county.  Pa., 
where  for  four  _years  he  Wiis  general  manager 
in  the  store  of  Mr.  Goldsmith.  Resigning  the 
place,  he  came  to  Williamstown  and  bought 
a  general  store,  wdiich  he  conducted  for  four 
y.ears.  He  then  bought  the  property  he  now 
owns  and  occupies,  which  at  that  time  con- 
sisted of  two  liouses  and  a  store.  He  has 
since  rebuilt  the  stoi"6  and  now  has  a  com- 
modious and  convenient  edifice  in  wdiich  he 
conducts  a  large  trade  and  gives  emplo3'ment 
to  three  clerks. 

Mr.  Rowland  was  married,  in  Wales,  in 
1854.  Jlis  children  are:  Margaret,  milliner, 
at  Williamstown,  Pa ;  Roger,  Ella,  Trevor, 
and  Claud,  all  at  home.  Mr.  Rowland  is  a 
strong  Republican.  His  family  are  members 
of  the  Congregational  churcii,  and  he  is  treas- 
urer of  the  church  and  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Sunday-school.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Kniglits  of  Pythias  at  Williamstown. 


LoAGUE,  Rev.  H.  A.,  pastor  of  Sacred  Heart 
church,  Williamstown,  Pa.,  was  born  in 
county  Donegal,  Ireland,  June  2,  1842.     He 


is  a  son  of  Francis  Loague,  a  native  of 
county  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  liis  wife  Mary 
Gallagher,  born  in  county  Donegal.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Hugh  Loague,  was  a 
native  of  county  Tyrone,  he  was  patriotic 
and  took  part  in  the  Irish  rebellion  of  1708, 
as  did  Patrick  Gallagher,  Rev.  Father 
Loague's  maternal  grandfather,  and  this  de- 
votion to  their  country  cost  them  all  the 
property  they  had.  Patrick  Gallagher, 
with  his  family,  came  to  America  in  1852. 
He  had  been  a  farmer  in  Ireland,  but  en- 
gaged in  no  active  business  in  America.  He 
died  at  the  home  of  his  grandson,  in  Phila- 
tlelpiiia.  Hugh  Loague  and  his  wife  died 
in  Ireland  in  the  late  forties.  Besides  Fran- 
cis, father  of  Rev.  H.  A.  Loague,  their  chil- 
dren were:  William,  a  priest,  ilied  in  Lon- 
donderry, Ireland,  in  1865;  Hugh,  John, 
Rose,  Mary,  and  Ellen,  all  of  whom  died  in 
Ireland. 

Francis  Loague  came  to  this  country  in 
1847,  and  located  in  Philadelpliia,  where  he 
was  employed  as  nurseryman  and  gardener. 
In  1850  he  sent  for  his  wife  and  children, 
who  sailed  from  Londonderry  on"  the  sailing 
vessel  Superior,  Captain  Moore.  They  were 
on  the  ocean  eight  weeks  and  three  days, 
having  been  at  one  time  becahned  for  three 
days,  and  at  another  compelled  by  a  ter- 
rific storm  to  put  to  sea  again  after  sighting 
land.  They  finally  reached  Philadeljdiia  in 
May,  1850.  The  father  remained  in  Phila- 
delphia until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1884,  at  the  age  of  eighty -four.  Mrs.  Loague 
died  in  Philadelphia,  March  8,  1893,  aged 
eighty-three.  Their  children  were  William, 
of  the  Catholic  church  at  Centralia,  Pa.,  died 
January  11,  1892;  Rev.  H.  A.;  Eliza,  at 
home,  in  Philadelphia;  Mary,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Murphy,  Philadelphia;  Patrick,  died 
an  infant,  in  Ireland;  Rosanna,  born  in 
Piiiladelphia,  in  1852,  died  in  1863;  Joseph, 
born  in  1854,  died  in  March,  1876. 

H.  A.  Loague  attended  school  for  nearly 
one  year  in  Ireland.  Aftercoming  to  Amer- 
ica he  attended  the  public  schools  in  Phila- 
delphia untd  1857,  when  he  entered  St.  Jo- 
seph's College,  Philadelphia,  and  there  re- 
mained until  he  had  completed  his  college 
course  in  1860.  He  then  studied  four  years 
at  the  Jesuit  House,  Frederick  City,  Md., 
after  which  ho  taught  in  the  Gonzaga  Col- 
lege, Washington,  D.  C,  from  1864  to  1867. 
He  was  subsequently  professor  in  Holy 
Cross  College,  Worcester,  Mass.,  until  the  end 
of  1869,  after  which  he  spent  seven  years  in 


1188 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


completing  his  studies  in  philosopliy  and 
theology  at  Woodstock  College,  in  Mary- 
land, and  from  1876  to  1880  was  again  pro- 
fessor in  the  Worcester,  Mass.,  College  of  the 
Holy  Cross. 

In  1880  Father  Loague  went  to  St.  James, 
Mich.,  to  assist  his  uncle,  Rev.  F.  P.  Galla- 
gher, who  was  out  of  health.  He  remained 
with  his  uncle  until  October  1,  1883.  On 
December  23,  1883,  he  came  to  Harrisburg 
and  took  charge  of  the  Steelton  church, 
where  he  continued  until  January  9,  1888. 
On  that  date  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as 
rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 
He  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  at  Wood- 
stock College,  in  Maryland,  June  21,  1876. 
In  politics  Mr.  Loague  is  independent  and  a 
firm  believer  in  protection.  He  is  an  affal^le 
and  agreeable  gentleman,  of  great  kindness 
of  heart,  and  of  very  scholarly  tastes  and 
attainments. 


Hess,  Solomon,  wholesale  bottler  and  late 
proprietor  of  the  Williamstown  Hotel,  was 
born  in  Lykens  township,  Dauphin  county. 
Pa.,  March  31,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  Solomon 
and  Eva  (Saltzer)  Hess.  Solomon  Hess,  Sr., 
was  born  in  Northumberland  county.  Pa., 
in  1814.  He  was  reared  a  farmer  and  con- 
tinued in  that  calling.  He  was  married  in 
Dauphin  county  ;  his  wife,  Eva  Saltzer,  was 
a  native  of  Berks  county.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  took  up  his  residence  in  Lykens 
township.  His  wife  died  at  Gratz  about 
1878;  Mr.  Hess  died  in  Loyalton,  at  the 
home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Daniel  Good,  in 
1880  or  1881.  Their  children  were:  Sarah, 
Mrs.  Daniel  Good,  Loyalton,  Pa.;  John,  far- 
mer, Lykens  township;  Catherine,  Mrs. 
Michael  Horstman,  Gratz,  Pa.;  Harry,  hotel 
man,  Uniontown,  Pa.;  Solomon ;  Cornelius, 
farmer,  Lykens  township ;  Charles,  baker, 
Gratz,  Pa.,  and  Reily,  laborer.  Mr.  Hess 
was  a  Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  church,  and  was  well  known  and 
popular. 

Solomon  Hess,  Jr.,  attended  school  at  times 
in  his  native  place  until  he  was  twent\'-one. 
Being  reared  on  the  farm,  he  took  his  share 
of  the  farm  work,  which  often  prevented  his 
going  to  school.  At  sixteen  j'ears  of  age  he 
drove  team,  hauling  produce  to  market  at 
Pottsville.  His  father  owned  and  cultivated 
four  farms,  the  products  of  which  he  disposed 
of  at  neighboring  markets.  The  son  re- 
mained at  home  until  the  spring  after  his 
marriage.     His  father  paid  him  at  the  rate 


of  $150  per  year,  and  his  board  and  cloth- 
ing, from  the  time  when  he  was  twenty-one 
until  he  left  the  farm.  Being  frugal  and 
economical,  he  laid  by  most  of  this  money. 

Mr.  Hess  .was  married,  at  Uniontown,  Dau- 
phin county,  June  27,  1869,  to  Mi.ss  Julia 
Ann,  daughter  of  George  Paul  and  Elizabeth 
(Baum)  Paul.  In  the  spring  of  1870  he  took 
up  his  residence  on  a  farm  near  Gratz,  which 
he  rented  from  his  father  for  nine  years. 
February  6,  1879,  he  removed  to  Loyalton, 
Washington  township,  where  he  opened  a 
hotel  and  conducted  it  for  three  years.  Af- 
ter this  he  had  a  hotel  at  Gratz  for  one  yearj 
then  came  to  Williamstown  and  rented  the 
Mansion  House,  which  he  conducted  for 
two  years.  He  was  afterwards  clerk  in  the 
same  hotel  for  eight  months,  and  then  bought 
the  William.stown  Hotel,  of  which  he  has 
ever  since  been  the  proprietor  and  manager. 
He  also  owns  another  double  house  in  town. 
While  in  Lykens  he  lost  $1,100  in  an  insur- 
ance company.  On  the  6th  of  April,  1896, 
Mr.  Hess  rented  his  hotel  business  in  Will- 
iamstown to  J.  H.  Pontius;  he  is  now  al)Out 
to  embark  in  the  wholesale  bottling  business 
at  Tower  City,  Schuylkill  county.  Mr.  Hess 
takes  an  active  interest  in  politics  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Gratztown  Lodge,  No.  563,  I.  O. 
0.  F.,  Gratz,  Pa.,  and  of  the  Patriotic  Sons 
of  America. 

Mr.  Hess'  children  are:  Dora  B.;  Susan 
A.;  John  Henry,  died  young;  George  E.  and 
David  S.,  at  home,  and  Ellis  Lloyd,  died 
young.  Mr.  Hess  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed church. 


Lynch,  Joiix, plumber,  was  born  in  count}' 
Donegal,  Ireland,  March  21,  1834.  He  is  a 
son  of  Edward  and  Ann  (Smith)  L3'nch.  His 
grandfather,  Owen  Lynch,  was  born  and 
reared  in  county  Donegal,  and  was  a  weaver. 
He  lived  and  died  in  his  native  countrj\ 
His  children  were :  Owen,  Philip,  Edward, 
Patrick,  .James,  Fanny,  and  Margaret.  Ed- 
ward Lynch,  father  of  John  Lynch,  was  a 
native  of  county  Donegal.  He  was  a  shoe- 
maker. He  died  in  his  native  place  in  1866, 
aged  fifty.  His  wife  was  brought  to  this 
country  by  her  son,  John  Lynch,  in  1868. 
She  died  in  1885.  John  Lynch  was  their 
onl}'  son. 

John  Lynch  went  to  the  schools  of  his 
native  place  and  gave  his  vacations  to  farm 
work  until  he  was  fifteen.  In  his  sixteenth 
year    he    came    to  America,  embarking    at 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1189 


Liverpool  in  llie  sailing  vessel  Esmeralda. 
Ho  reached  New  York  after  a  voyage  of 
seven  weeks  and  tln-ee  days,  landing  June 
29,  1848,  with  one  shilling  in  his  }iocket. 
He  worked  at  Oceanic,  Coney  Island,  for  one 
month  as  a  farm  hand,  and  received  $8,  with 
which  he  paid  liis  fare  to  Easton,  Pa.;  his 
uncle,  John  Smith,  lived  there,  who  had  sent 
him  the  passage  money  to  come  to  America. 
After  a  day  or  two  spent  in  visiting,  telling 
of  the  friends  left  behind,  and  of  his  adven- 
tures in  crt)ssing  the  ocean,  he  went  to  work 
in  the  distillery  of  James  Thompson,  of 
which  his  uncle  was  head  distiller ;  he  re- 
mained there  eight  years.  He  was  next  em- 
ployed for  six  years  in  tiie  Cooper  Iron 
Works,  Phillipsburg,  N.  J.  His  next  posi- 
tion was  that  of  engineer  at  Frenchtown, 
Hunterdon  county,  N.  J.,  which  he  held  for 
two  years.  He  then  returned  to  Phillips- 
burg and  worked  six  months  for  tiie  Cooper 
Iron  Company,  after  which  he  was  em|/loyed 
for  seven  years  at  Easton,  Pa.,  as  engineer  of 
the  Water  Works  Company.  At  the  end  of 
this  time  he  found  employment  for  one  year 
in  a  di.stillery  at  Belvidere,  N.  J.  He  was 
thrown  out  of  employment  there  by  the 
shutting  down  of  the  distillery  on  account  of 
the  $2  internal  revenue  tax  laid  on  whiskey. 

In  1863  Mr.  Lynch  went  to  work  at  Easton, 
Pa.,  in  the  machine  shops,  and  at  the  end 
of  the  year  located  in  Schuylkill  county. 
Pa.,  where  for  five  years  he  was  hoisting  en- 
gineer in  the  mines.  On  March  6, 1868,  he 
removed  to  Williamstown,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa.,  and  worked  in  the  mines  there  for  nine 
years.  During  this  time  he  opened  a  liquor 
store  in  Williamstown  and  put  his  son  in 
charge  of  the  business.  Pie  also  did  some 
jobs  of  plumbing  after  the  day's  work  was 
over  in  the  mines.  In  1877  he  abandoned 
work  in  the  mines,  and  since  then  has  given 
his  attention  to  the  plumbing  business.  He 
built  a  comfortable  house  in  1871.  Mr. 
Lynch  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  served  as 
assessor  for  the  borough  for  four  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  Sacred  HeartCatholie  church 
at  Williamstown. 

While  working  at  Frederickstown,  N.  J., 
he  went  to  Easton,  Pa.,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Mooney,  a  native  of 
county  Donegal,  Ireland.  Their  children 
are:  Edward,  at  home;  William,  married 
Bridget  Cosgrove,  resides  at  Silver  Creek,  Pa.; 
John,  accidentally  killed  in  tiie  mines,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one;  Miiry,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Gallagher,  Williamstown  ;  Dennis,  died  aged 


four  years;  Charles,  at  home;  Maggie,  wife 
of  Joseph  Bond, Williamstown  ;  and  Michael, 
at  home. 


BuDD,  WiLr.iAM,  miner,  was  born  in 
Queen's  county,  Ireland,  in  1834,  and  is  a 
son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Lawrence) 
Budd.  Mr.  Budd  came  to  this  country  witii 
his  mother,  .step-fiither,  two  sisters  and  two 
brothers.  He  first  worked  in  tiie  coal  mines 
of  New  Mines,  Pa.,  and  moved  to  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant in  1855.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany K,  Ninety-sixth  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, and  served  two  years  and  a  half,  when 
he  was  discharged  at  Washington,  Columbia 
College  Ho.spital,  because  of  disability.  He 
then  returned  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  in  1865 
moved  to  Williamstown  and  engaged  in 
mining  until  compelled  because  of  ill-health 
to  quit  that  work  in  1884.  He  has  since  been 
able  to  haul  coal.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  pol- 
itics, a  memlier  of  G.  A.  R.  Post,  No.  280, 
and  of  the  Sacred  Heart  Catholic  church. 
He  was  married,  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  in  1855,  to 
Miss  Sarah  Fogan,  by  whom  he  had  these 
children :  Margaret,  Rebecca,  Bridget,  Dora, 
Lizzie,  Benjamin,  and  Francis. 


Evans,  Daniel  W.,  foreman  of  mines, 
Williamstown,  Pa.,  was  born  May  21,  1843, 
in  Pollygwlan,  Glan  Morganshire,  Wales. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Waters) 
Evans.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Wales 
and  a  miner  by  occupation.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Republican.  He  died  in  Pittston,  Pa., 
November  6,  1885.  His  first  wife  died  in 
Wales  in  1853.  Their  children  are:  Isaac, 
Henry  W.,  David  W.,  Thomas  W.,  and 
Daniel.  His  second  wife,  Sarah,  was  a  sis- 
ter of  his  first,  and  by  this  marriage  he 
had  no  children. 

Daniel  W.  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  place.  At  the  age  of 
ten  years  he  began  work  in  the  coal  mines 
and  continued  until  he  was  twenty-two 
years  old,  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States.  He  sailed  from  Liverpool  April  17, 
1865,  on  the  City  of  London,  and  landed  at 
New  York,  May  1,  1865.  He  was  accom- 
panied to  this  country  by  his  father,  step- 
mother and  three  brotiiers.  Daniel  went  to 
Pittston,  Luzerne  county,  and  worked  in  the 
mines  for  a  time  and  then  came  to  Schuyl- 
kill county  and  was  engaged  in  the  mines 
at  the  New  Philadelphia  slope. 

On  December  9,  1865,  he  was  married,  in 
New  Philadelphia,  to  Miss  Dorothy  Griffith, 


1190 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCVVLOPEUIA 


daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Catharine  Grif- 
fith. Miss  GrifRtli  was  born  May  5,  1843, 
and  is  a  native  of  Scliuylkill  county.  Their 
cljildren  are:  Natlian  W.,  boolvkeeper  for 
Standard  Oil  Company,  at  Willces-Barre; 
Mary,  wife  of  Evan  J.  Davis,  Williamstown ; 
Bertha,  wife  of  Thomas  Allan,  Williams- 
town  ;  William,  -watchman,  court  house, 
Harrisburg;  Benjamin,  in  Englisli  navy, 
now  stationed  at  tlie  Bermudas;  Tliomas, 
Fred  A.,  Alice,  and  Carrie. 

After  marriage  he  resided  in  New  Piiiia- 
delphia  for  about  two  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  Wili<es-Barre  and  worked  in  the 
mines  until  1S74.  He  was  then  engaged  as 
foreman  in  Wasliington  mine  at  Piymoutii. 
In  1869  lie  assisted  in  rescuing  one  liundred 
and  eight  of  tiie  men  imprisoned  in  the 
Avondale  mine.  He  served  as  foreman  at 
Plymoutli  for  six  years.  Later  he  worked 
at  ditterent  places,  and  in  Octolmr,  1887, 
came  to  Williamstown,  and  lias  been  fore- 
man since  that  time.  While  in  Wilkes- 
Barre  he  was  president  of  the  Old  Miners' 
Benevolent  Association.  He  is  now  a  di- 
rector of  the  Electric  Light,  Heat  and  l^ower 
Company,  and  also  director  of  the  Motor 
Company.  In  politics  he  is  a  Rci)ul)lican. 
He  is  connected  with  the  following  societies: 
master  mason  of  Nanticoke  Lodge,  No.  541 ; 
Pro.?pect  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  Wilkes-Barre; 
Welsh  Society,  Wilkes-Barre,  and  Sons  of 
Temiierance,  Williamstown. 


Hain,  George  W.,  justice  of  tiic  peace, 
Williamstown,  was  born  August  18,  1833,  in 
Pine  Grove,  Schuylkill  county.  He  is  a.son 
of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Keifer)  Hain. 
The  father  was  born  near  Sinking  Springs, 
Berks  county.  Pa.  He  was  reared  in  Pine 
Grove,  Schuylkill  county,  and  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade.  After  following  this  occu- 
pation for  many  years  he  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  at  Lykens,  Pa.  His  death 
occurred  in  1858,  and  his  wife  died  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  TO's.  Their  children  were: 
Rebecca;  John,  deceased  ;  Mary,  and  George 
W.    In  politics  the  father  was  a  Democrat. 

George  W.  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place  and  of  Lykens 
and  Pottsville.  His  parents  located  in  Sa- 
lona,  Clinton  county,  Pa.,  then  in  Mt.  Pat- 
rick, Perry  county,  next  at  Montgomery's 
Ferry,  and  finally  at  Lykens.  He  drove  a 
canal  boat  from  Gurdy's  Notch  to  Philadel- 
phia for  some  years.  He  then  served  as 
brakeman,  and  later  as  fireman  on  the  rail- 


road. In  1856  and  1857  he  followed  the 
canal  with  his  own  boat,  and  about  this  time 
purchased  a  house  in  Lykens  with  the  money 
saved  while  on  the  railroad.  In  1858,  upon 
the  death  of  his  father,  he  began  to  assist  his 
mother  to  conduct  the  hotel  in  Lykens,  and 
continued  to  do  so  until  1861.  He  then  en- 
listed in  the  Washington  rifles.  In  1859 
he  purchased  a  farm  in  what  was  then 
Wiconisco  township,  and  located  there  in 
1862,  teaching  school  in  the  winter.  In  1864 
he  ojjened  a  general  store  in  Williamstown, 
and  four  j^ears  later  built  a  hotel,  which  he 
conducted  several  years.  He  moved  to  his 
jiresent  home,  adjoining  the  hotel,  in  18()8. 
In  1869  he  was  commissioned  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  has  served  continuously  in  that 
office,  with  the  exce]:>tion  of  three  years,  up 
to  the  present.  In  1876  he  purchased  a  farm 
of  seventy-eight  acres  in  Williams  township, 
and  has  since  added  thirty  acres  to  it. 

He  was  married,  in  Halifax,  Dauiihin 
county,  in  1855,  to  Miss  Sarah  Woodside, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Woodside.  His  wife  died 
in  1864.  Their  children  are:  William; 
John  ;  Charles  Henry,  deceased  ;  Emma  J., 
iVnnie,  Agues,  and  Sadie.  He  married,  sec- 
ondly. Miss  Luc}'  Whitman,  of  Williams- 
town, in  1875.  Mr.  Hain  is  a  Republican, 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Post  No. 
280,  and  Lodge  No.  675,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  of  Will- 
iamstown. 


McN.\MAKA,  Michael,  retired,  was  born 
in  Kilkenny  count}',  Ireland,  in  1831,  and 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Julia  (Brenner)  Mc- 
Xamara  The  father  and  mother  both  died 
in  Schuylkill  county,  Pa.  Their  children 
were  :  Patrick,  Thomas,  Andrew,  John,  Rich- 
ard, Margaret,  Mary,  all  deceased  ;  and  Mi- 
chael. Michael  attended  school  until  he 
was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
this  country  with  his  pjareuts  and  landed  at 
Quebec,  Canada.  From  there  they  came  by 
rail  to  Schuylkill  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
worked  in  the  mines  until  1861),  at  which 
time  he  came  to  Williamstown,  and  followed 
mining  until  1888,  when  he  retired.  Since 
coming  to  his  present  home  he  has  built  a 
new  house  and  also  owns  a  double  block  on 
the  main  street  of  Pottsville. 

He  was  married,  in  Schuylkill  county, 
August  3,  1850,  to  Miss  Ann  Fagan,  born 
August  5,  1833,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (Connors)  Fagan.  She  was  a  na- 
tive of  Kilkenny  county,  Ireland,  and  came 


DAUPHIN  COUNTY. 


1191 


to  the  United  States  with  her  parents,  at  the 
age  of  ten  years,  settled  in  Schuylkill  county, 
wiiere  tlie  parents  both  died.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  James;  Julia;  Thomas,  deceased  ; 
Patrick;  Andrew,  deceased  ;  John,  Richard, 
Patrick  2d,  Margaret,  Michael,  Thomas  2d, 
Elizabeth,  Joseph,  and  one  wiio  died  in  in- 
fancy. In  politics  Mr.  McNamarais  a  Dem- 
crat,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Church  of 
the  Sacred  Heart,  Catholic. 


Rettingek,  Charles,  hotel  keeper,  Will- 
iamstown.  Pa.,  was  born  in  Germany,  Janu- 
ary 9,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  Sixtusand  Wil- 
iielmina  Rettinger.  The  father  died  in  Ger- 
man}' many  years  ago,  and  the  mother  died 
when  Charles  was  six  j'earsold.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Adelite,  Fictor,  Charles,  Maria, 
and  Johanna. 

Charles  attended  school  in  his  native  place 
until  he  was  fourteen  years  old.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  sailed  from  Havre,  France, 
for  America,  and,  as  he  traveled  in  a  sailing 
vessel,  did  not  arrive  until  forty-eight  days 
later.  He  went  at  once  to  Millersburg  and 
worked  at  the  trade  of  mason  for  four  months, 
and  then  came  to  Williamstown  and  began 
mining,  which  he  followed  for  eighteen  years. 
During  this  time  he  purchased  a  iiotel, 
which  he  conducted  in  connection  with  his 
work  in  the  mines.  In  ISSi  he  stopj^ed  the 
latter  and  has  since  given  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  his  business. 

He  was  married,  in  Williamstown, in  1SG9, 
to  Miss  Josephina  Schmeok,  a  native  of 
Poland,  Europe.  She  died  in  1890,  leaving 
a  family  of  nine  children  :  Mary  Ann,  Rosie, 
Maggie,  Henry,  Joseph,  deceased,  George 
W.,  Ignatius,  Foraniga,  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Mary 
Glacer,  whom  he  married  in  1894.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Rettinger  is  a  Democrat  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 


Stroup,  J.  Harry,  merchant  tailor,  Will- 
iamstown, Pa.,  was  born  September  G,  1851, 
in  Lykens,  Daujihin  county.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Rebecca  (Martz)  Stronj).  Tiie 
father  was  born  in  Lykens  townsliip  in  1828. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  then  learned  tiie 
trade  of  saddler.  Later  he  began  work  for 
the  railroad  company  and  was  one  of  the 
first  engineers  on  the  Lykens  Valley  rail- 
road. During  the  war  his  run  extended  from 
Lykens  to  Baltimore.  In  1884  he  moved  to 
Shamokin  and  iiad  charge  of  some  miners  of 
that  place.    Plis  first  wife  died  in  18G5.    Their 


children  are:  Charles,  deceased,  J.  Harry, 
Edward,  and  Hattie.  His  second  wife  Avas 
Sarah  Shipe.  Their  children  are:  George, 
Frank,  Artluir,  Stella,  Edith,  Raljih,  and 
Katie,  deceased.  In  politics  he  is  a  Ivcpulili- 
can. 

J.  Harry  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  place.  He  assisted 
on  the  farm  until  tiie  age  of  eleven  years, 
when  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  tailor- 
ing Avith  John  L.  Matter,  with  whom  he  is 
now  in  partnership.  He  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  five  years  and  then  went  to  Phila- 
delphia and  worked  for  one  year.  In  May, 
1877,  Mr.  Matter  ojiened  a  branch  store  in 
Lykens  and  one  in  Williamstown.  Mr. 
Stroup  took  charge  of  tlie  latter  and  in  1882 
was  taken  in  as  a  partner.  He  was  married, 
in  Millersburg,  Pa.,  October  9,  1888,  to  Miss 
Sadie  Meetch,  a  native  of  Millersburg. 
They  have  one  child,  John  M.  In  politics 
Mr.  Stroup  is  Republican,  was  instrumental 
in  securing  the  borough  charter,  served  as 
councalinan  two  and  a  half  years.  In  1893 
he  was  elected  register  of  wills.  He  is  a 
Mason,  twelfth  degree,  of  Swatara  lodge,  at 
Fremont,  Pa.,  and  commandery  at  Harris- 
burg.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church. 


Blanning,  William,  merchant,  Williams- 
town, Pa.,  was  born  February  29,  1856,  in 
Wales,  and  is  a  son  of  Francis  and  Ann 
(Durbin)  Blanning.  Tlie  father  was  a  native 
of  Somersetshire,  England,  and  went  to 
Wales  at  the  age  of  twenty  and  engaged  in 
mining,  which  occupation  he  followed  dur- 
ing his  life.  He  died  in  Williamstown, 
March,  1889,  and  his.wife  died  February  11, 
1877.  Tiieir  children  were  :  Hannah,  Sarah 
Ann,  William,  James,  Harriet,  deceased, 
Emily,  Alice,  John  F.,  Josepiiine,  Priscilla, 
Jo.seph,  Mary  Edith,  and  Samuel.  The 
grandfather,  John  Blanning,  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  died  November  29,  1858 
His  wife  was  a  Miss  Clotheer. 

William  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents, landingatNew  York  in  November,  1863. 
From  there  he  came  direct  to  Lykens,  and  for 
a  short  time  attended  school.  Four  years 
later  he  moved  to  Morris  Run,  Tioga  count}', 
Pa.,  and  after  remaining  there  a  few  3'ears 
came  to  Williamstown,  where  he  has  since 
remained.  Through  the  kindness  of  W.  B. 
Meetch,  a  teacher,  he  was  enabled  to  acquire 
an  education,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four 
applied   for   and    secured  a  school  in  Will- 


1192 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


iamstown,  which  he  taught  very  successfully 
for  two  years.  He  then  attcncled  the  Kutz- 
town  Normal  Sciiool,  and  then  taught  six 
years  in  Williamstown  again  and  one  year 
in  Lykens.  He  was  appointed  justice  of  tlie 
peace  in  November,  1895.  He  was  married, 
October  15,  1877,  to  Miss  Bella  Yeager,  of 
Millersburg.  Their  children  are :  George 
F.,  deceased,  Etta  Ann,  James  Roy,  William 
Herbert,  WendallYeager,and  Charles  Frank- 
lin. Mr.  Banning  is  an  active  politician 
and  a  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  has  served  as  auditor  for  six  years,  and 
has  been  class  leader  in  the  Methodist 
church  for  eight  years. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


Davis,  Charucs  C,  was  born  August  15, 
1830,  in  Harrisljurg,  Pa.  He  was  the  son  of 
John  Davis  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Yeager. 
Hisgrandfather  was  Henry  Davis,  of  a  promi- 
nent Welsli  family  and  an  early  settler  in 
Pennsylvania.  He  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tion. His  grandfather  on  the  maternal  side 
was  George  Yeager,  who  also  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  war ;  was  at  Valley 
Forge  and  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at 
Yorktown.  John  Davis,  born  at  Pottstown, 
Pa.,  in  1795,  was  b}'  occupation  a  fuller  and 
dyer.  He  came  to  Harrishurg  prior  to  1820, 
in  which  year  he  married  Sarah  Yeager ;  he 
died  in  1856.  His  wife,  wlio  was  born  in 
Harrishurg  in  1804,  died  in  1886.  Their 
children  were  three  girls  and  six  boys.  The 
son  Charles  C.  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Harrishurg.  In  1843  he  became 
a  marker  of  the  Harrishurg  rifles,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Christian  Seiler,  and 
was  with  that  company  in  the  Native  Amer- 
ican riots  in  Piiiladelphia,  ordered  there  by 
Governor  Porter  to  quell  the  disturbances. 
Subsequently  he  was  lieutenant  in  Capt. 
Jacob  Eyster's  cadets,  serving  with  them 
until  1846,  when  he  began  his  trade  as  a 
blacksmith.  In  1850  he  went  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  in  that  city  and  other  localities  in 
the  Southwest  he  woiked  at  his  trade  until 
1859,  when  he  returned  to  Harrishurg. 

On  April  10,  1861,  upon  the  call  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  iNIr.  Davis  was  enrolled  with 
his  five  brothers  in  company  I,  of  the  Sec- 
ond regiment,  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  of 
which  he  wa^  subsequently  promoted  second 
lieutenant,  and  on  June  15,  18G1,  first  lieu- 
tenant of  his  company,  serving  through  the 


three  months'  service.  Upon  being  mus- 
tered out  he  began  to  raise  comj^anies  for 
the  Seventh  Pennsylvania  cavalry  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war.  He  was  commis- 
sioned, September  1,  1861,  captain  of  com- 
pany I,  of  that  regiment.  His  command  was 
sent  to  the  Armj'  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
arrived  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  on  Christmas  day, 
1861 ;  being  mounted  they  left  Louisville  in 
January,  1862,  for  Nashville,  Tenn.,  going 
by  way  of  Bardstown  and  tlie  Mammoth 
Cave.  The  Seventh  regiment  participated  in 
all  the  principal  battles  and  skirmishes 
which  took  place  in  the  Army  of  tlic  Cum- 
berland. In  April,  1863,  Captain  Davis  was 
commissioned  major  in  his  regiment.  June 
27, 1863,  his  regiment  engaged  the  command 
of  Gen.  Joseph  Wheeler,  at  Shelbyville, 
Tenn.  But  we  will  let  Brig.  Gen.  D.  S. 
Stanley  tell  the  story  of  the  bravery  of  Major 
Davis:  "  The  right  wing  of  General  Rose- 
crans'  army  had  driven  the  left  of  the  Con- 
federate army,  which  was  here  a  division 
of  cavalry,  commanded  by  Gen.  Joseph 
Wheeler,  into  the  town  of  Shelbyville,  Tenn., 
when  Wheeler's  force  of  three  thousand  men 
formed  line  just  at  the  northern  outskirts  of 
the  town  to  defend  their  stores.  A  battery 
of  four  guns,  pointing  north,  commanded 
the  principal  turnpike.  This  battery 
was  well  supported  by  dismounted  cav- 
alry, right  and  left.  It  was  decided  to  at- 
tack the  center  of  this  line  and  ride  over  the 
battery.  The  Seventh  Pennsylvania  cavalry 
was  selected  for  this  purpose,  supported  by 
the  Fourth  United  States  cavalry.  The  pike 
being  narrow,  the  charge  was  made  in  col- 
umns of  four.  Major  Davis' position  would 
have  placed  him  on  the  right  of  the  second 
squadron,  but  he  volunteered  to  lead  the 
charge  and  put  himself  in  front  of  the  lead- 
ing set  of  fours.  At  the  signal  of  two  can- 
non shots  from  our  guns,  the  column  dashed 
from  the  pike,  receiving  only  one  round  from 
the  hostile  battery,  rode  over  the  guns, 
routed  the  supports,  and  put  the  entire  sup- 
port opposed  to  precipitate  and  disastrous 
fright.  The  boldness  of  the  attack  assured 
its  success.  Only  one  shell  struck  the  col- 
umn, killing  two  men  and  three  horses  in 
the  charge.  Our  cai)tures  were  three  hun- 
dred prisoners,  the  battery  complete,  and 
large  amount  of  stores.  A  more  gallant 
charge  was  never  made,  and  Major  Davis 
rode  well  in  front  of  the  leading  sabres,  the 
beau  ideal  of  a  most  magnificent  trooper." 
It    was   for   this   distinguished   action  of 


DAUPHIN   COUNTY. 


1193 


Major  Davis  the  medal  of  honor  was 
awarded  to  him  by  the  Secretary  of  War  of 
the  United  States  on  the  14th  of  June,  1894, 
and  in  granting  the  medal  that  officer 
stated  that  Major  Davis  "led  what  was 
probably  one  of  the  most  desperate,  and  at 
the  same  time  successful,  cavalry  charges  of 
tlie  war."  On  the  28th  of  November,  1863, 
Major  Davis  re-enlisted  the  regiment  and, 
returning  East,  in  one  month's  time  re- 
cruited the  regiment  to  eighteen  hundred 
men,  which  the  Government  allowed  to  be 
done.  In  March,  1864,  he  was  appointed 
inspector  of  fortifications,  entrenchments, 
and  blockliouses,  on  General  Starkweather's 
staff.  After  many  severe  engagements  witli 
Forest's  cavalry  he  resigned  on  account  of 
disability,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge 
by  order  of  Gen.  George  H.  Thomas,  Octo- 
ber 14,  1864,  after  three  and  a  half  years  of 
liard  and  active  service.  For  the  })ast  eight 
years  Major  Davis  has  held  an  imi)ortant 
position  in  the  Harrisburg  j^ostoffice,  and  is 
one  of  the  chief  examiners  on  tlie  board  of 
the  civil  service  commission,  postoffice  de- 
partment, at  Harrisburg.  Major  Davis 
married,  in  1855,  EHza  Davis,  of  Knoxville, 
Tenn. 


Armor,  William  Crawford,  was  born 
September  19, 1842,  at  Laughlinsto\vn,  West- 
moreland county.  Pa.,  his  fatlier,  John  G. 
Armor,  being  a  life-long  merchant  and  far- 
mer of  that  place.  He  was  the  second  of  a 
family  of  seven  sons,  four  of  whom  were  vol- 
unteer soldiers  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
His  great-grandfather,  James  Armor,  was  a 
lieutenant  in  the  Fourth  Pennsylvania  Line 
in  the  Revolution  under  Gen.  Anthony 
Wayne,  and  was  complimented  by  that 
officer  in  a  letter  to  the  supreme  executive 
council.  His  great-grandmother,  Margaret 
Armor,  was  the  daughter  of  John  Wliitehill, 
of  Lancaster  county,  of  whom  it  is  said  :  "  He 
was  an  ardent  patriot,  and  came  into  promi- 
nence at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolu- 
tion ;  appointed  one  of  the  justices  of  the 
common  pleas  count;  member  of  Assembly, 
resigning  his  commission  as  judge;  chosen 
one  of  the  council  of  censors  ;  member  of  the 
supreme  executive  council ;  under  the  (Con- 
stitution of  1790  ajipointed  an  associate 
judge  of  the  county  of  Lancaster;  a  trustee 
and  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Pe- 
quea  for  many  years.  The  Revolutionary 
war  lu-ought  him  to  the  front,  and  he  i)roved 
to  be  like  his  compeers,  a  person  of  indomit- 


able courage  and  vigor  of  intellect,  and  was 
ever  tenacious  of  Republican  principles." 

The  great-great-grandfather,  Robert  Ar- 
mor, of  Scotch  descent,  emigrated  from  the 
north  of  Ireland  to  this  country  prior  to 
1810.  In  1734  he  took  up  a  tract  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  at  the  head  of  Pequea 
creek,  Lancaster  county,  and  was  a  farmer 
during  his  life. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  com- 
mon school  education.  While  in  his  sixteenth 
year  he  taught  a  large  school  in  his  native 
town,  being  several  years  the  junior  of  many 
of  his  scholars.  He  entered  a  preparatory 
school  in  Cumberland  county,  with  a  college 
course  in  view,  but  untoward  circumstances 
changed  the  tenor  of  his  life,  and  a  good  but 
practical  father,  consigned  him  to  learn  the 
iron  moulding  trade,  at  which  he  was  duti- 
fully engaged  when  the  war  of  the  rebellion 
broke  out.  Enlisting  in  company  B,  Twenty- 
eighth  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  l)e  rose  to 
the  command  of  his  company,  was  wounded 
at  Antietam  and  Chancellorsville,  appointed 
aide  de-camp  to  Maj.  Gen.  John  W.  Geary, 
Second  or  White  Star  division  of  the  Twelfth 
and  Tweiitieth  coi-})S,  brevetted  major  for 
"  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  in  the 
campaign  of  the  Carolinas."  At  the  siege  of 
Savannah  he  was  specially  assigned  by  Gen- 
eral Geary  to  command  the  "flying  bridge 
detail,"  which  was  to  bridge,  witli  bundles 
of  sugar  cane,  the  dikes,  or  canals,  in  front 
of  the  rebel  works,  fur  the  storming  party  to 
pass  over  in  the  grand  charge  outlined  by 
General  Sherman.  This  "  forlorn  hope " 
was  saved  "  to  fight  another  day "  by  the 
very  obliging  retreat  of  the  enem}'  the  night 
before.  During  the  progress  of  the  war  he 
was  twice  appointed  to  West  Point,  but  de- 
clined the  honor,  preferring  to  keep  his  con- 
tract as  he  had  "enlisted  for  the  war."  Af- 
ter serving  four  years  and  one  month,  with 
never  a  clay  in  the  hospital  except  when 
wounded,  he  retired  to  civil  life,  declining 
the  urgent  solicitations  of  prominent  gen- 
erals to  enter  the  regular  army. 

After  a  year  spent  in  the  oil  region  his  old 
commander,  who  had  been  elected  governor, 
proffered  him  a  confidential  position  near 
liim  as  executive  clerk.  During  his  stay  of 
six  years  in  the  executive  department  he 
wrote  the  "  Lives  of  the  Governors  of  Penn- 
sylvania, with  the  Incidental  History  of  the 
State."  He  was  also  registered  and  studied 
law  with  Attorney  Crenerals  Benjamin  Harris 
Brewster  and  F.  Carroll  Brewster;  passed  the 


1194 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ENCYCLOPEDIA 


full  list  of  examinations  set  b}'  his  precep- 
tors, but  never  applied  for  admission  to  the 
bar,  having  selected  a  mercantile  life.  After 
spending  six  years  in  Pittsburgh,  in  the 
wholesale  glass  business,  he  was  compelled  by 
failing  health  to  change  his  occupation  and 
lead  an  outdoor  life.  He  became  engaged  in 
tlie  production  of  oil  in  McKean  county,  and 
for  four  years  was  co-editor  and  proprietor 
of  The  Petroleum  Age,  a  magazine  of  oil, 
whose  statistics  and  varied  reports  were  the 
standard  of  trade  reference.  After  an  eight 
years'  sojourn  in  oildom  he  again  removed 
to  Harrisburg  and  served  two  years  as  an 
assistant  in  ttie  State  library ;  was  for  one 
3'ear  librarian  of  the  Harrisburg  Public  Li- 
brary, and  is  now  a  life  member  of  the  same. 
Is  a  charter  member  of  Post  58,  G.  A.  R., 
also  of  the  Dauphin  County  Historical  So- 
Society  and  now  its  secretary' ;  is  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Harrislnirg  Under- 
writers' Association ;  a  member  of  the  Scotch- 
Irisii  Society  of  America,  and  has  compiled 
for  it  "  The  Scotch-Irish  Bibliography  of 
Pennsylvania."  All  his  life  a  lover  of  books 
he  is  in  his  element  as  the  proprietor  of  a 
large  antiquarian  book  store,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  it  has  a  varied  collection  of  an- 
ticjuities  devoted  to  the  pleasure  of  his  visitors 
and  friends. 


Fisher,  George,  the  son  of  George  Fisher 
and  his  wife  Hannah,  daughter  of  Jonas 
Chamberlain,  was  born  in  wliat  is  now  Mid- 
dletown,  in  1765.  His  father  laid  out  the 
town,  naming  the  same.  The  original  an- 
cestor came  from  England  with  William 
Penn  in  1GS2.  George  Fisher,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  received  a  good  education  and 
graduated  from  the  College  of  Philadelphia, 
now  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
studied  law  with  John  Wilkes  Kittera  at 
Lancaster  and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin 
county  bar  at  the  November  term,  1787.  He 
soon  rose  into  prominence  in  the  early  days 
at  the  Dauphin  court,  which  has  always  been 
conspicuous  for  the  brilliancy  of  its  legal 
profession.  Mr.  Harris,  in  his  "  Reminis- 
cences of  the  Bar,"  speaks  thus  of  Mr.  Fisher : 
"  He  was  possessed  of  mild,  gentlemanly 
manners,  and  was  kind  in  his  intercour.se 
with  the  young  members  of  the  bar.  He 
had  a  ruddy  complexion,  a  fine  face,  and  a 
handsome  head.  He  was  a  large  man;  in 
his  youth  was  jirobably  quite  strong,  and 
was  quite  ileshy  toward  the  end  of  his  pro- 
fessional career.     He  w-as  remarkable  for  the 


musical  character  of  his  voice,  and  the  dis- 
tinctness of  his  utterance.  .  .  .  He  was  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  litigation  in  ejectment 
cases  depending  on  original  title,  which  were 
then  a  fertile  subject  of  dispute  in  our  courts 
and  in  those  of  the  neighboring  counties." 
Without  doubt  he  was  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful j)ractitioners  at  the  Dauphin  county 
bar  during  his  lifetime.  When  General  La- 
fayette visited  Harrisburg  he  was  selected 
as  the  man  to  welcome  that  distinguished 
Revolutionary  officer  to  the  city  of  Harris- 
burg, and  in  our  youthful  days  we  heard  his 
address  upon  that  occasion  entliusiastically 
spoken  of. 

Mr.  Fisher  died  at  iiis  residence  near  Mid- 
dletown,  Thursday,  February  2,  1853,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  He  left 
two  sons  who  became  quite  distinguished  in 
the  law,  John  Adam  Fisher,  of  Harrisburg, 
and  Robert  J.  Fisher,  who  was  judge  of  the 
York  district  for  .several  terms.  George 
Fisher  was  a  popular  lawyer,  and  occupied 
a  high  position  not  only  at  home,  but  at  the 
bars  of  Carlisle,  Sunbury,  Lebanon,  Lancas- 
ter and  York  ;  and  few  causes  of  magnitude 
or  importance  were  tried  during  a  long 
])eriod  in  which  he  was  not  one  of  the  lead- 
ing counsel.  He  managed  these  matters 
with  great  tact  and  judgment,  and  his  influ- 
ence with  the  jury  seemed  almost  magical. 
He  was  a  Federalist  in  politics,  firm,  sub- 
stantial, and  honest  in  his  creed.  A  man  of 
great  vigor  of  intellect;  eloquent  and  forci- 
ble as  an  advocate,  and  as  a  gentleman  of  the 
old  school  dignified,  yet  kind  and  polite. 


Jordan,  Thomas  Jefferson,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin Jordan,  and  his  wife,  Mary  Crouch, 
was  born  at  Walnut  Hill,  Dauphin  county, 
Pa,  December  o,  1821.  Through  hisniother 
he  was  descended  from  two  Revolutionary 
heroes,  Capt.  James  Crouch  and  Gen.  James 
Potter,  while  his  grandfather  Maj.  Thomas 
Jordan  was  an  officer  in  the  militia  in  the 
struggle  for  independence.  Thomas  Jordan 
received  a  good  classical  education,  studied 
law  with  George  W.  Harris,  at  Harrisburg, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Dauphin  county 
bar  February  0,  1843.  He  remained  in 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  On  the  day 
after  the  firing  on  Fort  Sumter,  he  was  mus- 
tered into  service  as  an  aide,  with  the  rank  of 
major,  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  William  H.  Keim, 
and  the  first  action  in  which  he  participated 
was  the  battle  of  Falling  Waters,  where  Gen- 


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