USA > Maryland > Washington County > Leitersburg > History of Leitersburg District, Washington County, Md.: Including Its Original Land Tenure. > Part 21
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DAVID L. WOLFINGER was born in Leitersburg District on the 28th of November, 1839, the son of Daniel G. and Susanna (Alex- ander) Wolfinger. He received a common school education and learned the trade of mason under his uncle, Lawson Alexander. This occupation he pursued at intervals for several years. From 1861 to 1866 he was engaged in business as a huckster in his na- tive District and the adjacent territory, collecting country pro- duce and hauling it to Georgetown, D. C., at intervals of two weeks. In 1868 he began farming as tenant on his father's farm. In 1870 he removed to Clay County, Mo., but returned after a residence of less than a month. Since 1872 he has been engaged in farming at his present residence, which he purchased from his father in 1891. In 1861 he married Elizabeth W., daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Deibert) Wolfersberger, who died on the 8th of February, 1883. Their children were David G. and Susanna M., both deceased; Daniel R .; Joseph W .; Henry B .; Edwin E., deceased; Charles I .; Grace M. A .; Lily M., Maud J., and Della I. E., all deceased; and Viola F. In 1885 he married Martha A., daughter of Abram and Susan (Gossard) Stine, and their children are Mary A .; Emma; Carrie C .; Bertha; Martha M .; Elsie, and
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Eva C. Mr. Wolfinger is a member of the Christian Church and in politics a Republican. In 1896 he served as assessor-at-large for the Fifth assessment district of Washington County.
DANIEL H. WOLFINGER was born in Leitersburg District, May 19, 1841, the son of Daniel G. and Susanna (Alexander) Wel- finger. He secured a common school education and learned the carpenter trade under Eli Jacobs. In 1866, having completed his apprenticeship, he went to Bellfontaine, Ohio, where he re- mained one year. He then returned to his native county and was engaged in farming until 1871, when he purchased land from his father in Leitersburg District and erected the present improve- ments thereon, now owned by William Trovinger. Here he re- sided twenty-one years, and during this period he was employed as carpenter and builder. In 1892 he rented the farm of Mrs. Laura K. Ziegler, formerly owned by his father, and here he has since been engaged in farming. In 1867 he married Susan, daugh- ter of Jacob and Susanna (Ditch) Zentmyer, and their children are Mary Alverda; Alice E., wife of Benjamin Etnyer; Jacob D .; Elvah S .; Vernon, and Esther N. Mr. Wolfinger is a member of the Christian Church and in politics a Republican.
JOHN O. WOLFINGER was born in Leitersburg District, January 8, 1848, the son of Daniel G. and Susanna (Alexander) Wolfinger. His education was obtained at the schools of his native county and at the National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio. He be- gan teaching in 1868 at the Old Forge school in Chewsville Dis- trict, and has since been engaged in this profession with the excep- tion of one term, 1881-82. He taught at Mt. Union from Janu- ary, 1869, when this school was first established, to 1873; at Para- dise, 1813-74: Pleasant Grove, 1874-75; Paradise, 1875-79; Mt. Union, 18:9-80; New Harmony, 1880-81; Mt. Union, 1881-83: Rock Hill, 1883-93, and Mt. Union, 1893-98. In 1880 he lo- cated at the farm whereon he has since resided. In 1873 he married Mary C., daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Short) Smith, who died on the 18th of January, 1898. Their children were Clarence S .; Effie S., wife of Webster L. Spessard, and Cora B. Mr. Wolfinger is a Republican in politics.
LEVI B. WOLFINGER was born in Leitersburg District on the 6th of May, 1849, the son of Daniel G. and Susanna (Alexander) Wolfinger. He obtained a commen school education and learned
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the trade of carpenter under his brother Daniel. Soon after attaining his majority he went to the West and was located in .Johnson County, Mo., a short time. He then returned to Ohio, where he spent six years, principally at Dayton and Bellefon- taine. In 1876 he engaged in farming on his father's farm in Leitersburg District whence he removed in 1882 to Hagerstown, where he was employed as a carpenter thirteen years. In 1895, in partnership with Charles B. Wolfinger, he purchased the farm whereon he has since resided. In 1879 he married Annie, daugh- ter of George Ziegler, and their children are Lloyd F .; Levi Z .; Emma S .; Clara L., and Roger W. Mr. Wolfinger is a member of the Christian Church and in politics a Republican.
ALEXANDER M. WOLFINGER was born in Leitersburg District, June 8, 1844, the son of Daniel G. and Susanna (Alexander) Wol- finger. He received a common school education, supplemented by a year under Prof. George Pearson at Smithsburg. In 1863-65 he taught the Rock Hill school; in 1867-69, Orange school, near the Old Forge; in 1869-76, the school at Chewsville; in 1876-77, Wolf's school, near Chewsville; in 1877-90, Antietam school in Chewsville District; he was thus engaged in this profession twenty-five years. In 1878 he purchased the property in Chews- ville District upon which he has since resided, and here he is engaged in farming and fruit culture. In 1870 he married Sophia J., daughter of John J. and Barbara (Poe) Lambert, and their children are James S., deceased; John L .; Albert M .; Mary H .; Frank S .; Samuel, deceased; Barbara E .; George P .; Daniel W .; Marshall A., and Lawson H. Mr. Wolfinger is a member of the Christian Church and an elder in the congregation at Ha- gerstown. In politics he is an independent Republican.
CHARLES I. WOLFINGER was born on the 3d of January, 1873, in Leitersburg District, the son of David L. and Elizabeth (Wol- fersberger) Wolfinger. After completing the course of study at the Leitersburg grammar school he engaged in teaching, first at Mt. Zion near Smithsburg and then at Rock Hill in Leitersburg District. In 1894 he was a student at the National Normal Uni- versity, Lebanon, Ohio, and since his return from that institution he has taught the school at Rock Hill. Mr. Wolfinger is a Re- publican in politics.
IGNATIT'S TAYLOR was a resident of Leitersburg District at the
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beginning of this century and was a man of prominence and in- fluence. In 1794 he purchased Elysian Fields, a tract of 237 acres, with considerable adjacent land in Pennsylvania, to which he gave the name of Mt. Douglas, and here he resided until his death in 1807. He served as member of the House of Delegates and judge of the orphans' court and bore the military title of major. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The following children survived him: Francis; Ann; Hannah; Jane, and Lucretia. Ann married Joseph Sprigg, who resided at Forest Hill near Williamsport and afterward at Cedar Grove, eighteen miles above Harper's Ferry; the other members of the family removed to Kentucky.
JOHN STRITE, from whom the Strite family of Leitersburg District is descended, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., March 28, 1775. His youth and early manhood were spent in his native county. On the 11th of April, 1797, he purchased from Henry Snell 137} acres of land at the consideration of £1,375, of which amount he paid £600 in cash and executed a mortgage for the re- mainder. This land is now owned principally by his grandson, John S. Strite, and here he lived for twenty years, gradually ex- tinguishing the mortgage on his farm and accumulating a sur- plus for future acquisition. On the 8th of January, 1817, he purchased from Alexander Claggett 282 acres of land, now em- bracing the farms of John F. Strite and W. Harvey Hykes. For this he paid $60.00 per acre, and here again he became deeply involved in debt, but through the indulgence of his credi- tors and his own good business management he eventually suc- ceeded in discharging all his obligations. Here he resided until his death, November 21, 1840. He was one of the pioneers in the later German immigration to Washington County from York and Lancaster in Pennsylvania. Like the majority of those who fol- lowed him he was a Mennonite in faith, and in the closing years of his life, when the membership of this communion had became sufficiently numerous in this locality to warrant the organiza- tion of a congregation and the erection of a church, he was an active promoter and liberal supporter of this movement, serving as one of the first trustees and as member of the building com- mittee of Miller's church. He married Elizabeth Eshleman, who was born on the 3d of February, 1767, and died on the 4th of
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May, 1844. Their children were Abraham; John; Christian; Samuel; Joseph, and Ann, who married Jacob Miller.
ABRAHAM STRITE was born on the 31st of January, 1795, and died on the 14th of November, 1863. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Mentzer, and they resided at the farm now owned by Henry M. Jacobs on the road leading from Miller's church to the turnpike. The present improvements on this farm, a substantial stone house and barn, were erected by him. Abra- ham Strite frequently acted as executor, administrator, and guar- dian, and was thus responsibly connected with many important business transactions. He was the first president of the Hagers- town and Waynesboro Turnpike Company.
JOHN STRITE was born on the 25th of October, 1796, the son of John and Elizabeth (Eshleman) Strite. He began farming as a tenant in Leitersburg District, and also rented a farm near Greencastle, Pa. After his father's death he purchased the farm upon which the latter resided at that time, and which is now owned by his grandson, John F. Strite. Here he lived until his death. February 19, 1851. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Summer, and their children were David; Nancy; John; Elizabeth, who married John Eshleman; Jacob; Martha, who mar- ried Jacob Shank; Catharine, who married Lewis Harbaugh; Samuel; Daniel, and Mary, who married John L. Gilbert.
CHRISTIAN STRITE was born in Leitersburg District, December 6, 1798, the son of John and Elizabeth (Eshleman) Strite, and died on the 15th of April, 1862. He owned and operated the mill near Leitersburg now the property of Samuel Strite and the farm connected with it, and was also engaged in distilling. The Summer farm on the opposite side of the creek was also his property. The improvements on this farm and the two brick houses on the mill property were erected by him. He married Catharine, daughter of John and Anna (Hege) Snively,* who was born August 22, 1810, and died, January 18, 1862. Christian Strite served as trustee of Miller's church from 1845 to 1862.
SAMUEL STRITE was born in Leitersburg District, December 10, 1800, the son of John and Elizabeth (Eshleman) Strite, and
*John Jacob Schnebele, a native of Switzerland, located in Lancaster County, Pa., between 1707 and 1718. He was naturalized at Philadelphia in 1729 and died at the age of eighty-four. His descendants intermarried with the Strite, Miller, Garver, Hoff- man, and other families of Leitersburg District.
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died on the 1st of May, 1878. He was a farmer by occupation, and lived and died in the vicinity of Fairview, Washington County. He married Martha, daughter of John and Anna (Hege) Snively, and their children were John ;. Anna, widow of Abraham Ditto; Henry; Martha, widow of Joshua Ditto; Elizabeth, wife of Philip M. Bell; Samuel, and Maria, wife of Martin Whit- mer.
JOSEPH STRITE was born in Leitersburg District, August 30, 1805, the son of John and Elizabeth (Eshleman) Strite, and died on the 8th of June, 1858. He began farming as a tenant on the farm his father bought in 1797; after the latter's death he pur- chased it, and here he resided until his death. He also owned the farm that was subsequently the property of his son Abraham. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Christian Strite; she was a native of Lancaster County, Pa., whence her parents removed to Upton, Franklin County. Their children were Elizabeth, de- ceased wife of Adam Baker; Abraham; Joseph; Catharine, de- ceased, who married Tobias Shank; Christian; John S .; Martha, wife of Noah E. Shank; Mary, wife of Christian Shank, and three who died in infancy.
DAVID STRITE was born in Leitersburg District on the 6th of January, 1822, the son of John and Elizabeth (Summer) Strite. During his boyhood his father resided near Antietam creek on the farm now owned by Samuel Hartle, and he attended school in the village of Leitersburg. After the family removed to An- trim Township he finished his education with one term at the Greencastle school. After attaining his majority he worked at barn building for two years under William McGuiney. In 1847 he began farming as tenant on his father's farm in Antrim Town- ship; he bought this several years later, but afterward sold it and bought another in the same neighborhood, whereon he resided until 1864. Ile then removed to the farm near Leitersburg now owned by his heirs and here he lived until his death, Feb- ruary 4, 1896. In 1846 he married Elizabeth, daughter of David and Magdalena (Grebill) Horst, of Lancaster County, Pa., who lived for several years at the Small farm on the Hagerstown and Leitersburg turnpike and then removed to Wayne County, Ohio. Their children were Mary A., widow of Jacob M. Hykes; John A .: Martha L .; Elizabeth C., deceased wife of Jacob Shank; David G .;
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Franklin M .; Ida C., wife of Joseph H. Eshleman, and Emma S., wife of Henry L. Strite. Mr. Strite was a Republican in poli- tics. He was president of the Hagerstown and Waynesboro Turn- pike Company from 1873 to 1895.
JOHN STRITE was born on the 19th of July, 1825, in Leiters- burg District, the son of John and Elizabeth (Summer) Strite. He obtained his education principally in the schools of Antrim Township. In 1851 he began farming as tenant on his father's farm, which he subsequently purchased and which is now owned by his son, John F. Although he retired from farming in 1863 he resided here until his death, October 19, 1870. In 1850 he married Catharine, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Eshleman) Horst; the issue of this marriage was one child, Elizabeth, who died at the age of five months. Mrs. Strite died in 1851, and in 1853 he married Eva, daughter of John and Lydia (Myers) Shank. Their children were Henry Clinton and Samuel Harvey. Their mother died in 1861, and in 1867 he married Mary, daugh- ter of Frederick and Susan (Eshleman) Shank. To this union were born two sons: John F .; and Benjamin, deceased.
SAMUEL STRITE was born near Greencastle, Pa., May 23, 1837, the son of John and Elizabeth (Summer) Strite. His father re- turned to Leitersburg District in 1843, and here he obtained his education at the common schools. From 1859 to 1863 he was engaged in farming as tenant on the farm of Jacob Miller, his uncle. In 1862 he purchased the mill property near Leitersburg and the farm adjacent thereto; here he located the following year and operated the farm, leasing the mill until 1867; from that date until 1893 he operated the mill, with the exception of two or three years. In 1893 he removed to Hagerstown, where he has since resided. Mr. Strite is a Republican in politics and has held several important public offices. He was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County in 1871; in the organization of the Board he was elected its pres- ident and held this responsible position during the erection of the present county court house. In 1875 he was elected judge of the orphans' court. In 1881 he was appointed county school commis- sioner, and continued in office ten years. Previous to this he had served several terms as trustee of the Leitersburg schools. In 1896 he was appointed a justice of the peace for Hagerstown.
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For many years he was a director in the Hagerstown and Waynes- boro Turnpike Company; he was treasurer of this corporation seven years and has served as superintendent since 1893. He was also a director in the Planters' Mutual Insurance Company of Lei- tersburg for some years and has been treasurer of the company since 1891. In 1858 Mr. Strite married Esther Ann, daughter of Jacob R. and Mary (Hoover) Shank, and their children are Abra- ham C., attorney-at-law, Hagerstown; Jacob A., attorney-at-law, Chambersburg, Pa .; Samuel M., a lieutenant in the United States Navy; Mary E .; Emma K .; John C., miller, Leitersburg: Louis M. C., teacher in the Washington County High School, Hagerstown; William A .; Clarence E., and Cora M.
ABRAHAM STRITE was born on the 7th of November, 1831, on the farm in Leitersburg District whereon his grandfather first settled in 1797. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Strite) Strite. He obtained his education at the local schools at Jacobs church and Rock Hill. In 1856 he began farming as tenant on the farm in Leitersburg District subsequently owned by himself. From 1858 to 1861 he rented from Jacob Miller the farm in Washington Township, Franklin County, now owned by Aaron Shank. In 1861 he purchased the larger part of the land en which he began farming, and here he resided until his death. December 3, 1894. In 1855 he married Fanny, daughter of John and Fanny (Buckwalter) Huber, of Petersburg, Lancaster County. Pa., and they were the parents of the following children: Mary A., who married Henry Ebersole; Matilda A., who died in carly womanhood; Fanny K., who married Abraham Horst; Elizabeth II., who married David Lesher: Annie L., who died in childhood: Lucy E., who married Samuel Diller, and Maggie M., who mar- ried John H. Diller. Mr. Strite was a Republican in politics and a member of the Mennonite Church.
JOSEPH STRITE was born in Leitersburg District, March 25. 1833, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Strite) Strite. He was reared on his father's farm and attended the local schools. In 1856 he began farming as tenant on the farm of Christian Strite, his uncle, adjacent to the mill. From 1858 to 1867 he rented his father's farm. In 186; he purchased from Henry Hess the Wil- liam Galiby farm. and here he lived until 1878, when he bought the farm on the Greencastle road where he resided until his death.
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July 4, 1891. In 1856 he married Catharine, daughter of An- drew and Magdalena (Shank) Lesher, and they were the parents of the following children: Ann Malinda, deceased, who married John Eshleman; Maria Elizabeth, who married Jacob Reiff; Henry L .; Martha A., deceased, who married Samuel Ebersole; and Andrew C. Mr. Strite was a member of Miller's Mennonite Church and trustee of that organization, and in politics a Repub- lican.
JOHN S. STRITE was born on the 21st of January, 1846, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Strite) Strite. He was born and reared at the farm whereon his grandfather first settled in 1797, and here he has resided all his life with the exception of one year. He obtained his education principally at the schools at Jacobs church and New Harmony, although he also attended Harrison and Leitersburg. In 1867, in partnership with his brother Chris- tian, he rented the farm whereon he now resides. In 1868 he rented it individually, and in the autumn of that year he bought it in partnership with Michael Lesher, his father-in-law, whose interest he acquired several years later. Here he was engaged in farming until 1894, and since then he has lived a retired life. In 1867 he married Catharine, daughter of Michael and Catharine (Sollenberger) Lesher, of Chambersburg, Pa. Five children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy. The two now living are Amanda L., wife of Michael Eshleman, and Daniel M. Mr. Strite is a member of the Mennonite Church, and holds the office of trustee. In politics he is a Republican.
JOHN A. STRITE was born in Antrim Township, Franklin County, Pa., June 28, 1849, the son of David and Elizabeth (Horst) Strite. He obtained his education at the schools of his native township and at Leitersburg. In 1871 he began farming as tenant on his father's farm in Antrim Township, where he remained two years. He then farmed in Leitersburg District nine years, in Antrim Township eleven years, and again returned to Leitersburg District in 1892. In 1897 he located upon the home farm near Leitersburg belonging to his father's estate. In 1870 he married Catharine, daughter of David and Elizabeth (McFerren) Maun, and their children are D. Franklin; Ira O .; Melchor E .; John C .; Elizabeth M .; Emma K .; Charles E., and Mary A. Mr. Strite is a Republican in politics.
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FRANKLIN M. STRITE was born in Antrim Township on the 17th of April, 1857, the son of David and Elizabeth (Horst) Strite. He obtained his education at New Harmony and Leiters- burg. He began farming in 1882, and for ten years operated as tenant successively the farms of his father and that of Mrs. Fanny Miller in Leitersburg District. In 1892 he purchased the farm upon which he has since resided. In 1881 he married Martha, daughter of Jacob and Fanny (Snively) Miller, and their children were Clyde L .; Frank S .; Annie E .; David B., and Mary K. Their mother died, November 19, 1888, and in 1890 he married Lydia, daughter of Joseph and Fanny (Lesher) Horst. The following children have been born to this union: Joseph H .; Annie M .; Daniel W., and Ira C. Mr. Strite is a member of the Mennonite Church and in politics a Republican.
JOHN F. STRITE was born on the 11th of November, 1868, in Leitersburg District, the son of John and Mary (Shank) Strite. He obtained his education at Rock Hill school. Since 1893 he has managed the farm jointly owned by himself and his mother.
ABRAHAM C. STRITE was born in Leitersburg District, Sep- tember 7, 1860, the son of Samuel and Esther Ann (Shank) Strite. He obtained his education at the grammar schools of Leitersburg and Smithsburg and at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., from which he graduated in 1882. In 1882-83 he was principal of the Boonsboro public schools and in 1883-87 assistant principal of the Washington County High School. During this period he was engaged in the study of law under the preceptorship of Louis E. McComas, and in 1886 he was admitted to the bar. In 1887 he engaged in the practice of his profession, to which he has since given his attention. He is officially connected with the city government of Hagerstown as attorney for the mayor and council. Mr. Strite is a Republican in politics and was twice nom- inated by his party for the House of Delegates.
SAMUEL M. STRITE was born in Leitersburg District, June 2, 1866. the son of Samuel and Esther Ann (Shank) Strite. In 1882. while a student at the Leitersburg Grammar School, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis by Hon. Milton G. Urner; there he completed the usual course of study and graduated in 1886 with the rank of cadet. After a two years' cruise he received the rank of ensign, from which he
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was promoted to a lieutenancy in 1897. Since entering the Navy he has made three voyages to China and Japan. He was also connected with the coast survey three years and was stationed at Pittsburg two years as inspector of armor plate. He is now a lieutenant on the Olympia, flagship of the Asiatic squadron, and participated in the naval battle at Manila, May 1, 1898.
JOHN C. STRITE was born in Leitersburg District, February 28, 1871, the son of Samuel and Esther Ann (Shank) Strite. After completing the course of study at the Leitersburg schools he engaged in teaching in 1890, continuing in this profession five years, and during this period he had charge of the intermediate department of the Leitersburg schools. In 1895 he leased his father's mill near Leitersburg, which he has since operated. Mr. Strite is a member of the Lutheran Church and a Republican in politics.
HENRY L. STRITE was born in Leitersburg District on the 19th of February, 1862, the son of Joseph and Catharine (Lesher) Strite. His education was obtained at New Harmony and at the grammar school in Leitersburg. In 1885 he began farming as tenant on his father's farm, and here he resided until 1897, when, having purchased from the estate of the late David Strite his present farm, he located thereon. In 1885 he married Emma S., daughter of David and Elizabeth (Horst) Strite, and their children are Carrie M .; Chester A., and Milton H. Mr. Strite is a Republican in politics.
ANDREW C. STRITE was born in Leitersburg District on the 22d of December, 1866, the son of Joseph and Catharine (Lesher) Strite. He was reared on his father's farm and attended the schools at New Harmony and Leitersburg. He began farming in 1890 as tenant on his father's farm, which he has since oper- ated. In 1889 he married Annie B., daughter of Abraham F. and Sarah (Brubaker) Landis, who died on the 28th of June, 1895, leaving two children, Ada May and Ervin Landis. In 1897 he married her sister, Miss Lizzie B. Landis. Mr. Strite is a Republican in politics and a member of the Mennonite Church.
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