USA > Maryland > Washington County > Leitersburg > History of Leitersburg District, Washington County, Md.: Including Its Original Land Tenure. > Part 26
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DANIEL BECK was born near Waynesboro, Pa., May 26, 1838, the son of Philip and Susanna (Winter) Beck. His education was obtained at the public school near Beard's church and at Smithsburg. In 1861 he engaged in farming as tenant on his father's farm. This extensive tract having been divided he lo- cated in 1866 upon that part on which the new buildings were erected, and here he has since resided. In 1861 he married Cath- arine, daughter of Joshua and Louisa (Black) Sheley, and their surviving children are Laura K .; Daisy R., and Max D. Mr. Beck is a Democrat in politics. In 1876 he was one of the assessors for the district composed of Leitersburg, Chewsville, Ringgold. Cavetown, and Beaver Creek Districts.
ISAAC HI. DURBORAW was born in Hamilton Township. Frank- lin County, Pa., February 18, 1796, the son of Thomas and Elsie (Bartholow) Durboraw. His education was obtained at the local schools and at the Chambersburg Academy, where he stud- ied higher mathematics and Latin. After teaching four years at Mercersburg he came to Leitersburg District at the urgent request of Stephen Martin and took charge of the Longmeadows
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or Martin's school. He also taught at Beard's church, and then relinquished this profession to engage in merchandising at Chewsville. After operating for six years the Winter mill, owned by his father-in-law, Daniel Winter, he bought a farm near An- tietam Junction in Washington Township, Franklin County, Pa., where he resided ten years. He then returned to Washington County and resided at the farm now owned by Oliver F. Lantz in Ringgold District until his death, October 23, 1873. In ad- dition to this farm he also owned and operated the Winter or Durboraw mill and the farm now owned by his son, Daniel W. Durboraw. In 1833 he married Catharine, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Ridenour) Winter, and their children were Ellen, wife of Richard Furley; Eliza; Daniel W .; Martha, wife of Manoah Metz; Margaret, wife of Jesse H. Haugh; Isaac, and Lydia, wife of Preston S. Vogle. Mr. Durboraw was a member of the Pres- byterian Church and in politics a Whig and Republican. He was county surveyor of Washington County from 1855 to 1857.
DANIEL W. DURBORAW was born March 17, 1838, at the Dur- boraw or Winter mill, then operated by his father, Isaac H. Dur- boraw. He was educated principally under the tuition of his father. In 1866 he began farming as tenant on the farm where he has since resided, in addition to which he also owns the adja- cent farm, both tracts aggregating 234 acres. In 1862 Mr. Dur- horaw married Martha, daughter of James and Mary (Haugh) Slick, and their children are Mamie, wife of Dr. Jacob H. Wish- ard of Leitersburg and Emma, wife of Jacob A. Strite, attorney- at-law, Chambersburg. Mr. Durboraw is a member of the Re- formed Church and in politics a Republican.
ISRAEL SENGER was born in Washington Township, Franklin County, Pa., September 17, 1801, the son of John Senger, a na- tive of Germany, who immigrated with his two brothers, one of whom located in Lancaster County, Pa., and the other in Rock- ingham County, Va. John Senger lived for some years near Union school house, Washington Township, on the farm now owned by David R. Miller. Israel Senger succeeded his father in possession of part of this farm and resided thereon until 1840, when he purchased from .Jacob Bell the farm in Leiters- hurg District now owned by the heirs of the late John Eshleman, and here he lived until his death, January 5, 1849. In early man-
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hood he was employed by Dr. Fahrney of Beaver Creek as team- ster, and while a resident of that locality he married Catharine Emmert. Their children were John; Lydia, who married Benja- min Stouffer; Leonard; Samuel; Catharine; Andrew; Elizabeth, who married Josiah Fahrney; Israel, and David. Israel Senger. Sr., was a member of the German Baptist Church.
LEONARD SENGER was born in Washington Township, Frank- lin County, Pa., August 16, 1827, the son of Israel and Catharine (Emmert) Senger. He received a common school education and was employed on his father's farm until 1856, when he made a journey to Illinois. After his return he was employed by John Dayhoff at Rock Forge eighteen months. He resided in Franklin County, Pa., from 1861 to 1864, and in Preble County, Ohin, in 1865; since the latter date he has resided upon his farm in Leiters- burg District. In 1858 he married Catharine, daughter of George and Rachel (Hafner) Wiles, and their children are Mary; Annie. wife of Charles Martin, and Emma, deceased. Mr. Senger is inde- pendent in politics.
JONAS ROWLAND was born in Washington County, Md., May 23, 1809, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wolf) Rowland, and grandson of John Rowland, who lived near the College of St. James and the Marsh German Baptist church. Left an orphan at an early age he was reared by his uncle, David Wolf, and by Joseph Emmert, who lived east of Hagerstown on the Leitersburg turnpike. After his marriage he began farming three miles from Hagerstown on the Downsville turnpike, but several years later he located in Leitersburg District at the farm owned by Daniel N. Scheller, and here he lived until his death, April 22, 1863. He married Ann, the only child of Samuel and Margaret (Mentzer) Gilbert, of whom the former was born April 18, 1784, and died July 12. 1838; the latter was born January 31, 1793, and died March 22. 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland were the parents of the following children: Daniel G., a farmer at Peabody, Kan .: David W .. of Centerview, Mo .; Margaret A., wife of Daniel N. Scheller: Jonas, deceased; John, who died in infancy; Lewis B .. dentist, Hagerstown; Abraham S., a farmer of Washington County: Martin, who died in infancy: Ezra, a farmer in East Hagerstown District; and Samuel D., who died in childhond. Mr. Rowland was a member of the German Baptist Church, and the
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Longmeadows or Rowland's church was originally built by him. Two of his sons, David W. and Abraham S., are ministers in this church, in which Daniel G. also holds the office of deacon.
DR. LEWIS B. ROWLAND was born in Leitersburg District, June 19, 1843, the son of Jonas and Ann (Gilbert) Rowland. He received a common school education, and after a brief experience in teaching began the study of medicine, but relinquished this and located at Hagerstown, where for five years he was engaged in the agricultural implement business. In 1878 he began the study of dentistry and has since been engaged in the practice of this profession. In 1885-86 and 1890-91 the Doctor was in Florida, where he designed to engage in orange culture, but the "freeze" of 1890 resulted disastrously to his groves and he re- linquished the project. In 1865 he married Barbara A., daugh- ter of Jacob B. and Barbara (Funk) Lehman. The Doctor is now a Republican but formerly affiliated with the Prohibition party, by which he was nominated for county commissioner and for councilman in Hagerstown. He has traveled extensively in the United States and Canada.
PETER MIDDLEKAUFF was born on the 13th of December, 1807, the son of David and Elizabeth (Sailor) Middlekauff, who resided near Hagerstown on the Cavetown turnpike at the farm owned by Captain Kahler. He obtained his education principally at a school taught by George Hoffman near Zion Reformed church in Hagerstown. When he reached manhood he engaged in farming on his father's farm and after the death of the latter he kept hotel in Hagerstown one year. He then bought a farm west of Hagers- town and resided thereon twenty years, after which he located at Hagerstown and engaged in business as a brewer eight years. On the 1st of April, 1865, he removed to Leitersburg, where he was associated with George W. Pole in the mercantile business for several years, and after relinquishing this he lived a retired life. In the days of militia musters he was a lieutenant in Cap- tain Hollingsworth's company, and during his residence at Lei- tersburg he served as mayor and was also justice of the peace for many years. In 1831 he married Elizabeth Wolf; one child was born to them, Simon P., of Canton, Ill. Mrs. Middlekauff died in 1832, and in 1835 he married Catharine, daughter of John and Catharine (Lyon) Petrie. Their children were Hiram D .; John
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P .; Solomon S .; Mary E., wife of John A. Bell, and Catharine A., widow of Scott Ziegler. Mr. Middlekauff died on the 4th of March, 1892, and Mrs. Middlekauff on the 14th of January, 1887. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Reformed Church, in which he held the office of elder.
HIRAM D. MIDDLEKAUFF was born near Hagerstown, Md., June 28, 1837, the son of Peter and Catharine (Petrie) Middlekauff. He obtained his education at the public schools and the Hagers- town Academy. In 1861 he succeeded his father in the brewing business at Hagerstown, which he conducted four years. In 1865 he engaged in farming in partnership with David F. Nigh. In 1867 he rented from his father the farm in Leitersburg District which he now owns, and which he operated until 1892, when he removed to Leitersburg. In 1867 he married Lydia A., daughter of George and Rachel (Hafner) Wiles, and their children were George; and Harry, Katie, and John, all deceased. Their mother died in 1875, and in 1876 he married Lavanda H., daughter of Philip and Barbara (Snotterly) Beaver, and their children were Hiram D. and William A., both deceased. Mr. Middlekauff is a member of the Reformed Church, in which he has held the offices of deacon and elder. He is a Democrat in politics and was once the candidate of his party for county commissioner. During his residence in Hagerstown he was president of the Junior Fire Company.
GEORGE W. MIDDLEKAUFF, A. M., was born at Leitersburg, June 5, 1869, the son of Hiram D. and Lydia A. (Wiles) Middle- kauff. After completing the course of study at the Leitersburg Grammar School he entered Franklin and Marshall College in 1888, graduating in 1891. In the following year he was pro- fessor of mathematics at Palatinate College. In 1892-93 he was a post-graduate student at Johns Hopkins University. He was principal of the Leitersburg Grammar School in 1893-94, and since the latter date he has been connected with the public schools of Waynesboro, Pa., as assistant principal of the High School. Mr. Middlekauff is a member of the Reformed Church and a Democrat in politics.
SAMTEL NIGH was born near Hummelstown, Lancaster County, Pa., November 10, 1809, the son of Henry Nigh, whose ancestors were of French Huguenot origin and wrote the name
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. .
LONGMEADOWS CHURCH.
٠ ٠٠ ٠٠٫
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"Noyes" or "Nye." At an early age he removed with his father's family to Letterkenny Township, Franklin County, Pa., where he was reared and obtained a common school education. In early manhood he was employed at brick making and farm labor at Waynesboro, Pa., whence he removed to Leitersburg District, of which he was a resident until his death, June 22, 1891, a period of more than fifty years. Here he was variously employed at fence-making, farm labor, etc,; for eighteen years he owned the present farm of Mrs. Margaret Leather, and for some years before his death he resided in the immediate vicinity of Leitersburg. He married Lydia Mort and their children were John W., deceased, a carpenter by occupation; Samuel T., a mechanic of Springfield, Ohio; Susan, deceased wife of Jacob Lowman; David F., and Kate, wife of Samuel F. Lowman. Mr. Nigh was a Whig in poli- tics and afterward a Republican.
DAVID F. NIGH was born in Leitersburg District, June 9, 1841, the son of Samuel and Lydia (Mort) Nigh. He received a com- mon school education, principally at Pleasant Hill school, of which his father was one of the trustees when the first school house was erected at the present site. He was reared a farmer and first engaged in this business in partnership with Hiram D. Middlekauff; in 1865 they operated the Joseph Gabby farm near Leitersburg. In 1866 he rented individually the farm of John Strite, which he operated at different times a total of sixteen years, residing in the meantime at Leitersburg, where he owned a property of twenty-five acres; he also farmed one year in Wash- ington Township, Franklin County, Pa., and one year at the Scheller farm near Ziegler's mill, from which in 1889 he removed to North Bellevue, a tract of 275 acres near Hagerstown owned by the Hamilton estate, which he has since operated. In connection with farming Mr. Nigh has also been engaged in raising thoroughbred stock and is recognized as one of the leading breed- ers of Holstein Friesians in Western Maryland. In 1864 he mar- ried Mary J., daughter of Philip and Ann (Snotterly) Beaver, and their children are Ida K., wife of Joseph Barkdoll; Annie B., wife of Otis Smith; May L., wife of Harry Lehman; Charles B., a farmer in Wilson's District; Edward B .; Albert C .; W. Keller, and Emma L. Mr. Nye is a member of the Lutheran Church and a Republican in politics.
18
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HISTORY OF LEITERSBURG DISTRICT.
JOSEPH BARKDOLL was born on the 6th of March, 1810, near Ringgold, Md., the son of John and Christina (Hevel) Barkdoll, and grandson of Peter and Sophia (Kruper) Barkdoll, the an- cestors of the Barkdoll family of Ringgold District. Peter Bark- doll's sons were Jacob; John; Peter; Joseph, and George; he also had several daughters. The subject of this sketch obtained his education at the local school in Slashersburg, a village now re- garded as part of Rouzerville, Pa. As a young man he worked for some years for Daniel Mickley, who resided near Harbaugh's church. In 1837, at Mr. Mickley's request, he leased his farm near Upton, Franklin County, Pa., and here he lived nine years. In 1846 he rented the Old Forge farm in Chewsville District from David M. Good and operated it five years. In 1851 he re- moved to the farm of Dr. William Ragan, now owned by Daniel N. Scheller, and after one year here and one year on one of the Ziegler farms he purchased in 1853 his present farm at Beard's church, whereon he resided eighteen years. In 1871 he bought the farm near Leitersburg which he still owns, and here he als) lived eighteen years. In 1889 he retired from farming and has since lived in Leitersburg. In 1835 Mr. Barkdoll married Susan. daughter of Nicholas and Rosanna (Augustine) Steffey, and their children were John B .; N. Frank; James P .; Joseph S .: George P .. who died in infancy; M. Amanda, and Malinda B. Mr. Barkdell has been a member of the Lutheran Church for sixty years, having been confirmed at Greencastle in 1837. He has served as deacon and elder in Beard's Church and elder in the Leitersburg Church. In politics he has been a life-long Dem !- crat.
WILLIAM BARKDOLL was born in Ringgold District. Washing- ton County, Md., March 29, 1854, the son of Henry and Julia Ann (Rogers) Barkdoll, grandson of Joseph Barkdoll, and great- grandson of Peter Barkdoll, from whom the Barkdoll family of Ringgold and adjacent Districts is descended. Joseph Barkdoll was the first blacksmith at Ringgold, and built the third house in that village. He died on the 25th of March, 1874, at the age of eighty-five years. Henry Barkdoll also resided at Ringgold for some years and was employed at the carpenter trade. but is now a resident of Washington Township, Franklin County. Pa .. where he has been engaged in farming. William Barkdoll oh-
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tained a common school education and was reared in his native village. Here he learned the trade of blacksmith under Barkdoll Brothers; after completing his apprenticeship he worked for the Frick Company in Waynesboro three years, after which he oper- ated the blacksmith shop at Rock Forge one year. In 1885 he rented the Rinehart farm adjacent to the Forge and engaged in farming and sand hauling. He purchased this farm in 1890 and has since operated it. In 1879 he married Alice L., daughter of George A. and Henrietta (Cramer) Snotterly, and their children are Frank L .; Alice M., who died in infancy; Ettie M., and Grover C. Mr. Barkdoll is a Democrat in politics.
HENRY L. YESLER was born in Leitersburg District, December 31, 1810, the son of Henry Yesler and grandson of Andrew Leiter, the founder of Leitersburg. In 1830 he located at Massillon, Ohio, where he was employed in a saw-mill nineteen years. He went to Portland, Ore., in 1851, and thence to Marysville, Cal., where he engaged in mining. The vast undeveloped region on the shores of Puget Sound now attracted his attention and in 1852 he found his way to the future site of Seattle, then a hamlet of five cabins. The town, of which he was the virtual founder, was laid out in 1853 and received its name in honor of Sealth, a friendly Indian chief. Here in 1853 he built a saw-mill, the first on the Sound, and for many years the principal industry of the incipient city. He also embarked in various other enterprises and with the growth of the place his property increased enormously in value. Through the passing years he amassed a large fortune and at his death he was one of the wealthiest citizens of his adopted State. He was twice elected mayor of Seattle and also served in other responsible civil offices. At Massillon he married Sarah Burgert, who died in 1887. In 1890 he married Minnie, daughter of John Gagle, a former resident of Leitersburg District.
CHRISTIAN C. SPESSARD was born on the 15th of January, 1815, the son of John Spessard and grandson of Michael Spessard. Michael Spessard was born in December, 1750, and died in April, 1825. Several years prior to his death he located in Chewsville District where Melvin Spessard now lives, and in this locality he has numerous descendants. John Spessard was born on the 6th of March, 1791, and died on the 13th of May, 1878. He acquired the lands in Leitersburg District formerly owned by Jacob
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Lecron; his son Christian C. succeeded to the possession of part of these lands and resided thereon until his death, April 29, 1890. In 1837 he married Mary Hershey, who died in 1845; their chil- dren were Jacob; Quincy; David, and Mary E., wife of Jacob Stover. In 1847 he married Mary, daughter of John Newman, and their children were John D .; Laura C., and Martha J., wife of Samuel Boward. Mr. Spessard was a member of the United Brethren Church and a Republican in politics.
BENJAMIN F. SPESSARD was born in Chewsville District, May 27, 1844, the son of Peter and Matilda (Reed) Spessard and grandson of Michael Spessard. Peter Spessard was four times married and was the father of twelve children, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch was one of the youngest. He was reared in his native District and attended the local schools. In 1868 he began farming as tenant on the farm of Elizabeth Hartle. In 1874 he purchased the farm whereon he has since resided and upon which he has erected the present improvements. In 1867 he married Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Amelia (Creager) Hartle, and their children are Kenney O .; Jacob M .; Gertrude A .; Clayton I., a student at Franklin and Marshall College; Emma K .; Mary O .; Edith E., and Sallie. Mr. Spessard is a member of the Reformed Church and in politics he is a Republican.
REV. KENNEY O. SPESSARD, A. M., was born in Leiters- burg District, June 30, 1868, the son of Benjamin F. and Catha- rine (Hartle) Spessard. After completing the course of study at the Leitersburg schools he entered Franklin and Marshall Col- lege, Lancaster, P'a., from which he graduated with the Class of 1891. Entering the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at that city in the same year he graduated in 1894 and at once entered upon his duties as pastor of the Reformed Church at Union Bridge, Md. In 1895 he married Miss Rosalie Weaver, of Martinsburg, W. Va.
JACOB TRITLE was born in Franklin County, Pa., January 31. 1817, the son of Philip and Martha (Hege) Tritle. He was reared on his father's farm and was engaged in farming throughout his activo life, excepting the years 1852-57, when he owned and oper- ated the Rock Forge saw-mill. In 1857 he bought a farm on Little Antietam east of Leitersburg and here he lived thirty-one years. In 1888 he removed to Leitersburg, and there he resided
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until his death, May 5, 1891. In 1839 he married Sarah, daugh- ter of John Mentzer, and their children were Daniel M., deceased; Mary A .; Elizabeth O., who married Jacob B. Stoner, and Mar- tha J., who married John D. Spessard. Mr. Tritle was a member of the Lutheran Chruch, in which he served as elder and deacon and as Sunday school superintendent for many years. In politics he was a Republican.
MATTHIAS HOFFMAN was a native of Germany and came to America at the age of seven years with his father, one sister, and two brothers. The family located at Baltimore and there he was reared. When he reached manhood he entered the employ of Christian Hoover, who owned eight hundred acres of land near Ringgold and hauled the surplus produce of his extensive farm to market at Baltimore, as was customary at that period. Hoffman entered his service as wagoner; subsequently he married one of his daughters, who inherited as her portion of the parental estate the farm south of Ringgold now owned by John S. New- comer. Here he lived until his death in 1838. His children were Henry, who married Susanna Snively and reared a family of eleven children; Christian, who married Nancy Newcomer, and reared a family of seven children; Jacob, who married Magdalena Stouffer and reared a family of ten children; Mary, who married Daniel Shank, and Nancy, who married Peter Barr. The first Matthias Hoffman was a Mennonite, and to this faith his family generally adhered. He is buried at the old Hoover graveyard in Ringgold District, although no stone marks his grave and its location can not be exactly determined.
MATTHIAS HOFFMAN was born in Ringgold District, Washing- ton County, Md., May 16, 1819, the son of Henry and Susanna (Snively) Hoffman. He received a limited education at the local schools. In 1847 he began farming individually as tenant on a farm of two hundred acres belonging to the Lawrence estate, sev- eral miles from Hagerstown on the Western turnpike. Here he continued ten years. He then operated successively the Van Lear farm of two hundred acres near Williamsport three years, the Springfield farm of three hundred acres in the same locality three years, the Van Lear farm one year, and the Mt. Etna farm of five hundred acres in Beaver Creek District ten years. During the Civil War he was located on the Springfield farm and ex-
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HISTORY OF LEITERSBURG DISTRICT.
perienced severe losses. In 1872 he purchased the farm in Lei- tersburg District whereon he resided until his death, April 10, 1890. As a farmer he was eminently successful. The farms he operated were among the most extensive in Washington County and under his management invariably improved in fertility and productiveness. Mr. Hoffman was a Republican in politics and a member of the German Baptist Church, holding the office of deacon in the Antietam congregation. In 1843 he married Nancy, daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Stouffer) Hoffman, and their children were Catharine, wife of John Detrow; Mag- dalena; Isaac H .; William H .; John W .; Emma S., wife of E. Keller Mentzer; Aaron V .; Anna Florence, wife of George Oller; Ella M., wife of Aaron Newcomer, and Etha C., wife of Ferdinand S. Gilbert.
ISAAC H. HOFFMAN was born near Hagerstown, Md., June 13, 1850, the son of Matthias and Nancy (Hoffman) Hoffman. His education was obtained principally at the Williamsport schools. In 1871 he engaged in farming in Ringgold District; here he con- tinued six years, and then he successively operated the McAtee farm in Williamsport District five years, the Blair farm (adjoin- ing that last mentioned) eight years, and the Springfield farm four years. In 1894 he retired from farming and engaged in the grocery business at Williamsport, which he has since continued with fair success. In 1871 he married Anna, daughter of John and Magdalena (Toms) Sensenbaugh. In politics Mr. Hoffman is a Republican.
WILLIAM II. HOFFMAN was born near Hagerstown, Md., June 9, 1853, the son of Matthias and Nancy (Hoffman) Hoffman. He received a common school education. In 1873 he superintended for his father the farm purchased by the latter in Leitersburg District, and here he was also employed during the next two years. From 1876 to 1879 his father leased the adjacent farm of Dr. I. N. Snively in Washington Township, Franklin County, Pa., and here he acted as farm superintendent during that period, after which he leased the same farm and operated it individually three years. He then located in Harbaugh's valley, Frederick County, Md .. and here he was engaged in farming two years. In 1884 he leased the Wiles farm near Waynesboro, which he has since operated. In 1897 he purchased the farm in Leitersburg Dis-
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