USA > Maryland > Washington County > Leitersburg > History of Leitersburg District, Washington County, Md.: Including Its Original Land Tenure. > Part 28
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CASPER LINDERMAN was born at Waltdorf, Saxe Meiningen, March 24, 1834, the only child of Adam and Elizabeth (Harpst) Linderman. He obtained his education at his native place, where he also learned the trade of shoemaker. In 1854 he emigrated to America, arriving at New York in August of that year. Thence he went to Quincy Township, Franklin County, Pa., where his uncle, John Harpst, resided. After working at his trade in Lei- tersburg six years he purchased in 1863 the property whereon he has since resided. In 1862 he married Martha, daughter of Mi- chael Seiders, and their children are William A .; Margaret, wife of W. Harvey Hykes; Ida, wife of George Barlop, and John. Mr. Linderman is a member of the German Baptist Church.
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LEVI L. RIDENOUR was born near Edgemont, Md., September 24, 1836, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Flora) Ridenour and grandson of George Ridenour, a native of Germany, who located near Edgemont, where he lived until his death. Levi L. Ride- nour received a common school education. He was employed by David Hoover as farm superintendent from 1863 to 1880; in 1880 he purchased the property formerly owned by Samuel Stephey and here he resided three years, after which he rented for four- teen years the farm owned by the heirs of Jonas Bell. In 1897 he returned to his own farm, which now comprises forty acres. In 1862 he married Malinda, daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Gar- ver) Stephey, and their children are Emma, wife of David Myers; Samuel H .; Clinton S .; Barry O., deceased; Charles B .; Calvin C .; Naomi V., and David M. Mr. Ridenour is a member of the Lutheran Church and a Democrat in politics.
JOHN SUMMER was born near Williamsport, Md., July 9, 1834, the son of John and Sarah (Rowland) Summer and grandson of Andrew Summer, who removed from Lancaster County, Pa., and located in Washington County, Md., west of Hagerstown near the Western turnpike. John Summer began farming in 1859 in Williamsport District. In 1862 he purchased the farm of fifty- six acres near Leitersburg whereon he has since resided. In 1857 he married Ann M. E. Bachtel, daughter of George and Barbara (Stephey) Bachtel, and the following children were born to this union: Benjamin R .; Alvey B., deceased; Emma J., wife of Albert Stoner; Charles C., deceased; Barbara E., wife of Barry O. Shank; Sarah E., John G., William J., and Edward C., all deceased; Thomas II .; Anna M., wife of William Hartle, and Mary M., wife of William S. Rinehart. Mr. Summer is a member of the Chris- tian Church and a Democrat in politics.
BENJAMIN R. SUMMER was born near Williamsport, Md., August 31, 1858, the son of John and Ann M. E. (Bachtel) Sum- mer. He was brought up in Leitersburg District and attended the Leitersburg schools. In 1880-81 he was a student at Eaton & Burnett's Business College, Baltimore, Md. After clerking at Hagerstown six months he opened a store at Leitersburg in 1881; later in the same year he removed to Quincy, Pa., where he has since conducted a general mercantile business. In 1882 he mar- ried Ida May, daughter of John S. and Mary (Durnbaugh) Duey,
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and their children are Almeda V .; Walter C .; Harris N .; Ruth and May, both deceased. Mr. Summer is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church. He was postmaster at Quincy from 1884 to 1888.
HENRY F. UNGER was born in Cavetown District, Washington County, Md., February 23, 1837, the son of Frederick and Eliza- beth (Fishach) Unger. His father was born near Wittenberg, Germany, and emigrated to America at the age of seventeen. He learned the trade of miller with Lewis Tritle near Smithsburg, Md., and pursued that occupation during his active life, eventu- ally purchasing the "Red mill" near the reservoir in Cavetown District. He and his wife were members of the Reformed Church at Cavetown, where both are buried. Their children were Cath- arine; Nettie, who married James Stevenson; William; Henry F .; Elizabeth, who married Isaac Shank, and George B. Henry F. was reared in his native District and obtained his education at the Smithsburg schools. He began farming in 1874 as tenant on his father's farm, which he operated seventeen years. After a resi- dence of two years at Chewsville he purchased in 1893 the farm of ninety acres upon which he has since resided, and here he is extensively engaged in grape and berry culture. In 1868 he married Susan, daughter of Cornelius C. and Maria (Kimler) Reese, and of the children born to this union the following are now living: Cora, wife of Walter Shilling; Emma, wife of Harvey Lantz; Louis R .; Nettie M .; Zada E .; Lester D .; Henry E., and Max C. Mr. Unger is a Democrat in politics.
JOHN L. GILBERT was born near Greencastle, Pa., June 12, 1840, the son of David and Elizabeth (Lecron) Gilbert. He was reared in that locality and in Leitersburg District, to which his father had removed, and obtained a common school education. From 1865 to 1875 he operated as tenant his father's farm in Leitersburg District on the Greencastle road. In 1875 he pur- chased the farm near Miller's church now owned by Daniel W. Martin, to whom he sold it in 1894. He resided here until 1893, when he removed to Waynesboro. He subsequently returned to Leitersburg District, and here he died, February 7, 1895. In 1864 he married Mary, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Sum- mer) Strite, who survives him, with the following children: Louis DeLoy, pattern maker, Waynesboro, Pa .; Daniel Clayton, attor-
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ney-at-law, Hagerstown, Md .; Myrtle E., and David Allen, who has taught several school terms in his native District and in Wash- ington Township. Mr. Gilbert was a member of the Reformed Church.
GEORGE W. Coss was born in Chewsville District, August 9, 1841, the son of Samuel and Dorothy (Bowers) Coss and grand- son of John Coss, who once resided near Williamsport but re- moved to West Virginia, where he lived and died near the Ohio river opposite Marietta. Samuel Coss returned to Washington County; he was a blacksmith but farmed for some years near Beard's church, where he died in 1888. George W. learned the trade of blacksmith under Philip Warfield. After a residence of three years at Farmersville, Ohio, he located in 1865 at his present place of business, adjacent to Martin's school house. In 1863 he married Georgetta S., daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Stockslager) Lyday, and their children are Louis C .; Florence E., wife of Charles Worden; George A .; Emma K., wife of Frederick Hartman; Samuel W .; Mary D., wife of Pierce Ziegler; Frances E .; Nettie S .; Della L., and Ralph. Mr. Coss is a member of the Reformed Church and a Democrat in politics.
WILLIAM H. STEVENSON was born in Cavetown District, Wash- ington County, Md., November 19, 1842, the son of Joseph and Nancy (Grove) Stevenson. Joseph Stevenson was a shoemaker by occupation and conducted that business near Smithsburg, where he lived until his death. His family consisted of eight children: John, who died in infancy; James A .; Elizabeth A., who married William Ridenour; Benjamin F .; Susan, who married William Weagley: William H .; Sarah, and Ann R., who married Hezekiah Deibert. William H. Stevenson received a common school education and learned the trade of shoemaker under his father, after which he pursued this avocation fifteen years. In 1877 he located upon the property formerly owned by the Dayhoff family; this he purchased in 1878 and here he has since resided. In 1876 he married Catharine, daughter of Samuel Dayhoff and their children are Joseph S .. a graduate of Juniata College, Hunt- ingdon, Pa .; M. Edith: Henry H .; Sudie K .; Bertha May; H. Wil- bur, and Ernest L. Mr. Stevenson is a member of the German Baptist Church and a Prohibitionist in politics. In 1864 he en- listed in Company D, Fifth Maryland Volunteers, participating
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in the operations around Richmond and Petersburg until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at Fortress Monroe.
DAVID B. SHOEMAKER was born at Ringgold, Md., March 17, 1843, the son of Michael and Mary (Newcomer) Shoemaker and grandson of John Shoemaker, who removed from Hanover, Pa., to the vicinity of Ringgold and thence to Dalesville, Ind., where he has numerous descendants. There he died, January 22, 1865, aged eighty-eight years and twenty-three days. Michael Shoe- maker returned from the West and located south of Ringgold, whence he removed to Cearfoss, Md., in 1855, to Welsh Run, Pa., in 1860, and to Upton, Pa., in 1864. David B. Shoemaker's early life was passed at the places mentioned, where he attended the local schools. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Company F, Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served six months. In 1870 he began farming at Welsh Run, and two years later he located upon the Ziegler farm in Leitersburg District, which he has since operated. He also owns a farm of 178 acres in Washing- ton Township, Franklin County, Pa. In 1867 he married Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Brant) Miller, who died on the 2d of January, 1890, leaving the following children: Amy; Frank; David; William; Clara; Harry; Nora; Allen, and Ella. Mr. Shoemaker is a Reformed Mennonite in faith and inde- pendent in politics.
DAVID BARNHART was born in Leitersburg District, May 14, 1843, the son of Jacob and Mary (Beckman) Barnhart. His father was born on the 8th of June, 1813, and died on the 28th of August, 1882; his mother, who was a daughter of John and Ann (Beck) Beckman, died when he was six years of age and he was reared in the family of Joseph Leiter of Leitersburg, under whom he learned the trade of carpenter. His education was ob- tained at the village schools. In 1867 he entered into partner- ship with John Middlekauff in the business of contracting and building. Two years later this partnership was dissolved; during the ensuing two years he was in partnership with James Leiter, and then for a period of eighteen months with J. Freeland Leiter. Since 1873 he has been in business individually, employing at times as many as ten workmen. Many of the later improvements of the District and adjacent region have been erected by him. He built the Greensburg Lutheran church, and was also respon-
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sibly concerned in the remodelling of the Lutheran churches at Leitersburg, Beard's, and Smithsburg. In connection with his business as carpenter and contractor he also conducts an under- taking business. In 1865 Mr. Barnhart married Annie K., daugh- ter of Samuel and Ruth Ann (Swisher) Bowers, and their children are Mary; Annie R., wife of Charles G. Leiter; George W .; Joseph L., deceased; M. Maud; D. Benton, and Charles F. Mr. Barnhart is a member of the Lutheran Church at Leitersburg, in which he has held the office of deacon. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as postmaster of Leitersburg from 1884 to 1888 and from 1892 to 1898.
OLIVER K. KNODE was born near Funkstown, Md., August 10, 1843, the son of Louis A. and Catharine (Gagler) Knode and grandson of Jacob Knode, a life-long resident in the vicinity of Boonsboro, Md. He obtained a common school education, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1872 he engaged in farm- ing, at which he was employed until 1898, with the ex- ception of the year 1882. He farmed successively eight years near Clearspring, three years north of that village, two years in Wilson's District, one year at St. Paul's church, and four years in Wilson's District. In 1891 he purchased a farm in Funks- town District and resided thereon until 1895, when, having bought the farm near Leitersburg owned for many years by Levi Fox, he located thereon and here he resided until 1898, when he sold it and removed to Leitersburg. In 1871 he married Eliza- beth, daughter of William and Mary (Brewer) Beard, and they are the parents of one child, Eva D. Mr. Knode is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics a Republican.
DANIEL J. D. HICKS was born near Welsh Run, Franklin County, Pa., August 4, 1844, the son of John and Elizabeth (Speck) Hicks. His father was engaged in merchandising during his active business life, principally at the Marsh (Wingerton), Welsh Run. Cearfoss, and Camp Hill. He died on the 28th of No- vember, 1868, leaving six children, viz., John M. L., a farmer near Greencastle; Ann Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Neibert, of Broad- fording, Md .; Daniel J. D .; William B., a farmer in Iowa; Mary C., wife of Andrew Cunningham, of Cearfoss, Md .; and David L. S., a farmer at Athens, Ill. Daniel J. D. was reared at Welsh Run and Camp Hill and obtained his education at the local
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schools. After reaching manhood he learned the trade of miller, at which he was employed thirteen years five years at the Dei- trich mill east of Leitersburg, one year at Martin's mill three miles south of Greencastle, one year at the Broadfording mill, three years at Strite's mill, and three years at George Bell's mill. In 1879 he removed to Leitersburg, and here he has since resided, with the exception of one year. After relinquishing milling he was variously employed until 1891, when he was elected secretary of the Planters' Mutual Insurance Company of Leitersburg. This position he has since held, and the present prosperous condition of the company may be fairly attributed in large measure to his administration. In 1871 he married Athalinda, daughter of Joseph Clopper. Mr. Hicks is a member of the Lutheran Church of Leitersburg, in which he has held the office of deacon and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. In politics he is a Prohibitionist.
LEWIS H. MYERS was born at Leitersburg, March 19, 1847, the son of Henry and Airy (Douglas) Myers and grandson of Jacob Myers, a millwright of Hagerstown. Jacob Myers had three sons: John, who died in Virginia; Jacob, who was successfully en- gaged in the milling business at Canton, Ohio, and Henry, a team- ster by occupation. Left an orphan at an early age by the death of both his parents, Lewis H. was reared in the families of his uncle, Frederick Ziegler, and brothers-in-law, Jacob Kahl and Daniel Crumb. He obtained a common school education and learned the trade of miller under William Crumb, after which he was employed for one year at Bowman's mill east of Leitersburg, then operated by Daniel Mentzer. From 1873 to 1880 he oper- ated the saw-mill of Captain Henry Clopper on the Marsh turnpike. In 1880 he purchased the farm of forty-three acres upon which he has since resided. In 1870 he married Mary H., daughter of Captain Henry and Elizabeth (Graeber) Clopper and two children were born to them: Airy Lula, deceased, and Her- man W., a teacher by profession. Mr. Myers is a member of the Lutheran Church and a Republican in politics.
JOHN H. DITLOW was born at Pinesburg, Washington County, Md., September 1, 1848, the son of Henry and Susan (Grove) Ditlow, the former a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and the latter of Washington County, Md., where the Grove family is
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numerously represented in the vicinity of Pinesburg. In Lan- caster County Henry Ditlow was a miller, but after his removal to Washington County he became a farmer. His family consisted of the following children: Sarah, who married Richard Johnson; Vianna, who married John Cook; William; Matilda; Susan; John H .; Annie M., who married James Lowry; David, Malinda, and Amanda, all deceased. John H. Ditlow obtained his education at the Pinesburg local school. He began farming in 1874 near Maugansville, Md. From that locality he removed to the vicinity of Cearfoss, and thence in 1890 to the Deitrich farm in Washing- ton Township. In 1892 he located on the Eshleman farm, which he has since operated. In 1879 he married Emma, daughter of Daniel and Maria (Creely) Besecker. Mr. Ditlow is a member of the Evangelical Church and in politics a Republican.
WILLIAM G. YOUNG was born in Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pa., November 25, 1852, the son of George M. and Catharine (Rhoads) Young, and grandson of George Young, who lived and died near Frederick, Md. He was reared in his native township and received a common school education. In 1883 he began farming near Cearfoss on the farm owned by David Reiff. In 1884 he purchased the farm of seventy-five acres upon which he has since resided, and in 1891 he erected the present barn thereon. In 1883 he married Martha C., daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Jacobs) Hykes, and their children are Jacob I. and Harry L. In politics Mr. Young is a Republican.
GEORGE H. BOWMAN was born at Mapleville, Washington County, Md., December 3, 1852, the son of Samuel and Catharine (Mace) Bowman and grandson of Henry Bowman, who was a farmer near Benevola, Md. Samuel Bowman was also a farmer and reared a family of three sons and six daughters, George H. being the youngest. He obtained a common school education and in his carly manhood worked at blacksmithing one year. He served an apprenticeship of three years under John Clark, miller, at Benevola, Md., after which he was employed by John Nico- demus at his mill near Rohrersville several months. He then leased the Bishop mill near Smoketown and engaged in business individually for one year. The next year he was employed as miller by John Harp near Ellerton, Frederick County, Md., and the next by Philip Doub at Beaver Creek in a similar capacity,
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after which he operated the Old Forge mill seven years. In 1886 he purchased the mill in Leitersburg District which he has since operated. This property he has improved in various ways, particularly by the introduction of the roller system in 1896. Mr. Bowman married in 1892 Ida V., daughter of Amos and Caro- line (Hoover) Warvel, and their children are Bessie M .; Minnie P .; Virginia E .; Amos E .; Samuel, and Floyd. Mr. Bowman is a member of the United Brethren Church, and in politics a Re- publican. He holds the position of postmaster at Mills.
WILLIAM H. KREPS was born in Washington Township, Frank- lin County, Pa., June 25, 1854, the son of William R. and Susanna (Stover) Kreps and grandson of William Kreps. William Kreps conducted one of the first hotels at Leitersburg, and afterward taught school for some years in Leitersburg District, where he held the office of justice of the peace. He was subsequently post- master at Cavetown, Md., where he was one of the first trustees of the Reformed Church. William R. Kreps was engaged in merchandising at Waynesboro, Pa., at the commencement of the Civil War, but relinquished his business to enter the army. He held the rank of lieutenant in Company G, Seventeenth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, from which he was transferred to the recruiting service with the rank of captain. After the war he was in the Pennsylvania railroad service for some years and also conducted a hotel at Harrisburg. William H. Kreps received a common school education and learned the trade of tinsmith under Martin & Stover at Hagerstown, Md. After completing his apprentice- ship he located in Rice County, Kansas, where he was engaged in farming three years. In 1880 he returned to Washington County and in partnership with his brother, James B., operated the farm in Leitersburg District which he purchased in 1887 from the heirs of Solomon Hartle. He was engaged in the livery busi- ness at Hagerstown from 1882 to 1889. In 1891 he located on his farm, which he sold in 1893, and in the same year he pur- chased the farm near Miller's church whereon he now resides. In 1887 he married Emma, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Mick- ley) Bell, who died August 28, 1887. leaving two children, Wil- liam Earl and Mary Emma B. In 1891 he married Flora, daugh- ter of Joseph and Mary (Bell) Martin. Mr. Kreps is a Republican in politics.
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HISTORY OF LEITERSBURG DISTRICT.
EDWARD M. WHITE was born in Antrim Township, Franklin County, Pa., May 16, 1855, the son of John and Mary J. (Beall) White. His ancestry is traced to John White, an English im- migrant, and an early settler near Upton, Franklin County, Pa., who married Jane Marsden, of Adams County, Pa., and they were the parents of three children: Edward; Matthew; and Jane. Edward White, who succeeded to the parental farm near Upton, married Mary Lawhead, and they were the parents of four sons and four daughters. One of the sons, John White, the father of Edward M., is a retired farmer and resides at Greencastle, Pa. His maternal grandfather was George Mordecai Beall, who re- sided near Jacobs church on the farm now owned by Daniel Hoover about the years 1837-47. He was from Frederick County, Md., and was the son of George Mordecai Beall, an English im- migrant. Mr. White received a common school education. In 1880 he engaged in farming in Antrim Township as tenant on the farm of 240 acres lately purchased by Isaac Shank. After operating this extensive farm eleven years he purchased in 1891 the farm in Leitersburg District upon which he has since re- sided. In 1889 he married Kate, daughter of Peter K. and Mary (Poe) Harter. Mr. White is a member of the Presbyterian Church and in politics a Republican.
JACOB H. WISHARD, M. D., was born near Williamsport, Md., on the 10th of November, 1856, the son of Samuel and Sarah (Vandreau) Wishard. The original home of the Wishard family is the farm now occupied by David Shank on Antietam creek in Washington Township, Franklin County, Pa. Samuel Wishard was born here, and is now a resident of his native township, al- though he began his active business life as a farmer near Leiters- burg and subsequently operated the extensive farm of O. H. Wil- liams near Williamsport. He also owned a farm near Cavetown and resided thereon, and it was at the schools of that village and of Smithsburg that the Doctor obtained his early education. From 1873 to 1877 he was located in Illinois and Iowa. In the winter of 1876-77 he was a student at the High School of Rock Falls, Ill., and in 1877-78 at Ziegler's school in Greencastle. In 1878- 79 he taught school at Rouzerville, Pa., and in 1879 he began the study of medicine under the perceptorship of Dr. Daniel Royer, of Shady Grove, Pa. In 1880 he entered Jefferson Medical
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College at Philadelphia, graduating in 1883, after which he at once located at Leitersburg, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1887 he married Mamie, daugh- ter of Daniel and Martha (Slick) Durboraw, and their children are Mary D. and Walter H. The Doctor is a Republican in poli- tics, and is a member of the Washington County Medical Society.
SAMUEL MCH. COOK was born at New Franklin, Pa., May 14, 1858, the son of George A. and Juliana (Beaver) Cook. The emi- grant ancestor of this family was George Adam Cook, who was born on the 22d of June, 1719, the son of John George and Mar- garet Cook, of Oberlistadt, Hesse Darmstadt. He landed at Philadelphia on the 30th of May, 1741, bringing with him a letter of recommendation from Rev. John Christopher Schlosser, the Reformed pastor at his native place. After a residence of several years at York, Pa., he located in 1745 on a tract of two hundred acres at the headwaters of Antietam creek in Franklin County, Pa. Here he died in 1785, leaving a landed estate of twelve hun- dred acres. The line of descent from the German ancestor to the subject of this sketch is as follows: John George Cook, of Oberlistadt. George Adam Cook; born, 1719; died, 1785. George Cook; born, October 23, 1751; died, September 22, 1842. George Cook; born, October 28, 1787; died, August 19, 1857. George Ankeny Cook; born, November 24, 1819; died, August 8, 1861. Samuel Mc H. Cook, the subject of this sketch. After the death of his father his mother removed to Chicago with her family. In 1870 they returned to Franklin County, where she died, after which he was received into the family of his uncle, Frank Lyday, at Waynesboro. His education was obtained at the public schools in Chicago and Waynesboro, and also at Meyerstown, Pa., where he was a pupil in 1874-76. In 1876 he entered the employ of Isaac Jacobs in Leitersburg District, of which he has since been a resident. He rented the farm of Mr. Jacobs from 1880 until 1886, when he purchased the farm of seventy-five acres upon which he has since resided. In 1878 he married Barbara, daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth (Schriver) Jacobs, and they are the parents of two children: Minnie V .; and Charles D., deceased. Mr. Cook is a member of the Lutheran Church and a deacon in the Jacobs congregation. He is a Prohibitionist in politics.
ALVEH L. STOCKSLAGER was born near Funkstown, Md., April
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27, 1862, the son of Martin L. and Caroline Rebecca Stockslager. John Stockslager, the emigrant ancestor of the family, was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, January 18, 1763; he located in the vicinity of Hagerstown where George Stockslager now resides, and lived to the age of one hundred years, dying on the 9th of May, 1863. He married Barbara Loudenslager and among the children born to them was Jacob, the father of Martin L. and grandfather of the subject of this sketch. The latter obtained his education at the public schools of Funkstown. He began farming in 1886 in Leitersburg District and here he has since resided. In 1885 he married Mary C., daughter of John W. and Elizabeth (Moser) Murdock, the former a native of Ayr- shire, Scotland, and the latter of Thurmont, Md. Mr. and Mrs. Stockslager are the parents of three children: Martin L .; John L., and Leroy. Mr. Stockslager adheres to the Lutheran Church and is a Democrat in politics.
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