USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume II > Part 34
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(IV) Charles Roseberry, youngest child of William N. and Leah
@Postoffman.
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Jane (Nichols) Hoffman, was born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, August 16, 1874. He was educated in the public schools, and East- man's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York; was a graduate of the latter institution in 1892. He began business life as a clerk. In 1900 he entered the United States mail service as carrier in the Lewis- town office, a position he has filled continuously with the exception of four months in 1907. During this period of four months he was engaged in the erection of a bakery and establishing the business, which has proved very successful. In 1912 the business outgrew its original quarters and was enlarged, with store in front, and ovens with a capacity of ten thousand loaves daily, in the rear.
Mr. Hoffman is a Republican in politics and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He married, October 11, 1898, Ida E., born in Lewistown, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Killian) Montgomery; she was born in Newville, Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania: he is now deceased. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman : Leah Jane and Robert Nauman.
(IV) James Nichols Hoffman, third son of William Nauman Hoffman (q. v.) and Leah Jane ( Nichols) Hoffman, was born in Lewis- town, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1861. He was educated in the pub- lic schools and began business life as an employee of the Lewistown Foundry, continuing six months. The foundry then closing down he returned to school. On February 18, 1879, he began his long career with the Pennsylvania railroad, first as messenger boy, working the first year without salary. On December 1, 1880, he was promoted to scale clerk, his work as messenger having impressed his employer so favorably that he was thus promoted and kept in line for future ad- vancement. On November 28, 1885, he was appointed scale agent at the Lewistown Junction, continuing there until January 1, 1886, when he was promoted night train dispatcher. On November 1, 1900, he was appointed day man, but holding the same position and rank. On October 1, 1902, he was promoted assistant day yard master and on March 17, 1908, was advanced to the position of yard master on night duty, a position he now holds. All these positions have been' held in connection with the Lewistown Junction and yards and he has his residence at Lewistown. His services have been continuous since
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February, 1879, and his advancement from each post of duty to a more responsible one proves the faithfulness and attests the high esteem in which he is held by the railroad officials. In September, 1886, Mr. Hoffman became a partner with his father and brother in the retail grocery business, opening a store on Market street, Lewistown, later moving to the corner of Brown and Market streets on the site of the present building of the Lewistown Trust Company. They con- tinued in business there until about 1901, when their store was de- stroyed by fire and was not resumed.
He is a Republican in politics, has served as election board official and always has been interested in public affairs. He is a member of the Knights of Malta and belongs to the Veteran Association of the Middle Division of Pennsylvania Railroad Employees, also to the Re- lief Department of that association. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. He married, November 19, 1889, Edith Mayes, daughter of William and Sarah Ann (Switzer) Mayes, of Mayes Bridge, near Lewistown; her father is a farmer. Child: James Mayes Hoffman. The family home is at No. 119 West Third street, which Mr. Hoffman had built to his order.
WHITE One of the best known and most respected families in Juniata Valley, Pennsylvania, is that of the Whites. For many generations they have been located in Pennsylvania, where they have added their quota to the material wealth and the moral upbuilding of the state. The family is of English origin, the immigrant White coming over to America a hundred years before the revolutionary war. Many of the name have defended the country in every war that it has had, from the one with the French to the Span- ish-American, and they are widely scattered over the United States, there not being a state that has not one or more families of Whites within their borders. Many have occupied and do occupy high places in the councils of the nation, while others in a quiet way aid it by being good, law-abiding citizens on whom it can depend in time of need. Robert White, the immigrant, landed in Massachusetts in 1650- 52. He was a young man of prepossessing appearance and a fine edu- cation for those times. He settled near Salem, later wandered into Connecticut, where he married, had a numerous family, lived and died.
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While he was a subject of England he soon saw the necessity of better laws for the government of the English crown possessions, and often spoke of it publicly. He imbued his sons and his sons' sons with the idea of liberty of thought and the freedom of speech. In dying he left a legacy of a well-spent life to his children, which was of greater importance than wealth, though he had accumulated a fine property before he had reached the age of fifty.
(I) Samuel Crawford White, a descendant of Robert White, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, where his family had come from Connecticut in the early days. He was reared on a farm in this county, and became one of its best known citizens. During the war of 1812 he was a commissioned officer from Adams county. He was captured by the British and held as prisoner for some time. Eventually escap- ing or being released, he again entered the American army, but peace was made between the two belligerent nations and he returned home to again resume the tranquil vocations of life. Later he moved from Adams county to Perry county, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the lumber business at Baileys. He was successful in his undertaking and amassed wealth. In 1854 he moved to Juniata township and settled in Tuscarora, where he lived, much honored by his neighbors, until his death at the age of eighty-three. He was a prominent Democrat, active at all times in the interest of his party, and was once a candi- date for legislative honors from Perry county. Both he and his wife were members of the Reformed church, and were generous and zealous in their support of it. He married Margaret Armstrong, a beautiful young woman, daughter of Robert Armstrong, an influential and wealthy landed proprietor of Armstrong county, named for the family. Margaret was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and there grew up with all the advantages that were given to a young lady of wealth and high social standing of that day. She was a dominating figure in the life of her brilliant husband, aiding and supplementing his efforts in every way. She died at the age of seventy-seven, having lived a useful life. Among their children was William A., of whom further.
(II) William A. White, son of Samuel Crawford and Margaret (Armstrong) White, was born April 2, 1830, in Adams county, Penn- sylvania. Later when his parents moved to Perry county he attended school, and when at a still later date they moved to Juniata county, he
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finished his education in Tuscarora. He remained at the homestead, and after the death of his father he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the two hundred and sixteen acres of land that comprised it, and lived there until to-day ( 1913), having reached the venerable age of eighty-three. During these years he has commanded the respect, admiration and love of all those who know him. He has always been a staunch Democrat, voting with and working for the party, and has held many township offices. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He married Mary Mairs, born in Tuscarora township, and died September 15, 1882, a daughter of Thomas and Matilda ( Smith) Mairs, both of whom were born in Ireland. Thomas Mairs and Matilda Smith came with their respective families to the United States while yet young. They met and married in Pennsyl- vania, and after marriage located about two miles from East Water- ford, Pennsylvania, where he became a farmer and landowner, one of the most prosperous men in that section of the state, and one of its progressive citizens. They were of the Presbyterian faith, having been so in Ireland. He died rather young, but she lived unmarried, faithful to his memory, dying after she was eighty. They were the parents of eight children :
I. Silas, a valiant soldier in the civil war, and met a gallant death at the battle of Seven Pines. 2. Hugh, a farmer and stock breeder in Wayne county, Ohio. 3. Mary, born in Tuscarora township, died Sep- tember 15, 1882; married William A. White. 4. James, makes his home in Michigan. 5. Margaret, married Neal McCoy Stewart, of McCoysville, Pennsylvania. The children of William A. and Mary (Mairs) White are: I. Samuel, drowned, aged twenty. 2. Died un- named, in infancy. 3. Adella, married J. S. Magill, of Huntingdon county. 4. Jennie, married Frank Felger, a grain dealer in Big Graff, Olio. 5. Silas M., a farmer and grain dealer in Burbank, Ohio. 6. John Magill, of whom further. 7. Bruce, an employee of the Penn- sylvania railroad, at Pitcairn, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. 8. Died in infancy.
(III) John Magill White, son of William A. and Mary (Mairs) White, was born June 28, 1871, in Tuscarora township, Juniata county, Pennsylvania. He was reared in the free, open life of the farm, and educated in the public schools of the township. For some time before
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his marriage he was engaged in general farm work; after marriage he farmed on the White homestead for a year. At the end of twelve months he moved to Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, and became an employee of the Tuscarora Valley railroad. During the time of liis employment with the railroad he gradually became interested in the lumber business, and in 1906 he resigned from the railway and gave up other enterprises to devote his time entirely to lumbering. He began operating on a large scale in Lock and Tuscarora townships and in Huntingdon county. At the present time (1913) he is the owner of one mill and uses the output of two others, which products go largely to the Pennsylvania road and many points in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He has rapidly established a reputation for bold business transactions, in which he has been eminently successful. He votes the Democratic ticket, works for the party and has held town- ship offices with credit to himself and the satisfaction of his constitu- ency. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He married, April 3, 1895, Anna L. Marshall, born in Juniata county, daughter of Henry and Catherine Marshall, who were old settlers in Perry county, moving from thence to Juniata county. Chil- dren: I. Clarence. 2. Wellington, died in infancy. 3. Gilbert. 4. Alvie.
The Page family of Millerstown, herein recorded, descends PAGE from Christian Page, born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, a wagon maker of West Perry township, where he died. He married Mary Diffenderfer, born in Juniata county, both of Ger- man descent and both members of the Mennonite church. Christian Page was a Democrat in politics. Children: Emanuel, of whom fur- ther : Debias, Christian (2), Delilah, and Mary.
(II) Emanuel, son of Christian and Mary (Diffenderfer) Page, was born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, in 1835. died in Snyder county, March 7. 1903. He was a lifelong farmer of Snyder county, a member of the Brethren church, and in politics a Democrat, holding to his church and party with all the tenacity and faithfulness of an intense nature. He married (first) Elizabeth Cameron, born in Juniata county, in 1835, died in West Perry township, Snyder county, December 2, 1866,
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daugliter of Robert Cameron, who came from Ireland when a young man, took up land near New Bloomfield, Perry county, and there en- gaged in farming until his death. He was twice married-Elizabeth (of previous mention), William, who died in the Union army, and Robert (2), being children of the first wife. Children of Emanuel Page by first wife :
I. Banks W., of whom further below; Lizzie, died at the age of one year; Lewis, died aged nine years. He married (second) the widow of Michael Shelley, and (third) Malinda Merhood, who bore a daughter Edna, married Charles E. Shirk, and now resides in Phila- delphia.
(III) Banks W., only living son of Emanuel Page and his first wife, Elizabeth Cameron, was born in Fayette township, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1855. He attended the school kept in the old log school house in West Perry township, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, and until seventeen years of age worked at the home farm. At that age he began working at a tannery at Evendale, Pennsylvania, continuing seven years. About 1879 he returned to farming, working in Juniata county three years. Later about 1892 he engaged in the lumber business in the same county, continuing suc- cessfully for twelve years. IIe later bought from Mr. Gross and the borough of Millerstown the shirt factory plant in Millerstown, which he has since successfully operated. He began with a factory force of thirty-five and now employs one hundred and four persons. The old building and plant proving inadequate to the needs of his growing busi- ness, Mr. Page in the spring of 1912 began the erection of a new factory building which was completed in September of that year at a cost of $8,000, an equal sum also being invested in new and modern shirt making equipment. This is now one of the prosperous industries of Millerstown, and a striking illustration of the business ability of its owner. Mr. Page is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle; a Democrat in politics; and for four years was councilman of the borough and school director for a like period.
Ile married Estella W., daughter of Bayard Nields, a farmer of Juniata county ; children : Huldah ; May, married Lloyd Knight (whom she survives) ; Charles C., married Jennie Walker; Mercy P., married John Slaughterback; Morton; Frances, married Harry J. Beecham ; Merl: Darlington, died aged five years.
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The Cummins family is of Scotch-Irish descent, the CUMMINS American ancestor, William Cummins, arriving in Pennsylvania during the latter part of the eighteenth century. He first settled on the banks of Little Chickies creek, Lan- caster county, and later moved to Kishacoquillas valley, where he pur- chased 364 acres of land. He was a cooper by trade, and had a shop on his farm. He owned considerable land in the Juniata Valley, includ- ing a farm in Jackson township, Huntingdon county, which he placed in charge of his son Robert. William Cummins married Sara Semple ; children: I. James, of whom little is known. 2. Robert, married Mary Sterrett ; children : Cyrus, a United Presbyterian minister, mar- ried Nancy Collins; Sara, married George Porter, a farmer ; Samuel, a farmer, married Cathern Smith: Nancy, married John Wilson, a farmer; Sterrett, a farmer, married Agnes McNitt; Jane, married Ebenezer Magill, a farmer; and Elizabeth and Samuel, who died be- fore they reached twenty years. 3. Charles, of whom further below. 4. Margaret, married an Obern. 5. Colonel William, married (first) Sara Sterrett; children: Dr. James, married Mina -; David, married Cathern Barr; Elizabeth, married John Beatty, a farmer. Colonel William married (second) Martha Montgomery McElheny; children : Rebecca, married Charles Davis; William, died unmarried ; Sara, married Rev. J. M. Adair; Martha, married John McNitt, a farmer ; John, died unmarried; Margaret, married James Davies, a farmer ; Colonel William married (third) Jane Young ; no children.
(II) Charles, son of William and Sara Cummins, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, where he lived until his removal to Jack- son township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, where he bought a farm and lived until his death. He married Catherine McAlevy, daugh- ter of William McAlevy ( see below). Children of Charles and Cather- ine Cummins : 1. William, lived and died in Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania ; a miller and farmer, married Margaret Magill. 2. Colonel John, a farmer ; lived and died in Huntingdon county ; married ( first) Mary Ann Smith: (second) Jane Nancy Magill Hunter ; ( third ) Mary Duff. 3. David, was a soldier during the civil war and died in a boat on James river near Fortress Monroe, Virginia ; unmarried. 4. Sara, who died in her teens. 5. Robert, of whom further. 6. Ruth, the second wife of Rev. J. M. Adair, of McAlevy's Fort, for many years ;
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he died in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and she in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
(III) Robert, fourth son of Charles and Catherine (McAlevy) Cummins, was born in Jackson township, Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, June 16, 1827, near McAlevy's Fort, and died in Armagh township, near Milroy, Mifflin county, May 27, 1882. He attended the township school during the winter, while he spent the remainder of the year working in the grist mill or on the home farm. After his marriage he purchased and inherited his share of two hundred and forty acres of good farm land in Jackson township, where he resided until 1866, then moved to Armagh township, Mifflin county, where in about 1868 or 1869 he purchased a valuable farm of about two hundred and ten acres near Milroy, on which he resided until his death. This estate he improved with suitable modern buildings, and brought the soil to a high state of cultivation. He was a successful farmer, and a straightfor- ward business man, ever holding the warm regard of his neighbors, to whom he was familiarly known as "Long Robert Cummins," to dis- tinguish him from others of the same name. He was a tall man, and when wearing a high beaver hat was indeed "Long Robert." He was a Republican in politics, and held many local offices. In religious faith both he and wife were United Presbyterians. He married, March 9, 1854, Cathern Ann McNitt, born in Armagh township, Mifflin county, in the stone house on the McNitt homestead, near Siglerville, November 30, 1832, died April 1, 1911, in Reedsville, Pennsylvania. She was the ninth child and sixth daughter of Alexander Brown and Nancy ( Ster- rett) McNitt, and granddaughter of John McNitt. Children of Robert and Cathern Ann Cummins: 1. Agnes Jane, born June 3, 1855; mar- ried, May, 1886, Ogleby James Reed, born August 10, 1834, died in Reedsville, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1905, whom she survives, a resi- dent of Reedsville; children : John Milton, born November 17, 1888, now a civil engineer in Canada; Mary Brown, born April 28, 1890, student at Swarthmore College; Anna Cummins, born December 21. 1891, attending Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts: James An- drew, student at Lewistown Academy, born March 18, 1897. 2. Cath- erine Sterrett, born June 20, 1857; married, December 27, 1887, Wil- liam Cummins Beatty, born April 30, 1850, now residing on the old Cummins homestead in Huntingdon county, near McAlevy's Fort; chil- dren : Ruth Cummins, born December 12, 1888, a student at Westmin-
THE I OPK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AJTOR, LENOX AM TISEN FOUNDATMWL
Robert Cummings
Gathern of Gaming
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
MOTOR, LEAPI TALDER FOU'
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ster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania ; Catherine Anna, Au- gust 29, 1892, attending Indiana State Normal, Indiana, Pennsyl- vania. 3. Alexander Brown, born June 2, 1859; married (first) March 20, 1894, Martha Gertrude Aitken, who died September, 1910; mar- ried (second) Mrs. Mary Mitchell Koons; he is a retired farmer, now living in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and is an elder in the Presby- terian church of Milroy, Pennsylvania. 4. Mary Brown, born March 29, 1861, resides in Reedsville with her sister. 5. Martha, born April 6, 1870; resides in Reedsville with her sister, Mary B.
William McAlevy, father of Catherine (McAlevy) Cummins (of whom above), wife of Charles Cummins, was born in Ireland, about 1728, and was but about three months old when his parents came to Pennsylvania, but a stroke of lightning killed them both shortly after their arrival, and he was left an orphan. He was reared by a maternal uncle who taught him his own trade-weaving. Not being enamored of his uncle's trade nor of his treatment, William ran away and en- listed in the Forbes expedition to Fort Duquesne, and was one of a detachment sent to collect and bury the remains of those who fell on Braddock's Field, being then nineteen years of age. It is related that at one time he concealed himself from the Indians in a log for nine days, where a goose had laid nine eggs, apparently for his use, as he ate one egg each day: the Indians held a war dance around the log, but he was unmolested. He also served in the revolutionary war, and was known as General McAlevy. He finally settled in Stone Valley, fourteen miles from Petersburg, where he owned a grist mill, a farm and distillery. The place was known as McAlevy's Fort, and later as the Old Fort. He was a large portly man, of rugged constitution, and one of the well-to-do men of his time. His judgment in matters gen- erally was reverenced as the deliverance of an oracle, as the following goes to show, which has been handed down and vouched for by those whose memories would extend back to or near his day: When an important election was being held. and men would meet at the polls and one would inquire of another for whom he was going to vote, the reply often made would be, "Indeed, I can't say; I haven't seen the General yet." He died in August, 1822, aged ninety-four years. He was three times married. His first wife was Margaret Harris, sister of John Harris. the founder of Harrisburg. His second wife was
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Mary Hays; he conveyed her over Stone Mountain on a slide-car, for fear of the Indians. His third wife was the widow Allen.
The following is a copy of his commission as brigadier-general. It will be noticed that the spelling of his name in this commission is different from the spelling now used, but it is known from the general's autograph in a letter to one of his descendants that the present spell- ing is correct :
Commission to WILLIAM MCALEVY, Esq.,
Brigadier General (L. S.) :
In the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania. Thomas Mckean, Governor of the said Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
To William Melllevy, of the county of Huntingdon, Esquire, greet- ing :
Know you, That reposing confidence in your zeal, valor, patriotism and fidelity, I have appointed, and, by these presents I do appoint you, the said William Melllevy, Brigadier General of the 2nd Brigade, composed of the militia of the counties of Mifflin (including Center and Huntingdon ), to have and to hold the said office, and to exercise, per- form and enjoy all the powers, duties and emoluments there-with law- fully belonging, for the term of seven years, from the day of the date hereof, if you shall so long behave yourself well.
In testimony whereof, I have set my hand and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed to these presents, at Lancaster, the eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred, and of the Commonwealth the twenty-fourth.
By the Governor,
JAMES TRIMBLE, Deputy Sec'y.
This has been copied from a history of General William McAlevy by the late Rev. J. M. Adair, who married Ruth Cummins, the General's great-granddaughter, and was written during 1898 or 1899.
John and Rachel Sellers, emigrant founders of this SELLERS branch of the Sellers family, were born in Germany, coming to the United States after their marriage and settling in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Later they moved to Dauphin county, where John Sellers plied his trade of blacksmith and prospered. He owned a good farin, and later in life, when the heavy
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work of a smith was beyond his strength, retired and managed that property until his death. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, a hard worker and good citizen. He reared a family of eight.
(II) David, son of John and Rachel Sellers, was born near Round Top, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He moved with his parents to Dauphin county, married there, and settled about one mile from the village of Dauphin. For thirty-one years he was engaged as a tanner with Mr. Robinson, then retired to a small farm he had bought, on which he lived until his death. He was a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Eliza McNeely, born in Dauphin county, daughter of John and Elizabeth McNeely, both born in Ireland, came to the United States, settling in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, where they purchased a farm, on which they lived until death, leaving issue. Chil- dren of David and Eliza Sellers: William, deceased; Lucretia, de- ceased; Charles W., now living in Dauphin ; Benjamin F., deceased ; Jennie, deceased : David Greenbanks, of whom further; Baal, now living in Harrisburg; Caroline, deceased ; a child, died in infancy.
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