USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 52
USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 52
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vania, occupying the bench from 1816 to 1851, and was one of the most distinguished jurists of the State. Another son, Briga- dier General George Gibson, was chief of the commissary department for a period of forty years. The third was Francis F., great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who also entered the army and filled several civil positions with honor and fidel- ity. A proxiinate relative of these, whose name was also George Gibson, was a pres- iential elector in 1789, and voted for the first President of the United States, while other relatives and ancestors of Robert Gibson, grandfather of Milton B., held im- portant and responsible positions under the State government. Grandfather Gib- son was a native and resident of Perry county, Pennsylvania, and was familiarly known as 'Squire Gibson. He was ap- pointed justice of the peace by Governor Pollock and served continuously in that office for a period of thirty-seven years. He was united in marriage with Hannah Kreamer, who bore him three children, whose names are as follows: Francis F., George A. and Mary Gibson. His son, Francis F. Gibson, was a surveyor by pro- fession, but during the latter part of his life followed a general mercantile business near Landisburg, in Perry county, Pa., where he died in 1867, when but thirty-seven years of age. Francis F. Gibson married Mary Ann Sheibley, of Perry county, who died, leaving a son, Francis S. Gibson. Several years after he married Catharine E. Baker, grand-daughter of the late Con- rad Holman, of Perry county. This union resulted in the birth of two children: Mil- ton Buchar and Walter Spotts, the latter of whom died in infancy.
Milton B. Gibson, at the tender age of 7 years, was bereft of his father and grew to manhood, lacking the protecting care that a kind and affectionate father can exercise.
He received his elementary education in the common schools, completed his academic studies at Bloomfield Academy in his na- tive county and taught successfully for three years. He then in 1881 purchased liis father's property near Landisburg, en- gaged in mercantile pursuits for several years, during which time he became inter- ested in the Weaver Organ & Piano Com- pany, who were building their present fac- tory at York. He first became a stock- holder and then being successful as a re- tail salesman of their instruments, he was speedily appointed State representative of the Company in Pennsylvania. In 1885 he removed to York, which has been his place of residence ever since. In 1886 he was elected secretary of the Company, and in September, 1890, after the death of Mr. J. O. Weaver, the founder of the Coni- pany, he was made treasurer and general manager in addition to the secretaryship. In 1896 he was elected to his present posi- tion as president of the Company.
The Weaver Organ & Piano Company has a large and well equipped factory, in which they employ a force of over 100 skilled workmen. The yearly output is from 2500 to 3000 instruments, which compete fairly with any similar instruments manu- factured, and the sale of which extends to all sections of the United States and the civilized world. The company has a work- ing capital of over $150,000 and operates a number of branch houses in other cities. Milton B. Gibson, on April 18th, 1882, married Elizabeth Shumaker, daughter of Samuel Shumaker, of Harrisburg, Pa. They have four children: Holman S., Edith B., Catharine Blanche and Marion E. Mrs. Gibson's father was also formerly of Perry Co., where he was active in public and business affairs.
In politics Mr. Gibson is a Republican, but in no sense a politician. He has never
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been a seeker for office, though no one has been more zealous in support of the meri- torious men and principles of his party. He is a member and one of the organizers of Heidelberg Chapter, No. 38, Brother- hood of Andrew and Philip, a religious or- ganization. He is also a member and past Chancellor of Chrystal Lodge, No. 248, Knights of Pythias. Religiously he affil- iates with the Reformed Church, being a member of Heidelberg Reformed Church, in which he is an Elder, and of whose Sun- day-school he has been the acting Super- intendent for several years. He is a Di- rector of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation, of York, and a member of its important committees. Mr. Gibson is a representative business man, and to the im- portant company, over whose concerns he is presiding, he has given a number of years of his best energies with successful results. He was one of the organizers of the York Card & Paper Co., and was a Di- rector and Vice President of the Com- pany for several years. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of the Philadelphia Commercial Museum and was a delegate to the congress of dele- gates from North and South America, which met in Philadelphia, June Ist to 5th, 1897, to dedicate the Museums and trans- act business of international import. He is still a young man and his future career as an energetic business man is a bright one.
B ENJAMIN HALLOWELL FARQU- HAR, was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, July 27, 1840. Of his distinguished and honorable lineage the am- pler sketch of his brother, Arthur B. Far- quhar, treats at length. He was reared on his father's farm and educated in the pub- lic schools and at Benjamin Hallowell's select school for boys at Alexandria, Vir-
ginia. The latter was a thorough institu- tion and here young Farquhar obtained a good practical education. Leaving school in 1857, at the age of 17, he engaged in farming up to the time of the late civil war, and on May 23, 1863, entered the United States mail service, having charge of the mails between Washington and New York. He continued in this service until 1882, when he retired and came to York, where he subsequently became associated with his brother, Arthur B., in the manufacturing industry. When the Farquhar's formed a stock company in 1889 to assume charge of and conduct their vast manufacturing interests, B. H. Farquhar became treasurer of that concern and has retained that po- sition ever since.
Mr. Farquhar is and always has been a Republican in politics. He served as a member of the common council for two years from the 2nd ward of his adopted city and in 1893 was the nominee of his party for the city treasurership. Although the city was strongly Democratic Mr. Farqu- har lacked but forty odd votes of being the successful candidate,-a showing which at- tested the confidence of a large number of his political opponents in his entire fitness for the position. In his religious affilia- tions both by heredity and conviction he is a Quaker although in the absence of any religious order of Friends in this commun- ity, he is an attendant and pew-holder of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church.
On June 2, 1870, Mr. Farquhar was uni- ted in marriage with Martha Lippincott, of Philadelphia. To this union have been born two sons, only one of whom survives, Thomas L., a graduate of the York Col- legiate Institute, and at present engaged in the fire insurance business in Philadelphia. The deceased son was named Lewis C.
In his business relations Mr. Farquhar is regarded as a careful and conscientious
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manager with an exceptional mind for de- tails and of the strictest integrity. He gives scrupulous and thoughtful attention to the duties of his position in connection with the Pennsylvania Agricultural Works, is well informed upon all questions of finance and economic policy and exhibits a lively interest in all public questions touching the business and industrial features of the county's growth. He is a man of fine in- tellectual culture, rather domestic in his tastes apart from business, but at the same time keeps in close touch with the more prominent social, literary and religious movements of the city.
J OHN J. SNYDER, M. D., was born October 8, 1869, at Two Taverns, Adams county, Pa. He is the second son of Baltzer and Mary (Schwartz) Snyder. His great-great grandfather, Conrad Sny- der, emigrated to this country from Ger- many and settled in Pennsylvania colony, where he followed farming and weaving. His son, Conrad, born in 1764, served in the last years of the Revolutionary war in which two of his brothers were killed.
He came to York county after the war or rather to Adams county, then a part of York county, where he married Eve Knouse, and buying a farm near Bonneauville, Adams county, Pa., he farmed until his death in 1836. His chil- dren were: George, the grandfather of the writer, married to Susan Fair; Henry mar- ried to Eliza Wolford; Daniel, died young; Baltzer, married to a Miss Houck; Conrad, married to Catharine Fisher. The daugh- ters were: Sarah, married to Mr. Hassler; Katie, married to John Norbeck; Susan, married to Christian Benner; Elizabeth, married Cornelius Brinkerhoff; Mary, mar- ried John Sheely; Julia, married John Diehl; and Lydia, married Mr. Hersh.
George Snyder was born at Bonneauville,
Pa., served in Capt. Lindsay Sturgeon's company (regiment not recalled) during the war of 1812. He farmed in Mt. Pleasant and Mt. Joy townships, kept tavern, and finally lived a retired life. He married Su- sannah Fair and their children were five in number: Catherine, married to Jacob Ben- ner; Baltzer, married to Mary Schwartz; Daniel, married to Mary Deardorff; Susan, married to Wm. Ruff, and Lydia, all of whom are dead except Daniel, now living at McKnightstown, Pa., and Susan living in Gettysburg, Pa.
Baltzer, father, was born February 22, 1820, near Two Taverns. By trade, he was a mason and contractor, and having acquired a good education followed teach- ing for a good many years. He also farmed in Mt. Joy township. In the old militia days, he commanded the company, raised in Mt. Joy township. He was married to Mary Schwartz, the oldest daughter of Michael and Leah (Stock) Schwartz, and to them were born six children: Margaret, married to John Fiscel; Elizabeth, married to Allen Fiscel; Henry D., who graduated from the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of Maryland in April, 1890, and en- tered the Medical Corps U. S. Army in June of the same year, now ranking cap- tain.
John J. attended the public schools and Littlestown High School. He read medicine under Dr. A. Noel, of Bonneau- ville, Pa., entered the University of Vir- ginia in the session of 1891-'92, graduating in Physiology and Medical Jurisprudence at the end of the session, and then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Baltimore, Md., session of 1892 and '93, graduating from that institution April 19, 1893, receiving "honorable mention" in a class of 179 graduates. He entered upon the practice of his profession at McSherrys- town, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1893, but in
D.F. Lafean
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April, 1894, removed to New Oxford, Pa.
He married April 26, 1892, Annie Louise, daughter of Samuel and Mary Wantz, of Silver Run, Carroll county, Md. They have two children: George E., born August 12, 1894; and Helen Louise, born March 17, 1896.
In religion the family has always been Lutheran, while in politics first Whig, and now, with few exceptions, Republican.
George A. is the third son, and is now in the Hospital Corps U. S. Army, serving in Arizona. Wmn. Ruff, the fourth son and youngest of the family, is at the West Chester State Normal School.
D ANIEL F. LAFEAN, president of the Security Title and Trust Com- pany, is a son of Charles F. and Charlotte (Kottcamp) Lafean, and was born in York county, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1861. As the name would clearly indicate, the La- feans are of French descent, though Charles F. Lafean was a native of York county. He embarked in the coal business at York, which was followed with unusual success until his death on May 1, 1895, at the age of 59 years. He married Charlotte Kottcamp, a daughter of Frederick Kott- camp, of York, Pa. They were the par- ents of nine children, six sons and three daughters: Mary V., widow of Frank Wheeler, of Baltimore, Maryland; A. Henry, a druggist of York; Daniel F., sub- ject; Charles F., junior, wholesale confec- tioner; Edward C., druggist; Laura V .; Ja- coh G .; John R., wholesale confectioner; and Hattie M.
Daniel F. Lafean attended the public schools of his native city and commenced his active business career as a clerk in the notion store of W. L. Plymire, with whom he remained for a few months. At the end of that time he accepted a clerkship in the candy store of Peter C. Wiest with whom
he spent a period of four years. During this time he mastered the details of the candy business as it was then conducted, and conceiving that beneficial and profit- able improvements lay in the line of new methods and increased facilities, he so in- terested his employer in a new departure in 1878 that a partnership resulted under the firm name of P. C. Wiest & Co. The' experiment more than fully proved his views to be correct, and on July 16, 1895, a stock company was formed and incorpo- rated under the name of The P. C. Wiest Co., of which Mr. Lafean is president and treasurer. New buildings were erected, skilled workmen employed, and the latest machinery and equipments pertinent to the business provided, and the company en- tered upon a career of success. Year by year an expanding trade called for in- creased facilities and additional employees until at the present writing they have the largest confectionery plant in the State. This plant covers two acres of ground, the buildings are of the most substantial order and necessitates the employment of five hundred hands, and their trade is increasing so rapidly that the employment of 200 hands additional is contemplated in order to keep pace with the demands of a grow- ing patronage.
On December 26, 1882, Mr. Lafean mar- ried Emma B. Krone, whose father Henry Krone is a resident of York. Their union has resulted in the birth of three children: Stewart B., Leroy K. and Robert H.
Although still on the younger side of life's meridian, Daniel F. Lafean, has reached a degree of business success which is not without covet. He is a pioneer in his line of business, as he conducts it, and the success of the company is conceded to be due in a large degree to his business foresight, sagacity and energy. He was one of the organizers and now president of
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the Security Title and Trust Company.
Mr. Lafean is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church, in which he has served as a deacon for six years. He is a member of Humane Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for several years has been prominent in the Masonic fraternity, which latter organization has honored him with the office of Eminent Commander. He has also been an incumbent of a number of other official positions in connection with the Masonic body, all of which have been filled with eminent satisfaction and dignity. He was a member of City Councils serving as a member of that body for three terms, and acting one year as president of Com- non Branch.
OLOMON S. RUPP, ESQ., a lawyer S of Shiremanstown, Cumberland county, Pa., is a son of George M. and Elizabeth (Mohler) Rupp, and was born in Lower Allen township, December 10, 1860. The Rupps are of German extraction. John Jonas Rupp, an emigrant from his native home in Ruhen, grand-duchy of Baden, Kingdom of Germany, established the fam- ily in this country in 1751, early in the per- iod of colonization of this section of Penn- sylvania. He was born October 23, 1729, and died in Cumberland county May 21, 1801. Farming was his occupation and he carried on this vocation in Hampden township. In the old grave-yard of St. John's near Shiremanstown, his remains lie at rest.
George Rupp, the great grandfather of our subject, was born while the family lived in Lancaster county, that part which is now incorporated within the limits of Leb- anon county, May 21, 1772. Until 1779 he remained and worked upon the farm and then learned the trade of tailoring which he followed until 1795. In that year he took up the trade of carpentering and followed
it until 1801, when he returned to farming for the remainder of his life. He died July 10, 1848. I. Daniel Rupp, the well-known local and Pennsylvania German historian, was his son.
Martin G. Rupp, grandfather of our sub- ject was born in Lower Allen township, this county, April 2, 1813. Like his father be- fore him, he farmed; but later in life de- voted himself to store-keeping in addition to trucking. He married Susan Buyer, of Shiremanstown, a native of Lancaster, by whom he had one son, George Rupp, the father of our subject, born March 26, 1835, in Lower Allen. Although originally of the Reformed church, the Rupps became Dunkards in the time of Martin, and George grew up in that faith and became an active member of that denomination.
He was a Republican in politics and fol- lowed farming for a living. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Solomon Mohler, a Lower Allen township farmer, and had two sons and two daughters: Mary Ellen, wife of E. H. Zug, a farmer of Lancaster county; S. S., our subject; Austin G., a farmer and trucker of Lower Allen; and Sallie E., wife of J. A. Rupp, carpenter, of Shiremans- town.
Our subject was brought up on the farm and received his education in the common schools, a select school, the Brethren's col- lege at Huntingdon and Shippensburg State Normal school, from which latter he graduated in 1881. He taught during the winters of 1879 and 1881, and two terms af- ter graduation. In the fall of 1883, he went to Lafayette College, where he was gradu- ated in the classical course in 1887. Re- turning to teaching he took charge of the Camp Hill school, and subsequently for two years taught in Lycoming county, Pa. During vacation he taught in the Naval Academy Preparatory school at Annapolis. In 1888, he registered as a law student in
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the office of Mumma and Shopp, Harris- burg, and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar in 1891. Shortly after he was admitted to the Cumberland bar also. In Harrisburg he maintains an office at 210 Walnut street. Mr. Rupp is a popular fra- ternity man. He holds membership in Irene Lodge, Knights of Pythias; in Shire- manstown Council, Junior Order United American Mechanics; Eureka Lodge, No. 302, Free and Accepted Masons; Samuel C. Perkin's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, No. 209, and Pilgrim Commandery, No. II, Knights Templar of Harrisburg. In relig- ion he clings to the Lutheran faith and is superintendent of the Lutheran Sunday school at Shiremanstown. He is a Repub- lican in politics, is a school director and for- merly served as a member of the town health board.
August 23, 1887, he married Martha J., daughter of David Dietz, of Hampden township. To this union four children have been born: Grace E .; Elizabeth, who died in infancy; David M. and G. Francis. Mr. Rupp is an agreeable and highly intelligent gentleman. He is building up a substan- tial law practice and is taking a high rank in his profession as a close student and hard worker.
R EV. J. J. KERR, a respected and ef- fective Lutheran minister of New- ville, Cumberland county, was born in Sid- donstown, York county, January 1, 1836, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Krall) Kerr. He is of Scotch-Irish and German ancestry. The original American head of the family was William Kerr, who came from the North of Ireland about 1790 and settled in what is now Adams county, Pa. He was a weaver by trade, and his children were: Thomas, William, James, Mary, married to George Burns; Elizabeth, who married James Bryne.
James, the father of our subject, was born in Adams county in 1798. He became a resident of York county, early in life. He taught school a number of years. He be- longed to the Covenanter church. For a number of years he was an officer in the State militia. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Martha (Shirich) Krall. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr had twelve children: Henry, drowned in the Yuba river, California, at the age of 21, in the year A. D. 1850; Barbara, de- ceased; Catharine, wife of James Hayward; John, died in infancy; J. J., our subject; Thomas J., of Wellsville; David P., of Erie; James P., of Missouri; Mary, deceased; George W. and Ezekiel C., in Missouri; and Franklin P., died young. The father died at Siddonstown, February 9, 1874. The mother survived him three years dying in November, 1877.
Our subject's life was very similar to that of other boys brought up on farms, but he made the most of his opportunities and ac- quired a good common school education. At the age of 19 he began to teach in the public schools in the winters, and would go to summer school. After a few years thus spent, he entered Tuscarora Academy, un- der the efficient Professor J. H. Schmucker. Here he spent several years, fitting himself for the Junior class in college. After some years under private tutors, he entered the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa. Just about the time of the closing of the term, June, '63, the Confederates entered the State and their movements, as well as the movements of the Union Army indica- ted trouble for Gettysburg, and history tells what followed. He enlisted subse- quently in the 162nd Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteers, and served to the end of the war, four brothers being in the Union Army at the same time. Before his time of service expired, he came to Rebersburg, Centre
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county, Pa., on furlough, met the Synod of Central Pennsylvania of the General Sy- nod of the Evangelical Lutheran church, underwent a rigid examination in Greek and Hebrew with all other required studies, and was licensed to preach the gospel. This was in the year 1865. He served the fol- lowing churches: Millerstown Mission, Huntingdon, Pa .; Myersville, Frederick county, Md .; Duncannon, Pa .; Willmore, Pa. In 1881 he removed to Altoona, Pa., and spent between 8 and 10 years in Al- toona where he organized three congrega- tions and built two churches. He removed from Altoona to Brookville, Jefferson county, Pa., where he built a new church. And from Brookville he came to Newville, where he is serving St. Paul's Lutheran church, the youngest but most thrifty church in the place.
He was married December 25, 1866, to Miss Kate A., daughter of J. J. and Cath- arine (Myers) Smith, of near Newport, Perry county, Pa. To this union were born: Minnie Armadale, deceased; Annie Laurie, now married to W. H. Slaugen- haupt, and Homer Trestler, married and living in Buffalo, N. Y.
J OHN E. BAKER, a representative business man of York, is the young- est son of Henry and Rebecca (Duvall) Baker, and was born in Liberty, Frederick county, Md., April 14, 1860. His ancestors on the paternal side were German. Henry Becker reached Philadelphia, in the latter part of the year 1741, coming from Lower Palatinate, or the region of the Rhine. Three years later he purchased a farm of 210 acres, situated in what is now known as Linganore District, Frederick county, Md. He called his farm Oak Orchard, and it still retains that name, and remains undivided in the Baker family. On the ma- ternal side Mr. Baker is a direct descendant
in the eighth generation, of a French Hu- guenot, Gabriel Duvall, who at the revoca- tion of the edict of Nantes, left France, af- ter seeing his estates confiscated, and came to America in 1689. He shortly after set- tled first on the Eastern Shore of Mary- land, and later moved to Frederick county. The Duvall family were closely indentified, with the early history of the Colony, fur- nishing two officers of the Revolutionary war, and later a Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Gabriel Duvall.
Henry Baker, the father of our subject, was a man of strong will and decided in all his views. He was for many years actively engaged in the politics of Frederick county. He was a member of the Maryland Consti- tutional Convention in 1864, and later 1867 served one term in the State Legislature. During the Rebellion he was a strong Un- ion man, doing all in his power to help the cause, taught military tactics to the young men of the neighborhood, and helped equip a regiment for service. In 1862 he was cap- tured and held a prisoner by General Fitz- hugh Lee. He was a staunch Republican, and indeed until his death did he tenac- iously cling to his party's platform. The members of the Baker family for a century past, were plain country gentlemen, of the type which has made Maryland's hospital- ity so well known throughout the States.
Mr. John E. Baker received his educa- tion in the public school of his native vil- lage, and at Liberty Academy which latter he left at the age of sixteen, and went to work in his father's tannery. He subse- quently finished his trade about the year 1879 and went to Washington City where he was variously engaged for a period of nearly two years, and during this time com- pleted a commercial course at the Spen- cerian Business College whose sessions he attended at night after the completion of his routine duties. On February 17, 1882,
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