USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families > Part 104
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Normal School, where he made good pro- gress in his studies. In the spring of 1875 he temporarily quit the school room and his books for a season of practical experience and observation, and going West he spent the summer at studying western life and enterprise in the States of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. In the fall of the following year he resumed teaching at Carlisle Springs, in Middlesex township, where he taught one term. Afterward he taught in Upper Allen for four terms and in Monroe for one term. In 1882 he relinquished teaching and be- gan farming on the old Sollenberger farm in Monroe township, which. after the death of his father, he bought and still owns. He, however, continued his interest in education, and after getting fairly well started at farm- ing he again entered the school room, and along with his farm work for several years taught in Monroe and in South Middleton townships.
In politics, Mr. Sollenberger is a Re- publican, and his active interest in public affairs, has naturally brought him publicity and prominence. In 1890 he was nominated for county auditor, but the tide of that year being heavily against his party he failed to be elected. In 1893 his brother-in-law, Levi C. Goodyear, was elected prothonotary, and on assuming charge of that office he ap- pointed George A. Sollenberger his deputy, in which capacity he served for six and a half years. In 1899, and again in 1902, he was his party's nominee for prothonotary and each time polled a heavy vote. but not quite heavy enough to insure his election. Since his retirement from the prothonotary's office he has engaged at insurance and tax collecting in the town of Carlisle.
On Oct. 28, 1880, George A. Sollen- berger married Jennie M. Goodyear, daugh- ter of Levi and Ellen (Seager) Goodyear,
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of Churchtown, the Rev. M. S. Cressman, performing the ceremony. To this union there have been born the following children : Cora May, born Ang. 3. 1882 ; Frank Good- year, born Oct. 4. 1883: Bessie Ray, born Feb. 16. 1886, died Nov. 12, 1894; and Joseph Helsel. born Nov. 28, 1889. Those living are still at home with their parents. Cora MI. is a bookkeeper in the office of Frederick & Co., Carlisle: Frank G. is a clerk in the Carlisle postoffice : and Joseph H. is attending the Carlisle schools. In re- ligious faith Mr. Sollenberger's ancestors for several generations before him were German Baptists, but his family regularly attend the Lutheran Church, of which de- nomination most of them are members. They reside at No. 29 West North street, which has been their home ever since they came to Carlisle in the spring of 1894.
J. C. REESER, one of the well-known citizens of Mechanicsburg, who is engaged in the real estate and auctioneering business, was born May 6, 1838, on a farm two miles west of this borough, son of Jacob and Sarah (Coover) Reeser, of Cumberland county. The latter has the distinction of being the oldest resident of Cumberland county, and probably of Pennsylvania, her birth having taken place April 5, 1797. This venerable lady, whose span of life is truly remarkable, is a daughter of George Coover, who was born in Lancaster county, and was one of the earliest German settlers in the Cumberland Valley.
J. C. Reeser was reared on a farm where he remained until the age of fifteen years, when he became a clerk in the general store of David Leidigh, in Silver Spring town- ship, where he remained for two years, and then came to Mechanicsburg, entering the hardware house of Robert Garrison & Co ..
in the capacity of clerk. He continued to follow clerking, later at Shepherdstown, and then in Harrisburg, where he was em- ployed by a mercantile firm for four years. Returning to Mechanicsburg he embarked in business as an auctioneer, and also en- gaged in the butchering business, later be- coming proprietor of the "Trindle Spring Hotel." In 1879 he returned to Mechanics- burg. since which time he has been interested in real estate and in auctioneering, being favorably known all over the county in the latter capacity as a man of ability and wit. In addition to the business lines in which Mr. Reeser has been engaged, his record as a soldier must not be forgotten. In 1862 when the war cloud had already shadowed so many lives, and mothers and wives were holding back their loved ones in terror, there were found loyal men who were ready to dare all danger and go forth to fight for their country. Among these was our sub- ject. who enlisted in Company A, 158th P. V. I. He saw much hard service in this regiment. participating in a number of bat- tles. including the dreadful one of Gettys-
burg. He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1863. His home was then in Monroe township. and there he returned, and during that time served there as school director and as road supervisor. In Mechanicsburg he has taken an active part in politics, being a stanch Republican, and he has served on the town council.
In 1860 Mr. Reeser was married to Sarah R. Strock, da ighter of Joseph Strock, of Monroe township, and three children were born to this union, namely: Harry H., of New Yor ; Elizabeth, wife of Charles H. Herrin . of Mechanicsburg ; and Grace, wife of albert Orris, of Me- chanicsburg. Both 1. . and Mrs. Reeser are consistent members of the Bethel Church
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of God, of Mechanicsburg. Fraternally. he is a Mason of high standing, a Knight Templar, and is also a member of the Golden Eagles and the Knights of Malta. He was one of the organizers of the Col. H. I. Zinn G. A. R. Post, No. 415, of Mechanicsburg. of which he has been commander, and in which he has filled its other official positions.
J. S. BRANDT, one of the prosperous business men of Mt. Holly Springs, South Middleton township, Cumberland county, Pa .. is a son of the well known Christian Brandt.
Christian Brandt was a shoemaker by trade and followed that occupation for a number of years, but on account of failing health was obliged to abandon that line of work. He turned his attention to agricult- ural pursuits, buying a small farm in Mon- roe township, in the cultivation of which he was successfully engaged to the time of his deatlı, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a stanch supporter of the principles pro- mulgated by the Republican party, and did much to advance that party's interests in the neighborhood in which he lived. He was called upon to fill minor township of- fices, and served as tax collector for some years. He and his wife were consistent and valued members of the Lutheran Church, and upon several occasions he was called upon to fill Church offices. He was a man who was held in the highest esteem in the community in which he lived. Mr. Brandt married Elizabeth M. Morrette, and they became the parents of the following children: (1) Fannie, E. married John G. Leidigh, and they live'at Martinsburg. W. Va. ; they have had sios children : Elizabeth, Elmer E., Jennie T deceased), Thomas, Bertie (deceased) .A1 Joseph. (2) Eliza- beth M. married S,mon Gloss, and lives at
Mt. Holly Springs, where her husband was a carpenter until his death; they had chil- dren, Frank, Minnie, Nellie, Elizabeth, Samuel, David and Christy. (3) Leah married William Bross, and lives at Ship- pensburg, where he is a merchant tailor ; they have one child, Jennie. (4) Jacob died at the age of ten years, in Monroe township. (5) J. S. is the subject of this sketch.
J. S. Brandt was born in Monroe town- ship, Oct. 29, 1849, and was educated in that township, where he learned the trade of a saddler. After completing his apprentice- ship at Carlisle, he followed his trade for about three and one-half years, when he lo- cated at Mt. Holly Springs. After a year there, he moved to Monroe township, and worked at his trade for eleven years, and also did farming, raising tobacco. His next change was made to Plainfield, West Penns- boro, where he remained ten years, and he then returned to Mt. Holly Springs, and purchased a fine residence and lot of eighty feet frontage at No. 34 Baltimore avenue. A few doors away from his residence he built a structure in which he has a barber shop, a saddler shop and general store. His barber shop is in the hands of skilled bar- bers, and his entire establishment is con- ducted along modern methods, he controll- ing a very large and constantly increasing trade.
In 1876 Mr. Brandt married Mary A. Beidler, of West Pennsboro township, daughter of John and Mary (Kauffman) Beidler, and they have the following chil- dren: Mary E. married Percy Harmon, who is in business at Mt. Holly; John K. B. married Myrtle Leidigh, daughter of Jolın B. Leidigh, and is a butcher of Mt. Holly; Walter M. is at home learning the barber's trade.
In politics, Mr. Brandt is a Republican,
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and has served on the town council for three years. He was assessor and registrar of Monroe township, and has always been a prominent factor in the ranks of the party. He is a member of the Order of American Mechanics, and the Daughters of America (the Ladies' Auxiliary of that order).
GEORGE C. BORST, M. D. Among the successful and skillful physicians of Cumberland county, Pa., is Dr. George C. Borst. of Newville, who was born at Cot- tage, Huntingdon Co., Pa., March 9. 1854. son of George and Elizabeth C. (Johnston) Borst.
Barnhardt Borst, grandfather of George C., was born near Strasburg, Germany, and emigrating to America about 1760 or '70, settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania.
George Borst was born in Chester coun- ty, Pa., in 1796, and died in 1858, after spending his life in farming. In politics he was an old-line Whig, and a very active man. His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth C. (John- ston ) Borst, was born at Spruce Creek, Huntingdon Co., Pa., in 1820, and died in 1880; she was a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Johnston. The John- stons came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the Caldwells of Irish, and with the German blood from the paternal side, Dr. Borst and his only sister, Mary E., now deceased, had plenty of good, substantial stock to draw upon.
After the usual literary course, Dr. George C. Borst attended Logan Academy, at Bellwood, Blair county, Pa., and then. took up the study of medicine with Dr. S. T. Davis, of Lancaster, Pa., and was grad- uated from Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- lege, New York, in 1876. Immediately after graduation, Dr. Borst began practice at Smyrna, Del., where he remained three
years. In 18So he located at Mt. Union, Huntingdon county, where he remained until 1898, and during that same year, removed to Newville, Cumberland county, where he is now very successfully engaged in a large practice, which extends all over Newville and the surrounding district. While Dr. Borst was a resident of Mt. Union, he was elected and served as coroner of Huntingdon county, for three years; there he also served on the board of educa- tion for six years; and he was also rail- road surgeon for the Pennsylvania railroad for some six or seven years. At present he is medical examiner for many of the leading life insurance companies.
In 1877, Dr. Borst was married to Hen- rietta B. Rothwell, of Smyrna, daughter of Gideon E. and Catherine (Collins) Roth- well. To this union were born two chil- dren : Lolita R., a graduate of Juniata Col- lege, class of 1898; and A. Gertrude, a grad- uate of the Newville high school. Dr. Borst is a member of the American Medical Asso- ciation ; the Cumberland county Medical As- sociation ; the Medical Society of Pennsyl- vania ; and the Cumberland Valley Medical Association. During 1902 he served as. president of the latter. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 677, at Mt. Union, Pa., and of the Patriotic Sons of America, No. 346, Mt. Union, Pa. Both he and his wife are prominent members of the Methodist Church, of which he is stew- ard. Not only is Dr. Borst recognized as a successful physician, but he is admired for his genial, courteous manner and excellent qualities which secure so many warm per- sonal friends wherever he happens to be.
J. H. KOLLER, one of the prosperous business men of Mechanicsburg, Pa., and an extensive dealer in grain and coal, was
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born in the borough of Mechanicsburg, on the farm adjoining the city, Dec. 28, 1859. son of Jonas Koller, a native of Cumberland county.
Jacob Koller, grandfather of J. H., was an early settler of York county, who moved from the latter county to Cumber- land county, and purchased a tract of land near Mechanicsburg, which was handed down in the family, and in time proved to be very valuable property. By occupation, he was a farmer and wheelwright, and he reared a large family, and was widely and favorably known among the old settlers of Cumberland county.
By occupation Jonas Koller was a farmer, and he continued in that line until his death in 1897, when he was in his sixty- eighth year. He married Miss Katherine Binghaman, born in Cumberland county in 1833, daughter of Christian and Saralı ( Rit- ter) Binghaman, formerly of Lancaster county. Their children were : James B., a manufacturer of spokes, wheels, etc .; Mary E., married to A. B. Rupp : J. H. ; and Wil- liam M., also engaged in the manufacture of spokes and wheel material.
J. H. Koller received his education in the public schools of Mechanicsburg, and spent the greater portion of his boyhood days upon the father's farm. Until he was twenty he thus continued, and then went into the spoke and wheel industry. In 1897 he opened a warehouse, engaging in handling flour, feed, seeds, coal and grain, his place of business being very conveniently located near the track of the Cumberland Valley railroad. In addition to his own business he is interested in the banking life of the city, being a stockholder and director of the First National Bank; is interested in the gas and water works companies, and is one of the original organizers and promoters of the D.
Wilcox Manufacturing Company, of which he is now stockholder and director. His ex- ecutive ability, keen insight into existing conditions, and his excellent judgment make him a very valued member of any commer- cial or financial concern, and his name upon the list of a board of directors, gives sta- bility and standing to any institution.
In 1883, Mr. Koller was married to Miss Annie B. Gorgas, of Mechanicsburg. a daughter of Solomon P. Gorgas, a promi- nent citizen of Mechanicsburg. now de- ceased. Politically, Mr. Koller is a Demo- crat, but has never accepted public office, his time being fully occupied with his business interests. Fraternally, he is a Mason, and is connected with Eureka Lodge, No. 302, F. and A. M .; Samuel C. Perkins Chapter. R. A. M., and Commandery No. 11, Knights Templar.
WILSON S. STROHM, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Shippensburg. Pa., is a native of Cumberland county, born in Newton township, Nov. 24, 1852, son of Philip and Sarah (Noaker) Strohm, well- to-do farming people of that time.
Philip Strohm was born in Lancaster county, Pa., but when quite small was brought by his father, Henry Strohm, to Cumberland county, where about 1833 he located on a farm of 175 acres in Southamp- ton township, two miles east of Shippens- burg ; some years later he moved to New Mansfield, Ohio, where he died. Philip Strohm became a successful farmer, and died in March, 1897, in his seventy-sixtli year, while living with his son, John. on the McLean farm. His wife was a native of Cumberland county, and was connected with many of the old families of the county. To Philip Strohm and his wife were born six children, five sons and one daughter : Alex-
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ander. deceased : Wilson S .: John; George; Charles H .; and Sarah J., wife of Frank Whistler. a resident of Harrisburg.
Wilson S. Strohm attended the Oak Grove school during the winter months. His summers were busy ones on the home farm, where his services were much in demand. and where he re- mained until attaining his majority, when he began business on his own account, engaging in farming for three years. Then for eight years he followed threshing, after which he engaged in the stock business with much success for five or six years, shipping in stock from different points. In 1899 he bought the George H. Stewart farm of 120 acres in Southampton township, one of the model farms of the county, well-improved, with a good dwelling. a fine bank barn, and corresponding outbuildings and sheds. Since then he has given most of his time to the managing of his farm, and has proved that in the intervening years he had not forgotten the valuable lessons on agriculture learned in his youth. He has engaged in stock rais- ing also, in addition to his general farming, and in this he has met with his usual good fortune. In the spring of 1899 Mr. Strohm moved into Shippensburg, but still superin- tends his farm. In 1904 he also purchased a valuable property located on East Main street, Shippensburg, which he intends to occupy. He is a stanch Democrat and form- erly took an active part in the political af- fairs, of the county, and served as member of the Democratic county committee. He has also served as township auditor and assessor.
Mr. Strohm was married to Miss Ella R. Brown, of Oakville, daughter of Thomas and Susan ( Cramer ) Brown, and they have one daughter, Mary Ella, now a bright little girl.
S. H. WEBER, one of the most highly respected citizens of Lower Allen township, Cumberland county, belongs to a very old and most honorable family of this section, and is a grandson of Henry Weber, who was born in Cumberland county and fol- lowed the trade of miller for many years.
Christian Weber, father of S. H., was also born in Cumberland county. He was a prominent farmer for many years, and then began the manufacture of wagons, which business he taught his son Samuel, and continued to work at himself, as long as strength continued. He married Eliza- beth Hess, daughter of Christian Hess, and they had these children : S. H., of this sketch ; Annie, wife of Joseph Horst, of Lancaster county; Christian, married Lucinda Coler, has one child, Elmer, and is living at Me- chanicsburg ; Elizabeth and Mary, deceased; Levi. of Woodbury, Bedford county; and Barbara and Benjamin, both of whom died in infancy.
Christian Weber was a Whig in early life, later a Republican, and in religious matters he was a consistent member of the Mennonite Church. His death occurred in 1861. at the age of fifty-one years.
S. H. Weber was born Sept. 10, 1838, in Cumberland county, and he received a part of his education at the Merkel school, and a part in Fairview township. After learning the wagonmaking trade with his father, at Slate Hill, he set up in the trade for himself and has continued to work at the same until the present time. He is widely known as a first-class machinist, and his products are always in demand.
In 1859, Mr. Weber married Ellen Fin- ney, daughter of James Finney, of Lower Allen township, and they have two sons; Harry, a farmer living in Nebraska; and
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George, living at Williams Grove, in Upper Allen township. Mrs. Weber died in 1864.
In 1868 Mr. Weber married Rebecca Ellen Bigler, daughter of John Bigler. and the children of this union are: Bertha, who married George Weigle, of Shiremanstown, and has children; William, a resident of Palmer, Neb .; Frank, who married Carrie Low, daughter of Henry Low, and they have two children, Arthur and Margaret: and John, living at Port Townsend, Washing- ton.
Mr. Weber has been very often honored by his fellow citizens by election to local office, and he has served with the greatest efficiency as judge and inspector of elec- tions, as auditor and tax collector. He is one of the prominent members of the U. B. Church. He is a man whose high personal character commands the respect of all who know him.
J. C. HAYS, one of the substantial re- tired farmers and well-known business men of Mechanicsburg. was born July 24. 1818, in York county, Pa., in the village of New- berrytown, son of Mills and Eva ( Crull) Hays, natives of York county, and a grand- son of Jesse Hays, who was born in Wales.
Jesse Hays was the founder of the tam- ily in Pennsylvania, and he came to Amer- ica in young manhood, settling first in Ches- ter county, but later removing to York county, where he became possessed of a large tract of valuable land in the Fishing Creek Valley. He married Margery Mills, and they reared four children, namely: Lydia, who married Joseph Willitt; Susan, who married (first ) a Mr. Clark, and (second) a Mr. Cascaden; Hannah, who died un- married; and Mills. Jesse Hays and wife were reared as Quakers, but in later life be- came connected with the Methodist Church.
Mills Hays was born in Newberrytown, York county, and in early business life fol- lowed coopering. He then taught school, and was appointed a justice of the peace, his high personal character later winning him the position of associate judge in York coun- ty. Judge Hays died in 1858, aged seventy- two years. He married Eva Crull, also of York county, and they had a family of five children born to them, viz .: John ; Sidney, who married William Epley; Mary; Jesse C .; and Jane, who married Samuel P. Harmon.
Jesse C. Hays attended school in New- berrytown until the age of eighteen, and then began teaching, a profession he followed for the eight succeeding years, embarking then in a mercantile business with his father. In 1848 he bought his father's interest and continued the business alone until 1864, when he sold out. In 1863 Mr. Hays was elected justice of the peace of Newberry- town, an office he satisfactorily filled for a period of five years. For eight years he served also as postmaster of that town. In 1869 Mr. Hays came to Mechanicsburg, re- tiring from active business life at that time, settling in his comfortable and attractive home on West Main street.
On May 13, 1852, Mr. Hays married Mary Miller, of Newberry township, York county, born Feb. 15. 1827, daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Reeser) Miller, old set- tlers of York county, whose parents came from Germany. Two children were born to this marriage, namely: Mills M., born in Newberrytown, married Clara Bowers, of York county, and they have three children, Harry, Edith M. and Jessie; and Mary, who married Eugene Laverty, a druggist at Mid- dletown, Dauphin county, and they have two sons, Eugene and George. In politics, Mr. Hays is a Democrat. Both he and wife
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attend the Presbyterian Church. He is a man of high moral character, one who is respected and esteemed by all who know him.
EDWARD M. EBERLY (deceased) Few men are better known in Mechanics- burg than was Edward M. Eberly, now de- ceased, who was for many years with the long-established firm of L. F. Eberly & Sons. He was born in Cumberland county, April 1, 1845, and died April 28, 1901.
His parents were Levi F. and Eliza (Shuey) Eberly, who originally came from Lancaster county. The father was in early life a farmer, but later became a member of the firm of L. F. Eberly & Sons, lumber dealers of Mechanicsburg. Levi Eberly was a son of David and Catherine ( Frank- enberger ) Eberly, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county. The birth of the father of our subject, took place in Cum- berland county, in 1818, and his death oc- curred in the same county, April 12, 1895. He and his wife had four children : Harri- son W .: David H., who resides in the West; Edward M .; and Ira S.
Edward M. Eberly was reared upon the Cumberland county farm, receiving a fair district school education, and when yet a boy came with his parents to Mechanics- burg. In 1861 he volunteered in the six months' service in an infantry company. On Feb. 27, 1864, he volunteered in Company L, Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Col. Jacob Higgins, serving until the close of the war. When he returned home in the summer of 1865, it was with a record of having partici- pated in nineteen different battles with the Army of the Potomac.
In 1867 Mr. Eberly married Maggie Zacharias, of Mechanicsburg, by whom he had two children : Raymond E., a tinsmith,
married Miss Myrtle Kilmore; W. B .. a tailor, married Miss Margaret Orris. In politics, Mr. Eberly was a Republican, but did not seek office. He was a member of the G. A. R. Post of Mechanicsburg, and for thirty-five years was a member of the Washington Fire Company of that city. For over thirty years he was one of its leading business men, and not only was a represen- tative of the best interests of the city, but a man widely known and highly esteemed.
CHARLES A. CLIPPINGER, one of the intelligent farmers of Cumberland coun- ty, where he has a fertile farm of ninety acres, was born in Franklin county, Pa .. Nov. 15, 1843, son of Jacob and Isabella (Stewart ) Clippinger, and a grandson of Anthony Clippinger.
Anthony Clippinger was a native of Cumberland county, born Oct. 13, 1774, and died Sept. 20, 1823. He married Christi- anna Haines, who was born in Cumberland county March 17, 1780, and died Feb. 2, 1852.
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