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 105
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Jacob Clippinger was born in this county Nov. 3. 1801, and died June 6, 1888, in his eighty-seventh year. He was always greatly interested in public affairs, and in his politi- cal belief was first an old-line Whig, then a Democrat. He was honest and outspoken in his views, and open to argument. If con- vinced of the error of his reasoning he was ever ready to acknowledge it. On Nov. II, 1825, in Shippensburg. he married Isabella Stewart, daughter of Dr. Alexander Stew- art, a native of Lancaster county, the cerc- mony being performed by Rev. Dr. Moody. a Presbyterian divine. Mrs. Clippinger was born in Shippensburg, Cumberland county. Sept. 15, 1807, and died July 12, 1890, in her eighty-third year. The children of this marriage were as follows: Anthony, born
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Ang. 13, 1826; Jane Ann, Feb. 25, 1828; Alexander, Nov. 20, 1829; William, Sept. 15, 1831; John Rippey, Dec. 12, 1834; Hugh Long, Nov. 7, 1836; Isabella, Sept. 6, 1838; Anna Margaret, May 27, 1841; Charles A .: Christianna, Jan. 11. 1845; Morrison, Feb. 15, 1847; and William Bigler, March 4, 1851.
Charles A. Clippinger received the usual training of a farmer's boy, and took advan- tage of such educational advantages as were afforded by the schools in the vicinity of his home. He made a careful study of the best methods of farming, and, being practical in his work, he was soon able to see where improvements could be made. To-day he has a fine farm, with an excellent apple and peach orchard. His land is improved with good buildings, among which may be men- tioned a substantial barn 55 x 80 feet. The owner takes pride in keeping his premises neat and attractive, and he has the reputa- tion of being a thorough and industrious agriculturist.
In 1867 Charles A. Clippinger was mar- ried to Sarah Martin, who was born in Cum- berland county Dec. 3, 1844, daughter of Philip and Mary ( Hendricks) Martin. Six children blessed this union: Edgar Morri- son, born Nov. 12, 1867, married Lulu V. Mowers; Isabella Stewart, born Oct. 29, 1869, is deceased; Anna E., born Feb. 8, 1873, married Clark Miller; Sarah May, born June 25, 1875, married Frank Hays; Ella, born May 13, 1878, is deceased; and Charles Stewart, born April 11, 1882, mar- ried Bessie M. Mowers.
JOHN ILGENFRITZ, a prosperous farmer of Middlesex township, Cumberland county, was born there June 28, 1843, son of Frederick and Mary (Eversole) Ilgen- fritz.
The paternal grandfather, Jacob Ilgen- fritz, resided at different points in Pennsyl- vania, in both York and Cumberland coun- ties, but finally moved to Monroe, Mich., and died there at the home of one of his sons. His son, Frederick, was born near Dover, York county, about 1815, but when about fifteen years old the family moved to Cumberland county. There he was em- ployed in driving a team to Baltimore for a Mr. Paul. He married first Miss Mary Eversole and after her death in 1860, chose for his second wife her sister, Sarah, who has also passed away. Mr. Ilgeniritz was the father of three children by his first wife, namely: Henry, who died in infancy ; John ; Rebecca, who married Amos Sheffer. of Williamsport, Pa., and is the mother of eleven children. John Eversole, the mater- nal grandfather of these children, was a native of Pennsylvania, lived for many years in Cumberland county and finally died in Plainfield.
John Ilgenfritz grew up on his father's farm, assisting in all the work of the place. His education was such as could be acquired in the country schools of that day, and most of his training has been gained in the prac- tical school of life. He was married when rather young, and for a year afterward re- mained at home, but then rented a farm in Middlesex township and lived there fourteen years, meantime managing his father's farm as well. At the end of that time, in 1882, he returned to the latter place and for the next nine and a half years made it his home. On Sept. 22, 1891, his father died, followed only nine days later by his wife, and the home farm became by inheritance the prop- erty of the son. He was made the executor of his father's estate, while later both his father-in-law and Mrs. Lackey entrusted to him similar responsibilities, all of which
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were discharged with the greatest ability and faithfulness. At various times, too, he has been chosen appraiser for several of the most valuable estates in that section.
Mr. Ilgenfritz is a large property owner. as before his father's farm fell to him he had already purchased one of fifty-eight and a half acres in that immediate locality, and since his father's death has bought a further tract of 110 acres in the same township. Modern and progressive in all his methods. he has been a highly successful farmer and is daily becoming more prosperous still. In his view of political issues he is a Repub- lican, and is proud of the fact that his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. In re- ligious matters he stands with the United Evangelicals, and is a member of that church.
In 1867, Mr. Ilgenfritz was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bricker, daughter of Elias and Sarah (Stickle) Bricker, of North Middleton township. Elias Bricker died in October. 1891, and his wife died Oct. 5. 1895. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ilgenfritz: Fannie, who died Aug. 15; 1888, was the wife of Wil- liam M. Kutz; her daughter, Ethel Romaine Kutz. has made her home with her grand- parents since she was five months old. Al- bert, the son, married Emma Swarner.
S. M. SKINNER (deceased ), a well- known business man and wealthy real estate dealer at Newville, Cumberland county, came of good Pennsylvania stock, the family having been residents of the Keystone State for several generations.
S. M. Skinner, Sr., the grandfather of the Newville citizen of the same name, was a native of Franklin county, where he fol- lowed farming as a vocation. His children were : Daniel; S. M .; William, who died in
Franklin county; Enoch, who died in the West; M. R., mentioned below; Thomas who died in Franklin county; Agnes Sarah; and James. Both father and mother died in Franklin county.
M. R. Skinner was a native of Dry Run. Franklin county, where he attended school. After leaving school he went to Roxbury, Franklin Co., Pa., where for twenty years he devoted himself to the mercantile busi- ness, and also owned and operated a grist- mill. His death occurred in 1868, when his property was all sold. His wife died in 1872, the mother of the following children : Catherine married (first) Michael Miller, a millwright of Perry county, now deceased, and (second) James Stitt, of Franklin county, and she died in Roxbury; Philip, who married Emma Sentman, of Rox- bury, was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness until his death; S. M., the subject proper of this sketch, is mentioned in full below; M. R., Jr., who married a Miss Tritt, of Cumberland county, now lives in Ten- nessee; and Jennie, who married Harry Dick, died at Shippensburg.
S. M. Skinner was born at Roxbury, in 1843, and had the advantage of attending school until he was nineteen, and then of studying in an academy for two years. Upon leaving school he began a study of business principles by accepting a clerkship in a dry goods store, where he continued until 1867, when he came to Newville, and for a year clerked in a hardware store. For a short time he stayed in Harrisburg, but returned to Newville Oct. 16, 1869, there buying the hardware establishment of Stough & Matcer. For five years the firm was known as M. R. Skinner & Son, but our subject then became sole owner, and carried on the business alone until 1878, when he sold it. For four years he was engaged in
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manufacturing all kinds of high grade wagons, and although most successful he did not find the work congenial, and sold out. He next became the owner of twenty- nine acres of land in the borough of New- ville, which he laid out in lots, selling a part. He built a fine row of eight houses, on Chestnut street, while his own attractive residence was located on the corner of Fair- field and Main streets. Up to the time of his death he confined his attention exclusively to real estate, buying and selling, and found it exceedingly profitable. He also owned a rine farm in West Pennsboro township. His methods were open and above board. and the people had the utmost confidence in him.
In 1873 Mr. Skinner was married to Miss Elizabeth Montgomery, daughter of Robert and Rachel ( Thompson) Montgom- ery, granddaughter of James and Elizabeth (Scroggs) Montgomery, and great-grand- laughter of Alexander and Sarah Scroggs. The ancestral Scroggs family home was originally used as a fort, in which the family cook refuge from the Indians. At one time Alexander Scroggs owned all the land on both sides of the spring, and in his day he was obliged to plow with his trusty rifle over his shoulder ready for immediate use ; le died in 1826, preceded by his wife who lied in 1804. To Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Skinner came three children, of whom, Harry, the eldest, died in infancy. The other two are: Helen M., born in 1878, married Lewis Sharp, son of Samuel Sharp, und they reside at home; Jennie B., born in 1883, is a graduate of the Normal school. Politically, Mr. Skinner was a Republican, ind as a man with thoroughly up-to-date deas, was keenly interested in all public mprovements. He died Feb. 21, 1904, and n his death the citizens of Newville lost one
of their most active and enterprising citi- zens. He was especially missed by the poor, to whom he was ever ready to lend a help- ing hand.
JOHN . MCCLELLAND ( deceased ) was a lifelong resident of Franklin county, Pa., and for many years before his death one of the industrious and well-to-do farm- ers of Letterkenny township. He was of that sturdy race which is so numerously represented among the substantial citizens of Pennsylvania, the McClelland family having come from the north of Ireland.
Thomas McClelland. father of John, was probably born in Chester county, Pa., removed thence to Franklin county, and married Miss Jeanette Smith. He carried on farming in Lurgan township, and there he and his wife both died. Mr. McClelland was a Presbyterian in religious faith. He and his wife had the following named chil- dren: Jane, Mrs. Hugh Culbertson, who lived in Adams county, Pa., and died in Shippensburg ; Margaret, Mrs. Irvine, who also died in Shippensburg; Anna, Mrs. Cunningham, who died in Lawrence county, Pa .; Susan, who married James Bigham, and died near Fayetteville, Franklin county; John, mentioned below; and Joseph, who married Mary McClay, and died in Law- rence county.
John McClelland was born in 1805, in Lurgan township, Franklin county, and was- there reared. In.his boyhood he received such advantages as the local schools af- forded, and a practical training to agricult- ure on the home farm. He married Martha Ann Cummins, who was born in Franklin county, near Strasburg, and was of Scotch- Irish descent, being a daughter of William Cummins and a granddaughter of Charles Cummins. William Cummins was also a
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native of Franklin county. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. McClelland took the old Cummins farm in Letterkenny township, Franklin county, and there passed the re- mainder of their days. He was a prosper- ous farmer, and made a good living for himself and family. He died on the farm in 1859. and his widow, who long survived him. passed away in 1883, at an advanced age. They were the parents of eight chil- dren. namely: Susan S. is the widow of James R. Means, of Carlisle. Catherine E., who was the wife of McCord Means, died in Shippensburg. Jennie A. is a resident of Chambersburg. William C. is principal of the Shippensburg schools; he married Miss Liberty Quigley. M. Belle resides in Car- lisle. Thomas A. makes his home in Cham- bersburg. Samuel B. married Adella El- dredge, and resides in Boulder, Mont. Jo- seph U .. now of Chicago, married Jennie Blinkhorn, of Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. McClelland were both earnest members of the Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church, and he was an elder in same. His political sup- port was given to the Democratic party.
JOHN JACOBS, late a retired farmer and blacksmith, who found rest and comfort in a pleasant home after a long life of hard work, was one of the substantial men of Cumberland county, upon whose reputation there is found no stain. His ancestors orig- inally settlel in York county, but his grand- father moved from there to what is now Perry county, and died near Shermansdale.
John Jacobs, Sr., was born in York county, and in childhood accompanied his parents to Perry county. Like the children of the pioneers in general his education was limited so far as books were concerned, but when it came to work there was no limit placed. He learned the trade of blacksmith
along the old Trindle road in Cumberland county. For seven years he lived in a rented house on the farm now owned and occupied by Jacob Ziegler, and there he carried on his trade. Accumulating some little money by hard toil and much economy, he was able to purchase seven acres at the cross roads in Middlesex township, now known as Jacobs Corners. That was his home until his death, which occurred some years before the Civil war, when he was aged about seventy-five years. His wife, Catherine Kell, of Perry county, survived him several years. They were members of the Lutheran Church at Carlisle Springs. Mr. Jacobs was a Democrat. Of their chil- dren several died when young, but of the four who grew to maturity, Sarah, who married Jacob Humer, died in Middlesex township, at the age of seventy-six; Wil- liam married Annie Hoover, and died in Silver Spring township; John Jacobs (2) ; and Samuel married Elizabeth Berstline, and lives in Middlesex township.
John Jacobs, the second of the name, and the subject proper of this sketch, was born on what is now the Jacob Ziegler farm in Middlesex township Nov. 13, 1822. He was just seven years old when his father bought the old home at the Cross roads. His recollections of his school days went back to the primitive educational facilities of a new country, when all the schools were subscription schools, and the teacher for the most part firm believers in the theory of Solomon about the use of the rod. When but a boy Mr. Jacobs began work in his father's blacksmith shop, and when his father determined to retire he was so thor- oughly instructed as to be able to carry on the shop himself. After his marriage in 1853 he bought thirty-eight acres of land, and built his late home. Naturally indus-
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trious he prospered, and with economy and the help of his good wife, he was able to purchase in a comparatively short time an- other fifty acres, where he built another house in which he lived for some two years, then returning to his late home. He con- tinued to carry on his trade of blacksmith until 1898, when he felt it was time for him to rest, having passed by several years then the Psalmist's allotted three score years and ten, and he lived in retirement up to the time of his death.
On May 17, 1853, Mr. Jacobs was mar- ried to Sarah Catherine Garman, who was born at Hanover, Pa., Sept. 30, 1833, daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Baringer) Garman. At the time of his marriage John Garman was a post fence builder, but he then located one mile from Harrisburg, later buying the George Nevinger farm in Silver Spring township, where he carried on farm- ing until his death about 1862, when he was aged eighty-one years. Elizabeth ( Baringer ) Garman was the daughter of Jacob Barin- ger. To John and Elizabeth Garman were born the following family: John, who died in Frankford township, married Mrs. Sarah Finkenbinder; Elizabeth is the wife of Mathew Sheffer, and lives in Kansas; Polly married Samuel Shoop, and died in Harris- burg; Hettie married first Daniel Henshaw, second David Shenk, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Sponser, of Silver Spring township; Samuel married Elizabeth Vogelsang, and died in Green- castle, Pa .; Jane Ann married John Ward, and died near Plainfield, Pa .; Benjamin married Susan Albright, and died on the home farm; Sarah Catherine became Mrs. Jacobs; and Michael married first Mrs. Susan (Albright) Garman (widow of his brother Benjamin), and second Caroline Daron. To John Jacobs and his wife four
children were born: Sadie Catherine, now Mrs. David Orris, of near Kingston; John WV. P., who married Rebecca Lesher, and is deceased; George B. Mc., who married Clara Keller, and lives in Shiremanstown, this county; and Francis Abner, who mar- ried Sarah Ann Devinney, and lives near Good Hope. The family have all been reared in the Lutheran faith, and they are living lives that reflect credit on their home teachings. Mr. Jacobs was always an un- wavering Democrat in his political views, and was highly respected in the community that knew him so well. He passed the even- ing of his life surrounded by the comfort wrought by his own hands.
DANIEL DRAWBAUGH, INVENTOR. About the year 1802, one William Draw- baugh settled in the vicinity of Eberly's Mills, in Allen, now Lower Allen, town- ship. Little is known concerning his pre- vious history except that he came from York county. He continued to reside in that lo- cality for seven or eight years, and then moved to the vicinity of Bloserville, Frank- ford township, where, in 1811, he was as- sessed with both real and personal property. He was a blacksmith, but also engaged to some extent at farming. He died in Sep- tember, 1817, and his remains are said to be buried in the graveyard of the brick church in Upper Frankford.
This William Drawbaugh and Cather- ine, his wife, had, among other children, a son John, who in the matter of avocation followed in the footsteps of his father, and became a blacksmith. When his father, be- cause of the feebleness of age, laid his ham- mer upon the anvil he took it up and con- tinued the business. Along with ordinary blacksmithing he made edged tools, gun barrels and other special articles that were
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much called for at that day. He had a brother named George who was a wagon- maker and the two carried on their respec- tive trades near each other, first in Frank- ford township and afterward at Eberly's Mills. When the Drawbaughs moved to Frankford township, there lived in that part of the county a man named Peter Bloser, a carpenter, who bore the reputation of being a very thorough and skillful craftsman. He had a large family and among his children there was a daughter named Leah. John Drawbaugh. the young blacksmith, married Leah Bloser, and by her had the following children : John B., Elizabeth, Rebecca, Dan- iel, Henry and Catherine.
Daniel Drawbaugh, the fourth child of John and Leah ( Bloser) Drawbaugh, was born July 14. 1827. in Allen, now Lower Allen, township. The place of his birth is the hamlet known as Eberly's Mills, which formerly was called Milltown, and occasion- ally is still referred to by that name. Dan- iel's ancestors, both on the paternal and ma- ternal sides, having been skilled mechanics for generations before him, he inherited a strong inventive genius that has served the world, and won him great distinction. Like other boys of his neighborhood, as soon as old enough he was sent to the country dis- trict school, where he was an average boy in the matter of deportment, and made fair progress in his studies, but displayed no spe- cial eagerness for booklearning. He was more ambitious to be the owner of a good jackknife, than to stand at the head of his class, and consequently his training for life led by way of the workshop, rather than through the schools. He never had any educational advantages beyond that afforded by the country school of his vicinity. His father's smith shop had more of interest to
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him than the schoolroom, and being natur- ally inclined he was early given the oppor- tunity to blow and strike, and in various other ways lend a helping hand. He was short of stature, and to level up with the handle of the bellows and the top of the anvil his father placed a box for the boy to stand on. This box did duty for years, it being cut down from underneath and low- ered as the boy increased in height. From early boyhood he felt an uncontrollable de- sire to make things; to construct devices by which the forces of nature could be har- nessed for man's use and enjoyment. The running stream, the currents of the air, heat and cold and other conditions of the atmos- phere, afforded him opportunities for experi- ment, and experiment he did, in season and out of season. This ruling passion some- times got him into trouble. Upon one occa- sion, while sitting in the old schoolhouse at Cedar Grove, he discovered a current of cold air coming through a small hole in the wall. Instantly an idea flashed across his mind. Putting his inventive wits to work he built a miniature windmill, and placing it in the way of the current when school was not in session, in presence of some of his associates. it worked like a charm. It was torture to him to keep his little mill idle while that current of air was going to waste. It might as well be doing something. he thought, so while the rest of the school were absorbed in their books, he unnoticed by the teacher, rigged his little invention up against the wall, and, swinging it to the way of the current, it set up a shrieking noise that startled the whole school. "What's that?" the teacher asked, and the pupils in the secret looked at Daniel Drawbaugh. Their looks betrayed him and on being called up he con- fessed. The teacher feigned a friendly in-
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terest, had him show the machine and ex- plain its principles, and then gave him a flogging.
He early began to turn his inventive and manufacturing talent to practical account. While yet a mere boy he earned considerable spending money by making boot trees and other articles of actual use, and in his seven- teenth year made himself a rifle, lock, stock and barrel. The gun was not only of fine appearance but possessed excellent shooting qualities, and he sold it for eighteen dollars. which at that day was considered a fancy price. While yet a boy he made a clock and a steam engine, both of which he preserved for many years. An intelligent farmer in his neighborhood needed a mowing machine. He made the facts known to young Draw- baugh, and in due time the machine was constructed, answering the purpose until an accident demolished it. Upon one occasion a man sent him word that he wanted an at- tachment to his drill to sow plaster, and in a little while the young inventor had per- fected a device that did the work with entire satisfaction. At seventeen he learned coach- making with his brother. J. B. Drawbaugh, and while thus engaged he greatly improved the machinery used in coachmaking. The inventive faculty was so strong in Daniel Drawbaugh that it did not permit him to continue long at coachmaking. It was an impulse that governed his actions. as no matter to what he applied his hand his mind would revert to invention as surely as the needle does to the pole. Invention was so natural and easy to him that he underrated the value of many of his appliances, and did not have them patented. Others he did not have patented because of lack of means to pay the expense thereof, and through the misfortune of being poor he failed to reap the full reward of the crowning triumph of
his genius. In the year 1867 he invented an instrument to convey human speech by means of the electric current. It was the first and original invention of the tele- phone, as was conclusively proven in the courts. He experimented and improved upon it for several years, intending to apply for a patent as soon as he was financially able. He did not become able in time, and in 1876 Prof. Bell was granted a patent for identically the same invention. When pub- lic attention was attracted to the invention, capitalists realized how valuable it was. A company was formed which employed some of the best legal ability in the country and carried the matter into the courts. Over twelve hundred printed pages of testimony were taken, and it was shown that Daniel Drawbaugh had invented and exhibited to more than one hundred and fifty people of intelligence and good judgment the speak- ing telephone, long before Alexander Gra- ham Bell had discovered the idea. But all of this testimony was of no avail, Prof. Bell was the first to file his application, and with- out contest had been awarded a patent, and the United States Supreme Court, by a vote of five to four decided that his patent could not be revoked. Although not successful in securing a patent for same, Daniel Draw- baugh is none the less the original inventor of the telephone. That has been established beyond dispute. He has also invented more than one hundred other useful appliances and instruments, for which he has secured patents, and earned and holds high rank in the inventive fraternity of the country. In his earlier years he did drawing from nature and has preserved many fine specimens of his art and skill. He also did wood engrav- ing and photographiing. but only engaged in these lines in an experimental way.
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