Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 111

Author: Genealogical Publishing Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Genealogical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 994

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 111

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Charles and Rebecca ( Miller) Ogilby had issue, children, viz. : Mary Louisa, Jo- seph Willet, Elizabeth, Ellen, William Miller, Anna Rebecca and Mary Ellen. Mary Louisa. Elizabeth and Ellen died in childhood, but the rest grew to maturity and at this writing three of them are still living.

Joseph Willet Ogilby, the oldest son of Charles and Rebecca ( Miller) Ogilby, grew to manhood in Carlisle, received the full

benefits of its public schools and a thorough practical business training in his father's store. He followed his father in the mer- candle business, but his interest in public affairs in the early part of his career soon secured for him the appointment of post- master under President Grant, and he then relinquished business to serve as postmaster for four years. In 1884 he was again ap- pointed postmaster. On completing his sec- ond term as postmaster he and his brother William M. entered into the grocery and fine china business on West Main street, Carlisle, where he has continued ever since, giving to his business all his time and attention. In 1856 Joseph W. Ogilby married Anna M. Myers, daughter of Henry Myers, a prominent contractor of Carlisle, and to their union the following children have been born: Laura, Charles, Joseph, William. S. Nellie and George N. Laura married George B. Totton. She died Aug. 7, 1896, leaving one child, a son named James Ogilby Tot- ton. who at present is a clerk in the office of the superintendent of the Cumberland Valley Railroad at Chambersburg. Charles was for a number of years with William Gregg & Co., of Chicago, in the commission business, and later with Henry W. King, of the same city. He is now living in New York City and engaged in business there. Joseph graduated from the Carlisle high school and afterward learned the printing trade in the Sentinel office at Carlisle. He subsequently secured a position with the New York Times, which he held for some years. Later he was for several years with the Washington (D. C.) Post. In 1895 he went to Europe and traveled extensively on the continent, going as far east as Constanti- nople. After visiting nearly all the princi- pal countries of Europe he settled in Paris. where he engaged at journalistic work on

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the Paris edition of the New York Herald. Here his health failed and by the advice of his doctors he left Paris for his home in Carlisle, accompanied by his brother Charles, who had gone over to see him. Being af- flicted with an incurable form of heart trouble he died on March 30, 1900. at Car- lisle, aged almost thirty-nine years. He was unmarried. William. the next son, graduated from the Carlisle high school, studied pharmacy in Philadelphia and is now engaged in the drug business in that city. S. Nellie graduated from the Car- lisle high school. In 1890 she married George C. Cooke, chief clerk in the office of the superintendent of the Cumberland Valley Railroad at Chambersburg. and to them the following children have been born : Marguerite O., Creston O., Nellie O., Doro- thy O., George O., Josepli O., Edith O. and Anna Mary O. George N. graduated from the Carlisle high school and is now en- gaged in the grocery and fine china business with his father. On May 5. 1892, he mar- ried Miriam Morris, a teacher in the Car- lisle schools, and to them two children have been born, William C. and Anna Miriam.

William M. Ogilby, the second oldest son of Charles and Rebecca (Miller ) Ogilby, was born in Carlisle, Nov. 24, 1842. He was educated in the public schools and in Dickinson College, from which he gradu- ated in 1862. In his earlier years he as- sisted his father in his mercantile business, but later, was employed in the Farmers' Bank of Carlisle. In 1875 he went to Chicago, where he entered the grain and commission house of Gregg. Son & Co., and continued with that firm until his health failed. In 1888 he returned to Car- lisle and with his brother. Joseph W., founded the business which is still in ex- istence on West Main street under the man-

agement of the surviving brother. Although he improved lie never fully regained his health, and in May, 1889, while on a visit to Chicago to attend the Good Templars' in- ternational convention, he died of heart failure at the home of his nephew, Charles Ogilby. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, which he joined early in life. and during his entire adult life gave much time and earnest effort to mission and temperance work. His re- mains are buried in the Old Grave Yard at Carlisle.

Anna R. and Mollie E., the two sur- viving daughters of Charles and Rebecca. (Miller) Ogilby, live on West Pomfret street, and are among Carlisle's best known and most respected people. Like their pa- rents before them they belong to the First Presbyterian Church and are active in Sun- day-school and church work. Formerly Mollie E. Ogilby was a popular and suc- cessful teacher in the public schools of Car- lisle.

THEODORE GROVE TRITT. The earliest American ancestor of the Tritt fam- ily is believed to have come from Spain, but there is nothing at hand, either in tradition or the records, regarding the date at which he came. Peter Tritt, the founder of the family in Cumberland county, came from Lancaster county about the year 1775. He- settled in the part of West Pennsboro town- ship that is now included within the bounds of Penn township and there carried on the business of wagonmaking to the end of his active career. He married Elizabeth Le- Fever, whose grandparents were of French nationality and came to America in 1710. They landed at Boston and settled at New- burgh, N. Y., and subsequently came from there to Lancaster county, Pa. Elizabeth

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(Le Fever) Tritt was born Dec. 8, 1751, and died Feb. 9, 1835. Peter Tritt died in February. 1839. and the following notice of his death appeared in the Carlisle news- paper at the time:

"Died on Sunday Feb. 24. 1839, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, Mr. Peter Tritt, Sen., of West Pennsboro town- ship. The deceased was a soldier of the Revolution, having served his country faith- fully in that memorable struggle, both as an enlisted soldier and as a militia man. He was honored and respected by all who knew him as an honest and industrious man and exemplary citizen. Shortly before his death he made a clear deed of a farm to each of his sons (eight in number), the earnings of a long life of industry and frugality."

Peter and Elizabeth (LeFever) Tritt had the following children : Barbara, born May 10. 1778, died young ; Jacob, born Jan. IS. 1780, died Dec. 17, 1856; Peter, born Jan. 28, 1782, died Jan. 24, 1860; Elizabeth, born Jan. 18. 1784. died Oct. 17, 1831 ; Jo- seph, born Jan. 16, 1787, died May 30, 1873; Barbara, born March 19, 1789, died young; George, born Nov. 3. 1791, died Oct. 4. 1882; Catharine, born July 5, 1794, died Jan. 9, 1871 ; Christian, born July 25. 1796, died Jan. 10, 1871 ; Anne, born Nov. 21. 1798, died Jan. 1, 1837; John, born Jan. 18, 1801, died in September, 1884; Samuel, born Sept. 14, 1803. died Feb. 22, 1873. and William, born May 26, 1807, died Feb. 7, 1855.

Christian Tritt, son of Pefer and Eliza- beth (Le Fever) Tritt, married Lydia Stough, and by her had six sons and six daughters. The sons were Peter N., Jacob Miller, John S., David P., Samuel A. and Christian; and the daughters were, Eliza- beth, Catharine, Ann, Tabitha, Agnes and Jennie.

Samuel A. Tritt, son of Christian and Lydia (Stough) Tritt, was born Aug. 5, 1834, in Dickinson (now Penn) township, where he grew to manhood and always lived. He married Elizabeth Bishop, daugh- ter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Goodhart) Bishop. He died April 19, 1882, and his remains are buried in the graveyard of the Lutheran Church at Centerville. He was a farmer by occupation and owned a fine farm, which descended to him from his father and which is still in the possession of his estate. He was a progressive, public- spirited citizen, took a deep interest in edu- cational matters and attended the Lutheran Church.

Samuel A. and Elizabeth (Bishop) Tritt had children as follows: Theodore Grove, Elder L., John B., James Ira, Fannie E., Ida Myrtle and Josephine. Elder L. is in the employ of an electric railway com- pany in St. Louis, Mo .; John B. is engaged at farming on the homestead; James Ira is a stenographer and typewriter for the United States government with the Mid- vale Steel Company; Fannie E. is the wife of Brady Ernst, of Carlisle; Ida Myrtle is a stenographer, and at present is auditor of the New York and Queen's County Railway, of Long Island, N. Y., and Josephine is a trained nurse and at present employed in Philadelphia.

T. Grove Tritt, the oldest child of Sam- uel A. and Elizabeth (Bishop) Tritt, and the special subject of this sketch, was born in Dickinson (now Penn) township, on Dec. 3, 1858. He was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools of his native district until he reached his eighteenth year when he began teaching. He taught in the public schools until in May, 1887, when he was elected to the position of bookkeeper with the Carlisle Manufacturing

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Company and removed to Carlisle. He con- tinued with the Carlisle Manufacturing Company until in September, 1890, when he became superintendent of the Carlisle Chain Works, which position he held until Decem- ber, 1894, when he resigned it to accept that of treasurer to the Carlisle Shoe Company, which he has held ever since. The Carlisle Shoe Company is Carlisle's oldest shoe manufacturing enterprise, being the succes- sor of G. W. Neidich & Co. Under its pres- ent organization it is capitalized at $125,- 000, and affords employment for 250 people. The company manufactures women's, misses' and children's shoes and sells all over the United States. It is in a flourishing condi- tion and each year shows a steady increase in the volume of business. At present its officers are as follows: George M. Bosler, president ; Harry G. Beetem, vice-president ; J. Kirk Bosler, secretary; T. Grove Tritt, treasurer, and E. J. Wilks, superintendent. Mr. Tritt is a stockholder and director in the Carlisle Shoe Company; a stockholder and director in the Carlisle Paper Box Com- pany and also its treasurer. He retains his interest in the public schools and has for a number of years been a member of the Car- lisle school board and at this writing is " treasurer to that body. Fraternally he be- longs to Lodge No. 91, I. O. O. F., and is a worthy citizen as well as an influential business factor in the community.

In 1881 Mr. Tritt was married to Miss Clara Coover, of Penn township, and their union has been blessed with the following children : Maggie D., born Sept. 24, 1884; and Helen, born April 30, 1894. They re- side in a pleasant home at No. 134 South Pitt street, are regular attendants at the Second Presbyterian Church and much es- teemed by all who know them.

WILLIAM ALEXANDER HUM- RICH, the fourth and youngest son of John Adams and Mary Ann Humrich, was born in their first home on the northwest corner of Louther and Hanover streets, Carlisle, July 9, 1839. In the spring of 1842 the famiily removed to what is now 147 West Louther street, where he grew to manhood, attending the public schools in the mean- time. He was placed on his father's farm in North Middleton township, about two miles north of town, where he learned the art, trade and mystery of farming, and this has been his pursuit during most of his life.

In 1862 he became a member of Com- pany A, of the 130th Regiment of Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and took part in the battle of Antietam, where he was wounded in Bloody Lane, by being struck by a piece of shell; and was with the Union forces in the mud campaign against Fredericksburg.

After the war he visited the oil regions in northwestern Pennsylvania, where he spent nearly five years in the oil business, engaged in its different departments, includ- ing the refining of oil and its various extracts. He there saw fortunes made and lost in a short time; was on the site of Pithole City when the first building was erected, witnessed it grow to a city of ten thousand population, and abandoned by its people when the oil wells failed. He returned to his native place about 1870, and engaged in the fruit and green grocery business, in the building in which he was born, and was fairly successful. During the Centennial year (1876) he be- came the owner of the big steer Romeo, fed in West Pennsboro township. this county, and, giving up the grocery business, made arrangements to exhibit him at the Phila- delphia Centennial, and subsequently on the Granger grounds near that city, where he

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spent the entire summer and fall of that year. After this venture he returned to his home in Carlisle and again devoted himself to farming and the keeping of a dairy. in which he is now engaged.

On Sept. 23, 1879. Mr. Humrich was married to Mrs. Emma C. Humrich, the widow of his brother. Jolin A., deceased, and has since resided on a part of the old home- stead. They have had no children.

WILLIAM HENRY McCREA, at- torney-at-law. Newville. Pa .. is a grandson of William McCrea, who left County Ty- rone, Ireland, for this country in June. 1790, in the good ship "Sally," bringing with him his wife. Margaret ( Ballantyne), daughter Sarah, and an infant son Walter, who died on shipboard. He settled the same year near Graham's Bridge, in West Pennsboro town- ship. Cumberland county, and after living there several years moved to the vicinity of Bloserville, in Frankford township, where he died in 1837. his wife Margaret having died in 1822. To William McCrea and wife were born eight children: Sarah, wife of James Wallace: Walter. deceased; Martha, wife of Alexander Logan : Catherine, wife of Robert Giffin: Margaret, wife of James Hume: Jane, wife of Robert Fenton : Will- iam, who married Mary Jane, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth ( Mentzer) Snyder ; and John.

John McCrea, the father of William Henry McCrea, was born May 28, 1803. On June 15. 1854. he married Barbara Mar- tha Snyder ( sister of his brother William's wife). A few years prior to his marriage John McCrea had bought the. McCormick Mill property, known as Donegal Mills, near Doubling Gap, in Lower Mifflin township, this county. Here two children were born to them : William Henry and Martha Ellen,

who became the wife of Howard M. Koser in 1882. John McCrea died March 15. 1879. and his remains were laid at rest by the side of his father and mother in the Big Spring Presbyterian graveyard at Newville, Pa. He was a man of whom it could be said. "None knew him but to love him." He never did an unkind or an uncharitable act in his life. His nature was such that his mind could not conceive a mean thing. His first vote was cast in 1824 for Gen. Jackson and from that date he never swerved in his de- votion to the Democratic party. in fifty-five years never missing an election, either special or general. He never sought or occupied any office of profit. Surrounded by his family, and in the enjoyment of the few standard historical and theological works which abounded in all Scotch-Irish homes in that day, he was content to do his duty as he saw it, quietly and without ostentation.

Barbara Martha McCrea, wife of John McCrea, was born July 15, 1818, and was the daughter of Henry Snyder and Elizabeth (Mentzer) Snyder, who were natives of Manor township, Lancaster Co., Pa. They came to this county in the early years of the last century, after having spent some years in Dauphin county. Henry Snyder was the son of Peter Snyder and Mary ( Black) Snyder, and had two brothers, George and Philip, and two sisters, Katie and Mollie. George went to Erie county and died there, being thrown out of a buggy on his way to church and fatally injured. Philip lived in Cox's Town, Lancaster Co., Pa., and was killed playing ball. Katie became Mrs. Brenner and Mollie Mrs. Sheets. The tradi- tions of the family are that Peter Snyder was a land owner of some extent in said Lancas- ter county, and that he occupied a large stone house with a veranda extending along the whole front.

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Henry Snyder died March 29. 1847. Elizabeth (Mentzer) Snyder, who died in December, 1868, was the daughter of Fred- erick Mentzer and (Saltzgiver). both of whom died in Frankford township and are buried in the Gayman burial ground near Alter's Mill. Elizabeth (Mentzer) Snyder had brothers and sisters as follows : Frederick, who married Katie Thomas; Henry, who married Catherine Sipe: John, who married Betsey Ernst; Katie, who mar- ried Jolin Musser; Barbara, who married Jacob Sipe; and Polly, who married Andrew Ernst.

To Henry Snyder and Elizabeth ( Ment- zer ) Snyder were born children as follows: George, who married -; Elizabeth, who married Nicholas Failor; Catharine, who married Andrew Comrey; Mary Jane, who married William McCrea; Simon, un- married; Henry, who married Mary Jane Harper; Sophia, who married John Wise; Nancy Ellen, who married George W. Jacoby ; and Barbara Martha, who married John McCrea.

William Henry McCrea was born Jan. 13, 1856, at the Donegal Mills in Lower Mifflin township, Cumberland Co., Pa. His early education was obtained at the little brick schoolhouse in Doubling Gap, where he had for an instructor for a number of years William M. Hamilton, who was an able teacher. In the fall of 1874 he began teaching at the State Road schoolhouse. then known as Blean's, in Mifflin township. The following summer he attended the spring session of the Normal School at Shippens- burg, Pa., then under the efficient and able management of Prof. George P. Beard, after which for five successive terms he taught the State Road school. In 1880 he accepted a position in the grammar school at New- ville, Pa., and two years later was promoted

to the principalship of the Newville schools, which office he held for five years. In 1887, after a spirited contest, he received the Democratic nomination for prothonotary of Cumberland county, and was practically elected without opposition, his Republican opponent having withdrawn from the ticket. His term as prothonotary and deputy pro- thonotary continued until the summer, of 1894. when he became chairman of the Democratic standing committee in the heated judicial contest of that year. He was ap- pointed in 1895 deputy collector of Internal Revenue, having special charge of the income tax for the 9th District of Pennsylvania. After that act was declared unconstitutional he returned to Newville and entered upon the study of the law, was admitted to practice in February, 1899, and has followed that profession ever since.

Mr. McCrea in politics has not departed from the traditions of his elders and con- scientiously believes that the best interests of the country would be subserved by the triumph of Democratic principles. At the present time he is a director in the First Na- tional Bank of Newville, Pa., has been secre- tary of the Agricultural Association of Cum- berland county for fifteen years, is a member of the Newville school board and is one of the board of trustees of the United Presby- terian Church of Newville of which he is a member.

On Oct. 19, 1898, Mr. McCrea married Katherine Jane Wiest, who was the daugh- ter of John Leonard Wiest and Sarah Jane (McIlvaine). To them have been born three children, Sarah McIlvaine, Barbara Snyder and Elizabeth Norcross.

JOHN STUART SEARIGHT, who is engaged in conducting a livery and board- ing stable in Carlisle, is one of the successful

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business men of the city. He was born Jan. 21. 1864. near Carlisle, son of George Peter and Martha Ann Searight, and grandson of Gilbert and Sarah ( Kew) Searight and Jolin and Barbara Ann Stuart.

Mr. Searight received his early education in the local public schools, and later attended Coleman's Business College, at Newark, N. J. He is a useful and public-spirited citizen, and has served acceptably as a member of the town council of Carlisle, to which position he was elected as the choice of the Demo- cratic party. He is quite well known in fraternal circles, affiliating with the Knights of Pythias, the Jr. O. U. A. M., the Im- proved Order of Red Men, the Modern Woodmen and the Elks. His religious con- nection is with the Second Presbyterian Church.

On Nov. 19, 1885, Mr. Searight was united in marriage with Elizabeth Coover Brandt, daughter of George W. and Susan Brandt, and they have three children, George Peter, Clarence Lee and John Walter.

THOMAS RUDOLPH, J. P., of Ship- pensburg, is, perhaps, the oldest man in Cum- berland county, holding the position of jus- tice of the peace. He was born in Philadel- phia, Oct. 1, 1814, son of Benjamin P. Rudolph, who was born in Darby, Pa., in the vicinity of Philadelphia, in 1781.

His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and a close friend of General Washington. He married Miss Mary Rudolph, and at the close of the war, he engaged in business, and a short time thereafter, was engaged in the navy yard.

Mr. Rudolph became a manufacturer of writing paper, and thus continued for a num- ber of years, his plant being located on Darby Creek. Ile also had another mill on Crumb Creek, and this took the name of the Battle

Ax works. Still later, he moved to Mont- gomery county to operate what is known as McDowell paper mills, and he was connected with these mills until the time of his death which took place in Chester county, Pa., in 1865. The mother of Thomas Rudolph was Elizabeth McPeters, born at Darby, Pa., who lived to be ninety-four years of age. She was the mother of nine children, all of whom lived to maturity, and four still sur- vive, residing in Chester county.

The school days of Thomas Rudolph were passed in Montgomery county, and Philadelphia. Upon leaving school he learned the trade of shoemaker with Thomas McGarigle. When he had completed his apprenticeship, Mr. Rudolph went to York county, Pa., and there followed his trade for five years. His next location was Mt. Holly, Cumberland county, where he started a shoe shop, making boots and shoes, and working a force of men. He built up a large business and conducted it until 1878, or for a period of thirty-eight years. During his residence at Mt. Holly, Mr. Rudolph lost his first wife, and he then moved to Ship- pensburg, where he still resides, having been engaged in several lines of business.

In 1884, Mr. Rudolph married Mrs. Catherine Wingert, of Shippensburg, a most estimable lady, widow of David Wingert. By his first wife, who was Miss Eliza Engel- berger, a native of York county, Mr. Ru- dolph had the following children : Wesley, of Mt. Holly, who'is in a paper mill; Charles WV., a baker of Mt. Holly ; Emma, who mar- ried Samuel Gleim, of Craighead Station ; Marion M., a druggist of Boston, Mass.

In 1882 Mr. Rudolph was elected justice of the peace, which office he has held con- tinuously ever since. For over twenty years he has administered the duties of his office judiciously and wisely, and none of his de-

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cisions have been reversed. He and his wife attend the Presbyterian Church. Their home, surrounded by beautiful grounds, is a very pleasant one, and there they make welcome their many friends.

DAVID R. THOMPSON, of Carlisle, editor and publisher of the Sentinel, has practically been connected with that paper throughout his active years. He was born in 1856 in Carlisle, son of Thomas B. and Elmina (Ringwalt) Thompson, the former of whom was a native of Carlisle and came of Scotch-Irish and German ancestry. The mother belonged to the Ringwalts and Wil- sons, and was of German and English de- scent.

David R. Thompson attended the com- mon schools of Carlisle, and learned the printer's trade there in the office of the Sentinel, subsequently spending three years in Lancaster, perfecting himself in the art in the office of the Lancaster Inquirer. In time he became foreman of the Sentinel of- fice; was promoted to the position of city news editor ; then became business manager, and in 1894 purchased the business, which has ever since been in his hands. He has devoted his life to his profession, and has led a quiet, even life, proving his usefulness as a citizen, however, in many ways. His especial activity has been along the line of religious work. He is an earnest member of the First Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder and Sunday-school superintendent since 1882, and he is also a member of the Y. M. C. A. He holds membership in Lodge No. 91, I. O. O. F., of Carlisle, and in the Good Will Fire Com- pany. Mr. Thompson was a Prohibitionist from 1883 to 1889. and has since been an ad - vocate of the Democratic party.

On Dec. 19, 1882, Mr. Thompson was

married to Miss Mary Kutz, of Carlisle, who is a daughter of Gideon and Mary (Gut- shall) Kutz, of Carlisle, and belongs there- fore to the Kutz, Gutshall and Duke fam- ilies ; she is of German and English extrac- tion. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born the following named children : Allan Douglass, now a student in Dickin- son College : Joseph Vance. Mary McCaskey, Margaret Mapes, all attending the common schools; and D. Wilson, aged five.

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Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 111

Author: Genealogical Publishing Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Genealogical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 994

Author: Genealogical Publishing Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Genealogical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 994