Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 17

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 17

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Mrs. Catharine (Pretz) Swiler died Dec. 9, 1878, and is buried in the cemetery of St. John's church, near Shiremanstown. Dr. Swiler afterward married Mrs. Matilda Groom, widow of William D. Groom, and laughter of Hiram and Susan (Reeser) Prowell, of York county, by whom he has 10 children.

Dr. Swiler is a member of the Cumber- land county Medical Association, and has

been its president. He is also a member of the State Medical Association, and ranks high as a physician and a man wherever he is known. During his long professional career, which is not yet ended, seven differ- ent students have read medicine under his instructions, all of whom graduated at Jef- ferson Medical College, and are successful physicians and devoted friends of their pre- ceptor. In religion, Dr. Swiler is a Presby- terian ingrained, having inherited the faith through both his paternal and maternal lines of ancestry. Though worshiping in other churches while residing beyond the reach of his own he never faltered in his adherence to the principles of piety taught him by his par- ents and grandparents. In politics, he has always been a Democrat, but has made it a rule of his life to decline office and conse- quently has never figured in public affairs. He is deeply imbued with a love for his pro- fession, labors conscientiously to elevate and dignify it, and the honors which he prizes most highly are such as come to him through it. He is a true type of American manhood, and has set before the struggling youths of the land the inspiration of a good example.

EDWARD C. BEETEM. In April, 1802, one Samuel Beetem bought two small tracts of land in the lower end of Frankford township. This is the first appearance of the Beetem name on the records of Cumber- land county, and the purchaser was the pro- genitor of the large Beetem family that has figured prominently in the affairs of this county for over one hundred years. After residing in Frankford township five or six years he removed to the part of Dickinson township which has since been erected into Penn township. Here, in 1808, he pur- chased from Thomas Norton a tract of land known as "Norton's Choice," containing

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158 acres. Later he acquired other lands in the vicinity and engaged extensively at farm- ing and also at distilling. In April, 1814, he bought from Daniel Smith. "innkeeper," a farm lying along the road to Pine Grove, on which there was a tavern stand which he kept for several years. He was an intelli- gent, enterprising citizen, was in close touch with the people, and in 1813 Gov. Simon Snyder. reposing especial trust and confi- dence in his integrity, appointed him a jus- tice of the peace for Dickinson township, which office he filled long and satisfactorily. and for more than forty years he was popu- larly known as "Squire Beetem." He died July 8. 1856, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was a prominent member of the Lutheran Church, and in August, 1819, he and his wife. Mary, for the consideration of one dollar, deeded to the wardens of "the Ger- man Lutheran and German Presbyterian Church called Beetem's Church," 121 perches of land, which is the land now occu- pied by the Lutheran Church and graveyard at Centerville. Samuel Beetem was married twice. His first wife was Mary -, who died Feb. 11, 1834. at the age of seventy-two years and twenty-three days. On May 28, 1835. he married Mrs. Nancy Turner, who died May 2, 1862, aged eighty-six years. He and his two wives lie buried on the ground that he and his wife Mary donated to "Bee- tem's Church" in 1819, now the Lutheran Church at Centerville. Samuel Beetem and Mary, his wife, had issue as follows: Abra- ham, born Aug. 28, 1789 (died Aug. 12, 1833) ; George, Nov. 23. 1792 (died Jan. 3. 1852) ; Jacob, Jan. 9, 1794 (died March 24, 1859) ; and Catherine. He had no chil- dren by his second marriage.

Abraham Bectem, eldest son of Samuel, was known as Capt. Beetem. He married

Elizabeth Smith, and began life in the same locality in which his father settled in 1808. He engaged in farming, first as a cropper, but later acquired land of his own. He also engaged in distilling and milling, and also manufactured flax seed oil and plaster. His distillery and mill properties were located where the village of Huntsdale now is. He was a man of great energy and rare business qualities, but died in the prime of manhood, Aug. 12, IS33. His wife died Feb. 2, 1872, and both are buried in Ashland cemetery, at Carlisle. Capt. Abraham and Elizabeth (Smith) Beetem had the following children : Samuel, born Aug. 17, 1816, (died Jan. 29, 1901); Jacob; Elizabeth; John: George Smith, born Jan. 8, 1824 (died May 30, 1892) ; Abraham; Mary; and Joseph, born Dec. 16, 1830 (died Feb. 8, 1894).

Jacob Beetem, the second of these eight children, was born in Dickinson ( now Penn) township, July 20, 1818. He grew to man- hood in that part of the county. was educated in the public schools and learned the carpen- ter's trade. Afterward he went to Philadel- phia, where he worked at his trade and studied architecture. Upon reaching man's estate he took up his abode in the town of Carlisle, where he followed the occupation of carpenter and builder until his death, which occurred Sept. 7, 1856. His industry and superior workmanship brought him much to do, and during the period of his activity he erected some of the largest and most important buildings in the county. He was a man of good judgment, and his advice in mechanical, business and social affairs was often sought by those who knew him. Like his parents and grandparents before him, he was a consistent Lutheran, and took a warm interest in the affairs of his church. He was a good musician, led the choir of his

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church for twenty years, and purchased the first organ that found its way into the Luth- eran Church of Carlisle.

Jacob Beetem married Isabella Wunder- lich, a daughter of Simon and Catherine (Crane) Wunderlich, and granddaughter of Benjamin Crane and Catherine, his wife. Catherine Crane, the grandmother, was re- markable for her great longevity. For a long time prior to her death the venerable woman was an invalid and much of the time confined to her bed. She lived in the family of her daughter, Mrs. Ann Matthews, in a small house back of the Episcopal church, and on the night of July 1, 1863, when the Confed- erates shelled Carlisle, narrowly escaped a tragic death. Against her wishes and pro- tests the family took her out of her bed and away from the house, beyond the range of the enemy's fire. This proved a wise pre- caution, for soon after her removal a shell entered her room and completely demolished the bed in which she had been lying. She died in the following December, at the great age of 103 years. Her husband died in 1831, thirty-two years before. To Jacob and Isabella ( Wunderlich) Beteem the fol- lowing children were born: (1) William L., born Aug. 27, 1841, was killed under the following circumstances : About 3 o'clock on the morning of April 23, 1861,

a mounted courier came galloping into Car- lisle with news from Hanover that a large body of men,-presumably Rebels-was marching upon that town from the direction of Maryland. Soon a second courier came with the confirmation of the startling report. Carlisle was aroused by the ringing of bells, and the Carlisle Infantry, commanded by Capt. Robert McCartney, marched at double quick out the Baltimore turnpike to meet the supposed invaders. Before the company reached Mt. Holly, the news met them that

the report was false. and after taking a rest the soldiers turned about and came back. William L. Beetem and Jacob Wunderlich out of curiosity had followed the company in a buggy, and when the march homeward began they proposed to some of the soldiers that they give them their muskets to carry back in their buggy. Several passed their guns over to the young men, but in the hand- ling one was discharged, the ball pasisng through Beetem's body in the region of the heart, killing him almost instantly. An hour afterward his widowed mother was apprised of the sad occurrence by the arrival of his dead body at the door of her home in Car- lisle. (2) Ann C .. born Sept. 9. 1843, died Feb. 15, 1887; all her lifetime she lived in Carlisle, and died unmarried. (3) Marian, born May 23, 1846. died Aug. 26, 1846. (4) Bella M. became a teacher, and taught successfully in the schools of Carlisle for a number of years. Afterward she married Rev. Edward Devine, who now is pastor of a Methodist Church in the Philadelphia Con- ference, and to them three chiklren have been born, a son named Edmund Devine, and two who died in infancy. (5) Emma married Dr. C. W. Krise. a physician of Carlisle, who died Jan 23. 1900, aged fifty-one years. His widow and two children, Helen E. and Raymond Worth. survive him. (6) Edward C. is the subject of this sketch. (7) Jacob S. born Oct. 5, 1856. is a druggist, and resides in Wilmington, Del. He married Miss Belle Ogborn, of Lancaster, Ohio, and to them two children have been born. Catherine and Eleanor.

Edward C. Beetem. the sixth child of the family and the subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 28, 1852. As soon as he reached the legal age he was sent to the public schools, which he attended until he was four- teen years old. That completed his sclio-

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lastic education. He then went to work in a grocery store : afterward he clerked in dif- ferent dry-goods stores in Carlisle. both for the sake of employment and as a means of preparation for a business career. He con- tinued to be employed in this way until Oc- tober. 1875, when he and the late John C. Stephens, under the firm name of Stephens & Beetem, founded the Carlisle Carpet House, located first for nine years on East Main and afterward for sixteen years on South Hanover street. This house was the leading retail carpet store in the county from the time it was established until 1901, when the firm relations were terminated by Mr. Ste- phens's death.

After engaging in the retail carpet busi- ness for four years Messrs. Stephens & Bee- tem began the manufacture of carpets. In 1882 they erected a large building on South Bedford street, where they continued until their business outgrew the capacity of their factory and it became necessary to provide a larger plant. In July, 1901, after Mr. Stephens's death, the old firm was succeeded by a new one consisting of E. C. Beetem, W. E. Johnson and C. G. Beetem, the last named member being the only son of the head of the firm. Thus organized they con- tinued, on a more extensive scale than form- erly, the manufacture of linens, domestics, finest rag and yarn homemades, jutes, all- wool and Venetian carpetings. During the summer of 1902, they erected, at the corner of Louther and Spring Garden streets, a large new plant named the Carlisle Carpet Mills, measuring 250 x 50 feet, the main building three stories and the wings one story high. Here is given constant employ- ment to a force of fifty skilled workmen, producing a large output of carpetings which finds a market throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Mary-

land, Virginia, West Virginia and the West- ern States. The business is under the imme- diate personal direction of the three mem- bers of the firm, is managed with the most commendable care and enterprise, and con- tributes much to the general prosperity of the community. .

Edward C. Beetem was married, Sept. 16, 1880, to Miss Celia L. Bentz, daughter of Jacob and Celia L. (Noell) Bentz; and a member of another large representative Car- lisle family. To this union there have been born the following children: (1) Charles Gilbert, born Nov. 24, 1881, was educated at Metzger College, in the public schools of Carlisle and at Dickinson Preparatory School. Subsequently he graduated from the Carlisle Commercial College and as soon as he reached his majority became associated with his father in the carpet manufacturing business. He is secretary and treasurer of the new firm and is a very industrious and promising young man. (2) Mary Isabella, born June 14, 1886, and (3) Edith Louisa, born Feb. 26, 1889, are at home and being educated at Metzger College, one of Car- lisle's excellent institutions of learning.

Like his paternal and maternal ances- tors Edward C. Beetem was baptized into the Lutheran Church. He long was a member of the choir and was otherwise prominent in the First Lutheran Church of Carlisle. His wife's family were Presbyterians, and since their marirage Mr. Beetem, out of deference to his wife's lifelong church associations, has united with the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, where the entire family have for some years been worshiping.

GEORGE B. BRANDON, proprietor of the "Hotel Wellington," Carlisle, bears an English name but is of Irish nationality. 'He was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1843, and

Jay Brandon

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his parents were Michael and Sarah (Coch- lan) Brandon. His father was a leather merchant, and a man of intelligence, force of character and literary inclinations. He died when George was yet too young to remember him, and the mother, afterward marrying again, came to America and set- tled in Jersey City. Here George was sent to the public schools, until he reached his thirteenth year. Feeling that he was old enough to do something for himself, he then left home and went to sea. His first position was as cabin boy on a sailing-vessel plying between New York and Liverpool, which place he held for three consecutive voyages. Emboldened by this experience, he next ventured upon a voyage which took him from home in a different direction. He managed to become firemen's mess boy on the "Black Warrior," to New Orleans. The firemen of an ocean steamer are not excessively tender in their treatment of boys over whom they have authority, but he reached his desti- nation in fairly good condition and with another chapter added to his experience.

Having a natural talent for music he early accustomed himself to play on what- ever instrument he came across, and at New Orleans this accomplishment rendered him a good service. A man from Montgomery, Texas, named Walkenshaw, heard him play, and believing that he could use him in his business offered him $10 a month to come into his employ. The man was a merchant and among his stock in trade had a lot of musical instruments which he fancied a clerk who could play upon them could sell at big prices. Texas was then a new land, with a reputation for excitement that appealed as strongly to an ambitious boy as did a $IO a month job, and thus, doubly tempted, he accepted. In going to Montgomery they went up the Red river by boat to near the

Texas State line, and thence by stage and private conveyance several hundred miles across the country. The trip was tiresome, but a memorable experience, and one of its pleasant incidents was the honor they had of a short stage ride with Gen. Sam Houston and Col. Thomas J. Rusk, two distinguished men whose names are conspicuously and in- delibly woven into the history of the great State of Texas.

Montgomery was then a place of about three hundred inhabitants, of an enterpris- ing class, but in spite of young Brandon's abilities as a performer was a poor market for musical instruments. The Texan of that period had less use for flutes and violins than for guns and bowie-knives. Part of his duty was to make periodical trips to Houston over a road that was hardly more than a trail blazed through the sparse wood. It was a long distance and a lone way. Deer would cross his path within easy view; coveys of quail would fly up from in front of his pony's feet with startling suddenness, and as the gloom of evening settled over the land the howl of wolves and other wild animals could be heard in the distance.

Three months of Texas experience sat- isfied the boy, and he concluded to go back to New York. He had saved only $15 out of his earnings, barely enough to pay his fare to Galveston, but he had a stock of self- reliance and audacity, not measured by dol- lars and cents, which he felt was sufficient for the undertaking, and he started. Among his fellow passengers on the stage was a man who asked him many questions. He an- swered them frankly and politely, and before they had reached Houston he had made a friend of the stranger, and through his favor got an opportunity to work his way on a ves- sel to New Orleans, and also from New Or- leans to New York. His services proved

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valuable, and the steward placed his name upon the ship's pay-roll. so that when he reached home he had more money in his pocket than he had when he left Mont- gomery.

After a brief stay at home he a second time became a cabin boy on the "Black War- rior." plying between New York and New Orleans. This time he remained about a year with the vessel, and left her at New Orleans to take the position of second steward on the steamship "Mexico," of Morgan's Gulf Line. Morgan's Guli Line consisted of five or six steamships which ran from New Or- leans to Galveston and other ports on the coast of Texas. With this company he con- tinued until the Civil war broke out. In the month of April. 1861, his ship was lying at Galveston when the Confederates seized the "Star of the West." at Indianola, and the "Mexico's" first officer was detailed to go to Indianola and take the captured vessel to New Orleans. A week afterward, when the "Mexico" steamed up the river to New Or- leans, Mr. Brandon saw the "Star of the West" anchored off the city with the Stars and Bars floating from her masthead over the Stars and Stripes. The sight was a sore humiliation to him and decided his course in the impending conflict. He then con- cluded to go back to New York, and the "Cahawba." the vessel upon which he came away, was the last the Confederate authori- ties permitted to leave New Orleans for New York. This was Mr. Brandon's last sen voyage for some years. The opening of hostilities between the North and South enderl all commercial traffic between New York and the Gulf, and he was compelled to lay off. While waiting for something to turn up he yielded to the promptings of pi- triotism and joined the army. On Aug. 9, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, of the 6th

New Jersey Volunteers, and soon afterward went to the front, where. with the excep- tion of a single furlough of ten days, he remained until Sept. 23. 1864, when he was mustered out of service at Trenton, N. J., his term of enlistment having expired. His regiment participated in all the battles fought by the Army of the Potomac during its term of service, excepting South Mountain and Antietam, and although he was in all these various engagements he was never wounded, nor was he ever so sick as to be sent to hospital.

After a rest from his army experience, Mr. Brandon concluded to make a trip to the other side of the Atlantic. He got a berth in the steamer "Western Metropolis," which in due time landed him at Southampton, England. From Southampton he went to London, and after seeing the sights of that great city took a trip to the North of Eng- land, where he visited an aunt he never be- fore had seen. From there he went to Liv- erpool, from Liverpool to Dublin, and from Dublin to Nenagh, in the western part of Ireland, where he visited his maternal grand- mother, whom he also had never before seen. After completing his visits he con- cluded to return to America, and for that purpose went back to Liverpool. As he had not the money to pay his fare it was necessary for him to work his way. He did not know a soul in the whole city of Liver- pool, which, coupled with his lack of money, left him at a disadvantage. His hopefulness never forsook him. In sauntering along the streets one evening he was attracted by an open air vaudeville performance and stopped to enjoy it. While thus absorbed he was dealt a friendly slap on the back, and on turning round his gaze met that of an old acquaintance, who unawares to him then lived in Liverpool. About the same time, he,

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to his surprise, found in an unfrequented pocket four gold sovereigns, the gift of an aunt he had visited, who, knowing they would be declined if offered to him, sur- reptitiously put them into his clothes. He appreciated the kindly spirit which prompted her act, but returned them to her with thanks. On making known his intentions to the friend who had so unexpectedly found him, he advised him to apply to the port captain of the Guion Line, which he did with the result that he got an opportunity to work his way back to New York on the steamer "Nebraska."

After his return to New York Mr. Bran- don obtained the position of second steward on the steamship "South America," plying between New York and Rio Janeiro. This was a round trip of 11,000 miles, but Mr. Brandon found it an agreeable voyage and was pleased with his work. On his sec- ond trip, in addition to the duties of his own position, he had much to do with the man- agement of the entire steward's department, and on getting back to New York, by the advice of his captain, he made application for the position of chief steward. The officials of the company thought him too young and inexperienced for the stewardship on such a long voyage and offered to make him chief steward of the steamship "San Jacinto," run- ning from New York to Savannah. This position he accepted for one year, until that vessel went ashore on Body Island, on the coast of North Carolina. By that time he had the required experience and without difficulty got the position of chief steward on the "North America," one of the steam- ships of the Brazilian Line. He continued in the capacity of chief steward with this line for six years, till the company was com- pelled to go out of business by reason of the governments of the United States and

Brazil refusing to further extend the sub- sidy with which they had been supporting it. He next was steward for about six years on the Stonington Line steamers "Stonington" and "Massachusetts," between New York and Providence. He then turned his face landward, came to Pennsylvania, and with a Mr. Kenshaw leased the "United States Hotel" at Easton, and there, under the firm name of Kenshaw & Brandon, managed it successfully for two years. When he re- turned to New York he was soon employed by the United States and Brazil Mail Steamship Company and ordered to the Steamer "Advance." After being on this ship for two years the company sent him on the new steamer "Allianca," where he re- mained for nearly two years, when, getting a bit tired of the sea, he again invaded Penn- sylvania. and leased the "Brockerhoff House" in Bellefonte, where he remained for six years. At this time Daniel Hastings, afterward governor, built a large hotel for him in the mining town of Spangler. The town proved to be a failure, when he came to Carlisle and leased the "Mansion House" for six years. Thence he changed to "The Wellington," in the same town, where he has been proprietor and host since the spring of 1902.

Fraternally, Mr. Brandon is a member of Hiram Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 1, Jersey City: Enterprise Chapter, No. 2, Jersey City: St. John's Commandery, Carlisle ; and Rajah Shrine, of Reading, Pa. He is a member of the G. A. R., and has been com- mander of his post, which he has also repre- sented at the National Encampment. . He be- longs to the Veteran Legion and was instru- mental in organizing the Veteran Legion at Bellefonte.

Mr. Brandon has been twice married, first to Miss Dolly Burgen, of Jersey City,

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who bore him two children. George N. and Mary, both of whom are living and unmar- ried. George N. Brandon is a professor of music, and though young in years has achieved special distinction in his art. Mrs. Dolly (Burgen) Brandon died in February, 1SS2. and Mr. Brandon afterward married Mrs. Lucy Patterson, of Bellefonte, who has borne him one child. Winnefred Lucy Brandon. By her former marriage Mrs. Lucy ( Patterson ) Brandon had one son, Robert Patterson, who remains a member of the family and is an efficient and obliging hotel clerk.

Mr. Brandon from early youth has had a most varied and interesting career. At home and abroad, on land and at sea, he has met and associated with the world's different nationalities and studied them as a student does a book. He has dealt with men of high and low degree. under favorable and unfavorable circumstances; entertained all kinds of people, in all kinds of moods, and by observation and experience gained a knowledge of the whims of humanity which few men possess. A glance tells him the wants and needs of his guests, and he person- ally sees that they are provided for, so that the traveler who stops at his house is at home-he who does not is not wise.

THOMAS RAUB BURGNER, one of the prominent citizens of West Pennsboro township, is a native of Lebanon county, Pa. He was born in East Hanover township, that county, July 14, 1838, and his parents were Jacob and Anna Maria (Raub) Burgner, who also were natives of Lebanon county.

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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 17

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