Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 25

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 25

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John Ewalt and Mary Sample, his wife, had the following children : Jane, Sarah, Eliza, Henry and Susan. Jane married Jo- sephi Tate, of Juniata township, where she and her family lived all hier lifetime. Some of her descendants are still in that locality. Sarah married Robert Marlin, of Juniata township, and remained there for some years. Subsequently the Marlin family went to Oregon, where Mr. Marlin died, after which his widow and children drifted south- ward and settled in Alameda county, Cal. Eliza married Joseph Trimmer, of Perry county, and for a long time lived in the vicin- ity of Newport. Susan married a Mr. Cole- man, who after several years mysteriously disappeared.

Henry Ewalt, the only son of Col. John and Mary (Sample) Ewalt, and sub-

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ject of this sketch, was born May 10, 1800, on his father's farm on the banks of the Juniata, where now is the town of Newport. Here he was reared and trained to the honor- able vocation of farming. In 1826 he mar- ried Margaret Loudon. a daughter of Arch- ibald and Margaret ( Bines) Loudon. Mar- garet Loudon was born Sept. 15, 1796, near where is now the village of New Kingstown, in Cumberland county ; but in the spring of 1820 her parents moved to a farm lying on the north bank of the Juniata river, opposite Newport, and in easy sight of the Ewalt home. Here this young couple met, and mar- ried, and passed the first years of their wed- ded life.

Mary (Sample) Ewalt had an unmarried brother named John, who in his life acquired title to a considerable portion of the land which originally was included in the Sample homestead. John Sample died in February, 1824, leaving this land by will to his nephew, Henry Ewalt, on condition that he pay his four sisters each a certain amount of money. In this way Henry Ewalt became possessed of this land, and it remained in.his possession till his death. The land is located on the north side of the Conedoguinet creek, in Sil- ver Spring township. It is one of two farms included in a deep southward bend of that crooked stream and reaches entirely across the base of the peninsula, from the creek on the west to the creek on the east. Here Henry Ewalt did his best work and here he remained longer than anywhere else in the seventy-one years of his life. He moved to this place in 1832 and by years of close application and hard work made of it a pro- ductive farm and a pleasant home. He erect- ed building's on an elevated point where they command a delightful view of the most beau- tiful section of the valley, and where they form a conspicuous landmark to observers

many miles distant. In the spring of 1863 he quit his farm and retired to a home in Hogestown, where he lived out the balance of his days. He died Jan. 11, 1871 ; his wife died Feb. 5, 1874, and their remains are buried in the cemetery of the Silver Spring Church.

Henry Ewalt was a man of strong per- sonality and a central figure in the commun- ity in which he lived. He was greatly ad- mired for his honor and integrity, for his word was his bond. In manner he was un- affected, frank and cheerful. His kindness was proverbial, and his strong sympathy and sociability made fast friends of his neighbors, who delighted in his companionship while he lived, and fondly cherished his memory after he was gone. He was fond of riding on horseback, and practiced the habit till late in life. When his team would go to the moun- tain for wood or rails he would mount his riding horse and ride along and superintend the work. When the family had an errand to the store it generally fell to his lot to do it, and he invariably did it on horseback. And when time lay heavily on his hands from nothing to do, hie would ride over to where his neighbor was plowing and with him com- pare notes and exchange news, and wherever he went there was life and good cheer.

Henry and Margaret (Loudon) Ewalt had children as follows: William Henry, Loudon Bines and Margaret. William Henry, the eldest child, was born in March, 1827, in Perry county, and remained with his parents on the farm during all of his single days. In 1860 he married Martha Oliver, daughter of Dr. J. G. and Jane (Carothers) Oliver, and a member of one of the old representative families of Cumber- land county. To them the following children were born : Jennie Oliver, Margaret Loudon, Grace, Walter Buchanan, and Ailsie

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Carothers. Margaret Loudon died March 6. 1892, and Walter Buchanan died Sept. 26, 1890. On June 9. 1887. Grace Ewalt mar- ried Rev. T. J. Ferguson, pastor of the Sil- ver Spring Presbyterian Church, and to their union have been born the following children : Margaret, Mary McCormick and Virginia. After marrying. William Henry Ewalt for several years engaged at farming, and after that at the mercantile business in Hogestown and Mechanicsburg. He died in Mechanics- burg in February, 1875, and he and his two deceased children are buried at Silver Spring.

Loudon Bines Ewalt was born April 16, 1836, in Silver Spring township, Cumberland county, and spent nearly all of his lifetime there. He died Nov. 27, 1903, in Mechan- icsburg, unmarried, and is buried at Silver Spring.

Margaret Ewalt was born in Silver Spring township, Cumberland county, Sept. 22, 1838. On Dec. 16, 1863, she was mar- ried to Hiram K. Sample, of Allegheny coun- ty, Pa., Rev. William H. Dinsmore perform- ing the ceremony. After her marriage she removed with her husband to Allegheny county, where they always afterward lived.

HIRAM K. SAMPLE was born July 19, 1828, on a farm which bordered on the Alle- gheny river opposite the city of Pittsburg, Allegheny Co., Pa. He was the fifth son of John and Margaret ( McCord) Sample, and a grandson of James Sample, who was born in Cumberland county, Pa., March 25, 1756, on the old Sample homestead known as Chambers Sample farm. James Sample was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and in return for his services received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania a tract of land lying worth and west of the Allegheny river. in Allegheny county, to which he moved in 1789 or 1790, he being one of the first settlers in that district. Hiram K. Sam-

ple received a common school education and worked on his father's farm until 1852, when he learned the trade of iron roller and had charge of the muck rolls. in the mill of Stew- art Lloyd & Co., from 1852 until 1857, when he again resumed farming. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he went with the 139th Regiment. Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and was in the commissary and mail department for three years. In politics, he was a stanchi Republican, and he was elected a member of the State Legislature from the 5th District, Allegheny county, in 1872 and 1873, and again represented his district in 1885 and 1887. Mr. Sample was an earn- est Christian and a charter member of the Millvale Presbyterian Church. He died Feb. 25, 1898, in the house in which he was born, having been in failing health for a number of years. He was a kind, loving husband and an indulgent father. His dis- position was bright and cheery,'and he al- ways had a smile and a kind word for all with whom he came in contact. He was loved, respected and looked up to in the neighborhood in which he lived, and many were the disputes and family quarrels, among the people employed in the mills, re- ferred to him, and which he disposed of in a manner satisfactory to all parties concerned. In his public life he was likewise noted for his integrity and good sound judgment. A leading attorney at the Pittsburg Bar recent- ly said of him, "He was the only strictly honest politician I ever knew."

Five children were born to Hiram K. and Margaret ( Ewalt) Sample, as follows : Harry Ewalt, born Nov. 30, 1864, attended Pittsburg Academy and graduated from the Iron City College. He is now engaged in the printing and publishing business. He married Lillian M. Robinson, Oct. 15, 1889, and to their union have been born the fol-

1.7. Andrew

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lowing children: Hyde K., Marjorie, Ethel, Harriet Isabel.

Margaret Alice. born Oct. 13, 1866, at- tended Millvale public schools and gradu- ated from Brook Hall Seminary, Media, Pa. On Oct. 24. 1889, she married Dr. Frank L. Ardary. by whom she had two children, Robert S. and Miriam. Mr. Ar- dary died June 2, 1894.

Mary Stewart, born Aug. 14, 1869, was educated in the public schools and at Brook Hall Seminary. On Nov. 27, 1895, she married Samuel Morrow, and now resides in Oakland, Pittsburg.

Hyde Glenn, born March 24. 1875, at- tended the Millvale public schools and Park Institute, and graduated from the Western University of Pennsylvania in 1896. In 1899 he graduated from Pittsburg Law School, and the same year was admitted to the practice of law in Pittsburg.

Clyde W., born Feb. 7, 1878, was edu- cated in the Millvale public schools, East Liberty Academy and the Western Univer- sity of Pennsylvania. In 1903 he graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, and is now practicing medi- cine in the city of Pittsburg.

HON. WILBUR F. SADLER, one of the distinguished citizens of Carlisle, Pa., was born in Adams county, this State, Oct. 14, 1840, and the family from which he comes is among the oldest in his natal county.

In 1746 one Richard Sadler came from England to Pennsylvania. He settled in what is now Adams county, and in 1750 there pre-empted land, upon which he spent what of life remained to him, and which is still in possession of some of his descendants. He died in 1764. and his remains lie interred in the burying-ground of Christ Church, in

Huntington township, Adams county. This Richard Sadler had a son named Isaac, who married a Mary Hammersly, and Isaac and Mary (Hammersly) Sadler had a son whom they named Richard, in honor of his grandfather.

Richard Sadler (2) was a farmer, as were most of his ancestors. He married Rebecca Lewis, and early in life removed to Center county, where he lived for fifteen years, returning then to Adams county, where he died at the age of eighty-two. He was a man of strong personality and rare intellectual endowments. During his young manhood he was an Episcopalian, and his wife was a Presbyterian, but in after life both joined the Methodist Church. Richard and Rebecca (Lewis ) Sadler had the follow- ing children : John L., Joshua, William R., Isaac, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Nancy. Of these children :

John L. Sadler, the eldest son, became a farmer, went West and died at Galesburg, Ill., leaving a family of one son and four daughters.

William R. Sadler was also an enter- prising farmer and followed that occupation in his native county throughout life. His interest in public affairs brought him into political prominence early in life and he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate, where he made a creditable record. He died near York Springs, Adams county, while yet in the full flush of young manhood, leav- ing two children, a son and a daughter. The son, John Durbin Sadler, was a youth of great promise, and was educated at Dickin- son College. At the outbreak of the Civil war he entered the army, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Ist Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves, and was killed at the Battle of South Mountain, Sept. 15, 1863.

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Isaac Sadler was possessed of business qualities of a high order and became a man of wealth and position. In his retirement he made his home in Carlisle, and died there in September. 1886. at the age of eighty-three.

Elizabeth Sadler married Solomon Ben- der. and died in Chambersburg, leaving one son. Rev. H. R. Bender, who is filling a charge as pastor in New York State.

Rebecca Sadler was twice married, first to Leonard Marsden, by whom she had one child. After his death she married Max Shelley. a large land owner of York, Pa., but had no children by him.

Nancy Sadler married John Appleman, of Middletown, Md., where both she and her husband died and are buried.

Joshua Sadler, the second son, was born at the ancestral home in Adams county, and was reared to farming, which useful occu- pation he followed all his life. He married Harriet Steliley, a daughter of John Steh- ley, of Adams county, and by her had two sons. Wilbur F. and John L. About the year 1841 Joshua Sadler moved into what is now Penn township, Cumberland county, and there spent the balance of his days. He died in December, 1862, at the age of sixty- one years. His wife died in January, 1868, and the remains of both are interred in Ash- land cemetery, at Carlisle.

Wilbur F. Sadler, elder son of Joshua and Harriet Sadler, was born in Adams county Oct. 14, 1840, and grew to manhood upon the farm in Penn township, Cumber- land county. In his youth he attended the public schools of his neighborhood and the academy in the village of Centerville, and subsequently he pursued his studies in Dick- inson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pa., from which institution he graduated in 1863. On returning home from school, in the summer of 1863, he found southern Pennsylvania

overrun by the Confederate army, and imme- diately enlisted in an emergency cavalry company to assist in repelling the invaders. He continued in the army until the fall of that year, when the regiment with which he was connected was mustered out of service. He then turned his attention to the law. and under the preceptorship of A. B. Sharpe and J. M. Weakley completed the prescribed course of study, being admitted to the Cun- berland county Bar in 1864. He began prac- ticing at Carlisle, and by close attention and hard work soon acquired a large and lucra- tive business, which kept steadily growing until his elevation to the Bench, in 1884.

Although deeply absorbed in his pro- fession, Mr. Sadler found time to take an active interest in politics, and early in his career became an influential factor in the affairs of the Republican party. In 1868 he was nominated for State Senator in the district then composed of Cumberland and York counties. He was not elected. but made a showing that contributed very mate- rially to his reputation as a party leader, and ever afterward was kept at the front politically. In 1871 he was elected district attorney, and three years later was the Re- publican nominee for president judge of the Ninth Judicial District. Besides attending to his legal practice he engaged extensively in business enterprises, was director in dif- ferent corporations, director and president of the Farmers' Bank, director of the public schools of Carlisle, trustee of Dickinson College, and filled other positions of trust and responsibility. In 1884 he was elected president judge, carrying Cumberland coun- ty by a majority of 1,325, while the Republi- can candidate for President lost it by a ma- jority of over 900. After his election as Common Pleas judge he was twice a candi- date for Supreme Judge, and although not

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successful he each time came within a few votes of being nominated. After his retire- ment from the Bench he devoted himself to his practice, and, his reputation as a lawyer and counsellor having become widespread, his services were much called for from a dis- tance as well as from within the confines of his own county. He associated with him two of his sons, who are both young men of ac- knowledged ability, and have had a thorough practical training for the law. On June 8. 1904, he was again nominated for president judge of the Ninth Judicial District of Penn- sylvania, and was elected Nov. 8th.

In 1871 Wilbur F. Sadler married Miss Sarah E. Sterrett, daughter of Rev. David Sterrett, a Presbyterian minister then living in Carlisle. To this union were born four children : (1) Wilbur F. has long been en- gaged in projecting and constructing street railways, at which he has achieved success and distinction. He resides at Trenton, N. J., where he is prominently identified with enterprises in his line. (2) Lewis S. was edu- cated at Yale College and the Dickinson School of Law at Carlisle, graduating from the latter in 1895, since when he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profes- sion, and is regarded as one of the most in- dustrious and competent young attorneys at the Bar. For one term he was attorney for the Carlisle borough council. In June, 1902, he married Miss Mary Bosler, daughter of the late James WV. Bosler. (3) Sylvester B. graduated from Yale in 1896 and from the Dickinson School of Law in 1898. He and his brother Lewis are partners with their father in the practice of law, and through their reputation as able, industrious and thoroughly trained lawyers the firm com- mands a large and constantly increasing bus- iness. Sylvester B. is professor of Criminal Law in the Dickinson School of Law, and author of a book on criminal procedure pub-

lished by the Lawyers Co-operative Publish- ing Company, of Rochester, N. Y. He is a member of the borough council, and takes a live interest in everything that pertains to the good of the community. (4) Horace T. graduated from the Dental Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1901. After completing his course he spent a year in the city of Philadelphia, and then located in Carlisle, where he is now engaged in suc- cessful practice.

Mrs. Sadler died Jan. 10, 1895. A deeply pious and devoted wife and mother, her death naturally was a heavy blow to her family, but it did not disturb the sacred filial associations of tlie bereaved, for the beauti- ful residence on West College street, Car- lisle, continues to be their home in common, and only as new relations in life arise and demand it do they leave it. Judge Sadler and his sons are justly numbered among the representative citizens of Cumberland coun- ty. They grace the honorable professions of which they are members. are public-spirited and progressive, and are deservedly very popular with the masses.

WILLIAM R. LINE. In the early days of this State there lived in Manheim town- ship, Lancaster county, a man named David Line. He was born Inne 10, 1753, and died Aug. 10, 1814. His wife, Ann, was born Jan. 12, 1758, and died Feb. 15, 1823. Both are buried in a graveyard in Manheim town- ship. David and Ann Line had the follow- ing children : Rachel. born Jan. 5, 1777, died Sept. 17, 1814; John, born Dec. 25, 1778, died Nov. 28, 1852 ; George, born Dec. 2. 1780, died March 2, 1835; Daniel, born Jan. 12, 1782 ; William, born Oct. 15, 1785, (lied Nov. 16, 1868; Ann, born Oct. 29, 1788; Jesse, born Dec. 23, 1790; Sarah, born Feb. 16, 1793: Rebecca, born Jan. 1, 1796; Gabriel, born Aug. 10, 1798. Along

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about 1810. three of these ten children, Jolin. George and William. moved to Cumberland county. John and William settled in the part of Allen township that is now Monroe, where they for a number of years taught school. George settled in the part of East Pennsboro that is now Silver Spring. John and George continued to live in their respec- tive localities the rest of their days, the former dying on Nov. 28. 1852, and the latter on March 2, 1835. Both are buried in the cemetery of the Trindle Spring Church.

When these three sons of David and Ann | to where the Philadelphia & Reading pas- Line came to Cumberland county there lived senger depot now stands, now owned by his son Luther A., and there he spent the rest of his days. He died on Nov. 16. 1868, after having lived out a long and useful career. From early in life he actively par- ticipated in public affairs, wielding great in- fluence and winning a prominence which few men locally attain. His true worth can best be judged by the number and character of the public trusts he filled, and to enable the reader to judge correctly we here enumerate the principal ones : In 1813 Governor Snyder appointed him a justice of the peace for Allen township; in 1814 the same governor appointed him deputy surveyor for Cumber- land county ; in 1818 Governor Findlay ap- pointed him Recorder of Deeds and also Register of Wills; in 1828 Governor Shultz appointed him an Associate Judge, and in December, 1835, he was again appointed Register of Wills by Governor Ritner. Through being so many years in the service of the public he became thoroughly familiar with public affairs, and a very ready and agreeable conversationalist. He was in a large sense a public servant, and for many years was popularly known as "Judge" Line. In his later years, after he had in a measure retired, he devoted his time and at- in the vicinity of Churchtown a man named Jacob Wise, who was a prominent citizen and possessed of much property. Jacob Wise and Ann, his wife, had the following chil- dren : Mary. Elizabeth, George. David. Nancy, Rebecca, Sally, Catherine. Jacob and Samuel. Into this large family William Line, the young school teacher, from Lan- caster county, came for a helpineet. On April 2, 1812, he married Rebecca, daugli- ter of Jacob and Ann Wise, the Rev. Alfred Halfenstine, pastor of the Reformed Church at Carlisle, pronouncing them man and wife. They took up housekeeping at Churchtown, then one of the most prosperous and promis- ing points in the large township of .Allen. He continued to teach school and do survey- ing and scrivening up until 1815. As the country was then rapidly becoming settled there was much surveying and conveyancing to do, and he consequently found it advan- tageous to reside at the county seat. He therefore moved to Carlisle, and located on West South street, in a brick house owned by one Patrick Phillips, father of the late Abram Phillips. While living here he bought a lot on the east side of South Han- over street, in the vicinity of the present

Manse of the Second Presbyterian Church, and there he built himself a house and lived for several years. In December, 1819, he bought from Major Sterrett Ramsey at the eastern edge of town, forty-eight acres of land, a property that has since long been the home of the late James W. Bosler, and is now in the possession of his heirs. Later he purchased on the north side of the York Road in the same locality, a four-acre tract afterward owned by the late Carey W. Ahl-upon which he lived for many years. Still later he purchased the property opposite

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tention principally to the culture of flowers and ornamental plants, and found much enjoyment in showing visitors through his gardens, greenhouses and nursery, and many persons called expressly to hear him talk on flowers and relate personal remin- iscences of which he had an inex- haustible store. To William Line and Rebecca, his wife, were born children as follows: Washington, born March II, 1813; William Ramsey, born Dec. I, 1814; Augustus Asbury, born May 17, 1819; and Amelia Ann, born June 6, 1823. Rebecca ( Wise) Line died Feb. 18, 1826, and Oct. 12, 1830, Mr. Line married Mrs. Cath- erine King, widow of Dr. John King,and daughter of Dr. John Luther, of Harrisburg, by which marriage he had the following chil- dren : Cornelia Emily, born Sept. 13. 1831; Luther Alexander, born Dec. 21, 1835. Mrs. Catherine Line, Judge Line's second wife, died Jan. 24, 1854, and he and his two wives are buried on the same lot in Ashland cemetery.

Washington, the oldest child by his first marriage, went West and for several years taught school near Dayton, Ohio, where he died when about thirty years of age.

Augustus Asbury, the third son, lived all his days in the town of Carlisle where he was actively engaged in business and public affairs until late in life. He died Aug. 24, 1903.

Amelia Ann, William and Rebecca Line's only daughter, married John R. Elder, of Indianapolis, Ind., who met her while he was a student at Dickinson College. He for a long time was editor of a paper in Indian- apolis. Mrs. Elder died in October, 1899, leaving her husband and three children.

Cornelia Emily, the oldest child and only daughter of William and Catherine Line, died on May 26, 1899.

Luther Alexander, the only son by the second marriage, is mentioned below.

William Ramsey, second son of Judge William and Rebecca (Wise) Line, was born while his parents resided on West South street, Carlisle, and was named after the Hon. William Ramsey, an intimate friend of his father. He grew to manhood in, and has always lived near, the town. During his youth he attended the private schools which then flourished in Carlisle, chief among them being that conducted by a man named Gad Day. Among his school- mates in Gad Day's school were members of the families of Isaac Brown Parker, An- drew Holmes and Robert Irwin, all of whom are now dead. Meager as were the educa- tional advantages of the day William R. Line made good progress in his studies, and before he had reached manhood's years had acquired sufficient knowledge to teach school which he did for a number of years. His first teaching was done at the Red School, House, now named Paradise, in South Mid- dleton township. He next taught the Wise School and subsequently the one located near the head of the Letort Spring, now known as the Bonny Brook school. He was suc- cessful from the first, and as his reputation as an instructor spread, patrons multiplied, and his school grew to large size, young men and women, some of them married, availing themselves of his teaching. This school was always well filled with studious and well-behaved pupils. The venerable William Barnitz and the late Wesley Miles were professional cotemporaries of his, Mr. Miles having preceded him as teacher of the school at Bonny Brook. Besides being a nat- ural scholar and instructor, he in his earlier years had a mechanical bent of mind and worked in wood as a recreation from his studies and school duties. While teaching

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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 25

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