Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 26

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 26

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the Wise school he spent much of his spare time in the carpenter shop of Philip Shissler nearby, and among other useful things made himself a new buggy.

On July 10. 1845. William Ramsey Line married Mrs. Mary Simpson Campbell, the Rev. T. V. Moore, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church. performing the cere- mony. Mrs. Campbell was the widow of Adams Campbell, of Elizabethtown, Lan- caster county, and a daughter of Samuel Elder and granddaughter of the Rev. John Elder, who for fifty years was pastor of the Paxton Presbyterian Church, Dauphin coun- ty, where in the early pioneer days he often preached with his loaded rifle in his pulpit ready for use in case of attacks from the Indians. Soon after his marriage he moved to the farm lying on the Trindle Spring Road a short distance cast of Carlisle, the ownership of which he has since acquired. Here he has resided continuously ever since. His life has been quiet and uneventful, but full of the kind deeds which let not the right hand know what the left hand doth. He is a man of excellent business judgment, and the fact that he is a director in an enter- prise inspires confidence in that enterprise in all who know the man. He was elected a director in the Carlisle Deposit Bank in 1866, and with the exception of one or two intermissions of a year cach, that were re- quired by a former charter, has been con- tinued a director ever since. Among his early associates in this institution were such well remembered citizens and business men as John Zug, Dr. W. W. Dale. Judge Hugh Stuart, John Stuart, Robert C. Wood- ward, Henry Saxton and Judge R. M. Henderson, all of whom, excepting Judge Henderson, are now deceased. For a period of more than twenty years he has also been a director in the Allen and East Penns-

boro Insurance Company, another of Cum- berland county's substantial business insti- tutions.

Mr. Line is a Republican in politics, but in no sense a partisan. He has never sought office, but in 1886 was elected Director of the Poor, being the only Republican on a large ticket that was elected. In religion he may be considered a Presbyterian. He holds a pew in the First Presbyterian Church, where, although not a communicant, he has always, when physically able, attended serv- ices. He has passed through the cares and trials of almost four score and ten years of life, and through all of that long journey he has performed every duty conscientiously and borne an unblemished character. He has been a good citizen and an honest man.

LUTHER ALEXANDER LINE. In the biography of William R. Line it is stated that his father, William Line, was married a second time, his second wife being Mrs. Catherine King, widow of Dr. John King, and daughter of Dr. John Luther. William Line and Catherine, his second wife, had two children, Cornelia Emily and Luther Alexander. It is the object of this particu- lar sketch to treat principally of the latter.

Luther A. Line was born Dec. 21, 1835, while his father lived at the eastern edge of Carlisle, upon the property he purchased from Major Sterrett Ramsey in 1819. There the child grew into youth, and the youth into manhood, and within a radius of a few hun- dred yards has always lived, and at this writing is still living. When the boy reached the prescribed age he was sent to the Carlisle schools, first to the private schools of Miss Harper, Miss Mains and others, and afterwards to the public schools. His education was limited to that provided by the common schools of the day. For em-

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ployment and manual training he was put to work in his father's nursery and green- houses, and there occupied he gradually came into a thorough and practical knowl- edge of flowers, shrubbery and plant life generally. Growing to manhood in this em- ployment, it naturally became his life work and his delight. He has engaged at it ever since in the immediate vicinity in which he started in it when a youth. While a young man he at one time thought he would like the drug business, and went to Philadelphia and engaged at it for a short time, but the confinement incident to it not agreeing with his health, he abandoned all further efforts to master it.

In August, 1864, Mr. Line enlisted as a recruit in Company A, IoIst P. V. I., under Capt. James Sheaffer, of Pittsburg, Colonel Morris, commanding. Peter Mon- yer, William Lytle, Alfred Taylor and Henry D. Comfort, also of Carlisle, were some of his comrades in the same company. Soon after joining his regiment it was sent to Roanoke Island, North Carolina, and in that section was engaged in doing scouting duty and skirmishing until the close of the war. It was mustered out of service June 25, 1865, at Newbern, North Carolina. Through soldiering in the Lowlands of North Carolina he contracted swamp fever, with which he was ailing for a long time after he returned to his home. After the recovery of his health he resumed his former occupation of florist and nurseryman at the old place, and nothing has since then oc- curred to seriously interrupt his labors.

Luther A. Line's career has been quiet, and in a general sense uneventful, and yet some of his experiences are interesting and could be enlarged upon with entire propriety were his biographer given permission to do so. The natural modesty of the man re-

stricts the writer to a simple recital of the bare facts of his life. Having always lived in Carlisle he is well known to its people generally, and he is greatly esteemed by all of them. As a life-long citizen of the place 'he has participated in the making of its liis- tory, and has been an interested observer of its affairs. His home being in the part of the town where was located the United States military post known as the Carlisle Garri- son, he in his earlier years, became acquaint- ed with many young army officers who in the Civil war rose to distinction on one side or the other. Some of these he afterward met under memorable circumstances. On the evening of July 1, 1863. after the Con- federates under General Ewell had retired, and the Union forces under General Smith had again come into possession of Carlisle, he was in his home quietly resting from the anxiety and dread through which he had passed. His rest was disturbed by the en- trance into his room of a young man, whom he recognized as Samuel Weller, a former student of Dickinson College, who informed him that General Lee was outside and wanted to see him. Going out he met a Confederate officer who said he was General Fitzhugh Lee, and asked whether he knew him. Mr. Line replied that he knew a Lieu- tenant Lee who some years before had been stationed at the Carlisle Garrison. "Well", answered the officer, "I am he." Lee was in charge of the advance of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's command, which had come from Hanover by way of the York Road, with the view of joining the body of Confeder- ates that had come down the Cumberland Valley. This body of Confederates having gone to Gettysburg, and the town being in possession of the Union forces, the progress of Stuart's command was halted in the road near the Line home. Later General Stuart

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also interviewed Mr. Line, and requested him to convey his respects to Jolinson Moore and Major Hastings, two of Carlisle's prominent citizens with whom Stuart had cordial relations while in former years lie was stationed at the Carlisle Garrison. That night the Confederates treated the town to a vigorous bombardment and burned all the principal buildings at the Garrison, and also the gas house, which stood within a stone's throw of where Mr. Line lived. Among the articles on Mr. Line's parlor table at the time was a picture of General Lee which Lee had presented to him while stationed at the Carlisle Garrison as a lieutenant. After the Confederates were gone he missed this pict- ure, and could account for it on no other theory than that Samuel Weller, recogniz- ing it as the likeness of his commander, had taken it. Weller was Sergeant of the Con- federate Signal Corps, and it is presumed was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. at any rate he was never heard of afterward. Once, in recent years, when General Lee was on a visit to the Carlisle Indian Train- ing School, Mr. Line met him and took occasion to mention to hiim the loss of the picture. The distinguished ex-Confederate expressed regret at its loss, and promised to send him another, but as no picture ever came the probability is that he forgot all about it.

On Dec. 22, 1870, Luther A. Line was married to Miss Caroline Goekeler, of Car- lisle, Rev. Dr. Joel Swartz, pastor of the First Lutheran Church, performing. the ceremony. Caroline Goekeler was the daughter of Godfrey and Mary Magdalene (Thudium) Goekeler, both of whom were born in Wurtemberg, Germany, but after immigration to America met and married in Philadelphia, where their daughter Caro-

line was born. Subsequently they moved to Carlisle and lived there for some years.

Luther A. and Caroline (Goekeler ) Line became the parents of three children, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving child is William Ramsey Line, born at Car- lisle May 16. 1878, and educated in the pub- lic schools. Upon reaching early manhood he turned his attention to mechanics and be- came skilled in the manufacture of electrical appliances, and he now lives in Gloversville, N. Y .. where he for some years has been successfully engaged in the bicycle and elec- trical business. On May 15, 1901, he mar- ried Miss Mae Johnson, of Gloversville. They have no children.

HEYD. For nearly a century and a half the family of Heyd has been established in this part of Pennsylvania. In 1760 George Heyd emigrated from Germany and first settled in Lancaster county, moving thence to York county, and finally locating in Cumberland county, where he died and was buried.

George Heyd (2), son of George, was born in Lancster county, and in childhood accompanied his parents to York county. After six years there he came to Cumberland county, which was his home for more than fifty years. He married Leah Grass, dangh- ter of Jacob Grass, of Adams county. His death occurred in Mechanicsburg in 1876, when he was aged eighty-two years. His chil- dren were: Jacob L .; H. G., of Mechanics- burg : George W., of the Baltimore Confer- ence : E. D., of Illinois; Elizabeth, widow of Henry Krall; Rebecca, wife of Michael Myers, of Carlisle; and Mary, wife of Jacob P. Brandt, of Mechanicsburg.

JACOB L. HEYD, son of George (2), was born in Upper Allen township, Cumberland

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county, in 1832. He remained at home with his father until the time of his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty-three. For three years he cultivated his father's farm, and then moved to his father-in-law's farm in York county, where he lived for a like period. at the end of that time purchas- ing a small farm in Upper Allen township. Cumberland county, whither he removed. There he made his home for fifteen years, selling it in 1877 to buy the fine 100-acre farm on which he lived until his death, June 29, 1902. He spent both time and money to make his home one of the best, as well as one of the most attractive, in the county. He married Catharine Coover, daughter of Jacob Coover, of near Dillsburg, York coun- ty, and she still resides at the home in Camp Hill. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob L. Heyd two sons are living: Clin- ton G., who married Emily Thompson, and lives in Camp Hill, has three children, Luther K., Thompson J. and Martha Cath- erine. Coover W. is mentioned below. Those deceased are: Laura, Calvin and John W., all of whom died when quite young in Upper Allen township. Jacob L. Heyd served in a number of local offices, among them being justice of the peace and school director, and he was active in the movement to make Camp Hill a borough, that the children might have first-class school facilities. Both he and his wife belonged to the Mechanicsburg Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Heyd is still actively in- terested in all church work. She is a kind and sympathetic friend to those in trouble, and is greatly beloved by all who know her.

COOVER W. HEYD, son of Jacob L., was born in Upper Allen township in 1872. He attended the district schools and was grad- uated from the Mechanicsburg high school

in the class of 1886. Learning the machinist trade, he worked at it for ten years in New York State, and then for a short time worked in Harrisburg. In February, 1904, he entered the grain, coal, flour and feed business at Camp Hill, along the Cumberland Valley railroad, where he is doing a fine business with every prospect of a most suc- cessful future. He is attentive to his work and most obliging to his customers, and has made many warm friends.

In 1893 Mr. Heyd was united in mar- riage with Miss Edna May Traub, daughter of John A. and Matilda Traub, of Camp Hill, but formerly of Philadelphia. They have one daughter, Catherine Matilda, born May 31, 1900. Politically, Mr. Heyd is a Republi- can, while religiously, he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Jacob Coover, father of Mrs. Catharine (Coover) Heyd, was born in Cumberland county, near Carlisle, and he followed farm- ing and distilling along the Yellow Breeches creek, in Monaghan township, York county. He married Elizabeth Morrett, daughter of Hatman Morrett, of Cumberland county. He died in York county at the age of sixty- five years, and his wife died at the age of sixty-two years. Their children were : Levi, who died unmarried at Camp Hill, Cumber- land county; Susanna, who married Chris- tian Bowman, and died in York county ; Michael, who, on March 14, 1904, celebrated his ninety-first birthday in Silver Spring, Cumberland county ; Jacob, who died in York county, Pa .; Mary Ann, who died in Camp Hill; Eliza, who passed away in Dills- burg, York county ; John, who died in York county; Sarah Ann, who died in Cum- berland county; Samuel, living with his sister, Mrs. Heyd; Catharine, who became Mrs. Heyd; and Daniel, who died in York county.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

JOHN W. BOWMAN, M. D., one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of Cumberland county, was born at Wormleys- burg, Cumberland Co., Pa., Dec. 20. 1846, a son of Samuel Bowman and a grandson of Christian Bowman.

Christian Bowman was born and reared in Lancaster county, where he was a farmer at the time of his marriage with Mary Moh- ler. After his marriage he settled for a time near Boiling Springs, Cumberland county, and engaged in lime burning and the grain business, but in 1827 he bought a farm in East Pennsboro township, on which he lived for several years, then purchasing another on the Jonestown road, near Harrisburg. At a still later date he removed to Miami county. Ind., where he died at the age of ninety-two years. His wife had died on the farm near Harris- burg. at the age of sixty years. The children of Christian and Mary ( Mohler) Bowman were : Mary married John Longenecker, who was a farmer in East Pennsboro town- until 1856, when they removed to Randolph county. Ind., where she died aged eighty- six years: John, who married Kate Longe- necker, died aged twenty-nine years, leaving three sons ; Samuel became the father of Dr. Bowman: Anna married Rev. David Bals- laugh, and they lived in East Pennsboro township until 1856, then moving to Miami county. Ind., where he became a noted preacher : Christian married Mary Brightbill, and they lived in Dauphin county, where he was steward of the Dauphin County Home.

Samuel Bowman, father of Dr. Bowman, was born at Boiling Springs, Cumberland Co., Pa., May 13. 1820, was reared on a farm and learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for six years. He then engaged in farming in East Pennsboro township, un- til he retired from active life. He lived at

Wormleysburg from 1900 to 1904, and then went to Riverton to make his home with a daughter.

In 1851 Samuel Bowman married Susan Koons, daughter of Jacob Koons, of East Pennsboro township, and granddaughter of George Koons, who came from Baden, Ger- many, in 1764. George Koons married a daughter of Daniel Snyder, near relative of Gov. Synder. Samuel Bowman was orig- inally a Whig in political faith but became a Republican on the formation of the party. The children of Samuel Bowman and his wife were: Dr. John W .; Mary, who died in childhood; Susan, Mrs. David Mumma, of Hampden township; Jacob, who died in infancy; Samuel, who married Rebecca Kreitzler, daughter of Andrew Kreitzler, of Hampden township, (he made the run into Oklahoma and received 160 acres of land near Cross) ; George, who married Lizzie Eslinger, and resides at West Fairview; Katie, Mrs. Ira Bigler, of Riverton: and Christian, also a resident of Riverton.

John W. Bowman completed his acad- emic studies at the White Hall Academy and graduated at the age of nineteen years. After some work on his father's farm he accepted a clerkship in a store at Camp Hill and be- gan the study of medicine, coming under the preceptorship of Dr. J. T. Criswell and Dr. J. D. Bowman, at Camp Hill. After one year's close reading he entered Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, in the fall of 1875, and was graduated with his class in 1877. He immediately entered into prac- tice and later succeeded Dr. Joseph Crone, at Hogestown, where he remained four years. At the solicitation of friends he re- moved to Camp Hill and became physician at the White Hall Soldiers Orphans School, a position he held from 1882 until its days of usefulness were over, in 1890. Dr. Bow-

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man has been located at Riverton since 1890. He is surgeon for the Cumberland Valley Railroad and served for three years in the sanie capacity for the Northern Central Rail- road. His practice extends all through this portion of the county.

Dr. Bowman is a member of all the lead- ing medical organizations, the Cumberland County Medical Society, of which he was president in 1896; the State Medical Society ; the American Medical Association, and the Harrisburg Academy of Medicine. He keeps in close touch with all the scientific discoveries of the day, which make this pro- fession the most enlightened of any.

At Camp Hill, in 1871, Dr. Bowman married Annetta Oyster, daughter of George and Catherine (Smith) Oyster, both of whom are deceased. They have two chil- dren : David G., who is associated with the United Gas Improvement Co., at Harris- burg, married Mary Nichols, daughter of the late Dr. Nichols ; William C., a graduate of the Shippensburg State Normal School, who is principal of a school at Wormleys- burg. married Miss Sartoris, daughter of Charles Smith, of Centerville.

Dr. Bowman is one of the supporters of the Christian Church, in which he has been an elder since its organization, in 1894. He is a teacher in the Sunday-school and was formerly superintendent. In politics he is a Republican, and he served on the school board four years at Camp Hill and three years at Riverton. Fraternally, he is past master of Eureka Lodge, No. 302, A. F. & A. M.

WILLIAM SPAHR has been a well- known citizen of Carlisle all his life, and he has been prominently identified with the so- cial and church life of the community as well as its business interests.

John Spahr. grandfather of William. was born March 17, 1782. and died in Carlisle Nov. 19, 1844. He was a hatter by trale. He married Elizabeth Wickart, who was born Oct. 12, 1783, and died Jan. 19, 1858. Their children were as follows: John, the father of William: William, a brickmaker, who died in Carlisle: Peter, who was en- gaged in brickmaking in Carlisle all his life, and died there: and Eliza, who married James Liggett and was the grandmother of Clarence Liggett. of Carlisle.

John Spahr, father of William, was born Nov. 3. 1807, in Carlisle. He learned the hatter's trade under his father, but did not follow it long, in early manhood commenc- ing to work at filing under John Proctor, who was a well-known figure in the indus- trial world of Carlisle in the early days; he made bits when they were made and filed and plated by hand. silver money being melted to get material for the plating. Mr. Spahr remained with Mr. Proctor for a number of years, and was ever noted for his industry and thrift. For many years he was high constable in Carlisle, and he was active in church work as a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he served as deacon. He was sexton for many years. After erecting the family home on North East street. in Carlisle, he took up gardening, which he followed for the remainder of his days, dy- ing Dec. 11, 1876. On April 3, 1828, Mr. Spahr married Elizabeth Stum, who was born March 3. 1811, and died April 8, 1875- Her parents came to this country from Ger- many and died in Carlisle. To Mr. and Mrs. Spahr were born children as follows: (1) Lizzie, born Oct. 8. 1829, married John Egolf in 1850, and died in Carlisle. (2) John, born April 15. 1832, married Mary Black, April 13. 1856. and died in Carlisle, July 30, 1900. (3) William is mentioned

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below. (4) Catherine, born March 17. 1835, died in 1836. (5) Mary H. born May 29. 1837. married Cyrus D. Arnold. Oct. 10. 1858, and is now a widow, living in Philadelphia. (6) Peter F., born May 5, 1839, was twice married, first on March 4. 1862. to Annie Ward, and on Dec. 19. 1872, to Emma Swigert, who survives him. (7) Sarah, born Dec. 21. 1840. married Sam- . uel Minnich, and died in June, 1903. in Car- lisle. (8) Barbara E., born March 17. 1843, died March 16. 1845. (9) Margaret J., born Dec. 21. 1844. died May 17. 1853. (10) George R .. born Oct. 1, 1846, died May 10, 1853. ( II) Julia Ann died in infancy.

William Spahr was born June 24. 1834, in Carlisle, in a house which stood on the lot next to what afterward became the fam- ily homestead, in North East street. His first literary instruction was received in the school at the corner of Bedford and Louther streets, under Mary Richter, and he was subsequently a pupil of Miss String, Mr. Gould, Gilbert Searight, Mr. Tripner and Dr. Neidig, under whom he closed his school life. As his help was needed at home he attended only during the winter aiter he was old enough to be of practical use. During the summer season he was employed in the brickyard, beginning that work at the age of fourteen, at $4 per month and board. His first work was what was called "off bearing," that is, taking away, and in time he acquired a thorough knowledge of all the details of the business, working for many years for his uncle Peter. In those days the work was all done by hand. Finally our subject, with his brothers John and Peter, formed the firm of Spahr Bros., brick manufacturers, and after the death of l'eter, in 1891, the other two brothers continued the business until 1897, when the firm went out of business. Peter Spahr was a member of the borough

council of Carlisle for twelve years. Will- iam Spahr was engaged in the actual work of brickmaking from his fourteenth year un- til 1891. with the exception of an interval of three years during which he was in the confectionery business with John H. Rheem ; he was a molder from his twenty-first year. Since the plant was closed down Mr. Spahr has practically lived retired. though for the past year and a half he has run a tea wagon. During his active business life he enjoyed high standing among his associates and en- joyed a wide acquaintance among business men in and around Carlisle.

All the Spahr family are musically in- clined and gifted, and William Spahr and all his brothers and sisters are singers, well known in that connection throughout this section. As was common during those days, he had no money of his own until after he attained his majority, his father settling his wages up to the close of his twenty-first year. After that he immediately commenced to save, and before long had enough to buy a small melodeon from Samuel Gould, which had been the property of the old-time music teacher, Mr. Skiles. Mr. Spahr paid $27 for this instrument, and afterward sold it to be used as the old "barracks" singing class for $50. From early manhood he sang in the choir of the Lutheran Church, until John Rheem, the leader, went west, after which Mr. Spahr took charge of the choir for six- teen years, also leading the singing in the Sunday-school. For many years he gave his services now and then to the Mission Church. He remained with the Lutheran choir until seventeen years ago. For many years Mr. Spahr was the leader of the old original Car- lisle Band, in which he played first E flat cornet. After its reorganization it was led by Louis C. Faber. When he left that band he became cornetist in Widner's Orchestra,

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with which he played for some years. His interest in musical matters has never waned, and although he is not now as active in mu- sical circles as he used to be he still has the same love for such things. As may be in- ferred from the above. Mr. Spahr's religious connection is with the Lutheran Church. In politics he has been a lifelong Democrat.

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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 26

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