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 28
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Martin Brinton began his married life in the lower end of Hampden township. where he lived until 1868, when he bought. on the south side of the Conedoguinet creek in East Pennsboro, what had been long known as the Bowman farm, which he farmed con- tinuously for a period of thirty-four years, and which he still owns. In 1892 he retired from farming, and since then has been living in Camp Hill borough.
To Martin and Nancy ( Dietz) Brinton have been born the following children : Ca- leb, S .; John, who is a clerk in the Census Bureau in Washington, D. C .; George. who is an employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company at Harrisburg: Martin, who is a draughtsman with the Westinghouse Elec- trical Manufacturing Company at Pittsburg; Anna, who married Charles L. Bowman, and resides in Camp Hill; and Christian, who is a draughtsman with a manufacturing company in the city of Chicago.
Caleb S. Brinton was born on the farm in East Pennsboro, Aug. 20, 1868. His youth was passed upon the farm and in attending the country district school known as Brin- ton's School. He made rapid progress in his studies, and early became ambitious for a . thorough education. In 1884 he entered the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, and a year later was graduated from that institution. He then taught in the public schools of Cumberland county for two years and afterward for three years was principal of the Second ward schools of Altoona. In 1886. in a competitive examination, he won an appointment to the West Point Military Academy, but upon reporting for entrance failed because of defective eyesight. He next prepared for college in Dickinson Sem- inary, and entered Bethany College, in which institution he completed the course to the end of the Junior year, when he was com- pelled to withdraw because of his health. Subsequently, he was elected to the chair of English Literature and History in the Fac- ulty of the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, which position he held for three years. In 1893 he registered as a student- at-law at Carlisle, and at the same time en- tered upon a course in the Dickinson School of Law. He graduated from the Dickinson Law School in 1895, and was admitted to the Cumberland County Bar. He imme- diately entered upon the practice of his pro- fession at Carlisle, where he has actively en- gaged in it ever since. Shortly after his ad- mission to the courts of Cumberland county
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lie was also admitted to the Supreme and Su- perior Courts of the State, and he is now in the enjoyment of a lucrative and steadily increasing law practice.
Mr. Brinton is a Republican in politics, and has ever since his early manhood taken an active interest in the affairs of his party. In 1895 he was elected chairman of the Ke- publican county committee, and the cam- paign which followed resulted in the election of Arthur R. Rupley as district attorney, and the entire Republican ticket. In the following year he was nominated for the Legislature, but through a split in his party, and an independent candidacy, he was de- feated by a small majority. Since then he has applied himself assiduously to the pro- motion of his law business, but has incident- ally given sufficient attention to politics to be considered one of the active Republicans of the county. His regularity has never been questioned, and in 1903 he was appointed postmaster at Carlisle. which office he accept- ably fills at present.
On July 10, 1896, Caleb S. Brinton mar- ried Jean Elizabeth Gardner, daughter of John W. and Frances ( Wagner) Gardner, of Harrisburg. The husband and wife com- prise the family. They are members of St. John's Episcopal Church. of Carlisle, and re- side in a beautiful home at No. 612 South Hanover street.
THOMAS W. PRESTON, M. D., an able physician and graduate of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, who for the past eight years has been practicing at Middlesex, was born in Canada. in the County of Halton, Province of Ontario, March 6, 1856. His father, James S. Preston, was for over thirty years prominent in the medical profession. He came of English stock, of a family lo- cated near Lancaster, England, and his an-
cestors came to America in 1817, settling in Canada. His wife, who was a Miss Isabella Hall, was likewise of English extraction.
Thomas W. Preston passed his boyhood in the county of Halton, attending the public schools there until he was twelve years of age. Two years later the family left Canada, and spent four years in New Gar- den. N. C., where the young man continued his studies in the Friends College at that place. When he was seventeen years of age his father became the head of a sanitarium at Wernersville, Pa., remaining there one year. The following year, however, the family returned to Canada and remained there five years, or until 1879, in the course of which time Thomas W. took the collegiate work prescribed in Woodstock College. His first essay in the practice of medicine was made in Canada in 1879, under Dr. Buck, of Palermo, Ont., and from then on till the winter of 1880, he was thus occupied. Re- turning then to Wernersville, he assisted his father in the Sunny Side Sanitarium, till February, 1881, when he went to Michigan, and established himself there. In a very few months he was called back to Wernersville by the illness of his father, and until the death of the latter in the spring of 1882, took his place in conducting the sanitarium.
The following May Dr. Preston again went to Michigan, and for more than four years was located at Carsonville, Sanilac county, remaining there till December, 1886. During his residence there he also engaged in mercantile business, but was burnt out in 1886, and lost everything. Discouraged by this misfortune he gave up all thought of continuing in business, went to New York for graduate work, and was there studying from December till the following April. In October, 1887, Dr. Preston settled in Phila- delphia, and remained there in practice sev-
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eral years, but finally removed to Middlesex, Pa., on account of the health of his family, and has been there for the last nine years. ( 1904).
Dr. Preston's marriage occurred in 1886. in Canada, when he was united to Miss Louisa D. Brandreth. The Doctor, as well as his wife, is a member of the Baptist Church. In his political sentiments, he is strongly Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order and belongs to the Cum- berland county and State Medical Societies. Dr. Preston deserves great credit for his suc- cessful struggle with the world. He is strictly a self-made man who has worked his own way to his present position in the pro- iession. He is a most skillful physician, thoroughly posted on eminent medical topics and in close touch with the professional thought of the day.
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT KELLEY, ( deceased ). For many years the honored gentleman whose name heads this sketch, resided on a fine farm in Ship- pensburg township, near Newville, where his death occurred Feb. 3. 1896. He was born in Cumberland county, Pa., on the farm near Big Spring, Nov. 26, 1822.
John Kelley, his father, was a native of Pittsburg. Pa. He married Drusilla Van- derbilt, who was born at Oakville, Cumber- land Co., in 1829, and who died in her sixty- ninth year. They had the following chil- dren : James, Mary, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jackson, Margaret. Isabel, George, and two who died in infancy.
Cornelius Vanderbilt Kelley received his primary education in the district school, and, after preparing for college, entered Dickin- son College at Carlisle, where he pursued his studies for some time. Later he began teaching, and taught the Newville school for
a number of years, and for many years there- after was a member of the school board. After his marriage he settled at Quarry Hill on a farm where he lived for a number of years. In 1879 he bought what is known as the Robert Sharpe farm, and, moving to it he engaged in general farming and stock- raising. This farm contains 120 acres of good land. and there are a good residence, barn and other buildings upon it. In politics, he always was a loyal Democrat, and served very acceptably as supervisor of Penn town- ship : assessor of the same township, and held other lesser offices. For many years, he was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church at Newville.
In May, 1860, Mr. Kelley married Miss Agnes Brown, a daughter of John and Mary (Ritchey) Brown, and she was born in Quarry Hill, in the vicinty of Springfield, Penn township, Aug. 14. 1832. She was educated in the public schools of Newville, and graduated from the high school at that place. At Mr. Kelley's death, his widow and several children survived him: Joseph Brown; Mary Grizzilla; Cornelius Lane; John Tilyer, a graduate of the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, class of 1891 ; Martha Jane: Agnes B., a teacher and a graduate of the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, class of 1894; Annie Rit- chey, a teacher of music. Mrs. Kelley re- sides on the Kelley homestead, with her two daughters, while two of her sons live on ad- joining farms.
Mrs. Kelley is one in the following fam- ily born to her parents: William A., of Penn township; Mrs. E. Jane Kelso, of Southampton township: Joseph, deceased; Margaret Ann, deceased; Della C. B., de- ceased on Dec. 3, 1903, the wife of Henry C. Beattie, of Southampton township. Both the Brown and Kelley families are well
soph
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known in this locality, and Mrs. Kelley is one of the most highly respected ladies and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.
HON. HARRY G. BROWN, mayor of Carlisle, was born in that city Sept. 14. 1859, a son of Samitel R. and Elizabeth ( Keck) Brown.
William Brown, grandfather of Harry G .. spent his early life in Lancaster county, living for a time at Lititz, and about 1840 or 1842 came to Cumberland county, set- tling at Shepherdstown, in the lower part of the county. For a short time he conducted a hotel, and prior to 1845 came to Carlisle and continued in the same business, locat- ing on the present site of the "Wellington Hotel," and erecting a hotel. His death oc- curred in the town where he was so familiar a figure.
Samuel R. Brown, the father of Harry G., was born in Lancaster county, and was about eighteen when the family came to Carlisle, and the remainder of his life was spent here. Having learned the trade of a cooper he pursued it until he took charge of Lewis's lime kilns, which he operated for a few years, but later he opened a restaurant 011 East High street, where Bixler & Sons hardware store is now located. This he conducted successfully for several years and then moved his establishment further east on East High street, continuing in the same line for fifteen or eighteen years. This es- tablishment was always a high-class one, and his patronage very large. Ten children were born to himself and wife, all of whom died in childhood but three: Samuel K., a resident of Columbus, Ohio, and operator of planing-mills ; Harry G. : and Florence, wife of Jacob Mushler, of Carlisle. The father died March 13, 1893, aged seventy-four
years, while the mother died May 22, 1894, aged sixty-eight.
Harry G. Brown was educated in the public schools of Carlisle and in 1878 began to learn the trade of a carpenter. His work was upon the Carlisle market house, the building in which his present office is now lo- cated. He learned his trade with Capt. J. . P. Brindle, and after serving his apprentice- ship went into the planing-mills and worked until he was thirty-one years of age, or in 1890, at which time he was appointed letter carrier and served four years, resigning to go into business as a contractor and builder with H. G. Rinehart, under the firm name of Brown & Rinehart; this partnership lasted over seven years. Mr. Brown then embarked in business for himself and has erected some of the leading residences in the city and vicinity ; he does all kinds of build- ing. Without any doubt he stands at the head of his calling in Carlisle. and he also does slate roofing, a distinctive branch of his occupation.
In public affairs, Mr. Brown has always been very active as a stanch Republican and has served a number of times as delegate to county and State conventions, wielding a strong influence in his party. He has served most efficiently as borough auditor of Car- lisle, and March 16, 1901, was appointed to fill an unexpired term as burgess of Car- lisle. in the spring of 1903 being elected on the Republican ticket to succeed himself in the same office, by a majority of 480 votes in a borough which is recognized as Demo- cratic. He is a member of the Goodwill Fire Co., in which he has also been trustee for the past twenty years; he has also held many other offices of trust and responsibil- ity in the county. Fraternally, he has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for twenty-two years, belonging to Carlisle Lodge, No. 91,
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and has for twelve years been secretary of same : is a member of the Encampment, No. 183. of which he has been treasurer for the past fifteen years ; was one of the organiz- ers of the K. of G. E., of which society he has served as first treasurer, filling that office for nine years (he has represented the lodge for fifteen years) ; and is also a member of the A. F. & A. M., St. John Lodge. No. 260. St. John Chapter, No. 171, and St. John Commandery, No. S. His home is most pleasant. located at No. 115 East High street.
EDWARD CLOYD NEELY, M. D. Although among the youngest practitioners of Cumberland county, Pa., Dr. Neely stands out conspicuously on account of his ability and pleasant, genial manner. He was born in Juniata county. Pa., July 31, 1874, a son of John and Margaret (Ewing) Neely, the former of whom was born in Juniata county about 1828, and died Feb. 14, 1-, on his old farm. The mother was born in Center, Perry county, Pa., in 1830, and is still living, · making her home in Juniata county. Her father was William Ewing.
Dr. Neely was reared like many farmers' boys upon the farm, attending the district school whenever occasion offered, but he was different from some in that an ambition burned in his breast, and he struggled to qualify himself for the profession he had already chosen. In order to secure the nec- essary literary education he went to school at Academia, Juniata county, and later at- tended one in Path Valley, where he pre- pared for college. He then began his study of medicine under the tutelege of Dr. James G. Hedding, of Academia, and was gradu- ated from the Medico-Chirurgical College at Philadelphia in the class of 1898. After graduation he settled at Newville, Cumber-
land county, where he has built up an excel- lent practice, and he is a great favorite with all classes.
Dr. Neely is a member of the Cumber- land County Medical Society and the Amer- ican Medical Association, and fraternally, is a member of Big Spring Lodge, No. 361, A. F. & A. M. ; of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 371; of the Royal Arcanum, Big Spring Council, No. 1610, as well as of the Patriotic Sons of America, Neni Camp. Dr. Neely is unmarried.
WATTS. The earliest tax list of Rye township, Cumberland county, in existence is that of 1768. Upon it there is enrolled the name of Frederick Watts. According to the records this is his first appearance in that part of the Province, but there is a strong probability that he was there earlier than the clate named.
Frederick Watts was the progenitor of a family who have been prominent in the his- tory of Cumberland county through four generations. He was born in Wales, and re- ceived a fair English education. About the year 1749 he married Jane Murray, niece of David Murray, Marquis of Tullibardine, and in 1760 came to America. He first set- tled in Chester county, but on Dec. 21, 1762, there was surveyed to him on a warrant dated June 4, 1762, a tract of 331 acres of bottom land, lying three miles above the mouth of the Juniata river, then in Cuni- berland, now in Perry county. Upon this he made his home, and here he lived until his death. On the breaking out of the war of the Revolution he was appointed a men- ber of the Cumberland county committee, and commissioned a lieutenant-colonel of one of the associated battalions. Upon the organization of the flying camp, by direction of Congress, he was placed in command of
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the battalion that was assigned to Cumber- land county, which was captured at the sur- render of Fort Washington, Nov. 16, 1776. Ile was soon exchanged and afterward served in various capacities. He was com- missioned justice of the peace April 1, 1778; chosen representative to the Assembly in 1779: appointed sub-lieutenant of Cumber- land county April 18, 1780; and on May 27, 1782, commissioned brigadier general of the Pennsylvania militia, in which capacity he did excellent service in protecting the fron- tier counties of the State from the ravages of the Indians and the Tories. He was a member of the supreme executive council from October, 1787, until the abolition of that body by the State constitution of 1790. He died Sept. 27, 1795. It is not known when his wife, Jane Murray died. Accord- ing to general belief and report the remains of both are interred in a little private grave- yard on the farm which they for so many years owned. and upon which they died. The children of Frederick and Jane (Murray) Watts were: Margery, Catherine, Mar- garet, Jane. Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah and David.
David Watts, only son of Frederick and Jane (Murray) Watts, was born Oct. 29, 1764. He was reared on his father's farm on the Juniata, and educated at Carlisle, where he graduated from Dickinson College. After leaving college he read law with Will- iam Lewis, of Philadelphia, and was admit- ted to the Bar in that city. He then returned to Cumberland county, and practiced law at Carlisle during the rest of his life. In per- son Mr. Watts was a large man, possessed of a vigorous mind, and a voice of great volume and strength. He was a fluent, im- passioned speaker, and in handling a case would select merely the strong points in it and present them to the jury with a vehem-
ence approaching to fury. He long ranked as the leader of the Bar in central Pennsyl- vania, and his practice at its flood tide ex- tended over two-thirds of the State. As an advocate he was able and fearless, as a man sincere, generous and honorable, and was greatly esteemed alike by his brethren of the Bar and the general public.
David Watts was married to Juliana Mil- ler. daughter of Gen. Henry Miller, who served with distinction in the Revolutionary war, and also the War of 1812. To them were born the following children : Mary, Matilda, Frederick, Sarah Ann, Henry M., Edward, William M., Charles Octavius, Ju- liana and David Murray. He died Sept. 15. 1819; his wife, Juliana, died Feb. 20, 1869, and both are buried in the Old Graveyard at Carlisle.
Frederick Watts, eldest son of David Watts and Juliana Miller, and grandson of Gen. Frederick Watts and Jane Murray, was born at Carlisle, May 9, 1801, and always lived there. He received his education at Dickinson College, from which institution he graduated in 1819, at the age of eighteen. The two years immediately following his graduation from college he spent with his uncle. William Miles, of Erie county, en- gaged at farming, which vocation possessed a special attraction for him throughout his long and busy life. In 1821 he returned to Carlisle, entered the office of Andrew Car- others, Esq., as a student-at-law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1824. He became his preceptor's partner, and by his energy and ability soon won high rank as a lawyer. From 1829 to 1854 he was a reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl- vania. The first three volumes issued bore his name in connection with that of Hon. C. B. Penrose; the next ten bore his name as sole reporter ; and subsequently nine vol-
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umes bore his name in connection with that of Henry J. Seargeant. Esq. In 1845 he was made president of the Cumberland Val- ley railroad, which by his intelligent man- agement he raised from a languishing condi- tion to a higher degree of efficiency, making it an important factor in the development of the section through which it passes. He retired from its presidency in 1873, but con- tinned a director in the company until his death. On March 9. 1849. he was appointed president judge of the Ninth Judicial Dis- trict, then composed of the counties of Cuni- berland, Perry and Juniata. This office he filled until 1852, when the elective judiciary began. He was an ardent friend of higher education, and from 1824 to 1828 was sec- retary of the board of trustees of Dickinson College, and from 1828 to 1832 a member of the board, and 'active and influential in all its proceedings. In 1854 he was instru- mental in establishing the Pennsylvania State Agricultural College, and was elected first president of its board of trustees. He was in close touch with the farmers of his sec- tion, and constantly sought to advance the best interests of agriculture. For many years he was president of the Cumberland County Agricultural Society, and its most devoted friend and patron. In 1854 he projected the Carlisle Gas and Water Company, and for a long time was president of it. To in- dulge his tastes for agricultural pursuits he. in 1865, removed to one of his farms near Carlisle, and began gradually to relin- quish his law practice. In 1871 he was ten- dered the appointment of Commissioner of Agriculture. This he declined, but the offer being afterward renewed and urged upon him, he accepted and held the place until 1877, when because of advancing years he retired from all active duties of life.
Perhaps no man left more lasting and
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favorable impressions :pon the community in which his busy life was passed than Fred- erick Watts. As a lawyer he occupied a front rank for nearly half a century. Ex- cepting the time he was on the Bench there is not a report of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in forty-two years that does' not contain his name as counsel. He was a man of great force of character and abid- ing self confidence. Whatever he believed he believed implicitly, and whatever he under- took he did with all his might. He never sat down to the counsel table that he did not impress the court and jury that he confident- ly expected to win his case. His power with the jury was great. His reputation for abil- ity, integrity and unblemished honor was known to every man in the counties in which he practiced, and he invariably sustained this reputation by a manner that was always dignified, and speech that was always clear, strong, convincing. and never tedious. He possessed the respect of his brethren of the Bar in an unusual degree. and as a man 'and a citizen he was universally regarded as un- selfish, public-spirited and patriotic.
Frederick Watts was twice married. He first married Eliza Cranston, of New Castle county, Del., who bore him three children : Marcia Ross, Laura Gold, and Eliza Crans- ton. Mrs. Watts died in November, 1832, and he afterward married Henrietta Ege, daughter of Michael Ege, of Cumberland county, who bore him the following chil- dren : William Miles. Mary, Julia Miller, Frederick, Coleman Hall. Edward Biddle, Sarah Campbell, Edward Biddle (2), Sarah Campbell (2), Henrietta and Brown Par- ker. Judge Watts died Aug. 17, 1889. His wife. Henrietta Ege. died March 7, 1890, and he and his two wives are buried in the old graveyard at Carlisle.
EDWARD BIDDLE WATTS, son of Fred-
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erick and Henrietta (Ege) Watts, grand- son of David and Juliana (Miller) Watts, and great-grandson of Frederick and Jane ( Murray) Watts, was born Sept. 13, 1851, in Carlisle, where he grew to manhood, and where he has always lived. When fourteen years old he entered the private school of Dr. Lyons. at West Haverford, near Phila- delphia, where he continued for three years. He then entered the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, Conn., and pursued his studies in it for one year. At the end of the year which he spent in the Academy at Cheshire, Dr. Horton, the principal of the institution, re- quested him to take a tour with him in Eur- ope. He accepted and spent a season in for- eign travel. On his return from abroad he entered Trinity College at Hartford, Conn., from which institution he graduated in 1873. After graduating from college he took up the study of the law in the office of John Hays, Esq., at Carlisle, and was admitted to the Cumberland County Bar in 1875. He im- mediately began the practice of his profes- sion at Carlisle, where he has continued to practice ever since. From 1885 to 1888 he served as attorney to the county commission- ers, and during that period assisted that board of public officials in holding down the public expenses and reducing taxation. In 1890 he was elected burgess of Carlisle in which capacity he served with general ac- ceptability, being progressive 'and public- spirited and a man of good business judg- ment. He is interested in the Cumberland Valley railroad, and a member of its board of directors. Long connected with the Na- tional Guard of Pennsylvania, he was cap- tain of Company G, 8th Regiment, for eight years, and in 1893 was promoted to major, and held that rank for five years. When in the spring of 1898 his regiment volunteered for the Spanish-American war he was made
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