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 30
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George W. Hauck was of German de- scent principally, and he possessed that qual- ity, peculiar to the Germans, of continuing without intermission at the severest kind of mental labor. Mr. Hauck's great-grand- father resided at Ephrata during the Revolu- tionary war, and was a personal friend of George Washington, who often visited the Haucks at Ephrata while the American army was encamped at Valley Forge. Henry Hauck. deputy superintendent of public edu- cation for Pennsylvania, and Congressman Hauck, of Tennessee, are relatives of this family.
In 1869 Mr. Hanck married Alice Starr, daughter of Reuben L. and Elizabeth (Lloyd) Starr, of Lewisberry, York county. Mrs. Hauck is of Quaker descent, and is a distant blood relative of Bayard Taylor, the great traveler and man of letters. She is the granddaughter of Hiram Starr, who in the ante-bellum days took an active part in running the "underground railway," where- by many slaves escaped into freedom. She is a woman of ability. She has always taken
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an active part in temperance work, having filled a number of offices in the W. C. T. U. For many years she has been a member of the Womans Relief Corps, having filled the offices of department. instituting and installing officer; department patri- otic instructor, and junior vice-pres- ident. In 1897 she was elected to the office of department president of Pennsylvania. On account of her fine ex- ecutive ability and business experience more money was saved the department than in any previous year. She was also a director of the Brookville Memorial for two consecu- tive years, an institution maintained and supported by the W. R. C. of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Hauck is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having been a steward in the church for the past eighteen years. After the death of her husband, she was elected a member of the board of direc- tors of the D. Wilcox Mfg. Co., to fill the place made vacant by his death. She is prominently identified with church and char- itable work. Mr. and Mrs. Hauck had five children: Sylvan S., who died in in- fancy; Walter Lloyd, a graduate of Dick- inson College and Dickinson School of Law, and an ex-secretary of the Republican stand- ing committee of Cumberland county ; Ed- win Starr, who is a traveling salesman (he was also a student of Dickinson College) ; and Susanna Elizabeth and George Wash- ington Hauck, who are attending the "Me- chanicsburg Normal and Classical School," where they are preparing themselves for en- trance to Dickinson College. Mr. Hauck owned a beautiful brick residence fitted up the most modern style, where his family now reside.
George Washington Hauck was Me- chanicsburg's ablest business man, as well as one of the ablest business men of the
Cumberland Valley. He did more to aid the growth and prosperity of his native town than any other one man has ever done. He was the brains of every business undertak- ing with which he ever became identified; and to-day Mechanicsburg feels his loss keenly. He was a man possessed of a vast amount of knowledge on almost all subjects. He was a great reader, an able conversation- alist, and a keen observer of men and affairs. Although he was unostentatious and of a somewhat retiring disposition, he was one of the most approachable of men. He had a kind heart. was liberal and charitable, and was one of the best of men and one of the best of citizens. He was a kind and loving father and husband, and he possessed the highest esteem of all who knew him.
DR. ROBERT M. McGARY, one of the leading physicians and highly esteemed citizens of Mechanicsburg, who is also en- gage'd in the drug business here, was born Oct. 27, 1858, at Shiremanstown, Cumber- land county, son of David and Elizabeth (Mateer) McGary.
John McGary, grandfather of Dr. Robert M., was a resident of Shiremanstown, for a long period. following his trade of wheel- wright, and also engaged in farming. His three children. Mary, Henry and David, have long since passed away. John McGary was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.
David McGary, son of John and father of Dr. Robert M., was born Sept. 18, 1818. He was a contractor in Hampden township for many years, and he died July 5. 1874. On reaching manhood he married Eliza- beth Mateer, a member of one of the oldest families of Scotch-Irish extraction, of the Cumberland Valley. Eight children were born to them, three of whom grew to matur-
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ity, namely: Mary R., wife of Samuel A. Balmer, of Harrisburg: H. W., of Harris- burg : and Dr. Robert M.
Dr. McGary was reared in Shiremans- town, and was educated in the public schools. Not caring to follow an agricultural life, he took the direction of his career into his own hands, and came to Mechanicsburg. enter- ing the drug store of Dr. M. B. Mosser, and in the meantime studying medicine. His efforts at securing a medical education met with success, and in 1884 he was graduated at Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, immediately enter- ing into practice at Mechanicsburg. In 1889 he opened a drug store in this borough, and carries a large and varied stock of goods usually found in first-class establishments of this kind, in connection with a large selec- tion of pure drugs.
In politics, Dr. McGary is a stanch Re- publican. He is a Mason of high degree, having been made a 32nd degree Mason in 1892. He is also one of the oldest members of the Singer Band of Mechanicsburg. Dr. McGary has won his own way in the world through perseverance and industry, and stands today as one of the leading and most respected citizens of Mechanicsburg.
ANDREW BLAIR. The name of Blair signifies "a cleared field." and the New Eng- land branch of the family has a tradition that the Blair coat of arms was granted by King Malcolm, of Scotland, for signal bravery in battle, for clearing the field of the enemy. Many of the name were among those who resented the attempt to supplant the Presbyterian form of worship by that of the English Church early in the sixteenth century. When in 1612 King James divided millions of acres into small holdings and offered them to the British, Sir William
Brereton was visiting James Blair at Irvine, Scotland, and wrote that crowds of discon- tented people were passing through Irvine. A band of young men, of whom several bore the name of Blair, from Argyllshire, passed over to Londonderry, and other parts of Ulster, Ireland. These were the fathers of a Scotch-Irish generation, Covenanters, who were indomitable fighters for their religion, their homes and their adopted country. Lieut .- Col. Blair, Capt. James Blair and Lieut. David Blair were conspicuous for their bravery during these religious perse- cutions.
Blair Castle, at Blair Atholl, in Perth- shire, the ancestral country seat of His Grace of Atholl, is a spacious and splendid resi- dence. Part of the castle dates back to the thirteenth century. King James V of Scot- land came there to hunt the red deer, and Mary Queen of Scots was royally euter- tained beneath its roof. The castle has never been deprived of the features which recall its ancient traditions, as a place of arms, and as the guardian fortress of the approaches to the main chain of the Grainpians. It un- derwent several sieges, notably during the Cromwellian wars and the Jacobite rebel- lion, mementoes of which exist to this day. One of the turrets of the castle is adorned with the copper plated finial that surmounted the dome of the Mahdi's tomb at Omdur- man. Blair Castle is precisely the kind of ancestral home that one would expect of a Scottish duke who maintains a bodyguard of his own. The Duke of Atholl has a pri- vate guard of five hundred men, to whom its colors were presented by Queen Victoria in person. Every man stands over six feet. The corps is recruited from among the Duke's retainers and tenants, clad, accou- tered and armed at his expense, and officered by his eldest son and kinsman. "The Atholl
Ander Blaise
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Regiment" presents a magnificent appear- ance when marching with the long swinging Highland stride, to the strains of the regi- mental band of sixteen pieces.
Andrew Blair, the subject of this sketch, lived and died at the corner of Hanover and South streets, Carlisle. He was a son of William Blair and Sarah Holmes, his wife, and was born July 10, 1789. William Blair, the father of Andrew, was a son of William Blair, of Carlisle, and Mary Cowen, his wife, who was from Lancaster county. Sarah Holmes, his mother, was a daughter of An- drew Holmes, of Bonny Brook. William Blair, father of Andrew, died March 21, 1792, at the age of thirty-two years ; his wife survived him about thirty-five years and reared their four children to honor the mem- ory of herself and consort.
William Blair, the grandfather of An- drew, was a trustee of the Carlisle Academy as early as 1781. He was also a trustee of the Associated Presbyterian Church of Car- lisle, and with two others, in 1796, pur- chased from the Penns the ground upon which to erect that church, a stone structure which is still standing on South West street, for £6., Afterward this was long known as the "Seceder Church." This William Blair died at Carlisle on Dec. 7, 1802, at the age of seventy-three years, and is buried in the family plot in the "Old Graveyard," sacred ground, given by the Penns to Carlisle for a place of burial. It is not known when his wife, Mary Cowen, died. She may be buried by the side of her husband, but there is no tombstone indicating that she is. Wil- liam Blair's son, Dr. Isaac Blair, was a mem- ber of the first class that graduated from Dickinson College. He located in Wash- ington, Pa., where he practiced his profes- sion until his death. His son, Dr. Alexan- der Blair, succeeded him.
Jane, the only daughter of William and Sarah (Holmes) Blair, died Aug. 13. 1864, at the age of seventy-nine years. She was the wife of John McClure, Esq., who lived at Willow Grove on the Letort Spring, on the southern outskirt of Carlisle, where their old stone mansion, built by the pioneer Mc- Clures, is still standing and in good condi- tion. The McClures were an army family, and their mansion at "The Willows" long was a rendezvous for social culture. At one time all the land extending from Carlisle south as far as the toll-gate on the Balti- more turnpike was in the McClure name.
William, the eldest son of William and Saralı (Holmes) Blair, died unmarried on Sept. 29, 1861, in his seventy-fifth year.
Henry Cowen, their youngest son, died in 1814, unmarried, at the age of twenty- two years. The remains of all of the family rest in the Old Grave Yard at Carlisle.
Andrew Blair, the second son, was or- . dained as a ruling elder in the First Presby- terian Church, Carlisle, Dec. 25, 1825. He was one of the originators of the movement which resulted in the organization of the Second Presbyterian Church in 1832, and was one of the first elders of that church. One of his pastors, the Rev. Dr. A. T. Mc- Gill, a late president of Princeton College, New Jersey, said of him: "Andrew Blair was always a prince among the elders of the church." One of our clergic historians wrote of him: . "His fellow worshippers confided in him as a practical follower of Christ; they trusted his leadership and were devoted to him as a friend in joy or sorrow. They revered him as an oracle amongst them." By the poor of the community he was termed "the pastor of the town." He was an enthusiastic supporter of the free school system, and for twenty-five years was president of the board of school directors of
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Carlisle. Both in school and in church af- fairs he was associated with the late James Hamilton. Esq. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was granted lands by the gov- ernment for his services.
Andrew Blair was of stately form and commanding presence: a bulwark within himself and a natural leader of men. He possessed a clear-cut individuality : was noble-hearted and open-handed, and his dig- nity of person always dissolved into the kind Christian friend in the presence of physical or mental suffering. He was of stanch Presbyterian people whom intolerance and persecution drove from Scotland to Ireland and early in the eighteenth century from Ireland to America. When the ancestor of Andrew Blair came to Pennsylvania he brought with him, among other household goods, their grandfather clock, later named "Old Billy," and that old clock is still chim- ing the hours in the home of William Blair, the fifth of America. Many years ago "Old Billy" was used for a gun cupboard and an accidental discharge made a bullet hole in his body. If animate the clock might relate some soul-stirring tales of Indian savagery in Cumberland county. The Cowen ances- try also brought their grandfather clock across the ocean, and it now is in the home of one of their name living in Chester coun- ty, Pa. Those were the days of sailing ves- sels, and the ancestors wrapped their clock in a feather bed, to make it sen proof, that it might tick to Young America.
Andrew Blair on March 31, 1812, was married to Elizabeth Hays, the Rev. Dr. Davidson performing the ceremony. Eliza- beth Hays was a daughter of Joseph Hays, of Carlisle, and had a brother, Adam Hays, who graduated from the medical department of Pennsylvania University, was an assist- ant surgeon in the American army in the war
of 1812, and afterward for some time prac- ticed his profession in Carlisle, living where the Second Presbyterian church now stands.
To the union of Andrew Blair and Eliza- beth Hays there was born a large family. Andrew Blair, "the grand old man." peace- fully passed away July 21. 1861, after months of intense physical suffering which he bore with true Christian fortitude. His memory lingers and the goodness of his life will long perpetuate his memory .- [ With highest esteem. a granddaughter, JENNY
; BLAIR, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
J. O. SAXTON (deceased) was long one of the most prominent and highly valued citizens of Mechanicsburg, a man whose sterling traits of character won the respect of all with whom he came in contact. Mr. Saxton belonged to one of the oldest fam- ilies of Cumberland county, and was born July 3, 1833, on the homestead farm in Sil- ver Spring township, near the town of New Kingstown, while his death occurred at his home on West Main street, in September, 1903.
His parents John and Nancy (Saxton) Saxton were people of substance and were held in high esteem by all who knew them. John Saxton was also born in Silver Spring township, Cumberland county, and early in life engaged in farming, which occupation he continued until his death in 1843, when he was thirty-six years of age. His widow died some years later in Mechanics- burg. Mr. and Mrs. Saxton were the par- ents of three children : John O., Josephine, and Mary.
The late John O. Saxton was reared upon the homestead. He received his pre- liminary education in the local schools, and later graduated from Dickinson college, after which he taught school for four years
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in Harrisburg. He then resumed farming in Silver Spring township.
On Nov. 18, 1856, Mr. Saxton was hap- pily married to Miss Ellen Dunlap, born April 14, 1830, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and a daughter of James and Margaret ( Mateer) Dunlap, members of one of the oldest families in Cumberland county. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Saxton moved to Mechanicsburg, where Mr. Saxton soon be- came prominent. Six children were born to them : Caroline S., born Oct. 3, 1872; Lynn, born Dec. 4. 1874; Margaret D., born Oct. 4, 1878; and three who died in childhood.
Mr. Saxton was one of the most active Democrats of his locality, and held many positions of trust and responsibility. He served as school director ; in the town coun- cil for a number of years, and also occupied various offices of less importance. In 1880 he was Democratic elector from the 19th Congressional district of Pennsylvania. For some time he served as a burgess of Me- chanicsburg, and in all the positions he oc- cupied, displayed the same calm, judicious ability which characterized his general ac- tions. He was on the board of managers of the Mechanicsburg Agricultural Society. Fraternally, he was a Mason, and was past high priest of Mechanicsburg Chapter, R. A. M .; past officer of the I. O. O. F. lodge and Encampment, and served as district deputy Grand Master for Cumberland county two terms. In the Presbyterian Church he held many offices, and was treasurer for the Me- chanicsburg Bible and Tract Society for thirty years. In August, 1886, he was hon- ored by appointment from Governor Pat- tison as delegate from the 19th Congres- sional district to the Farmers National Con- gress held at St. Paul, Minnesota.
At the time of his death, Mr. Saxton owned two large farms in Cumberland
county, and was one of the wealthy men of that locality as well as one of the most popu- lar. Mr. Saxton was identified with many public movements, and was always inter- ested in what would improve or beautify his city. For a number of years he was presi- dent of Chestnut Hill Cemetery Association, as well as director, and never hesitated to contribute freely of his time and money whenever he thought that either were re- quired.
Mrs. Saxton passed away in 1900, and was deeply mourned by the devoted husband who so soon followed her. She had but one sister. Mrs. James McCallister Ralston, a widow.
The death of Mr. Saxton is of so recent date that the people of Mechanicsburg have not yet adjusted themselves to the sad fact. For so many years he has been so import- ant a factor in both business and political life. that it is difficult for his associates to realize that the energetic, capable, broad- minded man of affairs is no longer among them to act, advise and execute. In the record of his blameless and useful life, Mr. Saxton has left to his children a monument more lasting than granite, and has written his name broadly across the page of his city's history.
HENRY LEWIS HECKER (de- ceased) was a lifelong resident of Carlisle, where as a successful business man and hon- ored public servant he was long prominent. He was born Feb. 16, 1831, on South Han- over street, in the south end of the town, and was a son of Andrew and Charlotte (Wahl) Hecker, natives of Germany, who came to the United States when young, and were married in this country. Mr. Hecker learned the trade of locksmith in the Father- land, and followed it there and in the United
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States. He and his wife had a large family of twelve or fourteen children.
Henry L. Hecker attended the Carlisle schools in his youth, but his educational op- portunities were none too plentiful, for he began life a poor boy. He early learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed when a young man, and in 1861 he enlisted for service in the Union army, becoming a pri- vate in Company A. 7th Pa. Inf., Volunteer Reserves, which went out under Capt. Rob- ert M. Henderson, who had raised the com- pany and was commissioned captain April 2Ist. He was with his command up to the night of the fourth day of the Seven Days fight before Richmond, when he lost his right arm and was taken prisoner. After three months' confinement in Libby prison, he was exchanged and returned home to recuperate, having experienced hardships and suffering which would have meant death to many a man. He was given no water to bathe his wounded arm, and was so weak that he had to crawl on his stomach to a small stream. During his active service he served through the Peninsular Campaign, was in the battle of Mechanicsville, Gaines Mills, Charles City Cross Roads and Mal- vern Hill, after which the regiment was at Harrison's Landing for a time. After the Reserves joined the army of Northern Vir- ginia, under Gen. Pope, they took part in the Second battle of Bull Run. In 1865, Mr. Hecker was made captain, and put in charge of 300 men who were guarding the railroad at Alexandria, Va., and he re- mained in the service for another year, when his command was called in. After his re- turn home he engaged in the bakery and confectionery business on the site of his widow's present home, in South Hanover street, and continued the same successfully until his death, which occurred in 1882.
Capt. Hecker took a prominent part in the public affairs of his city, and served as mayor of Carlisle after the war. In 1864 he was doorkeeper to the National House of Representatives in Washington. His political sympathies were with the Demo- cratic party.
Capt. Hecker was married in Carlisle, to Miss Julia Sites, of that place, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Thompson) Sites, the former a native of Frankford township, Cumberland county, and a member of an old family, the latter a native of Baltimore, Md. Three children were born to Capt. and Mrs. Hecker, Mary A., Fanny G., and Florence Bertram. Mrs. Hecker and her children are members of St. Patrick's Church, of Carlisle, but Mr. Hecker was a Presbyterian. Socially, he united with the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. post at Carlisle. He was a man esteemed in every walk of life, in the domestic circle and among his friends as well as in business and public life, and was ever ranked among the most substantial and reliable citizens of Carlisle where he is well remembered even to this date.
JACOB KOST. Among the early set- tlers of what is now North Middleton town- ship, Cumberland county, was a George Kost. In 1764 he was taxed in Middleton, which then included North Middleton, with a warrant calling for 200 acres of land, and from that date to 1793 his name appears on the record of every assessment. From 1766 to 1793 he is taxed with both land and personal property, showing that he was a resident as well as a land holder. The exact locality of his home was in the vicinity of Grissinger's, in the northwest part of North Middleton. There were other Kosts in Cumberland county very early, and their
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Jacob Stock
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number and the different forms of spelling the name are confusing to the genealogist. The history of the George Kost who settled "six miles west of Carlisle," however, is pretty definitely settled. He was born in Saxony and came to America in the ship "Edinburgh," James Russell, master, land- ing at Philadelphia Sept. 16, 1751. . On the ship's list he stands recorded as "Hans Georg Kast." There is nothing to show where he was between the date of his landing in the country and the date of his first appearance upon the records of Middleton township, but it is probable that he spent some time in the eastern counties of the Province, as did many of the early settlers of Cumber- land county. It is said that he was employed as a messenger between Conrad Weisher the famous Indian interpreter, and Gov. Hamilton, also that he served as a quarter- master in the Colonial army. This George Kost died in 1798, leaving a will in which his name is written "Cosht," and from which it appears that his wife's name was Mary Ann, and that he had four sons: Jacob, Philip, Michael and Leonard. The son Michael died in May, 1804, leaving among other children a son named George, as well as John, Mary and Elizabeth1.
George Kost was born in Middleton township, and learned the tanning trade with Leonard Minnich, in Frankford township. When he reached man's estate he settled upon a property in Frankford township which formerly belonged to his father. Here he farmed and also worked at tanning for Leonard Minnich, the man with whom he learned his trade. In 1828 he built a tan- nery upon his own property, and founded a tanning business which is yet in existence and which has been in the Kost name con- tinuously ever since.
George Kost was married first to Eliza-
beth Snyder, by whom he had the following children : Michael (deceased). Jolin, Solo- mon, William (deceased), Samuel (de- ceased), George (deceased), Mary, and Margaret. His first wife dying, he married (second) Mary Nickey, a daughter of David and Anna (Wax) Nickey, of Frankford township. David Nickey was born near Womelsdorf, Berks county, and his wife, Anna Wax, was born in Perry county. George and Mary (Nickey) Kost had the following children: Jacob, mentioned be- low; Elizabeth, living in North Middleton township; Sarah Ann, who died in 1850; David and James, in Illinois; Elias, in Kan- sas; Simon, in Oklahoma; Alfred, in York county, Pa .; Amanda, in Perry county, Pa. ; and Charles who died at the age of five. George Kost died in 1889 on the old home- stead, and his wife died there Nov. 12, 1900.
Jacob Kost, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest child of George and Mary (Nickey) Kost. He was born Dec. 21, 1838, in Frankford township, Cumberland county, in the home in which he has always lived. In his boyhood he attended the coun- try district school, and being apt and studi- ous readily acquired sufficient education .to obtain a certificate certifying that he was qualified to teach in the public schools. He first taught the Stone Church school in Frankford township, and after teaching sev- eral terms in Frankford and in the adjoin- ing township of North Middleton he spent two terms at the Newville Normal School, in which he was under the instruction of such able teachers as George Swartz, D. E. Kast, S. B. Heiges and William R. Linn. Sub- sequently, he taught the Mt. Zion school in Frankford township for five successive terms, and then relinquished teaching and turned his attention to the tanning business, which he had learned under his father.
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