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 33
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JOHN SCOTT STERRETT, who passed away Feb. 10, 1868, is still remem- bered among the older business men of Car- lisle and Cumberland county. He was born June 4, 1803, in Lancaster county, and there grew to manhood. His first business venture was merchandising in Mt. Joy, that county, and he was a man of thirty-five when he came to Cumberland county, where he re- sided on the farm in Dickinson township now occupied by his children. This place came into the possession of its present own- ers (heirs and children of John Scott Ster- rett ) through the mother, to whom it had been presented by her father, Capt. Samuel Woods, who was known as "the poor man's friend." Capt. Woods earned his title through service in the war of 1812. He was a prosperous, generous and kind-hearted man, and his death was sincerely mourned by scores of people, the friends who admired him and the numerous recipients of his be- nevolence. He married Lillias Ker.
John S. Sterrett married Mary Jane Woods, daughter of Capt. Samuel and Lil- lias (Ker) Woods, and to this union were born the following named children : Lillias, who is living at the old home; Martha E., wife of A. Foster Mullen, of Mt. Holly Springs, this county; Samuel Woods, of Rochester, N. Y., a lumber merchant ; Mary E., at the old home; William Ker, who died in childhood; J. Thomas, deceased; J. Cal- vin, living retired at the old home ; and Alice Irene, who died in childhood. The mother, who was a devout Christian woman, passed away Dec. 26, 1880. Mr. Sterrett was an earnest member of the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle and a Christian who lived up to the principles he professed. He was well versed in the Scriptures and made a practice of holding family worship in his home.
Mr. Sterrett was well known in financial circles in Carlisle as a bank officer and organ- izer, and his ability and integrity in such matters were never questioned.
. ALBERT ALLEN LINE, a successful photographer at No. 18 West Main street, Carlisle, was born Jan. 20, 1850, in Dickin- son township, a son of Emanuel Line, Jr., and Catherine Ann (Myers) Line, the lat- ter a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth ( Hile- man) Myers.
Peter Myers came from Germany and settled in Rossville, York Co., Pa., and there spent the remainder of his life, engaged at cabinetmaking ; he lived to an advanced age. He was a good citizen, a Christian man, and died full of years and the honor of a well-spent life. He was a consistent mem- ber of the Lutheran Church.
Emanuel Line, Jr., was the son of Emanuel Line, Sr., who was born Dec. 5, 1781. He was regarded as a most worthy
Emanuel Line pr
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Catherine of Line
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citizen, a kind and affectionate parent, an obliging and prudent neighbor, and. in his dealings with men, just and fair. He be- came a member of the church in early life, and ever remained a consistent and faithful Christian. He died in his seventieth year. Elizabeth Myers, born Jan. 12, 1786, was married to Emanuel Line March 20, 1806, and this union was blessed with three sons, Abraham M., William and Emanuel, Jr., and two daughters, Maria and Juliann.
Emanuel Line, Jr., was born in Dickin- son township, on what is known as the Savannah farm, April 15, 1818, and spent his life there until the spring of 1868, when he came to Carlisle; he died in this town Oct. 20, 1871. During his active years he was a farmer. He obtained his education in the local schools. This most excellent man lived a good, honest life and set an ex- ample to his son and those who came after him. In politics he was a Democrat and re- vered the memory of Andrew Jackson. In 1845 he married Catherine Ann Myers, who was born in Rossville, York county, Pa., April 15, 1820, and died Aug. 13, 1869. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Carlisle. Three children were born of this union, namely : Elizabeth, who died young; Catherine, who died young ; and Albert Allen, our subject. Mrs. Line was one of the good samaritans in her com- munity, always willing to assist in alleviat- ing the sufferings of humanity, spending much of her time in the sickroom of her neighbors, with that helpfulness that brought many safely through the most criti- cal periods of sickness. Her Christian benevolence entered into many lives, which were always gladdened by coming to the door of her home.
Albert Allen Line was educated in the district schools and Dickinson Commercial
College, at Carlisle. and prepared for Dick- inson College. but on account of poor health he gave up this project. However, he is a graduate of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, Vincent class, 1883. In 1869 he took up the study and practice of photography with Dr. C. L. Lochman, who was one of the leading photographers of that day, and has made it his life work, although he also superintends his farming and fruit growing on the old homestead. In his photographic work he includes a num- ber of its many branches, but takes greatest delight in outdoor photography, seeking the beauties of nature, and loving to catch her choicest vistas and enchanting scenes in the midst of her solitude. In 1884, in com- pany with Prof. Charles F. Himes, Ph. D., he assisted in establishing a Summer School of Amateur Photography at Mountain Lake Park, Md., and after two years he was called to assume sole charge, and has con- tinued it ever since. Mr. Line has been connected with the Y. M. C. A. at Carlisle since 1868 and has served faithfully as sec- retary and president for a portion of the time, and he is also on the board of man- agers. In church work he is connected with the First Lutheran Church, and has been since 1869, and he has served for many years in the council of that body, acting as president for a number of years, as well as superintendent of the Sunday-school; he was assistant superintendent for years, and superintendent for a period of twenty-one years. Mr. Line was one of the organizers of the Cumberland Valley Sabbath School Assembly, serving as secretary of the organ- ization for fifteen years. In 1885, when Hon. W. F. Sadler was elected President Judge of Cumberland county, Mr. Line was called to fill the unexpired term of Judge Sadler on the school board of Carlisle and
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was afterward elected, and re-elected, serv- ing for a period of thirteen years; for a great part of the time he acted as financial secretary to the board. In 1878 Mr. Line was chosen as a member of the board of directors in the Farmers Bank of Carlisle, and served in that capacity for more than twenty-one years, when he resigned. He was also one of the organizers of the Cum- berland County Temperance Alliance and served as secretary to this organization for a number of years. .
On Oct. 12, 1876, Mr. Line was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Johnson, a daughter of Samuel A. Johnson, of Phila- delphia, Pa. Mrs. Line was a consecrated Christian lady, always ready to assist in missions of mercy, caring for the needy, and living for the Christian welfare of hu- manity, and her beautiful Christian spirit drew many to her assistance in the work for the Master's kingdom. At the age of twenty-three years, on Christmas Day, 1877, she passed away, deeply mourned by her family and large circle of friends.
Mr. Line is one of the progressive. pub- lic-spirited business men of Carlisle, whose time is not so occupied, however, that he cannot assist in good works, or show forth in his life the faith he supports so stren- uously and liberally.
ABRAHAM L. ROHLAND. For over twenty-two years Silver Spring township has had a farmer dwelling in its midst, a man highly respected by a wide circle of friends, and a man who for a decade after a happy marriage, followed his trade of a carpenter before settling down to the life of a farmer. A life-long Republican, he has helped to elect many of the candidates of its party, but has never accepted office himself. The farm owned and operated by the gentleman of
whom we write, Abraham L. Rohland, con- sists of 150 acres of land, ninety of which has been brought to a high state of cultivation, and the remaining acres are in valuable timber. The buildings upon it are new, and the entire place is in the excellent condition which bespeaks good management.
Abraham L. Rolland was born in Lon- donderry, Lebanon Co., Pa., Nov. 22, 1843. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Rohland, was born and reared in Lebanon county, and there followed farming. His maternal grand- father was Joseph Walters who was also a farmer of Lebanon county. Jacob Rohland married Catherine Boltz, daughter of J. C. Boltz of Lebanon county. Six children were born of this marriage: Henry; Abraham married Mary Jane Miller, of Dauphin county, and had no children ; Jacob married a Miss Linsley, had three sons and four daughters : Mary married William Bealey, of Dauphin county, and had one child, Cur- tis: Miss Jane; Kate married Paul Linnell, of Dauphin county, and had no children.
Henry Rohland, father of our subject, was born in Lebanon county and was there educated in the common schools, and at the same time learned the trade of carpenter and cabinetmaker. He followed these callings for about twenty years, and then began farming. In 1838, he married Lydia Wal- ters, daughter of Joseph and Polly Walters, of Lebanon county, and the following chil- dren were born of this marriage : John, now residing at Harrisburg, married Caroline Shuey, of Lebanon county, and has one child, Edward, unmarried and living at home ; Ab- raham L .; Melinda married Henry Beaver, of Dauphin county, and has one child, Emma; Alfred, unmarried, is a resident of Lebanon county.
Abraham L. Rohland received his edu- cation in the common schools of his native
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county, which he attended until he was twelve years of age, when he moved to Dauphin county, and there went to school until he was seventeen, at which time he learned to be a carpenter and painter with his father, and continued along these lines for twenty years.
On March 13, 1873, Mr. Rohland was married to Miss Barbara Stouffer, daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Ebersole) Stouffer, of Dauphin county. Children as follows were born to them: Clarence died in childhood; Anna married David Shearer, of Mechanics- burg, and has two children; Walter died in infancy ; Miss Grace is at home; Walter is a saddler located at Bridgeport, Conn., and is unmarried; Ida married Edward Richmond, of Perry county, and has two children, Anna and Daisy, both at home; Alice married Jo- seph Entzmere, of Perry county; Elmer is unmarried and at home; John died in child- hood; and Misses Agnes and Mary are at home. The family are all members of the Lutheran Church.
JOSEPH McCORD MEANS, known as "McCord Means," the tenth child of a family of thirteen born to Joseph McCord Means, known as "Squire Means," and Jane Woods, his wife, was born at Newburg, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1834, being the third child of this name in this family. The first of this name was drowned in his third year and the second lived but three months. John, his eldest brother, died in early manhood unmarried. Three brothers died in infancy. The nine remaining children, five boys and four girls, lived to maturity, married and raised fami- lies, and remained within the limits of Cum- berland and Franklin counties, Pennsyl- vania.
The tradition that has passed from one
generation to the next among the descend- ants of John Means, who is said to have set- tled in Bucks county, Pa., about the year 1720, that three Means brothers came to this country from Ireland together and set- tled in what was then one of the three coun- ties that William Penn organized in 1682, seems to be confirmed by the records of Bucks and Dauphin counties, Pa. It is probable that they were of the second colony of Scotch-Irish that landed at Boston in the year 1718-the first, known as the London- derry colony of 319 families, which sailed in five vessels from Londonderry, Ireland, in March of that year; the second colony landed at Boston Oct. 14, 1718. It is known that some of these colonists settled in Penn- sylvania after having wintered at Boston and it seems probable that the Means broth- ers were among the latter colony. George Means, of Clarion county, Pa., wrote in 1853 that John Means and family of chil- dren came from County Fermanagh, Ireland, It is now known that John Means died near Makefield, Bucks Co., Pa., in 1739, and Hugh Means died near Bensalem, in same county, in 1745, and Samuel Means died in Dauphin Co., Pa., in 1746. Robert Means, who also came over in 1718 and wintered at Falmouth, now Portland, Maine, and died at Old Orchard, Maine, Dec. 29, 1769, in his eightieth year, may have been another brother, but the relationship cannot now be ascertained.
The will of Samuel Means was probated in Harrisburg, Pa., March 9, 1746. It men- tions his wife Grizzle, who is made one of the executors, his daughters Nellie, Marga- ret, Jane and Isabella, and his sons Andrew, Samuel, Adam and John. There is a tradi- tion in this family that two girls, Martha and Mary Means, were captured by the In- dians. The men of the family were all away
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at the time: the home was burned and an infant child of one of the sisters was dashed to pieces before their eyes. The mother could not travel fast enough and she was cruelly put to death. The sisters were com- pelled to marry Indians who entertained themselves and their friends by hearing the sisters sing. They often sang the 137th Psalm, which is very applicable to their case. One task imposed upon them was the gath- ering of wood, which enabled them to leave camp for some time. They finally conceived the idea of escaping by means of this absence. They built a rude shelter of branches, and every time they went out carried something along, staying away a little longer than usual and making some excuse on their re- turn until at last they escaped and in time came back to their own people. These names are not mentioned in Samuel's will. Samuel Means died Feb. 26, 1746, and his wife Grizzle in November of the same year. John Means, the youngest child of this couple, and the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1745. He mar- ried Martha Ramsay, one of the first mem- bers of Donegal Church, lived in Dauphin county, Pa., and died Oct. 3, 1795, and is buried in the church-yard at Paxton, near Harrisburg, and his grave is marked with a tombstone. In 1798 his widow moved to a farm near Library, Allegheny county, Pa., and died Sept. 13, 1849, aged nearly ninety- eight years.
The will of John Means is on record in Dauphin county, Pa. He was one of the subscribers to the first church built at Pax- ton ( Peixtan, Peshtank) or Paxtang). He was known as "John Means of Swatara." He was a private in Capt. Joseph Sherer's Company, of Col. James Burd's Battalion of the organized "Associators" of Lancaster county, Pa., which company was in active
service during the whole of the spring and summer campaign of 1776, and a number of the men were wounded in a skirmish with a party of British cavalry near Amboy, N. J. [Pa. Archives, 2d Series, Vol. XIII, 309- 10.] He was a private in the company of Capt. John Murray of Paxtang township, of the Second Battalion-Lieutenant Col. Dan- iel Broadhead's-of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, which took part in the battle of Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776. [ Pa. Archives, 2d Series, Vol. X, 193-219.] He was at home in 1778 and took and signed the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania, prescribed by the Act of Assembly of June 13, 1777. [Pa. Archives, 2d Series, Vol. XIII. 395-6.] Subsequently he was a mem- ber of Capt. Samuel Cochran's Company of the Tenth-Col. Robert Elder's-Battalion of Lancaster county, Pa. Militia. [Pa. Ar- chives, 2d Series, Vol. XIII, 387-9.] In 1781 he enlisted in Capt. Campbell's Com- pany of the Pennsylvania Line, and formed part of Col. Thomas Craig's detachment, which marched for Yorktown, Va., in the fall of 1781, and thence to Georgia and North Carolina, taking part in Gen. Greene's southern campaign of 1782, and returning by sea to Pennsylvania in 1783. [Pa. Ar- chives, .2d Series, Vol. X, 382-390.]
Joseph McCord Means, the youngest child of "John Means of Swatara," and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born Feb. 10, 1796. His history is related in the sketch in this publication entitled James Ramsey Means. Such were the antecedents of the Means family of Cumberland county, Pa .- men and women of Scotch-Irish lin- cage and Presbyterian faith.
The early education of McCord Means was such as could be obtained in the public school of his native village. Born in the year the "Common School" Act was passed,
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it is not strange that at his arrival at school age such an institution should be found in a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian community. The building-octagonal in shape-is still stand- ing in Newburg. Originally the pupils sat facing the outer wall, but later this was, changed and the pupils sat facing inward with a writing desk in front-the smaller children being seated on low benches within. Here, when not engaged in grinding bark in his father's tanyard, Mr. Means gained some knowledge and the rudiments of an education. The school generation of to-day can form little correct idea of the conditions surrounding village life even so limited a number of years ago. The shoemaker came to the home, took his measures, and made the shoes, his benchi being placed in the kitchen. The clothing was made from what they called "thick cloth." The wool, after being carded at the mill into rolls, was spun into yarn and woven into cloth by his mother and sisters. Four miles away, at Middle Spring, was the church. In good weather he and his brothers walked to church. He says, "It was not safe not to listen to the sermon when there, as father always exam- ined us on where the text was and how many heads Rev. John Moodey divided his sermon into and what he said on firstly, secondly, etc., until he got through." The father's training, the pastor's teaching and the pious mother's example, with the blessing of the Spirit, led Mr. Means to unite with this church at an early age and he has remained a member of this denomination to this day. That with these early settlers, the fact that their religion, although perhaps stern and in keeping with the difficulties of their sur- roundings, was to them real and worthy of the Divine source they recognized, is too well attested to need weak words here. One
of the writer's earliest recollections is of standing in the family pew in this same Mid- dle Spring Church and hearing this sainted grandmother raise her thin and quavering voice in praise to one she knew would hear, receive and answer. In 1856 he moved with his brother James to South Middleton town- ship, and worked on a farm, remaining until 1861, when he moved to his father's farm near Shippensburg. In 1863 he built the new buildings on land purchased in Frank- lin county, just across the Middle Spring from this property. It was customary when possible, as in this case, to cut the timber for these large bank-barns in the vicinity, haul it to the spot and frame it on the ground. This remained the homestead until 1899, when he moved into Shippensburg, and later built a house on the west side of Nor- mal avenue. From 1856 to 1899 Mr. Means carried on practically the work of farming. In the earlier portion of this period but little improved farm machinery was in use. Nor would it have been possible to use much of it in the then broken condition of the ground. By untiring effort the land was brought under cultivation and the rocks, stumps and stones removed, making it possible to intro- duce much new farm machinery as brought into general use.
On Dec. 9, 1858, Joseph McCord Means and Catherine Eliza McClelland were united in marriage at the McClelland homestead, near Upper Strasburgh, Franklin county, Pa., this being the second union between members of the Means and McClelland families. To them were born the following five sons and two daughters : John McClel- land, Joseph Chalmers, Jane Agnes, Thomas Cummins, Charles McCord, James Smith and Martha Isabella, all of whom are living except Thomas Cummins, who died in in- fancy. For almost forty-three years,
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through the joys and trials incident to the times and circumstances, this couple lived and labored together. On Sept. 3. 1901. the union was sundered by death and the earnest, unselfish, truly Christian wife and mother passed to her reward and was laid to rest in Spring Hill cemetery at Shippens- burg.
Beyond that which attends the quiet efforts of the upright citizen Mr. Means's best work has been in behalf of education. For a number of years he was school direc- tor in Southampton township, Franklin Co., Pa., and during his incumbency by his interest and example, both with his fellow directors and with the patrons, did much to raise the standard of work and attainment in this section. In May, 1873. he was ap- pointed a State trustee of Cumberland Val- ley State Normal School and served on the Committee of House, Buildings and Grounds, and from 1874 to 1895 on the Discipline and Instruction Committee. Fol- lowing a most successful and auspicious early career there came to this institution a period requiring effort and wise determina- tion of a high order to pilot it through finan- cial and other shoals. Mr. Means gave with- out any financial return his time and best efforts to the upbuilding upon a stable finan- cial, and a practical educational, basis of this institution. When, as here, strong-minded men are pitted against each other, differ- ences of opinion must exist. The unbiased historian summing up this period will with- out question give Mr. Means credit for hon- esty of intention, firmness of conviction and strength of character to stand for his opin- ions. The subsequent success of the institu- tion seems to speak for the correctness of the views for which he and those with him stood. Since 1895 Mr. Means has been the institution's treasurer. But it was not only
in this public capacity that he exhibited his strong desire to impress the need of an edu- cation. At no little sacrifice of time and money each child was sent to school and kept in school. Feeling the lack of this early training himself, recognizing its value and availability, he left no suitable opportunity pass to impress these needs upon his chil- dren, and to give them every opportunity within his power. As elsewhere stated Mr. Means has been a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, first at Middle Spring and later at Shippensburg. In both churches he served at different periods as trustee.
On March 5, 1903, Mr. Means took to wife in a second marriage union Miss Danna Mccullough, of near Newville. She is the daughter of James McCullough and his wife Jane Hays, and was born Oct. 15, 1846.
Such, briefly, is the life of Joseph Mc- Cord Means. For over the allotted three score years and ten he has lived virtually in this one community ; a stern man of strong convictions and high ideals ; a man not easily known nor always understood; a faithful and loving husband and father; a Christian citizen.
JOSEPH F. BARTON, A. M., Sc. D., Vice-Principal and Professor of Natural Sciences of the . Cumberland Valley State Normal School, at Shippensburg, is one of the leading educators of the State. He was born Oct. 11, 1851, at Derry Station, West- moreland county, Pa., the eldest of the ten children of Baltzer E. and Nancy (Chilcote) Barton. The other children were: Dr. George C., who is Dean of the Medical De- partment of Hamline University and Pro- fessor of Gynecology of the same institu- tion, Gynecologist to the Minneapolis City Hospital, to the St. Barnabas and Swedish Hospitals; Elijah, a prominent attorney of
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Minneapolis, Minn .; Humphrey, one of the leading attorneys of St. Paul; John C., household decorator and furnisher at Seat- tle, Wash. ; W. P. Barton, Secretary Board of Charities and Corrections and Superintend- ent of the Poor, Minneapolis : Rebecca, wife of William Bohn, of North Yakima, Wash .; Malinda, wife of W. B. Watt, of North Yakima; C. Albert, assistant manager Northland Pine Co. and Mississippi and Rum River Boom Co., at Minneapolis; and Adeline, who married W. B. Dudley, of North Yakima, Wash. Baltzer E. Barton, the father, died in August, 1895, but the mother still survives.
While young Dr. Barton accompanied his parents when they removed to Fulton county, Pa., and there was educated in a private school until he became a student at Rainsburg, Bedford county. For two years after leaving school he engaged in teaching in both Fulton and Bedford counties, and was principal of the Hopewell public schools. In 1881 he had so gained the confidence of the public that he was elected county super- intendent of Fulton county for a term of three years, and a merited re-election caused him to fill that responsible position for six consecutive years. At the expiration of this time, in 1887, he was elected a professor in the Cumberland Valley Normal School, in his second year being given the chair of Natural Science.
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