Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 37

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 37

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Charles Marquette distinguished himself by capturing a rebel flag, for which he received a medal of honor."

Mr. Marquette had just returned from headquarters and rejoined his company and regiment, to be lieutenant of his company, but on March 1. 1865, he entered the fight with his regiment and his promotion was overlooked. On June 27. 1865. he was mustered out at Arlington Heights, Virginia.

Returning to his home in Lebanon, he enjoyed a short rest, and then entered the Normal School at Palmyra, where he closely applied himself for a year and a half. He next went to Cairo. Ill .. where his friend, John Q. Harmon. then mayor of Cairo, found work for him at his trade. In 1868 his health failed. and he returned to his home in Pennsylvania. By recommendation of Superintendent Nichols, he secured a posi- tion as brakeman on the Reading Railroad, which position he filled two years. Upon his recovery he first located at Wrightsville, York county, and there he remained seven -. teen years engaged in the tailoring business for himself. In 1883 he moved to Carlisle succeeding to the establishment of John G. Haas, on East High street. In 1888 he purchased his present building from the as- signees of J. D. Leidich, and moved his business into its more modern and commo- dious quarters. From 1883 to 1900 he had as a partner E. C. Schindel. Mr. Marquette is a man of the highest integrity, and con- duets his affairs in a most business like man- ner. He is a natural artist. and having a thorough knowledge of his calling, is able to please his customers to the greatest de- gree.

In the spring of 1870. at Wrightsville, Mr. Marquette was married to Emma M. Weller, a native of Baltimore, Md. Two children came to brighten their home, but

one, Herbert, passed away in infancy; the other, Miss Mary E., is at home. Mr. Mar- quette and his family are active in the work of the Presbyterian Church, to which they all belong. Though born in the ranks of the Democratic party, he has had a change of heart, and now gives hearty support to the principles of the Republican party. He is a man who finds his greatest pleasure in his home, where he delights to greet his friends. His fraternal orders are the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is an honored member, being enrolled in Post No. 201, at Carlisle, and the Masons, he being a mem- ber and past master of St. John's Lodge, No. 260, F. & A. M. ; past high priest, St. John's Chapter, No. 171; member of St. John's Commandery, No. 8; and Lulu Shrine, at Philadelphia. Fle also belongs to True Friend Lodge, No. 56, K. P. In all the relations of life Mr. Marquette has endeav- ored to do his whole duty as he saw it, and he has not been found wanting in the field, in business or in his home.

WILLIAM B. RICE, who conducts a shoe store at No. 420 North West street, Carlisle, is one of the most respected resi- dents of that place. He has been identified with its business interests for many years and has always borne the highest reputation for honor and integrity, whether in commer- cial transactions, or in any of the other re- lations of life.

Mr. Rice was born April 27, 1834, in Saville township, Perry Co., Pa., and comes of an old family of that county. He is a grandson of Adam and Betsey Rice, the former of whom settled in Perry county at an early day, and both lived to advanced age. He was a wagonmaker by occupation. Joseph Rice, father of William B., was also a wagonmaker. He married Elizabeth Bird,

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and both died in Perry county, about five miles above New Bloomfield. They were members of the Reformed Church. Their family consisted of ten children, all but three of whom still survive.

William B. Rice remained at the place of his birth until grown to manhood. and during boyhood attended the district schools, receiving a good practical education. When hu: thirteen years old he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade, and in time started in the business for himself, at Linn's Mills. Perry county, where he remained un- til 1856. He then followed carpentering for a time. and later put up post fences, do- ing the boring by hand. In 1863 he entered the Union army for service in the Civil war. enlisting for ninety days in Company B. 2020 P. V. I., in which he served one year. On his return from the army Mr. Rice located in Carlisle, Cumberland county, and bought a tract of land which he farmed for a time, finally embarking again in the shoe business. For three years he was lo- cated on South Pitt street. thence moving to Main street, where he continued to do business for twenty-five years. At the end of that period he sold out and moved to Washington, D. C., where he bought a home and resided for several years, until after the death of his wife, which occurred in Wash- ington in 1899. Mr. Rice then returned to Carlisle, where he has since carried on his present store, in which he has met with the success which attended all his business ventures. However, he has deserved all his prosperity, for he is hard-working, and an excellent manager, and he neglects nothing which might contribute to the good of his business or the accommodation of his patrons.

Mr. Rice was married in Perry county, about 1856, to Alvina Keck, who was born

there. daughter of Daniel and Lydia (Dick) Keck, and two children blessed this union : Elmira Jane is the wife of William Wagner. of Carlisle: Kieffer E. married Miss Cathe- rine Masonhamer, and also resides in Car- lisle. Mrs. Rice was a member of the Re- formed Church, to which her husband also belongs. He is a Republican in political sentiment, but not active in party matters or public affairs of any kind.

HENRY GOTTWERTH. one of the most substantial residents of Carlisle, where he has been engaged in business for many years, is a native of the Fatherland, from which a number of the best citizens of that place have come. He was born May 18. 1845, in Rauschenberg, Hessen-Cassel, son of Louis Gottwerth, who was also a resi- dent of Carlisle for many years.

Louis Gottwerth was born in Lehrbaugh, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, learned the trade of dyer, and in connection with that pursuit owned and conducted a hotel. Hay- ing joined the Revolutionary movement of the latter 'forties he was obliged to flee the country, and he came to America in 1847, making his permanent home in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa. Here he followed the work of gardener and remained until his death, which occurred in 1872. Mr. Gott- werth married for his first wife Mary Klingenhoffer, who died when her son Henry, our subject, was born, and after coming to America he married, in Carlisle, Miss Mary Slape (now deccased). To this union also came one child, George L., who is a resident of Carlisle.

As Henry Gottwerth was but two years old when his father left Germany for the United States, he went to live with his ma- ternal grandparents, Johannes and Margaret (Kratz) Klingenhoffer. The grandfather

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was a baker by trade, had a stillhouse and brewery, and also kept a hotel. He and his wife both died in Germany. Henry at- tended the public schools until he was four- teen years old, after which, for three years, he served at the tailor's trade, the expense of his apprenticeship being borne by his grandfather. Continuing at his trade as a journeyman, he followed it in Germany until 1866, in which year he decided to join his father in America. Leaving Hamburg in the sailing vessel "Electric," he landed in New York City after a tedious voyage of eight weeks and four days, and came direct to his father at Carlisle, Pa., where he at once went to work at his trade. Before long he had opened a tailor shop of his own, on Main street, which he carried on for a number of years, becoming one of the suc- cessful business men of the city. To his credit be it said, he is a self-made man, for he had no capital to begin on, and what he has accumulated has been acquired by earnest effort and unceasing diligence. He now owns several good properties, and is in comfortable circumstances, and throughout his career he has maintained a high reputa- tion, commanding the respect of all who have had dealings with him. In 1892 Mr. Gott- werth rented the "Farmers & Drovers Hotel," which he subsequently purchased; in 1899 he leased the place, and in 1903 sold it to Harry Beetem.

On Feb. 15, 1870, Mr. Gottwerth was married, in Carlisle, to Miss Anna Margaret Shubert, a native of Chambersburg, Pa., who was a daughter of Bruno and Elizabeth (Miller) Shubert. Mr. Shubert passed away in 1870, but Mrs. Shubert still survives. Mrs. Gottwerth died May 13, 1903, at the age of fifty-five years, the mother of two children : (1) Charles E., born Nov. 20, 1870, received an excellent education in the

public schools, and was also thoroughly trained in music. During the Spanish- American war he was clarinet player in the band of the 201st New York Volunteers, and died Nov. 13, 1899, as the result of ex- posure, etc., during his service. (2) Mary, born March 15, 1872. is the wife of Grant Weller, and resides in Philadelphia.

Socially Mr. Gottwerth holds member- ship in the I. O. R. M., with which he has been affiliated since 1868, having joined in Harrisburg. He was a charter member of the local lodge. No. 108. His political sup- port is given to the Democratic party, and in religion he clings to the faith of his fore- fathers, being a member of the Second Lu- theran Church. His wife was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

CHARLEY D. SIPE, a prominent shoe dealer located at No. 18 North Hanover street, Carlisle, established this business in 1899, and now has one of the finest houses of the kind in the county. His birth oc- curred Sept. 28, 1872, in Carlisle, and he is a son of Robert F. and Mamie A. ( Heck- indorn) Sipe, both of whom are living in Carlisle. Robert F. Sipe was born and reared in Carlisle, where he learned the trade of cabinet-maker with his father, David Sipe. After completing his trade he and his brother Albert succeeded the father in the business, and since that time they have worked along these lines, although Robert Sipe is now living practically retired. He married Mamie Heckindorn, a daughter of Leonard Heckin- dorn, and they had the following family : Charles D .; William F., a finisher at the Carlisle Shoe Co .; and Robert, who died at the age of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Sipe attend the First Lutheran Church, of which she is a member.

Charley D. Sipe attended the city schools

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until he was thirteen, when he entered the shoe store of C. W. Strohm as a clerk, and spent five years there. He then entered the drug store of John Sipe. After two years he clerked for H. W. Lare, shoe dealer, and then opened his own business, as above stated. Ile is one of the live, progressive young business men of the city. Fraternally he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., St. John Lodge, No. 260, and of the I. O. O. F. Lodge. No. 91, and is very popular in both organizations.

In November. 1897. Mr. Sipe married Sarah E. Beetem, daughter of George Beetem. of Carlisle, and to them has been born one child, Robert B. They are con- sistent members of the First Lutheran Church of Carlisle. Their residence is at No. 234 South Hanover street, Carlisle. Mr. and Mrs. Sipe have made many friends and are important factors in the social life of the community.

REV. HENRY NEIDIG FEGLEY, pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, and Professor of Mental and Moral Science, Ger- man and Literature at Irving College, Me- chanicsburg. Pa., is one of the distinguished citizens of his community. He was born Nov. 18. 1848, in Boyertown, Berks county. a son of Stephen and Lavina ( Neidig) Feg- ley. the former of whom was born in Berks county and the latter in Montgomery county, near the Berks line. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fegley located in Berks, where the father carried on farming for some time, and then moved to Montgomery county, when their son Henry had reached school age.

Completing the common school course. Henry N. Fegley, a bright student, attended Frederick Institute and Boyertown Academy. and later entered the Sophomore class at the

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, where he remained from 1866 to 1869, grad- uating in the latter year. After his gradua- tion he entered the Theological Seminary at Mt. Airy, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1872, and soon afterward was ordained. Shortly after the young clergyman came to Cumberland coun- ty and located at Mechanicsburg, where he became pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. a congregation which has increased under his pastorate to 215 members. Since 1892 he has also filled the position of Pro- fessor of Mental and Moral Science at Irving College. and since 1895, has occupied, in addition. the chair of German and Litera- ture. He is one of the able and scholarly men of his church.

In 1875 Dr. Fegley married Miss Belinda C. Reichard, of Allentown, a daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca Reichard, and the two children of this union are: Charles, a grad- uate of Muhlenberg College, at Allentown ; and Edith Elizabeth, a graduate of Irving College. at Mechanicsburg, and a teacher in the city schools.

Rev. Dr. Fegley has been honored on more than one occasion by the various edu- cational institutions with which he has been more or less connected. For a long period he has held the degree of A. M., and in 1903 the Roanoke College, of Virginia, conferred that of D. D. His reputation as an educator extends beyond the State and he is no less noted as a pastor. Few citizens of Mechan- icsburg are better known, and few are more closely identified with its religious and educa- tional life.

WILLIAM BLAIR McCOMMON. late member of the real estate and insur- ance firm of Stock & McCommon, and for a minber of years one of the leading business

Ho. M. Fregley

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men of the city of Carlisle, Cumberland county, was born in 1836, a son of James and Annie ( Cornman ) McCommon. His father died when our subject was a lad of eight years, in 1844, he being then forty- three. By occupation he was a farmer. and spent his life in Cumberland county. The mother died in 1852, aged about forty-eight or fifty years. Both were members of the Covenant Church. The children born to them were thirteen in number, but only nine grew to maturity: John, a school teacher. died in 1852; Ann C. died unmarried : Len- nox Hogue is a retired farmer of Missouri : Sarah married A. B. Beisel, of Carlisle : William Blair, is mentioned below; James S. (deceased ), was a resident of Mt. Holly. and was a carpenter: Mary E. ( deceased). married George Brougher, of Cumberland county ; Margaret J. married a Mr. Rambo. of Philadelphia : Amos G. is a wood worker of Mt. Holly.

William Blair. McCommon was reared on the farm and received but a limited edu- cation in the common schools, continuing thus until seventeen. when he settled in Car- lisle and apprenticed himself to the carpen- ter's trade. He afterward worked as a journeyman for some time, and then began business for himself as a contractor and builder, following this branch of commercial industry for thirty-five years in Cumberland county. In 1887 he was elected to the of- fice of register of Cumberland county, and filled1 that office very acceptably for three years, as the Democratic incumbent. He always took a deep interest in politics, was a member of the Democratic county com- mittee and served as a member of the board of council of Carlisle. He was known far and wide as a public-spirited citizen, always willing to assist in everything tending toward the betterment of humanity. Fra-

ternally he was a Mason, belonging to St. Jolin Lodge, No. 265, St. John Chapter. No. 171. St. John Commandery, No. 8, and Rajah Temple, of Reading, and he repre- sented his lodge to the Grand Lodge. His death, which occurred March 9. 1904. left a void in many circles.

On Oct. 28, 1858. Mr. McCommon mar- ried Miss Martha Baker, who was born in Cumberland county Feb. 2. 1839. daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Glenn ) Baker. and six children were born of this union. three now living: Ella F. married Charles H. Sipe. of Carlisle, who is with the Cum- berland Valley Railroad Co .; Anna S. is at home; Harry C., who lives at Altoona, mar- ried Mame Weibley, and is a machinist in the Pennsylvania railroad shops. The fam- ily all affiliate with the Lutheran Church. They reside at No. 133 East Main street. Carlisle, where they show a gracious and pleasing hospitality to their many friends.

GEORGE W. HILTON, who is en- gaged in a confectionery business at No. 35 West Main street. Carlisle, belongs to one of the leading families of the city. lle is a son of George W. and Emeline (Gibbs) Hilton, the former of whom was born in 1818. at Hull, England. and was brought to Manchester, Maine. by his pa- rents. George W. and Mercy ( Fuller ) Ilil- ton, the latter a cousin of Chief Justice Fuller. Grandfather Hilton was a native of the Isle of Wight and there followed the vocation of ship blacksmith until he emigrated to America with his family, set- tling on a Maine farm in the vicinity of Manchester. There he remained, dying at the age of ninety-nine years. his widow passing the century mark. Both were mem- bers of the Episcopal Church. They were people of education, and gave their thirteen

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children all advantages possible, and all were taught some self-supporting trade and en- couraged to spend their evening's in study.

George W. Hilton (2). son of George, and the father of our subject, was placed with a Boston firm of oil-cloth manufac- turers. He soon won his way into the con- fidence of the firm and was entrusted with a large stock of goods to dispose of, travel- ing by wagon. according to the custom of the times, over the country. His journey- ings brought him to Carlisle, and the loca- tion and prospects of the city, as well as the encouragement given him by Clement Mc- Farland. then the host of the old "Mansion House," induced him to consider favorably a proposition to make his home here. Ac- cepting Mr. McFarland's offer of a position in the hotel, he made his wagon and team the nucleus of a livery, and met with so much success that he continued to increase his transportation facilities until he owned a fine stable and plenty of coaches to meet the demands of trade. He then had the fore- sight to establish a stage line to Harrisburg and to Baltimore, via Hanover and Gettys- burg. and operated the same most pros- perously until the building of the railroads.

In the meantime, Mr. Hilton purchased a tract of timber land just east of the city, which he cleared. selling the wood and tim- ber. and adding to his acreage until the amount reached 128 acres of some of the finest land in the county. Here he made an ideal country home. His business instincts had led him to invest in property in and around Carlisle, all of which advanced in value. He was of progressive spirit and worked hard for the development of Car- lisle and her commercial interests. Mr. Hil- ton was the first resident of the city to erect a modern residence here and introduce plumbing, bath and heating apparatus. He

was one of the first stockholders in the Cum- berland Valley railroad and supplied the ties at this place. At the age of about sixty years he removed to his farm, deciding to spend his last years among congenial rural scenes. He delighted in agriculture and operated his farm with the greatest enjoy- ment and most satisfactory results. Prior to this time he had erected a four-story building in Carlisle with the idea of using it for manufacturing purposes and he util- ized it for the manufacture of a wagon slide seat, under a patent of his own, the business assuming large proportions. The distributing point was in Kansas and large shipments were made to that point for many years. Mr. Hilton died in 1891. In 1847 he married Emeline Gibbs, a daughter of Henry Gibbs, an old and prominent citizen of Lancaster. She died at the age of seven- ty-three years, in 1899. They reared a fam- ily of four children, namely : Miss Mary, a resident of Carlisle: Nannie, wife of J. S. Orrick, of Baltimore, Md .; George W., of this sketch; and Sarah, wife of Samuel C. Boyer, of Port Clinton, Pennsylvania.

George W. Hilton, bearing the family name, was born Jan. 14, 1869, at Carlisle, and was educated in the public schools of the city, later taking an academic course and a business course at Peirce Business College, Philadelphia, Pa. While attending the latter he spent his evenings as a window draper for the millionaire merchant, John Wanamaker. The few hours intervening between his daily studies and evening duties were never wasted, as he acted then as col- lector, being employed by such business con- cerns as J. B. Lippincott & Co., Stephen Whitman, Benjamin Teller and W. O. Wil- ber & Sons. After completing his business course he continued for seven years the oc- cupations referred to, making Philadelphia

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the scene of his operations. For three sum- mers he was also employed as a window draper, by Lord & Taylor, of New York, his taste and ingenuity making him very de- sirable in this position, which required much artistic ability. For the past half dozen years he has had charge of this department of many of the leading houses in the Cum- berland Valley.

L'pon the death of his father Mr. Hil- son was called home to take charge of the estate and act as executor and he gave his mother filial care until the close of her life. On May 1, 1902, he embarked in the con- fectionery business, operating the only first -. class establishment of its kind in the city, which he has fitted up to serve all the deli- cacies demanded by a most desirable trade, carrying creams of all kinds, Huyler's and Whitman's productions, and manufactur- ing many dainties and sweetmeats himself. He is very popular in Carlisle, his pleasant manner and obliging disposition making him many friends. He remains unmarried, and resides in a pleasant home at No. 14 South Hanover street.

CLARENCE M. LIGGETT, a pros- perous real estate dealer and insurance agent, with offices at No. 8 Court House avenue, Carlisle, is a native of the city, where he was born July 13, 1871, a son of Jacob L. and Emma L. (Leidig) Liggett. The father is now deceased, but the mother resides in Carlisle.

Mr. Liggett's life has been spent in Car- lisle, where he was reared and attended school until he was seventeen years old, when he accepted a clerkship in the store of J. W. Plank, remaining there for eighteen months. He then removed to Philadelphia and took a clerkship in the office of a whole- sale iron, steel and tin plate importing firm,

with which he remained two years. Re- turning to Carlisle, he opened an office at l:is present address and established himself in a real-estate and insurance business, meet- ing with remarkable success. He represents t'te leading fire insurance companies, and also conducts a large realty business, attending to conveyancing and kindred business, and is rost justly regarded as one of the leading young business men of Carlisle. Politically le is a Democrat, and has served as treasurer of the board of poor directors, and secretary of the York & Gettysburg railroad, of which he was one of the incorporators.

On Oct. 25, 1900, Mr. Liggett was mar- riedl to Miss Annie L. Robertson, of Phila- deiphia, daughter of Henry E. and Oelia Z. Dunn ) Robertson. Two children have been born of this union, namely, Oella Isabel and Clare Robertson. Religiously, they affiliate with the Evangelical Lutheran Church and are very prominent in that body. Their pleasant home is located at No. 654 North Hanover street, Carlisle.

REUBEN BRUBAKER, president of the Beetem Lumber & Mig. Co., of Car- Esle. Pa., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., near Ephrata, May 24, 1844, a son of John and Mariah ( Kemper) Brubaker, and grand- son of Daniel Brubaker, who was a well known man of his day. The father of our subject died in 1854, aged thirty-two years, and the mother died in Cumberland county aged sixty-two years. Mr. Brubaker was a farmer by occupation. The following chil- dren were born to this couple : Reuben ; Levi, a carpenter of Carlisle; Jesse, a carpenter, living at Jennings, La .; Henry, a carpenter of Decatur, Ill. ; Fannie, deceased; and Mar- tin, a farmer of Brown county, Kansas.

When only a lad of thirteen Reuben Brubaker was brought to Cumberland coun-

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ty, where he has since made his home. His education was obtained in the public schools. which he attended until he was seventeen years old, when he learned the trade of car- penter. After a few years he began con- tracting and building, and has followed this calling ever since upon an extensive scale throughout Cumberland county, having had the contract for the erection of many of the most pretentious buildings in Carlisle. Since his election to the presidency of the Beetem Lumber Co. he has concentrated his energies upon the development of that business.

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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 37

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