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 40
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HARRY GARDNER, son of Henry and Leah ( Kreider) Gardner, is one of the city's representative citizens. Ile was born Dec. 6, 1853, and was educated in the public schools of Carlisle, after lewing which he engaged for a time in clerking and then learned the trade of carpenter and builder, following the same very profitably for some years. In 1881 he made a trip to Mexico, where he remained some eighteen months, employed at car building, in 1882 return- ing to Carlisle and resuming work in the city. On Aug. 11, 1884, he entered the carpentry department at the Indian School at Carlisle, and some two years later was made foreman of that department of this great industrial institution. Not all men
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possess the qualifications necessary to suc- ceed in such a position, but these Mr. Gard- ner evidently possesses, as he is held in the highest esteem both by employers and em- ployes.
On Dec. 30, 1879, Mr. Gardner married Miss Ellen Longsdorf, daughter of Eman- uel A. and Catherine ( Wanderly ) Longs- dorf, who removed from Cumberland coun- ty in 1885 to Kansas, and Mr. Longsdorf died at Wichita, that State, Dec. 21, 1898, aged fifty-seven years. The mother of Mrs. Gardner resides at Columbia, Lancaster county. By trade Mr. Longsdorf was a shoemaker, and he followed same the greater part of his life. For several years he served as disciplinarian at the White Hall Orphan School. Mr. and Mrs. Longsdorf had the following children born to them: Sherman, a resident of Mt. Pleasant, Utah; Ellen, Mrs. Gardner; Michael II. (named for his grandfather), a resident of Kansas City, Mo .; Emma J., who married B. F. Gardner, of Harrisburg; Flora, who married Warren Stiker, of Grottoes, Va .; Bertie, who mar- ried Dr. Levi Coak, of Nevada, Mo .: George, deceased; Lizzie, who married George Wageck, of Ponca City, Okla. ; Wil- liam, residing at Wichita, Kan .; and Alice, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have one son, Walter Monroe, a machinist, engaged at Pittsburg. They are consistent members of the Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Gardner is identified with the Democratic party, and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of the Mystic Circle. He has taken an active interest in civic affairs and has ably served on the borough council. The handsome and hospitable family residence is situated at No. 601 North Hanover street, in Carlisle.
SAMUEL L. EPPLEY. proprietor of the livery, feed and sales stables located at No. 21 West South street, Carlisle, was born in West Pennsboro township, Cum- berland county, four miles west of Carlisle, Sept. 5. 1852, a son of Samuel and Amanda ( Hoon) Eppley. His grandfather, Jacob Eppley, died in York county, and was a man prominent for his day. The father was a native of York county, and when a young man of about twenty years came to Cumberland county, becoming a farmer. He was a public-spirited man and became very prominent in the county, serving as a useful member of the school board, and fill- ing the various minor township offices, as well as that of county commissioner. In politics he was a strong Republican, and in- fluential in his party. He died May 8, 1901, aged eighty-two years. His wife was born in Mifflin township, this county, about 1826, and is still living, residing in North Mid- dleton, Pa. The following children were born to these worthy people: George, de- ceased; William H., a retired merchant of Carlisle : Samuel L .: James W., of Plain- field, Pa .; Oscar W., of Middlesex town- ship, a farmer; Charles C., of Carlisle; Al- fred, a clerk of Carlisle; Lizzie, deceased ; and Ulysses G., proprietor of the "United States Hotel," Mt. Holly.
Samuel L. Eppley was reared upon the homestead farm and educated in the com- mon schools of his neighborhood. In 1901 he moved into Carlisle, and since then has devoted his attention to his livery stables, which he established in 1900. His farming operations were largely carried on in West Pennsboro township, his property lying four and one-half miles west of Carlisle, where he owns 132 acres. In his livery business he keeps a well equipped stable and does a
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large business in selling horses, as well as in his boarding department. In politics he is an active Republican, and he has been a member of the Republican county central committee and acted as delegate to various county and State conventions. He has ably filled the office of school director several terms, and has also been director of the poor.
On June 11. 1874. Mr. Eppley was mar- ried to Anna M. Bear, daughter of Jona- than and Mariah ( Bear) Bear, and three children have been born to this union: Grace E., wife of Dr. D. W. Van Camp, of Plainfield, Pa .: Carrie B., of Dickinson Col- lege and a graduate of the Shippensburg Normal School. a teacher of three years' standing: and Mayme V., who taught school for two years in Monroe township. attended Millersville State Normal. at Mil- lersville. Lancaster county, from which she was graduated, and then returning to Mon- roe township taught a year and also in Car- lisle where she is now a popular teacher in the public schools. The family reside in a very pleasant home at No. 142 South Han- over street. Carlisle, where their many friends are cordially welcomed.
ROBERT F. NOBLE (deceased ) was only a young man at the time of his death, but he is still remembered by the older citi- zens of Carlisle as one of great promise. Ile was born Oct. 1. 1831, in the old Noble homestead on North Hanover street, in Car- lisle, where his parents, John and Julia Ann ( Lechler ) Noble, lived for a time after their marriage. The father was an extensive meat dealer in Carlisle, and accumulated a fortune in that business. He furnished meat to the barracks. John Noble died in Carlisle.
Robert F. Noble attended school in Car-
lisle, but he had a restless disposition, caring little for study. and early in life commenced to help his father in his large business, showing himself to be possessed of great ability in that line. Indeed. he was an in- portant factor in the making of his father's fortune. He was a noted horseback rider. and was in the saddle almost continuously. riding around the country buying up cattle for his father. and when not thus engaged he was in the slaughter-house, where he acted as foreman.
On June 16. 1851, in Carlisle. Mr. Noble married Miss Elizabeth Mell, who was born in Carlisle, in the house on South Pitt street now occupied by Mr. Huston. She attended school until. fifteen years old, when, her mother being an invalid, she was obliged to leave, to assist with the housekeeping duties at home. Her father was one of the first brick manufacturers of Carlisle, and gave employment to a number of hands. several of whom boarded at his home, so that the duties in the house were quite heavy. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Noble began housekeeping on South Pitt street, where Dr. Bentz now lives, but his father subse- quently remodeled the old stone house on North Hanover street, and thither they re- moved. Mr. Noble living there until his death, which occurred in 1862. Upon that occasion the following tribute of respect was presented to the family by the Good Will Hose Company, of which Mr. Noble was a favorite member :
"At a meeting of the 'Good Will Hose Co.,' held in their Hall, on the evening of the 9th inst., the following Preamble and Resolutions were, on motion, unanimously adopted as expressive of the sentiments of the members in regard to the death of their late fellow member, Mr. Robert F. Noble : "Nature furnishes many a useful lesson
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on the shortness of life and transitory char- acter of every earthly pleasure and pursuit. The opening Spring and full blown Sum- mer ; Autumn with its song of plenty, and cold, stern Winter in its drapery of gloom, all teach the important truth that life. at best. is but a passing dream. Childhood, with its smiles and tears, youth, with its warm, impulsive spirit, manhood. with its stern realities, and old age, with its memo- ries of the past, succeed each other in their rapid flight, bearing us on to the closing scene in the great drama of lite.
"The tender flower, that to-day unfolds its beauties to the sun, and to-morrow pales and dies, is a fitting emblem of man's hopes and aspirations. He toils in the race for worldly distinction. and labours zealously to amass the gold of earth. yet how often does it happen that when the prize seems al- most won, Death interposes, strikes down the altars he has raised to his gods, turns into clust the idols that have claimed his worship and lays his body down in the cold bosom of the grave, there to rest until the dawn of that great day, at whose approach the mountains shall melt and the sea give up the whitened bones of its slumbering mil- lions. Thus hath it been with him to whose memory we are about to pay this last, sad tribute of respect. Called away in the morning of life, when the arm was yet strong, and the eye shone bright, his death has left a void in the hearts of his sorrowing friends that time can never, never fill. The birds will sing and the flowers bloom; the seasons will roll on their accustomed rounds ; seedtime and harvest will come, and the reapers' song will be heard in the fields as they gather in the golden sheaves, but he will not heed them. Henceforth the grave shall be his bed, and the places .that knew him once will know him no more forever,
and although we cannot fathom the mys- tery which shrouds his early doom, still we can rest assured that He who seeth the end from the beginning has a wise purpose of His own, and will cause the present sorrow. to issue in a harvest of eternal joy to those who are weeping in the lone valley of afflic- tion. But we cannot say farewell without bearing our testimony to the many noble qualities of our departed friend, there- fore be it
"Resolved. That. in the death of our late fellow member. Robt. F. Noble, the 'Good Will Hose Co.' has lost an active and efficient member. one who was ever at his post of duty. fully sustaining the character of a brave and disinterested firemen.
"Resolved, That. in his early death, we each and all recognize the hand of an all- wise God, who doeth all things well, and al- though His arm has been raised in seeming wrath, yet we should remember that the same hand which has opened the tomb can also bind up the heart that mourns for the dust which sleeps in its quiet depths.
"Resolved. That the sad .fate of our friend and brother speaks to us in accents of solemn warning. bidding us to have our lamps trimmed and burning, so that when the night draws near we may be prepared to lay aside the pilgrim's staff and go down to the grave's deep slumber with the bright hope of a glorious immortality.
"Resolved, That this Hall be draped in mourning and that each member wear a badge of crape on the left breast for the space of thirty days as a testimonial of re- spect to the memory of our departed friend.
"By Order of Committee, "JAMES MULLIN, Chairman."
Mr. and Mrs. Noble had four children, viz .: Julia is the widow of Fred F. Mc- Comas, of Hagerstown, Md. Harry M.
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died when fourteen months old. Robert Nebenger died when six months old. Harry Halbert, who died at the age of thirty-one years, in Carlisle. married Miss Minnie Pol- linger, who is now the wife of Andrew Kerr. and resides in Atlantic City, N. J. ; he left one child, Julia E .. who is now the wife of Edward Parker. of Atlantic City. Mr. Noble was reared in the Episcopal faith. In political sentiment he was a Republican. Mrs. Noble is a woman of energetic dispo- sition, and is remarkably well preserved for one of her years.
JOHN U. SHEAFER, former chief of police of Carlisle. Cumberland county, and who has served several years in that incum- beney. is a native of that city and has lived there all his life. in fact his home has never been more than a hundred feet from his birthplace, the old Sheafer home on South Pitt street.
Isaac Sheafer. his father, was also a na- tive of Carlisle, and passed all his life there. dying in May. 1855. He was a carpenter by occupation. He married Miss Henrietta DeSano, who was also born in Carlisle, where her father. Rev. Frederick DeSano, a Lutheran minister, was stationed for many years. The DeSano family was of French extraction. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Sheafer, namely: Hannah, who died unmarried in 1883; George E., deceased ; John U .: Robert, who is a hotel- keeper in Carlisle; and Charlotte, who died in girlhood.
John U. Sheafer was born Feb. 26, 1838, and until he was twelve years old attended the public schools. He then became a 'run- ner" in a dry-goods store, the establishment of Philip A. Arnold, in Carlisle, where he remained three years, after which he went to school for another term. The following
winter he entered the book store of A. M. Piper, as clerk, remaining with him fifteen months, and on leaving this position he commenced a three-year apprenticeship to the mason's trade. From 1857 to 1861 he was employed as journeyman at that trade, and then commenced to do business on his own account. But when his first building was partly up the war broke out, and throw- ing his tools into the cellar Mr. Sheafer told the hands to finish the job and went to the front in answer to Lincoln's first call. for three-months men, as a corporal in Com- pany C, 9th P. V. I .. Col. Longenecker. Previous to this he had been a member of the Sumner Rifles, a local organization. three years. After completing his term of enlistment Mr. Sheafer remained in Wash- ington. D. C., where he became a teamster in the Government employ. continuing thus for two years, at the end of that time return- ing home. In 1863 he went with Gen. Smith's division, in charge of warehouses and in similar work, being so engaged for three months. Returning to Carlisle again. he went back to his trade as contractor. giv- ing his entire attention to his business in- terests until his first election as chief of police, in 1878. He served two years in that office, in 1880 resuming his trade, which he continued to follow until 1897. In the lat- ter year he was again elected chief of police, and was retained in the office, with the ex- ception of the year 1902, up to March, 1904. when his term expired. The length of his services bespeaks a good record and faithful discharge of his duty, and his repeated reelec- tions have been compliments well earned by efficient service. Mr. Sheafer is a man of affable personality, has a keen wit which makes him an agreeable companion, and bears a reputation unsullied, whether as a business man or an official. He is energetic.
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and as active as many men twenty years his junior.
Mr. Sheafer was married in Carlisle, in 1864, to Miss Margaret Jane Smyth, daughter of Michael and Margaret (Dur- nin) Smyth, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Scotch-Irish parentage. Mrs. Sheafer passed away in 1880. She was the mother of eight children, two of whom are deceased, the others being : Elizabeth, Mrs. Ira J. Davis, of Chambersburg; James R., of Carlisle; Charlotte, Mrs. James Dysart, of Carlisle: John T., of Carlisle; Blanche Independence ; and Katy D. Mr. Sheafer has been a Republican since the formation of the party, and is a stanch supporter of its principles. He was one of the organizers of the Empire Hook and Ladder Co. in 1858-59. and was formerly a member of the old Union Fire Company.
JOHN H. SNYDER, the popular bar- ber located at No. 145 North Hanover street. Carlisle, has pleasant parlors equipped with all the latest improvements in the ton- sorial profession.
Mr. Snyder comes of good substantial German stock, and gives evidence of his an- cestry in his industry, thrift and progressive spirit. Henry Snyder, his grandfather, was born in Germany, and there grew to man- hood and married. When he emigrated to America he was accompanied by his wife and family, and his wife's sister, the latter now the widow of William Hastings. They settled in Cumberland county, and made a home on North street, Carlisle. Mr. Snyder rapidly rose to a position of prominence, and was elected steward of the county workhouse, a position he held for the long term of twenty-five years, a high testimonial of the efficient service he rendered the public. His death occurred at his home in Carlisle.
John N. Snyder. son of Henry, and father of John H., was born in Carlisle. and received a good education in the public schools at Carlisle. after which he attended business college at Pittsburg. For some time he acted as bookkeeper under his father at the workhouse, and then for a time was engaged in farming. For the past fourteen years he has made his home in Carlisle, where he is employed in the shoe factory. He married Mary Fernbaugh, of Carlisle.
John H. Snyder was born Oct. 26, 1872, in Carlisle. In his youth he attended the country schools and the Carlisle public schools, thereby acquiring a good substan- tial education. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the trade of barber from E. J. Weidman, and has since been engaged in that line. He is thoroughly up-to-date in his work, and his pleasant manners have won him many a steady customer. In 1894 he opened parlors at his present location, and now caters to a constantly increasing patronage.
On March 25. 1898, Mr. Snyder was married, in Carlisle, to Miss Nora Lind, and two children have come to brighten their home, Lionel B. and Adele M. Socially Mr. Snyder belongs to the Knights of the Golden Eagle and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Democrat in politics.
JOHN A. HEFFLEFINGER, a pros- perous merchant at No. 108 North Hanover street, Carlisle, Pa., has been a resident of that city since March 21, 1887, at which time he embarked in his present business. He became associated at that time with J. C. Rummel, under the firm name of Rum- mel & Co., this concern carrying a full line of clothing. hats, caps, men's furnishing goods and shoes. After a year this firm
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became Keiffer & Hefflefinger. The busi- ness was continued under this style until 1899. when Mr. Hetflefinger became sole owner. He carries one of the heaviest stocks of goods in Carlisle and is a thorough business man, understanding fully how to meet the wishes of his patrons and retain their good will and patronage.
John .A. Hefflefinger was born in Frank- lin county, Pa .. Dec. 28. 1858, a son of Jacob and Julia ( Keiffer ) Hefflefinger, both natives of Franklin county, where the father spent his life, engaged as a farmer, and died in 1903. aged seventy-seven years. He was active in the Methodist Church. His wife (lied Sept. 19. 1887, aged sixty-six years, and both were worthy Christian people. They had the following family of children : James W .. a nurseryman of Greenvine, Franklin Co., Pa .; Elizabeth, unmarried ; William A., who died in September. 1902: Agnes, married to J. K. Shively, of Misha- waka, Ind .: John A .; Annie M., who died in 1892, unmarried; Alverta C., who mar- ried William Hambright, of Mishawaka, Ind .: and one that died in infancy. The grandfather was born near Newburg. Penn- sylvania.
John .A. Hefflefinger was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools, but early in life developing consid- crable musical talent, he went to Washing- ton. D. C .. and took a course in music under private teachers. After this he taught mu- sie for a year, and then went to Boston, where he entered the Conservatory of Mu- sic and spent a year. For some time there- after he taught music, until he engaged in business in Carlisle, and is very proficient on both piano and stringed instruments. Fraternally he is a member of the .1. O. U. W.
On Dec. 28, 1887, Mr. Hefflefinger was
married to Roberta J. C. Wallace, daughter of Robert and Jane Wallace, of Greenville, Franklin Co., Pa., and three children were born to them, as follows: Robert Wallace, Janett (who died at the age of four years) and one that died in infancy. Mrs. Heffle- finger passed away April 29, 1904. She was a consistent member of the Second Presby- terian Church, to which Mr. Hefflefinger also belongs, and in the work of which he takes an active part, being a teacher in the mission and a member of the V. M. C. A. The family home is located at No. 70 West Louther street.
ELIZABETH JOHNSTON, one of the most respected residents of Shippensburg, Southampton township. Cumberland county, was born in Franklin county, Pa., on a farm on the old Chambersburg road, March 15. 1843.
George Johnston, her father, died in Franklin county in 1881, aged eighty-four years. He was the owner of a large prop- erty, consisting of thirteen farms, three of which were located in Cumberland county, and are now owned by his daughter Eliza- beth Johnston. He married Sarah H. Clark, who was born in Cumberland county in 1807, daughter of Robert Clark, who married a Fulton. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are buried in the Middle Spring cemetery at Shippens- burg. They were the parents of the follow- ing children, all of whom grew to maturity : James, now deceased; Rebecca, who married James A. Beattie and lives at Shippensburg : Joseph, a retired farmer living in Scotland : Elizabeth, who resides at Shippensburg ; and Robert C., a farmer.
Miss Johnston received her primary edu- cation at the district school in Franklin county, and has added to it by extensive read- ing and wide observation. In addition to her
GEORGE JOHNSTON
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three valuable farms she owns a comfortable residence at Shippensburg, and spends the greater portion of her time there, surrounded by comforts supplied by ample means. She is a consistent member of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, and is very active in its good work. She is widely and favorably known, and enjoys a large circle of friends throughout the county.
O. T. HARRIS. for years superintend- ent of the blacksmith department in the In- dian School at Carlisle, is a descendant of an old settler of Lancaster county. His ancestors came from the North of Ireland and landed at Baltimore early in the Nine- teenth century, but in 1809 settled in Lan- caster county. Pa., where John Harris died. He was a blacksmith by trade. His widow died at the age of eighty-two years, in Cum- berland county. In religious faith they were Presbyterians. They reared the following children : William, Thomas, John and Samuel, all of whom became blacksmiths, William in Pittsburg. Thomas in Williams- port, and John and Samuel in Cumberland county.
John Harris, son of John Harris, and father of O. T. Harris, was born in 1802 after the family landed at Baltimore, and was seven years old when they removed to Lancaster county. He lived there until 1824. when he removed to Cumberland county and located in the neighborhood of the Harnich Mill, on Yellow Breeches creek. He was given the first government order for the making of axes for the Indians, re- ceiving the contract during President Jack- son's administration, and he turned out 2,- 000 of these edge tools. He was then located at Holly Springs, whence he went on horse- back to visit President Jackson and made the contract with him personally. In the
fall of 1840 he moved to Carliste, where he spent five years, and in 1845 he remived to Bunker Hill. Leaving there in 1849, he settled in Newville. Two years later he . went to Jacksonville and in 1852 removed to Franklin county, but in 1856 returned to Cumberland and died at Carlisle. He was widely known for his expertness in the man- ufacture of edge tools in his time having few equals in the business, and filled many very important contracts. He was a man of sound judgment and integrity of charac- ter, and he was elected county commissioner of Cumberland county. His death took place in 1877. He married Ann M. Stephens, who was born in Susquehanna county, Pa., in April. 1802, a niece of Jacob Graft, who stands on the records in the postoffice de- partment as carrying the first through mail from Pittsburg to Philadelphia, making the trip on horseback. Mrs. Harris died in 1885. like her husband a member of the Presbyterian Church. They had children as follows: Ann, widow of J. J. Crawford, of Altoona; Margaret, who died at Tyrone in April. 1903. the wife of Christopher Swi- gert : Martha, deceased, who was the wife of Cyrus Bowman, of Franklin county: a daughter that died in infancy; John A., who died at Newburg in 1862: William, who served in the Union navy in the Civil war. went West and disappeared : O. Thomas, of this sketch; James Porter, who died in 1900 at Harrisburg : Charles C .. residing at Al- toona.
O. T. Harris was born July 25. 1836. and was reared and educated mainly in the public schools of Cumberland county. When so small a lad as to require a stool to stand on, in order to strike the metal, he worked at his father's forge, and learned every de- tail of the business from this expert work- man. By the time he was fifteen years of
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