Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 42

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 42

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WILLIAM CRAIG SHARP, in his life time the well known proprietor of the "Franklin Hotel," at Carlisle, was a life long resident of Cumberland county, having been born in Hopewell township, that county, where his father. James Sharp, was engaged in farming. His mother, Mary Ann Mc- Cune, was a daughter of John, of Irish de- scent.

William C. Sharp received his education in such schools as were afforded by his na- tive district. One of his first teachers was a Mr. Peoples. His home training was chiefly in the line of farm work, and was nn- limited in quantity. He remained on the home farm actively interested in its culti- vation until 1861, when he located in New- burg, and there engaged in butchering for a year or so. His next employment, which con- tinued for a like period, was that of stage driving. He then bought and sold stock for several years. For some time he had been fascinated with the idea of conducting a hotel. and at this time he saw an opportunity to engage in that line. He conducted the "Ex-

change Hotel" at Newburg until Oct. 24, 1876, bringing that familiar hostelry up to a first-class basis. At about this time the "Franklin Hotel" had burned down, and Mr. Sharp deter- mined to remove to Carlisle, rebuild the hotel, and spend his days as "mine host" there. With him it was only necessary for him to make up his mind, the ways and means he was always able to settle at once. He went to Carlisle, bought the remains of the "Franklin Hotel," and straightway set about the rebuilding. The brick part and the brick stable were erected by him, and when completed he opened a comfortable hotel to the public. He was eminently successful in this work, his naturally social nature mak- ing of him an ideal hotel man, and he was soon known all over that section of the State. and his hostelry became very popular. It was on Oct. 26, 1876, that he took posses- sion of the "Franklin Hotel," and there he continued actively employed until his death Jan. 7. 1883.

On Jan. 27. 1859, Mr. Sharp married, in Indiana. near Logansport, Martha Agnes Sharp, who was born there in 1840, daugh- ter of James Sterritt and Margaret Jane ( Quigley, Sharp, the latter a daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Sharp) Quigley. When James S. Sharp went to Cass county, Ind., he made the journey by wagon. The coun- try then was infested with Indians and wild beasts, and so far as cultivation was con- cerned was entirely unbroken. To William C. and Martha A. Sharp were born four children, as follows: Margaret Jane, who married Robert M. Searight, of Carlisle : Charles, of Carlisle; James, a liveryman at Shippensburg. Pa. ; and Mary Ellen, wife of John Culbertson, of Carlisle. Mr. Sharp was an active worker in the Second Presby-

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terian Church, where his wife attends. His ballot was cast in support of the men and measures of the Republican party.

Mrs. Sharp remained at the "Franklin Hotel" until April 1, 1883. when she re- moved to her present home at No. 14 West High street. She has been active in good works, and is a sincere Christian woman of cheerful, hopeful disposition, well liked by all who know her.

DAVID H. GILL. who passed away in 1887. in the township of North Middle- ton. Cumberland Co., Pa., was one of the township's most active and highly respected men.

(1) James Gill, his grandfather, was born in Ireland, and came to America early in the eighteenth century, locating in Lancaster county, Pa. He married a Miss Banton, of Ireland, and brought two sons with him, John and James. He did not remain long in Lancaster, but removed to Silver Spring township, Cumberland county, where he followed farming. His two sons Thomas and Robert, who were born in Ireland, did not accompany the family to America, com- ing later under the care of the captain of the boat on which they sailed.

(II) Robert Gill, father of David H., and son of James Gill, was born in Ireland, and when fourteen years of age came to the New World, as before mentioned, locating in Lancaster county, where he learned the trade of weaving. Later he joined his father in Cumberland county, and worked at his trade. He married Nancy Fisher, a daugh- ter of James and Mary ( Wilson ) Fisher, of Silver Spring township. Buying a farm in Monroe township. the young min and his bride settled upon it, and there lived for six- teen years. The next removal was to South Middleton township, but after three years of

farming there he went to Frankford town- ship, remained three years, also farm- ing, and then came to Carlisle and lived re- tired with his son David. His widow lives at Carlisle. The children born to this worthy couple were as follows : James died in. Illi- nois; Mary married Jacob Gitter, and died near Newville; David H. is mentioned be- low; Catherine married John Lutz and is now living with her daughter in Carlisle; Jane married Dawson Quigley and is living at Carlisle; John married Becky Dorr and died in North Middleton township; Eliza- beth married George Boyer, and died at Harrisburg ; Maggie married Cyrus Nickey, and lives at Carlisle. The father of this family died with his daughter Catherine, near Shippensburg.

(III) David H. Gill was born in Silver Spring township in 1828, and received an excellent common-school education. In 1856 he married Miss Jane Bistline, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth ( Miller) Bistline, of Cumberland county, and for a year after marriage they were settled at Kingston, then removing to Carlisle, where Mr. Gill con- ducted a hotel for seventeen years. He be- came a well known man in that locality, and one universally liked. A proof of his pop- ularity was shown when he was elected sheriff of Cumberland county, which re- sponsible office he held for three years. In 1878 he purchased a fine farm in South Mid- dleton township, consisting of 100 acres, and later bought 100 acres in North Mid- dleton township, where he followed farming, stock raising and dealing in stock. So suc- cessful did he become at stock raising that he became well known throughout the coun- try as a stock breeder.

Mrs. Gill and their one daughter, Mrs. Laura Sanders, live in Carlisle, where they have a beautiful home. They are highly re-

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spected in the city, and prominent in many charitable enterprises. Laura married Wil- liam Sanders, and had two children ; George, who died Aug. 29. 1903, aged nineteen years, eight months and four days; and Jennie, who is at home with her mother and grandmother.

FRANK G. BASEHORE, a pros- perous farmer of Silver Spring township, Cumberland county, was born in Hampden township, this county, one mile north of Sporting Hill, Oct. 30, 1862.

The earliest ancestor of Mr. Basehore of whom there is any definite record is George Basehore, his great-great-great- great-grandfather. (I) George Basehore was a resident of Berks (then Lancaster) county, prior to the formation of the latter county in 1729. We only know of one son, Michael, belonging to George.

(II) Michael Basehore was the father of Daniel Basehore, and as far as there is any record he was also an only son.

(III) Daniel Basehore settled in Hamp- den township, Cumberland county, in 1791. He had three sons : John, Michael, and one other, name not known, who was killed by the Indians. Michael settled in Juniata county.

(IV) John Basehore was born in 1776, and in Hampden township, followed the oc- cupation of farming, dying in 1856. He was the father of three sons, John, Peter and Samuel, all of whom were residents of Cumberland county until death.

(V) Samuel Basehore, grandfather of Frank G., was born in 1805, and died in 1876. His children were seven in number, three of them being sons: John L., Jacob A. and Samuel A. The last named was the father of our subject.

John L. Basehore was a captain during

the Civil war, and was killed Oct. 1, 1864, in Iowa, while on a hunt for drafted men, who were seeking to evade service. Hav- ing dined at a farmhouse, the Captain's party started away, met some of the men for whom they were searching, traveling in a wagon, and halted them. While he was turning to speak to the commanding officer, Col. Woodruff, he was shot in the back. Col. Woodruff was also shot, and died in- stantly. Becoming weak, Capt. Basehore fell to the ground and was clubbed into in- sensibility and left for dead by the four men, who drove away. Regaining consciousness, he managed to attract the attention of a wood-chopper, and induced the man to carry him back to the farm where he had eaten his midday meal. There he died about four o'clock that afternoon. Jacob A. Baseliore also served in the army, but was spared so harrowing an experience and pitiful a death.

(VI) Samuel A. Basehore, father of Frank G., was born in Hampden township March 21, 1839, and married Ella B. Gleim, daughter of John and Anna (Stambaugh) Gleim, residents of Monroe township, near Williams Grove. Five children were born to them: Frank G. is mentioned below ; Anna B. married John B. Musser, of Me- chanicsburg, and has had three children, Almeda (who died in infancy), Mary and Lena (at home) ; Wilmer A., died Sept. 9, 1900, unmarried; Edgar E. married Fanny Hurst, daughter of Amos Hurst, of Hamp- den township (they have had no children) ; John G., on the old homestead, married Margaret Eshenbaugh, daughter of Levi Eshenbaugh, of Shiremanstown, and has two sons, Samuel A. and John L., both at home. On April 24, 1872, Mrs. Basehore passed away, and on Jan. 15. 1874, Samuel A. Basehore married Emma L. Gleim, her youngest sister. Three children have been

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born to them: Samuel E., an attorney in Mechanicsburg : Bessie I., attending school at Frederick. Md. : and an infant who died soon after birth.

(VII) Frank G. Basehore attended the common schools of Hampden township until he was eighteen years of age, and after leav- ing school worked upon the old homestead for his father until he was twenty-nine years of age. On Jan. 28, 1892, he married Miss Rebecca E. Dietz, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth ( Wilt) Dietz, of the same town- ship, and four children have been born to them: Samuel Dietz, Mary Elizabeth, George Milton and Mabel Catherine. The two eldest are at school, while the others are at home.

In religious matters Mr. Basehore is a member of the German Reformed Church of Mechanicsburg. He is a consistent Re- publican, taking an active part in political campaigns, and although living in a town- ship which is strongly Democratic he is strong politically, and a power in the man- agement of township affairs. Mr. Basehore resides on a fine farm of fifty acres, all of which is under cultivation, and his buildings and premises are kept in excellent order, demonstrating conclusively that good man- agement rules in this establishment. In habits he is sober. temperate and industri- ous, is a hard worker, and thrifty in his in- vestments. The success which has attended his work is well merited, and with it he has won unlimited confidence and warm per- sonal friendship from the people of his com- munity.

ERNST J. KRAUSE, a retired citizen of Carlisle, Cumberland county, is a native of Saxony, Germany, born June 29, 1827, in the town of Harzberg. He is a son of Johann Gottlieb Krause, and his grand-

father was a brother of Christian Krause. the celebrated German philosopher. Johann Gottlieb Krause was a soldier in the German army for several years, serving as an artil- leryman in the war against Napoleon. By trade he was a cooper. He died in his native place in Saxony at the age of forty-two years, and his wife, whose maiden name was Christina Guenther, also died in that king- dom.

In his native town Ernst J. Krause grew- to manhood and received a good education in the public schools, attending from the age of seven years until he was fourteen. He then became an apprentice to the trade of cooper, working in breweries, and traveling in the different German states, until he was nearly twenty years old. He then joined the Prussian Jaegers, in which he served over seven years. His term of three years would have expired in 1849, but on account of war being declared on Austria all the men had to remain in active service for an- other four years, thus accounting for the unusually long service of our subject. He participated in the war of 1848-49, against Denmark, and for special services received a letter from Frederick William TV., dated Dec. 11, 1848. He was promoted to ober- jaeger, a sort of non-commissioned office. and on Aug. 9, 1851, was made sergeant, and he has a medal given to young officers who served without error. He was in the great mobilization of troops which moved on Austria. The Jaegers were picked troops, and special qualifications were required for joining.

In 1856 Mr. Krause came to the United States, sailing from Hamburg on the sailing- vessel "Rudolph." which arrived at New York after a voyage of forty-nine days. At Reading, Pa., he joined his friend. Mr. Zehm, and went to work in a brewery there

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for a time, later working in a similar estab- lishment at Lancaster. Pa. There he was married, and soon afterward went to She- boygan, Wis., where he worked for a few months. At the end of that time, receiving a letter from Frederick Lauer, of Reading. to come and take charge as foreman of a steam brewery, he returned East, and held the position for three years, the following year holding a like position in a brewery in New York city. His next move was to Hartford, Conn., where he bought property and became the patentee of a special kind of beer, giving instructions in the manufacture of same. He still holds this patent. Going to Lancaster he lived there for a few years, in 1870 coming to Carlisle, where he started a brewery, which he conducted until the local option law went into effect for three years. He then retired from business, and has since been enjoying the rest which he earned by a life of industry.

In 1857 Mr. Krause married Mrs. Eva Barbara Springer, and they have five living children : Elizabeth is the wife of Dr. Wag- ner, of Ocean City, N. J. Ellenora is the wife of Charles A. Peffer, of Paterson, N. J. Miss Alice J. resides in Philadelphia, Pa. Miss Ida Catherine is at home. Jolin Oscar is general manager of Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show. Minnie B., deceased, was the wife of Rev. Samuel John Rook. The family belongs to the First Lutheran Church. In political faith Mr. Krause is a Democrat. He is a well preserved man, much respected in the community where he has so long made his home, and well liked for his kind and charitable disposition.

GEORGE W. SPERA, of Silver Spring township, belongs to one of the representa- tive families of Cumberland county, which doubtless owes its origin to Switzerland,

although its early history is not clearly known.

Henry Spera, the father of George W. Spera, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and had three brothers-William and George, deceased; and Esrom, living in Columbia. Henry Spera was a farmer, although he learned the blacksmith's trade. He mar- ried Mary Ann Eichelberger, of Silver Spring township, and eight children were born to them, two of whom died young : Lusetta married Henry Staub, of Monroe township, and had five children-Mary married John Fail, of York county; Harry married and has one child. but his wife is deceased; Annie married William Ryder, of Cumberland county; Fanny married Levi Kalbach, of Lancaster county; Carrie mar- ried William Singiser, of Mechanicsburg. Katherine married Charles Whitcomb, of Cumberland county, and had five children- Harry married Mary Cornman, of Monroe township, and has had two children : Ellen married a Mr. Richter, of Boiling Springs; Annie married and lives in Steelton; Albert and James are unmarried and at home. William married Katherine Shumacher, of Cumberland county, and they had four chil- dren-John, Minnie ( Mrs. Weaver, of Ma- con county. Ill.) : Lily (living in Macon county, Ill. ) : William (living in Macon county, Ill.). Emanuel married Sophia Ei- delblute, of York county, and has four chil- dren living. George W. is our subject. Henry married Miss Minnie Enck, of Cum- berland county, and has one child, Nellie, a teacher, living at home.

After the death of his first wife Henry Spera married Sarah Jane Messenger, daughter of David Messenger. of Hampden township, and they had four children : Ezra D., living in North Dakota. married Kate Weigel, of Shiremanstown. James B. mar-

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ried and is living in York county. Alberta married Mr. Christ and lives in Monroe township. Charles married and is living in York county.

George W. Spera was born March I. 1851, on the old Spera homestead, in Silver Spring township, and was there educated in the public schools. He attended school until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to work on the homestead, and thus continued until he was thirty-four years of age. Two years later he married Miss Anna Mary Williams, daughter of William and Sarah (Orris) Williams, of the same coun- - ty, and one child was born to them, George Glenn, who resides at home. After their marriage the young couple settled on the place they now occupy, a farm of 150 acres. which Mr. Spera cultivates and has in ex- ! cellent condition, being numbered among the representative farmers of his township.

Although he is not affiliated with any religious denomination, his sympathies are with the Lutheran Church, and he gives lib- erally toward its support. All of his life he has been a Democrat, and he has twice been appointed and once elected tax collector of Silver Spring township. and has also served eleven years as school director, finally refus- ing to accept further nomination. Few men stand higher in public esteem than Mr. Spera, for he is not only a successful farmer. but a kind-hearted, broad-minded, upright gentleman, and one who holds the entire confidence of the community.

LEONARD PARKER, a resident of Carlisle, Cumberland county, who for many years was engaged in railroad work in that locality, was born in 1825 in County Water- ford, Ireland, son of Nicholas Parker, who was also a native of County Waterford. He married Mary Murphy.

When Leonard Parker was seven years old he went to live with an uncle, James Parker, who lived in County Tipperary. Ireland, and while there went to school. After his return home he attended school for two years longer, and then commenced to learn the trade of boot and shoe making. His father conducted a large shoemaking es- tablishment. Our subject followed his trade in his native country and for some time after coming to the United States, in 1850. making the ocean voyage to this country in the sailing vessel "Jessora," from Liverpool to New York, Mr. Parker taking passage at Dublin. He was six weeks on the water. He located at Yonkers, N. Y., for a time, engaged at his trade and in other work, but the same year came to Carlisle. Pa .. where he has ever since made his home. He followed his trade for a time, but also engaged in other occupations, being fore- man on the Cumberland Valley Rail- road several years and later foreman on the South Mountain railroad, laying all of their tracks at that time. After leav- ing this road he was foreman on the Penn- sylvania road under Mr. McCrea. Through- out his experience on the road he had a rec- ord clean and honorable, both for industry and integrity, in his dealings with his supe- riors and those under his authority, and as a man he was respected by all with whom he came in contact.

Mr. Parker was married, in 1846, in the town of Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland, to Margaret Madden, a native of Tipperary, and at the time of their emigra- tion to this country their family consisted of three children. Four children blessed their union, viz: James, who died in Ire- land; Bridget; Michael, who was a bugler in the Second United States Regulars dur- ing the Civil war, and died at home soon

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afterward from the effects of exposure; and Mary, married and living in Illinois. The mother of these dying. Mr. Parker formed a second union with Mary Cummings, a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and they had five children : Leonard C., of Carlisle, mentioned below: Ellen, wife of James Mc- Cullough, of Carlisle : and Cecilia, Maggie, and John, all three deceased. The family unite with St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, of which Mr. Parker was sexton for ten years. In politics he has been a stanch Democrat.

LEONARD C. PARKER was born Nov. 21, 1856, in North East street. Carlisle, in Gil- more's row. He attended the public schools of the city, also receiving private instruc- tion, and at the age of sixteen commenced work at the iron molding trade, serving four years in the plant of Gardner, Beatty & Beetem. While there he took private in- structions preparatory to entering the priest- hood, from Fathers McKennan and Gorm- ley, but when his instructor left Carlisle he changed his views about entering the church. He has since been engaged at his trade in Carlisle, Middletown, Wilkesbarre, Scran- ton and other places, and for the past five years has been employed in the plant of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, at Steelton, Pa. By industry and good management Mr. Parker has succeeded in accumulating considerable property, and he is looked upon as a citizen of substance and worth wher- ever he goes, as well as in his home city. In politics, he is a Democrat, and his relig- ious connection is with St. Patrick's Church at Carlisle.

JACOB BARLEY, who for many years was one of the leading contractors and build- ers of North Middleton township, and is a man of considerable influence in his com-

munity, is a son of John G. Barley and grandson of Gotlieb Barley.

Gotlieb Barley was born in Germany, and in 1820 came to America, locating in York county, Pa., where he died. Upon settling in Pennsylvania he purchased land and became a very successful farmer. His children were: John G., Frederick, William, Christiana and Gotlieb, all deceased.

John G. Barley was born in Germany in 1808, and came to America with his father when he was twelve years of age. The voyage was made in a slow sailing ves- sel and took six months. After his arrival here he learned the milling trade in Lancas- ter county, with Benjamin Herr. He mar- ried Mary Ann Bott, daughter of Urich Bott, of Lancaster county, and after his marriage located in York county, where he remained a year, at the end of that time coming to Cumberland county and buying a farm in North Middleton township which comprised 100 acres. Later he purchased another tract of 100 acres, which adjoined his original purchase. His death occurred in 1883, and his wife died in 1872, and both are buried in North Middleton township. Their children were: John F. died in this township; Mary, widow of Michael An- thony, now residing in Carlisle; Jacob is mentioned below; Abraham died in Okla- homa : William died in Middlesex township; Barbara died in Middlesex township.

Jacob Barley was born in North Middle- ton township, Cumberland county, upon his father's farm, in 1838, and in that locality received a somewhat limited education. At the same time he learned the carpenter's trade, and when he went into business for himself he put up many of the most import- ant buildings in Cumberland, Perry and Dauphin counties, and was very successful in his work.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

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In 1861 Mr. Barley married Sarah Ann Waggoner, daughter of Jacob A. Waggoner, of Cumberland county, and located in North Middleton township with his father-in-law, but after four years he came to his present home, buying a tract of eighty-one acres. All of the excellent buildings upon it, in- cluding his house, he put up himself, and the premises are kept in excellent condition. Mrs. Barley passed away in 1866, and was buried in the township. Two children were born of this marriage: (1) Jennie E. mar- ried Harry Kell Sugart, who was killed March 28, 1904, a heavy wagon passing over him, and their children are Mand B., Gert- rude M., Ray J. C. and Helen V. (2) David E. died in North Middleton township when one and one-half years old.

In 1862 Mr. Barley enlisted in Company C. 158th P. V. I., and was located at New- Lern. N. C., but after ten months was hon- orably discharged at Chambersburg, Pa., and returned home, with the record of a brave and gallant soldier.

In politics Mr. Barley is a Democrat, has been assessor, auditor and judge of elec- tion, and has always taken a very active part in township affairs. In religious mat- ters he is a member of the Evangelical Church of North Middleton township, and he is a man who holds the esteem and confi- dence of all who know him. His daughter and her husband make his life very pleas- ant, and he is happy surrounded by his grandchildren, of whom he is justly proud.

CAPT. CHARLES S. DERLAND, a retired merchant of Boiling Springs, Cum- berland county, was born at Altoona, Blair Co., Pa., Oct. 16, 1840, a son of John and Mary ( Harpst) Derland, who died while he was quite young. They left but two chil- dren : Asbury, who was born in 1837, and

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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 42

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