Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 45

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 45

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

3II

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

tages as the subscription schools of the time and locality afforded, but they were quite meager, and as he was needed at home his boyhood had more of work than anything else in the way of training for life's respon- sibilities. After he reached his twenty-first year he took up studying by himself, in earn- est, and made considerable progress, so that he may well be ranked among the intelligent, well-informed men of his community. He learned the trades of miller and carpenter, and in 1868 moved to Martinsburg, W. Va., where he was engaged on wood work in a plow factory. In 1869 he returned to his native place, remaining there until 1873, when he went back to Martinsburg to work in the Baltimore & Ohio railroad shops. Leaving there in the spring of 1889 he lo- cated in Chambersburg, Pa., for a while, coming to Carlisle in September. 1891. Since his last removal from Martinsburg he has been engaged as carpenter and bridge builder on the Cumberland Valley railroad, and he has proved a most reliable workman wherever he has been engaged. Mr. Zim- merman is especially proficient in mathe- matics, and one winter made a key to Parks arithmetic.

In 1864 Mr. Zimmerman enlisted for service in Company B, 11th Md. V. I., in which he served as a private for one hundred days. His early home was not far from South Mountain, and he saw much of both armies throughout the conflict.

In 1860 Mr. Zimmerman married Miss Elizabeth Keller, and by that union there were five children, three of whom still sur- vive. On Sept. 8. 1891, he married for his second wife Miss Rebecca Redding, daugh- ter of Carvill H. Redding, and they make their home in Carlisle, where she has passed the greater part of her life. She was edu- cated in the public schools. Mr. Zimmer-

man was originally an earnest member of the United Brethren Church, in which he was an exhorter, but when the division oc- curred he united with the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which he is still a zealous worker.

WILLIAM ELMER RUTZ, 'farmer and dairyman of North Middleton township, Cumberland county, is one of the thrifty, progressive and respected citizens of his lo- cality. He is a native of the county, having been born July 27, 1855, on the Cave Hill Farm, near Carlisle, and is of German de- scent, his father and grandfather both hav- ing been born in Germany.

John Rutz, his father, for many years a prominent and respected citizen of North Middleton township, was born Feb. 13, 1827. and in 1851 came to this country from Ger- many, arriving March 3d. Locating in Cumberland county, Pa., he took a position as miller with William M. Henderson, in Carlisle, for whom he continued to work twenty years, and on leaving the mill he took up farming, settling upon the Cave Hill farm, where he passed the remainder of his days. Mr. Rutz was an energetic and intel- ligent man, and he served several terms as school director in his district. He married Susan Swanger, who was born Feb. 27, 1830, near Henderson's mill, and whose mother was a sister of Governor Ritner, of Pennsylvania. To this union were born six children, Clara, William E .. Anna, Lizzie, Harry and Ida. The members of this fam- ily all adhere to the faith of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Rutz passed away Oct. 1I, 1890, on the Cave Hill farm where he had made his home for so many years.

William E. Rutz received all his educa- tion in the district schools, and meantime was thoroughly trained in all the duties of

312

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

the farm. He remained with his father until he reached manhood, since when he has been engaged in farming on his own account, and he has met with uniform success. Of late he has also carried on dairying to some ex- tent. and he has found that branch quite profitable. Mr. Rutz has been honorable and upright in all his dealings, and has justly gained the esteem of his associates, whether in business or private life. He holds mem- bership in the First Lutheran Church of Car- lisle.

In the winter of 1882 Mr. Rutz married Miss Mary Ann Stone, daughter of John and Mary A. ( Shearer) Stone, the former of whom was born Dec. 11, 1826, in York county, Pa., came to Cumberland county about 1860, and died July 11. 1869. He was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Stone was born Dec. 1. 1824, and died May 29, 1884 . Besides Mary Ann, Mrs. Rutz. they had six children, namely: Catherine E., Peter. Anna, John, Harriet and Sarah Jane. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rutz: Grace May, born Oct. 27, 1883, who married David W. Diller ; Mary Almeda, born Sept. 11, 1885; William Millard, born Nov. 21, 1888; Sallie Jane, Nov. 7. 1891; Edward Leroy, Dec. 25, 1894; and Bessie Florence, Jan. 27, 1898. In political belief Mr. Rutz is a loyal supporter of the princi- ples promulgated by the Democratic party.

JOHN JACOB ERFORD has been a resident of Frankford township since 1898, and he has passedl all his life in Cumber- land county, having been born there July 5, 1839. He comes of one of the old families of the county, his grandfather, John Erford, having emigrated from Germany at an early dlay and taken up a large tract of land in East Pennsboro township, Cumberland Co., Pa., where he settled. His family consisted

of seven children, three sons-John, Jacob and Benjamin-and four daughters.

Jacob Erford, father of John Jacob, was born in 1806, and passed all his life on the home farm, dying there in 1855. He married Susanna Hoover, daughter of John Hoover, of South Middleton township, this county, and they became the parents of five children, namely: Julia Ann, born Feb. 8, 1837, mar- ried John Givler, who was killed while serv- ing in the army, and she subsequently be- came the wife of John Kiehl; she died in 1881. Jolin Jacob is mentioned below. Elizabetlı, born Dec. 3, 1842, is the wife of John Myers, and lives in West Fairview. Mary Matilda, born Nov. 4, 1845, is the wife of David Wolf, of Frankford township. Sarah Sophia, born Aug. 30, 1849, is the widow of Joseph Hess, and makes her home in East Pennsboro. Mrs. Susanna ( Hoover) Erford, the mother of this family, passed away in 1858.

John Jacob Erford was reared on the home farm, where he remained until eighteen years of age, assisting his father in his agri- cultural labors, and receiving such advan- tages as the local public schools afforded. He then attended the normal school at New- ville, and subsequently taught two winters, but farming has been his life work. For five years he was located in South Middle- ton township, and it was during his resi- dence there that he enlisted, in 1862, for service in the war of the Rebellion, on Aug. 16th of that year being enrolled as a mem- ber of Company A, 158th Regiment, P. V. I., under Gen. Foster. The command was sent to North Carolina, where Mr. Erford saw six months' service, guarding Little Wash- ington and taking part in a few skirmishes. He re-enlisted during the invasion of the Rebels in Pennsylvania, and was honorably discharged from the service at Chambers-

John D. Erford

313

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

burg, March 12, 1863. Returning to agri- cultural pursuits in South Middleton town- ship, he removed thence in 1867 to West Pennsboro township, where he also remained five years, and he made several other changes before settling on his father-in-law's place in Frankford township. He bought that farm, which consisted of 178 acres, and made his home thereon for sixteen years. meantime renting another farm which he owned. In 1898 Mr. Erford came to his present home in Frankford township, which he bought. and which is a twenty-one-acre tract ad- joining the old Darr homestead place. In the fall of 1903 he purchased the old Abra- ham Burkholder place, from E. E. Hoover, consisting of eighty-five acres. He has car- ried on general farming. and also raised and dealt in poultry, and has met with sub- stantial success in whatever he has under- taken, being regarded as one of the pros- perons farmers of his locality. Thrift and industry have enabled him always to have a good home. and to rear his family well, and by his upright life he has won and re- tained the esteem of his neighbors and made many friends, in every community in which he has resided. Though he has devoted the greater part of his time to his business af- fairs, he has ever taken an interest in the welfare of his town and has served ac- ceptably in various offices, having been jus- tice of the peace for over ten years, assistant assessor of Frankford township for one year, and assessor for three years. His political influence is given to the Democratic party.

On Jan. 1, 1861, Mr. Erford married Rebecca, daughter of John Darr, who died on the Darr farm, where, as previously stated, the Erford family lived for sixteen years. Ten children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Erford, of whom we have the follow- ing record : Sarah Ann, born Oct. 8, 1861,

married J. C. Mentzer, and they are living in Frankford township. Mary Elizabeth is the wife of Elias E. Hoover, of Frankford township. Emma Catherine, born Feb. 25, 1866, became the wife of Peter J. Sipe, and died in Frankford township. John Wesley died in West Pennsboro township when ten months old. Joseph Sylvester, born Oct. 24, 1869, married Elizabeth Katzmoyer, and they are living on the old homestead in Frankford township. William Francis. born March 6, 1872. married Lester Postma, and lives in Howard. Kans. Ida Jane, born Jan. 16, 1874, married Alfred W. Peterson, and they live in Iowa. Clara Eleanora, born Feb. 21, 1879, is the wife of David Mentzer, and lives in Akron, Iowa. Ella May, born May 27, 1881. is the wife of John E. Bar- ricks, and lives in Bloserville, Frankford township. Martha Blanche. born Jan. 17, 1885, is married to William H. Brean. a resident of South Middleton township, Cum- berland county.

In religious connection Mr. and Mrs. Erford are members of the United Evangeli- cal Church at Bloserville, Frankford town- ship, and they are well known and respected among the people of that congregation, in which they have been active workers.

JACOB S. LANTZ, who is living re- tired in his pleasant home in East Pennsboro township, was born in 1847. on the old Lantz homestead in this township, son of Jacob and grandson of Philip Lantz. The great grandfather was a native of Scotland.

Philip Lantz was the first of the family to settle in East Pennsboro township. where he bought a tract of 100 acres of good land which he farmed until the time of his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-six years, and he was buried in Zion Lutheran cemetery, the ground for this burying-place

314

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

being taken from Mr. Lantz's farm. His wife died here also, at the age of eighty- nine years. and was buried by his side. They had children as follows: Jacob; Catherine, who died in Hampden township, and was buried at Zion Lutheran Church ; and Philip, Mary and Eliza, all deceased and buried at the same place.

Jacob Lantz, father of Jacob S., was born in 1816, in East Pennsboro township, on the old homestead. His education was that afforded by the common schools, and he then learned the carpenter's trade and the undertaking, business, following the same, in connection with farming. for many years. In 1840 he married Elizabeth Swartz, daugh- ter of Andrew Swartz, and bought two tracts of land in East Pennsboro township, one of forty-eight and the other of fifty-two acres, on which he erected all the buildings. Later he bought a farm of eighty-three acres on which he lived until his death, in 1886. His widow lived until 1898 and was also buried at Zion Church. Both were consistent mem- bers of that church, in which Mr. Lantz had been superintendent of the Sunday-school and had held official position for years. In politics he was a Democrat. He was a man very highly respected in all the walks of life, solid and responsible. The only public office he was willing to accept was that of school director. The children of these worthy pe)- ple were: John, who married Mary Mann, (lied at the age of twenty-three and was buried with his ancestors in the Zion ceme- tery ; Catherine, who married David R. Baer, lives in Philadelphia; Jacob S. is mentioned below; Sarah, who married Joseph L. Best, lives in West Fairview ; and Mary died aged five years.

Jacob S. Lantz continued to attend the public schools until he was seventeen years of age and then took his father's place as

operator of the home farm, and also as- sisted in his other business. In 1871 he married Mary C. Shaffner, daughter of George and Christina Shaffner, of Harris- burg, the former of whom died in 1886 and the latter in 1867. Mr. Lantz remained on the home farm until 1892, when he went to Carlisle, where he was engaged in business for two and a half years. He then came back to the farm for five years, spent a year in Harrisburg, and in 1900 came to Fair- view, in 1903 purchasing his present very comfortable home, where he has since lived retired from business care. In politics Mr. Lantz is a Democrat, but he is not a seeker for office.

Mr. and Mrs. Lantz have had three chil- dren, namely: Martha V., who married Ellis Eckert, lives at Fairview, and has two children, Luther and Frederick ; Annie Eliz- abeth, who married William Baum, lives at West Fairview, and they have three children. Jacob L., William Harvey and Theodore R .; Maggie S. died in infancy. This is one of the old and representative families of the township, and its members belong to the most highly esteemed class of citizens.

HARPER B. ENCK, justice of the peace at Mt. Holly Springs, Cumberland county, is a native of Churchtown, this coun- ty, born May 22, 1867. He is a son of Reu- ben and Catherine ( Whitmer) Enck, both of whom are living at Churchtown.

(I) Henry Enck, his great-grandfather, came from Germany with a brother, and they located permanently in Lancaster coun- ty, Pennsylvania.

(Il) Henry Enck, the grandfather, was born in Lancaster county, was reared and married there, and by his first wife had one child, Henry, who is deceased. His second wife bore him children as follows: George

315

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

died in Cumberland county ; Jacob died in Cumberland county ; John died in Cumber- land county ; Elizabeth (deceased) was the wife of Samuel Bricker, of Cumberland county; Anna died unmarried: William is a farmer of York road, near Churchtown; Kate is unmarried: Hiram is a dealer of Churchtown: Mary is the widow of John Greegor, of Churchtown; Reuben is men- tioned below: Levi is a butcher of Church- town; Isaac is a farmer of Boiling Springs.

Henry Enck. the father of the above mentioned children, was the founder of the family in Cumberland county. and was one of its well-to-do residents, a successful farmer, and an active Republican. He took an influential part both as an officer and member of the German Reformed Church.

( III) Reuben Enck, the father of Harper B., was born in Lancaster county, and was reared upon the farm. His education was received in the public schools of Lancaster and Cumberland counties. When he reached manhood's estate he began agricultural life and became an extensive farmer. He was one of the progressive, public-spirited men of the county, a Republican in politics, and a member of the German Reformed Church, in which he was a member of the official board. He married Catherine Whitmer, who still survives, and they had children as fol- lows: Oliver Thomas died when about eight. years of age; William G. is a farmer near Bowmansdale; Harvey C. is a farmer on the homestead; Harper B. is mentioned below; Charles M. is a dealer of Church- town ; Elizabeth died in infancy.

(IV) Harper B. Enck was reared upon the farm, and was educated in the public schools and the select schools of the neigh- borhood. He finished his education with a course at the Shippensburg Normal School, and when only eighteen years of age began

teaching in the district schools of Cumber- land county. After four years of teaching in this county he went west to Illinois, and taught school for a year, when he returned to Cumberland county, and for ten years followed his profession. In 1894 he came to Mt. Holly Springs as a teacher in the Grammar school, and until 1899 was one of the most popular teachers of this place. Since then he has been teaching at Upper Holly. For the past fifteen years he has devoted himself to educational work. Dur- ing summers he has taken up agency work. and is the valued correspondent of the Daily Sentinel of Carlisle. He is one of the active supporters of all things tending toward the betterment of the community in general. In politics he is an active Republi- can, and in 1901 was elected justice of the peace. He has also served as township clerk. and a member of the Republican county central committee, still retaining the latter connection. Fraternally he is a member of the K. of P., Allen Lodge, No. 299; P. C .; of the I. O. O. F., Mt. Holly Lodge, No. 671, P. G .; of the Jr. O. A. M., No. 71. P. C.

On June 22, 1891, Mr. Enck was united in marriage with Miss Bella Martin, who was born at Good Hope, Cumberland coun- ty, in 1866, the accomplished daughter of John and Elizabeth Martin. Two children have been born to this marriage: Milton J .. who died at the age of five months; and Paul M. Mrs. Enck is one of the con- sistent members and active workers of the Lutheran Church, toward which Mr. Enck is a very liberal contributor.

As an educator, justice of the peace. politician and private citizen Mr. Enck stands very high in the community. Cum- berland county owes him much, for his un- tiring efforts in behalf of educational mat-

316

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

ters. Some of the most important im- provements made in the schools of his lo- cality can be directly traced to him, and he is very popular with his pupils, for he possesses the ability to impart knowledge in an easy, pleasant manner, while at the same time he teaches as well as hears lessons. . I.s a justice of the peace lie is making a most excellent record. Although one of the youngest justices of the peace in Cumber- land county, his decisions are received with commendation by those in the higher courts, and all who know this talented young man are convinced that a very brilliant future lies before him.

E. P. BURGETT. now engaged in farming about four and a half miles from Carlisle, in Dickinson township, Cumber- land county, was born April 16, 1867, son of Martin and Roseanna Burgett.

Martin Burgett was born in Germany April 30, 1827, and in 1833 was brought to America by his parents, settling in Perry county, Pa., near Blue Ball. On reaching manhood he engaged in farming, first in Middlesex township. Cumberland county, and then in Silver Spring township, re- maining in the latter place eleven years, af- ter which he came to Dickinson township, where for the past thirty-four years he has been on the Henderson farm, once known as the old Alexandra farm. For the past ten years he has been retired from active work. He married Roseanna Koch, who bore him twelve children, as follows: John ‹lied in infancy. M. L., of Middlesex town- ship, Cumberland county, married Emma Blossom, and has had the following chil- dlren-Lawrence, Homer (deceased), Mer- vin. John, Martin, Daisy, Almeda, Albert, Bernard, Gordon and Amy. Kate married Jacob Heiser, of Dickinson township, and

has four children. James M., Elmer, Elmira and Calvin. James D. married Annie Wet- zel and has two children, Mary and Rose. Isaac died at the age of sixteen years. Theo- dore, died at the age of eleven years. John W., of Dickinson township, married Elmira Wolfe, and has had three children, Hugh F., Mable ( deceased) and Martin (de- ceased). Sarah married John Lehman, of Dickinson township. and has two children, Clarence and William. David died at the age of seven years. E. P. is mentioned be- low. Michael died at the age of three years. Samuel C. married Katie Neely, and lives in Dickinson township, Cumberland county.

E. P. Burgett was born in Silver Spring township, and attended the district schools there and in Dickinson township, later at- tending Greason Academy for two terms. When about twenty years old he began to work for his father on the farm, and after a few years moved to Middlesex township, finally returning to Dickinson township and buying the old Ocker farm of twenty acres, where he still resides. He has greatly im- proved the property since it came into his possession by erecting new buildings and a fine barn and has cleared up the place gen- erally.

In 1890 Mr. Burgett married Minnie Swarner, daughter of John A. and Frances Swarner. They are both members of the Lutheran Church at Carlisle. In politics Mr. Burgett is a Democrat, and he has been active in local affairs, having served ac- ceptably as township clerk, and being now the township auditor. He is highly re- spected, and his.progressive spirit makes him a valuable member of the community.

HARRY S. MILLER, a trucker and florist of East Pennsboro township, Cum- berland Co., Pa., was born in July, 1864,

317

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

in Middlesex township, and came to Fast Pennsboro when a boy of fifteen years. He is a son of David Miller, a grandson of David Miller, and a great-grandson of David Miller, the latter of whom was born in Lampeter township, Lancaster Co .. Pa., where he operated a farm of 130 acres and lived to a great age. His grave is to be found at the Longenecker church in that township. He married twice, his second wife being a Denlinger, who is buried by the side of her husband. They had children as follows: Jacob, born in Lancaster county, came to Cumberland, where he farmed in Silver Spring township and died on his own property, being buried in the old Striekler graveyard in Middlesex township. The second child of David Miller. above mentioned, was David, the grandfather of our subject. The other five were: Isaac, born in Lancaster county, died there aged twenty years and was buried there. Mrs. Christian Myers died in Lancaster county. Mrs. ( Bear ) Buckwalter died and was buried in Lancaster county. Mrs. Catherine Heckman died and was buried in that coun- ty. as was Mrs. Susan Peoples.

Grandfather David Miller was born in Lampeter township, Lancaster county. where he received a district school education, and he married Mary Eshelman. daughter of Jacob Eshelman, of the lower end of Lan- caster county. He bought the old homestead in Lampeter township. made additions to the house and built a fine barn, and also built a factory at New Providence. In 1836 he came to Cumberland county and located in North Middleton township, about two miles south of Middlesex, where he bought a tract of 460 acres in two farms. Here he built a barn and improved the property, and here passed his last days, dying at the age of seventy-three years; he was interred in the

old Strickler graveyard. His widow sur- vived to the age of ninety years, and was buried in Middlesex. They had children as follows: Fannie married William Hastings and died in Cumberland county and was buried beside her parents; John married Lu- cetta Culver, died in 1866. at Cumberland, MId .. and is buried at Carlisle; Samuel, who married Isabella Evans, died at Bluffton, Mo .. aged eighty years, and was buried there: Eliza died at the age of five years ; David. father of H. S. Miller, is mentioned below : Abner married Elizabeth Stoner, now deceased. and lives at Waynesboro; Amos who married Catherine Stauffer, lives near Columbus, Ohio, and is a trucker and fruit grower. The father of this family was a faithful member of the Reformed Mennonite Church.

David Miller, father of H. S., was born Sept. 18. 1825, in Lampeter township, came to Cumberland county with his father when eleven years of age and attended the schools of North Middleton township. He started in the nursery business on his father's farm while still a young man, seeming to have a natural bent in that direction. In 1860 he embarked in the business extensively, plant- ing two hundred thousand young fruit trees of all kinds suitable to the climate, and fol- lowed the business for about twenty-five years. His operations were carried on on ninety acres which he had bought of the old homestead farm. Later he sold to H. S. Rupp. and then spent two years at Middle- sex. engaged in the manufacture of straw board and in burning lime. In 1875 he moved to South Middleton township, near Boiling Springs, where he followed general farming for three years and then moved for a year to Carlisle.

In 1879 Mr. Miller came to East Penns- boro township and embarked in the trucking

318

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

and florist business near Camp Hill, where he remained for twenty-four years. He still survives, and is much interested in the build- ing of a fine home on the turnpike road be- tween Lemoyne and Camp Hill.

In 1856 Mr. Miller was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Stauffer, a daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Ryder) Stauffer, form- erly of Franklin. Pa .. but later of Chambers- burg. Her parents both died in 1879, and so near together that they were buried at the same time and in the same grave, a cir- cumstance of such unusual occurrence that it deserves to be noted with the family his- tory. Their children were: Elsie married M. K. Hoffert, who is employed with the Scranton Commercial School, at present a resident of Harrisburg: Annie E. is resid- ing at home : Harry S. is mentioned below ; Walter married Stella Swords, and is the proprietor of a brass foundry on Chestnut street, in Lancaster City, and is engaged in the gold and silver plating business; Jessie married T. J. Opperman, who is a florist re- siding on the turnpike near Camp Hill.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 45

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