Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 46

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 46

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Harry S. Miller, one of the best known young business men of this section, was edit- cated in the East Pennsboro schools, where he was a bright, ambitious student. He doubtless inherited from his father his taste for florist and nursery work, and all his life has been interested in gardening and truck- ing. In 1892 he bought a tract of timber land of fifty-eight acres along the edge of the mountain, which he has transformed into a place of wonderful beauty. His home and other buildings, including greenhouses with some thirty thousand feet of glass, overlook the valley, the beautiful winding Susque- hanna and the city of Harrisburg lying be- low. Mr. Miller could scarcely have selected a more charming location, and has made it so attractive that nothing seems left to add.

He owns also two other fine houses in the township and is one of its most substantial citizens.

ABRAM A. BOWMAN, one of the representative residents of Silver Spring township, Cumberland county, was born in Fairview township, York county, Pa., Nov. 27, 1851, a son of Abraham and Mary (Hart) Bowman, also residents of York county.

Grandfather John Bowman was born in Lancaster county, Pa., where he followed the occupation of farming. He married a Miss Hurr, of the same county, and nine children were born to them : Christian mar- ried Miss Coover, of Carroll township, York county ; John married a Miss Groft, of York City; Abraham was the father of Abram A .; Henry married Miss Goodyear and re- sided at Churchtown; Martha married Aaron Firestone and resided in York coun- ty; Fanny married John Baker, who re- sided near Churchtown; Mary remained un- married, at home; Annie married Joseph Plough, a retired farmer living at Church- town; Hetty remained unmarried and died in Churchtown.

Abraham Bowman, son of John, and father of Abram A., was born in Lancas- ter county, and when still a child was taken to Carroll township, York county. He re- ceived a fair education in the schools of York county, and after leaving school worked upon his father's farm for some time, but later went into the distilling busi- ness with his father and brother John. They continued this business for a great many years, and were very successful. Abraham Bowman married when thirty-one years of age, Miss Mary Hart, daughter of Jacob Hart, of Fairview township, York county, and four children came to this marriage:

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Martha C. unmarried, is at home ; John H. married Alice Best, of Lower Allen town- ship; Abram A. is mentioned below ; Mary A. unmarried, is at home.

Abram A. Bowman received his educa- tion in the common schools of Lisburn, at- tending until he was seventeen years of age. After finishing school he worked upon the farm with his father until he was ready to begin farming for himself, in the spring of 1875. near Eberly's Mills, in Fairview township, York county. On Jan. 26, 1875. he married Miss Elizabeth Eberly, daugh- ter of Samuel and Fanny (Garver ) Eberly, of Sporting Hill, Cumberland Co., Pa., and two children have been born to them : Bertha E., who died in infancy; and Samuel A., who holds a lucrative position with the Cum- berland Valley Railroad Co., at Mechanics- burg.

Mr. Bowman has devoted the greater portion of his time to farming, but was a resident of Mechanicsburg for nearly seven years, and has conducted an agricultural implement business in that city for fifteen years. He has traveled extensively during this time, and has met with gratifying re- sults. In politics Mr. Bowman is a Republi- can, and he takes an active part in cam- paigns. In the spring of 1903 he was elected township supervisor of Silver Spring town- ship, which is overwhelmingly Democratic. Fraternally he is a thirty-second-degree Mason, and he is a member of the Masonic lodges at both Harrisburg and Carlisle, and is past master of the lodge at Mechan- icsburg. At present - Mr. Bowman lives on a fine farm of 128 acres in Silver Spring township, near New Kingston, where he has made his home for fifteen years. The house he resides in was built in 1774 by a Mr. Junkins, and is a marvel of construction, all of the work being done by hand. Mr. Bow-

man is one of the solid, responsible, reliable men of Cumberland county, and one whose enterprise and public-spirit well fit him to be a leader.

JOHN R. ROUSH, now a prosperous farmer on the old Roush homestead in Dick- inson township, Cumberland county, where he was born, is a son of George and Leah (Peffer) Roush, in their day well-to-do farming people.

George Roush was born in Cumberland county, near Newville, and in the district schools of that vicinity obtained his educa- tion. In early manhood he came to Dickin- son township, and purchased the old Peffer homestead of 117 acres, on which he made .many improvements, and where he died in March, 1900, at the advanced age of ninety- seven years. He married Leah Peffer, who bore him the following children: Jane M., T. Jefferson, Catherine, Martha, Sarah E. and John R.

John R. Roush was born April 7, 1844, and makes his home on his birthplace. He attended the schools of the neighborhood, and under his father's tuition mastered all the duties appertaining to farm work. At the death of the latter he purchased the farm, and has since been engaged in its cultivation, meeting with great success in his undertak- ing. His land is fertile, and being cared for in a practical manner yields excellent re- turns for the work expended upon it.

In 1866 John R. Roush was married to Miss Maria C. Peffer, daughter of Lafayete and Jane Ann Peffer, and to their union have come children as follows: Gertrude B. mar- ried Calvin Hefflefinger, of Huntsdale, Penn township, Cumberland county; Minnie C. married Edward Swarner, who died within a few years, a good Christian man, and she now lives in Carlisle; George P. married

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Clara Stambaugh, and lives in Dickinson township; Ethie J. married Edward Rice, and lives in Cumberland county; John W. is at home: Annie L. married Wilber P. Roctey, and resides in South Middleton township; William A. and Jessie M. are at at home. Mr. Roush has been active in local affairs, and for fourteen years has served most acceptably as school director in his dis- trict. He is a believer in purity in politics, and has endeavored to cast his vote for men whose lives have been clean. His political belief is that of the Democratic party.

JOHN ETTER, a well known farmer of Cumberland county, comes of a family of successful agriculturists .. He was born in South Middleton township Feb. 25, 1831, and is of German ancestry, his great-grand- father having come from Germany and lo- cated in Lancaster county, Pa., where he reared his family. The grandfather of John Etter learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed in connection with farming all his life. Of his children there is record as follows: John and Isaac both died in Lan- caster county; Samuel became the father of John; Susan and Ann died in Lancaster county.

Samuel Etter was born in Lancaster county Feb. 6, 1806, and received such educa- tion as could be obtained in the schools of that day and neighborhood, his attendance being limited to such times as his services were not needed at home. He learned the trade of weaver in York county, Pa., and for twenty-five years was engaged in that line, also carrying on farming. In 1826 he came to Cumberland county and purchased a farm in South Middleton township, where he lived until his death, in 1872. He married Bar- bara Sollenberger, daughter of John and Barbara Sollenberger, of Cumberland con-

ty; and she died in South Middleton town- ship in 1863. Their two children were Annie and John. The daughter, born July 27, 1826, married Samuel Ginter, of York county, Pa., and they both died in South Middleton township.

John Etter received the benefits of a pub- lic school education. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the cooper's trade with John Enck, of Monroe township, following that occupation for fifteen years, chiefly, how- ever, in the winter seasons. Like his father and grandfather before him, Mr. Etter might have many different ways of earning a good livelihood, but he would always keep his farm work in the foreground. After his marriage he located on the old homestead in South Middleton, and at his father's death became the owner of the farm, on which he made many improvements, remaining there until he was forty-eight years of age. Going then to Dickinson township, he bought a tract of 1511/2 acres, upon which he lived for three years, moving thence to Hunts- dale, where he lived retired for two years. Returning to Dickinson township, he re- mained there six years, and on May 7, 1885, went back to Huntsdale, but stayed there only a short time when he moved to the stone house in Dickinson township, living there one year retired. After one year in Harrisburg, and three years more in Dickin- son township, he in 1897 returned to the old home in South Middleton, at the end of four years moving to his present fine farm of 109 acres, where he is leading a quiet life. He enjoys the respect of all who know him.

Mr. Etter has been twice married. His first wife, Sarah Rebbert, died May 7, 1885. the mother of children as follows: Samuel. who married Annie Brindell, and lives in South Middleton township; Mary, who died

MR. AND MRS JOHN ETTER

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at the age of three years; Barbara, who mar- ried Daniel Shenk, and lives in Huntsdale, Pa .; Jolin, who married a Miss Gipple, and lives in Silver Spring township; and Abra- ham, who married a Miss Kitzmiller, and lives in Penn township. In 1892 Mr. Etter married for his second wife Catherine (Hosler) Vogle, of Dauphin county, a most estimable woman, who was the widow of Jo- seph Vogle. Mr. Etter is a Republican in politics, while his religious connection is with the German Baptist Church.

WILLIAM H. SHERIFF, wagonmaker and farmer of Silver Spring township, Cum- berland county, and a man widely respected, is a native of this community, having been born in the vicinity of his present home Sept. 29, 1854. We have but little record of his ancestry. The family came originally from Germany, and his father, Conrad Sheriff, was born in Perry county, Pa., where he was reared. Attaining his majority, he learited the trade of a mason, and followed it for about thirty years. He married Mary Comp, and to them were born children as follows : William H. is mentioned again; Catherine married D. A. Stoner, a carpenter and miller of Cumberland county, and had children- Mary (married John Campbell, of Perry county, and who had Lee, at home, and Emelia, who died recently), and George Stoner ( who married Miss Elizabeth Cap, of Silver Spring township, and had children -Muryl Adams, Catherine, Frances and Cletus).

William H. Sheriff received his educa- tion in the common schools of Silver Spring attending until he was fifteen, at which time he was employed as a laborer. continuing thus for six years. He then began learn- ing the trade of wagonmaking, and has fol- lowed it up to the present time : he and his

family reside upon a well-cultivated farm of sixteen acres.

On May 20, 1876, Mr. Sheriff married Mrs. Mary Ann (Hartman) Williams, daughter of John and Mary ( Burns) Hart- man, of York county. Two children have blessed this marriage: Florence, wife of Herman Smith, of Perry county, has had two children, Elsie (at home) and Jessie Belle ( who died in infancy) ; Mary, wife of John Stoner, of Cumberland county, has one child, Alna, at home. Mrs. Sheriff was born in York county Feb. 11, 1854, and ob- tained her education in the schools of that county. After leaving school she was em- ployed for several years, and then married Josiah Williams, also of York county. One child was born to them, John, who married Bessie Stevens, of Cumberland county, and has four children, Zelma, Mary, Gladys and Ruby, all at home.

While not affiliated with any religious denomination Mr. Sheriff has a leaning to- ward the United Brethren, supporting that church and attending its services. Mrs. Sheriff is a member of the Bethel Church of God. Mr. Sheriff has been a lifelong Demo- crat, but has never aspired to any political office. He is a man widely respected for his many excellent traits of character, and is hardworking and industrious, while his wife is a model housekeeper and a tender and loving wife and mother.

WILLIAM H. LINE, who has recently taken up his home in Carlisle, comes of one of the oldest and most respected families of Cumberland county. He is a great-grand- son of George Line, a native of Switzerland who emigrated from that country to America about 1710, when a young boy. The family settled in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and married, in Lancaster county,

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Salome Zimmerman. Their children were: William, who served in the Revolutionary war: David, who remained in Lancaster county; Abraham, grandfather of William H .: John, who married Anna B. LeFevre, and lived on the family homestead in Cum- berland county until his death: Elizabeth, Mrs. McFeely; Sarah, Mrs. Houk; and Su- sanna, Mrs. Smith. The daughters all set- tled in Cumberland county. In 1778 George Line, the father of this family, came from Lancaster county to Dickinson township, Cumberland county, and purchased 540 acres of land from Gen. John Armstrong, liere passing the remainder of his life.

Abraham Line, grandfather of William H., married Christina Eby, and their chil- dren were as follows: Abram, William, Gabriel, George, Henry, Ann (Mrs. Ca- rothers). Sarah (Mrs. Kurtz), Susan (Mrs. Tritt), and Betsy (Mrs. LeFevre). Wil- liam became the founder of Linesville, Craw- ford County, Pa., and Henry was also a very influential citizen of his community.

George Line, son of Abraham and father of William H., was born March 5, 1801, and clied Sept. 9. 1877. He married Miss Re- becca Myers, daughter of Jacob and Susan Myers, and they became the parents of nine children, namely: Abram, who is deceased; George, deceased; Rebecca, Mrs. Long; a twin sister of Rebecca, who died in infancy ; Jacob Zitzer, a well-known farmer near Car- lisle: Annie, Mrs. Lindsey; William H., who is mentioned below ; Agnes, Mrs. Allen ; and Mollie, who is deceased. Mrs. Line sur- vived her husband, and resided in Carlisle, Cumberland county, until her death.

William H. Line was born in 1859 at a place situated on the Spring road in Dick- inson township, the old Line homestead. He received his education in the public school of the locality, attending the Spring school until

nineteen years of age, after which he devoted all his time to work on the home farm. He continued to live on that place for eleven years after his marriage, in 1895 moving to his late home, the old Galbraith farm of 133 acres near Mooredale, which he had pur- chased in 1886. He fenced in the entire tract, and made all the other improvements which now enhance the value of the place, and he lived there for seven years, since which time he has rented it out. Removing from the farm to Carlisle, he was located for two years on North Hanover street, and in 1904 bought the fine home at the corner of College and North streets where he now lives. Since his removal to Carlisle he has been successfully engaged in carpenter work. In fact, he is a man who has met with suc- cess all his life, for he is thrifty and indus- trious, and energetic in pursuing anything he undertakes, with excellent results.

On Nov. 14, 1883, Mr. Line was mar- ried to Miss Eunice P. Kissinger, daughter of George and Maria (Myers) Kissinger, of Cumberland county, and this union has been blessed with one child. Laura Emma, born Dec. 21, 1889, who died Aug. 25. 1895, in Dickinson township. Mr. and Mrs. Line are members of the First Lutheran Church of Carlisle, and he is a Prohibitionist in po- litical sentiment.

DANIEL HOY. The earliest ancestor of record in this branch of the Hoy family is John Hoy, the paternal grandfather of Dan- iel Hoy, who moved from Berks to Dau- phin county, where he followed the occupa- tion of farming. He was the father of twelve children, six sons and six daughters : Jacob, Henry, John, Peter, Christian, Daniel, Sallie, Mary, Susan, Leah and two whose names are not known.

Henry Hoy, son of John, and father of

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Daniel, received his education in the com- mon schools of Dauphin county, where he was born. When twenty-five years of age he married Miss Julia Ann Rumbarger. daughter of Adam Rumbarger, a resident of Dauphin county, near Uniontown, and six children blessed their union: (1) Han- nalı married John Kiehl, of Carlisle, and had seven children : George married Eliza Quig- ley; William died in the West ; John Wesley died in Altoona ; Philip married Anna Smith, and lives in Carlisle; Mary died in child- hood; Jane and Edward are unmarried and at home. (2) Adam married Sarah Shank, daughter of David Shank, of Silver Spring township, and they had ten children : John Wesley, living in North Middleton town- ship; Elizabeth, who died when two and a half years old; David, a blacksmith of Sul- phur Springs; Tolbert, who was killed at Steelton ; Samuel, at home; Margaret, mar- ried to John Brown, of North Middleton township; Jesse Addison, who died in in- fancy ; Rebecca, married to Wesley Fiester, of Steelton; Rose, married to George Greiner and living in Steelton; and Sarah, who married Henry Stringfellow, of Carlisle. (3) William married Martha Smith, daugh- ter of Isaac Smith, of Middlesex township, and of the eight children born to them six are living, twins having died: Henry lives in Steelton; Albert lives in Harrisburg; Clarence lives at home ; Jolin lives at home ; Irene married Charles Schlebach, and lives in Harrisburg; Mabel lives at home. (4) Daniel is our subject. (5) John Henry married Amanda Schaeffer, of Dillsburg, and they are the parents of six liv- ing children: Mervin married Lubertha Jackson, of Carlisle, and lives in Me- chanicsburg; Harvey is a telegraph operator; Mattie married Otis Bender, and they live in York; " Grace, Pearl

and Eva are at home. (6) Julia A. mar- ried Isaac Brubaker, of Lancaster county, and they had three children: May (who died at the age of eighteen years), Walter and Robert.

Daniel Hoy was born in Dauphin coun- ty, Pa., Jan. 8, 1848, and received his educa- tion in the common schools of Silver Spring township, attending until he was sixteen years of age. He then worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty-four, after which he learned the tanning trade, fol- lowing same until he was about twenty- eight. In the meanwhile his father died, and Daniel returned to the farm and con- ducted it for his mother and sister. Thus he continued for three years more, when for a year he engaged in tanning, having sold the homestead, but he then purchased the farm he now owns, and resided upon it for eight years. He then purchased a tannery which he operated for fifteen years, when he returned to his farm, and has here made his home for the past six years. Mr. Hoy cul- tivates 138 acres of land, all of which is highly improved and yields excellent returns upon the investment.

On Oct. 24. 1875, Mr. Hoy married Margaret Jane Babble, daughter of Henry C. and Isabella (Wertz) Babble, of Middle- sex township, and seven children have been born of this union: Bertha Florence mar- ried Abraham Greisinger, a farmer of Silver Spring township; Emma Catherine married Christian Myers, of Silver. Spring, and has one child, Robert; Blanche Ellen, Robert Henry, Ember and Nevin are all at home.

Mr. Hoy is a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, of which he is trustee. He has been a lifelong Democrat, and held the office of school director for a number of years, and in 1900 was a popular candidate for nomination for the office of

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sheriff. His success in his various occupa- tions is largely due to the fact that he is a man of thrifty habits, energetic and enter- prising, and has worked faithfully and in- dustriously. He is a good provider, taking a pride in his home and family, and can be truly said to be a thoroughly representative citizen of Cumberland county.

W. H. GIBB, the popular blacksmith at Barnitz, Cumberland county, comes of sub- stantial German ancestry. His grandfather, Henry Gibb, was born in 1777 in Lancaster county, and there received a limited educa- tion in such schools as the neighborhood afforded. During the war of 1812 he was in the service of his country. and when he returned home at the cessation of ho'stilities he worked at blacksmithing. In 1840 he located at Barnitz. Cumberland county, where he continued until a short time before his death, which occurred at Carlisle in 1861. His children were: John. deceased; Henry, deceased; Elizabeth Wilson, de- ceased ; Susanna, deceased ; William ; H. H .; Fannie; and David, Viola and George, all cleceased.

William Gibb, son of Henry, was born in Lancaster county, where the public schools afforded him his literary training. He was seventeen years of age when his father moved to Cumberland county, and he learned the blacksmith's trade in his father's shop at Barnitz, later working at same with C. Carmon, at Mooredale, Dickinson township. In 1860 he went to Carlisle, and there for four years carried on his trade, at the end of that time removing to Canton, O. While in Ohio he was also employed by the Buck- eye Reaper Manufacturing Co. At the end of a few years he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he still resides. He married M. Ma- tilda Simpson, of Lancaster county, and

three children came to bless their union : W. H .; John S., who married Annie Hepkin, daughter of Samuel Hepkin ( their son Jo- sephi, as a member of Company 1, 47th Pennsylvania Reserves, saw service in the Spanish-American war at San Juan, and later served in the Philippines) ; and James B., who died at the age of two years.

W. H. Gibb was born in South Middle- ton township. Cumberland county, in 1853. and received a good education in the schools of Carlisle and in Middlesex township. At the age of nineteen years he began to learn the trade of blacksmith with his uncle, John Gibb, at Barnitz, and after serving his time started in business for himself in Dickinson township. At the end of a successful two years he bought out his uncle's place of busi- ness at Barnitz, where he is found to-day. actively engaged at his trade. He has built a new shop, and has made all the improve- ments necessary for a thoroughly up-to-date blacksmith establishment. Being a natural mechanic, his wonderful ability in his chosen line has made his name known throughout the county, and his reputation for thorough- ness in his work has won him patronage from far and near. He is the typical black- smith, jovial in disposition, the perfection of physical strength, and absolutely honest in word and deed.

On July 25, 1878, Mr. Gibb was married to Julia Ann Peffer, daughter of Lafayette and Susanna Peffer, the ceremony being per- formed at Harrisburg, by Rev. Lee Himan. Their home was brightened by the fol- lowing children: John Lee, born Jan. 8. 1879, married Blanche Neely, of Adams county, Pa., and is engaged in the printing business at Mt. Holly ; Charles Peffer, born March 28, 1886, died Feb. 22, 1887; Galey G., born March 19, 1887, carried the mail at Barnitz. Mrs. Julia A. (Peffer) Gibb

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died Jan. 1, 1888, at the age of thirty-four years, and is buried in the Mt. Holly ceme- tery. On Sept. 22, 1892, at Carlisle, Mr. Gibb was married, by Rev. J. C. Reaser, to Maggie E. Rohn, daughter of Thomas and Mary Jane ( Clepper ) Rohn. Two children have been born of this union, Robert H. and Elsworth J., both attending school in Dick- inson township. In his political belief Mr. Gibb is a stanch Democrat, and he has been active in local affairs, serving as school di- rector for a number of years. He and his family attend the Methodist Church at Bar- nitz, where they are highly esteemed.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GARMAN, a prosperous farmer of Silver Spring town- ship, Cumberland county, and one of the leading men of his vicinity, was born on the Garman homestead Nov. 13. 1859.

The earliest ancestor of whom there is any definite record is John Garman. his grandfather, who lived at Allisons Hill, near Harrisburg, Dauphin county, whence he moved in 1838 to the place on which our subject now re- sides, and began the occupation of farming. John Garman was married to Miss Elizabeth Berriger, of Dauphin county, and became the father of the following named children: Samuel married Betsy Voglesong. of Silver Spring township. John married Miss Loose, of Silver Spring town- ship, had four children by that union, and for his second wife married Mrs. Finkenbinder, by whom he had two children. Benjamin married Hannah Susan Albright, of Perry county, and had three children. Michael be- came the father of our subject. Hetty mar- ried Daniel Handshew, and they had one child; eleven months from the date of their marriage the husband died, and Hetty later married David Shank, of Shippensburg, 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 46

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