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 58
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William A. Ziegler worked with his father on the farm from the time he was a mere boy, but he was also sent to the district school every winter until he was twenty-one, so that he received a good education. After his marriage he rented the home from his father for eleven years, remaining there until 1884, when he bought his present farm of seventy-two acres in Middlesex township. About two years ago he added 157 acres, and has since then carried on the two farms together.
On April 3, 1873, Mr. Ziegler was united in marriage to Miss Miranda Jane Ziegler, his cousin, daughter of Samuel Ziegler. Her mother was Elizabeth F., a daughter of Henry and Rachel ( Fackler ) Hoch, and was born on what is now the Nieswanger farm in Middlesex township. There were eight chil- dren in the family, of whom Mrs. Ziegler was the next to the youngest: Maria. de- ceased: Rachel C., who married V. B. Gif- fin, of Atlantic City, N. J. : Annie, deceased ; Keziah, deceased; Harry H .. a farmer in
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Middlesex township. married to Mary C. Wagner: Joseph K., a farmer, married to Amelia Jenkins : Miranda Jane ; and Samuel, deceased. Mrs. Ziegler is the mother of nine children. namely: Maude. born April 18, 1874. deceased in infancy: Cora B., who died in infancy : Norman V. B., born Dec. 20, 1875. now in the hardware business in Atlantic City: Alverna M .. born Sept. 13, 1877. a music teacher and the organist of the Carlisle Springs Church : Albert L., born Jan. 14. 1879. and Harry H .. April 29, 1882, both at home; Clarence H., May 29, 1885, now deceased; Jesse C., Dec. 2, 1886, at home, a substitute mail carrier ; and Ray- mond L., born July 6, 1891.
Mr. Ziegler and his wife are both mem- bers of the First Lutheran Church of Car- lisle. In politics he has always been a Dem- ocrat, has been actively interested in local affairs, and has held several official posi- tions. For several years he was township assessor and served as justice of the peace fifteen years. In September, 1903, he was appointed a mail carrier in the rural free delivery service. Mr. Ziegler has always been most faithful and efficient in the dis- charge of his varied duties, and is highly re- garded by the friends and neighbors among whom his whole life has been passed.
A. E. BRADLEY. Among the enter- prising young farmers of South Middleton township, Cumberland county, who have materially aided in the development of this section of the Keystone state, is A. E. Brad- ley, who was born Nov. 13, 1866, son of Abram and Amanda Bradley.
Thomas Bradley, the father of Abram, and grandfather of A. E. Bradley, was a farmer and miller, who died in South Mid- dleton township. Abram Bradley was born: in Lancaster county, and educated in the
common schools. In 1854 he was married and commenced farming on the family homestead. He became quite prominent in his community, acting on the school board of South Middleton township for many years. He died Nov. 7, 1869, highly esteemed by all who knew him. His children were: . 1 E., Thomas J., Anna, Sarah and Amanda, the last two now deceased.
A. E. Bradley was educated in the schools of his neighborhood, and at the age of eighteen years left school, that in con- junction with his brother, Thomas J .. he might attend to the farm, which their father had left to the widow and children. These brothers conduct the homestead, and have an excellent farm, and are numbered among the leading agriculturists of this locality.
On Dec. 25, 1890, A. E. Bradley was united in marriage with Emma Rice, daugh- ter of David S. and Mary Rice. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brad- ley, Eva A. and Mary E., both of whom are now attending school in South Middleton township, this county, and are very bright and promising little girls. In political be- lief both Mr. Bradley and his brother are stanch Democrats, and both have given good service to their party and community by serving in township offices, performing their duties with marked fidelity and ability.
WILLIAM H. STONESIFER, auc- tioneer and prominent citizen of Carlisle, Pa., was born Jan. 17, 1850, son of William J. and Eliza ( Freitz) Stonesifer, both na- tives of Carroll county, Maryland.
The Stonesifer family is of old German extraction, and was founded in America at an early day, the ancestor taking a grant of land from the Penns, near York, Pa. The father of our subject was in his eighty-first year when he died; his father Daniel was
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eighty-four years of age at his death, while the great-grandfather was eighty-six years old when he died, so that it may be seen the family is noted for longevity.
Daniel Stonesifer served on the bench as judge in one of the counties of Mary- land, was one of the leading members of the Bar of that State, and was noted for his considerate and courteous bearing, and dignified presence. He was married twice. the maiden name of his first wife being also Stonesifer, and by her he had the following children: Augustus, a prosperous miller ; William J .; Jesse, who died soon after serv- ing through the Civil war: Henry, who died in Lewisberry. By his second wife Mr. Stonesifer also had children, nearly all of whom live in the South.
William J. Stonesifer, son of Daniel, was born and reared in Carroll county, Md., but after his marriage he came to Monroe town- ship, Cumberland Co., Pa., and engaged in farming. Early in life he was a Republican, but later became a Democrat. The follow- ing children were born to him: Ishmeal, of Duncannon, an extensive butcher ; Martin L., deceased; William H .; Newton K., a brewer of Williamsport, Pa .; James C., of Wilmington, Del., in the employ of the Pull- man Car Company; John, a hotel man at Williamsport. In religious views the father was a member of the German Reform Church while the mother was a Lutheran.
Like many country boys, William H. was reared to work at agricultural pursuits, and was educated in the public schools, and at Dickinson College. Soon, thereafter, he dis- covered his vocation in life, and became an auctioneer, and has made a great success of this line of business. He covers a large tract of territory, and handles all kinds of mer- chandise, buying and selling anything from a rolling pin to a complete stock of merchan-
dise in any portion of the country. His salesrooms are conveniently located at No. 36 North Hanover St., and he also has large warerooms and storage facilities, he renting the latter. Mr. Stonesifer als : at- tends all the horse sales within a radius of 300 miles, as well as conducting sales him- self. He also auctions off all kinds of per- sonal property or real estate, and is ac- knowledged to be the best in his line of busi- ness in this portion of the State. Mr. Stone- sifer is a member and director of the Build- ing & Loan Association of Carlisle, and is also a director of the Agricultural Society.
Mr. Stonesifer was twice married, first in 1872 to Miss Emma Glass, who bore him two children : Charles F., of Newark, N. J., a traveling representative of the Chautauqua, and married to Miss Maud Thomas, of Wil- liamsport ; and Harry F., of Williamsport. The second wife of Mr. Stonesifer, whom he wedded May 6, 1903, was Annie Rauda- baugh, of Harrisburg. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stonesifer are very prominent in the good work of the First Lutheran Church of the city, and they are most highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. The family resi- dence is at No. 36 North Hanover street, Carlisle.
J. W. MILLER, one of the enterprising residents of South Middleton township, Cumberland county, was born Sept. 24, 1860, son of Jacob A. and Anna Miller.
Jonathan Miller, his grandfather, came of German descent and spent his life in Adams county, near Idaville, with the ex- ception of his latter years which were passed at Mt. Holly Springs, where his death oc- curred at the age of sixty-three years.
Jacob Miller, son of Jonathan, and father of J. W. Miller, was born in Adams county, and there educated in the public schools. He
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learned the mason's trade, and followed it for a few years quite successfully. In 1857. he married Anna Wolf, and then engaged in farming near York Springs. Adams county. However. in 1867. he removed to Cumber- land county, and settled in South Middleton township. Seven children were born to him- self and wife, five boys and two girls : Frank Miller, deceased : J. W. : Sarah F .. who mar- ried George H. Tanger; Elmer. deceased ; S. W .. of Chicago: Anna M., who married I. N. Brenneman, and resides at Mt. Holly Springs : and Irvin F., who married Annie Snavely, and lives at Mt. Holly Springs.
J. W. Miller was also born in Adams county and he attended the schools in the neighborhood of his home. When eighteen years of age he left school, and commenced working on his father's farm, thus continu- ing until he was twenty-two. at which time he married Martha C. Tanger, daughter of George and Magdalene Tanger. Four chil- dren were born to them : Norman C. : Lloyd F., working for his father as a florist ; Mary B., at home attending school ; Lawrence E., at home attending school. Mrs. Miller died in 1900, a charming lady, kind and hospita- ble and a devoted wife and mother.
1
On Dec. 24. 1902. Mr. Miller married ( second ) Emma D. Miller, who though bearing the same name was no relation. She is a native of Carlisle, and a daughter of Peter' and Mary A. Miller. the former a well known baker of the above city.
About 1896. Mr. Miller, who until then had been a farmer of South Middleton town- ship. engaged in business as a florist, and found it so profitable, that he is still engaged in that line, aided by his sons. Ilis is one of the best establishments in his line throughout the State, and he ships to all the northern States, doing a very large business, which is constantly increasing. The family live on a
farm of ten acres, pleasantly situated about five miles southeast of Carlisle. Mr. Miller and his sons are well and favorably known as good citizens and excellent business men, and they have many friends throughout a wide territory.
GREASON. The name Greason is spelled several different ways. The earliest form is Grayson, but in Cumberland county the later generations of the family spell it Greason.
Like a great many of Pennsylvania's old and honored families. the Greasons are of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and settled in Cumberland county more than a hundred and twenty years ago. According to the records William Greason was in East Pennsboro township as early as 1782, and Robert Greason in Carlisle as early as 1789. They may have been in the county even earlier, but in the years named the assessors of their respective districts first enrolled them as taxpayers. They were intelligent, progressive citizens, and men of affairs. The two in all proba- bility were brothers, although it does not with absolute certainty appear that they were. In October, 1801, Robert Greason was elected sheriff of Cumberland county and very satisfactorily served his full term. Sheriff Robert Greason died between the years 1808 and 1811, and there is no record at hand to indicate that he left any family. In December, 1808. there died at Ft. Wayne, then a military post on our western frontier, William Greason, an ensign in the United States army. This William Greason's par- ents, it was said at the time, lived in Carlisle, and as Sheriff Robert Greason was the only person of that name then on the Carlisle tax list, this young man was, no doubt, his son.
William Greason, who settled in East
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Pennsboro, married Agnes Wangh, a men- ber of a family then numerous and promi- nent in that part of Cumberland county. East Pennsboro township then included all of the territory on the north side of the county from the Stony Ridge to the Susque- hanna river, and the particular locality within its bounds in which Mr. Greason lived was on a stream that rises at the foot of the North Mountain, just east of the Stony Ridge, and flowing southward empties into the Conodoguinet creek, in what is now Silver Spring township. Sixty years ago this stream was known as Dawson's Run, and later for many years it was known as Breneizer's Run. Here William Greason lived for a period of twenty years, and was engage:l at farming and distilling. During part of that time he also had a gristmill, and later a fulling-mill. and, judging from the amount of property that was assessed in his name, he must have been an important busi- ness and social factor in that part of the county. He died about the year 1803. and the land and stills, and grist and fulling- mills, which had stood on the tax list in the name of William Greason, at the next as- sessment appeared in the name of James Greason. Esq.
James Greason, Esq., son of William and Agnes (Waugh) Greason, was born Nov. 25. 1776, but the place of his nativity is somewhat in doubt. One authority has it that he was born in Cumberland county, but it does not appear that his parents were in Cumberland county that early. What other children William and Agnes ( Waugh) Greason had can not at this date be ascer- tained. James Greason was educated at Dickinson College, from which institution he graduated in 1795. After leaving col- lege he studied law, and was admitted to the Cumberland county Bar. On Nov. 10, 1803.
James Greason married Polly Greason, who formerly was Miss Mary Carothers, Rev. Dr. Davidson, pastor of the' Presbyterian Church at Carlisle, performing the cere- mony. He began his married life on the property in Silver Spring which he inherited from his father, but only remained a few years. In .April, 1805. he bought at sheriff's sale a one-sixth interest in 330 acres of land lying in West Pennsboro township. Abont the year 1810 he removed to West Penns- boro, and from time to time added to his first purchase until he owned about Soo acres of land in one continnous tract. During his lifetime he erected buildings and otherwise improved the different farms included in this large tract, making of it a very valuable and beautiful estate. This land lies where now is located the village of Greason, which was founded by John Greason, one of James Greason's sons.
James and Mary (Carothers) Greason had children as follows: William, Eliza, Thomas. Agnes W., Mary, Samuel, Robert. John C .. James D. and Rebecca. William never married. and died in 1877, at the age of seventy-two. Eliza married Andrew Washmood. Thomas was married several times. had a large family, and about thirty- five years ago went to Kansas, where he died in 1873. Agnes W. married John Dunbar. Mary married Charles Weaver. Robert married Mary Ann Line. John C. married Margaret Monroe, removed to Missouri, and died there in 1874. James D. married Elmira J. Bitner and resided upon the family homestead in West Pennsboro until a few years before his death, which occurred in 1904: he left surviving him one son. Re- becca married Prof. F. M. L. Gillelen, and at this writing is the only living member of this large family : she resides at Los Angeles, California.
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James Greason died on July 4. 1855, and in his will directed that his body be buried in the cemetery of the Silver Spring church. This wish probably arose from a desire to be buried near the remains of his parents, although it can not be definitely shown that they are buried there. His wife, Mary ( Carothers) Greason, died Nov. 2, 1854, in her sixty-eighth year. and is buried in the Meeting House Springs graveyard.
Samuel Greason. the sixth child of James and Mary (Carothers) Greason, was born March 27. 1814. on the Greason homestead in West Pennsboro township. He attended the country district school until eighteen years of age and then worked upon the farm for his father. On Nov. 27. 1837, he mar- ried Mary Davidson, Rev. Joshua William- son. pastor of the Big Spring Presbyterian Church, performing the ceremony. Mary Davidson was born . Aug. 23. 1814. daughter of Alexander and Jane ( Woodburn ) David- son, of West Pennsboro township; Jane Woodburn, her mother, was a daughter of John and Mary ( Skiles) Woodburn. After his marriage Mr. Greason went to farming on one of his father's farms, adjoining the Greason homestead farm on the east. This farm his father subsequently bequeathed to him, and he erected upon it a fine house, in- tending to make his home there throughout his lifetime.
Samuel and Mary ( Davidson) Greason had children as follows: Mary Ellen, born May 14. 1840; Jane Amelia, July 22, 1843; William Davidson, Nov. 24. 1846; Frances Rebecca, June 24, 1849; Samuel Wing. Dec. 30, 1851 ; and Ida Cornelia, Aug: 12, 1858. All of these children were born on the farm upon which the father settled immediately after his marriage. In 1880 Mr. Greason concluded to try his fortune in the West and removed to Miami county, in the new State
of Kansas. The strange Western conditions proved unsatisfactory and the family never became reconciled to them. The eldest daughter, who had married and also settled in Kansas, died on Dec. 28, 1881. Then his wife took sick, dying May 28, 1882. Thus bereaved and saddened, Mr. Greason re- turned to his old home in Pennsylvania, where he spent his latter years in retirement. He died March 14. 1897, and his remains are interred in Ashland cemetery, at Carlisle.
WILLIAM DAVIDSON GREASON, the third child of Samuel and Mary ( Davidson ) Grea- son, was born Nov. 24. 1846, on the farm in West Pennsboro on which his parents started their married life. In his youth he attended the public schools, and afterward the graded school at Greason taught by Prof. Gillelen, his uncle, until he reached the age of twenty. He then worked for his father on the farm until 1878. On Nov. 22, 1878. he married Margaret Theresa Gracey, Rev. W. L. Wallace, pastor of the United Presby- terian Church of Newville, performing the ceremony. Margaret Theresa Gracey was a daughter of Col. William and Rachel (Woodburn ) Gracey, of Newton township, and a granddaughter of William and Pris- cilla (Graham) Gracey, and of Skiles and Margaret (McKeehan) Woodburn. After his marriage Mr. Greason began farming on the home place, upon which he was born and grew to manhood, and here he has always lived.
William D. and Margaret Theresa (Gracey) Greason have six children, viz. : Mary Bell, born Feb. 19, 1880; Nell W., April 22, 1882; Samuel D., Nov. 24, 1883; William Wallace, Sept. 29. 1885: Ruth Mapes, May 5, 1891 ; and Paul Blair, Sept. 7, 1892. One son, James Clair, died in in- fancy. Of these children two are married, Mary Bell, who is the wife of Frank Strohm,
If. & Greason
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and now lives at Mc Allister's, in West Pennsboro: and Samuel D., who married Nettie Drawbaugh and is now living in Plainfield. The other children are at home. and Nell W. is teacher of a public school in West Pennsboro township. William D. Greason and his family belong to the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, the church of his parents and of his grandparents.
SAMUEL. WING GREASON, the fifth child of Samuel and Mary ( Davidson) Greason, was born Dec. 30, 1851. on the old home farm in West Pennsboro. He was educated in the country district school at Plainfield, attending until nineteen years of age, and received his manual training on the farm with his father for chief instructor. On Oct. 3. 1877. he was married to Margaret Ellen Woodburn, by Rev. W. L. Wallace, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Newville. Margaret E. Woodburn was a daughter of Capt. A. Sharp .and Isabel ( Sterrett ) Woodburn, of Newton township, the latter a daughter of David and Rebecca ( Miller ) Sterrett. of Mifflin township. Capt. Alexander Sharp Woodburn was a son of Skiles and Margaret (McKeehan) Woodburn, and a grandson of John and Mary ( Skiles) Woodburn. After marrying Mr. Greason started farming on a place a short distance south of Greason, which he inherited. Here he has made many improve- ments, built a new home, and has ever since resided there.
Samuel Wing and Margaret E. ( Wood- burn) Greason have children as follows : Clarence Wing. born June 11, 1880: Mary Bell, Ang. 30, 1882; Helen Sterrett, Sept. 29, 1884; Alice Cornelia, Aug. 9. 1887 (at- tending school) : and Margaret Blair, March 16, 1898. All of these children are at home. and with their parents make a most estima- ble and interesting family. Mr. Greason
is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, in which he was reared, but his wife belongs to the United Presby- terian Church of Newville. the church of her family. Like his family generally, Mr. Greason is a Republican in politics, but in no sense a partisan.
Such is a brief history of the Grensoms. one of Cumberland county's old and worthy . families.
MILTON C. DIETZ. one of the sub- stantial farmers and the auditor of Hampden township. Cumberland county, was born July 12, 1864, on the old Dietz homestead in this township, son of Christian and Eliza- beth (Wilt) Deitz.
Daniel Dietz, grandfather of Milton C .. was born in York county, son of George Dietz, and moved to East Pennsboro town- ship, Cumberland county, settling on a place known as the Carrothers farm. He married Lydia Stoner. a native of York county, and they had six children, namely : David, who married Caroline Sheely; Mary, who mar- ried John Snavely ; Zachariah, who married Anna Roth; Christian, who married Eliza- beth Wilt; Nancy, who married Martin Brinton, of Dauphin county ; and Elizabeth, who died in childhood.
Christian Dietz, father of Milton C., was born Oct. 2, 1832, in York county, and at the age of five years accompanied the family on its removal to Cumberland county. His education was that provided by the district schools, and he remained with his parents, engaged in farming the old homestead. up to the time of his marriage. This was to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Mann) Wilt, of East Pennsboro. in 1856. The five children of this marriage are: George W., who married Lily C. Shuman, daughter of Eli and Elizabeth (Mann) Shu-
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man. and has three children, Christ S. ( at- tending school in Michigan ). Frank M. (liv- ing at home and employed in a book-binding plant at Harrisburg) and Walter L. (attend- ing school at home) ; Alice J., who married Frederick Mumma. traveling salesman, and has seven children : Ralph D. (employed in Harrisburg). Milton C. ( attending schoo! the State College at Centre County ), ari] Edith R., Frederick, Frank, Robert and Wil- . ' liam ( all at home) : Rebecca E., who mar- ried Frank Basehore, of Silver Spring town- ship: Milton C. : Kate N .. who married Mar- tin Hertzler, and has one child, Cora, at home.
Milton C. Dietz was educated in the pub- lic schools of Hampden township, which le attended until he was eighteen years of age. He continued to assist his father in operat- ing the home farm until the age of twenty- five.
On Dec. 6. 1888, Mr. Dietz was united in marriage with Flora J. Schaeffer, daugl :- ter of Jolin and Elizabeth (Rupp) Schaeffer, of Hampden township, and they have two sons. John Wilbur and George C., both at home. The present home of the family is a finely cultivated farm of 100 acres, located in Hampden township. In politics Mr. Dietz has been a lifelong Democrat. He is now serving as one of the township auditors, and has been school director for six years. Both he and wife are consistent members of the Salem M. E. Church, of which he is a trus- tee. He is a man of standing in his com- munity, and is regarded as a first class cit- izen, excellent farmer and most worthy man.
GEORGE W. REIGHTER, for four or five years a popular school teacher. and now a prosperous young farmer of South Middleton township, was born upon his father's homestead, in Dickinson town-
ship. Feb. 22, 1873. son of W. R. Reighter.
W. R. Reighter was born in the same township as his son, April 12, 1845, and un- til he was eighteen years of age he attended school in his native township, but at that age, he went to his uncle in Indiana, and worked on a farm until 1869. He then came back to the homestead, and Dec. 14. 1871, married Sadie A. Widder, daughter of David and Catherine Widder. For the fol- lowing five years, he and his wife lived on the homestead, and then moved to the Mc- Laughlin farm. where they spent eleven years, in 1890, purchasing the old Sheaffer farm, two and one-half miles southwest of Carlisle. There Mr. Reighter died, Aug. 20, 1901. He came of a family as follows : Philip married Lizzie Bushman of Boiling Springs; Katie married John Sheaffer of Dickinson township: W. R., deceased : George W. died at the age of three years. The children born to W. R. Reighter and wife were : George W .: John M., born Sept. 19, 1874, graduated from the Shippensburg academy in 1894, and taught school for four terms, and is now at Harrisburg in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad ; he mar- ried Estella Carpenter. Katie M., born Feb. 22, 1881, is at home with her mother in Car- lisle. D. Harry was born June 26, 1885, and is now clerking in Horn's drug store at Carlisle. W. R. Reighter was a stanch Dem- ocrat and always active in party work. He served efficiently in a number of township offices.
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