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 63
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the Cumberland Valley, a section noted for its exceeding natural beauty, fertility and general productiveness.
On Nov. 26. 1891. Jacob S. Nailor mar- ried Caroline Crist, a daughter of Samuel Crist, of Upper Allen township. The Crist family came originally from Adams county. and the wife of Samuel Crist was Sarah E. Cocklin, a member of the old Cumberland family of that name. Jacob S. Nailor and his wife have children as follows: Leroy C., Paul H., Jacob S., Carroll O. and Helen E. Mr. Nailor is identified with the Democratic party, and at various times has served on the election board in his township.
JOHN RANKIN NAILOR, the second son of the family, was born in 1869, near Lis- burn. where he received a part of his educa- tion, completing his schooling in Upper Allen township. After this he successfully engaged in farming until March, 1904, when he entered into a new enterprise, embarking in the stock business with a partner, under the firm name of Lease & Nailor. They purchased a suitable tract of land from Wil- liam Westover, which is conveniently lo- cated on the Mechanicsburg road, but a short distance from the city, and this they pro- pose to use as the site for a general stock- yards business. They are men of progres- sive ideas and of business experience, and doubtless will be eminently successful in their undertaking.
In 1894 John R. Nailor married Agnes Hess, a daughter of Harry Hess, of Cumber- land county, and they have two children, Lloyd R. and Charles H. John R. Nailor has followed politically in the footsteps of his father and i, a strong supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. His pleasant home is located in Mechanicsburg. He is a member of the school board at that place, and on various occasions has been
called upon to serve as inspector of elections.
GEORGE W. NAILOR was born in 1871. in Lisburn, Upper Allen township, and his school days were spent at the Mumma school near Mechanicsburg. His father was a prac- tical man and reared all his sons to take part in agricultural work. When George was twenty-four years of age he left the home farm and engaged for the succeeding three years with D. A. Uhrich in the implement business, at Mechanicsburg. Then he em- barked in the stock business, to which he has mainly devoted his attention for the past six years. He is considered a very shrewd buyer and seller of cattle and horses, and keeps closely in touch with stock conditions over the country, and with the city markets.
Mr. Nailor has a pleasant home and family circle. He married Mary Hess. daughter of Simon Hess, of York county. and they have two children, William H. and Anna Mary. Mr. Nailor is identified with the Democratic party.
CHARLES H. NAILOR was born in 1873 in York county, and was brought to Cumber- land county while very small. After com- pleting his education in Upper Allen town- ship he followed farming for some years, with his father, and in 1903 he bought his present farm of fifteen acres, from Deter Steiner. This property he has continued to improve, with the result that he owns a very comfortable home and productive farm.
On Oct. 18, 1900, Mr. Nailor married Ada Yost, daughter of Eli Yost, a very prominent Mennonite preacher, and one daughter, Isabella Catherine, has been born to this marriage. Although a stanch Demo- crat, like the other members of his family, Mr. Nailor's personal standing is so high with every one in Upper Allen township that he has been repeatedly elected judge of elections, at the last contest overcoming the
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regular normal Republican majority of fifty- three votes.
EDWIN E. NAILOR was born Feb. II, 1876, at Brocker's Bridge, in York county, not far from Dillsburg, and obtained his education at the Mumma school and at the Center Square school, in Upper Allen town- ship. He worked for his father, after com- pleting his education, until he was twenty- two years of age, and then assisted his brother John on the farm. At present he is residing at Mechanicsburg, engaged as fore- man for the firm of Soltau & Baker, pro- duce and water cress dealers.
On Oct. 24, 1899. Edwin E. Nailor was united in marriage with Bessie Jane, daugh- ter of Dr. J. T. Bressler, of Upper Allen township. They have two sons. Edwin Sol- tau and Vance O'Tonner. Politically, Mr. Nailor follows the bent of the family, and is a Democrat.
The Nailor family, represented by these honorable and successful men, stands very high in public esteem in Cumberland county. All have prospered through legitimate busi- ness methods, and all are valued and re- spected citizens.
GEORGE COOVER, farmer and stock raiser of Southampton township, Cumber- land county, where he occupies a well-im- proved place of fifty acres, descends from an old Cumberland county family. He is the oldest surviving son of Martin and Mary (Newcomer) Coover, who were the parents of ten children, eight of whom lived to ma- turity.
Mr. Coover was born Sept. 14, 1848, on the Ridge road, in Southampton township, passed his boyhood on the farm, and was trained to agricultural pursuits. He at- tended school off and on until his seven- teenth year, receiving his education at the
Thomas Grove district school, and then re- mained on the farm, assisting his father. until he reached his majority. During the next two years he worked at tlie carpenter trade in Cumberland and Franklin counties. and after his marriage he lived two years on rented property adjoining the farm he now occupies, farming the place. Thence he moved to the Ridge farm (the place where he had passed his boyhood and which was one of the three farms owned by his father ). where he spent fifteen years. His present place contains fifty acres, and is highly im- proved and equipped with excellent build- ings, including a brick dwelling. a large bank barn and numerous outbuildings. Mr. Coo- ver is an intelligent. industrious man, and his work shows good results.
In 1888 Mr. Coover married Miss Anna R. Cope, of Cumberland county, a descend- ant of Conrad Cope, a native of Germany. who married a French woman previous to his emigration to the United States. Benja- min Cope, son of Conrad, was born in 1780 in Lancaster county, Pa., and in 1782 moved with his parents to Cumberland county. this State. In 1799 he settled on a farm at Springfield, West Pennsboro township, same county, which he afterward sold. He mar- ried Sarah Ann McDowell, who was born in 1789 in West Pennsboro township, daughter of. Samuel McDowell, a native of Ireland. Samuel Cope, son of Benjamin, and father of Mrs. Coover, was born July 14. 1822. in the village of Springfield, West Pennsboro township, and is still living. On Jan. 2, 1849, he married Rebecca Shriver, who was born in Cumberland county, Pa., daughter of William and Sarah (Williams) Shriver. who came from Wales. Mrs. Cope passed away in 1896. She was the mother of six children, five of whom attained maturity, namely : James H .; Margaret V .; William
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B., who died in 1879 in Dickinson township. Cumberland county: John Calvin, of Dick- inson township; and Anna R., Mrs. Coover. who is the youngest of the family.
Mr. and Mrs. Coover are the parents of six children : Samuel M., W. Clyde, James Hervey. George E .. Shriver L .. and Helen E. Mr. Coover is a member of the Reformed Church. and a liberal contributor to its sup- port. In political sentiment he is a Re- publican.
JOHN DONNELLY, one of the promi- nent citizens and a leading farmer of Mid- dlesex township, and for twenty-five years a justice of the peace, was born Nov. 13. 1827, on his present farm. On the paternal side his ancestry is Irish, several genera- tions back, but his father, William Donnelly, was born in Silver Spring township, Cum- berland county. He settled on a farm which is now the property of his son Washington, and died there in 1863. In politics he was a Democrat.
William Donnelly married Mary A. Brownawell, a daughter of Henry Brown- awell, who died at the age of eighty-four years ; he married a Corman, and she lived to the age of ninety-four. The children of Wil- liam and Mary A. Donnelly were as follows : Samuel of Bellville, Richland Co., Ohio; John, mentioned below; Henry, who died in Cumberland county; William, deceased; Washington, of Middlesex township: Mary, Mrs. Samuel Spangler, of Silver Spring township; Israel, an attorney at Mansfield, Ohio; and Annie, deceased, Mrs. John Burget.
Jolin Donnelly was instructed in the primary elements of his' education in the subscription schools, in Silver Spring town- ship, but family circumstances inade it nec- essary for him to begin supporting himself
while still a small boy. There is always plenty of work in a farming community, for a small boy who is honest and industrious, and he first received forty cents a day. Later he learned the tanning business with Joseph Shrum, of Carlisle, and was connected with that industry for ten years. After his mar- riage he lived at New Kingstown and worked at his trade with John Clendennin. He then built himself a residence, the first one erected at what is now known as Donnellytown, where he lived until 1878, at that time buy- ing his present place from the heirs of his grandfather Brownawell; this has been the family home ever since.
On May 3, 1853. Mr. Donnelly was mar- ried to Miss Sarah S. Gregg, daughter of William and Elizabeth ( Bradley) Gregg, of Carlisle, who died in February, 1903. She is survived by her bereaved husband and the following children : Clara, Mrs. John Mater. of Harrisburg; Emma, who first married Morris Mater, and second Frank McCreary, of Harrisburg ; and Charles J., of Cumber- land county, who married Jennie Haymaker.
In 1878 Mr. Donnelly was elected justice of the peace, an office he has held with effi- ciency and dignity for twenty-five consecu- tive years, giving great satisfaction, and dis- posing of an immense amount of business. In politics he has been a lifelong Democrat.
JOHN B. LANDIS is descended on his father's side from French Swiss Huguenots who suffered greatly through religious per- secution, the large, blackbearded John, or "Hans," having lost his head for his faith at Zurich in September, 1614.
On his mother's side his great-great-great- grandfather, Ludwig Moler, arrived in this country with his family on Aug. 29, 1730, having sailed from Rotterdam in the ship "Thistle," of Glasgow, Colin Dunlap, mas-
1
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ter. He took and subscribed the Declaration and Adjuration drawn up Sept. 21. 1727, to be signed by the Palatines who came as set- tlers.
Mr. Landis's family is of the Lancaster county line of that name. His grandfather, Abraham, and his father. Jacob. were wheel- wrights. He was born on his father's farm in Upper Allen township, Cumberland coun- ty, on Aug. 21, 1841. His early education . was received in the common and normal schools, and at the age of seventeen he com- menced teaching, still continuing his studies. In April, 1860, he commenced thie study of medicine with Dr. Philip H. Long. of Me- chanicsburg. Pa. The Civil war coming on, he enlisted Aug. 9. 1862. becoming a private in Company F. 130th Regiment. P. V. I., and was promoted to corporal. He partici- pated in the battles of Antietam-at Bloody Lane, on Sept. 17, 1862, where his brother David was wounded-and Fredericksburg. on Dec. 13, 1862, where, in the charge of Marye's Heights and near the stone fence, he received a shell wound in the right shoulder. He was sent to Point Lookout Hospital, Maryland, was discharged from the service on Feb. 12, 1863, for disability, and returned home. Later, however, he again entered the service, and on Sept. 13, 1864. was commis- sioned Captain of Company A, 209th Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Infantry, commanded by Col. T. B. Kaufman. Soon after the regi- ment's arrival at Bermuda Hundred Front, on Sept. 29, 1864. lie was placed in com- mand of Fort Carpenter, the first outwork on the south bank of the James river. His gar- rison consisted of one hundred infantry with three lieutenants, and a battery of brass pieces commanded by Lieut. Abel S. Chap- pell, formerly of the British artillery ser- vice. Two months later he rejoined his regiment at Meade Station, in front of Pet-
ersburg. In the battle of Fort Steadman, on March 25, 1865, his company captured nine- teen of the enemy with their captain. On April 2, 1865, in the assault upon and cap- ture of the works on the Petersburg front, he recovered his regiment's flag through a cross fire from a Confederate fort on the left, and on the night of that day was the only captain left in the regiment. the killed, wounded, absent and special details account- ing for all the others. Capt. Landis was in other minor engagements, was with the reg- mient in the Grand Review of the armies in Washington City on May 23 and 24, 1865, and was mustered out of the service of the United States on May 31, 1865, returning home. In 1866 he was appointed military instructor at the White Hall Soldiers' Or- phans' School, and in April, 1867, received the appointment of deputy collector of In- ternal Revenue for the Fifteenth District of Pennsylvania, which he resigned on Sept. 30, 1876, to enter the Carlisle Deposit Bank. accepting the position of cashier. The next year he resigned from the bank on account of impaired health, and after a year's rest entered the law office of Henderson & Hays. of Carlisle. He was admitted to the Bar of Cumberland county in 1881, and associated himself with A. D. B. Smead, Esq., in the practice of the law. This partnership con- tinued until Capt. Smead entered the United States service at the breaking out of the Spanish-American war. In April, 1899, he associated with himself his son Merkel, then admitted to the Bar. He has been Secretary and Treasurer of the Carlisle Gas & Water Company since July 1, 1882. He has also been Treasurer of the Hamilton Library As- sociation since 1883. He is a. Trustee and Clerk of the Session of the First Presbyter- ian Church of Carlisle, a Trustee of Metzger College, a Director of the J. Herman Bosler
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Memorial Library, and a Trustee and Treas- urer of the Todd Hospital of Carlisle. Cap- tain Landis is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Pennsylvania Commandery of The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
Capt. Landis was married, on June 9, ISto. to Miss Barbara H. Merkel, daughter of Hon. Levi and Susanna ( Martin) Mer- kel. Mrs. Landis, a lady of many excellent and lovable qualities, died on Saturday, Aug. 20. 1898. Capt. Landis's family now con- ists of Norinan, of Flemington. N. J., mar- ried to Katherine Brokaw Ramsey, of that place; Merkel, a member of the Cumber- land County Bar : Naomi and Olive, at home ; and Kenneth, absent at Lehigh University.
DAVID J. BEITZEL, an extensive dealer in coal, feed, flour, ice and salt at Mechanicsburg, and one of the representa- tive business men of that city, was born in the borough of Mechanicsburg, June 7, 1860, son of Daniel Beitzel.
Daniel Beitzel was born in York county in 1828, and died Jan. 31, 1892. During his boyhood he received a thorough common school education, and was a man of more than ordinary ability, and taught school for six or eight years. During the Civil War, he participated as a member of Company E, 200th P. V. I., and was in a number of de- cisive battles. After an honorable service he was discharged, and returned home to Mechanicsburg. There he became a con- tractor and builder, and became one of the leaders in his line. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary A. Fink, of York county, and she was a daughter of Jacob B. Fink. Mr. Beitzel was also interested in the manufacture of brick, and in all his enter- prises, met with success. Daniel Beitzei was a son of Daniel Beitzel, of whom nothing is
known further than that he was born in York county. The children born to Daniel Beitzel and wife were: Jacob C., deceased ; William H., a resident of Mechanicsburg ; Ellen J., deceased; David J. ; Nora E., who married Grant Tawney of Mechanicsburg; Bertha, at home with her mother ; and Louis D. and George F., deceased.
David J. Beitzel was educated in the pub- lic schools of Mechanicsburg, attending until he was nineteen, after which he assisted his father until he was twenty-one. At that time he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Danner, of York county, Pa., daugh- ter of Van B. Danner, a soldier of the Civil war, who died in the hospital in 1862. Her mother was Mrs. Susan ( Hostler ) Danner. After his marriage, Mr. Beitzel, with Mr. Samuel Shoop, engaged for five years in the coal, flour and feed business, after which he engaged in the same business alone, later adding ice among the commodities he handles, and so successful were his ventures, that he has since continued, becoming one of the most prosperous of the dealers in his line in the city. His house is a well known one, and its standing is above reproach.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beitzel : Harry E., Violet May, Nellie O., and Tolbert O. Mr. Beitzel's office is on the corner of Walnut street, near the tracks of the Cumberland Valley railroad, and he is thus afforded best shipping facil- ities. While his stock is an immense one, his trade is confined principally to a retail business. Fraternally he is a member of the K. of P., the Senior Order United American Mechanics, and the Improved Order of Red- men of America. Not only has Mr. Beitzel succeeded in a business way, but he is very popular socially, and possesses a pleasant genial manner which wins for him many friends.
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JACOB FINK, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was born in York Co., Pa., and on reaching manhood, chose farming as an occupation, following it all his life. On June 5, 1817, he married Elizabeth Brown, a native of Adams county, by whom he had the following children : Sarah, John, Jacob B., Harriet, Henry, Lydia A., Elizabeth, Mary A .. Betsy and Louis. In religion the family were Lutherans. Mr. Fink was a stanch Democrat, and at the age of ninety he helped raise a Democratic flag pole at Dover, Pa. His death occurred when he had attained the great age of ninety-three.
HARRY McELHARE, one of the pros- perous, ambitious farmers and dairymen of Shippensburg township, Cumberland coun- ty, was born in Green township, Franklin county, near Orrstown, April 11, 1865, son of Michael and Charlotte ( Ryan ) McElhare.
The paternal grandfather was Archi- bald McElhare, who married a Miss Harbi- son, and both were natives of Ireland. The maternal grandfather was Jacob Ryan, and he married a Miss Etter.
Michael McElhare was born in Cumber- land county, in 1828, while his wife was born in Franklin county in 1849. Soon after their marriage they settled on a farm in Franklin county, near Orrstown, where they resided, the father farming and oper- ating a dairy until his death in 1893. He was one of the most substantial farmers of his locality.
Harry McElhare was educated in the dis- trict schools of Franklin county, and assisted his father upon the farm. Leaving school when seventeen he devoted his attention to farming until he attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account on the homestead. This continued until his marriage, in 1892, with Miss Emma R.
Stumbach, of Franklin county, daughter of William and Lydia ( Billinger ) Stumbach. At that time Mr. McElhare settled on what is known as the Charles White farm in Cum- berland county, near Shippensburg, and en- gaged in farming and dairying. In the spring of 1903 lie rented and moved to the McAllister farm, adjoining Shippensburg, which contains seventy-six acres. On this farm is a spring which is never dry, and its waters have been used for dairy purposes for many years. Those who have tasted of them, pronounce them better than many bottled waters on the market. In connection with his farming, Mr. McElhare milks on an average twenty-five cows, retailing his milk in Shippensburg. His cows are of the Jer- sey and Holstein breeds, noted for their milk and butter qualities.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McElhare : Viola, Mary and Har- ry, Jr. Mr. McElhare is a member of Ship- pensburg Lodge No. 93. I. O. O. F., also of the Royal Arcanum and of the American Mechanics. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Middle Spring, and are very popular wherever known.
HIRAM DITLOW. No country in the world offers better opportunities for the suc- cessful carving of one's own fortunes by leg- itimate means than does the United States. Among the residents of the township of West Pennsboro, Cumberland county, who have taken advantage of this glorious priv- ilege, as well as opportunity, and have hewed their own way to fortune, may be mentioned Hiram Ditlow, whose energy and good management have been his only aids.
George Ditlow, his father, was born in South Middleton township, and attended the schools of that town. Like the majority
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of farmer boys he was early trained to make himself useful on the homestead. On reach- ing man's estate he took up agriculture as a life occupation, and in 1853 he located in Lower Allen township, and his death oc- curred there that same year. He married Catherine Nailor, who bore him the follow- ing children : William, who died in Carlisle : David, who married Maggie Forman, of Perry county, had two children, and died in Lower Allen : Alfred. living in Fayetteville. Franklin county, Pa., who married (first) a Miss Drawbaugh, of Milltown, Lower Allen township, who died, and he married (sec- ond) a lady from Fayetteville, Franklin county: Henry, who died in Lower Allen : George, who married a lady in West Fair- view. and now lives in Lower Allen ; Hiram ; and Anna Elizabeth, who married Robert McCleaf. of Chambersburg, Pa., and has five children. After the death of the father, the mother married his brother, Henry Ditlow. by whom she had two children: Matilda Catherine, who married Samuel Stiteler. of York county, and has six children; and Emma Lucy, of New Ashland, Pa. Mrs. Ditlow died in Lower Allen in January, 1883. and Henry Ditlow in November, 1883.
Hiram Ditlow was born in Lower Allen township in 1856, and received a district school education. Farming became his life work, and after his marriage he located on the farm where he now lives, which was known as the old Samuel Bear property. At first he rented it, but in 1885 he purchased it, and has since made extensive improvements. It contains 114 acres.
In 1881 Mr. Ditlow was united in mar- riage with Mary Bear, daughter of John and Martha Bear, of West Pennsboro. Five children have blessed their union, namely : John B., born in 1883, is living in Harris- burg. where he is a fireman on the Phila-
delphia & Reading R. R .; Elsie M., born in 1886, is at home; Norman H., born in 1888. is at school : Clarence MI., born in 1892, is in school; and Alice P., born in 1895, is in school. Both Hiram Ditlow and his wife are members of the Reformed Mennonite Church at Plainfield. They are honest up- right citizens, of whom any locality might well be proud.
GEORGE HEMMINGER McCUL- LOCH, who operates a fine farm of 126 acres near Shippensburg. is one of the pro- gressive young agriculturists of Cumberland county. His farming is conducted on a scale that entitles him to rank with the most substantial men of his calling in the neigh- borhood, and his success and enterprise show him to be intelligent and up to date.
Mr. McCulloch was born May 2, 1869, in Newton township, Cumberland county, and is one of the five children of William R. and Mary ( Hemminger ) McCulloch. He received his early education in the home dis- trict in Newton township, where he acquired a good knowledge of the common branches, and he subsequently pursued his studies in the Normal school at Shippensburg for two years. After leaving school he returned to the home farm and assisted his father until he reached the age of twenty-one, when he began farming on his own account, having decided to make that calling his life work. He commenced the cultivation of the place formerly known as the Linn farm, compris- ing 126 acres in the vicinity of Shippens- burg owned by his father, and he has con- tinued farming on that property ever since. He raises general crops and also engages in stock raising to some extent, and he has met with gratifying success. His implements arc the best manufactured, his stock is of high grade, and the desire to do the best and have-
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the best is carried into every detail of his work, which gives evidence of his thorough- ness and care. He has advanced ideas along the line of practical farming which have been no little factor in his success.
In January, 1899, Mr. McCulloch mar- ried Miss Hannah White, then of Shippens- burg. a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Speer ) White, and they settled on the old William R. McCulloch homestead, where they have resided ever since. They are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church of Shippens- burg, and Mr. McCulloch is one of the lib- eral supporters of that organization. He is a stanch Democrat politically, and for six years served acceptably as auditor of Ship- pensburg township.
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