Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 64

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 64

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SAMUEL H. SNYDER. From 1795 to 1799 inclusive there was upon the tax list of Frankford township as freeman a man named Conrad Snyder. In September, ISO1. he bought of Henry Lepard ten acres of land. and in May. 1806, of the guardians of the minor children of William Campbell, fifty acres of land, both tracts being in Frankford township. The records show that Conrad Snyder continued to live in that part of the county until his death, which occurred in the summer of 1823.

Conrad Snyder and Susannah, his wife, had children as follows: Catharine, who married William Mell and died in Frankford township, her husband afterward dying in Altoona; John H .; Mary, who married Henry Boor and died in Ohio; Susan, who married William Smith and died in the State of Indiana; Jonathan, who married Sarah Paul and died in West Pennsboro township; Eva, who . married Jacob Sowers and re- moved to Kansas, where both she and her husband died; Elizabeth, who married Dan- iel Low and with her venerable husband is

still living in West Pennsboro; and Nancy, who married George Lehman and died in Mifflin township.

John H. Snyder, the second child and eldest son of this family, married a Miss Heiser, by whom he had the following chil- dren : George, who died at Mechanicsburg, at the age of thirty-two years, leaving two sons and one daughter; Samuel H., the es- pecial subject of this sketch; and Sylvester, who with his family is living in Louisville, Ky. Mrs. Snyder died, and John H. Snyder afterward married Nancy Alexander, who bore him the following children : Jeremiah, who is living in West Pennsboro township: and John, who lives in Carlisle.

Samuel H. Snyder. the second son of John H. Snyder, was born in Frankford township. March 9. 1837, and received his education in the public schools of West Pennsboro. At the age of twenty he went to learn the milling trade at the Henderson Mill, on the Harrisburg turnpike, near Car- lisle, where. as apprentice and journeyman, he remained from 1858 to 1863. In the af- ter part of the summer of 1864 he enlisted in Company F. 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, was mounted at Washington, and joined the regiment at Winchester, just after the fam- ous battle at that place. His regiment was detailed to carry orders, and Mr. Snyder was a member of the detachment which acted as an escort to Gen. Sheridan when he made his famous ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek. On the day before that event the de- tachment was sent to meet the General at Harper's Ferry, on his return from a mis- sion to Washington, and escorted him to Winchester. Early on the following morn- ing cannonading was heard in the direction of Cedar Creek, which, while it did not alarm, was yet notice that Sheridan's pres- ence was wanted at the front. At seven

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o'clock the General. accompanied by some members of his staff and the escort, which consisted of about thirty-five men, started down the "good broad highway" at a rapid gait. An hour and a half later they met fleeing stragglers, the true condition of af- fairs at the front became manifest, and the ride which Thomas Buchanan Read immort- alized in verse began in dead earnest. That story. however, properly belongs to general history and does not lie within the province of this modest biography.

In 1861 Samuel H. Snyder married Ma- rilla Sponsler. daughter of George and Sarah (Cover) Sponsler. When Mrs. Sny- der was born her parents lived in the eastern part of Ohio. but they were natives of Pennsylvania and subsequently returned to Cumberland county and lived for many years in the vicinity of Carlisle. They both died at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder in West Pennsboro.

Mr. Snyder was mustered out of the army at Cloud's Mills, Va., in June, 1865. On his return home he began farming in Middlesex township, on a farm he then owned, and continued farming there until 1871. when he purchased a farm in the upper part of West Pennsboro township, and moved to it. Here he lived for nine years. In the spring of 1881 he bought what is popularly known as "the old Diller farm," also lying in the upper part of West Penns- boro, upon which he has lived ever since. The place consists of 176 acres of land, and he has remodeled and repaired the buildings and otherwise improved the place, making of it one of the most beautiful and desirable farm properties in that delightful part of the county.

Samuel H. and Marilla ( Sponsler ) Sny- der are the parents of eighteen children, all of whom at this writing are living and in

good health. They were born in the follow- ing order : Minnie married Edward Heber- lig and is now living in Dauphin county, Pa. Alice married Walter Dunkleberger, and is living in Newville, Pa .; they have had two children. Sallie married Scott Neibert, and is living in West Pennsboro township. Ed- ward, who is unmarried, is living in Harris- burg. Annie married John Mourer, and is living in Philadelphia; to Mr. and Mrs. Mourer two children have been born. Emma married Emerson Bowers and is liv- ing in West Pennsboro township; to them one child has been born. Sylvester, who is unmarried, is living in North Middleton township. Then come John, Katie and Lulu, in the order named, who are unmar- ried and living at home. Elizabeth, who married Nadall Z. Nell, is living in Wash- ington. D. C. Luther is unmarried and at home. Webster resides in Illinois. Bertha, Chester, Samuel, Lillie and Amy all as yet help to make up that part of the family that remains under the parental roof. The fam- ily belong to the Big Spring Presbyterian Church at Newville, and for many years sat under the ministrations of the venera- ble Dr. Erskine, whose precepts and memory they cherish and revere. They are modest, quiet people, but intelligent and progressive and much respected by all who know them.

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are a living illus- tration of the maxim of the great Roman of old, that Providence has bestowed on man no gift that is so dear to him as his chil- dren. The sight of their assembled offspring moved their joy and pride as nothing else on earth can, and they have had the entire fam- ily photographed that they may have them always present and be in their midst. The fond parents form the center of the remark- able group, the large friendly house-dog poses conspicuously in the foreground, and

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the picture as a whole is both an interesting study and a masterpiece of art. Lo, chil- dren are a heritage of the Lord. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are chil- dren. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.

DAVID FOGELSONGER. The Fog- elsongers are supposed to be of Huguenot stock. In the year 1763 there was born in the Kingdom of France a David Fogel- songer, who at the age of fifteen years came to America, with Marquis De Lafayette's army. This young man battled for Ameri- can liberty and independence for one year and was mustered out of service and paid off at Newburgh, N. Y. On leaving the army he turned his face toward Pennsylvania, with the view of finding a good locality in which to make his future home. On his way he bought himself some wearing apparel at Trenton, N. J., and in his old days used to relate to his children how he paid for a pair of shoes $75 in Continental money. He first settled in Lancaster county, where in the month of May, 17-, at the age of seventeen, he married Gertrude, daughter of Wendel Minick. After his marriage he removed to Cumberland county, where he worked on a farm for a Mr. Heikes, who a year later bought for him a farm in Hope- well township, containing 237 acres. Here he lived and prospered until his death. He died on Dec. 13, 1834; his wife Gertrude died on Nov. 3. 1831, aged seventy-two years, and their remains are interred in the graveyard of the Fogelsonger Church in Hopewell township.

David and Gertrude (Minick) Fogel- songer had children as follows: Barbara, John, Elizabeth, David, Jacob and Wendel. Barbara and Jacob died in Hopewell town- ship; John, Elizabeth and David died in

Franklin county, and all of them are buried at the Fogelsonger Church in Hopewell. In religion the family were German Baptist Brethren, as are most of their descendants.

Wendel Fogelsonger, the youngest son, was born Feb. 4. 1801, on the farm in Hope- well township. He was educated in the pub- lic schools and trained to the vocation of farming, but being possessed of a naturally religious mind he directed his attention also into other fields, one being that of medicine. To a certain extent he practiced homeopathy and did curing by faith and the laying on of hands. He was widely known, much re- spected and a leader in his sect and commun- ity. In 1827 he married Mary Elizabeth Dielil, a daughter of George and Esther (Rotz) Dielil, who were born in Germany. On beginning life for himself he moved to a farm in Franklin county, not far from the borders of Cumberland, which his father had bought for him. Here he lived to the end of a well-spent life. His wife died April 21, 1869; he died July 2, 1874, and both are buried at the Fogelsonger Church in Hope- well.

Wendel and Mary Elizabeth (Diehl) Fogelsonger had seven children, as follows: Barbara A., who married Samuel Cramer ; David, who is the subject of this historical sketch ; Mary Elizabeth, who married George Foust; George, who married Catherine Black and is living in Shippensburg : Jacob, who married Catherine Miller ; John, who married Jennie Snoke and is living in Frank- lin county, and W. M., who married Eliza- beth Newcomer, and is living on the old Fogelsonger homestead in Franklin county. Barbara, Elizabeth and Jacob are dead and buried at the Fogelsonger Church, where so many of the family are buried.

David Fogelsonger, the eldest son and third eldest child, was born Dec. 4, 1831, on

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his father's farm about one mile west from Shippensburg, in Franklin county. He reached the school age before free schools were established and was first sent to sub- scription or pay school. Afterward he at- tended the district public school and for two terms an academy in Shippensburg. which completed his education. He worked upon the farm for his father until he was twenty- two years old. In 1854 he married Cather- ine Noftsker. daughter of Henry and Cath- erine (Zeigler) Noftsker. of Franklin county. On starting out for himself he first located in Greene township. Franklin county, where he farmed one year. He then moved to a farm in Cumberland county belonging to his uncle, which he farmed for a period of nineteen years. In 1873 he bought what was long known as the "old Cooper farm," near Newburg. in Hopewell township, and in the following spring moved upon it. Here he built a new barn, also a new wagon shed, and otherwise greatly improved the place and made it his home for fourteen years. In 1887 he bought the Strohm farm, containing twenty-eight acres, and lying within the pre- cinets of Newburg, which was his home for another fourteen years. During his active days he was not only a farmer but also a business man, and in January, 1881, was elected secretary of the Centennial Insurance Company, which office he held for twenty- one years. The business of this company was heavy, necessitating a great amount of recording and correspondence, as the reader may infer from the fact that during the last year of his secretaryship he used up three pints of writing ink.

David and Catherine ( Noftsker) Fogel- songer had six children, as follows: Sarah Elizabeth, who married A. F. Snoke, living at Mowersville, Franklin county; Mary Gertrude, who died in 1879, at the age of

twenty-two years; Jacob Edwin, who died when eighteen months old; a son who died in infancy; David Albert, who married Re- becca Miller, and is now living on the homestead in Hopewell township. and Bertha Mary, who is married to Harry Woodrow and is living in Shippensburg. The mother, Catherine ( Noftsker). died in 1902 and is buried at the Fogelsonger Church. On Feb. 10. 1903. Mr. Fogel- songer married Mary Kyle Wineman, a daughter of Matthew and Catherine ( Bock) Wineman, of Newburg, and a member of another representative family of that part of the country. Matthew Wineman died in May, 1893, in his seventy-eighth year. and his wife died in July. 1869. aged eighty-one years. Both are buried at the Fogelsonger Church.

David Fogelsonger retired from business in January, 1904, and bought himself a pleasant home on North High street. in Newburg, where he is spending the evening of his life in comfort and contentment. He is a member of the Dunker, or German Bap- tist, Church, as were his ancestors before him. Upon public questions, as well as business subjects, he is well informed, and in all things liberal and progressive. He served upon the Hopewell school board for five years, and afterward. for a much longer time, upon the Newburg school board. In polities he is a Republican, with which party he has acted from its first organization. He stood by its cradle, for he was a delegate to its first State convention held at Harrisburg in 1856. An incident in his early youth had much to do with the selection of his poli- tical creed. When about eight years old he accompanied his parents to Roanoke, Va., to attend a Dunker annual meeting. On their way back they stopped in Winchester, where they witnessed in front of the court house

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the sale of some slaves. Among the number was a young girl, who was almost white. She had a full round face, red cheeks and wavy black hair, and presented an attractive figure as she stood on the auction block. A young planter of near Winchester and a trader from Georgia were bidding against each other and each carefully examined the girl's person, the same as a horse buyer looks a horse over for defects before buying him. The mother of the girl had been knocked off to a young Virginian and was extremely anxious that her favorite child be also purchased by him that she might be near her. But the price kept rising and ris- ing until it finally passed the Virginian's limit and the girl was knocked off to the Georgia trader at $1100. When the auction- eer announced the sale, and the mother real- ized the fact, she screamed with anguish, and the cries and sobs sent a shudder into David Fogelsonger's heart that caused him to ever afterward feel an aversion to the in- stitution of human slavery.

SAMUEL ELDER KITZMILLER. one of Southampton township's most prom- inent citizens and a leading farmer of Cum- berland county, died at his home on Walnut Bottom Road, two and one-half miles east of Shippensburg, on Saturday morning. March 1. 1902. Mr. Kitzmiller was in the sixty-sixth year of his age, having been born March 8, 1836, on his parents' farm at the head of the springs, which was more re- cently known as the Dykemon farm, and which is now occupied by Charles Cressler.

The parents of Samuel Elder Kitzmiller were Jacob and Rebecca ( Webber) Kitzmil- ler, natives of Cumberland county. Their surviving children are: John A. and Frank B., of Shippensburg; Craig, of Galion, Ohio; Mrs. Abner Willis, of Southampton

township; Mrs. N. K. Mahon, of Fayette- ville; Mrs. John Clippinger, of Shippens- burg; Mrs. Philip Martin of Waynesboro: Mrs. D. B. Meredith and Mrs. Alice Fickes of Steelton ; and Mrs. George Wallace, of Berkley, Virginia.

Mr. Kitzmiller was not only a good citi- zen in times of peace, but when his country called for help, in the Civil war, he was ready to respond, and as a member of Com- pany A, 165th P. V. I .. under Col. Buhler, he went to the front. After the war he re- turned to Southampton township, and re- sumed farming, becoming noted for the thoroughness with which he carried on his operations. He believed in making use of improved machinery and in adopting mod- ern methods, but he was very practical and followed certain lines of farming. because he had found out for himself that they were the most profitable. The beautiful home he pre- pared for his family is a large stone mansion encircled with a beautiful shady lawn, the large bank barn and commodious, well-ap- pointed buildings in the background, pre- senting a picture of thrift and substan- tiality.

On Jan. 11, 1876, Mr. Kitzmiller was united in marriage with Mary C. Fickes, the eldest surviving daughter of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Caruthers) Fickes. Three daughters were born to this union, namely : Mary Bell, a graduate of the Cumberland Valley State Normal School at Shippens- burg, now the wife of C. E. Plaster, of Du- bois, Pa. ; and Carrie May and Jessie Hayes, both graduates of the Normal school, and successful teachers.

In politics Mr. Kitzmiller was a Demo- crat and he served at one time as auditor of his township. For many years he was a valued member of the Shippensburg Pres- byterian Church, and whenever health per-

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mitted was found at its services. His widow and daughters also belong to that religious body. In every relation of life Mr. Kitzmiller was a most estimable man. He had strong con- victions, but possessed a natural courtesy which kept him from all contentions. He was devoted to home and family and was be- loved by those who knew him best and held in esteem by all with whom he came in con- tact. During the Civil war when the Rebel army invaded the Cumberland Valley Gen. Buhler with his staff took up headquarters in the home of Jacob Kitzmiller, one mile east of Shippensburg. in consequence of which the family were afforded protection from depredations.

SAMUEL ALEXANDER GARLAND, a prominent retired farmer of Carlisle Springs. Cumberland county, was born Jan. 29. 1830. in Saville township, Perry Co., Pa., and comes of an old German fam- ily which settled in Berks county at an early day. His grandfather, John Garland, was born in Perry county, as was also his son John, the father of our subject. John Gar- land, Jr., was born on a farm between Loys- ville and Shermans Dale, in 1791, and his death occurred in 1863. On March 12. 1815, he married Mary Ann Minick, daugh- ter of John Minick, whose ancestors also came from Germany, and she died in her eighty-fourth year. The children born to this marriage were as follows : Nancy Ann, wife of Jonathan Saunderson; Julia Ann ; Catherine. Mrs. Jacob Clouser, of Perry county : John, of Perry county ; Daniel, who served as a soldier in the Civil war from Perry county ; Anna. second wife of Jona- than Saunderson ; William, a veteran of the Civil war, of Lanark, Ill .; Sarah, widow of Jacob Smith, of Perry county ; and Samuel

Alexander, the seventh member of the fam- ily. John Garland was a Democrat, but be- ing opposed to slavery changed his political allegiance to the Republican party.

Samuel A. Garland was educated in the local schools, the first one he attended being held in an old blacksmith shop; at that time the schools were conducted on the subscrip- tion plan. Later he went to school at Ander- sonburg, where he applied himself so closely that he was given a certificate to teach school, which vocation he followed for six years. He then began farming, an occupa- tion he followed until he retired in April. 1903. In 1871 he bought a farm of 124 acres in North Middleton township. Cum- berland county, which he occupied until 1897. when he removed to a farm owned by his second wife in Middlesex township. on which he remained five years, at the end of that time buying his present comfort- able home at Carlisle Springs.

About 1855 Mr. Garland married Sarah Agnes Averill, of Perry county, who died in 1893, in North Middleton township. His second marriage, which took place in June, 1898, was to Mrs. Anne E. Kell, widow of Harry Kell, and daughter of Jacob Weary. No children have been born to this union. Those of the first marriage were as follows : Lemuel Todd, who is engaged in a shipping business in British Columbia; Walter L., deceased ; George A., of Illinois ; Stinson P .. of near Greason, Cumberland county ; James, of Cumberland county; Blaine, of Nebraska ; Kate Olive, deceased ; and Grace, Mrs. Harry Hershman, of Harrisburg.

Both Mr. Garland and his wife are lead- ing members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he has been a Republican since the first campaign of Abraham Lincoln, of whom he was a great admirer. Mr. Garland has many personal friends in North Middle-

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ton township, where he was elected for six terms as supervisor on the Republican ticket, although the township is largely Democratic. Formerly he was connected with G. A. R. Post No. 201, of Carlisle, to which connec- tion he was entitled by virtue of his service in Company A, 20th Pa. Vol. Cav. He en- listed June 16, 1863, and served until Jan. 10, 1864, participating in various battles and skirmishes.

A. GRANT RICHWINE, one of the representative and leading business men of Cumberland county, and a leader in the line of insurance and real estate at Mechanics- burg, was born July 30, 1872, at Boiling Springs. South Middleton township, son of Emanuel and Irene ( Miller ) Richwine.

Emanuel Richwine belonged to an old and honored German family of the name, and was long a resident of Boiling Springs. For many years he was engaged there in a blacksmith business. Mr. and Mrs. Richwine had six children, as follows: Nora E .: W. H., of Riverton, Pa .; Ellsworth, of Har- risburg : Charles, of Harrisburg; Jacob, of Boiling Springs; and A. Grant. In politics Emanuel Richwine was always a strong sup- porter of Republican principles. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, as is his wife, and was among the most highly re- garded residents of that community.

A. Grant Richwine was born and reared at Boiling Springs and attended the local schools. When about eighteen years old he went to Carlisle, where he was engaged as bookkeeper for a real estate and insurance firm, and there became thoroughly ac- quainted with all the details of this business. being thus very well equipped when he em- barked in a like business of his own, in 1896, at Mechanicsburg. In addition to handling the major part of the insurance risks in this

vicinity and dealing in some of the most valuable real estate in the city and county, Mr. Richwine is interested in large business enterprises. He is secretary and treasurer of the Mechanicsburg Gas and Water Com- pany, and is secretary and treasurer for. and a director in, the New Windsor Knit- ting Mills Company, of Mechanicsburg.

Mr. Richwine belongs to the various Masonic bodies, is a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner ; and he belongs also to the I. O. O. F., No. 215, of Mechanicsburg ; the K. of P., and to the Junior order of the Me- chanicsburg Hook and Ladder Company.

Mr. Richwine married Dora Kindig. a member of one of the old county families. He is a consistent member of the Presby- terian Church, and politically, is a Republi- can, and is serving as a member of the bor- ough council. He is recognized as a useful man in public and business life, and is hield in the highest esteem in social circles, where he is known to be a generous, warm-hearted Christian man.

J. KING WEAKLEY, who cultivates the old Samuel Wherry homestead, near Shippensburg, was born in Southampton township, Cumberland county, two miles east of Shippensburg, April 16, 1869. His father, William K. Weakley, was born April 30, 1822, in Dickinson township. Cumber- land county, of which township the grand- father, Nathan Weakley, was an early set- tler. The latter married Sarah Bell.

William K. Weakley grew to manhood in his native place, residing in Dickinson township for twenty-eight years, after which he moved to Southampton township, settling two miles east of the borough of Shippens- burg. There he had his home until 1880, in which year he moved to the township of Shippensburg, where he died March 29,

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1900. William K. Weakley married Eliza- beth McCormick, who was born in the old Burnt house in Southampton township. Cumberland county, and was a daughter of George and Nancy ( King) McCormick, Cumberland county people. Mrs. Weakley was reared in the old stone house. Mr. and Mrs. Weakley had three children that grew to maturity : William L .. who is at home with his mother : J. King, whose name introduces these lines ; and Nancy J .. deceased, wife of John B. Kelso.

J. King Weakley received his common- school education in the home district, where he attended until his sixteenth year. after which he pursued his studies for three terms at the Cumberland Valley Normal School. Returning to the farm in Shippensburg township, he assisted his father until his marriage, at the old Wherry homestead, on Feb. 9, 1898, to Miss Ailie Wherry, only daughter of Samuel M. and Esther ( Stuart) Wherry, and granddaughter of Samuel Wherry, one of the pioneers of Cumberland county, and the first owner of the old home- stead, now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Weak- ley. This place contains 120 acres, now well improved and highly cultivated, and has been handed down to Mrs. Weakley through her father. She was born there July 20, 1869, and has passed all her life on the place. she and her husband having settled there after their marriage. It is one of the old landmarks of the neighborhood. The house is an old-fashioned two-story structure, built of stone, with very heavy walls, and though quite old is in a good state of preservation. Not far from the house is a well eighty-six fect deep, which was found when the Indians occupied the lands, and which has an inter- esting history, of which, however, little is known. It is not even known by whom the well was dug.

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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 64

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