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 66
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Warren Zell was born in Monroe town- ship, in 1847. His educational advantages were confined to the public schools, and when he was not yet fourteen, he began, Feb. 23, 1861, to learn the trade of a black- smith, and he has followed that calling for forty-three years, three of which were spent at Chicago, and three at Lancaster City. After working for others, in 1890, Mr. Zell began business for himself, and has been ex- ceptionally successful. He has built 16,000 of the old plank ploughs, and builds all kinds of wagons, and carries on a general blacksmithing and repairing business.
In 1869, Mr. Zell married a Miss Stroh- man, daughter of William Strohman, of Lancaster county. The children born to them are: John, who married Cora Griger, is living at Churchtown, and is in the em- ploy of his father; George married Minnie Wehler, and is a barber at Churchtown;
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Annie married Clarence Enck, and lives at Mechanicsburg : Lillie died in infancy; War- ren is at home working for his father; Bertha and Gertrude, twins, are at home; Jennie is at home ; Ralph died at the age of six months. In politics Mr. Zell is a Demo- crat. but he has never aspired to public office. The family all attend the United Brethren Church of Churchtown, and all are most ex- cellent people, highly esteemed by a wide cir- cle of friends.
JESSE CHAMBERLIN. one of the well known citizens and agriculturists of Hopewell township, was born there in 1848, son of Charles and grandson of Jesse Cham- berlin.
The Chamberlin family is of Scotch- Irish descent. Jesse Chamberlin. grand- father of our subject, followed day's labor in Southampton township, Cumberland county, and was an industrious. respected man. He married Rebecca Smith. who died in Hopewell township, aged eighty-three years, and was buried at the Fogelsonger Church. The grandfather died in South- ampton township, and was buried at Ship- pensburg. They had these children : Isaac, who married Mary Myers, died in Oakville, Cumberland county; William, who married Sarah Hoffer, died with his wife in Ohio; John, who married Sarah Maxiel, died in Hopewell township; Charles, the father of our subject; Sophia, who married Steel Thrush, and died in Ohio; and Sarah Ann, who married Martin Railing, and died in Franklin county.
Charles Chamberlin was born in 1820, in Southampton township, where he was educated in the common schools, attending during the winter seasons only until he was nine years old, when he was hired by stran- gers, and from that time he fought his own
life's battles. One of his first employers was John Cressler. a farmer on the Cham- bersburg pike road. In 1841 he married Annie Railing, daughter of Adam and Eve Railing, of Mifflin township at one time, but later of Southampton township, Franklin county. Locating in Hopewell township after his marriage, he followed the life of a day laborer for six years, and then bought a small tract of land along the Ridge road, consisting of forty-four acres. At a later date he bought two more small farms, one containing thirty-six and the other, fifty-two acres, both in Hopewell township. The lat- ter farm was bought in 1892, and there he died in May, 1892. His widow survived until July, 1902, and both were buried at Shippensburg.
Mr. Chamberlin had been a strong Democrat all his life. He was a man much respected in his locality, and served two terms as school director, served on the elec- tion board. and at one time was supervisor. He was reliable, honest and upright, both in private and in public life. In his younger days he attended the Presbyterian Church at Middlespring, but later was active in the Fogelsonger Church in Hopewell township, although not a member. He was highly re- spected by all who knew him. The children of Charles Chamberlin and wife were: Re- becca Jane resides at Newburg, widow of David Tritt, who died in 1904; Jesse; and Charles, who lives on the homestead in Hopewell township, married Elizabeth Reese.
Jesse Chamberlin attended the schools of his neighborhood until he was nineteen years old, and then spent the years until his marriage, working for his father. In 1872 he was united in marriage with Sarah F. Garver, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah ( Mentzer ) Garver, natives of Maryland,
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who settled in Southampton township, Franklin county. Our subject and wife set- tled in Southampton township, for five years, following farming, and then came to Hope- well township. Here Mr. Chamberlin bought a fine farm of 140 acres, and during his long residence of nineteen years here, made many substantial improvements. His present farm of nineteen acres along the Ridge road, close to the Fogelsonger Church, he bought in 1897, and is now de- voting himself to its cultivation and improve- ment. He is known as one of the first-class farmers as well as highly respected citizens of the township.
Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin's children are : Frank, a mechanic in Shippensburg, mar- ried Elizabeth Newcomer; Clark, residing on his father's old farm in Hopewell town- ship, married Emma Clippinger, a daughter of John Clippinger ; and Clara B. and Anna J., both of whom are at home.
Like his respected father, Mr. Chamber- lin has always been identified with the Dem- ocratic party, and at various times has held township offices, such as school director, su- pervisor and member of the election board. He is one of the reliable citizens who make up the list of representative men in his lo- cality, those who support schools and churches, pay the taxes, insist on good roads and are the ones who are called on when any important public measure comes up.
Since 1876 Mr. Chamberlin has been a member of the Middlespring Presbyterian Church, to which his wife and daughter Clara also belong. Miss Clara is assistant organist of the Church.
JOHN B. KUNTZ. About the year 1832 there came to America from Germany a man named Thomas Kuntz. He landed at New York, but soon afterward came to
Pennsylvania and settled at Hanover, York county, where he lived about five years. He was a laboring man, and with a view of bet- tering his condition and obtaining for him- self a home he in 1837 removed to what is now South Dickinson township, Cumber- land county. His wife's name was Maria, but not much is known concerning the his- tory of her family. He died in 1861, but his wife survived for some years afterward. To Thomas and Maria Kuntz were born ten children, five sons and five daughters : Cath- arine, Philip, Maria, George, John B., Eliza- beth, Conrad, Rebecca, Thomas and Annie.
John B. Kuntz, the son who is the subject of this historical sketch, was born March 2, 1838, in South Dickinson township, in sight of where he now lives and has always lived. He was reared on the farm and edu- cated in the common schools of his part of the country. When about seventeen years of age he apprenticed himself to the trade of stonemason, which he learned and worked at in Dickinson township and also in Ship- pensburg and vicinity. He also worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty- ' two years of age.
On June 22, 1861, Mr. Kuntz enlisted in the Ist Pennsylvania Artillery, Campbell's Regiment, which was then being raised in Camp Curtin, Harrisburg. When the regi- ment was filled and sent to the front it was divided up and assigned to different divis- ions of the army. The detachment in which John B. Kuntz happened to be consisted of three companies and was placed with the Pennsylvania Reserves, a thoroughly drilled organization that participated in many bat- tles and was nearly always in the thickest of the fight. The first engagement in which his battery was under fire was the battle of Drainesville. Dec. 20, 1861. His battery continued well up at the front all through
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the fall of 1861. and during the winter and the spring of 1862. Early in the spring of 1862 it was at Yorktown and thence up in front of Richmond, where the following June it passed through the hottest of the memorable seven days' fight. In August it was sent to the protection of Washington. On its way it was landed at Aquia Creek. thence hurried to Gen. Pope's support at the Second Battle of Bull Run, where, on Aug. 30, 1862, Jolin B. Kuntz lost his good right arm. Al- though he did lose an arm his country did not lose his service. As soon as he was able to leave the hospital he was assigned to the Quartermaster's Department in the city of Washington under Gen. Rugger, where he did duty for four years.
After the war was over Mr. Kuntz re- turned to his home in South Dickinson and resumed work upon the farm which he left in June, 1861. He soon afterward bought sixty-five acres of land, upon which he erected buildings, making a home for his after years. In 1872 he married Susanna Starner. daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Starner, of Adams county, and she has borne him the following children : Effie A., who is married to Harry Beam and is living at Zion Church, in Dickinson township; El- mer E., who is a graduate of Dickinson Col- lege, is a teacher, has visited Europe, and is a well-rounded scholar; Marietta, who is married to Edward Murray and lives at Zion Church. Dickinson township; Theresa Mary, who is married to J. Park Gardner, and lives in Adams county ; and Grover C., who is a stenographer, and at this writing is filling a position in Philadelphia. Three other chil- dren, Goldie C., Thomas J., and Maria, are dead.
In politics Mr. Kuntz is a stalwart Dem- ocrat firm and abiding in the faith, and in his prime was an active and efficient party
worker. He ranks high in the confidence and respect of his neighbors and has repeat- edly been called on by them to fill township offices. He takes a deep interest in education and long held the position of school director. and as such was active and influential in promoting the best interests of the schools. In 1890 he was nominated and elected count- ty commissioner and for three years ren. dered the public efficient and satisfactory service in that position. He is an enterpris- ing, public-spirited citizen, a man of good judgment and honest impulses, and on all subjects has the courage of his convictions. He and his family attend Zion Lutheran Church, of South Dickinson township, and are among the most esteemed people of that section.
PROF. GEORGE P. KLUGH, prin- cipal of the New Cumberland public schools. and one of the well known educators of the Keystone State, was born March 30, 1867. at Franklintown, York Co., Pa., a son of Henry and Eliza (Knisely) Klugh.
Henry Kluglı was born April 30, 1826, in York county, a son of George Klugh, who was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., was of German extraction, and died at the home of his son in the fall of 1876, aged eighty- seven years. He married Hannah Arnold. The Knisely family also came from Germany and is well known in Lancaster county. Henry Klugh taught school for some four- teen years and then followed carpentering and contracting, so arranging his work that his winters could be given to teaching and his summers to this work. He also taught music, and was far better educated than the average man of his day, and much beyond the average in mental ability. In 1856 he married, at Franklintown, Miss Eliza Knisely, who was born in Franklin township,
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York county, daughter of Samuel Knisely, a farmer of that locality. The children of this union were: Mary Catherine, Mrs. Ephraim Brame, of Heidlersburg, Adams county ; Samuel H., an undertaker and justice of the peace at Dillsburg, who mar- ried Lizzie Sollenberger : George P .; Jerre J .. a teacher in Dillsburg : Hannah Jane, who died aged seven years; and William K., agent for the Cumberland Valley Railroad at Shiremanstown, who married Lillie Leathery.
In 1876 Henry Klugh removed to the old home farm, which he had purchased, and lived there until his death, May 25. 1895. His widow still survives and resides at Dills- burg, aged sixty-eight years. She is a valued member of the Lutheran Church, as was her husband. In his early political life he was a Republican, but later he became identified with the Prohibition party.
Prof. Klugh was nine years of age when his father moved to the farm in Franklin township. He always enjoyed the best edu- cational advantages of the localities in which the family lived, completing his course at the age of eighteen years. Since then his record has been that of a successful educator almost continuously. His first school was at Gochenour, Washington township, York county ; one year later he went to the North- ern school, in Franklin township, where he continued four years; then to Fruitville school, Manheim township, Lancaster coun- ty. Two years later he was called to the Beavertown schools, York county, teaching seven winters and six suminers,, and he taught one season in the Hamme's school, Carroll township, York county. On the day his labors closed at this school Prof. Klugh came to New Cumberland and closed the term at the intermediate school. After serv- ing two more terms in the same department
he was elected principal, was re-elected in 1903, and also in 1904,
In 1895 Prof. Klugh was married, at Boiling Springs, Cumberland county, to Miss Julia Spangler, a daughter of Porter P. and Mary (Kunkle) Spangler. both of Boiling Springs. Four children came to this union : Claud, born Sept. 15, 1896: Beatrice, Nov. 30. 1898; May, May 10. 1901 (died May 28, 1901 ) ; and Ada, Sept. 29, 1903.
Prof. and Mrs. Klugh are prominent members of the New Cumberland U. B. Church, in which he is a member of the of- ficial board, and he is secretary of the Quar- terly Conference. He is the superintendent of the adult department of the Sabbath- school, and is also a member of the choir. In politics he is identified with the Republican party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Jr. O. U. A. M.
ROBERT M. GRAHAM has, as a prosperous farmer and capable public offi- cer, become well and favorably known in West Pennsboro township. He is a native of Cumberland county. born Nov. 12, 1837. in Frankford township, and comes of a family which has long been held in high esteem in this section, as is shown by the numerous official honors heaped upon them.
William Graham, father of Robert M., was born in 1811 in Frankford township, Cumberland county, son of Arthur and Nancy (McClure) Graham. In 1836 he married Nancy Davidson, and they had six sons : Robert M., John D., James M. (de- ceased ), William F. ( deceased), Arthur H., and Alfred M. (deceased), of whom all but the last named married and settled in Cum- berland county.
Robert M. Graham began his studies in the schools of his native township, and later
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became a pupil at the Newville Normal School. the first Normal school in the State. From the age of eleven years he lived with his uncle, Robert M. Graham. At the age of twenty he commenced teaching school in Frankford township, and continued to fol- low that profession for seven years. His in- terest in educational matters has never waned, and he served twenty-two years as school director. He is now serving his sec- ond term as president of the School Direct- ors Association of Cumberland County.
Mr. Graham was trained to agricultural work from early boyhood, and he finally took charge of the farm of his uncle, which has descended from father to son since the time of William Penn, from whom the original grant was obtained. He and his young wife commenced their married life on that place, and thence in 1882, removed to their present home, which was the homestead of Mrs. Graham's father, from whom she inherited it. Mr. Graham has been a successful farmer, but he has probably become best known in his public career. In 1878 he was honored with election to the office of pro- thonotary of Cumberland county, which he held for three years, being subsequently re- tained as deputy by his successors for two terms. He was deputy sheriff from 1882 until 1885, and in 1884 became a justice of the peace in West Pennsboro township, serv- ing as such for fifteen years. Mr. Graham won golden opinions on all sides for his faithful discharge of all the duties intrusted to him, and his high personal integrity has never been questioned. He has been an Odd Fellow for forty-five years, has passed through all the chairs in the local lodge, and is likewise prominent in local Masonic cir- cles, being a past master of Big Spring Lodge, No. 361, F. & A. M., of which he has been a member for twenty-three years.
In 1869 Mr. Graham married Miss Re- becca Jane McKeehan, who was born in West Pennsboro township, in the house built by her grandfather in 1793, daughter of Jo- seph and Jane M. (Skiles) McKeehan. Her ancestry can be traced back for over a cent- ury. As previously mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. Graham commenced their married life on his uncle's farm, and there their three children were born, viz .: (1) Joseph M., who is now conducting his father's farm, married Elizabeth J. Clay, daughter of Levi and Mary Ann (Snyder) Clay, of West Pennsboro township. (2) William F. is living at home. (3) .Clemens McFarland is a graduate of the Shippensburg Normal School. attended college at Carlisle for one year, and is now engaged in teaching; he taught for three years in. West Pennsboro township, and for the past three years has been located at Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
GIVLER. The name of Givler is fa- miliar among the agriculturists of Cumber- land county, at present being borne by Joseph and Peter B. Givler, brothers, who are engaged in the cultivation of their old homestead, their welfare being ably looked after by their capable sister, Miss Mary.
Adam Givler, the father of Givler Broth- ers, was born in Franklin county in 1816, and there grew to manhood and married. His life was devoted to farm work, first in his native county, and later he moved to Cumberland county, in 1847, locating on the farm now occupied by his children. This comprises about seventy acres of rich pro- ductive land, which by systematic care and up-to-date methods has been brought to a high state of cultivation, and is well im- proved with a comfortable dwelling. bank barn and good outbuildings. It is located two miles cast of Shippensburg. Adam
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Givler married, in 1838. Nancy Burkholder, who was born near Newburg. Cumberland county, in 1818. She was the daughter of Peter and Mary M. (Goodyear) Burk- holder; she died in 1897, in hier seventy- ninth year. Adam Givler died in 1854. He and his wife were the parents of six children, as follows: Joseph: Peter B .: William; Daniel; Mary, at home ; and Caroline, de- ceased. The father was a man well posted on the current events of the day, and was fearless in expression. He voted in favor of Democratic principles, and he was an able adviser in party councils, being practical in his ideas, and possessed of much wisdom and good judgment. In his religious connection he was a Lutheran.
Joseph and Peter B. Givler now farm the homestead as partners. Joseph was born in Franklin county in 1843. but was reared chiefly in Cumberland county. Peter B. re- ceived a liberal education, and has a progres- sive and enterprising spirit. Both are well liked socially, and they are generally re- garded as exceptionally fine young men.
H. N. BREAM, school director of South Middleton township, Cumberland county, and a well known and successful farmer of that locality, was born Nov. 29, 1854, in Adams county, Pa., son of Adam and Annie Bream.
Adam Bream was born in Adams county. His brothers and sisters were: Andrew, Jacob, Rebecca, Catherine, John P., Jere- miah and Priscilla, all of whom married and settled in Adams county. Adam Bream attended the public schools of his locality, after which he worked for his father upon the farm until his marriage. He then bought a farm adjoining that of his father, and re- mained upon it until his death in 1900, at the age of seventy-four years. He married An-
nie Deatrich, daughter of Nicholas and Margaret (Miller) Deatrich, and the fol- lowing children were born to them: Joseph W. married Annie O. Group, daughter of Jesse and Maria Group, and had children, Carrie, Jessie A., Annie M., John P., Grace and Laura ; Sybella married Abraham Tros- tle, son of Jacob Trostle, and has children,- Zora, Harry, Eva and Earl; H. N .; Benja- min F. married Annie M. Spangler, daugh- ter of John and Susan Spangler, and has one child, Hattie M .; Annie M. married William Asper, son of Jonas Asper, and has tour chil- dren, Irvin, Mamie, Harry and Stella ; Sarah C. married Michael Bowers, son of Amos Bowers, and has six children, Zora, Zula, Reynolds, Parvin, Linnie and Harry; Adam R. married Annie Fissel, daughter of Eman- uel Fissel, and has three children, Elsie, Ernest and Mabel ; Hannah S. married Jacob Rex, son of George Rex, and has one child, Guy; Alice E. married Fred Wenk, and has three children, Herman, Guy and John.
H. N. Bream attended the Adams county public schools until he was nineteen, and at that age he began working upon his father's farm. He continued to farm in Adams county for seven years after his marriage, and then removed to Cumberland county, settling in South Middleton township. about one-half a mile from the Adams county line, buying the old Miller farm of ninety-three acres. He has greatly improved this prop- erty, and is recognized as one of the leading farmers of this locality, having achieved his success through hard work and great thrift. He is honorable, upright and highly re- spected, his word being as good as his bond any day. In 1902 he was honored by elec- tion to the office of school trustee, which he still holds.
In 1876 Mr. Bream married Harriet A. Bream, daughter of George and Hannah
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Bream. and the children born to this mar- riage are : Hannah A., who married Ernest Trostle, son of Joseph and Caroline Trosle : Adam F., at home working on the farm ; and Florence, attending school. This family are members of the Lutheran Church, and are respected wherever known.
PETER MOWERS, an honored vet- eran of the Civil war, and in the days of peace a successful farmer, now retired from active work, is a musician of no mean ability and he has taken a great interest in organiz- ing quartettes, and in composing music. He is a fine singer, and his voice has often been heard in church and in institutes. As an in- structor of the divine art he has had few su- periors in his community. Mr. Mowers was born in Southampton township, on the old Mowers homestead, Oct. 13. 1833. son of Henry and Elizabeth (Cope) Mowers.
George Mowers, his paternal grand- father, came from Lancaster county to Cum- berland in the early days, and married here. Both he and his wife were active in the in- terests of the United Brethren Church. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom the following are living : George, of Mans- field, Ohio; John; Michael, of Fayetteville, Pa. : Catherine, wife of Adam Reese ; Betsy, married to Philip Banghman; and Susan, wife of George Atherton.
Henry Mowers, son of George, married Elizabeth Cope, and of their children, we have record of the following: Mary, de- ceased ; John, a blacksmith, of Shippensburg ; Morris, deceased : Peter ; Isaiah, who died in 1863: William: Samuel A., a Presbyterian minister for a year in Lafayette. Ind., later at Gallipolis, Ohio, where he died in the spring of 1904; George A, a farmer in Southampton township: Miss Elizabeth ; and Dr. Joseph H., a druggist in Shippensburg.
Peter Mowers received his primary edu- cation in the old Croft schoolhouse at Clev- ersburg. Remaining on the farm until his nineteenth year, he acquired practical train- ing along agricultural lines. He then learned the carpenter's trade with Henry Cormany. and after completing his apprenticeship he went to Newville, where for seven and one- half years he was employed by Abraham Kil- lian. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company 1, 9th P. V. C., under Col. E. C. Williams and Capt. Mccullough. After being mus- tered into service they were ordered to Jef- fersonville, Ind., thence to Kentucky, where they participated in several engagements, Perryville, Chancellorsville and Mill Springs being the principal ones. Mr. Mowers was taken ill, and after being confined in the hos- pital some time he was discharged on a sur- geon's certificate of disability, and in 1863 he returned home. He immediately set about recruiting a company in connection with Capt. Dodge, and again entered the service, serving two years on detached duty. After the close of the war he located in Cleversburg, and there erected his present substantial brick residence. He has been successful because of his unflagging in- dustry, good management, and wise huis- banding of his resources. His business methods have been characterized by strict integrity and open, above-board measures.
In 1865 Mr. Mowers was united in mar- riage with Sarah J. Hawk, of Shippensburg, a daughter of William and Elizabeth ( Auns- paugh) Hawk, old settlers of Southampton township. To this union have been born the following children: Burk, a composer of music, now deecased; Harvey S .. employed by the Philadelphia & Reading R. R. : Carrie Belle, wife of Jacob Railing, of Shippens- burg; Maud, who married Stuart Baker : Dolly, at home : and Annie F., who married
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