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 69
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union was blessed with one daughter, Doro- thy M., who married John Wolford, of Har- risburg. Besides Mrs. Wertz. John and Mary Reed had children: Jacob, William and George, deceased: John, of Cumber- land: and Mary and Elizabeth, deceased. Mrs. Wertz has two half-sisters, Rachel and . Sarah.
Mr. Wertz was a Republican in politics, and always took an interest in the success of his party. He was a prominent member of the German Baptist Brethren Church. Mrs. Wertz and daughter, Dorothy M., are well known and most highly esteemed in Mechanicsburg. They take a great deal of interest in church work. being valued mem- bers of the United Brethren Church in this city.
JOHN S. BEATTIE, a retired farmer of Shippensburg, was born in this county, upon a farm three miles east of Shippens- burg, in the vicinity of Leesburg. Jan. I, 1836.
James Beattie, his grandfather, was born in Ireland, and soon after coming to the Colonies became a soldier in the Revolution- ary war, serving seven years. He married Mary Quigley, born in Cumberland county, on what is known as the old Harrisburg pike.
James Beattie, son of James and father of John S., was born in Cumberland county, five miles east of Shippensburg, on what is known as the old Beattie homestead, Jan. 26, 1800, and he became one of the pros- perous farmers of his section. He was a Presbyterian in religious faith, and an old line Whig politically, until the formation of the Republican party, when he entered its ranks. He married (first) Miss Isabella Clarke, daughter of Robert Clarke, who was three times married, and who reared a large
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family. Mrs. Beattie died in 1843. the mother of eight children, seven sons and one daughter : Robert C .. a farmer who died in Ohio: James A., a retired farmer of Ship- pensburg; William Q .. a farmer of Rich- land county, Ohio: Charles, who died in childhood : John S. ; Thomas G., a farmer in Nebraska: Henry C .. a retired farmer in Cumberland county ; and Mary Q., who died in infancy. For his second wife James Beat- tie married Rachel Work, of near Mercers- burg, who bore him two daughters, Lydia Bell and Mary Jane, both unmarried.
John S. Beattie was reared on a farm. and received his education at the district schools. well remembering attending school in a little log building. He remained with his parents until reaching manhood, when at the age of twenty-four years, he married Miss Eleanor Sharp Wallace, of Cumber- land county, born Jan. 4. 1836, in Ohio. to which State her parents had moved. the father dying soon thereafter. The mother returned with the family, to Cumberland county, when Mrs. Beattie was six years of age, and she was reared here. Mrs. Beattie is one in a family of six children: Sarah Elder. deceased : Caroline B .. widow of Wil- liam B. Morrow : Mary S., deceased. wife of John Robertson; Elizabeth J., deceased ; John McCune : and Eleanor Sharp.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Beat- tie settled on the old Beattie homestead, and engaged in farming and stock raising. A few years later, Mr. Beattie purchased a well improved farm of 140 acres in Franklin county, to which he moved, making many improvements upon his property and resid- ing upon it until 1878, when he returned to Cumberland county, and settled at Ship- pensburg, renting his farm.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beattie: James, a salesman at Pitts-
burg, married Miss Sarah Snyder; Lillie Belle married David Glenn Duncan, a farmer; George Allen, residing in Clarke county, Iowa, married Miss Ida Hogue, of that State: William Wallace McCune, a clerk in a wholesale drug store in New York City, married Miss Bessie N. Lutz, of Ship- pensburg.
In politics Mr. Beattie is a strong Jeffer- sonian Democrat. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, of which for three years Mr. Beattie was trustee. They are most highly respected people, and have many friends in both Franklin and Cumberland counties.
CHARLES R. CHAMBERLIN, one of the prosperous and substantial farmers of Hopewell township, was born in 1861, on his father's farm in Hopewell township. son of Charles and grandson of Jesse Chamberlin, the family being of Scotch-Irish extraction.
Charles Railing Chamberlin. obtained his education in the public schools, and as- sisted on the home farm until the age of twenty-six, when he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Reese, daughter of Adam and Jane ( Walters) Reese, natives of South- ampton township, Cumberland county, but later, residents of Lurgan township, Frank- lin county. Mrs. Reese died in 1902, and was buried at Shippensburg, but he still survives and is a resident of Franklin county. The children born to Adam Reese and wife were : Adam, who lives near Leesburg, Cumberland county ; Cyrus, of Shippens- burg ; J. B., who died young in Elk county; Elizabeth, wife of our subject; Martin, a farmer in Franklin county ; and Carrie, who also is a resident of the same township, in Franklin county.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Chamber- lin, in 1888, located on the home farm, which
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he operated for five and a half years. In the year following his father's death, 1903, he bought the home farm. It had been well improved by the elder Mr. Chamberlin, and the substantial buildings, with the exception of the wagon shed, were placed there by him. The farm contains 153 acres. well located, along the Ridge road. Mr. Chant- berlin is a careful, practical farmer, and his place is one of the best managed in this locality.
Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin have four sons : Clarence. Charles, Adam and Mark, and one daughter, Anna Mary. The eldest son has a record of Sunday-school attend- ance of four years without a single-absence mark, a pretty good indication that he, like his father before him, will be a man of punctual business habits.
Since 1892 Mr. Chamberlin has been an active member of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, for over six years serving as trustee, and a useful worker in the Sabbath-school. Politically, he is a Dem- ocrat, and he has acceptably served as school director and as township clerk.
THOMAS A. LINDSAY, proprietor of the hotel at Bowmansdale, Cumberland county, comes of good Scotch ancestry, and has inherited many of the sterling traits of that hardy race. Industry and stcady per- sistence have marked his successful career : and his pleasant social disposition has been a marked factor in his popularity in the role of "host."
Thomas Lindsay, his grandfather, was a woolen manufacturer in Scotland, and upon his emigration to this country, he settled in Newville, Cumberland county, where he car- ried on the wool business. Nothing more is known in the Lindsay family regarding his history, with the exception that he died at
the age of eighty years, and was buried near Newville.
James Y. Lindsay, son of Thomas and father of Thomas, was born in Newville. After completing his school days, and while still a young man, he engaged in the woolen business with his father. Later he moved to Cincinnati, and for the remainder of his life lived there. In the early part of the War of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company C, 12th Kentucky Infantry, attached to Gen. Thomas' division, and at the end of three years he was honorably discharged for disa- bility contracted during his term of service. During his life he took an active interest in politics, as a Republican, and held many offices in the city of Cincinnati. In religion, he followed the footsteps of his ancestors, and was a Presbyterian. In early life he married Elizabeth Callen, from the well known Callen family of Franklin county. He died in Cincinnati, at the age of sixty- three years, leaving the following children : Mary J. Eckels, living in Mechanicsburg ; Ella Hauck and Samuel P., both living at home ; and Thomas A.
Thomas A. Lindsay, the subject of the sketch, was born July 3, 1865, in the city of Cincinnati. Part of his schooling he re- ceived in that city, and part in Mechanics- burg, as the family moved to the last named place, when he was quite young. After his school days were completed he learned the leather business, polishing and netting, with James Huston. After spending seven years at that trade, he learned cigar making. and for a number of years pursued that occupa- tion throughout the coal region. In 1893 he engaged in the hotel business at Shepherds- town, and in 1897 he sold out and bought the property and hotel he now occupies in Bow- mansdale. Careful consideration for the comfort and convenience of his guests, and
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the homelike atmosphere that pervades the hostelry, have combined to make it a most popular resting place.
Mr. Lindsay was married to Laura Blaine, a member of the Blaine family of Perry county. Mr. Lindsay was formerly a Republican, but of late years has been found in Democratic ranks. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and they are prominent in the social life of the community.
GEORGE WASHINGTON WEARY, a successful business man who has followed the carpenter trade for many years, was born July 10, 1849, on the old Jacob Weary farm.
Jacob Weary, his grandfather, was born at Green Park. then in Cumberland, now in Perry, county, where he followed farming. after his marriage coming to North Middle- ton, now Middlesex township, where he bought 223 acres of land, a part of which he sold at a later date. His last years were passed with his sons, Samuel and Jacob Weary, his death occurring in 1862; his wife passed away ten years earlier. His chil- dren were: Samuel, father of our subject : John, who died in Illinois: Jacob, who died in North Middleton township in 1903 : Polly. Mrs. John Dice, deceased ; Julia, Mrs. Henry Evans, deceased; and George, who died in 1864.
Samuel Weary was born in 1812 in Green Park, and was twelve years old when his father settled in Middlesex township, where he assisted in getting out timber from the woods, instead of going to school. His op- portunities were as good as those enjoyed by any child of the time and locality, but were not such as the children of the present dlay are given. It has been truly said that the time was when it was just as difficult for a child to receive an education as it is
now for him to escape it. After his marriage he located on a rented farm, but in 1850 he took the home farm to operate on shares. later buying it from his father and living on it until 1870. He then settled in the village of Middlesex, where he died in August, 1885. His wife died at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Jennie Baker, near New Kingstown, in 1898. Both parents had been members of the Lutheran Church from child- hood and they were both respected and be- loved. The father was always a strong Democrat in his political opinions.
Samuel Weary married Maria Abra- hims, who was born in 1818 at Pennsboro, and they had children as follows: Jacob; John : William ; Catherine, Mrs. David Wirt (of Carlisle) ; George W .; Jennie, Mrs. Baker ; and Herman A., of Carlisle. Of this family. Jacob gave four years of his life to the service of his country, being a member of the 2d Iowa Vol. Inf. After the close of the war, during which he suffered thirteen months' imprisonment, he returned to Iowa, and died in that State in 1902. John also served four years in the Civil war, as a mem- ber of the 13th Pa. Cav., and now resides in Philadelphia. William served one year as a member of the 17th Pa. Cav., and now re- sides near Plainfield, Pa., one of the coun- try's honored G. A. R. men.
George W. Weary secured a good com- mon school education in Middlesex township and made very fair progress as he was stu- dious and had good teachers. At the out- break of the Civil war, when his brothers marched away to serve the country, he was just as enthusiastic and as loyal as others, but was induced to stay at home to look after the farm. This he did very unwillingly as, although only fifteen years of age, he was large and strong, but he could not succeed in convincing a very wise father that his
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duty was on the battlefield instead of behind the plow. Finally he resigned himself to the inevitable and assisted his father until the latter quit farming , when he started to learn the carpenter's trade with a contractor who built his father's barn. He seemed well fitted for this industry, learned quickly, and has followed the same very successfully ever since. In 1885 he built his own handsome home in the village of Middlesex and has done much of the carpenter work in this lo- cality for many years, his reputation being that of a skilled and careful workman.
On Jan. 3, 1884. Mr. Weary was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Albright, who was born July 8, 1847. in Middlesex township, and died Feb. 9, 1904. She was a daughter of Solomon and Caroline ( Cor- man) Albright, the former of whom was born in Perry county, and the latter in Cum- berland county, and they resided at Carlisle Springs, where the mother died in 1897. Mr. Albright now resides with his son-in- law, Amos Gutshall, at Sulphur Springs.
After his marriage Mr. Weary located in the village, where he is most highly es- teemed. Formerly he and his wife belonged to the Reformed Church, but later became leading members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Weary has always taken a lively interest in politics, and. like his father, has always supported the principles of the Democratic party. He has served in a num- ber of local offices, having been township clerk for one year and township constable for nine years. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 91, of Carlisle. He is one of the substantial and representa- tive citizens of his section.
SOLOMON ALBRIGHT, long a re- spected resident of Carlisle Springs, Cum- berland county, and now living retired. was
born April 22, 1819, on his father's farm in Perry county, near Grier Point. His grand- father settled in that locality in an early day, moving thither from Berks county, this State, and there passed the remainder of his days. At that time Perry was still a part of Cumberland county, and the region was still in a very wild condition.
George Albright, father of Solomon, was born in Berks county, and settled in Perry county on a tract of land that was for the most part in its primitive state. He pros- pered in his farming operations, and became the owner of about 300 acres, which in- cluded what is now Grier Point. In Berks county he married Elizabeth Tinicle, a native of that county, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom we have the fol- lowing record: William, who married a Miss Ensminger, died on the old home. Esther, Mrs. Stephen Lay, died in York, Pa., at the advanced age of ninety-six years. George died in Perry county; he married Elizabeth Lau. John married a Miss Lane, and died in Carlisle. Elizabeth, the widow of George Messenger, lives in Hogestown, Pa. Solomon is mentioned below. One son died young. The parents were zealous members of the Reformed Church, and as there was no church of that denomination in Perry county at the time their home was used as a meeting-house. They were ever ready to aid in all religious or charitable enterprises, and were known as people worthy of the highest esteem. Mr. Albright died on his farm at the age of about sixty years, and the mother passed away some years afterward.
Solomon Albright was reared to farming on the paternal homestead, and he received all his education in the local subscription schools. At the age of fifteen he left home to go to Oak Grove Furnace, where he
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learned shoemaking under Joseph Heckin- dorn, and that business has really been his life work, for he followed his trade in all some fifty years. At the age of twenty-three years he taught school one term, in York county. Pa. In 1840, at Carlisle Springs, he was married to Caroline Corman, daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth Corman, the former of whom was at one time proprietor of the "Carlisle Springs Hotel," which he finally sold, moving to Carlisle, where he remained until his death. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Albright moved to Dills- burg. York county, where he worked at his trade one year, and thence moved to Church- town, where he was at the head of Samuel N. Diven's tannery for a year. At the end of this time his father-in-law asked him to locate in one of his houses at Carlisle Springs, and. moving thither, he opened a shop of his own, which he conducted until 1898. In that year, his wife having passed away, he gave up housekeeping and went to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Gutshall. in Sulphur Springs, Cumberland county. Mrs. Al- bright's death previously mentioned, oc- curred Feb. 6, 1897, and was deeply mourned in the community as well as in the family circle. She was a devout member of the Re- formed Church, of which Mr. Albright is also a member, and he has been one of the active workers in same, at present holding the office of deacon. His political connec- tion is with the Democratic party, and he has been quite prominent in local affairs, having served a number of times in township offices. His reputation has always been of the highest, for he has been a man of upright life and unquestioned integrity, respected by all who have come in contact with him.
Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Albright Augustus D., who resides in Car-
lisle, married Esemiah Railing: Rebecca. the widow of Oliver Westfall, resides in Carlisle, Pa. Amanda (deceased) was the wife of George W. Weary, of Middlesex township, Cumberland county. Oliver mar- ried Ella Jacobs, and resides in Carlisle. Ettie is Mrs. Amos Gutshall. Henrietta is the wife of Samuel Martin, and resides in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
JOHN A. BOSLER, superintendent of the finishing department of the Mt. Holly Springs Paper Co., was born in Mt. Holly Springs, Cumberland county, Aug. 19, 1848. a son of Christopher and F. Catherine (Wolf) Bosler. The parents were both na- tives of Germany, where they were reared, coming to America when still young. The father died many years ago, when his son John was a lad of about eight years ; he was a papermaker by trade. Two children were born to himself and wife, and our subject is the only one of the family now living.
Jolin A. Bosler was reared and educated at Mt. Holly Springs, and when only fifteen years of age he began to learn the papermak- ing trade. With the exception of six years he has been connected with the Mt. Holly Paper Co., and those six years were spent at Holyoke, Mass., where for a portion of the time he was in charge of the finishing department of the paper works at that place. For thirty years Mr. Bosler has been super- intendent of the finishing department at Mt. Holly Springs, and is a very efficient and skilled papermaker, being a thorough me- chanic and a master of his calling. In pub- lic affairs he has served upon the school board, holding that position for six years. During twelve years he has served in the borough council as the choice of the Demo- cratic party, and as the borough is strongly Republican this fact is a strong testimonial
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of his remarkable personal popularity. Fra- ternally. Mr. Bosler is a member of the I. O. O. F .. Lodge No. 650, and has been con- nected with the order for the past twenty- eight years, and passed all the chairs.
In 1872 Mr. Bosler married Miss Mary R. Flemming. a daughter of Isaac Flem- ming. and she died in 1893, leaving a fam- ily of three children : Blanche married James Carroll McAllister, now a resident of Car- lisle, and has several children; Frank is a papermaker of North Wilbraham, Mass., where he has charge of the finishing depart- ment of one of the largest mills in the coun- try : Mary R. married Clyde Fisher of Mt. Holly Springs, a papermaker. In 1894 Mr. Bosler formed a second union, with Bertha M. Bricker, a daughter of John Bricker, of Carlisle. Mr. Bosler is a member of the Methodist Church, in which he is very prom- inent, serving as a member of the board of trustees.
HENRY A. MINIUM, a prosperous business man of Carlisle, Pa .. and dealer in musical instruments at No. I East High street. that city, has been engaged along this line since 1901 in Carlisle, and in other loca- tions since 1892. His stock includes a full line of the best makes of pianos, organs and smaller musical instruments, and his field of operation extends over Cumberland county.
Mr. Minium was born in Monroe town- ship, Cumberland county, Dec. 20, 1866, a son of W. C. and Lucinda (Diller ) Minium, both of whom are living. Like many coun- try boys he was reared upon the farm, re- ceiving a good education in the local schools, ind learned the trade of painting, to which le gave his attention for seven years. About hat time his mind reverted to his present business, in which he embarked, and which
he has carried on very profitably ever since. Fraternally, he is a member of the M. W. of A., No. 5472; Royal Arcanum, No. 502; and the Knights of Pythias.
On Jan. 19. 1899, Mr. Minium was married to Elizabeth Ellen Zeigler, daughter of Jacob Zeigler, of Middlesex township. this county. They reside in their pleasant home at No. 154 North Pitt street, where they wel- come their many friends with a gracious hospitality. Mr. Minium is justly regarded as one of the leading young business men of the city. and is highly esteemed by all.
PETER MARTIN HEISER. yard- master for the Northern Central Railroad at Bridgeport, Cumberland county, and an hon- ored survivor of the Civil war, was born Jan. I. 1842, in Harrisburg, Pa .. a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Martin) Heiser.
Peter Heiser was born in Lancaster county and in boyhood learned shoemaking. In young manhood he went to Harrisburg and there married Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick Martin, later moving to Carlisle, where he died in January, 1893. His first wife passed away in Altoona, in 1854. The children of Peter Heiser by two marriages were: Peter Martin, of this sketch: Cath- erine, deceased, wife of William Folk, of Harrisburg; Mary, Mrs. John Weiley. de- ceased; Martha, Mrs. James Johnson. de- ceased; and Frederick and Charles, both of whom died in infancy.
When Peter Martin Heiser was three years old his parents moved to Philadelphia, and at the age of nine years he came to Bridgeport to make his home with his mater- nal step-grandfather, Frederick Arnold. He attended school at both places, altogether not regularly, as he had to assist his grandfather, who was a switchman on the Cumberland Valley Railroad, and at the age of ten years
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was able to successfully throw the switches. When fifteen he went to Lancaster, to learn the tailor's trade. but after a year's trial gave it up and went to Lititz, where he learned shoemaking. which he followed in Lancaster one year. In 1861 he entered the Union army for service in the Civil war, enlisting in Company B, Ist Pa. Reserves, for three years, and re-enlisted for the same period. He was assigned to Company A, 190th P. V. I., and participated in the larger number of the battles of the Army of the Potomac. except the ones fought while he was lying in hospital, suffering from a wound in his left elbow received at the battle of the Wilderness. He was in hospital at Fortress Monroe and later at Washington, D. C. Mr. Heiser's military life was one of constant danger. His command was attached to the 25th Army Corps, and he served under many famous men and gallant commanders, one of these being Gen. Meade, at Gettysburg. He took part in the famous battles of Me- chanicsville, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg. Spottsylvania Court House and Draines- ville, besides many others.
After the close of the war Mr. Heiser returned to his home and resumed his shoe- making business, until 1866, when he en- tered the employ of the Cumberland Valley Railroad Co., with which he continued until 1868, when he transferred to the Northern Central, as car inspector. In 1889, he was promoted to the responsible position of yard- master at Bridgeport, which he still holds. and is a trusted and valued employe.
At Lancaster, in 1866, Mr. Heiser was married to Mary C. Jeffries, of that place, a daughter of Augustus and Amelia ( Ham- bright) Jeffries, the latter of whom died in 1900: the former still survives, at the age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Heiser died in
July, 1903. She was a consistent member of the Episcopal Church at Lancaster. She was the mother of the following named chil- dren: Amelia Elizabeth, Mrs. C. Leyden, of Lancaster; Susan, Mrs. G. W. Handy- shell, of Bridgeport; Jennie, Mrs. S. I. Stouffer, of Bridgeport; Charles A., who died in 1902; and Frank, who died in 1901.
Mr. Heiser is a member of the Moravian Church, which he joined at Lititz. In poli- tics he votes independently in local matters, but is a Democrat in national affairs. Fra- ternally, he belongs to the Royal Arcanum, the I. O. O. F. (at Harrisburg), and the Jr. O. U. A. M. (at Lancaster).
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