Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 73

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 73

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S. G. Bowman grew up on the farm and obtained his boyhood education in the dis- trict schools, later supplementing this with attendance at the Newville Normal School, and the United Brethren College at Mt. Pleasant, in Westmoreland county. In 1858, with his mother, he came to Mechanicsburg and embarked in the mercantile business, in which he continued through the period of the Civil war, although he did not give his personal attention to the business all the time, as in 1862 he volunteered in the Ist P. V. I., and served a short time. He was

engaged for two years ( 1876-77) in business at Philadelphia, and from 1878 to 1879, was located at Ocean Grove.

About 1882 Mr. Bowman became asso- ciated with the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company in a clerical position, remaining with that corporation for ten years. In 1892 he accepted his present position as teller in the Second National Bank of Mechanics- burg, and his reputation is that of a sound financier as well as a most affable and oblig- ing gentleman.

In politics, Mr. Bowman is a stanch Re- publican, but holds no public office, close at- tention to his business, to his family and to his church, absorbing his time and making enough interests in life for his enjoyment. Since 1858 he has been a consistent member of the Church of God, of which his venerated father was the first minister in Cumberland county.

In 1860, Mr. Bowman married Mary J. Rupp, in Mechanicsburg, daughter of Henry and Sarah ( Barnhart) Rupp, the former of whom was born Dec. 25, 1822, and died in 1866. Mrs. Bowman had but one sister, Ida, who married Alfred Milleisen, and is now deceased. The Rupp family is a very old and prominent one in Cumberland coun-

ty. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman have had four children, as follows : Sallie, deceased, was the wife of Dr. Walter Eckles; Henry died April 4, 1903, leaving a widow and three children, Walter E., Mary and Edna; Mary, married B. F. Robinson, of Providence, R. I., and they have two children, William and Martha; and Florence resides at home.

The Rupp family is of German extrac- tion, and many of its members reside both in Lancaster and Cumberland counties. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bowman was George Rupp, who was born in Lancaster county, and settled in youth in Upper Allen

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township, Cumberland county. The mem- bers of his family became substantial and re- spected citizens, namely: Jonas, Martin, George. John, Henry, J. D., Jane (wife of Benjamin Heilman), Elizabeth (wife of John B. Coover), and Fannie (wife of Mathew Bitner). All have passed away.

REV. AUSTIN A. KELLY, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, at Newville, Pa., and one of the earnest church workers in Cumberland county, as well as a devoted Christian man, was born on a farm in Adams county, Pa., June 4, 1870, son of James N. and Ellen ( Harner ) Kelly.

Patrick Kelly, great-grandfather of Rev. Austin A., was a native of Ireland, emi- grated to America prior to the Revolutionary war, and settled in what is now Heidelberg township, York county, Pa. There he owned two farms and died at an advanced age. His children were John, Jacob, Pat- rick, James, Thomas (who settled in Bote- tourt county, Va.), Mrs. Nancy Bowman, Mrs. Sarah Dubbs, Mrs. Mary Millheim, and George W.

George W. Kelly, son of Patrick and grandfather of Rev. Austin A., was born in 1795. in York county, Pa. He was a farmer and miller by occupation, and settled in Car- roll county, Md., where he met and married Mary Ann Williams, who was born June 15, 1800, in Frederick county, Md. She was the second daughter of William Wil- liams and Rebecca Slife, whose other chil- dren were Elizabeth, and a son who served through the war of 1812. William Wil- liams was a native of England and served through the Revolutionary war under George Washington. George W. Kelly and his wife had children as follows: Mrs. Sarah Morelock, Emanuel, John, George, James N. and Thomas. Mr. Kelly died in 1845,

at about the age of fifty, and his widow in 1884, aged eighty-four.

James Nathaniel Kelly, the father of our subject, was born Aug. 9, 1833, at Silver Run, Carroll county, MId., and was educated in an academy at Frederick City, Md., under Prof. Nathaniel Vernon, and at Pennsylva- nia College, Gettysburg. Pa. After leaving school he taught for some time very success- fully in Carroll county, Md .. and York and Adams counties, Pa. For a time he was also clerk and salesman in a mercantile house in Maryland. On Sept. 6, 1864, Mr. Kelly enlisted as a private in the 209th P. V. I., participating in the battles of Fort Steadman and Petersburg, Va., and served until hon- orably discharged at the close of the war. In the spring of 1866 he removed to the Mansion Farm, which he purchased from the Mearing estate in Germany township, and there successfully engaged in farming and stock raising.

Mr. Kelly married, on Oct. 29, 1857, Ellen Harner, who was born March 2, 1835, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth ( Mear- ing ) Harner. To this union were born chil- dren as follows: Laura Ellen (died in in- fancy), Sarah L. (died in infancy), Emma Catherine, James Hamilton, Jos- eph Ellsworth, Eugene Sylvester and Austin Augustus. All of the family were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Kelly was a stanch Democrat, and he was an upright and con- scientious, self-made business man.

The primary education of Rev. Austin A. Kelly was received in the common schools and the college at Gettysburg, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1893; he then entered the seminary at the same place, from which he was graduated in 1895. In 1895 he was licensed at York, Pa., by the Synod of West Penn, to preach. Ordained

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to the gospel ministry in Christ Lutheran Church, at Gettysburg, Pa .. on Oct. 18, 1896. his first charge was Trindle Springs Lutheran Church, at Mechanicsburg. Pa., which charge he served until Oct. 1, 1899. That year he received and accepted a call to Newville, to succeed Rev. D. B. Floyd. at Zion's Lutheran Church. This church at Newville is a fine structure, with a seating capacity of six hundred, and is supplied with an excellent pipe organ and many new ideas in architecture and accommodations.

On Sept. 9. 1896, Mr. Kelly married Miss Mary Catherine Bushman, of Gettys- burg. a daughter of Althedore and Lucinda (Benner) Bushman, and one son, George Benner, has been born of this marriage. Mrs. Kelly was educated at Irving College, Mechanicsburg.

The congregation of Mr. Kelly's church, which aggregates about 400, is a wealthy one. and he numbers among his people some of the most prominent of the county. He is recognized as one of the eloquent preach- ers of Cumberland county, and is pleasing in his pulpit manner, winning converts by his persuasive words as well as by his read- ings of the Scripture as taught by his Church.

JOHN C. NESBIT, one of the oldest educators in Cumberland county, where he has risen to the front rank in the profession, comes from good old English stock, the first settlers appearing early in the eigh- teenth century in York county.

John Nesbit, grandfather of John C. Nesbit, was a farmer by occupation. He died in York county at an advanced age.

John Creighton Nesbit, son of John, was born in 1803, and died in York county, near Rossville, at the age of eighty years. He married Julia Klinedinst, and they became

the parents of nine children : Elizabeth, who married A. P. Walker, a lawyer, and resides near Rossville ; Lewis N., who married Kate Bushey, now deceased, and lives at Mt. Airy; George and Mary, deceased ; John C., the fifth in the order of birth; Harrison, who married Mary Sutton, and lived in York county, and who was accidentally killed at the age of sixty-three: Joseph B., who married Mrs. Mary Brinton, and lives at Harrisburg, where he is foreman in the repairing department of the Harrisburg Traction Company : William, who married Tillie Wollett, and lives at Mount Airy; James W., who married Bessie Shaw, and lives at Mondovi, Wis., where he is superin- tendent of the public schools.

John C. Nesbit was born in Warrington township, near Round Top. After receiving a thorough schooling, at the age of eighteen he started teaching school in his native town- slip. At the age of twenty-seven he went to the United States College of Business and Finance at New Haven, Conn., and upon his graduation there lie received a first degree diploma. Returning to York county he re- mained but a short time, and then removed to Cumberland county, where he resumed his old vocation of teaching. In 1871 he was called to West Virginia, where he taught school for one year, at the end of which time he returned to Cumberland county, and taught in the Whitehall Orphan School, continuing there for three years. He then returned to Lisburn, and at that place and his present home, in Upper Allen, has since taught, being at the present still actively employed.

The only time that Mr. Nesbit allowed anything to interfere with his long service of teaching, some forty-five years, was in 1864, when on Feb. 22nd of that year, he enlisted at Harrisburg in Battery C, the 3d Penn.

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Heavy Artillery, Capt. King, afterward Capt. Bickley, commanding. He served his country faithfully, and was mustered out, Nov. 9, 1865, and needless to say at once resumed his old profession.

Mr. Nesbit is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, and is now serving his sixth term as a justice of the peace, a period, when his present term expires, of thirty years. He is an active worker and class leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Until a few years ago he was in politics a Republican, but of late years he has advocated Prohibi- tion doctrines.

In 1874 Mr. Nesbit was married to Sallie J. Sprenkle, and two boys blessed this union : Arthur E., who married Miss Lula Warner, daughter of Charles Warner, of Philadel- phia, and who holds a responsible position as manager for Smith, Kline & French, wholesale druggists in Philadelphia; and Russell H., who is taking up the profession of telegraphy at Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

SAMUEL N. EMINGER. Among the prominent and time-honored citizens of Me- chanicsburg who have recently passed from the scene of their earthly labors was Samuel N. Eminger, who for many years stood high in the political and business circles of Cum- berland county. He held numerous official positions from 1855, when he became deputy sheriff, until his death, at which time he was serving as justice of the peace.

Andrew Eminger, grandfather of Sam- uel N., was a native of Baden, Germany, and coming to America at an early day set- tled in Cumberland county, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life, being a res- ident of Silver Spring township. He was one of the large land owners of the day. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His wife was Miss Christiana Bruner.

David Eminger, father of Samuel N., was born in Silver Spring township, and be- came a farmer there. He was quite a prom- inent man in his day, and held various pub- lic positions, having been elected director of the poor in 1838. `Subsequently he ran as a Masonic candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated in the anti-Masonic raid by twelve votes. He married Magdalena Miller, a native of Washington township, Franklin county, Pa., and to their union were born eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. We have record of the fol- lowing : John, who is now residing in Har- risburg, Pa., aged ninety-two years; Jacob, who was born Oct. 21, 1816, and died at the age of eighty-four ; Samuel N., mentioned below; William W., deceased; Andrew J., of Ohio; Mary, wife of George Hauck, and Anna, Mrs. Cromleigh. All the early mem- bers of the family affiliated with the Demo- cratic party, and were Lutherans in religious faith.

Samuel N. Eminger was born Feb. 19, 1829, in Silver Spring township, and was reared on the paternal farm there, receiving his early education meanwhile at the public schools of Mechanicsburg and the Eminger schoolhouse in his native township. Later he was a student for two years in the first Cumberland Valley Institute. under Frank- lin Gillan, at which time it was opened on the Van Huff property, opposite what was subsequently the site of Eckels drug store. In 1844 he commenced to learn the trade of coachmaker from his brother-in-law, George Hauck, and during his young man- hood, from 1849 to 1851. passed some time in the West and South, traveling over Vir- ginia and the Carolinas, Tennessee and Flor- ida. On his return to Cumberland county and Mechanicsburg he bought the first pat- ent, and brought the first wire tooth sulky

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rake into Cumberland county, commencing the manufacture of same in partnership with George W. Miller, but he afterward sold his interest to Frederick Seidle, who at that time had a factory in Mechanicsburg. He embarked in this enterprise about 1852. Subsequently, to the close of his days, he gave his time for the most part to public duties, though from 1868 until 1873 he was with D. M. Osburn & Co., who carried on the manufacture of reapers. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company F, Ist P. V. I., which served only a short time, how- ever, being called temporarily for the defense of the State: he was elected lieutenant and promoted to quartermaster.

From early manhood Mr. Eminger took an active part in the work of the Democratic party, and his career as an officeholder began in 1855. when he was nominated deputy sheriff under Sheriff Bowman. Resigning this position in the fall of 1856, he was elected register of wills in the fall of 1857, and served as such for three years. For a similar period he served as jury commis- sioner, on the appointment of Judge Gra- ham. In 1864 he was appointed special agent of the Treasury Department, under President Johnson, resigning this incum- bency on March 1, 1868. His resignation went into effect in June, after which, for about five years, as previously stated, he was engaged in business. From 1873 until 1877 he was again in the sheriff's office, serving as deputy register under Martin Guswiler, and continuing thus until elected clerk to the county commissioners, in 1879. The latter position he filled for many years, with emi- nent satisfaction to all concerned. In 1878 he was elected councilman of the North ward of Mechanicsburg, though it was gen- erally conceded to be a Republican ward, and served as such faithfully for three years.

On his return to Mechanicsburg at the close of his service as a county official Mr. Em- inger was elected a justice of the peace, and continued to hold the position until his death. displaying much natural ability for the duties which came to him in that capacity. Being well read on legal matters he proved partic- ularly efficient, and was consulted by many in such affairs, his good judgment and fair- ness appealing to all who knew him. He was a most active member of the party. and as a stanch adherent of the principles of Jeffersonian Democracy could be relied upon in all its councils and work. He served as delegate to many of the State conven- tions, served twice as chairman of the Coun- ty committee, and in many other ways con- tributed to the success of the party with which he always allied himself. He was one of the best known men in any walk of lite in the entire county, and was popular with all, for he had a congenial disposition and a big heart, always ready to help even at a sacrifice, and his keen wit and retentive memory made him a congenial companion wherever he went. Socially, he was a Mason, affiliating with Eureka Lodge, of which he was a past master, and he also united with Lodge No. 215, I. O. O. F. He was one of the foremost citizens of Mechanicsburg until his death, which occurred there Oct. 17, 1903.

On Sept. 4, 1856, Mr. Eminger was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Sing- heiser, daughter of George and Mary ( Hal- bert) Singheiser, and a member of an old family of Cumberland county. Children as follows were born to this union: Arabella, who became the wife of David A. Ulrich, of Upper Allen township, now of Mechanics- burg; Harry Foster, who died at the age of forty, unmarried; Fannie, who died young ; and Luella, who received a good education

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and is still at home with her mother. They are among the most highly estcemed resi- dents of Mechanicsburg, sharing the respect and good-will which the members of this family have won for themselves in whatever community they have settled.

EDWARD J. WILKS, superintendent of the Carlisle Shoe Co., of Carlisle, Pa., and one of the leading business men of the city, has been a resident of that place since 1890, at which time he entered the employ of the company of which he is now so promi- nent a member as a cutter, from which posi- tion he arose to the one he now holds. Under his able management the company has pros- pered greatly, Mr. Wilks being a practical shoe man, for he has not only learned the trade, but has been in the shoemaking in- dustry, and inherited his liking for the call- ing from his father and grandfather before him.

William Wilks, the grandfather, was a native of England, where, in London, he engaged in the making of shoes all of his life. His son, also named William, learned his trade with his father in England, and when eighteen years of age came to America. His birth occurred in May, 1824, in London, and when he emigrated he located at Phila- delphia, and has since made his home there. His has been a successful career, and in addi- tion to making shoes he conducts a fine retail shoe store in the same city, although since 1898 he has been practically retired. He married Caroline Ferrand, a native of Lon- don, born in 1824, and she also survives. They are strict Presbyterians in religious faith. They have a family of eight children still surviving.

Edward J. Wilks, the fifth child, was ed- ucated in the public schools of Philadelphia and also at the business college there, the pio-

neer institution of that nature in that city. When fourteen years of age he began to learn the shoe business in his father's shop, and at seventeen, while he attended college, he also clerked in the store and learned the details of the business. Later he attended night school, while continuing in business. When only twenty years of age he was able to embark in business for himself, but later went west to Chicago and worked in differ- ent factories, having a varied experience which well fitted him for his present line of work, which he assumed upon his return, in 1890, as before stated. Mr. Wilks has held his present responsible position since 1897. In addition, he is a stockholder and direc- tor of the company.

In 1887, in Philadelphia, Mr. Wilks married Miss Mary Mckinney, a daughter of David and Hannah (Fite) Mckinney, members of the oldest families of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. and Mrs. Wilks have two chil- dren, Mary and Harold. Fraternally, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M .. affiliating with St. John Lodge, St. John Chapter and St. John Commandery, and he is also a B. P. O. E., belonging to Lodge No. 578, of which he is treasurer. He and his wife reside at their pleasant home No. 52 East North street, where their many friends are always wel- come. .

JOSEPH MIFFLIN, freight agent for the Pennsylvania railroad at New York City, is a representative of one of Cumberland county's old and prominent families, and was born Aug. 20, 1852, in the county, a son of Capt. Joseph Mifflin and Julia Dun- can Stewart.

Capt. Joseph Mifflin was born July 9, 1812, at Burlington, N. J., a son of Joseph Mifflin, of the same place, and was a de- scendant of that old Quaker stock that came

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to Pennsylvania prior to William Penn and furnished the Keystone State withi her first Governor. They were here and children were born to them before Penn's arrival.

Capt. Mifflin settled at Shippensburg in 1833 and always claimed that city his home until the time of his death, which oc- curred Feb. 20, 1885. For many years he resided on a farm one mile from the borough limits, to which the name of "Burlington Farm" had been given, in remembrance of his birthplace. In early years he learned the tanning business and also worked in iron. but the mathematical inclination of his mind induced him to prepare for the work of a civil engineer. In this he was eminently successful , and for a long period was em- ployed on the Pennsylvania, the Hunting- don and Broad Top and the Columbia and Octarora railroads, his last work being on the Harrisburg and Potomac road. He then retired to Shippensburg, where the remain- der of his life was passed in the enjoyment of literary pursuits. He was a man oi superior talent, a fine scholar, familiar with the classics, a great student of Shakespeare. and kept well posted on current literature and the passing events of public life. In 1844 he was principal of an academy at Shippensburg and demanded a high degree of excellence in his pupils. One of the first county superintendents of schools, he did much in raising the grade of teachers. In his youth he was identified with the Aboli- tion party. From the time he united with ! the Presbyterian Church he was an upright. consistent member of that religious body .

On July 9, 1833, Capt. Mifflin was mar- ried to Julia Duncan Stewart, who was born May 29, 1817, at Shippensburg, in the old residence on Main street which is now occu- pied as the parsonage of the Church of God. Her father, Dr. Alexander Stewart, located

in Shippensburg in 1795. He was a grad- uate of Pittsburg Medical College and prac- ticed many years in this city, dying in 1830. He was well and favorably known, and was a presiding elder in the Presbyterian Church. He married a daughter of Capt. William Rippey of Revolutionary fame, whose fam- ily is one of the oldest in the Cumberland Valley. Capt. and Mrs. Mifflin celebrated their Golden Wedding July 9, 1883, at their beautiful rural home, an occasion of much pleasure to all concerned. Mrs. Mifflin was noted through her long and beautiful life for her wonderfully bright and cheery dis- position, always being able to see a streak of sunshine beyond the darkest cloud. Like her husband she was a great reader, and as her memory was most retentive she became a very charming companion even to her last days. Her interest in her family, friends and church continued until the end. Her death took place Jan. 24, 1901, and she was laid to rest by the side of her husband in Spring Hill cemetery. The funeral services were of a deeply impressive character on ac- count of the prominence of the family, and the universal esteem in which she had been held, and were in charge of Rev. W. A. McCarrell, D. D., of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev. M. E. Swartz, of the M. E. Church of Shippensburg, and the pall- bearers were: George H. Stewart, Marshall Mains, William Mccullough, George V. Johnson, James Hayes and M. F. Robinson.

The surviving children of Capt. Joseph and Julia D. (Stewart) Mifflin are: Joseph and William, of New York City ; Martha, of Columbia; Mrs. Timmins, of Philadelphia ; and Mrs. William Shapley, of Shippensburg.

Joseph Mifflin attended the local schools until his thirteenth year, subsequently com- pleting his education at Columbia. He started life as a rodman on the Harrisburg

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and Potomac railroad, and then began to assist in the construction of that road, con- tinuing to work there for three years. Before its completion he was made resident engi- neer and remained with the company until 1873. Mr. Mifflin then went to farming for his father, but later returned to railroad work, and upon entering the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company accepted its agency in New York City, having his office on West 37th street. where he is still engaged. His duties included watching the business interests of his road along the docks and the supervision of the business of handling freight for shipment over the road. In 1904 Mr. Mifflin purchased the Mifflin homestead for his possible future home. It is one of the substantially built houses ot other days, which its present owner has re- modeled and made most attractive. The farm includes 105 acres.

In 1881 Mr. Mifflin married Meta, daughter of Henry and Alma (Briggs) Rankin, of Herkimer county, N. Y., promi- nent people of that section of the Empire State. For many years Henry Rankin oper- ated the first packet on the Erie canal, be- tween Utica and Albany, N. Y. Mrs. Mifflin was educated in the superior schools of the East and is a lady of culture and social graces. She has two daughters by a former marriage: Alfaretta, wife of K. M. East- man, of the Pennsylvania railroad, New York City, and Miss Deda.

REV. FRANK SAMUEL HOUSER, for a number of years one of the honored citizens of Mechanicsburg, and a retired minister of the Presbyterian Church, was born near Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, Pa., on April 21, 1854. He was the youngest of the five children born to Samuel and Re- becca Houser. The family is of German

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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 73

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