Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, Part 79

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 79

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Martha, widow of Alfred Huston, of Dick- inson ; Bethsheba, who married Joseph Corn- crobst, of Harrisburg: Samuel S., twin of Bethsheba, of Plainfield, a retired farmer, who married Nanny Davidson; Margaret, unmarried, a resident of Dickinson ; and an infant that died unnamed.

Joseph E. Green was born Oct. 13, 1847, at Stoughstown, Newton township, and was reared upon the farm. During his childhood he attended the country district school, and after he was eleven he does not remember attending. but as he is intelligent and a close observer he is well posted upon current 'events. When his father began farming he worked for him at that useful occupation until he reached the years of young man- hood and was married, after which he worked by the day for two years. When only nineteen he married and began to earn his own living as a farmer, following that calling for twenty-seven or twenty-eight years in Penn township, Cumberland county, during which time he farmed five different places lying within a radius of one mile and all at some point adjoining each other. He has taken an active part in local affairs, serv- ing for eighteen consecutive years as a mem- ber of the school board in Penn township, and has always favored the introduction of advanced methods in school work. It was largely through his influence that in the town of Centerville there was established and maintained for a long time during the summer seasons a select high school, which, under competent instructors, prepared many students from different parts of the country for the profession of teaching. Early in his political career he allied himself with the Democrats, and has been one of the active men in his party in Cumberland county. For many years he has been a member of the Democratic central committee. On March

1, 1894, Mr. Green was honored by appoint- ment to the responsible office of deputy reve- nue collector of the 7th Division by Mr. R. E. Shearer, the collector of the 9th district, and he served most acceptably for five years. Mr. Green established his present flourishing coal and wood business April 1, 1899, and now gives his entire attention to that enter- prise, which during the short time of its existence he has built to rather remarkable proportions, through industry, good man- agement and honorable methods. Two years after his appointment as deputy reve- nue collector, he quit farming, and with his family removed to the town of Carlisle where he has been residing ever since.

On Sept. 21, 1866, Mr. Green married Martha J. White, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Vanasdlen) White, and she was born in Penn township in 1846. Eight chil- dren have been born to this union : William Hall, who died at the age of twenty-one years, was a school teacher in the public schools for three years, but passed most of his life on the farm. Cora Knettle is at home. John Kelso is county superintend- ent of schools of Cumberland county. Lydia Bell is at home. Frank Beltzhoover grad- uated from the Cumberland Valley State Normal School in 1897, at the age of nine- teen, taught for one year in Dickinson town- ship and subsequently for five years in the public schools of Carlisle, resigning his posi- tion there for the purpose of taking a course in Dickinson College, in which institution he is now a student. Otis Edgar remained on the farm until his parents moved to Car- lisle, and since then has been in the whole- sale notion business as a traveling salesman, being in the employ of Mccullough & Linn, of Carlisle. Mildred Lee and Elva Mary are at home; the last named is attending Car- lisle high school. In church matters, most

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of the family are affiliated with the Presby- terian denomination, and Mr. Green, though not a member, attends services regularly. The family home is at No. 156 West South street, where the friends are hospitably en- tertained.

J. KELSO GREEN, son of Joseph E. Green, was born Sept. 10, 1871, and was raised on a farm in his native township. He took a course in special branches at normal, and when but eighteen he began teaching. For seven years he was one of the most popular and successful teachers in the mixed schools, being engaged in Hopewell, Penn and Newton townships, after which he spent a year as teacher in the grammar schools of Jacksonville, and was then at New Cum- berland for a term in the intermediate grade. He was then honored with election to the position of principal of the schools of New Cumberland, and after four years of faith- ful and conscientious service, in May, 1902, was elected county superintendent of Cum- berland county, making an excellent fight, as he had strong opposition to overcome.

On Dec. 29, 1892, Mr. Green was mar- ried to Blanch Ada Foreman, of Jackson- ville, daughter of George Foreman (de- ceased) and Elizabeth (Coffey) Foreman. Mr. and Mrs. Green have had three children : Margretta Blanch, who died at the age of two years and three months; Louetta M. E., born Jan. 10, 1900; and Mark, born March 20, 1902. The family reside at No. IIO West South street, Carlisle, having lived in the city since the summer of 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Green are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which they have taken a very active part, Mr. Green being prominent in the Sabbath-school work as a teacher.

Prior to her marriage Mrs. Green was a teacher in the public schools, so that she and her learned husband have many tastes in

common, and she is invaluable to him in his work, for she so thoroughly understands his methods and is in such perfect sympathy with his ideas, that she is able to render aid which no one else could. Both Mr. and Mrs. Green are numbered among the highly cultured people of Carlisle, and have gath- ered about them a circle of congenial people, of which they are the leading and animat- ing center.

ANDREW GREGG STROCK. Among the oldest settlers of Cumberland county must be numbered the Strock family, the founders of which came from Germany early in the eighteenth century.

(I) Joseph Strock, the great-grandfather of Andrew Gregg, lived at Churchtown, and died at an extreme old age.

(II) Jacob Strock, son of Joseph, also lived at Churchtown, and he was accident- ally killed at the age of seventy-six years. He was the father of the following chil- dren, all now deceased : George; Jacob died in Ohio; Mary Zimmerman died in Ohio; Elizabeth; Rachel Coover; Rebecca Sadler ; Margaret ; Joseph ; David died in Ohio; and John died in Churchtown.

(III) George Strock, son of Jacob, was born in Churchtown, in 1806. After receiv- ing a liberal education he followed farm- ing, and in 1853, purchased a large farm in Churchtown, which he operated for twenty years. He was a well known man in his community, and a stanch Democrat. His death occurred in 1886, when he was about eighty years of age. His wife, Mar- garet Bricker, was a daughter of Joseph Bricker, one of Cumberland county's repre- sentative men at an early day, and the owner of several hundred acres of land between Churchtown and Dillsburg. To George and Margaret Strock were born the follow-

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ing children: Andrew Gregg. Alfred B., Barbara, Jacob, George. Emma, Flora and Elizabeth. They were highly respected, Christian people, though members of no church organization.

Andrew Gregg Strock was born in Churchtown. Jan. 3. 1846, and received his education there, later engaging in farming. In 1868. he married Mary E. Brindle, of a well known family in Cumberland county. Their children are: Edith married George Kauffman. engineer at the Pennsylvania steel works, and they live in Newmarket ; they have four children, all girls. Clara married Jacob Snyder, a farmer of York county. Hugh W. married Bertha Sing- heiser. Mary and George live at home. In 1897. Mr. Strock bought his present home of fifty-three acres of excellent land, and he also conducts a dairy in Mechanicsburg.

Mr. Strock has a brother, Alfred B. Strock, who was born in Churchtown in 1833, and has followed farming all his life. He married, in 1858, Elizabeth Buttorff, of Boiling Springs, who died in 1894, aged fifty-four. Their children are Ella M. Stauffer, living in Kansas, Cora Hoover, living in Mechanicsburg, and Hermes, of Kansas.

WILLIAM A. MYERS. The farming interests of Cumberland county are in the expert hands of capable, enterprising, ambi- tious men, who thoroughly understand the science of their calling. Among these may justly be mentioned William A. Myers, of Southampton township, a successful farmer and stockman, who was born in Frankford township, this county, Aug. 29, 1845. His father, John Myers, was born in Adams county in 1820, became a prosperous farmer, and died in 1876. He married Elizabeth Bloser, who was born in Cumberland county

in 1831, and died in 1898, near Newville, where she was buried.

John Myers, the grandfather, was twice married, and had a very large family.

William A. Myers was one of ten chil- dren, seven boys and three girls, all of whom lived to maturity. Until he was sixteen years of age he attended the Bloserville school, which he then left to assist his father upon the farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany K, 158th P. V. I., one-year men, and in 1864 he re-enlisted, this time joining Company K, 202d P. V. I. Col. Albright commanded the regiment, which was sta- tioned at Newbern, N. C., Fairfax. and other points, doing garrison duty until the close of the war, when it was honorably dis- charged. Returning home, Mr. Myers re- sumed farming. In 1864 he married Miss Magdalena Forney, a native of Cumberland county, daughter of George and Lucy For- ney, and six children were born to this union : Lizzie, who married William Reed; George E., at home: Harry, a section fore- man on the railroad; William Kyner ; Thomas E., and Lulu. The mother of this family died at Mr. Myers' farm, which was located near Newville, and on Feb. 27, 1900, he married Mrs. Lizzie Kitzmiller, widow of William Kitzmiller, and daughter of George and Susan Naugle. In 1896 Mr. Myers settled on the George H. Stuart farm, northeast of Shippensburg. This property is a very fine one, comprising 123 acres, im- proved with a fine brick residence, bank barn and numerous sheds. One specialty Mr. Myers makes is the growing of wheat, producing annually 1,000 bushels. He also carries on general farming. dairying and stock raising, and he is one of the most suc- cessful men of his locality. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has served as supervisor of Southampton township. He and his wife

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are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church of Shippensburg, and are generally liked by all who know them.

PETER WERTZ. Among those who have come from outside counties and won an honorable place in the business history of Carlisle, Cumberland county, is Peter Wertz. He was born near the town of Landisburg, Perry Co., Pa., son of Henry and Eliza (Snyder) Wertz, his father being a well known farmer of that part of the country, where for a long time he held the office of justice of the peace. Henry Wertz was also a native of Perry county, but his parents, Peter Wertz's grandparents, were born in Lancaster county, and removed to Sherman's Valley while that part of Pennsylvania yet belonged to Cumberland county. The fam- ily originally were from Switzerland, but the date of their coming to America is not known. Henry Wertz died in January, 1903, at the age of eighty-five years ; his wife died in 1902, aged eighty-three. The fam- ily generally have been a long-lived race, and Peter Wertz, Henry Wertz's father, lived to the great age of ninety-two.

Peter Wertz's childhood and youth were spent with his parents on the farm in Spring township, Perry county. In the winter months he attended district school and dur- ing the summer his time was occupied with such duties as are usually allotted to farmer boys. Upon reaching his thirteenth year he left home and came to Carlisle, where he entered the high school as a pupil, and in the various grades spent two years. That com- pleted his education and prepared him for the serious duties of life. He next sought em- ployment and obtained a clerkship in a gen- eral store in Landisburg, which he held for three years. This experience was valuable training, for it taught him the principles of

business and made of him a practical and efficient salesman. Being now ready for greater undertakings he came to Carlisle and assumed a position as salesman in the store of John H. Wolf, wholesale and retail notion dealer. By his diligent and studious attention to duty he won the confidence and favor of his employer, and after a few years of service was taken into the business as a partner, under the firm name of J. H. Wolf & Co. Their store was then in Sipe's Row, on the west side of North Hanover street, a short distance from the public square. Their business outgrowing the room they oc- cupied they purchased a property on the opposite side of the street, and there erected a three-story brick building, with a store room specially arranged and equipped for the accommodation of their large trade. Their respective interests in the business having been equalized, they, on moving into their new quarters, changed the firm's name to Wolf & Wertz. In 1895 Mr. Wertz sold his interest in the notion business to Mr. Wolf, and turned his attention in other di- rections. The Carlisle Chain Works being in the market, he purchased a controlling share in them, and became inanager of the establishment. These works afterward con- solidated with the Standard Chain Works, with the central office in the city of Pittsburg, which consolidation made Mr. Wertz a director in the Standard, and also a member of its executive com- mittee. About the same time he became interested in the Imperial Dry-Goods Com- pany, and was elected a director in it. This is a flourishing company, organized on the modern department plan, and has extensive Stores at Carlisle, Altoona and Harrisburg. Pa., and Norfolk, Va., and the aggregate of sales made annually is astonishingly large. Along with his manufacturing and mer-

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cantile enterprises Mr. Wertz also engages in banking. Several years ago he was elected a director in the Farmers' Bank, of Carlisle, and when in 1902, that bank was merged into the Farmers Trust Company, he be- came a director in the new organization and president of its board. The Farmers Trust Company is the largest financial institution in the Cumberland Valley, and some of the most prominent capitalists and business men of southern Pennsylvania are among its managers.

Mr. Wertz is assiduous in his attentions to every duty and trust with which he is con- nected. and consequently is a very busy man. Business to him is both occupation and recre- ation. He delights in it and is so completely absorbed in its attractions that he has either forgotten or neglected to get himself a wife. Although of agreeable personality and soci- ally popular he is still unmarried. Such is the history of Peter Wertz, one of Carlisle's leading business men, who began with noth- ing and by perseverance, economy and a cool head has achieved an honorable success.

THOMAS B. B. McGUIRE. The family record of the McGuire family as given in old records is as follows:

(I) The great-grandfather came from Ireland and settled in Hampden township, Good Hope district. He was the head of the family in this country, was a trustee of the Silver Spring Church, and lived to an hon- ored and ripe old age.

(II) Francis McGuire, grandfather of Thomas, and son of the pioneer McGuire, was born in Hampden township. In 1817 he married Sarah Silvers, of Virginia, a member of the family after whom Silver Spring was named. Francis McGuire was also a trustee in the church at Silver Springs, and died in 1852, highly respected, aged

sixty-three years. His children were: James, Isaac, Joseph, Francis, William and Adeline.

(III) James McGuire, father of Thomas and son of Francis, was born in Hampden township, May 20, 1818, and received his education at that place, but at an early age he engaged in farming. In 1844, he married Mary F. Adams, and Thomas B. B. was born of this union, the mother dying in 1850. In 1855, James McGuire married Sarah A. Dewey, of Hogestown. In religious faith James McGuire was a Presbyterian, and in politics, first an old line Whig, and after- ward a Democrat. His death occurred in 1872, while his wife died in 1899.

(IV) Thomas B. B. McGuire was born in Hampden township, Nov. 29, 1844, and received his education at that place, and at Hogestown. At the age of seventeen he went to Mount Joy Academy, and after being graduated therefrom, he enlisted, Aug. 22, 1864, at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, in Company I, 200th P. V. I., Capt. William E. Kearns, commanding. This regiment was part of the Army of the James. Mr. McGuire participated in the battles of Fort Stillman, Petersburg and numerous skir- mishes. The young hero was mustered out May 30, 1865, at Alexandria, Va., and re- turned to his home, to resume farming.

Quietly and unostentatiously, Mr. Mc- Guire farmed at Upper Allen, Cumberland county, until 1873. In the meanwhile, in 1868, he married Mary M. Weigle, of Har- risburg, Pa., descendant of an old German family, who carly in the history of the coun- try settled at Baltimore, and became hon- ored in that city. With the exception of a few years, during which he worked in the Pennsylvania car shops, Mr. McGuire has been engaged in farming, until 1900, when he retired from the labors of an active life.

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The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGuire: James C. S. died at the age of four years : Samuel H .; Hester M .: George K .; Lula Silvers; Thomas S .; Francis C.

Mr. McGuire is a stanch Republican, and takes an active part in local affairs. In re- ligious matters he has followed in the foot- steps of his Scotch-Irish ancestors, and is a Presbyterian. The family history contains many interesting incidents dating back to Colonial days.

A sister of Mr. McGuire's grandmother was the wife of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame, and their daughter, Rose Greene, married Maj. Gen. McFerren. The sister of Gen. Greene's wife was mar- ried to Col. James Quigley, of Hampden township. From the Hogues, a branch of the Quigley family, the village of Hoges- town derives its name.

T. J. NEWCOMER, one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of East Pennsboro township, and one of its honora- ble self-made men, was born June 4, 1863, in Frankford township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Newcomer was educated in the dis- trict school of Possum Hill, where he lived until ten years of age. In 1874 his parents removed to Shepherdstown and he attended school there. His mother died March 3. 1876, and in the following year he went to Camp Hill, where he had an opportunity to work for J. L. Heyd, Esq., on a farm and go to school. He continued here two years and then worked for Michael Kreiger of East Pennsboro township, for seven years, fol- lowing farming.

Mr. Newcomer now decided to learn the carpentering trade and remained at West Fairview for three years, with William

Shaull, and then engaged as a contractor, on his own account, at Wormleysburg : follow- ing a general line for three years, with close attention to business, he made much pro- gress. By 1894 he had become so well known and relied on, that he was elected a justice of the peace, in East Pennsboro town- ship, and he had his office at Wormleysburg, but later removed it to Bridgeport, and in 1900 established himself at his present place.

Since 1895 Mr. Newcomer has been largely interested in real estate. In 1897 he became agent for the R. H. Hummel Estate, and in 1901 was appointed trustee of two interests in the estate by will, as well as by appointment. Since then he has laid out lots and built houses, and has sold twenty- one dwellings since the fall of 1902.

While contracting he was engaged in many large enterprises, and at one time was engaged by the McCormick estate of Har- risburg, in building and repairing the dwell- ings and buildings on their various farms. About 1897 he added insurance to his other enterprises, and became accredited represen- tative of the Delaware Fire Insurance Com- pany.

In 1903 Mr. Newcomer bought a tract of four acres above Bridgeport, on the Chambersburg Turn pike road, and laid this out in twenty-five lots. As an example of business enterprise, it may be remarked that he sold these in three weeks. He has not only handled, but owns, a large amount of town property and farming land, his indi- vidual holdings including six desirable city properties, and a farm of 116 acres. Con- sidering that our subject was thrown en- tirely upon his own resources from the age of thirteen years, and that he entered into his individual business life with little capital ex- cept energy, honesty and perseverance, Mr. Newcomer's success teaches its own lesson.

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The Newcomer family is an old one in Pennsylvania. Samuel Newcomer, grand- father of our subject. and his wife Nancy, lived in Mechanicsburg, and died there about 1867. They had these children: Samuel, who married Catherine Wilt, and died in Mechanicsburg: David, who married Kate -. and died in Topeka, Kans. ; John, who married Lucy Shur, of Mechanicsburg ; Zachariah, father of our subject; Nancy, who married (first) Samuel Mumma, and (second) John Miller, and lives now at Winding Hill; Sarah, who married Mr. Sidle. of Mechanicsburg.

Zachariah Newcomer was born in 1842, in East Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, and as his father was in easy circum- stances. he had good educational opportuni- ties, and through his youth attended the dis- trict schools. Later he learned the carpenter's trade, and after marriage, moved to Mechan- icsburg, where he followed it until 1870, when he moved on a farm in Frankford township. In 1874 he moved to a farm near Shepherdstown, where he lived until the death of his wife, when he bought a small property between Bowmansdale and Shep- herdstown. Some time later he went to Topeka, Kans., where he now lives. Zacha- riah Newcomer married Mary Landis, born in 1836, near Shippensburg, and she died March 3. 1876; she was a member of the Mennonite Church at Winding Hill, a de- voted Christian, faithful wife and loving mother. She was laid to rest in the quiet old burying ground at Winding Hill. The children of Zachariah Newcomer and his wife were: Amos, a resident of Topeka, Kans .; T. J .; Harry, who died in Kansas, aged twenty-five years ; Nannie, who died at the age of eight years ; and Ira, a resident of Harrisburg.

In December, 1888, Mr. T. J. Newcomer

was married to Martha Neidhamer, born in Wormleysburg, daughter of Jacob and Ma- hala (McCormick) Neidhamer, town peo- ple. Both our subject and wife are promi- nent members of the United Brethren Church at Wormleysburg. For seventeen years he has taught a Sunday-school class, and officiated as Superintendent of the school for ten years. In politics, he is a stanch Republican, and was a delegate to the State convention when William Stone was nomi- nated Governor. He was chosen as candi- date for sheriff, by his party, in 1895. His fraternal connection is with the Knights of Malta. Lodge No. 196, of Harrisburg. Penn- sylvania.

ELMER E. ENCK, postmaster of Allen, Monroe township, Cumberland county, and proprietor of a cigar store, was born in that township, in 1864, son of George and grand- son of Henry Enck.

Henry Enck was born in Lancaster coun- ty, Pa., and there learned the carpenter's trade. He came to Monroe township. Cum- berland county in 1837, and engaged in farming. He married a Miss Shiffler. of Lancaster county, who died one year later, leaving a son, Henry, who died in Monroe township. Mr. Enck married (second) An- nic Kihle, of Lancaster county, and coming as before stated to Monroe township, he pur- chased a tract of 120 acres, where he died June 17, 1862, his widow surviving until 1882. The children born of this marriage were: George and John, who both died in Monroe township; Elizabeth Bricker, who died in South Middleton township; Jacob and Annie, who died in Monroe township; Isaac, living in South Middleton township; Reuben, Catherine and Hiram, all living in Monroe township; and Levi, a butcher at Churchtown.

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George Enck, son of Henry, and father of Elmer, was born in Lancaster county, and received a common school education. He learned the cooper's trade, and, coming with his father to Monroe township, he followed his trade until 1880. He married Eliza Emick, a daughter of George and Mary E. (Grabeil) Emick. At Center Square, Cum- berland county, he settled on a small farm, but later moved to Carlisle road, where he died in 1899, his widow dying at the same place in 1892. Their children were: Samuel and Mary, who both died in Monroe town- ship; Annie, living at Churchtown; George, who died in Monroe township; Alfred, liv- ing on the old homestead in Monroe town- ship; Amos, who died in Monroe township; Elmer E., and Clarence, living at Mechan- icsburg.

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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 79

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