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 83
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For several years previous to his pur- chasing the home of his ancestors, William Alter was employed to superintend the canal works. He married Sarah Stark, a direct descendant of Gen. John Stark, of Revolu- tionary fame. He passed away highly re- spected as a citizen and esteemed by his friends and neighbors for his many good traits, Aug. 31, 1873, at the age of seventy- one years. His wife. Sarah (Stark) Alter, died Oct. 21, 1901, aged eighty- nine years, eight months and nine days. William Al- ter's family consisted of six sons and three daughters : Simon B., Mary, Jacob, Henry H., John. Columbus, Josephine, Sarah Eliz- abeth and W. S. All of these children are dead excepting Jacob and John, of Kansas, and Josephine and W. S. Alter, of West Pennsboro.
W. S. ALTER, the youngest of the above family, purchased the home of his ancestry and resides there. On Feb. 14, 1889, he married Anna Minerva Bear, daughter of Francis and Catherine (Beidler) Bear. of West Pennsboro, and has three daughters
and one son : Alice, Ruth, Sarah and W. Stark Alter.
Josephine Alter, the only surviving daughter of William and Sarah (Stark) Alter, resides near the old homestead. She was a teacher in the public schools of Cum- berland county for a number of years. After leaving her work here she entered Holyoke Female College and after leaving college she taught in Massachusetts and in Kansas.
ANDREW MYERS. The material prosperity of any county depends in a large degree upon its agricultural resources. and upon the industry and intelligence of those engaged in the cultivation of the soil. Cum- berland county is particularly fortunate in numbering among her residents many farm- ers of energetic, progressive spirit, and not the least among these may be mentioned Andrew Myers, of Mifflin township. He was born in 1844, in Frankford township, of German ancestry, his great-grandfather having emigrated from the Fatherland at a very early day. He first settled in Adams county, where he engaged in farming. and later he bought two farms in Frankford township, Cumberland county.
Ludvick Myers, the grandfather of An- drew, was born in Adams county, and there grew to manhood, and followed the occu- pation of his father-farming. He married, and became the father of Daniel, Ludvick, Jr., Peter, Conrad, Valentine, Benjamin and Barnett.
Peter Myers, son of Ludvick, was born in York Springs, Adams county, in 1800, and received such education as the common schools of that day afforded. In 1820 he came to Cumberland county, and located on his father's farm near Bloserville, Frank-
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ford township. where he prospered, and where he continued to reside until a few years prior to his death, which occurred in Hopewell township, in 1884. His remains rest in the cemetery at the Brick Church in Frankford township. He married Margaret Elicker, daughter of Valentine Elicker, of York Springs, Adams county. She died in ISSI. and is buried at the side of her hus- band in the cemetery in Frankford township. Their children were: Christian, who died in Illinois: Lewis, who died in Frankford township; Barney, who died in Mifflin town- ship: Cumberland county; Catherine, who died in Mifflin township; Nancy, who also passed away in Mifflin township; Valentine, who lives in North Liberty, Iowa; Leah Miller. living in Mifflin township; George, of Mifflin township; and Andrew.
Andrew Myers received greater edu- cational advantages than were common to boys of his time, inasmuch as he was per- mitted to attend school until he was twenty- one years of age. He worked in the mean- time for his father at farming, and early became capable in that line. Being natu- rally energetic, the work did not daunt him, and he was able to accomplish more than the average man because of his ability to systematize his duties. After his marriage he remained in Frankford township six years, and then came to Mifflin, where he now resides on his fine farm of 160 acres, all under a high state of cultivation, and im- proved with good substantial buildings, and equipped with the most modern machinery. He takes great pride in keeping his place neat, and spares neither time nor money in its improvement. His neighbors have in- finite faith in his judgment, and he is often called upon for advice, not alone on the sub- ject of farming, but on many matters more or less remote.
Mr. Myers married Elizabeth Koch, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Clouse) Koch, of Perry county, but later of Upper Mifflin township, Cumberland county. This union was blessed with the following chil- dren : Ida Florence, who married Hezekiah Thumma, now deceased, and she is at home with her father; Martha Mary, who married James Arbigast, and lives in Illinois; Dan- iel Peter, who married Jane Hefflebower, and is living on one of his father's farms in Mifflin (he has one child, Dorothy Eliza- beth) ; Edward, who married a Miss Sex- ton; John, living with his brother Daniel P .; Arthur, in Philadelphia; Parker, who died at the age of fifteen years; Walter Lewis, at work in Illinois; Woodrow, at home. In his political affiliations Mr. Myers is a Democrat. He has been active in party work, and has served as a very efficient su- pervisor of his town. He is progressive and anxious to see his town and county advance along substantial lines. His religious con- nection is with the Zion Reformed Church of Hopewell township.
JOHN H. COOVER, a successful ag- riculturist and stock raiser near Shippens- burg, and manager of the Stoner & Echel- man Dairy, was born Aug. 5, 1861, on the old homestead known as the Jacob Coover place, in Cumberland county. His grand- father, Jacob Coover, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., moved thence to Cumberland county, and settled in Southampton town- ship, where he cleared and improved a farm.
Jacob Coover, father of John H., was born Oct. 15, 1816, in Cumberland county, near Harrisburg, came to this part of Cum- berland county with his parents in pioneer days, and was reared on the old homestead, where he passed the remainder of his life. The place contains 115 acres, and here he
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was profitably engaged in general agricul- ture during his active years. He was an intelligent man, and took an active interest in local public affairs, serving two years as ligious connection he was a member of the township. His affiliation was with the Re- publican party after its formation. In re- ligious connection he was a member of the Bethel Church at Shippensburg. Mr. Coover married Mary E. Renshaw, who was born in 1825 in Hopewell township. Cumberland county, and died in 1871. Mr. Coover survived her, dying in February. 1900, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. This worthy couple were the par- ents of nine children, namely: Anna Ruth is the wife of David Shell, and resides in Marion, Pa .; Houser G. is a farmer in Ship- pensburg township; Catherine E. still lives at the old home; Mary Ellen married G. F. Cressler, of Shippensburg; Jennie S. is the wife of Samuel Houston, of Glen Camp- bell, Indiana Co., Pa .; Alexander S. is a farmer in Southampton township, Cumber- land county ; Emma Bell, now deceased, was the wife of Daniel Stouffer, and resided at Chambersburg : Jacob is in the employ of a railroad company ; John H., the youngest, is the gentleman whose name introduces these lines.
John H. Coover spent his youth on the farm, and received the greater part of his education at the Oak Grove schoolhouse. Leaving school in his nineteenth year he re- turned to the farm, assisting his father until his marriage, in his twenty-first year. He has since carried on farming on his own ac- count, on the old homestead, and in addition to general agriculture he is interested in the breeding of fine cattle, his herd consisting of well-bred Holsteins. The dairy business is another branch of farming to which he has turned his attention with gratifying suc-
cess. He is manager of the Stoner & Echel- man Dairy, which receives milk from the surrounding country, and they have a sep- arator in the receiving room. Like his fa- ther, Mr. Coover finds time aside from busi- ness to interest himself in local affairs, especially as he believes the public welfare to have much influence on individual ad- vancement and well-being. He is a Repub- lican in political sentiment, and takes a lively interest in the workings of the party.
Mr. Coover's first marriage, on Nov. 24, 1880, was to Miss Elizabeth Renshaw, who was a native of Cumberland county, and a daughter of William and Mary (Reese) Renshaw. She died leaving four children, George, Lulu, Kate and Walter. In 1895 Mr. Coover married Miss Annie Wonders, of Cumberland county, daughter of George and Sarah (Milligen) Wonders, and to this marriage has come one daughter, Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Coover are members of the Bethel Church at Shippensburg.
JOHN F. KENDIG. There are few families in the State of Pennsylvania which can trace an older or more honorable an- cestry than can John F. Kendig, one of the highly respected and prominent citizens of Newville, Cumberland county.
The Kendig family in America dates back to 1700, when Martin Kendig, an hon- orable man of property and a zealous mem- ber of the Mennonite faith, came to Pennsyl- vania, in company with a Mr. Milens and Hans Herr, and they became the first settlers on the rich farming lands of Lancaster County. They were men of foresight and judgment, men whose appearance and cre- dentials admitted them to the confidence of William Penn, who welcomed them gladly as land owners, and sold them 10,000 acres near Pequea Creek, the date of this trans-
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action being Oct. 20. 1700. Of this land 3.38o acres was the share of Martin Kendig. and on his tract he erected a house of hewed walnut logs, building it so stanchly that it stood the storms of 110 years. In 1841 it was torn down and remodeled, otherwise it might be standing yet. Martin Kendig had surveyed for him 1.060 acres in Strasburg township. later 530 acres, and still later 260 acres. the record of these transactions being Sept. II. I71I.
That Martin Kendig was the business man of the trio. is evidenced by his being sent as the messenger back to Switzerland, and his return with a colony of friends, and the establishment in this valley of one of the most successful religious colonies of the times. The Mennonites flourished through their energy, thrift and industry and to this day. possess the same attributes of Christian character which made them so welcome to William Penn. another leader of a religion of Peace. Many of Pennsylvania's best cit- izens are proud to trace a kinship back to this colony on the banks of the Pequea Creek.
Upon the recommendation of Martin Kendig, William Penn sold and surveyed off to John Rudolph Bundy. Jacob Miller, Hans Herr. Martin Oberholtzer, Hans Funk. Michael Oberholtzer and Wendel Bowman, all Swiss, some 10,000 acres of land on the northwest side of a hill, about twenty miles westerly from Conestoga.
This Martin Kendig was the great-great- grandfather of John F. Kendig, one of the well known and highly respected citizens of Newton township, who was born Dec. 4, 1837, in Steelstown, Newton township, Cum- berland county, son of Daniel and Susan (Ruth ) Kendig.
Tobias Kendig, his grandfather, married a Miss Bowman, and moved with his fam-
ily to Cumberland county, about 1820, pur- chasing a farm about three miles west of Newville, on the old State road, where he settled and lived many years.
Daniel Kendig, son of Tobias, born June 6, 1806, in Lancaster county, removed to Cumberland county in 1839, and died May 14. 1889, aged eighty-two years, eleven months and fourteen days. He was reared in the Mennonite Church. He mar- ried (first) Dec. 11, 1835, Susan Ruth, born July 29, 1805, who died at the age of sixty- six. On May 1. 1873, Daniel Kendig mar- ried (second) Elizabeth Jacoby, who died April 18, 1882. His children were: John F., of this sketch; Daniel Bowman, who died in his twentieth year ; and William H., who resides on the old Kendig homestead at Steelstown, Newton township.
John F. Kendig received his primary education at Green Spring. Newton town- ship, and subsequently attended Newville Academy and the Newville Normal school. In 1860 he attended one session at the State Normal school at Millersville and then be- gan teaching. For a number of years he spent his winters teaching the country schools, and his summers, farming what is known as the old Mansion farm, which con- tained 150 acres. Later he moved to a small farm situated on the State road, which contains thirty acres. This property is in a fine state of cultivation, and is operated by hired help, the large farm being rented.
On Jan. 9, 1862, Mr. Kendig was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Grove, of North Middleton township, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Seitz) Grove, of an old and prominent family of Cumberland county. Mr. and Mrs. Kendig have three children, namely : Alice married Dr. J. H. Baird, of Saline county, Kans., and has two children, Mary and Pearl; Lillie S. married
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John S. Fegan, of Cumberland county ; and John Ruth, a well known educator of the county, still resides at home. Both Mr. Kendig and wife are most highly valued members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for many years. Politically Mr. Kendig is in sympathy with the Republican party. He has always been deepiy interested in educational matters, and served for six years as a very useful member of the school board. In addition to teaching and farming, Mr. Kendig has been of much service to his friends and ac- quaintances, by whom he is held in the high- est esteem. He has written their wills, set- tled their estates, and, in many cases, set- tled their difficulties without recourse to law -in fact, he has proved himself, through many years, not only one of the most intel- ligent and progressive citizens, but also the possessor of the same kindly spirit and Christian attributes which marked the great founder of his family on these shores. His home is one of hospitality, and his family reflects credit upon the name.
DAVIDSON WOODBURN LIND- SEY, a prominent farmer of West Penns- boro township, Cumberland county, and a representative member of an old and hon- ored family of this locality, was born in 1855, in that township, son of John Forbes and Rachel Woodburn ( Davidson ) Lindsey.
We are permitted to use the following record, taken from the family Bible, and correct in every particular :
William Lindsey, grandfather of D. W., died Jan. 23, 1838, aged forty-four years. five months and twenty-four days.
Mary Lindsey, grandmother of D. W .. died Oct. 26. 1842, aged fifty-six years, six months and fourteen days.
John Forbes Lindsey was born Sept. 2, 1819. died Feb. 14, 1888, aged sixty-eight years, three months and twelve days.
William Ewing Lindsey was born Feb. 21, 1822, and died Jan. 6, 1859, aged thirty-six years, ten months and fifteen days.
Rachel W. Davidson was born March 6, 1821.
John F. Lindsey and Rachel W. David- son were married March 16, 1843. Unto them were born eight children, namely : Wil- liam Alexander, born Feb. 24, 1847; Alta Mary, born Feb. 24, 1847; John Forbes, April 7, 1849; Jane Margaret, Aug. 10, 1853: Davidson Woodburn. Oct. 27, 1855; Edwin James, Sept. 18, 1858; Rachel Re- becca, March 31, 1864; Lacy Alice, Nov. 13, 1865.
William Alexander still survives, and is unmarried.
Robert Shannon McElwain and Alta Mary Lindsey, were married Jan. 21, 1869, and unto them were born four children, namely : Florence Woodburn, born March 22, 1870; Mary Belle, May 14, 1874: Wil- liam Thomas, Dec. 22, 1877; and Lindsey, April 21, 1880.
John Forbes never married.
J. Zitzer Line and Jane Margaret Lind- sey were married Dec. 28. 1876, and unto them were born: Mervin Lindsey. Nov. 9, 1878: George Valentine, Feb. 14, 1883; and Leroy Zitzer, Aug. 22, 1885.
Davidson W. Lindsey and Annie Eliz- abeth Line were married Sept. 2, 1879. and unto them were born: Raymond Davidson and Estella Agnes June 24, . 1880; Rachel Rebecca, Sept. 28, 1881 : Lacy Mabel, Oct. 29, 1884; and George Claire, Nov. 20, 1885.
Edwin J. Lindsey and Nancy Hunter were married Dec. 25, 1889, and unto them were born: Elizabeth Winona, May II,
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1891; Alta Ruth, Nov. 23. 1893: John Hunter, Nov. 13. 1896; and Mervin Edwin, Sept. 19. 1901.
Thomas Carothers and Rebecca R. Lind- sey were married Dec. 26, 1889. They had no children.
M. Luther Eppley and Lacy A. Lindsey, were married Dec. 22, 1891, and unto them was born : Mary Winona, June 3, 1893.
Both John Forbes Lindsey and Rebecca R. Carothers are deceased. Florence W. McElwain, daughter of Robert S. and Alta McElwain. died April 10, 1882, but at the date of this record (1903), no other deaths in the family had taken place.
The parents of Rachel W. Lindsey were Alexander and Jane Davidson. Alexander Davidson died Oct. 19, 1865, aged seventy- eight years.
Jane Davidson died Aug. 19, 1879, aged eighty-eight years, eight months and nine- teen days.
Our esteemed subject grew up on his father's farm in West Pennsboro township, and attended the local schools until the age of eighteen years, when he spent one term at the Shippensburg Normal School. After teaching one term, he then spent a term at the Millersville Normal school. Mr. Lind- sey then devoted himself to teaching for some years, going to Illinois in 1877. After a year in the West, he returned to Cumber- land county and resumed teaching. In 1879 he married and settled down to farming, in 1882 purchasing his father's farm in West Pennsboro township.
Mr. Lindsey has always taken an intel- ligent interest in politics but has refused the cares and honors of office. Formerly he was in affiliation with the Republican party, but latterly has been a zealous Prohibitionist. With his family he belongs to the First Pres- byterian Church of Carlisle, in which he has
been an elder for sixteen years. In every relation of life, Mr. Lindsey has filled the ideal of a good citizen, and he commands the highest measure of esteem from all who know him.
M. L. EPPLEY, formerly a school teacher and now a prosperous farmer of WVest Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, comes of German ancestry.
George Eppley, his grandfather, was born in York county, Pa., where he grew to manhood and married. After his marriage he came to Cumberland county and located in South Middleton township, where his death occurred. His children were: Henry, George, Samuel, Jacob, Joseph, Abraham, Daniel, William, John, Martin, Barbara and Mary, all of whom are now deceased except George and William.
John Eppley was born in York county in 1827 son of George. Coming to Cumber- land county with his father, he here engaged in farming, making that his life work. He married Matilda Sheaffer, daughter of George and Susan Sheaffer, of Cumberland county. Their children were: William A., who is engaged in farming in South Middle- ton township: John, also engaged in farming in South Middleton township; M. L., men- tioned below; and Annie, who married Wil- liam H. Failor, and lives in South Middleton township. John Eppley, the father, died in South Middleton at the age of fifty-one years.
M. L. Eppley was born in South Middle- ton township. in 1865, and there grew to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his primary education in the district schools, later attending Greason Academy four terms. For five winter terms he success- fully engaged in teaching, winning a good reputation for thorough and able instruction
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in the common branches. He is now en- gaged in farming on a fine farm of 119 acres, located about three miles west of Carlisle on the Chambersburg pike. His early training has given a good knowledge of the practical needs of a farm, and he has been progressive in keeping abreast with advanced ideas re- garding the care of the soil, and in the use of modern machinery.
In 1891 Mr. Eppley married Lacy A. Lindsey, daughter of John F. Lindsey. One child, Mary W., now a student in the West Pennsboro schools, has come to bless their home. Mr. Eppley is a Republican, but while interested keenly in the questions of the day and hour, he can in no way be re- garded as a politician. He and his wife are both members of the First Presbyterian Church at Carlisle, and are highly regarded by all who know them.
G. LAWRENCE STROCK. The Strock family is an old and honored one in Cumberland county, Pa., George Strock, the grandfather of G. Lawrence, having been born near Churchtown, where he was a well- known man in the community, taking a lively interest in all things pertaining to his section. His death occurred while he was residing in Churchtown, when he was seventy-six years of age.
On the maternal side Mr. Strock is de- scended from the well-known family of Bowers, prominent in Cumberland county history. Jeremiah Bowers, his grandfather, was a prominent resident of Churchtown. In early life he was a farmer, later engaging in the manufacture of woolen goods in addi- tion to farming. The last years of his life, however, were spent in well-earned retire- ment, and he died in Churchtown at an ad- vanced age.
George B. Strock, the father of our sub-
ject, was born near Churchtown, followed farming throughout lifetime, and also took an active part in all matters pertaining to the county. He served as sheriff from 1892 until 1895. and was also chosen to attend to educational matters in his district as a member of the school board, upon various occasions. During his candidacy for the office of sheriff he received at the nomina- tion practically the unanimous vote of East Pennsboro township. His various offices of responsibility and trust were held with marked ability, and he was very popular not only with the Democratic party, of which he was a stanch member, but also with the Re- publican party, for all men recognized his superiority and steadfast integrity of pur- pose and action. In religious matters, Mr. Strock was a member of the United Breth- ren Church, at Wormleysburg, of which he was trustee for many years, and one of its most earnest and liberal supporters.
George B. Strock was married at Church- town to Annie M. Bowers, daughter of Jere- miah Bowers. She is now living in Me- chanicsburg. The death of Mr. Strock took place in December, 1900, when he had reached the age of fifty-nine years. To Mr. and Mrs. Strock the following children were born: J. Clyde, who is living at home in Mechanicsburg; Alva May, deceased; Rob- ert B., deceased ; and G. Lawrence.
G. Lawrence Strock was born at Bridge- port, on the Hummel farm, Feb. 25, 1871. After finishing a course at Wormleysburg the young man engaged in farming with his father, thus continuing until 1892, when he began farming for himself, and he purchased his present farm of ninety-seven acres in 1900. When the property came into his hands it was in a bad state, having been greatly neglected, but he has put it in excel- lent condition and made it one of the finest
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farms in Cumberland county. His house is a very commodious one, well furnished, and a generous hospitality is always forthcom- ing. On the property are excellent barns and outbuildings, and the entire premises bespeak the intelligent and progressive farmer and good business man. Like his father before him, Mr. Strock is a Democrat, although as yet he has taken no active part in politics. He, too. is a member of the United Brethren Church, of which he is a steward, and he gives that society his un- qualified support.
On Feb. 25. 1892. Mr. Strock was united in marriage with Irene M. Singiser, of Cum- berland county, and of this marriage the fol- lowing children have been born: G. Weir (now attending school), Alda May and R. Lee. The family stands very high in the neighborhood, and Mr. and Mrs. Strock have a host of friends.
FILLMORE MAUST. About 1840 there settled at Shepherdstown, Allen town- ship, Cumberland county, a young man named Daniel Maust. As the family record is missing not much can be ascertained con- cerning his ancestry, but it is known that he was born May 5. 1823, and consequently was yet a youth when he came into the neighborhood. Shepherdstown became his permanent abiding place, for on June 20, 1844. he married Fanny Beelman, of Allen township, Rev. J. Moore, of Carlisle, per- forming the ceremony. Fanny Beelman was born Sept. 8, 1823. and was a member of an old and prominent family of that part of the county, being a daughter of George and Eve ( Brandt) Beelman, and a lineal descendant from a Revolutionary ancestor. Her mother was a daughter of Adam Brandt, who was a private in Capt. Charles Leiper's Company, of the Second Battalion,
Cumberland County Militia, in active serv- ice in May, 1778, as is shown by the public records. Daniel and Fanny ( Beelman) Maust had children as follows: (1) Sarah Ann, born May 15, 1845, married W. H. Dougherty, a well known citizen of Upper Allen township, who has since been sheriff of Cumberland county. (2) Emma Jane, who was born Sept. 29, 1850, died in in- fancy. (3) Fillmore was born Nov. 22, 1855. Daniel Maust died July 20, 1866, his wife on Aug. 22, 1888, and their re- mains are buried in the graveyard of Cock- lin's Church, in Upper Allen township.
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