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 89
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Trinity. His intellectual gifts only equal his spiritual influence, and such a man can not help exerting a powerful influence for morality in any neighborhood. All who come into contact with him are not only impressed with a sense of his intellectual vigor, but are drawn by the kindly, genial manner with which nature has endowed him.
HENRY WEBER, a prominent farmer of Upper Allen township, Cumberland coun- ty, was born Oct. 6, 1831, in New Cumber- land, Lower Allen township.
Henry Weber, his grandfather, was born in Lancaster county. but in the spring of 1813 removed to Cumberland county and engaged in farming and in the milling busi- ness in Lower Allen township. He died at the age of sixty years. By his marriage with Martha Sechrist he had the following children : John. Abram, Christian, Nancy, Elizabeth and Mattie.
Abram Weber was born in Lancaster county, moved to Cumberland at an early age and followed farming. He married Mary Zimmerman, daughter of Peter Zim- merman, who was originally from Lancas- ter county, and died in Lower Allen town- ship at the age of eighty-four years. They had children as follows: Esther, wife of the late Isaac Berger, had children-Mary, Re- becca and Amos; Magdaline married David Groff, a farmer in Lancaster county ; Annie (deceased) married John Castle and lived at Lancaster Junction; Henry is mentioned below; Elizabeth is at home; Mary died in infancy ; Barbara (deceased) married Dan- iel Bear, a farmer in Cumberland county, and they had children-Benjamin, Martha, Mary, Annie and Lizzie; Abraham died in infancy; Susan died unmarried aged forty years; Catherine married Christian Hertz-
ler. a farmer in Upper Allen township, and they have children-Catherine, Mary, Bar- bara, Abraham, Henry, Annie and Alice.
Henry Weber at an early age removed from Lower to Upper Allen township, above Shepherdstown, and received his edu- cation at the Beelman school and Center Square. His schooling ended, he worked with his father on the farm until he was twenty-seven years of age, and then worked on Col. Hyer's farm for one year, when he assumed the management of his father's place, which he continued to cultivate for twelve years. Subsequently he farmed the John Brandt place for seven years and the old David Nisley farm-near Churchtown -for two years, and then, for a period of eighteen years, worked the Albright farm near Oyster Point. In 1898 he bought and removed to his present farm in Upper Allen township, which he has continued to suc- cessfully carry on.
In 1857 Mr. Weber married Susanna Brenner, daughter of George Brenner. She died in 1888, aged fifty-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Weber were born the following children: Anna Mary married Reuben Cockley, a farmer living near Churchtown, and their children are Noah, Henry, Susan, Annie, Sarah, Reuben and George. Lizzie Jane married Henry Mann, a farmer in Up- per Allen township, and their children are Aaron and Elmer. Abraham, who is a farmer near Churchtown, married Lucy Couch, and they have children -Florence, Alma, Helen, Henry and Ray. George, a farmer near West Fairview, married Ida Sheely. and their children are Ollie, Paul, George, Vesta and Robert. Alice married John Roth, a farmer near Shiremanstown, and their chil- dren are Emmons, Carroll and Catherine. Harry, a farmer near Cedar Run, married
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Annie Sheely, and they have had these chil- dren-Clifford, Velma, Grace, Harry and Annie (deceased). Samuel married Minnie Dietz (deceased), is a farmer near New Cumberland, and has two children, Ruth and Fred.
In 1860 Mr. Weber was ordained a min- ister of the Mennonite Church, by Bishop Bomberger of Lancaster county. In poli- tics, he votes the Republican ticket.
DAVID PARK BRINDLE, a promi- nent retired farmer of Cumberland county, . now residing at Carlisle Springs, was born Sept. 30. 1832, in Middlesex township, this county, a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Dewey) Brindle.
George W. Brindle was a son of an old settler of Franklin county, where he was also born, coming to Cumberland county in young manhood. Here he engaged in mill- ing and later in farming. owning a fine farm of 175 acres in Middlesex township, just north of Carlisle Springs, on which he settled about 1827. Here he died in 1867, aged seventy-one years, after living a useful, help- ful life. He was a man of Christian life and character. a member and a liberal supporter of the Reformed Church, and one of the organizers of the same at Carlisle Springs. He was one of the reliable and responsible men of his township and for a long time served in the office of director of the poor. His marriage took place in 1827 to Elizabeth Dewey, who was born in 1799 and died in 1863. She was also a devoted member of the Reformed Church and a woman of most exemplary life and character. Their chil- dren were: John Peter; Miss Margaret, of Carlisle 'Springs: William, who died young ; David Park, of this sketch ; Andrew, who died young; and Catherine, wife of Ifezekiah Chandler, who died prior to 1860.
Of the above family. John Peter, the eldest, was a prominent citizen. He raised Com- pany G, in Cumberland county, and served as its captain. For many years he was ex- tensively engaged in the pension business, served many terms as justice of the peace at Carlisle, also as notary public, and was long regarded as one of that city's representative men. Both he and his wife have passed away.
. David P. Brindle was born on the home farm in Middlesex township, where he early began his practical education, helping with the plowing at the age of thirteen years. His education was obtained during the winter months at the district school, in the little log house in a clearing, and here he suc- cessfully mastered all the essentials. Until his parents died he remained on the home farm, his brother having gone into the army. In 1856 he married Sarah Barr, daughter of Samuel Barr and Elizabeth Dunlap, sis- ter of Rev. James Dunlap, a very noted preacher, who was one of the faithful and earnest ministers of the Evangelical Church, who traveled on horseback from one com- munity to the other.
After the close of the war Mr. Brindle took entire charge of the farm and contin- ued its operation until 1892, when he re- tired to Carlisle Springs, where he occupied a very comfortable home. In politics he is a Democrat. For many years he has been a school director and supervisor and has had a voice in the greater part of the government of the township. He is a prominent member of the Reformed Church.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brindle, as follows: Anna Aurelia, who is the widow of Gordon Leonard, lives at Carlisle Springs; James, who died in Car-, lisle Springs, married Catherine Tressler, and for many years was a successful teacher ;
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George W. married Annie Wolf and is a prominent merchant of Carlisle Springs.
Mr. Brindle still owns the old farm. The old farmhouse which his father built in 1845 still stands, although later improve- ments were made by our subject.
JACOB N. BRUBAKER, who resides about two miles out of Carlisle in the town- ship of North Middleton, on a well-culti- vated farm of forty acres, is a son of David O. Brubaker, grandson of David Brubaker, and a great-grandson of John Brubaker, who came to America from Germany in 1710. David Brubaker, the grandfather, was a farmer, and was a very worthy and reliable man.
David O. Brubaker, the father of Jacob N .. was born in Millersburg, Pa., Feb. 8, 1805. and there received an excellent com- mon school education. When a young man he went to Lancaster county, and later learned the trade of tanning at Millersburg. Pa. Returning to Lancaster county he fol- lowed that trade until the close of the war. In 1864 he purchased a farm of 140 acres in Rapho township, Lancaster Co., Pa., which he sold about 1869, later purchasing a farm of 100 acres in North Middleton township. Cumberland Co., Pa., which he sold to his son. He then returned to Lancaster county, where he died March 12, 1888. Mr. Bru- baker married Elizabeth Nauman, of Lan- caster county, Pa., and their children were : Mary, Elizabeth, David. Caroline, Susan, Samuel and Jacob N. The mother of these died in 1843. Mr. Brubaker married (sec- ond) a Miss Bishop, of Lancaster county, Pa., they becoming the parents of one child. Isaac B. Mrs. Brubaker died in Lancaster county, aged seventy-one years.
Jacob N. Brubaker was born February 26. 1840, in Lancaster county, and there at-
tended the common schools, in the intervals working for his father until he was twenty- seven years of age. He then removed to Cumberland county, and located in North Middleton township, on a farm about a mile north of where he now resides. In 1880 he purchased his present farin, upon which he built a barn, besides making many other im- provements.
On March 5, 1875, Jacob N. Brubaker married Mary Elizabeth Wert, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Brought) Wert. of North Middleton township. The following named children were born to this union : Emma Jane, born Dec. 4,1'1876, who mar- ried Charles M. Bear, a son of Levi and Elizabeth Bear, of Harrisburg, where she resides, they having one child, Mary E .; Carrie May, born July 27, 1881, at home; and David J., born July 20, 1886, now at- tending commercial college at Carlisle.
Mr. Brubaker is in politics Republican. His wife belongs to the Lutheran Church of Carlisle Springs, and both are very highly respected, and excellent representatives of the agricultural class of their county.
JOHN C. RONEY (deceased), one of the prominent and highly respected citizens of Cumberland county, Pa., was born Ang. 13, 1832, in Carlisle, and he died in Shire- manstown, July 29, 1903, and his burial was at Ashland cemetery at Carlisle.
When but fourteen years of age, by the death of his father, he was called upon to assist his mother in the care and rearing of the six other children. He came of sturdy Scotch-Irish stock, his forefathers being of the old Presbyterian faith, who, from the north of Ireland and Scotland have sent so many representatives to this country. His mother, especially, was a woman of unusual power and conscientious convictions of duty.
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Left. as stated, a widow with seven small children. she reared all of them to be- come useful members of society. assisted nobly by her son John C., who from the first realized the demands which must be made upon his strength. That he never failed. those nearest and closest to him have always gratefully testified.
When eighteen years of age, Mr. Roney became an apprentice at Chambersburg, in the shops of the Cumberland Valley Rail- road. and after becoming a thorough ma- chinist. was appointed an engineer on the road. This position he held until 1883. when he resigred it. There are but few among the older residents along the Cumberland Valley line. who do not recall him well. For more than thirty years, with fidelity day after day, he traveled up and down the Valley road and all must recall his kind manner and accom- modating spirit.
After retiring from railroad work, he engaged in business, and for some four years was in a book store enterprise at York, Pa. During the disastrous flood at that place, a number of years ago, he lost the greater part of what he had gained by his years of in- dustry and economy. He next operated a grocery store at Locust Point for some five years, and then settled at Shiremanstown, where he resided until his death. The in- come from his grocery and several properties secured him a comfortable living. For many years he was a member of the M. E. Church and lived as a Christian should, true to his convictions of right and at peace with all men. He was a stanch Republican, and served in the town council at Shiremans- town.
In 1859 Mr. Roney was married, at the home of his bride in Newberry township, to Eliza B. Kaylor, born in 1834, in Newberry township, daughter of Jacob and Esther
(Burger) Kaylor. Jacob Kaylor was born in 1797, in Newberry township, a son of Wendel Kaylor and his wife. Barbara Zim- merman. Wendel Kaylor was born in Ger- many, and was brought to America when a small boy. The father of Mrs. Roney re- ceived a good education for the time and locality, and learned the shoemaking trade, which he followed all his life. At various times he lived on farms through Newberry township, but never worked them himself. His death occurred in 1875, and that of his widow in 1891. They were both devoted members of the Church of God. The chil- dren of Jacob Kaylor and wife were: Reu- ben, who died aged ten years; John, who died aged twenty-eight years; Eliza, Mrs. Roney; Mary, Mrs. Cyrus Reber, of New Cumberland; and Nancy. Mrs. Harry Prentz, of Shiremanstown.
Charles Roney, father of the late John C. Roney, was born in Ireland and there mar- ried Eliza Craig, and, with their eldest child, Jennie, they emigrated to the United States, landing on its shores at Baltimore. They settled permanently at Carlisle, where the others of the family were born. The father died in Carlisle, and the mother at the home of a daughter, in Philadelphia. The chil- dren of Charles Roney and wife were: Jen- nie, widow of Rev. J. C. Caldwell, a minister in the M. E. Church, who lives near Carlisle ; Charles, who died young; John C., of this record; Warren P., a mechanic, residing at Carlisle; James K., who died aged twenty- three years; Annie, Mrs. Fred Brown, near Carlisle; and William Seymour, of Terre Haute, Indiana.
The death of John C. Roney called forth expressions of regret and beautiful testi- monials to his worth from relatives, friends and the public press. Quiet, unassuming in manner, his convictions were as founded upon
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a rock, and he fulfilled the duties as son, husband and brother and as citizen, with con- scientious and self-sacrificing fidelity. The personal tributes from those who knew him best showed a beautiful character. No more kindly heart ever beat nor gentle spirit ever took its flight to the regions of light than that of John C. Roney.
THOMAS J. WEBB, dealer in and manufacturer of shoes at Mechanicsburg, Pa., is one of the leading and representative citizens of that place. Mr. Webb was born Oct. 17, 1857, in Frankford township, Cum- berland Co., Pa., a son of Samuel and Mary A. (Williams) Webb.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Webb were James and Elizabeth ( Fetrow) Webb, and the maternal were Josiah and Elizabeth (Minnich ) Williams, of Cumberland county.
Samuel Webb was born in 1838 in York county, and was educated in the district schools. During three years of the Civil war he faithfully served his country as a volunteer in an infantry regiment, and after the close of the war returned to his home in Monroe township, where he now resides. He married Mary A. Williams, who was born in. 1834 in Frankford township, Cum- berland county, and now resides near Trindle Spring, on the old homestead. Their four children were: George W .; Anna M., de- ceased ; Ely J., and Thomas J., who was the second in order of birth.
Thomas J. Webb was reared through boyhood on the farm and was educated in the district school. Then he learned shoe- making and worked on the bench for several years, after which he became a clerk in a shoe store, in this way gaining ex- perience both in the making and in the selling of shoes. In 1896 he started in as a dealer on his own account,
opening up on North Market street, in Me- chanicsburg. In 1902 he moved to his pres- ent store on one of the leading business streets. and here he carries a large and varied stock of all kinds of footwear and enjoys a large and steadily increasing trade. He has been in the business continuously for twenty-two years, and his experience, coupled with his honest methods and excel- lent goods, has brought him prominence in his line. In connection with his sales department he also does a large repair business.
On Dec. 25, 1879, Mr. Webb married Mary A. V. O'Neal, daughter of Thomas J. and Mary ( Reinhart ) O'Neal, who were for- merly from Virginia, but who now reside in Mechanicsburg. To this union one daughter was born, Minnie Virginia, who is a grad- uate of the Mechanicsburg high school. Mr. and Mrs. Webb are members of the Bethel Church. in which Miss Webb is organist, being gifted with musical talent. Mr. Webb is prominent in a number of social and fraternal orders, being a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., in which he has filled most of the chairs, and since 1895 has been treas- urer. He is also a member of the K. of T. M., in which he has held official position, has been sub-commander and post commander and is now deputy grand commander of the Cumberland Valley Commandery ; is a mem- ber of the Daughters of Liberty, and of the Royal Arcanum, in which he is regent of Mechanicsburg Council; and is an active member of the Rescue Hook and Ladder Fire Company.
HENRY M. RUPP (deceased) was for many years a prominent citizen of Cumber- land county, and a successful merchant in Shiremanstown. Mr. Rupp was born Aug. 2, 1839 on his father's farm in Hampden
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township. Cumberland county, son of Henry and Mary (Shelley) Rupp.
Henry Rupp was born in Hampden township, and in addition to farming he operated a warehouse. and did a big busi- ness in the coal regions. At the age of sixty- four years he retired to Shiremanstown. He married Mary Shelley, born and reared on the Shelley farm, on the State road. and she passed away at the age of eighty-four. Their children were: Mrs. Reuben Roth, de- ceased : Daniel. deceased : Barbara, widow of Jonas Shott: John. deceased; George, who died young ; Jacob. deceased ; Henry M., of this sketch; and Sarah, Mrs. John Huston, of Chicago.
The late Henry M. Rupp assisted on the home farm and attended school at the old Stone Church school. until the age of eight- een years, when he entered his brother Dan- iel's store, at Shiremanstown, in the capacity of clerk. After the death of his father, he and his mother opened a store in Shiremans- town, and later he entered into a mercan- tile partnership with his brother Jacob. The business was successfully and honorably car- ried on for a number of years. In 1891 Mr. Rupp moved to the residence now occupied by his widow, and there he died, May 26. 1893. His religious rearing had been in the Lutheran faith, but. after his marriage, hic accompanied his wife to the Church of God. of which she is a member. He was a liberal contributor to the church, and to all worthy undertakings, and was exceedingly charita- ble. Not only was he a man devoted to his home and family. but he was a kind neigh- bor and one of the best citizens. He left to mourn, a Christian mother, since deceased, his widow, two sisters and a brother, since cleceased, and a host of friends who grieved to lose him from their midst. In politics Mr. Rupp was a Republican. He belonged
to the order of Odd Fellows and the En- campment.
Mr. Rupp married Miss Catherine Kis- ter, daughter of Jacob E. and Catherine (Hart) Kister. Jacob E. Kister was born in Newberry township, York county. and was a farmer all his life, which he spent in the place of his birth. He was a son of David and Eve (Epply) Kister, both of York county. On the maternal side, the grandfather of Mrs. Rupp was John Hart. who came to America at the age of eighteen years, married Sarah Vernon, a Quakeress of Chester county, Pa., and settled near Lewisberry, where he died on his own large farm.
Jacob E. and Catherine ( Hart) Kister had the following family of children : Sarah Ann, Mrs. Daniel Krone, died in Kansas; Andrew and Webster. both deceased; John S., of California; Eliza Jane, Mrs. Adam Stevens, of York, Pa. : David H., deceased ; Jacob, of York county ; Priscilla, Mrs. Jacob C. Miller, of Mechanicsburg : Julius, of Har- risburg; and Mrs. Rupp.
The late Mr. Rupp was a man of the highest integrity and was one of the most respected citizens of Shiremanstown. His life was one of duty well performed, and he will long be recalled for his many kind ac- tions and helpful deeds.
JOHN E. BENTZ, one of the well- known railroad men of Cumberland county and a resident of Shiremanstown, was born Oct. 14, 1828, in Warren township, York Co., Pa., son of Jacob L. Bentz.
Jacob L. Bentz was born in Lancaster county, and was a farmer all his life. When a small boy his parents moved to Warren township, York county, and there he died in 1878, aged seventy-two years. He married (first) Elizabeth Slothour, of Lancaster
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county, who died when our subject was six- teen years old. The father re-married, but there were no children to the second union. The children born to Jacob L. and Elizabethi Bentz were: John E., of this sketch; Su- sanna, deceased, MIrs. Arnold; Michael, de- ceased; Mary, Mrs. John Wireman, de- ceased; Jacob. a farmer in York county; Lewis, near Dillsburg, York county; Re- becca, Mrs. Samuel Deardorf, of Wellsville; Leah, Mrs. Rudy Sanders, of Wellsville; Adam, near Wellsville; and Fred, also set- tled near Wellsville.
The Bentz family is of German extrac- tion, and was founded many years ago in America. Jacob Bentz, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Lancaster county, but died in York county. He was thrice married, and was a well known farmer in Warren township.
John E. Bentz. of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm, and attended school two months each winter. The summers were spent in farm work, and it is still a matter of some little pride with Mr. Bentz that he was able to plow and harrow when he was but nine years old. When twenty-three years of age, he went to White Pigeon, Mich., where he was manager for two farms for William Armitage, a substantial man of that place at a later date, but for two years he remained behind in York county. After Mr. Armitage took charge of his property, Mr. Bentz returned and farmed the home farm for the two succeeding years, and dur- ing this time his wife, Miss Susan Burk- heimer, of York county, died.
After the death of his wife Mr. Bentz sold out his interests in York county, and moved to Newville, Cumberland county, where he engaged in various kinds of work from 1858 to 1865, selling mules, teaming, farm work, etc., and in 1863 he assisted in
the building of the Richmond furnace at Loudon.
In 1859 Mr. Bentz was married to Mary M. Grubb, born at Drytown, Cumber- land county. Her father, John Grubb, was born in Lancaster county, and there mar- ried Elizabeth Ebersole. They lived for a time at Drytown, afterward moving to New- ville, where Mr. Grubb worked on the Cum- berland Valley R. R. until his deatlı, re- siding at the time in Shiremanstown. Mr. Grubb was sixty-eight years of age, and was survived by his widow until she was seventy- five. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Grubb were: Mrs. Bentz: Daniel, of Wauseon, Ohio : Rebecca, who died single ; Miss Lydia. of Shiremanstown ; Lizzie, Mrs. William A. McMullen, of Wellsville, Pa .; Emma, Mrs. Lemttel Shafer, of Shiremanstown; and Sarah, Mrs. Jacob Straining, of New Kings- town, Cumberland county.
In 1866 Mr. Bentz settled in Shiremans- town, and went to work for the Cumber- land Valley R. R. as a section hand. He acted as substitute foreman many times be- fore he was made a permanent foreman in 1879, on the section between White Hill and Mechanicsburg. During this long period Mr. Bentz has seen many changes in rail- road working, and the adoption of many im- provements which lessen the dangers to the public, and place less responsibility on the road employes. His son, John Grubb Bentz, was for seven years agent for the Cumber- land Valley R. R. at Shiremanstown, and is now its agent at Winchester, Virginia.
Mr. Bentz had one son born to his first marriage, Samuel Jacob, who is now a resi- dent of Burbank, Ohio, and who married Susanna Nosker. The children of his sec- ond marriage were two sons, John G. and William. The former, as mentioned above, is a resident of Winchester, Va., and married
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to Rosanna Lambert. The latter is a resi- dent of Shiremanstown, and married Emma Straining. now deceased.
Prior to coming to Shiremanstown, Mr. Bentz and family were connected with the Methodist Church at Newville, to which he was always a liberal contributor. They now attend the Church of God at Shiremanstown. He has always been identified with the Re- publican party, and has been an active sup- porter of its principles, but has never sought political honors. He has made many warm personal friends, and has always worked for the advancement of education, for twenty- two years serving as school director. He is held in esteem by his employers, and ful- fills to the best of his ability the demands of domestic and social life.
ABRAHAM L. ESHLEMAN, one of the well known citizens of Hampden town- ship. Cumberland Co .. Pa., and a member of a prominent family of this section, was born Jan. 28, 1852. in Rye township, Perry county, Pennsylvania.
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