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 90
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The family of Eshleman originated in Switzerland, and our subject's ancestors emigrated to America in 1740, some of them locating in Lancaster and some in Dauphin county. Jacob Eshleman, the grandfather of Abraham L .. was born in 1796 in the Black Swamp, Dauphin county, and after his mar- riage settled in Lancaster county, moving thence to Perry county, and later to Cum- berland county, where he died. Jacob Eshleman married Elizabeth Schenck, daughter of Joseph and Barbara ( Blosser) Schenck, who were of Lancaster county, Pa., and they had ten children, namely : John is mentioned below; Barbara, born in 1819. is deceased; Joseph, born in 1823, married Nancy Nieley, and lives retired in Dauphin county ; Lydia, born in 1824, and
Rebecca, born in 1827, unmarried, reside together at Eberly's Mills : Elizabeth, born in '1829, married Jeremiah Kell. of Perry county, and they now reside at the Old People's Home (the Brethren in Christ Home), at Harrisburg: Jacob S., born in 1834, married Leah Weaver and lives at Eberly's Mills: Mathias, born in 1836, mar- ried Susan Collins, and lives at Eberly's Mills: Rachel, born in 1838. and Nancy, born in 1839. both died in infancy.
John Eshleman, father of Abraham L., was born in 1825, in Lancaster county, where he received a common school educa- tion. He was employed as a day laborer and also as a broom maker. He married Mary Magdalene Schenck, who was born in 1825, daughter of Rudolph and Elizabeth ( Barn- hart ) Schenck, of Lancaster county, and they had a family of fourteen children, viz. : Harry S., born in 1846, keeps a small store, and in connection does shoe cobbling ; he married Elizabeth Fetrow, and they live at Shiremanstown. Mathias M., born in 1848, is a painter by trade; he married Louisa Cobel. and lives at Riverton. Jacob S .. born in 1849. a farmer, married Elizabeth Harnish, and they live in Silver Spring township. David S., born in 1850, married Catherine Hamilton and lives at Riverton ; he is engaged at day labor. Abraham L. is mentioned below. Barbara, born in 1853. married John Barn- hart, of Shiremanstown, a laborer. Eliza- beth, born in 1855, married Jacob Grissinger, a farmer of Silver Spring township. Mary Magdalene, born in 1857. is deceased. Reuben, born in 1858, is a fence maker by occupation ; he married Mary Shumberger, and lives in Shiremanstown. Fanny, born in 1864, married George Eichelberger, of Riverton, where he is engaged as a puddler. Simon Peter, born in 1867, is a day laborer ;
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he married Emma Stettler, of York county, and lives at Le Moyne. Leah, born in 1860, died at the age of sixteen. John Andrew, born in 1862, and William Harrison, born in 1865, both died in infancy. The father of this family died July 11, 1893, survived by his widow until Aug. 28, 1900, and both were buried in the Slate Hill cemetery.
Abraham L. Eshleman completed his ed- ucation at the age of fourteen years, having attended the schools of Hampden and Lower Allen townships. He then devoted himself to farming until he was nineteen. when he accepted employment for a year and a half with the Cumberland Valley Railroad Com- pany. During the next decade he was al- ways busy, following various occupa- tions, devoting a year and a half to helping in the Pennsylvania Railroad blacksmith shops at Harrisburg, and a year and a half at the Central Iron Works, at the same place. He was then engaged in quarrying stone and burning lime. He also gave about three years to the painting trade; in fact Mr. Eshleman has been able to turn his abilities to good account in almost any direction. In 1894 he became interested in the selling of first-class patent medicines and has met with such unqualified success that he has devoted his whole time since then to handling the liniment, cough balm, life essence, baby drops, pills, salve and vermifuge prepared by A. H. Gottschall, of Harrisburg, a name which is held in high repute, through Mr. Eshleman's efforts, through the anthracite coal region. Since his marriage Mr. Eshleman has resided in a handsome residence in Hampden township.
On March 21, 1893, Mr. Eshleman mar- ried Elizabeth Emma Greegor, daughter of John K. and Mary A. (Enck) Greegor, of Lancaster county, and one child has come to this union, Emma May, who was born
March 14. 1900. In politics Mr. Eshleman has always been identified with the Republi- can party although he has permitted him- self to vote, on several occasions, according to private convictions. Mr. Eshleman, by his pleasant, courteous manner makes many friends, and, what is more to the point, he also keeps them. He is held in very high esteem in his own locality.
CYRUS ARNOLD SPAHR. For over a century this has been one of the well known names in Carlisle and Cumberland county. To Cyrus A. Spahr and his hon- ored father the Cumberland Fire Company of Carlisle owes much of its present stand- ing, and their names will be foremost among those who have labored to promote its wel- fare and efficiency. The members of this family have always ranked among the best citizens of the town, both for intelligence and integrity.
John Spahr, the great-grandfather of Cyrus A., was born March 17, 1782, was a hatter by trade, and died in Carlisle Nov. 19, 1844. He married Elizabeth Wickart, who was born Oct. 12, 1783. and died Jan. 19, 1858, and they had four children, as follows: John, grandfather of Cyrus A .; William, a brickmaker, who died in Carlisle; Peter, who was engaged in brickmaking in Carlisle all his life, and died there; and Eliza, who married James Liggett, and was the grandmother of Clarence Liggett, of Carlisle.
John Spahr, grandfather of Cyrus A., was born Nov. 3, 1807, in Carlisle, and learned the hatter's trade under his father. But he did not follow it long, in early man- hood commencing to work at filing with John Proctor, who was a well known figure in the industrial world of Canton in those days; he made bits when they were made
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and filed and plated by hand, silver money being melted to get material for the plating. Mr. Spahr remained with Mr. Proctor for a number of years. After erecting the home for his family on North East street. in Carlisle, he took up gardening, and he was also engaged at butchering and trucking, and served for many years as sexton of the Lutheran church. For several years he was high constable in Carlisle, and he also acted as tax collector for several years. As may be inferred, he led a very busy life, and was ever noted for industry and thrift. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church, in which he held the office of deacon. Mr. Spahr married Elizabeth Stum, of Lancas- ter county, Pa., who was born March 3, 1811, and died April 8, 1875, her husband following her to the grave Dec. 11, 1876. Mrs. Spahr's parents came to this country from Germany and died in Carlisle. To Mr. and Mrs. Spahr were born children as follows: (1) John, born April 15. 1832, married Mary Black, April 13, 1856, and died in Carlisle. (2) William, born June 24. 1834. is mentioned elsewhere. (3) Cath- erine, born March 17. 1835. died in 1836. (4) Lizzie, born Oct. 8, 18 -. mar- ried John Egolf, in 1850, and died in Carlisle. Her husband is also de- ceased. (5) Mary H., born May 29. 1837, was married Oct. 10, 1858, to Cyrus D. Arnold, who is deceased. and she now lives in Philadelphia. (6) Peter F., the father of Cyrus A., is mentioned below. (7) Sarah, born Dec. 21, 1840, married Samuel Minnich, and died in June, 1903, in Carlisle. (8) Barbara E., born March 17, 1843, died March 16, 1845. (9) Margaret J., born Dec. 21, 1844, died May 17, 1853. (10) George E., born Oct. 1, 1846, died May 10, 1853. (11) Julia Ann died in in- ianey.
Peter F. Spahr was born May 5, 1839, in Carlisle, and there received a good prac- tical education. He commenced to help his father in the butchering and trucking busi- ness when quite young, and in 1869 he and his brothers John and William engaged in the manufacture of brick, under the firm name of Spahr Bros. This partnership lasted until his death, in 1896, and the busi- ness was quite successful. Mr. Spahr was active in public affairs as well as in business circles, serving three terms in the city coun- cil as representative from the First ward, and was an active member of the Cumber- land Fire Company of Carlisle, which he served twenty years as treasurer. During his connection with that organization he was a constant worker for its welfare, and was instrumental in gaining for the company the high reputation it has borne for efficiency and reliability. Mr. Spahr was a Democrat in politics, and a Lutheran in religion, hold- ing membership in the First Lutheran Church of Carlisle. He entered the Union service in 1861, becoming a member of Com- pany I, 5th Regiment, and served five years in the army, being discharged at Carlisle barracks in 1866. During part of this time he was a member of the regimental band, and he took part in the fighting along the Potomac under McClellan.
Peter F. Spahr was first married, on March 4, 1862, to Miss Annie E. Ward, of Carlisle, who died in 1871, and on Dec. 19, 1872, he wedded Emma Swigert, of Perry county, Pa., who survives him. By the first union there were three children, namely : George, who is deceased; Cyrus Arnold ; and Julia, Mrs. Theodore Stigleman, of Carlisle. Three children were also born to the second marriage: Mary, Mrs. Edward Dosh, of Carlisle; and Nellie and William, who are unmarried.
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Cyrus Arnold Spahr was born April 27, 1866, at the United States barracks at Washington, D. C. In 1869, his father being transferred to Carlisle, the family home was established there, and here he grew to manhood. He began his education in the public schools under Miss Mary Hum- rick, and attended until he was about four- teen, his last teacher being the well known instructor, Mr. Rohrer. In 1883 he com- menced to learn the molder's trade in the es- tablishment of F. Gardner & Sons, at Car- lisle, where he spent the greater part of the next fifteen years, completing his apprentice- ship in four years. For one year he was engaged as foreman of the molding de- partment of the Carlisle Manufacturing Company, successors to F. Gardner & Sons.
Mr. Spahır has been active in local public affairs for several years, and in the spring of 1904 he was elected to his present posi- tion, that of chief of police of Carlisle, under Mayor H. G. Brown. At the time of his election to this incumbency he was serving as chief fire marshal of Carlisle, which posi- tion he had filled for two terms. It may be well to recount briefly a history. of his con- nection with the fire department of Carlisle. He joined the Cumberland Fire Company in 1883, and in 1886 was elected secretary of that organization, serving as such for twelve consecutive years, a longer term of service than any other incumbent of the office has had. During this time, in ad- dition to attending to the regular duties, he gathered a full and complete history of the Company from its organization. Feb. 8. 1809, up to 1898. He also served two con- secutive terms as president of the company. In 1904. toward the close of his services as chief marshal, Mr. Spahr had to contend with a greater number of fires than Carlisle
had during any preceding year, and it is an acknowledged fact that he handled his men and equipment with effective skill. The worst and most dangerous fire, all things considered, that visited Carlisle during his career as fireman, was that which destroyed the Alexander Brewery on the night of April 26, 1895. There were high winds, and the town was in danger of being completely burned, many places being on fire at the same time. The firemen were on duty near- ly five hours continuously. That was the year Carlisle elected its first chief fire mar- shal, Samuel Berntz. Mr. Spahr repre- sented his company one year in the Cumber- land Valley Fire Association. He is the present chairman of the executive committee of the convention. He is one of the most respected young men in Carlisle, holding an enviable place in the esteem of his fellow citizens generally. On Feb. 5. 1895, Mr. Spahr enlisted in Company G, Sth Regi- ment, P. N. G., and served for nine years in all, five years as corporal of the company ; E. B. Watts, Esq., was his captain. He was called out for service during the Homestead trouble, in 1902, and was honorably dis- charged.
On Sept. 10, 1891, Mr. Spahr was mar- ried to Miss Berdilla Galbraith, who was born in Upper Dickinson township, Cum- berland county, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kinkaid) Galbraith, her father a well known farmer of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Spahr have spent all their married life in the home on West Pomfret street. where they still reside. Two children have come to this union : Arnold Galbraith, born Dec. 10, 1892, and Esther May, Aug. 20. 1898. Socially, Mr. Spahr holds member- ship in the Royal Arcanum, and in religious connection he is a member of the First Luth- eran Church.
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JOHN H. YOHE. a farmer and stock raiser residing on the old McCormick farm of 150 acres, now owned by D. T. Holland, of Shippensburg, was born in Franklin coun- ty. Pa., not far from Strasburg, June 26, 1846, son of Peter and Margaret (Shuman) Yohe.
Peter Yohe was a native of Dauphin county, born in 1814. By trade he was in early life a shoemaker, but his last years were devoted to farming. He was the father of eleven children: Mary, Catherine, George. Elizabeth M .. Peter. Margaret, Ellen, Sarah, Lavinia A., William M. and John H. Peter Yohe died about 1864 and his wife passed away in 1888. and both are buried in the Strasburg cemetery.
John H. Yohe received his education in the district schools and in the village school at Strasburg, leaving school in his sixteenth year. For two years he then assisted his father on the home place, when his father died, and from that time on until the death of his mother, in 1888, John H. remained in charge of the farm. When the farm was sold he removed to the Brenneman farm, three miles west of Shippensburg, which he rented. His success proves him to be a model farmer. In 1884 he moved to his present place in Southampton township. The ownership of the farm has not changed since he has rented it. He has always main- tained pleasant business relations with the proprietor, and conducted the farm in a sat- isfactory manner.
Mr. Yohe married Miss Ada Weidler, daughter of Reuben and Catherine ( Hull) Weidler, of Franklin county, and seven chil- dren have come to brighten their home: Almeda J., now the wife of William Hykes; Luella K., who married E. H. Booz; Jay W., a minister .; Harry H., a minister ; Anna M., a teacher ; Ira H., a teacher ; and Bertha
E., at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yohe are active members of the United Brethren Church, in which he is at present serving as a trustee. He is regarded as an honest and industrious citizen.
ANSON GRANT MENTZER, one of the enterprising and progressive men of West Pennsboro township, Cumberland Co .. Pa., was born in West Pennsboro township in 1865, a son of B. F. Mentzer. The grand- father was born in Frankford township, where he worked as a day laborer, and was an industrious, honest man. His children were: Catherine, living in West Pennsboro township; Elizabeth, who died in Frankford township Feb. 9, 1904; Henry, who died in Newville; John, who died in Frankford township: Margaret, living at West Hill, this county; Sarah, living in Frankford township; Mary, living in Dickinson town- ship; William, who died when a young man ; Mrs. Leopard, who died in Frankford town- ship; and B. F., who was born in Frankford.
B. F. Mentzer attended the public schools of Frankford and West Pennsboro town- ships, coming to the latter township when he was sixteen years of age. He followed farming and was successful in his work. In 1855 he married Maria Yoter, of West Pennsboro township, and for ten years after his marriage farmed in that township. then buying a farm of 128 acres in Frankford township. However, after two years. he returned to West Pennsboro, and farmed the Dr. Zitzer farm for twenty years. In 1890 he bought a small tract of thirteen acres adjoining that farm, which he is now cultivating. Children as follows were born to himself and wife: Fannie C. married James Bloser, and is living in West Penns- boro; Edwin Y. married Maggie King. and lives in this township; Jennie M. married
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George Derrick, and lives in this township: Anson G. is mentioned below : Elizabeth M. married John Grider and lives in this town- ship. In politics, B. F. Mentzer is a Demo- crat, and has served his township as super- visor and tax collector. He is a very highly respected man.
Anson Grant Mentzer went to the dis- trict schools until he was eighteen years of age, and worked for his father until his marriage, in 1890, to Alta Clay, daughter of Levi and Mary Ann Clay, of West Penns- boro township. The young people settled on their present home, and in 1900 bought the farm, which consists of 132 acres. This he has improved considerably, putting in new fencing throughout, and now has a property which is one of the best in the town- ship. Mr. Mentzer has a threshing machine, and during the season carries on a very large threshing business, having more calls upon him than he can fill, from farmers in both West Pennsboro and Frankford town- ships. He has been engaged in this line of business for seven years, in connection with his farming. Mr. Mentzer also kills beef and sells by the quarter, never neglecting a single opportunity to advance his business interests and enlarge his field of operations.
The children of this happy family are : Bertha F., born in 1892; Floyd Frank, born in 1894, and Francis M., born in 1897, all at home. Mr. Mentzer is a Democrat. The family attend the Lutheran Church of Frankford township, in which they are very popular, as they are throughout the neigh- borhood.
WILLIAM S. ZEIGLER, one of the prominent farmers and highly respected citi- zens of Southampton township, near Middle Spring, Cumberland county, was born Oct. 10, 1846, in Fannett township, Franklin
county, son of Isaac and Mary A. (Ham- mond) Zeigler.
The Zeigler family is of German extrac- tion. Michael Zeigler. grandfather of Wil- liam S., made his home for some time at Stony Point, Franklin county, near Ship- pensburg, where he was engaged in farm- ing, and then located at Newville, Cumber- land county, where his son Henry operated a pottery for many years. He afterward went to Galesburg. Ill .. where he died at the home of his son Isaac. He was one of the original members and leading officials of the Church of God at Shippensburg. The chil- dren of Michael Zeigler were: William, Isaac, Henry, Michael. Mrs. Susan Walters, Mrs. Mary Ann Kegerreis, Mrs. Elizabeth Rebuck, and Mrs. Rebecca D. Roush, the last named the only living daughter. Three of the sons, Isaac. Michael and William, fol- lowed the trade of tinner, and were hard- ware merchants, the Zeigler family being somewhat noted in this respect. Michael's two sons are now tinners and hardware men. William had one son, who was also a tinner and hardware man. Mrs. Rebuck had a son, who became a tinner : Mrs. Kegerreis had a son and grandson engaged as tinners and hardware men; Mrs. Walters had two sons and grandsons, tinners in Shippensburg.
Isaac Zeigler lived at Path Valley, Franklin county, working at his trade until 1856, and then made a trip through various States and Territories. finally locating at Galesburg, Ill. Here he became associated with James Andrews in a hardware business, and became a leading citizen of that place, where his death occurred in the fall of 1871, at the age of fifty-one years. In politics, he was a Republican, and in religious belief, he was a Baptist. In Path Valley Isaac Zeigler married Mary A .. daughter of Lawrence and Mary A. (Skinner) Hammond, old set-
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tlers of the valley. Lawrence Hammond was born in February, 1797. in Spring Run. was married to Mary A. Skinner March 16. ISIS, and the next month settled on the farm at Spring Run. where they lived con- tinuously until his death. April 6, 1883. He left his children property amounting to over $100.000. He was the father of fifteen chil- dren, of whom seven were living at the time of his death, as well as sixty-four grandchildren, 118 great-grandchildren. and five great-great-grandchildren. Among his children were one pair of twins and one set of triplets, all of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Hammond lived to nurse five generations, her death occurring in the fall of 1887. on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Ham- mond most enjoyably celebrated their fiftieth (1868) and sixtieth ( 1878) marriage anni- versaries. Mrs. Isaac Zeigler died in 1852. The children of Isaac and Mary A. Zeigler were: William S. : Mrs. Anna M. Griffith, of Galesburg. Ill .: and Jennie Lind. who died at Galesburg, in the fall of 1868. when but eighteen years of age.
William S. Zeigler was educated in his native county. His mother dying when he was between six and seven years old. he was taken by his grandfather Hammond, who, as he says, reared him "to be a farmer and a Democrat." Like so many members of his family, he has often felt a strong in- clination to be a tinner and hardware dealer. He farmed for his grandfather Hammond, for seventeen successive years, in Path Val- ley, until the spring of 1884. He then re- moved to Southampton township, where he owns three farms, and besides which he has valuable store property at Galesburg. under rental, and also the "Hotel Sherman." and other business properties in Shippensburg.
Mr. Zeigler married (first) Hattie Rhodes, who died March 24, 1870, in Path
Valley, leaving one child, Jennie Lind, who died March 24, 1871. Mr. Zeigler married (second) Rachel P. Hoch, and they have one daughter, Anna M., who married Jacob H. Reber, superintendent of the Waynes- boro public schools, and has one child. Helen V .. born October 26, 1899. Mr. Zeigler is a Democrat and has held township offices, performing the duties to the satisfaction of the community. .
JOHN S. HAMILTON, of Lower Allen township, has been a prominent citizen of his section of Cumberland county in more ways than one. For fifty years he engaged in contracting, doing general carpenter and mill work, and he has also become well known in political circles, and as justice of the peace.
Mr. Hamilton was born April 22. 1833, in Lower Allen township, at the old Heidle- baugh oil mill, on Yellow Breeches creek. His ancestors came from Scotland to Amer- ica at an early day, and his grandfather, Hugh Hamilton, was born in Berks county, Pa. When a young man he went to York county, Pa., and there married, in 1806, Elizabeth Thorley, who was born Dec. 23, 1787, in Newberry township, that county, and was reared there. Mr. Hamilton located for a time in what is now New Cumberland, Cumberland county, and thence removed to Fairview township, York county, where he passed the remainder of his days, following his trade, that of shoemaker, until his death, Nov. 11, 1820. His widow subsequently married, on Oct. 9, 1831, John Orris, and they both died in York county, she on Dec. 3, 1862. She was a devout Winebrennerian in religious faith. To Hugh and Elizabeth (Thorley) Hamilton were born children as follows: (1) Thomas, born April 24. 1807, married Salome Shell. (2) Abraham, born
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Nov. 16. 1809, married Mary Groff, and died in Lower Allen township; his widow still survives. (3) John. born April 13, 1812, married Miss Margarett Stuoey. . He engaged in the dry-goods business at Lis- burn (Cumberland county), Hogestown, Carlisle and Lewistown ( Mifflin county), at which latter place he died Sept. 20, 1879. (4) William, born Jan. 13. 1815, died be- fore attaining his majority. (5) Mary, born Nov. 20, 1817, married John Roush, of Perry county, Pa., and died July 9, 1870. (6) Sarah Jane, born Feb. 12, 1821, mar- ried John Mclaughlin, and died Jan. I, 1893. By her marriage to Mr. Orris the mother of this family had one child, which died young.
Thomas Hamilton. born April 24, 1807, in New Cumberland. Cumberland county, grew to manhood in Fairview township, York county, and was reared to farming. His education was received entirely in the subscription schools common in that day. During his early manhood he hauled whiskey, store goods and hogs to Baltimore, and he also learned the carpenter's trade, contracting in which line he commenced on his own account after his marriage. He became widely known as a skilled mechanic, and his services were much in demand throughout his section, his work being found on many buildings in York and Cum- berland counties. In 1833 he helped to put up the Gorgas Building. in Lower Allen township. In the year 1832 Mr. Hamilton married Salome Shell, daughter of Andrew Shell, in Fairview township, York county, where they made their home and he died there Oct. 19, 1882. Mrs. Hamilton passed away Jan. 4, 1891. She was a Lutheran in religious faith, and Mr. Hamilton belonged to the German Reformed Church, being a constant attendant at church services and
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