USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania : containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers. Pt. 1 > Part 39
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FLEMING, JAMES, son of Samuel Fleming and grandson of Robert Fleming, was born June 25, 1810, in Hanover township, Wash- ington county, Pa .; died January 30, 1857, in Harrisburg, Pa. In 1812 his parents re- moved to Hanover township, Dauphin county, Pa., where his early life was passed. His boyhood was marked by a laudable am- bition to excel in his studies, and the influ- ence of his mother in this direction had its good effect, not only during his youth, but throughout his life. Thrown upon his own resources at the age of eighteen, he resolved to educate himself by alternately acting as teacher and pupil, and pursued this course for seven years, thereby becoming convers- ant with the higher mathematics, the ancient languages and French. Much of his time
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was passed in the States of Kentucky and Ohio. About 1835 he commenced the study of medicine, and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in March, 1838. For four years he practiced his pro- fession, but finding the duties too arduous for his slender constitution, his attention was drawn to the science of dental surgery, then comparatively in its infancy. Observing the necessity for good operators in this field, he went to Philadelphia and acquired a thorough knowledge of that specialty. Returning to Harrisburg, he met with deserved and well- marked success. During the remainder of his life he was a frequent contributor to both medical and dental journals, and occasionally to the newspaper press. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Dental Surgeons and of the American Society, and one of the original advocates of the establisli- inent of a dental college at Philadelphia, in which he was subsequently tendered a pro- fessorship, but declined. Ile was twice the recipient of the honorary degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. He was a director of the Harrisburg National Bank, president of the board of school directors and an elder of the First Presbyterian church there. Dr. Flem- ing married, June, 1852, Jennette Street, daughter of Col. Thaddeus Street and Martha Davenport Reynolds, of Cheshire, Conn., a lineal descendant of Rev. John Davenport, the founder of New Haven. Her maternal grandmother, Martha Davenport, was a de- scendant of Oliver Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. She resided in Germantown, Pa.
- ZIMMERMAN, PHILIP, son of Henry and Barbara (Greiner) Zimmerman, was born No- vember 22, 1812. He spent his early boy- hood days amid the rural scenes of a quiet farm life. His carly school days were spent both at Churchville and Highspire. He carly evinced an active disposition for busi- ness. He resided for several years on the farm near Middletown, now owned by Will- iam H. Ulrich. He exchanged this farm with David Brenneman, of Middletown, and moved to that place into the house that is now occupied by L. F. Hemperly. Ile first ran the old saw mill on Race street, and soon after sold this house to L. F. Hemperly and built for himself the house which Mrs. Sey- mour Raymond occupies. IIe engaged in business with Dr. Mercer Brown as Brown & Zimmerman, having a lumber yard and a
saw mill at the "Point." Dr. Brown having retired, he associated himself with Joseph Lescure in the same business as Zimmerman & Lescure. The firm, after doing a large trade for several years, was, owing to losses and misfortune, compelled to make an as- signment and relinquish business. He was always active and energetic, and after this failure he was engaged in a number of en- terprises, but none of them proved to be very successful. He was married to Mary Vogle, daughter of the late Henry Vogle; she died November 26, 1881; by whom he had three daughters : Mrs. Kate Stofer, renowned as being the first editress of Pennsylvania, resided in Middletown ; Mrs. Ada Camp- bell, of Reading, Pa., and Mary, who died in infancy, and three sons, Joseph and William, who died in infancy, and Simon, who was un- fortunately drowned in the Swatara creek, by the upsetting of a sail boat, when he was about twenty years of age. At the time of his death Mr. Zimmerman was living with his daughter, Ada Campbell, in Reading, and was interred by the side of his wife in the Middletown cemetery. He was a man of most amiable disposition, possessed a rather philosophical mind and seemed to take little interest in the political events that were tran- spiring about him. He died July 6, 1889, from the effects of a stroke of paralysis. His death caused many a deep regret and sincere sorrow on the part of all who ever had the good fortune to live in the atmosphere of his generous disposition and chivalric kindness.
-LANDIS, SAMUEL, the son of Abraham Landis and Susannah Reinoehl, was born at Halifax, Dauphin county, Pa., June 22, 1813. His father was a native of Berks county, and came to Dauphin county shortly after his marriage. IIis father dying while the son was only eleven years old, he was taken from school and put to merchandising, first at Halifax and afterwards at Harris- burg. With a limited education he applied himself to study, and when about twenty he taught school during the winter. About 1835 lie purchased a store at Halifax, and was in continued mercantile business thirty years. In 1851 he removed to his farm near Halifax, but commissioned justice of the peace April 10, 1855, he returned to the town. In 1861 he was elected associate judge of the county. From February, 1874, until his death, March S, 1876, he was cashier of the Real Estate Bank at Harrisburg. Judge
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Landis married, June 22, 1836, Margaret Kinter, daughter of Isaac Kinter and Eliza- beth Henry, of Rockville, who survived him. In church matters he took a prominent part, held the position of recording steward of the Methodist Episcopal church thirty years, was a member of the first Sunday-school organ- ized at Halifax, of which for many years he was the superintendent. By his will he donated $500 for the benefit of the library. Judge Landis was a faithful and zealous Christian gentleman. He was a vice-presi- dent of the Dauphin County Historical So- ciety at the time of his death.
SIMMONS, GEORGE WASHINGTON, son of Robert and Sarah (Ward) Simmons, was born February 17, 1814, in Lower Paxtang township, Dauphin county, Pa. His father was a native of Paxtang, of English ancestry, and died about 1859, aged seventy-five years. He married Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Whitley) Ward. She died at Dauphin at the age of seventy-three. The children of Robert Simmons and his |wife Sarah Ward were, George Washington, John, Jane, who married Samnel Fertig, Matilda, who married a Mr. McCollough, Robert, and Mary, who married Revere Hetzel. George W. passed his early years on his father's farm, came to Harrisburg in 1831, and learned chair-making with George W. Boyd. After serving his apprenticeship, he began business for himself, which he carried on about ten years. He was for three years in charge of a packet-boat on the Pennsylvania canal, and from 1849 to 1862, a baggage- master on the Pennsylvania railroad. He was subsequently cleeted warden of the Dauphin county prison, a position he filled fourteen years, when he retired from active life. Mr. Simmons married, in 1836, El za- beth Bates, of Middle Paxtang, and their children were: John, who died at Philadel- phia in 1881, William Henry, Major Oliver, Annie, Martha, who married Nelson Kilgore, and Frank.
RUTHERFORD, ABNER, son of William Rutherford, was born March 31, 1814, in Swatara township, Dauphin connty, Pa .; died September 2, 1891, and was buried at Paxtang. He received the education afforded by the select schools of Paxtang Valley, and was a farmer by occupation. The last fifteen years of his life he was president of the First National Bank of Hummelstown;
was identified with other corporations, and active in various local enterprises of his day. He was one of the early members of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, and in 1835 was captain of the Tenth company, Ninety-eighth regiment, Pennsylvania mili- tia. For many years he was one of the vice- presidents of the Pennsylvania State Agri- cultural Society, in the founding of which he took a prominent part. His energy and ability, combined with his business habits, produced that suceess which generally fol- lows. Mr. Rutherford married, February 28, 1839, Ann Espy, youngest daughter of William Espy, of Swatara.
. BOAS, COL. FREDERICK KRAUSE, son of Frederick Boas (1785-1817) and Elizabeth: Krause (1797-1847), was born April 5, 1815, at Harrisburg, Pa., and died there February 15, 1891. He attended the schools of the borough until his sixteenth year. From Au- gust, 1832, to April, 1838, he was a clerk in the Harrisburg postoffice, then assistant post- master, as superintendent (not regularly) un- til July, 1843." He studied law with the late Judge Krause, and was admitted to the Dau- phin county bar August 22, 1837, in which profession he has been since engaged. He was appointed by Governor Porter aid on his staff, with the rank of colonel, which he held from 1839 to 1845 ; was school director from 1839 to 1848, being treasurer of the board from 1840 to 1842, and also served in the borough council six years, from 1843 to 1849. Colonel Boas married, in 1871, Sarah C. Nolen, daughter of William and Maria Nolen, of Harrisburg.
~ BRIGGS, JOHN HANNA, son of Joseph Briggs and Caroline E. Hanna, was born in 1815, at Silvers Spring, Cumberland county, Pa. His ancestors were of English descent and carly settlers in Pennsylvania. He received a classical education and was a graduate of Rutger's College, New Jersey. Returning to Harrisburg, where his parents had made their home, he began the study of law with James McCormick, then one of the leading lawyers at the capital, and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar April 18, 1837, and at once entered upon a successful practice of his profession. Mr. Briggs took a prominent interest in municipal affairs, was nine years a member of borough council, of which body he was eight years president. He was a di- rector of the old Harrisburg Bank, of the
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Harrisburg Bridge Company, and president of the First National Bank of Harrisburg at the time of his death, which took place March 29, 1872, in the fifty-seventh year of his age. " He had gained," says Rev. Dr. Robinson, " the reputation of a wise and able counselor, and an untarnished name. He was a most upright citizen, useful, patriotic and public- spirited. He was a true friend, generous and forbearing. ITis social qualities and gentle- manly bearing surrounding him with friends." Mr. Briggs married Julian Tod, daughter of Judge John Tod and Mary R. Hanna.
IRWIN, PHILIP, son of Henry. Irwin (died 1815) and Margaret Fisher (1777-1859), was born August 30, 1815, in Lancaster county, Pa. His educational advantages were com- prised in one or two winters at a country school. By self-application and industry, however, he became well informed, and with great activity and energy was generally suc- cessful in his enterprises. For many years he was engaged in building railroads, the scene of his operations being the Northern Central, Ohio and Mississippi, Erie, Lebanon Valley, Lake Shore, Michigan Southern, and other railroads. Although an active politi- cian he never sought or hield office, his busi- ness interests requiring all his time and at- tention. He died at Middletown on the 11th of December, 1878, aged sixty-three years. Mr. Irwin married, November 24, 1840, Anna Eliza Etter, daughter of George Etter . and Nancy Shelly, who survived him. Their children were Margaret, Ann, Mary Ellen, George Henry, Franklin Etter, Jenny Lind, Philip Etter, and Lillian.
- SHEESLEY, DANIEL, son of Daniel Sheesley and Mary Elizabeth Reigle, was born Sep- tember 16, 1815, in Lykens township, Dauphin county, Pa. His education was quite limited. He came to Harrisburg at the age of twelve, and in its vicinity his life was passed. For many years he was en- gaged in the milling business, was an auc- tioncer and trucker. He served one term as director of the poor, and was one of the directors of schools for Swatara township for a long, period. He died at Harrisburg on the 21st of June, 1880, in his sixty-fifth year. Ile was a very pleasant and agreeable com- panion, extremely sociable and kind. Mr. Sheesley married, in 1837, Sarah Rissing, daughter of Lewis and Mary Rissing, and their children are William, former sheriff of
the county of Dauphin, Mary, married Peter Reel, Sarah, Elizabeth, married John II. Tattnall, Daniel, Louisa, married Joseph E. Rhoads, Samuel, John, George, Lewis, Cath- arine L., and Margaret J.
-KUNKEL, JOHN CHRISTIAN, son of George Kunkel, was born September 18, 1816, in Harrisburg, Pa .; died October 14, 1870, in Harrisburg, Pa. He received a liberal seien- tific and classical education in the schools at Gettysburg and at Jefferson College, Cannons- burg, at which latter institution he gradu- ated. After leaving college lie entered the Carlisle law school under Judge Read, subse- quently reading law with James McCor- mick, and admitted to the Dauphin county bar. After his admission to the bar he re- mained several years in the office with Mr. McCormick. He rapidly gained a large practice and a reputation which few mem- bers of the bar enjoy. He also became ac- tive in politics, and, in the earnest and ex- citing campaign of 1844, when the young men of the Nation had made Henry Clay, then in the zenith of his career, their stand- ard-bearer, the best talent and most brilliant eloquence that ever graced the American rostrum was called into requisition. Amid all the magnificent display and power of logic, that of the orator of Pennsylvania, as Mr. Kun- kel was recognized, was conspicuous as well for force of argument as for grace of delivery. The same year he was elected to the Legis- lature, re-elected in 1845, and again in 1850. In 1851 he was elected to the State Senate, and was chosen speaker of that body at the close of the first session of his term. As a legislator Mr. Kunkel was prominent for the wisdom of his counsel as well as for the power of his eloquence. His services at the capital added greatly to his already wide reputation as a pure statesman and accom- plished scholar. In 1854 and again in 1856 he was elected to the United States Congress. During the four years he spent in Washington city, he was regarded throughout the country as one of the ablest statesmen at the na- tional capital. In 1858 he retired from public life, and gave his exclusive attention to the practice of his profession, varying the course of his life by occasionally helping a friend in a political canvass, and, wherever he went he was always the favorite of the people. In 1868 he was stricken down with paralysis, and never fully regained his health, dying as previously stated. Perchance the loss of
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no member of the Dauphin county bar was so severely felt as that of Mr. Kunkel, if we are to judge of the glowing, sincere and fra- ternal tributes paid to his memory by his brethren in the profession at the time of his death. Mr. Kunkel married, October 20, 1857, Elizabeth Cram Rutherford, daughter of Dr. William Wilson Rutherford and Elea- nor Crain ; she resided at Harrisburg, Pa.
EBY, JACOB RUPLEY, the son of Ephraim C. Eby (1783-1838) and Susanna Rupley (1784- 1844), was born November 18, 1816, at Columbia, Lancaster county, Pa. His father, born near Lancaster, was a miller by occupa- tion, and belonged to the Mennonites- "never went to law and never voted." He had seven children. Ephraim C. Eby died at Middletown, owning at the time the mill at Highspire. Jacob R. was brought up to the business of his father until the age of fifteen, in the meantime enjoying the advan- tages of the education afforded by the pay- schools of that day. He learned the trade of a carpenter. After serving his apprentice- ship he took a trip South, working at his trade, returning, however, at the end of ten months, when he entered mercantile life. While thus engaged, Messrs. Cameron, Lau- man & Clark, who were building the im- provements at Wrightsville, known as the Tide-water canal and Columbia dam, offered him a position which he accepted. This gave him an insight into the building of publie works, when his industry, integrity and capacity attracted the favorable notice of a prominent lumber merchant of Middle- town, who gave him an interest in his busi- ness simply on account of his superior quali- fieations and without requiring the invest- ment of capital. He retained this valuable pesition for six years, when he disposed of his interest to advantage, and with his brother E. C. Eby purchased the stock and good-will of the grocery and forwarding busi- ness of Jolin H. Brant, on one of the best sites in that eity. The business subsequently was conducted by himself and sons. A fixed, indestructible purpose, a determination to excel, were the active agencies which led to his prosperous career. He was eminently the architect of his own fortune-a self-made man. Mr. Eby was largely interested in many of the industrial establishments of the city, being a stockholder and director of the Harrisburg car and machine and foundry works. He was president for several years
of the First National Bank and likewise of the State Agricultural Society. He was warmly devoted to the interest of the young, and among them was a particular favorite for his pleasing manners and kindness of heart. For thirty years he had been connected with the First Lutheran Sunday-school, either as teacher or superintendent, at the time of his death being in charge of the third depart- ment. During all those years his walk in life was eminently consistent. He was at the time of his death a prison inspector, which position he held for many years. He died February 11, 1883, at Harrisburg, in his sixty-seventh year. Mr. Eby was married in 1843 to Elizabethi Gross, who survived him. They had three children, Maurice, William Howard, and Fannie.
EPPLEY, DANIEL, son of George and Susan (Brookhart) Eppley, was born July 26, 1817, in Fishing Creek Valley, Fairview township, York county, Pa. He was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood and brought up on his father's farm. On October 6, 1834, he came to Harrisburg and entered the dry goods store of George and Bernard Geiger, where he remained six years, when he made an engagement with Messrs. Elder & Piper, in the same business. In April, 1847, he established himself in the mercan- tile trade, which he successfully conducted until in 1870 he retired from all business pursuits. On the organization of the Far- mers' Bank, of Harrisburg, in May, 1872, Mr. Eppley was chosen a director of that in- stitution. He served in the various muniei- pal offices of school director, eity and county auditor, and also one of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Harrisburg. Mr. Eppley married, June 2, 1845, Louisa, daugh- ter of Bernard and Charlotte Geiger, of Har- risburg. She died March 2, 1849, leaving a daughter, Mary Lavina, who married Walter B. Fahnestock, of Pittsburgh, both dead, leaving two children. His second wife was Anna Maria, daughter of George J. and Anna Maria (Kurtz) Ileisley, of Harrisburg, and their children were: Edward Kurtz, Helen Elizabeth, who married William H. Lyter, and Annie Maria.
- COWDEN, JOHN WALLACE, son of Matthew Benjamin and Mary (Wallace) Cowden, was born on the 29th of August, 1817, in Lower Paxton township, Dauphin county, Pa. IJis father was long in publie life, and for
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years was an associate judge of the county. John Wallace was brought up as a farmer, but as he grew to maturer years his atten- tion was turned to surveying, and he came to Harrisburg, where his latter days were passed as a practical surveyor, and where he died July 22, 1872. " He was," writes a contemporary, "an unobtrusive, modest and estimable citizen, successful in his busi- ness, trustworthy in all the relations of life, and a sincere and earnest Christian." Mr. Cowden married Mary E., daughter of Frederick and Mary (Barnett) Hatton, of Lower Paxton. They left a large family.
- Cox, JOHN BOWES, son of John Bowes Cox (1780-1831) and Matilda Willis McAllister (1787-1858), was born November 19, 1817, at Estherton, Pa. He was descended from Dr. John Cox, who laid out Estherton, whose son was Col. Cornelius Cox, of the Revolu- tion, father of John B. Cox, Sr. The ehil- dren of the latter were Catharine Mary, mar- ried A. O. Hiester, Elizabeth, married Adam H. Orth, Matilda Willis, John B., George Washington, d. s. p., Rachel, Esther Amelia, married Joseph E. Piolett, Cornelius, and George W., deceased.
Of the foregoing, John B. was educated at the academies at Lititz, Burlington, N. J., West Chester, and York, Pa. He learned the profession of civil engineer, which occu- pation he pursued several years, subse- quently engaging for a long period in flour and saw-milling enterprises, when he retired from active pursuits. Mr. Cox married, in 1844, Rebecca E. Lightner, daughter of John and Rebecca Lightner, of Pequea, Lancaster county, Pa., and their children were: Ma- tilda Willis, deceased, Mary Richardson, married Edward H. Buehler, John Bowes, Rebecca Hopkins, Edward Buchanan, and Catharine Hiester.
-BOMBERGER, JACOB CAUFFMAN, was born December 16, 1817, at Middletown, Pa. He was the fifth in descent from Christian Bom- berger and Maria, his wife, who emigrated to America from Eshelbrun, Baden, Germany, arriving in Pennsylvania in May, 1722. Christian Bomberger took up and settled upon a tract of land in Warwick township, Lancaster county, Province of Pennsylvania, a portion of which remains in possession of his descendants to the present day. Jacob Cauffman Bomberger was the youngest son of John Bomberger and his wife Elizabeth
Cauffman. His education was received in the schools of his native town, which at that period was quite limited. When fourteen years of age he learned merchandising at Elizabethtown and at Shippensburg. In 1845 he was appointed to a clerkship in the bank at Middletown, which position he held until 1851 when, having been elected assist- ant clerk to the Senate of Pennsylvania, he entered upon the duties of that office, which were faithfully and acceptably performed by him. During that session being instrumen- tal in procuring a charter for the Mechanics' Bank at Harrisburg, which was organized in May of that year; he was elected its cashier, serving in that capacity until the expiration of its charter in 1867 The success of the bank, of which he was the leading spirit, was unprecedented; and at the close of its affairs Mr. Bomberger became its sole owner, in which he has continued until the present time. It has been through his energy and financial tact and ability that it has become one of the most successful banking houses in Pennsylvania. During the first year of the Rebellion it was chiefly through the instru- mentality of Mr. Bomberger that the Penn- sylvania loan was at once taken up by the banking institutions of the Commonwealth. This subject has been specially treated of in recent histories of the Rebellion. Mr. Bon- berger was appointed by Governor Curtin one of the trustecs of the State Lunatic Hos- pital, was reappointed by Governor Geary and served about ten years in that honorable capacity. He was a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago which nominated General Grant for the Presidency, and sup- ported him at his first election. Mr. Bom- berger has acquired by his great business capacity and industry an ample competency. His character for integrity is unimpeachable, and he occupies in the community where he is best known, a position that commands the best respect of his fellow-citizens.
HAMILTON, THOMAS ALLEN, son of Hugh Hamilton and his wife Rosanna Boyd, was born in Harrisburg on the 14th of February, 1818; died on the 14th of December, 1874. He received a good education and learned the trade of a printer in his father's office, at which he worked until he received the ap- pointment of an assistant engineer of the State canals, under Col. James Worrall, but soon abandoned both avocations, in order to join a brother in a business which they suc-
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cessfully prosecuted until his death. He served as a member of the city councils of Harrisburg a longer continuous period than any other citizen has ever done, being elected for about twenty years in succession, gener- ally without serious opposition, although many epochs of great public excitement in- tervened to produce fierce and close political contests. His neighbors never failed to ascertain his political opinions, yet, whether voting for or against him, they rejoiced to know that he was their representative and leader of the municipal legislature. In the language of a contemporary, "Mr. Hamilton, in his intercourse with his fellow-citizens, was courteous to all, liberal to the poor, pos- itive in opinion, methodical in business, reti- cent, deliberate, but prompt in judgment." His integrity was never impeached in publie or private transactions. He died, unmarried, at Harrisburg, in the same house in which he was born.
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