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 48
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stockholder in the first Harrisburg Street Railway Company. He is one of the organ- izers of the German-American Union. He was one of the first supporters and organizers of the Committee of One Hundred of the city of Harrisburg, and served as its chairman. Mr. Early was a subscriber of funds to build and aid four colleges, two Lutheran churches, one Church of God, thirty-two United Brethren in Christ churches, six par- sonages, one printing house, four missionary societies, two church ercetion societies, and owner of forty-eight properties that were deeded to him. He was farmer, merchant, grain and coal dealer, mineralogist, inventor, insurance manager, or general agent of insurance, builder, lecturer and minister of the gospel.
Mr. Early, January 1, 1859, received a quarterly conference license of the United Brethren Church, without his knowledge, by a unanimous vote of said Quarterly, to preach the gospel at Annville, Lebanon county, Pa., signed by the presiding elder, Rev. A. Steigerwalt. On January 12, 1861, at the annual conference of the same church held at Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, Pa., after the examination on his character and regular reading course, he also received a conference license, of the East Pennsyl- vania Conference, to preach the gospel, signed by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner. Feb- ruary 28, 1864, at the annual conference held at Schuylkill Haven, Mr. Early was or- dained an elder of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and received authority to administer the ordinances, signed by Bishop J. Markwood.
Mr. Early was married January 23, 1851, to Miss Amanda A. Mark, daughter of Rev. George A. and Christiana Runkel Mark. To them have been born six children, four of whom are living, namely : Clara S., wife of E. W. S. Parthemore; Minerva J., single; Ida E., wife of Albert Deitrich; Nora J., wife of William Deitrich; two sisters hay- ing married two brothers on the same day.
William Early, the father of A. D. S. Early, was one of the founders of the Theo- logical Seminary at Gettysburg, an active politician, a Whig until after Gen. William Henry Harrison's presidential election, when he turned Democrat, and all his sons Re- publicans, except his son Joshua Hcaster, who was an independent voter. After 1865, his oldest son, John, also became a Demo- crat, and his son Daniel Seth turned to the
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Greenbacks, and was a leader of that party, and ever since, he says he is "an Independ- ent of the Independents." All the rest of the Earlys are still Republicans.
HILDRUP, THOMAS, a native of England, came to America and settled at Hartford, Conn., in 1766, where he learned the trade of a jeweler, and carried on that business there during the remainder of his active life. He was an influential citizen of the place, and was appointed and served as post- master of Hartford for several years. He had five sons: John, Joslin, Thomas, William and Jesse, and two daughters. Jesse Hil- drup spent his life as a tanner and shoe- maker in Middletown, and a farmer in Dan- bury, Conn., and died in Belvidere, Ill. His wife was Sophia Turner, of Middlefield, and their children were: William T., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume; Mary, who married Rev. S. C. Howe, a Methodist clergyman; Jesse, a lawyer of Chicago, Ill .; Martha and John, a machinist in the car works at Harrisburg.
KELKER, FREDERICK, son of Anthony and Mary Magdalene Kelker, was born in Leb- anon, Pa., October 29, 1780 ; was baptized No- vember 26, 1780, in the German Reformed church and confirmed and united with the same in 1799. He entered the store of Oves & Moore, at Lebanon, in 1801 for the pur- pose of learning the hardware business. After becoming a member of this firm, he removed to Harrisburg in 1805 and em- barked in the first exclusively hardware business in this city, under the firm name of F. Kelker & Co., at No. 5, now No. 9 South Front street. This partnership continued until 1811, when Mr. Kelker became sole proprietor and conducted the business until 1823, when in July of that year he sold out to George Oglesby and Jacob Poole. Mr. Kelker died July 12, 1857. He was remark- able for punctuality and integrity. His habits for industry and economy led to the acquisition of a competency, and the latter half especially of his life was devoted to the amelioration of the condition of the poor, sick and friendless. He filled many minor positions in the community in which he lived, always rejecting political preferment. For several terms he was member and pres- ident of the borough council. He was a di- rector of the branch established by the Phil- adelphia Bank, in Harrisburg, and a direc-
tor of the Harrisburg Bank. When the public schools were first established in Penn- sylvania, he became a director and was ready at all times to co-operate with his fel- low-citizens in all of the benevolent enter- prises of the day. Mr. Kelker was prom- inent in the Reformed church and presided at the meeting on November 17, 1820, to establish the first Sunday-school in connec- tion with the church, and was also active in the measures adopted for erecting the church building on the corner of Third and Chest- nut streets. His wife, Lydia Genberhing Chamberlin, born in Philadelphia, April 9, 1786, united with the German Reformed church of Harrisburg, April 22, 1809, and died May 2, 1812. Mr. Kelker was married secondly to Catharine Fager, born in Har- risburg, October 24, 1798, daughter of John Fager ; baptized December 2, 1798, in the Evangelical Intheran Zion church and first partook of communion of the Lord's Supper March 26, 1815. After her marriage she withdrew from the Lutheran and united with the Reformed church.
- BAILEY, GEN. JOEL, was born in Penn's Manor, Bucks county, Pa., on September 26, 1789. His parents, Joseph and Lydia Bailey, were Quakers. His ancestors were among the original settlers of Pennsylvania, coming from England in 1682.
He learned the trade of a blacksmith in his native county, and in 1810 removed to and settled in the then little village of Har- risburg. He was an active, intelligent, en- terprising young man, who started in the world "on his own hook" and to make his fortune. IJe established a blacksmith shop on the site of the Hotel Columbus, opposite the present postoffice building, at the corner of Third and Walnut streets, Harrisburg, more than eighty years ago, and for many years did all the important work in his line of business in this section. Much of the iron work of the old State capitol was mann- factured or done under his supervision. Subsequently he was largely engaged in contract work. He was one of the principal men in the construction of the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, the Wiconisco Feeder, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, the Cum- berland Valley railroad, and the Gettysburg or so-called "Tape Worm " railroad, build- ing many of its sections and enlverts, the latter of which stand to-day as monuments of engineering skill and construction. These
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are yet to be seen in the present Gettysburg and Harrisburg railroad.
From his earliest youth Mr. Bailey was much interested in military affairs. He was first lieutenant in Capt. Richard M. Crain's company, which served in the war of 1812-14, and which marched to the defense of Balti- more under the command of Gen. Jolin Forster, of Harrisburg, who had charge of the Pennsylvania troops. In 1829 and 1830 he was keeper of the State arsenal under the administration of Governor Wolf, and there are, in the possession of his son, letters re- ferring to orders for guns, ammunition, ete., from George B. Porter, adjutant general and subsequently governor of Michigan Terri- tory under General Jackson's administration, and subsequently from Simon Cameron, who also served as adjutant general under Governor Wolf. For several years General Bailey served as brigade inspector of the militia of Dauphin county, and was after- wards brigadier general of the troops com- prised in Dauphin, Lebanon and North- umberland counties.
For many years General Bailey was prom- inent in political affairs, having all his life adhered to the principles of the Democratie party. He was the warm, personal and political friend of William Findlay, George Wolf, James Buchanan, David R. Porter, Franeis R. Shunk, Daniel Sturgeon, Judge Samuel D. Franks, James R. Snowden, Will- iam Hopkins, Arnold Plumer, George Sanderson and other worthies of the past. In 1821 he was one of the commissioners to fix the seat of justice of Juniata county, Lewistown being chosen. He was chief burgess of the borough of Harrisburg in 1832, and served several times as a member of the borough council. While chief bur- gess he approved an ordinance enacted June 25, 1832, which was also signed by N. B. Wood, president of the council, "authoriz- ing a loan to be applied in improving the streets, lanes and alleys of the borough of Harrisburg." The loan was to be for $20,000, but whether it was ever aceom- plished there is no record. In 1833 he an- nounced himself as a candidate for the Legis- lature for Dauphin county, but was not elected owing to the then condition of af- fairs regarding the Anti-Masonic movement. He was also prominent in Masonie circles, having been for many years a member of Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, A. Y. M., of Harrisburg.
General Bailey was a remarkably fine- looking man. He stood about five feet ten inches in height, was straight as an arrow, his shoulders were broad and square, and these were surrounded by a splendid head of brown hair. He wore side whiskers, which gave a pleasant effeet to his handsome, in- telligent face. He was a superb horseman, and when mounted looked the born soldier. In his manner he was extremely pleasant, and he was the life of every social circle in which he moved. In his actions, public and private, he was generous and benevolent, and his fellow-citizens of all elasses were warmly attached to him.
His domestic life was a very happy one. He was married March 10, 1814, to Elizabeth Seidle, of Berks county. He was the father of eight children, six boys and two girls, the only survivor being the youngest, Mr. George Bailey, who still resides at the old homestead, No. 222 Locust street. General Bailey died on the 16th of October, 1845, at the comparatively early age of fifty-six years. His wife survived him thirty years, dying, on the 14th of August, 1875, aged eighty- three years.
In all the relations of life, whether as husband, father, citizen or soldier, he bore himself as a man and Christian. His death was a cause for sincere sorrow and mourning, not only in Harrisburg, but throughout the State of Pennsylvania. He was buried with Masonie and civil services, and with the honors of war by the military of Dauphin, county. His remains are interred in the Harrisburg cemetery.
-SIMMONS, COL. SENECA G., was born on December 27, 1808, in Windsor county, Vt. the son of Alfred Simmons and his wife Deborah Perkins. He was brought up on his father's farm, receiving the limited edu- eation obtained at the country school. At the age of fourteen he entered the military school of Capt. Alden Partridge, then lo- cated at Middletown, Conn., subsequently accompanying the school on its removal to Georgetown, in the District of Columbia. In July, 1829, he entered West Point, by the appointment of President Jackson, from which institution he graduated with dis- tinction, in 1834, and was assigned to the Seventh U. S. infantry, as brevet second lieutenant, July 1, 1834; promoted to sec- ond lieutenant on the 31st of December fol- lowing.
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Previous to joining his regiment he was assigned to topographical duty under Major Wm. G. McNeil, and assisted in the survey of the harbor of Apalachicola, Fla. During the summers of 1835 and 1836 he was en- gaged, under Col. Stephen H. Long, upon surveys in the State of Maine; first on the coast and then on a contemplated line of railway between Belfast and Quebec, Canada. He was promoted to first lieutenant Janu- ary 19, 1837, when he joined his regiment, shortly after receiving his appointment ,as aid to Gen. Matthew Arbuckle, then in com- mand of the department of the Southwest. He was also made assistant adjutant gen- eral, which position he held for several years, retaining it after General Taylor resumed command, and until relieved by Colonel Bliss, the General's son-in-law. His regi- ment was then, the spring of 1842, serving in Florida, and thither he immediately re- paired. At the conclusion of the Florida war his regiment was detailed for duty in garrisoning posts on the Gulf of Mexico, and he was stationed at Fort Pike, La., where he remained during the years 1842 and 1843, transacting, in addition to the duties of his position in his company, those of commis- sary and quartermaster to the post. When his turn came for being detailed on recruit- ing service, he was ordered to Syracuse, N. Y., and was engaged in that duty until the breaking out of the war with Mexico. On his arrival in the field, he was immediately assigned as assistant commissary and quar- termaster at Matamoras. During the year 1847 he remained at that point, but on receiv- ing his commission as captain, to date from February 16, 1847, he rejoined his regiment, then under Scott, on the way to the Mexican capital, and distinguished himself at the battle of Haumantla, on October 9, that year.
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At the close of the war he was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., a portion of his regiment, including his own company, having been ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., on special duty. In 1849 and 1850 he was sent to Florida, owing to the hostile attitude of the Seminole Indians. In 1850 he was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, and while there received a severe injury, which for a time placed his life in a critical con- dition, and from the effects of which he never fully recovered. Lame, and on crutches, he was, in the year 1851, ordered to Pottsville, Pa., on recruiting service.
While stationed there he so far recovered as to attend to the duties of active service, and was sent to the command of Fort Arbuckle upon the frontier. His regiment was soon afterwards ordered to Utah. Here he re- mained four years. During the years 185S and 1859 he was stationed at Jefferson Bar- racks, Mo., and at Newport Barracks, Ky., but unable, through the disability referred to, to perform the active duties required of him, Captain Simmons sought and obtained a furlough, and joined his family at Harris- burg.
He was here when the slaveholders' rebel- lion commenced ; and when the first call was made for troops, Captain Simmons was made mustering officer for the Pennsylvania volunteers. To him more is due than he has generally been given credit for-the organization, the discipline and the efficiency of that notable body of volunteers, the Penn- sylvania reserves. From April to June, 1861, notwithstanding the physical infirmity from which he suffered, he labored most assiduously, and such was the high apprecia- tion in which he was held by the men of that brave organization, that he could have had the command of any one regiment. That of the Fifth was unanimously tendered him, although personally unknown to any of the officers of that body. His commission as colonel bears date June 21, 1861.
Colonel Simmons' first service was to march, in connection with the celebrated " Buektail " regiment and some artillery, to the support of General Wallace in West Virginia, and thence to Washington City, where he drilled his command and prepared it for service in the division (General Me- Call's.) During the remainder of 1861 he continued at the National Capital, engaged in covering its approaches.
On the 9th of September he was promoted major of the Fourth infantry, but preferred to remain with the volunteer troops. He participated in the action at Drainesville, December 20, 1861, and until May of the year following his command was performing guard duty on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, the subsequent months on picket near Fredericksburg, Va. In the Seven Days' fight before Richmond he took a decisive part, especially in the action at Mechanicsville and Gaines' Mill. At Charles City X Roads, or as frequently termed, White Oak Swamp, on the 30th of June, 1862, while leading the First brigade with true
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Spartan valor, he fell in the thickest of the fight. General McCall, who was captured on the evening of the battle just spoken of, while reconnoitering, sent to Mrs. Simmons the following account of her brave husband's death :
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, TOBACCO WAREHOUSE PRISON, July 15, 1862.
My Dear Madam : It is not to say that I mourn the loss of a friend that I write to you, although twenty years' knowledge of his worth and very many most estimable qual- ities, had truly endeared your husband to me; nor is it to attempt to offer consolation in your bereavement, which One above alone can give you. I write to inform you that after Colonel Simmons, who, on the 30th of June, commanded the First brigade of my division, was wounded, he was captured by the enemy, carried to their hospital, and laid by the side of Captain Biddle, of Phila- delphia, my assistant adjutant general, who was also severely wounded and a prisoner. During the night of the 1st of July, as I am informed, the colonel sank under the effects of his wound, and calmly expired at Biddle's side. This I have from Biddle himself, who is here in the hospital.
I have only to add that the Colonel's body has been brought to this city and is interred here, where it may be conveyed to his friends at the proper time.
Believe me, dear madam, very truly and sincerely, your friend and obedient servant,
GEO. A. McCALL, Brigadier General, U. S. A. To Mrs. Sencca G. Simmons, Harrisburg, Pa.
Twenty years after, in October, 1882, an officer in the Confederate service, Capt. R. L. Lewis, of Pickens county, S. C., wrote Mrs. Simmons, giving her the following reminis- cence :
" It was on the 30th of June, 1862, in one of the fights around Richmond, that our brigade was called on to make a charge on a battery of twelve pieces, supported by a bri- gade from Pennsylvania, commanded by Col- onel Simmons, acting as brigadier general. M. Jenkins was our colonel, of a South Caro- lina regiment, and was also acting as briga- dier general. Colonel Simmons' brigade was stationed in a field to the right of the battery,
his right resting on or near a house. The place was called Frazier's Farm, or Glendale. Our brigade marched right across the field, with fixed bayonets, against his. We did not fire a gun until we were within twenty or thirty paces. When Colonel Simmons' bri- gade gave away or broke ranks, he sat on his horse trying to rally them until he received a fatal wound and fell from his horse. We gained the field and took the battery, but suffered severely. Our loss was heavy ; I had twenty-five men wounded, six killed and one lieutenant wounded. Some companies lost more. After the fight I went to the battle- field to look after my men. I found your husband lying where .he had fallen from his horse. He told me who he was, that he was badly wounded, and then asked me to help him. I called some of our ambulance corps, and had him carried to a vacant house near by. I took off his spurs and sword, which he gave to me, placed him upon a bed, and gave him all the help I could. He asked me who was commanding the fight. I told him Gen. Q. U. Anderson. He said, "I know him. I was with him in the Mexican war." He then asked nie to tell the General that he would like to see him. I conveyed the message to General Anderson, but he said he could not see him. The next day I called to see low Mr. Simmons was doing, but found him in a comatose state. He could not com- municate anything. When I placed him upon the bed, I noticed he had on a watch, I think a guard or chain made of hair, but it was gone. Some one had taken it. As I hạd to go out to the Malvern Hill fight, I saw no more of him, but made inquiries con- cerning him, and was told that he was carried to the field hospital, where he died. Dr. Gaston, our brigade surgeon, took from his person three medals, one for services in the Mexican war, one from the State of Penn- sylvania, and one from the United States for gallant services. Colonel Sims, our adjutant general, said he took a pin from his shirt, marked with the letter "G." I presume it was a Masonic emblem. I gave the Colonel's sword to Gen. M. Jenkins. He was killed in the battle of the Wilderness on the 6th of May, 1864, with it on. I presume his family have it."
On the 3d of May, 1882, Dr. O. M. Doyle, of Toccoa, Ga., in a letter to Mrs. Simmons, gives the following interesting information : " At the time of the battle referred
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to, I was regimental surgeon, and with others of the brigade, in charge of the field hospital. I was told that Colonel Simmons fell in front of our part of the line, and as our line ad- vanced he was taken up and brought to the field hospital by my ambulance corps. He was wounded by a minie ball, through the liver and lung, and died, I think, the second day. I treated him in the best manner pos- sible under the circumstances, and had him buried as decently as could be done there at such a time. He was reported by our officers as acting conspicuously brave on that san- guinary field, as being the cause, in their opinion, of that part of the Federal line standing as long as it did. That report did much toward stimulating a greater desire on our part to do all that was possible for a brave but fallen foe. Before death he thanked us sincerely for our attentions. He gave to some one of our party (I do not recollect in whose hand he placed them) a gold watch, a picture of his wife, and I think $60 in gold coin, with the request that the watch and picture (I do not think he included the coin) be sent to his wife. I have one knowl- edge or recollection of a Masonic pin or badge. If I had seen one, I am sure I would recollect it from my association with the order. . These articles were placed in posses- sion of Dr. Gaston, our brigade surgeon (now dead), with the request made by Colonel Simmons (coin and all). A few days after this occurrence there was a Federal surgeon at our quarters, temporarily in our lines. We were all together, this surgeon, Dr. Gas- ton and myself. Dr. Gaston told me that he had turned those articles of Colonel Simmons over to this surgeon, to be sent to his widow. I suppose I heard the name of the Federal surgeon when I met him, but I have no recollection of what it was. Such is a hasty account of what I know of your husband's death."
The foregoing is all the information gained concerning that intrepid officer. No braver man drew a sword in defense of the Union. No nobler life was sacrificed in that fratricidal strife. Strict in discipline, amounting to sternness, he had a generous spirit. His face presented ordinarily a calm and benevolent expression, but when excited every feature seemed to flash fire. He had a big heart, and was as grandly lenient as he was severely rigid. In person he was nearly six feet in height, of strong and robust frame, florid
complexion, brown hair, heavy beard and light blue eyes.
Colonel Simmons was married at Harris- burg, Pa., in 1831, to Elmira A., daughter of Caleb and Content (Le Barron) Simmons, early residents of Harrisburg, whose earthly remains are interred in the Harrisburg cemetery. Colonel and Mrs. Simmons had four children : Charles F., born in Augusta, Me., December 21, 1835, he was a civil en- gineer in the service of the Reading Rail- road Company, and died at Pottsville, Pa., March 16, 1856; Frederick Douglass, born at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, also a civil engineer in the service of the Reading Rail- road Company, and died at Harrisburg, Edward Courtney, born in Indian Territory, and died at Governor's Island, Fort Colum- bus, New York Harbor; Elmira Adelaide, wife of Daniel J. Attiek, born at Fort Pike, La., December 27, 1842.
Mrs. Simmons was born January 2, 180S, and died February 6, 1886. As wife and mother, she had few superiors. Those who know her best, appreciated her goodness and nobleness of heart. She was a member of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal church. Her funeral services were conducted by her rector, Rev. R. J. Kecling, D. D., who paid a loving tribute to her life and services. Her remains were taken to Pottsville, Pa., for in- terment, Post No. 116, G. A. R., acting as a military escort, and many distinguished citizens of Harrisburg attending as pall- bearers and as mourners. At the grave the impressive burial service of the Episcopal Church was followed by that of the Grand Army of the Republic ; and floral tributes of affection and respect were laid upon her casket by the comrades, they delighting to honor one who, among her many endearing benevolent traits, had always shown herself the constant and devoted friend of the sol- dier.
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