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 80
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from the old Whig party, having east his first vote for Henry Clay. and while not an office seeker has been prominent in polities, having been the first president of the school board, after the consolidation of the city, and having served as an efficient member of the select council one term. For twenty-five years he has been an active member of Robert Burns Lodge, No. 464, F. & A. M., and for forty years has been a member of the Market Square Presbyterian church, having been a member of the same denomination in Phila- delphia. Physical disability prevented his enlistment in the late war, but he served twice as an emergency man, first at Antietam and next at Gettysburg, and was of valuable assistance to the military authorities at Camp Curtin and to the provost marshal. William H. Shaffer, his only surviving child, was born in Philadelphia, November 25, 1847, and came with his parents to Harrisburg in 1855, where he was educated in C. V. May's acad- emy, and at the end of his school days en- gaged in his father's business, in which he has been active since 1876. He first married at Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, in 1869, Hen - rietta Bond, who died in 1878, leaving two chil- dren : William S. and Edith B. He married, secondly, at Chambersburg, in 1880, Emma R. Witherspoon, daughter of David and Nancy Ann Witherspoon, to whom no chil- dren have been born. Mr. Shaffer is a mem- ber of Robert Burns Lodge, No. 464, F. & A. M., and of Harrisburg Council, No. 499, Royal Arcanum, of which he has been the collector for the past sixteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer are members of Market Square Presbyterian church. Mr. Shaffer is a mom- ber of the Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip and secretary of the chapter.
-- BERGSTRESSER, ALEXANDER W., dealer in wall paper and window shades, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., December 1, 1833. He is a son of William and Mary (Watson) Berg- stresser, both natives of Dauphin county. His grandparents on the father's side were natives of Northumberland county, but carly became residents of Dauphin county. His grandfather was John Bergstresser: his grandmother had been a Miss Wilkinson. The maternal grandfather, Jackson Watson, canie to America from Ireland when but nine years old, and from that date spent his entire life in Harrisburg, where he passed away. He was a son of Alexander Watson, a native of Ireland, and for many years a
Meade D. Detweiler.
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resident of Cumberland county. He mar- ried Miss Sophia Hoover, and spent his de- clining years in Harrisburg with his son, Jackson Watson. The wife of Jackson Wat- son, maternal grandmother of A. W. Berg- stresser, was a Miss Wentz, born in Hum- melstown, Pa., in 1789. William Berg- stresser, father of Alexander W., was a mill- wright, and prominent as a business man in Harrisburg. He died in May, 1844; his wife had died in 1842. They were the pa- rents of three children : Alexander W., Will- iam J. and Isabella C., wife of Martin Keeney, all residing in Harrisburg.
Alexander W. Bergstresser was educated in the public schools of Harrisburg. He has spent his entire life in this city, with. the exception of two years' service in the United States army during the war of the Rebellion. After completing his education he learned house painting and paper hang- ing, and for about six years was connected with his uncle and brother in that business. Subsequently he was in the same business with his brother for about five years. From 1866 to 1877 he was senior member of the firm of Bergstresser & Boyd. Since the latter date he has been conducting business solely in his own interest. During this time he has devoted all his attention to wall paper and window shades. In July, 1863, Mr. Bergstresser enlisted in company C, Seventy- ninth Pennsylvania volunteers, as a private, was detailed as a musician, and served until September, 1864, when he was discharged from the army, as a private, at Jonesboro', Ga. He re-enlisted as a musician in the band of the Third brigade, First divsion, Fourteenth army corps, and served until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Harrisburg in June, 1865, having served his country faithfully for two years. During that term he had served in the double capa- city of musician and chief clerk of the quar- termaster's department of the Third brigade.
Alexander W. Bergstresser was married in Harrisburg, September 12, 1857, to Anna E., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sach, who was born in Carrolton, New Orleans, and later a resident of Lancaster county, Pa. Their children are six in number : Edwin R .; Alice W., who died at the age of seventeen years ; Alexander W., of Philadel- phia; Anna E., wife of Eustace B. Grimes, Philadelphia; Grace E., living at home. Mr. Bergstresser is a member of Robert Burns Lodge, No. 464, F. & A. M .; Persever-
ance Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M., and Pil- grim Commandery, No. 11, K. T. He has for forty-three years belonged to Dauphin Lodge, No. 160, 1. O. O. F. He is a member of Central Lodge, No. 19, A. O. U. W. In political views he is a Democrat. Ile at- tends the Presbyterian church.
-ADAMS, WILLIAM J., furniture dealer, Nos. 106-12 South Second street, Harrisburg. Pa., was born in county Down, Ireland, Decem- ber 25, 1837. He is a son of James and Margerie (Adams) Adams. He was reared in his native county and educated in night schools. He learned the trade of linen manufacturer, and came to America in 1857, locating in Philadelphia for a short time; then found employment on a farm, and worked there for three years. He next went to Chester. Pa., and became a blacksmith helper in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops. The shops were abandoned and the men were dis- tributed to other works of the company. Mr. Adams came to Harrisburg in 1861, and re- mained in the employment of the railroad company until 1862. In July of that year he enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania volunteers, as quartermaster's sergeant, and served nine months. In 1863 he formed a partnership with John T. Ensminger in the furniture business. In 1864 he enlisted in company G, Two Hundred and First Pennsylvania volunteers, and after two months' service was put on detailed duty as acting assistant adjutant general of the Juniata, with head- quarters at Chambersburg, Pa .; he served for five months in this capacity, and was then detailed to the provost marshal's office at Pittsburgh, Pa., where he remained until the close of the war.
He continued his partnership with Mr. Ensminger until 1868, when they dissolved their business relations, he continuing in the business as W. J. Adams at his present location, and as senior member of the firm of W. J. Adams & Bro., on Market street, for a number of years. In 1891 he ad- mitted his son to partnership, and the firm has since been W. J. Adams & Son. Mr. Adams is a stockholder in the East Har- risburg Traction Company, the Harrisburg National Bank and Trust Company, and Kelker Street Market House.
Ile is a Republican. In 1879-80 he served as a member of the select council. and was president of that body in ISS1.
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IIe resigned this office after serving one year, in order to pay a visit to his native country, from which he had been absent twenty-five years. In 1SS7 he was a member of common council. During his member- ship in both branches of the council he served on many important committees. In February, 1895, he was elected to the school board from the Second ward. IIe is a mem- ber of Post 58, G. A. R.
He was married, in 1866, to Miss Emma J., daughter of George Welker, of Harris- burg. She died March 31, 1885. They had six children : George Welker Adams, born August 31, 1869, and was educated in the high school of Harrisburg and the com- mercial college; became a partner with his father in JS91, and is an active young busi- ness man ; is a stockholder in the East Har- risburg Traction Company, the Lebanou Valley Railroad Company and the Cambria. and Juniata railroad ; William J., Jr., born November 3, 1871, graduated from Lehigh University as an electrical engineer ; Rich- ard L., Emma K., Robert G. and Helen A.
Mr. Adams was again married, in 1SS7, to Miss Hattie B., daughter of Samuel Mann, of Harrisburg; they have two children, Esther Jane and Irene. Mr. Adams is a member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, and is a local preacher, having been ordained by Bishop Andrews, of York, Pa. He is also a trustee of the church.
OGELSBY, JOSEPH J., furniture dealer and undertaker, was born in Harrisburg March 23, 1838. He is a son of the late Jonah and Phoebe (Miller) Ogelsby. His parents were both natives of Chester county, were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and were Quakers. They settled in Harrisburg in 1837. The father was a manufacturer of sickles and worked at this industry for many years in Chester county. In 1838 he removed to Susquehanna township, where he was a prominent agriculturalist till 1856. He died at the residence of his son, Washington P., in Philadelphia, in 1885, at the advanced age of ninety-five years. He had a family of nine children, of whom but two are now living, Joseph J. and Washington P., of Philadel- phia.
Joseph J. Ogelsby, when but an infant, came with his parents to Susquehanna town- ship, where he remained till he was seven- teen years of age. He worked upon his father's farm, receiving such educational
advantages as could be obtained in the district schools during the winter months. In January, 1856, Mr. Ogelsby was ap- prenticed to the firm of J. R. Boyd & Son, Harrisburg, to learn the cabinet-making business. He was a faithful employee in the service of this firm for twenty-three years. Since 1879 he has been continuously engaged in business for himself in this city. He was married in Harrisburg, June 25, 1863, to Miss Fannie Mauma, a daughter of Jacob, and Nancy Mauma, of Harrisburg. They have had seven children, of whom five are living: Warwick M., Joseph N., Boyd M., Fannie M., and Martha, all residing in Har- risburg.
In August, 1862, Mr. Ogelsby enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and served for nine monthis. In August, 1864, he re-enlisted in the Two Hundred and First Pennsylvania volunteers and served for a further time of one year in this regiment. 1Ie is a member of Post No. 58, G. A. R., and also of the Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a staunch Republican. The family attend the Lutheran church.
STORY, JOHN R., dealer in wall paper and window shades, was born in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Pa., February 18, 1839. He is a son of George W. B. and Rachel (Ritner) Stocy; his mother is a niece of ex- Governor Ritner, and daughter of John D. Ritner. George W. B. Stoey was born in Lebanon, January 3, 1813. He is a son of Henry and - Stoey, and a grandson of the late Dr. Stoey, of Lebanon. He spent the greater part of his life in Cumberland county, but his later years have been passed in Harrisburg. His wife is a native of Cum- berland county, and is still living. They were the parents of fifteen children. John R. is the eldest survivor of their family, the others being: Catherine, wife of Isaac R. Smith, of Harrisburg; Washington L., grocer, Harrisburg ; William Wesley, taxidermist and naturalist, of Harrisburg; Clara E., wife of Finley Rogers, of Mechanicsburg; Oliver P., practicing physician at Roxbury, Frank- lin county, Pa .; and Elmer E., resident at Williamsport, Pa.
John R. Stoey spent his boyhood in his native county. He received only a limited school education; the greater part of his training and development has been afforded by experience of men and business in the
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struggles of life. When but ten years of age he started in life for himself, working for his board and clothing only for three years, after which he received three dollars per month. He continued to work at farming until he was seventeen years old, at which time he was earning the munificent pay of seven dol- lars per month. Tired of this kind of work, he walked to Mechanicsburg and engaged with Simon Arnold as store boy. After re- maining for six months with him he con- cluded it would be better for him to learn a trade. He served an apprenticeship at paint- ing and paper hanging, at which he worked asapprentice and journeyman for seven years. In 1874 he engaged in his present business in Harrisburg.
In August, 1862, Mr. Stoey enlisted in com- pany A, One Hundred and Thirtieth Penn- sylvania volunteers, and served for four months. He was wounded at the battle of Antietam, but fought through the battle, not- withstanding the injury. On account of dis- ability resulting from his wound he received an honorable discharge at the Cotton Factory Hospital, Harrisburg, on surgeon's certificate of disability. On December 24, 1862, he re- enlisted for one year in the Two Hundred and First Pennsylvania volunteers, and served until June 21, 1865, when he was again mustered out of the service at Harris- burg, having served as first sergeant of his company.
John R. Stocy was married at Carlisle, Pa., December 31, 1863, to Adeline A. Bobb, daughter of George G. and Mary Bobb, of Cumberland county. They have no children of their own, but have adopted a daughter, Carrie E.
Mr. Stoey has represented the Fifth ward in common council for three years. Ile is a member of Robert Burns Lodge, No. 464, Perseverance Chapter, No. 21, Pilgrim Com- mandery and Harrisburg Consistory, F. & A. M. He is an honorary member of Harris- burg Council, No. 106, O. U. A. M. He is a comrade in Sencca G. Simmons Post, No. 116, G. A. R.
Mr. Stoey is a Republican. He and his wife have been, since 1868, members of Grace Methodist Episcopal church.
~ENSMINGER, JOHN T., auctioneer, commis- sion merchant and furniture dealer, was born at Harrisburg, March 9, 1842, and is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Shrenk) Ens- minger. His grandfather Ensminger was
born in Lancaster county, but settled in Harrisburg at a very carly date in the his- tory of the city. His father, Philip Ens- minger, was born in Harrisburg, October 24, 1802. He was engaged in the butcher- ing business, but subsequently was for many years engaged in the furniture business, and continued in it until succeeded, in 1860, by his son, John T. The mother was born in Dauphin county, December 18, 1809. The parents were married October 25, 183S. They had six children : Charles M., born September 2, 1840, died December 10, 1840; John T .; Frances Marion, born August 1S, 1844, wife of Charles Brown, now residing in New York City ; Ellen Virginia, born February 13, 1847, wife of W. O. Bishop, residing in Harrisburg; Catherine Jane, born July 10, 1849, wife of W. E. Smith, residing at Plainfield, N. J., and Louis Kos- suth, born February 9, 1852, and died April 12, 1852. By a previous marriage there was a family of four children, none of whom are now living. Joseph Ensminger, brother of' Philip, was born in Dauphin county, De- cember 17, 1798, and was the organizer and captain of the first company of Minors, (their ages ranging fron sixteen to eighteen years), which he took to Baltimore against the English. He still survives, and resides at Crawfordsville, Ind., hale and hearty at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. Samuel, another brother of Philip, was born in Har- risburg, May 21, 1811, and was a prominent business man in Carlisle, Pa., for many years, where he is well and favorably known, and is now a resident of Topeka, Kan.
John T. attended the public schools of this city and completed his education at the Academy of Newville, after which he on- gaged in the furniture business with his father, and succeeded him, as stated above, in 1860. On the breaking out of the Re- bellion in 1861, he gave a striking illustra- tion of his patriotism by closing up his place of business and offering his ser- vices in the defense of his country. Hle enlisted in the Twenty-fifth regiment. Pennsylvania volunteers, was attached to company F, and served three months. He then re-enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh regi- ment, Pennsylvania volunteers, in company A, and served nine months, and during this time was promoted to second lieutenant. At the expiration of this time he again en- listed, this time in the Two Hundred and
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First regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, and was appointed captain of company G. He served with this regiment until the close of the war. He was mustered out of ser- vice at Harrisburg, June 25, 1865, having served continuously during the war in de- fense of his country, during which time he participated in some of the most important battles fought in subduing the Rebellion. At the time of his discharge he was acting in the capacity of provost marshal of the Monongahela district. with headquarters at Pittsburgh. At the close of the war he re- turned to his business, which he has since conducted with credit and success. He has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was joined December 26, 1866, at Car- lisle, Pa., was Miss Sallie C. Fought, daugh- ter of Jonas Fought. The children of this marriage are : Edgar Irwin, born October 3, 1868, and Amy Florence, born May 11, 1870, and died March 18, 1871. Mrs. Ensminger died at Harrisburg, August 7, 1870. His second marriage occurred at Harrisburg, December 30, 1873, in which he was united to Mary J. Charles, daughter of Henry R. Charles, of Union county, Pa. The children of this marriage are: Eugene Charles, born February 21, 1875, Grace Ste- phenson, born December 29, 1876, John Tyler and George Hursh, twins, born April 26, 1878. Mr. Ensminger has represented the Third ward of Harrisburg in the com- mon council. He is a member of Col. Seneca. G. Simmons Post, No. 116, G. A. R. In political views he is a stanneh Republi- can. He attends Grace Methodist Episcopal church.
- YINGST, FREDERICK W., furniture and car- pet dealer, was born in Harrisburg Decem- ber 21, 1843, sou of Carl and Anna (Snavely) Yingst. He was reared and educated in his native city. At the age of sixteen years he became an apprentice to the house and sign painting trade with the late John Cruik- shank, a well-known mechanic. In 1862, when he was eighteen years old, Mr. Yingst enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, for nine months, served his time and was discharged and mustered out at Harrisburg, when he re-enlisted in company G, One Hundred and Ninety-fourth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, for three months, and was commissioned as second lieutenant of his company. Having served
his term he was again discharged, and the third time enlisted in company D, Seventy- eighth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, and was orderly sergeant of his company. He served in this regiment until June, 1865. when he was finally mustered out at Nash- ville, Tenn., having served in the army, in all, two years. He then returned to Harris- burg and embarked in the furniture and carpet trade, and since that time has been continuously in the business in this city. Jle was married in Harrisburg, July 4, 1871, 10 Theresa Youder, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Frank) Youder, and to them has been born four children : Walter H., Robert M., Anna M., and Gertrude A., all living and residing in Harrisburg. Mr. Yingst is a member of Robert Burns Lodge, No. 464, Perseverance Chapter, No. 21, Harrisburg Council, No. 7, and Pilgrim Commandery, No. 11, F. & A. M. Since he was twenty-one years of age he has been a member of State Capital Lodge, No. 70, I. O. O. F., and was for many years also a member of Olive En- campment, No. 56, I. O. O. F. In political views he is liberal and independent, voting for men rather than party. Mr. Yingst has been a member of the First Reformed church for, twenty-seven years, of which his wife and family are all members, excepting Walter H., who belongs to the Market Square Pres- byterian church.
HOOVER, JOSEPH W., furniture dealer, Har- risburg, Pa., was born in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Pa., June 15, 1850. He is a son of Samuel and Nanoy Ann (Kon- kle) Hoover, the former born in Cumberland county, January 2, 1812, the latter in York county, Pa., December 2, 1815. They had nine children : (1) Mary, born December 10. 1834, died September 24, 1871; married Joseph Carl, and had two children, who mar- ried and removed West; (2) John II., born March 17, 1836 ; tinner, of Indianapolis, Ind .; has been twice married ; his second wife is living; (3) Samuel, born March 11, 1838, and is deceased; he married Miss Laura Collins, who with two daughters survives him; at the time of his death he was fore- man of the tinning department of the Phila- delphia and Reading Railroad Company ; his daughters are Emma, wife of Harry Yoder, of Harrisburg, and Ida, with an aunt in Philadelphia ; (4) William Henry, born February 10, 1841, dicd March 11, 1841 ; (5) Elizabeth, born February 15, 1812; resides
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in Philadelphia, widow of the late Robert C. Hilsee; (6) Sarah, born September 11, 1844, died September S, 1865; married Henry Bittle, of Mechanicsburg; her husband and her son, Elmer, survive her; (7) Catherine, born March 21, 1847 ; married Louis Troup, of Cumberland county ; died in Harrisburg, leaving four children ; (S) Joseph W.
Joseph W. Hoover lost his father by deatlı when he was eight years old, and was com- pelled to begin the struggle of life carly. For ten years, faithfully and without complaint, he bore the burden of hard labor on the farm. At the age of eighteen he began, in Philadelphia, to learn bricklaying, and fin- ished his apprenticeship four years later. For some time he worked at his trade as journeyman. For the following twelve years he was in the transfer business; in 1885 he entered the service of Adams Ex- press Company, in which he remained until the spring of 1994. In June of that year he established himself in the furniture business at Nos. 334-336 Broad street, Harrisburg, where he has built up a large and rapidly increasing trade.
He was married, November 10, 1872, to Emma Franees, daughter of Benjamin and Rachel (Shin) Fish, born in Philadelphia, January 20, 1853. They have one daughter living, Alice Josephine, born May 17, 1880.
Mr. Hoover is a member of Dauphin Lodge, No. 160, I. O. O. F. He attends Ridge Avenne Methodist Episcopal church.
Benjamin Fish, father of Mrs. Hoover, was born in Pittsgrove, Salem county, N. J., Au- gust 30, 1823. He was married, March 13, 1845, to Rachel Shin, a native of the same place. She died May 13, 1858, leaving four small children. In 1862 Mr. Fish married again, and in 1865 removed to Mechanics- burg, Cumberland county, Pa., his daughter, Emma Frances, afterwards Mrs. Hoover, be- ing at that time eleven years old. He re- sided at Mechanicsburg until his death, which occurred January 13, 1882. He was a man of prominence and of great personal worth and highly esteemed in the com- munity ; his death caused universal sorrow. Mr. Fish's attainments, as well as his natural endowments, were more than ordinary. In his chosen occupation, that of a coachsmith, his mechanical genius was displayed in the skill and ingenuity of his workmanship, and in the completeness, finish and durability of his productions. His fellow-citizens, among whom he had lived for seventeen years, bore
testimony to the virtues of his life and char- acter as they were exhibited in the various relations sustained by him, of son, husband, father, brother, neighbor and friend. A workingman himself, he was the working- man's friend, and in his own person and conduet embodied the excellencies of the ideal American mechanic. His manhood was of a true type, rounded out in the four cardinal elements of industry, intelligence, honesty and piety. While he toiled daily at his forge, hammering into shapeliness and welding together the parts of an intricate mechanism, he at the same time endeavored to lead his thoughts to a comprehension of the State and tendencies of the elements and forces actively at work in this progres- sive age, resulting in new social forms and improved institutions.
He was as carnest and tireless in his efforts to provide material for the strength- ening and enlargement of his mind as to proenre food for his body. In order to live and to enjoy, he felt he must be intelligent ; he was convinced that ignorance and indif- ference to truth are as inimical to happiness and true peace of soul as sloth and shiftless- ness are to material interests. History, the story of men, was his favorite study, and his especial delight was the history of his own country. On all subjects he sought to store his mind with information which could be his own solace in hours of leisure, and enable him to entertain and edify others in social intercourse. This knowledge, though gained at some disadvantage, as it must of necessity be accumulated after the close of his day's toil, was nevertheless of a degree and com- prehensiveness surpassed by the acquire- nents of very few mien. The contemplation of his country's history inspired him with patriotism, and led him to recognize the great truth that genuine love of country can be instilled into the rising generation only so far as they are made intelligent concern- ing the history of their nation. This led Mr. Fish to make a valuable and striking suggestion to his fellow-eitizens of Mechanics- burg, in the centennial year, which was to enclose the records of the history of the town and of their times in an iron chest, to be sealed and remain nnopened till the end of the century. The iron chest for that pur- pose he constructed with his own hands, and the suggestion was carried out. h immedi- ately called forth favorable comment
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