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 82
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natives of Dauphin county. To them were born four children, two of whom died in in- fancy. The living children are : Samuel E., residing in Reading, Pa., and David M. Mrs. Beck died May 6, 1882. Both the parents of the elder David Beck were of German an- cestry and farmers. They came to Dauphin county at a very early date and spent the remainder of their lives here.
David M. Beck spent his boyhood in Pro- gress, and his education was received prin- cipally in the public schools of this village. He had the advantage of one torm in the State Normal School at Millersville, Pa., and n Berrysburg Seminary. He taught school for six years, during which time he taught one term in Halifax township, one in Wayne township, and four terms in Susquehanna township. He taught three terms in the graded schools of Pregress. He engaged with the firm of Forney Bros. & Co., which he represented as traveling salesman for nine years. For the last four years of this period he was interested also in the flour and feed business. In June, 1895, he built the large and commodious premises he now oc- cupies. He now gives his entire time and attention to the flour and feed business.
David M. Beck was married, at Penbrook, November 15, 1884, to Sarah B., daughter of Henry J. and Lydia (Walmer) Forney. Four children have been born to them, one of whom died in infancy. The surviving chil- dren are: Lydia A., Harry F., and Charles E. Mr. Beck is a member of Dauphin Lodge, No. 250, K. of G. E. In political views he is a Republican. He attends the Church of God. Mr. Beck is well launched upon the tide of business and it flows rapidly toward success. The breath of popular favor is also in his sails.
BUSER, OTIS S., miller, was born in Mid- dletown, Dauphin county, Pa., October 22, 1861. He is a son of John K. and Eliza- beth (Stoner) Buser, both natives of Dau- phin county. When but an infant, his par- ents removed to Highspire, where he spent his youth, receiving the advantages of a good public school education in - that town. Ile learned the milling business with his father. After the death of his father, in 1888, in connection with his brother, Ira, he carried on the business for four years. At the expiration of this period he withdrew his interest and engaged in the grocery business, in Harrisburg. In 1892 he also
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conducted a grocery and produce exchange business in the Cumberland Valley. From 1892 to 1894 he was engaged in various pursuits. In 1891 he again engaged in the milling business, and in November, 1895, in the flour and feed business, in Harris- burg. He was married, in Upper Allen township, Cumberland county, October 24, 1893, to Amy Benola Sonder, daughter of George and Emma Souder. They have one son, named Guy Erastus S. Mr. Bnser served one year as tax collector of High- spire. In political views he is a Prohibi- tionist. He attends the Church of God. He is a reliable and enterprising business man, and is highly esteemed.
-ZOLLINGER, JOHN HARRIS, deceased, was born on the Hannah farm, near Harrisburg, l'a., August 22, 1812. He was a son of the late George and Elizabeth (Everhart). Zoll- inger. His father, George Zollinger, was born in Harrisburg. His ancestors were Swiss, who came to America and settled in Dauphin county; they were among the very earliest settlers of Harrisburg. He was at one time a very large land owner. His wife, Elizabeth Everhart, was born in Harris- burg. They had seven children, three sons and four daughters, all deceased.
John HI. Zollinger spent his entire life in Harrisburg. He was for many years a hatter. He was prominently identified with the interests and welfare of the city. He died February 11, 1871.
Mr. Zollinger was married, in Harrisburg, January 23, 1848, to Julia B. Fitzgerald, born in Lancaster, Pa., June 9, 1824, daughter of the late David and Catherine (Kendig) Fitz- gerald, by whom he had two children : George C., passenger conductor on the Penn- sylvania railroad, and Mary Frances, wife of William B. Moore, train master, Pennsyl- vania railroad. Mrs. Zollinger is still living and resides in Harrisburg. She and her family are members of Grace Methodist Epis copal church.
inger had three children: Mary L., wife of John Kepple, cigar manufacturer of Harris- burg; Mrs. Zollinger; James Kildare, de- ceased. Mrs. Zollinger's father died from the effects of a fall when but twenty-six years of age. By a second marriage of Mrs. Fitzgerald, to James Williams, there was one child who died in infancy. By her third marriage, to Samuel McDonald, she had six children, three of whom are living: William K., Theodore and David B.
George C. Zollinger, only son of John II. and Julia B. Zollinger, was born in Harris- burg, Pa., June 4, 1849. He was educated in the Harrisburg public schools, and took a commercial course in the Business College of that city. After finishing his education, he learned plumbing but never worked at his trade beyond the time of his apprenticeship. For twenty-six years he has been in railroad employ, twenty-four years of that time have been passed in the service of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company. Mr. Zollinger was married in Harrisburg, December 24, 1873, to Carrie, daughter of Andrew and Elizabethi Hake, of York county, Pa. Of their two children, one died young, the sur- viving one is Elizabeth Beatrice. Mr. Zoll- inger is an active member of Robert Burns Lodge, No. 464, F. & A. M. His wife and daughter are members of the Forster Street Lutheran church.
DERR, ANTHONY, deceased, was born in the city of Lundow, Bavaria, Germany, Novem- ber 9, 1814. Ile was reared and educated in his native land, and learned the trade of cabi- net maker. He came to America when nine years of age and settled at Harrisburg, where his life has been spent, with the exception of three years, during which he was a resi- dent of Berks county. He followed his trade in this city and died January 1, 1876. Mr. Derr was married in Harrisburg in September, 1844, to Catherine Berrier, daugh- ter of Henry J. and Margaret (Eckly) Ber- rier. They had eight children, of whom . three died in childhood. Their living chil-
The parents of Mrs. Zollinger were both born in Lancaster, Pa. Her grandfather . dren are: Mary H., widow of the late John Fitzgerald was born in Ireland, and came to Taylor, Josephine M., Catherine W., widow of Martin Schriver, Laura J., wife of Hugh J. McClosky, and Anthony Lewis. Henry J. Berrier, father of Mrs. Derr, was a native of France. He married Margaret Eckly, a na- tive of Germany. They came in youth to this country and spent their lives in Harris- burg. Mrs. Berrier died September 1, 1878, America during the Revolution in Ireland. He settled in Lancaster, Pa., where he spent the greater part of his life. . The Kendig family were of Swiss ancestry. They settled in Lancaster at a very early date. Some members of the family served in the Revo- lutionary army. The parents of Mrs. Zoll-
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aged eighty-two years. They had eight children, three of whom are living: Bar- bara, wife of George Krickbaum, of Harris- burg; Catherine, Mrs. Derr; and Joseph, Har- risburg. Mr. Berrier was a house and bridge builder, and helped to build the bridge across the Susquehanna river.
-HELLERMAN, HIRAM, foreman of the black- smith department, Middle division, Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, was born in Oxford township, Philadelphia county, Pa., March 15, 1824, son of the late Isaac and Sarah (Conrow) Hellerman, the former a native of Philadelphia county, of Moravian ancestry, the latter a native of New Jersey. The Hellerman family were of German de- scent, and came to America in the latter part of the last century, locating at Bethle- hem. The father was a farmer and engaged in other pursuits. He spent his whole life in Oxford township, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-four years, his wife having preceded him in death. They had six children, only three of whom are living : Hiram, Elizabeth, wife of William Nise, of Frankford, Pa., and John, a farmer, residing near Millerstown. Pa. Hiram spent his boyhood days in his native township, where he attended subscription schools. He learned the trade of blacksmith, at Frank- ford, and worked as a journeyman in Phila- delphia until 1853, in which year he en- tered the employment of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Altoona, and four years later was transferred to Clarksburg, Chester county, where he remained until April 1, 1861, when he was removed to the shops at Harrisburg. He has been in the service of the company forty-two years, for thirty-eight of which he has been foreman of the blacksmith department. Mr. Ileller- man was married at Philadelphia, to Mary AJ. Bosert. Their children are : Joseph I., a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany ; Sallie, a teacher in the public schools of Harrisburg; a son who was killed by the bursting of a boiler on the locomotive he was fireman, in January, 1893, and Emery G., residing in Harrisburg. In politics Mr. Hellerman is a Republican. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
CRANE, IRVIN J., was born at Liverpool, Perry county, Pa., February 4, 1829. His father, George W. Crane, was of English an- cestry and was born in Lycoming county,
Pa. Ile removed to Perry county when quite a young man, and spent the greater portion of his life there. He was a farmer for some years, and subsequently was a pilot on the Susquehanna river. He was a justice of the peace of Perry county for thirty-nine years. In 1845 he was elected recorder, register and clerk of Orphans' Court of Perry county, and served two terms. He died at Jersey Shore, Lycoming county, at the resi- dence of his danghter, September 7, 1852, after a useful life, at the age of sixty-eight years. The mother, Jane M. Watt, was of Scotch-Irish ancestry ; she was born in Mif- fin (now Juniata) county, and died in 185-4. They had a family of six children, of whom Irvin J. is the only survivor.
He spent a part of his boyhood in his native place, where he received the advan- tages of a good common school education. When about seventeen years of age he re- moved to Bloomfield, Pa., and began his busi- ness career as a clerk in the county court. He served in this place for six years. For one year Mr. Crane was a teacher in the public schools. On January 10, 1853, he en- tered the service of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company. He was first a brakeman for thirteen months, then passenger conductor for seven years, then ticket agent for one year. In 1864 he enlisted in the Fifth Penn- sylvania cavalry, U. S. A., and served therein till the close of the war. He was honorably discharged and mustered out of service in June, 1865, at Philadelphia, Pa. He returned to Harrisburg and re-entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Ile was transferred to the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad, and appointed yard- master at Alliance, Ohio; in this position he remained until 1873, when he returned to Harrisburg and was made assistant yard- master of the Middle division, Pennsylvania railroad, and afterwards became yardmaster. In 18SS he was appointed weighmaster of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which position he now holds.
Irvin J. Crane was married in Philadel- ยท phia, August 24, 1SIS, to Margaret R. Smith, daughter of Nathaniel and Rebecca Smith, of Phoenixville, Chester county, Pa. They have had four children, the solesurvivor of whom is Mary C., wife of I. J. Davis, residing in Pitts- burgh, Pa. Mrs. Crane died at Harrisburg. Mr. Crane was married the second time at Harrisburg, June 14, 1857, to Laura C. Burr, of Perry county. To them have been born
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seven children, five of whom are living, namely: Scott S., superintendent Altoona & Logan Valley Electric railway, at Altoona, Pa .; Harry G., assistant yardmaster, Pennsyl- vania railroad, at Harrisburg; Louise C., wife of Frank Caum, residing at Hartford, Conn .; Currance C., wife of John W. Canm, residing in Harrisburg, Pa., and Richard L., also a resident of Harrisburg.
Mr. Crane is a member of Conrad Lodge, No. 270, F. & A. M., of Alliance, Ohio; Mt. Moriah Chapter, No. 166, Hollidaysburg, Pa .; Mountain Commandery, No. 10, K. T., of Altoona; Dauphin Lodge, No. 160, I. O. O. F .; Miriam Rebecca Lodge, No. 12, D. of R. In politics he is a staunch Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Crane are members of the Cove- nant Presbyterian church, which the family attend. Mr. Crane is a man of solid char- acter and great personal worth, as his forty- three years of service in the Pennsylvania Railroad Company attests.
CLARK, JAMES, general agent of the Cum- berland Valley Railroad Company, was born in Middlesex township, four and a half miles north of Carlisle, December 25, 1829, son of Robert and Margaret (Smiley) Clark, the former a native of Cumberland county, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the latter a native of Perry county, of English ancestry. James was reared to manhood in his native county and received bis education in the public schools of the township. He was engaged in farming until 1864, when he entered the employment of the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company as collector at Bridge- port, Pa., from which he was transferred in MILLER, JONIN EDMUND, foreman of No. 2 round house, Philadelphia division, Penn- sylvania railroad, was born at Waynesburg, now called Honey Brook Station, of Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad, in Chester county, April 9, 1831. IIc is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Evans) Miller, the former a native of Scotland, the latter of England, both of whom came to America when quite young. His parents died when John E. was but eighteen months old. Hle was reared by 1872 to his present position, where he has since been a faithful official of the company. Mr. Clark was married in Carlisle, Pa., De- cember 20, 1859, to Elizabeth Culbertson, daughter of Stephen Culbertson, to whom have been born five children, two of whom died in infancy. The survivors are : George Edward, residing at Butte, Montana ; Helen C. and James A .; both residing with their parents at Harrisburg. Mrs. Clark died at Jier residence in Harrisburg, February 21, . his uncle, Adam Miller, of New Holland, 1893. In his political views Mr. Clark is a Republican. IJe and his family are mem- bers of the Pine Street Presbyterian church.
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MCFADDEN, WILLIAM C., baggage agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was born at Lebanon, Pa., March 31, 1830. He is a son of Marcus and Eleanor (Gallagher)
McFadden, both natives of county of Done- gal, Ireland. Ilo removed from his native place with his parents to Elizabethtown and lived there one year. Thence he re- moved to Bridgeport, Cumberland county, and lived there two years, and from there to Harrisburg, where he has since lived. He was educated in the public schools of Harrisburg. He was employed at the prin- ter's trade for several years, and afterwards learned the baking business, at which he worked about four years, and then resumed the printing business. In the carly part of 1851 he entered the service of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company as brakeman, and at the end of four years was appointed bag- gage master, which position he has held for forty years with the utmost satisfaction to the company and the traveling public. He wasfirst lieutenant of battery A, First Penn- sylvania artillery (emergency men). He was married in Philadelphia to Catherine McGrath, daughter of Francis and Catherine (O'Treil) MeGrath. Of the nine children born to them four are living: Mary B., madame of Convent of Sacred Heart, at Manhattan, N. Y .; Frances Julia, wife of George T. Kelley, of Albany, N. Y .; Jose- phine, Rose and Monia. Mr. McFadden rep- resented the Sixth ward in common coun- cil for six years, and was also alderman for same ward for six years. IIe represented the Fourth ward in council for one year. In political principles he is a Democrat. The family attend the Roman Catholic cathe- dral.
Lancaster county, Pa., where he spent his boyhood, receiving a common school educa- tion. When fifteen years of age he was ap- prenticed to the millwright trade and worked at this trade for seven years. Beginning with the year 1852 he was employed for five years on the State road between Columbia and Philadelphia, four years as fireman and
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one year as engineer. In 1856 he was pro- moied to engineer of passenger train, hold- ing this position until 1881. On June 1, 1881, he was appointed to his present posi- tion. His good character and excellent qual- ities are abundantly attested by the fact that he has been for thirty-nine years continu- ously employed by the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company. He is still in the same em- ploy.
John E. Miller was married at Lancaster, Pa., October 10, 1861, to Sarah M., daughter of Samuel and Sarah Mathiot. They have two children : Alfred C., born August 12, 1862, and George W., born December 17, 1867. In political views Mr. Miller is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Miller and their sons are members of Ridge Avenue Methodist church. Mr. Miller is a member of Colum- bia Lodge, No. 286, F. & A. M. Mr. Miller was the engineer of the train which carried the body of Abraham Lincoln from Harris- burg, April 22, 1865.
KINTER, GEORGE, trainmaster of the Penn- sylvania railroad, was born in Susquehanna township, near Harrisburg, May 1, 1831. He is the only surviving child of the four born to his parents, George and Elizabeth (Miller) Kinter, both natives and honored residents of Dauphin county. His father was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Sus- quehanna township up to 1846, and from that date until his death, which occurred in 1863, he was engaged in merchandising.
George Kinter received his education in the public schools of his native township, and was engaged in farming and in boating on the canal. On October 2, 1855, he en- tered the service of the Pennsylvania rail- road as a freight brakeman on the division running from Mifflin to Columbia, and con- tinued in the service as brakeman, flagman and conductor until October 2, 1862, when he was transferred to the superintendent's office as night yardmaster and assistant trainmaster and train dispatcher. He served as such till January 1, 1874, when he was appointed trainmaster of the division run- ning from Harrisburg to Altoona, in which position he has rendered satisfactory service to the company for over twenty years, and which he still holds. He has completed forty years of continuous service in the em- ploy of this company, which is a demonstra- tion of his ability, trustworthiness and good character.
He was married in Union county, Pa., April 3, 1856, to Caroline, daughter of Henry and Catharine Charles, of Union county, Pa. Of their five children four are living: Charles Henry, S. Wilt, George Hutchison, and John Carroll. Mary W. died in infancy. Mr. Kinter is a member of Phonix Lodge, No. 59, K. of P. Ile, his wife and children are members of Grace Methodist Episcopal church.
FOSNAUGHT, JOHN R., assistant yardmaster of the Middle division, Pennsylvania rail- road, was born in Southampton township, Franklin county, Pa., February 13, 1833. He is a son of Conrad and Catherine (Jacoby) Fosnaught, both natives of Southampton township. His education was begun in the public schools of his native township, but when ten years old he removed with his father to Shippensburg, Pa., where his edu- cation was finished. He was engaged in farming for five years, at the expiration of which time he began his career in railroad- ing. He was agent on individual cars for seven years. From 1858 to 1861 he was again engaged in agricultural pursuits in Southampton township, Cumberland county. In August, 1861, he enlisted in company II, Third Pennsylvania cavalry, and served three years in the army. During this time he participated in the battles of Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, and many other important engagements. Having served the term of his enlistment, he was honorably discharged and mustered out of service August 28, 1864, at Philadelphia, when he returned to Ship- pensburg. On October 4, 1864, he removed to Harrisburg and engaged with the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company as brakeman. He followed this occupation for six months, when he was promoted to the position of conductor and acceptably performed his duties in this capacity for twenty years. In October, 1SS4, he was appointed to his pres- ent position.
Mr. Fosnaught was married at Moline. Bock Island county, Ill., December 6, 1855, to Charlotte S. Rhode, daughter of Benjamin and Lydia (Hoffman) Rhode. Of their six children three died in childhood. The liv- ing children are: Ida, widow of the late Harvey Stoviek, Louisa, wife of Daniel Stone- seifer, and Gertrude. Mr. Fosnaught is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors. In political views he is a Democrat. The
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family attend the Church of God. He is a public-spirited citizen, of long residence and long service to the community. His char- acter is without blemish, and he is highly esteemed for his personal worth.
WILLIAMS, ROBERT E., assistant trainmas- ter, Philadelphia division, Pennsylvania railroad, was born at Utica, N. Y., March 29, 1833. ITe is a son of William and Elea- nor (Pool) Williams, both natives of Bala, Wales. He was reared at Utica and edu- cated in the public schools of that city. IIe learned telegraphy, and followed this occu- pation in Utica until he was eighteen years of age. He removed to New York City and was engaged in the business of manufactur- ing gold pen and pencil cases until 1856, when he entered the employment of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as tele- graph operator at Lewistown, Pa. He re- mained in that position for sixteen months, and was then transferred to the same posi- tion at Mifilin, Pa., which he held for two ycars. Leaving the telegraph service for one year he took the place of locomotive fireman between Mifflin and Columbia: Re- turning to his original occupation he was transferred to Harrisburg and took charge of the line between Lancaster and Mifflin until 1861. On the breaking out of the war he answered the call of the Government for telegraph builders, and went to Washington and followed the army for eight months, building telegraph lines for the Government wherever they were needed. At the expira- tion of this time he removed to Philadel- phia and resumed the position of telegraph operator with the Pennsylvania Railroad Courpany, which he held till 1864, when he was appointed train dispatcher at the same point. In 1865 he was appointed assistant trainmaster at Harrisburg. He has filled this position for thirty years at Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Columbia. Ile has served thirty-nine years in the employ of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company.
Ile was married at Philadelphia, Septem- ber 30, 1885, to Minnie Bowers, daughter of Amos and Sarah Bowers, of Columbia. They have two children : George E., born April 25, 1887, and Ruth E., born Novem- ber 30, 1892. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 130, F. & A. M., of Philadelphia. The family attend the Reformed church.
- CAUM, EDWARD L., master mechanic of Harrisburg machine shop, Middle division. Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was born at. Camden, N. J., December 3, 1833. He is a son of James and Lydia (Lacy) Caum. natives of the State of New Jersey. He grew to manhood in his native town, passed through the public schools and served an apprenticeship with what is now the Dia- logue Steam Engine and Shipbuilding Com- pany. He also spent one year in the employ- ment of the Harlan and Hollingsworth En- gine Company, of Wilmington, Del. Mr. Caum entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Mifflin, Pa., as jour- neyman machinist, June 23, 1856, and was appointed master mechanic of the Mifflin shops in April, 1864. He was transferred to Harrisburg in November, 1869, and has been permanently located here since that date.
Mr. Caum was married at. Mifflin, Pa., February 14, 1861, to Ellen S. Wright, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth Wright, of Mifflin. They had ten children, of whom three are living: Frank, chief engineer of the Electric railroad, of Hartford, Conn. ; John W., and Edward L., Jr., both of whom reside in Har- risburg. Mrs. Caum died April 21, 1885.
WELLS. JAMES B., road foreman of engines, Pennsylvania railroad, was born in Chester county, Pa., June 11, 1834. His father, Lewis Wells, wasa native of Chester county, and his mother, Sarah (Elmer) Wells, was a native of Boston, Mass. Both died in Ches- ter county at advanced ages, after active and weil-spent lives. The education of James B. Wells was received in the common schools of his native county, and, to use his own language, it was not of an extensive character. There were no standard text- books at that time; each scholar used such books as the home library afforded. The Bible, the Ilistory of the United States, by different authors, the Book of Martyrs. Cortez' Invasion of Mexico, the Pirates' Own Book, the History of Captain Kidd -- in fact, anything and everything available in the form of literature furnished the reading matter. The first work at which he sought employment and pay was as water boy to the harvest hands on neighboring farms. Ile afterwards worked at home with his father at the carpenter trade, and also sonle- times in Philadelphia. When a boy, in Chester county, lie spent his leisure among
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