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. 2 > Part 27
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Amos Zimmerman attended the common schools of Jackson township in the winter. and worked on the farm during the summer months, until he was twenty-one years old. For two more years he remained at home and cultivated his father's farm, but at the age of twenty-three he went with his young wife and all the property they possessed to Lykens Valley. There he rented a farm and began life for himself. Ile cultivated that farm for six years, and then, returning to Jackson township, bought the farm he
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now owns, which he has tilled and im- proved, and made his home from that time to the present. He is one of the enterprising and successful farmers and stock raisers of the township. Mr. Zimmerman was married, in Jackson township, December 1, 1864, to Mary Yeager, born in Lykens Valley, in June, 1848; daughter of Christopher Yeager, a retired farmer, living in Fisherville. They have one child, Kate, born in October, 1868, wife of Henry Remberger, farmer, of Jack- son township, who has two children, Harry and Edna.
Mr. Zimmerman is a Democrat. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he has held the offices of deacon, elder, Sun- day-school teacher and superintendent. He is well known, is genial and popular.
ZIMMERMAN, HARRISON, farmer, was born in Jackson township, Dauphin county, Pa., May 5, 1864. Jacob Zimmerman, father of Harrison, was born in the same township, in April, 1833. He was educated in its sub- scription and common schools. He became a farmer and stockman, and is classed among the progressive and prosperous farmers of Armstrong Valley. He married Sybilla Yoder, born in Upper Mahantango Valley, Schuylkill county, Pa., in 1834, and died in October, 1894. They had eleven children : Louisa, wife of Isaiah Enders, farmer, Jack- son township; Alice, wife of Ed. Specht, Washington township, Dauphin county ; Lucinda, wife of Frank Snyder, farmer, Jackson township; Felix, farmer, Jackson township; Harrison ; Gabriel, farmer, Jack- son township; Calon, resides on the home- stead ; Annie, wife of Miner Elvord ; Har- vey, Robert, and Myron, all three at home. The father is still living, and resides on the old homestead. He is of the Republican party, a prominent citizen, and well liked by his neighbors. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
Harrison Zimmerman attended the schools of Jackson and Jefferson townships. He was a student at Berrysburg Academy, at Cross Road Seminary, and took a course under Major Dill at Freeburg Academy, Snyder county, and also took a course under D. D. DeLong, at Lebanon Valley College. These advantages gave him ample training and equipment for his life work, which was the profession of teaching. He was engaged in that work twelve years, in Jackson, Rush and Halifax townships. HIe had labored
faithfully in his younger days to obtain means for his, education ; thus he may be called a self-made man. In 1893 he gave up teaching, and bought the old Miller farm of one hundred acres, which he has greatly im- proved, and is cultivating. Mr. Zimmerman was married, in Jackson township, January 14, 1886, to Rebecca Shoop, a native of Wayne township, and daughter of William and Elizabeth (Wise) Shoop. They have five children : Leroy, Raymond, William, How- ard, and Herbert. Mr. Zimmerman is a Republican ; he has been clerk of elections. He is a member of the United Brethren church, in which he is class leader, steward, Sunday-school superintendent and teacher.
SNYDER, JOSIAH, implement dealer and partner of John G. Killinger, was born in Jackson township, Dauphin county, Pa., October 29, 1818. He is a son of John Christian and Susan (Miller) Snyder, a sketch of whom appears with that of Joseph Snyder in this volume. Josiah Snyder attended the Miller's district school, Jackson township. His life, until he was twenty-one, was passed on his father's farm. After reaching his majority he spent nine months in Washington township learning the blacksmith trade. He was then employed as a journeyman by Mr. Migley, of Fisherville. In 1875 he opened a shop of his own, and carried on the busi- ness for fourteen years in Fisherville. His health at last demanding outdoor employ- ment, he bought a farm of eighty-two acres, which he improved and cultivated for some time, but subsequently rented it. Previous to this farm enterprise he had been agent for the sale of C. H. McCormick's farming ma- chinery ; and now, in connection with Mr. Killinger, his partner, Mr. Snyder deals in the machinery and implements of this and other firms. He also owns property in Fish - erville besides his farm. He is a Republican ; has been treasurer of the township and col- lector of State and county taxes ; he was also inspector of elections. Mr. Snyder is a member of the Lutheran church, is not married and is a genial, whole souled, social man, fond of good company and is himself good company.
-KEITER, SAMUEL, was born in Jackson township, Dauphin county, Pa., November 8, 1819. He is a son of Garhert Keiter, a Pennsylvanian, of German ancestry, and a
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farmer and stock raiser of Jackson township. He married Barbara Lentz. They had ten children: John, Joseph, Michael, Garhert, Peter, Samuel, Catherine, Sarah, Ann, and Barbara, all of whom are deceased except Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Keiter were Lutherans. They died in Jackson township. Mr. Keiter was a Republican.
Samuel Keiter attended the subscription schools, and worked with his father at farm- ing until he was of age. He then learned shoemaking, and worked at that trade for eight years. He then bought eighty acres of land on which he now resides, built a house and barn, and otherwise extensively improved the land, which he continued for some time to cultivate. In 1862, at the age of forty-three, Mr. Keiter was drafted into the army, and assigned to company A., One Hundred and Seventy-second regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, under Capt. Solo- mon Bowerman and Colonel Cleckner. He served nine months and was then discharged, and returned home. He resumed farming ; also, for twelve years, in connection with his brother Michael, was a manufacturer of lum- ber. In this business they met with fair suc- cess. Mr. Keiter was married, in Jackson township, in 1842, to Miss Susanna Shott, born in Lykens Valley. They had twelvechildren : Susan, wife of Henry Hoffman; Jonas, de- ceased ; Catherine, deceased ; Philip, farmer ; Leah, wife of Solomon Matters; Ellen, wife of William Shertzer; Sarah, wife of Isaac Hen- ninger; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of James Miller; Amanda, wife of Isaac A .. Enders; Isaac, farmer, South Bend, Ind .; Charles, and Hiram. Mr. Keiter is a Republican, but no office seeker. He is a member of the Lu- theran church. Mr. and Mrs. Keiter have passed fifty-four years of wedded life, have reared a family of twelve children, have been industrious and frugal, and are now quietly enjoying the fruits of their well spent life. They are surrounded by three genera- tions of descendants, but are not chilled by the frosts of age. They are cheerful and genial, and by old and young are considered pleasant company. They present an attrac- tive example of the happiness resulting from right living. In their own cheerful old age, in the society of their children and grand- children, in the enjoyment of home and friends, they proclaim that the marriage re- lation is no failure, but the largest success of which human nature is capable.
MILLER, AARON, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Jackson township, Dauphin county, Pa., July 9, 1846. John Miller, his grandfather, was of German descent. He came from Northumberland county to Dau- phin county in 1817, settled in Jackson township, and cleared a farm of one hundred and seventy acres of land ; on this farm he died. JIis son, Michael Miller, was born in Northumberland county, Pa. He was a farmer, and also, for twenty years, a black- smith. He improved and cultivated a farm of two hundred and two acres, and had one of one hundred and forty-one acres, also over two hundred acres of woodland ; he was also engaged in stock raising. His first wife was Catherine Straw, of Jackson township. Their children are: Josiah, Balthasar, and Cyrus, a blacksmith, married a Miss Sweigard, and died in Reading, Pa., leaving a widow and four children. After Mrs. Miller's death, Mr. Miller married Hannah Buffinger, widow of Jacob Kolva. They had ten chil- dren : Michael, who lives on the old home- stead, in Jackson township; Lydia, Eli, Sam- uel, all died under the age of eight years; Leah, died at the age of forty-two ; Hannah, wife of D. A. Snyder, Elizabethville; Joshua, died in his third year, John A., deceased, and twins, who died in infancy. Mr. Miller was a Democrat; he held the offices of as- sessor and tax collector. IIe was trustee to the end of his life in the Lutheran church, in which he and Mrs. Miller beld membership. Mr. Miller died December 27, 1864, and his wife April 24, 1890.
Aaron Miller was educated in the common schools of his township. He remained on the farm until his father's death, which occurred when Aaron was eighteen. For two years he worked on the home farm, and then began business for himself. He bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres, where he now resides; on it he built a barn, and made many other improvements, among which was the planting of a large apple orchard. Mr. Miller has several other farms in the valley ; he is one of its largest landholders, having upwards of three hundred and fifty acres of good, arable land. He is also largely interested in the breeding of stock. Mr. Miller was married, in Lykens township, to Flor- enda Bender, born in Washington township, daughter of A. Q. and Susanna (Fisher) Bender. They have six children : Fannie, wife of Harry McNeal; Edwin, attending
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school ; Ammond, on the homestead ; Sarah, living at home ; Harry, and Adam, attend- ing school. Mr. Miller is a Democrat; he has been inspector of elections and tax col- lector. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Order of United American Mechanics, but is not so now. He is a mnem- ber, and was deacon, of the Lutheran church. He is genial and hospitable, is widely known and highly esteemed.
-ENDERS, ISAAC F., farmer, was born in Jackson township, Dauphin county, Pa., December 30, 1853. He is a son of Philip Enders, and brother of George W. D. En- ders, whose sketch appears in this volume. He was educated in the common schools of the township, and worked with his father on the farm. After his marriage he took charge of the homestead of fifty-nine acres. Three years ago he bought the home farm, and has made many valuable improvements upon it. He is engaged in stock raising.
He, in company with Clinton D. Enders, made a tour South and West, in January, 1890. They visited F. C. Enders, who moved to Fountain Head, Tenn., in 1888, where they had a pleasant and profitable time, visiting Nashville, the State capital, the State armory, Fort Mitchell, where they found bullets that were fired in the late war, and also Forts Negley and Markin. They left there January 22 for Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, then went to Upper San- dusky, Tiffin, Bloomsville and Carey, where they met their old friends of boyhood days, Charles Enders, Nathan Shoop and Charles and Aaron Sweigard. These friends left Dauphin county when grown up and are all successful farmers, having already purchased farms of their own. On February 7 they left for home, having had a very profitable time, meeting old acquaintances and mak- ing a careful study of farming in the differ- ent sections of the country visited.
Mr. Enders was married, in Jackson town- ship, in 1876, to Maggie, daughter of the late James and Mary (Fell) Wilson. She was born in Jefferson township, October 9, 1854. They have had one child, Philip Byrne, born in 1SS6. Mrs. Wilson's father, James Wilson, was killed in the army, dur- ing the war of the Rebellion. Her mother died in Jackson township. Mr. Enders is a Democrat. He has served as inspector of elections. He is a member of the Lutheran church. He is a genial, whole-souled man.
He takes good care of his father, who is now over eighty years of age, and gives him a good home. Mr. Enders enjoys the respect and esteem of his neighbors.
- FITTING, WILLIAM H., farmer and stock- man, was born in Jackson township, Dau- phin county, Pa., March 20, 1833. John Fitting, his grandfather, was born in Ger- many, and emigrated to this country, set- tling in Dauphin county, where he was en- gaged in farming in a small way, and where he reared his family. John Fitting (2), father of W. H. Fitting, was born in Han- over township, where he grew up and at- tended school. He worked on the farm in early youth, and afterwards learned shoemak- ing, which trade he carried on for some years. He finally removed to Jackson town- ship, and bought a farm of ninety acres, and sixty acres of woodland. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising. He married Sarah Betz, of Northumberland county, Pa. They had ten children : William H .; Samuel deceased ; Annie R., deceased; Mary A., widow of Samuel Miller, and mother of Dr. C. C. Miller, of Halifax; Sarah, wife of Henry Rough, farmer, Lykens Valley, and Valeria, wife of George Hummel, of Lykens Valley. The other children died in infancy. Mr. Fitting was a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Reformed church, in which he was an elder. They both died in Jackson township.
William H. Fitting attended the common schools of this township, and worked on the farm with his father until he was sixteen years of age, when his father died. For four years after he worked the farm and sup- ported the family. At twenty years of age he married and removed to Lykens Valley, where he cultivated a rented farm for nine years. He then returned to Jackson town- ship and bought the ninety-acre farm on which he now lives. He built a fine dwell- ing and other farm structures, and made improvements costing $15,000. He also bought another farm of fifty-five acres near Fishersville, which his son cultivates.
Mr. Fitting's marriage took place in Jack- son township, October 23, 1853. His wife was Miss Caroline, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Lebo) Cooper; she was born in Mifflin township, November 28, 1832; her father was a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Fitting had seven children: Amanda, wife of Ileze- kiah Matter, Millersburg; Cevilia, wife of
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Reuben Snyder; John, school and music teacher, married Clara Boyer ; Leon, de- ceased, married Annie Tison, has two sons, Samuel E. and William H .; Elmer, farmer, married Emma Albright; Harry, teacher, Jefferson township, and Samuel, deceased.
Mr. Fitting is a Republican ; he has served as tax collector of the township. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he is deacon and elder. Mr. Fitting is a good living man, and has made life success- ful. He married at twenty, and set out in the world with his young wife to earn a liv- ing and make a home. His present situa- Ida M. Frank, daughter of George W. Frank, attended the district schools, and completed her education at the Millersburg high school, where she graduated in 1893, tion, in a delightful home, where he and his worthy wife are resting from the active duties of life, is a suitable close to his career. He is justly honored and esteemed. ' in a class of ten, and at Shippensburg State John, the eldest son of Mr. Fitting, takes a very active part in church matters; he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school for several years, and is secretary of the church. The mother of Mr. Fitting was of the sturdy old Scotch-Irish ancestry.
FRANK, GEORGE W., farmer, was born in Jackson township, August 13, 1835. His father, David Frank, was born in Lancaster county, Pa. He grew up on a farm, and be- came a farmer. He removed to Dauphin county, and settled in Jackson township, where he bought a farm and engaged in raising stock and distilling for many years. He married Annie Cameron, and had ten children : Henry, Jacob, John, Samuel, George, Daniel, Sarah, Susanna, Julia, wife of Frederick Baker, Dauphin, Pa., and one that died in infancy. Miss Susan, Mrs. Ba- ker; and George W., are the only surviving children. Mrs. David Frank died in Jack- son township. Mr. Frank's second wife was Gertrude Kider, a native of Jackson town- ship, by whom he has two children : Andrew P. and Joseph. Mr. Frank died in Jack- son township in 1873, and his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Frank, in 1889, also their son Joseph in 1889. They were members of the Reformed church. Mr. Frank was a Dem- ocrat.
George W. Frank attended the common schools of Jackson township. He remained at home on the farm, and managed the work of farming, distilling, etc., until he was twenty-five years of age. He farmed as a tenant until he was thirty-eight years of age, when he bought a farm of seventy-five acres, on which he erected a dwelling and a barn,
and made other improvements, and engaged in farming and stock raising. He was mar- ried, in Jackson township, in 1861, to Lydia, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Hoffinan, born in Halifax township, in 1842. They have three children : Sarah, wife of George Matter, of Steelton; Lizzie, a dress maker, residing at home, and Ida M., a teacher. Mr. Frank is a Democrat and has served three terms as school director and one term as supervisor. He is a member of the Reformed church, has been a deacon, and is an elder in that church.
Normal School, in 1894, in a class of one hundred and one members. While attending the Normal School at Shippensburg, she took a special course in painting (pastel and water colors), and also in elocution. She has recited at a number of different places, en- tertainments, societies, local institutes, etc. She also took a partial course in the Bible studies for "The Chautauqua Normal Union." She is now (July, '96) taking a course with the American Correspondence Normal, Danville, N. Y. Since graduation she taught an ungraded school two succes- sive terms, in Jackson township. She is elected teacher of the primary school at Hal- ifax for the coming year. She received her second diploma from Shippensburg Normal School, June 30, 1896, entitling her to the degree M. E., and is now aspiring for some special course at a college. She is a young lady of culture and refinement, and is classed among the best educated teachers of the county. Besides her professional ability, Miss Frank possesses the charm of a pleas- ing personality and a manner expressive of kindness.
" McGANN, CAPT. JOHN K., retired farmer and real estate dealer, was born in Philadel- phia, Pa., May 28, 1835. Edward McGann, his grandfather, was born and passed his life in Ireland; he was a wool carder and spinner. Edward McGann, Jr., father of Captain McGann, was born in Kildare county, Ireland. He received his education in his native county, and worked in the woolen mill with his father until he became of age, when he left Ireland for America. He made the voyage in a sailing vessel, ac-
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companied by his young wife. They landed at Philadelphia, where he found work at his trade for one year. At the end of the year Mr. McGann removed to Lancaster county, Pa., and for fourteen years was employed in the woolen mills of N. K. Zook. He next removed to Dauphin county, locating in Lykens Valley, where for four years he car- ried on the business of carding and weaving on his own account. He then removed to Armstrong Valley with his family, and worked for six months at his trade as a journeyman for his former employer, at Lan- caster county, and he finally settled at Har- risburg, where he died March 3, 1870. His wife, Bridget (Kelly) McGann, died in the same city, about 1884. They were married in Ireland. They had seven children : John K .; Catherine, wife of C. McCarty, of Harrisburg ; William C., of Harrisburg, in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Susan, wife of John O'Leary, hotel keeper in Harrisburg; James, deccased; Mary, widow of Alexander Boyle, Harris- burg; and Margaret A., deceased. Mr. Mc- Gann was a Democrat, a prominent man, and quite popular.
John K. McGann attended the public schools of Lancaster county, and also the Academy at Strasburg. In his younger days he worked in the mills with his father. Af- ter the removal of the family to Lykens Val- ley, he worked four years as a farm hand among the neighboring farmers. Then for two years and six months he was clerk and teamster for Jacob Buch, in Lykens Valley, and subsequently drove team for Mr. Buch to and from Pottersville. For several years after this Mr. McGann was engaged in huckstering. He taught school in Miller's school house four months, after which he was for seven months clerk in a store in Mahantango Valley, then taught again four months in Jackson township. Then he was clerk for six months in Powell's Valley, then taught four months at Jacksonville. In 1858 Mr. McGann spent nine months in Harrisburg, in the employ of the Northern Central Railway Company, as clerk; he then taught still another four months at Fisher- ville. He had fourteen acres of land which he farmed between other engagements.
On August 19, 1862, Mr. McGann enlisted in company H, One Hundred and Thirtieth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, as first lieutenant, under Captain Hoofacker and Col. H. J. Zinn. The Captain being on sick
leave, Lieutenant McGann commanded the company. He participated in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. Being wounded at Fredericksburg, he was for a few days in the field hospital. He was discharged from the service May 20, 1862, and returned home. He continued teaching school, cultivating his farm, and working for other farmers. Upon the ordering of the draft, February 24, 1864, Captain McGann formed a company of forty-two men and joined company E, Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry. He was promised the command of the company, but failed to obtain it. He fought in the battle of Cripple Creek, and throughout the campaign of Gen- eral Sherman. On October 16, 1864, he was made private secretary of General Kilpatrick, with whom he remained until the close of the war. He received his discharge at Lex- inton, N. C., July 20, 1865. After returning home, Captain McGann continued teaching and farming. He bought more land, and has now eighty-five acres, which he has highly improved. He retired from active farming, and since 1876 has dealt in real estate, settled up estates, etc.
Captain McGann was married, in Jackson township, in 1857, to Miss Elspy, daughter of Colonel G. and May (Zimmerman) Fetter- hoff, born in Jackson township, April 28, 1835. They have three children : Isaac H., Lutheran pastor, of Union county, Pa., was educated at the State Normal School, at Mil- lersville, and the Missionary Institute, in Snyder county ; was ordained to the ministry in 1885; married Annie Mattis, and has three children : Maud, Laura and Evaline; Ellen, married, in 1882, to James F. Gerberich, who was born in Jackson township; son of Amos and Julia A. (Keiter) Gerberich, at- tended school in Jackson township, was six years turnkey at Harrisburg lock-up, farms the homestead of his wife's father, has three children: J. D. Cameron, Annie Gertrude and Esther; Annie E., teacher in Jackson township, educated in the high school in Harrisburg, and graduate of Berrysburg, and Millersville State Normal School, has been teaching three years.
Captain McGann is a Republican. He was clerk in the county commissioners' office, county auditor, assessor and tax col- lector; he was also for several years justice of the peace. He was captain of a volunteer company formed before the Civil war. He is a member, and is chaplain, and has been
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commander of R. B. Miller Post, No. 392, G. A. R. He is one of the most widely known and most popular men of the county. He is esteemed for his virtues, and beloved for his good will and kindness to all.
-SHOOP, DANIEL, retired farmer, was born in Jackson township, Dauphin county, Pa., October 2, 1828. His father, Daniel Shoop, Sr., was born in Dauphin county, and was a farmer and stockman in Jackson township. He married Susan Albright, a native of Dau- phin county. They had eight children : Henry, deceased; Catherine, deceased, wife of Jonas Poole; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of Leonard Bender; Frederick, deceased ; Lydia, wife of John Warfield; Sarah, de- ceased, wife of Christian Dravids; Daniel, and Clinton, of Harrisburg. Mr. Shoop and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. They died in Jackson township. They were good people, and highly respected.
Daniel Shoop, Jr., attended the common school in the winter and worked on the farm for his father in the summer until he was fourteen years old, when his father died. He remained on the homestead one year longer, when it was sold to pay the debts of his father's estate. Then he had to go into the world and look out for himself. IIe worked as a farm hand, and at various em- ployments, receiving smail wages for hard labor. At twenty-three years of age he went to Jacksonville to learn shoemaking. He worked there one year and then removed to a small place of sixteen acres, where he now lives. This place he improved and culti- vated and made his home. He worked at his trade and tilled his little farm for ten years. By industry and frugal living he prospered, and at the end of ten years was able to buy thirty-five acres more. By con- tinving to work and to save, he added more land from time to time, and is now in pos- session of two hundred and sixty acres of good, arable land, all of which is fully culti- vated and improved. Mr. Shoop has built several dwelling houses and barns and other farm structures on his different farms which his sons are cultivating. He built a fine house for himself, where he and his wife are now living retired from active business.
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