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 35
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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
rine, wife of Alexander Klink; Mary, wife of Henry Koof, living in Oklahoma, and Uriah. Mrs. Ricker's father died in March, 1863, and her mother October 7, 1852. Their family consisted of seven children, all of whom, except Mrs. Ricker, are de- ceased. They are: Catherine, Mary, Eliza- beth, Fanny, Abraham, and Molly.
Uriah received his education in the public schools of his native township. He learned the business of tanning with his father, whom he succeeded at the age of twenty- one years, and continued until the begin- ning of the war, when he sold the tannery to Emanuel Fox. He then moved to Lower Paxton township and engaged in farming for four years, when he moved to New Kings- ton, Cumberland county, Pa., where he farmed on his father's farm. Losing all his stock and property by fire he returned to Lower Paxton township, and farmed for his father-in-law until the latter's death in 1875. He then purchased the farm on which he lived and continued farming there until 1886, when he retired. He was married, in 1856, to Barbara Sheetz, daughter of Messiah and Susan (Baker) Sheetz. They have a family of fourteen children : Raymond E., born June 6, 1858, deccased; Mary Eliza- beth, born May 2, 1860, wife of Jacob Kline; Catharine, born July 23, 1861, wife of E. D. Wright; Willis, deceased, born April 2, 1863; Uriah Monroe, deceased, born October 7, 1864; Ambrose, born April 25, 1866 ; Thias, deceased, born June 7, 1868; Laura Ann, born November 15, 1869, wife of John Sny- der; Mannasah, deceased, born July 29, 1872; Agnus M., born August 15, 1873, wife of Noah Wisler; Samuel, deceased ; Norman, deceased ; Freeman, deceased ; Elmer, de- ceased. Mr. Ricker is a Republican and has served on the school board. He and his family are members of the United Brethren church.
- SHOPE, JACOB, son of Abraham and Eliza- beth (Wasser) Shope, was born September 6, 1819, in Lower Paxton township, Dauphin county, Pa. His mother was the daughter of Dr. John L. Wasser, who was ship-surgeon on a Swiss vessel, and emigrated to America in 1769. His advantages of an early educa- tion were limited, and at the age of sixteen entered the office of the Gospel Publisher as an apprentice in the art of printing. He subsequently took charge of the office as foreman, then spent some time at Philadel-
phia, when returning to Harrisburg he there remained until the spring of 1840. He com- menced the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. David Shope, and began the practice of medicine in 1842, and upon the death of the latter located at Hummelstown, taking charge of the large practice left by the former. Until 1865 he continued in the active prosecution of his profession, and with much success. Dr. Shope married, in 1813, Esther, daughter of E. J. Mann, of Hum- melstown. Their children were: Charles David, who, at the age of seventeen, enlisted in the Seventh regiment, Pennsylvania vol- unteers ; was severely wounded in the hip at Gettysburg ; subsequently rejoined his com- mand ; promoted -sergeant of Colonel Mc- Coy's regiment, and killed in front of Peters- burg, June 19, 1864; Elizabeth, Ernest Mann, Ada Esther, Agnes May, and Carrie Lenah.
SHOPE, DAVID, son of Jacob Shope, was born July 25, 1808, in Lower Paxton town- ship, Dauphin county, Pa. His grandfather, Andrew Shope, emigrated from the Palati- nate, Germany, to America, arriving at Philadelphia October 22, 1754, on the ship " Halifax" from Rotterdam. He settled in what was then Lancaster county, married and was in service during the French and Indian war. He had three sons : Bernhard, Jacob, and Adam. He first married and re- moved to Centre county, where his descend- ants now reside. Jacob and Adam divided the farm, the former of whom subsequently disposed of his, the latter dying on the old homestead at the age of ninety-one years. Jacob Shope, who lived to the age of eighty- seven, married a Miss Hart, and their chil- dren were : Abraham, Jacob, Bernhard, Da- vid, Barbara, Mary, Elizabeth, and Catherine. David worked on his father's farm until the age of sixteen, receiving such educational advantages as the country schools then af- forded. He was afterwards sent to a select school in Cumberland county, and also that taught by Mr. Cummings at Brown's school house on the Jonestown road. He taught school several terms, and at the age of nine- teen began the study of medicine with Dr. Markley, of Manheim, Lancaster county, Pa., and after the latter's death with his successor, Dr. Veasey. In October, 1832, he located at Hummelstown, where he contin- ued in the successful practice of his profes- sion until his death, December 2, 1842, at
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the age of thirty-four years, and is buried in the Hummelstown cemetery. Few prac- titioners stood higher in the confidence and esteem of the community in which he lived than Dr. David Shope. He never married.
-SHADEL, DAVID F., farmer and butcher, Linglestown, was born at Lykens, January 6, 1858. He is a son of Henry H. and Mary S. (Matter) Shadel. The father died No- vember 23, 1883, aged about forty-five years. He was an earnest Christian, and had a family of seven children : Luther, deceased, Sarah C., Christia, Harry B., Charles G., Louis, and Howard. The father of Mrs. Shadel died July 21, 1883, and the mother survives. Their children are: Edward, Jo- seph, Jacob, Mary, Lydia, Henry, and Samuel. David F. received his education in the public schools of Washington and Middle Paxton townships. He lived with his grandparents until nine years old, then went home and remained with his parents until the age of seventeen. He was engaged in various oc- cupations until 1884, when he purchased his present homestead. He was married, January 30, 1879, to Miss Elizabeth R. Rye, daughter of Peter and Rebecca Rye. They have two children, Annie M. and Henry E. His wife died February 8, 1893. Her par- ents are both deceased and had five chil- dren : Annie, Fannie, Elizabeth, deceased, Ephraim, deceased, and Katie, deceased. On June 7, 1894, Mr. Shadel married, sec- ondly, Miss Mary M. Rye, cousin of his former wife.
- SMITH, WILLIAM C., M. D., Linglestown, was born at Annville, Lebanon county, Pa., October 9, 1828. He is a son of Conrad and Susanna N. (Ensminger) Smith. The grand- father served as an officer in the Revolution- ary army. The father died at Hummels- town at the age of ninety years and the mother at the age of fifty-six years. Dr. Smith received his primary education at Hummelstown and attended the Annville Academy for six months. He then returned to Hummelstown and began the study of medicine with Dr. John Stahly, with whom he remained three years, and at the same time attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, from which institution he graduated on April 8, 1850. IIe then located in Hummelstown for one year, then in Lin- glestown and Middletown each for one year. He next returned to Linglestown and has
continued the practice of his profession there up to the present time. During the war he treated with remarkable kindness the fami- lies of the brave defenders of our Union. In 1866 he was instrumental in securing the funds necessary for the erection of the sol- diers' monument in the Willow Grove ceme- tery, dedicated to the brave soldiers of Lower Paxton, West Hanover, East Hanover and Susquehanna townships. He was married, in 1850, to Miss Hanna A. (Care) Smith, daughter of John and Sarah (Geiger) Care. Their children are: Edward C., deceased. William C., deceased, Charles H., M. D., and Jeremiah P., M. D. Dr. Smith also greatly assisted in the establishment of Union chapel of Linglestown, which is used by the German Baptist, Methodist Episcopal and Lutheran denominations, and the Union Sabbath- school which meets each Sunday.
STROCK, JOHN H., instructor and principal of the Linglestown select school, was born in West Hanover March 21, 1846, and is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Hurtz) Strock. The grandfather, Jacob Strock, Sr., was born De- cember 15, 1785, in West Hanover, was a farmer by occupation and died February 28, 1834. The father, Jacob, Jr., was born No- vember 9, 1814, and died June 11, 1879. He learned the trade of shoemaking with John Shakespeare, near Hornerstown, South Hanover township, and followed it his entire life. He was a consistent Christian and his wife survives him. They had a family of three children: Angelina, wife of Jacob Karnerer; John H., and Catharine, wife of Edward Hetrick. The parents of Mrs. Strock are both deceased, the father having died in October, 1891, and the mother on February 10, 1887. They had these chil- dren : Catharine; Mary, wife of John H. Naecker; Sarah E .; Annie, wife of Dr. T. P. Batdorpf; Ira W., living at Oberlin ; Ella. wife of Edward Lingle; Susanna, wife of Joseph A. Stober; Emma, wife of Mor- ris Tobias; Lillie, wife of John Tanner; Maggie, wife of Jacob Burkheimer; Minnie, wife of William Look ; and two children who died in infancy.
John H. received his primary education in the public schools of West Hanover town- ship. At the age of sixteen he attended a select school taught by David Shope and then went for one term to the St. Thomas Institute at Linglestown. He next attended the Millersville State Normal School in Lan-
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caster county. After teaching school at va- rious places for about ten years he engaged in the retail boot and shoe business, at Linglestown, with Michael Forney, of the well known firm of Forney Brothers, shoe manufacturers, Harrisburg. He soon pur- chased the entire business and continued until 1884, when he began teaching again. In 1887 he established a select and normal school. He also assisted in the incorpora- tion of the Dauphin County Fire Insurance Company and served as its secretary for five years.
In 1874 he was elected justice of the peace for five years and was twice re-elected. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster of Lingles- town, and at the expiration of his service in that capacity was again elected justice of the peace. He was married, on October 4, 1870, to Sarah E. Yeager, daughter of William and Catharine (Focht) Yeager. They have a family of six children : Luther Wesley, born September 6, 1874, and died June 4, 1878; Sarah Elmira, born Novem- ber 6, 1877, and died May 20, 1881; Katie Savilla, born October 3, 1871, an accom- plished musician ; Lydia Anna, born De- cember 23, 1872; Maggie Viola, born March 5, 1879, and Harry Blaine, born January 24, 1887. Mr. Strock is a member of Lodge No. 629, I. O. O. F. and of the Jr. O. U. A. M., No. 680, Linglestown. He and his fam- ily are members of the Lutheran Evangeli- cal church.
- SMITH, CHARLES H., M. D., was born in Linglestown, Dauphin county, Pa., August 9, 1851, and is a son of Dr. W. C. Smith and Hannah (Care) Smith. The grandfather Smith was of German descent, and came to America in 1761, and was a conspicuous sol- dier in Peter Grubb's company during the Revolutionary war. He believed that " vincit amor patriæ." The maternal grand- father was of English descent, and settled prior to the Revolution in Hopewell, Ches- ter county. With the crude facilities at his command he cast cannons to be used by Washington. Charles H. received his early training in the public schools and later at- tended Dickinson Seminary at Williams- port. Here he prepared for the University of Pennsylvania, from which institution he graduated in 1872. He located at Lingles- town, and practiced with his venerable father for several years. He married Miss Laura E. Unger, and they have three chil-
dren : Sarah, Grace, and Hannah. He is a member of the Dauphin County Medical Society, and a very prominent and success- ful practitioner.
- UNGER, JOHN J., farmer, Linglestown, was born in Lower Paxton township on the old homestead, June 14, 1858. He is a son of John G. and Sarah (Wolf) Unger. The father died July 21, 1889, and the mother March 5, 1887. They had a family of eight children : Mary, deceased ; David, deceased ; Annie, deceased ; Susan, wife of Andrew Brightbill; Laura E., wife of C. H. Smith ; John J., George A. and David E. John J. received his primary education in the pub- lic schools of his native township. He then assisted his father on the farm until twenty- three years of age, when he began farming on his own account, and has continued up to the present time. He married Miss Re- becca E. (Hain) Unger, November 18, 1880. Their children are: Ira Leroy, born April 14, 1882; Anna Edith, born January 28, 1884; John Elias, born December 27, 1886. He is a Democrat, and the family are mem- bers of the German Reformed church
"CRUM, SARAH JANE, widow of John Crum, was born in Lower Paxton township, April 1, 1845. She is a daughter of Samuel and Hanna Rhadel (MeElhenny) Crum, The father passed away in July, 1862, and his wife a few weeks later. They had shese chil- dren : Samuel and Joseph, both deceased ; Mary Ann, Hannah, Elizabeth, Caroline, Alexander, Matilda, William, Amanda, Sarah Ann, and John. Mr. Crum's father, David, died in October, 1889, and his, mother, Catharine, in 1865. They were residents of Lower Paxton township. Sarah Jane re- ceived her education in Lower Paxton town- ship. " After the death of her father she re- sided among strangers until her marriage on December 22, 1865, to John Crum. They had six children : Mary Ella, boin October 9, 1866, and died October 27, 1867 ; Rebecca, who died in infancy; John H., born June 25, 1868; William Edward, born November 20, 1869; Jennie S., born June 25, 1872 ; David F., born February 12, 1877. Her husband, John Crum, died June 3, 1886, at the age of forty- five years. In politics Mr. Crum was a Re- publican and served two terms as school director. ITe was a member of the Church of God, of which his family also are mem- bers.
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
LOWER SWATARA TOWNSHIP.
ETTER, ABRAM LANDIS, editor and pro- prietor of the Middletown Journal (weekly), established in 1854, and Daily Journal, es- tablished 1890, was born in Middletown, Dauphin county, Pa., August 15, 1862. He is a son of the late George W. Etter, who was born in Middletown in 1815, was en- gaged in the lumber business for forty years, and conducted one of the largest saw mill plants along the Susquehanna south of Williamsport. His ancestors have resided in Middletown for more than a century.
Abram L. was the youngest son of his father. His education was such as could be obtained by a bright and ambitious boy in the schools of his native town. But his course of study did not end with the close of his school days. He chose as his occupa- tion for life the printer's trade, and went into the office of his predecessor, the late J. W. Stofer, to learn the art. The printing office is the very best school for mental training and development in special direc- tions; certainly orthography and grammar are not mastered so thoroughly in any school as they are in the printing office. And when the office is that of a newspaper, there is a training in literary taste and an attainment in the use of language excelling the results of tuition in school and college. In such favorable conditions did young Etter continue his education, beginning his apprenticeship in 1878. In 1881, when in his nineteenth year, he secured employment in the Government printing office in Wash- ington, D. C., and continued there for three years. In 1888 he was employed in Chi- cago, Ill., in the office of the Daily Market Report, a trade publication.
His native newspaper tastes and talents began to assert themselves, and he looked about him for an opportunity to gratify them. His old friend, the proprietor of the Middletown Journal, was compelled by fail- ing health to contemplate the abandonment of active business. The would-be seller and purchaser were naturally brought together, and the contract between them materialized and was consummated in September, 1885. In his native place, in the office where he had learned the art of printing and the greater art of newspaper making, surrounded by a host of old and tried friends and well- wishers and prospective patrons, Mr. Etter was in the conditions calculated to stimulate
his powers to their most active and fullest exertion. The results are demonstrated, and are to the utmost satisfactory. They are told in few words, which embody the statement of large facts; the removal of the plant to more commodious and convenient quarters, the increase in the size of the paper from four pages of eight columns cach to eight pages of six columns each to ac- commodate the rapidly growing advertising patronage, the addition of the Daily Journal, and last, but not least, the enlarged list of subscribers; these are the facts which justify the offering of hearty congratulations to both proprietor and patrons on the posses- sion of a successful newspaper. Like many, perhaps most newspaper men, Mr. Etter owns to some political aspirations, and be- yond doubt they will be gratified. The people are always awake to an opportunity to secure for public service the ability and fidelity of successful men. Mr. Etter was married, June 11, 1889, to Anna Ober, daughter of Rev. Joseph Nissley, of Derry township.
- NISSLEY, ISAAC O., editor and proprietor of the Middletown Press, was born on his father's farm, one mile south of Hummels- town, February 8, 1854. He is the eldest son of the Rev. Joseph and Anna (Ober) Nissley. His boyhood and youth were spent on the farm, with the usual activities in the way of work and play which fall to the lot of the farmer boy. During the winter months he was a regular attendant at the Stoverdale school, until promoted to the oc- cupation of teaching in some of the public schools in the adjoining townships. He remained upon the farm for the full period of his minority, but when he came of age he resolved to extend the course of his studies. With a stock of good health and a flow of spirits, he en- tered the State Normal School at Indiana, Pa. Here he found several hundred young people filled with the same desire for im- provement and impelled by the same am- bition for usefulness as himself. He was graduated from this institution in the class of 1879. While pursuing his course of study he found time, during the year 1578, to teach the classes in vocal music and pen- manship. Before and after graduation he taught in the public schools of Swatara, South Hanover and Derry townships, Maytown,
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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
East Donegal, Lancaster county, Hummels- town and Annville, nine terms in all.
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In March, 1882, he removed to Middle- town, having bought the Press of J. R. Hoffer, then also editor of the Mount Joy Herald, now deceased. In the field of journalism and in the management of his paper Mr. Nissley found scope for his talents. In the community the spirit of improve- mant was prevalent, and growth and enlarge- ment were rapidly attained. Mr. Nissley was abreast of all advancement and a leader in all that tended to make the place larger and more prosperous. The growth of his paper is an indication of his ability in the line of a " boomer." Under his management the Press has increased its circulation more than five fold, or to state the figures, from a circulation of about three hundred and fifty the list has risen to near the two thousand mark.
Mr. Nissley united with St. Peter's Lu- theran church in 1887. The next year he was elected to the church council, and has been a member of that body ever since, part of the time as trustee, and part as elder. He has been leader of the choir during almost all the time he has been connected with the church. After the death of George A. Lauman, Mr. Nissley was elected super- intendent of the Sabbath-school, and is the third man to fill that office since the school was organized, seventy-five years ago. The school has eight hundred pupils on its roll. Mr. Nissley was married, June 2, 1881, to Miss Emma M. Brunner, daughter of W. E. Brunner, of Campbellstown, Lebanon county, Pa. They began housekeeping at Marietta, but moved to Middletown in 1882, where they have since resided.
MISH, GEORGE F., M. D., Middletown, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., July 5, 1827. He is a son of George and Catherine (Doll) Mish. The first of the Mish family to settle in Dau- phin county was Jacob Mish, a son of Johannes Mish, of Cumberland county, Pa., who settled in Harrisburg in 1780. He was a tanner, and established one of the first tanneries of Harrisburg. His wife was Cathe- rine Bickle. Their children were: John Biekle, George, Jacob, Henry, and Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of George W. Boyd, of Harrisburg. John B. Mish read medicine with Dr. Samuel Agnew, of Harris- burg, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He located in Lebanon, Pa.,
where he resided until his death in 1817. He served as burgess of the town and as pro- thonotary of Lebanon county, and was a highly respected citizen. Jacob Mish learned the tanner's trade, and became associated with his father in that business. He died in Harrisburg. Henry Mish died at the age of twenty-two years.
George Mish, father of George F., was born in Harrisburg about 1795. He received the ordinary education of that period, and learned the tanner's trade, but not finding it a congenial vocation he did not follow it. He was connected with the Government land office for some years, and afterwards became a contractor on the Pennsylvania canal, Pennsylvania railroad and other public works. In early life he was a Democrat, but later became identified with the Whig party. He served as prothonotary of the county. During the war of 1812 he enlisted in the volunteer service, but after reaching Balti- more the services of the company were not required. He was cashier of the First Dau- phin Deposit Bank. He was a member of the German Reformed church and of the Masonic fraternity. He died in 1850.
His wife was Catherine Doll, daughter of Joseph and Esther Doll, of Dauphin county, who survived him many years, and died in 1879. Their family consisted of four daugh- ters, who died in infancy, and four sons, as follows: (1) Henry Augustus, was educated in Harrisburg and graduated from Marshall College, Mercersburg, Franklin county. He studied law with George W. Harris, of Har- risburg, and practiced his profession at Chambersburg and Mercersburg. He estab- lished the Mercersburg Weekly Journal and the Franklin Intelligencer, of Chambersburg, and also published the Mercersburg Review, edited by Rev. J. W. Nevin, D. D., and the Kirchenfreund, edited by Rev. Philip Schaff, D. D. He afterwards removed to Harrisburg and practiced his profession for a short time, when he established the Keystone Nurseries. During the war of the Rebellion he served as volunteer for a short time, and was ap- pointed to office in Washington, D. C. He was never married. He died September 16, 1870. (2) Simon Cameron Mish was born January 7, 1833. He was appointed in the United States navy as a midshipman, and went with Commodore Perry to Japan. He .claimed that he and Perry introduced the art of English printing into Japan. He re- signed from the navy at the outbreak of the
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Rebellion and enlisted in the Fourth Penn- sylvania cavalry ; he was sergeant-major of his regiment. He was taken prisoner and confined at Andersonville, where it is sup- posed he died. (3) Jacob Mish was born at Harrisburg, April 4, 1835. He engaged in farming in Swatara township and afterwards became connected with the Keystone Nur- series. He served in the war of the Rebellion and was quartermaster of his regiment. (4) George F.
Dr. George F. Mish was reared in. Harris- burg. He received his education at the Harrisburg Academy and at Captain Part- ridge's Military Institution, of Bristol, Pa., afterwards of Norwich, Vt. He learned the printer's trade, and afterwards read medicine under Dr. Joshua M. Wiestling, of Harris- burg, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1853; he began his practice in the same year at Middletown, Pa. In 1858 he moved to Harrisburg, where he prac- ticed for two years, and returned to Middle- town in 1860, where he has since resided. He is one of the oldest physicians of Dauphin county. He has served as vice-president of the Dauphin County Medical Society, and is a member of the State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association. From 1862 to 1865 he served as assistant surgeon of the Fifteenth regiment, Pennsylvania vol- unteers. He was taken prisoner at Stone River and confined in Libby prison, but was soon exchanged. He is one of the organizers of the Middletown Gas Company and is its vice-president. He is one of the organizers and the president of the Middletown Drain- age Company. He belongs to Simon Came- ron Post, G. A. R., of Middletown. The Doctor enjoys an extensive practice. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church of Middletown. In 1859 he married Mary E. Smuller, daughter of George and Caroline (Fisher) Smuller, of Middletown. They have four children : Caroline S., wife Dr. Charles H. Saul, of Steelton, Pa .; George, civil engineer, of Middletown; Mary C., at home; and Frederick, who died in 1895, aged twenty-three years.
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