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 38
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John L. received his education in the pub-
lic schools. For three years he was em- ployed in teaching school. He conducted his uncle's grist mill in 1866-67-68. In 1870 he came to Middletown and became a member of the firm of Reider, Ramsey & Nissley, conducting a planing mill and lum- ber yard. In 1879 he became connected with Engle & Bro., and managed their im- plement business for seven years. At the end of this period he succeeded the firm, and has since conducted the business in his own interest. In 1865 he furnished a substitute in the war of the Rebellion. He is a direc- tor and is treasurer of the Londonderry Live Stock Insurance Company, and was also the secretary of the company for two years. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, Mystic Chain, Knights of Pythias, and Knights of Malta. In politics he is a Republican. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Ada K. Landis, daughter of Abraham Landis, of Middletown. They have no chil- dren. He and his wife are active members of the Bethel church. He served as deacon in the church for twelve years.
- KLUGH, JACOB FREDERICK, Highspire, Pa., was born in Newberrytown, York county, Pa., March 17, 1838. He is a son of Freder- ick HI. and Catherine (Elicker) Klugh, na- tives of York county, who moved to May- town, Lancaster county, Pa., in 1840. His father was a potter, and also taught school in York and Lancaster counties.
J. F. Klugh was reared in Maytown, Pa., and educated in the public schools. In 1852 his father died, and he then worked with his brother, Henry E. Klugh (now a prominent and successful attorney of New York City), in his father's pottery at May- town, Pa., until the year 1857, when he took charge of the pottery himself and carried on the pottery business until 1864. In 1857 he began teaching school in the winter, and continued teaching until 1868, and one term after that in 1874; and while teaching he was principal of the Elizabethtown high school three terms, the Manheim high school one term, and the Highspire high school two terms. In 1865 he engaged in the . clothing business in Marietta, Pa., and Har- risburg. He was bookkeeper for the Eliza- bethtown boot and shoe factory, and also bookkeeper and local editor on the Harris- burg Patriot for a short time. Ile perma- nently came to Ilighspire in 1870, engaging with William K. Wilson, and had charge of
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his business and telegraphing until 1882, when he began the manufacture of cigars, dealing in real estate, surveying and draft- ing. Ile quit manufacturing cigars in the spring of 1889, since which time he has given his attention to real estate, surveying, draft- ing, and the office of the justice of the peace, to which office he was first elected in 1874, and has uninterruptedly served in that ca- pacity until the present time, with the ex- ception of two years in the service of the United States Government as special exam- iner of pensions, under the commissioner of pensions, Hon. John C. Black. Recently he has purchased about twenty-eight acres of finely located land adjoining the town of Highspire, which he laid out as " Klughton," an addition to Highspire. He is a member of Elizabethtown Lodge, No. 128, I. O. O. F., and Dauphin Encampment, No. 10, of Har- - risburg, Pa. He was the promoter of the Middletown, Highspire and Steelton Street Railway Company, of which he was a stock- holder and director until it was built and swallowed up by the East Harrisburg Pas- senger Railroad Company, now a part of the Harrisburg Traction Company, and was a stockholder in the Highspire Car Shops, which failed in 1872. and is a stockholder of the Highspire Building and Savings As- sociation. In 1865 he married Miss Mary C., daughter of George and Matilda (Black) Hambright, of Wilmington, Del. They have had seven children, five of whom are liv- ing, viz: Oliver R., M. D., of Harrisburg, Pa., Ida Nora, Aaron D., Mary C., and Jacob Handcock. Mr. Klugh was brought up a Lutheran, which church and Sunday-school he regularly attended, but since he is at Highspire he is a contributor to and the fam- ily attend the United Brethren church.
"ESHLEMAN, JOHN, Highspire, Pa., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., November 26, 1842. He is a son of Abraham and Susan (Ebersole) Eshleman, natives of Lancaster county. His father was a laborer and died in that county. He was a member of the Mennonite church. His family consisted of ten children, reared to maturity, seven of whom are now living : Martha, wife of Uriah Eichelberger, of Du Page county, Ill .; Susan, wife of Jacob Hirsh, of Du Page county, Ill .; Adeline, of Du Page county, III .; David, of Nebraska, a saddler ; Henry, of Marietta, Lancaster county ; Simon, of Donegal township, Lancaster county, and John.
John was brought up and educated in Lan- caster county. His school days were limited by his earnest desire to enter the ranks of the breadwinners. He went to work as a wage- carner at the age of eleven on the farm of David Ebersole. Until he was twenty-one years old he worked at farming for various people. During this time he was accuniu- lating knowledge and experience and gaining physical strength and muscular vigor, which were to serve him as capital in the business of life. Leaving farm work, he engaged as a laborer with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Here his superiority to the com- mon laborer with whom he was associated was soon recognized and appreciated. In a short time he was made foreman of the " floating gang," and helped to build the double track from Middletown to Columbia. In 1868 he moved to Highspire and became section foreman for the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, which position he filled until 1883. In this year he engaged in the lum- ber business, in which he has since continued. He is a stockholder and director in the Har- risburg and Middletown Pike Company and a stockholder in the Harrisburg, Highspire and Steelton Electric Railway Company. He has also large real estate interests. He is Republican in politics. He served as as- sessor of Lower Swarata township for three years. He is superintendent of the High- spire Cemetery Association. Recently Mr. Eshleman has given further proofs of his enterprise by laying out twenty acres of land at the east end of Highspire into town lots, which is called the Eshleman addition to Ilighspire. These lots are being rapidly pur- chased by residents and newcomers, who are erecting handsome and comfortable homes, and in a very short time this will form one of the most picturesque portions of the vil- lage. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Ellen, daughter of Henry Wolf, of Lower Swatara township, by whom he has one child, Harry W., born in 1871. Mr. Eshleman is a mem- ber of the Church of God.
WOLF, FRANKLIN, farmer, Highspiro P. O., was born in York county, Pa., December 29, 1849. He is a son of George W. and Lydia (LeFevre) Wolf, natives of York county, Pa. His father was a farmer and tobacco raiser. He was an active member of the Lutheran church. He was Republi- can in politics. Hle died in 1868, his wife in 1852. They had nine children, two of whom
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are now living: Annie, wife of Peter Shingle, of Goldsboro, York county, and Franklin.
Franklin was reared in York county and educated in the public schools till he was sixteen years old, when he became a worker for wages, hiring out as a farm laborer. In 1865 he came to Dauphin county, and lived with Hon. Isaac Mumma for thirteen years. For the last eighteen years of this period he rented his farm and conducted the business for himself. In 1878 he engaged with Col. John Motter, and has since had charge of his farming interests. He is an active Re- publican. He has served as school director, treasurer and assessor of Lower Swatara township. He is a member of Prince Edwin Lodge, No. 486, F. & A. M., of Middletown ; of the Order of United American Mechanics, and of Harrisburg Lodge, No. 68, and En- campment No. 10, I. O. O. F., of Harrisburg. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Hoke, of Lower Swatara township. She died December 12. 1883, leaving four children : Harry E., married Elizabeth, daughter of David Smith, and has one child, Walter S .; Emma, wife of David Smith, of Lower Swatara township, and has two children, Annie and Harry ; John Mot- ter, and Harvey J. He was again married, in 1884, to Miss Kate R. Duncan, daughter of David Ober, of Swatara township, by whom he has four children : Clarence, Annie, Ober, and Mary. Mr. Wolf and his family attend the Lutheran church.
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ALLEMAN, HENRY, farmer, Middletown P. O., was born on the farm he now occupies, February 28, 1832. He is a son of Michael and Catherine (Rudy) Alleman. Five broth- ers, his ancestors, came from Germany at an early day and settled in Berks county, Pa. Henry Alleman, grandfather of Henry, was born in Berks county and settled in what is now Lower Swatara township, where he be- came a prominent farmer and distiller. He was a member of the Lutheran church and helped to build the old Lutheran church of Middletown. His first wife was Miss Julia Long, of South Annville township, Lebanon county. His second wife was a widow Sibert, and survived bim several years. He was buried on the Rook farm. His family con- sisted of eight sons and two daughters, many of them settled in Ohio. Two died in Franklin county, Pa. The maternal grand- parents (Rudy) were members of the Re-
formed church and their bodies are interred in Shoop's church cemetery.
Michael Alleman, father of Henry, was born in Lower Swatara township in 178-1, and was a farmer and distiller. He was a prominent member and a deacon in the Lu- theran church. He was first a Whig in poli- tics, and allied himself with the Republican party upon its formation. He served as school director for many years. He died in 1868; his wife survived him until 1890. They reared six children : Susanna, widow of John Cope, of Palmyra, Lebanon county, Pa .; Elizabeth, wife of John S. Foltz, of Conewago, Pa .; Maria, wife of Michael Con- nelly, of Middletown ; Michael R., who was trustee in the Emaus Orphans' Home for many years, died in 1870; his wife was Leah Royer, of Schaefferstown, Lebanon county, Pa., who now resides in Steelton ; Henry ; and Joseph W., died in 1893, farmer in Lower Swatara township, married Margaret K. Royer, now residing in Lower Swatara township.
Henry received his education in the town- ship schools, the Middletown high school and Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg. He taught school in Dauphin county for five years. Since 1855 he has been engaged in farming. He is an active member of the Republican party. He has served as town- ship auditor, Ile is a trustee of Emaus Or- phans' Home. He was married to Miss Sa- lome Seltzer, daughter of Samuel Seltzer, of Middletown. They have had fourteen chil- dren : Samuel, of Swatara township, married Miss Reed ; Martin; a carpenter, of Middle- town, married Miss Meade Wallower; Sarah, wife of John V. Ricker, of Swatara town- ship; Henry M., of Swatara township, mar- ried Minnie Fisher, resides in Albany county, N. Y .; Edward J., of Paxton township, mar- ried Sarah Mumma ; Robert G., Abner T., Ira F., Mary, Salome, Catherine, Helen, David James, and David A., deceased. The family are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Alleman has served in all the church offices.
- HOCKER, ANDREW C., Highspire, Pa., was born in Highspire, May 3, 1861. He is a son of Jacob and Jane (Keplinger) Hocker. His father was born in the vicinity of Harrisburg, March 25, 1819, and was a son of Jacob Hocker, who was born April 17, 1775, and died April 8, 1836. Jacob Hocker, Jr., moved with his father, by wagon, to Ohio. After remaining there a short time he returned to
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Dauphin county and worked as a driver on the Union canal. He invested his earnings in the purchase of a boat, which he conducted for several years. After this he engaged in mercantile business at Union Deposit for a short period ; he then came to Highspire and opened a store which he conducted until 1884, with the exception of one year spent in Reading, Pa. He was one of the original stockholders of the Highspire Car and Manu- facturing Company. He was a member of the Order of American Mechanics. He united with the Hummelstown Lutheran church in 1835. He was Republican in politics, and filled various township offices. He died March 28, 1892. His wife survives him. They were married in Harrisburg, Decem- ber 13, 1842. Their family consisted of eight children : Mary, married William K. Wilson, and died in Washington; David K., died in Philadelphia; Amelia J., wife of Shannon Kore, of Highspire; Robert J., died in in- fancy ; Catherine Ann, wife of M. A. Bart- lett; Ella, wife of L. W. Kribbs, of Washing- ton ; W. C. A. L., who died in Highspire, and Andrew C.
The latter received his education at the public school of Highspire, and entered his father's store as a clerk. In 1884 he pur- chased the business and continued it until 1893. Since that time he has devoted his attention to his large real estate interests. He is a member of the Order of American Mechanics. He is a Republican with Prohi- bition proclivities. He was married, in 1884, to Alice F., daughter of Henry Zimmerman, of Lower Swatara township, by whom he has four children : Mervyn J., Jacob C., Ivan, and Edna Francis. Mr. Hocker and his wife are prominent members of the United Breth- ren church, of Highspire, in which he holds the office of trustee and is a class leader.
-MUMMA, JOSIAH J., farmer, Highspire, Pa., was born in Lebanon county, Pa., February 12, 1841. He is a son of Isaac and Cathe- rine (Kreider) Mumma. He was reared and educated in Lebanon county. He came to Dauphin county in 1864, and located in Lower Swatara township. He was married, in 1862, to Miss Annie Elizabeth Ulrich, daughter of Michael Ulrich, of Lower Swatara township, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Mumma, during the progress of the war of the Re- bellion, was patriotic and in full sympathy with those who sought to maintain the
Union and perpetuate the life of the Nation. He was a young man, just beginning life and life's business on the farm, and had just married. While he was not so situated that he could enlist in the army and render service in person, he was yet entirely will- ing to bear his part in the patriotic sacri- fices which were demanded of all good citi- zens. Consequently when he was drafted, he cheerfully furnished a substitute who was young and strong and able to do full ser- vice in his name and place in the army. Mr. Mumma is a Republican. He is not an office seeker, but is active in the support of good men for all places of public trust. He has eight children : Catherine, wife of Addi- son Shearer, of Hummelstown, Pa .; Michael U., of Lower Swatara township .; Ida Alice; Josiah J., of Lower Swatara township; Eva U., Isaac N., Eluma Le Roy, and Annie Elizabeth May. The family are members of the Highspire United Brethren church.
Michael Ulrich, deceased, was born near Hummelstown, Pa., November 18, 1811. He moved with his parents to Lower Swatara township. He was a farmer by oc- cupation. He died March 6, 1889. He was married to Catherine Heicher, of Lower Swatara township, who died December 18, 1883. They had three children, two of whom died in infancy. The third, Annie Elizabeth, married Joshua J. Mumma, and resides in Lower Swatara township. Mr. Ulrich and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, in which he filled the of- fice of older.
-STRAYER, HORACE R., farmer, Middletown P. O., was born in Lower Swatara township, July 20, 1850. He is a son of Abraham and Mary (Rathbon) Strayer, natives of Dauphin county. His father was a son of Michael Strayer, and was born in Swatara township, May 9, 1813. After his marriage he located in Lower Swatara township, where he lived until his death, November 13, 1883. His wife was born in 1815, and died in 1890. They were members of the United Brethren church. They reared two children: Mary, wife of John M. Strickler, of Derry Church, and Horace R.
The latter was educated in the township schools and at Palmyra Academy. After completing his education he took his place in the ranks of school teachers. He was oc- cupied in this vocation for three terms. In 1870 he married Annie, daughter of Peter
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and Elizabeth (Berks) Hoffman. He en- gaged in farming, and found this occupation congenial and promising of good returns for the labor bestowed. In 1883 he purchased the farm he now occupies and cultivates. He is regarded as one of the prominent and solid farmers of the region. In connection with his farm he also conducts a dairy, and has a large list of customers to whom he fur- nishes a daily supply of milk. His reputa- tion is one of strict integrity. As one of his patrons expressed it, his cows and his cans furnish the same kind of milk. Mr. Strayer has three children : Clarence Hoffman, Hor- ace, and Albert. He is a Republican in politics. He has served as school director and as supervisor of the township. He and his family are members of the United Breth- ren church.
BODMER, EDWARD, proprietor of the Bod- mer House, Highspire, Pa., was born in Highspire in August, 1859. He is a son of Hilarius and Justina (Keller) Bodmer, both natives of Germany. Hilarius Bodmer was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, January 2, 1820, and is a son of John and Anna (Bach- man) Bodmer. Hisfather died in Germany, and he and his mother came to America in 1840. They located in Harrisburg where he worked at the stone mason's trade for two years. His mother moved to Ohio, and later to Iowa, where she died. Mr. Bodmer located in Highspire in 1844, and has since resided there. For thirty-two years he was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and had charge of their masonry work from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. He also kept a hotel at Highspire for many years. He is a member of Harrisburg Lodge, No. GS, I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Demo- crat. He was married, in Germany, in 1840, to Miss Justina, daughter of Christian Keller. She died in 1883. They had nine children, six of whom are now living: John, a mason, of Steelton ; Anna, wife of Edward Orth, of Steelton ; William, of Harrisburg; Sarah, wife of Taylor Crownshield, of Harrisburg; Catherine, widow of John Douglass, of Har- risburg, and Edward. Mr. Bodmer is a member of the United Brethren church.
Edward was educated in the public schools of his native place. He learned the trade of stone mason, which he followed for four years. He then learned baking, and estab- lished himself in that business in 1876. He was successful in this line of business, and
continued in it for seventeen years. In 1891 he purchased the Bodmer House, which he has conducted since that date. He is Dem- ocratic in politics, and has served as tax col- lector of the township. He was married, in 1888, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Sinigar, of Middletown. They have two children, Marion E. and Della May. Mrs. Bodmer is a member of the United Breth- ren church.
MORROW, JOHN C., of the firm of Rohrer & Morrow, proprietors of the Highspire Glue Works, was born in Mifflin county, Pa., Oc- tober 3, 1837 ; son of James W. and Mary (Cox) Morrow, natives of Ireland. They were married in Mifflin county. The father was engaged in the butchering business at Hollidaysburg, Pa., where he died. The mother died in Harrisburg in 1892. John C. was reared in Blair county and educated in the public schools. He engaged in the butchering business with his father. In 1862 he came to Harrisburg and was employed by the Adams Express Company, for which he worked nine years. He was then foreman of the Pennsylvania freight house at Harris- burg for three years. For several years he acted for the Baltimore Fast Freight Line. In connection with George F. Rohrer he dealt in produce. Later they began the manufacture of glue at Harrisburg and in 1884 removed to Highspire, where they erected their present plant. Mr. Morrow was married, in 1866, to Miss Ella Hittle, of Juniata county, Pa., by whom he has four sons : Albert B., married Miss Minnie Smith, and has two children, Le Roy and Helen ; Joseph W., married Minnie Mckinley, daughter of Warren Mckinley ; George R., and John C., Jr. Mr. Morrow and his family attend the Presbyterian church. He ranks with the solid business men of the com- munity; he has the qualities which compel success.
ZIMMERMAN, SOLOMON, farmer, Highspire P. O., was born on the farm he now occupies, February 15, 1850. Ile is a son of Henry and Catherine (Hawk) Zimmerman. His grandfather was also named Henry, and was a son of Peter Zimmerman, of Cumberland county, Pa. He came to Dauphin county at an early date, married Barbara Greiner, daugh- ter of Philip Greiner, and in 1814 purchased the farm now occupied by Solomon. Ile was also a wheelwright. Ile died in 1839;
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his wife survived until March, 1866. He was one of the prominent men of his day. In politics he was Democratic. They reared twelve children to maturity, namely: Re- becca, married Peter Brenner, and died in Oberlin, Pa .; Elizabeth, married John Becker, died May 19, 1895, at Springfield, Ohio; Cathe- rine, married Samuel Hanshue, died in Steelton, Pa .; Philip died in Middletown ; Henry ; George, of Springfield, Ohio; Simon, died in Ottawa, Ill .; Isaac, died in Springfield, Ohio; Mary, married Benjamin Brubaker, died in Springfield, Ohio; Solomon, died in Middletown; Valentine, of Lower Swatara township; and Magdalene, widow of Henry Meyers, of Conewago township.
Henry Zimmerman, father of Solomon, was born in Lower Swatara township, in 1816, He was educated by his own efforts, not hav- ing the advantage of schools. He learned the trade of carpenter and millwright, but made farming his chief occupation. He be- came one of the prominent farmers of the county, accumulating a handsome property by his own efforts. He was a Democrat. His wife was Catherine, daughter of Christian Hawk, of Swatara township, who owned the land upon which Oberlin is now built. This land was purchased by Henry Zimmerman, who, in turn, sold it to the persons who plotted the village. Henry Zimmerman died in 1882. His wife survives and lives at Steelton. They were members of the United Brethren church. They reared nine children, of whom seven are now living : Solomon ; Morris, of Spring- field, Ohio; Benjamin, died at seven years of age; Mary Ellen, wife of Henry Wolf, of Swatara township; Adeline J., wife of George Hocker, of Paxtang; Kate, died at twenty-four years of age; Samuel S., of Steelton ; Alice Frances, wife of A. C. Hocker, of Highspire; and Henry R., commercial traveler, of Pittsburgh.
Solomon received his education at the White Hall Academy and Lebanon Valley College, Annville, and at Millersville Normal School. After completing his education he became a teacher; he taught in the schools of Middletown, Steelton, Oberlin and Swatara township. He leased the stone quarries at the Half-way House and operated them six years, in partnership with George W. Cumbler. In 1883 he purchased his present farm. In ad- dition to ordinary farming he carries on a dairy, and also conducts the stone and lime business. He has large interests in Steelton, and owns many houses there. He is one of
the charter members and a director of the Highspire, Middletown and Steelton Street Railway Company. He is a Democrat in politics. He has served as school director of the township. Ile was married, in 1886, to Miss Lizzie M., daughter of John E. Ricker, of Swatara township. They have no children. Mrs. Zimmerman isa member of the Lutheran church.
-ORTH, CHARLES, merchant, Middletown, Pa., was born in Swatara township, October 3, 1843. He is a son of Henry and Cathe- rine (Eckert) Orth, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1837, and located in Swatara township, where the father died in 1846, and the mother in 1853. They were small farmers. They were members of the Lutheran church. Both are buried in the Oberlin cemetery. They had six children, three of whom are living: Mary, wife of Adam Sheets, of Ida Grove, Iowa; John, of Dauphin county, and Charles.
Charles was reared in Swatara township. He enjoyed only limited advantages in the public schools. He was put out to work on a farm when quite young, and continued to be thus employed until 1861. Although but eighteen years old, and without the knowledge of any business except farming, he had strong arms and a brave and hopeful heart. With earnest purpose and honorable aims he launched his boat upon the stream of life. In 1861 he married" Miss Barbara, daughter of John Stoeffer, of Paxton town- ship. He worked by the day for three years. The wages were not large, but with frugality and self-denial were sufficient for a comfortable support. He then took a farm from Rev. Solomon Swartz on shares, and this proved a step in advance. He removed from there to the Dr. Rutherford farm, upon which he lived nine years, and then farmed for Jacob Bomberger and conducted a dairy until 1887. These years upon the farm had been years of success and moderate accumu- lation. He was now prepared for another advance. He moved into Middletown, and in 1888 enrolled his name among the mer- chants and purchased his present business, which he has since conducted with gratify- ing success.
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