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 77
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
1056
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
ond wife died September 30, 1846, and lies interred beside her husband in Oak Hill cemetery, at Millersburg. John J. Bowman, father of Levi B. Bowman, was born Febru- ary 12, 1807, the day of the birth of Abra- ham Lincoln, and died August 13, 1894. He married Margaret, daughter of Simon and Jane (Woodside) Sallade, by whom he had ten children : Mary F., widow of Jeffer- son Black; Jane E., wife of Prof. Charles S. Fahnestock, of Chester, Pa .; Lucinda, Dr. John F., Simon S., Levi B., Margaret Ann, and three children, triplets, who died in in- fancy.
- John Sallade, maternal great-grandfather of Levi B., one of the most distinguished pioneers of the upper end of Dauphin county, was of Huguenot descent, and was born at Basel-on-the-Rhine, in March, 1739. He came with other members of his family to America at an early date, and was one of the first settlers on the Wiconisco. He was blind for about ten years before his death, which occurred in November, 1827. He was mar- ried, February 8, 1771, to Margaret, daugh- ter of George Everheart, born in Berks county, Pa., in 1747. When a young girl Miss Everheart was made captive by the In- dians during one of their incursions into the territory east of the Susquehanna river, after the defeat of Braddock, in the fall of 1755. She was captured at a place near what is now Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, Pa., and was carried into the wilderness west of the Ohio river, where she remained a prisoner until General Forbes, by his skill and. courage, broke the French power over that territory. She was then rescued and returned to her friends in Berks county, and lived to a ripe old age. John Sallade and his wife were the parents of five sons and two daughters, Simon being next to the youngest child.
Simon Sallade, maternal grandfather of Levi B., by his excellent character and dis- tinguished public services, made his name well known . to all the citizens of Dauphin county. He was born near Gratz, Dauphin county, March 7, 1785 ; son of John Sallade. Owing to the lack of schools in his day and place, he was obliged to depend on parental instruction, but being an apt pupil he early mastered the main branches of a good edu- cation. Like Abraham Lincoln, he read and re-read the few books that fell into his hands and made their contents his own. He was also greatly assisted, when near manhood, by a private instructor employed by himself
and other young men of the neighborhood. Mr. Sallade learned the trade of millwright with Jacob Berkstresser, of Bellefonte, and designed and built many of the old mills within thirty or forty miles of his residence. He was self-reliant and social, energetic and industrious, thoroughly upright and reliable, and became one of the most popular men of the region. Brought into contact with all kinds and classes of people, in social life and in business relations, he naturally be- came warmly interested in public matters, and especially in those of a political nature, and was in consequence drawn into public life; not, however, as a professional poli- tician, but as one seeking to promote the general welfare. He was always a loyal Democrat, but never a partisan, and when nominated for office made his appeal to the people and not to the party. He was four times the nominee of his party for the State Legislature, and was three times elected, al- though the majority in the county was with the opposite party, and the single instance of his defeat resulted from the clear and honest expression of his opposition to the en- actment of the Maine liquor law in 1853, when the candidate opposed to him was able to "trim" on the issue. Mr. Salladc served in the State Legislature during the sessions of 1819-20, 1836-37 and in 1853, in all of which he was a prominent and in- fluential member. He was the author of what is popularly termcd the " Wiconisco Feeder Bill," and to his advocacy and influ- ence, exerted with zeal and skill, that meas- ure so important to the material interests of the upper end of Dauphin county owes its passage. Through the cutlet provided by this improvement, the Lykens Valley coal fields were developed. Mr. Sallade was su- perintendent of the construction of the Wic- onisco canal, receiving his appointment from the canal commissioners.
Simon Sallade died at the old homestead near Elizabethville, November 8, 1854, and is interred in the village graveyard at tha place. His wife was Jane, daughter of John Woodside, of Lykens Valley ; she died Sep- tember 3, 1854, and is buried in the same graveyard. They had eight children : Mar- garet, married John J. Bowman, of Millers- burg; Ann, married Edward Bickel; Jane, married Daniel K. Smith; Simon, Jacob, John, George, and Joseph. The story of the life of Simon Sallade is a familiar one in Lykens Valley. His sociability, hospitality,
1057
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
humor, honesty and generous charity are still talked about, and form a part of the traditional local history, in which his name is mentioned with grateful recollection of his goodness and just recognition of his greatness.
Levi B. Bowman came with his parents to Millersburg in 1847, where he took the usual course of instruction in the public schools. From early youth he had assisted his uncle, Levi Bowman, in his store; and at the age of twenty he engaged with, that gentleman in a regular apprenticeship to his trade of tinsmithing. He was associated during his uncle's lifetime with his interests and afterwards succeeded him in the busi- ness, which he has successfully conducted up to the present time.
-DITTY, JOSEPH FRANKLIN, was the son of John and Catherine (Woodside) Ditty. David Ditty, his paternal grandfather, married Anna Osmond, by whom he had six chil- dren : Andrew, John, Joseph, Mary, and David ; all are deceased excepting Joseph. John Ditty, father of Joseph F., was born at Millersburg, and removed to Elizabethville, where he engaged in mercantile business. He was a candidate for the office of justice of the peace at Elizabethville, on an inde- pendent ticket, was elected by a large ma- jority, and re-elected for several terms, being recognized as an efficient and conscientious public servant. He removed to Millersburg in 1860, and died January 6, 1861, aged forty-eight years, eight months and sixteen days. His wife Catherine was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Yeager) Woodside ; she is also deceased. They had seven chil- dren : William Theodore, married Miss Lydia Houpt, served in the United States army for nine months; re-enlisted and served three years; was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison and at Anderson- ville for over eleven months, and liberated at the close of the war; was promoted to corporal and then to sergeant; Anna Mary received her education in the public schools of her native place; Isabella, wife of Will- iam Dent; John Peter, enlisted in company B, Twenty-sixth Illinois volunteer infantry, died in the hospital at Keokuk, Iowa, aged seventeen years; Thomas Milton, married Rebecca Taylor, also served in the United States army over two years ; Charles Fred- erick, died aged about twenty-four years ; and Joseph Franklin.
Joseph Franklin Ditty served an appren- ticeship of two and a half years at mould- ing, with Foster, Savidge & Co., and worked at the trade as a journeyman for a short time. Later he was occupied with various kinds of work. He is at present in the retail tobacco business in Millersburg. He resides with his sister, Anna Mary, and they occupy a beautiful modern dwelling in that town. Mr. Ditty is a member of Castle No. 332, K. of G. E., at Millersburg. His political views are Democratic. His sister and he attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
Thomas Woodside, maternal grandfather of Mr. Ditty, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Mary Yeager, and their children were: Jacob, married Hannah Rum- berger ; John, married Mary M. Lark ; Leah. wife of Henry Straub; Daniel, married Hannah Buffington ; Catherine, wife of John Ditty ; Joseph, married Hetty Laird; Mar- garet, wife of Joseph Schnell ; Mary, wife of Jairus Mason ; Thomas Jefferson, married the widow of A. M. Johnson.
KLINE, GEORGE W., carpet manufacturer, was born October 20, 1852, in the old stone house on the eastern outskirts of Millersburg, Dauphin county, Pa., formerly occupied by Dr. Haeseller, now of Schuylkill county, and afterward the residence of Mr. Kline's parents. Henry L. and Christiana (Rasweiler) Kline. The Rasweiler family are now of Chicago. Henry L. Kline was born in a small interior iown of Prussia, June 19, 1809, and at five years of age he lost both his parents. IIe was thrown among strangers, and when only nine years old was employed in a damask factory ; there he learned weaving, and was permitted to enjoy a few months' instruction in the public school. The factory was a noted one, and had business connections with prominent and titled people and historic lo- calities, which, as a deliverer of goods, !:. was permitted to visit; but these privileges did not charm Henry, for his heart was fixed on the " land of the free." Against the carn- est protest of his friends he set out for America in 1846, and after a tempestuous voyage of over three months landed at New Orleans. There he worked three months on a sugar plantation, after which he went to Cincinnati, and thence to Pittsburgh. From that point he traveled on foot to Phila- delphia, afterwards by way of Pottsville to Orwigsburg, where he found permanent em- ployment at carpet weaving.
1058
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
In January, 1848, Mr. Kline came to Millersburg, and embarked in the business of carpet manufacturing on his own account. So excellent were the materials and the work- manship of his products that his carpets soon gained a wide reputation, bringing orders from far and near, and making him a busy and prosperous man. A successful career of thirty-five years netted him a comfortable competency, and advancing age admonished him to retire; consequently, in 1883, Mr. Kline disposed of his interests to his son, George W., and the Rev. H. A. Neitz, who formed a partnership under the name of Kline & Neitz, and continued the business. Up to the time of his death Mr. Kline cherished the greatest interest and pride in the large and flourishing enterprise which he had founded. He was always an indus- trious worker at the loom, and it has been es- timated that the fabrics woven by his hands, if stretched at length, would reach from Millersburg to Philadelphia, a distance of one hundred and thirty-two miles. A short time before his last illness, having finished a piece, retired from the loom, remarking to his son that he would rest a week ; but the final rest came. His wife, with whom he had lived happily for thirty-seven years, had preceded him, having passed away Septem- ber 17, 1847.
Since 1847 Mr. Kline had been a member of Evangelical church of Millersburg, and had served in the several offices of the con- gregation. He was urbane and cordial in his manner, and of kindly disposition, up- right and pure in character and life; an embodiment of the virtues of the Christian gentleman. Mrs. Kline was born in Meders- heim, Germany, September 2, 1814, and emigrated to this country in 1841 in company with her brother, Henry Rasweiler. They located in Allentown, Pa., later removing to Orwigsburg. She was married to Mr. Kline April 28, 1848, by Rev. John Koehl. For forty-five years she was a faithful member of the Evangelical church, a devout Christian woman. In her last illness she endured great suffering, which she bore with exemplary courage and cheerful resignation. Mr. and Mrs. Kline had seven children, of whom John, Joanna, Amelia, and two others died in infancy. Their living children are: George W. and Mary Elizabeth.
George W. Kline received his first instruc- tion in the old school house on the banks of
Wiconisco creek ; he was afterwards a pupil in the borough schools until he was about fifteen years old, during which time he as- sisted his father in his business between school terms, and in this way learned the art of carpet weaving. He worked dili- gently and faithfully for his father until he reached his majority, when his father re- warded him by giving him an interest in his factory and trade. The father and son were associated until 1883, when the father retired and sold his interest to Rev. Mr. Neitz, and the firm of Kline & Neitz was founded. This firm continued the business for five years, when the Kline & Neitz Com- pany took charge of the enterprise. The corporation was not prosperous, and failed in 1893; the concern was sold, and Mr. Kline bought the - retail department and machinery connected with it and conducted the retail business for two years. In 1895 he sold the retail department to R. O. Nov- inger & Co. and became the successor of the corporation, the manufacturing department now being known as the George W. Kline Company.
Mr. Kline was married, August 17, 1878, to Mary Saville, daughter of George W. and Catherine (Rhodes) Kramer. They have six children: Velma Catherine, born July 3, 1883, died May 17, 1884; Nora Elizabeth, born March 19, 1879; Emma, born Novem- ber 11, 1880; George Henry, born August 1, 1885; Juanita Adelia, born December 5, 1888; Robert Kramer, born July 24, 1893.
Mr. Kline is a Republican. He has served as school director, and was re-elected to that office in 1896. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, having passed through all the chairs in Susquehanna Lodge at Millersburg ; he is also a member of Perse- verance Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Millersburg. Mr. Kline is a member of the United Evan- gelical church at Millersburg, has been a trustee for eighteen years, and for the same period, excepting one year, has been secre- tary of the board of trustees.
Both the parents of Mrs. Kline are living. They have eight children : Mary Saville, Mrs. Kline ; Carson S., Emma, Alice, Harry, Elizabeth, Minnie, and one child that died in infancy. George W. Kramer and his brothers, up to 1880, conducted the old Kramer ferry, opposite Millersburg, estab- lished by their father, David Kramer, shortly after the year 1800.
-
1
1059
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
-BOWERS, GEORGE WASHINGTON, retired, was born in Halifax township, February 22, 1815; son of John and Margaret (Weaver) Bowers. His parents had nine children: Michael, John, Jacob, Martin, Adam, Joseph, George W., Elizabeth, wife of Henry Hahn, and one child who died in infancy.
George W. Bowers lost his father when he was eight years old, and went forth among strangers to find a home. He was brought up by Isaac Kinter, a farmer in Middle Paxton township, with whom he remained until he was twenty, during which time he received a limited education in the township schools. At the age of twenty he left his guardian and came to Millersburg, where he was employed by his brother Michael for about six years. After this he was engaged in various occupations until his marriage. He then returned to his brother's employ, and was with him for three years, after which he was for some time engaged in different places and at various occupations. On August 6, 1881, Mr. Bowers met with a serious accident on the Lykens Valley railroad, from the effects of which he was so disabled as to have been disqualified, since that time, for any kind of work.
Mr. Bowers was married, at Millersburg, February 11, 1838, to Mary, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Wingert) Miller, born November 25, 1820. They have had six chil- dren : Mary Elizabeth, born November 3, 1838, died September 19, 1842; Margaret Louisa, born September 7, 1840, died May 28, 1847; John Kinter, born April 28, 1845, died September 19, 1850; George W., Jr., twin brother of John Kinter; Sarah Ellen, born February 3, 1850 ; Emma Pierce, born February 21, 1853. Mrs. Bowers died March 16, 1893. Mr. Bowers is a Democrat. He has served two terms as constable in Upper Paxton township. The family at- tend the Methodist Episcopal church.
Daniel Miller, father of Mrs. Bowers, was the founder of Millersburg. He came, with his brother John, from Lancaster county, Pa., about 1790, and took up some four hundred acres of land, including the site of the present town, where a settlement was begun probably in 1794. The town was laid out in lots in 1807. An act incorpor- ating the borough of Millersburg was passed by the State Legislature April 8, 1850. The first settlers of this region were Huguenots. Francis Jacques, or Jacobs, as
anglicized, resided some time at Halifax, but later located here, where he had taken up several acres. Among other early settlers here appear the names of Klein, Larue (Leroi), Sharra or Joerg, Wertz, Stoever, and Shuetts. Daniel Miller was the first school teacher in the vicinity, and was instrumental in establishing and build- ing the first Methodist Episcopal church at this place. Mr. Miller had three children by his first marriage: John, Daniel, and Elizabeth. His second marriage, in 1817, was with Mary Wingert; they had one child, Mary, who became Mrs. Bowers.
-DAY, CHARLES W., broom manufacturer, was born in Shrewsbury, York county, Pa., April 4, 1864; son of Jackson and Jane (Beck) Day. His grandfather, Levi Day, married Delilah Downs, by whom he had eight children : Sarah, born June 30, 1823; Mary J., born February 11, 1826 ; Jackson, July 30, 1828; Amos, August 22, 1831; Hannah F., February 18, 1835; Henrietta, March 11, 1838; E. Henry, May 4, 1841, and Enoch, December 1, 1844. Jackson Day was married, August 3, 1845, to Jane, daugh- ter of John and Margaret Beck. Mr. "and Mrs. Day had eight children: James, born August 2, 1849, married Catherine E. Ward, who died March 19, 1874 ; Noah, born May 1, 1851, married Mary Alda Gilbert, who died August 28, 1876 ; Levi, born March 4, 1853, died April 6, 1853 ; Emma, born June 23, 1854, died March 29, 1862; John Newton, born April 23, 1856; Oliver, July 14, 1858; Eli, March 4, 1861 ; and Charles W. Mr. Jackson Day died March 5, 1893.
Charles W. Day was four years of age when his parents removed to Millersburg, where he was educated in the public schools, attending part of each year until he was nineteen. For the next two years he was hard at work learning broom making, and at the age of twenty-one was ready to begin business on his own account. He opened a shop and by the diligent pursuit of his call- ing succeeded in establishing a large and profitable business, to the management of which he has given his attention up to the present time. Mr. Day was married, Sep- tember 29, 1891, to Ella E., daughter of Ed- ward and Agnes (Bowman) Steever, born March 4, 1873. They have one child, Steever Raymond, born January 24, 1894. Mr. Day is a Republican. He is a member of Syrian Commandery, No. 133, K. of M., at Millers.
1060
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
burg. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Day is regarded as one of the enterprising and solid busi- ness men of the town, and contributes his full share to the general prosperity of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Steever, the parents of Mrs. Day, had two children : Ruth, died at about three years of age, and Ella E., Mrs. Day.
WALBORN, LEVI, retired farmer, was born near Millersburg, Upper Paxton township, Dauphin county, Pa., July 24, 1858; son of Henry and Barbara (Lebo) Walborn. Henry Walborn, who was a son of Daniel Walborn, was born October 17, 1817, and died January 9, 1868. His wife, Barbara Lebo, was born April 4, 1823, and died August 8, 1895. Their children were: Sophia, born November 24, 1848, died March 12, 1859 ; Uriah, born Feb- ruary 17, 1855, died April 3, 1859; Abraham, born June 8, 1854, died March 24, 1866; Henry L., born April 22, 1844; Lavinia, born August 24, 1856, wife of Joseph Hen- ninger ; Jeremiah E., born November 24, 1860.
Levi Walborn in early boyhood attended the public school, but his father dying when the boy was but ten years old, his help on the farm was so needed that for the next five years he had only an occasional winter's term at school. After he was fifteen he was for some years hired out among the farmers. Finally he went West as far as Nebraska in search of profitable employment and a good locality for farming. Not finding any place in the West that suited him, he returned to Dauphin county, and purchased of Rev. Joseph Young a farm of one hundred and twelve acres, in Upper Paxton township, upon which he began farming on his own account, and continued there six years, af- ter which he bought the Jesse Scal farm, near Millersburg, containing thirty-two acres. The fine improvements, excellent condition, and attractive appearance of Mr. Walborn's farms show him to be a skillful husbandman and an enterprising business man. In 1887 he removed to his farm near Millersburg, where he lived three years, and then pur- chased the modern dwelling in Millersburg in which he now resides.
Mr. Walborn was married, February 2, 1882, to Sarah Agnes, daughter of Jesse and Caroline (Beard) Seal, born June 23, 1859. They have seven children : Charles L., born May 6, 1883; Jesse Blaine, born June 5,
1884, died December 24, 1891; Elmer E., born November 9, 1885 ; George Mark, born December 29, 1886 ; Roscoe Irvin, born May 30, 1891; Lottie Irene, born January 25, 1893 ; Florence Mabel, born February 20, 1894; died September 20, 1894. Mr. Wal- born holds Republican views; he is at pres- ent serving his second term in the town council. He is a member in good standing in Commandery, No. 133, K. of M., at Millers- burg. The family attend Grace United Evangelical church.
Jesse Seal, father of Mrs. Walborn, was born February 20, 1806 ; son of George and Margaret (Steever) Seal, and died March 20, 1882. His wife, Caroline Beard, was born December 18, 1831, and she survives him. They had three children : Ira B., died May 7, 1885; Charles F., born October 1, 1856 ; and Sarah Agnes, Mrs. Walborn.
What a bright and honest boy can do when thrown upon his own resources is shown in the life of Mr. Walborn. He began at the age of fifteen, with little aid of money or influential friends at the start, but gradu- ally winning both by his prudent course.
-- MUSSER, JOHN S., foundryman and ma- chinist, was born in Fairview township, York county, Pa., May 9, 1827, and is a son of Benjamin and Frances (Snavely) Musser. Benjamin Musser, Sr., great-grandfather of John S. Musser, died November 12, 1820, aged seventy-one years, four months and thirteen days. He was the father of three sons and four daughters. His son, Dr. John Musser, was married, November 13, 1799, to Elizabeth Neff. Benjamin Musser, son of Dr. John and father of John S. Musser, was married, January 20, 1825, to Frances Snavely, of East Pennsboro township. They had fifteen children : Elizabeth, born Janu- ary 8, 1826, wife of Josiah Seal; John S .; Henry D., born December 20, 1828, married Ellen Rupley; Benjamin, born December 21, 1830, married Susan Muench ; Catherine, born October 1, 1832, wife of Benneville Boyer; Anna L., born April 13, 1834, wife of Isaac Lloyd ; Jacob, born November 5, 1835; Joseph R., born February 7, 1837, married ; Levi, born March 15, 1838; David, born January 9, 1839, married Susan Coble ; Daniel, born September 3, 1840; Hiram, born November 29, 1841; Jeremiah, born April 9, 1843 ; Sarah, born April 19, 1847; Josiah A., born July 29, 1849, married.
W. W loves.
1063
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
John S. Musser's parents removed to Cumberland county, Pa., when he was six years old. He attended the subscription schools there during the sessions of 1833-34, after which, the family removing to the vicinity of Millersburg, he attended the sub- scription school of that borough, entering the public schools after they were established in the town. In the meantime he gave a good share of his time to the assistance of his father on the farm until he was seven- teen years old ; after that he was wholly em- ployed in farm work until he became of age. His father then employed him on wages as a regular farm hand until 1851, at which time the farm was sold to James Freeland, from whom Mr. Musser rented it and began farming on his own account. He continued there for fourteen years, then relinquished farming, and in 1865 returned to Millersburg. During 1865-66 Mr. Mus- ser was engaged in contracting. After com- pleting his contract he embarked in the foundry and machine business at Millers- burg, associating with himself Seth Schreiber, under the firm name of Musser & Schreiber. They were successful in establishing a large business and continued the partnership un- til 1889, when it was dissolved by the death of Mr. Schreiber. Mr. Musser carried on the business until 1895, when it was sold in order to effect the settlement of the estate, and Mr. Musser engaged in plumbing, which is his present occupation.
Mr. Masser was married, January 20, 1848, to Elmira, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Ferree) Hoffman, born January 19, 1830. They have six children : Frances E., wife of William Kahler, born February 3, 1849 ; Sarah A., born August 9, 1851; Henry A., born July 3, 1853, died May 17, 1873; Annie K., born September 19, 1857, wife of James L. Meck ; Laura V., born November 18, 1859 ; George A., born November 6, 1861, married. Mrs. Musser died November 17, 1890. She was well known for her generous kindness and hospitality, and was an earnest and devout Christian woman, zealous in all good works, especially industrious in the up- building of the church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.