History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 149

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 149
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 149

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).

MAJ. H. S. BENNER, postmaster, Gettysburg, was born in Straban Township, Adams Co., Penn., October 1, 1830, son of Christian and Susan (Snyder) Benner, natives of Adams Conuty and of German extraction. Christian Benner, grandfather of the Major, was among the pioneers of this section of the State, having come to Adams Coun- ty in 1752. He was a farmer by occupation. The Major's father was also a farmer, and his children were four in number, of whom our subject is the eldest. Maj. Benner re- ceived a fair education in the schools of his neighborhood and in those of Gettysburg. He learned the trade of granite cutting, which he followed for ten years, after which he was employed as a railroad agent until the breaking ont of the war in 1861, when he promptly enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and First Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, and was commissioned first lieutenant. He served out the full term of his enlistment, and February 5, 1863, re-enlisted in the same company and regiment; was promoted to the captaincy of the company, and soon after became major of the regiment, and as such served until the close of the war in 1865. The Major was taken prisoner April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C., and remained a prisoner of war ten months. He was twice wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks. In 1868 he was elected teller of the Gettys- burg National Bank, and served until 1872 (five years). In 1885 he was appointed post- master of Gettysburg. Politically he is a Democrat. In 1870 he was married to Sophia A., daughter of Israel Yount. Our subject and wife are both identified with the Lutheran Church.

REV. PHILIP M. BIKLE, Ph. D., Pearson professor of the Latin language and lit- erature in Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, was born in Smithsburg, Md., December 1, 1844, son of Christian and Barbara Bikle, of German and French descent. The former hy trade was a cabinet-maker. Philip M. is the sixth born of nine sons and two daughters. He obtained the rudiments of an education in his native village. In 1860 he entered North Carolina College at Mount Pleasant, of which his brother, L. A. Bikle, was presi- dent. At the beginning of our civil war he returned to Maryland, where he taught a pub- lic school for one year. In 1862 he entered Pennsylvania College as a freshman, gradu- ating with honor and the Latin salutatory in 1866. For one year thereafter he was occu- pied in teaching in the academy at York, Penn. He was ordained a minister in 1869, and from that year until 1870 he was professor of Greek and Latin in North Carolina College. From 1870 to 1873 he was the assistant principal of the female seminary at Lutherville, Mld. During the years 1873-74 he took a post-graduate course at Dartmouth College, and from 1874 to 1881 was professor of physics and astronomy in his alma mater. Since the latter date he has held his present relation with Pennsylvania College. From 1874 to 1879 Prof. Bikle was the secretary of the Maryland Synod, and from 1874 until 1876 he was the secretary of the Lutheran Miuisters' Insurance Association. He has also edited the Penn- sylvania College Monthly since 1877, and has been one of the editors of the Lutheran Quar- torly since 1880. He received the honorary degree of doctor of philosophy from Roanoke College in 1884.

EDWARD S. BREIDENBAUGH, A. M., Ockershausen professor of chemistry and the natural sciences in Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, is a native of Cumberland County, Penn., horu at the village of Newville January 13, 1849, a son of Rev. E. and Elizabeth (Swoyer) Breidenbangh, natives of Pennsylvania and of German extraction, the former a retired minister of the. Lutheran Church and a resident of Gettysburg. Edward S., who is the eldest of three children, was prepared for college under his father's instruc- tion, entered the freshman class at Pennsylvania College, and was graduated from the same in 1868. During the year 1868-69 he served his alma mater; then for two years was in attendance at the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. From 1871 to 1873 he was a spe- cial student in chemistry at Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College, serving the last year as both student and instructor. In 1873 he served as professor of natural science at Car- thage, Ill., and since 1874 he has filled the chair of chemistry and mineralogy in Pennsyl- vanja College. Prof. Breidenbaugh was elected mineralogist of State Board of Agriculture in 1880. He is a member of the American Association for the Promotion of Science, and

351

BOROUGH OF GETTYSBURG.

also a member of Prussian and German societies for the same purpose. The professor is the author of a number of publications on various subjects. He has added to the improve- ment of Gettysburg by the erection of one of the best dwelling houses to be found in Adams County. In 1878 he was married to lda, daughter of Dr. John Kitzmiller, and a native of Schuylkill County, Penn., and of German descent. This union has been blessed with two children: Edna and Ida May. The parents are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics the Professor is a Republican. Ile is the present president of the gas com- pany of Gettysburg.

SAMUEL II. BUEHLER (deceased) was born at Lebanon, Penn., Inly 12, 1783. He learned the saddlery business, and subsequently moved to York, where he married Miss Catharine Danner, and engaged in merchandising. In 1818 he moved to Gettysburg and opened a drug and book store, which he carried on until his death in 1856, assisted by his son, Alexander D. Buehler, who conducted the business after his father's death, and still conducts it in the same building, the largest drug and hook store in the county. Mr. Buchler was actively and prominently identified with the Evangelical Lutheran Church; became treasurer of the general synod and general agent of its various publications, and was largely instrumental in securing the location at Gettysburg of the theological semin- ary of the Lutheran Church. He was one of the founders of Christ Church, Gettysburg: was a member of the building committee, and served as eller from the organization of the church until his death. In 1838 he was elected a patron and also trustee of Pennsyl- vania College: in 1839 he was elected treasurer of that institution, and served as truster and treasurer until his death, when he was succeeded by his son, Alexander D. Buchler, the present treasurer, father and son thus continuously filling that position for a period of forty-eight years. Mr. Buchler died at Gettysburg September 7, 1856, leaving four sons and four daughters, all of whom are still living and reside in Gettysburg.

DAVID A. BUEHLER, editor and attorney at law at Gettysburg, son of Samuel II. and Catharine D. Buehler, was born in Gettysburg January 2, 1821. Ile served an apprenticeship to the printing business in the office of the Adams Sentinel; graduated from Pennsylvania College with the class of 1843; was admitted to the bar in 1856; editor of the Stur from 1815 to 1857, and editor of the consolidated Star and Sentinel from 1867 10 this date. He has served in various local offices, school director, member of town council, justice of the peace, postmaster, ete. Ile has been one of the trustees of Pennsylvania College since 1852; was secretary of the board from 1852 to 1867, and has been presi- dent of the board since 1870. He has also been for many years director of the theological seminary; member of the council of Christ Lutheran Church, and superintendent of the Sunday-school since 1853; frequently a delegate to the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the United States; one of the directors and vice-president of the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association. November 10, 1849, Mr. Buehler married Miss Frances J. Guyon, of Rabway, N. J.

COL. C. II. BUEHLER, merchant, Gettysburg, a son of the late Samuel II. Buehler, whose sketch appears above, was born in the town in which he is now a resident, Febru- ary 9. 1825. He is next to the youngest of eleven children, and pursued his studies in Pennsylvania College as far as the close of the sophomore year, when he withdrew from the institution and learned the printing trade in the office of the Adams Sentinel, after which he became associate editor with his brother, David A .. on the Star. This business he was compelled to give up on account of failing health, and in 1858 he embarked in the coal and lumber business. On the breaking out of the war he entered the Union Army in the three months service as captain of a company. Subsequently he was commissioned major of the Eighty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and as such served for a year and a half, when he was commissioned colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty- fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, retaining the command nine months, the period of enlistment of the regiment. He then returned to Gettysburg and resumed his business, in connection with which he has had the agency of the Adams Ex- press Company for twenty-six years past. He has been twice burgess of Gettysburg and is now a director of the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association. He is identified with Post No. 9, G. A. R. : is Past Master in the Masonic order, and has passed all the chairs of the I. O. O. F. Col. Buehler, in 1860, was married to Anna Fahnestock, daughter of John Fahnestock, of German extraction, and to them have been born three sons, one sur- viving, Harry F., who has just graduated from Pennsylvania College. Col. Buchler is a member of the Lutheran Church and his wife of the Episcopal. The Colonel is a Repub- lican of pronounced type.

HON. JACOB CASSAT (deceased) was born in Straban Township, Adams Co., Penn., February 7, 1778. His grandfather, Francis Cussat, was a French Huguenot, who married in Holland and came to this country in 1764, with his wife and children, of whom David, the father of the subject of this sketch, was one. The family became extensive farmers and influential citizens, and took an active part in the war of the Revolution. David Cassat reared a family of eight children-five sons and three daughters-the sons all becoming distinguished members of society. Jacob remained at home on the farm and prepared himself by diligent study for the useful life he afterward led. He was entirely

352

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

self-taught, having attended school only three months. He was married in 1806 to Mary McConaughy. When still a young man he was chosen as an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and about the same time he started and organized, so far as is known, the first Sunday-school in Adams County outside of Gettysburg, and became its superintendent. He was an active church member and retained his position as elder and superintendent of the Sunday-school without interruption till his death. When quite a young man he served as county commissioner, and afterward assisted in the defense of Baltimore in 1814. In 1819 he was elected to the State Legislature and served four sessions, and afterward to the State Senate, where he died on Christmas night. 1838, in the sixty-first year of his age. In politics he was a Whig, a man of great learning, ability and dignity, an eloquent debater, and while in the House and Senate a recognized leader of his party. On the night of December 25, 1838, on the occasion of what is known in the history of Pennsyl- vania as the " buckshot war," he made an impassioned appeal against mob rule, and with others was driven from the Senate chamber at the risk of his life. The next morning he was found dead in his bed. It is no exaggeration to say that at the time of his death he was the most prominent and honored man of his county. He was six feet in height, weighed about 170 pounds, was of dark complexion, amiable in disposition and dignified in deportment.

LUTHER HENRY CROLL. A. M., vice-president of, and professor of mathematics and astronomy in, Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Middle- town August 8, 1834. His parents, Abner and Rachel (Shelly) Croll, were natives of Dauphin County, Penn., and were of German extraction. Almer Croll in early life was a hatter, and followed mercantile pursuits in later years. Luther H. is the youngest of four children. He received his early schooling in his native town, subsequently attending the academy at Harrisburg. In 1850 he entered Pennsylvania College and five years later was graduated from the same, delivering the Latin salutatory of his class. That year he commenced teaching in Allentown Seminary, and there remained until 1857. He served as tutor in Pennsylvania College in 1857-58, when he became professor of mathematics in Illinois State University, located at Springfield, Ill., and as such served until 1861. At the latter date, on the breaking out of the Rebellion, the school formed a militia company, of which he was chosen captain. The excitement attending those times carried away most of the college boys, who went off to the war, many of whom afterward became commis- sioned officers, one rising to the rank of a brigadier general and another to the rank of colonel. The latter was killed, and was thought to have been the youngest colonel in the Union Army. From 1861 to 1862 Prof. Croll was principal of the academy at Middletown, Penn., and from 1863 to 1866 he occupied a similar position in a classical institute at Indianapolis, Ind. During this period he was a member of the United States Christian Commission, of which Gen. James A. Ekin was president. From 1866 to 1874 he was professor of mathematics and astronomy in Pennsylvania College, and of mathematics in the same institution from 1874 until 1880, and since 1823 has heen vice-president of that college. Angust 27, 1866, Prof. Croll was married to Miss Jennie C., daughter of Rev. J. J. Smyth, of Shelbyville, Ind., of Scotch-Irish descent, and to this union have been born James S., Morris W., F. Roy and Elsie L.

REV. I. K. DEMAREST, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Gettysburg, was born in the State of New Jersey October 10, 1843, a son of Jasper and Catherine (Lozier) De- marest, whose place of nativity was New York City, and who were of French lineage. Jasper Demarest was employed in New York City for many years, and of his four children Rev. J. K. is the eldest. Our subject attended a select school in the city of New York, subsequently studied under the Rev. W. R. Gordon, D. D., and at the age of fifteen years entered the University of New York City, from which he graduated in 1863. The same year he entered the Theological Seminary, located in Princeton, N. J., from which he graduated in 1866. For four years following his graduation he was occupied as a pastor of a church in the State of New York. He then removed to Kentucky, where he served in a similar position until 1872, when he returned to New York City, and was engaged in ministerial duties until 1875. In the latter year he removed to Gettysburg, having been chosen pastor of the Presbyterian Church there, his present position. December 18, 1866, Mr. Demarest married Miss Mary J .. daughter of James H. McCampbell, of Scotch origin, and to this union have been born five children, of whom three are living: Bertha L., Letitia M. and C. R. Agnew. Mr. Demarest, politically, is a Republican.

LIEUT. SIMON 1. DILLER, proprietor of the " Mcclellan House," Gettysburg, was born in Adams County, Penn., May 25, 1838, a son of Samuel and Lydia Diller, of French descent, natives of York County. Penn. The father was a farmer by occupation, also a manufacturer of woolen goods, and to him and his wife were born two daughters and six sons. Simon J. is a member of the sixth generation of the original Caspar Diller, who settled in Lancaster County about 1731. The family, originally from France, came from Germany to America. Caspar was the first who settled in Pennsylvania, and it was from him the Hanover branch of the family came. Of the sons and daughters of Samuel and Lydia Diller, Cyrus was a colonel of the Seventy-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, served as a railroad contractor after the war, and died at Hanover in 1884. leav-

353

BOROUGHI OF GETTYSBURG.

ing one child-Mabel; Belinda M. is wife of Thomas Evenden, of Williamsport, Penn .: Isaiah P. (deceased) went to California, where he was engaged in mining, at which he made a fortune, and returned in 1863: Elizabeth is the widow of Dr. David Ridgely, of Washington, D. C., who died in 1867; Adam S is a farmer near Hanover; Simon J., the subject of this sketeh, is in Adams County; William S. served as a major in the army, and is now in the custom house in New York City; Luthur Y. served as captain in the army. and is now engaged in the coal and lumber business in Adams County. As will be noticed from the preceding remarks the Diller family in question was represented in the civil war by four brothers, who were commissioned. The several members of the family are noted for their strength, and are generally large men. Simon J. and his five brothers were once weighed, and their combined weight was 1,636 pounds. Our subject grew up and was schooled in Adams and York Counties, served as a Hientenant in the war of the Rebellion. and has in the main been oveupied through life as a hotel-keeper. In 1867 he was mar- ried to Miss Ella, daughter of Henry Albright, of llanover, Pean., and to this union were horn five children: Carrie Mary, Elizabeth R., Mammie, Simon and Daisy. Mrs. Diller is a member of the German Reformed Church, and Lieut. Diller of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a R publican. He is a member of the G. A. R. and the Masonic fraternity.

HON. WILLIAM A. DUNCAN, in his extraction a Pennsylvanian, was born in Franklin Township, Adams Co., Penn., February 2, 1836. Ile died at Gettysburg Novem- ber 14, 1884, in his forty-ninth year. Ilis paternal aneestors originally went from the neighborhood of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Donegal, Ireland, from whence, about the year 1750, his grandfather, Seth Duncan, immigrated to America, and located in Lancaster County, Penn. lle there married and lived until late in life, when he removed to Ab- bottstown, then York (now Adams) County. Seth had a number of children, most of whom became notable people. His son, Adam Seth Enos Duncan, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, died in 1840, aged fifty-one years, and Mr. Duncan was left an orphan boy at the age of four years, with two other brothers but a few years older, to the charge of a widowed mother. He carly showed an aptitude for intellectual pursuits, as he ma- trienlated at the age of seventeen at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Penn., in 183. He graduated in the regular course, in 1857. as valedictorian of his class. This fact attests the eminent rank he attained while a college student as scholar, thinker and orator. After graduating he entered the law office of R. G. McCreary, Esq., at Gettys- burg, and in due course was admitted to the bar in 1859. He applied himself zealously to practiec. Industry, diligence and integrity brought with them the confidence of his associates, of the community, an extensive practice, and made his professional career a success. By the election of the people he filled the office of prosecuting attorney for Adams County from 1862 to 1865, and so acceptably that he was again chosen to fill the same position from 1868 to 1871. He was also for a long time solicitor for the county, and filled various other local offices. In November, 1882, he was elected to represent the populous and intelligent counties of Adams, Cumberland and York, comprising the Nine- trenth District of Pennsylvania, in the Forty-eighth Congress. For several years Mr. Dun- can was one of the most prominent members of the bar at Gettysburg, and was universally respected and admired. In politics he was a consistent Democrat. At his decease several memorial addresses on his life and character were delivered in the House of Representa- tives, and in the Senate. Forty-eighth Congress, sceond session.

CHARLES S. DUNCAN, attorney at law, Gettysburg, was born herc April 2. 1864, a son of Ilon. William A. and Catherine W. (Schmucker) Duncan. Ilis paternal and ma- terual ances'ors were among the early settlers of the State. Ilis mother was of German and his father of Scotch-Irish lineage. The latter was born in Cashtown. Adams Co .. Penn., in 1835, a lawyer, who met with marked success in that profession. He waselected to Congress in 1882, and died while serving in that body. He was a member of the Re- formed Church. Charles S. is the eldest of four children, of whom William, the second child, is private secretary to Congressman Swope, of Washington, D. C., and John S. and Schmucker are students in Pennsylvania College. The mother was a member of the Lutheran Church. Our subject grew to manhood in Gettysburg, and was graduated from Pennsylvania College in 1882; read law in the law department of the Pennsylvania Uni- versity, and graduated in 1884.

SAMUEL EAHOLTZ, sheriff of Adams County, P. O. Gettysburg, was born in Cum- berland Township, Adams Co., Penn., August 29. 1821, a son of Jacob and Catharine (Beiff) Eaholtz, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin, the father having been a farmer through life. Samuel is the seventh child of nine sons and daughters, and was reared on the farm. He acquired a fair common school education in the schools of Ad- ams County. studied surveying in 1840, and early in life learned the blacksmith's trade, which occupation he followed for twenty years, working in Butler and Franklin Town- ships. He was for a period of three years engaged in the hotel business at MeKnights- town. Subsequently he bought a farm, and for several years, in connection with farm. ing, engaged in the coal business. While a resident of Butler and Franklin Townships he held, at different times, most all of the township offices. Mr. Eaholtz is a man of great

354

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

popularity and strict integrity. He was elected sheriff of Adams County in 1885, having been nominated by the Democratic party and endorsed by the Republican. In 1845 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Rex, of German origin, and a farmer by oc- cupation. To this union was born Martha S., wife of George C. Beecher, of York County. Mrs. Eaholtz died in 1855, and Mr. Eaholtz, in 1856, was married to Catharine, daughter of Ferdman Meals, of German origin, and to this marriage were born Anna S., wife of Rob- ert C. Jingle, a miller of Adams County; Susan K., wife of George Ilartman; S. M., depi- ty sheriff: Sadie C., wife of Charles Cashman; Bertha W., Robert W. and Charles M. The second wife died in 1875. The family is identified with the Lutheran Church.

F. A. ELLIOTT, grocer, Gettysburg, was born near Newburg, Cumberland Co., Penn., July 26, 1852, a son of Robert and Mary ( Brown) Elliott, of English extraction. Robert Elliott in early life was a merchant, and later a farmer in the vicinity of Newburg. He was three times married, F. A. being the second child by his last wife. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, receiving the usual district school education given to farmers' sons. He remained on the farm with his parents until about twenty-one years old, when he found the irksome duties of farm life not to his taste, and went to Shippensburg, where he engaged as a elerk for three years with B. F. Landis. He then went West, where he remained one year employed as clerk. Returning to Shippensburg he accepted a position in a railroad eating-house in Luray, Va., and was thus employed for upward of four years. at the expiration of which time he went to Cape May, where he remained but a short time, when he again returned to his native county. In 1884 he came to Gettysburg, and took charge of the eating-house at Round Top, and in 1885 embarked in the grocery busi- ness on Chambersburg Street, where he carries a full line of groceries and queensware. In 1877 he was united in marriage with Miss Ella J. Minnich, daughter of Alfred and Laura (Cresler) Minnich. She was a native of Cumberland County, Penn., and of German origin. To this union has been born one child-Lottie Irene. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are members of the Lutheran Church. Thus far Mr. Elliott has been successful in life.

JOHN C. FELTY, Gettysburg, is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Hunters- town, Adams County, March 25, 1849, a son of John F. and Mary (Neely) Felty. His paternal and maternal ancestors were among the early settlers of the State, and were gen- erally farmers. John F. Felty, whose death occurred March 17, 1876, at the age of fifty-eight years, was a farmer, and for twenty-six years a justice of the peace, was engaged in the settlement of numerous estates. Our subject is the elder of two children. His early life was spent with his parents on the farm. The foundation of his education was laid in the district schools and at the Hunterstown Academy. He entered the freshman class of Pennsylvania College in 1866, and was graduated from the institution in 1870. After graduation he became professor of Latin and Greek in the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Penn., which position he held for one year. Ile then commenced the study of medicine, and entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with the de- gree M. D. in 1873. He then located in South Bethlehem, Penn., where he served as one of the physicians to St. Luke's Hospital nntil 1876. He then returned to his native county, where he has since devoted himself to the study of his profession. Dr. Felty, by his pro- fessional skill and popularity as a gentleman, has acquired an extensive practice. He is a member of the Adams County and State Medical Societies; is an active Mason; a mem- her of the Presbyterian Church. Since 1883 he has been the physician of the alms-house of Adams County.

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.

Author: Publication date: Publisher: W. Taylor Number of Pages: 1280

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280