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 163

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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 163
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 163

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GEORGE MYERS (deceased) was one of the substantial and well-known citizens of Adams County. He and his wife, Susannah (Bender) Myers, were natives of this county. Mr. Myers, during his early manhood, and while living at Arendtstown, served as major in the militia, and in fact, during his long life, took an active part in all public affairs, although studiously engaged in his various occupations of farmer, merchant, etc. In 1853 he was elected county commissiouer ou the Whig ticket, and served three years. He was one of the three who purchased the ground for the present court house, and on the building of the Littlestown Railroad he was among the most active, aiding by means, some $1,500, and influence, in bringing it to a successful completion. Soon after his marriage he engaged in merchandising for nine years at Arendtstown and three years at New Ches- ter. He then bought a farm in Germany Township, and his interests, principally, from that time were there and in Littlestown Borough up to his death. During the last seven years of his life he was engaged in merchandising in Littlestown, in partnership with his son, Ephraim. In 1857 he was taken sick with dropsy in the breast, and though cured of the disease, died in 1858 from apoplexy, leaving an estate worth $20,000.

HON. EPHRAIM MYERS, merchant, Littlestown, a son of George and Susannah Myers, was born in Reading Township, this county, between Berlin and Petersburg, Sep- tember 29, 1823. He passed his earlier years on his father's farms and in his stores, and January 1, 1846, married Lucinda Bittinger, a daughter of Frederick Bittinger, of Ger- many Township. The following April he became a partner with his father in a general

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store at Littlestown, and at the termination of this partnership, in 1853, he bought the lot he now occupies and kept store until the fall of 1857, when he sold his stock of goods to George Stonesifer and Samuel M. Study. Previous to and at this time he had become largely interested in the building of the Littlestown Railroad, and individually sold most of the stock. from the proceeds of which the road was built. He was a director for five years, and was then elected president of the railroad, a position he held twelve years. Under his presidency and supervision n charter was secured (against much opposition from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad) from the State of Maryland, and the road was extended to Frederick, Md. It is generally admitted that had it not been for the energy and business tact of Mr. Myers and his board of railroad directors this much needed improvement would have been long delayed. During these years, although actively engaged in the railroad matters mentioned. he built a warehouse and carried on an extensive grain and produce business in partnership with Dr. E. F. Shorh, for four and a half years. He then sold his interest to T. B. Klein, and in 1861 was elected county commissioner on the Republican ticket by a majority of 176 over his Democratic opponent, John Duttera. His term of service was during three years of the war, during which time he was an ardent supporter of the Union cause, both by means and influence. Probably no man in Littlestown has taken a more prominent part in its business and public enterprises than Mr. Myers. He was one of the first movers and advocates to incorporate Littlestown as a borongh. Hle was the founder of Mount Carmel Cemetery; was also a charter member and stockholder in the Littlestown Savings Institution, and has been a director, with the exception of two years, ever since: he also takes an active part in promoting the educational interests of the vicinity. In religion he is a Lutheran, and in the erection of the St. Paul's Church in the borough contributed $1.500 toward its completion. He now owns and carries on the most extensive general store in the place, in a large three-story brick block, 64x70 feet, the finest in the town. This he erected in 1866, at a cost of $13,000, occupying part of it as a dwelling, and recently built adjoining this property another elegant brick resi- denec, at a cost of $4,000, now occupied by his son Harry and family. These buildings were made from plans drawn by himself, and are models of convenience; in fact, he never employs an architect in the erection of any of the many buildings of different descriptions that he has built, including two barns on his farms that cost $3,000 each, but was his own architect and superintended their erection personally. Although en- gaged in merchandising he is still the owner of three farms, near Littlestown, containing 128, 165 and 90 acres, respectively, all highly cultivated land, valued, respectively, with improvements, at $150, $125 and $85 per acre. Mr. Myers is at present a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and is the first Republican elected to that office from this county in twenty-five years. He was elected in 1881, by a majority of 156, while the Democratic President. Mr. Cleveland, received 450 majority. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have had a family of seven children, five living, all married and away from home. As one of Littlestown's most active and enterprising citizens, whose public improvements and private enterprises will long show evidenees of his handiwork, Mr. Myers will be re- membered, even after he will have ceased to be an actor in the busy life. As a railroad man few are better or more widely known throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland.

JAMES W. OCKER, butcher, P. O. Littlestown, was born September 6, 1844. in Taneytown District, Carroll Co., Md .. son of Joseph Ocker, who was born in Germany Township, Adams Co., Penn. The family is of German extraction. Joseph Ocker, who died in Maryland, April 17, 1885, aged seventy-three years, was a stone mason by trade, married Miss Maranda, daughter of Abraham Kuhns, and had three children: James W., Joseph A. and Mrs. Mary A. Krug. Our subject went to school in Maryland and engaged in farming in early life, but has followed butchering for a number of years; was also a stock-dealer. He came to Littlestown in the spring of 1881, and here inarried Miss Martha Fleiger, in January, 1882; their children are named James and Edward. Mr. Ocker is a member of the Reformed and his wife of the Lutheran Church. He is one of the wide- awake business men of Littlestown. Politically he has been identified with the Demo- cratic party.

SAMUEL H. REBERT, hardware dealer, Littlestown, was born in Conowago Town- ship. September 29, 1861. and is a son of Samuel Rchert, now deceased. In 1882 he opened a hardware store on Frederick Street, Littlestown, and one year later moved to his present location on Baltimore Street. He keeps a full line of hardware and carries a stock aver- aging $5,000 the year round, with sales of upward of $10,000 per annum. He is an energetic and enterprising business man, a substantial and honored citizen; au ardent Democrat, he takes an active part in promoting the interests of his party in his section, though never seeking or holding any office. Mr. Rebert was married December 29, 1885, to Laura B. Hesson. Our subject and wife are members of the Reformed Church.

WILLIAM RITTASE, farmer, P.O. Littlestown, was born September 12, 1823, in Union Township. Adams Co., Penn., son of John and Catharine (Poe) Rittase, natives of Wit- kenstein, Ballenberg, Baden, South Germany, and who came here while young, settling near HIa nover, Penn., where they farmed, but later moved to Union Township, this county, and here died. They had six children that attained maturity : Jacob (deceased), Christine,

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William, Maria, Ishmael (deceased) and Mary Ann. Our subject lived in Union Township till 1856, when he bought a farm in Germany Township, where he now resides. He has engaged in farming (has 120 acres of land), and operates a saw-mill. He was married in May, 1851, to Miss Margaret Bittle, born in Adams County, Penn., daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Wikert) Bittle. She died here February 9, 1881, the mother of nine children, all living: William F., Adolphus, Emma, E. Nelson, Elmer H., Ella E., Lilly, Harvey, Minnie. Our subject's second marriage was with Clarissa Overder, nee Kitzmiller. Mr. and Mrs. Rittase are members of the German Reformed Church. Politically he is a Dem- ocrat. He has held nearly all the township offices such as assessor, supervisor, etc., which shows with what respect and esteem his fellow-men hold him. Few men have lived in the township who are so well known for honesty or integrity as is Mr. Rittase. He now does all his threshing by water-power on his farmu.

RAYMOND S. SEISS, M. D., Littlestown, was born between Emmittsburg and Graceham, Md., June 7, 1835, a son of John and Eliza (Schuyler) Seiss, the former a na- tive of Graceham, and the latter of Lancaster City, Penn. The Doctor was reared on a farm, and in the meantime attended the schools of the vicinity. At the age of twenty- two he began a two years' course of classical studies under the Rev. Edward Ronthaller. and continued some few months; afterward, under the instruction of his brother, Rev. Joseph A. Seiss, D. D., LL. D., now of Philadelphia. In August, 1848, he began reading medicine with Dr. William Zimmerman, of Creagerstown, Md., and afterward graduated at the University of Maryland in March, 1852. He began practice in Graceham, where he married, March 12, 1852, Angelica S. Gernand. In 1853 he moved to Union Mills, Car- roll Co., Md., and March 23, 1855, settled at Littlestown, where he has practiced liis pro- fession, without intermission, ever since. After the battle of Gettysburg he dressed the wounds of and attended many of the Union soldiers, a large number of whom were brought to his office for surgical treatment. He was appointed, in 1863, and served as surgeon of the enrolling board for the Sixteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania until March 18, 1864, when he resigned. Ile was appointed a notary public, by Gov. Hartranft, April 21, 1874, and has retained the office ever since. The Doctor was one of the prime movers in incorporating the borough of Littlestown, when it received its char- ter, and has been elected burgess ten different times, and is the present incumbent. To the Doctor's energetic administration is largely due most of the grading of the streets and other public improvements, as his maxim always was "for the benefit of all rather than a few." He was the nominee of the Republican party, in 1872, for the Legislature, but was de- feated by 262 votes, the regular Democratic majority in the county being 600. The Doc- tor is a member of the Adams County, the State and the National Medical Societies, and was president of the Adams County Medical Society for three terms. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church. Dr. and Mrs. Seiss have had a family of six boys, four of whom are living: Milton H., Franklin H., M. D., Elmer W. and John A. The Doctor is actively engaged in practice, and also owns and operates a drug store; is very comforta- bly situated, financially; and enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him, and of the entire community, in which he has lived for upward of thirty years.

AMOS SHEELEY, shoemaker, Littlestowu, was born in September, 1828, in Mount- pleasant Township, this county, and is of German extractiou. His grandfather, Nicholas Sheeley, a farmer of Mountpleasant Township, married Elizabeth Rife, and both died in that township. Of their four children, John, a farmer by occupation, married Sarah Blank; he died at the age of seventy-five and his wife when seventy three. They had twelve children, all of whom but two are living. Of these Amos was educated in the com- mon schools, in early life learning shoe-making, which he has followed ever since. He has lived for nineteen years in Littlestown. Mr. Sheeley was united in marriage with Miss Abigail, daughter of Daniel Geiselman, and by this union has four children: Alice Lydia (wife of A. Degroft), Hamilton, Mrs. Isabella Shriner, Mrs. Emma A. Randall. Mr. and Mrs. Sheeley are members of the United Bretheren Church. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party. He has been a good citizen, and has served as a member of the town council.

JOSEPH A. SHORB, M. D. (deceased), was a native of York County, Penn., and a physician of over thirty-five years' practice in the borough of Littlestown. He was a member of the Catholic Church, and took great interest in religious matters. Asa citizen and as a physician, no man probably was more widely or favorably known during his lifetime in Adams and surrounding counties. Ile died in 1855. He and his wife, Louisa J. Davis, a daughter of Dr. Ephraim Davis, of Littlestown, were the parents of thirteen children, only two of whom are now (1886) living. Dr. Edmund F., of Littlestown, and Joseph A., Jr., of Hagerstown, Md.

EDMUND F. SIIORB, M. D., Littlestown, was born at that place November 21, 1825. When about fourteen years of age he became a student at Mount St. Mary's College, and remained there three years. He then commenced reading medicine in his father's office, and at eighteen years of age began attending lectures at the University of Maryland. from which he graduated, his diploma as physician, being dated 1846. He began and continued practice at Littlestown for twelve years, when he gave it up on account of failing health.

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Hle was then engaged in the grain and produce business six years, when he sold out. After three years' rest he opened a hardware store and continued that business for eight years, when he again sold out, and after five years' retirement in 1884, bought his present stand and opened a drug store, at the same time resuming the practice of medicine. The Doctor was formerly a Whig, but since the days of Know-nothingism, has acted with the Democratic party. He was elected and served three years as auditor of Adams County, and has held various local offices, once as burgess of Littlestown. The Doctor was mar- ried January 3, 1871, to Ellen B. Heath, a daughter of the late Judge Robert lleath, of Edenton, N. C. Our subject and wife have had two children: Mary G., now attending St. Joseph's Academy at Emmittsburg, and Joseph Robert, who died in 1880. The Doctor is probably, by residence, the oldest practicing physician in Adams County.

II. T. SLAUGHENIIAUPT, photographer, Littlestown, was born April 17, 1816, in Taneytown District, Carroll Co .. Md., and is of German extraction. His grandfather, Jacob Slaughenhaupt, was a chair-maker near Taneytown, Md., and there died at a ripe old age: his wife, who was a Miss Newcomer, died there also. They were parents of the following children: Samuel, Catharine, Anna, Barbara, Susan and Margaret. Of these Samuel, who was born near Taney town, Md., died August 18. 1881, at Harney, Md., aged seventy-five; he was a shoe-maker in early life, but farmed the last thirty-five years. He married Mary A. Delloff, a daughter of Peter Delloff, who was a captain in the war of 1812. and is the mother of ten children now living: Ellen C., Emily 1 .. James D., Maran- da R., Sarah A., Samuel D., Mary E., Henry T., Albert L. and John William. Of these Henry T. was educated in the common schools, and at the Eagleton Institute. Ilis carly life was spent on the farm. At the age of twenty-two he learned photographing, which he has since followed. In February, 1875, he moved to Littlestown, this county, and has been here ever since. Mr. Slaughenhaupt was united in marriage, October 12, 1875, with Miss Mary E., daughter of Rev. Louis A. Wickey, who was a son of Dr. Louis Wickey, a native of Switzerland, who gained considerable celebrity during the cholera epidemic in early years, having possessed the only remedy, which was effectually used against the disease in Washington County, Md., and York County, Penn. This medicine is now made by H. T. Slaughenhaupt after the original formula. To Mr. Slaughenhaupt were born two children: Beulah E. and Louis Trueman. Mr. and Mrs. Slanghenhaupt are members of the United Brethren Church. He is a prohibitionist and an independent voter. For some years he has been a correspondent for a number of newspapers.

WILLIAM SLIFER. P. O. Littlestown, was born iu Union Township, this county, July 15, 1820, a son of Jacob Henry Slifer, a native of Alsace, Germany, who paid the pas- sage money for himself, wife and two children at Bremen, but the captain of the vessel absconding. they were left without sufficient funds to pay another passage. Jacob Henry was then obliged to make another contract with a captain to work, after his arrival in America, two and one-half years in payment for the family's passage. This contract he carried out by working for John Winrod, of Union Township, the above named period. Ile and his wife arrived in that township in 1817, the two children having died at sea. where they were buried. Jacob Henry was a weaver by trade, and after becoming free of the passage debt carried on the weaving business for eight years in Union Township. Hle then bought six and one-half acres of land at Whitehall, Mountpleasant Township, and built a house and kept a store. lle died very suddenly of palsy in 1834, leaving one child, William, our subject. Six years afterward bis widow married Adam Dener, and subsequently moved West. William continued in the store, which became his sole charge after his mother's marriage. He married Mary Ann Hornberger, and soon after sold the store and began burning lime in Union Township. He followed this vocation for twenty- one years, and amassed a comfortable competency. He has been a life-long Democrat- and has served the borough of Littlestown as its burgess, member of council, tax collector, etc. Ile is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Slifer have had eleven children, five of whom are living: Mary Ann E., John N., William J., Henry E. and Ella Virginia.

JOIN N. SLIFER. dealer in coal and phosphates, Littlestown, was born in Union Township in December, 1843, and is a son of William and Mary A. (Hornberger) Slifer. At the age of seventeen he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed five years, then leased a lime kiln in Union Township. In 1870 he came to Littlestown and began dealing in coal, also continning the lime business up to 1882; since then he has been ex clusively engaged in dealing in coal and phosphates. In 1883 he was elected, on the Dem- ocratic ticket, director of the poor for AAdams County, which office he at present fills. fle is also a member of the school board of Littlestown, has served as member of the coun- cil for several terms, and is a substantial, representative citizen. He and his family are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, of which he has. on various occasions, served as an official. He was married. December 15, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth Howard, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Bushman) Howard. They have but one child, Mary, born Oc- tober 29. 1868.

JOHN SMITH, farmer. P. O. Littlestown. was born Angust 27, 1827, in Mountpleas- ant Township, on the Bonneauville & Oxford Road, where his grandfather, Charles

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Smith, kept a still-house. Charles Smith, who stood high in this county, came from Ger- many; was a farmer, weaver, distiller and quite a business man, having many men work- ing for him; he died on the farm above mentioned. By his marriage with Miss Weikert he had eight sons and three daughters. Of these children, Joseph Smith, who was born about 1792, and died in 1857, aged about sixty-five years, was a farmer; married Mary, daughter of Jacob Lawrence, and who died in 1867, the mother of twelve children. Of these John, our subject, farmed on the homestead till his marriage, when he came to Lit- tlestown, this county, and followed agriculture here for four years for Hon. William Mc- Sherry. Ile acquired his education in the public schools; has been a farmer all his life, and now owns sixty-five acres of land, though he lives in Littlestown, where he intends to pass the evening of his life. He was married to Miss Anna, daughter of Jacob Wei- rick, and by her has three children now living: Edmund F., Mrs. Clara L. Smith and William A. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Catholic Church. He has ever been a Democrat, and has held the office of supervisor.

JAMES G. SPALDING, farmer, P. O. Littlestown, was born in Carroll County, Md .. and is of English descent. His grandfather, Henry Spalding, was born in one of the lower counties of Maryland, and in the course of time settled in Frederick (now Carroll) County, Md. He married Annie Elder, and he and his wife died in Carroll County, Md. Their son, Henry, Jr., settled in Germany Township, this county, and married Maria Hughes, a native of Maryland, daughter of John Hughes. He and his wife died where our subject now resides. Of their children, nine in number. James G. is the eldest son. Our subject married Miss Lucinda M. Fink, who was born in this township, and died here in Septem- ber, 1855, the mother of one son-William F. Mr. Spalding was married, on second occa- sion, to Agnes Ilemler, a native of Mountjoy Township, this county, daughter of Henry Hemler, and to this union were born ten children, seven of whom are living: Lucinda, James D .. Annie M. Cecelia, Eugene, Martin J., Mary R. and Sadie A. Mr. Spalding has been identified with the Democratic party all his life, and has filled important town- ship offices, such as assessor and assistant assessor. He has a farm of 140 acres which he keeps in a high state of cultivation.

JACOB SPANGLER, JR., farmer, P. O. Littlestown, was born November 23, 1839, in Mountjoy Township, this county. The Spangler family were originally natives of Swit- zerland, and of the four brothers who came together from that country two settled south and two west of York, York Co., Penn. Rudy, one of the four, married, and had a fam- ily of five children, of whom Jacob was born April 27, 1803, in York County, and there married Elizabeth Detter, who was born May 25, 1807, daughter of Matthias and Susannah (Bobe) Detter. To this union were born ten children, all now living: Edward, Saralı, Samuel, Elizabeth, David, Jacob, Matthias, Susannah A., Barnhart and George William. Jacob Spangler, Sr., who has been a farmer all his life, in 1829 settled in Mountjoy 'Town- ship, this county, where he farmed until he came to Littlestown in 1876, since which time he has lived a retired life. His son, Jacob, Jr., was educated in this township, was reared on a farm, but has lived in town since his father moved here, and is now taking care of his aged parents. He has been an exemplary citizen all his life. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat.

ALEXANDER STAUFFER, proprietor of the "Central Hotel," Littlestown, is of German extraction. His grandfather, Jacob Stauffer, a farmer of Jackson Township. York Co., Penn., who died there at an advanced age, was an old line Whig; married, and had five children. Of these Ilenry was born on the old homestead, where he still resides, aged seventy-four years. He was a farmer and distiller before the war. In politics he is now a Republican, formerly a Whig, and has held township offices of trust; is a member of the Lutheran Church. He was married to Margaret Glatfelter, who is the mother of six children: Mrs. Lucinda Jacobs, Mrs. Sarah Lancks, Henry K., Mrs. Isabella Jacobs, Benjamin F. and Alexander. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stauffer are both yet living. Our subject was educated in the schools near home and at York County Academy, York, Penn. At the age of nineteen he began teaching and taught school four winters. After this he engaged in farming on one of the farms of his father (who was also a successful agricul- turist), in Dover Township, and there continued until April, 1884, when he leased the. "Central Hotel" in Littlestown, which he bought out in the fall of the same year and has been keeping a first-class hotel here ever since. Mr. Stauffer was married to Miss Annie Mary, daughter of John Hoke. To this union were born Birdie Alex., Lillie Ann, Hattie Bell, Harry John and Jennie May. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer are members of the Lutheran Church. Politically he is a Republican.

MARTIN L. STAVELY, carpenter, P. O. Littlestown, was born May 10, 1827, in Meyers District, Carroll Co., Md. His father, Jacob U. Stavely, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, came to America at the age of seventeen and settled in Maryland, where he followed his trade (carpentering); married Lydia Cramer, born in York County, Penn., daughter of Henry Cramer, and who died March 1, 1886, aged eighty-six years, one month and eleven days, the mother of six children: Carolina, Martin L., Mary Ann, Rebecca, Matilda and Ellen, all now living. Jacob U. Stavely died February 12, 1868, aged seventy- three years. Our subject came to Germany Township, this county, at the age of seven

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years, was educated here, and learned and followed his father's trade for forty years, but now lives on a farm. lle was married March 6, 1851, to Helena E., daughter of David and Juliann (Staley) Snider, and who was born in Germany Township, this county, and died here July 10, 1858, the mother of five children: Jacob Calvin, Sarah J. (wife of Rolandos Wintrode), David R., Noah Wesley and Edwin (deceased). Mr. Stavely was married, on second occasion, to Martha Ann, daughter of Henry and Aun (Atter) Johns, and to this union were born nine children: George W., Mrs. Emma R. Greenholtz, Charles II., Ephraim R., Alice V., Louis Grant, Franklin R., Harvey E. (deceased), Samuel II. Mr. and Mrs. Stavely are members of St. John's Lutheran Church. He has filled the offices of inspector of elections, assessor and jury commissioner. Politically he is a Republican.

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

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