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 166

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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 166
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 166

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DANIEL B. RILEY, farmer, P. O. Fairfield. is, on the paternal side, of Irish, and on the maternal side of German, extraction. His grandfather settled in Hamiltonban Township, this county, and the latter's son Barnabas, father of Daniel B., was born here in 1799, where he died in 1880. Barnabas Riley was a carpenter by trade, at which he worked the greater part of his life. He also cultivated a farm in Liberty Township, this county, which he bought. He built the Maria Furnace Works, in Hamiltonban Town- ship, and the Caledonia Iron Works. in Franklin County, Penn. He was an industrious man, of good character, and a deacon in the Lutheran Church for many years. In 1869 he removed to Fairfield, this county, in which place he died. His wife, Mary Sheets, was born in Freedom Township, this county, in August, 1805.

They had ten children. of whom two died in infancy. The others were named Adeline, wife of Rev. William Ger- hardt, of Martinsburg. W. Va .; Isadore, deceased wife of John Nunemaker (deceased), of Liberty Township, this county; Allah, wife of John Butt, of Highland Township, this county; Margaret, who died at the age of seventeen; Paxton H., married to Harriet Mus- selman, and living in Liberty Township, this county; Trimper, married to Malinda Spren- kle, and living in Franklin County; Lucretia, wife of Frederick Shully, of Hamiltonban Township, this county; and Daniel B., the youngest. Our subject was born September 14, 1848, on the farm in Liberty Township, where he worked nntil 1869, when he learned the trade of a saddler in Fairfield, at which he worked until the spring of 1885, when he rented the farm of Robert R. Blythe, where he is now living. December 27, 1870, he was married to Amanda A., daughter of David Musselman, of Hamiltonban Township, this county, and to this union three children have been born: Harry Johnston, born May 19. 1874; Howard Beaver, born September 25, 1876; and Ira Bair, born May 29, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Riley are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican.

ABRAHAM O. SCOTT, physician, Fairfield, is a great-grandson of Hugh Scott, who emigrated from the North of Ireland in the first part of the last century, in company with his brother, Josiah, and located in Lancaster County. a few years later coming to Highland Township, this county, on a farm now occupied by Washington Irwin. Hugh Scott had four sons and three daughters, and his son, Abraham, the grandfather of our subject, was born on the farm mentioned in 1756, and when about twenty years old went with his parents to what was then Westmoreland County, where his parents died. Re-

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turning to this county he bought a farm in what is now Freedom Township, which he afterward sold, and then bought a tract adjoining, now made into four farms, one of which is occupied by his grandson, Washington. He was thrice married, and by his first wife, nee Jane MeClean, he had four children; by his second, nee Jane Kerr, he had five; by his third, nee Margaret McMillan, there was no issue. The children's names in the order of their birth are Hugh, John, Margaret. Mary, George Kerr, William McClean, Abraham, James and Mary. William McClean Scott, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born January 9. 1793, in Freedom Township, this county, and on the death of his father he inherited a farm, on which he lived until his death, which occurred Au- gust 15, 1852. He was married, in 1821, to Jane Kerr, of Fulton County, who was born December 22, 1794, and died in August, 1867. They had five children, four now living: Abraham O .; Margaret Rebecca, wife of John Cunningham, of Fairfield, this county; Geo. Washington, married to Florinda Jane Moore, now living on a part of the old home- stead; Mary Jane, wife of Samnel Cobean of Cumberland Township, this county. Our subject was born February 21, 1825. He attended Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, and later Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, from which he graduated in 1850. He read medi- cine under Dr. David Horner, of Gettysburg, attended the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, and graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1853. He began practicing in Hunterstown, this county, but in 1855 he removed to Fairfield, where he has built up an extensive practice, and acquired the reputation of being a skillful physician. April 2, 1853, he was married to Jane R .. daughter of Robert Wilson, of Highland Township, this county, whose father was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and by this union there are nine children, two of whom died young. The living are David Wilson, in Kansas; Mary L., wife of Charles A. Spangler, of Mountjoy Township, this county; Jeannette Rebecca, Jane Sherman, Clara Margaret, Fannie Stevens and Vivia Sumner, living with their par- ents. Dr. Scott is entirely devoted to his profession, and is held in high esteem as a man and a physician. He was a volunteer under President Lincoln's first call for troops. Iu politics he is an independent Republican.

PETER SHIVELY, hotel keeper. Fairfield, is a native of Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn. His grandfather, on his father's side, was born in Perry County, Penn., and on his mother's side his grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, who settled in Cham- bersburg after the war. His father, Daniel Shively, was born in Perry County, Penn., in 1780, and came to Chambersburg when a young man, living there until his death; he died in 1863 at the age of eighty-three. Our subjeet's mother, nee Elizabeth Hennaberger, born in Chambersburg in 1786, died there in 1861, aged seventy-five. They had nine chil- dren: Catherine, widow of Emanuel Gipe, living in Harrisburg; Eliza, widow of William Deckert, living in Blairsville, Indiana Co., Penn .; Maria, widow of Benjamin Keefer, living in Chambersburg; William, married to Elizabeth Minafee, who died in the spring of 1856 (he lives in Lafayette, Ind.); Indiana, widow of Louis Wamfler, living in Chambers- burg: John, living in Chambersburg, Penn .; Peter, our subject: Susan, who was married to John MeCleary, of Chambersburg, both deceased; and Mary Ann, who died when quite young. Peter Shively was born July 16, 1819, and in his youth learned the trade of a saddler, which he worked at only a few years. In 1841 he came to Fairfield, and kept hotel for three years, then the hotel at Gettysburg, known as the " Eagle Hotel," for three years, and then he returned to Fairfield, and bought the "Mansion House " property, which he has ever since conducted. March 19, 1845, Mr. Shively was married to Eliza- beth J. Gelbach, born April 23, 1826, whose ancestry is given under the name of John Gelbach. Our subject and wife have had five children: Laura C., born May 21, 1846, wife of Joseph Sullivan, who is traveling in the West, while she makes her home with her parents (she has two sons, one of whom, Charles, is now in the drug store of his uncle in Waynesboro, and Percy, with an uncle in the produce business in Monrovia, Md.); and the other children are Mary Elizabeth, born December 12, 1849, wife of J. Upton Neely, of Fairfield, ex-member of the State Legislature; William M., born May 11, 1852, died November 21, 1859; George G., born March 20, 1854, married to Miss Jenuie Shaeffer, of Lancaster (he is a physician and druggist in Waynesboro); and John Charles, born Sep- tember 1. 1856, died December 7, 1859. Mr. Shively is a member of Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 336, A. F. & A. M., of Gettysburg: also a member of York Springs Lodge, No. 211, I. O. O. F., of Adams County, Penn. He is a member of the Reformed Church of Fairfield, to the erecting of a church building for which body he contributed liberally. In polities he is a Republican.

RUFUS C. SWOPE, retired tanner, P. O. Fairfield, is a grandson of Adam Swope, who came from Lancaster County to this county, locating two miles from Littlestown, and whose youngest son, Ephraim, was the father of Rufus C. Adam Swope lived on the farm until his marriage, when he removed to Littlestown, and engaged in building, con- tracting for masonry and bricklaying. He contracted for masonry work on Thaddeus Stevens' railroad, partly built in the "forties," but which, owing to political animosities, has never been completed. Col. Swope, as he was generally called, was colonel of a Penn - sylvania Militia Regiment, and was widely known. He was married to Catherine Le Fevre, born in Lancaster County, Penn., but who came here with her parents. When

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her father bought the farm he paid for it $40,000, all in silver dollars, brought in kegs by wagon, and it took several days to count it. Col. Swope was twice married; his second wife being Susan Keyports, now living in Hanover. 1Ie died in 1862. By his first wife he had eight children, of whom Rufus C. is one. Four died when quite young, and a son, Amos A., married in the western part of the State, removed to Florida, and died there in 1876. Two daughters still survive: Josephine, wife of P. H. Bittenger, of Hano- ver, and Lucinda C., wife of George Stonesifer, of Littlestown. By his second wife the Colonel had eight children also, all now living, and all married, except Luther, a profes- sor of languages in Boston, Mass. John is an engineer on the Short Line Railroad; William is on a railroad in New Mexico; Eliza lives in York, Penn .; Margaret is in Westminster, Md .; Georgia is in Washington City; Ellie is in this county; and Emma is in Hanover, York County. Rufus C. was born August 20, 1822, in Littlestown. His mother died when he was thirteen years old, and he was then sent to learn the trade of a tanner with Daniel Crome. at Littlestown, where he stayed until he was nineteen, when he rented a tan- nery in that place, which he carried on until 1852, at which time he bought a tannery in Fairfield. which he ran until 1866, when he sold it. He has since 1868, been agent for the North American Lightning Rod Company of Philadelphia. In 1862 he was appointed, by Gov. Curtin, draft commissioner of this district, and delivered a regiment to the authori- ties at Gettysburg. In December, 1862, he was appointed by President Lincoln captain, assistant quartermaster, and remained in the service until August. 1866, heing on duty in Washington for a year after the close of the war. In the fall of 1866 he was appointed in- ternal revenue collector of the Sixteenth Congressional District, which position he held until March, 1867, when he failed to be confirmed hy the Senate, in consequence of having identified himself with the Johnson administration. December 25, 1846, he married Miss Evaline C. Forrest, of Littlestown, born June 28, 1823, and they have had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Elvira Frances, born December 14, 1847, wife of Dr. J. Krumrine, and living in Irvington, Ind .; Granville H., born Juiy 12, 1849, married to Emma Buckingham, of Gettysburg, and living in Baltimore; Augustus S., born August 26, 1850, married to Mattie Taylor. of Clearfield County, Penn., and living at Colorado Springs, Col .; Ephraim B., born March 24, 1854, married to Laura, daugh- ter of Joseph Gelbach, of this township, and living in Fairfield; Clayton M., born August 15, 1856, single, living in Baltimore; and Edward McP., born October 18, 1858, married to Cora Stryker, and living in Petersburg, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Swope are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is likewise a member of the Union Sunday-school in Fairfield. In politics he is a Republican.

SAMUEL WALTER. farmer, P. O. Fairfield. The grandfathers of the subject of this sketch were George Walter and Jacob Lady, both of this county, the former of whom lived and died in Franklin Township, this county; his wife was a Miss Settle. They had six sons and several daughters. One of the sons, William, the father of Samuel, was born in Franklin Township, this county, and died Jnne 25, 1882, on our subject's farm. He married Mary Lady, who died in 1854, and they had eleven children: Jacob, married to Lucinda Stover (now living in Fairfield Township): George, married to Cathe- rine Herring (living in Nebraska); Eliza, wife of Daniel Mickley, of Fairfield, this county; Hetty, wife of John Pitzer, of Gettysburg; Daniel and Catherine, both deceased: Samuel; Mary, wife of John B. Weikert, of Highland Township; William, deceased; Harriet R., wife of Charles Weikert, and Martha Jane, who died young. Our subject was born Feb- ruary 22, 1842, and worked for his father until November, 1864, when he was drafted into the Eighty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He took part with his regiment in several battles, including the siege of Petersburg, and a few days after that, at a place near there, called Sailor Creek, he was wounded in the left arm by a minie ball; was in hospital until the close of the war, and did uot recover until long after. December 10. 1869, he was married to Regina Ellen, daughter of Henry Walter, of Arendtsville, Franklin Township, this county. They had three children: Minnie Myrtle. born Sep- tember 5, 1869, at home; Mary Blanche, boru August 2, 1872, at home, and William Henry Harrison, horn January 29, 1881, died in infancy. For eight years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Walter lived on his father's farm, when he and his father bought the farm, on which he now lives, he afterward buying his father's share. It comprises 202 acres of fine land, with excellent buildings. He and his wife and eldest daughter are members of the Lutheran Church.

GEORGE WATSON, farmer, P. O. Fairfield, is a native of this county, born Febru- ary 7, 1829. James Watson, father of our subject. was born in County Londonderry, Ircland. August 1, 1768, and immigrated to this county, buying a farm at the foot of the Green Ridge. His wife, nee Mary Gibson, was also a native of Ireland. They had six children, one of whom died when au infant. The others were Robert (married to Han- nah Mintzer, and living in Fairfield, this county), James (married to Elizabeth Carbaugh, and living in Hamiltonban Township, this county); John (deceased, married to Elizabeth Benschoof), Eliza (wife of William Stemm, of Cashtown, this county), and George, the youngest. Our subject lived on the home-farm until 1874. he having become its owner on the death of his father. At the time mentioned he sold it and bought the one (of over 150

Jeseph L. Shark

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acres) on which he lives, about a mile west of Fairfield. Here he erected a comfortable house and good outbuildings, and is bringing his farm into a fine state of cultivation. August 7, 1559. he was married to Mahala. daughter of James Smith, a native of Virginia, but at that time living in Hamiltonban Township, this county. They have ten children living, and one, George, who was accidently killed December 28, 1871, when seven years old, by the running away of a team. The living are James, born August 17, 1859 (mar- ried to Cora Herring, and living on a part of his father's farm); Margaret E., born Febru- ary 6. 1861 (wife of Ephraim Sanders, of Hamiltonban Township); Eliza, born January 25. 1863 (wife of Franklin Wetzel, living below Emmittsburg, Md.); Emma C., born De- cember 29, 1867 (wife of Henry Cleusman, of Franklin County, Penn.); Charles M., born February 2. 1869; Sarah Annie, born December 9, 1870; John, born December 30, 1872; Alice Gibson, born January 27. 1874; Susan Caroline, born July 9, 1877; and Robert W. C., born April 27, 1881. The six last named are living with their parents. Mr. Watson is strictly a farmer. giving his entire attention to agriculture. In politics he is a Democrat. J. STEWART WITHEROW, farmer and surveyor, P. O. Fairfield, is of Scotch-Irish descent, his grandfather, John Witherow, having emigrated when a young man and set- tled in Frederick County, Md., shortly afterward returning to his old home, and bringing out the rest of the family. His children were John, William, David. Samuel, Jane, Sarah, Elizabeth and Margaret (all deceased). David, the father of J. Stewart, was born in Frederick County. Md., where he lived until f812, when he and his brother, Samuel, bought a mill property on Marsh Creek, Cumberland Township, this county, where he lived for two years, when he purchased the farm where J. Stewart now lives. He retained his interest in the mill, but his brother having failed, his title was sold, and the purchaser claimed the entire property. This claim was resisted, and after forty years' litigation, was decided in favor of the heirs of David, who still hold the property. While at the mill, David Witherow was married to Nancy Walker. He died in 1847, aged sixty-two years, and his widow in 1873, aged seventy-six. They had six children: Harriet (who died un- married), Joseph (married to Miss Ridinger; he is a farmer and owns property in Cumber- land Township, formerly owned by his great-grandfather on his mother's side, his house being divided by the Mason and Dixon line), Washington (married to Mary Crooks, they live at the old mill). Elizabeth (wife of James J. Hill, of Path Valley. Franklin County), Sarah (wife of William G. Black, of Cumberland Township), and J. Stewart (born July 8, 1830, on the place where he now lives). Our subject learned surveying of his father, which he has practiced ever since, and has been for years the only surveyor in this locality. In 1856 he acquired possession of the farm, which he has also carried on. May 7, 1857, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Thomas White, of Hamiltonban Township, this county. To this union nine children were born. three dying in infancy, and the eldest son. Willie, when he was twenty years old. The survivors are Nannie E. (wedded to Joel B. Musselman, of Hamiltonban Township, this county); Mary C., II. Belle, Mattie W. and Flora W., who live with their parents. Mr. Witherow was county surveyor for three years, and is now county jury commissioner. He is a member of Valley Home Lodge, No. 740, I. O. O. F., of which he has been secretary for years, and he is likewise Distriet Deputy Grand Master. All the family are members of Marsh Creek Presbyterian Church, of which, for thirty years, he has been a trustee. In politics he is a Republican. GEORGE W. WORTZ, merchant. Fairfield. The grandfather of this gentleman came from Lebanon County, Penn., and settled in Conowago Township, this county, near McSherrystown. Ife had seven children: Jacob, Peter, Marcus, Henry, George, Mary and Adam. all deceased, most at an advanced age. Marcus, father of George W., lived on his father's farm until after his marriage, and being the only son at home, was, during the war of 1812, exempt from military duty on account of his father's advanced age. He was a farmer, but for several years kept a boarding house in McSherrystown, which he afterward sold and bought a farm from his sister, Mrs. Stouffer, a widow, where he lived until a few years before his death, when, being afflicted with blindness, he sold the farm and bought a house in Hanover. York County, where he lived until his death. His wife, Elizabeth Herbst, was born in Carlisle, Penn., March 5. 1800, and died at York Springs, this county, May 16, 1882. She was a daughter of Rev. John Herbst, pastor of the Lutheran Church in Carlisle, and later in Maryland and in York and other counties in Pennsylvania. The children of Marcus and Elizabeth Wortz were Eliza Ann, born August 3. 1818, who became the wife of John Allabaugh, and after his decease married Michael Bushey, of East Berlin, this county, where they live; Julia Ann, born November 8. 1819. widow of Jesse D. Keller, of Conowago Township, this county, living in Hanover; Jacob M .. born June 15, 1827, married to Maggie Shaeffer, both died at Glen Rock, York Co., Penn .; Amelia, born August 20, 1821, was wife of Jacob Musselman, of Hamiltonban Township. this county. both deceased: Sarah H., born July 4, 1833, wife of Daniel Mus-

selman, of Fairfield, this county; Louisa E., born July 4, 1837, wife of Dr. D. Diller, of York Springs, this county; a son, who died at ten years of age; a daughter, who died when an infant, and George W., the youngest child. Our subject was born September f. 1840. in McSherrystown, and lived on the farm (to which his father had removed) until he was sixteen years old, when he clerked for two years for John Busby in the house in

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which he was born; two years for his brother in New Oxford; then farmed the home, place for four years, teaching in winter; farmed a year near Fairfield; then started a gro- cery, to which, in 1866, he added a dry goods store. He has made several business changes since then; was for three years running a steam saw-mill, where a board hurled by the saw against his face nearly killed him. He also, at different times, built twenty-eight houses in the town, adding largely to its growth and prosperity. In January, 1886, he bought back the business carried on in his own building, and is now engaged in merchandising. December 17, 1863, Mr. Wortz was married to Martha J. Myers, of York Springs, this county, born March 24, 1843. They have four children: Minnie F., born January 16, 1865; Harry L., born June 23, 1868; Alice R., born January 26. 1873, and Ella Gertrude, born October 2, 1875, all living with their parents. Mr. Wortz has been a school director for nine years, all of which time he was secretary of the board; is a member of Valley House Lodge, No. 740,I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs, and of which he was secre- tary for several years .; has also been District Deputy Grand Master. Mr. and Mrs. Wortz, their eldest daughter and son are members of the Lutheran Church, in which he was a deacon six years. In politics our subject is a Republican; is at present the judge of elections, which office he filled several times.

CHAPTER LVIII.

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.

DAVID BAUMGARDNER, farmer, P. O. Fairfield, was born in Adams County, Penn., July 1, 1830, and is a son of John and Mary (Angel) Baumgardner, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Maryland. David was three years of age when his parents moved to Carroll County, Md., where his father engaged in farming until his death. Ile lived on the homestead in Maryland until 1863, when he returned to Pennsyl- vania and located in Fairfield. Shortly after he moved to Franklin County, where he resided three years and then moved to Hamiltonban Township, this county, where he bought property and resided three years. He then bought a small farm in Franklin Township, on which he lived eighteen months and moved to his present place in 1872, where he owns thirty acres of land. IIe was first married, in 1854, to Catherine Wolf, who bore him four children: Louisa Adelaide, married and living in this county; John S., married and moved to Ohio; Catherine E., married and moved to Florida, and William D., married and moved to Ohio, Mrs. Baumgardner died in 1863, and our subject's second marriage took place in 1863, with Hettie Musselman, to which union five children were born: Amos M., Hettie V., Laura, Elmer J. and Samuel R. Mr. and Mrs. Baumgardner are members of the Lutheran Church, Politically he is a Republican. Our subject has one brother, named Samuel, and three sisters: Maria, Elizabeth and Susann. Ile was drafted into the Union Army in 1864, and August 6, of that year, he supplied a substitute at a cost of $830.

DANIEL BEARD, farmer, P. O. Gettysburg, was born in Adams County, Penn., July 8, 1822, and is a son of George and Sarah (Minta) Beard, natives of Pennsylvania. His father, a farmer, died in 1843, and after his death the family moved to Freedom Township, where they resided for several years. Daniel went to Illinois and located in McLean County, where he lived for two years, and in 1861 he moved to where he now resides, where he owns thirty-three acres of good land. In 1861 he was drafted into Company C, One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Regiment, and served under Capt. McGinly for nine months, during which time he participated in several skirmishes. He married, November 11, 1847. Barbara Kelly, who bore him eight children, three now living: Charles E., Virginia and Henry Foster. Mrs. Beard died March 29, 1882, and April 6, 1886, Mr. Beard married Catherine Haldeman. Mr. Beard is a member of the Lutheran and Mrs. Beard of the Presbyterian Church.

R. WILLIAM BREAM, farmer, P. O. Gettysburg, was born in Cumberland Town- ship, Adams Co., Penn., April 10, 1850, and is a son of ex-Sheriff Francis and Elizabeth (Slaybaugh) Bream, natives of this county. His father, who was the first Democratic sheriff of Adams County, elected in 1842, and serving one term, died in the spring of 1882; his widow still survives. Our subject was reared on a farm and remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years old, when he married. After that event he engaged in the milling business at the Mineral Mills successfully for five years. In the spring of 1882 lie moved to where he now resides in Highland Township, here owning a farm of 110 acres. He erected a large brick residence and a fine barn, and has one of the best improved places

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

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