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 63

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 63
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 63

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).

JOHN HERMAN BOSLER, of Carlisle, is the oldest living representative of the fam- ily. He was born December 14. 1830. His early life was spent upon his father's farm. At the age of seventeen he went to Cumberland Academy, and from there entered Dick- inson College. He left college to enter into a partnership with his father in the milling and distillery business, in which he remained for five years. He then withdrew to engage in the iron business in Huntington County, where he remained for two years, during which time he was married. on October 1. 1856, to Mary J., eldest daughter of James and Martha (Saiger) Kirk. of Mifflintown. Juniata Co., Penn. Shortly after his marriage he returned to Cumberland County, and from that time was engaged in the milling, distilling and prodner business until 1820. In this year he and his youngest brother, George, estab- lished a cattle ranch on the plains of the great West, which they have continued to the present time. They were the pioneer representatives of this business from Cumberland County. Mr. Bosler is one of the most active and successful business men of Carlisle. He is at present president of the Carlisle Mannfacturing Co., a director in the Carlisle

370

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

Deposit Bank, and director of the Ogallalla Land & Cattle Co. of Nebraska, as well as be- iug engaged in other large western enterprises. Mr. and Mrs. Bosler are members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle. They have had ten children, six of whom are living, viz .: Gertrude D)., wife of E. W. Biddle, attorney at law, of Carlisle; Herman E., who is a graduate of Dickinson College, and at present is manager of Snake Creek Cattle Ranch in northwestern Nebraska; Eliza McClellan, Jennie M., Fleeta Kirk and Kirk.

JAMES WILLIAMSON BOSLER (deceased), late capitalist, of Carlisle, is deserving of more than a passing notice in this work. He was born April 4, 1833. He assisted on the farm until he entered Cumberland Academy, at New Kingston. Two years later he entered Dickinson College and remained through his junior year. During vacation he conceived the idea of going West, which he did with the approval of his parents. He taught school at Moultrie, Columbiana Co., Ohio, during the winters of 1853-54. He then went to Wheeling, W. Va., where he read law and was admitted to the bar. He then moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he formed a partnership with Charles E. Hedges, to engage in real estate business. They then established the Sioux City Bank, under the firm name of Bosler & Hedges, and later they engaged in furnishing goods, cattle and general supplies for the Interior and War Departments of the Government, on the north Missouri River. The partnership was dissolved in 1866, and Mr. Bosler continued the business until the time of his death. During his residence in Sioux City he was an active politiciau, and in 1860 was sent as a delegate to the Charleston Convention. Having, by dint of energy and business capacity, acquired a considerable fortune, he returned, in 1866, to his native county in Pennsylvania and built a beautiful home in the suburbs of Carlisle. Here he continued to reside until his death. He was a member of the Repub- lican National Committee of 1880,and he, John Roach, ship builder, and Senator Chaffee, of Colorado, were a committee appointed in charge of the interest of Hon. James G. Blaine, at the Chicago convention in that year. For many years he was Mr. Blaine's warm per- sonal friend. After the nomination of Garfield, he became one of his strong supporters. In 1893 he was nominated by the Republicans of the Nineteenth District for senator. This district had 1,800 Democratic majority and he reduced it to 130. He was at the time of his death, December 17. 1883, president of the Palo Blanco Cattle Company, of New Mexico, and of the Carlisle Manufacturing Company, and director of the Carlisle Gas and Water Company. No man was ever more generally beloved in a community than Mr. Bosler iu Carlisle, for his benevolence was as broad as his means were great. With a strong intelligence and remarkable judgment he united great kindness of heart. In 1860 he married Heleu, a daughter of Michael G. and Mary (IIerman) Beltzhoover. They had five children, four of whom are living: Frank C., Mary Eliza, De Witt Clinton and Helen Louise. Mrs. Bosler and son, Frank, are members of the Second Presbyterian Church, of Carlisle.

BENJAMIN C. BOSLER, as his brothers did, passed his early years on his father's farm, attended Cumberland Academy for several years; then went to California, where he died in 1863 in his twenty-ninth year.

JOSEPH BOSLER was born March 23, 1838. He attended the common schools and the academy at New Kingston and the grammar school of Dickinson College. He also spent his early life on his father's farm, with the exception of several years passed with his brother James in Ohio. In 1863 he joined said brother in Sioux City, Iowa, and engaged with him in merchandising and Government contracting until 1966, when he returned to Carlisle and formed a copartnership with his brother, J. H. Bosler. This partnership lasted eight years, during which time they were interested in stock and real estate in the West. Joseph still continues this business. November 4, 1868, he married Sarah E., daughter of Thomas Newton and Margaret (Billmeyer) Lemen, of Berkeley County, W. Va. Mr. and Mrs. Bosler have had seven children, five of whom are living: Margaret, Joseph, Jr., Eliza Herman, Mary and Snsau Lemen. Mrs. Bosler and daughter, Margaret, are members of the Second Presbyterian Church, of Carlisle.

ELIZABETH B. BOSLER is unmarried and is living in her father's home in Carlisle.

MARY C. BOSLER married Joseph R. Stonebraker, of Baltimore, Md., in 1874. They have had five children, four of whom are living: James Bosler, Harry, Joseph and Eliza Ilerman.

GEORGE MORRIS BOSLER was born May 14, 1846. After leaving the public schools he attended Tuscarora Academy, in Juniata County, Penn. He has been a partner of his brother, J. Herman Bosler, in the cattle business in the West for the past sixteen years, in the practical management of which he has taken an active part. Iu January, 1880, he married Martha J., daughter of George W. and Mary ( Hedges) Robinsou. Mr. and Mrs. Bosler have three children: Eliza Herman, Abram and George Morris, Jr. Mrs. Bosler is & member of the Second Presbyterian Church, of Carlisle.

JOHN B. BRATTON, retired editor, Carlisle, was born in Mifflintown, Juniata Co., Peun., and learned the art of printing in the Juniata Free Press office. He worked as a journeyman printer for three years, and in 1840, iu connection with two partners, started the State Capitol Gazette, at Harrisburg. At the end of one year he bought out his partners; was elected State printer three times. Iu 1845 he sold the Gazette and bought

371

BOROUGHI OF CARLISLE,

the American Volunteer, of Carlisle, which paper he conducted ably for thirty-two years, when he sold ont to S. M. Wherry. In 1848 he was a prominent candidate for the respon- sible office of canal commissioner, and came within a few votes of securing the nomina- tion by the Democratic State Convention. Ile had carried the Southern tier of counties (Perry, Fulton, Franklin, Cumberland, Adams and York) without missing a delegate, but Simon Cameron (then a Democrat and a delegate to the convention) was hostile to Mr. Bratton and worked hard for his defent. Seth Clover was nominated by a trifling major- ity. In 1867 Mr. Bratton was a candidate for State senator and carried his county. Cum- berland, triumphantly. Four of his instructed delegates, however, voted for his competitor, Col. Chestnut, who was nominated and elected. In the year following Mr. Bratton was a candidate for Congress, and carried the county; but here again bad luck followed him, six of his instructed delegates forsook him and voted for Col. Haldeman, who was nominated by the skin of his teeth and elected. Two years later Mr. Bratton again contended against Haldeman and defeated him, under the Crawford County system, by 700 majority. but Haldeman was again nominated by receiving the votes of the six conferees from York and Perry to Bratton's three from Cumberland. In 1880 Mr. Bratton was again a candidate for Congress, but was defeated by F. E. Beltzhoover, who was elected and re-elected. Mr. Bratton was postmaster of Carlisle under Presidents Pierce and Buchanan, and of the latter he was a personal friend. He was a member of the town council, and for several years president of that body. lIe is at this writing a director of the Carliste Gas and Water Company; is a member of the board of education of Carlisle and president of the body; a director in the Carliste Deposit Bank; a director of the Carlisle Land Association and president of the body; also a director in the Hamilton Fund Association. Mr. Bratton has filled efficiently all offices of trust to which he has been called by his fellow-citizens, and has been elected to more non-paying offices than any man in Cumberland County, holding often, during the last thirty years, four, five and sometimes six of these thankless offices at the same time. He has been a strong and con- sistent Democrat, a recognized power in his party. As an editor he was trenchant, often bitter, and during the period of his greatest strength, when he was editor of the Volunteer, that paper was quoted from, editorially, in almost every State in the union. Mr. Bratton is now living in retirement in Carlisle.

WILLIAM H. BRETZ, proprietor of the livery stables, Carlisle, is a native of Cum- berland County, born in Carlisle, September 2, 1832, a son of Jacob and Mary (Dipple) Bretz, former born in Harrisburg. in 1806. Jacob Bretz, who was a coachmaker, came to Carlisle when a young man, was there married, and soon after went to Gettysburg, where he remained two years; then returned to Carlisle and engaged in the manufacture of coaches, which business engaged his attention until 1855 or 1856, and subsequently he was engaged in the manufacture of brick. He held the office of register of Cumberland County one term, and is now the court crier of that county. His wife was born in Carlisle, in 1809, and died December 25, 1883, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the parents of eight children, who lived to be men and women, seven living: Eliza J., widow of Dr. J. F. Freichler; William II. ; Mary A., wife of William H. Cornman, liveryman, Carlisle; Margaret A., wife of George G. Boyer, superintendent of car works of Harris- burg. and president of Harrisburg & Steelton Railway Company; George M., photog- raphier, of Pottsville, Penn .; Laura C., widow of John T. Crozier, formerly chief clerk of Mount Ilolly Paper Mills; Fannie G., wife of Sylvester Garwood, manager for the Western Union Telegraph Company. Philadelphia. The subject of this sketch received instruction in the common schools of Carlisle and the preparatory department of Dickin- son College, from which institution he withdrew, after having passed the examination for college, to enter a drug store, which business he learned, subsequently purchasing the store, which he carried on until 1856. In 1857 he went to Kansas, and there cast a vote to make that a free State; eight months later he returned to Carlisle, and for a period was engaged in the butcher's business. In 1866, he embarked in the livery business, with his brother-in-law, William II. Cornman, and four years later purchased Mr. Ililton's sta- ble, ou the corner Church Alley and Pitt Street. In 1874 he bought his present property on the corner of Main and Pitt Streets, where he has a building 90x60 feet, which he built, and where are kept twenty fine horses, a full line of huggies, carriages, omnibuses, coaches, sleighs, ete., and where he is fully prepared to accommodate the public. May 29. 1868, Mr. Bretz married Miss Martha Stumbaugh, who was born near ('ashtown, Adams County. a danghter of Peter and Barbara (Keffer) Stumbaugh. Mr. and Mrs. Bretz are members of St. John's Episcopal Church. Mr. Bretz is identified with St. John's Blue Lodge, No. 260. Chapter 173, and Commandery No. 8, K. T. Ile started in life dependent on his own resources, and by industry and good management has ac- quired a competeney, possessing, in addition to his stables, a farm of 104 acres in North Middleton Township, a nice residence on North Street, and other property in Carlisle.

IION. THEODORE CORNMAN, attorney, Carlisle, was born in that place May 11, 1836; attended the public schools of his native place, and served an apprenticeship at cab- inet-making in the same town; and at the age of nineteen began teaching, and taught ten years in the public schools of Carlisle and two years in North Middleton Township, and

372

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

during three years of that time read medicine in the office of Dr. S. B. Kieffer, and also, while teaching, studied law. In 1868 he was elected to the Legislature from Cumberland County, and was re-elected to the same in 1869. At the close of his second term he re- turned to Carlisle, and entered the law office of C. E. MeLaughlin, with whom he furthered his studies, and was admitted to the bar in 1870, since which time he has been actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession In 1881, he, in partnership with William Vance and Samuel Site, organized the Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Carlisle, under the firm name of Vance & Company, manufacturers of sashes, doors, blinds, etc. In 1884 he was elected a director of the school board of Carlisle, and is now serving in that capacity. In 1875 he received the nomination of his district for Congress, but withdrew in favor of Col. Levi Maish. December 20, 1859, Mr. Cornman was married to Miss Lydia Miller, a native of York Conn y, and a daughter of Daniel and Eve Miller, old settlers of York County. Our subject and wife have had four children, viz .: George W., a tinner, who died in August, 1885, aged twenty-five years; Charles T., of the firm of Kissell & Corn- man. dry goods merchants of Carlisle; Sarah E., who died young; and Theodore. a clerk and telegraph operator. The mother died in October, 1878, a member of the Reformed Church. In December, 1880, Mr. Cornman married Miss Annie E. Green, a native of Cumberland County, and a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Parks) Green, also natives of Cumberland County. Mr. and Mrs. Cornman are members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Cornman has passed all the chairs in Masonry and all the chairs in the I. O. O. F., and is a member of the 1. O. H. In politics he has always been a Democrat. John Cornman, the father of our subject, was born in North Middleton Township, this county. in 1788. and died in 1861. Hle was reared on a farm, but subsequently moved to Carlisle, where for years he was engaged in the hotel business. His marriage with Anna M. Wonderlich, of Cumberland County, was blessed with ten children, five now living: Ephraim. Ellen (who married Robert Harris). Frederick, Theodore. Joseph; those deceased are Daniel, Margaret (intermarried with John HI. Fredrick), John, Alexander and Franklin. The father was a member of the Reformed Church, and the mother of the Lutheran. The father, Jolin Cornman, was a son of Valentine Cornman, a native of Germany, who set- tled in Cumberland County in an early day and engaged in farming.

WILLIAM W. DALE. M. D., Carlisle, stands prominent among the city's public- spirited citizens. He was born in Lancaster, Penn .. a son of Col. Samuel and Elizabeth (Gundaker) Dale, the former of whom (Judge Dale), was among the many worthy public men of that locality, having served with distinction (holding coloneley) in the war of 1812; seven years as a member of the Legislature of Pennsylvania; for many years associate judge of Lancaster, and in other worthy local official positions. At his death he left tive sons, who have horne important parts in the public, social, and industrial lives of their localities. They are Judge M. G. Dale, of Edwardsville, Ill .; Col. Samuel F. Dale, of Franklin; James Dale, druggist, who died in Mechanicsburg, Penn .; Charles, and the subject of our sketch. who completed a good literary training in Lancaster County Acad- emy and Franklin College, and was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College. of Plula- delphia, in 1838. He then came to this county, and, after spending same years at Me- chanicsburg, and latterly at New Kingston, removed here in 1847. where he has contributed, in no small degree, to the advancement of professional work and to the development of the social and industrial life of Carlisle.

JAMES RAMSAY DIXON, sheriff-elect of Cumberland County, and a resident of Carlisle, was born in Mount Holly, April 11. 1834 a son of David and Christina (Young) Dixon, the former a son of Andrew Dixon. a machinist, and a native of Scotland. who set- tled in Cumberland County, and who left two sons, David and James R. The subject of this sketch left his father's business (blacksmithing) to engage in butchering. with which he has since been successfully connected at this place. He married Mary J , daughter of Samuel and Charlotte Allgeir, the onion being blessed with one son and three daughters: Ellen (deceased), Andrew (associated in business with his father). Laura (wife of Charles Meck, a merchant) and Ella. Mr. Dixon is a strong supporter of the Democratic party, and until the last convention, at which he was nominated and subsequently creditably elected to the sheriffalty of his county, he has always refused public office. He is a worthy Mason and a member of the Royal Arcanum.

DR. JAMES G. FICKEL, physician and surgeon, of Carlisle, has been identified with the city all his life. He was born at Petersburg, Adams County, September 14, 1853. and when three months old was brought by his parents, Benjamin F. and Lucy A. (Bender) Fickel, natives of Adams County. 10 York County. His father was a farmer and a miller, and his grandfather, Henry Fickel. was born in England, and soon after came with his parents to Adams County, where he carried on farming. Benjamin F. Fickel moved to York County in 1853, and his death occurred in Adams County. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. Four children, two sons and two daughters-were born to them, viz .: Dr. James G., Isabella, (wife of William Leer, a farmer in Latimore Town- ship, Adams County), Henry F. (a farmer, who ma ried Miss Christiann Shank, of York County, daughter of Jacob and Harriet (Ernst) Shank); Ann L. (wife of Louis Arnold, a farmer of York County.) Dr. James G. Fickel, the subject of this sketch, attended school

373

BOROUGHI OF CARLISLE.

in York County until fifteen years old, when he went to New Berlin, Union Co., Penn., where he attended the Union Seminary for two years. Then he went to Philadelphia and entered the Hahnemann Medical College, from which institution he graduated in 1878. Ile then returned to d'arliste, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of the profession. September 5, 1875, the Doctor was married to Miss Ella Arnobt, who was born in York County. a daughter of Dr. George P. and Sarah (Law ) Arnold. Mrs. Fickel died February 22, 1884. the mother of one child. Almeda 1 .. and July 21, 1885, Dr. Ficket married Miss Mary A. Sierer, a native of Monroe Township, Cumberland Co., and daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Niesly) Sierer. She is a member of the Lutheran Church. From time to time the Doctor's practice has steadily increased, and, although a young man. he now enjoys an extensive practice, having more than he can really attend to, the toward of study and honorable treatment of the people in general. 11 . enjoys the confidence and esteem of the commnoity at large, among whom he is gaining prominence as a physician. ANTHONY FISHBURN, retired farmer, Carlisle, is a great-grandson of Philip Fisch- born, born in Plannich der Churfatz, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, May 7. 1722 and who immigrated to America and settled in Derry Township. Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1749. IIc married Miss Catherine E. Bretz, whose birth occurred September 27, 1724, and to them five sons and four daughters were born: Margaretta. John Philip. Ludweg. Peter, Magda- lena. Anthony. Dietrich, Catherine and Anna Maria. John Philip Fishburn was born in Derry Township, Dauphin Co . Penn., November 15, 1754, and was twice married; first, August 14, 1750, to Miss Barbara Greiner, who bore him six children, as follows: Cather- ine E., Magdalena, John, Anthony, Margaret and Anthony (second), two of whom only lived to maturity-John and Anthony (second). The mother died June 19. 1990. John Philip married. December 25, 1792, for his second wife Miss Anna M. Hack, who was born June 9, 1771, and became the mother of twelve children. ten of whom lived to be grown: Eve, Barbara. Jacob, Michael. Elizabeth Benjamin, Jooas, Sophia, Thomas and Joshua. John. son of John Philip and Barbara (Greiner) Fishburn, was born in Derry Township, Dauphin Co., Penn .. December 12, 1781; married Miss Catherine Carmana November 26, 1809, and to them were born six sons and four daughters (nine of whom lived to be men and women): Philip, John, Anthony. Barbara, Hannah C., Helena, Rudolph. Adam, Reu- ben and Maria. The father died April 11, 1861, and the mother, who was born April 9, 1791. died March 15. 1874. Anthony Fishburn, their son, and the subject of this sketch, removed with his parents from Dauphin County to this county in 1832, and settled in Dickinson Township. He was occupied at farming with his father until his marriage, February 15, 1813, with Miss Salome Ann Le Fevre, when he settled on his farm in Dickin- inson Township. She was horn June 12, 1824. in West Pennsborough Township, being a daughter of Lawrence and Salome (Line) Le Fevre, the former of whom was born near Wrightsville, York Co., Penn .. a son of George and Anna Barbara (Slaymaker) Le Fevre (the Slaymakers being of German and the Le Fevres of French descent). George Le Fevre was a grandson of Isaac Le Fevre. a French Huguenot, who immigrated to America to esenpe religious persecution. Hle landed in Boston in 1708. and setiled in Lancaster County. Penn., in 1712, having been married in France to Miss Catherine Fierre, a daugh- ter of Daniel and Maria (Warrenbner) Fierre. Isaac Le Fevre, with his sons, came to Chester, now Lancaster County, and located near Strasburg, where some of their descendants still reside. Philip, Isaac Le Fevre's second son, born March 16, 1710, in Boston, had eight children: Isaac. George, Adam, Jacob, Catherine, Esther, Eve and Elizabeth. George married Anna Barbara Slaymaker, who bore him twelve children: Elizabeth, Lawrence. Isaac, Mary, Jacob, George. Adam. Peter, Anna Barbara, Samuel, John and Daniel. Lawrence was married twice: first to Miss Veronica Alter, in May, 1792. and they had the following named children : Margaret and George died young. Jacob, Elizabeth, John. Isaac, Fannie, Esther, David Alter and Joseph Ritner. The mother died October 15, 1817. Lawrence Le Fevre married for his second wife Miss Salome Line, Oc- tober 29, 1822. and they had one daughter. Salome Ann wife of Anthony Fishburn. To our subject and wife have been born three children: Philip IL .. born January 23, 1843, and died February 11, 1815: Anna Maria, horn January 19, 1851, died March 3. 1855; and Louisa Elbe, born December 26, 1860, resides at home with her parents. Mr. Fishburn retired from the Tarm March 19, 1885, and built his prosent brick residence on the south- east corner of Pomfret and West Streets. He is one of the representative men of Cum- berland County, with whose interests he has been identified since he was sixteen years of age, and stands high in the estimation of all as an upright citizen and Christian gentle- man. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

ADAM FISHBURN, retired farmer, Carlisle, is a son of John and Catherine (Car- many) Fishburn, natives, the former of Dauphin County, and the latter of Lebanon County. Penn. Our subject is the fifth son, and eighth in a family of ten children, nine of whom lived to be men and women, and was born three miles east of Hummelstown. Dauphin Co., Penn., March 6, 1826. The family, io 1832, moved to this county, and settled on the farm in Dickinson Township now owned by Adam. Onr subject remained on the homestead, attending school in the winter seasons, and at his father's death inher- ited the farm, where he remained until 1883, when he purchased his present property on

374

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

West South Street, Carlisle, building the house. Mr. Fishburn was twice married; first, January 26. 1854, to Miss Ellen J. Kenyon, a native of Dickinson Township, a daughter of Samnel M. and Sarah Jane ( Kinkaid) Kenyon, and to this union was born, December 19. 1854, one son, Samuel K., now a resident of Dickinson Township, and engaged in farming on the old homestead. His marriage occurred April 15, 1879, with Miss Annie M. Lee, a native of Dickinson Township, and a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Myers) Lee. Both are members of the church; he of the Lutheran, and she of the Epis- copal. They have two children: Mary L. and Fred C. The wife of our subject died De- cember 28, 1854, and Mr. Fishburn December 8, 1859, married Miss Catherine E. Heffel- bower, a native of Newton Township, but reared in West Pennsborough Township, a daugh- ter of George and Catherine (Au) Heffelbower, natives of Cumberland County. Two children were born to this union, both dying in infancy. Mr. Fishburn is one of the en- terprising, representative farmers, business men and citizens of the county, and stands high in the estimation of all as an houest man and a Christian gentleman. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran 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.

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

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