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 68

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Publisher: W. Taylor
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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 68
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 68

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CHRISTIAN REIGHTER, brick mason, contractor and builder, Carlisle, was born in that place January 10, 1820. son of George and Ann Catherine (Leibe) Reighter. George Reighter, a stone and brick mason, contractor and builder. and a native of Craw- ford County, Penn., removed to Berks County, and thence to Carlisle in 1813, where, in 1816, he was married to Miss Leibe, a native of Berks County, and a daughter of Chris- tian and Catherine (Franklinberger) Leibe. He died April 7, 1836, aged about thirty-five years. His parents were Henry and Sarah J. (Sanders) Reighter, the former of whom, a native of Crawford County. came in 1813 to Cumberland County, and in 1835 moved to Pittsburgh. He was also by trade a brick and stone-masou. To George and Ann Cather- ine (Leibe) Reighter were born six sons and one daughter: George L., who served in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Coulter, and was killed at Freder- icksburg; Christian; Henry B., who served in the Mexican war, and died from disease contracted therein: Charles O., who served in Company A, First Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Reserve Volunteers, and was wounded at South Mountain, and died from the effects; John T., a painter in Philadelphia (Charles O. aud John T. were twins); Mary C., who died in 1851, the wife of Henry McCord, a farmer of Ohio, and Andrew J., a brick- mason, who also served in the First Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Reserve Volun- teers, and died in 1879. The parents were identified-the father with the Episcopal, and the mother with the Lutheran Church. Our subject, when young, learned the brick-ma- son's trade in Carlisle, which he has since followed. February 1, 1850, he was married to Miss Sarah Jane Dickinson, a native of Cumberland County, Peun., and a daughter of David and Christian (Yingest) Dickinson, and to this union have been born two children: Edward F., now engaged in the grocery business in Gettysburg, and Mary C., who resides with her parents.

WILLIAM F. REILY, physician, Carlisle, is a native of Cumberland County, Penn., born at Carlisle, December 2, 1851. His grandfather, James Reily, who was born in Ire- land and there educated for the priesthood. when a young man emigrated to America and settled in Cumberland County, Penn., and was here married. William, a son of

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James, married Miss Elizabeth Kernan and to them were born three sons and one daugh- ter: Rev. Dr. Theo. M. Reily (professor of ecclesiastical history in the theological seminary at Nashotah, Wis.), Thomas A. Reily (Iate second lieutenant in the Fifth United States Infantry from 1867 to 1871, when he resigned and returned to Carlisle; also chosen cap- tain of Company G. Eighth Regiment National Guard of Pennsylvania, at its organiza- tion, and subsequently made lieutenant-colonel of the regiment), Euphemia Parker Reily (who resides with her mother in Carlisk), and Dr. W. F. Reily. Our subject attended the common school of Carlisle until eighteen years of age, when he entered Dickinson College, and later entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in March, 1875. He then located at Carlisle, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. lle is a mein- ber of the Cumberland County Medical Society, and of the Medical Society of Pennsylva- nin. The Doctor and wife are members of the St. John's Episcopal Church, of which he is one of the vestrymen. Dr. Reily is a past master of St. John's Lodge, No. 200, F. & A. M. lle has been physician to the county asylum since 1885.

HENRY M. RITTER, merchant tailor, Carlisle, was born in that place February 6, 1947. He attended the public schools of Carlisle until thirteen years of age, and then entered Dickinson College, where he remained one year. He next entered Eastman's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1863. He then returned to Carlisle and embarked in his present business, succeeding his father. He carries a full and complete stock of fine imported and domestic goods. January 10, 1868, Mr. Ritter married Miss M. Maybury Hassler, of Carlisle, a native of Philadelphia, and a daughter of John P. and Amelia M. (llerr) Hassler. Mr. Hassler was a native of Frank- lin County, Penn., and for many years was cashier of the Carlisle Deposit Bank. Mrs. Hassler was a native of Franklin County, A sister of the Hon. A. J. Herr, U. State Senator, and a daughter of Daniel Herr, proprietor of the "Tremont," Philadelphia, and the "Lochiel," Harrisburg. Mr. and Mrs. Ritter have two sons: John E. and Harry G., both born in Carlisle. The mother is identified with the Reformed Church. The parents of our subject are Henry S. and Mary (Wonderlich) Ritter, natives, the former of Reading, Berks County, and the latter of Cumberland County. Henry S. Ritter, a merchant tailor by occupation, opened, in 1837, the first merchant tailoring establishment in Carlisle. Ile and his wife are members of the English Lutheran Church. To them were born three sons and five daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters are living: Mary E. (wife of Robert McCartney, foreman of the printers in the office of the Mechanicsburg Journal), Fannie A. (wife of John H. Rheem, a piano and music dealer at Ottumwa, lowa). Henry M., and Charles H. (tailor of Carlisle, who married Miss Anna Reep). Benjamin Crane, great-grandfather of Henry M. Ritter, was a native of England, and in an early day set- tled in Cumberland County, and was engaged in farming. Christiana Crane, his widow, a native of Berks County, died in Carlisle, at the advanced age of one hundred and four years, retaining her mind and being quite active to the last. Her death was caused by a fall and from fright during the bombarding of Carlisle by the rebels in 1863, a shell burst- ing in her room. The Ritters are of German descent. Samuel, the grandfather of Henry M., was born in Reading. Penn., of which city he was a merchant and served as post- master for a period of twenty years. His wife was Katherine Kast, a native of Reading.

HON. WILBUR F. SADLER, Carlisle, was born in Adams County, Penn., October 14, 1840, his paternal ancestor being among the first settlers of Adams County. Richard Sadler emigrated from England about the middle of the last century and settled in that part of Pennsylvania now forming Adams County. In 1750 he took out a warrant for land which is still in the possession of some of his descendants. IIe was buried in 1764, at Christ Church, Iluntington Township, of which he was one of the early members. His son. Isaac, married Mary Hammersly, and their eldest child was named Richard. lle married Rebecca Lewis, and their second son, Joshua, became the father of Wilbur F. The subject of this sketch was brought by bis parents to Cumberland County the year following his birth. After the completion of his education, in 1863, he enlisted in a cavalry company, which was mustered into the United States service for the "emer- gency " at the time of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the Carlisle bar in 1864, and besides acquiring a large practice was actively connected with the educa- tional and business interes's of the place, serving as a director of the common schools, trustee of Dickinson College, director of several corporations, and president of the Farmer- bank. In 1869 he was nominated by the Republican party for the State Senate, in the district composed of York and Cumberland; was elected district attorney two years afterward, and president judge of the Ninth Judicial District of Pennsylvania in 1884, having been defeated for the same office ten years previous.

WILLIAM SADLER, Heidlersburg, Adams County, was born November 16, 1816. He is a son of William Sadler, who was born October 1. 1777. and died July 8, 1848. His grandfather was Isaac Sadler, and his great grandfather Richard Sadler, who was a native of England and settled near York Springs prior to 1750. His mother was Lydia Lease. Mr. Sadler has been a resident of lleidlersburg for many years. ITis energy, business foresight, facility of accumulation and wise investments have made his counsels

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valuable and much sought in financial matters. He is a director of the Dillsburg Na- tional Bank.

JOHN SCHMOHL, SR., baker, Carlisle, was born at Metzingen, Wurtemburg, Germany, November 16, 1824, a son of Jacob and Catharine Schmohl, who came to Cumberland County in 1846, former of whom died in 1868, and latter in 1859. The sub- ject of our sketch learned his trade in the old country, and coming here embarked in the business with which he has since been successfully connected. He was married here to Elizabeth Fredericka, whom he buried in January, 1863. and who left him three sons and three daughters: Philip, Lena, Jacob, John, Catharine and Lizzie. Mr. Schmohl was again happily married, this time to Catharine Weidman, a native of Arnstaafer, Hessen-Darmstadt (the place of nativity of his first wife), and who came to America in 1838, a daughter of Jacob Weidman, who died here in 1869, his widow following him in September, 1885, aged eighty-seven years. Mr. Schmohl is one of Carlisle's public spir- ited citizens, and has contributed liberally to the support of the industrial interests of the place. He is a prominent Knight of Pythias, and has done much toward keeping alive the society here. The family attend services at the Lutheran Church.

ALEXANDER BRADY SHARPE, EsQ., of Carlisle, son of John and Jane (McCune) Sharpe, was born in Newton Township, Cumberland County, on the 12th of August, 1827. His ancestors, paternal, and maternal, were among the first settlers in the upper end of the county. His great-grandparents on his father's side, Thomas and Margaret (Elder) Sharp, were Covenanters, who, because of their religious faith, were driven from Scotland to the province of Ulster in the North of Ireland, about or shortly after the middle of the seventeenth century, and resided near Belfast, in the County of Antrim, until about the year 1747, when they immigrated with their children, consisting of five sons and four daughters, to Cumberland County, Penn., and settled in Newton Township. Ilis grand- father was Alexander Sharp, of Green Spring, the youngest of the five sons. His mater- nal great-grandparents were James McCune and Abigail, his wife, of Newton Township, whose son Samuel married Hannah Brady, a daughter of Hngh Brady the second, whose father, Hugh Brady, was an emigrant from Enniskillen, and one of the first settlers in that portion of the county now embraced in Hopewell Township. He began his studies preparatory to entering college with Joseph Casey the elder, father of Hon. Joseph Casey. at Newville. in 1839, and after his death continued them at Academia, Juniata County, and completed them with Vanleer Davis, at Chambersburg; entered the sophomore class at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Penn., in 1843, and graduated on the 23d of September, 1846, with the highest honors of his class. The college was then under the presidency of Rev. Dr. Robert J. Breckenridge, and two of his classmates were Hon. William H. West, of Ohio, and Hon. John M. Kirkpatrick, of Pittsburgh. On his return from college he com- menced the study of law with Robert M. Bard, Esq., of Chambersburg, and completed his course with Hon. Frederick Watts, of Carlisle. Hugh Gaullagher, Esq., W M. Biddle, Esq., and Hon. J. H. Graham, were the committee appointed to examine him, and on motion of the last named he was, on the 21st of November, 1848, admitted to practice. He remained with Judge Watts until the Ist of April, 1849, when he opened an office and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, except during the years of the war of the Rebellion, when from the 21st of April, 1861, until the 28th of Jannary, 1865 (less the period from the 27th of December, 1862, to the 28th of August, 1863), he was constantly in the service as a private or a commissioned officer. April 21. 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A, Seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, and served as such until the 25th of September, when he was commissioned second lieutenant of Company E, and appointed adjutant of the regiment. On the 4th of De- cember he was relieved from duty with his regiment, which was a part of the Second Brigade (Meade's) of McCall's division, and ordered to report to Brig .- Gen. Ord, com- manding the Third Brigade, who had appointed him aide-de-camp. lle joined Gen. Ord the same day and served on his personal staff until the General was wounded and dis- abled temporarily for field service, when he resigned. After Ord's recovery he was, at the General's instance, again commissioned a captain and assigned to duty with him, where he served until he resigned on the 28th of January, 1865. During the war he was in field service in the Army of the Potomae, of the Rappahannock, in the Army of the Tennes. see, Army of West Virginia, Army of the Gulf, and in the Army of the James. He par- ticipated in the engagement at Drainesville, on the 20th of December, 1861; the battle of Inka, September 18 and 20, 1862; Big Hatchie, October 5, 1862; Burnside's Mine Explosion, July 30, 1864; Battle of New Market Heights, or Chapin's Farm, and capture of Fort Har- rison, September 9 and 10, 1864. lle was brevetted and promoted to the rank of captain and aide-de-camp, United States Army. for gallant and meritorious service at the battle of Drainesville, and on the 13th of March, 1865 (on the recommendation of Gens. Ord. Meade and Grant) received the brevet ranks of major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel United States Volunteers for gallant conduct at Petersburg and the various affairs before Rich- mond, Va. On the 19th of December, 1854, Col. Sharpe married Katherine Mears Blaney, a daughter of the late Maj. George Blaney, Engineer Corps, United States Army. He never held an office, and never was a candidate for any, political, judicial or otherwise,

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but he has political convictions coeval with the existence of his party, from which he has never turned away, a sense of professional and social duty which has never yet caused him to be ashamed, and an abiding faith in the doctrines of the church of his fathers.

DR. ROBERT LOWRY SIBBET, Carlisle, was born in Cumberland County, Penn. Ilis paternal grandfather. Samuel Sibbet, and grandmother. Alice Lowry, with their brothers, John, James and Robert Sibbet, and three sisters, Mrs. Gourley, Mrs. MeCann and Mrs. Copely, emigrated from the North of Ireland about the close of the last century His maternal grandfather, Timothy Ryan, and grandmother. Rachel Williamson, also emigrated from the North of Ireland about the same time. Samuel Sibbet was a man of decided political convictions, and on account of his pronounced sentiments 50 guineas were offered for his head. Ile was, however, not without friends, and after bidding fare- well to his wife and three children-James, Robert and Thomas- set out for America. He reached Baltimore in the early part of 1800, in a concealed manner, being connected with the Order of Freemasons. A few months later his devoted wife, having disposed of their personal effects, ventured to cross the ocean with her three helpless children, and landed safely at the same port. Having heard of the Scotch Irish settlement in the Cum- berland Valley, they proceeded at once to the head of the Big Spring where they were welcomed by their numerous Presbyterian friends. To their small family were here added Samuel. Margaret, Lowry and Hugh Montgomery. Thomas Sibbet was born in County Armagh. Ireland, in 1797. Catherine Ryan, whom he married, was born in Cum- berland County in 1793, and by this union were born Rachel A., Dr. Robert L., Henry W., Rev. William R., Elder C., Joanna J. and Anna M. Sihbet. The subject of this sketch graduated in Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, with the degree of A. B. in 1856. He afterward engaged in teaching a classical school. first in Centreville, and then in Shippens- burg, in his native county, until 1862, when he began the study of medicine. He gradu- ated with the degree of M. D. in the University of Pennsylvania, iu 1866. and in the mean- time the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him. Ile practiced his profession in Har- risburg and afterward in New Kingston. In 1870 he visited Europe, where he spent two full years in the universities and hospitals, being seven months in Paris during the entire siege, two months in Berlin, ten months in Vienna and two months in London. After re- turning from Europe Dr. Sibbet settled in Carli-le as a general practitioner, where he still resides. In 1873 the medical society of the State appointed him chairman of a committee on medical legislation, and it was mainly through his persevering efforts. in the midst of great opposition, that the passage of the present registration law was secured. In 1882, nine months after the law took effect, he collected statistics and made a report to the society, which shows that 6.492 practitioners had voluntarily complied with the law in the several counties, that 838 of these were practicing without graduation, and that 105 were females. At the same time he corresponded with a large number of promi- nent medical gentlemen in the United States, and iu 1876 was instrumental in offreting the organization of the American Academy of Medicine, an association founded on pro- tracted courses of literary and medical study with degrees corresponding thereto. As a recognition of these services he has recently been elected " vice-president of the section of obstetrics in the Ninth International Medical Congress, to be held in Washington, D. C., in 1887." He has been a frequent contributor to the literature of his profession, and has now in manuscript form, nearly completed, a series of chapters on the Franco-Prussian war and siege of Paris.

ALEXANDER D. BACHE SMEAD was born in Carlisle, March 24, 1848. He is the youngest child of Capt. Raphael C. Smead. Fourth United States Artillery. The latter was a New Englander by birth, descended from a family established in Massachusetts two centuries ago. His parents, Selah and Elizabeth (Cummings) Smead, removed to Genesee County, New York, and from there the son was sent to the West Point Military Academy in 1821, graduating four years later. In 1829 he married Sarah M. Radcliffe. daughter of John and Jane (Van Ness) Radcliffe, of Dutchess County, New York, a woman of beauty and talent and of remarkable force of character. lle thus allied himself with several of the oldest colonial families of New York, which have furnished that State with some of her ablest judges, both for the supreme and inferior courts, as well as men prominent at the bar and in official life. Both of Mrs. Smead's parents were of Dutch ex- traction, some of her father's ancestors having emigrated from Holland to New Amster- dam as early as the year 1630, and their descendants intermarried with later English and Huguenot settlers. Capt. Smead passed unhurt through the Florida and the Mexican wars, but had barely reached American soil, on his return from the latter, when he fell a victim to yellow fever contracted at Vera Cruz. Having. in 1847. been sent North for a short time to Carlisle Barracks to reernit additional men for his regiment, he had left his wife and children in Carlisle when he himself rejoined Gen. Scott's army. Her husband's sudden death, in 1848, left Mrs. Smead among comparative strangers and in very straightened circumstances. But adversity could not overcome her energetic nature. Deciding to make Carlisle her home, she at once took up her increased burden of responsibility. and carried it to the end without flinching. She still (in 1886) resides in the town where she so successfully reared and educated her sons and daughters. Raphael C. and Sarah M. Smead

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had the following children: First-JOHN R. SMEAD. He graduated at West Point in 1854 and was commissioned lieutenant in the Second United States Artillery, spent a couple of years on the Indian frontier, acted as assistant professor of philosophy at West Point, and was on topographical engineer duty when the war of the Rebellion broke ont. The disloyalty of the captain of the "National Rifles," of Washington, led to Capt. Smead's detail, by their request, to reorganize and command them until Northern troops could arrive for the defense of the Capital. With this company he led the first advance of the Union Army into Virginia. He was soon promoted captain in the Fifth United States Artillery, commanded his battery through the Peninsular campaign, and was killed in battle August 30, 1862. He married Annie B. Ege, of Carlisle, and left one child, Raphael C. Smead, now a civil engineer. Second-ELIZABETH C. SMEAD. She died in infancy. Third-ELIZABETH C. SMEAD. She has made music her profession. She has been a member of the faculty of "Metzger Institute" since its foundation, and has charge of the department of instrumental music. Fourth-JANE V. N. SMEAD. Since 1865 she has been the wife of John Hays, Esq., of Carlisle. Fifth-RAPHAEL C. SMEAD. He was book-keeper of the First National Bank of Carlisle, and died May 25. 1869, unmarried. Sixth-SARAU CORNELIA SMEAD. She resides with her mother in Carlisle. Seventh-A. D. B. SMEAD.

The latter graduated in 1863 from the public schools of Carlisle, then studied until 1863 at the preparatory school of Dickinson College. and in 1864 entered that college, from which he graduated June 25, 1868, with the first honors. In the spring of that year he was nominated by the President for a commission in the Regular Army, and passed an examination before a board of military officers convened for that purpose. On August 1, 1868, he was commissioned second lieutenant in the Third United States Cavalry. He was an officer of that regiment for over eleven years. IIe was stationed in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nebraska. Wyoming, Dakota and Mon- tana; was much on active duty in the field and occasionally engaged in Indian hostilities. He was promoted first lieutenant in 1871, and regimental adjutant in 1878. In 1879 he resigned from the army for the purpose of practicing law. to the study of which he had devoted much attention in connection with his military duties. His legal studies were completed in Philadelphia, and he was admitted to the bar of that city as well as to that of Cumberland County. He then settled in his native place for the practice of his profession. Mr. Smead has spent over two years in European travel and study. He has long been a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, of which he is also a trustee.

LEMUEL R. SPONG, register of' wills, Carlisle, was born on a farm in East Penns- borough Township, Cumberland County, Penn., May 21,1855, a son of Joseph and Caroline (Mar-h) Spong, the former a native of the same county and township and the latter of York County. Joseph Spong was a son of John Spong, also a native of East Pennsborough Township. and his (John's) father, John Leonard Spong, a native of Germany, who was married there, immigrated to America, and settled in East Pennsborough Township, this coun'y. John Spong, father of Joseph Spong, married Barbara Dewerton, of Dauphin County, Penn .. and had ten children. To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Spong were born four chil- dren, all of whom are dead except Lemuel R. When our subject was six years of age his father moved to West Fairview, Cumberland County, where Lemuel attended school until he was thirteen years old, when he went to work for the Harrisburg Nail-works, with which he remained in the capacities of office hoy, clerk and shipping clerk until 1873, when, in connection with the position he was holding, he acted as agent for the Adams Express Company, and later became freight agent for the Northern Central Railroad. 'From 1874 until 1885. during the fall and winter seasons, he was engaged in buying and shipping all kinds of produce. October 24, 1873, Mr. Spong was married to Miss Rosa Mann. a native of East Pennsborough Township, this county, and a daughter of George and Mary A. (Eslinger) Mann, both of this county.

HUGII STUART was born in County Antrim, Ireland, June 23, 1758; came to America in 1784; and, in 1790, married Ruth Patterson and settled on the Patterson tract of land on the head of Letort Spring. in what is now South Middleton Township. Rnth Patterson was born in Scotland, in 1763. The children of this marriage were five sons: IIngh, William, John, James and Joseph. Hugh and William died in early life; John settled in this county; and James and Joseph went with their father to Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1821, where they were the first settlers. Hugh Stuart, Sr., died there in 1854, at the age of ninety-eight years. All of the family are now dead, except Joseph, who still lives in Bucyrus, now in his eighty-seventh year. John Stuart, the third son, was born at the head of the Letort. in October, 1794. January 4, 1816, he married Barbara Steen, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Cairns) Steen, also of County Antrim, Ireland. Ten children were born to this nnion, eight of whom lived to maturity, the sons being Hugh, John, Joseph A .. James 'T. and William P .; and the daughters: Amelia, married to Thomp- son Weakley; Elizabeth, married to William Wherry, and Martha A., married to George Searight. John Stuart, the father, after his marriage, lived in Carlisle, and was engaged in milling until 1837, when he moved to his farm in South Middleton. He was appointed associate judge of Cumberland County, under the Constitution, in 1835, for life. After the

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

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