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 76

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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 76
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 76

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CHRISTIAN B. NIESLEY, wholesale and retail coal and produce merchant, Me- chanicsburg, engaged in agricultural and horticultural pursuits, was born on the old fam- ily farm in Middlesex Township, Cumberland Co., Penn., August 15, 1834. He attended school and assisted his father on the farm until he was seventeen, when he taught school winters and studied with a private tutor, and one year in the academy of Juniata County, Penn. At twenty-one he went to Osborn, Ohio, and taught school there one year; then engaged as manager and salesman for the Neff & Carson Nursery Company, of Dayton, Ohio, one year; then took charge of the nursery business himself for several years, extend- ing his trade into the Southern States. Having been successful he returned to Cumberland County, purchased the farm his father bad selected for him, and soon after settled in Me- chanicshurg. He was married here, November 13, 1861, to Miss Mary C. Merkel, born in Lower Allen Township, this county, daughter of Levi and Susan (Martin) Merkel. Mr. Merkel, who was one of the first bankers in Mechanicsburg, organized what is now the First National Bank. Since his marriage;Mr. Niesley has been engaged in commercial, agricultural and horticultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Niesley are active members of the Presbyterian Church. He was sent as commissioner to the last General Assembly at Min- neapolis. They had two children, one son living-Charles Merkel, born in Mechanics- burg August 9, 1865, graduate of Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, class of 1886. Mr. Niesley takes a lively interest in common schools, and has been director for many years; is chairman of the Pennsylvania State Sabbath-school Association, and he was one of the organizers of the Cumberland County Sabbath-school Association, organized at Carlisle, September 13, 1873; was elected chairman of the executive committee; then president, serving three successive years, and has been associated with it officially ever since; and, seeing the great need of better preparation by the Sunday-school teachers for their re- sponsible position, he was one of the leading spirits in establishing and conducting the Cumberland Valley Sunday-school Assembly at Williams' Grove, where some of the best normal and primary instruction was given and some of the most noted lecturers of the age were heard. Our subject is a son of Jacob and Mary (Miller) Niesley, natives of Lan- caster County, Penn., the former of whom was born in Donegal Township November 8, 1797, and died March 13, 1869; the latter, born July 21, 1802, died August 8, 1877; they were members of the Mennonite Church; bad four sons and two daughters, of whom Christian B. is the youngest. Our subject's great-grandfather, Christian Niesley, came from Switzerland, during the religious persecutions, with two brothers, and settled in Lancaster County, Penn. Christian B. Niesley's maternal grandfather came to Lancaster County, Penn., from Switzerland. The subject of our sketch is one of the enterprising business men and representative citizens, and stands high in the estimation of all as an upright, honest, Christian gentleman. He has one of the most beautiful residences in Mechanicsburg, situated on Main Street, where he and his family reside.

LINDSAY PITTS O'NEALE, physician, Mechanicsburg, was born on his father's plantation, in Essex County, Va., October 11, 1838. His parents, Albert G. and Anna (Wearring) O'Neale, were both born in Essex County. Albert G. O'Neale was a captain in the war of 1812, and his father, Thomas O'Neale, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, was a merchant in that city until he joined the rebellion against England, and after it was quelled he immigrated to Essex County, Va., where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Pitts, of English descent, and to this union were born two sons and three daughters: Albert G., Elizabeth. Mary, Johnson and Emeline. Albert G. married Auna Wearring, and had two sons: Thomas J. and Lindsay Pitts. During the late war of the Rebellion the father lost all of his property. At the age of sixteen Lindsay P. O'Neale struck out

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for himself: went to Baltimore, Md .. and clerked in a grocery and drug store until 1858; he then ran a stitching machine in his brother's boot and shoe factory, studying medicine in the meantime. until the fall of 1860, when he entered the York Academy, and here re- mained until the spring of 1861, studying medicine until the fall of 1861, when he entered the medical department of the United States Army. In 1864 he entered Washington Medical College, of Baltimore, and studied and attended lectures until March, 1865, when he located in York, York Co., Penn., where he practiced medicine until 1870, when he settled in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Penn., and here he has since been actively en- gaged in the practice of his professiou. Dr. O'Neale was married here November 26, 1868, to Miss Margaretta W. Eckels, who was born near Mechanicsburg, Penn., daughter of Sam- uel and Mary (Cooper) Eckels. Mrs. O'Neale is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. O'Neale is a charter member of the Eelectic Association of the State of Pennsylvania, and was president of this association two terms. He is also a member of the National Ec- lectie Medical Association of the United States.

ADAM ORRIS, of Eberly & Orris, manufacturers of patent and wood-hub wheels, etc., Mechanicsburg, is a representative of one of the oldest and best families of Cum- berland County. He was born on the old homestead of his father, in Silver Spring Town- ship, this county, two miles north of Mechanicsburg, March 31, 1838. His father, David Orris, was of English descent, born in this county; first married Miss Susan Eichelberger, also a native of this county, daughter of Adam Eichelberger, who was of German descent, and by this union had eight children, of whom three are living: Jolin, a retired carpenter aud hotel proprietor, residing in Mechanicsburg; Susan M., wife of William E. Beistline, a boot and shoe manufacturer, of New Kingston, this county, and Adam. Mrs. Susan Orris died in 1840, a member of the Lutheran Church. David Orris married, for his sec- ond wife, Miss Susau Senseman, and by her had ten children, of whom the following sur- vive: Elizabeth, Catharine, wife of Eli Dunkelberger; David; Samuel; Jennetta, wife of Samuel Kast, and Levan H. David Orris died in 1869. The mother is still living. She and her husband were always members of the Lutheran Church. Adam Orris, subject of our sketch, attended school during winters, working on his father's farm in summer time until he was sixteen, when he clerked in a general store at Ilogestown until he was twenty. Ile then clerked at New Kingston until 1862, when he entered the army, serving as ser- geant-major of the One Hundred and Ffty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry. At the expiration of his term of service he was mustered out and returned to New Kingston, where he bought a half interest in the store of David Strohn, and one year later purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone some two years, when II. H. Lamb was admitted as a partner. In 1870 Orris & Lamb sold out to J. A. Heagy, and Orris formed a partnership with Capt. Samuel J. Shoop. They purchased 2,000 acres of timber land in Franklin County, Penn., erected saw-mills and engaged very extensively in the manufacture of lumber, etc. In May, 1885, Mr. Orris formed his present partnership with A. G. Eberly. Our subject was united in marriage. March 1, 1864, with Miss M. Isabella Fought, born in Silver Spring Township, this county, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Armstrong) Fought, natives of Cumberland County. Mr. and Mrs. Orris are members of the Lutheran Church. They have two children; Talbert D., the eldest, attended the high schools of Mechanicsburg, Chambersburg Academy, and graduated from the Harrisburg Business College in 1883. In March, 1884, he went to Philadelphia, and was employed as salesman in the wholesale wall paper honse of Elder & Bentley until July, 1885, when, at his father's request, he became assistant and traveling salesman for Eberly & Orris. Miss Maggie M. Orris resides at home with her parents. Adam Orris is one of the energetie, en- terprising men and leading manufacturers of Mechanicsburg, and stands high in the esti- · mation of all as an upright, representative citizen and Christian gentleman.

FREDERICK K. PLOYER, bank cashier, Mechanicsburg, of German-American de- scent, was born at Jackson Hall, near Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penu., December 21, 1844, son of Jacob and Sophia (Kissel]) Ployer, natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Cumberland County about the year 1856, and settled on a farm near Newville. They were members of the German Reformed Church. Of their family of seven children, Frederick K., the eldest of six sons, remained on the farm with his father, attending school during the winters until he was eighteen, when he began teaching in Cumberland County, con- tinuing in the profession until the breaking out of the late war of the Rebellion, when he, with his father and brother John H., enlisted their services. Frederick K .. the subject of this sketch, enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Regiment of Penn- sylvania Volunteers February 4, 1864, and served with his regiment in the field from May. 1864, to October, 1864, participating in the battle of New Cold Harbor, and all en- gagements of the Fifth Army Corps at and during the siege of Petersburg in the summer of 1864, most important of which were at Petersburg & Norfolk Railway, June 18 and 19; Jerusalem Plank Road, June 20; Weldon Railroad, August 18, 19 and 20. His regiment having been ordered to Philadelphia for duty, Private Ployer was detailed for special duty at headquarters Department of the Susquehanna, and was ordered to report to Capt. Francis II. Wessels, judge-advocate of the department of Harrisburg, Penn., where he was engaged in clerical work with the military commission in the trial of the Columbia

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County conspirators. From the conclusion of this work until the muster out of his regi- ment at the close of the war, he continued as record clerk in the judge-advocate's office, headquarters District of Pennsylvania. In August, 1865, Mr. Ployer returned to New ville, this county, and taught school until June, 1869, when he was appointed assistant as- sessor of internal revenue of the Fifteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania and con- tinued in that position for four years; then located in Altoona, Blair Co., Penn., where he was employed as assistant shop clerk of the Altoona machine shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and continued there until February 1, 1878, when he was appointed teller of the Second National Bank of Mechanicsburg, Penn., and January 1, 1880, was appointed to his present position as cashier. Mr. Ployer was married, January 18, 1870, to Miss Sarah R. Lloyd, of Welsh descent on her father's and Scotch-Irish on her mother's side, born November 16, 1844, at Lisburn, this county, daughter of William and Amanda Lloyd. Mr. and Mrs. Ployer have one daughter, Nellie M., born December 12, 1872, now attending school at Mechanicsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Ployer are members of the Presbyte- rian Church. Mr. Ployer is a member of Big Springs Lodge, No. 361, F. & A. M., at Newville; St. John's Chapter R. A. M., at Carlisle, Penn .; and is a Past Commander of St. John's Commandery, No. 8, K. T., Carlisle; is also a member of Col. H. I. Zinn Post No. 415, G. A. R., Mechanicsburg. He is one of the leading business men and is a repre- sentative citizen of Mechanicsburg and Cumberland County.

REV. SAMUEL W. REIGART. pastor First Presbyterian Church, Mechanicsburg (called from the church of Sunbury, Penn.). entered upon his pastoral duties October 25, 1868, although, at his own request, his formal installation by the presbytery was deferred until June 15, 1869. Ile was born at Lancaster, Lancaster Co., Penn., July 29, 1837; son of John Franklin and Caroline (White) Reigart, natives of Pennsylvania. J. Franklin ' Reigart held various public appointments in Lancaster, Penn., including State offices. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church; they had three sons and two daughters. Samuel W., the eldest, graduated at the Lancaster High School and afterward at "Franklin and Marshall College." in 1859, and took the second honor in his class; was appointed principal of Lancaster High School in 1860, and held the position five years. While teaching he read theology, under the direction of the Rev. Walter Powell; received his degree of A. M. in 1862, and was licensed to preach the gospel by the presbytery of Donegal (now Westminster) October 4, 1864, and the next year was called to the pastorate of the church of Sunbury, and was ordained and installed as pastor of the church by the presbytery of Northumberland, Penn., October 17, 1865, which position he held until 1868, when he was called to the church at Mechanicsburg, and here preached his intro- ductory sermon October 25, 1868. He was married, December 31, 1860, to Miss Anna E. Hodgson, born in Columbia, Lancaster Co., Penn., daughter of the Rev. Francis Hodgson, D. D., and Agnes (Long) Hodgson, the former of whom was for many years a prominent minister and residing elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church, his field of labor being principally in Philadelphia and New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel W. Reigart have been born five children, four now living: John Franklin, Agnes H., Caro- line W. and Mary H. Our subject's labors have been very successful building up a strong church from a weak one and increasing its membership over 300 souls. Mr. Reigart is a descendant of one of the oldest families in the State, who settled in Lancaster County, coming from Germany, more than 100 years ago.

JOHN RIEGEL, retired merchant, secretary of Allen and East Pennsborough Mutual Fire Insurance Company, member of the Mechanicsburg Gas and Water Company, Me- chanicshurg, is the oldest native born resident of Mechanicsburg, where he first saw the light of the day, August 14, 1818. His parents, John Adam and Esther (Brandt) Riegel, were born and raised in what is now Dauphin County, Penn. John Adam Riegel came to Mechanicsburg, this county, in 1816, formed a partnership with John Coover. and opened a dry goods and general store, the first one of any importance in the town. Mr. Riegel was elected city burgess by the people of Mechanicsburg and held other offices of trust, including that of trustee of the Union Church. He died January 11, 1851, aged fifty-six years and some months. His wife was a member of the Dunkard Church. They had three sons and tive daughters, of whom two sons and four daughters are now living: Levi; John; Margaret, wife of Daniel Ulrich; Sarah, wife of John Stine, a retired Meth- odist Episcopal minister of Mechanicsburg; Eliza, widow of Dr. J. B. Herring; Mary, wife of George Zacharias, residing in Mechanicsburg. Catharine, wife of Christian Brandt, died in 1878. John, the second son and child, attended the schools of Mechanicsburg, and clerked for his father until 1848, when he engaged in business for himself, and, at the death of his father, succeeded him. In 1867 he closed out his business, retaining the property which included the building occupied by the Second National Bank and his residence, adjoining which is the old homestead once owned by Adam Riegel (deceased). Mr. Riegel married at Lebanon. Lebanon Co., Penn., September 5, 1843, Miss Susan A Jams Ingol, who was born in Baltimore, Md., April 28, 1826, only daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Moulton) Ingol, natives of England and Newburyport, Mass., respectively; they were members of the Congregational Church. Mr. and Mrs. Riegel are members of the Lutheran Church (general council). They have had two children: Sarah Gertrude,

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wife of Rev. Johnson R. Groff, a Lutheran minister of Danville, Penn., and Nellie, born in 1847, first wife of Maj. Azor HI. Nickerson and who died, in 1867, at Fort Boiscé, Idaho. Mr. Riegel is one of the pioneers of Cumberland County, and stands high in the estimation of all as an upright business man and Christian gentleman. Ile held an office in the school board twenty-one years. He has lived to see the borough undergo many interesting and important changes and can remember when there were but twelve houses, of which but one is now standing-the building on the northeast corner of Federal and Main Streets, where he was born. Mr. Riegel is a grandson of John Adam Riegel, who came with his brothers, Abraham and Samuel Riegel, from Germany and settled near Hummelstown, Dauphin Co., Penn.

JESSE W. RINGROSE, proprietor of the Ringrose Fly-Net and Collar Manufactory, Mechanicsburg, was born on the old homestead farm of the family, two miles northeast of Berwick, in Luzerne County, Penn., August 30, 1847. E. Aaron Ringrose, his father, was born in Northamptonshire, England, but came to this country while still a young man, and settled in Luzerne County, where he engaged in buying and selling stock. He married Miss Catharine, daughter of William E. Fowler, one of the old settlers of Colum- bia County, Penn. The family consisted of eight children, of whom four sons and three daughters are still living, of whom Jesse W. is the youngest. Our subject attended school until he was fourteen years of age, when he began clerking in a grocery at Lock Haven, which position he continued to hold until he was twenty, when he entered Andalusia Col- lege, Andalusia, Penn., where he remained three years; he next engaged in a flour, bread and cracker manufactory, in which business he remained for a period of about fifteen months. lle then sold out his interest in that business, and entered the Pennsylvania University of Medicine, at Philadelphia, where he remained for a period of two years, until, his health failing, he went south to Martinsburg. W. Va., and opened a general grocery store, in which business he continued until the death of his father-in-law, Henry W. Irvine, in 1877, when he came to Mechanicsburg, and soon after invented a leather net. Mr. Ringrose was married, January 28, 1875, to Miss Dessie A. Irvine, a daughter of Col. Henry W. and Mary ( Kanaga) Irvine, and born at New Kingston, this county, where both the Irvine and Kanaga families are well known. Mr. Ringrose is a successful business man. He first established his fly-net and collar factory at Mechanicsburg in 1881, since which time his business has continually increased, and his facilities have been greatly enlarged, until, to-day, he has one of the largest manufacturing establishments of this kind in the United States. Mr. Ringrose is the patentee of most of the improved machinery used in the manufacture of his nets, and which he will not sell or lease, it giving him an immense advantage over other manufacturing establishments of the same kind. To give some idea of the rapid growth of this business: Mr. Ringrose starting unaided (or with the help at first of only one man); now uses steam-power, gives direct, permanent employment to from 75 to 100 workmen. and employs three traveling salesmen. From a small beginning the business amounted last year to $60,000, and has extended from a small field to a terri- tory which covers nearly the whole of the United States.

JOHN J. RINGWALT, Mechanicsburg. The jolly, large-hearted, whole-souled pro- prietor of the "American llouse " was born near Carlisle, this county, March 21, 1838; son of Cyrus and Anna (Shaffer) Ringwalt, who were born in Lancaster County, Penn., and came to Cumberland County, settling near Carlisle; both were members of the Epis- copal Church; they had a family of ten children, eight of whom are living: George, Kate, Mary, John J .. Lydia, Cyrus, Emma and Lew. Our subject remained with his father on the farm until 1868, when he took charge of the "Locust Point Hotel " between Meehan- iesburg and Carlisle. One year later he took charge of the "American llouse," and three years later of the "Bentz (now the "Florence ") House." and in the spring of 1881 be- came proprietor of the "American House" in Mechanicsburg. Our subject was married here August 25, 1884. to Miss Maezey Wilson, born at Bridgeport, Cumberland Co., Penn., daughter of Robert and Sarah (Schock) Wilson, old settlers of this county. Mr. Wilson is ex-associate judge and clerk of Cumberland County courts.

LEW RINGWALT, brother of John J., was born in Monroe Township, this county, April 3, 1851, and is now serving as clerk for his brother at the "American House," Me- chaniesburg. He was united in marriage with Miss Faunie, daughter of Theodore Chew, a farmer near Barnesborn Station, N. J., and to this union was born a son who died in in- fancy. Mrs. Lew Ringwalt died in New Jersey, in 1872, a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

JOIIN L. SADLER, lumber manufacturer, Mechanicsburg, is a native of Cumber- land County, Penn., born on the old family farm near Cummingstown, Penn Township, this county, November 16, 1842. His grandfather, Richard Sadler, had moved from Adams County to Centre County, Penn., when twenty-one years old; married Miss Re- becca Lewis, of Centre County, by whom he had five sons and three daughters. Joshua, the second son of this couple, born in Centre County, married Miss Harriet Staley, of Adams County, and in 1841 moved to the old farm adjoining Cummingstown, and settled in the woods where he cleared a farm and died in December, 1862, aged sixty-two years; his widow died in January, 1868, aged fifty-two. They were members of the Methodist

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Episcopal Church, parents of three sons and one daughter, two sons living: Wilbur F., president judge of Cumberland County, and John L. In 1866 Mrs. Sadler moved to Car- lisle. Our subject early went to Martinsburg, Va., and engaged in the manufacture of lumber, and has followed this industry ever since at Hagerstown, Md., and New Cumber- land, this county. He moved to Mechanicsburg in the spring of 1880. He was married, November 7, 1873, at Ilagerstown, Md., to Miss Louisa F. Smith, daughter of John L. and Magdalena (Hershey) Smith. Mr. Smith, a retired merchant, was elected associate judge of the orphans' court of Washington County, Md., serving for three terms. To Mr. and Mrs. Sadler have been born one son and one daughter: John and Harriet. Our subject is a F. & A. M. and a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. He started in life with limited means, conducting the farm for his mother four years after his father's death, and at twenty-two struck out for himself. He has made life a success, and stands high in the estimation of all as an upright, honest business man. He is of Scotch-Irish descent on his father's side, and German on his mother's side, her family having settled in Lan- caster County, Penn., at an early day.

JOHN O. SAXTON, retired farmer, of Silver Spring Township, Mechanicsburg, is a representative of one of the oldest familes in Cumberland County, born July 3, 1833, on the old homestead farm, in Silver Spring Township, near the town of New Kingston, son of John and Nancy (Saxton) Saxton. John Saxton was born in Silver Spring Township, this county, and in early life engaged in farming, which he continued until his death; he died in 1843, aged thirty-six years; his widow is still living in Mechanicsburg, with her daughter, Miss Mary E. Saxton. Mr. and Mrs. John Saxton had three children. John O., the eldest in the family and only son, worked on his father's farm. attending the com- mon schools until he entered Dickinson College, where he remained three years; then taught school four years in Harrisburg, Penn .; then engaged in farming in Silver Spring Township. November 15, 1866, he married Miss Ellen Dunlap, horn in Lower Allen Township, this county, daughter of James and Margaret ( Mateer) Dunlap one of the old- est families of Cumberland County. After this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Saxton moved to Mechanicsburg. To this union were born six children, one son and two daughters living: Carrie S., born October 3, 1872; Lynn M., born December 4, 1874 and Maggie D., born October 13, 1878. John O. Saxtonis president of school board of directors, was in town council several terms, and has held various local offices of trust. In 1880 he was a Dem- ocratic elector for president from the Nineteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania. He is one of the board of managers for the Cumberland County Agricultural Society; is past high priest of Mechanicsburg Chapter R. A. M. past officer of the I. O. O. F. Lodge and Eucampment, and has been district deputy grand master for Cumberland County two terms. Has been treasurer of the Mechanicsburg Bible and Tract Society since its organization in 1871. He owns a farm in Silver Spring Township, this county, of 145 acres; and Mrs. Saxton is owner of a farm in Lower Allen Township, this county, of over 200 acres, hesides a fine residence on corner Main and York Streets, Mechanicsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Saxton are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has served as secretary of the board of trustees. Mr. Saxton's family is of English and his wife's people are of Scotch-Irish lineage, and they are among the oldest families in the county. Gov. Pattison appointed him a delegate from the Nineteenth Congressional District to the Farmers' National Congress held at St. Paul, Minn., in August, 1886.

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

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