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 85

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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 85
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 85

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HENRY HOLLER, farmer, P. O. Camp Hill, is a grandson of Francis Holler, who was born on the Atlantic Ocean in 1777. His parents settled in Lancaster County, Penn., on a farm, where they lived for some time. afterward removing to Manchester Township, York Co., Penn., where Francis was married and lived until his death in 1861. IIe had two sons and five daughters. One of his sons, Philip, removed to lluntingdon County, and died there. The other, Francis, lived at home until about 1855, when he removed to a farm in Fairview, York County, where he is still living, aged seventy-seven. 1Ie, Fran- cis, married Annie Cook, and had a family of thirteen children, of whom eleven are still living: Sarah, wife of Jacob Bardhardt; Jacob, married to Susan Coleman: Samuel Ma- massas, married to Rebecca Rawhouser; Francis; Annie, wife of lIenry Mesias; and Will- iam (all of whom live in York County); Catharine, wife of David Strine. of Williamsport, Penn .; Charles, and Leah, wife of John Yetter (both of whom live in Dauphin County); and Henry, the subject of our sketch, who was born on the homestead in Manchester Township, York Co., Penn., in October, 1832, and lived there until his marriage, in 1854, with Miss Mary, daughter of Daniel Dreyer, of Fairview, York County. He then began housekeeping, but worked on his father's farm for another year. For a year following he farmed for John Horn, and then rented a farm in Silver Spring Township, this county, where he stayed four years, and thence, in the spring of 1865, moved to the farm on which he now lives. Ile has five children living (one died young), viz .: William, married to Jennie, daughter of Stephen Simmons, of Hampden Township (he farms in East Penns- borough); Ellen, A. Lincoln, Charles and Daniel living at home. Mr. Iloller was drafted for nine months, in 1862, but sent a substitute for three years. lIe has been a school di- rector for six years, but never held any other office. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church. He has proved himself a good citizen and a man of upright- ness and honor.

WILLIAM L. LANTZ, merchant, P. O. West Fairview, is a son of Philip Lantz, whose father came from Germany and settled in the vicinity of West Fairview, Cumber- land Co .. Penn., many years ago. Philip Lantz was born in East Pennsborough Township and lived there all his lifetime. Ilis father had six children: Jacob, a farmer in East Pennsborough Township, this county; Catharine, wife of Jacob Bretz, of Hampden Township, this county; Mary, unmarried, living in West Fairview, and Philip and two daughters, deceased. Of these. Philip was born on the farm in 1820, and lived there until his death in 1854; he married Catharine Sheetz, by whom he had five children; Jesse, Catharine, William L., Joseph and one daughter, who died young. Philip Lantz's widow lives in West Fairview. William L .. our subject, was born April 30, 1850, and went to school in West Fairview, this county, until he was eleven years old, when he was ap- pointed a page in the State Legislature, holding the place seven years, attending school in the intervals of the sessions. During the summer of 1865 he was a messenger in the Quar- termaster Department at Washington. In 1868 and 1869 he was in the office of Jay Cooke & Co., New York, and in 1870 returned to West Fairview, this county, and built the store he now occupies, a dwelling opposite, and, with his mother, the residence in which he now lives. In 1874 he married Henrietta, daughter of Henry Glessper, then re- siding in Laneaster County, Penn., where she was born March 10. 1852. They have five children : Harper, William. Harry, Carrie and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Lantz are members of the Lutheran Church. His practical experiences peculiarly fit him for business, in which he has been eminently successful.

GEORGE B. LONGENECKER, postmaster, West Fairview, was born in this town-

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ship, near West Fairview, and is a great-great-grandson of Abraham Longenecker, who came here from Lancaster County in 1772. ]le located near the mountain, on the farm now owned by John Roth. He paid $8 50 an acre for his land, while that in Mechanics- burg and Shiremanstown could be bought for $1.25. When he moved in, the huts, for- merly owned by the Indians, were still standing on the banks of the small stream on which be located. His son, Isaac, was the great-grandfather of our subject. He was born in 1788, and on the death of his father, in 1819, he with a younger brother inherited the farm. Isaac purchased his brother's interest, and worked the farm until shortly before his death in 1840. Jacob, grandfather of George B., was born and lived here until he was twenty-three years of age, when he married Miss Christiana Kuntz. They had five chil- dren, viz .: George W., Benjamin F., Jacob, Catherine and Maria. The last three died when quite young. Benjamin F., by trade a carpenter, is a resident of Marysville, Perry County. George W., a farmer by occupation, is the father of George B .; he was born November 19, 1834, and always lived in the vicinity of West Fairview until the spring of 1885, when he removed to Marysville, from which place he went to Illinois in the spring of 1886. February 11, 1862, he married Miss Elizabeth Brenner. To this union five children were born, viz .: Laura E., Lilly D., Alice M. and Dora C., who are with their parents in Illinois. George B. is the eldest in the family. He was born May 4, 1863, in this township, and when only three years of age was taken by his grandparents, with whom he continued to live until the death of his grandmother in May, 1885. He at- tended common schools, and when sixteen years old began working in the nail factory in his native town, where he remained until November, 1885, when he was commissioned postmaster of West Fairview. Mr. Longenecker is an ambitious young man and a fine penman. He is one who has the confidence and esteem of all who know him, and is looked upon as one of the rising young men of the place. Of irreproachable character and habits, he deserves the success he is achieving.

FRANKLIN MARTIN, contractor, West Fairview, is of the Scotch-Irish race who settled the western part of the county. His grandfather, John Martin, who came to this country many years ago, married, in 1800, Elizabeth Mencough, and settled near Gettys- burg, Penn., where they lived many years, afterward removing to Dauphin County, and later to East Pennsborough Township, this county, settling near West Fairview in about 1830. John Martin died in 1841, aged sixty-two; his wife died in 1839, aged fifty-eight. They had three sons and two daughters: Robert, born November 30, 1808, died November 1, 1830; Sarah, born February 23, 1810, wife of Henry A. Gross, of Buek Lock, Dauphin County, Penn. ; Nancy, born September 14, 1811, died January 11, 1881; John, born Octo- ber 5, 1814, died December 9, 1885; and William, born June 23, 1817, died August 23, 1877. Of these, William had only three months' regular schooling, but so well improved his spare moments that he became one of the best informed men in the region, assisted by a remarkably tenacious memory. He learned his trade in a nail factory, and in February. 1844, was married to Miss Elizabeth Starr, of near Lewisberry, York Co., Penn .. having the year previous built and furnished the house on Main Street, West Fairview, where he lived until his death in 1877. His wife was born December 29, 1821, and died February 20, 1884. They had seven children: Franklin, born in the house where he now lives, No- vember 3, 1843; Jane M. and John A. (twins), born April 7, 1847, both of whom died in infancy; Sarah J., born September 5, 1848, wife of John B. Heck, of Wormleysburg, this county; Elizabeth A., born April 23, 1851, wife of Silas W. Gleim, of Harrisburg, Penn .; Sylvania, born September 23, 1853, died December 6. 1877; Susan A., born October 23, 1858, died January 13, 1863. Franklin attended publie schools until 1860, when he went to White Hall Academy, at Camp Hill, this county. In September, 1862, be enlisted in the " Emergency Men," and was in the battle of Antietam. Returning a few days later.he re- enlisted, before he was eighteen years old, for three years, or during the war, in the Third Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. While garrisoning Fortress Monroe he was promoted to second lieutenant, and later to first lieutenant, in which rank he served until mustered out at Philadelphia, November 9, 1865. Although a veteran he was not yet twenty-one years old, and he again went to White Hall Academy for a term. subsequently teaching for three years. In April, 1867, he married Laura C., daughter of John Bowman, of New Buffalo, Perry Co., Penn. They had seven children: Sarab Alice, born June 13, 1868; Martha Bowman, born August 4, 1870, died August 11, 1872: William F., born October 6, 1872; John B. F., bora June 4, 1875, died May 20, 1881; Elizabeth Sylvania, born July 16, 1878; George Warren, born April 6, 1880, and an infant but a few months old. In 1868 Mr. Mar- tin engaged in lumber business iu W st Fairview, Penn., with H. M. Rupley. Their mill burned in December, 1868, but they continued dealing in lumber, and rebuilt in 1869. Our subject sold his interest to his partner in 1870, and for three years was cashier of a bank in West Fairview, and subsequently superintendent of Isaac Frazier's two mills and planing-mill at Goldsboro. He returned to West Fairview at the end of three years, and bought the business from his former partner, running it until September, 1881, when he sold the mill to the Harrisburg Nail Works, and entered into contract with them to fur- nish their kegs, operating the mill here as well as another owned by them in Perry Coun- ty. Ile is also engaged in the business of fire insurance. He and his wife and eldest

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daughter are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he deservedly stands high in the community.

DANIEL G. MAY, contractor, West Fairview, is a grandson of Joseph Gingrich, who lived near Middletown, Dauphin Co., Penn., in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and later removed to near Mifflin, in Juniata County, Penn. Joseph Gingrich was twice married, having four children by his first wife and six by his second. One of the first wife's daughters, Magdalena, married, in 1820, Frederick May, of Middletown, Dauphin Co. Penn., a farmer, born in that county. They had nine children: Joseph, Daniel G., Cath- arine, Elizabeth, John, Jacob, Frederick, David and Barbara. They removed to Lancas- ter County, and later to West Fairview, this county, where Mr. May built the house in which our subject now lives, buying a farm of nearly one hundred aeres, a large part of which is now occupied as town lots. Besides farming he engaged in cabinet-making. following these occupations until his death in 1856. His widow died in 1870, aged seventy- three years. At this time but four of their children were living: Joseph, in Philadelphia, Penn; Catharine, wife of Samuel Butner, of East Pennsborough Township, this county; Jacob, in West Fairview, and Daniel G. The latter was born, February 2, 1825, in Lancas- ter County, Penn. John Frederick, Barbara and Elizabeth are dead. Another son, David, was captain of Company K, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was killed while leading a charge at the battle of Chickamauga, in October, 1863. His men were greatly attached to him, and, making three successive charges, recovered his hody, which is interred in the National Cemetery, at Chattanooga. Daniel G. worked for his father until he was twenty-one, when be married Mary, daughter of John Rupley, of East Pennsborough Township, this county. To this union five children were born: Luther, accidentally killed in his twelfth year; Joseph, Harry, Susan and Rebecca, who died in infancy. In 1858 Mr. May married -Eshelman, by whom he has two daughters, Ellen E. and Fanny, living in Fairview, Penn. After his first marriage he moved to a farm owned by his wife, but in 1863 came back to the homestead, which he took at the appraisement, and has lived there since. At various times he was engaged in brick-making, lumber-dealing, and in grocery business, but subsequently adopted carpentering, which he now follows exclusively. He is a self-made man. Without the advantages of school education he has raised himself to an honorable position, and is high-minded and honorable-a man who was never known to violate bis promise.

THEODORE M. MOLTZ, merchant, West, Fairview, is a native of Cumberland County, as was his father, who was a son of Jacob Moltz, who was born in Manor Town- ship, Lancaster County, March 4, 1784, and died of paralysis in West Fairview, this county, in 1838. Jacob Moltz was a son of George Moltz, who emigrated from near Wur- temberg, Germany, and settled in Lancaster County, Penn. Jacob Moltz removed to East Pennsborough Township, this county, where he married Catharine Olewine. George, their son, was born here in 1809, and in 1831 was married to Catharine Gehr, of Lisburn, Penn., born April 30, 1811. For some years after marriage George Moltz lived at various places, and in 1836 moved to what is known as the Haldeman farm. While on the old homestead two children were born: Theodore M., born August 19, 1832, and Cyrus, born February 2, 1834, died, in 1865, from disease contracted while in the army. On the Hal- deman farm three more children were born: Ann Eliza, born January 1, 1837, died young; Margaret Jane, born July 16, 1840, died in infancy, and George, born October 8, 1842, now auditor of the United Pipe Line Company, at Oil City, Penn. July 23, 1855, George Moltz, the father, was accidentally drowned in the Conestoga Canal, in Lancaster County, Penn. His wife died August 17, 1850. Theodore M. lived with his grandfather until the latter's death, when he returned to his father's farm until 1844, when bis parents removed to West Fairview, this county. The following summer he went to work in the nail fac- tory, going to school three winters. At the age of sixteen he became a feeder and nailer, which occupation he followed for twenty-five years. March 6, 1862, he married Florinda Susan, danghter of Thomas McClune. They have two sons: George Thomas, born De- cember 8, 1862, and Gouverneur Warren, born February 6, 1864. George Thomas, after getting a common school education, went in 1878 to Millersville State Normal School for two and a half years, and then for eighteen months to the Central State Normal School, at Lock Haven, where he graduated in July, 1883. On his return he was made teacher in one of the six schools in West Fairview, and January 1, 1885, was appointed to the re- sponsible position of principal over all. For so young a man this is a high testimonial to his worth and ability, and shows the estimation in which he is held by those who have known him from childhood. In addition, he gives lessons to pupils on the piano and organ, in which he acquired proficiency while in the normal schools. Gouverneur War- ren attended common school until he was eighteen, when he went for a year to Seiler's Academy, at Harrisburg, after which he undertook the practice of photography, under the teaching of Hon. D. C. Burnite, of Harrisburg, where he is now living with his parents. In January. 1869. Mr. Moltz established his grocery and notion store on Main Street. In May, 1869, he was made postmaster under Grant's administration, holding the position until December, 1885. In addition to the performance of these varied duties, he studied the art of photography, which he still carries on. It was here his son, G. Warren, got his

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first lessons in the art. Mr. Moltz has also for twenty years beeu extensively engaged in bee culture, and in all his undertakings has wou that success which is assured by in- dustry and intelligent application. He is a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 302, F. & A. M .. of Mechanicsburg. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has been chorister for nearly twenty years. His wife and younger son are also members, the son being one of the deacons. A strictly trustworthy Christian, he will leave to his family the priceless heritage of a good uame.

JOSEPH ADDISON MOORE, late principal White Hall Soldier's Orphan School, Camp Hill, is deserving of more than a passing notice. He is a descendant of Robert and Margaret Moore, who emigrated from the north of Ireland early in the seventeenth cen- tury. One of Robert Moore's sons, William, with his sister Ann, the noted Quaker preacher of that day, settled at Ringgold Manor in Maryland. In consequence of religious persecution, after the settlement of that country by Lord Baltimore's colony, they aban- doned their claim rather than violate their principles by litigating it. Another son of Robert Moore, named James, married Jane Caughran, and settled in Adams County, Penn., at a place now known as Bendersville. He gave his life for his country, being killed at the battle of Brandywine. He left a son, who became Maj. John Moore, born in February, 1761. who married Rebecca Curran, and lived in Juniata County, Penn. He also was a Revolutionary soldier. He died in 1853 at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His son, James, born in 1789, in Juniata County, Penn., was the father of our present sub- ject. lle lived on the farm until he was twenty years old. when he began to read medi- cine with Dr. McDonald, of Thompsontown, Juniata Co., Penn., and Dr. Cunningham, of Concord, Franklin Co., Penn. In 1813 he began practicing in Shirleysburg, Huntingdon Co., Penn., where he continued over thirty years at his profession, having a large practice and acquiring the reputation of a very skillful physician. In 1816 he was- married to Harriet Barton. He afterward removed to Wells Valley, Fulton Co., Penn., where he continued to practice his profession until within eight years of his death, which occurred March 27, 1872. His wife died in September, 1864, while all of her eight sons were in the Union Army. The family is an extraordinary one, comprising eight sons and three daugh- ters, all now living. They are Kimber A., residing in Nebraska; Rebecca A., wife of J. B. Alexander, of Fulton County, Penn .; Jolin C., living at Camp Hill, Penn .; Charles W., who is a practicing physician in Sterling, Neb .; Julia A., wife of William A. Gray, of Adams, Neh .; Harriet L., of Sterling, Neb .; Joseph Addison, our subject; and James M., B. Frank, William H. and Curran E., all of whom are residents of Nebraska.

JOSEPH ADDISON MOORE was born in Shirleysburg, Penn., August 26, 1833. As said above, the eight sons were all in the Union Army at the same time, two of them being seriously wounded. Their record is not surpassed by that of any other family in the country, and is one of which they and their children may be justly proud. This remark- able family was represented in nearly all the great battles of the war, and the fact that all are alive and well to-day is very remarkable. Immediately after the firing on Fort Sumter, our subject enlisted in Company D, Fifth Pennsylvania Infantry for three months, and was made first sergeant. At the expiration of his time, he raised Company O, Twenty-eight Pennsylvania Infantry, and in August, 1861, took the field as first lieutenant under colonel (afterward general and governor), John W. Geary, under whom he served all through the war, at one time for seven months on his staff as division commissary. At Antietam, while as first lieutenant, in com- mand of his company, two of his men captured two rebel flags. Here his command suffered severely, one-third of his company being killed and wounded. Four color-bearers belonging to his company were shot. His company was shortly after transferred to Com- pany B, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and in February, 1863, he was commissioned captain, commanding at Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville and Get- tysburg in the East, and at Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Taylor's Ridge, Wauhatchie, Chattanooga, Cassville, Rocky Face Ridge, Dug Gap, Resaca and New Hope Church in the Southwest. He was severely wounded at New Hope, and in consequence was inca- pacitated for further active service, and was transferred to the barracks at Madison, Wis., until the end of his term of service, October 28, 1864. He was later brevetted major for gallant and meritorious service. At the close of the war he resumed mercantile pursuits in Pittsburgh, Penn., but in 1867 he was called by his old commander, then governor of the State, to take charge of the White Hall Soldiers' Orphan School at Camp Hill, which under his management hecame the leading school of the State, reflecting great credit on his ability as a manager. He continued in charge of the school until September 1. 1886, when, having leased the same, he retired from the responsible position which he had so long and faithfully filled. In 1869 he was married to Miss Lizzie. daughter of Jacob Kline, of Lower Allen Township, this county. They have oue son, Joy Addison L., now nine years old. Maj. Moore enjoys the unbounded respect of every one who knows him, and in the community of which he is a leading member, no man stands higher in charac- ter or is more deservedly respected.

HENRY D. MUSSER, merchant, West Fairview, was born near New Cumberland, in York Co., Penn., December 20, 1828. His grandfather, Dr. John Musser, a native of Lancas-

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ter County, Penn., where he practiced medicine, but who later removed to York County, where he bought a farm, was a noted physician and acquired a reputation for the treat- meut of white swellings and kindred disorders; his wife was Elizabeth Neff, of Lancaster County, Penn. Their children were Benjamin, Heury, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Susan, Martha and Nancy, now the wife of Joseph Bowman, of Lancaster County, Penn. Ben- jamin Musser, father of Henry D., born February 22, 1801, married Frances Snavely, of llampden Township, this county, who bore him thirteen children: Elizabeth, John S., Henry D., Catharine, Annie, Joseph R. and Josiah, living; and Benjamin, David, Jacob, Levi, Daniel and Sarah, deceased. Benjamin Musser had charge of the farm until his father's death, when it was sold to Mr. Garner, father of the present occupant. He then removed to Hampden Township, Cumberland County, staying there three years, when he went West to prospect, but returned and bought a farm and mill property near Millers- burg, in Dauphin County, Penn., where he lived seventeen years, when he sold out and returned to Cumberland County, to the farm now occupied by John N. Musser, stayed a year, and then removed to near Fairview, Penn., where he died in 1854. His widow died a few years later at White Hall, Penn. Henry D. attended common school, and qualified for teaching at White Hall Academy. At eighteen years of age he began teaching, and taught for six terms. On his father's death he took charge of the farm for a year, when, his mother selling out, he began farming for himself in 1856, continuing until 1865, when he and his brother Joseph engaged in mercantile business, in Fairview, for a year and a half, during which time he also held the position of postmaster. He then retired until 1873, in which year he again engaged in business where he now is. May 16, 1855, he married Mary E. Rupley, born December 19, 1832, daughter of George and Magdalena Rupley, of East Pennsborough Township, this county, aud who on the death of her parents became pos- sessed of one-half of their farm, which she and her husband still hold. They have two children living: Charles Emery, born November 30, 1859, and Harry Clinton, born August 14, 1861. Three are dead: George, Whitfield and an infant daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Musser are prominent members of the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Musser is president of the Mite Society, and her husband has been superintendent of the Sunday-school for twenty years. They are known as sincere Christians, whose character commands the respect of the community.

AUSTIN TAYLOR PALM, teacher of mathematics, Camp Hill, is a son of Peter and Maria Palm, natives of Cumberland County, and now residents of Chicago, Ill. (Mrs, Palm's maiden name was also Palm, but she is no blood relative of her husband's family), five of whose children are deceased. Those living are Austin T .; Warren, married and liv- ing in Chicago; Sharou, married and living in Goldsboro, Penn .; Milton, married and liv- ing in Springfield, Ohio; Eudora E. and Carondelet B. living with their parents. Austin T. was born in West Pennsborough Township, this county, in June, 1835. He remained at home working for his father, as a carpenter, until twenty years of age, when he began teaching district school, for which vocation he had qualified himself by study and attend- ing normal school. lle continued in this profession until 1876, during a part of which time he was principal of the high school at Mechanicsburg, and was also principal of pub- lic schools of Columbia, Lancaster Co., Penn. In 1876 he was elected professor of math- ematics in the State Normal School at Shippensburg, Penn. In 1883 he taught in normal school in Morris, Ill., and in the fall of that year went into the public schools of Harris- burg, but resigned in 1885 to take the position of professor of mathematics and of music in the White Hall Soldiers' Orphan School, at Camp Ilill. Mr. Palm was married, in 1859, to Miss Maggie A. Machlin, of York County, who died in November, 1885, leaving no fam- ily, her five children having preceded her to the grave. Mr. Paim is known as a gentle- man of spotless integrity, frank and outspoken, and has an excellent reputation as a teacher, excelling in discipline and in the gift of being able to impart what he knows.

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

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