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 90

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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 90
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 90

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COSMUS S. CLENDENIN, postmaster, Eberly's Mills, was born in Lebanon County, Penn., in 1833, son of William and Mary (Snoke) Clendenin, who had three children: William, Cosmus S. and Mary A. Our subject learned the trade of shoe-making with his father, and continued in the business for a number of years. In 1856, he was married to Lucinda W. Fox, and worked at his trade in his native county for twelve years before removal to York County, Penn., where a farm was purchased and trade discontinned. Mr. and Mrs. Clendenin have six children living: Clara A., Emma M., William H., John M., Lizzie M. and Ellen G. James O. died in infancy. All the children, except James O. were born in Lebanon and Danphin Counties, Penn. Our subject has heen a successful business man and has given his children the benefit of a liberal education. William H., a merchant of Milltown, having the only store in the village, married Hattie, daughter of Eli and Elizabeth Coxen, of York County; Clara is the wife of H. W. Zimmerman; Emma

*For borough of Shiremanstown, see page 456.

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is the wife of Wilson B. Kauffman; John M. married Phobe Womer. In 1878 Mr. Clen- denin disposed of his farm and came to Milltown and, in 1880, established himself in mer- cantile business. The same year he was appointed postmaster, a position he has since held. The mercantile business was transferred to his son, W. II., January 1, 1886, and Mr. C'lendenin will hereafter live a retired life, having no need to care for anght but the duties of the postoffice. Ile was a member of the German Reformed Church for twenty- six years, and then united with the United Brethren denomination. Politically he has trained with the Republican party from its organization, but has no aspirations for offi- cial honors.

DANIEL DRAWBAUGII, machinist, Eberly's Mills. From a German ancestry on both sides has emanated a man whose name will not only become famous throughout the civilized world. but from the obscurity in which his talent had been for so many years hidden it comes with an intensity which brightens the pages of Cumberland County rec- ords and forever perpetuates the name of one of her most talented sons, who was born and reared in Lower Allen Township. Ile is a son of John and Leigh (Blozier) Draw- baugh, and was born July 14, 1828. Ilis father was a blacksmith and also engaged in the manufacture of edge tools and gun barrels. Daniel Drawbangh was put to work at an early age, for boys then were supposed to be worth only what they could earn-education was a secondary thought, and his father paid no attention to matters of this kind. The genius of his son was developed at an early age, and he became quite expert with a jack- knife, fashioning a clock, etc., and many inventions made in his younger days were never patented. At seventeen he learned coach-making with his brother, J. B. Drawbaugh, and while thus engaged largely improved the machinery used in that work. At fifteen he had made a steam engine. which he disposed of ouly a few years ago. He also displayed great talent for drawing from nature, and his portfolio is full of fine sketches. He also improved the methods of photographing on paper in an carly day, but only engaged in that business experimentally; wood engraving was also one his fortes. January 1, 1854, he was married to Elsetta J., daughter of John and Mary (Thompson) Thompson. Mr. Thompson was for several terms a member of the State Legislature, and was also com- mander of a company of men during the Buckshot war. Daniel Drawbaugh and his young wife commenced housekeeping in the house where he was born. They had eleven chil- dren, of whom Emma C., Laura V., Iola O., Bella B., Maude C. and Charles H. are living, and Dovan T., Naomi E., Emma C., Ida M. and Harry W. S., are deccased. The long and useful life of Mr. Drawbaugh promises to become of especial interest. Naturally of an inventive turn of mind, he has perfected and had patented more than fifty useful appli- ances and instruments. llis crowning success in life was the invention of the telephone, which has been claimed and for a time awarded to A. G. Bell, but a suit at law will deter- inine his right to such invention. There is no doubt but that the principles of that me- dium were first put in operation in the little workshop in the hamlet of Milltown. Should this suit be decided in his favor, Mr. Drawbaugh at once becomes the most noted man in Cumberland County; should the decision be adverse he is none the less a talented gentle- man and has earned for himself a high place in the inventive fraternity. Our subject employs a number of men and operates quite a large factory in which electrical and other apparatus form the basis of experimentation. His family has been reared in a style of modern elegance and their education carefully looked after.

JOSEPH FEEMAN, retired, New Cumberland. In 1790, Adam Fecman, the grand- father of Joseph Feeman came from Lancaster County, Penn., and purchased the farm now the property of John Feeman, and here reared a family of four children: Valentine, the youngest son, born in 1783 and died in 1843, married Margaret Shafer, by whom he had eight children, of whom six reached adult age; John, Adam, Elizabeth, Joseph, Val- entine and Susan. Of these, lohn, who has remained a bachelor, owns the homestead; Adam married Nancy Kirk: Elizabeth is the wife of Rudolph Martin; Joseph married. in 1840, Eliza Prowell, who bore him six children, only one now living-Susan, wife of Charles Iloot, and a resident of Harrisburg (Mrs. Joseph Feeman died in 1880, after forty years of happy domestic life): Valentine married Matilda Lutz, of Harrisburg, Penn., and Susan is the wife of James Eckels, of this county. The old homestead has been made a beautiful farm by three generations of Feemans, who have converted it from a dense woodland into a fertile tract of land. The old house, which was erected prior to the pur- chase by Adam Feeman, has undergone extensive repairs; beneath its hospitable roof three generations have been born and reared. Comparatively few of the race now remain who can hand down a name that for 136 years has been familiar in the history of the town- ship. The two brothers. John and Joseph, live a retired life in the village of New Cum- berland, and are both easy in a financial way, having lived an economical and nnostenta- tions life.

OWEN JAMES, retired, P. O. New Cumberland. It was with the greatest reluctance that Mr. James allowed this brief sketch to appear. Ilis modesty and good deeds are so proverbial, however, that common report would furnish a voluminous history. did he not seriously object. He was born in Lower Allen Township, on the old Peter Zimmerman farm, March 15, 1815. His parents, Thomas and JIanuah James, moved to the old bone-

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stead, in Fairview Township, York County, two weeks after his birth, and from that date Owen James resided there until he was twenty-two years of age. There were ten chil- dren in the family: Lewis, Jane, Owen, Mary A., Eliza, William, Hannah, Thomas, Sarah and Harrict. Their grandfather, Owen James, was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving until the close of that campaign, and, upon his return home, in 1815, he was taken sick, and died at Painted Post, N. Y. Thomas and Hannah James then took charge of the two grandmothers, and with their ten children resided on the farm until the death of Thomas James in 1843. In 1858 Mrs. James left the farm and came to New Cumberland, all the children having married, and made her home until death, in 1876, at the ripe age of eighty- six years, with a sister, Mrs. Hannah Lee. Owen James for a time worked with his father on the farm. In 1830 he was driving a team freighted with iron and nails between New Cumberland and Duncannon. In 1833 he carted stone for the turnpike between York Haven and Harrisburg. The next year he hauled lumber from York Haven for the Cum- berland Valley Railroad bridge at Harrisburg. In 1837 Owen James left his home, and without a dollar engaged as mason's helper at 50 cents per day. He engaged later in the stock business, on a small scale, in which he prospered until 1840, when, aided by Messrs. B. H. Mosser and George Crist, he engaged in the hutcher's trade. From this time he prospered, everything he touched seemingly turning to gold. In 1843 he was married to Esther Prowell, of York County, Penn., daughter of James and Rebecca Prowell. Their housekeeping was commenced across the street from their present residence in New Cum- berland. In 1849 Mr. James formed a partnership with B. H. Mosser & Son. continuing in same until 1864, when ill health caused his retirement. Since then, with the exception of four years (1867 to 1871), Mr. James has done no active husiness, confining himself to settling estates and managing farms for other parties. He still owns the farm which belonged to his grandfather, the deed bearing the date 1783 for 100 acres and allowances. Mr. and Mrs. James have never had any children, but their good and kindly acts have endeared them to all who know them. Mr. James is the last of his name in this State, but his fame as a man, a neighbor and a Christian are proverbial. He and his wife have, for nearly half a century, been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have had the pleasure of seeing the borough transformed from a stage of comparative vice to one of the most moral places in the valley, made so by the continuous vigilance on the part of the Christian people among whom they are numbered. From the first half-dollar earned by the sweat of his brow Mr. James has accumulated a handsome fortune, not one dollar 'of which was dishonestly earned, nor to increase his gains was the poor man ever oppressed. He is one of the few men in Cumberland County who has seen six generations come here, and is still hale and hearty, although his locks are as white as the driven snow.

HENRY R. MOSSER, dealer in lumber, P. O. New Cumberland. From a line of aucestry that came from Switzerland as early 1734 and settled in Lancaster County, Penn., comes the subject of our sketch. The most reliable information obtainable of this family begins with Dr. Benjamin Mosser, who purchased a large tract of land in Fairview Town- ship, York Co., Penn., upon which three sons and a married daughter subsequently set- tled. The sons, John, Henry and Christian, were all prominent men in the neighbor- hood. The eldest, John, practiced medicine for many years in the village of Newmar- ket, and his descendants are numerous in Cumberland County at the present time. The daughter, Barbara, above referred to, married Michael Kauffman, and they, too, have many descendants in Cumberland and York Counties. Henry, one of the three sons, married Susannah Neff, an orphan, reared and educated by William and Deborah Wright, of Columbia. The Wrights were Quakers, and gave Susannah an education far superior to that of the women of her day. Her father owned the Wrightsville ferry when Wash- ingtou's army encamped at Valley Forge; and when Congress assembled at York, Susan- nah was six years of age, and Washington stopped at the Wrights' for breakfast While waiting for the repast the General lifted her upon his lap and entertained her with some of his droll stories, and, although so young, she well remembered the circumstance, and was fond of relating it to ber grandchildren, of whom Henry R. was the second born. Henry and Susannah (Neff) Mosser had a family of five children: Benjamin H., father of our subject; Dr. Daniel Mosser, who for many years was bishop in the Reformed Men- nonite Church in the United States and Canada, the author of most of the religious works of that denomination; Rev. Joseph Mosser, of Salem, Ill., for many years traveling agent for the Illinois Bible Society; John N., a farmer in Cumberland County; Magdalena, now the widow of George Rupley. Benjamin H. Mosser was married to Elizabeth Rupley, of Cumberland County, Penn., daughter of John and Barbara (Stine) Rupley, of Berks County, Penn. John Rupley, Esq., was quite a prominent man in his time, and was not ouly a noted justice of the peace, but also served as sheriff of this county. There were two children born to Benjamin H. and his wife, viz. : Susannah, wife of Dr. Augustus H. Vanhoff, a noted physician of Mechanicsburg, and also an honored representative from this county to the State Legislature. Henry Rupley Mosser, the only sou, was born in York County in 1828, and until twelve years old remained on the farm, obtaining the rudiments of a prac- tical education in the common schools. Later, he attended the Strasburg Academy, in Lancaster County, and the old York County Academy, from which he went, in 1848, to take

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charge of the books and business of his father, in the village of New Cumberland, who bad established a lumber trade in that place in 1839. In 1850 Henry R. Mosser was ad- mitted as partner in the lumber and grain business, Owen James being also asssociated, and from that date the firmn was known as B. H. Mosser & Co. In 1857 the senior mem- ber of the firm retired, and in 1864 Mr. James also retired, leaving Henry R. Mosser sole proprietor. The firm is now Mosser & Sadler, the latter being Judge Sadler, of Carlisle, Penn. With the exception of a few years, Mr, Mosser has always heen connected with the lumber trade of Dauphin and Cumberland Counties, but has also a large saw-mill and lumber establishment in Tioga County, in which he has associated with him Julius B. Kauffman, who for many years was his confidential clerk and book-keeper. The firm of Mosser & Sadler employ forty men, and their business is the leading enterprise in the village. Henry R. Mosser was married to Margaret A. Yocum, in 1852, a daughter of Jacob and Henrietta (Duncan) Yocum, of York. York Co., Penn. To this union were born two children: Nettie E. and Rev. Benjamin H. Mosser, of Mechanicsburg. In 1859 Mrs. Mosser died, and in 1863 Mr. Mosser married R. Jennie Miller, of New Cumberland, this county, by whom he has two children: Annie, a graduate of Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, and John C., who is preparing for college under the tutelage of Prof. Seiler, of Harrisburg, Penn. Mr. Mosser has lived a long and useful life, and perhaps no man living in the village has done more to advance its interests. For many years he has been an active Republican politician in State and National affairs. In theological matters he stands very high, and for more than twenty years has been superintendent of the Meth- odist Episcopal Sabbath-school, and for six years president of the famous Cumberland Sabbath-school Assembly, now a part of the Chautauqua system, located at Mountain Lake Park, on the summit of the Alleghenies, Maryland. Ile has been president of Cumber- land Valley Camp Meeting Association, and represented the Central Pennsylvania Con- ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Baltimore, in 1876, and also at the Cen- tennial Conference, at Baltimore, in 1884, and which was the most noted Conference ever held by that body, in which all the branches of the church and Sabbath-school work were represented. For more than a quarter of a century he has officiated as trustee, steward and class-leader of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New Cumberland, and was the first president of the Y. M. C. A. of this village. He is also treasurer of the Confer- ence Education Society, in which capacity he has served since the organization of this commendable enterprise to assist young men to obtain an education.

GEORGE W. MUMPER, farmer, P. O. New Cumberland, was born in Carroll Town- ship, York Co., Penn .. in 1828, son of John and Jane (Beelman) Mumper, who were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are living: Elizabeth, widow of Jacob Heiges, of Dillsburg: Christina, widow of Daniel Bailey, Esq .; Michael, married to Eliza A. Coover; Maria, widow of Maj. Jacob Dorsheimer; Margaret, widow of Col. S. M. Bailey. a noted man in the military and civil history of Pennsylvania; John; Catharine residing with her brother John; Samnel married to Mary King, of York County ; George W .; Ann (deceased); Mrs. Lydia Porter (deceased). November 2, 1854. our subject married Miss Mary J. Mateer of Dillsburg. a daughter of William and Mary A. Matcer, who were the parents of three daughters: Ann E., residing with Mr. Mumper; Margaret C., wife of Dr. E. B. Brandt, of Mechanicsburg, and Mary J. Her parents were among the early settlers in Lower Allen Township, and all the daughters were born on the farm now owned by Mr. Mumper; this property has been in possession of the Mateers for more than sixty years, and has been the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mumper since their marriage, he at that time purchasing the in- terest of the other heirs. To Mr. and Mrs. Mumper have been born six children: The two eldest are deceased: Lulu B. (aswas her mother before her) is a graduate at Lititz; George B. is a graduate of Dickinson College: Samuel completed his course at Collegiate Institute at York, and Mary A. graduated from Wilson College at Chambersburg. Mr. Mumper is prominent in political circles, both National and local, and was one of the first Represen- tatives elected under the new Constitution in the county of Cumberland. He has for eigh- teen years served on the school board, of which he has continuously been president, and has taken a prominent part in everything that advances the business, social moral and ed- ucational interests of his chosen county.

LEVI MUSSELMAN, farmer, P. O. Shiremanstown, is the only representative of this family in this county, and which came originally from Germany, but at what date the first one settled in Lancaster County nothing is known. Christian Mussselman was born in Lancaster County in 1796; came to Cumberland County in 1820, and took service with Christian Hurst on the farm now owned by Mrs. Musselman. After the death of Mr. llurst Mr. Musselman married his widow, and by her had three children-two sons and one daughter: One son died in infancy; Levi, and Elizabeth, now the wife of Peter Musselman. of Adams County, Penn. Levi Musselman was born, in 1827. on the Hurst farm, and has always followed the ocenpation of farming. In 1849 he was married to Annie, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Nisley) Mumma, whose family history forms an important record. Their married life was commenced on the farm, now the homestead, and there John the eldest son was born. A few years later Mr. Musselman moved to the Hurst farm, and there Elizabeth and Fanny were born. Of the other children, Kate was born on the Chris-

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tian Mumma farm, and Samuel, Jacob, Christian, Martin, Harry and Edward on the Mus- selman homestead. Kate and Elizabeth are deceased, the former in her seventeenth and the latter in her twenty-fourth year. John married Annie Zimmerman; Samuel married An- nie Hess; Jacob married Grace Hartman: Fanny is the wife of Jacob Bncher. The mar- ried life of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Museleman has been an unexceptionally pleasant one. They have prospered financially, and have educated their children in that practical manner which makes the men and women of Cumberland County famous.

GEORGE N. RUPP, gentleman, P. O. Shiremanstown, is a grandson of George Rupp, who was born in Lancaster County, Penn., May 21, 1772. May 6, 1800, he married Christina, daughter of Daniel and Annie M. (Wolff) Boeshor, and in 1802 came to Cum- berland County, and with his brother, Martin, purchased the farm now owned by John M. Rupp. The children reared were George (father of our subject), Daniel, Jonas, Mary, Elizabeth, Jacob G., Martin G., John G., Jane, David G., Henry G. and Francis. George Rupp, the eldest son, was born in 1803, and in the course of time married Mrs. Catharine (Schopp) Neidig, who was born December 9, 1803. Previous to his marriage George Rupp was a teacher in this county, and having a fine education became one of the most useful men in the neighborhood, settling many estates, collecting taxes and other business of importance was done by him in a manner which gained for him the greatest respect and confidence of all who knew him; he died May 29, 1849. Our subject, the only child born to his parents, inherited his grandfather's patronymic, and might be termed George the Third; he was born March 1, 1847. His education was acquired in the schools of his na- tive county, and from his youth he has been a practical farmer and successful business man. February 28, 1871, he married Elenora G. Sadler, born December 13, 1850, daughter of Joseph and Annie (Grove) Sadler, of New Kingston. By this union are two children: George S., born March 31, 1872, and Joseph P., born February 7, 1875. The married life of Mr. Rupp was commenced on the farm, so many years the Rupp homestead, and which was his by inheritance in 1868. Their circumstances from the first were auspicious, the farm being one of the finest, the buildings the most commodious, and the situation unsurpassed by any in the valley. To this was added the enterprise of the young couple, both having received a practical training, and they have followed in the footsteps of their ancestors- financially, socially and morally.

JOHN SHEELY, farmer, P. O. Shiremanstown. The grandparents of our subject were Andrew and Barbara (Barnhort) Sheely, the former born August 11, 1752, the latter November: 6, 1753, and were married August 31, 1777. Andrew Sheely was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and helped to fight the battles which gained the American people their independence. Their children were Adam, Jobn, Andrew, Ann M., Michael, Christian, Frederick, Barbara, and another son Frederick (both of the name died during boyhood). Of this honored family a number yet represent the name in this county. On our subject's maternal grandparents' side was John P. Cromlich, born in 1797, and his wife, Margaret Sipe, born in 1807, who had ten children: John, Frederick, Susannah, May, David, Catharine, Elizabeth, William H., Jacob and Samuel. The father of our subject, John Sheely, was born on the farm now owned by David Oyster in 1781. He was married to Elizabeth Cromlich, probably in 1804, as the first child, Andrew, was born in 1806; the other children were Frederick, Barbara, Elizabeth, John, Benjamin, Samuel, Susan, Annie and Catharine. About the time of his marriage John Sheely's father, Andrew Sheely, pur- chased and presented him with the fine farm on which his grandson now resides, and on which all his brothers and sisters were born. The Sheelys were all men of herculean frame, and have been noted agriculturists from the date of their coming. and have been very prosperous, each of the brothers now residing in the county counting their wealth by the thousands. John, Jr., has remained a bachelor, not from lack of personal charms. but because he was so wedded to bis agricultural pursuits that matrimony was forgotten until his habits were so firmly fixed that he had no wish to become a benedict. The home farm is owned in partnership by himself, Benjamin and the heirs of Samuel Sheely, whose widow, Mary (Cromlich) Sheely, and sister-in-law, Catharine, are housekeepers, the farming being managed by John Sheely and the two sons of his brother, John H. and Jacob M. The finest steer in Cumberland County is now their property, and special atten- tion is given to the breediug of fine stock and poultry. The Sheelys are noted as money- makers and savers, and are withal men of the strictest integrity and uprightness.

JOHN UMBERGER, farmer, P.O.Lisburn. As early as 1770 the name Umberger was known in this county, and, though the family is really of Scotch and Irish nativity, the name is unquestionably German. Leonard was the first one of the family to come to Lan- caster County, Penn., which then included this territory. In Rupp's History mention is made of Leonard Umberger purchasing Rupp's great-grandfather at public sale, the cus- tom in those days, the vessel owners having the right to dispose of their passengers, in this way to obtain their passage money. Leonard Umberger was the great-grandfather of our subject, as he begat Adam who begat David, the father of John. Adam Umberger settled in "Path Valley," now in Franklin County, in 1770, and by his wife. Catharine, had three children: David; Elizabeth, married to Mr. Heckart of Dauphin County; John who en- gaged in mercantile business in Harrisburg, but died while a young man. Adam Umber-

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ger, who was a millwright, was preparing to build a mill near his home when he died; his family then returned to Dauphin County and settled near Linglestown. David, the eldest son, was born in 1775, and was indentured to Mr. Berry, in 1791, to learn the blacksmith's trade (his mother about that time married Michael Umberger, a brother of her first hus- band, and moved to York County, near Lisburn). About 1796 David Umberger came to Lisburn, purchased property and established himself in the blacksmith's trade. In 199she married Dorothy Maish, of York County, Penn., by whom he had a large family; the oldest child, Mary, was born in Lisburn in 1799, and a few years later David Umberger (in 1809) sold his Lisburn property, moved to Warrington Township, York County, and there purchased a farm and carried on an extensive smithy. On this farm were born Ann, Elizabeth, Catbarine, David and Rebecca (twins) and Sarah. About 1812 he purchased the Daniel Kahm farm, near Lisburn (where he resided until his death), and here were born Ellen, John, Jane, George and Esther. John Umberger, our subject, was born in 1816; in 1841, he married Susan Miller, of York County, Penn., daughter of Jacob and Susan Miller, and they commenced married life on the paternal homestead, and their two children were born: David M., in 1843, and Eliza J., in 1845. In the spring of 1846, onr sub- ject, with his family, came to this county, purchasing the farm, now his homestead, and which has been made beautiful by his own industry; every fence, the handsome stone house, commodious outbuildings, etc., were erected since the purchase, and the nice or- chard was planted by the hands of himself and wife, and they have lived to see their la- bors crowned by beautiful harvests, which have filled their purse. Rachael E., John, Jr., Agnes J., George F., Lewis C., William M., Franklin P., Lilly E., Charles E. and Clar- ence S. were born on this farm. Always popular among the people, Mr. Umberger has been foremost in promoting every important feature of educational and social life. A hfe- long Democrat, he has lived to see the rise and decline of numerons political parties, and to-day hails with delight the supremacy his chosen party occupies. For nearly half a cen- tury he and his wife have belonged to the Church of God, and have reared their family in that faith. Rich in experience, ripe in years, they remain as they have lived, beloved by all who know them.

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

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