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 95

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 95
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 95

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JONAS B. ZIMMERMAN, farmer. P. O. Allen. The great-grandfather of the sub- ject of our sketch came from Germany and settled in Lancaster County, Penn. He was a Mennonite, and fled, with his family, from religious persecution. leaving everything, good homes and wordly possessions, to come to the land of William Penn, for they had heard that in Pennsylvania every man could worship God after his own conscience. These peaceful men underwent terrible persecutions for Christ's sake, and fled to a wilderness that they might be at peace with all men. Mr. Zimmerman had four sons: Peter, John, Christian, and Jacob, a bishop. Of these, Peter was born in Lancaster County, Penn .; was a farmer and land-owner; married a Miss Martin, of the same county, and to this union were born twelve children: Christian, Peter. Henry. Martin, Samuel, Mannol, Esther. Mary, Judah. Barbara, Anna and Elizabeth. Peter Zimmerman was a deacon in the Mennonite Church, in this county, to which he had come in 1814 with his family. He was a very honorable man, and brought np his family in strict religions principles. In disposition he was very cheerful and happy, of a very friendly nature. It is said of him that he never turned a wayfarer from his doors. He left 300 aeres of land to his sons, all of which is still in the Zimmerman family. The father of our subject was born in Lan- caster County in 1810, and came to this county with his father when he was only four years of age. In 1836, he married Miss Susannab Plough, of York County, daughter of John and Susan Plough, and to this union ten children were born: Anna, Jonas, Sarah, Mary, Samuel, Esther. Martin, Leah. John and Sarah. MIr. Zimmerman was ordained to the ministry iu 1861, and preached sixteen years, and in 1877 died of typhoid fever, He was a farmer, a strong, hearty man and could endure a great amount of labor, and of great frankness and gentleness of manner. The church of which he was preacher flourished, and he made a great many converts to the cause of Christ. and his memory is yet green among the people, for he was a peace-maker and possessed loving and gentle ways that won their love and respect. Jonas B. Zimmerman was born in 1838, and remained with his father until he was twenty-nine years of age. In 1867, he married Miss Annie, daughter of Jacob and Mary Hege, of Franklin County, Penn. This union has been blessed with seven children: Ira II., Annie M., Samnel J., Benjamin J .. Jacob H., Susan E. and Martha R. Mr. and Mrs. Jonas B. Zimmerman are members of the church of their fathers. Our subject, in 1879, bought his present home. He was a member of the committee that built the new Mennonite Church.

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NEWTON TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER LIII.

NEWTON TOWNSHIP .*

JONATIIAN BARRICK, farmer, P. O. Newville, is descended on his grandfather's side from an old resident of Perry County, Penn., and on his grandmother's side from an old Cumberland County family. George Barrick, the father of our subject, was born in Mifflin Township, this county, where he became a farmer, also carrying on weaving. His wife was Mary, daughter of Philip Heckman. They had nine children: Andrew, who married Rebecca Shover, living in Hopewell Township; Daniel, married to Elizabeth Robinson, living in Newton Township; George, married to Catharine Whistler, living in Ohio; John, who died in Illinois; David L., married to Margaret Whistler; Jonathan; Henry, married to Margaret Gilbert; Elias, married to Elizabeth Failor; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Isaac Hershey. David L., Henry, Elias and Elizabeth are living in Mifflin Township. Jonathan, who is the sixth son, was born March 15, 1836, his father dying before he was six years old. He lived out until his majority. April 5, 1857, he was mar- ried to Nancy Whistler, of Mifflin Town hip, and began farming on the place now owned by his brother David; subsequently moving to a large farm, and again to a still larger, until, in the fall of 1873, he bought a farm in Mifflin Township, on the creek, on which he lived a year, when he removed to the John R. Sharp farm in this township, where he has since lived. In January, 1882, he bought a farm on the opposite side of the creek from his first purchase-the two aggregating 350 acres. He also owns thirty-six acres of tim- ber land on the North Mountain. He has had thirteen children, of whom six died in in- fancy. The living are Alfred. horn October 5, 1859, married to Elizabeth Jones, and liv- ing on his father's farm in Mifflin Township; Emma. horn September 9, 1861, wife of Robert Lytle, of Newtou Township; Sarah J., born September 24, 1862, wife of Philip Zinn, of Penn Township; Naome Catharine, born April 26, 1865, wife of Josiah Baun, and living in Fayette County, Penn .: George Parker, born January 16, 1867; Annie A., born September 16, 1870; and Charles E., born March 6, 1875, the last three living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Barrick are members of the United Brethren Church, Starting humbly in life, he has, by his correct habits and sterling character, acquired a fair share of this world's goods and the confidence and respect of his fellow-men.

W. LINN DUNCAN, farmer, P. O. Oakville, is a grandson of John Duncan, of Southampton Township, Cumberland County, who died there many years ago, and who had eleven children: William, John Alexander, Samuel, David D. G., Mary, Jane, The- resa, Eliza, Sarah and Rebecca. Six of these are still living. David D. G., known all over the county as D. D. G. Duncan, is W. Linn's father, and is living in West Penns- borough Township, this county; his wife, Grizelda (Linn), was a native of Southampton Township, Franklin Co .. Penn., a daughter of William Linn, a prominent citizen and leading elder in the Middle Spring Church, and well known in political affairs, in which took an active part. Mr. and Mrs. D. D. G. Duncan also had eleven children: W. Linn, Samuel A .. David Glenn, John Knox, James Patterson, Mary Gilbreath, Emma Jane, Elizabeth Ann, Sarah Aon, Flora and Eva. W. Linn, the eldest, born December 5, 1845, in Southampton Township, this county, was raised on the farm on which his father now lives, on the Big Spring. Getting his education in the public schools, he acquired a busi- ness training in the Iron City College, Pittsburgh, and then lived on the farm until he was twenty years of age, when, for a year, he was in the railroad office at Bergettstown, Penn .; then returning to Cumberland County and buying a farm in Newton Township, near Newville, where he stayed until 1871, when he rented it and traveled in the West for three years, then returning to Bergettstown, where, for four years, he was assistant secretary and treasurer of the savings bank at that place. In 1879 he bought the old John Gracey farm on the Ridge road, and has settled down as a farmer. This farm has been in only three names since it was patented, and the papers relating to it are now in Mr. Duncan's possession. December 19, 1867, he married Arabella Davidson, of West Pennsborough Township, who died January 15, 1872. leaving three children, one of whom died in in- fancy. The living are Hugh Linn, born October 25, 1868, and Hudson Davidson, boro February 9. 1870. September 21, 1876, Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Lydia Belle Tritt. They have three children living: James Linn Patterson, horn June 10. 1877; David Daniel Glenn, born July 29, 1879: and Charlotte Grizelda, born November 27, 1882. One child,

*For borough of Newville see page 447.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Matthew B. Boyd, born October 26, 1880, was instantly killed by the sudden starting of a horse on which he was sitting with an older brother. Mrs. Duncan is a great-great-grand- child of Isaac LeFevre, who fled from France late in theseventeenth century, to escape the persecutions inflicted on the Huguenots, landing in Boston. His son. Philip, was Mrs. Duncan's great-grandfather, and Philip's danghter Elizabeth was her grandmother. She (Elizabeth LeFevre) married Peter Tritt, and her son Christian (Mrs. Duncan's father) was born July 25, 1796, in West Pennsborough Township, where they had come many years before, and where the family owned a farm for over a hundred years. Christian Tritt was married to Lydia Stough and had twelve children. After her death he married Mrs. Frances Charlotte McCulloch, and had one child, Mrs. Duncan, who was born August 16, 1854. Her father died January 10, 1871; her mother is now living in Florida. Mr. Dun- can has held many township offices. In politics he is a Democrat. He and his wife be- long to Big Spring Presbyterian Church. He is a member of Big Spring Lodge, No. 363, A. Y. M. He is known as an upright man and enterprising citizen.

ABRAHAM ERNST (deceased) was a native of York County, horn June 4, 1838. His father was also born in that county, and died there in April, 1885. He had lived several years in Perry County and in Mifflin Township, this county, where Abraham was princi- pally reared nntil he was thirteen years old, when he came to Jacksonville, Newton Town- ship, and worked for James Kyle in the winter in the store and in the summer on his farm, and part of the time engaged in other business. December 37, 1860, he married Tabitha Ewing, who was born April 8, 1839. Her father, George Ewing, died on his farm in this township in 1819. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ernst farmed in Mifflin Town- ship for a year and in Franklin County for three years. In August, 1864, he and George Clever, of Cleversburg, bought the store in Jacksonville (to which he moved the following spring), and in 1867 built the new brick store, in which he carried on business until his death. In 1874 he built a fine brick residence adjoining, in which he died March 5, 1882. While living here he also bought a farm at ,Jacksonville. He and Mr. Clever also bonght a store and dwelling in Milltown, Dickinson Township, still owned by Mrs. Ernst; also had stores at White House, Centreville. Lee's Cross Roads, and Morversville, Mr. Clever being partner with Mr. Ernst in all business transactions up to the latter's death. Mr. and Mrs. Ernst had eleven children, four of whom died in infancy. Those now living are George Ewing, born June 19, 1861, who conducts the store, and is universally known as an energetic, pushing and rising young merchant of excellent habits and character; Anna Ella, born November 21, 1862, wife of Dr. H. H. Longsdorf, of Centreville: Lincoln Will- iams, born December 3, 1865, working his mother's farm; Bradford Patterson, born Feb- ruary 20, 1868; Alice Belle, born May 25, 1862; Conrad Clever, born May 27, 1874, and Oren Roscoe, born May 26. 1880. Mr. Ernst, though taking much interest in political affairs, never held office. He was a regular attendant at the United Presbyterian Church at Newville, of wlrich his widow is a member. He left to her and his children not only a competence, but the better heritage of a good name.

DANIEL HEBERLIG, farmer, P. O. Newville, is a great-grandson of Rudolph Heberlig, the founder of the Heberlig family in this country, who came from Switzerland before the Revolutionary war, and settled in Berks County. Penn., between Reading and Adamstown. Rudolph Heberlig was twice married, having by his first wife two sons, John and Rudolph, and two daughters names unknown. His second wife bad no children. John (grandfather of Daniel) was born in Berks Connty, Penu., and married Martha Schoenhouer; they had eight children: Rudolph, John. Jacob, Samnel, Benjamin, Joseph, Mary and Elizabeth, all born in Berks County. Pean. In 1811 they removed to this county and settled on a farm at Glenn's Mills, near Newville, where both the parents died. Ru- dolph (father of Daniel) married Susan Hard, of Berks County, and had ten children: John, Jacob, Daniel, Rudolph, Samuel, Catharine, Susan, Elizabeth. Martha and Mary. The father of this numerons family died in 1863, the mother the year previous. Our sub- jeet was born May 30, 1819, and lived at home until his marriage, in March, 1836, with Miss Sarah, daughter of Peter Utley, of Frankford Township, and who was born in 1818 and died April 9, 1863. They had twelve children: Samnel, born January 17, 1838, living in West Pennsborough Township, this county; Mary Jane, born September 28. 1840, mar- ried to John Heberlig, of Newville, Penn .; Margaret, born August 25, 1842, living with her father; Rebecca, born May 28, 1844, died April 24. 1867; William. born July 9, 1846, died November 28, 1851; David Porter. born June 28 1848, died May 13, 1850; Susanna E., born February 11, 1850, died December 2, 1850; Sarah Belle, born December 2, 1851, died December 14, 1857; Anna Martha. born January 14, 1854, living at home; Daniel, born July 31, 1856, died February 6, 1857; Nancy Ellen. born Angust 7, 1858, died May 26, 1861, and John Edwin, born September 37. 1861, living at home. Mr. Heberlig was mar- ried to his second wife, Mrs. Rebecca E. Dobbs, December 11, 1879. They have no chil- dren. After his marriage onr subject farmed in Frankford Township. this county, for a year, in West Pennsborough Township for a year, then in Frankford Township again for ten years, and then removed to the Samuel W. Sharp farm, in Newton, where he lived for eighteen years. In 1866 he bought the farm on the State road, on a part of which he now lives retired, having built a new house on it. He has never held public office, but

519

NEWTON TOWNSHIP.

is satisfied with the reputation of an honest, well-to-do farmer. lle and his wife and all the family at home are members of the Lutheran Church in Newville.

ROBERT HAYS IRVINE, farmer, P. O. Newville, is a great-grandson of William Irwin (as it was then spelled), one of the first settlers on the "Walnut Bottom," whose widow. Eleanor, in 1745, left the farm. now owned by our subject, to her son Samuel, who was a major in the famous " Light Horse Troop" during the Revolutionary war, and was for years, before and after, a justice of the peace in Middlesex Township. Ile mar- ried Mary, daughter of Samuel Miller, a wealthy settler in that township, whose will, on file in Carlisle, is a curiosity. One of their sons, also named Samuel, was the grandfather of Robert Hays. He married Isabella Kilgore, of Green Spring, in Newton Township, and lived in the house now occupied by his grandson adjoining the Irvine Mill, on the Big Spring. Ilere the father of our subject, as well as he, was born, and here the father of Samuel first lived for many years, but afterward removed to Newville, where he engaged in mercantile business for thirteen years. His wife was Maggie, daughter of R. M. Hays, then of Oakville, now of Newville. They had two children, of whom one died an infant; the other is Robert Hays, who was born February 11, 1862. The elder Irvine returned to the farm in 1876, and here his wife and younger son died. Later he was married to Annie, daughter of John Wagner, of Newville, and a year after removed to that place, where he again engaged in business. In the fall of 1884 he sold out and went to Sioux City, lowa, where he now resides. In 1850 Mr. Irvine took the farm, which he has since carried on. He is a member of Big Spring Presbyterian Church, an upright and thrifty man and a good citizen.

DANIEL KENDIG retired farmer, P. O. Newville, is a native of Lancaster County, Penn., where his father and grandfather were both born. His father, Tobias Kendig, was born about 1770, and died in this township in 1855. He was united in marriage with Mary Bowman, of Lancaster County, Penn., and had eight children: Abraham, who died in Ohio, nearly thirty years ago; Henry, who died in Newville in 1875; Elizabeth, widow of Peter Rowe, of Newton Township; Rudolph, who died in 1880; Eman- uel, who died in 1866; Tohias, who died before the family came to the county; Jacob, who lives in Franklin County, and Daniel, who was born June 6, 1806. Our subject learned the trade of shoe-making, and followed it for ten years, when he became a drover, stock-dealer and farmer on the farm he now owns across the road from where he lives. About twenty-three years ago he retired, renting his farm. December 10, 1835, he married Susanna Ruth, who was born July 29, 1805. and died April 18, 1872. They had three children: John Francis, born December 4, 1837, who lives in this town- ship; Daniel Bowman, born June 30, 1840, who died February 16, 1861, and William Ilenry, born September 10, 1841, living on the next farm to his father. May 1, 1873, Mr. Kendig married Elizabeth (Scheffler) Jacoby, widow of Peter Jacoby, by whom she had two sons and one daughter: William, Maria and David. Mr. and Mrs. Kendig have no children by their second marriage. Mr. Kendig has been supervisor, road-master, etc., in this township. He and his wife are regular attendants of the Church of God, Green Springs Ile is known as a shrewd, careful and honorable man.

HENRY KILLIAN, farmer, P. O. Newville, is a son of John Killian, a native of Lan- caster County, Penn., whose father settled there on his emigration from Europe. In 1823 John Killian came to Mifflin Township, this county, where he stayed seven years; then in West Pennsborough Township for a year; in Mifflin Township again for three years; thence moved to Newton Township, where he lived eleven years on the Sharp farm. In 1845 he bought a farm on the creek, to which he removed the following spring, and where he died. He married Elizabeth Long, of Lancaster County. They had nine children: Chris- tina, who was twice married and is now the widow of John Mellinger; Lycia, widow of Samuel Geese; Charles, deceased; Abraham, married to Susan Sigler, and living in New- ville, Penn; Eliza (deceased) was the wife of Elias Diehl; John, married to Catharine Iry, died in Illinois; Margaret, who died in her brother Henry's house December 29. 1884; Susan, also married to Elias Dielil (after her sister Eliza's death), and after his demise mar - ried to William Shaeffer, and died in September, 1884, and Henry. Our subject was born November 2, 1813, in Lancaster County, Penn. December 20, 1836, he married Ann Eliza Jones, a native of Silver Spring Tp., this county. For a year after, he lived in Franklin County. Penn .. and then for a year on a farm adjoining where he now lives. Thence he went to the farm of Robert McFarland, staying fourteen years, when he and William McFarland bought a farm on the Big Spring, on which the latter erected a paper-mill. A few years later MIr. Killian bought his partner's interest in the farm, to which he re- moved. selling it three years later and buying the Mckinney farm, on which his son John now lives. Here he farmed nineteen years. when he retired and moved to his present residence, which he had previously built. Ele is the father of eight children: John, born November 11. 1837, married to Wilhelmina Heberlig; Catharine, born April 3, 1840, widow of llenry Livingstone; Samuel, born March 20, 1842, married to Mary Jane Drake, of Stroudsburg, who died in Kansas (he returned to Newville, and is now husband of Alice Staples, also of Stroudsburg, Penn.); Jacob, horn October 15, 1844, married Susan M. Brehm, and lives on a farm of his father; Eliza, born May 28, 18-17, died December 23, 1855;

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Lucetta, horn December 2, 1849, wife of G. Allen Brehm; Henry, born April 5, 1852. married to Jane E. Westafer, living on another of his father's farms; and Lydia Belle, horn October 30, 1854, wife of David A. Cromleigh, now of Mechanicsburg. Mr. Killian has been school di- rector, appraiser, and has held many other township offices. Beginning life without any advantages, he and his wife have, by industry and thrift, accumulated a competence, now owning four farms. They have reaped the fruits of a well spent life, and in the evening of their days are enjoying its comforts. Both are devout members of the Lutheran Church.

WILLIAM CARNAHAN KOONS, farmer, P. O. Newville, is a grandson of Isaac Koons, who came from Lancaster County, where he was born in 1760; his wife was Margaret E. Swartz, also of Lancaster. About the close of the Revolutionary war they settled at a place called "Thunder Hill," three miles northwest of Newville. He died August 15, 1830, in his seventy-first year, and his widow April 11, 1833, in her sixty-second year. Their children were David, Isaac, John, Jacob, Adam, George, Philip, Joseph, Eliza- beth, Catherine and Mary. They are all deceased. Isaac was the father of William Car- uahan Koons, and was born in 1792. His wife was Jane Carnahan. They had nine sons and one daughter, Margaret, who died young. The sons were Robert Carnahan, Isaac, John McDowell, William Carnahan, Alexander Sharp, Thomas Sharp, Adam, James and Joseph. Robert C. and Isaac went to Indiana, where they both died; Thomas S died on the old homestead; John McD. is living in Indiana; Alexander S. is living in Nebraska; William C., Adam, James and Joseph live in Newton Township. The father of this family, Isaac, was a farmer and tanner on the Green Spring, in Newton Township, near Conodoguinet Creek, where he purchased a farm in 1826, on which he built the house in which his son Joseph now lives. Here he died November 19, 1874, aged eighty-two. He was a plain man, kind, contented, outspoken, determined and preserving. His integrity was unswerving, and his character above all suspicion of reproach. He began life a poor hoy, but by thrift and careful habits accumulated a considerable property, which, with the heritage of a good name, he bequeathed to his children. His wife was born in 1795, and died August 11, 1866, in her seventy-first year. She was a daughter of Robert Carna- han, a son of William Carnahan, who came to Mifflin Township soon after the first settle- ment, which was made in 1729 or 1730. Robert Carnahan was married to Judith McDow- ell in 1784. Their children were William, Robert, Margaret and Jane. William went to Indiana in 1835, and died there in 1879, aged eighty-three. Mrs. Koons was a quiet, pa- tient, industrious, kind-hearted woman, and much of her husband's success in life was due to the constant care which she exercised in the affairs of the house. William Carnahan Koons was born February 27, 1827. and with the exception of attendance at the common schools aud two sessions at the Big Spring Academy, he had no other facilities for acquir- ing an education. He worked on the farm until 1857, when, January 22, he was married to Mary Jane, daughter of James Stewart, of Mifflin Township, where she was born Au- gust 20, 1821. They had five children, three dying in infancy, and a son, William Carna- han, born December 23, 1857, died June 24, 1875. The surviving son is James Stewart, born December 7, 1859, who is unmarried and living with his parents. For four years af- ter his marriage Mr. Koons farmed on shares, and in April, 1861, removed to the farm he now owns, but which then belonged to his father. Here he has since remained, attending strictly to his own affairs. When not at work he was busy with his books and papers. A desire to maintain right and oppose wrong sums up and explains the rest.

JAMES McCULLOCHI, farmer, P. O. Big Spring, is a great-grandson of John McCul- loch, who emigrated from the North of Ireland, and settled in what is now Mifflin Town- ship, but afterward removed to a farm near Newville, which is still owned by and in pos- session of some of his descendants. He had three sons: John, William and James; and five daughters: Susanna, married to Ezekiel Mitchell, who in an early day emigrated to Kentucky; Elizabeth, married to Robert McCormick, of Path Valley; Margaret, married to James Hill, who also went West; Sarah, married to Richard Patton, and Jane, married to James Mckinstry. James was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He was born in 1761 or 1762. Though quite young at the time, he drove a team in the army of the Revolution. In or about the year 1790 he purchased 600 acres of land bordering upon and extending hack about one mile from Big Spring, near its source, nearly all of which is still owned by some of his descendants. He was married June 7, 1792, to Mary Hen- derson, daughter of Thomas Henderson, whose wife's name was Wharton. From this union eight children were born, viz .: John, Thomas and William, each of whom owned and occupied a portion of the home farm during life; James, once register of wills of this county and afterward a physician, who died at Muncie, Ind .; Sarah, married to James Hustou; Eliza, married to Andrew Coyle; Mary Jane, married to Samuel Piper, and Margaret Anne, married to David Jackson McKee-of whom Mrs. Coyle, Mrs. Piper and Mrs. McKee are the only survivors. Thomas McCulloch, the father of James, was born April 2, 1797, on the farm where he spent most of his life, and where he died Febru- ary 16, 1868. April 3, 1823, he was married to Isabella Blean, daughter of Robert Blean, an only son of David Blean, who settled, iu an early day, upon the farm on Big Spring, now owned by David Duncan. Robert Blean married Mary Craig, and had ten children, nine

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

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