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 96

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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 96
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 96

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of whom reached mature age, viz .: John, David, Robert, William, Isabella (wife of Thomas McCulloch), Grizelle ( wife of James Fulton), Mary (wife of Alexander Thomp- sou), Jane (wife of George McBride) and Margaret (wife of John Work). Of Thomas and Isabella were born seven children, viz .: James, born January 5, 1824; Robert Blean, born May 12, 1825, now living in Peoria, Ill .; Thomas Henderson, born September 1, 1827, for many years a resident of Monmouth, Ill., but now of Omaha, Neb .; Jolin Craig, born Oc- toher 28, 1829, who died August 24, 1850; David, born January 25, 1833, now an attorney in Peoria, III., where for eight years he was judge of the circuit court, and six years of that time assigned to duty as one of the justices of the appellate court of the State; Mary Ellen, wife of William S. Morrow, living in Chambersburg, and Isabella, who died in in- faney. James owns and lives upon the farm owned by his father in his lifetime, having never left the place of his nativity. February 4, 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Brown, daughter of Joseph Brown, Esq., of West Pennsborough Township. To this union three children were born, viz .: Isabella Craig, born November 5, 1848, wife of J. Sharp Hemphill, now living on part of her father's farm; Nancy Jane, born May 30, 1850, living with her father, and Mary Grizelle, born June 20, 1852, died September 26, 1881, who was the wife of Prof. John C. Sharp, a noted worker in educational matters. Mrs. McCulloch died April 10, 1834, and is buried in the United Presbyterian Cemetery at Big Spring, of which chureb both she and her husband were members. He is one of the most prominent citizens of this township, a self-made man who, without the educational facilities of the present day, has, by force of character, observation, reading and good judgment, became one of the best informed men of this part of the county, and whose opin- ion has weight among his neighbors. In polities he is a Democrat.

HUGH MCCUNE, farmer, P. O. Oakville, is a grandson of Robert MeCune, who came from Ireland about the middle of the last century. The latter's son, Hugh, father of our subject, was born in this county in 1772, and died in 1828. His wife was Rebecca (Brady) McCune. Their children were as follows: Isabella, born April 18, 1797, wife of William Duncan, now deceased; Jane, born April 26, 1799, wife of James Boyd, and also deceased; Hannah, born August 9, 1802, deceased; Robert, born September 28, 1804, married Nancy Gibb, and died in Illinois; John, born May 24, 1807 married Jane Henderson, and died in Hopewell Township; James, born February 5, 1809, married Matilda Williams, and lives in Westmoreland County, Penn .; Sammel, born April 2, 1811, deceased; Elizabeth, born May 13, 1811, deceased; Josepb, horn March 17, 1818, married Sallie Crider, and died on the home farm, and Hugh, our subject, born December 15, 1815, on the place where he now lives, in a brick house built by Hugh and Joseph. The property has never since been out of the family. His father's farm is now owned entirely by our subject, who has never left it, and who is now recognized as one of the industrious and thrifty farmers of the neighborhood, who have done much to develop the agricultural resources of the county. By his strictly temperate, industrious and upright habits he has accumulated a competence, and enjoys in a high degree the confidence and esteem of all. Though of strong political convictions, he has never sought office, preferring to aid bis party without self-seeking. An old line Whig, he is now a Republican. He is a member of Big Spring Presbyterian Church, and takes a warm interest in temperance matters and all other good works.

SAMUEL ALBERT MeCUNE, retired farmer, Oakville, is a great-grandson of James McCune, who came here about the middle of the last century, with his brother Robert, from Ireland, and jointly took up a tract of 437 acres of land, where his descendants now live, and which is now in their possession. The subject of this sketch has a receipt dated April 7, 1824, from the State Treasurer, for $10 patent fees for 135 acres of the original tract, and it states that it is surveyed on two warrants to Robert and James MeCune, one dated May 13, 1763, and the other October 20, 1766. James' son Samuel was Samuel Al- bert's grandfather. He was born where his grandson now lives, in 1770, and died Novem- her 16, 1813. Ilis wife was Hannah Brady, born January 1, 1776, and died May 16, 1847. They had eleven children, of whom two died in infancy. The others were Jane, born Oc- tober. 1795, who became the wife of John Sharp; James, born January 22, 1799; Addie, born December 9, 1798; Margaret, born April 9, 1801. was the wife of Moses Kirkpatrick; Rachel, born July 27, 1803; Hugh Brady, born October 11, 1805; William, born January 23, 1807; Rebecca, born October 8. 1811, and Samuel, born April 9, 1814. Of this numer- ous family but one remains-Rebecca. single, and living in her nephew's house. Hugh Brady, father of Samuel Albert, lived all his life on the farmn. Starting poor he acquired a farm and other property in the West. He died in September, 1881. His wife was Isa- bella Jane Kirkpatrick, who is now living with her daughter, Hannah M. Their ten chil- dren were Jane Elizabeth, Eleanor Culbertson, Rebecca Shields, Hannah Malvina, Mar- garet. Samuel Albert. William Alexander, John Kirkpatrick, Cyrus Brady and James Henderson. Hannah M. is the only daughter living. She is the wife of Robert Fulton, of Big Spring. West Pennsborough Township. The sons are all living, except William A .. who died May 27. 1883. Samuel A. was born May 18, 1842. After leaving school he at- tended Duff's Commercial College, in Pittsburgh. During school intervals he worked on the farm, and the habits of industry acquired were strengthened by the strict religious

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training of God-fearing parents. August 2, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, One Hun- dred and Thirtieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and on the following 18th of September, in the great battle of Antietam, received two wounds-one from a musket ball, in his right arm, and another by being struck in the right side by a piece of rebel shell. He was sent to the hospital, and, when nearly convalescent, was attacked with typhoid fever, and his health being thus seriously impaired he received an honorable discharge. His uncle Sam- uel, on his death, in February, 1881, left him the farm, on which he has had a teuant three years past. Mr. MeCune has been a member of the executive committee of the Cumber- land County Temperance Alliance since its organization, and was one of the standing committee of the Prohibition party in the last State election. He has been for several years a ruling elder in the Big Spring Presbyterian Church, and has, ever since its organi- zation, been a teacher in the Sabbath-school at Oakville. He is known as an upright Christian man of blameless life and character.

HENRY MANNING. mercbant, Oakville. This gentleman is descended on the pater- nal side from the family of the name who originally came from England, and who are re- lated to the same family of whom the celebrated Cardinal Manning is the representative head. The great-grandfather of our subject emigrated and settled in Lancaster County, Penn., before the war of the Revolution. He married a lady of German extraction, and both died there. His son George (Heury's grandfather) was born in Manor Township, Lancaster Co., Penn., about 1788 or 1790, and died a few years ago, aged ninety. His wife was Mary Kendig, member of a family still among the leading citizens of that place. Their children were John, Christian, Martin and Elizabeth, all now living. John (father of our subject) was boru in 1813, in Dauphin County, Penn., to which his parents had re- moved. In 1832 he married Miss Lydia Culp, of Lancaster County, Penn., and continued to live on his father's farm until 1837, at which time he moved to Silver Spring Township, Cumberland Co. Mrs. John Manning, on her mother's side, was of the Boughter family, who were prominent in that region in the war of the Revolution, and of whom many an- ecdotes are told in that locality; she died in 1864. To John and Lydia (Culp) Manning were born six children: Henry, born October 29, 1834; Abraham, boru in 1839, married to Miss Emma Leeds, of Carlisle, and now living at Mount Joy, Lancaster County; John, born in 1842, married to Emma Sanderson, of Newville, and is now living in Chambersburg; Sarah, born in 1846, is wedded to William Hauck, of Silver Spring Township, this county; Lillie, born in 1852, is the wife of Levi Baer, of same township; and Anderson, born in 1856, is single, ticket agent at Oakville; Henry was born at Middletown, Dauphin County; the rest in Silver Spring Township, this county. When sixteen years of age Henry Manning left home to learn the milling trade, serving a two years' appren- ticeship, when he went to Ohio for a year; then worked a year for I. B. Buy- son of Hampden Township, this county, after which he began the business on his own account at the old Silver Spring mill in that township. At this time he was but twenty years old. He carried on this mill successfully until 1862, when he entered into partnership with J. H Singiser, of Mechanicsburg, Penn., and bought the mill at the head of the Big Spring. Mr. Manning sold his intetest to his partner in 1867 and pur- chased the warehouse property in Oakville, where he carries on the grain and forwarding business. February 18, 1862, he was married to Maggie, daughter of George Beistline, of Silver Spring Township, horn May 19, 1839. They have one son now living: Edgar Stu- art, born October 8, 1865, who lives with his parents. Another. George, born November 20, 1862, died October 20, 1865. Mr. Mauning has always taken an active interest in polit- ical affairs; but was never an office seeker. Of late his growing business interests do not admit of much outside matters. He and his wife are members of Big Spring Presbyterian Church at Newville, and he is known as an active business man and upright citizen.

ROBERT MICKEY, farmer, P. O. Oakville, is a great-grandson of Robert Mickey, who came from Ireland and settled in what is now Newton Township, being one of the first settlers in the valley, and he and his wife, Agnes, are both buried in the Big Spring cemetery, at Newville. Que of their sous, also named Robert, was grandfather of our subject. He inherited that part of the original tract on which his grandson now lives, and to which he added largely. He was born in 1746, and lived all his life on the farm, where, in 1767, he built the stone house in which our subject was boru. His wife was Ezemiah Kelly, of York County. He died December 22, 1828, aged eighty-two years, and his widow December 8, 1830, aged seventy-five years. Their children were Andrew, Thomas, John, James, Mary, Agnes aud Margaret, all now deceased. James, the father of Robert, was born February 15, 1795, became a farmer, and never removed from the bouse in which he was born. He died in the year 1835. April 15, 1818, he married Lu- cetta Carothers, of Silver Spring Towuship, who was born August 11, 1801, and died March 20, 1862. They had six children, two of whom died young. One daughter, Ezemiah, born April 26, 1820, became the wife of Joseph Moody, removed to Ohio, and died there. The living are Mary Ann, born February 19, 1828, wife of William W. Frazer, and living in Missouri; Hays, born August 6, 1833, married to Elizabeth, daughter of John Kelly, Esq., of York County, and now residing in California: Robert, the eldest son, born January 14, 1823, until three years ago, lived in the house built by his grandfather, but, in 1880, built

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his present house, across the road from his birthplace. For several years before his death his father's farm was rented, but when Robert was eighteen years of age he took a part of it into his own hands for his mother, and a few years Inter bought the shares of his two sisters, giving him three quarters of the mansion farm. Ile also owns the adjoining property, known as the Thomas Mickey farm. In November, 1846, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John McCulloch, of this township. To this union thirteen chil- dren have been born, three dying young. The living are Sarah Belle, wife of James Ilemp- bill, living in Kansas; John E., merchant of Oakville (see sketch below); Lucetta Ellen, wife of William Park, of Franklin County ; Mary Elizabeth, wife of John Witherspoon, of Frank- lin County; Robert Austin, married to Mary Belle McCoy, and living on his father's farm; James Ira, married to Sarah Hood, and now with the Carlisle Manufacturing Company, of Carlisle; Andrew Elmer, Eugene Sherman and Helen, all living at home. Quinn Thorn- ton is a student at Lafayette College. Mr. Mickey has never filled office. Hle and his wife belong to Big Spring Presbyterian Church, and as one of the leading citizens of the township is held in high esteem.

JOIIN É. MICKEY, merchant, Oakville, is a son of Robert Mickey, and was born August 2, 1848, in the old stone mansion house; went to the district school, and worked on his father's farm until 1876, when he engaged in the mercantile business in Oakville, in the store formerly owned by his wife's father, J. K. Beidler. Ile has since conducted a general store business, and, in connection therewith, for two years successfully carried on the sewing machine trade, which he recently relinquished, his increasing store business de- manding his entire time and attention. May 4, 1875, he married Miss Elizabeth M., daughter of J. K. Beidler. To this union three children have been born, viz. : Rosie Bere- nice, born May 31, 1876; John Roy, born August 25, 1878: and Ruth B., born December 16, 1882. Mr. Mickey is a member of Big Spring Lodge, No. 361, A. Y. M., of Newville; of St. John's Chapter, No. 171, and St. John's Commandery, No. 8, both of Carlisle. Mr. Mickey has never held office, but takes a warm interest in political affairs. He and his wife are members of the Big Spring Presbyterian Church, of Newville, of which he is a trustee. He has also been superintendent of the Sunday school at Oakville for two years past, and the testimony of all who know him is that he is one of the best citizens of the place, a rising, pushing and energetic young man, perfectly trustworthy in all his deal- ings. For his ancestral history, sec sketch above.

J. D. REA, retired farmer, P. O. Newville, is a son of George and Isabella (Dunlop) Rea, former of whom was reared in Bedford County, Penn., and came to this county about 1830. To them were born four sons and three daughters, all now deceased, except J. D. Our subject received a good academical education and then chose the occupation of a farmer. Soon afterward he married Elizabeth McCullough, and by this nnion were born three children: G. Arthur, a farmer, now cultivating the mansion farm; Charles E., arrived at manhood's years, and contemplates following the calling of his brother; and Mary, finishing her education. Mrs. Rea dying in 1871, after a few days' illness, Mr. Rea mar- ried, in 1874, Miss Annie HI. Hall, of Jersey City, of which union there is now living one son, Dudley Hall, now (1886) a Jad of nine summers. This wife died in 1883, and our subject married, in 1885, his present wife, nee Annie E. Sheller, daughter of Dr. Adam Sheller, a prominent physician of Mount Joy, Lancaster Co., Penn. Mr. Rea still resides on the home farm where he was born, and though he has ceased to perform the meehani- cal part of agriculture, he retains the management and direction of his farms. He has traveled considerably, both through the United States and over the continent of Europe. The family are members of church.

THOMAS SIIARP, farmer, P. O. Newville. The grandfather of this gentleman. Rob- ert Sharp, came from Ireland before the Revolution, when quite a young man; afterward returning and bringing with him the rest of the family, and locating between the forks of the Delaware. Ile married a Miss Margaret Boyd. and a sister of his married a Hemphill. He and his brother Alexander were wagoners in the Continental Army. After the war Robert came to Cumberland County. He had five children : James, John, David, Thomas, and Margaret, who was married to John Smith and lived in Franklin County, Penn. John Sharp, the father of our subject, was born on a farin adjoining where Thomas lives, in the latter part of 1773. and died July 12, 1863. His wife was Martha Iluston. They were married in 1814. and had seven children: Andrew, born August 25, 1816, and died in infancy; Margaret, born April 18, 1818, never married, and dicd January 27, 1870; Andrew (secondo) born March 19, 1820, married Elizg Jacobs, and died November 13, 1865; Martha, born May 12. 1822, died September 27, 1861; Robert Boyd, born November 10, 1824. mar- ried Mrs. Carothers, and died March 30, 1874; Franklin, born January 3, 1831, married Pan- lina Jamieson, and is now a resident of Columbia City, Ind .; Thomas, born May 29. 1827, on the mansion farm, of which his present farm was then a part. He lived there until 1864, when he took his present place from his father's estate, and has since resided on it. In December, 1863, he was married to Margaret Jane Jacobs, of Mifllin Township, this county, and who died April 2, 1873, aged forty-seven years and twenty-five days. Octo- ber 26, 1876, he married his second wife, Jennie E. Maclay, of Franklin County, Penn., who died April 1, 1882, leaving no issue. Mr. Sharp never held office, is a member and

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trustee of the United Presbyterian Church in Newville, and is regarded as a man of good sound judgment, ripe experience and unblemished character.

R. L. SMITH, of Oakville, is a sou of David Smith aud a great-grandson of Baltzer Smith, who came from Germany about the middle of the last century, and settled in Lan- caster County, where he was married and bad a family of twelve children. Of this numer- ous family William, grandfather of our subject, alone survives. The family is somewhat remarkable for the advanced age to which some of its members attain. Baltzer Smith died when eighty-six years old, and several of his descendants lived to be over ninety. William, grandfather of R. L., was born July 1, 1806, near Oakville. In the fall of 1830 he was married to Miss Susan Forehop, who died in 1879. and April 6, 1880, he married Rebecca, widow of Thomas tleffellinger, of Frankfort Township, His children are all hy the first wife. One died in infancy. The others are Samuel, David, William, Mary, Susan and Elizabeth. The elder Smith bought his father's farm in 1839, and lived on it for twenty-eight years after that, when he removed to Oakville, where he now lives. David, father of R. L,, cropped his father's farm for seven years, and then bought it from him in 1873, and has since lived in Oakville. R. L. is the only child. He is studying medicine in the office of Dr. Israel Betz, of Oakville, and is intending to enter the profes- sion as soon as practicable. He is a studious and capable young man.

H. A. T. STROHM, merchant and justice of the peace, P. O. Walnut Bottom. The grandfather of this gentleman came from Germany about the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled in Laucaster County, removing fifteen years later to this township. He afterward sold his farm here, and went to Ohio, where several of his children had lo- cated. and there he died about twenty-five years ago. He had nine children: David, Sam- uel, Peter, Mary and Rebecca, deceased; aud Levi, Philip, Henry and Elizabeth, living. Levi, father of our subject, was born in 1820, and was married, in 1851, to Julia A. Coffey. For twenty years he was a merchant, having four stores in Leesburg and in the adjoining towuships, aud was also engaged in otlier enterprises. In 1877 he gave up merchandising and retired to his farm in Southamptou Township, where he now lives. He is an active and prominent citizen of the township; he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had ten children, four of whom, Nora, Agnes, Flora and Mary, are deceased; the others are James J., married to Maggie Baker, aud living in Leesburg; William B., married and living in Chambersburg; Wallace L., single and living at home; Abby A., wife of Rev. S. M. Mountz, of Centre County; Clara, living with her parents; and Henry A. T., who was born June 13, 1852, who went into his father's store when quite young, and stayed there until he was twenty-five. In 1877 he began business for himself at Rehoboth, aud in 1879 removed to Jacksonville. October 22, 1878, he was married to Martha M., daughter of Thomas Price, merchant of Lykers, Dauphin County, a coal miuer and operator, also, in Somerset County, and a prominent man. Mrs, Strohm was born in 1854. They have had three children: Martha. boru October S, 1879, died in infancy; Lottie Esthier, born Juue 6, 1883, and Charles O., born November 24. 1884. Mr. Strohm is a Dem verar in politics, in which he takes an active interest, and is now justice of the peace in Jacksonville. He is spoken of as an enterprising, active and trustworthy man, who must rise in the community.

CHARLES TRONE, superintendent of the Big Pond Furnace estate, Lee's Cross Roads, is a grandson of John Trone, a native of York County, whose father was from Germany, and who was married to Polly Clav. of that county. They had the following named children: Jacob, George, Conrad, William, Charles, Henry, Catherine, Elizabeth, Polly, Rebecca and Lydia. Our subject's father, George, was born March 6, 1795, and followed the occupation of a carpeuter and cabinet-maker In 1818 he married Susanna Carl, of Hanover. They had teu children: Charles, who was the eldest, was born January 29, 1819; Abdel, born January 14. 1823, was a member of Company H, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was wounded at Warreuton, Va., and died from the effects at Brandy Station, Va., January 18, 1861; Reunem F., born June 14, 1831, married aud living in Columbus, Ohio; George, born February 6, 1840. married Margaret Lee, of Shippensburg, now living in Cincinnati; Anna Maria, boru S plember 11, 1330, wife of David Reese, of Newion Township; Amanda C., born October 29, 1824, widow of Peter D. Hendricks, and living in Michigan; Lucinda, born September 9. 1827, was wife of John Stough, of Newville, and died in December, 1878; Emma, born April 26, 1835, is the wife of John D. Laverty, of Philadelphia; Catherine L., born March 26, 1833, wife of John W. Donovan, living in Ohio; Elizabeth, born in 1838, became the wife of John D. Cole, of Shippensburg. and died in Middletown. Md. Wheu Charles was twelve years old his parents came to what is now known as Cleversburg. Southampton Township, to a farm which his father sold in 1845, engaging in business and afterward at his trade in Shippensburg, retiring some years after, and died in Charles' house, July 18, 1876, aged eighty one. His wife died March 29, 1874. Charles remained on the farm until his marriage, when he taught school for two years; then was clerk at Mary Ann Furnace, later going to Shippensburg until 1855, when he came to the Big Pond Furnace, bringing his family in 1864. At the time he came it was owned by Schoch & Sons, who sold it, in 1869, to P. A. Ahl & Bro., who disposed of it, in 1872, to the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, who are still its pro-

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prietors. It was idle for several years, and in 1879 was leased by C. W. Ahl & Son, who put it in running order, and would have had it in operation in a few days, when, unfor- tunately it took fire, and the greater part wasconsumed. The property then reverted to the Coal and Irou Company, and has never been rebuilt. In all these changes Mr. Trone has been, and is now in charge of the property. November 2, 1843, he was married to Anna Sierer, of Southampton Township, who died June 26, 1874. They had four children: Annetta: George, who died in infancy; Mary Ellen, deceased; and Leila, wife of George D. Clever, of Cleversburg. Mr. Trone is a member of Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is steward, and bears a high character for intelligence and integrity.

CHAPTER LIV.

NORTH MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP.

REUBEN FISIIBURN, retired farmer and stock-grower, P. O. Carlisle, was born in Dauphin County, Penn., June 5, 1828, son of John and Catharine (Carmony) Fishburn, natives of Dauphin County and of German origin. John Fishburn was a farmer all his life. Our subject is the eighth born in a family of ten children, nine of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. He was reared on the farm and received his education in the common school in Dickinson Township, this county, where his parents had moved in 1832 and spent the remainder of their days. Reuben wisely chose the occupation of his father as his own, and has succeeded in accumulating a fine share of this world's goods. His farm consists of 150 acres of land, mostly under a high state of cultivation and with first-class improvements. On this farm is situated the meeting-house and Spring Grove grave-yard, said to be the oldest burying-ground in Cumberland County. Mr. Fishburn retired from the active pursuits of life in 1881, but still resides on the farm. He has been twice married, on first occasion, in 1855, to Rebecca Myers, who died in the same year. In 1859 he married his present wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Elizabeth Peffer, and who is of German origin. Mr. and Mrs. Fishburu have two daughters: Anna and Edna, residing at home. Hle and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, in which he has been deacon for four years. In politics he is a Republican. He has served as school director in this township.

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

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