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Franklin County



 

BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania
ILLUSTRATED
Publ.
Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co.,
1887

  Fannett Twp. -
D. O. SHEARER, farmer, P. O. Dry Run, was born July 29, 1844, on the J. Miller place, a son of William Shearer, who was born near Strasburg, this county, in 1809, a son of Christopher Shearer, who was one of a family of twelve sons.  William, who married Emma, born in 1812, a daughter of David Neal, was for nearly half a century a member of the Presbyterian Church of Upper Path Valley; served as school director several terms, and was a substantial citizen.  He died, as he lived, a Christian, passing away Mar. 3, 1885.  Of the ten children born to him four are now living, viz.: Denton O., our subject; Maggie, wife of William P. Kolb; John P. was a teacher for a number of years, is a lawyer, but now a resident of Indiana, where he is United States pension examiner; and Susan A., wife of Daniel Wolff, of Spring Run.  Denton O. was brought up on the farm, and received an education which he improved by five years' teaching, in the course of which he attained to a professional certificate.  Dec. 29, 1870, he married Mary A. Elder, only daughter of Joseph and Mary (Wolff) Elder, and with them he has resided since his marriage, engaged in farming.  He is a member of and elder in the Presbyterian Church of Upper Path Valley, and an active worker in the Sunday-school, hating been either superintendent or assistant in the different Sunday-schools with which he has been connected for twenty-two years, the last five years superintendent of the Dry Run Presbyterian Sunday-school.  He has also been Chorister for the same length of time.  He was church trustee five years, and served his township for two terms (term three years) as school director, and one year as registry assessor.  He was elected a delegate to the Democratic State Convention which met in Allentown, Penn. , in March, 1884, and in the same year was elected one of the directors of the "Children's Aid Society," of Franklin County, which was organized that year in Chambersburg.  In addition to farming he has since his marriage been somewhat extensively engaged in other business, such as the settlement of estates, acting as guardian for wards, and managing estates as agent, etc.  He has been executor, administrator and assignee, and is at present executor in three estates and guardian for seven wards.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 755
  Metal Twp. -
GEORGE W. SHEARER, farmer, P. O. Willow Hill, was born Oct. 23, 1851, on the old homestead, where he now resides one-quarter of a mile north of Willow Hill.  His father, Jacob Shearer was born Jan. 1, 1801, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Buzzard) Shearer. He married Agnes, a daughter of William Campbell and located on the farm now owned by George W. where he died Oct. 5, 1867; his widow died Jan. 12, 1881.  They reared five children to maturity:  Maria E., Josephine, Anna, Jacob F. and George W., all residing in the county.  Our subject has remained on the homestead, which he took charge of at the time of his father's death, and Feb. 10, 1876, married Annie, daughter of Jacob and Lavina FlickingerMr. Shearer is a member of the school board, and a member of and elder in the Presbyterian Church (elected in 1885), in which his father was elder.  Politically he is a Republican, with which party his father was also identified, and though firm in his convictions was no partisan.  Mr. Shearer owns 120 acres of land.  They live on the property which once belonged to Mrs. Shearer's great-grandfather, Alexander, who sold his farm to Mr. Shearer's paternal grandfather.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 841
  Fannett Twp. -
SAMUEL A. SHEARER, tanner, P. O. Spring Run, was born Mar. 31, 1828, near Strasburg, this county, a son of Christian (a blacksmith) and Susan (Probst) Shearer, to whom were born the following named children: William, Mary, Ann, Susanna, Rebecca, Katie, Samuel A., Benjamin and Adaline.   Samuel A. when a boy learned the tanner's trade. Feb. 14, 1847, he married Harriet Piper, who was born in Amberson's Valley, Jan. 28, 1822, a daughter of Daniel Piper, who was born in this county, Nov. 25, 1777.   Her mother was Mary (Witter), born Mar. 26, 1784.  Daniel Piper was a son of John and Catherine (Sollinger) Piper, and died June 19, 1838; his widow died May 25, 1865.  After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Shearer moved to Juniata County, Penn., where they remained eight years, and then came to Path Valley, farmed eight years, then returned to Juniata County.  After residing there four years and a half, they moved to Shade Gap, Huntingdon Co., Penn., and lived two years and a half, and in the spring of 1871 located at Spring Run, where they have since remained.  They have six children living: Mary S., Elizabeth C, Rebecca F., William H., Emma M. and H. Ada.  Emma M. is the wife of David I. Culbertson of Shippensburg, Penn., formerly of Amberson' s Valley.  Mr. Shearer is a member of the church of the United Brethren in Christ, and has been officially connected with thp same; and of which his son, William H., is a trustee.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 754
  Fannett Twp. -
WILLIAM SHEARER, farmer, P. O. Spring Run, was born Nov. 12, 1841, on the farm which he now owns, one-half mile from the south part of the township, the eldest son of Elias Shearer, who was born on the dividing line between Metal and Fannett Townships, Jan. 1, 1814, and who was a son of Jacob Shearer (an early settler in the Valley), and married Eliza Campbell, Apr. 14, 1836; she was born July 3, 1814, a daughter of William Campbell.  After marriage they removed to the farm now owned by their son, William C., and remained until their death, he dying June 3, 1885, and she in November of the same year.  They reared eight children: William C., Maria Catherine A.,  Margaret I., Sarah A., Mary J., Larue B. and Clara E., Huntingdon County.  In 1868 our subject married Martha A. Kirkpatrick, a daughter of James and Agnes (Shetler) Kirkpatrick, and they have six children living: William W., Anna E., Ella A., Clara E., Sarah C. and George HMr. Shearer operates a threshing machine in connection with farming.  He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 754
  Southampton Twp. -
JOHN SHOAP, farmer, P. O. Shippensburg, was born Nov. 30, 1819, in Cumberland County, Penn.  His grandfather, Nicholas Shope (as the name was then spelled), a blacksmith, came from Germany and settled in this county.  He was married, reared several children and died near Roxbury.  His son, William Shope, who was a farmer, died in Cumberland County, when over ninety years of age.  He married Nancy Gerrick, who also died there, the mother of the following named children:  Maria, Betsey, Agnes, John, Martha, William and Ann. Of these, John Shoap our subject, was reared on the farm and has followed agriculture all his life.  In 1849 he married, and resided three years in Mifflin Township, Cumberland County; later came to Franklin County and farmed one year on the John Smith place.  In the spring of 1854 he came to the farm of Dr. Rankin and carried it on for nineteen years.  It was then sold to Mr. McClean, and Mr. Shoap still remains as a tenant.  He proposes to relinquish farming the coming spring (of 1887) and remove to the borough of Shippensburg.  His wife is Barbara A., a daughter of Samuel Heberlig, of Cumberland County, Penn., and their children are Samuel H., Mary C., S. Ann, Hannah J., William John, David R., Emma E. and Edward.  Mary C. married William Kitzmiller, and is now deceased.  Mr. Shoap is identified with the Democratic party.  The family attend the worship of the German Reformed Church.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 924
  Fannett Twp. -
JOHN ALFERD SHOEMAKER, merchant of Amberson's Valley, was born Feb. 15, 1848, about midway between Roxbury and Strasburg, the eldest son of William and Mary (Hefflefinger) Shoemaker, residents of Letterkenny Township, this county.  John A. remained at home on the farm until twenty-years of age, and then went to learn his trade in the Franklin Tannery.  In 1871 he entered mercantile business, buying out the interest of S. J. Eckenrode, and has since been engaged in this line.  He was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1885, and served as postmaster from 1873 to 1885; has also been auditor and assessor of the township; has been a director in the Path Valley Mutual Fire Insurance Company for ten years, and has filled other positions of trust.  He is prominently connected with the interests of Methodist Protestant Church and Sunday-school, being officially connected with the same.  Oct. 21, 1868, he married Frances L. Stake, born Mar. 23, 1849, daughter of Daniel Stake, a well known resident of Amberson's Valley, this county, and they have five children:  Daniel H. born Sept. 2, 1869; Dora, born Apr. 23,1872; William O., born Oct. 13, 1875; Lulu P., born Sept. 17, 1878; Carrie M., born Nov. 5, 1881.  Mr. Shoemaker is a member of Worshipful Master of the A. Y. M., No. 262; also I. O. O. F., No. 419, and Encampment, and Red Cloud Tribe, No. 150, I. O. R. M.  He is a leading Democrat, and this year was elected a member of the State convention.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 755
  Fannett Twp. -
B. F. SHOPE, M. D., Dry Run, was born in 1855 in Huntingdon County, Penn., a son of John Shope.  He was reared to farming, but seeing outside the pale of husbandry a wider field of usefulness, and which he fancied was more congenial to his tastes, he resolved to take up the study of medicine.  In the winter of 1879 he commenced reading at Orbisonia, under Dr. W. T. Browning, and pursued his studies up to the time of his final graduation Mar. 15, 1882, at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City.  On the 6th of September, 1884, he married Sadie E. McKee, a daughter of James McKee of Cleveland, Ohio, and settled down in Dry Run in February, 1884, as the successor of the late Dr. J. H. Flickinger, and has since enjoyed an excellent practice.  In politics the Doctor is a Democrat.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 756
  Fannett Twp. -
DR. W. M. SHULL, Concord, was born in Spring Township, Perry Co., Penn., August 14, 1859, the youngest of his father's family.  His father, Samuel Shull, was a native of Perry County, and a son of Frederick Shull.  Subject's mother's maiden name was Alvina Albert, also a native of Perry County.  The Doctor was reared to farming, acquired a good education, and began teaching at the age of eighteen.  He taught for five years, a portion of the time as assistant at Wilson College.  In the spring of 1882 he began the study of medicine, first with Dr. McMorris, of Duncannon; later with Dr. Stricker, of New Bloomfield, finally graduating at Jefferson Medical College in the spring of 1885. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Blaine, Perry County, where he met with success.  In February, 1886, the Doctor came to Concord, where he has since received an excellent patronage and is meeting with success.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 756
  Borough of Chambersburg -
ADOLPHUS A. SKINNER, retired farmer, Chambersburg, was born in Fannettsburg, Franklin Co., Penn., Apr. 14, 1844, a son of William W. and Mary Ann (Ramsey) Skinner.  He received a far education in the schools of his native town, in the academy at Spring Run in Franklin County, and in Miln Wood Academy at Shade Gap, in Huntingdon County, in addition to which he was in attendance one term at Academia, Prof. Shoemaker's academy in Juniata County.  Subsequently he taught school three or four winter terms, and in 1863 entered the store of his uncle, John S. Skinner in Fannettsburg, as clerk, remaining with him a year or fifteen months.  In 1866, in company with Captain J. H. Walker, he engaged in the shoe and notion trade at Fannettsburg, under firm name of "Skinner & Walker," which firm for two years did an extensive business.  On the death of his father in 1867, our subject bbecame the owner of the home farm, which is still in his possession, and upon which he resided until 1872, when he was elected register and recorder, and, in November, 1872, removed to Chambersburg, Franklin County.  In 1875 he was re-elected to that office and filled the same until 1879, when for three years he led a retired life, and in 1882 accepted the position of deputy register and recorder, which he filled until April, 1884.  Since the spring of the latter year he has devoted his attention to the management and improvement of several farms in Franklin County, and to the building of houses in Chambersburg and Fannettsville.  Oct. 16, 1879, Mr. Skinner married Miss Susie E., daughter of John Keefer, a well known citizen of Chambersburg, and to this marriage have been born two children:  Adolphus L., and Mary Ann; the former Born Dec. 25, 1880, and the latter born Apr. 4, 1882.  Mr. Skinner is a member of the I. O. O. F./; in politics a Republican.  He and his family are attendants of Central Presbyterian Church, Chambersburg.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 692
  Fannett Twp. -
D. J. SKINNER, farmer, P. O. Dry Run, is a descendant of one of the old pioneer families of Path Valley, this county, where he was born Aug. 10, 1822, the third son of John and Judith (Doyle) SkinnerJohn Skinner was born Apr. 17, 1786, in this township, as was also his wife, Judith, daughter of Barnabas Doyle, whose ancestors came here as early as 1748.  The grandfather of David J. was William Skinner one of the pioneers of Path Valley.  Our subject remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when he married Catherine, daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Stark) Barkley, the latter a daughter of Isaac Stark.  Mr. Skinner remained on the homestead farm fifteen years after his marriage, and, about 1859 moved to the Adam Crouse farm, where he remained until 1869.  He then moved to his present residence where he has since lived, and up to the present time has been continuously engaged in farming pursuits, having several hundred acres of choice land, highly improved.  He is the father of ten children, as follows:  Washington, Sarah A., John M., William B., Anna A., Lizzie C., Jennetta A., David M., Ada B. and Lotta B., all of whom are residents of the county, except John M. and William B., the former a merchant, the latter an attorney, in Mount Vernon, Mo.  Washington entered the service of his country at the age of sixteen, and returned as captain; he was subsequently elected county treasurer.  Mr. Skinner is a member of the Presbyterian Church.  In politics he is a Democrat.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page
  Fannett Twp. -
DAVID DUNCAN SKINNER
, farmer, P. O. Dry Run, was born Oct. 11, 1815, the sixth child of Stephen Skinner a son of William Skinner.  He remained at home until he was of age and for several years drove a team to Pittsburgh.  At the age of twenty-five, he married Margaret, daughter of John Flickinger.  She died leaving eight children, but one now living, Stephen.  Mr. Skinner's' second wife is Jane Beers, a native of Huntingdon County, and a daughter of Alexander Beers.  To this union ten children were born (nine now living), viz.:  Robert, Eldorado, Gilson, Nancy M., Clinton, Wilbert, Mary, Retta J., Emma C. and Anna M. (latter deceased).  In 1844 Mr. Skinner moved on the place where he now resides, and on which he has put all the improvements.  He had but $700 when he bought the property, and has now three farms, making 600 acres in all.  Mr. Skinner has been very industrious and probably did more hard work than any other man in this Valley.  In politics he is a Republican.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 757
  Fannett Twp. -
STEPHEN McGINLEY SKINNER
, retired farmer, P. O. Dry Run, is of the fourth generation of the family in this country, and was born Mar. 25, 1818, on the farm which he owns, and on which his father, Stephen Skinner, located in 1808.  The latter was born in Cumberland County, in March, 1783, and was a son of William Skinner and Martha Duncan.  John Skinner, his father, came from England and located first in New Jersey, then came to Cumberland Valley, where he purchased land in 1782.  He had children as follows:  Anna, William, Archie, George, Phebe, and some whose names cannot be determined.  William, the grandfather of our subject, was born Nov. 15, 1757, and by his wife, Martha, had quite a family.  The sons were William, John, Stephen, David, Enoch, and Daniel; John and Stephen settled in Path Valley.  Stephen married Nancy Morrow, the mother of our subject.  She was born Jan. 7, 1785, a daughter of Richard Morrow Stephen Skinner died Oct. 30, 1851; his widow in August, 1855.  Their children were Ezra, Daniel, William, Thomas, Morrow R., David D., Agnes, Stephen McGinley, Martha, Catherine, Mary, Enoch and James W., all living in the Valley, except Enoch, James and Thomas.  Our subject was reared on the farm, where he has always resided, with the exception of five years he spent at Dry Run, then removed to the homestead, where he has since remained.  Mar. 26, 1840, he married Margaret Culbertson (who was born in Path Valley, Mar. 18, 1818), a daughter of Samuel CulbertsonMr. Skinner owns 100 acres of land.  He has seven children living, viz.: Calvin M., Isaac, Drusilla, James W., West C., Daniel M. and Maggie S.  Elizabeth died when six years of age; James W. resides in Gunnison City, Col.; Isaac and Drusilla reside near Bloomington, McLean Co., Ill.  Mr. Skinner is now retired from active business, enjoying the quiet and pleasure of his home.  He has been for many yeas an elder in the Presbyterian Church, which position his father held before him.  He has in his possession the warrant and patent which his grandfather, William, got from Thomas Blair, the first owner  the warrant laid on June 3, 1762, and patented Mar. 12, 1775.  The tract consisted of 436 ¾ acres, which was afterward divided into four farms, of which Mr. Skinner's is one.  For twenty-five years our subject was chorister in the church; politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican.  He sent two sons to the civil war: Calvin and Isaac.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 756
  Borough of Chambersburg -
WILLIAM C. SKINNER, brick manufacturer, Chambersburg, was born in Fannett Township, Franklin County, Penn., June 18, 1849, youngest son of William and Sarah Ann (Aikin) Skinner, the former of whom is also a native of Fannett Township, this county, born in 1818, his father, John Skinner, having been one of the pioneers of that township.  William Skinner was a merchant in Dry Run, till his election to the office of sheriff in 1854, when he removed to Chambersburg, where he containued to reside until his death in 1878.  He reared to maturity a family of four children - two sons and two daughters.  He was a successful business man.  William C. Skinner received a fair education in the public schools and academy at Chambersburg, also at Academia academy in Juniata County, Penn., which he attended some three terms.  In connection with his father and brother (under firm name of William Skinner & Son), our subject conducted a dry goods and notion store for three years.  In 1873 he commenced the manufacture of brick, in which he still continues, and has an extensive yard where he makes some 800,000 bricks per annum, usually employing some twenty hands.  In 1875 he was
appointed and served as deputy sheriff three years.  In the fall of 1880 he was elected sheriff, filling that office for a term of three years, since when he has devoted his attention to brick manufacture.  Mr. Skinner married, in 1873, Alice R., daughter of Melchor Hassler, a former well known resident of St. Thomas Township, this county.  Mr. and Mrs. Skinner are parents of six children, of whom four sons survive.  Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.  In politics Mr. Skinner is a Democrat.
Source:  History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania - ILLUSTRATED - Publ. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1887 - Page 692

 

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