Dauphin County PA Biographies

ANDERSON, Samuel, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Middletown, Dauphin County, Pa., in 1773; completed preparatory studies; studied medicine; was admitted to practice in 1796; entered the United States Navy as assistant surgeon in 1799; promoted to the rank of surgeon in 1800; resigned his commission and in 1801 settled in Chester, Pa., where he practiced his profession; during the War of 1812, raised a body of volunteers known as the Mifflin Guards; commissioned captain on September 10, 1814; served in the Pennsylvania Militia and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the One Hundredth Regiment, Second Brigade, Third Division, on August 3, 1821; member of the State house of representatives 1815-1818 and 1823-1825; sheriff of Delaware County 1819-1823; again entered the naval service in 1823 as special physician but was soon forced to resign because of ill health; elected as an Adams to the Twentieth Congress (March 4, 1827-March 3, 1829); again a member of the State house of representatives 1829-1835 and served as speaker in 1833; appointed inspector of customs in 1841; elected justice of the peace in 1846 and served until his death in Chester, Chester County, Pa., January 17, 1850; interment in Middletown Presbyterian Cemetery, near Media, Delaware County, Pa.

(Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present; contributed by A. Newell)

Commodore David Conner

David Conner, the son of David and Abigail Connor was born at Harrisburg, Penna., in 1792. He was of Irish descent, his family emigrating to this country about 1700, settling at Philadelphia but previous to the Revolution removing to the Valley of Wyoming. There they narrowly escaped the massacre in 1778 and the parents took refuge at Harrisburg, where the father died in September 1792. In his fifteenth year young David went to Philadelphia, entered the counting house of Major Dennis and in the intervals of business found time to complete a course of liberal studies. He made considerable progress in French and mathematics and acquired those habits of industry, precision and attention to minute details that are perhaps nowhere better learned than in the mercantile profession. A voyage to the West Indies impressed him with a desire for a nautical life and he applied for and received an appointment in the U.S. Navy, January 16, 1809. The war of 1812-14 opening, afforded a fine field for American prowess and none became more conspicuous than Lieutenant Conner. Especially was he distinguished for his gallantry in the actions fought between the U.S. sloop of war Hornet and the British ship Peacock and the sloop of war Penguin, which terminated in the conquest and capture of the enemy in each case. He was eminently conspicuous in both for good conduct and intrepidity and in testimony of which his native State subsequently presented him a sword. After the war he held important commands on all the principal naval stations and exhibited on several occasions the diplomatic talent and extensive knowledge of international law which formerly was often required by the American naval officer in the exercise of his functions. For a number of years he filled the positions on shore of Naval Commissioner and Chief of the Bureau of Construction. In 1843 he succeeded Commodore Steward in command of the home squadron. During the war with Mexico, Commodore Conner's services were of the utmost importance in the conquest of that country and the preliminary measures taken for the capture of Vern Cruz and its fort were planned by him. However, his constitution naturally robust became impaired by the last effects of the wound he received in 1815 in the attack of the Penguin and the unhealthy climate and close confinement on shipboard was telling its fearful hold and so relinquishing his command he returned to the United States. In Philadelphia he passed the remainder of his life for a time in command of the navy yard there. His death occurred on the 20th day of March, 1856 and he was interred with military honors in Christ Church burial ground. Commodore Conner married in 1828, a daughter of the celebrated Dr. Physick, of Philadelphia and left two sons.

[Source: Notes and Queries Historical Biographical and Genealogical: Chiefly Relating to Interior Pennsylvania Edited by William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A. Third Series, Vol. I Harrisburg, PA., The Daily Telegraph Print 1887 Page 62 Biographical History - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]

Rev. John Graham D.D.

John Graham, son of Henry Graham and Elizabeth Ferguson was born April 17, 1780 in Hanover township, Dauphin county, Pa. He was educated at the Philadelphia academy under Drs. Wylie and Gray and studied theology at the seminary in New York. In the spring of 1819 he was licensed by the Monongahela Presbytery and on the 30th of August 1820, was ordained by the same body. He was pastor of Cross Roads and Washington, Washington county, Pa., from August 30, 1820 to October 8, 1829, during a portion of which period from 1823 to 1828 he filled the position of professor of languages in Washington college. From 1830-1834 he was the stated minister of the congregations of Sycamore and Hopkinsville, Warren county, Ohio; of Green field and Fall Creek, Ohio from 1834 to 1839. From 1839 to 1840 he was principal of the academy at Chillicothe, Ohio, which position he resigned to accept a call to the churches of West Union and West Fork, Adams county, Ohio in 1841, in which field he ministered until his death which occurred July 13, 1849. Columbia college conferred upon him the degree of doctor of divinity. He was an able teacher and a faithful and conscientious minister of the Gospel. A sermon by him published in the second volume of the Pulpit of the Associate Reformed church, shows his deep theological learning.

[Source: Notes and Queries Historical Biographical and Genealogical: Chiefly Relating to Interior Pennsylvania Edited by William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A. Third Series, Vol. I Harrisburg, PA., The Daily Telegraph Print 1887 Page 62-63 Biographical History - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]

Major Frederick Hummel

Frederick Hummel, son of the first settler of that name, was born in Derry township, Lancaster, now Dauphin county, Penna., on the 4th of October 1758. He followed the occupation of a farmer in his early years. When the struggle for independence came on, although a stripling of eighteen years he entered into the contest and served as a private in Capt. Jacob Fridley's company of Col. James Burd's Battalion of 1776; was at Trenton and Princeton and the year following was with the patriots at Brandywine and Germantown. At the close of the war he held the position of Major in the associated battalion. It may also be remarked that during the Revolution, he greatly assisted the cause, by partly superintending the manufacture of arms, which was then a prominent industry at Hummelstown. Major Hummel died on the 7th of December 1802 and his wife Rachel, b. march 14, 1757; d. Nov. 24, 1835 in her 79th year. [In this connection it may be stated that in the recent history of the county, the services of Major Frederick Hummel are credited to Col Frederick his nephew who was too young for military service - having only entered the infantry branch in 1782. The mistake arose from the stupidity of the printers who joined two sketches into one.]

[Source: Notes and Queries Historical Biographical and Genealogical: Chiefly Relating to Interior Pennsylvania Edited by William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A. Third Series, Vol. I Harrisburg, PA., The Daily Telegraph Print 1887 Page 63 Biographical History - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]

ANDREW K. JACKS, secretary and treasurer of the Allentown Crockery Company, was born at Rutherford, Dauphin County, Pa., in 1857, the son of Thomas and Antonnetta (DeWitt) Jacks. He received his primary education in the public schools and later attended the Indiana State Normal School. He then followed teaching as a vocation for seven years, after which he was engaged in the milling and grain business at Lickdale, Pa., for two years. In 1884 he came to Allentown and was employed as a bookkeeper until 1893, when he became one of the organizers of the Allentown Crockery Company, which has since become one of the city’s leading mercantile houses. Mr. Jacks, who is a Republican in politics and an active man of affairs, was a member of select council from the Eleventh Ward for four years. Prior to that time he was a member of the board of control of the Fourth Ward, and also served as secretary of the section board for several years. Mr. Jacks is prominently identified with the various Masonic bodies. He is also a member of the governing board of the Y. M. C. A. since 1886, and of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, of which he has been the financial secretary since 1888, as well as the teacher of the Young Men’s Bible Class. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. On April 20, 1883, he married Remeta T., daughter of Charles H. and Caroline Y. Shoemaker, of Hummelstown, Pa. -- "Men of Allentown" Published by Fred L. Shankweiler 1917 - Contributed by Vicki Hartman

Col. William Moorhead

William Moorhead was born in Lancaster county, Penna., about the year 1772. Little is known of his early history save that he received a good English and classical education. In April, 1806, he became the owner of the noted Lytle's Ferry, above Halifax, which he operated for a number of years. In 1807, he proposed the laying out of a town at that placed to be called Williamsville, but the project never amounted to anything and the contemplated town and future county seat remained a farm on whose fertile fields several generations have lived and labored. In December 1813, Mr. Moorhead was commissioned collector of U.S. revenue when he took up his residence at Harrisburg. In January following he was also appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury, collector of the direct tax for the Tenth district of Penna. He died at Harrisburg on Sunday, June 29, 1817. He left a wife Elizabeth and children, Elizabeth, Adaline, James Kennedy, William G., Joel Barlow and Henry C. One of his daughter married Mr. Montgomery, who conducted the old Ferry for a number of years, which was then known as Montgomery's Ferry. Mrs. Montgomery was a remarkable woman, and frequently during the illness of her husband or the want of hands, assisted in the operation of the boats or flats. Of Mr. Moorhead's sons, J. Kennedy Moorhead of Pittsburgh and J. B. Moorhead, of Philadelphia were men of mark in Pennsylvania. Mr. Moorhead, himself, was a gentleman of culture and much esteemed in private and public life.

[Source: Notes and Queries Historical Biographical and Genealogical: Chiefly Relating to Interior Pennsylvania Edited by William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A. Third Series, Vol. I Harrisburg, PA., The Daily Telegraph Print 1887 Page 63 Biographical History - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]

Thomas Reed

Information Wanted

Thomas Reed an old Revolutionary soldier, at present a resident of Greene county, Pennsylvania, having lost the certificate of his discharge from the revolutionary army, and being desirous of renewing the application he has already made to Congress for a pension, requests such persons as can testify either directly or by circumstance, to his having been in the service of the United States, during the first war with Great Britain, to make a communication of it to him, directed to Jefferson, Greene county, Pennsylvania.

The subject of this advertisement was born near Rock Run, in Hartford county, Maryland. At an early age he married Mary Nut, of Middletown, Dauphin county, Pa., soon after which he removed to Indian Manor, near Harrisburg, Pa., where he lived on the land of Mr. Thomas Fisher, following the double business of a laborer and shoemaker. He lived there eight or nine years, including the period of his service in the army. He enlisted at Carlisle, Pa., under Capt. Nichols, in the ninth regiment of the Pennsylvania troops, commanded by Col. Noggle. The first Lieutenant of the company was Stephen Stevenson, of Monohan township, York Co., Pa. Thus Reed served five years in the American army and was at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. Sometime after thse battles were fought, he was placed in the baggage department.

Persons in Harford county, Md., and in York, Dauphin and Cumberland counties, Pa., are desired to institute an inquiry into this subject, among the older inhabitants and editors of papers generally, but particularly those of Maryland, Pennsylvania and the western country are requested to give publicity to this and thus, perhaps, assist one of the earliest defenders of our liberty, who is now suffering all the complicated evils of age and poverty.

[Source: Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), June 6, 1827 - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]

Capt. Jeremiah Rees

Jeremiah Rees was born at Oyster's Mill, in East Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, Penna., in the year 1776. Of his father's family little is known, save that of his brothers, Samuel and David Rees settled in the then Far West. Mr. Rees came to Harrisburg about the commencement of the century where having married the daughter of Casper Smith, then recently deceased, he continued the "Golden Swan," one of the oldest inns in the town. In this and other occupation, including many years a toll gatherer at the Harrisburg Bridge, Mr. Rees passed a long and eventful life. In the second war with England he commanded one of the companies which marched to the defense of Baltimore and was justly considered a good officer and brave soldier. He was one of the prominent men of the borough sixty years ago, served in the council and was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. He died at Harrisburg on the 4th of January, 1861 at the advanced age of 84 years. Captain Rees was thrice married: first on May 2, 1808, Margaret Smith, daughter of Casper and Martha Smith, who died May 17, 1810 at the age of twenty-two years and their children were Cyrus J., who resides at Harrisburg and Casper, d.s.p. Married secondly June 26, 1810 Lydia Powders who died April 8, 1821 and their children were Maria, M. __ Cummings, removed to Davenport, Iowa; Lydia, m. Abraham Kendig of Missouri; Margaret, m. John Bigler of Easton, Pa. and Jeremiah, D. unm. Married thirdly, Elizabeth Johnson of Philadelphia and their children were Mary and James who died in service in the Mexican war.

[Source: Notes and Queries Historical Biographical and Genealogical: Chiefly Relating to Interior Pennsylvania Edited by William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A. Third Series, Vol. I Harrisburg, PA., The Daily Telegraph Print 1887 Page 63-64 Biographical History - Transcribed by Nancy Piper]

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