Franklin County Pennsylvania Biographies
| JACOB SHAFFER, car builder,
Chambersburg, was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, November 22, 1819, eldest
son of Jacob and Catharine (Groesskup) Shaffer. He received a portion of
his education in his native land, where he remained till 1831, when he came
with his parents to America and directly to Chambersburg, Penn. His father,
Jacob Shaffer, Sr., a carpenter by trade and a successful business man, worked
as journeyman for some years, then engaged in contracting, and built a portion
of the Cumberland Valley Railroad. He reared to maturity two sons (of whom
Jacob survives) and died in 1858, an active member of the Lutheran Church.
Our subject completed his education in the public schools of Chambersburg,
and in 1835 commenced an apprenticeship with Samuel Seebert, at the trade
of carpenter. In the spring of 1838 he entered the employ of the Cumberland
Valley Railroad, working in the car shops. In 1850 he was appointed foreman
of the car shop, and held that position until the fall of 1866, when he again
entered the employ of Samuel Seebert, and assisted in building the court-house
and the residence of Thomas B. Kennedy, as well as other edifices, continuing
thus employed for two years. In 1868 he re-entered the employ of the Cumberland
Valley Railroad Company, with whom he has since remained. Mr. Shaffer was
married in 1840 to Catharine Gimmell, who was born in Neuenburg, Bavaria,
November 26, 1817, and to this union were born ten children, seven of whom
are living - two sons and five daughters: Jacob W., Catharine, Matilda, Julia
Ann, Annia, Lizzie and Fredrich G. Mrs. Shaffer died February 21, 1885. The
family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Shaffer has been a member
of the I. O. O. F. since 1852. In politics he is a full Republican. He was
a member of the town council in 1862-1863.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 686-687. - Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| LEVI J. McCORMICK, retired
railroad conductor, was born at Oxford, Chester Co., Penn., May 18, 1812,
a son of Jesse and Elizabeth Taylor McCormick. He received a limited education,
and early began the trade of his father, that of hatter. When seventeen he
commenced driving a stage, which he continued one year, and then returned
to his father and completed his trade, alternating with occasional stage
driving between West Chester and Philadelphia; subsequently he drove from
Oxford to Doe Run, and was also engaged in driving horse-cars from Lancaster
to Gap. December 31, 1839, he came to Chambersburg, and engaged in driving
a stage between Chambersburg and McConnellsburg for D. O. Gehr, and later
drove horse-cars for the same party from Chambersburg to Hagerstown; then
entered the Chambersburg office as agent, and as such remained abut two years.
In October, 1851, he was appointed baggageman on the Cumberland Valley Railroad,
which position he filled for four years, and about 1855 was appointed conductor
on the same road, continuing as such until retiring in 1883, the oldest conductor
of that railroad in the Cumberland Valley. For the first ten years he ran
between Harrisburg and Chambersburg, and during the last twelve years between
Harrisburg and Hagerstown, returning daily, January 12, 1835, Mr. McCormick
was married to Louisa Shetley, born in York County, Penn., May 25, 1816,
and they are the parents of six children, four of whom are living - one daughter
and three sons: Alexander, a resident of Harrisburg; William D., at home;
Levi J., Jr., a printer by trade, residing at Harrisburg; and Mary J., at
home. Mr. McCormick and family are members of the Lutheran Church. Our subject
never desired public office. He is an esteemed citizen, occupying a handsome
house, which he built in 1883.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 664. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| JOHN W. MAHON, blacksmith, Green
Village, was born April 2, 1843, in this village. His great-grandfather,
Robert Mahon, came from the North of Ireland. He was of Scotch descent and
a member of the Presbyterian Church. He settled in Southampton Township,
Franklin County, where he became an extensive farmer. He married a Miss Mahon,
and reared one child, Robert, Jr. He and wife lived to be very old and were
buried in the Presbyterian cemetery at Shippensburg. Their son, Robert, was
also a farmer, and died on the old homestead of 400 acres; also a Presbyterian,
and was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Leeper, who died young,
the mother of two children, Robert and Mrs. Elizabeth Potts. His second wife
was Sarah Stumbach, who is yet living, aged ninety years, and is the mother
of David, John, Henry, Samuel and Archibald. Of these Robert was a blacksmith.
He lived a short time in Green Village; in 1844 he came to Scotland, where
he died July 14, 1881, aged sixty-two years. He married in Chambersburg Miss
Jane, daughter of William and Catherine (McGuire) Wallace. William Wallace
was of Scotch-Irish descent, and died here. Mrs. Jane Mahon was born July
30, 1809, in Green Village. She is the mother of eight children: Harriet,
wife of Dr. Charles T. Maclay; Mrs. Margaret Rank; Nathaniel K., Thaddeus
M., John W., Mrs. Mary S. Youst, Zacharias T. and Mrs. Cora Etter. Robert
Mahon was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; was a Republican, and
served as justice of the peace for nearly thirty years. John W., our subject,
was educated in the schools of Chambersburg and the institute at Selin's
Grove. At the age of twenty he learned the blacksmith's trade. In the fall
of 1864 he enlisted in the Two Hundredth and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry, Company G, having previously served three years in the militia.
He served until the close of the war and participated in the battle at Fort
Steadman and the series of battles of the siege of Petersburg, and a number
of other engagements. He was in the Third Division, Ninth Army Corps, served
as corporal but was never wounded. He has since followed his trade in Scotland,
doing the iron work for G. C. Markward, carriage manufacturer of that place,
and usually employs two men. Mr. Mahon has been twice married; first to Katie
S., daughter of Jacob Heckman. She died leaving three children: Masada Pearl,
Lillian Romain, and Arthur Mahon. His second wife is Anna Heckman, a sister
of his first. They have two children: Ella and Katie. Mr. and Mrs. Mahon
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; his ancestors were old seceders.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 784. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| DR. A. K. LEBERKNIGHT, P.
O. Orrstown, was born June 4, 1850, in Hamilton Township, this county, where
his father still resides. His grandfather, Frederick Leberknight, who was
of German descent, died in Maryland. His son Daniel, a farmer by occupation,
father of our subject, came to Hamilton Township, Franklin Co., Penn., in
an early day. He married Miss Susan Kuhn, who died in 1856 aged forty-six.
Their children are Daniel, Frederick, John and Adam K; of these, John died
at the age of twenty-two years. The father married for his second wife Miss
Elizabeth Holland, a native of this county, and who died in 1885. The children
born to this union are James M.; Mrs. Martha Deck and Mrs. Susan Shuman.
Our subject was reared and received his early education in his native county.
He then read medicine with Dr. F. B. Leberknight of Newburg, Cumberland Co.,
Penn.; later he attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia,
and graduated in the spring of 1878. He then spent one year at Newburg, after
which he came to Orrstown, Franklin County, where he is now the only physician
in the place, and has a lucrative practice. He first married Elizabeth Easton,
who died at the age of twenty, the mother of one child, Adam Miller. His
present wife is Alice R., daughter of Peter Keefer, and they have two children,
Charles K., and Hattie L. Politically the Doctor is identified with the
Democratic party. The family attended the services of the Lutheran Church.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 921. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| EPHRAIM S. SHANK, hotel proprietor,
Chambersburg, was born in Antrim Township, Franklin Co., Penn., January 30,
1830, son of John and Catherine (Royer) Shank. His boyhood was spent in the
home of his parents, where he had the usual advantages offered by the common
schools of the township in which he resided, and assisted his father in the
duties pertaining to farm life until his marriage, November 27, 1851, with
Miss Sabina A. Kreps, who was born in Greencastle, Penn., April 30, 1832.
After marriage Mr. Shank made a business of butchering until the breaking
out of the civil war, when he enlisted as a private in Capt. Kurtz's company,
in the Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was afterward appointed
quartermaster-sergeant, a position he held until the close of the war. After
his return Mr. Shank opened a hotel at Funkstown, Penn., where he remained
four years. He then sold out and removed to Chambersburg, where he rented
for eighteen months the "Montgomery House," and purchased the "Washington
House," a well known hotel, conducting a very successful business until his
death, November 6, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Shank were the parents of eight children,
three dying in infancy: Katie B., married to Ezekiel Foreman; W. H.; Araminta,
married; Theodore, deceased; George W. and Lillie B., minors; Bessie and
Bertie, deceased. W. H., the eldest son of Mr. Shank, has succeeded his father
in the hotel, and is a well known and popular landlord. His mother and youngest
brother and sister reside with him; the two older daughters are married and
reside in Chambersburg.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 687. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |