Franklin County Pennsylvania Biographies
| .JACOB A. ROHRER, farmer, P. O. Chambersburg, was born
April 3, 1850, in Greene Township, this county, on the old homestead. His
father, John, was born near Pleasant Hall, Letterkenny Township, this county,
in 1803, and died here June 11, 1874. He was a son of Jacob Rohrer, who came
from Lancaster County. The family is of German descent, the old stock having
come from Germany in 1749. John, who was a farmer all his life, except thirteen
years, in which he followed the carpenter trade, married, in December, 1844,
Catherine, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Boyer. She was born July 30,
1813, in Cumberland County, Penn., and came to this county when she was ten
years old. To her and her husband were born two children: Elizabeth A., wife
of A. W. Hoover and our subject. Mrs. Rohrer is still living and resides
with her children alternately, having furnished rooms at either place. John
Rohrer was a man of quiet manners, but firm in purpose. Our subject was married,
January 20, 1880, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Henry H. Rife, an old settler.
They have had one child, Sarepta, born December 1, 1885, died September 15,
1886. Politically Mr. Rohrer is identified with the Republican party, as
was also his father.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 789. - Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| SAMUEL S. WINGERT, farmer and grain dealer, P. O. Five Forks, was born
near Fayetteville, this county, May 28, 1836, the second son of Abram B.
Wingert. He has one brother and three sisters, viz.: George S.; Anna, wife
of Abram Dull, of Guilford; Susan, wife of Isaac Shank; Maria, wife of Israel
Sollenberger - all residents of this county. Our subject left home and began
farming where he now resides, an occupation he has since followed. In 1882
he erected a warehouse at Five Forks, buys grain, and is also express and
ticket agent. He married in 1859 Rebecca Sollenberger, a native of this county,
and a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Hart. They have had eleven children,
eight of whom are now living, viz.: Abram L., Maria F., Susan A., Mary C.,
Emsey M., Bertha J., Israel I. and Harvey G. Annie E. died at the age of
twenty-one; Martha E. at the age of nine years and nine months; Lillie May
died at the age of two and one-half years. The father was an old line Whig,
but the family are Republicans; are members of the River Brethren denomination.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 896-897. . Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| GEORGE WEBSTER SMITH, conductor, Chambersburg, was born in Chambers burg,
this county, February 12, 1842, youngest child of Allen and Patience (Webster)
Smith, the former of whom, a tanner and currier by trade, was born in Chester
County, Penn., March 4, 1801, and came to Chambersburg in the fall of 1839,
where he entered the employ of the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company as
engineer (he had occupied a similar position on the State road before coming
here) and was the first to run an engine with an enclosed cab on the Cumberland
Valley Railroad. He continued on the road some years and then ran individual
express cars for Maj. Calhoun for seven years. In 1852 he embarded in the
grocery trade and did an extensive and successful business until the destruction
of Chambersburg in 1864. His residence and place of business were totally
destroyed, and though he rebuilt the latter, he never entered into business.
Allen Smith, who was a member of the Society of Friends, never cared for
office. He died April 7, 1877, a member of the I.O.O.F. His widow, who was
born in Lancaster county, Penn., September 2, 1806, is still living, vigorous
in mind and body. Our subject, the only living child of this couple, was
educated in the public schools of Chambersburg, and clerked in his father's
store early in life. About 1869 he entered the employ of the Cumberland Valley
Railroad Company, acting as brakeman for five years, when he was appointed
conductor of a freight train, a position he still holds. Mr. Smith was married
in 1867 to Priscilla E., daughter of David Zimmerman, a former resident of
Letterkenny Township, this county. Of the ten children born to this union
four are living - two sons and two daughters.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 693. . Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| DANIEL COLESTOCK, conductor and builder, was born in Littlestown, Adams
Co., Penn., September 30, 1834, a son of John and Harriet (Little) Colestock.
He received an ordinary common school education in his native town and was
in attendance one term at Littlestown Academy. He early learned the trade
of his father, that of carpenter and cabinet-maker, and for a period of two
years worked as journeyman in various places, among which was Washington,
D. C., where he, for some months in 1862, was engaged in the treasury department.
In 1867 or 1868 he commenced as a contractor, and soon after went to Pittsburgh,
where he erected some important buildings; then returned to Littlestown,
where he resumed his business as a builder and contractor, being associated
for a time with his brother, John H., and afterward with George Smith until
1874, when, just after the fire which occurred at Chambersburg, he worked
as a journeyman for three years at that place, whither he located in the
spring of 1876 as a contractor and builder, and where he has since remained.
He has here carried on an extensive business, erecting many fine structures
- among them the insane asylum. In 1883 Mr. Colestock was married to a daughter
of Barnett Bickly, a former resident of Chambersburg, and to this union have
been born two daughters and two sons. The parents are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Colestock is Republican.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 632-633. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| REV. W. C. CREMER, pastor of Zion's Reformed Church, was born in Lancaster
County, Penn., January 1, 1836, youngest son of Charles and Elizabeth (Albert)
Cremer. His early life until he was eighteen years of age was passed on a
farm, where he received, in the neighboring schools, the rudiments of an
education. He then returned to the preparatory department of Franklin and
Marshall College, at Lancaster (previous to this he had received literary
instruction from his pastor, Rev. D. Y. Hysler). He completed the course
at Franklin and Marshall College, and was graduated from the institution
in 1861. Immediately after his graduation he went to the Theological Seminary
at Mercersburg, where he completed a course of study in theology in 1863.
He was then called to take charge of the Reformed Church at Sunbury, Penn.,
where he was licensed and ordained May, 1863, and remained as pastor of the
church five years. His next appointment was at Westminster, Carroll Co.,
Md., where he remained until coming to Chambersburg in 1876. In August, 1863,
Mr. Cremer was married to Miss C. M., daughter of Jacob Gruel, of Lancaster
City, Penn., and to them were born six children, five of whom - one daughter
and four sons - are living.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 633. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |