Franklin County Pennsylvania Biographies
| ISAAC BURKHOLDER, farmer, P. O. Fayetteville, was born in 1831, in Cumberland
County, Penn. His ancestors came from Germany and settled in Lancaster County,
Penn., where they farmed. Joseph was born in Lancaster County, and moved
to Cumberland County, where he died a prosperous farmer at the age of forty-one
years. They had seven children who reached maturity, viz.: Joseph, Elizabeth,
Isaac, Abraham, Mary, Anna and Leah. Of these, Isaac was educated in his
native county, and there farmed until he came to Franklin County when he
was twenty years old. He worked on the farm, and at the age of twenty-five
was married to Miss Lydia, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Diller) Weaver.
Mr. and Mrs. Burkholder have five children now living: Mary, Lydia A., Sarah,
Rebecca and Louise. Mary is the wife of John Frey, of Chambersburg. The parents
are both active members of the Mennonite Church. Politically, Mr. Burkholder
is a Republican. He owns 135 acres of land, formerly the "Gen. Reay farm."
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 769. . - Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| JOHN BESORE, farmer, P. O. Upper Strasburg, was born February 5, 1810,
on the old homestead of his father. His great-grandfather, Peter Besore,
was born in Switzerland, came to America when a young man, and settled in
Lancaster County, Penn., where he farmed; his son, Peter, was born in Berlin,
York Co., Penn., and married Rachel Likener, of French descent, who lived
to be seventy years old and died in this county, where the husband had bought
a farm in Letterkenny Township, on which he died. They were the parents of
the following named children: Adam, William, Moses, George, Peter (father
of our subject), Balser, Mrs. Rachael Wright, Mrs. Elizabeth Beard, Mrs.
Peggy Dice and Mrs. Hannah Huber, the mother of Judge Huber. Peter Besore
(father of this family) was first a member of the Lutheran Church, but later
of the Methodist Episcopal, and the first Methodist meeting in the township
was held at his house. He also served in several of the county offices, and
was commissioner of the poor many years. Subject's father, Peter, was born
in York County, February 9, 1779, and was but four years old when he came
to Franklin County. He was a farmer, and owned the place where our subject
now resides, and which consisted of 202 acres. He married Elizabeth, a daughter
of John Schleichter, of an old pioneer family. She died at the age of sixty-six
years, and her husband at the age of seventy-five. They were parents of the
following named children, now living: John (our subject), Mrs. Elizabeth
Berlin, Mrs. Lydia Oyler, Mrs. Leah Metz, Hannah, Mrs. Rebecca Huber, of
Martinsburg, and George Besore. Rachel, Peter, William and Amos K. are deceased.
The parents were members of the United Brethren Church. The father was a
Democrat, and served as supervisor of this township. Our subject was educated
in the early schools of the county, and has all his life been a successful
man. He now has a farm of 202 acres, and owns half of 121 acres. He is a
member of the United Brethren Church, a Democrat, politically, and cast his
first vote for Andrew Jackson.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 810. . Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| GEORGE W. BESORE, farmer, P. O. Upper Strasburg, was born in Letterkenny
Township, Franklin Co., Penn., May 4, 1829, a son of Peter and Elizabeth
(Schlichter) Besore, native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His paternal
grandmother could speak both German and French. His great-grandfather came
from Switzerland, and settled in York County, where he lived several years.
He then came to Franklin County, and bought a farm in Letterkenny Township,
where he lived until his death. Our subject's grandfather, Peter Besore,
was born in York County, Penn.; moved to Franklin County, Penn., where he
lived, engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. Peter, subject's
father, followed farming also, in Letterkenny Township, and owned before
his death 526 acres, which has since been divided among his heirs. George
W. was reared on the farm and remained with his parents until they both died.
He and his brother, John, then operated the three farms until 1861, when
our subject built on the farm where he now resides and moved to it. He married
in December, 1859, Mary C., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Karper) Rife.
Mr. and Mrs. Besore are the parents of three children: John R., William H.
and Jennie E. Mr. and Mrs. Besore are members of the Lutheran Church at Upper
Strasburg. He has served one term each as auditor, assessor and judge of
elections. He owns 166 acres of well improved land, and a large two-story
brick house and fine barn. In politics he is a Democrat.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 810. . Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| LANDIS A. BESORE, farmer, P. O. Chambersburg, was born in Letterkenny
Township, Franklin Co., Penn., May 22, 1848, a son of Peter and Magdalena
(Landis) Besore, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. His
great-grandfather came from Switzerland. His grandfather, Peter, was a farmer
and lived where John Besore now resides, he was also a slaveholder, and one
of the early settlers of this county. Subject's father was born in 1812 and
reared on his father's farm. He was a prominent man in the county; at the
time of his death owned two farms aggregating 450 acres. Landis A. was reared
on a farm and remained at home until he was twenty-four years old, when he
married, located where he now resides and remained three years; then bought
a property on the Green Village road, where he resided five years, during
which time he was not engaged at anything particular on account of ill health.
In 1874 he moved back to his present place, and now owns 275 acres, of which
sixty-five is in heavy timber. May 29, 1872, he married Mary, daughter of
Henry Stouffer, and seven children have been born to them, six now living:
Mamie E., Emma L., Kate A., Daisy B., George M. and Alice G. Mrs. Besore
is a member of the United Brethren Church. Our subject also engages to some
extent in stock raising.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 810-811. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| JOHN A. DICE, farmer, P. O. Chambersburg, was born in Letterkenny Township,
this county, October 5, 1833, a son of Michael and Sophia (Ashway) Dice,
natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. His grandparents came to
Franklin County in an early day and settled in Letterkenny Township, where
the grandfather engaged in distilling until his death. Our subject's father,
Michael, was a farmer (owning two farms), which occupation he followed until
his death in May, 1870. His widow died in August, 1873. He was a strong Democrat,
had held minor offices in the township, and was a prominent man. John A.
was reared on the farm and remained at home until twenty-three years of age,
when he went to Summit County, Ohio, and was absent one year engaged on a
farm. On his return he remained four years, then married and located on his
father's farm in Hamilton Township, where he remained one year. March 22,
1862, he moved to where he now lives and has since resided on this place;
has made a great many improvements, and built a large barn and addition to
his house. During the war he was troubled a great deal by the rebels, but
succeeded in saving his horses from being taken by hiding them in the bushes.
In January, 1861, he married Elizabeth (Snider) Musselman, and four children
were born to this union: Martin S., John F., David and Eliza. Mrs. Dice died
August 8, 1881. Mr. Dice owns 165 acres of land, where he now lives, 191
acres in Hamilton Township, also 128 acres, and seventy-two acres of mountain
land. He has held the office of school director, assistant assessor, auditor,
etc., and is an intelligent and enterprising citizen. He has erected good
buildings on all his farms.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 811-812. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| GEORGE BESORE. The Besores, under the various names of Besores, Basore,
Bashor, Bashore and Basehore, are found pretty frequently over the county
of Franklin, especially in the townships of Washington, Letterkenny and Greene.
The name varies greatly, but it may be taken with safety that all of the
above, as well as other names deviating slightly in spelling from any of
these, belong to the same stock - simply branches of the same tree. The pioneer
of the race in America is believed to have been Daniel Besore, who came from
Germany to this country among the early settlers. The stock is supposed to
be German, but it is believed to be Huguenotic in origin, having settled
in Germany during the persecution of the Huguenots in France. The same belief
also holds that the original name was Le or La Bessier or Bassour. The ancestor
finally located along Marsh Run, a few miles from the town of Waynesboro,
in Washington Township. He left at least two sons: David and John, both of
whom left large families. David, and likely his father Daniel before him,
owned and lived on the farm lately occupied by Henry Besore (deceased), and
now owned by Rev. Geo. B. Russell, D. D., a grandson of David. The sons and
daughters of David were numerous, viz.: Daniel, John, Samuel, George, Jacob,
Henry, Jeremiah, David, Josiah, Elizabeth (who married Geo. Uhler), Catharine
(who married Christian Russell) and Mary (wife of Geo. W. Glessner, D. D.)
George Besore, the subject of this notice, was born on the said farm December 21, 1799, and died August 16, 1871, at the residence he so long occupied on the Diamond in Waynesboro. Early in life he became a merchant, which seems to have been a favorite occupation for this family, because Jacob, Jeremiah, Josiah, and others also engaged in it. George and Jacob were partners for some time, but, believing that marked success was not possible for the two in the same place, Jacob went to the city of Baltimore, engaged in the wholesale trade, and was on the high road to wealth and distinction as a merchant, when he was cut off by death at the early age of thirty-nine years. George continued merchandising in Waynesboro, built his residence and storeroom, and met with more than the usual success for thirty years, and then retired because of broken health. Afterward he bought Hopewell flouring-mills, about three miles east of town, where he in connection with others carried on a large business as merchant millers with varying fortunes until ill health and age compelled him to abandon it also. He was married September 16, 1830, to Eliza Snively, one of the six daughters of Jacob Snively, of Antrim Township, one of the earliest families of the county. It is a mooted point now whether the first settlement was made by a Chambers or by a Snively. The widow still survives in reasonable health and strength, though considerably beyond the age of four score years. Clara and Alfred were their only children, of whom the latter died in infancy, and the former became the wife of Dr. A. H. Strickler. They with the mother continue to occupy the old Besore corner in Waynesboro. George Besore was a man of mark in his neighborhood; he was known and appreciated throughout his county, and throughout the length and breadth of his denomination, or church, wherever it existed in this country. In him as a citizen, his people could and did feel an honest pride. His political opinions and partialities were decided and warm, but always poised with moderation and judgment. For him office had no charms, and from him scheming received no countenance. The writer cannot now recollect of any office held by him, though there were times when he was urged to enter upon that course. His greatest strength and influence was seen and felt in general business and in his church. For almost a lifetime he was regarded as a leading and most trustworthy business man, and for forty years he was one of the pillars of the congregation of the Reformed Church in Waynesboro. If not the first he was one of the original movers for Sunday-schools. He held the position of superintendent of the first Sunday-school in Waynesboro, from its commencement in 1830 up to his death, save an interval of perhaps a few years toward the last. He was earnest, active and liberal in the movements, which turned the current of opinion in his denomination toward a more liberal culture and education, and which resulted in the founding of Marshall College and the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at Mercersburg, the mother institution of that church in the United States. He served on the building committees, was treasurer of the seminary and one of its board, and also for many years a member of the trustees of the college at Mercersburg, and afterward at Lancaster. The Printing Establishment of the Church at Chambersburg leaned upon and found him a strong and unwavering friend in its darkest days. Much oftener than is usual was he sent as a delegate to the Classes, Synods and other ecclesiastical bodies of his church, and no laymen excelled him in force and influence in the debates and business of these assemblies. Although thus honored Mr. Besore scarcely received all that he deserved. The writer of these lines as boy and man, knew him long and well, as intimately as could be compatible with their disparity in age; and now, in looking back over the last forty years, he recalls with peculiar pleasure, in the life and character of his respected friend, such an utter absence of all weak and unseemly traits, and such a liberal presence of the strong, the urbane and the good, that the like of it is seldom seen in human life and experience. In making this man, nature took of goodly clay to fashion a goodly face and form, and vitalized and finished her work by breathing into it a spirit of nobility and truth, creating a gentleman. Grace lent her aid to nature's work, illumined the human tabernacle with light from Bethlehem's star, warmed it with love to God and fellowman, and left nature's gentleman a Christian. History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 934-935.
Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |