Franklin County Pennsylvania Biographies
| ADOLPHUS A. SKINNER, retired farmer, Chambersburg, was born in Fannettsburg,
Franklin Co., Penn., April 14, 1844, a son of William W. and Mary Ann (Ramsey)
Skinner. He received a fair 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 became 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.
October 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 December 25, 1880,
and the latter born April 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.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 692
. - Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| 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 continued 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, 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.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 693.
. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| STEPHEN McGINLEY SKINNER, retired farmer, P. O. Dry Run, is of the fourth
generation of the family in this country, and was born March 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 the 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 November 15, 1757, and
by his wife, Martha, had quite a family. The sons were William, John, Stephen,
David, Enoch and Daniel, and the girls were Nancy, Mary and Martha. All reared
families, except Enoch and Daniel; John and Stephen settled in Path Valley.
Stephen married Nancy Morrow, the mother of our subject. She was born January
7 (?), 1785, a daughter of Richard Morrow. Stephen Skinner died October 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. March 26, 1840, he married Margaret
Culbertson (who was born in Path Valley, March 18, 1818), a daughter of Samuel
Culbertson. Mr. 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 years 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 March 12, 1775. The
tract consisted of 436¾ 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.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 756-757.
. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| MORROW R. SKINNER, farmer, P. O. Roxbury, was born in Roxbury, this county,
January 5, 1848, the third son and fourth child of M. R. Skinner, one of
the descendants of Stephen Skinner, of Path Valley, this county, and Elizabeth
(Shoemaker) Skinner, one of the descendants of Philip Shoemaker, of this
township. He was reared in the village, and in the spring of 1872 began for
himself in the mercantile business. In 1874 he took in J. A. Stitt as partner,
who conducted the store while our subject carried on the stock business,
and for several years was engaged in bringing stock from Kentucky, being
among the first to make a business of importing stock from that State, continuing
in that line until 1884, and has not entirely given up the business yet.
October 26, 1871, he married Emma C. Tritt, a native of Cumberland County,
Penn., and a daughter of Samuel and Juliana (Heagy) Tritt, the latter a daughter
of John and Polly (Hemminger) Heagy, all of Cumberland County. (The Heagys
were natives of Adams County.) Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have three children living:
Cora Ann, Daniel Bruce J. and Effie C. (Minnie died in infancy.) Mr. Skinner
conducts his farm and mill and is connected with stock raising. He was a
candidate for sheriff of the county, and has been supervisor for some years.
Mrs. Skinner is a Presbyterian, while Mr. Skinner leans toward the faith
of his father, that of the Methodist Protestant denomination.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 830. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |