Franklin County Pennsylvania Biographies
| W. H. COONS, merchant, Dry Run, was
born July 5, 1855, in this township, the second son of Samuel and Mary J.
(Haynes) Coons, the latter of whom died January 15, 1885, aged fifty-eight
years and fourteen days. At the age of twenty-three he left the homestead
and engaged as clerk at Dry Run for Mr. Mackey, for three years. Mr. Mackey
being elected country treasurer, our subject and Mr. Alexander associated
together in December, 1881, and purchased Mr. Mackey's stock. They carry
a general stock and are doing a good business. October 24, 1882, Mr. Coons
married Mary Stitt, a daughter of John Stitt, deceased. He has two children,
Anna C. and Mary E. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. In
politics Mr. Coons is a Republican.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 744. - Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| JOHN DOEBLER saloon-keeper, Chambersburg,
was born in Chambersburg, this county, January 25, 1825; eldest son of Louis
and Agnes (Nitterhouse) Doebler. Louis Doebler was a native of Lebanon County,
Penn., born about 1794. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 from that county,
and came to Franklin County, Penn., about 1815. He engaged in the manufacture
of sickles for a number of years but afterward became an employee in a
paper-mill, where he continued until his death, February 14, 1846. He raised
to maturity a family of five children, of whom one daughter and two sons
survive. John Doebler was educated in the public schools of Chambersburg.
In 1842 he commenced an apprenticeship to the coach-maker's trade, which
lasted four years, then worked as journeyman for various firms until 1858,
when he engaged in saloon-keeping till the breaking out of the Rebellion.
He responded to the first call in 1861 (was first lieutenant of a milita
company at the time) and was appointed captain of Company B, Second Regiment,
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served three months. He then raised
Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
and with it took part in all the engagements up to the battle of Fredericksburg,
December 13, 1862, when he was disabled and was an inmate of Seminary Hospital,
at Georgetown, for some months. He returned home, after regaining his strength,
in 1863. He was elected director of the poor for a term of three years, and
while filing that office (in 1865) was elected sheriff of the county for
a term of three years. In 1871 Mr. Doebler became a partner of P. H. Peiffer
in the coach-making business, and continued a member of the firm of Doeber
& Peiffer a little over three years; then embarked in the restaurant
business in his present location on North Second Street, and here has a
successful trade. Our subject was married in 1851, to Adeline Susan, daughter
of Daniel Hull, a former well known resident of Chambersburg, Penn. They
are the parents of one son, Daniel L., a machinist by trade, employed by
the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company. Mrs. Doebler is a Mason and a member
of the I.O.O.F. and of the G.A.R. He served as a member of the town council
from the North Ward in 1864 and 1865, and was burgess of the borough for
three continuous years, commencing in 1868. In politics he is a Republican.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 634-635. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| BENJAMIN F. DUKE, blacksmith,
Chambersburg, was born in Green Township, Franklin County, Penn., August
12, 1835, eldest son of Jacob and Mary (Kunkel) Duke. Jacob Duke, who was
born in Cumberland County, Penn., in 1801, came to Franklin County about
1830; he was a miller by trade and carried on a mill in Culbertson's Row
for many years; he removed to Chambersburg in 1852 and here died in 1879.
He reared to maturity a family of seven children, of whom four are living,
one daughter and three sons. Benjamin F. Duke was educated in the public
schools of Greensvillage. He was reared on a farm, working for others till
seventeen years old. In the fall of 1852 he commenced an apprenticeship of
three years with Abraham Metz, at the trade of a blacksmith, and with him
subsequently worked as journeyman till April, 1864, when he commenced business
on his own account on the corner of Water and Washington Streets, just opposite
his present location. He met with a loss in July of the same year in the
burning of his shop and tools, but he immediately resumed business, and in
1880 removed to his present location he immediately resumed business, and
in 1880 removed to his present location on the southwest corner of Water
and Washington Streets, where he has continued a successful and prosperous
blacksmith. Mr. Duke was married in 1857, to Margaret, daughter of Adam Bolles,
a former resident of Chambersburg, this county. To him and his wife have
been born thirteen children, of whom ten survive, three daughters and seven
sons. Mrs. Duke is a member of Zion's Reformed Church. Mr. Duke has been
a member of the I.O.O.F since 1866.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 635. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| AUGUSTUS DUNCAN, Chambersburg, was
born in Franklin Township, Adams County, Penn., March 8, 1829, son of A.S.E.
and Mary (Mark) Duncan. He was educated in the public schools and the preparatory
department of Franklin and Marshall College, then at Mercersburg, Penn. Prior
to completing his education he had learned the carpenter's trade. Our subject
was married in 1853 to Florence Rowan. The same year he moved to Guilford
Township, this county, where he took charge of the Duncan Mills, at Falling
Springs, which he conducted until 1860, doing an extensive merchant-milling
business. In 1860 he came to Chambersburg, and in 1867 he published the Valley
Spirit,
in connection with J.M. Cooper and W.S. Stenger, later under the firm name of Duncan & Stenger, and remained in this enterprise until 1876, since when he has led rather a retired life, caring for his farms in Guilford Township, and in attending to his duties as one of the commissioners for the fisheries of Pennsylvania, to which position he was appointed by Gov. Pattison in 1884. Mr. Duncan served as a member of the town council, from the Second Ward, in 1882-83. He is a director of the Chambersburg National Bank, and also of the Chambersburg Gas Company. To Mr. and Mrs. Duncan were born three children, two of whom died in infancy, and one, a daughter, at the age of fifteen. Mrs. Duncan departed this life in 1860. Our subject is a disciple of the noted Izaak Walton, and a substantial and esteemed citizen. In politics he is a Democrat. History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p.635-636. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| DANIEL EBERSOLE, coal and lumber
dealer, Chambersburg, was born in Guilford Township, Franklin County, Penn.,
April 11, 1841, son of Christian and Mary (Brubacker) Ebersole. His early
life was passed on a farm where he received an ordinary common-school education.
On the death of his father in 1865, he took charge of the home, and in 1867
was married to Carrie E., daughter of Jacob Bixler, formerly a resident of
Greene Township. He engaged in lime-burning on the home place for the Adams
County trade, delivering the product by teams, and doing an extensive business
until 1878. From the fall of the latter year until the fall of 1881 he acted
as agent for C. Altman & Co., of Canton, Ohio, dealing in agricultural
implements. In the fall of 1881 he became a member of the firm of Finney
& Ebersole, dealers in coal, lumber and agricultural implements, which
partnership continued until January, 1885, when it was dissolved, Mr. Ebersole
remaining in his present location on West Market Street, where he has since
dealt in coal, lumber and farming implements, retaining the agency for Altman
& Co. He carries a large stock in his line and is doing an extensive
business. To Mr. and Mrs. Ebersole have been born three sons and four daughters,
all living: Harry B., Emma K., Nannie V., Daniel C., Mary A., Edgar S. and
Carrie M. Mr. Ebersole still resides on the home farm in Guilford Township,
located two miles and a half from Chambersburg. The farm comprises 104 acres,
and is the place on which his father located in about 1840. In politics he
is a Republican.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 636. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |