Franklin County Pennsylvania Biographies
| DANIEL STAKE, farmer, P. O. Amberson's
Valley, was born in Amberson's Valley, December 16, 1818, in a log cabin
one mile south of the Upper Post Office, the fifth son of Peter and Anna
(Myers) Stake. He left home on attaining his majority and learned the carpenter's
trade which he followed several years. In 1852 he took charge of the old
Franklin tannery, which he conducted for eighteen years for Mr. McLean, after
which he located on the farm he now owns, and which he had purchased prior
to becoming connected with the tannery. He has an excellent farm of 150 acres,
well improved and situated in the heart of the Valley. His wife, Mary, was
born in the Valley, in 1814, a daughter of Robert and Nancy (Bleckenridge)
Culbertson. Mr. and Mrs. Stake have five children: Henrietta, wife of James
Heftlefinger [this may not be the correct spelling but the best I could decipher
the 4th letter] of Cumberland County; Frances, wife of John A. Shoemaker;
Denton, located in this township; Robert, residing in Cumberland County,
and Grier J. Mr. Stake is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Grier
Johnson Stake was born in March, 1857, and is the youngest of the family.
He married Jennie Hammond, who was born in this valley, a daughter of Daniel
and Ellen (Skinner) Hammond, and they have three children: Mollie E., Wisley
P. and Tena O. He has had charge of the home farm since 1879; is a member
of the Methodist Protestant Church; of the I. O. O. F., No. 419, and A. F.
& A. M., No. 262.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 758.. - Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| WILLIAM STAKE, tax collector,
Chambersburg, was born in Hamilton Township, Franklin Co., Penn., April 19,
1828, son of john and Sarah (Monninger) Stake, the former of whom was also
a native of this county, born in Lurgan Township about 1790, his father having
been one of the pioneers of Franklin County, Penn. John Stake was a weaver
by trade and spent the last of his days in Hamilton Township, this county,
where he died about 1871. He reared to maturity a family of seven children,
of whom one son and four daughters survive. Our subject was educated in such
schools as the county then afforded but afterward improved his educational
advantages by study. When seventeen he commenced an apprenticeship, serving
three years at the trade of carpenter in Shippensburg, Penn. There he also
worked as journeyman for some years. In 1852 he married Catharine Bruner.
That year he commenced building and contracting in Upper Strasburg on his
own account, and there did a successful business until, coming to Chambersburg
in the spring of 1865, he entered the employ of the Cumberland Valley Railroad
Company, working in the car shops till June, 1877, when he was elected tax
collector for the borough of Chambersburg, and has since been annually re-elected
to the same position. Mr. and Mrs. Stake are the parents of eight children,
five of whom are living - two daughters and three sons. The family are members
of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Stake is a member of the O. U. A. M.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 694. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| JOHN STAKE, retired farmer, P. O. Amberson's
Valley, was born in this valley October 16, 1812. The progenitor of the Stake
family came from Germany and located in Lancaster County, Penn. Our subject's
grandfather, Frederick, was a Revolutionary soldier, and from him descended
Peter (the father of John), who was born near Strasburg, this county, in
1781, being the youngest of a large family. Peter Stake married Anna M.,
daughter of Harmon Myers, of Amberson's Valley, about 1803, and located where
James Craig now resides, the place having only a cabin at that time and three
acres cleared. He was a farmer and hauled goods from the eastern cities to
Pittsburgh before the era of railroads. He was a stanch citizen and a respected
member of the community. John Stake, the fourth son, grew to manhood on his
father's farm, and after attaining his majority went to Fillson to learn
the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years. February 5, 1840,
he married Nancy Culbertson, who was born July 9, 1816, at the "knob" in
Amberson's Valley, the fourth daughter and seventh child of Robert and Nancy
(Bleckenridge) Culbertson. Her paternal grandfather was Robert Culbertson,
who married Ann Duncan. Mrs. Nancy (Bleckenridge) Culbertson was a daughter
of John Bleckenridge. Soon after marriage Mr. Stake settled down to farming,
and purchased a part of the Riddle tract, where he has since resided. He
has had five children, three now living: Josephine, Rebecca J. and Mary A.
Josephine resides in Letterkenny Township, the wife of John A. Eckonrode;
Rebecca, is the wife of David E. Eckonrode, and Mary, the wife of Jacob C.
Echonrode (brothers), and both families reside in this township. Albert W.
died of an abcess in the side at the age of twenty-three years, ten months
and twenty-seven days, and Daniel J. died in infancy. Mr. Stake, though not
a member of any church, contributes liberally to the support of the Gospel,
and favors all Christian efforts.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 757-758. Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| W. RUSH GILLAN, attorney at law,
Chambersburg, was born in Hamilton Township, Franklin Co., Penn., April 3,
1850, the youngest son of John and Margaret (Walker) Gillan. He removed with
his parents to St. Thomas Township, this county, where he attended school
alternately with farming pursuits, until the age of seventeen. He then taught
school for one season, and in 1868 the family removed to Letterkenny Township,
this county, where our subject attended an advanced school for three months.
He then taught in various places, including the graded school in St. Thomas,
for two winters, and conducted a private school in the same place during
the summer. In the fall of 1871 he entered Mercersburg College, which he
attended one session, and then engaged in clerking for some months. In August,
1872, he came to Chambersburg and engaged in the grocery trade until 1875.
That year he was elected clerk of the courts for three years, during which
period he was also engaged in reading law in the office of Hon. W. S. Stenger
and James A. McKnight; admitted to the bar September 1, 1879, and immediately
commenced practice, which he has since continued with success. In 1874, Mr.
Gillan was school director, and in 1879-80, was clerk of the town council.
From 1882 to 1885 he was attorney to the board of county commissioners, and
is at present school director from the Third Ward. Mr. Gillan married in
February, 1874, Lucy M., daughter of Joseph Winger, of Clay Lick, this county,
and by her has one son and three daughters: Arthur, Mabel, Ruth and Abigail.
The parents are members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Gillan is a member of
the board of regents of Mercersburg College. In politics he is a Democrat.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 642-643. - Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |
| MRS. MARY A. BRADLEY, Mercersburg.
The early history of the Bradley family will be found in the sketch of John
A. Witherspoon, who married Hetty, a daughter of Samuel Bradley. His father
settled where Johnston Bradley now resides, in 1804, and a part of the old
mansion, still habitable, was used as a block-house when the Indians were
yet troublesome. John Bradley wedded Jane McCurdy, whose father, James McCurdy,
came to this country prior to the Revolutionary war, and whose lands were
purchased direct from the English Government. Mrs. Mary A. Bradley is a daughter
of William Metcalfe, one of the pioneer merchants of Mercersburg, who during
his lifetime was one of the most enterprising men of the borough. Tom Scott,
the celebrated railroad king, was for a number of months clerk in his store.
Mr. Metcalfe was a native of Yorkshire, England, and was the architect of
his own fortunes, accumulated in this country. He built the Baltimore and
Pittsburg pike, and was otherwise engaged in public improvements. The wedding
of his daughter, Mary Agnes Metcalfe, with Samuel A. Bradley was celebrated
December 17, 1860. Ten years later Mr. Bradley's death was caused by the
accidental discharge of a gun while he was hunting; four sons are left to
inherit his name: John L., Edgar M., William A. and James W. The first named
will devote his attention to veterinary surgery; Edgar M. is a dealer in
stock in Nebraska.
History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 846-847.-Transcribed and Donated by Carol Parrish |