Franklin County Pennsylvania Biographies

JACOB HUNSECKER, farmer, P. O. Chambersburg, was born January 22, 1839, in this county.  His father, John, was born and educated in Lancaster County, and when a young man came to Franklin County.  Here he married Lydia Shirk, who died the mother of twelve children:  Catherine, Abraham, Elizabeth, Jacob, Lydia, John, Solomon, Adeline, Aaron, Leah, Daniel and Mary.  John Hunsecker is a member of the Mennonite Church, of which he was made a minister and is now a bishop.  He is still hale and hearty, and much respected.  Our subject was educated here and married Miss Catherine, daughter of Levi Hurst, of an old and respected family.  They have three children:  Anna, Amanda and Saloma.  Mr. and Mrs. Hunsecker are members of the Mennonite Church.  He has a farm of 205 acres of land in good condition and well cultivated, and is a highly successful farmer.

History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 779.

WILLIAM H. MICHAELS, night watchman for the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company, Chambersburg, was born in Chambersburg, this county, March 7, 1841, second son of Christian and Harriett (Reed) Michaels.  He was educated in the public schools, and when seventeen commenced an apprenticeship at the trade of stone cutter, and then worked as journeyman for one year.  In 1861, owing to failing eye-sight, he gave up his trade and entered the employ of the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company, filling the position of night watchman until September, 1864, when he enlisted in Company D, Two Hundred and Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving under Capt. McKnight.  He participated in the engagements on the Weldon Railroad and Hatcher’s Run, and was present at the surrender of Gen. Lee.  He served until the close of the war and was mustered out at Washington, D. C., in June, 1865.  Returning to civil life he resumed his former position of night watchman for the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company which he still fills, having charge of the numerous shops, buildings etc, of the company.  Our subject was married, in 1861, to Catharine, daughter of Isaac Thompson, of Williamsport, Md., and to this union were born six children:  John W. (the eldest) died at age twenty-one in 1882; Charles W., Harry T.; Eddie, died in infancy; Della G; Minnie F.  Mr. Michaels and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  In 1877 Mr. Michaels was elected a member of the school board, and filled this position for three years; he also represented the First Ward in the town council during 1882-83.  He owns and occupies a handsome residence on North Main Street, Chambersburg, which he built in 1883.  Mr. Michael’s sons, Charles W., and Harry T., are also employees of the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company.

History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 667-668.

ZADOC WOLFE, miller, P. O. Chambersburg, was born in Antrim Township, Franklin Co., Penn., April 28, 1832, and is a son of Henry H. and Rachael (Hood) Wolfe, natives of Maryland, and of English descent.  His grandfather Hood participated in the Revolutionary war.  His father, Henry H., came to Franklin County in 1832, and located in Antrim Township, where he followed milling for about sixteen years.  He then moved back to Maryland, and operated in the milling business for one year, then returned to Franklin County, where he followed milling the remainder of his life, a business in which he was thoroughly practical; he died about 1865, the father of fourteen children, seven of whom are now living, four sons and three daughters:  Tobthia, George, John, Jose, Zadoc, Catherine and Henrietta.  Zadoc Wolfe was brought up to the miller’s trade, and served under his father until twenty-one years of age, when he rented a mill at Mercersburg, and his father lived with him and worked for him until he died.  He conducted the mill at Mercersburg about nine years, and then rented Rankin’s mill, near Greencastle, which he operated two years; thence moved to McAuley’s mill, which he operated eight years.  In 1872 he bought the mill property he is now operating from H. M. White, for which he paid $5,000.  He also bought a small farm adjoining of forty acres, but has sold it, for which he paid $2,200.  He also owns a still-house in connection with his mill, but is not operating it at present, and in addition to his other business he carries a stock of groceries and notions.  Mr. Wolfe is a practical miller, having been brought up in the mill from early youth, and is a thorough business man.  His son, Jose E., has charge of the mill, and is also the miller.  Mr. Wolfe was married August 21, 1856, to Mary C. Pensinger, a daughter of Jacob, Jr., and Mary Pensinger.  Our subject and wife are the parents of seven children, five of whom are living:  William F. (married to Nettie Over), Jose E., Mary E., Jacob S. and Emma G.  Jacob Pensinger, Jr., father of Mrs. Wolfe, was one of the early settlers of Franklin County, and was the father of ten children, four of whom are living:  William, John, Thomas and Mary C.  He resided at Greencastle for many years, but later moved to Camp Hill.  He was engaged in farming near Greencastle for many years, but later moved to Camp Hill.  He was engaged in farming near Greencastle all his life.  He died at the age of ninety-one years.

History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 809.

PETER KERLIN, retired farmer, of St. Thomas, was born in Exeter, Berks Co., Penn., in 1831, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Haines) Kerlin, natives of Berks County, Penn., the latter of whom died April 6, 1880.  The Kerlin family were of Irish descent, and the Haines family of Dutch extraction, our subject’s great-grandfather Haines being a native of Amsterdam, Holland.  His grandfather, Peter, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and immigrated to New Jersey, thence moved to Berks County, Penn., where he remained until his death.  John Kerlin was a farmer, and owned a farm in Berks County, which he sold, and then came to Franklin County in 1849.  He bought 172 acres of land about three miles east of St. Thomas, and lived there until his death, which occurred in August, 1863.  Our subject was reared on a farm, and in his fifteenth year started in life for himself.  He was engaged as clerk and worked one year at the same place; then went to Reading, Penn., to learn mercantile business, and was employed by Kerper & Co. for four years.  In 1851 he came to this county, and remained with his father until after the latter’s death in 1863.  In the spring of 1864 he went to Shippensburg, Cumberland County, and bought out a drug store, which he conducted two years.  In 1866 he moved to Chambersburg, this county, where he lived one year, and made a study of music, giving instruction to others.  In 1867 he moved to St. Thomas Township and bought a farm of 142 acres, three-quarters of a mile from St. Thomas, resided there fourteen years, and in 1881 came to the village where he has since lived, still retaining the farm.  He and his sister, Hannah, live together on property which she owns in St. Thomas.  They are members of the Reformed Church.  He has also a brother, Richard, living with him.  Mr. Kerlin has been quite an active business man, and his life has been an eventful one.  He has served as assistant assessor; also school director for six years.  Politically he is a Democrat.

History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 910.

GEORGE W. STEPHEY, farmer and stock grower, P. O. Rowzersville, was born in Franklin County, Penn., October 18, 1829, son of George (a farmer) and Anna Maria (Winters) Stephey, natives of Washington County, Md.  They had a family of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity, of whom George W. is the third.  The early years of our subject were spent on the farm with his parents and in attending the district schools.  In early life he worked in the saw-mill and on the farm with his father; later worked in the agricultural shop, then learned the carpenter’s trade which he followed ten years; has since followed farming, and is the owner of a well improved farm.  He was married in 1853 to Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Mickley.  Mr. Mickley was born in 1795; served in the was of 1812; was a farmer, and still resides in Waynesboro.  Mrs. Stephey’s mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Zettle, and she was a native of Adams County, Penn.  Mr. Stephey has three children now living:  Daniel, married and residing in Waynesboro, employed in the Geiser shops; Mary, at home, and Oscar, a molder by trade.  Mrs. Stephey died in 1865 a member of the Reformed Church; Mr. Stephey of the Lutheran Church, of which he was a deacon and also a teacher in the Sabbath school.  He takes an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the church and Sunday-school.

History of Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, IL, 1887, p. 962-963.