Northemberland County Biographies

Northumberland County Biographies
E

EGOLFF FAMILY—an introduction to a part of the Egolff family, and some of their descendants (written in 1896): “The history of the Egolff family is quite a lengthy one, although I intend to bring up only the descendants of one branch of the family; I have, of course, reference to one of the branches that go back in a lineal line to the first Egolff that landed in the Province of Pennsylvania in 1746. The history of this one branch will, however, be found sufficiently long, as it reaches to the seventh generation now in this year of grace 1896.
“Michael Egolff, 1St. (On the documents contained in the German Bible which was printed in 1746, in possession of William and Barbara Egolff, at Carlisle, the name Egolff is always written with a ff at the end of the name.)
“Michael Egolff, 1st, was the oldest son of Michael and Agatha Egolff. He was born at Engstadt, in the district of Bahlinger, in the Duchy of Wittenberg, on the 26th of April, 1693. His mother died in 1608, when he was five years of age; his father died in 1734, thirty-six years after the death of his mother.
“Michael Egolff, 1st, was a cooper by trade. He was married to Mary Voutsh on the 10th of April, 1735, in the church of Engstadt; his wife Mary Voutsh was born on the 27th of July, 1704, and was consequently eleven years younger than her husband.
“The name of his father-in-law (his wife’s father) was Martin Voutsh, a citizen and farmer at Engstadt; the maiden name of his mother-in-law (his wife’s mother) was Mary Reisbein, who it is said died a premature death when her daughter Mary was but six years of age.
“Michael and Mary Egolff, 1st, had ten children, four of whom died in their infancy. The births and names of those that died in their infancy are not given on the original documents. The following is the order in which those that grew up were born: (1) Michael Egolff, 2d, was born at Engstadt, on the 2d of October, 1727. (2) Balthaser Egolff, 2d, was born at Engstadt, on the 8th of May, 1729. (3) John Egolff, 2d, was born at Engstadt, on the 11th of August, 1732. (4) Mary Egolff, 2d, was born at Engstadt, on the 9th of May, 1738. (5) Martin Egolff, 2d, was born at Engstadt, on the 8th of October, 1742. (6) Anna Elizabeth Egolff, 2d, was born in all probability at Philadelphia on the 15th of October, 1747. * * * *
“During the fall of 1745 Michael Egolff, 1st, conceived the idea of emigrating to the English Province of Pennsylvania in North America with his family. They left their native town of Engstadt, as well as relations and friends, in the month of March or April, 1746, and journeyed to Rotterdam. one of the seaports of Holland; the name of the ship on which they embarked was ‘Mary Gallen’; William Wilson was the name of the captain They must have been on the ocean considerably over one hundred days, for they did not arrive at Philadelphia until about the 20th of September of that year. On the 27th of September, just a few days after they had landed, Michael Egolff, 1st, was qualified as a British subject, which was the custom then according to the laws of Great Britain. They were also going to qualify Michael Egolff, 2d, thinking him to he old enough, but after ascertaining his age, and finding him too young, they abandoned it. (Some of the above information, in regard to their landing in Philadelphia and being qualified as British subjects, can be found in Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. 17, page 225.)
“Of the movements of Michael Egolff, 1st, with his family we have information. His three oldest sons were pretty well grown up when he arrived in this country. According to the traditions in the family, he remained at Philadelphia for some years. Whether he and his wife ever left the city is not known, but his children, or some of them, after having been in the city for some years, pushed up into the country into Lancaster, Berks and Montgomery counties, for it appears there are quite a number of Egolffs, down in that part of the State. So far we have no account that ever any Egolff settled in Cumberland county except Michael Egolff, 2d. What year he came to the county is not known, probably between 1780 and 1785. The name of Egolff can not be found in the archives of Cumberland until 1784 or 1785. It appears that all the Egolffs through Cumberland, Franklin and Perry counties, etc., spring from one branch of the family, namely, that of Michael Egolff, 2d.
“In stating in the above paragraph that Michael Egolff, 2d, was the ancestor of all the Egolffs in this part of the State, it will be understood that Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, was supposed to be one of his sons, although we have no absolute or authentic proof that he was (the matter is being investigated). Should it, however be proved that he was not a son of Michael Egolff, 2d, then the descendants of the Egolff family in this part of the State would spring from two branches, namely, Michael Egolff, 2d, and one of his brothers (2d), whatever one would be proved to have been the father of Grandfather Henry Egolff 3d. The descendants of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d are much more numerous in this part of the State than those of the other branch.
“Now we come to Michael Egolff, 2d, who is the only Egolff we know of that came to Cumberland County. Michael Egolff, 2d, as we have seen, was the oldest son of Michael and Mary Voutsh Egolff, 1st. He was born on the 2d of October, 1727, and was nineteen years of age when his father landed in this country. He had learned the coopering trade with his father. He was married to Elizabeth (her family name is not given), of Dellenburg, in Nassau, on the 14th of January, 1757. It was supposed they were married at Philadelphia. They had ten children, of whom two died in their infancy. There is no record of the births or names of the children, and the following imperfect record of them is from family tradition, with the supposition that he was the father of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3rd: (1) I will begin with Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, who was born in 1759. (2) Joseph Egolff, 3d, who was born on the 16th of November, 1765 (William and Barbara Egolff, 4th children of Joseph Egolff, 3d, who are still living at an advanced age in this year of grace 1890, say that they think their father was born in Philadelphia; if it will be proved that Michael Egolff, 2d was the father of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d; then there is no doubt that he also was born there, as he was born six years before his supposed brother Joseph). (3) Jacob Egolff, 3d (it is not known when he was born). (4) Michael Egolff, 3d (it is not know when he was born). (5) Polly (or Mary) Egolff, 3d (it is not known when she was born).
“In the above we have five of the eight children of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff, 2d, accounted for; the investigation mentioned, if successful, will probably bring the other three to light. With this I will close with Michael Egolff, 2d. His wife Elizabeth died at Carlisle in 1795, and he died on Wednesday, April 9th, 1817, at the very advanced age of ninety years, having been born on the 24 of October, 1727. They are both buried at the old graveyard at Carlisle.
“I will now begin with the third generation, which brings us a little nearer home. I will take them up in regular order, and give such information as is at my command concerning them, and will close with Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, and his family.
“Polly (or Mary) Egolff, 3d, a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff, 2d: Concerning her and her descendants I know but very little. Her marriage to Thomas Mattheson on the 3d of July, 1795, is recorded at the parsonage of the First Presbyterian Church at Carlisle. They had some children. He was a nephew of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d. I was informed that the descendants of the Matthesons were numerous, some of them living north of Carlisle, some in Perry County, and others farther west.
“Joseph Egolff, 3d, son of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff, 2d: Of him I knew but little or nothing. I do not know whether he was older or younger than Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d. I do not know when or where he was born. All I know concerning him is that he was never married and that he made his home with the Goshert family, and that he died at their house about 1837 or 1838 (the home of the Goshert family was three or four miles north of St. Thomas, Franklin Co., Pa.). I do not know what age he was. He is buried at the Southern graveyard at St. Thomas.
Michael Egolff, 3d: He is supposed to have been a son of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff, 2d, but when and where he was born is not known, nor do I know whether he was a mechanic or a farmer. He had a family. I only know from family tradition that he lived and died near Mercersburg. Do not know what became of his family after his death. We have accounts of what might be supposed to be two Michael Egolffs, 3d. They were no doubt one and the same person. In the history Cumberland and Adams counties, printed in 1886 (second part pages 101 and 102), it is stated that among the members of one of the companies that went from Carlisle to assist in subduing the Whiskey Insurrection in the western part of the State, in 1794, were Joseph and Michael Egolff; they were supposed to have been brothers. The Michael Egolff, 3d, referred to above, in or near Mercersburg, Franklin Co., Pa., where he died prior to 1832, was a brother of Henry Egolff, 3d, and is supposed to have been the same Michael Egolff, 3d, that was in service during the Whiskey Insurrection. The investigation referred to will probably throw the desired light on this subject.
“Joseph Egolff, 3d, a son of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff, 2nd, is supposed to have been born (at Philadelphia) on the 10th of November, 1765. He was a saddler by trade. It is not known when he came to Carlisle, but it is quite likely that he came there with his parents about 1780 or 1785. He carried on his trade in Carlisle for many years. He was married twice. The family name of his first wife was Catherine Roads. It is not known what year he was married the first time. They had two children, a son and a daughter; the daughter died in her infancy, the son’s name was John, 4th. He died at Harrisburg on the 5th of November, 1834, and was buried at Carlisle. At the time of the Whiskey Insurrection in the western part of the State, in 1794, as we have seen above, he was in that service with one of the Carlisle companies; they were only in service about two months, from the 1st of October to the 5th of December, of the same year, on which date they were discharged. [Refer to the History of Cumberland and Adams counties, as requested above.
“Whether Joseph Egolff, 3d, was single, married or a widower when he entered the service at the time of the Whiskey Insurrection is not known to the writer. He was married the second time to Miss Barbara Loose, on the 12th of September, 1810. By this marriage, so far as my information goes, there were five children, three sons and two daughters; the names of these children are Michael, William, Joseph, Elizabeth and Barbara. I will now give short sketches of the children of Joseph and Barbara Loose Egolff, 3d.
“(1) Michael Egolff, 4th, was the oldest of Joseph and Barbara Egolffs family. He was born at Carlisle in 1811. When, in 1832, he became of age, he engaged in the mercantile business in his native town, in which he, however, only continued until July, 1833, when he discontinued the business. He was married to Miss Mary McManus, a daughter of Carmack McManus, on March the 23d, 1835, by the Rev. Mr. Ulrich. Carmack McManus was one of the prominent members of the Catholic Church at Carlisle; his daughter Mary could not have been a Catholic as the Rev. Mr. Ulrich was the Lutheran minister at Carlisle. Michael Egolff, 4th, resides at Albany, N Y, where he has resided for many years. I am not able to say what year he left Carlisle. His descendants are quite numerous there, in children, 5th, grandchildren, 6th, and great-grandchildren, 7th. He is still in the enjoyment of good health in this year of grace 1896, at the advanced age of eighty-five years.
“(2) Joseph Egolff, 4th, is probably next in age to his brother Michael. I am not able to say what he follows. He was married in the month of June, 1837, to Susana Mickey, of Perry county. He resides at Reading, where he has a family of children, 5th, and grandchildren, 6th.
“(3) William Egolff, 4th, was born at Carlisle in 1819. He has resided at Carlisle all his life. He resides with his sister Barbara. They keep a private boarding house. William Egolff is now, in this year of grace 1896, seventy-eight years of age. He is quite feeble, but is able to be about. He was never married.
“(4) Miss Barbara Egolff, 4th, was born at Carlisle, where she has resided all the time, as stated above. She and her brother William reside together. She was never married. She is a very pleasant conversationalist and enjoys very good health for a lady that is past seventy-two years of age.
“(5) Miss Elizabeth Egolff; 4th: Of her I can say but very little. She died a few years ago and is buried at the old graveyard at Carlisle. She was never married.
“Joseph Egolff was in very comfortable circumstances, and was very much respected among his fellow citizens. He owned several properties in the town of Carlisle. In the month of March, 1826, he was nominated for town council and held other responsible places of truSt. His second wife died in 1845 and he having a partial stroke was confined to the house for four or five years, when in 1850 he followed his wife to the grave at the advanced age of eighty-five years. They are both buried at the old graveyard at Carlisle. With this I will conclude the history of Joseph Egolff, and his family.
“To all those who are lineal descendants of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, the following will be the most interesting part of this investigation and history, namely, the biographical sketch of himself and his family.
“Henry Egolff, 3d, was a son of Michael and Elizabeth Egolff. His birthplace is no doubt Philadelphia, where he was born about the year 1759. We have seen that Joseph Egolff, 3d, a brother of his, was born in 1765, at Philadelphia also; and as Henry was six years older than his brother Joseph there is scarcely any doubt but he was born at Philadelphia. Of his early life we have little or no information. We do not know whether he had learned the trade of his father, namely, that of a cooper, or learned some other trade; or whether he followed the business that we find him employed in during the most active part of his life, namely, that of a farmer and teamster. We are informed through family tradition that his father, although a cooper by trade, followed farming. It is quite likely that he was with his father on the farm until he got married. We have no means of knowing where his father was engaged in farming, whether in one of the lower counties of the State or near Carlisle. We first come across Henry’s name on the military roll of the Pennsylvania volunteers who had enlisted to free the thirteen colonies in North America from the tyrannical yoke of Great Britain. Whether his father still resided at Philadelphia at the time of his enlistment or had gone to one of the neighboring counties west of Philadelphia we do not know. We know from public documents of the State archives that he was still in the service of the government on the 1st of January, 1781. He was among the number who received depreciation pay. They were determined that they should receive what they had been promised, dollar for dollar, and not with money that they could only pass for forty or fifty cents on the dollar. He also received a pension by the general as well as by the State government. The official information in regard to Grandfather Henry Egolff and his confreres in the service during the Revolution will be found in Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. 13, page 64.
“About two years after peace was declared, namely, in 1785, we find his name in the archives of Cumberland county. After the war of independence he returned to his home, to enjoy the fruits of his valor. He had bought about six acres of land from James Duncan. The land was not far from the town of Carlisle. The old homestead where he lived with his wife is on the Walnut Bottom road, something less than a mile from town. The old log house, which was afterward weather-boarded, was torn down a few years ago and replaced by a brick house. He was at this time about twenty-six years of age and in all probability single yet. His father, Michael Egolff, 2d, had no doubt now come to Cumberland County, if not with all at least with some of his children.
“It is not known what year he was married. What is to be regretted the most is that we have no information at all respecting his wife. We do not know her family nor her Christian name. Their oldest child, Valentine, was born in 1790. We May reasonably suppose that they were married sometime in the year 1789.
“From the conversations that I can remember by Mother Green, he lived with his family on the little farm he had bought near town, where it is supposed he went soon after they were married. He farmed in the summer; during the winter he would be engaged in teaming from Baltimore or Philadelphia to Carlisle and other neighboring towns, and later on, when the turnpikes were made westward, he sometimes went as far as Pittsburgh.
“They had eight children, two sons and six daughters. There are only two or three of them the date of whose birth I know very near, the rest I must put down promiscuously. The names of the children are as follows: Valentine Egolff, 4th, was born in 1790, at Carlisle (died in 1832); Mary Egolff, 4th, was born near Carlisle; in 1793; Henry Egolff, 4th, was born near Carlisle (date of birth not known); Genevieve Egolff, 4th, was born near Carlisle (date of birth not known); Catherine Egolff, 4th, Sarah Egolff, 4th, Jane Egolff, 4th, were born near Carlisle (dates of birth not known); Malinda Egolff, 4th, is supposed to have been born in 1808, near Carlisle.
“I will now give some short biographical sketches of the above mentioned children and their respective families, as well as I am able, and then resume and finish the biographical sketch of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, himself.
“Valentine Egolff, 4th, the oldest child of Henry Egolff, 3d, and his wife, was born on the little farm of his parents near Carlisle in 1790. I am not able to say whether he had any trade or not. He was a farmer. It is stated that he married young. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Martin in 1803. She came to America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1800 A. D., settled in Carlisle, Pa. Her father’s name was David Martin. Mother’s name Elizabeth McCollough. They had six children; three sons and three daughters; their names were as follows: Rebecca, 5th, Samuel, 5th, Elizabeth, 5th, David, 5th, John, 5th, and Catherine Styles, 5th. (1) Rebecca Egolff 5th, was married on the 18th of December, 1838, to Daniel Bailey; Daniel and Rebecca (Egolff, 5th) Bailey were the parents of David Bailey, 6th. David is about fifty-five or fifty-six years of age. He is a widower and has four children (7th) living, two sons and two daughters. They are all grown up. David is an ardent member of the G.A.R. and I think is holding some distinguished office in the organization. He lost an arm in the Civil war. He seems to be very comfortably fixed at Carlisle. I cannot say whether David Bailey, 6th, has any brothers or sisters or not. (2) Samuel Egolff, 5th, son of Valentine Egolff, 4th, was never married. He was of a rather roving disposition. I am not able to say whether he had a trade or not. He was the owner of five teams which traded between Carlisle and Philadelphia, Baltimore and Pittsburg. I saw his name enrolled on an old list of the Union Fire Company at Carlisle. He died and was buried at Battle Mountain, Nev., about the year 1890. (3) Elizabeth Egolff, 5th, daughter of Valentine and Elizabeth (Martin) Egolff, 4th, was born at Carlisle in May, 1821. She was married to David Snyder at Carlisle, Pa., in October, 1840.” They have descendants as follows: Sarah Egolff Snyder (6th); born in August 1841, died in January, 1856, at Carlisle, unmarried. Rachel Snyder (6th), born Oct. 13, 1843, still living in this year (1911), married first Lieut. Harrison Fostick, U. S. A., who was born in 1833 and died in August 1866, at Washington, D.C. (he was buried in the Ashland cemetery at Carlisle); her second marriage, which took place at Carlisle Jan. 9, 1872, was to Lewis Bosh, who died at Chambersburg, Pa., Aug. 9, 1872, and is buried in the Ashland cemetery at Carlisle. Rebecca Snyder (6th), born at Carlisle in August, 1845, died at Carlisle and is buried there; she married Henry Kaufman, commissary sergeant, U. S. A., who is still living (1911), and of this union two children were born, of whom Charles William (7th), born May 23, 1863, now foreman in the Linder shoe factory at Carlisle, married Sarah Speck, of Carlisle, in November, 1890; they have no children. Jesse H. Snyder (6th), born Nov. 25, 1849, a farmer near Carlisle in this year of grace (1911) married Laura Gosh, of Carlisle, Pa., and had eight children, 7th, all born at Carlisle, namely: Harrison Fostick, Lewis Bosh, Mary May (Mrs. Fleegal born in March, 1876), Elizabeth Egolff (Mrs. Garret), Rachel Armstrong (born March 1, 1884), John Stotts (born July 29, 1888), Jessie Yates (born in November, 1891), and Charles Kaufman (born April 9, 1894). “(4) David Egolff, 5th, son of Valentine and Elizabeth (Martin) Egolff, 4th, was born at Carlisle. He was a saddler and harness-maker. He had learned his trade with his granduncle, Joseph Egolff, 3d. His name is also on the same firemen’s roll that his brother Samuel’s is on. I also saw his name among a list of jurymen of Cumberland county. He went to Illinois some time early in the forties and was married there to Mary Madden, of Galena, Ill. No children. He was postmaster at Galena, Illinois, for some time, but when the California gold fever broke out in 1848 he could not resist the temptation and accordingly in 1849 he left Galena for California with his family, where he died in 1869, at Oleta, Cal. (5) John Egolff, 5th, son of Valentine and Elizabeth (Martin) Egolff, 4th, was born at Carlisle, where he resided all his life. I am not able to say whether he had a trade or not. He married Elizabeth Sparr at Carlisle about 1850. They had a large family of children (6th) and grandchildren (7th). His son Cirus lives in the same log house in which his grandfather, Valentine Egolff, 4th, lived and died. The house is still in a very good state of preservation and promises to stand for many years yet. John Egolff, 5th, died in 1880; do not know what his age was. Cannot say whether his wife is still living in this year of grace, 1896, or not. They had ten children. (6) Catherine Styles Egolff, 5th, a daughter of Valentine and Elizabeth (Martin) Egolff, 4th, was born at Carlisle Dec. 25, 1825; died at Shamokin, Pa., Oct. 20, 1890. She was married Oct. 18, 1845, at Carlisle, Pa., by Rev. Father P. Maher, Catholic Rector, to John A. Snyder, a brother of David Snyder, who is married to her sister Elizabeth. They have descendants as follows: Mary G. Snyder May (6th), born July 19, 1846, at Carlisle; Samuel Egolff Snyder (6th), born Jan. 3, 1848, at Carlisle; Edw. Helfenstine Snyder (6th), born Sept. 6, 1850, at Carlisle; Martin McCullough Snyder (6th), born Jan. 29, 1854; John Patrick Snyder (6th), born June 15, 1858, at Shamokin; James Harrison Snyder (6th), born May 3, 1862 (died Feb. 16, 1864); George Britten Snyder (6th), born Sept. 24, 1864 (died July 14, 1891, at Shamokin). Of this family, Mary G. Snyder, the eldest daughter, married Maj. James May.
“Valentine Egolff, 4th, had considerable financial difficulties during his life. He died at Carlisle of the smallpox on the 10th of December, 1832, at the age of forty-two years (ten days before the death of his brother-in-law, Edward Green). He is buried at the old graveyard at Carlisle. I am not able to say when his wife died. With this closes the biographical sketch of Valentine Egolff, 4th, including his children as well as some of his grandchildren, and also some of his great-grandchildren down to the seventh generation.
“Mary Egolff, 4th: As she is the immediate ancestor of my family on my wife’s side and the biographical sketch of her family and her descendants for several generations will make a long chapter, I will give the sketches of her brothers and sisters first, and then close up with her own.
“Henry Egolff, 4th, was born at his father’s home at Carlisle. I cannot say when he was born. He was a cripple from his infancy. I was informed that when he was lying in his cradle a drunken man, an acquaintance of the family, came to the house and stumbling over the cradle, fell heavily on the child, injuring him to such an extent that he was a cripple for life. When he was grown up he got himself a small conveyance with which he would peddle notions through the country. He was never married. After his father broke up housekeeping he made his home with Simon Sholley, at Carlisle, Mrs. Sarah Sholley being Henry’s sister. He died at Carlisle when he was about forty-five years of age and is buried at the old graveyard at Carlisle.
“Genevieve Egolff, 4th, was born at her father’s farm near Carlisle but I am not able to give the date of her birth. She was married to a Mr. Hemwood. I do not know his Christian name. I have been able to get but very little information in Carlisle in regard to this family, with the exception that they were married at Carlisle, had a family and lived there, that some of their descendants were still in the neighborhood. The old folks are no doubt dead.
“Catherine Egolff, 4th, a daughter of Henry Egolff and his wife, was born on her parents’ farm near Carlisle, but I do not know the date of her birth. She was married to Mardicay Duncan, but what year they were married I am not able to say. Mr. Duncan is a shoemaker by trade and lived about two miles north of Loudon, in Path Valley, where he had a small piece of land which he tilled along with his trade. They had three children, two sons and one daughter; their names were, respectively, Alexander (5th), William (5th) and Mary (5th). Alexander Duncan was a millwright by trade; he died suddenly, while a young man unmarried. William Duncan: Do not know whether William had a trade, or not; the last I heard of him he was in Colorado; cannot say whether he was married or single. Mary Duncan was married, but I could not learn the name of her husband nor the time when they were married; after she was married they moved to Michigan. Mr. Duncan was married twice. The above named children were all by his first wife, he had no children by the second wife. I do not know what year his first wife died. When I first got acquainted with him, in 1845, he was married to his second wife and the three children were very near grown up. Mr. Duncan died, I think, in 1878 or 1879. His second wife had died some time before him. I cannot say where he is buried, but I suppose at Loudon.
“Sarah Egolff, 4th, was born at the home of her parents near Carlisle, but I am not able to give the date of her birth. She was married to Simon Sholley, but I cannot say what year they were married. In regard to their children, I do not know how many they had, I can only remember two daughters (5th), who were nearly grown up when I first got acquainted with the family about 1845. Mr. Sholley had a horse and cart or wagon with which he was doing hauling about town. Mrs. Sholley kept what was in those days known as a cake house. She baked different kinds of sweet cakes and made mead and small beer. From my best recollections they left Carlisle for Ohio in the fifties. I was informed by some of the relations after they had gone to Ohio that Mr. and Mrs. Sholley were both dead, without knowing where and when they died, and that none of the relations about Carlisle knew what had become of the children. The above is all the information I could gather in regard to the Sholley family.
“Jane Egolff, 4th, a daughter of Henry Egolff, 3rd, and his wife, was born at the home of her parents near Carlisle, but the date of her birth I do not know. She was married to a Mr. Koup. I do not know his Christian name, nor the date of their marriage. After they were married they resided in Perry County, Pa., where Grandfather Henry Egolff, had, paid them a visit in 1826. They had ten children; I do not know how many sons or how many daughters. I do not know what their names were. They are all dead but two, namely, Henry (5th) and Jeremiah (5th). Another brother, by the name of Jacob, died about four years ago, in 1892. The following is all the information I have in regard to the children of Mr. Koup and Jane Egolff, 4th, his wife: (1) Henry Koup 5th (born no doubt in Perry County, Pa.), in 1810 lives in Pontiac, Livingston Co., Ill. Cannot say whether he is a mechanic or farmer. He has a family there. Do not know what year he went West, nor do I know whether he was married before he went to the West or got his wife out there. I am not able to say how many children they have. (2) Jeremiah Koup, 5th, born (no doubt in Perry Co., Pa.) in 1832, resides at Ducannon, in the same county. I do not know what his occupation is. He is a widower with five children (6th), three sons and two daughters, but I do not know their names, age or occupation (3) Jacob Koup, 5th: Although he is dead, as his wife is living yet I will relate what little I know about him, He was no doubt also born in Perry County, Pa., but I do not know the date of his birth. His wife’s Christian name is Josephine but her family name I do not know. They had 10 children; She resides in Duncannon, Perry Co., Pa., where her husband, Jacob Koup, died in 1892. With this I will have to close the family record of Jane Egolff, 4th, and her husband Mr. Koup. I am sorry that I have not got some information concerning the other seven children of theirs.
“Malinda Egolff, 4th, was the youngest of the family of Henry Egolff, 3d, and his wife, and was probably born in 1808. It is stated in the family traditions that Grandmother Egolff, the wife of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, died in 1809, that several of the children were single yet at the time of her death, and that the youngest (Malinda) was only a few months old; that Mary, the eldest of the girls, who was then a good ‘chunk’ of a girl of about sixteen years of age, had the whole charge of the family on her shoulders. Malinda Egolff, 4th, was married twice. Her first husband’s name was Sipes; could not say what his Christian name was, nor what year she was married to him. I don’t think they had any children. I cannot say what year he died. Some time after the death of her first husband she was married to Jacob Albert. Mr. Albert was a house carpenter; they had five children, that are grown up. I am not able to say whether they had any children that died young. Of the age of their children I am not positive, but think the following order is correct: Barbara (5th), Levi (5th), Jacob (5th), Samuel (5th), and Rebecca (5th). The following is a short biographical sketch of the children and other descendants of Jacob and Malinda (Egolff, 4th) Sipes Albert: (1) Barbara Albert was born at Carlisle; do not know the date of her birth. She was married to Thomas Jameson. Mr. Jameson is a day laborer. They have five children, three sons and two daughters (6th). The three sons are all married and have families; the two daughters are single. (2) Levi Albert was born at Carlisle; do not know what year. Levi is a day laborer. He is married, but I do not know his wife’s family or Christian name; they have two daughters (6th) who are both single. (3) Jacob Albert was born at Carlisle, but I cannot say what year. He is an engineer and works for one of the railroad companies at Carlisle. He is a widower. He was twice married. He has no children, and makes his home with his brother-in-law, Jesse Hayes, who is married to Jacob Albert’s sister Rebecca. (4) Samuel Albert was born at Carlisle (year not known). He is married, but I do not know his wife’s family or Christian name. He has some children (6th), but I cannot say how many, nor do I know what he follows. (5) Rebecca Albert, the youngest of Jacob and Melinda (Egolff, 4th) Sipes Albert’s family, was born at Carlisle, but I do not know the date of her birth. She is married to Jesse Hayes. Her husband is a watchman at one of the factories at Carlisle. They have four children. One died in infancy, two sons and one daughter (6th) surviving. Their names are, respectively, Jacob, Martin and Mary. The two sons are married and have families (7th); the daughter is single. Mrs. Hayes is a very pleasant woman. I have received a good deal of information from her concerning some of our relations. This completes the biographical sketch of the children and other descendants of Jacob and Malinda Albert’s family. * * * Jacob Albert died in the summer of 1879. He had been laid up for some time and was quite feeble. I am not able to say what his age was at the time of his death. His wife died some years before him. They are both buried in the old graveyard at Carlisle.
“Mary Egolff, 4th, was the second child and the oldest daughter of Henry Egolff, 3d, and his wife. She was born at the paternal mansion near Carlisle in 1793. Her parents belonged to the Lutheran denomination, in which faith she was brought up. The early part of her life was passed on her father’s farm, in the pursuit of such work as pertains to the female portion of a farmer’s family, namely, the household affairs, culinary duties and the dairy. Schools were scarce in her young days, particularly in the country, consequently her education was limited; however, she was able to read quite well, but I do not think she could write. She had plenty of mother wit, good common sense and excellent judgment. There were eight children in the family, one of them. her brother Henry; a cripple for life. Her father was engaged in farming during the spring, summer and early fall, and during the winter and early spring he was engaged in wagoning. He would take country produce to Baltimore or Philadelphia and return laden with merchandise of different kinds, for the business men of Carlisle or some of the neighboring towns; and when the turnpike was finished westward he would make a trip once in a while as far as Pittsburg. In 1809 when she was about sixteen years of age she as well as the rest of the family met with a serious loss in the death of her mother. As she was the oldest daughter she was placed at the head of the family and nearly the whole responsibility of the family rested on her shoulders. This was more particularly the case when her father was away with the team. But when the war of 1812 broke out between the United. States and Great Britain her responsibility increased still more, as her father’s patriotism (although he had fought for several years during the war of Independence, and was now past the age of doing military duty) prompted him to go again, and according to the family traditions he was gone almost three years.
“If the traditions of the family are correct, the young Irish distiller Edward Green, who had arrived in the United States in 1811, had formed the acquaintance of Mary Egolff, 4th, and had obtained the consent of her father to their marriage before he left for the army. It is quite likely they were married in 1813 or 1814. She was then about twenty or twenty-one years of age, while her young husband was one year her senior.
“After their marriage she no doubt remained at her father’s home until he returned from the war. She was very conscientious and would not leave the family of her father without it being properly cared for and she thought she could do better herself than anyone else. From information received it would appear that her husband continued working at the distillery after they were married and after her father’s return from the army they commenced housekeeping themselves and lived at or near the distillery where he worked, in Cumberland County, a few miles west of Harrisburg, where it is quite likely they remained until they moved to Chambersburg.
“It has been stated that she was born and raised in the Lutheran faith. After her marriage she became a Catholic, and I think was received into the church by one of the Jesuit fathers from Conewago, who attended the mission at Carlisle. She had become a Catholic before they moved to Chambersburg.
“Edward and Mary (Egolff, 4th) Green had eleven children, four sons and seven daughters; six of them, three sons and three daughters, died while they were young and only five, one son and four daughters, were permitted to grow up. The following are the names of their children and the time of their birth, as near as could be obtained: (1) Edward Green (5th) was born in Cumberland County, about the year 1815; died when small. (2) Sarah Green (5th) was born at Chambersburg on the 5th of June, 1817. (3) Mary Green (5th) was born near Chambersburg in 1819. (4) Margaret Green (5th) was born near Chambersburg in 1821. (5) Susana Green (5th) was probably born near Chambersburg in 1823; died when small. (6) Elizabeth Green (5th) was probably born at Bridgeport, Franklin County, in 1824; died when small. (7) Catherine Green (5th) was born near Bridgeport in 1835. (8) Simon Peter Green (5th) was born near Bridgeport on the 27th of March, 1827. (9) Isabella Green (5th) was born near Bridgeport in 1829; died when small. (10) James Green (5th) was born near Bridgeport in 1830; died when small. (11) John Green (5th) was born near Bridgeport in 1831; died when small.
“Having now finished with the family of Grandfather Henry Egolff, 3d, including all his children and also some descendants of his belonging to generations still further off, I will resume and finish his own biography.
“From the family traditions we have it would seem that he lost his wife in 1809, when some of the children were still small, one of them Malinda only a few months old. He was still living on his little farm and the responsibility of the whole family principally rested on the shoulders of his daughter Mary who was then about sixteen years of age. When in 1812 war broke out between Great Britain and the United States he, being then about fifty-three or fifty-four years of age, and beyond the age of doing military duty, having besides been in the service of the government for several years during the war of Independence, the fire of his patriotism was kindled anew, and although his wife was dead, and having no one as head of the family except his daughter Mary, he shouldered his musket again against the same foe he had fought thirty-six years before with a firm resolve to do as he had done before—not to return until victory had been accomplished. It is stated that he was gone almost three years during the war of 1812-15 and that his duty during that time was principally on the lakes. It is stated in connection with this war that he and his brother Joseph Egolff lost a team laden with flour which was taken near Philadelphia by the government. The driver of the team was a nephew of theirs by the name of Mattheson, a son of their sister Polly Mattheson.
“We have no authentic information when he discontinued farming and probably also housekeeping, but it was no doubt before the year 1826. His youngest daughter, Malinda, was then about eighteen years of age, and although we have no record of the date when any of his children were married we May suppose that all, or nearly all, of them had been married before the year 1826. On page 64, Vol. 13, of the Archives of Pennsylvania, Second Series, it is stated that Henry Egolff resided in Perry County, Pa., in 1826. He had no doubt broken up housekeeping then and was simply staying with his daughter, Jane Koup, who resided with her husband and family in Perry county. It is quite likely that some pension money was sent to him in Perry county and in that way his name got into the State Archives as living in Perry county. He had made his home at the house of his daughter Sarah Sholley, in Carlisle, where his son Henry, the cripple, also made his home, but he would pay periodical visits to his children, as I was informed. He paid his daughter Mary Egolff Green a visit when she lived in Path Valley, in 1833, after the death of her husband. Then he paid her a visit again in 1838, when she lived near Chambersburg.
“He must have been of a very retiring disposition. In perusing some old files of Carlisle papers, beginning with September, 1814, to June, 1839, embracing a period of twenty-five years, I never came across his name a single time. There were a great many meetings published, some political, others 4th of July celebrations, some religious, some social and others business meetings, where in many cases the names of those present at the meeting or gathering were published, but his name never appeared a single time. It is stated that he could never learn to master the English language very well, which might have been a reason for him to absent himself from public gatherings. but during the first half of the present century a great deal of German (Pennsylvania Dutch) was spoken in Cumberland County, and if he was not able to speak the English very plain there is no doubt he had plenty company of that kind, during the time he lived near Carlisle.
“After having reached a good ripe age he died at the house of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Sholley, at Carlisle, on Friday, April 10th, 1840, in the eighty-first year of his age. He was buried on Sunday, April 13th, with military honors. He is buried in the old graveyard at Carlisle, but as there is no tombstone to mark his grave, his grave is not known. With this closes the history of the most important person of the Egolff family up to the time of writing these biographical sketches in the year of grace 1896, namely, that of Henry Egolff, the patriot of two wars, the war of Independence in 1776 and the war of 1812-15, with perhaps one single exception, that of Michael Egolff, 1St. It is not complete in all respects, as I would like to see it, but I have done my best with the material at my command.” ( Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, by J. L. Floyd Published Chicago, Ill., 1911. pg. 148 Transcribed by Tammy L. Clark)

Back to E Index
Back to Index

Back to Northumberland County Main Page