Cumberland County PA

Biography of Samuel Brownlee Fisher

Samuel Brownlee Fisher of Parsons, consulting engineer of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company, is one of the eminent railway engineers of America. He had had nearly fifty years of active experience and had been identified with the construction of various railway lines in the West and East. He comes of an old Scotch family of Covenanter stock. On the maternal side his ancestors were the Brownlees, who were Covenanters in Scotland and were exiled because of their religious belief and settled in Pennsylvania. Mr. Fisher’s great-great-grandfather in the maternal line, George Wilie, was a soldier in the Revolutionary … Read more

Biography of William Allison Aikman

Aikman Brothers. As farmers, merchants, lawyers and active citizens the Aikman family have been prominent in Butler County for over forty-five years. The father of the Aikman brothers, lawyers and business men at El Dorado, was the late William A. Aikman, who on coming to Kansas in 1871 took up a homestead in Butler County and contributed his share of the heavy work involved in converting the virgin prairies into fertile farms. He was the father of four sons. Granville P. had long been a lawyer of El Dorado and had been distinguished by long and capable service on the … Read more

Early Exploration and Native Americans

De Soto and his band gave to the Choctaws at Moma Binah and the Chickasaws at Chikasahha their first lesson in the white man’s modus operandi to civilize and Christianize North American Indians; so has the same lesson been continued to be given to that unfortunate people by his white successors from that day to this, all over this continent, but which to them, was as the tones of an alarm-bell at midnight. And one hundred and twenty-three years have passed since our forefathers declared all men of every nationality to be free and equal on the soil of the North … Read more

Biography of Cyrus K. Holliday

Cyrus K. Holliday was one of the founders of Topeka, in which, for many years, he was the largest taxpayer; projected and built the first portion of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; was one of the organizers of the republican party in Kansas, and an all-around promoter of great enterprises. Born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1826, he was educated for the legal profession, but decided in early manhood in favor of a business life. His first venture was the building of a short line of railroad in his native state, in which he accumulated some $20,000, which … Read more

Biography of Eames Dickey

Eames Dickey was born of Irish parents in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1788, came to the northwestern territory with his father’s family in 1798 and settled first in Washington county. When a young man Mr. Dickey was employed as a post rider to carry the mail on horseback, between Marietta and Chillicothe, a distance of about one hundred miles. Between 18o6 and 1814 he was variously engaged in the mail service, sometimes as a sub contractor, but always doing the riding of one hand himself. At that time the mail service in this section was one of great hardship and … Read more

Biography of Martin Mohler, Hon.

Kansas had always been a progressive state. Its history proves that. But progressiveness is a spiritual attitude and by its very nature its material environment is constantly changing. Thus it was as possible for progressiveness to exist and flourish twenty-five or thirty years ago when Kansas was beset by mortgages, whirlwinds and sod houses, as in the present era of comfortable substance and prosperity. Hence it is possible to refer to the late Martin Mohler’s distinction as one of the most progressive secretaries of the State Board of agriculture Kansas ever had without disparaging in any sense the accomplishment of … Read more

Biography of Dr. William Plunkett

Esther, daughter of John Harris, married Dr. William Plunkett, who was born in Ireland of noble family. In personal appearance he is described as of large stature, great muscular development and strength, while an imperious disposition was among his distinguishing mental traits. This is attested by several occurrences in his career which yet retain a place in the traditions of the locality which he afterward lived in Pennsylvania. On one occasion with several boon companions, he was engaged in some hilarious proceedings at an Irish inn. The adjoining room was occupied by an English nobleman, who had a curious and … Read more

William Davis of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

a152 WILLIAM DAVIS: m. Rebecca (?) and settled in Cumberland Co., Pa. Had with other issue (1) James D.: b. 1775; d. 1857; m. Susan McClintock. (A) William: b. 1801; m. Harriet Parr. (a) Elizabeth. (b) James: m. Emma McLaren. (c) Ruth D.: m. Willard Harsh. (d) William: b. 1861; m. Laura Stoody. 1. Paul S.: b. 1892; m. Edith Muncey. (e) John E. (f) Nancy: m. H. Aiken. Lives in Ohio. (2) George: b. 1777; m. Margaret McGuire; mem. of the first board of assoc. in Carroll Co., Ohio, 1832. One dau., Ruth, b. 1802. (3) David: b. 1778; … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Fleming

Charles W. Fleming, editor and proprietor of the Phoenix, one of Riverside’s enterprising journals, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1858. He started in life’s work when about fifteen years of age, as an apprentice in a printing office at Mt. Holly Springs, and served an apprentice-ship of three years. When eighteen years of age he struck out for the great West, locating in Lincoln, Nebraska. He then established himself at his trade, and was engaged with the State Journal Company for some eight years. In 1885 he resumed his westward march, and in April of that year came … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Lee

Henry Lee, proprietor of Summit Heights stock farm, near Battle Creek, Ida County, Iowa, was born near Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1833. He was married November 24, 1863 to Maria Fishburn, the daughter of John and Catherine Fishburn. Henry and Maria had 4 children: Harry F., Kate M., Myra M., and Thomas H. Mr. Lee’s ancestors were natives of the Emerald Isle. His father, Thomas Lee, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., June 22, 1785, died May 21, 1871. Mr. Lee’s father was a soldier in the War of 1812. His mother’s name was Mary Noble, and she … Read more

Waggoner, Mary Ellen (Murphy) – Obituary

Aunt Ellen Waggoner, a dear old lady who numbered her friends by the score, passed away last Saturday forenoon at her home in Odebolt, after a long illness. She had been confined to her home for several years with rheumatism, and later was afflicted with a disease of the kidneys. Funeral services were conducted in the Presbyterian church Monday afternoon by Rev. W. A. Black, pastor of the Methodist church. Mary Ellen Murphy was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1838. December 22, 1857 she was married to Henry Waggoner, and sixteen years later they moved to Cumberland County … Read more

Waggoner, Henry – Obituary

February 28, 1895 Chronicle – Odebolt The many friends of Henry Waggoner, who lived three miles west of Odebolt, were grieved to hear of his death, which occurred about 11:45 on Sunday night. He was taken ill on the preceding Tuesday with pneumonia, and from the first his condition was serious. Mr. Waggoner was one of the kindest and best men we ever knew and we not believe he had an enemy. He was born in Perry County, Pa., Sept. 5, 1834, and resided there until 1873 when he moved to Cumberland County, Pa. He married Miss Ellen M. Murphy … Read more