My Genealogy Hound

FREDERICK SEIDLE, one of the leading representatives of the manufacturing interests of Mechanicsburg, Pa., was born in Philadelphia, Oct. 26, 1825, son of Frederick (Sr.) and Magdalena (Bergner) Seidle, both of whom were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. These parents came to Philadelphia in 1825, where the father engaged in a produce business, both in that city and Lancaster until 1836, when he removed to Cumberland county and purchased a farm in Silver Spring township. There he and his wife spent useful lives, and died firm in the faith of the Mennonite Church. Their family was as follows: Conrad, deceased; Frederick; Martha; Anne; Lizzie and Catherine, the latter of whom is the wife of Christian Brenner, of Philadelphia.

Until he was eighteen years of age, our subject remained upon the farm, receiving a limited common school education in Silver Spring township. At the age of nineteen years he came to Mechanicsburg, and served an apprenticeship at the trade of carpenter and cabinetmaker. Although he started out in life with a very small capital, by hard work, good management and honest methods he has made a success of his life. He attended the Paris Exposition in 1878, with exhibits of his manufactured material, and received several gold medals. Mr. Seidle also traveled over France, Germany, England, Belgium, Holland and Switzerland, visiting many carriage and manufacturing establishments, and he took orders enough to keep his business running for over a year. Prior to the Civil war, Mr. Seidle engaged in business with Samuel Eberly, for the purpose of manufacturing wagon material, such as spokes and other articles pertaining to wagon making, and also hay rakes, sash and doors, and all kinds of building material. About this time he took out patents on what is known as the Seidle hay rake, and later made large sales of it throughout the entire West. In 1860, the partners closed their business, and engaged in bridge building for the United States government. After a year Mr. Seidle returned to Mechanicsburg, and engaged in the manufacture of hay rakes until 1865, when he again embarked in the spoke, hub and wheel industry, from time to time enlarging his plant, until he is the leader in his line in this locality, and one of the largest in the United States.

In November, 1850, Mr. Seidle married Miss Elizabeth Stevenson, born in Cumberland county, near Harrisburg, a daughter of David and Leah (Shriner) Stevenson, natives of Pennsylvania. Three children were born to them: Albert E., who married Miss Mary Rodgers, and has one son, Albert; William D., who assists his father in the business; and one child deceased. In February, 1898, Mr. Seidle lost his wife, whom he hourly misses, she having been an unusually charming and cultivated lady. Throughout his business career, Mr. Seidle has made many warm friends as well as congenial business associates, and he is very popular as well as prominent in business and social circles.