My Genealogy Hound

IRA S. EBERLY, one of the well-known business men and representative citizens of Mechanicsburg, a member of the well-known lumber firm of L. F. Eberly Sons, was born Dec. 8, 1847, in Upper Allen township, Cumberland county, son of Levi F. and Eliza (Shuey) Eberly, the latter a daughter of Christian and Magdalena (Mily) Shuey, of Lebanon county.

The Eberly family is of Swiss origin, and its founder in Pennsylvania was Johannas Eberly, who settled in the Pequea Valley, Lebanon county, in 1730. He was the father of a son, John, born about 1745, who, in 1771, married Elizabeth Bricker, of Lancaster county, and they had a family of eight sons and four daughters, namely: Jacob, John, David, Benjamin, Samuel, Henry, Joseph, Peter, Sarah, Elizabeth, Nancy and Mary.

David Eberly, son of John, married Catherine P. Frankenberger, and they had nine children, namely: Levi F., father of Ira S., born in 1818; David, born in 1820; Jacob; Nancy; Mary; Katherine; Sarah; Rebecca and Fannie, all deceased with the exception of David, who resides in Mechanicsburg. The Eberly family became firmly established in Cumberland county in 1791, and its members brought with them the quiet, peaceful ways of the Mennonite Church, in which religious body many of the family have been prominent.

On Oct. 24, 1839, Levi F. Eberly was married to Eliza Shuey, and with his wife removed to Lebanon county where he engaged in farming for several years, when he sold his property there, and removed to a fine farm in Upper Allen township, Cumberland county. In 1859 he came to Mechanicsburg, and established the Eberly Lumber Company, in which business he has been succeeded by his sons. The four sons of Mr. Eberly were: Harrison W., David H., Edward M. and Ira S.

Harrison W., born Nov. 16, 1840, now deceased, was long one of the leading citizens of Mechanicsburg; on May 25, 1863, he married Mary C. Power, of Perry county. David H., born Oct. 14, 1842, married Kate A. Waidley, of Cumberland county. Edward M. Eberly, born April 1, 1845, married Margaret Zacharias, of Cumberland county. Ira S. is the subject of this sketch.

In 1873 Ira S. Eberly married Laura Meloy, daughter of the late James Meloy, of Cumberland county. The three children born to this marriage are: Guy, engaged with his father in the lumber business; and Bessie and Miriam, at home. In politics Mr. Eberly is a Republican. He is a prominent business man, on the directing board of the First National Bank, and one of the city’s sound financial citizens. He is the director and leader of the Singer Band, and belongs to the Washington Fire Company, of Mechanicsburg. He has a host of friends, and is very popular.