My Genealogy Hound

JACOB EICHELBERGER, one of the prominent farmers and respected citizens of Lower Allen township, and a descendant of an old and honorable family of this locality, was born Dec. 20, 1835, in East Pennsboro township, this county, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Spong) Eichelberger, and is of German ancestry.

Jacob Eichelberger, father of our subject, was born in East Pennstoro township, on a farm which adjoined one he later owned. He was a son of well-to-do parents and enjoyed the advantages of a district school education, but was also taught all the practical details of a farmer’s life. He cleared up many acres of timber land and dealt extensively in cattle. In young manhood he married Miss Elizabeth Spong, sister of Joseph Spong, who was the father of Lemuel R. Spong, of West Fairview, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere. Mr. Eichelberger continued to farm up to within ten years of his decease, and then moved to Wormleysburg, where he died in the summer of 1889. His first wife died on the farm many years before and Mr. Eichelberger subsequently married Mrs. Elizabeth Rodabough, who also preceded him to the grave. Our subject’s parents were both devout Lutherans and the father was a liberal contributor to St. John’s Church, at Shiremanstown, to which he willed a large amount at his death. In politics he was a supporter of the Republican party.

The children of Jacob Eichelberger, Sr., by his first marriage, were as follows: Adam (deceased), who married Susan Wormley; Sarah, Mrs. John Rodabough, of East Pennsboro; Jacob, Jr., of this sketch; Mary, Mrs. John Bixler, of Wormsleyburg; Joseph, a farmer of East Pennsboro township, who married (first) Jane Fortney, and (second) Elizabeth Miller; Martin, who married Mrs. Kate Phillips and resides in Sunbury; and Katherine, Mrs. John Kenmore, of Wormleysburg.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Germany and died in East Pennsboro township. His children were as follows: Adam, a farmer, died near Camp Hill; George resided near Hogestown, in this county; John resided near Slate Hill, this county; Jacob became the father of our subject; Jonas is deceased; Mrs. Neilhorner is deceased; Mrs. Fred Sheely is deceased; David married Susanna Sheely and died in East Pennsboro township.

Jacob Eichelberger grew up on the farm and attended what was known as the Bowman district school, his remembered instructors being of this neighborhood, and one of them was the well known Bailey Mateen, a favorite and successful teacher of that time and locality. His father believed in early industry and he was put to farm work young, assisting his father in clearing up many acres of timber and in the cultivation of much land. He remained with his father until his marriage, which took place in 1854, in East Pennsboro township, and was to Miss Susan Rupley, of East Pennsboro township, a daughter of George Rupley, who was a prosperous farmer of that section. After his marriage the father divided the farm between himself and his brother Joseph and generously built the former a home on his half of the 100 acres. Mr. Eichelberger continued here, actively engaged in farming until 1903, and engaged in wholesaling milk for twelve years. Here his first wife died Aug. 12, 1887, a devout member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, of Shiremanstown, and in 1889 he married (second) Miss Annie Danner, who was born near Lewisberry, York county. In her infancy her parents removed to East Pennsboro, where she grew to womanhood, and in Middleton township she went to school to Miss Isabella Benner, now Mrs. J. Zeamer, and later was instructed by Jere Zeamer, in the old oak schoolhouse in North Middleton township. Mrs. Eichelberger was a daughter of Peter G. and Anna (Brady) Danner, both of whom were born and reared in York county. Her father died at the home of his son Lewis C., keeper of the toll-gate at Bridgeport, the mother passing away a few months previously. The children of Peter G. Danner and his wife were as follows: Reuben married Adeline Nisley, and died at New Cumberland in May, 1903; Abraham married Rebecca Hess, and lives at Riverton; Charles died young; Eliza Mary, deceased, was Mrs. Harry Lewis; John, of Riverton, married Rachel Garret; Lewis C., toll-gate keeper and merchant, married Carrie Naylor; Tillie is Mrs. Charles Green, of Steelton; Annie is Mrs. Eichelberger; Clara is Mrs. Benjamin Eichelberger, of Lemoyne; and James, of Allegheny City, married Christina Hostetter. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Eichelberger was Tobias Danner, who married Elizabeth Groff, of German parentage. Her people were wealthy and left a large estate, but owing to lack of legal evidence those most interested have never been able to secure it.

Mr. Eichelberger had the following children by his first marriage: John, deceased, married Hannah Martin; Jacob, of Sparrow’s Point, married Mary Good; Harry, of Wormleysburg, married Kate Lucas; Flora, deceased, was the wife of John Orris; George, of Lemoyne, married Fanny Eshelman; Fanny married J. D. Hipple, of Wormleysburg; Frank, deceased, married Jessie Albright; Milton, of Wormleysburg, married Susan Brown; Benjamin, of Lemoyne, married Clara Danner. The children of the second union are Charles, Walter, Paul, Nestor, Verna, Robert and Lena.