BIO:  John BURKHOLDER, Menallen Township, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 474

JOHN BURKHOLDER, postmaster at Bendersville, was born in Latimore Township, this 
county, May 8, 1811, and is a son of Samuel Burkholder, a son of John, who was a 
native of Germany, and settled in Latimore Township, this county, at a very 
early period.  Samuel was born about 1785, was drafted in the war of 1812, but 
furnished a substitute.  His death occurred in Latimore Township, about 1870.  
His wife, Elizabeth (Troutner) Burkholder, was a native of Latimore Township, of 
German descent, and died shortly after her husband.  Our subject was reared on a 
farm, and at the age of nineteen began as a journeyman in Tyrone Township, this 
county, for one year; then conducted a shop for three years in Franklin 
Township, York County; then in what is now Butler Township, this county, for 
twelve years; then for three years kept what was known as the “Keystone Hotel,” 
the property now being owned by John Reeder; then kept store at what is now 
Center Mills, in Butler Township, and in the spring of 1847 moved to 
Bendersville, where he engaged in merchandising.  In 1859 he sold his business 
to his son, S. A. Burkholder, and George Wilson.  He then engaged extensively in 
the nursery business for twelve years, and in 1871 again entered trade by 
purchasing his son’s interest in the firm of Burkholder & Hoffman.  In 1879, he 
met with some reverses, and closed out his business, and in 1883 again began 
merchandising, which he still continues.  He was appointed, in July, 1885, under 
the Cleveland administration, postmaster at Bendersville.  Since 1876 Mr. 
Burkholder has been a Democrat; prior to that was a Whig and a Republican.  He 
has served the township in several offices of trust and was justice of the peace 
for ten years.  He was formerly a very active worker and influential politician 
in his vicinity, though he does not take so active a part now.  He was married, 
at York Springs, February 27, 1832, to Elizabeth Gardner, a daughter of Adam 
Gardner, of that place.  They have one child, Samuel A. Burkholder, born January 
6, 1833, who resides at Bendersville, and is a commercial traveler for a 
wholesale boot and shoe house, of Worcester, Mass.  He married Elizabeth 
Minnich, a daughter of George Minnich, of Bendersville, and they have two 
children:  Leella and John E.