BIO:  John PICKING, East Berlin, 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, Pages 437-438

JOHN PICKING, P.O. East Berlin, was born September 3, 1806, and is the oldest 
native now living in East Berlin.  His education was obtained in the schools of 
his native village, and after his father removed to Westmoreland County he was a 
teacher for a number of years in the “church schoolhouse” and also in the brick 
house now the residence of Adam Wolf.  He was appointed by Gov. Wolf in 1832 
clerk of quarter sessions, oyer and terminer; remained at Gettysburg until his 
term expired, and in 1838-39 was elected first justice of the peace in East 
Berlin, to which village he had removed.  He was re-elected at the close of his 
term, but in consequence of an election in 1848 to the office of prothonotary,
he returned to Gettysburg.  In 1854 he was re-elected prothonotary, and in 1858 
was elected transcribing clerk in the House of Representatives at Harrisburg, 
and re-elected in 1859 to the same position.  He purchased the property built by 
his father in 1860, and resided ten years in the old mansion; then, in company 
with his only child, Franklin B., he opened a clothing store in Gettysburg, 
which was discontinued in 1873, the death of Franklin B. occurring that year.  
Mr. Picking then returned to the place of his birth, where he has since led a 
retired life.  Having served his State and county frequently and well, his name 
carries honor with it, to which he is justly due.  The death of his wife 
occurred April 2, 1880.  Mr. Picking is now over four score, and is hale and 
social.  His father, Henry Picking, was born in Washington Township, York Co., 
Penn., April 26, 1774, a son of John and Justina (Fox) Picking; came to this 
county and married, about 1802 or 1803, Sarah, daughter of John Hildebrand, Sr., 
who lived across the Conowago, and was the proprietor of the tannery which had 
been for many years in his possession.  Henry and his young wife came to East 
Berlin soon after their marriage, and he opened a general store in the house now 
occupied by William S. Hildebrand; later he erected a new store, now the 
property of Mrs. P. B. Kauffman, where he continued business until 1823.  In 
February, 1826, he moved to Westmoreland County, Penn., and next went into the 
hotel business.  In 1832 or 1833 he moved from Westmoreland County to the foot 
of Laurel Hill, Somerset Co., Penn., where his death occurred in December, 1841.  
His widow survived him twenty-seven years, and was buried in Somerset Cemetery.  
They were the parents of seven children: six sons, Samuel, John, Henry, Jacob, 
Barnet and William, were born here, and one daughter, Sarah, in Westmoreland 
County, Penn.