BIO: Zacharias Basehore, Cumberland County, PA 

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER XLVIII.

               HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF NEWBURG.

485  HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.

  ZACHARIAS BASEHORE, farmer, P. O. Newburg.  Of the remote ancestry of 
this branch of the Basehore family but little data can be obtained, but 
it is probable that they were natives of Lebanon County, Penn., as 
William, the father of our subject, came from that county.  He was 
married in Cumberland County, Penn., to Susannah Orris, about 1837, and 
had probably been a resident here as early as 1830.  By trade he was a 
shoe-maker, and soon after marriage settled in Lizertsburg, North 
Middleton Township.  His wife was born in this county, a daughter of 
Christopher and Margaret (Bistline) Orris, who for many years were 
residents of Cumberland Valley.  Zacharias, the eldest son, was born in 
1840, and later other children followed, viz.:  Isaac, Maria, and one 
that died in infancy.  In 1849 the death of the father occurred, and in 
1854 the mother was laid to rest in the village cemetery.  The children 
were thus separated - Isaac was taken care of by William Lutman, of 
Perry County; Maria resided with Alexander Corman, of North Middleton 
Township, with whom she found a comfortable home until her marriage 
with George Drawbaugh, a member of one of the old families of this 
county.  Our subject had to earn his own living from the age of nine.  
He was first put in charge of an uncle, Christopher Orris, and two 
years later was indentured to Jacob B. Hoover, who was to find him 
suitable clothing in return for his work, and to give him a good 
freedom suit at the age of fourteen.  When our hero arrived at that age 
he found himself a lusty lad with a suit worth 75 cents on his back, 
not a dollar in his pocket, but with the world before him.  His first 
venture was an engagement to Jacob Nickey for $6 per month; that winter 
he also attended school, and he had previously managed to pick up a 
fair education.  From this date he received better wages, and after his 
marriage commenced farming on his own account.  August 15, 1860, he was 
wedded to Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Julia Christlieb, and a member 
of one of the most important families in Mifflin Township, this county.  
Their domestic life was commenced on the John Ahl farm, in Mifflin 
Township, and four years later Mr. Basehore sold his stock and engaged 
in different lines of trade, rapidly accumulating money until his 
purchase of his present farm in 1879.  The children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Basehore are Mina J., George B. Mc., Sarah E., Laura J., John C., 
Jacob C., Carrie M., Elizabeth and William.  Mina J. is the wife of 
Daniel Mowery, and Sarah E. is the wife of George Laughlin.  The others 
still remain under the paternal roof.  Our subject is a self-made man, 
and is not only one of the wealthy and influential men of the township, 
but is allied to a family which for more than a century has been of 
note and importance in the business and political world.