BIO: Edward M. Biddle, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
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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 XXXVIII.

                          BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

368  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

  GEN. EDWARD M. BIDDLE, Carlisle, was born in Philadelphia.  He is a 
descendant of William Biddle, who was a friend of William Penn, and one 
of the original proprietors of West Jersey, and who settled in that 
province in 1681, and under various purchases became entitled to 42,916 
2/3 acres of land.  He fixed his residence at what is now known as 
Kinkora, on the bank of the Delaware River, and took up an adjacent 
island of 278 acres, which is still known as Biddle's Island.  William 
Macfunn Biddle, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a great-
great-grandson of the early proprietor, and resided in Philadelphia.  
The mother was Lydia, youngest daughter of Rev. Elihu Spencer, D. D., 
of Trenton, N. J.  She removed to Carlisle in 1827, and built the house 
in which her son, Edward M., still resides.  Mr. Biddle, our subject, 
received a classical education, and graduated at Princeton College, 
with distinction, in the class of 1827.  After graduating he removed 
from Philadelphia to Carlisle, his present residence and here pursued 
the study of law under his brother-in-law, Hon. Charles B. Penrose, and 
in 1830 was admitted to practice in the several courts of Cumberland 
County.  Subsequently he embarked in other business pursuits, and then, 
in connection with a partner, erected the Big Pond Iron Furnace, in 
Cumberland County, and for several years carried on its business.  In 
1836 Mr. Biddle was married to Miss Julia A. Watts, the youngest 
daughter of the late David Watts, Esq., of Carlisle, and sister of Hon. 
Frederick Watts.

369   BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

They have had eight children, six of whom survived:  David W., Charles 
P., Frederick W., Edward W., William M. and Lydia S.  In 1839 Mr. 
Biddle was appointed secretary of the Cumberland Valley Railroad 
Company, and in 1840 was made treasurer and secretary, which position 
he has held continuously to the present time.  In 1858 he was elected 
major-general of the volunteers of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Division, 
composed of the counties of Cumberland, Franklin and Perry.  In 1861, 
upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, he was tendered by Gov. Curtin, 
and accepted, the position of adjutant-general of Pennsylvania, and 
organized for service the earlier Pennsylvania regiments which were put 
into the field.  At the expiration of a year he resigned, his personal 
business requiring his entire attention.