BIO: Samuel Crist, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ ______________________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER LIX. UPPER ALLEN TOWNSHIP. 566 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: SAMUEL CRIST, farmer, P. O. Shepherdstown. The voluminous family history of the talented Judge Michael Cocklin will be found elsewhere in the series of biographical sketches, and to avoid repetition mention is not here made of it in this connection, except in so far as it may relate to his daughter Sarah E., the wife of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Samuel Christ was born in Holtswamp, Adams Co., Penn., May 5, 1825. His parents, John and Eve (Strayer) Crist, were natives of that county, the mother being born near Dover. The father was for many years a mason, and numerous houses and barns in Adams County yet remain as monuments of his skill. The children of John and Eve Crist were ten in number: Andrew, Elizabeth, Sarah, Henry, Leigh, Lydia, Samuel, Catharine, Susan and John. Our subject learned the trades of mason and plasterer of his father, with whom he worked until 1855. In 1851 he was married to Henrietta C., daughter of Dr. Joseph Bauman, of Ephratah, Lancaster Co., Penn., who for many years was both clerk and physician at the Pine Grove Smelting Works, being well known in Lancaster and Cumberland Counties. By this marriage Mr. Crist was father of five children, all now deceased: Elmira L., Annie M., Joseph M., Samuel and Clarence May. The death of Mrs. Crist occurred March 25, 1863. In 1866 Mr. Crist came to Mechanicsburg, and for one year engaged in the retail grocery trade. February 17, 1867, our subject married Sarah E. Cocklin, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. John Ault, at the Reformed Church in Mechanicsburg. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Crist went to the home farm of Judge Cocklin in this township, and here Mr. Crist was duly installed as a farmer. Judge Cocklin and his wife were living a retired life on the Spring Dale farm, and the paternal roof since then has given them shelter. There the children, Andrew M., Caroline E., Henry D. and Ida M. were born. Mr. Crist has for forty years been an active member of the Reformed Church, serving it in various official capacities. He was also engaged in teaching for eighteen consecutive years, and has for six years served on the school board, and at different dates has served as assistant assessor in his township. October 16, 1862, Mr. Crist was drafted and served for nine months in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty- sixth Pennsylvania Militia, doing duty at Suffolk, Va., and though he engaged in numerous skirmishes escaped the dangers of the most memorable battles of the war. Our subject is one of the pioneer Grangers in this county, and is now a member of Monroe Grange, No. 362.