BIO: Samuel Eberly, 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 XLVII.

                             HAMPDEN TOWNSHIP.

  SAMUEL EBERLY, retired farmer, P. O. Shiremanstown, is a native of 
this county, born near Mechanicsburg in 1820, son of John Eberly who 
came to Hampden Township from Lancaster County, with his father, when a 
young boy.  John Eberly's father bought a farm of 288 acres of land (a 
part of which is now owned by the subject of this sketch), where he 
lived, and on his death his son John inherited that part of the land, 
which, on his (John's) death, was inherited by Samuel, and on which the 
latter has since resided.  In 1843 Samuel Eberly married Susan, 
daughter of Christian Garver.  She died in 1851, leaving one son and 
three daughters, of whom one has since died.  The following year Samuel 
Eberly married Frances, a sister of his first wife, and in this year he 
retired from active farm labors, which he has never resumed.  He built 
for himself, in 1877, a substantial and commodious brick residence on 
the Pittsburgh & Harrisburg Turnpike, which intersects his farm.  The 
house denotes that he is a man of taste and refinement, being much 
superior in appearance and internal arrangement to the majority of the 
houses in the valley.  His family consists of his wife; his son, Simon, 
now forty years of age, who married Ellen, daughter of Samuel Bashore, 
an old settler and near neighbors; Sarah A., wife of John Strong, 
residing on a farm in Silver Spring Township, owned by Mr. Eberly; 
Mary, wife of Benj. F. Zimmerman, who also lives on a farm, owned by 
her father, in Hampden Tp.; these are the children by his first wife, 
as was also Frances, who married J. B. Lindeman (he built a house 
immediately adjoining Mr. Eberly's, and they had just moved into it 
when Mrs. Lindeman died).  By his second wife, who died February 22, 
1886, Mr. Eberly has five daughters:  Elizabeth, wife of Abram A. 
Bowman of Hampden Township; Kate, wedded to Jacob S. Miley, of Silver 
Spring Township; and Ellen, Emma, and Ida, living at home.  Mr. Eberly 
has accumulated large means.  He owns five farms:  The one on which he 
lives contains 176 acres, for which he gave $12,000 to his father's 
estate; one in Silver Spring Township, 126 acres, which cost $10,775; 
one of 128 acres in Hampden Township, for which he gave $14,000; one of 
105 acres, in Silver Spring Township, cost him $18,573; and another in 
Silver Spring Township, costing $18,000.  Besides these, he bought, in 
1869, a farm on the turnpike, of 132 acres, which cost him, including 
improvements, over $30,000 (this latter farm he subsequently deeded to 
his son Simon, for much less consideration).  He has also property of 
other kinds.  Since 1851 he has been largely engaged in the business of 
settling estates, having been administrator, executor, trustee, 
guardian, or agent for no less than fifty-two estates, few of which are 
now unsettled.  He has also written twenty-nine wills, his neighbors 
knowing his sterling worth, good judgment, and strong common sense, 
insisting on him acting for them.  He has written, since 1861, 1,762 
letters, of which he keeps a record.  Mr. Eberly is practically a self-
made man.  Starting in life with scarcely any education, he is a bright 
example of what may be accomplished by rigid adherence to truth, 
justice and right, backed by industry.  First, a poor and comparatively 
uneducated lad, to-day no man in the community stands higher 

481  HAMPDEN TOWNSHIP.

among all classes of people.  That he may long be spared to his family, 
and for the benefit of the people who depend so largely upon his 
family, is the sincere wish of all who know him.