BIO: Martin Guswiler, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  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 XXXVIII.

                          BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

377   BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.
 
  MARTIN GUSWILER, Carlisle, collector of internal revenue for the 
Ninth District, Pennsylvania (residence Mechanicsburg), is a native of 
Cumberland County, born in Mechanicsburg, December 31, 1846, a 
descendant of two of the oldest families of Cumberland County, and of 
the State.  His great-grandfather, John Guswiler, immigrated to America 
from Germany at an early day and settled at Shiremanstown, and his son, 
John, a farmer, was born in Cumberland County; married a Miss Rupp, and 
settled near Shiremanstown.  He had two sons, John and Martin, the 
latter of whom was a physician and married Miss Mary Eberly, to whom 
was born one son, Van, who married a daughter of Judge Fisher, of York 
County.  John Guswiler, father of the subject of our sketch, was a 
coach-builder in Mechanicsburg, and established the present coach and 
carriage works of George Schroeder & sons, of that place.  His death 
occurred in California, in 1849 or 1850, while prospecting.  His wife 
was Miss Elizabeth Singiser, of Mechanicsburg, daughter of George and 
Mary (Halbert) Singiser.  To them were born three sons, two of whom 
died young.  After the death of Mr. Guswiler, the widow married Maj. 
Samuel B. King, of Mechanicsburg, late of the firm of Miller & King, 
manufacturers of sashes and doors.  Our subject, who was about five 
years of age at the time of his father's death, was schooled in the 
place of his nativity, graduating at the high school when nineteen, and 
soon thereafter was engaged in a cigar manufactory in the same place, 
which claimed his attention until 1863.  In that year he enlisted as a 
private in Company D, One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Pennsylvania 
Cavalry, under Capt. Singiser.  He was made sergeant of the company, 
and served with the command until the expiration of his term of service 
in 1864, when he returned to Mechanicsburg and resumed his former 
business, which he followed until 1876, when he was elected register of 
deeds by the people of Cumberland County, carrying his town by over a 
hundred majority, notwithstanding he was a Democrat.  This position he 
retained three years and returned to Mechanicsburg, where he was 
engaged in the wholesale tobacco business until January, 1882, when he 
became deputy sheriff of Cumberland County, under George B. Eyster, and 
served as such until July 4, 1885, when he was appointed collector of 
internal revenue for the Ninth District of Pennsylvania, which position 
he still retains.  Mr. Guswiler was three successive times elected to 
the office of chief burgess of Mechanicsburg, notwithstanding the fact 
that it is Republican; he also held the offices of councilman and judge 
of elections.  His marriage with Miss Eliza M. Allen took place at 
Mechanicsburg, in November, 1865.  She was a native of Newberry, York 
County, a daughter of Michael and Margaret (Eply) Allen, natives of 
York County, and residents of Mechanicsburg (the father a retired shoe 
manufacturer).  To our subject and wife five sons have been born:  
George M., John, Martin, Jr., Frank B. and Mervin.  Mr. Guswiler is an 
active and energetic business man, and has the confi-

378  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

dence and respect of the community at large.  He has been a member of 
the Democratic standing committee of Mechanicsburg since 1866, and was 
in 1879 and 1883 sent as a delegate to the State convention.