BIO: Jno. Scherich, 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/ ______________________________________________________________________ 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 XXXIX. BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG. 432 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: JNO. SCHERICH, a justice of the peace, fire and life insurance agent, Mechanicsburg, born near Lisburn, this county, April 7, 1812, is a representative of one of the old families of Cumberland County, Penn. He is the only son of Christian and Anna (Spitzer) Scherich, natives of Lancaster County Penn., the former of whom, a farmer, came with his father, Christian Scherich, to this county, when he was young. Jno. Scherich, the eldest of four children, worked on his father's farm near Lisburn until he was sixteen, when he was apprenticed to the carpenter's, cabinet-maker's and painter's trades, at New Cumberland and Shepherdstown, and at twenty years of age had learned his trade; having aptness and energy soon became one of the first mechanics of his day. He then located near Lisburn, where he carried on his trade. He superintended one section of the first railroad bridge across the river at Harrisburg. He quit his trade about 1850, bought a tract of land west of Lisburn, erected commodious brick buildings, and soon became one of the first farmers of the county. In connection with farming he extensively carried on the brick-making business for many years. In 1875 he came to Mechanicsburg and continued in the insurance business, in which he had been engaged for more than forty years. He was married, November 30, 1832, to Miss Rachael Millard, born near Lewisburg, York County, March 14, 1814, daughter of Jonathan and Phoebe (Thornburg) Millard, old settlers of York County. Mr. and Mrs. Scherich have been members of the United Brethren Church for the past forty years. While at Lisburn their home was the home for all Christian workers, always active in the cause of morals and religion. They have seven children living: Christian, a carpenter, but engaged in the agency business at Lisburn, married to Miss Eliza A. Floyd; Ann Jane, wife of Elias Rhiver, a puddler at West Fairview; Jno. Andrew, a farmer near Lisburn married to Miss Margret J. Hickernell; Phoebe Samantha, wife of Geo. Forry, a farmer near Mechanicsburg; Jonathan H. Clay (mar- 433 BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG. ried to Rebecca Kerr), a farmer residing in Clay County, Nebraska; Rachael Ellen, wife of Geo. Levingston, carpenter and farmer, at West Fairview; Winfield Q. (married to Miss Mary A. McClure), a farmer near Churchtown. Mr. Jno. Scherich's great-grandfather, Christian, came from Switzerland and settled in Lancaster County, Penn.; he had two brothers, one of whom settled in Canada, and from these come all the Scherichs in the United States and Canada. The subject of this sketch died March 27, 1886, at the age of seventy-four years, and it can be justly said, that, for enterprise, energy and ability, he was unsurpassed. Not only being a practical mechanic and farmer, but also a close Scripture student, and notwithstanding his great asthmatic affliction, his place was seldom vacant at church or Sabbath-school. He took an active part in the politics of the day, and, with his great memory, could give statistics and could refer to most of the important actions Congress and of the State Legislature for the past fifty years.