BIO: Frederick Seidle, 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 XXXIX. 

                        BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

433  BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

  FREDERICK SEIDLE, proprietor of F. Seidle's Wheel, Spoke and Bending 
Works, Mechanicsburg, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., October 16, 
1825, son of Frederick and Magdalena (Bergner) Seidle, natives of 
Wurtemburg, Germany, who came to Philadelphia in 1825.  Frederick 
Seidle, Sr., engaged in the produce business in Philadelphia and 
Lancaster until 1836, when he purchased the old farm in Silver Spring 
Township, Cumberland Co., Penn.  He and his wife were members of the 
Mennonite Church; they had two sons and four daughters.  Frederick, 
Jr., the eldest son and second child, remained on the farm until he was 
eighteen, when he came to Mechanicsburg and served an apprenticeship at 
the carpenter's and cabinet-maker's trade.  He was married, in 
November, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth Stevenson, born in this county, near 
Harrisburg, daughter of David and Leah (Shriner) Stevenson, natives of 
Pennsylvania.  Mr. and Mrs. Seidle attend

434  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

the Presbyterian Church.  They had three children, two living:  Albert 
E., married to Miss Marie Rogers, and William D.  They assist their 
father in the management of his business.  Mr. Frederick Seidle's life 
has been one of activity and toil.  He started with a very small 
capital, but by hard work, good management and honest dealing has made 
life a success.  He attended the Paris Exposition, receiving the Paris 
medal, and traveled over France, Germany, England, Belgium, Holland, 
Switzerland, visiting many carriage manufacturing establishments, and 
took enough orders to keep his manufactory running over a year.  In 
partnership with Mr. Samuel Eberly he engaged in the building business 
with all its kindred branches and established the spoke and bending 
business, where he also carried on the manufacture of the Seidle & 
Eberly hay rake, invented and patented by himself, and which has a 
large sale throughout the entire West.  In 1860 they closed their 
business and engaged as bridge builders for the Government.  After a 
year Mr. Seidle returned to Mechanicsburg and resumed the hay-rake 
business until 1865, when he re-entered the spoke and bending industry, 
which has since grown to its present great proportions.