BIO: Peter Sipe, 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.

435  BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

  PETER SIPE, cooper, proprietor of flour and feed store, corner of 
Chestnut and Simpson Streets, Mechanicsburg, was born in Franklin 
Township, York County, in September, 1829; son of Martin (a cooper) and 
Mary (Freisinger) Sipe, also natives of York County, and parents of 
twelve children, of whom Sarah, Jake, Lydia, Peter, Leah and Maria are 
now living.  Mr. and Mrs. Martin Sipe, were members of the Lutheran 
Church.  The subject of this sketch, who is the third child, was but 
eight or ten years old when his father died, and at that early age 
started out to make his own way in life.  He went to live with Peter 
Wolford, who is now a capitalist in Minneapolis, Minn., and worked with 
him at farming in York and Franklin Counties until he was fourteen 
years old, when he came to Churchtown, this county, and worked on a 
farm for Henry Lutz, four years; then went to work for Hon. William R. 
Gorgas, in Lower Allen Township, and while farming for him was married, 
February 29, 1848, to Miss Caroline Wilson, born in New Cumberland, 
this county, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Warts) Wilson.  After his 
marriage, Mr. Sipe learned the cooper's trade, under George Chapman, at 
Eberly's Mills, Milltown, Lower Allen Township, and there remained 
until 1865, when he moved to Harrisburg, where he worked at his trade 
two or three years, and then removed to Wheeling, W. Va.  One year 
later he went to New Orleans, but after a short time returned to 
Harrisburg, and six months later came to Bryson's Mills, Silver Spring 
Township, this county, and there remained until 1879, when he moved to 
Mechanicsburg, where he has since resided.  He and his wife have had 
seven children, six now living:  Mary, wife of Charles Murdock, a 
machinist, Mechanicsburg; Sarah, wife of John Strasbauch, a butcher, 
Mechanicsburg; Clara, wife of Joseph Bricker, a retired farmer; 
Barbara, wife of Sterling Glace, of Mechanicsburg; Ella, wife of Peter 
Stone, a tailor, of Mechanicsburg; and David L., a cooper, residing 
with his parents.  Wm. Henry Sipe, the oldest son, was killed at Fort 
Harrison, in the late war, in 1863.  Mr. Sipe is a representative of 
one of the oldest families in the State.