BIO: Alexander Underwood, 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.

438  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  ALEXANDER UNDERWOOD, retired, Mechanicsburg, proprietor of Mount Hope 
Magnet Ore Mine, near Dillsburg, York Co. Penn., was born on his 
father's farm in Washington Township, August 16, 1813, son of Amos and 
Lydia (Bales) Underwood, natives of York County, and who had a family 
of eight children - six sons.  Alexander, the second born, when nine 
years old, went to live with a friend of his father, James S. Mitchell, 
ex-congressman from Pennsylvania, and remained with him, attending 
school, until he was sixteen, when he was apprenticed to learn the 
saddle and harness-maker's trade with Stephen Packer at York Springs, 
Adams County.  Three years later he returned home, and assisted his 
father (who was a farmer) until his marriage, November 30, 1837, with 
Miss Matilda Mumper, who was born in Carroll Township, York Co., Penn., 
daughter of Abraham and Mary (Lerew) Mumper, natives of York County.  
After marriage, Mr. Underwood worked at his trade in York Springs, 
Adams County for three years, then located on a farm fourteen miles 
west of Baltimore, Md., where he remained five years; then returned to 
York, York Co., Penn., and engaged at his trade until 1868, when he 
bought 215 acres in Carroll Township, York County, where he has his 
mine.  He employes from twenty-five to thirty men.  He also has a mine 
which he leases to Augustus Longenecker.  Mr. Underwood located in 
Mechanicsburg in 1871.  He owns a fine two-story brick building on Main 
Street, where he resides; a two-story frame residence and store on 
Main, near corner of High; a two-story brick house on Main Street, near 
the female college; three building lots on the corner of Market and 
Keller Streets; 240 acres farm land in Russell County Kas., and 640 
acres in Ida County, Iowa.  Mr. Underwood started without the aid of 
any one, but by hard work, close application to business and honest 
dealing, has made life a success.  His great-grandfather, Alexander 
Underwood, a Quaker preacher, came from England and settled in York 
County, Penn.  Mr. Underwood has in his possession a cannon ball, a 
relic of the Revolution.  He and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church.