BIO: William Westhafer, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2011.  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 LIX.

                         UPPER ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

572  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  WILLIAM WESTHAFER farmer, P. O. Mechanicsburg, is of German ancestry.  
His grandfather, Abram Westhafer, who settled in Lancaster County about 
1792, was married to Catharine Eschelman, and reared a family:  George, 
Jacob, Peter, Susannah and Rebecca.  Peter Westhafer married Maria 
Baker, a resident of York County, Penn, (where he was then living), and 
who died three years later.  August 20, 1829, he married Annie M. 
Stave.  In 1860 Peter Westhafer and wife came to this county and 
settled near the Chestnut Hill Cemetery, on the Bosler farm.  Their 
children, Jacob, William, (four deceased) Leigh, Lucy A., Catharine, 
John, Edward, Eli, Abraham, Susannah and Maggie, were all born in York 
county.  Of this family William, Lucy, Leigh and Kate live in 
Cumberland County at the present time.  Most of Peter Westhafer's time 
was spent in farming, although he was by trade a shoe-maker; he, also 
kept the National Hotel in Me-

573  UPPER ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

chanicsburg at one time, and afterward owned and operated a dry goods 
and grocery store.  He was considered one of the most enterprising men 
in the county, and always did his share to advance the business and 
social interests of the community.  He died greatly regretted:  his 
widow still resides in Mechanicsburg.  William Westhafer was married, 
in 1861, to Miss Marian, daughter of George A. and Margaret (Ressler) 
Balsley, one of the oldest and most highly respected families of the 
county.  George A. and Margaret Balsley were married February 19, 1833, 
by the Rev. Nicholas Stroh, and were the parents of seven children, 
only three of whom are now living:  Joseph, Mrs. Westhafer and 
Catharine.  Our subject commenced farming for himself in the spring of 
1861, on the old Bosler farm, and from the start has been very 
successful; everything he touched prospered, and his profits 
accumulated until he bought a couple of lots and erected a house at the 
corner of Marble and York streets in 1865.  His next purchase of real 
estate was on the opposite side of the street and a lot of twelve acres 
near Mechanicsburg which he still owns.  In 1878 he moved to the Levi 
Eberly farm, and is now making money as easily as he did in his younger 
days; besides his farm interests he is also an extensive dealer in live 
stock.  To Mr. and Mrs. Westhafer have been born three children:  
George E., born in 1863, and William B. and Grant S. (twins), born 
October 5, 1871.  All are active promising young men, who have received 
a practical education, and are worthy to bear their father's name.  Mr. 
and Mrs. Westhafer have been consistent members of the United Brethren 
Church since 1873.  Politically our subject is a Republican.