BIO: Muhlenberg Williams, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  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 XLI.

                         BOROUGH OF NEWVILLE. 

  MUHLENBERG WILLIAMS, attorney, Newville, is a son of John Williams, 
who was born in Middlesex Township (then North Middleton) in May, 1808, 
and who was a son of Henry Williams, of Lebanon County, but who removed 
to North Middleton some years after his marriage.  He had ten children, 
viz.:  Henry, who was married to Elizabeth Zook, and who died in North 
Middleton, leaving no issue; David, who lived all his life on part of 
the old homestead, married and died there; Frederick, who was a farmer, 
inherited a part of the old farm, married Susan Rheem, and died, 
leaving a son, Thomas, who is farming the same place; Rudolph, who is 
now a druggist in Columbia, Penn.; Jacob, who was a cripple, was never 
married, and died on the farm; Thomas, who died before attaining his 
majority; Samuel, who lived on the old homestead, which he afterward 
sold, and then removed to North Middleton, where he died in 1885; 
Catherine, widow of Michael Wise, of North Middleton, and now living in 
Carlisle; Elizabeth, wife of George Hetrich, of Franklin County, where 
she died; and John, the youngest of the family and father of our 
subject, who learned the drug trade and went into business at Newville, 
where he continued a number of years.  He afterward gave this up, and 
bought a farm close to the borough, on which he has since lived.  In 
1832 he was married to Susan R., daughter of George Wise, farmer of 
North Middleton Township, whose connection is very large.  They had 
twelve children, viz.:  David W., who is married to Miss Adeline 
Knettle; Muhlenberg, our subject; Eleanor, unmarried and living with 
her parents; John, who died in infancy; Mary, wife of Jonas D. 
Huntzberger, of Newville; Catherine, wife of George Lehman, of West 
Pennsborough township; Susan R., wife of Samuel E. Heberlig, of West 
Pennsborough Township; Jennie, wife of John D. Brehm, living in Newton 
Township; Martha, wife of David S. De Haven, living in Newville; 
Rudolph, married to Charlotte S. Faber, and living in Newville; 
Lucretia, unmarried, living with her parents:  Maggie N., wife of J. 
Hess, residing in Osborne, Mo.  In his youth, Muhlenberg worked on his 
father's farm in summer, going to school during winter, until twenty-
one years of age, and the last two winters he attended the academy in 
Newville, of which Rev. Robert McCachran was principal.  He then taught 
school three sessions, and studied law in the office of William H. 
Miller, Esq., of Carlisle, where he was admitted to the bar November 
14, 1860, being examined and recommended by Hon. Frederick W. Watts, 
Lemuel Todd and A. B. Sharpe, Esqs.  After he was admitted he began the 
practice of his profession at Newville, where he has remained.  May 23, 
1872, he was married to Miss Lydia E. daughter of William M. Scouller, 
of Mifflin Township, and has five children, viz.:  John, Nellie, 
William Scouller, Lydia Belle and May.  Mr. Williams has been 
identified largely with the politics of his township, borough and 
county.  He has been school director of the township three years, 

456 	BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

and of the borough nine years; auditor three years.  In 1866 he was 
appointed assistant assessor of Division No. 10, of the Fifteenth 
Collection District of Pennsylvania, which office he held during the 
Johnson Administration, and was elected to the Legislature in 1873.  He 
bears the reputation of being a skillful, adroit practitioner, who has 
the interest of his clients very much at heart.  He is rated as one of 
the ablest members of the bar of Cumberland County.