BIO: JOSEPH BRICKER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 418-419
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    JOSEPH BRICKER, a retired farmer of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Pa.,
  now in the United States Mail service, R. F. D., No. 5, Star system, was born
  Feb. 3, 1847, son of Peter Bricker.
    
    The Bricker family is of German extraction, formerly a large and prolific
  one, and many of them rest in the old cemetery in Hampden township. David
  Bricker, who married a Miss Erb, emigrated to this country in 1725, and
  settled in Lancaster county. Jacob Bricker, the grandfather of Joseph
  Bricker, married Elizabeth Frye, a native of Lancaster county.
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.	419
    
    Peter Bricker, father of our subject, was born in 1802, in Lancaster
  county, and accompanied his parents to Cumberland county in 1808, when they
  located in Silver Spring township. His father, Jacob Bricker, was a miller,
  and operated Bricker's mill for a number of years. Peter Bricker married a
  Miss Butorf and they had the following children, all of whom lived to be
  grown, viz: David; Ellen, a widow; Katherine, deceased; Joseph; John, a
  farmer of Silver Spring township; Levi; Christian; Clara, wife of Jacob
  Myers, of Boiling Springs; and Ellen, deceased. Peter Bricker died Aug. 25,
  1875, and his wife in June, 1862.
    
    Joseph Bricker was reared on his father's farm and attended the local
  schools until he was seventeen years of age. Although then but a mere youth,
  he offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company D, 78th P. V.
  I., under Col. Bonanfine, and was ordered, with the regiment, to Nashville,
  Tenn., participating in the battle at that point and in several others. His
  services continued from September, 1864, to September, 1865, during the
  greater part of which time he was doing guard duty along various railroads.
    
    After his honorable discharge, Mr. Bricker returned to Mechanicsburg, and
  soon after, went to Missouri, where he spent some three years in farming.
  Going north, he farmed a year or two in Minnesota, and also rafted lumber on
  the Mississippi. This life, however, was too strenuous a one, and, in the
  spring of 1871, he returned to Cumberland county, and went to work on his
  father's farm in Silver Spring township. After marriage he settled for five
  years in Hampden township, and then went back to Silver Spring township,
  where he lived until 1897. He owns two farms, one of 100 acres, with good.
  dwelling, baths, sheds and out-buildings, everything being in good shape and
  suitable for farming and stock raising, and one of forty acres adjoining. He
  moved to Mechanicsburg in 1897, renting his farm, and engaged for a year in
  the grocery business. A year later he disposed of this, and bought the
  property in College Park, which he has occupied ever since. In 1901 he became
  a contractor to carry the mail on Rural Route No. 5, and has proven himself a
  very satisfactory official.
    
    In 1873 Mr. Bricker married Clara Sipe, of Silver Spring township, daughter
  of Peter and Caroline (Wilson) Sipe, formerly of York county. Two children
  were born to this union, Peter and Ella. Both Mr. Bricker and his wife are
  members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican.
  Fraternally, he belongs to Mechanicsburg Post, No. 415, G. A. R. Mr. Bricker
  is a man who is very highly esteemed in this city. He has an excellent record
  as a soldier, is a man of means and influence, and is connected with families
  which have done much to develop this part of the country.