BIO: WILLIAM PENN ECKELS, 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 825-826 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ WILLIAM PENN ECKELS was the sixth child of Francis and Isabella (Clendenin) Eckels, as appears from other Eckels history recorded elsewhere in this volume. He was born Aug. 13, 1826, in the northwest part of Silver Spring township, on a property now owned by the estate of the late William Jacobs. He was reared on the farm and his education was limited to the public schools of his day. By the time he was old enough to go to school his father lived upon a large farm on the south side of the Conedoguinet creek, in what was long known as "Coffman's Point," and from there he was sent to his first school, which was located on the north side of the turnpike just east of where it crosses the stream known as the Silver Spring. In 1835 his father moved to a farm he purchased a short distance due north of New Kingston, and he then for several years attended a school located near where was Crider's Mill. After the public school system went into operation a log school house was built on the top of the hill a little to the north and in easy sight of New Kingston, and he then for several years more attended school there. When he reached the age of nineteen, William P. Eckels apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade with Isaac Rhodes, who then lived in the vicinity of New Kingston. On Jan. 2, 1851, soon after completing his trade, he was married to Anna Hartman, of Middlesex, then North Middleton, township. Anna Hartman was born June 9, 1832, and was a daughter of Christian and Anna (Gantz) Hartman, who in 1837 came from the vicinity of Elizabethtown, Lancaster county, and bought from Weirich Bentz the farm in Middlesex township, now owned by their son, Eli Hartman, where they lived the rest of their lives. Christian Hartman died in November, 1877, in the seventy-eighth year of his age; Anna (Gantz) Hartman, his wife, died in November, 1861, aged fifty-five years, and their remains are buried in the Longsdorf graveyard, near New Kingston Station. After his marriage William P. Eckels lived in New Kingston and worked at carpentering and building for a period of about fifteen years. Among the houses he built in that town is the first brick school-house erected in that town, which is still standing and in use for school purposes. In 1860 he bought from James Armstrong a farm adjoining that which his father bought from James Armstrong's father, John Armstrong, in 1835. He then relinquished carpentering and engaged at farming until in 1867, when he made sale of his stock, rented his farm and moved to a smaller home on the hill a little way to the northeast of New Kingston. Here he lived until in the spring of 1876, when he resumed farming, and continued at it until 1880, when he again sold off his stock and finally retired from farming. He then moved to New Kingston where he has been living comfortably and contented ever since. To William P. and Anna (Hartman) Eckels three children were born, viz.: Emma Catharine, Samuel Edgar and Mary Elizabeth. Emma C. was born Feb. 1, 1852, in the town of New Kingston. She re- 826 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. ceived a good common school education, and a course at the Lutherville Female Seminary, Baltimore county, Md., which prepared her for teaching. On May 21, 1878, at her home, she was married to William Henry Kapp, a son of William G. and Mary F. (Voglesong) Kapp, who was born Nov. 22, 1853, near Hogestown, in Silver Spring township. His ancestors came to Cumberland county from Lebanon about the beginning of the last century. After his marriage William H. Kapp engaged at farming in Monroe township and continued at that business until his death, which occurred May 29, 1886. He left a host of friends to mourn his early death. After the death of her husband Mrs. Kapp removed to New Kingston, where she has since lived and reared and educated her children. Early in life they became Christians. To William H. and Emma C. (Eckels) Kapp came the following children: Arthur Howard, born March 30, 1879; Edith May; William Henry, and George Eckels. Arthur Howard Kapp married Arletta M. Fleming, who formerly was of the vicinity of Shippensburg. They at present reside in Harrisburg, where. Mr. Kapp is working in the Pennsylvania railroad car shops. They have one child, a daughter, named Alfaretta Emma E., born June 11, 1902. Edith May Kapp was born Jan. 26, 1881, was educated in the public schools of New Kingston, and afterward took a course at the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, from which institution she graduated in 1902. Since her graduation she is engaged at teaching and is now teacher of one of the schools of Silver Spring township. She received her master diploma in June, 1904. William Henry Kapp was born July 17, 1883, and was educated in the public schools. He was trained to the avocation of farming, but more recently turned his attention to the drug business. and spent the greater part of the past year as a clerk in a Philadelphia drug store. George Eckels Kapp, the youngest child, was born Aug. 31, 1885. He was educated in the public schools of New Kingston and in the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, from which he graduated in 1904. He is now teaching the grammar school in the town of High Spire, Dauphin county. Samuel Edgar Eckels, is the second child of William P. and Anna (Hartman) Eckels. He was born Oct. 1, 1855, and married Ellen Elmira Cornman, daughter of Ephraim Cornman, of Middlesex township. Since his marriage he has been engaged at farming, excepting several years during which he had a general store at Hockersville, Penn township. At present he is farming the Eckels homestead, the farm which his father purchased from James Armstrong in 1860, about a mile north from New Kingston. He is an intelligent and worthy citizen and has made creditable progress in his avocation and business. Samuel E. and Ellen E. (Cornman) Eckels have issue as follows: Mabel Bell, born Nov. 3, 1880; William Edgar Penn, born Oct. 28, 1882; Nina Tirza, born Jan. 21, 1886; Cleveland Cornman, born March 5, 1889, and Anna Sheaffer, born May 11, 1897. Mary Elizabeth, the youngest child of William P. and Anna (Hartman) Eckels, was born May 25, 1857, and married Lewis C. Otto, of South Middleton township, by whom she has had children as follows: Anna Cecil, born April 20, 1888; Lulu Catharine, born Oct. 27, 1891, and Earl B., born Oct. 27, 1893. The last named died when about two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Otto reside at Boiling Springs, in which vicinity the Otto family have long been prominent and highly esteemed people.