BIO: ABRAHAM C. RICH, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 430-431
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    ABRAHAM C. RICH, one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of
  Mechanicsburg Pa., was born Sept. 16, 1852, in Cumberland county, a son of
  John and Rachel (Vankirk) Rich, the former of whom was born in Lancaster
  county, Pa., near Mt. Joy, Feb. 15, 1818.
    
    Christian Rich, the grandfather, was a son of John (in German Johannes)
  Rich, who was born in 1750 in Bavaria, Germany,and came to Baltimore, Md., in
  1773. By profession he was a teacher, and in that capacity he came to York
  county, where he died in 1807. His son, Christian Rich, was born May 7, 1796,
  married Susan Greenewait, and had the following children: John, born, as noted
  above, Feb. 15, 1818, is mentioned below; Ann, born Oct. 18, 1820, married Lot
  Howe; Mary Ellen, born Oct. 19, 1822, married Eli J. Comp; Abraham G., born
  Aug. 20, 1824, married Ellen Devinny; Susan, born Oct. 15, 1828, married
  William R. Slyder; Esther, born Aug. 8, 1830, died young; Christian S. was
  born Nov. 25, 1834.
    
    John Rich, father of Abraham C., was a broom-maker by trade. He married
  Rachel Vankirk, and they had a large family of children. We have record of:
  William H., born Sept. 15, 1844, now of Philadelphia; John W., born Oct. 30,
  1846; Alfred J., who lost his life during the Civil war, at Alexandria, Va.,
  while serving as a member of the 195th P. V. I.; Joseph S., born in 1850;
  Abraham C., of this sketch; Jacob V., born June 2, 1855; Mary, born Aug. 7,
  1857; Rachel, born Feb. 19, 1861; and Sarah E., born in February, 1865. The
  father of this family was a well known and much respected citizen. He
  belonged to the New Mennonites in religious faith.
    
    Abraham C. Rich was reared in and around Mechanicsburg, where he attended
  the public schools and followed farming for a time. Later he established
  himself in Mechanicsburg, where he carried on a broommaking industry for four
  years, and then became the proprietor of the "Mansion Hotel." In 1890 he went
  into the manufacturing of weather stripping, taking out patents in his own
  name, and built up a good business in this line.
    
    On Dec. 12, 1876, Mr. Rich was married to Mrs. Sarah B. (Uhler) Musselman, who

  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.	431
    
  had one daughter by her first marriage, Margaret Musselman, now the widow of
  William Raby, of Waynesboro, Pa.; Mrs. Raby is at present located at Indiana,
  Pa., and is engaged as a trained nurse, having taken a course at Blockley
  Hospital, Philadelphia. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs: Rich,
  namely: Emma May, who lives at home, is a refined, cultured and highly
  educated lady, and a teacher of music by profession, being a graduate in
  music, class of 1896, at Irving College, where she is now one of the Faculty.
  Gertrude Irene graduated from Irving College in the Class of 1899, and on Dec.
  25, 1901, became the wife of William E. Rinehart, of Greensburg, Pa.; they
  have two children, Gertrude A. and William Edward.
    
    In politics Mr. Rich is a Democrat. He is one of the leading members of
  Trinity Lutheran Church. Fraternally he belongs to the Junior O. U. A. M. and
  the Daughters of Liberty and the Shepherds of Bethlehem. He is a very highly
  esteemed citizen, and is at present a member of the city council of
  Mechanicsburg.