BIO:  THOMAS RUDOLPH, 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 796-797
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

 
    THOMAS RUDOLPH, J. P., of Shippensburg, is, perhaps, the oldest man in
  Cumberland county, holding the position of justice of the peace. He was born
  in Philadelphia, Oct. 1, 1814, son of Benjamin P. Rudolph, who was born in
  Darby, Pa., in the vicinity of Philadelphia, in 1781.

    His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and a
  close friend of General Washington. He married Miss Mary Rudolph, and at the 
  close of the war, he engaged in business, and a short time thereafter, was 
  engaged in the navy yard.

    Mr. Rudolph became a manufacturer of writing paper, and thus continued for
  a number of years, his plant being located on Darby Creek. He also had
  another mill on Crumb Creek, and this took the name of the Battle Ax works.
  Still later, he moved to Montgomery county to operate what is known as
  McDowell paper mills, and he was connected with these mills until the time of
  his death which took place in Chester county, Pa., in 1865. The mother of
  Thomas Rudolph was Elizabeth McPeters, born at Darby, Pa., who lived to be
  ninety-four years of age. She was the mother of nine children, all of whom
  lived to maturity, and four still survive, residing in Chester county.

    The school days of Thomas Rudolph were passed in Montgomery county, and
  Philadelphia. Upon leaving school he learned the trade of shoemaker with
  Thomas McGarigle. When he had completed his apprenticeship, Mr. Rudolph went
  to York county, Pa., and there followed his trade for five years. His next
  location was Mt. Holly, Cumberland county, where he started a shoe shop,
  making boots and shoes, and working a force of men. He built up a large
  business and conducted it until 1878, or for a period of thirty-eight years.
  During his residence at Mt. Holly, Mr. Rudolph lost his first wife, and he
  then moved to Shippensburg, where he still resides, having been engaged in
  several lines of business.

    In 1884, Mr. Rudolph married Mrs. Catherine Wingert, of Shippensburg, a
  most estimable lady, widow of David Wingert. By his first wife, who was Miss
  Eliza Engelberger, a native of York county, Mr. Rudolph had the following
  children: Wesley, of Mt. Holly, who is in a paper mill; Charles W., a baker,
  of Mt. Holly; Emma, who married Samuel Gleim, of Craighead Station: Marion
  M., a druggist of Boston, Mass.

    In 1882 Mr. Rudolph was elected justice of the peace, which office he has
  held continuously ever since. For over twenty years he has administered the
  duties of his office judiciously and wisely, and none of his de-

    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  797

  cisions have been reversed. He and his wife attend the Presbyterian Church.
  Their home, surrounded by beautiful grounds, is a very pleasant one, and
  there they make welcome their many friends.