BIO: William SENSEMAN, Cumberland County, PA 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 138-139 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ WILLIAM SENSEMAN, one of the prominent business men of Boiling Springs, Cumberland county, where he has long been engaged as a coal merchant, is of German ancestry, and was born Sept. 20, 1837, in Cumberland county. His great-grandparents were natives of Germany, and, coming to America, settled in Lancaster county, Pa., where his grandfather was born. He was a miller by trade, and followed same near Ephrata, in his native county. His family consisted of the following named children: John, Joseph, William, Samuel, Daniel, Rebecca L. and Hannah. Samuel Senseman, father of William, was born in 1796 in Ephrata, Lancaster county, and in early life learned the carpenter's trade. In 1828 he removed to Cumberland county, buying a farm in Silver Spring township, where he became well and favorably known. He enjoyed the confidence of his fellowmen to an unusual degree, as was shown by the number of estates he was called upon to settle, all of which were wisely administered, every dollar being properly accounted for. He married Miss Elizabeth Haines, like himself a native of Lancaster county, and they became the parents of ten children: Susan, Jeremiah, John, Harriet, Lydia, Samuel, David, Adam, William and Sarah. The parents of this family were members of the Lutheran Church. The father was a Democrat in politics. William Senseman was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. He has made his own way in the world from the age of fourteen years. After attaining his majority he went to Illinois, remaining in that State for three years, and returning to Cumberland county in 1863. In 1878 he commenced the milling business, which he continued for two years; from 1880 to 1884 he dealt in horses in company with A. R. May. In 1884 he again leased the mill, but gave up that branch of his business in 1888, and has since been engaged as a coal dealer. In 1872 he bought the home on Second street, in Boiling Springs, where he has ever since lived. He has become one of the active citizens of that place, and has been chosen a number of times for the offices of school director and township supervisor, His political support is given to the Democratic party. On Nov. 6, 1865, Mr. Senseman was united in marriage with Miss Hettie Shuh, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Landis) Shuh, of Dauphin county; the Shuh family is of German origin. Mrs. Senseman passed away July 30, 1896, at the residence in Boiling Springs, aged forty-nine years, ten months and four days, and was laid to rest in the Churchtown cemetery. She had long been a zealous member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Boiling Springs, and many were the evidences of affection shown at the time of her death, and during the long illness which preceded it. Having no family of her own, Mrs. Senseman devoted herself unsparingly to the welfare of others, and, besides being a great church worker, was noted for CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 139 her benevolences and kindliness. She had a cheerful and winning disposition which endeared to her all who knew her, and looked at the bright side of everything, at the same time doing all in her power to make others do the same. She had charge of the infant department of St. John's Sunday-school, which passed the following resolutions at the time of her death: WHEREAS, It has pleased our Heavenly Father to take from our Sunday school and our church one of our most earnest and devoted teachers, and who as the head of the infant class was ready to sacrifice time, labor and money in their behalf, Therefore, Resolved, That while we deplore the loss of Mrs. Senseman from our midst we yet bow in submission to Him who doeth all things well, knowing that she rests from her labors and her works shall follow her. Resolved, That offering to her bereaved husband our earnest sympathy, we with him will cherish her memory, as one who in all her trials of sickness and pain never forgot her God, her church, or her beloved infant class. Resolved, That a copy of the above be entered upon the minutes and presented to the husband and the Carlisle papers for publication. Mr. and Mrs. Senseman adopted two children, namely: (1) John Cunningham received a good education, and in his early manhood taught Graham's school, in North Middleton township. He is now superintendent of the stores of the Iron Company, at Sparrows Point, Md., with which company he has been connected for ten years, during which, by hard work, he has pushed his way to the front, and become a valued employe; he has traveled considerably through Texas and the West, and for a time resided in Tecumseh, Neb. He married Miss Grace Snyder of Sparrows Point. (2) Sadie Dean was born in Pennsylvania, and is now the wife of Charles Rider, a stock dealer of Monroe township, Cumberland county; they have the following named children: William, Mary, Ethel, Meda, Bertha and Olin, all living. On Sept. 21, 1898, Mr. Senseman married, for his second wife, Miss Agnes C. Sheaffer, who was born in Dickinson township, Cumberland county, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dick) Sheaffer, of Adams county; Mr. Sheaffer was a miller by trade. Both Mr. and Mrs. Senseman hold membership in the Lutheran Church of Boiling Springs, of which he is now serving as elder. He is a most respected man in every relation of life, and holds a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens.