BIO: HARRY S. THOMMAN, 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 393-395 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ HARRY S. THOMMAN, who bears a name familiar among agriculturists in Cumberland county, is a prosperous farmer of Middlesex township, where he is located on a farm formerly owned and operated by his father. His great-grandfather, who was a native of Switzerland, came to America in boyhood, and located in York county, Pennsylvania. Henry Thomman, grandfather of Harry S., was born in York county, where he remained until his marriage. Some years after that important event he moved to Juniata county, where he lived on a farm for a few years, and then purchased a farm in Perry county, near Milford, where he passed the rest of his days. He died there, and is buried in the New Bloomfield cemetery. He married Magdalene Hoffman, of York county. Adam Thomman, son of Henry, was born in York county, and there passed his boyhood. He attended the German schools in his native county, but after the removal of the family to Juniata county he was given the advantage of the English subscription schools. After his marriage he lived three 394 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. years on a rented farm in Lykens Valley, and in 1843 he moved to what is now Middlesex township, there purchasing a farm of 120 acres, mostly cleared land, from the McClintock family, consisting of Robert, Alexander, Abraham and Polly McClintock. This farm was one of the first settled in that section, and was first owned by one Henderson. The original house, a log building, stood until 1854, when Mr. Thomman tore it down and erected the present dwelling. The old log barn was moved farther east and stood until 1901, when the present fine structure, 78 x 46 feet, was erected. Until 1875 Adam Thomman worked industriously in the cultivation of his fine farm, which that year he placed in the hands of his son Harry S., who was to receive half the proceeds for his work. Adam Thomman married Nancy Strickler, who was born near Wrightsville, York county, in 1811, daughter of Christian Strickler, and was reared to womanhood in her native county, but was living with her sister at Milford when she met Mr. Thomman. She died in 1850, and in 1853, for his second wife, Mr. Thomman married Margaret Ziegler, who was born in Adams county, daughter of Martin Ziegler. She died in 1892, in the faith of the Reformed Church. The father passed away in 1886. He, too, was a member of the Reformed Church. His first wife, the mother of his children, was a member of the River Brethren. To Adam and Nancy Thomman were born six children: (1) Magdalene married Philip Ziegler, and died in Harrisburg. (2) Mary married John Bucher, of Carlisle. (3) Susan became the wife of John Gieling, and died in Carlisle. (4) Harry S. is mentioned below. (5) Sarah is Mrs. David Voglesong, of Silver Spring township. (6) John, when of age, learned the milling trade in York county, but later came home, and afterward spent one year in Illinois, going thence to California, where he also spent a year. Failing health caused him to return to Pennsylvania, but after six months he again went to California, and was heard from in Nevada, then from Chili, South America, which latter place he left on account of earthquakes, and he was last heard from in Bolivia, South America. Harry S. Thomman was born in Lykens Valley, Dauphin county, Nov. 7, 1841. His early years were passed on the home farm. His first schooling was received in the old Elliott school, which was built on a part of his father's farm, and he continued at school until he was twenty years old. He has been accustomed to hard work from his early boyhood, and has all his life had a practical knowledge of farming. About 1875 he began farming the home place on shares, this arrangement lasting until 1892, when his stepmother died. At the father's death the farm was left so it could not be sold as long as the widow lived. In 1892 the farm was placed at public sale and Harry S. Thomman bought it. Since it came into his possession he has greatly improved it, and has entirely remodeled the dwelling-house, making of it a comfortable modern home. The neat surroundings and the generally orderly appearance of the farm betoken the industrious, practical farmer who takes just pride in his possessions. On Nov. 7, 1878, in Middlesex township, Mr. Thomman was married to Emma C. Garman, who was born in Silver Spring township, Dec. 19, 1856, daughter of Michael and Susan (Albright) Garman, the former a native of Lancaster county, who was brought by his parents in boyhood to Cumberland county. Michael Garman spent the greater part of his life as a farmer in Silver Spring township, on the farm form- CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 395 erly owned by his father, and late in life retired to New Kingston, where he died in 1897. Mrs. Susan (Albright) Garman was born in Perry county, daughter of William Albright; she married first Benjamin Garman, and after his death, Michael Garman. To Michael and Susan Garman were born the following children: Emma C., Mrs. Thomman; Benjamin, who married Susan Ziegler, and lives on the home farm; George, who married Annie Burget, and lives in Cumberland county; Savilla Jane, who married John Young, of Cumberland county; Sarah Alice, wife of Clayton Snell, of Silver Spring township; and Ida Elmira, wife of Leonard Ziegler, of Silver Spring township. After the death of the mother of these children Michael Garman married Caroline Daron, who bore him two children, Daniel (who died at the age of seven) and Harry. The marriage of Harry S. and Emma C. Thomman has been blessed with two children: John H., born in April, 1880; and Ida Laura, born July 22, 1882. The family all belong to the Reformed Church, and are much interested in its work, the husband and father having for eighteen years served as deacon. Mr. Thomman has been keenly alive to public questions, and he keeps thoroughly posted on the events of the day. He cast his first presidential vote for Gen. George B. McClellan, and has ever since been a stanch Democrat.