BIO: SAMUEL J. TRITT, 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 431-432 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ SAMUEL J. TRITT has, in his long service as county surveyor of Cumberland county, become well known all over that section of Pennsylvania. His family has been settled in the county since 1775, and its members have ever maintained a high standard of citizenship. Peter Tritt, his great-grandfather, was born March 5, 1755, and was, it is thought, from Spain. About 1775 he came from Lancaster county, Pa., to Cumberland county, and, settling in West Pennsboro township, carried on the business of wagonmaking. He served for a time in the Revolutionary war. He married Elizabeth Le Fevre, who was born Dec. 8, 1751, and died Feb. 7, 1835. Her grandparents, who were French, landed in Boston in 1710, went to Newburgh, N. Y., and thence to Lancaster county, Pa., coming to Cumberland county in 1775. Peter Tritt passed away Feb. 24, 1839. He and his wife were the parents of thirteen children, namely: Barbara, born May 10, 1778, died young; Jacob, born Jan. 18, 1780, died Dec. 17, 1856; Peter, born Jan. 28, 1782, died Jan. 24, 1860; Elizabeth, born Jan. 18, 1784, died Oct. 17, 1831; Joseph, born Jan. 16, 1787, died May 30, 1873; Barbara, born March 19, 1789, died young; George, born Nov. 3, 1791, died Oct. 4, 1882; Catherine, born July 5, 1794, died Jan. 9, 1871; Christian, born July 25, 1796, died Jan. 10, 1871; Anna, born Nov. 21, 1798, died Jan. 1, 1837; John, born Jan. 18, 1801, died in September, 1884; Samuel, born Sept. 14, 1803, died Feb. 22, 1873; William, born May 26, 1807, died Feb. 7, 1855. Christian Tritt, son of Peter, and grandfather of Samuel J., was born July 25, 1796, in West Pennsboro township, and married Lydia Stough, who died June 9, 1849. A large family was born to this union, namely: Peter, Catherine, Elizabeth, Jacob Miller, Barbara Ann, David P., John Stough, Samuel A., Tabitha, Christian, Martha Jane and Sarah A. In 1853 the father married, for his second wife, Mrs. Frances Charlotte McCullough, and to this union was born one child, Lydia Bell. Christian Tritt died Jan. 10, 1871, and is buried at Centerville, as is also his first wife. He followed farming in Penn township. Peter Tritt, father of Samuel J., was born Jan. 24, 1821, in Penn (then Dickinson) township and received a common-school education. On June 10, 1845, he married Nancy Nickey, a native of Perry county, Pa., daughter of Samuel Nickey, and 432 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. to their union were born seven children, viz.: Christian, who died in infancy; John A., born Sept. 23, 1847, who married Jane E. Tobias, of Carlisle, and is living at that place; Samuel J.; Lydia J., who married James M. Shaefer, and died in 1900; Elizabeth, who married Thomas Feree and is living at Harrisburg; Maggie, who died young; and Peter Stough, deceased, who married Annie Ott, who is now living in Huntsdale. For nine years after his marriage Peter Tritt followed farming, and in 1855 bought the old Cumberland Furnace and farm at Huntsdale, the property comprising twenty-one acres. In March of that year he put up a sawmill on this place, on Yellow Breeches creek, below Milltown, and he subsequently extended his operations in this line until he had a shingle-mill, planing-mill and sash, door and blind factory. He prospered in this business, which he continued successfully until his death, March 11, 1887. He is buried at Huntsdale, and his wife, who passed away in 1893, is also interred at Huntsdale. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and in political sentiment Mr. Tritt was a Democrat. He was a man held in the highest respect wherever known, both for personal integrity and business methods of a high standard; and was a credit to the honored name be bore. Samuel J. Tritt was born Sept. 27, 1849, in Penn township, and attended school there until sixteen years old. He then took up work in the sawmill with his father, in the summer of 1865, and in time became interested in surveying, which business he has followed to the present time, and which has practically been his life work. In 1881 he was elected county surveyor, which office he has filled continuously to the present, and he has also done considerable work in his line in York and Adams counties. He has surveyed about four thousand acres for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company. In the spring of 1882 he commenced farming in Penn township, in connection with his work as surveyor, remaining there for twenty years, and in 1900 he put up the fine home in Cummingstown to which he moved in 1902. On Feb. 15, 1869, Mr. Tritt was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Leicy, daughter of John and Sarah (Coover) Leicy, of Dickinson township, and they lived at Huntsdale until they removed to the farm in Penn township before mentioned. Mrs. Tritt passed away in 1901, and is buried at Huntsdale. She was the mother of the following named children: Carrie E., wife of Thomas B. Peffer, of Harrisburg, where he is a mail clerk; William P.; Elverda A., married to George Eckert, and living at Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Charles, who died when eight years old; Mary S., wife of Tobias Hertzler, and living at Cummingstown; and John C., who is at home. Mr. Tritt is a member of the Dunkard Church at Huntsdale. In politics he is a Democrat, but he is not active in party affairs, and cares little for public life.