BIO:  JOHN H. WALTERS, 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 556-557
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/


    JOHN H. WALTERS, one of the retired residents of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland
  county, is a representative member of one of the old settled families of this
  section. Mr. Walters was born Dec. 25, 1838, on a farm in Silver Spring
  township, son of Daniel and Margaret (Weibley) Walters.

    The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Walters was born in Germany, and
  emigrated to America in 1740. He served in the Revolutionary War, and for a
  time resided in Cumberland county. Joseph Walters, the grandfather, was one
  of the pioneers of Silver Spring township, where he became a prosperous
  farmer and a man of affairs. His tomb is in St. Paul's Lutheran cemetery.

    Daniel Walters, father of our subject, was born in 1802 in Cumberland
  county, and died Nov. 11, 1870. He married Margaret Weibley, who was born in
  1807, daughter of Peter and Margaret Weibley, early settlers of Cumberland
  county; she died Aug. 16, 1876. By trade Daniel Walters was a carpenter, and
  he devoted his early life to that calling, but later he became a farmer and
  was a man widely known and esteemed. After his marriage he settled first in
  Hampden township, and later in Silver Spring, and resided on that farm until
  1848, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser. He then moved to Upper Allen
  township, where he lived until 1852, when he returned to Hampden township,
  where he lived until 1859. That year he again returned to Silver Spring
  township where he died. He was a Democrat in political sympathy, and both he
  and his wife belonged to the German Reformed Church.

    Daniel Walters and wife had a family of ten children, seven of whom
  attained maturity: Levi died Jan. 2, 1885; Jacob died in 1856; Margaret still
  survives; Wilson P. resides in East Pennsboro township; John H.; Daniel
  resides near Monmouth, Ill.; and Mary L. is the wife of E. Rankin Huston, a
  prominent citizen of Mechanicsburg.

    John H. Walters passed his youth on the home farm, and attended the
  district schools in Hampden township, continuing to assist his father until
  his twentieth year, when he came to Mechanicsburg and entered into the
  employ of Thomas B. Bryson, with whom he remained for fourteen years. In
  November, 1862, he was drafted in Company A, 158th P. V. I., under regimental
  commander Col. D. B. McKibben. His regiment was sent to North Carolina, where
  he was en-

    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  557

  gaged for a time in scouting and served faithfully through the ten months
  of his enlistment. After his honorable discharge he returned to his home in
  Silver Spring township, and resumed his work at the warehouse in
  Mechanicsburg under the same firm, remaining with them until 1876. He then
  entered the employ of E. Rankin Huston, who, at that time, was extensively
  engaged in the painting business.

    During the following ten years Mr. Walters continued in the painting
  department, and then accepted a different position, that of messenger in the
  First National Bank of Mechanicsburg. Later he was made teller of the bank,
  and held that position until 1902, when he retired and since then has
  occupied himself in looking after his various interests.

    In 1878 Mr. Walters was married to Jennie A. Zeigler, of Monroe township,
  Cumberland county, daughter of Philip and Martha (Bender) Zeigler.
  Politically, Mr. Walters is identified with the Democratic party, but votes
  independently in local matters. For one term he was a member of the borough
  council, representing the Second ward, and in 1886 he was elected burgess of
  Mechanicsburg, for the term of one year. His public offices have been
  performed with a fidelity which has reflected credit upon both himself and
  his city. Both Mr. Walters and wife are consistent members of the
  Presbyterian Church, in which he is serving as trustee and elder.