BIO: Jacob Cauffman BOMBERGER, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JAWB Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm _______________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 239. _______________________________________________________________ BOMBERGER, JACOB CAUFFMAN, was born December 16, 1817, at Middletown, Pa. He was the fifth in descent from Christian Bomberger and Maria, his wife, who emigrated to America from Eshelbrun, Baden, Germany, arriving in Pennsylvania in May, 1722. Christian Bomberger took up and settled upon a tract of land in Warwick township, Lancaster county, Province of Pennsylvania, a portion of which remains in possession of his descendants to the present day. Jacob Cauffman Bomberger was the youngest son of John Bomberger and his wife Elizabeth Cauffman. His education was received in the schools of his native town, which at that period was quite limited. When fourteen years of age he learned merchandising at Elizabethtown and at Shippensburg. In 1845 he was appointed to a clerkship in the bank at Middletown, which position he held until 1851 when, having been elected assistant clerk to the Senate of Pennsylvania, he entered upon the duties of that office, which were faithfully and acceptably performed by him. During that session being instrumental in procuring a charter for the Mechanics' Bank at Harrisburg, which was organized in May of that year; he was elected its cashier, serving in that capacity until the expiration of its charter in 1867. The success of the bank, of which he was the leading spirit, was unprecedented; and at the close of its affairs Mr. Bomberger became its sole owner, in which he has continued until the present time. It has been through his energy and financial tact and ability that it has become one of the most successful banking houses in Pennsylvania. During the first year of the Rebellion it was chiefly through the instrumentality of Mr. Bomberger that the Pennsylvania loan was at once taken up by the banking institutions of the Commonwealth. This subject has been specially treated of in recent histories of the Rebellion. Mr. Bomberger was appointed by Governor Curtin one of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital, was reappointed by Governor Geary and served about ten years in that honorable capacity. He was a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago which nominated General Grant for the Presidency, and supported him at his first election. Mr. Bomberger has acquired by his great business capacity and industry an ample competency. His character for integrity is unimpeachable, and he occupies in the community where he is best known, a position that commands the best respect of his fellow-citizens.