BIO: Aaron Daniel Seth EARLY, Dauphin County, PA

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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, pages 286-290.
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  EARLY, AARON DANIEL SETH, is of the fourth generation in the line of 
descent from Thomas Early.  He was born May 14, 1828, in Lebanon 
county, on the farm known as the Beetime farm, halfway between Palmyra 
and Campbellstown.  He is a son of the late William Early, Esq., and 
Christiana (Kreider) Early, daughter of Rev. Martin Kreider.  When 
seven years of age his father moved to Bendnaugles in 1835.  He worked 
on the farm and went to the Bendnaugle's parochial school until 1845, 
when he entered the store of his brother, M. G. Early, and went to 
Alexander Dasher's school at Palmyra, Pa., until 1847.  He then studied 
at the Lebanon Academy under John Gluge, principal, until 1848, when he 
went to Annville Mills, now Shiner P. O., one mile below New Market 
Forge, to represent his brother Martin's half interest in a store.  In 
1849 he bought the store and began business for himself.  He erected a 
new building, the largest and finest country store in Lebanon county, 
and also bought a farm, built two houses and two barns, and carried on 
his business and improved his property until 1857, when he sold out the 
store, moved to Annville, bought another store, Sertyer's old stand, 
and carried on a large general mercantile business, and also dealt in 
real estate.  He is a Republican in politics and was elected judge of 
elections of North Annville township in 1851, when he was twenty-three 
years of age.  He was elected one of the corporators of the Annville 
Fire Insurance Company in 1858 or 1859, and one of the street 
commissioners to grade the town in 1860.  On account of impaired health 
he freed himself from business for one year.  In 1861, in connection 
with John H. Balsbaugh, he bought the half interest in a large 
warehouse and entered the grain, milling and coal business at Swatara 
Station.  In 1861 he was appointed postmaster by President Lincoln, and 
ticket agent by the Reading Railroad Company.  He also built a large 
brick dwelling house at Swatara Station.  In 1864 he sold his large 
business interests to Abraham Brechbill, and moved to Hummelstown, and 
opened a large grain, coal and lime business.  By his ability and 
influence he was instrumental in locating the Denominational College of 
the United Brethren in Christ at Annville, and was elected the first 
president of the board of trustees of this college.  He was elected 
president of the board of commissioners to grade the town of 
Hummelstown.  He was the discoverer of the Brown Hermetite ore mines 
near Swatara Station, and the organizer of the Swatara Iron Company, 
and was elected the general superintendent of the same.  He was elected 
a director of the United Brethren Mutual Aid Society of Pennsylvania in 
1869, and filled the place for twenty-seven years.  In 1870 he was 
elected general superintendent for ten and filled it for eleven years, 
when he resigned on account of failing health.  While in the office he 
traveled over twenty States and part of Canada.  In 1872 he moved to 
Harrisburg in order to afford his children the advantages of education, 
improvement, culture and the enjoyment which the city affords.  His 
residence is on the corner of Sixth and Kelker streets.  He organized a 
Greenback Club in 1877 and was made candidate for Congress by that 
party, and ran far ahead even of the candidate for governor on the same 
ticket.  He was one of the organizers of the Reily Hose Fire Company 
No. 10, in Harrisburg, and was the first treasurer of the company.  He 
was one of the first subscribers and a stockholder and organizer of the 
Kelker Street Market Company of Harrisburg.  Is a stockholder in the 
first Harrisburg Street Railway Company.  He is one of the organizers 
of the German-American Union.  He was one of the first supporters and 
organizers of the Committee of One Hundred of the city of Harrisburg, 
and served as its chairman.  Mr. Early was a subscriber of funds to 
build and aid four colleges, two Lutheran churches, one Church of God, 
thirty-two United Brethren in Christ churches, six parsonages, one 
printing house, four missionary societies, two church erection 
societies, and owner of forty-eight properties that were deeded to him. 
He was farmer, merchant, grain and coal dealer, mineralogist, inventor, 
insurance manager, or general agent of insurance, builder, lecturer and 
minister of the gospel.
  Mr. Early, January 1, 1859, received a quarterly conference license 
of the United Brethren Church, without his knowledge, by a unanimous 
vote of said Quarterly, to preach the gospel at Annville, Lebanon 
county, Pa., signed by the presiding elder, Rev. A. Steigerwalt.  On 
January 12, 1861, at the annual conference of the same church held at 
Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, Pa., after the examination on his 
character and regular reading course, he also received a conference 
license, of the East Pennsylvania Conference, to preach the gospel, 
signed by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner.  February 28, 1864, at the annual 
conference held at Schuylkill Haven, Mr. Early was ordained an elder of 
the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and received authority to 
administer the ordinances, signed by Bishop J. Markwood.
  Mr. Early was married January 23, 1851, to Miss Amanda A. Mark, 
daughter of Rev. George A. and Christiana Runkel Mark.  To them have 
been born six children, four of whom are living, namely:  Clara S., 
wife of E. W. S. Parthemore; Minerva J., single; Ida E., wife of Albert 
Deitrich; Nora J., wife of William Deitrich; two sisters having married 
two brothers on the same day.
  William Early, the father of A. D. S. Early, was one of the founders 
of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, an active politician, a Whig 
until after Gen. William Henry Harrison's presidential election, when 
he turned Democrat, and all his sons Republicans, except his son Joshua 
Heaster, who was an independent voter.  After 1865, his oldest son, 
John, also became a Democrat, and his son Daniel Seth turned to the 
Greenbacks, and was a leader of that party, and ever since, he says he 
is "an Independent of the Independents."  All the rest of the Earlys 
are still Republicans.