BIO: Ellis Lewis MUMMA, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2008.  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
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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, page 350.
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  MUMMA, ELLIS LEWIS, is the youngest child of the late Hon. David 
Mumma and was born in Harrisburg in 1854.  During his early boyhood he 
attended the Harrisburg Academy, then, as now, conducted by Prof. Jacob 
Seiler.  At sixteen he was sent to Bryant and Stratton's Business 
College, in Philadelphia; completing the course he returned to 
Harrisburg, where, at the age of seventeen, he was given a clerkship in 
the State Bank.  One year later he entered the Real Estate Savings 
Bank.  So thoroughly conversant did the young man become with the 
business that at the death of the cashier, Mr. Landis, he was, at the 
early age of twenty-two years, made cashier of the bank.  There was 
thrilling experience ahead for the young man on account of the 
financial panic of 1877, which was then impending.  As it was 
impossible, with banks failing all around, to make money, the directors 
concluded to close out the concern, the young cashier running affairs 
so smoothly that each depositor was paid to the last cent, in spite of 
the stringency of the times.  Until May, 1883, Mr. Mumma was manager of 
the Harrisburg Daily Patriot, when he was appointed draughtsman in the 
department of Internal Affairs, by Secretary J. Simpson Africa.  At the 
expiration of Mr. Africa's term Mr. Mumma was again connected with the 
Patriot, at the same time dealing in the real estate business.  During 
October, 1893, he became publisher of the Morning Call, which built up 
a wide circulation through the publisher's philanthropic spirit.  
During the business depression of 1893 and 1894 Mr. Mumma appealed 
through the columns of his journal to the public-spirited and 
charitably inclined, and through these means fed hundreds of starving 
people through that disastrous time.  Mr. Mumma is married to a 
daughter of Hon. B. F. Meyers and has two interesting children, 
Winifred and Benjamin Meyers Mumma.