BIO: John TILL, Dauphin County, PA

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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 228.
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  TILL, JOHN, son of John and Catherine (Miller) Till, was born April 
13, 1804, in the district of Kensington, Philadelphia.  His parents 
were natives of Philadelphia, and he was the fourth child of ten sons 
and one daughter.  Like his father, grandfather and most of his 
relatives, John was brought up a ship builder, learning that trade with 
the Messrs. Vaughan, of Kensington.  In the winter of 1834 he came to 
Harrisburg to build a boat for W. P. Orrick, of Reading, who was 
extensively engaged in transportation on the Pennsylvania and Union 
canals.  Returning to Philadelphia after finishing his contract with 
Mr. Orrick, he entered into partnership with James Main, a ship builder 
of that city, and removed to Harrisburg in August 1835, establishing a 
boatyard at the foot  of  North street on the canal.  At that period 
boat building was the leading business at Harrisburg.  About 1840, 
owing to want of proper facilities, the firm purchased a location on 
the west side of the canal, below Mulberry street, where they 
constructed a large basin connected with the canal on the towpath, over 
which they built a drawbridge.  At this place they carried on the 
building of boats for many years.  A large number of the packet boats 
were built by them.  During the winter the packet and other boats of 
Leech & Co.'s extensive transportation line were repaired, the number 
filling the basin and the canal from Paxtang street to now Herr street, 
from one winding bridge to the other.  It may be here stated that 
Messrs. Till & Main constructed on the river bank below Mulberry 
street, two boats and one schooner for parties in New York City, which 
were launched in the Susquehanna during the rise, and floated in the 
bay.  In 1852 the firm erected a saw mill adjoining their boat yard, 
where they carried on a large lumber business.  In 1853 Mr. Main died, 
and for several years Mr. Till conducted the enterprise alone, 
subsequently engaging in the coal trade a brief period, when he retired 
from all business pursuits.  He served one term in the old borough 
council, for sixteen years a member of the school board, and was 
elected county treasurer for one term.  Mr. Till married, November 6, 
1825, Rebecca Rutter, of Philadelphia, who died May 16, 1871, at the 
age of sixty-five years.  Their surviving children are:  William B., 
Rebecca, who married G. L. Suttie, of New York, and Mary E., who 
married David C. Burnite, of Harrisburg.