BIO: Eli MASEMORE, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 388-389. __________________________________________________________________ ELI MASEMORE, Shirleysburg, Pa., was born in Carroll county, Md., November 19, 1842. He is a son of Valentine and Julia (Miller) Masemore. Theodore Masemore, his grandfather, was a farmer. He married Barbara Miller. Five of their children are living: Lewis: Valentine; Jessie; Theodore; and Helena, widow of Samuel Ripple. The grandfather died aged seventy-two years. His wife died at the age of eighty-three. They were members of the German Baptist church. Valentine Masemore was born in Maryland; for about ten years, he was a miller. He was afterwards for some time occupied as a general workman, and then turned his attention to agriculture. He continued farming until 1889, when he retired. He resides in Clay township, Huntingdon county, Pa., where for one term he held the office of supervisor. In 1840, he married Julia, daughter of Philip and Lavinia (Rorabaugh) Miller, a native of Pennsylvania. They have been the parents of ten children: Eli; Jeremiah; Joseph; Theodore; Julia (Mrs. Frederick Showalter); Maria (Mrs. William Hall); Valentine, died in February, 1862, aged thirteen; Emma, died in February, 1862, aged seven; Margaretta, died in February, 1862, aged five; and one that died in infancy. The mother died October 5, 1890, aged seventy-two. She, with her husband, was a member of the German Baptist church. Eli Masemore attended the public schools until he was of age, at the same time becoming accustomed to farm business; and when his school course was ended, he made various engagements as assistant on farms, continuing in this way of business for about seven years. In 1871, he began farming for himself, and a year later, removed to the farm of James Lane, in Hill valley, where he remained three years. He then removed to the farm where he now resides, and which he has cultivated continuously up to the present time. Mr. Masemore served in the war of the Rebellion; he enlisted in August, 1864, in Company G, Two Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. Previous to his enlistment, he had been drafted for the three years' service, but paid his substitute bounty. In 1881, Mr. Masemore was elected tax collector and served one year. Eli Masemore was married, September 14, 1869, to Mary L., daughter of Abraham L. and Catherine (Winters) Funck. Their children are: Ida; Ira; Albert; and Ambrose, who died October 6, 1871, aged two months and five days. The family belong to the German Baptist church. Mrs. Masemore was born December 30, 1842. Her paternal grandfather came to this country from Germany, his native land, was a farmer, and continued to follow that vocation here. He married Mary Long, born in Huntingdon county. Their children were: Elizabeth; Susan; Jacob; John; Catherine; Henry; Joseph; Samuel; Martin; Abraham; and Mary; all deceased. The grandfather, Mr. Funck, is deceased; but his wife is still living. Mrs. Masemore's maternal grandparents, the Winters, were natives, the grandfather of Lancaster, the grandmother of Washington county, Pa. Mr. Winters was all his life engaged in farming, and for a few years in distilling. His wife was Catherine Longenecker. One of their children, Catherine, mother of Mrs. Eli Masemore, is still living. The others were: Jacob, died in 1862, aged sixty-five; Abraham, deceased; Ann, died in October, 1871, aged seventy-one, was Mrs. John Angus; John, died April 7, 1836, aged thirty-one; and David, died December 30, 1842, aged thirty-four. The grandfather died May 14, 1844, aged seventy years, seven months and seven days; the grandmother died June 1, 1855, at the age of eighty-three years, eleven months and twenty-one days. Both Mrs. Masemore's parents were born in Huntingdon county. Until 1845, her father was a blacksmith. In that year, he removed from Shirleysburg to the farm on which Eli Masemore now resides; there for the next thirty years he was engaged in farming; in 1875, he retired. He was elected to several township offices. His marriage to Catherine Winters, daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Longenecker) Winters took place December 15, 1841. Their children are: Mary (Mrs. Eli Masemore); Isaac; Gabrielle; and Albert, who died in 1859, aged thirteen years and seven months. Mr. Winters died August 22, 1881, at the age of seventy years and nine months. He was a minister of the German Baptist church. His wife survives him, residing with her daughter, Mrs. Masemore, and is in very good health, though she has reached the venerable age of eighty-four.