BIOGRAPHY: David CORKLE, Mifflin Co., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mike Williamson Transcribed by Patty Frank Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/ http://files. usgwarchives. org/pa/mifflin/runk1897/runk-bios.htm ___________________________________________________________________ The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, Pages 619-620. ___________________________________________________________________ DAVID CORKLE, McVeytown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born November 18, 1820, in Oliver township, Mifflin county. He is a son of John and Susan (Powell) Corkle. John Corkle was born in Berks county, Pa., about 1788, and came to Mifflin county about the beginning of this century. Having been left an orphan at an early age, he became the ward of Robert Witherow, in what is now Wayne township. He was educated there in the common schools, and after attaining his majority, supported himself by farm work, and by rafting on the Juniata river, which was then the only means of transportation besides the stage and the broad-wheeled wagon. Mr. Corkle was often employed in rafting by Casper Dull and his brothers, while they were in the shipping business at McVeytown. About 1809, John Corkle married Susan, daughter of Philip and Julia Ann Powell, born in Berks county, Pa., in 1789. He enlisted for the war of 1812, as a substitute for Peter Rhodes, and served until the war was ended. After his return home, he resided for some years on this father-in-law's farm, in Mifflin county, were several of his children were born. In 1837, he removed to Hancock county, O., and then years later to Mercer county, O., where he died March 8, 1859, aged seventy-one years. His wife reached the same age, and died July 19, 1860. Their children were: Sara (Mrs. Eli Thompson), born in 1810, resided in Mifflin county, removed to Ohio in 1833, had one children, Rebecca, who married John Eppley, and after his death married again; Julia Ann (Mrs. Benjamin Nickel), of Mifflin county, born about 1812, removed to Mercer county, O., in 1836, has children, William, Anna, Charlotte, Mary Jane, Nancy, Franklin, Julia Ann, Samuel, Amanda and John; Elizabeth, born in 1817, married Randolph Wooden, of Mifflin county, had four children, one of whom died very young, and Mr. Wooden also dying, she married Mr. Franklin Felker, and again had four children; David; Mary, born in 1823, married Samuel Hamlin, of Hancock county, O., and had seven children; Joseph, born in 1827, married Mary Jane Wade, of Hancock county, O., removed to Cherokee county, Kas., has had four children, of whom one is deceased; Margaret, born in 1832, married Louis Bowen, of Ohio, lived at Findlay, O., had four children, two of whom were deceased; John; Susan; and Polly, who died in infancy. David Corkle was a pupil in the common schools of Mifflin county. When he was fifteen years old, he set about mastering the blacksmith's trade, in the smithy of his brother-in-law, Mr. Wooden. Having finished his apprenticeship, he worked as a journeyman for a few years, and then took up is abode upon his present premises in McVeytown, where by years of sturdy and conscientious labor, he has literally hammered out a competency for himself and his family. He has at the same time made himself a high place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and is now regarded as one of the most substantial citizens of the borough. He has never desired public office, but holds decided political opinions, sharing the convictions of his father, an old-fashioned Jeffersonian Democrat. David Corkle was first married March 21, 1841, to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Logan, of Huntingdon county, Pa.; the only child of that marriage is Joseph J. Mrs. Elizabeth Corkle died in July, 1844. Mr. Corkle's second marriage took place March 29, 1849. He then married Margaret, daughter of James and Catherine (Setzler) Stackpole. The children of this union are: an infant that died before it was a year old; John James, born March 6, and died March 16, 1851; Benjamin Nicholas, born March 7, 1852, married Sarah B. McKendree, has two children, William David and Bertha Ray, and resides in Harrisburg, Pa.; William Harrison, born December 21, 1853, married Margery McKinney, resides in Harrisburg, has four children, one of them, Harry Thornton, is deceased, and the others are Clyde Lerry, Gerald Francis, and John David; Charles Elmer, born April 23, 1857, was killed at Mifflintown, Pa., while coupling cars, January 20, 1888, had married Louisa Lego, and left children Margaret Ellen, David Elmer, William Cross and Harry Knolty; and infant born and died during the year 1859; and David Ellsworth, born January 29, 1862, married Jennie, daughter of Michael and Sarah (Mahaffey) Gaylor, and has one child, David Franklin, born December 7, 1894. Margaret, the second wife of David Corkle, died October 2, 1865; she was good and charitable woman, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Corkle was again married, December 25, 1867, to Catherine, widow of Elijah Dunmire. The children of this marriage are: John Edgar, born May 16, 1868, died April 27, 1884; Jenny Elizabeth (Mrs. Arthur Mateer), has two children, Eugene and Ruth; Hannah Kate, born August 18, 1871, died July 26, 1875; and Julia Belle, born August 28, 1876, died March 6, 1892. Mrs. Catherine Corkle died October 4, 1891. She was a pious and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church at McVeytown. The venerable father having now relinquished active business, his son, David Ellsworth Corkle, has since 1895 taken his place at the forge and in public favor, enjoying a large share of lucrative custom. Joseph Jackson Corkle, eldest son of David Corkle, enlisted in the Forty- ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in defense of the Union throughout the war of the Rebellion. He was married March 19, 1867, to Martha J., daughter of James and Susan (Setzler) Ross. Two of their six children are deceased, Cloyd and a very young infant; the others are: Elizabeth May, born April 7, 1868; William Ross, born October 21, 1869, married Carrie Connelly; Andrew Swartz, born July 4, 1874; and Maria Leona, born September 20, 1876.