BIO: ABRAHAM L. ESHLEMAN, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 638-639 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ ABRAHAM L. ESHLEMAN, one of the well known citizens of Hampden township, Cumberland Co., Pa., and a member of a prominent family of this section, was born Jan. 28, 1852, in Rye township, Perry county, Pennsylvania. The family of Eshleman originated in Switzerland, and our subject's ancestors emigrated to America in 1740, some of them locating in Lancaster and some in Dauphin county. Jacob Eshleman, the grandfather of Abraham L., was born in 1796 in the Black Swamp, Dauphin county, and after his marriage settled in Lancaster county, moving thence to Perry county, and later to Cumberland county, where he died. Jacob Eshleman married Elizabeth Schenck, daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Blosser) Schenck, who were of Lancaster county, Pa., and they had ten children, namely: John is mentioned below; Barbara, born in 1819, is deceased; Joseph, born in 1823, married Nancy Nieley, and lives retired in Dauphin county; Lydia, born in 1824, and Rebecca, born in 1827, unmarried, reside together at Eberly's Mills; Elizabeth, born in 1829, married Jeremiah Kell, of Perry county, and they now reside at the Old People's Home (the Brethren in Christ Home), at Harrisburg; Jacob S., born in 1834, married Leah Weaver and lives at Eberly's Mills; Mathias, born in 1836, married Susan Collins, and lives at Eberly's Mills; Rachel, born in 1838, and Nancy, born in 1839, both died in infancy. John Eshleman, father of Abraham L., was born in 1825, in Lancaster county, where he received a common school education. He was employed as a day laborer and also as a broom maker. He married Mary Magdalene Schenck, who was born in 1825, daughter of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Barnhart) Schenck, of Lancaster county, and they had a family of fourteen children, viz.: Harry S., born in 1846, keeps a small store, and in connection does shoe cobbling; he married Elizabeth Fetrow, and they live at Shiremanstown. Mathias M., born in 1848, is a painter by trade; he married Louisa Cobel, and lives at Riverton. Jacob S., born in 1849, a farmer, married Elizabeth Harnish, and they live in Silver Spring township. David S., born in 1850, married Catherine Hamilton and lives at Riverton; he is engaged at day labor. Abraham L. is mentioned below. Barbara, born in 1853, married John Barnhart, of Shiremanstown, a laborer. Elizabeth, born in 1855, married Jacob Grissinger, a farmer of Silver Spring township. Mary Magdalene, born in 1857, is deceased. Reuben, born in 1858, is a fence maker by occupation; he married Mary Shumberger, and lives in Shiremanstown. Fanny, born in 1864, married George Eichelberger, of Riverton, where he is engaged as a puddler. Simon Peter, born in 1867, is a day laborer; CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 639 he married Emma Stettler, of York county, and lives at Le Moyne. Leah, born in 1860, died at the age of sixteen. John Andrew, born in 1862, and William Harrison, born in 1865, both died in infancy. The father of this family died July 11, 1893, survived by his widow until Aug. 28, 1900, and both were buried in the Slate Hill cemetery. Abraham L. Eshleman completed his education at the age of fourteen years, having attended the schools of Hampden and Lower Allen townships. He then devoted himself to farming until he was nineteen, when he accepted employment for a year and a half with the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company. During the next decade he was always busy, following various occupations, devoting a year and a half to helping in the Pennsylvania Railroad blacksmith shops at Harrisburg, and a year and a half at the Central Iron Works, at the same place. He was then engaged in quarrying stone and burning lime. He also gave about three years to the painting trade; in fact Mr. Eshleman has been able to turn his abilities to good account in almost any direction. In 1894 he became interested in the selling of first-class patent medicines and has met with such unqualified success that he has devoted his whole time since then to handling the liniment, cough balm, life essence, baby drops, pills, salve and vermifuge prepared by A. H. Gottschall, of Harrisburg, a name which is held in high repute, through Mr. Eshleman's efforts, through the anthracite coal region. Since his marriage Mr. Eshleman has resided in a handsome residence in Hampden township. On March 21, 1893, Mr. Eshleman married Elizabeth Emma Greegor, daughter of John K. and Mary A. (Enck) Greegor, of Lancaster county, and one child has come to this union, Emma May, who was born March 14, 1900. In politics Mr. Eshleman has always been identified with the Republican party although he has permitted himself to vote, on several occasions, according to private convictions. Mr. Eshleman, by his pleasant, courteous manner makes many friends, and, what is more to the point, he also keeps them. He is held in very high esteem in his own locality.