BIO: Solomon Perry GORGAS, Cumberland County, PA
    
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    >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
    Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 32-33
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    SOLOMON PERRY GORGAS, deceased. Among the well-known and honorable citizens
  of Mechanicsburg who have joined the congregation in the Great Beyond was
  Solomon Perry Gorgas, whose death took place at his home in the city Oct. 20,
  1887. He was born Aug. 3, 1815, in. Lower Allen township, Cumberland county, a
  son of Solomon and Catherine (Fanestock) Gorgas. Both the Gorgas and Fanestock
  families are of German extraction, and well known in Cumberland county.
    The father of Solomon P. Gorgas was born and married in Lancaster county
  and came to Cumberland county in 1803, settling on the farm in Lower Allen
  township, which is still in the possession of the family. He
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  33
    
  was an excellent business man, and showed enterprise in operating a store
  and hotel on his farm, one of the first in that section of the county. He was
  a man of more than usual intelligence also, and was twice chosen a member of
  the State Legislature. His death occurred Sept. 21, 1838, and that of his
  widow Aug. 9, 1853. his age being seventy-four years and hers seventy-nine
  years. They were both worthy members of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church. They
  had a family of four sons and three daughters, the youngest being Solomon P.,
  whose name opens this sketch.
    Solomon Perry Gorgas was married May 8, 1845, to Elizabeth Eberly, who was
  born March 3, 1822, in Hampden township, Cumberland county, daughter of
  Benjamin and Barbara (Kauffman) Eberly, who were of German ancestry, but born
  in Lancaster county. A family of nine children was born to this union, four of
  whom grew to maturity: Kate E., who married Dr. J. Nelson Clark, of
  Harrisburg.; William F., at one time connected with the First National Bank
  of Mechanicsburg, but now deceased; Anna B., who married Jacob H. Kahler, a
  prominent business man of Mechanicsburg; and Mary F. who married William C.
  Hicks, a business man of Harrisburg.
    Mr. Gorgas followed farming in Fairview township, York county, until 1850,
  when he came to Mechanicsburg. In 1855 he purchased fifty-six acres of land,
  now included in the eastern part of the borough of Mechanicsburg. a very
  valuable investment. He was a man with very clear ideas on business matters,
  and in 1859, in association with Levi Merkel, Jacob Mumma, Jacob Levi, Frank
  and Samuel Eberly, William R. Gorgas, John Nissley and John Brandt, formed a
  banking company under the firm style [sic] of Merkel, Mumma & Co., with John Brandt
  as president and Levi Kauffman as cashier. This was a strong combination of
  capital, and the high standing of the incorporators immediately invited
  confidence. In 1861 the great volume of business made it desirable to effect
  a reorganization and the bank became the Mechanicsburg Bank, chartered under
  the State law, with Levi Merkel as president. In February, 1864, the bank was
  rechartered as the First National Bank of Mechanicsburg, with Solomon P.
  Gorgas as president. In February, 1883, it was rechartered, and Mr. Gorgas
  was again made president, which honorable position he held until his death.
    Mr. Gorgas was identified with the interests of Cumberland county for over
  seventy years and there were few successful enterprises in his locality in
  which he had not shown an interest. He was one of the founders and one of the
  most liberal donators to Irving College, giving the ground for its site, and
  through life was very liberal in his gifts. In politics Mr. Gorgas was a
  stanch Democrat; he never sought political prominence. For many years he was
  a leading member of the Methodist Church at Mechanicsburg. His memory will
  long be cherished in this city as one of its most useful and upright business
  men and as a most highly esteemed citizen.