BIO:  T. J. NEWCOMER, 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 563-564
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/zeamer/


    T. J. NEWCOMER, one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of East
  Pennsboro township, and one of its honorable self-made men, was born June 4,
  1863, in Frankford township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania.

    Mr. Newcomer was educated in the district school of Possum Hill, where he
  lived until ten years of age. In 1874 his parents removed to Shepherdstown
  and he attended school there. His mother died March 3, 1876, and in the
  following year he went to Camp Hill, where he had an opportunity to work for
  J. L. Heyd, Esq., on a farm and go to school. He continued here two years and
  then worked for Michael Kreiger of East Pennsboro township, for seven years,
  following farming.

    Mr. Newcomer now decided to learn the carpentering trade and remained at
  West Fairview for three years, with William Shaull, and then engaged as a
  contractor, on his own account, at Wormleysburg; following a general line for
  three years, with close attention to business, he made much progress. By 1894
  he had become so well known and relied on, that he was elected a justice of
  the peace, in East Pennsboro township, and he had his office at Wormleysburg,
  but later removed it to Bridgeport, and in 1900 established himself at his
  present place.

    Since 1895 Mr. Newcomer has been largely interested in real estate. In 1897
  he became agent for the R. H. Hummel Estate, and in 1901 was appointed trustee
  of two interests in the estate by will, as well as by appointment. Since then
  he has laid out lots and built houses, and has sold twenty-one dwellings
  since the fall of 1902.

    While contracting he was engaged in many large enterprises, and at one time
  was engaged by the McCormick estate of Harrisburg, in building and repairing
  the dwellings and buildings on their various farms. About 1897 he added
  insurance to his other enterprises, and became accredited representative of
  the Delaware Fire Insurance Company.

    In 1903 Mr. Newcomer bought a tract of four acres above Bridgeport, on the
  Chambersburg Turn pike road, and laid this out in twenty-five lots. As an
  example of business enterprise, it may be remarked that he sold these in
  three weeks. He has not only handled, but owns, a large amount of town
  property and farming land, his individual holdings including six desirable
  city properties, and a farm of 116 acres. Considering that our subject was
  thrown entirely upon his own resources from the age of thirteen years, and
  that he entered into his individual business life with little capital except
  energy, honesty and perseverance, Mr. Newcomer's success teaches its own
  lesson.

    564  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

    The Newcomer family is an old one in Pennsylvania. Samuel Newcomer,
  grandfather of our subject, and his wife Nancy, lived in Mechanicsburg, and
  died there about 1867. They had these children: Samuel, who married Catherine
  Wilt, and died in Mechanicsburg; David, who married Kate, and died in Topeka,
  Kans.; John, who married Lucy Shur, of Mechanicsburg; Zachariah, father of
  our subject; Nancy, who married (first) Samuel Mumma, and (second) John
  Miller, and lives now at Winding Hill; Sarah, who married Mr. Sidle, of
  Mechanicsburg.

    Zachariah Newcomer was born in 1842, in East Pennsboro township, Cumberland
  county, and as his father was in easy circumstances, he had good educational
  opportunities, and through his youth attended the district schools. Later he
  learned the carpenter's trade, and after marriage, moved to Mechanicsburg,
  where he followed it until 1870, when he moved on a farm in Frankford
  township. In 1874 he moved to a farm near Shepherdstown, where he lived until
  the death of his wife, when he bought a small property between Bowmansdale and
  Shepherdstown. Some time later he went to Topeka, Kans., where he now lives.
  Zachariah Newcomer married Mary Landis, born in 1836, near Shippensburg, and
  she died March 3, 1876; she was a member of the Mennonite Church at Winding
  Hill, a devoted Christian, faithful wife and loving mother. She was laid to
  rest in the quiet old burying ground at Winding Hill. The children of
  Zachariah Newcomer and his wife were: Amos, a resident of Topeka, Kans.; 
  T. J.; Harry, who died in Kansas, aged twenty-five years; Nannie, who died at
  the age of eight years; and Ira, a resident of Harrisburg.

    In December, 1888, Mr. T. J. Newcomerwas married to Martha Neidhamer, born
  in Wormleysburg, daughter of Jacob and Mahala (McCormick) Neidhamer, town
  people. Both our subject and wife are prominent members of the United
  Brethren Church at Wormleysburg. For seventeen years he has taught a
  Sunday-school class, and officiated as Superintendent of the school for ten
  years. In politics, he is a stanch Republican, and was a delegate to the
  State convention when William Stone was nominated Governor. He was chosen as
  candidate for sheriff, by his party, in 1895. His fraternal connection is
  with the Knights of Malta, Lodge No. 196, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.