BIO:  JOHN C. RONEY, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 634-635
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    JOHN C. RONEY (deceased), one of the prominent and highly respected
  citizens of Cumberland county, Pa., was born Aug. 13, 1832, in Carlisle, and
  he died in Shiremanstown, July 29, 1903, and his burial was at Ashland
  cemetery at Carlisle.
    
    When but fourteen years of age, by the death of his father, he was called
  upon to assist his mother in the care and rearing of the six other children.
  He came of sturdy Scotch-Irish stock, his forefathers being of the old
  Presbyterian faith, who, from the north of Ireland and Scotland have sent so
  many representatives to this country. His mother, especially, was a woman of
  unusual power and conscientious convictions of duty.
    
    634  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
    
  Left, as stated, a widow with seven small children, she reared all of them to
  become useful members of society, assisted nobly by her son John C., who from
  the first realized the demands which must be made upon his strength. That he
  never failed, those nearest and closest to him have always gratefully
  testified.
    
    When eighteen years of age, Mr. Roney became an apprentice at Chambersburg,
  in the shops of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, and after becoming a thorough
  machinist, was appointed an engineer on the road. This position he held until
  1883, when he resigned it. There are but few among the older residents along
  the Cumberland Valley line, who do not recall him well. For more than thirty
  years, with fidelity day after day, he traveled up and down the Valley road
  and all must recall his kind manner and accommodating spirit.
    
    After retiring from railroad work, he engaged in business, and for some
  four years was in a book store enterprise at York, Pa. During the disastrous
  flood at that place; a number of years ago, he lost the greater part of what
  he had gained by his years of industry and economy. He next operated a
  grocery store at Locust Point for some five years, and then settled at
  Shiremanstown, where he resided until his death. The income from his grocery
  and several properties secured him a comfortable living. For many years he
  was a member of the M. E. Church and lived as a Christian should, true to his
  convictions of right and at peace with all men. He was a stanch Republican,
  and served in the town council at Shiremanstown.
    
    In 1859 Mr. Roney was married, at the home of his bride in Newberry
  township, to Eliza B. Kaylor, born in 1834, in Newberry township, daughter of
  Jacob and Esther (Burger) Kaylor. Jacob Kaylor was born in 1797, in Newberry
  township, a son of Wendel Kaylor and his wife, Barbara Zimmerman. Wendel
  Kaylor was born in Germany, and was brought to America when a small boy. The
  father of Mrs. Roney received a good education for the time and locality, and
  learned the shoemaking trade, which he followed all his life. At various times
  he lived on farms through Newberry township, but never worked them himself.
  His death occurred in 1875, and that of his widow in 1891. They were both
  devoted members of the Church of God. The children of Jacob Kaylor and wife
  were: Reuben, who died aged ten years; John, who died aged twenty-eight
  years; Eliza, Mrs. Roney; Mary, Mrs. Cyrus Reber, of New Cumberland; and
  Nancy, Mrs. Harry Prentz, of Shiremanstown.
    
    Charles Roney, father of the late John C. Roney, was born in Ireland and
  there married Eliza Craig, and, with their eldest child, Jennie, they
  emigrated to the United States, landing on its shores at Baltimore. They
  settled permanently at Carlisle, where the others of the family were born.
  The father died in Carlisle, and the mother at the home of a daughter, in
  Philadelphia. The children of Charles Roney and wife were: Jennie, widow of
  Rev. J. C. Caldwell, a minister in the M. E. Church, who lives near Carlisle;
  Charles, who died young; John C., of this record; Warren P., a mechanic,
  residing at Carlisle; James K., who died aged twenty-three years; Annie, Mrs.
  Fred Brown, near Carlisle; and William Seymour, of Terre Haute, Indiana.
    
    The death of John C. Roney called forth expressions of regret and beautiful
  testimonials to his worth from relatives, friends and the public press. Quiet,
  unassuming in manner, his convictions were as founded upon
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  635
    
  a rock, and he fulfilled the duties as son, husband and brother and as
  citizen, with conscientious and self-sacrificing fidelity. The personal
  tributes from those who knew him best showed a beautiful character. No more
  kindly heart ever beat nor gentle spirit ever took its flight to the regions
  of light than that of John C. Roney.