BIO: HON. J. CALVIN RUMMEL, 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 184-185
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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     HON. J. CALVIN RUMMEL, Burgess of Shippensburg, Cumberland county, Pa., and
  president of Rummel, Himes & Co., manufacturers of clothing, is one of the
  prominent and enterprising citizens of this portion of the State.

    Mr. Rummel was born March 7, 1846, in Antrim township, Franklin county,
  Pa., son of John and Catherine (Miller) Rummel, also natives of Franklin
  county. They were most highly respected residents of their locality, and
  lifelong members of the Reformed Church.

    J. Calvin Rummel attended the district school until eleven years of age,
  beginning his business career at that age as a clerk in the general store at
  Middleburg, Franklin county, where he was employed five years. He then
  accepted a position as clerk with Samuel Ogliby at Hagerstown, Md., remaining
  at Hagerstown five years. From there
    
  CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 185
    
  he went to Philadelphia with the firm of Wood, Marsh, Haywood & Co., and
  then located at Mercersburg, where he entered into a business partnership
  with John Rearick, which continued for five years under the firm name of
  Rearick & Rummel, dealers in dry goods, and conductors of a general store. At
  the expiration of five years Mr. Rummel sold his interest and retired from the
  firm.
 
    After his marriage Mr. Rummel located at Newville, Cumberland county, Pa.,
  embarking in a mercantile business which he successfully conducted for two
  years, and then disposed of his stock to William R. Titler, who succeeded in
  the business. After a short residence in Franklin county Mr. Rummel came to
  Shippensburg, Aug. 1 8, 1877, where he engaged in a mercantile business from
  1877 to 1888, when he disposed of this business. At this time Mr. Rummel
  organized the Shippensburg Manufacturing Company, of which he was made
  president. In 1903 the name of the firm was changed to Rummel, Himes & Co.,
  Incorporated, with J. C. Rummel, president, George W. Himes, treasurer, and
  Charles L. Rummel, secretary. Their factories are located at Shippensburg,
  Mongul and Fayetteville, Pennsylvania.
 
    Mr. Rummel has had other business interests, having been president of the
  Shippensburg Electric Light Co., and is now senior member of the firm
  controlling the People's Coal and Ice Co. However, his greatest interest,
  outside of politics, is in the business which he established, and which has
  grown to such large proportions. The present plant at this city is of brick,
  and is equipped with modern machinery, both water and steam power being used.
  Employment is given to nearly two hundred. Mr. Rummel is also interested in a
  company operating an immense peach farm, probably the largest venture of the 
  kind in Cumberland county, and in the People's National Bank of Shippensburg.

    Since 1878 Mr. Rummel has been a member of the board of trustees of the
  Presbyterian Church, and was a member of the building committee when the
  church and manse were erected, and for many years was superintendent of the
  Sabbath-school and a director in the Cumberland County Bible Society. In 1903
  Mr. Rummel was elected, on the Prohibition ticket, Burgess of Shippensburg, a
  position he fills with dignity and efficiency. Since 1884 he has zealously
  worked for Prohibition principles in local as well as national issues. He has
  been for years State committeeman and county chairman, and was a candidate for
  his party for State senator, receiving a large vote in 1896.

    Mr. Rummel married Miss Alice Parker Lowe, of Mercersburg, daughter of
  Charles Gillespie and Mary (McFarland) Lowe. Two children were born to this
  union Charles L., a graduate of Shippensburg high school, who is secretary of
  Rummel, Himes & Co., was married June 17, 1903, to Miss Mary Bender, daughter
  of Dr. John W. Bender, of Shippensburg. Mary Catherine, a graduate of the
  Shippensburg high school, and also of Wilson College, at Chambersburg, was
  married June 9, 1904, to Jeremiah S. Omwake, of Shippensburg. She is a lady
  of many accomplishments, and is gifted in music.