BIO: Levi F. Eberly, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER XXXIX. 

                        BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

408  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  LEVI F. EBERLY, of Levi F. Eberly & Sons, wholesale and retail 
dealers in all kinds of lumber, sash, doors, blinds, etc., corner of 
High Street and the railroad, Mechanicsburg, was born on the old family 
farm in Upper Allen Township, Cumberland Co., Penn., May 6, 1818, son 
of David and Catharine (Frankenberger) Eberly, the former born in 
Lancaster County, Penn., November 9, 1781, and died in 1861; the latter 
born in this county in 1791, and died in 1869; both members of the 
Mennonite Church.  They had three sons and six daughters who lived to 
be men and women.  Levi F., the eldest son and fourth child, assisted 
his father on the farm until his marriage, October 24, 1839, with Miss 
Elizabeth Shuey, who was born in Lebanon County, Penn., daughter of 
Christian and Magdalena (Miley) Shuey, natives of that county.  After 
his marriage Mr. Eberly engaged in farming in Lebanon County for five 
years, when he sold out and purchased a farm in Upper Allen Township, 
this county.  In 1859 he came to Mechanicsburg, and in 1861 established 
his present business.  Mr. and Mrs. Eberly are members of the United 
Brethren Church.  They have four sons:  W. Harrison, David H., Edward 
M. and Ira S.  Of these W. Harrison, born near Mechanicsburg November 
16, 1840, at sixteen began teaching school, and two years later entered 
the Cumberland Valley Institute; remained here, and in the Otterbein 
University, at Westerville, Ohio, for two years; was then appointed 
teller of the Merkel, Mumma & Co. Bank, holding this position through 
the various changes of this bank until 1864, when he was appointed 
clerk in the quartermaster's department for the Government until the 
close of the war.  In 1876 he was one of the projectors of the West End 
Railway, which owned and operated the narrow gauge railroad that ran 
outside of the Centennial grounds, so familiar to all visitors to that 
exposition.  At the close of the Centennial, he and others established 
the "Dime Express" in Philadelphia, and in 1878 he sold out and engaged 
in his present business with his father and brothers.  W. Harrison 
Eberly was married, May 25, 1863, to Mary C. Power, born in Perry 
County, Penn., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Barns) Power.  David H. 
Eberly was born October 14, 1842; married Miss Kate A. Waidley, born in 
Cumberland County, Penn.  Edward M., born April 1, 1845, married Miss 
Margaret Zacharias, also a native of this county.  Ira S., born 
December 8, 1847, married Miss Laura Maloy.  Levi F. Eberly & Sons do 
an average yearly business of $40,000.  Our subject was one of the 
original members that organized what is now the First National Bank of 
Mechanicsburg, and is a director in the same.  The family is of German 
descent, and came to Pennsylvania at a very early date.