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

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 747-748
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

 
    JOHN ILGENFRITZ, a prosperous farmer of Middlesex township, Cumberland
  county, was born there June 28, 1843, son of Frederick and Mary (Eversole)
  Ilgenfritz.

    The paternal grandfather, Jacob Ilgenfritz, resided at different points in
  Pennsylvania, in both York and Cumberland counties, but finally moved to
  Monroe, Mich., and died there at the home of one of his sons. His son,
  Frederick, was born near Dover, York county, about 1815, but when about
  fifteen years old the family moved to Cumberland county. There he was
  employed in driving a team to Baltimore for a Mr. Paul. He married first Miss
  Mary Eversole and after her death in 1860, chose for his second wife her
  sister, Sarah, who has also passed away. Mr. Ilgenfritz was the father of
  three children by his first wife, namely: Henry, who died in infancy; John;
  Rebecca, who married Amos Sheffer, of Williamsport, Pa., and is the mother of
  eleven children. John Eversole, the maternal grandfather of these children,
  was a native of Pennsylvania, lived for many years in Cumberland county and
  finally died in Plainfield.

    John Ilgenfritz grew up on his father's farm, assisting in all the work of
  the place. His education was such as could be acquired in the country schools
  of that day, and most of his training has been gained in the practical school
  of life. He was married when rather young, and for a year afterward remained
  at home, but then rented a farm in Middlesex township and lived there
  fourteen years, meantime managing his father's farm as well. At the end of
  that time, in 1882, he returned to the latter place and for the next nine and
  a half years made it his home. On Sept. 22, 1891, his father died, followed
  only nine days later by his wife, and the home farm became by inheritance the
  property of the son. He was made the executor of his father's estate, while
  later both his father-in-law and Mrs. Lackey entrusted to him similar
  responsibilities, all of which

    748  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

  were discharged with the greatest ability and faithfulness. At various times,
  too, he has been chosen appraiser for several of the most valuable estates in
  that section.

    Mr. Ilgenfritz is a large property owner, as before his father's farm fell
  to him he had already purchased one of fifty-eight and a half acres in that
  immediate locality, and since his father's death has bought a further tract
  of 110 acres in the same township. Modern and progressive in all his
  methods, he has been a highly successful farmer and is daily becoming more
  prosperous still. In his view of political issues he is a Republican, and is
  proud of the fact that his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. In
  religious matters he stands with the United Evangelicals, and is a member of
  that church.

    In 1867, Mr. Ilgenfritz was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bricker,
  daughter of Elias and Sarah (Stickle) Bricker, of North Middleton township.
  Elias Bricker died in October, 1891, and his wife died Oct. 5, 1895. Two
  children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ilgenfritz: Fannie, who died Aug. 15,
  1888, was the wife of William M. Kutz; her daughter, Ethel Romaine Kutz, has
  made her home with her grandparents since she was five months old. Albert,
  the son, married Emma Swarner.