BIO:  S. M. SKINNER, 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 748-749
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

 
    S. M. SKINNER (deceased), a well-known business man and wealthy real estate
  dealer at Newville; Cumberland county, came of good Pennsylvania stock, the
  family having been residents of the Keystone State for several generations.

    S. M. Skinner, Sr., the grandfather of the Newville citizen of the same
  name, was a native of Franklin county, where he followed farming as a
  vocation. His children were: Daniel; S. M.; William, who died in Franklin
  county; Enoch, who died in the West; M. R., mentioned below; Thomas, who died
  in Franklin county; Agnes; Sarah; and James. Both father and mother died in
  Franklin county.

    M. R. Skinner was a native of Dry Run, Franklin county, where he attended
  school. After leaving school he went to Roxbury, Franklin Co., Pa., where for
  twenty years he devoted himself to the mercantile business, and also owned and
  operated a gristmill. His death occurred in 1868, when his property was all
  sold. His wife died in 1872, the mother of the following children: Catherine
  married (first) Michael Miller, a millwright of Perry county, now deceased,
  and (second) James Stitt, of Franklin county, and she died in Roxbury;
  Philip, who married Emma Sentman, of Roxbury, was engaged in the mercantile
  business until his death; S. M., the subject proper of this sketch, is
  mentioned in full below; M. R., Jr., who married a Miss Tritt, of Cumberland
  county, now lives in Tennessee; and Jennie, who married Harry Dick, died at
  Shippensburg.

    S. M. Skinner was born at Roxbury, in 1843, and had the advantage of
  attending school until he was nineteen, and then of studying in an academy
  for two years. Upon leaving school he began a study of business principles by
  accepting a clerkship in a dry goods store, where he continued until 1867,
  when he came to Newville, and for a year clerked in a hardware store. For a
  short time he stayed in Harrisburg, but returned to Newville Oct. 16, 1869,
  there buying the hardware establishment of Stough & Mateer. For five years
  the firm was known as M. R. Skinner & Son, but our subject then became sole
  owner, and carried on the business alone until 1878, when he sold it. For
  four years he was engaged in

    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  749

  manufacturing all kinds of high grade wagons, and although most successful he
  did not find the work congenial, and sold out. He next became the owner of
  twenty-nine acres of land in the borough of Newville, which he laid out in
  lots, selling a part. He built a fine row of eight houses, on Chestnut
  street, while his own attractive residence was located on the corner of
  Fairfield and Main streets. Up to the time of his death he confined his
  attention exclusively to real estate, buying and selling, and found it
  exceedingly profitable. He also owned a fine farm in West Pennsboro township.
  His methods were open and above board. and the people had the utmost
  confidence in him.

    In 1873 Mr. Skinner was married to Miss Elizabeth Montgomery, daughter of
  Robert and Rachel (Thompson) Montgomery, granddaughter of James and Elizabeth
  (Scroggs) Montgomery, and great-granddaughter of Alexander and Sarah Scroggs.
  The ancestral Scroggs family home was originally used as a fort, in which the
  family took refuge from the Indians. At one time Alexander Scroggs owned all
  the land on both sides of the spring, and in his day he was obliged to plow
  with his trusty rifle over his shoulder ready for immediate use; he died in
  1826, preceded by his wife who died in 1804. To Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Skinner
  came three children, of whom, Harry, the eldest, died in infancy. The other
  two are: Helen M., born in 1878, married Lewis Sharp, son of Samuel Sharp,
  and they reside at home; Jennie B., born in 1883, is a graduate of the Normal
  school. Politically, Mr. Skinner was a Republican, and as a man with
  thoroughly up-to-date ideas, was keenly interested in all public
  improvements. He died Feb. 21, 1904, and in his death the citizens of
  Newville lost oneof their most active and enterprising citizens. He was
  especially missed by the poor, to whom he was ever ready to lend a helping
  hand.