My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. CHARLES S. DERLAND, a retired merchant of Boiling Springs, Cumberland county, was born at Altoona, Blair Co., Pa., Oct. 16, 1840, a son of John and Mary (Harpst) Derland, who died while he was quite young. They left but two children: Asbury, who was born in 1837, and Charles S. These two boys were reared by their grandfather, John Harpst. John Derland was a resident of Huntingdon, Pa., in early life, but later went to Blair county, where he was engaged in the iron business. He was an only son.

John Harpst, the grandfather, was a son of Henry Harpst, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and John Harpst was a soldier in the war of 1812, participating in the battle of Lake Erie. The family originated in Scotland. John Harpst was a powerful man, standing six feet three inches in his stocking feet. A hard worker, he succeeded well in life, and lived to the surprising age of ninety-eight years. His wife, who was a Miss Cox, died aged 102 years. Both parents of John Harpst lived to be 102. In politics John Harpst was an Old-line Whig, while in religious matters he was a Lutheran. The two grandsons were tenderly reared by this most excellent man, and were given a limited education in an old-fashioned school, which had slabs for seats, and was built of logs. At the age of twelve years the boys began working in a wholesale and retail store at Hollidaysburg, Pa., as errand boys. Within three years young Asbury was promoted to the position of bookkeeper, and Charles S. took his place, remaining with this house until the breaking out of the Civil war. Asbury had, in 1857, engaged with a firm of iron manufacturers, and become the chief clerk of his firm. On Aug. 24, 1861, young Charles enlisted in the Anderson troop, composed of a selected man from each county in the State, 100 in number, to act as bodyguard to Gen. Anderson. Charles served one year as a private, when the troop was re-organized as the 15th Cavalry, and he was commissioned second lieutenant. In 1863 he resigned as an officer of the 15th Cavalry, and after a short period at home went out as adjutant of the 22d Cavalry. After the battle of Gettysburg, in the spring of 1864, the 22d Cavalry was re-organized, and he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company I, and in the winter of 1864 he was promoted to the rank of captain of Company I, thus serving until Oct. 31, 1865, when he was mustered out by general orders. He never had a scratch, although three horses were shot under him. Among other battles he participated in the following: Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Antietam, Newmarket, Strasburg, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Ashby’s Gap, Winchester, Martinsburg, Fisher’s Hill, Port Republic, Cedar Creek, and many minor engagements. His record was all the more remarkable in that he was not only never wounded, but he was never sick, or taken a prisoner.

After his term of service had expired Capt. Derland returned to Pennsylvania, and located at Boiling Springs, where he embarked in the mercantile line with his brother, thus continuing for three years. He then went to Antietam, Md., and took charge of a mercantile business for John S. Ahl & Co., continuing thus four years. He then moved to Newville, still in the employ of the Ahls, and in 1876 returned to Boiling Springs, once again embarking in a mercantile business here, which he conducted until 1903. His business operations were very successful, and he is one of the prosperous men of the place. Capt. Derland is one of the active Republicans of Boiling Springs, has represented his party as delegate to various conventions, and is a member of the Republican county central committee. He was appointed notary public by Gov. Pattison, and re-appointed by each succeeding governor. On May 7, 1903, he became draftsman in the office of the secretary of internal affairs in Harrisburg, and still holds that position. For many years Capt. Derland has taken a prominent part in the affairs of his county, and is a live energetic, ambitious man, one calculated to advance the best interests of the community. Fraternally he is a member of G. A. R. Post No. 201. He was made a Mason in 1867, in St. John Lodge, Carlisle.

On Dec. 4, 1864, Capt. Derland was married to Miss Sadie Embick, who died in November, 1900. Two children were born to them: Mary, wife of Rev. John E. McVeigh, of New York, member of the Philadelphia conference, has two children, Charles and William; Blanche is at home. Capt. Derland is an active member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, to which his wife also belonged.