My Genealogy Hound

MELVIN L. DUNKLEBERGER. According to family traditions five Dunkleberger brothers came to America about the same time and settled in Berks county, Pa. The exact time of their coming is not known, but circumstances indicate that it must have been at a comparatively early date. Two of these five brothers, John and Solomon, migrated to the upper end of what is now Perry county, where they lived for the rest of their lives. John married Mary Swartz, of Saville township, and followed the occupation of farming in the adjoining district of Spring township. John and Mary (Swartz) Dunkleberger, among other children, had a son John, who married a Mary Koser and also engaged at farming in Spring township. He died near Falling Spring in 1843, while yet comparatively a young man, and was buried in the graveyard of the Reformed Church near Landisburg. His widow, Mary (Koser) Dunkleberger, afterward married William Stambaugh.

John Dunkleberger (2) and Mary Koser, his wife, had issue as follows: Sarah, Samuel, Henry, Elias, Catharine and Savilla. Sarah married Eli Stambaugh; Samuel married (first) Katy Lichtenberger, and (second) Mary Sheibley; Henry removed to the West; Catharine married Jacob Stutzman, and Savilla married Jonas Beistline.

Elias Dunkleberger, the fourth child of John and Mary (Koser) Dunkleberger, was born April 12, 1839, in Spring township, Perry county. He grew to young manhood in that section, receiving the benefit of its public schools and a good training at the avocation of farming. In the year 1866 he came to Cumberland county and hired with Jacob Herman, a farmer, near New Kingston, Silver Spring township, and was so well pleased with the locality and its people that he has remained there ever since. He engaged at farming until in recent years, when he relinquished farming and removed to a pleasant home in the town of New Kingston, where he is now living practically retired from the more strenuous duties of life. In 1866 he married Catharine Jane Orris, a member of one of the old and substantial families of that part of the county. Catharine Jane Orris was a daughter of David and Susan (Senseman) Orris, and Susan Senseman was a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Haines) Senseman, who came to Cumberland county from Cocalico township, Lancaster county, early in the last century.

To the union of Elias Dunkleberger and Catharine Jane Orris the following children were born: Minnie S., Melvin L., Levan H., and Addie.

Melvin L. Dunkleberger, the second child and the special subject of this sketch, was born Jan. 8, 1870, on the farm near New Kingston. He was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools and at the West Chester State Normal School. Later he took a course at Eastman’s Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which institution he graduated in the summer of 1889. In the fall of that same year he went into the employ of the Carlisle Shoe Company, at Carlisle, first in the cutting department and later as shipping clerk. He continued with this Company until in November, 1891, and in that time learned much concerning shoe manufacturing and of business in general. In January, 1892, he became bookkeeper for the Lindner Shoe Company, of Carlisle, in which he was one of the original stockholders. He continued as bookkeeper for this Company for more than ten years and by his faithful and efficient service contributed materially to the success of this flourishing industry. In 1901 he was promoted to the position of secretary and in January, 1904, to secretary and treasurer for the Lindner Company, in which capacity he served until December, 1904, when he resigned.

Exacting as have been his business cares and duties, he manages to give some time to the promotion of the industrial welfare of the community in general, as is evinced in the fact that he has been a member of the Carlisle Board of Trade and treasurer of that body ever since its organization. He is an intelligent, public-spirited citizen and one of the town’s active and progressive young business men. Fraternally he is likewise prominent and influential, being a member of St. John’s Lodge, No. 260, F. & A. M.; St. John’s Chapter, No. 171; St. John’s Commandery, No. 9, K. T.; Carlisle Lodge, K. of P.; Zembo Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Harrisburg, and Silver Spring Lodge, No. 598, I. O. O. F., of which he is treasurer. He has passed nearly all the chairs of the various orders to which he belongs and takes a great interest in fraternal matters in general.

On Dec. 10, 1891, Melvin L. Dunkleberger was married to Miss Almeda Senseman, daughter of the late Daniel and Susannah Senseman, of Silver Spring township. To them one child has been born, Hazel Theresa. They belong to the First Reformed Church of Carlisle, of which they both are very active workers, Mr. Dunkleberger being secretary of the Consistory. Since 1896 they have been living in a beautiful home at No. 126 West Pomfret street, Carlisle, where all their many friends are made welcome.