My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT E. SHULENBERGER (deceased) was born in 1844, in Mifflin township, Cumberland county, son of John, and grandson of Benjamin Shulenberger.

Benjamin Shulenberger was a farmer and distiller in Hopewell township, where he bought a farm of 137 acres. Both he and wife died there, and were interred at Hock’s graveyard. They had children as follows: Adam died in Lurgan township, Franklin county; Samuel died in Frankford township, and is buried at Newville; Catherine Hoover died in Lurgan township; and John was the father of our subject.

John Shulenberger was born on the home farm in Hopewell township, was reared a farmer, obtaining such literary education as was to be secured in the district schools of his day. Later he bought the old Bell farm of 300 acres in Mifflin township, and followed farming all his life, prospering greatly. He married Janetta Beatie, daughter of John Beatie, who was born in Ireland and lived in Newburg, and then on his farm where he died. The children of John Shulenberger and wife were: Benjamin, who died in Frankford township; Samuel, who died in Illinois; John B., of Shippensburg; William, a minister of the Reformed church and located in Maryland; Elizabeth, who married Adam Heberling; Anthony, who died on the home farm; Adam, a resident of Missouri; Robert E., of this sketch; and Anthony (2), who is also a minister of the Reformed church, and located in Virginia. In 1857 his first wife died, and later in the same year, John Shulenberger married Catherine Shuman, who bore him five children, four of whom died in infancy, and David is a resident of Shippensburg. John Shulenberger bought a farm of 200 acres in Mifflin township, where he erected handsome buildings and made many fine improvements. There he died in January, 1875, and his second wife in 1888, and both are interred at Zion Church, in which he was an elder.

The late Robert E. Shulenberger was a youth of active mind, and he secured a good education in the district schools, growing into a young man of more than the usual intelligence and information. In addition to farming, he became a skilled veterinary surgeon, although he had no medical opportunities. He was so successful that his time was filled with professional engagements, whenever he could be spared from the farm. After his marriage he settled in Mifflin township, and, at his father’s death, he bought 176 acres of the family estate. He continued to improve this place, making it one of the finest farms of the township, and there his death took place, Sept. 21, 1901. His burial was at Zion Church in Hopewell township.

Few men were more highly respected, or more sadly missed, than Robert Shulenberger. In 1880 he was elected justice of the peace, and served faithfully in this office until his death, a period of twenty-one years, and was just entering upon another term. For six years he was a school director, was also auditor, served on the election board, and in fact was one chosen by his fellow citizens to fill the offices of trust and responsibility. Future examiners of the township records will have no occasion to ask what kind of a man was Robert Shulenberger, for they will find his name standing for honesty and integrity, and for the faithful performance of public business.

A consistent and active member of the Reformed Church, Mr. Shulenberger possessed the happy faculty of making his religion so bright and so real that instead of turning the youthful from it, he was noted for his influence with the young. He had charge of the children’s department of the church, and was universally beloved by them, and his influence will long be apparent.

In 1872 Mr. Shulenberger married Sarah Belle Clippenger, daughter of Solomon and Eva (Gilbert) Clippenger, and these children were born to them; Aldora E., born in 1872, married Mervin H. Swartz, who is farming the home farm in Mifflin township, and they have these children, Edna, Eva, Ethel, Annie, Ervin, Lester and Nellie; Minna M. is a resident of New York City; Frank W., a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, is now a student at Harvard; and Elden married Nellie Harbaugh, and is manager of the Mohler Organ Factory at Hagerstown, Md. Mrs. Shulenberger still resides on the home farm, retaining the management of the property, and having the companionship of her daughter, son-in-law and the merry little grandchildren. She is very highly esteemed by all who know her.

CLIPPINGER. Solomon Clippenger, father of Mrs. Shulenberger, was born in Lurgan township, Franklin county, Pa. His education was obtained in the district schools and he grew to man’s estate a farmer. He married Eva Gilbert, daughter of Frederick Gilbert, and they settled near Zion Church in Hopewell township, where he bought a farm of over 300 acres. In 1808 he built a fine modern brick residence and commodious barn, burning the brick on the farm. A few years before his death he moved to Newburg and lived retired, dying Feb. 23, 1891, aged seventy-five years and ten months. His wife died March 17, 1893, aged seventy-four years. Both were worthy members of the Church of God, in which he was an elder and a leading spirit. He gave largely to charity, assisted in public-spirited enterprises, and performed every duty of a Christian man and a good citizen.

In politics he was a Republican, and he served acceptably as supervisor of Hopewell township. The children of Solomon Clippenger and wife were: Henry is a physician in Berrien county, Mich., and married Mary E. Johnson, of Ohio; Mary died when four years old; Josiah died also when young; Jacob, in the tile business, and a prominent business man in Wayne county, Ohio, married Barbara Heidenshield; Annie married David Heberling, and died at Newburg Oct. 22, 1899; Sarah Belle is the widow of the late Robert Shulenberger; Anthony married Ida Milligan, and resides in Somerset county, Md.; Obediah married Anna Showers, and they live in Somerset county, Md.; Solomon died in infancy; Daniel, the second oldest living, is unmarried and resides with Mrs. Shulenberger.