My Genealogy Hound

ABRAHAM C. RICH, one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Mechanicsburg, Pa., was born Sept. 16, 1852, in Cumberland county, a son of John and Rachel (Vankirk) Rich, the former of whom was born in Lancaster county, Pa., near Mt, Joy, Feb. 15, 1818.

Christian Rich, the grandfather, was a son of John (in German Johannes) Rich, who was born in 1750 in Bavaria, Germany, and came to Baltimore, Md., in 1773. By profession he was a teacher, and in that capacity he came to York county, where he died in 1807. His son, Christian Rich, was born May 7, 1796, married Susan Greenewalt, and had the following children: John, born, as noted above, Feb. 15, 1818, is mentioned below; Ann, born Oct. 18, 1820, married Lot Howe; Mary Ellen, born Oct. 19, 1822, married Eli J, Comp; Abraham G., born Aug. 20, 1824, married Ellen Devinny; Susan, born Oct. 15, 1828, married William R. Slyder; Esther, born Aug. 8, 1830, died young; Christian S. was born Nov. 25, 1834.

John Rich, father of Abraham C., was a broom-maker by trade. He married Rachel Vankirk, and they had a large family of children. We have record of: William H., born Sept. 15, 1844, now of Philadelphia; John W., born Oct. 30, 1846; Alfred J., who lost his life during the Civil war, at Alexandria, Va., while serving as a member of the 195th P. V. I.; Joseph S., born in 1850; Abraham C., of this sketch; Jacob V., born June 2, 1855; Mary, born Aug. 7, 1857; Rachel, born Feb. 19, 1861; and Sarah E., born in February, 1865. The father of this family was a well known and much respected citizen. He belonged to the New Mennonites in religious faith.

Abraham C. Rich was reared in and around Mechanicsburg, where he attended the public schools and followed farming for a time. Later he established himself in Mechanicsburg, where he carried on a broom-making industry for four years, and then became the proprietor of the “Mansion Hotel.” In 1890 he went into the manufacturing of weather stripping, taking out patents in his own name, and built up a good business in this line.

On Dec. 12, 1876, Mr. Rich was married to Mrs. Sarah B. (Uhler) Musselman, who had one daughter by her first marriage, Margaret Musselman, now the widow of William Raby, of Waynesboro, Pa.; Mrs. Raby is at present located at Indiana, Pa., and is engaged as a trained nurse, having taken a course at Blockley Hospital, Philadelphia. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rich, namely: Emma May, who lives at home, is a refined, cultured and highly educated lady, and a teacher of music by profession, being a graduate in music, class of 1896, at Irving College, where she is now one of the Faculty. Gertrude Irene graduated from Irving College in the Class of 1899, and on Dec. 25, 1901, became the wife of William E. Rinehart, of Greensburg, Pa.; they have two children, Gertrude A. and William Edward.

In politics Mr. Rich is a Democrat. He is one of the leading members of Trinity Lutheran Church. Fraternally he belongs to the Junior O. U. A. M. and the Daughters of Liberty and the Shepherds of Bethlehem. He is a very highly esteemed citizen, and is at present a member of the city council of Mechanicsburg.