My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT W. SIPE. The Sipe Family is one of the oldest in Cumberland county, Pa., its representatives having lived here for over a century. The grandfather of A. W. Sipe, Peter Sipe, was born in 1771 at Lancaster, Pa., came to this county with his parents when a lad, and located with them near Mt. Holly Springs. Peter Sipe was a farmer, and a carpenter by trade. He and his wife Mary were Dunkards in religious faith. He died of old age when he was ninety-one, and his wife was about eighty-six, when she passed away; they were buried in the burying-ground of Baker’s Church. The following children were born to them: Sarah, born in 1816, married William Kinard, of Cumberland county, and both are buried at Mechanicsburg; Elizabeth, born in 1806, married Levi Howe, of Cumberland county, and both are buried at Moler’s Church; Mary, born in 1815, married Jacob Shaffer, and died at York Springs, Adams Co., Pa.; Susannah, born in 1807, married Jacob Steinhaur, and they are buried at Mechanicsburg, in Chestnut Hill cemetery; John, born in 1809, went to Illinois and lived to advanced age upon a farm near Monmouth; Daniel was a farmer in Adams county, where he died in early life; Samuel, born in 1813, was a tanner, and died in Carlisle; David, was the father of Albert W. Sipe.

David Sipe, born in 1818, was reared upon a farm, and he received a very limited education, only attending school two terms. When he was a young man he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, which he followed until he retired, a few years prior to his death. In conjunction with his business in this line, which was a large one, employment being given to fifteen to twenty men, Mr. Sipe conducted an undertaking business, and for some years carried on a carpet and wall-paper establishment. He also dealt largely in real estate, and to-day there are a number of substantial houses standing in Carlisle which he erected. In all of his ventures he was eminently successful. Not only was he an excellent business man, but he managed the affairs of the town intrusted to him in the same successful manner. It was he who advocated and carried through the proposition to put in brick walks in Carlisle, and many other equally important improvements owed their conception and fulfillment to him. In religion he was a consistent Lutheran and for years was a member of the advisory board, generous and charitable to a fault, he not only gave liberally, but reared in his own home several destitute children.

David Sipe married Ann Catherine Weibly, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Bowers) Weibly, and she survived until May, 1888, Mr. Sipe dying in December, 1883. Five children were born to them: Mary, who died in childhood; Robert, a cabinet-maker of Carlisle; Albert W.; Charles H., a conductor on the Cumberland Valley railroad; and William, who died in childhood.

Albert W. Sipe was born July 2, 1852, and was educated in the public schools of Carlisle. When he was fourteen he began to earn his living at farm work, and at seventeen he began to learn the carpenter trade with Samuel and Ephraim Wetzel, serving an apprenticeship of three years. Six months thereafter he began working with his father, and for five years was engaged in cabinet-making, after which he went back to the carpenter’s trade. Until 1901 he was one of the successful carpenters of Carlisle, but since then he has lived retired. He has also dealt largely in real estate, and is one of the solid, substantial men of the county. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Carlisle Lodge. No. 91, and Encampment, No. 256, and is very popular in the order.

In 1876 Mr. Sipe was married to Miss Harriet Brenneman, a daughter of Isaac and Mary Brenneman, and one child has been born to them, Harry B., who resides in Carlisle. This young man was married to Miss Leo Myers, a most charming lady of Carlisle. He is a tailor, conveniently located on West Main street. The members of the family are all connected with the Lutheran Church, and uphold the customs of the family in taking an active part in its good work. Albert W. Sipe is justly numbered as one of the leading men of the community. In politics, like his father, he is a Democrat; the father was formerly a Whig. The Sipe family is one which stands well in Cumberland county, and its representatives have been men of good business ability, integrity of purpose and possessed of marked aptitude in some direction or other.