My Genealogy Hound

ALEXANDER LINDSAY is still remembered by many residents of Cumberland county, in South Middleton township, where he was engaged in farming for many years, and in Carlisle, where he passed his latter days in retirement. Several of his children still reside in this section, and the members of this family have always ranked among the most esteemed residents of the community.

Mr. Lindsay’s father, also named Alexander, came to the United States from Scotland and first located in Perry county, Pa. There he married Mary Moses, and they subsequently settled in Cumberland county, near Newville. where Mr. Lindsay died. His widow then moved to Lexington, Ohio, to the home of her daughter with whom she lived until her death. This couple had a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, all of whom are now deceased.

Alexander Lindsay, whose name introduced these lines, was born in April, 1804, in Cumberland county, and grew to manhood on the parental farm near Newville, where he was trained to practical agricultural work. His education was received in the district schools, such as they were at that day. After taking up farming on his own account, he bought and moved to a farm in South Middleton township, where he followed farming for many years, eventually retiring and moving to Carlisle. There his death occurred in 1873, and that of his wife in 1878. They were Presbyterians in religious faith, and held membership in the Second Church of Carlisle. Mr. Lindsay was, in political sentiment, a Republican.

Mr. Lindsay married Elizabeth Wilt, and they became the parents of ten children, viz.: (1) John Wilt, who married Mary Belle DeWalt, died Dec. 7, 1902, on his farm in South Middleton township. (2) Matthew Henry, who married Elmira Hartman, is on the old home farm. (3) Elizabeth and (4) Mary E., are deceased. (5) Sarah Belle lives at the old home in Carlisle. (6) Emma is the wife of Luther Cameron, of Chambersburg. (7) William A. graduated from Dickinson College in 1869, studied law with A. B. Sharp, was admitted to the Bar, and died one year later, in 1873. (8) Mary B. graduated from the Mary Institute in Carlisle and from the Millersville State Normal School in the class of 1881, after which she taught twelve years in Pennsylvania, and for the past fifteen years she has taught school at Atlantic City, N. J. (9) Harriet, the wife of E. J. Gardner, whom she married in 1875, died at Carlisle May 8, 1903. (10) Katherine lives at the old home in Carlisle.

Mrs. Lindsay was born Aug. 1, 1810, near Big Spring, Cumberland county, and during her girlhood attended the local subscription schools. She was a daughter of John Wilt, who was born probably in old Virginia, possibly in Cumberland county, Pa. His father settled in Cumberland county in an early day, and brought slaves with him from Virginia, where the Wilts were slave owners. He took up a large tract of land three miles southwest of Newville, along the Chambersburg pike and there passed the remainder of his days, his son Peter succeeding to the ownership of this place, while John settled on a farm near by. John Wilt married Elizabeth Rippey, who had a brother that served in the war of 1812, and died on his way home at the close of that struggle. Col. Rippey, of Pittsburg, who was an officer in the Civil war, was a cousin of Mrs. Elizabeth (Wilt) Lindsay. This family is of English descent. To John and Elizabeth (Rippey) Wilt were born five children, four daughters and one son, Elizabeth being the second daughter.