My Genealogy Hound

JOHN H. WALTERS, one of the retired residents of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, is a representative member of one of the old settled families of this section. Mr. Walters was born Dec. 25, 1838, on a farm in Silver Spring township, son of Daniel and Margaret (Weibley) Walters.

The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Walters was born in Germany, and emigrated to America in 1740. He served in the Revolutionary War, and for a time resided in Cumberland county. Joseph Walters, the grandfather, was one of the pioneers of Silver Spring township, where he became a prosperous farmer and a man of affairs. His tomb is in St. Paul’s Lutheran cemetery.

Daniel Walters, father of our subject, was born in 1802 in Cumberland county, and died Nov. 11, 1870. He married Margaret Weibley, who was born in 1807, daughter of Peter and Margaret Weibley, early settlers of Cumberland county; she died Aug. 16, 1876. By trade Daniel Walters was a carpenter, and he devoted his early life to that calling, but later he became a farmer and was a man widely known and esteemed. After his marriage he settled first in Hampden township, and later in Silver Spring, and resided on that farm until 1848, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser. He then moved to Upper Allen township, where he lived until 1852, when he returned to Hampden township, where he lived until 1859. That year he again returned to Silver Spring township where he died. He was a Democrat in political sympathy, and both he and his wife belonged to the German Reformed Church.

Daniel Walters and wife had a family of ten children, seven of whom attained maturity: Levi died Jan. 2, 1885; Jacob died in 1856; Margaret still survives; Wilson P. resides in East Pennsboro township; John H.; Daniel resides near Monmouth, Ill.; and Mary L. is the wife of E. Rankin Huston, a prominent citizen of Mechanicsburg.

John H. Walters passed his youth on the home farm, and attended the district schools in Hampden township, continuing to assist his father until his twentieth year, when he came to Mechanicsburg and entered into the employ of Thomas B. Bryson, with whom he remained for fourteen years. In November, 1862, he was drafted in Company A, 158th P. V. I., under regimental commander Col. D. B. McKibben. His regiment was sent to North Carolina, where he was engaged for a time in scouting and served faithfully through the ten months of his enlistment. After his honorable discharge he returned to his home in Silver Spring township, and resumed his work at the warehouse in Mechanicsburg under the same firm, remaining with them until 1876. He then entered the employ of E. Rankin Huston, who, at that time, was extensively engaged in the painting business.

During the following ten years Mr. Walters continued in the painting department, and then accepted a different position, that of messenger in the First National Bank of Mechanicsburg. Later he was made teller of the bank, and held that position until 1902, when he retired and since then has occupied himself in looking after his various interests.

In 1878 Mr. Walters was married to Jennie A. Zeigler, of Monroe township, Cumberland county, daughter of Philip and Martha (Bender) Zeigler. Politically, Mr. Walters is identified with the Democratic party, but votes independently in local matters. For one term he was a member of the borough council, representing the Second ward, and in 1886 he was elected burgess of Mechanicsburg, for the term of one year. His public offices have been performed with a fidelity which has reflected credit upon both himself and his city. Both Mr. Walters and wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is serving as trustee and elder.