My Genealogy Hound

JOHN L. RUPERT, who is now living at Centerville, Cumberland county, practically retired from active labor, was born in 1846 in Dickinson township, that county, and has spent all his life in Penn township.

Detrich Rupert, the grandfather of John L., was of German origin, and settled in an early day in York county, Pa., where he passed his days, engaged in farming; he died there. He was the father of four children: George, who died in York county; Samuel, who died in York county; Solomon. who lived in Michigan; and Henry, the father of John L.

Henry Rupert, youngest son of Detrich, was born in York county, Pa., and was there reared and educated, attending the common schools, such as they were in his boyhood days. He learned the trade of wagonmaker, which he followed in York and Adams counties, finally coming to Cumberland county and locating at Barnitz Station, in Dickinson township. Here he bought the property now owned by Mrs. Reuben Martin, and followed his trade there for about twenty years. In 1846 he bought and moved to a farm in Penn township, Cumberland county, a tract of about eighty-seven acres which he cleared and improved in many ways, building a barn and other structures and in various ways enhancing the value of the place, which is now among the best in the valley. Mr. Rupert died here in 1862. He married Catherine Wampler, of York City, Pa., and she died in 1889. Both are buried at Centerville. Mr. and Mrs. Rupert were the parents of five children: Sophia, who died young; Howard, who is married and living in Penn township; Lewis, who lives in Arkansas; Sarah Frances, who never married, and who died at the Todd Hospital, aged fifty-seven years, May 1, 1900; and John L. Henry Rupert and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church of Centerville, he being a deacon for a number of years and he represented his church at the Synod at different times. He held the office of township supervisor of Penn township.

John L. Rupert was born at the old place in Dickinson township, at Barnitz Station, but he was only two weeks old when the family removed to Penn township, and there he was reared. He received such advantages as the common schools afforded, and was early inducted into the work of farming under his father, for whom he worked as long as he lived. He continued on the home farm with his mother after the death of his father, and after her death bought the personal property. He purchased the homestead after the death of the mother, and subsequently bought the old David Wortz property, at Centerville, where he now makes his home. In 1901 Mr. Rupert married Mrs. Amanda (Helm) Stutterheim, widow of Dr. Von Stutterheim, of Penn township, and daughter of David and Sophia (Bucher) Helm. Her father died at the age of fifty-two years, her mother at the age of sixty-two, and both are buried in Penn township.

Mr. and Mrs. Rupert lived on the old Rupert homestead for a year after their marriage, and have since lived at their present residence in Centerville. He is now leading a quiet life, enjoying the accumulations of a life of industry. In political faith he is a Republican, but he is not active in party affairs. He is a member of the United Brethren Church at Hayes Grove, where he has served as church trustee and as secretary of the Sunday-school and also of the Young People’s meeting. Mrs. Rupert is also a member of the United Brethren Church, and of the Woman’s Missionary Society.