My Genealogy Hound

JOHN RADABAUGH, one of the well-known, substantial and representative citizens of East Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, was born July 2, 1836, in this township, son of John Radabaugh, who was born in 1808 in Cumberland county. The early family records fail to tell the name of the grandfather, although it is recorded of him that he served his country in the war of 1812, and John Radabaugh has the old flint-lock musket that he carried during that war. His wife., Barbara, appears to have been a woman of strength of character and good business ability, as she kept a hotel for years in Wormleysburg, where her last years were spent.

John Radabaugh, father of our subject, followed the coopering trade and was interested in lumber transactions. It is recorded of him that he was so expert in his trade that he could go to the mountains for his lumber and there complete a barrel without the aid of any shop machinery. He married Rebecca Welch, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Boyer) Welch, and she passed away aged sixty-eight years, and is buried at Camp Hill. His death took place in 1841 , and he was buried in Poplar cemetery, East Pennsboro township. Politically, he was a Democrat. Religiously, he was a Methodist. His two children were: Susanna, who died at the age of twenty-two years and was buried in the Poplar cemetery; and John, of this sketch.

John Radabaugh (2), the immediate subject of these lines, was educated in the schools at Wormleysburg, attending until he was nine years of age, and then went into the nail factory to earn his own living. He continued to work there until he was twenty-three years of age and then engaged in a butchering business, attending the Harrisburg markets for seven years. In 1865 he started farming, on March 16th buying the old Adam Eslinger farm in East Pennsboro township, a well located tract along the Susquehanna river. This he sold in 1872, removing to Marysville, where he began railroading and was connected with the P. R. R. & N. C. Co. for ten years. In 1889 he returned to farming, buying back his former farm of seventy-nine acres and an adjacent tract, making 116 acres in all. In 1901 he settled on the farm for the second time and is prospering. He has leased thirteen acres of his land, which has been found to contain the best kind of clay deposits used in brickmaking.

On June 24, 1857, Mr. Radabaugh married Sarah Jane Eichelberger, the ceremony being performed in Harrisburg by Rev. Mr. Bartine. She is a daughter of Jacob Eichelberger, who was born in 1809 in Cumberland county and had the following children: Adam, who died at Camp Hill; Jacob, a resident of Riverton; Martin, living at Sunbury; Joseph, of East Pennsboro township; Sarah Jane, wife of Mr. Radabaugh; Mrs. Mary Ann Bixler, of Wormleysburg, and Mrs. Catherine E. Gilmore, of this township. Mr. Eichelberger died in 1888, aged seventy-nine years. He and his wife are buried at St. John’s cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Radabaugh have had children as follows: Elmer E. died aged eighteen months; Ida is the wife of Franklin S. Strausbaugh, and lives in Baltimore; Harry died aged eleven months; John A. married Margaret Siterly, and they live in East Pennsboro and have children — John E., Albert B., Ida Jane and Elmer W.; Jacob E. married Annie Herrold, and they have eight children, John W., Jacob, Mary Catherine, Ira F., William, Sarah, Norman C. and Nora A. Ira F. married Edith Hunter, of Huntingdon county, is a telegraph operator with the Pennsylvania railroad and has one son, Rupert.

Politically, Mr. Radabaugh has always been a Republican, as are his sons, and at various times he has been called on to fill offices. While a resident of Marysville he served as judge of elections, and has been supervisor in East Pennsboro township one term and school director two terms. He is a man of upright character and a good and worthy citizen.