My Genealogy Hound

JONAS C. RUPP. In the year 1751 Jho. Jonas Rupp came to America from Germany and settled in the part of Lancaster county that is now Lebanon county. From there he removed to the vicinity of where now is Shiremanstown and became the progenitor of one of the largest and most prominent families that has yet lived in Cumberland county. Jho. Jonas Rupp had a son Jonas, who was born May 29, 1756, and married Catherine Billman, born Oct. 8, 1759. Jonas and Catherine (Billman) Rupp had a son Jonas, who was born near Shiremanstown Feb. 16, 1783. This Jonas Rupp was extensively engaged as a farmer. Being possessed of a restless spirit of enterprise he also engaged in various lines, and during his active years he did more toward the development of the locality in which he lived and operated than any man of his day. He built a gristmill on the Conedoguinet creek, near Good Hope, which at that time was the largest and finest mill in Cumberland county.

In the same locality, on one of the tributaries of the Conedoguinet, he built a sawmill and a clover-mill, which continued in operation and accommodated the inhabitants of that section for years. Through his influence and liberality there was secured the erection of a bridge across the Conedoguinet in the vicinity of his new mill, which proved a great and lasting benefit. He also built houses, secured public roads, and made many other improvements which were the means of giving employment to the laboring men of his neighborhood. He was generous to a fault, and through his promotion of various enterprises lost heavily, becoming quite poor in his latter days.

This third Jonas Rupp married Elizabeth Coffman, who was born June 12, 1783, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth Coffman, Mennonites. His wife died July 20, 1837. He died May 4, 1846, and both are buried in the Coffman family burying-ground, a short distance north from Bryson’s Bridge, in Hanover township.

Jonas and Elizabeth (Coffman) Kupp had two sons, Jonas and Christian Coffman. There was also a daughter, Anna Catherine, who died before she was a year old. Jonas, the elder son, married Susan Low, who bore him the following children: Christian B., Benjamin, Peter L., Isaac and Elizabeth. Christian B. is a tinsmith; he married Caroline E. Lehn, and lives in Carlisle. Benjamin married Caroline Buckwalter, and was a farmer; he died in Frankford township and is buried in the graveyard of the Upper Frankford Church. Peter L. married Lizzie Stevens and also engaged at farming; he died in South Middleton township and is buried in Carlisle. Isaac married Rebecca Duey, and engaged at farming in different parts of Cumberland county for many years. He is now living in Hogestown. Elizabeth married William Ulston, of the United States army.

Christian C. Rupp, the second son of Jonas and Elizabeth (Coffman) Rupp, was born Dec. 15, 1816, in what is now Hampden township, and lived on the borders of Hampden and Silver Spring townships all the days of his life. He was a farmer, and engaged at that occupation earnestly and successfully until well advanced in life. He married Frances Low; she and Susan Low, who married Jonas Rupp, brother of Christian C. Rupp, were sisters, and daughters of Peter and Elizabeth (Heilman) Low. Christian C. and Frances (Low) Rupp had the following children: Elizabeth Ann, who married John Shaeffer, and is living at Good Hope. Hampden township; Joseph B., who died in infancy; Mary Jane, who married William B. Logan and is living in Carlisle; Margaret Elmira, who married Frank L. Eckels, who died July 13, 1901; Jonas C., who is the special subject of this sketch; Sarah Agnes; William Emory, who married Mary Ida Hoover, and is living in Shiremanstown; George Milton, who married Elizabeth Coble, and is farming near Shiremanstown; and Clara Emma. Sarah Agnes and Clara Emma are unmarried, and with their sister, Mrs. Eckels, are now living in Carlisle. Mrs. Frances (Low) Rupp, the mother of this large family, in the latter part of her life was a great sufferer from rheumatism and for twenty years was entirely helpless. She died May 28, 1897, aged seventy-six years. Christian C. Rupp died Sept. 20, 1898. Both were active and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their remains were buried in the graveyard of the Salem Methodist Episcopal Church in Hampden township.

Jonas C. Rupp, the eldest son of Christian C. and Frances (Low) Rupp, was born Feb. 19, 1850, in Hampden township, and educated in the public schools of his native locality. He remained at home, working on the farm, until he was married, in 1875, to Miss Annetta Dietz, daughter of David and Caroline (Sheely) Dietz, of Hampden township. After his marriage he farmed the old homestead for a period of eight years, and then removed to Monroe township where he farmed very successfully for many years. Recently he bought a farm of forty acres, lying on the Lisburn road, not far from Churchtown, to which he expects to move in the spring of 1905.

Jonas C. and Annetta (Dietz ) Rupp had children as follows: Carrie, who married Elmer Brindle, is living in Monroe township and has one son, Jonas; Bertha, who married Jacob Sheely, is living in Lower Allen township, and has three children, John J., Mary Ellen and Jacob Charles; Ella May, who married Alvin Rowe and is living in Monroe township; and Charles, Minnie Barbara and Sadie Elmira, who are yet at home. On Nov. 6, 1892, Mrs. Annetta (Dietz) Rupp died, and her remains are buried at St. John’s Church, in Hampden township.

On Dec. 12, 1895, Jonas C. Rupp married, for his second wife, Miss Barbara B. Shenk, a daughter of Abraham S. and Rebecca (Bender) Shenk, who formerly were of Lancaster county, Pa., but came to Cumberland county when their daughter Barbara was but four years old, and settled in Monroe township. Mrs. Shenk died on Jan. 9, 1900, and Mr. Shenk has retired from the active duties of life.

Jonas C. Rupp and family belong to the Lutheran Church at Trindle Spring, in which Mr. Rupp is at present a deacon. In politics he is a Democrat, as was his father before him, but is not a politician in the sense of being an office seeker.