My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT CORMAN was for many years one of the leading business citizens of Mechanicsburg, where he was regarded as a self-made man of solid worth. He came of a family long settled in this State, being a grandson of Ludrick Corman, a resident of Lebanon county, Pa., who was of German descent. His wife, whose maiden name was Ninomaker, was also of Lebanon county, and they became the parents of nine children: George, John, Jacob, Abraham, Philip, Henry, Catharine, Mary and Eliza. Ludrick Corman was a farmer by occupation. In political opinion he was a Democrat. He enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving under Washington, and was one of the brave company who shared the hardships of the memorable winter at Valley Forge. He considered it unpatriotic to take a pension from a country then comparatively poor, and many years later, when unfortunate circumstances would have made a pension welcome, it was applied for, but though his name was found on the roll all who knew of his services had passed away, and he could not be identified.

John Corman, second son of Ludrick, and father of Robert, was born April 9, 1778, in Lebanon county, Pa., and lived to the age of ninety rears. He learned the trade of cooper, and was an industrious, respected man all his days, leading a useful and honorable life. He married Elizabeth Campbell, a native of Cumberland county, Pa., born June 14, 1788, who was a descendant of the famous Campbells of Scotland, a branch of which family had settled in Ireland. To John and Elizabeth Corman were born nine children, namely: William, Robert, John, Agnes, Joseph, Charles, Eliza, George and Campbell. George served in the Civil war as captain of Company F. 56th P. V. I., and lost his life in the second battle of Bull Run. His brother Robert went to the battlefield to recover his body, but was unsuccessful, and he rests in the great tomb at Arlington Heights with over two thousand other unknown soldiers. John Corman was an old-line Whig in political sentiment. He was a man of wonderful memory, and many remarkable incidents of this faculty were related of him.

Robert Corman was born March 31, 1808, near Warm Springs, Perry County, Pa., and at the age of four years came with his parents to Cumberland county, where the remainder of his long life was passed. He was reared by an unusually conscientious mother, and his devotion to her even in youth was remarkable, and it was on her good advice that he laid the foundation of his subsequent success, both from a moral and material standpoint. He remained with his parents on the farm until about nineteen, when he decided to adopt some vocation which brought in better money returns than farming, and he turned to the tanner’s trade. Robert Bryson, who then owned and operated a large tannery near Mechanicsburg, had offered to teach him the business, and he went to live with him as an apprentice. At that time he had nothing he could call his own but an extra suit of clothes. After three years’ service, Mr. Bryson offered him $11 a month and board, and he continued to work for him as a journeyman tanner for seven years, during which time his wages were increased to fifty cents a day. In this period, by strict economy, he had succeeded in saving $700 out of his scanty wages, and had invested his money with Mr. Bryson at six per cent, interest. But he was not satisfied with the progress he was making, and thinking he might do better in the West he went to the young and growing city of Cincinnati. His search for employment took him over to Covington. Ky., where he applied to a Mr. Grant, who ran a tannery, but that gentleman could not engage him, as he had only a small plant, and he could attend to the work himself with the assistance of his two young sons, one grinding the bark and the other handling the hides. This Mr. Grant was the father of Ulysses S. Grant, and it is probable that the General was one of the two little boys assisting the father at his work. Though he could not give him employment, Mr. Grant spoke very encouragingly and kindly to the young man, and he did indeed find some work soon. His thrifty habits enabled him to save $675 in gold within two and a half years. His next location was at Kittanning, Pa., where he continued work at his trade and in about eighteen months he accumulated another $700. Mr. Bryson, his former friend and employer, becoming embarrassed in business about this time, wrote to him, offering him a one-third interest in his tannery, and Mr. Corman, accepting this offer, retained the interest eleven years. During this time, as before, he made his work count, and at the end of the eleven years had $12,000, twenty-eight acres and a fine home to show for his industry.

In 1833 the partnership with Mr. Bryson was dissolved by mutual consent, and as Mr. Corman was to engage in business at Trindle Spring he rented his residence for a number of years to a nephew of Mr. Bryson. Hiring an old tanyard at Trindle Spring, Mr. Corman carried on his old line of business there for seven years, and during that time also built what is known as the “Florence House,” in Carlisle, the first four-story house in that city. He superintended its construction himself, driving back and forth from the tannery daily, the building was put up in ninety days — a remarkable thing for that period. Meantime his former employer had met with further financial difficulties, and his large property — consisting of a steam tannery in full operation, well stocked with about $40,000 worth of bark and hides, over 200 acres of land, a fine mansion and other buildings — was bought by Mr. Corman at the assignee’s sale for $18,000. It was during the war, and no one would bid higher. At the end of three years Mr. Corman wound up the business, selling the property and stock for $59,000, and then moved to Mechanicsburg. In 1866 he took a pleasure trip overland to California, visiting the principal cities and places of interest, and on his return took a steamer at San Francisco for New York.

Mr. Corman’s next venture was an interest in the Trindle Spring paper-mill, which proved unfortunate to the stockholders, though no one lost a dollar, and he eventually purchased the property and converted it into a tobacco warehouse. He also bought three farms adjoining, which he cultivated, raising tobacco quite extensively. In this, as in most of his enterprises, he was quite successful. Mr. Corman’s life was varied and eventful, and he was a self-made man in the best sense of the word. By industry and honorable methods he accumulated a fine property, and he always retained the respect of his associates, in every walk of life. He never failed to give credit for his success to the noble mother whose early training did so much to mold his character, and to the friend and employer of his early days, Mr. Bryson, who gave him help and encouragement when he was starting life for himself with little prospect of the prosperity which afterward came to him, and who always treated him like a son. Mr. Corman passed away March 20, 1896, at his home near Mechanicsburg, to the end a type of the sturdy stock which has given so much prestige to the stalwart sons of Pennsylvania. He was a Presbyterian in religious connection, and his political support was given to the Whig and Republican parties.

On Oct. 2, 1849, Mr. Corman was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bailey, daughter of John and Ann (Blair) Bailey, and to this union came one daughter, Laura, born Nov. 28, 1856, now the wife of Harry C. Gross, of Harrisburg, now of Steelton, Pa., son of Dr. Daniel Gross. Mrs. Elizabeth Corman died in March, 1867, and on Dec. 11, 1884, Mr. Corman married Miss Eliza Bricker, who survives him.

Peter Bricker, the father of Mrs. Eliza (Bricker) Corman, belonged to one of the foremost families of Cumberland county, coming from German stock which settled in Lancaster county, this State, at an early day. Brickerville, in that county, was named after the family. Jacob Bricker, the father of Peter, was born in Brickerville, and married Miss Mary Fry, who was also of Lancaster county, and they had two children, Lewis and Peter. In 1812, when the latter was about six years old, the family moved to Cumberland county, settling in Newville, where he followed milling, and then moving to Silver Spring township. Before long he purchased the Silver Spring mill, which he owned for over forty years, prospering until he accumulated a comfortable fortune, his estate consisting of six farms (comprising over 900 acres), his mill property and a house in Mechanicsburg, whither he removed a few years prior to his death. He reached the great age of eighty-four years, passing away in 1867. Though a large man, he was active and industrious, his prosperity being well deserved, and he had a sociable disposition, with a fund of good common sense, which made him at once popular and reliable. Politically he sympathized with the Republican party.

Peter Bricker, the eldest son of Jacob, was born in 1807 in Brickerville, Lancaster county, and, as stated, came to Cumberland county with his parents when a young child. He learned the business of his father, and by energy and prudence succeeded even better, his property comprising nine farms besides the mill property in Silver Spring township, He raised a large family, giving them all good advantages, and led an upright, useful life, being in his day one of the most respected citizens of his part of the county. He married Miss Kate Buttorf, daughter of George Buttorf, of Cumberland county, and they settled on a farm given him by his father, which the latter had purchased of George Bobb in 1829, all his children were born in the old house built by Mr. Bobb in 1817, and here he continued to reside until 1860, when he moved to another of his farms, the one subsequently owned by Jacob Meily, To Peter and Kate (Buttorf) Bricker were born six children, namely: George, Peter, Jacob, Samuel, Mary and Susan. The mother of these children dying, he married for his second wife Miss Mary Bricker, of Cumberland county, daughter of David Bricker, and to this union came ten children, viz.: David, who is now a resident of Kansas; Lewis, deceased; Joseph, of Mechanicsburg; John, a farmer of Silver Spring township; Levi, a retired farmer of Silver Spring township; Christian, a farmer of Silver Spring township; Eliza, of Mechanicsburg, widow of Robert Corman; Catherine, wife of Daniel Musser; Clara. who married John Maxwell, of Cumberland county; and Ella, who died young.

Peter Bricker died July 21, 1875, in Silver Spring township, where he had long been a prominent citizen. He was a Republican in political faith.