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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania published in 1905 by The Genealogical Publishing Company.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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S. M. SKINNER (deceased), a well-known business man and wealthy real estate dealer at Newville, Cumberland county, came of good Pennsylvania stock, the family having been residents of the Keystone State for several generations.

S. M. Skinner, Sr., the grandfather of the Newville citizen of the same name, was a native of Franklin county, where he followed farming as a vocation. His children were: Daniel; S. M.; William, who died in Franklin county; Enoch, who died in the West: M. R., mentioned below; Thomas, who died in Franklin county; Agnes; Sarah; and James. Both father and mother died in Franklin county.

M. R. Skinner was a native of Dry Run, Franklin county, where he attended school. After leaving school he went to Roxbury, Franklin Co., Pa., where for twenty years he devoted himself to the mercantile business, and also owned and operated a gristmill. His death occurred in 1868, when his property was all sold. His wife died in 1872, the mother of the following children: Catherine married (first) Michael Miller, a millwright of Perry county, now deceased, and (second) James Stitt, of Franklin county, and she died in Roxbury; Philip, who married Emma Sentman, of Roxbury, was engaged in the mercantile business until his death; S. M., the subject proper of this sketch, is mentioned in full below; M. R., Jr., who married a Miss Tritt, of Cumberland county, now lives in Tennessee; and Jennie, who married Harry Dick, died at Shippensburg.

S. M. Skinner was born at Roxbury, in 1843, and had the advantage of attending school until he was nineteen, and then of studying in an Academy for two years. Upon leaving school he began a study of business principles by accepting a clerkship in a dry goods store, where he continued until 1867, when he came to Newville, and for a year clerked in a hardware store. For a short time he stayed in Harrisburg, but returned to Newville Oct. 16, 1869, there buying the hardware establishment of Stough & Mateer. For five years the firm was known as M. R. Skinner & Son, but our subject then became sole owner, and carried on the business alone until 1878, when he sold it. For four years he was engaged in manufacturing all kinds of high grade wagons, and although most successful he did not find the work congenial, and sold out. He next became the owner of twenty-nine acres of land in the borough of Newville, which he laid out in lots, selling a part. He built a fine row of eight houses, on Chestnut street, while his own attractive residence was located on the corner of Fairfield and Main streets. Up to the time of his death he confined his attention exclusively to real estate, buying and selling, and found it exceedingly profitable. He also owned a fine farm in West Pennsboro township. His methods were open and above board, and the people had the utmost confidence in him.

In 1873 Mr. Skinner was married to Miss Elizabeth Montgomery, daughter of Robert and Rachel (Thompson) Montgomery, granddaughter of James and Elizabeth (Scroggs) Montgomery, and great-granddaughter of Alexander and Sarah Scroggs. The ancestral Scroggs family home was originally used as a fort, in which the family took refuge from the Indians. At one time Alexander Scroggs owned all the land on both sides of the spring, and in his day he was obliged to plow with his trusty rifle over his shoulder ready for immediate use; he died in 1826, preceded by his wife who died in 1804. To Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Skinner came three children, of whom, Harry, the eldest, died in infancy. The other two are: Helen M., born in 1878, married Lewis Sharp, son of Samuel Sharp, and they reside at home; Jennie B., born in 1883, is a graduate of the Normal school. Politically, Mr. Skinner was a Republican, and as a man with thoroughly up-to-date ideas, was keenly interested in all public improvements. He died Feb. 21, 1904, and in his death the citizens of Newville lost one of their most active and enterprising citizens. He was especially missed by the poor, to whom he was ever ready to lend a helping hand.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania published in 1905 by The Genealogical Publishing Company. 

View additional Cumberland County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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