My Genealogy Hound

T. J. NEWCOMER, one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of East Pennsboro township, and one of its honorable self-made men, was born June 4, 1863, in Frankford township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania,

Mr. Newcomer was educated in the district school of Possum Hill, where he lived until ten years of age. In 1874 his parents removed to Shepherdstown and he attended school there. His mother died March 3, 1876, and in the following year he went to Camp Hill, where he had an opportunity to work for J. L. Heyd, Esq., on a farm and go to school. He continued here two years and then worked for Michael Kreiger of East Pennsboro township, for seven years, following farming.

Mr. Newcomer now decided to learn the carpentering trade and remained at West Fairview for three years, with William Shaull, and then engaged as a contractor, on his own account, at Wormleysburg; following a general line for three years, with close attention to business, he made much progress. By 1894 he had become so well known and relied on, that he was elected a justice of the peace, in East Pennsboro township, and he had his office at Wormleysburg, but later removed it to Bridgeport, and in 1900 established himself at his present place.

Since 1895 Mr. Newcomer has been largely interested in real estate. In 1897 he became agent for the R. H. Hummel Estate, and in 1901 was appointed trustee of two interests in the estate by will, as well as by appointment. Since then he has laid out lots and built houses, and has sold twenty-one dwellings since the fall of 1902.

While contracting he was engaged in many large enterprises, and at one time was engaged by the McCormick estate of Harrisburg, in building and repairing the dwellings and buildings on their various farms. About 1897 he added insurance to his other enterprises, and became accredited representative of the Delaware Fire Insurance Company.

In 1903 Mr. Newcomer bought a tract of four acres above Bridgeport, on the Chambersburg Turnpike road, and laid this out in twenty-five lots. As an example of business enterprise, it may be remarked that he sold these in three weeks. He has not only handled, but owns, a large amount of town property and farming land, his individual holdings including six desirable city properties, and a farm of 116 acres. Considering that our subject was thrown entirely upon his own resources from the age of thirteen years, and that he entered into his individual business life with little capital except energy, honesty and perseverance, Mr. Newcomer’s success teaches its own lesson.

The Newcomer family is an old one in Pennsylvania. Samuel Newcomer, grandfather of our subject, and his wife Nancy, lived in Mechanicsburg, and died there about 1867. They had these children: Samuel, who married Catherine Wilt, and died in Mechanicsburg; David, who married Kate, and died in Topeka, Kans.; John, who married Lucy Shur, of Mechanicsburg; Zachariah, father of our subject; Nancy, who married (first) Samuel Mumma, and (second) John Miller, and lives now at Winding Hill; Sarah, who married Mr. Sidle, of Mechanicsburg.

Zachariah Newcomer was born in 1842, in East Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, and as his father was in easy circumstances, he had good educational opportunities, and through his youth attended the district schools. Later he learned the carpenter’s trade, and after marriage, moved to Mechanicsburg, where he followed it until 1870, when he moved on a farm in Frankford township. In 1874 he moved to a farm near Shepherdstown, where he lived until the death of his wife, when he bought a small property between Bowmansdale and Shepherdstown. Some time later he went to Topeka, Kans., where he now lives. Zachariah Newcomer married Mary Landis, born in 1836, near Shippensburg, and she died March 3, 1876; she was a member of the Mennonite Church at Winding Hill, a devoted Christian, faithful wife and loving mother. She was laid to rest in the quiet old burying ground at Winding Hill. The children of Zachariah Newcomer and his wife were: Amos, a resident of Topeka, Kans.; T. J.; Harry, who died in Kansas, aged twenty-five years; Nannie, who died at the age of eight years; and Ira, a resident of Harrisburg.

In December, 1888, Mr. T. J. Newcomer was married to Martha Neidhamer, born in Wormleysburg, daughter of Jacob and Mahala (McCormick) Neidhamer, town people. Both our subject and wife are prominent members of the United Brethren Church at Wormleysburg. For seventeen years he has taught a Sunday-school class, and officiated as Superintendent of the school for ten years. In politics, he is a stanch Republican, and was a delegate to the State convention when William Stone was nominated Governor. He was chosen as candidate for sheriff, by his party, in 1895. His fraternal connection is with the Knights of Malta, Lodge No. 196, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.