My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM A. ZIEGLER, a farmer and also mail carrier of Middlesex township, was born Oct. 10, 1848, on one of the farms inherited by his father from the grandfather’s large estate.

The first in the family in America was the great-grandfather, Philip Ziegler, who was born in Germany and came to America in 1765. He settled at first in Philadelphia, now Montgomery county, but in 1801 he removed to Cumberland county, and purchased a large tract of land in Middlesex township, the greater part of which still remains in the family. The portion on which the original homestead stood is now owned by A. J. Ziegler. Philip Ziegler had but one son, also named Philip, but in the next generation there were several daughters and six sons: John, Abraham, Samuel, David, Jesse (father of W. A.) and Philip.

Jesse Ziegler was born in Montgomery county. He married Miss Mary A. Peffer, whose girlhood was passed in Carlisle, and to their union the following children were born: Montgomery E., deceased; Sophie E., wife of Daniel R. Wilson, of Carlisle; Amanda R., deceased wife of C. P. Humrich; Eleanor H., who died young; Sarah E., Mrs. Levi Switzer, of Troy, Ohio; John H., of Middlesex township, who married Miss Sarah Lesher; Jesse P., of Plainfield, who married Miss Jennie Sellers; William A.; and Clara H., Mrs. Perry Ratcliffe, of Carlisle.

William A. Ziegler worked with his father on the farm from the time he was a mere boy, but he was also sent to the district school every winter until he was twenty-one, so that he received a good education. After his marriage he rented the home from his father for eleven years, remaining there until 1884, when he bought his present farm of seventy-two acres in Middlesex township. About two years ago he added 157 acres, and has since then carried on the two farms together.

On April 3, 1873, Mr. Ziegler was united in marriage to Miss Miranda Jane Ziegler, his cousin, daughter of Samuel Ziegler. Her mother was Elizabeth F., a daughter of Henry and Rachel (Fackler) Hoch, and was born on what is now the Nieswanger farm in Middlesex township. There were eight children in the family, of whom Mrs. Ziegler was the next to the youngest: Maria, deceased; Rachel C., who married V. B. Giffin, of Atlantic City, N. J.; Annie, deceased; Keziah, deceased; Harry H., a farmer in Middlesex township, married to Mary C. Wagner; Joseph K., a farmer, married to Amelia Jenkins; Miranda Jane; and Samuel, deceased. Mrs. Ziegler is the mother of nine children, namely: Maude, born April 18, 1874, deceased in infancy; Cora B., who died in infancy; Norman V. B., born Dec. 20, 1875, now in the hardware business in Atlantic City; Alverna M., born Sept. 13, 1877, a music teacher and the organist of the Carlisle Springs Church; Albert L., born Jan. 14, 1879, and Harry H.. April 29, 1882, both at home; Clarence H., May 29, 1885, now deceased; Jesse C., Dec. 2, 1886, at home, a substitute mail carrier; and Raymond L., born July 6, 1891.

Mr. Ziegler and his wife are both members of the First Lutheran Church of Carlisle. In politics he has always been a Democrat, has been actively interested in local affairs, and has held several official positions. For several years he was township assessor and served as justice of the peace fifteen years. In September, 1903, he was appointed a mail carrier in the rural free delivery service. Mr. Ziegler has always been most faithful and efficient in the discharge of his varied duties, and is highly regarded by the friends and neighbors among whom his whole life has been passed.