My Genealogy Hound

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.

* * * *

WILLIAM H. LINE, who has recently taken up his home in Carlisle comes of one of the oldest and most respected families of Cumberland county. He is a great-grandson of George Line, a native of Switzerland who emigrated from that country to America about 1710, when a young boy. The family settled in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and married, in Lancaster county, Salome Zimmerman. Their children were: William, who served in the Revolutionary war; David, who remained in Lancaster county; Abraham, grandfather of William H.; John, who married Anna B. LeFevre, and lived on the family homestead in Cumberland county until his death; Elizabeth, Mrs. McFeely; Sarah. Mrs. Houk; and Susanna, Mrs. Smith. The daughters all settled in Cumberland county. In 1778 George Line, the father of this family, came from Lancaster county to Dickinson township, Cumberland county, and purchased 540 acres of land from Gen. John Armstrong, here passing the remainder of his life.

Abraham Line, grandfather of William H., married Christina Eby, and their children were as follows: Abram, William, Gabriel, George, Henry, Ann (Mrs. Carothers), Sarah (Mrs. Kurtz), Susan (Mrs. Tritt), and Betsy (Mrs. LeFevre). William became the founder of Linesville, Crawford County, Pa., and Henry was also a very influential citizen of his community.

George Line, son of Abraham and father of William H., was born March 5, 1801, and died Sept. 9, 1877. He married Miss Rebecca Myers, daughter of Jacob and Susan Myers, and they became the parents of nine children, namely: Abram, who is deceased; George, deceased; Rebecca, Mrs. Long; a twin sister of Rebecca, who died in infancy; Jacob Zitzer, a well-known farmer near Carlisle; Annie, Mrs. Lindsey; William H., who is mentioned below; Agnes, Mrs. Allen; and Mollie, who is deceased. Mrs. Line survived her husband, and resided in Carlisle, Cumberland county, until her death.

William H. Line was born in 1859 at a place situated on the Spring road in Dickinson township, the old Line homestead. He received his education in the public school of the locality, attending the Spring school until nineteen years of age, after which he devoted all his time to work on the home farm. He continued to live on that place for eleven years after his marriage, in 1895 moving to his late home, the old Galbraith farm of 133 acres near Mooredale, which he had purchased in 1886. He fenced in the entire tract, and made all the other improvements which now enhance the value of the place, and he lived there for seven years, since which time he has rented it out. Removing from the farm to Carlisle, he was located for two years on North Hanover street, and in 1904 bought the fine home at the corner of College and North streets where he now lives. Since his removal to Carlisle he has been successfully engaged in carpenter work. In fact, he is a man who has met with success all his life, for he is thrifty and industrious, and energetic in pursuing anything he undertakes, with excellent results.

On Nov. 14, 1883, Mr. Line was married to Miss Eunice P. Kissinger, daughter of George and Maria (Myers) Kissinger, of Cumberland county, and this union has been blessed with one child, Laura Emma, born Dec. 21, 1889, who died Aug. 25, 1895, in Dickinson township. Mr. and Mrs. Line are members of the First Lutheran Church of Carlisle, and he is a Prohibitionist in political sentiment.

* * * *

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

View a historic 1911 map of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

View family biographies for other states and counties

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.