My Genealogy Hound

WILLLIAM R. WHERLY, who is now engaged in farming in Penn township, Cumberland county, is a native of that township, and though his mature life was spent in the West up to within the last few years, he has now returned to his birthplace to settle down to agricultural life.

Mr. Wherly’s great-grandfather was born in France, and thence went to Germany, though it is not known in what part of the country he settled. His son George, the grandfather of W. R. Wherly, was born in Germany, and lived and died in that country, but beyond this little is known concerning him. We have no record of the maiden name of his wife, by whom he had six children: Mary, Eva, George, Michael, Christian and Jacob. Of the family only two came to America, Christian and Jacob, the latter marrying and settling in Harrisburg, Pa., where he died leaving no children.

Christian Wherly, father of W. R., was born in Germany in 1815, and was nineteen years old when he came to America. He landed at New York, but soon located at Petersburg, Adams county, Pa. He did not remain long at that place, either, coming to Cumberland county and settling at Centerville, in Penn township, where he commenced to follow his trade, that of shoemaker. He married Nancy Chesnell, who was born at Mt. Joy, Lancaster county, Pa., and was seven years old when her parents, John and Elizabeth (Hertman) Chesnell, came to Penn township, Cumberland county, where her father bought a fine farm of about seventy-five acres. There Mr. and Mrs. Chesnell passed the remainder of their lives, the mother dying at the age of seventy-two years, the father reaching the advanced age of eighty-two. Both are buried at the Centerville cemetery, in Penn township. They had three children besides Mrs. Wherly, namely: Elizabeth, Jacob and John, the latter dying in infancy.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wherly located in Centerville, where he followed his trade for a short time, finally commencing farming on the old homestead of his wife’s family, the farm of seventy-five acres in Penn township previously mentioned, which he subsequently bought. He built a fine barn and house, and made numerous other improvements on the place, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their days. Mr. Wherly was a poor boy when he emigrated to the United States, but his native industry and perseverance were all the capital he needed to make a success in life, and he became quite well-to-do. He was respected by his neighbors and fellow citizens in all the walks of life, and was chosen to the offices of supervisor and school director in Penn township, discharging the duties of same with his customary ability and fidelity. He was a Democrat in political faith, and he and his wife were Lutherans in religious faith, holding membership in the church at Centerville. The father died in 1882, the mother in March, 1899, and both are buried at Centerville. They were the parents of six children: Elizabeth and Sarah, who are living on the homestead in Penn township; Martha, who died when thirty-four years old; John, living on the farm of his brother William, in Penn township, who married Ellen McGannegal and has children — Clinton, Elsie and Keller; William R., whose name introduces this sketch; and Jacob, who is engaged in farming in Missouri.

William R. Wherly was born in 1847 in Penn township, along the Yellow Breeches Creek, and received his education in the local public schools. He lived at home assisting his father out of school hours, until the age of eighteen years, when he went West, and for two years was in Kansas. He then went to St. Louis. Mo., where he found employment with the street car company, and there he continued, remaining with the one concern, for twenty-six years. In 1900 he came back to Cumberland county, where he bought the old J. L. Tritt farm of eighty-three acres, where he has since resided, and to the cultivation of which he devotes all his time. He is a well-liked man, held in the greatest respect by all his friends and acquaintances. He adheres to the traditions of the family, being a Democrat in politics and a Lutheran in religion; he attends the church at Centerville. Mr. Wherly has never married.