My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM S. ZEIGLER, one of the prominent farmers and highly respected citizens of Southampton township, near Middle Spring, Cumberland county, was born Oct. 10, 1846, in Fannett township, Franklin county, son of Isaac and Mary A. (Hammond) Zeigler.

The Zeigler family is of German extraction. Michael Zeigler, grandfather of William S., made his home for some time at Stony Point, Franklin county, near Shippensburg, where he was engaged in farming, and then located at Newville, Cumberland county, where his son Henry operated a pottery for many years. He afterward went to Galesburg, Ill., where he died at the home of his son Isaac. He was one of the original members and leading officials of the Church of God at Shippensburg. The children of Michael Zeigler were: William, Isaac, Henry, Michael, Mrs. Susan Walters, Mrs. Mary Ann Kegerreis, Mrs. Elizabeth Rebuck, and Mrs. Rebecca D. Roush, the last named the only living daughter. Three of the sons, Isaac, Michael and William, followed the trade of tinner, and were hardware merchants, the Zeigler family being somewhat noted in this respect. Michael’s two sons are now tinners and hardware men. William had one son, who was also a tinner and hardware man. Mrs. Rebuck had a son, who became a tinner; Mrs. Kegerreis had a son and grandson engaged as tinners and hardware men; Mrs. Walters had two sons and grandsons, tinners in Shippensburg.

Isaac Zeigler lived at Path Valley, Franklin county, working at his trade until 1856, and then made a trip through various States and Territories, finally locating at Galesburg, Ill. Here he became associated with James Andrews in a hardware business, and became a leading citizen of that place, where his death occurred in the fall of 1871, at the age of fifty-one years. In politics, he was a Republican, and in religious belief, he was a Baptist. In Path Valley Isaac Zeigler married Mary A., daughter of Lawrence and Mary A. (Skinner) Hammond, old settlers of the valley. Lawrence Hammond was born in February, 1797, in Spring Run, was married to Mary A. Skinner March 16, 1818, and the next month settled on the farm at Spring Run, where they lived continuously until his death, April 6, 1883. He left his children property amounting to over $100,000. He was the father of fifteen children, of whom seven were living at the time of his death, as well as sixty-four grandchildren, 118 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. Among his children were one pair of twins and one set of triplets, all of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Hammond lived to nurse five generations, her death occurring in the fall of 1887, on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond most enjoyably celebrated their fiftieth (1868) and sixtieth (1878) marriage anniversaries. Mrs. Isaac Zeigler died in 1852. The children of Isaac and Mary A. Zeigler were: William S.; Mrs. Anna M. Griffith, of Galesburg, Ill.; and Jennie Lind, who died at Galesburg, in the fall of 1868, when but eighteen years of age.

William S. Zeigler was educated in his native county. His mother dying when he was between six and seven years old, he was taken by his grandfather Hammond, who, as he says, reared him “to be a farmer and a Democrat.” Like so many members of his family, he has often felt a strong inclination to be a tinner and hardware dealer. He farmed for his grandfather Hammond, for seventeen successive years, in Path Valley, until the spring of 1884. He then removed to Southampton township, where he owns three farms, and besides which he has valuable store property at Galesburg, under rental, and also the “Hotel Sherman,” and other business properties in Shippensburg.

Mr. Zeigler married (first) Hattie Rhodes, who died March 24, 1870, in Path Valley, leaving one child, Jennie Lind, who died March 24, 1871. Mr. Zeigler married (second) Rachel P. Hoch, and they have one daughter, Anna M., who married Jacob H. Reber, superintendent of the Waynesboro public schools, and has one child, Helen V., born October 26, 1899. Mr. Zeigler is a Democrat and has held township offices, performing the duties to the satisfaction of the community.