History of Shippensburg, (Cumberland County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

Joseph Henderson, representative, was born in Shippensburg, Cumberland county, Pa., Aug. 2, 1791; son of Matthew and Margaret Hem derson. His father was a surveyor. In 1802 the family removed to Centre county, Pa., and in 1812-13 Joseph attended lectures at Jefferson Medical college, from which institution he received his M.D. degree. He also studied medicine under an older brother, Dr. John Henderson, of Huntingdon county, Pa. In 1813 he was appointed first lieutenant in the 22d regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, and in the spring of that year marched his troops to Sacket Harbor, where they joined the main army on the frontier. In the fall of 1813 he was promoted captain and in 1814 was brevetted major, with the command of a regiment. He engaged in the battles of Chippewa, Lundy's Lane and the siege of Fort Erie. After the close of the war he settled at Brown's' Mills, where he practised medicine until 1850. He was a representative in the 23d and 24th congresses, 1833-37. In 1850 he removed to Lewiston, Pa., where he practised his profession until his death. He held high rank as a physician and was a trustee of the state lunatic asylum. He was twice married: first to Jane E., daughter of Judge Samuel and Elizabeth (Plunket) Maclay; and secondly in 1852, to Margaret Isenberg. By his second wife he had three sons, Juntos L., Joseph and William B. He died at Lewiston, Pa., from injuries received fifty years before at Fort Niagara, Dec. 25, 1863.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Balch Nevin, composer, was born at Shippensburg, Pa., March 15, 1859; son of Samuel Williamson and Harriet (Macomb) Nevin; grandson of Maj. David and Mary (Pierce) Nevin, and a descendant of Daniel Nevin, the immigrant, He attended the Cumberland Valley state normal school, and matriculated at Lafayette college in the class of 1883. He studied music and in 1883 engaged in the wholesale paper trade in Easton, Pa., but still continued his musical studies. He composed among others the songs: The Hills of God; The Song of Eternity; At the Cross; The Minster Song; The Phantom Horseman, and the duets My Faith Looks up to Thee, Eventide and Twilight. He also wrote numerone part songs and anthems much used by vocal teachers, singing clubs and in churches. He composed the music for which the Rev. Dr. Henry C. McCook wrote the national hymn, "God Guard Columbia." He was married, April, 25, 1888, to Lillias C., daughter of the Rev. William Hawley Dean of California.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Linn, educator, was born in Shippensburg, Pa., Feb. 27, 1752; son of William and Susanna (Trimble) Linn, and grandson of William Linn, who with his son William came from the North of Ireland in 1732, and settled in the township of Lurgan, Cumberland county, Pa. William 3d was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1772, A.M., 1775; studied theology with the Rev. Dr. Robert Cooper, and was chaplain of the 5th and 6th battalions, Continental army. He was pastor of the Presbyterian church, Big Spring (Newville), Pa., 1777-84; at Elizabethtown, N.J., 1784-85; of the Collegiate Dutch Reformed church, New York city, 1787-1805; president pro tempore of Rutgers college, 1791-94, and trustee, 1787-1808; regent of the University of the State of New York, 1787-1808; chaplain of the house of representatives, lst congress, 1789-91, and was elected president of Union college, Schenectady, N.Y., in 1804, but not inaugurated. He received the degree of D.D. from the College of New Jersey, in 1789. He was married first to Rebecca, daughter of the Rev. John Blair, vice-president of the College of New Jersey; secondly to Mrs. Catherine Moore, widow of Dr. Moore, of New York city, and thirdly to Helen Hanson. He is the author of: Sermons (1791); Signs of the Times (1794); Funeral Eulogy on Washington (1800); and Sermon on Death of Alexander Hamilton (1804). He died in Albany, N.Y., Jan. 8, 1808.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Blair Linn, clergyman, was born in Shippensburg, Pa., March 14, 1777; son of the Rev. William and Rebecca (Blair) Linn. He was graduated from Columbia college, A.B., 1795. A.M., 1797, and received the honorary degree of A.M. from Union college in 1797. He studied law in the office of Alexander Hamilton, and while in New York city wrote an unsuccessful drama "Bourville Castle, or the Gallic Orphan," (1796). He studied theology with the Rev. Dr. Theodoric Romeyn of the Dutch Reformed church in Schenectady, N.Y., where he had his first charge, being licensed to preach in 1797. He became an associate pastor in the First Presbyterian church, Philadelphia, in 1799. He was married in 1799 to Esther Bailey, daughter of Col. John Bailey of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. the University of Pennsylvania gave him the honorary degree of D.D. in 1803. Besides two volumes of miscellanies (1798), he is the author of poems: The Death of Washington (1800); The Power of Genius (1801); Sermon on the Death of Dr. Ewing; Reply to Dr. Priestley's Comparison between Socrates and Christ (1808); and Valerian, an incomplete poem published posthumously by his brother-in-law, Charles Brockden Brown (1805). He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 30, 1804.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor