George N. Wade
George N. Wade, longtime State Senator representing Pennsylvania’s 31st district, was born on August 13, 1893 in Washington, Pennsylvania.1 One of 9 children, Wade started work in the oil and coal industry at sixteen years of age.
Browse Encyclopedia
The Cumberland County Historical Encyclopedia is an expanding publication on the history of the Cumberland County. Covering a wide range of topics and the entire Cumberland County geographic region, the Encyclopedia seeks to be an initial entry point to those interested in the County's history. Entries seek to provide a list of resources available as well as showcasing some of the Cumberland County Historical Society's own collections.
Charles Bernhard Trustgod Waggoner
Who was this man with a most unusual name? In 1817, Charles B.T. Waggoner petitioned the court of Cumberland County to grant him a license to pedal. According to Pennsylvania law, a man would only be granted a license if he could not earn a livelihood because of a disability.
Henry Wales: Yankee Schoolteacher
A former resident wrote reminiscences of his school days in Carlisle in the 1820s and of his teacher Henry Wales. He sent them to the editor of the Carlisle Herald for publication.
Jonas E. Warrell – Businessman, Civic Leader, Benefactor
Jonas E. Warrell was born April 3, 1896 in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania to Albert and Anna Daley Warrell. He graduated from Conshohocken High School in 1913 and attended Drexel University.
Frederick Watts
Born on May 9, 1801 in Carlisle, Watts was one of 12 children born to David and Juliana Miller Watts. Watts’ Cumberland County roots extended to nearly its founding when his grandfather Frederick Watts emigrated from Wales purchasing a large tract of land in 1760 on the banks of the Juniata River in present day Perry County. Watt’s father, David was a well-known lawyer in the county and a member of the first graduating class of Dickinson College in 1787.
Marcia Dale Weary
For Marcia Dale, the daughter and namesake of father, Dale Weary, the developmental motor sequence from birth, to crawl, to walk, to run and dance took only three years. Dale, the father of Marcia, Sandra, and Rosemary, provided everything – a home, protection, a nurturing environment, and fun.
Weavers working in Carlisle in 1814
When the Septennial Census of Carlisle was taken in 1814, it included the names and occupations of all the borough’s taxables. Nineteen of them, including two women, were identified as weavers, and at least half of them were born in Ireland.
West Pennsboro Township
The recorded history of West Pennsboro Township began in 1735 when it was part of Pennsborough, one of two original townships in the North Valley. This preceded the formation of the county by fifteen years. By 1745, Pennsborough had divided into East and West Pennsboro. In the following years, the township boundaries changed as the population increased and the townships subdivided even more.
The West Shore Farmers Market
Riley John Katshir of Camp Hill, a soccer player at Lebanon Valley College (Class of 2019) represents the 4th generation of family ownership of the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne, which was opened by his maternal great-grandfather in the mid-20th century.
Dennison Wheelock: Carlisle’s Great Composer
Dennison Wheelock was one of the most famous students to pass through the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Wheelock was a promising music student at the Carlisle Indian School, and after he graduated, he became a prominent composer.