Foose
There are two "Foose" lots in the Markelsville Cemetery (St. John's), which tell the story.
FOOSE, c/o James & Catharine:
George M. 15 May 1840 0-9-18
James P. 13 Apr 1848 2-8-23
Catharine C. 28 Apr 1847 0-1-22
FOOSE, Harry A. 29 May 1900 28-0-8
William I. 1 Sep 1840 22 Aug 1926
wf. Margaret (Orwan) 7 Jan 1838 11 Apr 1914
c/o W.I. & Maggie:
Emma Lissa 12 Jun 1871 4-2-17
Howard Morris 10 Nov 1878 3-3-12
James 22 Sep 1876 64-11-18
wf. Catharine Ann 13 Oct 1900 83-1-2
Mary d/o James & Cath. 7 Mar 1853 11-4-29
Sarah Eleanor 14 Sep 1903 59-4-23
James Foose (1812-1876) is the eldest. His wife was Catharine (1817-1900). They had six children. Their first child, George M., was born September, 1839. Catharine was pregnant with their second child when baby George died in May 1840 at the age of 9 1/2 months. William I. Foose was born September 1, 1840. Mary was born in 1842; Sarah Eleanor Foose was born in1844, and James P. was born in 1846. The Foose family, with their four children under eight, lived in Markelville. Catharine was pregnant again.
Tragedy struck - Catharine Ann born in early March of 1847, but died in April before she was two months old. Their youngest son died a year later (April 1848) before his 3rd birthday. Five years later their daughter, Mary, died March 7, 1853; she was only eleven years old. Only William and Sarah survived. James died at the age of 64, while Catharine lived to be eighty-three Sarah, apparently never married, lived to be fifty-nine; William lived to be eighty-six!
William I. Foose (1840-1926) married Margaret Orwan, who was born in 1838. It is believed that the Orwan family also lived in Markelsville. They had three children, but their survival rate was not much better than his father's children! Their first child, Emma, was born in 1867 and died in 1871 at the age of four. Their second child, Harry A. was born in 1872. Their last child, Howard was born in 1875 and died at the age of three. Harry died in 1900 at the age of twenty-eight. William Foose was a cabinet maker.
Note: Marsha Bard told me her grandfather was an Orwin/Orwen/Orwan who was orphaned and raised in Markelsville b Rev. Long.
In 1903 William Foose was sixty-three and Margaret was sixty-five. They bought the two lots from John T. Baker's heirs, which was deeded to Margaret Foose. Tract #1 was seven acres bounded north by a public road [RT 849], on the east by lands of Charles Adams and Samuel Snyder, on the south by Lewis Baker [son of John T.] and on the west by a public road [Robinson Rd]. Erected on the property is a two story frame dwelling house, stable and outbuildings. In 1993, 41/2 acres this property is 7001 Creek Rd [Ann Smullen] Tract #2 was 9 acres lying north of Middle Ridge Rd. The lot was bordered on the north by lands of Charles Adams; on the south by lands of Selvia Long, and on the west by lands of George D. Robinson.
There William and Margaret lived. William used the upstairs of the summer kitchen as his wood shop. It is said that he made coffins and their home was used as a funeral home. In 1914 Margaret died
In 1915 Stella Blaine bought the two tracts, that Margaret Foose bought from J. T. Baker's heirs in 1903, for the consideration of $1226.67. M. E. Flickinger acted as executor for deceased Margaret Foose. The conveyance was subject to the following:
"During the lifetime of William I. Foose, the surviving husband of the said Margate Foose, shall have the right to use, occupy and enjoy for his own personal use the south east room, on the second floor of the dwelling house erected on tract No. 1. The right, during the same period, to use, occupy and enjoy the carpenter shop on the same tract, but allowing the said Stella Noll Blaine, her heirs and assigns to stove goods in said shop but in such way as not to discommode the said William I. Foose in the use of said building as a work shop."
At this time, William Foose ( b.1840-1926) was seventy-five years old. Just how much longer would he live? Did he lived with the Blaines until 1926, when he died, ? So William Foose lived in the house with David, Stella Blaine, their two children.
Thus upon the death of William I. Foose on August 22, 1926, ended this line of Foose in Markelsville.
More Foose...
FOOSE, Lemuel Oliver, superintendent of city schools, Harrisburg, Pa., was born in Juniata county, Pa., January 16, 1838. He is a son of James and Catherine (Boyer) Foose. He primary education was received in the Markleville Academy, Perry county, Pa. He also took the greater part of the course at the Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pa. He left college at the close of the junior year. He was subsequently honored by this institution with degree of M. A. While obtaining his education he was more or less engaged in teaching school. While at Markelville Academy and also at college he taught to help pay his way to an education.
He had charge of the academy at Aaronsburg, Centre county, Pa., from 1864 to 1866, and in 1866-67 he was superintendent of schools at Lima, Ohio; in 1868-69, superintedent of schools at Miamisburg, Ohio, and from 1869 to 1879, principal of the boys' high school, Harrisburg, Pa. In 1879 he was elected superintendent of the schools of the city of Harrisburg. In this position his services have accomplished much for the improvement of the schools. The course of study has been extended and reconstructed, with closely graded scholarships for admission to successive grades; changes have been made in the method of promotion, so that classes complete the year's work earlier than before, and new classes take up their work at the time of year when there is less disposition to drop out. A change has been effected by which pupils are promoted without examination when their work is satisfactory to the teachers. Competitive examinations are now held for the appointment of teachers. As applicants come to take the examination, the one highest in grade is appointed to the first vacancy, and the next vacancy is filled by the next highest in grade. This does away with favoritism or influence on the part of the school board in appointing teachers. As a result of Professor Foose's able administration the standard of scholarship and discipline has been raised, and the general scope and mission of the schools so extended and enlarged that they hold a high grade among the schools of the State.
Professor Foose was one of the founders of the public library, and has since been secretary and trustee of the same. He has been at the head of the University Extension work since its inception. He is chairman of the city Bible Society, and is closely identified with the Dauphin County Sunday-School Association, being its president and secretary. He is a member of the Messiah Lutheran church. He has been one of the official board and the superintendent of the Sunday-school for twenty years.
Lemuel O. Foose was married, in 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Eleanor Kuhn, daughter of Rev. Samuel and Eleanor M. Kuhn. Their children are: Albert Elliott, Charles James, the architect of the public library building, of Harrisburg, Ella Irene, Frank Charles and Jessie Florence.
FOOSE, JACOB A., superintendent and manager of the Harrisburg Tinsmith Company, was born in Lancaster, Pa., February 11, 1860. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hambright) Foose. They are natives of Lancaster county, where his father was for many years identified with prominent business interests. He efficiently filled the office of chief of police in Lancaster for many years, and for many years served the city well in the select council. He now resides in Reading, Pa., and conducts an extensive tin and copper smithing business. These parents have three children living: Anna, wife of William B. Cox; Ida, wife of Ambrose Snyder, and Jacob A. The latter received a limited education in the Lancaster public schools. At ten years of age he began to work in his father's shop at plumbing, gasfitting, tin and copper smithing. After fourteen years of this employment in his native city he removed to Lebanon , Pa., in 1884, and was for one year foreman of a tinsmithing establishment there. In June, 1885, he opened a shop in Harrisburg in connection with the Harrisburg Car Manufacturing company, which he has since operated, having been connected with his present business from its beginning He was married in Lancaster, November 15, 1877, to Sarah F., daughter of Peter and Amanda Stout, of Reading, Pa. Of their ten children, six died in infancy. Those living are: Jacob S., Frank D., Bertha H., and Helen. Mr. Foose is an active member of Cornplanter Tribe, No. 61, I. O. R. M.; of Dauphin Castle, K. of G.. E.; and Philadelphia Council, Legion of Honor. He is an ardent Democrat. He attends the Lutheran church.