BIOGRAPHY: David CORKLE, Mifflin Co., PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mike Williamson 
Transcribed by Patty Frank

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, 
Pennsylvania.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, 
Pages 619-620.
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  DAVID CORKLE, McVeytown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born November 18, 1820, 
in Oliver township, Mifflin county. He is a son of John and Susan (Powell) 
Corkle. John Corkle was born in Berks county, Pa., about 1788, and came to 
Mifflin county about the beginning of this century. Having been left an 
orphan at an early age, he became the ward of Robert Witherow, in what is 
now Wayne township. He was educated there in the common schools, and after 
attaining his majority, supported himself by farm work, and by rafting on 
the Juniata river, which was then the only means of transportation besides 
the stage and the broad-wheeled wagon. Mr. Corkle was often employed in 
rafting by Casper Dull and his brothers, while they were in the shipping 
business at McVeytown. About 1809, John Corkle married Susan, daughter of 
Philip and Julia Ann Powell, born in Berks county, Pa., in 1789. He enlisted 
for the war of 1812, as a substitute for Peter Rhodes, and served until the 
war was ended. After his return home, he resided for some years on this 
father-in-law's farm, in Mifflin county, were several of his children were 
born. In 1837, he removed to Hancock county, O., and then years later to 
Mercer county, O., where he died March 8, 1859, aged seventy-one years. His 
wife reached the same age, and died July 19, 1860. Their children were: Sara 
(Mrs. Eli Thompson), born in 1810, resided in Mifflin county, removed to 
Ohio in 1833, had one children, Rebecca, who married John Eppley, and after 
his death married again; Julia Ann (Mrs. Benjamin Nickel), of Mifflin 
county, born about 1812, removed to Mercer county, O., in 1836, has 
children, William, Anna, Charlotte, Mary Jane, Nancy, Franklin, Julia Ann, 
Samuel, Amanda and John; Elizabeth, born in 1817, married Randolph Wooden, 
of Mifflin county, had four children, one of whom died very young, and Mr. 
Wooden also dying, she married Mr. Franklin Felker, and again had four 
children; David; Mary, born in 1823, married Samuel Hamlin, of Hancock 
county, O., and had seven children; Joseph, born in 1827, married Mary Jane 
Wade, of Hancock county, O., removed to Cherokee county, Kas., has had four 
children, of whom one is deceased; Margaret, born in 1832, married Louis 
Bowen, of Ohio, lived at Findlay, O., had four children, two of whom were 
deceased; John; Susan; and Polly, who died in infancy.
  David Corkle was a pupil in the common schools of Mifflin county. When he 
was fifteen years old, he set about mastering the blacksmith's trade, in the 
smithy of his brother-in-law, Mr. Wooden. Having finished his 
apprenticeship, he worked as a journeyman for a few years, and then took up 
is abode upon his present premises in McVeytown, where by years of sturdy 
and conscientious labor, he has literally hammered out a competency for 
himself and his family. He has at the same time made himself a high place in 
the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and is now regarded as one of the most 
substantial citizens of the borough. He has never desired public office, but 
holds decided political opinions, sharing the convictions of his father, an 
old-fashioned Jeffersonian Democrat.
  David Corkle was first married March 21, 1841, to Elizabeth, daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Logan, of Huntingdon county, Pa.; the only child of that 
marriage is Joseph J. Mrs. Elizabeth Corkle died in July, 1844. Mr. Corkle's 
second marriage took place March 29, 1849. He then married Margaret, 
daughter of James and Catherine (Setzler) Stackpole. The children of this 
union are: an infant that died before it was a year old; John James, born 
March 6, and died March 16, 1851; Benjamin Nicholas, born March 7, 1852, 
married Sarah B. McKendree, has two children, William David and Bertha Ray, 
and resides in Harrisburg, Pa.; William Harrison, born December 21, 1853, 
married Margery McKinney, resides in Harrisburg, has four children, one of 
them, Harry Thornton, is deceased, and the others are Clyde Lerry, Gerald 
Francis, and John David; Charles Elmer, born April 23, 1857, was killed at 
Mifflintown, Pa., while coupling cars, January 20, 1888, had married Louisa 
Lego, and left children Margaret Ellen, David Elmer, William Cross and Harry 
Knolty; and infant born and died during the year 1859; and David Ellsworth, 
born January 29, 1862, married Jennie, daughter of Michael and Sarah 
(Mahaffey) Gaylor, and has one child, David Franklin, born December 7, 1894. 
Margaret, the second wife of David Corkle, died October 2, 1865; she was 
good and charitable woman, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Mr. Corkle was again married, December 25, 1867, to Catherine, widow 
of Elijah Dunmire. The children of this marriage are: John Edgar, born May 
16, 1868, died April 27, 1884; Jenny Elizabeth (Mrs. Arthur Mateer), has two 
children, Eugene and Ruth; Hannah Kate, born August 18, 1871, died July 26, 
1875; and Julia Belle, born August 28, 1876, died March 6, 1892. Mrs. 
Catherine Corkle died October 4, 1891. She was a pious and consistent member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church at McVeytown. The venerable father having 
now relinquished active business, his son, David Ellsworth Corkle, has since 
1895 taken his place at the forge and in public favor, enjoying a large 
share of lucrative custom.
  Joseph Jackson Corkle, eldest son of David Corkle, enlisted in the Forty-
ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in defense of the Union throughout 
the war of the Rebellion. He was married March 19, 1867, to Martha J., 
daughter of James and Susan (Setzler) Ross. Two of their six children are 
deceased, Cloyd and a very young infant; the others are: Elizabeth May, born 
April 7, 1868; William Ross, born October 21, 1869, married Carrie Connelly; 
Andrew Swartz, born July 4, 1874; and Maria Leona, born September 20, 1876.