Individual Details

JOHN was born and raised on his parent's farm in W.. Donegal Twp., Lancaster, Pa. JAW,Sr. says of him, "Now during the summer he worked the farm and in the fall of the year and winter he was driving a six horse team from his home to Philadelphia and out as far as Pittsburgh (He would have traveled from Lancaster to Philadelphia on what was the first turnpike built in America. It was 62 miles long and was completed in 1794 at a cost of $465,000. It used a new construction technique pioneered by Scotsman James McAdam (thus the word "macadam"). To pay the cost of building the road a fee was collected at ten toll-gates on the road. The road is now known as Route 30. At Columbia, Pa. he would have been able to travel across the Susquehanna River on the covered bridge that was built in 1811.Took wheat down and loaded merchandise, took as far out as Pittsburgh. Traveled 25 miles a day. He had a big wagon covered with cloth so that the rain did not come on his goods (This was probably a Conestoga wagon, which was commonly used at that time as the main means of transportation for commerce. The wagon traditionally carried a set of team bells. If the wagon driver needed help along his journey he had to give up his bells to his rescuer This is the origin of the saying "I'll be there with bells on." This would indicate that no problems were encountered along the way.) He had a heavy raincoat and hat that he could cover his shoulders. He said to me that he walked many a rainy day along side his team, so he did that for years until the canal came (canals and early railroads linked nearly all parts of the state by 1840.) He was single that time and then he bought a farm between Palmyra and Campbelltown, the third farm from Palmyra along the highway. Now he was alone so he found a lady by the name of SARA H. ARNOLD."
On record at the LebCCH is a purchase of a 170 acre farm on 2 Apr 1847 in Londonderry Twp., Lebanon Co., by JOHN EBERSOLE for $6893.43 lawful money of the United States(K-332 LebCCH). JOHN & SARAH lived on this farm for the remainder of their lives. After SARA'S death JOHN married Leah Grubb.
As per JAW,Sr. it was JOHN and SARA's son John that was in the Civil War. "He was there over 3 years and never was wounded. Got caught and put in Libby prison a while, got shot two times through his cap. One evening the boys were sitting in camp and they heard somebody shoot, then they looked around and at last he noticed a black spot in a tree so he got his gun and fired at the black spot and down came a sharp shooter." John survived the Civil War. He died 13 Apr 1908 and is buried in the U.B. cemetary in Annville.
Another son, Jacob, lived in Palmyra. Forrest Witmeyer remembers going with JAW,Sr. to visit him and watching him make brooms.
After JAW,SR.'s father died and they sold the farm outside of Annville, JAW,Sr. went to live with his grandfather JOHN and Leah at their farm in Campbelltown. They spent many evenings talking of old times.
JOHN died at the age of 76 and is buried in Campbelltown. JOHN'S Will was written 23 July 1884 & he died 11 July 1887. In his Will he directed that after his death his property should be sold at public sale & the interest on Fifteen hundred dollars should be paid annually to his widow Leah "as long as she remains my widow and if she marries again or at her death as my widow the said sum of Fifteen hundred dollars shall be equally divided share and share alike among all my children then living-she my said wife shall retain all the personal property and money she brought to me when we married." He bequeathed the sum of $2500. to all of his children. Some of the children had already received part of their inheritance, so they were just bequeathed the remainder. After each child received their $2500. the remainder of the estate was to be distributed evenly among the children or the survivors of them & "should any of my children not be satisfied in this way it is my will that he or she shall receive nothing from my estate."
JOHN'S inventory (LebCCH D-95 & K-234) included 1 Bay Horse $40., 1 Harness $3., 1 Carriage $17.50, 1 Iron Trough $5., 27 crocks apple Butter $8., 5 chairs $1.30, carpet $3., 4 Brls. viniger $10., 1 tub & churn $4. The total inventory came to $1373.46. JOHN'S(10) 81 acre farm was sold in 1888 to his son in law Jacob K. Shenk for $10162.83.
JAW,SR. states that "The Ebersole family that I knew were in stature very robust, heavy built in bone & muscle. The boys were over 6 feet in height, but not the girls. The boys weighed from 160 to 190 pounds but not the girls. But the Arnolds where my Grandmother originated had an uncle that weighed 325 pounds and the rest of the family was in proportion from 120 to 180 pounds. They were short in height and stout in proportion. They died at an old age ...."


ADDITIONAL SOURCES
The Ebersole Families by C.E.Ebersole
Lancaster Co. A History by H.M.J.Klein
The Pennsylvania Story by Fortenbaugh & Tarman

Birth	26 June 1811	W. Donegal Twp., Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Marriage	26 February 1835	Sara Herchelroth ARNOLD
Deed	15 August 1848	Lebanon Co., K - 332, Purchase Of Farm In Londonderry Twp.
Deed	24 March 1869	Lebanon Co., Deed Book U, P. 157, 158, 159
Deed	1 July 1871	Lebanon Co., V - 1, P. 534, 535
Death	11 July 1887	Cambelltown, Pennsylvania
Will	16 July 1887
Inventory	9 June 1888	Lebanon Co., D-95 And K-234
Burial		Campbelltown Reformed Church Cemetery

Spouse

Sara Herchelroth ARNOLD (1815 - 1867)