Harry J. Lilly

"HARRY J. LILLY. (see next sketch below). The great-great-grandfather, Samuel Lilly, came from Bristol, England, landing at Philadelphia, Penn., thence went to Chester County, Penn., but after a short time came to Conowago Township, Adams County, Penn., (where his great-grand-daughter, Sarah Lilly, still resides) in 1733. He was nine months making the trip from England, being wrecked on the coast of Ireland. He learned the trade of fuller, in his native land, and first settled on the west side of Conowago Creek, on account of the water-power, and erected a factory, which carried on for many years, his son succeeding him, but which was finally abandoned, as it did not pay, cloth being manufactured so cheap in Eastern cities. No vestige of the building now remains, everything being torn down. Samuel Lilly, also, operated a feed and saw-mill, which was replaced by a stone mill. He entered a great deal of land, and the homestead he first settled is still in possession of his descendants. When he first came to this township the Jesuits had the only log church, which was served once a month by priests, who came from Harford Co., Md. Indians still roamed over the forests. Mr. Lilly was a man of great physical endurance, and, although not of large size, was undaunted by discouragements or obstacles that were thrown in his way. He had several sons and daughters, and one of his daughters married Dudley Digges, who at one time owned much land around Conowago Chapel, and was shot by one of Michael Kitzmiller’s boys. Samuel Lilly’s sons- Richard, John and Thomas-were mentioned in his will, which was signed by John Digges, Henry Slagle and Archibald Irwin. Sarah Lilly, a daughter of Samuel Lilly, who was a grandson of Samuel Lilly the first, was born October 22, 1800, and has always resided on the homestead, with the exception of the time she attended school in Baltimore, and to-day, although she has seen more than four- score years, she is one of the most sensible ladies in the county; she still owns several hundred acres of the original homestead, which is farmed by her nephews, Edgar and John L. Jenkins. Miss Lilly is a member of Conowago Chapel, which her ancestors helped build, and is most highly respected by its members, who are in perfect harmony with all denominations.

HARRY J. LILLY, farmer, P. O. Centennial, was born on his father’s old homestead, a part of the Lilly tract, in Mountpleasant Township, this county, September 18, 1848. His grandfather, Henry Lilly, was born in Eden, Oxford Township, Adams County, and, at an advanced age, built the house where our subject now resides, and a mill. He, Henry Lilly, was twice married, first to Miss Kane, a native of Harford Co., Md., who died leaving three sons, who grew up to manhood: Thomas, who was educated at Georgetown College, of which he subsequently was teacher, and then treasurer, and finally a priest; later was stationed at St. Inigoes, in Maryland; afterward was sent to St. Joseph’s Church, at Philadelphia, and there died; George, who farmed here until 1860, when he went to Texas; Col. James, who resided in this neighborhood until 1859; when he went to Richmond, Va., where he remained till Fort Sumter was fired on, when he went to White Sulphur Springs, Va., and there resided until 1873, when he moved to Hinton, W. Va., where he died in 1881, aged seventy-four years. None of these three sons were married. Mrs. Henry (Kane) Lilly died at an early age, and Henry Lilly subsequently married Catharine, daughter of John Sneeringer, and who died at an advanced age in McSherrystown, Penn., the mother of six children: Joseph, John, Henry, Samuel, Caroline and Mary. Of these, Joseph was born in 1816, on the old Lilly farm; became a farmer and miller, and while still single, in 1832, moved to the place where our subject now resides; he died August 14, 1869, at Indianapolis, Ind., where he was under treatment for cancer in the face. Politically he was a Democrat, as were all the members of the family but the eldest, who was a Whig. Joseph Lilly was married to Catharine Reily, who is now seventy years old, a daughter of Edward Reily, an old pioneer, who came here about 1797. Of the six children born to Joseph and Catharine Lilly, three attained maturity: Mary J., Harry J., and Edward, now residing at Cape Girardeau, on the Mississippi River, 150 miles south of St. Louis. Of these, Harry J. was educated at Calverd College, New Windsor, Carroll Co., Md., with the exception of two years, when he took his father’s place at the mill. Our subject has followed agricultural pursuits, and now owns about seventy-five acres of the old farm; he has been quite a traveler, and has made many trips to St. Louis and other western points. Our subject was married in Baltimore County, Md., September 18, 1876, to Miss Helen Jenkins, who was born in March, 1856, daughter of Edward F. Jenkins, formerly a citizen of Baltimore, Md. This union has been blessed with four children: M. Josie, Edward J., Mary L., Alfred Austin. Mr. and Mrs. Lilly are members of Conowago Chapel. Politically he is a Democrat, and has been identified with this party nearly all his life. "