David B. Alleman, printer, Littlestown, was born in Hanover, York Co., Penn., in March, 1858, and is a son of Rev. M. J. Alleman, [mentioned elsewhere in this volume]. He received an academic education in Hanover, and finished his studies at York Collegiate Institute.
In January, 1881, he returned to Littlestown from Maryland and started a job printing office, and on the 21st of the following April issued the first number of the Littlestown Era, a seven-column folio, weekly paper, with a subscription list of 250. In 1882 the paper had met with such favor that it was enlarged to an eight-column folio, and in 1883 it was again enlarged, this time to a six-column quarto. The gentleman’s untiring energy and zeal in forging the paper ahead resulted in gaining an unprecedented circulation in 1885. About this time the necessary close application to editorial duties caused a weakening of his eyes to such an extent that it became painful for him to read common print farther a away than four or five inches. His eyes becoming gradually worse, he determined to dispose of The Era, which he did on January 30, 1885, to A. S. Goulden, and soon thereafter, August 8, 1885, the establishment was burned with all its contents.
In 1882 Mr. Alleman went, as a delegate, to the Independent Republican Convention, which met at Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia, and is much interest in State and National politics. He was married, April, 1881, to Miss Lizzie Ferg, a daughter of Adam Ferg, a prominent iron manufacturer of Tremont, Penn. They have but one child, Burton A. M., born February 5, 1882; another child, Charles, was born January 1, 1884, and died August 7, of the same year.
Mr. and Mrs. Alleman are members of St. Paul’s Church, at Littlestown.
~ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886, Part III, History of Adams County, Page 417
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