Lemon, John - 1886

Frederick A. Asper, railroad and Adams Express agent, mill-owner and grain-dealer, Bendersville Station and Aspers, was born near Franklinville, York Co., Penn., January 29, 1844, a son of Jacob and Mary (Stitzel) Asper.

When he was two years old his parents came to this county.  The elder Asper was a carpenter, which business he followed until about eight years ago, when he retired, and is now, at the age of seventy-eight years, residing near Bendersville Station with his wife, who is seventy years old.

Frederick A. began to work as soon as able, mostly on farms.  About 1863 he went to Washington City, where he worked at the carpenter’s trade at Arlington Heights, under Government employ.  In the spring of 1884 he came to East Berlin, and engaged as a clerk in the store of G. W. Spangler, and in the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Company I, Two Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps, serving until after the surrender of Lee.  He was in the battle of Fort Steadman and the charge before Petersburg, and was honorably discharged with his regiment, in June, 1865.

After his return home he engaged as a broker, selling nursery stock for about thirteen years.  In 1869 he came to Menallen Township, and located near the present depot, on a farm.  In 1878 he turned his entire attention to farming and milling, and about the same time bought the brick-mill at the
station, having previously purchased the steam mill north of Bendersville, and operated both for three years, but at present he rents them.

In 1882, when the railroad was first proposed, he took an active part in acquiring it; was appointed a member of the executive committee, and probably secured more subscription for stock, from the proceeds of which the railroad was built, than any other man in the county, outside of Gettysburg.  He contributed $500 in cash and a year’s time toward the completion of the railroad.  When finished he was appointed passenger, freight and express agent at Bendersville Station, which position he still fills.

He built and owns an elevator on the track, worked by water power, conveyed by a rod to a water wheel 840 feet off.  The mill site was occupied for the same purpose 150 years ago.  The present mill structure was built about ninety years ago by John Lemon.  It is one of the oldest mill sites in the county, has the best water power, and now grinds custom work.

Mr. Asper also owns two farms of 150 and 59 acres, respectively, near the depot.  January 6, 1874, he married Sarah C. Eppelman, a daughter of Henry Eppelman, of Menallen Township and Bendersville.  They have four children:  Dennis C., Elsie M., Charles F. and Ora May; Blanche S. died at the age of four months and twenty-six days.  Mr. Asper built his present brick residence in 1880, at a cost of $4,500.  
   
~ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886, Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 473-474