Peter Schell Esq. (1784 - 1862)

Born 1 Aug 1784 in Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Eleanor (Statler) Schell — married 9 Sep 1806 in Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 28 Oct 1862 at age 78 in Schellsburg, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

‘Peter Schell was a Justice of the Peace in 1812; was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1822; was appointed by the Governor Associate Judge of Bedford County in 1831 and 1842; was Burgess of Bedford in 1832.

Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Schell, Honorable Peter

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Author: History of Bedford & Somerset Counties, Pa., Vol. I

Among the useful men of his day and generation was Hon. Peter Schell. He represented Bedford county in the state legislaute and was twice appointed associate judge.

He was the second son of John Schell (2), and was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1784. On May 1, 1800, he settled at Schellsburg, Bedford county, having come to that place with his father and mother and the family, consisting of eight children. He was about sixteen years of age at the time he came to Schellsburg. His early education was obtained at Phildelphia. On September 9, 1806, he was married to Eleanor Statler, by whom were born eleven children: 1, Elizabeth, died at the age of five years; 2, Maria Katharine, wife of Dr. Henry V. Bramwell, and died in 1861; 3, Samuel, died in infancy; 4, John S., a merchant, died at Schellsburg, 1890; 5, Charlotte, wife of Dr. William H. Watson; she died in 1860; 6, Ellen, wife of Colonel Michael C. Garber; 7, Ann Rebecca, wife of David M. Loy; 8, William P. Schell, of Bedford; 9, Abraham, E., a lieutenant in the Mexican war; 10, Elmira M, who married Colonel William P. Ankeney, who became a famous mill owner at Minneapolis, Minnesota; 11, Louis J., died in 1857.

The father of this family and the subject of this memoir died October 28, 1862, aged seventy-eight years. His wife died March 26, 1859, aged seventy-one years. They are both buried in the cemetery at Schellsburg.

Mr. Schell begain his career as a merchant in Schellsburg in 1810, and was there actively engaged for a number of years. He built the first brick house in the town. He had a natural inclination toward surveying land, and his knowledge in this line proved most useful in this county. He served as a worthy justice of the peace in his township many years. In 1822, he was elected to represent Bedford county in the state legislature. In 1827, he removed to Bedford borough, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for about ten years. April 18, 1830, he was appointed associate judge of Bedford county, by Governor Wolfe, and in 1832 served as burgess of Bedford borough. In 1837, he returned to Schellsburg, where he resided on his farm during the remainder of his life. March 8, 1842, he was again commissioned associate judge by Governor Porter, for a five year term. His mercantile career extended over a long period at Schellsburg and Bedford. He always had a large farming interest as well as being a merchant. His father, John Schell; his eldest brother, John Schell, and he were the chief factors in building the Bedford and Stoystown turnpike through Bedford county, in 1814, it forming one of the links on the route between Philadelphia and Pittsburg.

Mr. Schell early took an interest in temperance work, and was fearless and zealous in trying to suppress the drink habit. He was endowed with a judicial mind, and was ever thoughful and deliberate in his judgment. He never wronged or knowingly oppressed the weak; his nature was frank and open. He passed from earthly scenes in the golden month of October, the highest type of a devout Christian and highly honored citizen.

History of Bedford and Somerset Counties Pennsylvania with Genealogical and Personal Histories; Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H Welfley. Under the Editorial Supervision of the Honorable William H Koontz; The Lewis Publishing Company, New York :: Chicago 1906. Volume I; page 424

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Sources

• The Ancestry of Ellen Schell Garber, by William P. Schell, February, 1898
• Elizabeth Kratz
• History of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties, Waterman, Watkins, and Co., Chicago, 1884
• pauldsimpson, from The Michael Shoemaker book by Margaret Schumacher Carpenter (familysearch.org)
• 1820-50 Schellsburg/ Napier/Bedford/PA
• findagrave.com: Schellsburg Cemetery, Bedford, PA

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71043508/peter-schell