Edwin Underwood Wrightstone Family

My mother, Dorothy Irene Klinger, was born in 1928 to Edwin Charles Klinger and Irene Mary Wrightstone in Shiremanstown, Cumberland County Pennsylvania.

Irene was born to Edwin Underwood Wrightstone and Hattie Amelia Arnold. The story behind Hattie's disconnected heritage with the Arnold Family begins with her mother's Sollenberger ~ Diller families, who both moved in 1867 from the southern Monroe Township of Cumberland County into its bordering northern Franklin Township region of Northern York County Pennsylvania.

-- Monroe and Franklin townships meet at the top of the Rocky Ridge, White Rocks, Long Mountain, and The Peak mountains within the Piney Mountain region of the South Mountain Range.

-- Piney Mountain is the northern extension of South Mountain, which lies within the Blue Ridge Mountains.

-- The Blue Ridge extends 70 miles from the Potomac River near Knoxville, Maryland in the south, to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania in the north. The 70 mile range separates the Hagerstown and Cumberland valleys from the Piedmont regions of the two states.


I was too young to remember my great-grandparents; Edwin and Hattie Wrightstone. My earliest memory was attending a Wrightstone burial at the Barrens Valley Church Cemetery, which was probably for Irene's father, and her brother, Ralph. I can't think of my grandparents, Ed and Irene Klinger, without our thoughts being filled with their love, and memories of Irene Wrightstone's brothers and sisters.

-- There is so much more on this family, and I encourage everyong to visit our research papers to read more about this family.

-- I also think visitng the family directory you will find even more to see.

-- The Wrightstone ~ Arnold photo collection, and Sollenberger ~ Diller ~ Bentz collection, are the largest in our library.

Edwin Underwood Wrightstone (1874-1957)

-- My maternal great grandparents: Edwin Underwood Wrightstone and Harriet (Hattie) Ameila Arnold.

-- Here's the specific Edwin Wrightstone (1874-1957) research paper.


Edwin Underwood Wrightstone was born August 20th 1874 to Michael Wrightstone and Eliza Jane Kline.

Edwin's middle name of Underwood comes from a close family relationship with Caleb and Elizabeth Underwood. Prior to the Civil war, before Michael and Eliza married, they both briefly worked and lived with Caleb and Elizabeth, and other Underwood family members.

Edwin grew up learning to farm, which he would continue his entire life. From birth through the turn of the 20th century, he would live with his parents in the Pennsylvania farming communities of Siddonsburg in the Monaghan Township areas of York County, and the Shepherdstown areas of Upper Allen Township, Cumberland County, near the Graham Schoolhouse.

It was during the late 19th century in these southern Cumberland and northern York County farming communities that Edwin would get to know Hattie Amelia Arnold.

It was on December 2nd 1902 when a 28 year old Edwin Wrightstone married a 19 year old Hattie Amelia Arnold. They were joined together by the Minister, J.S. Diller, at South Mountain Union Church located in Franklin Township.

-- J. S. Diller was known as Simon, and he was a clergyman for South Mountain Union Church. The church was funded and built in 1867 by Simon's father, Reverend Samuel Diller, on a section of one of Samuel's farms. The Arnold, Diller, and Sollenberger families all attended this church.

-- Simon was the younger brother of Hattie's Grandmother Mary Ann Diller-Sollenberger. He lived on one of his father's farms, and this photo, was taken from the parking lot of the exisitng church location.

-- This is a photo of Samuel's farm is on the right, and Simon's home is to the left.

-- Hattie was born June 7th 1883 to Anna (Annie) Mary Sollenberger and Luther H. Arnold in Franklin Township York County.

--  There was no marriage between Annie and Luther, and Hattie and her mother lived with Annie's parents; Jacob M. Sollenberger and Mary Ann Diller on the family farm located on Mountain Road in Franklin Township.

--  Then in 1890 when Annie married Tobias Bentz, Hattie continued to live with her grandparents.


Around the time Edwin and Hattie met, she was working and living with Irving and Emma Fleming. The Flemings lived next door to her Hattie's grandmother, Mary Ann Diller-Sollenberger, in Uniontown Franklin Township.

After Edwin and Hattie married began their lives as tenant farmers, and lived a short while with Hattie's Uncle Levi Sollenberger and his wife Mary Smith, and "...old maid Aunt Julia..." on Clear Springs Road in Franklin Township. It was here in 1903 that Edwin's and Hattie's first child, Earl Diller Wrightstone, was born. The home was not more than a mile from Hattie's grandmother Mary Ann Sollenberger.

By 1904 the family moved to a large house on present day East Lisburn Road, about two miles from Rossville, York County, where they had a large garden and sold vegetables to the local families. "...The house was located on the north side of the road..."

Between 1905 and 1916, the family moved about four miles to the Franklintown and Clear Springs area of Franklin Township, York County, living in a small home with several acres. "...A short distance off the main road to a small house and several acres where we lived and raised vegetables, and dad had a team of horses, and took things to sell at Market in Harrisburg...Clyde was the youngest child when they went to York County...". This home would have been off present day Cabin Hollow Road, west of Franklintown.

-- My wife and I live about 2 miles from this location.


In 1910 the family lived in a home located on Franklin Church Road, off old Route 15, near Clear Springs Pennsylvania. While living in this area of Franklintown and Clear Springs, their 1st child Earl Diller Wrightstone would die at 4 years old. It was also here that their 2nd child, our grandmother, Irene would have been born, and another seven children would be born: Paul and a still born twin, Ruth, Harvey, Mabel, Glenn, and Clyde. Irene and Paul would have attended the Franklintown School, and the Glenwood School located on the outskirts of Franklintown.

While living in the Franklintown area, they would walk to the Franklintown United Brethren Church in Franklintown. This is the same church that would eventually be attended by our Graham family, who moved to Franklintown from Harrisburg in 1931. We can remember our grandmother Irene Wrightstone-Klinger talking with my grandmother Ruth Barr-Graham about How Irene attended United Brethren Church and the Glenwood School.

On July 7th 1915 Edwin and his family were living in Washington Township, outside Franklintown. He was still growing vegetables and raising chickens for eggs. On July 7th, while on his way to Harrisburg market with a load of eggs and other produce Edwin, left his horses stand untied on the streets of Mechanicsburg when they ran away and in their run seventy-two dozen eggs were broken before the horses were finally caught.

Soon after Clyde was born in 1916, the family made a long journey from Franklintown to Yocumtown in Newberry Township, York County. The family lived on the "...Fetrow farm on Valley Road, York County..." "...The twins Raymond and Ralph were born on January 2nd 1918 on the farm. Ralph was given the middle name of Leicht, which was from neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Leicht, who helped mom to get cloths for the new babies..." Edwin and Hattie would give their twin son Ralph the middle name of Leicht.

By September 1918, Edwin signed up for the WWI draft, where he listed his address as 20th Street RD#1 Camp Hill.

By 1920 Edwin and Hattie had again moved to the vicinity of 16th Street Lower Allen New Cumberland, living on the Mumper farm. While on the New Cumberland farm Edwin and Hattie would give birth to James on February 15th 1920. "...Grandpa Bentz and Annie Bentz lived in Harrisburg. Grandma Bentz came over to New Cumberland on the trolley to see her new grandchild (James), and in the evening she took the trolley and went home, and when she got home she died from a heart attack..."

-- "...At the same time they lived on a farm called This connects a photo of the family, and new born Jim taken in front of a Spong Farm, in York County, on the south side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, it was a stone house..."

-- In 1921 the family moved to a farm off Lisburn Road where Julia was born. This is most likely the Spong farm. The story my grandmother told me was that the kids would cross the road to take a bath in the Yellow Breeches Creek.


Sometime around 1923 Edwin and Hattie moved their family from the Spong Farm to the Wertz Farm on Orrs Bridge Road Hampton Township Cumberland County Pennsylvania. While living here the family joined the Mt Zion United Brethren Church on Wertzville Road (Route 944), about 4 miles west of Enola.

By 1925 the family moved to the Charles Eberley Farm on Carlisle Road in Hampton Township Cumberland County. In 1926 Hattie had two more still born children, and her daughter Mable would die from blood poisoning. While living on the Eberly farm their oldest child Irene would meat and later marries Ed Klinger.

The family was still living on the Eberly farm in 1930, where Paul was a laborer for a local company, Ruth was a stock clerk, Monroe was working on a tree farm, Glen was helping on the farm with his father; and the rest of the children went to the Pike School.

Prior to November 1935 the family would move from the Charles Eberly farm, about four miles away, to a home on 5th and Walnut Street in Lemoyne Cumberland County Pennsylvania. It would be in the Lemoyne and South Enola areas of Cumberland County the Wrightstone family would settle and live.

While living in the Lemoyne home in Lower Allen Township Cumberland County, Edwin farmed on the Kunkle farm, grew produce, and raised chickens for eggs to sell at the market.

By May 1940 the family had moved about two miles away to a farm in the South Enola area; near North Avenue, West Manor Avenue, and Beals Street in East Pennsboro Township Cumberland County Pennsylvania. While living in south Enola, the family included; Edwin and Hattie, Paul, Ruth, Clyde, Raymond, Ralph, James, and Julia. It would be in Enola that James and Julia would graduate from the Enola High School.

By February 1941 Edwin and Hattie, along with their unmarried children, were back living at 5th and Walnut Street in Lemoyne.

-- Sometime during the 1970s the farm was torn down and its land was used for housing. The farm was located on the high ground overlooking the Susquehanna River known as Bridgeport heights.

-- From this vantage point they would have been able to see and hear the city noises of North and South Harrisburg sections of the city. The South Harrisburg area is where Irene's husband, Ed Klinger would have been born and raised.


Sometime during the late 1940s, Edwin and Hattie would move from this farm and live on State Street Lemoyne, across from the present day Hoover Plaza.

It is here where Hattie died at age 67 on October 31st 1950 from medical complications with diabetes. Her funeral service was held at the Mount Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church located at 4685 Mount Zion Road in Enola Pennsylvania. The Reverend Clarence Walters and Reverend Arthur C. Stambach conducted the services.

Hattie was laid to rest November 3rd 1950 with her two children, Earl and Mabel, at the Barrens Valley Church and Cemetery on Kralltown Road, Dillsburg in Washington Township York County Pennsylvania.

Edwin died on August 21st 1957 while living in Lemoyne Borough of Upper Allen Township of Cumberland County. His funeral was held on October 25th 1957 at 2:00 P.M at the Myers Funeral Home located at 1903 Market Street Camp Hill. The services were conducted by a Clergyman, Clarence L. Chubb. Edwin was laid to rest with his wife Hattie, and two of their children at the Barrens Valley Church and Cemetery on Kralltown Road, Dillsburg, Washington Township York County Pennsylvania.

Edwin and Hattie had a large family of fifteen children.

i. Earl Diller Wrightstone was born October 14th 1903 on Clear Springs Road in the home of Hattie's Uncle Levi and Mary Sollenberger, Franklin Township, York County. Earl's middle name, Diller, was his Grandmother Mary Ann Sollenberger's maiden name.


-- According to the family opral history, and a news article, Earl was 4 years old when he died from an accident involving scolding hot water as Hattie was doing laundry.

-- He laid unconscious since Saturday October 5th 1907, when he died October 7th 1907 at 3 years, 11 months, and 23 days.

--  Earl was laid to rest along with his parents at the Barrens Valley Church and Cemetery on Kralltown Road Dillsburg, located in Washington Township York County Pennsylvania.


ii. Irene Mary Wrightstone was born on April 23rd 1905 at the family home on Franklin Church Road located in Franklin Township, York County. She married my grandfather, Edwin Charles Klinger on April 28th 1926 in Annville Dauphin County Pennsylvania.

iii. Paul Bentz Wrightstone (1908-1984), was born a twin. He married Darthey (Dot) M. Fink.

iv. Un-named Wrightstone male was born June 13th 1908, as a twin brother to Paul Bentz Wrightstone. No one knows where the child was laid to rest. It is possible the child was buried in an unmarked grave in the Wrightstone family plot, next to Earl Diller Wrightstone, at the Barrens Valley Church cemetery in Dillsburg Pennsylvania.

v. Ruth Ellen Wrightstone was born October 3rd 1909 at the family home on Franklin Church Road located in Franklin Township, York County. She married Edwin S. Miller June 7th 1940 in Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania.

vi. Harvey Monroe Wrightstone (1911-1971). He married Lavina (Vinnie) Ellen Brooks.

vii. Laura Mabel Wrightstone was born on February 13th 1913 at the family home on Franklin Church Road located in Franklin Township.


-- Mabel was living at the Wrightstone (Eberly) farm in Hampton Township when she died on February 24th 1926 at 13 years old.

--  Mabel was attending the Pike School in the fall of 1925, and was unable to be in the school picture taken in 1926. She died as a result of septicemia (blood poising) resulting from a blister on the foot, walking to and from school.

-- Mable was laid to rest March 1st 1926 with her brother Earl at the Barrens Valley Church and Cemetery located on Kralltown Road, Dillsburg, Washington Township, York County Pennsylvania.


viii. Glenn Leroy Wrightstone (1914-1997). He married Catherine M. Frock.

ix. Clyde Edwin Wrightstone (1916-2008). He married Hazel I. Moyer.

x. Ralph Leicht Wrightstone (1918-1964) was born a twin. He married Florence Amy Kibe.

xi. Raymond Chester Wrightstone (1918-1983) was born a twin. He married Francis Gertrude Kelly.

xii. James Robert Wrightstone 1920-2001). He married Dorothy Wertz

xiii. Julia Ethel Wrightstone (1921-2006). She married Arthur (Fritz) Fredrick Edmunds.

xiv. Un-named Wrightstone Female was still-born while the Wrightstone family's 1st year on the Wertz Farm on the Orrs Bridge Road in Hampton Township Cumberland County. It is not known where the child was laid to rest. It is possible the child was buried in an unmarked grave in the Wrightstone family plot, next to Earl Diller Wrightstone, at the Barrens Valley Church cemetery in Dillsburg Pennsylvania.

xv. Un-named Wrightstone Female was still-born the night of March 1st 1926, after the family buried Laura Mabel Wrightstone. The family were still tenant farming on the Charles Eberley Farm on present day Carlisle Pike. It is not known where the child was laid to rest.


-- The Eberly farm cemetery is behind the present day strip mall off ther Carlisle Pike, near the entrance to the Navy Base, behind the mall.

-- It is possible the child was buried in an unmarked grave in the Wrightstone family plot, next to Earl Diller Wrightstone, at the Barrens Valley Church cemetery in Dillsburg Pennsylvania.