Charles Shapley

History of Yorktown, PA - 1907

EDWARD WING SHAPLEY, proprietor of the Shapley Publishing House, Dillsburg, editor and proprietor of The Nezv Era, has been in the business at that place for over twenty years, and has one of the best ecjuipped establishments in York county.

Mr. Shapley was born April 7, 1857, in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., and comes of a family long known in that section, but originally of New England origin, his grandfather, Rufus E. Shapley, having been a native of Massachusetts, whence he came to Carlisle in early manhood. There he became the owner of much valuable real estate and was an extensive manufacturer. He married Lydia E. Metzger, and they became the parents of a large family, all the sons of which became prominent in business and the various professions, namely: John located in Ohio and became widely known in the medical profession Joel lived in Shippensburg, where he became wealthy and influential Edmund lived in Mechanicsburg Rufus E. spent his days in Carlisle, where he was one of the largest property holders and most prosperous men of his day (his son, Rufus E., third of that name, is one of the most distinguished lawyers of Philadelphia) Charles was the father of Edward Wing Shapley, whose name introduces these lines.

Charles Shapley was, like his brothers, a prosperous and influential citizen, making his home in Carlisle, where he was engaged in the manufacture of furniture. He accumulated a large property. His wife, Lydia J. Connelly, bore him the following children: William C, who resided in Carlisle Lydia Laura Edward Wing Joseph, deceased, who was a prominent business man of Carlisle Harry L., now a leading furniture dealer in Carlisle. The mother of this family still makes her home in Carlisle

Edward Wing Shapley was taught in the public schools and academy in Carlisle. At the age of twenty he started on a tour of the West, returning after an absence of three years, and settling in Dillsburg, became engaged in the printing and publishing business with J. X. Rhoads, Esq. At the end of the first year he became sole proprietor and as such continued the business for twenty years with uniform suc- cess. Meantime he took an active part in public affairs, serving a number of times on the school board, and in the council chambers, and like most successful business men he has been eminently useful in the local civil administration. He is now the proprietor of the Shapley Publishing House, publishing The Neic Era, one of the most reliable newspapers of this section. The establishment is splendidly equip- ped with modern machinery for newspaper work, binding, job printing, etc., and enjoys first class patronage. For fourteen years he has aloo been engaged in farming.

Mr. Shapley is a man of social disposition, and takes much pleasure in his church and fraternal relations. He is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Mechanicsburg, Samuel C. Perkins Chapter, at Harrisburg, and St. John's Commandery, Carlisle; he afliliates with the Heptasophs at Dillsliurg. His church membership is in the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a ruling elder and teacher of the Young Ladies" Bible Class.

In 1882 Mr. Shapley married Miss Laura E. Smith, only daughter of J. A. Smith, of Dillsburg. They reside in a large farm in Carroll township, adjoining Dillsburg, which Mr. Shapley owns.

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