Daniel R Troutman

Daniel was the spouse of Elizabeth Bush. He was murdered in his home.

• Residence: Pennsylvania, United States - 1870
• Census: Daniel Troutman, 52 [head of household #224]. b Penna. Farmer, real estate $1500. Elizabeth 48, Hiram 13, Mariah 12, Harriet 10, Lincoln 8, Kate 6, George W 4 - Sep 16 1870 - Lykens, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Sep 3 2020, 20:20:03 UTC
• Residence: Pennsylvania, United States - 1870
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jan 18 2022, 3:11:47 UTC

Daniel was the spouse of Elizabeth Bush. He was murdered in his home.

Life Sketches of Aged People of Millersburg and Surrounding Area: Story as told by: Mrs. Amanda Kissinger, R.D. 2, Millersburg, Pennsylvania.

"Joined Hoffman's Church at Age of 10 - Started to Work on Farm when 6 Years Old - Explains process of Growing Flax and Preparing it for Spinning - Tells of Fatal Shooting of Daniel Troutman and Trial and Execution of Frank and Henry Rumberger for the Crime."

Source: The Millersburg Sentinel - September 1932
By F. Park Campbell, Associate Editor

On Sunday evening, November 14, 1880, Daniel Troutman Sr., a respectable, well-to-do farmer, residing in a log house with his wife, north of Gratz, in Lykens township, close to the Northumberland county line, was mortally wounded by Henry Rumberger, passing away a half hour later. Mr. Troutman, who was Sarah (Williard) Troutman's father-in-law, said, "Henry Rumberger shot me" repeatedly before he died. Rumberger was subsequently arrested, later, Frank H. Rumberger, of Lykens, was taken into custody. Both were convicted of the murder and hanged in the Dauphin County jail yard, March 24, 1882.

Mrs. Kissinger told of three families of Troutman's and the family of George Gise, being located close together, north of Gratz. For this tiny settlement, a school house had been provided. On the night of the crime, Daniel Troutman and his wife, both quite aged, retired early.

Henry Rumberger, 27 and his brother Frank Rumberger, 23, both of Lykens township, entered the house with the purpose of robbing the couple. The Rumberger's awakened the couple, and covering the old gentlemen with revolvers, demanded his money. He declared he had no money, and getting out of bed, secured a shot gun. and the two intruders ran from the house, pursued by Troutman. One turned to the right, the other to the left, the aged man firing at the latter. As he turned to go into the house, the other lodged a bullet into the breast of Troutman,
who fell mortally wounded. Mrs. Troutman ran to the Gise house, and summoned Mr. Gise and his wife, who cared for the dying man, and to whom he told had shot him.

Henry Rumberger was arrested the following day, and named a James Rumberger as his companion. Frank, who had a record of crime which covered a large portion of the United States, managed to go free until November 18, when he was taken into custody and imprisoned in the Dauphin County jail.

The two men were tried together at the April term of court, 1881, J. C. Durbin, of Lykens, representing Frank, and R. L. Muench, of Harrisburg, and S. S. Bowman, of Millersburg, defending Henry. Among the jurors were Benjamin Rumberger, Berrysburg; John J. Miller, Williamstown; Peter Bowman, Millersburg, and Thomas Finn, Wiconisco. The trial lasted three days and the jury returned a verdict of "guilty of murder in the first degree", after deliberating 3 1/2 hours.

Motion for a new trial was granted, and a second trial commenced October 17, 1881, at a special term. Henry was tried first and was found guilty. Frank's trial followed, and evidence seemed stronger against him than before, and he was again convicted.

Henry Rumberger was frequently a visitor at the Williard home and was well known in the neighborhood, which Mrs. Kissinger declares was greatly excited by the news of the murder.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 1 2024, 1:22:46 UTC