Member Biography

David Middlecoff 

Seal
Sessions Office Position District Party
1833-1834       14 Democrat
1834-1835       14 Democrat
1835-1836       14 Democrat
1836-1837       14 Whig

COUNTIES: Adams, York  


Biography

07/20/1795 - 10/30/1876


Major General David Middlecoff (D14) Adams and York Counties 1833-1836 (Whig14) Adams and York Counties 1836-1837

Early Life:

Major General David Middlecoff born July 20, 1795, Conewago Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania; son of Jacob and Juliana Thomas Middlekauff; veteran, War of 1812; married, Margaret Susannah Mark, 1827 (d.1830), Mary Anne Middlecoff Horner, Harriet S., Margaret Susan Middlecoff; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1829-1830; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1833-1836; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1836-1837; committee member that initially funded Pennsylvania College (Gettysburg College); lived with his family, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania; married, Ann Elizabeth Wallace, 1841; moved, Franklin County, 1854; farmer, Southampton Township near Shippensburg, Pennsylvania; died, October 30, 1876 (aged 82), Orrstown, Franklin County, Pennsylvania; interment, Spring Hill Cemetery, Shippensburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Adams County, 1829-1830. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 14th district, Adams and York Counties, 1833-1836.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 14th district, Adams and York Counties, 1836-1837. 

Committee member that initially funded Pennsylvania College (Gettysburg College).

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us) 

Legacy: 

After Confederate forces crossed the Potomac River in September 1862, Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin called for emergency troops to defend the state. Having served during the War of 1812 and had risen to the rank of major general in the antebellum militia but was hardly of an age to lead men into combat; recruited and captained Middlecoff's Independent Cavalry Militia that served without incident, September 15 - September 24, 1862. Was not being arrogant in naming the company after himself. Naming a unit after its principle recruiter was the norm back then. 

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M"Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

David Middlecoff (1794-1876) - Find a Grave Memorial