Member Biography

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel John Beale Selheimer, (D31) Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry Counties, 1885-1888 

Early Life: 

Lieutenant Colonel John Beale Selheimer, born August 18, 1826, Milford Township, Mifflin County, (now Juniata) Pennsylvania; son of Absalom and Eleanor Beale Selheimer; common school education; engaged, tinsmithing; owner, Lewistown Hardware; married, Eliza Jane Matthews, six children; director, Electric Light Company, director, Mann Tool Company; elected, Democrat, Borough of Lewistown, school director, town commissioner, chief burgess, Mifflin County Treasurer, 1859-1861; Lieutenant Colonel, Union Army, 1861; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1885-1888; died, December 16, 1893 (age 67) Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, Interment Saint Marks Cemetery, Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania 

Early Career:

Commanded, Logan Guards, the “first” of Pennsylvania’s First Responders (volunteer company) to march in and secure Washington D.C. for the defense of the Union, April 18, 1861, against a Confederate invasion at the outbreak of the Civil War. They later became a part of the Twenty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers Infantry, elected, Lieutenant Colonel mustered out with his unit, July 1861. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Lewistown Lodge, No. 203, Free and Accepted Masons; Lewistown Chapter, No. 186, Royal Arch Masons; Lewistown Commandery, No. 26, Knights Templar. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Borough of Lewistown, school director, town commissioner, chief burgess, Mifflin County Treasurer, 1859-1861. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 31st district, Juniata, Mifflin and Perry Counties, 1885-1888; committee assignments, Constitutional Reform; Canals and Island Navigation; Military Affairs and Pensions and Gratuities.

Cited: 

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

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1887) Cochran, T.B., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 651, 656-658, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 626.

A history of the Juniata Valley and its people; . n the civil war; Absa-lom B., a captain in the civil war; Jane A., married E. W. Eisenbise;Oliver P., who enlisted when fifteen years of age and served nine monthsduring the civil war. (IV) Colonel John Beale Selheimer, third son of Absalom B. Sel-heimer and his first wife, Eleanor (Beale) Selheimer, was born in Mil-ford township, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, died in Lewistown, Penn-sylvania, December 17, 1893. He attended the district schools andworked on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, then determiningnot to be a farmer, left hom Stock Photo - Alamy

COL John Beale Selheimer (1826-1893) - Find a Grave Memorial