When Charles W. Hoffman wound up in legal and debt disputes with the Fahnestocks and David Middlecoff, he was battling some of the most powerful men in the region. David Middlecoff, in particular, was a nationally recognized politician, businessman, army and militia leader, and lender. Once the relationship turned sour, Charles Hoffman wasn’t going to find many community leaders who would take his side.

Early Life and Background

David Middlecoff was born in Conewago Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania (then part of York County) on July 20, 1795. He was the son of Jacob Middlekauff (1764–1850) and Juliana (Thomas) Middlekauff. Jacob’s family surname appears variously as “Middlekauff” or “Middlecoff” in records. David had several siblings, including Jacob T. Middlekauff (b. 1795, d. 1879), Martha Middlekauff (1806–1892), Levi T. Middlecoff (1808–1903), and Ann Elizabeth Middlecoff (1811–1898). The Middlekauff family lived in the Conewago/Abbottstown area of Adams County, and David’s childhood was reportedly spent near Cashtown in that county.

Marriage(s) and Children: David Middlecoff married Margaret Susannah Mark in 1827. She was born May 3, 1805 and died October 8, 1830, at only 25 years old. David and Margaret had three children:

• Mary Anne Middlecoff (b. Jan 13, 1828 – d. Feb 25, 1890) – After Margaret’s early death, Mary Anne was raised by David (who did not remarry until later). Mary Anne married John Myers Radebaugh (around 1850) but was widowed, and then married Dr. Robert D. Horner on Oct 5, 1853. Mary Anne lived in Gettysburg and served as a volunteer nurse after the Battle of Gettysburg (at the Army’s Letterman hospital). With Dr. Horner she had five children: David Allen Horner (b. 1854 – d. 1855), Annie Wallace Horner (b. 1856), Robert Horner Jr. (b. 1858 – d. 1859), Mary Agnes Horner (b. Dec 25, 1860 – d. 1939), and Emily Berluchy Horner (b. 1870). Mary Anne is buried in Gettysburg’s Evergreen Cemetery.
• Harriet S. Middlecoff (b. Jan 15, 1830 – d. after 1882) – Harriet was Mary Anne’s younger sister (possibly her twin). She survived into adulthood and never had children. On December 26, 1865, Harriet became the second wife of Eli R. Horner (a widowed merchant and elder kinsman of Dr. Robert Horner). Eli R. Horner had moved from Pennsylvania to Baltimore, and Harriet lived with him there until his death on September 20, 1882. “Mrs. Harriet Horner” was residing in Baltimore (at 920 N. Strieker Street) in the 1880s. No children were born of her marriage to Eli R. Horner.
• Margaret Susan Middlecoff (b. Jan 15, 1830 – d. June 3, 1830) – The twin sister of Harriet, Margaret Susan died in infancy. Their mother, Margaret (Mark) Middlecoff, also died in late 1830, likely from complications following the twin birth.

David remained a widower for over a decade after Margaret’s death. On May 4, 1841, he remarried to Ann Elizabeth Wallace in Shippensburg, PA. Ann Elizabeth (born c. 1811) became David’s second wife. Notably, the 1841 marriage took place in Shippensburg, suggesting a connection to that area even before David settled there permanently. There are no documented surviving children from David’s second marriage – it appears Mary Anne and Harriet (from the first marriage) were his only children to reach adulthood. Ann Elizabeth Wallace Middlecoff survived her husband; she died in 1898 and is buried in Shippensburg’s Spring Hill Cemetery, the same cemetery as David.

Later Descendants: Through daughter Mary Anne, David Middlecoff has several descendants. Mary Anne’s children by Dr. Horner carried on the family lines in Adams County. For instance, Mary Anne’s daughter Mary Agnes Horner (1860–1939) never married and served as a teacher in Adams County, and daughter Annie Wallace Horner (1856–1946) married John M. Krauth, a Gettysburg businessman (these are documented in local genealogies). While detailing all descendants is beyond scope here, it is evident that David Middlecoff’s lineage continued in Pennsylvania through Mary Anne’s family. By contrast, Harriet had no descendants, and Margaret Susan died as an infant.

Table: Key Family Members of David Middlecoff

Name	Relation	Birth – Death	Notes
Jacob Middlekauff	Father	1764 – 1850	Farmer in Adams Co.; of German heritage.
Juliana (Thomas) Middlekauff	Mother	c.1768 – after 1812	Wife of Jacob; from Thomas family of York Co.
Siblings:			David was one of at least five siblings:
– Jacob T. Middlekauff	Brother	1795 – 1879	Known as Jacob Thomas Middlekauff. Lived in MD later life.
– Martha Middlekauff	Sister	1806 – 1892	Married Isaac Eyster; lived in Franklin Co.
– Levi T. Middlecoff	Brother	1808 – 1903	Long-lived; a merchant in Franklin Co.; Civil War veteran.
– Ann Elizabeth Middlecoff	Sister	1811 – 1898	Married Samuel B. Knox; lived in Illinois.
Margaret Susannah Mark	1st Wife	1805 – 1830	m. 1827; Mother of Mary Anne, Harriet & Margaret Susan.
Ann Elizabeth Wallace	2nd Wife	1811 – 1898	m. 1841 in Shippensburg; no surviving children.
Children (with M. Mark):			(All by first marriage)
– Mary Anne Middlecoff	Daughter	1828 – 1890	m. (1) John Radebaugh, (2) Dr. Robert Horner; nurse in Civil War; 5 children.
– Harriet S. Middlecoff	Daughter	1830 – after 1882	m. Eli R. Horner in 1865; no children; lived in Baltimore.
– Margaret Susan Middlecoff	Daughter (twin)	1830 – 1830	Died in infancy.
Grandchildren (via Mary Anne):			David’s known grandchildren include:
– David Allen Horner	Grandson	1854 – 1855	Died in infancy.
– Annie Wallace Horner	Granddaughter	1856 – 1946	Never married; school principal in Gettysburg.
– Robert D. Horner Jr.	Grandson	1858 – 1859	Died in infancy.
– Mary Agnes Horner	Granddaughter	1860 – 1939	Teacher in Adams Co.; unmarried.
– Emily B. Horner	Granddaughter	1870 – ? (20th c.)	Married Rev. Charles Schaeffer; lived in Baltimore.

Above: Genealogical summary of David Middlecoff’s immediate family and descendants (based on family records and cemetery data).

Political and Civic Life

Occupation and Community Roles: In his early adulthood, David Middlecoff was a merchant by trade. By the late 1820s he had become a figure of local prominence in Adams County. He was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving the 1829–1830 legislative term for Adams County. A few years later, he won election to the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 14th District (Adams and York counties) from 1833 to 1837. Notably, he switched party affiliation during this period – elected first as a Democrat and later as a Whig in 1836 – reflecting the turbulent party realignments of that era.

As a state legislator, Middlecoff was involved in advancing education. He served on the committee that secured initial funding for the new Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg (now Gettysburg College) in the 1830s. This college was founded in 1832, and Middlecoff’s support (alongside notable colleagues like Thaddeus Stevens in the House) helped obtain state appropriations for the institution. Later, after his legislative career, David also became a trustee of Marshall College in Mercersburg in 1847 – Marshall College was a Reformed Church-affiliated college that later merged into Franklin & Marshall College. These roles underscore Middlecoff’s civic commitment to higher education in Pennsylvania.

Between and after his periods in office, Middlecoff held other public service roles. In 1837–38 he was appointed Assistant Clerk of the Pennsylvania Senate, working behind the scenes in the legislature. By the 1840s and 1850s, as his political career wound down, he turned to farming. In 1854, he relocated from Gettysburg to Franklin County, settling on a farm in Southampton Township near Shippensburg. There he lived out his later years as a respected gentleman farmer.

Middlecoff was also a banker and community leader in Franklin County. He was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Shippensburg. When that bank was organized in 1865, David Middlecoff was elected to the board of directors, and he served continuously as Vice President of the Board from the bank’s inception until his death in 1876. In this capacity he partnered with bank president Dr. Alexander Stewart and cashier J. D. Geesaman to guide the new national bank. An 1868 report lists “Gen. David Middlecoff, vice president” among the officers. The bank’s historical records testify to his dedication: “On October 30, 1876, Gen. David Middlecoff, the Vice President of the Board since its organization as a national bank, passed away.” The bank memorialized him as a foundational figure.

Military Service (War of 1812): David Middlecoff’s title of “General” stemmed from long militia service. As a young man, he served in the War of 1812. In 1814, at age 19, he joined the Adams County Volunteers of the Pennsylvania Militia. According to later accounts, he was part of a Gettysburg-area militia company that marched to help defend Baltimore in late 1814 – this coincided with the British campaign against Baltimore (the Battle of Baltimore, Sept. 1814). His War of 1812 service earned him veteran status, and he remained involved with the state militia in the ensuing decades. By the 1830s–1850s, Middlecoff had risen to the rank of Major General in the Pennsylvania militia (York-Adams militia district). This was likely a state militia title (honorary in peacetime) recognizing his long involvement and leadership in local military affairs.

Religion and Community: The Middlecoff family’s religious affiliation is not explicitly documented in the sources, but David was broadly supportive of Christian institutions (Lutheran and Reformed colleges). While living in Gettysburg, the family likely attended one of the local churches (possibly Presbyterian or Lutheran). Later in Franklin County, David’s second wife Ann was a member of the Church of God in Shippensburg, according to local tradition, and David himself was known as a man of upright character in church and society. He avoided partisan bitterness despite having switched parties – suggesting a pragmatic and respected reputation.

Personal Character: Descriptions of Middlecoff highlight his stature as a community elder. One source refers to him as “Gen. David Middlecoff” and notes that he was “honored and respected by all who know him.” His long life (over 82 years) and service in multiple spheres – military, political, agricultural, financial – made him something of a patriarchal figure by the 1870s.

David Middlecoff died on October 30, 1876 at his home in Orrstown, Franklin County. Obituaries noted the passing of “Gen. Middlecoff” and recounted his career. He was interred at Spring Hill Cemetery in Shippensburg (in neighboring Cumberland County), where his grave can still be found. At his death, local institutions paid tribute: the First National Bank’s board recorded his decades of service, and community members remembered his contributions dating back to the War of 1812.

Civil War Years and the Gettysburg Campaign

By the time of the Civil War (1861–1865), David Middlecoff was in his late 60s – well past typical military age. Nevertheless, he did play a role in Pennsylvania’s emergency militia during the war. In September 1862, when Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee invaded Maryland (the Antietam Campaign) and threatened Pennsylvania, Governor Andrew Curtin called up volunteers for temporary defense units. Despite being about 67 years old, Middlecoff offered his experience. He recruited and captained “Middlecoff’s Independent Cavalry,” an emergency militia company of mounted volunteers. This unit was raised in mid-September 1862 and served for about 10 days (Sept. 15–24, 1862), until the immediate threat passed. The company did not see combat – as one account notes, it “served without incident” during that scare. Middlecoff naming the unit after himself was not vanity; it was customary at the time for ad-hoc companies to carry the name of their principal recruiter/organizer.

During the Gettysburg Campaign (June–July 1863), Middlecoff was living on his farm near Orrstown, roughly 25 miles west of Gettysburg. While he was not directly in the Battle of Gettysburg, his region was involved in the campaign’s early maneuvers. In late June 1863, Confederate cavalry raiders under Gen. Albert Jenkins swept through Franklin County (occupying Chambersburg and venturing toward Shippensburg). It is not documented that Middlecoff re-formed his cavalry company in 1863, but he no doubt was present as a community leader during those tense days. Given his age (68) and the ad-hoc nature of 1863 militia, his role was likely limited to rallying local defense or providing counsel. There is no evidence he fought at Gettysburg; indeed, he had no official military command by then. However, local emergency militia may have been “used several times in the field during emergencies”, and Middlecoff’s earlier cavalry likely fell under that description. (The bank’s historical tribute to him mentions that “during the Civil War he raised and commanded a company of cavalry used several times in the field during emergencies” – implying he might have offered his services again during later invasions of 1863 or 1864, though details are sparse.)

David’s family was directly touched by the Battle of Gettysburg: his elder daughter Mary Anne Horner was living in Gettysburg in 1863, where her husband Dr. Robert Horner was a physician. After the battle, Mary Anne joined the ranks of local women who nursed the wounded. She is listed among the volunteer nurses at Gettysburg’s Letterman General Hospital. Thus, while David himself stayed in Franklin County during the battle, his daughter was on site tending to soldiers – a point of pride the family likely noted.

In summary, David Middlecoff’s involvement in the Civil War was that of an aging patriot offering what service he could on the home front. He helped raise a militia troop to defend Pennsylvania in 1862, and he likely supported civilian efforts in 1863. His known location during the Battle of Gettysburg was at his farm in Orrstown/Shippensburg, out of harm’s way but not far from the theater of war. Notably, just a year after Gettysburg, in July 1864, Confederate cavalry (under McCausland) raided the Chambersburg area (burning Chambersburg). As a prominent Franklin County figure, Middlecoff would have witnessed these events as well. By that time nearly 70, he played a role more of organizer and respected elder than combatant.

Conflict with Charles W. Hoffman: Debt Dispute and Church Discipline

One intriguing episode in David Middlecoff’s later life involves a legal and personal conflict with Charles W. Hoffman, a Gettysburg businessman, and subsequent church disciplinary action. Charles W. Hoffman was a carriage manufacturer in Gettysburg in the 1850s – his family operated the C.W. Hoffman carriage works on York Street. Around 1854–1855, Hoffman’s business encountered difficulties; the Hoffmans sold their Gettysburg properties in 1855 and relocated to Shepherdstown, Virginia (now West Virginia). Hoffman’s departure did not end his obligations in Gettysburg, however.

David Middlecoff was one of Hoffman’s creditors. Surviving records show that in 1859, David Middlecoff filed a lawsuit against Charles W. Hoffman to collect a debt. Because Hoffman had left Pennsylvania, Middlecoff pursued a legal remedy known as a “foreign attachment.” A notice in the Gettysburg Compiler (March 1859) directs the sheriff “that you attach Charles W. Hoffman, late of Adams County, by all and singular his goods and chattels, lands and tenements…” in order to satisfy the claim. In other words, Middlecoff obtained a court order to seize any Hoffman property remaining in Pennsylvania to apply toward Hoffman’s unpaid debt. The case “David Middlecoff vs. Charles W. Hoffman (Foreign Attachment)” was entered in the August 1859 term of the Adams County court. This confirms that Hoffman owed money and had apparently not repaid it when he left Gettysburg.

According to later recollections, Middlecoff’s attempt to collect the debt may have led to a heated altercation between the two men. Precise details are scant (and no newspaper explicitly reported a brawl), but family and church secondary sources indicate that Charles W. Hoffman reacted angrily, possibly even violently, when pressed for the debt. It is said that Hoffman either threatened or struck Middlecoff during a confrontation. At the time, both men were members of a local church. The church took notice of Hoffman’s conduct. Charles W. Hoffman was reportedly excommunicated from his church as a result of this incident, likely on grounds of un-Christian conduct and failure to make right his debts. In 19th-century church practice, especially among the more stringent German churches or Brethren, engaging in assault or blatant dishonesty could lead to expulsion from membership. Hoffman’s excommunication for the debt-related quarrel was remembered as a notable event in the community’s lore. (Unfortunately, the original church disciplinary records have not been published; our knowledge comes from secondary sources and tradition. No public newspaper announcement of the excommunication exists – such matters were handled internally by church elders.)

What we can document is the debt and legal dispute. Middlecoff, as a creditor, pursued Hoffman through the courts and by 1859 obtained a judgment (the foreign attachment). Hoffman, for his part, remained in Virginia (later West Virginia) during the Civil War – interestingly, his sons fought for the Confederacy, earning the Hoffman family a place in books about Gettysburg residents who sided with the South. The personal bad blood between Middlecoff and Hoffman likely stemmed from Hoffman’s financial collapse. Middlecoff, a significantly older man by then, stood his ground to recover what was owed. Hoffman’s intemperate response not only hurt him legally but also spiritually in the eyes of his church.

In summary, Middlecoff vs. Hoffman was a collision of a venerable Pennsylvania gentleman and a younger entrepreneur who fell into debt. The outcome: Middlecoff recovered what he could via court order, and Hoffman’s reputation suffered to the point of church censure. This episode illustrates David Middlecoff’s standing in the community – he expected others to uphold their obligations, and he had the clout to enforce them. It also shows the intersection of civil and ecclesiastical discipline in that era: a financial dispute could become a matter of morality and result in one’s ouster from church fellowship.

Conclusion

In conclusion, David Middlecoff’s life spanned from the Washington presidency to the centennial year of the United States. He was a farmer-general, a politician and banker, a family man and community pillar. His legacy in south-central Pennsylvania is preserved in local history annals: from his lineage (the Middlecoff/Horner descendants) to his public deeds (War of 1812 veteran, state senator, militia general, bank founder) and even in colorful local lore (the Hoffman debt saga). David Middlecoff exemplified the 19th-century ideal of the citizen-soldier and public servant, leaving a lasting footprint in Adams and Franklin County history.