USA > Maryland > Washington County > Hagerstown > A history of Washington County, Maryland from the earliest settlements to the present time, including a history of Hagerstown > Part 90
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1891-Edward Stake, Rep., was elected judge over H. K. Douglas, Dem., by 625 majority. A Hunter Boyd was appointed to fill out term of R. H. Alvey, resigned.
1893-A Hunter Boyd, Dem., was elected Chief Judge over B. A. Richmond by 181 ma- jority.
1895-David Sloan, Rep., was elected Judge over Ferdinand Williams by 1305 majority. Fer- dinand Williams was appointed to fill out term of Judge Sloan, who died in offiee.
1903-M. L. Keedy, Rep., and R. Henderson were elected over F. Williams, Dem., and W. J. Witzenbaelier, Dem.
Judges of Orphans' Court.
1859-P. B. Small, Rep., Joseph Rench, Rep., W. McK. Keppler, Dem.
1864-P. B. Small, Rep., Joseph Reneh, Rep., Adam Shoop, Rep.
1867-John W. Breathed, Dem., Wm. II. Knode, Dem., J. I. Hurley, Dem.
1871-Josiah F. Smith, Dem., William H. Knode, Dem., John L. Smith, Rep.
1875-John Reichard, Rep., Samuel Strite, Rep., John L. Smith, Rep.
1879-William McK. Keppler, Dem .; James Findlay, Dem., A. D. Bennett, Rep.
1883-Joseph H. Firey, Dem., A. D. Bennett, Rep., O. H. Snyder, Rep.
1887-Jaeob H. Powles, Dem., A. C. Hilde- brand, Rep., John A. Flemming, Rep., E. H. Friend, was appointed to fill out balanee of term of J. H. Powles.
1891-Edward Friend, Dem., P. L. Lemen, Dem., J. F. Kreigh, Dem.
1895-R. L. Spangler, Rep., B. A. Garlinger, Sr., Rep., Solomon Newcomer, Rep. S. D. Martin appointed to fill out the balance of term of B. A. Garlinger.
1899-William L. Hammond, Dem., Aaron D. Sager, Dem., Elias Cost, Rep.
1903-J. II. Brumbaugh, Dem., Wm. Gass- man, Dem., A. D. Sager, Dem.
List of Sheriffs For Washington County.
1785 to 1787-Ott.
1788 to 1789-D. Steel.
1790 to 1792-H. Sehryoek.
1798, Rezin Davis.
1799, John Wagoner.
1801 and 1802-Jaeob Sehnebly.
1803-N. Roehester.
1806-J. S. White.
1809-M. Shaffner.
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
1812 -- IIenry Sweitzer.
1815-Daniel Schinebly.
1818-Thomas Post.
1821-J. V. Swearinger. 1824 -- Alex. Neill.
1827-George Swearinger.
1830-Christian Newcomer.
1833-Daniel Malott.
1836-John Newcomer.
1839-John Carr.
1842-David T. Wilson.
1843-Thomas Martin.
1848-Daniel South.
1851-Christopher Hilliard.
1853-William Logan.
1855-Benjamin A. Garlinger.
1857-J. M. Hauck, Dem.
1859-Ed. M. Mobley, Rep.
1861-Henry Gantz, Rep.
1863-Samuel Oliver, Rep.
1865-Jonathan Neweomer, Rep.
1867-George W. Grove, Dem.
1869-Daniel White, Dem.
1821-R. C. Bamford, Rep. 1873-Jacob Marker, Dem.
1875-P. J. Mayberry, Rep.
1817-B. F. Reichard, Rep.
1879-F. K. Zeigler, Rep. 1881-Chas. D. Knepper, Rep.
1883-David Thum, Dem.
1885-Elias Cost, Rep.
1887-John H. Gatrell, Rep. G. G. Solliday appointed to fill out term eaused by death. 1889-B. F. Neweomer, Rep.
1891-J. N. Brumbaugh, Dem.
1893-Charles H. Herbert, Rep., died May 13, 1895, and Bruce S. Zeller was appointed to fill out balance of term.
1895-Charles E. Smith, Rep.
1897-M. F. Seibert, Dem.
1899-Bruce S. Zeller, Rep.
1901-Samuel P. Angle, Rep.
1903-Hammond A. Downin, Dem.
1905-Charles H. Deibert, Dem.
List of State's Attorneys.
1851-Thomas Harbine.
1855-A. K. Syester. 1859-Wm. Motter. 1863-F. M. Darby, Rep.
1867-Henry H. Keedy, Dem.
1871-John C. Zeller, Rep., died and H. H. Keedy was appointed to fill the vaeaney.
18:5-Edward Stake, Rep. 1879-J. F. A. Remley, Rep.
1883-M. L. Keedy, Rep.
1887-J. Augustine Mason, Dem.
1891-Charles A. Little, Dem.
1895-Charles D. Wagaman, Rep.
1899-T. A. Poffenberger, Dem.
1903-A. J. Long, Dem.
List of County Commissioners.
1883-Martin L. Byers, Dem., Benj. P. Rench, Dem., Samuel Poffenberger, Dem., Cyrus Dell- inger, Rep., Benj. Eshleman, Rep.
1885-H. C. Ankeney, Dem., John W. Stone- braker, Rep., John W. Cable, Rep., W. H. C. Kemp, Rep., Lewis A. Spiekler, Rep.
1887-Frisby Doub, Dem., John W. Cable, Rep., S. M. Bloom, Rep., Daniel A. Rohrer, Rep., David Lesher, Rep.
1889-John W. Cable, Rep., Daniel W. Foltz, Rep., Charles E. Wise, Rep., Caleb Wyand, Rep., B. Abner Betta, Dem.
1891-Jacob Friend, Dem., R. F. Stottlemyer, Dem., George C. Snyder, Dem., W. R. Stouffer, Dem., Alexander W. Davis, Dem.
1893-Henry C. Foltz, Rep., Samuel S. Stouf- fer, Rep.
1895-AAlfred G. Lewis, Rep., Lewis Downey, Rep., Merritt S. Harris, Rep.
1897 -- Frank T. Elliott, Dem., Daniel M. Nei- kirk, Dem.
1899-Joseph G. Ernst, Dem., Abram E. Al- bert, Rop., Isaae Ankeney, Rep.
1901-Samuel S. Stouffer, Rep., Joseph M. Neweomer, Rep.
1903-F. F. Foltz, Rep., Joseph Ernst, Dem., J. Winger Draper, Dem.
1905-Daniel 1. Rohrer, Rep., David F. Nigh, Rep.
List of Clerks of Circuit Court.
1777 to 1800-Elie Williams.
1800 to 1845-O. H. W. Williams.
1845 to 1865-Isaae Nesbitt, Rep.
1865 to 1867-Lewis B. Nyman, Rep., appoint- ed to fill out term of I. Nesbitt.
565
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
1867-Wm. MeK. Keppler, Dem., was elected over Samuel F. Zeigler, Rep., by 229 majority.
1873-George B. Oswald, Dem., was elected over George Freneh, Rep., by 265 majority. 1879-George B. Oswald, Dem., was elected over Moses Whitson, Rep., by 239 majority.
1885-George B. Oswald was elected over Geo. W. Harris, Rep., by 405 majority.
1891-George B. Oswald, Deni., was elected , over Wm. H. Perkins, Rep., by 593 majority.
1897-George B. Oswald, Dem., was elected over Thompson A. Brown, Rep., by 766 majority. 1903-George B. Oswald, Dem., was elected over Jos. D. Grossnickle and Howard L. Long by 4175 majority over botlı.
List of Register of Wills.
1777 to 1780-Thomas Sprigg. 1780 to 1800-Thomas Belt. 1806 to 1826-George C. Smoot. 1826 to 1843-Daniel Sehnelly. 1843, Sept. to Nov., 1843, Robert Wason. 1843 to 1857 -- James Wason.
1857 to 1867-William Logan, who died in 1878.
1867-M. S. Barber, Dem., elected over Logan, Rep., by 211 majority.
1873-T. E. Hilliard, Dem., elected over G. W. Walker, Rep., by 477 majority.
1879-T. E. Hilliard, Dem., eleeted over John L. Bikle, Rep., by 428 majority.
1885-T. E. Hilliard, Dem., elected over A. D. Bennett, Rep., by 1152 majority.
1891-T. E. Hilliard, Dem., elected over Sam- uel D. Martin, Rep., by 700 majority.
1897, T. E. Hilliard, Dem., eleeted over John E. Wagaman, Rep., by 870 majority.
1903-T. E. Hilliard, Dem., elected over John D. Main, Pro., and S. L. V. Young, S., by 4101 majority over botlı.
List of Surveyors,
1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1891-S. S. Downin. 1893, 1895, 1897, 1899, 1901, 1903, 1905- Elmer Piper.
CHAPTER XXXIII
R EV. JOSEPH SPANGLER KIEFFER, D. D., son of Rev. Ephriam and Eleanor (Spangler) Kieffer, was born in Mifflin- burg, Pa., February 3, 1842.
In the year 1748, Dewald Kieffer, of Ger- many, emigrated with his father, Abraham Kieffer, Jr., and two brothers, from Zwei-Brucken, on the Rhine, to America; they landed at Philadelphia, September 15, 1748. Dewald Kieffer grew to manhood in Berks County, Pa., near Kutztown. After the Revolution, he removed to Franklin County, Pa., and in 1789 purchased from James Clark the tract of land called "Clark's Fancy," now the site of the village of Upper Strasburg. Mr. Kieffer laid out that town in the same year, naming it for the famous German city of Stras- burg; and here he passed the remainder of his life. The village prospered for many years; be- fore the day of turnpikes, it was the most im- portant place in the County. Mr. Kieffer's house of "entertainment for man and beast" was long a noted resort. Dewald Kieffer married Hannah Fox; their children were: Abraham; Peter; De- wald; Gideon, Ludwig, Jacob; Christian; Han- nah; Catherine; and Rebecca.
Abraham Kieffer, their eldest son, was born near Kutztown, Pa., November 18, 1758; he died August 18, 1855. He was a farmer and team- ster,, residing near "Kieffer's Post-office." He was widely known as "Uncle Abraham." He served in the Revolution, and upon his monument is inscribed his name. with the simple words, "A Revolutionary Soldier." He died at the extreme age of ninety-six years; his remains are interred at Kieffer's Church, in Franklin County, Pa.
Abraham Kieffer married Catherine, daughter of George Beaver; she was born November 9, 1763, and died August 10, 1833. Their children were : John ; Joseph; Abraham; Daniel; Dewald ; Louis; Simon; Hannah; Sibbie; Mary; Rebecca; Eliz- abeth ; Catherine; and Susan.
Joseph Kieffer, second son of Abraham and Catherine (Beaver) Kieffer, was born in Frank- lin County, Pa., June 22, 1784; he died October 5, 1849. He was a farmer and tanner, and passed most of his business life in Virginia. He mar- ried Hannah Falk; their children were : Ephriam ; Maria; Stephen; and Justus. After Mrs. Han- nah Kieffer's death, he married Miss Stuckey; of this marriage there was no issue.
Ephriam Kieffer, oldest son of Joseph and Hannah (Falk) Kieffer, was born January 17, 1812; he died May 11, 1871. He was reared in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, Virginia, and at the age of eighteen years, went to Chambersburg, Pa. There, while employed in a store, he received catechetical instruction from the Rev. Frederick Rahauser, through which he was led to adopt as his life-work the ministry of the Reformed Church. He obtained his literary and theological training at the German Reformed High School and Theological Seminary at York, Pa., from 1831 to 1835. In 1836, he was ordained pastor of a new charge, comprising Bellefonte, Schnei- der's and Best's churches, in Centre County, Pa. He was afterwards pastor of Mifflinburg charge, Union Co., Pa., 1840-57; of the Lykens Valley charge, 1857-64; and of the Sulphur Spring charge, near Carlisle, Pa., 1866-70.
Rev. Ephriam Kieffer was married to Eleanor,
568
'HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
daughter of Martin and Lydia Spangler, of York, Pa. The offspring of this marriage are : Ilannah M., the widow of John R. Cornelius; Dr. John B., who was born October 20, 1839, for many years professor of Greek at Franklin and Mar- shall College. Lancaster, Pa .; Rev. J. Spangler Kieffer, D. D .; Lydia J., who married Luther C. Furst ; Rev. Dr. Henry M., also a Reformed pas- tor, and Benjamin Ephriam, deceased.
Rev. Dr. Kieffer received his elementary train- ing in the schools of his native town, Mifflinburg, and there also was prepared for college in the Mifflinburg Academy. chiefly under the instruction of Aaron Crosby Fisher, a graduate of Amherst College. In 1860, he was graduated, as veledic- torian of his elass, from Franklin and Marshall College. after which he taught school for two years, in Aaronsburg. Pa .. and Middletown, Md. In 1862. he entered the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg, Pa .. and completed his course in 1866, having in the meantime been absent from the Seminary for a year. In May, 1866, he was licensed to preach. and aeeepted a eall to the charge of the Reformed Church in Huntingdon, Pa., where he was ordained in September of that year. After a pastorate of about sixteen months, he was ealled to his present congregation, with which his connection has since continued uninter- ruptedly. This congregation belongs to the Synod of the Potomae, of which the Rev. Dr. Kieffer has officiated as the honored .president. Besides his pastoral labors, he is Associate Editor of the Re- formed Church Messenger, published in Philadel- phia ; and is a member of the Board of Foreign Missions, of the Board of Visitors of the Theolog- ical Seminary at Laneaster, Pa., and of the Board of Regents of the Mercersburg Academy.
The Rev. J. Spangler Kieffer was married, November 11, 1869, to Mary M., daughter of James and Elizabeth Clark, of Huntingdon, Pa. Mr. Clark was for several years editor and pro- prietor of the Huntingdon Journal. Sydney B., sister of Mrs. Kieffer, is the wife of W. H. Knise- ly. of Harrisburg, Pa. The Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Kieffer have seven children, as follows: Elizabeth Buffington, who married William A. Lewis, of Rutherford, N. J .; John Brainerd, cashier of the Hagerstown Bank; James Clark, editor of the Daily News, of Frederick, Md. ; Eleanor Spangler, who is married to B. George White; the Rev. Hen- ri Louis Grandlienard, pastor of the Reformed Church at Mercersburg, Pa. ; Paul, the first Cecil
Rhodes seholar from Maryland, at Oxford Univer- sity, England ; and Riehard Fulton, a student at Franklin and Marshall College, Laneaster, Pa. All of this family are identified with the Reformed ('hureh in the United States, and are aetive in the good work which, as a denomination, it is earry- ing on.
The Rev. Dr. Kieffer is still actively engaged in his duties as pastor of Zion Reformed Church of Hagerstown, to which he was called in 1868; he being the eleventh pastor sinee the organization of the charge, in 1766. During his years of ser- viee, the ehureh edifiee has been extensively re- modeled, and many members have been added to the eongregation. He is one of the leading pas- tors of the Reformed Church, and is much loved and respected, not only by his own congregation, but throughout the denomination. The Rev. Dr. Kieffer has recently returned from a trip to Europe and the Holy Land, having been sent by his eongregation at their expense, as a token of their gratitude, esteem and affection.
REV. CONRAD CLEVER, D. D., pastor of Christ's and Salem Reformed Churches, Hagers- town, Md., was born at Cleversburg, Cumberland Co .. Pa., February 11, 1848, and is a son of George and Isabella (Kelso) ('lever.
George ('lever was a son of Conrad Clever, a grandson of Barnabas Clever, a native of Ger- many, who came to Ameriea among the early Ger- man emigrants of Pennsylvania. Barnabas Clev- er, the great-great-grandfather of the Rev. Dr. Clever, was murdered by the Indians on the banks of Swatara creek in Dauphin County, then within the boundaries of Lancaster Co., Pa.
George ('lever, Dr. Clever's father, died in 1904, at the age of 86 years. He was the father of eight children, of whom Conrad. the second child, was dedicated to the ministry of the Reformed Church in early childhood. As a boy he evineed qualities of industry, patience, perserveranee, enthsuiasm, and faith, which, nurtured in a Christian home, have borne the fruit of a successful life.
Young Conrad Clever began his education in the country schools of Cumberland County, Pa., and continued his studies at Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, and Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa. He entered the latter institution as a junior and was graduated with the elass of
569
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
1870. After completing a full course of study at the Eastern Theological Seminary of the Reform- ed Church, he was ordained pastor of Trinity Reformed Church, at Columbia, Pa., in June, 1873; here he remained six years. He found that this charge had been a mission for upwards of a quarter of a century ; he left the congregation almost self supporting.
In March, 1879, Mr. Clever was installed pas- tor of the Third Reformed Church, of Baltimore, Md., with which he remained until August, 1904. When he assumed charge of the Third Church, of Baltimore, the congregation was threatened with dangers that made its future existence very problematical, but by his energy and devotion to his people he succeeded, by the help of God in rescuing it from its troubles. The church proper- ty was saved, the debts were paid, the disaffected members were won back, and the membership was largly increased. After twenty-five years of ser- vice in his Baltimore pastorate, his flock, in appre- ciation of his self-sacrificing labors, fittingly cel- ebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of his pastor- ate. These anniversary services were intended to be a testimonial to the character of the work that he had accomplished. During this quarter of a century, six men received through him the impulse that brought them into the Gospel ministry. One of these served a mission faithfully for two years, and was then called to his eternal reward. Five are in the active ministry, one having only recent- ly been graduated from the Seminary. Dr. Clever is fond of speaking of these six ministers of the Reformed Church as his boys.
Dr. Clever received a call to Christ's and Sa- len Reformed Churches of Hagerstown, in August, 1904, which he acccepted in September of the same year, and entered upon the pastorate which lie is now filling. He has always been a conscientious pastor and is a strong and helpful preacher. Al- ready he has endeared himself to the people of his third charge. He is a close student, and his private library of more than 4000 volumes is an evidence of his taste for books and his love of study. He is well abreast with the theological thought of the epoch, and is a frequent contribu- tor on theological and other subjects to the "Re- formed Church Messenger," "The Christian World," "The Reformed Church Quarterly Re- view," and "The Reformed and Presbyterian Re- vicw."
Dr. Clever has served as president of Mary-
land Classis and Potomac Synod of the Reformed Church, and has been a member of the Board of Home Missions, and of the Board of Visitors of the Eastern Theological Seminary. He is presi- dent of the Sunday-School Board of the General Synod, and a member of the Board of Managers of the Maryland Sunday-School Union. He lias also served as a director in the State Christian Endeavor Union of Maryland, and as vice-presi- dent of the Maryland Bible Society, of the Mary- land Tract Society, of the Florence Crittenton Mission, and of the Maryland Anti-Saloon League. He received the degree of D. D. from Ursinus College in 1889.
Dr. Clever married, June 6, 1879, Miss Mary L. Everhart, a daughter of the late David and Mary (Hoke) Everhart ; they have only one child, Elizabeth Clever, who is living with her parents in Hagerstown.
REV. S. G. DORNBLASER, pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, of Hagerstown, Md., was born at Lamar, Clinton County, Pa., May 10, 1861, and is a son of Gideon and Catharine (Mil- ler) Dornblascr.
Gideon Dornblaser was born in Clinton Co., Pa., in 1817, and died in 1866. He was a life long farmer. Mr. Dornblaser was a Lutheran and a supporter of the Republican party. His wife, Catharine Miller, died in 1861, when her youngest child, S. G., was an infant about six months old. John Dornblaser, the father of Gid- eon Dornblaser, also a native of Clinton county, was a son of Thomas Dornblaser, who was among the early German settlers of Pennsylvania. Thomas Dornblaser settled between Allentown and Bethlehem. John Dornblaser was captain of a company of volunteers in the War of 1812.
Gideon and Catharine Dornblaser were the parents of six children : Henry, a farmer of Clin- ton County, Pa. ; John M., a merchant of Valley Falls, Kansas; Mary, wife of Jacob P. Krope, of Clinton Co., Pa .; Sarah C., wife of William J. Bunnell, of Clinton Co., Pa .; Emma, unmarried ; and Rev. S. G.
Rev. S. G. Dornblaser was reared on his father's farm and attended the public schools while a lad. He was graduated at the Lock Ha- ven High School in 1879. In 1880 he entered Wittenburg College, Springfield, Ohio, where he
570
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
remained during the freshman and sophomore years. In 1882 he entered Princeton University and was graduated in 1884. He then entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary, at Gettysburg, Pa., was graduated in theology in 1887, and was ordained by the Wittenburg Synod at Galion, Ohio, in October, 1887. His first charge was in Marion County, Ohio, where he remained for three years. Ile next accepted a call from Em- poria, Kansas, where he remained four years. His third charge was in Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until 1903; he then accepted a eall from St. Mark's Lutheran Church, of Hagers- town.
Mr. Dornblaser was married in October, 1887, to Miss Carrie Tressler Billow, daughter of George W. and Sarah (Tressler) Billow, of Springfield, Ohio; they are the parents of three children: Helen Tressler, Ruth Miller, and George Billow. The Rev. Mr. Dornblaser is a Republican. He is a member of the college fraternity Beta Theta Pi. Mr. Dornblaser is a self-made man and is popular among his people.
THE REV. ADAM BAER was born July 4, 1826. in Lancaster County, Pa., son of Henry and Su-an (Landis) Baer, whose children were as fol- lows: Benjamin, who died in Lancaster County; Adam; Elizabeth, deceased, who was married to Jacob Harnish, a dry goods merchant of Lancas- ter, Pa. ; Henry, who was killed by the running away of his team; Maria, who married Jacob Kauffman, is now a widow; John, of Laneaster, l'a.
Rev. Adam Baer was educated in the com- mon schools. In 1846, he married Susan, daugh- ter of Martin Herr. They began house-keeping in the spring of 1847, on a farm of 75 acres. In 1848 a daughter was born to them, but lived only a little while, mother and child dying at about the same time.
In 1850, Mr. Baer was married to Hannah Herr, a sister of his first wife. Ho sold his farm in 1869, and removed to Washington County, Md., where he had several acquaintances. Ile pur- chased a farm then owned by Daniel Middlekauff, and known as "Spriggs' Paradise." In the year 1820, Adam Baer was ordained a deaeon in the Mennonite Church; in 1826, he was ordained a minister in the same communion; he faithfully
and eonseientiously discharged both duties until his death, whieli occurred April 20, 1904. Rev. Mr. Baer remained on his farm until 1892, when he bought, from Charles Bikle, a house on East Baltimore street, Hagerstown. Here he and his wife resided during the remainder of his life, except during three years of ill health, late in his life, which were spent at the home of his daugh- ter, Mrs. Jacob Eshleman, at Reid Station. Two years before his death he, with Jacob Eshleman, his son-in-law, removed to Hagerstown again. IIe died in Hagerstown and was the first grown person buried at Paradise Mennonite Church. The children of Rev. Adam and Hannah (IIerr) Baer are: Henry; Maria, who married Jacob Esh- leman; Martin, of York County, Pa .; Adam, re- siding on the old homestead.
The Rev. Henry Baer, the eldest of these four children, was born May 15, 1853, in Laneaster County, Pa. He was educated in the common schools, and trained to farm labor. He was mar- ried, March 16, 1874, to Susan, daughter of Abra- ham and Mary (Lesher) Horst, a native of Frank- lin County, Pa. She died in 1884, leaving five children : Mary, who married Martin Horst; Anna, who married S. L. Horst; Abraham, who married Elizabeth Shank, of Franklin County ; Susan, who married Abraham Horst; Amanda, married Elmer Martin of Franklin Co., Pa .; all of those married are members of the Mennonite Church, as are also their companions. Mr. Baer in 1885 afterwards married Barbara, daughter of Abraham Martin, and widow of John Risser. They have seven children, as follows: Henry; Barbara, who died when fifteen days old; Adam; Isaac; Leah; Lizzie; Benjamin; and Martha.
Henry II. Baer began business life in 1875, settling where he now lives, having rented the property for six years. In 1881, he purchased 130 acres from his father, to which he has added 30 neres, making a tract of 160 acres. In 1884, he lost his barn and its contents by fire, caused by his children's playing with matches. There was no insurance on the property, and the loss was very severe. But kind and sympathetie neighbors and friends, remembering the Golden Rule, came to his assistance, and a new barn was built on the site of the former one. In 1890, Mr. Baer made extensive improvements in his house, which is now a model of convenience and comfort.
Henry Barr was ordained a minister in the Mennonite Church in 1883, and is serving the con-
571
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
gregations at Miller's Church, in Leitersburg Dis- trict, and Paradise Church in Hagerstown Dis- trict. He is assisted in this work by Rev. Daniel Strite, who was ordained a minister in 1901.
Adam Baer, son of Rev. Adam Baer, and brother of Rev. Henry Baer, was born September 18, 1865, in Lancaster County, Pa. He was edu- cated in the common schools. Adam Baer was married in 1895 to Bertie, daughter of Jacob Metz ; their children are : Martin ; Grace and Han- nah. Mr. Baer is the owner of 208 acres of land, including all of the land that his father bought from Daniel Middlekauff. He and his wife are members of the Mennonite Church.
BISHOP GEORGE S. KEENER was born February 27, 1859, in Mechanicstown, Lancaster County, Pa., and is a son of George and Frances (Stouffer) Keener, natives of Germany who emi- grated to America at the ages respectively of eighteen and fourteen years. George Keener came with his brothers, Henry, Stephen, Peter, and Adam, and their sisters, Lena and Margaret. The young men left their native land principally to avoid enforced service in the army. They settled in Lancaster County, Pa.
John Stouffer, father of Mrs. Frances Keener, was born in Ehrstadt, Germany, September 4, 1791; his wife, Christiana Herr, was born in 1795, at Berkach, Germany. Both became Mennonites, and they were married, according to the rules of the Church, before the congregation, at the Castle of Berkach, on Sunday, January 21, 1816. They leased the leasehold estates of Junkershausen and Voelkershausen, and bought, in the year 1835, the "Red Mill," near Schweinfurth, Bavaria. Their . children are as follows: Magdalene, born Octo- ber 21, 1816, died December 13, 1817; Philip, born July 27, 1818 ; John, born February 2, 1820; Maria, born December 12, 1821; Christian, born May 19, 1823; Henry, born November 16, 1824; lost his life by the explosion of a powder-mill, near
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