USA > Maryland > Washington County > Leitersburg > History of Leitersburg District, Washington County, Md.: Including Its Original Land Tenure. > Part 20
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MELCHOR GARVER was born in Leitersburg District, April 14, 1849, the son of Benjamin and Barbara (Berger) Garver. He was reared in his native District and received a common school edu- cation. In 1872 he left his home and from March to December of that year he was employed as a carpenter at Shamrock, Mo. He then went to Sherman, Tex., and in April, 1873, to Van Alstyne in that State, where he resided until 1881; here he con- ducted a blacksmith and carpenter shop six years and in 1878 be- came associated with his brother Lewis in the business of building and contracting in connection with a lumber yard. In the au- tumn of 1881 he removed to Grand Island, Neb., whence in the same year he returned to Leitersburg District, where he succeeded to the interest of his brother Cyrus in the Rock Forge property. The firm of Garver, Foltz & Company transferred its business to Hagerstown in 1882, where it was merged into the Hagerstown Iron Works, with which Mr. Garver was connected ten years. He was then engaged in the sale of washing machines two years and in the grocery business at Hagerstown two years. In 1896 he located at Maugansville, Washington County, where he is post- master and agent for the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company and the Adams Express Company; he also conducts a general store and is engaged in the business of forwarding grain. In 1883 he married Emma S., daughter of Martin and Susan (Barkdoll) Harbaugh, and their children are Arthur S .: Louis K .; Edna; Melchora, and Edwin H. Mr. Garver is a member of the Re- formed Church and a Republican in politics.
JOHN MENTZER was born on the 4th of March, 1765. Regard- ing the place of his birth and the circumstances of his early life nothing is definitely known; but it may be stated with reasonable certainty that he was of German origin and came from Lancaster County, Pa., to Leitersburg District about the year 1790. Here he married Catharine, daughter of Henry Solmes, who owned the farms east of Leitersburg now the property of Henry Martin
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and Upton Clopper. Mr. Solmes died in 1799; by the division of his estate John and Catharine Mentzer received the farm now owned by Henry Martin, and here he died, August 20, 1822. He was buried at a small inclosure on the north line of his farm, but about sixty years later his remains and those of his son David were exhumed and reinterred at Jacobs church. The early records of this church show that he was one of its members, and through- out its history his family has been prominently identified with its affairs. John and Catharine Mentzer were the parents of the following children: Margaret, who married Samuel Gilbert; John; Elizabeth, who married Abraham Strite; Catharine and David, ' who died unmarried, and Samuel, who removed to Kenton, Har- din County, Ohio, in 1834.
JOHN MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District, March 8, 1795, the son of John and Catharine (Solmes) Mentzer. He was reared in his native District upon his father's farm, to which he succeeded after the latter's death, and here he resided several years. He then removed to the farm now owned by the heirs of the late Joseph S. Mentzer, which was his property as well as con- siderable adjacent land. Here he erected the present improve- ments and reared a large family. Realizing the importance of educational advantages for his children he appropriated a small but sufficient plot of ground for school purposes, and, with the cooperation of his neighbors, erected a school house thereon. He was equally active in the support of local religious effort, serving for many years as an officer in Jacobs Lutheran Church. As & business man he was quite successful. He married Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Dorothy (Piper) Beaver, of Washington Township, Franklin County, Pa., and they were the parents of ten children: Daniel; Mrs. Sarah Tritle, widow of Jacob Tritle: Samuel: John W., deceased; Christian; Joseph S., deceased; Jacob B .; Catharine, wife of John N. Newcomer; Lewis L., and Lo Ru- hamah Elizabeth, deceased wife of Cyrus Schriver. John Mentzer died on the 12th of February, 1874; his widow survived him until November 7. 1881.
DANIEL MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District, January 31, 1819, the son of John and Catharine (Beaver) Mentzer. He obtained his education principally at the log school house on his father's farm. Here he subsequently taught two winter terms.
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although his first experience as a teacher was obtained at Green- castle, Pa. He was engaged in merchandising at Ringgold from 1843 to 1849, and at Smithsburg from 1849 to 1851 in partner- ship with Lewis Tritle. In 1851 he bought the farm in Leiters- burg District now owned by Lewis Lecron, and three years later he purchased the old Burkhart mill in that vicinity. Here he erected in 1857 a new mill, one of the most commodious and com- plete on Antietam creek. This he sold to George Bell in 1859, after which he was engaged in merchandising at Leitersburg for two years in partnership with his brother Christian. In 1861 he returned to his farm, which he operated until 1865; he then sold it and purchased another adjacent to Hagerstown on the Leiters- burg turnpike. This he sold in 1869, and in 1870 he leased the mill one mile from Leitersburg on the Smithsburg road, which he operated two years. From 1872 to 1875 he was engaged in merchandising at Smithsburg. After farming one year he en- tered the internal revenue service as storekeeper and gauger and held this position three years, after which he was employed as book-keeper by John W. Cable two years and at the Fahnestock creamery one year. In 1889 he engaged in merchandising at Edgemont, Md., where he is also postmaster. In 1850 he married Magdalene, daughter of Peter Hoover, and their children were Clara; Joseph P .; Mamie, wife of John Wiles; Daniel E .; Frank; Stanley; and two who died in infancy .. Their mother died Octo- ber 29, 1883, and in 1887 he married Malinda Delosier. Mr. Mentzer is a Republican in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church. He was elected county commissioner in 1857 and served one term. From 1872 to 1875 he was postmaster at Smithsburg, Md. He was president of the Hagerstown and Waynesboro Turn- pike Company from 1868 to 1871.
SAMUEL MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District, January 27, 1822, the son of John and Catharine (Beaver) Mentzer. He was reared in his native District and obtained a common school education. After teaching one term at the local school he located at Ringgold, Md., in 1843; here he resided until 1856 and was successively engaged in butchering, merchandising, and coach- making. He was then employed for ten years as cooper at the mill north of Leitersburg owned by his brother, Daniel Mentzer. In 1866 he located at Hagerstown, where he has since been en-
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gaged in business as a market gardener. In 1842 he married Julia, daughter of Benjamin and Judith (Leiter) Hartman, and their children are James A .; Samuel C .; Joseph C .; Sarah E., wife of Louis Leiter; Catharine A., wife of Veniah Meredith; Bessie F .; Margaret M., wife of Harry Smith, and Lola Lucy, deceased. Mr. Mentzer is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church.
JOHN W. MENTZER was born on the 26th of October, 1823, the son of John and Catharine (Beaver) Mentzer. He was a native of Leitersburg District, in which he resided all his life. He was a farmer by occupation, and began his business life as tenant on his father's farms, several of which he successively operated, ul- timately purchasing the farm now owned by the heirs of the late Daniel Harshman; here he resided until his death, January 7, 1879. In 1853 he married Esther, daughter of Jacob and Mag- dalena (Stouffer) Hoffman, who was born April 22, 1830, and died January 23, 1881. Their children were Catharine, wife of William Reecher, of Coleta, Ill .; Lucy, wife of John Stickell, of Waynesboro, Pa .; Cyrus H., of Big Cove Tannery, Fulton County, Pa .; Mary Elizabeth, deceased; U. Grant, of Big Cove Tannery; Alfred B., deceased, and Linnie, wife of George W. Wallace, of Waynesboro, Pa. Mr. Mentzer was a member of the Lutheran Church and a Republican in politics.
CHRISTIAN MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District, Feb- ruary 17, 1825. the son of John and Catharine (Beaver) Mentzer. His educational advantages were such as the local schools afforded. He began farming in 1851 as tenant for his father in his native District, continuing until 1858, when he spent some months in Ohio and Indiana. In 1859-60 he was engaged in merchandis- ing at Leitersburg in partnership with his brother Daniel. He was then engaged in farming in Clearspring District and in the vicinity of Williamsport and Cearfoss until 1879, when he lo- cated at Williamsport, where he conducted a grocery for a time and has since been employed as a shoemaker. In 1851 he mar- ried Catharine, daughter of John and Catharine (Nave) New- comer, and to this union one son was born, John N., deceased. Mrs. Mentzer having died he married Mary M., daughter of Wil- liam and Mary Ann (Brewer) Beard, and their surviving children
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are William B .; Christian C .; Samuel M .; Percy S .; Harry C .; Net- tie M., wife of Benjamin C. Lefevre; Emma G., wife of Daniel M. Brooks, and Minta B., wife of Millard F. Roberson. Those de- ceased are Edward E .; Mary O .; Martin L., and Benjamin F. Mr. Mentzer is a Republican in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church.
JOSEPH S. MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District, Septem- ber 11, 1826, the son of John and Catharine (Beaver) Mentzer. In early manhood he taught at the school house on his father's farm and also at Ringgold. In 1849 he was a student at Witten- berg College, Springfield, O., after which he taught for several years at Jacobs church, Harrison, and Pleasant Hill. In 1850 he married Barbara, daughter of Henry Jacobs, who died in 1852; the issue of this union was one child, who died in infancy. In 1852 he rented the farm of his father-in-law at Jacobs church, but owing to the death of his wife he relinquished farming the same year. Several years later he again engaged in farming as tenant on his father's home farm, which he subsequently purchased, and here he resided until his death, January 20, 1881. In 1856 he married Susanna, daughter of John and Catharine (Besore) Wal- ter, and their children were Walter S., of Waynesboro, Pa .; E. Keller, of Leitersburg District; Elvah C., wife of William Middle- kauff; Mary J., wife of Harvey L. Harbaugh; Harlan J., of Waynesboro, Pa .; L. Buhrman, of Baltimore, Md .; John E., who died in infancy; Sudie B .; and Howard F., who died in infancy. Mr. Mentzer was a member of Jacobs Lutheran Church, in which he served as elder and deacon and as Sunday school superin- tendent for many years. In politics he was a Republican. .
JACOB B. MENTZER was born on the 11th of May, 1825, in Leitersburg District, the son of John and Catharine (Beaver) Mentzer. He was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education at the local schools. In 1848 he became teacher at the school house on the family homestead and continued in this pro- fession eleven years, teaching at Welty's, at New Harmony, and at Jacobs church in Leitersburg District, and at Harrison and I'nion in Franklin County, Pa. In 1861 he married Amanda, daughter of John and Susan (Lieberknight) Hawbecker, and their children are John H., deceased; Clarence Ellsworth, and Charles Titus. Mr. Mentzer has been a resident of Leitersburg for some
14
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years. Here he was engaged in farming until 1887, and since that time he has lived a retired life. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and a Republican in politics.
JOSEPH P. MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District on the 24th of August, 1853, the son of Daniel and Magdalene (Hoover) Mentzer. His education was obtained principally at the public schools of Hagerstown and completed with a business course. After reaching manhood he learned the trade of cigar making, at which he worked six years in Hagerstown and Smithsburg. For one year he was employed as an advertising agent. He was also engaged in business individually as a manufacturer of cigars two years at Hagerstown, and for about the same period he was a member of the firm of Beard & Mentzer, agents for the West- ern Maryland Railroad Company at Potomac Avenue in that city and dealers in grain and feed. Having disposed of his interest to his partner he embarked in the grocery business, which he ex- changed two years later for a confectionery and bakery, and this he conducted one year. He was then employed at Antietam Creamery near Waynesboro eight years. In March, 1892, he be- came assistant agent for the Adams Express Company at Waynes- boro, and one year later he became the Company's agent, a posi- tion that he has since filled with eminent satisfaction to his em- ployers and the public. In 1882 Mr. Mentzer married Hattie K., daughter of Zachariah and Ann (Cameron) Shugert, and their children are Albert S .; Elsie M .; Mena D .: Merl, deceased. and Zoe Iona. Mr. Mentzer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics a Republican.
DANIEL E. MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District, Novem- ber 21, 1863, the son of Daniel and Magdalene (Hoover) Mentzer. He obtained his education principally at the public schools of Smithsburg. In 1883 he entered the employ of Thomas Me- Daniel at Potomac Avenue station on the Western Maryland rail- road at Hagerstown. Here he was successively employed by Wil- liam S. Swartz and Steffey & Findlay until 1894, when he entered the employ of his father in their present business at Edgement. In 1891 he married Annie M .. daughter of .Jacob H. and Amande Palmer of Chowsville, and they are the parents of one child. Ray- mond E. Mr. Mentzer is a Republican in politics.
WALTER S. MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District, October
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22, 1857, the son of Joseph S. and Susanna (Walter) Mentzer. He obtained his education at the public schools of his native District and at the Washington County High School. In 1876 he con- ducted a summer school at Harrison in Washington Township. In 1877 he entered the employ of Garver, Foltz & Company at Rock Forge, where he served an apprenticeship of three years at the trade of machinist. This was supplemented by eighteen months in the machine department of the Frick Company at Waynesboro, by which he has been continuously employed since April 5, 1880. In 1884 he was promoted to his present position, that of foreman of the mounting and pipe department. In 1886 Mr. Mentzer married Annie M., daughter of Christian D. Miller, and their children are Edna C. and Enola S. Mr. Mentzer is a member of the Lutheran Church of Waynesboro, in which he has held the offices of deacon and assistant superintendent of the Sun- day school. He was also superintendent of the Sunday school at Jacobs church while a member of that congregation. In politics he is a Republican.
E. KELLER MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District, March 8, 1859, the son of Joseph S. and Susanna (Walter) Mentzer. He was reared in his native District and obtained a common school education. In 1887 he engaged in farming on the old Mentzer homestead, and here he has since resided. In 1886 he married Emma S., daughter of Matthias and Nancy (Hoffman) Hoffman, and they are the parents of two children, Cora M. and Mary S. Mr. Mentzer is a member of the Lutheran Church and he holds the office of deacon in the Jacobs congregation. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Mentzer is the only representative of his fam- ily in Leitersburg District, and the farm upon which he resides has been in possession of the family more than a hundred years.
CLARENCE E. MENTZER was born in Leitersburg District, Janu- ary 15, 1866, the son of Jacob B. and Amanda (Hawbecker) Mentzer. He was reared in his native District and obtained his education at the Leitersburg schools. In 1886-89 he was engaged in teaching. His first school was Pleasant Hill in Leitersburg District: the second, Hopewell school in Election District No. 3: the third, the intermediate department of the Leitersburg schools. Prior to this, however, he had been employed by the Frick Com- pany of Waynesboro, Pa., at pattern making from March, 1881.
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HISTORY OF LEITERSBURG DISTRICT.
to June, 1885, and during his summer vacations while teaching school he was in the service of the Hagerstown Steam Engine Company in a similar capacity. In 1890 he went to Wilmington, Del., where he was employed as pattern maker by the Wilmington Malleable Iron Company four years. In 1894 he located at Ha- gerstown, where he has since resided; here he holds a position in the pattern department of the Crawford Bicycle Works. In 1893 he married Emma S., daughter of Henry and Susan Barnhart. Mr. Mentzer is a member of the Lutheran Church and a Republi- can in politics.
MICHAEL WOLFINGER was born in Germany in 1763 and emi- grated to America in early manhood. He was a blacksmith by trade, and it was while seeking employment that he found his way to Washington County. Eventually he reached a smith shop in the vicinity of Leitersburg, applied for work, and was at first re- fused, but having demonstrated his superior skill by mending a shovel his services were accepted. From this circumstance is due the fact that he located in Leitersburg District, and here, after the lapse of more than a century, many of his descendants now reside. In the record of his naturalization as an American citi- zen, which occurred in 1798 at the April term of the Washington County court, he is described as "a native of Germany, black- smith, living near the Rock Forge." Within a few years after he first located here he was operating a smithshop on his own ac- count, and also engaged extensively in farming and distilling. He resided at the farm on the Greencastle road now owned by the estate of the late Joseph Strite; here the blacksmith shop and dis- tillery were located, and as the main road from Hagerstown to Gettysburg and York then passed this place he also conducted a hotel. His landed possessions also comprised the Summer farm near Leitersburg and a tract of two hundred acres now owned principally by his grandchildren, David L. Wolfinger and Mrs. Laura K. Ziegler; these farms he also operated in connection with his other interests. He was one of the most energetic and suc- cessful business men of his generation in Leitersburg District. He died on the 16th of February, 1816, at the age of fifty-turn years and nine months, and is buried at Jacobs Lutheran church. where he was a member for more than twenty years. He married Sarah Foltz, also a native of Germany, and their children were
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Michael; Jacob; John; Daniel G .; Samuel, and David. The two last named died before reaching manhood. John was never en- gaged in active business and never married. Michael succeeded to his father's farm on the Greencastle road; he never operated it, however, but resided in Leitersburg.
JACOB WOLFINGER was born in Leitersburg District on the 14th of March, 1806, the son of Michael and Sarah (Foltz) Wolfinger. He was reared to manhood in his native District and obtained his education at the local schools. When a boy he was thrown from a horse, sustaining injuries that excluded him from active employ- ment and ultimately caused his death. After his marriage he lo- cated at Leitersburg, where he lived a retired life. Studious in his tastes and habits, he devoted much of his time to reading, and was justly regarded as one of the well-informed men of the com- munity. Although never engaged in active business, he was care- ful and conservative in the management of his affairs and left to his children a valuable patrimony. In religious belief he adhered to the faith of his father; he was a member of the Lutheran Church at Leitersburg from about the time of its organization until his death. In politics he was a Whig. Mr. Wolfinger married Nancy, daughter of John Lahm of Leitersburg, and their chil- dren were Daniel S .; Mary J., deceased wife of Joseph Clugston, of Waynesboro; James A., deceased; Charles B .; Laura K., wife of Charles C. Ziegler, and George H. Mr. Wolfinger died on the 1st of May, 1857; his widow, who was born April 15, 1808, survived him until May 3, 1890.
DANIEL G. WOLFINGER was born in Leitersburg District on the 3d of December, 1814, the son of Michael and Sarah (Foltz) Wolfinger. He obtained a common school education, and in his youth and early manhood was employed as clerk by George W. Ziegler at Greencastle, Pa., Charles Fletcher at Leitersburg, Jona- than Harbaugh at Middletown, Md., and Jonathan Newcomer at Benevola, Washington County. After his marriage in 1836 he began farming near Leitersburg at the Summer farm, which was formerly owned by his father. In 1839 he removed to the farm of 202 acres which he purchased in 1855 and whereon he resided until his death, January 31, 1891. This land is now owned prin- cipally by his son, David L., and Mrs. Laura K. Ziegler. The old homestead is now the property of Mrs. Ziegler. Mr. Wolfinger
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was a Whig until the dissolution of that party, after which he be- came a Republican. He was a member of the Christian Church at Hagerstown. In 1836 he married Susanna, daughter of John Alexander, of Frederick County, Md., who was captain of a volun- teer rifle company in the War of 1812. They were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, who died at the age of sixteen; Susanna, who died in infancy; David L .; Daniel H .; Mary E., of Hagerstown, Md .; Alexander M .; William H. H .; John O .; Levi B .; George C., and Alice E., deceased wife of Martin L. Miller, M. D. Mrs. Wolfinger was born on the 27th of August, 1815, and died August 31, 1858.
DANIEL S. WOLFINGER was born at Leitersburg, January 27. 1834, the eldest son of Jacob and Nancy (Lahm) Wolfinger. He was brought up at Leitersburg and obtained a common school education. He began his business career in 1853 as clerk in a dry-goods store at Springfield, Ohio. Returning to his native village he entered the store of George W. Pole as clerk and book- keeper and here he was employed as long as Mr. Pole was in busi- ness at Leitersburg, a period of about twelve years; during this time he was commissioned as postmaster of the village, March 19, 1861, and served until the appointment of his successor, Decem- ber 18, 1865. During the construction of the Washington Coun- ty branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in 1866-67 he was employed by the contractors as book-keeper and paymaster, a posi- tion involving the disbursement of $20,000 per month in wages to the employees. After clerking in the store of Josephus Ground at Leitersburg several years he was appointed deputy collector of taxes in 1876 by William M. Lantz, treasurer for Washington County, retaining this position until 1882 under the next incumbent of that office, Charles W. Adams. In 1882 he became book-keeper for Lortz & Wolfinger, now Wolfinger, Allen & Brown, wholesale grocers, Chambersburg, Pa., and has since continued in this position. Although never engaged in business individually, Mr. Wolfinger has held for a number of years a suc- cession of responsible positions, in all of which he has acquitted himself with honor and fidelity. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics a Republican of independent principles.
CHARLES B. WOLFINGER was born at Leitersburg on the 22d of July, 1848, the son of Jacob and Nancy (Lahm) Wolfinger. He
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obtained his education at the public schools. After reaching manhood he learned the trade of carpenter under J. Freeland Leiter, with whom he was employed for several years after com- pleting his apprenticeship, when ill health compelled him to re- linquish active employment. In 1893 he married Mary Alice, daughter of George S. and Susan Ziegler. Mr. Wolfinger is a Re- publican in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church.
GEORGE H. WOLFINGER was born at Leitersburg, November 20, 1854, the son of Jacob and Nancy (Lahm) Wolfinger. He was reared in his native village, and after completing the course at the local schools attended the Cumberland Valley State Normal School at Shippensburg, Pa. He was then engaged in teaching at Leitersburg for several years. In 1877, as a member of the firm of Lortz & Wolfinger, he embarked in the wholesale grocery business at Chambersburg; by the retirement of Mr. Lortz in 1895 he became the senior member of the firm, of which the present style is Wolfinger, Allen & Brown. In 1877 Mr. Wolfinger mar- ried Annie M., daughter of J. Freeland and Martha H. (Lantz) Leiter, and their children are Max L. and Donald L. Mr. Wol- finger's political affiliations are with the Republican party.
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