USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Biographical annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families > Part 74
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118
extraction and were early settlers in Schuyl- kill county.
Mr. Houser received his early training in the public schools of his native county. At the age of fourteen he went to Mahanoy City to clerk in the general merchandise store of his brother-in-law, George Good- man. Here he remained for a period of four or five years. Desiring a higher education, and possessing an indomitable will to acquire it, he gave up his clerkship and entered Heid- elberg Academy, Tiffin, Ohio, and later the Heidelberg University of the same place, and was graduated therefrom in 1881. The following year he began the study of theol- ogy in the Theological Department of the Heidelberg University, and was graduated in 1884. While yet a student in the Semi- nary, he was appointed a delegate to the International Missionary Alliance then meet- ing in Chicago. His scholarly ability was quickly recognized by that convention, and he was signally honored by being elected permanent secretary of the convention. This was a distinguished honor for a young theo- logical student.
Mr. Houser's parents were members of the German Reformed Church. He united with this church at the early age of fourteen years and retained his membership in this denomination until he had completed his theological course. He was then called to the pastorate of a Presbyterian Church in Erie, Mich. He accepted this call and was ordained by the Presbytery of Monroe, Synod of Michigan, on Oct. 7, 1884. A frail child from his birth, he never became a strong man physically. He suffered from a throat and bronchial trouble which devel- oped into consumption. Yet through a life which was for many years a long struggle with disease, his vigorous intellect and in- trepid spirit never failed to bear up his suf-
523
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
fering and languid body. He preached the gospel of his Lord and Saviour for twelve years faithfully, earnestly, tactfully. He served congregations at Erie, Mich .; Tioga, Pa .: Painted Post, N. Y .: Auburn, Neb. ; and McConnellsburg. Pa. The condition of his health was such as to prevent continued performance of the duties of a pastor, which accounts for his frequent changes of fields of labor, and for his engaging in business pursuits.
Mr. Houser was twice married. On June 21, 1884. he was married to Miss Car- rie Stone, of Tiffin, Ohio. She lived little more than a year after their marriage. His second wife was Miss Carrie Parsons, of Hornellsville, N. Y., to whom he was mar- ried in May. ISSS. She with two children, Frank and Winifred, survives him.
Mr. Houser was a man of unusual energy and determination. He entirely sus- tained himself throughout his preparatory, collegiate and theological courses, and this same determined, energetic spirit manifested itself in the later years of his life. When his voice had become so weakened that he could no longer preach, and his feeble frame was shaken by a constant hoarse cough, to pre- vent his becoming a charge to the church he loved he turned the force of his mind to some business the duties of which he was able to perform. His indomitable will kept him up and active long after others, had they been in his condition, would have given up and ceased their efforts. Mr. Houser's integrity as a citizen, his business ability, his tact in handling men, his kind and genial disposition, his impressive manner, his Chris- tian culture, won him success. Among other things he engaged in the buying and selling of real estate. In this occupation he was very successful, having conducted many large deals in this and adjoining counties.
He was the happy possessor of the hand- some home on East Main street, which he was permitted to enjoy but a short time. Just as his malady laid heavy hands upon him, his various enterprises promised unus- ual returns. He was under no illusion as to his condition. His intellect was not for a moment clouded. He saw the promise of his various enterprises, yet not a murmur stole into his warm heart. No weakness, no querulousness, disgraced the noble close of his career. To those who were permitted to visit him, his death was more eloquent than his life. And his fortitude was the more admirable, because he longed to live. His steadfast reliance upon the promises of God's Word made him a hero in this unequal struggle. He had no fear of death, but, on the other hand, he looked upon death as a sweet messenger to summon him to a higher and better life. He was always more cheer- ful and bright than anyone else in his sick room, and at times chided those about him for not being more cheerful. Who will ever forget his warm hand grasps and his happy smile for those who came to see him? He was a most happy exemplification of the victory over death and the grave which the true Christian has.
Those who knew him best loved him most. He was a man who had the courage of his convictions, hating deceit, hypocrisy and sham, and loving the truth. He had been a reader along lines of speculative phi- losophy and theology, and he bore this tes- timony not long before his death, that it was all vanity. It would do to while away an idle moment, but it would not do to live by and much less to die by. He loved the word of God and especially the words therein of his Lord Jesus Christ. They brought him great comfort and solace in his sickness. For him we mourn not, for he is with his
523
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Master, but we mourn our loss of him, as a citizen, as a neighbor, as a genial Christian gentleman, well read, widely traveled, as a friend indeed, we miss him, and mourn him. His wife and children have the tenderest sympathy of the whole community. During the later years of his life he traveled exten- sively, hoping to prolong his life. His last trip was to Florida. After his return from Florida, in July of 1903, he was confined to his bed until the time of his death, which occurred early on the morning of Oct. 10, 1903. The funeral services were conducted at his late home, by his beloved pastor, Rev. T. C. McCarrell, assisted by Rev. T. J. Fer- guson, pastor of Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Mr. Hagerty, of Carlisle.
HARRY M. BRETZ. In August, 1750, there landed at Philadelphia from the ship "Royal Union," from Rotterdam, a Wendel Bretz, whose descendants, as is shown else- where in these annals, reached Cumberland county. With Wendel Bretz on the "Royal Union" came a Henry Bretz, who was noted on the ship's list as being sick. According to tradition Henry Bretz, was a brother to Wendel, and his descendants reached Cum- berland county at an earlier date than did those of Wendel. Henry settled in the part of Lancaster county which has since become Lebanon county and so far as is known died in that part of the country.
The first appearance of the Bretz name in Cumberland county was in 1773, when a Simon Pratz was assessed in East Penns- boro township with 200 acres of land. In 1774 he was assessed with 166 acres of land, two horses and one cow, and there- after with practically the same amount of land until 1805, in which year he died. This Simon Pratz was a son of the aforenamed Henry Bretz, the name simply being mis-
spelled by the assessor. He settled on the north side of the Conedoguinet in East Pennsboro, upon a tract of land, which, al- though regularly assessed in his name, did not actually belong to him until Dec. 9, 1790, when the executors of James White- hill, of Salisbury township. Lancaster coun-, ty, for the sum of £160, formally conveyed it to him, as appears by the records. From the earliest entry of the name upon the Cum- berland county records down for more than fifty years it is spelled Pratz. or Pratts, but more recently nearly all branches of the family have adopted the form of Bretz. Simon Pratz made his will Feb. 10, 1805, and it was probated Aug. 17, 1805. From it it appears that he by occupation was a blacksmith; that his wife's name was Cath- erine, and that he had the following chil- dren: Frederick. Abraham, John, Simon, Conrad, Philip, Jacob, Daniel and Elizabeth. Of the eight sons, Abraham was dead when his father's will was made. but had left sur- viving him the following children: Jacob, Catherine, John and Abraham. Simon Pratz died in August, 1805, and his remains are buried in a private graveyard on his farm, where those of his sons Abraham and Simon, and his daughter Elizabeth are also buried. After their father's death, Daniel. Conrad and Philip emigrated to Seneca county, in the State of New York, where Philip died leaving children, and some of his descendants are yet living in that section. Conrad removed to Canada, where he died leaving two daughters.
Daniel Bretz did not like the new coun- try to which he and his brothers had re- moved and in a short time returned to his old home in Pennsylvania. never again to wander from his native heath. He married Susanna Ritter, and on May 7, 1812, he and his brother Jacob, for the sum of £1,ood,
524
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
bought the farm which their father bought from the Whitehills in 1790, and which was his home from the time he settled in Cum- berland county until his death. Jacob never married. but with Daniel occupied the old homestead while he lived. He died April 28. 1850, in the sixty-third year of his age. and his remains are buried in the graveyard of the "Brick Church" near West Fairview. From the circumstance of his brother Daniel having a son named Jacob, who grew to manhood in the same home, the uncle came to be known as Jacob Bretz, Sr., and the nephew as Jacob Bretz, Jr., and they were in this way distinguished on the public rec- ords for years.
Daniel and Susanna ( Ritter) Bretz had the following children: Abraham, Sa- rah Eliza. Jacob, Anna, and a daugh- ter who died very young. Abraham married Miss Sidle: Sarah Eliza mar- ried John Henry Longsdorff; Jacob married Catherine Lantz; and Anna mar- ried Samuel Grier, and afterward Isaac Smith. In February, 1842, Abraham was thrown from a horse and killed, at the age of thirty-four years, leaving surviving him four children, viz: Jacob, Daniel, Abraham and Susan. Sarah Eliza died in May, 1843. and her husband died in May, 1845, leaving surviving them four children, viz: Jacob, Susannah, John and George. Anna died in 1904. leaving surviving her by her first mar- riage one child, a daughter, who married David Lightner.
Jacob Bretz, "Junior," was born Oct. 9. 1818, on the farm which his grandfather. Simon Pratz, purchased from the Whitehill heirs. Here he spent all his days. When yet a babe of seven months his mother carried him in her arms a distance of five miles to Friedens Kirch, near Shiremanstown, and had him baptized in the Lutheran Church
by Rev. Benjamin Keller, one of the early pastors of that denomination in Cumberland county, and all through life he proved true to the principles of this early consecration. He followed the avocation of farming on the homestead until the infirmities of ad- vancing years compelled him to retire. In person he was very tall and erect and his height was often referred to to distinguish him from other Bretzes who bore his name. He was a man of the strictest integrity and stood high in the estimation of everybody who knew him. He died on July 28, 1896, in the seventy-eighth year of his age; his wife died April 13, 1888, aged seventy years, and their remains are buried in the grave- yard of "Brick Church."
To Jacob and Catherine (Lantz) Bretz the following children were born : William, Susan, Augustus, Sarah, Jacob and Ellen M.
William Bretz, the eldest son, in 1865 married Catherine Renninger, daughter of John Martin Renninger and Margaret, his wife. The Renningers are also an old rep- resentative family of Cumberland county, and were among the early settlers of East Pennsboro township. John Martin Ren- ninger and wife had other children as fol- lows: Mary A., who married Francis Trum- baurer; Elizabeth, who married Simon Bretz; and John M. Renninger. John Martin Renninger died in February, 1883, in the seventy-seventh year of his age; his wife died in April, 1881; and their daughter, Mrs. Trumbaurer, died in July, 1873, in the twenty-third year of her age. Their remains are buried at the "Brick Church." Simon Bretz, husband of Elizabeth Renninger, died July 22, 1900, and is buried at St. John's Church, near Shiremanstown.
William Bretz, soon after his marriage, began farming on his own account and en- gaged successfully at that vocation in East
525
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Pennsboro township until his death, highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him for his integrity and good neighborly quali- ties. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and especially devoted and kind as a husband and father. He died Feb. 24. 1899, in the fifty-ninth year of his age, and is buried in the graveyard of the "Brick Church," the burying-place of many of the Bretz family. His widow survives him and with her children, Grace V., Anna M., Wil- liam R. and Edna B., lives in East Penns- boro township, near Camp Hill. William and Catherine (Renninger) Bretz had a family of eight children, viz: Harry M., Charles E., James M., William R., Grace V., Anna M., Edna B. and Maggie G., the latter having died in infancy.
Harry M. Bretz, the son whose name heads this biographical sketch, was the eldest child and was born Nov. 17, 1866, in West Fairview. He was reared on the farm and obtained his early education in the public schools of that section. Subsequently he had the benefit of a thorough normal school training, graduating from the Cumberland Valley State Normal School in 1885. For six years he taught in the public schools of East Pennsboro, but relinquished teaching for an appointment as railway mail clerk, which position he resigned after rendering more than twelve years of continuous and satisfactory service, Mr. Bretz early di- rected his attention into professional chan- nels and utilized the time he had to spare from his regular duties in reading and study- ing law. In 1894 he removed to Harris- burg, where he continued his legal studies with Hon. Thomas S. Hargest as preceptor, and where he was admitted to practice in the Dauphin county courts on Jan. 28, 1898. He is also a member of the Cumberland County Bar and has an office in West Fair-
view. He is in love with his profession and devotes himself assiduously to its practice.
On June 6, 1894, Harry MI. Bretz was married to Sarah A. Martin, by Rev. Edwin A. Pyles, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at West Fairview, who has since married E. Sylvania Martin, a sister of Mrs. Bretz. Mrs. Bretz is a daughter of Frank and Laura C. (Bowman) Martin, who re- side in West Fairview, Mr. Martin being one of the well known and substantial citizens of the lower end of Cumberland county. Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Bretz have two children, Marion S. and Laura M., and live in a pleas- ant home at No. 224 Reily street, Harris- burg.
PROF. HENRY BRINDLE MARK- LEY, one of the efficient educators of Cum- berland county, a grammar school teacher of Mechanicsburg, was born on a farm southwest of that city, and is a son of Moses Markley. He is descended from one of three brothers, John, Jacob and George Markley, who came to this country Aug. 30, 1749, in the ship "Crown," Michael James, master, from Rotterdam and settled in Lancaster county, Pa. They were from Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. Henry Markley, grandfather of Henry Brindle Markley, married Margaret Myers, and they had two children, viz: Elizabeth, who married Christian Gleim, and Moses, father of Henry B. Markley. Mrs. Margaret (Myers) Markley was born Sept. 28, 1800, daughter of Henry Myers, who was born Oct. 24, 1772, and on July 28, 1799, mar- ried Catharine Smith, daughter of Peter Smith. They had three children: Mar- garet, born in 1800; John Jacob, born in 1804; and David, born in 1810. George Myers, father of Henry, was born Oct. 20, 1739. The Myers family have long been
526
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. .
large landholders, owning one tract of 1,000 acres.
Moses Markley was born on the farm be- fore named, locally known as the old Mark- ley homestead. April 23. 1824. and has re- sided in retirement in Mechanicsburg since 1876. For a number of years he was classed with the county's most successful farmers. He married Elizabeth Brindle. who was born Sept. 29. 1826, daughter of Peter and Mar- garet (Zug) Brindle, the former of whom was born Aug. 15. 1798; the latter was born June 19. 1803. daughter of Christian Zug. Mr. and Mrs. Brindle had the following chil- dren: Jacob, Elizabeth (wife of Moses Markley), Levi, Samuel ( deceased), David, Margaret, Sarah, Susan (who married Ja- cob Pentz), Peter and William. The chil- dren of Moses Markley and his wife were three sons: George S., David Myers and Henry Brindle.
Henry Brindle Markley grew up on his father's farm and attended the district schools until old enough to enter an excellent select school at Boiling Springs. When but nineteen years old he began to teach, his first attempt being a term of three years at the Handshew school, after which he taught four terms at Lines house and at Oak Grove, in Monroe township, fourteen years; three terms at the Bell school house; one term at Maple Grove; and one term at the Rife schoolhouse. In 1893 he became a teacher in Mechanicsburg. His reputation as an edu- cator is not confined to the city, as he is well and favorably known in all educational cen- ters over the county and is a member of many of the organizations of his profession.
On May 25, 1880, Mr. Markley married Marietta Gates, of Churchtown, the eldest daughter of Levi and Sarah Ellen (Too- mey ) Gates. She was educated in the local schools and also became a teacher, being
engaged for two terms at Churchtown and two at Fairview. Their pleasant home is lo- cated at No. 515 West Main street. Mrs. Markley is a member of the Woman's Liter- ary Club of Mechanicsburg and is prominent in the city's social life. Both she and her husband are members of the Church of God. in which he has served as deacon and is sup- erintendent of the Primary department of the Sunday-school, and for seven years has been president of the Christian Endeavor society.
Politically Mr. Markley is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 302, A. F. & A. M., of Me- chanicsburg, also of the K. of P. and Knights of Malta. He is vice president of the City Steam Fire Company No. 2, and is interested in everything looking to the ad- vancement of the educational and material welfare of his section. Personally he is a man of sterling character, and enjoys the es- teem of all with whom his years of public life have made him acquainted.
REV. JOHN E. KLEFFMAN, who since the fall of 1903 has been located at Carlisle, as pastor of the Grace U. B. Church, is a young man of energy and abil- ity and is putting these qualities to good use in his sacred calling. His ancestry were German. His grandfather. Christian Kleff- man, was born in the part of Germany called Westphalia and was reared a farmer, which pursuit he followed'all his life. He had a daughter named Mary, who married Fred- erick W. Kottcamp and came to America, settling at York, Pa. At the earnest request of this daughter. Christian Kleffman, his wife, Catherine Mary, four sons and another daughter, also came to America. All of them settled at York, and became industrious and worthy American citizens. Both par-
527
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
ents died in York, after having lived there about seventeen years.
Albert Henry Gottlieb Kleffman, one of the four sons, was the father of our subject and was eighteen years old when he came to America. He had been brought up to farming, but on coming to this country he engaged at various kinds of work and finally got to manufacturing brick, at which he con- tinued until in 1893, since which time he has lived retired. In youth he was a member of the Lutheran Church, but after settling at York he affiliated with the First U. B. Church of that place, of which he has been a member for fifty years.
Rev. Mr. Kleffman's maternal ancestry were also German and lived in the same com- munity from which his paternal ancestry came. His great-grandmother was totally blind from childhood. Her son, Herman Henry Druhman, married Anna Mary Spangler, and strange as it was, all the chil- dren were called after the family name of Spangler. To this union were born six daughters and one son. All the daughters came to America and were married here, while the son, receiving the Spangler home- stead, is still living upon the same. In the year 1881 the grandparents came to America and went to Kansas, where they lived with their youngest daughter until from old age they passed into the beyond. They lived to the ages of eighty-five and eighty-seven years, respectively.
Anna Catherine Louisa Spangler was brought to America in the year 1854 by her father, at the tender age of fourteen years. Her father intended to remain here and had negotiated for the purchase of a farm near the city of York, but after six months he be- came homesick, gave up his intention of buy- ing a farm and returned to the Fatherland, leaving the daughter here in the care of
friends. The mother of our subject often related that she went and prayed in secret that the way might be opened so she could make her home permanently in America. Thus were her prayers answered. Although a member of the Lutheran Church in the Fatherland she immediately united with the First U. B. Church of York and remained a member of the same until death. She died Sept. 12, 1888.
The parents of Rev. Mr. Kleffman were married in the year 1859, by Rev. J. C. Smith, then pastor of the First U. B. Church. To this union were born ten children, of whom eight died in infancy and childhood. The two who grew to maturity were John E., our subject, and Edward H., now living in York, Pennsylvania.
Rev. John E. Kleffman was born April II, 1866, in York, Pa., where he passed his childhood. He received his early education in the public schools of his native place and later in the Hess school of Spring Garden township, his father having moved a short distance outside the city limits. Here he con- tinued up to the age of fourteen. He then for two years more attended the York County Academy, in the city of York, and afterward, from sixteen to nineteen, worked at weaving. At the age of nineteen lie entered Lebanon Valley College, at Annville, Pa., from which institution he was gradu- ated at the age of twenty-three. He contin- ued his studies at the Union Biblical Sem- inary, at Dayton, Ohio, where he remained two years, and at the age of twenty-five had completed his preparation for the ministry of the U. B. Church, in which he has ever since been laboring. He was received into the Second U. B. Church as a member at the age of thirteen by Rev. J. C. Smith, who was the officiating clergyman at the mar- riage of his parents, and had administered
528
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
the rite of holy baptism upon him in his childhood.
Mr. Kleffman was granted Quarterly Conference license at Annville. Pa., on April 28. 1888. Rev. Isaiah Baltzell, of precious memory, being the presiding elder. He was granted Annual Conference license at the Conference held in Baltimore, Md., March 1. 1889. Bishop Nicholas Castle, D. D., pre- siding. He was ordained to the office of an elder in the church at the Conference held in the Second U. B. Church, Feb. 24, 1892, Bishop E. B. Kephart, D. D., presiding. His first partorate was at Hanover, Pa., where he remained three years, during that time erecting a church near Jefferson Borough, Codorus post office, York county. The fol- lowing year he was located at Greencastle, Pa., then three years at Scotland, Franklin Co., Pa., whence he was transferred to Get- tysburg. where he remained two years. Then for four years he was at Duncannon, Pa., and from that pastorate came to his present charge.
During the last year of his stay at Dun- cannon he erected a new church there, and did effective work throughout the period of his pastorate at that place. He has been much esteemed in the various communities in which he has been called to labor, and has made many friends in Carlisle during the brief period that he has resided in that place.
On May 11, 1893, in York, Rev. Mr. Kleffman was married to Miss Ella A. Luck- ing, by Rev. C. A. Burtner, assisted by Rev. M. J. Heberly. Mrs. Kleffman is a daughter of Henry and Mary E. Lucking. She re- ceived her education in the schools of York and graduated from the York high school in the class of 1887. Her ancestors were German and lived in the same locality where Mr. Kleffman's ancestry lived. Her father came to this country in the year 1854 at the
age of eighteen years, and located at York, Pa .. where by industry and care he has be- come an influential and highly respected cit- izen. He has been a member of the First U. B. Church about fifty years. The inti- mate relations of the families is observed in the fact that the Lucking homestead was within several hundred yards of the Spang- ler homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Kleffman have one child, Albert Henry, eight summers old.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.