USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Biographical annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settlers > Part 12
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In 1858 Mr. Hostetter was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Ensminger, a daughter of Samuel Ensminger, who at that time was treasurer of Lancaster county. Three children were born of this union, but two died in infancy. Vennetta, the only one now living, is the wife of H. C. Stauffer, teller in the Manheim National Bank.
Religiously Mr. Hostetter is a member of the Reformed Church : socially he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while politically he is a stanch Republican. He keeps abreast of the times and is thoroughly up-to-date in all respects. As a citizen he ever stands ready to discharge any duty that devolves upon him, and gives his support to every enterprise for the public good. -
JOSEPH K. NEWCOMER. a progressive farmer of Manor township, with his home on his neat farm of thirty-six acres three miles southeast of Columbia, Lancaster Co., Pa., was born on the homestead of which he now owns a part, Nov. 18, 1834, and until twenty-six years of age he devoted his services to his parents and then began opera- tions on his own account on his present property.
On Nov. 18, 1860, Joseph K. Newcomer mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Rohrer, daughter of Rev. Eph- raim Rohrer, of Manor township. This lady died
in 1867, leaving two children, Ephraim, a miller, now in West Hempfield township, and Emma, wife of Amos Doerstler, of Manor township. Joseph K. Newcomer next married. in 1872, Miss Elizabeth Seitz, daughter of Rev. George Seitz. of Manor township, and this union has also been blessed with two children: D. Vernon, a prominent school teacher of Elizabethtown: and Harry S., married to Miss Ella M. Warfel, a school teacher of Conestoga township and a daughter of Aldus C. Warfel, of Millersville, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Newcomer is a devoted and consistent mem- ber of the Mennonite Church, to which he has al- ways given freely and cheerfully of his means, and he has ever been one of the leading and progressive farmers of his township, his surroundings giving ample evidence of his thrift and excellent manage- ment. No man in the township is more highly re- spected, and no one is more justly entitled to the esteem derived from a long and useful life in the community.
JAMES WOOD. Among the representative families of Lancaster county none have stood in higher public estimation through generations than that of Wood. Far back in the time of William Penn the emigrant ancestor of the family started from his home. in Lancashire, England, with his wife and sons, William and Joseph, to find a home with other Quaker families in Pennsvivania. On. the passage another son was born, who was named Richmondav.
Joseph Wood was a son of Thomas and his chil- dren were Thomas, Joseph, Jesse, Lydia, Elizabeth, David. John and Day, and of this family, Jesse be- came the grandfather of James, of this sketch. By a first marriage Jesse Wood had two sons, John and Day ; and by a second marriage, one son, James.
James Wood was born July 17, 1821, and died Aug. 9, 1894. In 1845 he was married to Mercy ' M. Carter, who was born Nov. 20, 1822, and who still resides in Little Britain township. This union resulted in the birth of eight children: Alfred, a farmer in Fulton township: Susan, the wife of El- wood H. Townsend, a sketch of whom is given else- where: Jesse. a farmer in Little Britain township : Mary, deceased wife of Davis E. Allen. a farmer of Avondale. Chester county : Lucretia, who is the wife of John W. Smedley of Chester county: Lewis, a farmer of Little Britain township : Ida, who died un- married : and James, of this biography. Sketches are also given of Alfred. Jesse and Lewis. James Wood was one of the leading men in his part of Lancaster county, most highly esteemed both in pub- lic and private life. For many years he was the president of the Farmers National Bank of Oxford, was county commissioner, and one of the most pub- lic-spirited citizens of his part of the State. During a great part of his life he was the administrator of many estates and the trusted guardian of children. Every duty was performed with the integrity of
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character for which he was so well known. No more respected man ever lived in Little Britain township than the strict Quaker, James Wood. His descendants are many and worthily represent the stock from which they have sprung.
James Wood, the son. has been a farmer all his life. He is one of the present auditors of the town- ship and an active Republican of the locality. His farm is one of the best and most valuable in the vicinity and displays evidences of the prosperity and good taste of its occupants.
The first marriage of James Wood was to Philena C. Poyd, on Jan. 11, 1887. a daughter of William C. Boyd, of Martic township, and her death occurred Sept. 28, 1892. His second mar- riage was to Elizabeth K. Fite on March 24. 1896: she was born Dec. 14. 1860, and was a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Fite, of Little Britain township. Samuel Fite was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, was born in 1825. and now resides with his daughter and her husband. The mother was born March 24. 1824. and died Jan. 27, 1892. Both James and Elizabeth K. Wood are consistent members of the Society of Friends and are among the most hospitable and highly esteemed residents of Little Britain.
SLATER F. BROWN, of Fulton township. Lancaster county, was born March 28, 1841, son of Elisha and Rachel W. (Bradway) Brown. The family is of English stock. The father was born Dec. 12, 1814, and died in 1859. The mother was born Dec. 21, 1818, in Chester county, Pa., and their marriage occurred in 1840: five children were born to them, as follows: Slater F .: Mary E., wife of William Pugh, of Chester county: Thomas B., a banker and real estate dealer in West Chester, Pa .: Charles H., deceased : Walter W., cashier of the West Grove National Bank, and a much esteemed citizen of West Grove, Chester county, who died Feb. 6, 1902.
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Slater Brown, the grandfather of Slater F., was one of the leading citizens of his time. He was a brother to Hon. Jeremiah Brown. a district judge of Lancaster county, and a member of Congress from 1840 to 1844. Slater Brown was the father of four children : Elisha (the father of our subject). Ra- chel, Jeremiah and Mary, all of whom are deceased except Mary, who now resides in Lancaster City.
Slater F. Brown married Miss Charlotte M. Howell, daughter of John Howell, of Philadelphia, and this marriage has been blessed with the follow- ing children : Lawrence F., born July 30, 1872. 1111- married and in business in Atlantic City ; Thomas ( .. born Aug. 5, 1874, who died at the age of twenty- five years, unmarried : Rachel W., born June 7, 1877. residing at home: Charles H., born Sept. 14. 1881, unmarried and living in Philadelphia : Merton E., born May 16, 1885. The mother of this family was born Jan. 1.4. 1851.
Mr. Brown owns a fine farm of 115 acres, well improved and stocked, which is in a high state of
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cultivation, showing every evidence of care and good management. In political sentiment Mr. Brown is a Republican, but he has never desired or sought : hold office. He is a member of the Society of - Friends, is an honored and highly esteemed citizen. : and because of his many excellent qualities his friendship and acquaintance is sought by all the best men in the community.
SAMUEL MONTEBACH MYERS, for years head of the firm of Myers & Rathfon, the leading clothiers of Lancaster, now head of the firm of S. M. Myers & Co .. because of the retire- ment of Mr. Rathion, is descended from a ver -. old Pennsylvania family, both paternally and maternally. His grandfather, Jacob Myers. was born in Lancaster county, and passed his entire life here.
Frederick MIvers. the father of Samuel M., was a well-known tailor of Manheim. He married Elizabeth Montebach, a native of Warwick town- ship, this county, and a representative of a pioneer family. Eleven children blessed this union, four of whom are living: Margaret, widow of William Thatcher, of Newtown. Rapho township; Elizabeth, wife of Solomon Scholl, of Lancaster: Andrew, a grain dealer of Turon, Kans. ; and Samuel MI., whose name introduces this sketch.
Samuel Montebach Mvers was born in Newtown, Rapho township, Oct. 11, 1824. His education was : received in the schools of the district. Leaving school at the age of fifteen years, young MIvers became an apprentice to the dry-goods business in Columbia, and from there went to Mt. Jov, where for a time he was salesman in a store. He then entered trade on his own account. as a member of the firm of Arndt, Bechtold & Myers, continuing thus until he was elected by the Republicans of Lancaster county to the position of clerk of the Orphans' court, when. with his wife, whom he had married in Mt. Jov, he came to Lancaster. where he has since resided. After serving intelligentiy and faithfully in the office mentioned, Mr. Myers bought out a clothing store in Lancaster, and at the end of the first year associated with himself, as I partner. Jacob Rathfon. This partnership existed for an ordinary lifetime, and was far more than ordinarily successful. For a time the firm carried on the clothing trade in Center Square, and then built the large and elegant establishment at No. 12 East King street, at that time one of the most notable business structures in Lancaster, and even in these days of fine industrial mercantile structures in the city equalled by few of the finest buildings.
Politically Mr. Myers has always been an carnest. stanch and devoted Republican, and in recognition of his devotion to party principles and party interests he was elected county commissioner for three terms (in addition to clerk of the Orphans' court), served a term as member of the common branch of the city councils from the old Northeast
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ward, and was strongly urged by thousands of Republicans for member of Congress from this district, and also for mayor of the city.
Mr. Myers has been twice married. His first wife was Anna Mary Dysart, daughter of the late Robert Dysart, ex-coroner of Lancaster county. By this union seven children were born, three of whom are living : Ella C., wife of A. W. Hime, who is in the clothing business in Reading: Margie, wife of Walter W. Hollinger, superintendent of the real estate department of Mvers & Rathion, and now a member of the firm of S. M. Mvers & Co., and Anna Bertha, at home. The mother of these died in January, ISon, and in November. 1900, Mr. Myers married Miss Cornelia Christie, of Cecil county, Maryland.
Associated with Mr. Rathfon Mr. Myers has built fully one hundred dwelling-houses in Lan- caster, including his own elegant home on North Duke street, and the substantial and commodious store building on East King street. Besides all this property, Mr. Myers owns a handsome cottage at Ocean Grove, where he has spent his summers for the past thirty years, and is a member of the board of control of the Ocean Grove Association. In religious circles he is an enthusiastic worker, and is a trustee and class-leader of the First M. E. Church of Lancaster. He was not only one of the promoters, but he contributed one-tenth of the entire cost, of the magnificent new church on North Duke street. He was at one time a member of the . board of managers of the Landisville Camp Meeting Association ; was twice delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist church, and served as a member of the board of stewards of the Phila -. delphia Conference for some years. Indeed, there is no more earnest. more liberal or more prominent Methodist in the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to his church work, which next to the devotion to his family is the mainspring of his life. Mr. Myers is a Knight Templar in Masonry, a member of the Knights of Pythias, and vice-president of the Lancaster Trust Co. In brief, there is no name in Lancaster more widely known or more greatly respected than that of Samuel M. Myers.
JOSEPH P. AMBLER. In every locality where agricultural life is at its best. may be found a number of most estimable citizens, who, after lives of unus- ual activity, have settled down to enjoy advancing years in ease amid the comforts which their early in- dustry has provided. One of the fine farms near Goshen, Pa .. in Fulton township, Lancaster county, is owned and occupied, although no longer operated, by such a man, Joseph P. Ambler.
The Ambler family is one of those which has ma- terially assisted in the settlement and development of the State of Pennsylvania. Some time early in the last century three brothers of this name came from across the Atlantic, one of whom, Edward. be- came the founder of the family in Lancaster county,
and from this ancestor came: Andrew, Edward, William, Elizabeth, the wife of John Rutter, and Ann. the wife of Israel Chills.
William Ambler, the father of Joseph P. Ambler, was born in 1,80, and died in 1862, after a most ex- emplary life. filled with generous and benevolent cieeds. In 1817 he was utiited in marriage to Eliza- beth Penrose, who was born in Bucks county, Pa., and both she and her husband were through life consistent members of the Society of Friends. They reared a family of eight children: Adaline. who was born Nov. 26. 1818. and married James Smedley, of Fulton township, both deceased ; Joseph P., men- tioned below; Owen. born June IO. 1822, deceased ; Thomas E., born in 1824. who died March 27, 1894; Louis and David, who died in childhood, in Mont- gomery county: Edward and Ann, twins, born in 1827, in Drumore township.
Joseph P. Ambler was born Jan. 18, 1820, a son of William and Elizabeth ( Penrose) Ambier, the former of whom was a native of Montgomery coun- ty, and the latter of Bucks county, Pa., of Scotch- Irish ancestry. His education was received in the best schools afforded by the time and place. and he was brought up to the duties of farm life. In those days the greater part of the labor was done by hand, much of the machinery now in use having never been yet thought of, so that when young Joseph started out to make a career for himself. it was with but sev- enty-five cents in money, but with a large and com- plete knowledge, gained through experience, of the management of crops and the raising of cattle.
Spending his money to enable him to cross the Susquehanna river, Joseph Ambler sought farm work, soon found it, and so honest and indus- trious was he and so thorough was his knowl- edge, that he was soon able to command high- er wages than were paid to less useful work- ers, and here he laid the foundations of a for- tune, unusually large to have been acquired through industry alone. A consistent member of the Society of Friends, he has never engaged in specu- lative enterprises, and stands before his community specially honored and esteemed. His present pos- sessions comprise two excellent farms in Fulton township and one in Martic township, aggregating 250 acres of valuable land, all of these being im- proved with commodious barns and comfortable ciwellings : a fine mill property, which is of consid- erable value : while aside from these he has some $20,000 at interest. Joseph Ambler is also financi- ally interested in the Quarryville National Bank, at Quarryville, Pa., being both a director and a stock- holder. and he is one of the leading men in all of the important and progressive enterprises of his local- ity. As a proof of his substantial position, if proof were needed, Mr. Ambler is the largest tax payer in Fulton township.
In 1848 Joseph P. Ambler was married to Eliz- abeth Smedley. who was born in 1824. and died April to, 1800: she was a daughter of Eli Smedley,
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a farmer of Fulton township. " Seven children were born to this union: Leander, who died in child- hood; Lydia, who also died in childhood; Laura, who married Alfred Jewell, of Chester county ; Alva, born March 8, 1860, who died Sept. 7. 1881 ; Sarah, who married Walter P. Reynolds, of Oxford, Pa .; Eli, who died in infancy ; and Charles, who married Lulu Scott, of Little Britain, and resides on the home farm.
In politics Mr. Ambler has been a consistent member of the Republican party, and throughout his life has exerted his influence in favor of law, order and good citizenship. A man of temperate habits, he has set an example to those who follow him. No citizens are more thoroughly representative of the best agriculturists of his county than himself and son, and none are more highly esteemed.
JOHN W. SHOWAKER, a prominent farmer of Bart township, Lancaster county, was born in Paradise township. Aug. 7, 1842. a son of John and Margaret (Ryland) Showaker, both of whom were natives of Montgomery county, where he was born in 1793, and his wife in 1708.
John Showaker was a son of Godfrey Showaker, who was born in Germany and settled in Mont- gomery county, where he and his wife died, leaving a family of three children. John. Henry and Cath- erine. Henry died unmarried in Montgomery coun- ty. Catherine married John Brooker and settled in Germantown, where she died, leaving a family of children.
John Showaker was married in Montgomery county in 1832. He came to Sadsbury township, where he was engaged some years as a farmer .. Then he moved into Paradise township, and he lived there until 1848. That year he bought the present farm home of his family near Nickel Mines, in Bart township. There he made substantial improve- ments, put up a brick house, connecting with the house already built, and there he remained until his death in 1858. He left a widow who died in 1881. Both were members of the Lutheran Church, and led honorable and upright lives. In politics he was a Whig. They had three children. (1) Catherine was born in Montgomery county in 1820, and was reared in Lancaster county, where she married James Martin, of Bart township. He was a civil engineer, and had a home in Germantown, where both died, she in 1896 and he some vears previously. (2) Laura, born in 1821, married James Brown, of Bart township ; they are now living in Georgetown, Lancaster county, and have one son, J. W., who is married, and settled on a farm in the same county. (3) John W.
The mother of John W. Showaker before her marriage was Margaret Ryland, a native of Mont- gomery county. She was a daughter of Andrew and · Phoebe (Burkett) Ryland, who came of English parentage, and were old settlers of Montgomery county, dating back to Revolutionary times.
John W. Showaker received his education in th. . home schools, and remained at home with his paren ?. as long as they lived, succeeding to the possessi :: of the farm. He has continued farming to the pres- ent time.
John W. Showaker was married in Jan .. 18-1. to Kate A., a daughter of James P. and Anna (Man- ahan) Russell. The Russell family has been long and favorably known in Lancaster county. James Russell, was born in Carlisle, Pa., in 1814: he was a saddler by trade, and carried on business in George- town, until his death, Jan. 1, 1888. His wife, who is still living in Georgetown, was born in Bart town- ship in 1820. Her parents. James and Rebecca Man- ahan, were also natives of this county. James an i Anna Russell had the following children : Phillip. a resident of Genesee, N. Y. ; Kate A., wife of John W. Showaker: Rebecca, at home unmarried : James M., in Georgetown : Daniel H., at home; Henrietta D., at home.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Showaker settled at the old home, and to them have come five children: Margaret Showaker, unmarried, at home : James R. Showaker, at home: John, who married Miss Mar- tha Rice. a lady of Bart township, lives at the home of his father, and has one daughter, Elsie : Anna and William are unmarried and at home. Religiously this family has been very largely connected with the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Showaker is a Republican.
John W. Showaker is a well-to-do and prosper- ous citizen, and is highly spoken of among the peo- ple of this township, where his industrious and use- ful life has been passed for so many years.
WILLIAM S. MARTIN, in his lifetime a prom- inent farmer of Colerain township, Lancaster county, was born there May 8, 1832, his parents being Sam- uel and Jane ( Rankin) Martin. The Martin fam- ily has long been associated with the history of the county, and its various representatives have been people of character and worth.
Samuel Martin was born near the present home of the family in 1795, and his wife, Jane Rankin, in Chester county, the preceding year. Her parents were James and Susannah Rankin, and their home was in Highland township, Chester county. where they took a prominent place in the community. He was a sturdy advocate of temperance in an early day. and is remembered as among the first to banish liquor from the harvest field.
Samuel Martin was a son of Samuel and Eliza- beth Martin, who came from Ireland, and settled in Colerain township, where they became the parents of four children : James, Samuel, Isabella, and Sarah who married William Mackey. The last-named had three sons, who became Presbyterian ministers. James, Elkana, and William. James Mackey was a missionary to Africa, and died in New London, Chester county.
James Martin married Eliza Morrison, and set-
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tled on the old home farm in Colerain township, where he died in 1857, leaving a family of children, all of whom have removed to other sections of the country. Samuel Martin settled on a part of his fa- ther's estate, where he died in April. 1865. His widow, Jane Rankin, died Nov. 17, 1876. They were stanch Presbyterians, and were active supporters of their faith. Mr. Martin was a strong anti-slavery man, and he and Abner Davis, at one time were the only ones in that section to vote the Anti-slavery ticket. In after years he was a strong Republican. Samuel Martin and wife left four children. (I) James R., who was born in 1820. died in 1850, un- married. (2) William S. (3) Elijah, born in 1834, married Miss Lydia Thompson. and settled on the old homestead in Colerain township. where he died in 1893 : his wife died in Aug., 18,4. They left seven children : Samuel, living near Christiana. Lancaster county : Sarah, a resident of Philadelphia, and un- married ; Mary, married to Benjamin Carter, of Sadsbury township; Ella, a teacher of Lancaster county : Belle wife of Reese Evenson, of Smyrna, Lancaster county ; Harriet, married to Callie Scott, of Christiana ; and Susan, deceased. (4) Susanna, the only daughter of Samuel and Jane Martin, was born in March, 1836, and married John Coulter, a farmer of Bart township by whom were three chil- dren: the eldest Rankin Martin, married to Anna Long; Elizabeth, married to Robert Lesley Patter- son : and Mabel, at home.
William Martin, whose name introduces this article, was a student at the select school of Thomas Baker, as well as in the public schools of Colerain township. He was married March 17. 1857, to Joanna, a daughter of Christopher and Mary Quig- ley Davis.
Christopher Davis was born in this county in 1805, and his wife Mary Quigley Davis was born in Chester county in 1807. They were married in May, 1829, and settled on a farm in Colerain township, where they spent their lives. Mrs. Davis died at this home in 1840, and he passed away in April, 1865, leaving four children. They were consistent mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. He was a stanch Republican, and a strong temperance advocate.
Of the children of Christopher Davis and wife, (1) Joanna was born in April, 1831. and received her education at Kennett Square, in the Ladies Semin- ary, and at the State Normal in Millersville. She became a teacher and for eight years taught in the public schools of Lancaster and Chester counties. (2) Elizabeth, born in Aug., 1834. married John McGowan, of Lancaster county ; they settled in Sads- bury township, where she died in 1867, leaving two children, Elva and Joanna, who married William Tompson, who is now dead. (3) John James born in 1837, was reared in Lancaster county, and when a young man he went to Ohio, where he married Miss Barbara Kirkwood. They live in Caldwell county, Mo., where he is a leading stock dealer. They have
one son. William S. (4) William died in young manhood.
William Martin settled on the present home of the family, shortly after his marriage. In 1850 he put up a home, and later constructed enlarged barn and shed accommodations. Here he died in Aug .. 1803, leaving a widow and seven living children, two dying in childhood : (1) R. Finney, born at the old family homestead in 1858. married Miss Effie Gibson, of Chester county, and lives on his farm in Chester county. His wife died, leaving him three children : Virginia, Chester and Roy. The second Mrs. Mar- tin was born Rebecca Lewis, of Philadelphia, and is the mother of one child. Thomas. (2) Martha K., born in Colerain in 1860, married George Moffatt and now resides in Scranton, Pa., where he is en- gaged in business as an electrical engineer. (3) Elizabeth B. Martin, born in 1863. was edu- cated in the Millersville State Normal with her sister Martha, and lives at home, unmarried. (4) Jane K. Martin was born at the present home of the family, and is still at home unmarried. (5) Arrabell R. and (6) May died with diphtheria, in childhood. (7) Thaddeus S. Martin, is unmarried, and is a clerk and bookkeeper in a business house in Philadelphia. (8) Joseph Davis, born at the family home. is single. and has charge of the home farm. (9) Maud Mar- tin, born in 1877. attended the State Normal in Chester county, from which she was graduated in the class of 1807. and after teaching five years in the public schools of Delaware county, married Rob- ert Treat Hogg, son of William H. and Esther (Hastings) Hogg, of Colerain, Lancaster county.
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