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 23
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JOSEPH H. BEILER. Among the passen- Kers on the ship, the "Charming Polly," which ·ailed from Rotterdam and landed its cargo at Phil- elphia, Pa., on Oct. 8, 1737, was one Jacob Beiler, who bought land in eastern Pennsylvania and reared :here a family. His son, Christopher S., was a res- M'ent of Chester county, as was also his son, Chris- :'an. The next in line was John, who was a son of Christian and he was the grandfather of our sub- :ect. Joseph H. Beiler, of Upper Leacock township. in Lancaster county.
John Beiler was born in East Lampeter town- ship and married Elizabeth Lapp. They were farm- ing people and members of the Old Mennonite Church. John Beiler died in Union county, Pa., in 1Nr 8. at the age of eighty-six years, but his widow rvived until 1877, dying at the home of one of her hildren, in Upper Leacock township, at the age of eighty-four years.
Deacon john L. Beiler, son of John Beiler, was twor in Lancaster county and was about two years
old when his parents removed to Mifflin county, where he married and remained until 1854, when he returned to Lancaster county and located on a farm in East Lampeter township. There he died in 1892, aged seventy-five years, six months and three days. The mother of our subject was born in Mifflin county and lived until 1874, dying at the age of fifty-four. They lie side by side in the old bury- ing ground known as Rancks, in East Lampeter township. Both were pious and worthy members of the Amish order of the Mennonite Church. From 1800 to his death, in 1892, John L. Beiler heid the honorable office of deacon in the church. This worthy man was held in the highest esteem through the locality
The children born to Deacon John L. Beiler and his wife were: David, who lived to be forty years old; Elizabeth, who lives in East Lampeter town- ship, unmarried; Joseph H .; Nancy; Sarah: Je- mima, who married John Zook, a farmer of Upper Leacock township; John, who died at the age of thirty-one; Samuel, the farmer on the old home- stead, near Witmer, Pa .; Joel; Rebecca, who died in infancy: Mary, who died unmarried, at the age of thirty-five. Elizabeth, Nancy, Sarah and Joel are all single and reside together on the old farm in East Lampeter township, highly esteemed in their neighborhood.
Joseph H. Beiler acquired his education in the district schools and remained on the home farm, as- sisting his father, until he was about twenty-two years of age, at which time he began to learn the carpenter trade and worked at it for the following three years. However, he later decided to return to farming and began operations on land in the vi- cinity of Gordonville, Pa., where he remained until 1875, when he came to his present fine farm, lo- cated a quarter of a mile south of Mechanicsburg, on the New Holland turnpike. Here in connection with his farming he has conducted a threshing ont- fit, but since 1892 he has been retired from activ- ity, his son-in-law carrying on operations on the farm.
Although Mr. Beiler has retired from active labor. it is not on account of age, as he was born in Mifflin county, on June 11, 1845, and is still in the prime of life. His parents were John L. and Lydia ( Hertzler ) Beiler, of whom mention has been made. On Dec. 15, 1870, in Leacock township. Josephi H. Beiler was married to Miss Sarah Kauffman, and to this union was born one daughter, Anna K., who married Moses P. Stoltz, who manages Mir. Beiler's farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Stoltz three chil- dren have been born, Daniel, Joseph and Sarah.
Mrs. Sarah (Kauffman) Beiler was born in Leacock township, Jan. II, 1850, a daughter of John Kauffman and Susan King, the former of whom was born in Mifflin county, and the latter in Lancaster county. Mr. Kauffman was a large farmer and died in Leacock township on April 3. 1898, at the age of seventy-six years. He had been
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one of the leading men of his county, and was town- ship auditor at one time, but for some years had lived retired from active duties. The mother of Mrs. Beiler was born in 1826 and now resides in the daughter's family. every member of which is solicitous for her comfort. Both she and her hus- band belonged to the Old Mennonite Church. Their children were: Samuel, who died young: Eliza- beth, who married John S. Fisher, and resides in East Lampeter township : Sarah, the wife of Joseph H. Beiler ; Jacob, who is a farmer of Leacock town- ship ; Susan, who married John B. Fisher. now a re- tired farmer of this townsluip; Ely, who is a farmer in Leacock township; Salome, who died young ; and Rebecca, who died at the age of twenty years. The grandparents of Mrs. Beiler were old and most highly esteemed citizens of this part of the State, those on the father's side being John and Eliza (Lapp) Kauffman, natives of Chester county, while those on the mother's side were John and Eliza (Stoltzfus) King, both natives of Leacock town- ship. All were farmers and religiously connected with the Old Mennonite Church.
Joseph H. Beiler has been a life-long Repub- lican, although he has taken no very active part in politics, contenting himself with doing his duty as a citizen. For three years he served his township as school director and has always shown interest in all measures promising advantage to the county. Both he and his family are connected with the Old Mennonite Church and he is known to be a man of integrity and high character.
DAVID H. HESS, a blacksmith of Conestoga township, is a son of Daniel Hess. The father, Daniel Hess, was a blacksmith, who learned his trade with a man named Jolinson, in Pequea town- ship, and followed it all his life. For a number of years before his death. in 1866, he was connected with the Old Mennonite Church. He was a stanch Democrat in politics, but never sought office. He married Mary, daughter of Isaac Hoak, of Slackwater. They were the parents of nine chil- dren: Christina, wife of Cyrus Stombaugh, of Millersville; Tobias, who was drowned in the Con- estoga about twenty years ago while fishing: Isaac H., bar-tender for Mrs. Caroline Hoak, of Millers- ville ; David H. ; John F. M., of Sterling, 111., a car- penter : Martin H., of Conestoga township. a to- bacco farmer: Henry H., of Sterling. Ill .: Lizzie, wife of Stephen Watson, Conestoga township, a farmer ; Fannie, wife of John Benge, a paper-maker in Delaware.
David H. Hess was born Oct. 8, 1855, in Cones- toga Center. His father died when he was only eleven years old. He was soon thereafter hired out to Jacob B. Herr, a farmer in Pequea township. where he remained four years. He then worked for Jacob B. Stetman, of Conestoga. for two years. After this he went with Cyrus H. Stombaugh. of Millersville, to learn the blacksmith trade and he
remained there three years. He then removed! : Rock Hill. started in business for himself, and I :... remained there ever since.
In February, 18;7, he was married to Barba: daughter of Jacob Burkhart, of Conestoga. T !: are the parents of four children, Minnie E .. Su .. D., Oscar B. and Charles H .. all at home. In ad .... tion to Mr. Hess' blacksmith business, he has farm of thirty acres which he uses for raising ver tables for market. He rents a stand in the Souther: Market. Lancaster City, where he disposes of !: produce every Saturday afternoon. Mr. Hess !:. a common school education but has studied the to. . ics of the day since reaching mature age and is we posted on all matters of general interest. He has been successful through his own efforts and is a: honored citizen of his neighborhood.
CHRISTIAN WISE, of the firm of Wise Bros .. successful brick manufacturers of Lancaster. Pa whose products find a ready sale throughout the entire county and neighboring districts, is one of the enterprising business men of the city, and was formerly a member of the common council. He was born Dec. 18. 1845. in Baden, Germany, son of Ade ::: and Catherine ( Meister) Wise, also natives of Ger- manV.
Adam Wise was a weaver in his native land. and after his marriage he emigrated to America. ar- riving in Lancaster, Pa., in April, 1847. For some time after his arrival Mr. Wise was employed in un- loading coal on the "Engleside," and later engage: in the manufacture of brick in the employ of George Kautz, of whom he learned the business. In 18;1 he embarked in that line of business for himself. assisted by his sons, and continued in the same unti. his death, which occurred March 4, 1875, when he was not quite fifty-eight years of age. His wife. who has now reached an advanced age, resides at Lancaster. Her father, Lanhait Meister, also emi- grated to America, and died in Lancaster at the age of eighty-two. Adam Wise was a Democrat in pol :- tics, in which he took a deep interest. His religious connections were with the Reformed Church. To himself and wife eleven children were born, but oniy three grew to maturity, Christian. John V. ambi Louisa, Mrs. Beaumann, all residing in Lancaster. John V. Wise, ex-president of the select council c: Lancaster, and one of the leading members of the Democratic party of this locality, was nominated county commissioner on the Democratic ticket June 6, 1902. He is the partner of his brother, Christian. in the firm of Wise Bros. He is a veteran of the Civil war, and was one of the youngest soldiers re- ceived into service. On June 23, 1872, John V. Wise married Margaret Kroft.
When Christian Wise was only eighteen months old his parents took him to the New World. the little party landing upon the free soil of their future home after a stormy voyage of forty-five days. Hi- boyhood days were spent in Lancaster, where lie
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lechristian Mise
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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
attended the common schools and worked in a brick- vard. Later he attended school during the winter, icarning at the same time the trade of cigarmaker, which he put to good use after his return from the war. But when his father and brother John entered into the brick business, he joined them and since that time has devoted all his time and attention to this branch of industrial life. The brickyards and kilns owned by Wise Bros., the two brothers succeeding to sole control after the demise of their father. in 1875, are the best equipped in the county, and are well adapted to the immense volume of business an- nually transacted by the firm. The plant is located on the corner of Manor and Prospect streets, the yards covering twelve acres, and the plant is fully supplied with a 30-horse-power engine and all requisite brick- making machinery. When running full force employ- ment is given to forty men. There are three kilns and the annual output averages 3,500,000 brick. In addition to the manufacture of ordinary bricks. the firm have a large demand for pressed and hand moulded varieties. The clay used is of the very best quality, and great care is exercised in every process of manufacture. In 188t Mr. Wise bought a 160- acre farm near Richmond, Va., and lived there two years.
On Feb. 25, 1864, although then scarcely nineteen years old, Mr. Wise enlisted in Co. C, 2d Pa. H. A., being mustered into service at Philadelphia and sent to the front, and attached to the Army of the Po- tomac, with which he participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, and the Siege of Petersburg. Later, he was transferred to the Army of the James, under Gen. Butler, with which he remained until the surrender. On July 4, 1864, while on picket duty near Petersburg, on the Richmond & Norfolk railroad, he was wounded, a bullet passing through his right cheek and coming out at the back of his neck. Although given a justly earned furlough, before two months had passed the brave young soldier was at duty again, with his regi- ment, in which he became corporal. While near Petersburg, June 17, 1864, he had received a buck- shot wound in the left knee. He was finally dis- charged in February, 1866, after he had made a war record of which he and his children may well be proud.
In politics . Mr. Wise has always been a stanch Democrat, members of his family having supported the principles of that organization from the time of their location in Lancaster. About 1869 Mr. Wise served as a member of the city council for one term, and he always takes a most active part in all cam- paigns ; he has served also as judge of election. Be- ing recognized as a man of sterling merit, calm judgment and keen discrimination, he is often called upon to serve upon the petit juries. Socially he is well and favorably known throughout the entire community, and fraternally he is associated with Monterey Lodge, I. O. O. F., and with the Knights
of Pythias. The family are members of the St. John's Reformed Church of Lancaster.
In August, 1866. Mr. Wise married, in Lan- caster, Emma R. Pyle, and the following children have been born to them: Emma married John K. Warren. a tailor of York. Pa., and they have had seven children, two of whom are deceased: Adamı. with his father in the brickyard, and a resident of Lancaster, married Catherine Benner, and they had , one child : Frederick, also employed with his father, i married Ida Reece, and has had four children, one of whom is deceased: Miss Mamie is at home : Louisa married Samuel Charles, and they have three children : Kate married Benjamin Herr, of Lancas- ter. and they have four children, one of whom is de- ceased : Miss Minnie is at home. The family re- side in a pleasant home built by Mr. Wise in 1885.
Mrs. Wise was born in Lancaster Oct. 8, 1843, a daughter of Frederick and Catherine ( Miller ) Pyle, of Lancaster. Frederick Pyle, who was a dis- tiller, died Sept. 4, 1880, when he was sixty-two years of age, while his wife died May 18, 1858, aged forty-eight years, and both are buried in Lancaster cemetery. They were members of the First Re- formed and Trinity Churches, respectively. They had the following family: Rebecca, who died in childhood: George, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Sarah. widow of John Silvas, of Lancaster, Pa. ; John (le- ceased ), who was a soldier in the roth P. V. I., and was wounded: Emma R., Mrs. Wise; Mary (de- ceased), who married Henry Leonard: Washing- ton, a railroad detective of Lancaster. Pa. (he was a soldier in the 79th P. V. I.) ; Lucy, deceased : Mar- garet, deceased ; Philip. of Lancaster ; Allen, of Lan- caster ; Harry and Frederick, twins, the former of whom died in childhood. the latter at the age of twenty-two; and Joseph, deceasedl.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Wise were Philip and Margaret (Wilkerson) Pyle, he a native of Germany, and she of Virginia. The history of Philip Pyle reads like one of the modern novels deal- ing with by-gone days. Only eighteen, ignorant of the language of the new land, he was sold in Vir- ginia for his passage and remained there four years. At the expiration of his period of bondage, he mar- ried, and with his faithful wife made his way to Lancaster, Pa., where he became a distiller and one of the leading men of that city, dying in 1849, aged seventy-eight. His wife survived him one year. dying at the age of seventy-six, and both are buried in Lancaster cemetery. They were consistent mem- bers of the Reformed Church. The maternal grand- father of Mrs. Wise was George Miller, of Lancas- ter. a prominent pump manufacturer and leading citizen.
HENRY AUGUSTUS ROLAND was born in New Holland, Pa., Nov. 26, 18to, and died in that borough. June 21. 1001. His remains rest in the Trinity Lutheran cemetery at New Holland, Pa.
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He was a lifelong resident of New Holland and was descended, both paternally and maternally, from pioneer Germans, those early Palatinate set- tlers who, in 1709, on the invitation of Queen Anne, fied from religious persecution on the banks of the Rhine in Germany to seek a haven in the New World. Ever since their original land grant from Thomas Penn, as early as 1733, the Rolands have been large land owners, and have been prom- inently identified for more than a century and a half with the management and progress of affairs in the community. Henry Augustus Roland was the fifth of a family of seven children born to Henry and Margaret (Seeger) Roland, and received his early education at the New Holland free school and at Beck's noted Academy at Lititz. Pa. He was mar- ried in 1849 to Jane Whann Heyl, a daughter of Philip and Margaret ( W'hann) Heyl, of Philadel- phia, Pa., by whom he had the following family : Oliver, a physician at Lancaster, Pa. : William H., an attorney at Lancaster. Pa .; Frederic A., cashier of the Second National Bank at Reading, Pennsyl- vania.
Possessed of a strong and logical mind, Mr. Roland manifested from early manhood those ster- ling qualities of success, energy, accuracy, tact and prevision in the successful management of the many responsibilities that were thrust upon him. As a financier he was keen and alert, shrewd and sagacious, yet prudent and cautious, qualities which he lived to see bring him his well earned in- crement.
It has been truly said, "he was progressive in his ideas, and encouraged and supported every movement calculated to advance the interests of the community in which he spent his entire lifetime." He was from early age a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, and was prominently identified with the erection of their present church building in 1850. He was, for over fifty years, a director and manager of the New Holland Turnpike Com- pany ; was chosen president of the Centennial Ju- bilee at New Holland, July 4, 1876, and volunteered much encouragement and assistance in the produc- tion of the "History of the Three Earls."
He took an active part in the organization of the New Holland National Bank, in which he was one of the original stock holders, although magnani- mously waiving all suggestion in its management, owing to his growing years. He, nevertheless, al- ways displayed a keen and solicitious interest in its progress and success. He advocated the incorpora- tion of New Holland into a borough, and was active in the movement which led to that result in 1895. He encouraged and supported in a substantial way the organization of the New Holland Water Com- pany, and was prominent and foremost in all pro- gressive movements.
Although continually employed with financial cares, he gave much time to literary pursuits, was thoroughly conversant with the topics of the day,
whilst his voluminous reading extended to the high- er sciences, to philosophy and to religious thought, which his reasoning mind was so well adapted to grasp. As a cultured gentleman, of genial dispo- sition, engaging manners and scrupulous integrity. his companionship was much sought by his friends.
JOHN D. RUTHERFORD, a prosperous and successful general farmer of Conoy township, Lan- caster county, was born in Adams county, Pa., July II, 1834, and is a son of William and Leah ( Deck- er ) Rutherford. The parents came into Lancaster county in 1840, and made their home in Bainbridge, where their lives were spent. The father was a ma- son by trade, and did a tobaccco farming business. When he died, in 1881, he had reached the age of sixty-seven years. The mother died in 1870, at the age of sixty years, and both were buried in Bain- bridge. They were members of the Lutheran and the Reformed Churches, respectively, and were the parents of the following family of children: John D .; Leah, unmarried, who lives in Elizabethtown; Julia Ann and Martin, deceased; Levi, a stone ma- son in Elizabethtown: Daniel, dead; William, a stone mason in Elizabethtown; Catherine, dead ; Henry, a resident of Marietta.
Samuel Rutherford, the paternal grandfather of John D., came from England, and married a Ger- man-born woman, in Adams county, where their married life was spent and where he died : his wid- ow died in Bainbridge, Lancaster county.
John D. Rutherford and Rachel A. Shelly were married Nov. 13, 1859, in Columbia, by Rev. Mr. Menges, and to this union came the following chil- dren : Mary Ann, now dead ; William L., who mar- ried Anna C. Lanstrum, and is a Lutheran pastor at Dayton, Ohio: Frances, the wife of Samuel Sap- ling, a cigar maker in Philadelphia; Bellmina and Mary, both deceased: John, who married Emma Dennison and lives in Philadelphia ; Effie, married to William Harlan and living at home; Bessie and Emma (who married George Shields), both de- ceased.
Mrs. Rachel A. Rutherford was born in Ches- ter, Pa., Jan. 31, 1834, and is a daughter of God- lib and Catherine ( Iseman) Shelly, both born and bred in Germany, where they married. When they came to this country they settled in Chester, but moved into Lancaster county in 1848, making their home near New Holland. The father was a farmer, and worked in tanneries during the winter season. Born to them were John, deceased; Fredrika, who married Charles Reisler, and is dead ; Louisa, late wife of Christ. Sweinard : Rachel; Emma, the wife of John Swartz, of Philadelphia; Agnes, the widow of George Robbery, who lives in Philadelphia : Liz- zie, the widow of John Sellers, who has her home in Philadelphia : Fanny and Lydia are unmarried and live in Philadelphia.
John D. Rutherford remained with his parents until he became of age, then for about two years
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worked among the neighboring farmers. After his marriage he worked eight years on the railroad, and rented farms for several years. In 1885 he came upon the farm where he is now found. It forms part of the Cassel estate, and is a very valuable piece of real estate.
Mr. Rutherford is a Republican, and has served as constable four years. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and bear them- selves well in the community where their peaceful and industrious lives are passing. They are straightforward and strictiy honest in all their cieal- ings, and their kind hearts and genial disposition have made them many friends.
FRANK R. GROFF, a contractor of concrete and mason work in Conoy township, Lancaster county, Pa., has extensive farming interests also in that locality, and has made a comfortable place for himself in the community in which his useful life is passing. Mr. Groff was born in Laupheim, Wurtemberg, Germany. Oct. 30. 1849. and came to this country in 1872, crossing the ocean on the French ship "The Sign Lawrence." Landing in New York, he at once made his way to Lancaster county, and here he has resided to the present time. He is a son of Fridolin and Waldburger ( Romer ) Groff, both his parents living and dying in Ger- many. The father was a brick layer, mason and contractor, dying in 1865, at the age of fifty-eight Years: the mother died in 1872, at the age of sixty- one years. They were both members of the Cath- olic Church, and had the following children: George, a Catholic priest, who went to South Amer- ica in 1853; Pius, an architect, who is deceased ; Frank R .; Magdelina, deceased wife of Christ. Weisman, a salesman; Elizabeth, late wife of Jo- seph Zimmerman, a carpenter and contractor : Philo- mena, the wife of Nenzenz Speitel. a miller on the island of Sicily. Of this family Frank R. is the only one to come to the United States.
Frank R. Groff and Catherine Schroll were mar- ried in York county, Jan. 22, 1880, and to their union were born the following two children: Fran- ces S., who married Harvey Shank, and lives in Newville, Lancaster county; Frank P., who is at home. Mrs. Catherine Groff was born in Man- chester township, York county. Dec. 8. 1857, and is a daughter of Solomon and Mary M. ( Hartman) Schroll, both natives of York county, where their lives were spent. The father was a farmer, and died in 1892, at the age of seventy-eight years : the mother died in 1803, at the age of eighty-two years ; they were buried in the cemetery connected with Hoover's Church, in York county. Born to them were the following children: Jacob, who is dead ; Henry, a veteran of the Civil war, living in the Soldiers' Home ; Daniel, deceased ; Solomon, a resi- dent of Harrisburg ; Emanuel, of Lancaster : Chris- tina, of Mt. Wolf, Pa., married to Abraham Rhoads : Susan, who married James Maze, and is
dead; Elizabeth, who married Joseph fudy, and has her home in Middletown; Magdelina, deceased; Catherine, wife of Frank R. Groff.
Frank R. Groff remained at home with his par- ents, working at his trade. until his coming to this country. After his arrival here he spent some time in several of the large cities, was at Cincinnati, St. Louis and Kansas City, making a permanent loca- tion, however, in Conoy township, Lancaster coun- ty, in 1877, and moving to his present home in 1881. He is a capable and energetic man. strictly honorable and reliable. and belongs to the Mennonite Church. In his politics he is a Republican, and he is highly regarded by those who know him best. His wife belongs to the Dunkard Church.
CHRISTOPHER HAGER, attorney at law. Marietta, Pa., was born in Lancaster city May 6. 1860, and is a son of Henry W. and Ellen . Haves ) Hager. Henry W. Hager was a dry-goods mer- chant, and carried on business in Lancaster with his brothers, John C. and Charles F. Hager. under the firm name of Ilager & Bros. He was also post- master at Lancaster under President Grant's first administration, and died Dec. 23, 1872, at the early age of thirty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Hager had born to them three children. viz .: Isa- bella H .. wife of John R. Nicholson, Chief Justice and Chancellor of Equity for the State of Delaware, and residing in Dover, that State: Christopher. whose name opens this article; and Mary Beil, mar- ried to Robert D. Stewart, a railroad contractor in Lancaster.
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