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 28
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John Resh, the eldiest son of Henry, came into possession of the old homestead in 1762. He mar-
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Hang Los Presh
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ried Elizabeth Stoner and had the following children : barbara, born March 31, 1762; Henry ( 1), Jan. 13, 1704 (died in infancy) ; Fronica, April 20, 1700; jolin, April 25, 1708; Joseph, Jan. 20, 1771 ; Henry (2), June 7, 1773; a daughter, Sept. 10, 1775; Susanna, Jan. 27, 1773; Christian, April 18, 1780. After the death of his first wife, Elizabeth, John Kesh married Magdalena Eshleman, by whom he had the following children: Jacob, who died in in- iancy ; Jacob (2) : Elizabeth ; Mary and Magdalena, twins ; and Esther.
John Resh (born April 25, 1768), owned and lived on the old homestead in Leacock township. He married Barbara Eby, and they had one son, David, born Feb. 22, 1802, who died unmarried, at the age of twenty years. A daughter, Lydia, who was born in 1803, married John Esbenshade, and after his death became the wife of Henry Denlinger. Another daughter, Elizabeth, never married, and died Dec. 17, 1875. A. third daughter, Barbara, married Adam Ranck. A fourth daughter, Mary, became the wife of Henry Eby.
Joseph Resh, born Jan. 20, 1771, married Esther Sensenig, by whom he had the following named children : Joseph, Danicl, Jacob, Moses, Peter, John, Samuel, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Susanna, Fanny, Estlier and Mary. All lived in Washington county, Md., and in Franklin county, Pa., with the exception of Jacob, who made his home in Lancaster county.
Henry Resh, born in Leacock township June 7. | began work by the month for his brother, and a 1773, early learned the carpenter's trade, which he 1 couple of years later he took charge of one of the fine farms which his father owned in Manheim town- ship, where he remained for four years. Upon his return to the old homestead he worked on shares until he was prepared to purchase, later becoming the owner of sixty-six acres of this excellent land. followed for a number of years, and in connection with his brothers did much construction in Leacock township, a number of houses and barns which they built being yet standing. In his later years he was a farmer. He died June 5. 1819, in religion a member of the Old Mennonite Church. His wife, Magda- lena, daughter of Francis and Magdalena Buck- walter, was born in 1784. They had seven children, all now deceased, one of whom, Daniel, died in in- fancy ; Anna married John Bosler, and after his death became the wife of Jonathan Weaver ; Mary married Samuel Sensenig; Elizabeth married Peter Herr; Martha married David Bair; Fannie married John Buckwalter ; Henry B. is mentioned below.
HENRY B. RESH was born in Upper Leacock township Jan. 23, 1820, and lived with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age. His educa- tion was received in the public schools, and he be- came a prominent and useful citizen. When he was twenty-seven he married Mary Buckwalter, daugh- ter of John and Judith Buckwalter, and by her had one child, a son, who died in infancy, and was motherless from its birth. Mr. Resh was later mar- ried, March 21, 1855, to Susanna Sheaffer, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, daughter of John and Elenore (Garvey) Sheaffer, and came to this country with her family when quite young. This union was blessed with three children: (1) Mary E., born Jan. 4, 1856, died Oct. 14, 1895. . She married Dr. John
K. Shirk, of Lancaster, and became the mother of four children. Florence ML., Mary R., Helen R. and David R. (2) John died in infancy. (3) Anna M .. born Oct. 4. 1858, married Frank L. Minnich. She lives with her widowed mother, and devotes herself to her two young children-Henriette R., born Dec. 3, 1890, and Anna Resh, born Nov. 10, 1895.
AMr. Resh made his home on the old homestead where he was born, and where he carried on farming until he was about forty-two years of age, at which time he retired. He died in 1887. In business circles he stood high in the community, and was a director of the Lancaster County National Bank for some twenty years. In Leacock township he filled the posi- tion of school director for a number of terms, and was a progressive and public-spirited citizen, de- voted to public interests, and taking sides with the Republican party in all political issues.
PHILIP MECK. One of the respected citi- zens of Lancaster county, Pa., who now lives a par- tially retired life on a fine farm of sixty-six acres, in West. Lampeter township, is Philip Meck, a son of George Meck, an old resident of this township.
Philip Meck was born June 13, 1829, in the old Meck homestead, was reared on the home farm and educated in the country schools, remaining under the parental roof until he had reached his majority ! His first business venture for himself was when he
Until 1884 Philip Meck carried on a general farming line upon this place, but at that time his son took charge of active operations and he pur- chased a home, with ten acres of land, in the village of Lampeter, and there he has since lived, looking after this tract and enjoying the ease which bis ample means makes possible. Although Philip Meck has lived a quiet, unostentatious life, he has always been ready to respond when called upon to lend his influence for the public good.
Philip Meck was married on Dec. 4, I851, to Esther Wade. a daughter of John and Susan (War- fel) Wade, who was born in Strasburg township May 24, 1824; to this union has been born a family of nine children, many of them among the most re- spected citizens of this county :. George W., the farmer on the homestead, who married Mary Ervin and has a family of three children, Ella, Elmer and Mable: Martha, who married Benjamin Brubaker, near Freeport. Ill., and has three children, Ralph. Elva and Nora: Susan, who married Adam Tout. of the vicinity of Columbia, and has four children. Arthur, Laura. Chester and Bessie; Amos W., of Providence township, who married Lillie Mowrer
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and has four children, Edna, Margie, Lester and an infant daughter; Mary Ann and Hettie, twins, the former of whom married Ephraim Kauffman, of Manor township, and has two children, Ralph and Benjamin ; and the latter married to Christian L. Herr, of Lancaster township, with four children, Paul, Esther, Elizabeth and Mary ; Emma, at home : Aaron J., a farmer near Freeport, Ill., who married Emma Shoemaker and has two children, Clarence and Titus ; and Lizzie, married to J. Newton Rohrer, of Strasburg, with two children, Jay and Esther.
Both Mr. Meck and his worthy wife have long been connected with the Old Mennonite Church, where they possess the esteem of all ; and no family in the community stands in higher respect.
ISAAC PHENEGAR, of Strasburg township, is one of the representative citizens of Lancaster county. His maternal grandfather, Richard Glass. was the founder of the family in this locality, and came from his home in Derry, Ireland, and located ; here with his wife, who had been Miss Martha Watts, a member of the farnily so well known through their musical contributions to the various church hymnals.
Richard Glass and his family settled in Lancaster county about 1804, and here he lived until his death, . in 1842. He left a family of seven children : James, who removed to Iowa and died there; Joseph, wlio located in Utah and died there; John, who removed to Illinois and died in Sterling ; Richard, who lived and died in Iowa; Mary, who married John Petrie and moved to Ohio; Ann, who became the wife of Benjamin Phenegar and the mother of Isaac, of this biography (later married to john Ferguson ); and Elizabeth, who married Henry Sides, of Paradise and Strasburg townships. Ann (Glass) Phenegar was born in Strasburg township and died at the home of her son, in 1884, at the age of seventy-two. She had two children, Isaac, and James, who died in infancy.
The birth of Isaac Phenegar occurred Jan. 4, 1832, and he was reared in his native place and at- tended the common schools, but at an early age he began to earn his own way in the world, beginning by doing odd jobs and assisting on farms, later en- tering a store and becoming a clerk. It was remarked that whatever Isaac attempted to do he did well, and when, on reaching the age of eighteen, he an- nounced his intention of fitting himself for the pro- fession of a teacher, his associates knew that he would accomplish it. After a winter spent in study he was found able to pass examinations satisfactorily, and for the following ten years was one of the most capable among the young teachers of Lancaster coun- ty, in the meantime being prepared by study and intelligent application for a very different line of work.
In 1863 Mr. Phenegar became the manager of the Strasburg Railroad, and served efficiently in this capacity for the succeeding ten years, at the end of
which period he leased the road and operated it og his own responsibility for the following fifteen years. About this time he became interested in the Fire: National Bank of Strasburg, with which institution : he has been connected as a director to the presen: time. In connection with his business in railroad matters he conducted a warehouse and dealt in att kinds of grain, coal, etc., and also engaged ex- tensively in tobacco packing. managing all these lines with the intelligence which leads to success.
In 1863 Mr. Phenegar was married to Miss E .- mira Weaver, a daughter of John and Sarah Weaver. of Paradise township, and he and his wife are the parents of three daughters : Anna, who married T. C. Mylin, the railroad agent located at Leaman Place, and has three children-Arthur, Donald and Ever- ett : Emma Eugenie, who married Willis C. Herr. of Lampeter, and has two children, Robert P. and Richard : and Eva, who married Rev. Joseph H. Earp, assistant rector of St. James Episcopal Church. of Lancaster, and has two children, Marjorie and John.
For some thirty years Mr. Phenegar has been the talented chorister of the M. E. Church in Stras- burg and has been prominent in the affairs of that denomination and a leader in educational and re- ligious circles in the community. Mr. Phenegar has efficiently filled the office of school director for the past six years and during his residence in Para- dise township was a justice of the peace. As one of the most active and progressive business men of this part of Lancaster county he has gained the con- fidence and esteem of its citizens, and they see in his career the results of honesty, energy and appli- cation, and the rewards of an exemplary life.
SAMUEL ALEXANDER, a farmer and mer- chant of Mount Nebo. Martic township, is one of its honorable and esteemed citizens. He was born in Martic township June 20, 1848, son of Jolin and Susan (Zarocher) Alexander, of Martic township. of Scotch-Irish diescent.
John Alexander, the father, was a son of John. and one of a family of six children. viz., Samuel. David, James, Thomas, John and Rachel, all die- ceased. He was born in 1803, married Susan Za- rocher in 1820, and died in 1877. They had a family of seven children, namely: Maris, who was killed while in the service of his country. during the Civil war: Martha, the wife of Amos Walton, of Fulton township : Mary, the widow of Lewis Jenkins : Sam- uel : Rebecca J., the wife of Henry Marsh, of Lan- caster : John A., of Mount Nebo : Calvin, deceased.
Samuel Alexander is a leading citizen of Martic township. His carly rearing on the farm gave him a taste and inclination toward an agricultural life. and after finishing his school course, he engaged in farming and still owns several well improved farms in his vicinity. Mr. Alexander also conducts a first-class general store in that locality, and is the postmaster of Mount Nebo, having been appointed
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by ex-President Cleveland. In politics he has long been recognized as an important factor in the Demo- cratic party and at one time was the choice of the party for the State Senate. In all matters pertain- ing to the progress and advancement of his locality, Mr. Alexander takes a deep interest and is known as both liberal and public-spirited.
On Oct. 20, 1870, Mr. Alexander married Miss Jennie MI. Hagen, of Martic township, born April 3, 1847. daughter of Elijah and Sarah Hagen, and this marriage has been blessed with eleven children, ten of whom still survive. as follows: Chester L .. born in 1871, of Chicago ; Maris C., born in 1872: Curtis, born in 1873; Gertrude, born in 1875, the wife of William Tollinger, of Fulton township : Minnie E., born in 1876. at home; Emma, born in 18-8, the wife of Rav Neel. of Mount Nebo; Walter S .. born in 1881; Harry B., born in 1883; Manie, born in 1881, and Charles, born in 1885. John C., born in 1879, died at the age of two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are leading members of the Methodist church, where they both are active in good works. He is one of the stewards of that body and is honored and respected by a very large circle of acquaintances. Mr. Alexander is identified with these fraternal societies: The I. O. O. F., of Rawlinsville ; the K. of P., of the same place ; and Lodge No. 158, Mystic Chain, of Mount Nebo.
ADDISON B. LONGENECKER. For many years Addison B. Longenecker, the owner of 120 acres of some of the choicest and best improved land in Lancaster county, followed the plow. planted and sowed and in due season reaped a bountiful harvest, but now he lives a somewhat retired life, enjoying the results of his former industry and ac- tivity.
The Longenecker family originally came from Switzerland, the country which has sent to Penn- sylvania some of her best citizens. Addison was born Dec. 27, 1841, a son of Jacob and Sallie ( Bar- doff) Longenecker, of Ephrata township. To them a large family was born: Susannah, who died in childhood; Fianna, who married Samuel Schlote : Henry, a retired farmer of Ephrata township : Addi- son ; Mary Ann married to Andrew M. Baker ; Al- len, who resides in Adams county ; Serena, who mar- ried John Bender ; and Emma, who married Samuel Rupp.
Addison B. Longenecker was reared on a farm in Warwick township and attended the common schools of his district, starting out in life for him- self with very limited means. However, he possessed industry and energy and with those levers he moved events and put aside difficulties until now he is con- sidered one of the substantial men of the community. This is an excellent thing, but Mr. Longenecker pos- sesses much more than a fine, well cultivated farm, for he is held in esteem by the neighbors among whom his life has been passed and they regard him as a valued friend, ever ready to extend a hand to
help, and as an upright man in all his dealings with others.
The marriage of Mr. Longenecker occurred in 1871, when he was united to Miss Katherine Shirk, horn Jan. 16, 1849, a daughter of Emanuel and Katherine Shirk, and to this union one child has come, Sallie, born Sept. 19, 1880.
J. MARTIN GOOD, a wealthy and respected farmer of Bart township, Lancaster county, was born at his present home in that township, May 6. 1849. and is a son of Samuel and Eliza (Hollis) Good. His parents were both natives of Chester county, where the father was born Oct. 18, 1700, and the mother, May 20, 1804. She was a daughter of George and Nancy ( Moore) Hollis, both of whom were born in Chester county, Pennsylvania.
Samuel Good was a son of Andrew and Anna (Doyle) Good. She was born in Chester county, and came of Irish parentage. Andrew Good was born in Germany. He settled in West Fallowfield, Chester county, before the Revolutionary war. Two broth- ers accompanied him to America : one settied on the Schuvikill river, near Philadelphia, and the other moved to Reading, where he lived remote from the two. Andrew Good settled on a farm, where he lived and died. He was the father of seven children. ( I) Grace Good, born in Chester county, died at the old home in her ninetieth year, unmarried. (2) Daily Good, born in Chester county, married Thomas Pearcall, a merchant of Baltimore, and became the mother of three children: John, Isaac, and Juliet, who married S. R. Wright. all of Baltimore. (3) Darlington Good, born in Chester county. married Sarah Hoar, and moved to Henry county. Ill., where he died. They had the following family: Alban. Sarah. Darlington, Samuel, and Emma, who married a Mr. Morris, of Illinois.
(4) Emma Good, bora in Chester county, mar- ried James Turnbolt, and moved to Henry county, Ill., where she died, leaving two children, Sarah and Darlington, a prominent man of Chicago.
(5) Sarah Good, born in Chester county. is the widow of Samuel Finley, who passed his later years at Quarryville, where he died leaving the following children: Echnos: James, deceased; Lewis, who died in the Civil war: Samuel, of Chester county ; " Mary, who married Mr. Kimbell, and lives in Quarryville : John. of Chester county ; and Martin, of Mechanicsburg. (6) Jane Good died unmarried.
(7) Jacob Good married Sarah Davis, also a na- tive of Chester county, settled in Chester county, on the original Good home where he was born, and left the following children: Mary, the wife of Martin Espenheim, living in Chester county; Davis, de- ceased : Emeline, the widow of John Wilson, of Philadelphia : Sarah, the widow of Dr. Goman, of Coatesville ; Ellis, who lives in Atgien; Elmira, a resident of Philadelphia.
(8) Samuel Good, the father of J. Martin, was reared in Chester county, where he was given a
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common-school education, and bred to a farming life. In 1830 he married Eliza Hollis, and lived for a year in Bart Valley. In 1832 he bought the farm on which his son is now established near Bartville, in the township of Bart ; this he cleared with the as- sistance of his son, made extensive improvements, and erected the buildings which are now standing on the place. In 1880 he removed to Christiana, where he lived retired, to the time of his death in 1889. His wife died at the farm home in 1863. They were members of the Presbyterian Church in Octoraro. Politically he was a Democrat, and held a number of local offices at different times in his active and useful life. He was one of the first free school trustees of Bart township. To him and his excellent wife came the following family :
(1) J. F. Good, born in Bart township in 1833, married Miss Mary Mundenhall, of Bart township. and for a number of years he worked at the carpenter trade. During the Civil war le served in the State militia during the Rebel raid into Pennsylvania. For some ten years he worked at farming, and in 18;2 moved to Renova, Clinton county, where he is em- ployed in the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Of his children, Clara, the oldest, is the wife of Charles Van Gordan, of Renova; Florence is the widow of Charles Young, of Renova: Abraham lives at Altoona ; George lives at Lancaster, N. Y .; Albert is in Renova; Jenietta is the wife of Isaac Gates, of Renova ; Ella is at home.
(2) Anna E. Good, born Aug. 27, 1835, is the widow of John McGovan, of Sadsbury township, and has one son. John W., who is a farmer in Sads- bury township.
(3) Sarah J. Good, born in June. 1837, is un- married, and lives at the old home in Chester county, where she is a dress maker with a pleased and con- stant patronage.
(4) W. H. Good, born Jan. 5, 1840, a business man of Philadelphia, married Miss Sally Maloy, and has one son, Dr. A. P. Good, of that city.
(5) Mary L. Good, born May 15, 1842, is unmar- ried, and lives in Chester county.
(6) Samuel R. Good, born June 21, 1844. mar- ried Miss Mary Moore, of Bart township, and lived with her in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he is a contractor and builder. The wife died in Philadelphia, leaving three children. Washington, Nellie and Wilson.
(7) Washington Good, born Nov. 20, 1846, en- listed in Co. D, 2d Pa. Cav., and died at Camp Stone- man, Va., April 20, 1864.
J. Martin Good began life as a farmer bov, was · educated in the local schools, and when only four- teen years of age had charge of his father's farm. In connection with farming he has followed for many years the business of an auctioneer.
Mr. Good was married Dec. 25, 1879, to Mary E., the daughter of Patrick and Susan (McNeal) Swisher. She was born in Eden township. Sept. 10, 1855. After their marriage the young couple lived on the old homestead, which has been their
residence to the present time. To this marriage hay- come two daughters: Ellen Maud, born Feb. 2 1882, graduated from the Quarryville high sche. and now a successful teacher in Bart township, ho :- ing a first-grade certificate and enjoying a reputat . : of more than the usual ability ; Malissa May, bo -- Jan. 7. 1886, a student in the Bartville high schor
Mr. Good has been prominently identified with the Republican party, and at different times ha: held various local and town offices. In 1890 he wr, made census enumerator for Bart township, and ir - ten years has been road commissioner. He has long been a judge of the elections, and was actively asso- ciated with the building of the Central high school of Bart township. He and his wife are members ci Middle Octoraro Presbyterian Church. He is an industrious and hard working man, an upright citi- zen, and a kind neighbor. His neighbors spea .: warmly of his many good qualities and sympathetic spirit, and he enjoys the hearty and unstinted re- spect of the community in which his life is passing.
FREDERICK BUCHER. In reviewing the lives of successful men the keynote that has gained: fame and confidence for them is not uncommoni. sought. Some men win as plodders, others by dash and brilliancy. In his earlier life, at least, Frederick Bucher was a man of action. He possessed the cour- age to choose for himself, to create opportunities rather than to become their creation, and this faculty. with his keen sagacity, has contributed immensely to his success. As one of the wealthiest, most pros- perous citizens of Columbia, a brief outline of his career is especially interesting.
Mr. Bucher was born in Deggingen, Wurtem :- berg, Germany, Sept. 18, 1830, son of Joseph Maxi- milian and Barbara (Bernauer) Bucher, and was well educated in his youth in his native town. His father was a prosperous merchant, and at fifteen Frederick entered the paternal dry-goods store and grocery as a clerk. A year later he assumed the management of a carbonic spring, the property of his father, located at Ditzenbach, near Deggingen. Here he remained six years, gaining a knowledge cf business and men which has stood him in good stead in the varied business interests in which he has since engagedl. In 1852 Mr. Bucher's name, with many others, was placed in the "army wheel." but the drawing of Deggingen's recruits was completed without his name appearing in the lists, he having drawn a number which cleared him from militar; service. In the fall of the following year he sailed for the new world beyond the sea, where he hoped to build a home for himself, make new friends, and a fortune, all of which he has realized beyond his mos: sanguine expectations. Landing at New York, he did not at once find occupation which suited, the offer of a clerkship at eighteen dollars a month be- ing the best that was offered him. Visiting an ac- quaintance in Philadelphia, he found desirable eni-
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ployment in that city also beyond his reach. Learn- ing that George Tille, whom he had known at Deg- gingen, resided in Columbia, the ambitious voung man started for that borough, which he reached in the winter of 1853. Mr. Tille was a clerk in the hard- ware store of Jonas Rumple, and there the newly i arrived emigrant started up the ladder of success in | America. For seven months he remained with Mr. Rumple, and at the end of that time accepted a better sition with Henry Ffahler, also a hardware mer- Chant of the borough, with whom he remained seven wars. In 1858, deciding to seek his fortunes in the Lur West, he resigned his position with Mr. Pfahler .nd started overland for California. In the vicinity of Salt Lake City their camp, consisting of fifteen men, was suddenly attacked one evening by Indians. There was a vigorous defense, which gradually slackened until Mr. Bucher and one other man were the only survivors of the party. Favored by the darkness which had come on during the fighting they fled and made good their escape. Mr. Bucher finally reached New Orleans, but finding that the city was suffering from an epidemic of yellow fever, he de- cided to give it a wide berth, and shipped on a vessel for Havana. However, the vessel was not allowed to land, as several cases of smallpox had developed on board. He then returned to Columbia, via New York City, and re-entered the employ of Mr. Pfahler. He became owner in a patented stove, but in 1859 the pat- terns were destroyed by fire and he had no means to pay for new ones, consequently the stove enter- prise proved a clear failure. This, however, was Mr. Bucher's first and only financial failure, and re- sulted in his staying with Mr. Prahler as a clerk two years longer. In 186t he accepted a position in the hardware store of J. W. Cottrell, with whom and his successors he remained five years. In 1866 he started in the grocery and hardware business for him- self at the corner of Fourth and Locust streets, Col- umbia, which he continued successfully for twenty years. He also became largely interested in real estate in Columbia, and is now one of the most ex- tensive real-estate owners there, in addition to other property, owning over fifty residences. He is a prac- ucal builder, and his houses have been constructed under his direct supervision.
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