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 33
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Abram Kline passed his early years on the farm, remaining on the old homestead until he was fifteen years of age. His education was received in the lo- cal schools. He learned carpentering and cabinet- making, serving first with G. W. Peters, of Colum- bia, this county, and completing his apprenticeship, which covered a period of four years, with Rabe & Leib, in Philadelphia. On his return to Lancaster county, he was engaged at his trade by John Dyer. of Manheim, continuing this until he determined to try merchandising. Mr. Kline's first experience in this line was with P. & G. Arndt, and he subse- quently was sent to Mt. Joy as the representative of Philip Arndt, of P. Arndt, Shaffner & Co., lumber dealers. Returning to Manheim in 1851, he pur- chased an interest in the business of P. & G. Arndt, and for four years was one of the most prominent business men in the place, finally disposing of his share in the concern to enter other fields in Philadel- phia. There he remained over fifteen years, becom- ing a member of the firm of Stein, Wanner & Co., extensive importers and jobbers of china, glassware and queensware; from this he retired because the multiplicity of demands upon him was affecting his health. During this time he invented an improve- ment on a glass fruit jar, which brought him $21,- oco. In 1871 Mr. Kline returned to Manheim and embarked in the business which has since claimed his attention : his lumber yard has the reputation of being the best equipped along the Reading and Co- lumbia Railway. A gentleman once remarked that it was the best organized yard in the State. The ca- pacity for shedding lumber is half a million feet. The hardware store, located on the corner of Stiegel and South Charlotte streets, has a frontage of twenty-two feet on the latter, and extends to a depth of 100 feet. The store room extends forty feet along
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Charlotte street, the front being entirely of glass. A accordingly took an active interest in that notable heavy stock, of all kinds of hardware, is carried, and campaign. the establishment enjoys a large patronage from Manheim and the surrounding country.
Mr. Kline is the largest real estate owner in Manheim, and he has erected a number of modern i houses, all of them a credit to the owner and an im- provement to the section of the town in which they are located. Thus Mr. Kline's enterprise has bene- fited the town, as well as brought him prosperity, for his undertakings have all been on an extensive scale. Though he has been wholly successful in business his reward has been well merited, for no man has ! carried a higher standing in financial circles. His | ability and tact are manifest to all who have had dealings with him. For a number of years past MIr. Kline has been ably assisted by his son, Charles A. who has proved himself capable and energetic in every respect.
As a public-spirited citizen Abram Kline has long been recognized as one of the leaders in the town. His influence has always been on the side of progress, whether promoting new business en- terprises or advocating public improvements, and his careful and judicious management of his own affairs inspired confidence in his ability to handle the affairs of the municipality. His alertness and quickness of perception have been evident on more than one occasion, and, being backed by good judg- ment, his opinion on all subjects is eagerly sought and valued. The part he has taken in borough af- fairs is well known. When he was burgess the streets were improved by being graded, curbed and macadamized. He is one of the originators and is president of the Manheim Building Association ; one of the incorporators and president of the Man- heim Fairview Cemetery Association; one of the original subscribers to the Manheim and Lititz turn- pike, and likewise to the Manheim and Sporting Hill turnpike; one of the incorporators and direc- tors of the Manheim' Fire Insurance Association ; president of the Manheim Water Company, an un- usually successful enterprise which paid a dividend from the start, and the stock of which is now at a premium. While in Philadelphia Mr. Kline served four years as a member of the city council, repre- senting the thirteenth ward : he was one of the most prominent members in that body, and his value was recognized by his appointment to positions on the committees of Finance, Schools, Water, and the Girard Estate, House of Correction and others. He always manifested a deep interest in the welfare of the city. One of the original Centennial commit- tee, he went to Washington frequently with that body to have the exposition go where it went, New York City at the time having made a lively contest for the great enterprise. He has always been an active Republican in politics since the days of Fre- mont. In 1883 Mr. Kline thought it best for the party to vote for John Stewart for Governor, and
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Shortly after the war broke out Mr. Kline left Philadelphia with a militia company, and served in the command that was stationed at Hagerstown, guarding the government stores during the engage- ment at Antietam. In 1863 he was again mustered into the United States militia service for ninety days, and was with the command that guarded one of the South Mountain approaches near Funkstown. He is a member of Gen. Heintzeiman Post. G. A. R.
In 1852 Mr. Kline was united in marriage with Miss Caroline E. Arndt, daughter of Philip Arndt, of Manheim, and three children blessed this union, namely: Mary E., wife of H. H. Gingrich, cashier of the Farmers' National Bank of Lititz: Ida A., wife of Wayne A. Ensminger : and Charles A. The family residence, in East High street. is one of the finest in the city, and Mr. Kline, who does not now attend so closely to business, passes many pleasant hours there among his books. From youth he has been an earnest member of the Reformed Church, in which he has served many years as elder. and he is one of the most active workers in the Sunday- school, having taught the Bible class for some vears. All the religious and benevolent enterprises of the town receive his hearty approval and sub- stantial encouragement. Indeed. there is nothing of interest or good to his fellow men which Mr. Kline does not uphold, and his approval is never passive, invariably manifesting itself in some prac- tical way. He is a warm friend and is beloved by many in the city of his adoption.
REV. HENRY REED SMITH, who was. by marriage. a member of a family which had been very prominent in the Episcopal ministry for nearly a century in and about the eastern part of Pennsyl- vania, was for ten years pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church. at Compassville. Chester county, where he endeared himself to the people by his many noble traits of character, and by the fine ability which he displayed in the pulpit.
Rev. Henry R. Smith was a native of the town of Lancaster, where he was born Nov. 14. 1833. He suffered death while bathing at Beach Haven, N. J., Aug. 21, 1875, he at that time being a resident of Gwynedd, Montgomery county. Rev. Smith was the eldest child of Richard S. and Mary S. (Triss- ler) Smith, of Lancaster, the former of whom came to Lancaster when a young man. and engaged in the drug business. When the son, Henry, was but one year old the family removed to Philadelphia, where the father continued the drug business. They were members of the Episcopal Church, and were greatly respected. Their children were : Henry R. : William J .. a professional nurse now living in Philadelphia ; Mary D., who married Rev. Henry C. Pastorius, a Protestant Episcopal minister at Lansford, Pa .; and Sarah and W. Atlee, who died young.
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Rev. Henry R. Smith was reared to manhood in the city of Philadelphia, where he was given a thor- ough education, and where he remained until 1862. He was not trained for the ministry in youth, but for a business career, which he entered early, and was for fifteen years with Horstmann & Sons, large manufacturers and importers. His qualifications and temperament were such, however, that his friends urged him to prepare for the ministry, and he, therefore, took a course in Theology, and was ordained to the ministry of the Episcopal Church. His first charge was St. John's Church, Compassville Chester Co., Pa., where he settled in 1862, and where he remained for the following ten years. Owing to failing health, he then retired from the active duties of the ministry and removed to Gwynedd. Pa., at which place he resided at the time of his death.
On April 24, 1862. Rev. Smith was married to Grace Clarkson, in the Epiphany Church. Phila- delphia, just prior to settling in his ministerial work. Their children were Clarkson, born June 2. 1863; Henry R., born March 17, 1865: Emery S., born Dec. 26, 1867 ; and Isaac Diller. born Aug. 15, 1872. Of these Clarkson and Isaac Diller died in youth ; and Henry R. and Emery S., both unmarried are electricians. Mrs. Smith removed to Lititz. Lan- caster Co., Pa., just after the death of her husband, but in 1880 came to Lancaster, her native place. where she enjoys the society of old friends. She was born in Lancaster, a daughter of Gerardus and Susan (Trissler) Clarkson. Gerardus Clarkson was born in Wilmington, Del., while his father Rev. Joseph Clarkson, was minister of the Old Swedes Church, of that city. Mr. Clarkson was for a period of forty years connected with the Farmers' Bank of Lan- caster, the latter part of which service was as cashier, and he was a man of fine business ability and heid in high repute in the business circles of the city. He retired a few months prior to his decease. Both he and his wife lie buried in St. James Church ceme- tery, of which church they were leading and prom- inent members under Rev. William A. Muhlenberg. both of them being remembered as having been es- pecially distinguished for their beautiful voices and which were for long years heard in the choir of St. James Church. Their children were: Joseph, de- ceased in 1889 ; Edward, retired and living in North- ampton county ; Gerardus, deceased in 1867 : Robert deceased in 1879; Samuel, deceased in 1894: Mary. widow of Thomas W. Henderson, living near Park- esburg, Chester Co., Pa .; Grace (Mrs. H. R. Smith) ; Susan, residing in Washington, D. C., and the widow of Miles Roch, a renowned scientist and geologist who died in Guatemala City ; and Michael. the youngest child, who died in 1890. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Smith were Rev. Joseph and Grace (Cook) Clarkson, the former a native of Philadelphia, the latter of New Brunswick. N. S. He was one of the early ministers of the Episcopal Church in Lancaster and was ordained by the emin- ent and scholarly Bishop William A. White on his
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return from England. Rev. Joseph was a son of Dr. Gerardus Clarkson, an eminent physician of Philadelphia in his day.
DAVID CHARLES HAVERSTICK, the vet- eran pressman in the city of Lancaster, and who fo- many years has been superintendent of the E .:- aminer press rooms, is of the fourth generation of Haversticks in Lancaster county.
Col. Michael Haverstick, his great-grandfather. was a native of Germany, and came to America when twenty-three years old, making the voyage in the ship "Europa," Capt. Lunsdaine, from Rot- terdam, and landing in Philadelphia Nov. 17, 1741. He came to Lancaster county and was naturalized in 1751. He located on the Conestoga creek, be- tween Wabank and New Danville. He was the father of six sons and four daughters, viz .: Will- iam, Jacob, Michael, Rudolph, John, Matthias, Mary Elizabeth, Barbara, Catharine and Ann Mary. In 1775 he was chosen one of the committee of obser- vation of Lancaster county. He served in the army of the Revolution, and rose to the rank of colonci. Himself and family were members of the Reformed Church. He died in 1793, when seventy-five years of age, leaving an estate (as per his will) valued at £7,000. He is buried in one of the private grave- yards in the vicinity of his home.
Jacob Haverstick, the grandfather of David C., lived along the Conestoga creek, near Wabank. in this county, and there was born David Haver- stick, the father of David Charles. David Haver- stick married Sarah Ann Warfel, daughter of a farmer of New Danville, and eight children were born to them, five of whom are yet living: Lydia A., widow of Abraham Lind. of this county ; Mar- garet, wife of George E. Zellers, master mechanic of cotton mills No. 2 and No. 3, Lancaster ; David C., of whom we will more particularly write; Edward. a corporal in the 122d P. V. I., who died in the service in 1863; Cyrus, who died in early man- hood; Benjamin, a soldier in the United States army, and now stationed in San Francisco ; Rolandes. now deceased: and Mary Jane, widow of James Strachan, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
David C. Haverstick was born in 1838. in Stras- burg township. Lancaster Co., Pa., and received his education in the schools of his birthplace. At the age of thirteen years he came to Lancaster city, and in 1854 entered the old Express office as an ap- prentice to the printing business, and soon became an expert pressman. He has been superintendent of the press room of the Express (now merged in the Examiner) for more than forty years, his only absence from his work being when he was serving nine months as fifth sergeant in the 122d Regiment. P. V. I.
In 1865 Mr. Haverstick was married to Miss Anna St. John. a native of Baltimore, Md .. and daughter of Taylor and Rebecca St. John, who came to Lancaster from Connecticut. To this union five
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children were born, as follows: Edward Linnaeus, , parental rooftree, was married June 18, 1901, to who died in r$72 in early childhood ; Myra St. Jo'in, | Mary A. Grove, who was born near Mountville, in a well known and talented teacher and elocutionist, a i West Hempfield township, July 1. 18;8, daugliter graduate of the State Normal School at Millersville. : of Abraham H. and Fannie ( Garber) Grove. who died in 1892: Miss Bertha St. John. living at home ; Aimee St. John, wife of Rev. H. S. Shelley, ! pastor of the Reformed Church at Willowstreet. Lan- caster Co., Pa .: and Ernest Warfel, born June I. 1878, now engaged in the jeweling department of the Hamilton Watch Co., Lancaster.
A Republican in politics. Mr. Haverstick. how- ever, has never taken any active part in political af- fairs, although frequently urged to do so. Outside of the church he belongs to the Y. M. C. A., the City Bible Society, and the Mechanics' Library Society and G. A. R. He is a member of the St. Paul's Re- formed Church, in which he has also been an elder, and secretary of the consistory of same for twenty or more years ; and he was superintendent of the Sun- day-school for a long time. He has been secretary of the Lancaster City Bible Society some eighteen years, vice-president of the Mechanics' Library So- ciety, and was president of the Lancaster Y. M. C. A. for nine years, during which he did yeoman service in wiping out the debt of the old Association build- ing. In all the walks of life-in social intercourse, in .church, in newspaper circles, and among the com- munity at large-no man commands and receives higher esteem than does David Charles Haverstick.
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JONAS H. NOLT, a highly respected retired general farmer and tobacco raiser in West Hempfield township, Lancaster county, now resid- ing in Columbia, was born on his present farni Jan. 4, 1840, his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth ( Hoff- man) Nolt being also natives of this township.
Jacob Nolt was reared as a farmer, and agricul- ture was the pursuit of his life. He died in West Hempfield township in ISSo, when sixty-eight years old, but his wife survived until 1894, when she passed away at the age of seventy-two years, in the faith of the Dunkard Church, the remains of both being interred in Silver Spring Cemetery. Their children were but three in number, and they were born and named in the following order: Jonas H., whose name is mentioned above: Mary, who died unmarried in 1866; and Jacob, a farmer in West Hempfield township. The Volt family for genera- tions back, engaged in farming, and the present gen- eration on both sides is no exception to the rule.
Jonas H. Nolt was united in marriage, in Lan- caster, in 1866, with Miss Elizabeth Heise, a native of West Hempfield township, and a daughter of Harry and Hannah ( Heidler) Heise: of whom more may be learned by referring to the sketch of B. Frank Heise, her brother, to be found cisewhere. This happy marriage of Jonas H. and Elizabeth Nolt has been blessed with four children, two of whom, however, died in infancy; Paris was called away at the early age of ten years: and Harvey, ! born Sept. 7, 1872, now making his home under the
Jonas H. Nolt has always been of domestic, as well as of industrious. habits, and he has ever been content to make his present farm his lifelong abid- ing place. He has not been neglectful. however, of the affairs of his township, but has been public- spirited and prompt to promote local progress with his time and means when called upon, having served nine years as school director, and having been a director in the Central National Bank of Columbia since its organization. In politics a Republican, he has been ardent in his support of the principles of his party and active in promoting its success at the polls, but he has remained satisfied with the conscious- ness of having done his part in this quiet way toward bringing about a victorious result, regardless of self or of reward through appointment to public office or other share of "party spoils.'
Socially Mr. Nolt enjoys the friendship and re- spect of the best people in West Hempfield town- ship, and is universally recognized as being honora- ble and upright in all transactions of a business character. He retired from farm life in the spring of 1902. and now resides in Columbia, leaving his son as his successor.
The Hoffman family, from which Mr. Nolt is descended in maternal lines, has long been well known in the county. His mother, Elizabeth ( Hoff- man) Nolt, was a daughter of Christ Hoffman, who was born and raised in West Hempfield township. He had a large tract of farming land near Ironville ( now the property of the Jacob Hostetter family). He had two brothers, Daniel, of Indianapolis, Ind .; and Mike, who lived on a pretty farm in Stark coun- ty, Ohio, and who is survived by one son, Henry. Christ Hoffman married Betsy Haymaker, who bore him twelve children, as follows: Jacob, who died in 1880. aged seventy-seven, leaving children, Jacob, John, Martin and Fanny : John, who lives at Chest- nut Hill, on a farm ; Christly, who died unmarried ; Joseph, who married and died: Fred, who is de- ceased ; Maria : Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Nolt ; Nancy, Mrs. Whitman, born in 1820. now living near Manheim, the only survivor of the family : Sarah, married and the mother of four sons and three daughters ; Mollie, Mrs. Shannon ; Bevia, who died at home ; and Maria (2).
CHRISTIAN ERISMAN, a retired farmer, whose pleasant and attractive home is at Sporting Hill, Rapho township, Lancaster county, was born on the site of the Erisman's Meeting House, which formed a part of the family homestead in Rapho township. Feb. 2, 1816, a son of Jacob and Mary ( Metz) Erisman. His parents were both born and reared in Rapho township, where they passed their lives, and when they died their remains were laid to rest in the cemetery connected with Erisman's
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Church. The father served as supervisor one year, | until his marriage, when he located for himself in and was an honorable and highly respected citizen and member of the community. Both he and his wife belonged to the Mennonite Church, and in that faith they reared their family. Their children were: Maria, who died at the age of thirteen years ; Elizabeth, who died unmarried at the age of eighty- three years; Nancy, late wife of Christ. Hershey : Christian : Jacob, who died at the age of sixty-five years ; Abraham, who died at the age of seventy- five years; Fanny, the widow of John Baker, who lives in East Hempfield township; Henry, unmar- ried; Mary, unmarried and living in Salunga. Pa .: John, a farmer on the old homestead in Rapho township.
The paternal grandfather of Christian Erisman was Abraham Erisman ; he was a farmer, and spent his life in Lancaster county. The maternal grand- parents were Christ. and Mary ( Hackman) Metz, farming people of Lancaster county. Christ. Metz was a son of Ludwig Metz, who was born in Ger- many ; coming later to America, in 1771 he built a stone house on a farm in Rapho township, where he spent his last years.
Christian Erisman was married March 17, 1840, in Lancaster, Pa., to Catherine Hostetter, by whom he had the following children: Susan. unmarried, and living with her parents ; Elizabeth H., who mar- ried Joseph Kravbill, a farmer in Clay township : Metz J., a commission merchant in Philadelphia : Sarah A., who died unmarried; Albert. deceased. who married Lovina Stehman; Mary, who married Benjamin Miller, and lives in Masonville, Pa. : Elenora, who died young : Amelia G., who married Eli Baumberger. of Manheim, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Catherine (Hostetter) Erisman was born in Warwick township. Lancaster county, April 27. 1818, a daughter of the Rev. Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Hostetter. Her father was born in Penn township, and her mother in East Hempfield. Both died on the old farm in Penn township, near Man- heim. They were members of the Mennonite Church, of which he was a distinguished preacher for more than fifty-eight years, being a bishop of that church for thirty-four years. He died April 6, 1861, at the age of ninety years, seven months. and twenty-three days. His widow survived until 1868, when she too passed away, at the age of ninety-one years. three months and three days. Their remains rest in a private burying ground on their old homestead.
Born to the Rev. Jacob and Elizabeth Hostet- ter were the following children: John; Mary. who lived to be seventy years old: Anna. the wife of Christ. Wissler: Susan, the wife of John Shaffer : and Martha. the wife of John Stuffer, all five of whom are dead : Barbara, who married Joseph Her- shey : Jacob, deceased : Catherine. noted above : Fan- ny, the late wife of David Hershey; David, de- ceased.
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Christian Erisman remained with his parents
Rapho township, where he carried on the buying and selling of stock in connection with his farming operations until 1882. That year he retired, and is now enjoying the fruits of an industrious and well- spent life. He removed his home to Sporting Hill, where he has formed many pleasant associations, and is passing his last days in the serene enjoyment of the privileges and pleasures that should attend a well ripened life. At one time he was super- visor, and for six years acted as school director. He is a member of the Mennonite Church, and his life is honest and open to all the world. Politically he is a Republican, and is exceedingly well informed on all the current issues of the day.
JOHN CONRAD, the genial and popular pro- prietor of the Union Hotel, is one of the well-known and highly regarded citizens of Providence town- ship. He was born Oct. 9, 1833, in Pequea town- ship, son of Daniel and Mary ( Erisman) Conrad.
Daniel Conrad was born in 1791, and came to America from Germany. He followed the black- In smith business through life and died in 1857. his political convictions he was a staunch Democrat. His religious connection was with the German Re- formed Church. He married Mary Erisman, who was born in 1708 and died Dec. 30, 1883, and they had a family of eleven children, as follows : Ben- jamin, deceased ; Jacob, who resides in Refton, Pa .; Susan, who married Benjamin Yordy; Mary, who married Reuben Phautz: Barbara, Daniel and George, all deceased; John; Henry, who resides in New Danville, Pa .; Elizabeth, who married Jacob D. Landis ; and Martha, who is the widow of John Mohn.
John Conrad grew up on the home farm and attended the common schools of his district. He followed farming until 1865, when he became a member of Co. D, 195th P. V. I., and served as a faithful soldier through the Virginia campaign in the Civil war, being mustered out of the service in 1866. He has long been prominently identified with Democratic politics, and was made the first postinas- ter of New Danville, in 1857, under President James Buchanan.
On Jan. 14. 1858, Mr. Conrad was married to Miss Mary Brenneman, born Oct. 6, 1837, daughter of Christian and Catherine (McFalls) Brenneman. of Providence township. This family is one of prominence in the county and more extended men- tion of it will be found in another part of this vol- vme. A family of eleven children has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Conrad, viz. : Catherine P., born | Feb. 14. 1859, who married Simon Gochenaur and has two children, Jenny and Mary: Mary E., born March 24. 1861, who married Jefferson Groff, of Providence township, and has two children. Charles and Walter : Christian F., born May 12, 1862, who died March 20, 1877 : Naomi J., born Sept. 30, 1864, the wife of Joseph Long, of Providence township,
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