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 34
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and the mother of two children, John and Carrie ; John F., born Jan. 3, 1867, who married Anna Engie and had one son, John, now deceased; Susan, born March 9, 1869, who is the wife of Robert Heisler and has a daughter, Clara : Abraham B., born May 25, 1871, a soldier in the Philippine Islands, married to Barbara Seaman, of Nebraska: Maggie B .. born Feb. 13, 1873, who married Walter Evans and has five children, Oscar, Augusta, Estella, Mary and Clementine ; Emma L., born Jan. 22, 1875, who is the wife of Aldus Book, of Drumore township and has had three children, Lawrence ( deceased), Mary and John ; Estella, born Dec. 4, 1876, who is the wife of George Lynes, of Drumore township and the mother of two children, Anna Mary and Grace : and Charles W., born Sept. 9, 1878, who married Mazie Reinhart and has had two children. Lawrence W. ( deceased) and Dorothy. Jenny Gochenaur. the daughter of Catherine P., married Ira Book and has one child, Bessy, the great-grandchild of our sub- ject.
Although in his early career Mr. Conrad was hampered to some extent by limited means, his en- ergy and industry surmounted adverse circum- stances, and he and his capable and estimable wife can now enjoy every comfort in their advancing years. He has been able to rear a large family and give them proper advantages, and he also has ac- cumulated much more than a competency, owns a fine farm in Providence township and a paying hotel in the village of Union. He is known as a man of reliability and is considered one of the most hon- orable citizens of the township.
AARON WITMER, for forty years a veterin- ary surgeon of Lancaster county, was one of the old and respected residents of West Lampeter township, where he owned a fine farm of seventy-six acres, this being a part of the estate added by his father to the old homestead.
Aaron Witmer was born April 13. 1832, on the old home land and attended the public schools, but early in life manifested an interest in the proper rearing and care of stock, particularly horses, and. in order to fit himself with sufficient knowledge to make his own animals remain in the best condition, he began the scientific study of the horse. This re- sulted in an accurate knowledge that was increased and encouraged by a course of two years' reading under Dr. C. N. Shaub, when he was so proficient that he was made a life member of the Veterinary Association at Philadelphia.
Although Aaron Witmer continued to farm, his time soon became so filled with demands for the prac- tice of his profession that he could not confine him- self to agricultural pursuits, for all through Lan- caster county, and into farther counties, he has been called upon in a professional way. At present his son, who read and studied under his supervision, has succeeded to the profession. There is no doubt but that every stockraiser should have a general
knowledge of the veterinary art, but to master it re- quires quite as assiduous study as does the science of medicine.
In 1854 Aaron Witmer was married to Mary Herr, a daughter of Abraham Herr, of Pequea town- ship, who was born there Dec. 19. 1831 : and to this union three children were born : Frank E., born July 27. 1855, a farmer of West Lampeter township. liv- ing on a part of the father's old home. who married Mary Ann Herr. a daughter of Joseph Herr, and had five children, Ida, Jacob, Elmer, Frank and Esther ; Abraham H., born June 10, 1857, a farmer, gardener and florist, residing on the adjoining farm, who mar- ried Mary A. Bachman, a daughter of Eli Bachman, of Lampeter, and has three sons. Eli. John and George; and J. Elam. born May 25, 1859, a farmer and veterinary surgeon of this township, who mar- ried Lizzie Bachman, a daughter of Eli Bachman, and had three children, Ross, Willis and Mary.
Aaron Witmer died Nov. 15, 1900. The family is prominently connected with the Mennonite Church, and all are well known through the town- ship as honorable and esteemed citizens.
ABRAHAM B. SNAVELY (deceased) was during his active years one of the leading farmers of Pequea township, prominent and active in public affairs, and useful in the community as a neighbor, citizen and friend.
Mr. Snavely was born in December, 1823. near Wheatland Mills. Lampeter township, a son of Abraham B. and Elizabeth ( Buckwalter) Snavely; the father was born in 1787, in what is now Pequca (then Conestoga) township, and the mother in 1789. They were plain, unassuming country people. en- gaged in farming during the greater part of their lives, and identified with the New or Reformed Men- nonite Church, in which faith they reared their chil- dren. The father was a minister in that denomina-
tion. They were married in 1809, and the union was blessed with children as follows: Annie, Mrs. Weaver ; Benjamin, who also married ; Abraham B., who is referred to more fully farther on ; Martha, un- married. and now deceased : and Fannie, who mar- ried. The father of this family died in 1866, and the mother passed away the previous year.
Abraham B. Snavely was reared on his father's farm. passing his youth until he was twenty years of age alternately between work on the farm and at- tendance in winter at the neighborhood district school : under the direction of his father he became thoroughly acquainted with general farming opera- tions. He remained at home until 1866, in which year he became the owner of the farm in Pequea township, upon which he lived for the next twenty- six or seven years. until his removal to New Dan- ville, in 1893. Upon that farm were achieved the triumphs and successes of his life. and it was the scene of his toils and labors, his joys and his sor- rows, in all of which his faithful helpmeet shared. .That farm, the oid homestead, is a fine property,
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very desirable in many respects : upon it are good and substantial buildings and other improvements, while its fields are fertile and productive, and irom them Mr. Snavely for only a little less than fifty years derived a good income, engaging in general farming and stock raising. From the spring of 1893 until his decease Mr. Snavely lived in retire- ment at New Danville, he and his wife passing life's evening in a comfortable home, in the enjoyment of plenty. They united with the Reformed Mennon- Íte Church April 22, 1900. Mr. Snavely attained the age of almost four score, dying Nov. 20, 1901.
Mr. Snavely's political affiliations were with the Republican party, to which he was most loval. On four different occasions he was sent as a delegate to county conventions ; he was active in party affairs and for three terms served as judge of elections, also the same length of time as inspector of elections ; he served one term as school director and three terms as township assessor. In all these varied po- sitions he was faithful and honorable, and his reputa- tion as a public man was above reproach.
In December, 1856, Mr. Snavely married Cath- erine Rohrer, a native of this county, and to them were born two children, Rohrer and Stoner.
BYRON GRISWOLD DODGE is a representa- tive business man and citizen of Lancaster. where he is head of the Armstrong Cork Works, and sole own- er of the Safety Buggy Works.
Mr. Dodge's first ancestors in this country were two brothers who landed at Old Salem, Mass., in 1629, both being gentleman of leisure and large for- tune. His grandfather, John Dodge, was born in Claremont, N. H. His father. George W. Dodge. was a cork manufacturer, and in company with his son, Byron G., established large works in Lancaster. The father died in March, 1890. He married Miss Deborah E. Griswold, of Berlin, N. Y .. and to this union came two children : Ella J., wife of Rev. Henry G. Appenzeler, of the M. E. Church, now a missionary in Corca; and Byron G., of Lancaster.
Byron Griswold Dodge was born in Berlin, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1851, and was educated there in the pub- lic schools, closing his studies at a boarding school in Vermont, a preparatory school for Williams Col- lege. After leaving school he worked on a farm until nineteen. when he learned the machinist's trade at Westerly, R. I., in a printing-press factory. He then went into the cork business with his father, at Berlin, and came to Lancaster in August, 1876. Their works were first located on Fulton street, the present site of Rose Brothers' umbrella factory. and they later built the excellent plant on the Pennsyl- vania railroad, near MeGrann's Park, which with the Armstrong Cork Works does about three-fourths of the entire cork business of which it is a syndicate part, the Lancaster and the Pittsburg works being the two largest in the country. In the Lancaster works six hundred people are employed. and many thousand dollars are annually distributed by this in-
stitution through the various channels of trade in Lancaster. The Safety Buggy Works, which belong entirely to Mr. Dodge. rank among the most ex- tensive industries of the place. employing some 15 ) men. Besides his interests in the foregoing. Min. Dodge is president of the International Cream Sep- arator Co., at Grant and Christian streets, a con- cern of rapidly increasing strength.
Mr. Dodge married Miss Anna Smart, daugh- ter of Cant. Elisha Smart, who was killed while leading his company in an engagement of the Civil war; his regiment was formed at North Adams. Mass. Four children were born of this marriage: Leon G., now superintendent of his father's Safety Buggy Works: Miss Anna, at home; George, who graduated from the State College in June, 190! : and Arthur, attending Cornell University, class of 1904. Mr. Dodge is a member of the First M. E. Church. He lives in an elegant home near the cor- ner of North Duke and Frederick streets, and his stable contains a string of thoroughbred horses, in which he finds one of his chief recreations. The en- tire family are lovers of horseflesh, and all have their especial equine pets. Mr. Dodge is a liberal, pro- gressive and intelligent man of affairs, whose in- fluence for good is often felt in Lancaster.
EMANUEL R. SHIRK belongs to one of the old and respected families of Lancaster county.
Emanuel H. Shirk, his father, was born in West Cocalico township Jan. 16, 181. He was a farmer and gave his entire attention to agriculture until his death, which occurred in 1873. In politics he was a staunch Republican and a very active member in the ranks of huis party, which he represented in many State and county conventions. Religiously he was a member of the German Baptist Church. He mar- ried Miss Catherine Rover, and they were the par- ents of ten children: Fianna, wife of Hiram Bol- linger ; Emanuel R .: Hiram, a farmer of Indiana ; Salinda, wife of John Hagey ; Lavina, wife of David Butzer : John. of Ephrata: Catherine, wife of Addi- son Longenecker; Leah, wife of Albert Mumma ; Edward, a cigar maker; and Ementize, who died in childhood.
Emanuel R. Shirk was born May 28, 1838, on the same farm where his father first saw the light, in West Cocalico township. He lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age, and during his earlier years attended the common schools. He began farming for himself on the old homestead, where he remained four years, and thence moved to Schoeneck, for three years, during which time he followed droving. His next removal was to Warwick township, where he commenced farming again, and he has continued it to the present time, meeting with substantial success. Mr. Shirk is one of the enterprising farmers of his locality, and one of its most public-spirited citizens. He has served his fellow townsmen faithfully in various offices,. having been supervisor, assessor and for twelve
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wars member of the school board. In 1803 he was "rison inspector, and held that office for six years. in politics he has always been an active member of the Republican party.
: Mr. Shirk married for his first wife Miss Sarah Bucher, and to this union were born five children : Fannie, who died unmarried; Mary, wife of Sam- ; nel Zwally : Emma, wife of Franklin Leeking ; Katie, ; wife of William Cuningham; and Sarah, wife of David Witmer married Annie Rutt, who was im Wolfskill. The mother of the above named : born in 1798 and died in 1867, having been the de- children died June 26, 1875, and Mr. Shirk later mar- : (i Miss Elizabeth Heftley, who died Oct. 19, 1899. 1
JACOB R. WITMER. Looking backward to the year 1716, the family records of the Wimmer fam- ilv tell of one Benjamin Witmer, who, in company with his son, Abraham, left Switzerland with the in- tention of founding a new home in the United States. Ilis final location was made in Lancaster county, Jacob R. Witmer was born Feb. 19, 1833, on the farm which he now occupies. His education i was received in the common schools of his district and his life has been passed in farming, his tastes where Abraham purchased lands which have never passed out of the possession of the Witmer family. In 1739 both Benjamin and his son were naturalized. so that their descendants are not Swiss, but repre- : lying in this direction. Immediately after mar- sent a portion of the best American citizens of the State of Pennsylvania.
In 1719 there was another son born to Benjamin Witmer, named Jolin. This John married Frances i Roland and reared a family of seven children: An- na, wife of John Kendig; John, who married Mary Harmen; Henry, who married Fanny Musser ; David, married to Esther Kendig: Benjamin, who married Anna Brubaker : Abraham, married to Molly Herr: and Daniel, married to Anna Newcomer. Abraham, the fifth son of this family, in 1,08 built a stone bridge across the Conestoga creek, about one mile east of Lancaster, called Witmer's bridge, which is in good condition at the present day.
The lands purchased by Abraham, son of the original Benjamin, descended by will at his death, in 1783, to his nephew, Benjamin Witmer. This nephew Benjamin had' two children : Elizabeth, married to John Buckwalter: and Benjamin, who married Esther Buckwalter. and inherited his fa- ther's farm in 1822. Benjamin and Esther ( Buck- walter) Witmer reared these children: Nancy, who married Abram Buchwalter; Polly, who mar- ried Abram Landis: David: Elizabeth, who mar- ried Abram Huntzberger; Lydia, who married Ja- cob Brubaker ; and Benjamin, Esq. All of these lie buried in the old Mellinger graveyard, and all of them through life consistently lived up to the Old Mennonite faith.
David Witmer was born in 1800, and until the time of his death, in 1875, devoted his life to agri- cultural pursuits. At the age of thirty-three he was ordained a minister in the Old Mennonite Church and he faithfully performed the duties attaching to the Mellinger and Stumptown stations. The Wit- mer lands, now owned by his son, were purchased by David, at an appraisement made by his brothers and sisters, although he had but little ready money,
and the assumned debt occasioned, at the time, con- siderable anxiety. His character was of such ex- cellence, and ile was so beloved by his congregations that aid was immediately tendered him in order to clear the debt. but these kind offers were declined, and he labored harder on the land, and not only cleared it off. but at the time of his death left an es- tate' valued at $40.000.
voted mother of nine children: Elizabeth, who died at the age of sixty-nine years, unmarried; Abram, who lives retired at Mountville and married Mary Kendig. deceased : Esther; Annie, the widow of Christian Kendig: David: Jacob R .; Barbara, who married Christian Frev, of Lancaster; Mary, de- ceased, who married Emanuel Herr ; and Benjamin, deceased, who married Mary Kreider.
riage he took charge of the farin of his father-in- law, as manager. and profitably operated it until 1867, when he bought his present home of the other heirs. These lands are knowu through the town- ship as very desirable, and the improvements made by the present occupant have been of the most sub- stantial character.
The marriage of Jacob R. Witmer occurred on Dec. 2, 1856, when he was united to Esther Ranck. a daughter of Samuel Ranck, a well-known miller of the locality. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Witmer are: Samuel, deceased, who married An- nie Groff and was the father of two children, Jacob G. and Amelia, who make their home with their beloved grandfather: Annie, who died at the early age of nineteen : Susan, at home; and Aaron, who i married Ida Eby, superintends the home farm and i has two children, Enos and Ada.
No family possesses the esteem of the community in a higher degree than does the Witmer family of East Lampeter township, and none are more val- tied as consistent members of the Old Mennonite Church.
WILLIAM DAGUE. One of the emphatically self-made retired farmers of Salisbury township, Lancaster county, Pa., is William Dague, who was born Sept. 18. 1830, near Cains post-office, in Salis- bury township, and has there passed his life in the pursuit of agriculture with unvarying and marked success.
His parents. David and Margaret (Ranck) Dague, were natives of Salisbury and Conestoga Valley, respectively, were agricultural people, and descended from a long line of farmers who had lived in the Keystone State for several generations. David Dague was a son of Andrew and Annie (Good) Da- gue, and his wife was a daughter of Peter and Mar-
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garet (Eckholtz) Ranck. David Dague and his wife had eight children, viz .: William : Margaret A., widow of John Glendenning, and a resident of Philadelphia; Mary E., wife of Lorenzo Hackett, of Chester county ; Lydia S., married to W. W. Lind- ville, a farmer of Salisbury township : David R., who died young ; Catherine O., wife of Evan Bustler, a farmer in East Earl township; Susan R., deceased wife of John M. Schultz; and Peter A .. a farmer at McGovernville, Pa. David Dague, the father of this family, was an extensive drover as well as farm- er, and was well known in the former capacity throughout the country districts of Lancaster and adjoining counties. He lost his wife in 1878, when she was seventy-two years of age. She died in the faith of the Lutheran Church, and her remains were interred in the Pequea Church cemetery. David Dague died in 1881.
William Dague early started out to make his way in the world. He was but fourteen years of age when, much against the wishes of his parents, he be- gan to work for the farmers of his neighborhood; he was of an independent spirit, and was desirous of earning something he could call his own and do with as he pleased. He was industrious, persistent and indefatigable, and soon won the approbation, encouragement and admiration of the farmers round about him and was never at a loss for employment at remunerative wages. He thus worked as a farm hand for eight years, then teamed for a year, and then, through his frugality and industry having saved some funds, rented and stocked land for seven years. At the end of this period he found himself prepared for embarking more extensively in agri- culture, and he purchased a forty-five-acre farm in Salisbury township, to which he afterward added an eighty-acre tract along the foot hills.
In March, 1852, Mr. Dague married Miss Su- sanna Warner, who was born in Salisbury town- ship in May, 1833, daughter of David and Susanna ( Garber) Warner, the former of whom was a farmer and died in 1861. when seventy-seven years old ; the latter died in 1864, at the same age, and their re- mains were interred in the Old Mennonite cemetery at Salisbury. They had six children, as follows : John, Jacob, Isaac, Eliza, Susanna (Mrs. Dague) and David, all now deccased. David and Eliza died unmarried. William and Susanna ( Warner) Da- gue had children as follows : Anna M., who is married to Coleman Kurtz, a farmer of Salisbury township; George N., a farmer of Salisbury town- ship, and married to Mary Mast : Ella, wife of Dil- ler Hoover, who is a farmer in Salisbury township; and Isaac W., who is married to Lillie Grist. and with his wife lives on the old homestead with his father. Mrs. Susanna (Warner) Dague was called from earth in March, 1894, deeply mourned by her husband and children. She was a devout Presby- terian and her remains were interred in the Pequea Church cemetery.
In 1890, having acquired a competency, through-
his persevering industry, skillful management and unaided personal efforts. Mr. Dague retired from the activities of life and sought the well-deserved rest he is now enjoying, surrounded by many warm- hearted friends and genial companions, as well as by his loving children who live in close proximity. Mr. Dague is a consistent member of the Presby- terian Church, to which he is a liberal contributor, and he is an ardent friend of free education, having served six years as a school director. He then re- signed, feeling that he had fully done his duty in that direction. In politics he is a Republican, but has never been ambitious for holding office. preferr- ing that others should shoulder the responsibilities and share in the vainglorious honors attached to of- ficial position. Nevertheless, Mr. Dague is a very public-spirited citizen and at all times ready to aid financially such measures as will redound to the pub- lic welfare and comfort in the way of public improve- ments. His walk through life has been such as to win the approbation of his fellow citizens, and too much credit cannot be awarded him for the upright and useful course he has so unswervingly followed.
DAVID L. PAULES, a retired farmer, was born in East Donegal township, Lancaster county, Dec. 12, 1832, son of John and Catherine ( Leber ) Paules, natives of York county, in this State.
John Paules was a cooper by trade. In 1816 he came to Marietta, where he resided three years and then removed to East Donegal township. where he engaged in tobacco growing in conjunction with coopering. He was a member of the Reformed Church, and quite prominent as a citizen, serving as supervisor of his township several years, and also at different times holding various minor offices. His wife passed away in 1882, when eighty-two years old, and his own death took place in December, 1887, at the advanced age of ninety-four years, eleven months, one day : the remains of both were interred in the Marietta cemetery. To John Paules and his wife were born ten children, namely: Elizabeth, wife of George Ebbert ; Henry, who died after mar- riage; Sarah, widow of Simon F. Albright, a black- smith of Maytown, Pa .; Jacob, who was drowned when young, in the Susquehanna river : John, who died young ; George. deceased; Mary J., who died in 1900, the wife of John Herchelroth: Franklin, who died in East Donegal township in January, 1896 ; Jolin, a tobacco farmer in Cumberland county ; and David L., of East Donegal township. The paternal grandfather of these children was Michael Paules, a farmer of York county, and the maternal grandfather was Jacob Leber, a native of Germany.
David L. Paules attended school and worked on the home farm until twenty-one years old, and at twenty-two entered a cooper shop. where he worked for some years during the winter season. In the meantime he rented farms, at one time leasing one of 250 acres, and cultivated land until 1897, when he retired, although he still does a little tobacco rais-
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ing and vegetable growing near the borough of Marietta.
Mr. Paules was united in marriage in Maytown, Feb. 28, 1852, with Miss Anna Eliza Rumbaugh, and to this union the following children have been horn: J. Lizzie, wife of George S. Bauchman, clerk for the Hazelton Iron & Coal Company; Ada M. and Sarah A., at home ; Harry P., who married Ore Ilousegal and lives in Marietta ; Elmer E., who mar- tied Matilda A. Grady and also resides in Marietta, engaged in the livery business : Dr. William R., now .f Danville, Pa., who married Florence Pieffer : John L., a druggist in Homestead, Pa., married to Ida Bertheisel; and David L., unmarried, who carries on a livery business in Marietta and lives with his parents.
Mirs. Anna E. (Rumbaugh) Paules is a native of Newville, Lancaster county, born May 9, 1832, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Davis) Rumbaugh; the former of whom was born in Perry county, Pa., and the latter on the Atlantic ocean, when her par- ents were on the voyage from Ireland to America. They were married in Maytown, Pa., where John Rumbaugh carried on his trade of wheelwright. He was assessor of East Donegal township and was hon- ored with other positions of trust. His wife died in Maytown in 1863, aged fifty-eight years and four- teen days, and Mr. Rumbaugh's death took place at the home of his son-in-law, David L. Paules, June 28, 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years. Both were members of the Lutheran Church. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rumbaugh Anna E., Mrs. D. L. Paules, is the eldest; Mary J. is the widow of H. S. Book; Amanda L. is the wife of Solon V. Landis, a retired farmer ; and Benjamin F., the youngest, a carpenter, died in 1887. The survivors live in Maytown. John Rumbaugh, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Paules, was a native of Germany, was a farmer and an early settler of Perry county, Pa. Her maternal grandparents, Michael and Bridget Davis, came from Ireland to America in 1805 and settled in Maytown, Pa .; he was a plasterer by trade.
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