Biographical annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settlers, Part 38

Author: Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899. dn; Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [Chicago, Ill.] : Beers
Number of Pages: 1186

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 38

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The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fry has been blessed by the birth of two children : Henry Jacob. born May 2, 1892; and Charles Luther, March 16. 1894. A more ideal family relation can hardly be found than that which exists in their home, Mr. Fry is as devoted to his family as to the Church, and to the great reforming and uplifting agencies of life. He is a friend of the poor and a helper to the needy. The descendant of a long line of Lutheran ancestors from the early days in the Palatinate, he wears worthily the mantle of his fathers.

VERY REV. ANTHONY F. KAUL. V. F., the founder and present popular rector of St. An- thony's Roman Catholic Church, of Lancaster. is also Dean of York and Lancaster counties, the bishop of the diocese having conferred the title of Dean upon him in Juiy, 1893. On June 13, 1894, the feast of the Patron Saint of the church, occurred his silver jubilee, commemorating the twenty-five years that had elapsed since his ordination, an event of sur- passing and memorable interest to the congregation of St. Anthony and to the community in general.

Father Kaul was born in Sinsheim. Baden, Germany, June 8, 1846, and his father, Pirmin Kaul, was born in the same locality May 20, 1808, a son of John Kaul, of French descent. Pirmin Kaul was a tailor by occupation, and he was also engaged in the manufacture of epaulets and military regalia. He was married, Nov. 28, 1830. to Miss Magdelene, daughter of George Philip Dick, Bur- gomaster of Grumbach. Baden; she was born Feb. 20, 1804. in Grumbach. Early in 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Kaul embarked on an English sailing vessel at Antwerp, and after a stormy voyage of forty- seven days landed in New York city. July 7th. Going to Philadelphia, they remained there a short

time, and then went to Reading, where they reside !! for about six months. In April, 1848, Pirmin Kau! located on a farm two miles from Adamstown. Lancaster county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until Ang. 15, 1852. From that time until 1862 he was engaged in the hotel business in Read- ing, after which he retired to private life. In 1877 he came to Lancaster, where he made his home until his death, which occurred June 5, 1883. at the ripe age of seventy-five years. Politically Pirmin Kaul was a Democrat, and in religious belief he was a Roman Catholic. Mrs. Kaul made her home with Father Kaul until a few years ago, when she was called to her reward. In her will she left a bequest for the erection of a clock in the tower of the beloved St. Anthony's church, and this clock has come to be regarded as a veritable public blessing, particularly to the people of the eastern side of the city. Of the seven children of Pirmin and Magde- lene (Dick) Kaul, all but one reached adult age. and are still living: (1) Annette became the wife of Christian Burger, of Reading, Pa .; (2) John H., a retired merchant, lives in this city: (3) Joseph. now known as Brother Leopold. is professor of music in Notre Dame University, South Bend, Ind .: (+) Mary W., housekeeper for Father Kaul. teaches painting and kindredi branches at the Sacred Heart Academy: (5) Elizabeth, now sister MI. Stanislaus, a sister of the Holy Cross and an adept in music, is Superior of the Sacred Heart Academy, Lancaster : (6) the Very Rev. Anthony F. Kaul, of Lancaster, is the youngest of the family.

Father Kaul passed his early years in the public and parochial schools at Reading, Pa. In 1862 he became a student in St. Charles Preparatory Semi- nary, Glen Riddle, Pa., which school was then under the direction of the late Bishop Shanahan. After completing the classical course Father Kaul „entered St. Charles Theological Seminary. on Eighteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia, where he pursued his philosophical and theological course. and was ordained Aug. 22. 1869, at Harrisburg, by Bishop Shanahan, first bishop of that diocese. The young priest was sent to Lancaster as assistant to the late Father F. L. Newfeld, of St. Joseph's church, arriving Sept. 24, 1869. In the spring of the following year it was decided to form a new parish from St. Jospeh's congregation, the boundary lines being set by the bishop. This comprised all east of North Water. South Queen and Strawberry streets. The church, which is located at the corner of Ann and Orange streets, was founded in April, 1870, by Father Kaul, who worked indefatigably to achieve this end. The lot on which the structure stands is 245x340 feet, and was purchased for $3,500 ; at the time it was used as a cornfield. The cornerstone was laid Aug. 14, 1870, in the presence of a large concourse. Rev. Father McGinnis, of Danville, Pa., being deputed by the late Very Rev. Bernard Keenan, administrator of the diocese

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during the absence of the bishop at the Vatican Council at Rome, to take charge of the ceremonv. For the first four years the basement was used for church services, this portion being dedicated April 9, 1871, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Shanahan. The edifice was completed and dedicated May 17, 1875. The church, which is 142 feet in length and 65 feet in width, is built of brick, and ornamented with brown stone; the buttresses are capped with the same kind of stone. The heighth of the walls above the foundation is 38 feet, while the height of the cone of the roof is about 80 feet. In the front of the church is a tower of brick about 115 feet in height, which makes the steeple the highest in the city. The building stands back some distance from and faces on Orange street, and is entered by three massive doors of solid walnut, which lead into a roomy and well-arranged vestibule. From the vestibule are doors that lead into the church, and a stairway that leads into the gallery. The audience room is decidedly the handsomest in the city; it is about 100 feet long, 63 feet wide and 50 feet high from the floor to the top of the arched ceiling. The wainscoting, pews and other woodwork are finished in walnut and ash. The chancel, which is raised four steps, is enclosed with a heavy walnut railing and carpeted with fine brussels. The ceiling is formed by a Gothic arch springing from the side walls and flattened at the top. Between the windows are heavy Gothic ribs resting in brackets and reach- ing to the flattened part of the ceiling. From each end of these massive ribs, which are beautifully frescoed, depend large drops, two feet or more in length, of handsome pattern and finished in gold. The gas fixtures comprise ten pedestal lights, being of gold and bronze, and of new and handsome design, placed in two rows, equi-distant from the middle and side aisles. On either side of the altar are scroll brackets with five burners each, and suspended from the ceiling in front of the altar hangs a large sanctuary lamp, which is kept con- stantly burning. This is surmounted by a very beautiful glass globe, rose red in color. Immediately behind the principal altar is a life-size and very excellent picture of the crucifixion, painted by the late Louis Reingruber, the well known artist of Lan- caster. On either side are paintings of equal size, representing the Nativity of Christ and the Adora- tion of the Magi. On the east and west slopes of the ceiling are portraits of all the apostles. The fourteen large oil paintings representing the stations are framed in walnut; they are copies of De Schwanden, the famous Munich artist. On either side of the sanctuary arch is an angel with outspread wings and folded hands. and above the arch is an angel holding a scroll bearing the words Ecce tabernaculum Dei. The shading of the ground work is stone color, so handsomely intermingled with brighter shades and hues, however, as to be difficult of description. Nearly every panel con- tains the picture of a saint, and around these are

·twined a perfect wilderness of arches, columns, ribs, scrolls, etc. Besides the main altar there are two other altars in the main audience room. The main altar stands within a large arched recess, at the extreme end of the church, and it is painted pure white, tipped with gold. It is eighteen feet in height from the top of the "exposition" to the base. The figure of an adoring angel stands on a pedestal on either side of the altar, while upon the top of the altar are placed six candlesticks, each nine feet three inches in heiglit. On both sides of the main altar, and a little farther to the front, are two smaller altars, also placed within handsomely frescoed arches. One is St. Mary's and the other St. Joseph's. They are of handsome design, and on them are placed respectively statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph. The lofty windows of the church are of beautiful design, and set with stained glass of many brilliant colors. The upper sash of each window contains two figures of saints. All the windows and paintings have been presented by members or friends of the parish. The three small windows above the sanctuary contain pictures of the blessed sacrament, and adoring angels are represented on either side. The gallery is in the south end of the audience room and extends entirely across it. It is supported by handsome columns and is reached by a stairway built in the vestibule of the church. The fairway and the gallery are wainscoted in solid walnut. The church has a seating capacity of 1.200 people, and cost over $60,000. The grand pipe organ is valued at $5,000, and the gold embroidered vestments were purchased at a cost of $2,000.

In the fall of 1871 a parochial school was opened in the basement of the church, with two lay teachers. and two years later the present teachers, Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind., took charge. and also opened an academy and boarding school for young ladies, known as the Sacred Heart Academy. In the spring of 1876 Father Kaul purchased a lot opposite the church, on the southeast corner of Ann and Orange streets, for $4,300, on which was erected the academy, a three-story and basement brick building, fitted out with all modern improve- ments. Every facility is afforded in this high-class and widely-known institution for the education of young ladies, the curriculum embracing not only the various branches of elementary studies, but deportment, physical culture and everything that goes to the making of perfect womanhood. Special attention is given to music and art. and every atten- tion is paid to the comfort and training of pupils- the place being noted for its homelike and elevating environments.

In the year 1872 a temporary parochial resi- dence was built to the east of the church, and in 1873 five acres of land for cemetery purposes were purchased in the extension of Orange street. In 1892 a like number of acres, adjoining the old cemetery, were bought, and this is now known as St.

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Anthony's .cemetery. In 1896, for the benefit of the young men of the parish, a commodious and finely appointed brick building of three stories and basement was erected. the first floor being used 1 as a school, the second for library purposes and the ; third for a hall, while the basement is devoted to a gymnasium.

The handsomest rectory in all Lancaster has been erected on the lot west of the church and con- nected with the church by a gallery. The various societies of the church are in a flourishing condi- tion, the most prominent of these being St. Anthony's Beneficial Society and the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin and of the Guardian Angel. The congregation now numbers about three hundred families.

In 1881 Father Kaul went to Europe. traveling extensively in Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Germany and Italy. While in Rome he had an interview with Pope Leo XIII, from whom he received the papal blessing, and upon his return to his congregation conferred it upon them. In 1886 he made a second trip to Europe, passing most of his time in Germany; and in 1900, his eyesight having become seriously impaired, he again made a voyage to Europe, this time to consult specialists.

Such is a brief and necessarily imperfect · glimpse of Father Kaul, his ancestry, and the parish which he founded, and which he has nourished into its present grand proportions. To tell the complete story of his noble life and work would in itself All a volume. He has been interested in the general welfare of Lancaster also, and was one of the active promoters of the Eastern Market-of such great benefit to the eastern part of the city. The appreciation of his work-as well as of Father Kaul personally-was fully attested when, in 1900, he made the trip to Europe to consult noted oculists ; prayers were uttered by every lip for a safe return and a full restoration of health and cyesight. and this alone showed how deep a hold he had on the hearts of the people, regardless of denomination.

JOHN ROLAND, formerly both a stationary engineer and a farmer, with his residence in West Hempfield township, Lancaster county, Pa .. was born in the Rhine province of Prussia. June 19. 1833. to Adolph and Gertrude (Steimel) Roland.

The Roland family came to America in 1852 and for two months lived in New Jersey, whence with only two dollars among them they came to Lancas- ter county and located at Chestnut Hill, in West Hempfield township, where they remained until 1862, when, with the exception of John. they moved to Columbia, near which city the father was em- ployed in farming. The father. Adolph Roland, died in Columbia in Mav, 1864, when seventy years old, and the mother. Gertrude (Steimel) Roland, died in 1850. aged seventy-one years, and the re- mains of both were interred in the Catholic ceme- tery at Columbia, as they had been devout members

of that church during the entire period of their earthly pilgrimage. Their marriage was blessed with the following children: Margaret, deceased wife of John Daker; Christina, wife of Harmon Wegand, of Columbia : John : Theodore, a coal mer- chant in Columbia : Helen, deceased wife of W. [. Shaffer, a druggist of Philadelphia: Rev. Frank. who was studying for the priesthood, but died at Vincent College : and Feronigal, who died young in New York.

John Roland began working for himself in 1853, in the ore banks in West Hempfield township for the New York Iron Ore Company and continued with this company until April. 1884, when he pur- chased his present farm of thirty-seven acres.

On April 27, 1863, John Roland married Agnes Sheit in Lancaster and to this union there were born twelve children, in the following order: Theodore, a stationary engineer at Columbia : John, who died voung : Peter, a music dealer in Columbia ; Eliza- beth, in Lancaster : Andrew, who died at the age of twenty years: Joseph, who died young; Mary. in Lancaster : Agnes and Barbara, at home: William, in Columbia : Clara, at home; and Charles, "who died young.

Mrs. Agnes (Sheit) Roland, like her husband, was born in the Rhine province of Prussia, her birth occurring May 5, 1840, and her parents be- ing Peter and Elizabeth (Caber) Sheit, who came to America in 1850. and settled in Lancaster com- ty, Pa., where the father died in 1872, and the mother in 1888, the latter at the age of seventy- eight. To Peter and Elizabeth Sheit were born four children, viz: Agnes. named above; Catherine. die- ceased : Anna, deceased, and Barbara, wife of John Kirch, of Lancaster.

Mr. Roland has made a success of life and by strict integrity and industrious habits has secured a competency. Besides his farm he owns other property in West Hempfield township, and pros- perity attends his every effort. He and his family are devoted members of the Catholic Church, to the support of which they ever contribute most liber- ally ; in politics Mr. Roland is a Republican, but has never been willing to accept public office.

ALFRED H. WORREST, son of Henry W. and Hannalı (Sweigart) Worrest, was born July 28, 1855, in Salisbury township, Lancaster county, Pa. Henry W. Worrest, a son of Peter and Margaret ( Fierree) Worrest, the former a farmer, was born at Parkesburg. Chester Co., Pa .. in 1822, and died in 1884. Hannah (Sweigart) Worrest, daughter of Isaac and Leah ( Reidenbaugh) Sweigart, farming people, was born near New Holland. Lancaster Co .. Pa., in 1825, and died in 1808. Alfred H. Worrest comes of two of the old families of this section. both his grandfathers having operated teams between Philadelphia and Pittsburg, Pa., before the days of railroads. Some of the family have dropped the "re" and spell the name Worst.'

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Henry W. Worrest, father of Alfred H., was well and favorably known in the district in which he lived. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, his wife was a Lutheran; both are buried in St. John's cemetery, Compassville, Chester Co., Pa. Their children were as follows: Alfred H., living in Lancaster, Pa .; Harry, deceased; Charles S., a farmer, living in Nebraska ; Miss Lizzie L. and Miss Annie M., of Pequea, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.

Until he was twenty-one years of age Mr. Wor- rest remained with his father, assisting on the farm, and receiving remuneration in board and clothes. Any time that he could get off from the farm work was spent in selling agricultural implements to the farmers of the neighborhood. The following year he was employed by his uncle. John P. Sweigart, at the "Mansion House" at Gap, Lancaster Co., Pa. The succeeding two years he spent in raising to- bacco and selling agricultural implements, having as- sociated himself the second year with his cousin, T. K. Sweigart, under the firm name of Worrest & Sweigart, Pequea, Pa. They then soid a full line of these implements. This firm was dissoived in 1882, by mutual consent, Mr. Worrest having accepted a position with the Genesee Valley Manufacturing Company, of Mt. Morris, N. Y., to represent them as general agent for eastern Pennsylvania and adjoin- ing States. This position he held for eight years, during which time he invented what is known as the Royal Fertilizer Feeder for grain drills, and which is used by this company on their drills, they having a license under the patents to manufacture it. After severing his connection with the above mentioned company Mr. Worrest settled on a farm in Glenloch, Chester Co., Pa. During that year he sold the farm to Henry Geisse, and the following spring returned to Lancaster, accepting a position with the Deering Harvester Company, of Chicago, Ill., and remain- ing with them one season, representing them in Lan- caster, Chester and Delaware counties, Pa. In this year ( 1891) he invented the safety buggy, which he had manufactured for him by D. A. Altick's Son, of Lancaster, under the name of the Safety Buggy Works, and which he sold for three years. During this period he had been several times approached on the subject of forming a stock company to manufac- ture the Safety Buggy on a larger scale, which proposition he accepted in 1894, and the Safety Bug- gy Company, of Lancaster, Pa., was organized. The concern has one of the largest, if not the largest, car- riage works in Lancaster county . for five years Mr. Worrest was manager of and a director in the com- pany, when the business was sold to B. G. Dodge, who has continued in its management.

After this Mr. Worrest invented the Standard Shaft and Pole Coupler, and the Standard Body Loop, both of which are for use in the construction of carriages. The Coupler he manufactured and sold under the name of the Standard Coupler Works, Lancaster, Pa. The Body Loop is made by the Keystone Forging Company, of Northumberland,

Pa., who manufacture it under the patents and a license from Mr. Worrest. In Icoo the Coupler business having grown beyond the expectation of the inventor, it was bought by the Metal Stamping Company, of New York City, for a cash considera- tion and a royalty on the future sales during the term of the patents. Both of these inventions are well known to the carriage trade and have very large sales. At this writing Mr. Worrest is busily en- gaged in introducing his latest. and what he consid- ers his best, invention, "The Standard Ball Axle," for carriages and all other vehicles.

At the parsonage of St. John's Episcopal Church, of Compassville, Pa., by Rev. Mr. Tuilidge, Alfred H. Worrest was united in marriage with Katherine F. Wanner, who was born July 17, 1859, in Salisbury township, Lancaster county, Pa .. daughter of Martin and Martha ( Mast) Wanner. farming people of Salisbury township. Children as follows bave been born to this union : Minnie E., Grace E. ( deceased ), Elsie M., Edgar W., Harry ( who died in infancy), Warren W. and Howard A.

Mr. Worrest was reared in the faith of the Epis- copal Church, of which his daughters are communi- cants, and of which he is a supporter. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, while fraternally he is associated with the Knights of Malta : I. O. O. F .: Tr. O. U. A. M .: and K. of P. His genius has made him known to the manu- facturing world over a large territory. At his home he is still the quiet, studious man, whom his friends have known for years as the good neighbor and first-class citizen, ever anxious for the welfare of family, city and State.

DAVID GRAEFF, an eminently respected cit- izen of Columbia, is a retired machinist. Born Feb. 18, 1821, he has reached the venerable age of four score and two years, and is passing the evening of his well-spent life in ease and contentment. His father, who died in 1825, at the early age of twenty- six, was likewise named David, and was a descend- ant of a family of Swiss emigrants, who formed a portion of a colony of thirteen families that settled in Pequea Valley as early as 1,02. His mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Pratt. was a> daughter of James and Stabina (Stauffer) Fratt; she passed away in 1878, in her eighty-third year. James Pratt was an Englishman by birth, while his wife was a native of Lancaster.

After the death of his father young David, who was an only child, was apprenticed when a boy of fifteen years by his guardian. Daniel Zahn, to Mi- chael Ehrman, a brass founder of Lancaster. Mr. Graeff vet has the articles of indenture, which he prizes highly. His term of apprenticeship covers a period of five years, two months and twenty-six days. and in consideration of his services he re- ceived the sum of ten pounds, and was given the privilege of attending school for sixteen months. . After the expiration of his term, the young man's

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love of adventure led him to enlist in the United States navy, and he shipped from Philadelphia as a landsman, being later transferred to the "North Car- olina," then lying in the port of New York. After fourteen mouths he met with an accident which so disabled him that he was compelled to leave the service on Jan. 29, 1843. Returning to Lancaster, he began working at his trade, which he followed as a journeyman for about five years, and then spent another year in charge of the city water works. On April 1, 1850, he removed to Columbia. and estab- lished a brass foundry which he conducted for four years, when he disposed of it and began working as a machinist. In 1864 he entered the machine shop of the Pennsylvania railroad, but left this posi- tion after five years to become an engineer in a fur- nace. Three years later he accepted a position in the machine shop of Supplee & Bro., but within a few years returned to the employ of the railroad Graeff. Mrs. Graeff is one of six children born to company. He continued in that service until Jan. 1, 1900, when his long years of faithful service were rewarded by retirement upon a pension. He is a communicant in the Episcopal Church, and inde- pendent in politics.

At Lancaster, Pa., David Graeff married Chris- tiana Lorentz, who bore him three children: Marv C., John H. and Emma E. The oldest daughter, now deceased, married the late Cyrus G. Hinkle, an engi- neer on the Pennsylvania railroad, who lost his life in an accident. John H., the only son, is also a rail- road engineer, and a brief sketch of his life may be found below. Emma E., the youngest daughter, is unmarried, and lives with her parents.

Mrs. Graeff was born in Lancaster. Pa., Jan. I, 1820, a daughter of John and Magdeline ( Metzgar) Lorentz, and a granddaughter of John Lorentz, Sr. at the age of fifty, and the mother survived him until 1855. when, at Columbia. she, too. entered into rest, having lived to pass the seventy-fifth anniversary of her birth. They were members of the Reformed and Lutheran Churches, respectively. Twenty-one children were born of their union, but owing to im- perfections in the family records, the names of only a few of them can be given : Sarah, Jacob. John (all deceased), Harry, William, Mary, Leah, Eva and Christiana. Mrs. Graeff's maternal grandfa- ther, Jacob Metzgar, accompanied his parents from Germany to America when a bov of ten years.

John H. Graeff, the only son of David and Christiana (Lorentz) Graeff, was born in Colum- bia, Jan. 25, 1852. He attended school until eigh- teen years old, and then began work in the shops of the railroad company. After two years thus spent he took a position as locomotive fireman, and in less than four years was promoted to fill the hazardous and responsible position of engineer. He yet remains in the company's employ, honored and trusted by his superiors, beloved by his fellowmen, popular in the community in which he was reared, and universally esteemed because of his manly traits

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Biographical annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settlers, Part 38

Author: Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899. dn; Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1903 Publisher: [Chicago, Ill.] : Beers Number of Pages: 1186

Author: Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899. dn; Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [Chicago, Ill.] : Beers
Number of Pages: 1186