Biographical annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settlers, Part 45

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 45

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The military experiences of Mr. Parthemer were creditable both to his manhood and patriotic devo- tion. Oct. 9. 1861, he enlisted as a member of Co. I. 93d P. V. I. When his term of three years had ex- pired he re-enlisted in January, 1864. and served throughout the war. He was seriously wounded three times. In the battle of Winchester he received his first wound while engaged in that conflict under command of Gen. Sheridan, but he remained with his company. His second wound was received in the battle of Cedar Creek, and though severely wounded in the foot, he remained on the line of battle and did his full duty as a soklier. His third and most serious injury was received in the trenches in front of Peters- burg, March 25. 1865, when the bone of his right leg was splintered by a bullet, and three pieces of the

bone were removed at City Point Hospital. Wh .:: he was able to travel he went home and was treated by his family physician. Mr. Parthemer entered the service as a private and was mustered out as a lieu- tenant. June 27, 1855.

Mr. Parthemer at once applied himself to the ar .. of peaceful life on his return from the army. For a vear or more he ran individual cars between Harris- burg and Elizabethport. N. T., and was employed in ? stone quarry two years, and then began farming on Duffy's Island. as noted above. Mr. Parthemer ha- been school director three years, and was president of the board one year. In 1895 he was elected to the town council, and has been re-elected to that position. In the spring of igot he was chosen a member of the United States jury, and sat in that body at Phila- cielphia for three weeks. He is a member of the Church of God, and is a Republican in his politics. An honorable and straightforward man, he has achieved a fair measure of success in life, and rich!y deserves whatever good fortune has come to him.

SAMUEL ELLIOTT. wholesale and retail ice dealer in Lancaster, is one of the city's prominent and prosperous business men. He was born in Lan- caster. Dec. 23, 1847, son of James and Elizabeth: (Ewing) Elliott.

James Elliott, the father. boru Oct. 16, 1808, was a successful agriculturist and operated a number of excellent farms in Lancaster county, one of these being that belonging to President James Buch- anan. in Lancaster township. He died in 1854. at the age of forty-seven years. his widow sur- viving until 1893. when she had reached the age of eighty-two years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were members of the Presbyterian Church. They were buried among the beautiful surroundings of Wood- ward Hill cemetery. Their children were: Jane, died unmarried : Margaret, who married Sheaffer Metzgar, of Lancaster: Rebecca, who is the widow of Henry Shuitz ; Findly, who was married to Eliza- berh Hildebrand. of Strasburg, who later died. and he then married Catherine Mathiot, of Strasburg. Lancaster county ; Maria, deceased, wife of Thomas Scott : and Samuel.

Mr. Elliott spent his boyhood in his native city and was instructed in her excellent schools. He wn: engaged in teaming from the age of twenty-three years until 1872, when he embarked in the ice business which he has conducted with excellent judgment and good success ever since, carrying on both wholesale and retail lines. He is progressive in his methods and has fine accommodations to meet the demands of the public.

On Sept. 16, ISTS. Mr. Elliott was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Myers, born in Nes York City, Sept. 9, 1847, daughter of John and Catherine ( Bream) Myers, of Germany. Mr. Myers made a trip to America alone, soon after his marriage, to benefit his health, and finding the cli- .mate agrecable, he returned to Germany and canwe

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back with his wife, locating in New York City where he carried on the business of a shoe merchant. In 1851 he removed to Lancaster and after the death of his wife Jan. 21, 1878, at the age of sixty-four years. he took a trip to the West, remaining for a period of three years. His death took place in 1890, at the age of seventy-nine years, and both he and his wife were buried in the Lancaster cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Myers had three children, namely: George G., who is a justice of the peace, in Coatesville, Pa. ; Gus- tavius, who conducts a barber business in Lancas- ter : and Josephine, who became Mrs. Elliott.

Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have had a family of three children, namely: John F., born Oct. 28, 1879, who died in 1895, at the age of fifteen years. eleven months and twelve days : Samuel G., born Nov. 12, 1881, who married Miss Hazel Rote and is engaged in the ice business in Lancaster : and Florence E.,. born Nov. 20, 1883, at home. The religious con- nection of the family is with the Trinity Lutheran Church, to which Mrs. Elliott is a liberal contrib- utor. In politics Mr. Elliott is a staunch Democrat, but no office seeker, attending to the demands of his increasing business with such close attention that he finds little time for the political field. However, Mr. Elliott takes a great interest in the progress and development of his city and her resources, and fa- vors those enterprises which prove to be worthy.

WILLIAM C. ARMSTRONG, the popular and successful proprietor of the "Quarryville Hotel." at Quarryvillle, Lancaster county, was born in West Ontario, Canada, May 26, 1843, and is a son of Jolin and Jane Armstrong, natives of the North of Ire- land and of Scotland, respectively. They were mar- ried in Ireland, and came to Canada in 1836, and be- gan their career in the New World on a farm where their industry. thrift and integrity soon brought them to the front, bringing them into wide recognition as prosperous and successful. The father died in 1884, and his widow two years later. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, and his wife of the Metho- dist.

To Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong were born the fol- lowing children: Robert, now of California : John J., of Canada: David, a lumberman in Canada : George, deceased: William C .; Johnston. deceased ; Margaret J., the wife of Mr. Pierce, of Canada ; Ir- win, of Canada : two who died in infancy.

William C. Armstrong received a somewhat limited education when a bov. and began life as a blacksmith in London, Canada. After working a while there and in other Canadian cities, in 1861 he sought work in Rochester, N. Y. : for some time he worked in that city and in New York, and then went to Nashville, Tenn .. where he followed his trade. In 1864 he came to York county, Pa., where he worked at his trade until 1808. There he married Sallie E., the estimable daughter of 'Squire James Johnston, of York. Mrs. Armstrong was born in 1843, in York county, and was educated in the home schools.

She was one of eight children born to her parents ; Nancy Johnston, the widow of Thomas MeMasters : York county : Mary, the wife of James Maxton, of York county : James, a veteran of the Civil war, and now a resident of Lebanon, Pa. : Sallie E. ; Samuel, a farmer on the old homestead; John, a farmer in York county ; William, deceased ; Hugh, a farmer of York county.

William C. Armstrong settled at Oxford, Ches- ter county, where he engaged in work as a black- smith some eight years, and in addition took charge of a livery stable there which he purchased, for some eight years, doing a profitable business in horses also. In 1886 lie purchased the large hotel in Ox- ford, where he engaged as a hotel man until 1807. Then he spent about a year on his farm in Russell- ville. In 1898 he became the proprietor of the "Quarryville Hotel." where he is still carrying on what has proved a very profitable hotel venture. To him and his good wife have come five children, two of whom died young. Those living are: William, who is married and has one daughter, Violet, born in Chester county in 1896: Ross is unmarried and at home : Florence. the only daughter, is a young wo- man of much culture and refinement, and is greatly loved and admired for her many good qualities, her generous disposition and kindly nature having made her many friends among the guests of the hotel as well as among the people of the town. Mrs. Am- strong and her daughter Florence, belong to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Armstong and both his sons are Republicans and take an active interest in party politics. Aside from his very successful career as a hotel man, Mr. Armstrong has given much thought and care to fine horses, and he has handled soine of the finest track horses in the State. "Gor- don H.," the noted stallion, with a national reputa- tion, is owned by him, as well as several other noted flyers on the speedway.

BENJAMIN K. LONG. Connected with the agricultural life of Lancaster county, Pa., since 1729, the Long family have the right to be termed one of the oldest and best known in this part of the State of Pennsylvania.

The great-grandfather of Benjamin K. Long was Herman Long, the founder of the family in America, who came to this country from Switzer- land, and located in Lancaster county, where he purchased a large tract of land, in East Hempfield township. a part of this now being contained in the town of Landisville. Just east of this property lay the old Long homestead, which was purchased in 1737, consisting of 350 acres, and the greater por- tion of this valuable land is still in the possession of the Long family. Benjamin K. being the fortunate owner of ninety-four acres, and Herman H. Long, son of John K. Long, deceased, the owner of sev- enty-one acres.

John Long, grandfather of Benjamin K., suc- ceeded to this large estate, and left part of it to his

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son Abraham, who was born April 20, 1778, and here he conducted a distillery in connection with his farming operations. He married Anna Kauffman, a daughter of Christian Kauffman, Feb. 14, 18II, who was born Dec. 4. 1792. and who died Dec. 18, 1870. The father died Dec. 28, 1846. Abraham Long and wife reared the following children: (1) Abraham K. married. Jan. 20. 1838, Susan Huber, and died Jan. 14, 1843, leaving no children. (2) Christian K. married, Nov. 25. 1847, Anna Hie- stand, and died Aug. 30. 1896, the father of six children, as follows: Mary, deceased : Matilda, who married Christian Nissiev, and lives in Rapho township : Abraham H., who married Emma Mev- ers, and lives in East Hempfield township: Lizzie. who married Elias Herr, of Manor township; Christian H., of Landisville, Pa. ; and Hiram, de- ceased. (3) John K. married. Jan. 9, 1849. Eliza- beth Miller, and died May il. 187, the father of two children : Herman H., who married Lillie Hoarr, and lives in East Hempfield township ; and Fannie P., of Landisville. (1) Benjamin K. is the subject proper of this sketch. (50) Susan married. Nov. II, I841. Jacob H. Hershey, and died Oct. 18. 1898, the mother of six children . Emilia. deceased wife of Levi H. Shenk, of Rapho township : Was ington, who married Sarah Detweiler at Marietta. Lancaster county; Abraham, who married Fannie Mellinger, and resides at Silver Spring, West Hempfield township; Webster. who married Cath- arine Zoog, and lives in East Hempfield township : Benjamin, who married Lizzie Gamber, and resides at Silver Spring : and Horace, deceased. (6) Anna was married Nov. 11. 1841, to Samuel Nissley. and she died Nov. 15, 1863. Ten children were born of this union: Harriet, wife of Jacob Hostetter, of Penn township: Jonas, who married Anna Charles. and makes his home in Manor township : Abraham. who wedded a Miss Smith, and now lives in East Hempfield township: Samuel, of Drumore town- ship, who married Ellen Hershey : Herman. of Har- risburg, who wedded a lady from Mechanicsburg. Pa .: Benjamin, who married Anna Hostetter, and now lives in East Hempfield township: Frank, who married Lillie Hoffman, and also lives in East Hempfield township: Henry Lincoln, a resident of Illinois, who married a Miss Johnson. a French Canadian from Montreal, Canada : and Ellen and John, both deceased. (7) Fannie was married Dec. 20, 1849, to Jacob B. Landis (a business man of Mt. Joy, who died in July, 1863). and became the mother of seven children. as follows: Benjamin, re- siding at Erie, Pa., who married Emma Busser : Eilen : Aaron, Abraham. Wesley and Jacob, all four deceased ; and Lemuel. a resident of Lancaster city. who married Susan Swartly. (8) Maria married Abraham Perry, of Lancaster, and has one daugh- ter, Anna.

Benjamin K. Long has always followed farm- ing. continuing to be actively engaged until 188~ when he retired, and since then has lived in the quiet

enjoyment of a sufficient competency. Benjamin Long has never married, but his sister, Mrs. Landis, makes her home with him, as her surviving children. have homes of their own.

Before taking up religion Benjamin Long was an active Republican, and the principles of that party he has always considered the best. The re- ligious connection of himself and sister is with the Reformned Mennonite Church, where both are highly esteemed.

LEVI ELLMAKER, Eso., one of the best known members of the Lancaster Dar, belongs to one of Lancaster's oldest and most prominent fam- ilies, and their history is given in the sketches of Mr. Ellmaker's father and his brothers, the late Nathaniel Ellmaker, Esq., and Dr. Thomas Ell- maker, elsewhere in these annals.

Levi Ellinaker was born in the old Ellmaker home on North Duke street ( where John D. Skiles' tobacco warehouse now stands ) Feb. 22, 1836. After attending private and public schools in Lancaster, in his boyhood, he was sent to the West Chester Academy, spending three years there, and three years at the College of St. James, in Maryland. He then went for a time to Yale. After leaving college Mr. Ellmaker went to Colebrook Furnace, Lebanon county, with the Colemans, remaining there thrce years. then spent two years in Kansas, and returned to Lancaster, arriving here in December. 1858. In February, 1859, he engaged in the coal business at Prince and Lemon streets, continuing there until April. 1866. His next business enterprise was the purchase of an interest in the Susquehanna Roll- ing Mill, at Columbia, and after that he read law with his brother, the late Nathaniel Ellmaker, and was admitted to practice in April. 1876. After be- ing engaged in active practice with his brother for some years, failing eyesight compelled him to abandon general practice, and to confine himself to Orphans' Court practice, in which he is engaged at present.

Although an ardent Republican since 1856, Mr. Ellmaker has never accepted-and certainly never sought-public office, although political preferment has been within casy reach of himself and his brother, Nathaniel. Neither wouki accept political office because. at the death of their father, a paper was left by him in which he admonished his sons never to seek nor accept political office, and they respected the admonition. In his earlier manhood Mr. Ellmaker was active in Masonry, having be- longed to Lodge No. 43, and Commandery No. 13. Religiously he affiliates with the First Presbyterian Church, having been a pew holder there for an ordinary life time.

Mr. Ellmaker was married. Jan. 13, 1859. to Miss Elizabeth, third daughter of the late Robert D. Carson, who was cashier of the Lancaster County Bank. Four children were born of this union, Mary, Elizabeth Elder, Susan Carson, and Amos,

LEllmaken

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Mary and Amos entering into rest in early child- hood.

Possessed of fine conversational powers, fond of reminiscence, and withal of a most genial, kindly nature, Mr. Ellmaker naturally has hosts of friends, and is as popular professionally as he is socially.

JOSIAH HERSHEY, a well-known retired farmer of Salisbury township, is a worthy repre- sentative of a highly esteemed family that has been known to Pennsylvania since 1719, when three brothers came to America from their home in Swit- zerland, and located in Lancaster county.

Joseph Hershey, the grandfather of Josiah IIer- shey, was for many years a prominent bishop in the Mennonite Church, and in his life faithfully en- deavored to follow the rules of the faith he pro- fessed. He made his home in Salisbury township, and when he died in [855, at the age of sixty-four, his remains were laid to rest on a part of his farm, set aside as the Hershey burying ground. His wife. who in her maidenhood was Magdalena Roop, lived to the advanced age of ninety years, and was laid to rest at her husband's side. Their children were as follows: Jacob R., mentioned below ; Christian, who died at the age of eighteen years: John, who died young: Abraham; Barbara, who became the wife of David Hoover, and is now deceased, and Anna, who died young.

Jacob R. Hershey grew to manhood on his father's farm, and made farming his occupation through life. Brought up in a Christian home, he early professed his faith, and became a preacher in the Mennonite Church. For forty-two years he has been en expounder of the doctrines of that sect, and has lived so as to lead his flock by example as well as by precept. He is greatly beloved in the com- munity where he is so well known, and his advice is ever followed with unfailing fidelity. He married Margaret Eby, daughter of Peter Eby, whose wife was a member of the Weaver family. ( For sketch of Eby family, see sketch of Bishop Peter Ebv else- where). To their union were born nine children, of whom we have the following record: Josiah. our subject : Magdalena, wife of John R. Buckwalder, of Kinzers, Pa. : Peter, who went West, and has not since been heard from ; Ephraim, a farmer of Salis- bury township : Mary, who married Christian Metz- ler, a farmer of Paradise township : Jacob, a farmer in Salisbury township: Susan, wife of John S. Rohrer, a farmer of Salisbury township : Lizzie, who died young : and Margaret, deceased.

Josiah Hershey was born Oct. 24, 1839, and he remained with his parents on the farm in Salisbury until his marriage, when he moved to a farm about one mile distant, and there resided about twenty- five years. He then removed to Chester county. Pa., and engaged in farming there for nine years, after which he passed three years at Gap, Lancaster county, and two years more in Chester county. The years passed in Lancaster county in his youth and . Refton, Pensylvania.

carly manhood had formed ties time could not break, and when he retired from active work in 1900, he returned to his native town and purchased forty- five acres of land, still, however, retaining his Ches- ter county farm of 154 acres.

On Ang. 2, 1859, Mr. Hershey was married, at Reading, Pa., to Mary A. Hershey, and this union has been blessed with children, as follows: Abby, who married Francis Lennock, and died at the age of thirty-one, leaving seven children ; Magdalena, who married Isaac S. Rohrer, of Kinzers, Pa., and has four children : Elizabeth, who married Addison M. Groff. of Lancaster, and has four chil- (Iren (he is engaged in the poultry business ) : Margaret. who fell into a tank of water and was drowned at the age of twenty months; Jo- seph I., at home: Maggie, who died at the age of eighteen months: Peter E., a farmer of Chester county, who married Theresa Derringer, and has three children: Josiah W., who is engaged in the hardware business at Gap, and who married Gert- rude Townsend, by whom he has two children ; Dr. George B., of Salisbury, mentioned elsewhere in this volume: and Naomi, Ruth and Samuel, who all three died in infancy. Mrs. Mary A. ( Hershey) Hershey was born in Upper Leacock township, Nov. 14, 1840. a daughter of Jacob F. and Christina (Dair) Hershey, the former a farmer and miller, who entered into rest Oct. 1, 1896, aged seventy- nine years. and the latter of whom died in April, 1896, at the same age. They were both buried in Hershey's cemetery in Salisbury township. Their children were: John B., a farmer of Salisbury township: Mary A .. Mrs. Hershey ; Emanuel, a farmer and miller of Chester county, Pa. ; Amanda, wife of j. B. Cadwell, of Philadelphia, Pa .; Jacob H., of Philadelphia; and Ada E., wife of Taylor Worst. of Philadelphia. The family were brought up in the Mennonite faith.

Jacob F. Hershey, father of Mrs. Mary A. : ( Hershey) Hershey was a son of John and Eliza- beth (Frantz) Hershey, farming people of Lan- caster cousty. Mrs. Christina ( Bair) Hershey was a daughter of Joel and Mary ( Wolf) Bair, farmers ; and slave owners of considerable prominence.

Josiah Hershey, our subject, has been a man ac- tive in public affairs wherever he lived. During. his residence in Chester county, he efficiently served as supervisor, and for three years was a school di- rector. In politics he is a staunch Republican. Like his father and grandfather before him, he is a Men- nonite in religious faith. Upright and honorable in all his dealings, charitable in his judgments, he is highly esteemed by all who know him.

ANDREW HERR. Among the prominent and substantial farmer citizens of Strasburg township, who for many years has been one of the progressive and successivi men of this locality, is Andrew Herr, who resides upon a fine estate one mile north of

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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY

Andrew Herr was born in West Lampeter town- ship, on a farm which adjoins the one he now occu- pies, March 10, 1841, a son of Elias and Elizabeth (Hershey) Herr, the former of whom was a son of Rev. Christian Herr, who, in turn, was a son of Rev. Christian Herr, the family being an old one in this county. Elias Herr was born in May, 1804, and died Oct. 11, 1881. He started on his business career on the farm in West Lampeter township where our present subject was born, where he be- came the owner of a farm of 100 acres, upon which he erected a distillery, which he conducted for many years, later opening up and operating two other distilleries in Strasburg township. This busi- ness proved very remunerative and as time went on he increased his landed possessions until he had four fine farms in West Lampeter and in Strasburg townships, and wood lands in Martic township, ag- gregating many hundreds of acres. In addition to this property he bought land both in the South and West. Elias Herr was a man of more than or- dinary business ability, and while others were willing to quietly cultivate the soil and enjoy its yield, he was ever on the alert to develop every part of his land. and to make it just as productive as the farming por- tion. Hence, when he found a deposit of lime on his property he engaged in lime burning, which business grew to large dimensions, and for many years yielded considerable income. The lime proved to be of a fine white quality, and readily sold over a great extent of territory. This business is still car- ried on by his sons, and is handled by the Phila- delphia & Reading Railroad. As a man of known probity he was called upon to administer many estates, and was known far beyond his own county. His connection with the Mennonite Church had been of many years standing.

The first marriage of Elias Herr was to Eliza- beth Hershey, who died in 1848, leaving five chil- dren: Jeremiah, who resides in West Lampeter township : Mary Ann, who married Rev. Elias Groff. of Strasburg township: Andrew, of this biography : Elias, who resides in Limeton, Warren Co., Va .. engaged in the lime business: and Benjamin F., of Lancaster, who is the agent for the Ephrata Min- eral Springs water. The second marriage of Elias Herr was to Catherine Hershey, a sister of his for- mer wife, but she, too, passed away. her death oc- curring in 1862. His third union was with Mar- garet Weaver, who died in 1893.

Andrew Herr was reared on the farm and at- tended the district schools of West Lampeter, and remained at home, assisting his father, until his marriage, in 1863, when he located upon the farm which he still occupies. This land required much improvement and ever since locating upon Mr. Herr has been adding to its value. In 1864 he erected the residence which at that time was con- sidered to be both commodious and convenient. but times have changed, and now Mr. Herr has one of the most comfortable and attractive residences in

the county, the remodeling having been done in 1900. Modern improvements have been introduced and now there is no more agreeable country home in the county. After Mr. Herr located on this place he turned his attention entirely to farming, and umil I880 engaged in no other business, but at that time took charge of the lime kilns which had been oper- ated by his brother, Benjamin F. Herr. and since that time has carried on both lines of business. The lime kilns are valuable property, the out- put since 1867 having been about 50.000 bushels, and all of it is of the highest quality, being burned exclusively with wood. The home farm of Mr. Herr contains Io acres and he also owns the one adjoining on the west, of 152 acres, and recently purchasing twenty more acres, he has divided his whole property into three farms. He has erected new buildings on the third farm, and has builtel the house of brick. as are the houses on the other two farms. Andrew Herr is also the owner of a tract of seventy acres of wood land in Martic township, and thirty-eight acres in Providence township and also two small tenant properties, all of these combined, with his other in- terests, making him one of the most substantial men in the township. Although a man of wealth and prominence, he is of quiet and unassuming manner, and is valued as a good neighbor and kind friend.

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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 45

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