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 47
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Eli M1. Musser was a member of the River Breth- ren Church, and had served as a deacon in that con- munion two years at the time of his death. Mr. Musser was one of the prominent people of the township, and displayed those manly qualities so well worthy of commemoration. -
JOHN N. WOODS. The Woods and the Mc- Causland families, from whom descended John N. Woods, of Salisbury township, were among the carly settlers of Lancaster county. Two brothers. Thomas and Adam Woods, emigrated to America and lo- cated in Lancaster county, F'a., in Leacock township, near Intercourse, about 1743, the McCausland emi- grants having come some time carly in the eighteenthi century. Thomas married Mary Scott. from near Conestoga Creek, and Adam married Margaret Montgomery. The latter had no children, but Thomas reared nine of the twelve born to him. All of his daughters married in other localities. One son. Adam, left home and located in Kentucky where he amassed a fortune, but never married. David, the eldest son of Thomas Woods, married Ant McCaus- land. and they became the grandparents of John N. Woods.
William McCausland, grandfather of the wife of David Woods, married Jane Burney, a native of Ireland who inherited land in the northern part of that country, and they emigrated to America on ac- count of religious persecution. They brought with them six of their children, leaving the eldest son. John, to finish his apprenticeship to the wheelwright trade. The second son was Alexander, and soon af- ter reaching this country, he was placed by his parents in the classical school kept by Dr. Allison. who was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, located on Washington Square. Later Alexander McCausland became a well-known physican. and married Dr. Allison's daughter.
John N. Woods, a retired farmer and highly esteemed citizen of Gap. Pa., is a worthy represent- ative of these fine, sturdy. self-respecting old fam- ilies. He was born Oct. 15, 1839, in Leacock town- ship. a son of T. Scott and Caroline (Cooper) Woods, the latter of whom was born on the farm now occupied by Scott Woods, Jr., but owned by our subject. This farm was bought in 1741 from William Penn, by John Cooper, and inherited from him by his son Col. John Cooper, who at his death left it to his son. also named John, who was the father of Mrs. Caroline (Cooper) Woods. Upon the death of John Cooper. in 1844, the farm passed out of the name of Cooper through its inhier- itance by Mrs. Woods. From Mrs. Woods it came into the possession of her son. John N. Woods,
whose desire is to have it remain in the family through his sons and their descendants. By mar- ringe Mr. Woods' family is connected with Colonel David Watson, a Revolutionary soldier of distinc- tion, through whom Miss Grace, daughter of our subject, is a member of Donegal Chapter, Daugh- ters of the Revolution.
T. Scott Woods, the father of John N., was not only a well-known and substantial farmer in Para- dise township, but was one of the leading citizens of the county. He was one of the founders and also a director of the First National Bank of Lancaster. held all of the township offices of note, and for two terms was the efficient director of the County Poor Farm. He died in 1874. at the age of sixty-nine vears. His wife, Caroline Cooper, had preceded him, in 1843, at the age of forty-three years, and both were buried in the cemetery attached to the old Leacock Presbyterian Church, of which religious body they had been consistent members. Their chil- (iren were as follows: David, who was killed in 1875, in a railroad wreck: John N., of this sketch ; and N. Milton, who is a resident of Paradise town- ship and president of the First National Bank, of Lancaster.
john N. Woods was raised on his father's farm, and like all farmers' sons of that day and generation was taught that labor was as honorable as it was necessary. He attended the district schools in his neighborhood for a time, and was then sent to a school in Lititz taught by Mr. John Beck. This was followed by a course in the Mt. Joy Academy, after which he finished his education in Benjamin Hallowell's Academy, in Alexandria, Va. After his marriage he continued to engage in farming, following an agricultural life until 1899, when he retired from business activity and removed to his pleasant home in Gap. Mr. Woods has very effic- iently filled a number of important township and county positions. For one term he was Prison In- spector, and has served a long period as school di- rector. For thirty years he has been a director in the Lancaster Mutual Fire Insurance Co., andi for ten years has been its president. In politics he has been a life-long Republican.
In January. 1862, Mr. Woods was united in marriage to Miss Susan Eckert, in Paradise town- ship, and a family of seven children has been born to them: George M., a farmer in Leacock town- ship. married Jane Kinzer, and they have children as follows. Jean K .. Esther, Catherine, John and George B .: Caroline C. married Herbert Brinton, now retired and residing in Elwyn. Delaware county, and they have two children. Charles W. and Helen W. : Mary married Samuel McCatisland, a commis- sion merchant in Chicago, Ill., and they have two children. John W. and Catherine : Sarah died at the age of five years : Miss Elizabeth E. and Miss Grace reside at home : and T. Scott, who resides in Lca- cock township, married Mabel Showalter, and they have one child, Elizabeth. Both Mr. Woods and
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wife are valued members of the Presbyterian Church in which he has been a trustee for many years.
Mrs. Susan ( Eckert) Woods was born in Para- dise township, in March. 1838. daughter of Lewis and Sarah J. (Slaymaker) Eckert, the former of whom was a miller who lived on Pequena Creek, in Paradise township. He died in 18os. at the age of sixty-two years, a highly respected man and a lead- ing member of the Presbyterian Church. The mother of Mrs. Woods died in 1874, in Lancaster, aged sixty-five years, and both parents were buried in the old Leacock Church cemetery. They had the following children : George, deceased : Mary J., married to William Holtzworth; John Howard, a commission merchant in Cincinnati, Ohio ; Susan C., wife of John N. Woods: Elizabeth, deceased wife of Albert Carpenter, an attorney: Albert. Nathan and Lovinia, dleceased : and Charles W., a merchant in Lancaster. Mr. and Mrs. Woods belong to a picas- ant social circle in Gap, where they are most highly esteemed. Time has dealt very kindly with them. and they still enjoy offering a generous hospitality to relatives and friends, of whom they have a great number.
JOSEPH HAEFNER, proprietor of the Em- pire Brewery, one of the largest enterprises of the kind in Lancaster, is a 'native of Germany, born in Ganstadt bei Bamberg. Sept. 3, 1818. son of John B. and Barbara (Stall) Haefner.
John B. Haefner, father of Joseph Haefner, was also a native of Germany, and for twenty years conducted a brewery in his native country, doing a large business and performing the duties of a promi- nent citizen. His death took place in isgg, when he was aged seventy-eight years. His wife died in 1893, at the age of seventy-two years. Both were worthy members of the Catholic Church. Mr. and Mrs. Haefner had the following children : John B. (deceased) also followed the brewing business ; Peter resides in Germany and follows the butcher business : Joseph is mentioned below: Lizzie mar- ried Gottleib Smith, a farmer in Montgomery county, Pa .; AAnna married William Kurtz. who conducts a hotel in Lancaster : Lena married Law- rence Rateline. a farmer in Germany.
Joseph Haefner learned his trade in Germany with his father, with whom he remained until he was sixteen years of age. then securing work in other breweries, where he continued until coming to America, in 1872. For two years he was em- ploved in Rupert's brewery, in New York, going then to Union Hill, N. J., where he remained one vear. Coming to Lancaster, he served one year in Henry Frank's brewery, and then went to Reading. where his knowledge of the business secured him a good position with Fred. Lauer, with whom he remained six years. Mr. Haefner then went to Pottsville, and in partnership with Peter Lauer and Lawrence Smith operated the Archard brew- ery for two years, and then for about five years was
in Philadelphia. fn 1886 Mr. Haeiner returned to Lancaster and bought of Florence Knapp his pres- ent plant. which he has enlarged to thrice its origi- nal dimensions, and has more than trebled its pro- ducing capacity. This immense plant covers at present a half acre of ground and gives employ- mient to twenty men. It is fitted with all modern improvements and is the only brewery in the io- cality which manufactures its own ice. This busi- ness was established in 1868 by Lawrence Knapp, and since Mr. Haeiner became its proprietor has grown in importance until it ranks with the leading industrics of the city.
Mr. Haefner is independent in politics. He takes a deep interest in everything looking to the advancement of the community, and votes for those whom he deems will best carry out his ideas. Fra- ternally he belongs to the B. P. O. E. and the L'rewers' Association. In person Mr. Haefner ex- amplifies the best class of prosperous German- American citizens. Genial. pleasant, liberal in his benefactions and charitable to the poor, he has many in Lancaster who delight to call him friend. He has won his way to success through his own efforts, and well deserves the good fortune which has attended him.
In 1874. in Lancaster. Mr. Haefner was united in marriage to Margaret Fisher, daughter of Raphael Fisher, who operated a hotel in Lancaster for a number of years. He died in 1803, at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife died in ISS4. They were members of the Catholic Church, and were interred in the Catholic cemetery.
The following named children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hacfuer: Mary, who died at the age of four years; Miss Elizabeth. at home: and Anna. joseph, Catherine. Lauer and Margaret. Haefner built his present fine home, opposite his place of business, in 1800.
LEVI HAVERSTICK. of Washington bor- ough. Lancaster Co .. Pa .. was born Jan. 13. 1824. and descends from one of the oldest German famil- ies of this county, a brief record of whom is given in the following paragraphs.
The great-grandfather of Levi was the first of the Haverstick family to come to America, and on arriving in Lancaster county. Pa., his only worldly property, as tradition has it. was an ax. His home was established on the banks of the Conestoga river. about two miles southwest of the now city of Lan- caster. and there he passed the remainder of his life.
Jacob Haverstic !. the son of the aforesaid ami- grant and grandfather of Levi, was reared on his fa- ther's Conestoga farm. to which he became the heir. Hle added to it several other tracts of land, which he placed under cultivation, and became one of the wealthiest farmers of his township. Jacob reared a family of six children. of whom the eldest. Abraham. succeeded to the Conestoga homestead : John became the father of Levi, whose name opens this sketch :
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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
Jacob passed his life on the old homestead : David was a hotel-keeper and died in Lancaster city ; ard of his two daughters one married a man named Herr and went to live in Ohio, and the other became Mrs. Shenk, and passed her life in Lancaster county, Pa. In religion the family were Lutherans.
John Haverstick, father of Levi, was born on the old homestead in 1798, where he rendered faithful service to his father until his marriage with Mag- delina Neff, who was born in Manor township, Lan- caster county, in 1709. Shortly after this happy ceremony John's father presented him with a farm west of the Conestoga, where he lived the greater part of his active life, but later moved to the north of Lancaster city. To his marriage were born eight children, two of whom died in infancy ; the six who reached mature years were Henry, born Jan. 18. 1818, was a farmer in Manheim township, and died in May, 1900: Jacob, born in January, 1822, is also deceased : Levi is the gentleman whose name opens this sketch: John N. died on the old homestead ; Abraham resides at Neffsville, and Elizabeth, the widow of a Mr. Hawenstein, resides near Mount Joy. John Haverstick, the father of this family, died in 1883, and the mother, Magdelina, died at the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years, in 1893. John Haverstick was a most public-spirited man and held many township offices, being very popular in his day as a Whig, and in 1810 was inspector of election in the courthouse, Center Square, Lancaster city. In early life he was a member of the Lutheran Church, but he died a Mennonite.
Levi Haverstick was reared to manhood on the home farm at Wabank. and his early education was acquired in an old fashioned school house, where he learned his letters by tracing them in sand on a shelf attached to the wall, instead of a slate, or paper and pencil ; on a desk his next instruction in writing was with a goose-quill pen and ink. Later, being an apt lad, he learned the German and English languages to perfection, and thus thoroughly prepared himself for the business of life. Levi remained at home until 1846, when he was married, and the following year settled on his farm in Manor township, which farm comprised 100 acres, and which he properly culti- vated until 1881, when he retired from active agri- cultural work, and in 1896 erected his present ele- gant residence.
In 1881. Levi Haverstick associated himself with L. J. Schofield. with whom for one vear he was en- gaged in the lumber business, but in 1882 he as- sumed full personal control. In 1800 coal was added to this business, besides which he holds considerable stock in the First National Bank of Columbia.
The marriage of Levi Haverstick took place in 1846, to Catherine Hostetter, a native of Donegal township, who was born in 1826, and who died in 1881. To this happy union were born eight chil- dren that grew to maturity, viz .: Christian H., a farmer : Levi. who has passed away, leaving a wife and family ; Kate, who died in February, 1896; John,
a farmer of Manor township; Elizabeth, wife of Lemuei Swarr, a farmer of Mount Joy : Emma. wife of Cephas Hostetter, a farmer of near Manheim bor- ough; Henry H., a farmer of Manor township; and Mattie, at home.
Levi Haverstick has been a member of the Men- nonite Church for many years, and has so lived as to win the esteem of all who know him: is a public- spirited and broad-minded citizen, and has a large circle of truly warm-hearted friends. In political sentiment he is a Republican. He is a natural me- chanic, and is possessed of much inventive genius. As a boy he made many useful and peculiar contriv- ances, among them being a sled to run on the ice bv turning a wheel : the first hay slate, now in general use ; an improvement in grain drills ; the first roller mill that chopped corn : made a portable engine to propel itself : and he also invented an improvement in a reaper attachment, and a device for unloading hay by horse power. He made a grist and saw mill on the farm which he engineered and planned him- self. His mother often said Levi was born in the sign "beginning much and accomplishing little."
ABRAM SUMMY, who died at his home April 12, 1902, was a well known coal merchant of Mari- etta. He was born Nov. 7. 1827, on the farm now owned by Charles A. Pondersmith, in East Hemp- field township. Lancaster county, Pa., a son of John and Susannabs ( Hostetter) Summy, natives of the same township.
John Summy was born Jan. 15, 1796, of French extraction, and in that language the name was spelled Somme. John Summy was a farmer by calling, and at the age of thirty years was ordained a minister in the MMennonite Church. He married Susannah Hostetter May 4, 1815. and died on his homestead in May, 1835. MIrs. Susannah Summy was born Feb. 21, 1797, and died in Mount Joy, Pa., in 18/4. To their marriage were born seven children. nameiv: Jacob H .. who died in Illinois ; John H., who died in East Donegal township : Pe- ter H., who died in Lancaster; Maria, who mar- ried Abram B. Landis, and she and her husband died in Mount Joy; Abram : Aaron H., a farmer in Manheim township ; and David C .. killed on a rail- road in I852.
Peter and Barbara (Long) Summy. paternal grandparents of Abram, were natives of Earl and Rapho townships, respectively. but died on their farm in East Hempfield township. in which Peter Summy had held most of the offices. The great- grandparents. fohn and Elizabeth ( Shirk) Summv, moved from Earl township to East Hempfield town- ship. purchased 250 acres of land, and there passed the remainder of their lives. The first of the Sum- my family to come to America was Hans Peter Summy, a Palatinate Mennonite minister, but a na- tive of Switzerland. He was the great-great-grand- father of Abram Summy, and being exiled. sailed. in company with his wife and sons. Hans Jacob and
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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
Hans Peter, Jr., and with Otto Fritz and Johannes and Hans Michael. from Rotterdam, Holland, in the brigantine "Richmond and Elizabeth." via Piv- mouth, England, and landed in Philadelphia, in 1733, but settled in Earl township, Lancaster coun- ty, in 1734.
The maternal ancestors of Abram Summy were of noble extraction, and the original family name was Von Hostetter. The great-great-grandfather of Abram Summy was Jacob Hostetter. also a Men- nonite minister. who came to Lancaster county, Pa .. in 1712, purchased 450 acres of land in Penn's Ma- nor, and was among the first of the Mennonites to settle here. The maternal great-grandparents, Abraham and Catherine (Long) Hostetter, and the maternal grandparents, Jacob and Barbara (Funk) Hostetter, were all born in Lancaster count".
Abram Summy lived on the home farm until seventeen years of age, and then served an appren- ticeship at coachmaking. a trade he followed for eight years. He next formed a partnership with his brother Aaron H., in the coal and luniber trade, but two years later sold his interest to his brother and went to Freeport. Ill., where he was employed by his consin, William Haldeman, as bookkeeper and grain purchaser for his mill. Three years later he returned to Marietta and purchased from his broth- · er, in 1859. the original coal and lumber business, afterward disposing of the lumber, but continuing in the coal trade to the time of his death.
On July 15, 1862, Mr. Summy married in East Donegal township Miss Elizabeth Stauffer, and to this union were born two children: Mary. still un- der the parental roof : and John Logan, teller in the Northern Bank at Lancaster. Mrs. Elizabeth (Stauffer) Sammy was born in East Donegal town- ship Feb. 19, 1841. a daughter of John and Martha (Hostetter) Stauffer, natives of Strasburg and Penn township, Lancaster county. John Stauffer was a miller in East Donegal township many years, but in 1865 retired and came to Marietta to reside with Mr. and Mrs. Summy. and here passed away in 1876, at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife died in East Donegal township, in 1860, when forty-six years old. They were members of the Presbyterian and Mennonite Churches, respectively. Two chil- dren were born of their marriage: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Summy: and David H., deceased. The pa- ternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Summy was John Stauffer, and the grandfather, also named John, was a farmer, and both were natives of Lancaster coun- ty. Her maternal grandparents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Hostetter. of whom the former was a Mennonite bishop, and died at the age of ninety-one years. His father, aiso named Jacob. settled in Penn township. Lancaster county, in 1712.
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Abram Summiy was a Republican in politics, and served as a mentber of the school board for twenty- two years, and as county commissioner one terni, 1881-1884. He was county recorder in 1806-97- 98, and was councilman one year. He was a devout-
member of the Presbyterian Church, and a member of both lodge and chapter F. & A. M. As a citizen he was highly respected. and as a business man an !! county official his name stood without a blemish.
SAMUEL S. SNYDER, one of the prominent residents of Hinkletown. Lancaster county, was born in Earl township, May 2. 1850, a son of John K. and Maria (Seusenig) Snyder, the former of whom is still living, but the latter passed to her rest April 6, 1876.
John K. Snyder was born Oct. 17, 1820. in Ephrata township, and now makes his home in Hin- kletown. The Snyders have long been residents of Lancaster county, and throughout many genera- tions have sustained a good name, to which no dis- credit has been done by father or son. mentioned herewith. The great-grandfather of John K. bore a valiant part in the War of the Revolution, and proved his devotion to liberty on many a bloody bat- tle field. His home was in Maryland. John S .- der. the grandfather of John K .. had his home in Ephrata townshin for many years where he at- tained the age of seventy-five. He was a farmer. and married Catherine Nillian, and to them were born sixteen children, fourteen of whom lived to maturity. but only one of whom is still living. They were members of the Reformed Church.
Samuel Snyder, the father of John K., was born in Ephrata township, where he was reared and mar- ried, following at first the career of a laborer, but presently becoming a tenant farmer, and settled first in Ephrata township, and afterward in West Earl. his last days passing in Eari township. He married Miss Barbara Keesev, a daughter of Noah Keesev. a manager in the Elizabeth Furnace. Mrs. Snyder was born in Elizabeth township, where she died Feb. 24. 1861. at the age of hity-three. The father died Jan. 14. 1856, at the age of fifty-four years. They had four children: John K. : Samuel K., a resident of Ephrata, and now retired: Henry K., 1 prominent man, and at one time deputy sheriff of Lancaster county, and a tax collector in Lancaster. where he lived: and Catherine, who married Levi Sensenig. of Lancaster, and is deceased.
John K. Snyder was reared on the family home- stead, and received his education in the Ephrata local schools. When he was of age he applied him- self to the carpenter trade, at which he worked some seven years. At the end of that time he began farm- ing on a rented place in the township of Ephrata. After one year at this he went to a small farm in Earl township, which he had bought near Hinkle- town, where he made his home for twelve years, at the end of that time purchasing a farm of sixty-two acres from D. F. Heister, on which he has since lived. In all he owns ninety-nine acres. all his land being contiguous, and on which he has three sets of buildings. Mr. Snyder has in his active days provei himself one of the industrious, honest and thor- oughly reliable men of the county, a reputation he
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: is never lost. John K. Snyder was married in . ing. having inherited a large farm from his father, to Miss Maria Sensenig, by whom he became a part of the original tract deeded to his grandfa- father of four children who outlived their mother. . ther by John, Richard and Thomas Penn, about al of two who died in early life: Samuel S., of ankletown, whose name introduces this article ; Maron S., a farmer near Vogansville; David S., who
1737. In 1815 he built the present family residence. Although a man of standing in the community, identified with all of the philanthropic movements al March 12, 1895, left a widow, Barbara H. Erb, i of his time, he lived a quiet, unostentatious life, . [ l'enn township, and three children. Barbara, Lil- an and Jacob : Henry S., a farmer, engaged on the . "| homestead, who married Emma Nolt. and is the · ther of two children, Josic and Harry. Mr. Snv- .. r married for his second wife. Elizabeth Burk- : Ider, who died May 23, 1895, at the age of sixty- ave years. John K. Snyder is a member of the Old Mennonite Church.
Samuel S. Snyder was reared in his native com- munity, and received his education in the public schools. When he had attained his majority he be- gan farming on his own account. He was married Dec. 25, 1885, to Miss Rachel Lucetta Seldomringe. who was born June 11, 1864, a daughter of Jacob ; sylvania. His first vote for President and Vice-
6. Seldomridge, of New Holland. After they were married, the young couple moved to Lancaster, where Mr. Snyder was employed one year at the stock yards. At the end of this period. Mr. Suyder came back to Earl township, and locating his family on one of the farms belonging to his father, began i's cultivation. This farm was situated one mile south of Hinkletown. This farm contained seven- ty-six acres, and he spent two years on it, then mov- ing to his present place in Hinkletown, where he has thirty-five acres, and carries on general farming. During the winter he buys hides and other farm products. Mr. Snyder is one of the spirited and in- telligent young men of this county, and takes a deep interest in everything that looks to the public good. In his politics he is a Republican, and has filled the offices of judge and inspector of elections for two vars, and 1897 he collected the outstanding school tax in Earl township. He and his wife have one child. Earl J., born Aug. 1, 1900.
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