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 52
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grist and flour mill and did some farming, but later the brothers returned to Chester county. The first white child born in the city of Galena. Ill., was Louise daughter of George Himes and wife. In 1827 Mr. Himes embarked in the mercantile business in Hat- ville, Lancaster county, but in 1831 he bought the fine farm now occupied by his daughters, and re- mained there during the balance of his life. This property is known as Spring Run farm, and com- prises Ito acres of valuable land within one and one- half miles of Gap. It is now owned and managed by the three daughters of Mr. Himes, and is one of the most valuable farms in the locality.
On Dec. 17, 1820, at the home of the bride, in Paradise township. Rees C. Himes was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Eckert. and to this union these children were born: Clinton, who married Sophia Meflvaine Negley, and is a resident of Salis- bury township: George Clemens, who died young ; Cecelia A., who married Rees C. Himes, a prominent and wealthy farmer residing in Shippensburg; Misses Anna C., Susan A. and Martha L., who ail reside on the old farm : Newton T., who died young : and Rees L., a justice of the peace, who resides in Kinzers and married Margaret Eckert.
Mrs. Sarah (Eckert) Himes was born Nov. 21, 1811, in Paradise township, Lancaster county. and died Aug. 22, 1800. and was laid to rest by the side of her husband. She was a consistent member of Bellevue Presbyterian Church for many years. lier parents were George and Susan ( Kerns) Eckert of Lancaster county, where the former was a farmer, and for many years a well-known miller in Paradise township. For years before his death, on Feb. 27. 1829, at the age of fifty-five years, five months and nine days, he had given up business cares into the hands of his son, Louis. His widow survived until June 14. 1840, her age being sixty-five years. eleven months and twenty-four days. They were buried in the cemetery attached to the German Re- formed Church in New Holland, both being members - ot that religious body. Their children were as fol- lois . Jacob, who married Hannah Varns ; Henry. who married Elizabeth MIc Neal : Lewis, who married Sarah Slaymaker: Catherine, who married llenry Kinzer; Ann. who married James Mcilvaine; and Sarah, who became the wife of Mr. Himes.
When the Hinies brothers started to Galena. Ill., they made the trip on horseback. Later George re- turned to Chester county and married and returns" with his wife, this trip being made by wagon. Among the many gifts from home that went out to what was then far West, was a choice set of gilt-edged china. and as a remarkable fact it was not broken on ilte way and still is in a good state of preservation, and is carefully cherished in the possession of Roos C. Himes, a son, now of Shippensburg.
REV. JACOB R. HERSHEY. The Hershey family is not only one of the most prominent, ha !! also one of the oldest, families in Lancaster county. !
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
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having been founded by three brothers of the name. in 1;og, who came hither from their home in Switz- erland. Its descendants have been noted for their excellence as farmers, their intelligence and moral- ity as citizens, and for their influence in the Men- nonite Church.
Rev. Jacob R. Hershey of Salisbury township is a worthy descendant of this family. perpetuating the name of his grandfather Jacob Hershey, who was lung a well-known farmer of Salisbury township. Jacob Hershey, the grandfather, married Anna New- comer, and they had children: John, Christian. Abraham and Joseph. The father of these children died in 1825, at the age of eighty years, his widow surviving until 1830, when she died at the age of eighty-one years.
Bishop Joseph Hershey, son of Jacob, was for many years a bishop in the Mennonite Church, and by precept and example promulgated his belief. His home was on the oki Hershey estate, in Salisbury township, where he died. in 1856. at the age of sixty- four years. His wife, Magdalena {Roop) Hershey, died April 19. 1887, aged eighty-nine years and ten months, and was laid to rest by her husband's side in the old Hershey cemetery, in Salisbury township. this quiet spot having been a part of the original es- tate. The children born to this union were: Rev. . Jacob R. ; Christian, who died at the age of eighteen years ; Barbara, deceased, who was the wife of David Hoover : Anna, who died young.
Rev. Jacob R. Hershey, son of Bishop Joseph and Magdalena (Roop) Hershey, was born on his pres- ent farm, Aug. 9, 1817, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. For many years he was a well-Known agriculturist, retiring from active work in that line in 1877. Brought up under Christian influences. in a pious and golly home, with noble examples before him in his beloved parents, the young man early pro- fessed his faith, and became a minister in the Men- nonite Church. In IS58 he was ordained to the work, and for forty-four years he has been a faithful worker in the field of usefulness in which he was placed. He is known and much beloved over a wide extent of territory, and particularly in the Old Road Hershey and Paradise charges, where his labors have been much blessed. Although no poli- tician. his sympathies have always been with the Re- publican party. For a long period he served as school director. Except four years on a neighboring farm, the one he now occupies has always been his home. Here he is surrounded by all that makes ad- vanced life comfortable. the center of loving relatives and friends, and he appears much younger than many of his contemporaries, as he reads without glasses. hears without effort, and in every way shows that Time has yet touched him very gently.
Ebr or Bishop Isaac Ebv. of Paradise township, elsewhere in this volume). To Rev. Jacob R. and Margaret ( Eby) Hershey were born nine children, of whom we have the following record: Josiah; Magdalena, wife of John R. Budevakter, of Kinzers, Da .: Peter. who went West, and has never been heard from : Ephraim, a farmer of Salisbury town- ship : Mary. who married Christian Metzler, a farm- er of Paradise township : Jacob E .. a farmer in Salis- bury township : Susan, wife of John S. Rohrer. a farmer of Salisbury township: Lizzie. who died Young : and Margaret. deceased.
EPHRAIM HERSHEY. third son of Rev. Jacob R. and Margaret ( Ebv) Hershey, was born on the old homestead in Salisbury township. Dec. 6. 1844. Un- til his marriage he remained under the parental roof, at that time taking charge of the old homestead and carrying on the farming operations there for three Years. Then he removed to his present farm of ninety-three acres, which he has developed in the same excellent manner. In his locality he is much esteemed, and he and family belong to the Mennonite Church. Hle belongs to no political party. casting his vote as he deems best for all concerned.
On Jan. 1, 1867. Mr. Hershey was married to Susan E. Leaman, of Para lise township, and to this union were born the following children. Ira, a farmer of Salisbury township. married Sarah Kreidler, and has six children: Emma MI .. who mar- ried John G. Wenger. has four children and lives in Salisbury township: Frank B .. who married Lydia W. Buckwalter, is a farmer in Salisbury township; and Omer E., Elam W .. Ephraim K .. Jacob R .. Jr., and Alice W., all are at home. Mrs. Susan E. ( Lea- man) Hershey was born May 3. 1845, in Leacock township, daughter of Jacob and Lydia ( Buck- walter ) Leaman, the former of whom was a farmer, and for many years a school director of East Lam- peter township. He died in ISor. at the age of seventy years, and was buried in Mellinger's ceme- tery, near Lancaster. His widow resides in Para- dise township, with her daughter Mrs. John Kreider. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leaman were members of the Mennonite Church.
JACOB E. HERSHEY, general farmer, was born in Salisbury township, on his father's farm. Sept. 13, 1856, son of Rev. Jacob R. and Margaret ( Eby) Hershey. He was reared to farm life. and has fol- lowed agricultural pursuits exclusively on this farm, all his active life, with the exception of three years spent on a neighboring estate. Mr. Hershey, like the other members of his family. is highly esteemed as a man of honesty and reliability, and belongs to a family which is one of the most substantial in this part of Lancaster county. He has taken a deep in- terest in educational matters. and has served as school director for the past fifteen years. In politics he is a Republican. With his family he belongs to and assists in supporting the Mennonite Church.
On Nov. 29, 1839, in Lancaster, Rev. Hershey was married to Margaret Eby, born July 14. ISI9. in Salisbury township, daughter of Peter and Eliza- beth ( Weaver) Eby, and sister of Bishop Eby. ( For On Oct. 26. 1876. in Lancaster. Mr. Hershey was sketch of Eby family, see sketch of Bishop Peter . married to Miss Mary Esbenshade, and the children
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born to this union were as follows : Herbert, at home: Clayton, who married Ella Buchwalter has one child, and lives in Paradise township : Milton, Elwood, Bertha. Mabel, Edna and Margerie are at home ; and Willis died young.
Mrs. Mary ( Esbenshade) Hershey, was born in Earl township. Nov. 25, 1852, daughter of Jacob and : family of Lancaster county.
Susannah ( Bushong) Esbenshade, of Lancaster county, both of whom died in East Earl township, where they were farming people all their lives. The father of Mrs. Hershey died in 1808, aged sixty-nine years, and the mother died in August. 1901, aged seventy-one years. Both parents were interred in Eaby's cemetery in Upper Leacock township. having long been members of the German Baptist Church. They had these children born to them besides Mary, the wife of Jacob E. Hershey: Elizabeth, de- ceased, the wife of John Kochel: Sarah, the wife of Rife MIvers, a farmer of Earl township : Emma, the wife of Frank Buckwalter, of Paradise township : Susan. the wife of Elam Kreider, of West Leacock township ; Lydia, the wife of Martin Ebersole. of Paradise township; Amanda, the wife of Walter Mays, of East Earl township; and Adam, a farmer of East Earl township.
HENRY M. BRENEMAN (deceased). Though the temporal life of Henry M. Breneman was ended while he was vet comparatively young in years, having scarcely more than passed his forty- seventh birthday-a time in the career of an carnest and successful man when the future locks bright. when effort is redoubled and the glimmer of hope points to a season of rest and enjoyment in the dis- tant years to come, as the fruition of worthy achieve- ment-vet even in the brief span of time. encom- passed by the life of this exceeding well-doer, an impression for good was made by the influences ra- diating from his kindly and ennobled nature, wider and more lasting than can be readily perceived or measured. Aided by a devoted, intelligent, capable and cultured wife, he won recognition as one of the substantial, progressive and worthy representatives of Lancaster county.
Henry M. Breneman was born in Manor town- ship March 10, 1832, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Breneman. The parents were prominent and life-long residents of Lancaster county, where they reared a family of nine children, and lived to a good old age. These children were as follows: Nancy, widow of Abner Bausman, of Millersville, Pa .; Elizabeth, widow of Henry Herr, of East Hempfield township ; Barbara, wife of Henry Baus- man, of Manor township : Jacob, of East Hempfield township; John, of California : Abraham and Kate, twins, the former a resident of Coldwater, Mich., the latter the deceased wife of Isaac Groff : Henry M. : and Sarah, deceased wife of Isaac Baumberger.
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Heury M. Breneman was reared on his father's farm and followed through life that vocation. He received in his youth a good common school educa-
tion, and then seriously devoted himself to the life work so prematurely closed by death. He married in Lancaster county. Nov. 25. 1862. Miss Anna M. Greider. a native of West Hempfield township, and, as the daughter of Christian and Susannah ( Miller ) Greider. the representative of an old and prominent
Christian Greider was one of the old and influ- ential citizens of Lancaster county, son of John Greider, who for many years was a farmer and miller in West Hempfield township. Christian was born about 1;go, and followed agriculture until well ad- vanred in life, when he retired, spending his last twenty years in the peace and comfort that crowned many active and successful years. He died in 1889, aged ninety years. His wife, Susannah Miller. pre- ceded him to the grave many years. passing away in 1304. aged fifty-seven years. They were faithful and prominent members of the Mennonite church. and were buried in the Landisville cemetery of that A nomination. Susannah was the daughter of Ben- iamin Miller. a life-jong farmer of Rapho township, and a member of the Mennonite church. To Chris- tian and Susannah ( Miller) Greider were born chil- dren as follows: John M., who died in Ohio ; Chris- tian. who died on the old farm; Benjamin, who was a lumberman, coal merchant and malter at Mt. Joy. Pa. : Elizabeth, who married Daniel Mellinger, and died in Virginia; Martha, who died young: Mary. who died in infancy: Jacob M .. a retired farmer of West Hempfield township : Susan, wife of Andrew Garber. of West Hempfield township: Anna M., widow of Henry M. Breneman : Mary, who for her first husband married Christian Rohrer, and is now the wife of John S. Nissley, a retired farmer of Mt. Joy : Barbara. wife of Jacob McAllister. a farmer of Pequea township ; and Amos M .. a farmer, now re- siding on the old homestead. The family was more than ordinarily active mentally, as shown by the fact that three of the sons taught school.
To Henry M. and Anna M. (Greider) Brene- man was born a family of seven children, namely : Susan G., wife of W. L. Heisey, a merchant and ex- tensive farmer of West Donegal township : Barbara, who died aged five years; Christian G .. a farmer of Rapho township : Phares, a dealer in flour, grain and feed, at Columbia: Amos, at home; Henry, de- > ceased : and Abraham, at home.
In 1877 Henry M. Breneman purchased and moved to the farm of ninety acres in West Hemp- field township, now occupied by his widow. Here he died two years later. April 1, 1879. aged forty- seven years. In politics he was a stanch Republican. and in religion he held to the Mennonite faith of his forefathers. He had won the respect and high es- toem of the people of Lancaster county through the many sterling traits of character exemplified by his daily life. His widow and their younger sons con- tinus to occupy the home he had so briefly possessed, and in addition to general farming they successfully conducted there, from 1892 to 1901, an extensive
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dairy business. They are communicants in the old Mennonite church, and influential members of the social life of West Hempfield township.
DANIEL HERR ( Dequea). The name of Herr is inseparably connected with the moral and mate- rial growth of Lancaster county. Members of the family have for many years held honored places in the communities in which they have made their homes.
The house of Herr is an ancient one. The fam- ily is of free or noble origin, and its "knights were brave and worthy." Large and valuable estates were owned in Schwaben, called Herrn of Bilried. The founder of the family was known as "Knight Hugo." the Herr or loal of Dilried. As far back as 1000 flourished a widely known family from whom the Herrs are descended, but in the fifteenth century several members resigned their nobility and joined the ranks of the citizens. These, however, retained their noble name and their coat of arms, as is shown bv records in 1593, when John Herr, or Herr of Bilried, was granted by Emperor Ferdinand, a writ- ten testimonial, proving the right of his family to their coat of arms, and to their free and noble de- scent to the latest generation. By this testimonial the coat of arms vet rightly belongs to the family. All this is recorded in the Register of Noble Fan- ilies, with their Coats of Arms, Book 5, Page 258.
In direct line from this ancient and honorable family comes Daniel Herr ( Pequea), the subject of this sketch. The founder of the family in America was Hans Herr who emigrated from Switzerland. John Herr, son of Hans, became the father of Rev. John, and Rev. John, by his wife Frances became the father of Christian. Christian Herr married Maria Bowman, and their son, Rev. Christian mar- ried Anna Forrer.
Daniel Herr (Pequea) was born in 1818, son of Rev. Christian and AAnna ( Forrer) Herr, and was reared in West Lampeter township. He began his early active business carcer on a farm of 100 acres, now the property of his daughter Mrs. C. S. B. Herr in Strasburg township, located near the village of Refton. At several times he added small tracts to the original farin, and made his home on this place during his life. Although he began life as a farmer, and devoted attention to agricultural pursuits all his life. this did not by any means bar the way to other large and important enterprises. Soon after starting out on his own responsibility, he began the manufacture of grain drills, the first that were used in this part of the State of Pennsyl- vania, and was engaged thus for many years, during which time he also opened up a business in lime burning, and this became an important industry, his product being in demand over a very large terri- tory. He was awarded the contract for the lime used in the construction of the Millersville State Normal School, and many other equally large con- tracts. In addition to these interests, Danicl Herr
became an investor in the nine lands in Potter county and the manufacture of lumber there, and later be- came a director in the Beaver Creek Lumber Co., of West Virginia, which at that time operated a tract of 10.000 acres, although of late years it has greatly increased its acreage. He was the owner of one-half of this land less one-eighteenth, and was one of the founders and first directors of this valu- able company. He founded the village of Refton, and was one of the founders and a director of the Lancaster & Quarryville R. R. Co .. as well as one of the founders of the Beaver Creek R. R. Co .. of West Virginia. He was also founder and director with others of the Beaver Valley Turnpike road, be- sidles being a large land owner in Lancaster county.
In financial circles Daniel Herr was an import- ant factor: Le was one of the originators of the Strasburg National Bank, and for years was one of its directors : he was a director in the Northern Mu- tual Insurance co. and was one of the trustees of the Millersville State Normal school. At his death he left to his estate, with other large properties. eight-eighteenths of an interest in the large tract of land in West Virginia, consisting of both coal and timber iand of great value. Politically he was an Old Line Whig, and later became a Republican, and was actively identified with the public affairs of the county, serving as treasurer, during the term of 1857. and for several terms as director of the Poor and a member of the school board. His death occurred Oct. 10, 1804. During the latter part of his life he was a member of the Mennonite Church which had benefited by ifs benefactions, and in which he was known for his admirable traits of Christian character.
Daniel Herr married Anna C. Brenneman, dangh- ter of Henry Brenneman, and they had a family of five children: Henry B., who died in childhood ; Enos B., who died Sept. 19, 1869; Lizzie A., who is the widow of C. S. D. Herr, and resides in West Lampeter township: Reuben D .. mentioned below ; and one that died in infancy.
REUBEN D. HERR. the only surviving son of his parents, became his father's assistant and supporter in many of his varied enterprises. He was born July 7, 1850. and after completing the common school course he entered the Lititz Academy, and then spent one term, during 1868, at the Sauniers Military Academy, in preparation for a college course, but the death of his brother recalled liim home, and he then took charge of the work which his brother Enos had managed-the farming and lime barning-and continued until 1875, when he discontinued the latter industry. Later he opened up a coal and lumber business in Refton, and man- aged that in connection with his farming for one vear, but finding the accumulation of business too large, he discontinued personally to direct matters on the farm. About December, 1878, he became the agent for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Co., at Refton, and remained with that company from
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1875 to 1881, and later was engaged in various en- terprises, including that of commercial traveler and collector, but much of his time was employed in looking after his father's affairs, and since the death of the latter, as trustee and executor, his time has been fully occupied. For the past eighteen years he has managed a trucking business, finding a mark- et in the city of Lancaster for the produce of his small farm of thirty acres in Refton, but the output from his successful green-houses is shipped to dis- tant parts of the country.
For a number of years Mr. Herr was a director in the First National Bank, of Strasburg, and he is also financially connected with the lumber manufac- turing industry in West Virginia, and in mining bi- tuminous coal. Inheriting much of the energy and business capacity of his father, he, like him, is a progressive. broad-gauged man, esteemed and re- spected by business associates and the community in which he has lived so long.
Reuben D. Herr has been twice married. his first union being to Harriet Musselman, daughter of John Musselman. At her death, on May 30. 1878, she left two children, Miriam M., who married D. W. Patterson, of Philadelphia : and Carolyn M. His second marriage was to H. Louisa Coho, daughter of John Lee Coho, of Schuylkill county, and who died Nov. 9. 1900. To this union was born one child- Clair C., who resides with his father in the old family home in Refton.
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FREDERICK STONER (deceased) was born Feb. 22, 1790, one mile southwest of Central Manor, Lancaster county, son of Christian and Anna ( Brenneman ) Stoner, and died Sept. 4. 1877. He was a farmer. and in politics was a Whig. Of the family of eleven children born to Frederick and Elizabeth Stoner six grew to maturity, viz .: Chris- tian, a blacksmith, who settled in Cumberland county, and died in February. 1898 : Frederick, of whom fur- ther mention will be made : John, who was shot at his home during the Civil war. supposedly by accident : Bernard, a carpenter by trade, and later a farmer and hotelkeeper of Manor township : Levi, a wheelwright at Mountville : and Mary Ann, deceased wife of Ben- jamin Young, also of Manor township.
Frederick Stoner, son of Frederick, was born Dec. 7. 1818. in the home now occupied by Daniel H. Meilinger, at Central Manor. and on March 14, 1836, began learning the wheelwright's trade at Millersville, with Jacob R. Barr. After fin- ishing his apprenticeship he worked one month as a journeyman, and then. in May, 1830, rented a small shop about a mile from his home. and for one year carried on business on his own account. Mr. Stoner next erected a shop on his homestead, where he car- ried on his business five years, and in 1845 erected a : shop at Central Manor which is still standing, and is now utilized as a wagon factory. Until 1885 Fred- erick Stoner did a large business in wagon manufac- turing, and also in repairing threshing machines,
horse powers, grain cradles, etc., and, being a natural mechanic, he erected on his homestead of seven and a half acres, besides his shop, two good frame dwell- ings, and remodeled another frame and brick, having now four neat and substantial tenements, which are rented.
On Dec. 244, 1844, Frederick Stoner married Miss Sarah S. Mann, a daughter of John and Eliza- beth Mann. She passed away August 8, rsSó, at the age of sixty-eight years, seven months, thirteen days. They had a family of six children, born in the follow- ing order: Caroline M., who died in childhood ; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Abraham R. MIvers. of Steel- ton, Pa. : Sarah Ann, who died in infancy : Catherine, who passed away when nineteen years old ; John J., who died at the age of five years and six months ; and Albert M., of Central Manor. who was born July 10, 1860, and married Fannie Shenk, daughter of Abram L. Shenk.
JOHN G. TANGER. The general aspect of prosperity and activity noted through Lancaster county is due in great measure to the energy and in- dustry of her agricultural residents. Among those farmer citizens who have done much to advance the interests of the county, may be mentioned John G. Tanger, a substantial citizen, who owns a most de- sirable estate of sixty-two acres, located a short dis- tance east of the borough of Strasburg.
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