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 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
In early manhood Mr. Bauer married Aliss Judith Lamparter, daughter of the late Eberhart T. Lan- parter, and two children came to bless their home: Eugene, who died when one and a half years old ; and Eberhart J. The latter was engaged in the plumbing and gas fitting business in Lancaster, and formerly had been manager of the Sporting Goods Co., but on June 12. 1900, he started on a pleasure trip to Idaho, and, liking that country, determined to make it his home. On June 10, 1901, he married Miss Mabel Hartiver, of Lancaster. Like his fa- ther, Eberhart J. Bauer was very popular, and no two men in Lancaster were greater favorites with the public than they.
In his political affiliations Eugene Bauer was a stanch Republican. He was a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. Always look- ing to the best interests of his adopted town, he was ever foremost in giving of his time and means to any measure that would! advance the moral or material welfare of Lancaster. He was an active member of the Union Fire Co. for a number of years.
Mrs. Bauer still owns the "Golden Horse Hotel." but rents it. devoting her time to religious. charitable and social duties. Her greatest pleasure is in doing good to others.
glue, and, removing to Rockland, established a glue factory in 1865, and died there in 1869. The factory is still run by one of his sons. Mr. Lamparter mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Helb, sister of Jacob Hel's, one of the pioneer tanners of Lancaster, and to this union came nine children, six of whom are living : Jacob, George and Eberhart, glue manufacturers of Rock- land ; Miss Pauline, living in the homestead on Rock- land street ; Miss Lisette D., pension clerk at Wash- ington, D. C. : and Mrs. Judith Bauer, of Lancaster. The mother of this notable family died Sept. 13, 1899.
JOHN ZERCHER, Superintendent of The Hel- vetia Leather Co., of Lancaster, is one of the promi- nent men and leading citizens of this community. His connection with the above named company has dated since 1888, after a long business experience with other reputable firms. He is a native son of Lancaster county, born in New Danville, April 20, 1838, his parents being John. Sr., and Esther ( Shaub ) Zercher, both of Lancaster county.
John Zercher, Sr., was a weaver in early life and later took charge of the hotel in New Danville and then operated a general store in the same village for two years. He then turned his attention to farming, and it was upon his farm in Pequea township that his death occurred in 1872, at the age of sixty-seven vears. His widow, Esther ( Shaub), survived un- til 1805, dying at the age of eighty-three years. They were members of the Dunkard faith, and were laid to rest in the cemetery of the Mennonite Stone Church, near New Danville. They had two chil- (Iren: Christian S., a millwright, who moved to St. Louis, Mo .. in 1870, and lives there, in retire- ment ; and John.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Zercher were John and Elizabeth ( Tanger) Zercher, the former of whom was a miller in this county, of Swiss extrac- tion. Their family consisted of the following men- bers: Harry, deceased. was a miller in this county ; Andrew, deceased, was a wheelwright and a farmer, and died in Conestoga township, where he lived re- tired ; John became the father of our subject : Jacob, deceased, was a farmer of prominence, a large land- holder in Adams county, Ohio; and Anna died at the age of fourteen years. The maternal grandmar- ents of Mr. Zercher were John and Esther (Gosgh- enauer) Shaub, natives and farming people of Lan- caster county, of German extraction.
Until his marriage Mr. Zercher made his home with his parents. His early rearing was on the farm, and his education was acquired in the district schools. At the age of seventeen he began teaching school at Run Valley, and taught for eight consecutive terms -in fact, if Mlr. Zercher had not turned his atten- tion to other lines of usefulness. it is probable that he would have become a noted educator. Three years were then spent in farming and then, seeking a wider field, he went to Lancaster, and there be-
Eberhart J. Lamparter. father of Mrs. Bauer, was a tanner at Millport. in this county. Abandoning that occupation, he engaged in the manufacture of came bookkeeper for Samuel Hess, in the lumber
688
Eugene 13 anos
689
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
business, and also filled the same position for one wear with Thomas & Henry Baumgardner, coal mer- rhants. He then became bookkeeper in the tannery of Amos Hollinger, which business connection lasted for twenty years, and during this time Mr. Zercher. in addition to his other duties, taught two terms of school. In 1888 Mir. Zercher accepted the position vi bookkeeper, superintendent and general manager io: The Helvetia Leather Co., with R. J. Houston as president, and Charles J. Landis, as treasurer, the last named gentleman retaining his connection with the company until April, 1889, when he became Tudge of the courts in the county. The Helvetia Leather Co. was established in 1887, and the plant is located at Nos. 520-538 Poplar street, Lancaster. and employs a force of ten men. They manufacture by patent process ) belting, picker, apron and lacing leather and also oak leather belting. It is one of the ! flourishing industries of the city and much of its prosperity is due to the excellent business methods and wise supervision of Mr. Zercher.
In 1863, when the State militia was increased in order to repel invasion. Mr. Zercher became a voltit- teer in the 50th Regiment under Brig .- Gen. Frank- 1 iin and Capt. David Bear, for one hundred days' service. This regiment was used for guard duty along the Potomac river, and fortunately saw no serious trouble, being discharged in six weeks, at ; Harrisburg. In politics Mr. Zercher is a stanch Ke- publican and has cificiently filled some office in al- most every place which has been his temporary home. For six years he was assessor in Pequea township ; for eight years he served as school director in West Lampeter township, and was then elected justice of the peace for five years, serving with credit for four years, when he resigned the office on account of re- moval to New Danville. With his family he belongs to and supports St. Paul's Reformed Church.
In December, 1850. Mr. Zercher was married, in Lancaster. to Miss Barbara Rowe, born in West Lampeter township, in May, 1837, daughter of Ben- jamin and Anna ( Weaver) Rowe, of Lancaster county, where for a considerable period he was a shoemaker, later operated a hotel at Willowstreet and then became a successful farmer. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Zercher were as follows: Emma, who is the widow of Jacob M. Harnish, re- sides with her father ; Ada L., who died at the age of four years: George W., who died at the age of two and one-half years; Clara A., who married Ir- vin S. Schmehl, a drugeist in Philadelphia, and had three children, James Frederick, Emma Florence and John Irwin, of whom the last named died at the age of five years; and Miss Nora, who resides at home. Mr. Zercher is a man of intellect and means. and is well and favorably known through Lancaster county.
DAVID B. MYERS, who was well and favora- D'y known for many years in East Donegal and ad- joining townships, and who died Dec. 17, 1900, was
born in East Donegal township Oct. 5. 1834, a son of Henry and Barbara ( Brenner) Myers. The fam- ilv history is quite fully treated under the head of Michael B. Myers on another page. The parents lived to a ripe old age, and were much loved and re- spected in the community in which their peaceful and well-ordered lives were passed.
David B. Myers was married, in 1876, in Mari- etta, Pa., to Miss Mary Shoemaker. by whom he had one child, Clara, who married Samuel Eshle- man, a farmer of Mt. Joy township, and became the mother of two children, Walter and David, but is now deceased. Mrs. Mary ( Shoemaker) Myers was born near Alanheim, in Rapho township, a daughter of Christ and Elizabeth ( Hershey) Shoemaker, of the same township, who now live in Mt. Joy town- ship, where the former who was born in 1828, is now a farmer. Mrs. Elizabeth (Hershey) Shoemaker was born in IS33, and died in ISOI, and was buried in Florin Cemetery. Both were members of the Ger- man United Brethren Church. Their children were : Christ, a farmer in Mt. Jov township; Elizabeth, married to Monroe Shaffer, a farmer in Ait. Toy township; Anna, who married Jacob Fryc, a farmer at Centreville; Mory: Ilettie and john, at home; Sarah, ( deceased) ; and Harry, at home.
David B. Myers was engaged in farming until the spring of 1900, when he gave up farm work, and moved to the home he occupied for a number of voirs. In his earlier years he was closely associated with his father in farming operations. and it was not until 1872 that he purchased the farm to which he devoted a good part of his life. In politics he was a Republican. For several years Mr. Myers had been sickly, and shortly before his death was stricken with paralysis. Before his health failed he built a fine three-story brick house, which stands on the cross roads, about a half mile from Florin.
CAPT. PHILIP L. SPRECHER. No more capable leader or more gallant soldier stepped forth from the farmer ranks of Pennsylvania into the garish light of the Union army during the Civil war than Capt. Philip L. Sprecher. in private life a hotel manager, merchant, master of the science of deduc- tion as an expert detective. as well as an all around versatile man of affairs. In the wake of a strenuous and varied career he is one of the most popular men in Lancaster county, and bears a reputation commen- surate with his large attainments and splendid per- sonal characteristics. A native son of Lancaster county, he was born at New Holland. Sept. 12. 1839, was educated in the district schools, and spent his earliest boyhood days on the paternal farm. When ten years of age he found employment in the hard- ware and implement store of his two half brothers, George D. and W. D. Sprecher, with whom he re- mained until the breaking out of the Civil war, an opportunity which ignited the possibilities of men, and of none more than Capt. Philip L. Sprecher. - On the paternal side his ancestors are identical with
44
600
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
those of George D. Sprecher, who is mentioned at length elsewhere.
The justice of the plaint of the Southern slave found no greater confirmation than in the service of such soldiers as Captain Sprecher. No finer record illuminates this time of unigosed passions, of unreas- oning and bitter hate. A fair idea of his place in the roll call of the national honor is best conveyed by the following interesting account compiled from autlien- tic sources for the United States Army and Navy Association :
"Philip L. Sprecher enlisted from Lancaster coun- : ty, Pa., on the 4th of June, 1861, to serve three years or during the war, and was mustered into the United : States service at Westchester, l'a., as a private of Capt. Thomas B. Barton's company B, 30th Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, known as the First Pennsylvania Reserve, Colonel R. Biddle Roberts commanding. The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Wayne, near Westchester. Pa., and left the state for Baltimore, July 22d, thence moved to An- napolis, Md., where it performed guard duty until the 30th, when it moved to Washington, D. C .. thence to Tennallytown. Md., where it was assigned : to the Ist Brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. On October roth marched to Langley, Va .. and December 20th to Dranesville. Va., reaching the ; latter place just after the battle had closed. March 10, 1862, marched to Alexandria, Va .. and was soon ! after assigned to the Ist Brigade, 2nd Division. Ist Corps, and later to the 5th Corps. Army of the Po- tomac. It participated in the following engagements. i viz. : Tunstall Station, Seven Days Fight, including Mechanicsville, Gaines Mills, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads. Malvern Hill, Manassas, Bull Run, Chantilly, Va., South Mountain, Antietam Creek, Antietam, Md., Bennett House, Fredericks- burg. Va., Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, Mile Run Campaign, New Hope Church, Wilderness, Par- ker's Store, Spottsvivania, Laurel Hill, North Anna, Jericho Ford, Tolopotomy, Bethseda Church, and numerous minor skirmishes.
"The said Philip L. Sprecher was at all times with his command, and for gallantry and meritor- ious conduct was promoted to Corporal August 17, 1861, and to sergeant October 18, 186t, and was commissioned 2nd lieutenant March 1. 1863. for con- spicuous bravery, and to brevet Ist lieutenant to date from March 13. 1865, for gallantry and meritorious service in the Wilderness Campaign. At the battle of Antietam, he, with a comrade, forced themselves into the enemy's lines, but succeeded in returning to the Union lines, having captured two Rebel officers and two men. He still has in his possession a sword that he took from one of the said officials. He was honorably discharged June 13, 1864, at Philadelphia. by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment. He re-enlisted. July 20, 1864. to serve one hundred days, and was mustered into the service at Camp . Curtin, Philadelphia. and commissioned captain of Company G, 195th Regiment Pennsylvania Volun-
teer Infantry, Colonel Joseph W. Fisher command- ing. He veteranized to serve one year or during the war. and on Nov. 1, 1864. was transferred to com- mand of Company C, of the same regiment, Colonel Fisher being still in command.
"On July 24, 1864, the regiment moved to Balti- more, Md., thence to Monocacy Junction, where it was engaged in guarding lines of railroad, and was thoroughly drilled, on the ist of October proceeding 1 to Berkeley county, W. Va., and was posted along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, with head- quarters at North Mountain station. In February, 1805, the regiment was re-organized and shortly afterward ordered to Charleston. where it formed part of the command of Gen. T. W Eagan. On April Ist the regiment was detailed to guard the fords of the Shenandoah river, with headquarters at Cable- town, afterward moved to Berryville and Harrison- . berg, performing guard duty and provost duty until , ordered home for muster out, on the way participat- ing in a number of skirmishes with bands of the enemy
"Captain Sprecher was constantly with his re- spective commands during his three enlistments, and carned high commendations, as is 'evidenced by his frequent promotions. He received his final honora- ble discharge June 21. 1865, at Harrisburg, Pa., by reason of the close of the war."
But one thing concerning the captain's army record should be added to the above. and that is that he was discharged with the rank of brevet major. Interesting as was his military career, however, his experiences in civil life have been quite as entertain- ing.
After the war Capt. Sprecher found employment as a salesman for the late A. W. Russell, hardware merchant, after which he clerked at the "Leopard Hotel" for a time, and in 1866 became superintendent of the "Lititz Springs Hotel," remaining in that ca- pacity three years. For the following two years he was proprietor of the "Neffsville Hotel," and in 1873 we find him in the office of the chief of police of Lancaster, serving two terms under the adminis- tration of Capt. W. D. Stauffer. He then opened a detective bureau, having discovered a natural apti- tude for work of this kind, and the wisdom of this departure was evidenced by the speedy reputatie !! he made all over the State as a cool, collected. and wise determiner of criminal responsibility. The at- tributes which had made him a soldier par excellence. were in demand in his new line of work, and by ap- plying them as occasion demanded he was enable t to make some of the most important arrests in the annals of Pennsylvania criminology. He captured John Frankford, the State's most desperate horse thief, and in this effort displayed unusual ingenuity . He followed the much wanted man's wife to Coates- ville, boarding the train with her unnoticed, and without a weapon of any kind. Frankford was wait- ing at the railroad station for his wife, was fully armed, yet nevertheless surrendered to the Captain
601
BIOGRAPIIICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
after being informed that he would put a bullet hole through him if he refused to surrender. The de _- perado was much disgusted after boarding the train and being handcuffed, to learn that the Captain's arms were purely those of the imagination. This capture led to the conviction of the horse thief. and his sentence to nineteen years in the penitentiary. The Captain was also largely instrumental in se- curing the capture and breaking up of the notorious Buzzard gang of outlaws, and worked up the case that led to the conviction of James E. Pannell, the wife murderer, who, however, cheated the gallows by committing suicide.
After giving up the detective business Captain Sprecher entered the United States Internal Rev- enue service, in fact was twice in the service, from which he eventually resigned to remove to Franklin county. Here he found relief from the strenuous ac- tivity which had characterized his former life, and, parchasing a mill, managed the running of the same for about seven fears. Upon returning to Lancaster he was a salesman in Diller's hardware store. after- ward in Herr & Snavely's establishment, and then became superintendent of the weaving department in the Lancaster county prison, a position which he is creditably filling at the present time.
Captain Sprecher married Mary Elizabeth Streaker, daughter of the late Benjamin Streaker. Of this urion there was one son, Edward Diller, who died in March, 1898, at the age of twenty-eight. This son had been a bookkeeper in the Farmers' Na- tional Bank of Lancaster for ten years. Mrs. Sprecher died March 31, 188 ;. Captain Sprecher, whose residence is at No. 325 East Walnut street, Lancaster, is a quiet. unobtrusive gentleman, and only those who know of his splendidly directed life would suppose that his mind contained so many memories of great and important occurrences. Drawn out. he is intensely interesting, and his con- versation is replete with the sparkle and conviction born of enthusiasm and direct knowledge of his sub- ject. He is justly popular in military, political, bus- iness and social circles, and no man of whom we have any immediate knowledge in this neighborhood has greater strength of character, or exerts a more enviable influence.
-
WILLIAM C. PENNY. One of the thrifty and well-established farmers of Drumore township, is William C. Penny, who was born Feb. 29. 1848. son of Hugh and Sarah (Wentz) Penny, both of Drumore township, their extraction being Irish and English.
Hugh Penny, the father of William C., was born in 1812, a son of Joseph Penny, and died in 1882. Ile was one of the leading men of his township, well known and thoroughly respected. In 1836 he mar- ried Sarah Wentz, who was born in 1817 and died in 1880; she was a daughter of Joseph Wentz, of Martic township. Their marriage was blessed with these children: Mary M., who married Henry
Peagan. of Martic township, but is now deceased ; Joseph, who is a farmer of Colerain township ; Ad- claide. the wife of Thomas Wilson, of York county, Pa .; Maria J., the wife of Aldus Aument, of East Drumore township ; William C., our subiect : Hugh T., of Chester county; and Laura M., who is the wife of William Overholt, a retired druggist of Bal- timore, Maryland.
The Penny family in America can be easily traced to great-grandfather Hugh Penny, who came from Ireland at an early day and settled in the southern part of Lancaster county. He was a stanch Pres- byterian and an uncompromising Democrat, and these two family beliefs have descended from father to son ever since.
Joseph Penny, the grandfather of our subject, reared these children : James : Hugh ; Hannah, who married William Wentz; Sarah, who married John Wentz: Mary Jane, who married Thomas Wentz : and Harriet, who married Steele Morrison, all of these well known in their day, but all have passed awav.
William C. Penny was reared on the farm, and acquired his education in the common schools of his native township, choosing farming as his life work. Although he was hampered in his early career by limited icans, he has been careful and industrious, and now is the owner of a fine farm with good barns and improvements, and a most comfortable residence. as payment for his past labors. Their res- idence has some historic interest, having been built by the Calhoun Brothers, about 1815, they being the brothers of the great-grandmother of Mr. Penny.
On Dec. 21, 1882, Mr. Penny was married to Miss Mary J. Bockins, of Little Britain township, who was born Dec. 25. 1861, daughter of George and Sylvia (Wilson) Bockins, a family of English ori- gin. Besides Mrs. Penny their children were : John L. of Little Britain township ; and Fannie M .. un- married. a resident of Britain. Mr. Bockins was born in IS17 and died in 1889, his father having been Samuel Bockins, a member of one of the old families of this part of the State. His wife died in 1885.
Mr. and Mrs. Penny have no children of their own, but in the kindness of their hearts, they adopt- ed five-year-old Charles R. Clark, who was born Ang. 4, 1885. and he has proven a dutiful and af- fectionate son, honestly grateful for the parental care he has received from Mr. and Mrs. Penny. Both Mr. Penny and wife are members of the Chest- nut Level Presbyterian Church where they are high- Jy valued. Mr. Penny enjoys the esteem of his neighbors and the affection of his friends, his estima- ble character being known through the locality. This is one of the truly representative families, in point of character and public respect, in Drumore town- ship.
REUBEN K. SCHNADER, a prominent tobac- co merchant of the city of Lancaster, as well as one of its keen, intelligent business men, was born Aug.
692
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
16, 1832, near what is now Terre Hill, East Ear! township, this county, son of Jacob and Lydia (Clime) Schnader.
The Schnader family originated in this country with the great-great-grandfather of Reuben K .. who emigrated, in the early part of the eighteenth cen- tury, to East Earl township, this county, settling on a farm which is still in possession of the Schnaders. It is not known where he is buried.
Jacob Schnader, the great-grandfather, was one of the organizers of the Centre. Lutheran and Re- formed Church, the site of which was the burial ground of one of his children. When Jacob settled four iniles back from the Conestoga river, in the virgin forest, all the surrounding country was a wilderness, and he commenced to clear a farm with his axe. He worked with the energy of those men of iron, who seemed to know no fatigue, during his entire life, and at his death this sturdy pioncer was the owner of 1,000 acres of excellent land. Jacob Schnader was a miost remarkable man, for he lived to his ninety-fifth year, being born in 1735 and1 died in 1820. He was married for the second time at the age of seventy-five.
Baltzer Schnader, son of Jacob and grandfather of Reuben K., was born in 1765, at the old home- stead, where he resided until he married Barbara Kitzmiller, when he located in Franklin county, en- gaging in agricultural pursuits for a few years. He then returned to the township where he was born. became the owner of a fine farm of 270 acres, and erected a stone house for a place of residence. This was the first stone house built in the neighborhood : the roof was imported tiles, and the glass in the windows only four inches square.
Jacob Schnader. son of Baltzer and father of Reuben K., was born Dec. 25, 1800, and was one of a family of fourteen children. His death occurred Nov. 13. 1861, when he was sixty years. ten months and eighteen days old. He married Lydia Clime, who died Jan. II, ISTS, aged seventy-one years, nine months and twenty-three days. Both were interred in Terre Hill Cemetery. During his active life, the father was a farmer of Terre Hill, East Earl town- ship, but retired before his death. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Evangeli- cal Church, and most worthy and excellent people. To them were born: Caroline, deceased, who mar- ried the late John Bowman of Mt. Joy; Sophia. de- ceased, wife of the late Jacob Flickinger : Davis, de- ceased ; William, retired landowner of large means residing in Terre Hill, this county ; Levi, a tinsmith of Adamıstown : Reuben K .; and Lydia, who mar- ried Isaac R. Garman. an invalid retired from active business, residing at Reamstown, Pennsylvania.
The boyhood days of Reuben K. Schnader were similar to those of any hearty country boy, he work- ing upon the farm in summer and attending sub- scription schools whenever opportunity offered. When he was nineteen. he went to Clearfield county to prospect for lime, and upon his return passed two
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.