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 59
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passed away, aged sixty-six years, and is buried at East Prospect. She was a daughter of Jacob Ole- wiler, also a native of York, Pennsylvania.
Dr. John W. Kinard was born Feb. 15. 1858, at Wrightsville. York county, and grew to manhood upon his father's farm. Of the eleven children, six sons and five daughters, who lived to grow to ma- turity, Dr. Kinard is the eldest, and he has one brother. George C., who is also a physician of Lan- caster county, and his other brothers are school teach- crs. Like many country boys, Dr. Kinard attended the district school, but he had the advantage of an academic course, after which he followed the calling of a school teacher for six years. During his vaca- tions, however, he attended the Millersville Normal School for five years, and then took up the study of medicine, for which he had always had a strong in- clination, with Dr. Bigler, of East Prospect. For a year he studied with this excellent physician, then continued his studies with Dr. J. Hay, of York, until ISTO, when he was prepared to enter the University of Maryland at Baltimore, from which he was gradu- ated in 1882, with the degree of M. D.
Following his graduation, Dr. Kinard established himself at Fast Prospect, and for five years was suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of his profession in that locality, building up a large and wealthy list of patients. But feeling that he needed further experi- ence and instruction, Dr. Kinard sold his practice to Dr. J. A. Stoner and went to New York, entering Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which he was graduated March 11, 1888, with degree of M. D. Prior to this he had taken a post-graduate course in Philadelphia in the Polyclinic College and College for Graduates in Medicine. In the spring of 1888 Dr. Kinard located at No. 17 East Walnut street, Lancaster, where he has since remained. and during the years which have followed he has firmly estab- lished himself in the confidence of the people of the city, while his success demonstrates his ability to cope with disease. In politics Dr. Kinard is an ardent Republican. and supports the principles of that party upon every occasion. During his resi - dence at East Prospect he served as school director, and held every office within the gift of the people from an inspector to chief burgess. His religious connections are with St. John's Lutheran Church, of which he is a liberal supporter. Socially Dr. Kinard is a thirty-second degree Mason, and belongs to the F. & A. M., No. 276, Lamberton Lodge, Chapter No. 43. Knights Templar, and Harrisburg Consist- ory. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., East : Prospect Lodge, No. 944: Jr. O. U. A. M .; A. & I. O. of Malta, No. 99; Eagles; member and ex- presi ient and secretary of the Lancaster Pathologi- cal Society: president of the Lancaster City and County Medical Society ; member of the State Medi- cal Society and American Medical Association, and attended the last session of the American Medical Association at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., as a repre- sentative.
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In September, 1883, Dr. Kinard was married to Miss Isabelle Weidman, of York City, P'a., and their children are: Kerwin W., attending the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1905 ; and Margaret C., at home. Mrs. Kinard, a most charming and accom- plished lady, is a daughter of Jacob Weidman, a farmer of York county, and was born in York, where she was reared and educated. Dr. Kinard possesses more than ordinary ability, is successful in a marked degree, and, judging by the light of the past, his future is a bright and promising one.
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JOHN KENDIG (deceased) was during a long life one of Lancaster county's excellent farmers and highly esteemed and substantial citizens. He was born in West Lampeter township. Lancaster county, Dec. 18, 1818, and his death took place on his farm March 4, 1896, his remains being interred in Long- necker's cemetery, in West Lampeter township.
John and Frances ( Herr) Kendig, his parents. were natives of Lampeter and Manor townships, re- spectively. The former died in 1848, and the latter in 1856. They were members of the Methodist Church, but were interred in the New Mennonite cemetery at New Danville. Their children were as follows: Eliza, deceased. married John Hoover ; Barbara is the widow of Martin Mylin and the mother of Hon. Amos H. Mylin, of West Lamipeter . township ; Fanny died mumarried ; John is the sub- ject of this sketch: George is deceased; and Abra- ham is a farmer of New Carlisle, Ohio.
By birth and environment John Kendig was a farmer, his honored ancestors having successfully cultivated the soil for generations. He showed a natural aptitude for his vocation, and from the age of twenty-one years operated the farm upon which his quiet and upright existence was spent, until his retirement from activity in 1874. When Mr. Ken- dig resolved upon shifting the burdens to younger shoulders, he erected a separate home, which also was one of comfort and attractiveness. As a man of scrupulous honesty, highest integrity and financial responsibility, Mr. Kendig was prominent in Lan- caster county. He was one of the directors of the Willowstreet Turnpike Co., and later president until his deatlı.
On March 15, 1842, in Lancaster, John Kendig was united in marriage to Miss Mary Herr, born in West Lampeter township May 31, 1820, daughter of Martin and Mary (Herr) Herr, of West Lamp- eter township, the former of whom was born June 12, 1788. and was a farmer on the old Herr farm of that locality, and both of whom were members of one of the oldest and most highly esteemed families - - of the county. His death occurred when he was aged eighty years. Mrs. Herr died March 5, 1823, when only twenty-five years of age. Both were con- sistent members of the Mennonite Church. Their children were: Frances, born March 28, 1818, died in infancy ; Mary married John Kendig ; and Martha. born August 23, 1822, is the widow of Gabriel : his residence in Millersville, where he owns a hand-
Wenger. of West Lampeter township. On the paternal side the family may be traced on back to Francis and Fanny ( Barr) Herr. farming people of West Lampeter township, and still farther. to John Herr, of Lancaster county, father of Francis. Through intermarriages this family is connected with almost all of the leading families of the county.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Kendig: M. Frances, who died unmar- ried, at the age of fity-five years; Addah L. and Martin H., twins, the former of whomi married Frank Bare, and died March 14, 1901, the latter of whom is a farmer of Clark county, Wash. : John E., who died in infancy; John B., who resides on the old homestead in Willowstreet. married to Susan K. Brackbill: Mary, who is the widow of Christian Herr, of Manor township ; Dr. Elizabeth, now a resi- dent of Lancaster : and Miss B. Alice, also a resident of Lancaster. The removal of Mrs. Kendig from the farin to Lancaster was accomplished in April, 1896, and she is one of the most highly esteemed ladies of this city, and a most devoted and worthy member of the New Mennonite Church.
Dr. Elizabeth Kendig is one of the highly edu- cated and successful practitioners of Lancaster. Her tastes early led her to begin the study of medi- cinc, and under the able instruction and direction of irs. Dr. Mary Wilson, of Lancaster, she was pre- pared for entrance to the Woman's College of Pena- sylvania, át Philadelphia, from which she graduated with honors in 1886. She then located for practice in Reading Pa., where she remained until I898, go- ing thence to Chicago, Ill. Several months in the Windy City gave her needed experience, and she re- turned and located permanently in Lancaster. Hete she has taken a leading position. She belongs to the Berks County Medical Society.
Miss B. Alice Kendig is a lady of independent means, and she and her sister, Dr. Kendig. have long resided together. Both ladies belong to the German Reformed Church, and mingle with the best social circles of Lancaster.
JOHN F. CHARLES. This prominent and re- spected citizen of Millersville is the son of Christian Charles, a well known and successful farmer of Manor township. Lancaster county. He was born Jan. 5, 1843, and received his education in the con- mon schools of the neighborhood. He remained with his father upon the farm until his marriage, which was solemnized Nov. 21, 1865. his bride being Miss Anna Denlinger, who was born May 2, 1844. 1 daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Mellinger) Denlinger. After their marriage Mr. Charles and his wife took up their residence on a farm of ninety- seven acres, near Little Washington, in the Susque- hanna valley. This he continued to cultivate for cigliteen years, when he removed to the paternal farm, which he managed for fourteen years, In the spring of nos he gave up active work and took up
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some, well-appointed home and six acres of land. His life has been a remarkably successful one, and the success is due chiefly to those sterling qualities of mind and heart which have distinguished him from boyhood. His ideas on public questions are fully abreast of the times in which he lives, and his influ- ence in the community is widely felt. He is a stock- holder and director in the Mountville Bank, as well as in the Mountville Manufacturing Co., and is re- garded as one of the county's foremost and substan- tial citizens.
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To Air. and Mrs. Charles three children have been born, two of whom, Henry D. and John D., are yet living, to do honor to their parents' name and to benefit the community in which they reside. Henry was born May 31, 1874, and John on June 29. 1878. Both are graduates of the State Normal School at Millersville, the elder in the class of 1891, and the younger in 1899, and both have had experience as teachers. Henry D. is a farmer, working the home place, and married Hettie Charles. John D. is at- tending Franklin and Marshall College, in Lancaster, from which he will graduate in the regular classical course leading to the degree A. B. in the summer of 1905. The entire family are Mennonites.
JOHN C. SEITZ, a retired farmer, ex-soldier and greatly respected citizen of Mountville, Lan- caster county, was born in Manor township, this county, March 9, 1835, son of Jacob Seitz, Sr., and a brother of Charles C. Seitz, whose sketch will be found elsewhere.
In Lancaster City, Aug. 15, 1859, John C. Seitz married Charlotte Herr, and to this union have been born six children, as follows: Jacob H., a farmer residing at Mountville, married Catherine Shuman ; John H., a carpenter at the same place, married to Barbara Wriggle; Aaron H., a grocer at Mountville, married to Anna Copland; Susan H. is at home ; Isaiah H., principal of the Pearl street school in Lancaster, married to Laura Myers ; and Barbara H. is at home, but a school teacher by profession. Mrs. Charlotte (Herr) Seitz was born in New Danville, Pequea township, Lancaster county, Oct. 2, 1838, daughter of Rudolph, and sister of Aaron, Herr, mentioned elsewhere.
John C. Seitz lived on the home farm until twenty-three years of age, and then farmed on his own account in Manor township for thirty years, when he came to live in retirement in Mountville, doing only such work as suits his taste, occupies his mind and gives him necessary exercise.
On Aug. 24, 1864, John C. Scitz enlisted in Co. H, 203d Reserve Pennsylvania Volunteers, Birney's Sharpshooters, but his company later changed its commander, Capt. Charles Liman assuming charge. Mr. Seitz took part in many skirmishes, and in the bombardment and capture of Fort Fisher escaped being wounded or taken prisoner, and was honorably discharged in Raleigh. N. C., June 22, 1865, since when he has resided in quiet on his farm, or in re-
tirement in Mountville. Mr. Seitz is a Republican in politics, and his amiable wife is an active and faith- ful member of the Mennonite church.
HENRY WORST, the senior member of the mercantile firm of Worst & Shertz, of Springville, Salisbury township, was born in that village, March 20, 1835, son of Henry, Sr., and Mary ( Kurtz) Worst.
The Worst family was established in Lancaster county about 1760, by three brothers of the name who came hither from Switzerland, one settling in Germantown, one settling in Cornwall, Lebanon county, and the third in Terre Hill, Lancaster county. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Worst, of this sketch. were Peter and Barbara (Weaver) Worst, farming people of Lancaster county, who died on the old homestead in Springville.
Henry Worst, Sr., father. was born in the same house as was his son, and became a well known and respected farmer of Salisbury township. He was born in 1795, and died at the age of eighty-nine years. He married Mary Kurtz, daughter of Samuel and Barbara (Showalder) Kurtz, of Lancaster. She died in 1843, aged forty-four years, and was buried beside her husband on a part of the old farm, in a private cemetery. Both were members of the Men- nonite Church. Their children were as follows : Barbara, deceased. married John Wanner : Peter, dc- ceased, married Maria Good : Samuel married Nancy Kurtz, deceased, and is a farmier of Salisbury town- ship; Elias, deceased, married Susannah Gayhill ; Mary, deceased. married Joseph H. Bair ; Miss Eliza- beth resides on the old homestead; Susannah, who married Daniel Kurtz, resides in this township; Henry is the subject of this sketch : Leah died at the age of six years ; and Catherine died at the age of eighteen years.
Henry Worst acquired a good, common school education and remained assisting his father on the farm until he was twenty years of age, at which time he embarked in a general mercantile business, open- ing up a stock of goods, in Springville, at his present location. In 1871 he admitted C. M. Shertz as a partner, and the business has been very prosperously conducted ever since. Both Mr. Worst and Mr. Shertz are men of business ability, and have made it their rule to buy and sell as suits the convenience of their large number of patrons. Their upright meth- ods and careful selection of seasonable goods have attracted and retained a large trade.
In politics Mr. Worst is a Republican, and has held the office of postmaster since 1855. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is one of the representative citizens of Salisbury township.
In June, 1863, Mr. Worst was married in Provi- dence township to Miss Susan Frailey, born in Earl township, Ang. 26. 1838, daughter of Danicl and Anna (Long) Frailick, the former of whom was a blacksmith and died in Paradise township, in 1888, and the latter of whom died in 1386, aged sixty-one
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years. They were respectively members of the Men- nonice and the Dunkard Churches, and they were in- terred in Meilinger's cemetery, near Lancaster. Their children were: Joseph, deceased: Daniel. a railroad baggage master in Harrisburg. married Lillie Herr: Anna married Henry Brown. of Para- dise township : Rebecca is the widow of Elias Her- man, of Lancaster: Abby married John Wright, of Lancaster: Susan is Mrs. Worst. Her maternal grandparents were Jonathan and Susan (Reno) Long.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Worst are as follows: Catherine, who is the widow of Clayton De Haven, resides at home and has four children ; Clayton, who married Margaret Bowers and has one child, resides on the old homestead ; Henry, who mar- ried Mazie Kurtz, has one child, and they live in Springville ; and Miss Anna is at home.
seventy-six years. They had a family of ten chil- dren: John, who is now deceased, but for many Years was a hotel keeper: Catherine, deceased. mar- ried Martin Bombarger : Daniel, deceased in infancy : Adam, a drover, now deceased ; Mary, who resides in Lancaster, and is the widow of Martin Musser: Henry, deceased, who was, like his father and brother. a hotel keeper; Samuel. of this sketch ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of John Rudisill : Sarah, the widow of Abraham Brown, and living with Mrs. D. W. Hershey ; and Graybill, deceased.
SAMUEL DIETRICHI, son of Adam and great-grand- son of Philip the emigrant, was born Sept. 10, 1824. and is a resident of Bamford. Until the age of seven- teen years he lived on the farm, and then became en- gaged in assisting his father in his hotel enterprise. remaining with him until he married. He then re- moved to Landisville, this county, and there he re- mained for the succeeding fourteen years, later occupying several other locations in East Hempfield township. It was about 1883 that Mr. Dietrich pur- chased the small property in Bamford, where he resided until the death of his wife, in 1807, broke un his home. Since that date Mr. Dietrich has
PHILIP DIETRICHI, the founder of the Die- trich family in Lancaster county, came hither from Alsace, Germany. and made his home in Manheim : township, along the New Holland Pike road, buying land located within two miles of the city of Lancaster. This worthy German emigrant brought with him the i made his home with his son. By occupation Mr. provident habits of his native land, and at the time of Dietrich is a fence-builder, and has constructed many miles of fencing in this and adjacent counties, and has also done the butchering. in the season, for This farmer neighbors, this being a very important branch of work on the farm. A man skilled in the art of preparing meats for winter consumption is always in demand through the rural districts. his death left his heirs not only 600 acres of rich and improved land, valuable on account of its nearness to a flourishing city, but also a sum of $75,000 in money. On account of some disagreement, litiga- tion began over this estate, continuing until it was about consumed. making one of the most famous cases in the annals of Lancaster county. The family In 1851 Mir. Dietrich was married to Miss Mary Steward, who was a daughter of Alexander Stew- ard, who was born in East Hempfell township, and lived a most estimable life through sixty-six years, i passing away in 1897. A family of six children was born to Mr. and Mrs. Dietrich: Elizabeth, who mar- of the founder consisted of two sons, Henry and Michael, and several daughters. Two of his great- great-granddaughters who now reside in this county are Mrs. I. P. Maver, of Laudisville, and Mrs. B. W. Hershey, of the same place.
Henry Dietrich was a well known farmer, and he | ried I. P. Maver: Emma, who married B. W. lived on the old homestead until the age of fifty-one | Hershey; Henry, deceased ; Sarah, deceased : Frank- years, marrying a member of the Diller family, later, after her death. marrying her sister, Sally Diller. | who is The children of the first marriage were: Adam: | Daniel: Samuel: Mrs. Gip; Mrs. Carpenter; and Mrs. Michael. The children of the second marriage were: Philip: Sallie, who became Mrs. Frissler ; and Martha, who married Israel Groff. Both par- ents were worthy members of the Lutheran Church.
large estate of his grandfather, Philip Dietrich. In | man) Herr. early life Adam Dietrich was a farmer, but later he engaged in the hotel business, successfully managing 1 hostelries in different localities until advancing years made it necessary for him to retire from ac- tivity. His life extended to the unusual age of ninety-six years, four months and twenty-six days. Adam Dietrich married Miss Mary Swope, who was born in Leacock township, and she lived to the age of
! lin, who makes his home in the West; and Adam,. resident of Bamford. The Dietrich family have always been supporters of the Lutheran : Church. MIrs. Dietrich was a member of the Ger- man Baptist Church. Both she and her husband en- joyed the esteem of a wide circle of friends.
GEORGE K. HERR, a resident of Pequea Adam Dietrich, son of Henry and father of Sam- uel Dietrich of Bamford, was born and reared on the township, was born in West Lampeter township. near the mouth of Mill Creek, May 27, 1847, son of old homestead. and in the course of time became the | Jacob and Mary ( Kreider) Herr (both deceased). successor of his father in the administration of the ; and grandson of Christian and Catherine (Kauff-
Jacob Herr was born Nov. 17, 1817. near Millers- ville, in what is now Lancaster township, where he was reared and educated in the public schools. He was married Oct. 13, 1846, to Mary, a daughter of George and Mary (Swarr) Kreider, a native of Pequen township (which then bore the name of Conestoga), where she was born Nov. 4, 1822. After their marriage the young couple located at the mill
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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
in West Lampeter township, where Mr. Herr was engaged in the milling business some twenty-four years, and was familiarly known as "Sawmiller Jacob Herr." His attention was largely given to the manu- facture of lumber until ISzo, when he purchased seventy-seven acres of land, near Hollinger. in West Lampeter township. His death occurred Dec. 4, 1871, and his widow survived until Feb. 28. 189S. They were members of the oid Mennonite Church, and had the following children: George K. ; Chris- tian, a resident of West Lampeter township; Jacob K., who died July 17. 1902; Miss Mary ; Henry K., who died in infancy : Catherine K., the wife of Sam- uel Gochnauer, of West Lampeter: Miss Elizabeth ; Barbara, the wife of John Herr. of Lancaster town- ship ; and Benjamin K., of East Lampeter township.
George K. Herr was reared to the sawmill busi- ness and received his education in the common schools. When he was twenty-six, in 1873, he mar- ried and took charge of the mill that had been so long operated by his father. He put in a chopping mill, and carried it on for twenty-one years. In 1895 he purchased a farmi of ninety-one acres at Baum- gardner Station, in Peguea townsinn, which has been his home to the present time. Here he has made valuable improvements and brought the farm up to a high condition of cultivation. For three years Mr. Herr was a member of the school board in West Lampeter township.
On Nov. 27. 1873. Mr. Herr was married to Elizabeth Harnish. daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Buckwalter) Harnish, who was born in Conestoga township, June 10. 1853. They have been blessed with the following children: Jacob, who married Miss Barbara Huber. daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Reinhart) Huber, operates the Martic milis in Pequea township : and Mary, Aaron, Annie, Lizzie and Barbara, all of whom are still under the parental rooi.
ELIAS H. HERR, now living retired, was long one of the energetic and successful farmers of East Lampeter township. where his family has for many years been one of the most respected. He is a son . of Solomon Herr, and a grandson of Abraham Herr.
Abraham Herr was born in Lancaster county and lived near Lancaster City all his life. By occu- pation he was a farmer and distiller. He was one of the Old Mennonites in Lancaster county. His fam- ily consisted of five children, as follows: Solomon, the father of our subiect : Peter, Abram and Chris- tian. all deceased ; and Annie, wife of Henry Herr.
Solomon Herr was born in East Lampeter town- ship, Jan. 6, 1806. He lived at home with his par- ents until he was of age, receiving a common school education, and he then began farming for himself on the place a part of which our subject now owns. He, too, was a member of the Old Mennonite Church. He married Miss Catherine Herr, daughter of John and Barbara Herr, of Manor township, and they became the parents of six children, two of whom
died in infancy ; Emanuel H. ; Abraham and Elias H., our subject, twins, of East Lampeter township ; and Adam H., of Lancaster City.
Elias H. Herr, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in East Lampeter township, Aug. 12, 1842. He lived at home with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, received a common school education, and he then began life for him- self. After living one year on the farm of his father- in-law, he took charge of that place, where he re- mained thirty-one years. He has since lived retired. Mr. Herr has ably sustained the reputation which all the members of his family have enjoyed for in- dustry. honesty and upright living, and he ranks. de- cidedly, among the most valuable citizens of his sec- tion of Lancaster county.
On Nov. 5, 1863, Elias H. Herr was married to Mary L. Rohrer, daughter of John Rohrer, of East Lammeter township, and to this union have been born two children: Aaron R., who died when six years of age ; and Elam R., who still lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Herr are both members of the Old Mennonite Church.
CHRISTIAN H. COBLE (deccased). Few men in Alt. Joy township were better known or more thoroughly respected through a long and successful life than was Christian H. Coble. He was born Feb. 22, 1836. in Conewago township. Dauphin Co .. Pa., just over the line of Lancaster county. Pa., and he died in February, 1806, in the village of Bellaire, which at one time was a portion of his farm His burial took place in Risser's Meeting House ceme- terv. in Mt. Jov township.
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