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 61
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
714
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
tive township of Salisbury, Lancaster county. He was born April 4, 1838.
John and Elizabeth ( Mast) Reeser, his parents, were born, respectively, in Salisbury township, Lan- caster county, and in Berks county, Pa., and in Sal- isbury township the mother, who was born in 1804, was called to rest in 1869, and the father, who was born in iSoo, died in 1887. Both were members of the Mennonite church, and their remains were in- terred in the Old Road Mennonite cemetery. Their children were eleven in number, born and circum- stanced as follows: Jacob, a retired railroad man and living in Philadelphia: Christian, who lost his life at a barn-raising : Barbara, living in Berks coun- ty, the widow of Christon Mast; John, deceased ; Nicholas, a retired farmer in Chester county ; Susan- na, wife of David Wanner, also a resident of Ches- ter county : Plank. in whose interest this biography is prepared ; Martha. deceased, but who was twice married. first to Amos Kurtz, and secondly to Mil- ton Coffroad: Joseph, a retired merchant in Lan- caster City ; and Samuel and Amos, retired farmers of Salisbury township. The paternal grandparents of Plank Reeser were Jacob and Barbara ( Plank) Reeser, of Lancaster county.
Plank Reeser aided in the cultivation of the homestead until his marriage, Dec. 8, 1865, in Salis- bury township, to Miss Mary Ann Wanner, who has borne him six children, viz. : Samuel j., a farm- er ; Mrs. Amanda Eby, who is the mother of one child ; John A .. still at home: Elias P., a farmer, and married to Sarah A. Reeser: Harry W., also a farmer and married to Lena Metzler : Martin H .; and Anna E. The three last named still reside tin- der the parental roof, and the others reside elsewhere in the township. Mrs. Mary Ann ( Wanner) Reeser was born in Salisbury township April 13, 1845, a daughter of Jacob and Nancy ( Kurtz) Wanner, the former of whom followed agriculture from boyhood until within twelve years of his death, which oc- curred in May, 1808, at the well advanced age of eighty-one years : his wife died in 1869, when she was but forty-eight years old. The remains of both. however, now rest side by side, in the Old Road Mennonite cemetery, they having been life-long members of the Mennonite Congregation. They had born to their union five children, namely : Mary Ann, wife of Plank Reeser ; Elias, a farmer in Salisbury township: Margaret, wife of Moses Hershey, a farmer in Leacock township: Lydia. deceased wife of Frank Kurtz : and Elizabeth, who died in infancy. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Reeser were Da- vid and Susannah ( Garber) Wanner, and the ma- ternal grandparents were Jacob and Mary ( Whit- zel) Kurtz, both families being of German extrac- tion and of old Pennsylvania parentage, whose pur- suit through life was entirely of an agricultural na- ture.
At his marriage. Plank Reeser and wife located on a farm adjoining the Reeser homestead, on which they resided and then settled on an adjoining farm
of II4 acres, which has since been their home. To this they have since added another adjoining farr! of 114 acres, and own besides a farm of Ily acre, and one of 107 acres, both in Salisbury township. Mr. Reeser has been one of the best agriculturists that Salisbury township has ever had within its lim- its, and he has won for himself the competency that he now so deservedly enjoys.
In politics Mr. Reeser has been a life-long Re- publican, has been very popular with his party, and has served seven years as township auditor. He has been very liberal in his contributions in aid of the public improvements of the township, and in the maintenance of the Mennonite church, of which he and wife are devout members, and the teachings of which they unswervingly follow.
WILLIAM HAAHILTON. The pursuit of agri- culture. although at times vexations and disappoint- ing, is as a rule not unpleasing. and if understand- ingly and persistently followed is sure to reward the pursuer with returns adequate to the time and la- hor expended, as the retired gentleman whose name heads this brief biography can testify. he having been born and reared to the vocation of farming. His birth took place in Leacock township. Oct. 23. TSI8. but his home is now in Salisbury township. He is a son of William and Elizabeth ( Miller ) Hamilton, natives of Bart and Paradise townships, and. respec- tiveiv. of Scotch-Irish and German extraction.
William Hamilton, the father, was a carpenter by trade and died in 1828, at the age of forty years. his remains being buried in the old Presbyterian churchvard in Leacock : the second marriage of Mrs. Hamilton was to Eli jackson. To William an ! Eliz- abeth ( Miller) Hamilton were born seven children, named as follows: James, now deceased : Marga- ret, who died young : Mary, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-six years: William, whose name opens this article : Joseph, deceased : Elizabeth. wid- ow of Charles Marron, and residing in Philadelphia, and Sarah. widow of Michael Murr. and now living in New Holland, this county. To Eli and Elizabeth ( Hamilton ) Jackson were born two children: Sa- billa. deceased wife of James Miller : and Mardula. widow of Benjamin Weaver of Lancaster. The mother of these children was called away in 1879. at the well-advanced age of eighty-six years, and her remains now lie at rest in the Episcopal cemetery in Leacock township.
William Hamilton, whose name heads this sketch. aided his mother on the home property until he was twenty-two years old, and then worked out among the neighboring farmers until he was twenty-nine. On March 4. 1847, in New Holland, he married Sar- ah Miller, and began farming on his own account in Salisbury township. This marriage was crowned with the birth of five children, namely: Maria, who is married to Jacob Rife, a farmer in Salisbury town- ship, and has four children: Elizabeth, wife of James High, also a farmer in Salisbury township.
715
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
has five children ; Veronica, twin of Elizabeth, died in infancy; Susannah, also died in infancy ; Lydia. who is married to Winfield Ramsey, farmer in East Lampeter township, has three children.
Mrs. Sarah ( Miller) Hamilton was born in Up- per Leacock township, Lancaster county, Feb. 22, 1822, and died in 1866, when she was about forty-four years old, her remains being interred in Christ Church cemetery in Leacock. Her parents were George and Mary ( Ronk ) Miller of Lancaster cou !- ty, the former of whom was a carpenter and died in 1857, when eighty years old ; his wife died in 1855. at the age of seventy-nine years, and their remains were interred in West Leacock Dunkard cemetery. they having been members, respectively. of the Christian Lutheran and German Reformed. churches. They were the parents of the following named children : Emma A., deceased wife of Will- iam Anderson ; Henry, deceased; George, deceased ; Maria, deceased wife of Michael Wise, and Sarah, the deceased wife of William Hamilton, of this bi- ographical memoir.
1
Since the death of his wife, Mr. Hamilton has made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. jacob Rife, although he has ample means to pay his way anywhere ; here he is at home. with loving hands to attend to his every want. Mr. Hamilton and his family are members of the Epis- copal church. In politics he is a Democrat. Re- markably active and well-preserved for his years. very generons in all things and charitable in the broadest sense of the word, he is looked upon as one of the best natured men in the county. He has many friends, and there is not an individual in the town- ship that does not respect and honor him.
HERMAN W. GRAYBILL. The founder of the Graybill family in Lancaster county was Daniel Graybill, who came from Switzerland to America, and made his home in the new land, upon a fine farm- ing tract in the locality of what now is Pennville- the original purchase of 100 acres, made more than a century ago, still being in possession of the same family. Two farms have been made of this pro- ductive land, upon which succeeding owners have been honest and energetic tillers of the rich soil ever since. The early members of the family were among the founders of the German Baptist Church in this locality.
Daniel Graybill had three sons: David, who re- moved to Ohio, and was the founder of a family there, which has many descendants : Samuel, who settled down near his birth place and engaged in farming, rearing a worthy family ; and the second son. Daniel, was the grandfather of the Graybill family of this vicinity.
In 1813 Daniel Grayhill, son of the founder, came into possession of the oki homestead, and thereon erected a residence which still is fit for occupancy, and remained on the place until his eldest son was ready to marry and form a home for himself, when
he purchased some 200 acres of the old Hershey cs- tate at Petersburg, removed to it, and gave up the homestead to his son. There he died, at the age of seventy-two, having been during his entire life a farmer. His wife was Mary Hollinger, and to them were born: Joseph, Daniel and Isaac. deceased : Ja- cob. who diel at the age of seventy-seven years : and Benjamin. Martha, Elizabeth and Barbara. all de- ceased.
Daniel Gravbill, the third of the name, was born in IS'IL, and died in 1800. He always followed a pastoral life. Politically he belonged to the Republi- can party, but ever set an example of the value of a. quiet life, devoted to his family and his religious duties, and reared a family which possesses the re- spect of the community in which it holds a prominent place. He married Elizabeth Witiner, the daugi- ter of Herman Witmer. who died in 1886, and Daniel Graybill died at the age of seventy-six. Their chil- dren were: Martha, the wife of Daniel Kreider. r -- sides on the old Graybill homestead, near Peters- burg ; Herman W. is our subject ; Amos W. died while on his way to California, from his home. in Kansas, where he had located, at Morrill, and was a well-known carpenter, farmer and undertaker ; Benjamin W. is a farmer and stock raiser of Ore- gon . and David W. is a tobacco dealer of Petersburg.
Herman W. Grayhill was born Sept. 15. IS22. and was reared as a farmer boy, early learning the duties and pleasures of agricultural life. He re- cetved his education in the most excellent schools of his district. his farther educational career being interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1863 he enlisted in Co. H. 47th State Militia. and faithfully served for three months. Mr. Graybill had advantages superior to the ordinary farmer boy, as he was able to spend two years in travel. visiting in this tour seventeen States, and gaining much experience and seeing life under many phases. Upon his return to Petersburg, he engaged in the coal and lumber business, also doing some farming. but public affairs have claimed a great portion of his time ever since he reached his maturity. Of a progres- sive and energetic nature. he has been identified with almost all the matters of public interest and im- provement. and has been particularly prominent in all educational movements. For twenty-four years he has served on the school board, for sixteen years being its efficient secretary. during which time many needed reforms have been made in the conduct of the schools, and in the erection and management of build- ings, the demands of increasing population making the labors no light task. Mr. Gravbill has filled ai- most every local office in the gift of his party, and was a delegate to the Republican County Convention. as early as his twenty-first year, has been judge of elec- tions, and is now serving his fourth term as director of the poor. the confidence of the whole county being placed in him. Many estates are satisfactorily set- tled by his good judgment and knowledge of law : for the past twenty-five years probably four or five
716
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
have been in his hands at one time. No man stands higher in the community, and no one is better fitted worthily to represent it.
Mr. Graybill lias been married three times. His first marriage was to Martha Landis, a daughter of Henry Landis, of Petersburg, but her death, with that of her infant, occurred in 1808. Mr. Gravbili was married second in 1860, to Mrs. Kate Minnich, a daughter of jacob Swarr, but her death occurred abont one year later, and on Oct. 21. 18:3. he married Fannie A. Ba-sler, the estimable daughter of John Bassler. To this union were born four cinidren: Nora, who is the wire of Tobn AMI. Groff, an attorney of Lancaster City; John B., who lives at home. a brilliant young man, who, after graduating with honors from the Franklin and Marshall College. of Lancaster City, in the class of 1000, was immedi- ately appointed a justice of the peace for Petersburg ; and Daniel and Kathryn, at home. The religious connection of the family is with the Reformed Church, where it is much esteemed. Mr. Graybill is a man who deserves the high favor in which he is held by his fellow-citizens, and in the many trusts that have been placed in his hands, he has acquit- ted himself with credit and to the satisfaction of all.
JOHN G. ZOOK, publisher of The Express, Lititz, was born in Manheim township, on the farm now occupied by James Purvis, on the Conestoga. a mile north of Binkley, May 30. 1853. He obtained his education in the common schools. with an ele- ; mentary course at the Millersville Normal school from which he graduated in 1875. While attending Normal school in summer, he taught school in win- ter, teaching six terms in all. In 1877 his father, John Zook, moved to Lititz, where. in connection with E. Z. Ernst, the subject of this sketch start- ed the printing and publishing business, the first publication being The Sunbeams, a literary and edu- cationai monthly. In 18-9 Mr. Ernst witlofrew fron the firm and went West. In September, 1881, in con- nection with C. N. Derr, Mr. Zook changed The Sunbeam to the Lititz Express, and it has been pub- lished now for twenty-one years. Mr. Derr with- drew in February, INGS. The Express has been po- : litically mainly independent. The publisher was a Republican until I889. when he espoused the Pro- hibition cause. and voted the ticket as a matter of conviction of the righteousness of the cause. In the same manner he examined the Socialist program, and. is now a conscientious advocate of the public owner- ship of the means of production and distribution as the best way to secure social and economic justice. He has held no public office except that of school director in ISS -- 80, and from which he retired be- cause he was a candidate on the Prohibition ticket. He said he would rather be right than school direc- tor. He is a member of the Moravian Church. the congregation's treasurer and assistant superintend- ent of the Sunday School.
In 1879 Mr. Zook was married to Alice Carey,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wolfe. of Marietta. Their children were: Harry W., with the Pennsyi- vania Steel Co., at Steelton: Ethel. assisting in the bookstore of her father at Lititz; Herbert, employed in The Express office : and Alice and Edna. at home. Mr. Zook's mother, who has attained the advanced age of four score years, is now an honored member of his home at Lititz. but his father passed away in ISSo, at the age of sixty-seven.
Our subject's grandfather, John Zook, lived in Chester county during the Revolution, and the fences on his farm were taken down before the battle of Brandywine. As far as Mr. Zook can gather from tradition the great-grandfather. Christian. was one of three brothers Zug ( changed to Zook ) who emi- grated from Zug, Switzerland. early in the 18th cen- tury, and from whom all the Zooks descended. The name is now spelled four ways, Zug, Zuck, Zuch and Zock.
BENJAMIN M. BARR. Among the old and well-known families of East Lampeter township, that of Barr takes a prominent place, having been founded in Lancaster county many years ago by German pioneers. The name of Benjamin has been a favorite one in this family, and there are many who still recall the father of Benjamin MI .. also Ben- jamin, who was a son of Benjamin. the grandfather, The latter had his residence near Willowstreet, where he was known as a distiller and prosperous farmer ; he married Catherine Mavers, a member of another old family, and to them were born: Samuel, who married Moria Stauffer: Harry, who died at the age of twenty-one : Benjamin : Elizabeth, who mar- ried John Hernley: Mary, who married Jacob Kreider : and David and Katie, both of whom died in childhood. The burial of the grandparents was in the cemetery at the Old Brick Church, near Wil- lowstreet.
Benjamin Barr, son of Benjamin. was born near Willowstreet, May 10, 1796, and died Jan. 20. 1800. His life was passed in agricultural labor, in which he was very successful, as he accumulated land and means, and was one of the highly esteemed residents of the township. He married Mary Mayley, and the children of this union were: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Isaac Hostetter: Catherine, who is the widow of Isaac Weaver: Martha, born in June, 1826, now the widow of John Landis : Martin, who married1 Elizabeth Parent. and resides in Darke coun- tv. Ohio: Mary, who married Jacob Denlinger ; Benjamin M .. of this biography: Fanny, who mar- :ied Henry Groff, both of whom are dead : and Su- sanna, who resides at Fertility, on the Strasburg pike road. a lady who is known far and wide. in the neighborhood, as a pious, Christian woman. full of good deeds and kind acts, and one of the most de- vout members of the Reformed Mennonite Church. The parents of this family of children were rever- entiy interred in the cemetery at the Longenecker Meeting House.
713
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
Benjamin M. Barr was born in Manor township Dec. 9, 1831, a son of Benjamin and Mary ( Mayley) Barr, and was reared on the farm. Until he was twenty years of age, he attended the schools of the strict, although his tendencies were not of a lit- erary bent, being more inclined to learn something of the world by observation, than from books. At the age of twenty-four he accompanied his father on a trip to Darke county, Ohio, and he had some idea of remaining in that State, with his brother Martin. but at the termination of six months, he became homesick and returned to Lancaster county. Before settling down permanently on the old farm, he made another short trip to Ohio, and then went on a pros- pecting trip, at the instance of his brother-in-law, John Landis, into West Virginia, but likewise re- turned from the South, well contented with Lancas- ter county as a home.
On Oct. 9, 1850, Benjamin M. Barr was married to Lydia. the estimable daughter of Thomas and Leah ( Urban) MeMullan, of Pequea township, and they began housekeeping upon a small farm of nine- teen acres, on the Wilmington pike road, this now being included in the farm of Samuel Burkhart. On that farm Mr. Barr and his family resided until in 1873, when he purchased the present farm, consist- ing of thirty-eight acres. In 18;8 he bought a fine farm adjoining, but sold it seven years later.
To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Barr were born these children: ( 1) Ellis G., the capable manager of the home farm, has been twice married, the children of the first marriage being: Ada E., Lydia May, Ben- jamin E., and Martin B. ( who died in early child- hood) ; his second wife, Ida. Andrew, has borne him one son, Martin Mckinley, born January 1, 1898. (2) Benjamin Franklin, familiariy known by his second name, Frank. is one of the well-known and active young business men of Lancaster, where he is engaged as a florist.
Although Mr. Barr has never connected himself with any religious denomination, he stands very high in the community, and is regarded by his neiglibors as an upright man, and a useful, charitable and hon- orable citizen.
SAMUEL N. ROOT. Among the well-known citizens and highly respected residents of East Hempfield township, who now makes his home in Landisville, Lancaster Co., Pa., where he is engaged in the tobacco business, is Samuel N. Root, whose birth took place in East Donegal township. While but a babe he was taken by his parents to East Hempfield township, and there reared, and there re- ceived his preparatory education in the public schools. Later he took a business course at the well-known Eastman Business College, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and then engaged in farming.
Prior to his attendance at College, Mr. Root had been for a year engaged in the implement and feed business in East Petersburg, but after his return he settled on a farm about one mile north of Petersburg,
and there continued agricultural labors until 1900, when he moved into the town of Landisville, erecting there a three-story building for a warehouse, with dimensions of 102x40 feet, managing the tobacco business in connection with farming. He is a man of business ability and owns several fine farms, one of forty-two acres in East Hempfield township, and another in Drumore. township, consisting of eighty- five acres, both of them well cultivated and finely improved.
Politically the neighbors of Samuel Root know just where he is, for he is a stanch Republican. and as becomes a good citizen, never fails to cast his ballot. On Arg. 2, ISSz, Mr. Root was married to Amanda Swarr, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth ( Nor- wich) Swarr, who was born in East Hempfield town- ship on the old family homestead situated along the Harrisburg Pike road. Roth Mr. Root and wife are . prominent members of the German Baptist Church. ; where they are highly valued for their Christian character.
ABRAHAM HARNISH. Agriculture is the noblest, as well as the most essential, of all the em- ployments to which the hand of man can be turned. and when to this industry its follower adds the art of building, which in its higher branches may be termed a fine art, he is indeed fortunate. Abraham Harnish, whose brief biography is herewith presented, can justly lav claim to title of expert in both callings, be- ing a stone mason, brick-layer and farmer, with his residence in Salisbury township, Lancaster county, Pa. He was born near Conestoga Centre, this coun- tv, March 19. 1837, son of Elias and Fanny ( Urban) Harnish, of Swiss descent.
Elias Harnish was a distiller in his younger days, but later became a farmer, and was very successful. He died in February. 1877, when sixty-nine years old. Mrs. Fanny ( Urban) Harnish was called away in August. 1833, at the early age of thirty-nine years. The remains of these parents were buried in West Lampeter township, they having been members of the New Mennonite church. Their nine children were born in the following order: Sabanah, who married Levi Eby of Lampeter township, and died in 1898: Lydia, who died single in 1900; George, a farmer in West Lampeter township; Abraham. whose name stands at the opening of this biograph- ical notice : Anna, wife of Jacob Eshleman of Stras- burg, Lancaster county; Catherine. deceased wife of Abraham Herr ; Frances, unmarried and living in Strasburg: Elias, deceased ; and Amanda, deceased wife of John C. Kaylor, a school teacher in Stras- burg.
Abraham Harnishi was united in marriage May 9, 1860, in Lancaster with Miss Frances Dieffen- baugh, who has borne him eight children, in the fol- lowing order: Enos, who is a plumber at Stevens Point, Wis. ; Avzula, wife of Howard Kemmer, a shoemaker in Paradise township, Lancaster county. Pa., and the mother of three children; Adelia, mar-
718
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
ried to Duffy Folk, a bricklayer in Strasburg : Alta, unmarried and at home : Chester L .. a farmer in Lea- cock township; Morris, Lizzie and Harry F., all three at home.
Mrs. Frances ( Dieffenbaugh) Harnish was born in Willowstreet, Lampeter township, Sept. 4. 1847, daughter of lacob and Martha ( Urban) Dieffen- baugh, the former of whom was a prominent farmer, but died in 1852, at the early age of thirty years ; the latter survived until 1805. when she was called to rest at the age of sixty-four. Their remains were in- terred in Lancaster. They were the parents of the following children: Harry, a farmer in Oklahoma : Martha, wife of Adam Lefever. a machinist in Mil- waukee ; and Frances, Mrs. Harnish. The mother. however, was twice married. her second husband being James Kern, and to this union were born : James, a horse trader in Trenton. N. I. : Anna, de- ceased : Augustus, of New York : Charles, deceased ; and Ada, unmarried and living in New York City. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Harnish were Henry and Anna ( Bressler) Dieffenbaugh. of Tan- nery, Pa. [Further particulars concerning this re- spected family will be found in the biography of Mrs. Jason K. Eaby, of Leacock township. ]
Abraham Harnish remained with his parents until his marriage and then located at Intercourse. Leacock township, where he conducted a general store seven and a half years, and finally settled on his present farm in the spring of 18SI, filling in several intervals by working at his trade. In politics he is a Democrat. He is strictly upright. and bears a name that is respected wherever known.
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.