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 9
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Through a long and industrious life Sidwell Wil- son so lived that when he was called from earth he left the world better for his having lived in it, and
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was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends. He was a liberal contributor to the Presbyterian Church, generously forwarding all of its enterprises in the direction of missions and charity. His politi- cal adherence was given to the Democratic party, and he consistently voted to support its measures and to elect its candidates.
The marriage of Sidwell T. Wilson was to Miss Margaret A. Hill, who was born in Britain town- ship Jan. 13, 1834, a daughter of Thomas and Eleanor (Killough) Hill; the father was born in the State of New York, about 1803, and died June 12, 1866, in Britain township, in this county. The mother of Mrs. Wilson was born in 1804 and died in 1875, having borne two children: Sarah, of Little Britain township, and Margaret A., who is the widow of the late Sidwell T. Wilson.
Mrs. Wilson still resides on the old home farm, esteemed and beloved by relatives and friends. She has long been a valued member of the Little Britain Presbyterian Church, and is widely known for her neighborly kindness and Christian virtues. Her family is one of the old and highly respected ones of Lancaster county.
WALTER F. BICKNELL, a retired farmer of Fulton township, Lancaster county, is a substantial citizen of the community. He comes from an Eng- lish family, but was born in this country, having first seen the light of day on Dec. 24, 1832, in Fulton township. John Bicknell, his father, was born in England in 1785 and came to this country in carly manhood. In 1810 he married Miss May Porritt, and they reared a family of eleven children, eight of whom grew to mature years, Samuel, Mary, John, Sarah, Isaac, Anna, William and Walter F., the youngest of the family.
Walter F. Bicknell married Rebecca, daughter of Caleb Thomas, of Fulton township, Oct. 18, 1866. Mrs. Bicknell's family is also of English origin. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bicknell has been blessed with three children: Howard W., born in 1868, is on a part of the original home farm ; Fred- erick C. manages the home place; and George H. is in Little Britain township. Mrs. Bicknell was born in 1837 and still enjoys most excellent health. Mr. Bicknell recently sold his farm of 180 acres to his sons, Howard and Frederick, who are operat- ing it.
Mr. Bicknell was a volunteer of Co. B. 99th P. V., during the Civil war, enlisting in July, 1861. He served in the army of the Potomac under Gen. George B. McClellan, and took part in all of the Vir- ginia. Potomac and James River campaigns, during which occurred some of the hardest fought battles of the Civil war. He was at the battle of the Wilder- ness, Gettysburg, Petersburg and the siege of Rich- mond, and was a faithful. hard-fighting soldier through it all, till July 31, 1864, when his term of service expired. Mr. Bicknell is a professor of the Quaker religious faith and is a strong Republican in
politics. He still enjoys excellent health, notwith- standing his arduous experience in the army. He is well known and respected by all his neighbors for his many fine traits of character.
JOHN KREIDER, in his life-time one of the leading men of Lancaster county, was born in Lea- cock township April 27, 1838, a son of Jacob and Anna (Buckwalter) Kreider; and diedl March I, 1897. His youth was passed in Leacock township, and after his marriage he removed to Leaman Place, in Paradise township.
Mr. Kreider was married Jan. 10, 1865, to Cath- erine Ann, a daughter of Jacob and Lydia Ann ( Buckwalter) Leaman, who was born in East Lam- peter township Dec. 16, 1842. After their mar- riage they located on the farm where Mrs. Kreider is still living. This farm originally contained 104 acres, but several lots have been sold from it, and it now contains ninety-five acres. It is highly im- proved, and is classed among the best of the county. Here Mr. Kreider spent his active life in farming. He never sought or held public station, and was closely devoted to his domestic interests, preferring the comforts and delights of home to any possible pleasure found elsewhere. Both husband and wife belonged to the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Kreider were the parents of five children, only two of whom survive. An infant daughter, born Aug. 6, 1866, died the same day; Charles B., born April 2, 1871, died Feb. 15, 1873; Jacob H., born Dec. 16, 1874, died May 4, 1875- Elam L., a music teacher of Lcaman Place, was born Oct. 2, 1868 : he married Miss Alice Mylin, and is the father of two children, Katherine Barbara and Marian Mylin ; Lydia Ann, born Aug. 16, 1877, is at home. All the family are musical, and as noted above the son is a professional teacher, and has achieved a substantial success in his calling. He, with his wife and sister, belongs, to the Presbyterian Church. The home bears the name of "Willow Burn Farm."
Jacob K. and Lydia Ann Leaman were among the honored people of the county. He was born in Lancaster township Nov. 28, 1819, and died May 28, 1880. He was the son of Benjamin and Cath- erine (Kreider) Leaman. Mr. Leaman was reared and spent the most of his life in East Lampeter and Leacock townships, and became one of the leading farmers of his time. His homestead he divided into four farm for his sons. For nine years he was school director. He was married Nov. 26. 1840, to Lydia Ann Buckwalter, a daughter of Abraham and Ann ( Witmer ) Buckwalter. She was born July II, 1823, and is still living in the full enjoyment of health and mind. A lady of culture and refinement, her age only serves to accent her grace and dignity. Reared in East Lampeter township, the most of her life was spent in her native community. Since the death of her husband she has made her home with her daughter. Mrs. John Kreider. The father and
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mother were both members of the Mennonite Church. To this worthy couple were born: Cath- erine Ann, the widow of John Kreider; Susan E., the wife of Ephraim Hershey, of Salisbury township ; Elam W., of Leacock township; Anna Mary, who married Simon Denlinger, of Paradise township, and is dead; Jacob B., a farmer of Leacock township; Lydia E., the wife of Aaron H. Duffenbach, of Greenland; Franklin K., a retired farmer of Gor- donville ; Ezra H., a manufacturer of cigar boxes in Paradise township.
JOSEPH PENNY, a farmer of Colerain town- ship, Lancaster county, was born in Drumore town- ship Nov. 23, 1840, and is a son of Hugh and Sarah (Wentz) Penny, both natives of Drumore township. Hugh Penny was born June 12, 1812, and his wife Sept. 25, 1817.
Hugh Penny was a son of Joseph and Mary (Long) Penny, both of whom were born in this county, and were descended from Scotch-Irish par- entage. Joseph Penny, the grandfather, first settled near the Buck, where he established the present fam- ily. He had a family of two sons and four daugh- ters: James; Hugh; Sarah A., widow of John Wentz, who had five sons and four daughters ; Mary J., wife of Thomas Wentz, of Martic township ; Han- nah M., who married William Wentz, of Martic township, both of whom are dead ; Harriet, married to John S. Morrison, both deceased.
James Penny married Mariah Wentz, and made a home near the old family estate, near Buck. His widow and one son are still living on the old home- stead in Drumore township.
Hugh Penny was reared to manhood under the parental roof, and given a common school education. He and his wife lived and died on the family home- stead. His death occurred in 1881, and his widow. passed away in 1885. In early life they were asso- ciated with the Friends, but in their later years united with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Penny was a staunch Democrat, and held local offices in Drumore township. He was the father of seven children. (1) Mary M., born in August, 1836, married Henry Pegan, of Martic township. They settled in Dru- more township, where she died in October, 1876; leaving three daughters: Ida married Samuel Grove; Eva married Wilkie Grove, and is now dead ; Lena married Robert Wickersham, of Chester coun- ty. (2) Joseph Penny. (3) Sarah A., born in Drumore township in January, 1843, married Thomas Wilson, of Stewartstown, York county, where they live retired. (4) Mariah J., born Oct. 16, 1844, married Aldus Aument, of East Drumore township, whose sketch may be seen elsewhere. (5) William C., born Jan. 29, 1848, married Mary Buckius, of Lancaster county, and has his home on the old place in Drumore township. (6) Hugh J., born in June, 1852, married Miss Lizzie Phillips, of Colerain township, and is engaged as a merchant in Russellville, Chester county. They have one
daughter, Etta. (7) Laura, born March S, 1856, was educated in the Academy at Chestnut Level, and married Prof. William Overholt, of Little Britain township. He is now a retired druggist in Balti- more. They have a son and a daughter living, Mirton and Hallie, both of whom live in Baltimore, the daughter being at home.
Joseph Penny was reared on the home farm and given a common school education in Drumore town- ship. He was married Jan. 5, 1871, to Hannah M., a daughter of Mahlon and Anna M. (Dare) Pusey. Mrs. Penny was born April 18, 1848, and was reared to womanhood in the old home at Puseyville, where she attended the Union High School. Mahlon Pusey was twice married, Mrs. Penny being a daughter of the second marriage, to which were born seven children: George, of Oxford ; Rebecca, the wife of Hugh Long, of East Drumore town- ship : Emma : Sarah, the wife of Lindly Hutton, of Belmar, N. J. : Ada ; Rose, the wife of Frank Herr, of Little Britain township : and Hannah M.
Mr. and Mrs. Penny settled on a farm in West Drumore township, where they lived about four years, when they moved to Puseyville, where Mr. Penny was engaged in the milling business for some ten years. In 1885 he bought the farm where he is found to-day. It was then known as the Bunting farm and was two miles south of the Union. Since coming there they have rebuilt the dwelling house and made many substantial and elegant improve- ments. To them have come a daughter and a son. Anna M., born in Drumore township, received her education in the Union High School of Colerain, and is an accomplished young lady. Cheyney was a student of the Union High School. In November, 1900, he was married to Belle, a daughter of Abram and Matilda McConnell, and now lives on his farm in Little Britain township.
The Penny family are all associated with the Un- ion Presbyterian Church. Mr. Penny has always been a Democrat, has been school director in Cole- rain township, and since 1888 has been a director of the Union High School, being also school treasurer.
Mrs. Penny's grandfather, Rev. Elkanalı Dare, was the first Presbyterian minister who preached in the Union Presbyterian Church in Colerain town- ship.
SILAS E. GROFF, one of the leading and pro- gressive farmers of Paradise township, Lancaster county, owner of a well improved farm, located three miles northeast of Strasburg borough. is the representative of one of the old and honored families of the county.
John Groff, his paternal grandfather, familiarly known as "Swamp John," was one of the substan- tial citizens of Paradise township, and there reared a large family of children. Of the latter, Sarah mar- ried a Mr. Dripps : Louisa married Henry Girvin, and they resided first in Paradise township and later in Bart township ; Alice married a school teacher,
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Mr. Clark, and removed from Lancaster county ; Lizzie died unmarried ; Isaac emigrated to Colum- biana county, Ohio, and there married and engaged in farming; John removed to Maryland, where he became a farmer : George, the father of Silas E., was a farmer of Paradise township ; Jacob studied medi- cine and became one of the prominent practitioners of Strasburg, acquiring considerable wealth.
George Groff, the father of Silas E., was reared in Paradise township and educated in the public schools. He married Miss Ann Eshleman, who was born Mav 22, 1804, the daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Brackbill) Eshleman. George Groff was a life- long farmer, operating a property of 140 acres and becoming one of the influential, substantial citizens of Lancaster county. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Old Mennonite Church. To George and Ann (Eshleman) Groff were born five children, as follows : Aldus John, born June 13. 1837, a re- tired farmer of Lancaster City ; Mary V., born Oct. 23, 1839. a resident of Strasburg borough ; Silas E. : Emma E., born June 10, 1844, who married Martin B. Rohrer, formerly of Paradise, now of Strasburg, and died in July, 1891 ; and an infant son, deceased. George, the father, died March 20, 1880, and his wife passed away Jan. 31, 1875.
Silas E. Groff was born March 6, 1842, on a farm in Paradise township adjoining that where he now lives. He was reared in his native township. He received a fair education in the common schools and supplemented the instruction there obtained by an attendance at Paradise Academy and at the Mil- lersville State Normal School. At this time he joined a militia regiment under Col. Franklin, and served the Union about ten weeks. Soon after completing his education he entered upon his life work as a farmer, locating in 1867 upon the farm which he still occupies. Improvements upon the property were then very poor, but with his father he has since erected good substantial buildings, and the place is now one of the well improved and highly cultivated farms in this part of Lancaster county. In connection with his own farm of seventy-nine acres, Mr. Groff operates another of 100 acres, and is also engaged in handling stock. He is recognized as one of the progressive and foremost agriculturists of Paradise township, and he aims to keep con- stantly in touch with the best interests of the com- munity, being ever ready to assist in any enterprise for the public good. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, but he has never sought nor ac- cepted public. office.
On Feb. 27, 1878. Mr. Groff married Miss S. Elizabeth. Keneagy, daughter of Henry and Sarah Ann (Rowe) Kencagy, a granddaughter of Henry and Sarah (Sherts) Kencagy. The grandfather was in his day a distiller in Paradise township. conduct- ing a large and extensive business. He died com- paratively early in life, leaving six children, namely : Susan, who remained single : John S., a farmer and distiller of Paradise township ; Jacob, who removed
to Chicago, Ill .: Henry, the father of Mrs. Groff; Christian, a farmer and distiller : and Samuel, a phy- sician of Strasburg. Henry Keneagy was born Dec. 26, 1817, and for two years of his life was the suc- cessful keeper of a hotel in Strasburg and East Lampeter township, but he devoted most of his life to the pursuit of farming. He died Aug. 27. 1872. and his wife, who was born Oct. 6, 1827, died April 21, 1864. Three children were born to Henry and Sarah Ann Keneagy, namely: Charles R., a resi- dient of Strasburg; S. Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Groff; and William A., a resident of Strasburg.
The family of Silas E. and S. Elizabeth Groff consists of two children: Mary R., born Sept. 26, 1888; and John E., born May 22, 1800. Mrs. Groff is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The fam- ily are held in high esteem throughout the com- munity.
WILLIAM B. GIVEN. The Given family is of Scotch-Irish descent. James Given, the grand- father of William B., was born in Ireland, and emi- grated to America in early life, settling in Chester county, Pa. Later he moved to Columbia, Lan- caster county, where he engaged in lumbering when the lumber was brought down the river in rafts. He became quite prosperous, and at the time of his death was the possessor of considerable wealth. Po- litically he was a Democrat, and he was a man of prominence in the community wherein he dwelt. A very active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, he bore a high reputation for personal in- tegrity and worth. He married a Miss Mercer, and they had eight children, among whom was William F., the father of William B.
William F. Given was born near Downingtown, in Chester county, Jan. 20, 1813, and in 1816 came to Columbia, where he grew to man's estate, and succeeded to the business of his father, from which | he retired quite carly in life, with a competency. He was a director in the Columbia National Bank and in the Columbia Bridge Company. In religion he was a member of . the Methodist Episcopal Church of Columbia, and in politics he was a Demo- crat. On his retirement from active business, in 1859, he purchased a farm near the city of Balti- more, Md., and settled thereon, and there his death occurred in 1862. Mr. Given was, Oct. 26, 1853, married to Miss Susan A., daughter of Rev. Will- iam Barns, of Philadelphia, and they had children : Laura. William B., Mercer, Frank S. and Mar- tha W.
William B. Given was born Sept. 25, 1855, in Columbia, though Maryland, to which he carly re- moved, was the scene of his boyhood experiences. He pursued his studies when a lad at the public schools of Maryland. later at the Saunders Insti- tute, Philadelphia, and then at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, from which he graduated in his twentieth year. Having chosen the law as his profession, he began his studies in the office
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William S. Given
ماد
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of Hon. Vincent L. Bradford and E. Ray, Esq., Philadelphia, and completed them under the direc- ton of H. M. North, Esq., in Columbia. Upon his admission to the Bar, in 1876, he became established as a practitioner in Columbia, where he has since resided, and has an office. Mr. Given has, by his thorough knowledge of law, his studious habits, and the zeal and ability exhibited in the interest of his clients, won an enviable position at the Lancaster Bar. He has also been admitted to practice in the Supreme court of the State of Pennsylvania, and in the Supreme court of the United States. He has always manifested a deep interest in public affairs, especially in measures tending to the advancement of education, and for nine years was an active member of the school board and president of the same for two years.
Until 1896 Mr. Given was a Democrat, and was an active and prominent member of that party. He was a member of the State Committee several years, and his services on the stump in every campaign were eagerly sought. In 1877 he was the candidate of his party for the office of district attorney, and was nominated for Congressional honors in 1882, but was defeated for both offices, as his party was largely in the minority. In 1892 he was sent as a dele- gate to the National Convention which nominated Grover Cleveland for the Presidency. Again, in 1896, he was chairman of the Democratic State Convention, which convened in Allentown, Pa., and on taking the chair sounded the keynote in Penn- sylvania for sound money. His position on the financial question made Mr. Given a delegate to the National Democratic Convention of 1896, where he was an ardent advocate of sound money. Upon the nomination of William J. Bryan, Mr. Given left the convention, denouncing the platform and its candidate. He returned to Pennsylvania and as- sisted in reorganizing the sound Democratic move- ment, and was a delegate-at-large to the conven- tion of sound Democrats held at Indianapolis, and was subsequently elected and served as State chair- man of that party in Pennsylvania. Since 1896 he has taken no active part in politics, but in 1900 he cast his vote for William McKinley.
Mr. Given is prominently identified with many business enterprises in Lancaster county and else- where .. He is president of the Columbia Trust Company, the Conestoga Traction Company (own- ing all the electric railway lines in Lancaster coun- ty), the Lancaster County Railway & Light Com- pany, the Wilson Laundry Machinery Company, the Gas Light & Fuel Company, of Lancaster, and the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, of Lancas- ter, and is a director in no less than twenty-two different corporations and railway companies in Lancaster county. Recently the laundry machin- ery companies of the United States were formed into a trust, having a capitalization of $16,000,000, and Mr. Given has been elected a director in this giant corporation.
In 1878 Mr. Given was married to. Mary E., the only daughter of Abraham Bruner, and this union has been blessed with four children: Erna B., Jane Bruner, William Barns and Susan Emily.
FRANK SCOTT GIVEN. That ability aided by perseverance and industry leads to a success in whatever line of business a man may adopt, is shown in the career of Frank Scott Given, of Co- lumbia, who was born there Aug. 4, 1859, son of William F. and Susan A. ( Barns) Given. Fail- ing health led his father to remove to a farm in Worthington Valley, Baltimore Co., Md., when Frank S. was but six weeks old. Change of resi- dence did not bring the hoped for relief, and the father passed away a few months after settling on the farm. Being anxious to provide additional ad- vantages for her children, Mr. Given's mother, after her husband's death, removed to Westminster, Md. Learning that the farm was not receiving proper attention, and believing that better schools might be found in Reisterstown, she took up her residence there, and remained five years, when she removed to Columbia, where she now resides. Her father, William Barns, was a noted Methodist Episcopal preacher, known throughout the Eastern States for his eloquence. He was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Ireland, and died in Philadelphia in No- vember, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. William F. Given had five children: Laura, who died in infancy; William B .; Mercer, who died in infancy; Frank S .; and Martha Washington, wife of Howard B. Rhodes, of Columbia.
At the age of fourteen Frank Scott Given en- tered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, as a messenger boy in the office of the general agent, at Philadelphia. He remained with that corporation fourteen years, demonstrating. by his mental capacity, integrity and rare executive ability, his right to rapid promotion. For three years he occupied the desk of a way bill clerk, and was then made general foreman of all the Willow- street wharfs, which responsible position he filled for five years. Under the first administration of President Cleveland, Mr. Given was appointed as- sistant superintendent of the stamp division in the Philadelphia post office, which office he held three years, when he was promoted to the position of night superintendent of mails, from which he re- signed in 1891. Feeling the need of rest, he re- turned to his native town, but was not long idle, as he received the dual office of secretary and super- intendent of the Columbia & Ironville Passenger Railway Co., whose line was then in the process of construction. After its completion he was made superintendent of construction between Columbia and Marietta, and was later made superintendent of both branches. In 1894 all the trolley lines in Lan- caster county were consolidated under the name of the Pennsylvania Traction Company, and Mr. Given was made superintendent of the Columbia division.
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The Company became financially involved and passed into the hands of a receiver, William B. Given, a. brother of Frank S., being placed in con- trol. The company's affairs were successfully ad- justed and a reorganization was effected under the style of the Conestoga Traction Company, with Frank S. Given as general manager. The company at this time (December, 1901) operates a trackage of 104 miles, giving to the people of Lancaster county rapid transit to nearly all of the towns, vil- lages and boroughs in the county, as well as hand- some dividends to the stockholders. Mr. Given is also connected with other important and prosperous busi- ness enterprises, the building up of which have ma- terially added to the prosperity of Lancaster county. He is president, treasurer and director of the Tri- umph Embroidery Company ; also a director in the following enterprises : The Columbia Brewing Company, the Wilson Laundry Machinery Company, and the Conestoga Traction Company, and the un- derlying companies leased and operated by it. As above stated, he is general manager of the Conestoga Traction Company, and in addition thereto is gen- eral manager of the Lancaster Gas Light & Fuel Company, the Edison Electric Illuminating Com- pany, Columbia Electric Light & Power Company, and of the seventy miles of pikes controlled and leased. by the Conestoga Traction Company. When the Columbia Real Estate Exchange was organized, in 1895, he was chosen its president, and is still in its directory. He has never cared for public office, but in 1896 consented to assume the duties of chief of the Columbia Fire Department, and was chairman of the committee that raised $3,250 for the entertaining of the visiting firemen on the oc- casion of the Centennial of Fire Company No. 1, of Columbia. Of this celebrated company of fire- men Mr. Given has been marshal for six years, and during that time, until 1901, it took first prize for parading the largest number and appearing as the finest body of men at the annual gathering of Penn- sylvania firemen.
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