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 90
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ily, is a Lutheran in religion. In politics he is inde- pendent, being capable of thinking and judging for himself. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Conductors, by whom he is greatly re- spected, and he stands equally high in the esteem of the public at large.
C. H. HILTON, who is one of the successful farmers of Little Britain township, was born March 27, 1855, a son of William and Elizabeth ( Warren) Hilton, of Drumore township, this county.
Joseph Hilton, his grandfather, was a farmer of Drumore township, and he reared a family of seven children, all of whom, with himself, were respected members of their various localities. The children were: Lewis, Joseph, Daniel, George, William, Mary and Elizabeth.
During life William Hilton, the father of C. H. Hilton, was an industrious, honest and upright man, for a number of years considered a most reliable workman at his trade of carpenter. His death oc- curred in 1882, and his widow resides with her son. Four children were born to William Hilton and wife : C. H. : Ella, the wife of Erastus Hastings, of Phila- delphia; Laura, deceased . and Viola, the wife of Henry Clendennin, of Oxford.
C. H. Hilton, who now is one of the substantial and representative citizens of Little Britain, was reared to the duties of a farmer boy, and attended the district schools. I'rom youth he has been very in- dustrious, and he is now the owner of considerable valuable property, consisting of the home farm, com- prising 102 acres, with excellent residence and com- modious barns, and also a house, lot and paying blacksmith shop at Mechanics Grove, in East Dru- more township. For a period of five years Mr. Hil- ton carried on a mercantile business, at Mechanics Grove, but in 1887 he came to the home farm, after a short time in Peters Creek, where he also had a general store. Until quite recently Mr. Hilton has been engaged in the creamery business, in connection with his farming.
On July 19, 1877, Mr. Hilton was married to Miss Mary Eberiy, of East Drumore township, a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Herr) Eberly, and was born April 4, 1856. By trade Abraham Eberly is a wheelwright. In 1862 he was a volun- teer in the service of his country. Retired from active life now, both he and wife are spending their advancing years in ease at their old home in East Drumore township. They reared a family of seven children: Susan, wife of Wilson Walker, of Providence township ; Martha, wife of Morris Shoe- maker, of Lancaster : Sarah, wife of Samuel Whit- mer, of Quarryville; Daniel, who lives in Mount Hope; Mary, wife of Mr. Hilton ; Henry, who lives in Providence township; and Catherine, wife of John H. Herr, of East Drumore township.
Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hilton : Linnie L., born Jan. 22, 1878; Laura Emma, born March 4, 1882 ; William Roy, born Aug.
I, 1887; Ada .1., born April 10, 1889: Elsie May, born May 12, 1803 : Grace Ruth, born June 21, 1896; and Eberly Frank Gillispie, born June 21. 1902.
Like his father, Mr. Hilton has been a life-long member of the Democratic party, and all of his fam- ily, including himself, are members in good stand- ing in the Presbyterian Church at Little Britain. In Fulton township he enjoys the respect and esteem of his neighbors, where he is known as an honest. up- right man, a good neighbor, a kind friend and an exemplary member of society.
DANIEL N. FORREY, a general farmer and much respected citizen of Rapho township, Lan- caster county, was born Feb. 8, 1856, in the town where his honorable and useful life is passing, a son of John and Mary (Newcomer) Forrey. His fa- ther was born in 1815 in Manor township. his mother in Rapho ; they are now living retired in Rapho town- ship. Both are members of the Mennonite Church. Mr. Forrey was for some years a director of the First National Bank of Columbia. His general reputation for integrity and ability has been well sustained through life, whenever he has come into contact with important business interests, and he is regarded as one of the substantial and reliable citi- zens of Rapho township. To John and Mary For- rey were born the following named children: Cath- erine married Ezra Hostetter, a farmer of West Hempfield township : Lizzie married Jacob Snyder, and they live retired in Mt. Joy, Pa. ; Anna N. is the wife of Harry Buckwalder. a farmer in Penn town- ship ; Isaac N. lives in East Donegal township ; Amos N. is a farmer on the old homestead, where his father still resides ; Harry N. is in the creamery business in York county ; Mamie N. is the wife of Eli Garber, the proprietor of a creamery near Lititz. Pa. ; Emma married John Minnich, a farmer in West Hempfield township ; Daniel N. is the gentleman whose name introduces these lines.
Daniel Forrey, the paternal grandfather of Dan- iel N. Forrey, married a Kauffman ; both were na- tives of Lancaster county.
Daniel N. Forrey was married Nov. 11, 1875. in Lancaster, to Catherine B. Nissley, by whom he has had the following children, all the survivors being at home : John N. ; Simon N. ; Daniel N. : Elleng N. ; Lillie N .; Emma N. : Clayton N. and Norman N., deceased ; Walter N. ; and Oliver N.
Mrs. Catherine B. ( Nissley) Forrey was born in West Hempfield township Dec. 2, 1854. daughter of Christian E. and Fanny ( Borneman) Nissley. The father, who was born in West Hempfield township, was a retired farmer in Salunga, for the last ten years of his life, and there died Oct. 29, 1889, at the age of seventy years, nine months, seven days. The mother, who was born in East Donegal township, died in 1804, at the age of sixty-three years. They were members of the Mennonite Church. and people of much respectability and good standing in the community. At one time Mr. Nissley served very
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acceptably as school director. Christian E. and Fanny Nissley had the following children : Henry B., a resident of East Donegal township : Samuel P., a farmer, living on the old homestead: Jonas B., a farmer in East Donegal township: Anna B., wife of John Stehman, a farmer located near Lancaster Junction : Catherine B., Mrs. Forrey : Fanny B., who married Amos Shelly, and lives at Mt. Jov: Emma B., who married Witmer Rohrer, a bookkeeper in Lancaster : and Ellen B., unmarried, who makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Shelly. Mrs. Forrey's paternal grandparents, Samuel and Catherine Niss- ley, were life-long residents of Lancaster county.
Daniel N. Forrey remained at home with his par- ents until after his marriage, and was reared to farming. When he married he was given part of the old homestead, consisting of a tract of seventy acres, and there be built a residence, farm buildlings. etc. During the passing years he has become quite well-to-do, and holds a fine position as a man, a citi- zen and a farmer in the community in which he is passing his peaceful and useful life. In religion he and his family are members of the Mennonite Church, and in politics Mr. Forrey holds strongly to Republican views.
HENRY BARTON, deceased. Every locality has its list of well remembered names. representative of those of its esteemed and useful citizens who have passed out of life, and one of those long familiar in Upper Leacock township was Henry Barton, whose integrity of character and sterling worth made him conspicuous during life.
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Mr. Barton was born Feb. 16, 1803. since which date the country and even the county he loved so well and served so faithfully have made great and won- derful strides. The Barton family is an old and hon- ored one. far back to the time when three brothers left England and first located in Scotland. where they established shipyards. Later their descandants went to County Tyrone, Ireland, and thence in 1772 John Barton, the grandfather of Henry, came to America with his brothers James and Samuel. James settled in the Tuscarora Valley, Samuel settled in Virginia, and John made his permanent home in Upper Lea- cock township, Lancaster county.
John Barton, son of John, married Isabella Vogan, who was a native of Vogansville, this county. By a previous marriage, to a Miss Redick, he had three children, John, Robert and Sarah, and to this second marriage the following children were born: Mar- garet, who married Mark Connell : Leah, who mar- ried Robert Connell : Rachel, twin of Leah, who died at the age of seventy-nine unmarried : Isaac : Samuel ; Henry: James: Eliza, who married Archimedides Robbs : and William.
John Barton, the father of this family, was a na- tive of County Donegal, Ireland, and came to Amer- ica at the age of eighteen years, landing at New Castle, Del. There he remained five years, engaged in teaching school, and in 1787 came to Lancaster
county, taking up his residence in Leacock township. Farming did not occupy all of his time, and he be- came a drover, often driving his cattle all the way from: his farm to Philadelphia. At the time of his death. in 1853, at the age of eighty-nine years, he owned two fine farms, was a wealthy and prominent man. and had served for a long period as county com- missioner.
Henry Barton, son of John (2), was born on the farm in Upper Leacock township which is owned and operated by his son, William H. His entire life was given to agricultural pursuits and to the advance- ment of the material interests of his family, county and State, and in the meantime he also built up a reputation for honesty and integrity which will long reflect credit upon all who bear his name. Mr. Bar- ton was particularly interested in educational mat- ters, and consented to serve as school director for a period of six years. He died July 21, 1885.
Henry Barton was married Feb. 20, 1845, in Philadelphia. by Rev. Thomas Clark, to Miss Mar- : garet L. Simon, and the following named children were born to this union: John C., who is in the life insurance business in New Holland, Pa., married Anna Rutter: William H., who is farming the old homestead. married Nellie Burwell ; and Miss Lizzie I. resided with her mother "until the latter's death, Sept. 21, 100I.
Mrs. Margaret L. (Simon) Barton was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 17, 1809, and at the time of her death was one of the esteemed residents of Me- chanicsbury, this county. She was a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Ireton) Simon, the former a noted teacher of music, who instructed in one of the academies.
In politics Mr. Barton was a firm advocate of Democratic principles. but was no politician. Both he and wife were long leading members of the Pres- byterian Church. The family is one of the most sub- stantial and highly esteemed in the township, and Mr. Barton was recognized as one of its representa- tive men.
CHARLES FONDERSMITH STAUFFER, one of the leading general contractors of Lancaster. and a man widely known throughout the State, was born Oct. 8. 1869. on the farm of his father, located near Florin. Mt. Tov township, consisting of one hundred acres, one of the most highly cultivated and substantially improved farms in the county at that time. He is the son of Johin Forney and Clara S. ( Fondersmith ) Stauffer.
John Forney Stauffer, who was at one time one of the most efficient Street Commissioners Lancaster . has ever had. was born in Penn township Ang. 6. 1845. son of Beniamin Miller and Sophia ( Forner) Stauffer. He was reared in his native place, edu- cated in the celebrated Beck School at Lititz. learned the trade of miller. operated the Bossler Mill for two years, and retired from active life until 1872. In that year be removed to Lancaster and became a
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railroad contractor and sewer builder. being ex- tensively employed throughout the State. On April I, 1804, he was elected Street Commissioner, and held that office for four terms. At present he is ac- tively engaged in the manufacture of electric fans and motors. His political opinions make him a stalwart supporter of the principles of Republican- ism. Socially he is connected with the Royal Ar- canum. He was Warden of Trinity Lutheran Church for three years, and is an earnest worker in and mem- ber of that body.
Johannus Stauffer, the great-grandfather of John F. Stauffer, and great-great-grandfather of Charles F., was a native of Switzerland. who came to Amer- ica in 1790. built the large stone mill at White Oak. Penn township, and conducted it as long as he lived. Upon his death his son. John, inherited the property. His son, Benjamin M., in the course of time. came into possession of this mill. when twenty-one years of age. In 1856 he was elected Register of Lancas- ter county on the Republican ticket and so disposed of the property, purchasing a farm near Mt. Joy. He cultivated this farm with great success from 1859 to 1863, when he bought the old Bossler Mill near Manheim, on Chickies creek, but in 1868 he disposed of his interest therein and returned to Mt. Jos. He later resided in Lititz. where he died in 1897. He married Miss Sophia Forney, who was born in Earl township, daughter of John Forney, and was a cousin of John W. Forney, the founder of the Phila- delphia Press. Her father was the proprietor of the "Forney Inn." on the Reading road. and there made his home for a number of years. Mrs. Benjamin M. Stauffer died in 188;, leaving two chil- dren : John F., the ex-Street Commissioner of Lan- caster ; and Benjamin, a member of the Board of Trade, Chicago.
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On Nov. 25. 1868, John Forney Stauffer was married to Miss Clara S. Fondersmith, the youngest daughter of John and Catherine ( Reed) Fonder- smith, of Lancaster, and two children were born of this union. Charles F. and B. Grant, the latter secre- tary and treasurer of the Towle Manufacturing Com- pany.
Mrs. John Forney Stauffer's great-great-grand- : father was Ludwig von-der Schmitt. a descendant of the Royal House of Hessen-Darmstadt. who was a manufacturer of guns in Germany for the Govern- ment. He came to this country about 1740 and set- tled in Strasburg township. Lancaster county, where his son. John Fondersmith, manufactured guns for the war of 1812, at Fondersmithville. Gov. Pow- nall. in his journal, speaks of passing through Lan- caster county in 1754, and of a manufactory of guns for which the county was celebrated. it being the business of John Fondersmith, a manufacturer of "defensive arms" for the Revolutionary patriots.
John Fondersmith, Esq .. father of Mrs. John F. Stauffer, and grandfather of Charles Fondersmith Stauffer, was one of the most prominent and esteemed citizens of Lancaster.
dence. No. 303 East King street. Sepr. 27 1874. He was elected clerk of the court of Quarter Sessions in 1842 by the Republican party. having been a stanch Republican, and twice the nominee of that party for mayor. Although firm in his principies. he was much respected by men of all parties. being a man of superior intelligence, strict moral character and fine social traits. He was the owner of one of the pioneer stores of Lancaster. "Fondersmith's Corner." at East King and Shippen streets, having been as familiar to the people of Lancaster City and county as was Centre Square.
Charles Fondersmith Stauffer was taken from the farm, when but one year old. to Mt. Joy, and after two years to Lancaster. Pa .. where he was edu- cated first in the public schools and later at the Epis- copal Parish School. Yeates Institute and the high school. from which he was graduated. After leaving school he enteredl the employ of Hager & Bro.'s car- pet house. in Lancaster. and there remained for two years. In the spring of 1880 he became associated with his father in contracting. and eighteen months later engaged in business for himself, with offices in Penn square, Philadelphia. Mr. Stauffer has built the roads and avenues and executed the landscape work on the Drexel tracts at Overbrook, Wayne Es- tate. at Wayne and St. David's. and Robert Smith Es- tate. at Strafford. He has also been extensively employed in railroad work, grading and bridge con- struction of various kinds, in many localities. Among the railroads for which he has employed his talents may be mentioned the Reading Terminal Company, Pennsylvania Railway Company, Phila- delphia. Wilmington & Baltimore Railway Com- pany, Chambersburg & Gettysbarg Railway Com- pany. New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. and Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company. He has in addition to all this notable work left specimens of his sewerage. street paving and res- ervoir work at York, Philadelphia. Chicago, Provi- dence and Lancaster, and has laid out many of the beautiful landscape gardens to be found in and about Philadelphia. Many private country places along the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad owe their beauty of surroundings to Charles F. Stauffer's work. He erected the large boulder at Gulf Mills, marking the point at which the Continental Army, under Gen. Washington, ceased retreating, and re- constructed the landscape about the church at old St. David's, which Longfellow named "The Little Church Among the Graves," where Anthony Wayne is buried and Gen. Washington attended services during his stay at Valley Forge. The Continental and British armies both used this church as a hos- pital, the Continental army having cut the leaded windows out to make bullets. The Main street at Jenkintown : the landscape, drives and lawns, rustic walks and bridges, at the "Beachwood Inn." and the. private grounds of country places of Philadelphia millionaires along the Philadelphia and Reading
He died at his resi- ' railroad all show his work. He is at present en-
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i
gaged in the paving of some of the main thorough- fares and the constructing of sewers for the city of Lancaster, and is also constructing a large lake for boating and skating, and a general landscape work. incident to the making of a Park, for the Long's Park Commission of Lancaster. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Stauffer is Director of the Towle Manufacturing Company. In religious matters he belongs to Old Trinity Lutheran Church, of whose vestry he is a member. Like his ancestors, Mr. Stauffer is a stanch Republican, and takes an inter- est in local affairs, but has never desired or sought office, preferring to devote all his time and attention to his business. Socially he is a member of the F. : O. E., B. P. O. E., the Lancaster Maennerchor, Hamilton Club, Young Men's Republican Club, Citizen's Republican Club and other like organiza- tions, in all of which he is very popular.
Although a young man, Mir. Stauffer has already made a record in his business of which he may well be proud, and judging the future by the light of the past, his success in time to come will be even greater, for he possesses the requisite qualities-energy, fore- sight and ability-to grasp opportunities when of- fered, and a thorough knowledge of his work. Out- side his business connections Mr. Stauffer has many friends, and is popular with all on account of the genial manner and pleasant attributes he possesses, and the kindly courtesy he accords those with whom he is brought into contact.
WILLIS GROSS KENDIG, EsQ., one of the younger members of the Lancaster Bar, comes from old and honored stock. John Kendig, his great- grandfather, came to America from Switzerland and settled in Lancaster county, and there his son, Daniel Kendig, was an ironmaster, owning much landed estate at Safe Harbor, this county.
Dr. Benjamin E. Kendig, son of Daniel, is a pop- ular practicing physician at Salunga. He married Barbara Stauffer, daughter of John Stauffer, a farm- er of Manor township, and of this union seven chil- dren were born, four of whom are living, as follows : Jerome S., a physician of Salunga : John D., a dentist at Manheim ; Willis G. ; and Esther C., who conducts a private kindergarten at Marietta.
Willis Gross Kendig was born at Salunga Sept. 23, 1874, and was educated in the public schools of the district, at the State Normal School at Millers- ville, and at Franklin and Marshall College. Then he studied dentistry for two years with his brother, who was at that time practicing in Shamokin. Re- turning to Lancaster, Mr. Kendig taught school for four years, in Conoy and West Hempfield townships, and then became a law student with Eugene G. Smith, Esq., now Judge of the Orphans court of Lancaster county. He was admitted to practice March 30, 1901.
On June 19, 1901, Mr. Kendig was married to Miss Henrietta M. Hassert, daughter of the late John Hassert, a prominent grocer of Philadelphia,
and they live in a charming home at No. 232 South Ann street. Mrs. Kendig is a lineal descendant of William the Conqueror ; the original name of the family was Hazzard, instead of Hassert, as now written.
Mr. Kendig belongs to no secret societies. Hi; religious connection is with the First M. E. Church of Lancaster. Courteous at all times, devoted to his profession, and sterling in his character. he has every promise of a bright, useful and successful fu- ture.
ISAAC H. WEAVER, one of the prominent and well-to-do citizens of Lancaster, and one of the most extensive dealers of leaf tobacco in this part of the county, is indebted for his success solely to his own efforts, to sterling integrity and due regard for the best interests of those with whom he has to deal. He was born in West Lampeter, this county, April 17, 1864, and from his parents, Isaac and Martha (Hoover) Weaver, inherited habits of thrift and enterprise. The mother died in Fertility, East Lampeter, March 20, 1894, at the age of sixty-nine. and was buried in Longnecker's cemetery, connected with the Mennonite Church, of which she was a de- wout member. The father, a retired farmer, who owns several fine country properties, and was very successful during his active life, is living in East Lampeter at the age of seventy-eight, having been born in April, 1824. He also is a member of the Mennonite Church, and is prominent in the locality where he has lived for so many years. To himself and wife were born: Susan, who married Jacob L. Houser, a farmer of West Lampeter ; Mary. de- ceased wife of E. II. Denlinger ; Emma, who became the wife of S. O. Frantz, farmer and manager of the New Ideal Seat Company of Rohrerstown, Pa .; and Isaac H.
Until his twenty-fourth year Isaac H. Weaver lived on the paternal farm, assisting his father in the manifold duties there presented, at the same time acquiring a liberal education at the district schools. His first outside business venture was as a buyer of leaf tobacco, in which occupation he has since ac- quired such pronounced success. Until Jan. 1, 1890, he purchased for others in the business, but after that he bought a tobacco business in Lancaster and at Strasburg, which he has since continued to con- duct, and, in connection therewith, two other branch- es, located respectively at Dayton, Ohio, and West Carrollton, Ohio, which have also profited by his ad- mirable management. In March, 1901, he bought his present warehouse, on North Prince street, where he employs fifty hands. In his Ohio houses he em- ploys as many as seventy-five hands. He handles great quantities of leaf tobacco annually, and is an expert in judging of the value of this popular weed.
Mr. Weaver is active in the general affairs of his city, and among his other responsibilities is that of director of the Conestoga National Bank, to which position he was appointed in 1900. He is a Repub-
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lican in political affiliation, and fraternally is associ- ated with the Royal Arcanum and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
On Sept. 26, 1894, Mr. Weaver married Edith, daughter of Christian and Barbara Bachman, and a native of Strasburg, Pa. Christian Bachman was born in Lancaster, Pa., and was an undertaker and furniture dealer of prominence during his active ca- reer. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Weaver, Herbert B. and Edward B. Mr. Weaver is popular in business and social circles of Strasburg, and his many desirable and substantial personal char- acteristics have won and retained many friends.
CHARLES L. MOENCH, who has throughout his active years been active in the ministry of the Moravian Church, was born Feb. 20, 1855, in Lititz, Lancaster county, son of William N. and Louise M. (Schneider) Moench. When about three years old he removed with his parents to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he spent his boyhood days, receiving his early education in the public schools of that city, and later attending the Moravian College and Theologi- cal Seminary at Bethlehem, Pa. He graduated from the latter institution in 1875, and after spending two years as teacher at Nazareth Hall took a post-gradu- ate course at Union Seminary, New York City. In May, 1878, he was ordained to the Moravian minis- try and served in pastoral charges at the following places : Blairstown, Iowa; Hopedale, Wayne Co., Pa .; Philadelphia Second Church ; Lititz, Lancaster Co., Pa. ; and Philadelphia First Church, his present incumbency. In 1897 and 1898 he acted as Principal of Linden Hall Seminary, at Lititz. At the synod of the Church held at Lititz in 1898 Rev. Mr. Moench was elected and consecrated a Bishop, and besides discharging his duties as pastor and Bishop, he is at the present time serving as President of the Board of Trustees of Linden Hall Seminary, and President of the Board of Trustees of the Moravian College and Theological Seminary at Bethlehem, Pa. All in all he has proved himself an efficient worker in his chosen field, in the educational as well as the strictly spiritual interests of the Moravian Church, and his services have a distinctive value.
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