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 92
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The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were as follows : Mary M., widow of Emil Holtz, who resides with her mother, and has four children, Emil H., Anna M., Lena E. and Lewis ; Jolin M., who resides at home; Harry M., a cigarmaker in Lancaster, who married Catherine Anderson; Charles D., deceased ; James A. G., who is at home ; George F., deceased; Anna M., deceased; and George M., who is at home.
Mr. Snyder was only four months old when his parents brought him to Lancaster, and there he at- tended school until the age of fourteen, when he began cigarmaking with Jacob Fry. He followed that trade in several States, until 1877, when he took charge of Schoenberger's Park, operating same for several years, and then went into the hotel business, conducting an inn on Manor street for several years, and the "Plow Tavern" very successfully for eight years. Mr. Snyder then retired to private life, moving to No. 803 Manor street, but lived only a few weeks to enjoy its comforts. He was a member of the social organization the Shilter Verein, and was also connected with the K. of P. and the Red Men, and in politics was identified with the Repub- lican party. His religious membership was with Christ Lutheran Church.
The second marriage of Mrs. Snyder was to Robert E. L. Tomlin, who was a son of Robert Tomlin, and was born in Alexandria, Va. His bus- iness was tobacco packing. One daughter was born to this marriage, Ida Corinne M., who resides at home. Mrs. Tomlin is a lady of ample means, and
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is very highly regarded in the community for her many most estimable traits. Her acquaintance is large and she numbers her friends by the score.
JOSEPH R. ROYER, a confectioner of Lan- caster, was born on the family farm in Manheim township, Lancaster county, March 5, 1835, son of Joseph and Catherine (Royer) Royer, and grandson of Joseph Royer. Both father and grandfather were natives of Manheim township, while Mr. Rover's mother was a daughter of Joseph Royer, of Clay township.
Joseph Royer, father of Joseph R., died in May, 1843, at the age of forty-one years, and is remem- bered as one of the intelligent and progressive farm- ers of Lancaster county, having taken a leading posi- tion in his community. A man of broad and pro- gressive ideas, he was the first farmer in Lancaster county to own a threshing machine, which was made by Kirkpatrick ; it was the subject of much interest at the time of its introduction into the county. Mrs. Royer, who died in 1876, was a woman of gentle spirit, and was much beloved in the circle of her acquaintance. Both were members of the Dunkard Church. They were the parents of the following
Joseph R. Rover started out for himself when hardly ten years of age, and secured work on a farm at four dollars a month, then considered very high wages for so young a boy. Remaining on the farm until he was thirteen years old, and having accumu- lated seventy dollars, the enterprising young lad went to Mt. Joy, where he began at the trade of saddle and harness making under Christian Martin, with whom he finished the trade. For seven years Mr. Royer carried on his trade at Petersburg, Pa., and was there when the Civil war broke out, having become quite a prominent character, holding the position of post- master, and being proprietor and manager of the vil- lage hotel. He was intensely interested in the Union cause, and in the spring of 1862 raised a company near Petersburg, of which he was commissioned sec- ond lieutenant ; the command was organized for the defense of Chambersburg. Late the same year a company was organized at Petersburg, in which he was also second lieutenant. This command was at- tached to the 157th P. V. I., which regiment in March, 1863, was stationed at Washington for the defense of that city, where it was held until Febru- ary of the following year. Upon arrival at Wash- ington MI. Royer was made quartermaster, and served as stich until his capture by the Rebels, April 13, 1864. Mr. Royer, while still at Washington, had become first lieutenant, and accompanied the regi- ment to Fairfax, Va., where, as noted in the preced-
ing paragraph, he was taken prisoner while out for supplies at Gaines' Mills. For six weeks he was held at Libby Prison, Richmond, Va .. was at Danville, Va., two weeks, and was then sent to Macon, Ga., from which point he was sent to Charleston, and kept under fire for six weeks. The breaking out of yellow fever necessitated their removal to Columbia, S. C., where they were confined in a stockade from Novem- ber until the following February, being herded to- gether like sheep, and were driven to Wilmington. N. C., at which point they were exchanged March 13, 1865. Mr. Royer on his return to the service was made quartermaster of the 191st P. V. I., and served in that capacity until the close of the war, being mus- tered out in June, 1865. When he was captured he was shot through the hand, was reported dead, and for six months was regarded by his people as lost.
For about a year after Mr. Rover's enlistment his wife conducted his business, but finding it too much of a burden she disposed of it, and gave up the post office as well. When Mr. Rover came home he rested for only about two weeks, and then took up the work of civil life as strenuously as he had his army work. Going to York, he bought a number of horses from the Government, and sold out at a good profit in family: Israel, now deceased : Sarah, widow of John , about ten days. After the successful conclusion of Batruff. of Perry county, Pa. : David, living in Lan- caster ; Catherine, deceased ; Joseph R. ; Frances. de- ceased wife of Clement Gritner, who went to North Carolina from Lititz : Martin, deceased : and Tobias, an ex-soldier, now living retired at home on Duke street, Lancaster. this enterprise he came to Lancaster and bought out the confectionery store of Charles Eden, located at ' the corner of Prince and West King streets, where he was engaged for some two years, at the expiration of that time buying the Whiteside property, on West King street. This he rebuilt. and he became noted as the first merchant in Lancaster with a plate glass front to his store. It was of French plate, which at that time was very expensive, and attracted much ac- tention to the business which he established at that point, and which became popular at once. Mr. Rover was also the first man in the city to put his name on his delivery wagon. He has the oldest business in his line in the city, and his name is known through- out the county by a host of friends and patrons. He was one of the first in this part of the State to make ice cream soda, advertising it as early as 1868, and was the first man in the city to open that line.
Mr. Rover is intensely devoted to his business, at which he works many hours a day, and calculates that if the time it had absorbed out of life were measured by ten hours a day labor he would have spent eighty years at it. He is still a young-looking man, and few would imagine him to be above fifty years. In disposition he is a warm-hearted and genial gentleman, with many friends throughout the county.
Joseph R. Rover and Miss Annie Shuman, of Manor township, daughter of Amos B. Shuman, were married in Manor, where her father was long a prominent farmer. This union was blessed with the following children: (1) Minnie, who was the wife of William Rush, died at the age of twenty-five. (2) Milton is associated with his father, having charge of the factory. He is married. (3) Joseph C. is
Sos Of Royer
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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
married, and is a professional musician in New York. (1) Clarence de Vaux, a musical director, is a graduate of some of the most noted musical uni- versities in Europe. where he studied under some of the most noted masters of the day. In ISSI the mother of these died. and Mr. Rover and Miss Leah Balmer, daughter of Andrew Balmer, of Lancaster, were married. She died in ISor. and on June 5, 1893, Mr. Rover married Miss Viola Smaling, daugh- ter of Jacob Smaling, of Lancaster.
As might be expected from his long and credit- able service at the front, Mr. Rover is deeply inter- ested in the Grand Army of the Republic, being asso- ciated with George Thomas Post, No. 84, of that patriotic order. He is also a member of the K. of G. E.
JOHN BANZHOF. The larger number of the excellent farins of Lancaster county are owned and operated by descendants of German ancestors, and one of this class who possesses a valuable and most desirable farm in Strasburg township is John Banz- hof.
David Banzhof, the father, was a native of Wur- temberg, Germany, and came to the United States while still a young man, locating in the rich and fertile county of Lancaster, after a short sojourn in Philadelphia, where he engaged in his trade of cooper. His first home was in Montgomery county, but he made no long stop there. his inclinations leading him into Lancaster. His first employer in Strasburg was Samuel Brubaker, and from there he went to the shop of Samuel Eshleman, near Mar- tinsville, quietly pursuing his trade and accumulat- ing means, so that in 1859 he was prepared to buy a small place in the eastern part of Strasburg town- ship, and there he established a coopering shop of his own. In connection with his trade he operated a small farm, and lived until Jan. 4, 1899, dying at the age of seventy-two years and four months. Both he and wife were consistent members of the Reformed Mennonite Church. The latter was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1832. and she still survives. They were the parents of nine chil- dren: Jacob, who operates a planing mill in Lan- caster ; John, of this sketch: Annie, who married David Hornish, of Brownstown; David, who died at the age of nineteen : Christian, who lives on the old homestead : Katherine. a trained nurse. a grad- uate of the Philadelphia Training school, residing in Baltimore ; Mary, who married Edwin Aulthouse, of Paradise township ; Emma, who married Dr. W. J. Wilkinson, of Philadelphia ; and Magdalena. also a trained nurse, a graduate of the Philadelphia Training school, and a resident of Baltimore.
John Banzhof, the second child of the family. was born in Strasburg township Aug. 7, 1859, and : grew up on the farm and learned his father's trade. His education was pursued in the public schools, and he remained at home associated with his father, : until about the age of twenty-two, when he began
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the carpenter trade, taking his first instruction from John Johnson, but later was under his brother Jacob's teaching, and developed into a fine workman. For the succeeding five or six years he followed the carpenter's trade, but in 1889 located on his present farm, since then becoming its owner, and here he carries on a general line of farming. This is a tract of sixty-seven acres, and Mr. Banzhof has proved that he is not only a very reliable carpenter, but also a first-class farmer. As an indication that he has by no means forgotten the skill of his craft. he has made many very desirable and attractive im- provements upon his farm, although he finds no time for such employment for others.
Mr. Banzhof was married on Dec. Ir. 1890. to Miss Elizabeth Brubaker, a daughter of John and Frances ( Hess) Brubaker, who was born in Stras- burg township Jan. 9, 186.4. They have a family cf four children: J. David, born Dec. 11, 1Sgt ; Fan- nie Magdalena, born Nov. 11, 1806: Willis John, born Nov. 16, 1807, and Marie, born April 29. 1000. Mr. and Mrs. Banzhof are members of the Reformed Mennonite Church, and the family is one which is greatly respected in Strasburg township.
HARRY BACKENSTOE ROOP .. M. D. During the few years which Dr. Roup has practiced in Columbia he has amply attested his professional skill and has won a large and lucrative practice. He possesses those personal qualities which are essen- tial in spheres of wide protessional influence, and easily ranks among the foremost of the younger medical practitioners of his borough.
The paternal grandparents of Dr. Roop were natives of Germany, people of devout and industri- ous character. They emigrated to America and set- tled in Dauphin county. Pa., where the grandfather followed farming. He also officiated frequently as a local minister of the Gospel.
Henry J. Koop, his son, and the father of Dr. Harry B., was born in Highspire, Dauphin county, where he was reared, and where he received a good common school education. He engaged in agricul- ture for many years, on a beautiful farm of about 300 acres, part of which is the site of the borough of Highspire. In 1884 he built a fine residence, on a commanding part of his farm, in which he is liv- ing a retired life. He married Miss Justina Back- enstoe, daughter of John Backenstoe. She died in
1883, aged forty-five years. To them were born five children, namely : Hervin U. Roop. A. M. Ph. D., who is president of Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa .; Harry B., subject of this sketch ; Della F., who married Prof. B. F. Daugherty. A. M., Ph. D., professor of Latin at Lebanon Valley College ; Sarah, who is at home with her father : and William, a graduate of Lebanon Valley College. The father is a prominent member of the United Brethren Church, and a highly respected citizen of Highspire.
Harry B. Roop was born at Highspire, Dau-
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phin county, Feb. 24. 1870. He was reared on the home farm, and there remained up to the age of eighteen years, when he entered Lebanon Valley College, graduating from that institution in 1892. Choosing medicine as his profession, he entered the office of Dr. H. MeDaniel, at Highspire, as a stu- dent, and in the fall of 1893 matriculated at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, receiving his degree of M. D. in the spring of 1897. Dr. Roop located at Columbia, where he has since continued success- fully in practice.
In religious faith the Doctor is a member of the United Brethren Church. In politics he is a Re- publican. He is affiliated with the lodges of the I. O. O. F. and the K. P. at Columbia. and Lodge No. I34, B. P. O. E., at Lancaster, and in social life is one of the leading spirits. However, his profes- sional duties absorb most of his time. for his vrac- tice is large. His interest in his work amounts al- most to enthusiasm, and he devotes a large share of his attention to the current progress made in medi- cine and surgery.
JAMES HAWKINS SPOTTS. a member of the firm of S. M. Myers & Co., successors to Myers & Rathfon, merchant tailors and clothiers on East King Street, Lancaster, is descended from a very old family, whose first progenitors in America came from Germany and settled in Caernarvon township, Lancaster county, where the grandfather of James H., who was a farmer, lived and died.
Joseph Spotts, his son, and the father of James H., was an undertaker, and lived for many years in Churchtown. For a time he was in the West. and then returned to Pennsylvania. locating in Chester county, where he made his home in Downingtown, and he built up a fine business. He came to an un- timely and tragic end. being struck by a passing train and killed while crossing the railroad track. This occurred in 1875, when he was fifty-three years old. His widow. Mlrs. Barbara (Ax) Spotts, belonged to the prominent Ax family of Church- town. She still survives, carrying her years easily, and retaining all the faculties of body and mind in a serene and beautiful old age. She was the mother of ten children, only four of whom survive : Ber- tha, wife of George W. Lewis, of Philadelphia. a passenger conductor on the Pennsylvania railroad. who has been in the service of that company for more than thirty-five years : Frances, wife of Allen S. Heller, a builder of Philadelphia : Hallie. wife of Milton H. Stanley, of Phoenixville, also in the Penn- sylvania railroad service; and James H., of Lan- caster.
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James Hawkins Spotts has had a most interest- ing history. He was born in Churchtown March 25. 1868, and after being educated in Downingtown and New Holland came to Lancaster to take a posi- tion as clerk in the "Leopard Hotel." which he held for two years. For a year he was employed at the Broad street station of the Pennsylvania railroad in
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| Philadelphia. and then entered the Lancaster clotil- ing house of Myers & Rathion, where he has re- maine.l to the present time, and of which he is now one of the proprietors. It was in 1888 that he en- tered this house, and as the years have passed his worth has become manifest. as he personally super- intends the manufacturing of clothing. doing all the purchasing of ready-made goods, and buying the material for the factory.
Mr. Spotts was married, in November, 1890. to Miss Adelle Dora Frankenfield, daughter of Prof. H. L. Frankenfield. a widely-known teacher of band music. as well as composer and publisher of music. who served in the 5th N. Y. Heavy Artillery as leader of a regimental band during the Civil war, the musicians who served under him being his de- voted friends to the present day. From this union one child was born, Dorothy, a lovely little girl, who entered into rest April 19, 1902, in the sixteenth month of her age.
Mr. Spotts belongs to St. John's Episcopal Church, of Lancaster. His political relations are with the Republican party, and he served as a mem- ber of the Republican City Committee for three vears. as a representative from the Second ward. He also belongs to the Young Men's Republican Club. Socially he is connected with the Odd Fel- lows. the Artisans, and the Mutual Benefit Associ- ation of New York. He is a genial, clever and well- rounded man, and deservedly enjoys the good-will of a host of friends.
GEORGE K. GARRETT, a well-known and respected farmer of Martic township, born March 14. 1858, was a son of Henry and Annie Garrett, of Conestoga township.
Henry Garrett, the father, died when our sub- ject was but three years of age. He was the father of eight children, as follows: Elizabeth, the wife of John Finnen, of New Danville, Pa .; Mary, de- ceased : Annie, deceased ; Amos, a resident of Safe Harbor: Leah, the wife of Philip Mowery ; Barbara. the wife of Walter Albright, of Lancaster ; George K., of this sketch ; and Catherine, the wife of Sam- uel Peters, of Colemanville.
George K. Garrett is an example of what may be accomplished by the exercise of perseverance. industry and economy. The early death of his fa- ther left the large family in reduced circumstances. and when he was but a lad it became necessary for him to begin his struggle with life for himself. It is a source of satisfaction for him to see how weli he has accomplished this. His educational advan- tages were those provided in the district schools. and all his life labor has been along agricultural lines. He now owns a fine farm comprising 160 acres of valuable land, with excellent improvements. Some of this farm was purchased in 1895, when he secured it for $20 per acre. He is known through the township as an excellent farmer, industrious and reliable, and he has a wide circle of attached friends.
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In 1889 Mr. Garrett was married to Miss Alice Fawkes, of Philadelphia, daughter of Walker Fawkes, and the two children born of this marriage are: Mary and Walter. Mr. Garrett is one of the leading Republicans of Martic township and is a member of the board of school directors. He has the good of his community at heart. and gen- erously supports all moral and educational en- terprises looking toward its advancement. He is a useful citizen, a kind neighbor and an exemplary husband and father, in fact is one of the men of whom Martic township has reason to feel proud.
ROCHOW. The Rochow family of Columbia, Lancaster county, was founded in America by the late William Rochow, whose sad and tragic death occurred at his home in Columbia early on the morning of April 7, 1900.
William Rochow was born in Strelitz, grand duchy of Mecklenburg, Germany, Jan. 15, 1829, the only child of Frederick and Wilhelmina ( Miller) Rochow, the former of whom was master and owner of a sail boat, handled freight, and died in 1852, at the age of fifty-three years ; the latter came to Amer- ica with her son, William, in 1857, and first located in Bridgeport, Montgomery Co., Pa., where Will- iam resided one year ; he then passed a year in Nor- ristown, a year in Philadelphia, and then came to Columbia, after six months assisting a friend in the dyeing department of a woolen factory. He here turned his attention to the junk trade, bought and sold hides, bones, cast-off articles of all kinds, did a lucrative business until 1886, and then retired in favor of his son, Charles. Mrs. Wilhelmina Roch- ow, mother of William, died in Columbia, Pa., at the age of seventy-one years.
William Rochow was first married in Berlin, Germany, to Emma Kaiser, and to this union were born the following children: William, a book- keeper in a hotel at St. Louis, Mo .; Charles, in the junk business at Columbia, Pa. ; Ernest, a clerk for his brother, Charles; and Bertha, married to John Rensink, a contractor and builder in Chicago, Il1. The mother of the family was born in Berlin, was a daughter of Ferdinand Kaiser, and died in Co- lumbia, Pa., in 1872, at the age of thirty-three years. The second marriage of William Rochow took place in Columbia in 1875, Rosa Knob becoming his wife. To this marriage was born one son, Albert, an attorney at York, Pennsylvania.
In alluding to the sad death of Mr. Rochow the Columbia Daily News of Saturday, April 7, 1900, gave the following account : "William Rochow died at his residence, No. 513 Locust street, shortly before two o'clock this morning, from the effects of burns received on Friday while taking a vapor bath. Mr. Rochow was burned in a shocking man- ner over his back, arms, hands and limbs, from which the skin hung in shreds and in some places his flesh was burned to a crisp. Everything known to medical science was resorted to, but the burns were
of such a character that little hopes for his recovery were entertained. During the afternoon he became delirious and it was with difficulty that he could be kept in bed and restrained from tearing the band- ages from his wounds. At five o'clock last even- ing he grew very weak, and gradually sank into a state of unconsciousness, and remained in that con- dition until death came. His end was peaceful and apparently without pain."
In politics he was a Democrat. but would never accept an office. In religion he was a Lutheran and was a member of German Salem Lutheran Church. He was one of the substantial citizens of Columbia, and was a stockholder in the Central National Bank from its organization. He was public spirited, yet conservative, and acted only when he saw that the end to be accomplished was worthy of aid.
CHARLES ROCHOW, son of William and Emma ( Kaiser) Rochow, was born in Columbia April 17, 1862, and is now his father's successor in business, dealing at wholesale ( in scrap iron and metals). He has had experience in business elsewhere than in Co- lumbia, but altogether in the tobacco trade, to wit: Six months in Philadelphia ; two years in New York City ; one and a half years in St. Louis, Mo. : and a year and a half in Chicago, Ill. In 1882 he returned to Columbia and joined his father, becoming pro- prietor as intimated above in 1886.
In August, 1885, Mr. Rochow was most happily united in marriage, in Columbia, with Miss Emma L. Harm, the accomplished daughter of William and Barbara Harm, the former a grocer in Colum- bia, the latter a native of Philadelphia. To Mr. and Mrs. Rochow have been born six children. in the following order : Rosa, Lillian, William. Wal- ter, Charles and Robert. The family worship at the Salem Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Rochow is treasurer and member of the board of trustees. Mr. Rochow is an excellent man of business and ever alert and enterprising. He is a director in the Columbia Telephone Co., and was formerly its treasurer : he is likewise a director in the Central National Bank, and in the Loder Brewing Co., and energetic and fully up-to-date in all things. Socially he is very popular, and is a member of the Hepta- sophs, while in politics he is a Democrat, yet no office seeker.
AMOS SHELLY, a prominent and successful farmer, was born in Rapho township, Lancaster county, July 30, 1857, and has always made his home in his native town.
David and Susannah (Herr) Shelly, his par- ents, were born, respectively, in Rapho and Lan- caster townships. David Shelly was a son of Abra- ham Shelly, and was a farmer, who entered into rest in 1880, at the age of sixty-seven years, his re- mains being laid to rest in the Cross Roads Meeting House burying ground. The widowed mother, who now resides with her son in East Donegal town- ship, was born in August, 1829. To David Shelly
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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
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