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 95
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In Columbia, in 1899, Mr. Hartman was united in marriage with Miss Lillie A. Rodgers, who was born in Milltown, Lancaster county, daughter of John B. Rodgers, of this county.
Mr. Hartman is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, affiliating with Lodge No. 286, of Columbia. He ranks high in the world of trade, and in his home community is held in esteem on account of persona! characteristics, having a wide circle of warmly at- tached friends.
ACTON ASH LEFEVRE, druggist and per- fumer in Lancaster city, belongs to a family as old as that of the Penns. His first ancestor in America was Isaac LeFevre, a French Huguenot, who, com- ing to this country to escape persecution, joined Penn in London, and accompanied him in 1682. Some time before coming to this country he secured from Queen Anne a grant of land of 2.000 acres. lying between what is now Strasburg borough and Paradise, in this county. Strasburg was named in
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honor of the old historic French city from which he came. The earliest of his ancestors in Europe of whom we have any knowledge translated the Bible into French for the first time, and was a correspond- ent of Martin Luther and Zwingli. One of this fam- ily became a great general under the first Napoleon. Part of the Strasburg grant of land is still in the possession of the LeFevres, and the cornerstone of the first log house erected by the first ancestor of the family in that section is still preserved.
Franklin Penn LeFevre, the father of Acton A., was a widely known resident of this county. He married Catherine Fulmer Ash, a descendant of a family of Revolutionary fame, and to this union were born five children, all of whom are living: Elmer I., in the lumber trade at Coatesville : Acton A., of Lancaster; Elizabeth S .; Benjamin Herr, a florist of Washington, D. C .; and Mary, unmarried and at home.
Acton Ash LeFevre was born Feb. 5, 1870, on the homestead near Strasburg, and was educated in the public schools of Lancaster, to which city his father removed while he was still a young lad. Leaving the high school, he entered the drug busi- ness, and after satisfactory examinations entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1891, acquiring the degree of Ph. G. The same year he opened an elegant drug store at the corner of South Queen and Conestoga streets, where he built up a handsome trade, and for four years of the time he was the owner of the sec- ond drug store located in the western part of the city.
On Jan. 1, 1900, Mr. LeFevre began the manu- facture of perfumery, being the first in Lancaster to engage in that line. His first effort was on the Acton Carnation Pink, which sprang into instant and widespread popularity, and he has customers throughout the United States and Canada. He now manufactures a full line, consisting of many flower extracts, toilet waters, sachets, soaps and specialties. His trade of these delicate toilet articles extends throughout the country and is rapidly spreading, and has necessitated the erection of an extensive new laboratory.
Mr. LeFevre was married Oct. 15, 1894, to Miss Emma L., daughter of Frederick Wettig, a respected citizen of Lancaster. To this union have been born two children, Helen Catherine and Adelyne. Mr. LeFevre is a Baptist in religion and a Republican in politics. An earnest and progressive business man, his methods rank with the best in the community, and his personal character is such as to command the confidence and respect of all with whom he deals.
JACOB L. EBERSOLE, a general farmer and highly-respected citizen of Conoy township, was born on the farm where he is now living, May 3, 1866, son of Jacob R. and Anna (Lehman) Eber- sole, whose married life was passed on the same place. There the father was born, and is now living retired, at the age of sixty-five years ; and there the
mother, who was born in Dauphin county, died Sept. 20. 1897. at the age of sixt .- four years, and was buried in a private burying-ground which forms a part of the estate. Both parents were members of the Mennonite Church. They had the following children: Peter L., a farme- in Conoy township; Lizzie, who is unmarried and. lives at home; Maria L., at home ; and Jacob L. 1
The paternal grandparents :f Jacob L. Ebersole were Rev. Peter and Mary ( I 'sser) Ebersole. the former of whom was a bishop in the Mennonite Church for many years. and was engaged in farm- ing in addition to his clerical labors. He died in 1870, at the age of eighty years, his wife in 1866. Their children were: Barbara, who lives in this county, and is unmarried : Peter R., who died in 1899; Anna R., wife of Jacob Ebersole. of Lebanon county ; Fanny R., deceased, wife of John E. Eber- sole : and Jacob R.
Peter Lehman and his wife lived in Dauphin county, where he was engaged in farming, and where his daughter, Anna, the mother of Jacob L. Ebersole, was born.
Jacob L. Ebersole and Miss Sadie L'. Ober were married in Manheim in September. 1888, and have had the following children: Johnson O., Jennie O .. Reuben O., Bertha O., Lizzie O., Agnes O., Sadie O. and Emma O. Mrs. Ebersole was born in West Donegal township, this county, Feb. 21, 1865, a daughter of Jolin Ober, a wagonmaker of that town- ship. Her parents were honorable and industrious people, and she is a woman highly respected by all who know her.
Mr. Ebersole has remained with his parents on the home farm up to the present time. He takes an active and enlightened interest in public affairs, is a clever and thrifty man, energetic and enterprising, and has made an enviable name for himself. Both he and his wife belong to the Mennonite Church, and in politics he is a Republican.
BENJAMIN W. HIRSH, youngest son of Abraham Hirsh, whose biography appears else- where, was born in Lancaster, and acquired his edu- cation in the city schools. Early in life he was taken into his father's store and given a practical knowl- edge of the extensive business which that gentleman had developed. The young man remained in the store for some time, but millinery and jewelry did not seem to be his line, and in 1887 he succeeded Cyrus Colvin in the livery business in Lancaster, continuing in that business until 1893, when he turned his attention to the handling of fine horses for the Philadelphia markets, buying largely in Canada and Wisconsin, and preparing the horses for sale at his own stables, known as the Eagle stables. This business he conducted for five years, in connection with the stables of the Northern Bank, and then was engaged exclusively for himself two years, with as many as eighty-six horses on his hands at one time. He has owned and tracked some of the
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most speedy horses in the State. Mr. Hirsh moved to North Queen street in 1895, and opened one of the largest stables in the city, which was destroyed by fire the following year, the loss to him being very heavy. For several months following the fire he was in charge of the Nor hern Bank stables. and then located at Cherry ally, his present location. Mr. Hirsh is a thorough horseman, and a fine judge of horserlesh, and his tention is given exclusively to the horse business. . He is a keen and shrewd busi- ness man, and is advancing rapidly to the front among the solid and successful men of Lancaster. He has been long recognized as a progressive and broad-minded citizen, one of the kind who prove useful members of a community. Socially Mr. Hirsh belongs to the Germania, Maennerchor and Club. and the Liederkrantz Society.
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Benjamin W. Hirsh and Mrs. Cora Cheever were married June 12, 1900. Mrs. Hirsh is a daughter of Jesse Good, and is a lady of many charm- ing traits and characteristics.
MISS ANNA MYER, of Conestoga township. Lancaster county, has the distinction of owning and conducting a farm herself quite as well as a man could do it. Her great-grandfather. Samuel Myer. who came from Germany, settled in Conestoga town- ship about 1720, and took up 180 acres of land near Conestoga Center; he always followed farming. There were five children in his family: Nathaniel. who went to Oregon Territory and died there ; So- crates : Rudolph, who was drowned in the Susque- hanna river: Peggy, wife of Benjamin Shenk, of Conestoga township; and Samuel, grandfather of Miss Anna Mver.
Samuel Myer was a minister of the Old Men- nonite Church. He started in the tanning business about 1812, on the farm where Miss Myer now lives. and the business is still carried on by her brother Abram. He married a Miss Harnish. of Conestoga township, and they became the parents of fourteen children: Anna, wife of Benjamin Kauffman : Rudolph, father of Anna Myer: Maria, wife of Christian Herr: Fannie, wife of Abram Mliller, of Manor township: Jacob, of Ohio: Barbara, wife of Christian Hertzler, of Cumberland county; Eliza- beth, wife of Abram Miland, of Pequea township ; Abram. of Conestoga township; and several chil- dren who died in infancy.
Rudolph Ayer, father of Anna MIver, was born in 1807. He was educated in the public schools and lived at home with his parents until the age of eight- een, when he went to work in the tanyard where he ! was employed for something over six years, at the end of that time buying the business from his father and continuing it on his own behalf until the time of his death, in 1886. He was a member of the Old Men- nonite Church. He married Miss Susan Miller, of Manor township, and was the father of eight chil- dren: Barbara, wife of Jacob Charles, of Pequea township : Abram, of Conestoga; Mary, wife of Jo-
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seph Eshleman. of Martic: Rudolph, who died in childhood : Isaac, who died in childhood : Samuel. of Conestoga township: Susan, wife of Joseph Har- nish, of Pequea township : and Miss Anna, whos. name opens this sketch.
Miss Mver is a fine manager, and under her re :: the old homestead is kept in the very finest conti- tion and is profitable as well. She is certainly to be congratulated on her fine executive ability, and is respected and esteemed by all who know her.
REV. CHARLES TOMPSON KNOX. The city of Lancaster takes a prominent place with her sister cities in educational, philanthropic and re- ligious enterprises, and it is not a matter of surprise that within her borders Rev. Charles Tompson Knox, a Baptist minister endowed with youth, abit- ity and true Christian spirit, should have been able to so interest the citizens at large, that they wei- comed the establishment there of a little mission which was modestly named by its founder "The Strangers' Mission." Few at that date could have been found, however, to believe in the self-dental and continued enthusiasm of the young clergyman, or to have predicted the wonderful results from that small beginning.
Rev. Charles Tompson Knox was born at Rock Island, Ill., June 24. 1867. His paternal grand- father. Charles Bishop Knox. was born in Bland- ford, Mass., and after his marriage to Mary Gor- ham moved West, settling in Rock Island at a time when that thriving city contained only three houses.
Curtis Bishop Knox, a son of Charles Bishop Knox, for the past thirty years has been in the em- ploy of the United States Government, in the Rock Island Arsenal. He married Martha Tompson, and three children were born to this union: One child died in infancy; Martha Tompson married George Stoughtenberg, who is a merchant in Moline, I !!.. and the third is the founder and the beloved pastor of "The Strangers' Mission" and "The Door of Hope" in Lancaster.
Mr. Knox obtained his education at Shurtleff College, Alton, Ill., and afterward was ordained a Baptist minister, on Sept. 10, 1891. Coming to the city of Lancaster for a temporary sojourn, the trend of events, in June, 1895. led him into the work which resulted in the establishment of "The Strang- ers' Mission" and, later, "The Door of Hope." in- stitutions which have done more in the way of phil- anthropy and charity and general usefulness than almost any other combination of benevolent enter- prises. No such missionary work as has been done by Mr. Knox has ever been accomplished by any other agency or association of individuals in the his- tory of the city. The scope and history of this won- derful work is told by Mr. Knox himself in a modest but convincing way, in "The Manual of the Strang- ers' Mission," from which we have been permitted to make the following extract :
"In 1895 I was in Lancaster temporarily for an-
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other purpose, and was induced to start a Sunday- school in the little old schoolhouse opposite the Lan- caster County Almshouse, which I secured through the kindness of the school board. This was done through the urgency of a lady whom I met, who felt the need of Christian work among the people of the East End.
"Accordingly, on July 7, 1895, the first session was opened with twenty-eight people present. Hav- ing other business that engaged me closely during the week, so that there was no time nor strength for pastoral work, it was nevertheless agreeable to me to preach the Word of God once on Sunday. To this I consented. It bound me to nothing and pledged no one else. There was no covenant and no salary. Miss Eliza E. Smith, a rich and benevo- lent lady of Lancaster, became the first contributor, and a warm friend and substantial patroness of the work.
"In this way, trusting only in God, and free to leave when I would, the first year passed quickly away. With the first anniversary in 1896, came the intimation that the school board could no longer permit us to occupy the school building for religi - ous services. The members of the board were not in any way unfriendly to the good work, but out- side affairs now forced them to refuse us the use of the schoolhouse any longer.
"Not discouraged, we set about securing other quarters, and an undenominational church was organized, and the Holy Communion was admin- istered. During 1896 the work grew rapidly, friends multiplied, people were drawn into the Church and many souls saved.
"At the end of the second year the work had so enlarged, and my pastoral duties became so mani- fold, that I now felt sure God would have me to cut loose from all visible means of support and trust Him alone. Whereupon I took up my. abode in the Mission house, spread my table, and opened my door to all who came needing help or shelter. No one has ever been turned from the door, and God has succored the work, and we never lacked assist- ance in, nor futherance of, the good work.
"The needs of the poor of our city now impressed me, and a Day Nursery was opened to care for children whose mothers were obliged to toil .for their daily bread. An employment agency was also opened, to serve as a medium where those wanting help and those in need of employment could have their respective wants filled. And still another branch of the uplifting work was the estab- lishment of a free medical dispensary, to aid the sick poor. The following well-known physicians of Lancaster have been untiring in their services in connection with my various charities : Drs. M. L. Herr, A. M. Underwood, F. G. Hartman, T. B. Appel, Wm. H. Herr, Frank Alleman, W. S. Bren- holtz and G. L. Cassel."
The third anniversary found the work still pro- gressing. Willing and influential friends made it
possible to open the second "Strangers' Mission" in Faegleyville, a quarter in Lancaster that had long been in need of such. missionary work, and where under the earnest ministrations of Rev. Mr. Knox and his loyal band of helpers, most encouraging headway has been made.
The fourth anniversary, in 1899, found the pastor of this unique church, with its auxiliary mis- sionary work, with new responsibilities confronting him. "A Door of Hope," for fallen women, had been opened. On Oct. 2. 1899, the home was con- secrated to its grand, soul-saving and rescuing pur- poses, and it immediately opened its doors to falien but repentant women. During that year the insti- tution fed and sheltered many. As freely as assist- ance came to it from all quarters, so freely and bounteously it was dispensed to those in need.
In the winter of 1901, influenced by a strange leading of God, while visiting Mrs. E. M. Whitte- more, of New York, Rev. Mr. Knox felt the need of a gospel mecting to be held every night for the peo- ple of the street in Lancaster. This same peculiar leading, working on H. Z. Rhoads, caused him to offer a hall in his beautiful building in the center of the city, and thus was opened Central Hall, where the Gospel of Jesus is preached and sung every night.
This work is essentially a faith work, and as such has been blessed by God. The faithful pastor has never received one dollar as salary, and thoughi all the contributions which support the various enterprises are entirely voluntary, the work has never halted an hour for lack of means. Mr. Knox is a strong man, one whose heart has been set upon a clearly defined purpose, and no personal lack has ever turned him from the great and noble standard which he has set up to reach. May he be still prospered in his labors!
MARTIN G. HESS, the efficient and popular cashier of the Keystone National Bank of Manheim, is a native of Lancaster county, born in Penn town- ship April 5. 1865, son of Levi H. and Salinda S. (Gross) Hess, now residents of Manheim. His fa- ther is a retired farmer, is domestic in his tastes, and a Republican in politics. Religiously both he and his wife are members of the Mennonite Church. In the family of this worthy couple were ten children, namely: Noah, a fruit grower and farmer of Roths- ville, Lancaster county ; Henry, deceased : Martin G., of this review; Mary, wife of A. H. Brubaker, living near Rohrerstown, Lancaster county; Levi, manager of a branch house of the American Wringer Company at Springfield. Mass .; Phares, a teacher in the public schools of Lancaster county ; Salinda, at home; Elam, a school teacher in Lan- caster county ; Ammon, attending school at Mt. Her- mon, Mass. : and Jerome, who is attending school in Manheim, and resides at home.
Martin G. Hess received his early education in the public schools near his boyhood home, and later
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took a business course at the Coleman Business College, Newark, N. J. In June, 1888, he entered the Keystone National Bank, as a clerk, and in No- vember, 1890, was appointed cashier, which re- sponsible position he has since filled with credit and distinction. In December, 1901, he assisted in the organization of the Denver National Bank, of Den- ver, this county, and was elected its first president. He was one of the promoters of the Lancaster, Petersburg & Manheim trolley railroad, of which he is a director. Mr. Hess is a young man of good business ability, energetic and progressive, and commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, either in business or in social life.
On Sept. 23, 1890, Mr. Hess married Miss Emma R. Erb. Both hold membership in the Ger- man Reformed Church.
JOHN F. LANDIS, a retired farmer of West Donegal township, whose years and industrious life alike command respect and confidence, is still en- gaged in operating a feed mill in that township, on the farm where he has spent so many honest and laborious years.
Mr. Landis was born in Manheim township, near Neffsville, Sept. 30, 1837, son of David and .Nancy (Frick) Landis, both natives of Lancaster county. The father was a farmer, and in his younger days a blacksmith, and retired from active work some two years prior to his death, Dec. 25, 1864, at the age of fifty-eight years. His widow survived many years, dying June 23, 1885, when over seventy-six years old. They were buried in the cemetery connected with the Landis Meeting House, a well-known place of worship in Manheim township for the Mennonite people, to whom they belonged. To them were born the following chil- dren, all deceased but Abraham and John F .: Eliza married George Shreiner; Mary died young ; Ephraim died in Wadsworth, Ohio, at the age of fifty-three years; David died in Lancaster in 1900, aged sixty-five years; Abraham is a retired farmer in Washington county, Md .; Samuel died Oct. 21, 1865; his twin sister, Anna, married John Bol- linger; Fanny married Jacob Kertz; Margaret married Christ Hess, of Manheim township, and died in 1900; John F. is mentioned below.
The paternal grandparents of John F. Landis were Jolin and Mary (Snavely) Landis, of Lan- caster county, who spent their lives in farming. His maternal grandparents were John and Ver- onica (Martin ) Frick, both Lancaster people.
John F. Landis and Magdelina Keller were married in Manheim township, Sept. 13, 1859, and to them have come the following children: Lizzie, wife of Jacob Horst, a farmer in Mt. Joy township ; Franklin K., an employe at Buch's works, in Eliza- bethtown, Pa .; Martin K., engineer in Kreider's shoe factory, Elizabeth, Pa .; Amanda K., deceased ; Phares K., a farmer and operator of a steam
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thresher in West Donegal township; Samuel K., a farmer, gristmiller and coachmaker in Rapho town- ship; Maggie K., who married George Floyd, of West Donegal township : John K., deceased; Katic K., married to Harvey Hostetter, a farmer in West Donegal township; Harry K., salesman for the New Holland Machine works, who resides at MIt. Joy ; and Clayton K., deceased.
Mrs. Magdelina Landis was born near Lititz, Pa., Dec. 6, 1839. daughter of Frederick and Cath- arine (Gross) Keller, both natives of Lancaster county, her father having been born on a farm in Ephrata township, and her mother in East Donegal, on the Gross homestead. They were farming people, and led worthy lives.
John F. Landis remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he married, and for eight years was engaged in the cultivation of the old homestead. At the end of that time he sold out and moved into Elizabeth township, where he en- gaged in farming for twelve years. Selling out, he moved to West Donegal township, on the farm of his wife's uncle, John Gross. In 1880 he built a new barn, in which he put up a steam custom chop mill. which he ran together with the farm until the spring of 1887, when he gave the charge of the farm to his son Phares and continued milling. On the night of Nov. 18, 1897, the barn mysteriously burned down. It was rebuilt, and the mill has continued in opera- tion up to the present time.
John F. Landis and his wife belong to what is called the Stauffer denomination, a non-voting peo- ple, who take no part in any office of the Common- wealth or participate in any worldly corporation.
HENRY KEENER, one of the old and most re- spected citizens of Lancaster county, has presented in his career an example of what may be accom- plished by exemplary living, and the exercise of hon- esty and industry. Coming to Lancaster county a poor boy, with no capital but youth and energy, he is now regarded as one of the substantial citizens. whose financial backing would be sufficient to en- sure the success of almost any enterprise. His ac- cumulation of means has been accomplished through hard, carnest toil, as his principles would never have permitted him to look with any favor upon any specu- lative scheme with a view to increasing his possess- ions.
Henry Keener was born Jan. 31, 1819, in Bavaria, Germany, son of Henry and Maggie (Springling) Keener, both of whom in time became residents of the United States, and passed away in this land. Grandfather Keener was a member of the Old Men- nonite Church, but the parents of Henry Keener were connected with the Presbyterian Church. in which the father was an elder. The mother lived to be seventy-three years old, and died in the home of her son George, while the father died in the home of his son Philip, at the age of seventy-five; both were buried in the old Musser burying-ground, in Lea-
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Henry Keener
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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
cock township. Henry and Maggie Keener were the parents of eight children : Philip, deceased : Peter, who died in Leacock township; Henry, whose name introduces this biography; Catherine. widow of Philip Hohman, who resided near New Hol- land ; Stephen, a farmer of Leacock township : Mat- tie, deceased, who was the wife of .A. Burtice : George, who was a farmer in Washington county, Vid. ; and Adam, a resident of Westchester, Penn- sylvania.
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gathered there was no more work for him in that locality, and he made his way to the metropolis, later to Philadelphia, and finally to Lancaster county, where he knew he should, at least. find countrymen. The fifty cents he had in his possession at the time of. : his arrival lasted but a short time, and he agam felt almost disheartened, but calling his resolution to as- | sist him he made his way to Bird-in-Hand, and soon made friends with a most excellent man, John Stauffer. This friend in need gave him employment : at wood cutting and general utility work, and here he was also offered work in the mills, at SI; per month, but he wisely decided that he could prosper better at farm work, and remained with his new friend and employer for more than a year.
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