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 96
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In his early home Henry Keener had been taught habits of frugality, which he continued to practice later in life, the result being that year by year he was able to add to his means. When he married, in 1843, he began farming, in a small way, on sixteen acres of land in East Lampeter township, renting this property for two years. In the meantime he had purchased a small tract of land. upon which he lived two years, finally disposing of it and again renting, cultivating for two succeeding years a farm of eighty acres. Going next to Benjamin King's place, he took charge of his farm, remaining upon it for seven years, and then, in association with his brother Adam, rented the Lime Valley mill, conducting same for one year. At this time Mr. Keener felt ready to purchase the farm upon which he now lives, consisting then of seventy-one acres, and in the course of time bought seventy-five adjoining acres, later selling ten of these. He entered upon general farming on an extensive scale, giving that work his undivided attention, and employing the most approved methods in the pro- duction and succession of crops, demonstrating that
his long management of the land of others had well prepared hin to make the best returns from his own. At present his son, John B., possesses the old farm, Mr. Keener retaining his last purchase, now sixty- five acres, for his own residence.
Henry Keener was married, in 1843, to Barbara Bally, who was born Feb. 22, 1822, and who died in February, 1001. They had three children: Mag- gie, who is the wife of Sylvester F. Sweigert, a farmer and baker in Paradise township; Lizzie, who Henry Keener was reared in his native country. , is the wife of Samuel Martin, of Strasburg : and John and remained there until the age of twenty, at which time he decided that he could better his prospects by emigrating to the United States, and he was the first of his family to leave the old home. Making his way to a port in France, he embarked on the ves- : sel "Louis Philippe," and landed on these shores March 23, 1840, a very homesick and discouraged youth for a time, as he was a stranger in a strange land. and understood very little of the language. The season for farm work was about opening, however, B., who is one of the leading farmers of Strasburg township, is an elder in the Old Mennonite Church, and wedded Lizzie Martin. Mr. Keener is an ad- herent to the Old Mennonite faith, as was also his wife. He is one of the stockholders in the Strasburg National Dank. Many still remember when he was a poor but honest boy. a stranger in their midst, and his life tells its own lesson of what can be accom- . plished by steady, persistent effort. Mr. Keener has had a beneficial influence in Lancaster county. and he obtained a few months' employment at farm ; and no family is more highly respected. either in the labor near Albany, N. Y. But after the harvest was ; church or in the community, than his.
JACOB FRANKLIN TREXLER, M. D., an eminent surgeon and physician of Lancaster, was born in Berks county May 5. 1863. His parents. Henry J. and Mary .A. ( Kercher ) Trexler, are both descended from ante-Revolution families who came to America from Germany, and received their land grants in Berks county. Pa., from the then reigning king of England. The founders of the Trexler fam- ils in this country were two brothers, one of what settled in Oley and the other in Mertztown, Berks county, the Doctor belonging to the latter branch of the family. Most of the members of this family have been engaged in farming and the iron in- dustry, but several adopted professional pursuits. and became eminent in the ministry of the Lutheran Church and in the practice of medicine.
Jacob F. Trexler passed his boyhood on the home farm. He attended the district school. and on leaving the public school attended the Keystone Normal, and later Wyoming Seminary, at Kings- ton, Pa., finally entering Muhlenburg College. at Allentown. In 1885 he began the study of medi- ; cine under Dr. P. W. Wertz, of Long Swamp, and in 1886 entered the University of Pennsylvania. and after three years of arduous study entered Jei- ; ferson Medical College, in 1893, from which he graduated with the class of 1804. There was an in- terim, however, between his leaving the University and his entering Jefferson College, of which he availed himself to travel quite extensively. For a time he was associated incidentally with the cole- brated Dr. Agnew, from whom he received consid- erable assistance in the prosecution of his medical studies.
After graduation Dr. Trexler located in Lan- caster, where his ability and skill found immediate recognition and secured for him a sure and re-
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munerative practice. He gives considerable atten- tion to bacteriology, as well as pathology, and he is now connected with St. Joseph's Hospital as a :nem- ber of the staff, having charge of all examination with the X-ray apparatus. He is a constant and devoted student of his art, and is a member of the County Medical and Pathological Societies, to which he has contributed many valuable essays and reports of his personal experiences.
Besides his extensive medical practice the Doctor finds time to interest himself in industrial pursuits, so common in the great State of Pennsyl- vania. In partnership with his brother, John Louis Trexler, who individually operated a corn mill in Mertztown, the Doctor has been engaged since 1897 in the stave and lumber business at the same place. under the style of the Trexler Stave & Lumber Company, Limited, with branch plants at Ashfield and Huntingdon, and of this company the Doctor is president. They employ about eighty-four men, and the output is principally distributed throughout the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Dr: Trexler was united in marriage, in 1891, at Farmdale, Lancaster county, with Aliss Ella Stoner Moore, daughter of Michael H. and Bar- bara S. Moore. The Doctor and his wife are mem- bers of Trinity Lutheran Church, in the work of which the Doctor has always been carnest and ac- tive ever since his confirmation in the faith. He was a member of the executive committee which organized the Lutheran League of America. and for two years was a treasurer of the State Lutheran League. The Doctor is very affable, and has won for himself hosts of friends, and he and his wife are ever welcome in the highest social circles of Lancaster, while his professional reputation is such as any physician might well take pride in, and still not be suspected or accused of vanity-a failing quite foreign to the Doctor's make-up.
AMAZIAH H. HOSTETTER, a very success- ful and popular hardware and implement dealer at Intercourse, was born in Paradise township, Lan- caster county. Sept. 7, 1861, a son of Abram and Ly- dia A. (Herr) Hostetter. The father was born in 1833 in New Providence, was a farmer, and is now living retired in Paradise township. In his more ac- tive years he was quite prominent in local affairs. and long served as school director. He and his wife are members of the Mennonite Church. Abram and Lydia A. Hostetter have had the following children: Letitia married Andrew Harnish, of Strasburg township: Amaziah H. is mentioned be- low; Isaac, who married a Miss Slaymaker, is a farmer in Paradise township : Jacob is a resident of Strasburg township: Abraham died young ..
The parents of Abram Hostetter were David and Catherine (Miller) Hostetter, farming people of Lancaster county. The parents of Mrs. Lydia A. Hostetter were Isaac and Elizabeth Herr, farming people of Lancaster county.
Amaziah H. Hostetter was married Nov. 2 .. 1883, in Lancaster, to Miss Evaline B. Denlinger. To this union came one child. Mary A. Mrs. Eva- line D. Hostetter was born in Paradise townsi. Nov. 13, 1861, and is a sister of Mrs. Henry Hershey.
Amaziah H. Hostetter was reared on the paterna: estate, and remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty-three years. For the twelve years ensuing he was engaged in farming. until 1895, in which year he went into his present business, which has become both lucrative and pleasant. His place of business he bought from Abram Kurtz. For some three years he was in partnership with Elmer Hilt. whom he bought. out. and has since carried on the business alone. He is a member of the Mennonite Church, and in politics is a Republican.
ALDUS F. NEFF, a truck farmer of East Lampeter township, is one of the energetic and thrifty young farmer citizens of his locality. He was born July 13, 1864, in West Lampeter town- ship, this county, son of Frederick Neff.
Frederick Neff was born in Lancaster county Sept. 7. 1820, received a common-school education, and lived at home until he was about twenty-one years of age. He then learned the carpenter's trade with Peter Baker, of East Lampeter town- ship, and after be had served his time began busi- ness for himself, contracting and building, which he followed until his death, Oct. 18. 1884. Mir. Neff was a member of the Lutheran Church. He married for his first wife Miss Joanna Caskey, and they were the parents of eight children : Mary. de- ceased; Jacob, of Lancaster City; John, deceased; Catherine, wife of Abraham Hoover; Salome, wife of Hosmer Aument; Barbara, deceased; Elam, de- ceased ; and Susanna, deceased. wife of Henry Tones. The mother of these died March 24, 18:8. and Mr. Neff married Mrs. Catherine ( Meck) Raub, widow of Amos Raub. They became the parents of three children: Amanda, wife of David W. Herr; Amos, who is deceased; and Aldus F.
Aldus F. Neff lived at home with his parents until he was about twenty years of age, when he began farming and trucking for himself. He has continued same up to the present time by prefer- ence, although he learned the carpenter's trade with his father. In 1899 he purchased the place where he now residles, and which contains four acres, one of the finest garden spots in Lancaster county. Jir. Neff is public-spirited and active in the affairs of his locality, having served efficiently as collector. three years : judge of election, four years ; and in- spector, four years. In political sentiment he is a Republican.
On Dec. 30. 1800, Mr. Neff wedded Miss Min- nie Weitzel, daughter of George Weitzel, and to this union have been born two children. Earl W. and Catherine E., both at home. Mr. Neff is one
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of Lancaster county's most progressive young men. fully alive to the best interests of the community in general.
LAFAYETTE HAMILTON. There are many young men 'and thriving agriculturists in Salisbury township, Lancaster county, but there are few who have reached prominence in two lines at so early an age as Lafayette Hamilton, whose residence and shop are in the village of Spring Garden.
Mr. Hamilton was born in the township of Para- dise, May 20, 1860, son of Joseph and Margaret (Hoover) Hamilton, the former of whom was a - prosperous farmer, and died near Gap, in Salisbury township, July 3, 1878, at the age of fifty-eight years; his wife died April 4. 1875, when she was forty-five years of age. They were devout mem- bers of the Episcopal Church, and were interred in Paradise township. Their family comprised six children, named as follows: Henry H., who is ticket agent for the railroad company at Atglen ; Sally, wife of Henry H. Kurtz, a retired farmer of Salisbury township ; Lafayette, whose name opens this sketch : Franklin, a conductor on the Pennsyl- vania railroad at Philadelphia ; and Edwin and Wal- ter, deceased. The paternal grandparents of La- fayette Hamilton were William and Elizabeth ( Mil- ler) Hamilton, and the maternal grandparents were Jacob and Catherine Hoover, of Lancaster county, the former of whom was of Swiss extraction and a prominent farmer.
Lafayette Hamilton resided with his parents un- til he was nineteen years of age, and then served an apprenticeshp of three years at blacksmithing at White Horse, Lancaster county. Later he worked for his brother-in-law, Harry H. Kurtz, for five years, and then settled on his present farni, on which is situated a hotel, which he also owns.
On Jan. 27, 1886, Lafayette Hamilton married, in Spring Garden, Miss Clara A. Worst, and this union has been blessed with two children, Clyde H. and Harry W. Mrs. Clara A. (Worst) Hamilton was born Nov. 10, 1859, on that part of Mr. Hamil- ton's farm on which the hotel alluded to above is situated, and is a daughter of Peter and Maria B. (Good) Worst, who came from Springville, Salis- bury township. and Leacock township, respectively, and were married in 1858. Peter Worst was a pros- perous farmer in his earlier life. but tiring of farm labor he built the "Spring Garden Hotel," in 1852, and conducted it successfully for six years. He then relinquished the business solely on account of the death of his wife, and rented out the premises. Mr. Worst next engaged in droving and butchering. but finally returned to farming, at which he contin- ved until the marriage of his daughter, when he re- tited in favor of his son-in-law. He was the father of two children: Clara A., Mrs. Hamilton ; and George B., of St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Maria B. : Good) Worst was called away in December, 1862, at the age of twenty-five years, and Peter Worst
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died Jan. 5, 1897, at the age of seventy-four, the re- mains of both were interred in the private burying- ground of the Worst estate, in Springville. Mir. Worst was quite prominent in his community, was very popular, and served as school director for many years. Henry and Mary (Kurtz) Worst, the paternal grandparents of Mrs. Clara A. Hamii- ton, were farming people of Lancaster county, The grandfather died in 1884, at the age of eighty-nine years, his wife preceding him to the grave June 22, 1853. Their remains were also buried in the Worst family burying ground. Henry and Mary Worst were members of the Mennonite Church. They reared a family of ten children, as follows : Barbara, deceased wife of John Warner; Peter, de- ceased ; Samuel, a farmer in Salisbury township ; Elias, deceased ; Mary, deceased wife of Joseph Bear: Elizabeth, unmarried, and living in Spring- field; Susannah, wife of Daniel Kurtz, a retired farmer living in Spring Garden ; Henry, a merchant in Springville; Leah A., deceased ; and Catherine, also deceased. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Hamilton were Cyrus and Lovina ( Bear) Good, farming people of considerable prominence in Lea- cock township.
In politics Mr. Hamilton is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker. The family ranks among the most respected residents of Salisbury township, and although comparatively young in years Mr. Hamilton enjoys an extended acquaint- anceship, of which any man might well be proud.
EVANS. James Evans, the founder of the Evans family in Lancaster county was a native of Ireland, born in 1761. He married a Scottish woman, Margaret Miller, and came to Lancaster county, possibly locating in the vicinity of Lititz. His death occurred in 1805, and his widow lived to the advanced age of ninety-three years. She was buried at Browns- town, Lancaster county, while the remains of her husband lie in Lititz. They had a family of three sons: ( I) John, is mentioned below. (2) James, who was a tailor, lived and died in Lancaster county. (3) Robert, who was a minister of the Evangelical Church, spent his life in Lancaster county. In his later years he was an auctioneer. The father of this family was a mason by trade, and helped to build Binkley's Bridge.
John Evans, the eldest child in the above family. was born in August, 1799, and died Oct. 8, 1853. In early life he engaged in business as a butcher. locating in Manheim township, where his active ca- reer was spent. A short time before his death he moved to Lancaster City, where he lived retired. He carried on the butcher business for many years, and his establishment has been kept up to the pres- ent time. For many years he was an able and suc- cessful auctioneer. He was one of the leading citi- zens of his section. Of a patriotic disposition, at the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the State
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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY
Militia. notwithstanding his advanced years. and was ready to go to the front. In politics he was a stanch Republican.
John Evans married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick Nagle; her mother was a Hoofnagle. Mrs. Elizabeth Evans died in 1861, when sixty years of age. To them were born the following named children: (1) Maria married Hiram Campbell, and is deceased. (2) Isaac, who was a butcher, died in Lancaster when some seventy years of age. (3) David died when sixty years old. For thirteen years he was superintendent of the Lancas- fer county schools. for many years was a teacher in the public schools, and was a graduate of Frank- lin and Marshall College. Later in his active life he was a real-estate dealer in Lancaster. (4) John is a retired farmer and cattle drover of Warwick township. (5) Frederick was a carpenter, and died at the age of fifty-six years. (6) Benjamin, the father of William L. Evans, is mentioned else- where. (7) William is an auctioneer at Lititz. (8) Charlotte is the wife of J. K. Stoner. of Lan- caster. (19) Amanda is the widow of Samuel R. Myer, of Bareville. Lancaster county. (II) Anna E., unmarried, is a resident of Lancaster.
WILLIAM L. EVANS, one of the leading men of Manheim township, belongs to one of the old and honored families of Lancaster county, and was born in the city of Lancaster Jan. 27, 1863, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth ( Groff) Evans, and grand- son of John and Elizabeth Evans. The great- grandparents of William L. Evans came from Ireland.
Benjamin Evans was born on a farm about a half mile east of Neffsville, was reared on the farm, and learned the butcher's trade with his father. Very early in life he entered upon that business, be- ing assisted by his brother-in-law, Hiram Camp- bell, wlule in Neffsville. Benjamin Evans had his shop in Lancaster on North Queen street, where he lived at that time. He followed butchering all his active days. About 1871 he purchased a tract of eighty-four acres, to which he added until he owned a farm of 144 acres, just north of Fruitville. There he established a butchering plant, which is now owned and operated by his son, and it is noted as one of the most complete in that part of the county. The slaughtering and dressing of the meats is all done there, and the salesroom is on North Queen street, Lancaster. Benjamin Evans long made his home on the farm, but his last days were spent under the roof of his son, Benjamin, where he died May 1. 1900, when sixty-nine years old. He was a man of genial temper and jovial spirits, and enjoyed the friendship of a large circle. In his death the community lost a valued citizen. For many years he was treasurer of the Dunkard Church, of which he was a member. He was very active in the promotion of the Baptist Brethren Church ou Charlotte street, in the city of
Lancaster, and was always zealous in its welfare and upbuilding. His widow is still living at the age of seventy-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Evans were the parents of the following children: Sarah, wife of Jerry Stump, of Bareville : Alfred D., a farmer in Man- heim township : Frank, who is engaged in the meat market at Lancaster ; Alilton, who died when three years old : Ella, who died when seventeen years old ; Lilly, wife of [. W. Lausinger, of the Millersville State Normal School; William L .: Benjamin G .. a farmer in Manheim township: and one that died in infancy.
William I. Evans, whose name appears at the opening of this article, was reared to the butcher's trade, and received his education in the public school. When a young man he had a printing press, and did job work; he was expert in seroll work. and still retains some fine specimens of his skill in that line which adorn his home. When he had at- tained his majority, he associated himself with his father and brother in the butcher business. under the name of Benjamin Evans & Sons. In 1848 the father retired. and then the firm name became Ben- jamin Evans' Sons. For over a hundred years the Evans name has figured in the market annals of Lancaster county. Since the sons have had contro! they have made some radical changes in the conduct of the business, in both wholesale and retail lines. Their retail business is of large volume, and in the manufacture ci sausage and Bologna they have at- tained a creditable reputation. William Evans has charge of the slaughtering and manufacture, while his brother looks after the store in Lancaster.
Alr. Evans, owns a farm of fifty-four acres where he has a fine home, which he has modernized and made beautiful. He was married Aug. 4. 1885. to Miss Fannie, daughter of Samuel and Fannie ( Brubaker ) Keller, formerly from Penn township, Itit now residents of Manheim township. Mirs. Evans was born at Lime Rock, Penn township, Oct. 16. 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have the following children : Samuel B., William Edgar, Florence A. and Paul K. They belong to the Dunkard Church, of the Mountville District, and all stand among the most worthy and respected people of the county. $
B. FRANK MUSSER, deputy register of Lan- caster county, residing at Mountville, this county. was born Nov. 13. 1864, a son of Martin G. and Mary Ann ( Root) Musser.
Martin G. Musser, leaf tobacco merchant, and ex-vice president of the Mountville National Bank. was born near Silver Spring, West Hempfield town- ship, Lancaster county, Jan. 19. 1842, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Gerber) Musser. natives. respectively, of West Hempfield and East Donegal townships, and both of whom died on their farm near Silver Spring. Martin G. Musser. during the year 1888, purchased the Root Plow Works, located in the borough of Mount Joy, and caused the sanie to
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be removed to Mountville, where it was incorpor- ated and became known as the Mountville Manu- facturing Co., of which he was elected its first presi- lent, serving as such until 1896, when he was elected register of wills of Lancaster county, and served for the term of three years. Mr. Musser was one of the organizers of the Mountville National Bank, and was vice-president until iyor, when he re- ! signed. He has ever been one of the most active and progressive business men of Mountville, and there is no one in the community who has borne a cleaner business character than he. His advice in business matters is invariably sought by the people of the place in which he resides.
On June 9, 1864, Martin G. Musser married Mary Ann Root, and to this union was born the following family: B. Frank; John M., railway mail clerk : Mary E., wife of Iverson A. Witmer : Elizabeth, at home; and Martin E., a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, formerly a teacher of Latin in the Lebanon High School, then a student one year in the University of Pennsylvania, and now a law student. Mary Ann ( Root ) Musser was born in East Lampeter township, Lancaster county, March 2, 1840, and died June 12, 1891. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth ( Frantz) Root, who settled in West Hempfield township in 1848. the father dying in Landisville.
Michael Musser, father of Martin G. Musser, was born Feb. 24, 1815, was a farmer and school ; director for many years, and died in 1895. His wife was born March 12, 1816, and died in 1857, ; the remains of both being buried on the old home- stead. in West Hempfield township. To Michael Musser and his first wife, Elizabeth Gerber, there was born a large family, as follows: Jacob. born March 28, 1830, is deceased; Benjamin G., born in September, 1838, is a farmer in West Hempfield township : Anna G., born July 18, 1840, became the wife of Henry Kaufman, and died in 1809: Martin G., born Jan. 19, 1842, is mentioned above : Michael was born in February, 1844; Barbara, born April 19, 1846, is married to Daniel D. Forry, a farmer of West Hempfield township; Elizabeth, born in July. 1848, is the wife of George Strickler. a farmer of York county; Fanny, born Sept. 18. 1850, is married to J. H. Nolt, a farmer of West Hempfield township; John, born in January, 1853, is a farmer of East Hempfield township; Andrew, born in March. 1855, died in infancy; and Mary, twin of Andrew, died when she was in her seventh year. The second marriage of Michael Musser was to Fanny Hersh, and to this union have been born two children : Christ H., born June, 1859, a farmer in West Hempfield township, and Henry H., born in July, 1864, who is farming the old homestead.
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The paternal grandparents of Martin G. Mus- ser were Martin and Anna (Sechrist) Musser, natives and farming people of West Hempfield township. The maternal grandparents were Jacob and Barbara Gerber, who were also farmers.
B. Frank Musser lived on the home farm until seven years old, when his parents removed to Mountville. Here he attended the district schools until nineteen years of age, and then the business college at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1881, when he began assisting bis father in the leaf tobacco business. From 1886 to 1897, he engaged in farming, and also in the sale of farming implements.
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