USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > Biographical annals of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent men and representative citizens and of the early settled families > Part 24
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Johannes Risser was the progenitor of the Rissers of South Londonderry township, Lebanon county. He settled in Mt. Joy township, Lancaster county, and was the great-great-grandfather of John S. Risser, of Lawn, who is of the fifth generation.
Peter Risser, son of Johannes, was born in Mt. Joy township, November 5, 1750, and married Hannah Snyder, who was born January 17, 1754. He moved into what is now South Londonderry township. Lebanon county, and established the Risser homestead, which is situated about two miles south from Lawn, about in the corner where Lebanon, Lancaster and Dauphin counties meet. The children of Peter and Hannah Risser were. Christian, born December 11, 1776; Peter, August 29, 1779; Feronica, July 25, 1791 ; John, March 5, 1782.
Peter Risser (2), son of Peter, and the grandfather of John S. and Samuel S. Risser, was born on the old homestead, and married a member of the Witmer family. They had the following children : John was born January 27. 1809; Annie, born July 2, 1810, married John L. Gish, of Donegal town- ship, Lancaster county (both are deceased) ; Christian was born March 20, 1812: Abraham, born September 19, 1814, married a Nissley (both are deceased) ; Elizabeth, born February 10, 1816, married Joseph Shenk, and both are deceased ; Peter, born May 3, 1818, married (first) a Shenk (who died in
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the first year of married life), and (second) a Horst; Joseph, born March 22, 1820, married Fanny Nissley ; Samuel, born April 15, 1823, married Fanny Stauffer ; Feronica (Fanny), born August 29, 1826, married John Oberholtzer, and they live in South Londonderry township; Mary, born September 29, 1828, married Capt. Coble, a soldier of the Civil war.
John Risser, the father of John S., was born on the old homestead farm. He married Mary Shenk, who was born November 13, 1815, in Heidel- berg township, Lebanon county, daughter of Joseph Shenk, whose wife was an Ober. To this marriage came children as follows: Frances (Fanny), born August 6, 1835, married John H. Risser, who is deceased; Joseph, born December 28, 1836, married Annie Garber, and lives in Mt. Joy township, Lancaster county ; Abraham, born October 20, 1838, married Annie Ebersole, and died December 25, 1876; John S. was born May 24, 1842; Samuel S., born March 1, 1849, married Mary Kuhns, and resides one mile south of Lawn. The father of this family lived on his farm in South Londonderry township, two miles southwest from Lawn station, where he died December 9. 1869, his widow surviving until August 11, 1892. They were most worthy mem- bers of the Mennonite Church.
John S. Risser was born on his father's farm, and there grew to manhood. His education was obtained in the common schools and at the old Palmyra Academy, when it was conducted by Peter Witmer .. Mr. Risser taught school one term in his own neighborhood, but has given his attention almost entirely to agriculture, ever since his twenty-first year. On attaining his majority he entered into a satisfactory arrangement with his father, to work the farm on shares, and two years later bought his present farm from his father. The property is located at Lawn, and he continued there until the spring of 1901, when he retired from activity and removed to the village. It originally was owned by Clinton Kelley, and is regarded as one of the fine farms of the sec- tion. Mr. Risser has been interested for some time in a number of enterprises, and has held some of the local political offices. At one time he engaged in merchandising at Lawn; with his son, Harvey S., and his brother, Samuel S .. he owns and operates the Lawn Creamery ; for the past ten years he has been a director in the Elizabethtown National Bank, and he has very frequently been called upon to settle up estates. For fourteen years Mr. Risser served faith- fully on the school board, and he has been assistant assessor and is now serving as registrar assessor of the township.
In 1864 Mr. Risser was married to Mary Ann Shenk, born April 12, 1843, at Deodate, Dauphin county, a daughter of John M. and Mary (Gingrich) Shenk, the former of whom was born November 15, 1814, at Deodate, a son of
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Christian Shenk, of Dauphin county, and died February 26, 1902. The mother of Mrs. Risser was born in Derry township, Dauphin county, a daugh- ter of John Gingrich. They had the following children : Cyrus, born May 21, 1839. died March 22, 1903; he married Anna Herr, who lives at Deodate. Dauphin county. Diana, born April 24, 1841, is the widow of Samuel Hoover, and lives in Derry township, Dauphin county. Mary Ann is Mrs. Risser. Christian M., born January 14, 1845, is unmarried. Elizabeth, born in Jan- uary, 1847, married (first) Abraham Herr, and (second) Henry Sommer, of Kansas, where she now resides, a widow.
Mr. and Mrs. Risser had children as follows: Clara, born February 1, 1868, died September 1, 1868. Harvey S., born November 14, 1869, married Sebilla N. Greiner, of Mt. Joy township, Lancaster county, April 23, 1895. Ida, born July 18, 1871, died August 17, 1871. Ezra S., born February I, 1873, married Fanny Brubaker, of Rapho township, Lancaster county, Feb- ruary 14, 1901. Alice, born October 28, 1874, married Irwin Killian, of Cornwall township, Lebanon county, February 4, 1902. Noah W. was born October 6, 1877. John W. was born November 16, 1879. Anna Mary, born December 11, 1881, married Clarence Mease. of Onset, Lebanon county, July 4, 1903. This family is no more widely known than it is generally esteemed, many of its members representing the best citizens of this locality.
GEORGE ZINN. One of the live business men, successful agricul- turists and representative citizens of Cornwall township, is George Zinn, the well-known owner and operator of a first-class grist and flour mill at Bismarck. Lebanon county.
The Zinn family is an old one in this county, having been founded here by George Zinn, the great-grandfather of the present George Zinn. His son, also George, was born in Lebanon county, where his life was passed in farming and milling, residing at Bismarck until advanced age. His children were: John; Mary, the wife of John Zimmerman, of Lebanon county ; Rose, the wife of Seth Royer, of Lebanon county ; Sarah, the wife of Christian Bach- man, of Lebanon county; Catherine, the wife of J. M. Mark, of Lebanon county ; and Veronica, the wife of Joseph Uhrich, of Lebanon county.
John Zinn, the father of George, was reared in the old Zinn homestead. and became one of the extensive farmers of the county. He married Miss Sarah Shimp, daughter of John and Eliza (Stewart) Shimp, and they became the parents of six children, as follows: George; Catherine, the wife of Aaron Vogt. of Jackson township: Mary Ann, the widow of Henry Klick, of Bethel township; Jolin, a farmer of Cornwall township, who married Hannah Hoke;
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Cyrus, who died at the age of twelve years; and Elias, a farmer of Cornwall township, who married Clara Messner. The mother lived to the age of seventy-six years, the father dying eighteen years earlier.
George Zinn, of Bismarck, was born November 14, 1847, at the old homestead, and was reared to farm life. His education was secured in the public schools, and after its completion he learned the trade of milling, in the mill which he now owns. Here he was employed until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he took entire charge and has operated it with eminent success ever since. Mr. Zinn is a practical miller and has introduced methods and machinery which enable him to compete with any other flour making con- cern in his locality. This is both a grist and flour mill, and is regarded as one of the best in the county, the trade being in both custom and commercial work. In addition to the milling business, Mr. Zinn operates a small farm, and proves himself as excellent a farmer as he is a miller. He is one of the township's progressive, public-spirited men and occupies a position of prominence.
In 1872 Mr. Zinn was married to Miss Mary E. Bowman, daughter of Oliver and Maria (Light) Bowman, and their one estimable daughter, Sallie, is now the wife of M. L. Bachman, the leading implement dealer of Bismarck. They have one son named after the grandfather, George Zinn. The religious connection of the family is with the Reformed Church of Lebanon, and it occupies a high social position in this vicinity.
PETER ZIMMERMAN (deceased) was for many years a most highly respected farmer of Lebanon county, Pa., and he left many friends in Schaefferstown to mourn his loss, when death came in 1887. He was born in 1802, in Jackson township, and was a son of Henry Zimmerman, who was a son of George Zimmerman, a native of Germany, and supposed to have been the founder of the family in Berks county. Henry Zimmerman had a family of ten children, and of these the late Peter Zimmerman was the youngest.
Peter Zimmerman married Mary Rex, who was born in 1802, in Schoe- neck. Lancaster county, and died in 1880. She was a sister of Cyrus Rex, of Rexmont. Six children were born to Peter Zimmerman and his wife, and of this family five reached years of maturity, viz: Edmond died in Kansas; Mary Ann (now deceased) married Jacob Rhoads, of Lancaster county; Susan Amanda married Dr. Alfred Bucher (now deceased), of Rexmont; Ann Matilda is residing at the old homestead; and Rebecca is the wife of E. R. Illig, of Millbach.
Peter Zimmerman located in Schaefferstown about 1834, and lived in this place for more than half a century. He was a stanch Democrat, but
Peter Zimmerman
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never sought political office. For many years he was a member of the Luth- eran Church, and was deacon, elder and trustee. Few men were more highly esteemed than was Peter Zimmerman. He was honest and upright, and dur- ing his eighty-five years of life, set an example of industrious activity and of kindness to his neighbors and care for his family, which deserves remem- brance and emulation.
Miss Ann Matilda Zimmerman, who still resides at the old home of her parents, occupies one of the historic old residences of the city. It was erected by a maternal ancestor, more than 150 years ago, and is a place of a great deal of interest. Miss Zimmerman possesses and highly prizes the old Rex family Bible, which was brought from Germany to America some 200 years ago, in which the German characters show that it must be at least 300 years old. The only survivor of the Rex family is Cyrus Rex, of Rexmont, as mentioned above.
DAVID SPANGLER RANK, native and "to the manner born," a soldier going forth in the wake of the old flag at fifteen, a successful preceptor of youth, an honored and worthy representative of the "embattled farmer" class, a popular attache of the department of law enforcement and a leading spirit in the business world-this is the record in epitome of the gentleman whose name forms a caption for this article.
David S. Rank, treasurer of the Lebanon Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, was born in East Hanover township, March 2. 1848, the son of David M. and Lucetta (Spangler) Rank. The first of the family of whom record is made is Grandfather George Rank, a native of Lancaster county, Pa., who removed with his family to East Hanover township in 1803. Here he passed a worthy existence, and lies buried beneath the greensward of his adopted county. His son, David M., the father of our honored subject, was born in the township mentioned in 1809, and for eight and a half decades lived a singularly upright and busy life among Lebanon citizens, a member of that worthy class, the tillers of the soil, and whom one of our worthy sages has well denominated the "salt of the earth." The Spanglers are Myerstown people from time immemorial. Mrs. Rank, who survives her husband at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, was born in the county in 1814, the daughter of Christian Spangler. The Spanglers have also been agriculturists. Mrs. Rank is the mother of five children, namely: George, Aaron, David S., Lucinda and Einmia.
There was little of moment in the life of David S. Rank during the period of adolescence. He found plenty to do on the farm of that kind of labor
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which developed a sturdy constitution, for he was a vigorous lad, and whenever he dodged the plow handles through a stumpy field, or engaged in breaking a team of young oxen or a favorite colt, it was done with the snap which has been characteristic of his later career. To his primary education in the common schools of his district was added supplementary literary training at academies in Palmyra and Annville. He was destined for more work of this kind, but the inherent patriotism which burned within him as he listened to the stories of returned soldiers from the field of fratricidal strife, made the lad a man in thought, and he resolved to become one in deed. But the govern- ment enrolling officers had been exceedingly strict so far, and our subject's tender age and size had precluded possibility of entering the army. Like a great many boys of that day he grew mightily in his fifteenth year-was it because they thought great thoughts ?- and the government officers having become less vigorous in discipline. David was enabled to gratify the desire of his heart, in February, 1864, to don the uniform of a "boy in blue." He enlisted as a private soldier in Company B. of the Twentieth Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which organization he saw much active service until his muster out at Philadelphia in July, 1865. The first part of his service was under Gen. Hunter, and it is but necessary to add the name of Gen. Phil Sheridan as one of his commanders to convince an intelligent reader that the war record of Mr. Rank was full of interest and glory. He was with the latter commander in his memorable raid of the Shenandoah Valley, as far as White House Landing, and is a living witness of the fact tersely stated by Gen. Sherman, that "war is hell." He was mustered out at Cloud's Mill, Va., July 16, 1865, and received his honorable discharge at Philadelphia soon after.
Re-entering school upon his return home, Mr. Rank finished his educa- tion and then entered a mercantile establishment in East Hanover township. From 1869 to 1873 our subject taught school successfully in the county, but owing to his father's advanced age and failing health dutifully returned home and took upon himself the management of the farm. His father's death occurred in 1895, and in the fall of that year Mr. Rank came to Lebanon, where he has since resided. He served under Sheriff Stein as a deputy for three years, and in 1898 was chosen to his present position as treasurer of the Lebanon Fire Insurance Company. Since 1894 he has also been a director and secretary of the Jonestown Bank, one of the prosperous financial institutions of the county. Mr. Rank is also actively identified with the ice business of Lebanon, having been superintendent of the Lebanon Ice Company for the past five years. Ile is also again in the Sheriff's office, having been appointed a deputy in 1901 by Sheriff Copenhauer.
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Mr. Rank celebrated marriage with Miss Kate Reeme in 1871, a lady who was a native of Linglestown, Dauphin county, Pa., born in 1851. Her death, which occurred in 1885, left Mr. Rank with three children, namely : Lena, wife of W. J. Schools, an attorney of Lebanon; Clara, wife of Harvey B. Stein, a clerk for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company ; and Edward, born November IS, 1878. Mr. Rank again married, the lady's maiden name having been Jennie Gerbrich. Mrs. Rank is a native of East Hanover township, and is the daughter of George Gerbrich, a worthy farmer of that section of the county. Socially Mr. Rank and his family are highly esteemed in Lebanon. They are active members of the Lutheran Church, and are found identified with every good work for the advancement of society in their community.
JOSEPH R. BECKLEY, M. D., a leading member of the medical profes- sion of Lebanon, Pa., was born three miles southeast of the city, September 20, 1859.
Joseph Beckley, the father of Dr. Beckley, was a son of Michael Beckley, of Lebanon county, and was born in 1815, and died in 1898. The mother of Dr. Beckley was Mary Ann Eckert, who was born at Reistville, Lebanon county, in 1820, and died in 1883.
Dr. Beckley was reared on a farm, and after finishing the common school course, attended the Millersville State Normal School, and the Lebanon Valley College, at Annville. Beginning in the fall of 1877, he taught school for four consecutive terms, following which he took another course of one year at the Lebanon Valley College. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Weiss, of Lebanon, and in the fall of 1882, he entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated in the class of 1885. Immediately thereafter he opened an office in Lebanon, and began the practice of his profession, at which he has since continued.
Dr. Beckley has served as a member of the Lebanon board of health, as coroner's physician for nine years, as prison physician for nine years, and is at the present time the president of the Lebanon Board of Water and Lighting Commissioners. He is a member of the Lebanon County Medical Society, of which he has served as president, secretary and treasurer. Dr. Beckley is also a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
In 1888 Dr. Beckley was married to Minerva S. Hoffer, daughter of George Hoffer, now of Annville, Lebanon county, and to them two daughters have been born, Carrie M. and Mabel L. The Doctor and family are members of the First United Evangelical Church. When the present church edifice was
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erected he was chairman of the building committee, and has been a member of the board of trustees for a number of years, being its secretary. In 1888 he was made assistant Sunday School superintendent, and in 1893 he was made superintendent, a responsible position he still holds. The Doctor is a member of the Mystic Friends and the Knights of Malta. In business con- nection he is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers' National Bank of Lebanon, and is president of the Safety Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, of which he has been a director since its organization. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Keystone Match and Machine Com- pany, which company now manufactures bicycles; and he is secretary and treasurer of the Peerless Brick Manufacturing Company.
CYRUS F. ZIMMERMAN, postmaster of Palmyra, and one of the leading men of the city, was born at Union Deposit, Dauphin county, October 22, 1859, a son of Daniel and Sarah ( Dietrich) Zimmerman.
The boyhood days of Cyrus F. Zimmerman were spent in Union Deposit, where he attended the public schools, and he later spent one term at Lebanon Valley College, and still later attended Allentown Business College. After completing his common school course, Mr. Zimmerman taught school for three terms, and then clerked for two years more in the store of O. P. Grove, Harrisburg, Pa., and then resumed his studies, graduating from business college in 1883. The following year he engaged in general merchandising at Palmyra, in the storeroom now occupied by H. S. Gibble, there continuing for nine years. His next business venture was as a clerk in a grocery store in Philadelphia for a year, where he learned many new ideas, and returning to Palmyra, he kept the books of the J. Landis & Sons Shoe Manufacturing Company, subsequently going on the road as one of the company's salesmen, and January 1. 1903, was admitted to partnership. Mr. Zimmerman has always been a stanch Republican, and his effective work for the party was rewarded September 1, 1897, by his appointment as postmaster at Palmyra, and after filling that office for one year and four months under fourth class, he was re-appointed by President Mckinley on January 1, 1899, under the third class : reappointed by President Roosevelt on March 1. 1903. for second term. Fraternally Mr. Zimmerman is a member of Camp 192, P. O. S. of A., in which order he is very popular.
Mr. Zimmerman was married to Miss Lizzie K. Landis, daughter of Jacob Landis, senior member of the J. Landis Sons Shoe Manufacturing Com- pany, of Palmyra, and the following children have been born to them: J. Landis, Paul F., Lomie E. and Marlin U. Mr. Zimmerman is one of the
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most enterprising of the city's young business men, and the success which has crowned his efforts is but the just reward of industry, integrity and natural ability.
GEORGE U. SEIBERT. Though it was several years ago, October 29, 1890, that Mr. Seibert died, there are people in the county that still honor his memory. As an able agriculturist he assisted materially in developing the resources of Millcreek township, and in the public affairs of the comunity his word carried weight. He was born near Richland, in Millcreek township, November 6, 1837, son of Michael and Sara (Unger) Seibert.
The family is one of the oldest in this section and George U. was directly descended from John Jacob Seibert, who came in 1738 from Germany, and settled in Pennsylvania. Michael Seibert, the great grandfather of George, is the next of whom we have definite record. His parents are supposed to have come from Germany, and were among the pioneers of Berks and Lebanon counties. This same Michael had a son named John, who is mentioned below.
John Seibert, grandfather of George U., was one of the prominent agri- culturists of the section. He married and had five children, all of whom are now deceased : Michael, Jacob, Katherine, Elizabeth and John.
Michael Seibert, father of George U., was a man of ability and great force of character. As an agriculturist he made a thorough success of life, and was a power in stamping upon the community in which he lived the prin- ciples of good government, and giving to the institutions a high moral tone. Reared to farm work, upon reaching manhood he naturally turned to that occupation for his livelihood, and settling upon a farm in Millcreek town- ship, he there pursued the industry. During his young manhood he married Sara Unger, of Linglestown, Dauphin county, and they became the parents of five children : John U., deceased, who married Mary A. Bennetch, of Mill- bach : George U .; Maria, married to Chambers Bobb, of Schaefferstown ; Re- becca, who married William Lesher : and Sara, who became the wife of Frank Kilmer. After his marriage Mr. Seibert continued his industry upon the farm in Millcreek township. Applying practical and advanced methods to his work, his place yielded large and profitable crops, enabling him to branch out exten- sively. He improved the property and in time had an attractive and comfort- able home for himself and family. He possessed those sterling traits of char- acter that win success for a man at every step in life. He was capable, ener- getic and thrifty, and performed his work both easily and well. His well- directed efforts and his high moral character won the respect of all who knew him, and he made many friends in his life time. As a strong Democrat he
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exerted an influence upon local affairs. In religion he was a member of the Reformed Church in Tulpehocken.
George U. Seibert was reared in an atmosphere of good, wholesome farm work. His earliest years were passed on the homestead near the Jack- son and Millcreek town line, and here he grew to manhood. In the public schools of his section he procured his education, evincing a ready power of grasping information, which characterized him through life. A practical knowledge of agriculture decided him upon reaching manhood to engage in that occupation, and a little experience soon proved he had not made a mistake in his calling.
On August 17, 1867, Mr. Seibert married Amanda Becker, of Millcreek township, daughter of John and Caroline Stump Becker. Mrs. Seibert is still living, residing with her daughter in Richland. This daughter, Mary Agnes, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Seibert, married Milton J. Klopp, a traveling salesman for the Klopp Cigar Manufacturing Company, of Rich- land. They have six children-Sallie S., Howard G. S., Edith A., Lillian A., Louis M. and Curtin L.
After his marriage Mr. Seibert settled upon a promising ninety-acre farm in Millcreek township, where he followed agriculture. He improved the place, opened up new areas to cultivation, kept the buildings in excellent repair and there carried on a flourishing industry. He was both progressive and practical in his methods, and his well-laid plans resulted in abundant early harvests, which commanded the best prices in the markets.
Mr. Seibert was energetic, wise and persevering in business, and took few, if any, backward steps in life. He achieved success by centering his energies upon one main industry, seeking in every way to perfect it. His high moral character and intellectual attainments, as well as his winning so- cial attributes, won him the esteem of all who knew him. As a Democrat he was influential in local affairs, and the Reformed Church counted him among its most substantial members.
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