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 28
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John Killinger was born on the old homestead September 25, 1765, and died September 11, 1810. He married Susanna Deininger, and their chil- dren were: John ; Catherine, who married H. Garman ; Susan, who married C. Miller; Rosina, who married Peter Bachman; and Magdalena, who mar- ried H. Fegan.
John Killinger (2), son of John, was born in February, 1797, on the old homestead, and died September 17. 1860. Mr. Killinger was a prominent and influential man in his community and a leader of his political party in his section, filling many of the local offices and ably representing his district in the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1837, and again in 1838. For many years he was a well-known merchant at Annville, Lebanon county. His marriage was to Fanny Sherzer, and the three children of this union were all sons, viz. : John W., Charles H. and Jacob S. Charles H. Killinger, now deceased, lived at Annville and later removed to Philadelphia, where he mar- ried Cornelia Pliess, the one son of this marriage being Paul Killinger, now a resident of Philadelphia. Jacob S., also deceased, resided for a time at Annville, but later removed to Kansas City, Mo. His marriage was to Louisa Henry, and they had issue: Fanny, who married John C. Yocum; and Emma.
John W. Killinger, the eldest of the family of John Killinger (2), was
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born September 18, 1824, on the old homestead, and died in 1896. His educa- tion was secured in the schools at Annville, at Harrisburg Academy and Mar- shall (now Franklin and Marshall ) College, from which latter he graduated in 1843, receiving his degree of A. M. in 1846. For many years Mr. Killinger was a trustee of the college, having such an association with it at the time of his death. Under the great statesman, Thaddeus Stevens, of Lancaster, he studied law and was admitted to the Bar of Lebanon county in 1846. From that time for a period of over forty years he was in active practice of his profession, becoming widely known for his legal ability and exhaustive knowl- edge of jurisprudence. In 1848 he was appointed district attorney of Leba- non county, and faithfully served until he was nominated for the Legislature, in which august body he was an able representative during 1850 and 1851, and a member of the Senate from 1854 to 1857. So conspicuous were his services and so general was the appreciation of them, that Mr. Killinger was returned to the House of Representatives of the United States for six terms. 1859-1863. 1871-1875 and 1877-1881. His other public services included two years as assessor of internal revenue, from 1864 to 1866. Mr. Killinger was an enthusiastic supporter of the Republican party and an able expounder of its principles and aims, taking a very active part in every campaign for more than forty years. His counsel was invoked and his judgment consulted by the political leaders of his day, and Pennsylvania has had few more disin- terested or honest political organizers.
John W. Killinger was a man of many interests, and was notably identi- fied with the industrial development of the county. His foresight prompted him to be one of the incorporators and a director of the great Lebanon Valley Railroad. with whose fortunes he was associated from the time of construc- tion until its merger with its still greater neighbor, the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, of which he was legal adviser until his death. Mr. Killinger was also an incorporator and a director of the Valley National Bank, of Lebanon. At various times he was engaged in the iron business, his quick compre- hension of commercial possibilities enabling him to distinguish between wise and doubtful investments. In local matters and affairs pertaining to the growth and welfare of his city he was ever interested, giving time, name and means to a number of enterprises which were largely successful on account of his interest. For a time he served as the president of the Union Fire Company, of Lebanon, and later as its treasurer, always showing an active interest in its progress. Mr. Killinger also took an active part in the organ- ization of St. James' Reformed Congregation, of Lebanon. He married
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Mary A. Hittell, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, and three children were born to this union, namely: Charles H., John W. and Flora C.
CHARLES H. KILLINGER, one of the most prominent members of the Lebanon Bar, was born in Lebanon and was given superior educational advantages. After an attendance at Franklin and Marshall College, at Lan- caster, he entered the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, graduat- ing from that notable institution in the class of 1874. His law reading was done with his distinguished father, and his legal course was completed in the University of Pennsylvania. In 1877 he was admitted to the Bar of Lebanon county. and subsequently to the Supreme and Superior Court Bars. For more than twenty years he has been in active practice and holds a high rank in the profession. Mr. Killinger is president of the Valley National Bank of Lebanon1.
Mr. Killinger is associated with the various Masonic bodies of Lebanon, was one of the founders of the Lebanon County Historical Society, and is treasurer of the Union Fire Company. He represents, as local attorney, the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, and acts as counsel for a number of other corporations. He was one of the incorporators of the Lebanon Steanı Company, and is associated with other local enterprises and corpora- tions. While a Republican in politics, he has never taken any active part therein.
Mr. Killinger was married, in 1879, to Matilda K. Mish, only daughter of John Weidman Mish and his wife, Amelia Krause. Two daughters are the offspring of this marriage, Catherine H. and Dorothea.
REV. FRANKLIN J. F. SCHANTZ, D. D. A very prominent citizen of Myerstown, Pa., who has filled the responsible position of president of the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania, and who for many years has had charge as pastor of the Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church at Myerstown, and the congregation at Mount Aetna, is Rev. Dr. Franklin J. F. Schantz, a distinguished author and lecturer on matters pertaining to the Evangelical Lutheran Church as well as the Pennsylvania-Germans.
Dr. Schantz is of German ancestry, and the founder of his family in this State, in the person of Johan Schantz, arrived in Pennsylvania October I, 1770, accompanied by his four sons. Jacob, one of these, who became the grandfather of Dr. Schantz, was born in 1761. He was a redemptioner, and had his home with a farmer and miller named Kohler, learning the milling business, in which he engaged throughout life. His home was located in Egypt, Lehigh (then a part of Northampton) Co., Pa. Jacob served as
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frontier ranger in the Revolutionary war. Later, in 1788, he married Maria Bortz, and they became the parents of a large family, one of whom, also named Jacob, became the father of Dr. Schantz.
Jacob Schantz (2) was born November 28, 1791, and died in June, 1843. By occupation he also was a miller, and like his father owned and operated the mill at the head of Cedar creek, in Lehigh county. He married Sarah Fogel, born July 25, 1799, who died April 25, 1871, daughter of Hon. John and Catherine (Stettler) Fogel, of Fogelsville, Pa. The Fogel ancestors of Dr. Schantz came to America prior to 1740. The parents of Dr. Schantz had six children, viz. : Hiram J. died in 1893 : Dr. Tilghman P. died in 1852; Elemina C., who was the wife of Dr. Thomas B. Cooper. died in 1896; Eliza Amanda, the wife of Rev. Aaron S. Leinbach, D. D., died in 1867; Rev. Franklin J. F., D. D., still resides at Myerstown ; Llewellyn R. A. was killed at Allentown, Pa., June 27. 1852.
Rev. Dr. Schantz was born January 8, 1836, at the home of his parents at the head of Cedar creek, in Upper Macungie township, Lehigh Co., Pa., and he was baptized in his infancy by Rev. Daniel Zeller. In youth he was instructed in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Allentown, Pa., where he was confirmed October 26, 1851, by Rev. Joshua Yeager. His early education had been obtained in the public and private schools in the neighborhood, and was supplemented by attendance at Allen- town Academy from April, 1848, to 1850, and from the spring of the latter year until the fall of 1853 he was a student in the Allentown Seminary. In the autumn of the latter year he entered the Junior class of Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, and was graduated in 1855. entering that same year the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, and completing the required course on September 15, 1857. Thus equipped. the young man was licensed as an Evangelical Lutheran minister at the meeting of the West Pennsylvania Synod at Carlisle, Pa., on September 28, 1857, and ordained at the meeting of the German Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Penn- sylvania, in St. John's Church, Easton, Pa., on June 3, 1858.
On April 29, 1858, Rev. Dr. Schantz was united in marriage with Miss Cordelia S. Saeger, daughter of Charles and Eliza ( Eckert) Saeger, of Allen- town, Pa. Of the children born to this union two sons, Jacob S. and Charles H., and one daughter, Agnes E .. were buried prior to the death of the mother, which occurred on June 26. 1889, at Myerstown. Three of the children are living : Henry F., M. D., of Reading: Mrs. John P. Spangler, of Myers- town ; and Mrs. W. Stanton Haak, of Lebanon.
From October, 1857, to January, 1861, Rev. Dr. Schantz had charge of
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Trinity Church, in Reading, and of the Catasauqua parish from 1861 to 1866. On November 5, 1865, he assumed the responsibilities of assistant agent of the Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, continuing as assistant agent until September 30, 1866, when he became general agent, until June 30, 1867. In July of the latter year he became pastor of the Myerstown Church, and still continues in that relation, also looking after the spiritual wants of the congre- gation at Mount Aetna, Pa. From July, 1867, to December, 1881, he was pastor of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jonestown, Lebanon Co., Pa., and from 1876 to 1879 supplied Emanuel Lutheran Church, at Brickerville, Lancaster Co., Pa. During all these years of unremitting work as pastor in various fields Dr. Schantz has been called upon to occupy many of the most prominent positions in the gift of his religious body. He has been called to the offices of secretary and also president of conferences, member and secretary of the synodical executive committee, secretary of the Ministerium, trustee of the Orphans' Home at Germantown, trustee of Muhlenberg College, visitor of Emaus Orphans' Home and delegate to the General Council, these various honors bringing with them duties and responsibilities not only absorbing much time but requiring wise and judicious deliberation. Dr. Schantz has served on numerous committees of the Ministerium, and is a member of the English Home Mission Board of the General Council. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Augustana College and Theological Seminary, at Rock Island, Ill., in 1894. At a meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania, in Allentown, Pa., in May, 1901, Rev. Dr. Schantz was elected president of that great body. and re-elected at its meetings in Easton, På., in May. 1902, and in Philadelphia in June, 1903.
From 1899 to 1900 the Doctor was president of the Pennsylvania-Ger- man Society, and he has given much attention and study to the history and early settlement of his ancestors in this State. Domestic and agricultural in their tastes, they also possessed homely virtues which formed a foundation upon which a thriving and happy people builded.
It was Rev. Dr. Schantz who, after much patient research, prepared a number of histories of congregations, which were published in pamphlet form and are preserved in safe places among the archives of the several churches. Those most notable were: "The Sesqui-Centennial Discourse, Christ Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, near Stouchsburg, Pa., 1893:" "The Sesqui-Cen- tennial Sermon, Jordan Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lehigh Co., Pa., 1894;" "The Historical Discourse at the 155th Anniversary of Jerusalem Church, in Salisbury township, Lehigh Co., Pa., 1896;" "Historical Address at the Centennial of the Third Church Building of Christ German Lutheran
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Congregation, Rockland township, Berks Co., Pa., 1898" (first church built in 1743) : "History of Brickerville Congregation, Lancaster Co., Pa.," read before Lancaster County Historical Society, 1898.
The following papers prepared by Dr. Schantz have also appeared in print : "Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Historical Origin of Muhlen- berg College, on the College Campus, June 23, 1898:" "The Domestic Life and Characteristics of the Pennsylvania-German Pioneer, a Narrative and Critical History, Prepared at the Request of the Pennsylvania-German Soci- ety, 1900;" "The County Historical Society" (read at the first stated meeting of the. Lebanon County Historical Society, Lebanon, Pa., February, 1898). of which Dr. Schantz was one of the founders. He has frequently lectured. both in English and in the dialect of the Pennsylvania-German. In fact, Dr. Schantz is at home in many kinds of intellectual work and is capable of trans- acting a vast amount of detail business. At any rate, when many hard workers in the church are beginning to think of rest and relaxation, he is still vigorous and useful. His circle of personal friends embraces the best in church and community, and his power for good in his own denomination cannot be estimated. As a citizen of Myerstown he is venerated and beloved.
WILLIAM E. BRUNNER, president of the Jonestown Bank, and also of the Palmyra Bank, is one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the Lebanon Valley.
Mr. Brunner was born May 6, 1834, at Jonestown, a son of John and Margaret (Seltzer ) Brunner, and on both paternal and maternal sides comes of old and prominent Lebanon county stock. Both parents were likewise born in Jonestown, where their fathers, Henry Brunner and Christian Seltzer, represented wealth and solid worth. Both John Brunner and wife died in 1862, being separated by death only a few months. Mr. Brunner was a man of some note in his day, serving as a justice for many years, and he represented his district in the State Legislature. He was active in politics as a member of the Whig party, and his religious connection was with the Reformed Church.
William E. Brunner was reared in Jonestown, where he attended the public schools, supplementing the education thus obtained with two years' attendance at a private school in Harrisburg, Pa. His father was one of the old merchants of the town, and in his store William received his first business training, remaining there until 1858. Mr. Brunner then embarked in a mer- cantile business in Campbelltown for himself, continuing same until 1880, during which period he was also indirectly engaged in farming. In 1858
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he removed to Campbelltown, where he has since resided. In 1870 he became the president of the Jonestown Bank, and has remained in that position ever since. In 1880 he was one of the organizers of the Palmyra Bank, and was elected its first president ; he was instrumental in the organization of the Hum- mielstown Bank, in 1875, and was a director thereof several years, when he withdrew. Mr. Brunner is the owner of much fine farming land-a tract of 106 acres in South Annville township, Lebanon county; one of 212 acres in South Londonderry township : two of 180 and 140 acres, respectively. in North Londonderry township; and one of 156 acres in Hummelstown borough, Dauphin county.
On November 26, 1857, Mr. Brunner was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Hocker, who was born at Hockersville, Dauphin county, daughter of Benjamin and Fanny (Weidman) Hocker, and the following children have been born to this union: John, who died in childhood; Emma Margaret, who married I. O. Nisley, of Middletown, Dauphin county; Fanny Elizabeth, deceased : Mary L., who lives at home: Anna Weidman, who married G. R. Kreider, of Annville, Pa., and has three children, Gideon R., Anna L. and Paul W .; Fannie S., who married C. G. Campbell, of Middletown, and has one child, William Brunner : Carrie H. ; Benjamin H. ; Miriam S. ; Helen H .; and two children, who died in infancy. In religious faith Mrs. Brunner is a Lutheran, and Mr. Brunner is a member of the Reformed Church. Mr.
Brunner is a man of activity and energy in his business affairs, and is thor- oughly respected because of his uniform adherence to honorable methods. His name is a synonym for integrity, and his financial institutions stand on a solid basis. As an evidence of the confidence in which he is held by his fellow citizens, he was chosen county auditor, and filled that position accept- ably for one term. His political faith is that of the Republican party.
JOHN H. BLACK, one of Annville's most prominent and popular citizens. proprietor of the Keystone Marble and Granite Works, was born June 1, 1846, at the old Black homestead on White Oak street, South Ann- ville. His father was David Black, who was born February 8, 1812, at Rocherty, south from Lebanon, and died December 11, 1871, while the grand- father was Peter Black, who was born on a farm between Lebanon and the Rocherty road, near the birthplace of his son, December 15, 1783, and died August 9, 1862. His wife was Elizabeth Zimmerman, who was born October 9. 1789, in Lebanon, and died November 23. 1851. The great-grandfather of John H. Black was Michael Black, who was born in Ireland and came to America about 1778, and here married a German lady by the name of
FrostBlack
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White, afterward settling in Jackson township, north from Myerstown, Leb- anon county, where he followed farming.
Grandfather Peter Black was a shoemaker by trade, and in 1818 he located in Annville, and for many years was high constable of South Ann- ville township. David Black, the father, learned the stonemason trade, and in about 1835 established himself in the marble and tombstone business, on the corner now occupied by the residence of his son. His were the first marble works in Annville. David Black married Lucy A. Ault, who was born on West Main street, Annville, September 2, 1816, and died December 18, 1893. She was a daughter of David and Elizabeth Ault, both of whom were born in Annville. The children of this marriage were: Rosanna. born in 1836, married Alfred Corl, and died in 1897: Elizabeth married J. W. Eberly, and resides in Annville: Sarah married Ezra Rohland, of Lebanon ; Dorothy died in infancy; Louisa married Allen Cleland, and is deceased ; Maria died at the age of seven years; John H. ; Emma married Jacob Imboden, of Lebanon ; Aaron died aged but a few years; and David died between five and six years ; Samuel P. is a resident of Columbia, Lancaster county.
John H. Black was reared in Annville. He attended the public schools, and the old Annville Academy where so many of the residents of Annville climbed up the hill of learning, at this time the teacher being Daniel Bals- bach. Upon leaving school he went to work with his father at the marble trade, at which he continued until 1867. when he took a course at the United States Commercial College at New Haven, Conn., and in 1868 he was taken into partnership by his father and upon the latter's death. succeeded to the business. In 1894, in association with C. S. Maulfair, he leased the Keystone Marble Quarries, which are situated one mile from Derry Church, in Dauphin county. It is somewhat remarkable that this is the only place in Pennsylvania where genuine marble is quarried, this fact making the product of great value. The stone is susceptible to a high polish and is very well adapted for use in monuments and grave-stones, and particularly is it suited for orna- mental building purposes. In 1891 the quarry was assigned to Mr. Black, who subsequently formed the Keystone Marble Company, which is incorpo- rated at $200,000 capital, having associated with him in the enterprise George B. Uhrich, with himself as president, Mr. Uhrich as secretary and treasurer, and J. B. Millard as vice-president-a very efficient set of officers. This stone was used in the building of the Annville National Bank. St. Paul's Evan- gelical Church in Lebanon, the Washington Public School in Lebanon, the United Brethren Church at Palmyra, at least fifteen different buildings in Harrisburg, and many residences in different places.
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In 1871 Mr. Black was married to Miss Anna M. Beaver, who was born in Annville, a daughter of Samuel Beaver, and to this union four chil- dren were born, namely: Two died in infancy; Florence E., died at the age of ten years, ten months and ten days; Ella N., an accomplished lady, is a graduate of the Lebanon Valley College.
Mr. Black is a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Annville, and takes an active interest in church work, having been twice a delegate to the General Synod of the Lutheran Church. He also gives a great deal of attention to the Sunday School, of which he has served as superintendent since 1882, having commenced to teach in the Sunday School at the early age of fifteen years. For five years he was president of the Leba- non Valley Sunday School Association, and for three years was county presi- dent of the State Association.
In the commonest and broadest acceptation of the term Mr. Black is a self-made man. His standing in Lebanon county is high, and he is regarded as one of the substantial and representative men of Annville. He has been one of the school directors of South Annville for six years, and is deeply interested in educational work, having for nine years .been a member of the board of management of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua at Mt. Gretna. Mr. Black has always been a Republican, and has always taken a somewhat active part in politics. Fraternally he belongs to the I. O. O. F. and K. of P.
JUDGE A. W. EHRGOOD, one of the most prominent members of the Lebanon County Bar. a man widely renowned for his just rulings and impar- tial administration of justice. was born October 2, 1851, at Monroe Forge, Bethel township, Lebanon county, a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Walborn) Ehrgood.
Jacob Ehrgood was a native of Berks county, and died at Union Forge, now known as Lickdale, in 1854, at the age of thirty-three years. By occu- pation he was an iron worker. The mother was a native of Lebanon county, and died in 1899, at the age of seventy-four years. The founder of the Ehrgood family in the New World was Christian Ehrgood (or Ehrgott, as the name was then spelled), who came from Germany in the early history of the country, settling in Berks county, Pa., and from him have descended the numerous representatives of this name throughout Pennsylvania and other States.
Judge Ehrgood attended the district schools, and at the age of thirteen was apprenticed to the trade of shoemaker with William B. Uhrich, in Swatara township, Lebanon county. For two and one-half years he remained
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with Mr. Uhrich, and during that time went to school one month. In 1867, after serving his apprenticeship. he was again permitted to attend the public school of Swatara township, where he gained a substantial knowledge of the English branches, which he supplemented by a course at the Millersville State Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1876. He had taught six terms before and while attending the Normal School, and taught two terms following his graduation. The schools in which he served as instructor were located in the townships of Union, Swatara and South Annville. During these years of study and hard work, Judge Ehrgood cherished an ambition which grew stronger with succeeding years, and finally he was enabled to gratify it by entering the office of William G. Lehman. Esq., of Lebanon, and commencing the study of law. On January 16, 1880, he was admitted to the Bar, and in May, 1882, to the Supreme Court. Immediately upon his admis- sion to the Bar, he began the practice of his profession in Lebanon. In 1886 he was elected district attorney of Lebanon County, assuming the duties of that office January 1, 1887, for a term of three years. In 1895 he was elected judge of the Fifty-second Judicial District of Pennsylvania, composed of Lebanon County, for a term of ten years. Having fitted himself for his chosen profession by careful and conscientious study, Judge Ehrgood entered upon his life work fully equipped, and since then has distinguished himself by his masterful conduct of the numerous cases confided to him. During the time he filled the office of district attorney he was untiring in his efforts to uphold the majesty of the law and to protect the rights of the people of his district. Since succeeding to the Bench he has added to his reputation as an able and experienced exponent of the legal profession, while he is recog- nized as one of the most successful jurists in the State.
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