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 32
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PETER B. MOCK, one of the enterprising and public-spirited farmers of Schaefferstown, Pa., was born in that city, March 22, 1849, a son of John and Sarah Mock, deceased. John Mock was a carpenter by trade and fol- lowed the same for a number of years in Schaefferstown. His birth occurred about 1815, and he died in 1898, being a son of Philip Mock, an old settler and merchant of the same city. The father of Philip was John Mock, who is supposed to have come from Germany to Pennsylvania before the Revolu- tionary war.
Philip Mock was the father of children as follows: John, William. George and Rebecca. John Mock, father of our subject, had three children : Rebecca married John Kroll, of Schaefferstown; Catherine married John Bender, also of Schaefferstown, and Peter B. John Mock was a stanch Democrat for many years, and was a hardworking man, a good citizen and was highly respected by all who knew him. In religious belief, he was a con- sistent member of the Schaefferstown Lutheran Church.
Peter B. Mock was reared in Schaefferstown and educated in its public schools. After growing to manhood's estate, Mr. Mock was engaged in several lines of business, but is now farming his property of forty acres of finely cultivated land, which he owns as well as a comfortable home in Schaef- ferstown. On November 24, 1877, Mr. Mock was married to Miss Mary Ream, daughter of William and Eliza (Miller) Ream of Schaefferstown.
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Mr. and Mrs. Mock have one daughter, Beulah Elizabeth. Mrs. Mock is the only daughter of her parents to attain to maturity. Her grandfather, Martin Ream, was a farmer who resided near Schaefferstown, while her father, William Ream, was a wagon maker by trade and lived to be eighty- two years old. In politics, he was a stanch Republican, in religious connec- tion was for many years an elder in the Lutheran Church of Schaefferstown, and one of its active members. The grandfather, Joseph Miller, was a farmer by occupation, and met his death by violence by an unknown party who took his life for his money, near his farm, in 1877. This person has thus far escaped detection.
Mr. Mock is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in local affairs, although he has never desired office. For a number of years he has been a member of the Lutheran Church, and is one of its most liberal suporters. Both he and his family are important factors in the social life of Schaeffers- town, where the names of Mock and Ream are held in high esteem, and their representatives are among the leading people of the community.
JOHN H. KILLINGER, president of M. H. Treadwell & Co., of Pennsylvania, successors to the Lebanon Manufacturing Company, and one of the most prominent business men of Lebanon, Pa., was born in Monroe Valley, Lebanon Co., Pa., August 29. 1859, son of Philip W. and Mary Elizabeth ( Halter) Killinger.
Philip W. Killinger, son of Michael Killinger, was born near Annville, Lebanon Co., Pa., in 1826. His wife was born in 1828, in Washington City, daughter of Nicholas Halter, a native of Switzerland, who for many years was employed in the dead letter office of the post office department at Wash- ington. For many years Philip W. Killinger was in the iron business, operat- ing what was known in those days as a bloomery ( manufacturing charcoal blooms) in the Monroe Valley. Later in life he managed a furnace at Mid- dletown, Dauphin Co., Pa., where his death occurred in 1882, he then being one of the leading iron manufacturers of this part of Pennsylvania. The death of his wife was prior to his, it taking place in 1877.
John H. Killinger attended the public schools of Lebanon, in 1876 grad- uating from the high school of the city, following which he took a course in telegraphy at Cornwall, and also acted as office boy. Later he became time- keeper for the Lebanon Manufacturing Company, in Lebanon, and six months from the time he became an. employe of this concern, he entered the drawing room, going through a course of mechanical drawing. From the drawing room, he went into the machine shop and served a two years' apprenticeship
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learning the trade of a machinist. Mr. Killinger worked six months as a journeyman, and then for two years was in charge of the drawing room. His next promotion was to the position of assistant superintendent, and in 1894 he was made superintendent.
Mr. Killinger was a man who was able to look ahead and see possibili- ties in his work, and July 1, 1896, he resigned his position as superintendent and entered the foundry business at Myerstown, Lebanon county, with Mr. M. H. Treadwell, of New York City, which concern was incorporated in 1901. with Mr. Killinger as president. At this time he gave up the active management of the Myerstown company and returned to his position as superintendent of the Lebanon Manufacturing Company. On January I, 1902. M. H. Treadwell & Co., applied for a charter and leased the Lebanon Manufacturing Company for a period of ten years, making Mr. Killinger president of this company also, he still retaining the presidency of the Myers- town company. In addition, he is president of the M. H. Treadwell Co., of New York City, to which chair he was elected in 1898. M. H. Treadwell & Co. is one of the largest and most important concerns of Lebanon, and much of its present success is due to the untiring efforts of Mr. Killinger and his thorough mastery of all the details of the business.
In 1887, Mr. Killinger was married to Miss Laura Strickler, daughter of the late Abraham Strickler, one of the old and prominent citizens of Leb- anon, who bore a worthy part in the upbuilding of the city where he was so honored. Mrs. Killinger died during the first year of her married life, and in 1892, Mr. Killinger married Miss Kate Funck, daughter of Jacob Funck, of Lebanon. One daughter, Louise, born in 1892, has come to brighten their home. In his church connections Mr. Killinger is a member of St. John's Reformed Church. Social by nature, he has associated himself with MIt. Lebanon Lodge, F. & A. M., and is a man who enjoys the highest respect and esteem of the entire community.
CHRISTIAN H. LIGHT. The Light family is one of the old and prominent ones in Lebanon county, and has many representatives. a leading one being Christian H. Light, who resides on one of the fine farms which make so beautiful a setting for the city of Lebanon.
Peter Light, the grandfather, was born in Swatara township, became wealthy and prominent, married a Miss Beam, and reared a large family. David Light, son of Peter, and father of Christian H., died in 1888, at the age of eighty-six years, his widow, Molly ( Hunsicker ) Light, surviving until 1899, and dying at the age of eighty-seven. David Light spent his life in
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Swatara township, and was one of the extensive farmers of his section, owning two large estates. He held a number of the local offices. Both he and his wife were active members of the United Brethren Church, in which he held official position. The six children born to David Light and wife were as follows : Ezra, of North Lebanon township; Peter, of the far West; Adam, of Swatara township; Christian H. ; David, of North Lebanon township; and Emma, Mrs. Dohner, of South Lebanon township.
Christian H. Light was born March 2, 1842, in Swatara township, and was reared on his father's farm. His education was secured in the common schools of his locality. Mr. Light has from his earliest youth been interested in farming. and at the age of twenty-two began operating on his own respon- sibility, on one of his father's farms. He continued thus for over twenty- one years, three years in Swatara township and nineteen in North Lebanon, buying then the farm of seventy-four acres which he still occupies. Mr. Light has always followed farming, but has also been interested in real estate and owns valuable property in Lebanon, and for five years he con- ducted a dairy business, having a milk route in Lebanon. Few men stand better before the township as reliable, public-spirited and liberal, and he has a wide circle of public and private friends. In politics a Republican, he has served as auditor, and also as school director.
In 1866 Mr. Light married Priscilla, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Weller) Light, of Swatara township, and they had four children born to them : Melissa, wife of Horace Blouch, has one son, Levi; Pamilla, wife of William Tittle of North Lebanon, has children,-Mabel, Edna and Elmer; Richard, a painter, is at home, Miss Gertie is at home. The family belongs to and generously supports the Ebenezer United Brethren Church, in which Mr. Light has served on the official board. They rank among the most highly regarded residents of North Lebanon township.
JOHN A. DONGES. Among the older residents of the pleasant old town of Myerstown, Pa., none are more highly esteemed by all classes than is John A. Donges, one of its pioneer merchants, who was born here, July 12. 1829, a son of George W. and Henrietta (Stoner) Donges.
George W. Donges, who for many years was one of the leading business men of Myerstown, was born in Lebanon county in 1804, and died in Myers- town in 1886. In 1835 he established himself in the tailoring and mercan- tile business, in that place, continuing the same through a long and honorable career. His political connection was with the Democratic party. For years he was a leading member of the Lutheran Church. The children born to
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George W. and Henrietta Donges were the following: John A., of Myers- town; Sarah, the wife of Daniel Warrick, of Illinois; Mary E., of Myers- town; Ellen, the wife of Joseph S. Coover, of Myerstown; Amelia; Susan : and George W., who died March 19, 1902.
John A. Donges was reared in Myerstown, and attended the public schools and also the Myerstown Academy, beginning at the age of eighteen years to assist in his father's store, the site of which was the same now occupied by Donges Brothers. Until 1860 he continued as assistant, and then a reorganization of the business was effected, and it was continued under the firm name of Donges & Stoner, but for the past thirty years the firm style has been Donges Brothers, representing one of the largest business houses in this place. This firm carries a large and varied stock, and its trade is constantly expanding, the honorable methods of the house continuing the same as at its establishment so many years ago.
Mr. Donges has been a very successful man in his business enterprises and occupies a prominent position in financial and commercial circles in Lebanon county. He is a member of the board of directors and is also the vice-president of the Myerstown National Bank ; treasurer of different manu- facturing companies; a director in the Lebanon Manufacturing Company, of Lebanon ; director in the Annville Fire Insurance Company ; and trustee and treasurer of the Mount Hope cemetery. His interest in educational matters has been shown by a long service as school director, and he has taken an active part in the growth and development of many enterprises beneficial to this community. For fifty years he has been a leading figure in the busi- ness world in Myerstown, and he is the oldest active merchant in Jackson township. For many years he has been fraternally connected with both the Masonic and Odd Fellow orders. In politics he is affiliated with the Demo- cratic party.
In 1862 Mr. Donges was married to Miss Rebecca L. Bassler, a daugh- ter of Henry and Barbara (Unger) Bassler. There are no surviving chil- dren to this union. The Bassler family is one of the old and honored ones of this county and extended mention of the same will be found elsewhere. The four surviving children of Henry and Barbara Bassler are: William D .. of Philadelphia : Capt. John H., of Myerstown ; Mrs. Donges ; and Mrs. Annie M. Hyde. Mr. Donges is approaching the evening of life, and a retro- spect shows good reason why he should possess the esteem and respect of those who have known him best through the whole period. His career has been marked by business integrity, and he justly represents a most honor- able Lebanon county name.
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BENJAMIN F. GARRETT (deceased), one of the respected citizens of Lebanon, Pa., was born in Myerstown, Pa., January 10, 1836, and died in 1896. His first wife was Miss Fritz, a daughter of Henry Fritz, of Lebanon. They had four children : William, who is a baker in Lebanon; Ida; Charles; and Edward, of Lebanon. He married for his second wife, in 1889, Miss Maria Weiss, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Smith) Weiss, of Lebanon. They had no children. Mrs. Maria (Weiss) Garrett was one of a family of five children: Henry, deceased; Maria, the widow of Benjamin F. Gar- rett; Solomon, out West; Oliver, of Lebanon; and Samuel, a physician of the State of Pennsylvania. Sarah (Smith ) Weiss was a daughter of Henry Smith, of Cornwall, Pa., in which town she was brought up. Samuel Weiss was reared in Schaefferstown, Pa., and was a farmer all his life. He came from one of the old settled families of Lebanon county.
Mr. Garrett was brought up on the farm, and received his education in the common schools of Lebanon. He learned the trade of coachmaking while a boy, and followed this occupation the greater part of his life, and at the time of his death owned a valuable piece of property. Politically he was a stanch Republican. In his religious life he was a leading member of the Evangelical Church, holding office in same. He was an esteemed citizen. honest and true to his convictions, a kind husband and a good man to his family.
His widow is a noble Christian woman, and is now spending her old age in retired life. She is a member of the Evangelical Church, and is highly respected by all who are acquainted with her.
JOHN P. MILLER, long engaged in a blacksmith business in the pleasant and prosperous town of Myerstown, is one of the respected and useful citizens of this community. Mr. Miller was born October 4. 1839, at Sink- ing Springs, Berks county, a son of Michael and Julia Ann ( Palm) Miller, the former of whom was a well-known carpenter in his locality, and a man of exemplary life and character. The family is of German extraction, the great-grandfather of John P. having come from Germany and settled in Berks county at an early day, and there John Miller was born, and there he married and reared four sons and one daughter, namely: Michael, David, John, Isaac and Mary.
Michael Miller was born in 1805, in Berks county, and died in 1887. His wife was Julia Ann Palm, whose father was a physician of high stand- ing, also of German extraction. This marriage resulted in the birth of a family of twelve children, as follows: Lucien, of Jackson township; Har-
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rison, of Washington, D. C .; John P., of Myerstown; George L., of Berks county ; Charles T., of Reading; and Catherine, the wife of Roscoe Edgar- ley, of Philadelphia, the others dying in childhood.
John P. Miller was born in a village in Berks county, and accompanied his parents to Myerstown when he was nine years of age. His education after this time was very meager, as he was but twelve years old when he became a driver on the old Union canal, his attention to duty and unfail- ing industry soon contributing to his promotion and before he was eighteen years of age he was made a captain. He was, however, a very sensible young man, and at this time decided to learn a good, self-supporting trade, and in 1858 began an apprenticeship in the blacksmith business with Joseph Carl, of Myerstown, following the same until 1861. Mr. Miller enlisted, in 1862, for service in the Civil war in the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. John H. Bassler, this regiment mak- ing a record for itself as the second Bucktail. Mr. Miller's excellence as a mechanic was made use of during his long and loyal service of three years, being honorably discharged in 1865. After the ending of the war, Mr. Miller returned to Myerstown, and entered the Sheridan Iron Furnace of Lebanon county, where he followed his trade and later went to Clearfield county, where for some years he engaged in rafting. In 1868 he returned to Myerstown and opened up a general blacksmith shop, and, in 1883, a first- class bakery. He continued in business until 1894, when he sold his busi- ness to his sons and retired from active labor.
On July 29, 1860, Mr. Miller was married to Tillie C. Woomer, who was born January 2, 1838, and died in June, 1897. Seven children were born to this union, namely : Franklin P. and John H., who are the very capable proprietors of the Myerstown Bakery; Ida M., who married George Eberly; Delilah M., who married Abner High, of Schuylkill county ; Martha, who married Edmund Fisher, of Myerstown; and William Eugene, of Lebanon. One died in childhood.
Mr. Miller has always affiliated with the old Democratic party. His fraternal relations are with the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P., he being an active member of both orders. For many years he has been a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, and one of its liberal supporters. Mr. Miller is a self-made man, and although he began at the bottom of the ladder. he feels well repaid for his years of toil and perseverance. With a well-established family and an ample income from valuable property, and surrounded with all the comforts of life for his declining years, he also enjoys the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens for his integrity of character. Although
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denied many school advantages in his youth, Mr. Miller is a very well- informed man, and keeps thoroughly posted on the current events of the clay.
WILLOUGHBY BECKER, a retired agriculturist residing on his well-improved farm one-half mile north of Millbach, on the Richland road, lias for the past thirty-six years been one of the most prominent men in his special field of labor in the township. In addition to the former Holstein farms, he now owns one of the oldest farms in the county-the Zeller home- stead with its old stone house erected as a fort as early as 1745. He has also other valuable property in the vicinity, yielding a large income, and now in his sixty-eighth year he is availing himself of his well earned leisure.
Mr. Becker comes of a family of successful agriculturists, his ancestors having been pioneer farmers of the township. Jacob Becker, the first Amer- ican representative of the family, came from Germany some time prior to 1734, and settled in Lebanon county, where, in the above mentioned year, he received from John, Thomas and Richard Penn, a grant of land. The parch- ment of conveyance is still in the possession of the family. By his marriage Jacob Becker had sons: John, who is mentioned below; George; and others.
John Becker, the next in the line of descent, was a prosperous farmer and influential citizen of Millcreek township. He married and had seven children : Michael; John Adam, who is mentioned below; Catherine; Eliza- beth; Barbara; Anna Amelia; and Margaret.
John Adam Becker, grandfather of Willoughby, was born and reared in Millcreek township. Accustomed from his earliest years to farm work, upon reaching manhood he engaged in that occupation, settling upon a farm in Millcreek township. He prospered in his work and made a good home for himself and family, and was an influential citizen of the township. By his marriage there were four children: John, mentioned below ; Michael; Sarah, who married Capt. Tice, a prominent officer in the Civil war, and Elizabeth, married to George Moyer.
John Becker, father of Willoughby, was, like his predecessors, a thrifty agriculturist of Millcreek township. Born in 1813. he was reared in a good home, and early trained to habits of industry and self-reliance. Upon reach- ing manhood he took up life as an agriculturist, and settled upon a farm in Millcreek township. He improved this place, transformed the wild sections into cultivated fields, and gave the whole an air of prosperity and attractive- ness. In the cultivation of this farm he spent the strength of his manhood; and near there, in 1884, he died. About 1833 Mr. Becker married Caroline
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Stump, a daughter of Leonard Stump, and a descendant of one of the pioneer families of the township. Of this union there were the following children : Willoughby, our subject; John Adam, of South Lebanon township; Mary (now deceased), who married Henry J. Bennetch, a prominent farmer of Millcreek township; Elizabeth, wife of J. M. Zimmerman, a prominent farmer of Millcreek township; Emma, married to Aaron Bollinger (both are deceased ) ; Amanda, the widow of George U. Seibert, a resident of Richland ; Agnes J., who married Levi Bollinger, of Richland; Thomas L., a prominent citizen of Millbach; and Ida, now deceased.
The father of this family was a strong, energetic farmer, and a leading man in the public affairs of the township, holding at different times various town offices. In politics he affiliated with the Democrats; and in his religious views he was independent. He accumulated considerable property in his life time, and was a large stockholder in the Lebanon National Bank, of which he acted as director for twenty-five years.
Willoughby Becker fell heir to a good heritage of energy, and the brain power to direct it aright. Born on the old homestead in Millcreek township, March 10. 1836, he there received the ordinary rearing of well-to-do farmers' boys of his day. In the public schools of his vicinity he procured thorough drill in the common branches, which he has since supplemented by extensive reading and contact with the world. Both inclination and environment decided him upon reaching manhood to engage in agriculture, and this he followed for a while upon the home farm. In 1860, when about twenty-four years old. Mr. Becker married Sarah Kell, of Berks county, who died about 1878, and he afterwards married Anna Eliza Miller, daughter of John Miller, of Berks county. By the first union there were six children : Monroe K., an agriculturist of Berks county; John D .; Henry S .; George K., now de- ceased ; Mary C., and Sallie A.
In 1863 Mr. Becker settled in Berks county, where he engaged in farming for about twenty-four years. Prospering in his work, in 1887 he returned to Millcreek township, and purchased for about twenty-five thousand dollars, the well-improved Holstein farm, containing 195 acres, valued at $130 an acre. Possessed of a large capacity for directing affairs. he has thoroughly developed the resources of this extensive farm, and has made it pay in every respect. After getting well started here, he also purchased the old Zeller farin, containing 152 acres, and located at Newmanstown. This place he has likewise managed with most excellent results. Though both farms were in good condition when he purchased them, he has measurably improved them, and in other respects added to their values. He has evinced
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marked ability in applying practical and progressive methods in his industry, and has won the confidence of farmers far and near in his section. Knowing thoroughly how to make land pay, he has invested in it extensively, and besides his large farms, now owns considerable valuable timber land in Mill- creek and Heidelberg townships.
Mr. Becker is a shrewd financier and a most remarkable manager, and would undoubtedly have made a success of work in almost any walk in life. He is independent and progressive in both thought and action. In politics he reserves the right of voting for the best man, esteeming principle more than party. He is a man of marked integrity, and has served as deacon of the Saint Daniel's Lutheran Church, of Robesonia, Berks county, of which his family are also members.
WILLIAM M. DERR. When a great man dies in any community a loss is incurred that can never be wholly made good. Others may step into the vacant place, but their powers are not his powers, and somewhere the void is felt. Though it was six years ago, May 31, 1897, that William M. Derr, a time lionored and prominent Lebanon lawyer, passed away, there are poor farmers with difficulties to solve that still think of him with regret; busi- ness men, who wish they might view their own cases in the light of his superior legal acumen ; aspiring young lawyers, who would turn to him for advice; and scarcely an assemblage of eminent citizens occurs that some one does not miss the flow of his eloquence, his flashes of wit, or his brilliant repartee. Especially is this true of meetings of the Lebanon Bar Association, of which he was long a member and for some time president.
His road to success in life was by no means strewn with roses. He came of good parentage, to be sure, but he had opposition to contend with. Born in Reading, Pa., he was the son of George Derr, of that place, who moved with his family to Lebanon county when Willian was but three months old. Here the son grew to manhood, and in the public schools of the city of Lebanon procured his early education. Gifted with quick perception, a large capacity for work, and a taste for good literature, he here further developed those powers, which pre-eminently characterized him in later years. Being clear- headed, he perceived at an early age what nature had designed him for, and after leaving the Lebanon schools, he began the study of law. Soon, however, paternal objections turned him aside from his chosen career, and he was sent to the Pennsylvania Medical College at Philadelphia to study medicine. Later he traveled for a couple of years through the Western States, greatly enlarging his knowledge of the world and of people. Fully convinced by this time of
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