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 34
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Jacob Wenger, the father, was born May 17, 1807, and died April 10. 1881, on the old homestead, where he was born. His father was born in Dauphin county, married in Lancaster county, and died in Lebanon county. and yet never moved from the family estate, the changes having been made in the county lines during his lifetime. Jacob Wenger spent his life upon the home farm, and became one of the successful men of the township. His religious affiliations were with the United Zion's Children Church. He married Mary Light, a daughter of Henry Light, of Lebanon county. and she died at the age of forty-seven years, having had three children, the two besides John L., being: Susan, deceased, married Elias Brandt, and their children were, Lizzie, John. Annie, Daniel, Emma, Eva and Ellen: Miss Catherine. a resident of Jonestown.
John L. Wenger, the youngest of the family, has always lived upon the homestead, and is one of the substantial men of Swatara township. The farm contains 120 acres of finely cultivated land, and it is his pride to keep his premises in excellent condition. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Wenger is director in the Jonestown Bank, and treasurer of the Country-
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men's Fire Insurance Company, of Lebanon county. In 1863, he was mar ried to Mary C. Strubhar, who was born September 11, 1845. in Annville township, Lebanon county, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth ( Frank) Strub- har. Mr. and Mrs. Wenger have had three children : Daniel S., a retired farmer who died at the age of thirty-six years, married Miss Clara K. Oberholtzer ; Miles J., married to Laura Hinterliter, resides on the home farm : Lizzie S., married and had a son, Herman W. Wolf, and later married Robert J. Bond, of Jonestown, by whom she has two children, Edith Martha and Esther Mary.
ELMER ELLSWORTH MCCURDY, one of the prominent and rising young attorneys of Lebanon, is a native of the county, having been born at Fontana, July 3, 1861, a son of Henry S. and Mary Jane ( Mccullough) McCurdy.
The McCurdy family is of Scotch-Irish descent. although represen- tatives of it have been in this country for many years, great-grandfather McCurdy having removed from Chester county, Pa., to Lebanon county, about the year 1821.
Henry McCurdy, grandfather of Elmer Ellsworth, was a native of Chester county, Pa., but came to Lebanon county in the early part of the last century. From his boyhood he was engaged as a teamster, principally for the family of Colemans, being in their employ for many years.
Henry S. McCurdy, the father, was born at Cornwall. Lebanon county, Pa., July 10, 1832, and his wife was born near Annville, same county, October 23. 1843. At present, he is engaged in farming, but for many years was occupied in making fences. Both he and his wife are living, and they have been the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy ; Eliza- beth is now the wife of J. W. Albert, of Lebanon county : and Elmer Ells- worth is our subject.
Like many boys in his locality, Elmer E. McCurdy was reared upon his father's farm. receiving his early education in the common schools. The ambition of the boy, however, sought wider fields, and in 1875, he was given the advantage of a term at a private school at Manheim, Lancaster county, conducted by Prof. Benjamin Danner. After this he spent a year. 1876-77, at Palatinate College, now Albright College, at Myerstown, and then attended the high school at Annville, conducted by Judge Ehrgood. In the spring of 1878, Mr. McCurdy began to make practical use of the knowledge gained, and for five years taught successfully in South Annville township. During the spring of 1882, and the fall of 1883. Mr. McCurdy pursued his
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studies at Lebanon Valley College, and after attending Lock Haven Normal College in the spring of 1883 and from January, 1884, until July of the same year, he graduated at the latter institution.
Young as he was, this same year, Mr. McCurdy was elected principal of the Hummelstown Public Schools, Dauphin county, and occupied this chair until 1887, when he entered the Millersville State Normal School and took the scientific course, graduating in it in 1888. At this time, Mr. McCurdy was made scientific orator, and was the first to enjoy that honor at the State Normal. His oration was well prepared and delivered, he having had some experience, having been one of the honor men at Lock Haven. After graduating from this latter place of learning, Mr. McCurdy was elected Supervising Principal of Schools at Everett, Bedford county, and continued there until 1893. In November, 1891, he was highly honored by being selected to succeed Prof. M. G. Brumbaugh in the department of English grammar, literature and rhetoric in Normal College at Huntingdon, Pa. It was a tempting offer, but as the Everett school board insisted upon retaining his services he was obliged to decline the proposal. He located in Lebanon after giving up teaching, and began the study of law under his former pro- fessor, Judge Ehrgood, continuing with this learned member of the Bar until March 22, 1895, when he himself was admitted to practice. He located on South Eighth street, and there remained until March, 1897, when he formed a partnership with General J. P. S. Gobin, and continues in this professional relation.
In 1898 Mr. McCurdy was elected upon the Republican ticket, District Attorney of Lebanon county, at the general election, for three years. and during his term of office was an efficient and able representative of the interests of the county and the preservation of the rights of its citizens. In addition to his professional duties, Mr. McCurdy is a director in the City Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a director in the Century Printing Com- pany, and of the Y. M. C. A., of Lebanon. In his fraternal relations, Mr. McCurdy is a member of Washington Camp No. 254, P. O. S. of A. and Lebanon Valley Commandery, No. 5, S. of A. In church circles, he is an earnest member of and worker in Trinity United Brethren Church, and is president of Lebanon County Sunday School Association.
In August, 1884, Mr. McCurdy was married to Miss Alice S. Tittle, who was born near Annville, Lebanon county, daughter of Amos C. Tittle, one of the old citizens of this county, and highly respected by all. One child, Edith, has been born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McCurdy.
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FRANK R. DISSINGER. The Dissinger family is one of the old established ones of Lebanon county, and was founded in Pennsylvania by John Dissinger, who emigrated from Germany and settled near Schaeffers- town just after the close of the Revolutionary War. As he was young at that time it is possible that he was accompanied by his parents, of whom we have no record. John Dissinger married Catherine Naeft, whose parents were also natives of Germany. A son of this marriage was the grandfather of Frank R. Dissinger.
John Dissinger (2) was born in 1798, on a farm near Schaefferstown and followed farming nearly all his life in this locality. After the death of his wife, he removed to the home of his eldest child, Mary, Mrs. Barnhardt Forrest, in Campbelltown, where he died in 1881. The wife of John Dissinger (2) was Catherine Connor, born about 1802, whose parents were natives of Ireland, her death occurring about 1857. Their children were: Mary (Polly), wife of Barnhardt Forrest, who for fifty years carried on a tailoring business at Campbelltown; Rev. Henry, deceased, who married (first) Elizabeth Grumbein, and (second) Catherine Gensinger ; John, deceased, who married Mary Books; Lydia, deceased, who married Rev. Samuel Books; Rev. Moses, who married (first) Susan Clark and (second) Amelia Seager ; Edward, the father of Frank R .; Frank, who married (first) Susan Yokem and (second) Mary Fink; Cyrus, who married Emma Mor- vits ; Kate, deceased, who married Henry Strohm; Samuel, who died young; and David, deceased, who married Fanny Clement.
Edward Dissinger was born October 16, 1827, and remained on the farm until he was sixteen years of age and then came to Campbelltown to learn the tailoring trade with his brother-in-law. About 1870 he took charge of the Campbelltown Hotel, now the Rising Sun Hotel, and remained in charge several years, selling then to Eby & Saunders, and buying the property owned by Jacob Funk in the west end of Campbelltown, where he engaged in merchandising. A few years later he added a hotel and operated both for several years. When he gave up the latter enterprise he enlarged his store, and continued in the business very actively until 1890, when he was succeeded by his son, Frank R.
In the meantime, in association with his sons, Charles R. and Frank R., Mr. Dissinger purchased the hardware store of Samuel Johnson. and this business they operated in partnership until 1890, during the same period conducting a produce business jointly. As above mentioned Frank R. Dissinger took the general mercantile business in 1890; Charles R., with J. M. Brandt, took the hardware store, while the father confined his energies to
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the management of the produce business. The first marriage of Edward Dissinger was to Barbara Harman, and two children were born to that union, namely : Henrietta, born December 7, 1850; and one that died in infancy. His second wife was Eliza Rodearmel, born December 3, 1831, daughter of Peter Rodearmel and wife (nee Hoak) and to this marriage children were born as follows: Ambrose R., born September 23, 1853. died December 18. 1856; Charles R., born August 17, 1855, died August 24, 1891 ; John R., born August 30, 1857, died December 15, 1860; Frank R., born June 28, 1860; Minnie R., born July 5, 1862; William R., born July 28, 1865, died November 18, 1900, married Gertrude Fosoldt, and left children, Ralph and Ruth; Edward R., born February 3, 1868, married Ida Plouse, and has a daughter, Violet; Nellie R., born September 15. 1870, died November 1, 1888; Morris R., born April 26, 1873, died September 4, 1873; and Emma R., born January 26. 1875. died August 27. 1875.
Frank R. Dissinger, is a product of Campbelltown, being reared there and educated in the public schools, later attending Prof. Peter Witmer's old academy at Palmyra. After two terms of teaching in South Londonderry township, he became a clerk in his father's store, and continued until admitted to a partnership, serving five years as postmaster under President Cleveland's administration.
In 1889 Mr. Dissinger married Villarah Slabach. born in Lancaster county, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Graybill) Slabach, and three children have been born to this union, viz. : Harvey S., Charles S. and Jestina S. Socially the family is prominent, and Mr. Dissinger is one of the energetic and public-spirited young citizens of this locality. In 1898 with John F. Lesher. Mr. Dissinger leased the Chautauqua store and picnic grounds at Mt. Gretna, and they operated them so successfully and satisfactorily that in 1902 they leased, in addition, the store and the boarding house of the Mt. Gretna Camp-meeting Association.
HERR. The Herr family of Annville is one of the oldest and most prominent in Lebanon county. The origin of the family was in five brothers who came from Germany to America over a century ago. Three of these set- tled in Lancaster county. Pa., one in Lebanon county, and one went to Can- ada. The brother who settled in what is now Lebanon county was Abraham. and he was the progenitor of the Herr family in Annville of the present time. He bought what was known as the old Forge property in Annville, which consisted of a mill and forge, and he carried on milling and farming there for- the balance of his life. Abraham Herr became the father of the following
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children: Abraham. Henry, Christian. Rudolph, and Nancy, who married Samuel Shenk.
Abraham Herr, son of Abraham, was born August 12, 1794. on the old homestead, and engaged in farming, renting the mill, which he had purchased from his father's estate. His marriage was to Elizabeth Ensminger, daughter of Jonathan Ensminger, who was born June 11, 1776, and died October 22, 1853. Mrs. Herr was born May 28, 1797, in South Annville township, Leb- anon county, and died August 1, 1877. To the marriage of Abraham and Elizabeth Herr, were born the following children: Veronica, who married Peter Reist, of Lebanon county and they removed to Dayton, Ohio, where she died in 1897; Jonathan, who married a daughter of Abraham Brightbill. and died in 1898: Rudolph; and Abrahamn, who married a daughter of Mar- tin Meyer, was born July 10, 1829, and died July 29, 1889 ; he lost his eye- sight at about the age of twenty-one years, through a blasting accident.
RUDOLPH HERR, son of Abraham Herr (2), was born March 13, 1826. in the old Herr home, which still remains and which he owns, and from boy- hood until manhood he assisted his father. In 1847 he moved from the old place and engaged for himself in farming and driving cattle. Some time later he became interested in the lumber business with which he was connected for forty-five years, or until 1899, when he sold and retired from the cares of business life. Mr. Herr owned and operated a portable mill, got out hard wood lumber, and kept a large yard in Annville, where he handled large quan- tities of yellow pine, with other varieties of lumber. During the Civil war he operated extensively. In 1860 he built his present handsome brick residence on Main and Mill streets in Annville, where he resides in the enjoyment of ease and ample means. Mr. Herr is a man of intelligence and travel, having visited Canada and twenty-two States of the Union, sometimes on business and on other occasions merely for pleasure.
On January 7. 1847, Mr. Herr was married to Sarah Ann Groh, who was born near Schaefferstown, Lebanon county, November 2, 1827, daughter of Abraham and Sarah ( Strickler) Groh. She died March 17, 1899. To Rudolph Herr and wife the following children were born: Henry, born April 20, 1850, is farming on the old place : John E., born December 9, 1851. is engaged in the lumber, coal and feed business in Annville; Aaron G., born August 24, 1856, resides in Annville: William O., born September 18, 1857, is bookkeeper in the shoe factory of A. S. Kreider & Co., of Annville: and Albert, born October 6, 1859, is engaged in the bologna sausage business in Annville. The one daughter, Sally, was born June 27. 1861, and married Christian Geyer, a lawyer, who is postmaster at Catawissa. Columbia Co,
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Pa. Mr. Herr and family belong to the United Brethren Church, of which he has been a member for fifty-two years. Mr. Herr has been very generous in his contributions to this church, and has promoted its usefulness in every possible way, serving on its board of trustees and actively assisting in its various most worthy enterprises.
Mr. Herr has always been a public-spirited and liberal-minded man, and he was one of the prime movers in locating the Lebanon Valley College at this point. His time, money and influence were engaged, and he served on the first board of trustees, and later, at different times, has assumed a like responsibility. He is known as one of the most liberal friends of the college, and is held in very high esteem by his fellow-citizens. His interest in other enterprises has resulted in their success, one of these being the Lebanon Manufacturing Company, in which he has been a director since its establish- ment. While engaged in the lumber business, he also did much contracting and building, and many of the town's best buildings attest his ability.
While the name of Herr bears with it honor and respectability in Leb- anon county, it is a matter of remark that the same is the case in Lancaster county, the founders evidently having been men of more than usual stability of character, bringing with them from their German home, those habits of thrift and simple ways of living, which, added to the religious teachings of good parents, proved the best foundation stones on which to erect ample for- tunes and to establish most creditable reputations.
CHRISTIAN SHENK, one of the leading citizens and business men of Lebanon, senior member of C. & H. J. Shenk, proprietors of the largest dry goods (department) store between Reading and Harrisburg, was born in Heidelberg township, Lebanon county, November 16, 1836.
After attending the common schools of his district, Mr. Shenk entered the Millersville ( Pa.) State Normal School, and later he attended school near Hagerstown, Md., for a year. The above schooling was supplemented by a course at the Poughkeepsie (N. Y.) Business College, after which he began active life for himself. In 1864 he became a salesman for Riddle, Gill & Co., Philadelphia, which firm he left to accept a similar position with the house of Hood, Bonwright & Co., Philadelphia. In 1869 he came to Lebanon, and after spending two years as a salesman in the store of his brother, Henry Shenk, one of the old time merchants of Lebanon, he began business for himself in this city, in 1871, conducting a general merchandise store. In 1901 the firm was changed to the present style, by the admission of his nephew, H. J. Shenk, into partnership. The business is now that of a
Christian Schenk
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department store, the stock consisting of dry goods, notions, clothing, etc., and is conducted on the latest ideas, and contrasts favorably with those of the larger cities.
Mr. Shenk has been active in business matters outside of the mercantile line, and has been associated in the organization of and made director of some of the leading enterprises of Lebanon county. For some years, he was a director in the Cornwall & Lebanon Railroad; director in the Lebanon Trust and Safe Deposit Bank ; a director in the Lebanon Electric Street Railroad Company, and a director in the Lebanon Electric Light Company. For some time, he had been a director in the West End Rolling Mill Company, and is now president of that enterprise. He is a Republican in politics, and for three years served on the school board.
During the Civil war, he served in the Seventeenth Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Cavalry, and was a patriotic man. He is now a member of Sedgwick Post, G. A. R., Canıp No. 381, P. O. S. of A., and the Steitz Club. Relig- iously he belongs to St. John's Reformed Church, being an elder in the church. Mr. Shenk married Miss Harriet, a daughter of the late Beal Few, deceased.
The father of Mr. Shenk was Jacob Shenk, who was born in Heidel- berg township, Lebanon county. Joseph Shenk was the father of Jacob, father of Christian, and was born in the same place, where the great-grand- father, a German by birth, settled some time in the seventeenth century. The maternal grandmother was Fanny Ober, of Mastersonville, Pa., and on both sides of the house, the families are old, prominent and highly esteemed.
AUGUSTUS D. STONER ( deceased), who died at his home in Mvers- town. Pa., November 27, 1895, after a long and useful life, was one of the most highly esteemed residents of Lebanon county, a devoted husband, lov- ing father and kind and helpful friend.
The birth of Mr. Stoner took place April 21, 1821, at Newmanstown, Millcreek township, and he was a son of Rudolph and Elizabeth Stoner, the former of whom was for a long period a well-known, skilled bricklayer in Newmanstown. The grandfather of Augustus D. Stoner came to Pennsyl . vania from Germany, and the family was of German extraction throughout. good, solid, reliable people. A family of ten children was born to Rudolph and Elizabeth Stoner, all of them having passed away except Charlotte, the wife of Henry Souders; and Polly, who is Mrs. Dundon.
The late Augustus D. Stoner grew to young manhood in Newmanstown, where he attended school and then perfected himself in his father's business.
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While still a young man he came to Myerstown, and here formed a partner- ship with John A. Donges in a general mercantile line, the business being car- ried on some years under the firm name of Donges & Stoner. After the dis- solving of this partnership, each member began an individual business, Mr. Stoner opening up a general store on Railroad street, on the site of the present store of Corl & Manderbach, where he continued some years, closing out his active interest, however, some twenty years prior to his death. Mr. Stoner was a self-made man, and the ample fortune he secured was through his own efforts. As a citizen of Myerstown for so many years he was well known by every one, and was universally esteemed in every relation of life. He was the soul of integrity and exemplified a true Christian spirit, not only in the Evangelical Church of which he was a class leader, Sunday School superin- tendent, trustee and elder, but in all those matters which test men's religion in outside life. Mr. Stoner was kind and charitable, and was ever ready to give a kind word, or to do a kind act. In his early life he was a Democrat, but later, having strong feelings on the temperance question, he became a zealous Prohibitionist.
For his wife Augustus D. Stoner selected Miss Susan Myers, a great- granddaughter of the man from whom the name of Myerstown was obtained, and in whose honor it was named. She was a daughter of Daniel and Cath- erine (Christ) Myers, a family which was held in great respect in this com- munity, and was one of a family of seven children, the four survivors being : Daniel; Isaac, of Myerstown; Mrs. Stoner, and Maria, the widow of George Mark. A family of seven children was born to Mr. and Mrs. Stoner, and of these the following named reached maturity: Minerva; Myers R. ; James .A., who is deceased; John, of Reading : Harry, a cigar-maker in Myerstown; and Miss Sallie, who resides with her mother at the old home on Main street. Both are consistent members of the Evangelical Church, and Miss Sallie is very active in the work of the Sabbath School.
Mr. Stoner was one of the charter members of the order of Odd Fellows in Myerstown, and also took a deep interest in its movements and the work of the order, living closely up to his obligations. In closing this too brief sketch of one of Myerstown's good men it is well to remember that the record of such lives does a world of benefit to a community, showing the value of honesty, integrity and Christian living.
GEORGE H. SPANG (deceased). In the death of George H. Spang. on September 21, 1901, the city of Lebanon lost one of hier most substantial, influential and highly valued citizens.
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George H. Spang was born January 8, 1844, in North Lebanon town- ship, Lebanon county, son of George A. and Leah (Fisher) Spang, the former of whom was a son of Michael Spang. For many years Michael Spang kept the "Spang Hotel," which still stands on the Berks and Dauphin turnpike road, north of the lane leading to the Lebanon County Almshouse. The mother of Mr. Spang was a daughter of Joseph Fisher, who lived on the farm which is now the site of the Almshouse.
The late George H. Spang acquired his education in the common schools, and then, in 1855, came to Lebanon and learned the carpenter's trade. In the early days of the Civil War, on September 23, 1862, Mr. Spang offered his services to his country, enlisting in a company recruited in Lebanon, under Captain Rank, this being attached to the One Hundred and Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and known as the Third Artillery. This battery was stationed at Baltimore until the battle of Gettysburg, in July, 1863, when it was moved to Mount Airy, thence to Gettysburg, where it was heavily engaged on the right wing of the Union forces. the spot now being commeno- rated by a handsome monument. Mr. Spang served as quartermaster- sergeant of his company, and was mustered out by special order June 16, 1865.
Few artillerymen in the Union army became as expert in range-finding as Mr. Spang, and his remarkable work in this line elicited the commendation of his officers and the admiration of his comrades. At Gettysburg he was in the thickest of the fray, having charge of two field pieces, and it was these guns which did such deadly work, when Pickett made his famous charge, on account of the accuracy with which artilleryman Spang found the range. To recall a bit of that day of carnage, during which Mr. Spang was particu- larly conspicuous, when Pickett's line approached, the officer who had charge of the artillery had some trouble in getting results from his guns, owing to faulty range, and in this emergency Mr. Spang was called upon to gauge the distance, doing so almost instantly, placing it fully 200 yards nearer than any other estimate, striking the line of the adversary in the middle.
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