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 36
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Frederick Carpenter was reared in Cornwall township, and spent his youth on the farm and in attendance at the common schools. In young manhood he accepted a clerkship in the general store of C. Rex & Co., at Rexmont, where he remained for two years, and then worked as a florist with Mrs. Sarah Coleman, of Cornwall, and later was employed by Burkey & Co., for some three years, and then went to Rexmont, where he built the "Rexmont Hotel" and conducted a hostelry here for seven years, when sold out. He then spent two years with his old firm of C. Rex & Co., and then came to Schaefferstown. The property of the "Franklin House" had been bought by him four years previously, and since 1897 he has conducted here a first-class, modern, up-to-date hotel. His patronage is large and is continually increasing, the "Franklin House" having gained a reputation for its comforts and good cuisine.
On November 27, 1884. Mr. Carpenter married Miss Sallie Dissinger, of Cornwall, daughter of Franklin and Elizabeth (Fink) Dissinger, an old family of Cornwall township, Lebanon county. The children born to this union are: Bessie, George, Pierce, Edna, Catherine, Earl, Lillie and Frank. In politics Mr. Carpenter is a stanch Republican and is his party's candidate for sheriff in 1903. Fraternally he belongs to Masonic Lodge No. 307, of Womelsdorf, of Berks county; No. 121, of Lebanon, I. O. O. F .; P. O. S. of A., No. 289, of Rexmont; and Knights of the Mystic Chain, of Cornwall. Mr. Carpenter is a man held in much esteem; he is self- made, honest, reliable and a good citizen.
Mrs. Carpenter was born November 15, 1866, and her father still resides at Rexmont. The others of the family were: Catherine, Mrs. Jacob Hoke, of Cornwall; Franklin, of Elizabethtown, Lancaster county ; Lillie. Mrs. Frank Shaw, of Elizabethtown ; Solomon, a minister of the Evangelical Church; Philip, of Cornwall; Edward, of the United States army; and Rob- ert, of Lancaster county.
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JOHN A. BECKLEY, one of the most highly esteemed, reliable and representative citizens of Prescott, South Lebanon township, Lebanon county, a prominent politician, justice of the peace and man of substance, belongs to one of the old and honorable families of this section of the State. . Mr. Beckley was born July 19, 1849, on the old Beckley farm in Jackson town- ship, which his forefathers settled upon about 1750. His parents were John and Sarah (Spangler) Beckley, of South Lebanon township.
The grandparents of John A. Beckley were Frederick and Margaret (Strock) Beckley, the latter of whom was a native of Berks county. The former, was a son of Uhrich Beckley, who came from Ireland to Lancaster county when a boy of eighteen years, in the early days of its settlement, and in 1767 he bought the farm in South Jackson township from one John Brant, who obtained the property from John and Richard Penn in 1745. The family tradition tells that the price paid was to be one red rose, to be picked on the 24th of June each year forever. Uhrich Beckley married a French lady who came to America from Alsace Lorraine, and they had sons, John, Jonathan and Frederick, the latter being the father of John, who was the father of John A. Beckley, of Prescott.
' John Beckley was born in the old home in 1811, was a farmer of excellent repute, as his father before him had been, and died in 1889. His wife, Sarah, was a daughter of George Spangler, of South Lebanon town- ship, and their children were: John Adam, of Prescott; F. P., of Prescott: George, who was killed by a horse at the age of thirty-one years; and Salla C., who died at the age of eighteen. John Beckley was a Democrat in his political belief. Religiously he was a member of the Lutheran Church.
John Adam Beckley was reared on a farm but was given most excellent educational opportunities, after completing the public school course attending Palatinate, now Albright, College, and the Lebanon Valley College, of Annville. For the three succeeding years he followed the profession of teaching, and then engaged in farming on his well-improved estate of fifty acres, giving up activity there in 1901. For the past twenty-one years he has dispensed impartial justice as a magistrate in Prescott, has been tax collector and a director of the poor in Lebanon county, and has also been one of the standard bearers of Democracy. In 1900 he was the candidate of his party for the State Legislature, and his popularity was shown by his receipt of the full party vote. His time is much occupied with settling up estates and he is the guardian of a number of wards, his known integrity and high character making him very frequently the chosen officer in such cases.
On November 14, 1872, Mr. Beckley was united in marriage with Miss
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Katherine Lealıman, born November 14, 1848, the youngest daughter of Joseph and Mary Leahman, of Lebanon. This family came from the State of New York to Pennsylvania, and they had a family of five children namely, exclusive of Mrs. Beckley ; Elizabeth, the wife of Amos Wheeler, of Hum- melstown; Mary, the wife of David Law, of Philadelphia; Henry, of Lebanon City; and Joseph, of Palmyra. Mr. and Mrs. Beckley have no children. The aged mother of the former lives with them, tenderly cared for, in her eightieth year. Mr. Beckley is a man of social instincts and enjoys membership with a number of fraternal orders, among these being : Knights of Malta, No. 117, Lebanon ; I. O. O. F., No. 121, Lebanon ; Golden Eagle, No. 167, and Garfield Commandery, No. 50. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beckley are consistent members of the Salem Lutheran Church of Lebanon. They are among the most highly esteemed residents of this locality, and a visit to their hospitable home is something to be long remembered.
ADAM H. LIGHT, one of the leading citizens of Swatara township. residing on his pleasant farm near Banker Hill, was born in that vicinity. April 22, 1840, a son of David and Mollie ( Hunsicker ) Light.
David Light was born in Swatara township, and died in 1888, at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife was born in Union township, Lebanon county, and died in 1898. David was a son of Peter Light, who married a Miss Beam, was a farmer of Swatara township, and one of a large family of children born to his father, Henry Light, great-grandfather of our subject. Peter Light was born on the old homestead near Tenth street, where he was reared, but after his marriage he located in Swatara township, and spent the remainder of his life. His children were: Jacob; David; Peter, who died in Buffalo, N. Y .; and Elizabeth, who married Rev. Christian Peffley. David Light spent his life in Swatara township as a farmer, owning three farms, one of 140 acres, one of 122 acres, and one of eighty-five acres, the last named being in North Lebanon township. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the United Brethren Church. They had these children : Peter, who went West prior to the Civil war, served three years in that struggle, then went to Missouri, and for years nothing has been heard of him; Adam H .; Christian H., a farmer and dairyman of North Lebanon township; David, a resident of Heilmandale, a farmer; and Emma B .. married to Noah Dahner, of Tona, Lebanon county.
Adam H. Light was reared and educated in Swatara township, attending the common schools, and at the age of twenty-two years he started out in life for himself as a farmer on his present property. Mr. Light has always been
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one of the public-spirited citizens of the township, and has twice served most acceptably as school director, and as assistant assessor and treasurer, as well as Judge of election. In addition to his other interests, he is a stockholder of the Farmers National Bank of Lebanon. He owns another farm of 128 acres, in North Lebanon township, which like his home place, is in an excellent condition.
In 1861, Mr. Light was married to Sarah Good, a daughter of Christian and Catherine (Noll) Good, born in Dauphin county, Pa. The following family has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Light: Christian David, unmarried, at the home place; Mary Jane, married to John M. Miley, a farmer of North Lebanon township; Katie, unmarried; Grant, unmarried, at home; Andrew, who died in 1893, aged twenty-three years; Irvin, unmarried, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Light are members of the United Brethren Church of Mountville, of which he has been trustee for a number of years, and they are most highly esteemed throughout the entire neighborhood.
JOHN MEILY (deceased), for many years one of the leading manu- facturers of Lebanon, one of the proprietors of the Lebanon Valley Furnace at that place, and a man well known and highly esteemed in commercial circles throughout the State, was born at Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Pa .. September 9. 1826, a son of Martin and Magdelene (Groh) Meily.
John Meily, the grandfather of John, was born in 1776. and died in 1844, while his wife, a member of the old Lebanon family of Overholzer, was born in 1776, and died in 1854. The father. named Martin, was born in ISO1, and was an excellent example of a self-reliant, self-made man, never having had the advantage of attending school. During his boyhood he was reared upon a farm, and learned the trade of a potter. After attaining to manhood's estate his sterling worth was recognized, and for ten years he served as justice of the peace, and for three years as notary public. Although denied the advantages of an education, he was a man who knew how to make the most of every opportunity, and studied law as related to titles, becoming so expert upon this subject that he was elected surveyor of Lebanon county and held that office most acceptably for a number of terms. Prior to the birth of his son. John, Martin Meily removed to Mechanicsburg. Cumberland Co., Pa., from Bethel township. Dauphin (now Lebanon) Co .. Pa. In 1823 Martin Meily married Magdelene Groh, born in 1798, daughter of John Groh, of Bethel township, Dauphin (now Lebanon) Co., Pa .. and three sons were born of this union, Benjamin. John and Jacob.
Jolin Meily was reared in Mechanicsburg. attending the common
John Mail
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schools. After leaving school he was employed as a clerk for a short time, but eventually returned to the old Meily home in Lebanon county. and embarked in the transportation business on the old Union canal at Jonestown, with offices at that point and at Middletown, Pa. Later he was connected with a mercantile concern in Philadelphia, and resided in that city. In about 1860, he engaged in the iron business with which he was familiar, in part- nership with Henry Meily, at Middletown, Pa. In 1867, in partnership with Richard Meily, his late partner, and Lyman Nutting (now deceased), he built the Lebanon Valley Furnace, which in partnership with Richard Meily he continued to operate until his death. The success which attended his business career was largely due to his thorough attention to detail, intimate knowledge of his undertaking, and his high sense of honor, which gave absolutely fair treatment to customers and employes alike.
All his life, Mr. Meily was closely identified with the interests and principles of the Whig, and later the Republican party, although he never desired office. Notwithstanding his preference for a private life, while living at Jonestown he was induced to accept nomination on the Whig ticket, to the Pennsylvania Legislature, and was elected by a large majority, but from that time he declined to accept office.
Mr. Meily was twice married, his first wife having been Helen Halter, of Washington, D. C .. who was connected with leading Lebanon families. To this union six children were born, the survivors being: James, of Phila- delphia ; John, Jr., of Lebanon; Mary, of Lebanon; and Helen, wife of Edward M. Taylor, of Wilmington, Del., who has three children, John Meily, William and Helen. Mrs. Meily died February 25, 1873, and Mr. Meily was married to Miss Katherine DeHuff, a member of the old Lebanon family of that name which is so well known in this portion of the State.
Few men in Lebanon enjoyed in higher degree the respect and esteem of their fellow citizens than did Mr. Meily, and his death, which occurred April 3, 1902, was sincerely mourned. In addition to his iron interests he was president of the Lebanon County Insurance Company. For many years he was a consistent member of St. John's Reformed Church of Lebanon, in which congregation he was a prominent figure.
HENRY S. KREIDER, one of the substantial and representative farmers of South Annville township, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, who resides upon his well improved and valuable farm located three miles south of the village of Annville, was born December 31, 1842, near Lebanon, in North Cornwall township.
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The parents of Mr. Kreider were Jonas and Barbara (Schaffer) Kreider, the former of whom was born in North Cornwall township, about two miles from Lebanon, on Snitz Creek, December 27, 1810, a son of Henry Kreider, and the latter in North Lebanon township, in August, 1817, a daughter of John Schaffer. Jonas Kreider died in 1887, and his widow in 1889. They had a family of seven children born to them, as follows : John, a farmer of North Cornwall township; Christiana, the wife of Christian Kroll, of South Lebanon township; Henry S .; Catherine, the wife of Chris- tian Yardy, of North Cornwall township: Barbara. the wife of Rudolph Behm, of Palmyra; Mary, the widow of Christian Bachman; and Levi, a resident of Dickinson county, Kansas. The father owned the old Kreider farm at Snitz Creek, North Cornwall, comprising one hundred acres, which came to him from his grandfather, who took up the land all along that creek. The original house is still standing, built in 1767, and is now owned by John Kreider, the brother of Henry S. Kreider.
Henry S. Kreider was reared on the old farm, and attended the com- mon schools. In 1869 he married. and the next year located on the old farm which he operated for a year, and then moved upon the old Urich farm, on the Horseshoe turnpike road. and which belonged to his father, and here he was engaged in farming for fourteen years. Mr. Kreider then removed to West Cornwall township, and took charge of the Christian Bachman farm until 1895, when he purchased his present most desirable estate, this formerly having belonged to Jacob Graybill, and later to Christian Ressor. This farm comprises over 122 acres, and with his other farm in West Cornwall town- ship, makes him a large landowner in this part of Lebanon county. The large and substantial stone residence was erected in 1812. a brick addition of modern architecture being added in 1848, making it a most comfortable home. In 1812 the large stone barn was built, and since that time it has been added to and remodelled to suit the growing needs of this large estate.
On December 9, 1869, Mr. Kreider was married to Fanny Bachman, born on the old Bachman farm, in North Cornwall township, July 4. 1845. daughter of Christian Bachman, who was born January 17, 1812, on the old farm. a son of John and Sarah (Zinn) Bachman, the latter of whom was born in October, 1811. at Zinn's Mill, in Cornwall, now North Cornwall township, and died December 31. 1870. The children of Mr. Kreider were the following : Sallie. born November 26. 1870. in Cornwall township, died March 11, 1871 ; Christian B., born December 31, 1871, in Cornwall town- ship, was educated in the public schools, graduated from the Millersville State Normal School, took a course in the Lebanon Business College, and taught
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school for five years; Jonas B., born April 8, 1874, died October 15, 1894; Henry B., born April 25. 1876; George Z., born August 18, 1877; Edward B., born June 7, 1879; Emma Virgie, born November 9. 1880, died February 13, 1883; Fanny May, born November 18, 1882; and an infant that died unnamed. Mrs. Kreider is a member of the Reformed Church, and the family is one which is held in high esteem in South Annville township.
THOMAS GEORGE SPANGLER. One of the leading industries of Lebanon county is that of the manufacture of textile fabrics, and the Lebanon Textile Company, of Avon, of which the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph is the honored secretary, easily stands first as regards quality of manufactured product. The responsible position of secretary of so impor- tant a concern is the culmination of a business career altogether honorable in its gradual ascent from humble beginnings. Mr. Spangler was not exactly a "rail splitter," nor did he tread the towpath in his youth, and yet it can be truly said that he began at the bottom round of the ladder.
Mr. Spangler is indigenous to Lebanon county, born at Prescott, October 22, 1846. The original American ancestor of the family was Peter Spangler, his great-great-grandfather, who settled in Lebanon county in the latter part of the eighteenth century. A son of the same name was followed by grandfather George Spangler, a gallant commissioned officer in the war of 1812, the sword which he carried in that eventful struggle being treasured as a precious relic in the home of his loyal grandson. The early members of the family were repre- sentative agriculturists in their day, and men who left well defined traditions of probity of character and uprightness.
George Spangler, son of George and Catharine (Dinges) Spangler, was born in South Lebanon township February 28. 1819. He grew to manhood's estate on the old Spangler homestead, but left the farm for the life of the artisan, being apprenticed to the tailor's trade. He followed that business until toward his prime, when he went back to the peaceful life of his ancestors, and died as a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Lebanon county, December 17, 1891. He was a faithful and consistent member of the United Brethren Church, and a man held in high repute in the county. He married Mary Moury, also a native of this country, born October 15, 1821, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Zortman) Moury, both of whom were early pioneers in this section of the State. Mrs. Spangler was a woman of strong character, and a devout member of the United Brethren Church. Her death occurred September 10, 1901. She was the mother of the following children : Frank, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Elizabeth, widow of Isaac Strohm, of Lebanon ;
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Thomas G .; Emma, Mrs. S. J. B. Spangler, of North Lebanon town- ship; George, of Philadelphia; and Elmer, Jared and an unnamed infant, deceased.
Thomas G. Spangler was reared amid the rural serenity of farm life. His primary education was supplemented by literary courses at Myerstown Academy, Palatinate College and the Millersville State Normal. At the early age of seventeen he began teaching, his first school being in South Lebanon township. For a period of some twelve years Mr. Spangler continued to wield the ferule successfully at various points in the county, and established an enviable reputation in educational circles. In 1872 he entered the office of the county recorder as deputy. The following year marked his first connection with the United Brethren Mutual Aid Society of Lebanon, as corresponding secretary, in which capacity he remained until within a few years of its close, when he was chosen treasurer. Mr. Spangler turned his attention to the manu- facturing line, and in company with Stephen A. Light established the present business, the firm being known at that time as the Avon Knitting Company. In 1901 it was reorganized under its present name-the Lebanon Textile Com- pany. Under the efficient management of our subject and his partner the enterprise is proving singularly successful, and bids fair to attain large proportions.
Fraternally Mr. Spangler affiliates with the I. O. O. F., holding member- ship in Mohegan Lodge, No. 288, of Lebanon, in which he has filled all the chairs, being past grand, and has represented his lodge at the sessions of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. He has been very active in this order. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and takes great interest in the Y. M. C. A., being one of the original directors and serving on the educa- tional committee. At the present time he is serving his third term as vice- president of the Young People's Christian Union of the eastern branch of the United Brethren Church. He was a delegate to the convention at Dayton, Ohio, in 1890, when the original organization was effected; he also served as delegate to the General Biennial Convention in 1904, at Elkhart, Ind. He holds the office of secretary of the Conference Missionary and Church Extension Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. Politi- cally he is a Republican.
In 1877 Mr. Spangler was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Light, daughter of Felix Light, deceased. Mrs. Spangler is a native of South Lebanon township, born March 7, 1851. To this union has come an inter- esting family of nine children, as follows: Newton L., a druggist in Guthrie, Okla .; Paul M., a student in Lebanon Valley College; Naomi M., a
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stenographer with the Daily Republican, Lebanon; Ira H., dental student in the Medico-Chirurgical School, Philadelphia; Howard G .; Eva R .; Warrer W. ; Homer L. ; and George E. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler and their family are popular members of Lebanon society, and enter heartily into every good work for its advancement. Mr. Spangler is especially earnest and effective in matters of school jurisprudence, having been secretary of the school board of Lebanon for many years, during part of which time lie has also served as director, and her splendid school system is largely due to his intelligent and painstaking efforts.
SAMUEL S. RISSER, a well-known farmer of South Londonderry township. Lebanon county, is one of the leading men of his locality, and was born on the old Risser farm in South Londonderry township, March 1, 1849, and received a most excellent education in the common schools of his district. the old Palmyra Academy and the Normal School at Lebanon. Remaining with his father until fourteen years of age, he then took up his residence with his brother, John S., and lived with the latter until he attained his majority.
Like many ambitious young men, he engaged in school teaching for a number of years, the greater portion of which were spent in Londonderry township, one at Colebrook, and two at the Imboden school. In 1871 he went west to Kansas, where he spent several months, returning that fall and stopping over in different localities. That same year, he began teaching the Risser school at Lawn, where he remained six successive terms, but in 1876 he resumed farming, purchasing the old Robinson farm from Joseph Nissley. This farm is a very excellent one, containing 132 acres of finely cultivated land. The buildings are all modern, and many of them have been erected by him. Among other improvements Mr. Risser brought running water to his farm, which enhances its value considerably. In partnership with his brother John S., he owns the old Peter Risser farni in South Londonderry township. In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Risser is also a partner in the Lawn Creamery, a thriving industry, at Upper or West Lawn, the other partners being his brother, John S., and the latter's son, Harvey S. Mr. Risser is also auditor of South Londonderry.
In 1875, Mr. Risser married Mary A. Kuhns, born in Mt. Joy township, Lancaster county, June 29, 1856, daughter of Aaron and Anna ( Rutt) Kuhns, the former, of whom was born in Mt. Joy township, and the latter in West Donegal township, Lancaster county, in 1828 and 1835, respectively. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kuhns were as follows : Mrs. Risser, Mrs.
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Amos Risser, Jacob, and Mrs. Gish. The paternal grandfather was John Kuhns, while on the mother's side the grandfather was named Jacob Rutt. Mr. and Mrs. Risser have one son, Alvin K., born August 14, 1877, educated in the common schools, graduated from the Shippensburg Normal School, who taught school one term in North Londonderry township, and one term in Rapho township, Lancaster county, after which he entered The Pennsyl- vania State College in Center county. After completing the first year of the course he taught a term at Colebrook, when he was appointed Assistant in Agriculture at the Pennsylvania Experiment Station, where he still remains, his career for one so young having been singularly successful, while his future seems very brilliant. Mr. and Mrs. Risser are consistent members of the Mennonite Church, and are honorable, upright, hard-working people, who stand very high in the respect of those who know them.
PETER HORST, one of the well known citizens of South Lebanon township, Lebanon county, and a descendant of one of the old and highly honored families of this section, was born on the farm where he now resides. near Horst's Mill, July 5, 1845, son of Peter and Anna (Shaeffer) Horst, the former of whom died December 28, 1891, aged eighty-one years, five months and three days, and the latter died January 19, 1888, aged seventy-three years, eight months and two days.
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