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 39
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Both his grandfather, John Arnold, and his father, John Arnold, Jr., were born and reared in Lebanon county, and both were farmers. His father married Catherine Riddle, and they had eight children: Polly, a resident of Lebanon; John, of Burlington, Iowa; Sarah, of Lebanon; Joseph and Lucetta, now deceased ; Henry, mentioned below ; George, a retired merchant of Lebanon, who has a sketch elsewhere in this volume; and Edward, who after a service of nearly forty years as railroad freight agent, was killed near his office while crossing the Reading railroad track.
Henry L. Arnold spent his childhood on a farm, and received such edu- cation as the common schools could offer, and a naturally keen intellect could master. At the age of nineteen he left his home and learned the blacksmith's trade, at which for several years afterward he worked diligently. For three years he was located at Fredericksburg, and was there married. About 1853 he moved to Lebanon and opened up a shop; while he still contintted his blacksmith's work, he also, after about five years, commenced the manu,- facture of brick, and was thus engaged for some six years. Not content with these demands upon his time, he invested largely in real estate, opened up Leman street and built houses in that section. He still owns some twenty houses in different parts of the city. Later he secured a position as foreman and master mechanic of the railroad shops owned by the Lebanon & Corn- wall Railroad Company. So admirably did he fill this place that he remained here nearly twenty-six years making a record quite phenomenal. Finally, in 1893, he gave up his position with the railroad company, and engaged in the brewing business. With John Hartman as partner, he purchased of S. Seibert & Meiley, assignees, then by sheriff's sale again in 1894 the brewery in North Lebanon, now run under the name of the New Lebanon Brewery Company, in which Mr. Arnold owns a two-thirds interest. This company has become a noted and leading one in Lebanon. By steady application to business throughout his life, and by wise management of his financial affairs, Mr. Arnold has amassed considerable wealth, and he now owns, besides his interest in the brewery, considerable valuable property in Lebanon.
In 1852, when about twenty-four years old, Mr. Arnold married Henrietta Ulrich, of Lebanon county, daughter of Samuel Ulrich, and they have had eight children, five of whom grew to maturity. John Adam is a coal dealer of Lebanon, Pa. Francis is next in the order of birth. The others are married : Alice to Frank Swieser, of Reading, Pa .; Catherine to Pious Arnold, of Lebanon ; and Amelia, to Philip Arnold, of that city. Mr. Arnold has always evinced a keen interest in politics and votes the Democratic ticket. He belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. Much of his life has been spent
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in directing men working under him, and he has won an excellent reputation for fairness and justice in his dealings. Indeed he is well-liked wherever he is known, and he has many warm friends in his city.
AUGUSTUS MAULFAIR, a leading citizen of North Annville town- ship, was born at Maulfair Store, at the Union Waterworks, North Annville township, Lebanon county, July 15, 1843, a son of Daniel and Sarah N. (Clark) Maulfair.
Daniel Maulfair was born October 29, 1812, on the old family home- stead, about a half mile southwest from Belle Grove (which farm is now owned by Joseph Wagner), and died December 30, 1887. He was a son of John Maulfair, who was also born in Lebanon county. The great-grand- father of Augustus Maulfair was born in Germany and came to America with a brother, they being as far as discovered, the only members of the family who ever crossed the ocean. Together they established the old Maul- fair homestead. This was in pioneer days and before the country had been settled in their vicinity. The brother was killed by the Indians and his wife was captured, but she escaped from the savages five years later, but never recovered from the hardships she had been forced to endure, and died soon after. As they left no issue, John succeeded to the whole property. He had these children: Michael, who married Christina Ellenberger; John, who married Elizabeth Seltzer; Elizabeth, who married Peter Beck; Jacob, who married Sabina Winters; Henry, who married Elizabeth Walborn. of Berks county ; Catherine, who married David Wagner; Polly, who married Abraham Bowman ; Daniel; William, who married Eliza Bolton; Sarah, who married George Miller; Joseph, who married Priscilla Staeger; Mary, who married Joseph Earley ; and Rebecca, who married Samuel Zimmerman.
Daniel Maulfair, the father of Augustus, married Sarah N. Clark, who was born August 11, 1820, in the neighborhood of Bunker Hill, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ellenberger) Clark, the former of whom was born in Lebanon county, a son of Jacob Clark, and the latter of whom was a daughter of Jacob Ellenberger. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Clark were: Sarah, the mother of Augustus Maulfair; Mary, the wife of Elijah Weidner ; Rebecca. who died at the age of one year ; Elizabeth, the wife of John Frank; John, who married Lucilla Bowman; Amanda, the wife of Jacob Mark; and Amos, single.
The children of Daniel and Sarah (Clark) Maulfair were: Augustus; Amos, who married Emma Losh, of Lebanon; Tacy Ann, married Isaac Steiner, of Sparrows Point, Md., and they had children: Warren (born
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February 1I, 1877), Tacy Ann (born July 3, 1882, died in 1892), and Landrie M. (born November 10, 1888) ; and Daniel, who married Sarah Lick, resides at Lebanon and has two children, Forest and Tacy. On May 3, 1843, Daniel Maulfair opened a store at the Union Waterworks, and this enterprise has been in the hands of the family ever since. It was here that Augustus Maulfair learned the principles of business. His education was begun in the common schools, and completed by six months at the Annville Academy. In April, 1868, he succeeded to the store, and has conducted it continuously ever since except from April, 1876, until April, 1878, during which time it was rented to Ephraim Borgner. In April, 1878, Augustus Maulfair succeeded to the store, continuing until in February, 1888, when he went to Lincoln, Lancaster Co., Pa., where he spent the year, returning to his store April 1, 1889. During all these years until the canal was abandoned, he had served as weigh-master at the water works, a period from 1868 to 1881, inclusive. Mr. Maulfair has served for twelve years as school director, being appointed in 1886, 1891, 1897, and in 1900. On August 16, 1898, he was appointed postmaster of Alger. He is one of the active Repub- licans of his district, and has never failed to cast his vote at any election, believing that to be a citizen's duty.
Augustus Maulfair married Catherine Dohner, born January 30, 1846, in North Annville township, west of the present home. She is a daughter of Bishop Jacob and Barbara (Brandt) Dohner, the former of whom was long bishop of the Mennonite Church in Lebanon county. He was born May I, 1806, in Cornwall township, Lebanon county, and died January 31, 1881. The mother of Mrs. Maulfair was born December 5, 1807, and died November 9, 1893, a daughter of Henry Brandt and his wife Maria Kreider, a daughter of Henry Kreider. Joseph Dohner, the grandfather, was a native of Lebanon county, who married Annie Kreider, sister of Jacob Kreider, who was the grandfather of Andrew, David and Joseph Kreider of Annville. Their children were: Jacob, bishop of the Mennonite Church ; John, who married Catharine Long; Joseph, who married Mary Kreider ; Christian, who married Catharine Light : Moses, a Mennonite preacher, who married Catharine Huber : Annie, who married Christian Moyer ; Mary, who married John Huber; Elizabeth, who married David Dohner; Catharine. who married Christian Burkholder ; and Lydia, who married John Rider. The children of Bishop Dohner and wife were: Henry, born February 8. 1832, died unmarried January 16, 1896; Annie married Adam Boger : Mary married Henry Fry; Jacob died at the age of three years; Elizabeth married Henry Miller; Joseph enlisted in the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
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in the Civil war, was taken prisoner, and died; Catharine became Mrs. Maul- fair; Jolin died in infancy ; and Barbara married Michael Urich.
The children born to Augustus Maulfair and wife are : Homer, Albert and Carrie Annie, of whom Albert, born May 13, 1869, died September 13, 1870, Homer was born September 15, 1867, and resides in Lebanon; he married Jennie Boyd, daughter of William and Susan Boyd of Cornwall township, Lebanon county, and their children were : Boyd A. (born January 29, 1892, died October 12, 1893), Susan Catherine (born May 27, 1895), and Lamont (born July 20, 1896, and died August 20, 1896). Carrie Annie was born March 25, 1877, and married Harry W. Light, son of Felix and Catharine Light. A son, Clark Maulfair, was born September 16, 1899, but lived only fifteen days. This family is an old and honorable one, and is connected by marriage with many of the other prominent families of the county.
C. GROVE BEAVER. Among the old and prominent families of the State of Pennsylvania, is that of Beaver. It is of German extraction and the founder of the family came to America from Alsace. C. Grove Beaver, of Fredericksburg, is a direct descendant of one of the three brothers who landed from a little sailing vessel "Friendship," John Mason, captain, at Phila- delphia, November 2, 1744. The names of these German emigrants were George, John and Dewald Bieber, later softened into Beaver. The sons of these early settlers took part in the War of the Revolution and spent that memorable winter of history, 1777, at Valley Forge. A later descendant of one of these sons, was Dewald Beaver, the grandfather of C. Grove Beaver, who married Elizabeth Hunter. Both were natives of Berks county and in early married life lived on a farm, but their last years were spent at Reading. Their eight children were: Catherine, wife of James Cornett; Dr. D. H .; John : Elizabeth, wife of D. Light ; Esther married a Weiser ; Susanna married a Grim: Jacob and the other, Samuel, died young.
Dr. D. H. Beaver, the father of C. Grove Beaver, was born May I, 1819, and died in Fredericksburg. November 9, 1884. Although reared a farm boy, he did not accept farming as a vocation, but studied medicine and graduated in the same at the University of Pennsylvania, and then moved to Lebanon county. For one year he lived at Shirksville and then located at Fredericksburg, where he remained until his death, after long years of faithful attendance upon the sick through Lebanon county. He was well- known and much esteemed in the profession. For many years he was a leading member of the Lutheran Church. Dr. Beaver was a strong sup- porter of the principles of the Republican party. In 1847 he married Barbara
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Grove, daughter of the late John and Elizabeth ( Wenner) Grove, of Bethel township, the former of whom was a miller and also owned a farm. His four children were: Annie, wife of Dr. Grumbine, of Mt. Zion, Pa. ; Catherine E., wife of M. W. Case, of Philadelphia ; C. Grove, of Fredericksburg ; and Eliza- beth, wife of Dr. S. P. Heilman. Dr. Beaver was also interested in a mer- cantile business and was a stockholder in the Lebanon Paper Mills.
On the maternal side, C. Grove Beaver also belongs to a very old and prominent county family. It was established in Lancaster county in 1724, by his great-great-grandfather. Peter Grove, great-grandfather, was born June 13, 1724, just prior to the departure of his parents for America, from Zurich, Switzerland. He died in 1803. His wife, Veronica Groh, died January 25, 1773, and they had these children : Maria, born December 14, 1756, died December 11, 1801 ; Veronica, born July 5, 1759, died August 27, 1824; Anna Barbara, born September 14, 1754, died July 30, 1836; Jacob, born October 9, 1761, died May 17, 1842; Peter, born May 5, 1764, died April I, 1847; and John, born April 22, 1768.
John Grove, the grandfather, died May 26, 1835, and his wife, Annic Elizabeth Wenner, was born February 14, 1785, and died January 2, 1847. John Grove, son of Peter and the father of Mrs. Beaver, had these children : John Peter, born June 27, 1814, died June 8, 1864; Job, born August 29, 1815, died January 6, 1876; Jacob W., born December 2, 1816, died April 27, 1886; Anna Barbara, born January 10, 1819, died December 24, 1897; M. J. born May 20, 1821, died November 9, 1877; Elizabeth, born March 23, 1823, died September 4, 1882; and Elias, born February 3, 1825, died February 5, 1890.
C. Grove Beaver was born October 31, 1852, in Fredericksburg, where he now lives retired from business activity. He attended the schools of his native place, and then spent three years at the Gettysburg College. Later he took a course at the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and then went into the business establishment of his uncles, Grove Bros., of Danville, Pa., iron manufacturers. He entered the business as bookkeeper and later became superintendent remaining there for ten years. In 1882 he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, M. W. Kase, at Danville, in a general hardware business and then moved to Jersey Shore to take charge of a branch of the business there. After five years of successful busi- ness endeavor, he sold out his interests at that place and returned to his old home at Fredericksburg. He was his father's executor, but with that exception, he has not actively engaged in business since 1887.
On August 1, 1881, Mr. Beaver was married to Miss Catherine Fitz-
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gerald of Jersey Shore, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Fitzgerald. Mr. Beaver has always been an adherent of the Republican party. He is widely known and is a worthy representative of two of the oldest and most honorable families of the Keystone State.
P. F. LEININGER, one of the leading business citizens of Myerstown, a prominent dealer in clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods, was born in Robesonia, Berks county, Pa., January 18, 1854, a son of Peter E. and Katherine (Arnold) Leininger.
Peter E. Leininger was born in 1823, in Berks county, and died in 1890, a son of Frederick Leininger, whose father probably came at an early day and settled with other German emigrants in Lancaster county, as there the family is an old established one. Frederick Leininger was born in Lancaster county, and by a first marriage had four children, Peter E., Eliza, Susan and Han- nah; by a second wife, Frederick, William, Martha and Eve; and to his third marriage were born Jacob, Martin, Elizabeth and Katherine.
After Peter Leininger married Katherine Arnold he settled in Berks county, and later in Lebanon, where he died. His children were: John, deceased; George, of Lebanon county; Emma, the wife of William Zebe ; Katherine, the wife of Jacob Rutter, of Richland; Peter F., of Myerstown ; Alfred, deceased; Aaron and Eli, of Myerstown; and Addie, the wife of John Rupp. For many years prior to death, Mr. Leininger was a highly respected farmer of Millcreek township and was long identified with the Democratic party. In religion he was a member of the Lutheran Church.
When but three years of age, P. F. Leininger came with his parents to Lebanon county, attended the common schools, and remained engaged on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he found employment at the ore mines of Jackson and South Lebanon townships. After three years of industry at the mines, he went to Reedsville and embarked in butchering business, which he later removed to Myerstown, where he continued for. sev- enteen years. In 1893 he opened up a first-class clothing and gentlemen's furnishing house in Myerstown, and now commands a large and lucrative trade, his patronage including the best and most desirable in this vicinity. In politics Mr. Leininger has always been a stanch Democrat, and has exerted considerable influence in his party in this community. His fraternal associa- tions include Camp No. 64, P. O. S. of A., Myerstown, in which he is treas- urer ; the I. O. O. F., of Myerstown; the Jr. O. U. A. M., of Myerstown. For thirty-two years he has been an active member of the first-named order, and is well-known in the fellowship through the State.
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In 1877 Mr. Leininger was married to Katherine, the daughter of Henry and Katherine Spangler, of Jackson township, and two daughters were born to this union, viz .: Maggie, the wife of John N. Shirk, of Myerstown; and Jennie, an accomplished stenographer. Mrs. Leininger comes from one of the oldest of the county families, and is one of a family of three children, the others being, Henry P., proprietor of a hotel in Lebanon; and Sarah, the wife of Adam Krisser, a farmer of the county. The Spanglers have lived in Lebanon county for 175 years.
Throughout his active life, Mr. Leininger has been one of the useful and industrious men of his community, and has accumulated by honest endeavor and close application, an independent fortune. His life history is an inspiration to those who are still at the bottom of the ladder, as it gives a striking example of what may be attained by the use of proper methods. Mr. Leininger belongs to the Lutheran Church, and Mrs. Leininger to the Reformed. They are very highly esteemed people and have many friends in and around Myerstown. Mr. Leininger is one of those persons whose quick sympathetic nature inclines him to render assistance to any in need, and he has often been led to help those who failed to appreciate his endeavors, and proved ungrateful for his kindness. His natural generosity, however, is too great to permit him to bear any malice in his heart, and he has only good wishes for each and every one.
WILLIAM H. H. SMITH. This gentleman is a prominent and worthy citizen of Annville, Lebanon county, where he is engaged in operating a tin and stove store. He was born in Annville December 24, 1853, and was given a good education in the public schools of his native village, which was further supplemented by attendance at the old Palmyra Academy, and later at the Lebanon Valley College. Upon leaving school he entered his father's tin shop, where he thoroughly learned the tinsmith's trade, which he has followed all his life time with the exception of two years, when he was connected with the Mutual Benefit Association of North America for Unmarried People. He succeeded his father in business in the year 1884. The life of Mr. Smith has been helpful along lines of public utility, he having been always prominent in the affairs of township and village. When but twenty-one years of age he was elected to the responsible position of auditor of the township, which office he held continuously, giving excellent satisfaction, until he was elected school director, an office he still holds. He served as trustee of North Annville village for a number of years. His connection with the school board began in 1895, and he was president of the board for four years. If Mr. Smith has
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any particular hobby, it is in his determination to secure superior educational advantages for the children of his district, and he has for years given much time and thought to that subject. To his efforts in a large measure was due the inauguration of the present long school term of eight months, instead of seven as previously held. In the fraternities, Mr. Smith is a leading member and was one of the organizers of the local lodge of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and which he is now serving as treasurer. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, and is also treasurer in that organization. He has membership in the P. O. S. of A., and is also a mem- ber of the Lebanon Valley Commandery of that same society. The married life of Mr. Smith began in 1875. Mrs. Smith was Miss Maggie Mark, a native of Jonestown, Lebanon county, and a daughter of Moses Mark. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two lovely daughters, their names being Estella and May.
A conscientious, upright and fearless advocate of the truth as he sees it, Mr. Smith stands second to none in the old community of Annville, which has always been noted for the high character of its citizenship.
GEORGE ARNOLD, senior member of the firm of George Arnold & Sons, whose general store now stands on the southeast corner of Sixth and Lehman streets, Lebanon, has been long and honorably known in his vicinity, first as a coachmaker, and later as a merchant and a prominent bank official. Born near Kimmerlings Church in North Lebanon township, October 10, 1830, he is a son of John and Catherine (Riddle) Arnold.
John Arnold, his great-grandfather, came from Europe and settled in Lebanon county, Pa. John Arnold (2), son of John and grandfather of George, married and had four children, all now deceased; Jacob, John, Chris- tina and Mary.
John Arnold (3), son of John (2), father of George, was born in Lebanon county in 1798, and was reared to farming, following that occu- pation for the most part throughout his mature life. A man of strong con- stitution he lived to the age of eighty-seven, and died in 1884. During his early manhood, in 1816, he married Catherine Riddle. They had eight children : Miss Mary, of Lebanon, now in her eighty-second year; John, a retired farmer of Burlington, Iowa: Sarah, who married Jacob Seifert, of Lebanon; Joseph, deceased: Lucetta, who married Jonathan Arnold, and is deceased ; Henry L., now in business in Lebanon; George, mentioned below ; and Edward, who after thirty-five years of service as freight agent, was killed near his office while crossing the Reading railroad track.
George Cmolde
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George Arnold received the ordinary training of a farmer's boy and his education was acquired in the old-time subscription schools. Starting out in life at the age of eighteen he entered a coachmaker's shop at Annville, Pa., where, after completing the trade, he remained some time as an employe. In 1855, prepared to conduct the business by himself, he went to Lebanon, pur- chased the tract of land where the Methodist Episcopal Church now stands, and erected a coachmaking shop, where in partnership with Peter Arnold, he carried on a prosperous business for some time. In 1860 he sold his shop to his brother, Joseph Arnold, and for the next three years he followed his trade in Annville, later working for John Allwine of Lebanon, and finally as a coachmaker for William Fauber, of the same city. Being possessed of con- siderable means, he next purchased the valuable property on the northwest corner of Sixth and Lehman streets and opened a general store. In the course of time, enlarging his stock, he received his sons as partners, and moved to the present location. He early established his business upon a very firm foundation, and continued it with rare success for twenty years. Then, retiring, he left his sons, who are excellent business men, in full charge of the establishment. Mr. Arnold has succeeded exceptionally well out of his bus- iness ventures, and he is now a stockholder and a director of the Farmers' National Bank. He has erected from time to time some of the handsomest residences in Lebanon.
On November 20, 1855, Mr. Arnold married Agnes Eagle, who was born in 1829, daughter of John and Elizabeth Eagle, of Lancaster county, Pa. Mrs. Arnold was an excellent helpineet for nearly forty years, and she died December 25, 1892. By her Mr. Arnold had four children : Charles V., a merchant, who married Helen Levengood, and had eleven children, eight of whom are now living : Miss Mary C., at home ; Stephen, a member of the firm of George Arnold & Sons, who married Ella Levengood, who . died leaving three children ; and Annie J., who married Wilson Miller, a clerk in a Phila- delphia banking house, and has three children. As a Democrat Mr. Arnold has always manifested a keen interest in politics. He served two terms in the city council, and though nominated for a third refused to run. In religious sentiment he is a Roman Catholic. He is a man of great integrity of char- acter and is highly respected in this city.
CAPT. JOHN H. BASSLER. The Bassler family is one of the oldest as well as one of the most prominent in Lebanon county, and has contributed members who have adorned the business and professional circles of that and other communities. Its founders were men of strong character, who came as
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refugees from their native Switzerland to America long prior to the Revo- lutionary war. These sturdy ancestors handed down many of their sterling qualities, and a most worthy representative of this family is to be found in Capt. John H. Bassler, a resident of Myerstown.
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