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 44
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The children born to George and Fanny Bowman were the following : Mary, the wife of George Bachman, of Cornwall township; Sarah, the wife of Jacob Bowman, of North Londonderry township; Joseph Z., a farmer of South Annville township; J. Alfred; and Oscar H., of South Annville township. The father was a farmer in Cornwall township all his life, owning a tract of eighty acres, and during his early married life kept tavern on the old Orth place on the Horseshoe turnpike. His wife was born in South Annville township, daughter of Joseph Horst.
J. Alfred Bowman was born on the old Orth farm, and attended the common schools of his locality and later the Palmyra Academy, and engaged in teaching one year in South Lebanon township. In 1876 he was united in marriage with Nancy Gingrich, daughter of Henry and sister of John H., extended mention of this prominent family being found elsewhere. After marriage, Mr. Bowman assisted his father-in-law in farming and continued with him eleven years, and then began operating for himself, on his fine farm of 255 acres, which was originally the old Christian Hostetter farm. To this property he has since added eighty-eight acres, making a farm of 343 acres, one of the finest in the Lebanon Valley.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are: Harry. George, . Fanny, Sally, Mary and Ammon. Mr. Bowman is a director in the Lebanon
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County Trust Company, in the organization of which he was a very prom- inent factor, as he also was in the founding of the Palmyra Bank. His standing in the county is not only high financially, but personally also, and he is regarded as one of the reliable and useful citizens of this locality, repre- sentative of its best interests.
SAMUEL C. STAMBAUGH. The death of Samuel C. Stambaugh removed from Lebanon county one of its honorable merchants and most esteemed citizens. His ancestry was German, but for several generations had lived in America. He was descended from one of the oldest families of Lancaster county. The ancestor, Samuel Carpenter, for whom he was named. was one of the first burgesses of Lancaster City.
The late Samuel C. Stambaugh was born July 9. 1847, in Myerstown, where his death occurred September 18, 1902. His parents were Miller and Mary (Daub) Stambaugh, the former of whom was a machinist in Myers- town and later a hotel-keeper, and became the father of three children : Samuel C .; Katherine, the widow of James Piper, of Harrisburg; and William, a butcher in business at Washington, Kansas.
Samuel C. Stambaugh was reared in Myerstown, and was there educated in the public schools and the Myerstown Academy. In early manhood he became a clerk in the store of Donges & Storner where he remained for a time and then embarked in business for himself, first at Palmyra, and later at Mt. Joy. In 1878 he went to Harrisburg and there conducted a general store for a short time, but changed his plans, disposed of his stock and went to Spring- field, Ohio, where he again began clerking in a dry goods store. Later he returned to his native town and went into the store of Donges Bros., in the capacity of clerk, and after a time began the manufacture of cigars. Mr. Stambaugh, however, desired to be a merchant, and again embarked in the business at a place called Musser's Corners. Here he remained for four years, and then removed his stock to Lebanon City, where he carried on bus- iness until the time of his death, the firm being the well-known one of Stam- baugh & Haak. The enterprise of Mr. Stambaugh had built the business up until his was the leading mercantile house in the city. Like many other successful men, Mr. Stambaugh made his money and gained the respect of all who knew him, through an industrious and honorable life. Although not born to poverty, his parents were in such circumstances as not to have been able to equip him with means. These he earned for himself, and, founding ยท his business on the rock of integrity, he prospered in all he undertook. In politics he was identified with the Republican party, and always was zealous
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in promoting its influence. He was very active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined the subordinate lodge September 19, 1868. He represented his lodge at the Grand Lodge sessions for twenty years. He was also a member of the Encampment, Patriarchs Militant and the Rebekah lodge. He was a past officer of all its branches, and had conferred upon him the Degree of Chivalry. He was also a member of the Veterans Association. At the time of his death he was captain on Colonel Reil's staff of the first regiment of Patriarchs Militant of Pennsylvania. His religious views made him a Universalist.
In 1873 Mr. Stambaugh was married to Miss Emma E. Zerbe, and four children were born to this union, two of whom grew to maturity : Mary. the wife of George M. Uhrich, of Myerstown; and Miss Maggie. Mrs. Stam- baugh was a daughter of Augustus and Elizabeth (Wenrich) Zerbe, and was one of a family of ten children born to her parents, among those who grew to maturity being : Harrison, of Avon; Isaac, of North Annville town- ship: Henrietta, the wife of Henry Peiffer; Rebecca, the wife of John Scheetz of Womelsdorf; and Mrs. Stambaugh, the youngest of the family. She is a lady of excellent business qualifications, and continued the business under the old name until February, 1903. With her younger daughter. Mrs. Stambaugh resides in her elegant home on West Main street, which was completed but a short time prior to Mr. Stambaugh's death. Mr. Stambaugh was a man of great charity, and was kind and sympathetic to all in need. He is greatly missed in the community, and is remembered with the deepest affection by his family.
JOHN WILLIAM TRABERT, M. D., a leading physician and sur- geon of Annville, Lebanon county. was born November 23, 1845, at New Holland, Lancaster county, Pa .. son of Christopher and Fredericka ( Stapff) Trabert, natives of Saxony, Germany.
Dr. Trabert was reared in Lancaster county and attended the public schools, and later the Caernarvon Academy in Churchtown, and the Mil- lersville State Normal School. For five terms he was a very acceptable teacher, and then, in 1867, began to read medicine with Dr. L. Z. Ringwalt, of Churchtown, and under his able tutelage was prepared for entrance to Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in the class of 1870. In the same year he began practice at Reamstown, Lancaster county, remain- ing in that locality until 1882. when he located in Annville, where he has since practiced with unqualified success. Dr. Trabert comes of professional ancestry, his mother's people being distinguished members of the clergy,
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and the legal and medical professions. Since 1873 he has been a member of the Lancaster Medical Society, and for a number of years served on the board of censors. Dr. Trabert was one of the organizers of the Lebanon Medical Society, and is also a member of the State and National organizations, and is a valued contributor to medical literature. His interest in public matters since locating here has been sincere and constant. He has served several terms as a member of the school board in North Annville and has advocated many reforms. In politics he is a Democrat, and takes an active and intel- ligent interest in local affairs.
The first marriage of Dr. Trabert was to Miss Emma Demuth, of Lan- caster, who passed away in 1873, leaving no children. She was born May 1, 1839, and died Sept. 11. 1873. The second marriage of Dr. Trabert was to Miss Emma Kafroth, who was born in Talmage, July 14, 1856, and died September 5. 1897, leaving one daughter, Maud S., born August 15, 1879. Dr. Trabert is popular with all classes, a physician of skill and is an upright, useful citizen.
HEZEKIAH LIGHT. After many years of incessant labor as a farmer and stock raiser, Hezekiah Light, with his wife, is spending his latter days in his pleasant home in Lebanon, in the full enjoyment of the com- petence earned by industry and thrift. The early members of the family settled in this county upon land which now constitutes the site of Lebanon City, little dreaming of the commercial center which was to supplant their meadows in a more ambitious future. Mr. Light was born in North Lebanon township, August 6, 1838, a son of Thomas and Annie (Light) Light, and grandson of Jacob Light, and great-grandson of Henry Light, a very early settler of the county. Jacob Light was a brewer by trade, while his son, Thomas, the father of Hezekiah, was a teamster and farmer. Thomas Light was a Republican, and a member of the United Brethren Church. of which he was a trustee. Through his marriage with Annie Light he reared four children : Sarah, deceased; Lydia, the wife of Samuel Myer, of Lebanon county ; Hezekiah; and Mary Ann.
After leaving his father's farm, where he acquired a great deal of practical knowledge, supplemented by a fair education in the public schools, Hezekiah Light went into the milling business for a year, and then bought a farm of seventy acres one mile from Lebanon city, upon which he lived and prospered for twenty-five years or more. He is still the possessor of this same property, which, under his capable management, has developed into one of the finest farms in the county.
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Through his marriage with Fannie S. Forney, Mr. Light became allied with another old family of the county, and one which bears an honored name in business and farming ranks. Her parents, Moses and Mary Ann Forney, were the parents of six children, of whom three attained maturity : Catherine, now deceased; Fannie S., now Mrs. Light, born February 21, 1846; and Mattie, the wife of Jacob Heagy, of South Annville township. Mr. and Mrs. Light purchased their Lebanon home in 1889, and have since identified their fortunes with the Church and social interests thereof. Mr. Light is honored for his high morality, generosity and general good citizenship.
JACOB PARTHEMORE, though scarcely on the verge of old age, has by hard work and persistent application to business in the past, now attained sufficient means to enable him conscientiously to live a life of leisure, and in the city of Lebanon, where he has passed the greater part of his life he is now residing in retirement. Born in Lebanon county, March 14, 1851, he comes of parents well-known in his vicinity. .
George Parthemore, father of Jacob, was for many years a prominent Lebanon county agriculturist. He married Louisa Melinger, and they had eleven children, six of whom are now living: Malinda, Mary, Amanda, Louisa, George and Jacob.
Jacob Parthemore procured luis secular education in the public schools of Lebanon, and, being an apt student, completed the rudiments at an early age. Impressed when a mere child with the importance of becoming self supporting, at the age of thirteen he went to work as an errand boy in the Weimer Company's machine shops. Proving both reliable and competent he retained his position for two years. At the end of this time having become thoroughly interested in this business. he set about learning the trade of a machinist. Persistent and eager he early mastered the details of his craft. and afterward followed it with the same company as a regular wage earner. At the end of several years he left this company and accepted a position with the Lebanon Nut and Bolt Works. So satisfactory was his work that after a number of years he was promoted to foreman, and later to master mechanic. which position he held until 1901. when he retired. Altogether he remained with this company for twenty years, and, being an exceptionally skillful workman and able manager, commanded at all times a large salary.
Mr. Parthemore married Louisa Waygoner, of Lebanon, and, after her death, Angeline Fritz. also of that city, September 26. 1879. She was born August 13, 1851. By the first marriage there were two daughters, Carrie and Lottie, who are both married and reside in Lebanon. By the
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second marriage there were also two children, H. G., and Reba R. Mr. Parthemore is one of the most trustworthy and honorable citizens of Leb- anon. He keeps well informed upon the leading questions of the day, and in politics affiliates with the Republicans. He is a thorough Christian gen- tleman, and a member of the First Evangelical Church of his city.
The Parthemore family, from which Jacob is descended, is one of the oldest in this country. Its first American representatives were three broth- ers, who came from Germany and settled in this country in the early Colon- ial times. From these the various branches have descended.
Henry Fritz, father of the present Mrs. Parthemore, was a man of con- siderable note, who settled in Lebanon in his early manhood. A coachmaker by trade, he followed that business for some time. Later he engaged in the mercantile business for some time, and after coming to Lebanon opened a shop for the sale of lime. Besides attending to his other business he gave some time to inventions, and put on the market a corn fodder cutter and a feed mill from which he derived considerable profit. Another business of his was the raising of bees, and he at one time owned a large number of hives from which he received a profitable income. In whatever line he ventured he always made money, and in time amassed considerable wealth, and became one of the large real estate owners of Lebanon. Mr. Fritz married Rebecca Geistweit, and they had four children: Emma, who is now deceased; Ange- line, who is mentioned above; Ella L., who married Thomas J. Fauber ; and a fourth child, who is now deceased. Mr. Fritz was a man who cleared his own path in life; and won for himself a foremost place in his city. As a Republican he was influential in politics : and as a sincere Christian he was one of the leading members of the Evangelical Church.
DAVILLA SWOPE, one of the enterprising and public-spirited farmers of Jackson township, residing upon a well cultivated farm of 103 acres, one mile northwest of Myerstown, was born in Tulpehocken township, Berks county, February 21, 1851, a son of Daniel and Catherine (Peiffer) Swope, of the same locality.
Daniel Swope was born in 1825, was a farmer near Millersburg, on the Swatara Creek, and died September 17, 1867. His father, Christian Swope, a native of Lebanon county, was twice married and by his first wife, Eliz- abeth Glonninger, had five children, all deceased; by his second wife he had two children : John and Katherine. The father of Davilla was a child of the first marriage, and he himself married about 1848, becoming the father of the following children: Jonathan, a merchant of Crosskill Mills, Berks
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county ; Davilla; Amanda, who married Henry Bensing, of Berks county; Daniel, of Washington; Cathryn, unmarried; Jacob, proprietor of the "Millersburg Hotel"; and Elmira, who married John Frantz, of Berks county. Daniel Swope was a stanch Democrat, a good farmer and a prominent man in his township.
Davilla Swope was reared upon his father's Berks county farm, attended the public schools of the district, and took up the calilng of a farmer. Without any outside aid he has gradually accumulated property until he now owns his fine home farm, as well as a half interest in a good farm of 173 acres in Berks county. About 1885 Mr. Swope removed from Berks county to Lebanon, and purchased the Christian Strock homestead, better known as the old Bassler farm, and there he and his family have a very pleasant and comfortable home. On November 12, 1881, he was married to Miss Cathryn Strock, daughter of Christian and Magdalena (Meily) Strock, of Jackson township, who was one of a family of three children : Susan married Jacob Bee, of Annville, Pa .; Mrs. Swope was born November 8, 1855; Mary married Franklin Zellers, of Jackson township. Mrs. Swope is a grand- daughter of Christian Strock, whose father was one of the early settlers of Jackson township. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swope, three now living : Henry D., Rufus A. and Fianna Kathryn, all of whom are very intelligent and promising young people, to whose welfare their parents are devoted.
In politics Mr. Swope is a stanch Democrat, and he is active in party matters, as well as interested in educational affairs, being at present a member of the school board, which office he has held for six years to the benefit of the district as well as the pupils. In religious matters he is a member of the Reformed Church of Tulpehocken in which he is deacon and one of the active workers. In his life, Mr. Swope carries out the Master's teachings, and is one of the honorable, upright, Christian men of the community. a devoted and loving husband and father, and a shining example to the coming gen- erations.
WILLIAM G. TRAUTMAN, a well known cattle dealer of Fred- ericksburg, and one of the solid business men of that place, established his reputation by his long-continued and successful management of a butcher shop there, being at the same time engaged in the general produce business. He has succeeded in his various enterprises, and is now one of the large property owners of the place. His handsome brick residence, which he has recently completed, is one of the most attractive homes in the place.
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The family have long resided in this vicinity. Jacob Trautman, grand- father of William G., made his home for the most part in Berks county, where he was a successful and influential citizen. He married and had four children : John, who is mentioned below; Jonathan, who is now deceased; Lydia, who was married to Emmanuel Spunnuth; and Betsie, to George Spunnuth.
John Trautman, father of William G., a shoemaker and farmer, was a man of ability and great force of character. Born in Jackson township, in January, 1817, in a well-ordered home he grew to manhood, receiving prac- tical training for the business of life. Having, like many a farmer's boy of his day, early learned the shoemaker's trade, upon starting life for himself he followed that occupation for some time, and being an expert workman com- manded the best wages. Later he settled upon a farm in Bethel township, and there engaged in agriculture. His well laid plans resulted in abundant crops, which commanded the best market prices. As fast as he made money he expended part of it upon improvements of his farm, repaired the buildings, and equipped the place with all necessary articles for carrying on a thor- oughly successful industry. Branching out in his business he later purchased another farm in the vicinity, from which he also derived a large income. His achievements won him the notice of other agriculturists, and he in time became one of the leaders in his field of labor. He lived to the age of fifty- three, dying in 1870. During his early manhood he married Elizabeth Boyer, who was born in 1816. She died in 1876. By this union there were four children : John H., who is now deceased; Sarah, who married John A. Bensing, a farmer of Bethel township; William J., who is mentioned below; and Davilla H., who now resides in Fredericksburg. Mr. Trautman was an energetic farmer, keenly interested in his work, and achieved success through his untiring pursuit of that one main industry. He kept himself informed upon the latest movements in his line, and was both progressive and practical. As a stanch Democrat, well read upon the latest topics of the day he was influential in local politics. He was upright in all his dealings, possessed high moral attributes, and was a consistent member of the St. John's Reformed Church of Fredericksburg.
William G. Trautman was born upon the old Trautman homestead, one and a half miles northwest of Fredericksburg, November 14, 1850, and there grew to manhood. In the public schools of his vicinity, he procured his early education, which he later supplemented by some thorough work in Jonestown Academy. Reared to farm work he was never afraid of manual labor, and at the age of twenty-one came to Fredericksburg and hired out as
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a common workman. Close attention to his business and prudent economy enabled him in a short time to open a butcher's shop in the place, and engage in business for himself. His tidy little market attracted public attention from the start, and wise financial management soon placed the business upon a solid foundation. His trade increased steadily, enabling him in time to put in a larger supply of meats, and to likewise improve his accommodations. Making an unqualified success of the industry he continued it steadily for twenty-nine years. During this period, he for some time engaged in the produce business, making a specialty of poultry. From his wise manage- ment of this industry he also derived a large income, but in time closed out. In 1901 he disposed of his butcher shop, and since then he has been engaged in cattle speculation. Being an excellent judge of stock, he is enabled to make perfectly reliable deals, and is deriving from this present business a handsome income. As fast as he has made money he has always invested it so as to secure a good interest, and he now owns two splendid farms (one of which was known as the old Kreiser homestead), besides a fine brick residence in Fredericksburg, and other valuable real estate there, including several houses and lots.
On October 18, 1872, Mr. Trautman married Mary Krall, of Fred- ericksburg, only daughter of John and Lavina ( Brown) Krall, both of whom are now deceased. He was a blacksmith in early life, and later engaged in the butcher business, and also cattle dealing. His family was a highly respected one long known in Lebanon county. To Mr. and Mrs. Trautman were born ten children, six of whom grew to maturity: (1) John K., who formerly assisted his father in butchering, but is now engaged in farming, married Emma Soulliard, of Fredericksburg, and they have two children, named. respectively, Edna and Lottie. (2) William K., also a butcher of Fredericksburg. married Mary Desh, of Jonestown, and they have two children .- Pauline and Henry. (3) Edward, also a butcher, who resides in Pine Grove, married Anna Desh, of Jonestown, sister of Mary above named, and they have one son, Charlie. (4) Jennie. (5) Frank and (6) Minnie are now living at home. Irwin, Jacob and Katie Lavina and Sadie Elizabeth (twins) are deceased.
Mr. Trautman has achieved success through sheer pluck and energy. Starting life as a day laborer, he has by hard work, wise management, and a readiness to make the most of every opportunity, won a leading place among the business men of his township. He has always kept abreast of the times, and in local affairs his word carries weight. Politically he affiliates with the Democrats. He is a man of the highest integrity, with a keen sense of honor.
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The Reformed Church of Fredericksburg counts him among its most highly esteemed members. He is public spirited, and has always felt and manifested an interest in any enterprise tending to the advancement of the moral or material welfare of the town and county.
RUDOLPH BEHM, one of the well-known citizens of Lebanon county, and a man whose success has been attained by his own unaided efforts, was born on the farm he now owns, in South Annville township, at what was known as Behm's Corners, October 13, 184-4, a son of Christian Behm, who was born on the old Behm homestead, just south of the farm of our subject (now owned by Ezra B. Kreider), in 1809, and his death occurred in 1857. Christian Behm was the son of Rudolph Behm, also born on the old homestead, a son of Jacob Behm, the first of the famliy to settle in this locality. Jacob Behm owned a large amount of land, which included the fol- lowing farms: The Rudolph Behm farm of 153 acres, the Ezra B. Kreider farm of 175 acres, and the Moses Boeshore farm of 120 acres.
The grandfather, Rudolph Behm, married Annie Hunsecker, born and reared in Union township, Lebanon county, and they had a family of four sons and four daughters: Samuel lived on the homestead farm, and married Mary Stauffer; Rudolph married Barbara Ellenberger: Christian; Jacob married Fanny Forney, and settled in Dauphin county; Magdalena married David Snavely ; Barbara married John Reichert : Anna married John Moyer; and Elizabeth died unmarried. All are now deceased.
The father, Christian Behm, married Fanny Gingrich, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Moyer) Gingrich, and they had the following chil- dren : Nancy, who died when about three years of age; Rudolph: Fanny, who married Valentine Hetrich, of Belle Grove; Lizzie, married to Jacob Heagy, of South Annville township: and Christian, of Annville. The mother of these children died in 1898, aged eighty-one years.
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