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 45
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Rudolph Behm was reared upon the farm, and his father dying when he was thirteen years of age, he remained with his mother until he was twenty- one, when he began farming for her on shares. finally purchasing the place in 1877. He continued its operation with success until 1893, when he retired from active life and took up his residence in Palmyra. Mr. Behm married Barbara Kreider, who was born in North Cornwall township. Lebanon county, November 25, 1846, a daughter of Jonas and Barbara (Schafer) Kreider. Three children have come to this marriage: Simon, who resides on the home farm, married Lizzie Balsbaugh, daughter of John L. Balsbangh, of South Annville township; Morris, proprietor of a box factory in Palmyra, was
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married in September, 1902, to Leona Snyder, daughter of James M. Snyder, of Lebanon City, and they have one child, Katherine. Fanny married Joseph Louck, of the firm of Behm & Louck, and has two children, Esther Barbara and Behm R. In addition to his other interests Mr. Behm is a director of the Valley National Bank of Lebanon; of the Palmyra State Bank ; and also of the Lebanon Gas Company. His religious connection is with the German Baptist Church, of which he is a liberal supporter. During a long and honorable life Mr. Behm has filled with credit several relations of life, being a devoted son, husband and father, as well as a kind neighbor and public- spirited citizen, and no man is more highly respected, or has more real friends. He is a stanch Republican, but is not active in party affairs, though he has consented to serve as school director.
JOHN W. HARTMAN, a thrifty citizen of Lebanon, Pa., is part owner of the new Lebanon Brewery. He is the son of the late Henry L. and Pauline E. Loekle Hartman, the latter of whom is living in Lebanon at present. Henry L. Hartman was a son of Christian, and was born in the Province of Wittenberg, Germany, April 3, 1824, and died in Lebanon Au- gust 3, 1870. On January 7, 1852, he was married to Pauline E. Loekle, of Ludwigburg, Germany, born November 3, 1826. They were the par- ents of eight children: Henry, Ernest, Pauline, Gustave, Mary, Ludwig, John W., and Edward O .; all are deceased except John W. and Edward O. Henry L. Hartman came to America while a young man, and in 1856 came to Lebanon, establishing, on the site where the Lebanon brewery now stands, the first brewery in the city.
John W. Hartman was born January 14. 1856, and was reared in Leb- anon, receiving his education in the local public schools. After he left school he worked in the planing mills of Lebanon, where by accident he lost his arm. Later he became the proprietor of the "Hartman House," and had charge of it for many years. In 1894 he became a partner in the New Leb- anon Brewery with Henry L. Arnold.
Mr. Hartman married Miss Emma C. Ebright, of Lebanon, daughter of John and Caroline (Shenk) Ebright, and member of one of the old fam- ilies in that locality. John and Caroline Ebright had five children, name- iy: Emma C. (the wife of Mr. Hartman), Edward C. (deceased), Lillie (the wife of Harry Shay), Grant and Andrew. The parents are living a retired life in Lebanon. To John W. and Mrs. Hartman have come chil- dren as follows : Henry L., a soldier now stationed in the Philippine Islands; Jolın E .; Charles E .; George W., of Lebanon; and one daughter, Pauline,
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who is deceased. Mr. Hartman is one of the leading politicians of his town and county. He was register of wills for the county for one term ; also county chairman for several years; and a delegate to the convention that nominated Benjamin Harrison. He is a well-known business man, a good husband and an affectionate father. Of late he has devoted most of his time to his brewery business, which is one of the largest business enterprises in the city of Lebanon.
SAMUEL O. EBY, one of the old and highly respected citizens of Leb- anon county, residing at Bismarck since 1855, was born near Campbelltown, Lebanon county, July 15, 1835, a son of Peter and Polly ( Wisler) Eby. The Eby family is one of the best known in the county.
Samuel O. Eby was reared upon his father's farm about a mile from Campbelltown, receiving a good education in the public schools. After reaching manhood, he taught school during the winter months near the place of his birth, and then went to farming, also in his home neighborhood, but after his marriage, in 1855, he located at Bismarck, then designated as Inde- pendence, and bought the "Golden Ball Hotel." including hotel and store properties. Mr. Eby entered into partnership with his brother George, under the firm name of Eby Brothers, and they operated the hotel and also con- ducted a large and flourishing mercantile business. At the expiration of three years, however, Mr. Eby purchased his brother's interests and con- tinued to attend to both until within late years, when his elder son assumed charge of the hotel, and the other now manages the mercantile interests. Mr. Eby has seen the city of Bismarck grow up about him, and has nobly borne his part in its development. The success which has attended him is largely the result of patient endeavor and hard work. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Eby owns a fine farm about a quarter of a mile from Bismarck, six pieces of other property in the city itself; is a stockholder in the Farmers National Bank of Lebanon, and has always been one of the leading and progressive men of the county. In politics. he has always been a Republi- can, and served most acceptably as auditor and treasurer of the county, also holding a number of the township offices. In all of his public life. he proved himself a worthy official, as well as earnest-hearted man and good husband and father.
On January 26. 1854, Mr. Eby married Miss Leah Deitweiler. daughter of Michael and Barbara ( Thomas) Deitweiler, the former of whom was born, reared and spent his life within a radius of three miles, northwest of Annville, Lebanon county. He was a farmer of prominence, owning two
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farms, and was an active Republican, being honored with many of the offices of his township. The following family was born to himself and wife: Jolın, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Caroline, wife of Michael Eby, of Campbell- town; Leah, Mrs. Eby ; Adam, residing in the West; Jacob, deceased; Cliris- tiana, widow of Daniel Bream, residing in Hummelstown; Lavina, married to Samuel Rauch, of Dauphin county, Pa .; Michael, of Mt. Joy, Lancaster county : Molly, married to John Krautz, of Lebanon county. Mr. and Mrs. Eby have two sons : Ambrose M., born June 7. 1855; and John M., born September 16, 1858.
AMBROSE M. EBY, elder son of Samuel O. Eby, the genial proprietor of the "Golden Ball Hotel," at Bismarck, has successfully conducted that hos- telry since April, 1887. Having been born and reared in Bismarck, he is well acquainted with its people, as well as the traveling public. His educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of his neighborhood, and then for three years he attended the Millersville State Normal. Returning home, he entered his father's store, and spent the succeeding thirteen years in that business, and since his father placed him in charge of the hotel, he has proven his capacity in that direction. A stanch Republican, he takes an active part in all local affairs, and for six years served on the school board, and has several times been a member of the County Central Committee of his party. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers National Bank of Lebanon, and also of the Keystone Bicycle Company, of Lebanon. Fraternally, he is a member of the F. & A. M., Mount Lebanon Lodge, No. 226, Chapter Widel No. 197. K. T., Hermit Commandery, No. 24; and belongs to the P. O. S. of A., Bismarck, of which he is one of the charter members, and has served as treasurer since the organization of the order.
On June 2, 1881, Ambrose M. Eby was married to Miss Mary E. Boyd, daughter of William and Susan Boyd, born at Mt. Hope, Lancaster county, April 30, 1857. Three children were born of this union : Jinnie B., Effie D. and Helen D., all at home. On July 19, 1901, Mr. Eby was appointed postmaster at Bismarck to succeed his father, who had held that position for many years.
JOHN M. EBY, son of Samuel O., was reared and educated in the vil- lage of his birth, and also had the advantage of a course at business college, it being the desire of his father that this son be trained to a mercantile life. From early boyhood, the young fellow was taught the various details of the mercantile branch of his father's business, and today conducts it upon broad and progressive methods, and knows thoroughly the working of every part of the establishment. In 1900 new improvements were introduced and it is
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now the finest store of its kind in the county, the stock being a general one, and well-selected with reference to the needs of the community and the pre- vailing modes. In politics he is a very stanch Republican and now holds the office of first assistant postmaster at Bismarck. He has always taken a deep interest in all measures tending toward the public welfare, and is certainly one of the most enterprising young men of Bismarck.
On December 25, 1883, John M. Eby was married to Miss Ida V. Arnold, daughter of Mary and Jacob ( Donley) Arnold, of Cornwall town- ship, and two daughters have been born of this union: Maggie V. and Myrl' K., both at home. Mr. Eby is a member of P. O. S. of A. Camp, No. 70, Bis- marck, and was one of the charter members of that order. For ten years he was the organist in both church and Sunday school services of St. Paul's Reformed Church of Bismarck.
Father and both sons are justly numbered among the leading and pro- gressive men of the county, and the success which has uniformly followed their efforts, is due to their ability and power to grasp opportunities at the right time.
JOHN J. SWONGER, the leading clothing manufacturer of Lebanon county, residing at Myerstown, a man widely known and highly respected, was born in Annville township, Lebanon county, July 17, 1848, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Garman) Swonger, of this county.
John Adam Swonger, grandfather of John J., was a farmer residing near Schaefferstown, Pa. He was of German ancestry, his father having emigrated from Germany and become one of the very early settlers of this section of the country. John Adam Swonger was the father of seven chil- dren, as follows: Joseph. Samuel, Cyrus, Peter, Henry, Mary and Eliza- beth, of whom Mary and Samuel still survive.
Samuel Swonger, who is a blacksmith by trade, is still living, having attained the advanced age of eighty years. He became the father of the following family: Katherine (deceased), Eva, John J., Louisa, Elizabeth and Annie. The father has been a lifelong Republican, and is a consistent member of the Reformed Church. All his life he has been highly regarded. and is a man of great probity and Christian charity.
John J. Swonger was reared in the place of his birth, receiving a fair education in the schools of South Annville township, and remained upon his father's farm until eighteen years of age, when he commenced to learn the miller's trade with Abraham Blouch, of South Annville township. After one year he went into the mill of Abraham Long, near Annville, Pa., where.
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he remained for some time, and then removed to Berks county, and for two years worked in the mill of Daniel Windner. From there he went to Mont- gomery county, Ohio, and for six years was employed in a flour mill. At the expiration of that time he settled in Montgomery county, Pa., and em- barked in the manufacture of clothing, but after four years came to Myers- town, in 1884, and established his present flourishing business, utilizing for a portion of his plant the old Myerstown Academy, which was erected over sixty years ago. To this he added other buildings, made extensive improve- ments, and now gives employment to some 130 operators, and has the largest establishment of its kind in the entire county. The product of his factory meets with a ready sale wherever it has been introduced, and his brand is a guarantee of good workmanship, perfect fit and general excellence.
On May 28, 1870, Mr. Swonger was married to Miss Clara Holtzman, of Millersburg, Berks Co., Pa., a daughter of Daniel and Damina Holtz- man, of the same locality. This union has been blessed with four children, only one of whom grew to maturity, E. E. Swonger, who is associated with his father in business; he married Miss Lydia Beamsderfer, of Myerstown. Mr. Swonger is a stanch member of the Republican party. The entire family are connected with the Lutheran Church, in which they are very active. Mr. Swonger is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., of Myerstown, and very pop- ular in that order.
Starting out in life at the early age of eighteen, the success which has attended the efforts of Mr. Swonger is remarkable, all the more so in that it has been attained through his own unaided exertions. During all of his business life he has maintained a high standard, and can point with pride to his record of stainless probity and uprightness in all his dealings.
JOHN H. GINGRICH, one of the highly esteemed and prominent farmers of South Annville township, Lebanon county, who is also a most worthy representative of one of the leading families of this part of the State of Pennsylvania, was born July 15, 1863, on the old Gingrich farm, sit- uated about one quarter mile south of the Horseshoe turnpike and four miles from the village of Annville. His parents were Henry and Sally ( Bach- man) Gingrich.
Joseph Gingrich, the grandfather of John H., located on the old farm and passed his life there. It was originally the property of the Bachman family, Michael Bachman having entered the same very many years ago. Since passing into the possession of its present owners, the Gingrich family has always occupied it. Grandfather Joseph Gingrich was twice married,
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both wives belonging to the Moyer family, and his children were these, by the first marriage: Henry, the father of John H .; Felix; Miss Nancy ; Fanny, the wife of Christian Behm; and Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Bow- man. The children of the second marriage were these: Christian, a resident of Lawn, Pa .; Joseph, a resident of Moberly, Mo .; and Miss Lydia. The maternal grandfather of John H. Gingrich was John Bachman, born Octo- ber 12, 1783, who died July 6, 1867, a son of Christian Bachman, born June 18, 1758, who died July 14, 1838, a son of John Bachman, born November 10, 1729, who died February 15. 1807. John Bachman, the great-great- grandfather, married Maria Herr, born December 25, 1730, who died Octo- ber 28, 1816. Their issue was: John, born December 18, 1768, died No- vember 14. 1794; Catherine; Christian, born June 18, 1758, died July 14. 1838.
Christian Bachman, son of John, married Maria Snyder, born October 19, 1758, and died August 20, 1842, aged eighty-three years, ten months and one day. Their issue was as follows: Barbara, born April 17, 1782; John. born October 12, 1783, died July 6, 1867; Mary, born December 26, 1785, died March 25, 1881, aged ninety-five years, two months and twenty-nine days : Elizabeth, born September 22, 1788, died April 4, 1870, aged eighty- one years. six months and twelve days; Christian, born February 9, 1791. died March 23, 1812, aged twenty-one years, one month and fourteen days; Jacob, born September 25. 1793, died June 20, 1818, aged twenty-four years, eight months and twenty-five days: Peter, born April 24, 1796, died January 17. 1858, aged sixty-one years, eight months and twenty-four days ; and Ann, born May 18, 1799, died November 4. 1888, aged eighty-nine years, five months and sixteen days.
John Bachman, son of Christian, married Ann Kreider, born July 13. 1786, who died April 30, 1864, aged seventy-seven years, nine months and seventeen days. Their issue was as follows: Mary, born April 30, 1809, died December 28, 1886, aged seventy-seven years, seven months and twenty- eight days, married Joseph Longenecker ; Lydia, born August 9, 1810, died June II, 1884, aged seventy-three years, ten months and two days, married David Bowman of Lebanon: Christian, born January 17, 1812, died Janu- ary 2. 1900, aged eighty-seven years, eleven months and fifteen days, mar- ried a Miss Zinn; Eliza, born January 9, 1814, died December 24. 1839, aged twenty-five years, eleven months and fifteen days; Annie, born June 6, 1815, died March 4. 1902, aged eighty-six years, eight months and twenty- eight days. married Jacob Graybill, of Palmyra: Rosanna, born November 28, 1816, died March 10, 1821, aged four years, three months and ten days;
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Fanny, born January 28, 1819, married Henry Bomberger; Jacob, born December 13, 1820, died June 3, 1886, aged sixty-five years, five months and twenty days, married a Miss Horst (first) and (second) a Miss Gossert ; Cyrus, born February 12, 1823, married a Miss Hoffer and resides at Fon- tana; Sally, born January 18, 1825. married Henry Gingrich, and still sur- vives; Leah, born August 12, 1826, died April 24, 1901, aged seventy-four years, eight months and twelve days, married John Carper : John, born July 24, 1828, died October 19, 1884, aged fifty-six years, two months and twenty-five days, married Elizabeth Snavely, and was the father of W. A. Bachman of the Lebanon County Trust Company; and Michael, born Octo- ber 2, 1830, died March 17, 1880, aged forty-nine years, five months and fifteen days. married Sarah Landis.
Henry Gingrich was born on the old Gingrich farm February 19, 1814, and died April 2, 1885. His marriage, on February 21, 1856, was to Sally Bachman, who still survives and makes her home with her son John H., and the children of this union were: Nancy, born July 27. 1857, married J. Alfred Bowman: Lizzie, born June 27, 1859, died September 16, 1861, aged two years, two months and twenty days : John H., born July 15, 1863 ; Mary, born February 26, 1865, married Allen Bucher ; and Sally, born September 9, 1867, married Harry G. Longenecker. Previous to her marriage with Mr. Gingrich, the mother had wedded John Forney, by whom she has one son, Jacob Forney, a retired farmer now residing in North Cornwall township.
Henry Gingrich engaged in farming through life, and was one of the useful and highly esteemed citizens of South Annville township. His home farm comprised 184 acres of choice land, and there he erected the present handsome residence in 1870, having built the commodious stone barn in the previous year. The esteem in which he was held was shown by his election to various township offices, and for a long period he was assessor and school director. In political sentiment he was a Republican.
John H. Gingrich was reared on the home farm and secured his educa - tion in the common schools. His father died when he was about twenty-one years old and since that time he has been operating the fine old farm to which he succeeded by his father's will. Mr. Gingrich has been very successful both in farming and also in cattle raising, and owns about 300 acres of farm land and 100 acres of pasturage and mountain land. His father was one of the first directors of the Annville National Bank, and he also belongs to the board. For the past six years he has conscientiously served on the school board, and takes a deep interest in all enterprises which promise educational
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or religious advancement in his neighborhood. Mr. Gingrich is a deacon in the German Baptist Church. In politics he is identified with the Republican party.
The first marriage of John H. Gingrich was on September 24, 1887, to Mary J. Zug, born in Heidelberg township, Lebanon county, December 16, 1866, who died January 11, 1897, aged thirty years and twenty-six days, a daughter of Reuben and Catherine (Jingst) Zug, leaving three children, namely : Minnie, born August 30, 1888; Henry, born November 15, 1889: and Aaron, born April 8, 1892. The second marriage of Mr. Gingrich was on March 12, 1899, to Fanny Gibble, born near White Oak, Lancaster county, September 26, 1867, a daughter of Hiram and Anne (Graybill) Gibble.
GEORGE C. J. EHRHORN, who died at his home July 22, 1901, was one of the enterprising citizens of Lebanon. He was born in Germany near the city of Hamburg, January 5, 1848, and was a son of Frederick and Charlotte Ehrhorn, of Germany, where the father was a farmer and black- smith. Frederick Ehrhorn was the father of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, namely: Lena, Charlotte, Doris, Ida, Emma, Marie, Ferd- inand, Heinrich, Bernhardt, Rudolph, August and George C. J., of whom Charlotte, Marie and Lena died young.
George C. J. Ehrhorn came to America in 1874, landing in New York. From there he went to Philadelphia and engaged in the bottling business ; later he was a collector for a Philadelphia brewery. In 1883 he came to Lebanon, in which place he established the Lebanon Brewery, in partnership with S. S. Siebert, who was also a native of Germany. He was successful in this business for ten years, and then sold out and organized the Enterprise Shoe Factory. He was in the business but a short time when he sold out to a company, and then established a brewery in York, Pa. This, too, was short lived, as he soon returned to Lebanon and bought what is known as the Iron City Brewery, of Lebanon, and this is now being successfully run by his widow.
Mr. Ehrhorn married November 24, 1882, Miss Anna Schaper, of Philadelphia, who was a daughter of Carl and Johanna Schaper, natives of Germany. Their marriage was blessed with nine children: Carl C. F., born August 31, 1883; Thekla C., born August 24, 1884; Henrietta Ida, born March 2, 1885; Pauline J. D., born July 20, 1886, died August 7th of the next year; Anna B. C., born January 25, 1888; Charles A. G., born November 25, 1889; Hans G. C., born September 6, 1891 ; Eleonora E. E.,
is Cherhorns
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born April 5, 1894; and Malva O. L., born March 24, 1901. In politics Mr. Ehrhorn was an independent voter, but favored the Republican party. He was a member of the local Lutheran Church. He belonged to the Red Men and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He was a brave soldier in the Franco- Prussian war between Germany and France.
A self-made man, he was a hard working and leading citizen of Lebanon. He was charitable, had a host of friends, and was very kind to his employes and the poor, and he was a devoted husband and indulgent father. His widow and children live in a beautiful home-one of the best in Lebanon -which he built in North Lebanon in 1887. His wife was one of a family of three children : Karl, of Philadelphia ; Augustus, also of Philadelphia; and Anna, the widow of G. C. J. Ehrhorn. She is esteemed and honored in Lebanon, is a thorough business woman, and is a kind and loving mother.
JACOB W. BETZ, one of the well-known citizens of North London- derry township, living on what was formerly known as the Goodman farm, located two miles north of Palmyra, was born June 30, 1851, in South Ann- ville township, Lebanon county.
The parents of Mr. Betz were Michael and Maria (Urich) Betz. the former of whom was born in 1828, in Newmanstown, Berks county, and died in 1894, and the latter was a native of South Lebanon township, Leb- anon county. Michael Betz learned the milling business, and later moved to Annville, where he engaged for some time in a sawmill business, buying standing timber, cutting and sawing the same, and was thus operating when the Civil war broke out, and a call was made for the loyal sons of the Union to come to the help of the country. Mr. Betz enlisted from Annville, in Company E, Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, for three years, and at the expiration of that time re-enlisted. serving five years in all. After the close of the war he purchased a farm in North Londonderry township, and there he died. His family consisted of two sons and two daughters, Jacob W. being the second of the family. the others being: Amanda, the wife of David Troxal, of Annville; Hannah, the wife of Solomon Walmer, of Annville; and Michael, the farmer on the old homestead.
Jacob W. Betz was reared on the old farm in South Annville township. and attended the public schools, remaining at home until he was prepared to marry, at the age of twenty-five years. Mr. Betz then moved to the Good- man farm owned by the widow of Samuel Goodman. She had no children, and at death willed the farm to Mr. Betz, a tract of forty-three acres, which, with the old Betz farm and a residence in Annville, makes Mr. Betz the pos-
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sessor of a large amount of valuable real estate in Lebanon county. In con- nection with farming Mr. Betz is a very successful veterinary practitioner of twenty years' experience.
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