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 46
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In 1876, Mr. Betz. was married to Leah Gerberich, born August 17, 1855, at Palmyra, daughter of Joseph and Mary Gerberich, the latter of whom died when the daughter was but four weeks old. In politics Mr. Betz is one of the active Republicans of his neighborhood, and has satisfactorily served as justice of the peace in North Londonderry township for the past three and one-half years, his decisions having been impartial and entirely just to all concerned. Both he and his estimable wife are most highly es- teemed in their community.
AARON S. FUNK, one of the well-known citizens of North London- derry township, was born May 20, 1855, in Heilmandale, Lebanon township, son of Martin and Sarah (Smith) Funk, the former of whom was born on the old Funk farm, west from Lebanon City January 13, 1830, and died August 8, 1891, his burial taking place August 12, 1891. His father was John Funk and more extended mention of this honorable and prominent family will be found elsewhere. The widow of Martin Funk was born April 12. 1834 in North Cornwall township and is now one of the esteemed residents of Palmyra.
Aaron S. Funk was reared in South Londonderry township, and secured an excellent education in the common schools, and at the old Palmyra Academy conducted by Peter Witmer, a notable school of that period. Mr. Funk married at the age of twenty-four years. removing then to the Joseph Kittering farm, about one-half mile north on the Horseshoe Turnpike road, where he engaged in farming for two years, moving then for one year. to Palmyra. The next few years were passed either in farming or at work in Palmyra, two years on the John Marks' farm near the Reading Turnpike, and five years on a farm between Annville and Fontana. Mr. Funk then removed to Berkley county, W. Va., and tried farming there for three years, but came back to Lebanon township and resumed farming for two years longer on the Joseph Kittering farm in South Annville, and then rented it for three years longer. In 1902 he purchased the Joseph Gingrich farm in North Londonderry township, consisting of 122 acres, situated within three miles of Palmyra and five of Annville, while Belle Grove is but two and one-half miles distant, giving him thus a choice of markets and pleasant social life within easy reach.
Mr. Funk married Miss Fanny Kittering, daughter of Joseph and Leah
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(Sherk) Kittering, and an interesting family of six children has been born to this union, namely: Lizzie, who married Abner Keisey, of South Annville township, on the Horseshoe Turnpike; Ida, who married Jerome Stover of Annville; Abner, Alfred, Mabel and Joseph, all born in Lebanon county, except Mabel, who was born in Virginia. Mr. Funk is one of the wide-awake farmers, and is practical and thorough in his methods. The family is one which is held in much esteem in the community.
G. B. M. DERR is one of the well known citizens of Lebanon. He is a native of Northumberland county, Pa., and is the second oldest of the three children born to John and Caroline (Kerchner) Derr, the other children being C. Ambrose and Elizabeth, the former of Angelica, New York.
John Derr is a respected citizen of Lebanon, where for many years he has been engaged at the carpenter trade. He comes of a family represented in the State at a very early day, and connected in various ways with the trades and agriculture. His son, G. B. M., received an excellent home training, and a fair education in the schools of Northumberland county, supplemented by two years' attendance at the Lebanon high school, from which he graduated at the head of his class in 1880. He was sixteen years of age when he removed with his father to this city, and after completing his education he embarked upon a business career with a telephone company, later being employed by a life insurance company.
On April 1, 1884, he entered the office of the Pennsylvania Bolt & Nut Company as junior clerk. After a number of years faithful service as time- keeper, paymaster, order clerk and assistant book-keeper, he became head book-keeper and remained in that position till September 1, 1899, from which date to the present he has been at the head of the book-keeping department in the general office of the American Iron and Steel Manufacturing Company in Lebanon.
The wife of Mr. Derr was formerly Amelia Gleim, daughter of Joseph and Rosa (Embich) Gleim and a representative of one of the foremost families of Pennsylvania. Mr. Derr is independent in politics. He and his wife are members of the Zion Lutheran Church, and are promoters of the religious and social life of the Church.
JOHN H. MOCK, one of the prosperous farmers of Millcreek town- ship, Lebanon county, residing about one mile northwest of Millbach, Pa., was born in Heidelberg township, April 12. 1854, a son of Samuel and Martha (Burkey) Mock, deceased, formerly of Heidelberg township.
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Samuel Mock was a farmer during his lifetime, and a son of Adam Mock, also a farmer. Adam Mock was the father of a large family of children, one of which was Samuel, who was born about 1807 or 1808, and who died about 1876. His marriage to Martha Burkey occurred about 1830, and they had eleven children : Adani, deceased; Mary, wife of Frederick Iba; Leah, married to Aaron Smith; Malinda, married to John Smith, deceased; Jacob, of Missouri; Margaret, the widow of Henry Crouse; Sarah, unmarried; Henrietta, married to Nathan Yingst; Frank, of North Jackson township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere; John H .; and Amanda, wife of Samuel Uhrich, of Lebanon city. Mr. Mock, father of this family, was a life-long Democrat, and a consistent member of the Lutheran Church of Schaefferstown, in which he was very active and an elder for a number of years. The family name is found in the records of the early history of Lebanon county, and originated in Germany.
John H. Mock was reared upon his father's farm, receiving but limited advantages during the winter term of school, and upon reaching maturity, decided to continue the life of a farmer, and by close attention to his work, industrious and sober habits, he has become one of the leading and pros- perous men of his township, and one who stands well in the esteem of all who know him.
In 1880 Mr. Mock was married to Miss Mary Bollinger, a daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth (Gibble) Bollinger, of Heidelberg township, and ten children have been born to them: Alice H. (a graduate of the Millersville Normal and a teacher in the Newmanstown schools), Ida E., Samuel J., Martha M., (a student at Millersville State Normal), Mary, Robert, Annie, Edna, Luther and James H., all at home. In politics, Mr. Mock is a stanch Democrat, and supports the candidates of his party, and has served most acceptably as school director of Millcreek township. His religious affilia- tions are with the Lutheran Church, of which he is a trustee. Mrs. Mock is one of four children born to her parents: Nathan, of Heidelberg township; Mary H., wife of Mr. Mock; Martin G., and Elizabeth, wife of G. W. Becker. The Bollinger family is, like the Mock family, a well known and honorable one in this community.
A. L. GREIDER, of Lebanon, is a leading wholesale and retail dealer in bread, cakes and pies. He was born in Hope, Ind., April 16, 1856, a son of Rev. E. P. and Sarah F. (Carpenter) Greider, who were born and reared in Lancaster county, Pa., and he now resides at No. 414 North Tenth street, Lebanon, a retired minister of the Moravian Church. He was born Decem-
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ber 2, 1825, in Lancaster county, entered the ministry in 1847, and has preached in Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and North Caro- lina, and for six years he served as missionary in the West India Islands. Rev. E. P. Greider is the father of five children, namely: A. L .; Edwin, a bishop of the Moravian Church, who is in the Island of St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, doing the work of a missionary; Ferdinand, of Lebanon; Paul, a minister of the Moravian Church at Hope, Ind .; and Emma, the wife of E. T. Lehman, a planter, living in Bethania, North Carolina.
A. L. Greider attended Nazareth Hall, and came to Lebanon when thirteen years old. He received a clerkship in J. B. Rauch's dry-goods store, and remained there for three years, when he moved to North Carolina, and was a salesman in that State for nine years. In 1882 he returned to Leb- anon. On September 30, 1884, he married Miss Louisa Reinoehl, a daugh - ter of Adolphus and Elizabeth (Parthemore) Reinoehl, of Lebanon City. Mrs. Greider was born December 11, 1861, and was one of a family of six children : Edwin G., Mary A., Samuel P., Adolphus A., Harry A. and Louisa, the wife of A. L. Greider. Mr. Greider and his wife are the parents of five children : Bertha R., Adolphus E., Maud E., Florence M. and Elizabeth M.
Mr. Greider, after his return from the South, went into the general store business, beginning the business in 1885, and continuing up to 1894, in which year he sold out and engaged in the wholesale and retail bread, cake and pie business. In this he has met with much success. Politically he is a Republican, and in his religious faith, is like all his family, a member of the Moravian Church. He is a splendid citizen, a first class business man, a kind husband and is very much devoted to his children. He resides with his family in their pleasant home at No. 426 North Ninth street, and is among the esteemed citizens of the city of Lebanon.
LEVI R. BOLLINGER, a prosperous agriculturist of Millcreek town- ship, was for years one of the prominent business men of his section, hav- ing been engaged there in the milling business and in slate roofing. Giving employment to a large number of men, and assisting materially in building up local industries, he has been of invaluable service to the county. Mr. Bollinger was born on a farm, about a mile south of Richland, and comes of a good old Pennsylvania family who settled in Lancaster county about one hundred and fifty years ago, and who have produced a strong race of suc- cessful agriculturists. In politics they have usually been either Whigs or Republicans, and in religious beliefs, German Baptists.
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Jacob Bollinger, son of Benjamin, and grandfather of Levi R., resided in Lancaster county, and there, upon reaching manhood, engaged in agri- culture. His well-laid plans materialized themselves in large and abundant crops, and he won a good place for himself among farming men of his sec- tion. He was a thrifty hard-worker, and prospered through life. By his marriage there was a large family of children, among them a son, named Jonas.
Jonas Bollinger, father of Levi R., though cut short in his career by an early death, assisted materially in developing the agricultural resources of the county. Born in Lancaster county, about 1825, he there passed some years, but was later taken by his parents to Lebanon county, where he grew to manhood. In a well regulated home he received careful rearing, and upon his father's farm practical training for his life work. Upon reaching man- hood he married Mary Royer, daughter of Samuel Royer, and a descendant of the old Sebastian Royer family that settled in Lancaster county about 1715. Mr. and Mrs. Bollinger had five children: Aaron, who is now de- ceased; Levi R., who is nientioned below; Amanda, who married J. H. Muth, a boot and shoe merchant of Myerstown, Pa .; Anna, who married Joseph Hebsman, of Reistville; and a fifth child, who is now deceased. After his marriage Mr. Jonas Bollinger settled upon a farm in Lebanon county, where he engaged in agriculture. He improved the place, cultivated it extensively, and there carried on a highly successful industry, winning a good place for himself among agriculturists, when death at the early age of thirty-two, cut short his career. Mr. Bollinger possessed energy, and the ability to apply it wisely to the every day duties of life. He was honest and thrifty, and won the respect of all who knew him.
Levi R. Bollinger inherited both his father's taste for rural pursuits, and his business ability. The first seven years of his life he passed on the farm in Millcreek township, when, upon the death of his father, he moved with his mother to a place near the Rayer meeting house, in Jackson town- ship, where he grew to manhood. In the common schools of his neighbor- hood he procured a thorough drill in the rudiments, and valuable training in habits of self-reliance and industry. During his vacations and at other spare moments he engaged in farm work, procuring valuable experience in one useful occupation. Naturally upon reaching manhood he first turned to farming for his livelihood. On September 9, 1876, Mr. Bollinger married Agnes J. Becker, of Millcreek township, who was born December 10, 1853. daughter of John and Caroline (Stump) Becker, of Millbach, who are men- tioned below. To Mr. and Mrs. Bollinger have been born four children :
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Norman R., who married Mima Buch ; Annie M .; Millon L. ; and Sallie A., who is living at home.
During his young manhood Mr. Bollinger resided in Ephrata, Lancaster county, for some time, where he first engaged in the milling business. This he conducted with much success for about three years. Then, finding a better opening in slate roofing in Richland, he moved there and engaged in that business. Good workmanship and promptness in filling orders won him the confidence of the community from the start, and the incoming of new industries and the building up of new sections furnishing plenty of work, be continued the business for about thirteen years, deriving from it a very good income. Desirous of a change, in 1886 he purchased a neat attractive farm in Richland, where he has since resided, giving his attention to agriculture. He has improved the property, cultivated large areas of it, and in many respects added to its value. Keeping well posted upon the latest movements in agriculture, he has shown marked ability in applying them to the special needs of his place. In all his enterprises he has prospered. Mr. Bollinger has achieved success by centering his energies upon the work in hand, seek- ing thoroughly to perfect it. He possesses marked persistency, and has never made a change in business without positive assurance of bettering his for- tunes. He is honest and fair in his dealings with others, and is a man of great strength and marked integrity of character. For twenty-five years he has been a leading member of the German Baptist Brethren Church, at Rich- land, and since February, 1886. has served as deacon.
The BECKER Family, of which Mrs. Bollinger is a member, is one of the oldest in the section and of good German extraction. The first American representative was Jacob Becker, who came from Germany at an early date. and first settled in Schoharie county, N. Y., but prior to 1735 came to Leb- anon county. Pa., and there received land under the grants of John, Thomas and Richard Penn, in 1735.
John Becker, son of Jacob, settled upon the family homestead in Mill- creek township, where he was a prosperous agriculturist for many years, taking an active interest in the development of the county.
John Adam Becker, son of John and grandfather of Mrs. Bollinger, succeeded to the Becker estate in Millcreek township, and there passed his business life, engaged mainly in rural pursuits.
John Becker, son of John Adam and father of Mrs. Bollinger, settled in Millbach, where he became a man of considerable prominence. He mar- ried Caroline Stump, and they had children as follows: Willoughby, a prom- inent agriculturist of Millbach; Mary, who became the wife of J. Henry Ben-
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netch; Amanda, widow of George U. Seibert, of Richland; John Adam, a farmer of Avon, Pa .; Elizabeth, who married Monroe Zimmerman, a farmer of Millcreek township; Emma Amelia, who married Aaron Bollinger, both are now deceased; Agnes J., now Mrs. Levi R. Bollinger; Thomas L., a prominent citizen of Millbach; and Ida, who died young. Both Mr. and Mrs. Becker are now deceased.
J. B. HURSH. Probably no other man in Lebanon has had larger or more varied business experience than has J. B. Hursh, a large stockholder in the Union Boiler Works, of which he is now director and secretary. He has shunned no labor, and whether filling the position of common miner, clerk, school teacher, merchant, manufacturer, Texas ranchman, banker, street railway magnate, or mine owner, he has performed his work thoroughly, and he has usually received his merited reward. He was born in York county, Pa., August 10, 1825, and comes of a highly respected and industrious family.
Henry Hursh, grandfather of J. B., was a prominent Pennsylvania farmer for many years. He married, and among his children was a son, named John.
John Hursh, father of J. B., made his home in York county for many years of his mature life. Here he engaged rather extensively in agriculture, managing his farm with science and skill. He married Barbara Brookhart, a noble and refined woman, who is now deceased. By this marriage there were nine children : Henry, Daniel and John, all three deceased : J. B., who is mentioned below; David, a resident of Newville, Cumberland county, Pa .; Susan, Mary and Elizabeth, who are deceased; and Abraham, of Steelton, Pa. Mr. Hursh lived a long and useful life, dying at the advanced age of eighty-two. Like his father he was a firm Whig in politics. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Mennonite Church.
J. B. Hursh lived at the home farm until he was sixteen years old. In the common schools of his neighborhood and in York Academy he procured his education, which was thorough and practical. Ambitious and self reliant, at the early age of sixteen he set about earning his own living by superin- tending in partnership with his brother John and working in an iron mine in York county near New Cumberland. By saving his earnings he was soon enabled to go to Harrisburg, where his energy and push readily secured him a position as clerk in the store of Daniel Epley. After a short experience here he felt competent to engage in a similar business of his own. Returning to York county, he went to the little village of Hellam, where, in partnership
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with his brother John, he opened a small general store, which they managed with success. Hellam was too small for men of their resources to remain in long, and after two years they moved to Manchester, in the same county, and engaged in business. Later our subject withdrew, and began contracting on the railroad. In this he continued until the completion of the Northern Central Railroad from York to Harrisburg. During this period he made the acquaintance of Messrs. Kennett and Stickler, masons, contractors for the grading and excavating for railroads. He became one of their firm, and assisted in the work of the extension of the Baltimore & Ohio road between Cumberland, Md., and Wheeling, W. Va. At the same time he took contracts and built several bridges. Alone, about 1850, he took the sole contract for the ballasting of that part of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, which extended through the town of Fairmont. W. Va. After finishing this work he returned to York county, where with his usual power of making every moment count, he taught school in winter and engaged in the lumber business in summer. He did both equally well and made considerable money. Later, seeing a good opening for a merchant in Manchester, he returned there and engaged in the mercantile business with marked success for some years. His next move was to Newville, Cumberland county, where he resided forf some years.
Some years previous to this, in 1850, Mr. Hursh married Henrietta Wogan, daughter of Jacob Wogan, of York county. She was a faithful helpmeet for about thirty-five years, and died in 1885. Later he married Mrs. Light, widow of Dr. S. B. Light, who was a leading physician of Lebanon for many years, and during the Civil war served as United States army surgeon. By the first marriage there are seven children living: John Jacob and George W., M. D., both residents of Newville: Ida G., wife of James W. Sharp, of Newville, Pa. : Bertha I., wife of William Farnham, son of Ex-Gov. Farnham, of Vermont; Henrietta, married to Charles Kessler. of Hallstead, Pa., and Robert and J. E. reside in Newville, Pa.
After coming to Newville, Mr. Hursh, in partnership with his brother John, purchased the warehouse of S. W. Sharp, and engaged in dealing in grain, flour, coal and lumber. This business proved highly remunerative, and . they continued it for many years. During this same period Mr. Hursh and . brother purchased a mill, which they operated to great advantage with his other business. Later he and his brother John secured a half interest in the Tamaqua Steam Roller and Flour Mill, where they also made considerable money. Encouraged by former successes Mr. Hursh soon branched out still more, and in partnership with John Graham, engaged in the tannery business
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in Newville. To further this co-partnership industry they purchased a large ranch in Texas and engaged in the raising of mules and horses. By this time Mr. Hursh had amassed considerable wealth and he now, still in partnership with Mr. Graham, purchased a third interest in the Locust Gap Colliery between Ashland and Shamokin, Pa., where, under the firm name, Groeber, Kemble & Company, they engaged in the mining of coal, at which, as usual, they were successful. At this time the street car lines of Bloomington and Normal, Ill., were run by horses. Believing that they might make money by buying them and converting them into electric lines, Messrs. Hursh and Graham took as a partner Judge Saddler, of Carlisle, Pa., and made the purchase. The changes which they made in the lines greatly improved the western cities, in which they were located, and the company later sold to a considerable advantage to the western bondholders. Up to this time Mr. Hursh had scarcely had a single drawback in his business ventures, except in his last railroad contract. He now, about 1870, sold out all his interests in Newville to his brother John, and, taking as a new partner, Ira Long, engaged exclusively in a general grain and freight business at Shippensburg. At this he was making money, when by some mishap the warehouses were overloaded, and, breaking down, caused considerable damage. Shortly after this he was asked to come to Lebanon and fill the vacancy caused by the death of George W. Mark, secretary of the United Brethren Aid Society of this city. Having previously dissolved his partnership with Mr. Long he accepted the position, and he has since resided in Lebanon. He remained with the society until it was disbanded, and since than has lived a somewhat retired life. As a stockholder of the Union Boiler Works, however, he still acts as director and secretary for that company.
Mr. Hursh has always been interested in every industry for the up- building of the community in which he happened to live. especially the Newville enterprises. While residing there he assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of that place, and acted as its first president, filling the place with marked ability. As a Republican he has always wielded a large influence in politics. He is a consistent Christian, and a member of the United Brethren Church. He has been a strong man physically and intellectually all his life, and though now seventy-eight, his mind is still keen and active. A man of high integrity, he has always been abstemious in his habits. An unlimited capacity for work, a breadth of intellect which has enabled him to handle successfully many lines of business at once, and a masterful courage in entering upon new ventures have been promoters of his remarkable success in life.
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JOHN A. BACHMAN, one of the well-known citizens of South Ann- ville township, Lebanon county, was born on the place where he now lives, on the old Bachman Mill farm, near Annville, April 29, 1848. He is the son of John K. Bachman, who was born in South Annville township, on what is the Killinger farm, then the old Peter Bachman farm. He married Polly Uhrich, who was born on the old Uhrich home, in East Hanover township.
The grandfather was Peter W. Bachman, and his father was Christian Bachman, who was a native of Germany and was the first of the family to come to America. The grandfather on the maternal side was Daniel Uhrich, whose wife was a Brightbill.
John K. Bachman, after his marriage, owned and operated a farm and mill near Annville, on Quittapahilla creek. There he died in 1863, his widow surviving him thirty-three years. To these parents were born four daughters and one son, namely: John A., Sallie A. and Rosanna, surviving, Emma and Susan dying in infancy. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church, to which they contributed most liberally.
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