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 48
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Samuel Horst, son of Peter, became the owner and operator of the mills on this water power, married a daughter of the Shaeffers and they reared a family of ten children, namely: Joseph, who was a miller on the old home- stead and died in middle life; Henry, who became the father of Henry B .: John, who in earlier years was a teacher, served from Lebanon county in the Civil war, and is now an inmate of a soldier's home in California ; Samuel, who migrated to the West; Elias, who is a resident of Kingston, Idaho: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Abraham Bitner, of Brunnerville, Lancaster county ; Frany, who is the wife of Jacob Bucher, of South Lebanon town- ship; Sarah who is the wife of Michael Kreider, of Lebanon county; Nancy. who married Isaac Brubaker, and both are deceased; and Catherine, who married A. S. Bomberger, of Heidelberg township.
Henry Horst, the father of Henry B. Horst, was born on the old home-
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stead in South Lebanon township, February 10, 1835, and died in 1898, aged sixty-three years, seven months and twenty-three days. He inherited the place and carried on its industries, operated the farm and the saw and grist mill for many years, although the latter mill was closed earlier than the former. His marriage was to a daughter of Jacob Bucher, a neighbor in South Lebanon township. She was born October 20, 1835, and died April 27, 1896, at the age of sixty years. These most worthy people reared a family of four children to be respected and useful members of society; Henry B .; Samuel B., a farmer of North Cornwall town- ship; Lizzie B., the wife of A. S. Kreider, a shoe manufacturer of Annville; and Jacob B., a farmer on the old homestead in South Lebanon township. Mr. and Mrs. Horst were good, Christian people, devotedly attached to the Dunkard religion.
Henry B. Horst was born December 14, 1859, and was reared on the old homestead, surrounded with good influences and taught the industrious habits which have contributed to his prosperity through life. His educa- tion was secured in the public schools, and he remained under the parental roof until his marriage, taking charge of the mill at that time, and operating it ever since. In connection with this industry, Mr. Horst cultivates seven- teen acres of land. His main business, however, is milling, and he handles all kinds of grain and flour and also does a large business in grinding feed.
In 1882 Henry B. Horst was married to Miss Mary S. Long, daughter of Amos Long, of North Cornwall township, and five children have been born to this union, namely : Harry L., Mabel L., Nancy L., Amos L. and Samuel L. Both Mr. and Mrs. Horst belong to the German Baptist Breth- ren Church.
DOHNER. The name of Dohner, though an old one in the county, is best known through the firm of Dohner & Brother, which, for the past seventeen years, has been established at Iona, in South Lebanon town- ship, and has not only become firmly settled in the confidence of the public, but is also well regarded by the trade. This firm car- ries a very complete line of merchandise, and the methods of the house have been such as to entitle them to the large patronage they receive. The members of the firm, individually, are N. R. and Cyrus Dohner.
The Dohner family is one of the old representative families of Lebanon county and was founded by the great-grandfather, John Dohner, who became a farmer in South Lebanon township, near Cornwall and at one time possessed two fine properties. His son, also John, was a well-known farmer who lived
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into his eighty-fourth year. His wife was a member of the Smith family, and they reared a family of eight sons and two daughters, but three members now surviving: Peter, Jacob, Henry, John, Elias, Simon, Joseph, William, Eliza and Frances.
Joseph Dohner, son of John (2), was born June 25, 1824, in South Leb- anon township, and died December 13, 1880. Although reared on the farm, he became a wheelwright and followed that trade mainly through life, although he owned land and operated a small farm. One farm of fifty-two acres in the eastern part of the township, he rented out. Both he and wife were active members of the United Christian Church. Joseph Dohner married Mary Ann Rauch, born April 23, 1829, daughter of Peter Rauch, of South Lebanon township, whose wife was a Brown. She died November 30, 1901, having been the beloved mother of a family of five sons, namely: Alfred, born March 31. 1853, who is a farmer in South Lebanon township; Nimrod R., born May 9. 1855, who is a member of the firm of Dohner & Brother, and postmaster of Iona since 1885; Cyrus, born July 15, 1857, also a member of the mercantile firm of Dohner & Brother; Joseph, born October 14, 1859, a wheelwright on the old homestead; and Ephraim, born October 28, 1864, who is a farmer at Prescott.
NIMROD R. DOIINER, the senior member of the firm of Dohner & Brother, was reared in the place of his birth, and after completing the public school course, attended Lebanon Valley College at Annville. Prior to entering col- lege he had taught one term of school and after finishing his collegiate course, he taught eleven terms, his work all being in Lebanon county. During his last year in the profession, he was also associated in the mercantile business with his brother. Since that time Mr. Dohner has given his attention to the building up of his large business, which has constantly expanded, being now in impor- tance and volume, one of the leading ones in the township. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, is a member of the school board, and for some twenty years has served as township clerk and as a member of the County Democratic com- mittee. As a liberal, public-spirited citizen, he lives up to the demands of the day, and takes an intelligent and sincere interest in enterprises which promise to benefit his community.
In 1895, Mr. Dohner was married to Miss Emma Light, born September 14, 1855, daughter of David and Magdalena (Hunsicker) Light, of Swatara township. One daughter, Ada, has been born to this union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dohner belong to the United Christian Church.
CYRUS DOHNER, the junior member of the firm of Dohner & Brother, received a public school education, and engaged in farming until he became
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associated with his brother in the mercantile business in 1885, since which time he has devoted his energies to its advancement. In politics he is, like his brother, identified with the Democratic party, although he has never desired office. In 1882 he married Miss Martha Krall, born August 9, 1859, in Heid- elberg township, daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Snyder ) Krall. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Dohner belong to the United Christian Church, in which he is one of the stewards. Mr. Dohner is one of the upright and honorable men of his town, and both he and brother worthily represent an honorable name.
VALENTINE D. UHRICH, one of the wealthy retired farmers of Lebanon county, is a worthy representative of an old and honorable German family which has long been established in this part of the Keystone State. Mr. Uhrich is a native of Jackson township, born here January 23, 1843, a son of Valentine and Catherine ( Mase) Uhrich, one of the most prominent farming families of the township.
Mr. Uhrich bears the family name, the founder being also Valentine Ulrich, and he was born in Germany, and after emigrating, located on a farm near Myerstown. The father of Valentine D. Uhrich was a son of Valentine, and was born in 1813, and died in 1889. The family to which he belonged numbered six children, namely: Michael, Valentine, John, Eliza- beth, Catherine and Magdalena, all since passed away. About 1839 the parents of Valentine D. were married and from this union came a family of four children, viz .: John, a prominent retired farmer of Myerstown; Valentine, the fourth to bear the family name; George, deceased; and Amanda, wife of Dr. Willoughby C. Kline, a druggist of Myerstown. The father of Valentine D. Uhrich was a life-long Democrat. He was also a leading member of the Myerstown Lutheran Church, a most respected citi- zen, and one of the township's most successful farmers.
Valentine D. Uhrich was reared on the farm and after attending the local schools, he spent two terms at Mechanicsburg College at which he pur- sued the higher branches. When it came to selecting a life vocation he chose that of farming, and has never found reason to regret his choice. Mr. Uhrich has, however, been much more than a most excellent farmer, for his ability and education fitted him to hold efficiently inany township offices which he has administered with good judgment and integrity. The Uhrich family has always been identified with the Democratic party, and this Valen- tine D. has actively supported. Mr. Uhrich resides on one of his well- improved farms, located on the Berks and Dauphin Turnpike road and the
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Lebanon Valley Street Railway, owning other property, two farms in part- nership with his brother John Uhrich, of Myerstown, one of these being situated in North Lebanon township, Lebanon county, and the other in Berks county, both being well improved and very valuable. For some years Mr. Uhrich has lived retired from activity, but in no way has he lost his interest in current events, being, in fact, one of the best posted men in his neighbor- hood.
In 1863 Mr. Uhrich was united in marriage with Miss Emma E. Walborn, daughter of Elias and Sarah ( Peiffer) Walborn, an honorable and substantial family of Bethel township. Two of the seven children born to this union have survived, namely : Sarah, wife of D. M. Balliet, of Lehighton, Carbon county, and Miss Emily, at home. ,
Mr. Uhrich well represents a family which for 160 years has been promi- nent in the county, deserving the esteem of his fellow men.
ABSALOM M. WITMAN, dealer in stoves, tinware, wind pumps, iron pipes, etc., and manufacturer of all kinds of sheet metal goods, of Camp- belltown, Lebanon county, and one of the leading men of the city, was born at Swatara Station, Dauphin county, August 21, 1859, son of Peter B. and Amanda (Miller) Witman, both natives of Dauphin county, the father hav- ing been born at Deodate and the mother at Derry Church. The father died suddenly of heart failure, April 2. 1896, aged seventy-two years.
During the Civil war Peter B. Witman served as a member of Company I, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers; and after the close of the war followed the trade of mason, so continuing until 1893, when he was ap- pointed a United States mail carrier from Swatara Station to Hockersville, a position he filled from that time until his death. He had resided in Derry township all his life, and was highly respected by all who knew him. The paternal grandfather, Anthony Witman, born in Lancaster county, married a Miss Barnhardt, and to them were born, besides Peter B .: Henry, deceased ; James : Jacob, deceased : and Polly, deceased.
Peter B. Witman was a mason by trade, and a very worthy and indus- trious man. To himself and wife the following children were born : Henry, of Hummelstown, Pa .; William, deceased; Absalom; Alice, married to William Stroh, of Decatur, Ill. ; Emma, married to Harry Painter, of Derry Church, Dauphin Co., Pa .: Peter, deceased; and Clara, unmarried.
Absalom M. Witman was reared at High Spire, Dauphin county, attend- ing the public schools until he was eighteen years of age, when he com- menced to learn the trade of a tinner at Hummelstown. After working at
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this trade for five years in that town, he went to Harrisburg, and spent the next four years working at his trade in that city. The next change he made was in locating in Campbelltown, Lebanon county, where he worked for Samuel Johnston, and when the latter sold his business to E. Dissinger & Sons, Mr. Witman continued with the new firm for four years, and then embarked in the same line at Hockersville, Dauphin county, where he con- tinued until 1888, when he returned to Campbelltown, and purchased the tinning, plumbing and stove business of his old employers, E. Dissinger & Sons. His establishment is one of the largest of its kind in Lebanon or Dauphin counties, and he carries a full stock of goods in his line, and all of his work is of superior quality. By pursuing a course of fair, honest dealing and catering to the needs of his patrons, Mr. Witman has built up a large and constantly increasing business.
Mr. Witman and Miss Clara Hoke were united in marriage, and one child, James, was born to them, March 20, 1890. Mrs. Witman is a daugh- ter of Christian and Mary (Garman) Hoke, and was born at the town of Dauphin, Dauphin county. Mr. Witman is a member of the Reformed Church, of which he is a deacon, and he contributes liberally towards its support.
FRANKLIN L. McNAIR, who died April 18, 1901, was recognized as one of Lebanon's honorable and esteemed citizens. He was born December 3, 1837, in Lebanon county, a son of Samuel and Anna (Groff) McNair.
Samuel McNair, father of Franklin L., was born October 4, 1800, in Derry township, Mifflin county, Pa. By trade he was a coach maker. He married Anna Groff, who was born December 16, 1804, in Lebanon county, and they became the parents of six children, Caroline, Sarah, Amanda, Malinda, Franklin L. and Milton. Of these Milton, who is now residing at Meadville, Crawford county, Pa., is the only one living; he, too, was a volunteer in the Civil war, and participated in some of the hard battles of the Virginia campaign.
Franklin L. McNair grew up in his native county, attended the city schools, and at the age of fourteen commenced to learn the trade of car- penter. He followed this occupation the greater part of his life. He took an active part in the war of the Rebellion as a member of Company C. One Hundred Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was in some of the hard fought battles of the Virginia campaign. After the war he returned to Lebanon and followed his trade. Later he became a con- tractor and builder. Having started out in life a poor boy, by hard work 28
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he was, at the time of his death, retired from active work, and was the owner of considerable real estate in the city of Lebanon. Politically he was a Republican, and, although he never aspired to political honors, he was elected to the Lebanon council. In religion he was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a man with a clean, moral character, true and sincere to his convictions.
At the age of twenty-seven Franklin L. McNair married Miss Catherine E. Louden, who was a daughter of Henry and Rebecca ( Yeager) Louden, who came from Perry county, where she was born. Mrs. Franklin L. Mc- Nair came from a family of five children : Catherine E., born March 7, 1842; Henry W., a machinist of Lebanon; Peter B., a wholesale dealer of chamois and sponges in Philadelphia; Rebecca, deceased; and Mary E., the wife of Nathaniel Derolf, of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Franklin L. McNair, the widow of Franklin L., a kind husband and a respected citizen, is now living a retired life at her residence at No. 220 South Sixth street, Lebanon, highly respected by all who know her for her kind heart and Christian spirit.
The remains of those loved departed from their earthly homes, all rest in the beautiful Mt. Lebanon cemetery, where a handsome monument marks their last resting place, erected in their honor by Franklin L. and Catherine E. McNair.
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ABRAHAM E. HERR, one of the well-known citizens of North Ann- ville township, residing about one-half mile north of the village, was born in Annville, October 11, 1849, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth ( Brightbill) Herr, the former of whom was born January 18, 1823, in Annville, a son of Abraham Herr, and died January 11, 1898.
There were four brothers of the name of Herr, who came to the United States from Ireland, and came to Pennsylvania, settling in Lancaster county. Later. one went West and has been lost sight of, and one settled in Lebanon county, being the great-grandfather of Abraham E. Herr. The family has always been one of prominence in the State, noted for its thrift and high moral character.
The mother of Abraham E. Herr was born October 27, 1825, on the Horseshoe turnpike road, three miles from Annville, and died February 14, 1893, a daughter of Abraham Brightbill. The parents of Mr. Herr were married January 12, 1843, and were farming people. They had these chil- dren : Anna Elizabeth, born January 7, 1845, married William Bordner, of Jonestown, Pa .: John Henry, born June 5, 1847, resides in Annville;
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Abraham E., born October 11, 1849; Mary Jane, born January 21, 1852, married Cyrus Hoffer, and died in 1894; Sarah Ann. born June 30, 1854, married Adam Imboden, of Lebanon; Franklin R., born October 5, 1856, died in 1882; Clara Louisa, born January 1, 1859, married Charles Leichter, of Reading, Pa .; Simon, born October 15, 1860, died the same year; Eide H., born January 12, 1862, married Mrs. Van Winkle, of Lebanon; Minnie M., born December 25, 1864, married Frank Klusnitz; and Gilphord Jona- than, born August 26, 1868, died December 5, 1891.
Abraham E. Herr was reared in his native locality and attended the public schools. At the age of seventeen years he learned the machinist trade at Lewisburg, Pa., where the family resided for a time, and worked at it for about one year and then returned to Annville, where he worked at the carpenter trade for some five years, and then began contracting. In 1886 he engaged in the ice business, cutting his own ice and selling the same in Annville, where he has a large trade, carrying this on in connec- tion with the operation of his farm of sixteen acres. His home is on the old homestead about one-half mile from Annville, and his residence is located on a hill overlooking the valley and village, which is one of the most desirable situations in the locality.
On February 13, 1872, Mr. Herr was united in marriage with Clara Ann Imboden, who was born February 11, 1853, on a farm two miles south of Annville, daughter of George and Sarah (Heilig) Imboden, and these children have been born to this union: William Edward, born March 25, 1873, resides in Annville; Oscar, born September 21, 1874, resides on the Berks and Dauphin turnpike, between Annville and Lebanon: Lilly Grace, born June 17. 1876, married George Naas, of Lebanon; Leah, born May 30, 1877, married Albert Miller, of Annville; Cora Louisa, born April 20, 1880, married Henry Horst, and they reside with the parents; and Bessie, born June 16, 1881, died September 21, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Herr are valued members of the Lutheran Church, and are most highly esteemed residents of Annville.
BOLLMAN FAMILY. The first of this old Lebanon county family to come to America, was John Bollman, a native of Germany, who, with his wife, set sail in the good ship "Nancy," from Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1738. reaching America in safety and settling in Lebanon county, Pa. In Mill Creek township he took up a tract of land which later became of great value and there he reared his family. One of his sons, John (2), served in the Revolutionary army, with the rank of captain, and he also had a son, whom he named John.
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Michael Bollman, son of John Bollman (3), was born in 1823, on the old Bollman estate in Mill Creek township, Lebanon county. His mother, Mary Bennethun, was born in Berks county, a member of a family which has been established in the vicinity of Womelsdorf, Berks Co., Pa., for over a century. Michael Bollman married Lucetta Bubb, born in 1825, in Heidel- berg township, a daughter of Daniel and a granddaughter of Daniel Bubb, who was born in Germany. This first Daniel Bubb came to America during the seventeenth century, took up land and settled near Schaefferstown, Lebanon county, and the comfortable old Bubb homestead, of German architecture, built by him near the close of the seventeenth century, is still standing and belongs to his descendants. On the maternal side, Lucetta Bubb was a daugh- ter of Sarah Miller, a daughter of Henry Miller, and granddaughter of Peter Miller, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The Miller family is one of the old and honorable ones of Lancaster county, the early ancestors settling at Ephrata, in that county. The children of Michael and Lucetta Bollman were as follows: Clarissa; Sarah; Mary, who died in childhood; Thomas J .; George, who died after reaching manhood; Elizabeth; John A .; William H .; Catherine; Charles, who died in young manhood; Frederick and Lucetta. Michael Bollman came to Lebanon in 1867 and purchased the "William Penn Hotel," on the corner of Cumberland and Seventh streets. In his earlier life he had conducted a shoemaking establishment and later a hotel, at Womels- dorf, in Berks county. In 1890 Mr. Bollman retired from active business life, although he still owns the hotel property. In politics he is a stanch Republican and in 1895 was elected treasurer of Lebanon county, taking charge of the office January 1, 1896.
THOMAS J. BOLLMAN, eldest son of Michael and Lucetta Bollman, is the well known and popular proprietor of the "Cumberland House" at Lebanon. In the political world, he is active as a worker in the Republican party, and at present is president of the board of commissioners of Lebanon county. He is prominent as a business man, as well, and his upright methods have won him the unbounded confidence of the people. By his wife, Lizzie Fisher, he has two children, Robert J. and Lucetta.
JOHN A. BOLLMAN, proprietor of the "Keystone Hotel," at Lebanon, Pa., was born September 18, 1860, at Womelsdorf, Berks Co., Pa., and is the fourth of his name in direct ancestral line. His education was secured in the public schools, and later he accepted a clerical position in a dry-goods store in Lebanon, where he continued for about thirteen years. In 1889, in partner- ship with his brother, Thomas J. Bollman, he purchased the "Keystone Hotel." on South Eighth street, near Cumberland, which they conducted together until
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1896, when Thomas J. sold his interests, since which time John A. has man- aged it alone, and with such success that it is regarded as the leading hostelry in the city. His activity has been marked in public enterprises of various kinds ; he is a director in the Lebanon County Trust Company, as well as in the Lebanon Valley Fair Association, and has served as chief engineer of the Lebanon fire department, and remains an active member of the Hook and Ladder Company. His fraternal associations are with the order of Red Men and the Elks, he being one of the organizers of the latter order in Lebanon.
John A. Bollman was married in April, 1898, to Emma Haak, daughter of Adam and Rhenhart Haak, the former also a hotel man. Mr. Bollman has no children.
WILLIAM H. BOLLMAN, proprietor of the "William Penn Hotel," and successor to his father, was born September 23, 1862, at Womelsdorf, Berks Co., Pa., and educated in the public schools. In early manhood he learned the blacksmith's trade, and worked at the same for a period of nine years, becom- ing then an assistant to his father at the "William Penn Hotel," and in 1890 succeeded to the business. This is an old house with a steady patronage and Mr. Bollman understands how to make everything comfortable for those who could feel at home in no other hostelry in the city.
Mr. Bollman has been very prominent in city affairs, and as a Repub- lican has been a member of the city council. Like his brother, John A., he has been long identified with the city's fire department, which is a volunteer one, and is a valued member of the Perseverance Hook and Ladder Company. His social and fraternal connections are with the Keystone Gun Club, of which he is the treasurer, and with the Elks and Red Men.
J. M. STROHM, M. D. Few physicians of Lebanon county have met with more pronounced success than Dr. Strohm, of Fredericksburg. When he came to that place, about twenty-one years ago, there were four other physi- cians there, but now he is the only one. He is practical, forceful and magnetic -a marvel of strength both physically and intellectually-and his untiring devotion to his patients has won him not only their confidence, but their warm- est and most lasting regard. Born at Mt. Etna, Pa., March 2, 1858, he is the son of Dr. Christian B. and Catherine (Krebs) Strohm.
Abraham Strohm, grandfather of Dr. J. M., was born in Fredericksburg, and there, upon reaching manhood, settled upon a farm, and engaged in agri- culture. A man of rare practical judgment and great energy, he made an un- qualified success of his work, and became one of the recognized leaders among agriculturists. He married, and had one son, Christian B.
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