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 50
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JACOB KETTERING, one of the well known citizens of Palmyra, Lebanon county, Pa., was born in Londonderry township, July 14, 1837, and reared upon the home farm where he remained, assisting his parents, until he was twenty-three years of age. At this time occurred his marriage, and he then settled upon the farm of his father-in-law, Michael Kreider, on the hill above what was known as the David Kreider mill, and for ten years conducted that property very successfully. About 1869 or 1870 he saw an opportunity for him in Palmyra, in the handling of cattle, and he has met with marked success in that business, in which he has now been engaged for forty years. During that time he has traveled extensively in the West, visiting principally Buffalo, Chicago and Cincinnati. In addi- tion to his other interests he owns three farms: The old Michael Killinger farm in South Annville township, the Michael Killinger farm in North Ann- ville township, and one in Londonderry township: the "American House" hotel property in Palmyra; and other very valuable property in and about
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Palmyra. For a number of years Mr. Kettering has been a member of the A. F. & A. M., and takes an active interest in that fraternity.
Mr. Kettering's first wife was Lydia Kreider, born July 14, 1840, daughter of Michael Kreider. She died May 6, 1869, leaving one daughter, Emma K., born September 10, 1864, who married Daniel Light, of Pal- myra. The second wife of Mr. Kettering was Kate Gingrich, born Sep- tember 5, 1844, daughter of Henry Gingrich, and their children are: Fan- nie Lizzie, born February II, 1872, who married S. W. Hildman, of North Annville; and Henry K., born January 8, 1874. The very flattering posi- tion Mr. Kettering now occupies is the result of his own unaided efforts, directed along correct lines, and intelligence and ability, and he now enjoys in the highest degree the confidence and respect of a large circle of friends.
WILLIAM GASSERT, one of the representative men of Lebanon, who for many years has borne an active part in the promotion of its welfare, was born October 8, 1842, in Cornwall township, Lebanon county, son of John and Sarah (Schott) Gassert.
John Gassert, the father, was born in Cornwall township in 1797, became a respected farmer and stanch Democrat, and died in Lebanon in 1873, while his wife, Sarah Schott, was born in South Lebanon township, in 1801, and died in 1883. They were the parents of eight children, namely : Sarah, Magdalena, John, George, Elizabeth, Joseph, Samuel and William. The father of John Gassert, also named John, was a native of Germany, and settled in Lebanon county when it was a portion of Lancaster county; he died there in 1850. The maternal grandfather, George Schott. was born in Lancaster, now Lebanon county, in 1763, and passed away in 1854.
William Gassert was ten years of age when his parents moved from their farm to the corner of Ninth and Locust streets, Lebanon, Pa., in what is known as the Second ward, just opposite the present home of Mr. Gassert. From his tenth to his sixteenth year he attended school, and then was appren- ticed to the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for three and a half years. After this he worked at the trade of shoemaker for some time, and then in September, 1862, entered Battery H, Third (Pa.) Heavy Artillery, as a private remaining in the service until June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.
Having given his country three years of his life, Mr. Gassert returned to Lebanon, and for about six years was engaged in buying standing timber, which he cut and marketed, and since then has been successfully engaged in several enterprises, the greater portion of his time now being devoted to
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the buying and improvement of realty, principally residences, which he rents throughout the city and vicinity. He has been a director of the Lebanon Valley Fair association since its organization, having also served a term as its president.
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During his life Mr. Gassert has been a Democrat, and is one of the leaders in political matters in Lebanon, rendering not only the party, but also the community, valuable services, because he is not only a politician, but also a public-spirited and broad-gauged man. His ability has been widely recog- nized, and in 1870 he was elected tax assessor, and for over twenty years has served in the borough and city council. While chairman of the Finance committee he placed the city of Lebanon under lasting obligation for his able management of its affairs. Because of his able conduct of city affairs, as well as his natural tendencies, Mr. Gassert is recognized as one of the leading financiers of the county. Both as a public official and private citizen Mr. Gassert has ever been ready to give freely of his time and ability toward good government. He was elected a member of the State Constitutional Con- vention called in 1885. Mr. Gassert is a man of decided ideas and is firm in his support of what he deems right. In 1887, while chairman of the Finance committee, he became antagonistic to the policy of the majority, and so bitter did the fight become that Mr. Gassert decided to resign his seat in the Select council, and was only prevented from doing so by a petition presented to him by the best citizens, praying him not to desert his post in such trying times. This petition was signed by many who were opposed to Mr. Gassert politi- cally, but appreciated his ability as a financier and a man, and were anxious to have his wise hand at the tiller in time of storm. In 1892 he retired from the council, but in 1902 he was the unanimous choice of his party for mayor of Lebanon; he was defeated after a bitter fight, leading a forlorn hope against a large Republican majority. Mr. Gassert is an active member of the G. A. R., and in his religious affiliations is a member of Salem Lutheran Church.
On November 1I, 1896, Mr. Gassert was married to Mrs. Emma Eliza- beth Smith. widow of Samuel P. Smith, and daughter of Frederick and Maria (Noll) Feryman, and on September 18, 1897, one son, William Bryan, was born to this union. Mrs. Gassert was born in Speedwell, Lan- caster county, Pa., August 3, 1856. By her first marriage she was the mother of four children : Hammond P., born July 12, 1878; Harry E., April 16, 1880; Charles F., March 14, 1882; Agnes L., January 16, 1890 (died April 20, 1898). Mrs. Gassert is a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, of Lebanon.
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GEORGE WASHINGTON SEIBERT, M. D., a well-known citizen and prominent member of the medical profession of Lebanon county, was born May 3, 1855, in West Hanover township, Dauphin county, son of Jacob and Mary Ann ( Nonamaker) Seibert, both of whom were born in Dauphin county.
The Seibert family in America originated with two brothers of the name who emigrated from Germany during the seventeenth century. One of the brothers settled in Connecticut, and his descendants drifted into Pennsyl- vania, still retaining their connection with the Lutheran Church. The other Seibert brother settled in Virginia, where the name eventually was changed into Siffert, and his descendants became converts to the Roman Catholic faith.
John Jacob Seibert, the grandfather of Dr. Seibert. was a citizen of that part of Lebanon county, which, at one time belonged to Lancaster county. Jacob Seibert, the father of Dr. Seibert, was born in 1818, in Dauphin county. His occupation through life was farming, and he lived to a good, old age, dying in 1886. His marriage was to Mary Ann Nonamaker, born in Dauphin county, daughter of John Nonamaker. also of German ancestry. She passed away in 1857. when in her thirty-second year. The surviving children are as follows: John, who resides in Hanoverdale, Dauphin Co., Pa .; David; Miss Annie Mary; Dr. William Henry, who resides in Steelton, Dauphin county ; Susan, who married George W. Dress, of Steelton ; Savilla ; and Dr. George Washington, of this biography.
Dr. George W. Seibert was born and reared on a farm. His early edu- cation was acquired in the common schools, and his proficiency in essentials was such that at the age of eighteen years he was given a teacher's certificate. and was numbered among the teachers of Hanover township, his first attempt as a pedagogue being at Shope's School, No. 2. During the following sum- mer he attended Cedar Hill Seminary, at Mt. Joy, and during the following winter he had charge of No. I School, in Hanover township. In the suc- ceeding spring he entered the State Normal School at Westchester, and in the following spring began the study of medicine. Under the instruction of his brother, Dr. William Henry, he was prepared for college, and in 1879 graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. That same spring he located for practice at Steelton, where he spent one year, moving then to Wheeling. Mo., where he continued in active practice for six years. Dr. Seibert then returned East, and located in Lebanon, where he has built up one of the most lucrative practices of any physician in the county.
Dr. Seibert has taken an active part in local politics, and since February,
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1900, has been a member of the select council of this city, serving as chair- man of the committees on Highways, Sanitation and Markets. During the administration of Mayor Hoffer he was a member of the board of health. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order. Dr. Seibert was reared in the Lutheran Church, and is an attendant with his wife, who is a member, on the services of the Seventh Street Lutheran Church, contributing liberally to its support.
On June 5, 1883, Dr. Seibert was married at Chillicothe, Mo., to Miss Jennie A. Davis, a native of Massachusetts. Dr. Seibert is a public-spirited man, fully alive to the demands of modern life, and is popular both pro- fessionally and socially.
JACOB H. LIGHT. Since 1885 Jacob H. Light has been extensively engaged in the real-estate business in Lebanon, and June 1, 1901, added also a coal business, in which he had been formerly engaged. He is one of the substantial and enterprising men of the town and comes of a fine old family intimately connected with the early agricultural development of this county. A son of Gideon and Nancy (Whitmyer) Light, he was born in Lebanon, September 27. 1857, and was educated in the public schools and at the Leb- anon Valley College at Annville, Pennsylvania.
Gideon Light was born January 28, 1831, and died April 18, 1902. He was a farmer in early life, but later entered mercantile ranks as a coal merchant in Lebanon city, where he was well and favorably known for many years. Through his death the United Brethren Church sustained a severe loss, for he was a hard worker therein, and contributed towards its charities and support in no stinting manner. As a Democrat he had oppor- tunity to evince a decided executive ability while serving as county treasurer for a couple of years, and he held other offices of honor within the gift of his fellow townsmen. His marriage to Miss Whitmyer occurred about 1852. Mrs. Light was born November 10, 1832, and she still survives her hus- band. She is the mother of eleven children, ten of whom are living: Boaz WV .: Emma L .; Jacob H .; Elizabeth L. the wife of George B. Triest, of Lebanon: Simon P., an attorney of Lebanon; Clara M., the wife of Clinton E. Boltz. of Lebanon; Gideon F., also of Lebanon: Charles A .: Cora B .; and James O., a teller in the Valley National Bank. Gideon Light was a son of Jacob Light, who in turn was a son of John Light, supposedly the first settler of that name in Lebanon county.
Jacob H. Light engaged in farming for three years after completing his schooling, and thereafter settled in Lebanon, where he engaged in the
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coal business with Joseph T. Light. Four years later, in 1885, he began in a small way to deal in real-estate, and soon made his way to the front as a capable manager of real estate transfers. He is now combining real-estate with coal interests, in both of which enterprises he has attained pronounced success. In political affiliations a Democrat, Mr. Light served as a member from the Sixth ward before it was divided, from 1891 to 1894, and he is at the present time a member of the select council of the Seventh ward. He has also been mercantile appraiser for the county. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the A. O. U. W., No. 85, and religiously is an active member and trustee of the Salem United Brethren Church.
On December 18, 1880, Mr. Light married Annie M. Yeagley, of Jonestown, Pa., who was born December 23, 1856, daughter of Rudolph and Mary (Daub) Yeagley. To Mr. and Mrs. Yeagley were born also three other children: Sarah, the wife of Daniel Miller; Adam, a resident of Jonestown, Pa .; and Elizabeth, the wife of Nathaniel Witmeyer, of Lebanon. The Yeagleys have long been connected with Lebanon county, and are among its most enterprising and respected citizens. To Mr. and Mrs. Light have been born three children: Edith Y., who died in childhood: Edna Y. ; and Mark Y. Mr. Light is a man of high moral character, good business judg- ment, liberality and geniality. Himself and family are well known in Leb- mon, and constitute a portion of the most desirable element in the town.
FRANK BOWMAN WITMER, M. D., a leading citizen of Bismarck, Lebanon county, and descended from one of the old and honored families, which can date its American birth back to 1727, is a son of Franklin Joseph and Frances (Nissley) Witmer, the latter of whom is still living at the age of seventy years.
Franklin J. Witmer was born in Cornwall township, at Bismarck, in 1832, and his wife was a native of Dauphin county, a daughter of Martin and Barbara ( Nissley) Nissley. Franklin J. Witmer spent his life in Cornwall township until within about two months of his death, when he removed to Ann- ville. His life calling was that of a farmer, and he owned and operated 135 acres. In politics he was an active Democrat, and held many of the township offices. For years he was a member of the German Reformed Church, and acted as one of the elders for a long time, and helped to found St. Paul's Church of Bismarck. Franklin J. was the only son of Joseph Witmer, and he himself had nine children : Annie Catherine, who married Christian Krider, of North Lebanon township; Joseph Nissley, of Frankford, Philadelphia, a civil engi- neer; Martin Henry, of Newville, Cumberland county, a produce dealer ;
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Emma Rosa, who married George Stein, cashier of the Annville National Bank; Francis, who died in infancy; Alice Virginia, unmarried; Dr. Frank B .; David Hykes, of Philadelphia, civil engineer, with American Pipe Line Manufacturing Company ; Lizzie Minerva, married to A. C. E. Heister, pro- prietor of Snowflake Publishing Company, Annville.
Dr. Frank B. Witmer was born April 9, 1867, and reared upon the farm, receiving his education in the public schools of his neighborhood, the Millers- ville State Normal and the Lebanon Valley College. After finishing his course he taught school for four years, and then he began the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Weiss, of Lebanon, and later entered the University of Pennsyl- vania, from which he was graduated in 1891, and entered upon a general prac- tice, but later settled at Bismarck, where he has since made his home and fol- lowed his profession with marked success. Dr. Witmer is a subscriber to the Medical Record, Therapeutic Gascette of Philadelphia, Medical News of Phila- delphia, and the Medical Times of Philadelphia. Politically he is a Democrat, and has been the successful candidate of his party on the school board for sev- eral terms. He is a member of F. & A. M., No. 226, Mt. Lebanon Lodge, Lebanon Chapter, K. of M. C., Lodge No. 87, and P. O. S. A., Bismarck. In his religious affiliations, Dr. Witmer is a member of the Reformed Church of Annville.
On June 30, 1896, Dr. Witmer was married to Miss E. Jeannetta Colvin, of Monongahela, Washington Co., Pa., daughter of Enoch and Mary Colvin. One child has been born of this union, Franklin Colvin Witmer. Both Doctor and Mrs. Witmer are very popular socially, and stand high among the leading representatives of Lebanon county.
JOHN H. WITMOYER. One of the leading citizens of North Leb- anon township is John H. Witmoyer, a resident of Sand Hill, Lebanon county, a large land owner and one of the stockholders in the Valley National Bank.
Mr. Witmoyer was born November 8, 1847, in Swatara township, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Bross) Witmoyer, the former of whom was a son of Peter Witmoyer, a farmer of this county. Samuel Witmoyer died at the age of seventy-four years and his wife at the age of seventy-eight. The father belonged to the Reformed Church and the mother to the Lutheran Church, both being good, pious and most worthy people. Their burial was at Kimmerling's burying-ground in North Lebanon township. Their three children were: John H .; Nathaniel. resident of Lebanon, a farmer ; and David, deceased. Samuel Witmoyer owned three farms, two in North Leb-
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anon township and one in Swatara township. In politics he was a Repub- lican, and was one of the most useful county commissioners ever elected in North Lebanon township. Not only was he a man of integrity but he was of such reliability that he was sought on financial boards and was one of the stockholders of the Valley National Bank.
John H. Witmoyer was reared on the Swatara township farm, and obtained his education in the public schools. About 1874 he began farm- ing for himself on a farm of ninety acres, which he owns, one mile north of Lebanon, and here Mr. Witmoyer has resided for the past twenty-eight years. This property is well-improved and has four dwellings on it, and is conceded to be one of the most valuable farms of the township. Mr. Wit- moyer owns also a farm of 148 acres, in Bethel township, and some very valu- able timber land on Little Mountain and in North Lebanon township, besides a mill property and twenty-four acres of land in North Annville township. His energies have always been given to agriculture.
On February 17, 1873, Mr. Witmoyer was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Light, born November 11, 1834, in Swatara township, daugh- ter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Urich) Light. A son. Jacob, was born to this union, on June 29, 1874, whose marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wenger lias brought a little granddaughter, Annie, into the household. Jacob farms for his father at Sand Hill, and is one of the estimable young men of this local- ity. Mr. Witmoyer belongs to St. Mark's Reformed Church in Lebanon, while his wife still clings to the Lutheran Church, in which faith she was reared. They are most highly esteemed people, kind, charitable and hospit- able, and have a wide circle of friends.
JOHN HENRY WEIRICK, a leading general merchant of Myerstown. Pa., and a pioneer in the mercantile line in Jackson township, a member of an old and honorable Lebanon county family, was born August 22. 1834, in Jack- son township, a son of John and Catherine (Bichtel) Weirick, the former of whom, a son of John, was a thrifty farmer as was his father before him. The children of Grandfather John Weirick were: John, George, Catherine and Mary.
John Weirick, the father of John Henry, was born in 1800, and died in 1877, having been the father of six children, namely: William, deccased; Daniel, a retired farmer in Illinois: John Henry, of Myerstown; Maria, the wife of John Klick: Elizabeth ; and Catherine, Daniel and John Henry being the only survivors.
John Henry Weirick was reared on the home farm and acquired his
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education in the schools of Lebanon county. At the age of eighteen years he came to Myerstown and accepted a clerical position with the firm of Donges & Stoner, remaining until 1857, when he went West and took up land near the town of Sheffield, Ill., where he followed farming for a time. After clerking in a mercantile house, he remained until the outbreak of the Civil war. On October 10, 1861, Mr. Weirick enlisted for service, entering Company H, Fifty-seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Cap- tain Josiah Robbins, and promotion rapidly followed, as his soldierly efti- ciency was demonstrated. On December 26, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of third corporal; first sergeant August 3, 1862, these promotions hav- ing followed gallant service at Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing; first lieutenant, September 29, 1862, and for a time was detailed as acting brigade quartermaster of the Third Brigade, Second Division of the Left Wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps, under Gen. G. M. Dodge. After serving for a time as brigade quartermaster, he was attached to the staff of Gen. jolu B. McPherson as signal service officer and was with Gen. McPherson when that brave officer was killed in ambush before Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Weirick accompanied Gen. Sherman on his famous March to the Sea, in the signal service department, and saw much exhausting and varied service before his honorable discharge at Savannah, Ga., January 4, 1865, at this time being connected with the Fourth Division, Fifteenth Army Corps. At the close of the war, after an absence of some eight years, he returned to his old home in Myerstown, and decided to locate among old friends and relatives. Soon he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, George W. Donges, under the name of Donges & Weirick, selling out his interest in the same in 1874. to another brother-in-law. John A. Donges. After a period of retirement from business life, Mr. Weirick re-entered the mercantile business, having in 1875 purchased the old Capt. William Tice homestead, in Myerstown. and erected here a modern store building. For the past twenty-seven years he has successfully met the trade of this locality, and has won confidence as a business man with the same upright and honorable methods which gave him prominence during his military life. Mr. Weirick is one of the three survivors of the Military Branch of the Loyal Legion, in Lebanon county.
In 1865 Mr. Weirick was united in marriage with Amelia M., daugh- ter of George and Henrietta (Stoner) Donges, who died in 1866, leaving one son, Charles Donges, now a prominent member of the Lebanon County Bar. The Donges family was of German extraction and is an old one in Lebanon county. The grandfather of the late Mrs. Weirick was the first postmaster of Myerstown. The second marriage of Mr. Weirick was to
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Mrs. Naomi C. Miller, a member of the well-known Gockley family, and the widow of Washington Miller, other members of her family still surviving being : Levi M., a leading citizen of Iowa; Fannie, a Mrs. Robbins, in Kan- sas, and Miss Anna, a resident of Myerstown. One daughter was born to this latter marriage, Luella, who is the wife of Dr. H. D. Miller, a promising physician of Myerstown. In politics Mr. Weirick is a stalwart Republican. His interests are centered in this locality and he is one of the leading and representative citizens, a man of sterling worth and high character.
DAVID F. WISE (deceased) was one of the well known citizens of Lebanon, for many years a prominent manufacturer of shoes at No. 720 Cumberland street. He was born in Jackson township, Lebanon Co., Pa., December 3. 1851, son of John F. and Harriet (Koppenhaver) Wise. the former born in Jackson township, and the latter near Myerstown, Leb- anon county, a daughter of Henry Koppenhaver. John F. Wise was a son of Peter Wise, a native of Lancaster county, Pa. Mrs. Peter Wise belonged to the Lincoln family, well known in Lancaster county.
David F. Wise was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the common schools. When about twelve years of age he went to Myers- town and there learned the trade of shoemaker under William Lindermuth. Later he removed to Lebanon, and entered into the shop of Philip F. McCauley, then located on the site which afterward became Mr. Wise's place of business. Before he had finished his term of apprenticeship he was made foreman of the shop, and remained in that capacity until 1874. when he left the employ of Mr. McCauley and began business for himself at No. 18 North Seventh street. Mr. Wise was always an energetic and far-seeing man, and when he embarked in business it was with a determination to suc- ceed. Upon the premises he selected he erected a building, put up suitable machinery, and engaged in the manufacture of uppers. Later he fitted up the parlor in his residence as a store. In 1890 he purchased the old shop at Nos. 720-722, and began the manufacture of boots and shoes, also dealing in leather findings, continuing there until his death, which occurred January 6, 1898. As hie succeeded and added to his bank account, he invested in real estate, and owned at the time of his demise property on Partridge avenue, Walnut street and Seventh street. His business was carried on by his widow until February, 1900, when she sold it to George F. Werner. Mr. Wise was a member of the I. O. O. F. and P. O. S. of A., Camp No. 65. In religious connection he was a consistent, worthy and liberal member of Salem Luth- eran Church in which he served as deacon some time. In politics he was a
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