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 51
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David J. Wise
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stanch Republican, but never, aspired to hold office. Few men in his line were rated higher in business. He was respected by all who knew him, and his demise was lamented throughout the community, while his loss was deeply felt by all who had come into business or social relations with him.
On June 22, 1872, Mr. Wise was married to Mary Alice Uhrich, who was born January 18, 1855, on the corner of Seventh and Cumberland streets, Lebanon, daughter of David Uhrich. David Uhrich was born in Lebanon county, December 3, 1808, son of Christian Uhrich, also a native of Lebanon county. The mother of Mrs. Wise was Catherine (Dubbs) Uhrich, and she was born in Lebanon May 5, 1814. Eight children came to Mr. and Mrs. Wise: Carrie, born November 28, 1873 (married Richard J. Boyer) ; Wilfred U., May 18, 1882; Catherine A., September 24, 1883; Harriet E., January 3, 1886; Florence T., September 28, 1888 (died March 18, 1900) ; Mary A., April 19, 1890; Helen B., December 11, 1891 ; and John Luther, November 28, 1893.
JOHN BARTO, a retired merchant of Fredericksburg, has been a man- ufacturer as well as tradesman, and in both lines was most successful. He began his career as a clerk, continuing as such for years and acquiring a wide range of business experience. The last twenty-six years of his active life he conducted a general store of his own, proving himself an able financier and a most efficient business manager. He is now sixty-two years old, and a man of remarkable force and power.
Mr. Barto was born in Fredericksburg, on a place which he now owns, August 2, 1841, and he was reared in an atmosphere of business, his father Isaac Barto, being a chair-maker by trade. The latter was of French extrac- tion, and was reared in Berks county, and there in Bethel township he resided for many years. Later he moved to Fredericksburg. For the greater part of his active life he followed chair-making, and, being an expert workman pro- cured a large business, from which he derived a good income. In addition to this business he for many years engaged in house-painting, and in Fredericks- burg and vicinity fulfilled many large contracts, meeting with excellent results. He lived to the age of sixty-six years, and died in Fredericksburg. During his young manhood Mr. Barto married Elizabeth Eshleman, and they had five sons: Reuben, a resident of Pine Grove; John, who is mentioned below ; Penrose, a blacksmith, residing in Tremont ; Henry E., who lives near Columbus Grove, Putnam Co., Ohio; and Zachariah T., who for many years clerked for Donges Bros., and resides in Myerstown.
Mr. Barto possessed splendid business qualifications, and achieved success
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in all his undertakings. He was a consistent member of the Reformed Church, and a man who always lived his religion in the walks of every day life. Po- litically he affiliated with the Republicans.
John Barto secured little assistance on the road to success, except that given the average son of an artisan. He attended the public schools of Freder- icksburg, and at an early age thoroughly mastered the rudiments. When he was fifteen years old he went into his father's shop and began to learn the painter's trade, which he subsequently followed for five years, often assisting his father with house painting. He then entered a cigar factory in Fredericks- burg, where, after learning the trade, he continued for three years. Shifting from one place to another as the outlook offered advancement, from 1861 to 1863 he clerked in a general store in Wintersville, Berks county, next resumed cigar making for a time in Fredericksburg, and then went to Wiconisco, Dauphin county, and clerked in the general store of Mr. Marks. His next move was a return to Fredericksburg, where for five years he clerked steadily in the general store of Levi Schiffler, giving thorough satisfaction. By this time, feeling confident enough to engage in the business by himself, he opened a cigar factory in Fredericksburg, in the efficient management of which he proved he had not over-rated his powers. After a year, however, it seemed advisable to discontinue the business, and entering Levi Scholl's general store he applied himself diligently to business for five more years. Then he pur- chased the stock of Mr. Scholl on credit, and began business by himself. A thorough understanding of the affairs of the store enabled him not only to retain old customers, but to win new ones. The business prospered beyond his highest expectations, and in a short time he was enabled to pay off his indebted- ness and to begin banking money. From year to year trade increased, and he enlarged his stock of goods to meet the growing demands of the public, which he always possessed the happy faculty of pleasing. For twenty-six years he continued the business, winning for himself a solid prosperity. On February 22, 1902, on account of failing eye-sight, he closed out his store, and has since been living in retirement.
In 1864 Mr. Barto married Harriet Miranda Burkholder, of Stouchs- burg, Berks county, and they had three children, two of whom have lived to maturity : Minnie E., who married Irwin Hay, a traveling salesman, of Leb- anon City ; and Margaret Adelia, who married Rev. Elmer S. Noll, a minister of the Reformed Church, residing in Perkasie. Bucks county.
Mr. Barto was a soldier during the Civil war, enlisting July IS, 1864, in Company D, First Battalion Pennsylvania Volunteers, saw service in Mary- land and Pennsylvania, and was discharged in November, 1864. He was a
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member of the P. O. S. of A. Mr. Barto's large achievements have won him the respect not only of the business world, but of the general public. His integrity and ability are both unquestioned, and his word carries weight in the community. Forcefulness, sound judgment and broad-mindedness are among his dominant traits. As a Republican he is influential in local politics. In religious sentiment he is independent. He possesses a rare gift of winning friends, and few men stand higher socially than he.
Samuel Burkholder, father of Mrs. Barto, was a resident of Berks county, and followed cabinet making, from which he derived a good income. He mar- ried Mary Reed, and had eight children: Mary, who married Jeremiah Blecker, of Richland; Elmyra, who is now a widow ; Harriet M., Mrs. Barto ; Catherine, who married William Reichard, of Berks county ; Clara, the wife of Monroe Schaeffer, of Reading ; Edward and Samuel, who are now living in Philadelphia ; and Emma R., who married Aaron Bucks, and died some twelve years ago.
THOMAS J. FAUBER, a well-known coach painter of Lebanon, comes of a highly respected and influential family of that city. His great-grandfa- ther, Michael Fauber, was a pioneer of Lancaster county, Pa. Peter Fauber, grandfather of Thomas, was also well-known in that vicinity ; he married Mar- garet Reinoehl, and they had a son named William.
William Fauber, father of Thomas, is one of the leading business men of Lebanon, being a man of considerable means, and owning a large coach making establishment in the city. He married Mary Miller and they have had ten children : Thomas J .; Albert S., a coachmaker, married Ida Garrett; Emma, married Nathan A. Miller ; Susan married A. F. Lohse; Mary married John Gelbach; Frank resides in Lebanon; Jennie is at home; and William, Eddie, and Simon are deceased.
Thomas J. Fauber was born in Lebanon, November 29, 1859, and there grew to manhood. As a boy he was keenly interested in his father's business, and learned the trade of a coach painter. So proficient did he become in this line of work that upon starting out in life for himself he decided to make it a business. He has followed the trade now for many years in Lebanon, and is one of the most artistic and successful coach painters in the city. By strict attention to business and wise financial management he has made well out of his work, and is considered one of the prosperous citizens of his place.
On September 29, 1881, Mr. Fauber married Ella L. Fritz, of Lebanon, and they have had one son, Wilmer H., who was born October 10, 1889. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fauber belong to the first families of Lebanon and occupy a high
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social position. He is alive to all the leading questions of the day, and in politics is a Republican. In religious matters he is a prominent member of the First United Evangelical Church, and takes a deep interest in church work, holding various offices in the same.
Henry Fritz, father of Mrs. Fauber, was for many years a leading busi- ness man of Lebanon. As a carriage maker, a lime manufacturer, an inventor, and a real estate man he was prominently known in his section. He was born in Boyertown, near the Montgomery and Berks county line, in Pennsylvania, July 11, 1826. As a boy he learned the carriage maker's trade, and as a young man coach making, which occupations he later followed for a number of years. In 1847 he married Rebecca Giestweit, and after her death, which occurred in 1887, he married Mary E. Waltman, who is still living. By the first marriage there were four children: Emma L., who married B. F. Garrett, and both she and her husband are now deceased; Angeline, who married Jacob Parthemore : Mary, now deceased; and Ella L.
When a young man Mr. Fritz settled at Ono, Lebanon county, where he first opened a carriage shop and conducted a thriving business for some time. Later, with equal success, he conducted a general store in the same place. Having laid by a considerable sum of money, in 1868 he moved to Lebanon and opened a lime manufacturing establishment. Here with the Lebanon paper mill company he found ready sale for his article, furnishing it lime by a con- tract for a number of years at twenty-five and thirty cents a bushel. In 1876 he invented a feed cutter and grinder, on which he secured a patent. The arti- cle proved an exceedingly practical one, and sold readily, bringing in large profits. Many of these machines are still used in Lebanon and adjacent coun- ties. Late in life Mr. Fritz discontinued the manufacturing business, and in 1885 began speculating in real estate. Being an excellent judge of city prop- erty, and possessed of great foresight he made some exceptionally good deals. realizing large profits. At the time of his death. which occurred April 1, 1894, he owned about thirty valuable houses and lots in Lebanon.
For about twenty-one years Mr. Fritz was a leading business man in Lebanon, possessing the confidence and respect of all who knew him. In religious matters he took a keen interest, and was a faithful member of the Evangelical Church from 1859 until his death. As an ardent Republican he exerted a large influence in local politics.
HARRY ZIMMERMAN, D. D. S., a well-known citizen of Annville, and one of the leading dentists of Lebanon county, was born July 12, 1853. near Palmyra, in Londonderry township, Lebanon county, son of Daniel and
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Sarah (Deitrich) Zimmerman, the former of whom was born near Palmyra in 1828, and died in 1896. The mother was also born near Palmyra, in 1828, and died in 1898. Their children were the following: Harry; Minnie A .; and Cyrus F. Minnie A. Zimmerman married Rev. Dr. E. S. Brownmiller, pastor of the old Lutheran Church, of Reading, Pa., and also pastor of four other congregations in that vicinity. Cyrus F. Zimmerman is postmaster and a prominent citizen of Palmyra, where he is also a member of the firm of the Landis Shoe Company.
Until he was twenty-five years of age, Daniel Zimmerman was a laborer, and then became an engineer at the Union Deposit Furnace, where he remained until he entered the army during the Civil War, as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving out the term of his first enlistment, and then re-enlisting in Company I, Eighty- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, this second enlistment being for three years, or during the war, and he passed through its dangers unharmed. After the close of the Rebellion, Mr. Zimmerman resumed his work as engi- neer and continued engaged in the same until 1885, when he removed to Pal- myra, and there engaged in farming.
Dr. Harry Zimmerman was educated in the public schools of Union Deposit, and at Prof. Witmer's Academy at Palmyra, and in 1871 he engaged in teaching school at Union Deposit, and in the following year, entered East- man's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he was graduated July 25, 1872. That same winter he resumed teaching, and continued as an educa- tor until the spring of 1878, when he became a student and partner, with Dr. J. G. Fritz, dentist, of Annville. From October, 1878, until February, 1880, he attended lectures at the Pennsylvania Dental College, at Philadelphia, and graduated February 25, 1880, with honors, receiving honorable mention for being the second best clinical assistant, and also received a gold medal for second-best specimen of plate work. His partnership with Dr. Fritz continued until the latter's death, in August, 1889, although Dr. Fritz removed to Leb- anon, in 1886, where he opened a dental office, the two offices being conducted in partnership, Dr. Zimmerman remaining in Annville. After his partner's death, Dr. Zimmerman closed up the Lebanon office, continuing to practice among his old friends and patrons in Annville, where he has remained ever since. In his profession he is careful and accurate, and keeps up with the times by attending the meetings of the Lebanon Valley Dental Association, of which he is the president ; he is also a member of the Reading Dental Association. and of the Pennsylvania State Dental Association, being a member of the latter's committee on the Enforcement of the State Dental Laws. His relations
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with his brother practitioners are most cordial, while his attitude to the public is that of one who deserves the confidence which he receives. Dr. Zimmerman is a man of social nature, and fraternally he is connected with Washington Camp, No. 87, P. O. S. of A., of Annville, of which he has been treasurer since 1881 ; also with Lebanon Valley Commandery, No. 5, P. O. S. of A., of which he is chaplain. Genial and agreeable, Dr. Zimmerman is popular in these organizations and is an active member. For a long period he has been a trus- tee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Annville.
On February 25, 1880, his graduation day, he was married to Sadie Zeiters, of Hummelstown, daughter of David Zeiters, who was born in Lower Paxton, Dauphin county, Pa. Three children have been born to this union, namely : Mary Edna, David Ellis and Louisa May.
ANDREW SIMON ILLIG, residing at his fine home in Richland, is a representative of one of the first families of Lebanon county. He is about fifty-five years old, has passed his life in agricultural and business pursuits, and is now availing himself of some well-earned leisure.
Mr. Illig was born at Millbach, December 28, 1848, son of Jonathan and Eliza (Rambler) Illig. The first American representative of the family was Andros Illig, who with his wife Dorothy, came from Rotterdam in the good ship "Mollie," and landed in this country in the fall of 1727. Proceeding at once to the Millbach Valley, they there took out patents on the tract of land, now known as the old Illig homestead, and owned by Andrew S. and Hiram L. Illig, the tract being procured under the grants made by William, Thomas and Richard Penn. Here Mr. Illig cleared up a fine home for himself and fam- ily, and assisted materially in opening up the county to settlers. To him and his wife were born two children: Leonard, who is mentioned below; and Mary, who married a Mr. Schrall.
Leonard Illig continued the work begun by his father on the old home- stead, spending the best years of his life in the development of its resources. During his young manhood he married and had three children, one of whom was a son, Leonard, Jr., who is mentioned below.
Leonard Illig, Jr., grandfather of Andrew Simon, succeeded to the fam- ily homestead. He received good rearing and excellent training for life's activities. For an occupation he engaged in agriculture, and on the family homestead followed his pursuit. He was a progressive, hard-working farmer, and made many improvements in the old place. The large and substantial sandstone residence, now occupied by Hiram S., is one of his additions to the farm. During his young manhood he married, and among his children was a
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son named John. Mr. Illig was a man of energy and great force of character, and was a leading citizen of his township.
John Illig, father of Andrew S., inherited his father's force of character, and taste for agricultural pursuits. Born in 1806 he was reared in a well ordered home, and early disciplined in habits of attention and self-reliance. Both environment and inherent ability decided him upon reaching manhood to turn his attention to farming, and this he followed in Millcreek township. About 1837 Mr. Illig married Eliza Rambler, daughter of Christian Rambler who was born in Heidelberg township, and as a man of marked executive ability, served as sheriff of Lebanon county in 1840. To Mr. and Mrs. Illig were born nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity; Mary, who married George Seltzer, and resides in Pennsylvania ; E. R., a miller and farmer of Millbach ; Elizabeth, who married Capt. J. G. Baddorff, who is treasurer of Lebanon county ; Jonathan C., a prominent dry-goods merchant of Reading, Pa. ; H. L., who is serving very efficiently as recorder of Lebanon county; Andrew S., who is mentioned below; and Thomas B., who is in partnership with his brother Jonathan C. in the dry goods business in Reading.
After his marriage Mr. Illig settled upon the old homestead farm in Mill- creek township, where he continued agriculture. Giving his best efforts to the development of the resources of the place, he improved the property, cultivated extensive areas of it, and had abundant and marketable crops, which brought in good money returns. Applying both practical and progressive methods to his industry, he won for himself a leading place among agriculturists of his section. Mr. Illig was both a forceful and wise man, making every stroke of work count, and therein lay his success in life. Though scarcely living out the usual span of years, he accomplished much in his life time, and left a goodly heritage to his children. He died in 1862, at the age of fifty-six years.
Andrew Simon Illig was trained to a life of strong activity and practical business. Reared on his father's farm in Millcreek township, he there attended the public schools. Upon reaching manhood he naturally turned his attention to the first business opening within his grasp, which happened to be farming, and this he continued for several years, deriving from it a comfort- able income. Later, however, he secured a position in the nut and bolt works of Lebanon, where he remained for many years.
On December 21, 1892, Mr. Illig married Alice B. Yingst, who was born June 1, 1864, youngest daughter of Ephraim and Mary ( Bollinger) Yingst, and a descendant of one of the old pioneer families of the county. Other children of her parents were: Uriah ; Adeline, who is now deceased : Cather- ine, who married Dr. J. M. Strohm, of Fredericksburg; and Cyrus, deceased.
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Mrs. Illig was a devoted wife, and noble Christian woman, being a consistent member of the Grau Lutheran Church. She died October 28, 1901. No chil- dren came of this union.
In 1894, shortly after his marriage, Mr. Illig settled upon the fine old fam- ily homestead in Richland, where he has since resided. He has superintended the management of his farm in Jackson township for some years, with much success, but as has been said is now living in retirement. The Lutheran Church of the Tulpehocken district counts him among its most consistent members.
JOHN FOX. Though by no means an aged man, Mr. Fox has for nearly thirty-five years been a leading lumberman in Lebanon. In fact, lie was one of the first to engage in this industry in the city, and by building up a large business and maintaining it through so many years he has greatly bene- fited his place. He was born near Stuttgart, Germany, January 12, 18.40, son of John and Elizabeth (Brown) Fox.
John Fox, Sr., sailed for the United States in 1840, and landed at Balti- more, Md. After a short residence here he moved to Lycoming county, Pa., settling upon a farm, where he engaged in agriculture, which he conducted with science and skill. After a long and useful residence, he died in Lebanon county, regretted by all who knew him. By his marriage to Elizabeth Brown there were two children : John, who is mentioned below; and Matthew, who is now deceased.
John Fox, whose name opens this sketch, received the usual rearing of a farmer's boy, and such education as the common schools of his neighborhood afforded, and as hard work and persistence could master. He also received some early experience in lumbering, which he later made good use of. So thorough had been his training in this line that by the time he was twenty- eight he felt competent to engage in the business by himself. It was in Leba- non, in 1868, that he made the venture, opening there both a saw and planing mill. After five years of wise and skillful management, the demand for lum- ber had become so great that two could safely handle the business and share the profits; and so Mr. Embich was received as a partner, and the firm name changed to Fox & Embich. In 1885 Mr. Graeff was admitted and a few years later Mr. Embich withdrew, and the business has since been conducted under the firm name of Fox & Graeff. The capital of this company has increased from year to year, and the products of the mills have increased in variety and improved in quality of workmanship. In 1902 Mr. Fox retired from the firm, and was succeeded by his son Luther, the business being still
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conducted under the name of Fox & Graeff. Mr. Fox is a director of the Central Market.
On October 31, 1865, Mr. Fox married Martha Edkins, daughter of John Edkins, of Sullivan county. She died in 1880, and in 1881 he married Annie Faber, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Faber, of Lebanon. By the first marriage there were four children : Elizabeth, who married Dr. A. M. Fisher; Luther M., a bookkeeper for his father's firm; Mary C., a music teacher of Lebanon, who married H. G. Louser; and Martha J., a trained nurse, who resides at Buffalo, N. Y. By the second marriage there are three children : Henry J., Benjamin F. and Ruth M. As a man of sound judg- ment and farsightedness Mr. Fox has the entire confidence of his com- munity. Though disinclined to accept public honors, he is, nevertheless, as a Democrat, influential in politics. Possessed of pronounced religious convic- tions, he is a member of the old school Lutheran Church.
URIAH C. ZEIGLER, deceased. The death, in 1902, of the gentle- man whose name introduces this review, removed from Lebanon society one of its most active and honored members, one whose life is now symbolized by the many enduring and handsome structures which his genius erected throughout the city. Mr. Zeigler was one of the leading contractors of the city for a period of years, and as such was well known in this section of the Keystone State. He was born in North Annville township, Lebanon coun- ty, August 21, 1846, and died in Lebanon March 21, 1902. Becoming an orphan at a tender age, Mr. Zeigler was reared by his grandparents, Jacob and Catherine (Clark) Zeigler. The grandparents were natives of Jones- town, and belonged to one of the old families of the county. Jacob Zeigler, born August 28, 1787. died January 10, 1877, and his wife, born June 20, 1791, died October 2, 1881. They were excellent and worthy citizens, and devout communicants of the Reformed Church.
Uriah C. Zeigler passed the period of adolescence on the farm, where he developed that sturdiness of character which was one of his chief character- istics through life. His education was limited to the curriculum as found in the common schools of his district. but he applied himself to such purpose as to fit him for service in the schoolroom as teacher. This constituted his first experience in life, though it does not seem to have appealed to his stir- ring nature as a very desirable employment, as he followed it but a year. He remained on the farm until the death of his grandparents, dutifully caring for them in their last days. Upon their decease, he entered the em- ploy of the old Union Canal Company, and was thus engaged for eight
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