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 53
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Mr. Behney comes of an old and honorable family, and he has always enjoyed the highest esteem of his neighbors and friends. The untimely death of his excellent wife cast a shadow upon his life, but he is consoled by the love of his children, and the friendship of those who appreciate him at his true worth.
LEVI K. BOMBERGER, one of the leading and representative farmers of North Cornwall, Lebanon county, residing on his farm four miles south- west of Lebanon city, was born in South Lebanon township, June 3, 1855, a son of Joseph and Hannah (Krider) Bomberger.
Levi K. Bomberger was reared upon the farm, and was educated in the public schools of the locality, and also at Palmyra Academy. He was only twelve years of age when brought to North Cornwall township, where he has since made his home, and has always followed farming. In 1882 he began farming on his own account, first renting, but later located on his present farm, which contains a little over 102 acres, which he has made into one of the finest pieces of property in this locality. Being one of the public-spirited, broad gauged men, he is always ready to promote any measure calculated to prove of benefit to the general public.
On November 26, 1881, Mr. Bomberger was married to Miss Cassie Krieder, daughter of Henry W. and Susannah ( Brubaker) Krieder, born in Heidelberg township, June 2, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Bomberger have two sons, Harry K. and Allen K., both at home. The eldest, Harry K., is a teacher in the public schools of Lebanon county, North Cornwall township, having received his education in the common schools and at Annville and Millersville. Mr. and Mrs. Bomberger are worthy and consistent members of the U. C. Church at Annville, and their children as well as themselves stand very high in the estimation of the people where they have made their homes for so many
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years. Genial and pleasant in manner, Mr. Bomberger has made many friends, and he is a good type of the best class of farmer citizens of the Keystone State.
REV. WILLIAM ELIAS STAHLER, D. D. In Dr. Stahler the city of Lebanon, Pa., possesses a clergyman of scholarly attainments and ripened experience, and a citizen who has been an important factor in promoting the educational and religious enterprises of this community. Dr. Stahler is a Pennsylvania product, born July 3, 1858, at Norristown, Pa., son of William and Savilla ( Eshbach) Stahler, and grandson of an old and prom- inent citizen of Lehigh county.
William Stahler, his father, was born on a farm in Lehigh county, near Allentown, and after finishing a common school course, he went to Philadel- phia, and there learned the drug business. When prepared to start out in life, he purchased the oldest established drug store in Norristown, and con- tinued there in business during the whole of his life, which was sadly ended by an accident on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, at Exeter, Pa., in May, 1899, at the age of seventy-four years. For an extended period he was prominent in Masonic circles, and was a member of the town council. He was a leading member of Trinity Lutheran Church, held responsible official positions, and lived so worthy a life that he is widely remembered with esteem and affection. The mother of Dr. Stahler was a daughter of Abram Eshbach, of Boyerstown, Pa., and she passed away in 1890, at the age of sixty years. Three sons completed the family circle, all of these surviving, namely : Eugene A., who is a resident of Norristown; William Elias; and Harry L., who carries on the drug business at Norristown, where his father was so long and favorably known.
The early education of Dr. Stahler was obtained both in the public and private schools of Norristown. At the age of sixteen he entered Gettys- burg College, and was graduated from that fine and famous school in 1880, with honors, standing second in his class and delivering the Latin Salutatory. After a year's course at Pierce's Business College, in Philadelphia, Dr. Stahler entered the Gettysburg Theological Seminary in 1881, graduating in 1884. His first ministerial call was to the Cavalry Lutheran Church at Mount Jackson, Shenandoah Co., Va., where he spent three useful years. accepting then the urgent call to the charge at Shippensburg. Pa. To this church he devoted seven busy years, and then came to his present charge, Zion Lutheran Church, at Lebanon.
Soon after coming to Lebanon Dr. Stahler took an extended tour abroad,
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traveling for months through the most interesting portions of Spain, Algeria, Egypt, the Holy Land, Syria, Asia Minor and Europe, returning to his home in every way prepared for still wider fields of usefulness. Although Dr. Stahler has been honored with calls to larger charges in Philadelphia, Har- risburg, York and other cities, he has preferred to remain with his devoted people in Lebanon, where he will soon celebrate the tenth anniversary of his pastorate in "Zion." Extensive remodeling was begun there in 1901, to meet the demands of new methods of work and modern ideas of com- fort, beauty, utility and fitness, and the completion of this work has made Zion Church and Chapel among the handsomest houses of worship in the city. Dr. Stahler enjoys the esteem of the citizens, no less than the admira- tion and affection of his own flock. He has taken a prominent stand in favor of those enterprises for the city which have met with his approval, and is ever zealous for the promotion of civic art, morality and righteousness.
In June, 1903, Dr. Stahler was one of the appointed speakers at the great Biennial Convention of the Lutheran General Synod, held in Baltimore, Md. His address, "The Reign of the Rose," was so well received that the Board of Church Extension (in whose behalf he spoke) at once ordered ten thousand copies of the address printed for circulation in the church. During the same month his alma mater at Gettysburg conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
During his residence within college walls Dr. Stahler belonged to the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, and still enjoys meeting his old comrades in reunion. He also belongs to Mt. Lebanon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Lebanon.
On October 20, 1887, Dr. Stahler was united in marriage with Miss Florence Allen, daughter of Lemuel Allen, of Mount Jackson, Va. One son, Alan Donald, was born to this union.
JOHN UHRICH, one of the honorable, wealthy and highly esteemed citizens of Myerstown, is a retired farmer of Lebanon county, who was born in Jackson township, February 29, 1840, a son of Valentine and Catherine (Mase) Uhrich, the latter of whom still survives, at the age of eighty-three years, a resident of Myerstown.
Valentine Uhrich (3) was born in 1813, and died in 1889, and was the third of his name in direct line of succession, his grandfather Valentine Uhrich having emigrated to America from Germany, and settled near Myerstown some 160 years ago. Grandfather Valentine was the father of six children, namely : Michael, Valentine, John, Elizabeth, Katherine and Magdalena, all
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deceased. Valentine (3) was married in 1839 to Catherine Mase, of Heidel- berg township, and the four children of this union who grew to maturity were : John, Valentine D., George W. (deceased), and Amanda, the wife of Dr. W. C. Kline, of Myerstown. Valentine Uhrich was one of the leading farmers of Lebanon county, where he was also known as a man of reliability, good citizen- ship and exemplary life. He was a lifelong member of the Democratic party, and for many years was a leading member of the Lutheran Church.
John Uhrich is a worthy representative of this industrious, honorable, agricultural family which for generations has taken such a prominent part in the affairs of this community. His birth and rearing were in a good home, and he was early taught the principles of practical farming, in the meantime attending the public schools and the village academy. The young man grew to honorable, robust and useful manhood, and in 1865 married Jane P. Lein- bach, a daughter of Rev. Thomas H. Leinbach, of Berks county. Mrs. Uhrich died in 1874, the mother of two children, namely, John L. deceased; and Mary J., who is the wife of J. C. Reber, a dealer in bicycles and automobiles at Reading, Pa., and has three children, John U., Mary U. and James U. On March 2, 1895, Mr. Uhrich was married (second) to Elizabeth U. Hain, born in 1844. daughter of the late John and Magdalena (Uhrich) Hain, of Dauphin county, near Harrisburg. She has two brothers, Daniel and John Hain.
Mr. Uhrich has been a farmer all his life, and has followed those methods and exercised that care and supervision which have brought him great success. In 1895 he retired from activity on the farm and retired to Myerstown, where he is counted among the valued citizens, and is surrounded by a large circle of congenial friends. Mr. Uhrich built a fine mansion in this town and also owns much valuable land in the country, two fine farms in Jackson township, two others in partnership with his brother, Valentine D., and also land in Dauphin county. He probably pays more taxes on land than any other citizen of Jack- son township. In political sentiment he has always been identified with the Republican party. Both he and his wife are valued members of the Lutheran Church. No citizen of the county is held in higher esteem as an honest and upright man than is John Uhrich.
DAVID O. SHENK, merchant and prominent citizen of Annville, was born August 30, 1834, on a farm located about one mile north of Annville, in what is now North Annville township. His parents were Abraham and Magdalena (Oberholtzer) Shenk, the former of whom was born in 1790, in Annville township, and died in 1839, and the latter of whom was born in 1795,
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at Elizabethtown, Lancaster county, daughter of John Oberholtzer, and died in 1864. Their children were: John O., born in 1817; Joseph O., born in 1818; Christian O., born in 1822; Moses O., born in 1826; Samuel O., born in 1830; and David O., born in 1834. Joseph Shenk, the grandfather of David O., was born in Lancaster county and later removed to Lebanon. His children were : Jacob, Samuel, Abraham, Christian and Joseph.
David O. Shenk was six years of age when his parents removed from the farm and settled in Annville. Here he attended the public schools and the old Annville Academy, receiving an excellent education, and then, under the directions of John N. Smith (still surviving), he learned the tin- smith's trade, working at it for some years. When about eighteen years of age he went to clerking in the general store of Charles H. Killinger and John H. Kinports, of Annville, with whom he remained for a period of five years. This firm then changed to that of Kinports & Kreider, and Mr. Shenk contin- ued with the same as clerk until 1861, in the fall of which year he enlisted for services in the Civil war, entering Company C, One Hundred and Seventy- third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served one year, was appointed second sergeant of the company, and mustered out as commissary sergeant of the regiment.
Returning to Annville after his loyal and faithful service Mr. Shenk clerked for one year for the firm of Burkner & Kreider. In 1867 he became a member of the firm of Kinports & Shenk, general merchants, which partner- ship continued until the death of Mr. Kinports in 1894, following which the firm became Shenk & Kinports, George W. and H. L. Kinports, sons of the former partner, succeeding to their father's interest. Mr. Shenk was one of the organizers of the Daisy Shirt factory of Annville, in 1892, of which com- pany he was a director during its existence.
In 1865 Mr. Shenk was married to Louisa M. Rigler, daughter of George and Mary Rigler, of Annville, who died in the fall of 1898, at the age of fifty- two years, leaving one son and one daughter, namely: George R., born in 1868, was educated in the common schools and the Lebanon Valley College, graduating in 1887, and in 1889 from Jefferson Medical College, and then tak- ing a special course in medicine in New York City, was thoroughly prepared to attend to the large practice which he enjoys in Reading ; and Mary M., who was born in 1871, attended the common schools and graduated from the Leb- anon Valley College. Mrs. Shenk was active in church and Sunday school work, teaching in the school, and for many years Mr. Shenk was treasurer of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. In fraternal life, Mr. Shenk belongs to the order of Odd Fellows, and is a charter member of Washington Camp, No. 87,
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P. O. S. A. of Annville, Through a long and successful business career, Mr. Shenk has retained the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens and is regarded as a worthy representative of the mercantile line in this locality.
ABRAHAM HERSHBERGER. A continuous connection with the business interests of the city of Lebanon for a period of forty-five years entitles this worthy and representative business man to honorable mention in a volume, purporting as does this one, to set forth the families who have been honorably connected with the history of this county.
Mr. Hershberger is a furniture dealer at Nos. 613-617 Cumberland street, Lebanon. He is a native of Lebanon county, born in North Annville township, August 24, 1828, son of David Hershberger, who was born in East Hanover township, Lebanon county in 1802, and died in 1830. He was th son of Henry Hershberger, who was also born in East Hanover town- ship, Lebanon county. The Hershbergers came originally from Germany. David Hershberger, the father of our subject, was a weaver by trade. He married Rebecca Baurd, who was born in North Annville township, Lebanon county, in 1803, and died in January, 1891. Her father was a native of Lebanon county. To the parents only two sons were born : John, the elder, born in 1824: our subject in 1828. The parents were members of the Re- formed Church.
Abraham Hershberger was brought up on the farm from his eighth to his fifteenth year, during which time he went to school at the common schools for four winters, and secured an English and German education. In 1843 he came to Lebanon and began to learn the cabinet maker's trade, his apprentice- ship being served under Henry Allenbach, whose shop was in the room now occupied as a tailor, shop next to the Valley National Bank. Owing to the retirement from business of Mr. Allenbach, he was free from his apprenticeship in less than half the time usually required, but having applied himself dili- gently he was able to do work as a full journeyman. Tiring soon of being subject to an overseer, he set up in business for himself. opening a shop at the village of Bell Grove. He did well there for some eighteen months, but feeling the need of a larger field he went to Palmyra and opened a shop. Here he passed a period of over four years. After another trial in Lebanon, he, in 1856, yielded to the western fever, and went out to Bucyrus. Ohio. However, a twelve-month in this western village was sufficient to remove the scales from his eyes concerning the undesirability of his home town, and he returned, never again to tempt fortune outside its bounds. When he lo- cated in Lebanon the last time he opened a shop on Cumberland street. be-
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tween Seventh and Eighth streets, where the hotel now stands. Shortly afterward he purchased a lot where his present business house now stands, and built the establishment that has grown to such magnificent proportions. This growth has been gradual, but secure, and by the most legitimate busi- ness methods. In the management of the business he has been greatly aided by his two sons, one of whom is now a partner.
Mr. Hershberger has twice entered the state of matrimony, first on March 28, 1847, when he was joined in marriage to Angeline Matilda Meyers ; this lady was born in Bethel township, this county, July 9, 1826, daughter of Peter Meyers, a tailor who conducted a business for years in Frederickstown. Mrs. Hershberger died March 25, 1896. She was an ex- cellent mother to her two sons, and a woman of fine temperament. The names of her two sons are Francis, born November 1, 1848, and Stephen, August 3, 1852. On December 2, 1897, Mr. Hershberger brought to his home Miss Mary L. T. Graeff, a native of the county, and the daughter of Jacob Graeff, deceased. In religious faith both Mr. and Mrs. Hershberger are devout members of the St. Paul Evangelical Church. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Hershberger has passed a long life of singular uprightness and is now enjoying the fruits of well-directed efforts in his younger manhood. He is one of the solid men of his community and his many fine qualities of citizen- ship have brought to him the kind offices of a host of friends. His sons, also, are men of high repute, and the family is one which has a most worthy record of its individual members, past and present.
JOHN GATES. At the corner of Willow street and Doe alley, Lebanon, stands the blacksmithing establishment of John Gates, who for thirty-four years continuously has carried on his trade at that point. Mr. Gates is a gentle- man of high repute in Lebanon, and is a man whose upright conduct and many good qualities of citizenship have made him the center of a large circle of friends. He is a native of the county, having been born in Colebrook on June 22, 1839, son of John Gates, Sr. His schooling was limited in youth to such as he could acquire from the common schools before he was fourteen years of age. Indeed, before that time he had gone to work in a brick yard, and at that age went to Ringtown, Schuylkill county, Pa., where he was apprenticed to the 'blacksmith trade with his uncle, William Motter. He passed the full appren- ticeship period of four years with his uncle, and then returned to Lebanon. where he followed his trade for about a year. He. however, had left an attrac- tion in Ringtown which was of sufficient power to draw him back to that vil- lage, for at the end of the year he returned, and on April 3, 1858, was joined
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in marriage to Miss Caroline Rupert, a native of Ringtown, born March 17, 1840, daughter of Samuel Rupert. Mr. Gates immediately opened a shop for the prosecution of his trade in Ringtown, which he operated until 1861, when he again returned to Lebanon. During the war he did his duty by the Gov- ernment in following his trade with the army. In 1862 he went to Washing- ton, D. C., where he shod horses for the Government for some time, then was at Port Kennedy, Montgomery Co., Pa., for several years. His present loca- tion was opened by him on March 4, 1869. Mr. Gates has been very success- ful in his business, combining a penchant for hard work with unsurpassed skill in all branches of the blacksmithing business, and is especially known as a scientific shoer of horses. In this latter there is no man in the county who better understands a horse's foot and the proper care of it. Mr. Gates has pushed along steadily at his business, using his surplus capital, which he has saved, in investment in real estate about him, and is at present possessed of a nice little property. He owns his place of business and the adjoining residence property, as well as his commodious and comfortable home on Willow street, together with some other improved city property. He is looked upon as a man whose word is as good as his bond, and he is upright and straightforward, and is of genial disposition. He is a member of the Perseverance Fire Com- pany, which has done great service to the city in the past, and in religious matters he affiliates with Zion Lutheran Church.
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Mr. and Mrs. Gates have had these children : Clara, who married John E. Mills, of Lebanon ; Robert, whose wife was Miss Margaret Schenk ; Miss Ida; George, who married Jennie McNutt; Bertha, deceased: Charles; Samuel; Carrie, who married Charles H. Cooke, and who now resides in Pittsburg; Miss Martha A .: and Thomas J., who married Sarah Harpel. In political preference Mr. Gates favors the Democratic party, and is always found ready to do whatever he can to further its interests. He is a gentleman who merits the good will and esteem in which he is held in Lebanon.
PHILIP L. IMBODEN, a well-known, substantial farmer of Cornwall township, was born April 20, 1845. in South Annville township, this county, a son of George and Sarah ( Heilig) Imboden, and grandson of Philip Imboden, a farmer of South Annville township and a strong supporter of the Lutheran Church.
George Imboden, the father, was born, reared and spent the whole of his comparatively short life in South Annville township, where he followed the life of a farmer. By his marriage to Sarah Heilig. he had a family of six chil- dren, namely: Emma (deceased), the wife of Joseph Herman; Philip L .;
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George, a resident of Annville; Jacob R., engaged in a butchering business in Lebanon; Adam, a farmer and hotel-keeper in Schuylkill county, Pa .; and Clara, the wife of Abraham Herr, of Annville. The father passed away at the age of thirty-nine years, and the mother at the age of seventy-six.
Philip L. Imboden grew accustomed to farm duties in his boyhood, and attended the local schools of South Annville township. For eighteen years after his marriage he operated a farm on shares, and in 1885 located on the old Smith farm, which was' formerly the property of his father-in-law, Isaac Smith, and was located five miles southwest of Lebanon. It contains 120 acres of very fertile land, and through his excellent management has become one of the very best farms of this part of Lebanon county. Mr. Imboden is a man of very great intelligence and of progressive ideas, and he was the first farmer in his locality to introduce that necessity of successful modern farming, a McCormick binder. Not only has Mr. Imboden been a leader in the matter of machinery, but he also has brought his stock up to a high grade and sets a very good example in his neighborhood. All public-spirited movements are given his careful attention and are liberally supported if his judgment sees in them good for the community. For several years he gave his intelligent ser- vice to the school board, and was ever an advocate of progress and growth to meet the demands of the times.
In 1866 Mr. Imboden was married to Miss Kate Smith, who was born in South Lebanon township, a daughter of Isaac Smith. Four children were born to this union, namely: (1) Grant, unmarried, remains with his father as engineer and farmer. (2) Isaac C., who has followed farming mainly through life, is now a resident of Reading, where he manufactures his own invention, patented, the I. C. harrow. He married Sallie Shenk, and they have had chil- dren-Stella, May, Herman, Mercy ( deceased) and Grant. (3) Sallie married Elmer Hostetter, and they have children-Cyrus, Ada and Walter ; they live in North Cornwall township. (4) Kate married Jacob G. Strippenhauer, and they reside with Mr. Imboden ; their children are Katie, Mabel, Mary, Stella and Susan.
The family is highly respected, and is connected with the Lutheran Church, this being the religious body with which the Imbodens have been identified for generations. The family has long been established in the best social circles of the township.
WILLIAM P. TICE, of Myerstown, is one of the honorable men of South Jackson township, and resides in his handsome brick home on South Railroad street, Myerstown. Mr. Tice was born on the old Tice farm near
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this town, August 28, 1838. The parents of Mr. Tice were Michael and Catherine (Noecker) Tice, deceased, the former of whom was a son of David Tice, an old settler who came from Clearfield county to this part of the State about one hundred years ago.
Michael Tice was one of his father's two sons, and was born in 1796, and died in 1849. His occupation through life was farming and in this old home he reared a family of thirteen children, namely : Henry, Eliza, Israel and Susan, deceased; David, a retired fariner of Myerstown; John and Per- cival, deceased; Andrew J., of Illinois ; Katherine, the wife of Samuel Raber, of Myerstown; Levina, deceased; William P., of Myerstown; and Aaron and Rebecca, deceased. Mr. Tice died in 1849. He always supported the Democratic party, and was a consistent member and constant attendant of the Reformed Church. His wife was a daughter of Christian Noecker, an old resident of Jackson township.
William P. Tice was among the younger members of his parents' large family, and was reared to young manhood on the old Tice homestead, obtain- ing his education in the local schools and the Academy at Myerstown. Al- though but twenty-two years of age at the outbreak of the Civil war, he loy- ally offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company C, One Hun- dred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. John H. Bassler, and becoming a part of the famous regiment known as the Sec- ond Bucktail. Mr. Tice was one of the brave and gallant men who served through the whole of the war, not receiving his honorable mustering out until June 28, 1865. After the close of the war and his return to the arts of peace, he made a trip to Shelbyville, Shelby Co., Ill., where he remained one year. Upon coming back to Myerstown, he began to learn the carpenter trade, and was associated with the lumber firm of Loose & Hoak for twelve years. Mr. Tice still continues to follow his trade, in which he has been eminently suc- cessful and is known as a skilled workman through this locality.
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