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 55
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Peter Nissley, father of Jacob, achieved success in agriculture, and was also influential in the public affairs of Millcreek township. Born in Lan- caster county July 12, 1809, he received in a well-ordered home good rearing and practical training for life's activities. Upon reaching manhood he turned his attention to agriculture, and for some years followed that occupation very successfully in Lancaster county. A more desirable opening in his line decided him, in 1853, to move to Lebanon county. There he settled upon a farm and made a comfortable home for himself. His well-laid plans materialized themselves in abundant and marketable crops, and won for him a leading place among agriculturists in his section. He lived to the advanced age of eighty years, and died September 10. 1889. During his young manhood Mr. Nissley married Susan Lfautz, and they had three children: John, Annie and Jacob. John and Annie died when they were small children.
Mr. Nissley possessed a large capacity for work, and wisdom in direct- ing affairs, wherein lay his success as an agriculturist. His achievements and his noble character won him the esteem of all who knew him, and as a strong Republican in politics his word carried weight in local affairs.
Jacob Nissley was reared in an atmosphere of strong activity and high moral rectitude. Assisting his father on the farm, he received plenty of healthful physical exercise, and at the same time practical training in agricul- ture. In the public schools of his neighborhood he obtained his education. which he has since supplemented with much reading. A taste for agricul- ture decided him upon reaching manhood to make it the business of his life. On October 29, 1863, Mr. Nissley married Rebecca Zug, of Millcreek town- ship. She was his faithful helpmeet for many years, dying May 24, 1902. She was a noble woman, and for many years was a devout member of the Ger- man Baptist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Nissley were born eight children : Lizzie, who married N. H. Royer, of Richland; Susan, wife of Daniel Royer, of Richland: Rebecca, who married Henry Hain, of Berks county; Samuel. who married Alice Sealer, of Richland, Lebanon county; Henry, who mar- ried Maggie Royer, of Lexington. Lancaster county; Jacob, who married Emma Haak, of Millbach, Lebanon county ; and Annie, and Ida, staying at home.
After his marriage Mr. Nissley settled upon a farm in Millcreek town- ship, where he engaged in agriculture. Laying good plans and carefully executing them, he made a success of his work from the start. His carefully tilled fields resulted in abundant harvests, which, being marketed at the right time, brought in good money returns. Encouraged by his results he
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soon branched out in business, and purchased other farms, which he culti- vated, deriving a good income therefrom. In all his ventures he has pros- pered, and he now owns three well-improved and valuable farms-one con- taining seventy-four acres, another forty-one, and a third forty-three.
Mr. Nissley has confined his business activities to agriculture, seeking perfect work in one main line. He has not, however, been so absorbed as to neglect social and religious obligations. In 1866 he joined the German Baptist Church, and since that time has been one of the leading men. Through the merited esteem of the members he was made deacon April 3. 1875 ; min- ister in 1881 ; and August 20, 1900, elder, a place which he is still filling with marked ability. He is a man of irreproachable character, honest, sincere, and unwavering in his convictions, and he is one of the most highly respected and widely known ministers of the church in Lebanon county. Since 1896 he has been leading a retired life.
Abraham Zug, father of Mrs. Nissley, was a well-known citizen of Millcreek township. He had a family of six children : Samuel, now a resi- dent of Dayton, Ohio: William, of Richland, Pa .; Lydia, who married Sani- tiel Loose, and resides near Fremont, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of John Fisher, of Richland; Amanda, widow of the late Hiram Holstein, of Lebanon ; and Rebecca, Mrs. Nissley, who is mentioned above.
REV. A. M. BLECKER, a minister of the United Brethren Church, and one of the highly esteemed citizens of Myerstown, Pa., was born in North Lebanon township, Lebanon county, Pa., January 15, 1844, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Rittel) Blecker, of that township.
Michael Blecker, grandfather of Rev. A. M. Blecker, was of German ancestry, and was an early settler of Lancaster and later of Lebanon county. He cultivated a farm in North Jackson township which is still in the family. He had four sons and two daughters: Frederick, Michael, William, Samuel, Lavina (who married Henry Spannuth, of North Jackson township) and Rebecca (married to John H. Spannuth). Michael Blecker, father of this family, was a member of the Reformed Church, and an honorable, upright man. Of his sons, Michael Blecker (2), the father of Rev. A. M. Blecker, was a stonemason by trade, and a farmer by occupation during the greater portion of his life. His birth occurred December 3, 1819, and he died May 6, 1899. He was married in 1842 to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Rittel, also an old settler of Lebanon county, who married Katherine Fisher. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Blecker was blessed with the following children : Rev. A. M. and Rev. Jared R., both ministers of the United Breth-
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ren Church and one daughter, Helena, of Myerstown. Mrs. Michael Blecker was born in Lebanon county in 1821 and is still living. Michael Blecker became one of the leading farmers of his day, and was highly esteemed by all who had dealings with him. In politics he originally adhered to the principles of the Whig party, and later became a Republican; he was never an office seeker. For many years he was one of the leading members of the United Brethren Church, and an active and generous supporter.
Rev. A. M. Blecker was educated in the public schools of Jackson town- ship and the Myerstown Academy, and after graduation taught school for four years. Afterward he embarked in the photographic and music business, continuing in the same for a number of years, in Myerstown, and meeting with unqualified success. Mr. Blecker at present conducts a prosperous business, dealing in hats and shoes. At the age of forty years he began the study of theology, and received quarterly license to preach the Gospel in 1884. and annual conference license in 1885, and has been an ordained min- ister of the United Brethren Church ever since, serving at different points, and accomplishing much good in the Master's cause.
On September 30, 1865, Mr. Blecker was married to Miss Catherine Artz, of Myerstown, a daughter of Benjamin and Ellen (Dehart) Artz, of that place; there has been no issue from this union. Mrs. Blecker has been an invalid for a number of years, and is tenderly cared for by her devoted husband, who in his home displays his many excellent traits of character to the utmost degree.
Fraternally Mr. Blecker is an earnest and popular member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 358, of Myerstown, Pa., and of the various church and Sunday- school organizations of his church. Being a man of wide reading and broad mind, he is enabled to grasp the living issues of the day and present them in a convincing manner, while his eloquence makes him a very popular clergy- man. During a long and useful life he has accomplished much good, and now feels that his efforts have not been in vain, although he does not relax his endeavors but has many plans for future development.
EDWARD K. MANBECK, who died May 17, 1893. was for a long period of years one of the leading merchants of Lebanon. He was born in Jefferson township, Berks county, Pa., December 20, 1835, son of Joseph and Polly (Null) Manbeck, both of whom were of German descent. He was educated in the public schools and in the Lebanon Academy. In connection with his school duties in the Academy he clerked in the store of his uncle, Elias Raeber, one of the early merchants of Lebanon, and where he received
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the training that made him so successful himself later in years. During this time his father had removed to New Schaefferstown, Berks county, and our subject joined him there from Lebanon, and together they went into busi- ness. This partnership continued at that point until the beginning of the Civil war. After the war, Mr. Manbeck served as revenue collector for several years, and later engaged in the fruit tree business. In the year 1883 he came to Lebanon from Reading, and organized the firm of Manbeck & Sando, opening a department store on Cumberland street, now Sando's, and continuing in successful business until his death. Mr. Manbeck was a man of keen business foresight, and had many fine attributes of character. Socially he was a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and in religious belief was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church.
In 1876 Mr. Manbeck married Elmira Knouse, who was born in Cumberland county, Pa., November 13, 1845, and is the daughter of Jacob and Savilla (Troutman) Knouse, the former a native of Lebanon county, and the latter of Berks county. Mrs. Manbeck survives her honored hus- band. She is the mother of the following children : J. Herbert, on the staff of the Report newspaper, of Lebanon; Estella K .; Mabel E., director of music at Sugar Grove Seminary ; and Araminta. Mrs. Dr. Gingrich, wife of one of Lebanon's prominent physicians, is a daughter of Mrs. Manbeck by a former marriage.
REUBEN HEILMAN. The farmers of our country are the bulwark of the nation. From their homes are recruited to a large extent the personnel of office and store in the crowded city. The homes of the farmers of Lebanon county have furnished to the neighboring towns a large number of their most enterprising and progressive business men, and are good yet for many more recruits. One of the best known and most worthy of the agricultural class in North Annville township is the gentleman whose name initiates this review, whose position of school director in his community is sufficient evi- dence that he is a man of upright character and of good influence.
Mr. Heilman was born on a farm in North Lebanon township No- vember 6, 1833. His father was Henry Heilman, Jr., whose birth occurred in North Annville township February 11, 1812. He died October 10, 1888, after a long life of usefulness in the community. Henry Heilman married Elizabeth Heilman, born in North Annville township March 5, 1816. She died December 15, 1883. Their children, besides Reuben, were: Amanda, who married Samuel Hossler, of Palmyra; Philip, residing in Lebanon ; Stephen, of Mount Zion; Eliza, who married D. D. Ulrich, South Ann-
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ville township; Ellen, the deceased wife of Aaron Gingrich. The paternal grandfather, Henry Heilman, Sr., was also born in North Annville township, during the Revolutionary war, August 19, 1779. He died November II, 1867. His wife was Elizabeth Gingrich, born in North Lebanon township, and the children born to this union were named as follows: Elizabeth, who married John Brennaman; Henry, Jr .; John; George G., residing in North Annville township; and Isaac. On the maternal side Mr. Heil- man's grandfather was Jacob Heilman, who was born March 28, 1786, and passed away December 29, 1864. Catherine Fernsler, his wife, was born in June, 1791, and died December 15, 1851. The Heilmans on both sides of the family have always been members and liberal supporters of the Reformed Church. The grandparents and all those deceased are buried in the old Hill Church graveyard.
Reuben Heilman passed the period of boyhood and youth in active labor on the farm, where he was taught lessons of economy and thrift in the home, and in the school of the district was given such education as was current at that time. He later attended the high school of Lebanon, and was also a pupil for a brief period at the Annville Academy. He remained at home until his marriage. and then began farming operations for himself in North Lebanon township. In 1867 he bought the farm where he now resides, in North Annville township, and which he has since continuously cultivated. He also owns a nice farm of ninety-three acres, adjoining his home residence. In 1890 he was able to retire from active labor on the farm, but still retains his interest in the property.
Mr. Heilman married Sarah A. Biever, a native of Annville, born in April, 1831, daughter of the late Samuel Biever. She bore Mr. Heilman the following children: Emma, who married H. D. Matz, a farmer now cultivating the farm of Mr. Heilman in North Lebanon township; Henry B., who operates the home farm; Mary E., Mrs. John Fegan, of North Annville township. Mrs. Heilman died June 23. 1903, aged seventy-two years, one montli and twenty-seven days.
While not an office seeker in any sense of the word, Mr. Heilman has always evinced a deep interest in the affairs of the township, and has borne his share of the unpaid labor in its service. He is at present serving his second year as school director of North Annville township, and takes a pardonable pride in the fact that, though a Democrat, he has been twice elected to that office in a township which is largely Republican. He is a leading member and active worker in the Hill Reformed Church, of which organization he is a deacon, trustee and treasurer, and is also a member of
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the cemetery committee. He has an interest in the Lancaster Mutual Fire Insurance Company, in which he is a director, and has acted as agent for that company for a long period of years. A substantial and progressive citizen, whose character is above reproach, and who takes delight in forwarding any movement calculated for the uplift of humanity, Mr. Heilman wins and holds the friendship of all who come in contact with him. He is a prosperous, representative citizen, and deserves the high esteem in which he is held.
JAMES T. HOOD. That the successful hotel man is born and not made is a truism emphasized in the career of James T. Hood, the genial and popular proprietor of the Eagle Hotel at Lebanon. Beginning with his four- teenth year Mr. Hood took naturally to a minor position in a well-known hostelry, and he naturally graduated into the position of clerk, widening his responsibilities into the sphere of the capable manager and proprietor with equal facility and equal credit to himself and all concerned. In his general makeup he is essentially Southern, coming from one of the old families of Maryland, in which State he was born February 12, 1854, a son of Samuel and Juliet M. (Crocket) Hood, also natives of Maryland.
The Hood family in America owes its origin to two brothers who emi- grated from England many years ago, settling in Maryland, but eventually parting their ways at what is now known as Hood's Mill, one locating in Montgomery county, Md., and the other coming to Pennsylvania. A dis- tinguished member of the family was the famous old warrior, General Hood, who was none the less brave and determined because he represented the fore- ordained lost cause of the Confederacy. The historic old farm in Mont- gomery county, Md., is still in the possession of the family. and upon it lives Samuel T. Hood, the father of James T., who is now seventy-seven years of age. He is a carriage trimmer and saddler by trade, and is the only sur- viving child born to Izah Hood, a farmer in Montgomery county, and the father also of four other children : Leutillia, Catherine, Mary and James T. Samuel T. Hood was the father of eleven children, all of whom are living : Charles T., of West Virginia; Francis U., of Baltimore, Md .; Laura A., the wife of Belt Norwood, of Ridgeville, Md .; Julius, of Ridgeville; James T .; Jennie, the wife of Luther Montgomery, of Ijames, Md .; William A., of Ridgeville, Md .; Rosa L., of Ridgeville, Md .: Edward, of Pittsburg, Pa .; and Harry of Ridgeville, and Elizabeth, of Baltimore, Maryland.
The paternal farm in Montgomery county, Md., seemed somewhat cir- cumscribed in its possibilities to the budding ambitions of James T. Hood, and when fourteen years old he went to work in a hotel in Hancock, Md.
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Previous to coming to Lebanon he was associated with hotels in both Hagers- town and Westminster, Md., whence he returned to his native State and worked in a hotel in Cumberland. Returning to Lebanon in 1884, he became a clerk in the Eagle Hotel, and during the intervening years until 1901, added to its popularity by his tact, courtesy, and general knowledge of the amenities of his position. In 1901 he become sole proprietor of the hotel, which is first class in every respect, and caters to a large following among the migrating public. No one better than he understands the value of fine con- sideration for people remote from their own fireside, and thus easily annoyed by the strangeness of their temporary surroundings. He appreciates the drawing capacity of a proper attention to the needs of the inner man, to absolute cleanliness, and above all to good fellowship, cheer and personal attentions.
In Hagerstown, Washington county, Md., Mr. Hood married Laura L., daughter of John and Amelia Lout, of Hagerstown. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hood, Samuel B. and Charles E. Mr. Hood is a Repub- lican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is associated with the Knights of the Golden Eagle, No. 497, of Lebanon, and the Knights of Fidelity. He is a self-made, well-made man, and is deserving of all the god fortune that can possibly come his way.
JOEL DUBBLE, one of the highly respected and well known citizens of South Jackson township, a blacksmith by trade, whose place of business is located one and one-half miles south of Myerstown, was born February 21. 1841, in Heidelberg township, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Seiders) Dubble, and a grandson of Dr. John Dubble, who was a traveling physician in the early days of Lebanon county. Dr. John Dubble was born in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, and was the father of three children, all now de- ceased, Jacob. Isaac and Polly. Jacob Dubble was born in 1799, and died at the age of eighty-three years. He married Elizabeth Seiders, and they had a large family, viz : William (deceased), Sarah, Jacob. Joel, George, Elizabeth, Samuel (deceased), John, Ellen, Isaac, Amanda and Leah, ten still surviving. The father was a Lutheran in his religious belief. Throughout life he was identified with the Republican party.
Joel Dubble was born and reared on a farm near Elizabeth Furnace and Schaefferstown, and attended the country schools in his neighborhood. At the age of eighteen years he began to learn the blacksmith's trade under John Corl, of Myerstown, and after completing his three years' apprenticeship, went to South Lebanon township, and there secured work at which he re-
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mained for three years. From there he went to Cornwall, where he was engaged for one year with Grubb & Co., ore miners, going then to Reistville, where he was engaged with Jacob Dissinger for one year. From there he made his way to Schaefferstown, and spent the following year at work in the shop of Michael Kegerreis, coming then to his present stand, where he now owns a shop and conducts a good business.
In 1865 Mr. Dubble was married to Mary Kegerreis, and they had two children. The second marriage of Mr. Dubble on December 22, 1867, was to Miss Priscilla Pfautz, a daughter of Amos Pfautz, of Lebanon county, and a family of eight children was born to this union, seven of whom grew to maturity : Salinda, the wife of Robert Moyer, of Lebanon county ; Harry, a smith, with his father; David, of Myerstown, a molder by trade; Amos, de- ceased; Sadie P., the wife of Charles Lentz, of Philadelphia; Leah P., the wife of Samuel Balesbaugh; and Samuel. The mother of this family died in 1886. Mr. Dubble was subsequently married (third) to Mrs. Caroline Zeigler, and this marriage has been blessed with three children, William, Allen and John.
Mr. Dubble has always been a man of great industry and has done well in life, making his own way without assistance. He has not only reared a large family in comfort, but owns a nice home and business. For twenty-five years he has been a member of the German Baptist Church. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party.
SAMUEL KETTERING, one of the leading men of North Annville township, Lebanon county, was born November 24, 1843, in Lebanon county, a son of Samuel and Frances (Shenk) Kettering, the former of whom was born October 31, 1808, and the latter November 4, 1812. They were mar- ried in December, 1830, and the father died September 4, 1885, aged seventy- six years, ten months, four days, the venerable mother surviving until April 3, 1887, when she followed her husband, aged seventy-four years, four months, twenty-nine days. Their children were: Mary, born October 29, 1832, married Michael Naftzger; Joseph, born December 26, 1833, married (first) Leah Sherk, and (second) Betsey Sherk, a step-sister (all are de- ceased) ; Samuel, born August 24, 1835, died January 14, 1837; Jacob, born July 14, 1837, married (first) Lydia Kreider, and (second) Kate Gingrich ; Frances, born April 15, 1840, married John Sprecher, of Cornwall township; Rebecca, born February 8, 1842, married John Kreider; Samuel, born No- vember 24, 1843, married Amanda Light; John, born November 18, 1845, married Lizzie Bucher; Lydia, born January 18, 1848. married John Bach-
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man; Philip, born March 4, 1850, married Mary Kiefer; Henry, born De- cember 2, 1851, married Lydia Kreider, and is deceased; Amanda, born August 8, 1853, married Ezra Moenger. All of the above are surviving except the three noted.
Samuel Kettering was about six months old when his father removed to South Annville township, and he remained at home on the farm until the age of twenty-three, when he began operations for himself on a farm in South Annville township. Two years later he went to Bethel township, where he continued to farm for five years, and then moved onto his present property in North Annville township, the old Daniel Kreider farm of 148 acres, with a large, comfortable residence and handsome stone barn. In addition to this valuable property Mr. Kettering owns the old Light farm, on the Belle Grove road, containing ninety-seven and one-half acres, and is also the owner of the Light homestead of 127 acres, in Bethel township, where his wife was born, as well as another fine property, the old Segrist farm of 115 acres in South Annville township, which, aggregated, makes Mr. Kettering one of the largest landowners in Lebanon county.
On October 4, 1866, Mr. Kettering was married to Amanda Light, born May 25, 1848, a granddaughter of Peter Smith and Martin Light, and a daughter of Isaiah and Catherine (Smith) Light, the former of whom was born in Bethel township July 28, 1818, and died September 28, 1891; the latter was born October 13, 1820. Their children were: Amanda; Nathaniel, born April 28, 1851; and Sarah Ann, born April 11, 1854, who died when between two and three years old. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kettering : Alice, born July 5, 1868, married John A. Herr, and they liave had children-Samuel Adam, David Henry, Isaiah, Mary, Alice and Elizabeth, one dying in infancy. Catherine, born January 6, 1871, married George W. Steinmetz, and died November 17, 1901, leaving an infant, Catherine K., one day old. John Henry, born October 25, 1873, married Elizabeth Long, and they have children-May, Commodore Perry and Edith. Mary Ann, born February 24, 1879, married Philip E. Franzler, and has one child, Kettering Paul. Frainy, born July 30. 1880, married Clement Brubaker, and they have two children, Mary and May.
The family is one most highly esteemed in North Annville township, and is connected by marriage with many of the old and leading families.
ABRAHAM S. GROH. Few merchants in Lebanon county can show a longer term of service than can A. S. Groh, a general merchant at Buffalo Springs, Heidelberg township. two miles north of Schaefferstown. Mr.
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Groh was born June 16, 1830, son of Abraham and Sarah ( Strickler) Groh. Like many others in this locality. the Groh family is of German extraction, George Groh, the grandfather of Abraham S. Groh. coming from Germany at an early date.
Abraham Groh, the father, was born in 1800, and died in 1881. His occupation throughout life was farming. In many ways he was a man of importance in his locality, and he was a leader in the Whig and later in the Republican party. He was a leading member of the Lutheran Church. served in many of its official positions and contributed largely to its support. About 1829 he married Sarah Strickler, and they reared a most estimable family, as follows: Abraham S .; John; Leonard; Nathan ; Sarah, deceased wife of Rudolph Herr; Elizabeth, wife of Noah Eberly; Malinda, wife of John Shenk; and Rebecca, deceased wife of Oliver Weiss. Of these, Leon- ard is a prominent minister of the Lutheran Church at Omaha, Neb .; and Nathan resides at Washington, D. C., and is the brother-in-law of Senator Jones, of Arkansas.
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