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 68
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Emanuel Dundore, the father of Jacob K., was born in Berks county, and was eighteen years old when the family moved to Lebanon county and settled in South Lebanon township. There he became one of the successful farmers, and the owner of an estate of 170 acres of fine land. He married Mariah Krall, daughter of Christian Krall, born September 2, 1815, in Heidelberg township. and died May 20, 1889. Both Mr. Dundore and wife
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belonged to the United Brethren Church, in which he, at various times, served as trustee. Jacob K. was the only child born to these parents.
Jacob K. Dundore was born on the old homestead, May 21. 1843. and attended the public schools. For two years after leaving school he engaged in teaching, spending the years of 1864 and 1865, in this way. Mr. Dundore has spent his life in South Lebanon township. Since the death of his father he has managed the estate with great ability, his improvements greatly en- hancing its value, and to the original he has added until he now possesses 275 acres, all in South Lebanon township, although divided into three farms. Since the spring of 1902 he has lived retired from industrial activity. In addition to farming he has handled fertilizers, representing the Newport Fer- tilizing Company of Philadelphia. In his township he is most highly esteemed, and is universally regarded as one of the upright and representative men. At various times he has served in the local offices, and in every way has been a useful and public-spirited citizen.
On June 8, 1865, Mr. Dundore married Miss Emma Swope. born in South Lebanon township, January 9, 1840, daughter of Peter and Catherine (Light) Swope. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dundore are members of the Union Church at Iona, in which he is trustee.
This old family was first noted in the neighborhood of Host Church, in Tulpehocken township. Berks county, at that time a portion yet of Lancaster county. This community was then known as a border settlement, or back country, and at the time that Jacob K. Dundore settled there, the Blue Moun- tains, or the Kittatiny Range as then called, formed the boundary line be- tween the settlements of the whites and the territory of the Indians. The Host Church was one of the early landmarks of that locality and the present building which is known now as the Bern Church, is the third to occupy the site. The property is now jointly owned by the Reformed and Lutheran Churches, and descendants of the first Jacob Dundore are worthy members of both religious bodies.
FATHER ADAM CHRIST, pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Lebanon, was born in Chambersburg, Pa., June 3, 1856. son of Peter and Louisa (Segbert) Christ. The father was a native of Baden. Germany. born in 1811, and came to America in about 1829. He located in Chambers- burg a short time after coming to this country, and established himself in the shoe business, at which he continued until his death, which occurred in 1889. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1813. She died in 1900.
Father Christ remained with his parents in Chambersburg until 1870.
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He graduated from the Harrisburg (Pa.) high school in 1875, later went to Europe and spent two years in study at the University of Bonn, and followed this with two years of further study in the University of Muenster, where he was ordained June 3, 1879. He then traveled abroad for three months. His first appointment was as assistant pastor of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Lancaster, Pa., which he received September 1. 1879. He was ap- pointed assistant pastor of St. Mary's Church, Lebanon, November 1, 1882. Upon the death of the pastor, Rev. Father A. F. Kuhlman, in 1883, Father Christ was appointed pastor in charge of St. Mary's Church. The Catholic Mission in Lebanon county (St. Mary's) is one of the oldest in Pennsylvania, it having been formed early in the eighteenth century by a few German fam- ilies. A small block-house was built on ground donated by Rev. Arendorf (or Orndorf), and then was used as a church. The first priest who attended to the spiritual wants of the little flock was the Very Rev. Louis DeBarth, who in after years was appointed administrator of the Diocese of Philadelphia. Father Fitzsimmons frequently visited these parts after Father DeBarth had been appointed administrator. The little congregation soon increased. In those days great sacrifices were made by our pious forefathers, who walked from thirty to forty miles, starting Saturday night, in order to receive the consolations of religion. The old block-house soon became unsuitable for religious purposes, and the small band of Catholics, although widely scattered. were invited to attend services at the house of John Arnold. at which place services were held until 1812, Rev. John Beshter attending. The first baptism on record was in 1795. A movement to erect a new church was car- ried on by Father Besliter, but he did not remain to see it finished, as he was transferred to Abbottstown. Adams Co., Pa., where he died January 4, 1842. in the seventy-sixth year of his age. The cornerstone of the new church was laid in May, 1812, and the building was dedicated in 1814, and was conse- crated to the Virgin Mother of the Savior. The building committee was composed of Hermanus Arnold, George Zavier, Jacob Aurentz and Conrad Allein. Before the dedication the balance of the debt was removed by these four men. each giving $250 (the entire debt being four hundred pounds). The clergymen who occasionally attended to the wants of the new parish were Revs. George Schenfelder, James Summisky and G. D. Hogan. they visiting Lebanon about once a month. As the little congregation increased in numbers, and Lebanon began to grow in both size and import- ance, Father Charles Kearns was appointed to the parish, with residence in Lebanon. His death occurred in September. 1825. The pastors who offici- ated in Lebanon after his death, until the enlargement of the little church,
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were Revs. N. Corrin, Michael Curran, P. Duffy, V. M. Neuberger, the Steinbacher brothers, F. X. Marshall, and Rev. Baumgardner. The latter inaugurated a movement to enlarge the church, which was accomplished in 1845, and in the latter part of that year Father Baumgardner was trans- ferred to another mission, and Rev. John Lerig, O. S. F., became pastor in April 1849. In 1850 Rev. Anthony Schwartz became pastor, and under his direction a new cemetery was purchased and consecrated in December, 1856. Father Schwartz was succeeded by Father Daniel Oberholzer, and he in turn was succeeded by Father Antonius Grundner, O. S. B. V. M., in June, 1858. The latter was the originator of the present parochial schools. He was suc- ceeded in August, 1861, by Father Emil Stenzel, and the latter by Father John Boetzkes, in 1865. Under the latter the Academy occupied by the Sisters was erected. Father Boetzkes was transferred in August, 1869, and for a short time the church was interdicted by the bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. J. F. Shanahan, on account of trustee difficulties, but was again re- opened for divine services by Rev. A. F. Kuhlman, on September 8. 1869. Following the advent of Father Kuhlman there was a steady increase of the congregation, and he began to take measures looking to the erection of a new and more commodious house of worship. The corner-stone of this mag- nificent edifice was laid August 15. 1876. and its consecration took place December 14, 1880, the Rt. Rev. J. F. Shanahan, Bishop of Harrisburg. officiating. Its dimensions are 69 by 139 feet. The front is composed of Schaefferstown sandstone of reddish hue, with Ohio stone trimmings, the side walks of brick. The height of the two towers is 130 feet. The roof is suported by Gothic pillars. Under the pastorate of Father Christ the convent and parochial school were built in 1884, and the Cornwall Church was erected in 1886.
C. R. HETRICK, postmaster of Schaefferstown, and one of the leading and public-spirited citizens of that community, was born February. 6. 1849. a son of John M. and Susanna ( Ream) Hetrick, of the same city. The father, born in 1815 and died in 1897. was for thirty-five years a popular teacher of Schaefferstown.
John Hetrick was a son of John Hetrick, a native of Columbus, Ohio, a German soldier who came to Pennsylvania about the time of Hull's sur- render. His only child was John (2), the father of C. R. Hetrick, and John (2) had two sons : C. R. ; and Henry, of Schaefferstown. In politics. John Hetrick (2) was a stanch Republican and prominent in local affairs. His prominence in the Reformed Church of Schaefferstown is still remembered,
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while he was equally well known in Heidelberg township for nearly sixty years. Few men in that locality were recognized as his equals as an instruc- tor, and his loss was deeply mourned.
C. R. Hetrick was reared in Schaefferstown, receiving an excellent edu- cation in the public schools, and after completing his education, he learned the trade of cigar making, which he followed for some time, when he became a clerk in a store in his native town, and at the same time learned the trade of barber, and later established a shop in Schaefferstown about 1875. In politics, he has always been a stanch Republican, and has taken an active part in local affairs, having served with credit to himself and distinction to his party as township assessor and clerk of election for a number of years. In 1898, under President Mckinley, his yeoman service in behalf of Repub- licanism was rewarded by his appointment as postmaster, which office he still fills to the satisfaction of his constituents.
About 1878, Mr. Hetrick was married to Miss Agnes Ream, of Schaef- ferstown, a daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Keller) Ream, of the same city. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hetrick: Lloyd, who was a soldier in the Philippines, and also with the Chinese expedition with the allied powers, and was serving in the United States marine corps at the siege of Tien Tsin. China, when he received severe wounds, and is now at Schaeffers- town: Cora A., at home: Robert J., a teacher in the home schools: and Minnie, Howard D., Dawson M .. James and Arthur, at home.
WILLIAM SHEAFFER. South Lebanon township, Lebanon county, has many good farmers and estimable citizens, and among these none are more justly prominent than is William Sheaffer.
Mr. Sheaffer was born December 4, 1831, in Jackson township. near Myerstown. a son of Samuel and Mary (Vinn) Sheaffer, the former of whom died in 1864. at the age of seventy-three years, and the latter in 1868, at the age of seventy-two years. The father was born either in York or Lancaster county. near the Susquehannah River, and came in boyhood to Lebanon, to make his home with an uncle. After his marriage he located near Myerstown. and engaged in farming, purchasing a small farm there, but later in life he removed to Cornwall township, purchased a farm of 112 acres and lived there until he retired from activity, and spent his last years in Lebanon City. Both he and wife belonged to the United Brethren Church, and were upright and worthy people. They reared a large family to be good and honest members of society, many of whom have passed to their final rewards. They were: Moses, deceased : Catherine, deceased, who married Michael Hawk: John,
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deceased; Lydia, deceased, the wife of Jonas Hawk; Elizabeth, deceased, married George Gingrich; Abraham, deceased; Samuel, deceased; Christian, a resident of Bates county, Mo .; William, mentioned below; Mary, de- ceased, who married Adam Brown; and Sarah, wife of Jonathan Ward.
William Sheaffer was reared on the home farm, and assisted his father both in Jackson and Cornwall townships, and was educated in both the public schools and academy. In young manhood he took a trip through the great West, remaining from home some eighteen months, returning then to locate in Lebanon county. After marriage, he operated his father's farm for six years, and then moved to Lebanon, but one year later resumed farming. on a small purchase in South Annville township, living there from 1865 until 1886, when he came to his present home, a fine, well-cultivated farm of twenty-two acres.
Mr. Sheaffer was first married to Miss Sarah Hoffer, daughter of George and Nancy ( Gingrich) Hoffer, who died in 1878, at the age of forty years. Three children were born to this union, namely : Edwin H., a farmer in South Annville township; and Seth and Anna Mary, deceased. In March, 1886, Mr. Sheaffer was married (second) to Mrs. Emma Snyder, the widow of Samuel Snyder, who died in 1883, at the age of thirty-three years. Mrs. Sheaffer was the mother of four children by her first marriage, namely : Amanda, deceased; Alice, the wife of Aaron Bomberger, a fariner of Corn- wall township; Lillia M., the wife of John Hoke, a farmer of South Lebanon township; and Edith, at home. Mrs. Sheaffer was born October 20, 1850, in Cornwall township, a daughter of Moses and Margaret ( Rauch) Reigert, the former of whom died in January, 1851, comparatively a young man, leaving a widow and two children, the other being Amanda, the wife of Adam Bomberger, of East Hanover township, Lebanon county. The mother of Mrs. Sheaffer is still surviving at an advanced age, a resident of Londonderry township.
.Mr. and Mrs. Sheaffer are members of the United Christian Church in which Mr. Sheaffer has been a local preacher for the past ten or twelve years. He is a man of the most upright character, and one of the best citizens of South Lebanon township.
JOSEPH BOWMAN, one of the representative citizens of North Leb- anon township, was born December 20, 1865, on the farm which he now occupies, most advantageously located within four miles of the city of Leb- anon, a son of William and Elizabeth (Arnold) Bowman, both deceased.
William Bowman was born March 31, 1824, and died October 24, 1888,
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his widow surviving until July 7th, in the following year. She was born August 24, 1828, a daughter of Peter Arnold. William Bowman was a son of John Bowman, and was born in Bethel township, near Mt. Zion, and prior to his marriage, worked industriously at the various kinds of labor in his locality. After marriage he located in North Lebanon township, and later purchased a farm of 100 acres of Peter Arnold, the same being now the property of Joseph Bowman. William Bowman was a man of reliability, and was held in esteem, served his township as school director, and was a useful citizen. He belonged to the St. Mary's Catholic Church of Lebanon. Five children were born to William Bowman and wife, namely: Annie, who died unmarried; Sarah, who died in childhood; Elizabeth, who died in childhood; John William, who is a farmer in Swatara township; and Joseph.
Joseph Bowman was the youngest member of his father's family and grew up in his home, where he has remained ever since. In the spring of 1890 he began to operate a dairy, and successfully conducted the same until 1902, since which time he has devoted his attention to general farming. Mr. Bowman is a member of the school board and one of the enterprising and progressive men of his neighborhood. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party, exerting considerable influence.
In 1885 Mr. Bowman was married to Miss Lizzie Shaeffer, born in North Lebanon township, daughter of John and Maria (Allwine) Shaeffer. They both are consistent members of the Catholic Church, and are much esteemed and highly valued in their locality.
M. D. LANDIS, one of the leading citizens of Palmyra, Lebanon county, and a member of the firm of J. Landis' Sons, shoe manufacturers. was born February 20, 1865, on the old Landis homestead. Dauphin county. Pa., just across the Lebanon county line west of Palmyra, he being a son of Jacob Landis, an extended sketch of whom appears elsewhere.
The boyhood of Mr. Landis was spent in Palmyra, where he received a good, practical education. When the Palmyra Bank was organized, he en- tered it as teller, and held this position for one and one-half years. At the expiration of this period, he became associated with his father in the grain and warehouse business, the style of the firm being Jacob Landis & Son, and continuing as such for seven years, when the father retired, and Mr. Landis continued alone for one year. In 1895, with his father and David N., his brother, he organized the J. Landis' Sons shoe company, and has continued in this line of business with marked success, the product of his factory find- ing a ready sale throughout this and foreign lands. The remarkable growth
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of this enterprise is largely due to the enterprise and executive ability of Mr. Landis, a fact which is readily conceded by his associates.
Mr. Landis and Nellie Weltmer were united in marriage and two chiil- dren were born to them: Lucetta, who died wlien only a few days old; and Carrie, born February 15, 1900. Mrs. Landis was born in Belle Grove, Leb- anon county, a daughter of Abraham Weltmer, and is a most charming and cultivated lady.
Mr. Landis has been a member of the United Christian Church for some years, and was ordained a minister of that denomination in 1899. There are six churches of this faith in Lebanon county. The life of Mr. Landis is gov- erned by the principles of his religious belief, and he is a man of high moral character, strict integrity, and his Christian charity and kindness of heart have made him greatly beloved by all who have the privilege of knowing him.
SAMUEL B. MILLER, one of the leading business men of Lebanon, Pa., where he engaged in the coal business, was born in South Cornwall township, Lebanon county, May 31, 1857, son of George and Mariah ( Bleis- tine) Miller.
Both parents of Samuel B. Miller were natives of South Cornwall town- ship, but the Miller family came from Schaefferstown, Lebanon county, in the neighborhood of what is familiarly known as the "old tannery." George Miller, the father, was one of a family of thirteen children, all of whom are now dead, except one, Mollie, now Mrs. Frank Keener, who resides in the vicinity of Schaefferstown. The maternal grandfather was Jolin Bleistine, of South Cornwall township, to whom two sons and three daughters were born, only one of whom, Joseph, is living, and he resides on the old home farm in South Cornwall township. All of the members of the Miller and Bleistine families belonged to the Reformed Church. George Miller, the father of Samuel B. Miller, died in 1862, at the age of forty-six years, and his wife in 1885. when in her sixty-third year. To these two seven children were born; Jolin, residing in Lebanon; Elizabeth, married to Daniel Moyer, and now deceased : Joseph, deceased ; Susan, married to Cyrus Crouse, and 110W deceased ; Henry residing in the State of Washington : Samuel B. ; and Will- iam, who resides in Lancaster county.
When George Miller died, the family was broken up, and Samuel B. went to live with an uncle, also named Samuel Miller, who was a farmer at Schaefferstown. Until he was seventeen years of age, he lived with his uncle, working upon the farm in the summer, and attending the district school in winter. In 1874 he began an apprenticeship at the trade of carriage making
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with John Saylor, of Annville. After finishing his apprenticeship of three years, he worked at his trade for two years, and then engaged as a pattern maker at the factory of Mellet & Co., of Reading. Pa., remaining with this concern for about nine months. In 1880 he decided to see more of the coun- try, and went west to Kansas, remaining a year at Abilene and two years at McPherson, working at the carpenter's trade. Returning in 1884, to his mother, who had by this time removed to the city of Lebanon, he worked at carriage making and carpentering. continuing in this line of business until 1888. when he embarked in the retail coal trade, at his present location, on Twelfth street, near Walnut, on what is known as Gallows Hill, the hill tak- ing its name from the fact that the first man hung in Lebanon county. Jim- mie McQueen. an Irishman, was hung here for murder.
When Mr. Miller purchased the property, it comprised over an acre, and here he erected his pleasant home, doing all the work himself, as well as con- ducting his coal business. Since then he has enlarged his field of operations and deals extensively in farm implements. In his business transactions, Mr. Miller has been very successful, and in addition to his residence, owns five two-story residences on Twelfth street; a coal shed of 180 feet in length, and his office building.
On September 19, 1885, Mr. Miller was married to Emma Sherk, of West Myerstown, Pa., who was born September 1, 1857, daughter of Cyrus and Eliza (Luce) Sherk. On April 9, 1891, a son, Samuel Sherk, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, a bright little fellow who is the pride of his parents' hearts. Mr. Miller is a member of A. O. U. W .; Modern Woodmen; I. O. O. F. and B. U. C. of A. In 1889 he served as a member of the borough council of Lebanon, from the Second ward, for one year, and in 1890 was elected from the same ward to a seat in the city council. In his religious opin- ions Mr. Miller is a member of the First Reformed Church. Both he and Mrs. Miller are highly esteemed in the community, and are justly regarded as leading representatives of the city's substantial people.
HENRY L. LONG, one of the leading men and progressive citizens of Lebanon county, residing at Fairlands, North Cornwall township, was born on the old homestead in South Annville township, February 3, 1834, a son of David and Eve (Lentz) Long.
Mr. Long grew up on the farm and secured a good common school edu- cation, displaying from youth an aptitude for business which has made him one of the wealthy men of the county. His first business venture was as a drover, and this he followed for several years. At about the age of twenty-
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six he located on a farm in Cornwall township, which he had previously pur- chased, and remained upon this property until he removed to Fairlands in 1897. This farm consisted of sixty acres, and was devoted to general farm- ing. In 1873 Mr. Long entered into the sawmill business and since that time has been extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber, in Lebanon and Berks counties, engaging at the present time in the timber and lumber busi- ness. both wholesale and retail, his specialty being choice oak lumber. In partnership with his son he has purchased several large tracts, one of these containing 302 acres, located in South Annville and Londonderry townships, and another of thirty-eight acres at Cleona, North Lebanon township. This property was originally purchased by Mr. Long of William L. Kreider of Palmyra, with whom he laid out the town of Cleona and erected the first residence there. Later Mr. Kreider was succeeded by John H. Long, a son of Henry, and they also own the old Kreider homestead of 131 acres, which is situated just north of Cleona, in North Lebanon township, and upon this property is located the reservoir that supplies Cleona with water. This farm is being placed in the very finest condition by its owners, many improvements, including a substantial barn, having lately been made, and is acknowledged to be about the finest farm in the county. Mr. Long and his son own several properties in Cleona, jointly and also separately. Mr. Long owns his hand- some home at Fairlands and also a hotel at Bismarck, forty-six acres and res- idence in Swatara township, in addition to other lands and properties of value. Mr. Long is one of the stockholders of the Farmers National Bank, a director in the same and was one of its organizers; and is a stockholder in the Palmyra Bank, while his son is also a stockholder in the former institut- tion, and bids fair to equal his father in business enterprise.
In December, 1860, Mr. Long was married to Margaret Gingrich, daughter of Peter Gingrich, of South Annville township. A family of seven children was born to this union, namely : John H., who is associated with his father. married Fannie Kettering, and their children are: Ada, Jolin, Sarah, Harry, Rena, Raymond and one deceased; Alice married Adam C. Miller, of Cleona, and their children are, Harry, John, Roy and Mary; Elizabeth married John H. Kettering, of North Annville, and they have three chil- dren, May, Perry and Edith; and Miss Mary A. Three children died in childhood.
Mr. Long is prominently identified with the Republican party, and he has served his district as school director. From his early youth Mr. Long has been a worker and attributes much of his success to persistent endeavor. His large means have not been accumulated without both mental and physical
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