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 69
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effort, but men like him are apt to look with scorn upon the laggards in life's race, whose want of industry and energy keeps them in the back-ground. Mr. Long is a leading citizen, and possesses the broad mind and liberal spirit which so often attend those who have made their own way in the world. He has reared a family that is creditable to the county, and his honorable name will be perpetuated by his grandchildren.
PIERCE HENRY THOMPSON, one of the well-known citizens of the Second ward, of Lebanon, is a leading furniture dealer and undertaker, with commodious places of business located at Nos. 124-126 South Ninth street. Mr. Thompson was born August 12, 1859, in Lebanon, son of Daniel E. and Sarah A. (Arnold) Thompson, the former of whom was born in Berks county, and died in 1881. in his forty-third year. The mother was born in Lebanon township Lebanon county, February 22, 1840, a daugh- ter of Peter Arnold, a native of Lebanon county.
Pierce Henry Thompson, the only child born to his parents, was reared on the farm from his fourth to his eighteenth year. His mother subse- quently married Philip Allwein, and had a family of five children, but has now passed out of life also. Mr. Thompson obtained his education in the common schools of North Lebanon township, and when eighteen years old, began, on November 12, 1877, an apprenticeship at the furniture trade and undertaking, with Joseph Bowman, on North Ninth street, with whom he continued until May 30, 1890. At this date Mr. Thompson embarked in the business for himself in the Louser building on South Ninth street. In 1893 he erected his large business place, and in December of the same year estab- lished himself in it. The building is 47x19, with three floors, and his hand- some residence, also three stories high. is 33x150 feet. Mr. Thompson is thoroughly equipped with all kinds of modern improvements in his under- taking business, and he took a course in embalming in the Oriental Embalm- ing College at Harrisburg, and received his diploma on June 24. 1892.
On May 10, 1881, Mr. Thompson was married to Mary Hartman, daughter of E. Hartman, who died October 1, 1886, leaving one son and one daughter: (1) Charles H., born March 15, 1882, was educated in the parochial school of Lebanon, graduating June 18, 1896, later attending the Lebanon Business College and graduating April 5, 1897. He then took a course at the Champion College of Embalming at Philadelphia, in August, 1900, and in August, 1901, he took a finishing course at the Renouard Train- ing School for Embalming, in New York City. This talented and thor-
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oughly educated young man is associated with his father in business. (2) Miss Emma C., was born December IS, 1884.
Mr. Thompson was married (second) November 20, 1888, to Emma E. Hain, born in Lebanon county, daughter of Peter Hain. She died July 17, 1898. The children of this marriage were: Lucy R., Paul, Herman F., Andrew P., Robert A. and Helen (who died when eight weeks old). Mr. Thompson was married (third) October 17, 1899, to Elizabeth Allwein, who was born in Dauphin county. The religious connection of the family is with St. Mary's Catholic Church.
GEORGE B. SCHOCK (deceased) was born in Hamburg township, Berks county. February 12, 1857, and died in 1901. He was a son of Moses and Catherine Schock, now residing in Bernville, Berks county, where the former is a merchant. Moses and Catherine Schock had five children: Ame- lia. wife of Monroe Manbeck, of Berks county. Pa. ; J. A., a merchant of Mt. Zion, Pa .; George B., the subject of this sketch; and Alice and Annie, both unmarried, who are living at home with their parents.
George B. Schock was reared in the town of Hamburg, and attended the common schools of that place when a boy. He graduated from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., in 1879, and soon after he came to Lebanon, and read law under Cyrus P. Miller. Later he was admitted to the Lebanon Bar, and formed a partnership with Thomas Copp, now a prominent attorney in Lebanon. This partnership continued for six years, was then dissolved. and George B. began practicing alone, and so continued with great success until the time of his death.
On August 16, 1883. George B. Schock married Miss Emma J. Unger, of Allentown, Pa .. who was born September 25, 1857, and is a daughter of Amos H. and Maria ( Krause) Unger, who now reside in Lebanon with Mrs. George B. Schock. Mr. and Mrs. Unger had four children, namely: Rich- ard, of Illinois; Mrs. Schock; and Alice and George, the last named two being now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Schock came seven children: Mary F., of Lebanon; George W .; Paul, deceased; and Richard, Thomas, Edward and Emma, all at home.
Mr. Schock was a self-made man, and one of the leading lawyers of the Lebanon Bar. He was a stanch Republican. At one time he was county chairman ; city solicitor; secretary of the Fidelity Building & Loan Association ; a member of the P. O. S. of A .; and he belonged to the Phi Gamma Delta college fraternity. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, a man devoted to his wife and family, one who thought a great deal of the
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home life, kind hearted and good to all. A man well read, of sound mind and retentive memory, true and sincere in his convictions and honest to the principles of right, he ranked high in the estimation of his fellow men, and among the members of the Lebanon County Bar. He left behind him a host of friends to mourn his loss, and both city and home realize that a true, noble character has forever departed from them. His wife and family also are highly esteemed citizens of Lebanon. She is a kind and devoted mother, a good Christian woman, and she still remains true to the memory of her hus- band.
WARREN FRANTZ KLEIN. M. D., son of Daniel R. and Elizabeth (Frantz) Klein, was born in Bethel township, Berks county, Pa., October 19, 1861.
Daniel Klein, grandfather of Dr. Klein, was born near Hamburg, Berks county, and had three sons, one of whom, Daniel R., the father of Dr. Klein, was a prominent minister in the German Baptist Church. Daniel R. Klein died in the fall of 1899, in the sixty-third year of his age. Elizabeth Klein, the mother of Dr. Klein, was a daughter of Jacob Frantz, of Rehrersburg, Berks Co., Pa., the Frantz family having been among the earlier settlers of that locality, and figured prominently in the early Indian wars, as well as in the war for Independence. She died in 1876 in her thirty-fourth year. Dr. Klein is the second of seven children, the five surviving being: Frank F., who is in the wholesale shoe business at Reading, Pa .; Warren F., the subject of this sketch; Pamela R., wife of Morris Yagley, of Lebanon, Pa .; Emma L., wife of Nathan G. Lantz, of Lebanon county, Pa; Mary F., wife of Henry Long, who lives on the old homestead; a son and a daughter died in infancy.
Dr. Klein was reared on the old homestead near Bethel, Berks Co., Pa., and attended the public schools at Bethel, Pa., and later was a student at Juniata College at Huntingdon, Pa. He served one terin as teacher in the public schools of his native district, and at the same time pursued the study of medicine with Dr. G. H. Bickel, of Rehrersburg, Pa., afterward entering Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, from which institution he grad- uated in 1887, taking a post-graduate course at the Philadelphia Polyclinic. in 1888.
Dr. Klein entered upon the practice of his profession at Pine Grove, Pa .. having had charge of the practice of Dr. S. J. Seyfert at that point, but in the fall of 1888 removed to Lebanon, Pa., where he has enjoyed a large practice ever since. Dr. Klein is also a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Anat-
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LEBANON COUNTY. 627
omy and Surgery, receiving his diploma in 1887. He served as prison physi- cian to the Lebanon County Jail for seven years, and was appointed a member of the city board of health by the Mayor.
Dr. Klein is a self-made man and a close student, and keeps in touch with the advance of modern medical thought. He was one of the founders of American Medicine, a weekly medical journal published in Philadelphia. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State and the Lebanon County Medical Societies, and is an ex-president of the latter body.
In 1881 Dr. Klein was married to Miss Caroline H. Stoyer, daughter of Samuel Stoyer, a native of Hamburg, Berks county, where this family is well and favorably known. One daughter, Ella Elizabeth, is their only child. Dr. Klein is a member of the progressive branch of the Baptist Churchi.
DANIEL K. SPAYD. To have lived a long life of industry, taken active part in the development of his locality, and in the evening of life to be able to retire from its active labors crowned with dignity and the respect of his fellow citizens and surrounded by affectionate relatives, is the happy con- dition of Daniel K. Spayd, one of South Lebanon township's most honored residents.
Mr. Spayd was born November 22, 1827, in Berks county, Pa., a son of Daniel and Salome (Kline) Spayd, both of whom were natives of the same county. John Henry Spayd, the father of Daniel Spayd, was born in Ger- many and came to America a lad of sixteen years. He was twice married, Daniel being the issue of the second marriage, and he was born in 1800, and died in 1866. Reared in Berks county, he there learned the trade of shoe- maker, and followed the same until he moved to Lebanon county and pur- chased a farm in Millcreek township, which he operated until he retired from activity. Prior to coming to Lebanon county he had also engaged in boating on the old Union canal, having assisted, by contract, in the building of this waterway. Some ten years were spent in this business, and at his trade, and he was widely known for his great industry, energy and executive ability, and after the completion of the canal was made superintendent of a division. Later he became the owner of a line of boats, and realized well on his invest- ment. With money thus earned, he bought his first farm in Lebanon county. and prospered in agriculture as he had in other lines, owning two fine farms at the time of his decease. Mr. Spayd was a very prominent supporter of the Reformed Church and a member of its official board. Daniel Spayd married Salome Kline, daughter of John and Rebecca (Raber) Kline. She died November 25, 1875, at the age of seventy-seven years, four months and
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twenty-eight days. Four of the children born to this marriage, grew to ma- turity, namely : Jonas, born October 18, 1821, is a resident of Lebanon; Louisiana, born September 15, 1822, resides at Richland, Lebanon county, the widow of William Becker; Rebecca, born April 11, 1825, died unmar- ried; and Daniel K.
Daniel K. Spayd, the youngest member of his parents' family, grew up mainly in Millcreek township, and there attended the best available schools. When about twenty-one years of age, he began farming on his father-in-law's estate, in South Lebanon township, and two years later, returned to his father's farm, which he operated for seven years. Returning then to South Lebanon township, he again took charge of his father-in-law's farm, remain- ing there for twenty years, the property finally coming into his possession. Since 1877 Mr. Spayd has resided in a handsome, modern home which he erected in Prescott, and takes no active interest in farming, although he owns two fine properties, one being the home place of ninety-seven acres, and the other, 190 acres in Londonderry township.
In 1848, Mr. Spayd was united in marriage with Maria Bomberger born September 16, 1831. the only daughter of Jacob and Sallie (Andras) Bomberger. She passed out of life January 26, 1897, having been the be- loved and devoted mother of four children : Sarah Ophelia, Alice, Henry and Maurice. Of these, the eldest, (1) Sarah Ophelia, was born August 18, 1849, and married (first) Peter Swope and (second) Samuel Kreider. One son, Edwin Swope, was born to the first marriage, and the two surviving children of the second marriage are, Mary, the wife of Adam Wenger, of Heilman- dale, and Malinda, the wife of David Rauck, of North Lebanon township. Mrs. Kreider died October 24, 1881. (2) Alice became the wife of John Bomberger, of Palmyra and their children were: Harvey, Mary, Lillie, John, Jacob, Amos. Paul, Irwin, and Daniel (deceased). (3) Henry Spayd is one of the prominent ministers of the United Brethren Church. He was thoroughly . educated, attending the Lebanon Valley College, a school in Rhode Island, and a theological school at Dayton, Ohio, and is now stationed in Chambers- burg, Pa., having for the past twenty years officiated in the ministerial pro- fession. His wife was formerly Miss Alice Shaeffer, of this county, and they have children, Nora, Mabel and Mary. (4) The youngest son, Maurice. has also become prominent in the ministry of the United Brethren Church. serving for the past eighteen years. His education was secured at the Leb- anon Valley College, and the United Brethren Seminary at Dayton, Ohio. and he is now occupying the pulpit of one of the Chicago churches. His
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marriage was to Miss Alice Kreider, of this county, and they have one son, Harry.
Mr. Spayd has a long record as a member of the United Brethren Church and has always liberally contributed to its various needs. He is a well-known citizen of his township, where an upright, useful life has won him respect and esteem.
SETH LIGHT, one of the well-known and highly respected citizens of South Lebanon township, Lebanon county, a man of means, education and high character, was born March 18, 1839, at Midway, Lebanon county, a son of Joseph E. and Catherine (Bomberger) Light, and a grandson of Jacob and Catherine (Ellenberger) Light, and a great-grandson of Martin Light, this being one of the old settled families of eastern Pennsylvania.
Joseph E. Light was born in 1804, at the head of Quittapahilla Creek, in South Lebanon township, and through life was successfully engaged in farming. owning a large estate of 104 acres. He was a man of intelligence and public spirit, held many of the township offices, and from being in early life a stanch Whig, became just as thoroughly identified with the Republican party in his later years. His death occurred in August, 1873, and that of his wife in 1864, at the age of fifty-nine years. They were consistent members of the United Brethren Church. The names of their twelve children were : Levi. who died in 1850; Jeremiah, who is a retired farmer of North Corn- wall; Henry, who died in 1850; Jefferson, who died in 1902; William, who died in April, 1901 : Joseph B., a Dunkard minister, residing at Green Spring, Ohio; Uriah S., a farmer, who died in 1902; Maria, who married George Strohm, deceased; Veronica, who is the wife of Tobias Wilhelm, of South Lebanon township; Rose, wife of Henry Zinn, of Myerstown: Catherine, wife of Samuel Stahler, of Heidelberg township: and Seth.
Seth Light grew to maturity on the farm, obtaining his education in the common schools, beginning his individual career as an agriculturist at the age of twenty-four years, taking charge of his father's large estate which he ably managed for three years. Mr. Light then purchased a small farm in Cornwall township which he cultivated one year and then operated a rented farm until he purchased his present home farm, consisting of sixty-two acres. upon which he resided for thirty-two years, leaving it in 1898 to retire from active labor, and removing then to a fine home in Avon where he has since resided. He was well known as one of the prosperous farmers and dairymen of South Lebanon township.
Mr. Light has long been prominently identified with the Republican
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party, and has been one of its active and influential workers. On many occasions he has been called upon to serve in the local offices, being well quali- fied for such prominence. For fifteen years he served as the very efficient superintendent of the Sunday School connected with the United Brethren Church, of which he is a leading member in Avon. He is a man of the high- est personal character, and he enjoys the esteem of the whole community.
The marriage of Seth Light took place February 26, 1863, to Miss Ellen C. Light. daughter of Jolin and Susan (Becker) Light, who was born in North Lebanon township. A family of seven children was born to this union, two of whom are deceased: Grant S. is a merchant in Avon; Joseph John is a physician at Rexmont; Seth Andrew, a graduate of the Lebanon Valley College, a successful county teacher, is now in his third year in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania; Ray Garfield was educated in common and Normal schools and has been one of the most successful teach- ers in Lebanon county, beginning his professional career before he was twenty-one years of age, and possessing a State certificate; and Naomi R., who after passing through the common and Normal schools, engaged in teaching and has been very successful.
GRANT S. LIGHT, one of the successful merchants of Avon, Lebanon county, the eldest son of Seth and Ellen (Light) Light, was born January 14, 1864, and was reared on the farm. He was given educational advantages in the common and Normal schools, attending the latter in Annville. For seven years succeeding his educational career, Mr. Light followed the profes- sion of teaching. but in 1888 he embarked in the mercantile business at Avon, and owns a store filled with a general line of goods suitable to the demands of the trade in this section. In 1891 Mr. Light widened his interests, engag- ing with his brother-in-law, Frank Bomberger, in the manufacture of hosiery. They erected a plant for that purpose, employing twenty-five people, the out- put being between 400 and 500 pairs of stockings per week. A market is found all over the United States, and the business is steadily on the increase. In this as in other ways, Mr. Light has shown himself one of the progressive young business men of the community. In politics he is a Republican, and takes an interest in the success of his party, but is no seeker for office. He is very generally recognized as a man of great business ability. which, combined with his high personal character, promises well for the future. His fraternal connection is with Camp 32, P. O. S. A., he being one of thee charter members and treasurer since the organization ; and also is a member of the Junior O. U. A. M.
On October 8, 1886, Mr. Light was married to Miss Lizzie Bomberger,
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LEBANON COUNTY. 631
daughter of Henry and Saralı ( Brockey) Bomberger, and four children have been born to this union, namely: Grace E., Arthur B., Grant H. and Irvin H. They are worthy and consistent members of the United Brethren Church, Mr. Light having succeeded his father as superintendent of the Sabbath- school. at Avon.
DR. JOSEPH J. LIGHT, a younger brother of Grant S. Light and son of Seth and Ellen (Light) Light, was born April 5, 1873, and was reared on the farm. After completing the common school course he entered Lebanon Valley College, and was prepared for teaching at the age of seventeen years. Although he followed this profession for two years, it was not his life-work, and he then entered upon the study of medicine in the office of Dr. E. Grun- bine, of Mt. Zion, and in 1893 he entered the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, graduating in the class of 1897. Dr. Light located at Schaefferstown, where he practiced for five years with signal success, locat- ing then at Rexmont. Dr. Light has shown much ability in his profession. and his papers read before the various medical societies have excited much favorable comment. He belongs to both State and American Medical asso- ciations, is on the most cordial terms with his brother practitioners, and is fast becoming prominent in his profession. The Light family is one of the notably intelligent families of the county, and is most highly esteemed.
JOSEPH A. SMITH, a prominent citizen of the pleasant village of Annville, Pa., and its leading hardware dealer, belongs to an old and re- spected family of this locality, his great-grandfather, John Smith, and his grandfather, Joseph Smith, as well as his father. John Nye Smith, having been residents of this locality, all well-known in the coopering and weaving business. Mr. Smith was born January 12, 1855, in North Annville town- ship, a son of John Nye and Mary (Ceiders) Smith, the former of whom was born July 24, 1820, in Annville, and the latter December 25, 1821, in Leb- anon county, on a farm near the Dauphin county line, a daughter of John and Mary (Sterich) Ceiders. John Ceiders died early in life. leaving his widow with seven children to rear.
Until he was married, John Nye Smith followed the family trades, and then bought the tin. shop conducted by Peter Harper, which he still owns. Fifty years ago he began making brick and supplied the trade for all of the old houses which are now standing in Annville, but has long since retired from business activity. The parents of Joseph A. Smith had these children : Mary, the wife of John Goss, of Myerstown; John Adam, deceased; Christie B., wife of George W. Kimports ; Rosa L., the wife of William Messmer, of
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Lebanon ; William H. H., tinsmith of Annville, who married Maggie Mark, of Jonestown; Joseph A .; J. Frank, deputy prothonotary of Lebanon county, who married Annie Heilman of Jonestown; Alice M., married to Thomas Werner, of Lickdale, Lebanon county; Dolly, married to Charles Crow, of Chester county ; and Jacob C., who assists his brother in the tin-smith bus- iness.
Joseph A. Smith was reared in Annville and was educated in the public schools and the Lebanon Valley College. With his father he learned the tin- sinith trade and worked at the same until 1883, during the winter seasons, making brick during the summers. In 1898 he opened up a hardware business which carries with it the major part of the Annville trade, his stock being complete and up-to-date. For five years he has conducted the business of the Pennsylvania Telephone Company, the exchange office being located in his store. In the spring of 1902 he engaged in the ice business and became a member of the Bedford Ice Company. Mr. Smith has taken a leading part in public affairs, and for five years served acceptably as supervisor and tax collector of North Annville township. Upon the death of his successor in office, he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term.
In 1876, Mr. Smith was married to Amanda Elenora Carmany, who was born on a farm in South Annville township, in May, 1850, a daughter of Joseph Carmany, and four children were born to this union, namely : John Nye, Joseph A., Jr .. James Blaine and Lottie Grace. Mr. Smith belongs to the fraternal orders of Odd Fellows and American Mechanics. As an hon- orable business man, reliable and representative citizen, as well as a good neighbor and firm friend. Mr. Smith enjoys the esteem of the residents of Annville.
IRA J. LIGHT, one of the educated and popular young citizens of Schaefferstown, whose ability has brought him to the front, was born Feb- ruary 15, 1867, in South Lebanon township, a son of George and Elizabeth (Kapp) Light, and a grandson of Jacob Light, who was also a native of Lebanon county. Nine children were born to Jacob Light, viz: George, Jefferson. Moses, Samuel, Sarah, Lucetta, Lydia, Elizabeth and Rosa.
George Light, the father, was born August 8, 1843. and married Eliza- beth Kapp, three children being born to this union: Ira J .: Dr. Israel K., a practicing physician of Reading; and George H., of the home farm. The father is a very prominent farmer and citizen of South Lebanon township, a man of practical ideas and successful results. He has been a life-long Repub- lican. The mother of Ira J. Light was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth
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(Mase) Kapp, and she was one of seven children, viz .: Sarah, wife of Ephraim Smith; Elizabeth, Mrs. Light; Rebecca, wife of Daniel Klick; Amanda, wife of Cyrus Miller, of Myerstown; Israel, deceased; and Anna and Amelia, both deceased.
Ira J. Light was reared on his father's farm and attended the local schools, and later the Lebanon Valley College, and the Annville Normal School, and graduated from the Millersville Normal School in the spring of 1893. He began teaching in 1886, when about nineteen years old, and has successfully followed the profession for fifteen years. Under Prof. W. J. Burnsides, he studied conveyancing and surveying, and is very frequently called upon to put his knowledge to practical use. In 1895 he located at Schaefferstown, and in 1898 was elected justice of the peace, a position which his mental training and natural abilities enable him to fill to the satisfaction of all.
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