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 79
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MICHAEL ROLLER, a leading Lebanon butcher, has won success in life through those sterling traits of character inherited from good German stock. His father, Michael Roller, was a resident of Wittenberg, Germany.
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where he followed the trade of a tinner. He married Susan Lupald, and they had one son, Michael.
Michael Roller, our subject, was born in Wittenberg. Germany. Decem- ber 17, 1839, and there procured his education. In his father's tin shop he learned a lucrative trade, which he afterward followed for many years. In early manhood, in 1863, deciding to better his fortunes, he came to the United States, landing in New York. After defraying the expenses of his voyage he had but two cents in his pockets. Undismayed, however. he courageously set about procuring employment, and soon, in a tin shop, found what he wanted, and being an expert workman he remained for some time. Desiring, however, to see more of the country, he moved to Philadelphia, where he followed his trade for two years. In 1864 he married Rosa Hatfelder, and they have had three children: Jacob, now a butcher of Lebo, Pa. : Michael, Jr., who assists his father in the butcher shop: and Catherine, who married Charles Weiser, of Philadelphia.
After leaving Philadelphia Mr. Roller went to Lebanon, Pa., where he has since remained. There he first secured employment in the butcher shop of his brother-in-law, Abraham Rhepress, and so successful was he that he remained there six years. In 1872 he opened a shop of his own. Persistency and square dealing enabled him in a very short time to work up a paying custom, and his shop, which stands at No. 156 North Ninth street, is now the most widely patronized market in the city. Wise business management has enabled him to accumulate considerable property, and he now owns, in addition to his fine brick residence, several dwellings, which are located on Twelfth street.
Business has so largely engrossed Mr. Roller's attention that he has found little time for politics. Fraternally he has long been active, affiliating with the Woodmen, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and a German Society. Through solid merit he has won the highest esteem of his fellow-citizens, and he and his family have now a large circle of admiring friends.
WILLIAM J. ARNOLD, one of the representative young farmers of North Lebanon township, belongs to a much respected old family of Lebanon county, and was born October 16. 1863. on the old homestead in South Leb- anon township, a son of Moses and Sarah ( Arnold) Arnold.
Mr. Arnold received a common school education and was nineteen years of age when he started to learn the carpenter trade with J. B. Light & Co. He followed that trade for some eight years, during one year of this time at Fort Wayne, Ind. Since 1888 he has followed farming, beginning as a renter
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in North Lebanon township, later purchasing his valuable farm of eighty-three acres, favorably located four miles northeast of the city of Lebanon. Here Mr. Arnold has devoted close attention to his operations, and as he is a progressive and up-to-date agriculturist, his place shows it, in its air of thrift and culti- vation and in his excellent buildings. Every part of his land is made use of, and where cultivation is not carried on, he pastures a large herd of cows, manufacturing a first-class article of butter and other dairy products. It marks him as a young man of most sensible ideas, to learn that he not only operates his own farm, but also the adjoining one, which he rents, thus man- aging 200 acres.
On October 4, 1888, Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Elizabeth Steck- beck, daughter of Moses and Harriet Steckbeck, of North Lebanon township. An interesting family of bright, intelligent children make the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold one of happiness and activity, their names being: Stella. Maria, Raphael, Leroy and Hilda. The religious connection of the family is with the Roman Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Arnold is identified with the Democratic party.
LORENZO H. ARNOLD. One of the extensive farmers and success- ful dairymen of North Lebanon township is Lorenzo H. Arnold, whose energy, industry and good management have made him one of the substan- tial men of his community, as he certainly is one of the most thoroughly respected.
Mr. Arnold was born October 13, 1853, a son of Moses and Sarah (Arnold) Arnold, old and honored residents of Lebanon county. The father still survives, residing on the old home in Lebanon township, where Lorenzo was born. Here the latter was reared, early becoming a necessary assistant on the farm, in this way not securing very great educational advan- tages. The oldest of his parents' children, the brunt of the work fell upon him, this not preventing him, however, from becoming in later years one of the best informed men. on general topics, in his locality, and an authority on agricultural matters.
At the age of twenty-four years, Mr. Arnold married and began farming for himself on the homestead where he remained for eighteen years, moving then to his present fine estate. Here he owns 117 acres of a property which has been in the Arnold family for many years, having previously belonged to Joseph Arnold, a great-uncle. His location here was in 1896, and he began immediately to make substantial improvements, which added not only to the appearance of the place, but also to its value and productiveness. Mr. Arnold
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believes in taking advantage of modern machinery and methods, and the result is that his farm is noted for its excellence and its satisfactory returns. Mr. Arnold has a fine herd of cows and engages in dairying and has a val- uable milk route in the city of Lebanon, his farm being situated but four miles north of this city.
On August 22, 1878, Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Elizabeth Arnold, born November 12, 1858, in North Lebanon township, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Bowman) Arnold, the latter of whom died in 1860, leaving three daughters: Joanna, the wife of Michael Hunsicker, of Lebanon; Rebecca, wife of James McGovern, of Lebanon; and Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Arnold. By a second marriage, to Henrietta Grithby, a family of seven children was born to the father, namely : Emma, wife of J. Bixler ; Peter ; Henrietta, wife of Benjamin Booser; Amelia. deceased wife of Edward Bucher; Miss Maggie; John, a cigarmaker in New York City; and Mary, who is a Sister of Charity. Mr. Arnold was a wheelwright by trade and his death occurred in 1884, at the age of fifty years. The religious connection of the Arnold family is with St. Mary's Catholic Church of Lebanon.
A family of eight children has been born to Lorenzo Arnold and wife, as follows : Sarah, who is the wife of Joseph Hartman. a farmer of Swatara township, has two children, Mary and Joseph ; Agnes is the wife of Aaron Hartman, of Swatara township; and Rosa. Helena. Stephen. Jr., George M., Lawrence H. and Cecilia T. are at home.
In politics Mr. Arnold has always been identified with the old Demo- cratic party, but has been too much occupied with his own affairs to consent to accept office. The family is one which is highly esteemed in North Leb- anon township.
WILLIAM HENRY KAUFMAN. Success always follows persistent, well-directed effort. Luck is a phantom, a will-o'-the-wisp. a myth. The man who stands behind life's door, ready to open at opportunity's knock, has no time to complain about failure. Such. at least, has been the experience of the above-named gentleman, one of the youngest and most enterprising of Lebanon's business men, a leading merchant tailor of the city.
Mr. Kaufman is a native of Berks county, Pa., where he was born January 16, 1871, son of David K. and Magdalene (Klohs) Kaufman, both natives of the same county, and now deceased. Their children were Sallie, now the wife of an upholsterer in Reading. Pa. ; William Henry and Helen. who died at an early age.
William H. Kaufman received excellent elementary training in the
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public schools of Reading, to which he later added a course at Brenner's Business College, of the same city. Having developed an aptitude in the line of neatness in dress, he was apprenticed to a tailor of the name of W. B. Aungstadt, one of the best workmen in his line in that city. There he spent the usual three years, and then passed a number of years engaged in jour- neyman work at different points, chiefly in Wilmington, Del., and in 1892 came to Lebanon, where he worked for Mr. Rohrer, the Chestnut street tailor. Discovering that an obstacle in the way of his advancement was his lack of skill in cutting, Mr. Kaufman went back to Reading and placed him- self under the instruction of his former employer, who taught him to be an expert garment cutter. Again he returned to Lebanon, this time, however, with the determination to be his own boss. He opened an establishment at No. 912 Willon street, removed the following year to a better location, at No. 39 North Eighth street, and in 1897 occupied for the first time his present centrally located and commodious quarters at Nos. 30-33 North Eighth street. Here Mr. Kaufman does a general merchant tailoring busi- ness, giving especial attention to the finer lines of the trade. He is unsur- passed as a cutter, and is fast building up a most lucrative trade among the best dressers of the city. Mr. Kaufman is a genial, whole-souled gentleman, and is very popular among all classes of society in his adopted city. In sports he is especially fond of bicycling, and is a leading member of the Lebanon Cycle Club, whose personnel is made up of some of the best young men of the city. In religious faith he is an active and worthy member of Salem Luth- eran Church.
Mr. Kaufman was happily married April 29, 1897, in Lebanon, to Miss Nora Shirey, a young lady of many graces of character, the daughter of Jeremiah Shirey, a worthy resident of the city. Two beautiful children have . come to brighten their home, Martin, born September 5. 1899; and Grace, born June 4, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman are popular members of Leb- anon society, and the regard in which they are held is uniform.
JOHN Z. BACHMAN, one of the leading and prominent citizens of North Cornwall township, Lebanon county, and the sixth child of Christian and Sarah (Zinn) Bachman, was born April 14, 1843.
The boyhood days of John Z. Bachman were spent upon his father's farm, where he learned the habits of industry and thrift which have since played so large a part in his success in life. At the time of his marriage, in 1869, after he had secured a liberal public school education, lie moved with his bride upon the farm which he rented for some time, but finally purchased
46
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about ten years ago, and which he has developed into one of the finest pieces of property in this part of Pennsylvania. The farm contains 160 acres of land, which Mr. Bachman devotes to general farming, and is meeting with remarkable success. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. and he has held many of the local offices with great ability and satisfaction to his constituents and the general public.
On February 18, 1869, Mr. Bachman married Miss Lydia Kettering. daughter of Samuel and Fannie ( Shenk) Kettering, and born in South Ann- ville township, January 18, 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Bachman have had a family of twelve children : Emma, born January 9, 1870, married Abraham Risser, of South Annville township, and has three children. Harry, Annie and Lydia ; Fannie, born January 12, 1872, married Joseph Kreider, of Bismarck, Leb- anon county, has one child, John Ammon ; Christian G., born August 27, 1873. a farmer of North Cornwall township, married Miss Dazie Killian, and has one child. Cyrus Irwin: John, born June 24. 1875. died February 8, 1876; Mary, born January 23, 1877, married John Forney. of North Corn- wall township, a farmer, and has one child, Edith; Lydia, born May 13, 1879, is unmarried and living at home; Sallie J., born December 15, 1880, is unmarried. and at home: Harry, born April 27, 1883, is at home: Ellie May, born May 16, 1885, is at home: Annie, born February 15, 1887. at home; Cyrus, born May 25, 1889. is also at home; Levi, born November 28, !891, died December 15, 1891. The family are constant attendants upon the services of the Reformed Church, to which they give liberally, and are im- portant factors in the social life of the neighborhood. Mr. Bachman is highly esteemed throughout the county as a man of a high sense of honor. upright in all his dealings, and as one of the up-to-date farmers and public- spirited citizens.
HENRY D. MEYER. One of the very prominent farmers and repre- sentative citizens of that part of Lebanon county known as North Lebanon township, is Henry D. Meyer, one of the large property owners, leading politicians and esteemed residents. His pleasant and hospitable home is lo- cated just east of the village of Ebenezer.
Mr. Meyer belongs to one of the old families of this locality and was born February 15, 1858. at Heilmandale, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Yingst) Meyer, the former of whom died in 1885. at the age of sixty-three years, and the latter, daughter of Lewis Yingst, of North Lebanon township, in 1875. at the age of forty-six years. Joseph Meyer was born in Annville, son of Henry and Nancy (Light) Meyer, the former of whom died when he was
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but twenty-eight years of age. He was a farmer on land just east of Ann- ville, which is still owned by probably the fifth generation in line of descent from the founder of the family. Henry Meyer had also a large distillery, and, when his early death occurred, his capable wife took charge of it and con- ducted it very successfully, making trips on horseback, in its interest. over a wide territory. She was a woman of great force of character and possessed many of the traits of the typical pioneer woman, was of robust health and wonderful courage, carrying with her on her journey weapons of defense which she knew very well how to use. She contracted a second marriage and lived to the age of eighty years. Her last marriage was with Frederick Dundore.
Joseph Meyer was reared on the old homestead at AAnnville, and was afforded the best education to be secured at the Annville Academy. He was employed by his brother John, with whom he remained until he was twenty- five years of age. After his marriage he located on one of his father-in-law's farms, where he remained for eight years, purchasing then the Umberger farm at Heilmandale, consisting of 138 acres, and here he passed the rest of his life. Mr. Meyer engaged extensively in farming and stock dealing, and accumulated large means. He was one of the most intelligent and enterpris- ing men of the township. Both he and estimable wife were active members of the United Brethren Church, and he was one of its most liberal supporters. being one of the founders of the church at Ebenezer, serving as trustee, and for many years was a class leader and earnest worker in the Sabbath School. Mr. Meyer was a stanch member of the Republican party. and as one of the best-informed men of the community, was very frequently one of the town- ship officials. He gave hearty support to school and educational work, served on the school board, advocated reforms and was frequently his party's dele- gate to its various conventions. The nine children born to this most exemplary citizen and wife were: Josiah Y., who was asphyxiated in 1901. at the North Lebanon furnace; Lewis, who died in infancy ; Rosa Ann, who married Cornelius Light of Lisbon. Iowa; John A .. a resident of Lickdale. who is supervisor of Swatara township: Joseph R., who lives at Iowa Falls, Iowa: Henry D .: Amos L., who is a farmer at Heilmandale; Daniel. who lives near Iowa Falls; and Samuel P., who resides at Ebenezer, a farmer and trucker.
Henry D. Meyer was reared on his father's farm near Heilmandale, and secured an excellent education in the public schools, the academy and the Leb- anon Valley College at Annville. He continued at home until his marriage. after which he spent one year at Bunker Hill, going thence to the old Vingst
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homestead in North Lebanon township, operating that place for four years, moving then to the farm near Ebenezer where his father first began farming, spending four years here. Mr. Meyer then erected a handsome home in Eben- ezer where he made his home, during this time being employed in the Lebanon furnaces, later purchasing the Light homestead of sixty-one acres, at Bunker Hill. This farm he operated for some eight years and then returned for three years to the village of Ebenezer. in 1890 purchasing the farm he now occupies. This contains IOI acres and is one of the well-improved farms of the township, it being the aim of Mr. Meyer to place every needed improve- ment on his properties, and to operate them to the extent of their resources. In addition to this valuable property he owns a tract of twenty acres in the vicinity of Heilmandale, two single dwellings and a double one in Ebenezer.
Mr. Meyer is known in his locality as a man of enterprise and ability, and also for his public spirit and readiness to promote all movements looking to the public good. Like his father he is an ardent Republican, and has served his township for three years as auditor and three years as assessor of Swatara township. By appointment he served as assistant assessor of North Lebanon township, and served the following year as assessor by election, and was later appointed to fill out an unexpired term. His fraternal connection is with the P. O. S. of A., No. 58.
In 1876 Mr. Meyer was married to Miss Emma E. Light, born in South Lebanon township, daughter of John and Mary (Good) Light, and two children have been born to this union, namely : Perry L., a graduate of Kutz- town State Normal School and for two years a successful teacher in North Lebanon township: and Nettie May, the wife of Jerome D. Miller, a car- penter of North Lebanon township, and they have one daughter, Mary May. The family are liberal supporters and devoted members of the United Brethren Church of Ebenezer, and for many years Mr. Meyer has been a trustee and the Sunday School treasurer. Respected wherever known, this family represents some of Lebanon county's best citizenship.
DANIEL S. LIGHT. The name of Light is a well-known and honored one, and is identified with various lines of activity in Lebanon. Not the least enterprising and successful of those bearing the name is Daniel S. Light, formerly a large lumber merchant, but since 1899 extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick. He was born July 9. 1865, a son of Daniel S. and Barbara (Challey) Light, natives of Lebanon county, and now deceased.
Joseph Light, grandfather of our subject. came of the old Light stock which had its representatives among the very early settlers of Lebanon
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county, who were responsible for a large share of its upbuilding and subse- quent prosperity. Joseph Light was the father of nine children, of whom Henry, Solomon, Daniel S., Amelia, Mary and Sarah, were the oldest sur- vivors, and of whom Amelia married Robert Challey; Mary became the wife of Benjamin Kline; and Sarah married David Light.
Daniel S. Light, father of our subject, was born about 1821, and died in 1865. He was a farmer during his active life, and was a stanch upholder of the Democratic party. He was an honored member of this community, and was the father of eight children, three of whom attained maturity. These were, Joseph E., mentioned elsewhere; Emma S., who became the wife of H. H. Light; and Daniel S .. the youngest of the family.
Daniel S. Light, Jr., was educated in the public schools of Lebanon, and while still quite young acquired practical ideas of life and business. In 1887 he started out to earn his own living in the lumber business, in which he re- mained and prospered until 1899. From a comparatively small scale he branched out from time to time, and was eventually known as one of the largest in his line in this section. More alluring prospects induced him to change to the manufacture of brick, in which line of activity he has displayed the same business acumen and enterprise which brought about his lumber success. To show for his application he has considerable town and country property, including his pleasant modern home at No. 617 North Tenth street. Like his father and grandfather he is .a Democrat in political preferment. but inclination has never suggested other political activity than the formality of casting his vote.
Mrs. Light was formerly Katherine Strickler. of Lebanon, a daughter of Edward and Katherine (Miller) Strickler, who were the parents of nine children : Amelia, the widow of William Heilman : Monroe: Annie, deceased ; Verda, the wife of Henry Fisher; Charlie; Edward; Katherine; Howard; and Walter. The Strickler family has long been represented in Lebanon, and are accounted among its most worthy and honored families. The marriage of Mr. Light and Miss Strickler occurred September 8. 1892, and of this union there have been born five children: Edward, Daniel S., Jr .. Bertram, Gladys and Julia.
DAVID P. LAYSER, now residing at the fine old Layser homestead in Millcreek township, is a young man of enterprise and marked business ability. Though only about thirty years old he has already achieved considerable success as an agriculturist, and is also managing a creamery with most ex- cellent results.
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Mr. Layser comes of two prominent pioneer families-the Moores and the Laysers. His grandfather. David Layser, was born in Lancaster county, and there passed many years of his life. During his young manhood he moved with his wife and family to Lebanon county and there settled upon the homestead. where his grandson. David P., now resides. Here the elder Mr. Layser cleared up a good farm for himself and carried on successful agri- cultural industry. During his young manhood he married Elizabeth Dinger, and they had six children : David : Reuben, now a resident of Millcreek town- ship: Jeremiah, who is living at Reistville; Joseph, residing in Millcreek town- ship; Lizzie, the wife of J. E. Horning, of Washington, D. C .: and Miss Mary, living in Lebanon county.
Lieut. David Layser, father of David P., was born in West Cocalico township. Lancaster county, August 31, 1836. Preparatory to his like work at an early age he learned the trade of house painting and sign painting. In the summer of 1856 he moved West, and during the same season worked at his trade in Dixon and Sterling. Ill., and later he followed the same busi- ness in Lyons, Iowa. From the last named place he went to New Orleans. where he spent the winter, and the following spring he came north to Chi- cago. There he stayed until May 22, when he went to Mendota. Ill., where he painted the Rust bank building, remaining at that place till September. St. Louis, Mo., was his next abiding place, and there he secured a position as foreman in a paint shop, which he filled with much ability for some time. Later, however, he went to Durand. Ill., where he continued his business for two summers, spending part of his time though in Kansas City, where he had established a large paint shop. Finally he located in Davis, Ill., where he purchased a small tract of land, built a hotel and store, from which he derived a good income. Here he laid out one hundred town lots, realizing a large profit upon his investment. At this place. when the war broke out. he of- fered to enlist in Lincoln's first call for troops, but failed to get into the quota. At Springfield. Ill., August 15. 1861, however, he enlisted as a private, in Company B, Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for a term of three years or during the war. The regiment was in camp at Camp Butler. Freeport. Lagrange and Quincy. Ill., and at Palmyra. Hannibal and St. Louis, Mo., where in their drills they often used clubs in the place of muskets. Proceeding to the front they went down the Mississippi to Commerce, and from there marched over fifty miles to New Madrid via Braxton, for much of the distance through water from twelve to fifteen inches deep. At New Madrid, March 2, 1862. the regiment did its first fighting. losing a few men. It assisted in the digging of the channel around the place, and next proceeded
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LEBANON COUNTY. 727
up the Mississippi to Cairo, thence up the Tennessee to Pittsburg Landing to join the army in the advance on Corinth. On May 9th, the Twenty-sixth Regiment participated in the battle of Farmington, which Lieut. Layser always declared was the hottest engagement of the war. The rebels largely outnumbered the Union force opposed to them, and made the attack four lines deep. After two hours fighting the Union line was obliged to turn back, with a loss in Company B of one killed and three wounded. About this time Mr. Layser was appointed fifth sergeant in his company for gallantry in action, and subsequently by rapid promotion was advanced to first sergeant. On the morning of May 28, 1862. the Twenty-sixth Illinois was one of the leading regiments in the attack on Corinth : it fought at Iuka September 19th. and again at Corinthi October 4th. in the latter engagement rendering effec- tive service in the support of Fort Robinette. In the Vicksburg campaign it got its full share of fighting and of the glory, during which it undermined and blew up a Rebel fort. After the surrender it moved north to Memphis. and from there marched to the relief of Chattanooga. Other battles in which it rendered effective service were Tunnel Hill, November 24th and 25th, the engagements about Knoxville, and the Sherman campaign. Mr. Layser was commissioned first lieutenant, November 10, 1864. and from that time had command of a company. At the battle of Bentonville, March 19, 1865, he and his company of eighteen men charged and captured a rebel rifle pit with fifty prisoners, especially distinguishing themselves. Considering his long term of service he was especially fortunate. During the battle of Tunnel Hill, however, he lay in a deep gully all day stunned by a fall, and while fighting at Dalton a bullet grazed his neck. After the close of the war Lieut. Layser spent some time in the West, but in the fall of 1865 returned to Millcreek township, where he soon settled upon a farm, and there passed the rest of his life. For some time during this period he was engaged in business in Mill- bach Springs, where he erected and operated a creamery. In both of his occupations he prospered, and was considered one of the solid business men of the county. He died August 3. 1902.
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