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 82
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FRANKLIN WILLIAM KREMER, D. D. One of the most eminent ministers of the Gospel who have been connected with the Reformed Church mn and about Lebanon was the gentleman whose name is here mentioned, and who passed to his reward June 14. 1889. During his lifetime he was exceed- ingly active in the cause of his Master, and brought many sheaves to the granaries. Several of the church buildings of Lebanon county are monu- ments to this indefatigable worker in the vineyard of the Lord.
Rev. Mr. Kremer was born in the village of Washington. Lancaster Co., Pa .. November 16, 1816. His father, Frederick William Kremer. was born in 1790, and died in 1864. He married Anna Margaretta Yentzer, who was born in 1794. and died in the year 1876. After passing the first part of their married life in Lancaster county, they removed to the county of York. Pa., where the education of Franklin W. Kremer was in the main obtained in the common schools and in the York County Academy. His literary educa- tion was finished at Marshall College, Mercersburg, where he graduated in the year 1843. Having felt that he must consecrate his life to the ministry. he matriculated at the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg, from which in due time he was graduated. He was immediately ordained to the ministry. and installed in his first pastorate at Grindstone Hill, which charge consisted of four congregations located in the vicinity of Chambersburg. He was
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successful in building up the spiritual life of these congregations and adding to their material improvements. In 1851 he accepted a call from the Lebanon charge of the Reformed Church, comprising at that time three congrega- tions, one located in Lebanon, another at Annville, and a third, known as the "Hill Church," about three and a half miles northwest of Lebanon. At the close of his first year his connection with the Annville Church was sev- ered, and in May. 1864, the classis of Lebanon, with the view of forming a new pastoral charge, separated the "Hill Church" from that of Lebanon, connecting it with that of Annville. His congregation at Lebanon becoming very large by reason of his popularity, it was necessary that an additional church edifice be built and a new congregation be formed, and this movement resulted in the building and dedication of St. John's Church, in 1860. This sufficed until 1872, when the present church and Sunday school had increased to such proportions that it became necessary to provide more room, and the beautiful chapel for the Sunday school which now adjoins the old building was erected. Through Rev. Mr. Kremer's efforts, in 1877, a brick church was erected at Bismarck, five miles from Lebanon, for the portion of his con- gregation that resided in that vicinity.
Rev. Mr. Kremer became very prominent in the Synod of his denomina- tion. holding many offices of trust and responsibility, and was also a most voluminous and highly entertaining correspondent to many of the church papers. He contributed largely to the Reformed Messenger on the subjects of practical and theological moment that were agitating the Reformed Church at different periods, and was uniformly .happy in his discussion of these questions. He was also a prominent contributor to the Christian World. published at Cincinnati, to the Mercersburg Reviewer, the Reformed Quarterly Review, and many others. In the General Synod of his church he was one of the representatives to the second General Presbyterian Council. held in Philadelphia in 1880. In 1879 he was appointed by the Synod a member of the Peace Commission which was convened by the General Synod in Tiffin, Ohio. in 1881. He was also a member of the commission to prepare a new Liturgy for the Reformed Church. He was a life member of the Home Missions of the Church, also of the Pennsylvania Bible Society, of the Amer- ican Tract Society, and of the American Board of Commissioners for For- eign Missions. For the high character of services rendered the church and the distinguished literary ability which he had displayed. Heidelberg College, Ohio. conferred on him the honorary degree, June 29, 1869. of Doctor of Divinity.
Rev. Mr. Kremer was twice married. On April 9. 1846. he was joined
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(first) to Margaretta Heitschue Keller, daughter of George and Rebecca Keller, of Carlisle, Pa., and she died in Lebanon January 5, 1855, at the age of thirty-four years, the mother of the following children: Emma Rebecca (deceased), who married Hon. Joseph E. Noble, of Waterside, Bedford Co., Pa .; EDWARD PAYSON, A. M., D. D. S .; Rev. Leighton George Kremer (de- ceased), who graduated at Ursinus College and Union Theological Seni- nary, N. Y., and was ordained minister of the Reformed Church at Hagers- town, Md .; and Mary, the youngest child of the family, who died in infancy. Dr. Kremer's second wife was Henrietta Cromwell, of Lancaster city, who died within a year. She left no children.
A. S. STAUFFER, one of the leading business men and representative citizens of Palmyra, Lebanon county, conducts a large coal and feed estab- lishment, having previously been interested both in agricultural and milling interests.
Mr. Stauffer bears a name which is one of the old and honorable ones of both Lancaster and Lebanon counties, and his birth took place April 2, 1873. on the old Stauffer homestead farm, in Mt. Joy township, Lancaster county. His parents were Abraham G. and Harriet H. (Shelley) Stauffer, the former of whom was born in the old homestead in Lancaster county, August 9, 1842, a son of Jacob (2), who was a son of Jacob, who was probably the founder of the family and the original owner of the old homestead. Family records tell of six brothers of the name who emigrated to America from Germany, landing in the city of New York, where they separated, the name being found all over the United States.
Jacob Stauffer (2), the grandfather of A. S., married Mary Groff, daughter of a neighboring farmer, and their children were: John, of Lan- caster county ; Abraham, father of Andrew; Jacob, of Lancaster county ; Fanny. who married Samuel Risser, of Dauphin county: Mary, who married David Moyer, of Milton Grove, Lancaster county: and Rebecca, deceased, who married Peter Gruber, of Elizabethtown. The mother of Andrew S. Stauffer was born in Rapho township, Lancaster county, December 12, 1844. and died December 22, 1901, a daughter of Henry Shelley, of Lancaster county, and his wife, who belonged to the Witmer family. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shelley were: Abraham, of Lancaster county: Annie, deceased, who married Abraham Eberhardt: Fannie, the wife of Samuel Zug, of Mastersonville; Susan, the wife of Benjamin Zug, of Mastersonville; Maria. the wife of J. G. Stauffer, uncle of Andrew S .: and Harriet H., the mother of Andrew S.
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LEBANON COUNTY. 749
Abraham Stauffer removed from Lancaster county in April, 1892, and settled on his Lebanon county farm, in South Annville township, which he had acquired four years previously from Joseph Herr. Here Mr. Stauffer carried on successful farming for a period of eleven seasons, and then retired to Campbelltown, in the spring of 1902. To Abraham Stauffer and his wife were born these children : Henry, who married Lizzie Shoop, now of Man- heim, has one son, Abraham; Samuel, residing on the old home in Lancaster county, who married Amanda Graybill, and has one daughter, Minnie; Fanny, who married Albert Carver, a merchant at Mt. Pleasant, South Ann- ville township, and has children, Frank, Sadie, Willie and Albert; A. S .; David, who married Ada Frantz, and resides at Harrisburg; Miss Annie, at home; Harriet, who died in infancy, as did also Jacob, Mamie and Abraham ; and Katie, who died August 22, 1901, aged twenty-four years. The Stauf- fer family has long been identified with the German Baptist Church.
A. S. Stauffer was reared on the farm in Lancaster county, attended the public schools there, and then accompanied his father to Lebanon county, assisting in the operation of the farm on the Horseshoe Turnpike road until 1896, when he removed to Palmyra. For two years he followed farming, and then engaged in the milling business with A. Hoffer, the firm name be- ing Hoffer & Stauffer, the business being conducted in the W. L. Kreider warehouse. Three years later the partnership was mutually ended, and in April, 1901, Mr. Stauffer embarked in his present line, coal and feed.
On October 19, 1895, Mr. Stauffer was married to Leah Earley, a daughter of John M. Earley, a merchant of Fontana, and to this union have been born three interesting children, namely: John Earley, born August 29, 1896; Annie May, born September 2, 1898; and Mary Elizabeth, born Sep- tember 8, 1902. In politics Mr. Stauffer adheres to the doctrines of the Re- publican party.
JACOB G. GERHART, of Fredericksburg, a furniture dealer and undertaker, as well as member of the E. Gerhart & Son's Shirt Manufacturing firm, is a young man of rare business ability, and to all probabilities one with a future. Schooled from his earliest years to accept life's responsibilities, now at the age of thirty, he is keen, alert, self-confident and strong-in fact able to compete with business men by a score of years his senior.
Mr. Gerhart is of German extraction, the first of the American branch of the family having come from Germany and settled in Berks county about 1750. Henry Gerhart, son of the emigrant, is the first of whom we have any extended data. He settled upon a farm in Bethel township, and engaged in
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agriculture and in cattle dealing, and became in time a prosperous citizen, and the owner of four splendid farms, each comprising more than a hundred acres. He married and had six children, of whom the five sons, Wendell, John, Jacob, George and William, were all farmers; the daughter, Susannah, married John Walmer, and they resided in the city of Lebanon.
George Gerhart, grandfather of Jacob G., was born in Bethel township, in 1811. Upon reaching manhood he settled upon a farm in Lebanon county, and became one of the leading agriculturists of his section. He married Rebecca Peiffer, and, after her death, Eva Harnish, now deceased. By the first marriage there were three children: Pollie, who married John Edris; Isaac, now a Missouri farmer ; and Mollie, who married Benjamin Mick, and resides in Missouri. By the second marriage there were fifteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity : Sallie, who married George S. Gerbrich, of Union township; Amanda, wife of John Edris, a farmer of Bethel town- ship, Berks county; Malinda, who wedded Adam Gerbrich, and is now de- ceased; John, deceased; Christina, who married John Spangler, of Bethcl township; Levi S., a prominent business man of Fredericksburg: Elias, men- tioned below: George, a Berks county farmer: Eva (twin to George), the wife of Henry Urich, of Reading; Phianna, who married T. D. Brown- miller, of Schuylkill Haven; and Leah, who married Albert Pittle, a farmer of South Lebanon township. Mr. Gerhart, the father of these children, was a thrifty, energetic man and a power for good in his community. Not afraid to speak his mind, as a Republican he exerted a strong influence in local af- fairs. The Klapps Reformed Church of Bethel township counted him among its most highly esteemed members.
Elias Gerhart, father of Jacob G., a prominent building contractor, and manufacturer of Bethel township. was reared on a farm, and early learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed with success for some years. He gradually rose to the position of contractor, and settling at Mt. Zion, found in that vicinity a good opening in his line. Many public and private build- ings there have been erected under his direction, which for substantial work and evidences of good architectural taste can hardly be excelled. He has continued in the business steadily, and his services are still greatly in demand. He has also branched out in other lines, and some years ago went into part- nership with his son, Jacob G., and started a shirt manufacturing establish- ment in Fredericksburg, an enterprise which is still flourishing under the name of E. Gerhart & Son. Mr. Gerhart and his son Jacob G. now conduct a lumber, coal, grain and flagstone business at Jonestown, and are meeting with great success in this new line.
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During his young manhood Elias Gerhart married Franny Wolf, and they had a large family, among whom are three pairs of twins: Jacob G., and Ellen (twins), the former mentioned below, and the latter the wife of Milton Kline, of Lebanon; Harry, who died at the age of fifteen years; Clara, wife of Thomas Heffelfinger, residing in Jackson township; Cora and Carrie (twins), trained nurses residing at Elizabeth, N. J .; Sallie, at Fred- ericksburg; George and Eva (twins), who died aged seventeen and eighteen, respectively ; and Elias, the youngest, who is at home and works at the car- penter trade with his father.
Elias Gerhart is a man of integrity, strong and forceful, as well as skilled in directing affairs, and has won the confidence of the community. As a Re- publican he has long been influential in local politics, but is not, however, an office seeker. The Reformed Church of Mount Zion considers him one of its strongest members, and has honored him with the offices of deacon and trustee, which he has filled with marked fidelity and thoroughness.
Jacob G. Gerhart was born at Mount Zion, February 2, 1873, and there attended the public schools for a number of years, where he made rapid prog- ress. At the tender age of nine, however, he was sent to work on neigh- boring farms, and with sturdy pluck and energy continued in this line until he was sixteen years old, commanding fair wages. At the end of seven years he went home and began working with his father at the carpenter's trade. His active brain quickly mastered the details of the craft, and a short experi- ence in handling tools soon developed expertness. For five years he pursued the trade diligently, deriving a good income and acquiring valuable business experience. Then, grasping a chance to rise, he opened a furniture shop in Fredericksburg. adding to it an undertaking department. He had no dif- ficulty in working up a trade, and wise financial management soon placed the business upon a firm foundation. He has continued to prosper, and his store is now considered one of the most reliable places of its kind in the vicinity. The success of this enterprise encouraged him to branch out in business, and October 1, 1898, he opened in partnership with his father, a shirt manu- facturing establishment in Fredericksburg, which has proved a great suc- cess. It is now the largest establishment of its kind in Bethel township, em- ploys fifty men and women, and turns out large quantities of the best made articles. Its business is rapidly increasing, and at present its outlook is most encouraging. Since then. as stated above, the prosperous business at Jones- town has also been established.
On October 14. 1894, Jacob G. Gerhart married Mary Hoffman, of Greble. Bethel township. who was born December 22, 1872. and they have
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had four children : Leighton, now deceased; Raymond Elias; Mabel Elmina and William H. Mr. Gerhart is a man who is bound to make a success of life under any circumstances. Keen foresight, dogged persistence, worthy am- bition, and alertness to take advantage of every opportunity for a rise, are among his dominant traits. He is also conscientious and straightforward. The Reformed Church of Mount Zion counts him among its most worthy members. Politically he affiliates with the Republicans.
William Hoffman, father of Mrs. Gerhart, a farmer of Bethel township, married Elmina Hoke, and they had four children : David, a farmer of Bethel township; Mary (Mrs. Gerhart), who is mentioned above; Ellen, who mar- ried Jacob Wenger, a farmer of Swatara township; and Emma, the youngest, who lives at home.
HARRY G. LONGENECKER, a farmer and stockman of South Ann- ville township, Lebanon county, who lives on the old Imboden farm, located one mile south of Annville, was born near Palmyra, Lebanon county, De- cember 29, 1864, one of the nine children of Benjamin and Annie (Gingrich) Longenecker.
Benjamin S. Longenecker, the father, was born in South Londonderry township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, May 2. 1835, a son of Christian Longenecker, who was twice married, (first) to a Miss Shenk, and (second) to a Miss Brinzer. The grandparents resided in Dauphin county, and had these children : Mrs. Joseph Reider was the eldest; Phronica (Froney), who married George Hoffer, of Conewago township, Dauphin county, is now de- ceased ; Mary married Josiah Foltz, of Dauphin county : Benjamin S. resides at Hockersville, Dauphin county; John, who resides at Round Top. Dauphin county, is married to Martha Peck; Beckey married Samuel Moyer, of Round Top; and Christian, of Dauphin county. is deceased.
The father of Harry G. Longenecker moved from Lebanon county to Dauphin. He lived on the Reider farm for some five years, removing then to the Kiefer farm in Dauphin county, still later to the old Gingrich farm in the eastern part of Dauphin county, which he still owns. After fifteen years residence there he bought the Uriah Miller farm near Hockersville, Dauphin county, and now resides there retired from active labor. with his wife, a daughter of Henry Gingrich, born in 1840, and together they enjoy all the comforts of life, surrounded by many friends and esteemed by all. They are members of the German Baptist Church. Their children, besides Harry G .. were: John, who died four years ago; Elizabeth, who married John Coble, deceased; Christian, who died five years ago; Joseph, who lives in Hummels-
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LEBANON COUNTY. 753
town, Pa .; Mary, who is the widow of Jacob Engle, of Palmyra, and lives in Illinois; Simon, who resides at Centerville, Lancaster county : Kate, who married (first) a Mr. Backenstow, and (second) Jacob Kettering; and Levi, who lives in Palmyra.
Harry G. Longenecker was reared in Dauphin county and was educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-three years he began farming on the old Imboden farm, which they purchased, and there he continued to reside until January 1. 1904. This is one of the most desirable estates in South Annville township, comprising 149 acres, less several perches, and its improvements rank with its general fertility and excellent location. The handsome residence was erected in 1882, while the same year saw the building of the fine, substantial barn which is scarcely equalled in this vicinity. Mr. Longenecker owns also other desirable properties, one being a farm of 114 acres in Dauphin county, a brick dwelling on Main street, South Annville, and a dwelling house close to the farm in South Annville township. He has taken a deep interest in public matters, serving through three terms as school director of South Annville township. Mr. Longenecker has long been one of the directors in the Valley National Bank, and in the Annville Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
On October 1, 1887, Mr. Longenecker was married to Sally Gingrich, born in South Annville township, on the old Gingrich farm, September 9, 1867, a daughter of Henry and Sally ( Bachman) Gingrich, and to this union these children have been born: Annie, born October 15, 1890; Harry, born December 11, 1892: and Walter, born October 18, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Longenecker are both members of the German Baptist Church, and are among the respected residents of South Annville township.
ABRAHAM REHFUSS, of Lebanon, now living in retirement at his handsome residence at No. 152 North Ninth street, was for a number of years one of the prominent meat dealers of the city. More recently as a pro- gressive agriculturist and as an investor in city property he has materially benefited his community. His achievements have been entirely due to his own efforts. Born in Balingen, Wittenberg, Germany. April 15. 1833. he there learned the butcher's trade, and at the age of seventeen was prepared to make his own living in the world. Starting out as a journeyman butcher. he first went to Switzerland, where he spent a year and a half. He then went to the city of Zwickau, Koenigreich, Saxony, where he worked for another year and a half. By economy and strict attention to business he was enabled at the end of this period to purchase his passage to America. Landing in
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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF LEBANON COUNTY.
New York in 1853, at the age of twenty, he had little, if anything, but his own hands to fall back upon. Possessed of a fund of energy, however, he soon found employment at his trade, which he followed in New York for two years.
In 1855 Mr. Rehfuss married Catherine Herdtfelder, who was born in Balingen. Wittenberg, Germany, October 14, 1834. They have had no chil- dren of their own, but have reared four: Louisa Wissman ; Catherine Wiss- man : Amelia, who married George Weaver, and is now deceased; and a son of the last named couple, born August 6, 1885.
About the time of his marriage Mr. Rehfuss came to Lancaster, Pa., and from there to Lebanon, where he resided for some time. At first he worked at anything he could turn his hand to. Later, in 1857. he opened a meat shop in the city, which he conducted with success for fourteen years. So well did he do at this business that when he closed out he was enabled to purchase a II0-acre farm, only three miles from the city. where he carried on general agriculture for thirty-five years, managing his place with science and skill. As a result of his own hard work, with the assistance of his wife, he has amassed considerable property. Besides his city residence he now owns the "North Lebanon Hotel," and his well kept and productive farm, which is located in North Lebanon township.
Mr. Rehfuss has been a man of influence in Lebanon, and has served two terms as a member of the city council. In politics he is a Democrat with very pronounced views. Both he and his wife are very substantial members of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church.
SAMUEL WEBER, whose death occurred at his home in Fredericks- burg in 1874. was one of the early merchants of that place, who played a prominent part in the advancement of local industries. He was born in Bethel township, Lebanon county, in 1827. a son of Jacob and Anna (Sherk) Weber.
The Weber family is an old and highly respected one. It originated in Saxony, Germany, and the first member of the family to seek a home in the New World located at New Amsterdam in the early part of the Seventeenth century. Henry Weber, a son of this immigrant, came from New Amster- dam to Pennsylvania, and became one of the hardy pioneers who did such strenuous work in the development of the great natural resources of this sec- tion of the country.
Philip Weber, son of Henry, grew to manhood among the primitive scenes of the then sparsely settled part of eastern Pennsylvania. He located
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on a farm in what is now Bethel township, Lebanon county, which he cleared and cultivated. Being thrifty and industrious, he prospered, and by a life of integrity and Christian manliness won a high reputation throughout that section. By his, wife, Mary, he became the father of three children, Jacob, Philip J. and David.
Jacob Weber, son of Philip, was born in Lebanon county, in June, 1800, and was married on the family homestead in Bethel township. In his youth he learned the trade of wheelwright, a natural mechanical skill early enabling him to become very proficient at his trade. Upon reaching manhood he lo- cated in Fredericksburg, where his skillful workmanship and his prompt filling of orders soon won him a large patronage, which increased from year to year. He was able to do so high a class of work that his patrons came from a radius of many miles, and he derived from it a very substantial income. His industrious nature knew little desire for rest, and he continued actively en- gaged in his work long after reaching the age when most men lay aside busi- ness cares, and he attained an advanced age. During his young manhood he married Anna Sherk, a native of Bethel township. Of the children born of this marriage we have the following record : Mary Ann, who married John Clark, and is now deceased; Samuel; Elizabeth, who married Abraham Stauffer, and is deceased; Levi, a merchant, also deceased; Sarah, wife of Daniel Bordner, and residing in Lickdale; and Jerome and John. both de- ceased. Jacob Weber, the father of this family, was a man of strong charac- ter, conscientious in the performance of every duty. In his political faith he was a stanch Republican, and always was interested in his party and its work. In his religious connection he was a consistent member of the Re- formed Church.
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