USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania : containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers. Pt. 1 > Part 47
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Rev. Daniel Altland, grandfather of Mrs. Stine, was a native of York county, and learned the trade of a carpenter. He lived where his ancestors had lived for 165 years. Some of the Altlands were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.
- STEWART, REV. GEORGE B., D. D., pastor of the Market Square Presbyterian church, Harrisburg, Pa., was born at Columbus, Ohio, February 28, 1854. His ancestors have been in America since 1637. On his father's side, they were Seoteh-Irish; and on his mother's side, this same strain was mingled with that of the Holland-Dutch. Hence by the law of heredity, Dr. Stewart is justly entitled to the sterling and sturdy qualities he has exhibited in his youth and maturity.
His primary cdueation was received in the public and private schools of his native city, which also afforded him his prepara- tion for college. Other influenees besides those of careful domestie training and thorough scholastic tuition and discipline exerted a power over him. The most active and receptive years of his youth were those of the Civil war, and the capital of Ohio at that time was the seat and scene of the most intense and continuous activities in the preparation for and the consequences of the internecine struggle. The glorious flag of the country, either in the fresh folds of the colors of the regiments departing for the seat of war, or on the tattered and stained standards of returning troops, were constantly before his youthful eyes, while his ears were ever assaulted by the stirring notes of the fife and drum, and the stately tramp of the marching soldiers. Press, platform and pulpit were giving utterance to patriotic sentiments, and sacrifices for
country and free institutions was the per- sonal and public virtue he heard most fre- quently and eloquently commended. His ancestors had been in this country for over two hundred years, and hence by blood, birth and training, be became an American of Americans, his heart thrilling with senti- ments of regard and reverence for the free and full life which his native country begot and fostered.
When in maturing growth and approach- ing manhood, he was confronted by the need of making choice of an occupation or profes- sion he could see no ealling which offered employment to his gifts and satisfaction for his longings so fully as the sacred officc. For this he proceeded to prepare himself by the course of classical and theologieal study which the Presbyterian Church require of all who enter the ministry. With the class of 1876 he completed the curriculum of Prince- ton College, after which he spent some time in the study of theology at the young but con- servative McCormick Seminary at Chicago, Ill. For the completion of his theological studies he resorted to the older and more lib- eral seminary at Auburn, N. Y. The Calvary church of the city of Auburn noted the promise of the young student and offered him the pastorate the year previous to the completion of his course. He accepted the charge and remained in the field for seven years, in which his success was so marked that he attracted the attention of the church at large.
The Market Square Presbyterian church, of Harrisburg, Pa., gave him a unanimous call without knowing him and on the strength solely of the representations of persons whom they deemed competent to judge of his fitness for the pulpit and pastoral work. After a visit of some days to the city, he accepted the call and was installed as pastor, January 2, 1885. The Market Square church was one of the most prominent and impor- tant charges in the central part of Pennsyl- vania. It had in its membership many of the descendants of the Scotch-Irish pioneers who settled this part of the State, it had been remarkably favored in the enjoyment of the services of men of great talent and marked devotion in the pastoral office, the one preceding Dr. Stewart being Dr. Thos. H. Robinson, whose scholarly tastes and attainments, as well as his excellent character had led to his transfer to a chair in the Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
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Dr. Stewart's labors in this important field have been crowned with abundant and most gratifying success. People and pastor are most happily in accord as to the methods and means of church activities, and their harmonious work and worship are delight- fully complete and satisfactory. The officers and members, while intensely Presbyterian and most cordially loyal to denominational doctrine and order, are at the same time de- cidedly of the liberal branch and type, and in this feature are highly gratified with the pastor who shares with them in their de- nomination preference.
The dominant traits and characteristics of Dr. Stewart are his naturalness, simplicity, earnestness, and devotion in connection with eminent talents as a preacher and as organ- izer and leader. Even his scholarship par- takes of a practical turn, for while his eager search for truth takes him into all fields of investigation, he gathers therefrom only the fruits which nurture spirituality and practi- cal evangelism.
The church under his leadership is thor- oughly organized, and is as much a working company as a factory, store or bank, in which every employee has his place and work, and all are united and co-operate to reach a single result. But the organization is not a creed, it is only a means by which the good of humanity and the glory of God are effectually promoted.
Dr. Stewart finds time for work outside of the pastorate. He is a trustee of the College at Princeton, N. J., and of the Wilson Col- lege at Chambersburg, Pa. He has also been the president of the Pennsylvania Chatauqua, at Mt. Gretna, for the five years of its existence. He is much interested in the Y. P. S. C. E. and is the chairman of the General Assembly's special committee on this organization.
By his activity, fidelity and good will in his relationships of man, neighbor and citi- zen, Dr. Stewart enjoys a popularity and in- fluence equal to the regard and affection rendered to him in his ministerial office.
- KOHL, REV. GERMANUS, was born March 17, 1855, in Berks county, Pa. His father, Samuel Kohl, was born at Haycock, Bucks county, Pa., and his mother in Berks county, Pa. The forefathers of the parents were among the first settlers of Bucks county and came to this country in the year 1774. Nine children were born to Samuel and Mary
Kohl, four sons and five daughters. One daughter, Sarah, was married to George Geible; she died fifteen years ago. Two daughters, Agnes and Mary, joined the sis- ters of St. Joseph's at Chestnut Hill, P'a. Their names in religion are Sisters Gene- vieve and Loretta.
Rev. Germanus Kohl taught in the pub- lic schools for three years, and in 1877 he entered Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Md., from which he graduated June 23, 1883; received his degree of A. M. two years after, and was ordained to the priesthood in August 22, 1887, by Bishop O'Hara, of Scran- ton, Pa. His first mission was Chambers- burg, Pa., where he was assistant to Rev. John J. Reilly for fourteen months. In 1889 he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's church, Snow Shoe, Centre county, Pa., where he remained for twenty-seven months, when he was transfered back to Chambers- burg, where his pastorate was a most suc- cessful one. On May 6, 1893, Bishop Mc- Govern appointed him rector of the pro- cathedral, Harrisburg, Pa., and also one of his consultors, which positions he still holds.
-HOWELL, REV. CHARLES J., Harrisburg, Pa., was born August 15, 1855, in Dutchess county, N. Y., and is the son of Charles J. and Mary M. (DuBois) Howell. The ma- ternal grandfather was born in Dutchess county and came of a Huguenot family. He served as a trustee of Vassar College, was president of the First National Bank of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and also manager of the Hudson River State Hospital. His wife was born January 30, 1859, at Fleming, N. Y. The father, Charles J., was in busi- ness at home until twenty-two years of age, when he began work on Wappinger's creek, about three miles from New York City. He married Miss Mary M. DuBois, daughter of Cornelias and Julia A. (More) Du Bois. Their children are Charles J., Cornelias and Lydia H. The father was an elder in the Presbyterian church at the time of his death. His wife survives him. Charles J., at the age of fifteen, removed with his parents to Lebanon, where he served as clerk with Lobenstein & Co. for two years. His educa- tion began in the private schools, and then he attended the River View Military Acad- emy for two years. In 1880 he entered All- nistor's College, New Jersey, where he grad- uated in 1884. One year later he took a course in the Princeton Theological Semi-
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nary and later a three years' course in a similar seminary in New York, where he graduated in 18SS. Entering the ministry in 1888, he took charge of a Presbyte- rian church for three years, and in 1891 received a call from La Grange, a suburb of Chicago, which he accepted and remained several years. In December, 1894, having a call from a congregation in Harrisburg, he returned East, and now serves the Pine Street Presbyterian church as its assistant pastor and is meeting with much success.
Rev. Howell was married at Albany, N. Y., to Miss Cornelia N. Griggs. Before en- tering the ministry he taught a district school one term, and two years in the River View Academy, N. Y.
WENDEL, REV. JACOB HUGO RUDOLF, pas- tor of Zion's (German) Lutheran church, Harrisburg, Pa., was born in the city of Wildberg, Wurtemberg, Germany, April 13, 1857. He is a son of the late Christian and Emilie (Martz) Wendel. His father was born in . Eltingen, Wurtemberg, July 30, 1820, and was a teacher ; he was principal of a private institute for girls in Stuttgart. Later, he was appointed state teacher in various towns. His last position was that of head teacher of the town school at Dettin- gen, Wurtemberg, where he died Septem- ber 8, 1885, after a useful life. He was married, July 16, 1848, at Waiblingen, to Emi- lie, born Martz, a native of Murrhardt, Wur- temberg, born February 24, 1825, daughter of Carl Ludwig Martz, a master of forests, and Marie Sybilla (Sulzen) Martz. They had thirteen children, of whom six are liv- ing: Herman Ludwig, professor in Real Gymnasium (College), Stuttgart, Germany ; Gustav Theodor, wholesale wine and liquor dealer, Hamburg ; Rev. Jacob Hugo Rudolf ; Albert Ludwig, an Umgeld-Commissarius in Freudenstadt, Germany; Christian Fried- rich, sheriff of Urach county, Germany ; Amelie Marie, a teacher in Stuttgart. The mother is still living, and resides at Urach.
Rev. J. H. R. Wendel received his ele- mentary education in the Latin school of his native city. His academie course was taken at the Lyceum of Nagold, from which institution he received his literary degrees. He then read law in Stuttgart, for two terms, in the department of State Law Instruction; he passed the state examination in law in 1881. Ile had previously filled some court offices in Freudenstadt, Nurtingen and
Reutlingen. In 1880 he began the practice of law in Munsingen, and continued it until 1882.
In February, 1882, in response to a call from the Evangelical Lutheran General Council, he came to America to study the- ology, and to serve in the ministry of that church in America. He was ordained at Norristown, Pa., in May, 1883, by the Synod of Pennsylvania. Ilis first pastorate was St. Thomas' church, Germantown, Philadel- phia, where he faithfully and acceptably ministered to the spiritual wants of the con- gregation until March 30, 1886. His next charge was at Port Jervis, N. Y., where he served two years as pastor of St. Peter's German Lutheran church. Since March, 18SS, he has been the faithful, devoted and beloved pastor of Zion Lutheran church (German) of Harrisburg.
He was married in Reading, Pa., May 29, 1883, to Miss Louisa, daughter of Martin and Anna Maria (Etzel) Freudenberger, of Schillingstadt, Baden, Germany. They have five children : Christian Hugo Martin, Emi- lie Louisa Amalie, Paulus Herman Albert, Gustav Adolphus John Frederick, Esther Barbara Ruth. Mr. Wendel is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania and adjacent States, and of the General Council of the Evangelical Lu- theran Church of North America.
SEUBERT, REV. FATHER F. C., rector of St. - - Lawrence German Catholic church, Harris- burg, Pa., was born at Lebanon, Pa., August 2, 1859. He is a son of F. Anton and Mar- garet (Ganster) Seubert, both natives of Aschaffenberg, Bavaria. They came to America in 1857. They were united in matrimony October 14, 1858, at St. Peter's church, Reading, Pa. In the spring of 1859 they located at Lebanon, where they still reside, honored and respected by their neigh- bors. Fourteen children were born to them, of whom eleven are living: Catherine, wife of Jerome H. Youtz, residing at Lebanon; Miss Emma, residing in Philadelphia ; Joseph A., residing at Lebanon, Pa .: John J., residing at Sayre, Pa .; Mary, wife of George S. Pence, residing at Lebanon ; Miss Anna II., residing in Philadelphia; George P., a student for the priesthood in St. Vin- cent's, Westmoreland county, Pa .; C. Aloy- sius, a student in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia; Margaret and William IL., attending St. Vincent's College,
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and the subject of this biography, who was the eldest of the children.
Father Seubert received his early educa- tion in the parochial schools of his native town. In the fall of 1876 he went to Mon- treal, Canada, where he spent seven years in college. Five years of this time were spent in classical studies, and two years in the philosophical course. He was then called to Sylvan Heights Seminary by Rt. Rev. Bishop Shanahan, where he studied theology. On June 26, 1886, he was ordained to the priesthood by Rt. Rev. Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia, Rt. Rev. Bishop Shanahan being too ill at the time to hold the ordina- tion. His first appointment was at Cham- bersburg, where he was assistant to Rev. Father C. A. Schlueter until January, 1887. On January 14, 1887, he took charge of St. Agnes' church, Loek Haven, Pa., where he remained for five years, during which time he won the love and esteem of all classes by his earnest and successful work. Under his care the charge grew and prospered as it had never done before. The church and convent buildings were remodeled, a new parochial residence erected, and many other important improvements made. On Janu- ary 14, 1892, he took charge of St. Lawrence parish, and since that date has also been ap- pointed secretary of the diocese. He is a gentleman of pleasing address, with a genial countenance and charming manners, and is esteemed by all as a kindly, godly man.
DE YOE, REV. LUTHER, pastor of Messiah Lutheran church, Harrisburg, Pa., was born in Bergen county, N. J. He is the son of Rev. E. and Anna (Crounse) De Yoc. He received his academic education at Tren- ton, N. J. There he completed his prepara- tion for college. He spent seven years at Gettysburg, Pa., pursuing for four years the regular classical course at Pennsylvania Col- lege, and taking the prescribed curriculum of the Theological Seminary during the next three years, graduating from the latter in 1SS9. In the following year he received, at Philadelphia, his license to preach, and in 1889 he was regularly ordained to the saered office at Martinsburg, Va.
The first pastorate of Mr. De Yoe was at Emmitsburg, Md., where he had preached one year while he was a student at the sem- inary. Ile remained in the charge two and a-half years, and was eminently successful in his work, which he only relinquished in
order to occupy a wider field that opened to him. In 1891 he accepted a call which was extended to him from Messiah Lutheran church, at Harrisburg. Messiah was a prominent congregation and one that had been ministered to by men of the highest order of talent. Rev. De Yoe has devoted his attention solely to this work, and his labors of the last five years have demon- strated his ability and his personal worth. They have been years erowned with success.
Rev. De Yoe was married in Gettysburg, November 19, 1889, to Margaret J., daughter of Dr. H. W. and Mary ( Welty) MeKnight. He is a member of Capital City Lodge, No. 327, Jr. O. U. A. M. Mrs. De Yoe. wife of Rev. Luther De Yoe, was born at Newville, Cumberland county, Pa., September 8, 1868. Her father, Rev. H. W. Mcknight, D. D., has been for many years a prominent and suc- cessful minister of the Lutheran Church. He is at present president of Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pa.
-EARLY (OEHRLE), THOMAS, was an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran church at Ensengen, in the Kingdom of Wurtem- berg. His son, John Early, born January 9, 1724, came to America at the age of twenty- four years. After he had received his di- ploma as a carpenter, he traveled through different parts of Germany to perfect his trade. He was also a Master Free Mason. He came to America in 1750, landing first at Philadelphia, and subsequently walking to Reading. He was here elected trustee and building master for erecting the First Evan- gelieal Lutheran church there. This edifice has been rebuilt and is one of the largest churches in the place. He married Susan Brombach and moved to Manada Gap, now in Dauphin county, Pa. He built a grist mill on the foundation of the present mill which is still there. He also built the mill at Bow erecek, now owned by Israel Early. Both of these mills have always been and are now in the possession of the Earlys. He had one son, Christian Early, when his first wife died in 1753. From her spring all of the mountain Earlys and those near or along the Jonestown road. He married, secondly, Regina Siechle, in 1755, daughter of John Albrecht Siechle, and moved to Swatara creek, near the mouth of the Quittapohilla creek, where he joined Hans B. Bendnaugle, George Berger and others in the building of the First Evangelical Lutheran log
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church, when the region was almost an un- broken wilderness. The church is called the Bendnaugle's Evangelical Lutheran church to this day. By his second wife he had three sons and two daughters, namely : John, from whom all the valley Earlys spring, from near Palmyra, now Lebanon county; William, Thomas, Catharine and Anna Margaretta. He was also one of the principal and original subscribers, together with his sons John, William and Thomas, in 1803, to build the present beautiful sub- stantial Bendnaugle's church, the pride of the region. His son, William Early, moved to Centre county, Pa., in the beginning of the present century, where he and his father took up a large tract of land, and laid out a town in 1797, called Earlysburg, also Will- iamsburg. He built a saw mill there and donated a traet of land to the Evangelical Lutheran church and the Reformed, called Emanuel church, and aided in building a log church. He was one of the first officers of the church, which was rebuilt in 1837. He was one of the first esquires and his brother was the first constable of Centre county. William Early, Esq., was also on the first grand jury in Centre county. From him spring the Southern and Western Earlys. The second son of the first John Early was esquire of Londonderry town- ship, as was his brother William in Centre county, and the second son William of the second son John, father of D. S. Early, was also esquire of Londonderry township for forty years. None of his suits were ever settled in court. This William Early, the father of Aaron Daniel Seth Early, was born in Lancaster county, and married in Dau- phin county, and died in Lebanon county, and was never out of the county or London- derry township. All of the Earlys were Whigs until the Republican party was organ- ized. The second John Early, son of Chris- tian Early, the only son of the first John Early, by his first wife, was also esquire in West Hanover township, Manada Gap, Dau- phin county, until he died.
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The family of William, the second son of John Early, were all born on the farm called Beetime, in the present house which he built, and consisted of fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters. Jacob, the oldest son of the second John and brother of Will- iam, was one of the promoters of the Camp- bellstown Lutheran and Reformed church, . and his descendants are buried there. Will-
iam, the second son, was one of the main pillars and supporters of the Bendnaugle's Evangelical Lutheran church, and deeded a plat of ground to said church, and he and his family are buried there. ITis son, Joshua Heaster, stood in his place after his death, and his son John supported the same church. A. D. S. Early, the son of William Early, assisted liberally with his means and deeded a half acre of land to the same church, for the sake of Christ, and for his ancestors. He desired to beautify the church and have a dwelling on the premises, and to preserve them as memorials of the virtues of his ancestors, and to have some one to dwell there to keep the church and burial place always in order. William Early and Mar- tin G. Early, sons of William Early, were among the founders and principal donators of the first Evangelical Lutheran and Re- formed church in Palmyra, Pa., and Martin G. Early was also one of the movers and supporters of the Second Lutheran church in Palmyra. Rev. John Willian Early, the son of William Early and brother of D. S. Early, is a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is a 'graduate of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa.
- EARLY, AARON DANIEL SETH, is of the fourth generation in the line of descent from Thomas Early. He was born May 14, 1828, in Lebanon county, on the farm known as the Beetime farm, half way between Pal- myra and Campbellstown. He is a son of the late William Early, Esq., and Christiana (Kreider) Early, daughter of Rev. Martin Kreider. When seven years of age his father moved to Bendnaugles in 1835. He worked on the farm and went to the Bendnaugle's parochial school until 1845, when he entered the store of his brother, M. G. Early, and went to Alexander Dasher's school at Pal- myra, Pa., until 1847. He then studied at the Lebanon Academy under John Gluge, principal, until 1848, when he went to Ann- ville Mills, now Shiner P. O., one mile be- low New Market Forge, to represent his brother Martin's half interest in a store. In 1849 he bought the store and began business for himself. He erected a new building, the largest and finest country store in Lebanon county, and also bought a farm, built two honses and two barns, and carried on his business and improved his property until 1857, when he sold out the store, moved to Annville, bought another store, Sertyer's old
John Leitor.
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stand, and carried on a large general mer- cantile business, and also dealt in real estate. He is a Republican in politics and was elected judge of elections of North Annville township in 1851, when he was twenty-three years of age. Ile was elected one of the cor- porators of the Annville Fire Insurance Com- pany in 1858 or 1859, and one of the street commissioners to grade the town in 1860. On account of impaired health he freed him- self from business for one year. In 1861, in connection with John H. Balsbaugh, he bought the half interest in a large warehouse and entered the grain, milling and coal business at Swatara Station. In 1861 he was appointed postmaster by President Lincoln, and ticket agent by the Reading Railroad Company. Hc also built a large brick dwell- ing house at Swatara Station. In 1864 he sold his large business interests to Abraham Brechbill, and moved to Hummelstown, and opened a large grain, coal and lime business. By his ability and influence he was instru- mental in locating the Denominational Col- lege of the United Brethren in Christ at Annville, and was elected the first president of the board of trustees of this college. He was elected president of the board of commissioners to grade the town of IIum- melstown. He was the discoverer of the Brown Hermetite ore mines near Swatara Station, and the organizer of the Swatara Iron Company, and was elected the general superintendent of the same. He was elected a director of the United Brethren Mutual Aid Society of Pennsylvania in 1869, and filled the place for twenty-seven years. In 1870 he was elected general superintendent for ten and filled it for eleven years, when he resigned on account of failing health. While in the office he traveled over twenty States and part of Canada. In 1872 he moved to Harrisburg in order to afford his children the advantages of education, im- provement, culture and the enjoyment which the city affords. His residence is on the corner of Sixth and Kelker streets. He or- ganized a Greenback Club in- 1877 and was made candidate for Congress by that party, and ran far ahead even of the candidate for governor on the same ticket. He was one of the organizers of the Reily Hose Fire Company No. 10, in Harrisburg, and was the first treasurer of the company. IIe was one of the first subscribers and a stock- holder and organizer of the Kelker Strcet Market Company of Harrisburg. Is a
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