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 67
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"DESHONG, JAMES B., pharmacist, was born in Elizabethtown, Lancaster county, Pa., May 3, 1867. He is the son of Rev. John W. and Rebecca M. (Anderson) Deshong. His father has been connected with the min- istry for thirty-two years, and for six years has been the pastor of the Bethel church in Harrisburg. The parents had a family of nine children, one of whom died in infancy. Their living children are : Arvilla S., wife of Mcclellan Ebright, Philadelphia; Mar- garet A., wife of John B. Fisher, Harrisburg; Harry E., Altoona; James B .; William, Philadelphia; Carrie B., John C. and Ed- ward A., Harrisburg. Rev. Mr. Deshong was of French and his wife of Seoich an- cestry.
James B. Deshong received his education in the schools of Lancaster and Blair coun - ties, and in the Mountain City Business College, of Altoona. IIe engaged as phar- maceutieal clerk with Mr. George Schin- minger, of Altoona, and continued with him for five years; then with Hamlin & Hunter, of Erie, and subsequently with D. G. Hur- ley & Co., of Altoona, with a Mr. Hern, of Du Bois, Clearfield county, Pa., and with Dr. John W. Hay. On December 23, 189-1, he commenced business for himself. He attends the Church of God.
-GORGAS, GEORGE A., pharmacist, was born in Lower Allen township, Cumberland county, Pa. He is a son of William R. and Elizabeth (Hummel) Gorgas. William R. Gorgas was born in Lower Allen township, May S, 1806, and was an honored resident of that township for seventy-one years. He held many important public positions. He served in both branches of the Legislature, and was for many years on the school board. lle removed to Harrisburg in the fall of 1877, where he lived a retired life until his death, which occurred December 7, 1892. The ancestors were natives of Holland. They settled in Germantown, Pa., prior to 1730.
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From that place they went to Ephrata, Lan- caster county, Pa. About 1800 the grand- father settled in Cumberland county. The mother of George A. Gorgas was a daughter of David Hummel, an early settler in Dau- phin county. Eight children were born to them; two died in infancy and David died at the age of sixteen. Dr. S. R., a prominent physician, died June 30, 1893. Their living children are: William L., cashier of the Harrisburg Bank, Catherine F., Mary E., and George A. -
George A. Gorgas passed his boyhood on his father's farm, and received his education in the public schools of his native township. He afterwards attended Cumberland Valley State Normal School at Shippensburg, also Cumberland Valley Institute at Mechanics- burg. After completing his education he became a student of pharmacy with Daniel HI. Hamaker, of Harrisburg, for three years. He then attended the College of Pharmacy of Philadelphia for two years, graduating from that institution in 1881. He afterwards resided in Washington for two years. In 1883 he returned to Harrisburg and pur- chased the drug business of I. D. Lutz. He conducted this business until 1894, at which date he removed to his present commodious premises.
George A. Gorgas was married at Leb- anon, l'a., April 23, 1891, to Miss Rachel Grittinger, daughter of Henry C. and Agnes C. Grittinger. Their children are: Elizabeth Hummel, who died in infancy, and Cathe- rine, who still survives. Mr. Gorgas is a member of Robert Burns Lodge, No. 464; Perseverance Chapter, No. 21; Harrisburg Council, No. 7, and Pilgrim Commandery, No. 11, F. & A. M .; also of Lulu Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is a member of the American Pharmacentical Society and of the Dauphin County Pharmaceutical Society. In political views he is Democratic. He at- tends the German Reformed church.
-KITZMILLER, FRANK K., pharmacist, is the youngest son of Daniel and Sarah A. (Gor- gas) Kitzmiller, and was born at Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, Pa. Ile came to Harris- burg with his parents when he was three years old. He was educated in the public schools and the high school of this city. Mr. Kitzmiller studied pharmacy for seven years in the store of E. 7. Gross, of Harrisburg ; he subsequently attended the College of Pharmacy at Philadelphia, and was gradu-
ated from that institution in 1890. He then returned to the employment of Mr. Gross, and has spent twelve years in his service. He is a member of Dauphin Lodge, No. 160, and of Dauphin Encampment, No. 10, I. O. O. F. He is also a member of the Pennsyl- vania Pharmacists' Society, and of the Alumni of the College of Pharmacy.
SNYDER, WILLIAM H., pharmacist, was born in East Hanover township, September 24, 1871. He is the son of the late Peter C. and Mary A. (Kaufman) Snyder. His parents were both natives of Berks county, Pa. The father was a prominent physician and practiced his profession for many years near Reading, Pa. He was also assistant surgeon of the Two Hundredth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, during the late war. In 1870 he removed to Dauphin county, and for several years was foreman of the Manada Furnaces, in East Hanover township. About 1873 he removed to Rock- ville, Susquehanna township, and there practiced his profession until 1877, when he removed to Ellendale Forge, Middle Paxton township, where he took charge of the char- coal forges until 1884, at which date he re- moved to Harrisburg. From that time to the date of his death, he was engaged in the drug business. He died October 4, 1893. His wife died March 6, 1893. To them were born three children : Walter, residing at Reading, Pa. ; William H. and Mary K. By a previous marriage of the father there was one daughter, Carrie M., wife of Charles Bartz, residing at Reading, Pa. By a former marriage of the mother there was one son, John K. Genger, who resides at Sheridan Furnace, Lebanon county, Pa. William H., when but an infant, removed with his parents to Rockville, and in 1877 again re- moved to Ellendale Forge, where he re- mained till 1884, receiving his education in the district schools. In 1884 he came with the family to Harrisburg. In 1886 he en- tered his father's drug store as a clerk. Since the death of his father, in 1893, he has conducted the business in the interest of the estate.
BERNHEISEL, PETER, son of John and Catherine (Loy) Bernheisel, was born August 18, 1806, in Cumberland (now Perry) county, Pa. His father was a native of Berks county, Pa., where he was born May 12, 1765, settled in Perry county about the year 1800, and
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where he died on the 21st of September, 1825. His mother was also a native of Berks county, born May 1, 1768, and died in Perry county on the 31st of August, 1833. Peter's early education was limited to the schools of the county until 1822, when he went to Carlisle, where he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder. He came to Har- Jisburg from Carlisle in 1827, was married to Margaret Uhler in 1828, went to Perry county and returned and settled in Harrisburg in 1830, where he became a contract builder until 1859. He was the builder of the county jail and the Presbyterian church on Second street. He served as a member of the old borough council during the shin-plaster era, and filled other municipal offices. In 1859 he relinquished the house building and went into the lime business. Mr. Bernheisel mar- ried, first, on the 28th of August, 1828, Mar- garet, daughter of John and Catherine Uhler, and their children were: John Frederick, Jeremiah, Peter, Augustus, George, William Henry, and Jacob Houser, all deceased ex- cent Peter and William H. His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of John and Barbara Shott, and their children were: Barbara Catherine, deceased, Valentine Hum- inel, of Harrisburg, and Rebecca Shott, wife of William Painter, of Harrisburg. His third wife was Frances, daughter of Bernard and Elizabeth Sigman.
- DEHAVEN JEHU, retired builder of Harris- burg, Pa., was born in Montgomery county, Pa., April 15, 1814. He is a son of. Nathan and Diana (Waltz) DeHaven, both of French descent. Mr. Nathan DeHaven was for many years a stone mason. He had six children, of whom John is the only survivor; the de- ceased children are : William, Henry, Ulrich, Henrietta, and Eliza. Mr. and Mrs. Dellaven both died in Montgomery county.
Jehu DeHaven enjoyed only the educa .- tional advantages of the private schools of his native county. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the stone mason's trade, serving an apprenticeship of two years. He worked for some time as a journeyman, and was in this business altogether about thirty years. After this, he came to Harrisburg, and began taking large contracts. His work in this line was done for the most part in Pennsylvania. Hle built four miles of the Union canal, and two miles of the Reading railroad. He was also a contractor for bridge work. He built the large Soldier's monu-
ment which stands at the foot of State street, Harrisburg, and the postoffice in that city, which he finished in 1873. In 1870 he built the Presbyterian church on Third street. About the same year, Mr. Dellaven built his large and fine residence, which he has occupied twenty-two years. After com- pleting the postoffice building, he retired from active business.
Jehu DelJaven was married, in Dauphin county, October 3, 1837, to Esther, daughter of John and Catherine (Conrad) Kline. Of their ten children, seven are living : William, Eliza, wife of Jacob Fackler, of New York City, Jehu, Jr., Emily, widow of Edward Jones, Esther, widow of Albert Bricker, Isa- bella, Frederick, a prominent hardware mer- chant, Harrisburg, Pa .; and the deceased children are: Matilda, died at the age of nine months, and George. Mrs. DeHaven died in 1885, at the age of seventy years. Mr. DeHaven has been an active member of Lodge No. 70, I. O. O. F., for forty years. He is a Republican. He is a congregational member of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife was a consistent member.
Mrs. DeHaven was born in 1815. Her parents were both natives of Montgomery county. Mr. Kline was engaged in the shoe business. They had six children: Esther, Leah, Catherine, Frederick, and William. The family belonged to the Presbyterian church. Both parents died at their home in Montgomery county.
BALL, JOSEPH, contractor, 127 Pine street, Harrisburg, was born in Delaware, January 28, 1829, and is a son of Joseph and Lydia (McCoombs) Ball. He has an honorable an- cestry from whom he has doubtless inherited the spirit which has animated him in his business career in this city as well as the qualities which have enabled him to achieve his honorable success. His paternal grand- father, William Ball, married Miss Springer, and together they came from England in 1803, and were a part of that large number of intelligent and virtuous people who felt the limitations of old customs and dense populations, and appreciated the fuller free- dom and ampler opportunities which this country, at the establishment of its inde- pendence, offered to all who desired to enjoy its rich resources. They landed at New C'as- tle, and settled on the Christina river. His maternal ancestors, the MeCoombs, possessed similar characteristics, only they were of
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that still more sturdy and stirring stock of the north of Ireland, from which so many men of worth and eminence have sprung. They also came hither at an early date in the century and settled in the State of Dela- ware, on the Christina river. Mrs. Mc- Coombs' maiden name was Walker. In carly boyhood Mr. Ball appears to have de- veloped somewhat of a restless and adven- turous spirit, and proposed to himself to look about in the world and see something of its countries and customs before settling down to the regular routine of life's duties. In gratification of this spirit he shipped before the mast as common sailor in the whaling and naval service, and results and subse- quent events show that the lessons and ex- periences of this voyage were not lost, for on his return he settled at once into the com- monplace and unromantic position of an ap- prenticeship to the carpenter trade. That he was apt and in earnest in his trade learn- ing is proved by the proficiency and skill he acquired in his chosen occupation. He came to Harrisburg in 1860 and found here, in this prosperous and growing eity, an ample field for the business he desired to establish. He diligently followed his occupation, and finally became well established and promi- nent as a builder and contractor. The marks and monuments of his successful works are to be seen in the prominent struc- tures which have been erected under his able and faithful superintendence. Among those may be named the first Paxton mills and the additions thereto, the Paxton flour- ing mills, the Reily street, Maclay street and high school buildings, and the Trust Com- pany building. Ile also remodeled the Commonwealth Hotel, and has constructed many of the fine residences of the city. He is acceptable to both owners and architects, because he is equally faithful to both, and lias the skill to construet the material reali- zation of the wants of the one and the plans of the other. Mr. Ball is further interested in other substantial business enterprises of the city, being a stockholder in the Chestnut Street market house and in the Harrisburg Trust Company. In political views he is in harmony with the Republican party. His only military service is his former connec- tion with the State militia. He was married, in 1861, to Miss lucretia J. Lutz. Their children are: William G., contractor of Har- risburg, Pa., and Sarah J., the wife of Joseph Weaver, of Harrisburg. Mrs. Ball has from
early youth been a member of the First Bap- tist church. The wife of George Washing- ton was a member of the Ball family.
" BERNIEISEL, PETER, architect, was born at Harrisburg, Pa., April 25, 1833. He is a son of Peter and Margaret (Uhler) Bern- heisel. His father was a native of Perry county, Pa., and was born near what is now called Green Park, in 1806, and died in this city, September 22, 1887, aged eighty-one years. His mother was born in Harrisburg, and died in 1848. Their family consisted of seven children, of whom two survive: Peter and William H., of Harrisburg, who was injured by a fall while engaged at the erection of the Friendship engine house, and for thirty-seven years has not left his bed. The father was married three times. By the second marriage three children were born ; and by the third marriage none were born.
Peter received his education in the public schools of the city. He learned the carpen- ter trade, and at the same time studied architecture. In 1856 he became manager of Trullinger & Co.'s planing mill, and filled the position for seven years. In 1863 he engaged in business for himself as a con- tractor and builder, and continued in this business for twenty-two years. In 1885 he abandoned this occupation, and since that date he has devoted his time to the business of architect. IIe built the residences of Dr. Reily and Dr. Porter, the addition to In- ternal Affairs and House of Representatives, Telegraph building, and others.
He was married in Harrisburg, Pa., No- vember 9, 1856, to Hannah R. Webner, daughter of Charles and Harriett (Salada) Webner, a native of Lebanon. Six children have been born to them, five of whom are living, namely : Margaret, wife of II. I. Lingle, Harrisburg; Amanda, deceased ; George, Harrisburg; William, Harrisburg ; Charles H., a partner with his father; and M. Frances. In politics Mr. Bernheisel is a Republican. The family attend the Ln- theran church.
- SCHLAYER (Schlehr), JACOB F., contractor, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., January 17, 1837. He is a son of the late Jacob Freder- ick and Elizabeth Maria (Beckley) Sehlehr. Jacob Frederick Schlehr was born in the town of Ringlinge, Baden, Germany. For many years he was engaged in farming. In
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1832 he emigrated with his family to Amer- ica. The passage across the ocean in a sail- ing vessel occupied sixty-eight days. They reached Baltimore, Md., September 4, 1832. A few days later he procured a team and wagon to transport his family and household goods to Ilarrisburg. In two days they reached York, Pa., where they rested one day and procured another team. Harrisburg was reached a day or two later, with no mis- hap save the occasional upsetting of the wagon. The remainder of their lives was passed in Harrisburg. They were well- known and honored residents. The father died April 27, 1837. He was married in Baden, Germany, to Elizabeth Maria Biek- ley ; she died May 2, 1876. They had nine children : Barbara, born in Ringlinge, Baden, widow of the late Leonard Orth, residing in Harrisburg ; William, born in Ringlinge October 12, 1823, a continuous resident of Harrisburg for sixty-two years, still actively engaged, in his seventy-second year, at his trade of shoemaking; he was married at Linglestown, Dauphin county, February 5, 1855, to Catherine, daughter of the late Frederick Lenhart, has five living children, Mary, wife of John Murphy, Louisa, wife of Robert Wallace, William H., Edward, and Emma ; Caroline, deceased, born in Ring- linge, Germany ; Bernhardt, whose present residence is unknown; Caroline, born in Ringlinge, wife of Henry Langenberg, of Beverley, Washington county, Ohio; An- drew, born in Ringlinge, died in 1893 ; Mary, born at sea, deceased; Margaret, born in Harrisburg, wife of Rev. Henry Fossler, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; and Jacob Frederick.
Jacob Frederick Sehlehr received only a limited education in the schools of Harris- burg. Attheage of twelve he began the battle of life for himself. For two years he was a driver on the eanal. The next year he was clerk in the grocery store of Christ. Henry, on Market street. At the age of fifteen he was apprentieed to the house carpenter trade with Colestock & Garverich. This firm failed in business after two years and a half, and he was compelled to seek other employ- ers. He then served an apprenticeship of two and a half years with Holman & Sim- onds, making a completed apprenticeship of four years. Ilis pay during the entire period was fifty cents a day, out of which he had to pay all his living expenses, including board and clothing. Ile now removed to Beverly, Ohio, and worked at carpentry for four
months, returning after that to Harrisburg. Here he followed his trade and also con- ducted a dairy business. In the spring of 1863 he abandoned the trade to devote his entire attention to the dairy. In the spring of 1865 he engaged in the sand business and in 1866 sold the dairy and has since been interested in sand. Sinee 1SS6 he has also been engaged in contracting. He was mar- ried in Harrisburg, by Rev. Dr. Hay, Janu- ary 16, 1859, to Anna Mary, daughter of William and Hannah (Worrall) Willis, both deceased. Their children are: William Henry, in the plumbing business, Harris- burg, and Hannah Elizabeth, wife of Henry Boyer. Mr. Schlayer has been for twenty- five years an active member of Robert Burns Lodge, No. 464, and of Perseverance Chapter, No. 21, F. & A. M. He also belongs to Phoenix Lodge, K. of P., and of the United Workmen. Sinee the war of the Rebellion he has been a Republican ; he was previously a Democrat. He and his family attend Zion Evangelical Lutheran church, of which Mrs. Sehlayer is a consistent member.
. BENDER, JACOB M., retired carpenter and contractor, was born near Mt. Jos, Lancas- ter county, Pa., January 20, 1S38, son of Jacob and Maria (Moyer) Bender, natives of Lancaster county. The father came to Dauphin county and settled in Swatara township, where he farmed for sixteen years and then moved to Highland, between Ober- lin and Steelton, where he was engaged in raising fine horses. He was a Republican in polities, having formerly been a Whig. and served in township offices. He was a member of the United Brethren church. His death occurred in 1880, at the age of eighty years, and his wife's death occurred in 1863. They had eleven children, all of whom reached maturity, and six of whom are still living : Tobias, farmer, of Kansas : Elizabeth, Mrs. Samuel Rigbet, of Middle Paxton; Jacob M .; Susan, Mrs. Adam Swartz. of Texas; Mary, Mrs. Benjamin Wright: Daniel, of Parsons, Kan., deputy sheriff and member of State Legislature and farmer by occupation ; Henry, of Cherokee county, Kan., postmaster of Galena, under Harri- son. Jacob M. was reared in Dauphin county and educated in the publie sehools. ITo learned the trade of carpenter and fol- lowed the occupation for nineteen years. On August S, 1862, he enlisted in company B, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth regiment,
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Pennsylvania voluntcers, as private and served ten months, participating in the bat- tles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and other noted engagenients. He settled at Harrisburg permanently in 1866. He is prominently connected with the fraternities, being a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, of the Mystic Chain and of Post No. 58, G. A. R. His first vote was cast for . the People's party and he has since been a Republican. From 1877 to 1879 he served as a member of the common council and was on the committee of ordinance and leg- islation. Mr. Bender was married in 1866 to Susan Felty, daughter of John B. Felty, of Susquehanna township. His children are: Irving F., at the poor farm, Jacob Os- car, bookkeeper, Elizabeth, Josiah, at home, Daniel, drowned while skating, January 11, 1896. Mr. Bender is a member of the Fourth Street Church of God.
MILLER, DAVID R., architect, was born in Dauphin county, in an old log house in Swatara township, situated where the steel works now stand, September 21, 1838. He is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Page) Miller. His parents were also both natives of Dau- phin county. The grandfather Miller fought in the war of 1812, and in that year the father of David R. Miller was born. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and died when his son David was thirteen years of age. His wife lived to a good old age, and died in 187S. Their family consisted of six children, of whom four are still living : Henry, residing in Keisley, Edwards county, Kan., David R., John, a retired blacksmith, residing at Rockville, Dauphin county, Pa., and Mary, wife of William Rivers, residing at Goshen, Tulare county, Cal. Those dead are Jacob, who was killed by an accident at Joliet, Ill., in 1872, and George, who served with distinction through the late war and was a prisoner for eleven months. He died at Goshen, Cal., in 1891.
The whole life of David R. Milier has been spent in Dauphin county. He received but a limited education in the public schools, but compensated for this by industrious, en- ergetic and persevering efforts at self-im- provement. He was a clerk in a grocery store on Market street for two years, during which time he eagerly improved every op- portunity to gain knowledge and to prepare himself for business. He undertook to learn car building, but subsequently concluded to
learn carpentry, and with this end in view became an apprentice to Henry Shoop. After his trade was learned he worked in different cities in mills and factories, endeav- oring to make himself familiar with the use of newly introduced machinery. In 1860 he returned to Harrisburg and worked at his trade for four years. During 1864 and 1865 he was foreman for George Trul- linger & Co., who speak of his services in the highest terms. In 1865 he engaged with Daniel D. Boas, of the Harrisburg planing mill, and had the management of that mill for ten years. During this time he did much work as an architect. From 1875 to 1880 he was engaged in contracting and building on his own account. He erected the Ridge Avenue Methodist Episco- pal church, remodeled the Forster Street Lutheran church, remodeled the Vine Street Methodist Episcopal church, and erected many other prominent buildings in the city. In 1888 he abandoned other business, and has since devoted his entire time to the pro- fessional occupation of architect. He has been employed in this capacity upon many of the most prominent private and public buildings which adorn the city. He has also done much in the line of his profession outside of Harrisburg. He was the architect of a number of cold storage houses through- out the South, the most noticeable among these being the large building at Waldo, Fla. He is also the architect of a number of public school buildings in this city and State, among which may be mentioned the public school buildings at Lykens, Dauphin county, and at Curwensville, Clearfield county, Pa. Mr. Miller's work has also ex- tended beyond the United States, even as far as Japan. Ile prepared the plans for a boys' and girls' school and chapel at Sendai, Miyagi Ken.
HIe was married in Dauphin September 26, 1861, to Christiana L. Garvich, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Baker) Garvich, who was born in Susquehanna township. January 20, 1842. They have had four daughters, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Catherine, wife of II. C. McMichael, residing in Harrisburg, and Alice, who resides with her parents.
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