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. 2 > Part 29
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
He has served as supervisor of roads, tax collector, and in other offices. He died in Schuylkill county at the age of eighty-two. Mr. Row was well known and highly re- spected. He was comfortably cared for in his declining years by his faithful son, Jonas. He was a member of the old school Lutheran church, in which he was deacon and trus- tee, also Sunday-school superintendent and teacher. Mrs. Row died in Washington township.
Jonas Row attended the schools of Wash- ington township in the winter, and worked with his father in the various departments of his business until he was twenty-one years of age. On reaching his majority he was employed by his father on wages. He worked two years on the homestead farm, at Matters- town, and two years in Lykens Valley, at butchering, etc.
In 1863 Mr. Row enlisted, at Harrisburg, in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, under Colonel Jennings and Captain Bell. He par- ticipated in the battle of Gettysburg, and was wounded in the knee, the result of which was to lame him for life. He was discharged at the end of three months' service, but re-en- listed in the fall of 1863, in company F, Six- teenth Pennsylvania cavalry, under Colonel Robinson and Capt. J. H. Ressler. He was at Petersburg five days, and on account of bravery in action was promoted to the rank of orderly to General Gregg. Mr. Row was at the surrender of General Lee, and was mustered out of service in 1865. He returned home and engaged in trading in Lykens Valley for two years, after which he bought thirty-three acres of land and added twenty- two acres more, in Washington township. This farm he improved at an expense of $5,000. But Mr. Row became security for a friend, through which he sustained a loss of $4,000, and was forced to sell his farm which brought only $5,000. In 1890 he removed to Jefferson township and purchased eighty acres, the buildings on which he remodeled and enlarged, and fitted the place for farm- ing and stock raising.
Mr. Row was married, in Washington township, October 23, 1859, to Susan S. Martz, born in Upper Paxton township, Septem- ber 25, 1845. They have seven children : Jacob C., born October 27, 1860, operates in mines, Tower City. Schuylkill county, Pa .; Theodore and Charles, twins, born Novem- ber 9, 1862, deceased; Ida A., born May 15,
1864, wife of Henry Harman, Halifax town- ship; Ira U., born January 11, 1867, deceased ; Eve Jennie, born January 27, 1868, deceased ; Olive O., born April 12, 1869, deceased. Mrs. Row died December 28, 1870, in Washington township. The second wife of Mr. Row was Catherine R., daughter of David Matter, of Washington township, born in that township, in 1844. They have no children. Mr. Row is a Republican, served as supervisor of roads for two terms, and justice of the peace for two years. He belongs to Helner Post, G. A. R., at Lykens.
Mr. and Mrs. Row are members of the Lutheran church, in which he has served as deacon and in other offices, and is Sunday- school superintendent and teacher. Mr. Row has led a busy and somewhat eventful life. He has met misfortunes with a brave and cheerful heart. His wife is a genial woman and a true helpmeet. They are sur- rounded by friends who honor them for their worth.
ยท ENDERS, CORNELIUS, farmer, stockman and mail carrier, was born in Jefferson township, Dauphin county, Pa., November 12, 1856. His father, John Enders, was a son of George Enders and brother of Dr. Levi Enders, of Williamstown, Pa. He was a farmer and married Caroline Paul, and had three chil- dren : Cornelius, Emma, who died young, and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. John Enders both died in 1860, when Corne- lius was three and a half years old. They were members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Enders was a Republican.
Cornelius Enders, after the loss of his parents, was reared by his grandfather. He attended the township schools during the winter and worked in summer on his grand- father's farm, until he was fourteen. For four years from that time he was employed in the mines. He then came to Jefferson township and worked on the farm and in saw mills for three years. He next rented a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres for one year ; then again went to mining in Schuylkill county, where he was employed in various mines for three years. For the two following years he kept a hotel at Dayton, Dauphin county, after which he worked six years in the Williamstown coal mines. Mr. Enders next bought a farm of one hundred and three acres in Wayne township, on which he built a barn and made other im- provements, but sold the farm in a short
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time and returned to Jefferson township. There he bought another farm of one hun- dred and four acres, built a fine barn, re- modeled the dwelling and put the place in first-class condition. He conducts a business of farming, stock raising and manufacturing shingles from his timber, which he makes profitable. He is industrious and enterpris- ing and displays business ability. Mr. Enders was married, in Jackson township, in Janu- ary, 1877, to Harriet, daughter of Simon and Mary (Michael) Smith, born in Jefferson township, November 12, 1858. They have had six children, of whom three are living : Harry, a school teacher, Nora, and Esther. Carrie, Floyd, and one infant all died young. Mr. Enders is a Republican. He has been school director for three years and advocates compulsory education and is deeply inter- ested in all educational matters. He is a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. and Mrs. Enders are regarded as among the most intelligent and agreeable people of the community.
ETZWILER, WILLIAM H., blacksmith and general iron worker, was born in Jefferson township, Dauphin county, Pa., August 28, 1866. His great-grandfather, Daniel Etz- wiler, was killed by the Indians in Lykens Valley many years ago. Daniel Etzwiler, Jr., grandfather of William H., was a farmer and stockman in Lykens Valley, where he was born in 1800. He married Christina Smith. His son, Michael Etzwiler, father of William H., was born at Elizabethville, in the Lykens Valley, November 15, 1831. He attended school in Washington and Jefferson townships, and worked as a farm laborer until he was twenty-one years old. He then went to Hanover township and served an ap- prenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, then worked as journeyman, spending in all five years there. After that he returned to Jef- ferson township, where he passed the re- mainder of his life. He worked at his trade for thirty-five years and was patronized by all the surrounding country. He also culti- vated a small farm.
Michael Etzwiler was married September 27, 1855, in Jackson township, to Catherine Bodner, born in Lykens township, March 12, 1838; daughter of Jacob and Mary (Sny- der) Bodner, of Jackson township. They have had nine children: Amanda, born June
16, 1856, wife of James W. Nelson, farmer and dairyman, of Mercer county, Pa .; Re- becca J., born February 4, 1858, wife of John C. Nelson, farmer, Mercer county ; Christina, born July 3, 1860, died August 31, 1860; Anna Sophia, born September 16, 1864, died August 20, 1866; William H .; Nathaniel E., born January 3, 1869, carpenter, in Mercer county; Jacob F., born July 7, 1871, black- smith, with his brother William H .; Simon, born January 14, 1875, died October 6, 1879, and Carrie E., born May 3, 1878, is at home. Mr. Etzwiler was first a Democrat, but his political views changing in later life, he be- came a Republican. He was a justice of the peace for twenty-five consecutive years; for several years he was a school director. He was a member of the Lutheran church, in which he was deacon, elder, treasurer and trustee, and superintendent of the Sunday- school. He died December 14, 1893. He was a good man, liked and honored by all who knew him.
William H. Etzwiler attended school in Jefferson township and two sessions in Mercer county. In the latter county he worked two years as dairyman. After this he returned to Jefferson township and worked in his father's shop. In 1891 his father sold to him his interest in the shop and retired from business. He has since conducted the busi- ness with success. He was married, in Jack- son township, August 28, 1891, to Amelia Enterline, born in Wayne township, May 10, 1871. They had four children : Thomas G., born October 26, 1891; Emma R., July 12, 1892; Michael J., July 3, 1894, deceased, and Gertrude E., September 13, 1895.
Mr. Etzwiler is a Republican. He is a school director, has been delegate to conven- tions, and clerk of elections, and has served in various township offices. He attends the Lutheran church and is a hard-working, up- right and intelligent man, enterprising and successful in business. He is genial in social intercourse and is esteemed for his many excellencies of character.
Jacob F. Etzwiler, brother of William H., was married, in Fisherville, December 25, 1894, to Jennie G. Lehr, daughter of Emanuel and Isabella Lehr, of Enterline, Wayne township, Dauphin county, and to this union has been born one child, Carrie B., born June 18, 1895. IIe is election inspector, a Republican in political views, and attends the Lutheran church.
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
RUMMEL, JOIIN L., shoemaker and farmer, Jefferson township, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, December 12, 1822; son of George and Catherine Kummel, natives of Germany, and farmers by occupation. He received his education in the schools of his native land and there also learned the trade of shoe- maker. In 1839 he came to this country, crossing the ocean on the sailing vessel " America," and landing at Baltimore after a voyage of fifty-six days. He settled at Har- risburg, where he worked at his trade for three years in the shop of a man named Kentler, after which he worked one year at the furnace works at Clarksville, and then returned to Harrisburg and resumed work with his old employer. He remained here for three years, during which time he re- ceived an inheritance from Germany of $1,100 in money, and with this he bought a farm of one hundred and fifty-one acres in Jefferson township. This was timber land, which he proceeded to clear up, and on which he erected two houses and barns and other buildings. He also worked at his trade and traveled about as a journeyman. He was married, in Jefferson township, in 1844, by Esquire Jacob Davidson, to Mary Michael, born in that township August 23, 1819, and died November 10, 1855. Their children are: William, Catherine, Sarah, Amanda, Daniel, and John, deceased. Mr. Rummel is a liberal in politics, but in Na- tional and State matters votes with the Re- publican party. He is a member of the United Brethren church, but is a . warm admirer of Martin Luther. Three years ago Mr. Rummel was attacked at his home by robbers, who supposed he was alone in the house. His life and property were saved by the heroism of his housekeeper, Miss Lizzie C. Warfield, who appeared on the scene at the moment the robbers had overpowered their victim. She shot one and put the rest to flight. In recognition of the fidelity and bravery of his deliverer he has provided in his will that she shall have a home with him as long as she desires to stay and shall have $1,000 from his estate. Securities and money to the value of $17,000 were concealed in the house at the time of the attack.
HORNING, SAMUEL S., farmer, Jefferson township, was born in Mifflin township, Dauphin county, Pa., March 1, 1826. Michael,
the great-grandfather, was a native of Eng- land. Samuel, the grandfather, was a na- tive of Montgomery county, where he was engaged in farming. James B., the father, was also born in Montgomery county, and followed farming. He married Sarah A. Miller, of Germantown, Montgomery county. Their children are: Ann Eliza ; Samuel S .; Mary A., deceased ; B. Franklin ; John M., deceased ; Lewis, and Martha, deceased. The father was a Democrat. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. He died on the homestead, and his wife died at Monterey, Berks county.
Samuel S. received a fair education in the schools of Upper Providence township, Mont- gomery county. He learned the milling business in Chester county, where he spent several years in the grist mill, after which he operated a mill in Lykens Valley for three years, and also worked on the canal. In 1854 he bought a farm in Halifax town- ship, which he improved and cultivated for three years, and then sold it. He then bought one hundred and forty acres of land in Jefferson township, which he cleared and on which he made valuable improvements, and engaged in farming and stock raising. He attends the Lykens markets. He was married, in Powell's Valley, Halifax town- ship, in 1856, to Mary J. Baskin, of that township, daughter of Oliver and Eliza (Smith) Baskin, the father a well-known resident of the county, operating a farm, woolen factory and saw and grist mill. They had two children : Oliver B., manages the homestead, in the postoffice at Lykens, formerly a bookkeeper at Philadelphia, an estimable gentleman, not married, taking care of his parents in their old age; Annie E., single, at home, a lady of culture and re- finement, much interested in Sunday-school and church work. Mr. Horning is a Democrat in politics; was a tax collector and school teacher, and always much in- terested in educational matters. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
SHULTZ, JOSHUA, shoemaker, Carsonville, Pa., was born in Jefferson township, Dauphin county, Pa., January 20, 1859. John, the father, was born in Dauphin county and was a farmer in Jefferson township, where he still resides. He married Mary Snyder, a native of Jackson township, and they have
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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
nine children : John; George; Annie, Mrs. Jacob Book; Joshua; Hannah, Mrs. George Shadow ; Mary, Mrs. William Orth; Philo- mela, Nathaniel, and an infant, deceased. The mother died in Jefferson township in 1870. The father next married Levina Mil- ler, widow of George Hall, by whom he had four children : Theodore, Carson, David, and Morris. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran church.
Joshua attended school in his native town- ship, and worked on the farm with his father until be became of age. He then worked as a farm laborer, and also took up the trade of shoemaking, at which he worked most of the time, at Carsonville. In 1880 he was married, in Jefferson township, to Katie Eyester, born in Schuylkill county, daughter of Daniel Eyester, a farmer of that county. Their children are : Emma, Har- vey, Edmund, Estella, and William, de- ceased. Mr. Shultz is a Democrat in his po- litical views, and is a member of the United Brethren church.
SMITH, SIMON, farmer, Jefferson township, was born in Washington township, Dauphin county, Pa., December 23, 1825; son of John and Mary (Koppenheffer) Smith. The father was a blacksmith by occupation. In politics he was a Democrat and in religious views and fellowship a Lutheran. He and his wife both died in Washington township. Their children are Simon, Christina, and Errick, deceased. Simon attended the schools of his native township and learned the trade of car- penter. He followed this occupation for five years, after which he removed to Jefferson township and bought two hundred and fifty acres of land which he improved and culti- vated, where he has been for over fifty years engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was married, in 1851, to Mary Michael, a native of Pennsylvania, born in June, 1832. Their children are: Rebecca, deceased ; Sarah, de- ceased ; Caroline, deceased ; Catherine, Mrs. Jacob Hoffman ; Mary T., wife of Peter Hoff- man ; Harriet, Mrs. C. Enders; William M., deceased; John A.,deceased ; Emma, deceased; Simon F., deceased ; Thomas L., Henry E., and one child died young. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics and was school di- rector and assessor, and was elected to the office of justice of the peace, but did not serve. In religious views and membership he is a Presbyterian.
LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP.
- BRINSER, REV. S. H., Middletown, l'a., was born at his present home, February 3, 1846. The first of the Brinser family to settle in Pennsylvania was Christian Brinser, a native of Germany, He came to America and resided in what was then Lancas- ter county. April 10, 1761, he took out naturalization papers; he was one of the pioneers of that county, where he lived until his death. His son, John Brinser, was born in Lancaster county in 1750, and in 1809 became the owner of the farm now occupied by Rev. S. H. Brinser, in Londonderry, town- then Derry township. He built the first house and improved the farm. He married Miss Anna Mary Gish. They belonged to the River Brethren. He died in 1820, aged seventy years; his wife in May, 1846, aged eighty-eight years. His family consisted of Mathias; John, died at the age of ninety- four; Jacob, died at the age of sixty-two; Abraham, died at the age of seventy-five, and two daughters, Annie, who married Johannes Wilhelm Berg, and Catherine, all of whom are deceased. Jacob was for many years a brick maker; John manufactured grain cradles, and was well known ; Abraham was a farmer. Rev. Mathias Brinser was born May 10, 1795, on the prosent homestead of Rev. Solomon H. Brinser, and died in 1889. He had the ordinary education, and taught some of the early schools. He was a self- made man. He succeeded to his father's homestead, where he resided until his death. He was an active member of the River Brethren; but in 1854 or 1855, he and his followers formed the United Zion's Chil- dren's church, which now numbers many ad- herents in Dauphin, Lancaster and Franklin counties. He was a minister in that church, and in politics a Republican. He was mar- ried, in 1821, to Miss Catherine Heisey, daughter of Peter Heisey, of Londonderry township. She survives her husband and resided with Rev. Solomon Brinser, and is now with Rev. Samuel Kieffer. They reared nine children : Susan, wife of Joseph Martin, of Londonderry township ; Eliza- beth, deceased, married Adam Metzger ; Catherine, wife of Rev. Samuel Kieffer, of Elizabethtown ; Fannie, wife of Isaac Brinser; Lydia, wife of Henry B. Kieffer, of Middle- town ; Rev. Solomon II .; Mary, deceased, married Christian Wohlgemuth; Nancy,
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married Samuel Groff; Daniel, who was a school teacher, died at the age twenty-one.
Rev. Solomon H. Brinser received the ordinary education in the schools and at home, and taught school in Lancaster and Dauphin counties. He was married, Sep- tember 12, 1867, to Elizabeth, daughter of John B. and Catherine (Horst) Shearer. In 1868 he bought the farm where he has since resided. In 1892 the Pennsylvania railroad abandoned the track through his farm. In 1869 he became identified with the United Zion's Children's church, and in 1879 he was ordained to the ministry, and has since been active in church work. He is Repub- lican in politics, and has served in township affairs. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Bank of Middletown. He has nine chil- dren living: Harry, graduate of the Kutz- town Normal School, teaching in Lancaster county, Pa .; John, Mathias, Katie, Annie, Martin, Amos, Ira, and Edna Elizabeth, all at home; and two dead, Daniel and Ezra.
THE METZGER FAMILY .- The first of the Metzger family to settle in Dauphin county was Jacob Metzger, a native of Germany, who resided first near Middletown, at that time in Lancaster county, and afterwards in Londonderry township, Dauphin county, on the farms, part of which are now occupied by Henry and Adam Metzger. His son Jacob was born on the farm now occupied by Henry about 1756 or 1757. Jacob Metz- ger, Jr., married Margaret Brandt, a native of Cumberland county. They were mem- bers of the Dunkard church. They reared a large family ; their children were : David, Eva, Barbara, Joseph, Jacob, Martin, Eliza- beth, Esther, and Catherine.
David Metzger was born in 1779. He re- ceived a good education for that period, and succeeded to his father's homestead, where he lived until his death. He was counted one of the foremost farmers of his day. He was a very methodical man, and always very careful and exact in his business transac- tions. He was a prominent member of the Dunkard church, and died in 1832. He married Miss Eva Rothrock, who died March 18, 1843. They reared eight children to maturity : Jacob, deceased; Christiana, de- ceased, married Joseph Gingrich ; Margaret, Mrs. Joseph Gingrich, of Lower Swatara township, died April, 1896; Barbara, widow of John Meyers, and widow of Frederick
Beck, of Lancaster county ; John, deceased ; Leah, Mrs. John Stout, of Hanover, Pa .; Henry, and Adam.
Henry Metzger was born on his present homestead, September 17, 1827. He has always been engaged in farming, so that his life has not been one of unusual incidents and adventures. He has been industrious and enterprising in the management of his farm, and has been able to meet all the de- mands which the community and his family have made upon him. In 1851 he married Miss Fannie Miller, daughter of David Mil- ler, of Lancaster county, Pa. They have four children : David M., farmer, of London- derry township, married Barbara Mumma, daughter of Christian Mumma; Joseph, of Elizabethtown, Lancaster county, married Fanny Keyler; Amanda, wife of John Rider, of Londonderry township; Emma, wife of Frank Hoffer, of Mt. Joy, Pa. Mr. Metzger is Republican in politics. He and his family are prominent in the Mennonite church.
Adam Metzger, farmer, Middletown P. O., was born on his present farm, January 8, 1830. He secured only a limited education in the schools, being obliged at the age of fourteen to leave home and seek a livelihood. He has always been engaged in farming. In 1851 he settled on the farm known as the John Metzger farm, in Londonderry town- ship, where he resided for a few years. He afterwards purchased the farm he now owns and occupies. He has been very successful; his farm is universally considered one of the finest in the township. Every feature of the place displays the work of a master hand. Usefulness, comfort and beauty, all the essentials and adornments of farm work and farm life, are abundantly provided for under his skillful management. He has other business interests also. He was one of the original stockholders of the Middletown Car Works. In 1852 Mr. Metzger married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Matthias Brenser, of Londonderry township. She died Septem- ber 9, 1894. His family consists of four children : Millard, of Londonderry township, who married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Meckley, of Elizabethtown, and after her death married Miss Elizabeth Bierbower. of Dauphin county ; Fannie, wife of David Ulrich, of Londonderry township; Martin, of Londonderry township, married Ruth, daughter of Abram Roth ; John, of Royal- ton, and Solomon, died at the age of twenty- three. Mr. Metzger is independent in poli
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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
tics ; he has filled many township offices, and served as school director of his township for nine consecutive years.
-ULMER, JACOB, was born in Londonderry township, Dauphin county, Pa., April 13, 1826. His early training and education were such as the ordinary schools and the average families afforded. He spent his whole life in the township, being absent only for short periods of time when duty and business called him elsewhere. He learned the trade of a carpenter, and made this His chief occupation. In connection with this trade he was also, in earlier life, engaged in manufacturing grain cradles, but the general introduction of farm machinery has placed this part of his occupation among the un- used arts. Mr. Ulmer was not deaf to the call of the President for volunteers during the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted in 1864, and served until the end of the war, and washonorably discharged. After his dis- charge from the army he returned to his home and resumed work at the carpenter's trade, which he continued to follow until his death, which occurred December 5, 1895. In 1848 he was married to Miss Nancy Espenshade, of Swatara township. They had ten chil- dren, seven of whom are living: David, the eldest, born July 18, 1853, Ellen, John, George, Adeline, Elizabeth, and Benjamin. Mr. Ulmer occupied the residence where he died since 1873. Mrs. Ulmer died June 4, 1887. Mr. Ulmer was a Republican in pol- itics, and served as constable of London- derry township for nearly thirty-one years.
BOOKS, JONAS, was born in Lower Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pa., January 4, 1842. IIe is a son of John and Elizabeth (Ulrich) Books. Jacob Books, his grand- father, was born in Dauphin county. He died at the age of fifty-six years. He was the father of six children. John Books, the father of Jonas, was born in Derry township, in 1803. He married Elizabeth Ulrich, by whom he had ten children, five - died in in- fancy, three died at old age, Levi, living near Rockville, Pa., and Jonas. The latter was reared and educated in his native place. He remained in his first home till he was ten years of age. In this time he had secured such training and preparation for the work of life as the common schools afforded, in connection with careful home instruction, He was then employed with farmers until
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