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 39
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He is an active member of the Republican party. IIe has served on the school board of the township for six years. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Orth has two children : Edward E., of Steelton, who
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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
married Annie, daughter of Hilarius Bod- mer, of Highspire, and Annie, wife of Abra- ham Fetrow, of Steelton, who has one child, Maggie, clerk for Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart, of Harrisburg .. He is an active member of the United Brethren church; has been a trustee of that church for twenty years, and for many years a general steward and super- intendent of the Sunday-school.
ROOP, JOHN S., merchant, Middletown, was born in Londonderry township, Febru- ary 25, 1839. He is a son of John and Catherine (Shank) Roop. His father was a native of Cumberland county, who came to Dauphin county as a young man, and pur- chased a farm in Londonderry township. His mother was a daughter of Michael Shank of that township. In 1841 his father moved to Middletown and engaged in the the tinning business, in which he continued for six years. Then he purchased a small place near the town, in Londonderry town- ship, and lived there three years. He then moved to Nissley's Mills, and lived there re- tired from business until the death of his wife in 1876. He then moved to Middle- town and lived with his daughter until November 8, 1885, when he departed from this life. They were members of the United Brethren church. He was a Re- publican and was supervisor of the town- ship. Of their four children, one died in infancy ; those living are: David, of Dan- bury, Iowa, journeyman tinner; Annie, wife of John H. Cobaugh, of Middletown, and John S. The latter was reared in London- derry township. He learned the tinner's trade with his father and worked at the Middletown Car Shops, at saw milling and other occupations. In 1887 he established his present business, in which he has since continued with success. In 1865 he mar- ried Miss Catherine, daughter of Jacob Strauss, of Middletown. They had one child, William J., who was born April 25, 1867; learned the printing trade and is now a partner in his father's business; he was married, in September, 1894, to Catherine, daughter of George W. and Lydia Shancor, of Middletown. They have one child, Amy K. Mr. Roop is a Republican. He has been assessor of the Second precinct, Third ward, for the past three years. He and his family attend the Church of God.
-. BAKER, CHARLES H., proprietor of the Keystone bakery, Middletown, Pa., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., December 28, 1855; son of Christian and Catherine (Houghen- doubler) Baker. His father was a native of Germany; married in Lancaster county and was in the shoe business at Columbia, Pa. Charles H. was reared in Lancaster county and pursued the regular course of study in the public schools of Marietta, Pa. He was active and ambitious and anxious to get started in the world. He could not think of any better way for a boy to get into buisness than the old-fashioned way of learning a trade. He was on the lookout for an oppor- tunity of getting a knowledge of some useful occupation. He found a place in a cigar- shop and learned cigarmaking. In posses- sion of a trade he started out to find a place of employment, and in 1876 alighted upon Middletown. The firm of H. Stagman & Co were not only willing to give him work but to admit him as a partner ; and it soon be- came the firm of Stagman & Baker, our young cigarmaker being the junior partner. Busi- ness prospered, and the capital must needs be further increased; hence the firm was merged into Keystone Cigar Company, of which Mr. Baker became foreman. Still ambitious for larger things, in 1883 he sold his interest in the Keystone Cigar Company, and while looking for a place of business he took charge of a factory in Lancaster county, which employed one hundred hands, the business of which he managed for two years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his employers.
Meanwhile business prospects brightened at his old residence, Middletown. While the field here in his own line of business was oc- cupied, other branches of trade offered oppor- tunities which Mr. Baker was quick to dis- cern and prompt to avail himself of. He at once engaged in his present business, which he is pushing with his characteristic energy and skill. He is a director in the Middle- town Building and Loan Association. IIe is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics and of the Knights of Malta. IIe is a Democrat, and was the nominee of his party for the Legislature from the Second district, and while he was not elected he was flattered by a vote largely in excess of the strength of his party. He was married, June 20, 1878, to Miss Susan, daughter of Michael Connelly, of Middletown. They
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have four children : Bertha, John, Charles, and Raymond. The family are members of the Lutheran church.
BALSBACH, HENRY, farmer, Oberlin, Pa., was born in Derry township, Dauphin county, Pa., January 29, 1831; son of John and Mary (Zeigler) Balsbach. The mother was born in Lancaster county and the father was born in East Hanover township, Dau- phin county. He was a son of Valentine, a son of Valentine (1), who came from Ger- many and cultured a tract of land in Derry and Hanover township. Valentine, the grandfather of Henry, was a minister in the German Baptist church, and lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-six years. He married Miss Brosh, and they reared a large family.
John, the father, was a blacksmith by trade, and settled in Derry township, where he remained until 1827, when he removed to Lower Swatara township, and died there in 1875, and his wife died in 1867; both were members of the United Brethren church. They had eleven chil- dren, of whom nine grew to maturity : George, of Oberlin; Valentinc, deceased, Middletown; John, deceased, Juniata county ; Elijah, deceased, Lower Swatara township; Henry ; Solomon, Lower Swatara township; Elizabeth, Mrs. John Snyder, of York county ; Mary, wife of Cornelius Shope, of Oberlin, and Annie, unmarried, at Oberlin.
Henry was reared and educated in his native township and learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for some years, and later engaged in farming. In politics he is a Republican, and served as supervisor of the township. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and is also a trus- tee of the organization and the superintend- ent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Balsbach was married, in 1855, to Mary, daughter of Samuel Ulrich, after which he located on his present farm. Their children are: Frank, born in 1871, married in 1892 to Miss Jen- nie Ebersole, daughter of Martin Ebersole, and they have two children, Theo. Mary, and Annie Esther; Amelia, wife of Henry Stauffer, of Oberlin, and they have three children, Jennic, Mary, and Sally ; Emma, wife of C. O. Horstic, lives with her father, and has three children, Harry, Eva, and Lucy.
BALSBACH, SOLOMON, Oberlin, Pa., was born in Lower Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pa., October 1. 1838. He learned the carpenter trade and followed that occu- pation for several years. Later he became a farmer, and in 1866 engaged in keeping hotel at "Running Pump," where he con- tinued for some years. He was married, in 1861, to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Ulrich, by whom he has five children : Elmer, of Paxtang township, married Minnie Felix ; John, of Oberlin, married Mary Bod- mer; Samuel, Milton, and Naomi. In his political views Mr. Balsbach is a Republican and has served in the offices of tax collector, supervisor and other offices. He is a mem- ber of the United Brethren church and is also a minister in that denomination. At present he is the president of the cemetery board.
BUSER, JOHN K., deceased, was born in Londonderry township, Dauphin county, Pa., July 9, 1818. His father was a native of Germany and came to America at an early day. He landed at Philadelphia, and after- wards located in Londonderry township, Dauphin county, Pa., where he died at forty- five years of age. His children are: Jacob, located in Hummelstown, where he was en- gaged in butchering and died there; Henry, carpenter by trade and died in Iowa; Levi; John K .; Catherine, Mrs. Henry Poorman, of Middletown, deceased; Mattie, Mrs. Henry Hisey, of Kansas.
John K. received his education in his na- tive township, and learned the milling busi- ness. He operated the Middletown mill for eight years, and in 1861 built the grist mill at Highspire and conducted it until his death in 1887. He was a prominent and repre- sentative man of the county. He was also engaged in the coal business. In his politi- cal views he was a Democrat. He married Miss Harriet Fogle, daughter of Henry Fogle, of Middletown, and granddaughter of Israel V. Fogle, of the Steelton flour mill. He married, in 1852, for his second wife, Miss Elizabeth Stoner, daughter of John Stoner, and she died in 1882. Mr. Buser was a leading member of the Church of God, in which he also held the office -of elder for many years. By his second wife he had eight children ; Ira and Milton, twins; Otis S .; Oscar, deceased ; Emma, unmarried ;
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BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Laura B., wife of George W. Coover, of High- spire; Clara and Alice, both deceased.
Milton Buser was born in Middletown, l'a., February 22, 1853, and was educated in the public schools of Highspire, where also, he was married in 1861. For twenty years he was in the service of the Pennsylvania Steel Company in different capacities, and in 1892 he engaged with his brother Ira in milling. In politics he was a Democrat and served as assessor of Lower Paxton town- ship. In 1875 he was married to Miss Amanda Attick, daughter of George Attick, of Lower Swatara township, and to them has been born one child, Mary A. His religious fellowship is with the Church of God.
Ira Buser, proprietor of the Highspire mills, was born in Middletown, Pa., Febru- ary 22, 1853, and attended the public schools. By occupation he was a miller, which busi- ness he learned from his father. and has al- ways followed. After the death of his father he and his brother Otis conducted the mill for three years, since which time he has had the entire interest. In 1890 he engaged in the grocery business, in which he has since continued. Formerly Mr. Buser was a Dem- ocrat in his political views, but is now an independent voter. He was married, in 1876, to Sarah E., daughter of Jacob Roop, of Highspire, and to this marriage there is no issue. He is a member of the Church of God, in which he holds the offices of elder and treasurer.
Otis S. Buser was born in Middletown, Pa., in 1860. He worked with his father in the mill until his death, when he and his brother Ira purchased the mill and conducted it until 1892, when he retired from the firm, and engaged in gardening. He was also in the flour and feed business at Harrisburg. He married Miss Amy Souders, by whom he has one child, Guy.
-BANDER, AUGUSTUS, leather dealer, Mid- dletown, Pa., was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, January 19, 1834; son of David and Caroline (Moser) Bander. He was reared and educated, and learned the trade of tan- ner with his father, in Germany. In 1856 he came to America, and located in Phila- delphia, where he worked at his trade, and in 1858 removed to Elizabethville, Dauphin county, where he worked as a journeyman tanner for three years. In 1861 he estab- lished a tannery of his own, which he conducted until 1888, when he came to Mid-
dletown, Pa., and for two years was a partner in the Rife tannery, after which he was for four years with S. B. Luce, in the Meyers- town tannery. In 1895 he and his son established their present business of hides and leather dealers, at Middletown. In his political views Mr. Bander is a Re- publican. He was married, in 1860, to Miss Margaret M., daughter of David Matter, of Elizabethville, Dauphin county, by whom he has seven children : David, Franklin, Aaron W., Charles, William A., Jacob, and George W. Mr. Bander is a member of the United Brethren church, of Middletown, of which he is a trustee, and is treasurer of the Sabbath-school.
- COBLE, ISAAC H., farmer, Middletown P.O., Pa., was born in Conewago township, Dauphin county, Pa., October 11, 1829 ; son of Chris- tian and Elizabeth (Hoffer) Coble, natives of Dauphin county. Jacob Coble, the grand- father, was a native of Germany and settled on the homestead in Conewago township and later moved to Derry township, where he died. He was a member of the Men- nonite church. The father, Christian Coble, was born on the homestead and has always resided there. He divided it into three farms and made important improvements. He was ingenious in mechanical work, and made a revolving rake for hay and much of his farming implements and machinery. In political views he was a Republican and served as supervisor of his township. His death occurred in May, 1873, and that of his wife in 1846. They had five sons and one daughter, the only survivors of whom are : Isaac H., and Christian, farmer and mer- chant, of Bellaire, Lancaster county. He was again married, to Miss Nancy Snyder, who survives him, and to this marriage there is no issue. They were members of the Men- nonite church.
Isaac H. was reared on the homestead and educated in the public schools. His occupa- tion has always been farming. In 1853 he was married to Miss Nancy Eshenaur, daugh- ter of Frank Eshenaur. He remained on the homestead farm until 1858, when he re- moved to his present farm, which he has greatly improved. They have three sons and two daughters: Frank E., of Conewago town- ship, married Elizabeth Good, and they have four children : Martha, Annie, Lizzie, and Aaron ; Aaron, of Londonderry township, married Mazie Brinser, and their children
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
are: Harry, Truman, and Ruth; Mary, wife of Joseph Selser, of Derry township; Isaac, and Emma, both unmarried, at home. Mr. Coble is one of the originators and a stock- holder of the Middletown Bracket Company and was its manager. He is also a stock- holder in the Hummelstown Bank. In poli- tics he is a Republican and has served as school director and supervisor of the town- ship. In church fellowship he is with the Mennonites.
CARMANY, CHARLES AUGUSTUS, jeweler, Middletown, Pa., was born at Schaeffersville, Lebanon county, Pa., October 26, 1863; son of Jacob and Leah (Houser) Carmany. He was reared in his native county, and attended the public schools until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Mid- dletown, and learned the jeweler's business, in which he was employed for some years. In 1889 he established his present business, which he has conducted since that time. Mr. Carmany is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and of the Knights of Malta. In his political views he is a Repub- lican. In 1893 he was married to Miss Lillie E. Bresserman, daughter of William Bresserman, of Middletown, and they have one child, Elva.
- EKB, JOHN, farmer and minister, Harris- burg P. O., Pa., was born in Cumberland county, Pa., October 13, 1839; son of John and Fannie (Berke) Erb. The father was a farmer and minister in the Mennonite church. He was reared near Manheim, Lancaster county, and moved to Cumber- land county, where he died. John lost his father when he was five years old, and was reared in York and Lancaster counties. In 1862 he was married to Barbara Miller, daughter of David Miller, of Lancaster. After marriage he located in Lanca te county, where he lived until 1867, when he came to Dauphin county and purchased the farm be now owns and occupies, which he stocked with all kinds of fruits, etc. For- merly he was a Republican in politics, and has always been a member of the old Men- nonite church, in which connection he was made a minister in 1877. He has served the Shoop and Strickler churches, and has been active in work since his ordination to the ministry. His children are : Mary, wife of Frank Nissley, of Lower Swatara town- ship; Annie, wife of Abraham Lutz, of
Donegal township, Lancaster county ; Bar- bara, at home; Ellen, wife of Benjamin Bru- baker, of Mt. Joy, Lancaster county ; Eliza- beth, died aged twenty-one years; an in- fant, deceased ; Amanda, Susan, Alice, Sam- uel, John, Emma, and David.
ENGLE, DANIEL, farmer, Hummelstown P. O., Pa., was born on the farm on which he now resides, in August, 1837, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Sheets) Engle. His grandfather, Daniel, was the first of the family to settle in Dauphin county, having came from Lancaster county and being among the very early settlers of Dauphin county. He was a member of the River Brethren. Jacob, the father, was born on the farm now occupied by his son, in 1812. He spent his entire life there and died in 1865. He was one of the prominent farmers of the township. His wife survived him many years, and both were members of the River Brethern church, of which connection Mr. Engle was also an honored minister. Their children are: Daniel; Jacob, farmer and speculator, died in Lebanon county ; John, of Hummelstown ; Leah, wife of Sam- uel Peters, Derry township; Benjamin, of Harrisburg, a contractor ; Samuel, of Pal- myra, Pa., merchant. Daniel was reared on the farm which he now occupies, and on which he spent his entire life. In 1867 he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Christian Mumma, of Lower Swatara town- ship, by whom he has six children: Aaron, school teacher, in Lower Swatara township; Milton, Clayton, Samuel, Mary, and Morris. In his political views Mr. Engle is a Repub- lican, and his religious faith and form of worship are those of the River Brethren, with whom he is in fellowship at Ilummels- town.
FISHER, JOHN L., farmer, Steelton, Pa., was born in Berks county, Pa., April 27, 1845 ; son of William and Catherine (Levan) Fisher. The father came to Dauphin county, in 1848, and located in Swatara township, where he engaged in farming. ITis present residence in near Linglestown. John L. was reared in Swatara township, and was educated in the public schools and at the Millersville State Normal School. He became a farmer and has always followed that occupation. Mr. Fisher was married, December 22, 1889, to Miss Mary Linebaugh, daughter of Edward and Salina (Macklin)
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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Linebaugh, of York county, by whom he has one child, William Henry. He located near Linglestown, and in 1890 came to his present farm in Lower Swatara township. In politics Mr. Fisher is a Democrat. The family attend the United Brethren church.
FISHER, JOHN G., Middletown, deceased, was born near Elizabethtown, in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1830; son of John Fisher. George, the grandfather of John G., was born in Germany in 1752, came to America and became a soldier in the Continental army, after which he engaged in farming in Lan- caster county, where he died. John Fisher, father of John G., was born in Lancaster county, and was engaged in farming. He served in the war of 1812. John G. was reared in Lancaster county, and learned the trade of coach builder. In 1856 he came to Dauphin county and located in Middletown, where he opened a shop for building coaches, and conducted the enterprise for many years. His death occurred in March, 1888. In poli- tics Mr. Fisher was a Democrat, and served on the school board and in the borough council. In 1849 he was married to Miss Amanda, daughter of Rev. Henry G. Stecher, of Hummelstown. She was a member of the Lutheran church, and died in 1893. Four of their children lived to maturity : Henry S., insurance agent, at Middletown, married Clara Rodfong, and they have one child, Hattie Romain ; Frank Z., learned the shoe business, and engaged in the manufac- ture and sale of boots and shoes in 1888, and has since continued in the business; Sarah E., and Walter R., of Middletown. The family are members of the Lutheran church.
GOOD, MARTIN, proprietor of the High- spire Woolen Mills, was born in Upper Pax- ton township, Dauphin county, Pa., August 2, 1833; son of Christian and Catherine (Noll) Good. Christian Good, Sr., the grand- father, was a native of Lancaster county, and was one of the early settlers of Upper Paxton township, where he was engaged in farming and milling, having the first mill in that place, and where he died. His children are: Chris- tian; Henry, farmer, died at Progress ; Abra- ham, died in Perry county, Pa .; Michael, of Kansas; Barbara, Mrs. Christian Roop, of Highspire; Nancy, Mrs. Samuel Shaefner, of East Hanover township, who was poisoned by her husband ; Mary, maiden lady, of Millers- burg; Catherine, Mrs. Ritter, of Elizabeth-
ville; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Hoffman, of Perry county, deceased.
Christian, Jr., father of Martin, was reared in Lykens Valley and learned the trade of woolen manufacturing and continued in the business with his father in Lykens Valley. In 1833 he moved to Lower Swatara town- ship and erected the present " Good " mill in 1844, which he conducted until 1855, when he retired, and shortly after died in Lebanon county. He was three times married and was the father of fourteen children, of whom these are living : Martin; John, of Morris, Minn., hardware dealer ; Simon, of St. Paul, Minn, lumber dealer; Sarah, Mrs. Adam Light, of Lebanon county; Emma, Mrs. David Light, of Lebanon county ; Catherine, Mrs. Casper Light, of Morris, Minn. Mr. Good is an active member of the United Brethren church and has been a class leader for many years.
Martin was reared on the present home- stead and learned the trade of his father; he has always been in the business, and pur- chased his father's interest in 1855, since which date he has conducted the enterprise. He keeps his plant and its equipment abreast of the times. He is also engaged in farming and operating a saw mill. In 1865 he opened a general store, which he has man- aged since that time. Mr. Good is a director of the Steelton National Bank and of the Merchants' Bank, of Harrisburg. In his politics he is a Republican and has served in various township offices. Mr. Good was mar- ried, in 1858, to Mary Ann Peffly, daughter of Rev. Christian Peffly, of Bunker Hill, Lebanon county. They attend the United Brethren church.
-HATZ, JACOB W., retired, Middletown, Pa., was born in Londonderry township, Dauphin county, Pa., December 29, 1823 ; son of Jacob and Anna Mary (Wagner) Hatz. Three broth - ers of the name came from Germany, one of whom settled in Lancaster, one in Lebanon, and one in Dauphin county. John Hatz, son of the one who settled in Dauphin, and grandfather of Jacob W., came with his parents to America when a small child. Ja- cob, the father of Jacob W., was a farmer in Londonderry township on his father's farm which he leased. Later he became a tenant farmer in Lancaster county, when he died. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Anna Mary Wagner, had five chil- dren, all of whom are deceased except Jacob
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
W: By his second wife, Miss Susan Keller, he had eleven children. The family were members of the Lutheran church.
Jacob W. was reared by his maternal grandparents, and at eighteen years of age learned the carpenter trade at which he worked until 1863. For the next twelve years he was a tenant farmer in Londonderry township, after which he moved to Middle- town and was with Etter, Carmany & Siple in the lumber business for several years. In 1849 Mr. Hatz was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John Aungst, of Lancaster county. Their children are: John, born Au- gust 3, 1850, lives at Middletown, married Mary, daughter of Jacob Nissley, and they have four children : Garfield W., Jacob N., Pearl, and Blanche; Henry, born January 6, 1852, married Elizabeth, daughter of David Detweiler, and they have two children, Fannie and Blaine; Jacob, born September 13, 1856, married Ellen Coble, and have three chil- dren : Maude, Guy, and Reuben; David, born October 6, 1859, married Miss Barbara Brinser, and they have four children : May, Bessie, Ralph, and Marion; Annie, born January 29, 1862, wife of Henry Douhower, of Mckeesport, Pa., and they have two chil- dren, Marion and Robert; and Elizabeth, born September 1, 1872. The family attend the Church of God. Mr. Matz was orig- inally a Whig but later joined the Repub- lican party. In 1864 he served as tax col- lector in Londonderry township and has also filled the offices of school director and auditor of the township.
- HOFFER, CHRISTIAN H., Esq., Middletown, Pa., traces his ancestry through Samuel (2), his father, Samuel (1), his grandfather, John, his great-grandfather, and Mathias Hoffer, his great-great-grandfather, who was born Au- gust 24, 1718, in the Canton of Basle, Switzer- land. He came to America in the ship "Loyal Judith," landed in Philadelphia, Sep- tember 2, 1743, and later settled near Man- heim, Lancaster county, where he died in May, 1803. His son, John Hoffer, married Barbara Long, and lived in what is now Conewago township, Dauphin county, where he died December 4, 1837. His son, Samuel Hoffer (1), married Catherine Foltz, and set- tled in Conewago township, where he died No- vember 4, 1878. He was an expert in land surveying, and served as deputy, and later as county surveyor of Dauphin county, and was also justice of the peace for thirty-four years.
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