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 42
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Lower Swatara township; Leah A., Emma J., Minnie M., and Annie Viola. Mr. Stont is a member of the Baptist church.
STONER, MILTON J., agent of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company, was born at High- spire, Pa., August 12, 1846 ; son of Henry and Mary (Miller) Stoner. John Stoner, the grandfather, was an early settler of the county and a carpenter by trade. The father was born in Lower Swatara township in 1813 and was a school teacher at Highspire. He learned the trade of carpentry and followed that occupation for many years. In 1848 he opened a general store in Highspire, which he conducted until his death in 1876. In politics he was a Republican and served as postmaster at Highspire for a number of years. He was a member of the United Brethren church. His wife is a native of Lewisburg, Pa., and is now a resident of Steelton. They have three children: Milton J .; Ellwyn M., of Steelton, agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; and Ulysses S., died in 1889, aged twenty-one years. Milton J. was reared and educated at Highspire. He learned telegraphy and in 1863 entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as operator between Har- risburg and Altoona, and was stationed at the latter place for six years. In 1872 he came to Highspire and opened the office for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, of which he has since had charge, and is also freight and express agent. Mr. Stoner is a member of Baldwin Commandery, No. 108, K. of M., and is also one of the trustees of the lodge. In politics he is an active Repub- lican. General Grant appointed him post- master of Highspire, and he served continu- ously in that office until Cleveland was elected President. He was married, in 1872. to Miss Cora L. Herrick, daughter of John Herrick, of Steelton. They have one child, Otho N., born in 1874, assistant to his father. Mrs. Stoner is a member of the United Brethren church, of Highspire.
- SCHULTZ, LEONARD, deceased, was born at Wurtemburg, Germany, March 5, 1827 or 1828. He came to this country when a young man, and located in Middletown in 1850, where he established a brewery, which he conducted up to the time of his death, in 1872. He was married at Philadelphia to Anna Catherine Smith, who was also a na-
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tive of Wurtemburg. She was a member of the Lutheran church. Their children are : (1) John, of Middletown, born January 30, 1852, received his education in the pub- lic schools and learned the trade of baker. He was married, in 1875, to Susan Capp, of Middletown, and to this marriage there is no issue. He is independent in his politi- cal views. (2) William, born in 1853, a shoemaker by trade, and resides at Middle- town. He married Susan Brenser, of York county, Pa., and they have two children : Leonard and Gertrude. (3) Catherine, wife of Harry Steele, of Middletown, Pa. (4) Frederick, Middletown, born May 3, 1858, educated in the public schools and engaged in butchering, and established his present business in 1885. He was married, in 1880, to Miss Emma Wilson, daughter of Jacob Wilson, of Middletown. They have no children. In politics he is a Democrat and is a member of the Lutheran church.
-STECHER, REV. HENRY G., son of George Stecher, was born July 16, 1792, near Easton, Northampton county, Pa. He received an academic and collegiate education, and began the study of theology at Easton. He was ordained pastor of the Lutheran church at Logansville, York county, Pa., in 1819, and served that congregation faithfully until 1830, when he accepted a call to the church at Hummelstown. His charge included other congregations, and he was as energetic in the devotion to the wants of his widely scattered flocks as he was earnest in his expounding of religious truths. He was well educated, a profound theologian, and of an exceeding amiableness of character. In 1854 he resigned his charge owing to advancing years and physical ina- bility. From that point until the close of his life he resided at Hummelstown, sur- rounded by all the charms of the domestic circle of a good man. He died April 20, 1870. Rev. Mr. Stecher married Julianna, daughter of George Fouse, who survives in her eighty-sixth year. Their children are as follows: Mary Ann, deceased ; Adeline, who married Henry L. Hummel ; Julianna, deceased; Amanda, who married John Fisher, of Middletown; Albert, who married Rebecca Groom, of York county ; Theodore A., who was educated at Pennsylvania Col- Jege, Gettysburg, with the intention of enter- ing the ministry ; about 1860 he went into the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company at Altoona, under Engineer Her- man Haupt, subsequently transferred to gen- eral ticket agent at Philadelphia, which po- sition he filled creditably until his death in 1880, which took place at Ardmore, near Philadelphia; George, who married Bell Haines, of Philadelphia; Sarah, Caroline, and Frank B.
- SMULLER, GEORGE, son of John and Su- sannah (Shirtz) Smuller, was born October 7, 1805, at Jonestown, Lebanon county, Pa. He acquired a fair English education in the schools of the day, and in early life followed the occupation of a tailor. He subsequently be- came extensively engaged in the lumber busi- ness with the Union Canal Company and a con- tractor in the public works of the State. He was afterwards appointed collector of tolls in the Union canal, at Middletown, a position he filled many years, resigning in 1857, when he was elected president of the Middletown Bank. As first officer of that institution Mr. Smuller won for himself the highest confidence of the community, which he re- tained down to the close of his busy, active life. He died at Middletown, August 19, 1882, aged almost seventy-seven years. Few men stood higher in any community than he. His life was characterized by great goodness of heart and true nobleness of soul, which won for him the love and esteem of his fellow-men and neighbors. Mr. Smuller married Caroline, daughter of Dr. Karl and Mary Fisher, of Middletown, born in 1805, and died January 5, 1870. Their children were: Lehman; Mary ; Elizabeth, who married George F. Mish, M. D .; Annie G., who married Henry J. Meily ; Ellen, who married. David G. Swartz, of Chicago ; and Caroline.
. SAUL, HENRY R., proprietor of the Middle- town Carriage Factory, was born in Berks county, Pa., March 18, 1843 ; son of Jonathan and Magdaline (Rouch) Saul, both old fami- lies of that county, whose ancestors were na- tives of Germany, and the very oldest settlers of Berks county. The father was a farmer. He died February 2, 1880, aged seventy-eight years, and the mother died in Berks county in 1862. Their children are: Lena, Eliza- beth, David, Mary, Henry R., and Charles.
Henry R. came to Dauphin county at the age of fifteen years. He received his educa- tion in the public schools and learned the trade of coachmaking at Hummelstown. Sub- sequently he took a course in the Commer-
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cial College at Lock Haven. In 1868 he es- tablished a business at Lock Haven, Pa., and continued there five years, when he went to Wisconsin and for seven years was in the lumber business. In 1887 he came to Mid- dletown, where he opened a shop for the mak- ing of carriages and doing general repairing work.
In political views Mr. Saul is a Republi- can, and formerly was a member of the I. O. O. F. He was married, June, 1881, to Miss Florence, daughter of John S. Watson. Mr. Watson married Sabilla Beyerle, of Reading, Pa., in 1832, and about 1835 settled at Mid- dletown, where he had a saw mill, built boats for the canal and carried on a trade in lum- ber. He was a prominent man of his day, and was one of the first stockholders and a director in the Middletown Bank. His death occurred January 8, 1878, and that of his wife in February, 1889. He was a Whig in politics. His wife was a member of the Bethel church, of which he was a liberal supporter. Their children are: Mary Ann, Mrs. William M. Daugherty, of Sunbury, Pa., and Florence, Mrs. Henry R. Saul. Mr. and Mrs. Saul have no children. They are members of the Pres- byterian church, of which he is a trustee.
SHEPLER, JACOB H., merchant, Middle- town, Pa., was born, in Lancaster county, Pa., February 18, 1840 ; son of Samuel and Regina (Albert) Shepler, natives of that county. The father came to Dauphin county with his family in 1850, and engaged in . farming in Middle Paxton township, where he continued until his death. His children are: John, of Middle Paxton township; Sarah, Mrs. Eli Salzer, of Middle Paxton township ; Jacob H .; Mary, Mrs. Amos Parker, of Hanover township ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Thomas Hinkle, of Chicago, Ill .; Will- iam, and Isaac, both of Middle Paxton town- ship.
Jacob H. was educated in the public schools, and learned the trade of plasterer and also of wood worker. In 1861 he en- listed in the United States army and served until 1865, having re-enlisted as a veteran in 1863 in the same company, and having been commissioned as captain of his company. At the battle of Chancellorsville he was taken prisoner and was confined in Libby prison for four months. After serving two years with the Army of the Potomac he was transferred to the Western army under Gen- eral Sherman, participating in the triumph-
ant battles and marches of that great army and going with it to the sea. After his dis- charge from the military service he was em- ployed at different times by the Harrisburg Car Company, the Middletown Car Works, the Furniture Company and other companies. In 1893 he engaged in mercantile business at Middletown, in which he has continued until the present time. Mr. Shepler is a member of the Order of United American Mechanics and of Simon Cameron Post, G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Hughes, daughter of Jacob Hughes, of Han- over township, and to this marriage there is no issue. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and holds the offices of steward and class leader in the same.
-SWEIGARD, DANIEL, dealer in coal, Middle- town, Pa., was born in Jackson township, Dauphin county, Pa., April 20, 1842; son of Jonas and Elizabeth (Miller) Sweigard. The first of the family to settle in Dauphin county was Peter Sweigard, a native of Ger- many, who came to America and took up a tract of Government land in Jackson town- ship, on which he settled and remained. His son Adam, the grandfather of Daniel, was born in Jackson township, where he also took up land and cleared up a farm, and was also engaged in hauling to Harrisburg and Lancaster county. The family were mem- bers of the Lutheran church. He married Miss Warfel, of one of the early families of the township, and they reared eleven chil- dren, of whom four are living: Philip, of Lower Swatara township, retired; Rachel, wife of George Shoop, of Wayne township; Mary, wife of John Miller, of Jackson town- ship ; and Catherine, wife of John Enders, of Jackson township. Jonas Sweigard, father of Daniel, was born in Jackson township, January 30, 1813. He followed farming in Jackson and Jefferson townships. Politi- cally he was a Democrat and filled various township offices. His death occurred Oc- tober 3, 1880, and that of his wife December 19, 1893. They were prominent members of the Lutheran church. Their children are : James, of Jackson township; Daniel and Samuel, of Ellsworth county, Kan.
Daniel was reared in his native township and learned the trade of stonemason, which he followed for twenty years. In 1864 he enlisted in company A, Two Hundred and Eighth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers,
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and served until the close of the war. In 1867 he came to Middletown and cultivated the Frey farm one year, after which he worked at his trade until 1876, when he es- tablished his present business. In politics he is a Democrat. He was married, in 1870, to Catherine, daughter of Frederick Klein- dopf, of Londonderry township, and they have one child, Annie, at home. He is a member of the St. Peter's Lutheran church and is a trustee of the organization.
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SELSER, SAMUEL S., Middletown, Pa., was born in Middletown, Dauphin county, Pa., May 29, 1850 ; son of Samuel and Christina (Ehrsman) Selser. He attended the public schools until he was eighteen years of age, and learned the tinner's trade, which occu- pation he has since followed. In 1876 he established a business for himself, and in 1879 built the store which he has since oc- cupied. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Selser was married, De- cember 31, 1879, to Miss Barbara, daughter of Jacob Kleindopf, of Middletown, by whom he has two children : Catherine B. and Lucy E. He is a member of the St. Peter's Lu- theran church.
SELSER, SAMUEL, retired, Middletown, was born at Middletown, Dauphin county, Pa., March 5, 1815; son of George and Catherine (Musser) Selser. The father was born in York county and the mother in Lancaster county. John George Selser, the grand- father, was a native of Germany, came to America, settled in York county, and had three sons and one daughter: George, Nicho- las, Michael, and Christina. George Selser, the father, came to Middletown before his marriage, about 1812, and purchased a lot from the Foot family. He was originally a distiller, but after coming to Middletown en- gaged in the manufacture of nails, and fol- lowed that business many years, and later in life was engaged in milling, carpentry and other employments. He was a member of the Lutheran . church, and was one of the workmen employed in building the steeple on the church. He died in 1852 and his wife died in 1876. Their children are: Catherine, married Adam Foot, and died at Grand Rapids, Mich .; Samuel, and Mary, Mrs. Eli May, of Middletown.
Samuel was educated in the schools of that period and learned the trade of cabinet making, at which he worked for several years, after which he had a saw mill and was in the lumber business for thirty-five years, in connection with which he did car- penter work, In politics he was a Whig, and later a Republican, and served as mem- ber of the council and as tax collector. Mr. Selser was married, in 1835, to Sarah Smith, who lived only a short time, and after her death he married Miss Christina, daughter of Jacob Ehersman. . She died in 1893. They had eleven children: Anna, Salome, Sarah, Catherine, Christina, Mary, Lucinda, George W., Samuel S., John, and Jacob. Mr. Selser attends the Lutheran church.
ULRICH, ADAM, retired, Middletown, was born in Lower Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pa., January 11, 1818; son of Michael and Kate (Stoner) Ulrich. The father came from Lebanon county and pur- chased the farm in Lower Swatara township about 1812. He was a weaver and saddler by trade, and worked at these occupations to some extent in connection with farming, until he retired from active business and moved to Middletown, where he died in 1845, and is buried in the Middletown cem- etery. By his first wife, who died about 1835, he had nine children; two died in in- fancy : Mary, deceased, married Christian Eshenour ; Elizabeth, deceased, married Jacob Eshenour ; Samuel, deceased, farmer in Lower Swatara township; Catherine, Mrs. Philip Albert; Michael, deceased, farmer in Lower Swatara township; John, who conducted a sash factory, at Middletown, and Adam, the only survivor of the family. Mr. Ulrich married for his second wife, Mrs. Mary Deckard, who died in 1875. They were members of the Lutheran church, and later joined the United Brethren church. In pol- ities Mr. Ulrich was a Whig.
Adam was reared on the homestead, and was engaged in farming until 1SS3, when he retired from active work. He was mar- ried, in 1839, to Mary, daughter of Henry Deckard, of Swatara township, and settled on his father's homestead, where his wife died in 1883. They had four children : William, cashier of the Hummelstown Bank ; Mary; wife of John W. Rife, of Middletown ; Catherine, wife of Benjamin Martin, of Kingston ; John, on the old homestead. In
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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
politics Mr. Ulrich is a Republican and has served in various township offices. He is a member of the Guyer's United Brethren church.
. ULRICH, JOHN L., farmer, Middletown P. O., was born in Lower Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pa., January 2, 1861. He received his education in the township schools, and learned the milling business. In 1881 he rented the Nissley mill, which he conducted for three years, after which he removed to his father's homestead, which he has since occupied. Mr. Ulrich was married, in 1881, to Miss Barbara, daughter of Jacob C. Nissley, of Londonderry township, and they have two children : Katie V. and Mary B. In his political views Mr. Ulrich is a Republican, and has served as township auditor. His church membership is with the United Brethren at Hummelstown.
WITMAN, JOHN A., shoemaker, Middle- town, Pa., was born on the old homestead in Londonderry township, April 22, 1834; son of John and Mary (Kouchman) Witman. The first of the family to settle in this county was John, the grandfather of Jolm A., who moved from Lancaster county in 1795 and settled in Londonderry township, where he lived up to the time of his death. His chil- dren were: Anthony, John, Jacob, Paul, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Mary, all of whom are deceased.
The father was born in Londonderry town- ship, April 21, 1799. He was a weaver by trade, but engaged in brick making and in butchering for a number of years. He died March 26, 1880, and his wife August 12, 1847, at the age of forty-three. He was mar- ried to Miss Mary Kouchman, by whom he had twelve children: Lydia, Catherine, Henry, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, John A., Sarah Margaret, Paul, William, Phiannas, Joseph, and Emma M. He afterwards married Mrs. Anna Eversole, by whom he had two chil- dren, Louisa and Martin. John A. was first engaged in shoemaking. From 1870 to 1880 was in mercantile business in Wrightsville. During 1883 and 1884 was working for the E. C. M. railroad. From 1865 to 1869 was superintendent for James Young, Mid- dletown, and kept hotel in Wrightsville, York county, for five years, and for a time in Middletown. He married Miss Leah Ginder, of York, York county, December 27, 1860. Their children are: Maggie; Morris,
married Carrie Keller, and now resides in Wrightsville; Katie, John, Charles, and Mary. Mr. Witman is a Republican in politics.
WHITMER, ABRAHAM U., farmer, Oberlin, Pa., was born in Franklin county, Pa., Jan- uary 22, 1848; son of Abraham and Catherine (Urich) Whitmer,natives of Lancaster county. The father removed to Dauphin county in 1856, and located in Lower Swatara township, where he lived until 1888, when he removed to Oberlin, and died in February, 1890. In politics he was a Republican, and was in connection with the River Brethren church. His wife died in 1892. Their children are: Fannie, widow of Samuel Brehm, of Steelton ; David, of Londonderry township; Abraham U., and Elizabeth, wife of Heney Wolgemuth, of Lancaster county. Abraham U. came with his parents to Dauphin county when he was eight years of age, and received his education in the public schools. After the death of his father he succeeded to the homestead. In 1876 he was married to Mary E. Metz, daughter of George Metz, of Swatara township, by whom he had three children : Sally A., Mary Jane, and Harry W. In his political views Mr. Whitmer is a Republican, and has served in the office of inspector of elections, and auditor of the township.
WAGNER, JOHN R., was born on the old homestead in Londonderry township, June 10, 1833 ; son of John Wagner. The first of the Wagner family to come to Dauphin county was Frederick Wagner, grandfather of John R., who settled on the tract of land now owned by the Allwine estate. Frederick, born December 14, 1758, was a carpenter and one of the early settlers at Lancaster, Pa., when there were only a few houses where the city now stands. Frederick was drafted for service in the war of 1812, and marched from Londonderry township to Baltimore. He acquired a good education for that period, was a Republican in politics, and an active member of the Lutheran church. He was a shoemaker, but like most other mechanics was also at times engaged in farming. IIe married Miss Anne Wright- myer, by whom he had these children : Elizabeth, Anna, Margaret, Mary, and John, all of whom are deceased. Frederick Wag- ner died on the homestead in 1846, aged eighty-seven years.
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
John Wagner, the father of John R., was born in 1799, on the old homestead, where he spent his entire life, and died in 1874. He was the youngest child of his father's family, acquired a good education, and engaged in farming. He was a Republican in politics and held the office of supervisor of the township for a num- ber of years. In his religious views and fel- lowship he was a Lutheran and was an active member of that church. He married Miss Catherine Rodfong, daughter of Michael Rod- fong, of Dauphin county. Their children are : Caroline, who died in 1863, aged fourteen years; Frederick, married Leah Peters, daughter of David Peters, of Dauphin county; John ; Annie, married S. C. Swartz, son of Christian Swartz, of Dauphin county ; Mary, married Davis Eshenower, of Lower Swatara town- ship; Eliza, married Jacob M. Gingerich, of Londonderry township; Sarah, married David Roop, of Middletown, Pa .; Catherine, unmarried, and lives with her sister, Mrs. S. C. Swartz.
John R. was reared on the old homestead and lived there until 1864. He acquired his education in the public schools and was en- gaged in farming until he was over thirty years of age, after which he was for two years in the employment of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company. In 1864 he was appointed by the county commissioners, Henry Hart- man, J. J. Milleisen, and Robert McClure, collector of State, county, and local taxes, in which office he served one year, and was precinct assessor for fifteen years. In his political views he was a Republican. Mr. Wagner was married, March 28, 1865, to Miss Katie Garrett, daughter of John Garrett, of Lebanon, Pa. In 1871 they moved to the premises where they now have their home.
WAGNER, FREDERICK R., coal dealer, Middletown, Pa., was born in Londonderry township, Dauphin county, Pa., October 20, 1830; son of John and Catherine (Rodfong) Wagner. He was reared and educated in the township, and remained with his father and worked on the home farm until he was thirty years of age. In 1860 he was married to Miss Leah Peters, daughter of David Peters, of Londonderry township. After his marriage he located on a farm in the same township, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1865, after which he was for one year in Swatara township. In 1866 he returned to the old homestead in Londonderry town- ship, which he leased until 1881, when he
removed to Middletown, where he was em- ployed in the tube mill for seven years. In 1894 he established a coal business, to which he has devoted his entire attention for several years. His children are: Abraham L., clerk for Gray at Middletown; John, butcher, at Middletown; William, with his father ; Charles, physician at Hanover, York county ; Simon, butcher, at Middletown ; Elizabeth, wife of John Klinger, of Middle- town ; Emma, and Annie. In polities Mr. Wagner is a Republican and was formerly active in party matters. He has served in the office of assessor of Londonderry town- ship, and school director of the same town- ship., He attends the United Brethren church.
.. YETTER, SAMUEL L., insurance, Middle- town, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., March 4,1838 ; son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lindemuth) Yetter. The father was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Baltimore. He held the com- mission of captain of his company. By oc- cupation he was a mason, and kept a hotel in Lancaster for many years. Samuel L. was reared in Lancaster county, receiving his education in the public schools and at the Millersville State Normal School, and was engaged in teaching in Lancaster, Dau- phin, Snyder, and Lebanon counties. In 1872 he came to Middletown, and was teacher in the Emaus Orphans' School for six months, which position he was compelled to resign on account of failing health, and took up the insurance business. In 1885 be was appointed under President Cleveland dep- uty collector of internal revenue for the Ninth district, State of Pennsylvania, in which office he served four years and five or six months. Mr. Yetter is a member of Prince Edwin Lodge, F. & A. M .; Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, American Me- chanics, and of the Ancient Order of Fores- ters. In political views he is a Democrat, and was elected in 1881, 1882, 1891, and 1892 to the office of burgess of Middletown, and refused another election. 1Ie was also elected to the school board, and was its sec- retary, which office he resigned to become teacher of the German school. Mr. Yetter was married, in 1872, to Miss E. J. Ringland, daughter of Joseph Ringland, of Middle- town, Pa., having been previously married to Mary M. Klugh, teacher, daughter of Frank Klugh, by whom he had one child,
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