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 85
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
Jacob Swab was married, in MitHin town- ship, in 1843, to Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Shoop) Matter, a na- tive of Mifflin township. She died on the farm in 1881. Their children are: Amelia, deceased, wife of Charles Shoemaker; Cathe- rine, wife of George Echternacht, Marshalls- town, Iowa; Edwin, miner, in Lykens, Pa .; Samuel, roof painter, Reading, Pa .; Enoch, farmer, Marshall county, Iowa ; Emma Jane, wife of Mahlon Miller, Pottsville, Pa .; Joseph, hotel employee, Buffalo, N. Y.
Mr. Swab was drafted for the nine months' service in the army in October, 1862. He served ten months in company F, One Hundred and Seventy-third regiment, Penn- sylvania volunteers. He was stationed at Norfolk, Va., during most of his time. At the end of the ten months he came home and was married again, in the fall of 1883, to Elizabeth McCully, widow of George Snyder. She is the daughter of Robert and Catherine (Seibold) MeCully, the former of Irish and the latter of German descent. She had five children by her first marriage.
In political principles Mr. Swab is a Demo- crat and attends the Lutheran church, in which he has served as deacon. He also held several minor offices in the village, but has never been a politician in the sense of an office seeker.
1106
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
-BUFFINGTON, ISAIAH T., senior member of the firm of Buffington & Enders, proprietors of the Elizabethville planing mill and furni- ture factory, and also funeral directors, was born in Upper Paxton township, Dauphin county, Pa., July 20, 1850. He is a son of Josiah and Susan (Yeager) Buffington. Solo- mon Buffington, grandfather of Isaiah T. Buffington, was born in Dauphin county, and was a farmer and shoemaker, doing business in this and other counties. Josiah Buffington, father of Isaiah T., was born in Upper Paxton township, Dauphin county, January 16, 1826. He was a prominent resident of Elizabethtown for forty years, during which he was engaged in contracting, cabinet making and undertaking. He was village postmaster for over twenty years. He is now seventy-one years old, and has resided in Elizabethtown since his retire- ment, in 1892. His wife is also living. Their children are: Isaiah T .; John W., re- siding in Elizabethville; Mary, wife of Andrew Chubb, Elizabethville; Henrietta, wife of Henry Bickel, near Mt. Carmel, Pa .; Benjamin Franklin, Elizabethville; Kate, residing at home; Harry, resident of Shamo- kin ; Lizzie, wife of Charles B. Potter, Eliza- bethville; Emma and Alvah, who died young.
Isaiah T. Buffington, when about three years old, was brought by his parents to Mifflin township, were they remained a few years ; they then removed to Washington township, where I. T. was educated. His father gave him the choice between working on the farm and going to college; he chose farm work, and was brought up a farmer boy. At ten years of age he went to work on neighboring farms, and was engaged as farm hand for five years. He then began to learn cabinet making, carpentry and house building, and followed these branches of business with his father until he was twenty- two. All this time he had worked for his board and clothing. For the next four years his wages were $1.75 or $2 per day. In 1876 Mr. Buffington began business for himself, in Elizabethville, as cabinet maker, under- taker and contractor, and conducted busi- ness alone until 1888. In the beginning he worked in a small room, ten by sixteen fect, and made additions as business demanded. He was the architect and builder of many of the most imposing residences of Eliza- bethville. In 1888 he took in C. W. Enders as a partner and formed the firm of Bufling-
ton & Enders, under which name the busi- ness has ever since been carried on. They manufacture flooring, siding, moulding, sash, doors, shutters and blinds ; also hard and soft wood chamber suites, parlor suites, lounges, tables and chairs.
Isaiah T. Buffington was married, at Elizabethville, September 1, 1872, to Miss Mary Kemmerer, a native of Upper Paxton township and a resident of Washington township. Their children are : William E., at home, graduate of a commercial college ; Edward F., died an infant; Nellie Pearl, Ray K., George C., and Lewis, all at home ; and Annie, died aged five years.
Mr. Buffington's political principles are Republican. He has served on the school board of the township for one term, and was elected burgess for the first year of the bor- ough. Formerly he was a member of P. O. S. of A. and of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Buffing- ton is president of the Enterprise Hosiery Company, and also a director of the Ceme- tery Association. He belongs to the United Brethren church, and is a trustee. He has acted as Sunday-school superintend- ent for eight years. He is a member of the Young People's Christian Union (United Brethren) Church Society. Mr. Buffington has made his own way in the world. Ile began with only strong hands, a clear head and a good heart. His career is successful as it is honorable, and his example is an en- couragement and an inspiration to all boys who have only themselves to depend upon, for it shows that industry, frugality, wisdom and virtue are sure to win.
SWAB, ISAAC, foundryman, was born in Washington township, Dauphin county, Pa., October 5, 1845. He is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Heller) Swab.
Isaac Swab was educated in the common schools and at Berrysburg Academy, which he attended for two years. He worked on the farm carly in life, and remained at home until he was twenty-three. He came to Eliza- bethville in 1868, and was for some time em- ployed in his brother's wagon factory. He then opened a hardware and stove store in Elizabethville; after eight or ten years in this business he sold out and went to Har- risburg, where he took a contract for putting cars together in the railroad shops. He was employed in the same manner for two years at Millerstown, Pa., after which he returned to Elizabethville and established a foundry,
1107
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
which he has conducted since that time. He was also for a short time engaged in broom making. His knowledge of the foundry business was derived from reading and from observation.
Isaac Swab was married, in Berrysburg, Pa., in 1867, to Miss Sarah Ellen Messner, a native of Washington township, Dauphin county, Pa. Their children are: Harry C., married Mattie Smith, resides at Elizabeth- ville, Pa .; Arthur A., left home at fourteen years of age, found employment with Drake & Stratton, bridge builders, New York; was at Johnstown, Pa., repairing bridges two days after the great flood; was married, at Hanover, Ohio, to Effic Hawarth; Sallie E., at home; Katie C., died aged six years ; Warren F. and Percy A., at home.
Mr. Swab is a Democrat. He has been school director for nine years, and is at pres- ent secretary of the school board. He has been township clerk for six years. He was formerly a stockholder in the Water Com- pany and is now a member of the town coun- cil. He is also secretary of the Lutheran charge, which includes all the Lutheran churches in the Lykens Valley. Mr. Swab is intelligent and public spirited, genial in disposition and agreeable in manners. He is highly esteemed and respected.
- KEIPER, MICHAEL R., superintendent of water works, agent of Lykens Valley Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Elizabethville, Pa., was born in Washington township, Dau- phin county, Pa., on the homestead, one mile west of Elizabethville, October 5, 1839. He is a son of John and Catherine (Runk) Keiper. His grandfather, Jacob Keiper, was a native of Reamstown, Lancaster county, Pa., and a lifelong resident of that place. He was a cooper. His wife was Sarah Ech- ternacht. Mr. Keiper's father was born in Reamstown, July 14, 1810. He died in Washington township, August 16, 1854. From the time when he came to Dauphin county, at twenty years of age, he was a farmer. During his earlier life he had been engaged in driving cattle to eastern markets. While thus employed, and on a trip through Washington township, he made the acquaint- ance of Miss Catherine Runk, who after- wards became his wife. She was born June 20, 1822, and died March 24, 1845. After his marriage, Mr. Keiper was for many years engaged in mercantile business at Elizabeth-
ville. His children by his first wife are : Michael R .; John, died in Philadelphia, July 4, 1887, where he was embloyed in a store; Catherine, widow of Samuel Keiter. Elizabethville. Mr. Keiper's second wife was Miss Lucinda Buffington, who survives him, and by whom he had but one child, William Henry, residing at Lykens, Pa. Mr. Keiper always took a prominent part in village and township affairs. He was orig- inally a Whig, and subsequently affiliated with the Republican party.
Michael R. Keiper was educated in the common schools of his native place and of Middletown, Pa. At the age of sixteen he commenced working Good's woolen mill, near Millersburg, Pa. He was employed here two years, during which time he learned different branches of the business. But he was forced to seek other employment, the mill work being detrimental to his health.
Mr. Keiper rented the home farm and be- gan tilling the soil. After several years he bought the homestead, and continued farm- ing from that time, 1861, until 1885, when he retired from the farm and took up his residence in his new home in Elizabethville, which he built in 1884. After removing to Elizabethville he engaged in the insurance business, and is now agent for the Lykens Valley Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Mr. Keiper still owns the home farm and several other good farms. He has for many years been director of the First National Bank of Millersburg, and of the Miners' Deposit Bank of Lykens.
Mr. Keiper was married, in Washington township, February 14, 1861, to Miss Sarah Etta Sheesley. Their children are : John A., a United Brethren minister at Meyerstown, Lebanon county, Pa., graduate in theology of Ursinus College, Montgomery county, Pa., married Gertrude Barr; Katie S., mar- ried Albert Romberger, farmer, Washington township, has two children, Earl K. and Roy Arthur; Annie E., married Frank Campbell, Millersburg, Pa .; Laura Etta, un- married, at home.
Mr. Keiper is a Republican, and an ac- tive worker for his party. He served three years as school director, three years as as- sessor, and one year as judge of elections. HIe is an active member of the United Brethren church; is class leader of class No. 1, trustee of the church, and president of its official board. He was for twenty-five
1108
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
consecutive years superintendent of the Sunday-school. IIe is president of the United Brethren Campmeeting Association.
-ROMBERGER, B. W., president of the Yok- ney Cotton Mills, Water Valley, Miss., and retired dry goods merchant of Philadelphia, Pa., was born in Mifflin township, Dauphin county, Pa., December 7, 1825. He is a son of Balthaser and Elizabeth (Serry) Romber- ger. Balthaser Romberger was born in Lancaster county, Pa. After his marriage he came to Dauphin county, and settled in Mifflin township, where he died in 1838, aged sixty. His wife died some years after, at the age of seventy-five. Their children were : Mary, Mrs. Matter, died in Mifflin town- ship, aged sixty-three years ; Catherine, Mrs. Matter, died aged fifty-eight; Anna M., de- ceased ; George, farmer in Mifflin township; Daniel, died in Mifflin township ; Elizabeth, Mrs. J. Hoy, died in Mifflin township; Susan, Mrs. Broderer, died in Mifflin township; Rebecca, Mrs. J. Harner, died in Mifflin township; Hannah, Mrs. Jacob Woodside, widow, resides in Mifflin township; Benja- min, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, lives retired at Berrysburg, Pa .; David, deceased, farmer, Mifflin township ; and B. W.
B. W. Romberger had only the slender opportunities for education afforded by sub- scription schools, open for a few months of each year. When he was in his fourteenth year his father died, and while the family were not left destitute, yet they were by no means rich in this world's goods, and the boy did not wish to remain a burden to his mother. Being active and ambitious, he determined to start out in the world on his own account, and to demonstrate that even at his early age he could provide for him- self. He first hired as a farm hand for one year at $3 per month, to a man who proved to be a hard task master, requiring him to work from sunrise until late at night, and expecting of him 'in the fields the work of an able-bodied man, scarcely allowing him time to eat his' dinner, but compelling him to do chores about the barn while the men were enjoying their hour of rest at noon. He did not like to leave his place, for fear of being called lazy, and patiently worked through the year. With money saved from his earnings he bought the first suit of new clothes he ever wore. At the end of this year he found employment for six months
with another farmer, who gave him $5 per month. At the expiration of this engage- ment he began an apprenticeship to a car- penter in Upper Paxton township, with whom he served three years, afterwards re- ceiving regular journeyman's wages for the time he remained in his employ.
In 1848 he went to Illinois and remained six months, during which time Mr. Rom- berger worked only one month, and was at expense both for himself and for his com- panion, which nearly exhausted his money. They changed their plans and returned, reaching home with just $50 remaining of the $800 with which he started. Ile soon after assumed a position as clerk in the gen- eral store of his brother-in-law, at Berrys- burg, Pa .; he was for five years engaged in this occupation in several places, during the winter months working at his trade in the summer, excepting one month in cach sea- son, when he was engaged as a harvest hand.
In 1852 or 1853 Mr. Romberger went to Philadelphia to acquire a good mercantile training, with a view of establishing himself in a general store in some country place. He little thought at that time of becoming a prominent dry goods merchant in that great city. He at once applied to the large whole- sale dry goods firm which of late is known as the Jacob Riegel Company, and met with a cordial reception. He stated his desire of getting a position as salesman frankly and fully informing them of his slender experi- ence in the business, and asking for a month's trial, agreeing, if successful, to re- ceive pay according to the value of his ser- vices, but if after trial he should prove not to be adapted to the business, he would ask no wages. They were pleased with his honest frankness, and consented to the trial. It was extended to four months, and proved satisfactory to both parties. Mr. Romberger agreed to remain, and continued with the firm for ten years, his salary being advanced from time to time from $600 to $5,000 per annum. He sold as high as $410,000 worth of goods in one year, and after deducting his salary his sales cleared $62,000 for the firm. At the end of ten years he united with Mr. Cunningham in forming the dry goods firm of Romberger, Cunningham & Co., which continued in business two years, and was then changed to Romberger, Long & Co., which continued until 1887, when on ac- count of failing health Mr. Romberger sold his interest in the business to Mr. Long.
--
1109
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
During this time Mr. Romberger and his brother-in-law, D. R. Wagner, formed what is known as the Yokney Cotton Mills Com- pany, of which he became president. They built a large factory at Water Valley, Miss., and equipped it with the latest and most improved machinery. It gives employment to one hundred and thirty-five hands ; the president's son, Charles Romberger, is an efficient and capable superintendent of the business.
Mr. Romberger was married, in Philadel- phia, Pa., July 10, 1856, to Miss Helena Wagner, a native of Snyder county, Pa., where she lived until she was twelve or fourteen years of age when she removed with her parents to Philadelphia. Prior to this Mr. Romberger had married a Miss Sarah Orendorff, who lived but two years after marriage, and by whom he had one child, Henry M., residing at Winona, Miss., cashier of Winona Bank, married to Flor- ence Smith. There have been two children of the second marriage: Clara Louisa, wife of Johnson Alter, died at the age of thirty- eight, leaving one child; and Charles E., superintendent of cotton mills, Water Valley, Miss., married Miss Smith. Mr. Romberger's politics are Democratic. For fifty-five years he has been an energetic, progressive and highly esteemed member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Romberger spends most of his winters at Water Valley, Miss. His house in Wash- ington township is situated in a beautiful spot, at the foot of the mountain, and is truly baronial in its proportions and ap- pointments. It is lavishly supplied with all the modern conveniences which contribute to comfort and to luxury. Mr. Romberger has indulged his cultured literary taste es- pecially in the furnishing of his library, which is a spacious room stored with selected books in every department of literature, science and art. It is an agreeable surprise to find so beautiful, luxurious and tasteful a dwelling in rural surroundings. The farm on which it stands contains five hundred and seventeen acres, and is one of the best in the State. Mr. Romberger in his personality is attractive and agreeable. He is affable and courteous in manner, and always genial and hospitable. His appearance proclaims him to be just what he really is, a man of dis- tinguished business ability and refined and cultured tastes.
ERNEST, GEORGE, farmer, was born in Madison township, Perry county, Pa., Feb- ruary 4, 1830. 1Ic is a son of Daniel and Catherine (Ernest) Ernest.
The Ernest ancestors came from . Ger- many. They were connected with the House of Hanover, who were in full power previous to the Reformation. Henry Ernest. grandfather of George Ernest, was a native of Berks county, where he was, reared and married, and engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He removed with his family to Perry county, and died on the homestead in Madison township in 1838, his wife having preceded him to the grave. Their children were: George; David; Daniel; Elizabeth, who was Mrs. Runsmith, deceased; and Catherine, Mrs. Dysinger.
Daniel Ernest, father of George, was born in Berks county, September 17, 1796. He was reared on the farm, and remained on the farm until he was a young man. \t that time the family removed to Perry county, where he continued farming until his death, which occurred May 15, 1SS5. Ilis wife died December 22, 1873. Daniel Ernest was a prominent man, taking an active part in township affairs, and filling various township offices. Their children are: John, a cooper, resides in Peoria, Ill .. is active in city affairs, was sheriff; Samuel. farmer, Perry county, lives on part of the homestead in Madison township; George; Sarah, died some years ago, unmarried ; Henry, resides at Cisna Run, Perry county, Pa .; Jane A., deceased, unmarried : Mary, deceased, unmarried ; Daniel, retired farmer, Eshcol, Perry county ; David, died in Perry county, June 4, 1876.
Mr. George Ernest attended subscription schools and finished his education in the public schools, which he attended in the winter of each, year. He remained on the farm until he was twenty-five, when he went West, in 1855 or '56, in search of business opportunities. There were more boys at home than were needed for the farm work. so he went to Ohio, and worked among the farmers near Fostoria for one year. He then went to Illinois to see a brother. After a short visit he hired himself to a farmer west of Peoria, Ill., for a year, at the end of which time he returned home. He had saved about $100, but in those times the currency of one State was not good in another. After his return George engaged in building post and
1110
BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
rail fences in Perry county, and continued there three summers, but was unemployed in the winter. He and his companions were planning for something by which they could make money faster and more easily, and de- cided to open a general store at Anderson- burg, Perry county, which they conducted successfully for four or five years. Mr. Ern- est then sold his interest to his partners and went to Missouri. He there made collections for his father, who had loaned certain sums to a man whom Mr. Ernest hunted up. Hav- ing successfully transacted this business and returned he remained around home for about a year.
After his marriage he opened a general store in Green Park and conducted it for about eighteen months. He then removed his stock to Cisna Run (then Cedar Run), Perry county, and carried on business there for about a year and a half. He then sold out to his brother David and located in Eliza- bethville, purchasing the store of Simon Bickel. He remained there from 1870 to 1885, during eleven years of which time he had charge of the business. From 1885 to 1888 Mr. Ernest remained in Elizabethville, without any business occupation. In 1888 he removed to Centre county, Pa., where for one year he was engaged in the lumber busi- ness. After this he located on his present place of forty-five acres in Washington town- ship, Dauphin county, to which he added twenty acres, and is devoting his whole at- tention to raising poultry and fruit.
George Ernest was married, May 30, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Bealor, born September 6, 1839, at New Bloomfield, Perry county; a daughter of David and Margaret (Smith) Bealor. Their children are: Charles David, deceased, born January 17, 1868; William D., born at Elizabethville, December 28, 1870, taught school in Dauphin county two years, then took a course in shorthand at Chicago, and then took a position as cashier of a life insurance company at Chicago, Six months after he began a service under the United States lighthouse inspector, which lasted for a year and a half. In the follow- ing June Mr. Ernest entered Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pa., where he remained two years. It was his intention to take a theological course and enter the ministry, but his throat would not stand the strain of public speaking. While in Chicago he attended the course of lectures of the Moody Bible Association. He has now turned
his whole attention to the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, and has been engaged in the Railroad Branch, Philadelphia, Pa. He is at present general secretary and physical director of the Mit. Carmel, Pa., Association. Harry B., born August 8, 1873, at Elizabethville, Pa., where he attended school, after which he taught for two winters in Washington township. In the fall of 1895 he entered Pennsylvania College, and is taking a classical course, which he will complete in 1900, when he hopes to enter the ministry.
Mr. Ernest is a Republican and is decided in his views. He was formerly a member of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Ernest belongs to the Reformed church. Mr. Ernest began as a poor boy, has made his way without as- sistance, and is now among the prominent and honored men of the community.
FRANK, WILLIAM D., shoe dealer, Eliza- beth ville, Pa., was born in Halifax township, Dauphin county, Pa., February 20, 1860. He is a son of John and Susan (Miller) Frank. David Frank, his grandfather, was a farmer, and at one time owned two farms in Jack- son township, and one in Halifax township. He was prominent and highly respected ; he died in Jackson township.
John Frank, father of William D., was born in Armstrong Valley, Dauphin county. He was educated in the common schools, reared on the farm, and made farming his life occupation. He died in Halifax town- ship, in 1874. His wife, Susan Miller, sur- vives him, and resides with her son, William D. Frank. Their children are : William D .; Margaret Ellen, died in her third year ; Emma J., has been twice married ; her first husband was John W. Speck, deceased ; her second is Aaron J. Bressler, Elizabethville, Pa .; Mary C., wife of David M. Stone, high school teacher at Williamstown, Pa .; John A., bookkeeper for Alley Bros., Curwensville, Clearfield county, Pa., married Miss Livia Edgbert, of Curwensville, Clearfield county, Pa.
William D. Frank was educated in the public schools of his native place, which he attended in the winter. In summer he was engaged in farm work. His father died when he was fourteen years old, and from that time he supported himself. He hired out among farmers at small wages, from which, by rigid self-denial and strict econ- omy, he managed to save a little money.
1
1111
DAUPHIN COUNTY.
He worked four years as a farm hand. At the age of eighteen he became apprentice to a shoemaker, Joseph Snyder, in Jackson township, whom he served two years, receiv- ing no wages. He then started out for him- self, and in 1880 opened a small repair shop in Elizabethville. He prospered so well, that after two years' work he was able to buy a building lot, and to erect a dwelling house and the store which he now occupies. He put in a full line of shoes, and from time to time increased his stock, as the growth of his trade made it necessary ; he now enjoys a large and profitable business.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.