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 86
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William D. Frank was married, in Eliza- bethville, Pa., January 22, 1882, to Miss Mary A. Koppenheffer, a native of Washington township. They have had four children : Charles H., born June 27, 1886; two that died in infancy ; and a son, born May 3, 1896, yet unnamed.
Mr. Frank is an earnest worker in the ranks of the Democratic party. He was elected to the borough council in 1895 ; when the town became a borough he served as school director, and was largely instru- mental in making improvements in the schools and school buildings. He is a mem- ber of the Reformed church, of which he is a trustee. He has been secretary and treas- urer of the Sunday-school for six years.
Mr. Frank is active and energetic in busi- ness, intelligent and progressive in his views, unselfish and public spirited. He is promi- nent in usefulness, and in social intercourse is always genial.
SWAB, ELI, was born in Mifflin township Dauphin county, Pa., October 7, 1824.
The first ancestor in the line of his family to come to America was his great-grand- father, John Schwab, who was born and reared in Germany, where he learned his trade of linen weaving and was married. At the age of thirty or thirty five he came with his wife and children to this country, about 1735, and for a time settled in Phila- delphia, and engaged in the manufacture of linen. From Philadelphia he went to Read- ing, and finding the lots were selling by lot- tery, he procured two of the principal ones and traded them for farming land in Berks county, at a place afterwards called Shupert's Mills. Here he engaged in farming, also working at his trade. He took part in the Revolutionary war. He was noted for his equestrian feats, one of these being riding at
a furious pace and leaning from his horse to pick up a hat from the ground. He died on his Berks county farm.
John Jacob Swab, grandfather of Eli Swab, was born in Philadelphia, about 1763, and reared on the farm in Berks county. He was married there about 1788 or 1789. to Miss Mary Hetzel. Their children were : Catherine, wife of Philip Brown, lived in Williams Valley, had seven children, three sons and four daughters; Jacob, father of Eli Swab; Julia Ann, married Christian Matter, removed to Jefferson county, Pa., reared a family and died there; John, born in Berks county and reared in Dauphin county ; William, born in Dauphin county, married and settled in Washington town- ship, where he died; Danicl, born and reared in Dauphin county, married Katie Koppenheffer, removed to Ohio, where he died ; Susanna, married Jacob Herman, set- tled in Berrysburg, Dauphin county, and died there ; George, born in Dauphin county, married and died in Washington township, aged eighty-six years; Elizabeth, married David Bitterman, died in Mifflin township. The grandfather settled in Mifflin, now Washington township, where he died in 1819, aged fifty-six years.
Jacob Swab, father of Eli, was born in Berks county, Pa., October 7, 1791, and in his ninth year came with his parents to Dauphin county, where he was reared on the farm, and practically learned the art of weaving linen from his father. He assisted the father in clearing the land and making the home. He was married, in Mifflin town- ship, to Catherine Metz, daughter of Sebas- tian Metz. He succeeded to part of the homestead farm, and lived on the place which his son Eli Swab now owns. He served in the war of 1812, and died Febru- ury 14, 1866, aged sixty-four years. Ilis wife died in 1854. Their children are: Dan- iel, farmer, died in Washington township ; Sarah, married Simon Matter, reared a fam- ily and died in Washington township; Cathe- rine, married John Wagner, Pottsville, Pa., reared a family ; Jacob, married and retired, Elizabethville, Pa .; Eli; Simon, blacksmith, married, reared a family and died in Wash- ington township; Mary, married David Romberger, reared a family, is living in Mifflin township. Mr. Swab was a member of the Lutheran church.
Eli Swab had slender opportunities for ac- quiring an education. Ile attended sub-
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scription schools and grew up on the farm, assisting his father with the work until he was seventeen years old. He then learned tanning, at which he worked more or less steadily for ten years, but finally made farm- ing his chief occupation. In 1854 he took charge of the home farm and cultivated it until 1876, when he came into possession of it by paying $91 an acre; one hundred and six acres constituted the farm, at an allow- ance of six per cent.
Eli Swab was married, in Washington township, in 1844, to Miss Nellie, daughter of John and Mary Cooper, a native of Wash- ington township. Their children are: Al- len, born March 17, 1845, a farmer, now en- gaged in the tanning business, married Eliza Lehman; Philip C., born September 10, 1847, married Catherine Koppenheffer, for- merly merchant at Williamstown, recorder of deeds at Harrisburg, and now a coal mer- chant at Hartranft, Tenn .; Hannah, born November 15, 1851, unmarried ; Aaron, born February 11, 1854, died young; Amanda, born in 1857, married Daniel Brower, resides in Northumberland county, Pa .; Isaiah, born September 25, 1861, farmer in Washington township, married Ida Kawell; Mary, born September 24, 1864, married Oli- ver Shantz and resides in Lehigh county ; George, born October 21, 1869, conveyancer, married Frances A. Auldhouse, resides in Harrisburg.
Mr. Swab owns three farms adjoining each other, one of one hundred and six acres, one of one hundred acres and one of eighty acres ; also two tracts of wood land. In pol- itics he is a Republican, and was elected county commissioner in 1873 and served two terms. He is active and prominent in church affairs and is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he has held important of- fices. Mr. Swab is one of the best known men in the community, and is highly hon- ored and esteemed.
The family name was formerly spelled Schwab, but after the death of Mr. Eli Swab's grandfather it was incorrectly written in cer- tain legal documents as Swab, and the fam- ily finally adopted that spelling.
MATTIS, CHARLES T., farmer and miller, was born in Mifflin township, Dauphin county, Pa., April 21, 1843. He is a son of Isaac and Sally (Troutman) Mattis. : John Mattis, his grandfather, was the son of Chris-
tian Mattis, who had one brother that died. John Mattis was born in Limerick town- ship, Montgomery county, Pa., where he was reared and educated and became a farmer. He served during the war of 1812. His first wife was Katy Swenk, who died 1816. Their children were: Daniel, a plasterer, died in Montgomery county ; Aaron, died in Mifflin township, a sketch of his life ap- pears in connection with that of Abram Mattis, elsewhere in this volume, Mary, married John T. Miller, both died in Mont- gomery county ; Christian and Susan died in girlhood. Mr. Mattis was again mar- ried to Katy Barley, widow of a Mr. Ren- hardt. She lived to the age of seventy-three. The children of this marriage are : Hannah, married Jacob Bartley, both died in Berks county, Pa .; Sarah, died in Montgomery county, wife of a Mr. Jones; John B., died in Tower City, Pa .; Kitty, married and re- sides in Kansas. Mr. Mattis died in Lim- erick township, Montgomery county, about 1833, aged fifty-six.
Isaac Mattis, father of Charles T., was born in Limerick township, Montgomery county, Pa., July 28, 1814. He attended the subscription schools of his native township a part of each year until he was seventeen years old, when his father died .. After that he attended a school taught by George Gross for one term. He worked out among the farmers, receiving $6 per month for his ser- vices. At the age of seventeen he became apprentice to a plasterer, and served two years, when, being dissatisfied with his earnings, he dropped that trade, and drove a huckster team to Philadelphia. He made and saved a little money in this business, and was enabled to start for himself. He then came to Dauphin county with his brother Aaron, and for two years drove a huckster wagon to Pottsville, after which he bought a tavern of John Saltzer, which he owned and managed for thirteen years very successfully. During this time he was also engaged in the cattle trade, buying and driving to Montgomery county. At the end of thirteen years Mr. Mattis sold the tavern and bought a farm of one hundred acres and a grist mill, and worked both farm and mill. He hired a miller until his son had learned the business and was fully competent to manage the mill, the young man being then nineteen years old. In 1883 Mr. Mattis retired from business and removed to Elizabethville, where, in 1882,
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he had built the residence which he now oc- cupies.
Isaac Mattis was married, in Mahantango, Pa., in December, 1842, to Miss Sallie, daugh- ter of Peter Troutman. Their children are: Charles T., miller ; Mary Jane, deceased, wife of Henry SchreiHer; Ellen, wife of Jonas Swab, Elizabethville ; John, farmer; Alice, wife of William Deibler, Berrysburg, Pa .; Etta and Katic, at home. Mr. Mattis is Dem- ocratic in his political principles. He has served as school director and in other offices. His church membership is in the Lutheran denomination.
Charles T. Mattis was in the common schools until he was eight years old, when his parents removed to Washington town- ship, where his education was completed. At the age of nineteen he had learned the business of a miller with John Klinger, who was in charge of his father's mill. His father then installed Charles as head miller and put that branch of the business under his management ; he has ever since continued in charge of the mill. He also owns good farming lands in Washington and Mifflin townships, and is much interested in agri- cultural matters.
Charles T. Mattis was first married, De- cember 11, 1869, to Miss Mary Magdalena, daughter of Benjamin Romberger. They had three children : Sally A .; Carrie E., de- ceased ; and a boy, who died in infancy. Mrs. Mary Magdalena Mattis died October 3, 1877. Mr. Mattis was again married, No- vember 24, 1878, to Miss Mary Jane, daugh- ter of Simon Sheetz. They have six chil- dren : Dora Day, born November 23, 1879, at home; Charles Warren, born January 20, 1882, at home ; Isaac Blair, born December 22, 1886; Mary, born January 8, 1889; Annie M. and Ella Marie, twins, born Au- gust 28, 1895.
Mr. Mattis is a Democrat. He has served for many years as school director, and also as auditor many years, and as judge of elec- tions. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he has been deacon and elder for many years, and is assistant super- intendent of the Sunday-school. He is an upright man, honorable in all business rela- tions, and genial and agrecable in social in- tercourse.
BOYER, JOSIAH, farmer, Washington town- ship, was born in Berks county, Pa., Decem- ber 22, 1832; son of Peter and Christiana
(Harp) Boyer. Peter Boyer was also born in Berks county, where he was reared and mar- ried. Ile learned the mason's trade, which was his occupation for the greater part of his life. About 1834 he removed with his wife and family to Northumberland county, Pa .. where he became possessed of a large tract of farming land containing over four hundred acres. He also owned land in Perry county. In or about 1842 he removed to Dauphin county, Pa., and settled in Washington town- ship, where he died in 1852. His wife, Chris- tiana Harp, died at the home of her son Josiah, in 1875 .. Their children are: Benja- min, deceased ; Sarah, Mrs. Kauffman, do- ceased; Eli, deceased; Isaac, farmer and miller, Uniontown, Pa .; Rachael, Mrs. Elias Buffingion, Gratz, Pa .; Abraham, Hettic, Gabriel, and Catherine, all deceased ; Josiah and Benneville, twins, the latter a farmer in Washington township; John, farmer, and Leah.
Josiah Boyer was two years old when his par- ents removed to Mahanoy township, North- umberland county, Pa. He attended the com- mon schools of Georgetown until he was ten years old, when his parents removed to Wash- ington township, Dauphin county, where he grew up on the farm. He naturally became a farmer, and has spent his life in agricultural pursuits. Josiah Boyer was married in Washington township, August 7, 1856, to Miss Ann Jane Ginder. Their children are: David Adam Alfred, merchant, at Tower City, Schuylkill county, Pa .; Malinda, Mrs. Robert Lenker, Washington township, and John C., studying medicine in Philadelphia. After his marriage Mr. Boyer took up his residence on the farm, where he still has his home. It consisted of one hundred and forty acres of land, with a good dwelling, barns, and all other improvements. The land was not good at first, yielding only two and a half bushels of wheat the first season, but industrious and skillful tillage has made it equal to any land in the region. Mr. Boyer, although decided in his political views, which are Democratic, has never sought office. He is strongly in favor of pro- hibitory legislation. He served as supervisor for two years. He holds membership in the Reformed church. Mr. Boyer is always ready for a social chat. He is a clever and entertaining talker, good natured and jolly. He is widely known and is honored and es- teemed for his sterling worth and many virtues.
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- ZERBE, JONATHAN, hotel keeper, Loyal- ton, Pa., was born in Lower Mahanoy town- ship, Northumberland county, Pa., Novem- ber 16, 1857. His father, George Zerbe, was born in Northumberland county, edu- cated in the common schools, and reared a farmer. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in the Union army, and served until the close of the war. After his dis- charge he located on a farm in Lower Mahanoy township, where he died in 1875. His children are : William D .; Ellen, widow of William Alleman; Jonathan ; and Susan, Mrs. John Meck, Williamstown, Pa.
Jonathan Zerbe attended school during the winter months from the age of six years until he was fifteen. In the summer he worked out, either among the farmers or in the mines. He was sixteen when his mother died, in 1873, and he was thrown upon his own resources. He was employed nearly five years as a farm hand by A. D. Lentz, and then, in March, 1878, went to Kansas, having saved during that time a small amount of money. After working as a farm hand for nine months he returned to Pennsylvania, and worked for D. O. Bower, Union county. Then he came to his old home and was married, after which impor- tant, event he resided for twelve years in Tower City, Pa., engaged in mining coal. Receiving good wages, and working on con- tract besides, he was enabled to accumulate some money. In February, 1892, he en- gaged with his brother-in-law, Jacob Mess- ner, in the hotel business in Loyalton, Dauphin county, Pa. This business he still carries on.
Jonathan Zerbe was married, October 28, 1879, to Miss Julia, daughter of Philip and Mary (Dockey) Messner, born in Northum- berland county. Their children are: Harry A., died in infancy; Mary A., nine years old ; Lottie May, five years old ; and Walter Scott, one year old.
Mr. Zerbe is a Republican. He isa mem- ber of the Lutheran church. He owes his success solely to his own ability and perse- vering efforts. He is of genial disposition, and liked by all who know him.
The following is self-explanatory :
"Jonathan Zerbe came to work for me while still a boy and remained with me for nearly five years. His parents were both dead when he came to me, so that he had really no one to exercise authority over him. His conduct gave evidence of the right kind
of early training. He was by far the best farm hand I ever had in my employ, always willing to work, and hard toil proving no obstacle to him. He was clever, so that no matter what was being done he could do his share. I cannot praise him too highly as a workingman. But, above all, he was per- fectly honest. I attended market in the coal regions while Mr. Zerbe was in my employ, and bought up a great deal of produce. I did not need to hesitate to send young Zerbe out on the road in my place, nor to send any amount of money with him. Fre- quently I did send large amounts with him and he never cheated me out of a single penny. One day I lost my purse containing over eight hundred dollars, which young Zerbe found and returned to me, when he could easily have kept the whole amount. As an honest, upright man I commend bim most cordially, and know him to be a good, careful and conscientious employee. I can say that I raised him and had him under my care during a time when young men are apt to become bad and vicious. He always respected my advice as if it were from his own father, and now oftentimes he has words of gratitude for what I did for him when he was almost without resources of any kind. And I in turn am thankful for what he did for me." A. D. LENTZ.
ENDERS, CHARLES W., was born in Jackson township, Dauphin county, Pa., December 12, 1855. He is a son of Samuel and Leah (Etter) Enders. Charles W. was educated in the common schools of his native township. He began work with his father on the farm in his carly boyhood, and was thus engaged until his fifeeenth year, when he became an apprentice with Peter Klinger, carpenter, Fisherville, Pa. At the end of one year he went to Lykens, Pa., and was employed four months as a carpenter in the mines. IIe next went to Pine Grove, Cumberland county, and worked at his trade for three months. Becoming dissatisfied he returned to Lykens, where he remained until the end of that year. Times were not very prosper- ous and good jobs not plentiful during the panic of 1875-76, but he worked through.
After his marriage Mr. Enders was for eleven months in Jacksonville, Pa. During the next five years he farmed the old home place, after which he sold his personal prop- erty, and removed to Charlotte, Eaton county, Mich., where he worked eighteen months in a
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planing mill. While he was here his years of age, his wife having died a year or parents visited him and brought him an offer to operate the planing mill at Elizabeth- ville, Pa., which he accepted. He managed the mill until it was burned down, in Au- gust, 1885. While the mill was being re- built, Mr. Enders was employed at bridge building for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, until December, 1886 ; he worked the greater part of that time on the Northern Central railway.
In the spring of 1887 Mr. Enders worked at his trade in Harrisburg, and resided there and at New Cumberland until December of the same year. In January, 1888, in part- nership with I. T. Buffington, he bought the planing mill at Elizabethville of his former employer, David Snyder. Since that time the mill has been run by the firm of Buffington & Enders. The mill, for which they paid $4,500, is worth, as it now stands, over $77,500. Mr. Enders has also built himself a fine dwelling at a cost of $1,350. In connection with the planing mill, Mr. Enders is a partner in the firm of Buffington & Enders, manufacturers of hosiery, the company being known as the Enterprise Hosiery Company. He is a Republican and does not seek public office.
Charles W. Enders was married in Jackson township, September 17, 1876, to Phoebe Buffington, born in Lykens Valley, Dauphin county, Pa., March 20, 1855. Their children are : Howard E, pursuing a scientific course at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa., with the medical profession in view; Fred. C., Florence B., and Laura, at home. Mr. Enders has been for eleven years a member of the United Brethren church.
COOPER, WILLIAM, farmer, Washington township, was born in Mifflin, now Wash- ington township, Dauphin county, Pa., Sep- tember, 1831; son of John and Mary (Mil- ler) Cooper. The grandfather, Adam Cooper, was reared in Lykens Valley, and died in Mifflin township. The father was born and reared in Mifflin township. He was a man of great natural ability, and was self educated, learning much from his children. He served one term in the State Legislature and refused nomination for a second term. He was mar- ried in Mifflin township and afterwards located on his father's farm. At one time he owned three farms aggregating about five hundred acres. Ilis death occurred on the old home- stead about 1884, when he was eighty-six
two previously. Their children were : Jacob, a farmer, died in Washington township; Philip, farmer, died in Upper Paxton town- ship; Amos, farmer, died in Washington township; Nellie, Mrs. Eli Swab, Washing- ton township; Jemima, wife of Daniel Lebo, Upper Paxton township; William; Mary, widow of Josiah P. Miller, Washington town- ship; Silas, farmer, Upper Paxton township, and Amanda, wife of Henry Hartman, Wash- ington township.
William attended subscription and com- mon schools of his native place during the winter months and was occupied at other sea- sons in the saw mill and on the farm with his father. At the age of twenty-six or twenty- seven he was married, in 1858, to Miss Mary A. Martin, native of Washington township, and a daughter of Samuel P. and Mary (Du- bendorf) Martin, who is still. living. After marriage he rented and cultivated different farms for twelve years, and about 1870 bought his present farm of fifty-two acres, on which he has good buildings and improvements. His children are: Jeremiah F .; Harry Chaundy, Shamokin, Pa .; Abraham Lincoln, clerk in store at Wichita, Kan., since 1SS1 ; E., wife of Jacob A. Matter, Harrisburg ; Mary, wife of Jacob Weitzler, Chester, Pa .; William H., dairyman and huckster, Lykens, Pa., a tanner by trade; Harry M., shoe- maker, at Halifax, Pa .; Edward C., at home, and Edith I., at home. Mr. Cooper was forni- erly a liberal Republican, but is now a mem- ber of the Populist party. In religious fel- lowship he is connected with the Reformed church.
ELDER, DAVID D., was born on the farm on which he now lives, in Washington township, Dauphin county, Pa., March 16, 1838; son of Robert and Hannah (Deitrich) Elder. Robert Elder, the great-great-grand- father, passed over from Scotland to the north of Ireland, where he remained for many years, and later joined his son in America. John Elder, the great-grandfather, was born in Edinburgh, received a collegiate education, was ordained to the ministry in the Presby- terian church, came to America long before the Revolutionary war, and settled at Pax- tang, where he preached for fifty years, cov- ering the time of the Revolutionary war. He preached from his pulpit sermons to arouse the people to resist the onslaught of the Hessian soldiers, and raised a company,
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of which he was made the captain, and served through the war.
David Elder, the grandfather, was born at Paxtang, Dauphin county, and was reared to the occupation of Government surveyor, which he followed for many years. He died in his native county, many years of age, and left two sons and three daughters. His wife was a Miss Galbraith.
Robert Elder, the father, was born in Derry township, Dauphin county, in 1800. In early life he learned the trade of hatter in Philadelphia, after which he came to Paxtang and manufactured and dealt in hats. He came to Washington township before marriage and bought two hundred and twenty acres of wood land, which he cleared and improved. He died in Harris- burg in 1854, and his wife still survives him, at the age of eighty-two years. They had nine children, of whom David is the fourth in order of birth. His father, Thomas J., now resides in the West.
David D. attended the schools of his na- tive place until he was twelve years of age, when he was sent to his uncle, at Dauphin, Derry township, where he was in school for about one year. Ile lost his father at the age of sixteen years, which broke up the family, and he went out to make his own way in the world. He obtained a position in the book and stationery store of Town & Barnes, where he remained seven years. At first his salary was $3.25 per week, from which he had to pay board, and was gradu- ally increased to $600 per year. At the end of seven years he, with J. W. Miller, em- barked in the book and stationery trade, and continued the partnership until 1877, when he bought his partner's interest and took his brother into the firm, under the name of David D. Elder & Co. In 1884 he sold the business to David Bently, and began the manufacture of wall paper, which he carried on until 1892, and since that time he has lived on the farm and given his attention to agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Elder was married, at Mechanicsburg, Pa., January 30, 1866, to Miss Kate Stoever, a native of Milton, Pa., daughter of Rev. C. F. and Louisa G. Stoever. They have five children, three daughters and two sons. Mr. Elder served with the emergency troops in 1862 and 1863, being stationed in the Cum- berland Valley and moving as far as An- tietam.
ยท FORNEY, JOHN, miller, Washington town- ship, was born in Mifflin township, Dauphin county, Pa., March 30, 1822; son of John Forney. The father was one of the follow- ing children : Simon, farmer, Hummels- town; Leah Jane, wife of Isaac Weitzel, Upper Paxton township ; Sarah Ellen, wife of John Bonawitz, Elizabethville ; Caroline, wife of Isaac Row, Washington township ; and Eliza Ann, unmarried.
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