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 98
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HANNA, EDWARD C., Lykens, Pa., was born in Philadelphia, November 25, 1828; son of Edward C. and Ann Hanna, natives of Scot- land, who settled in Philadelphia. The father was a sea captain and followed that vocation for many years. Edward C. was reared in Philadelphia and acquired his ed- ucation in the schools of that city. When sixteen years of age he became an appren- tice to the carpenter trade and served four and a half years, after which he worked at the trade in Philadelphia one year, and was then for three years with Howard & Co., as an express agent on the railroad between Philadelphia and Pottsville. Subsequently he was in the same capacity on the Shamo- kin division of the Pennsylvania railroad, and was promoted to assistant superintend- ent of the division, and was located at Sun- bury for some years. He then became the general agent of the Northern Central rail- way, at Sunbury, and was the first agent of the company at that place and continued for two years. Ile was transferred from there to Trevorton, and had charge of the railroad accounts and collections for eleven years. In 1876 he came to Lykens and had charge of the collections for thirteen years, and for a short time was superintendent of the railroad.
In 1884 he retired from the railroad and embarked in the wholesale flour and feed
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business. Mr. Hanna was also a director in the Lykens Bank for several years, and is a stockholder in the Williams Valley railroad. In politics he is a Republican, and is a mem- ber of the borough council. He is a mem- ber of the Sunbury Lodge, No. 22, of the Masonic order, and also of the chapter and Pilgrim Commandery, at Harrisburg. Mr. Hanna was married, in 1852, to Miss Mar- garet A. Haas, daughter of Frederick Haas, of Northumberland county, and they have two children, Alfred F., at Lykens, and Katie H. He is a member of the Episcopal church, in the affairs of which he takes an active in- terest, serving as vestryman of the church.
-KIMMEL, ANDREW F., merchant, Lykens, Pa., was born in Orwigsburg (West Bruns- wick), Schuylkill county, Pa., August 30, 1841 ; son of Andrew and Esther Kimmel, of Schuylkill county. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in his political views was a Republican. He served in the office of school director, supervisor, and au- ditor. He was a member of the Church of of God. His death occurred in 1868, and that of his wife in 1863. They had thirteen children, Andrew F. being the tenth in the order of birth of those who grew to maturity.
He received his education in the township schools, and remained on the farm until he was twenty-four years of age, and was then for three years in mercantile business in Or- wigsburg and Philadelphia. In August, 1871, he established a general store in Wico- men, which he has since continued: Mr. Kimmel is a director in the Lykens Bank, and one of the proprietors of the knitting mill at Wiconisco, which manufactures ho- siery and underwear, and he is also inter- essted in the Williams Valley railroad. In political views he is with the Republican party, and has held the office of school di- rector, tax collector, etc., of the borough. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Margaret S. Covener, daughter of George Covener, of Columbia county, and to this marriage there is no issue. Mr. Kimmel is not connected with any church.
WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP.
STITES, GEORGE M., M. D., was born in W .:- town, Perry county, Pa. March 11, 1. is a son of Dr. Samuel and Cathe- rine (Matter) Stites. His father, Dr. Samuel
Stites, was born in New Jersey. IIc studied medicine and practiced for eight years in Fisherville, Dauphin county, and then lo- cated in Millerstown, Perry county, Pa. He married his first wife in Berks county, Pa. They had three children: William, Anna, and Sally. Dr. Stites' second marriage was in Dauphin county. The children of this marriage who are now living are : Harriet, residing in Millerstown, Pa .; Lydia, residing with her brother, Dr. George M .; Clara, court stenographer at Sioux Falls, S. D .; Harry, physician, West Palm Beach, Fla .; Albert, physician, Sioux Falls, S. D .; and Dr. George M. The father died in Millerstown, in 1882, aged sixty-two. He was a Republican. He was a member of the Perry County Medical Society, and was a leading man in his pro- fession. Dr. Stites was an active member of the Methodist church. He was highly esteemed as a man.
George M. Stites attended the common schools of his native place until he was four- teen years old. At this age he entered Dick- inson Seminary, Williamsport, Pa., and con- tinued his studies there until he was seven- teen. He then pursued his studies at La- fayette College, Easton, for eight months, at the end of which time he returned home and began the study of medicine with his father. After reading under his father for three years he entered the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., from which he was graduated in 1882. His prac- tice of the healing art began in connection with his father at Millerstown, Pa., and was continued with success for five years. Dur- ing part of this time he practiced alone, his father having died. At the end of the five years Dr. Stites came to Williamstown, and has resided here ever since. He has built upa large and lucrative practice, and is in the en- joyment of the conditions made possible by a successful business. His residence is a large modern structure with many of the latest devised conveniences.
Dr. Stites is a Republican and takes a lead- ing part in the measures of his party. He is a member of the Board of Health, a school director and a trustee of the Methodist church. He is a member and a trustee of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, at Lykens; a master mason of Ashler Lodge, No. 570, at Wiconisco; a member of Knights of Pythias Lodge, at Lykens, and of I. O. O. F. Lodge, at Williamstown.
Dr. Stites was married, in Millerstown,
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November 24, 1887, to Miss Hannah Dur- bin, daughter of J. W. and Louisa Durbin. They have had five children : Clara, died aged five years; George, died at eighteen months of age; Louisa and Joseph, twins, and Harry.
-ENDERS, L. JAY, M. D., physician and sur- geon, Williamstown, Pa., was born at Enders, Jackson township, Dauphin county, Pa., Feb- ruary 17, 1854. He is a son of George and Susan (Fetterhoff) Enders. His early edu- cation was received in the public schools of his native place. When he was fifteen years of age he began teaching school in Jackson and Jefferson townships, and was thus en- gaged for several years. He began the study of medicine in the University of Pennsylva- nia in 1876-77. He afterwards returned to the University and took a post-graduate course in 1882. In the meantime he worked in the mines and earned and saved money with which to meet the cost of his literary and professional education.
Dr. Enders began the practice of his pro- fession in Pitman, Schuylkill county, Pa., and continued there for five years. He demonstrated his professional ability and skill, and enjoyed a large and profitable prac- tice. About 1886 he located in his native town and practiced there until 1891, when be removed to Williamstown where he now resides and has built up a good practice.
Dr. Enders was married, at Enders, Pa., February 21, 1877, by Rev. G. A. Loose, of the United Brethren church, to Miss Annie Jane, daughter of Samuel and Leah (Etter) Enders. Their children are: Leslie Garfield, born in Jackson township, August 6, 1867 ; Joseph Sanford, born in Pitman, Pa., May 23, 1881; Jennie Florence, born in Jackson township, June 5, 1885; Lce Jay, born at Williamstown, Pa., December 20, 1891, died December 11, 1893, and Samuel George Mor- ton, born at Williamstown, October 29, 1894.
Dr. Enders is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of the borough council. In 1887 he was a candidate for the State Legislature. IIc is a member of the Senior and Junior Orders of United American Mechanics and of the Heptasophs. Dr. Enders is a very intelligent man, and is in the lead of his profession. He is of a very genial nature and is a fluent, pleasant talker ; hence in social circles he is very popular. He is public-spirited and broad in his views, and is a power for good in the community.
HOFFMAN, JOHN H., merchant and manu- facturer, Williamstown, Pa.
John Peter Hoffman, great-great-grand- father of John H. Hoffman, was born in Germany in 1709. With others of his family and friends he came to America in 1739. in the ship Robert and Alice, Captain Good- man, arriving in Philadelphia in September of that year. He first located in Berks county, Pa., where he worked at his trade, which was that of a carpenter. During the carly Indian troubles on the frontier he served some time as a soldier in the Pro- vincial army. Mr. Hoffman was among the earliest settlers in the Wiconisco Valley. About 1750 he came to the end of Short Mountain, in Lykens Valley, where he built a small log house, just across the road from the house of Daniel Romberger. Sixty years ago this house was used as a smithy. He was the contemporary of John Lycan, or Lyken, Ludwig Shott, John Rewalt and others, and with them was driven off by the Indians in their incursions of 1756.
It was subsequent to this period thai John Peter Hoffman brought his family to the valley. Here he followed farming. He died in 1798, at the age of eighty-nine. His re- mains, with those of his wife, who had died before him, were interred in the field near the present house on the old farm now owned by Daniel Romberger, before named. Mr. Hoffman left issue, among others, as fol- lows : Catherine, married Andrew Riegel, the head of a large family of that name in the " Upper End;" they both reached the age of fourscore years; Barbara, married George Buffington, a soldier of the Revolu- tion, and the head of the family of that name; Elizabeth, married Ludwig Sheetz, the head of a large family of that name ; John, born in 1746, married Miss Kauffman ; John Nicholas, born 1749, married Margaret Harman ; Christian, born 1752, married Miss Deiblet.
John Nicholas Hoffman, great-grandfather of John H., was born in Tulpehocken town- ship, Berks county, Pa., in 1749. Ile set- tled on the farm now owned by Benjamin Rickert, near Short Mountain. IIe was the owner of large tracts of land, now divided into a number of farms. He deeded land to the congregation of Hoffman church, for church, school, and burial purposes. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and participated in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. His life was an active
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and useful one. John Nicholas Hoffman was married, April 22, 1772, by Pastor Kautz, of the Lutheran church, to Margaret IIerman, also a native of Berks county, Pa. They had issue as follows: Catherine, born 1775, married Peter Shoffstalt; they resided near Gratz, and died at advanced ages leav- ing a large family ; Susanna, married Levi Buffington, a carpenter ; he built the Hoff- man church; Sarah, married Jonathan Sny- der, they removed to Stark county, Ohio, where they were both living about eight years ago, upwards of ninety years of age; Margaret, married Alexander Dinger, and removed to Crawford county, Pa., she died a few years ago, at the age of ninety-eight ; Peter, born September 22, 1778, married Miss Lubold, he was a soldier of the war of 1812 ; Jacob, born 1782, married Catherine Ferree; Daniel, born 1784, married Hannah Ferree, he was a soldier in the war of 1812; Nicho- las, born 1787, he was a soldier in the war of 1812; John, born 1790, was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; George, born 1798, resides in the town of Gratz, was appointed justice of the peace in 1834. In the war of the Revo- lution John Nicholas Hoffman first ranked as first lieutenant, afterwards as captain. Hlis service was mostly in New York State. After the war he occupied his farm at the foot of Short Mountain, in Lykens township.
Jacob Hoffman, grandfather of John H. Hoffman, was born in 1782. He purchased his father's farm. He was a well informed farmer and was exceedingly popular. He filled several local offices, and in 1823-24-25 served in the State Legislature. He was a zealous Christian, and prominent in the church. His wife, Catherine Ferree, is de- svended from an illustrious French family. Their children were: Amos, born 1809, married Amanda, daughter of the late Gen- eral Harper, who, for a number of years, was steward of the almshouse, and at present resides at Berrysburg; at one time he had five sons in the Union army, Col. Thomas M., Capt. Jacob F., John H., Edwin A., and Henry; Jacob B., resides near Williams- lown: Hannah, married John Romberger; Sarah, married Michael Forney ; Catherine, married Abram Iess.
Amos Hoffman, father of John H., was born in Lykens township, Dauphin county, I'1 .. May 22, 1809. He was reared a farmer, ....! followed that calling up to the time of 1. retirement in 1870. Amos Hoffman married in his native township in 1837. .
His wife Amanda is descended from a noble German family. The first of her an- cestors to land in this country was the son of an illustrious German nobleman, his father having banished him for some mis- deed. His descendants settled in Lebanon county, Pa. The children of Amos and Amanda Hoffman are: Henry, enlisted at the beginning of the late war in the Eighth Illinois cavalry, served through the war, be- coming blind towards its close from ex- posure. Col. Thomas W., enlisted for three years at the beginning of the war, was in the Seventy-second Philadelphia Fire Zou- aves. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and he was engaged in all battles fought by that army. He re- turned home in 1864, raised company A, Two Hundred and Eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, and was made captain. He was later transferred to General Hartranft's staff as chief engineer officer of the division ; and by reason of meritorious service at the siege of Petersburg he was brevetted lieu- tenant colonel. He resides in Bethlehem. Pa. Capt. Jacob F., merchant at Port Trevorton, enlisted during the emergency in the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania volun- teers. He afterwards became first lieu- tenant of company A, Two Hundred and Eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, and later was promoted to captain of the com- pany. He was severely wounded at the battle of Fort Steadman. Edwin A., en- listed in One Hundred and Third Penn- sylvania volunteers, in 1864; was sta- tioned near Fortress Monroe, and served until the close of the war; John H .; Hen- rietta, wife of a Mr. Willard, resides in Girardville, Schuylkill county, Pa .; Adeline, Mrs. Charles Kosier, of Millersburg, Pa .; George, an employee of the Reading Railroad Company at Shamokin, Pa .; Joseph, super- intendent of Standard Oil plant at Millers- burg, Pa.
John H. Hoffman is a prosperous mer- chant and manufacturer of Williamstown. He was born in Lykens township, on the old home farm, November 7, 1846. "He received a common school education in his native place. He was early put to work on the farm and could attend school only a few months of each year. At sixteen years of age he went to Uniontown, Mifflin township, Dauphin county, to learn the trade of tan- ning, and had served about one and a half years when he decided that his country had
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need of his services in the army. He en- listed at Uniontown in August, 1864, in company A, Two Hundred and Eighth Pennsylvania volunteers. His regiment was soon after ordered to the front by way of Bermuda Hundred, on the James river. They lay at Petersburg about six weeks and were then transferred to the Army of the Po- tomac. After reaching Hatch's Run, where they remained a few days, they were ordered to return to Petersburg and were placed in General Hartranft's division, doing such duties as fell to the lot of reserve troops. They took part in the Weldon raid.
Their first regular engagement was on March 25, 1865, when the battle of Fort Steadman was fought. They were engaged in the siege of Petersburg. They followed Lee as far as Burkville Junction, where they lay until after his surrender at Appomattox Court House ; they then returned to Peters- burg and City Point, and were transported thence to Alexandria, Va., and mustered out June 1, 1865.
Mr. Hoffman then returned home and fol- lowed his trade of tanning for a number of years. About 1874 he opened a general store at Berrysburg, which he conducted two years and then located at Williamstown, and formed a partnership with Philip C. Swab. At the end of two years he sold his interest to his partner, and opened a general store at Curtin, Dauphin county, which he conducted three years, and then sold and was engaged in a similar business at Selinsgrove, Sny- der county, for five and a half years. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Hoffman purchased the property and stock of David Clallinger at Williamstown, his present site, where he en- gaged in business and has built up an exten- sive trade. Here, also, in connection with John M. Hughes, in the fall of 1895, he erected a plant for the manufacture of under- wear, equipped with the latest and most im- proved machinery at an outlay of $12,000, and employing twenty-five hands.
Mr. Hoffman was married, at Berrysburg, August, 1870, to Miss Mary Swab, a native of Berrysburg, Dauphin county, Pa. Their children are: Elsie Irene, pupil at Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pa .; Edward Har- per, traveling man in the employ of Krause, Ingham & Heister, Philadelphia; Charles Edgar, at home; Henrietta, at home; Sally, died at the age of two and a half years; John Robert, at home; Carrie May, and Joseph, at home.
Mr. Hoffman is a member of Chester Post. No. 280, G. A. R., Williamstown; master mason, Lafayette Lodge, No. 194, Selins- grove, Pa. Ile has been chief burgess one year and school director for seven years. Mr. Hoffman is a member of the Methodist church, and is its trustee and for many years its secretary. He is intelligent, genial, and hospitable. He is fond of history and well versed in it. It follows that he is agree- able company and very popular with his neighbors.
"SCHMINKY, GURNEY M., M. D., was born at Gratz, Lykens township, Dauphin county, Pa., December 7, 1862. He is a son of Isaiah S. and Elizabeth (Wiest) Schminky.
His father, Dr. Isaiah Schminky, was born in Lancaster county, Pa. He went to Schuylkill county, where his father practiced medicine and spent his life. He studied medicine at the now extinct Pennsylvania Medical College, from which he was grad- uated, and afterwards practiced for a very short time. While in Schuylkill county Dr. Schminky treated a hysterical patient with chloroform, which had just then come into use ; by this action he created a stir among the people to whom that anæesthetic was un- known. He left Schuylkill county and located at Gratz, where he has been in prac- tice for forty years. He is Republican ; he was a member of the State Legislature for two years, and has sat for upwards of thirty years in the borough council of Gratz. His wife is still living. Their children are: Dr. Gurney M .; Allan B., druggist, Philadelphia ; Harry N., merchant, Woodbury, N. J .; John F. M., farmer of Gratz, Pa .; and Bertha M., at home.
Gurney M. Schminky attended the com- mon schools of his native place. At the age of fourteen he entered Berrysburg Academy, where he remained one year, and then took a two years' course and was graduated from the National School of Oratory and Elocution in 1880. During the next year he read medicine at home and then took a three years' course of study and lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He at once commenced practice at Gratz, Pa., and continued there until 1894; he then located at Williamstown, Pa., where he has since remained and has been successful in his practice. IIe is medical officer of the borough of Williamstown. He is an Inde- pendent Republican and member of the
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Knights of Pythias and Sons of America at Williamstown.
Dr. G. M. Schminky was married, at Gratz, May 13, 1884, to Miss Ida, daughter of George W. and Sarah (Geise) Garber. They have two children, Albert Garfield and Walter M. The Doctor attends the Metho- dist church.
· BUDD, CAPT. RICHARD, lumberman, Will- iamstown, Pa., was born in Queen's county, Ireland, April 1, 1832 ; son of Benjamin and Mary (Larns) Budd. The family of his par- ents consisted of the following children : Richard; John, who went to California in 1854, and died there some years after ; Will- iam, contractor, Williamstown, Pa .; Dora, Mrs. Patrick Boerman, of Philadelphia; and Re- becca, maiden lady, residing with her brother Richard.
The father died when Richard was seven years of age and left a good farm, which was sold to an English lord. The family was kept together for a year and then, about 1840, the mother came to America with the children. They sailed from Liverpool on the sailing vessel Roshes, and after a stormy and tedious voyage, landed in New York. They came at once to Pottsville, Pa., where they remained a few days. They finally lo- cated at York Tunnel, Pa., where the mother some time afterwards died ; the children re- mained together until their marriage. In 1852 Richard took up his residence at York Tunnel, then Otto Colliery, and later removed to Mt. Pleasant, Schuylkill county, Pa., where he engaged in manufacturing lumber under a contract with a Philadelphia firm. In 1861 Mr. Budd raised company K, Ninety- sixth Pennsylvania volunteers, and was made captain. He proceeded with the regi- ment to Washington, D. C., and was engaged in the siege and Seven Days' battle at York- town. He was also in the Maryland cam- paign and participated in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. In the battle of Charles City Cross Roads he was struck by a shell. He was discharged at Warrentown Junction on account of disa- bility, in August, 1863. Returning home he resumed the lumber business. In the spring of 1864 he removed to Williamstown, of which he was among the first settlers; there he has continued to carry on the lum- ber business to date.
Richard Budd was first married, at New Mines, Pa., in 1852, to Miss Fanny Robison.
Their children were: Christopher, residing in Armstrong Valley, Dauphin county : Benjamin, died young; John, resides in Williamstown, Pa .; George; William ; An- drew; Richard, and Allan ; Joseph, died young ; Mary, died aged twenty-four; Annie, died aged twelve; one infant boy died un. named. Mrs. Fanny Budd died July 30, 1880. Captain Budd's second marriage was in May, 1889, to Mrs. Eliza Shoemaker. a widow; they have no children. Captain Budd is a staunch Republican and has served as councilman. He belongs to the Sons of Temperance, the Good Templars, and to Chester Post, No. 280, G. A. R., of Williamstown. He is a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic church.
-- LAUTENBACHER, IRVIN L., druggist, was born in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill county, Pa., February 21, 1862. He is a son of Charles and Sarah A. (Graeff) Lautenbacher. His grandfather, Karl Lautenbacher, was born at Stuttgart, Germany. He had a farm on which was a stone quarry, which they worked. He served some years in the Ger- man army. The children of Karl Lauten- bacher and his wife Ursula were: John, died in Philadelphia, aged eighty-one; Sieg- mund, died in Philadelphia; Charles; Jo- soph, resides in Philadelphia ; two younger children, names unknown. The grandfather died in Germany at an advanced age.
Charles Lautenbacher, father of Irvin L ... was also born in Stuttgart in 1832. II. learned the art of making wooden ware, and coming to America at the age of eighteen he learned marble cutting in Philadelphia. His first work was on the Continental Hotel of that city. He went afterwards to Kutz- town, Pa., where he married. Still later he returned to Schuylkill Haven, where he had a marble yard, and where he died in 18$1. His wife survives him. Their children are : Jerry C., manufacturer of underwear at Schuylkill Haven; Irvin L .; Flora C., wife of William F. McLennon, Gloucester City. N.J. Mr. Charles Lautenbacher wasa Repub- lican. He was a member of the Evangelical church, but was reared in the Catholic church.
Irvin L. Lautenbacher attended the schools of his native place, graduating from the high school at the age of seventeen. He tien read medicine for about two years, but finalis abandoned it for the study of pharm He was graduated from the Philadelph !.
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College of Pharmacy at the end of a four years' course. Ile then returned home and opened a drug store, which he con- ducted for three years, and then disposed of the business. He came to Williamstown, bought the drug store of B. W. Watson & Son, and has ever since continued in busi- ness here with success.
Irvin L. Lautenbacher was married in Reading, Pa., May 10, 1890, to Miss Katic E. Schwenk, a native of Schuylkill Haven, Pa. They have two children, Joan L. and Ruth A., at home. Mr. Lautenbacher is'a member of Knights of Pythias at Williams- town; of Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and of the Heptasophs. He is past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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