USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical record of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 22
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Dr. Mowery attended the public schools of Stras- burg in his boyhood, and subsequently entered the Millersville Normal School, after leaving which he taught for three years in West Lampeter Township. In 1875 he took up the study of medicine with Dr. 1. 11. Mayer. of Willis Street, being under his in- struetion for two years. In 1878 he was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. soon after which he settled at Conestoga Center, where he carried on a successful practice for six years. In 1884, going to Mason ville, he continued the practice of his profession and numbers among his clients many of the best people in that locality. When at college he made a special study of gyne- eology and obstetrics, but has been mainly engaged in general medical work. He is a member of Lan- caster City and County Medical Societies, and of the Pennsylvania State Medical Organization, and is a student of the best journals and reviews in his line.
The Doctor was married on the 3d of May, 1881. to Lizzie .I., daughter of John Steighman, and of their union two children were born, John W. and Mary Emma. Mrs. Mowery was called from this
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life August 19, 1889, at the age of thirty years and eleven months, leaving a host of true friends. who have sincerely mourned her loss.
Dr. Mowery is a member of the C. M. Howell Lodge No. 496, of Safe Harbor, and was for many years as- sociated with Lodge No. 67, I. O.O. F., of Lancaster. Personally he possesses many traits of character which have endeared him to his friends. for he is an ideal physician. being kind and sympathetic, firm and reliable.
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RR EUBEN BERTZFIELD, an honored vet- eran of the Civil War, is one of the prom- inent dealers in leaf tohaceo in Lancaster, having conducted this business successfully for many years. llis public services have won for him the respeet and commendation of his fellow- citizens, and he has been active in everything connected with its general welfare. For three terms he served in the City Council, once as a representative from the Third and the other times of the Ninth Ward. As one of the founders of the Lancaster General Hospital, which was started December 2, 1893, he was eonspienous and has de- voted a great deal of time and work in the inter- ests of this now flourishing institution.
The subject of this biography is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Stauffer) Bertzfield, his birth having occurred November 11, 1842, at Millers- ville, Lancaster County. His paternal grandfather was born in England and settled in this locality at a very early day, and his son Jacob was for many years a resident of Millersville and a de- voted member of the United Brethren Church. The birth of our subject's father occurred January 13, 1793, in Millersville, and he followed the trade of a tailor, both there and after his removal to this city in 1869. For thirty years he was an ac- tive worker in church circles, and was a Trustee for a long time in the Lutheran congregation. In the War of 1812 he was drafted into the service, but only went as far as Baltimore. In politics he
was a Democrat and at one time served as Super- visor. This first marriage was celebrated December 2, 1819, with Elizabeth Killbeifer, who was born June 27, 1797, and died October 22, 1836, being in her fortieth year. By her marriage she was the mother of the following children: Catherine, wife of Chris Fencetermacher, of Altoona, Pa .; Susan, Mrs. Benjamin Kuhns, of Millersville; Maria, who died in infancy; Elizabeth, Mrs. Joseph Hlabeeker, of Philadelphia; John, whose death occurred in the hospital at Freeport, Ill., during the Rebellion, and Hannah, who died in infancy.
By his marriage with our subject's mother, April 9, 1840, Jacob Bertzfield had five children: Caro- line; Reuben; Fannie, deceased, wife of John Mil- ley; Hettie, Mrs. George Brenner, deceased, and Mary, who married Jacob Chambers. The mother of these children died October 20, 1875, in her sixty-third year, and the father was called from this hfe March 29, 1888, when he had reached the extreme old age of ninety-five years and two months.
Reuben Bertzfield attended the common schools of Millersville until ten years old, when he turned his attention to learning the trade of a cigar maker. For two years he worked as a journey- man and later started a cigar manufactory on his own account in Millersville, where he continued until 1863. At that time he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, being placed in the Third Division of the Sixth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, and later being transferred to the Army of the Potomac. At the end of fourteen months' arduous service he re- ceived an honorable discharge, having contracted a severe illness.
On recovering his health to some extent, our subject returned to his former employment of manufacturing cigars in Millersville, remaining here until 1869. Then coming to Lancaster, he worked at the same calling until 1870, when he associated himself with Teller Bros., dealers in leaf tobacco, and has been very successful in his chosen work, building up a remunerative trade. Ile is a Director in the Anglo-American Saving and Loan Association, and politically is much interested in the success of the Republican party. Fraternally
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he is a member of Lodge No. 99, K. of M .; Lodge No. 88, K. of P .: Lodge No. 251, A. O. F. W .; Lan- caster Council No. 912, Jr. O. U. A. M., and George Reynolds Post No. 405. G. A. R. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, while his wife, formerly Mrs. Susan E. Lemon, holds membership with the Trimty Lutheran Church. Their union was celebrated January 6, 1876, the lady being a daughter of John Keller, of this city.
Mrs. Bertzfield's paternal grandfather lived to the age of one hundred and four years, and her maternal grandmother. Mrs. Susan Rumberger, lived to be over ninety-five years of age. The father of Mrs. Bertzfield served in the Seventy- seventh Pennsylvania Regiment during the Civil War as a member of Captain Wimer's company. and contracted a disease from which his death re- sulted soon after his discharge. He was at an ad- vanced age which would have exempted him from duty, but he went to the front nevertheless. Ilis son John A., of the Seventy-ninth Regiment, was also wounded at the battle of Champion Hills and died at the hospital in Louisville, Ky., at twenty- one years of age. lle was the elder of two chil- dren, the other being the wife of our subject. Their mother died April 17, 1875, aged seventy- six years.
M ORRIS ZOOK, a wholesale leather and shoe finding and upper manufacturer, is justly entitled to space in this connection for a biographical notice. He was born in New Providence Township, February 11, 1841, the son of Noah K. Zook. who was born in Lancaster Coun- ty. Our subject's father was a farmer by occupa- tion; he learned the woolen manufacturer's trade and bought a woolen mill at New Providence, which was run by water power. He continued to operate this until 1865, when he located in Stras- burg, and there died in 1879. aged seventy-four years. In his religious convictions he was a Men- nonite. The family are noted for their longevity. In one of the families of ten sons and daughters,
none died younger than seventy-four years; one of that number still survives and is living in the far west. Our subject's mother, Susan ( Miller) Zook, was born on a farm adjoining Lancaster City. She died at about the age of thirty-six years. Of her family, three sons and one daugh- ter are now living, our subject being the third eld- est. Ile was reared at New Providence, attend- ing school at that place and Millersville. In 1858 he went to Philadelphia, where he served as a clerk in a wholesale hardware store until 1862, which was during the Civil War period. Hle enlisted as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Twen- ty-second Pennsylvania Infantry. Ile served in the capacity of Sergeant for nine months, partici- pating iu several engagements, including Freder- ieksburg and Chancellorsville. After his return from the army he took charge of his father's wool- en mill at New Providence until 1868, when he engaged in the leather business at Lancaster. He purchased a tannery of D. P. Locher on South Water Street, and was partner of A. A. Myers. This was followed for seventeen years. In 1885 he sold the tannery and engaged in finishing har- ness and dealing in leather and findings, also man- ufactured boot and shoe uppers. An extensive business was carried on in a two-story building 33x50 feet on Grant Street. Five men are em- ployed constantly to help conduct the business in one department, and four in another. Our subject is one of the stockholders of the Champion Blower & Forge Co., and was one of the original incorpor- ators; he is also a stockholder in the Lancaster Trust Company, besides being connected with sev- eral other manufacturing industries.
In 1866 Mr. Zook was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth S. Locher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Locher, her father being a manu- facturer of morocco leather and the owner of a morocco tannery. Our subject and his estimable wife have been blessed with three children: Harry L., engaged with his father; S. Kurtz, a jeweler on the corner of Orange and Queen Streets, Lancaster. and Catherine C., attending school.
Mr. Zook has always been an active man and has served two and a-half terms on the Common Coun- eil from the Fourth Ward, and held positions on im-
MARTIN KREIDER.
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portant committees. Politically he is a Republican. He is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Com- mandery. Like many another of his comrades who took part in the Civil War from the Keystone Stata, he is a member of the Grand Aimy of the Republie. He is a consistent member of St. John's Church, and has been one of the Vestrymen for fifteen years. As a party worker he has no superior.
M ARTIN KREIDER, one of the old and highly respected citizens of this county, is now largely retired from business but is still interested in various concerns in Laneaster, being President of the Eastern Market House, Treasurer and Director of the Home Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a Director in the Farmers' National Bank, beside others that we might men- tion. For three years he was on the Board of Poor House Directors and has always been benev- olent and interested in the welfare of his fellow- men.
The paternal grandfather of our subjeet, Tobias Kreider, was born in Lampeter Township, where he engaged in farming on arriving at manhood, and there departed this life at the age of seventy- seven years. Ilis father in turn bore the same Christian name, and the family is of Swiss-German descent, having been members of the Mennonite Church. Our subject's father, Martin Kreider, was born in the same locality as his father and was a farmer only two miles distant from the city limits, where his death occurred in 1866. llis wife, Eliz- abetli, was a daughter of Christian Rohrer, both of Lampeter Township, the latter being a farmer and distiller by occupation. The mother died when over eighty-six years of age, leaving a family of five children, two having previously passed away. The youngest child, Daniel, took part in the battles of the Civil War, being in Nevins' Battery.
Martin Kreider, of this sketch, was born in the same locality as his ancestors November 8, 1824, and remained at home until thirty-eight years of age. In 1863 he located in Lancaster, beeoming
proprietor of the building known as the Cross Keys Hotel on West King Street near the square. so called on account of the two large crossed gilt keys with which it is surmounted. The hotel of the same name was operated by Mr. Kreider for about seventeen years, and in connection with it he carried on a stable until 1880. He then became the owner of and located at No. 224 East King Street, since which time he has merely looked after his real estate. The Cross Keys, which had been a hotel for over one hundred years, was rebuilt in 1882 into stores.
During the time that Mr. Kreider was one of the Directors of the Poor, from 1883 to 1886, a wing of the hospital was burned and later rebuilt. At another time the county barn was burned and also rebuilt. Ile well remembers when the Pennsylva- nia Railroad was built and when his father hauled his own farm products to Philadelphia. Since 1882 our subjeet has been a Director in the Farmers' Na- tional Bank and has been President of the Eastern Market House since it was started, it now having a capital of 850,000. The LIome Mutual Fire In- suranee Company, of which he has been Treasurer since 1891, is a large organization, having over three million places insured. For some years he has been one of the Directors of the People's Building, Loan and Deposit Company. Ile is also a stockholder in the Hamilton Watch Company and one of the promoters and Directors of the Conestoga and Beaver Valley Pike.
In this city our subject married Mary E. Groff, who was born in Drumore Township, and they have two children, Anna and Mary. Mrs. Kreider is a member of the First Reformed Church. Our subject, who has traveled considerably, went to Ohio in 1846 and made his return trip by team, the journey taking some seventeen days; he went to Chicago as early as 1852. He is an active and influential member of the Republican party.
F RANK PFEIFFER bears the distinction of being the oldest slate roofer in the city of Laneaster. His office is located at No. 230 West King Street and his yard at No. 514 West
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Orange Street. He is engaged in dealing in plain and fancy roofing slate, roofing paper, slate flag- ging for pavements, cte. He has been a resident of the city since 1846 and therefore bears a wide acquaintance, and is a man who makes friends of all whom he meets.
Our subject was born across the water in llesse- Darmstadt, Germany, June 9, 1825, and is the son of William Pfeiffer, also a native of the Fatherland, where he followed the trade of a painter. Ile joined our subject in the New World, and departed this life in Lancaster when in the seventy-third year of his age. Ilis good wife, prior to her mar- riage known as Maria Storm, was also born in Ger- many and died here at the advanced age of eighty- three years. The parents were devoted members of the Lutheran Church.
The parental family comprised ten children, five sons and five daughters. William, who is living in New York City, served during the late war as Lieutenant of his regiment and was wounded a number of times. Frank, of this sketch, was reared in his native place and until fourteen years of age attended school. He was then apprenticed to a slate roofer and after mastering the business worked as a journeyman for three years. In the spring of 1816 he determined to try his fortunes in America, and in company with his brother, Balthaser, left Bremen on a sailing-vessel which was fifty-four days in making the journey.
On arriving in this country our subjeet made his way directly to Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade until the following spring, the date of his advent into this city, with whose interests he has since been identified. Not being able to seenre work at his trade just then, he was variously em- ployed until the following year, when he was given employment as a slate roofer. One week after en- tering the employ of the company he was made foreman of the business, which position he held for nine years, after which he opened up in business for himself on East King Street, doing contraet work and dealing in all kinds of roofing materials. Since 1892, however, his place of business has been at No. 230 West King Street. He keeps constantly on hand Vermont red and green roofing slate, Le- high & Bangor slate, and all varieties of roofing
paper, having the largest supply and the best ma- terial of any establishment in the county.
The original of this sketch was married in this city in 1854 to Miss Elizabeth Weller, born in Chestnut Ilili, this county, and the daughter of Fred Weller, a shoemaker. Mrs. Pfeiffer departed this life in 1891, leaving five children. namely: Emma, the wife of George Sharp; Lizzie, who mar- ried L. H. Bacher; Amanda, who is at home with our subjeet; Mary, the wife of Dr. John Palmer, and Frank W., engaged in business in Laneaster.
In social affairs Mr. Pfeiffer is a prominent Ma- son, belonging to both Couneil and Commandery. lle is also a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow, holding membership with Hebel Lodge. lle is a member of Zion's Lutheran Church and gives ma- terial aid to its support. In politics he is a be- liever in Democratie principles and gives the can- didates of the party his influence and vote.
I EORGE SHULMYER. This popular resi- dent of Lancaster is engaged in the whole- sale and retail coal business, having his yards located at No. 22 East King Street. Ile is also one of the proprietors of the Lancaster Paper and Bag Mills, with his office at the above number, and the mills situated in Slackwater, this county.
Our subject was born in this city, October 14, 1857, and is the son of George Shulmyer, who was born in Heidelberg, Germany, and on attaining mainre years, learned the trade of a rope-maker. In 1853 he crossed the Atlantic, locating in Lan- caster, where the following year he began the man- ufacture of rope, making that article by hand, and having his place of business at No. 602 North Queen Street. There he continued to operate un- til 1882, when he abandoned that occupation alto- gether. In 1869 he had embarked in the coal business in company with Messrs. Adam and Philip Finger, the firm operating under the title of Shul- myer & Finger. This connection lasted until 1875, when the partnership was dissolved, and
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each continued to handle coal alone. George Shulmyer, Sr., in 1879 took in as partner A. W. Russell, and purchasing the yards of D. P. Bitner. they continued in business together until 1884, when in February of that year the former died. Ile was a very prominent man in local affairs, was a member of the Common Council. and Director in the Maennerchor Hall Association. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and in religious affairs 'a devoted member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Julia A. (Ochsley) Shulmyer, the mother of our subject, was also born in the Fatherland, near the city of Heidelberg, and was married after coming to the United States. She is still living, and resides in the old home. George, of this sketch, was next to the eldest of five children, and received his education in the public schools of this city. He early learned the trade of a rope-maker, aud in 1875 entered his father's coal yards, hav- ing charge of the office work.
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In 1881 our subject went to Philadelphia, and July 2 of that year began in the retail coal busi- ness on his own account, having his yards located on the corner of Eighteenth Street and Washing- ton Avenue. These he operated until the death of his father in 1884, when he disposed of his inter- ests in the Quaker City, and returning home, took charge of his father's interest in the business here. The firm was known as Russell & Shulmyer until July, 1886, when the senior member died. Since that time our subject has conducted affairs alone, and has been very successful in all his undertak- ings. Ilis yards are located near the railroad, where he has every convenience for loading and unloading coal, and in his office he has telephone connection with his down-town office. Ile handles alt kinds of coal, including anthracite, bituminous and cannel, being the only dealer in the city to carry the latter grade.
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Mr. Shulmyer is also engaged in the manu- facture of paper and paper bags, being one of the proprietors of the Lancaster Paper and Bag Mills. This has been in operation only since Jan- uary, 1894, and has a capacity of four tons of pa- per per day. The machinery is operated by water- power, and the mill is superintended by W. J. , ner of Duke and Chestnut Streets, where he deals
Smith. Our subject is a Director in the building and loan association, together with the Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Socially, he is a prom- inent Odd Fellow, belonging to Lancaster Lodge No. 67. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and at all times is loyal to the interests of his party.
F DWARD M. COIN is one of the most pop- ular young business men of Lancaster and ranks high among his associates and fellow- citizens. Ile is a son of Gustav Cohn, a successful physician, who for many years engaged in practice at Wanfried, near Cassel, Kuhrhessen, Germany. lle was a very prominent and honored man in that locahty and ever manifested a public spirit. In later years he was appointed a pensioner of the Government for services he had rendered. Ile was a man of excellent education, having pursued his studies in the Universities of Gottingen and Mar- burg, and stood in the front rank of the medical profession. His father, also a noted scholar, was a teacher in the Jewish school and was sanctioned head preacher by the Government. The mother of Edward M., who before her marriage was Ra- china Weck, died when her son was only a year old.
The subject of this biography was born May 17. 1853, in Germany, and received a superior educa- tion in his native language, his name having been enrolled for some time in the Schmal Kalden Col- lege. In 1874 he came to the United States with a relative and located in New York City, where he became clerk for an importer of mirrors, etc., and remained in that position for five years. It was in 1879 that he first came to Lancaster, where for about three or four years he worked as a clerk for a California tobacco house, and during a portion of this time he carried on a small business on his own account. For about three years he dealt in leaf tobaceo, his warehouse being located at No. 334 North Queen Street. In 1885 he moved to the cor-
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extensively in leaf tobacco. He is at the head of the Pennsylvania Cigar Company and has met with good success in both branches.
On the 11th of April, 1881, Edward M. Cohn was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hecht, who grew to womanhood and received her educa- tion in Philadelphia. She is a daughter of Samuel Hecht, who was engaged in the wholesale notion business on Third Street, Philadelphia, and was numbered among the prosperous business men of that metropolis.
Politically Mr. Colin is ardently attached to the principles set forth by the Republican party and in every possible manner upholds and promotes every measure pertaining to the growth and pros- perity of this city and the benefit of his fellows. Fraternally he is associated with the Royal Arca- num, and being affable and pleasing in manner, has thereby won hosts of warm friends. He is identi- fied with several Jewish organizations and a num- ber of charitable institutions of various kinds.
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D AVID C. HOFFSTADT, proprietor of a general country store at Letort, Manor Township, has carried on this enterprise for the past seven years. meeting with good suc- eess and keeping a well selected stock continually on hand. Ile is a self-made and self-educated man, who has had to depend entirely on his own un- assisted efforts and native qualities in the battle of life, having overcome many obstacles which would have daunted a man of less courage. From very early years he has literally had to "paddle his own canoe," as he was deprived of his father by death when he was only four years old and five years later had to go to live with strangers.
David C., of this sketch, is a son of Adam and Ilannah (Creep) Hoffstadt, and his birth occurred November 25, 1812, in Yokemtown, York County,
Pa. Adam Hoffstadt was a miller by trade and this calling he followed near Yokemtown, where his life was mainly passed. Grandfather Peter Hoffstadt followed agriculture for his life work. When four years old David C. was taken by his grandmother and lived with her until nine years of age. When quite young he learned the trade, of a cigar-maker in Yorkemtown with an unele, at which business he served an apprenticeship of three years. Later he learned the carpenter's trade, to which he devoted his attention for four years, and then took up coach-making, his knowledge of carpentry serving him in good stead. To the lat- ter calling he has mainly devoted his life and has in the course of time built up a good business. In [887 he engaged in general merchandising and in 1891 started in the undertaking business, manu- facturing his own goods and often employing as many as ten men in the several departments of his business. He has succeeded in making a good liv- ing and in the acquisition of a comfortable com- petence, and this he has done by means of hard work and perseverance, for he started his business career without means and even without the usual education which is the almost universal heritage of American children. Ile is certainly entitled to great praise for what he has accomplished under these discouraging circumstances. Ilis worthy characteristics have won for him the friendship and respect of those who know him, and in 1887 he was made Postmaster at Letort, having secured an office at that point, to which he had carried the mail most of the time for four years at his own expense. Politically he is a Democrat, and socially belongs to Christian M. Howel Lodge No. 496, F. & A. M., at Safe Harbor.
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