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 26
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While educational affairs always received the warmest interest and deepest sympathy of Dr. At- lee, he was prominent in other fields of usefulness. His philanthropie spirit was especially noticeable in the founding and management of institutions for the poor. the friendless and the unfortunate. For some time he was one of the managers of the Home of Refuge in Lancaster. Ile was a Trustee in the Bishop Bowman Church Home in this city, and acted as President of the Board of Trustees of the llome for Friendless Children, also filling a similar position in the Board of Managers for the State Lunatic Asylum, at Harrisburg. It was, how- ever, as a physician that Dr. Atlee was most useful and gained the widest reputation. By natural gifts and training he was admirably adapted for a
successful professional career. His studies did not cease with graduation, but were continued through- out his entire life. Ilis gentle, cheerful and dig- nified demeanor inspired the confidence of the sick and commanded the respect of the medical fraternity. Very early in the history of medical organizations he discerned the importance of cen- tralizing professional power, not only as a scientific measure, but as calculated to establish a kindly re- eiprocity of feeling among physicians, thereby ele- vating the profession in publie estimation. With this view of matters, it was natural that he should. in 1844, lead in the organization of the Lancaster County Medical Society and that he should also twice preside over it as President. In 1848 he aided in organizing the State Medical Society. of which in 1857 he was chosen the presiding officer. When, in 1847, the idea of organizing the American Med- ical Association was conceived, his name appeared among the founders. In 1868 he was elected Viee- President, and in 1882 became President of the or- ganization. In 1877 he was elected an honorary `member of the Gynecological Society of Boston, and was also an Associate Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
The most noteworthy event in the surgical ca- reer of Dr. Atlee was the revival of the operation of ovariotomy. This idea he began to develop in 1843. There was at that time no experiences of former surgeons to aid him, except the cases of Me- Dowell, dating back to 1809, and these were al- most forgotten. On the other hand. there was much to discourage one less bold. The best teach- ers in the profession and its most influential rep- resentatives of both sides of the Atlantic had con- demned the procedure, yet in spite of this Dr. At- lee pursued his investigations undisturbed. Those who are acquainted with medical science know the large measure of success that crowned his labors. Doubtless this, more than anything else in his eventful career, will make succeeding generations his grateful debtors. The first operation he per- formed of this character was June 29. 1843, and the lady at this writing (1894) is still living in Lancaster.
As a surgeon Dr. Atlee met with the greatest success. In over two thousand operations of which
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he has left a record are included every manner of surgical procedure, and these were followed by a success comparing not unfavorably with the lead- ing surgeons of the world. Even when advanced in years he performed many difficult and exceed- ingly delicate operations. Six times in his eighty- third year and three times in Ins cighty-fourth year he performed the operation of ovariotomy. From every part of the country his advice was sought, not alone by patients, but also by his pro- fessional brethren, who reposed the greatest conti- denee in his skill. Early in life Dr. Atlee united with the Episcopal Church, in which for fifty years he was Senior Warden. He attended the official meetings of the church regularly, and endeavored in every way possible to promote the prosperity of his denomination. In all the philanthropic enter- prises undertaken by the congregation he was deeply interested and to them he gave his hearty co-operation. Ilis exemplary private and public life proved, more eloquently than words could do, the sincerity of Ins religious convictions. The simple epitaph that marks his last resting place, "Pertransivit Benefaciendo," is the most appro- priate that love and reverent esteem could write.
T MIOMAS ELLMAKER, M. D., of Lancaster, has lived retired from active business for abont twenty years, but was formerly en- gaged in practice at Landisville, of this county. In 1851 he established a drug store on East King Street of this city, and continued to manage the same for a period of some twenty years. In vari- ous enterprises and interests of the place, he has taken his part, and has always had great faith in the future of the city.
Dr. Ellmaker is a son of Amos and Mary Rachel (Elder) Ellmaker, and was born in Lancaster March 22, 1825. Ile received his elementary education in the local schools, and subsequently attended St. Paul's Episcopal College in New York City. In 1846 he graduated from the Jefferson Medical Col-
lege, and immediately settled to engage in the practice of his profession at Landisville. llow- ever, after embarking in the drug trade in 1851, he gradually withdrew from the arduous duties of a physician and devoted his means to the improve- ment and carrying on of his drug business. Ile has traveled considerably through the west, and is a scholar, being very proficient in the Latin, Greek and French languages, and being well read in the sciences.
Fraternally the Doctor is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of United American Mechanics. In former years he belonged to the Lancaster City and the County Medical Societies, in which he served as Secretary and in various official capaci- ties, and also beld membership with the State and General American Medical Societies. In politics he has voted with the Republican party since the organization of the same, being greatly interested in the questions of the day, and keeping well posted on topics of general interest.
It may not be uninteresting to many to trace the history of the Elder family, of which the Doc- tor's mother was a member, as they were early and respected pioneers of this state. One Robert Elder, who was born in Scotland in 1679, emigrated to County Antrim, Ireland, and from there to Amer- ica in 1730, settling near Harrisburg, in the moun- tains, and his death occurred July 28, 1746, his remains being placed to rest in Paxtong, where he had made his home. While he lived in Edinburg, his son, Rev. John, was born, and he became noted as a minister and scholar. Ile received a classical education, graduating from the Edin- burg University, subsequently studied theology in the same institution, and in 1732 received a license to preach. Four years later he followed his parents to America, becoming pastor of the church at Paxtong, which he served in that eap- aeity for half a century, being very popular. One of his children, John, served in the War of the Revo- lution, from 1794 to 1797, was Deputy Surveyor and Sheriff of Dauphin County, Pa., and erected the first steel plant in Middletown. Robert, another son, who was a Captain in charge of a company raised at Paxtong, was in the War for Independ- ence. Ile followed farming and was a Ruling El-
HENRY ROHRER.
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der in the Paxtong Church. Joshua, the third son, was active in the military service during the fron- tier troubles of 1763-64. and during the Revolu- tionary War was a leader of the patriots. serving until the elose of hostilities. Ile was appointed Associate Judge in 1791. and prothonotary in 1800, serving for nine years, and in 1810 was elected Burgess of Harrisburg. Samuel, another son. was a soldier in the Whiskey Insurrection. and from 1800 to 1803 was Sheriff of Dauphin County. The history of their descendants is well known to many in this state. and a number have distinguished themselves in church. military and professional eireles. Mrs. Mary (Elder) Ellmaker was a grand-daugliter of Rev. John Eller.
H ENRY ROHRER, the genial proprietor of the William Penn Hotel, is a liberal minded and accommodating gentleman. and a popular resident of Lancaster. lle is a na- tive of this eity and was born November 12. 1853, to Christian Rohrer, a native of Switzerland, his birth occurring in the canton of Argau,
The father of onr subject was a shoemaker by trade and made the trip alone to this country when a young man, locating in Lancaster, where. he was engaged at his trade until his decease, at the age of forty-nine years. Ile was a devoted member of the Catholic Church. His wife, whom he married in the Keystone State, bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Hunsicker, and at the time of her union with him was the widow of Matthew Wunch. She was likewise born across the water, in Switzerland, where her first husband died. She came to the United States with her family of four children and located in Lancaster, where she met and married Christian Rohrer. She is still living, having passed her seventy-eighth birthday last November. Iler eldest son by her first marriage, Joseph Wunch, was killed at the second battle of Bull Run during the late war; Elizabeth married
Philip Weber; John, who was also a soldier in the Civil War, served through the entire period and is now living in this city and carrying on a good business as a cigar manufacturer; Mary, the second daughter, is deceased.
The union of Christian and Elizabeth Rohrer was blessed by the birth of a son, Henry, of this sketch. Ile was reared in this eity and educated in St. Joseph's parochial school. When a lad of sixteen years he was apprentieed to learn the printer's trade in the office of the Volksfreund, where he remained until eighteen months after reaching his majority.
In 1877 our subjeet beeame bartender for a Mr. Rieker, by whom he was employed two years. and then purchased the Centennial saloon. on the corner of Mulberry and Strawberry Streets. This he disposed of in 1884 and became the proprietor of Excelsior Hall, which he conducted for a year, and then selling it launched out in his present en- terprise, that of a hotel keeper. The house had been the property of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Mar- garet Gerz, who operated it four years prior to dis- posing of it to our subject. It is pleasantly located at Nos. 429 and 431 Mulberry Street, and is first class in its appointments.
The original of this sketch was married Septem- ber 16. 1875. to Miss Mary Dorwort, a native of this eity, born February 25, 1885, Mrs. Rohrer and her brother Frederick (now deceased) were born to the union of A. Frederick and Margaret (Clavow) Dorwort. After the death of Mr. Dor- wort, his widow married Capt. Alexander J. Gerz, by whom she became the mother of four sons, Alexander II., John J., William H. and Frank J. Captain Gerz died in 1876, and his widow now makes her home at No. 433 Mulberry Street. To our subject and his wife were born seven children, Margaret Elizabeth, Mary Elizabeth. Charles Henry, Mary Catherine, Catherine Cecelia. Henry Jacob and Andrew. Mary Catherine. Henry and Andrew are deceased.
Mr. Rohrer was candidate on the Democratie ticket in 1891 for Councilman of his ward, but the district being strongly Republican, he was de- feated by three votes. Religiously he is a devoted member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, in the faith
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of which he has reared his children. He belongs to St. Joseph's and St. Michael's societies, also the Gruetlie Verein, a Swiss organization, of which he has been President for five years, and of which his father was a charter member and Vice-President. Ile also belongs to the Maennerchor, the Turners, and the Schiller and Fulton societies.
R EV. Wy. F. LICHILITER, Pastor of St. Luke's Reformed Church, of Lancaster. In its organization and growth the his- tory of this church is both interesting and unex- ampled. In cities, missions usually begin by a number of members going out from an established church to organize a new church; but this was not the case in the history of St. Luke's. Beginning in the autumn of 1871 with a Sunday-school of forty-two children, organized and carried forward in a public school building by the efforts of stu- dents of the Theological Seminary; and in the latter part of January, 1879, as an organized church, consisting of mine communicant members who had become interested in or through the Sun- day-school, it was necessarily a work that required great faith and unwearied devotion, but the re- sults of the fifteen years' labor more than justify the attempt. When the fifteenth anniversary was celebrated. February 4, 1894, the report rendered showed that three hundred and twenty-eight mem- bers had been received into the church, of whom two hundred and five were then enrolled; also that the Sunday-school numbered four hundred and forty scholars, with thirty-three teachers and seven officers.
In 1871 the seed was sown that resulted some years afterward in the organization of the church. The Theological Seminary, which since 1837 had been located at Mercersburg. Pa., was then re- moved to Lancaster. On January 13 following, the students in the "Society of Inquiry" debated this question: "Should the Theological Seminary establish a mission in Lancaster?" On the merits of the question the society voted unanimously in
the affirmative, and then appointed a Committee to confer with the faculty in regard to the feasi- bility of establishing a Mission Sunday-school. Of this project the faculty heartily approved.
The "Society of Inquiry" appointed a Commit- tee to have charge of the work of preparing for the organization of the Mission Sunday-school. The plan was to start the mission under the care of the First Church, but after waiting for two years, it was found that nothing could be done in this way. The society then authorized its Com- mittee to ask authority from the consistory of St. Stephen's ( the College) Church. This was done and the Committee authorized to go forward with the work of organizing the Sunday-school. At this time the Committee consisted of the students: Wm. F. Lichiliter, J. Calvin Bowman and Zwingli A. Yeasick. A public school building was secured in the southwestern section of the city. With the assistance of an auxiliary committee of six stu- dents, a house to house canvass for scholars was instituted, and on November 15, 1874, the Sun- day-school was organized with forty-two scholars, fourteen teachers (seven ladies, seven gentlemen) and four officers. It was then known as St. Steph- en's Mission Sunday-school. The officers elected were all seminary students, as follows: Wm. F. Lichliter. Superintendent; G. D. Gurley, Assistant Superintendent; Z. A. Yeasick, Secretary ; and G. W. Roth, Librarian. The number enrolled gradually increased until it reached about one hundred and twenty-five, and the school continued at this until it was privileged to enter the new church building on Marietta Avenue in 1880.
The teachers felt that to secure permanent re- sults from their work, it was necessary that there should be an organized church in connection with the mission, and in 1878 brought this fact to the attention of the consistory of St. Stephen's Church. The consistory recommended that Rev. J. F. Wiant, then re-iding in the city, be elected Superintend- ent of the Sunday-school, and that a canvass be made to ascertain how many persons interested in the work were willing to organize a church. This was done, and nine persons, including the pastor's wife, were found who were ready to organize a church. In the latter part of January, 1879, the
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organization was effected, the nine members being Mrs. Mary Wiant, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Suter. Ja- cob Bomberger, J. Rudolph Suter, J. Frederick Suter, B. F. Bausman, Mrs. Sennett Miller, Mrs. Catharine Mischlich and Philip Mischlich. The name chosen for the organization was St. Luke's Reformed Church.
A church building was a necessity, and the work was prosecuted as rapidly as possible. Octo- ber 26, 1879, the cornerstone was laid. and on February 6, 1880, the church was dedicated with appropriate services. The building was 30x50 feet, and cost $1,800. the furniture costing 8300 more. The Rev. Mr. Wiant having accepted a call to the pastorate of the Beaver Charge, Clarion County, Pa., tendered his resignation March 14, 1880, and on March 21 the present pastor, who had been instrumental in starting the mission, was chosen, and the call to him confirmed by the Board of Missions. Accepting the call, he entered upon the work of the pastorate May 30.
So rapidly did the Sunday-school increase, that the building was not large enough for efficient work, nor to accommodate the congregation at special services. and in 1884 a movement was commenced for the enlargement of the edifice. It was, however, four years later before conditions were favorable enough to warrant the erection of an addition to the building. On Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1888, the completed building was consecrated. The cost of the ground and im- provements to the building was 83,925, which amount was contributed in large part by the friends of the church, irrespective of denomina- tion. In connection with the church are the fol- lowing societies: Willing Workers' Aid Society, Guild of Faithful Helpers, Missionary Society, Guild of St. Mark, Choral Class, and St. Andrew's and St. Mark's Sunday-school, in addition to the home Sunday-school.
The popular pastor of this church, to whose self- sacrificing labors the success of the work is largely due, was born in Woodstock, Va., and is a son of Conrad and Elizabeth Jane (Dinges) Lichiliter, also natives of the Old Dominion. The paternal grandfather, Adam Lichliter, was born in Virginia, and enlisting for service in the War of 1812, went
to the front, but never returned home. The fam- ily was first represented in America about one lun- dred and sixty years ago, when some of that name settled near Philadelphia, Pa., but later removing to Virginia. settled in Shenandoah County, in the vicinity of Woodstock. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Frederick Dinges, was a Virginian, and a descendant of German ancestors, who emi- grated to America about the same time as did the Lichliters.
Learning the merchant tailoring trade, Conrad Lichliter followed that business for many years, but is now living in retirement from active work. An original U'nion man on the breaking out of the war, when the Rebellion was ended he became a Republican in politics, and was appointed Post- master of Woodstock under President Johnson's administration, and was Deputy Collector of In- ternal Revenue during President Grant's admin- istration, under Col. E. White. His wife died Feb- ruary 1, 1891. They had four children. Of these our subject is the eldest. The others are, J. H., an attorney at Washington, D. C .; D. C., a prac- ticing physician of Dayton, Ohio; and Sarah Eliza- beth, wife of the Rev. George A. Whitmore, of Frederick County, Md.
The subject of this sketch spent the years of his boyhood in Woodstock. When the Rebellion broke out he was attending the academy in that town. but on the day following the passage of the ordinance of secession, when the volunteer military company left to aid in seizing the Government armory at Harper's Ferry, the school was closed. In 1863. with three other refugees, he left home, and passing through the mountains, after two nights and three days entered the I'nion lines at Winchester. Thence he went to Washington, D. C., and soon afterward entered the employ of the Government as a journeyman carpenter, working at building soldiers' barracks and corrals, It was while in this service, and at the time of the battle of Gettysburg, that the employes of his depart- ment were called on to do guard duty around Washington in order to relieve the soldiers. For two days therefore he carried a Government rifle, and for one day stood guard at the prison in Georgetown, D. C. Six months later he went to
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Chambersburg and entered the academy, where he carried on his studies for two months. He was then offered the situation of salesman in the dry- goods store of J. Hoke & Co., Chambersburg, which he accepted, and was in their employ until July, 1864, when the city was burned by the Confed- erates. Through the kindness of friends, he was now offered a situation with Cree Bros., Pittsburg. Pa., and continued with them until 1866, when he began to study for the ministry.
Entering the Preparatory Department of Mer- eersburg College, Mercersburg. Pa., Mr. Lichliter continued in that institution from February 22, 1866, until 1872, when he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by the same college. In 1875 he was graduated from the Theological Seminary at Lancaster, and on August 1 of the same year was ordained to the ministry, becoming pastor of St. John's Church, at Wyom- ing. Del. The following year he accepted a call to the First Reformed Church of Allegheny, Pa., remaining there until the year 1878. Ile was then Principal for one year of llarmony Collegiate In- stitute, Harmony, Pa. His next pastorate was that of St. Luke's Reformed Church, in which capacity he has since served with efficiency and success. lle is a man of superior ability, keen intellect. exeel- lent judgment and a wide range of information in history, theology and literature. For his chosen profession both nature and training have admir- ably adapted him, and he well deserves his wide popularity.
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hundred and sixty-two acres. He was a Deacon in the Baptist Church and died at the age of sixty- one years, in 1863.
Our subject's mother's maiden name was Mar- garet Wilson; she was born at Compassville, and died at the age of forty-one years, after which our subject's father married again. T. Parke Guthrie was one of a family of eleven children, and three sons of this family wore the loyal blue during the Civil War. They are, Willmer, in the employ of the Pullman Car Company, at Wilmington, Del .; Howard, residing at Blue Rock, Chester County, Pa .; our subject. T. Parke; Elizabeth, Mrs. Samuel Moore, of Philadelphia; Sadie, Mrs. W. H. Murray, of Peoria, Ill .; John, who was a bugler in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry; Levi, who died prior to the Civil War, and William, who died in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The subject of this notice was reared amidst rural scenes, and obtained his education at the common schools, passing his youth as most of the Pennsylvania boys did. At the age of eleven years his father died and he was thrown upon his own resources. The first year he worked upon a farm and then went to Coatesville, in the employ of the merchant tailoring firm of Wright & Morgan as an errand boy. He remained there one year, and then elerked in a grocery store, for Lewis G. Jeffries; after two years he worked for John E. Stout, an- other grocer, for whom he elerked one year, and then went with a brother-in-law, Samuel Moore, who conducted a clothing and sewing machine busi - ness: after two years he became a salesman at No. 810 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, but after a few months went to Germantown, where he took charge of a branch store, which he operated until the failure of J. Cooke in 1873. IIe then entered the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and opened an office for them in Germantown; he managed their business for them until June 8, 1880, at which time he came to Lancaster, having lived in this city two years before, while in the employ of the Singer Manufacturing Company.
T PARKE GUTHRIE, one of the leading grocers of Lancaster, has been a resident of the city since April 26, 1876; he was born at Guthrieville, Chester County, Pa., October 12. 1852, the son of Joseph Guthrie and his wife. Grandfather Guthrie built the first house in Guth- September 18, 1879, marked a new era in this young man's life, for it was in that beautiful au- tumn month that he was united in marriage to rieville, and it was he who platted the town and it was named after him. Our subject's father was a farmer near Guthrieville, where he owned one | Lizzie B. Best, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
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Best. Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie have one child, Anna M. The company wanted to send him to other cities to do preliminary work, so in June, 1880, he bought out John L. Melzer, a grocer on the corner of Lime and Chestnut Streets, where he has since conducted a good grocery trade. His residence is at No. 327 North Lime Street. Ile is a stockholder in the Mechames' Building & Loan Association of Lancaster, also in the Conestoga Bank.
Of his domestic and social life, it may be said that he a member of Monterey Lodge No. 242, I. O. O. F .; Ridgely Encampment, and Lodge No. 68, K. of P. Ile is also a member of the Royal Ar- canum and a past officer in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, our subject is a stanch Republican, and is a member of the Presby- terian Church.
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