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 34
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WILLIAM A. WOOD.
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member of the Boston Musical Union. He played five consecutive seasons at Saratoga, two seasons was at Alexandria Bay, and one season at Shelter Island.
In 1873 the Professor went to Warren, Ohio, there becoming one of the first faculty of the Dana Musical Institute, and remained in charge of orchestral instruction for a period of eleven years. Then coming to Lancaster, he was leader in the Opera House Orchestra for years, but of late has given up that work, devoting himself to teaching. In 1892 he became Professor of Instru- mental Music at the high school, establishing a regular course of two hours' work each day after school. In his violin elass there are forty-two young ladies, and more than that number who are pursuing musical courses on other instruments. As a composer he has contributed much to his art and arranges all his own music, and has compiled a com- plete course of instruction for the violin.
The Professor is a prominent Free & Accepted Mason, being a member of Lamberton Lodge No. 467, of this city, and in his political affiliations is identified with the Republican party. Religiously he and his wife are members of Trinity Lutheran Church.
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ILLIAM A. WOOD represents the Col- umbia Building, Loan and Investment Association and the Fidelity Building and Loan Association in Lancaster, being Superin- tendent of the important district embracing Le- high, Bucks, Lebanon, Laneaster and York Coun- ties. He was appointed to that position December 1, 1893, and in May, 1894, his duties and territory were extended, embracing the whole of Pennsyl- vania and Maryland. Mr. Wood is one of the youngest Superintendents of these companies in the country and has under his instruction sixty traveling agents. He is exact and methodical in his system and correspondenee, making an excel- lent man for so important a post, and in every
way has merited the high favor in which he is held by his superiors.
The birth of Mr. Wood occurred October 19, 1861, in New York City, where his ancestors for several generations had made their home. His pa- terna! grandfather, Samuel S., was born in Peeks- kill, N. Y., and was a man of rare educational attainments considering the meagre advantages which fell to the young of that period. He was a baker by trade, following that occupation during most of his active life in New York City, and later engaged in the hotel business. His last years were passed in Peekskill, where his death occurred at the age of about seventy years. Politically he was a Democrat and in religious faith was identified with the Episcopal Church. Ile was the father of six children, who grew to maturity, namely: Sam- uel S., Jr .; John H .; Katie, wife of Thomas Snow- den; Mary, who became Mrs. George D. Seaford; Amelia, wife of Thomas Goadby, and Alexan- der M. C.
The father of our subject, A. M. C. Wood, was born at Peekskill, N. Y., and in his early manhood learned the confectioner's trade. Embarking in business in New York City, he there spent most of his life, and many of his family still reside in the metropolis. They are relatives of the Smiths, the great steamboat builders of New York City. Mr. Wood was a very stanch Democrat and a member of the Episcopal Church. His wife was formerly Mary A. Cooper, and their family comprised two children, William A. and Mary Frances, now the wife of O. E. Nelson, whose home is in Baltimore. The father was called from this life in 1879. The mother is still living, at the age of seventy-two years.
The boyhood of William A. Wood was passed in the place of his birth and he received a good education in the excellent schools of the city. Ile was only thirteen years old, however, when he abandoned his studies temporarily in order to ac- cept a position as oflice boy for an insurance firm. Later he became associated with his uncle in the same branch of work and at that time learned much of the routine work connected with the in- surance business. For some time subsequently he was employed in his father's confectionery manu-
11
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factory on West Broadway, where he remained until his father's death in 1879. The next oeen- pation of the ambitious youth, who, owing to his zeal and energy, had become well educated, was on the reportorial staff of the Baltimore Evening News and Morning Herald. Returning to New York City in 1884, he entered the political field, and during the first term of President Cleveland's administra- tion served four years in the United States Cus- tom Ilouse. Owing to his wife's failing health at this time he removed to Baltimore, but in 1890 re- entered the insurance business, and as stated in the beginning of this article, has been rapidly pro- moted to his present exceedingly responsible po- sition.
February 22, 1887, Mr. Wood married Helen Sinski, who died January 24. 1890. In Mareh, 1891, our subjeet wedded Miss Ella Brook, of Bal- timore, and two children, a son and a daughter. have come to brighten their home, their names be- ing Arthur M. and Edith M. Socially Mr. Wood is a member of Steven's Castle of the Mystic Chain and belongs to Red Rose Commandery No. 20; Blue Cross Castle No. 46, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Lodge No. 131, B. P. O. E. He is very active as a worker in the ranks of the Demoeraey and is con- nected with the Young Men's Democratic Society of this place.
G
EV. EMIL MEISTER is the pastor of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, and is one of the worthy German-American citizens of Lancaster. A man possessed of great intelligence and wide information, he has excellent command of language, and is a successful lecturer and pul- pit orator. For the past fifteen years he has been the pastor of the congregation with which he is identified, and has succeeded in building it up spiritually, numerically and financially. As a writer he is clear, energetic and concise, and is editor of the "Family Friend" and the "Church Messenger," which he conducts with much ability.
Rev. Mr. Meister was born in Freiburg, Baden,
Germany, May 18, 1850, and his parents, Sam- uel E. and Barbara ( Blattner) Meister, were also natives of the same province. The former was a silk merchant in Freiburg until about 1854, when he emigrated to Switzerland. Both parents, who were zealous members of the Lutheran Church, are deceased. Samuel, the only brother of our subject, is a resident of Basel, Switzerland.
The boyhood of our subject was passed in Switz- erland, and his literary and classical education was received in the college at Zurich and Heidelberg I'niversity, from which he was graduated in 1868, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Subsequently he was in business with his father until 1870, when he came to America. Locating in Reading, Pa., he was connected with the Pilger Publishing House for two years, and then removed to Baltimore. For about three years his time was devoted to work on the Baltimore Wecker.
About 1878 Rev. Mr. Meister again took up the study of theology, pursuing a special course of study, and was ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Maryland to the ministry, in May, 1880, and his first charge was the First Evangelical Lutheran Church on Eastern Avenue, Baltimore. In August, 1880, he was given a call to St. Stephen's Church of this city, and accepted the same August 15. This congregation was started in 1874 by Rev. W. Poor, and a build- ing was put up but not entirely finished, and in the meantime the services were held in the lecture room. Under our subject's supervision the audi- ence room was completed in the spring of 1881, and a fine pipe organ has since been placed within it. The church edifice is 49x75 feet in dimen- sions, and one hundred and seventy-two feet high. The membership has constantly increased, and during the years of this church's history has grown from seventeen to its present enrollment of four hundred members, while the Sunday-school usually averages about two hundred and twenty- five pupils.
In the year 1871 Rev. Mr. Meister was married in Reading, to Miss Amelie Kleinschmidt, who was born in Prussia. Their children are, Catherine, who is at home; Samuel E .. a druggist and organ- ist in the church; and Mary, who is a member of
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the high school Class of '95. The father has shown great interest in educational measures, and is now a member of the City School Board. In 1882 he be- gan editing the German monthly magazine known as the "Family Friend," which is devoted to the home and church. In December. 1892, the St. Stephen's Church "Messenger." which is pub- lished in the English language, and is a monthly periodical, was also started. Rev. Mr. Meister is an honored member of the Linnaan Society of Laneaster. In September, 1894, he founded the A. Herr Smith Evangelical Lutheran Memorial Chapel, at the corner of North Ann and East Ross Streets. This is the English Mission of St. Steph- en's Church, and was erected in memory of IIon. A. Herr Smith.
S CLAY MILLER, one of the leading eiti- zens of Lancaster, who served valiantly during the War of the Rebellion in the defense of the Union, has been for a number of years engaged in dealing in wholesale and re- tail liquors. He is a Mason of the Thirty-second Degree, and is an active Grand Army man and a stalwart Republican, belonging to the Young Men's and the Citizens' Republican Clubs.
Our subject was born April 25, 1844, in Man- heim Township, this county, and is the son of Solo- mon and Fannie (Snyder) Miller, the former a na- tive of this city. He was a butcher by trade, which calling he followed more or less during his active career, and his last days were passed in the village of Manheim, his death oeeurring in Wash- ington, D. C., where he had been visiting his sis- ter. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and fraternally was associated with the Junior Order of United American Mechanies and other societies. IIe was the father of eight children: Mary, wife of Abram Reist, of Laneaster, botlı be- ing now deceased; Rev. Jacob, pastor of the Chris-
tian Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Phila- delphia; Fannie. deceased wife of Theodore Krei- der; llenry, who died from wounds received in the late war; Solomon Clay, of this sketch: Lizzie, Mrs. Shubert. of this city; and Washington and larry, both of whom died young. The son Henry was a member of the Ninety-third Pennsylvama Regiment, belonging to Company K. and was un- der MeClellan during the Peninsular Campaign. In an engagement a ball passed through both of his thighs, and from the effects of this he died in South Bend, Ind., several years after the termina- tion of the war. The father of these children died at the age of eighty-four years, while his wife passed away in her fifty-third year.
The early education of Solomon Clay Miller was that of the common schools, but his advantages in an educational way were very meagre. Ile re- mained with his unele on a farm until the break- ing out of the war, when he enlisted in Company II, Seventy-sixth Infantry, known as the Keystone Zouaves, the date of his enlistment being October 3, 1861. Ile was sent to the south, and with his regiment participated in the capture of Ft. Pu- laski and in many minor engagements in front of Charlestown, S. C. In the first battle in which he participated, on the expedition to Mckay's Point, he was struck by a minie ball in the left thigh, and at the second assault on Ft. Waggoner, in which he carried the regimental colors. one-half of the regiment was destroyed. lle was with General Strong, and was one of the first to stand on the enemy's breastworks. For his courage and num- erons aets of bravery, General Strong before he expired, having received a mortal wound as he reached the top of the breastworks, ordered a medal of honor to be conferred upon Mr. Miller. The latter was shortly afterward made Sergeant, and General Gilmore awarded him a medal of bronze upon which was engraved "S. C. Miller, Company Il, Seventy-sixth P. V., for gallant and meritorious conduct, presented by Q. A. Gilmore, Major-General."
The regiment arrived on the James River in 1864, being attached to the Tenth Army Corps un- der Gen. B. F. Butler, taking part in the engage- ments of Drury's Bluff and skirmishes in front of
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Petersburg, afterward joining General Grant at Cold Harbor. Our subject was for the second time injured by a spent minie ball, this time on the an- kle, but continued to carry the colors, and bore them at the mine explosion on June 30. At Deep Bottom, a piece of shell struck him on the body, knocking him senseless, and afterward in front of Petersburg was struck by a piece of shell in the neck, which made a severe cut, and the scar of which he still carries. Being mustered out in De- cember, 1861. Mr. Miller completed his active serv- ice of three years and three months. At one time when a number of his comrades had been taken prisoners, Mr. Miller and Lieutenant Bloss led the advance on the enemy and succeeded m rescuing his comrades, and at all times his bravery and deeds of daring were noted in the regiment.
On his return from the south, Mr. Miller soon obtained employment in the Adams Express Com- pany's office in Lancaster, after which he was em- ployed as a clerk for several firms, and then re- ceived a position with the express company at Louisville, being afterward sent to Mobile, Ala., where he opened up business for the same com- pany, and made frequent trips from that point to Cairo, Ill., some five hundred miles. He remained for about a year in the south, but being stricken with the fever and ague. returned to this city, the disease hanging to him for fully six months. Going to Philadelphia, he was a clerk in a com- mission house until the spring of 1869, when, permanently settling in Lancaster, he entered the employ of C. W. Kreiter, a wholesale liquor dealer, and in time was admitted to the firm. Their partnership was dissolved in 1871, Mr. Miller withdrawing and starting in business on huis own account. He continued alone until 1876, when he took in as a partner M. V. B. Neaveling, and the firm was known as Miller & Neaveling un- til 1878, since which time our subject has con- dueted the business alone in connection with his other interests. He owns considerable real estate, an orange farm of eighty acres in Florida, with a grove of three hundred trees, and property at other points. An ardent Republican, he has as far as possible assisted in the success of his party at all times, and belongs to the U'nion Veteran Le-
gion. He has passed through all the chairs in Perfection Lodge, is a Mason of the Thirty-second Degree, and belongs to George Reynolds Post No. 405, G. A. R.
March 29, 1879, Mr. Miller was united in mar- riage with Louisa Rudduck, and five children have been born of their union, namely: Leon Rudduck, Herbert Clay, Mabel Louise. Eflie Isabella and Lulu Bess. His family are members of the Duke Street Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Miller gives liberally of his means.
OIIN S. BRENEMAN comes from one of the eldest and most respected families of Lancas- ter County, and for about thirty years has conducted a coal, real-estate and pension bus- iness in Lancaster, his office being now at No. 343 South Duke Street. The records of the Breneman family are very full and exact, and are of great interest to their many friends and acquaintances.
The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was prominent in the War of the Revolution, and was on the Committee of Safety during the trou- ble in this city. The grandfather lived nearly all his life in Lancaster, was a renowned specialist, had a large practice and became very wealthy. Ile owned considerable real estate and a number of farms in Manheim Township, some two hundred and ninety acres in all. He married Barbara Stoner, and had two sons, one of whom, Rev. John S., was educated in the Flushing Theological Seminary of New York, became very popular as a minister, and was proficient in seven languages. Ihs death occurred at the age of about twenty- seven years.
Abraham Breneman, the father of our subject, was born in Lancaster in 1817. and was a physi- cian, being educated in the Franklin Academy, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. At first he engaged in practice with his father, and in time had a large city and country client-
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age. In polities he was a Whig, and religiously was a Vestryman in St. James' Episcopal Church. IJis death occurred when he was thirty-one years of age. By his marriage with Anna Reigart, he had five children: Anna E .. wife of Francis L. Calder, of this city: Henry R., who is in the in- surance and real-estate business in this city; Eme- line M., who died March 11, 1865; John S., of this sketel; and Abram A., an analytical chemist in New York City. The mother, who died October 21, 1881, was born October 13, 1820. The young- est son has contributed greatly to the science of chemistry, and stands high as a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a society of which Agassiz was the first President. For several years he was Professor of Chemistry at Cornell, after graduating as one of the highest in his elass in the Pennsylvania State College.
John S. Breneman was born September 22, 1844, in Lancaster, and received his education in the St. James' Parish School and Professor Yates' Institute, after which he took a course in the Franklin and Marshall College, but when he was in the Sopho- more year, the college was suspended on account of the war, and the young man went to the west. Returning. he embarked in the coal business in 1866 at this place, and has since been in that line of trade, in addition to the real-estate and pen- sion business. He is active in the support of the Republican party, but is not desirous of public office, nor is he a politician, but does what he can toward getting good and elean representatives and honest elections. During the war he was a member of the Union League, and served in the Tenth and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Militia, and the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry. The family to which he belongs have all been Episcopalians, very conscientious and np- right in all their dealings with their fellow-men.
From the archives of the Reigart family, to which the mother of our subject belonged, we find that one of her ancestors on the paternal side, Ulrich, emigrated from Germany in 1738, his birth hav- ing occurred in 1693. Ile brought with him his wife, a native of the same province, and they lo- cated in an old house on South Queen Street, Lan-
caster. Ilis wife, Anna, who was born in 1701, was a daughter of Abram Merkel, a weaver and prominent citizen, She was married in her twenty- first year, and of her mion four sons and five daughters were born. Her death occurred Octo- ber 30. 1768, at the age of sixty-seven years, while the husband departed this life March 16, 1766, m huis seventy-second year. Their second son. Adam, married Catherine Yeiser. April 7. 1763. To them were born the following children: John, born Feb- ruary 3, 1764; Adam, January 17, 1765; Anna Mary, July 6, 1767: Emanuel, July 28, 1769;
Elizabeth, September 8. 1771; Thomas, May 10, 1774; and Catherine, January 28. 1779. The mother of these children died in May, 1789, and the husband married for his second wife Susannah Franks. Ile was called from this life July 17, 1813. His son Adam had nine children: Eliza, Anna, Henrietta, Susannah, Philip W., Margaret, Sarah, Eliza and Su-an. Adam Reigart. Jr., died May 10, 1844. Henry M., who was the father of Anna. the mother of our subject, was the son of Emanuel, the son of Adam, who was very promi- nent in the Revolutionary War.
H IESTAND FREY is a descendant of one of the worthy pioneer families of Lancaster County who have been the founders of its present prosperity and development. He owns a good farm comprising one hundred and twenty acres which is nearly all well improved, and which is located in Manor Township. In addition to general farming, he makes a specialty of growing tobacco; and also raises stock, breeding fine grades of horses. lle is the son of Fred and Eveline (Iliestand) Frey, his birth having occurred July 3. 1873.
The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, who bore the Christian name of Jacob, was a na- tive of Manor Township, and followed farming pursuits. His son, the grandfather of II. Frey, also
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carried on a farm in Manor Township; he was first a Whig, and later a Repubhean. Ilis eldest son was Jacob, and the second in order of birth was Fred, the father of our subject. The latter was born in 1826. in the place where his son Fred B. now lives, and received a common-school education. Being early inured to farm life, he adopted that ealling for his own, and at one time owned three improved farms, aggregating six hundred acres, in addition to which he possessed other real-estate properties in Manor Township. Ile was very sue- eessful, being one of the most prosperous farmers in the county, and during the existence of the Safe Ilarbor Iron Works had a number of teams employed there. In polities he was a Republican, and stood well in the estimation of all. A mem- ber of the River Brethren Church, he endeavored to do the right at all times and to follow the teachings of the Golden Rule. He was three times married, by his first wife, Anna, having six chil- dren: Mary, Deliah, Fannie, Elizabeth, Adeline and Jacob. His second wife was a Miss Benedict, and they had two children, Frederick and Barbara Ann. By his union with the mother of our sub- ject, Fred Frey had three children: Anna, Ilie- stand and Jessie, who died in childhood. The fa- ther departed this life at the age of seventy years, while the mother is still living.
Our subject received his education in the publie schools of Creswell, where he remained until fif- teen years of age. On his father's death he re- turned to the homestead, assisting in the eultiva- tion of the same about four years. At that time he went to the west and visited with his relatives in Maniton, Colo. Then returning to the old farm, he took charge of the place for his mother, in the capacity of manager, and faithfully performed the duties in connection with the same for a period of one year. The farm which he now owns is one of the best in the township, and the young man has proved his ability as a model farmer of the present day. Like his forefathers, he abides by the prin- ciples of the Republican party. to which he gives his warm support.
The marriage of Mr. Frey and Susan Frantz took place October 18, 1893, at her father's home near Millersville. Mrs. Frey is a daughter of John
Frantz, a prominent agriculturist and dairyman of this county. She received an excellent educa- tion, and is a lady of marked refinement and eul- ture. The young couple are well received in the best social circles of the place.
W. IHESTAND, D. D. S., who for the past ten years has been retired from aetive pro- fessional life at his home in Manor Town- ship, was for nearly thirty years an active praetic- ing dental surgeon of Millersville and vicinity. His clients were scattered throughout Lancaster and neighboring counties over a wide range of territory. His labors told upon his health in la- ter years, for he has always been a close student in his profession and has kept actively in touch with all the improvements and discoveries in his line. The Doctor is a son of Peter and Elizabeth ( Wis- ler) Iliestand, and was born December 15, 1831, near Millersville. in Manor Township. The fam- ily to which he belongs is of German deseent, his ancestors having come to this county from Wittenberg, sailing from Rotterdam on the ship "Britania" in 1731, and arriving in Philadelphia, whenee they proceeded to this county. John, the great-grandfather of the Doctor, was one of the pioneer settlers and farmers of Manor Township, and his son Peter was a preacher in the Dunkard Church. lle was born in 1776, and died at the age of seventy-two years. A successful business man, he owned a fulling-mill and also conducted a farm, his home being on the Blue Rock Road in Manor Township. His wife, Annie ( Lintner) Hie- stand, was born in 1772, and they had five children: Peter, Fanny, Daniel, Anna and Henry. Fanny became the wife of JJohn Stehman, and Anna the wife of John Fritz, after whose death she married William De Witt.
Peter, the father of our subject, was born Au- gust 17, 1791, and died Jannary 8, 1854, having spent his entire life in Manor Township. Ilis wife,
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Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Wissler, of the same township, was born October 20, 1793, and died January 8, 1868. By her marriage she became the mother of the following children: Jacob; Fannie, wife of Robert Evans; Elizabeth, Mrs. Abram Lan- dis; Catherine, wife of Henry Fory; Ann, Mrs. Christian Witmer; John, Henry, Dr. Peter W., Benjamin and Evaline Frey.
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